not allowe of this stratageme holding it for a refreshing to the enimie without any profite for it was not likely that that which had casually chaunced against sixe hundreth men woulde succeed in the like sort against twelue thousand whereupon they sent them backe As the Marques had viewed this troupe of beasts hauing reinforced the point of his armie with Germaine pikes commaunding them that if they came they shoulde quietly suffer them to come on so passed this day the French not ceasing to disquiet the enimie with certaine peeces of artillerie they had planted vpon those hils Then did Emanuel de Silua resolue to flie the which hee coulde not easily effect for that euerie man kept a watch ouer him and therefore hee caused a false brute to be spredde abroad that he had threescore saile of French ships at sea which came to their succour and seeming that he would sende to meete with them he caused the prepared barke to goe out of the port that it might attend him at Altary but when they came at the mouth the artillerie from the fortes woulde not suffer them to passe either ignorant of their intention or for that the authoritie of Silua began now to decline so as returning backe the flight of Emanuel was preuented During this time the Spaniards were distressed for water beeing forced vntill then to furnish themselues from their armie whereof the French had great store and therefore the Marques consulted that night to amend if it were possible the next morning the seate of their lodging the which was helde somewhat difficult but for as much as both good fortune and badde hath no limits he found lesse difficultie then he expected for the same night the greatest part of the Portugals vnder Emanuel de Silua terrified with the skirmi sh of the day the number of the enimies seeming too great hauing abandoned the French retired themselues confusedly to the mountaine although woorthie of admiration for being the very same obstinate rebels which esteemed themselues so great warriors as they would neuer heare motion of accord peace nor pardon it seemed strange that now when as laying a side words they needed effects they departed so shamefully and changed their mindes so sodainely for in their flight they saide that this Ilande appertained to the Catholique king and that it was reason to yeeld it vnto him But wee ought not to value the constancie of the peoples harts nor their valour The Generall of the French seeing the Portugals departure and that Emanuel de Silua who had so highly commended their valour stoode in a traunce he resolued to saue himselfe with his men the day drawing neere he beganne likewise to retire to the mountaine of our Lady of Guadalupa with hope that Silua had giuen him that there in a certaine place of strength he should be able so long to defend himselfe that the kings armie winter drawing on shoulde be forced to retire and that afterwards if they coulde not recouer what they had lost they shoulde haue an easie meanes to returne into Fraunce but for that the quitting of their lodging was not verie safe fearing least the Marques standing vpon his guarde shoulde charge them he caused as many of his soldiers as he could spare to march before leauing some behinde to maintaine skirmish with the Spaniards and to entertaine them a little if they approched But the Marques hauing soone discouered the enimies departure aduanced with his whole armie putting those few that remained to flight he recouered the water and Saint Sebastian with some peeces of artillery where the soldiers hauing refreshed themselues and all the French departed he tooke his way towards the citie of Angra distant about tenne miles finding no let in his march for that the enimie fearefully had taken a contrarie course This citie being nothing fortified to the lande lay open and therefore was abandoned not onely of the soldiers but also of the inhabitants themselues who fledde as well out of the castell as the towne The armie arriued there after great labour for the season being verie hot the countrie drie not finding vpon their march one droppe of water the soldiers endured much and some of them especially of the Germaines died for thirst Being arriued the spoile of the citie continued three daies although the houses were for the most part emptie so as the greatest number of men that were founde there were prisoners whom they set at libertie By meanes of their entrie into the citie all the other fortes were taken for being onely made against the landing they were towards the lande open and indefensible As the armie marched against the towne so did the galleies in like sort against those ships that lay in the harbour drawing neere vnto them they woulde haue forced them to obey with their artillerie but they shot in vaine for being abandoned by such as were left in them there was not any man left to make answere which the galleies discouering they boorded and spoiled them The bootie both at land and sea was not verie great for besides the artillerie they found not any thing of great importance The slaues which were in number aboue fifteene hundred was the greatest recompence they got The citie being spoiled and other places thereabouts the Marques desired that the inhabitants should returne to their houses for although the souldiers which were retired into some place of the mountaines had carried with them some prisoners both men and women the which after they deliuered freely yet the greatest part returned not and therefore he caused a generall proclamation to bee made that euerie man some excepted should freely returne vnto his house but the Portugals beeing distrustfull they were few that came at that time although after by little and little they grew more confident Things being reduced into this estate although the French remained still in the mountaine the Marques thought it fit to send vnto other Ilands to force them to obedience especially to Fayale where there remained a garrison For this consideration hauing imbarqued in his galleies and some other small vessels 2500. foote drawen out of all nations hee sent them to the said Iland vnder the conduct of Peter de Toledo Whilest these went vnto that other enterprise the French remaining in the Iland of Tercerae although they had somewhat fortified themselues in the mountaine being ill prouided of victuals and munition woorse succoured by the Portugals resolued with the most honourable conditions they could to make their composition with the Marques Mounsieuer de Chattes remembred that he had knowen beeing in Malta Peter de Padiglia a gentleman that came with the Marques an expert Marshall of the Spanish campe to whom remembring their familiaritie he did write his minde demanding free passage not only for himselfe and his troupes baggage Armes artillerie and ensignes but also would haue passage graunted for all Portugals that would imbarke
straggle from the campe hee was most miserable for whilest they ledde him bound such as were armed with their armes religious men with their staues women and children with stones did so pitifully handle him as happie was hee that coulde strike him and their licentious libertie was so great as it was lawfull for any one though most base and for euery slaue to wrong any stranger whatsoeuer to imprison him and sende him to the galleies for charging him to be an enimie the whole people at the least motion would rise and execute what they pleased were it right or wrong Anthony seeing nowe all hope of defence vpon the passage of the riuer lost and a mighty enimie so neere him sought some remedie for his affaires All conditions presented vnto him were most hard For to issue foorth and fight he iudged it a folly finding his defect of men to vanquish much lesse to bring the battaile in question To defend the citie it was impossible for the greatnes thereof being without wals and weake His flight by sea was stopped by the galleies he woulde not hazard to escape by lande being vnable to carry with him many iewels and some money which he had gathered togither and to compounde with the Duke was brother vnto death So as wauering in these thoughts the magistrate of the chamber of Lisbone went vnto him saying That seeing the enimy was so neere and so mightie they would not bring the safetie of the citie in question nor so gouerne themselues that being weake it shoulde be a praie to the soldiers that therefore hee shoulde prepare to issue foorth and defend it the which if he did not the citie coulde do no lesse then prouide for her owne safetie He answered that the time was nowe come when as they shoulde aide him with men entertained at their owne charge which doing he hoped with many others which hee had assembled God woulde giue him the victorie but the magistrate excused they coulde not do it for the great charge they had beene at by reason of the plague whereunto he replied that within two daies howsoeuer he woulde frame his campe and march against the Duke For this cause hauing let passe the fourth day of August most vnhappie to the Portugals for the losse of the battaile in Affrick and hauing left some of his most precious things in certaine religious houses he commaunded that all soldiers which had beene long before inrolled and all the people of Lisbone without exception of person whatsoeuer should march towards Belem the which was executed with great rigour forcing many to go in person For although the hatred against the Castillians were in generall yet the tailor the shoemaker the handicrafts men and the peasants who bragged that they alone woulde conquer the whole world did not willingly leaue their houses but fainting daily they chose rather to encounter with wordes then bullets besides being accustomed to an other trade and vnfit for warre they had not beene trained to shoote in a Harquebuse vnapt to carrie much lesse to mannage a pike So as of this forced and tumultuarie people they had assembled eight or ten thousand at Belem whither in the ende Anthony went who still doubtfull and ill aduised without any resolution expecting what time woulde counsaile him The resolution whereon he most depended was that if the Duke came against the citie to meete him vpon the waie with some aduantage if he coulde and giue him battaile propounding like a desperate man either to vanquish or to die yet soone after when the occasiō was presented he could neither effect the one nor the other His troupes lay not encamped but were dispersed heere and there within the houses of that small place vnder the porches of the monasterie and other such like without either forme or strength of a lodging He had no captaine of experience no marshall of the fielde nor sergeant that coulde commaund the soldiers lodge them and put them in battaile if neede were Sforce Orsin a yoong man and valiant but of no great experience was come out of Italy at the brute of these warres yet being a stranger and alone he was not obeied neither did they greatly trust him The priuate captaines of companies had no experience and there was so great want of men that some friers were made captaines of the Moores and of the scum of the people carrying in one hande their crosses and in the other their armes It is not to be forgotten as a thing not accustomed the mutinies growen in religious houses where being deuided into factions fewe were affected to the Castillians few remained newters and infinite were those that affected the rule of Anthony for the fauouring of whose cause they committed manie disorders The priests were no more temperate then the rest many whereof hauing left their priestly habite were gone to field armed In this confusion Anthony remained three daies at Belem whilest the Duke approched slowly The fourth day hee considered that although there came still vnto him some soldiers which had beene leuied in all the cities of the realme yet the armie diminished daily for that the inhabitants of the citie left him who hauing their houses neere not accustomed to the discommodities of warre fled from him therefore he sent to Lisbone commaunding vpon great punishments to bring vnto him by force al such as should be found armed or vnarmed defending that no man shoulde retire to anie other place but where he was desiring that as well the cowardes as the valiant shoulde runne the like fortune with him supposing as king Sebastian had done to his losse it were possible to force men to fight that were both vnskilfull and vnwilling And forasmuch as his onely hope consisted in the peoples fauour to the ende they shoulde follow him more willingly he graunted vnto all but especially to those of his traine free libertie the which carrying with it confusion was cause of great harme for as the whole citie was filled with Negroes and Peasants the quieter sorte had more feare of the people thē of the enimy yet was there not seene any one to powre foorth his hate or commit any priuate reuenge of small or great importance not for that there are not many dissentions and factions amongst them but being more apt to reuenge themselues by the toong then by sworde All rigour to force men to the fielde preuailed little for feare encreasing with this diligence they hidde themselues the more the which Anthony perceiuing finding himselfe in no assurance at Belem hauing the enimies campe so neere and a conquerour he was aduised to passe on and to lodge about the wals of the rocke of Saint Iulian supposing that two good effects woulde grow thereby the one that his armie should be more safe vnder the fauour of the cannon and of the tower the other that he should assure this forte being the only defence of the whole realme But this aduise being disallowed
lodging seeing himselfe at one instant so much endomaged with the artillerie the bridge to be forced which he held for very strong his men to flie and their horsemen to make way to cut off all way of retreat he grewe amazed Notwithstanding being accompanied with Counte Emanuel of Portugall with Diego Boteglio the elder Edward de Castro he fledde likewise towards the citie without order or without any resistance amidst the prease of his people where at the entrie of the suburbes he was hurt in the head by a soldier on horsebacke and if he had staied but a little longer or the horsemen made more haste hee had beene taken prisoner by some Italian aduenturers who were aduaunced verie farre In this haste hee passed with the rest of his broken armie through the citie whereof a part yet the least following him entred by one gate and went foorth by an other and the other parte which was the greater hauing cast away their armes hid themselues in their houses where they had their wiues and children and such as were come from other parts of the realme assembled themselues in churches with great feare In passing he commaunded the prisons to be opened so as with a great number of offenders that were deliuered there came foorth such as were committed as affected vnto Philip. The Dukes men hauing slaine many of these miserable wretches with their shot and launces who fledde by fower and sixe togither making but a weake and vnprofitable resistance came to the citie Ferrant de Toledo as chiefe marching before the rest vnder whose authoritie the whole armie was gouerned seeing the battaile woone fearing the soldiers furie should do more hurt then he wished did expresly keepe them backe causing them to stay supposing there might remaine yet some men to conquer and being come to the gates of the citie hee staied to parley with the Magistrate of the chamber from the wals who was come thither to that effect But their treaties were shorte and little disagreeing for the Portugals seeing themselues before the Castillians soldiers their miserable king hurt and fled and their army in route they seemed to be now reduced to their last exigent And Ferrant although a conquerour yet desirous according to the kings meaning to saue the citie from spoile they soone agreed Ferrant demaunded the citie the Portugals desired to know in what sort and although some answered at discretion yet the Magistrate offring to yeeld as other cities had done it was graunted they shoulde haue their liues and goods saued least by longer stay the soldiers should haue occasion to cōmit some disorder Notwithstanding some of the Magistrates being let downe from the wals were carried behinde some Castillian Caualiers to the Duke who granted them their demaunds with better acception and more freely Then began the soldiers against the Dukes will to disband and spoile that part of the citie which is without the wals the which is greater nobler and fairer then that within and is so spatious as many great cities are not comparable vnto it So as although this body in the midst of Lisbone was not spoiled yet the suburbes were and all places thereabouts and likewise some houses within the which vnder colour to appertaine to rebels were giuen in pray to the soldiers whom they coulde no otherwise withstand seeing they had sufficiently obeied in preseruing the citie from spoile three daies Many innocent citizens lost their most precious mooueables the which by reason of the plague which then raigned greatly in the citie they had transported to their farmes and other possessions neere thereabouts where they were spoiled The extortions the soldiers committed were not great but the riches that fell into their hands were infinite The galleies did great harme for besides the spoiling of the bankes of Tagus and the ransacking of all the ships within the Porte where they founde infinite store of merchandise they serued like wise vnto the soldiers that were on lande as a meanes to hide and carrie away all things were they neuer so great not being forced to discharge themselues of their baggage to sell them at lowe prices vpon the place as it often hapneth The custome houses that is to say the generall and that of merchandise of the Indies alwaies full of pretious wares although they were without the citie gates yetwere they not spoiled For by reason of their great riches Alonso de Leua Generall of the galleies of Sicily sent a guard of priuate soldiers to haue care and defend them The religious women whose monasteries were all without the wals were preserued and withall much wealth that was kept there yet much of that which was left in the houses of religious men was stolen away but most of all in that of Saint Rocke whereas the Iesuits remaine for certaine Italian soldiers being first entred were expelled by the Spaniards who being sent thither by their commaunders vnder colour to preserue them being friends they committed greater excesse then the other being enimies would haue done for the Italians being departed the Spaniards hauing searched out the most secret things and finding them they carried them by night into the galleies and into their houses The diuersitie of nations which were at the spoile caused more respect to the women and holy things then had beene otherwise for the Spaniards most insolent in other countries were here against their nature very continent least by their example the Italians and Germaines in Spaine shoulde grow woorse The bootie of mooueables and other precious things which this citie in so many yeeres peace and by the traffique of the Indies had gathered togither was infinite The number of such as were slaine in the battaile was small in regard of the little defence they made notwithstanding there died not aboue a thousand of the Portugals and not aboue a hundreth of the Dukes armie of so small force were the peoples armes rusted with ease The Duke when the citie was yeelded came himselfe in person for the defence thereof where hauing made some stay in one of the houses neere the suburbes hee returned to lodge from whence the Portugals were departed Anthony hauing dressed his wounde at Sacabem sixe miles from Lisbone marched easily toward Saint Arem The Duke standing doubtfull whether he remained still within the citie or were fled for that the Portugals for his better safetie gaue out false rumours This victorie was of great importance and had beene greater if the Prior had beene taken prisoner for in his safetie the realme which shoulde haue beene in quiet remained in suspence all men supposing that he should repaire his forces and trie his fortune a newe The Duke was blamed of many for not vsing of greater diligence saying it was a great errour in all other things to haue set so good an order and to haue omitted it in this of such importance some did attribute it vnto negligence others vnto malice especially for
The discontentments of the people of Lisbone Henrie desired to marrie The Catholique King sends a lacobin into Portugall The predendents to the Crowne of Portugall cited to declare their reasons Philip frames a counsell of the affaires of Portugal Iohn de Silua solicites to be sent backe into Portugall Christopher de Mora called againe and sent Ambassadour into Portugall in steede of Iohn de Silua The grounds of the Prior. Of the Duke of Sauoy Of the Duke of Parma Of the Dutchesse of Braganca Of the Catholike King The ground of the people The Queen Mother of Fraunce The peoples complaint against King Henrie The letters of the Prior to Henrie The sentence of King Henry against the Prior touching his legitimation The reasons of the Catholique king against the pretendents Against the Prior. Against the Duke of Sauoy Against the Duke of Parma Against the Dutchesse of Bragance Against the people Against the Queene mother of Fraunce Philip sendeth to signifie his right to Henry Philip prepares for warre against the Portugals The suspension of Henries briefe The Priors letters to Henry con cerning his rigor Henries second sentence against the Prior. Henrie changeth his opinion to the benefit of Philip touching the succession The offers of Pope Gregory 13 to the Catholike King A publication of the gouernors of Portugall The discourse of the Portugals vpon the state of the Realme The Castillians discourse touching the affaires of Portugall The Portugals answere to the Castillians discourse The plague in Portugall and the proceedings Bezar stone excellent against the plague The States of Almerin Henry changeth the Deputies of Lisbone and the cause The opening of the Estates at Almerin by the Bishop of Leiria The answere of Sosa Deputie of Lisbne A mutinie at Coimbra The speech of Moniz Deputie of Lisbone The Deputies of the Realme sent to Henrie to be admitted to the election of the King with the answere King Henry sicke The death of King Henry The life of Henry The regencie of the gouernors Martin Gonsalues sent to the deputies of the Realme The deputies aunswere to Martin The resolution of Gonzalues ambassage Anthonies course to obtaine the Crowne Anthony his letters to the states of Almerin The States answere to Anthony and his arriuall The clause of King Henries testament The speach of the Deputie of Portalegre The states send to the Gouernors The duke of Barcellos detained by the Duke of Medina Sidonia The diligence of the catholique King to assure his conscience for the Realm of Portugall The Catholique Kings preparatiues against Portugall The duke of Alua chosen generall of the army into Portugall The Catholique Kings Letters to the Duke of Alua. The Catholique King goes towards Portugall The Duke of Alua ariues at his Army The nombers of the Dukes Army The comming of the Ambassadors from the gouernors to the Catholique King and their negotiation The conclusion of the States at Almeryn The Gouernors prepare for defence The manner of the enterprise of Portugall The state of the Duke of Alua his armie The conditions that the Catholique King offred if they would deliuer the realme quietly The Gouernors sollicite their defence The Drie head fortified A confusion of the affaires of Portugall and the Gouernours The disorder of the religious of Belem Doctor Fernand de Pina slaine The answer of the Catholique king to the Portugals The gouernours inconstancie The diligence of the Catholique King vpon his entrie by force into Portugall made by the Diuines of Alcala The Catholique King takes possession of Portugall A question whether the Catholique King should go with the armie in person The Kings army wasted Confusion in Portugall The taking of Eluas The Kings letters to them of Eluas The reduction of Oliuenza The Catholique king his letter vnto Anthonie Anthonie proclaimed King of Portugall Two contrarie factions in Oliuenza The Catholique king sworne at Oliuenza The gouernors neglect the defence of Lisbone Anthonie arriues at Lisbone and proclaimed King The speech of Fonsequa for the creation of Anthonie The flight of Teglio The flight of the gouernors Anthonie arriued at Settuual Cascayes S. Iulian yeelde to Anthonie The Duke of Bragance sendes to Philip. The Catholique kings answere to the Duke of Bragance The taking of Villauisosa Reasons why the King should not goe in person The Kings army entred into Portugall The taking of Stremos Euora yeelded The taking of Mount Maior Anthony his entrie into Lisbone The decree of the Gouernors Anthonies preparation for the defence of the kingdome Disorders at Lisbone The taking of Settuual The arriuall of the Marques of Saint Crux with the armie by sea The yeelding of the fortresse Three poore women crying to Anthony to succour Settuual Anthonies care to succour Settuual The counsell of Anthonie and his resolutions Anthonies feare The resolutions of Anthony and of his counsell The Bishop of Guarda seconds Anthony The counsell of Anthony ill grounded An allarum at Lisbone Anthony offers to compound Cardinall Riario sent Legatinto Spaine The discourse of the Spaniards vpon this Legation The Legat visites the King The sundrie opinions for the passage of the army The armie passeth at Cascaies The disimbarking of the Dukes armie The disposition of the Dukes armie They charge the Portugals who retire The blames of Meneses and his excuses A confusion in the citie of Lisbone Anthony goes towards Cascaies Cascaies taken and spoiled The castell taken Diego de Meneses beheaded Henry Pereira hanged Anthonie marcheth towards Belem with his men consusedly Religious men deuided into factions Anthonic retires to Alcantara The Catholique kings pardon to the Portugals The Duke marcheth against the rocke of Saint Iulian. A treatie of agreement with Anthony Anthony his letter to the King The answere of the Duke to Anthony The rocke of Saint Iulian battered and the aduise of the Inginers A poore woman cause of the yeelding of Saint Iulian The rocke of Saint Iulian yeelded Cabessa Secca abandoned The feare of them at Lisbone The yeelding of the tower of Belem The Duke of Alua his speech to the soldiers The order of the Dukes armie Anthony his preparation against the Duke The flight of Anthony towards the citie his defeate and hurt The yeelding of Lisbone The spoile of the suburbs of Lisbone The number that were slaine in the battaile The Duke blamed The commendations of the Duke of Alua. The Catholique kings sicknes and the discourse vpon it Lisbone sweares obedience to the king A contagious Catar Saint Arem yeelds obedience The Prior assembles new forces Auero taken The Duke blamed The Dukes excuses The yeelding of the places in Affricke which the Portugals held The Terceraes Sanches de Auila against the Prior. The yeelding of Coimbra The estate of Porto and the reduction The Portugals and Castillians disagree The yeelding of Auero and other exploites of Sanches d'Auila The statagem of Anthony Serrano to recouer aboate Sanches D' Auila passeth the riuer of Doro at Auintes The speech of Auila
yoong men induced by Philips partisans seeing into what danger the captaine had brought the safety of the citie resolued to kill him and going to the Cathedrall church where they were all assembled they attended at the doore to effect it when he shoulde come foorth but discoursing with the Bishop who perswaded him ignorant of the danger wherein he was a nephew of his named likewise Anthony de Melo vnderstanding in the castell in what danger his grandfather was came foorth with certaine Harguebusiers to his succour and came in time before he was yet issued out of the church Old Anthony seeing this yoong man enter armed was amazed not knowing the cause but vnderstanding it afterwards and withall the hazard whereunto he was brought by such as did watch for him he sent to Velasco that he shoulde compound with the magistrate that as for him he was content to yeeld obedience to king Philip by meanes whereof all was pacified for the Magistrate had alreadie yeelded At the taking of their oathes the Citizens ill aduised required Velasco that in the Kings name hee shoulde graunt vnto the citie many priuileges and exemptions of customes and impostes throughout the realme with many other things of importance And hee liberall of that which he could not giue graunted all that was demaunded but these promises were not obserued by the King saying as it was true indeed that Velasco had exceeded his commission These things ended they were aduertised that Gaspar de Britto whom the citie had sent to Diego de Meneses was returning with three hundred men horse and foote ill appointed to guard this place to whom they presently sent word that he should turne back and hauing discouered the Castillian horse of himselfe he fled with al his troupes The day following the vsuall ceremonies perfourmed in proclaiming a newe King Velasco returned hauing staied there but three daies The principall of Eluas went after to Badagios to kisse the Kings hande of whom they had better reception then he is accustomed to giue vnto such people sending Garcia de Cardenas nephewe to the Duke of Alua to the citie to thanke the Citizens for their good wils Eluas being reduced Peter Velasco for the same intent tooke his way towards Oliuenza whither he had before written labouring that Nugno Aluares sonne to the Earle of Tentuguell being captaine of the place shoulde depart the which he easily obtained for the Citizens who had their affections enclined to the Catholique King were resolued to yeelde vnto him hauing entreated the King that it woulde please him not to make this place the first whereof he shoulde take possession seeing that he had woone their harts desiring rather to deserue lesse by obtaining late then to be accused of inconstancie by hastening much For this cause they not onelie thrust foorth Nugno Aluarez but also Diego de Sosa a knight of the order of Saint Iohn who had succeeded in his place The newes of all this and of the successe of Eluas came presently to Saint Arem whereas Anthony remained labouring with the people to be proclaimed King He was alwaies impatient in his pretention notwithstanding the persecutions that king Henry inflicted vpon him labouring still by all meanes possible to aspire to the crowne intreating threatning and suborning He treated by his Agents with the Catholique King in diuers manners Sometimes he seemed iealous of the Duke of Bragance and would ioine with the King against him Sometimes he treated to resigne his interest to Philip if he would make him a good composition carrying himselfe as his hopes increased or diminished So as it hapned vnto such as mannaged his affaires with the king when they found themselues to haue concluded a matter they found their authoritie reuoked The King in the end caused Christopher de Mora to talke with him and to make offer of all he should demaund for the great loue he bare vnto him without naming either summe or any thing else whatsoeuer but for that he hated Mora he would not by his meanes treate of this matter of agreement Notwithstanding when as the Duke of Ossuna deliuered vnto the Gouernors a copie of the kings minde as is before set downe he deliuered vnto Anthony a letter from the King wherein he did write vnto him That forasmuch as he was not ignorant many yeeres since of the good will he had alwaies borne him the which he had laboured to make shewe of in all occasions he was assured he woulde not prooue ingrate but shew himselfe answerable vnto that whereunto reason did binde him the neerenes of bloud that was betwixt them He said moreouer that hauing vnderstoode the right and apparant title hee had to the realmes of Portugall he entreated him most hartely to shew himselfe one of the first to receiue and to sweare him for his King and naturall Lord as God had appointed that by his example the rest might do that whereunto they were bounde assuring him that for his owne particular he woulde holde that regard of him to recompence and grace him as was conuenient referring the rest to that which the Duke of Ossuna and Mora shoulde deliuer vnto him But this letter wrought no effect for he then saide vnto the Duke that he woulde neuer agree making answere vnto the King that he could not satisfie him for that being vnder the peoples protection he must gouerne himselfe according to their mindes and therefore vnderstanding that the Castillians began to enter within the realm he made haste to dispatch this busines with the people the Deputies and making his profite of the possession the King tooke seeing the necessitie they had of a commaunder to make resistance he induced them to choose him Protector or King And although this resolution was made by the most seditious and arrogant who by force seeke to execute what they please who woulde needes proclaime him King yet were there many that woulde not yeeld vnto it many helde it more fit to call him Protector The Prior himselfe was not well resolued of this point suffring himselfe to be ledde as in all other his actions by the greatest number and his most fauorites who to induce the people to performe this acte in despight of some that woulde not assent being then in question to builde a fortresse a little without Saint Arem where there standes a small chappell dedicated to the inuocation of the Apostles they spred foorth a rumour that Anthony shoulde go thither the 19. of Iune to lay the first stone and that all the people shoulde worke in that fortification labouring in such an assembly to effect their desires But there needed no great arte for the people desirous of innouation ranne all thither that morning The Bishop of Parma being innocent and he of Guarda ofset purpose came to the chappell where masse was celebrated in the midst whereof they exhorted the assemblie to defence and with darke speeches to make an election
rule offring to entreat you perpetuallie not as a King but as a father and brother to you all Whom doe you esteeme him to be to whome this day we giue the empire ouer vs It is the true stocke the lawfull line and the onely plant which remaines of our Kings he is nephew to king Emanuel of famous memorie borne of Lewes his sonne the greatest and firmest pillars that euer Portugall had to him these realmes appertaine by right but if it were not so as it cannot be otherwise yet shoulde we flying the rest cast our selues into his bosome for by that meanes we should haue assured libertie and by the rest a most certaine bondage and tirannie At the end of this speech there was great reioicing and all cried out a King deliuering into his hands the standerd of the citie Emanuel Fonseca pronounced from the windowes these words as they were accustomed to doe Reale Reale for don Anthony king of Portugall the which was accepted by the people with great ioy And hauing made declaration in writing of this acte the Prior returned to the pallace where soone after taking the ordinarie oath to obserue the priuileges and liberties of the realme and all that other princes were woont to doe he dispatched his messengers with letters to all other cities and places commaunding them to sende vnto him to yeelde their obedience He made many offers to the Duke of Bragance and to the Marques of Villa Reale entreating all other Noblemen to come vnto him to consult of matters concerning the realme But the Duke perswaded likewise by the Deputies of the realme to compound with Anthony woulde not do it the Marques went not and fewe others did acknowledge him But Teglio seeing the Prior now become king without his helpe making she we to go from Belem where he remained to Lisbone to kisse his hands and hauing agreed with Diego Lopez de Sequeira captaine of three galleyes that were in the riuer he imbarked himselfe in one of them with the Bishop of Leiria Anthony de Castro Lord of Cascaies Martin Gonzales de Camera Emanuel Teles Barretto Frauncis de Meneses Lewes Caesar purueior of the Arcynal with some others carying with them fortie or fiftie thousand duckats in golde which he had caused to be brought from the minte at Lisbone vsurping them from Iaques de Bard a Florentine merchant who was the owner And in his departure whē most men beleeued they should go to the citie they tooke their course towards the sea and went to Settuual where the rest of the Gouernours remained yet two of the three galleis disobeying their captaines woulde not followe the foremost but went to the citie Teglio being arriued with his galleis at the mouth of the forte of Settuual the guard of the towne woulde not suffer him to enter but kept him off with their cannon being disimbarked a little on the one side he went by land towards the Gouernors to discharge himselfe but he was not receiued nor acknowledged of them as a companion who both in their writings and their speeches with him vsed him as a priuate Gentleman and not as a Gouernour for punishment of that which he had done at Belem and at Anthony his entrie at Lisbone And this was the only thing wherein the Gouernors shewed their authoritie for in all other things they discouered their feare and inconstancie The Prior seeing these men whereof he helde some of them to be his confident friendes to flie to carrie away the money and to ioine themselues with the Gouernors his aduersaries who began to fortifie Settuual discouered plainly that they had intelligence with the Catholique King that they woulde entertaine themselues in that place vntill the galleis of Italy which they vnderstood had beene trimmed at Saint Marie Porte shoulde arriue in those quarters to giue them entrie at Settuual whereby might ensue his ruine for that the Catholique King entring there with a great armie the citie of Lisbone shoulde be in a manner besieged and therefore hauing first imprisoned some that were suspected vnto him and demaunded money in loane from the merchants he resolued with what speed he could to recouer this place either by loue or force induced to make this haste by the proceeding of Tristan Vaz de Vega captaine of the fortresse of Saint Iulian at the mouth of Tagus to whom hauing written he made answere that he coulde not consigne him the castell nor hold it in his name alleaging that he had taken an oath not to deliuer it but to such as had put it into his hands which were the Gouernors so as Anthony reseruing this for a second enterprise hauing hastily and by force assembled the peasants about the citie the artisans slaues and other people gathered togither which in all came not to fifteene hundreth he transported them to the other side of the riuer but before he himselfe would passe he sent Frauncis of Portugal Count of Vimioso to Settuual to treate with the Gouernors and to perswade them to yeelde to his obedience to whom he did likewise write that they shoulde not dishonour and vndoe themselues seeking rather to giue the crowne to a stranger then to him who was their countreyman that they should come vnto him and he would freely forgiue all things But the Gouernors trusted neither to this letter nor to the wordes of the Earle being greatly bounde to the Catholique King whereof some of them as fauorites to king Henry had assisted to the sentences that had beene pronounced against him Therefore consulting with the Embassadors of the Catholique King they resolued to defend themselues vntill the comming of the kings armie the which they expected howerly But this practise succeeded not for the windes were still so contrarie that the galleis coulde not arriue the which the Duke of Bragance considering he woulde not attend but departed The Counte of Vimioso desirous to expell them from thence hauing incensed the people to sedition aided by the guard of Halberdiers of the court he tooke armes and became master of the Porte many ranne armed to the Gouernors lodging threatning with iniurious words to kill them wherewith being feared and amazed not onely the Gouernors but likewise the Embassadors of the Catholique King and all the Nobilitie of the citie which followed Philips faction some fledde secretly out at the windowes some by sea some by land except the Archbishop of Lisbone and Iohn Teglio who onely remained the one trusting in his calling the other in the workes which he had formerly done in fauour of the Prior and in his kinsemen The Embassadors retired themselues the next day into Castill This act in truth was full of compassion for although the Gouernors for their irresolutions and priuate interests deserued punishment yet mens harts were mooued to see these graue olde men in whom not two howres before the roiall authoritie remained fastned to ropes creepe out at windowes to auoide the furie of a
yoong licentious man who had mutined the people and the guard it selfe against them Such of the Nobilitie as abandoning their houses in those partes retired themselues were Fernand de Norogna Peeter de Meneses Edward de Castelbianco Diego Lopez de Sequeira Anthony de Castelbianco Lewes Caesar and some others Anthony hauing aduertisement of their departure passed the riuer and went thither Where he was receiued vnder a cannapie with signes of great ioy hauing giuen order to the fortification guard of that place as it seemed necessarie he returned to Lisbone against the aduise of som who persuaded him to assemble his forces to resist the enimie not to repasse Tagus But he did it not saying he woulde returne presently fearefull as many supposed and not holding himselfe assured on that side the riuer Cascaies and the fortresse of Saint Iulian did not yet obey him yet vnderstanding that Anthony was possessed of Settuual the wife of Anthony de Castro went from Cascaies after whose departure the citie yeelded and the captaine of the fortresse of Saint Iulian being written vnto by Anthony that he woulde giue him fower thousand duckats a yeere rent made answere that seeing the Gouernors had abandoned the realme and that he was proclaimed king he would hold it at his deuotion By reason whereof Bastien de Britto who serued as sergeant maior of the citie of Lisbone in the place of Peter de Cugna turned head who with certaine men gathered togither went by the commaundement of Anthony to encampe about this fortresse so as all places of importance about Lisbone remained at his obedience So did all others in those parts except the citie of Porto which obeied not yet The Duke of Bragance hauing foreseene the sedition which was practised at Settuual being departed as it is saide a little before the Gouernors flight and gone to Portel a place belonging vnto himselfe neere the frontiers of the realme towards Castill seeing iustice reduced to armes and himselfe disarmed he thought it nowe high time to treate with the Catholique King He sent therefore a Gentleman to represent vnto him howe peaceablie he had alwaies caried himselfe in the persuite of Iustice for Katherine his wife that he had neuer troubled the publike quiet nor in any thing surpassed the ordinarie tearmes of Iustice and reason and if he had not compounded with him the cause was for that he vnderstood his reasons were great neither had he meanes to do it by reason of the people who woulde haue withstoode him Notwithstanding he was nowe resolute if his Maiestie woulde make him a good composition to yeelde vnto him all the rights of the saide Katherine and that being agreed he woulde publikely sende one to treate with him He alleaged that his subiects being the thirde part of the realme he coulde make easie or greatly hinder the enterprise He saide that the Deputies of the realme had made offer vnto him that they would procure Anthony to leaue the title of King and vnite himselfe with him for the defence of the crowne and that in the end they should agree And that the said Anthony had sent to make great offers vnto him the which he woulde not accept not seeming reasonable vnto him He requested his Maiestie to commaund the armie not to endomage his countrey Heerein he spake truth for although he were a quiet and religious man yet the Philipins saide that although he had beene otherwise the King had no cause to feare his forces for albeit he had many subiects yet were they not all obedient vnto him That the Nobilitie abhorred his rule more then any other and that some of his kinsemen did him more hurt then good by reason of the emulation amongst the Nobilitie He relied much on the equitie of his cause yet feared he to bee forced by the kings power which he saw prepared supposing he would not receiue iudgement in the cause from any man This feare had induced him to write to all the great Potentates in Christendome shewing his reasons and demaunding succours The like office had he done with some Cardinals at Rome He had sent into Fraunce diuers copies of his allegations to the end they might be dispersed into England and other places making great instance to the two Queenes to succour him with mony munition captaines But his weakenes being knowne to both although hee gaue them to vnderstande he went to ioine with the Gouernors in defence they returned him nothing but curteous words And some say that not content to vse this diligence to such as were enuious of the kings good he did likewise write to his enimies and rebels desiring to treat with the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Alançon These things caused him more losse then profite as it happens commonly to those that will contend with mightie Princes and builde their foundations vpon the succours of their enimies ill willers who wil not commonly declare themselues except their companion be strong Heereupon it grewe that the King returned to the saide propositions so ample and artificiall an answere for as it was reported some of his letters had beene surprised by the Agents of the Catholique king and some other especially those he had written to Rome were sent to the King by them to whom he had written them He answered that he reioiced that in time he had auoided the sedition at Settuual being troubled with the danger and indignitie he might haue suffred That he knewe it to be true that in the persuite of the right of Katherine he had carried himselfe with due modestie but by refusing to agree with him were growne the inconueniences wherein now they were the which he would gladly they should rather haue foreseen then haue made triall of with so great disquietnes and dishonor vnto themselues for the which he was sory in regarde of the neerenes of bloud and affection he bare vnto the said Katherine That his offer to yeelde him his right was acceptable vnto him but he woulde haue them to vnderstand that there was no necessity to adde new actions to those which God had giuen him apparant to all the worlde That he had then wished for two reasons they coulde haue accepted of his liberalitie in recompence of their pretention The first was that he hoped by this meanes he shoulde not haue beene forced to enter armed into the realme and to make warre vpon his owne subiects which is one of the things that doth most trouble him But that good which might haue beene reaped by composition was nowe extinct by their slacknes seeing that his armie was alreadie entred the realme The second reason was the desire to encrease and prosper his house to do good to his children to auoide the ruine of the estate and the hazard to ouerthrow it whereof there was yet some remedie for being so desirous of his good that onely was sufficient to mooue him to doe them good He said
and baggage by reason wherof he carried with him aboue sixe thousand chariots and fiue and twenty peeces of canon and passing vnder the walles of Eluas there was nothing to be done being already yeelded In three daies march he came to Stremos receiuing all places thereabouts to obedience which might be amazed at the bruite of the armie But for that he laboured to assure the kings person aboue all being entred two daies iourney within the countrey he sent backe Peter Manrique de Padilla a knight of account and well experienced in the warre with two companies of men at armes and Peter d' Ayala Marshall of the field an old soldier with a regiment of Spaniards who lodged at Eluas assuring those quarters from all reuolutions that might be feared within Stremos was captaine Iohn Dazeuedo Admirall of the realme yoong and hardie who put himselfe in defence and was cause that the armie made longer stay there then at any other lodging He whē as the gouernors were yet at Almeryn had obtained by the meanes of Martin Gonzales de Camera somewhat allyed vnto him the Captainship of that place and after being written vnto by Anthonie as king he would not obey him saying that he did not acknowledge any other superiour then the gouernours to whom he had giuen his oath At this time the Duke being arriued he sent vnto him Peter de Luna a captaine of horse with letters from the king requiring his obedience but he refused to yeeld it for the same reasons he had giuen to Anthonie he trusted more to the defence of the place then the force thereof would warrant and the rather for the diligence of Diego de Meneses who when he had speech of the fortifying of Eluas seeing it could not be effected he had retired himselfe to Stremos thinking there to make head and hauing animated the people to defende it he promised them great succours so as all agreeing with the Admirall they were resolute to fight At this time Christopher de Mora who went from Settuual to Badagios passing through the citie he persuaded the Landini chiefe citizens to yeeld obedience vnto the king and for that it was easie for them to turne the people as they pleased they induced them soone to obey So as the Admirall remained alone in his obstinacie within the castell with some of his friends and familiars and although they laboured to bring him to obedience yet would he not yeeld excusing himselfe that it appeered not vnto him that the king was heire to the realme neither did the comming of the Prior Ferrant de Toledo sonne to the Duke of Alua preuaile who discouering him to be a man of small consideration made offer vnto him that the Duke should be bound that whensoeuer it should appeere that the realme appertained not vnto Philip hee should restore him to the place he now enioyed neither preuailed it to let him vnderstand that he could not resist making answere obstinately that when he had done his last endeuour hee woulde abandon the place with the losse of his life seeming that he coulde not otherwise saue his honour But this resolution lasted little for discouering from the castell that the Duke had already planted his artillerie that those of the citie which had promised to defend him were all against him and that some Castillian soldiers were entred the citie being all amazed he resolued to retire himselfe and leaue the fortresse wanting courage to defend it but in issuing foorth the Castillians tooke him prisoner and led him to the Duke who was in doubt whether he should punish him corporally to terrifie the rest by his first example but he pardoned him and sent him prisoner to Villauizosa writing vnto the king that he tooke pitie of him being yoong and without experience When the magistrate and the citizens had taken their oath and done the accustomed ceremonies to obey the king the armie marched towardes Mounte maior by the way of Arraialos leauing Euora on the left hande a citie of importance but then greatly afflicted with the plague But to the ende it shoulde not remaine behinde vnyeelded the Duke sent thither Henry de Guzman with twentie horse to take possession thereof both for that hee knewe it was vnpeopled as also vnderstanding that Diego de Castro who was Captaine there and the principalles of the citie who were retired to their gardens thereabouts desired to yeeld their obedience by reason whereof the saide captaine and Magistrate being assembled togither a mile from the citie vnder the Portall of our Ladies church there Constantine de Brito a Notarie receiued a publike acte whereby they deliuered the citie to his Maiesties obedience the which they all assigned The Duke beeing now arriued in fower daies march at Mount Maior the new where hauing found no resistance although the Counte Vimioso had beene there a little before taking possession thereof he came within fower daies to Settuual without wasting the countrey as is vsuall in warre for he neither slewe nor spoiled the inhabitants of townes nor suffered them to tread downe the corne which was then ripe It seemed that Diego de Meneses had not shewed the fruits that were expected of his valour within that prouince nor of that heate wherewith hee vndertooke the defence hauing for that cause refused the place of Viceroy of the Indies which is the greatest charge giuen in that realme For hauing first from the Gouernours and after from the Prior receiued charge to defend the saide prouince hee not onely neglected the defence but also retired himselfe He excused this weake resistance saying that the Gouernors had deceiued him in not furnishing him with armes and other things necessarie and that hauing no other armes with the people but wordes he was enforced to retire himselfe But whatsoeuer the cause was all that part beyond the riuer of Tagus which is the most fertile within the realme remained disarmed and in pray to the enimie Anthonie being returned from Settuuall to Lisbone he was receiued with great ioy being the first time he had entred as king And although the infection with the diuision of the Nobilitie had much vnpeopled it yet made they deuises with great shewes of ioy I will not leaue to report as a thing remarkable that there was a cōpany of poore women which sell thinges in the market place the which marching in order like soldiers with their armes she which was their captaine in steade of a Halberd carried a fire panne seeming to remember the auncient battaile of Algibarotta betwixt the Castillians and the Portugals where these being conquerors they vaunted that a Bakers wife had slaine seauen Castillians with a fire panne The Gouernors who were fledde from Settuuall to a castell whereas Ambrose de Aguiar was then captaine imbarqued secretly and their feare was so great as not holding themselues assured in any part of the realme they were conducted to Ayamont a citie belonging to the
Catholique king vpon the frontiers where being better aduised they returned into the realme putting themselues in Castromarin with great discontentment There they made a decree repeating the deedes of Anthony from the time of king Henry vnto that day confirming the sentences which the said Henry had pronounced against him calling him rebell and troubler of the publique quiet They declared giuing testimonie of the intention of King Henry that king Philip was the true succussor They commaunded all cities places Noblemen and ministers of iustice to obey him resigning all their authoritie vnto him And although it seemed that all Iustice was now reduced to armes and that the King had no neede of this decree yet was it of great importance both to iustifie his cause with the people as also for that it made many cities to yeeld But Anthony made no reckoning of this sentence preparing for defence vpon the right side of the riuer of Tagus hee had yet no other nation but Portugals and such as he coulde gather togither where with he could not frame a campe vpon any necessitie for that the peasants and the people which were not entertained for the warre coulde not abandon their trades to goe to fielde and therefore he desired to haue mercenarie soldiers and finding that Frauncis Baretto staied long to bring any from Fraunce he dispatched Peter Dora then Consul of the French in that realme into Fraunce giuing him money to leuie two thousand men he named Diego de Meneses his Lieutenant generall and gaue the charge of his armie at sea to George de Meneses He vnderstoode well the course of the Catholique armie but trusting as well in the people as to the passage of the riuer he seemed to be well able to defend himselfe Hee grewe doubtfull being ill aduertised that whilest the Duke marched by small iourneies towardes Settuuall seeming to go thither he should take the way to Saint Arem as some would suppose there to passe the riuer of Tagus with more ease being narrow and after to march by land against Lisbone without regard of smaller towns Hauing therefore grounded a great part of his hopes vpon the defence of the passage of the riuer being amazed with this newes he sent to furnish it with men and armes But vnderstanding afterwards that the Duke was in truth approched to Settuual that he had taken Alcazar which is neere vnto it he called back the men which he had sent to Saint Arem and with some others which hee had forceablie gathered togither he sent them to Settuual forcing the Gentlemen one after an other and all in generall to go thither sometimes with punishments sometimes with entreaties and sometimes with promises of exemptions and priuiledges But for all this no man went willingly and such as were forced complained greatly The Nobilitie was small in number and such as were there nothing resolute the people easie to change vpon euery light occasion were slothful hauing conceiued an opinion that it was not lawfull to fight against Christians so as some fled some hidde themselues and some complained The kings ministers being newe men ill affected and not fashioned to commaund as those which had the reines at libertie did tyrannize with absolute authoritie forcing al men with an vnaccustomed rigor to fight against their wils At that time they did tollerate within the citie infinite disorders and thefts to draw money from the marchants they imprisoned some which woulde not presently paie that which was demaunded of them If any tooke horse to goe out of the citie about their busines sodainly they saide they fledde into Castill and with this slander they seased vpon their persons and goods Hee was vnhappie that did commend the Catholique kings forces for he was either stoned imprisoned or condemned in a great summe of money they tooke from all men by force their horse and armes who so had little credite or no acquaintance with these new officers were ill assured Such as had reckonings to make with the Courte were in ill case for they were forced to paie what they did owe without compensation of what was due vnto them For this cause and for that they seemed friends to quietnes some of great meanes and verie honorable were imprisoned The barbarous decrees the commaundements that were made to surcease the paiments and rents to binde euerie man to retire into the citie and stande to the defence the opening and spoiling of houses that were shut vp were infinite there was nothing but rigour and rudenes and all was executed by men who with their ignorance bad inclination expresly to cause disorders made commaundements inobseruable the crosses of militarie orders especially those which carrie the title of knights of Christ sometime held in reputation were now giuen to many base and vnwoorthie persons by the intercession of one or other The new Christians who were neuer admitted to these orders nor to the degree of Nobilitie nor to any royall offices were sodainely by the fauour of this man mounted to what degree they pleased not for that he was beholding to anie that had succoured him in the time of his necessities but for that he was easily perswaded by whōsoeuer The black Negroes to whom for the great number there is of them in the citie of Lisbone armes were defended were sodainely all armed and as it were free commaundement being made that all such as woulde serue in this warre vnder captaines likewise Moores assigned for that purpose might do it against the will of their masters and without paying for which cause all the slaues being assembled and conceiuing the Kings commaundement to be more in their fauour then it was shaking off the yoke leauing their patrons they ranne vnto the citie where taking horse and armes by force where they found them they committed a thousand insolencies They coined money in the name of Anthony a quarter lesse then it was woont to be the reuenew of the crowne was wasted for besides that he extorted from the treasurers what he coulde he laide handes vpon the iewels of the crowne and vpon that most renowmed by the Portugals saddle and furniture for a horse inriched with stones brought from the Indies which was of great value The money which Henry had gathered togither for the raunsome of the Portugals which were slaues in Affricke was consumed and wholy spent And this liberty proceeded so farre that they sought into religious houses for the money which they thought had beene there laide in guard and hauing founde some although it appertained to friendes and faithfull persons to orphans and pupils yet was it seased on without number or weight togither with the siluer vessels of the same churches the which was violently carried away in some places and in other places with the consent of the religious men themselues Neither were the iewels and treasure which Marie the cousen of the said Anthonie left more assured being giuen to godly vses for the good
of her soule For notwithstanding he were greatly bound vnto her yet he tooke them conuerted them to his own vse They gaue libertie to religious men to arme themselues imploying them in militarie charges to the scandall of the people and all good and religious men and without any fruite Many of the better sort remembring the time past and that wherein king Sebastian raigned blamed themselues for then they complained of the arrogancie of his fauorites who they saide had neuer done any harme They blessed king Henrie saying that although he knew not in the small time of his raigne how to gouerne himselfe as hee ought yet did hee neuer erre in will or suffred himselfe to be so easily seduced by any to the hurt of another They cursed the Gouernors who had beene so slowe to resigne the gouernment concluding that rashnes had raigned with Sebastian irresolute arrogancie with Henry confusion with the Gouernors and iniustice with Anthony Some excused this last with weake reasons saying there was nothing done amisse by his commandement being curteous wel enclined but that the greedy couetousnes of many of his followers caused this excesse who hauing long suffred whilest he was persecuted cōming now to rule they satisfied thēselues making things vnlawful tolerable that the Prior durst not deny their demaunds nor punish the offenders both for that the time was vnfit as also to auoid the name of vnthankfull in punishing such as had aided and succoured him when he was abandoned of all the world for the seuere sentences of King Henry THE SIXTH BOOKE The Contents of the sixth Booke The conquest the Catholique King made of Settuual and of the fortresse The arriuall of his sea-armie there The thoughts of Anthonie The voiage of Cardinal Riario into Spaine The passage of the armie from Settuuall to Cascayes And the retraite of Diego de Meneses with his Portugall soldiers The confusion of things in the citie of Lisbone The taking of Cascayes and of the Castell The death of Diego de Meneses Anthony Marcheth with his troupes to Belem to Alcantara Apardon sent by king Philip vnto the Portugals to draw them vnto him The treaties of Pacification The deliuerie of the rocke of Saint Iulian and of the fort Of Cabesa Secca being abandoned the taking of the towre of Belem THe Duke of Alua drew by small iourneies neere vnto Settuual with his armie marching with small order and without feare as they are accustomed to do in their friends countrey But approching neere calling the chiefe commaunders he saide vnto them That although they had hitherto neglected all militarie discipline being so farre distant from their enimies now approching neere vnto them they ought not to contemne them chieflie hauing Settuual so neere a citie of importance wherein it was likely there was a great garrison and therefore that euery one heereafter shoulde carefully doe his dutie lodging his campe within the gardens on the north side He presently sent a trumpet to signifie vnto them of the towne that he was come in the name of the Catholique king to take possession thereof as his owne that they shoulde open him the gates threatning them if they did otherwise with all the miseries that did followe warre offring both to the inhabitants and to the souldiers to leaue their persons and goodes free if they would obey Those within irresolute and deuided demaunded time to aduise And for that we doe vsually regard our owne priuate profite more then any otherthing the Citizens viewing from the wals the soldiers to cut their vines and spoile their banks of salt whereof there is great aboundance in that place would presently haue yeelded vpon any cōdition The marriners some few soldiers made a cold shew of resistance Yet Frauncis Mascaregnas who was captaine of the city Diego Boteglio the yonger who commaunded the soldiers hauing well considered the weakenes of the wals and fearing the enimie neere whom they little regarded a farre off were more enclined to yeeld then to anie thing else neither did it behoue him to linger long vpō this resolutiō For Lewes Douara had practised with a Frenchman who was captaine of a cōpanie within the citie to deliuer him in the night the gate which he had in guard the which he had performed but the citizens being formerly resolued sent Simon de Miranda vnto the Duke to offer him obedience but he could not execute his Embassage for the soldiers of the citie who were priuie to the resolution of the commaunders being issued foorth to go to Lisbone they found the said Simon without the gates saying that he had betraied them they led him by force to Anthony who kept him in prison notwithstanding presently after the soldiers of the armie were brought in without condition or order It is true that in this time the Duke had planted his cannon was resolued to batter it for a punishment of the slack resolution of the inhabitāts to yeeld their suburbs were spoiled so as we may well say that one of the most important cities of the realme was taken by threatnings neither did the wars seeme yet to haue any beginning The Portugal soldiers as I said departed free only Diego Boteglio not trusting to the Duke or seeming to be one of those that had actually serued Anthony would haue fled secretly by sea but he was taken kept prisoner The towre which keepes the entry of the Port remained yet in the hands of the Portugals The which for that it was a place of hard accesse vneasie to bring the cānon to it although it were small and weake yet was it held by the Portugals to be strōg the rather being backed towards the sea with three gallions armed which had beene sent from Lisbone vnder the commaund of Ignace Rodrighez Voloso And although it were manned with few soldiers yet had it no need of any great number not being capable of many It was well furnished with Cannoniers sufficient artillerie and a captaine who amongst the Portugals was counted valiant They attended at Settuual the armie at sea with great deuotion For besides that the short season for galleies to liue in that sea began to weare away if they had made any longer stay the armie at land had presently fallen into great want of victuals and munition For this reason the Duke desired to make himselfe with all speede master of the fortresse therefore he greatly entreated Mendo de la Mota for so the captaine was called to consigne it vnto him the which he refusing the Duke added some promises in the Kings name but they preuailed not And for that Aluaro de Bassan Marques of S. Crux captaine of the said Catholique armie by sea being departed from S. Marie Porte hauing run all the coast of Algarues and reduced many cities of that countrey to the kings obedience was now arriued in this sea with threescore galleis and some round vessels to
he might not onely come in safety but if he woulde he would sende him hostages But relying vpon the Dukes promises hee went vnto him and was curteously entertained The captaine excused himselfe for not admitting of the trumpet saying there had not beene any one with him nor spoke with any one that was within that place the which if he had done he would haue made answere with that curtesie which was conuenient by reason whereof the trumpet was in danger of hanging The Duke exhorted Tristan Vaz with many reasons to resigne the forte as appertaining to his king shewing vnto him the danger wherein hee was The matter being a little debated betwixt them the captaine saide vnto him that if he woulde promise in the name of the Catholique king to performe such recompences as Anthony had graunted him he woulde yeelde it vp which the Duke freely offring they were agreed So as being returned leading with him some Spanish captaines soldiers he resigned the fortresse where the assieged were so decaied as they seemed to issue foorth of a deadly prison And although some did esteeme the captaine for this action to be treacherous and others a cowarde yet as he saide the rocke with such vnexpert soldiers was not defensible besides the Gouernors had declared Philip successour A little before the yeelding of S. Iulian the Duke had sent to Peter Barba captain of Cabessa Secca willing him to yeeld the forte the which he hauing refused when as he vnderstood the fortresse was yeelded and that the Duke brought in his galleies he woulde no longer attende but hauing abandoned the place with the consent of the Prior and saued certaine artillerie he fledde to the campe at Alcantara By these losses feare encreased in the citie chiefly amongst the principals who fearing to be spoiled were daily more disposed to yeelde to the Catholique King besides they did see small helpe in the Priors affaires and they hoped by their yeelding to obtaine some priuilege from his Maiestie and had before this made offer of themselues if the respect of the Prior who was in field and so neere had not deteined them At this time they had intelligence of the arriuall of fower ships at the Ilande of Terceraes which came from the Indies very rich and of great importance for the citie the losse whereof if the galleies shoulde seaze on them woulde cause great hinderance both in the particular and generall and therefore the greatest part wished that one of the armies woulde yeelde to the other before the ships should arriue For this cause the citie sent againe vnto Anthony to shewe vnto him the danger and as it were the siege wherein they were hauing the entrie of the sea shut vp that the Duke hauing so great numbers of men and he so fewe he ought not though he might to hazard the fortune of a fielde with so great disaduantage They did secretly aduise him to compound seeming the best way to ende these troubles and then the ships might safely enter Moreouer they did suppose that if in fighting the Duke should remaine victor so neere the citie they should hardly saue it from the spoile of the soldiers Notwithstanding Anthony for his small experience being irresolute disdaining the Dukes speeches and ill aduised by his friends these reasons could not draw him to resolue but the next day he sent to the magistrate the Count of Vimioso the Bishop of Guarda and Emanuel of Portugall to intreate the citie to defend it selfe and to send him more men to the campe incouraging them sometimes deuising that the French succours were on the way sometimes shewing the Priors forces to bee greater then they were and the enimies lesse But as the words of the magistrate did nothing mooue the Prior no more did the speeches of the Prior alter the inward minde of the Magistrate so as all remained in suspence euery man with his owne intentions True it is that as well the saide Prior as some of the magistrates had easily agreed with the Duke vpon certaine conditions But the Priors will was forced by those of the house of Portugall and especially by the Bishop and the Citizens by many new officers who had their places in perpetuitie the which were woont to bee graunted but for a time These men arrogating to themselues more authoritie then was giuen them woulde not suffer the execution of any thing but what pleased themselues But for all this Anthony was not without feare that the citie woulde rebell against him to his vtter ruine trusting in fewe he coulde finde no better remedie then to place continually at the gates of the citie and in the armie at sea a number of religious men of diuers orders to guarde the entrie with the soldiers and to keepe the keies trusting deseruedly more in them then in the captaines that were there imploied For in the assemblies and counsels of State that were often held there appeered more hatred against the Castillians and more will to fight in the religious men then in the secular The Duke was now returned to the same lodging of Oeiras a place both by nature and arte strong For besides the great number of artillerie and rampiers the countrey was rough stony whereas the horsemen could hardly fight in whose force the Portugals relied much He made no shewe to dislodge for supposing now as in effect it was that from thence he helde all the realme assieged and principally with his galleies hee supposed that both the Prior and the citie would soone yeelde vnto him Besides that to march on considering his craftie nature and slowe disposition and the Portugals armie being so neere he thought it not conuenient he laboured with all possible deuises to be cōquerour without fighting and had now almost corrupted the captaines of the galleies and of the tower of Belem who shoulde soone haue deliuered vnto him both tower and armie the which had been effected if Anthony himselfe had not gone in person who hauing dispossessed in a manner all the captaines of their charges and placed others without giuing them respite to execute their practises but he was nowe growen so iealous of euery man finding in all men so great feare and so little faith that hee knewe not whom to trust if he were not a religious man a marriner or of the baser sort And for that it seemes alwaies to such as feare that they are betraied it hapned that fire being kindled by chaunce in certaine straw which lay about the castell wals of the citie where his roiall tapestrie lay he grewe suspicious that this fire had beene some signe vnto the enimies and that the marchant strangers whom he had placed there in guard had made it for that they woulde not goe to fielde to fight and this feare was so violent that without examining the fact without considering they were Flemmings whose nation for the most part were the most obstinate enimies that euer the Catholique
carried with him vppon carts some small boates to cast into the riuer the which although they were fewe in number yet did hee meane to runne alongst the shoare and to take others but the ioints thereof were so shaken and open with the waie and carriages that hardly could they serue Hauing therefore passed the monasterie of Griso towardes the riuer hee sent to the shoare to search for other boates but hee founde not any for besides the Priors commaundement that no barke should passe from the right shoare three or fower being armed scowred the riuer vp and downe to hinder their passage whereupon he sent with great expedition as well to places neere as a farre off to search for some whereof he failed not for although there were none neere the citie yet in places further off vp the riuer where the Portugals supposed the Castillians would not come they founde and tooke many whereunto ioyning those of Massarellos a place vpon the left banke the inhabitants whereof discontented against the Prior who had burned their houses for not duly obeying his commandement were fled with their wiues and boates vnto the Castillians campe It did also some what helpe that Anthonie Serrano one of the captaines which Auila had sent to discouer hauing runne almost to the mouth of the riuer and not found any discouering one whereunto he durst not approch putting his men in Ambuscado stripping himselfe halfe naked seeming to haue been robbed by the Castillians and calling the water men to him by the voice of a Portugall spie which he had with him he caused the boate to draw neere and being entred into it he discharged a pistoll which was hidden vnder him by meanes whereof he did not onely amaze the marriners but gaue signe vnto the ambush which discouering itselfe the boate was presently taken with two or three others although but small ones that were thereabouts so as all togither made fiue and thirtie with the which he supposed to passe a good part of his armie Sanches d' Auila desired much to hasten his passage supposing that he had men sufficient but this resolution was helde rash by the captaines that were about him seeming vneasie to passe with boates any where but at Pietra Salata where lieth the ordinary passage the which was fortified for in other places the steepenesse of the banks would not suffer it so as they could not deceiue the enimie as they doe commonly making shew to passe in one place and goe to another They obiected there were few barks and ill prouided with marriners and although they would containe a great part of the footemen yet could they not hold the horse the which they must leaue behinde them which was not thought conuenient forasmuch as on the other side they did not onely see the place of their disimbarkment fortified with artillerie and rampiers but also the banks replenished with foote and good store of horsemen so as it seemed they coulde not attempt this passage without great losse saying that it was better to seeke meanes to prouide victuals and to behaue themselues more discreetly vpon the passage seeing that their safetie was of more importance to the king then their speede Sanches d' Auila waighed well all these inconueniences yet two things pressed him greatly to passe the one was want of victuals and the difficultie to recouer them the which encreased daily the other was to vnderstand that Edward de Lemos Martin Lopez d' Azeuedo and Anthony de Sousa Coutigno who followed the Prior in this prouince had assembled men to come to his succour the execution whereof they sought to impeach adding to this the smal account he held of the Portugals by his experience informer actions resolued in any sort to passe for this cause hee approched with his armie neer the riuer where the Portugals hauing fortified themselues within a forte which is aboue the citie of Gaija hee thought it should be necessarie to batter it and there to make some stay But it fell out more easie then he expected for hauing sent Peter de Soto the elder with some horse to discouer it they within hauing once discharged their harguebuses against the horsemen abandoned the forte and retired to the citie so as remaining no defence on that side he deuised by what meanes he shoulde passe with the least losse He himselfe ranne vp against the streame to see if he coulde discouer any other passage but finding all rough and steepe he saw no other place conuenient but Auintes two miles from the campe where although vneasily both on the one and the other banke they might imbarke and descend There he resolued to passe for this cause being returned to his lodging he published his intent but some of the armie being of a contrarie opinion hauing assembled them all together he said vnto them It will seeme strange vnto you that I haue resolued to morrow to passe this riuer with the whole armie supposing it may be that it is vneasie and dangerous for the season being vnfit the banks steepe the enimie vpon the other side armed and fortified shoulde make you doubt the victorie especially being in greater number then we are But for as much as where the feare is least danger I would let you see that there is no cause to feare any perill but an assurance of honour and profite These doubtes if you haue any before your eies be all vaine for the season doth not offend vs seeing that the waues are calme the banks giue vs sufficient roome and our enimies fortifications are as weake as their resistance hath been hitherto Remember that comming from Settuuall with the galleyes you descended at Cascayes where the same enimies vnder the most famous Captaine of Portugal had their armie yet they neither hindred our landing or scarce endured our sight for in a manner without seeing vs they did abandon the most important place of the realme Call to minde that all Portugall being assembled with their counterfeitking lodged at Alcantara a place by nature most strong furnished with artillerie and other armes in their presence we battered the rocke of Saint Iulian and forced it to yeelde not daring once to succour it or issue foorth to any small skirmish and thinke you that the weakest part of this armie and the most timerous being retired on the other side of this riuer shall make a greater resistance then it did vnited In this action we ought to striue for two things the kings seruice and our owne honours and reputations the which fortune seemes to frame as is most conuenient for vs For if the enimies we haue in fronte were so lodged that there remained no let betwixt vs we should doe the king small seruice and winne our selues little honour by the conquest but our good fortune will haue it so to the ende our praise may be the greater that Anthonie had taken as a buckler against vs this riuer and these bankes and that