certain of a combat being likely to take place, Î will fefcntly fignify it to the king of Portugal. Defire him from me, to be well prepared to come to our affiftance, in the defence of our right, as he has fo-lemnlyfwbrn tp do in the treaties concluded between us. You will return to me ; but leave our daughter Catharine with her fitter, the queen of Portugal, for (he cannot be better placed, nor more in fafety.* •My. lord/ replied the duchefs, *all this I will /cheerfully perform.' The duchefs, her daughter, and the ladies awf damfels who accompanied them, took their leave and departed. They were efcorted to Oporto by the admiral, fir Thomas Percy, fir Evan Fitz-warren, the lord Talbot, fir John d'Ambreticourt and fir Maubrun de Linieres, with one hundred fpears and two hundred archers. The king of Portugal, hear-ing the duchefs of Lancafter and her daughter were on the road, was much pleafed, and fent fome of his principal courtiers to meet them, fuch as the counts d'Angoufes, de Novaire, fir John Radighes de Sar, fir John Fernando Portelet, fir Vafco Martin • de Merlo, fir Egeas Colle, and twenty other knights. They rode two long' leagues before they met the ladies, who received them gracioufly and gaily. fht duchefs politely made acquaintance with the different knights, and, as they rode together, fhe converted with much affability among them all. Thus did they arrive at Oporto, when the duchefs and her ladies were condu&ed to the palace. ' The king was the firft who waited on them, and kiffed them all round ; then came the queen, attended by her 185