his disfauour retaining still the right of armes by reason whereof in this suspence he forbare still to giue the Nuncio his answere vntill that being better assured of the disposition of Henry he made answere that his interest being so apparant and the King so well enclined there needed not any mediation the which if it were requisite he woulde accept of this office of the good zeale of his holines The indisposition of Henry and the disquietnes of his minde did much afflict him so as he resembled a lampe neere extinct the which sometimes yeelds a great light sometimes seemes quite out They feared he shoulde die of an accident which hapned and therefore his Counsell thought good not to attende his death for the declaration of the Gouernours but to put them as it were in possession the which was partly executed For the King being halfe dead they brought vnto him the coffer wherein the Rowle was kept with the names of the Gouernours in the great Church of Lisbone and hauing opened it they founde them to be George Dalmeda archbishop of Lisbone Frauncis de Sada first groome of the Kings chamber Iean Tello Iean Mascaregnas and Diego Lopez de Sosa President of the Counsell of Iustice of the citie who tooke their oathes to gouerne according to the lawes of the Realme and to the limited commission which Henry had particularly set downe This diligence bredde aswell in the peoples mindes as in the Catholique Kings a iealousie of the kings death and the rather for that two daies before they woulde not suffer any to see him supposing they woulde keepe it secret vntill they had taken counsell put the Gouernours in possession and prepared for defence And although it were presently knowne that the King was yet liuing and so amended that he had almost recouered his former health yet the generall opinion being that he coulde not liue long all mens mindes were in suspence in this Realme THE FOVRTH BOOKE The Contents of the fourth Booke The Castillians and Portugals discourse vpon the state of Portugall the vehemencie of the plague the estate of Almerin the death of King Henry the Regency of the Gouernours the practise of Anthonie to be chosen King the Testament of Henry the diligence of the Catholique King to vnderstande if he might with a safe conscience make warre the election of the Duke of Alua as generall of the enterprise and the priuileges the Catholique King offered if they woulde deliuer him the Realme THe Catholique King in the meane time kept his armie togither in Spaine with greater paines and more charge then he had done else where for the countrey being not greatly fertile he was enforced to fetch victuals from other parts being then about the ende of Nouember 1579. there was then no assuraunce of things whereby they might either dismisse their armie or imploy it For although king Henry was yet liuing and well affected yet the Portugals being most obstinate against the Castillians he desired not to liue any longer doubtfull of the succession as well for the charge as for the euent and therefore he ceased not continually to importune Henry to declare him Successor obiecting many reasons why he was bound to do it and propounding many inconueniences which woulde follow not doing it the which was spoken in doubtfull tearmes whereby it seemed he woulde make the equitie of his cause apparant by force And although this entreatie seemed somewhat to threaten yet did it nothing displease Henry suffering it expresly to bee published that the people might beleeue he was forced to this declaration The whole Realme was discontented to see Henry dying the Catholique King armed and the small remainder of time spent in matters of light importance whereof their discourses and opinions were as diuers as they were different in passions The Priors partisans being in a manner all of base qualitie hauing their reason darkned and not setled in opinion saide that he was legitimate and that the Crowne appertained vnto him but that the king of his absolute authoritie hating him woulde depriue him and that all his fauorites did concurre in this resolution For the King hauing alwaies persecuted Anthony by their aduise they feared that he comming to raigne woulde take such reuenge as they deserued and therefore preferring their owne securitie before the libertie of their countrey they woulde take the Realme from him and giue it to a stranger Many others alleaged that although hee were a bastard yet they ought to giue him the Realme being the neerest allied of the bloud royall Others in whom hatred to their neighbours preuailed more then any other inclination saide that whosoeuer had interest to the Realme yet shoulde they by no meanes giue it to the Catholique King but rather come to armes vaunting themselues to be valiant They added moreouer that they woulde demaund aide from Fraunce and England whereof they were assured and hauing them they doubted not to seate a King at their pleasures There were some yet fewe but of iudgement who comparing the forces of Portugall with Castill founde they coulde not flie the yoke of the Catholique King and although with great griefe yet they hoped it might prooue a gentle amitie and that these Realmes vnited togither Portugall might reape great profit by the commerce traffique Many spake after their owne humors saying that Anthony leauing the habite of Saint Iean shoulde marrie with the daughter of the Duke of Bragance and being vnited togither they needed not to feare Others gaue out that the Catholique King woulde be contented to giue his seconde sonne to the Portugals for their king to be brought vp amongst them the which they shoulde accept for were it whosoeuer it were sufficient to haue a King alone And some say that Henry laboured to effect this but Philip soone resolued him saying that he coulde not do it but to preiudice the Prince his eldest sonne fearing by this meanes to leaue a seminarie of diuision in Spaine betwixt his descendents The perswasion of the Catholique Kings Agents with the Nobility were of great effect by reason whereof there were few Gentlemen amidst this diuersitie of opinion but either did willingly encline to the said King or corrupted held their peace and retired themselues from Court auoiding all occasion to declare themselues Of the fiue Gouernours chosen three were drawne to the Catholique Kings deuotion and although we should not be amazed to see the common people who by custome inconstant and without iudgement holde the woorser part yet did it breed a woonder in many that the Portugals in generall euery one according to his qualitie framed in their mindes a resolution contrarie to that which by reason they ought to haue done in a matter of so great importance in the which they should haue taken greater consideration For that some discoursed without passion that the Nobilitie accustomed to be respected of the King shoulde flie the obedience of the Catholique King being
credible that Philip according to his custome woulde with lawes and his power keepe them vnder and contrariwise that the people shoulde embrace him whom he doth equally fauour yeelding them equall iustice And yet notwithstanding the greater part followed the contrarie for the Nobilitie did embrace Philip and the people fled him For satisfaction whereof and to reclaime them from the opinion they held the Agents of the Catholique King were desirous besides the diligence they had vsed to publish throughout the Realme the Kings title and the mildenes of his yoke seeming not sufficient for the content of the common people to haue priuately imparted it to many Their aduersaries amongst the which was the magistrate of the Chamber of Lisbone woulde willingly haue taken occasion to publish vnto the worlde their contrarie reasons whereon they grounded but it was not tolerated neither for the one nor the other to speake publikely in the assemblies of the people for besides that it was prohibited euery one durst not freely discouer his intention For this occasion diuers fell to write the grounds of their partie by discourse and letters And although writings breede not so firme an impression in the minde as the voice yet their discourse published did perswade with greater efficacie then they had done by speaking for that writings came to the hands of more men then wordes could haue done where reading and examining them they wrought great effects There were many of these letters seene without authors and although some were friuolous and without sense yet the better sorte which followed the Catholique kings partie tended to satisfie the people and to terrifie the motiues thereof by the greatnes of the action and the perill of warre They did particularly touch one after another the reasons of the pretendents and refuting them all shewed that the Catholique King did precead They made no small adoo about the processe of Anthony saying that he was a bastard although he had beene declared legitimate and to precead Philip yet shoulde they neuer satisfie the worlde but they woulde surmise some cosinage deuised to take the Crowne from him who ought to enioy it They disprooued the reasons of such as maintained the election of the King to be in the people hauing a lawfull successor bringing in examples of the Popes authoritie in the nomination of Kings as well of Alphonso the first as of the Earle of Bulloigne And if Iohn the first were chosen king it was after a battaile woone the Portugals affirming there were no lawfull successors but bastards illegitimate but by their owne reason they said it was apparant there was now no question of the election seeing there remained a lawful kinseman They laboured to make knowne that God hauing called vnto him two and twentie successors which did all precead the Catholique king that his pleasure was by vniting of Portugall to the Realmes of Castill to fortifie an arme of the Church to resist all the outragious attempts of infidels and heretikes But leauing the iustice and will of God aside they discoursed examining the honors and blames the losses and profits which by the one or other meanes might happen as for honor they shoulde not take for any disgrace and obedience which fell by lawfull succession alleaging that the States of Castill when as king Emanuell did inherite being strong enough to defende themselues if they woulde receiued him curteously And when as the Archduke of Austria although a Germaine did succeed him they did the like They mocked at such as said that Castill should be vnited to Portugall but not Portugal to Castill proouing that no Portugall euer came neere this Court but he was embraced greatlie honoured many of the principall houses of Castill being issued from Portugall They did contradict with liuely reasons such as feared to be oppressed like to the estates of Flaunders Naples and Millaine saying that in Flaunders they had alwaies vsed the people with great kindnes that they had beene gouerned by their owne nation that the Spaniards had no charge there That many of the principall had rebelled against the church of Rome against their king the which he woulde not suffer that in this enterprise more for that which concerned the good of the Church then for any other respect the King had spent 50. millions of gold and that hauing for enimies both Germany Flaunders England they could not take these countries from the Kings possession but hauing meanes graunting free libertie of Religion to be absolute Lord and to reape thereby great profit he would not accept thereof onely for the remorse of his conscience preferring the seruice of God before all other respects They saide that the Neapolitanes and Millanoyes had beene conquered by force weake of themselues and enuironed with enimies that they were not burdened neither coulde he do lesse then maintaine garrisons inferring thereby that if they were peaceably inherited they shoulde haue libertie like good and faithfull subiects and maintaine with more force that which their fathers had gotten without feare of any thing whatsoeuer but if they suffered themselues to be conquered by armes they should be Neapolitanes Millanoyes and possiblie woorse They commended the Portugals as faithfull obedient and indued with commendable parts blaming the basenes of such as were not ashamed to thinke they coulde be ill intreated of any prince whatsoeuer They said that since Philip was resolute and that hee had written to the cities of the Realme the assurance of his action seeing that in fourteene yeeres hee had neuer abandoned the enterprise in Flaunders being farre off hauing so many kings opposite and the Flemmings suing to be subiect vnder iust conditions that it is not credible he woulde desist from Portugall being so neare so weake without succours and hauing so great an interest they reported with ioy the deeds of the Spaniards saying that when as Spaine takes armes he doth imprison the king of Fraunce and the greatest of Germanie makes the Turke to turne his backe takes from him Malta dissolues his armies maintaines continually in Flaunders an armie sounde and lustie breaking and dispersing his enimies and yet the Noblemen of Spaine remaine quietly in their houses From their valour they came to the consideration how Portugall woulde resist so great a Monarch entreating them with affectionate words to haue regard thereunto They saide that the comfort of men of iudgement was to see the small force of the Portugals for if it were greater they might for a time make some resistance considering their obstinacie iudging that in the beginning of this warre the kings of the Indies woulde presently become Lords of the sea coast the Moores woulde assaile the places of Affricke the French and English woulde attempt the Islands some woulde vsurpe on one side some of another not onely to the losse of the Realme but of all Christendome They brought in the example of King Sebastian shewing that he was lost for not measuring
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
great desire and affection his people of Lisbone beseecheth the Lorde to graunt him a long life for thereon depends all our good hoping that in time it may alter many things which nowe holdeth vs in carefull consideration The wounde of afflictions which this Realme hath suffered is yet so greene and so lamentable as we will not at this present make mention thereof It sufficeth they are such as the memorie will neuer be extinct whilest the worlde continueth and although we be bound to lay the fault vpon our owne offences yet may we attribute a parte to the negligence of the people and of such as at that time did gouerne the common wealth But being expedient not to heape error vpon error it seemes we ought with a liuely voice and due humilitie cry vnto your highnes that as a iust and holy king you woulde preuent the miseries that hang ouer vs It cannot enter into our thoughts to mooue you to marriage being no iudges of your conscience and disposition but we may well say if these two cōsiderations do allow it why do you suffer the delay of one day If you be resolued not to marry your Highnes ought with the like care to say vnto such as pretend to the succession that within a time prefixed they shoulde come to deliuer their reasons that if the successor be a naturall borne the people shal haue some breathing from the afflictions they suffer if he shall be a stranger it seemes conuenient they shoulde know it and haue leisure to aduise what to do For if our sinnes permit that the Lorde shall call away your Highnes being in the state we are now what shall become of vs being most apparant that all such as pretend to haue any title do consult arme plot and measure their forces while the people remaines doubtfull not knowing with reason vnto what part to incline Your Highnes dying in this time before the deciding of the cause we beseech you to cōsider the oppressions they shal suffer the spoilings the murthers the dishonoring of women and holy things and all other excesse which is commonly practised in such times the which may be wholie auoided by knowing who shall succeede vnto the crowne We do solicite your Highnes to sweare a Prince for it may be he that at this present hath interest to this Realme God may call him before your Highnes but the contrary hapning we may plainly knowe who shall succeed for heerein consistes the quiet of this Realme if you do it not willingly or that there be any let you ought to consent that the people declare one especially they of the citie of Lisbone vpon whom all Portugall dependes The holie Ghost who is the guide of kings inspire your Highnes that by his merits the anger of God may be pacified the which he powreth downe vpon vs for our offences and grant that we may amend our liues and preserue your Highnes in health for which all his people praie In this manner the officer of the Chamber spake in vaine but forasmuch as it seemed vnto the king ouer ruled in this respect by the diuine power that the remedie was not so easie nor the matter so soone decided as they supposed he made answere that it was a care grauen in his hart the which he woulde effect with all possible speede resoluing to haue regard vnto it But this succession gaue greater cause both to thinke talke secretlie and openlie in Castill then in anie other place for the King resoluing by all possible meanes to vnite Portugall with his other Kingdomes the Nobilitie did not willingly entertaine it but did seeme that the greatest from Charles the fifth forwards had not tasted the greatnes of the King lesse respecting them then had done the auncient Kings of Castill making them march in one degree of equall iustice with their inferiours The other Gentlemen and common people were nothing enclined to this vnion Saying that if this Realme were not separated from the rest of Spaine they shoulde haue no meanes to marrie their Kings daughters but into other prouinces which were dangerous both for that the women did not inherite and for the heresies wherewith the northren Regions bee at this present infected Manie and of all qualities who holding Portugall as the Sanctuarie of Castill were content with the separation remaining as an assured retreate for offenders It seemed to the King that hee shoulde not onely send a sufficient man thither to performe that office but also that it was necessarie that one of the chiefe of Spaine and best acquainted with the affaires of State shoulde goe to propound the cause of succession For this occasion they named as it is said Gasper Quiroga Cardinall and Archbishop of Toledo Ferdinand Aluares of Tolede Duke of Alua Anthony of Toledo Prior of the order of Saint Iohns master of the Kings Horse Frauncis Pacheco Cardinall of Burgos all principall personages Quiroga was thought verie fit by reason of his dignitie and wisedome togither with the experience he had gotten in the court of Rome hauing beene there long Auditor of the Rota The Duke of Alua for his authoritie experience and wisedome was thought the better for beginning to feare they should come to armes it seemed that he best could treate of the succession and withall sounde the Portugals forces and what succours they might drawe vnto them and afterwardes if neede required being a great captaine coulde by his aduise vndertake the warre with greater assurance Manie did approoue Anthony of Tolledo for besides the opinion they had of his wisedome he was accounted godly religious and otherwise vertuous the which they supposed woulde make him more pleasing vnto Henry But in the iudgement of the most aduised they preferred the Cardinall of Burgos for besides those other good parts which he enioied with the rest he was thought most able to treate the matter of State besides that being a priest and a Cardinall they shoulde seeme to sende vnto Henry a companion But notwithstanding there was not in Spaine any greater personages of like experience vnto these to mannage a matter of so great importance being the greatest that euer was presented vnto this crowne yet the preferred Peter Girone Duke of Ossuna and although his qualitie being great among the greatest of the Realme was woorthie of anie charge accompanied with manie vertues and some other particularities that were necessarie for the voiage notwithstanding some did attribute this election to the ordinarie diseases of the court and to the respects which Kings Councels doe commonly vse inferring thereby that therein he was extraordinarily fauoured by Peter Fassardo Marques de los Veles his kinsman at that time fauoured by the king Some said also and it may be not without grounde that it was not conuenient to sende anie personage into Portugall whose wisedome and iudgement were knowne vnto the worlde to the ende the Portugals shoulde not feare to treate freely with him of all
of Coimbra many allegations in her behalfe To effect this it was thought necessarie to cite all the pretendents to appeere and produce their reasons the which was sodainly put in execution although in the iudgement of many it was thought out of season seeming more conuenient first to conclude it in parliament and then to effect it whereby it was apparant that the king did gouerne himselfe daily without order or any constant resolution what he woulde doe He did yet foresee that dying before Philip as it was likely the Realme should remaine confused and without a Gouernour which shoulde rule the Realme during the interreigne and that the Noblemen and Commons shoulde presently sweare obedience vnto them and after examine the reasons of the pretendents And although they feared that King Philip woulde be displeased yet they hoped to satisfie him promising it shoulde no way preiudice his title nor any thing delay it but onely to proceede with more grounde as it was conuenient giuing out that King Henrie woulde marrie and send to Rome for a dispensation being a Priest so as being capable of issue it was not expedient to sweare a Prince This matter being concluded amongst fewe and of the chiefest within fewe daies after least it should not seeme to be done in priuate but with a general consent and to choose gouernours Henrie called to Court the three estates of the Realme that is the Clergie the Nobilitie and the Deputies of the cities and townes the which assembled the first day of Aprill in the yeere 1579. in the great hall of the pallace at Lisbone the King hauing before him nine Herolds accompanied with the Duke of Bragance and many Noblemen he went in the scarlet habite of a Cardinall retaining nothing of a king but the scepter being mounted vpon a scaffold of wood prepared at the vpper end of the hal fower steps higher then the Deputies he seated himselfe in a chaire prepared for him couered with cloth of gold vnder a cloth of estate of the same Euerie one being in his ranke according to their ancient degrees Alphonso de Castelbianco a priest stood vp by the Kings commandement at one of the endes of the scaffold who with a long speech after he had a little renewed the sorrowes of their forepassed miseries and mittigated them with hope of a future good hee forgot not to praise the King with all vertues adding that being weake he did not spare his life imploying it to what was profitable to the Realme he compared him in his gouernment to the King of heauen in his loue iustice pitty and sacrificing himselfe for his people he commended this assembly resembling it to the Councels and saide it coulde not erre he concluded the king had there assembled them to propound what was conuenient for the Realme to prouide for it with their aduise The first acte being ended it was decreed that daily the Clergie the Nobilitie and the Deputies of the Realme shoulde assemble a part the which they effected where they found diuersitie of opinions and very different one from an other some of them friendes to the conclusion woulde sodainly haue it determined to whom the Crowne appertained without hearing the pretendents allegations others held the parties should be cited and that they shoulde proceed with deliberation to sentence after instruction of the processe many enclined to haue gouernours others would not heare speake of them euery one taking the course neuer to agree The king hearing of this hauing called the chiefe of his Councell one after one and acquainting them with his resolution he shewed vnto them that it was so conuenient for the libertie of the Realme so as all difficulties accorded they concluded not to make any election of a Prince at that instant but the pretendents being heard the King shoulde iudge to whom the Realme belonged that he might be declared after his death And although God did suffer it may be for a punishment to the Portugals that the King held this Councell for the best yet experience did shewe that it was the woorst course they coulde haue taken for to put the cause in processe did breed vaine hopes in some of the pretendents which after were causes of great ruine to the crowne And to the end the motion of the kings marriage shoulde seeme to be spoken with some grounde they named vnto the estates Edward de Castelbianco to goe to Rome and treate with the Pope for his dispensation they did choose fifteene gentlemen vpon the backe of the rowle whereof the King with his owne hand shoulde write fiue of them which so chosen shoulde gouerne the Realme vntill it were decided who shoulde be King There was also about this nomination of the Gouernours no small controuersie betwixt the King and his Councell of estates for that the king would absolutely name the fiue the Councell woulde not consent vnto it but they would do it And when they were agreed that the Councell should name fifteene and the King choose fiue of them there grew a newe discord among them for the Councell desired to know who should be these fiue some woulde not onely haue them published but also during the Kings life put in possession of the gouernment that after they might be the better obeied but notwithstanding they resolued to keepe it secret yet generally they coniectured and truely who they were They chose also fower and twentie Iudges vpon the backe of the rowle of these the King did name eleuen to iudge the cause of the succession if he shoulde not determine it before his death This was held and chiefly by the Castillians a fault of importance the king shewing himselfe to be ignorant that his roiall iurisdiction did end with his life and that this naming of Gouernours was to rule after his death whereof they had an example with them of Elizabeth Queene of Castill who in vaine prescribed lawes for the gouernment of the Realme after her decease In this sorte the States ended and soone after the Duke of Bragance with the Nobilitie and the Deputies of the Realme sware obedience to such as the king had chosen Gouernours and to him that shoulde be declared king It would not be forgotten the manner of oath the Prior tooke for being called before the king and commanded to sweare to obey the forme aforesaid he answered that he would first speake vnto him The King replied that there was no neede but that he shoulde sweare the which he refusing to doe the king grewe in choler whereupon casting his eies vpon his friendes that were about him as who shoulde say that he was forced to lay his handes vpon the Euangelist against the opinion of many who beleeued he shoulde rather commit some disorder then sweare The Rowle of the Gouernours with the nomination vpon the backe of it was locked vp in a coffer and deliuered to the keeping of the Magistrate of the Chamber of Lisbone the people
strange grounde to the dishonour of so many kings woulde come by direct line to the succession of the Realme offering to prooue by writing out of the auncient Registers of Fraunce and by the auncient possession of the Earle of Bulloigne that she was lineally descended from Robert sonne to king Alphonso the thirde and of the Countesse Matilda his first and lawfull wife and that from that time to this all the descendents of Beatrice the second wife of Alphonso haue vniustly reigned from whom all the pretendents to the succession drawe their beginnings and therefore they coulde haue no better interest then their predecessors King Henry seemed nowe more colde to determine the question of succession then the importance of the cause and the shortnes of his life required He was greatly pressed by the people who be naturally hard to please seeing his slow proceedings complained by words and writings dispersed without authors and were well content their griefes should come to the kings eares They inferred that the losse of the warre of Affricke partly restored by his comming to the Crowne was nowe reuiued seeing their hopes that he shoulde preuent their imminent dangers succeeded vainely They complained that the time which shoulde be wholie imploied to decide the succession was spent in accidentall things contrarie to their dutie hauing no other care but to drawe into question such as the king hated to search by iustice things of small moment to borrowe money of the merchants to redeeme the Portugals that were in Affricke to treate of newe impositions to the oppression of the people and such like some whereof as the redemption of prisoners and that which concerns iustice they could not reiect as euill they blamed the time and the meanes that was spent in them Passing from this discourse hauing as it were a desire to speake slaunderously they touched the ministers of iustice to the quicke inferring they had corrupt consciences that the poore were persecuted the rich fauoured that all punishments were pecuniarie or barbarous expresly inuēted to molest the poore innocents giue autority to the rich culpable who are seldome punished They shewed againe how much a briefe decision of the succession did import and that it was no sound aduise to cite the pretendents assemble the States being tedious matters alleaging that if the king to receiue the scepter had no neede of these things neither had his successour but that he ought to decide this cause by himselfe with the aduise of learned and confident Doctors and according to that which he shoulde finde conuenient treate the accordes and capitulations with the greatest libertie of the Realme he coulde giuing contentment to the excluded and making of many members one body thereby to auoide the bottomlesse gulfe of ciuill warres And in truth this was the wisest and most Christian resolution of all others They did not allow of the making of Gouenours tearming them bodies without a head saying they coulde not after the kings decease effect any good iudging there woulde be amongst them diuersitie of opinions the people woulde be altered the great woulde disobey and euery one of the pretendents woulde call himselfe king they did foretell the Realme woulde be deuided in factions that one would follow one party the other an other party in the meane time the strongest woulde preuaile by armes The most aduised feared the forces of the Catholique king being neere and alwaies readie and although some trusting in his modestie beleeued after the death of Henrie he shoulde peaceably attend the sentence yet such as more practised in the affaires of the worlde knewe that the encrease of kingdomes had neither end nor measure that they be neuer giuen or taken away by the opinion of Doctors they feared most of all they termed it a diuelish temptation of those that perswaded Henry to take a wife or once to speake of it saying they were not woorthie that God shoulde nowe worke miracles for the loue of them The king mooued with these reasons which were partly deliuered vnto him began more vehemently then accustomed to treate of these affaires And forasmuch as the Prior hauing taken his oath to obey the Gouernours was retired to Almada a citie vpon the riuer of Tagus right against Lisbone where he made his vsual residence the king doubting that remaining there and comming sometimes to the citie as he did he might encounter with the Duke of Bragance and that as concurrents in one action and competitors in present there might growe some perillous contention the which was doubted hearing there was hatred betwixt them for this cause he commanded the saide Prior to retire himselfe to his said Priorie of Crato the which he did and likewise to the Duke though somewhat later to withdrawe himselfe The Prior was there cited not without permission to come personally to the court but to sende his Attourneies wherewith being grieued he did write vnto the king thanking him that he had admitted him to plead and complaining that he was in a manner banished He said that he ought not to forbid him to assist in his owne cause when as the Duke of Ossuna Embassador for the Catholique king and the Duke of Bragance were present at their pleas For besides the discommoditie hee shoulde haue in deliuering his reasons whosoeuer shoulde see him banished from the Court whilest they treated of so weightie a cause woulde suppose him so farre in the princes disgrace as he shoulde not dare to maintaine his title But all this preuailed not for the king woulde neuer suffer him to depart from Crato and although he did obey with difficultie going often from place to place yet would he neuer admit him to Court The first processe the king put vppon the file was touching the satisfaction the Prior pretended to giue for his legitimation wherein he had secretly all the pretendents opposite desiring to haue it tried first as indeed it ought to be for vpon proofe of his legitimation he was either to be admitted or excluded from the succession And forasmuch as Princes doe commonly execute that carefully which they do affect for this reason and to the ende the sentence he shoulde pronounce thereupon shoulde remaine firme he had obtained secretly at Rome a briefe from the Pope by the which he gaue him authoritie absolutely to iudge the cause of legitimation without any forme or processe according to the truth thereof So as hauing strictly examined the witnesses he allowed some reasons and reiected others and duely weighed the processe Finally he came to sentence framed by vertue of the Popes owne motion wherein was reported in a manner the whole processe The deposition of the witnesses which were fowre two conuinced to be false for they recanted confessing they had beene suborned by Anthony and the other two were suspected being neere kinsemen and disagreeing betwixt themselues The words of the testament of Lewes father to the saide Prior were annexed wherein
mention thereof neither is it credible that since this pretention was incorporate to the crowne of so mightie a Realme such wise and mightie Princes as were Frauncis the first and Henry the second woulde haue forgotten to haue called it in question But the truth was the Countesse Matilda left no children as it appeeres in her Testament in the publike Registers of Portugall making therein no mention to leaue any by king Alphonse nor to haue had any and viewing the antiquities of the Realme they saide that a writer was abused who reported that a yoong childe buried in the church of Saint Dominico in Lisbone was her sonne and though it should be so yet doth it not contradict since she doth not affirme she had any children but that he died yoong They did likewise prooue that Matilda had not any by a formal request found in the same registers by the which all the Prelats of the Realme did beseech Pope Vrbane that it would please him to disanull the curse which he had laide vpon the Realme and that he woulde approoue the marriage of Beatrice the second wife of Alphonse that he would make their children legitimate that there might be no hinderance in the succession of this Realme whereby they concluded that if there had beene any lawfull children of Matilda they coulde not haue perswaded the Pope to preferre the bastards of Beatrice They added that these reasons were not vnknowne in Fraunce and that of late there had beene a booke printed of the genealogie of the houses of Medicy and Bulloigne continued vnto Katherine the most Christian Queene whereby it did cleerely appeere that Matilda had left no children by Alphonse her second husband hauing beene formerly married to Philip sonne of Philip Augustus king of Fraunce by which marriage she had one daughter named Iane who succeded not her mother in the Countie dying before her without issue So as Robert sonne of Alix sister to Matilda came to the succession and this is that Robert from whom they would drawe the descent of the Queene Mother being the Nephew not the sonne of Matilda So as not being prooued by any meanes that Alphonse the thirde had any children by his first bedde but the contrary by many reasons they saide the Queene had no reason to pretende neither had she done it in time Philip therefore being grounded in this action sendes into Portugall for assistants to the Duke Rodorik Vasquez and Lewes de Molina Doctors of the law and Auditors of his Councell roiall with the title of Embassadors to signifie vnto the King and to his Councell his apparant iustice with aduertisement not withstanding that they should do no acte whereby they might inferre that they acknowledge any iurisdiction in the king Being arriued and all the Agents of the Catholique King consulting togither they propounded the matter of succession in forme as they were commanded deliuering in writing vnto the king an ample allegation of the reasons of Philip But for that in the beginning they had founde the kings thoughts bending to the Dutchesse of Bragance they laboured long in vaine to make him capable of the iustice of their king They vsed all meanes they thought conuenient and heere in Mora perfourmed great offices not onely with the King and his fauorites but with the Gentlemen and Noblemen of qualitie so as many with liuely reasons giuing to one offering to an other by effects wordes and writings he drew all he coulde to the Catholique Kings deuotion It seemed that this manner of sounding the Nobilitie with money and promises did then serue to purpose And although the course which the king helde for the attaining of his pretention seemed vnto him expedient yet did he not so relie thereon as knowing the Portugals to be restie he woulde omit force for that seeing the indisposition of Henry he sought to winne time and so to prepare himselfe that if he shoulde chaunce to die at such time when as the Portugals woulde not yeeld him the Crowne quietly he might sodainly take possession thereof by force But hauing learned by experience in the warre of Granado the losse of Golette and the defence of Malta that one nation alone sheweth not so great a courage as vnited with another this competencie seruing as a spurre to animate them he resolued to prepare to warre with the forces of diuers nations as if he had beene certaine that of necessitie he must winne this Realme by conquest And although the generall opinion were that fewe men woulde serue against the vnexperienced Portugals and that he shoulde not finde any resistance against his force yet knowing that there is not any humaine force but may be vanquished hee resolued to make an armie of fortie thousand foote considering that although the Portugals were such as it was saide yet being at home and by reason of the hatred and furie of the whole Realme they might in one day drawe togither aboue seuentie thousand men for any expedition and therefore it behooued him to be strong He therefore commaunds Inico Lopez de Mendosa Marques of Moundegiar then Viceroy at Naples to keepe in a readines his Spanish foote with the ships and munition for Portugall he leuied nine thousand Italians vnder the commaund of Peter de Medicy brother to Frauncis the great Duke of Tuscayne hee brought downe sixe thousand Germaines with Counte Ierome of Lodrone and although he might haue raised in Spaine a great number of men of all sorts yet trusting onely to his entertained soldiers he leuied the greatest forces he coulde purposing to ioine to those Spaniards that were but fresh water soldiers some of those that had beene in Italy and such as were come from the warres of Flaunders But these things were effected with more ease and lesse nombers then were appointed For although the Viceroy of Naples did in the beginning very carefully prouide for it yet after hee grew colde abandoning all hauing intelligence that the King had chosen to succeed him in his charge Iohn de Suniga great commander of Castill and that he shoulde returne into Spaine yet the soldiers were inrolled and conducted with armes and munition to Gibraltar and other places of Andelouzia thereabouts from whence they marched after to the confines of Portugall the number chiefly of Italians being greatly diminished with hunger and other discommodities not without consideration that nine thousand men seeme much in Spaine And although they arriued a yeere later then the king had commanded yet came they sooner then necessity required for Henry yet liuing they were long idle But this preuention was done like a valiant and wise Prince maintaining an armie vpon the confines of his owne Realme without vse thereof during a mans life attending his naturall death when as no man is yet so neere death but may liue some yeeres The Catholique King preferring the danger to be vnarmed and Henry deceasing before his expences gaue this testimonie not onely of his wisdome
incensed against his Nephew he proceeded still against him So as within short time he pronounced a newe sentence not as a Iudge substitute by his holines but as an absolute king that it might not be subiect to any appeale supposing by this meanes seeing hee coulde not cast him into prison he shoulde banish him the Realme Wherin repeating his faults his absence his contumacy his disobedience with the premisses as was that he had made to drawe the Nobilitie people to follow his faction he depriued him of all his iurisdictions preheminences honors prerogatiues liberties graces and what other recompence soeuer he had from the kings his predecessors commaunding he shoulde be rased out of the bookes and not paide any thing not holding him for a naturall borne but a forraine to these Realmes He pronounced the like against such as shoulde aide him lodge him or any way treate with him He commaunded him to depart the Realme within fifteene daies saying it was expedient for the seruice of God of him and the peoples quiet But notwithstanding this sentence so seuere yet was it not of force to expell the Prior for being wel beloued of his friendes and common people he remained safely in secret And although for a shew onely he had retired him selfe into a monasterie of Castill yet he staied not long there onely to procure a certificate as he did of his departure whereof king Philip being aduertised he was aduised by some to take him prisoner both to be assured of him to please Henry but he thought it not then conuenient whereof after he repented him for Anthonie being returned againe into Portugall it was generally thought that he was ill affected and grieued with the king for the sentence he had pronounced against him Henry grew fearefull he shoulde attempt something against his person which so encreased that besides his ordinarie guard he raised certaine cōmpanies of souldiers for the assurance of himselfe and his Courte a thing at any time vnseene in that Realme At this time the Embassadors of Philip had made Henry capable of his title hauing laide before him both the good and euill which might ensue by giuing and taking from him the crowne who being enclined to do iustice mooued therewithall with the feare of war hauing wel considered the matter and laid aside all affection which made him inclinable to Katherine he resolued with all his power to giue it vnto Philip by the best meanes he coulde deuise And hauing imparted this his meaning to the Duke of Ossuna and Christopher de Mora he said he woulde ende the cause by way of composition betwixt Philip and the Realme without proceeding vnto sentence Prouided alwaies that the Catholique king shoulde graunt certaine priuileges not dispose the offices of gouernment and iustice but vnto the naturall Portugals and giue certaine graces exemptions to the generall good of the Realme Heere plainly appeered the errour of Henry who hauing cited all the pretendents and brought the matters to tearmes of iustice thought it after wards more conuenient to come to composition with Philip which shoulde haue beene formerly done if it were to be done These capitulations were sent vnto Philip to Madrill whom Henry entreated to keepe them secret as one that feared a contrarie disposition in the people And although hee were not ignorant howe hard the quiet execution of this his will woulde be by reason of the people and some Gentlemen of contrary faction yet commaunded he it shoulde be propounded to the states with all the mildenes it might be Some hold that father Leon Anriquez of the order of Iesuits the kings Confessour was rather the cause of this his vnexpected resolution then the practises of the Catholique kings ministers and that from him in whom the King did greatly trust proceeded his first inclination to the Dutchesse of Bragance but fearing the indignation of Philip he turned the thoughts of Henry to fauour his title By means whereof in October 1579. he called againe the deputies of the Cities and other estates vpon colour to impart vnto them a matter of importance Philip disallowed this resolution of Henry to assemble the States for being assured of the small affection the Portugals bare him he was most assured that assembling them togither they woulde neuer agree to yeelde him the Crowne and therefore hee aduised the King without any other assembly to declare a successor seeing in the last Estates held at Lisbone the whole Realme had giuen him full power the which if he would vse in this controuersie of the Realme and not make any new conuocation of Deputies he shoulde write to euery citie in particular his intention and aduise thinking it more easie to perswade them deuided then vnited in one body But Henry not daring effect it did sollicite the comming of the Deputies In Italy seeing the Catholique King a little before assemble so great forces they made diuers coniectures thereof they furnished the places of ordinarie suspect with newe garrisons some beleeued he that had entred league with the Cheriffe Mulei Hamet that both iointly togither would attempt Alger supposing the Moores had propounded this enterprise for feare of the Turkes and that the king with his aide woulde expell them from thence being so necre neighbour vnto Spaine The Pope vnderstanding the contrarietie in Portugall seeing the Catholique King prepare so greatly to armes he commaunded Philip Sega his Nuncio in Castillia to say vnto him that although he knewe these preparatiues of warres were against Infidels yet seeing the estate wherein Portugall stoode it might bee supposed it was intended against that Realme and being dangerous to come to armes and to stirre vppe the humours which cannot be setled at pleasure hee offred himselfe to be a mediatour betwixt him and Henry and to settle this busines peaceablie The king accepted the Popes offer in generall words entertaining his Nuncio with delaies without giuing him any resolute answer for that as it was saide many things did trouble his minde concerning this action He considered of the one side that being of good yeeres and his heires but yoong enioying except the state of Flaunders all his countries quietly it was not fitte to stirre vp humours in Spaine besides being fearefull to other nations they woulde not willingly see him augment his dominions he doubted that in busying himselfe in Portugall some woulde then take occasion to breede some alteration in his territories and therefore hee willingly gaue eare to any treatie of peace On the otherside he was not well assured of the Popes disposition seeming he shoulde preiudice his title to put it to compremise besides that to former presidents he woulde not willingly adde this of new to acknowledge the Apostolike seate as a iudge of Realmes He thought it lesse danger to attend the sentence of Henry then of any other for pronouncing it hauing not acknowledged him for iudge he was not bounde to obey if it were in
two chanels by a shelfe which they call Cacippo That which lieth betwixt the right banke and the shelfe is defended by the rocke or castell of Saint Iulian the other which is betwixt the shelfe and the sandie hill which they terme La Carriera d'Alcasoua is not defended by any forte neither can the artillerie of Saint Iulian reach so farre Emanuell woulde builde a forte in the Iland to defend this passage And although hauing digged deepe in the sand he coulde finde no firme ground to settle his foundation yet woulde not Emanuell desist from his opinion but hauing no meanes to builde it of stone he raised it of woode filling it with earth the which he supplied with artillerie and many other things necessarie yet coulde he hardly furnish it with water for that his caske burnt with the sunne and the reuerberation of the sands which is vehement in those partes although they were couered with sailes did breake and woulde holde no water At that time the Gouernours did an acte of great consideration to animate men to the defence of the Realme for by a newe and dangerous example they vsed religious men as instruments to execute their intention commaunding all religious houses that they should not onely in their sermons but also in their confessions commaund their preachers and confessors to animate the people to defence in that sort as they preach the Croisado against infidels And for that the Portugals are too ambitious of honor they commaunded them to vse this encouragement that such should be most honoured who did most readily prepare for resistance so as their preachings which should haue beene religious were become furious orations of soldiers This was greatly blamed by the good and wise and was the cause of great hurt to the whole Realme for besides the imploying of priestes in a prophaned action they did animate the poore people to this defence the which afterwardes did thrust them rashly into armes It was likewise very hurtfull to the religious houses for as it is dangerous to stirre vp the mindes of religious persons these being by the death of king Henry growne more then before adding thereunto this other libertie to speake publikely whilest they did animate others it bred in themselues warlike affections so as hauing passed the limits of their profession in a manner all the Ecclesiasticall state ran into mightie abuses and disorders as we shall hereafter see There wanted money to furnish the charge for this defence and therefore they desired to borrowe one hundreth thousand duckats of the marchants the which although they would not agree vnto they were forced to pay These things were practised at Lisbone more then in any other parts of the Realme In the meane time the Gouernours were in diuision and irresolute loosing still of their reputation For the Prior continuing still in the cause of his legitimation and seeming daily a more obstinate pretendent threatned such as shoulde contradict him The ministers of iustice began to decline from their accustomed authoritie and euery man presumed to speake and do what he pleased shewing well that it was a realme without a king the which was remarkable in two points which then hapned as well amongst the religious as the secular The one was that the religious of the order of Saint Ierome in our Ladies monasterie of Belem being desirous to recouer their libertie which the king had taken from them who with consent of the Pope and of his authoritie had bound them notwithstanding the rules of this religion to chuse superior officers at his pleasure that is one of the fower or fiue religious men that he should name to euerie office Frier Emanuel d'Euora being then Prouinciall all the Religious went vnto him saying That he was not iudicially chosen to that charge and therefore he shoulde renounce his office and they would choose another according to the Statutes The Frier to whom this seemed of harde digestion opposed himselfe to their demaund with many reasons and multiplying many words both of the one side and of the other they did forceably put the Prouinciall prisoner in a Seller vsing him something hardly in their choler The kinsmen to the Prouinciall hearing of this disorder ranne for remedie to Alexander Formento then Nuncio for his Holinesse in that Realme who vnderstanding the reasons of both parties although the Religious protested he was not their Iudge yet he commaunded the Prouinciall should be deliuered and restored to his charge citing some of the Religious men of the Monasterie before him as seditious The Friers to whome this sentence was signified by a publike Notarie would not obey So as the kinsmen of the Religious prisoner crauing aide from the secular power the Gouernours sent the officers of iustice of the citie of Lisbone to the Couent with three Ensignes of soldiers to see this sentence put in execution by force who being come to Belem the Friers shut their gates leauing the Church open where notwithstanding the grate of wood which shuts vp the great Chappell and the Sepulchres of kings was close they went into the quire singing their Letanies But after the officers of iustice had knocked a while at the Couent gate and no man opening it entering into the Church they burst downe the grate of wood so as the soldiers comming into the Cloister of Friers they laide hold of such Religious persons as they met with small respect of their priestly order And although the elders came with their Crosses Buls and excommunications it nothing preuailed for they must of force deliuer the Religious man and restore him to his former estate the which they did protesting they had vsed violence and that they woulde complaine to the Apostolique seate The other case was that Fernand de Pina a Doctor and Citizen being chosen in the place of Diego Salema whome Henry had deposed Vereador of the Chamber which is the highest degree of magistrate that hath charge of the citie he was at noone day in the market place wounded in the head with a Curtelax by Anthony Soarez whereof he died soone after the which the Prior had caused to be done for that Pyna in his office had not onely spoken ill against him but also laboured to draw the officers and all the Councell of the Chamber to the Catholique Kings deuotion Anthonie desired to reuenge himselfe in this manner and the offender who knew better how to strike then to flie being hurt by the Sergeants and retired into a Church without the citie was taken prisoner by the Iustice and after some daies of imprisonment was hanged and quartered the which execution was done with trouble and feare least the people shoulde deliuer him For the authoritie of the Gouernours declining the ministers of iustice were not respected And for that they knew this murther was committed by the commaundement of Anthonie the people were inclined to saue him The Religious for the like respect alleaging that the
secular power could not iudge him being taken in the Church came running likewise to the place of execution to succour him And had not Damain D' Aguiar a seuere and resolute officer had the charge thereof who suddenly put this sentence in execution there was so great a concourse of people crying and of religious men with their crosses and excommunications that the offender had been easily rescued These disorders displeased the louers of religion and quietnes who blaming somewhat the Friers for not suffering their Prouinciall quietly to ende the terme of his charge yet did they attribute more fault vnto the gouernours for suffering in such a season so publike and rigorous an execution against the religious and chiefly vpon a Monasterie seated vpon the banks of Tagus saying that if for no other reason yet shoulde they haue forborne in respect that many English and French ships anchored there whose men infected with heresie would reioyce to see the religious in the hands of Sergeants The death of Pina was held for an indiscreet and cruell resolution of Anthony for being but a matter of small moment to be reuenged by so foule an example vpon an olde man alawyer and of meane condition he had thrust himselfe into an exigent either to be held vnthankfull in suffering of Soarez to die as he did or else to doe violence vnto iustice But for that princes hate the executioners of their follies for in their life doth liue the remembrance of their errors euen so the Prior hated this man after the offence committed neither did he labour to saue him although his death made him contemptible to the people The said prior was thē at Almerin laboring the cause of his legitimation solliciting the iudges to decide the same who excused themselues that they could not do it obseruing the lawes of the realme if he retired not himselfe 25. miles from the Court that in so doing they would looke into the cause But for that the Duke of Bragance and the Ambassadors of other princes were there present he would not depart for this reason the matter surceased at this time Emanuel of Portugall who remained at Belem laboured ambitiously that Iohn Teglio one of the gouernours his brother in lawe conformable to himself in opinion principally in the exclusion of Philip should be sent to Belem with authoritie from the other gouernours to prouide by his presence for all things necessarie seeming a matter hard to effect at Almeryn The other gouernours desirous to be rid of his companie and not daring to contradict any thing that seemed to concerne the defence gaue him authoritie and suffered him to goe to Belem There he consulted with Emanuel and receiuing with some difficultie the money borrowed of the merchants he resolued for the gathering together of a greater summe to sell the iewels of the Crowne the which were there and therefore causing them to be brought foorth he dealt with some merchants vpon the price The Duke of Ossuna was then returned into Castill leauing Mora in Portugall with the other Ambassadours that were Lawyers who vnderstanding the iewels were vpon sale the saide Mora in the name of the Catholique King required the said gouernours not to sell them as appertaining to the King protesting both against them and the buiers that they should be bounde to restore the price at their owne charge so as they found not any that woulde deale with them Philip being at Merrida as it was saide hauing by a long protestation required the gouernors to deliuer him the possession of the Realme The Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo returned the second time making the like proposition to the King as they had done at Guadalupa offering to put the cause to arbitrement and complaining he had giuen them too short a time to resolue But Philip being now well resolued what he would doe and infourmed of the aide the Portugals demaunded from other princes he made them the like answere as before Many iudged the proposition of those Ambassadours to be ill grounded saying it was an vnseemely thing to require the King to make himselfe subiect to the iudgement of nominated iudges seeing that King Henry himselfe who with more appearance of reason might pretend to be lawfull iudge in this cause did neuer require the King to acknowledge him for iudge neither did he euer declare him contumax in the cause debated with the pretendents for not acknowledging him The Catholique King came to Badagios the 20. of May where the Portugall Ambassadours laboured to perswade him making suite that before the taking of armes he should admit an assemblie to the estates but they were no more admitted to audience the king resolued to send his answere vnto the gouernors and to publish it throughout the whole realme in the name of his Councell the which he did as followeth That experience had taught that by two examples of the estates last held at Lisbone and at Almerin they wrought no good effect in fauour of the apparant right of his Maiestie but in the one and the other they had still laboured to trouble it seeking lets and delaies which might haue bred the losse thereof and therefore it seemed a treble error to attend againe a new assemblie of these estates That they haue no reason to complaine that his Maiestie had giuen them too short a time to resolue accounting from the day of the receipt of his letters the xiij of March by the which he required them to sweare him saying they made no good computation if they supposed he were dispossessed of the realme but from the time that he demaunded it appertaining vnto him from the hower of King Henries death but that his Maiestie had expressely contained himselfe a moneth and a halfe without making of any motion to the ende they should not loose the thanks by calling him to the succession whom God had called and might haue leisure amongst themselues to make cleere this bond by which they were tied and giue satisfaction making the pretendents capable of reason to the ende they should not hinder the publike quiet and that they might be intercessors for them and for the realme which course the king himselfe had taught them That their excuse might be taken in two senses saying they coulde not receiue his Maiestie but in a generall assemblie of estates their meaning is either that they cannot doe it by right or that they may not doe it for that they dare not In the first case they are deceiued for there needes no assemblie of estates when a king makes his entrie vnto the realme although he succeede not to his father but to his kinseman neither were they necessarie when as Henry succeeded to his nephew In the other case that they cannot doe it because they dare not the excuse is good but not to binde the king neither in iustice nor conscience to desist from taking the possession of his goods if the delaies make the
yoong licentious man who had mutined the people and the guard it selfe against them Such of the Nobilitie as abandoning their houses in those partes retired themselues were Fernand de Norogna Peeter de Meneses Edward de Castelbianco Diego Lopez de Sequeira Anthony de Castelbianco Lewes Caesar and some others Anthony hauing aduertisement of their departure passed the riuer and went thither Where he was receiued vnder a cannapie with signes of great ioy hauing giuen order to the fortification guard of that place as it seemed necessarie he returned to Lisbone against the aduise of som who persuaded him to assemble his forces to resist the enimie not to repasse Tagus But he did it not saying he woulde returne presently fearefull as many supposed and not holding himselfe assured on that side the riuer Cascaies and the fortresse of Saint Iulian did not yet obey him yet vnderstanding that Anthony was possessed of Settuual the wife of Anthony de Castro went from Cascaies after whose departure the citie yeelded and the captaine of the fortresse of Saint Iulian being written vnto by Anthony that he woulde giue him fower thousand duckats a yeere rent made answere that seeing the Gouernors had abandoned the realme and that he was proclaimed king he would hold it at his deuotion By reason whereof Bastien de Britto who serued as sergeant maior of the citie of Lisbone in the place of Peter de Cugna turned head who with certaine men gathered togither went by the commaundement of Anthony to encampe about this fortresse so as all places of importance about Lisbone remained at his obedience So did all others in those parts except the citie of Porto which obeied not yet The Duke of Bragance hauing foreseene the sedition which was practised at Settuual being departed as it is saide a little before the Gouernors flight and gone to Portel a place belonging vnto himselfe neere the frontiers of the realme towards Castill seeing iustice reduced to armes and himselfe disarmed he thought it nowe high time to treate with the Catholique King He sent therefore a Gentleman to represent vnto him howe peaceablie he had alwaies caried himselfe in the persuite of Iustice for Katherine his wife that he had neuer troubled the publike quiet nor in any thing surpassed the ordinarie tearmes of Iustice and reason and if he had not compounded with him the cause was for that he vnderstood his reasons were great neither had he meanes to do it by reason of the people who woulde haue withstoode him Notwithstanding he was nowe resolute if his Maiestie woulde make him a good composition to yeelde vnto him all the rights of the saide Katherine and that being agreed he woulde publikely sende one to treate with him He alleaged that his subiects being the thirde part of the realme he coulde make easie or greatly hinder the enterprise He saide that the Deputies of the realme had made offer vnto him that they would procure Anthony to leaue the title of King and vnite himselfe with him for the defence of the crowne and that in the end they should agree And that the said Anthony had sent to make great offers vnto him the which he woulde not accept not seeming reasonable vnto him He requested his Maiestie to commaund the armie not to endomage his countrey Heerein he spake truth for although he were a quiet and religious man yet the Philipins saide that although he had beene otherwise the King had no cause to feare his forces for albeit he had many subiects yet were they not all obedient vnto him That the Nobilitie abhorred his rule more then any other and that some of his kinsemen did him more hurt then good by reason of the emulation amongst the Nobilitie He relied much on the equitie of his cause yet feared he to bee forced by the kings power which he saw prepared supposing he would not receiue iudgement in the cause from any man This feare had induced him to write to all the great Potentates in Christendome shewing his reasons and demaunding succours The like office had he done with some Cardinals at Rome He had sent into Fraunce diuers copies of his allegations to the end they might be dispersed into England and other places making great instance to the two Queenes to succour him with mony munition captaines But his weakenes being knowne to both although hee gaue them to vnderstande he went to ioine with the Gouernors in defence they returned him nothing but curteous words And some say that not content to vse this diligence to such as were enuious of the kings good he did likewise write to his enimies and rebels desiring to treat with the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Alançon These things caused him more losse then profite as it happens commonly to those that will contend with mightie Princes and builde their foundations vpon the succours of their enimies ill willers who wil not commonly declare themselues except their companion be strong Heereupon it grewe that the King returned to the saide propositions so ample and artificiall an answere for as it was reported some of his letters had beene surprised by the Agents of the Catholique king and some other especially those he had written to Rome were sent to the King by them to whom he had written them He answered that he reioiced that in time he had auoided the sedition at Settuual being troubled with the danger and indignitie he might haue suffred That he knewe it to be true that in the persuite of the right of Katherine he had carried himselfe with due modestie but by refusing to agree with him were growne the inconueniences wherein now they were the which he would gladly they should rather haue foreseen then haue made triall of with so great disquietnes and dishonor vnto themselues for the which he was sory in regarde of the neerenes of bloud and affection he bare vnto the said Katherine That his offer to yeelde him his right was acceptable vnto him but he woulde haue them to vnderstand that there was no necessity to adde new actions to those which God had giuen him apparant to all the worlde That he had then wished for two reasons they coulde haue accepted of his liberalitie in recompence of their pretention The first was that he hoped by this meanes he shoulde not haue beene forced to enter armed into the realme and to make warre vpon his owne subiects which is one of the things that doth most trouble him But that good which might haue beene reaped by composition was nowe extinct by their slacknes seeing that his armie was alreadie entred the realme The second reason was the desire to encrease and prosper his house to do good to his children to auoide the ruine of the estate and the hazard to ouerthrow it whereof there was yet some remedie for being so desirous of his good that onely was sufficient to mooue him to doe them good He said
Catholique king vpon the frontiers where being better aduised they returned into the realme putting themselues in Castromarin with great discontentment There they made a decree repeating the deedes of Anthony from the time of king Henry vnto that day confirming the sentences which the said Henry had pronounced against him calling him rebell and troubler of the publique quiet They declared giuing testimonie of the intention of King Henry that king Philip was the true succussor They commaunded all cities places Noblemen and ministers of iustice to obey him resigning all their authoritie vnto him And although it seemed that all Iustice was now reduced to armes and that the King had no neede of this decree yet was it of great importance both to iustifie his cause with the people as also for that it made many cities to yeeld But Anthony made no reckoning of this sentence preparing for defence vpon the right side of the riuer of Tagus hee had yet no other nation but Portugals and such as he coulde gather togither where with he could not frame a campe vpon any necessitie for that the peasants and the people which were not entertained for the warre coulde not abandon their trades to goe to fielde and therefore he desired to haue mercenarie soldiers and finding that Frauncis Baretto staied long to bring any from Fraunce he dispatched Peter Dora then Consul of the French in that realme into Fraunce giuing him money to leuie two thousand men he named Diego de Meneses his Lieutenant generall and gaue the charge of his armie at sea to George de Meneses He vnderstoode well the course of the Catholique armie but trusting as well in the people as to the passage of the riuer he seemed to be well able to defend himselfe Hee grewe doubtfull being ill aduertised that whilest the Duke marched by small iourneies towardes Settuuall seeming to go thither he should take the way to Saint Arem as some would suppose there to passe the riuer of Tagus with more ease being narrow and after to march by land against Lisbone without regard of smaller towns Hauing therefore grounded a great part of his hopes vpon the defence of the passage of the riuer being amazed with this newes he sent to furnish it with men and armes But vnderstanding afterwards that the Duke was in truth approched to Settuual that he had taken Alcazar which is neere vnto it he called back the men which he had sent to Saint Arem and with some others which hee had forceablie gathered togither he sent them to Settuual forcing the Gentlemen one after an other and all in generall to go thither sometimes with punishments sometimes with entreaties and sometimes with promises of exemptions and priuiledges But for all this no man went willingly and such as were forced complained greatly The Nobilitie was small in number and such as were there nothing resolute the people easie to change vpon euery light occasion were slothful hauing conceiued an opinion that it was not lawfull to fight against Christians so as some fled some hidde themselues and some complained The kings ministers being newe men ill affected and not fashioned to commaund as those which had the reines at libertie did tyrannize with absolute authoritie forcing al men with an vnaccustomed rigor to fight against their wils At that time they did tollerate within the citie infinite disorders and thefts to draw money from the marchants they imprisoned some which woulde not presently paie that which was demaunded of them If any tooke horse to goe out of the citie about their busines sodainly they saide they fledde into Castill and with this slander they seased vpon their persons and goods Hee was vnhappie that did commend the Catholique kings forces for he was either stoned imprisoned or condemned in a great summe of money they tooke from all men by force their horse and armes who so had little credite or no acquaintance with these new officers were ill assured Such as had reckonings to make with the Courte were in ill case for they were forced to paie what they did owe without compensation of what was due vnto them For this cause and for that they seemed friends to quietnes some of great meanes and verie honorable were imprisoned The barbarous decrees the commaundements that were made to surcease the paiments and rents to binde euerie man to retire into the citie and stande to the defence the opening and spoiling of houses that were shut vp were infinite there was nothing but rigour and rudenes and all was executed by men who with their ignorance bad inclination expresly to cause disorders made commaundements inobseruable the crosses of militarie orders especially those which carrie the title of knights of Christ sometime held in reputation were now giuen to many base and vnwoorthie persons by the intercession of one or other The new Christians who were neuer admitted to these orders nor to the degree of Nobilitie nor to any royall offices were sodainely by the fauour of this man mounted to what degree they pleased not for that he was beholding to anie that had succoured him in the time of his necessities but for that he was easily perswaded by whōsoeuer The black Negroes to whom for the great number there is of them in the citie of Lisbone armes were defended were sodainely all armed and as it were free commaundement being made that all such as woulde serue in this warre vnder captaines likewise Moores assigned for that purpose might do it against the will of their masters and without paying for which cause all the slaues being assembled and conceiuing the Kings commaundement to be more in their fauour then it was shaking off the yoke leauing their patrons they ranne vnto the citie where taking horse and armes by force where they found them they committed a thousand insolencies They coined money in the name of Anthony a quarter lesse then it was woont to be the reuenew of the crowne was wasted for besides that he extorted from the treasurers what he coulde he laide handes vpon the iewels of the crowne and vpon that most renowmed by the Portugals saddle and furniture for a horse inriched with stones brought from the Indies which was of great value The money which Henry had gathered togither for the raunsome of the Portugals which were slaues in Affricke was consumed and wholy spent And this liberty proceeded so farre that they sought into religious houses for the money which they thought had beene there laide in guard and hauing founde some although it appertained to friendes and faithfull persons to orphans and pupils yet was it seased on without number or weight togither with the siluer vessels of the same churches the which was violently carried away in some places and in other places with the consent of the religious men themselues Neither were the iewels and treasure which Marie the cousen of the said Anthonie left more assured being giuen to godly vses for the good
the entrie of the Parliament the ceremonie of swearing the King was perfourmed and soone after of the Prince in the monasterie of religious men of the order of Christ a religion which is not any where else where he was lodged in the same sorte as was saide of King Henry but with more pompe being in an assemblie of estates and with lesse noise being done with lesse loue yet was it woorth the sight both for the great number of the Nobilitie and the goodly representation of the King in his habite of cloth of gold which Henry had not being a Cardinall There he graunted the pardon expected with so great desire the which although it had the name of generall yet was it helde by the Portugals to be limited artificiall and conditionall It did pardon generally all such as had beene imploied for the Prior against him but particularly he did except many and namely two and fiftie the chiefe whereof was the Prior himselfe the Counte of Vimiosa and the Bishop of Guarda hee pardoned no religious man he made all such as had serued the Prior receiued honor from him profite charge or office whatsoeuer vncapable euer after to beare office or to exercise those they had enioied before so as they saide this pardon serued none but such as had made light faults or had nothing to loose This did much incense the mindes of the Portugals who found themselues deceiued of the hope they had conceiued by this pardon all to remaine freed the which although they much disliked yet could they not get it refourmed but soone after all such were cited by proclamation as were not pardoned to the end their processe might be made The Deputies of the realme being now assembled the Estates began the xix day of Aprill where Anthony Pignero Bishop of Leira made an oration before the king saying First that the Estates seeming to haue the assistance of the holie Ghost by the profite which shoulde redounde to the subiects that Philip following the custome of former Kings had assembled them to the end that with wisedome loue and fide litie they should represent vnto him what they thought conuenient for the generall good of these realmes He did greatly amplifie the graces done by his pardon terming it the fruits of his clemencie he did shew it was a ground of hope of greater good he concludes noting the greatnes of the Kings loue goodnes promising to encrease al their honors recompences fauours conformable to the loialtie and obedience they shoulde carrie to his seruice Whereunto was briefly answered by Damian d'Aguiar Doctor one of the Deputies of the citie of Lisbone saying That in the cities behalfe and of the whole realme he did thanke his Maiestie both for the grace of his pardon as for assembling the Estates offering him obedience All the Deputies both in generall and particular demaunded what they pleased to whom they graunted many things as titles of knighthoode rents for life offices and to some present money there were eight or tenne of the meanest gentlemen chosen of the order and enobled with such other like things the which was done rather according to the vse of Castill then after the manner of Portugall for in this realme it is not the custome to giue any thing to Deputies He gaue greater recompences to the whole realme in generall graunting in a manner al those former things mentioned which the Duke of Ossuna had promised the Gouernors in the Kings name if the realme shoulde yeelde peaceably except it were to the garrisons libertie to saile to America and the west Indies and to participate with the affaires of Castill as if they were borne there saying that it was conuenient before hee shoulde graunt them to impart them to the Estates being preiudiciall vnto them The Deputies deliuered vnto the King a liste of what they demaunded and aduised touching the gouernment whereof the principall were that the King shoulde take a Portugall borne to wife that he shoulde sende the yoong prince to bee brought vp within the realme that the States of Portugall shoulde be separate from them of Castill with their coine apart and many things touching the abatement of impostes the displacing of garrisons the ordering of iustice and such like whereof fewe were graunted at that time of any importance and to all the rest they made answere with doubtfull hopes The Nobilitie the greatest part whereof not hauing borne armes against the King supposed to haue deserued much appointed thirtie amongst them to make petition vnto the King for manie things in the name of the whole Nobilitie First that hee shoulde graunt them iurisdiction ouer their subiects That such Doctors as had beene imploied in matters of iustice shoulde not bee censured but by gentlemen That the King should make no man noble but for the good deserts of some notable seruice and that it should not passe vnto his heires but vpon speciall grace That the chiefe offices of the realme as the chiefe Captaine-ships the three Purueiors of the Arcinall the store-house of the Indies and of the custome house with such other like shoulde not bee giuen but vnto Noble men whereof nothing was graunted Many did not attribute this refusall of their demaunds vnto the kings owne nature nor vnto the iniustice of their requests but most complained of those Portugall fauorites which gouerned Many were of opinion the King shoulde suppresse the Vniuersitie of Coimbra and thought it necessarie by all reason of state saying that it was not safe in a realme newly incorporate to suffer an assemblie of three or fowre thousand yoong men in a manner exempte from the iurisdiction royall the which might wel be called a Seminarie of seditions and Anthony his disciplined soldiers readie to follow any other naturall rebell of the realme whatsoeuer That the auoiding of this euill shoulde cause a greate benefite that the Portugals shoulde go studie in the Vniuersities of Castill where passing the heate of their youth and growing familiar with the Castillians they shoulde returne into Portugall more roially affected and more sufficient to administer iustice then they were They alleaged moreouer that those lawyers had both by wordes and writings wilfully opposed themselues against the Kings right chiefly when as Henry was enclined to the Dutchesse of Bragance that some of them transported with this passion had in their publike letters wrested against Philip not onely the imperiall lawes but also the holie canons interpreting them contrarie to their true sence and contradicting themselues and therefore they were woorthie of punishment But although this opinion seemed grounded and confirmed by many Portugals yet the King either by his bountie or the assurance of his iustice or of his absolute authoritie or else withhelde by the naturall inclination hee seemed to beare to the Portugall nation not onely preserued this Vniuersitie but also tooke it into his protection confirming their liberties and priuileges hee not onely receiued
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
matters but it was necessarie they shoulde esteeme him affable and curteous to discouer easilie vnto him their minds of which humour the rest were not And although on the one side the Cardinals did seeme fittest to treate with a king who was also a Cardinall they did think on the other side that Henry might take it ill to sende one vnto him who was equall with him in dignitie There hapned at the same time a matter which bred no small woonder in this court and in others likewise the which for that it chaunced to a person of whom we are often to make mention although it be somewhat from our purpose we will not leaue to report The Duke of Alua was banished by the kings commandement to Vzeda fiue and twentie miles from the court for that Fredericke his eldest sonne being taken at Tordefillas a village of that Realme for that he refused to marrie with one of Queene Isabella of Valoys her maides to whom as she said he had promised whilest the king was entreated by her friends to force him to marrie her he by the aduise of his father brake prison and was gone to Alua to marrie with Marie de Toleda his cosen daughter vnto Garcie he which was Generall at sea the which hee effected returning presently vnto the same prison The Duke bare this affliction with great humilitie and constancie so as all hatred ceasing his verie enimies did pittie his miserie This banishment was remarkeable both for his estate age and the notable seruices he had done vnto this crowne as also to see the integritie of the king who notwithstanding the necessitie he seemed to haue of his person in matters of importance that drewe neere could not cause him any thing to dissemble the execution of that which he thought fit for iustice or his reputation It was also remarkeable for the great offices which some Princes did in his fauour but most of all his holines who did instantly sollicite his deliuerie by the meanes of his Nuncio saying that although he coulde not presume of the kings iust intention but that the Dukes imprisonment proceeded from some great cause yet he coulde not in duty but performe this office It was saide this good will of the Pope towards the Duke proceeded from the seruice hee had done vnto the Apostolique seate hauing made long warre against the Infidels and heretikes and also for that which he had done against the Church it selfe effecting that which was conuenient to his king whilest as enimie hee was contrarie vnto it as he did defende it being a friend binding vnto him not onely Paule the fourth who was then Pope but also his successors And it seemes strange that the greatest loue they say the Church had vnto him sproong from the warre which he made against it The Deputies of Castill which were then in court laboured for him and although the king sent them worde they shoulde be contented and not sue vnto him for that he woulde not refuse anie thing they shoulde demaund yet this manner of demaunding and denying serued for a great office The King from the beginning was in hope to make himselfe peaceable Lord of the Realme of Portugall although he were not ignorant of the small inclination the Portugals had vnto him but hee let passe nothing which he thought fit to gaine their loues and to this effect he did write to all the chiefe cities of the Realme his pretention offering and threatning but in the greatest part his letters were not receiued in publike To the citie of Lisbone he did write in this manner Most noble and our welbeloued although I haue appointed Christopher de Mora to saie vnto you some things which you shall vnderstande from him yet woulde I giue you to knowe by my letters that there is no man in this world more then my selfe that hath felt the losse of noble king Sebastian my nephew and of his men The reasons for which I ought to haue this iust feeling are easie to be considered hauing lost a sonne and a friend whom I loued tenderly and in the same degree I held and hold all those that are lost with him for I doe cherish and loue all them of this Realme as my owne subiects And I thinke it is not vnknowne the great diligence I vsed to diuert his iourney as well personally my selfe at Guadalupa as also before and since by my ministers whereof many of the principall of this Realme are good witnesses But not to reuiue so great a griefe let vs lay apart the things which cannot be remedied fixing our eies on the true consolation which is that those afflictions were giuen by the hande of God and suffered by the greatnes of his prouidence we ought likewise particularly to comfort our selues that in this wretched and miserable age this Realme hath gotten for their Gouernour so Christian and wise a Prince as is the king mine vncle whose rare vertues and exemplarie life giueth vs cause with reason to expect that he will settle the present affaires in so peaceable an estate that we shall proceede in all things with the mildenes and gentlenes I wish for the loue I beare to all and singularly for the degree of amitie and affinitie which hath alwaies beene betwixt these two crownes and betwixt my selfe and the Lords of the same Realme being all of one bloud and my selfe and my children nephewes of noble king Emanuel being nourished and brought vp by the Empresse and Ladie my Mother For these causes and considerations I haue as great respect to the king mine vncle and as great cause to wish him a long and happie life as your selues But the affaires of the succession of this Realme being in the estate you know I haue with great consideration and due aduise examined the right which it hath pleased God by his secret iudgments to giue me And causing this action to be viewed by men of great learning and conscience both within mine owne Realme and without all doe finde that without doubt the succession thereof doth rightlie appertaine vnto me and that there liues not any at this day that can with reason contradict me by manie and cleere grounds being a male the eldest as it is apparently knowne And hauing resolued to make this point knowne to the noble King mine vncle with loue and due respect I haue earnestly entreated him that it would please him presently to declare it as he is bounde for the discharge of his conscience and for the bond he hath to doe right and iustice but most of al for that it concernes the preseruation peace rest augmentation and prosperitie of these Realmes and of all the subiects thereof the which hee ought both chiefly to care for and to procure seeing that besides the saide effects it shall cause an other of greater importance which is that which concerneth the seruice of God our Lord the assurance encrease of our holy Catholike faith I
whereof were male content fearing it had beene giuen to the Castillians The which was apparant for that a little before there came boldly to the assemblie of the Nobilitie before the whole Councell two mechanick officers of those that representing the people are imploied to the Magistrate of the citie The one of them crauing audience said they had vnderstoode that some of the chiefe of that assemblie neglecting their dutie and honour had spoken slaunderously and wrought against the publike good and suretie of the Realme which like good Portugals they resolued to preuent as before the inhabitants of the same citie had done in the times of king Iohn the first and of other kings And therefore they required the whole Councell as the chiefe and principall member of the common wealth to aide and support them that they might not loose their honor and priuiledges thorough partialities and priuate respects They saide also that for this effect and for the defence of iustice and to chastice seditious Portugals they were readie with fifteene or twentie thousand men betwixt the citie and the countie which they woulde assemble if neede were in two howres to burne the houses of such as shoulde speake too boldly or treate against the publike good and quiet of these Realmes the which they would not put in execution hoping to see them punished and the matter redressed by some other course He concluded that he thought it their dutie to giue this aduertisement that with more assurance they might all treate of the common good without feare of violence or any preiudice and to stop the mouthes of those who suspected in such a cause make all things impossible without seeking or procuring of any remedie Hauing ended this speech one of the wisest of the assemblie made answer that this counsell was acceptable for the loue and affection they had to the common good but there was not any one amongst them which did not desire it with the like zeale and therefore they should rest assured that all things should be handled with good order carefully but notwithstanding this answere they returned with threatning This assembly discouered to the Catholique King not onely the intention of the Portugals in these affaires but also of King Henrie himselfe for that it seemed vnto him they rather held a forme of conspiracy against him then a councell of the states Henry encouraged by his followers for a time intended to marrie dayly consulting with his phisitions to see if he were apt for generation which seemed strange to all such as had knowen him for euerie man beleeued considering the chast life hee had alwaies led that although he had come yoonger vnto the Crowne he would not haue taken any wife and now talking of it being decrepit of age and a Priest it seemed the desire to exclude the Catholique King from the Realme preuailed so much that it did estrange him from his ancient disposition But honors breed in men alteration of manners although his age made men thinke his inclination was rather forced in him then voluntarie Some of the wisest said that the Catholique King should haue a special regard least he were abused in this marriage for although the age and disposition of the said Henrie might well assure him yet the matter being of such importance he should suspect some supposed or adulterate childe or some such like deceit But hauing possibly laboured at Rome that no dispence should be graunted to Henrie he sent into Portugall Fryer Ferrant of Castillio of the order of preaching Friers and an eloquent diuine the cause of his voyage being vnknowne I my selfe being vnable to search the secret It was generally thought he went to disswade the King from marriage with many reasons and especially saying that in so dangerous a time by reason of the Heretickes which did raigne when as Heretickes did tolerate marriage in men of the Church if he now did it being Priest and King he should giue them a verie ill president and this conceit of his going was confirmed to be true hauing vnderstood he was neither willingly heard nor presently dispatched The pretendents had beene cited which were the Catholique King the Dutchesse of Bragance the Duke of Sauoy the Prince of Parma and Anthonie Prior of Crato to send shew their reasons The Catholike King did not answere in forme although Henrie had written vnto him with his owne hand but onely sent a certificat with a Secretarie to his Ambassador in Portugall that he had beene cited Many disallowed this diligence and all agreed that the King causing the Duke of Sauoy and the Pryor to be cited had not dealt therein iudicially saying it was a meane to breed contention the Prior being manifestly a bastard and the Duke apparantly after King Philip. Who being cited framed a new Councell of some of the Lords of his Counsell of State of his Confessor one other Diuine and fiue Doctors of the Councell roiall which he called the adioining of the succession of Portugall they were twelue in number and did onely treate of those things that did concerne that point At this time Iohn de Silua arriued at Madrill from Ciuill to be enformed of matters cōcerning his charge who although he were graciously receiued of the King and did often enter into Councell both to giue his aduise and to take his instructions yet did they delay his dispatch sometimes with one excuse and sometimes with an other And although he did earnestly sollicite that he might enter into the mannaging of so great an action as was the vnion of this Realme and after so many trauailes past goe comfort his friendes with his presence yet in this particular he had either many crosses or small good fortune For being prisoner in Affrick although it seemed to these Counsellors that this charge as his shoulde not be otherwise disposed of vntill they had certaine newes of his life or death yet notwithstanding it seemed that both the Kings meaning and the disposition of his ministers were enclined to dispossesse him not onely when he was present but euen then when he had most reason to beleeue it for that the King hauing alreadie discouered himselfe in secret matters to Christopher de Mora woulde not peraduenture reueale them to any other whereof they were apparent signes some curriers comming out of Portugall directed to other ministers then to those that did handle the matters of succession Besides the Duke of Ossuna to whose will both the Cardinall Archbishop of Toledo and other counsellors did conforme themselues hauing entered into great familiaritie with Mora recommending him to the King laboured that no other should be sent to treat of this busines seeming as it may be vnto him as some did suppose that he would not so easily agree with Sylua being more haughtie He answered to these obiections offering not onely to agree with the Duke of Ossuna and with all those that should be sent but
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
themselues to receiue it without the which mans wisedome were it neuer so subtill coulde not worke as it ought that dooing so the holy Ghost by his grace woulde inspire their harts and lighten their vnderstādings making their wils conformable to his loue to the end that all that shall be treated of may bee to the seruice of God his glory the encrease of Christian Religion and the quiet and profite of these Realmes as he still pretended in all things and as he doth especially desire and procure in these present occurrents to the hinderance of his health but with a most holy zeale Hauing ended this speech Emanuel de Sosa pachecho Deputie of Lisbone rose vp saying That since God by his prouidence amidst so many afflictions hapned to the Realme had giuen his Highnes for successor trusting in his vertue they did expect from him a remedie to their eminent dangers That they were most assured that for the loue and desire of his subiects peace he did not spare his owne health for which loue and grace they did kisse his handes offring him all auncient and firme loialty loue and obedience wherewith the Portugall nation haue beene woont to serue their Kings his predecessors At the ende whereof the trumpets sounding the King was carried into his lodging and for that Almeryn is of small eceipt all the Deputies were lodged at Arem which is neere vpon the other side of the riuer of Tagus assembling at the conuent of Friers there to holde their councell The king laboured all hee coulde to drawe some good effect from these Estates vsing in one case both mildenes and seueritie but he feared greatly the contrarie for notwithstanding he supposed that he had drawne the citie of Lisbone to choose Deputies according to his owne humour yet coulde he not do the like with other cities besides he knew not whom to trust And now was there hapned at Coimbra some small rumour being aduertised that the Magistrate of the Chamber of that city with some other citizens spake too freely in the behalfe of the Prior of Crato touching the succession of the Realme whither he sent Martin Correa de Sylua to pacifie these stirres and to punish the offenders But they laughed at him and hee returned without effecting any thing neither did it preualie that the king for that respect did imprison Aryas Gonzalez de Macedo Deputie of the same citie who was after freely set at libertie The king receiued great contentment by the answer giuen him by the Clergie and the Nobilitie hauing imparted vnto them the interest of king Philip and propounded that it were conuenient to make some agreement with him they kissed his handes yet was there great disagreement amongst the Nobilitie before they coulde resolue for being all reduced to eight and twentie and those put to voices the Catholique king preuailed onely with one voice to the great discontentment of the contrarie faction and heerein the diligence and promises of the Catholique Agents preuailed much But Henry was no lesse displeased with the proceedings of the thirde estate contrarie to his intent and meaning It was generally thought that Phebus Moniz Deputie of Lisbone was conformable to the kings will was chosen to that intent yet vpon the first assembly of the Deputies the thirteenth of Ianuarie he plainly discouered his hart being all assembled as chiefe of the Councell he spake in this manner That the Portugall nation was more pleased with deeds then words and for that he was a Portugall although some did beleeue the contrarie he woulde speake little I beleeue saide he that euery one of you in the Masse of the holie Ghost which hath beene lately celebrated hath beseeched God to direct all to his honour and glorie for it is that we ought to seeke We haue a most holy king who being such it is not credible that he hath assembled vs heere but to doe vs honor for the preseruation of our publike good The Realme hath chosen vs for Deputies all mens eies are turned vpon vs to view if they haue made a good choice Let vs giue them to vnderstande that they haue attained their desires procuring as much as we may the preseruation of our generall good It doth not displease me to heare some say that God hath reserued this cause of succession to be determined in heauen let vs imbrace this saying Let vs goe all to heauen to begge mercy at his hands let vs all make vs readie as at the last houre let vs forget all things below I will assure you on his behalfe that doing so both here in that heauenly citie he will entreate vs as his best beloued I relie much vpon you and I beseech you that if by reason of my sinnes I decline from the name of a Portugall you will helpe to support me that I may not loose it I will be alwaies ready to ioine in any resolution that shal please you These wordes spoken with more vehemencie then eloquence reuiued the spirits of many of the deputies who doubted of his inclination so that after the creation of the officers they alleaged That seeing that the citie of Lisbone hauing propounded to the learned whether the election of the King appertained onely vnto them as the chiefe citie of the Realme and finding it was a thing incident to the whole Realme that it were conuenient before the King should send vnto them to demaund permission in the behalfe of the Realme to pretend the election of the King being all conformable they sent two deputies to deliuer this Ambassage who being ioyfully receiued and with doubtfull speeches returned with no other satisfaction but that the day following he would sende them an answere who being returned to the assembly and making report what they had done Antonio Pignero Bishop arriued sent from the King who spake thus in his name That the difficultie in assembling the States was so great the matter treated of of such importance that it was fit to touch the point of the conclusion laying aside many things which were of no moment That the Catholique King since that his Highnes had taken the Scepter of these Realmes had pressed him to declare his successor saying that he was assured both by the opinion of Doctors of his owne Realme and of others that the succession appertained vnto him but that King Henrie made answere he must be better enformed heare the parties pretending to the same seccession entertaining him in this sort vntill he had knowledge vnto whom it appertained by right and being now satisfied finding there yet resteth some doubt betwixt the Catholique King and the Dutchesse of Bragance he knew that making declaration by way of iustice it might breed many inconueniences and troubles to the Realme being alreadie exposed to manie dangers And therefore he found no better course then to determine the succession by way of accord if he should die before the King of Castil
for by that meanes he should prouide for all things fit for the Realme giuing satisfaction to him that should haue the strongest pretention And although the matter were still in doubt yet the King had thought it the best course as they should well finde and if they would consider thereof being of such importance as his Highnes had thought it conuenient to impart it vnto them and with their counsell to determine what should be most necessarie for the seruice of God and the profit of the Realme That hee did recommend it vnto them that with quietnes of mindes and the onely respect of the diuine seruice and the common good they should treat and consider of this matter giuing the King present knowledge of their opinions This Ambassage did greatly alter the councell who expected an Ambassage from the King whether he would admit their demand concerning the election and seeing they treated with them of a matter halfe ended laying aside what the Ambassador had propounded they resolued to send backe to the King to expostulate an answere of their Ambassage which done they profited no more then before But to Phebus Moniz one of those which went who possibly spake without respect the King made answere with great patience That he should haue come accompanied with choler whereunto he replied that it was reasonable seeing his Highnes would giue the Realme vnto the Castillians Let him giue it to any Portugall whosoeuer they were all contented The day following the Bishop returned to the assembly and without any answer to the Deputies demaund hee saide vnto them in the Kings behalfe That his Highnes vnderstood that some of the Councell were mistaken supposing the accord whereof he had made mention should be betwixt the King of Castill the Duchesse of Bragance which being contrarie he thought it good to explaine his meaning that the accord which he laboured was betwixt the King of Castill and these Realmes and to let them vnderstande that sentence was readie to be giuen in fauour of the king of Castill and therefore they shoulde consider how much more fit it were to ende it by accorde then by sentence that they shoulde well consider of that which he had sent to be deliuered vnto them for being a matter so important to the Realme it was necessarie that all should be capable The Bishop being departed many of the Deputies grewe in choler some of them saying that the Bishop affected vnto Philip had forged this Embassage of himselfe and that it was not credible the King had deliuered it thus vnto him Many spoke freely and some sought to interrupt him before hee had ended seeming vnto them that the king not answering their demaunde made small account of this assemblie saying that he coulde be no iust iudge of this cause seeing he had declared his intention But weighing better if they should confesse that he had pronounced it as a king and iudge they were bound to obey they beganne to say he had made no declaration holding it in suspence They sent to the assemblie of the Clergie to let them vnderstand what had passed and to complaine and to the King likewise to demaund an answer who answering them that he woulde sende did presse them to rest satisfied and to commit the care of this resolution to some fewe of them whereunto the Deputies woulde not agree fearing least the authoritie of the pretendents might force them or corrupt the iudges protesting openly that they woulde neither conuent nor accord with the Castillians But King Henry seeing the Deputies obstinately forcing an aunswere to their demaund finding he coulde neither drawe them to composition nor to compremit the matter to fewe fearing if hee shoulde pronounce the sentence they woulde make some exception resolued to make short to graunt that which they demaunded For which cause he sent backe the Bishop the thirde time who with a more pleasing audience then before saide vnto them in the kings behalfe That seeing the accord he had propounded did not seeme pleasing vnto them as vnto his Highnes he woulde make no other motion but woulde admit them to pleade the interest they had in the Kings election giuing them notwithstanding but two daies libertie to produce their reasons The Deputies glad of this answere sent to kisse the Kings hand for this fauour crauing leaue to draw some auncient writings out of the Records requiring more libertie of time the which he would not graunt referring them to the Soueraigne magistrate for the writings The Portugals were puffed vp with hope by this permission to elect a King at their owne pleasure and therefore many more hastily then they should declared themselues protesting they would rather yeeld to any then to the Castillians And not onely the common people but many of the Nobilitie said the same whereof many shewing themselues too seditious were banished the assemblies whereas such as seconded the Kings will besides the promises of the Catholike Kings Agents were fauoured and rewarded by Henrie The pretendents to the succession were discontented with the Kings inclination some complayned others dissembled The Duke of Bragance relied greatly vpon his wiues Title The Bishop of Parma comming to the assembly of States complayned publikely of the King with graue wordes to whom Emanuell de Sosa made a wise answere assuring him of the Kings intent to doe iustice whilest the matter stoode vpon these termes the King grew so weake as he could not rise from his bed giuing signes of a short life yet did he not leaue to the hower of his death to prouide for all things necessarie At that time the Duke of Bragance thought it fit to send Katherine his wife to Almeryn to visite Henrie to perswade him to declare her heire to the Crowne the which he did with small content to Henrie to whom she spake freely This her comming the Archbishop of Euora vncle to the Duke hauing at the same time giuen a prebend of the same church of great reuenue to Paul Alphonso bred matter of iealousie in such as were affected to the Catholique King who not knowing the qualitie of this Doctor and the obedience wherewith they keepe the Kings commaundements charged him not to haue perfourmed such offices with the Dutchesse as were conformable to Henries commission who drawning neere vnto midnight passed into an other life a thing woorthie to be noted that he began to die in the beginning of the Ecclipse of the moone he died with the end thereof as if that the celestiall signe had wrought that effect in him being a King of a weake bodie which it doth not in stronger or at the least not so suddenly as Astrologians doe write neither is the hower to be neglected being the same wherein he was borne 68. yeeres before The religious which were at his death saide that he was alwaies talking About ten of the clocke hee demaunded howe the time went and being told he desired some rest and that they
should call him before eleuen So as being turned on the other side he remained somtime but being called by the Religious he asked againe what it was a clocke being answered that it was eleuen O giue me said he that candell for now my hower is come and taking it in his hand died soone after hauing raigned seuenteene moneths This was the last King of Portugall in whom ended the direct masculine line And as the first Lord of Portugall although vnder the Title of an Earle was called Henrie so doth it seeme the last should be so termed He was thin of bodie small of stature and leane of his face as for his wit it was indifferent indued besides the Latine toong with some knowledge He was alwaies held to be chast and did neuer blemish this angelicall vertue but with the desire of marriage in his latter daies He was accounted sparing giuing rather then denying for he refused seldome but he gaue sparingly he was ambitious of all iurisdiction as well Ecclesiasticall as ciuil zealous in Religion and the faith yet in the reformation of religious persons he was more stricte then was conuenient He was Bishop Gouernour of the Realme Inquisitor Maior legate Apostolique and King But the more he mounted the more he discouered his incapacitie suffering himselfe in greatest matters to be ruled by his ministers not being able to determine the cause of the succession Opinions were grafted in him with great obstinacie retayning a continuall remembrance of wrongs so as iustice was in him but an iniust execution of his owne passions and for this cause a religious man whom he had pressed to take vpon him a most strict course of life said vnto him that he would obey seeing there was no humaine helpe against his commandements seeing he had the wil of a man the authority of a Pope the execution of a king Finally he was indued with great vertues with fewer lesse vices yet were they equal for he had the vertues of an Ecclesiasticall person and the defects of a Prince during his life he was feared of many and beloued of few so as no man lamented his death onely such as were well affected desiring the cause had beene first decided before his decease had some feeling These things happened in Almeryn where suddenly the fiue named Gouernours did assemble to prouide for that which should be necessarie tearming themselues Gouernours and Protectors of the Realme of Portugal But in this beginning after the kings death they feared some mutinie of the people both at Almeryn and at Lisbone neither did the gouernours themselues nor the Catholique Kings Agents thinke themselues secure They hated the assembly of the Deputies of the Realme which were continued at Saint Arem both for that they held it as a superiour councell as also fearing it might cause some insurrection of the people and therefore they did still abuse them with words differing from their meanings for which cause they sent Martin Gonzalues de la Camera a gentleman of the church who in the time of Sebastian held the first place in the gouerument of the Realme which he could not continue for although he were not couetous of riches but full of integritie yet was he seuere and hard to be intreated that they held him inexorable Him they sent being a popular man and contrarie to the Catholike King whose words they thought should be of more credit then any others hauing particularly reported the Kings death hee said that the Gouernours chosen at the last estates began to looke vnto the gouernment and to giue order for things necessarie to the Realme And although the death of King Henrie were a great losse yet being in heauen he would mediate for them and that they should rest assured that with the greatest zeale and loue to their countrey they could they would indeuour to doe iustice as well to those of the Realme in the pretention they had to the election as also to the pretendents to the succession That they would deliuer them all writings whereof they had neede exhorting them to treat with peace and loue without causing of any mutinie were it neuer so small in any mans fauour and for the better ordering of that which concerned the common good they were well pleased they should put them in minde of any thing which they thought necessarie Hauing ended this speech all men keeping silence Phoebus Moniz answered that they were all assured that of the fiue Gouernours three were suspect for when the King laboured to bring the States to make agreement with King Philip they were not onely conformable to the will of Henrie but did vrge them and commended this resolution without respect of the libertie of the Realme seeking onely to please the Kings humour and their owne interest which being it was not reasonable to suffer such suspected Gouernours whom they were not bound to obey and this was the opinion of them all Martin replied that he was not of opinion they should then alter any thing for in steed of helping they should heape danger vpon danger and trouble vpon trouble that for a while they should be lookers on and if in time they should finde the Gouernours not to doe their duety as they ought they might then helpe with the same remedie seeing they had alwaies authoritie to doe it whereunto although Phoebus Moniz answered that this remedie could not alwais be applied for that the councel could not stil be vnited for the great charges they were at yet the reasons of Martin Gonzalues were of such force that they resolued not to alter the Gouernours as a matter scandalous but accepting what they had sent to be said vnto them that they should aduise what they thought necessarie they began suddenly to set downe in writing such Articles as they would haue perfourmed by the Gouernours The which were that leauing the aboade at Almerin they should goe to Saint Arem to be neerer neighbours more in quiet and in greater safetie that for the auoiding of charge and scandall they should discharge the Souldiers as vnnecessarie That presently they should sende Ambassadors to the Catholique King that as Gouernours of the Realme they would do iustice to the pretendents in the cause of succession the which his Maiestie should beleeue not suffering within his Realme any attempt against Portugall That they should presently prouide for the fortresses of the Realme as well vpon the sea as in other places sending trustie Captaines garrisons and necessarie munition and to euerie Prouince men of great authoritie to force men to defend and succour the weaker parts that they should send some vnto his holines giuing him to vnderstand the Kings death their succession to the gouernment of the Realme for the defence thereof against any one that would vsurpe it contrarie to equitie against the sentence which should be pronounced touching the succession beseeching him to write to the Catholique King to rest
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
he should preuaile in recompence of the discontentment he had to be drawen from Italy Many beleeued the King would goe to this war in person both for the inclination they see in him as for some other signes which were apparant for he not only caused his armes and pauillions to be readie but also commaunded Ferrant de Silua Conte de Cifuentes Guidon Maior of Castill with the Standard Royall to furnish himself the which in that Realme is not accustomed to be carried but in the Squadron where the King is in person but in this case it behooued him to remaine irresolute and to gouerne himselfe according to the necessitie and occasions which time should discouer In this hope of things the King commaunded a Secretarie of the councell of warre to write to the Duke of Alua demaunding of him if he were able to serue in this enterprise whereunto making answere that in that which concerned his Maiestie he neuer made reckoning of his health hee was commaunded to prepare himselfe within three daies and to goe to the campe the which he putting in execution he went to Barrazas a village ten miles from the court which was at Madrill hauing no leaue to come thither but that which caused admiration the king hauing at the same time caused the Prince Diego his sonne to be sworne by all the estates in a Chappell although with ordinarie ceremonies yet with lesse pompe then of custome did not admit the saide Duke to the oath being so neere and so great a personage He did neither write vnto him nor treated with him concerning these warres but long after So as the Duke marching with the armie finding himselfe not fully released from the prison wherein he had beene saide that the King had sent him to conquer Realmes drawing after him chaines and fetters such was the seueritie of Philip and the obedience of so great a minister All Spaine was pleased with this election for besides the deliuery of the Duke which followed they esteemed not the valour of their soldiers without a Commaunder to their mindes and in the Dukes person they helde any armie good The Generall being dispatched the King prouided all things for his iourney into Portugall he caused a daughter borne at that time to be secretly baptized and hauing made the saide prince of Castill to be sworne without calling or the presence of Ferrant de Sylua to his great discontentment the King went to Guadalupa being now the time of Lent vnder colour to performe the obsequies of King Henry there and so to draw neere vnto Portugall to giue encouragement to his affaires and thus did he write to all the principall cities in Spaine He departed from Madrill in coach almost all alone without giuing order for the Queenes departure or for the officers of his Courte notwithstanding cherishing her dearely After he had passed two daies seeming conuenient and a great signe of amitie that being now to enter into Portugall he shoulde be accompanied with his Queene he called her vnto him The Duke was now gone to Glierena where a part of his armie lay being in farre lesser numbers then had beene leuied for that discommodities and sicknesse had consumed many and many places were voide by the Captaines pollicie being in all but fower thousand fiue hundreth Italians three thousand fiue hundreth Germaines and three thousand Spaniards come out of Italy and other seauen thousand newly raised with fifteene hundreth horse which being a body long before prepared for a matter so well foreseene seemed to him but small But the Duke trusting more to the qualitie then the quantitie of his soldiers desired to haue them fewer and of more experience and these seemed in a manner all without knowledge and therefore the King at his entreatie commanded that all the soldiers which were come out of Flaunders into Italy should passe into Spaine being such whom he knew and had tried in the warres yet they arriued not in time but returned backe The Duke saide that surmounting the enimie in horse he would vndertake this warre with twelue thousand foote well experienced neither did he value the great number of the Portugals which assembled as it was giuen out making reckoning to waste them by policie to conquer them without battaile The King being come to Guadalupa there arriued the Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo Embassadors from the Gouernours of Portugall The King with his Councell were doubtfull in what sort to honor them some would haue them treated like subiects without respecting them as Embassadors Others would not haue any thing altered of the ordinarie course obserued in those causes yet not to discourage them it was resolued they should be heard as Embassadors with their heads couered and that the King should put off his hat yet the King had written before to the Gouernors that he would treat with their Commissaries as with subiects These laboured by a long speech to perswade the King to lay aside armes they saide that King Henry had greatly desired to end the question of succession by the ordinarie course of iustice but that death had preuented him he had in the States held at Lisbone in the yeere 1579. not onely chosen Gouernors and defenders of the Realme but the States had also named fower twentie Iudges whereof the King had chosen eleuen to iudge definitiuely the cause of succession if he died before the effecting it the which after hapned and that the matter being brought to that passe the realme remained quiet and peaceable resolute to obey and acknowledge for their Lord and King him in whose fauour sentence should be giuen conformable to the oath which the whole Realme had taken in the said estates the which was after ministred to the same Gouernors in the great church at Lisbone when as the coffer which contained the nomination was opened and therefore they were readie to administer iustice and to acknowledge for King him vnto whom the realme shoulde be iudged by right to appertaine and being thus affected they beseeched his maiesty to command his embassadors to assist iudicially to the cause in the conclusion thereof But the King being assured of his right prouided of forces and seeming no blot to his conscience made answere that he was well pleased with the shew of zeale to the publike good of these realmes and that he was perswaded that what they had propounded proceeded from a good inclination that he would haue bin glad their demand had bin such as he might haue satisfied them the which he wil do alwaies in matter that shall be iust tending to the generall or particular good of these realmes But the equitie of his cause being so apparant to the world remaining no lawfull or competent iudge they neither ought nor could performe the oath which they saide they had taken seeing it were an apparant preiudice to his title and a domage to his owne realmes and therefore he
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
That his Maiestie shall conformably admitte Portugals to the offices of his house according to the custome of Burgundie without any difference betwixt them the Castillians and his subiects of other nations That the Queene shall likewise entertaine into her seruice Noblemen and the chiefe Ladies of Portugall whom she shall fauour and recompence marrying them in Portugall or in Castill That for the good of the people and generally of these realmes the encrease of traffique and the good correspondencie with those of Castill his Maiestie shall be pleased to open the barred hauens on both parties that the marchandize may passe freely as it hath formerly done before the impositions of such customes as are nowe paide That he woulde commaund that all curtesies possible may be done for the bringing in corne into Castill for the prouision of these realmes That he shall commaund to be deliuered three hundred thousand duckats to be imploied for these causes following First sixescore thousand for the redemption of captiues at the disposition of the house of Pittie at Lisbone the one halfe to be imploied for the redeeming of poore gentlemen and the other halfe for ordinary persons all Portugals one hundreth and fiftie thousand to make the ground of a stocke to be lent without interest whereas neede shall require as it shall be disposed by the magistrate of the chamber of Lisbone and the thirtie thousand remaining to cure the infirmitie that now raignes which shall be distributed by order from the Archbishop and chamber of Lisbone They saide likewise that touching the prouision which shall be made for armies sent to the Indies the defence of the realme the punishment of pirats and defence of the frontiers of Affricke his Maiestie shall take such resolution as shall be conuenient within these realmes although it be with the helpe of his other countries and the great expence of his roiall treasure That in recompence of the loue which the naturall borne of these realmes do beare vnto their princes it would please the King to make his ordinarie abode there And although the gouernment of his other realmes which God hath subiected vnto him hinder the effect of this his desire notwithstanding he promiseth to make the most aboad he can in this realme and hauing no cause of hinderance he will leaue the Prince in his place that being brought vp amongst the Portugals he may knowe esteeme and cherish them as his Maiestie doth This role was published throughout all the principall cities of the realmes by the ministers of the Catholique king adding thereunto that if the Portugals desired more the king would grant them anything supposing that as Christians they would require nothing but iust and godly things inferring it may be secretly that they would not yeeld to points of the Inquisition and of iustice THE FIFTH BOOKE The Contents of the fifth Booke The fortification of the Driehead the confusion of matters within the Realme and of the Gouernours The Catholique Kings answere to the Ambassadours of Portugall his expedition in the Vniuersitie of Alcala touching his entrie into the Realme The contrarietie of opinions whether the King should march with his armie in person or not The recouerie of Eluas and of Olliuenza The creating of Antonie for King The Gouernours flight The embassage of the Duke of Bragance to King Philip and his answere The taking of Villauizosa The entrie of the Armie into Portugall The yeelding vp of Stremos THe Portugals did not generally accept the offers made by the Catholique King for although three of the Gouernours the Nobilitie and the Cleargie did in their harts like of them yet the thirde estate did blame them saying it was a rowle of deceipts and a discouerie of Philips small force And that such as had framed these cōditions were more inclined to their owne priuate profit then the good of the realme desiring still the cause might be ended by iustice The Gouernours therefore stil continue the preparation for defence and had secretly sent Francis Barretto into Fraunce to let the Christian King vnderstand their right and the wrong the Catholique King did them seeking to possesse the Realme by force and to demaund the succour of six thousand foote giuing commission to Barretto to goe from thence to Rome to beseech the Pope to mediate with the King a suspension of armes and to binde himselfe to iudgement They sent Elizee of Portugall into Germanie to satisfie the Emperor and other princes touching their defence with manie iustifications such force had their desire to choose a king after their owne humour that seeking succours from forreine princes it was the greatest care they vsed to shake off Philips yoke for that the which would seeme incredible euen in the life of king Henrie some gentlemen that were prisoners in Affrick had required aide of victuals and men from the Cheriffe although there were no likelihood he should graunt it seeing that besides the diuersitie of lawes there was no amitie nor other respect of state whatsoeuer could binde him vnto it For although the vnion of these Realmes vnder Philip discontented him yet being wise and of iudgement it was not likely he should discouer himselfe against so mightie a neighbour nor trust to the weake Portugals being offended and as a man may say hauing their hands yet died with their bloud They proceeded slowly with the preparation of their armies and fortifications both for want of money and for the often disagreement of their ministers And Lewes Caesar chiefe purueior enclined to Philip cared not greatly to hasten the affaires yea expresly sometimes with one let sometimes with an other delaied them so as they onely repaired the fortresses vpon the mouth of the riuer of Tagus and made new rampiers in places where they might descend putting greater garrisons in all places then was accustomed and throughout all the citie of Lisbone they began to build many platformes to plant artillerie for the defence of the sea making readie their gallions and such other ships as they had Yet Emanuel of Portugall either not well satisfied with these fortifications or being naturally enclined to seeme to haue more knowlegde then the rest resolued against the opinion of many well skilled in that acte to builde a forte in the midst of the riuer at the mouth thereof for that being large in that place ships should not passe but within shotte of their artillerie it seemed vnto him that he had good meanes to effect it for that neere to the place whereas it runs into the sea there riseth a small flat hill of Sand but little discouered of the waters the which they call Cabesasecca the which deuides the nauigation or entrie thereof into two parts the one lying betwixt the Iland and the left shoare hauing but a shallow chanell is not nauigable but at a full sea and with small vessels but the other which lies betwixt the Iland and the banks on the right hand is likewise deuided into
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
But Anthony arriuing soone after making his praiers a little without the doore of the chappell the two Bishops went out to meete him with their Rochets to hallow the foundation of the fortresse but the ceremonie was no sooner begun but that Anthony Barachio an impudent fellow holding a handkerchiefe vpon the point of his sword proclaimed Anthony King being followed with great noise and acclamations almost of all the companie who to assure themselues of such as were not of that faction or to shew a certaine valour drewe their swordes At that time Anthony faining a certaine modestie or thrust forwarde by his owne irresolution cried no no and stept forward as it were to stay the people Peter Coutigno captaine of that place with choler woulde haue stopt their cries saying that the Prior desired not to be called king but this preuailed nothing for Baracchio bending his pistol against the captaine put him to silence by reason whereof he departed Anthony whether it were for feare to see so many naked weapons about him or that raised by such a meanes to that dignitie bringes feare with it he was amased and trembled giuing notable signes to his followers who helping him to horse at the first steppe he stumbled and almost fell in signe of presaging ill All the Nobilitie that was present followed him on foote bare headed as King And although a great part of the people were vnaduisedly come thither yet all followed him From thence the Prior went to the church and from the church to the house of the Magistrate where finding the gates shut he brake them open and was there solemnly confirmed King with ordinarie actes and writings the which were signed by all the Gentlemen Portugals that were present and Emanuel de Costa Borges with a standerd in his hande pronounced with a loude voice these wordes Reale Reale as their custome is Being then returned to his lodging he prepared to go to Lisbone there to be proclaimed King as the principall place of the realme In the meane time Velasco was come to Oliuenza where entering without stay by night the xix of Iune he was lodged by Diego de Vasconcellos at the request of the Passani of Eluas and hauing the day following requested the magistrate and the Nobilitie to assemble themselues in the Church of Pitie there to receiue certaine letters from the king being all assembled he deliuered them the which were publikely read finding them full of curtesies The conclusion was to sweare him king Velasco pressed them to answere briefly But as of light occasions sometimes grow important matters so did it here for the Nobilitie of this place being diuided into two contrarie factions the one was called Loby and Gama the other Matt s it chaunced that the letters which the king had written vnto the Nobilitie were by meere fortune first deliuered into the hands of the Loby whereof the contrarie faction made a sinister construction and the rather for that Velasco was lodged in the house of one of that faction They resolued to contradict all their aduersaries should propound And for as much as at that instant there were more of the familie of the Matti in office then of the Loby seeing their enimies inclined to giue place vnto the king they began to oppose themselues and without making answere to the letter they sent with all speede to the gouernours and presently after going to the lodging of Velasco they saide vnto him that they could not giue answere in a matter of so great importance without good aduise and aduertising of the gouernours demaunding fower daies libertie whereunto Peter answering that he could giue them no longer time then the next day morning they departed vnsatisfied saying that they feared nothing for that God would succour them where with Velasco discontented woulde haue sent Fratyn an Italian Ingeneur who was then with him to the Duke of Alua to request him to sende some troupes of soldiers within the view of the place to terrifie them yet being aduised by his friendes that were Portugals and finding the people affected to the king he staied The faction of Lâ—by with all their followers seeing the contradiction of the magistrate assembled themselues in councell making an acte in writing signed by them all whereby they protested that they were readie to obey the king In this time Marke Anthonie Iustinian a gentleman of Genoa friend vnto Velasco and kinseman to the Lâ—by aduised him to leaue his lodging and to talke to the people in the streetes winning them with faire words the which hauing effected and gathering a great multitude about him hee made vnto them a long discourse shewing the profit they should receiue in yeelding obedience vnto the king and the hurt in following the opinion of the magistrate seeing there was a mightie armie so neare them wherewith the people who were easily changed seemed content and following him to the Church of the holie Ghost where the Nobilitie was assembled Velasco entred and saide vnto them My maisters what shall we doe To whom Frier Aluaro in the name of the whole assemblie answered that they were readie to serue his Maiestie Then Iustinian raising Velasco from the ground proclaimed the kings name the which was followed by the whole Nobilitie and likewise by the people who going to the house of the magistrate they called for the Iudge and the Vereadors vpon great penaltie who vnderstanding the people was mutined and that Philip was proclaimed king they were afraide and went to yeeld their obedience the which the castell did likewise perfourming the ordinarie actes and ceremonies Velasco offering in the kings name many exemptions In this manner but more quietly in other places all this frontier did yeeld as Serpa Mora Campo maior Arronghez Portalegre and in other places about the realme they vsed the like diligence At this time Anthony was gone from Saint Arem to Lisbone the Gouernors seeing that succeed which they had long foretolde did fortifie at Settuual with the Duke of Bragance and the Embassadors of the Catholique King fearing the new King would march to them They neglected the defence of Lisbone supposing that Peter de Cugna captaine thereof and Iohn Teglio who as is said was at Belem with their procuration woulde prouide for it as they had commanded them and had sent two officers of Iustice to perswade the Citizens to make resistance But the said Teglio who it may be with greater zeale then iudgement was one of those that woulde haue the cause determined vnderstanding that Anthony was proclaimed king was greatly discontented for that of force hee must leaue the gouernment and make his peace with King Philip with greater difficultie if he shoulde now seeke it Besides that Anthony did not acknowledge the crowne from him and therefore greatly mooued seeming also vnto him that as Gouernour he did wrong his companions they being at Settuual and he at Belem to suffer the Prior so easily to
become Lord of Lisbone without blowes he treated touching the defence thereof being perswaded thereunto by the Magistrate who requested him to enter the citie to that end protesting that if the Prior tooke possession it shoulde not be their fault which coulde not hinder it but his who could and would not By meanes whereof although but coldly he assembled many companies of peasants thereabouts the which he sent for the guard of the citie and to hinder the Priors entrie He commaunded Peter de Cugna to take care for the defence thereof being resolute not to enter himselfe and hauing called to Councell the Gentlemen that were present they resolued to send with speed to Anthony Diego de Sosa and Frauncis de Meneses entreating him not to enter into Lisbone nor to call himselfe King but onely Protector being a name more fit for all occasions that might happen And although they went with this commission yet many aduised Teglio that notwithstanding all these demonstrations he should not hinder the course of the Priors good fortune so as wauering in his opinions not resoluing in any thing he was cause that the souldiers or peasants that were raised about the citie hauing neither order nor commission from the Gouernors knew not what to do whether to accompanie the Prior or hinder his entrie for that Emanuel of Portugal who had proiected to make the Prior King laboured to preuent all their resolutions and hauing resolued he purposely made their executions vaine Peter de Cugna saide that if Iohn Teglio woulde not oppose himselfe in person that he woulde not accomplish it being his inferior whereunto Teglio replied that it was the captaines dutie either of them excusing themselues vpon the other both with seuerall intents The Prior drew neere to Lisbone but he was in danger neuer to come there for neere to Sacaben which is sixe miles from the citie staying in the fielde to speake with Frauncis de Almeda his friende there was a Harquebuse discharged at him wherewith Frauncis was slaine and no man able to discouer from whence it came they supposed it was intended against the Prior himselfe Soone after he arriued at the citie with a small troupe especially of the Nobilitie hauing fewe other with him but Diego de Sosa and Frauncis de Meneses and therefore they suffred him freely to enter being of al those that mette him proclaimed king There were fewe at that time within the citie both by reason of the plague and for that many helde not themselues in safetie seeing the realme in diuision on the one side the Catholique king entred with a mightie armie on the other side were the Gouernors in a manner conformeable to the saide King lastly was the Prior being poore alone ill aduised made King by a handfull of the base people So as there was not any of the Iustice or Nobilitie that went to visite him and of the superior magistrates there was but one Vereador to be founde the rest being hidden Notwithstanding he went to the pallace vpon the riuer wherof he tooke peaceable possession as also of the Arcynal and storehouse of armes he created a newe purueior and newe officers of Iustice and newe Vereadors supplying all other offices that were voide From thence he went to the Towne-house to be proclaimed King with ordinarie ceremonies all the principall of the citie being assembled to whom Emanuel Fonsequa Nobrega a doctor of a bolde spirite spake in this manner I see grauen in your countenances the ioy and content which is conceiued in your harts hauing attained to this so happie a daie wherein you sweare him king whom you so much desire I account all words friuolous to animate you thereunto I may speake vnto you with courage for that your desires exceede my eloquence I know that euery small delay doth not onely grieue you but also greatly displease you that any other shoulde effect that first which you haue so much wished and which was fitte you shoulde haue done seeing that from this citie as principall the rest of the realme shoulde take their lawe But be as ioyfull and willing to this acte as you please be my wordes neuer so superfluous yet encouraged by dutie and loue I must briefely deliuer vnto you my aduise I will not make any particular repetition of his afflictions nor with what iudgement he hath surmounted them being infinite and the time shorte Let it suffice you to vnderstande as you doe that by a fatall destinie he hath alwaies encountred against the proud arrogancie of this world For as vertues be by reason of our sinnes most commonly hatefull to princes in this age and vices cherished as vertuous and nobly minded he hath alwaies beene hated and oppressed So as sometimes tearming him a bastard somtimes preferring those whom he shoulde precead they laboured by all meanes to blemish that glory that did shine in him I will lay aside the disgraces he suffred with king Sebastian at his departure for Affricke which others woulde haue taken for an excuse to staie yet acquainted with the frownes of fortune although he did iudicially foresee that he went to his ruine he chose rather with so great danger of his person following the rashnes of an other to remaine a slaue vnto the Moores then to blemish his honour with any reproch how small soeuer He remained prisoner as he had foreseene in that vnhappie day King Sebastian his nephew died before whom many other princes all heires to the crowne were deceased there remained none but Cardinall Henry who for the ripenes of his age and indisposition of his body was thought to be of short life so as the realme was in a manner without heire But the King of kings although he seemeth sometimes slacke yet doth he equally weigh and execute al things prouiding so that whilest king Henry enioied the realme in those fewe daies of his life which remained he miraculouslie deliuered from the hands of the Moores him whom he intended shoulde be our true king I say miraculouslie for in truth it seemed impossible that mans wisedome coulde deliuer him as it followed for that according to the custome of those infidels he being a prince he shoulde haue beene presented to their prince and there kept in perpetuall prison or at the least redeemed for the exchange of cities and fortresses or for some great summe of money yet see if this were not a miracle in short time he was deliuered and without raunsome He returned into the realme where fortune not yet wearie of him crossed him with a thousand afflictions all which he hath ouercome and surmounted by his vertues behold him now heere and although he seeme to be inuironed more then euer with enimies yet doth he relie vpon your valour and I in his wisedome that he will vanquish all things Reioice then that he doth accept of this scepter against his competitors for the loue of you doth more encourage him thereunto then the desire of
moreouer that he was much amazed to heare him confesse with his owne mouth that they had daily practised with Anthony that they treated with a rebell who had committed so horrible a crime aduising him in signe of loue heereafter to abstaine from all such treaties so contrarie to that fidelitie whereunto they were bounde and so vnwoorthie of their authoritie and reputation shewing likewise that he marueiled they woulde suffer themselues to be informed from the Deputies who promised to cause Anthony to forsake the title of a king which he hath vsurped as if it were an offence capable of repentaunce whereas they shoulde well vnderstand that they be ordinary practises and discourses of rebels to deceiue them as they had formerly done And whereas the Deputies call it an accord or vnion for the defence let them take heede that it prooue not a league and a conspiracie framed to make him partaker with Anthony his offence from the which God had yet preserued him He concluded that he would alwaies giue a gentle audience to that which shoulde be propounded on his behalfe with intention to doe him all the grace and fauor possible in his demaunds This answere being receiued the Duke sent certaine gentlemen to treat an agreement with the king the which continued long making vnseasonable demaundes on the Dukes behalfe Notwithstanding the King desiring that before they proceeded further he shoulde acknowledge and sweare him for his Lorde The matter remained in suspence with small content to the Duke who found not onely the hope of his Iustice to fall out vaine but likewise not to be fully reconciled to the king who tooke possession of his countries hauing alreadie lost Villauizosa one of his chiefe places and of great importance where hee made his aboad although he had well fortified it The which hapned presently after the reduction of Eluas by the meanes of a Castillian whom he had left within the castell either trusting in him or neglecting of it This man hauing intelligence with captaine Cisneros who was in the Dukes campe treated to deliuer vnto him in the night one of the gates of the castell the which descends into the ditch thereby secretly to bring in the kings forces the which he did effect The night appointed for this enterprise being come the Duke commanded Sanches d'Auila to go with the soldiers he had about Eluas and take possession of the fortresse who hauing taken their Harquebusiers behinde them marched so that night that in the morning they came to Villauizosa and approching the gate that was promised them they founde that although it were open yet coulde they not enter for that being farre from the ground the ladder which they had brought was too shorte and coulde not reach vnto it so as in dispaire to put it in execution the day growing neere they were readie to returne fearing to be discouered But as many times thinges are fitted to the violent course of fortune the Castillians founde within the castell ditch an other ladder which the soldiers within the forte had by chance left there the which bounde to that they brought reached vnto the gate so as all the soldiers entred the castell without being discouered hauing neither guard nor centinell but were all laide to sleepe hauing a mightie armie of enimies within tenne miles of them so as in this manner the Duke of Bragance lost the best and strongest furnished place he had Many were then of opinion the King shoulde not go in person with the armie for although some helde it was necessarie he should goe alleaging the former reasons yet such as helde the contrarie opinion added vnto their reasons that throughout all the way vnto Lisbone and in the citie it selfe they died most violently of the plague although the aire did not seeme corrupted that it was not conuenient to hazard the life of a Prince who was a pillar of the Church and Lord of so many Realmes That they might answere vnto the reasons of conueniencie which was spoken against this opinion that it was like vnto all other humane things which haue two reasons for waighing the one it importes much and regarding the other they seeme light The importance of the enterprise is verie great considering the valour of the realme and his interest but if you consider that they oppose against the person of so mightie a king that of Anthony a rebell who doth scarse deserue the name of a tirant and that with the Duke of Alua and so many Noblemen Italians and Spaniards you compare the Count of Vimioso yoong without experience and all the rest of their traine and that against so valiant soldiers of all nations there come peasants gathered togither from the villages about Lisbone and the slaues of Ethiopia you may easily iudge the great indignitie the king shoulde suffer being present in this expedition They alleaged the like reason against the hope of good successe for although it seemed a matter easilie to be effected considering the qualitie of the enimies yet regarding the difficulties alleaged the matter was in suspence remembring the examples of King Iohn the first of Castill Alphonse the fifth of Portugall either of them entring at diuers times with an armie into other countries and both returned flying and broken As for the sweete content it seemed the Kings entrie should bring and contrariwise the sharpenes of the Duke of Alua they saide it was well considered yet the King remaining at Eluas or in any other place vpon the frontiers hee shoulde giue a generall content This opinion seeming the better and with most grounde not onely pleased the King but bred such an impression in the mindes of many that it passed the limits for that the cōsiderations of safety are limited with feare so as they began to apprehend too much saying the king was not sure at Badagios and that he shoulde retire himselfe to Ciuill vnder colour to dispatch away the armie seeing it had already entred the realme for the Duke marching from the frontier the King shoulde lie open to all attempts of the Portugals who might make their courses euen vnto the walles of the citie That Anthony seeking to make this diuersion he might easilie effect it with so great force as the king shoulde be constrained to retire himselfe with small authoritie and recall his armie although it were about the wals of Lisbone yet woulde not the king by any meanes heare speake thereof but perswaded such as were of that opinion that for a worlde no for his owne life he woulde not retire a foote backe but was resolued to staie in Portugall in some place of the frontiers which shoulde be thought most conuenient and for that effect reteined certaine troupes for his guard The Duke of Alua who had assembled his armie at Cantigliana passed the 27. day of Iune by the kings commandement the small of Caya which diuides the two realmes entring into Portugall with great quantitie of munition
there he shoulde shewe vs his forces that the generall opinion is that there hee may trouble his Maiestie in the iust possession of the realme so as chasing him wee shall deserue the greater recompence by performing an enterprise that seems vneasie the which in my iudgement wil prooue no more difficult then the rest of this realme hath beene if you be the same men you were few daies since Yet suppose not that I acknowledge these victories wholie from your valour for I thinke I may attribute it better to his Maiesties right the iniustice of Anthony Who is he but knoweth that the realme appertaineth by iust title vnto our king what iudgment seate is there in the world which hath not of themselues giuen sentence in his fauour And contrariwise who is ignorant that Anthony hath tyrannously vsurped the title of a king that he hath neither right nor title to the realme that hee is a bastard insufficient and vncapable of this degree which things are knowne to all men and therefore the iustice of God will make vs instruments to punish him that deserues it So as neither rampiers riuers nor fortresses can serue him that is in the wrong for that a guiltie conscience not onely weakens the hart but makes all forces vaine The equitie of the kings cause and your valour are not to bee encountred by so weake enimies but will surmount greater difficulties then this as you haue seene and shall see tomorrowe if it please God These words with the authoritie of the captaine most renowmed amongst these soldiers made all men iudge that his resolution was well considered and therefore Sanches d' Auila for the night and the day following did thus order the armie He caused them to plant vpon the banke directly against the towne such artillerie as he had in a place conuenient both to scoure the passage to endammage the other side leauing his lodging guarded with Germaines and Spaniards he tooke the thirde parte of his foote his boates and horsemen went by night vnto the passage where he had been there to imbarke passe to the other banke meaning to charge the enimie in flanke the other two thirds of the armie vnder the charge of Rodorick Sapatta shoulde imbarke at Pietra Salata in the rest of the barkes and draw after them so many horses as they coulde tied by the reines making shew to passe there to the end to keepe the enimie busied with this feare yet commaunding them not to passe vntill they shoulde see the enimie charged by the other thirde part which had beene transported at the other passage All these things were duly executed for the Portugals being vnexperienced in warre coulde not prouide for so ordinarie a stratagem so as Sanches d' Auila being come to the towne side he founde so weake resistance that although some companies of soldiers were runne thither yet he landed easily And whereas their boates were not able to transport all their soldiers togither the first which landed hauing entred skirmish with the Portugals before the comming of the rest hauing slaine tenne or eleuen of them they put them all to flight The Prior beleeued not the Castillians shoulde so soone haue passed but vnderstanding what they had done and the small resistance of his men being not yet generally published hauing assembled many and of the chiefe he spake thus vnto them Tyrants vse in their pretentions when they distrust their right to flie vnder other colours to force vsing this in steede of iustice to obtaine their desires but iust and louing Princes not onely submit themselues to iustice but do continually striue to be conformable to the will of their subiects As for me at such time as the succession of this realme failed I was resolute to obey him that by right shoulde bee declared king I remained quiet vntill that Philip dispairing of his iustice and taking armes it pleased you to name mee your king and protector I accepted this burthen more as God shall preserue our libertie not seeing any one that coulde gouerne you with true loue then for any desire to rule howe I haue behaued my selfe how euery thing hath passed you knowe who haue beene alwaies and in all things not my subiects but my companions want of time woulde not suffer vs to prouide many things necessarie for the warre for I was no sooner named king but the enimie prepared hauing before plotted many ambushes and resolute what to doe inuaded vs with his forces the which was cause that the munitions appointed the succors promised by Christian princes could not come in due time the which hath made our successe vnhappie we haue in a manner disarmed already tried the hazard of a battaile if you thinke good to aduenture it againe against an enimie that followeth vs do as you please but I am not of that opinion for hauing hitherto aduentured my person and made this breast a buckler I am not now resolued except you do otherwise aduise me to thrust both you and my selfe to the hazard of a doubtfull battaile by the victorie whereof although it shoulde remaine on our sides there could not succeed the intention we haue to expell the enimie out of this realme by loosing it I should be frustrate of the hope I haue conceiued to free you soone from the yoke which hangs ouer you God is my witnes that al which I haue done and shall do neither hath beene nor shall be to any other ende but for the loue of you and to make equall this ballance of iustice the which is now forced by the might of the greatest enimie that euer Portugall had I know well you will beleeue me but if any amongst you doth distrust my words let him consider that if I had not regarded your profite but mine owne priuate interest I had beene now quiet rich and reconciled with the Catholique king who hath often sought me by offers and large promises and you had beene tyrannized ouer and in a manner slaues as those be that haue no kings of their owne countrie But God forbid that euer I shoulde preferre mine owne profite before yours or mine owne benefite before the realmes whose people haue so much loued my progenitors I may well at this time yeeld vnto the vniust forces that doe oppresse me yet will I neuer renounce the realme nor my title but with newe armes and new force I hope againe to trie mine action so as this sorrow which I now see in your faces shall be soone turned to ioy those armes that munition those men which are not now arriued in time shall serue hereafter And if it be a humaine thing to take compassion of the afflicted I hope being so vniustly molested to moue pitie not only in the most pitifull but also in the cruellest nations of the world I knowe that this loue which you haue alwaies borne to me and my predecessors shall no waies be diminished by any sinister euent
betwixt the armie and the enimie not able to discerne which should be the contrarie parties for it seemed the soldiers neither could nor ought to make themselues parties against their Commaunder neither ought the enimies to be admitted against a conquering armie And if so strange a thing shoulde happen it might likewise be supposed that the enimie shoulde be declared faithfull and the armie which had conquered the realme pronounced rebels They inquired wherein the Duke had offended if as a Gouernour or as a captaine for saide they he coulde not erre as a gouernour hauing neuer resolued the smallest matter without the kings aduise besides that hee had not gouerned aboue two moneths If as a captaine what had lawes to doe with armes and the militarie stile with the ciuill But for all this discourse they did not greatly weigh the Dukes offences supposing in the ende that his greatnes and innocencie shoulde protect him Their owne priuate interest did most of all trouble them loosing all hope of recompence for their former seruices saying that for this last and notable exploite they did rather see punishment prepared then rewards They imagined the king did not well conceiue howe they had conquered him a kingdome in eight and fiftie daies after the same manner to followe their owne phrase as the kingdome of heauen is woone that is to say in fasting with bread and water and without taking from any man the which they said being furnished with nothing but bisket hauing no libertie to spoile any towne They could not endure to be slaundered by idle courtiers and bachelors for so the soldiers in hate and derision of lawes iustice terme the greatest Doctors of the Councell saying that those men remained at Badagios to drinke coole in sommer with ice scorning those that suffered these dangers They remembred their labours suffred at sea comming out of Italy the famine of Spaine the intolerable heate of Estremadura the plague of Portugall the seuere discipline of the Duke and the gibbets set vp for euery small disorder they added that to the end the victorie gotten at Porto shoulde not remaine vnpunished the King to speake plainly had sent another Doctor against Sanches d'Auila and that part of the army which had made an ende and assured him the realme And it was true that Frauncis Tedaldo Auditour of the seate of iustice which remaines in Gallicia was sent thither who did strictly informe of all manner of excesse imputed either to Autla or his soldiers They saide it was apparant in this courte howe much letters were preferred to armes seeing that all such as followed this action vnarmed had wrested from the soldiers the fruites of their labours and the price of their blouds seeing the King had satisfied their desires in the greatest measures they coulde wish not giuing any recompence vnto others the which they prooued in setting downe particularly the offices the King had giuen to the Duke of Ossuna and other Embassadors for they did assure and it is true that the greatest in Spaine aspire to no other charge then to be Viceroy of Naples whereunto they labour to come by many degrees and that the King had reserued this for the Duke of Ossuna As for other Noblemen and Gentlemen they sought for nothing more then to be of the Kings chamber which place he had giuen to Christopher de Mora togither with the best offices of the realme of Portugall They touched likewise the Lawyers which be of the Kings Councell saying they coulde not aspire higher then to be of the Councell of the Chamber the which is a tribunall of three or fower Doctors elected who determine with the King of pardons and other matters of grace and that this office which Rodorique Vasques enioied he had likewise giuen to Lewes de Molina preferring him before his auncients These speeches with others more inconsiderate were spred amongst the soldiers with a soldier-like libertie And although they erred not much from the truth yet men without passion iudged that this aggrauating was vniust and slaunderous being no great maruaile that a King who ought to haue regarde to infinite matters the which passed the consideration of priuate men shoulde giue eare to the many complaints that were made against this armie and force them to their purgation and that it was not likely that Villafagna or Tedaldo had power to iudge in this case but onely to examine the truth That whereas Villafagna had in a manner carried his commission secrete it was an argument of the Kings respect and modestie who sought to proceede with the more mildenes and without any blemish to the Duke or his captaines although it was not reasonable the soldiers shoulde treade this realme vnder their feete as the rebellious countrey of Flaunders or of a King that were an enimie or giue vnto the Portugals the odious titles of rebels and disloyal although they deserued well the name of troublesome and transported subiects vneasie to yeeld vnto this new yoke This mutinie continued long but for as much as the Commissioners did not punish any nor as I beleeue made any triall their humours grewe more calme wherein the wisedome of Villafagna preuailed much togither with the small subiect they founde when as they came to examine the truth of such complaints as had beene made to the King Now the day appointed by the King for the assemblie of the States grew neere but before he shoulde goe to Tomar the place appointed for their assemblie he ment to visite Katherine Duchesse of Bragance who for that cause was come from Villauizosa to Villa Boim whither he went to her accompanied with all the chiefe of his Courte and hauing staied with her halfe a day in great familiaritie he returned to Eluas and from thence departed towards Tomar He did not there so sodainly dispose of rewards as the Portugals expected hauing as it is saide before made a Councell for Portugall of speciall men to whom he referred all matters not admitting the Castilliās to entermeddle with any cause of the realme no man was heard nor dispatched as he pleased for the King made no haste his ministers were confounded in the quantitie qualitie of their requests not able to resolue in so intricate a busines so as the care of expedition was delaied by reason whereof the Portugals saide that although the King in his letters words and habite seemed curteous altogither enclined to Portugall had promised great rewards yet in particular whether it were his fault or any others they yet see no recompence To the Duke of Bragāce who aspired to great matters as then they gaue nothing being excessiue in his demaunds he had onely confirmation to be Constable of the realme they gaue him the order of the golden fleece and the King fauoured him extraordinarily taking him to masse with him behinde the curtaine without any other recompence which might either breede him profite or power Before
it fearing that the king of Spaine by reason of the newe Acquisition of Portugall and the warres wherein the Turks were busied against the King of Persia might trouble this prouince yet he ministred matter of suspect for the Catholique King hauing treated with the Cherriffe to yeeld vnto him Alarache in exchange of Mazagon and not agreeing for that the Moores are great deceiuers in their promises It was suspected the Turke vnderstanding this practise had sent Lucciali to diuert this exchange to fortifie Alarache and furnish it with Turkes so as being so neere neighbour vnto Spaine and a conuenient port for galleies it might greatly annoy him But hee returned after to Constantinople being called backe at the pursuite of his competitours The State of Flaunders ministred matter of consideration for although the Prince of Orenge had long enioyed the greatest part of those prouinces yet the king had great hope especially now vpon on the conquest of Portugall that this people woulde be aduised and that one day he shoulde reclaime them but this hope soone failed for that Frauncis de Valois Duke of Alançon brother to the most christian King Henry the thirde being entred with armes into Flaunders and hauing succoured them that were in Cambrey he forced the Prince of Parma Captaine generall for the king being at the siege thereof to retire And although being master of the citie he presently returned yet the state of Fraunce seemed troublesome and readie to attempt some newe and important alteration the rather for that the French were animated by Anthony Prior of Crato who was come thither out of England being embraced by the Queene mother of Fraunce and visited by the whole Courte They had intelligence likewise of a practise which displeased them that the saide Duke of Alançon shoulde marrie with Elizabeth Queene of England and for that he had passed and repassed aboue once into that Iland it was giuen out the marriage was secretly cōcluded but whether it were so or otherwise the death of the said Duke of Alançon ended that combination but men of the greatest iudgement beleeued that her Maiestie of England was not married to the saide Duke bicause she had refused so many great Kings and Princes in former times and had liued with the reputation of a most chaste vertuous Princesse The Catholique king complained to the most Christian king that he had receiued the Prior his rebell into Fraunce of the succours giuen to Cambrey and blamed the marriage with England labouring to diuert it all he coulde saying that he ought by no meanes to yeelde vnto it for the difference of religion The King of Fraunce as they said made answere to these propositions by his Embassador That as for the marriage he left it to the Duke who was thereunto enclined with all the Nobilitie in Fraunce and that hee was not master of their wils That the Prior had beene receiued by the Queene mother who being Queene as she beleeued of that realme had receiued this her vassall That he had opposed himselfe to his brother touching the succours of Cambrey but his admonitions were of no credite This answere confirmed the Catholique king in the opinion hee had conceiued that these expeditions which had beene made in the name of Alançon were all lets proceeding from the King and couered with this maske seeming impossible that the Duke contrary to the Kings will and pleasure shoulde raise so great forces in Fraunce The which although it seemed incredible yet Fraunce had continued long in such an estate that it was no maruaile for that King Henry and his predecessor Charles the ninth hauing beene molested by their subiects vpon the points of religion all was in disorder and although the state seemed somewhat better pacified yet their mindes by the meanes of these former troubles remained still enclined vnto warre And for as much as Fraunce Englande and Flaunders did somewhat assist in these matters of Portugall for the better vnderstanding of things that follow it may be lawfull for me to digresse a little to speake something of these countries In Fraunce liued Katherine de Medicy mother to the king whose age and valour all Fraunce obeied she seemed to be discontented with the Catholique king for diuers respects but that she made most shewe of was that he had taken the realme of Portugall by force refusing to submit himselfe to iustice saying that she had more interest then hee whereupon it was supposed that mooued with this disdaine she shoulde labour to make warre against Portugall with whom agreed the said Duke of Alāçon her son no lesse enimy to the Catholique King then the mother mooued thereunto for that hauing demaunded one of the daughters of the saide King in marriage he was refused for that he required with his wife a portion fitte for her qualitie He was followed by the whole Nobilitie of Fraunce whom he might easily lead where he pleased although it were against the Kings liking the which grewe for that remaining the third sonne to Henry the second with small hope euer to aspire vnto the crowne hauing two brothers Charles and Henry his elders hauing a great minde and stirring he gaue eare to al such as discontented with the king or desirous of innouation whereof there are numbers in Fraunce laboured to alter the quiet of Christendome with whom he had often resolued to conquer himselfe some newe estate out of Fraunce Perswaded to this resolution by such as were about him he supposed for a time that his brothers were opposite vnto him and that by no meanes they woulde like of his greatnes so as that which was giuen him by the wisest for good counsell he did interprete to the ill affection they bare him and that they sought to obscure the glorie whereunto he aspired And this iealousie encreased when as his brother Henry was called to the crowne of Poland by not giuing him presently such places as hee enioied in Fraunce By this and such like those which followed him tooke an occasion to settle in his conceite a hatred against his brethren giuing him to vnderstande that they detested his greatnes the which they could so wel effect that although the said Henry did afterwards come by the death of Charles the ninth from the crown of Poland to that of Fraunce yet the Duke continued still his first desires and that with greater traine then before For some considered that Henry being sickly and without children he shoulde one day be king It was therefore no woonder if without the kings consent yea contrary to his liking he attempted many things although there were some shewe that the king his brother had intelligence with him And although his forces ioyned with the Queene Mothers were of importance might well cause the Catholique king to feare yet it seemed that those of England woulde likewise ioyne with him For it was giuen out that Elizabeth doubting the Kings force and knowing the Popes intention
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
fauour him it seemed the Portugals woulde be pleased to haue a yoong king whom they might breede vp after their owne manner But Anthony Prior of Crato sonne of Lewes who was brother to the saide Henrie sought the Crowne but with more vehemencie saying he was legitimate and no bastard as it was supposed And although he were without lands and disgraced by Henry yet being fauoured by the people he supposed that Henry dying he shoulde in despight of all the rest be crowned Emanuel Philibert Duke of Sauoy although sonne to Beatrice yoongest sister to the Catholique Kings Mother and yoonger then the saide King did not yet leaue off his pretentions but with greater modestie And for that amongst the pretendants straungers the Portugals were more inclined to him then to anie other it was supposed he woulde not let slippe the occasion And this inclination proceeded from the opinion they had that in regarde of the qualitie of his person he shoulde be fitter then anie other to defende them from their enimies and if neede were hee might vigorously resist King Philip if he shoulde stirre both by reason of his valour and for the meanes he had to molest him in his Duchie of Millaine ioyning vnto Piedmont vsing chiefly the alliance and neighbourhoode he had with Fraunce The peoples pretention was not vnconsidered for that the issue male of their Kings failing they pretended the election to belong to them they grounded it that women did neuer succeed but in an interreigne a woman was excluded and Iohn the first the tenth king of this Realme chosen by the people It seemed that this pretention shoulde not onely be contrarie to all pretendant strangers but also might breed a diuision within the Realme Katherine of Medecy widdowe to Henry the second King of Fraunce did likewise pretende saying that she was before all others by an action fetched a farre off but fortified with liuely reasons by her Embassadors The ground was That when as Sanches the second raigned in Portugall whom they called Cappello of the habite which he did vse Alphons his brother married with Matilda then Countesse of Bulloigne in Picardie And that after by the weakenes of Sanches the people with the consent of Pope Honorius the thirde then raigning called in Alphonse to be as tutor and gouernour of the Realme a testimony of the auncient Religion of this nation who euen in temporall matters did flie vnto the Pope And although at his cōming he did but vsurpe yet soone after the King dying without heires the Earle did lawfully inherite the Crowne hauing had before by his French wife some children who vnderstanding her husband to be King and not to returne any more to Bulloigne hauing prepared certaine ships she went to him into Portugall But for that Alphonse being now King did treat a marriage in Castill to haue the Kingdome of Algarues in dower as he after had without the consent of the Pope she was neither seene nor receiued by him So as all the other Portugall Kings which haue succeeded haue drawen their originall from this Alphonse and the children of his Castillian wife The Queenes Embassadours said That all the Kings which had succeeded him and his children had as Bastards vniustly inherited and that the kingdome ought to returne by direct line to the heires of the lawfull children of the said Alphonse and the Countesse of Bulloigne whom they said to be Queene Katherine of Medicy mother to King Henry the third daughter to Laurence of Medicy and of Magdalen of Bulloigne the onely remainder in direct line of that house and heire to that County the which although shee did not then possesse being incorporate by the Kings of Fraunce as a matter of importance seated vpon the limits of Flaunders and England yet they gaue vnto the Queene in recompence the Earledom of Lorangueil which shee now inioyeth They did likewise affirme but with small reason that the Pope did pretend alleadging that the Realme was not onely the spoile of the Cardinall but when as Alphonse who was the second Earle of Portugall obtained of the church the Title of a King hee bound himselfe to pay certaine markes of gold for a Tribute But heere of they made small reckoning These pretentions did much afflict the mindes of Princes and made the people feare some broyles vnderstanding that both the Queene of England was displeased against the Catholike King for the affaires of Ireland and that the King of Fraunce and the Turke were not contented to see King Philip become so mightie conquering a kingdome of so great importance On the other side Philip would not indure that any other but himselfe should become Lord for the neighbourhood of their countries supposing the least inconuenience that could happen was the ciuill warre betwixt the Duke of Bragrance and the Prior. But returning to the Cardinall Henrie being seated in the royall throne although he were of 67. yeeres of age and not healthful yet he looked about him and as it were determined from aboue that Portugall should fall by degrees to his declining hee did not prouide for the state according to the opinion that was conceiued of him but the Realme by reason of their miseries passed remayning as a bodie emptie and afflicted which needed a wise Phisition to restore it But as one mischiefe comes not alone the new King did more torment it for although many supposed that hee being olde a priest and of an exemplarie life hee should lay all passions aside and be more carefull to settle the state of the common wealth then he had found it yet notwithstanding he could not temper himselfe with such disposition as was fit for his yeeres and degree But as it often happens to such as haue beene oppressed who comming to rule seeke reuenge of their enimies euen so did he not imitating the example of Lewis the 12. King of Fraunce who disdained to requite the wrongs done him being Duke of Orleance hee resolued to reuenge the iniuries done him being Cardinal if they may be wel termed iniuries when as Princes be not respected of their inferiors as they ought For being not greatly fauoured by the King his predecessor the ministers and fauorites of his nephewe did not respect him as was fit not conceiuing being so old and Sebastian so yoong that euer he should haue attained to the Crowne By reason whereof he depriued almost all the officers of the court and some of them that did mannage the Kings Treasure of their offices and aduanced his owne seruants The first on whom he discharged the heat of his choler was Peter d' Alcasoua for that he did detest him from the time he was Secretorie and he Gouernor of the Realme during the nonage of Sebastian as also for that he thought to haue reason to punish him hauing beene an actor in these warres and seconded the Kings will and as one of his Chamberlaines had had the greatest charge
satisfied and to be bound to stand to iudgement They did vrge them to take information by way of Iustice against those that in the cause of succession did suborne with promises of money honours and also such as were suborned hauing knowledge that there were many such Whereunto the gonernors answered that they would presently depart from Almeryn but whither it was not expedient then to say and that it shoulde be conformable to the demaund of the citie of Lisbone They saide that they woulde not discharge the souldiers being leuied by the commandement of King Henry for the guard of his Court and of the pretendents That some hauing refused to carrie this Embassage into Castill yet in the ende they had chosen Gaspard de Casale Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo who prepared to go That alreadie they had commaunded al Captaines to remaine in their fortresses where there were none they were prouiding as also of armes both in the fortresses vpon the riuer as in all other prouinces That it seemed not necessarie to send to Rome but if king Philip made shewe to stirre they woulde beseech his holines to doe as he hath beene accustomed and that they woulde proceede with all the rigour against such as shoulde be found culpable in the matter of subornation Now had the Agents of the Catholique king sent newes into Castill of King Henry his death and were remaining still at Almerin fearing some alteration but this people accustomed to a heauie yoke without knowledge of libertie did not stirre The Duke of Bragance saide vnto the Gouernours that he was readie to obey and that they should proceed to sentence for the succession He sent to the Duke of Ossuna and the Catholique Agents willing them not to feare any thing that he woulde assure them from danger offering them his lodging the like did the Gouernors Whilest these things passed in Almerin Anthony Prior of Crato who at the Kings death was not far from thence ran vnto Lisbone lodging himselfe in a garden neere vnto the citie he did write vnto the Magistrate of the chamber and to many of the chiefe signifying vnto them that hee was there and that they shoulde come vnto him The which the Magistrate vnderstanding disdained sending him worde that he shoulde retire but making no reckoning thereof he sent both into the citie and places of pleasure thereabouts some of his followers who both in priuate and in publike gaue out that the king was dead and that the Prior expected them there beleeuing by that meanes for the affection the people bare him they woulde all iointly proclaime him king which being done in that citie which is the principall all the rest of the Realme for he was greatly beloued would follow their example yet he was soone deceiued And this may serue as an example to those which relie too much vpon the vulgar sort for there was not any one that durst come vnto him but in secret and as for gentlemen there were none by reason of the plague As for the new Christians which are there in great number whereof a part was likewise abroad they wanted courage and being rich feared to doe that which might cause the losse of their goods The people most base of themselues had no commander that could mooue them or lead them so as hauing labored by diuers meanes to draw men to his deuotion finding his practise not to succeed hauing spent some time there he went to the Monasterie of Belem from whence he did write to the Councel of States with words more conformable to the qualitie of time then his intention saying That hauing intelligence of the death of the King his Lord vnderstanding likewise that his bodie should be transported to that Monasterie and that not to faile of his dutie he was come thither to attend it seeing he could not be in time to accompanie it the which he had done that perfourming this last office he might doe them the seruice he ought but vnderstanding that he was not brought thither he had assisted the fathers in their sacrifices and deuotions recommending him vnto God And as a true Portugall and mindfull of the bond which as sonne and nephewe to his father and grandfather he had to the quiet and preseruation of these Realmes he thought it good to aduertise them that he was readie to expose for this cause not onely his life and receiue the lawes which they should please to lay vpon him but also in all present occasions to liue in submission due obedience not any way transgressing their commissions He protested to shew the innocencie of those crymes imposed vpon him in the sentences which it had pleased his vncle to pronounce against him togither with the interest hee had to the suceession of the Realme Hee promised to yeeld himselfe into their hands and protection relying vpon those persons who by the special grace of God in so afflicted a season had been chosen as a remedie to restore this Realme referring himselfe for the rest to Lewis de Brito who should deliuer it by mouth To this letter the which was receiued in councell cōtrarie to the aduise of some who said it ought not to be accepted Brito added that the Prior would be there with speede that they should cōmaund where they pleased he should lodge They answered that he might come when he pleased yet they would not intermeddle with his lodging but leaue it to his owne choice But almost all in generall were pleased with his cōming He staied not long but presently vpon his arriuall he presented the Popes Bull contayning the suspension of the Kings sentence he began to renue the pretention of his legitimation without the finall decision wherof they said they could not treat of the succession wanting no hope to obtaine by the councell of States that which before he did expect from the multitude at Lisbone The Deputies of the Realme did assemble daily at Saint Arem without effecting any thing of importance They spent some daies onely in sending to visit the pretendents and their deputies to make vnto them offers of iustice and likewise to receiue from them thanks for their good dispositions wherin all aboured to shew themselues protectors of the libertie of the Realme and most of all such as least desired it And for that the going and comming to Almeryn was very incōmodious being forced to passe the water without a bridge that by this reason in communicating the affaires to the rest of the States that is to the Cleargie and nobilitie by treating with the Gouernours they lost much time it was propounded in councel to reduce all togither yet could they not effect it for manie of the Deputies began to want money for their ordinarie charges desiring rather to be dismissed then vnited They desired to depart saying that they were not furnishèd frō their cities but as they were not discharged so were they not relieued