a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1589. 



supplies from all places, of Souldiours : for the Duke 

 of Braganca, and Don Francisco de Toledo were looked 

 for with great reliefe. Whereupon his conclusion was, 

 that if the 3000 promised came not that night, to march 

 wholly away the next morning. 



It may be here demanded, why a matter of so great 

 moment should be so slenderly regarded, as that the 

 Generall should march with such an army against such 

 an enemy, before he knew either the fulnesse of his 

 owne strength, or certaine meanes how he should abide 

 the place when he should come to it. Wherein I pray 

 you remember the Decrees made in the Councell at 

 Peniche, and confirmed by publique protestation the 

 first day of our march, that our navy should meet us 

 in the river of Lisbon, in the which was the store of 

 all our provisions, and so the meane of our tariance in 

 that place, which came not, though we continued till 

 we had no munition left to entertaine a very small 

 fight. We are also to consider, that the King of Por- 

 tugall (whether carried away with imagination by the 

 advertisements he received from the Portugals, or wil- 

 ling by any promise to bring such an army into his 

 Countrey, thereby to put his fortune once more in 

 triall) assured the Generall, that upon his first landing, 

 there would be a revolt of his subjects : whereof there 

 was some hope given at our first entry to Peniche, by 

 the maner of the yeelding of that towne and fort, 

 which made the Generall thinke it most convenient 

 speedily to march to the principall place, thereby to 

 give courage to the rest of the Countrey. The Friers 

 also and the poore people that came unto him promised, 

 that within two dayes the gentlemen and others of the 

 Countrey would come plentifully in : within which two 

 [II. ii. 147.] dayes came many more Priests, and some very few 

 gentlemen on horsebacke; but not til we came to 

 Torres Vedras : where they that noted the course of 

 things how they passed, might somewhat discover the 

 weaknesse of that people. There they tooke two dayes 



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