Sancho d'Avila ordered food and refreshments to be laid before them, but they refused everything but a draught of wine.

They would dine in Paradise, they said, or sup in Antwerp.

Finding his allies in such spirit, Don Sancho would not balk their humor.

Since early morning, his own veterans had been eagerly awaiting his signal, "straining upon the start." The troops of Romero, Vargas, Valdez, were no less impatient.

At about an hour before noon, nearly every living man in the citadel was mustered for the attack, hardly men enough being left behind to guard the gates.