plained and renewed.

This being done,

he returned to his refidence in the city of Pampelona, ordering all the avenues of his country to be left open, and commanding his fubjects to furnish the English with provisions on payment of a reasonable price for them..

The Prince's army then continued its march in three divifions; the first commanded by the Duke of Lancafter and Lord John Chandos; the fecond by the Prince himself and Don Pedro; and the third by James, King of Majorca: in this order they paffed the Pyrenean mountains, not without incredible difficulties from the gedness of the roads, and the inclemency of the feafon.

*

rug

Don Henry, King of Caftile, urged by Sir Bertrand du Guefclin, had taken every precaution to fruftrate the attempt of his enemies by the affistance of Pedro, King of Arragon, and fome other neighbouring powers,

R 3

of

powers, he was enabled to raise an army one hundred thousand men, with which he now advanced to meet the Prince of Wales, whofe forces did not amount to one-third of that number.

When the armies approached each other, the Prince detached a party of one hundred and fifty men at arms, and three hundred felect archers, all well mounted, under the command of Lord Thomas Felton, to dif cover the posture of his adverfary: Sir Thomas having paffed the river Ebro with great fecrecy, encamped at Naverret, from whence they frequently rode up to the camp of the Spaniards, with an intent to defcry their numbers and fituation. One evening they ventured almost to a village which Don Henry had made his head quarters this boldness brought on a skirmifh; but notwithstanding Sir Thomas was obliged to retreat, he carried off feveral prifoners with him. The next morning he fent a Knight to inform the Prince, then at Salvatierra,

Salvatierra, of his fuccefs, and the strength

of the enemy;

at the fame time he informed him that Don Henry was advancing to meet him, and feemed defirous to come to an engagement. The Prince hearing these tidings, faid aloud to thofe about him, "By my faith this baftard Henry is a "valiant Knight, his readinefs to meet us

66

proves him fo; fince he is thus difpofed, 66 we will not long oppofe his wifhes."

t

He then immediately iffued orders for marching to Victoria, an advantageous poft which he thought it neceffary to fecure: he was no fooner arrived than he drew up his army in order of battle, and waited with compofure the attack. To raise an emulation among the younger part of his forces, he first knighted in the field Don Pedro, and afterwards conferred the fame honour on feveral courageous and hopeful young Gentlemen. But Don Henry being well fupplied with provifions, and finding that a scarcity prevailed among his enemies,

he could not be drawn from his camp. The Prince fecing there was no poffibility of procuring fubfiftence for his army in his prefent fituation, marched through the province of Alava till he came to Vienne on the confines of Navarre; where having refreshed his men for two days, he paffed the Ebro and encamped near Najara. Don Henry, on this movement of the Prince, diflodging from St. Miguel encamped near him, and a battle now became unavoidable.

The next day, being Saturday the third of April 1367, the Prince was ready armed and in the field as foon as the morning dawned. As the armies approached each other, with his vifor up, and his hands clafped in a fupplicating attitude, he addreffed himself to Heaven in a fhort ejaculation, begging with great humility and fervour the affiftance of that Being, without whofe aid neither valour nor ftrength can enfure fuccefs; after which, laying his right hand on the fhoulder of Don

Pedro

Pedro who rode by his fide, he bid him be of good cheer, for that day he trusted would place him again on the throne of Caftile: he then gave the word for the onfet, which "Advance, banners, in the name of

was,

"God and St. George."

The divifion which the Prince led attacked with great fury the van of the Spaniards, commanded by the Duke of Sancelloni and Don Sancho, the King's Brothers; but not being able to withstand the impetuous fhock, they foon fled in great diforder, and opened a way for the English to reach the main body, which confifted of fixty thousand men, at the head of whom was Don Henry.

The fight now grew defperate, and was maintained with great bravery by both parties till noon, when victory declared for the Prince. Don Henry rallied his men three times, and led them back to the charge with undaunted refolution, endea

vouring