suffered it may be of God for our sinnes proceeded not from any corruption of the Aire but from infection and was brought into the Realme by men and merchandise from countries infected for the citie being a great part vnwalled and of great traffique it could not easily be guarded The naturall inclination of the aire the filch of the citie their feeding of fish which all generally do vse and the ill order nay the great disorder of the magistrate of the health in separating the sicke from the whole and in all other things touching his charge did helpe to increase it The suddennes wherewith it did infect and kill in a manner all those that did frequent the sicke as fire doth in powder strooke a great terrour in the citizens their remedies and diets were most vncertaine for although that many did phisicke themselues diuersly and were gouerned in sundrie manners yet there died infinite numbers of all qualities experience did teach that the application of lenitiue things the drinking of Vnicornes horne and the Bezars stone were most soueraigne remedies yet to manie it did no good The greatest part of the Nobilitie and of such as had ability to do it retyred themselues to their gardaines and farmes in the countrey where although the whole countrey were infected yet did they seeme to liue more assured or at the least out of the infection from the horrible spectacle of dead bodies which were howerly seene in the citie where the mortalitie grew so great that there was nothing to be seene but Beeres with dead bodies for the buriall whereof the churchyards being full they were forced to vse the streets and fieldes At this time were assembled in the citie of Almerin where the king remained all the Deputies of the Realme being called thither The citie of Lisbone made election of Emanuell of Portugall and Diego Salema who went not but were reiected of the King as seditious and depriued of their offices in whose place they made choise of Phoebus Moniz and Emanuel de Sosa pacheco The said Salema was not beloued of the king for that before as Vereador of the citie of Lisbone he saide vnto the king that they vnderstoode he went about not onely to iudge to whom the Realme appertained but also to make a composition the which he ought not to doe without hearing the people whereunto the King hauing answered that the people was not capable of this matter he replied that he woondered the king shoulde iudge this people incapable whom he had held to be most sufficient to raise him to the crowne wherewith Henry was greatly mooued This alteration of Deputies ministred matter of discourse vnto the worlde for it seemed the King had declared himselfe against the people and that not accepting their election of Deputies he woulde drawe by force from the States what he pleased but such as knewe the true reason and howe that Emanuell and all those of the house of Portugall deserued in this case to bee repelled commended this act These were suspect forasmuch as Iohn of Portugall Bishop of Guarda brother to the saide Emanuell alwaies esteemed more then he was woulde not onely precead his equals but did scarce beare any respect vnto the Cardinall before he was king whereof grew a great hart burning so as the Cardinall to debase him hauing drawne foorth a certaine information of his ill behauiour libertie of life and ill gouernment in his Bishopricke sent it to Rome so as the Bishop as it were forced went to his holines to purge himselfe Hee was much grieued with this crosse for passing by the court of Castill the Catholique King being infourmed of his voyage woulde not suffer him to visite him although he were entreated so as now although the Cardinall were come vnto the Crowne their hatred continued and hauing no other meanes of reuenge then to oppose himselfe to his resolutions seeing him enclined to giue the Realme to the Catholique king he laboured all he coulde to let it by meanes whereof he seemed at one instant to be reuenged of two kings for the effecting whereof there conspired togither the Bishop Emanuell his brother Franncis earle of Vimioso his nephew for the cōtrarieties that both Alphonse his father and he had with the Cardinall with other their kinsfolkes and friendes fauouring Anthony Prior of Crato they resolued to make him king trusting to the peoples humors But King Henry hauing discerned the equitie of the Catholique kings cause resolued as it is said to giue him the Realme hauing assembled the States he sent Paule Alphonse a doctor in whom he reposed great trust to Villa Vizosa whereas the Duke and the Dutchesse of Bragance remained giuing them to vnderstande that finding the succession of the Realme to appertaine to Philip and that they were vpon the point to pronounce sentence in his fauour he did aduertise them in time to the end they might make their composition with him But hauing made small account of this aduertisement interpreting it otherwise they did not embrace the occasion the which was likewise represented vnto them by the Catholique king In this time the Estates were begun in the pallace of Almeryn the ninth of Ianuary in the kings presence who being very sicke was brought in his chaire whereas Anthony Pignero bishop of Leiria an eloquent Orator made the oration enriched with a goodly stile saying That the Kings thoughts were bent to procure the generall good of al Christendome the preseruation and encrease of our holie Catholique faith and the peace and tranquillitie of his subiects for the effecting of that which concernes his charge to follow the examples of kings his predecessors progenitors conformeable to the actions of his life passed considering with sound iudgement great experience wise discourse how much it doth import the generall good to declare during his life to whom the lawfull succession of the Realme did appertaine he did apply all his care to the decision of that cause with so great study and zeale that not suffering himselfe any way to be interrupted with the many graue and extraordinary affaires nor by the trouble of his long infirmity he had with the helpe of God brought it to that estate that it might speedily be declared as they had required and ought generally to wish for And seeing the finall decision of the cause was brought to that issue it seemed conuenient to the king to assemble the States and to communicate vnto them some points of great importance for the seruice of God and the good and quiet of these Realmes as they shoulde vnderstande by that which shoulde be particularly deliuered vnto them by his commandement He exhorted them that vsing the my steries which had been presented lately to al faithfull Christians with praiers sacrifices workes of deuotion and charitie they shoulde dispose themselues to receiue the light of that heauenly wisedome which God doth alwaies impart to such as frame
thought good to doe the like office to this citie hauing regard vnto the fidelitie whereof it hath alwaies made profession being the chiefe of these Realmes assuring you therwithall that he that shall inherite is no forreine king but a naturall borne as I haue saide before seeing that I am nephew and sonne to your naturall Princes issued of the same bloude and will be alwaies a father to euerie one of you as you shall finde when it shall please God But at this time I will entreate you that with your wisedome and great experience you woulde consider and note wherein I may honour and fauour you not onely to conserue your liberties and priuiledges both ingenerall and particular desiring that all other cities of the Realme shoulde vnderstande the same whereof I praie you to giue them notice being requisite that euerie one shoulde know the loue and affection which I beare to all and it shall be iust that in knowing it you conforme your selfe to that which is the will of God whose iudgements and determinations no man may resist but we ought to beleeue that what he determines is for the best So as trusting that both this citie and the rest when time shall require will doe that whereunto they are bound I haue nothing to say but that besides the feeling which I haue had of miseries past I haue beene in particular grieued for the losse of so great numbers of the Nobilitie and Commons of this Realme whereof that battaile was the cause And therefore I require you to aduise what I may do for those that remaine yet slaues and write vnto me for although I both haue and daily had that care I haue thought fit and couenient yet shall I be glad to vnderstande your aduise that all thinges conuenient might bee performed for their deliuerie and rest assured that whatsoeuer shall concerne you I will deale in it with the loue of a father as you shall know more particularlie by the effects when as occasion shall serue to make triall thereof the which you shall vnderstande by Christopher de Mora to whom I referre you The Catholique king sent this Letter by the saide Mora to be deliuered to the Magistrate of the Chamber who going for that intent presented it vnto them But being troubled they doubted that in receiuing thereof they shoulde offende against the Crowne so as refusing it they willed him to take it with him and deliuer it to the King the which Mora denying it remained still with them vnopened And least they shoulde be ignorant of the contents he drewe a copie out of his bosome and read it vnto them publikely dispersing sundrie copies throughout the citie The orignall was by the Vereadures carried to the king This did smally further Philips affaires but rather hinder him and was by the wisest both of Spaine and Portugall and also by some of the Kings Counsell helde as a remedie not fitting the Portugals humour who generally hating the Castillians being newe and rude in this matter it was not probable they shoulde yeelde vpon a simple Letter At this time there came intelligence that he who had the charge of Embassadour of Portugall was not onely liuing in Alcazerquiuir although sore hurt but that the Cheriffe had released him was comming with the bodie of King Sebastian to Ceuta and from thence within fewe daies being at Christmas in the yeere 1578 they vnderstoode he was arriued at Ciuill his comming was by the best acquainted with the affaires of Portugall held verie profitable for returning to his charge he seemed more sufficient then anie other to treate of so weightie a cause being indued besides his good iudgement with many other good parts necessarie for the mannaging of such a busines For besides that he had good experience of King Henrie his disposition and the humour of the Portugals he was verie pleasing vnto them it may be for that he was of the house of Sylua who being verie noble in Portugall passed into Castill during the controuersies betwixt king Iohn the first and the master of the Auis and being borne of a Portugall mother they helde him for their countreyman Besides that with the fauour of King Sebastian he was married in Portugall with Phillippa de Silua heire to Aluaro de Silua Earle of Portalegra Lord Steward of the Kings house and one of the principall Noblemen of the Realme But whilest that euerie man expected his present departure from Ciuill to Portugall the King called him to Court saying that he woulde first instruct him by mouth of his intentions and of the present occurrents In the meane time the Duke of Ossuna arriued within the Realme who seeming to be sent onely to performe complements with the king he was lodged and roially entertained at the charge of the Court where hauing deliuered his simple legation he went to Settuuall to visite Magdalen Girone his sister widow to George d' Alencastro Duke of Auero but hee returned sodainly making shewe he had newe commission to treate of the succession wherewith king Henrie was greatly discontented being vnwilling to haue the presence of a personage so qualified on the behalfe of Philip as it were a witnes of his actions the which did likewise displease all the Portugals the rather for that with Mora he began to solicite the King to declare Philip successour of the Realme shewing vnto him formerly by many reasons that his title was iust Nowe did King Henrie at the great intreatie of his subiects resolue to set the best order he could touching the question of succession and to content them For this cause remaining greatly in suspence hauing consulted the matter with fewe but of his greatest fauorites they concluded after much counsell infinite opinions and many disputations that it was not conuenient at that time to declare any one Prince The reason was that the neerest heire vnto the Realme they supposed to be the Catholique King whom they hated most and therefore sought by all meanes possible to flie his commād thinking nothing more fit to effect it then to protract the nomination of the Prince not meaning to specifie any For naming any other they shoulde procure his indignation against them and giue him occasion or his heires that should succeed him to attempt an action better grounded whereas by delaying it there should remaine vnto them at the least this weake hope that the Catholique king although yoonger yet mortall might die before olde King Henry which hapning they shoulde be freed from the Castillians and then shoulde succeed as it is said the Duke of Sauoy of whom they had no such feare but woulde more willingly yeeld to his subiection The King supposed that Katherine Dutches of Bragance preceaded all other pretendents except the Catholique King aided as it may be by his owne naturall inclination he conuerted all his thoughts in her fauour and if it were possible to giue her the crowne writing to the vniuersitie
become Lord of Lisbone without blowes he treated touching the defence thereof being perswaded thereunto by the Magistrate who requested him to enter the citie to that end protesting that if the Prior tooke possession it shoulde not be their fault which coulde not hinder it but his who could and would not By meanes whereof although but coldly he assembled many companies of peasants thereabouts the which he sent for the guard of the citie and to hinder the Priors entrie He commaunded Peter de Cugna to take care for the defence thereof being resolute not to enter himselfe and hauing called to Councell the Gentlemen that were present they resolued to send with speed to Anthony Diego de Sosa and Frauncis de Meneses entreating him not to enter into Lisbone nor to call himselfe King but onely Protector being a name more fit for all occasions that might happen And although they went with this commission yet many aduised Teglio that notwithstanding all these demonstrations he should not hinder the course of the Priors good fortune so as wauering in his opinions not resoluing in any thing he was cause that the souldiers or peasants that were raised about the citie hauing neither order nor commission from the Gouernors knew not what to do whether to accompanie the Prior or hinder his entrie for that Emanuel of Portugal who had proiected to make the Prior King laboured to preuent all their resolutions and hauing resolued he purposely made their executions vaine Peter de Cugna saide that if Iohn Teglio woulde not oppose himselfe in person that he woulde not accomplish it being his inferior whereunto Teglio replied that it was the captaines dutie either of them excusing themselues vpon the other both with seuerall intents The Prior drew neere to Lisbone but he was in danger neuer to come there for neere to Sacaben which is sixe miles from the citie staying in the fielde to speake with Frauncis de Almeda his friende there was a Harquebuse discharged at him wherewith Frauncis was slaine and no man able to discouer from whence it came they supposed it was intended against the Prior himselfe Soone after he arriued at the citie with a small troupe especially of the Nobilitie hauing fewe other with him but Diego de Sosa and Frauncis de Meneses and therefore they suffred him freely to enter being of al those that mette him proclaimed king There were fewe at that time within the citie both by reason of the plague and for that many helde not themselues in safetie seeing the realme in diuision on the one side the Catholique king entred with a mightie armie on the other side were the Gouernors in a manner conformeable to the saide King lastly was the Prior being poore alone ill aduised made King by a handfull of the base people So as there was not any of the Iustice or Nobilitie that went to visite him and of the superior magistrates there was but one Vereador to be founde the rest being hidden Notwithstanding he went to the pallace vpon the riuer wherof he tooke peaceable possession as also of the Arcynal and storehouse of armes he created a newe purueior and newe officers of Iustice and newe Vereadors supplying all other offices that were voide From thence he went to the Towne-house to be proclaimed King with ordinarie ceremonies all the principall of the citie being assembled to whom Emanuel Fonsequa Nobrega a doctor of a bolde spirite spake in this manner I see grauen in your countenances the ioy and content which is conceiued in your harts hauing attained to this so happie a daie wherein you sweare him king whom you so much desire I account all words friuolous to animate you thereunto I may speake vnto you with courage for that your desires exceede my eloquence I know that euery small delay doth not onely grieue you but also greatly displease you that any other shoulde effect that first which you haue so much wished and which was fitte you shoulde haue done seeing that from this citie as principall the rest of the realme shoulde take their lawe But be as ioyfull and willing to this acte as you please be my wordes neuer so superfluous yet encouraged by dutie and loue I must briefely deliuer vnto you my aduise I will not make any particular repetition of his afflictions nor with what iudgement he hath surmounted them being infinite and the time shorte Let it suffice you to vnderstande as you doe that by a fatall destinie he hath alwaies encountred against the proud arrogancie of this world For as vertues be by reason of our sinnes most commonly hatefull to princes in this age and vices cherished as vertuous and nobly minded he hath alwaies beene hated and oppressed So as sometimes tearming him a bastard somtimes preferring those whom he shoulde precead they laboured by all meanes to blemish that glory that did shine in him I will lay aside the disgraces he suffred with king Sebastian at his departure for Affricke which others woulde haue taken for an excuse to staie yet acquainted with the frownes of fortune although he did iudicially foresee that he went to his ruine he chose rather with so great danger of his person following the rashnes of an other to remaine a slaue vnto the Moores then to blemish his honour with any reproch how small soeuer He remained prisoner as he had foreseene in that vnhappie day King Sebastian his nephew died before whom many other princes all heires to the crowne were deceased there remained none but Cardinall Henry who for the ripenes of his age and indisposition of his body was thought to be of short life so as the realme was in a manner without heire But the King of kings although he seemeth sometimes slacke yet doth he equally weigh and execute al things prouiding so that whilest king Henry enioied the realme in those fewe daies of his life which remained he miraculouslie deliuered from the hands of the Moores him whom he intended shoulde be our true king I say miraculouslie for in truth it seemed impossible that mans wisedome coulde deliuer him as it followed for that according to the custome of those infidels he being a prince he shoulde haue beene presented to their prince and there kept in perpetuall prison or at the least redeemed for the exchange of cities and fortresses or for some great summe of money yet see if this were not a miracle in short time he was deliuered and without raunsome He returned into the realme where fortune not yet wearie of him crossed him with a thousand afflictions all which he hath ouercome and surmounted by his vertues behold him now heere and although he seeme to be inuironed more then euer with enimies yet doth he relie vpon your valour and I in his wisedome that he will vanquish all things Reioice then that he doth accept of this scepter against his competitors for the loue of you doth more encourage him thereunto then the desire of
a weake voice and small assemblie of people And as in the proclaiming of other kings there appeered nothing but feasts and ioy here was nothing to be seene but secret sighes and hidden sorrow with flatterie The Dukes armie was lodged vntill the tenth of September betwixt the citie and Alcantara at the same lodging where the Portugals had lodged without any resolution what to doe still expecting some newes of the Prior. At which time there grew as a companion to warre not onely in the campe but likewise in the citie a contagious infirmitie of Catarre so dangerous that it did no lesse harme then the pestilent contagion few were free from this disease and many of them died especially of the soldiers for that to a new disease ordinarie remedies helpe little Anthonie soone after arriued at Saint Arem where the magistrate of that place being the selfesame who a little before with so great ioy had proclaimed him king would not giue him entrie so are mens mindes turned with fortune yet hauing promised to depart presently they suffered him to enter vpon that condition and the day following he went towards Coimbra Soone after the citie of Saint Arem sent to yeelde their obedience and whilest they expected that Coimbra should doe the like they had newes that the Prior was there that he fortified himselfe in those partes that he repaired Mount Maior the olde and brake the bridge vpon the riuer of Doro And although there were no doubt that he could assemble men sufficient to terrifie the Duke yet hereby they vnderstood that the warre was not ended and that they could not dismisse any part of the armie which they had resolued to send backe with the galleies of Italie so as by a little stay they lost the season of sailing in that sea with their galleies but for that the countrey is not fruitfull and that victuals grew very deere within the citie they lodged the Germaines at Settuuall resoluing to send the Italians to Saint Arem But hauing the newes confirmed that the Prior assembled forces the Duke woulde not separate his troupes so farre from him but lodged the Italians and Spanyards in the suburbs of the citie which place had beene spoiled to defende them from the daily raine which began to fall At this time the Prior with his traine tormented the inhabitants of the prouince betwixt Doro and Mignio assembling men of warre by force and for that many doubting sinister euents feared that in sauing of him they should preiudice themselues he forced obedience vpon greeuous paines which he imposed vpon such as followed him not So as some for feare of their persons others of their goodes came vnto him yet were there others who of their naturall inclination would not leaue him vntill death In this sort he gathered together fower or fiue thousand men with the which he held the citie of Coimbra in awe so as it could not yeelde to the Catholique king Hee went with them to Auero where hauing found some resistance he vsed his greatest force For hauing with some small peeces of artillerie battered the wals he gaue a confused assault but profiting little his friends within did so weaken the defence by words and force that the Priors men entred The succours which Pantaleon de Sada brought from Porto comming too late There he imprisoned diuers persons he slew spoiled and ruined all he could By these actes which seemed vnto them most glorious his peasantlie soldiers were growne to that arrogancie that armed with hookes and staues they threatned to goe to Lisbone to free the realme from the hands of the Castillians And this foolish presumption was not a little furthered with the newes that Anthonie had of the kings sicknesse whome they gaue out to be dead being attired all in blacke the better to perswade them The Duke was well aduertised of all these things finding still more plainly of what importance the flight of Anthonie was There wanted not some that charged him to haue forborne too long in sending men after him yet hauing care to assure that which did more import he would not deuide his forces vntill he did see an end of the kings infirmitie who hauing long laboured in the extremities of death he began with an vniuersall ioy to recouer and encreasing daily the signes of health he grewe well wherewith feare which troubled the mindes of men being taken away they began to talke againe of the victorie and of the Dukes actions But this commendation which was attributed vnto him as it hapneth in all worldly actions continued little and rarely shall you finde so apparant an example of the inconstancie of the people and the force of enuie as this was for sodainly his praises were turned into murmurings and open slaunders searching so many reasons to deface the Dukes merits as two daies before they had alleaged to extoll his actions The Dukes reprehensions grew from the proper ministers of this warre or from such as followed the enterprise who offended with him for the diuersitie of their opinions or for their own priuate practises or else as some would haue it desirous to creepe into the kings fauour by like reports did write that the sacke had beene very great and freely suffred for three daies whereunto they woulde attribute the Portugals disobedience and their discontentment against the Castillians labouring to prooue that if the Duke had pleased by his authoritie hee might haue staied it but being partaker with his kinsemen who were more imploied to spoile then to fight of a good part of the bootie hee did tolerate it leauing outrages and thefts vnpunished although complaints were made vnto him That the termes of conquest taking of cities and route of armie were vaine and vnproper seeing that in no place they had founde any resistance and that this multitude of Portugals as simple people deceiued by their priests in confessions and preachings could not be termed an armie nor their route called a victorie And so blinde is enuie that two armies encountring with many peeces of great artillerie fighting on the one side for the passage of a bridge on the other side in their trenches the Portugals foote and horse broken the enimie put to flight the standard roiall taken with many other coulors and aboue a thousand men slaine and yet they woulde not haue this a battaile Some which did charge him with negligence saide that seeing hee had an intention to dislodge this armie after he had attempted the bridge the trenches he should haue stretched foorth his horsemen further on the left hande to cut off the enimies way and to take him prisoner if he woulde flie but to keepe himselfe so farre off as he coulde not ouertake him was an vnexcusable faulte in so great a captaine Others saide that it was not credible but he shoulde haue taken him if hee had pleased to place his horse in a conuenient place for that purpose which euerie
imploy him nor to choose any other in his place The Duke vnderstanding of the Kings recouerie leauing the care of the Ilands to him that had it would no longer delay to send against the Prior and although the time was vnfitte yet the xxij of September he dispatched Sanches d' Auila into those parts with fower thousand foote and sower hundreth horse who marched directly towards Coimbra but vnderstanding soone after that many of his soldiers died by the way that many fledde into Castil and that with great difficultie by reason of the great aboundance of raine he shoulde conduct fower peeces of artillerie the Duke sent after him other fifteene hundreth foote vnder Diego de Cordoua and prouided shipping to sende the cannon by sea Sanches d' Auila tooke his first lodging at Loures from thence he marched to Torrez Vedras where hauing broken one of his carriages he was forced to leaue a peece of artillerie there from thence he went directly to Coimbra passing by Gibarotta where hee did see the spoiles of that famous victorie which the Portugals had against the Castillians from thence hee sent two companies of horse to Coimbra the which vntill they had discouered them woulde not yeeld their obedience yet vpon view of the horse they mette them with the keies of the citie and Emanuel de Sosa Pacheco commissarie general of the campe entred to receiue their allegeance The Prior hauing newes of these things at Auero woulde not attende Sanches d' Auila remaining in suspence whether he shoulde imbarque himselfe and abandon the realme but hauing receiued letters from some of Porto who promised to obey him he marched thither wardes with all the troupes he could make whereof hauing yet made no mention being a place of importance we will digresse a little to reporte the estate thereof during these troubles The inhabitants thereof doe account themselues the wisest amongst the Portugals who hearing the Catholique king began to arme and that the Gouernours did rule sent to court demaunding armes and munition for their defence if neede were But their Embassadors arriuing at Almeryn they founde the Gouernours were retired to Settuual and that the Prior was proclaimed king so as the Embassage they had in charge to impart to the Gouernors they deliuered to the newe King without warrant from their superiors who gaue vnto them such artillerie and munition as they required The Embassadors being returned therewith to Porto there grew a diuision amongst the Citizens for some affected vnto Anthony approoued the Embassage others being more seuere said that being sent to the Gouernors and deliuering their Embassage to the Prior they were woorthy of blame So as one part woulde receiue the munition and artillerie and vse it at their neede saying that they shoulde receiue it although it came from their enimies the rest woulde by no meanes accept it seeming that thereby they did acknowledge him for king and make themselues suspect to the Catholique king the which they woulde by no meanes do but entertaine themselues as newters and lookers on but the pluralitie of voices refusing to accept the armes the Embassadors by the aduise of Pantaleon de Sada Ferrant Nunes Barretto and Iohn Rodrigo de Sada who were the most famous men that gouerned the citie left the artillerie and munition within the castell of Fiera a little from thence leauing the citie vnfurnished But the Duke disimbarking at Cascaies before the battaile of Alcantara they sent to yeeld their obedience When as the Prior came into these quarters he seazed on this artillery and munition and therewith battered Auero from thence he went to Porto where although some had giuen out most slaunderous speeches against him so as it was likely they woulde haue no agreement nor conuention with him yet the greatest part enclined to obey him hee was ioyfully receiued of all vnder a cannapie and Pantaleon de Sada with his companions foreseeing the humour of the people without seeking of any remedie excusing themselues if they were not obeied woulde not stay there but imbarking themselues in a carauell they went into Gallicia and from thence to Lisbone The Prior staied tenne daies in this citie spoiling some priuate mens houses that were his enimies he tooke sugars and other merchandise from the merchants and sent them into Fraunce hee demaunded to borrow one hundreth thousand duckats of the people and being aduertised that Sanches d' Auila approched and that Coimbra Mounte Maior and some other places had deliuered vp their keies he sent the Bishop of Guarda to Viana and to Ponte de Lima to assemble more forces and to stoppe the passage of the riuer The Duke of Alua was now at Lisbone with a troubled mind for seeing the Portugals become more insolent then before to disagree with the Castillians he had no authoritie frō the king to punish them or to do such execution as was conuenient and had beene accustomed to do in other places that the Prior yet kept the field with his forces that daily there grewe quarrels within the citie betwixt the Castillians and the Portugals and that the nations were so incensed one against an other that it was to be feared it would breede some great disorder And although the Castillians had expresse order to endure all things yet had they not the patience For this manner of the Dukes proceeding misconstrued by the Portugals to proceed from feare growing daily more proud they forced the Castillians to quarrel with great discourtesie For redresse whereof the Duke hauing somewhat fortified the castell which is seated vpon a small hill neere the citie a most auncient building drew thither the greatest number of his soldiers artillery victuals and munition taking them from the guard of the citie gates where they grewe odious by meanes whereof he was more assured and lesse hatefull and the Portugals choler somewhat qualified At this time Sanches d' Auila approched neere to Auero where hee was mette without the wals by the principall of the citie who wept for ioy but chiefly amongst the rest such most reioiced as had beene kept in prison in danger to loose their liues for resisting the Prior. Hauing there receiued the oath of fidelitie from the Magistrate vnderstanding that Anthony was gone to Porto hee followed after desirous to encounter him with all the speede he could Diego de Cordoua being now arriued at the campe with troupes which the Duke had sent after him the which by death and the flight of many were diminished to fiue hundreth Hee made diuers lodgings molesting the countrey little being arriued at Rifana of Santa Maria the which is fifteene miles from the left banke of the riuer of Doro vpon the right banke whereof Porto is seated hee deuised by what meanes hee shoulde passe the riuer supposing hee had no greater difficultie then this to vanquish the enimie Hee knewe it was verie violent running betwixte high mountaines without anie forde hee
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
Cape-Vert fortifyed the Castle of Saint George in Ethiopia which they call Mina discouered the Princes Island and that of Saint Thomas which lyeth perpendicularly vnder the Equinoctiall with certaine smal Ilands thereabouts they became Lords ouer all And passing further they entred into league with the Realmes of Congo and Angolla all Moores hauing passed the great Cape of Buena Esperança and the Island of Saint Laurence right against it vpon the mayne land they became Lords of Soffolla Mozambique and Melynde where according to the humours and qualitie of the people they had won some by loue some by force although for the most part where they set footing they preuailed by Armes In the time of the said Emanuell they passed the mouth of the red sea traffiquing at Socotra Calahiate they did run through the Persian gulph and hauing passed the mouth of the riuer Indus they entred into India where first by traffique after by force they landed at Calecut Cochin and other places thereabouts but more strongly then in any other place vnder the conduct of Alphonso Albuquerque a famous captaine at Goa a small Iland in the Realme of Accen neere vnto the countrey of Idalcan the which is now a citie with an Archbishopricke chiefe of that State where the Vizeroy maketh his ordinarie aboad They haue gone along all that coast building small fortresses and hauing turned backe to the mouth of the said gulph they are become Maisters of the I le of Ormus and along that coast haue conquered the cities of Chaul Damane Bazain and Diu. Vpon the point of the coast of Mallabar which they call the Cape of Comery turning towards the gulph of Gangis they haue traffique and fortresses in the I le of Zeilan which some take to bee the ancient Taprobana where groweth the best Cinnamom And hauing passed the said gulph towards the East the mouth of Gangis they discouered the other coast at the point whereof which the ancient call the golden Chersonesse they became Lords of the towne of Malaca fiue and twentie miles from the great Iland of Somatra held also of some for Taprobana And passing on further not onely by their traffique in the Realme of Pegu and other countries vpon the firme lande but also by their nauigation they haue discouered the greater and lesser Iaua the kingdome of China the great sea of the Isles of the Molucques from whence come all the Cloues and Nutmegs with many other drugs the I le of Iappon To conclude they haue sayled on so far as they haue met in those quarters with the Castillians that came to the Conquest of the West Indies discouered by Christopher Columbus a Geneuoys in the name of the Kings of Castill Of late daies some by these two nauigations haue compassed the whole world and ioyned East to West They haue also in the time of Emanuell conquered opposite to Ethiopia and to the Cape of Buena esperança the prouince which they cal S. a Croix commonly called Brazill ioyning to Peru running 1500. miles in length yet stretcheth it not far into the maine land they haue deuided it into eight parts which they call Captaineships and haue in a manner giuen it to those that haue conquered it reseruing to the King the greatest part of the iurisdiction And although for a time it did seeme of small profit so as the criminall Iudges of Portugall did and doe yet still confine and banish thither theeues murtherers and such like malefactors yet being fertile it is greatly inhabited so as at this day there are great dwellings and manie buildings for sugars The principall townes be the Bay of Alsaints and Pernanbuc All these countries of new conquest whereof we haue made mention are rich and of great importance from thence commeth yeerely as we haue said into Portugall ships laden with sugars spice drugs stones with many other precious things and of great value And to say the truth this nation is woorthie of great praise that hauing but a small and barren countrey they haue made themselues equall by the good institutions frugalitie and vertue of some of their Kings not onely to all the kingdomes of Spaine but haue gloriously maintained war against Castil a Realme far more rich and mightie then that of Portugall and their other neighbours They haue shewed the like vertue nay rather greater far from home as well in Affricke as at the Indies hauing not onely perfourmed so woonderfull a nauigation as was held in the beginning by the wisest to be rash and foolish but also giuen such testimonie of their Armes in those parts that the writers hold many of their deeds to be miraculously performed by reason of the inequalitie wherewith they were attempted hauing shewed themselues in fight at sea and defending of forts more valiant than in any thing else And besides the conquest of so great an empire in so long and large a sea as we haue written it hath caused an other good of greater importance for Christian religion the which is now planted in all those countries So as whole Realmes which were Idolatrous are now obedient to the Apostolique Sea to the great commendation of the Iesuits whom in that countrey they call Apostles who haue and doe still maintaine a spirituall war Notwithstanding the Portugals who for the space of 460. yeeres had beene busied in these glorious attempts who had planted their crosses in the farthest bounds of the East whereas the name of Christ was not yet knowen they haue not since followed the steps begunne but contented with the weake borders of the Indian seas they haue not pearst into the maine lande but corrupted with the pleasures of the people and inriched with the traffique of marchandize they haue beene content to enioy their gettings not acknowledging the benefite of the giuer of graces and hauing conuerted the militarie reuenewes of Commandries into pleasures they became idle and vaine attributing to themselues the honors and ceremonies which faithfull Christians reserue vnto God they liued long in this estate yet in good opinion of the worlde This corruption and weakenes of the Realme brought in by the delights of Asia was in the education of king Sebastian discouered and reiected by the Iesuits who as religious men desired and laboured much to reforme it But they applied not fit medicines for so languishing a body not considering the impossibilitie sodainly to reclaime a whole people alreadie corrupted with libertie to the extreame rigor and sparingnes of these Fathers A hard matter to performe not onely in a kingdome but also in the precinct of their monasteries Whereupon they made sumptuarie lawes and especially vpon victuals which the auncient Spartaines coulde hardly haue tolerated They did specifie what meates were allowed and what defended distinguished wherein euerie man should imploy his money taking from them in a manner all that came from forraine countries were they for profite or pleasure So as these violent remedies prooued not
whereof were male content fearing it had beene giuen to the Castillians The which was apparant for that a little before there came boldly to the assemblie of the Nobilitie before the whole Councell two mechanick officers of those that representing the people are imploied to the Magistrate of the citie The one of them crauing audience said they had vnderstoode that some of the chiefe of that assemblie neglecting their dutie and honour had spoken slaunderously and wrought against the publike good and suretie of the Realme which like good Portugals they resolued to preuent as before the inhabitants of the same citie had done in the times of king Iohn the first and of other kings And therefore they required the whole Councell as the chiefe and principall member of the common wealth to aide and support them that they might not loose their honor and priuiledges thorough partialities and priuate respects They saide also that for this effect and for the defence of iustice and to chastice seditious Portugals they were readie with fifteene or twentie thousand men betwixt the citie and the countie which they woulde assemble if neede were in two howres to burne the houses of such as shoulde speake too boldly or treate against the publike good and quiet of these Realmes the which they would not put in execution hoping to see them punished and the matter redressed by some other course He concluded that he thought it their dutie to giue this aduertisement that with more assurance they might all treate of the common good without feare of violence or any preiudice and to stop the mouthes of those who suspected in such a cause make all things impossible without seeking or procuring of any remedie Hauing ended this speech one of the wisest of the assemblie made answer that this counsell was acceptable for the loue and affection they had to the common good but there was not any one amongst them which did not desire it with the like zeale and therefore they should rest assured that all things should be handled with good order carefully but notwithstanding this answere they returned with threatning This assembly discouered to the Catholique King not onely the intention of the Portugals in these affaires but also of King Henrie himselfe for that it seemed vnto him they rather held a forme of conspiracy against him then a councell of the states Henry encouraged by his followers for a time intended to marrie dayly consulting with his phisitions to see if he were apt for generation which seemed strange to all such as had knowen him for euerie man beleeued considering the chast life hee had alwaies led that although he had come yoonger vnto the Crowne he would not haue taken any wife and now talking of it being decrepit of age and a Priest it seemed the desire to exclude the Catholique King from the Realme preuailed so much that it did estrange him from his ancient disposition But honors breed in men alteration of manners although his age made men thinke his inclination was rather forced in him then voluntarie Some of the wisest said that the Catholique King should haue a special regard least he were abused in this marriage for although the age and disposition of the said Henrie might well assure him yet the matter being of such importance he should suspect some supposed or adulterate childe or some such like deceit But hauing possibly laboured at Rome that no dispence should be graunted to Henrie he sent into Portugall Fryer Ferrant of Castillio of the order of preaching Friers and an eloquent diuine the cause of his voyage being vnknowne I my selfe being vnable to search the secret It was generally thought he went to disswade the King from marriage with many reasons and especially saying that in so dangerous a time by reason of the Heretickes which did raigne when as Heretickes did tolerate marriage in men of the Church if he now did it being Priest and King he should giue them a verie ill president and this conceit of his going was confirmed to be true hauing vnderstood he was neither willingly heard nor presently dispatched The pretendents had beene cited which were the Catholique King the Dutchesse of Bragance the Duke of Sauoy the Prince of Parma and Anthonie Prior of Crato to send shew their reasons The Catholike King did not answere in forme although Henrie had written vnto him with his owne hand but onely sent a certificat with a Secretarie to his Ambassador in Portugall that he had beene cited Many disallowed this diligence and all agreed that the King causing the Duke of Sauoy and the Pryor to be cited had not dealt therein iudicially saying it was a meane to breed contention the Prior being manifestly a bastard and the Duke apparantly after King Philip. Who being cited framed a new Councell of some of the Lords of his Counsell of State of his Confessor one other Diuine and fiue Doctors of the Councell roiall which he called the adioining of the succession of Portugall they were twelue in number and did onely treate of those things that did concerne that point At this time Iohn de Silua arriued at Madrill from Ciuill to be enformed of matters cōcerning his charge who although he were graciously receiued of the King and did often enter into Councell both to giue his aduise and to take his instructions yet did they delay his dispatch sometimes with one excuse and sometimes with an other And although he did earnestly sollicite that he might enter into the mannaging of so great an action as was the vnion of this Realme and after so many trauailes past goe comfort his friendes with his presence yet in this particular he had either many crosses or small good fortune For being prisoner in Affrick although it seemed to these Counsellors that this charge as his shoulde not be otherwise disposed of vntill they had certaine newes of his life or death yet notwithstanding it seemed that both the Kings meaning and the disposition of his ministers were enclined to dispossesse him not onely when he was present but euen then when he had most reason to beleeue it for that the King hauing alreadie discouered himselfe in secret matters to Christopher de Mora woulde not peraduenture reueale them to any other whereof they were apparent signes some curriers comming out of Portugall directed to other ministers then to those that did handle the matters of succession Besides the Duke of Ossuna to whose will both the Cardinall Archbishop of Toledo and other counsellors did conforme themselues hauing entered into great familiaritie with Mora recommending him to the King laboured that no other should be sent to treat of this busines seeming as it may be vnto him as some did suppose that he would not so easily agree with Sylua being more haughtie He answered to these obiections offering not onely to agree with the Duke of Ossuna and with all those that should be sent but
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
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
that Anthony had made so great a stay betwixte Sacabem and Saint Arem so as he might easily haue suppressed him and this was the issue of the battaile of Alcantara In the meane while the ships which came from the Indies were disanchored from the Ilands of Terceraes sailed towards Portugall ill aduertised of what had passed And for as much as they had former intelligence of their arriuall at the Ilands it was thought good they shoulde staie there being valued at three millions many doubted they should be lost For on the one side the Duke had sent some ships armed to seeke them on the other side the Prior had sent certaine carauels with aduise to go to Penichie a place vpon the coast twentie miles from Lisbone towardes the north and therefore it was feared they coulde not escape the one or the other either to be taken by the kings ships or to follow the direction of Anthony and in what sort soeuer they shoulde bee lost For falling into the hands of the Castillians they shoulde bee spoiled and going to Penichie the Prior woulde become master of priuate mens goods and imploy them for the necessitie of the warres And some ignorant of Anthonies commission supposed they should either go to Fraunce or England and that the Prior finding the weakenes of his force by the euent of this battaile shoulde followe them notwithstanding fortune did so second the beginning that two daies after the battaile they appeered in safetie without any intelligence of these troubles within the realme or any encounter vpon the way such was the Catholique kings good fortune that they arriued safe at Lisbone where he receiued what appertained to the crowne and deliuered to euery priuate man his owne All this while they were in suspence at Badagios expecting whether this enterprise shoulde be ended by armes or agreement and so doubtfull euery man was for that there appeared on either side great difficultie the rather for that the Duke could not stay long from entertaining one of these parties so different But the xxvj day of August in the morning there arriued a Spanish merchant without any letters from the Duke who brought newes of the successe This man following the Spanish campe when he saw the Priors armie in route presently passed the riuer in a small barke and tooke poste before him that brought aduertisement from the Duke who presenting himselfe vnto the King deliuered what hee had seene whereof he receiued such contentment as may bee supposed This newes was presently spred throughout all the court with the incredible ioy of all men and to the great honour of the Duke and with such kinde of commendations as the force of truth doth vsually draw vpon the sodaine euen from the mouth of enimies But the confirmation of these newes staying longer then was conuenient for the neerenes of the place and the importance of the action they began to doubt with so great perturbation that there was no lesse shewe of their generall desire then of their receiued content The which was after confirmed by the Arriuall of Ferrant de Toledo the Dukes nephew whom he had dispatched with a priuate relation not onely of the successe but also of the reasons which had induced them to fight and his direction giuen vnto the captaine the which was generally approoued of all with no small honour to the Duke saying that he had now satisfied mens mindes who held him alwaies to be too cunning and watchfull to assure his enterprise by aduantages of lodging and stratagems auoiding the battaile by all meanes possible without great aduantage following amongst the auncient Captaines Fabius Maximus and amongst the later Prosper Colonna the elder whom he sought to imitate And this cōmendation of the Dukes proceeded from his two resolutions The one to passe from Settuual to Cascaies and the other to fight at Alcantara seeing in the first he alone did contradict his counsell and contested both against sea and enimie And in the second he resolued to fight dangerously with the Portugals within their owne trenches hauing a well peopled citie behinde them and against the aduise of some of the principall of the armie They did highly commend him to haue kept Lisbone from spoile and at one instant to play the conqueror and protector attributing vnto him for this respect more honour then to haue retired his armie from the wals of Rome in the yeere 1557. hauing not fought there vnto the gates of the citie as he did at Lisbone But these reasons with other were dashed by a sodaine cruell accident which so troubled the mindes of all men as there was no time to thinke nor speake of any thing the which was that vpon the newes of this happie successe the king fell most dangerously sicke the which so encreased being brought to that point that there was small hope of his life and euen his Phisitions themselues almost gaue him ouer vpon this subiect was all their discourses for the king dying it was supposed that the protector of Christendome shoulde faile and if there were any doubt that his death in time might cause any alteration it was then most of all to be feared for besides that the affaires of Flaunders were troublesome the humors of the French ill disposed Portugall yet in ballance to incline to a contrarie partie and the rest of Spaine was not well assured The opinions were diuers what course to take but all was confused and all full of feare The Duke of Alua whose opinion many of the better sort did follow thought it fit that the king dying the Queene with the prince should presently enter into Portugall and goe to Lisbone thinking by this meanes with the forces he had there readie not onely to keepe the realme in peace but also to assure the other estates of Spaine He now laboured to stablish the affaires for depriuing from the office of the magistrate of the chamber of Lisbone such as had been installed by the Prior he restored such as had bin before calling them vnto him he said it was now time that in the cities behalfe they should sweare obedience vnto the king and proclaime his name in the publique streetes with accustomed ceremonie whereunto they willingly offered themselues demaunding leaue for this cause to make publique feastes and that withall the priuileges of the citie might be confirmed Whereunto he answered that there was then no neede but they should reserue it vntill the prince were there present to be sworne whome his Maiestie had resolued to send vnto the citie to be bred vp amongst them and as for their priuileges they were very small that he woulde graunt them more amplie So as the eleuenth day of September in the Dukes lodging they tooke their oath in forme and the next day after dinner the magistrate going thorough the citie with the standard and their Attaballes they proclaimed the name of King Phil p after the accustomed manner yet with
and I am so well assured that although we shall be now separated one from another that shortly we shall be assembled againe to your great benefite and profite and to the shame and dishonour of our enimies These words did mooue the harts and eies of many no man answering him a word so as being retired with his faithfull followers he departed as it were in secret without publishing his departure and going to the Monasterie of Aronca by the vnknowen way of Vairam and Barcellos hee came to Viana Sanches d' Auila hauing passed all his troupes and put the Portugals that kept the passage to flight he came against the towne the which being ignorant of the Priors intent manned with many soldiers resolued to defend themselues keeping the Castillians all they could from approaching with their artillerie Being come to the enimies cannon Rodericke Sapatta arriued at the same instant with his boates who landed without any contradiction but the Portugals preuented them with their flight so as there remained not any one Sanches did long pursue such as fled and caused his horse to followe them but the rainie day and the diuersitie of the waies gaue them good meanes to escape so as the Castillians returned with the slaughter of few The conquerors beleeued that the Prior was yet remaining in the citie seeing them make shew of defence and continually to play with their artillerie the which did small hurt But whilest that Sanches looked about who made resistance and sought out the fittest lodging to force the towne the citizens discouering the Priors flight changed their resolutions making a signe of peace with a white cloth from the wals which was an assurance of the victorie and of the Priors flight by reason whereof diuiding his horsemen into two parts he caused them to pursue him by two diuers waies and the magistrate of the citie issuing foorth yeelded his obedience who offering to open the gates Sanches commaunded him to the contrarie for feare of the soldiers who were greedie of the spoile But notwithstanding this order from the captaine the city was in danger to be sacked for remaining yet within some of the Priors soldiers as some of the chiefe of the Castillians entred by one of the gates the inhabitants let foorth the Portugals by an other the which they coulde not do so secretly but they were discouered by some of the companies that lay abroad who suffring them to passe entred by the same gate and began to spoile some houses on that side of the towne and so had continued with the rest if before the arriuall of the other companies Sanches d' Auila hearing the noise had not runne in person with the officers and staied them by his authoritie In the meane time the Prior entring Viana finding he coulde no longer make resistance within the realme resolued to imbarke and saile into Fraunce and for that cause did furnish a ship but forbore to imbarke by reason of the contrarie winde At this time there arriued at Viana one part of those horse which persued him hauing intelligence of his being there against whom the citie put themselues in armes But the captaine saying vnto them that if they refused to obey they should be spoiled by the armie which approched and would arriue that day or the next they grew amased and yeelded vpon condition to haue their liues and goods saued Vpon the view of these horsemen the Prior finding himselfe in so great danger in a place of small trust and disarmed resolued rather to contest against the waues and windes then against the enimie and therefore he imbarked with the Bishop and some other of his traine hoping that whilest the citie made resistance hee lying there concealed some small winde woulde driue them from the lande But fortune to speake after the common phrase seemed not yet wearie of him for the sea swelled more and the windes encreased and continued so long that the Castillians being entred and demanding for him they had intelligence he was in the shippe making preparation to go take him wherof they seemed to be assured But the Prior vnderstanding thereof seeing into what danger he was now brought hauing deuided his treasure which was not great to such as were about him hee attired himselfe like a marriner and accompanied with the Earle and Bishop and some of his other fauorites with the most pretious things that he had he tooke boate in great danger of drowing landing vpon the other banke of the riuer of Minio the which is directly against the citie The which the Castillians discouering made haste to pursue him But for as much as the riuer is not to be passed there before the Castillians could embarke he had time to saue himselfe loosing all his seruants and some things of price yet had hee all his most precious iewels sowed in his garments True it is that since there was found in Castill some peeces of the rich caparison where of I made mention in a souldiers possession who said he had then taken it from one of the Priors slaues but the King suspicious that Anthonie had beene his prisoner and deliuered for that ransome kept him long in prison It seemed that Fortune did accompanie the Prior to preserue him it may be for some greater affliction for this Realme for at the same instant he left his boate and went to lande there arriued on the same side that other troupe of horsemen that pursued him who had easily taken him if they had once suspected he had beene there but discouering on the other side a troupe of horse imbarking to passe the riuer not able to discerne by reason of the distance whether they were friends or enemies nor for what reason they passed they were in doubt what to doe during which time the Prior retired himselfe And although by their approch they found by their colours who they were yet before the one could vnderstand the others resolution the time was spent and they effected nothing The king did now beginne to recouer his health after so dangerous a sicknesse at which time Queene Anne his wife fell sicke of a rotten feuer the which in few daies brought her to another life wherewith the king was much grieued being a Ladie wholy conformable to his humour and indued with singular bountie Hauing recouered his former health forbearing to enter the realme vntill all were reduced to his obedience seeing now the Prior to be defeated and to hide himselfe he went to Eluas the first citie of the realme where the Portugals receiued him with great ioy for that in this citie and others bordering vpon Castill their hatred is not so mortall against the Castillians as in other places There he did open the barred hauens that is he disanulled the imposts which were paied as well in Castill as in Portugall of all such merchandize as passed from realme to realme the which amounted yeerely to 150000. duckats he
set a tax of 80000. duckats vpon the Priors person as a rebell and disturber of the quiet of the realme He proclaimed a parliament at Tomar the fifteenth day of Aprill where he would assist in person with the generall opinion and great hope of all men that all Portugals that had offended should there receiue their pardon and the obedient haue reward and that to all in generall he would giue great recompences graunting to the cities of the realme whatsoeuer they demaunded There remained neither citie nor place within the maine land of Portugall that had not yeelded their obedience to the king of Spaine For after the Priors flight from Viana all was in the Castillians power the places of Affricke were obedient and so was the Iland of Madera as for the places further off time would not yet suffer them to haue any certaine newes There remained the seuen Ilands of Terceres which had not yet made their submission hauing aduertisement that only S. Michaels excepted all the rest refused to obey and for as much as they were of no account this disobedience made them famous Although they be seuen in number yet are they for the most part small and ill peopled That of Saint Michael a hundreth miles neerer Spaine then the rest is the best There the Bishop of all these Ilands hath his residence They call their principall towne Punta Delgada the next vnto it is called Tercere whereof all the rest take their name This is fertill and by nature more strong then the rest Angra is their greatest dwelling whereof the saide Bishop taketh his name The rest as Saint Marie Fayale Pico Coruo and Flowers be lesser and some of them wholy vnpeopled The inhabitants of all in generall be superstitious and vaine grounding their discourses vpon fancie for since the battaile of Affricke they would neuer beleeue that king Sebastian was dead And although this opinion was helde long through out the Realme yet hath it beene more confidently beleeued there then in any other places for notwithstanding they had seene the innouations which happened in the time of King Henrie and of the Gouernours yet did they still hope he should appeare But when the Prior was proclaymed King it seemed they were somewhat satisfied for hauing presently sent vnto these Ilands to take possession with letters vnto all the Magistrates hee was there sworne and willingly obeyed and to performe this Acte of obedience they sent as Ambassadors vnto him Stephen Siluera and Fryer Melchior of the order of Saint Frauncis who arriuing at Lisbone could not execute their charge for being defeated at Alcantara hee was fled towards Porto yet making no account of the enimies victorie they followed the Prior there in the name of all the inhabitants of these Ilands yeelded him obedience After in the month of Nouember in the yeare 1580. they returned to Tercomes giuing an account of their charge adding that notwithstanding Anthonie had beene broken at Alcantara yet he began in the Prouince betwixt Doro and Mynio with 30000. men to be reuenged vpon the Castillians And although they had after intelligence of Philips absolute victorie and of the flight of Anthonie yet they continued firme in their opinions wherein they were daily confirmed for that as it is said before the Kings ministers had neglected to send vnto them whereas contrariwise Anthonie and the Earle of Vimiosa did still solicite them by curriers and letters to continue firme the said Earle hauing sent Anthonie Scalyn a Frenchman vnto them with letters whereby in the Priors name hee did commende their good affection they so far passed the bounds of ioy as they receiued him into Angra in procession and vnder a cannapie conducting him to the Church of pitie where the saide Fryer Melchior preached applying their intentions to the will of God and Fryer Blaise Camello did sing Masse who in his prayer with a lould voice praied for two Kings that is Sebastian and Anthonie saying vnto the people which demaunded newes of Sebastian that the fourth of August he would satisfie them The inhabitants of the Iland of Saint Michaell which had no such seditious firebrands as that of Tercera beeing by nature more peaceable furthered by the Bishop who followed the Kings party did not runne into so great disorders but shewed themselues daily more obedient vnto Philip who hauing intelligence of all these things desired to trie if hee could by gentle meanes draw this rebellious nation to his obedience and at the last remedie the error of his ministers for to conquer them by force was supposed difficult the Terceraes being naturally strong and inuironed with high rockes besides the sea going so high in those parts as no ships can liue aboue three or fower moneths in the yeare This enterprise was then supposed to be of more importance then it had beene not so much for the qualitie of the place as for the situation beeing an vnauoydable passage for the ships that come from the Indies and the new found lands as well from the East as from the West where the Frenchmen harbouring they might greatly endomage Spaine for this consideration the King sent Ambrose d' Aguiar with a letter and ample pardon in a manner to all offendors if leauing the part of Anthonie they would follow his But arriuing neere vnto Angra and sending his letters to land the Islanders tooke counsell what to doe but the people being then mad and without gouernment did not approoue the opinion of this counsell The richer sort regarding their priuat profit would obey for hauing all their rents in corne the which they commonly send vnto the realme they could not make sale in any other place but being few and not daring to speake their mindes they deliuered it doubtfully The poore who finding the lesse corne were transported from the Ilands the better cheape they shoulde buie it not caring to haue any trafficke with Portugall would by any meanes follow the voice of Anthonie Many kindled with rage aduised they shoulde suffer Ambrose d' Aguiar to enter the citie and after cast him in prison and punish him as Ambassador to a Tyrant Some held they should send him away without answere Some of the chiefe who feared they were not comprehended within the pardon did what they could to preiudice the Kings part for dispairing to obtaine it they laboured that no man should follow his voice but so to wrong Philip as they should lose all hope euer to bee reconciled wherein they preuailed so much as that Ambrose d' Aguiar who was appointed to be Gouernor of the Iland of Saint Michaell was sent backe They caused a Masse to be saide where all the people did sweare to die for Anthonie In which humor they were still confirmed by false reports that were blowen abroad For although the Prior were yet hidden in Portugall yet the shippes which came from Fraunce and England to trafficke at the Ilands to the end they might be the
the Doctors which had read and writ against him with great mildenes but also with a noble resolution confirmed them in their lectures and preferred others to them that were voide In the meane time the Pope discouering the Priors weakenesse to maintaine Portugall and that there was no meanes of agreement hauing called home his Legate he seemed well content with Philips successe saying that his onely intention was to auoid wars so as hauing obtained great rewardes for his sonne or at the least assured hopes he graunted vnto the king that George de Taida bishop of Viseu who was his first chaplaine shoulde be iugde without appeale of all causes concerning the Ecclesiasticall rebels and of the proces of their confiscations so as the Prior in a manner doomed to sentence of death with the Bishop of Guarda and others were againe cited by edicts to be depriued by iustice of all spirituall liuings they held within the realme There was yet no newes of him notwithstanding the reward promised and the great care the Castilians vsed through the realme to finde him yet were they daily lesse certaine for that disguised in a base habite hee went vnknowne oftentimes amongst those that sought for him He had intelligence that the Counte of Vimioso was come by land into Fraunce labouring to mooue the French to warre against the Catholique King promising great succours by the people in the matters of Portugal By reason whereof and for the Priors concealement the King kept in a manner his whole armie dispersed in the fortresses and cities of the realme and although hee had dismissed the Italians and sent the greatest part of his galleies into Italy yet they gaue out that he after repented the realme seeming daily lesse peaceable and that the French in those parts might arme a good number of ships of warre and more conueniently in that sea then the galleies whereof fowre being in Algarues had taken a French pirate with great slaughter who being a knight of Malta had fought valiantly By reason of these garrisons of the rigor of officers of the smal recompence that was giuen them and of the conceite that the Prior was yet within the realme the Portugals harts beganne to turne some of them assembled at times lamented the miserie wherein they seemed to be by their not agreeing to defend themselues or not yeelding in time yet the greatest part held opinion that vnited togither they might haue made resistance They could not endure that the Castillian officers shoulde intermeddle in matters of iustice as they pretēded to do neither was the Portugals disdaine appeased in saying that the King hauing commaunded Iohn Andrew Doria Prince of Melfy to conduct the Empresse his sister into Spaine whom he had caused to come out of Germany was for no other cause but to leaue her Gouernesse in Portugall and so returne into Castill and that as a woman she shoulde raigne with greater mildenes then the kings of Portugall had done for although this was the common discourse yet many helde opinion that the king should not depart being constrained to keepe garrisons the which he would not dismisse vntill he were better assured of the Prior of whom they spake diuersly for some helde that he was dead and spoiled by the Castilians who for that they woulde yeelde no account of the iewels he had about him kept it secret Others saide that he had sent into Fraunce and England from whence hee expected great armies at whose arriuall he would discouer himselfe Many supposed that he shoulde keepe himselfe secret within the realme vntill the death of Philip who according to their discourse coulde not liue long and yet was there small difference betwixt their ages at what time shewing himselfe as hee did vpon the death of king Henry hee shoulde againe take possession of the realme the kingdomes of Castill remaining in the handes of pupilles And although some beleeued that he was departed the realme yet the greatest part helde that he was there yet labouring to escape as couertly as he coulde fearing to be taken prisoner the which was true indeede as it appeared by some of his friends that were taken in the porte of Lisbone who sought to imbarke with some prouision of victuals they had made who confessed vpon the racke that he was in the realme amongst which was Peter d'Alpoe Doctor of the lawes who since for that cause and others of high treason lost his head at Lisbone The Estates were now ended and the king desirous to goe to Lisbone but for that the preparations and triumphs which the citie pretended were not yet ready he went to Almada which is directly against the citie vpon the other banke of Tagus to giue them time to finish their preparations At what time the King hauing intelligence that those of the Ilands of Terceraes notwithstanding the letters which Ambrose d'Aguiar had carried stoode firme in their first resolution of defence hee sent Peter Baldes with fower ships sixe hundreth Spanish foote and some cannon with commandement to assure himselfe fully of the Iland of Saint Michaell which was obediēt to spoile the ships which should come from the Indies not to attēpt any thing by land vntill he had sent a greater supply of men The Court was ill appointed at Almada and the needfull ministers for dispatches could not all bee lodged there The King desirous to enter the citie would not attende after Saint Peters day when passing the water with his galleies he lāded in the city vpon a bridge of wood framed for that purpose without giuing them time to finish their arches statues prepared for his entry But the sloth and ignorance of the workemen was in parte cause yet did they make a sumptuous preparation Vpon the bridge he was met by the Magistrate of the chamber where Doctor Hector de Pyna one of them spake thus in the behalfe of the citie shewing the ioy they had conceiued of his entrie That as this citie was the greatest in the worlde so God had deseruedly giuen them conformeable to their owne desires a great monarch to bee their Lorde Hee excused the people saying That if they had no sooner obeied it was done rather by errour then their owne free will and that remaining in their owne power to choose a king they woulde haue made election of no other then himselfe And touching the death of Ferrant de Pyna hee saide that this citie had first of all shedde bloude for his seruice seeing that the saide Ferrant when as Anthony caused him to bee wounded was a member of this Magistrate He excused likewise the sleightnes of their ioyes by the afflictions of the warre the spoile of the citie and the plague remembring their losses of Affricke concluding that they hoped by his Maiesties fauours this realme shoulde not bee saide vnited vnto Castill but that all the other realmes were ioyned vnto Portugall Hee then went on horsebacke vnder a canopie of
to spoile the Ilands as they had already done that of Saint Michaels and that the same armie hauing tried a battaile against his Maiesties the French had beene broken and ouercome in the which being taken eight and twentie noblemen and two and fiftie gentlemen and manie other marriners and soldiers he declared them taken as enimies to the quiet and publike good disturbers of the traffike and fauourers of his Maiesties rebels that as such and as publike pirats hee commaunded the Auditor generall of the armie that for their chasticement and for the example of others hee shoulde execute vpon them the punishment of naturall death beheading the Gentlemen and hanging the rest which passed the age of seuenteene yeeres being so conuenient both for the seruice of God and of the two kings This sentence seemed cruell to all such as heard it and chiefly vnto the Spanish soldiers both for that they feared the like might happen vnto thē an other day as also for that they would not lose the profit which many expected by the raunsome of the saide prisoners or else for their owne good inclination so as some of the soldiers laying aside all respect saide it was not well grounded for that there was no firme and inuiolable peace betwixt the Catholique King and most Christian but warre and that those were neither pirats nor theeues but valiant soldiers That there was no peace they prooued it by the warres of Flaunders more hot then euer where the French did in a manner possesse all the Catholique Kings patrimonie And that they were no pirats they prooued by the letters patents they had from the King vnder the which the ships and soldiers were enrolled besides the number and qualitie of these men were such as it appeered cleerely they woulde not haue attempted it of themselues if the king had not sent them And although betwixt the two crownes they dissembled many things the Christian King excusing himselfe sometimes vpon his mother sometimes vpon his brother that they were all deuises of Princes but for all that they were not without open warre the lawes whereof they saide was not so stricte as to commaund them to hang all their prisoners And this execution did so mooue the hearts of manie that some of the principall soldiers being assembled togither went with a commendable example vnto the Marques to make intercession for the life of their enimies who answered that the most Christian King had expresly commaunded that all Frenchmen that shoulde take armes against the Catholique King shoulde be corporally punished so as the same day these Gentlemen with a generall pittie and great seueritie were beheaded vpon the scaffolde and the marriners and soldiers hanged in diuers places and the pittie was the greater being apparant that they were all not onely valiant soldiers but Catholique and deuout Christians The blame of this seuere execution was not imputed to the Marques supposing that he had expresse commaundement from the King whom likewise they excused for hauing so determined seeing it was not to bee presumed that so many personages of importance should come with such an armie and remaine prisoners especially knowing that Philip by his owne inclination was not cruell yet on the other side they considered that the King in his minde shoulde haue conceiued a cruell disdaine against the French seeing that vnder the shadow of amitie peace and alliance Kings writing daily one to the orher greeuing and reioycing at their troubles and contents did not onely aide his rebels but also tooke his countries and sent so great an armie to endomage him And although that Princes do vsually dissemble and counterfeit in many things yet it seemed the French vnder a new kinde of dissimulation would make warre whereby they did inferre that this execution did nothing displease the King The armie being a little repaired here the Marques went to the I le of Coruo to meete with the Indian fleete and hauing past in view of the citie of Angra he put Anthonie and all the people into confusion for although the Marques content with the victorie would not thrust himselfe into a new danger yet Anthonie doubted that in the heat of the victorie he would pursue and assaile the Ilande in the which although he had men enough both of the nation and of the French yet were they fearfull and disordered and Anthonie himselfe at the same time prouided a light ship to imbarke if neede were These newes came slowly to Lisbone for the which they were in great care hauing newes of the fight by the meanes of a Zabra of Biscay but a French ship which had beene sore beaten by the gallion Saint Mathew being fled from the battel gaue assurance of the euent for beeing arriued disguised at Settuual he was discouered finding within her some Spanish souldiers dead in the bosome of one of them was written all that had passed in the armie since their departure from Lisbone vntill the time that he was slaine The Marques attended long about the Ilands for the Indian fleete whereof two being arriued the seas growing high he came with them to Lisbone to the great ioy of all the court where he was extraordinarily fauoured by the King Anthony after the Marques his departure remained more quiet in minde supposing that for one whole yeere he need not feare any enimie He greatly greeued for the death of the French prisoners fearing it would preiudice his cause in France But Emanuel de Silua pressed him to reuenge in hanging about fiftie or threescore Castillians which were there taken prisoners at diuers times the which he woulde not suffer being better enclined He was ill furnished with money although hee had great store of armes and munition For this consideration he daily all by the inuention of the saide Silua made rigorous commandements to draw money from the people and from such as did not follow him willingly He caused gold to be coined which hee valued at fiue and twentie roials although it weied but eight He made testons of siluer weighing a roiall and a halfe the which he made currant for halfe a duckat and the copper money which was woorth three in Portugall hee valued at tenne And for that many were retired to the mountaines to be free from troubles within the citie hee commaunded euery one to returne and if any deferred his comming longer then the time limited by his commaundement they presently seazed his goods Many for feare of the souldiers had carried and hidden their goods without the citie and therefore he commaunded euerie one to bring them backe againe whereby he gained much for he demaunded a loane of money of such as came and brought it backe and if any one obeyed not he sent Souldiers to search their goods and to spoile them with a thousand indignities It was a lamentable thing to see how the Church causes were handled for the religious men except the Iesuits imploied in militarie actions
although it were not verie great in number yet we may say the Catholique king had neuer so many trained Spaniards as in this For besides that the greatest part had beene in Italy such as had beene in the battaile at sea of the league against the Turke were there and likewise those that remained at the warres of Flaunders As the fleete went out of the riuer a shippe striking against a shelfe was made vnfitte to saile and an other hauing not sailed farre lost her helme but hauing transported their soldiers into other ships they went to harbour This fleete sailing altogither the swiftest shippe of saile was faine to staie her course for the slowest and the galleies being of all other swiftest were constrained to linger for the shippes but for as much as this was the first time that euer these kinde of vessels with oares had beene within the Ocean so farre from land the Marques wished that they should not lose the occasiō of faire weather which they had to passe the gulph fearing that euery small storme might endomage them he therefore desired rather to dismember them from the armie then to retaine them with peril For this cause the xxvj day vnderstanding the Patrons desire to goe before he suffered them to depart alone towards the Iland of S. Michael with order to attende him there so as sailing more at ease with scant windes the thirde of Iuly they discouered land And for that the winde woulde not suffer the armie to approch the Marques sent a Zabre vnto Punta Delgada commanding Augustine Iniquez coronel of two thousand Spaniards which had remained there the yere before for the guard of the Iland to shippe all his men within the galleies which had arriued there before in safetie he shoulde likewise take with him certaine peeces of batterie and moiles to vse at lande if neede were with other prouisions and therefore setting vp all his sailes the winde growing somewhat better he drew neere with his ships to Villa Franca and from thence went in a galley to Punta Delgada where likewise a part of the armie had cast anchor hee set all things in order but the windes growing contrary he coulde not depart before the xxij day when as setting saile hee came the xxiiij to the Terceres This Iland is scituated as is said in the fortith degree of latitude and three hundreth forty two of longitude it hath fortie miles in circuite extending it selfe in length from the east vnto the west so as it is not much aboue twelue miles broad although it be rough for the most part and stony yet is it in a maner all inhabited towards the south for the commoditie of the shoares it is more populous then the rest for comming from the west you first discouer the citie of Angra a place in a small bosome of the sea but not greatly secure from the windes where of it takes the name for Angra in their language is a bosome Ioyning to this citie there is a castell begun in the time of King Sebastian and made defensible for the garde of this porte Sixe miles towards the east neere vnto a dangerous shoare which they call the port of Mole is Saint Sebastian a place smally inhabited and three miles farther is that of Piaggia so called being the best landing place of all others This place is neere vnto Punta de la Serra which is the last promontorie towards the East behinde the which turning to the North is another place which they call Agua Alua sixe miles from that of Piaggia This coast towards the North although it be as we haue saide inhabited yet doth it not containe any places of woorth being replenished onely with peasants houses neere to the point of the West there is a small assembly of inhabitants which they call the Altari The Marques being arriued at this Iland he discouered within that small bosome of sea of the citie of Angra those ships which had brought the succours and some others assembled for spoile with some merchants He cast anchor at Saint Sebastian beginning visiblie to finde that the Iland was no lesse fortified then had beene described vnto them The fleete lay onely a cannon shot from land so as there was many a shotte spent at them in vaine from the forts not suffering his men to discharge one volley it may be for that it seemed vnto him a vaine diligence or rather as he saide the better to iustifie his Kings cause Hee commaunded fower galleies to lie before the towne to serue as a bridle for those ships and to keepe them from comming foorth the which was helde too much ouerweening some holding opinion that he should in dissembling giue them meanes to depart rather then to force them to dispaire Hee sodainly sent a trumpet to lande offering to all such as were in the Iland a generall pardon in his Maiesties behalfe if they woulde yeeld but approching to land he was vnkindly kept backe by their artillerie The pardon concerned the succession of the King to the crowne the disobedience of the Iland and the clemencie of his Maiestie he offred vnto all such as were naturall borne their liues and goods if they woulde yeelde obedience and to strangers ships to transport them into their countries with their goods armes and ensignes But being not able to publish it by this meanes he sent two Portugals secretly to land who deliuered a copie thereof to Emanuel de Silua but making no account thereof hee concealed it least others should see it supposing it may be that it was nowe too late to vse it and therefore hee not onely refused to accept of this pardon but also threatned to hange them that brought it if they discouered the cause of their comming least the Ilanders should likewise embrace it The armie spent all the xxiiij day and the next following in discouering the circuit of the Iland with the places and fortifications in consulting where to land most fitly and what course to hold The Marques himselfe the marshals of the fielde with other of the chiefe commaunders in a small barke ran alongst the shoare they found they had fortified more carefully then elsewhere in the citie of Angra and Piaggia as places most fit for landing and it seemed that the French did watch there with greater care then in other parts Some Portugals of this Iland who going to discouer had beene taken prisoners by them of Saint Michaell and now brought vnto the armie saide there was no fitter place to land then at the port of Mole neere Saint Sebastian but whether they spake it to deceiue the Castillians the place being more rough then it seemed or that they deliuered their opinion faithfully the Marques had still his eie vpon that part for finding it rather lesse fortified then the rest although the shoare were not so commodious there as in other places enclining rather to fight against the difficulties of Nature then Rampiers
with him This letter in some sort pleased the Marques being in hope to come to agreement to remaine an absolute cōquerour without effusion of more bloud before the sea shoulde grow more rough But this demaund seemed vnto him vnreasonable refusing to heare talke of any Portugals to be transported into Fraūce Amongst the principal of the armie there were diuers opinions what should be done Some would presently haue marched against the French men to winne time charge them without any further accord or condition what soeuer Others discoursed with greater iudgemēt saying that it was conuenient to make an agreement with the French both for the shortnes of the time they coulde staie there as for the difficultie they shoulde finde to goe vnto them for they made an account to spende fiue daies in that enterprise two in their march one at the least in conquering and two in retiring and that they had no commoditie in the armie to carrie victuals by land for aboue two daies wanting waggons bottles and such other necessaries But these difficulties were surmou nted by the courage of the soldiers who growen proud could not endure that so small a handful of French being so neere shoulde make shewe to defende themselues against so great a number of old soldiers and conquerors whereupon they did offer to endure all discommodities to go vnto them And although he were not resolued to do so yet this Brauado caused the enimies to haue straighter conditions then otherwise possibly they had had the which after long treatie was thus concluded That the French shoulde deliuer vp their armes and ensignes retaining onely their swordes that they shoulde bee lodged in a quarter of the towne that they shoulde giue them shippes and victuals to returne into Fraunce The accorde was no sooner made but it was put in execution for the thirde of August the French came from the mountaine and without the citie deliuered vp their armes with eighteene ensignes their drums and phifes as it had beene agreed and entred disarmed into the citie passing thorough the Marquesses troupes which were armed and in guard where the commaunder Chattes with the Lorde of Carrauaca marshall of the field and other principall officers did visite the Marques by whom they were kindly enterteined In this time the galleies and other vessels were arriued at Faiall with the men that Peter de Toledo carried and passing with them Gonçalo Perera a Portugall who had wife and children in this Iland the saide Peter thought it good to send him before as a trumpet to entreat the people to yeeld supposing that being of that conntrey he shoulde haue credite amongst them to let them vnderstand the Kings forces and the dangers that approched to the ende they might the more easilie yeelde obedience But Anthony Guedez de Sosa who was captaine of this Iland neither respecting the messenger nor the reasons which he deliuered nor yet regarding the example of his stronger neighbors hauing outraged him both in worde and deed in the ende he slewe him as if in giuing him this notice he had touched him in his honour Peter de Toledo seeing the messenger not returne surmising what had hapned resolued to disimbarke his men and finding the Iland not so rockie and lesse fortified then the Terceres the second of August he landed his men almost without resistance and marching against the towne he was encountred by fower hundreth French and many Portugals where the skirmish began the which encreasing the French and Portugals were faine to retire into a small castel whereinto they had drawen the greatest parte of their artillerie and munition where after they yeelded in the same manner as those at the Terceres had done and Sosa suffered the punishment of his inhumanitie being hanged by one arme after his hands were cut off It is strange to see the confidence of these men the which nothing terrified by examples did induce them to cruell excesse and yet did not force them to fight it out vnto death but the Portugals vnexperienced do not account of dangers they see not and when they see them they feare them more then they are to bee feared There was no more to be done in this iland so as hauing spoiled it leauing Anthony of Portugall for Gouernour with two hundreth soldiers Peter de Toledo returned with his galleies and other ships to the Terceres where the rest of the Ilands of Saint George Pico and Gratiosa came to yeeld their obedience The Marques hauing agreed with the French caused a diligent search to be made for Emanuel de Silua who intituled himselfe counte of Torres Vedras Gouernour and Generall of the Ilands but being retired to Altary and finding that such as had the charge of certaine boates in whom fortune had more force then loialtie had broken them against the rockes hee founde all hope vaine for his safetie hauing no meanes to free himselfe by the French composition being attired in a base habite hee hidde himselfe in the mountaines But it seemed the heauens had decreed he should suffer punishment for his offences by the hands of his enimies for that a moorish slaue who hoped by that meanes to saue himselfe discouered him to a Prouost marshall who seeing him before his eies knewe not what he was so as hauing taken and brought him to the citie he was kept with some other of the principall rebels and seditious vntill the processe of their death were made by the auditour in the name of the King and the Marques as generall of the armie specifying all their faults that were executed vpon the prisoners The Germaines first put themselues in battaile in the chiefest part of Angra keeping the entrie of euery streete and there causing a fire to be made they did burne all the money they founde to be stamped with the coine of Anthony the which although it was not little in quantitie yet was it nothing woorth being for the most part of base mettall with small mixture of siluer After they cutte off Emanuel de Silua his head with a sworde after the Germaine fashion to the generall griefe of all the assistants For being of a louely countenance and hauing in this last houre with great resolution confessed himselfe culpable and to haue deserued this punishment hee demaunded pardon of one after another of all such as present or absent he thought to haue wronged saying that he alone had bin the cause of the miserie of this Iland that he alone ought to suffer the punishment the which ioined to the contrition he shewed did mooue the harts euen of his enimies And in truth we may well saie that he framed himselfe to the speech of Dionysius the tyrant that to leaue a tyrannie they must not ride poast but staie vntill they be forced for in truth he attended vntill hee lost his head His head was set vp publikely in that place from the which that of Melchior Alphonso
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