a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1589. 



sent they under hand messages to him of obedience, 

 thereby to save their owne, if he became King ; but 

 indeed very well contented to see the Spaniards and us 

 try by blowes, who should carry away the crowne. For 

 they be of so base a mould, as they can very wel 

 subject themselves to any government, where they may 

 live free from blowes, and have liberty to become rich, 

 being loth to endure hazzard either of life or goods. 

 For durst they have put on any minds thorowly to 

 revolt, they had three woonderfull good occasions offered 

 them during our being there. 



Themselves did in generall confesse, that there were 

 not above 5000 Spaniards in that part of the Countrey, of 

 which number the halfe were out of the towne till the 

 last day of our march : during which time, how easily 

 they might have prevailed against the rest, any man may 

 conceive. But upon our approch they tooke them all in, 

 and combined themselves in generall to the Cardinall. 



The next day after our comming thither, when the 

 sally was made upon us by their most resolute Spaniards, 

 how easily might they have kept them out, or have given 

 us the gate which was held for their retreat, if they had 

 had any thought thereof? 



And two dayes after our comming to Cascais, when 

 6000 Spaniards and Portugals came against us as farre 

 as S. Julians by land, as you shal presently heare (all 

 which time I thinke there were not many Spaniards 

 left in the towne) they had a more fit occasion to shew 

 their devotion to the King, then any could be offered 

 by our tarying there. And they could not doubt, that 

 if they had shut them out, but that we would have fought 

 with them upon that advantage, having sought them in 

 Galitia upon disadvantage to beat them : and having 

 taken so much paines to seeke them at their owne houses, 

 whereof we gave sufficient testimony in the same accident. 

 But I thinke the feare of the Spaniard had taken so 

 deepe impression within them, as they durst not attempt 

 any thing against them upon any hazzard. 



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