against her hauing seene the proofe thereof in the affaires of Ireland sought to secure hirselfe that they might not wrong her and to that end she entred into an agreement as it was said with the Queene and her yoongest sonne to the preiudice of Philip whereof the effect was soone seen The saide Alançon being returned againe into England being alreadie agreed with the Prince of Orenge who was the instrument of all these practizes he passed from thence to Antwerpe where the peoples humours being before disposed by the saide Prince he was receiued in all these places with great ioy and the xix day of Februarie in the yeere of our Lord 1582. they did sweare him Duke of Brabant the which caused a generall admiration for many reasons It seemed strange that the Prince of Orenge in a manner absolute Lord in those countries the which he had so long defended woulde vpon the end of the worke spoile himself of the state giue it vnto a stranger without constraint without profit to the preiudice of his honor And although it seemed he had done the like to Mathias Arch Duke of Austria afterwards sent him back into Germany it was not credible that he hoped euer to do so vnto the Duke for besides that he was entred in a manner by maine force his power the neernes of Fraunce the fauor of England might wel induce men to beleeue that he woulde so establish himselfe as he need not feare to be expelled There wanted not such as woulde excuse the Prince saying that the people were nowe wearie and vnfurnished of money by reason of so great warres that they coulde not relieue him as hee had neede and thefore it behooued him to seeke some one that should aide him against the Catholique king who hauing now recouered the realme of Portugall shoulde bee able with greater ease to molest those countries seeing that he was forced to seeke for succours there was no greater person then this making in a manner an muincible vnion of these estates with Fraunce and England besides the Prince shoulde attaine to the wished ende which was to depriue the Catholique king of the whole possession and many did so much relie vpon the Princes foresight and iudgement that they supposed hee woulde like wise expell Alançon when hee pleased Many blamed the manner of the Dukes proceeding who sought to vsurpe an others patrimonie without any title others excused him forging lawes of state after their owne humours saying that the priuileges of the countrey did allow that if the Catholique King did not obserue them they might choose a Prince of themselues the which the King hauing broken they had sought out an other Lorde The effect of the league was not yet ended in those parts but to diuert the Catholique King from making warre in those countries at the mediation of Anthony to trouble the state of Portugal they prepared a great armie in Fraunce Some said it was to be imploied against the same realme hoping the people woulde rise against the Castillians some supposed it shoulde be sent to succour the Terceraes the winning whereof Philip threatned to attempt and some beleeued that they went for no other intent but to surprise certaine ships that came from the newe nauigations charged with golde and spice There hapned at that time in Flaunders a matter of admiration and seldome seene For the Prince of Orenge being in Antwerpe quiet and in the greatest fortune that he was euer was shot in his house rising from his table in the midst of all his seruants with a pistoll by Iohn Scaurigni a yoong man a Biscaine mooued thereunto by zeale of religion as he pretended the bullet hitting him vnder his right iawe passed forth through the window and although he was supposed to be dead yet was he cured and liued and the offender was presently slaine by his guard and all such as were founde accessarie were executed Whilest these things were determined in Fraunce and the low Countries the king who remained still in Portugall sought to giue contentment to the Portugals who hauing long and with importunitie sought for recompence were in the ende all in a manner dispatched giuing vnto many of them orders of knighthoode much of the reuenewes and all the offices that might bee giuen to the great griefe of the Castillians who saide that this realme with more right appertained vnto Philip seeing he had inherited it bought it and conquered it This distribution was made by the two Deputies with great bountie yet wrought it no good effect in the Kings fauour neither was it acceptable for finding two kinde of Portugals which sought for reward that is those to whom Philip in the time of Henry and the Gouernours had promised money and honors to follow his partie and such as faithfully without promises yea refusing them had loially serued him It was in a manner impossible to equall their recompences so as one of the parties should not be discontented but they proceeded so as some were grieued and others proude For besides the errors that were committed by reason of the ignorance of the officers being more easie to promise then to performe the kings Agents had made large offers not onelie to such as coulde helpe but also to many of small meanes and lesse countenance The King desired in any case to satisfie these bonds and although he woulde haue rewarded the most faithfull aboue all others yet could he not performe it for that by reason of their excessiue promises all the reuenewes of the crowne had not beene sufficient so as it often hapneth in Courts they gaue not vnto them that deserued with the like proportion as to such as were vnworthie So as the loue of the subiects was nothing encreased by this meanes for the most trusty were discontented seeming against reason to bee woorse entreated then those which had beene lesse faithfull but with rewarde in hande alleaging also that many of them had not performed that for which they were paide seeming sufficient vnto many to remaine newters and to some that had serued Anthony to say that they were forced and such as were least faithfull for that their harts were not so firmely setled to the Kings seruice they supposed to haue carried themselues wisely They esteemed euery small matter to be of great importance and supposing the king to vnderstand wel what neede he had of them in contempt of the rest they grew insolent These were the generall causes for the which the greatest distribution that euer was within the realme was not pleasing but the nature of the Portugals is vneasie to content in this respect for being enuious they doe feele with greater griefe an other mans profite then their owne losse Those of the baser sort although they expected no answere hauing enriched themselues in their trades by the great multitude of Courtiers yet coulde they not suffer the Castillians to be superiors and as
about a yeere and a halfe and died in the beginning of the yeere 1580. he was the last of the house of Portugall to whom succeeded 18. Philip sonne to Charles the fift Emperour and of Isabell King of Spaine c. borne the 7. of May 1527. c. THE VNITING OF THE REALME OF PORTVGALL TO THE CROWNE OF CASTILL The Contents of the first Booke The originall of the Realme of Portugall the description thereof with their newe conquests The life of King Sebastian his first voyage into Affrick his enteruiew with the Catholique King at Guadalupa the preparatiues of warre made at Lisbone for the enterprize of Affrick the kings departure from Portugall with his armie I Vndertake the Historie of the Realme of PORTVGALL from the time that king Sebastian the first passed into Affrick with a mightie armie to make warre against the Moores which inhabite Mauritania Tingitana till that after many afflictions this Realme was vnited to those of Spaine vnder Phillip the second king of Castill A subiect of importance for the generall state by the increase of power to so mightie a king yea considerable for the diuers accidents hapned in so short a time contrarie to common hope and profitable by the examples of the instabilitie of this worlde and the dangers that Princes and people runne into by their ill grounded resolutions I hope to relate these euents sincerely with truth hauing beene present at the greatest part and receiued the rest from a faithfull Reporter I am voide of passion an enimie to the vncorrupt writing of Historiographers being neither borne in any of those countries nor subiect or vassall to any king or prince But before I enter into the welspring of those warres I haue thought it conuenient to make a briefe relation of the state of the Realme of the scituation beginnings enterprises and such like to the end that being to report the fall we may withall see the rising thereof by what meanes it encreased and was supported how and when it declined and finally altered his forme The description of the Realme of Portugall POrtugall is a part of Spaine lying vpon the furthest borders of the Ocean It bordereth vpon the East with the kingdome of Castill vpon the West with the great Ocean vpon the North with Gallicia and towards the South with the Atlantike sea and Andelouzia The late writers haue deuided it into sixe countries which they call Comarques that is beyond the riuer of Tagus Estremadura betwixt Duero and Minies and this with the countrie which stretcheth to Coimbra is the ancient Portugall behinde the mountaines Beira and Algarues which last hath also the Title of a kingdome It containes in circuit 850. miles whereof 400. run along the Sea shore the rest is maine land which maketh it in forme long and narrow It hath in it eighteene cities with many great villages and castles in number aboue 470. Three of these cities haue Archbishopricks Braga Lisbone and Euora whereof the first is Lord both spirituall and temporall Nine haue their Bishopricks Coimbra Lamego Visco Porto Miranda Portalegro Guarda Leiria and Eluas the other fiue remaine without dignitie and those are Bragança Tauira Lagos Faro and Silues These last fower be in the kingdome of Algarues whereof one Bishop hath the Title It is watered with many riuers whereof two are most famous Tagus and Duero the first runneth by the walles of Lisbone and sixe or seuen miles off dischargeth it selfe into the Sea the other doth the like by the citie of Porto and two miles from thence falleth into the Ocean from their mouthes vnto the citie they are no riuers but as it were armes and bosomes of the Sea and most assured and capable portes for many great ships which may saile farre vp against the streame but further in that of Lisbone then of the other whereas many great vessels passe fifteene or twentie miles vp beyonde the towne besides these two portes twentie miles from Lisbone towards the South is Settuual which hath a small Tower at the entrie thereof with a port capable of many ships And in Algarues is Tauira Lagos and Villeneuue these three are of reasonable capacitie the rest are lesse with many pleasant plashes The seate of the countrie is commodious for all partes of the world being in the middest of many great kingdomes fit for the ancient and later nauigations For turning towards the West they discouer directly Gallicya Biscay Fraunce England Germanie the other Northerne Regions Before them lieth the Islands of Azores otherwise called Terceres the fortunate Islands with the countries called the West Indies On the left hād lieth Andelouzia the Streits of Gibraltar by the which they enter into the Mediterranean Sea for the Nauigation of Italie and Greece And leauing the Streits coasting Affrick on the left hand they discouer many nations and new people vnknowne to the auncient who beleeued that the burning Zone was inhabitable from which places many ships arriue at Lisbone with great riches chieflie from the East Indies the which the Portugalles themselues as we shall declare hereafter conquered besides their traffiqne with the kingdome of Castile which lieth behinde them Lisbone is the best and chiefest of all their Cities on the which the whole Realme dependes It is verie populous yea many beleeue that of all the cities of Christendome except Paris it containes the greatest number of people The aire is verie wholesome and temperate distant from the Equinoctiall nine and thirtie degrees and with the ebbing and flowing of the salt water which is great vpon that coast there bloweth alwaies a temperate winde which doth refresh it It is neither wholie plaine nor all mountaines but deuided into fiue small hilles betwixt th' one and the other of these the plaine extends vnto the Riuer It hath beene walled whereof some part continues to this day but for that it hath beene since much augmented that part without the walles exceedes the other in greatnes There stands vpon an high hill a very ancient castell which hath no other strength in it but his height nor any guard but is reserued as a prison for noble men At the mouth of Tagus on the citie side stands a Fortresse built after the newest manner which they cal the rocke of Saint Iulian made to defend the entrie of the Riuer The fruite it bringeth foorth surpasseth all their neighbours in bountie and although it yeeldeth not corne sufficient to feede them yet haue they prouision daily out of Fraunce and Germanie The whole Realme is at this present greatly inhabited being replenished with manie Noblemen and Gentlemen and much building of ships and vessels for sundrie Nauigations Besides the order of the knights of Saint Iaques and Alcantara or of Saint Bennet which they call d'Auis of a place so named these carrie a red crosse and these a greene like vnto the Knights of Castill when as the Templers were suppressed they did institute another order with the
same reuenewes which they call the Knights of Christ bearing a red crosse and in the midst a white the which are bound to goe to the warre against infidels to whome Pope Alexander the sixth did since graunt libertie to marrie And their Kings hauing encreased their reuenewes a great part of their Nobilitie affected this order although they haue many times receiued men base and vnworthie A great part of this Realme was sometimes vnited to the crowne of Castill but in the yeere of our Lord one thousand one hundreth and tenne Alphons the sixth being King that part towards the north was separated giuing it in marriage for a certaine tribute to Henrie nephew to the Earle of Burgundie borne at Besanson marrying Therasie his bastard daughter for that comming out of Fraunce with Count Raimond of Tholouse his vncle who was after Earle of Gallicia he went to the warres which the Castillians had against the Moores that possessed Spaine And although some deriue the originall of this Count Henrie from Hungarie others from Aragon and from other places yet this is the most approoued opinion But it hapneth in the originall of Kings as of great riuers whose mouthes are knowne but not their springs Portugall was then obscure vntilled poore and reduced into streight limits yet Alphons Henry sonne vnto this first Earle did greatly augment it by his valiant exploits taking many places from the Moores by force against whom hauing woone a great victorie in a pitched battaile he was proclaimed King by his soldiors in a place called Campo d'Ourique and following his victorie woone Saint Arem and Lisbone remaining peaceable Lord of the Realme he had the title of King confirmed by Pope Alexander the fourth for a certaine small tribute Their first king which succeeded him named Alphonso the thirde did no lesse augment it by another meanes For hauing before his comming to the Crowne married with Matilda Countesse of Boloigne in Picardie being now in possession of the Realme he put her away of his owne proper motion and without cause taking to wife Beatrice bastard daughter to Alphonso the tenth King of Castill surnamed the wise to haue in dowrie with her as indeed he had the kingdome of Algarues So as their lymits being extended as they be at this present and the Moores subdued who kept them in martiall exercise they began since to make war with the Kings of Castill although their Dominions were alwaies greater then the Portugals the which they did so often and with such obstinacie that these nations all of one continent issued from one stocke of one language were enflamed one against the other with so mortall a hatred that it remaineth euen vntill this daie but more with the Portugals then the Spaniards And although these late warres did breede them more honor then profit yet were they not without some vtilitie for that this continuall exercise did maintaine them in discipline and keepe them from delights and idlenes capitall enimies to any State Since which time they haue not remained idle but inured vnto war wonne vnto themselues some honour vnder Iohn the first at the perswasion of Henry his sonne they laboured to take from the Moores certaine places in Affricke the which succeeded happily For in time they became Maisters in Mauritania Tingitana of the townes of Ceute Tanger and Arzilla and this is that auncient Zillia and other places which since they haue either lost or abandoned to the Moores as they did Arzilla being of great charge and small profit They onely maintained and defended the two first and built towards the West Mazagon being seated at the mouth of Hercules straites for holding those places the Moores should not harbor so neere vnto Spaine but they serue as a buckler vnto that Prouince By reason of these euents they extended their hopes yet further so as the Ilands of Madera not farre distant and the Terceres lying from Lishbone 850. miles in the fortie degree of latitude then vntilled and vninhabited were by them discouered and peopled And not yet content especially the said Henry who aspiring to higher matters though with lesse hope then the effect which followed they began sailing through the Ocean to coast Affricke searching new countries and nations So as running along that coast by the space of many yeeres they went on so far that comming to the other Hemisphere they discouered all Ethiopia And although Alphonso the fifth of that name and the twelfth King renewed the war against the Spaniard yet did they not discontinue their nauigation to their great good but in the end hauing made peace with the catholique King Ferdinand in the yeere of our Lord 1479. they had more leisure to think of their new conquest It is worth the obseruing that in capitulations then made it was particularly specified that the peace was concluded for a hundreth yeeres and one naming alwaies a certaine for an vncertaine But this prooued a prophesie for it continued iust a hundreth yeeres one for so much time passed from those wars vnto this which I vndertake to write if the words of the Treatie agree with the qualitie of the euent The Realme was greatly strengthened both with people and wealth and since encreased more when as Ferdinand and Isabell King and Queene of Castill in the yeere 1482. expelled the lewes out of their Dominions being then in great numbers they agreed with Iohn the second successor to Alphonso the fifth and obtained libertie paying eight duckats for euerie person to enter into his countrey vpon condition to depart at a certaine time prefixed and that the King should appoint them shipping to transport them So as vpon those conditions which were not fully obserued there entred about 20000. families and in euery one ten persons at the least the time of their departure expired and not performed many remained slaues others either vnwilling to depart or to loose their goods were baptized as the rest had done that remayned in Castill So as vnder the name of new Christians the greatest part remayned in Portugall vnknowen being vndistinguished and allyed for money with some Noblemen of the countrey they laboured to be admitted for citizens And although according vnto reason of State this manner of peopling were not good being of a nation different in blood and law the which in multiplying might cause an important diuision being many in number yet brought it great profit to the Crowne Since in the time of Emanuell the fourteenth King who began to raigne in the yeere 1495. they continued their new nauigation with greater feruencie and more quiet For the Castillians being growen mightier by meanes of the forces annexed to their Crowne and hauing by new alliances drawen vnto them the loue of the Portugales the one durst no more contend the other suffered them to liue in peace His predecessors hauing many yeeres coasted along Affricke they built a fort at Argin tooke the Islands of Hesperides which now are called
to passe horse and munition They arriued soone at Cadiz whereas the Duke of Medina Sidonia feasted the King with chasing of buls Iocodecanna and all other delights that poore Iland coulde yeelde The Duke laboured to perswade him not to goe personally into Barberie but he preuailed not hauing soiourned there eight daies like a fleete of merchants without guard or Centinell directing their prowesse towards Affrick in fewe daies they arriued at Almadraues betwixt Tanger and Arzilla where hauing cast anchors they staied some space The King hauing then an intention to disimbarke at Alarache a small towne of the Moores lying fifteene miles towards the south a little before the armie approched the land being fully resolued to depart the King with his fiue galleis and fower gallions leauing the rest of the ships went to Tanger where he made a short abode for hauing sent Mulei Cheque son to the Cheriffe of the age of twelue yeeres by land with Martin Correa de Sylua and certaine horsemen Moores and Portugals to the ende they should draw towards Mazagon and backe the people thereabouts that should reuolt against Moluc he returned to his armie hauing supplied the fortresses with fresh souldiors and taking into his ships the Cheriffe and eight hundreth Harquebuzers that were at the guard thereof From the Almadraues he went to Arzilla with all his fleete where seeing his souldiors distressed for water he commanded them to lande and refresh themselues meaning to imbarke them againe or to transport them in barkes to Alarache But wauering in his thoughts nothing was constant for the souldiors being landed with no small confusion it was hard to force them to returne for the small obedience they were in and for the necessitie of water whereof they must make prouision so as he continued long irresolute The armie was lodged vpon the sea shore hauing on the one side fortified their lodging with rampiers of earth and waggons on the two other sides the sea and the towne serued them for trenches It remained in this estate fifteene daies during which the Portugals landing with their King had so troubled all the prouince that the Moores that are neighbours to the sea townes as Alarache Tituan and others were resolued not to make any resistance but to abandon their townes and had alreadie transported their poore wealth with their wiues to the mountaines But Mulei Moluc being at Marrock had before both from Portugall Cadiz and Arzilla very particular aduertisement of the King of Portugals preparation and of the quantitie and qualitie of his men wherewith he was greatly mooued seeming vnto him that Sebastian pretended to depriue him of his kingdome being a Moore to giue it to another Moore no more friend to him then he was without any pretext or iudgement to whom of them the estate did iustly appertaine And seeing the accord with the Catholique King tooke not the effect he desired he resolued vpon his defence but weighing how much better an ill peace is then a iust warre and discerning well the discommodities great charge and dangers it drawes with it he laboured first to compound with him making offer to the King to giue him tenne miles of the countrey lying about his fortresses in Affrick for tillage But Sebastian who was of another conceite made him answere that he had beene at great charge in leuying of forreine forces and therefore he coulde not desist from the enterprise vnlesse he would yeeld him Tituan Alarache and Cape D'Aghero This demaund seemed too excessiue to the Moore and therefore made answere that hee must pause thereon although the siege were before Moroca and that the King should offer to giue him in counterchange Mulei Mahamet his capitall enimie That he had conquered those Realmes with his sword and policie and ment to defend them with all his forces He commaunded presently Rhodeuano his purueyor generall a Portugall Renegado to bring to field all his Tents and Pauillions the which was perfourmed the next day beeing in number aboue 4000. The sixe and twentith of May he went towards Suse the chiefe citie being Northward from Moroca to giue order in those parts for certaine things there concerning the warre But hauing intelligence vpon the way that the King of Portugall was issued out of Lisbone he returned suddenly to Moroca where hauing left the said Rhodeuano as his Vizeroy he assembled those men of war he commonly keepes in paye in that Realme he lodged his campe at Camis and from thence came in three daies to Temisnam townes which lye towards the frontriers of Portugall where he fell sicke with great castings and a fit of an Ague There he vnderstood that Sebastian was come to Cadiz and although he were verie sicke yet continuing his course he went to Salé with 14000 horse and 2500. Harquebuzers whereof one thousand were on horsebacke the rest on foot the most part of Andelousia Renegados Here he vnderstood the Portugals were arriued at Arzilla and therefore hauing passed the riuer of Marmore at a foord hauing caused some quantity of mettal to be brought from Moroco he cast fower pieces of great cannon in his campe three of them with certaine other peeces he drew with him the other he sent to Moroco marching himselfe towards Alcasar Mulei Hemet his bastard brother gouernour of the kingdome of Fesse was alreadie come to field by his commandement as generall of the horse of that prouince and hauing assembled all the souldiers both horse and foote thereabouts was come to the place which they call the faire of Thursday sixe miles neere to Alcazarquiuir where he expected his brother to ioyne their armies togither hauing two and twentie thousand horse and fiue thousand fiue hundreth foote There Moluc arriued the xxiiij of Iuly so sicke that he coulde scarse endure on horsebacke who hauing marched long in his Litter seeing his brother a farre off he tooke his horse to meete him when they approched the one to the other Mulei Hemet put spurres to his horse and being come neere his brother he lighted and kissed the ground in signe of humilitie the whole armie giuing a great volley of shotte His sicknes encreasing daily Mulei Moluc entred not with pompe as the manner was into his lodging but returning to his Litter seated his brother in his place to effect his entrie himselfe going before to take his lodging And forasmuch as he vnderstood that Sebastian had sent Mulei Cheque with troopes to Mazagon he dispatched Mulei Dan his nephew with two thousand horse and some foote to make head least he should indomage those quarters Toward Cape D'Aghere and Alarache he likewise sent men but hearing that Sebastian was disimbarked at Arzilla they returned to the campe Moluc was a man couragious hardie and free in wordes seeming to make small account of the Portugals he saide openly that whosoeuer went not willingly with him he shoulde retire suffering any freely to depart that were more friend to Mulei Mahamet
with much people on foote The Cardinall inuironed with a great multitude ascends the staires of the hospitall being entered the Church hauing heard Seruice and ended his praiers he seates himselfe in the chaire prepared on the scaffolde where presently Frauncis de Sada one of those that had bin gouernours put the Scepter in his hand and Michell de Mora Secretarie standing a little off said reading it with a loude voice that King Henrie by the death of King Sebastian did succeede in the Realme and therefore they had deliuered him the Scepter and that he was come to take the accustomed oath to maintaine and obserue vnto his people and to any other all liberties priuiledges and conuentions graunted by his predecessours which done the Secretarie kneeling before him with an open booke the King laide his hande thereon swearing so to do then did the Attabales sounde euery man crying Reale Reale for Henry King of Portugall this done he riseth with the same companie holding alwaies the Scepter in hande he returned to the pallace the Attabales sounding and the Herolds crying from time to time as before THE THIRDE BOOKE The Contents of the third Booke The descent of the Kings of Portugall The pretendants to the succession The resolutions of King Henrie And the peoples demaunds The voyage of the Duke of Ossuna into Portugall and other Embassadors from the Catholique King The imprisonment of the Duke of Alua The Catholique Kings letters to them of Lisbone The States of Portugall The grounds of the pretendants to the succession The sentence of Henry against Anthony Prior of Crato vpon his legitimation by vertue of the Popes Briefe The reasons of the Catholique King to the Realme against euerie one of the pretendants The preparatiues to warre of the Catholique King against the Realme of Portugall The suspension of the briefe The second sentence of Henry against Anthonie The alteration of King Henry his will concerning the succession And the Popes offers to the Catholique king MOst men from all the noted parts of the worlde had their mindes and iudgements turned vpon Portugall both for that hitherto the affaires of Sebastian were worthie attention as to see nowe Henry come to the Crowne who was olde and without successour which made all Princes doubte that the succession of this Realme might trouble the publike quiet for the Pretendants were diuers their actions differing all allied and all with groundes And although their forces were vnequall yet were they made equal by certaine respects But to the ende we may the better vnderstand the groundes of euery one of the pretendants I will make a little digression to report briefly the descent of these Kings And although from the first vnto Henry there raigned seauenteene yet doe I not thinke it necessarie to take their beginning but frō Emanuel forward who was the fourteenth who began his raigne in the yeere of our Lord 1495. for that of his onely progenie is issued the number of Princes that pretended to the Crowne This man had three wiues of the first which was Isabell daughter to Ferdinand King of Castill widow to Alphonse sonne to Iohn the second of Portugall he had no other children for she died in childbed but Michael who died in the cradle who had beene as they say the pillar and corner stone to vnite it and Spaine togither But by his death the Portugals lost the kingdomes of Castill and Arragon whereof Emanuel and Isabell his wife were sworne Princes the issue male of the bloud roiall being extinct in Castill His second wife which was Marie sister to Isabell third daughter of the saide Ferdinand brought him many children vz. sixe sonnes and two daughters Isabel was married to Charles the fifth Emperour Beatrice to Charles the thirde Duke of Sauoy Iohn did inherite the kingdome Lewes died without marrying leauing behinde him Anthony his bastard sonne he who as you shall heare anon was the cause of great miserie to his countrey by reason of his pretention to the Crowne Ferdinand deceased without heires so did Alphons who was Cardinall called by the title of Saint Blaise and Henry of the title of Saint Quatre Coronez this outliued all the rest and it is hee of whom we speake Edward tooke to wife Isabell daughter to Iaime Duke of Bragance by whome he had Marie which afterwardes was married to Alexander Farnese Prince of Parma and Katherine at this present wife to Iohn of Bragance he had likewise a sonne the which being borne after the death of his father who liued but fower yeeres in matrimonie was likewise called Edward This is he who disfauoured by Sebastian died at Euora in the yeere 1576. of his thirde wife which was Leonora daughter to king Philip the first of Castill archduke of Austria who was after married to Frauncis the first king of Fraunce he had none but Charles who died yoong and Marie who being about sixe and fiftie yeeres olde died a maide at Lisbone in the yeere 1578. But returning to Iohn the thirde sonne of the second wife who succeeded Emanuel in the kingdome he contracted marriage with Katherine sister to the Emperour Charles the fifth and had issue Marie who after was the first wife of Philip the second king of Castill now raigning from whom issued Charles who died yoong the which if he had liued without doubt had preceaded the Cardinall Henry in the succession of the crowne The saide Iohn and Katherine had many male children which died yoong one onely outliued the rest named Iohn who as some say died yoong with excessiue loue of his wife sister to the saide Philip leauing her great with childe and after deliuered of Sebastian during his grandfathers life who soone after passed to an other worlde and this is that Sebastian which died in Affrick Let vs now come to the pretentions The Catholique King as it is saide put himselfe foremost being borne of Isabell the eldest daughter of Emanuel And although as a Castillian he was naturally hated of that nation yet he supposed that being mightie compassing in the Realme with his dominions and the Portugals vnexpert he shoulde soone either by loue or force become master thereof Iohn Duke of Bragance challenged the Realme as the right of Katherine his wife alleaging he was neerer to the succession then the Catholique King being although a woman daughter to the said Edward brother to the saide Isabell And forasmuch as the Duke is the greatest personage of the Realme and his subiects most warlike trusting on the fauour of Henry who did then grace him and hauing small experience in the affaires of the worlde he held himselfe halfe in possession Alexander Prince of Parma sonne to Octauius Farnesse did pretend it for his eldest son Rhainucius as male issued from Marie the eldest daughter of the saide Edward sister to the saide Katherine And although his territories were farre off yet besides that some supposed the Church shoulde
fauour him it seemed the Portugals woulde be pleased to haue a yoong king whom they might breede vp after their owne manner But Anthony Prior of Crato sonne of Lewes who was brother to the saide Henrie sought the Crowne but with more vehemencie saying he was legitimate and no bastard as it was supposed And although he were without lands and disgraced by Henry yet being fauoured by the people he supposed that Henry dying he shoulde in despight of all the rest be crowned Emanuel Philibert Duke of Sauoy although sonne to Beatrice yoongest sister to the Catholique Kings Mother and yoonger then the saide King did not yet leaue off his pretentions but with greater modestie And for that amongst the pretendants straungers the Portugals were more inclined to him then to anie other it was supposed he woulde not let slippe the occasion And this inclination proceeded from the opinion they had that in regarde of the qualitie of his person he shoulde be fitter then anie other to defende them from their enimies and if neede were hee might vigorously resist King Philip if he shoulde stirre both by reason of his valour and for the meanes he had to molest him in his Duchie of Millaine ioyning vnto Piedmont vsing chiefly the alliance and neighbourhoode he had with Fraunce The peoples pretention was not vnconsidered for that the issue male of their Kings failing they pretended the election to belong to them they grounded it that women did neuer succeed but in an interreigne a woman was excluded and Iohn the first the tenth king of this Realme chosen by the people It seemed that this pretention shoulde not onely be contrarie to all pretendant strangers but also might breed a diuision within the Realme Katherine of Medecy widdowe to Henry the second King of Fraunce did likewise pretende saying that she was before all others by an action fetched a farre off but fortified with liuely reasons by her Embassadors The ground was That when as Sanches the second raigned in Portugall whom they called Cappello of the habite which he did vse Alphons his brother married with Matilda then Countesse of Bulloigne in Picardie And that after by the weakenes of Sanches the people with the consent of Pope Honorius the thirde then raigning called in Alphonse to be as tutor and gouernour of the Realme a testimony of the auncient Religion of this nation who euen in temporall matters did flie vnto the Pope And although at his cōming he did but vsurpe yet soone after the King dying without heires the Earle did lawfully inherite the Crowne hauing had before by his French wife some children who vnderstanding her husband to be King and not to returne any more to Bulloigne hauing prepared certaine ships she went to him into Portugall But for that Alphonse being now King did treat a marriage in Castill to haue the Kingdome of Algarues in dower as he after had without the consent of the Pope she was neither seene nor receiued by him So as all the other Portugall Kings which haue succeeded haue drawen their originall from this Alphonse and the children of his Castillian wife The Queenes Embassadours said That all the Kings which had succeeded him and his children had as Bastards vniustly inherited and that the kingdome ought to returne by direct line to the heires of the lawfull children of the said Alphonse and the Countesse of Bulloigne whom they said to be Queene Katherine of Medicy mother to King Henry the third daughter to Laurence of Medicy and of Magdalen of Bulloigne the onely remainder in direct line of that house and heire to that County the which although shee did not then possesse being incorporate by the Kings of Fraunce as a matter of importance seated vpon the limits of Flaunders and England yet they gaue vnto the Queene in recompence the Earledom of Lorangueil which shee now inioyeth They did likewise affirme but with small reason that the Pope did pretend alleadging that the Realme was not onely the spoile of the Cardinall but when as Alphonse who was the second Earle of Portugall obtained of the church the Title of a King hee bound himselfe to pay certaine markes of gold for a Tribute But heere of they made small reckoning These pretentions did much afflict the mindes of Princes and made the people feare some broyles vnderstanding that both the Queene of England was displeased against the Catholike King for the affaires of Ireland and that the King of Fraunce and the Turke were not contented to see King Philip become so mightie conquering a kingdome of so great importance On the other side Philip would not indure that any other but himselfe should become Lord for the neighbourhood of their countries supposing the least inconuenience that could happen was the ciuill warre betwixt the Duke of Bragrance and the Prior. But returning to the Cardinall Henrie being seated in the royall throne although he were of 67. yeeres of age and not healthful yet he looked about him and as it were determined from aboue that Portugall should fall by degrees to his declining hee did not prouide for the state according to the opinion that was conceiued of him but the Realme by reason of their miseries passed remayning as a bodie emptie and afflicted which needed a wise Phisition to restore it But as one mischiefe comes not alone the new King did more torment it for although many supposed that hee being olde a priest and of an exemplarie life hee should lay all passions aside and be more carefull to settle the state of the common wealth then he had found it yet notwithstanding he could not temper himselfe with such disposition as was fit for his yeeres and degree But as it often happens to such as haue beene oppressed who comming to rule seeke reuenge of their enimies euen so did he not imitating the example of Lewis the 12. King of Fraunce who disdained to requite the wrongs done him being Duke of Orleance hee resolued to reuenge the iniuries done him being Cardinal if they may be wel termed iniuries when as Princes be not respected of their inferiors as they ought For being not greatly fauoured by the King his predecessor the ministers and fauorites of his nephewe did not respect him as was fit not conceiuing being so old and Sebastian so yoong that euer he should haue attained to the Crowne By reason whereof he depriued almost all the officers of the court and some of them that did mannage the Kings Treasure of their offices and aduanced his owne seruants The first on whom he discharged the heat of his choler was Peter d' Alcasoua for that he did detest him from the time he was Secretorie and he Gouernor of the Realme during the nonage of Sebastian as also for that he thought to haue reason to punish him hauing beene an actor in these warres and seconded the Kings will and as one of his Chamberlaines had had the greatest charge
his disfauour retaining still the right of armes by reason whereof in this suspence he forbare still to giue the Nuncio his answere vntill that being better assured of the disposition of Henry he made answere that his interest being so apparant and the King so well enclined there needed not any mediation the which if it were requisite he woulde accept of this office of the good zeale of his holines The indisposition of Henry and the disquietnes of his minde did much afflict him so as he resembled a lampe neere extinct the which sometimes yeelds a great light sometimes seemes quite out They feared he shoulde die of an accident which hapned and therefore his Counsell thought good not to attende his death for the declaration of the Gouernours but to put them as it were in possession the which was partly executed For the King being halfe dead they brought vnto him the coffer wherein the Rowle was kept with the names of the Gouernours in the great Church of Lisbone and hauing opened it they founde them to be George Dalmeda archbishop of Lisbone Frauncis de Sada first groome of the Kings chamber Iean Tello Iean Mascaregnas and Diego Lopez de Sosa President of the Counsell of Iustice of the citie who tooke their oathes to gouerne according to the lawes of the Realme and to the limited commission which Henry had particularly set downe This diligence bredde aswell in the peoples mindes as in the Catholique Kings a iealousie of the kings death and the rather for that two daies before they woulde not suffer any to see him supposing they woulde keepe it secret vntill they had taken counsell put the Gouernours in possession and prepared for defence And although it were presently knowne that the King was yet liuing and so amended that he had almost recouered his former health yet the generall opinion being that he coulde not liue long all mens mindes were in suspence in this Realme THE FOVRTH BOOKE The Contents of the fourth Booke The Castillians and Portugals discourse vpon the state of Portugall the vehemencie of the plague the estate of Almerin the death of King Henry the Regency of the Gouernours the practise of Anthonie to be chosen King the Testament of Henry the diligence of the Catholique King to vnderstande if he might with a safe conscience make warre the election of the Duke of Alua as generall of the enterprise and the priuileges the Catholique King offered if they woulde deliuer him the Realme THe Catholique King in the meane time kept his armie togither in Spaine with greater paines and more charge then he had done else where for the countrey being not greatly fertile he was enforced to fetch victuals from other parts being then about the ende of Nouember 1579. there was then no assuraunce of things whereby they might either dismisse their armie or imploy it For although king Henry was yet liuing and well affected yet the Portugals being most obstinate against the Castillians he desired not to liue any longer doubtfull of the succession as well for the charge as for the euent and therefore he ceased not continually to importune Henry to declare him Successor obiecting many reasons why he was bound to do it and propounding many inconueniences which woulde follow not doing it the which was spoken in doubtfull tearmes whereby it seemed he woulde make the equitie of his cause apparant by force And although this entreatie seemed somewhat to threaten yet did it nothing displease Henry suffering it expresly to bee published that the people might beleeue he was forced to this declaration The whole Realme was discontented to see Henry dying the Catholique King armed and the small remainder of time spent in matters of light importance whereof their discourses and opinions were as diuers as they were different in passions The Priors partisans being in a manner all of base qualitie hauing their reason darkned and not setled in opinion saide that he was legitimate and that the Crowne appertained vnto him but that the king of his absolute authoritie hating him woulde depriue him and that all his fauorites did concurre in this resolution For the King hauing alwaies persecuted Anthony by their aduise they feared that he comming to raigne woulde take such reuenge as they deserued and therefore preferring their owne securitie before the libertie of their countrey they woulde take the Realme from him and giue it to a stranger Many others alleaged that although hee were a bastard yet they ought to giue him the Realme being the neerest allied of the bloud royall Others in whom hatred to their neighbours preuailed more then any other inclination saide that whosoeuer had interest to the Realme yet shoulde they by no meanes giue it to the Catholique King but rather come to armes vaunting themselues to be valiant They added moreouer that they woulde demaund aide from Fraunce and England whereof they were assured and hauing them they doubted not to seate a King at their pleasures There were some yet fewe but of iudgement who comparing the forces of Portugall with Castill founde they coulde not flie the yoke of the Catholique King and although with great griefe yet they hoped it might prooue a gentle amitie and that these Realmes vnited togither Portugall might reape great profit by the commerce traffique Many spake after their owne humors saying that Anthony leauing the habite of Saint Iean shoulde marrie with the daughter of the Duke of Bragance and being vnited togither they needed not to feare Others gaue out that the Catholique King woulde be contented to giue his seconde sonne to the Portugals for their king to be brought vp amongst them the which they shoulde accept for were it whosoeuer it were sufficient to haue a King alone And some say that Henry laboured to effect this but Philip soone resolued him saying that he coulde not do it but to preiudice the Prince his eldest sonne fearing by this meanes to leaue a seminarie of diuision in Spaine betwixt his descendents The perswasion of the Catholique Kings Agents with the Nobility were of great effect by reason whereof there were few Gentlemen amidst this diuersitie of opinion but either did willingly encline to the said King or corrupted held their peace and retired themselues from Court auoiding all occasion to declare themselues Of the fiue Gouernours chosen three were drawne to the Catholique Kings deuotion and although we should not be amazed to see the common people who by custome inconstant and without iudgement holde the woorser part yet did it breed a woonder in many that the Portugals in generall euery one according to his qualitie framed in their mindes a resolution contrarie to that which by reason they ought to haue done in a matter of so great importance in the which they should haue taken greater consideration For that some discoursed without passion that the Nobilitie accustomed to be respected of the King shoulde flie the obedience of the Catholique King being
credible that Philip according to his custome woulde with lawes and his power keepe them vnder and contrariwise that the people shoulde embrace him whom he doth equally fauour yeelding them equall iustice And yet notwithstanding the greater part followed the contrarie for the Nobilitie did embrace Philip and the people fled him For satisfaction whereof and to reclaime them from the opinion they held the Agents of the Catholique King were desirous besides the diligence they had vsed to publish throughout the Realme the Kings title and the mildenes of his yoke seeming not sufficient for the content of the common people to haue priuately imparted it to many Their aduersaries amongst the which was the magistrate of the Chamber of Lisbone woulde willingly haue taken occasion to publish vnto the worlde their contrarie reasons whereon they grounded but it was not tolerated neither for the one nor the other to speake publikely in the assemblies of the people for besides that it was prohibited euery one durst not freely discouer his intention For this occasion diuers fell to write the grounds of their partie by discourse and letters And although writings breede not so firme an impression in the minde as the voice yet their discourse published did perswade with greater efficacie then they had done by speaking for that writings came to the hands of more men then wordes could haue done where reading and examining them they wrought great effects There were many of these letters seene without authors and although some were friuolous and without sense yet the better sorte which followed the Catholique kings partie tended to satisfie the people and to terrifie the motiues thereof by the greatnes of the action and the perill of warre They did particularly touch one after another the reasons of the pretendents and refuting them all shewed that the Catholique King did precead They made no small adoo about the processe of Anthony saying that he was a bastard although he had beene declared legitimate and to precead Philip yet shoulde they neuer satisfie the worlde but they woulde surmise some cosinage deuised to take the Crowne from him who ought to enioy it They disprooued the reasons of such as maintained the election of the King to be in the people hauing a lawfull successor bringing in examples of the Popes authoritie in the nomination of Kings as well of Alphonso the first as of the Earle of Bulloigne And if Iohn the first were chosen king it was after a battaile woone the Portugals affirming there were no lawfull successors but bastards illegitimate but by their owne reason they said it was apparant there was now no question of the election seeing there remained a lawful kinseman They laboured to make knowne that God hauing called vnto him two and twentie successors which did all precead the Catholique king that his pleasure was by vniting of Portugall to the Realmes of Castill to fortifie an arme of the Church to resist all the outragious attempts of infidels and heretikes But leauing the iustice and will of God aside they discoursed examining the honors and blames the losses and profits which by the one or other meanes might happen as for honor they shoulde not take for any disgrace and obedience which fell by lawfull succession alleaging that the States of Castill when as king Emanuell did inherite being strong enough to defende themselues if they woulde receiued him curteously And when as the Archduke of Austria although a Germaine did succeed him they did the like They mocked at such as said that Castill should be vnited to Portugall but not Portugal to Castill proouing that no Portugall euer came neere this Court but he was embraced greatlie honoured many of the principall houses of Castill being issued from Portugall They did contradict with liuely reasons such as feared to be oppressed like to the estates of Flaunders Naples and Millaine saying that in Flaunders they had alwaies vsed the people with great kindnes that they had beene gouerned by their owne nation that the Spaniards had no charge there That many of the principall had rebelled against the church of Rome against their king the which he woulde not suffer that in this enterprise more for that which concerned the good of the Church then for any other respect the King had spent 50. millions of gold and that hauing for enimies both Germany Flaunders England they could not take these countries from the Kings possession but hauing meanes graunting free libertie of Religion to be absolute Lord and to reape thereby great profit he would not accept thereof onely for the remorse of his conscience preferring the seruice of God before all other respects They saide that the Neapolitanes and Millanoyes had beene conquered by force weake of themselues and enuironed with enimies that they were not burdened neither coulde he do lesse then maintaine garrisons inferring thereby that if they were peaceably inherited they shoulde haue libertie like good and faithfull subiects and maintaine with more force that which their fathers had gotten without feare of any thing whatsoeuer but if they suffered themselues to be conquered by armes they should be Neapolitanes Millanoyes and possiblie woorse They commended the Portugals as faithfull obedient and indued with commendable parts blaming the basenes of such as were not ashamed to thinke they coulde be ill intreated of any prince whatsoeuer They said that since Philip was resolute and that hee had written to the cities of the Realme the assurance of his action seeing that in fourteene yeeres hee had neuer abandoned the enterprise in Flaunders being farre off hauing so many kings opposite and the Flemmings suing to be subiect vnder iust conditions that it is not credible he woulde desist from Portugall being so neare so weake without succours and hauing so great an interest they reported with ioy the deeds of the Spaniards saying that when as Spaine takes armes he doth imprison the king of Fraunce and the greatest of Germanie makes the Turke to turne his backe takes from him Malta dissolues his armies maintaines continually in Flaunders an armie sounde and lustie breaking and dispersing his enimies and yet the Noblemen of Spaine remaine quietly in their houses From their valour they came to the consideration how Portugall woulde resist so great a Monarch entreating them with affectionate words to haue regard thereunto They saide that the comfort of men of iudgement was to see the small force of the Portugals for if it were greater they might for a time make some resistance considering their obstinacie iudging that in the beginning of this warre the kings of the Indies woulde presently become Lords of the sea coast the Moores woulde assaile the places of Affricke the French and English woulde attempt the Islands some woulde vsurpe on one side some of another not onely to the losse of the Realme but of all Christendome They brought in the example of King Sebastian shewing that he was lost for not measuring
should call him before eleuen So as being turned on the other side he remained somtime but being called by the Religious he asked againe what it was a clocke being answered that it was eleuen O giue me said he that candell for now my hower is come and taking it in his hand died soone after hauing raigned seuenteene moneths This was the last King of Portugall in whom ended the direct masculine line And as the first Lord of Portugall although vnder the Title of an Earle was called Henrie so doth it seeme the last should be so termed He was thin of bodie small of stature and leane of his face as for his wit it was indifferent indued besides the Latine toong with some knowledge He was alwaies held to be chast and did neuer blemish this angelicall vertue but with the desire of marriage in his latter daies He was accounted sparing giuing rather then denying for he refused seldome but he gaue sparingly he was ambitious of all iurisdiction as well Ecclesiasticall as ciuil zealous in Religion and the faith yet in the reformation of religious persons he was more stricte then was conuenient He was Bishop Gouernour of the Realme Inquisitor Maior legate Apostolique and King But the more he mounted the more he discouered his incapacitie suffering himselfe in greatest matters to be ruled by his ministers not being able to determine the cause of the succession Opinions were grafted in him with great obstinacie retayning a continuall remembrance of wrongs so as iustice was in him but an iniust execution of his owne passions and for this cause a religious man whom he had pressed to take vpon him a most strict course of life said vnto him that he would obey seeing there was no humaine helpe against his commandements seeing he had the wil of a man the authority of a Pope the execution of a king Finally he was indued with great vertues with fewer lesse vices yet were they equal for he had the vertues of an Ecclesiasticall person and the defects of a Prince during his life he was feared of many and beloued of few so as no man lamented his death onely such as were well affected desiring the cause had beene first decided before his decease had some feeling These things happened in Almeryn where suddenly the fiue named Gouernours did assemble to prouide for that which should be necessarie tearming themselues Gouernours and Protectors of the Realme of Portugal But in this beginning after the kings death they feared some mutinie of the people both at Almeryn and at Lisbone neither did the gouernours themselues nor the Catholique Kings Agents thinke themselues secure They hated the assembly of the Deputies of the Realme which were continued at Saint Arem both for that they held it as a superiour councell as also fearing it might cause some insurrection of the people and therefore they did still abuse them with words differing from their meanings for which cause they sent Martin Gonzalues de la Camera a gentleman of the church who in the time of Sebastian held the first place in the gouerument of the Realme which he could not continue for although he were not couetous of riches but full of integritie yet was he seuere and hard to be intreated that they held him inexorable Him they sent being a popular man and contrarie to the Catholike King whose words they thought should be of more credit then any others hauing particularly reported the Kings death hee said that the Gouernours chosen at the last estates began to looke vnto the gouernment and to giue order for things necessarie to the Realme And although the death of King Henrie were a great losse yet being in heauen he would mediate for them and that they should rest assured that with the greatest zeale and loue to their countrey they could they would indeuour to doe iustice as well to those of the Realme in the pretention they had to the election as also to the pretendents to the succession That they would deliuer them all writings whereof they had neede exhorting them to treat with peace and loue without causing of any mutinie were it neuer so small in any mans fauour and for the better ordering of that which concerned the common good they were well pleased they should put them in minde of any thing which they thought necessarie Hauing ended this speech all men keeping silence Phoebus Moniz answered that they were all assured that of the fiue Gouernours three were suspect for when the King laboured to bring the States to make agreement with King Philip they were not onely conformable to the will of Henrie but did vrge them and commended this resolution without respect of the libertie of the Realme seeking onely to please the Kings humour and their owne interest which being it was not reasonable to suffer such suspected Gouernours whom they were not bound to obey and this was the opinion of them all Martin replied that he was not of opinion they should then alter any thing for in steed of helping they should heape danger vpon danger and trouble vpon trouble that for a while they should be lookers on and if in time they should finde the Gouernours not to doe their duety as they ought they might then helpe with the same remedie seeing they had alwaies authoritie to doe it whereunto although Phoebus Moniz answered that this remedie could not alwais be applied for that the councel could not stil be vnited for the great charges they were at yet the reasons of Martin Gonzalues were of such force that they resolued not to alter the Gouernours as a matter scandalous but accepting what they had sent to be said vnto them that they should aduise what they thought necessarie they began suddenly to set downe in writing such Articles as they would haue perfourmed by the Gouernours The which were that leauing the aboade at Almerin they should goe to Saint Arem to be neerer neighbours more in quiet and in greater safetie that for the auoiding of charge and scandall they should discharge the Souldiers as vnnecessarie That presently they should sende Ambassadors to the Catholique King that as Gouernours of the Realme they would do iustice to the pretendents in the cause of succession the which his Maiestie should beleeue not suffering within his Realme any attempt against Portugall That they should presently prouide for the fortresses of the Realme as well vpon the sea as in other places sending trustie Captaines garrisons and necessarie munition and to euerie Prouince men of great authoritie to force men to defend and succour the weaker parts that they should send some vnto his holines giuing him to vnderstand the Kings death their succession to the gouernment of the Realme for the defence thereof against any one that would vsurpe it contrarie to equitie against the sentence which should be pronounced touching the succession beseeching him to write to the Catholique King to rest
moreouer that he was much amazed to heare him confesse with his owne mouth that they had daily practised with Anthony that they treated with a rebell who had committed so horrible a crime aduising him in signe of loue heereafter to abstaine from all such treaties so contrarie to that fidelitie whereunto they were bounde and so vnwoorthie of their authoritie and reputation shewing likewise that he marueiled they woulde suffer themselues to be informed from the Deputies who promised to cause Anthony to forsake the title of a king which he hath vsurped as if it were an offence capable of repentaunce whereas they shoulde well vnderstand that they be ordinary practises and discourses of rebels to deceiue them as they had formerly done And whereas the Deputies call it an accord or vnion for the defence let them take heede that it prooue not a league and a conspiracie framed to make him partaker with Anthony his offence from the which God had yet preserued him He concluded that he would alwaies giue a gentle audience to that which shoulde be propounded on his behalfe with intention to doe him all the grace and fauor possible in his demaunds This answere being receiued the Duke sent certaine gentlemen to treat an agreement with the king the which continued long making vnseasonable demaundes on the Dukes behalfe Notwithstanding the King desiring that before they proceeded further he shoulde acknowledge and sweare him for his Lorde The matter remained in suspence with small content to the Duke who found not onely the hope of his Iustice to fall out vaine but likewise not to be fully reconciled to the king who tooke possession of his countries hauing alreadie lost Villauizosa one of his chiefe places and of great importance where hee made his aboad although he had well fortified it The which hapned presently after the reduction of Eluas by the meanes of a Castillian whom he had left within the castell either trusting in him or neglecting of it This man hauing intelligence with captaine Cisneros who was in the Dukes campe treated to deliuer vnto him in the night one of the gates of the castell the which descends into the ditch thereby secretly to bring in the kings forces the which he did effect The night appointed for this enterprise being come the Duke commanded Sanches d'Auila to go with the soldiers he had about Eluas and take possession of the fortresse who hauing taken their Harquebusiers behinde them marched so that night that in the morning they came to Villauizosa and approching the gate that was promised them they founde that although it were open yet coulde they not enter for that being farre from the ground the ladder which they had brought was too shorte and coulde not reach vnto it so as in dispaire to put it in execution the day growing neere they were readie to returne fearing to be discouered But as many times thinges are fitted to the violent course of fortune the Castillians founde within the castell ditch an other ladder which the soldiers within the forte had by chance left there the which bounde to that they brought reached vnto the gate so as all the soldiers entred the castell without being discouered hauing neither guard nor centinell but were all laide to sleepe hauing a mightie armie of enimies within tenne miles of them so as in this manner the Duke of Bragance lost the best and strongest furnished place he had Many were then of opinion the King shoulde not go in person with the armie for although some helde it was necessarie he should goe alleaging the former reasons yet such as helde the contrarie opinion added vnto their reasons that throughout all the way vnto Lisbone and in the citie it selfe they died most violently of the plague although the aire did not seeme corrupted that it was not conuenient to hazard the life of a Prince who was a pillar of the Church and Lord of so many Realmes That they might answere vnto the reasons of conueniencie which was spoken against this opinion that it was like vnto all other humane things which haue two reasons for waighing the one it importes much and regarding the other they seeme light The importance of the enterprise is verie great considering the valour of the realme and his interest but if you consider that they oppose against the person of so mightie a king that of Anthony a rebell who doth scarse deserue the name of a tirant and that with the Duke of Alua and so many Noblemen Italians and Spaniards you compare the Count of Vimioso yoong without experience and all the rest of their traine and that against so valiant soldiers of all nations there come peasants gathered togither from the villages about Lisbone and the slaues of Ethiopia you may easily iudge the great indignitie the king shoulde suffer being present in this expedition They alleaged the like reason against the hope of good successe for although it seemed a matter easilie to be effected considering the qualitie of the enimies yet regarding the difficulties alleaged the matter was in suspence remembring the examples of King Iohn the first of Castill Alphonse the fifth of Portugall either of them entring at diuers times with an armie into other countries and both returned flying and broken As for the sweete content it seemed the Kings entrie should bring and contrariwise the sharpenes of the Duke of Alua they saide it was well considered yet the King remaining at Eluas or in any other place vpon the frontiers hee shoulde giue a generall content This opinion seeming the better and with most grounde not onely pleased the King but bred such an impression in the mindes of many that it passed the limits for that the cōsiderations of safety are limited with feare so as they began to apprehend too much saying the king was not sure at Badagios and that he shoulde retire himselfe to Ciuill vnder colour to dispatch away the armie seeing it had already entred the realme for the Duke marching from the frontier the King shoulde lie open to all attempts of the Portugals who might make their courses euen vnto the walles of the citie That Anthony seeking to make this diuersion he might easilie effect it with so great force as the king shoulde be constrained to retire himselfe with small authoritie and recall his armie although it were about the wals of Lisbone yet woulde not the king by any meanes heare speake thereof but perswaded such as were of that opinion that for a worlde no for his owne life he woulde not retire a foote backe but was resolued to staie in Portugall in some place of the frontiers which shoulde be thought most conuenient and for that effect reteined certaine troupes for his guard The Duke of Alua who had assembled his armie at Cantigliana passed the 27. day of Iune by the kings commandement the small of Caya which diuides the two realmes entring into Portugall with great quantitie of munition
betwixt the armie and the enimie not able to discerne which should be the contrarie parties for it seemed the soldiers neither could nor ought to make themselues parties against their Commaunder neither ought the enimies to be admitted against a conquering armie And if so strange a thing shoulde happen it might likewise be supposed that the enimie shoulde be declared faithfull and the armie which had conquered the realme pronounced rebels They inquired wherein the Duke had offended if as a Gouernour or as a captaine for saide they he coulde not erre as a gouernour hauing neuer resolued the smallest matter without the kings aduise besides that hee had not gouerned aboue two moneths If as a captaine what had lawes to doe with armes and the militarie stile with the ciuill But for all this discourse they did not greatly weigh the Dukes offences supposing in the ende that his greatnes and innocencie shoulde protect him Their owne priuate interest did most of all trouble them loosing all hope of recompence for their former seruices saying that for this last and notable exploite they did rather see punishment prepared then rewards They imagined the king did not well conceiue howe they had conquered him a kingdome in eight and fiftie daies after the same manner to followe their owne phrase as the kingdome of heauen is woone that is to say in fasting with bread and water and without taking from any man the which they said being furnished with nothing but bisket hauing no libertie to spoile any towne They could not endure to be slaundered by idle courtiers and bachelors for so the soldiers in hate and derision of lawes iustice terme the greatest Doctors of the Councell saying that those men remained at Badagios to drinke coole in sommer with ice scorning those that suffered these dangers They remembred their labours suffred at sea comming out of Italy the famine of Spaine the intolerable heate of Estremadura the plague of Portugall the seuere discipline of the Duke and the gibbets set vp for euery small disorder they added that to the end the victorie gotten at Porto shoulde not remaine vnpunished the King to speake plainly had sent another Doctor against Sanches d'Auila and that part of the army which had made an ende and assured him the realme And it was true that Frauncis Tedaldo Auditour of the seate of iustice which remaines in Gallicia was sent thither who did strictly informe of all manner of excesse imputed either to Autla or his soldiers They saide it was apparant in this courte howe much letters were preferred to armes seeing that all such as followed this action vnarmed had wrested from the soldiers the fruites of their labours and the price of their blouds seeing the King had satisfied their desires in the greatest measures they coulde wish not giuing any recompence vnto others the which they prooued in setting downe particularly the offices the King had giuen to the Duke of Ossuna and other Embassadors for they did assure and it is true that the greatest in Spaine aspire to no other charge then to be Viceroy of Naples whereunto they labour to come by many degrees and that the King had reserued this for the Duke of Ossuna As for other Noblemen and Gentlemen they sought for nothing more then to be of the Kings chamber which place he had giuen to Christopher de Mora togither with the best offices of the realme of Portugall They touched likewise the Lawyers which be of the Kings Councell saying they coulde not aspire higher then to be of the Councell of the Chamber the which is a tribunall of three or fower Doctors elected who determine with the King of pardons and other matters of grace and that this office which Rodorique Vasques enioied he had likewise giuen to Lewes de Molina preferring him before his auncients These speeches with others more inconsiderate were spred amongst the soldiers with a soldier-like libertie And although they erred not much from the truth yet men without passion iudged that this aggrauating was vniust and slaunderous being no great maruaile that a King who ought to haue regarde to infinite matters the which passed the consideration of priuate men shoulde giue eare to the many complaints that were made against this armie and force them to their purgation and that it was not likely that Villafagna or Tedaldo had power to iudge in this case but onely to examine the truth That whereas Villafagna had in a manner carried his commission secrete it was an argument of the Kings respect and modestie who sought to proceede with the more mildenes and without any blemish to the Duke or his captaines although it was not reasonable the soldiers shoulde treade this realme vnder their feete as the rebellious countrey of Flaunders or of a King that were an enimie or giue vnto the Portugals the odious titles of rebels and disloyal although they deserued well the name of troublesome and transported subiects vneasie to yeeld vnto this new yoke This mutinie continued long but for as much as the Commissioners did not punish any nor as I beleeue made any triall their humours grewe more calme wherein the wisedome of Villafagna preuailed much togither with the small subiect they founde when as they came to examine the truth of such complaints as had beene made to the King Now the day appointed by the King for the assemblie of the States grew neere but before he shoulde goe to Tomar the place appointed for their assemblie he ment to visite Katherine Duchesse of Bragance who for that cause was come from Villauizosa to Villa Boim whither he went to her accompanied with all the chiefe of his Courte and hauing staied with her halfe a day in great familiaritie he returned to Eluas and from thence departed towards Tomar He did not there so sodainly dispose of rewards as the Portugals expected hauing as it is saide before made a Councell for Portugall of speciall men to whom he referred all matters not admitting the Castilliās to entermeddle with any cause of the realme no man was heard nor dispatched as he pleased for the King made no haste his ministers were confounded in the quantitie qualitie of their requests not able to resolue in so intricate a busines so as the care of expedition was delaied by reason whereof the Portugals saide that although the King in his letters words and habite seemed curteous altogither enclined to Portugall had promised great rewards yet in particular whether it were his fault or any others they yet see no recompence To the Duke of Bragāce who aspired to great matters as then they gaue nothing being excessiue in his demaunds he had onely confirmation to be Constable of the realme they gaue him the order of the golden fleece and the King fauoured him extraordinarily taking him to masse with him behinde the curtaine without any other recompence which might either breede him profite or power Before
in giuing but honourable in the expences of his house hee was a great dissembler of the disgraces of the Courte and cunning in their secret practises for so it behooued him to be to preuent such as were his competitors He was generally hated for that he treated proudlie with his inferiors and his equals hated his greatnes The ambition to purchase the Princes fauour a shelfe wherein proude mindes cast themselues was great in him for this respect it may be or for the preheminence and greatnes he pretended aboue all other officers the which made him odious hee was not much pleasing to Charles and lesse to Philip although from their birthes vntill their later daies he had serued them 60. yeeres But Princes loue them better whom they haue rewarded then such as haue serued them Hee was greatly enclined to warlike discipline wherein hee was so cunning as there was not any captaine of his nation in long time comparable vnto him and to conclude for his many yeeres and great experience there was not in a manner any one in the worlde but yeelded vnto him He was of great iudgement and dexteritie to encampe and make choice of a lodging so as alwaies with lesse forces then the enimies he kept them in awe he was so well experienced as he neuer refused battaile wheresoeuer he came Hee did willingly hazard his owne person but his soldiers with greater consideration trusting more to policie then fortune He was a rough inexorable executioner of the seuere lawes of war of whose pittifull crueltie depends the health of armies and the conseruation of States He was by nature enclined to vanquish without effusion of bloud and was imploied in warres conformable to his inclination for the greatest part of them being defensiue wherein a wise captaine should rather temporize and suffer the enimie to consume by the difficulties of warre in a strange countrey then to hazard an estate vpon so vnequall a game as is the winning of a battaile against him that hath but men to loose To this effect hee answered the councell of warre in the kingdome of Naples in the yeere 1558. when as the Frenchmen being expelled they woulde haue charged the enimie retiring hee saide hee woulde not hazarde the realme against a cassock of golde for such was then the habite of the Duke of Guise Lieutenant generall to Henry the seconde King of Fraunce yet some did blame him to be too warie in the execution of matters of importance in warre He serued his King in greater charges and with greater authority then euer any of their subiects and it may be there hath not beene in many ages a captaine which hath so long mannaged armes nor displaied his ensignes in so manie countries For he hath made warre in Italy Spaine and Fraunce in Hungarie Germanie Flaunders and Affrick although he were accustomed to say that he had done nothing seeng that he was neuer so happie as to see a Turkish armie But the last wars of Flaunders did somewhat obscure the glorie he had gotten for although as captaine he did warre valiantly yet he knew not as it hapned to him in other places howe to vse the victorie but arrogating too much vnto himselfe he caused a statue of brasse to be erected for him in the Cittadell of Antwerpe which the king caused afterwards to be beaten downe It appeeres that he coulde better carrie himselfe in aduersitie then prosperitie for in the one he had great force in the other too much conceite so as he reaped more commendations by afflictions then by victorie Hee shewed in dying the magnanimitie he had in his life and that which is of great moment hee shewed tokens of a religious Christian being happie that Frier Lewes of Granata that famous preacher whose diuine writings are pleasing to the worlde was present at his death They did substitute in his place Charles Borgia Duke of Gandia a man of greater vertue then experience The King had caused the bones of King Sebastian to be brought out of Affricke the which with King Henries that were at Almerin he woulde before his departure see solemnly interred in the church of Belem neere to the other Kings of Portugall and for that cause remained there three daies He caused also to be brought from diuers parts of the realme vnto the saide monasterie the bodies or at the least the ashes of his kinsfolkes the children and nephewes to King Emanuel who as a man may say dying resigned him the crowne that they might bee all kept togither There was made a most sumptuous obsequie with great shewes and all the religious persons in the name of Henry were present for the rest had beene performed before and in the funerall sermon Sebastians actes were likewise touched and Henry extremely commended the which was more pleasing being dead then the praises of Philip liuing and present wherein the Orator dilated much hauing first in particular set downe the branches of King Emanuel and brought the succession to the said Philip. I will not leaue heere to make mention as of a rare matter although it be somewhat from our purpose that in this yeere of our Lorde 1582. they did reckon ten daies lesse then in others for by the Popes decree all Christian princes obeying the Romish sea gaue commaundement to cut off ten daies in the moneth of October so as for the fift day they should generally write 15. the which was done to fitte the times to the meanes and principall aspects wherein the heauens were when as our Redeemer Iesus Christ suffered that they might celebrate Easter and the other feasts vpon their proper daies The which they had not formerly done for that the true course of the sunne which makes the yeere being certaine minuts of an hower lesse then the time which they vntill then had taken for a yeere it seemed that in the course of so manie yeeres so small a difference had mounted vnto ten daies so as by this equalitie it was made conformable to the time past The King beganne to vnburthen himselfe of the affaires of Portugall for to go into Castill and therefore the xxvj day of Ianuary in the yeere 1583. hauing assembled the estates of the realme they began in the pallace of Lisbone where after Alphonso de Castelbianco newly made Bishop of Algarues had briefly made the proposition shewing how much the King was grieued with the death of the Prince and the necessitie there was to sweare a newe Melchior d' Amaral one of the Deputies of the citie of Lisbone made answere in the behalfe of the whole realme shewing the desire and readines they had to performe this acte Whereupon the yoong Duke of Barcellos as Duke of Bragance beginning for his father with sword in hande did supplie the office of Constable kneeling downe before the King held foorth his hande to take the oath after the accustomed manner the which being likewise performed by all the rest this ceremonie
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
easily by the practise and industrie of another For Martin Gonzales de Camera his competitour hauing succeeded him in his offices with some other depending of the Iesuites whom the Cardinall sought to bring in they had no lesse conflict with their enimies then Peter had with his for that Aluaro de Castro fauorite to the king of a contrarie faction with some of his friendes desiring secretly to withdraw the Kings affection from Martin and his partie tooke occasion to effect it when as the King was at Cape Saint Vincent whether he went in Sommer to satisfie the desire he had to go to sea making him beleeue and it may be not without cause that Martin and the fathers as men ignorant in matters of State of the wealth of Princes had wasted the treasure of the Crowne and cut off the meanes for all such enterprizes as he might execute by their lawes made vpon the changes of money the which if they did not reuoke it were impossible to effect his glorious designes This was a deadly blowe yet did they adde one more of greater moment giuing the King to vnderstande being yoong and high minded that he was oppressed by them that they ruled in effect and he in shew and they passed on so farre that they caused a Secretarie of the chamber well fauoured of the King and a great talker presenting him one day with a commandement of small importance to signe to say vnto him that he might boldly subscribe it for that hee was king vntill he shoulde returne to Lisbone so as mingling sport with truth they drew this yoong Prince from the affection he bare to the ministers which had beene giuen him by the Queene and Cardinall and changed the doctrine wherein he had beene nourished But Peter D'Alcasoua reapt the whole fruite thereof for the King being estranged from his enimies and the lawes made by them reuoked Aluaro de Castro the author thereof died none of his faction remaining saue Emanuel Quaresinia who had the office which they call Dispaccio of great importance beeing Controwler of the Kings rewardes who hauing neither experience nor authoritie to maintaine himselfe long in this degree nor yet iudgement to contend with Alcasoua the said Peter laid holde of this occasion to recouer his former place And to effect it the more safely he married Lewes his eldest sonne with the daughter of Christopher de Tauora a great fauorite of Sebastians Being thus returned into fauour with the king he easily maintained it seconding his humours in making the meanes easie to recouer money and vnfolding all doubts for the execution of his enterprise by reason whereof he made him Chamberlaine or rather Veador de Hazenda a place of greater countenance then the other imploying him in most important affaires And although his cunning did somewhat assist the King in his determinations yet was there another occasion presented which made his hopes increase which was this Long time before there died in Affrick Mulei Mahamet Cheriffe he who had vnited the Kingdome of Feez Marroc and Turedant the which he had alwais possessed deuided with his brother Mulei Hamet It seemes that these whiles they liued quietly togither made a law that al the children that suruiued after their decease should succeed in the kingdome before any one of the nephewes should enioy the succession so as to the yongest vncle should succeed the eldest nephew yet after their decease although they left many children the greatest part thereof euen as it hapned vnto their fathers died by the sword or were strangled in prison for the iealousie of State by the commandemēt of Abdala one of the sonnes of Mahamet who succeeded his father raigned xvij yeres the most happie peaceable Prince that euer that countrey enioied This man although he were cruel yet did he refraine from murthering his three brethren it may be for that they were very children when he came to the succession but growing to more yeeres they fell to distrust him so as two of them fled to the Turke the thirde tooke his way by lande and went to liue amongst the Arabians And although the lawe had decreed that the next brother shoulde succeed to the Crowne yet Abdala resolued to sweare his eldest sonne Mahamet his successour which being performed sodainly this newe Prince practised against his vncles sending a Moore to Tremisenne to kill the eldest who was deteined by the Turkes the which he did effect wounding him with a dart in the Mezquita This act did greatly trouble the other brother Mulei Moluc yoong and of great hope who remaining at Algier demaunding succours in vaine from Philip King of Spaine by the meanes of Rodorike Alphonso Pimentel Earle of Benauent then Viceroy of Valencia he resolued to goe seeke it at Constantinople where he attended long with patience exclaiming against his kindred and not obtaining that which he demaunded till in the end hauing giuen an honorable testimonie of himselfe in the last sea fight at Nauarin betwixt the armies of the league and Turke and at the taking of Golette he obtained three thousand souldiers of the Turke for this conquest vpon certaine conditions that were not obserued With these forces and his Moores that followed him which wanted not in Affrick he entred his Nephewes kingdome for his brother was now dead and defeated three armies whereof the last which seemes woonderfull consisted of threescore thousand horse and ten thousand foote and tooke absolute possession of the Realmes liuing with great reputation both of the Moores and Christians Mulei Mahamet being in this manner expelled his countrey he fled to Pignon of Velay a fortresse which the Catholique king holdes in Affrick and from thence by the counsell as they say of a Renegado he sent his ambassadors to the said King letting him vnderstand of his disgrace and crauing aide to be restored to his estate Whereunto the Catholique King hauing made no answere conformable to the desires of the Moore being gone to Ceuta he did the like office with King Sebastian shewing vnto him that by this occasion he shoulde easilie make himselfe Emperour of Marocco The yoong Prince fedde with this vaine hope seemed nowe to haue a lawfull subiect to make warre whereon he resolued and to succour the Moore Mahamet He propounded this to his Counsell laboring to proue that it was both profitable and honorable whereunto although there were some of contrarie aduise laying before him that he was without heires that Christians shoulde rather imploy their armes against heretikes then Infidels that his forces alone were too feeble for so great an action strengthning their reasons with many examples notwithstanding as Princes blinded with their owne desires will not allow the mishaps and disgraces of an other issuing from their ill measured Counsell to serue them as examples of better aduise there was neither reason nor example could preuaile against the Kings opinion but fortified in his resolution by many who either for their owne
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
as eldest sonne to the Duke of Bragance and of Katherine chiefe pretendent to the Realme vntill the cause of the succession were decided so as the sports before shewed vnto the saide Duke in courtesie were now redoubled for this other intent detayning him expresly vntill he might receiue answere from the King so as shewing him first one place and then another this yoong Prince was taken vnawares But the Duke of Medina hauing staied certaine carriages vnder colour to shew him some feastes he then conceiued the cause of his detaining and wrote foorthwith vnto his father in Portugall that he should not then expect him and that his detention should not any way preiudice the rights of the Realme preferring iustice before his owne life This letter being come into Portugall was by the Duke his father sent vnto the assembly of the States shewing on the one side a griefe for the detayning of his sonne and on the other side a contentment that in so yong an age he was so great a louer of his countries good offering if need were to sacrifice him for the seruice of the Realme Yet this feare of the Dukes continued not long for hauing written to his son that he should labour to come away or they should make declaration of his staie he was suffered freelie to depart for so the King had commaunded Some say that Philip had long before this consideration hauing meanes to stay him not onely in Spaine but also in Affrique but fearing to incense the Portugals and desirous to make the Duke his friend he had procured his release in Affrick and suffered him safely to depart from Andoluzia into Portugall yet the said Duke of Barcellos or his father by whose commaundement he was directed was noted of some ingratitude for being inuited by Philip to passe by his court as desirous to see him the iealousie of the State of these Realmes preuayled so much that he did not satisfie his desire but tooke his direct way to Villauizosa fearing perhaps a new detention These things passed in Portugall when as in Castill the Catholique King beeing aduertised by his Agents of the death of King Henrie of the small affection the Portugals bare vnto him of the liuely pretention of Authonie and other pretendents and to what estate the matter was brought was greatly discontented seeming he should be forced to take armes for the obtaining of the conclusion of his interest But desirous to satisfie his conscience in the effecting thereof he had formerly the aduise of Diego de Chiaues of the order of preaching Fryers being his confessor and of some other principall Diuines of that order and yet not well satisfied with their opinions least he should seeme onely to follow the aduise of the dominical Fryers he desired likewise to treat with other orders of religious persons and to that intent he sent one to acquaint the chiefe Deuines in Spaine with the cause and to demaund their aduise This care perfourmed not only with the chiefe prelates and readers in Diuinitie but with the Iesuits and the Fryers of Saint Francis all agreede that the Kings right being so apparant he was not bound to represent it otherwise then out of iudgement to King Henrie as he had done and to make his councell and the rest of the Realme of Portugall capable thereof such as with sinceritie of hart would vnderstand the truth and by the mildest meanes procure as he had done that Henry should declare him successor if these diligent proceedings were not sufficient to perswade the King and the Realme that then Philip had sufficiently iustified his cause and that he might assure himselfe by armes without thrusting the succession which was due vnto him into euident perill his person being as it is saide soueraigne exempt and free from all reprehension and onely bound to iustifie his right before God and to signifie it to the King and the Realme saying that this point was now without all doubt since the death of Henrie no man liuing that could pretend any interest in the decision of the cause It appertained not to the Pope being a matter wholy temporall nor agreeing with the circumstances which may giue him any right ouer temporall matters and lesse to the Emperour beeing no way acknowledged by the Realmes of Castill and Portugall and much lesse to certaine Iudges named by Henrie for besides that he could not choose any after his death they were now become the materiall partie and the thing it selfe whereon they pleaded Besides that all the Realme was become insufficient when as making themselues a partie they pretended power to choose a Prince although all this ceased yet would they prooue that no Portugall but was suspect in this cause to be excepted against for the manifest hatred they bare to the Castillian nation They found likewise that he was not bound to submit himselfe to any compremise for besides the difficultie and impossibilitie to finde a trustie person in so dangerous and iealous a cause as this is the bond of compremise is not incident but in a matter of doubt and the definition of doubt is when as the aduocate and Doctors conclude not for any partie finding equiualent reasons for either but in this all being of one agreement the cause is not doubtfull nor to be compremitted The King being resolued to take armes hauing no possession deliuered vnto him prouided for it for this cause he writ to the gouernors to the three estates and to the fiue principall cities to all of one subiect but in diuerse formes after he had lamented the death of his vncle he required them to receaue and sweare him King as King Henry had resolued and declared him to be he thanked the nobility and clergie for their good affection showne when as Henrie had said that the succession appertained vnto him he made offer to all and threatned cunningly he sent to the gouernors a copie of the priuiledges which King Henry had required in the behalfe of the Realme offering to graunt them more amplie then they had bene demaunded protesting if they would not obey to vse force But all these things were receiued and reiected according to the humors of men The gouernors made aunswere they could not resolue vntill the returne of their Ambassadours which they had sent vnto them At this time there was readie at sea as well in Spaine as in Italie about threescore gallies whereof Aluaro de Bassan Marques of Saint Croix was generall the which should saile towards Portugall as the occasion of the time should serue there was yet no generall named for this enterprise and euerie man greedilie expected who should be chosen for that few were thought fit for so great a burthen The Duke of Alua was generallie held most sufficient yet few beleeued that the King would willingly free him from prison the Marques of Mondegiar who was returned from the gouernment of Naples affected this charge many beleeued
entreated them presently to resolue to receiue and sweare him for their king and lord as God would haue it they themselues knowing chiefly touching this matter what king Henry thought determined and had resolued and the bond where by they were tied to obey his will in dooing whereof he woulde grant vnto the realme not onely the priuileges which he had set downe the which the Duke of Ossuna should offer in his name but any other they should require being iust and reasonable hoping they woulde take that course which was to be expected from wise men and Christians he would continue his determination The Embassadors seemed not satisfied with this answere but demanding leaue to impart it to the Gouernors they accompanied the king vntill he came to Merryda Now were the Gouernors in Portugall wearied with the Councell of the States desirous to dissolue them and hauing first required a prolonging of the gouernment the King had left vnto them and not obtaining it they did signifie vnto them that the States were ended that the Deputies might returne to their houses leauing only ten of them to treat of matters which should fal out for so small a number might lodge any where being now forced to leaue Almeryn and to take some small place neere the citie of Lisbone being greatly entreated thereunto but the Deputies who had sent Iohn de Noghera to the Vniuersitie of Coimbra to studie the point of their pretēded election hauing receiued answer that the election belonged to the States of the realme they woulde by no meanes be dissolued perswaded thereunto by the bishop of Parma the Prior the chamber of Saint Arem and many particulars offring money to supply their wants but they opposed in vaine For although they had sent to the Gouernors to alleage their reasons in law labouring to prooue that the States were not to be dissolued that their procurations were offorce yet the Gouernors did againe disable them saying their authorities were of no force so as many began to separate themselues and returne to their houses The Gouernors prepared to defend themselues for although the greatest part of them were not of that opinion yet to content the people and to please the other Gouernors and gentlemen of the popular faction it behooued them so to do For this cause they armed their gallions they brought armes from other countries they mustred men for the warre they sent gentlemen throughout all the prouinces of the realme and laboured to imploy such as contrarie to the Catholique Kings faction being present hindered their resolutions who willingly accepted of these charges seeming to haue greater confidence in them then in any other Diego de Meneses was sent into the prouince beyond Tagus Iohn de Vasconcello into Beira Emanuel of Portugall into the mouth of Tagus and many other to diuers parts of the Realme George de Meneses had charge of the armie at sea so as they were all dispersed and the Gouernors had good meanes to effect their desires yet Martyn Gonzalues de la Camera no lesse popular then the rest remained in court of whom the Gouernors grew iealous that hauing imploied him as a mediator betweene them and the States of the realme he was become a superior But the prouision and preparatiues that were made although some vsed all care and diligence seemed rather done for shew and fashion sake then to any effect In Castill they discoursed vpon the manner of this enterprise seeming impossible vnto the Duke to gather togither so many carriages as was necessarie for the conduct of victuals and munition and therefore deuised to transport his forces by sea He determined with few men to keepe them busied in Extremadure to diuert them and vnder colour to hasten the armie to march towards Andelouzia and speedily to imbarke his soldiers at Saint Marie Port to assaile the entrie of the mouth of Lisbone in despite of all the fortresses that were there making account to loose some ships which should by chaunce touch But receiuing certaine aduertisement by men expresly sent into Portugall that there was aboue six thousand chariots to be founde he left this dangerous resolution more for the regard of the sea then the enimies He determined to march to Settuual thinking it necessary to win a port of the sea of so great importāce for the harboring of the nauie for cōming thither laden with victuals he not able to carrie with him by land aboue a moneths prouision it seemed necessarie to ioine the forces prouisions of the sea to them of the land and that therein consisted the victorie with this resolution he went to Merrida where the King remained of whom being receiued with a cheerefull countenance they treated what course the armie should take There grew some diuersitie of opinion betwixt the Duke and some others who perswaded by some confident Portugals would haue the armie march to Almeryn and there passe Tagus at a foord or at Saint Arem vpon bridges that they should force that place being but weake and so they might passe safely to the wals of Lisbone the which without attending any batterie would yeeld presently or it may be before their arriuall for taking from them the victuals from the plaines of Saint Arem they should not onely besiege them by famine but they shoulde so furnish their armie with corne that they shoulde haue no neede of prouision from the fleete the which they should better receiue at Lisbone then at Settuual without hazarding the enteprise and the armie by the dangers of disimbarking which going to Settuual they must be forced to do against the forts vpō the mouth of the riuer and with losse of time in winning of them This opinion seemed so grounded that it required no lesse authoritie or arte to disprooue then the Dukes who being chiefe of this enterprise and to hazard his reputation drew the King to his opinion Philip had likewise enuironed as a man may say all the realme of Portugall with armes though not with mercenarie soldiers yet with such as they coulde assemble togither he commanded all Noblemen whose liuings ioined to the confines of this realme that hauing enrolled the greatest number of their subiects able to beare armes they shoulde be readie at his commandement yet in the meane time they shoulde receiue gently in his name the cities and subiects of Portugall that woulde obey him In Gallicia Peter de Castro Earle of Lemos and Gaspard de Fonsequa Earle of Monteré had the charge against the prouince behinde the mountaines Iohn Pimentel Earle of Benneuent and Diego de Tolledo Earle of Alua In Estremadura Beltramo dela Cueua Duke of Albequerque and Ferrant Anriques Marquesse of Villa Noua against Vera Iohn Pacheco Marquesse of Seraluo and in Algarues Frauncis de Suniga Duke of Besar and Alonso de Gusman of Medina Cidonia In the armie where the Duke of Alua was commander of all both at sea and at
yoong licentious man who had mutined the people and the guard it selfe against them Such of the Nobilitie as abandoning their houses in those partes retired themselues were Fernand de Norogna Peeter de Meneses Edward de Castelbianco Diego Lopez de Sequeira Anthony de Castelbianco Lewes Caesar and some others Anthony hauing aduertisement of their departure passed the riuer and went thither Where he was receiued vnder a cannapie with signes of great ioy hauing giuen order to the fortification guard of that place as it seemed necessarie he returned to Lisbone against the aduise of som who persuaded him to assemble his forces to resist the enimie not to repasse Tagus But he did it not saying he woulde returne presently fearefull as many supposed and not holding himselfe assured on that side the riuer Cascaies and the fortresse of Saint Iulian did not yet obey him yet vnderstanding that Anthony was possessed of Settuual the wife of Anthony de Castro went from Cascaies after whose departure the citie yeelded and the captaine of the fortresse of Saint Iulian being written vnto by Anthony that he woulde giue him fower thousand duckats a yeere rent made answere that seeing the Gouernors had abandoned the realme and that he was proclaimed king he would hold it at his deuotion By reason whereof Bastien de Britto who serued as sergeant maior of the citie of Lisbone in the place of Peter de Cugna turned head who with certaine men gathered togither went by the commaundement of Anthony to encampe about this fortresse so as all places of importance about Lisbone remained at his obedience So did all others in those parts except the citie of Porto which obeied not yet The Duke of Bragance hauing foreseene the sedition which was practised at Settuual being departed as it is saide a little before the Gouernors flight and gone to Portel a place belonging vnto himselfe neere the frontiers of the realme towards Castill seeing iustice reduced to armes and himselfe disarmed he thought it nowe high time to treate with the Catholique King He sent therefore a Gentleman to represent vnto him howe peaceablie he had alwaies caried himselfe in the persuite of Iustice for Katherine his wife that he had neuer troubled the publike quiet nor in any thing surpassed the ordinarie tearmes of Iustice and reason and if he had not compounded with him the cause was for that he vnderstood his reasons were great neither had he meanes to do it by reason of the people who woulde haue withstoode him Notwithstanding he was nowe resolute if his Maiestie woulde make him a good composition to yeelde vnto him all the rights of the saide Katherine and that being agreed he woulde publikely sende one to treate with him He alleaged that his subiects being the thirde part of the realme he coulde make easie or greatly hinder the enterprise He saide that the Deputies of the realme had made offer vnto him that they would procure Anthony to leaue the title of King and vnite himselfe with him for the defence of the crowne and that in the end they should agree And that the said Anthony had sent to make great offers vnto him the which he woulde not accept not seeming reasonable vnto him He requested his Maiestie to commaund the armie not to endomage his countrey Heerein he spake truth for although he were a quiet and religious man yet the Philipins saide that although he had beene otherwise the King had no cause to feare his forces for albeit he had many subiects yet were they not all obedient vnto him That the Nobilitie abhorred his rule more then any other and that some of his kinsemen did him more hurt then good by reason of the emulation amongst the Nobilitie He relied much on the equitie of his cause yet feared he to bee forced by the kings power which he saw prepared supposing he would not receiue iudgement in the cause from any man This feare had induced him to write to all the great Potentates in Christendome shewing his reasons and demaunding succours The like office had he done with some Cardinals at Rome He had sent into Fraunce diuers copies of his allegations to the end they might be dispersed into England and other places making great instance to the two Queenes to succour him with mony munition captaines But his weakenes being knowne to both although hee gaue them to vnderstande he went to ioine with the Gouernors in defence they returned him nothing but curteous words And some say that not content to vse this diligence to such as were enuious of the kings good he did likewise write to his enimies and rebels desiring to treat with the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Alançon These things caused him more losse then profite as it happens commonly to those that will contend with mightie Princes and builde their foundations vpon the succours of their enimies ill willers who wil not commonly declare themselues except their companion be strong Heereupon it grewe that the King returned to the saide propositions so ample and artificiall an answere for as it was reported some of his letters had beene surprised by the Agents of the Catholique king and some other especially those he had written to Rome were sent to the King by them to whom he had written them He answered that he reioiced that in time he had auoided the sedition at Settuual being troubled with the danger and indignitie he might haue suffred That he knewe it to be true that in the persuite of the right of Katherine he had carried himselfe with due modestie but by refusing to agree with him were growne the inconueniences wherein now they were the which he would gladly they should rather haue foreseen then haue made triall of with so great disquietnes and dishonor vnto themselues for the which he was sory in regarde of the neerenes of bloud and affection he bare vnto the said Katherine That his offer to yeelde him his right was acceptable vnto him but he woulde haue them to vnderstand that there was no necessity to adde new actions to those which God had giuen him apparant to all the worlde That he had then wished for two reasons they coulde haue accepted of his liberalitie in recompence of their pretention The first was that he hoped by this meanes he shoulde not haue beene forced to enter armed into the realme and to make warre vpon his owne subiects which is one of the things that doth most trouble him But that good which might haue beene reaped by composition was nowe extinct by their slacknes seeing that his armie was alreadie entred the realme The second reason was the desire to encrease and prosper his house to do good to his children to auoide the ruine of the estate and the hazard to ouerthrow it whereof there was yet some remedie for being so desirous of his good that onely was sufficient to mooue him to doe them good He said
of the greatest part hee retired himselfe by the counsell of Sforce Orsin to Alcantara a mile neerer the citie putting a riuer betwixt him and the enimie the which hauing the banks high on that part serued him as a fortresse And although this retraite was rather caused by the inconsideratenes wherewith hee went to Belem then by any newe feare of the enimie yet was it iudicious the place being strong by nature and fitte for Anthonies intent who desired not to retire farre from the citie to keepe it in obedience The Catholique King who remained still at Badagios vnderstanding the Dukes proceedings being on the one side glad and on the otherside troubled to see this people attende the scourge of warre besides that he did incense them against him whom he desired much to entertaine as friendes for this cause hee sought all meanes possible as he had euer done to winne them with the least shewe of hostilitie and therefore he thought it good to graunt a generall pardon to all portugals that had beene imploied in this action against him seeking by clemencie to make his enimies friends the which he published being thus in effect That being informed that in the rebellion that Anthony had raised vsurping tirannouslie the name of a king of Portugall many of them which had followed his faction had done it being oppressed forced and deceiued and that seeking to prouide that such should not be punished with offenders and that the people more easie to be abused then the rest shoulde not bee chasticed with that rigour which lawe doth inflict his pleasure was That al such as leauing the part of the said Anthony and embracing his as of their King and naturall Lorde shoulde come vnto his seruice within a certaine time prefixed to that effect by the Duke of Alua shoulde bee freely pardoned all their faultes whereinto they had runne by taking and following the voice of the saide Anthony He excepted notwithstanding the Prior and all the seductors and authors of the rebellions committed at Saint Arem Lisbone and Settuual and all such as had receiued from him any charges offices and recompences as King and such as did serue him actually all which shoulde not enioy the saide pardon And although this latter point was not approoued of all men yet the rest seemed to be done with great iudgement for thereby they did not onely discouer the kings good meaning but also his great wisedome vsing clemencie to pardon and martiall policie to procure the Portugals to abandon the Prior But this writing although there were many copies dispersed thorough the realme wrought small profite to Philip and little hurt to Anthonie for neither did any greater number follow the Catholique Kings partie then before neither did any man for feare abandon Anthonies his fauorites only were a little greeued who examining the forme thereof seemed to be excluded as those that had receiued offices honors and recompences so as they did see their offences become daily more capitall togither with the example they had seene by the death of Diego de Meneses Many noted in this pardon that besides it was written in the Portugall toong it beganne with the name of King onely with the ordinarie titles of kings of Portugall and being accustomed to signe with these words IO EL REY now he only subscribed REY pointed with fiue points called by the Portugals the fiue wounds after the same manner the kings of Portugall had vsed so as some said that in matters of small importance he began to shewe himselfe a Portugall The Duke of Alua marched easilie towards Oeiras to the rocke of Saint Iulian seeming so to doe expressely that the Portugals might haue leisure to resolue being incamped so farre from the fortresse as their cannon coulde not annoy them he presently sent a trumpet to demaund obedience But being the very same whom he had formerly sent to the castell of Cascayes at whom they had shot he durst not approch neere to the forte fearing they woulde doe the like so as onely hauing made a signe a farre off without attending any answere he returned saying that they woulde not yeelde For this cause hauing planted their artillerie on Saint Lawrence day they began their batterie with tenne cannons encreasing the number vnto fower and twentie The galleies coulde not approch for that the forte stoode vpon the sea and therefore the Portugall gallions drawing neere to the lande did greatly indomage the Castillians with their culuerings and other great artillery but hauing planted three cannons in the night they forced the gallions with a fewe volleies to retire themselues higher vnto Saint Katherines shoare Anthony was now at Alcantara vpon a hill being but fiue miles distant from the fortresse where he remained an vnprofitable behoulder of this battery wheron it seemed his whole fortune depended for that the whole realme of Portugall had no other forte but this that coulde make any resistance so as loosing it his greatest hope was vanished but for that he might well succour it by sea both with men and munition as he did he hoped well it shoulde not be forced or at the least holde out vntill that either winter shoulde draw on or some prince taking pittie of his miserie should relieue his estate before the winning thereof without the which he did see himselfe helpelesse and the rather for that he had intelligence that the citie of Lisbone being grieued with the great insolencies committed daily by the soldiers disbanded from the enimies campe thereabouts were resolued not to giue him entrance within the citie vnlesse he returned with victory or had compounded with the enimie fearing otherwise the Duke woulde be displeased and being weake giue it in spoile vnto the soldiers Some were of opinion that the Prior in whom desire of rule was of more force then religion or other respect whatsoeuer should finding al hopes lost procure that this citie which is in a manner the whole realme shoulde remaine as a praie to the auarice and voluptuousnes of the Castillians desiring that the Portugals being forced to yeelde the realme shoulde be so entreated by the Catholique Kings men as there might remaine no hope of peace or amitie to the end that if heereafter he shoulde pretende the recouerie of the realme the people in regard of the hatred that such losses engender togither with their naturall inclination shoulde remaine still enimie and be more willing to yeeld to his deuotion For this cause he sought dailie with all his force to reforme the magistrate of the chamber and to place men in whom he had great affiance as well to haue entire into the citie if need were as also to dispose of things at his pleasure But forasmuch as the greatest part of those magistrates were mechanicke men in whom feare hath a more interest then the respect of a King he did not greatly trust them When he was proclaimed king there followed him a gentleman of Castill who
serued him as the first vallet of his chamber seeing the warres to grow betwixt the Portugals and Castillians hee craued and obtained leaue to retire himselfe into his countrey This man going to King Philip made offer for the great familiaritie hee had with Anthony to treate an accord with him being in great hope to effect it so as hee was sent to the Duke of Alua with order that he shoulde suffer him to goe and conferre with the Prior For the effecting heereof hee came to Lisbone at such time as the Duke tooke Cascayes and hauing discoursed at large with the Prior he enformed him of the Kings forces and aduised him to compound The Prior gaue eare to this treatie and Diego de Carcamo for so this gentleman was called did greatly presse him to giue him a letter of credite vnto the king with commission what he had in charge That such as had beene their mediators were the cause that he had not serued him as he desired but as much as the time woulde suffer him he was ready to do it That if it pleased him to sende any person as Embassador to the three Estates that hee woulde perswade them to yeelde him obedience and that he woulde say he had defended them so much as possiblie hee coulde but his succours from Fraunce and other Prouinces failing he could no longer resist and therefore he aduised them to agree In this letter which he had written to the King he did signe Rey. But repenting him afterwarde he did write it againe at the perswasion of Carcamo and subscribed it Anthony hauing receiued the letter his charge he seemed to haue ended his busines but being with the King he was returned backe to Anthony with a resolutiō which he supposed should haue succeeded but with certaine letters to the Duke of Alua whereby he was commanded to gouerne himselfe as the estate of the affaires shoulde require Hee arriued at such time as the Duke was emcamped before the rocke of Saint Iulian. Now did there lighten foorth a great hope of peace the which soone after vanished away For although the Duke seemed to be well pleased with this practise yet may we well say it did not content him seeming happely vnto him that being so farre aduanced hee shoulde haue more honour to conquer it by armes then by agreement For which cause he returned Carcamo to the Prior with this aunswer That he was glad of his resolution to serue his maiestie but there was no reason to sende an Embassador to the States seeing hee helde not the crowne from them but from the people to whom if hee pleased hee woulde sende and grant the like graces vnto them which other cities had receiued by their yeelding These words were deliuered him in writing but by mouth the Duke added that he had beene an affectionate seruant to Lewes his father and that as he had now taken armes to depriue him of the realme so woulde he take them in hande againe to conquer him an other so as it were not any of those that belonged to his King and Lord. Carcamo was not yet without hope to conclude the busines but nowe the Spanish grauitie hindred the effect of so great importance For the Duke supposed he shoulde not giue vnto Anthony any greater title then Seignory and hee that was mounted from Excellencie to Highnes held himselfe contemned and so much disdained it that both for the cold answere for this respect he was assured the Duke would haue no agreement He therefore made answer by mouth that seeing he woulde not agree if his people would obey him and be conformable to his will they would either vanquish or all die in that place Vpon this answere the Duke repenting his manner of writing or it may bee fearing the King woulde not like of this kind of proceeding sent backe Carcamo to say vnto Anthony that he should send one by sea or by land and he woulde sende another and that in the midde way they should conclude all thinges But the Prior who had small confidence in the Duke being greatly mooued made no other replie but that Kings were Kings and captaines captaines but that victories came from the hands of God so as the Duke dispairing of the matter deuised for his discharge that Anthony had sent him worde that he desired to conferre with him by night in a barke and the better to induce men to beleeue it he went publikely to lie aboord in a galley and being disimbarked in the morning he seemed discontented that Anthony had not come to conference with him it may be with this apparant iustification to haue more cause to make warre and not to compounde and so to lay the faulte vpon Anthony but in truth they did neuer treat of any meeting Now had they battered the fort of S. Iulian touching the which there was before growen some difficultie amongst the Inginers vpon what part they shoulde make their batterie Some woulde haue him plant their cannon at the strongest place but most conuenient to giue an assault Others would batter the weakest part although most vneasie to enter for that their defences being taken away their place of armes shoulde remaine open to their artillerie wherevpon the Duke to quite this controuersie went himselfe allowing the opinion of Fratino and of Philip Terzi where it hapned that hauing battered neere two whole daies and made but a small breach the soldiers fainting although they had good meanes to entrench themselues their armie neere at hand and the hauen alwaies open Tristan vaz de Vega captaine thereof was in doubte whether hee shoulde yeelde or defende it so long as hee coulde but enclining more to yeeld then to fight he was in suspence what meanes to vse to treate secretly not trusting greatly to some that were about him But fortune made the way for him for at that time a poore woman neere to Oeiras hauing her daughter and sonne in lawe within the forte amazed with the noise of the artillerie came crying to the Duke beseeching him to giue her leaue to drawe her sonne in lawe and her daughter out of the forte which he battred The old Duke who sought such occasions embraced this and saide vnto the woman that she should go in safetie causing the cannon to cease in the meane time He willed her to say vnto the captine of the forte that he had done ill to make so small account of the Dukes message and that he shoulde not wilfully cast himselfe away she deliuered her ambassage being returned with her daughter to the campe she said vnto the Duke on the behalfe of Tristan Vaz that he defended himselfe hauing not as yet seene any messenger from him whom he woulde haue heard and entertained and that if he woulde assure him vpon his word he woulde go to the campe to speake with him The Duke sent this woman presently backe to the captaine saying vnto him that
he might not onely come in safety but if he woulde he would sende him hostages But relying vpon the Dukes promises hee went vnto him and was curteously entertained The captaine excused himselfe for not admitting of the trumpet saying there had not beene any one with him nor spoke with any one that was within that place the which if he had done he would haue made answere with that curtesie which was conuenient by reason whereof the trumpet was in danger of hanging The Duke exhorted Tristan Vaz with many reasons to resigne the forte as appertaining to his king shewing vnto him the danger wherein hee was The matter being a little debated betwixt them the captaine saide vnto him that if he woulde promise in the name of the Catholique king to performe such recompences as Anthony had graunted him he woulde yeelde it vp which the Duke freely offring they were agreed So as being returned leading with him some Spanish captaines soldiers he resigned the fortresse where the assieged were so decaied as they seemed to issue foorth of a deadly prison And although some did esteeme the captaine for this action to be treacherous and others a cowarde yet as he saide the rocke with such vnexpert soldiers was not defensible besides the Gouernors had declared Philip successour A little before the yeelding of S. Iulian the Duke had sent to Peter Barba captain of Cabessa Secca willing him to yeeld the forte the which he hauing refused when as he vnderstood the fortresse was yeelded and that the Duke brought in his galleies he woulde no longer attende but hauing abandoned the place with the consent of the Prior and saued certaine artillerie he fledde to the campe at Alcantara By these losses feare encreased in the citie chiefly amongst the principals who fearing to be spoiled were daily more disposed to yeelde to the Catholique King besides they did see small helpe in the Priors affaires and they hoped by their yeelding to obtaine some priuilege from his Maiestie and had before this made offer of themselues if the respect of the Prior who was in field and so neere had not deteined them At this time they had intelligence of the arriuall of fower ships at the Ilande of Terceraes which came from the Indies very rich and of great importance for the citie the losse whereof if the galleies shoulde seaze on them woulde cause great hinderance both in the particular and generall and therefore the greatest part wished that one of the armies woulde yeelde to the other before the ships should arriue For this cause the citie sent againe vnto Anthony to shewe vnto him the danger and as it were the siege wherein they were hauing the entrie of the sea shut vp that the Duke hauing so great numbers of men and he so fewe he ought not though he might to hazard the fortune of a fielde with so great disaduantage They did secretly aduise him to compound seeming the best way to ende these troubles and then the ships might safely enter Moreouer they did suppose that if in fighting the Duke should remaine victor so neere the citie they should hardly saue it from the spoile of the soldiers Notwithstanding Anthony for his small experience being irresolute disdaining the Dukes speeches and ill aduised by his friends these reasons could not draw him to resolue but the next day he sent to the magistrate the Count of Vimioso the Bishop of Guarda and Emanuel of Portugall to intreate the citie to defend it selfe and to send him more men to the campe incouraging them sometimes deuising that the French succours were on the way sometimes shewing the Priors forces to bee greater then they were and the enimies lesse But as the words of the magistrate did nothing mooue the Prior no more did the speeches of the Prior alter the inward minde of the Magistrate so as all remained in suspence euery man with his owne intentions True it is that as well the saide Prior as some of the magistrates had easily agreed with the Duke vpon certaine conditions But the Priors will was forced by those of the house of Portugall and especially by the Bishop and the Citizens by many new officers who had their places in perpetuitie the which were woont to bee graunted but for a time These men arrogating to themselues more authoritie then was giuen them woulde not suffer the execution of any thing but what pleased themselues But for all this Anthony was not without feare that the citie woulde rebell against him to his vtter ruine trusting in fewe he coulde finde no better remedie then to place continually at the gates of the citie and in the armie at sea a number of religious men of diuers orders to guarde the entrie with the soldiers and to keepe the keies trusting deseruedly more in them then in the captaines that were there imploied For in the assemblies and counsels of State that were often held there appeered more hatred against the Castillians and more will to fight in the religious men then in the secular The Duke was now returned to the same lodging of Oeiras a place both by nature and arte strong For besides the great number of artillerie and rampiers the countrey was rough stony whereas the horsemen could hardly fight in whose force the Portugals relied much He made no shewe to dislodge for supposing now as in effect it was that from thence he helde all the realme assieged and principally with his galleies hee supposed that both the Prior and the citie would soone yeelde vnto him Besides that to march on considering his craftie nature and slowe disposition and the Portugals armie being so neere he thought it not conuenient he laboured with all possible deuises to be cōquerour without fighting and had now almost corrupted the captaines of the galleies and of the tower of Belem who shoulde soone haue deliuered vnto him both tower and armie the which had been effected if Anthony himselfe had not gone in person who hauing dispossessed in a manner all the captaines of their charges and placed others without giuing them respite to execute their practises but he was nowe growen so iealous of euery man finding in all men so great feare and so little faith that hee knewe not whom to trust if he were not a religious man a marriner or of the baser sort And for that it seemes alwaies to such as feare that they are betraied it hapned that fire being kindled by chaunce in certaine straw which lay about the castell wals of the citie where his roiall tapestrie lay he grewe suspicious that this fire had beene some signe vnto the enimies and that the marchant strangers whom he had placed there in guard had made it for that they woulde not goe to fielde to fight and this feare was so violent that without examining the fact without considering they were Flemmings whose nation for the most part were the most obstinate enimies that euer the Catholique
better fauored and receiued brought newes that he was in their countrey raising a great Armie The people being in this humour easie to take any impression there suddenly steps vp a Smith of the basest sorte who followed by the multitude plaied the Southsayer saying that the tenth of March without all doubte King Sebastian shoulde come into that Iland The day being come with great expectation of the people there appeered a great shippe at sea the viewe whereof did so much alter this people that the Smith crying this was the shippe wherein the King was euery man ranne to the shoare to see him as as it were expecting Sebastians landing But although the shippe followed an other course not drawing any thing neere to the Iland yet the people left not their vaine hope but some of them affirmed that the shippe had put three men into their cockboate the which were entred into the couent of Saint Frauncis supposing it shoulde be King Sebastian Christopher de Tauora and the Cheriffe And although this lie might easily be deciphered yet their offences would not permitte it but running from one scruple to an other it seemed they were destinate to liue in suspence for these friers of Saint Frauncis against the truth of priesthoode vnderstanding the peoples opinion that the King was in their couent did confirme it giuing them to vnderstand it was true and the better to induce them to beleeue it seeming on the one side to keepe it very secret on the other side shewing they had guests of importance they demaunded secretly but so as it might be knowen to borrow beds of silke siluer vessels and other things fit for a kings seruice They caused also garments to be made and kept their gates more strictly then of custome saying in their sermons that they would giue them two naturall kings and some hearing them in their masses to praie for Sebastian and Anthony supposed he was in their monasterie and not Sebastian seeing that since his departure from Viana there was no certaine newes of him In this Iland Ciprian de Figueredo sometimes seruant to the Counte of Vimioso being sent thither for iudge was become ringleader of all the rest This man being contrary to the Castillians and agreeing with the monkes did countenaunce their practises remaining in their couent from morning vntill night He confirmed the people in their foolish beliefe that the King was there This nation was not well setled in matters of religion for growing insolent by their libertie some preachers attributing vnto themselues more authoritie then they had promised absolution and many things which they ought not making shewe they would builde a church after their owne fashion and for that the lesuites had opposed themselues or at the least were not of one consent they were walled vp within their monasterie And although these Ilands were not al obedient being a slow enterprise yet the warre seemed as then in a manner ended that Philip hauing great forces in Spaine knew not how to imploy them forasmuch as the soldiers returned from the warres in the lowe Countries were now vpon the way comming from Italy towards Portugall with some others newly leuied they saide the King adding some fewe forces thereunto might raise a great armie to bee imploied vpon that occasion for the which they vnderstoode the Pope as carefull of his charge had renewed the practizes to bende these forces against England the which woulde not obey the Romish sea and therefore hee propounded to king Philip that if hee woulde leuie an armie and sende it to this conquest he woulde assist him in this enterprise with the treasures of the church offring to graunt vnto him Croisades exemptions and subsidies and to acquite him of a million of golde which hee saide was due vnto the church for the reuenewes he had receiued of the Archbishopricke of Toledo by title of sequestration when as the Archbishop was suspended from his charge But the King hauing newly taken possession of the crowne seeing the Portugals not well quieted sought first to pacifie the realme before hee woulde vndertake any other enterprise Notwithstanding at the Popes motion who saide that arming in those parts hee shoulde not onely keepe Portugall in awe but all Spaine and Fraunce likewise It may be he woulde not haue refused to send a good part of his forces if not into England yet into Ireland if the Popes ministers had beene more resolute or had beene furnished with a more ample commission but the sufferance of the foldiers and the great charge admitting no delay Rome being so farre off they agreed not but the King dismissing the Italians caused the foldiers vpon the way to returne backe and deuided his armie into garrisons THE EIGHT BOOKE The Contents of the eight Booke The soldiers complaints The Catholique King visites the Duchesse of Bragance The Kings voyage to Tomar The generall pardon The estates wherein they sware fidelitie vnto the King and vnto the Prince Diego The demaunds of the estates The kings entrie into Lisbone The vnhappy successe of Peter de Baldes his men at the Ilands of Terceraes Anthonie his departure out of the realme and his arriuall in Fraunce The arriuall of Lopez de Fegueroa at the Ilands and his returne without effect The preparation of the Jlands The estate of the affaires of Fraunce and of the lowe Countries The recompences which the King gaue vnto suiters The opinions of the manner of giuing them The enterprise of the Ilands The preparation to warre by King Philip and the French and the departure of their armies at sea towards the Ilands both from Fraunce and Portugall IN these warres amidst the cares of the realmes disquiet and imminent perils Frauncis de Villafagna doctor of the lawes and Auditour of the Councel royall of Castil which is the soueraigne seate of that realme came to Lisbone sent by the King with letters vnto the Duke whereby he was commaunded to fauour him in the execution of his commission the which being presently published containing no other matter of importance but a simple commaundement with the rest of the ordinarie officers to examine the accounts of the armie and to signe the warrants for paiments it seemed a sleight charge for so great a personage the which ministred matter of suspect that vnder so simple a shewe there was hidden some mysterie of importance and the generall opinion was that he came to censure both the armie and the Duke himselfe And although the Duke should haue beene best informed yet he made no shewe to know it but fauoured the Doctor admitting him to the Councell of warre and to other graue matters which did not concerne him The rest of the Captaines Spanish soldiers which could lesse dissēble spake with more libertie and lesse patience then the Duke saying it was a new manner of Iustice neuer heard of seeing that of necessitie the controuersie must bee betwixt the captaine generall and his armie or
vneasie landing beeing of all parts rough and inaccessible but in some fewe places which it was likely they woulde fortifie and guard They saide that the garrisons of strangers which they vnderstoode were there were they neuer so fewe with the inhabitants of the Iland were sufficient to hinder their landing They made great reckoning of the roughnes of the sea the which commonly suffreth not any ships to ride there aboue two moneths in the yeere concluding it was better deferre it then attempt it in vaine as they had twise done with small honor They said that the assurance of the enterprise consisted in delay for that the Iland shoulde bee neither stronger nor better furnished then it was at that instant seeing their strength is by nature that a great garrison cannot long liue there that by delaying the inhabitants themselues will be aduised for besides the insolencie of the French wanting their traffique with Spaine they shoulde growe so poore as they will soone acknowledge their errours That the ships from the Indies made so small stay at the Ilands as they had no neede of them but onely to take in fresh water wherewith they may furnish themselues at Saint Michaels These reasons helde the Catholique king in suspence and for that he was a friend to peace he enclined to delay but as the newes from Fraunce Flaunders and England did varie so did they hasten or slacke the preparation for the enterprise In this sorte and with no small trouble of minde the three first moneths in the yeere 1582. passed away but hauing intelligence at the spring that they did arme many ships both in Fraunce Flaunders and England and that they were meant for Portugall that the Turke notwithstanding his warre against the Sophy threatned to send forth his galleies that certaine troupes of foote were come out of Fraunce vnto the Marquisat of Salusses the King thought it expedient to arme both to performe this enterprise of the Ilands as for the guarde of many places where he might be endomaged He thought it a hard thing and vnwoorthie to suffer the states of the Low-Countries to be wrested from him by the Duke of Alançon without reuenge He did foresee that the charge would bee verie great and that he was furnished with little money and lesse credite for by meanes of the decree he had made against the merchants he was cause of more hurt to himselfe then to his creditors The prouisions it behooued him to make were all forced for hee could not doe lesse then prouide for Italy as well in regarde of the French as of the Turke Hee must of force entertaine an armie in Portugall for although the Realme were in shew quiet yet the Portugals being of a stirring humor he could not auoide to arme a nauie sufficient to encounter the Fleete He thought it necessarie to prouide for Flanders if not wholy to recouer those estates yet for feare he should loose more But that which troubled the King more then all the rest was the shippes which hee expected this yeere from the Indies and New-found lands fearing that the French hauing the aduantage of the Ilands might spoile them finding that some Pirat had not onely passed into that sea but also threatned to assaile the Iland of Saint Michael and that of the Maderes And therefore the King began to preuent all these dangers in this manner He mustred all the foote he could in Spaine and caused them to march towardes Portugall especially to the Prouince betwixt Doro and Minio to the gouernment whereof he sent Ferrant de Toledo Prior of Saint Iean He sent the Marquesse of Saint Croixe to Seuille to arme all the great ships hee could and to prepare some galleies In Biscay he commaunded eighteene Biscaine ships to be furnished to make their randeuous in Andelouzie where they prepared their galleies and built a good number of great boats to land their souldiers He wrote into Italy to the Viceroy of Naples and to the Gouernor of Millaine that either of them should leuie 6000. Italian foote He gaue order in Germany to bring downe 10000. Germanes vnder colour to sende these two nations into Flaunders And for to be assured of the Iland of Saint Michael although that Ambrose d'Aguiar were there with one Galeon hee sent thither Peter Peixotto with fiue other shippes who arriued there in good time for certaine French Pirats were assembled to assaile it the which they did not forbeare to attempt for Peixotto with his ships lying at anchor before the city of punta Delgada three French ships leauing other sixe behinde shewed themselues supposing that with his fiue ships he would not faile to fight with them three and as hee should retire the other sixe comming to succour them they might conquer them and after this victorie assaile the Iland being weake and vnarmed But this deuise succeeded not for Peixotto who desired not to fight but to preserue the Ilande all hee could would not come foorth against those three French ships the which hee forbare the rather for that the other sixe shippes which remained behinde discouered themselues so as the Frenchmen finding they coulde not deceiue the Portugals and their ambush as one may say being discouered being loath to retire without some booty they resolued to charge Peixotto as he laie at anchor But the winde grew scant to approch to land and the artillerie from a certaine weake forte would not suffer them to ioine But the Captaines shippe being of better saile then the rest drewe so neere that hee grappled with a Portugall where they fought aboue three howers with great slaughter on both sides but the French had beene victors if Ambrose d'Aguiar who was at lande foreseeing that the losse of the ships woulde be the ouerthrowe of the Iland had not succoured Peixotto by boats sending him aboue an hundred fiftie men with the which he defended himselfe and the French shippe vnloosing itselfe retired to the rest woorse handeled then the Portugall but it was supposed that if the winde had beene any thing stronger so as the other French ships mought haue come vp to the Portugals they had beene taken in the viewe of all the Iland And for that soone after there arriued eighteene Biscaine ships at Lisbone which the king had commaunded should be armed in that Prouince he sent fower of them with sixe hundreth men for the assurance of that Iland the which arriued soone after the departure of the French Sommer was nowe come and there was still newes from Fraunce that they made greater preparation for war arming many ships in all their ports at the instance of Anthony The Catholique kings affaires went slowlier forwardes then the importance of the cause required for that it seemed the Spaniards were not yet well assured whether the French woulde turne against Portugall and not goe to the Ilands yea some beleeued that making shew to do so they woulde take their course for
Flaunders seeming more to importe wholie to assure those countries and to expell the Catholique Kings forces then to vndertake an other enterprise of greater difficultie And the assurance of this opinion did helpe the Fren̄ch for it did diuert or at the least deuided the Spanish forces and was cause that in Spaine they prepared not their armies with such expedition as was conuenient But hauing after assured intelligence that the French prepared to encounter the ships that came from the Indies and the newe founde lands the prouision for Flaunders went slowly forwarde in Italie And in Spaine they made greater haste of their nauie for the which there was want of sailers and other necessaries yet with some trouble they had prepared in Andelouzia about twentie ships and twelue galleies The Marquesse was returned to Lisbone giuing order to the nauie to goe to Cape Saint Vincent and there to attend their charge At his arriuall he found within the riuer of Tagus twenty other ships ill appointed comprehending the Biscaines and some Flemmings hired in a manner by force where hauing shipped sixe thousand Spanish foote vnder Lopo de Figueroa the Marquesse imbarked with many noble men Ferrant of Toledo going as a priuate soldier with some other gentlemen This was not the kings first intention being resolued to assemble the body of his armie in Andelouzia whither the ships of Biscay at their departure had commaundement to repaire but in sailing being come to Lisbone and hauing hired some others with the gallions of Portugall the king supposed the greatest number was there that he should spende time to cause one parte of the armie to goe seeke the other supposing they shoulde meete he commaunded both the one and the other to saile towardes Portugall as they did labouring to ioine by the way And although all this was slowly executed yet had it bin more if the king by his owne presence had not hastened their departure the which was not before the x. of Iuly in the yeere 1582. so slow are the Spaniards by nature in the execution of their businesse At that time the French armie departed with Anthony and all his followers being in number aboue threescore and ten saile and seuen thousand foote whereof Philip Strozzi and Mounsieur de Brisack were commaunders THE NINTH BOOKE The Contents of the ninth Booke The description of the Jland of Saint Michael The arriuall of the French armie there The arriuall of the Spanish armie The battaile at sea The death of Philip Strozzi and of the Count of Vimioso The voiage of Anthony to the Terceres and his manner of proceeding The sentence of the Marquesse against the prisoners and his execution The death of the Duke of Alua and his praises The new estates where Prince Philip was sworne by reason of the death of Prince Diego And how the Cardinall Archduke of Austria was made Gouernour of Portugall WHilest the French and Spanish armies sailed towards the Terceres both Courtes were in suspence and in diuers hopes of successe but in Fraunce they conceiued more assurance then in Portugall for the French not esteeming the Spanish forces helde themselues superiours in number both of ships and men and hauing the Ilands at their deuotion they stoode assured that their armie should both spoile the Indian fleete sacke the Iland of Saint Michael and ouercome the enimies armie if they ioined with them And they relied so much thereon that extending their hopes farther furthered by the promises of Anthony and of what he said that he had followers in Portugall they hoped to approch the realme and to put men on lande and to arme the vnarmed Portugals for which cause they carried great quantitie of armes and to set so firme a footing vpon the maine lande as they should easily maintaine themselues so as with this intention many Noble men and gentlemen imbarked with the Armie both for that the French are easie to mooue as also heerein to please the Queene mother In the Court of Spaine their thoughts were not all so conformeable nor so ioyfull for the Portugals being now as contrarie in their humours to the Castillians as they had beene euer making hope equall to their owne desires seeing the affaires now in equal ballance many wished they should make no resistance and many expected the comming of Anthonie The rest of the Portugals more content with the present state of the Castillians shewed great hope the warres should now ende saying they were assured they should defeat this Armie take Anthonie prisoner and either by loue or force subdue the Ilandes yet inwardly they were not well satisfied For seeing their armies deuided without hope to ioyne it seemed vnto the wisest the victorie was not so assured as some supposed and that the Spaniards by giuing battaile should hazard to lose much and winne little and contrariwise the French to winne much and loose little for that the greatest mischiefe that coulde seeme to happen to the enimies was the defeating of the Armie and taking the Ilandes from their obedience which things although they shoud all happen yet were they not of any great moment to Fraunce but if contrariwise the Spanish Armie should be defeated their losse would be equall to the French for besides the ships they should with all lose with the Iland of Saint Michaell the hope to recouer the rest the Indian Fleet withal their treasure should serue as a Pray to the French and the realme should be stil in doubt subiect to all those inconueniences which so great a losse should bring with it chiefly vnto a realme newly conquered This feare was augmented for that their Armie which consisted of good ships and was manned with good souldiers was notwithstanding vnprouided of mariners and wilde fiers whereof some were drawen by force and the Marques himselfe went with small contentment not for that hee feared but hauing beene at his departure somewhat discountenanced by the King blaming him to haue beene too slacke in the dispatch of the Armie besides going in Flemmish ships and with Germane soldiers little acquainted with the sea increased these doubts yet outwardly these men shewed a great confidence grounding the rests of their hopes vpon the qualitie of the Spanish souldiers and the greatnes of their ships Manie woondred how the wordes of Anthonie could so preuaile in Fraunce as in a maner to moue all that Court to vndertake his protection with so great vehemencie as they had done not shewing any pretention he had vnto the Crowne hauing no great hope to make him Lord nor to imploy such forces as he pretended to haue seeing that such as fauoured him were kept vnder in Portugall with great garrisons And this readines of the French seemed to them the greater for that before they had shewed themselues more slack to succour the Portugals against the Castillians when as they had a fitter occasion and a more grounded hope of good successe then now they could haue for in
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