fun was fetting, when fome of them (aid, it would be better to wait for the morning, as it would foon be night, when they would be unable to perform any good deeds of arms/ Bnt the king was determined to advance, and was in the right ; for he faid,—' HoV can we think of thus deferring our friends, who are fatigued and in diftrefe ? whoever gives fuch advice neither loves me nor regards my honour/ They continued, therefore, to advance, with trumpets founding and drum* beating, and making a great noife to frighteq their enemies. X will now relate how the king of Portugal and his army had employed themfelves. As foon as they had defeated the van divifion and taken care of their prifoners, as has been before faid, they did not confide in this firft victory, though they faw not any appearance of reinforcements* but ordered fpc men at arms, the beft mounted, to reconnoitre, and bring them intelligence, if they were to expect another battle. Thofe who had been fent on this expedition, faw and heard the army of the king of Caftiile, which was at leaft. twenty thoufand men on horfeback, and approaching very near to Aijubarota: they re-turqed full gallop to their friends, and faid aloud —* }dy lo^ds, take care of yourfelves/for hi-therto we have done nothing: the king of Caf-tiile is advancing with his whole armyf of twenty thoufand horfe, for not one has remained behind. Qn hearing this they held a fhort council, as the neceflity of the cafe pbliged them, and came to a pitilefs refolution ; for it was 282