letters to be written to the duke and duchefs, and to be forwarded inftantly by fpecial mêflengers. x The receipt of fuch letter? gave niuch pleafure to the duke and- duchefs ; for they had great dé-pendance on the king of Portugal, and knew that without his aid, they would never be enabled to do any thing effectual againft Caftille. They, therefore, made rich prefents to the meflengers, and returned the warmeft anfwe*s. The duke, in his anfwer, gave the king fo underftand, that he fhould have much pleafure if an interview took place between them, as he wanted to have feme Conferences with him. . » While all thefe marks of affe&ion were reci-procally tendered and received between the king of Portugal and the duke of Lancafter, the king of Caftille was ftrengthening himfelf by every means in his power. He frequently ftated his fituation to the court of France, ' and was urgent in Ms demands for affifttnce to defend his realrfi ; for he expefted, when the feafon would allow, that there would be a vigorous war made on him, as the king of Portugal and the duke of Lancafter would then form a junftion, and would be in fuch force as would overrun all Caftille,' unlefs he could raife an army to oppofe them. The king of France and his council, in their anfwer, defired the king of Caftille, not to be uneafy ; for, before the month of January was paffed, they would give the Englifh fo much to do at home, as to prevent them from knowing which way to turn themfelves j that when England fhould 48'