"Besides, sire," added the duke, "Your Majesty should bethink you that the troops about to take the field are mere men of Andalusia, whereas your illustrious predecessors never made an inroad into the territory of the Moors without being accompanied by a powerful force of the stanch and iron warriors of Old Castile." * Illescas, Hist.

Pontifical.
"Duke," replied the king, "your counsel might have been good had I not departed from Medina with the avowed determination of succoring these cavaliers in person.

I am now near the end of my journey, and it would be beneath my dignity to change my intention before even I had met with an impediment.

I shall take the troops of this country who are assembled, without waiting for those of Castile, and with the aid of God shall prosecute my journey."* * Pulgar, Cronica, p.

3, cap.