with money although Balthasar de Faria Deputie of Barcellos the Pryor of Saint Steuens and the Bishop of Parma euerie one apart did offer money to such as wanted that the assembly might not be dissolued yet the Deputies vnfurnished would not accept thereof not willing to be bound in their owne proper names for that their cities were bound to furnish them Besides in this assembly the opinions were diuers few inclined to fauour the pretention of the Catholike king many knew not what to resolue a great part were affected to the Prior but all in generall feared the Gouernors mistrusted their proceedings so as besides the aduertisements they sent daily vnto them they did solicite the execution making new demaunds pressing them aboue al to discharge the soldiers They demanded a copie of the authority to gouerne left them by King Henrie the words of his will which concernes the point of succession the which were wholy deliuered vnto them his wil was made 8. moneths before cōtained these words Seeing at the time of my will making I haue no descendents directly to succeed to the Crowne of these realmes and haue called my nephewes which may pretend and haue put the matter of succession in Iustice I do not at this time declare who shall be my successor but leaue it vnto him to whom by right it shall appertaine him I doe declare my heire successor except that before my decease I shall name him that hath this interest And therefore I command all men within these my realmes of what quality soeuer that presētly after I or the iudges appointed shal haue named him to acknowledge him for heir lawful successor so to obey him There followed many other words in recōmendation of iustice religiō but they serued not to this purpose And although his wil contained these words yet they say the King at his death would haue resourmed it declared the Catholike king successour of the realme But the Gouernors desirous to hold the gouernment for a time in their own hands did diuert him saying That whether he made any declaration or not no other then the Catholike king could succeed both by law force that it was not expediēt to nominate him to the end that the realme might with greater aduantage capitulate agree with him Many supposed that they did not disswade the king from this declaration so much for these reasons as fearing it would breed som popular sedition to their hurt being held as autors of the said declaration The limitation which he had left to the Gouernors contained that they could not create Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Bishops nor Archbishops nor giue any commandery nor reuenue which passed 125. duckats But in matters of war reuolutions they might doe giue any thing with the aduise of the councel not otherwise The deputies being satisfied with these writings whilest they debated the reasons of their pretended election Stephen Lopez Doctor deputy of Portalegré spake publikely amongst them who hauing shewed how fit it were to giue God thanks for the quiet they now enioyed said it was not necessary to continue so many deputies stil together with so much trouble so great charge that they should be reduced vnto few the rest returne to their houses And for as much as they were aduertised that the Catholique King began to arme they should surcease from the cause of succession vntill the said King had dismissed his forces and the preparatiues for war he had made for by that meanes the free libertie to treat of the cause and for the pretendents to alleage their interest was taken away That by the suspension of the cause they shall discouer the Catholique Kings disposition in laying aside armes If he doe it it shall breed these good effects That in the meane time they shall haue leisure to prouide for things necessarie to gather in the fruits of the earth and the pretendents shall liue in peace and quiet if he refuse it which we ought not to beleeue of so Christian a Prince then shall they be satisfied and both the States and the pretendents vnited in one bodie may the better defend themselues and when as all things were quietly setled then to determine the cause disabling notwithstanding before all things the saide Catholique King who vsing force when as iustice is offered him for being King of these Realmes And this he said was the disposition of the lawe that in the meane time they should commaund the Pretendents to the Crowne to make their residence in diuers places the one at Elues and the other at Begia as fronter townes swearing not to attempt any thing one against the other The reasons of this Doctor as a man of small account were not followed but the councell being resolued with two others of the States to send six Deputies to Almerin to treat of matters of importance with the Gouernours Thither they sent them with instructions different from this fourme of speech videlicet that the Gouernours should passe to Saint Arem and there make their residence to take a view what armes men and munition the citie of Lisbone had for their defence to supply what wanted to take notice what Captaines be appointed in the fortresses vpon the riuer of Lisbone and being suspected or not valiant to place others with men and other necessaries That they should send armes to all cities of the Realme and traine vp their men with exercise thereof that they should beseech the Pope by his Ambassadours to perswade all the pretendents to take the course of iustice and lay aside armes vpon paine to loose the interest they pretend requiring that Emanuell de Portugal purueyor of the fortresses of the Realme might be restored to the same office whereof the King had suspended him and that they should do the like to Diego Salema and to Aluaro de Morais in their offices in the Chamber of Lisbone And for that they found themselues tobee vnfurnished they would haue all the ships vessels staied throughout all the ports of the realme for the conducting of things necessarie for the war The Gouernors made but a cold answere to these demands as they had done before to all others saying that being matters of so great importāce they would consider of them first then aduertise them what should be done The Cheriffe had as it is said before in the life of King Henrie and at the instance of the Catholique King deliuered the Duke of Barcellos who hauing passed the streight to returne into Portugall being arriued at Gibralter where as afterwardes at Saint Lucar the Duke of Medina Sidonia Lord of those places did him great honour by meanes whereof he spent sometime in sports At this time the newes comming of King Henries death the Duke of Medina thought it a matter importing the Catholique King to deteine the saide Duke of Barcellos
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
land the places were thus deuided The Italians had three coronels Prosper Colonna Vincent Caraffa and Charles Spinelli hauing for Generall Peter de Medicy brother to Frauncis the great Duke of Tuscaine with whom was sent by the saide great Duke Lewes d'Ouara whom the King had made one of his Councellers at warre Sanches d'Auila was Lord Marshall of the field There was no commaunder of the horse the Captaines being all Noblemen and men of account they could not conueniently make them subiect to any one of their companions the place requiring a man of such qualitie as he coulde not be inferior to the Duke and superior to the saide Captaines although after in time of necessitie Ferrant of Tolledo sonne to the saide Duke was made their leader Count Ierome of Lodron commaunded the Germaines Frauncis d'Allaua had his ordinarie charge as Generall of the artillerie but although the preparations were brought to this point yet the King daily protested by his ministers to the Gouernors of the inconueniences of the warre if they deliuered not the realme in peace vnto him neither did they cease to treate many things in Portugall concerning an agreement for that the King rather desired to shew his forces then to vse them to conquer by gentlenes then by rigor he offred vnto the realme many graces and priuileges deliuering him peaceable possession and the Gouernors the greatest part whereof enclined thereunto had alreadie debated with the Agents of the Catholique King what conditions the King shoulde graunt vnto the realme the which were published by the Duke of Ossuna and signed with his hand offring that the King should graunt them in giuing him the crowne and they were these That the King should take a formall oath to obserue all the customes priuileges and liberties graunted to these realmes by the Kings his predecessors That when there shall be neede to assemble the States for the affaires of Portugall it shall be done within the realme and that in no other assemblie of States whatsoeuer They shall neither propound nor resolue vpon any matter concerning these realmes That appointing a Viceroy to gouerne or any persons with what title soeuer they shall be Portugals The like is to be vnderstood in sending of a Visitor or Iudge with this condition notwithstanding for as much as concernes the authoritie of the realmes and to do them a greater fauour his maiestie and his successors may send for Viceroy or Gouernour one of the bloud royall be he sonne vncle brother cosen or nephew to the King Besides that all superior officers or inferior belonging either to iustice or to the reuenewes of the crowne shall be distributed to Portugals and not to strangers That all offices which haue beene in the times of former kings both of the court and of the realme shall be bestowed vpon the naturall borne such as shall deserue the same when as his Maiestie or his successors shall enter into the realme And the like is to be vnderstood of all other dignities of what qualitie soeuer either at sea or lande which are at this present or shall be heereafter created The garrisons which shall remaine in any forts shall be Portugals Moreouer they saide that the traffike of the Indies Ethiopia and other places appertaining to these realmes being discouered or to discouer shall not be dismembred from the same neither shall there be any other alteration made then is at this present And that the officers and their ships which shall be emploied in these traffikes shall be Portugals and shall saile in the ships of Portugall That the golde and siluer which shall be coined in these realmes and their dependancies and all that which shall come from those prouinces shall be coined with the armes of Portugall without any other addition That all Bishopricks abbeies benefices and pensions shall be giuen to Portugals And the like is to be vnderstoode of the office of Inquisitor Maior of commaunderies of the offices of militarie orders of the Priorie of Crato and finally of all other ecclesiasticall liuings as hath beene formerly spoken of the temporall He did yeelde there shoulde be no thirds exacted of ecclesiasticall goods neither subsidies nor croysades and that for any of these causes they should procure no buls That they shoulde not giue either citie towne place iurisdiction nor roiall prerogatiue to other then to Portugals And falling any vacancie of the liuings of the crowne his Maiestie nor his successors should not reteine them for themselues but giue them to the kinseman of him that did enioy him or to other Portugals that shall deserue them Prouided alwaies that the Castillians and strangers which now liue in these realmes and haue beene seruitors to the Kings deceased shall not be excluded That in militarie orders nothing shal be altered of the state it now stands in That gentlemen shall be paide their pensions amounting to twelue yeeres and that his Maiestie and his successors shall yeerely entertaine into his seruice two hundreth Portugals to whom he shal giue that paie which they call Moradia and those which haue no title of gentlemen shall serue in the warres of the realme That when his Maiestie or his successors shall come into those realmes they shall not take vp their lodgings as they vse in Castill but shall obserue the custome of Portugall Moreouer his Maiestie in what place soeuer he shall be shall carrie with him a man of the Church a Superintendent of the reuenewes of the crowne a high Chauncellor and two Disambarcadours of the court which iointly shall be called the Councell of Portugall by whose meanes all matters shall be dispatched with them shall go to clarkes of the reuenewes and two of the chamber for all occasions incident two their charge all shall bee written in the Portugall toong and all shall be Portugals And when his Maiestie or his successors shall come into Portugall he shall retaine the saide Councell and officers which shall be vnited to such as shall treate of the gouernment of the realme That all correctors and other officers of iustice with all other inferior offices shall in the Kings absence be disposed of in the realme as they be at this present the like shall be vnderstood of the officers of purueyors auditors of the reckonings and others of the like qualitie concerning the reuenewes of the crowne He declared likewise that all causes and charges appertaining to iustice of what qualitie or summe soeuer should be definitiuely ended and executed in these realmes as they be at this present That his Maiestie and his successors shall entertaine a chappell in manner and forme as the kings of these realmes haue formerly done the which shall be resident at Lisbone that the diuine seruice may be continually celebrated with the accustomed ceremonies except the Kings person or in his absence the Viceroy or gouernour shall make his residence in some other part of the realme and woulde haue there the saide chappell remaine
discouering their intention said it was fit they should all stay at Saint Arem so as fearing to giue greater cause to suspect they coulde not depart They added moreouer that leauing the Prior there with the deputies in a time when as the Catholique king should begin to take armes they might in their absence vnder colour of defence erect a tyrannie So as ignorant what course to take or how to redresse things they did being friends by their irresolution more hurt to the Catholique king then they coulde haue done being enimies for the king hoping these woulde haue deliuered him the crowne proceeded slowly with his armie At that time it chanced that Iohn Gonzalez de Camera Earle of Caglietta died of the plague at Almeryn so as the Gouernors tooke this occasion to depart from thence and went to Settuual with the Duke of Bragance the Agents of the Catholique King and others of their faction for hauing created captaines placed a garrison they cōmanded the gates to be guarded The Catholique King hauing assembled his armie neere to Badagios receiued aduertisement that his nauie was at Saint Marie porte ready to set saile before they should enter into Portugall not yet well satisfied with the diligence he had vsed as it is saide with many Diuines desired to consult againe in the Vniuersitie of Alcala where the profession of Diuinitie flourisheth most in those realmes vpon his entrie in armes into the realme and the proposition made by the Portugall Embassadors And to that effect hauing assembled all the doctors being in number aboue thirtie hauing made their praiers and supplications vnto God in their sacrifices and the matter considered by euery one apart it was disputed of in three sessions For although the matter were not hard to decide yet was it graue and new All without any disagreement concurre in opinion with the first with whom the King had consulted without viewing of their reasons they sent a publike decree vnto the King There was propounded vnto them three articles I he first that the King being certaine to succeed by right after the death of King Henry to the realmes of Portugall whether he were in conscience bound to submit himselfe to any tribunall iudge or arbitrator who might adiudge him the realmes or put him in possession thereof The second was that the realme of Portugall refusing to acknowledge him for their Prince vnlesse he woulde first stande to iudgement with the pretendents Whether he may of his owne authoritie take possession thereof by force against such as shall make resistance presupposing that there is no doubt or scruple of conscience in his title whatsoeuer The thirde was that the Gouernours of Portugall alleaging that they and the whole realme haue sworne not to receiue any for King but him that shoulde be iudicially so declared and that they may not receiue the King otherwise the rather for that the pretendents complaine and offer to stande to iudgement He desired to know if the saide Gouernors and the whole realme may pretend this oath for an excuse not to receiue him for King To the first they answered that the King was not bound in conscience to submit himselfe to any Iustice or arbitrement seeing that he had of himseife priuate authoritie to adiudge vnto himselfe those realmes and to take possession They excluded especially from this authoritie of iudging all Princes and such as might pretend to take any knowledge thereof And first humblie saluting the Pope and the Apostolike sea they denied that this iurisdiction did appertaine vnto him the cause being meerelie temporall and nothing concurring where by his holines should vse that indirect authoritie which he hath in temporall causes so farre foorth as they concerne the spirituall good They shewed he was not bounde to the censure of the Emperour for that the Kings of Spaine were soueraignes not acknowledging the Emperour in any thing and much lesse to any other King They prooued he was not subiect to the common-wealth nor the realmes of Portugul saying That when as common wealthes doe choose their first King vpon condition to obey him and his successors they remaine subiect vnto him to whom they haue transferred their authoritie no iurisdiction remaining in them either to iudge the realme or the true successor seeing in the first election all the true successors were chosen Being therefore most apparant there is a true successour it followeth that the common wealth of Portugall hath no iurisdiction to iudge of him that doth truely succeede and that the King hath as great a warrant not to be subiect to the censure of this common wealth as he hath to be true successour And as touching the eleuen persons of the fower and twentie which King Henry had named they saide that Henry himselfe coulde not be iudge of him that did succeede after him for that after his death the office of administring iustice was expired and all his authoritie and iurisdiction past vnto his lawfull successor Against arbitrators they spake little onely that the bond of cōpremise had no place when as the equitie of the cause was not doubtfull as it was supposed They answered them which saide that the King had no interest to the realme of Portugall as King of Castill but as kinseman to King Henry by reason whereof he coulde not in this case challenge the preheminence he hath as King of Castill saying that this imaginarie diuision cannot bee made in the person of the King for it is so annexed to the dignitie royall that his person cannot be wronged but the dignitie woulde suffer And seeing the Prince may lawfully make war vpon an other Realme for iniuries done to his brothers and friends confederats with greater reason may he do it in taking possession of a Realme which appertaines lawfully vnto himselfe They made answer to such as said that obseruing the ciuill canon law a matter litigious should be iudged where it happeneth and therfore this shoulde bee decided in Portugall saying that these decisions speake of particular persons who haue their superiour Iudges and not of soueraigne Princes and their dependancies To the seconde article they answered with more reasons then vnto the first saying the King was not bound to any thing but to signifie vnto the Gouernours his Title and certaine interest to the Crowne and if notwithstanding this demonstration they should make resistance then the King by his owne authoritie might take possession of the Realme vsing if neede required force of armes for that in this action it can not bee termed force but a naturall defence of the Realme which is his owne and a iust punishment of Rebels To the third they said that this oath could not binde them that had vndertaken to obserue it seeing it is most certaine that neither in Portugall nor else where any iudge may determine this cause with the King Moreouer that this oath is to the preiudice of his prerogatiue royall and as this oath did not
was ended He procured that the assemblie of Deputies for this effect shoulde not be called estates to the ende hee might take away all occasion of demaunding new things or to redemaund those which had beene required in the former estates and not graunted and therefore hee had contrarie to the custome sent into all places briefes of the procurations the Deputies should bring with them so drawne as they should not extend further then the swearing of the Prince and although it were so executed yet the estates did not forbeare especially he that was for the Deputies of the realme to reuiue the demaunds made at the estates helde at Tomar with some others and especially that it woulde please his Maiestie to shewe magnanimitie and clemencie in giuing a generall pardon to all such as were culpable of Anthonies offence saying it shoulde greatly profite and do little harme But whatsoeuer the cause was he neither satisfied them in this point nor in any other of importance He dispatched some Portugals which sought reward for although hee had giuen vnto many yet were they not content But notwithstanding all this care and diligence whether it were his faulte or his ministers or else the disposition of the suters or of all togither there remained many of them discontented part of them for that they were not recompenced and others for that they did not seeme to be recompenced according to their merits The Duke of Bragance at the assembly of the estates hoped to haue receiued recompence from the King which he supposed to haue deserued for although hee were rewarded yet was it not according to his expectation for aspiring to greater offices greater authoritie then he had it seemed the Kings wil was therein directly contrarie so as for that the recompences were small in regard of the greatnes of his hope they were not published but hee was suffered to replie that they might be after specified The Marques of Villa Real receiued likewise no contentment to his liking so as both remained ill satisfied and the Duke leauing the Court being long before sicke died soone after although the Portugals say that the griefe he conceiued of the weake recompence hee receiued from Philip hastened his daies The King at the time of his departure reformed the state of iustice publishing many newe lawes suffering the Portugals to attire themselues more freely with silke then other kings had done He made Cardinall Albert Archduke of Austria gouernour of the realme in his absence leauing him notwithstanding accompanied with three counsellors that is George d'Almada Archbishop of Lisbone Peter d'Ascasoua and Michael de Mora who was Secretorie of the realme newly created Notarie which they call of the puritie so great a charge as yet had neuer beene giuen but to the chiefest personages of the realme whereunto since the time of King Iohn the third that Michael de Silua Bishop of Viseu who was after Cardinall went to Rome in disgrace there was neuer any aduanced The King gaue procuration to the said Cardinall causing him to take an oath in the presence of the councell of State and of the magistrate of the Chamber of Lisbone to gouerne with iustice and to resigne him the realme at his returne The Empresse his sister who was to goe into Castill visiting first the Nunnes of the monasterie of Santos who may lawfully marrie she tooke foorth and carried with her Iulian d' Allan castro of the age of thirteene yeeres who by the decease of Maudlyn Girone her mother remained Dutchesse of Auero The Portugals were much grieued with this acte for although she said the King woulde prouide she should not marrie but with his liking yet notwithstanding she seemed to be rauished and manie feared that he woulde not marrie her in Castill When these things were ended the king departed the eleuenth of Februarie in the yeere 1583. the which greatly displeased the quiet and did glad the seditious for those feared least there shoulde grow some controuersie betwixt the people and the garrisons that the soldiers ill paied woulde mutine and that the Cardinals authoritie was not of such force as the kings presence to redresse it and contrariwise the rest hoped that the kings absence the small affection the people bare vnto them the oppression of the garrison and the great dearth woulde in the spring considering principally the army which was prepared in Fraunce minister matter of alteration although it now seemed that things succeeded in fauour of the kings intention hauing intelligence that in Flaunders the Duke of Alonçon seeking to assure himselfe of the citie of Anwerp wherein he was as Lord and Protector hauing his armie lodged thereabouts it had not succeeded for forcing of a gate and hauing drawne in three thousand French they were by the great valour of the Citizens repulsed and the one halfe slaine so as it seemed the Flemmings would no more trust the Duke but compound with the King Such Portugals as had receiued no answere to their demaunds doubted of all dispatch in the Kings absence but this feare was qualified by the opinion which they had conceiued that the Cardinall remaining gouernour they should be no lesse fauored by him then they had beene by the King himselfe albeit this hope soone vanished after the Kings departure for the Cardinall did not onely forbeare to vse the authoritie which hee seemed to haue left him but hee refused to signe the commaundements or other writings which concerned the affaires of the realme And although some beleeued that he had forborne to do it for that the king was yet vpon the way and not out of the realme vpon a respect of soueraigntie yet they were deceiued for the King being out of the realme he did not signe the which bred a great disdaine in the Portugals who pretended to holde the realme distinguished from that of Castill it seemed that this manner of gouernment which the king vsed from Madrill was a more strict vnion then they desired besides the troubles of their expeditions for the distance of the court And this disdaine was much augmented for that the king had placed in the councell of the reuenewes of the crowne which they terme d'Hazenda two counsellors Castillians of nation a doctor a merchant saying that it was vnseemely against their priuileges THE TENTH BOOKE The Contents of the tenth Booke In this last Booke is contained the death of Sanches d'Auila The sacke of the Ilands of Cape Vert The carriage of Emanuel de Silua Gouernour of the Terceres The preparatiō of king Philip to force the said Ilands The succours sent thither from Fraunce The fortification and the garrison The departure of the armie from Lisbone The description of the Iland of Terceres The arriuall there of the Spanish armie The assault skirmishes and taking of the Iland The yeelding of the French The taking of the Iland of Fayale and the obedience of all the rest How that Emanuel de Silua
to make the preparatiues for the war hee did suspend him from all his offices and proceeded against him by way of Iustice And although all his faults were restrained to this onely to haue counselled or at least not disswaded the king from the warre of Affricke yet his processe being verified he suffered condemnation by the Iudges to loose all his offices priuiledges and recompences which had beene giuen him in the end of Sebastians life It preuailed not for his iustification to alleage that if the Cardinall himselfe did not perswade the enterprise yet at the least he did consent vnto it and approoue it which fault was greater in him then in any other that his perswasions shoulde be of more importance with the king then all mens seeing that for the preheminence of his place he alone might speake cleerely and force him which others could not doe fearing as subiects and with reason the indignation of a yoong king the which they say he ought not to haue feared both for his qualitie and his age which should neither yeeld to feare nor hope He tooke the same course against Lewes de Silua and many others that came out of Affrick whereby it was apparent the King knew not absolutely how to vse clemencie nor wrath for neither did he pardon as a man of the Church nor reuenge as a displeased Prince This bredde an alteration in all the affaires of the Realme neither was it sufficient that such as were aduanced to these newe offices were men without experience who by their ignorance did mightily trouble such as did treate with them but for that we easily encline to the woorst some of them vnder colour to seeme affectionate seruants to their king not onely prouided for that which passed their charge but examined the actions of their predecessors finding therein a thousand cauils and preferring the appearance of the kings profite before iustice they disannulled conuentions and lawes to the great trouble and damage of many and small honour to themselues and then did they seeme to doe best iustice when they did molest most such as Sebastian had fauoured and wrought quite contrarie to that which had beene formerly done Notwithstanding if any thing were done by them that was absolutely good it was the disannulling of the impost of salt which Sebastian had imposed Whilest these things passed in Portugall the Catholique King hauing sent Christopher de Mora thither Peter de Venegas into Affrick he perfourmed the funerals of Sebastian in the Church of Saint Ierome at Madrill although it was secretly muttered that the Duke of Alua shoulde say the King shoulde haue perfourmed it in Portugall in our Ladies Church of Belem where the other Kings are accustomed to be interred inferring it may be that Philip was successour to Sebastian or at the least shoulde assure himselfe by force of the succession after Henry causing himselfe to be sworne Prince The report of the Dukes words did greatly mooue Ferrant de Silua Embassadour for Portugall and all the Portugals being a speech that did pearce their harts proceeding from a person whom they helde enimie to their nation for the olde grudges betwixt him and Ruigomes de Silua a naturall Portugall in great credite with Philip besides that being a principall man of account they feared least he spake it with participation of the Kinges minde and tooke it as a declaration of his meaning In this time they spake diuersly of these affaires For although amongst the Castillians the Duke himselfe and one or two other principall persons had this consideration yet in generall they did not beleeue it neither had they considered that Philip shoulde inherite this Realme but they supposed it did of right appertaine to the sonne of the Duke of Parma But the Portugals who had better considered thereof and whose lawes were more in fauour of Philip then those of Castill were amongst themselues better resolued neither was the Catholique King long vnsatisfied hauing both in his owne Countries in Portugall and other places caused learned men diligently to examine who was by right equitie the true successour of this Realme he began now to conceiue that after Henry the succession appertained vnto himselfe And nowe he founde that it was not onely the generall opinion of the Doctors but some amongst them yea of the Portugals thēselues did maintaine that the King did preceade the Cardinal and that these Realmes did appertaine to the Crowne of Castill They alleaged but with the authoritie of fewe Doctors that the lawes of Portugall and the Ciuill likewise ordaine that in case of Realmes the inheritance shall goe to the neerest kinsemen of the last possessour prouided alwaies that he be issued from the same stocke That Sebastian being the last the Catholique King was the neerest kinseman he had and of the same race for besides that he was the eldest of the Nephewes of King Emanuel he was brother to the Kings mother deceased and preceaded the Cardinall a degree being brother to his grandfather They did likewise renewe the auncient pretention of the Castillians saying that by right the Realme appertained vnto them for that King Alphonse the sixth coulde not by generall consent nor with any reason disunite it from the Crowne neither Alphonse the tenth giue the Algarues to his daughter in dowry nor free it of the tribute whereunto it was bounde And although this last pretention to preceade Henry seemed to the King and his ministers of force yet he resolued onely to follow the first and to succeede the Cardinall for desiring to enioy the Realme with peace Henry being already proclaimed king with the consent of the people he supposed he coulde not without offence or without forces take possession thereof besides the respect he bare vnto his vncle and the hope of his short life Heere may be noted the hazard if we may so tearme it whereunto the King if he had interest by his affinitie did thrust his heires by the concealing of his right fearing to offende that nation For besides that during the life of Henry the Portugals shoulde haue leisure to prepare against him if they were not disposed to yeelde to his subiection and if he shoulde die before the Cardinall his successors were excluded from this great inheritance and Emanuel Phillibert Duke of Sauoy did preceade all the rest While these things were consulting in Castill the King of Portugall somewhat setled in his Throne and the heate of his first inclination tempered all the States of the Realme entreated him to prouide that before his death a successor were declared that after his decease they might not liue in suspence And therefore the Magistrate of the Chamber of Lisbone being superior to all others of the Realme made great instance vpon this point and one day all the officers being assembled they went to courte where one of them in the name of the rest spake thus vnto the King Your Highnes shall vnderstande with how
but of the great desire he had to be assured of this Realme wherein he did surmount his owne nature and the custome of the Spanish nation who by their long delaies doe often faile in their enterprises The galleies and ships which had transported these men went to Saint Marie Porte where the whole nauie by sea should assemble Henry was still discontented with Anthony who notwithstanding the Kings late commandement not to approch within a hundreth miles of the Court wandered from place to place drawing the peoples harts vnto him The King was desirous to finde some meanes to punish him with a more rigorous sentence But the Prior when as the cause of his legitimation was in question before the King by vertue of his holines briefe mistrusting what hapned had by the counsell of Alexander Formento then the Popes Nuncio in the Realme sent to Rome complaining vnto the Pope of the hatred his vncle did vniustly beare him beseeching him to reuoke the cause vnto himselfe and to be the onely iudge thereof for that the King was suspect vnto him By reason whereof the Pope saying that his first intention was not to make Henry absolute iudge to giue sentence inclusiue he write vnto him by an other briefe with defence not to proceede in the cause for the which he appointed as newe iudges the said Nuncio George de Almada archbishop of Lisbone but not with authoritie to giue sentence but after due information of the processe to sende it to Rome This briefe was sent to the Nuncio that he might deliuer it vnto the King the which he did by an apostolike Notarie fearing he should haue refused it Henry was greatly mooued that the Pope had reuoked the cause vnto himselfe both for that the execution of the sentence did import as also imagining he was wronged by taking the cause out of his handes whereof before he had made him iudge So as greatly discontented with the Pope and his choler encreasing against his Nephew he woulde now vse his roiall authoritie and leauing to proceede as the Popes substitute he began as King to proceed against the Prior. And although the Nuncio it may be by the Popes commandement or rather by his own inclination was fauourable vnto him shewing himselfe very opposite to the Catholique King yet Henry left not daily yet coldly to continue the cause of the succession for hauing cited him to courte and he not daring appeere he caused his edicts and proclamations to be set vpon the pallace gate whereby he was cited to appeere within twelue daies The Prior who had soone a copie of this edict from his agents was greatly displeased to see the course the King held against him yet durst he not appeere fearing if he fell into the kings hands the hatred he did beare him woulde drawe him to some strange conclusion he resolued therefore to absent himselfe labouring to appease his wrath by letters which he did write vnto him complaining of the manner of his proceedings in his behalfe striuing to make knowne his better deseruing He saide that he ioyed in his afflictions calling him in his edicts Nephew as indeed he was and sonne to that his brother to whom this Crowne hauing so great a bond he did not beleeue he should so sonne forget it although his ill deseruings had bin greater then his fathers merits He remembred the respect the King himselfe and his predecessors had vnto his father and the amasement they should haue to see him thus by him vniustly persecuted He did not attribute the blame of the kings inclination to the king himselfe but to the sinnes of the Realme and to the ill disposition of some fauorites shewing on the one side that he bare with patience what it shoulde please God to impose and on the other side complained of his vncle that he did execute against him the passions of priuate men And forasmuch as when he returned from prison out of Affrick some had giuen out that he had fledde from the battaile and was not taken prisoner he touched likewise this point lamenting to be so slaundered He complained of the King saying that to the ende no man shoulde haue compassion on him he was forced to leaue the Court by night hauing only had some speech of his legitimation shewing he was not woorthie of any brotherly reprehension He did aggrauate his banishment with no small preiudice to his credite at such a time as his competitors were fauoured inuironed with their kinsemen and demaunded iustice face to face He alleaged that his holines briefe which the king had obtained against him was ignominious and full of discurtesies nothing agreeing to the honor of his father And although he had obtained an other contrary thereunto whereby his holines had reuoked to himselfe the knowledge of the cause yet was he resolued not to alter any thing but to passe his daies in miserie and sorrow whilest the euill deserued passion of the king shoulde continue He lamented to haue beene forced to giue in his proofes within two daies much more time being granted to any other that pretended and that they had giuen no answere to many things he demanded He complained grieuously of the sentence and commandement to apprehend him for subornation of false witnesses the which he denied although he saide that in the kings publike seate of iustice such as had produced false witnesses were not greatly punished He seemed to be greatly greeued to be called disobedient a troubler of the publike quiet of the realmes excusing himselfe with most vehement wordes He lamented that the Realme was ruined which his predecessors had woone defended and maintained He made no mention of appearance but saide it was lawfull for him as to theeues to hide himselfe and flie the face of iustice adding that if the faults wherewith hee is charged were such as the lawes of the Realme command the Church to redresse for that he hath no sure accesse it woulde please his highnes to graunt that Crato shoulde serue as his sanctuarie And although if his sinnes so required that being Nephew to the king the first person of the Realme his humble and obedient vassall it coulde not mollifie his vncles hart he woulde craue at Gods hands remedies for his afflictions He required with humilitie that it might be lawfull for him to appeale from his edicts vnto the king himselfe better instructed demaunding copies thereof to contradict them concluding that if it might not be graunted yet at the least his letter might be annexed to the proces for if due respect would haue suffred him he woulde haue caused it to be set vp in the same place of the edicts for the discharge of his honor and to make knowne to the worlde that he was vassal nephew faithful seruant vnto the king This letter did nothing mooue the kings hart but wrought the same effect with his choler as a little water doth to a great fire For being more
lost his head and many others put to death And the returne of the armie to Andelouzia THE estate of the Realme after the Kings departure remained all that winter quiet and although the people had their mindes yet disquieted and some of the nobilitie not fully satisfied hauing left the kings court and the Cardinals likewise retyred themselues to their castles and houses yet no man durst shew any discontent The greatest part although they loued peace and desired the tranquillitie of the Realme yet were they in their hearts contented to see the Terceres make resistance and continue in the deuotion of Anthonie and the French supposing that whilest the King had any warres he would entreat them better and beare them more respect then they thought hee should doe if all were pacified neither preuailed it that the Portugalles were made much of in Castile and admitted neere the King as they had woonte to bee when hee was in Portugall nor yet that the saide King had it may bee to make the present gouernement conformeable to that was passed obtained from the Pope the authoritie of the Legate for the Cardinall euen as Henry enioied it the which bredde a great benefite to the realme for as it hapneth to passionate mindes they were not remooued from their opinion for the Cardinall being made Legate for two yeeres onely they feared that the time being expired they woulde take an occasion to recall him into Castill and so the Realme should be reduced into a prouince and that the king remaining at Madrill shoulde gouerne it At that time Sanches d'Auila died being stroke with a horse for that leauing chirurgerie he woulde be cured by a soldier with certaine blessings the which caused the Castillians to mourne for although he were but marshall generall of the fielde yet remaining after the death of the Duke of Alua of greatest knowledge amongst the Spaniards in the arte of warre there was not any man neere the Duke of Gandia of so great experience Hee was a man without feare and happie in warre esteemed by the Duke of Alua aboue all the soldiers of his time but this life which he had vnto his olde age so happily aduentured at the cannons mouth was nowe taken away by death vpon a small mischance In Fraunce it seemed that all the French were turned vnto the affaires of Flaunders affecting them more then Portugall and although there were an intent at the Priors instance to set foorth some ships of warre yet founde they therein coldenes and want of money whereby it appeered that whereas they attempted something it should not be to offend but rather to prouide for defence And although they had now intelligence that certaine French ships guided by the Portugals and especially by one Emanuel Serradas had inuaded the Ilands of Cape Vert and spoiled some part of them yet they made no account thereof vnderstanding they were but small barkes of pirates At the Terceres Emanuel de Silua was still gouernour who shewed himselfe an obstinate enimie to the Catholique King a faithfull minister to the Prior and a cruell persecutor of the Philippines Notwithstanding ill disposed of small iudgment and little experience With these his qualities he afflicted the poore people in diuers manners for the meanes which he inuented to borrow money to molest and condemne many persons were insupportable The pride arrogancie whereunto he was growen as it hapneth often in him that is not accustomed to commaund made him seeme inuincible and immortall the wrongs he committed were so infinite that iustice had lost her place the libertie his friendes and seruants tooke vpon them was without restraint the subiection and seruitude of those that did not flatter him was such as the slaues were more free I leaue the executions he committed vpon such as would haue compounded with the Catholique king and coulde not conceale their mindes for vsing many stratagemes to discouer their affections wherein as he founde any one lesse obstinate then himselfe hee was miserable being cruelly punished both in body and goods And for this occasion he caused manie to be slaine betraied by one Amador Vieira who hauing beene secretlie sent into this Iland by King Philip to continue his followers in their fidelitie to sounde the disposition of the people and to drawe all he coulde to his deuotion after he had wel executed his charge he reuealed vnto Silua such as had discouered themselues by whom they were miserablie afflicted And as tyrannie taught him he daily made newe ordinances and lawes in the name of Anthony the officers and ministers of iustice in the citie which were vsually chosen by voices he alone woulde haue the naming of them He was not onely contented to obserue those lawes which treated of high treason but also made a new lawe more seuere that such as did but talke of that matter shoulde suffer death and that such witnesses should serue although lesse in number then the auncient lawes had ordained He would haue the sentences in such cases registred by the Magistrate of the citie for a perpetuall memorie to all to terrifie and tyrannize the more There was within the Iland little aboue seauen hundreth French soldiers one onely company of English and about three thousand Portugals it was fortified on all partes where they might lande with aboue thirtie fortes and many trenches made with such arte and diligence as it seemed impossible to enter if they were guarded And although these thinges with the other qualities of the place made it vneasie to force yet Silua iudged it stronger then it was and did trust as a man of no experience more in the defenders then was conuenient In the meane time they prepared an armie for sea at Lisbone and assembled the Spanish soldiers to imploy them against this Iland vnder the command of the Marques of Saint a Croix being more in number both in ships and men then the yeere before besides there was speech to sende fowre galliasses and twelue galleies for which cause they shortned their yardes prouiding square sailes and of a thirde maste which they call the meane In Spaine there were diuers opinions concerning this armie making diuers discourses thereon both by worde and writing Such as were not to be imploied in this action to whom no part of the honour or praise did belong made it easie saying that the people were alreadie so wearied poore and oppressed by the garrisons as the armie should no sooner appeere but they woulde bee at the Kings deuotion And the cause why they did no sooner yeeld was the subiection wherein they were held and although they neither would nor coulde come to composition yet were they easie to force for the citie of Angra and all other places being dismantled and weake they had no other defence then the landing the which they supposed were impossible to hinder proouing by ancient and latter examples that in warre there was no meanes to stoppe