long journeys to vlfit, he found the gates (hut. as might have been fuppofed. There was no other garrifon but its inhabitants ; for the firench knights refufed taking upon them the defence of it, to the laft extremity, as it was not ftrong enough to withftand the force under the duke of Lancaf-ter. The marfhal fent forward a herald to hear what the townfmen would fay. The herald found at the barriers the captain of the guard, called don Alphonfo Sene, and faid to him, * A few paces hence is the marfhal of my lord of Lancas-ter's army, who would wifh to fpeak with you/ * I am very agreeable to it : let him advance and I will parley with him/ The herald returned to die marfhal with this anfwer. The marfhal left his army, with only twenty lances, and rode to the barriers, where he found the captain and fome of the townfmen waiting. The marfhal difmounted, with twelve others, among whom were the lord BafTet and fir William Farringdon, and addreffed him as follows : 4 Cap-tain, and you men of St. Jago, the duke, and du-chefs of Lancafter your queen, (fhe being the eld-eft daughter of don Pedro, your late king) fend me to know how you mean to a£t : to open your gates and receive them as your legal fovereigns, as good fubje&s ought to do ; or force me to affault your walls, and take your town by ftorm. But know, that if you fuffer the place to be ftormed, all within fhali be put to the fword, that other* may take warning/ " ' fl ' f Tk 21