Charming African if Philip had not staid him with the hopes of some Troops which he promised and perhaps would have given him had it not been for the Obstacles that were raised by the Princess Katherina by earnestly desiring Ruy Gomes de Silva at that time Favourite and Minister of the King of Spain not to hasten the Succours In the mean time Don Sebastian continually possessed with the thoughts of that War and Almeida's Beauty was not sensible of the Pleasures of that Pompous Court nor the marks of kindness which the Princess daily gave him Almeida writ a thousand kind engaging things to this King which the more augmented his impatience To little purpose it was Philip had told him that the Duke of Alva had written to him that this War was not reasonably to be undertaken with Portugal Troops alone that besides them it was requisite to have fifteen thousand Italians Spaniards and Germans It was to little purpose he assured him that he would give him five thousand Spaniards as soon as his Affairs in Italy would give him leave Nothing could stay Don Sebastian and Philip who fancied that the Princess's Beauty and the desire of being in his Alliance would perhaps be capable to persuade him from this Design or at least make him stay yet some time at his Court offered him Catherina Michela in Marriage Don Sebastian did not flye off so much as he would have done if he had not stood in need of Philip. He made some Court to that Princess which put her in some hopes seemed to relish the Pleasures of that Court with less disquiet Remained also there yet some time with little impatience for the having the Succours so often promised The Court he made to Catherina Michela in these hopes was quickly known to Almeida All those who approached her took delight in exaggerating things to her which put her in despair and as the divers Passions and Interests of particular Persons even adds something to the News that comes from afar off the report ran in Portugal that Don Sebastian was going to Marry Catherina Michela A Person who loves and fears is but too credulous Almeida Figured to her self a thousand things far more stinging than all the malice of her Enemies could have Invented upon that Subject How vainly did I flatter my self with the Power of my Charms said she sometimes how weak are they and how am I deceived The Princess Catherina has more than I have she is in Prosperity and Glory I lie under Misfortune and Shame Her Father is a Prudent and Fortunate King whom the greatest Princes would be proud to be Alied to and I have but one Brother whose disgrace is capable of dispersing the most Zealous Friends These and such other like expressions did so trouble her that she was sometime without writing to Don Sebastian This King reproached her with her silence but as she was prepossessed with his infidelity she gave so ill an Interpretation to all that came from him as she fancied he only made her these reproaches for the having a pretext to quit her and made no answer to his Letters The King not being able to support any longer the trouble he was in at Almeida's silence and seeing the propositions and delays of the King of Spain were only vain amusements to retain him he resolved at length to return to Portugal and desired Philip to send him with the soonest all the Troops he could He found Almeida in so great a grief that he could not see it without being much concerned He made her his Complaints she made him her Reproaches and both of them being undeceived of their suspition were more charmed than ever with one another The King of Spain let Don Sebastian know how the Sedition of the Rebels encreased daily in Flanders how he was afraid that Province would get from under his Power how he was oblig'd to send a great many Troops thither and this disorder hindred him from sending the Succours he had promised him All these Obstacles did not at all cool the Ardour of Don Sebastian And Philip being acquainted he had still the same Design he sent the Duke of Medina Coeli to him who was one of the most Eloquent and Understanding Politicians of Spain to represent to him that the Rebellion in Flanders augmented from day to day which putting the King his Master in great fears he found himself obliged to conclude a Truce with the Turks in which he would cause him to be comprehended if he thought good and that being in Conference about that Treaty he could not send Troops into Africa against Moluc for as much as a part of that Country was Tributary to the Port and Moluc was a Friend and Confederate of the Grand Seignior's Don Sebastian answered that Ambassadour that he was very much surpriz'd that Philip had made a Truce of three years with the Turks that in thinking to avoid their Incursions into Italy he gave 'em time to Fortifie themselves in Africa and fill it with Forces which would carry into the Heart of Spain after that Truce a more Cruel War than that he feared He added that he did not think it convenient to be Comprehended in this Treaty that 't was requisite for their Common Interest to leave him the Liberty of assisting the Spaniards against the Irruptions of the Africans and thus the King of Spain would assure himself of Italy by his Truce and of Africa by the War that the Portuguezes were going to make there The Duke of Medina Coeli returned into Spain but little satisfied with his Embasie Queen Katherine who had Governed the State with great Prudence died at that time All the World fancied that the trouble Don Sebastian's Designs gave her occasioned her Death And the King having put his Army in a Posture of marching the Count de Souza went out of his solitude to accompany the King in that War Don Sebastian followed by all his Nobility his Guards and a great number of Voluntiers went to the Cathedral Church of Lisbon where having with great Ceremony caused the Standard to be Blessed which he would carry into Africa he put it into the hands of Christopher de Tavora and as all the Court fancied he was going to return to his Palace he went to to the Port and having met with Almeida who was taking the Air with her Brother in a Chariot coming up he told them That all was preparing to revenge them and in a little time he would re-establish them upon the Throne of their Fathers So many Obstacles answered Almeida have hitherto opposed your good Intentions Sir that I shall not promise my self any Succours from your Highness till you are Embarqued Well Madam we must then Embark reply'd the King in a Transport I accuse as well as you my Love of too much slowness and you shall not see me defer any longer He mounted his Galley after having said these Words Mahumet and his Sister accompanied
concerned at the grief this piece of News would cause in Eugenia and was more sensible of the loss the State had by this accident than of the particular advantage his death might be of to him in the sequel But he could not forbear entertaining some hopes and fancied that if ever Eugenia could be capable of a second engagement all he had done for her would move her to some acknowledgement in the impatience he was to see her again he suddenly Embarqued all the Portugals who had escaped from the Battel he thought of securing Almeida and stillre specting her the King had loved and had committed to his care he asked her what place she would chuse for her retreat that he might Conduct her to it even to the hazard of his life Almeida without Brother King Lover Relations Friends and Succours odious to all the Nations who had interessed themselves in that Quarrel knew not to what place to carry her misfortunes Of all the Train she had brought into Portugal she had only left a Venetian Maid who came into her Service a little before Mahumet was drove out of his Dominions This young Person had been taken at Sea by the Moorish Pirates some time after that Almeida was returned from Spain she was given to that Princess because she had a thousand fine Qualities that distinguished her from other Slaves and her Relations had not yet been able to Ransome her by reason of the troubles that were in that Kingdom which caused Almeida to wander into several places The Princess had taken an affection for her and treated her with a great deal of kindness This Slave seeing her in so great a perplexity told her that in acknowledgment of the favours she had received she offered her a Retreat at Venice that the Bailo of that Republick was her Relation and she was sure if she would become a Christian as she had promised Don Sebastian she would her Family would willingly grant her a Refuge that would not be altogether unworthy of her Almeida willingly accepted the proffer Souza caused her to be conducted to Venice and then made Sail towards Lisbon The whole Kingdom was in an extream Consternation The People knew not if Don Sebastian was dead or alive All the World lamented his misfortunes and no body knew his fate Those who were well intentioned maintained he was still alive and a Prisoner in Africa The Seditious said that though that were true they could not reprieve him from Captivity because War had drained the Revenues and they could not find Money enough in the Kingdom for his Ransome Others caused a report to run how he was dead The People would have a King the best Politicians and those that were most honest doubted of all and said nothing There was nothing seen but Relations which seemed all to confirm the News of the Kings Death Spain had several places upon the Confines of Africa that bordered Portugal Those who were Governours of them stopped all the Pacquets that were sent into Portugal There were daily seen new Lists of the dead the whole Kingdom was in Mourning each City in Tears all Families regretted the loss of a Father a Hsuband a Son or a Brother oftentimes one alone deplored all these Persons together and the Council was at length constrained to appease the Murmurs of the People to cause Cardinal Henry to come out of the Abby of Calcobassa to which place he was retired and to proclaim him Governour General of the Kingdom in the absence of Don Sebastian his Successour to the Crown Eugenia using all her endeavours to have certain News of her Husband was assured after several very exact enquiries that he had lost his life in that Battel The grief she was in surpassed that of all other Widows her Affliction was not confounded in the Publick Desolation she made it be distinguished by its excess Souza was no sooner arrived than he would render the Devoirs that Decency exacts on such occasions He was told she was returned into a Religious House where she admitted of no Visits He had promised to himself so much pleasure in seeing Eugenia again and disengaged from Don Henry that he could not without an extream trouble find himself disappointed of that happiness The Abbess of that Convent was his Aunt He went to beg she would obtain of Eugenia that he might see her for a moment but this Widow prescribed her self too severe Rules to consent to that interview which she fancied would injure the fidelity she owed the Memory of her Husband and she still so firmly opposed the measures that Souza took to discourse her that he was afraid he should be wanting in the respect he owed her if he still endeavoured to procure himself that satisfaction While all Portugal was in Tears Africa echoed with shouts of joy for so great a Victory Hamet Molucs Brother was proclaimed King He made an Entry into Fez he brought thither in triumph Mahumets Body with a great number of Prisoners After which he bethought himself to acquire the favour of the King of Spain He had means in his hands that were sure to obtain it Several Spaniards were among his Prisoners he was Master of Don Sebastian whose fate no Body knew Philip stood in need of him These two Kings sent Ambassadours to one another The King of Spain gave to the Value of a hundred thousand Ducates in Jewels to the King of Fez who likewise restored to Philip without any Ransome all the Spaniards that had been taken Prisoners in that War The report of Don Sebastian's death was renewed every where New Circumstances of it were made Publick It was said that he had not been met withal amongst the Prisoners and that having sought for him amongst the dead a naked Man had been found whose Body resembled his and was known to be so by some Portugal Prisoners Hamet delivered this Corps into the Spanish Governours hands of Ceuta He likewise restored to Philip the Duke of Barcellos without Ransome and the Council thought fit at length to proclaim at Lisbon that Don Sebastian was dead and to perform the Publick Ceremonies that those People are used to practise on such occasions for the appeasing the murmurs and the disorders that were caused by the Doubtful Fate of that unhappy King Cardinal Henry was Crowned King of Portugal At first great hopes were conceived from his age and his probity but besides that the Virtues of one Condition are oftentimes Vices in another the change of our Fortune almost always changes the disposition of our Mind Henry became Haughty Revengeful and Jealous Few of the late Kings Courtiers kept in favour under this new Reign He Persecuted all those who had shared in the pleasures of Don Sebastian he revenged himself on all who had not shewn him respect enough and had only applyed themselves to the Kings Person The Dutchess of Braganza was the only one of the Antient Court whose Credit was augmented under
that Widow knowing what the Count had done for her and seeing the Credit he had at Court were desirous she should consent to Marry him the Sister of Don Henry her Husband and for whom she had ever had a great inclination was a great Friend of Souza's Sister They both went to see her and Souza declared to her his love and his despair He desired her to know what Eugenia could accuse him of and to procure him a moment of Discourse with her And this Friend promised Souza and his Sister to employ all the Power she had over her to their satisfaction The End of the Third Part. Don Sebastian KING OF Portugal An Historical Novel PART IV. Done out of French by Mr. FERRAND SPENCE LONDON Printed for R. Bentley and S. Magnes in Russel-street in Covent-garden 1683. Don Sebastian KING OF PORTUGAL IN the mean time the Pope made no great haste to grant Henry the Dispensation that his Ambassadour demanded of him The Cabals of Spain were stronger than the Solicitations of Castel Bianco The People grew impatient and feared the Wars which the Pretenders to the Crown threatned Portugal with after the Death of Henry Anthony in all places excited the murmurs he had gained the Peoples Favour and the suffrages of the Court Philip had notice of all that passed He ordered Father Ferrand to seek out the means of stopping his Progresses which the Father had Infallible ones to do and refolved to procure his being Banished from Lisbon Henry was but too much disposed to hate him the Cabals he raised every where and the love he had for the Dutchess were such Crimes in respect of that King as could not fail of drawing down his vengeance but Father Ferrand was not willing to be the Informer this was too contrary to the good and devout Character he affected he would not involve the Dutchess in this Affair he had particular Considerations for her The Friendship and Confidence of those two Lovers were necessary to him wherefore he so behaved himself as to keep them both his Friends Leonora was vexed at the Dutchess being she had hindred her Son from corning to Lisbon and fancied that she alone was the cause of this change The peeks that Love causes between persons of that Sex become irreconcileable aversions Father Ferrand had some acquaintance with Leanora from the time he so licited the Liberty of the Duke of Barcelloâ—… She had made several Visits to this good Father to learn News of her Lover and he had discovered the hatred she had for the Dutchess when he acquainted her that the Duke of Barcellos had Order to go to Villa Visola Chance had put into the Jacobiâ—â— hands a Letter that Anthony wrote to it he Dutchess in which he let her know that he had learnt that his Holiness would spin out the business of the Dispensation so long a time that Henry should be dead before an answer would be given to it that she was too good to suffer the persecutions of so useless an Amour as was that of the Old Cardinal and too Cruel if she did not declare her self in favour of a Prince who would infallibly put the Crown upon her head This Letter said enough against the Duke and too little against the Dutchess to accuse her of a Formal Intrigue There needed no more than to shew it the King Father Ferrand shewed it Leonora as if he had found it by chance She desired the Father to give her that Letter He obstinately denied it till he had made her promise she would never declare from whom she had it and after having given it her he desired her not to make any noise with it but to shew it the King with as much caution and moderation as was possible if the good of the State obliged her so to do As soon as she had this Letter she bethought her self of the means to shew it to Henry and made choice of Phoebus Monis who was Vereador of Lisbon and had great access to the King and was entirely devoted to Leonora having been one of Christopher de Tavora her Fathers Officers She sent for him and told him that it was important for the good of the State and for his particular Interests that the King were acquainted with a Letter which was come to her Hands And after having shew'd it him she begged him to let Henry see it and told him that she found it in the Jacobin's Church which was the very place where the Dutchess had let it fall Monis executed this Commission very punctually The King saw that Letter and was in an extream fury against Anthony He Banished him from Court and sent him to his Priory of Crato But notwithstanding all the measures the King took to hinder the Interviews of these two Lovers Anthony did not fail to take his leave of the Dutchess through the industry of the Jacobin they took measures to write to one another and it was this good Father who received and convey'd the Letters from and to either party he was their dearest Confident and best Friend They fancied they could not choose a more faithful Correspondent in their Commerce they imagined that they would sooner open the Pacquets of all the Court than those that were addressed to the Religious who have ever had in Spain and Portugal particular Priviledges and Prerogatives Eugenia's Sister-in-law often Discoursed her about Count de Souza as she had promised him to do and desired her with so much earnestness to permit the Count to come and see her that notwithstanding the repugnance her Scruples gave her to that Visit she consented to it yet upon Condition that it should be in presence of that mutual Friend she immediately sent Word to the Count de Souza to come to Eugenia's How great was the joy of this Lover who had sighed so long a time for this happiness He run thither with eagerness but how great was the trouble when after having Saluted that Beautiful Widow he saw more severity in her looks than she had ever shown him he likewise fancied he saw there some anger and was extreamly surpriz'd when Eugenia's Sister being willing to withdraw a little to give them the Liberty of entertaining one another she staying her told her Is it to abandon me Sister that you have engaged me to this Interview And the violence I did to my self for your sake does it not deserve you should be as good as your Word to me I am very unhappy Madam answered the Count full of grief and respect that the sight of me is so great a constraint to you The love I have so long had for you the endeavours I have used and the care I have taken to conceal it even from your Eyes ought not they to have appeased your Anger You have not so well concealed your Passion said Eugenia but that all the Court has known it it has even since some few days caused reports to run that are injurious
to my Reputation and notwithstanding all the pressing Solicitations of my Sister I should not at present have consented to see you if I had not had the Design of begging you to stifle that Passion and to avoid carefully for the future the occasions of seeing me far from seeking them as you do Ah! Madam cried the Count could you put me to a more cruel Torture Have you forgotten my past respects Do you complain of my present Carriage And do you think 't is in my power to forbear loving you in the future My Lord reply'd she I remember with an extream acknowledgment all you have done for me I should even see at present your affection without displeasure and should with joy persuade my self that you would ever love me But I love my Honour and will follow my Devoir If I approved your Passion it would be believed that I suffered it in my Husbands Life time It has been already but too much talked of and I will not give ground for those Calumnies I loved Don Henry and he loved me I deplore his death I thought ever to cherish his Memory and never elsewhere engage a Heart that I have given him Does not Death break all manner of Engagements Madam reply'd Souza Don Henry 's Ashes do they exact any fidelity from you You have ever lived after such a manner that the most bespattering Persons could not suspect your Conducts All the World does but too well know what an excess of kindness you had for Don Henry 'T is well enough known what a veneration I have ever had for you and if you would render me happy those Reproaches which you are so much afraid of and which have only been the light suspicion of a Malicious Person would be dissipated by our Vnion The Count endeavoured by these reasons and all others his Wit and Passion could inspire him with to render Eugenia more favourable to his Passion and less sensible of the Memory of Don Henry but the austerity of her Virtue made her inflexible And her Sister-in-law who knew the Credit Passion and Desert of Souza had all the trouble imaginable to obtain from her Sister that the Count might see her sometimes and Eugenia would not consent to it till he had promised he would see her but seldom not speak to her of love nor make any Propositions of Marriage as long as her Mourning lasted Souza obeyed her he saw her very rarely and said not a Word to her of his Passion But Love knows how to make it self understood without the help of Words and Discourses the fullest of kindness are not those that are the most persuasive Tho his Visits were very regular his Assiduities his Cares and all his Actions spoke in favour of a Passion that his Mouth durst not Explain Eugenia who had refused to understand the ordinary Language of Love hearkned to these Interpreters without being displeased and was very glad that the severity of her Devoir was deceived by these little Artifices and that the Carriage of so respectful a Lover stifled all manner of reproaches Henry's Love being something reassured by the removal of Anthony he employ'd himself entirely to the Pretensions that the Dutchess had to the Throne against the Cabals of all aspiring Candidates to that Crown He made known to the Deputies of the States that he would favour that Dutchess in all that should be possible he Solicited the Clergy for her he Prayed the Nobility Flattered the Commons promised some threatned others and at length made so many Cabals for the Dutchess that part of the States declared themselves already in Favour of her Pretensions The King of Spain caused forty thousand Men to March to the Frontiers of Portugal to joyn Force to the Reasons and Artifices he had already employ'd And that nothing might be neglected he sent two Persons of great knowledge to Lisbon in the Quality of Ambassadours that they might make known the Right of his Pretensions to the King and the States of Portugal with Order however not to make any Act by which they should acknowledge the Jurisdiction of Henry All these Agents made no progress with him in their Negouation His heart had preingaged his Mind in favour of the Dutchess they in vain made Presents and Promises to Persons of Quality and to the People for procuring their Suffrages The Voice of a King how feeble soever has more power than the strongest Cabals and what is most difficult to other Men is ever easie to Lovers None but the Jacobin was capapable of warding the blow that threatned the Pretensions of the King of Spain The Dutchess put that entire Confidence in him as that she gave him the Letters she wrote to Anthony for the Conveying them to him And as she one day told this Good Father she would send him one the next morning for that Prince he acquainted Leonora with it the same day that she might cause that Letter to be taken from the Man who used to bring them him Leonora seeking all occasions of injuring the Dutchess went to find out Monis and told him that she knew an infallible means of augmenting his Credit with Henry by rendring him a Signal Service that he needed only to Way-lay one of the Dutchess of Braganza's Servants and take from him by force or consent a Letter he was to carry the next morning to the Jacobin and that if he let the King see it it would procure him a Recompence above his hopes Monis was one of those Ambitious Men who desiring to advance themselves at Court employ'd all manner of means to get into Favour He accepted the proposition with joy and found it no difficult task to get that Letter out of the Mans hands when he spoke to him in the Kings Name It was very kind and made appear Correspondence enough with Anthny to reduce the King into utter despair This Letter made a great noise at Court Father Ferrand saw that the Sequels of it could not be safe for him And as People of that Profession are ever ready to change place without much noise and Equipage he departed the same day to return into Spain And all those who were acquainted with this precipitated departure sancied the King not taking in good part the Advices that this Good Father gave him upon his Marriage had Commanded him to retire Henry being become desperate with what he had learnt of the Dutchess went to her House in the violence of his Transport and told her all that Choller can inspire a Jealous Husband with She endeavourd at first to persuade him that her Enemies had forg'd that Letter for the preventing the Effect of his kindnesses She would then not being able to deny her own Hand Writing make Henry believe that she had been put upon by surprize to write that Letter and had been perswaded it was necessary to her Interests But the King not relishing any of her Excuses and still loading her with reproaches
if you do any thing unbecoming the rank I place you in I shall employ the little strength I have left to strangle you with my own Hands And for the rest Brother I order you if I die before the Success of this Battel to conceal my death with great care from all the World and to put in my Litter any one of our men who shall most resemble me to the end that feigning to give Orders and acting my part the Enemies may not take advantage of the Consternation that such an accident usually brings into an Army Having ended these Words he embraced Hamet and caused him to be owned by all his Forces After which he went out of Alcazar and retired into the Plain for to draw on the Enemies He was persuaded that having better Officers more Troops and better Disciplined than the Portugals he ought not to fear the Issue of a Battel But prudent as he was he was loth to commit his Crown to the uncertainty of a fight knowing that we ought not to expose our selves to the Fortune of War till after all the efforts of Prudence have not been able to produce any advantage he let the Enemies March without going to meet 'em and fancied that by still permitting them to advance into his Territories he had nothing more to do than to cut off their passage to see them afterwards perish by Famine without costing him so much as one Man He was not able however to bring this Design to perfection as well because his illness reduced him to extremity as by reason he was informed the same day in the Evening that the Enemies were very near and the two Camps might see one another if the obscurity of the night had not hindered it He sent as soon as it was day his Master of the Horse at the Head of two or three hundred Men to observe the Countenance of the Enemies and it happened that some Battalians of the Portugal Army that had passed a little River repassed it in that moment by order from the King who judged it more convenient to be left between the two Armies These Troops which Filed off made the Morish party believe that the sight of them put the Christians to flight and they carried with all diligence this News to Moluc The Barbarians animated by this flight cried out aloud that they ought to pursue them and they might cut them to pieces But Moluc ever wise and ever prudent appeased this too pert Ardor and said he demanded no more than their retreat and if they fled he should vanquish according to his desires without his Army running any danger or losing one drop of Blood While the Moors were deliberating upon this Affair Don Sebastian caused his Council to Assemble to know of his Chief Officers if he should give Battel that same day The most part of them seeing Moluc had three times more Forces than the King of Portugal were unwilling to run the risque of a Battel But the King fancying that as at the Head of six hundred Men he had put to flight two thousand of the Enemies a Christian would ever beat five or six Moors went boldly out of his Camp ranged his Troops in Battel array and divided them into three Battalions The first was Composed of Strangers who had their Officers at the Head of them and of five hundred Portuguez Voluntiers Commanded by Don Henry the second and third were Composed of Portugal Troops The Cavalry was at the two Wings in the form of a Triangle The Duke d'Avero Commanded the Right where Mahumet was Ranged with the Troops that followed him the Kings Standard was at the left with the Duke de Barcellos and the Baggage was betwixt the Infantry and the Cavalry Though Moluc felt the pangs of Death he had still the same Valour and the same Conduct he ranged his Army in Battel with as much presence of Mind as if he had been in perfect health He had forty thousand Horse eight thousand Foot and thirty four pieces of Artillery He kept to himself the charge of Generalissimo and placed his Brother at the Head of the Cavalry He caused immediately all his Infantry to March in the form of a Half-moon at the two points of which he placed two Bodies of Cavalry each of ten thousand Horse the rest of the Horsemen were divided into little Squadrons and followed in equal distance being ordered to March still on and surround the Portugal Army for the Engaging it on all sides When it was in presence it appeared so Weak to Moluc that he thought himself sure of the Victory and thought of nothing but rendring it Compleat He would have made a Speech to his Souldiers but his extream weakness would not permit him to say four words He caused himself to be put again into his Litter and placed himself in the middle of his Troops that he might be able to give Orders on all sides and see all that the two Armies should do Don Sebastian seeing the Enemies make some Motion to advance sent one of his Querries to Almeida for the assuring her that the Battel was going to begin that he would lose his life therein or re-establish her in her State and after having given some moments to the most tender reflections a Lover was ever capable of he set all his thoughts to the Execution of that Enterpize Moluc on his side caused his Cavalry to March and extend in such order that being within a Canon-shot of the Portuguez's the two points of that Half-moon came and joyned behind the King's Arrier-Guard and that great Circle filling by little and little became still more thick as it approached the Portugals insomuch as the Christian Army was environed on all parts by the Moorish Cavalry and took from the most faint hearted all means of running away The Portuguez's were daunted at the doleful aspect of this danger their fears were redoubled at the noise of the Fire of the Moors Artillery which making frequent shots by degrees broke the Files of the Christians and made great breaches in their Squadrons Don Sebastian as ready as the Enemies shot went to every rank to fill it and also causing his Cannon to fire upon the Moors he gave 'em Bullet for Bullet disorder and fear for fear But the Moors being stronger in Artillery than the Christians did much more Execution and the Portugez's were so terrified that the King gave the Signal of the Battel to stop this disorder The Moors made a vigorous attacque upon the Vangard the Christians opposed them Courageously Don Henry at the Head of his Voluntiers made all bend under his blows that opposed his passage and relieved such of the Portugez's as were most pressed so that notwithstanding the numbers of the Moors which were greater than the Portugals those Barbarians could hardly keep for some time things in Equality But the King who impatient to see the Victory so long in suspence would constrain it to declare
in his favour quitted the left Wing where there was not yet any danger to run to the Vanguard where the Enemies fell on with the greatest sury He advanced at the Head of his Troops The Kings ardour made him be every where he Sacrified a thousand lives to the Beauty he had Consecrated his to Victory durst not remain longer doubtful at the coming up of Don Sebastian the Moors not being able to support the Valour of the Christians animated with the Example of their General gave ground at the first Shock and notwithstanding the endeavours and threatnings of their Leaders who used their utmost endeavours to make them stand to it and put incessantly new Men in the places of those who fell These Barbarians were broken three several times and put to flight to the loss of all their Colours The Duke d'Avero who Commanded the Right Wing charged the Moors Cavalry that came to Attacque him and his heart greedy of Glory made him fly to the greatest dangers and triumph in all places His Squadron in the form of a Triangle was so close and Attacqued so vigorously the Enemies Cavalry that he constrained it to retreat in disorder Mahumet who had likewise ranged himself in in this Body Attacqued Fought and Pursued his Enemies like a desperate King who chose rather to lose his life than his Crown The Duke d' Avero fought with a great deal of Valour and the desire of Conquering carried him very far amongst the Barbarians A Body of Horse coming up to Succour them he judged it convenient not to suffer himself to be environed by those Squadrons and to retire in good order with his advantage hoping these Troops would divide themselves in pursuing him and he might return to the Charge with yet more vigour and success than before Whereupon he turned back upon those who pursued him but he found them all so firm and so well united that his Squadron being weakned with its losses and wounds could no longer bear the Enemies Assaults but were constrained to retire in haste and not finding a sase place in the Army they cast themselves amongst the Cavalry and Infantry with so much disorder that it put those Troops into a Confusion which the Africans made great advantage of On the other side the Body of the Army where the Kings Standard and the Duke de Barcellos were placed made a horrible slaughter of the Moors pursued them to their Canon and those Barbarians finding the King every where fancied that all the Army was composed of Hero's or that this Hero alone composed all the Army The Duke of Barcellos accompanied the King in all places and did a hundred things worthy of his Birth and great Courage The Moors terrified and flying took refuge even in the Quarters where Moluc was who falling into an extream fury at this disorder and being resolved to repair it or die he rose from his Litter without considering that he was half dead and caused himself to be set on Horseback with a great deal of pain resolved to stay the flight of his Men by his Example or to put them to Death himself Those who were about him used all their endeavours to retain him and even seized the Reins of his Horses Bridle but his Courage making him forget his weakness the Crowd of the Runnaways and Fugitives still augmenting and the King at the Head of his Men coming pretty near that Quarter he put his hand to his Sword to disperse those who stopped him and this Effort quite consuming his Strength and Forces he fainted away and fell into the Arms of his Men and died some moments after putting his Finger between his Lips whether it was for vexation that his Men run away or to make them remember they were to conceal his Death And the Prudence of this Barbarous King so well compassed his Designs in the last moment of his Life that dying it self could not ravish from him Victory and he appeared brave and prudent even in the Arms of Death However the Renegado's who were about Moluc concealed his Death with a great deal of care insomuch as the Army of the Barbarians weakned by this accident was so far from flying after having been vigorously repulsed it recovered Forces out of its own shame The Moors Rallied with fresh Troops and returned to the Charge with more Valour than before The Vanguard where Don Sebastian made his Courage be admired gave ground at its turn and though the Christians who were in that Body had killed above two thousand of the Moors there came again fresh ones in so great multitudes that they were forced at length to yield to the numbers in that place and all the Christians who remained there having used all their Arms against the Enemies and being at length come to Ponyards lost their lives appea ring to be rather weary with Killing than Conquered All the Brave Voluntiers that Don Henry led there being dead this General was encompassed by the Moors of Andalousia and fell at length under their numbers and their fury The King received there a Musquet shot in his Right-Shoulder but not ceasing to Act for this wound tho dangerous and seeing his Vanguard was defeated without recovery he run to the Left-Wing where the Duke d' Avero after having rallied several times his Men changed Horses and Succoured those whom the Enemies pressed the most was at length killed by a Musquet shot As he was the Soul of that Body his fall put the Portuguez's to a rout Mahumet endeavoured in vain to retain them by his Example and his Voice They no longer knew any Body but the Conquerours they fell upon their Knees to the Moors instead of standing up in their own defence The King running to this disorder and being acquainted with the Dukes death who was dear to him revenged it upon all those he met with he fought amongst the Souldiers and engaged himself amongst the Moors he animated the Christians with few Words and a great many Examples and cast admiration fear and surprize amongst his Enemies by his Valour He had three Horses killed under him without being daunted and though he was already wounded he did not cease to Attacque Strike and Relieve but he could not vanquish the fury and number of his Enemies nor communicate his Courage to his Troops At length hazard conspiring with the Moors against the Portugals Fire seized the Christians Ammunition for the Compleating their Defeat and put so great disorder in all their Army that Horses Souldiers Waggons Ammunitions Arms Tents Pavillions and all the rest of the Baggage being confusedly heaped one upon another some were stifled others burnt and others cut to pieces by the Enemies The young Duke de Barcellos being fallen from his Horse in that Confusion was taken Prisoner almost all the Chief Officers were killed or put out of condition to fight by reason of their wounds The Portugals who in their flight would have taken the way of Arsilla were