d for the large and powerful
ship which lay out at sea. But the problem was solved when they saw the
valorous Richard jump into his boat, fully equipped in rich and splendid
armour. Without waiting for any other escort than that of a vast
multitude of the people who followed him, he proceeded on foot to the
palace, where the queen was standing in a balcony, waiting for news of
the ships, and surrounded by her ladies, among whom was Isabella,
dressed in the English style, which became her as well as the Castilian.
A messenger, who had anticipated Richard's arrival, had startled her by
the announcement of his coming, and she stood watching for him with
feelings that fluttered between hope and fear, not knowing whether he
had sped well or ill upon his expedition.

Richard was a young man of noble presence, tall and finely proportioned,
and he looked to great advantage in a complete suit of Milanese armour
all graven and gilded, and instead of a helmet, a wide-leafed fawn
coloured hat with Walloon plumes. Thus equipped, and with his spirited
bearing, to some he seemed like Mars the god of battles; others, struck
by the beauty of his face, compared him to Venus sportively disguised in
the armour of that god. When he came before the Queen he knelt, and gave
a brief account of his expedition.

"After the sudden death of general de Lansac," he said, "I took his
place in pursuance of your Majesty's gracious orders. Shortly afterwards
we discovered two Turkish galleys towing a large ship, which we have
brought home with us. We attacked them; your Majesty's soldiers fought
with great spirit, as they always do, and the corsair galleys went to
the bottom. I liberated in your Majesty's royal name the Christians who
had escaped out of the hands of the Turks, and sent them away in one of
our vessels; and have only brought with me one Spaniard and his wife,
who desired of their own accord to come and behold your Majesty's
greatness. The great ship we took, is one of those which come from the
Portuguese possessions in India; being damaged by a storm, it fell into
the power of the Turks, who took it without any difficulty. According to
the account given by some of the Portuguese on board the ship, her cargo
of spices, and the pearls and diamonds she carries, are worth more than
a million. All is untouched, the Turks not having had time to lay hands
on anything, and I have given orders that the whole should be presented
to your Majesty. T