But he had, for some mysterious reason, been bent upon persuading the Earl that the Spaniards were no match for Englishmen at a hand-to-hand contest.

When they could ride freely up and down, he said, and use their lances as they liked, they were formidable.

But the English were stronger men, better riders, better mounted, and better armed.

The Spaniards hated helmets and proof armour, while the English trooper, in casque, cuirass, and greaves, was a living fortress impregnable to Spanish or Italian light horsemen.

And Leicester seemed almost convinced by his reasoning.
It was five o'clock of a chill autumn morning.