THE PORTUGAL VOYAGE a.d. 



1589. 



more ; and at the end thereof referred him till our 

 comming to Lisbon, with assurance, that so soone as 

 our army should be seene there, all the inhabitants 

 would be for the King and fall upon the Spaniards. 



After two nights tariance at Lisbon, the King, as you 

 have heard, promised a supply of 3000 foot, and some 

 horse : but all his appointments being expired, even to 

 the last of a night, all his horse could not make a 

 cornet of 40, nor his foot furnish two ensignes fully, 

 although they caried three or foure colours : and these 

 were altogether such as thought to inrich themselves 

 by the ruine of their neighbours : for they committed 

 more disorders in every place where we came by spoile, 

 then any of our owne. 



The Generall, as you see, having done more then 

 before his comming out of England was required by 

 the King, and given credit to his many promises, even to 

 the breach of the last, he desisted not to perswade him 

 to stay yet nine dayes longer : in which time he might 

 have engaged himselfe further, then with any honour 

 he could come out of againe, by attempting a towne 

 fortified, wherein were more men armed against us, then 

 we had to oppugne them withall, our artillery and 

 munition being fifteene miles from us, and our men then 

 declining ; for there was the first shew of any great 

 sickenesse amongst them. Whereby it seemeth, that 

 either his prelacy did much abuse him in perswading him 

 to hopes, whereof after two or three dayes he saw no 

 semblance : or he like a silly lover, who promiseth 

 himselfe favor by importuning a coy mistresse, thought 

 by our long being before his towne, that in the end taking 

 pity on him, they would let him in. 



What end the Friers had by following him with such 

 devotion, I know not, but sure I am, the Laity did 

 respite their homage till they might see which way the 

 victory would sway ; fearing to shew themselves 

 apparantly unto him, least the Spaniard should after our 

 departure (if we prevailed not) call them to account : yet 



505 



