But they are a mighty people.

They have extended their rule over many peoples, on the other side of the water; and they have captured many islands which lie not so very far from your shores." "How far away ?" one of the old counselors asked.
"A vessel with a favoring wind would sail to your coast, thence, in twelve or fourteen days," Roger replied.
There was a general exclamation of surprise and uneasiness from Roger's hearers.

Many questions were asked him, as to the number of men the Spaniards could put in the field.

His answer somewhat reassured them.
"Perhaps two thousand would be the utmost they could send from these islands," he said; "though I know not the strength of their various garrisons.

But from Spain they could, if they chose, send across the seas in their ships ten times as many." "We could put over two hundred thousand in the field," the king said proudly.
Roger was silent.
"You do not think," the king went on after a pause, "that twenty thousand of these men are to be feared by a host like ours ?" "With equal arms and armor, no, your Majesty; but with the advantage of their weapons, the fact that they are clad in armor which your spears and arrows and knives would be powerless to pierce, and that many of them would be mounted soldiers, whose rush and impetus in battle it is nigh impossible--even for white infantry, who have no fear of the horses, and are themselves clad in armor--to withstand; and that they have, in addition these, terrible cannon of which I spoke to you, I think that should twenty thousand of the Spaniards land here, they would be irresistible.
"However, I do not think that there is any chance of such an army being brought against you.