before being only Governor at certain Times he used to follow and serve King Alonso in his Wars This King Alonso was born in Galicia in the Year 1035 was married the first time in 1076 died at Toledo in 1108 having reigned 35 Years and lived 73. His Body lies in the Monastery of Sahagun with that of his Son Prince Sancho There also lie four of his Wives Agnes Constance Beatrix and Zayda the other two Elizabeth and Berta in the Church of St. Isidorus at Leon. Now we shall be almost 500 Years without returning to Castile for now begins to bud the Tree of the most August Kings of Portugal a Tree which has shaded much of the World The End of the Second BOOK THE HISTORY OF PORTUGAL The Third BOOK CHAP. I. The Country Extraction Life and Death of Henry first Earl of Portugal and progenitor of all the Kings thereof Opinions concerning Henry the Progenitor of the Portuguese Kings from the Year 1067 till 1112. 1. HEnry the first Founder of the Portuguese Monarchy is by all Men allowed to have been of noble Extraction but others very much differ both as to his Country and Family As to his Family the Bishops D. Roderick Sanchez and D. Alonso de Cartagena say he was of the House of Lorrain but do not name his Parents Duarte Galvan our Antient Chronologer affirms He was second Son to a King of Hungary which Opinion the famous Poet Camoens in his Lusiads follows Damianus de Goes in the life of King Emanuel says he was Son to William Baron of Joinville and Duke of Lorrain and Abida of Champagne James de Valera and Antony Beuter bring him from Constantinople grounding their Opinion upon the History of Spain writ by King Alonso mistaking a Quotation of the Archbishop D. Roderick who Writes that he was of the Bisontine Province meaning Besancon the Capital of the Dukedom of Burgundy which they take for Bisantium or Constantinople Wolfangus Lazius writes he was of Limburg Duarte Nunnez de Leon endeavours to prove he was Grandson to Reginald Earl of Burgundy by his Son Guido Earl of Verneuille in Normandy Lewis Gollut in his History of that Earldom says he was Brother to Raimund both Sons to Earl William All these doubts are cleared by the Antient Manuscript of Fleury which being a fragment of French History was writ in the time of our Count Henry for the Author of it brings himself as an Eye Witness of the three Suns that were seen at the Town of Scyrs on the Banks of the River Garonne in the Year 1108. It was writ by a famous Benedictin Monk of that Convent and reaches from the Year 897 till the Year 1110. Petrus Piteus a learned Man published it with other like Manuscripts and it was Printed at Francfort in the Year 1596. By this Antient Manuscript it appears that Robert the first Duke of Burgundy younger Brother to King Henry I. of France had by his Wife Hermengarda one onely Son called Henry who died before his Father leaving five Sons by his Wife Sibila Daughter to Reginald Earl of Burgundy These were Hugo who was heir to his Grandfather but being left a Widdower without Children became a Monk of Cluni and so died in the Year 1092. Eudo or Odoa who succeeded his Elder Brother Robert Bishop of Langres Henry our Earl and Reginald an Abbot many other Authors too long to insert have hinted that he was of the House of Burgungy tho' perhaps none specified it so particularly His Family once allowed to be that of Burgundy it will need no further proofs to shew his Country besides that it is more likely he should come out of France which joyns with Spain than from Hungary or Constantinople so remote It is also a sufficient proof of his Country that all his followers were French which could not have been were he a stranger to them 2. The Portuguese strive to clear two points for their Honour A remark upon some Conceits of the Portuguese Authors in which there is great difficulty or rather an imposibility for that all arguments are against them the one is to make out that the Sovereignty of Portugal was granted to Count Henry without any acknowledgment to Castile the other that Teresa was lawful Daughter to King Alonso The Arguments for the first are That no Records are to be found in Castile or Leon to prove the Title to such acknowledgment and that their King Alonso the first was anointed King by Christ himself and therefore owed his Crown to him These proofs are meerly Suppositious for as to the first whether such Record remains or not it is not credible that a King would alienate a Kingdom to a Bastard Daughter so as to reserve no Sovereignty to himself nor if he had is it in the power of a Prince to give away the right of a Legitimate Successor to one Illegitimate The second instance about Christ giving a right to the Crown seems so extravagant a Notion that as it carries no proof it needs no Confutation The other point insisted upon is the Legitimacy of Teresa the Counts Wife but that has been spoke of already no Author of Note has named her otherwise than an unlawfully begotten and the computation of the time her Father was married to and lived with his six Wives makes it impossible to allow of a Seventh There is another doubt about Earl Henry's going to the Holy Land which some Pertuguese Authors insist upon without any sufficient Grounds or rather without any probability but whether he did or not is not easy to decide nor worth the discussing let us go on to his Life or rather to the small fragments that remain of it as of all other things before his time but we begin now by degrees to come into days of more light 3. By what has been said Count Henry of Burgundy it appears that Earl Henry was a Burgundian the Son of Henry Son to Robert the first Duke of that Country and Hermengarda Daughter to Count Reinald of Burgundy There he was Born in the Year 1035. being descended by the Fathers side of the Royal Family of Hugh Capet and by his Mother from the Earls of Burgundy The cause that moved Henry to pass over into Spain was the desire of Glory to be purchased in the continual Wars betwixt the Christians and the Moors Authors do not agree about the time of his coming but it appears by Ancient Records that he Governed Portugal in the Year 1073 His coming into Portugal so that he must have been in Castile when King Ferdinand died and when the fame of Roderick de Bivar's exploits 1067. incited strangers to come from Foreign Parts to imitate his Actions Roderick was then near Fifty Years of Age and Henry about Forty The Author of the Manuscript above mentioned says That succours were sent out of France to King Alonso at his request to King Philip I. being then pressed with the War
made by the Almoravides It is likely that Henry came with the Command of these Troops and having gained esteem had the Government of the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho committed to him other great Men governing the others at the same time After the death of King Ferdinand who divided his Kingdoms among his three Sons Sancho King of Castile having taken Portugal from his Brother Garcia and Leon from Alonso his other Brother obliged him to fly for safety to the Moors 1071. Henry accompanied him in all misfortunes till Sancho being killed Alonso was not only restored to his own but seated in the Thrones of Castile and Portugal 1073. King Alonso considering that he who follows a Prince Gains the Affection of King Alonso deposed in his misfortunes does something more than Man concluded that Henry was a prodigy among mortals and therefore from that time resolved to suit his reward to his Fidelity 4. Beatrix the second Wife of King Alonso dying 1076. a match was agreed for him with the Lady Constance Alonso marries his Aunt Aunt to Earl Henry and he was sent to France to conduct her into Spain With him went Raymund Earl of Toulouse and with them both came Raymund Earl of Burgundy which is the reason some Authors write they came all together whereas the other two had been long before in Spain Thus Henry became great at Court the King being his Friend and the Queen his Aunt which his power he used with such moderation that he was beloved by all Men. 1081. He accompanied King Alonso at the memorable Seige and taking of Toledo as also at the Battle of Sagulias near Badajoz 1087. where the King was overthrown 1090. To reward all these Services the King at last gave him to Wife his Bastard Daughter Teresa He takes to Wife Teresa Bastard Daughter to Alonso and has in Dower the City Porto and its Territory whom he had by the Lady Ximena Nunnez de Gusman Her Dower was the City Porto with its Territory then the best part of what was gained in Portugal giving him leave to retire thither and live with his Wife His Age was the cause that he died leaving Teresa young to marry a second Husband which much disturbed the publick Peace Soon after the Christian Princes joining in League to conquer the Holy Land Earl Henry was chosen General of the Forces sent by King Alonso in which employ he gained great Honour He returned from this Expedition to Toledo where the Court of Castile was then kept in the Year 1099. King Alonso at this time being of a great Age sent his Son Prince Sancho being but Twelve Years of Age under the direction of D. Garcia Count of Cabra with an Army to oppose Almanzor the Moor. With them went many Persons of Quality among which the chief was Earl Henry they came to a Battle in the Plains of Veles where the Prince was unhorsed and killed 1100. though Henry and Garcia exposed themselves to save him Overthrows the Infidels and takes Almanzor prisoner Earl Henry meditating Revenge met Almanzor again in the Field whom he dismounted and took Prisoner delivering him to James Ordonnez for to carry him to the King this done Henry broke through the Infidels putting them to flight with a mighty slaughter 5. As it is doubtful whether Henry went to Hierusalem with the other Christian Princes so is it also whether he was present at the taking of Lisbon Santarem Sintra and other strong places by King Alonso but that he was at these latter Expeditions as most properly appertaining to him is most likely For his good services he receives other Territories of King Alonso But his great Age requiring some rest the King at last gave him leave to retire to Portugal giving to him for himself and his Heirs all that was conquered there which was the Cities Coimbra and Viseo and the three Provinces that betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho Beira and Tras os Montes with that part of Galicia as far as the Castle Lobeira and leave to conquer as far as Algarve Earl Henry settled his residence at Guimaraens taking the Title of Earl of Portugal The Portuguese encouraged by the presence of a Prince of their own did much upon the borders of the Province betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho till then not entirely subdued but we have no particular account of their Actions Hecha Martin King of Lamego being a tributary to Henry rebelled and drawing together a powerful Army did much hurt in the Christian Territories The Earl with Egas Moniz a Gentleman then famous and afterward Tutor to King Alonso marched to recover the Booty he had taken and overtook him in a Valley near the Monastery of Arouca The Moor for greater security in case of any misfortune placed his Wife Queen Axa Anzures and all the Prey on the top of a Mountain he thought unaccessible called Sierra Seca The Christian Army encamped along the River Alarda and Egas Moniz seeing the Enemy advantagiously posted undertook with a good party by Night to go about the Mountains and at break of Day to be ready to fall upon them on the top Another overthrow given by him to the to the Moors whilst the Christian Army charged the Enemy below This was accordingly put in Execution and after a bloody Fight the Queen was taken above and the King below they becoming Christians the Earl bestowed the City Lamego upon them they paying tribute for the same 6. The Moores rebelling against their King for changing his Religion 1103. he fled to Guimaraens to crave aid of Earl Henry A Moorish King restored by him who by force took the City Lamego and restored him He fearing in the Earl's absence his Subjects would again revolt desired of him to leave some Portuguese Gentlemen to secure those Lands which was accordingly done and the Country People with Inhabitants brought from the Province betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho He performs other great Actions This year some Writers will have it that Earl Henry went to the Holy Land with Guy of Lusignan and other Princes all the likelihood there is thereof is That we have no account of him in Portugal from the Year 1103. till the Year 1109. King Ali Haben Joseph with a numerous Army laid Siege to Coimbra which he furiously battered during a Month. Earl Henry marched to their relief and coming to a Battle overthrew the Infidels with a great Slaughter Cintra and other places revolted and were overcome but rising again they could not easily be subdued Whilst our Earl was diverted in the Wars of Galicia and Leon where he took some Towns Cyrus King of the Arabs taking the opportunity laid Siege to Santarem whither our Forces hasting to relieve the place were by him overthrown and so the Town being distressed Surrendred The Earl took several places in Leon so that King
Alonso was glad to abandon that City upon promise to relieve it in four Months He overthrew King Alonso of Navarre in defence of Queen Vrraca and about the Government of Prince Alonso soon after Henry being dissatisfied with the said Queen took part with the King against her and defeated Count Gomes who espoused her Quarrel 7. Whilst he was absent from Astorga those People of the Kingdom of Leon that he had subdued revolted 1112. and he returning His Death and Character laid Siege to Astorga In the heat of the Siege he died and his Son Alonso rising with his Army went away to Bury him at Braga Thus Astorga with all its Territory was lost The death of Earl Henry was much lamented of his Subjects for that he was a Prince of extraordinary Piety Valour and Generosity He overthrew the Moors in Seventeen several Battles and took from them many Cities and places of Strength He lived Seventy Seven Years Governed Portugal with the Title of Earl above Twenty and was Governour of part thereof almost as many more He was of a middle Stature a beautiful and awful Presence his Complection fair his Eyes blew and his Hair yellow inclining to red In his antient Pictures he is represented with his Sword in his hand his Body lies in the Cathedral of Braga with a modern Inscription on his Tomb which mistakes his Country and Parentage The Countess Dowager governed this Dominion for some years as being her Dower and her Son being under Age. She might have ruled longer had she not Married or proposed to Marry the Earl of Trastamara D. Ferdinand de Trava this or some other cause produced Civils Wars betwixt the Mother and Son which ended in her overthrow her Son without regard to the duty he owed to a Mother when she was made Prisoner keeping her in the Castle of Lannoso with Fetters on her Feet till she died in the Year 1130. and was Buried by her Husband 8. The Issue of Earl Henry was His Issue First Alonso Enriquez taking his Name and Sir-Name from his Father and Grand-Father This being his Heir is named before the Sisters though they preceded him as to Birth Secondly the Lady Vrraca Wife to D Bermudo Pâ—â—z Earl of Trastamara Thirdly the Lady Sancha Wife to D. Ferdinand Nunnez a great Man in the Kingdom of Galicia they left no Children Fourthly the Lady Teresa Married to D. Sancho Nunnez Son to Count Nunno de Celanova Fifthly he had a Bastard Son by a Woman of Quality his Name was Peter Alonso of whose brave Actions we shall hear in the life of his Brother Earl Henry for some Years wore a plain white Shield till after he had obtained renown by his Sword he added to it a plain blew Cross CHAP. II. The Birth of Alonso first King of Portugal he takes upon him the Government is proclaimed King by the Army his wonderful Victory over the Moors at Ourique he takes Lisbon Santarem and many other places all from the Year 1094. till the Year 1148. 1. IN July 1094. or according to others on the 15th of August 1094. was Born D. Alonso Enriquez only Son to Earl Henry The Birth of Alonso Enriquez Son to Count Henry and his Lady Teresa at the Town of Guimaraens He is said to have been Born with both his Legs cleaving together from the Knees down and that his Governour Egas Muniz having devoutly begged of Heaven to loosen his Feet the Blessed Virgin appeared to him bidding him carry the Child to an old ruined Church at Carquere near Lamego and that restoring the place and setting the Infant upon the Altar he should recover his Limbs Egas for the space of five Years did as he had been ordered and the Child recovered 1105. This Prince was but Fourteen Years of Age when he began to follow the Wars under his Father and was with him when he died at the Siege of Astâ—rga as has been said before 1112. Having paid the last Honours to his Father to express his great respect towards his Mother he committed the Government to her though then of Age to undertake it himself St. Bernard haâ—â—ng at his Convent of Claraval in France had a vision of St. John Bapist Mâ—nks of Claraval came into Portugal directing him to send some of his Monks to found a Monastery in Portugal in the place that should be shown to them by one John Cerita whom they should find there he accordingly sent seven of his Monks They found Cerita who lived an Austere Eremitical life and conducted them to Prince Alonso by whom they were honourably received and encouraged in their Foundation 1120. Being dismissed they settled in a deep Valley encompassed with high Mountains near the River Barosa almost two Leagues from Lamego where they built a Chappel Dedicated to our Saviour which is still in being in the Village called Pinegro 1121. The following Year they built in a place where they had seen certâ—â—â— Lights during Nine Nights as had been foretold by St. John Baptist to St. Bernard Here Prince Alonso visiting them enlarged the Structure at his own cost John Cerita took the order here and reduced several who lived an Eremitical Life in the Mountains to follow his Example The number of Monks thus increasing he founded another Monastery called St. Christopher de Lafoens Both these Churches were afterwards Consecrated and great Gifts offered in them at the Solemnity 2. Prince Alonso having now weilded a Sword long enough to gain Renown 1125. thought it requisite to be Knighted according to the Custom of those days Alonso Knights himself and thinking there was none about him great enough to Confer that Honour on him by putting on his Armour and girding on his Sword as was then the Custom he laid the Arms upon an Altar and taking them thence put them on himself so taking the Honour at his own hands Prince Alonso's Mother being about to marry the second time it bred such Animosities betwixt them that they finally came to Battle near the Town of Guimaraens 1128. the Mother overthrown fled to the Castle of Lannoso He besieges his Mother takes and puts her into Irons which is hard by and was there Besieged by her Son Alonso VII King of Castile and Leon came to her relief with a powerful Army The Portuguese Alonso was not unprovided but meeting him in the plains of Valdevez put to the Sword the greatest part of his Forces took seven Earls Prisoners and the King himself hardly escaped having received two Wounds This done the young Prince returns to the Siege of the Castle which being yielded to him he put his Mother into Irons She provoked at this dis-respect as her Bolts were put on prayed to God that his Legs might be broke and her Prayers were heard as will appear hereafter 3. Alonso now grown absolute Being himself besieged by King Alonso of Castile he Articles for his
great one nor is it any excuse to say there were five Kings subject to one that was supream over them for the principal could not be omitted in the Number and if he was not than the others must be but four Another reason makes me incline not to credit this Story which is that we see the King 's of Castile Aragon and Navarre have often joyned their Forces to oppose a much less power than is here spoke of and it is not credible that such a Multitude could be now amassed on a sudden without their knowledge or much less that they knowing of it should make no provision to oppose that Torrent Nor was there ever such a number of Moors in one body heard of from their first invading Spain till their last expulsion In fine I cannot be reconciled to this monstrous Story and could show many other reasons against it but look upon it as needless this being only a project to gain credit to the Miracles pretended for the founding of that Kingdom which serve only to cover its revolt at that time from the Crown of Castile and Leon. I will insist no more upon it but return to the course of the History 7. Ismael provoked with this loss and desiring revenge battered the City Leyria which he took putting all the Defendants to the Sword except D. Pelayo Guterrez the Governor whom he kept Prisoner He fortified this place to strongly that King Alonso found much difficulty to recover it but at length drove the Moors out of all that Territory King Alonso VII of Castile seeing that erected into a Monarchy which but a little before was only the Portion of his predecessors Bastard Daughter thought it convenient in time to pull down that rising greatness before it was too powerfully cemented together Thus breaking into Portugal by the way of Galicia he came to the plains of Valdâ—vez where the Castilians had been before overthrown 1140. and where our King now again gave him Battle Alonso 〈…〉 the King of Castile The King of Castile was defeated and several Persons of Note taken Prisoners A French Fleet consisting of 70 Sail arrived in the Harbour of the City Porto The King invited them to assist him in the taking of the City of Lisbon 1141. which having some years before been made tributary A 〈◊〉 of French at Porto was again revolted This united power of Christians attempted to scale it but without any success being forced to desist for that time 1142. The Moors obtained a Victory at Soure over the Knights Templers and among the Prisoners carried away to Santarem Martin Vicar of Soure esteemed a Holy Man whose Father Aires Manuel when his Wife died led an Eremitical Life 8. Ansciri a valiant Moor Governour of the Town of Santarem 1144. with his often Excursions had highly provoked King Alonso who long meditated how to surprize that place At length being at Coimbra he took only four men of Quality with him into a Field where having consulted with them of the method of putting their design in Execution The taking of Santarem he charged them upon pain of death not to reveal to any Man what they had discoursed about As they returned home along the Banks of the River Mondego an Old Woman said to others that were with her so loud that the King and his company heard it Do you know what the King and Noblemen have been about They are consulting how to take Santarem the King hearing this said to those Gentlemen if any one of you had gone a step from me before I heard that Old Woman I would have cut of his head So hard a matter is it for a Secret to be concealed The King being resolved to gain that strong Town 1145. made a vow if he succeeded to build a stately Monastery at Alcobaza and endow it with all the Land he could see at the time of making the Vow At the minute he made this Vow St. Bernard who was then at Câ—aravallis in France by Revelation from God sent two Monks to begin that Monastery Five days the King spent marching from Coimbra to Santarem and made himself Master of it in an hour some of his Men had Scaled the Walls before they were discovered and then in the confusion had time to break open a Gate at which the King entred The Booty was very considerable and the Town remained in the power of the Christians several lesser places followed the fortune of Santarem but the King now bent his thoughts upon greater Conquests 9. Our King being at the Rock of Sintra with an ardent design to possess himself of the City of Lisbon discovered a mighty Fleet at Sea A Fleet of English French and Flemings in the River of Lisbon which made towards the mouth of the River Tagus This Fleet appearing he understood was composed of English French and Flemings under the Command of William Long Espe â—nd other inferior Captains Some Authors report that Henry King of Denmark a Duke of Burgundy and Theodoricus Earl of Flanders were also in it After struging with a Storm they were coming to Water and recruit themselves at the foot of that Mountain the number of Vessels was 180 sail containing 14000 men designed for the Holy War the King made proposals to them for conquering the City of Lisbon they accepted and the Siege was formed The strangers encamped on that side Alonso joins his strength to theirs and takes Lisbon where now the Church of St. Francis stands and the King where is at present the Church of St. Vincent For five Months the City was valiantly attacked and no less resolutely defended On St. Vrsula's Day being the 21st of October a most furious and bloody Assault was given to the City on all sides with such mighty Resolution that above 200000 Infidels are said to have fallen that day But it is impossible the place then could contain near that number of all Sexes and Ages and yet my Author seems to speak only of Men. On the 25th following being the Feast of St. Crispin and Crispinian the King entred the City in Triumph over the dead Bodies of his Enemies 10. The particulars of this famous Action would doubtless have been delightful Some particulars of the Siege as they were great but time and the want of Writers have Buried them in Oblivion It will not therefore be just to omit one glorious exploit whereof the memory still remains Martin Moniz entring a Gate found such opposition from the Moors that they were forcing him back and shutting to the Gate to prevent which being himself not able to oppose their Force he let himself fall a cross the entrance and so lying in the way the Gate could not speedily be put too and his Men coming on beat off the Infidels making their way over his dead Body nor must the Strangers be robbed of their part of the Glory Many of them ended their days in
Portuguese Gentlemen raising the greatest Power they were able gave him Battle and put him to flight D. Fuas Roupinno commanded in the Castle of Puerto de Mos at such time as Gami King of Merida came to attack it D. Fuas hearing of his approach with a small body went out and lay close in Ambush The Moor giving an Assault to the Castle he fell upon him so unexpected and furiously that most of the Moors being slain Gami and many others were made Prisoners Gami and his Brother were sent for a present to old King Alonso who then reposed himself at Coimbra This same D. Fuas being Admiral at Sea destroyed the Gallies of Mauritania the first time near Cape Espichel 1182. and brought nine of them to Lisbon others he burnt in the Sea of Ceuta Engagements by Sea Returning thither afterwards with 21 Galleys he fought 54 of the Enemy but was totally destroyed and found a Grave where before he had raised Tropheys Joseph Aben Jacob Miramamolin of Morocco Andaluzia Murcia and Valencia with 13 Kings and the mightiest Army that till then had been seen to revenge the harms suffered from the Portuguese passed the River Tagus and having destroyed Torres Vedras 1184. and whatever else stood in his way laid Siege to Santarem where Prince Sancho then was During 6 or 7 days he incessantly Battered the Town and gave several assaults to it so that many of the Defendants were killed the Prince wounded and the Walls shaken At this time King Alonso being 91 years of Age came to relieve the Town but scarce had the occasion to draw his Sword the Infidels flying precipitously at the very sight of him Both the Father and Son pursued the flying Enemy with such Execution that the River was dyed with their Blood The Miramamolin ended his days in the very River being first wounded by the Prince 9. The most glorious King Alonso having Governed 17 Years without the Title of King and 46 with it and having lived 93 at length departed this life in the month of December 1185. and year of our Lord 1185. In his life time he is said to have overthrown 30 Kings The Death of King Alonso besides a number of lesser Princes and inferior Commanders It must be observed that most of these were Kings of particular Cities His Piety appears in the great number of Churches he Erected reported to amount to 150. He instituted two Military Orders that of the Wing before spoken of which for want of Revenues died with the first Knights And that of Avis as our Author will have it tho' I find no other to confirm this Antiquity which continues to this day To the Knights Templers and Hospitallers he assigned considerable Revenues As to his Person he was 11 Spans High a Gigantick Stature his Hair Red a large Mouth long Visage and large sparkling Eyes He lay in the Church of the Holy Cross at Coimbra in a wooden Tomb till King Emanuel erected one more Majestick for him His Sword and Buckler are there still to be seen His Arms the Arms he bore on his Sheild were Argent 19 Scutcheons Arzure 10 of them in the nature of an Orle the other nine in Cross and in Saltire all joined together with twists of Silk running from one to the other each Escutcheon charged with Thirteen Bezants 10. King Alonso was 53 Years of Age when he Married Mafalda His Wife and Issue the most Beautiful Lady of those times and second Daughter to Amadee 5th Earl of Marienne and first of Savoy This Queen followed the example of her Husband in erecting several Churches and Monasteries By her the King had Issue Henry who died young Sancho who inherited the Crown John Malfalda Wife to Alonso the second King of Aragon Vrraca Wife to King Ferdinand the second of Leon from whom she was divorced on account of Consanguinity after she had by him Alonso who inherited that Crown Teresa second Wife to Philip the first Earl of Flanders and Sancha his Bastard Children were Peter Alonso Teresa married to Sancho Nunnez from whom her Father took her and married her to Ferdinand Martinez the brave Lord of Braganza and the Lady Vrraca married to Peter Alonson Viegas the Grandson to Egas Moniz the King's Tutor CHAP. IV. The life and Reign of King Sancho I. from the Year 1154. till 1212 all his Actions in Peace and War his Arms and Issue 1. KIng Alonso had enjoyed the regal Title 15 Years when his Wife Queen Mafalda bore him his second Son and Successor Sancho 1154. He was Born at Coimbra the 11th of December Sancho succeeds his Father Alonso which being St. Martin's Day he had that Name given him together with the other From his very Infancy he was bred in the Field amidst the noise of Arms and surrounded with Dangers His Actions under his Father At the Age of 13 he engaged with the King of Leon in the Plains of Arganal and tho' not Victorious came off with Honour He was the first Christian Prince after the Conquest of Spain by the Moors that advanced to the Walls of Sevil. His Father King Alonso had ordered him to pass the River Tagus to defend that plentiful Country The Moors suffered him to pass undisturbed by Evora and Beja but having passed Sierra Morena he was met by the King of Sevil with a numerous Army in the plain of Axarafe here they came to a Battle which was obstinately fought on both sides till the valour of the Christians overcame the multitude of their Enemies whom they pursued to the Gates of Sevil making that River run Red with the blood of Infidels In his return to Portugal the Prince wasted all the Country carrying a vast Booty without meeting any opposition By the way he laid Siege to Niebla and had now reduced it to great extremity when advice was brought him that the City Beja was distressed by the Moors Thither he hasted and charging the Besiegers put them to the rout and relieved the City The King of Bajadoz had sent Ravadan a famous Commander with an Army to spoil that part of Portugal which he performed as was expected from him being on his return he was overtaken by the Prince and forced to quit the Country and his Booty with more hast than he came This Prince valiantly defended Santarem against the Miramamolin till his Father came to raise the Siege and they both entred the place in Triumph These were his principal Exploits till his Accession to the Crown which was in the Year 1185. 1185. 2. The third day after his Father's Death in the 30th Year of his Age and the 10th after he was married Prince Sancho was Proclaimed King in the same place where he was Born Since this is the first King that died in Portugal we will set down the manner of publick lamentation made for his Death which continues to this day The manner of lamenting the death
all these Calamities had not been sufficient to humble so small a number of People and so narrow a Country the Miramamolin Abenjoseph Brother to him that besieged Santarem assisted by the Kings of Cordova and Sevil entred Portugal with 400000 Men. The Moors ravage the Country All the open Country was by him miserably wasted and the Towns of Alcazar Almada and Palmela taken with all that the Christians had before gained in Algarve Our King not able oppose so puissant an Enemy concluded a Truce with him for five Years which ended in a wonderful Eclipse of the Sun This was followed by Earthquakes Earthquakes inundations and Storms for 8 Years Floods Storms at Sea and many other Calamities for the space of 8 Years Men laboured under a horrid Distemper for their Entrails consuming they died raving A considerable body of Portuguese was at the famous Battle of Alarcos in Castile against the Moors 1195. commanded by D. Ganzalo Viegas Master of Avis who died honourably in that glorious Action A multitude of Arabs after the Expiration of the Truce overran a great part of Portugal 1196. consuming all that was not before spoiled and putting to the Sword all the Monks of the Monastery of Alcobaza 1197. King Sancho at last provoked by these losses marched out with his Forces took Roca de Palmela and recovered Elvas not long before taken from him Next he made War on the King of Leon his Son-in-law having obtained of Pope Celestin III. 1200. the Croisade for all that fought against him as a favourer of Infidels against Christians He took from him the City Tuy and Towns of Pontevedrâ— and St. Payo de Lombeo and recovered Contrasta now called Valencia before taken by the King of Leon. At length these two Kings were reconciled through the mediation of the King of Aragon who to that effect came to Coimbra 1208. then the Court of Portugal Some time after there ensued Civil Wars in Portugal betwixt certain great Men the most considerable betwixt Peter Rodriguez de Pereyre and his Cousin Peter Mendez de Poyares who coming to a Battle near Valongo two Leagues from Porto the latter was there slain with many other Men of Note 7. The Holy City of Hierusalem being taken by Saladin the Christian Princes made preparations for recovery of it and our King Sancho designed to have gone thither himself but being disswaded sent supplies and encouraged the knights Templers and Hospitallers to proceed vigorously in that religious Enterprize In this King's time was used in Portugal the weight called a Talent A Talent used in Portugal but less than the Roman Greek or Hebrew being worth but four Ducats I have seen silver Coin of this King 's with his Image a Horseback on the one side his Sword held up a cross on his Reines and about it these Words In nomine Patris filij spiritus Sancti On the reverse the Arms of the Kingdom and this Inscription Sanctius Dei Gratia Rex Portugaliae King Sancho fixed not his abode in any one place but often removed that so all might equally enjoy his presence He was a great Patron to the religious and Military Orders careful of rewarding Merit a Friend to the Poor an Enemy to Idleness and true Father of his Country The misfortunes during his Reign and his own bounty might well have exhausted the Treasure yet so well did he manage it that at his death he distributed 7â—8000 Crowns and 1400 Marks of Plate and 100 of Gold His Legacies extended to Rome and Hierusalem The death of King Sancho he was of a middle Stature and strongly set he Reigned 26 Years and lived 57 died in March and lies Buried in the Church of the Holy Cross at Coimbra opposite to his Father whose Tomb is on the right side of the Altar His Tomb being opened by King Emanuel to put him into a new one 400 Years after his Decease the body was found uncorrupted 8. Some Years before the death of his Father His Issue he married Dulcis or Aldonza Daughter to Raymund Berengarius Earl of Barcelona by whom he had issue Alonso his Successor Ferdinand married to Joanna Countess of Flanders Daughter and Heiress to Baldwin Emperor of Constantinople Peter who married the Daughter and Heiress of Earl Armengaud in whose right he had the Earldoms of Vrgel and Segorbe and Island of Majorca Henry that died young and Raymund that lived a short time His Daughters were Teresa married to the King of Leon and parted from him on account of Consanguinity when she had three Children by him she is esteemed a Saint Mafalda married to Henry I. King of Castile and divorced as well as her Sister on the same account of Consanguinity she lies buried in the Monastery of Arouca and is Worshiped as a Saint Sancha who converted her own Pallace at Alenquer into a Franciscan Monastery which was the first in Portugal that holy Man being then alive She also built the Monastery of Celas near Coimbra and lies Buried at Lorvan with the same esteem as her Sisters Blanch Lady of Gaudalajara in Castile where she died but was translated to the Church of the Holy Cross at Coimbra among her Parents Berengaria died young at Lorâ—an and lies there His illegitimate Children were Martin Sanchez Earl of Trastamara Vrraca Sanchez Wife to Laurence Suarez Teresa Sanchez second Wife to Alonso Tello the Elder Giles Sanchez who became a Priest Constance Sanchez finished the Monastery of St. Francis at Coimbra Ruy Sanchez killed in Battle as will appear in the year 1245. Nunno Sanchez and Mayor Sanchez All these the King had before he was Married by a Lady of Quality called Mary Paez 9. King Sancho left out all the small Scutcheons used by his Father in his Arms His Armes only retaining the five principal in form of a Cross with the strings that bind them together In his time the Orders of St. Dominick and St. Francis first founded in Portugal and those of the Holy Trinity and Carmelites were then also admitted CHAP. V. The Life and Reign of King Alonso II. of the Name and third King of Portugal his actions and death from the Year 1183. till 1223. 1. ALonso Eldest Son to King Sancho 1185. and his Wife Queen Dulcis The Birth of King Alonso II. who was the third King of Portugal and second of the Name was Born the 25th of April in the famous City Coimbra He falling desperately sick and being given over by the Physitians his Father had recourse to Heaven for his Health which was obtained through the Prayers of the Holy Nun Sennorina then living in the Mountains of Basto of the Province betwixt Duero and Minho as an acknowledgment for which benefit received the King bestowed Lands and Possessions on that Church as did some of his Successors Soon after his miraculous recovery his Father sent him General against Torres Novas whence the Infidels
Herse the Corps was conducted to Alcobaça to be placed in that rich Urn with the noblest Attendance and greatest Grandeur that has been seen vast numbers of Noblemen and Gentlemen in long Mourning Cloaks and Ladies in White Mourning Vailes attended the Funeral From Coimbra to Alcobaça it is 17 Leagues and yet all that Distance was filled with many Thousands of Men in two Rows making a continued Lane with lighted Flambeaus in their Hands 4. The Unfortunate King Peter of Castile being drove out of his Kingdom by his Bastard-Brother Henry assisted by the French King Peter of Castile flying from his Rebellious Subjects is refused Protection in Portugal and flying from Sevil after loosing all the Treasure he had amassed arrived at the Town of Coruche in Portugal with his two Daughters Constance and Elizabeth and thence sent to Advertise our King then at Coimbra of his Arrival That King's Daughter Beatrix was Travelling another way to be Married to the Portuguese Prince her Father not having any fore-thought of what hapned to him This Accident much surprized the Portuguese some were for protecting a rightful King their Neighbour and Confederate others were for more safe than honourable Courses not to embroil themselves in the Quarrels of others This Advice was followed and our King made the best Excuse he could for not entertaining that Unhappy Prince He failing of this Refuge withdrew to Albuquerque but neither was he to be admitted there He sent to ask a Pass of our King to Travel through his Dominions into Galicia and the Earl of Barcelos and Alvaro Perez de Castro were sent to Conduct him But they not only forsook him by the way but stole from him Elenor the Daughter of his Bastard-Brother Henry whom he carried with him From Galicia he passed over into England where he so grievously Complained to the Prince of Wales against the King of Portugal that he was forced to send Embassadors to Vindicate himself In the mean while the New King or rather Usurper Henry Solicited the Friendship of Portugal and Embassadors meetting to that Effect betwixt Badajoz and Elvas a Treaty was Concluded And it was Stipulated That the Castilian should solicite an Accommodation betwixt Aragon and Portugal and also That the Aragonian should suffer the Portuguese Princess Mary Widow of Prince Ferdinand to return to her Country if she thought good 5. About the end of October Prodigiâ—â—â— seen in the Sky almost Three Months before the Death of our King was seen a prodigious Alteration or rather Confusion in the heavenly Luminaries On the 27th Day at Midnight all the Stars in a Body began to run from East to West then suddenly dispersing they wandred through several parts of the Sphere next falling nearer to the Region of the Air the nearness made them appear like vast Globes of Fire so that the whole Heaven seemed to be in a Flame and the Earth threatned to be reduced to Ashes The Sky in many places seemed to gape the Stars being removed This Spectacle lasting a considerable time Men stood amazed expecting the Dissolution of the Universe Three Months after this Prodigy King Peter's Death our King died It will not be amiss to give some Instances of his Justice and Magnificence His Justice and Magnificence He was not as some have called him Cruel but a zealous lover of Justice punishing Crimes with the utmost Severity and rewarding Vertue with Liberality The Punishments he inflicted tho' in appearance terrible were necessary and well applyed A Young Man having struck his supposed Father and the King hearing thereof called the Mother and pressed her to tell him who was the Youth's Father for it was impossible it should be her Husband She confessed in some time a Fryar had got him Thereupon the King went in Person to the Monastery and putting the Fryar into a Case of Cork sawed him in two One of his Favourites lived in Adultery with a Judge's Wife for which the King caused his Privities to be cut off A Priest being suspended for killing a Man he caused him to be put to Death by a Mason saying That the Ecclesiastical Judges condemned a Priest for killing a Man to be suspended from his Office but he in his Tribunal would suspend the Mason from Working for killing the Priest The Bishop of Porto he scourged for having to do with a Citizen's Wife He caused a Gentleman to be beheaded for staving a Country-man's Cask that was full A Clerk of the Treasury was hanged for receiving a small Bribe Hearing a Woman upbraid another with being forced he asked the cause and being told her Husband ravished her before they were marryed he caused him to be hanged Knowing that a Merchant's Wife cuckolded him one day when the Merchant was at some Publick Feast he surprized his Wife with her Gallant and burnt them and then congratulated the Merchant that he was revenged A Bawd having procured a Young Woman for the Admiral Lancelote Pessana the Bawd was burnt and the Admiral hardly obtained Pardon after several Years absence A Country-man complaining that a Gentleman to whom he had lent certain Silver Cups would not restore them the King kept him in hand a Year and then caused the Gentleman to pay him Nine times the value which was then the Penalty of Thieves and farther told him he should be always answerable for the Country-man's Life A Pursivant complaining that in the Execution of his Office a Gentleman had struck him and torn his Beard the Gentleman was immediately beheaded 6. The Laws he instituted Laws established by him were religiously observed One of them condemned Judges who received Bribes to Death To avoid delays in Suits he established there should be no Counsellors Sollicitors nor Attorneys He went about the Kingdom in Person to administer Justice impartially to all Men. Tho' so much subdued himself by the Love of the Lady Agnes de Castro he suffered no Crime of Incontinency to pass unpunished Several new Pieces were coined by him on the one side whereof was his Effigies sitting in a Chair holding a naked Sword on the reverse the Royal Arms with these Inscriptions Peter King of Portugal and Algarve God assist me and make me Victorious over my Enemies He was so Bountiful that like the Emperor Titus he thought himself not a King the day he gave nothing To this purpose he kept always much Plate He was much addicted to Musick and used to go abroad at Nights and dance to the sound of Trumpets Notwithstanding his great Liberality he left a considerable Treasure to his Successor which he gathered without the least dissatisfaction to his Subjects In fine such was his Life that his Death was generally lamented and it was in all mens Mouths That such Ten Years Government never were nor would again be seen in this Kingdom Others said That either he should never have been born or never have died 7. This King was of great Stature His Person and
Interment a Majestick Presence his Forehead large his Eyes black and beautiful his Hair reddish which he wore long his Mouth small his Visage long He somewhat stammered in his Speech was addicted to Poetry and some Verses of his are still extant He Reigned Ten Years wanting Two Months and died in January 1367. 1367. He is buryed by the Lady Agnes de Castro and his Picture to the Life on the Tomb. The Lady Constance his first Wife lies in the Church of S. Francis at Santarem By her he had Issue 1. Lewis who died an Infant 2. Ferdinand who succeeded in the Throne 3. Mary marryed to Ferdinand Prince of Aragon Son to King Alonso the Fourth His Children by the Lady Agnes de Castro were 1. Alonso His Issue who died a Child 2. Denis who refusing to kiss the Hand of Queen Ellenor Wife to King Ferdinand went away to Castile where he marryed Joanna Bastard-Daughter to King Henry 3. John who by the Advice of Queen Ellenor killed the Lady Mary Tellez de Meneses his own Wife and the Queen's Sister He should have succeeded King Ferdinand but that King John of Castile kept him Prisoner and in the mean while his Bastard Brother called also John usurped the Crown In Castile he marryed Constance Bastard Daughter to King Henry 4. Beatrix Wife to D. Sancho Earl of Albuquerque Bastard Son to King Alonso XI of Castile King Peter had one Bastard Son called John Master of the Military Order of Avis who after the Death of King Ferdinand usurped the Crown CHAP. XI The First Part of the Life and Reign of Ferdinand the first of the Name and ninth King of Portugal from the Year 1340. till 1373. 1. FErdinand was the Second Son of King Peter King Ferdinand his Birth and his Wife Constance He was Born in the City Coimbra and succeeded his Father at 27 Years of Age. The Peace and Treasures King Ferdinand inherited 1340. were not at all lasting 1367. for he engaged himself in a War against Castile He engages in a War against Castile pretending a Right to that Crown after the Death of King Peter as Great Grandson to King Sancho Henry the present Possessor being a Bastard and Regicide Many Persons of Note who fled out of Castile encouraged him in this Enterprize and many Towns not admitting Henry offered themselves to Ferdinand He bestowed vast Possessions on several of the Castilians that came over to him as particularly to Ferdinand Earl of Castro Xeres and Brother-in-law to King Henry he gave Fifteen Towns to D. Alvaro Perez de Castro his Brother Eight Towns the Earldom of Arroyolos and the Office of Constable to Ferdinand Alonso de Zamora Nineteen Towns and so to many others too long to recount besides Gifts in Money and Jewels which exhausted the Treasures left by his three Predecessors Many Cities and Towns also of Castile declared for our King where he immediately coined Money bearing the Arms and Titles of both Kingdoms Our King in outward appearance pretended more Zeal to Revenge the Murder of King Peter than Ambition to joyn that Kingdom to his own To inculcate this Opinion he sent Embassadors to the Pope the King of England and other Princes laying before them the heinousness of the Crime as committed by a Brother against his Brother and by a Subject against his Soveraign 2. Whilst the Embassadors were on their way Enters into League with the Moorish King of Granada the King concluded a League with the Moorish King of Granada for Fifty Years during which time they were to assist one another and neither was to pretend any Right to whatsoever Places of Castile were taken by the other nor was either of them if assisted with any Troops by his Confederate to allow them any Pay For farther Security King Ferdinand asked of King Peter the Aragonian his Daughter Ellenor in Marriage and Embassadors were sent on both sides to agree the Articles tho' that Lady was before betrothed to John the Eldest Son of King Henry The Princess was marryed by Proxy to our King at Lisbon the Aragonian Embassador representing her Person The Articles of Marriage were That she should bring 100000 Florins Portion That her Father should make War on Castile two Years That the Husband should give three Months Pay to 3000 Horse in his Father-in-law's Service Some Places in Castile were also allotted to the Aragonian for every Man gives freely of what he has not Soon after the Bridegroom that was to have been but never was sent a Rich Present to Barcelona for the Bride without expecting the Payment of the 100000 Florins He also sent Eighteen hundred weight of Gold to be coined to defray Charges there To Convoy the Bride seven beautiful Galleys were fitted out whereof that which was to carry her had her Sails of Silk wrought with Gold and all that was above Water was gilt The Rowers were cloathed in the King's Livery and many gallant Gentlemen went as Volunteers Among other things of value there was carried a Crown of inestimable price for the Bride D. John Alonso Tello Earl of Barcelos attended by the Bishops of Evora and Silves and the Abbot of Alcobaça went Embassadors and performed the Ceremony of marrying the Princess in his Masters Name But her Father put off the delivering of her till the Pope's Dispensation was obtained and times altering all came to nothing 3. King Ferdinand began the Wars in Galicia with a small Power Coruna and other Places voluntarily submitted to him Monterrey was taken by Force after it had made a vigorous Defence But understanding that King Henry drew near with numerous Forces Ferdinand went away by Sea to Porto leaving D. Nunno Freyre Master of the Military Order of Christ with 400 Horse in Coruna Alonso Gomez de Lira at Tuy and others in other Places 1369. Henry to bring our King to Peace Henry of Castile invades Portugal left them and entered Portugal burning all the Country as far as Braga where Lope Gomez de Lira made a vigorous Defence but was forced to abandon the Place after loosing 48 Men because he was not releived and the Town was not Walled nor Garisoned having Articled to Surrender if not releived by a certain time Henry finding the Place was not Tenable Burnt it and removed to Guemaraens which being better Fortified held out against him Seing he prevailed little by Force he thought to take it by Stratagem and to that purpose James Gonzalez de Castro got into the Place disguished like a Country-Man but being discovered was put to Death and his Body exposed to the Dogs Now it was that Count Ferdinand de Castro Brother-in-Law to King Henry carried about by him as a Prisoner made his Escape into the Town with his Keeper Ramiro Nunez and both went into the Portuguese's Service King Ferdinand who was then at Coimbra with a numerous Army with all speed made towards the Castilian sending before a
promised the next Day to hear them when they were Calmer at the Church of S. Dominick By Day the Multitude was in the broad Place before that Church but the King fearing the popular Fury was already gone away to Santarem When the People understood it they vented their Malice in Reproaches and this made the Queen stir up the King to Revenge The Taylor was apprehended and many of his Followers some whereof had their Hands others their Feet cut off many more fled now too late understanding that Subjects ought to have no other Redress against the Miscarrages of their Sovereigns than by their Prayers to God In the mean while the King traversed the Kingdom with his beloved Consort till being come to the pleasant Monastery of Leça Two Leagues from Porto he then declared what he denied at Lisbon to wit That he was Married to the Lady Ellenor and assigned her a greater Joynture than any Queen before her ever had 8. All the Nobility kissing the Queen's Hand only Prince Denis Son to the late King by the Lady Agnes de Castro refused it for which the King offered to Stab him but was prevented and the Prince fled to Coimbra Tho many of the Multitude were punished the clamours of the People against the King's Marriage ceased not nor were they continued without reason for that Marriage was in reality unlawful she being the true Wife of John Lorenço Ferdinand at last remembring he was contracted to the Princess of Castile sent to inform her Father That tho he could not perform that Article he would fulfil all the rest That Prince did not seem at all to be concerned but Embassadors were sent on both sides to Ratifie the Peace The New Queen gains Friends by her Generosity The New Queen having gained a Crown by her Beauty sought now to gain the Affections of the Nobility by her Bounty and she attained her end in a great Measure for many who before railed having tasted of her Favours began to extol her Generosity Besides the more to bend them to her she married all her Relations among the Nobility 9. King Ferdinand still pursuing his inconstant Humour King Ferdinand joyns in League with John of Ghent against Castile began again to break with Castile taking some Ships of that Crown in the River of Lisbon and entering into a Confederacy with John Duke of Lancaster Third Son to Edward the Third King of England and married to Constance the Eldest Daughter of King Peter of Castile in whose right he stiled himself King It was agreed they should joyntly make War upon the Kings of Castile and Aragon That they should bear an equal part in the expence of the War and that King Ferdinand should have all he could take in Castile excepting Towns and Castles That each should have what he could gain in Aragon King Henry sent an Embassador to Protugal to protest against these proceedings but to no effect Hereupon Henry marched with his Army towards Lisbon his Admiral Misser Ambrosio Bocanegra at the same time entring the River Tagus with 12 Galleys About the middle of September he set forward from Zamora Henry of Castile invades Portugal and by the way took Almeyda Pinnel Linnares Cerolico and Viseo where Prince Denis offended at King Ferdinand offered his Service to him They marched to Coimbra from whence Ferdinand was newly gone to Santarem and here Henry quartered in the Suburbs Our King being less forward to Fight than he had been to give the Occasion 1373. Henry marched without observing much order He Quarters in the Suburbs of Lisbon towards Lisbon about the end of February The King and those that were with him could from the Walls of Santarem discover the Enemy marching towards Lisbon yet had not the Courage to attack them Lisbon being surprized Henry entred at S. Antony's Gate and took up his Quarters in the Monastery of S. Francis the People retired to the stronger parts of the Town Our Fleet had been sent to hinder the Castilian Squadron from entring the Port but our Ships were taken by them and only 4 of our Galleys escaped saving themselves in the Creeks The People of Lisbon understanding there was a design to betray the City dragged one of the Conspirators about the Streets and then cut him in pieces another was exposed to the sails of a Mill which cast him into the River The Franciscan Friars where the King quartered thought to have expelled him thence but their design being discovered he put them into Boats without Sails or Oars and exposed them to the mercy of the Sea yet they got a Shoar The Castilians possessed the Skirts of the Town and many Skirmished dayly hapned In the mean while the Earl of Gijon King Henry's Son took Cascaes at the Mouth of Tagus whilst several Parties wasted the Country Most of the City Burnt The Lisbonians not able to expel the Enemy out of the Suburbs fired the Houses and they in requital set Fire to the Rua-nova or New Street and so the greatest part of the City was Burnt The Country betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho was no less infested by the Forces of Galicia which routed a Portuguese Body that came to oppose them 10. Such was the posture of Affairs Peace concluded when in the Month of March Guido of Bononia a Cardinal was sent by the Pope to compose these Differences and towards the latter end of that Month the Peace was concluded upon these Conditions That both the Kings should joyn with him of France against the King of England and Duke of Lancaster That the Portuguese should furnish a Fleet for Three Years to be maintained by the Castilians That the English should not be supplied with Ammunition from Portugal That the Portuguese should expel the Castilians that followed him That a general Pardon should be granted on both sides That the Princess Beatrix Sister to King Ferdinand should be married to Sancho Lord of Albuquerque Brother to King Henry The Two Kings meet in friendly manner The two Kings met upon the Banks of the River Tagus and parted in Friendly manner In pursuance of the Treaty of Peace Count Sancho married the Lady Beatrix and the Wedding was kept with great Solemnity A Match was also agreed betwixt Elizabeth Bastard-Daughter to our King and Alonso Earl of Gijon Bastard-Son to King Henry Thus ended the War to the Satisfaction of both Kings but with the Desolation of their Kingdoms CHAP. XII The remaining Part of the Life and Reign of Ferdinand the First of the Name and Ninth King of Portugal from the Year 1373. till 1383. 1. KIng Ferdinand had not yet forgot the Treasure detained from him by the King of Aragon 1374. in return of his Mutability Ferdinand enters into a League with the King of Castile against the King of Aragon He thereupon meditated Revenge but it was hard to compass It happened the King of Castile fell at Variance
That in case King Ferdinand died without Heirs his Daughter should inherit and after her her Issue but if she had none then King John should succeed and that if King John his new Queen and the Princess Ellenor Wife to the Prince of Navar died without Heirs before King Ferdinand then he should inherit the Crown of Castile That till the new Queen of Castile had a Son Fourteen Years of Age Queen Ellenor her Mother should govern Portugal Thus it appears the future Pretensions of the King of Castile to the Crown of Portugal were just as were Queen Ellenor's to the Government and that the succeeding King John was an Usurper having no lawful Title to the Crown 8. King Ferdinand being Sick King Ferdinand falls sick his Queen Ellenor conducted the Princess then not full Thirteen Years of Age to Elvas When both Parties had sworn the Performance of Articles the King and his Bride met in Tents near that City Such was Queen Ellenor's Beauty that the Castilians seeing her said King Ferdinand were much to blame had he not loved her having seen her or if having loved her he had not made her a Queen Here the Cardinal of Luna produced a Dispensation for them to marry they being within the prohibited Degrees of Consanguinity after which there was a most splendid Entertainment Then they returned to Elvas where the nuptial Rites were solemnly performed with extraordinary Pomp and after all publick Testimonies of Joy and Demonstrations of Grandeur were over the King of Castile gave rich Presents to all the Portuguese Gentry Queen Ellenor returning to Almada where King Ferdinand lay sick and intimating That she liked not the King of Castile The Master of the Order of Avis commended his Sense and Modesty to which she answered That is true but I would have a Man be more a Man At last King Ferdinand being convinc'd of the extravagant Familiarity that was betwixt the Queen and Count John Fernandez Andeyro and being unwilling by punishing to expose her Weakness or to lose her he so passionately loved he ordered the Master of the Knights of Avis to make him away privately But though he performed not at this time what was enjoyned him yet afterwards he murdered him in the Revolution that happened when the Order was void 9. The King now spent with Sickness removed from Almada to Lisbon 1383. where he died very Penitent on the 24th of October 1383. Ferdinand dies He was almost Forty four Years of Age reigned Seventeen and was buried with Pomp in the Quire of the Monastery of S. Francis at Santarem His Presence was so Graceful and Majestick that through any Disguise he appeared to be a King his Visage was long his Complexion fair as was his Hair and his Eyes sparkling His Character The great Expence of his Wars obliged him to enhance the price of the Money whereof he coined several Sorts but after his Wars ceased all the Coin was restor'd to its intrinsick Value He removed the University erected by King Denis at Coimbra to Lisbon but it afterwards returned to the same Place from whence he brought it He was rather Prodigal than Liberal which may appear by the many Towns we have mentioned he gave to the Castilians that came over to him As to his other Gifts one Instance will serve to demonstrate the rest To John Alonso de Moxica one of the Castilian Gentlemen that came over to Portugal besides Towns and Lands he gave in one Day 50 Horses 30 Mules 3 Suits of Armour 30000 Marks of Plate and 4 Sumptures loaded with rich Tapistry He pulled down the Roman Walls of Ebora to build New And thus though unfortunate in all his Undertakings he secured to himself the Love of all Men. 10. His lawful Issue was His Issue first Beatrix married to King John the first of Castile they wronged her who said she was Daughter to Count Fernandez Andeyro for she was Eight Years of Age when he begun to be familiar with the Queen Secondly A Son who died in his Infancy Thirdly Another in the same nature One Bastard Daughter he had married to Alonso Earl of Gijon Bastard Son to King Henry the second of Castile from whom sprung the Family of the Noronhas The END of THE THIRD BOOK THE HISTORY OF PORTUGAL The Fourth BOOK CHAP. I. The Birth Education and Actions of John Bastard Son to King Peter of Portugal His Promotion to be Protector of the Kingdom and Wars with Castile from the Year 1357. till the end of 1384. 1. JOHN Bastard Son to King Peter by Teresa Alonso of Galicia was born at Lisbon on the 22d of April 1357. 1357. In his Infancy he was kept by Laurence de Lyria John Bastard Son to King Peter aspires to the Crown a noted Citizen then delivered to Nunho Freyre de Andrade Master of the Order of Christ who presented him to the King at the Age of Seven Years asking for him the Mastership of the Order of Avis then vacant by the Death of D. Martin de Avelar This was the first time his Father saw him and having Knighted him gave him that Honour He was sent to receive it at Avis a Convent of that Order and was there educated till of Age to bear Arms. His Actions till the Death of King Ferdinand have been related it now remains to recount what he did afterwards The late King in his Will left the Administration of the Government to his Wife Queen Ellenor in pursuance of what had been Stipulated with King John of Castile upon his marrying the Lady Beatrix lawful Daughter to King Ferdinand tho the unbridled Malice of the Multitude Defamed her with the Name of Count John Fernandez Andeyro his Daughter Queen Ellenor entred upon the Government with Extraordinary tokens of Grief for the Death of the King her Husband The Council of the City of Lisbon advised her not to be so negligent in the Government as her Husband had been and she answered them so graciously that they went away well satisfied The King of Castile immediately sent Embassadors to condole her Loss and at the same time to require himself to be proclaimed King in the Right of his Wife and in pursuance of the late Capitulations Scarce was this mentioned throughout the Kingdom when a general reluctancy appeared in the Countenances of all Men. D. Henry Manuel de Villena Earl of Sea and Unkle to the King Castile was ordered to Proclaim him in Lisbon but was opposed by D. Alvare Perez de Castro in behalf of King Peter's lawful Issue by the Lady Agnes de Castro The same happened at Santarem Elvas and in most Places of the Kingdom King John proposed his Title by his Embassador to the City of Lisbon but it was not favourably received 2. The First contrivance of the Master of Avis Before his Assuming the Crown he Murders Count John Fernandez Andeyro with some others was to Murder the Count John Fernandez
Reign of King Alonso the Fifth of the Name and Twelfth King of Portugal and his Death from the Year 1470 till 1481. 1. ON the 18th of September 14â—â— died at Setubal Prince Ferdinand Brother to King Alonso and Father to many Children whereof one was Emanuâ—l afterwards King Soon after his Death his Daughter Ellenor was married to Prince John he being Fourteen Years of Age and she Thirteen Twelve Portuguese Ships now coming from Flanders were taken by the English whereupon our King ordered Reprisals to be made and sent Embassadors to complain of it which was followed by a lasting Peace In the mean while Persons were sent to discover the Port of Arzila on the Coast of Africk who brought an Account that 30000 Men were requisite for that Expedition 24000 Landmen besides the Seamen were shipped on Board 308 Sail of all sorts 14â—1 The King sailed to Lagos in Algarve King Aloâ—so 〈…〉 and Tangier before he discovered his Design then passing over to Arzila took that Place as he did Tangier forsaken by the Inhabitants upon the first News of his approach He changeâ— his 〈◊〉 Upon this Conquest the King changed his Titles which before were King of Portugal Algarve and Ceutâ—â— for those of King of Portugal and both Algarves that on this side and that on the other in Africk Prince Ferdinand after he was taken in the former Expedition against Tangier lived Six Years in Slavery and his Body remained Twenty more among the Infidels But the King gave now in exchange for his Bones Two Wives and a Daughter of 〈…〉 Lord of that Place 14â—â— and afterwards King of Fiâ— Thâ— Bones were brought over and buried in the Famous Church of Batalla King Hâ—â—ry of Castâ—â—e and our King Alonso had an interview between Badâ—â—â—z and Elvas about a Match for the Prince of Portugal with 〈◊〉 Princess of Castile but it had no Effect for the rebellious Castilians openly declared her a Bastard and Elizabeth that Kingâ—â— Sister was married to Ferdinand 〈◊〉 Aragon by the Name of Princess of Castile It it horrid to think with what Impudence they durst Declare that Princess a Bastard seeing she was Born in Wedlock and for what they pretended of the King's Impotency it was contrary to Reason since it is notorious the Queen was Jealous of him and she could have no occasion for jealousie had she found the King unfit for the Company of Women But the World is sufficiently convinced there can be no true Reason given to justifie Rebellion yet Rebels never want pretences to Colour their Villany 2. King Henry of Castile met his Sister Elizabeth at Segovia Affairs of Castile and he dying on the 11th of December following it was generally believed he was poisoned In his Will he appointed his Daughter Joanna to succeed him and desired the King of Portugal to take her to Wife At the Hour of his Death his Confessor pressed him to declare who was his lawful Heir and he answered his Daughter Joanna Nothing more could have been done to prove her Legitimate but nothing will suffice against hardned Rebels Scarce was the Princess Elizabeth assured of the King's Death when she caused her self to be proclaimed Queen at Segovia In the mean while the Marquis de Villena the Earl of Benavente and the Bishop of Siguenza appointed by King Henry to see his Will executed sent to the King of Portugal praying him to set forward with all possible speed and that not only they but many more Nobles and the principal Cities of Castile would declare for him The King was then at Estremoz where having consulted his Council he resolved to accept of what was offered and in order thereunto sent his Lord Chamberlain Lope de Albuquerque to Castile who returned to him with fresh Assurances in the Month of January the King being then at Evora Elizabeth the New Queen sent some religious Men to advise our King not to engage in an unjust War as she termed it and to offer him another Joanna Sister to her Husband Ferdinand Alonso 〈◊〉 War with Castile in 〈◊〉 of the 〈…〉 in Marriage He answered he was resolved to stand by his Niece being obliged to it as an Unkle as a King and as a Gentleman 3. Whilst he made Preparations for War he sent an Embassador to Ferdinand and Elizabeth to demand that Crown who returning with such an Answer as he had expected he immediately advances to Castile by the way of Aronches with 5600 Horse and 14000 Foot With this Army he came to Plasencia and was there joyfully received by many of the Nobility There he found the true Queen and was contracted to her those there present and many absent by Proxy swore Allegiance to him The King then stiled himself King of Castile and Portugal and nothing was wanting for Bedding with the Queen but the Dispensation from Rome which Ferdinand and Elizabeth with all their might opposed No sooner was this known to the Castilian King and Queen but they also took the stile of Castile and Portugul and sent Forces to invade that Kingdom which having made some spoil returned without any opposition Queen Joanna sent her Letters to all the Towns of Castile exhorting them to return to her Obedience since they had twice sworn her lawful Heiress to the Crown The King marched to Arevalo and thence to Toro which City held for him and the Castle he took by force Zamora was delivered to him and thither he conducted his Bride Thence they returned to Toro where Queen Joanna Mother to the Bride and Sister to the Bridegroom died on the 13. of June Ferdinand and Elizabeth raised all the Forces they could and had now gathered together 12000 Horse and 30000 Foot With this Force Ferdinand marched and encamped before Toro where feigning Friendship he sent to advise King Alonso to depart or to decide the matter by single Combat neither whereof he well knew could as circumstances stood be accepted However Peter de Avendanho so cut off the Castillian's Provisions that he was forced to draw off his Army to Medina del Campo Thither came Elizabeth to Ferdinand reproaching him that he had not accepted of a single Combat on such terms as the Portuguese allowed of But Money beginning now to fail them and they fearing to tax the People had recourse to the Clergy who gave them half the Plate of the Churches 4. Some Overtures of Peace were now made 〈…〉 but came not to any head Our King marching to relieve Burgâ—s was recalled by the revolt of Zamora which Elizabeth of Castile laying hold of gave out that he fled which drew many to her Party The Portuguese now grew weary of being abroad and the King wanting Money his Subjects refused to furnish him upon that Account so that all his Affairs went backwards King Alonso thus streightned discharged many of his Army and many more went away without expecting a Discharge The Governour of the Castles on
Reigns which were that of Sebastian of Henry of the Five Governours of Antony and now of Philip. For the easier dispatch of Business the King ordered there should be but Two prime Minister viz. Antony Pineyro Bishop of Leyria and D. Christopher de Moura the former because he had no Kindred and the latter because he made no Account of them for Moura was never known to prefer any of his tho' he had many Nunho Alvarez Pereyra was made Secretary and was equal in Power to them tho' not in Title The King had appointed to return to Castile in November but Prince James dying 〈◊〉 he was forced to call a Parliament to cause his Second So◠〈…〉 sworn Heir to the Crown 1583. The Parliament met the beginning of the New Year Another Parliament held and swore the Prince and among other things the King granted leave for wearing of Silks Mary the Empress Sister to King Philip and her Daughter Margaret came to meet the King at Lisbon The Portuguese expected the former would have been left to govern them Philip returns to Castile but the King made choise of her Son the Cardinal Albertus Archduke of Austria On the 11th of February the King set forward for Castile carrying with him the Lady Juliana de Lancastro Heiress of the Noble House of Aveiro 4. All Men began to observe how the Cardinal Albertus was qualified Cardinal Albertus Governour of Portugal and they found his Inclinations were good Only two things remarkable happened during the time of his Government One was the English Invasion under Antony the Grand Prior before spoken of The other the counterfeit Sanctity of a Nun. The Hipocrisie of a Nun. She pretended to live without eating and indeed had no other Sustenance but what she got out of artificial Candles she pretended to burn in her Oratory She also imprinted on her Body the Five Wounds of our Saviour so artificially that the cheat was scarce to be discerned even after she was discovered During the short time this Hypocritical Scene was acted she wrought some Miracles Being at last examined she was punished and from thenceforth led so Godly a Life as almost purchased her the Opinion of Sanctity she before endeavoured to gain by Hypocrisie The King tho' he left the Cardinal in Portugal governed the Kingdom himself with the assistance of his Portuguese Council composed of very worthy Persons in the choice of which he never erred The conceit some People entertained that King Sebastian was yet living 15â—â— gave Occasion to some Persons to take upon them his Name and Character 〈◊〉 Sebastian The Son of a Tiler born at Alcobaza who had been Apprentice to a small Turner of Heads in Lisbon and expelled the Order of Carmelites in his Noviceship went away and lived like a Hermit on the Borders of the Kingdom near Aâ—â—â—querque After some time the People censuring his course of Life he left it and putting on good Apparel he travelled about that Country well mounted Some presently gave out he was King Sebastian which he at first denied but finding them positive at last complied with their Humour and suffered two of his Followers to call themselves the one Christopher 〈…〉 and the other the Bishop of Guarda both which had been slain with the King in Africk Some few days they lived well among their Adherents and gathered Money but being apprehended by Order of the Arch-Duke Albertus the Counterfeit Sebastian after having been shewed at Lisbon was sent to the Galleys and his Companion the pretended Bishop hanged 5. Scarce was the last Impostor punished when another started up in his place This was one Gonzalo Alvarez the Son of a Mason who like the other became an Eremite and did much seeming Penance lashing himself and then crying out where he might be heard O unhappy Sebastian all thy Penance is but little in respect of thy Crimes A Rich Farmer called Peter Alfonso joyned with him and concealed him giving out Orders in his Name At length he gathered 800 Men calling himself Earl of Torresnovas Lord of Cascais and Governour of Lisbon None saw the pretended King but the Daughter of the false Earl she being designed Queen and also the Wife of Antony Simoens a Rich Man Whensoever this Pageant King was forced to appear abroad he wore a great pair of Spectacles which covered most part of his Face He sent a Son of Simoens to the Governour Albertus to Order him to quit the Palace for that he was coming to undeceive the People This Messenger being taken and then let go increased the Opinion of the People that it was King Sebastian because Antony Simoens having known him would not otherwise have suffered his Son to go on that Message The Judge of Torresvedras was ordered to Apprehend them but he attempting it was together with his Clerk cast headlong from a High Place and killed Gasper Pereira for reproving them was also murdered with his Son and Nephew and his House plundered Antony Fonseca an Alcalde de Corte went next with 400 Spaniards The false Sebastian executed commanded by Captain Calderon who after killing a few of the Mutiniers took the Upstart King At Lisbon he was hanged and quartered as was the false Earl Peter Alfonso with others Some were sent to the Galleys and the Towns of Ericeyra Carbonero and Mafra were left almost desolate the Inhabitants flying for fear of Punishment Yet after all this many thought King Sebastian must come out from the Desart and there was scarce any that lived an Eremitical Life in Portugal who was not imagined to be that King 6. Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth's Provocations and King Philip's Design against her Queen of England not regarding that she owed her Life to King Philip joyned with the Rebels of Holland against him She sent over to then Assistance Robert Earl of Leicester with 3000 Men. Sir Francis Drake also sailed from Plymouth in August and Landing at Bayona was beaten off thence Next he fell upon the Islands of Caboverde where he took a considerable Booty and all the Cannon of the Fortifications along the Sea-coast Thence he sailed to Sancto Domingo in the West-Indies 1586. which City he â—â—ok and plundered The same he did at Cartagena and then passed over to Florida About the beginning of this Year King Philip set out the Proclamation for regulating the Stile to be used in Letters which till then caused much Confusion every one aspiring to greater Titles than belonged to them King Philip provoked by the many Wrongs done him by Queen Elizabeth resolved upon the Conquest of England and to that purpose gathered a Mighty Fleet in the vast Port of Lisbon It contained 130 Sail most of them very large under the Command of D. Alonso Perez de Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia and Generalissimo The Land Forces amounted to 20000 1588. the Mariners above 11000. They sailed from Lisbon the 27th of May and
the Malice and Virulency of our Times bear with the Mention of solid and real Praises What you are and what you merit neither is nor will be unknown it may prove the Subject of an abler Pen when those who know shall see a fit Time to recommend your Memory to Posterity All that remains Sir is to beg a favourable Acceptance of the Tender I make It is the entire History of a Kingdom from its first Plantation to this present Time The Original was dedicated to a King The Translation has not I hope so much degenerated but it may be worthy of you If you think it so I have gained my Point and shall reap a singular Satisfaction if it gives you any I am SIR Your most Obedient Humble Servant JOHN STEVENS THE PREFACE POrtugal though a Kingdom of but a small Extent and which for these latter Years has not furnished us with any great subject of History yet in past Ages it did so largely extend its Dominions and raised such admiration throughout Europe by its wonderful Discoveries and stupendious Conquests that it is much to be admired all its past Glories should be Buried under its present obscurity Nor is it less to be wondred at that England which so lately received from thence a Queen yet living should know so little either of her Country or Progenitors This I say in regard that till now there has not appeared abroad in the English Tongue any History of that once so famous Kingdom unless we will reckon as such some small fragments which at several times have crept into the World and which seem rather to stir up our curiosity to know who those People were than any ways to satisfy our desire of Knowledge This fault I conceive must be chiefly imputed to the Portuguese themselves whose care it ought to have been to deliver to Posterity and Foreigners their own honourable Actions so methodized that they might delight in seeing them together reduced into the form of a compleat History But they though furnishing so much matter for Authors to employ their Pens were yet supinely negligent in duly recording and publishing of it It is true they had many Writers who snatched their Actions from utter oblivion by leaving that piece-meal which ought to have been reduced into one Work but this was a labour most Men were averse to as believing it above their strength because those Writings were partly so voluminous that it required almost a Man's Age to reduce them to a less compass and partly so scattered abroad in sundry parts of the Kingdom that they despaired of ever being able to bring them together Emanuel de Faria y Sousa our Author was the first that I can find ever undertook to digest and publish to the World the compleat History of his Country and give a perfect account of the Actions of his Countrymen in all parts of the World He not only undertook but performed it with general applause not only of the Portuguese who are the subject of his great Enterprize but even of the Spaniards in whose Language he Wrote This his labour was not finished till the Year 1640. and appeared not in publick till many Years after He has observed a strict method of History without running out into endless Digressions which only serve to swell Volumes and are no way material to the subject in hand Being a Portuguese I cannot affirm him to be altogether impartial for there is no Man whom the love of his Native Country does not a little sway yet this can be no exception against him because if such all History would be lyable to the same censure and besides he was a Man that proposed to himself no interest in flattering the great ones living always a private retired life which will plainly appear in that he spares not often to expose the Vices and Enormities of notable Persons for the sake of their Posterity and no where extols any though never so mighty for the hope of pleasing their descendants But to be short let the History speak for it self for my commendation as being a party too much concerned in it cannot add much to its Reputation and yet this I must say that I cannot at all doubt of its meeting applause because having run through the Kingdoms of Spain and Portugal with a general esteem in its original Language I cannot be perswaded that the Translation can have so much detracted from its first value as to render it unacceptable to the judicious lovers of this sort of Learning Thus much may suffice as to the History in General but to descend to particulars The first Book contains all that hapned in Portugal from the time it was first peopled by Tubal the Grandson of Noah till the time of the famous Viriatus The second begins with Viriatus and ends at the Birth of Saviour The third reaches from the Birth of our Saviour till the Conquest of Spain by the Moors The fourth from the Moorish Conquest till the erecting of Portugal into a particular Kingdom under its first King Alonso the First or rather his Father Count Henry The fifth from the said Count Henry till King Sancho the second The sixth from him till King Ferdinand inclusive The seventh from King John the First to King John the Second The eighth from King Emanuel till Henry the King and Cardinal and the Governours left by him at his Death The ninth Book has the lives of the three Philips Kings of Spain and Portugal till the Year 1640. where the Author concludes and the Supplement begins Having given this short account of the main History and named the Supplement I must not omit to say somewhat in relation to it Emanual de Faria having concluded as has been said just at the Year 1640. there ensued that very Year the great Revolution in which the Portuguese cast off the Dominion of the Spaniards and set up a King of their own This mighty work was in a manner done in a day all places submitting to the new King and expelling the Spaniards with such success as is scarce credible but that the thing is still fresh in the memory of many persons living However though the Portuguese in so short a time had asserted their Liberty and cast off the Foreign Yoak yet the consequences of so great an Enterprise were a continual War for the space of almost Twenty Eight Years Now this War is the principal subject of the Supplement and indeed a matter well worthy to be known as a most material Transaction of this Age. Being a thing so remarkable and near our times I have been very particular in it and therefore given an exact account of the Transactions of every Year apart I have not been sparing of any labour in perusing such Authors as have writ of it and extracting from them as much as my intended Brevity would permit and tho' I designed to have been much shorter the variety of accidents is such that it has obliged
Navarre kills King Bermudo and becomes sole Monarch of Castile Leon Portugal Galicia and Navarre and his Son Ferdinand succeeding him King Bermudo was in hopes to recover what Ferdinand's Father had taken from him They came to a Battel in the Valley of Tamara near Fromista where after a bloody Fight King Bermudo was killed and his Army overthrown Ferdinand now victorious immediately laid Siege to Leon and having made himself Master thereof he was there Crowned King of Leon Galicia and Portugal in the Right of his Wife Sancha the lawful Heiress of those Kingdoms Thus for want of Issue Male to the Kings of Leon and Earls of Castile those two Dominions fell to the House of Navarre 1037. by the Female Line 9. What I am about to relate happen'd in the Reign of King Bermudo but in what Year is not certain Two Grandsons of Prince Alboazar Ramirez Son to King Ramiro III called Tedon and Rosendo with a Body of resolute Men broke into that part of the Country that lies betwixt the Rivers Tavora and Duero Having drove the Moors thence A Stratagem of the Christians against the Moors they began to Till the Land and knowing well that the Infidels would not suffer them quietly to rest there they fortified themselves on a Rock over the River Tavora which running round great part of it makes it a sort of Peninsula which with the Steepness of the Rock it self renders it inaccessible any Way but one Here they built their Habitation and hence infested the Country of the Moors At length on Midsummer-Day which is much reverenced even by those Infidels in Honour of St. John the Baptist the Moors of the Town of Paredes resorted in great Numbers to sport and divert themselves on the Banks of the River and to bathe themselves in it D. Rosendo cloathing his Men in Moorish Apparel passed the River out of sight and lay close in Ambush till he saw all the Banks covered with the Barbarians Then by degrees coming out as if he had been some of their own Company he suffered his Men to mix with the Enemy who took them for Friends Being all mixed the Christians fell upon them and turned their Pleasure into Sorrow However many stood and made a good Defence and others coming to their Aid the Success was doubtful till D. Tedon fording the River with his Men ended the Dispute with the Slaughter of most of the Moors This and other Victories put the two Brothers in Possession of many Lands in that Country And in Memory of the Action they took to themselves the Name of the River which still continues in the Family of the Tavora's 10. The Fame of the Exploits of D. Tedon particularly that upon the River together with that of the Comliness of his Person reaching the Ears of Ardinga the beautiful Daughter of Aliboazen King of Lamego she fell in Love with him by Hear-say The Effects of Love Love perswaded her to quit her Father's Palace and disguised in the Habit of a Man through bye Ways she found out the Abbot Gelasius a solitary Hermit She told him who she was and the Cause of her Coming and he baptized her promising to perswade D. Tedon to take her to Wife This took not effect for her Father closely pursuing her overtook and put her to death Tedon hearing of her Love had promised to marry her and she being dead would take no other Wife but was afterwards killed by the Moors near a small Brook which of him was called Tedo So he took his Surname from one River and gave his Name to another There being nothing else remarkable recorded in Portugal during the Reign of King Bermudo and he being the last King thereof of that Name I must not omit to remark that Bermudo is the same Name with Veremundus which the Spaniards call Veremundo so that to make it Bermudo there is corruptly an e and an n omitted and to use B for V is common in Spanish Thus Bermudo and Veremundus appear to be the same Name CHAP. X. The remaining Kings from the Year 1037 till the Year 1108 and till the Establishment of Count Henry of Burgundy in the Sovereignty of Portugal where begins the Line of the Portuguese Kings and ends the Second Book 1. FErdinand Prince of Navarre inherited the Crown of Leon King Ferdinand called The Great in the Right of his Wife the Lady Sancha Daughter to King Alonso V and Sister to King Bermudo III who died without Issue The Earldom of Castile fell to him by his Mother the Lady Nunna and the Crown of Navarre he inherited from his Father Three Crowns were united in him and he was well worthy thereof purchasing by his Piety Valour and Bounty the Title of The Great The Moors believing King Ferdinand was wholly employed in reconciling his new Subjects in Castile Leon Galicia and Portugal broke into Lustainia but hearing he was provided to receive them they retired hastily He once provoked would not put up his Sword without doing Execution His Conquests over the Infidels He took the Town of Sea and the Cities Merida Badajoz Beja and Evora without any Resistance Viseo guilty of the Death of King Alonso and fearing a Revenge was strongly fortified and governed by Cid Alafun a notable Commander The King sate down before it resolving not to stir thence till he were Master of it Eighteen Days the City was battered and bravely defended at the End whereof being the Eve of the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul it was enter'd by Force and never after returned under the Yoak of the Infidels The Man that shot King Alonso being taken in the City had his Eyes put out and both his Hands and one Foot cut off which done he was shot to Death The Governor Alafun had in Consideration of his Valour Lands given him to live upon paying a certain Tribute His Name is still preserved in those Parts in the Mountain called Alafun the Council of Alafâ—â—â— and other Places 2. The City Lamego held out no less obstinately during Twenty Five Days at the end whereof it was surrendred upon Articles the 22th Day of July It was not then used to expel the Moors but to bring them to pay a moderate tribute After these Conquests the King crossed the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho into Galicia to visit the Sepulcher of the Apostle St. James 1039. and make his Offerings there The following Year he conquered many places in the Province of Tras os Montes and pierced down even to the River Tagus King Ferdinand made glorious Conquests the ensuing Years but they being out of Portugal do not appertain to us Coimbra taken by the Advice and Assistance of the Monks of Lorvan Two Monks of the Monastery of Lorvan advertised the King that the City Coimbra was ill provided and worse fortified and therefore it would be easie to gain it King Ferdinand marched in December 1063
and laid Siege to it where he continued till July following so that 7 Months were spent in the Siege 1064. And it may be supposed the Moors before unprovided upon Notice of his Coming had prepared to receive him Provisions grew so scarce in the Army towards the latter end of the Siege that the King was about raising it and departing But the Monks of the aforesaid Monastery of Lorvan supplied him plentifully and the City was taken the 8th Day after The King offered the Monks to take what they pleased in requital for their Intelligence and Supplies but they modestly begged only a Church in the City However he gave them many rich Gifts and confirmed all the former Grants made by his Ancestors In token of Gratitude the Monks presented the King with a Golden Crown which Count Gonzalo Moniz Governor of the Province between Duero and Minho had offered to their Church The King restored it with 10 Marks of Silver to make a Cross Roderick de Bivar Surnamed Cid that famous Captain was at this Siege and Knighted by the King in this City Here was also the renowned Portuguese Roderick Frojas Contemporary and not much inferiour to the other for Warlike Exploits 3. The King returning to Leon left Sisnandus a noble and valiant Man Governor of Coimbra He made War upon Abudad a resolute and powerful Moor who had much disturbed the King at the Siege but being subdued became a most loyal Subject Soon after the Moors 1065. under the Command of Benalfagi a great Lord in Estremadura repaired the Fortifications of Montemayor the Old that it might be a Check upon Coimbra This Place was so obnoxious to it that King Ferdinand was forced to come with a powerful Army wherewith he laid Siege to it for many Days 1066. Here Roderick de Bivar took great Pains to supply the Camp with Forage all the Country about being kept by great Multitudes of Moors Montemayor taken and demolished At length the Besieged surrender'd upon Promise of their Lives and the King offended at the Resistance he had found there demolished the Walls The Governor Sisnandus repaired them again in the Reign of King Alonso VI. King Ferdinand was born in the Year 1007 and in 1030 married the Lady Sancha by whom he had the following Children in Order as named Vrraca Elâ—â—â—a Sancho Alonso and Garcia By a Daughter of Raymund Lord of Savoy he had Ferdinand who was a Cardinal and D. Mininno Fernandez of Toro Ferdinand dying divides his Dominions The King finding his End draw near divided his Kingdoms among his Sons To Sancho he gave Castile to Alonso Leon and to Garcia Galicia and Portugal To the Lady Vrraca he left the City Zamora with half the Principality of Leon to the Lady Elvira Garcia is King of Galicia and Portugal the other half â—â—d the City Toro Having thus settled his Affairs King Ferdinand died in the 60th Year of his Age and the 30th of his Reign and was buried in the Church of St. Isidorus 1067. where a Year after his Wife Sancha was also laid 4. King Ferdinand foreseeing that the Division of his Kingdoms could not but produce Discord among his Sons bound them by Oath to stand to this Distribution leaving his Curse upon him that should attempt to alter it But of what Force are Oaths against Ambition The three Brothers fall at Variance None of them was satisfied Sancho the Eldest thought himself wronged as having a Right to all Garcia was grieved that the Cities of Toro and Zamora were given to his Sisters Alonso was offended that Sancho should think he had Right to his Dominions Garcia was the youngest and therefore the last in the Distribution But he proved the first that took up Arms against his Sisters and invaded the Lands of Toro and others along the River Duero which he would have to belong to Portugal D. Sancho soon followed his Example in taking the Field not to defend his Sisters but to strip them all King Sancho before he undertook this Enterprize asked the Advice of all his Noblemen who unanimously disswaded him from the Undertaking for fear of incurring his Father's Curses However finding him not to be moved they counselled him to continue in Amity with King Alonso and ask Leave of him to pass through the Kingdom of Leon into Portugal To this purpose he met his Brother Alonso at the Monastery of Sahagun but could not prevail to have Passage granted him Nevertheless upon second Thoughts they both agreed to conquer Portugal 1069. Our King Garcia taken up with his own ambitious Designs had no Leisure to look into the Practices of his Brothers What was yet worse his Subjects were discontented for that he made Account of none but his Favourite Verna by whose Advice he began the War of Toro unsuccessfully 5. The Portuguese Nobility and Gentry consulted together The Portuguese Nobility insult their King on account of his Favourite how they might remove this mighty Favourite and it was resolved that D. Roderick Frojas a mighty Man in those Days should discourse the King upon that Matter When he had made a long Harangue upon the Subject all the Answer the King made was to turn his Back upon him and go away D. Roderick seeing how little his Words had prevailed soon after killed Verna in the Palace The Death of Verna troubled not the King so much as the News that King Sancho was marching against him and the small Confidence he had in his Subjects especially for the Brothers of that D. Roderick conspired together to oppose his punishing the said D. Roderick Necessity obliged the King to wink at Offences and send for D. Roderick who was fled into Navarre designing for France He immediately returned and came to Coimbra then the Court of Portugal at such time as King Sancho's Forces began to range in Galicia and in the Province of Beira without meeting with any Opposition 1071. The two Earls D. Nunho de Lara and D. Garcia de Cabra advanced to the Walls of Coimbra with some Troops of Horse The King would have gone out to fight them The Forces of Castile overthrown by those of Portugal but D. Roderick Frojas said It was not fit for him to hazard himself where there was no King against him D. Roderick went out with his two Brothers Peter and Vermui to meet the Enemy and in the Field called Agua de Mayas overthrew them killing 600 among whom were many of Note 200 Portuguese were slain and Frojas himself received many Wounds 6. King Garcia was gone to Santarem when King Sancho to revenge the former Loss pierced through Portugal with a numerous Army Some advised to protract the War and not hazard a Battel but D. Roderick Frojaz now recovered of his Wounds was positive for Fighting A Plain not far from Santarem was chose for that Purpose where was fought as bloody a Battel as has been seen in
enacted by him He was the first that instituted general Laws in the first Year of his Reign holding a Parliament for that purpose at Coimbra In these Laws great regard was had to the Church-Men the prices of all things necessary for the support of life were settled so that the meanest might buy as cheap as the greatest the Extortions of publick Ministers were retrenched Plaintiffs if cast were ordered to pay a Fine Sentence of Death passed by him was appointed not to be Executed till 20 days after to prevent the Effects of Passion This King used extraordinary severity towards the Church-men 1221. for which being reproved by Stephen Suarez de Silva Archbishop of Braga instead of amending he set Officers to destroy all the Possessions of that See He persisted so obstinately in this fury that Honorius the third wrote a Letter to him full of most severe Expressions calling him Tyrant In fine the King died before he was reconciled to the Clergy His Death or his own Sisters the Kingdom at that time lying under an interdict He lived 48 Years and Reigned 21 His Body lies Buried with the Queen his Wife in the Royal Monastery of Alcobaca in a plain Tomb without any Epitaph or Inscription as were all the first Kings of this Nation Of Body he was extraordinary gross and therefore called the Fat yet his Gigantick Stature carried it off his Countenance was Comly his Forehead High 1223. his Eyes Chearful and his Hair Yellow which he always wore long 5. King Alonso Married Vrraca His Wife and Issue the Daughter of Alonso VIII of Castile called the Noble and Good a most vertuous and beautiful Princess His Issue by her was Sancho who succeeded in the Throne Alonso Earl of Bolen in right of his Wife Maud whence he was called to Govern the Kingdom by reason of the insufficiency of his Brother whom he succeeded Ferdinand called de Serpa married to Sancha Fernandez Daughter to Ferdinand Earl of Lara Lastly Elenor who was Queen of Dacia The King had one Bastard Son called John Alonso of whom there is no other memory but that he lies Buried in the Church of Alcobaca Tho' it be said before at the end of the last King's Reign that then the orders of St. Dominick St. Francis the Blessed Trinity and the Carmelites came into Portugal our Author repeats it again in the Reign of this King which is the most likely CHAP. VI. The Life and Reign of King Sancho II. he is deposed by his Brother flies to Toledo and there ends his days all betwixt the Years 1207 and 1246. 1. SAncho II. of the Name 1203. and Fourth King of Portugal Sancho II. ascends the Throne Eldest Son to King Alonso was Born on the Eighth of September at Coimbra He was called Capelo because being sickly in his Child-hood his Mother confiding to obtain his Health through the intercession of the Holy Father St. Augustin caused him to wear that Habit. His Weakness rather than want of Years must be the cause that he appeared not in any Military Action with his Father for we have no account of him till he ascended the Throne which was about the 20th 1223. or 21st Year of his Age. His first Action was a Reconciliation with the Clergy who had suffered much under his Father but he soon followed his Example After this agreement with the Church the Ecclesiastical Censures were taken off and those who died during the interdict were now Buried in hallowed Ground The controversies also between the late King and his Sisters ceased they now swearing fealty to the King for the places they possessed His next care was to visit his Kingdom which he did taking a Progress through it leasurely doing justice to all Men and giving prudent Orders in all places Then laying aside for a while the Civil Affairs he applied him to the Military making several incursions upon the Moors whence he returned with Honour Our King and Ferdinand of Castile met at Sabugal to adjust certain Differences which they amicably put an end to King Ferdinand delivering up the Town of Chaves which had been engaged to him 2. Still the Arabs ranged about the territory of Elvas He entirely defeats the Moors at Elvas wasting the Country and destroying the Villages King Sancho assembling his Forces soon drove them thence but no sooner was his back turned then they came again laid Siege to Elvas and carried it by Assault Our King returning with speed utterly discomfitted those Barbarians so that they never again attempted any thing there Nor did he desist till he had Juremenha 1226. Serpa and other Castles which had often been gained and again fallen into the Enemies hands For four Years there was nothing of Action but in the Year 1230 1230. he made War on the Moors in the Province of Alentejo The following year he advanced into Algarve to recover what his Grand-father had conquered there and was now again fallen into the hands of the Infidels 1232. Some places he re-took consecrated the Churches and placed therein Evangelical Pastors 1235. After this by his Commanders the chief whereof was Payo Perez Correa he took Aljustrel which he gave to the Military Order of Santiago 1239. then the Towns of Mergola and Alfajar de Penna which also he bestowed on the same Order Of late Years the insolencies of Favourites were grown insupportable they abusing the King and their Kindred and friends them Common complaints when subjects will rebell The Subjects were treated worse than conquered Moors their Persons Imprisoned their Estates Wasted their Children Murdered unless redeemed for Money and their Wives and Daughters openly Ravished Nor was the Sanctuary of the Church any refuge for even in those Holy Places all Villanies were committed The King knew nothing but what his Favourites told him and it was their study to keep him in ignorance and hence proceeded the ruin of this unhappy Prince 3. In the Year 1240. Cacela and Ayamonte were taken by Assault 1240. in which Actions D. Payo Perez Correa particularly signalized himself Complaints made to the Pope and all things adjusted wherefore the King gave those places to the Military Order of Santiago whereof he was Commendary During this current of Affairs the King was highly commended and received Spiritual Favours from Pope Gregory IX The Spiritual Graces were for such as died in the War and for the King himself who lay under Ecclesiastical Censures for having proceeded unjustly against Peter Bishop of Porto who carried his complaints to Rome Besides he seized the Ecclesiastical revenues on pretence of urgent necessities and of punishing Clergy Men who kept Women in their Houses Silvester Archbishop of Braga had hereupon made application to the Pope who therefore wrote to the King and recommended the charge of reducing him to certain Bishops But he prevented them by submitting himself and so all differences were adjusted The King
chief whereof was D. Payo Perez Correa Master of the Military Order of Santiago CHAP. VIII The Life and Reign of Denis the first of that Name and sixth King of Portugal his Actions and Death from the Year 1261. till 1325. 1. KIng Denis King Denis his Birth and Succession to the Crown Eldest Son to Alonso III. and Queen Beatrix was born at Lisbon on the 9th of October 1261. and was so called from the Saint whose Day that was From his Infancy he was educated in all those Vertues and Accomplishments that make an Excellent Prince In Truth Justice and Liberality he exceeded most of them that had been before him His Father dying when he was but Eighteen Years of Age though he honoured his Mother in all other Respects he would allow her no share in the Government She resenting this as an Affront went away into Castile pretending her Journey was only to pay a Visit to her Father That King desiring to please her took a Journey to Badajoz and sent to desire King Denis to come as far as Elvas Thither the Princes Peter Sancho Jayne and his Brother Emanuel repaired to him by whom the King of Castile desired they might meet at Badajoz King Denis having entertained them magnificently for the space of three Days sent them back saying He would soon be after them but suddenly returned to Lisbon thinking it a better Expedient not to meet his Grand-father than to deny his Request The Queen thus disappointed went away with her Father to Sevil where she continued being convinced her Son would admit no Partner in the Throne 2. The King being Twenty Years of Age He Marries Elizabeth the Daughter of King Peter of Aragon sent his Embassadors to Peter III. King of Aragon to ask his Daughter Elizabeth then but Eleven Years old in Marriage His Request was easily granted and the Bride conducted to Braganza where she was received by Alonso the King's Brother who conveyed her to Trancoso where the best King of Portugal and one of the best Queens in the World were marryed His next Care was â—o compleat what his Father had begun which was to dear the Kingdom of Robbers and Out-laws and to Protect the meaner sort against the Insolencies of Great Men and particularly the Country People whom he called the Sinews of the Commonwealth For this Reason and because he built many Castles he was called the Husbandman and Father of his Country Having at his Entrance into the Government passed many extravagant Grants when he came to the Age of 22 he recalled them all 1283. He had some Difference with his Brother Alonso who refused to make any Acknowledgment for the Towns left him by his Father Has Differences with his Brother Alonso and had some Pretensions to the Crown pleading that Denis was Born before the Death of the Countess of Bologne and consequently must be Illegitimate whereas he was Born after her Death when the Pope had ratified the Match They both took Arms and Alonso was besieged by his Brother in Portalegre yet at last they agreed The chief Articles were That Alonso should be allowed 30000 Crowns a Year out of the King's Revenue and instead of the Towns he possessed should have Sintra and Ourem for that the others were more dangerous to the King as lying on the Borders of Castile Thus ended those Civil Broils 3. A War broke out with King Sancho the Third of Castile War betwixt Castile and Portugal called the Fierce for that he performed not the Covenants about the Marriages of the Princes for Security whereof he had put into Portuguese Hands the Cities of Badajoz and Truxillo as also the Towns of Moura Serpa Caceres Allariz and Aguiar de Neiva All these Places he again suddenly surprized and made several inroads into Algarve and into Portugal by the way of Leon destroying all the Country before him King Denis being then wholly unprovided for War sent Embassadors to adjust Affairs but to no effect King Denis now moved to Wrath challenged King Sancho and at the same time caused his Forces to do much harm in the Enemy's Country Sancho designed to answer the Challenge but was prevented by Death at which time he ordered all that had been before stipulated should be performed Ferdinand the Fourth his Successor not answering what was expected from him King Denis sent his Embassadors to demand the Restitution of the Towns taken by his Predecessor and in case of Refusal to fix the Challenge upon him Restitution being denied the Challenge was accordingly given and the Embassadors withdrew This done King Denis with a Puissant Army marched from the City Guarda and entred Castile committing all manner of Hostilities Prince Henry who was Governour to the young King Ferdinand put a stop to our King 's further Progress making him advantageous Proposals and referring the Conclusion to Cuidad Rodrigo where the two Kings met with the Queen-Mother of Castile and concluded all Articles the Towns demanded by the Portuguese being put into the Hands of Ferdinand Longominhâ— as a Pledge for performing all other parts But this Compliance on the part of Castile being the Product of Fear and not of any Friendly Intention nothing of what had been promised was performed 4. King Denis draws together his Forces again Denis enters Castile the second time and furiously enters Castile and with him Prince John who stiled himself King of Leon as Son to King Alonso the Tenth and John Nunnez de Lara who was in Rebellion against his Prince Our Army being in the Province of Beira near the Frontiers of Castile there came to the King Margaret Daughter to the Earl of Narbonne Wife to Prince Peter the Son of King Alonso and with her her Son Sancho de Ledesma who offered to serve our King being disgusted with his own Yet tho he was much honoured and received great Bounties from King Denis he soon returned to his own Master and served against him of whom he had received such Favours King Ferdinand understanding that King Denis had invaded his Dominions sent his Fleet from Sevil under the Command of that Sancho we last spoke of to Lisbon where he surprized some Portuguese Vessels Our Admiral having gathered what Force he could pursued and overtook the Fleet of Castile without the Bar. The Fleet of Castile worsted by the Portugueses There was fought a most obstinate Battle till the Castillians were worsted and their Commander D. Sancho brought back Prisoner In the mean while K. Denis without Opposition ranged about the Territories of Cuidad Rodrigo and Ledesma where he took the Castle of Torres putting all the Defendants to the Sword He passed by Simancas where King Ferdinand was and laid Siege to Possaldes where neither Sex nor Age was spared nor was any Reverence paid to the Churches where the Altars were stained with Blood nor did their Sacrilegious Hands abstain from Plundering those Holy Places The Castilians were not
Coimbra His Liberality was such that it became a Proverb As liberal as Denis The Presents he made to Kings Queens and Nobility when he went to compose Affairs betwixt the King of Castile and Duke Alonso de la Cerda were inestimable and cannot be reckoned After that a Gentleman of Castile telling him that none but himself had fallen short of his Bounty he gave him the Silver Table whereon he dined To reckon up the particular acts of his Generosity were too tedious it may suffice to say this above the rest was his peculiar Vertue in which he exceeded most Princes He knew all the Product of his Kingdom and valued it so much that he never desired to be supplied from abroad with any thing that he could have at home Of the Gold gathered in Tagus he made a rich Crown and Scepter But notwithstanding his prodigious Liberality he never oppressed his Subjects with heavy Taxes He was of a middle Stature his Hair black full Faced not so Beautiful as Majestick He died at Santarem the 7th of January 1325. at the Age of 64 Years 1325. having Reigned 46. It became a Proverb That Denis could do all he would His stately Tomb built by himself is in the Monastery of Odivelas of Benedictine Nuns near Lisbon of the Invocation of St. Denis 12. Elizabeth His Wife and Issue Daughter to King Peter III. of Aragon and his Queen Constance the Daughter of Manfredus King of Naples and Sicily was the only Wife of King Denis He being extreamly addicted to Women she bred up all the Children he had by them as if they had been her own by which her patience she made him afterwards forbear that Vice and punish it severely in others To be short she was a most holy Woman and an excellent Queen and was Canonized in the Reign of Phillip IV. of Spain By her the King had Alonso his Successor and Constance Wife to King Ferdinand IV. of Castile His illegitimate Issue were by Aldonza Rodriguez Alonso Sanchez created Earl of Albuquerque By the Lady Grace Peter Earl of Barcelos the first Title of that kind given by the Kings of Portugal another Peter called also Earl By other Women John Alonso Ferdinand Sanchez the Lady Mary Married to Duke John de la Cerda another Mary a Nun at Odivelas CHAP. IX Yhe Life and Reign of Alonso the Fourth of the Name and the Seventh King of Portugal his Actions and Death from the Year 1290. till 1357. 1. THE Favour that King Denis shewed to Learning made him reside where he had caused it to flourish King Alonso the 4th wholly addicted to his Pleasure Having therefore resettled the Court at Coimbra on the Eighth of February 1290. was Born to him in that City of his Wife the holy Queen Elizabeth his Son Alonso 4th of the Name and the Seventh King of Portugal 1290. who for his forward and fiery spirit was called the Fierce He who as we have seen was so eager to Rule whilst his Father lived after his Death cast off all the care of Government giving himself wholly up to his Pleasure and particularly to Hunting Upon his Accession to the Crown instead of settling the Affairs of the Kingdom he went away to the Forrest of Sintra 1325. where he spent a whole Month among the wild Beasts Returning to Court and appearing at the Council-Board instead of the Business of that Place he gave them an Account of his Sport Hereupon one of the Counsellors took the Boldness to reprove him with threatning Expressions which the King being offended at all the Council stood up and said they would choose another King if he did not alter his Course of Life The King tho he then went out in a Passion being grown cool thought good to curb his Inclination Our Author here extols the Bravery of those Counsellors I find nothing to admire in the matter but the Insolency of wicked and haughty Subjects and the want of Resolution in him he stiles a Magnanimous Prince The King not satisfied with having during his Father's Life unjustly Persecuted his Bastard-Brother and Expelled him the Kingdom At Variance with his Bastard-Brother still persisting in his ill grounded Malice towards him laid many things to his Charge and by formal tho' unjust Process Condemned him to forfeit all his Possessions in Portugal at once endeavouring to deprive him of his Fortune and Honour D. Alonso Sanchez modestly sued for Redress but none was to be had from a byassed Judge He was now powerful and beloved in Castile and Leon and therefore raising a good Force entred the Territory of Bragança with Fire and Sword whilst others of his Troops did the like from Medellin and Albuquerque in the Country about Guadiana 1326. This done he returned to his Town of Albuquerque where he Fortified himself and made preparations for open War D. Gonzalo Vaz Master of the Knights of Avis being sent against him by the King was put to the rout and Duke Alonso falling Sick returned to Medellin In the mean time the King Besieged the Castle of Codesseyra near Albuquerque which being basely delivered to him by the Governour was rased to the Ground 2. The King proposed a Match betwixt his Son Prince Peter 1327. and Constance the Daughter of D. John Emanuel who was of the Blood Royal of Castile and his Wife of that of Aragon King Alonso IX of Castile broke off this Match contracting himself to her for she was under age and yet afterwards he contemned her and was Married to Mary Marries his Daughter to the King of Castile Daughter to King Alonso of Portugal To that effect he came into Portugal and received the Princess at the Town of Alfayates whither her Father had Conducted her At this Place a Match was concluded betwixt Henry 1328. Prince of Portugal and the Princess Blanch Henry Prince of Portugal marries Blanch Aunt to the King of Castile Aunt to the King of Castile The following Year the Portuguese received her at Fuentegrinaldo where he again met with her Father Prince Peter about some alterations to be made in the Hostages given for exchange of the Ratifications Two Years after the King of Castile was Married to our Princess he became so intangled in the Love of the Lady Ellenor Nunnez de Guzman 1330. that he treated her as Queen and the Queen as if she had been but a Concubine Our holy Queen Elizabeth met him at Xerez de Badajoz to endeavour to reclaim him but could obtain nothing but promises for he continued obstinate in his Amours 1332. D. John Emanuel desiring to be revenged of the King of Portugal for that giving his Daughter to the King of Castile in Marriage he had caused his Daughter Constance to be put by made his interest with the Lady Ellenor the King of Castile's Mistress perswading her to prevail with the King to marry her for his Marriage with the
with the Aragonian and our King joyned in League with the former against the other But the Castilian knowing the inconstancy of Ferdinand soon came to agreement with the Aragonian The more to bind the Portuguese to him he proposed a Match betwixt our Princess Beatrix and his own Bastard-Son Frederick 1375. This Match being approved of by the Cortes at Leyria they were married by Proxy and the King of Castile Swore to perform the Articles of the Treaty 1376. on the 19th of January 1377. Our King being forsaken by the Castilian Prince John privately marries Mary Sister to Queen Ellenor concluded a League against Aragon with Lewis Duke of Anjou Son to the King of France Prince John of Portugal falling in Love with the Lady Mary Sister to the then Queen Ellenor raised also by her Beauty to the Throne he was privately married to her But Queen Ellenor instead of rejoycing at the Advancement of her Sister fearing that the King dying without Issue she might come to be Queen contrived her Death and to compass her ends she perswaded the Prince she would Marry him to the Princess Beatrix the King 's only Daughter and by that means secure him the Succession of the Crown At the same time she accused her Sister of defiling his Bed He Murders her The Prince moved with Hope and Revenge hasted to Coimbra and breaking in upon the Innocent Lady murdered her as she leaped naked out of Bed and taking Horse fled to secure himself and his followers As soon as the News of this Action came to Court 1378. the Queen went into deep Mourning The Prince easily obtained his Pardon and coming to Court began to sollicit the Conclusion of the Match before proposed to him by the Queen with the Lady Beatrix but finding nothing in her but Deceit he retired to the Province that lies betwixt Duero and Minho and thence fled to Castile where he was kept from the Crown of Portugal which would have fallen to him as we shall see in the next Reign had he not fled for killing his Wife 2. A mighty Solar Eclipse preceded the Death of Henry A great Eclipsâ— of the Sun King of Castile which happened on the 30th of May. Embassadors went immediately from Portugal to propose to John the new King a Match betwixt his Eldest Son Ferdinand then a Year old and Beatrix Princess of Portugal tho' she was before contracted to Frederick 1380. King Henry's Bastard Son The Castilian approving of this Proposal sent his Embassadors to Portugal who concluded upon the Articles of Marriage But notwithstanding this so late Capitulation King Ferdinand underhand treats with the Dukes of Lancaster and York about subduâ—ng of Castile King Ferdinand hoping to gain some Advantage over the Young King resolved upon War John Fernandez Andeyro one of them expelled Portugal upon the Pacification with King Henry was at this time in England to whom private Instructions were sent to treat with the Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Duke of York for Succours They espoused the Cause and Andeyro came away with the News to Portugal where the King being at Estremoz kept him up in a Tower that the Design might not take Air nor he seem to Entertain any of the Fugitives It fell out the Queen spoke sometimes with Andeyro in this Retirement and as Queens are but Women their Familiarity became scandalous for she who had forsaken her Lawful Husband for a King now abandoned that King for a Private Man whom she raised to the honour of an Earl After some time the King ordered him to appear publickly at Leyria as if newly come from England and there as had been agreed he was apprehended for coming into Portugal without leave Within a few days he was again set at Liberty and it was given out he should lose his Head if he stay'd in the Kingdom Under this Pretence he returned to England to sollicite the execution of the Treaty concluded 3. King John understanding that Edmund Duke of York raised Forces in England to Conquer Castile for his Brother the Duke of Lancaster who had a Right to it by his Wife the Daughter of King Peter and that he intended to assist the King of Portugal marched now as far as Zamora fitted out his Fleet at Sevil and sent Ferdinand Osores Master of the Knights of Santiago to secure Badajoz The King of Portugal had already fitted out 22 Galleys at Lisbon and sent Commanders to all the Frontiers The first Action of King Ferdinand was the demolishing the Walls of his own City of Evora which were so strong that three Years were spent in that Work The Portuguese Fleet commanded by the Earl John Alonso Tello the Queen's Brother set out from Lisbon and in the Sea of Algarve met with the Fleet of Castile consisting of 17 Galleys under the Command of Ferdinand Sanchez de Toar He being inferiour in number endeavoured to shun coming to an Engagement But our Admiral pursues and comes up with him off of Saltes All the Portuguese Fleet except one Galley taken by the Castilians having left behind 8 Galleys that went to take in some Fisher-Boats Toar seeing our Galleys dispersed bravely boards and takes 12 of the first that came up and afterwards Seven of the Eight that were behind Only one of our Galleys escaped to bring the News to Lisbon the rest were carryed in Triumph to Sevil. Few were killed in this Engagement but the Prisoners amounted to 6000. In the mean time the Master Ferdinand Osores infested the Frontiers with frequent Excursions from Badajoz Peter Alvarez Pereyra Prior of Crato marched with 1000 Lances and 4000 Cross-bow-Men in quest of him but came too late for he was retired to Badajoz King John streightly besieged the Town of Almeyda thither came to him Prince John who was fled from Portugal on account of killing his Wife and offered with the assistance of some banished Portugueses to cause Lisbon to be delivered up to the King Upon this he appeared before Lisbon with six Galleys but being disappointed of his Design returned back to Sevil. 4. King Ferdinand sent his Chancellor Laurence Yannez Fogaça into England to hasten the promised Succours The Duke of York set Sail from Plymouth with 3000 Men 1381. and entred the River of Lisbon on the 19th of July The Duke of York arrives at Lisbon with 3000 Men With him came the Princess his Wife and many Ladies as also his Son Edward and some of the banished Portugueses among whom was Andeyro who came not so much to serve the King in his Wars as the Queen in her Amours the King's Sickness administring a favourable Opportunity The King went aboard to receive the new Guests who were lodged in the Monastery of S. Dominick where Rich Presents were bestowed upon them and they were sumptuously entertained The King was by the Treaty obliged to furnish the English with Horses and he gave them
more Mules than Horses for there were scarce any in the Kingdom and he gave such as could be had The Duke of York advised our King to adhere to Pope Vrban and disown the Anti-Pope Glement which the King willingly complyed with A Schism in the Church The Duke of York's Son contracted to the Princess Beatrix for there being then a Schism in the Church the English would not hear the Masses said by Portuguese Priests because they acknowledged the Anti-Pope Edward the Duke's Son was solemnly contracted to the Princess Beatrix they being both about six Years of Age. Elvas was at that time besieged by the Castilians who hearing of the Arrival of the English raised the Siege and departed The English committed many Outrages in Lisbon and being ordered to March against Castile did no less harm in the Country as they went which was the cause that many of them were cut off by the Pertugueses D. John Alonso Earl of Ourem and the Queen's Brother dying the Queen gave his Title and Honours to her Gallant John Fernandez Andeyro He was a marryed Man and his Wife in Galicia The King to take him from the Queen caused his Wife to come to Court and the Queen endeavoured to gain her with Gifts which she received yet at the same time openly spoke of the Queen whatsoever her Jealousie dictated 5. This Year another Powerful Fleet of Castile from Biscay entred the River Tagus 1382. and meeting no Opposition destroyed some Vessels The Fleet of Castile again ravages the Coast then Landing they burnt three Royal Palaces and ravaged all that Coast At lengh Peter Alvarez Pereyra Prior of Crato with 200 Horse cut off almost all the Party of the Enemy and recovered the Booty they carryed away which was some check to them for the future Nunno Alvarez Pereyra lay in Ambush with 24 Horse and 30 Foot near the Bridge of Alcantara there he put to flight 20 of the Enemy who fled to the Shoar The Enemy increasing to about 250 his Men refused to Engage at such odds and he to draw them on run upon them alone where his Horse fell upon him but his Men coming to his Rescue brought him off the Castilians at the same time retiring to their Vessels The Queen having in Publick rent a Veil in two and given one half to her Gallant John Fernandez Andeyro and the other to Count Gonçalo for that they were sweaty and had no Handkerchiefs to wipe their Faces for it seems they were not then used in Portugal Gonzalo Vasquez de Azevedo her Cousin reproached her with it and she in Revenge accused him and John Bastard Son to the late King of holding Intelligence with the Spaniards Hereupon they were both committed to Prison She contrived to put them to Death but failing in her Projects set them at Liberty and shewed extraordinary Kindness to them both the better to disguise her Practices against them as also since she had failed to destroy them to bind them to her Interest 6. The Master of the Knights of Avis being now at Liberty The English and Portuguese take Towns in Castile joyned with some English and making together 200 Horse and 4000 Foot they marched to Castile and laid Siege to Loboâ— which they took the English being the first that entred Cortijo fell into their hands and was more hardly used for tho the Priests appeared on the Walls with the Blessed Sacrament the English put all to the Sword in Revenge of one of theirs that was killed The Kings of Castile and Portugal were now at the Head of their Armies the former at Badajoz the latter at Elvas ready to decide their Quarrel by Battle King Ferdinand Knighted 24 of his own People and the English but being told he could not tho' a King confer that Honour because he had not received it himself he caused the Duke of York to Knight him and then repeated the Ceremony to those 24 Knights The whole Day was spent by both Armies looking upon each other and at last the one drew back to Badajoz and the other to Elvas What the cause of parting so should be cannot certainly be assigned but some said The Castilian feared the English who had been before victorious in Castile to which the Duke of Lancaster had a good Title and had been once proclaimed by part of the Army Whatever it was a Treaty of Peace was immediately set a foot none knowing who had first moved for it Embassadors being sent on both Sides the Articles were at length agreed upon without the Knowledge of the English Peace concluded without the Knowledge of the English and were first That the Princess Beatrix lately contracted to Edward Son to the Duke of York should marry Prince Ferdinand King John's second Son having before been promised to the eldest But this Match was better liked to prevent the Union of the Two Crowns Secondly That the Twenty two Galleys taken by the Castilians should be restored Thirdly That a general Pardon should be granted on both sides Fourthly That the King of Castile should furnish Ships to carry the English Home as if he had sent for them When these Articles were to have been ratified the Castilian demurred as to restoring the Gallies and sending Home the English The Embassadors hereupon challenged him in their Master's Name and he scornfully answered I did not think he had so much Courage Nevertheless through the Perswasion of the Master of the Knights of Santiago he ratify'd the Peace 7. The Peace was proclaimed at Elvas which made the English rail After the Peace King Ferdinand again submits to the Antipope for that it was concluded without their Knowledge and the King put them off the best he could At this time came to the Court Cardinal Peter de Luna an Aragonian sent by the Anti-Pope Clement requiring King Ferdinand to acknowledge him again for he had cast him off at the Request of the English The King assembled some learned Men and the worst Advice was followed for he again submitted himself to the Schismatical Pope 1383. In the mean while died Ellenor Queen of Castile The King of Castile marries the Daughter of King Ferdinand and King Ferdinand forgetting he refus'd his Daughter to the eldest Son of Castile to prevent Disputes about the Succession now offered her to the Father His Offer was accepted and this Princess at last found a Husband the fifth time she had been contracted For she was first promised to Dâ—ke Frederick secondly to Henry Prince of Castile thirdly to Ferdinand his Brother fourthly to the Duke of York and now lastly to King John She proved a Pattern of Chastity for her Husband dying whilst she was yet very young and being courted by several Princes she answered That Women of Honour did not marry twice The Archbishop of Santiago came to Portugal to receive the Bride the King being then at Salvatierra upon the River Tagus It was agreed
for the Expence of the War with which and some good Troops they returned The Earl of Gijon Bastard-Brother to the King of Castile and Elizabeth his Wife Bastard-Daughter to the late King of Portugal were both secured in Castile on Account of holding Correspondence in Portugal The King and Queen of Castile removed from Puebla de Montalvan to Toledo where against their being proclaimed Standards were made with the Arms of both Kingdoms And now it was debated in Council whether Portugal ought presently to be invaded The wiser sort were for trying all obliging Methods First but the hotter Youths allowed of nothing but force of Arms and this Advice as followed 6. The King marched to the City Guarda which was delivered to him by the Bishop but Alvaro Gil Governour of the Castle would not Surrender The Towns of Cerolico The King of Castile invades Portugal Bedado and Linhares were also put into his Hands Some other Places submitted conditionally that the King should fulfil the Articles of Marriage Queen Ellenor sent to perswade the King to proceed and meet her at Santarem Several Places submitted themselves to him in his way and being come to Santarem the First Resolution of Queen Ellenor was to request he would revenge the 〈◊〉 done to her The K. answered he could not 〈…〉 quarrel unless she would resign up the 〈…〉 which she accordingly did and then they 〈…〉 Town Here the King took 〈…〉 On the right side of the Royal 〈◊〉 were the Arms of Castile and Leon and on the left those of Portugal The Royal Seal ran thus John King of Castile and Leon of Portugal of Toledo c. Money was also coyned after that manner Many of the Nobility adheared to the King of Castile and he was possest of the best Part of the Kingdom but the Multitude generally was inclined to the Bastard D. John Master of the Order of Avis The King of Castile sent D. Peter Fernandez Cabeça de Vaca with 1000 chosen Horse and a proportionable number of Foot to invest Lisbon These Troops being advanced as far as Lumiar John Fernandez Moreyra engaged them with a small Party but was himself Killed with some others many Prisoners were taken and the rest fled And now D. John the Protector marched out to meet the Enemy but they not expecting his coming fled in great disorder to Alenquer and Tâ—rres Vedras leaving all behind them 7. At First the Castilians behaved themselves modestly at Santarem but after a few Days they turned the Inhabitants out of their Houses pillaged them and abused their Wives and Daughters and there being no redress the Town began to be abandoned The Office or chief Rabbi among the Jews being vacant Queen Ellenor begged it of the King for one Man and he gave it to another recommended by his Wife Queen Beatrix This repulse and their different Humours set Queen Ellenor at Variance with the King The King of Castile and Queen Ellenor at Variaâ—â—â— and she now repented her calling him in and resigning the Government into his Hands in so much that she advised many of her Followers to go over to the Master of Avis telling them he was their Natural Lord. The King and Queen went away to Coimbra which City had promised to receive them yet when the King was Quartered in a Monastery without the City A Conspiracy against the King of Castile discovered they refused to admit him Here a Conspiracy was laid to Convey Queen Ellenor into the City and Murder the King This Design was betrayed by a Jew some of the Conspirators fled and Queen Ellenor was sent Prisoner to the Monastery of Tordesillas near Valladolid As soon as the News of Queen Ellenor's imprisonment was brought the Town of Alenquer revolted to the Protector but the King being Re-inforced marched to Besiege Lisbon At Aruda 40 Portuguese hid themselves in a great Cave and Fire being applied to it most of them died Two hid themselves in the House where the King Quartered designing to Murder him but being discovered were Hanged Many Places in the Province of Alentejo held for the Protector and sent to him for one to Command over them he sent Nâ—nho Alvarez Pereyra with an absolute Power who having visited some Places of his Charge and hearing that a great Body of Castilians was upon their March to Besiege the Town of Frontera he hasted with a much smaller number to releive that Place His Men knowing how much more numerous the Enemy was at First refused to follow him but being encouraged by his Resolution they gave the Charge and put the Castilians to the Rout killing many and among them several Persons of Note This done he took Aronches by Force and Alegrete was surrendred to him 8. The Protector understanding that a mighty Fleet was coming from Castile ordered the Archbishop of Braga to over-see the Equipping of his Vessels Lisbon Besieged by Sea and Land which performed with great industry so that Twelve Galleys some Galliots and Seven Ships were fitted out The King of Castile spread his Army about Lisbon where one of his Parties approaching to S. Augustin's Gate was defeated by 200 Horse that Sallied out of the City About the end of May 13 Galleys and 40 Ships of Castile appeared in the River of Lisbon The King drew nearer to the City and encamping at the Foot of Mount Olivet wasted the Country then encompassing it on all sides resolved to Starve it In the mean while a considerable Fleet was setting out at Porto for the relief of Lisbon and the King having notice thereof with the Advice of his Commanders resolved to give the Enemy Battle in the River The Portuguese Fleet consisted of 17 Galleys and as many Ships which entred the River in this order First 5 Ships then the 17 Galleys and after them the other 12 Ships The Portuguese Fleet stops up the River to Lisbon The Castilians furiously assailed the 5 Ships where they met with a most vigorous Opposition yet they took 3 of them but whilst they were intent upon them the rest of the Portuguese slipped by and got safe up the Harbour Soon after the King's Fleet was re-inforced by several Vessels so that now it consisted of 60 Ships and 17 Galleys besides Carracks which made the Protector lay aside all thoughts of engaging 9. The Fort of Almada opposite to Lisbon after enduring great extremities for want of Water was at length Surrendred to the King who entred into that Place on the 1st of August 1384. At this time Ruy Freyre and others discovered to the Protector a Design of betraying the City to the Castilians carried on by D. Peter de Castro Son to Count Alvaro Perez and his Accomplices who were all apprehended Many also deserted to the King and among them D. Alonso Enriquez who at Coimbra had plotted to convey away Queen Ellenor Hunger now began to pinch in Lisbon and was hard to be remedied but that at the
same time the Plague raged in the Castilian Army Overturâ—â— of Peace rejeâ—â—â—d Overtures of Peace were also made by the King to the Protector but he would hearken to none Nunho Alvarez Pereyra having ventured to pass the River in a Boat through the midst of the Fleet of Castile returned thence to Ebora and had the Town of Portel betrayed to him by 3 Citizens Twice he attempted Villaviciosa but was both times repulsed with Loss The Protector lay before Torres Vedras and Nunho Alvarez understanding that several Parties of the Enemy provided to fall upon him he hasted to his Succour which the Castilians understanding they gave over that Design however the Protector was forced to quit the Siege Nunho returning to his Châ—rge took Monzaraz defeated a Castilian Party near Badajâ—z another before Almada and made himself Master of Roca de Palmela and Couna 10. The Scarcity was now so great at Lisbon that they turned out the Poor and unserviceable People to the Enemy who sent them back well lashed No hopes now remained but that the Plague raged so violently among the Castilians The Siege of Lisbon raised when it had lasted five Months that Two hundred died in a Day and of them very many of Quality But the King no way moved hereat continued the Siege till the Infection touched the Queen and then he raised it having lain Five Months before the City Being come to Santarem he sent Troops to re-inforce the Garrisons of such Places as still held for him but passing by Torres Novas he was not admitted into the Town by Gonçalo Vasquez de Azevedo who before kept that Place for him His Wife went out to visit the Queen and there promised to reduce her Husband and not prevailing she returned to the Camp and the King sent to bid him Farewell for that his Wife was going to Castile He fearing to lose his Wife delivered himself and the Town but the King carried him and his Son away Prisoners leaving their Wives behind and a New Governour in the Place Whilst the King marched home the Protector granted large Immunities to the City of Lisbon in recompence of its Fidelity to him Next he contrived how to recover some places out of the Hands of the Castilians He marched by night to surprize Sintra but was disappointed by a violent Storm and Floods that swelled the Rivers above their Bridges Soon after Almada was surrendred to him notwithstanding that the King had carried away the Children of the principal Inhabitants as Hostages Alcnquer summitted to him also after having made some Defence But Torres Novas held out against all his Attemps and to add to his Grief he understood that Nunho Alvarez had been also repulsed at Vilâ—aviâ—iosa that the Master of the Order of Christ the Prior of Crato and Alvaro Gonzalez Camello were taken Prisoners at Torres Novas and that Two Galleys of Castile stealing into the Port of Lisbon by night had â—urnt Three Vessels there CHAP. II. John the Bastard-Son of King Peter of Protector is declared King he continues the War with Castile successfully from the Year 1384. till 1393. 1. ABout the beginning of the New Year was discovered a Conspiracy against the Protector 138â— Peter Earl of Trastamara A Conspiracy against the Protector discoverâ—â—â— was stirred up by the King of Castile to kill him as he lay at the Siege of Torres Vedras The Count communicated this Affair to D. Peter de Castro John Duque Governour of Torres Vedras John Alonso de Baeza Garcia Gonzales de Valdez and several others of whom only 3 Men were apprehended and one of them burnt In Revenge whereof John Duque sent out six Portuguese he had in Torres Vedras with their Hands and Noses cut off The Protector raised the Siege of Tâ—rres Vedras in order to go to Coimbra to meet the Cortes or Parliament he had caused to be thither Assembled and most of the Inhabitants about Torres Vedras went away with him In his way Leyria refused to admit him but he was well received at Monte-mayor and Coimbra In this City 〈◊〉 about proclaiming the Protector King some were for proclaiming the Protector King and others for the Princes John and Denis lawful Sons to King Peter but all agreed the present Protector should continue as long as Prince John should be Prisoner and in case neither he nor his Brother could come to Portugal then the Protector was to be received as King Dr. John de Regâ—as a famous Civilian made two Harangues on behalf of the Protector casting scandalous Reflections upon Queen Eâ—lenor to incapacitate her Daughter Queen Beatrix from succeeding in the Throne the same he did on the Lady Agnes de Castro Wife to king Peter with an intent to exclude her Sons the Princes John and Denis Some little Opposition was made at first by several of the Nobility but at length they all consented the Protector should be proclaimed King the so much celebrated Nunho Alvarez Pereyra having offered to Murder Martin Vasquez chief of the adverse Party only because he stood up for the lawful Heirs 2. The Protector with a counterfeit Modesty seemed to excuse himself from accepting of their Offers but it was only to heighten their Zeal and so on the 6th of April he complyed with them He immediately shewed great Favour towards the Cities of Lisbon and Porto for having so constantly adhered to him Thus it appears how little hopes of Salvation there can be left for Lawyers who by false Interpretations invert Justice as it appears in the case of this John de Reglas before-mentioned who standered the Queens Beatrix and Ellenor and the Princess Agnes de Castro and excluded the Lawful Heirs the Princes John and Denis only for his own private Interest in promoting the Bastard Protector who could have no Title to the Crown I think it were better to breed up Children Thieves than Lawyers for the former will at least Repent at the Gallows but the latter are never permitted by Worldly Interest to Repent All Parties thus agreed The 〈…〉 the Protector was solemnly Proclaimed King of Portugal and accordingly chose all his Officers of State and of the Houshold Marching into the Field he mustered 6000 Men a small number but resolute and unanimous and Nunho Alvarez Pereyra now made Constable of Portugal was ordered to Sea with a Squadron from Porto to engage the Castisian Fleet before Lisbon Missing of that Enemy he sailed back to the Province betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho to recover part of that Country then holding for Castile Here he took Neyva and Ponte de Lima by force Villa Nova de Cerveyra and Monçon opened their Gates to him 3. The new-made King went from Coimbra to Porto where he was received with great Joy 〈…〉 the new King Here he consulted with Alonso Lorenzo de Carvallo a Man then Powerful at Guimaraens about betraying that Place to him which was accordingly performed The Castle held
had renewed the War and the Country was now again in Hostile manner wasted on both sides wherein many notable Skirmishes happened CHAP. III. The remaining Part of the Life and Reign of King John the First of the Name and Tenth King of Portugal from the Year 1393. till 1433. 1. MAny great Men disgusted for that the King as was before said Had since his establishment recalled part of the Grants made to them during his Necessity went over to Castile where settling themselves they became the Heads of Noble Families The King having taken Salvatierra layed Siege to Tuy which after a vigorous Defence was surrendred to him In the mean while Denis Son to King Peter enters Portugal with an Army Prince Denis Son to King Peter by Lady Agnes de Castro was by the King of Castile sent into Portugal with an Army and the Title of King At the same time the Castilian Admiral James Hurtado de Mendoza entred the River Tagus with a Fleet of Forty Ships and Fifteen Galleys Nunho Alvarez Pereyra with all the Forces he could make marched to oppose Prince Denis who upon the News of his approach returned to Castile The King had given to the Constable the sole Government of the Province of Alentejo and Algarve which he for some time held but soon after resigned and went away to the King to assist him at the Siege of Tuy but it was taken before he arrived there 1398. Misser Ambrosio Marines a Genoese was sent Embassador from Castile to settle a Peace in order to which a Cessation was agreed upon for Nine Months 1401. This Term expired and nothing was concluded Hereupon the King about the middle of May layed Siege to Alcantara but was forced after some Days to desist from that Enterprize 2. A Treaty of Peace was again set on Foot at Segovia Peace concluded betwixt the Two Crowns where after long Debates it was concluded upon the following Conditions That no Money should be demanded of Castile on account of former Breach of Articles That Towns and Prisoners should be exchanged on both sides That the Castilian Hostages should be restored That the Portugueses who fled to Castile should return to their Estates On these Terms a Truce was concluded for Ten Years Nâ—t observed and Hostages were given on both sides for Performance But this Cessation produced no more quiet than the former continual Hostilities were exercised tho' the Actions seem not very considerable for there is no particular Account of them but the 4th Year after the conclusion of the last Truce a perpetual Peace began to be discoursed of King Henry of Castile was then dead and Queen Katherine Sister to the Queen of Portugal had the tuition of King John the Second not yet a Year Old In her Husband's Life time she had always advised Peace and she now moved That Embassadors from both sides might meet on the Frontiers of the Two Kingdoms who did so accordingly but came to no conclusion because the Castilians Demands ran high After many Messages had passed on both sides and much time spent the Treaty was again set a Foot and now Embassadors employed to manage it who at length agreed upon Articles whereof the chiefest was 1411. That the Subjects of both Crowns who had served against their Princes should be restored to their Countries and Estates Peace now established and the Crown secured Peace at length established application was made to the Pope for Absolution of the Censures laid on the Kingdom upon Account of promoting King John to the Throne he being a Bastard and having professed in the Order of Avis Pope Boniface the 9th granted his Request and Absolved the Kingdom The King had a Bastard-Son called Alonso whom he loved no less than his lawful Issue and therefore gave him to Wife Beatrix the only Daughter of the Constable Nunho Alvarez Pereyra They had a Daughter called Elizabeth who was Wife to Prince John Son to King John the First and two Sons which were Alonso afterwards Earl of Ourem and Ferdinand Earl of Arroyolos and First Duke of the House of Bragança 3. The King now fixed in his Throne The King bent upon publick rejoycings for the Peace had bent his thoughts upon solemn entertainments and publick rejoycings designing to Knight his Five Sons with all imaginable Solemnity But they advised him to expend that Money on some Forreign enterprize since all was quiet at home and it would be more honourable for them to be Knighted in the Field 1412. than in the Court The Design they fixed upon was the taking of Ceuta on the Coast of Africk which they acquainted the King withal and he approving thereof enjoyned them to keep it secret To this end Two Gallyes were sent to view the Place and sound the Port and to conceal what they went about they continued their Voyage to Sicily as had been at First given out Great industry was used in fitting out Vessels at Lisbon and many more of Galicia Biscay England and the Low-Countries were hired The Young Princes at the same time raised Forces in all Parts of the Kingdom Various judgments were made of the Intent of these Preparations Castile began to grow jealous the Aragonian was not well satisfyed and the Moorish King of Granada feared all the Storm would fall upon him The Rumour of these preparations drew many Martial Men from Forreign Parts to gain Honour in this Enterprize The Plague in Lisbon the Queen dies of it At this time the Plagâ—e had spread it self throughout Lisbon and having entred the Pallace Queen Philippa died of it Her Body was found Fifteen Months after not only uncorrupted but yielding a most Fragant smell Her Life was a Pattern of Piety and Vertue her happy Death was on the 18th of July 1415 1415. in the 64th Year of her Age. Many looked upon her Death as an ill Omen to the Enterprize in Hand and therefore advised to desist from it but the King and Princes could not be moved 4. On the last Day of July 1415. the Fleet sailed from Lisbon A great Fleet sails from Lisbon for the Conquest of Ceuta the 7th of August it came to Faro and the 14th the City Ceuta was taken to the Wonder of all Europe and Terror of the Enemies of Portugal The particulars of this Action which are not many the Place being taken in Four Hours are to be found in the Portuguese Affrick The King returning home created his Second Son Peter Duke of Coimbra and his Third Henry Duke of Viseo This done he went to Ebora and was there received in Triumph by the Princes John and Ferdinand and the Princess Elizabeth The Ratification of the perpetual Peace with Castile had been delayed till that King came to the Age of Fourteen and took the Government upon himself 1419. He being at that Age this Year 1419 Embassadors passed to and fro and after much Debate
concluded a Truce for Eleven Years conditionally That both Kings should be obliged if they designed to make War at the expiration thereof to notify the same to the other Party Eighteen Months before Several discoveries had been of late Years attempted through the industry of Prince Henry 1420. and now this Year 1420 the Islands of Puerto Santo and Madera were First found such were the beginnings that gave Encouragment to the Discovery of India and America But of these Discoveries we have writ particular Books 1422. In the Year 1422 the King changed the computation of time till then used in Portugal which was from the Reign of Augustus to that of the Year of our Lord in imitation of King John the First of Castile who had made the like Reformation there before 5. This same Year the Constable Nunho Alvarez Pereyra being 62 Years of Age took upon him the religious Order of the Carmelites 1423. in the Monastery of Lisbon built by himself Peace ratified betwixt Castile and Portugal There he lived a very exemplary Life the space of 9 Years and died aged 71 Years To secure the Peace with Castile the King sent his Embassadors thither but one of them being overthrown and almost killed at the exercise of Tilting the Castilian sent an Embassador to Portugal who exchanged the Ratifications War now ceasing 1424. Prince Peter the Kings Second Son resolved to Travel and setting out with a Train sutable to his Quality he ran through a great Part of Europe Asia and Africk Four Years he spent in this imployment having been nobly entertained in the Courts of all Princes These Travels being then rare especially in such Persons gave occasion to many fabulous Relations thereof afterwards spread abroad which rendred the Truth it self suspected The King in the mean while applying himself to the Civil Government Enacted many good Laws 1428. Prince Edward was now 26 Years of Age and yet unmarried Prince Edward contracted to Ellenor Sister to Alonso King of Aragon therefore a Match was at this time concluded for him with the Princess Ellenor Sister to Alonso King of Aragon and Naples Her Dower was 200000 Florins At the same time also the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Earl of Vrgel and Grand-Child to Peter the Fourth King of Aragon was contracted to Prince Peter coming home after his Travels and the following Year she was Conducted to Portugal This same Year Philip of Burgundy 1429. Earl of Flanders being the second time a Widower sent to ask the Princess Elizabeth in Marriage which was granted and she sent into Flanders with a Portion of 150000 Crowns 6. The King sent two Embassadors to mediate a Peace betwixt the Crowns of Castile 1430. Arragon and Navarre the two latter whereof were hard pressed by the other The Castilian also that he might not seem to proceed upon unjust Grounds dispatched an Embassador to the Portuguese to acquaint him with the righteousness of his Proceedings 1431. Now at last came the final Conclusion of the long-desired perpetual Peace with Castile for the ratifying whereof Peter Gonzalez Malafaya being sent thither he accompanied that King in his Expedition against the Moors of Granada At their return from that War the Peace was proclaimed in Castile and an Embassador came thence into Portugal to see the same performed there This was the end of those Pretensions which had alarmed these two Kingdoms for the space of almost Fifty Years The victorious King John at length overcome with Age King John falls sick fell sick of his last Malady He was removed to Alcouchete to try whether the Air would do him good but perceiving his Death draw on he caused himself to be carried back to Lisbon There on the Fourteenth of August 1433. 1433. having performed all the Parts of a good Christian His Death he gave up his Ghost Yet with the Authors leave I cannot conceive with what Piety an Usurper can die not having made Restitution The News of his Death being spread through the City it is impossible to express the Sorrow the City was filled with His Body was carried to the Cathedral on the Shoulders of his Sons the Nobility the whole Multitude of both Sexes and all Ages following 7. He had a pleasing Aspect His Character his Stature large and his Strength proportionable for his Helmet kept to this Day is too large for any Head and his Battle-Ax too weighty for any Arm. Prosperity and Adversity he bore equally was Constant Magnanimous Merciful Bountiful and Religious His Buildings were fair and sumptuous as appears by the Monasteries of Peâ—â—longa and Carnota and the Palaces of Lisbon and Santarem and above all the prodigious Structure of the Church of our Blessed Lady of Batalla or of the Battle erected in Memory of the famous Victory obtained at Aljubarrota To describe this wonderful Pile would take up too much room in the small compass of this short History therefore we shall pasâ— it by To this Place was the deceased King with mighty Pomp translated by his Son King Edward just the Day 12 Months after his Death that is on the 14th of August 1434. 8. King John had Eight Children by his Wife Philippa His Wife and Issueâ— Daughter to John Duke of Lancaster 1st Blanch who died in her Infancy 2dly Alonso Born at Santarem and lived but 10 Years 3dly Edward who succeeded him in the Throne 4thly Peter Duke of Coimbra a Man so learned that he wrote several Books he also travelled a great Part of the then known World as was said before and married Elizabeth the Daughter of the Earl of Vrgel which also has been above intimated Being Governour of the Kingdom during the Minority of his Nephew King Alonso he gained many Enemies and was at their instigation put to Death by that King 5thly Henry Duke of Viseo and Master of the Order of Christ who being studious in the Mathematicks fitted out Ships at his own cost to discover the Coasts of Africk wherein he made a great Progress and occasioned the Discovery of India To the end he might wholly addict himself to these Affairs he settled his abode at Sagres near Câ—pe S. Vincent in the Kingdom of Algarve where he died 6thly John Master of the Order of Santiago in Portugal and Constable 7thly Ferdinand Master of the Order of Avis accounted a Martyr for his great Sufferings and Death in slavery among the Moors of Africk 8thly Elizabeth married to Philip the third Earl of Flanders and Duke of Burgundy This King's Bastard-Children were Alonso Earl of Barcelos and first Duke of Bragança and Beatrix married to Thomas Earl of Arundel in England 9. This King reduced the ten Bezants His Arms. before used in each of the five Scutcheons of the Arms of Portugal to five the Cross of Avis appearing underneath in Memory that he had been Master of that Order and because he received the
it was his Will that the present King Alonso should marry Elizabeth Daughter of the said Prince Peter to which she willingly consented and desired it might be immediatly performed The Prince tho' astonished at so great a favour accepted the offer No sooner was this noised abroad but Alonso Earl of Barcelos Bastard-Brother to Prince Peter designing to marry the King to his own Grand Daughter prevailed with the Archbishop of Lisbon the Queen's Favâ—â—rite to diswade her from that Resolution Prince Petâ—â— understanding the Design asked the Queen to confirm her Promise to him under her Hand which she tho her mind was altered easily granted 2. The Cortes being met at Torres Novas The Cortes meet and instead of settling Peace widen the Breach where Peace ought to have been established there Discord broke out The Nobility envying Prince Peter the Honour of marrying his Daughter to the King Conspired against him However it was carried in this Parliament That the Queen should have the Education of the King and Prince Peter the Power of the Government She was content but his Adversaries stickled against this Resolution so that they came to be divided the Nobility affirming the Queen ought to Govern and the Commons asserting it was their Right to nominate the Prince a Protector Prince Henry mediated between them allotting the Queen the Charge of the King and the Revenue appointing the Prince to Defend the Kingdom and allowing Earl Alonso to take Charge of the Administration of Justice with the Advice of the Council and Approbation of the Queen and Prince directing the Cortes to meet Yearly to settle all greater Matters Prince Peter tho' nothing was left him but the bare Title of Protector submitted rather than embroil the Kingdom Earl Alonso tho' he had more than he could have demanded was dissatisfied and the Queen pushed on by the Prince's Adversaries would part with nothing The mutinous People obliged the Queen to accept of what was allotted her Earl Alonso sent his Son to demand of Prince Peter the Note the Queen had given him for Security of the King 's Marrying his Daughter he in scorn tore it in pieces and so returned it 3. Embassadors from Castile had been some time in Portugal Embassadors of Castile sent away without an Answer and could not be heard by reason of the present Disorders At length they had Audience of the Queen at Lisbon where they proposed in the Name of King John the Second of Castile That the Bishops expelled during the Schism should be restored That the Military Orders of Avis and Santiago in Portugal should submit themselves as they had been before to those of Calatrava and Avis in Castile That some Portuguese Bishopricks formerly subject to the Archiepiscopal See of Sevil should return to its Obedience After some Debate they were sent away without any Answer which was to be given by Portuguese Embassadors appointed to follow them The People were not at all pleased with the Queen's Administration and pressed Prince Peter to take it upon himself She flying from the Plague then in the City retired to Mount Olivet where she was delivered of the Princess Joanna afterwards Queen of Castile and received Letters from the Pope condoling the Death of the King and advising her not to deliver Ceuta for Prince Ferdinand Prince Peter stirred up by the People to take upon him the Government and advised to it by his Brother Prince John to prevent a Civil War delayed the time At length the People wholly averse to the Queen The People averse to 〈◊〉 Queen ran in multitudes to oblige the Prince to enter upon the Administration of the Publick Affairs and he tho' displeased with the Queen pacified the Multitude perswading them to put off that Design till the Meeting of the Cortes or Parliament 4. The Queen privately writ to all the Members of Parliament to come armed Tumults against the Queen that they might suppress the Rabble But Prince Peter understanding it as Protector charged them to be ready to obey his Orders This done he took leave of the Queen in a course manner which President made her the more slighted she being sensible of it speedily removed to Alenquer The Citizens of Lisbon elected a Standard-bearer and held Seditious Meetings in contempt of the Queen's Letters The Archbishop fortified himself against the Citizens they stopped his Revenue sent Complaints against him to Rome and he was forced to fly to Castile The Multitude headed by a Cooper declared Prince Peter should Govern and a Taylor ratify'd this Decree Thus the Kingdom was disposed of by a Cooper and a Taylor The Governour of the Castle of Lisbon held for the Queen but being sore pressed by the People was forced to surrender it to Prince John Prince Peter sent to Summons the Queen to the Parliament she replyed she would not go unless he resigned all Claim to the Government but he rather chose to stand to the Election made of him by the Cooper and the Taylor Prince Peter made Regent by a Cooper and a Taylor Heads of the Rabble The Prince coming from Coimbra to Lisbon accepted the Government at the hands of the Multitude which was afterwards confirmed to him by the Cortes or Parliament to which the Young King was brought after sufficient Security given his Mother that he should be restored to her Nevertheless he was forcibly taken from her and she retired to Sintra Thence she craved Assistance of her Brothers the Princes of Aragon who sent Embassadors to intercede for her but they were dismissed without any Answer She ceased not to make Friends in Navarre and Aragon and the Prince secured Castile to his Party The Queen in order to make her Escape sent away her Plate and Jewels which were of a great Value to be kept in the Castle of Albuquerque Embassadors came from Castile to require she might either be restored to the Government or have leave to depart the Kingdom But no satisfactory Answer being given them she hereupon made her Escape with her Daughter Joanna born after the Death of the King 5. The Queen being missing Civil War in Portugal all was in Confusion Crato and all the Castles subject to that Priory held for her and thus the Civil War commenced Some Places were taken by the Prince and he resolved to Besiege the Queen in the Town of Crato but she having called some Castilian Troops to her Assistance after making much havock withdrew into Castile Alonso Earl of Barcelos still held out for the Queen but his Son following the Prince brought him over to that Party tho' not without difficulty Thus for some time all Storms seemed to be blown over About this time was brought from Rome a Dispensation for the Young King to Marry Prince Peter's Eldest Daughter Elizabeth as also the Orders of Santiago and Avis in Portugal were exempted from any Subjection to the Orders in Castile The Dispensation being come the King
was marryed by the Consent of the Cortes then sitting to the Regent's Daughter 1441. at Obidos on the 15th of August 1441. The Bridegroom was then Ten Years of Age The Young King marries the Regent's Daughter and the Bride Seven or Eight The Queen Dowager still pressed to be restored to the Government and the King of Castile sent several Embassages in her behalf which nothing availing it was feared a War would ensue but that King dying all that Negotiation fell to nothing Thus the Queen Dowager being forsaken on all hands and having spent her Treasure in solliciting to make War upon Portugal went away at last to Toledo where she lived upon Charity and there died as was suspected poisoned by the Regent tho others say by D. Alvaro de Luna then Favourite to the King of Castile 6. The King of Castile being jealous of the Aragonian asked some Supplies of Men out of Portugal They were accordingly sent him under the Command of the Constable Peter Son to the Regent but there being no use for them they returned home However the Constable while he was in Castile concluded a Match betwixt that King and the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to Prince John 144◠King Alonso of Portugal being now Fourteen Years of Age King Alonso take◠upon him the Government and confirms all that had been done by the Regent according to the Custom of Spain took upon him the Government in the Assembly of the Cortes or Parliament thanked Prince Peter for his good Administration till that time and desired him to continue in it till he were of riper Years Next he ratified his Marriage with that Prince's Daughter and then went away to Alcaçaras where the Embassador of Castile was Proxy for his Master in the Ceremony of Contracting the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to Prince John to that King There also the Lady Beatrix Sister to Elizabeth was contracted to Prince Ferdinand Brother to that King Prince Peter by this time thought he had wholly gained over all his Enemies that opposed his Advancement to the Government but now it appeared it was but a counterfeit Reconciliation The Duke of Braganza the Earl of Ourem and the Archbishop of Lisbon prevailed with the King to remove him from the Government laying Disloyalty to his Charge and they at the same time displaced all Officers as well Civil as Military that had been preferred by him Not so content they accused him of aspiring to the Crown and so far prevailed as to have him banished the Court which done several Libels were dispersed abroad fraught with nothing but Reflections upon him and many Articles laid to his charge were Judicially examined Prince Henry came from Algarve to Court to vindicate his Brother's Honour but to little purpose because he was look'd upon to be no less guilty than the other and both of them were charged with poisoning King Edward Queen Ellenor and Prince John D. Alvaro de Almada Earl of Abranchez in the King's Presence challenged any Man that should lay blemish on the Prince's Reputation but the King was carryed away to Sintra by his Favourites that he might not give ear to those that favoured Prince Peter 7. The King from Sintra issued out his Orders Prince Peter the late Regent in Arms and declared Rebel forbidding all Persons to Converse and hold Correspondence with the Prince also Summoning all the Queen his Mother's Servants who had been discarded to appear and put in their Claims and Commanding the Prince not to depart from his own Lands without the King's leave He was also commanded to deliver up all the Arms that were in Coimbra which he refused to do The Duke of Braganza being called to Court was to pass through the Prince's Lands and therefore intended to Travel well attended but the Prince marched out with Forces to oppose him and tho' several times Orders were brought him from the King to return to Coimbra he still advanced towards the Duke who was forced privately to fly 1449. and make his escape to Santarem where the Court then was Hereupon he was declared a Rebel and Traytor and Forces were raised with Expedition against him D. Sancho de Noronha Earl of Odemira was sent with Forces against the Constable Prince Peter's Son who fled to Castile where he found not such kind Entertainment as he expected Queen Elizabeth being the Prince's Daughter studied how to save her Father and gave him Advice that the Fifth of May was the day appointed to Besiege him Then she went to the King to beg Pardon for him which the King said he would grant provided the Prince himself would beg it acknowledging his Faults He did so in a Letter to the King but the Queen shewing him her Letter wherein the Prince vindicated himself and said he complyed so far only to satisfie her the King said since he did not really acknowledge his faults he merited no Pardon The Prince's Enemies to prevent the Queen's interceding for him kept him as much from her as they could and imprisoned D. Alvaro de Castro a Man of a most beautiful Person and excellent Behaviour as standing accused of too much Familiarity with the Queen but the King knowing well her Vertue caused D. Alvaro to be set at Liberty and did him great Honour 8. The King had now gathered a numerous Army but could not set forward for want of Provisions and Carriages The King comes to a Battle with the Rebels But the Prince on his part set forward from Coimbra with 1000 Horse and 5000 Foot and came within five Leagues of Santarem without meeting any Opposition There he was advised to return to Coimbra but he chose to advance towards Lisbon and by the way put to Death about fifty Horse of the King 's that at a distance called him Traytor Being come to a Brook called Alfarreveira he there chose a convenient Ground for a small Body to oppose a greater for he had not yet 8000 Men and the King's Army consisted of above 30000. By that Multitude he found himself encompassed on the 20th of May. Proclamation was made declaring all Traytors that should thenceforth adhere to the Prince yet none forsook him but some of the King's Army deserted to him Some Shot of Musquets and Cross-bows flying from the King's Camp to the Prince's he answered with some Cannon one of the Bullets whereof falling near the King's Tent so enraged his Army that they immediately without Orders fell on and in a moment broke and put to flight the Prince's Forces He himself fighting resolutely Prince Peter killed was shot through with an Arrow and died His inseparable Friend the Earl of Abranchez having sworn not to forsake him in Death after having performed incredible Acts of Bravery was there also slain Most of the Prince's followers were either taken or killed His Body was left three days in the Field and then being laid upon a Ladder four Country men carryed it to the poor
Church of Alverca where it was buried The King was received at Lisbon in Triumphant manner Many Persons were executed on Account of these Troubles and their Heirs to the Fourth Generation declared Infamous The Prince's Enemies fearing the Queen might some time or other Revenge the Death of her Father advised the King to be divorced from her but he received her with all the marks of True Love and Affection They begged of him some Towns that had belonged to the Prince which he freely gave them but the Cities of Porto and Portalegre would not submit to be given away to any Body and were therefore annexed to the Crown 9. The Princess Ellenor during this time was contracted to the Emperor Frederick the Third The Princess Ellenor contracted to the Emperor Frederick the Third and was now delivered in the Month of August to his Embassadors They embarked at Lisbon and landed at Leghorn whence she was conducted to Sienna where the Bridegroom met her attended by Ladislaus King of Hungary his Brother Albertus the Arch-Duke and other Princes Hence they travelled together to Rome where they were crowned with the usual Solemnity 1451. Prince Ferdinand who was marryed to the Lady Beatrix 1452. Daughter to Prince John privately built a Caravel and went away in it to Ceuta to employ himself against the Moors but the King soon sent for him home and to settle his Mind gave him the Towns of Beja 1453. Moura and Serpa The great Monarch of the Turks Mahomet having taken Constantinople Pope Calixtus stirred up the Christian Princes to unite their Forces against the Common Enemy Our King offered to serve in Person one Year with 12000 Men but all these Projects fell to nothing Our Queen had before this time brought forth a Son and a Daughter whereof the former died 1455. and now on the third of May she was delivered at Lisbon of another Son whom she called John as the first had been for the special Devotion she had to that Name He was sworn Prince being but a Month old with great Solemnity The Queen upon this Occasion obtained leave of the King that the Body of her Father Prince Peter might be placed in the Tomb he had built for himself at the Famous Monastery of Batalla At this time also a Match was concluded betwixt the Princess Joanna King Alonso's Daughter and Henry the Fourth King of Castile She was Seventeen Years of Age and very beautiful which was all her Portion and she was conducted to Castile by Count Alvaro Gonzalez de Atayde Elizabeth our Queen died on the Second of December following The Queen's Death not without suspicion of Poison given her by her Father's Enemies fearing she might prevail with the King to Revenge his Death She was carried to the Church of Batalla with the greatest Pomp that had been used at the Funeral of any Queen For Beauty Patience Obedience and Piety she was inferior to none The Monastery of Xabregas of the religious of S. Eloy was founded by her 1456. The King ordered the Body of his Mother Queen Ellenor to be brought from Toledo to be buried at the Church of Batalla As far as Elvas it was conducted by the King and Queen of Castile and there they were met by our King 10. The Bishop of Silves brought the Croisade from Rome 1457. granted to Encourage Christian Princes to joyn their Forces against the Turks The Croisade brought into Portugal Our King made Preparations for that Expedition and recalled Peter the Constable and Master of Avis Son to Prince Peter who was Banished to Castile He also coined a New sort of pieces called Cruzadoes from the Croisade and the Cross on them These were of pure Gold and great Weight that they might pass in Forreign Countries but the other Christian Princes not answering on their Part he bent his Mind upon Prosecuting the Conquest of Africk Tangier was first aimed at 1458. but this Resolution was changed for Alcaçer Alcazer on the Coast of Africk taken by King Alonso Twenty thousand Landmen were appointed for this Service who set sail from Setuval the 12th of October in Two hundred Sail of Ships They no sooner arrived than that they were Victorious and reduced that Place the Particulars of which Action are in the Portuguese Africk A Peace was now established with the Duke of Britany 1459. whose Subjects had taken many Portuguese Ships which was repaid them in the same kind 1460. The following Year died Prince Henry who first gave Encouragement and promoted the Discoveries on the Coast of Africk A Year after he was followed by Alonso Duke of Bragança Bastard-Son to King John the First 1461. The King being advertised That it would be easie to surprize Tangier Tangier taken set sail from Lisbon in November and tho he met with many difficulties he became Master of that Place The Catalonians rebelling against their lawful Sovereign King John of Aragâ—n sent to invite Peter Son to the Unfortunate Prince Peter to that Principality as being descended of the Ancient Earls of Barcelona He hasted thither from Ceuta but lived not long there and lies buried in the Cathedral King Alonso went over from Ceuta to Gibraltar to meet the King of Castile who craved Aid of him against his Nobility that not content with staining his Honour sought to deprive him of the Crown 1464. Here it was agreed King Alonso should marry Elizabeth Sister to the Castilian and his Son Prince John the Princess Joanna but all this took no effect 1466. Queen Joanna of Castile on whom those People cast all their Reproaches accusing her of Adultery only in malice to D. Beltran de la Cueva the King's Favourite whom she treated with Courtesie came to the City Guarda to crave Aid of the King her Brother against the Rebels who called her Daughter a Bastard and had opprobriously used a Statue they had erected to the King her Husband King Alonso intended to have succoured her but was prevented by the Death of Prince Alonso of Castile who had been proclaim'd King in opposition to the King his Brother whereupon ensued some tranquility in the Affairs of Castile King John of Aragon made great Interest that his Son Ferdinand might marry Elizabeth Sister to the King of Castile Our King Alonso also sent Embassadors to demand her according to the Articles concluded at Gibraltar But these Embassadors could not prevail for she was already engaged to Ferdinand and much more to those who advised that Match in opposition to her Brother that she might the better with their assistance deprive him of the Crown That Match was concluded in February 1469. 1469. This is that Elizabeth so much admired by the Spaniards for Sanctity and yet by this it appears she aimed to Usurp the Crown from her Brother and actually did it from his only Daughter CHAP. VI. The remaining Part of the Life and
the Pope's Dispensation should be immediately obtained for him to Marry Queen Joanna true Heiress of Castile That each of them should appoint four Persons to adjust what Army and Treasure was requisite for carrying on their Design King Lewis readily offered a good Sum of Money to Bribe all such Governours of Towns as could by that means be drawn to their Party Embassadors were immediately dispatch'd to Rome to obtain the Dispensation and King Alonso set out to meet the Duke of Burgundy who then lay at the Siege of Nancy in Lorrain They met upon the River then frozen over and the King being conducted to the Army with all possible marks of Honour and Respect the Duke there shewed him how little Confidence was to be reposed in the Promises of the King of France who the next day appeared with an Army in favour of the Lorrainer The day after the Burgundian was killed and King Lewis being bent upon the Conquest of Burgundy sent King Alonso to Paris where he was received with the greatest Magnificence imaginable All the Embassadors could obtain of the Pope was that if the King of France would furnish King Alonso with a sufficient Force to reduce Castile he would then grant the Dispensation Hereupon the two Kings met at Arras where Alonso plainly discovered he could repose no Trust in Lewis He went away to Roan and there spent a great part of the Summer waiting till his Fleet was fitted out to return home He went down the River to his Fleet then at Harfleur but fearing to be stayed by the King of France and ashamed to return home after that unfortunate Journey K. Alonâ—â— resolves 〈…〉 his 〈◊〉 at Hierusalem he resolved to go spend the rest of his Days in Hierusalem On the 24th of September before Day he went out to a Chappel near the City with only four Servants having ordered his Chaplain Stephen Martinez to expect him half a League further There he dismissed one of the four giving him the Key of a Cabinet in which were found four Letters one for the King of France giving him an Account of his Design and desiring him to favour those Servants he left in his Kingdom Another for Prince John his Son charging him upon his Blessing immediately to cause himself to be Proclaimed King Another to the Kingdom in general Commanding the People to receive him as such The last was to those left at Harfleur directing them to be Obedient to the Earl of Faâ—â— till their return to Portugal 8. Monsieur de Labret by the King of France his Order attended upon King Alonso who sent out every way to find him and having met with him the second day stopped him but with all imaginable Respect There he received a Letter from King Lewis by which he was perswaded to alter his Resolution and to return to Portugal where on the Tenth of November his Son was Proclaimed King in the Town of Santarem 〈…〉 pursuant to the Letters he had sent to that effect Only four days had he worn the Crown when his Father arrived and he in Confusion asking how he should receive him The Duke of Braganza answered As your Father and as your King The Prince accordingly met him at Oeyras where kneeling he kissed his â—ands and resigned the Government up 〈…〉 Alonso would have contented himself with the 〈◊〉 of King Algarve but the Prince persisted he would accept of nothing during his Life Whilst the King was abroad Queen Elizabeth laid Siege to Toro which was bravely defended till one Bartholomew a Shepherd discovered to the Castilian Generals a Place which being thought unaccessible was left unguarded Wherefore Six Hundred Men in the Night conducted by the Shepherd surmounâ—ed all those difficult Passes and got into the Town The Count de Marialva who was Governour quitting the Castle fled to Castro Nunho yet the Lady Mary Sarmiento Widow of John de Vlloa who had been Constable of that Fort defended that Place till seeing no hopes of Relief she was obliged to surrender it upon most Honourable Articles Presently after Queen Elizabeth caused the other Places that held for Portugal to be besieged and had them surrendred to her In the mean while the Portuguese Forces wasted the Country about Badâ—â—oz and Cuidad Rodrigo and Alonso de Carâ—â—â—as Master of Santiago did the same on the Portuguese Borders both Parties executing the utmost Cruelâ—â—es usual in War 9. Upon the return of King Alonso out of France 14â—3 the War was revived 〈…〉 and he thought of Marrying the Lady Joanna having obtained a Dispensation but Prince John his Son used his utmost Endeavours to obstruct it The Bishop of Evora going into Castile with 700 Horse and 〈◊〉 Number of Foot to assist the Countess of Mâ—â—ellin 〈…〉 followed the Portuguâ—se Interest was met by the Master of Santiago routed and taken Prisoner yet bribing his Keeper he escaped to Merida and ever after did the Castilians much harm till the Peace was concluded Both Parties being sufficiently exhausted easily condescended to Treat of a Peace which was concluded at Alcaçovas on the Fourth of September 1479. excluding the unfortunate Princess Joanna Peace concluded betwixt the two Crowns who against her will was forced to become a Nun. Yet she lived to see God's Judgments fall upon them that drove her to that Necessity for Prince John who hoped to Marry his Son to the Princess Elizabeth of Castile and by that means to make him Heir to that Crown saw that same Son dragged to Death by a Horse and none of his Race ascended the Throne of Portugal King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth outlived their only Son John and had only a Daughter left who conveyed that Crown to the House of Austria 1480. Nor was the Plague that began the following Year at Lisbon and lasted Fourteen Years less to be accounted of than Heavenly Vengeance The Castilians contrary to the last Articles of Peace sent a Fleet to Trade on the Coast of Guinea Our King sent a Squadron under the Command of George Correa to obstruct them 1481. He met with 30 Ships of Castile upon the Coast called Mina and after a sharp Engagement obtained a compleat Victory bringing several of them to Lisbon 10. King Alonso ever since the Lady Joanna of Castile was constrained to take upon her a Religious Habit fell into an extraordinary Melancholy and had resolved himself to turn a Monk but returning from acquainting his Son with his Design to Cintra he there fell sick of a violent Fever which in a few days carryed him off His Death was upon the Eighth of August The Death of King Alonso in the 49th Year of his Age and 43d of his Reign He was oâ— a Graceful Presence somewhat bulky had a thick Beard his Hair dark-brown and of Condition extreamly courteous In War he was active in Peace negligent a Lover of Learning learned himself and was the first King that collected a
Library in the Palace It was said of him That he was a better Man than a King and on the contrary of his Son That he was a better King than a Man He was Bountiful to Prodigality temperate in Eating and Sleeping and of such Continence that becoming a Widower at 〈◊〉 Years of Age he is said never after to have known Woman His Issue His Lawful Issue and he had no other was first John who died in his Infancy Secondly Joanna who being contracted to several Princes they all died before she could be marryed and she became a Dominican Nun at Aveyro Thirdly John who succeeded his Father 11. The Discoveries in this King's Reign were as follows Discoveries during his Reign Nunho Tristan and Antony Gonzalez sailed as far as Cape Blanco in 20 Degrees of North Latitude whence they brought some Moors and also Blacks then a Rarity in Spain Nunho returned and proceeded as far as the Islands of Arguin Lanzarote and Yanez found the Island of Garças whence they brought 200 Slaves Antony Gonzalez returning pierced as far as the Island Tider Alvaro Fernandez discovered Cape Matos and going 100 Leagues farther slew the Lord of that Country Gonzalo de Sintra at Angra lost six Men which was the first Loss sustained in these Discoveries Denis Fernandez reached as far as the River Sanaga in 16 Degrees of North Latitude and discovered the Islands of Cabo Verde Buenavista Santiago and S. Philip. Vincent de Lagos and Lewis Cadamusto a Genâ—ese found the Islands Terceras being Eleven in number The Islands of S. Thomas and Principe the Kingdom of Beni as far as Cape Catherine and Sierra Leona were also discovered John de Santarem and John de Escobar found the Couâ—try called Mina Ferdinand Po that which bears his Name The Islands Azores were now first known so called from the many Hawks seen there and are Nine in number lying due West of the Rock of Sintra In one of these on the top of a Mountain called Del Cuervo or of the Crow was found a Statue of a Man on Horseback his Head bare his Left Hand on the Horse's Main the Right pointing to the West It stood upon a stone Pedestal which together with the whole Statue was all of one piece and under it were certain Characters cut in the Rock but could never be understood CHAP. VII The First Part of the Life and Reign of John the Second of the Name and Thirteenth King of Portugal from the Year of our Lord 1455. till 1491. 1. IN the renowned City Lisbon Birth of King John the Second on the Third of May 1455. was born the most excellent Prince John the Second King of Portugal sirnamed the Perfect and the Great 1455. He was baptized in the Cathedral with the greatest pomp and solemnity that had till then been seen This Prince was educated and instructed in all Arts that can accomplish a Person of that Character This and his personal Worth moved King Henry the 4th of Castile to propose a Match between him and his only Daughter the Lady Joanna However the King his Father gave him to Wife the Lady Ellenor of Lancaster eldest Daughter to his Brother Ferdinand having obtained the Pope's Dispensation for it and they were accordingly married on the 22th of January 1470. 1470. Soon after his Marriage the King preparing for his Voyage into Africk the Prince asked and obtained leave of him to bear him company where he behaved himself with such bravery that his Father Knighted him in the Mâ—sque of Arzila then converted into a Christian Church on the 24th of August 1471. 147â— Alonso the Prince's only Son being born on the 18th of May at such time as King Alonso was marching into Castile to marry the Lady Joanna 1475. rightful Heiress of that Crown he ordained that in case he had Issue by her and his Son should die before him then his Grand-Son should be sworn his Heir which was done and Prince John was left to govern the Kingdom 1476. How he marched with Forces to the assistance of his Father then at Toro in Castile and how he behaved himself in the Battle between that Place and Zamora has been said in the Life of that King 1477. Upon his return into Portugal he recovered Alegretâ— taken by the Castilians Having been as was said in the last Chapter proclaimed King in his Father's life time and by his order upon his return out of France he restored to him the Regal Authority by the advice of the Duke of Bragança and yet he thought to have put that great Man to Death afterwards upon that same Account 2. King Alonso having revived the War with Castile 1478. Lope Vaz de Castel-Branco seized the Town of Moura and called himself Earl thereof The Prince resenting this Insolence sent Six Men who being admitted into his company slew him as he was Hunting which done the Prince secured the Town and gave it to the Princess Beatrix his Mother-in-Law to whom it property appertained The King lying on his Death Bed at Sintra the Prince hasted thither to see him and his Father dying on the Three and twentieth of August 1481. he was the second time proclaimed King the last Day of that Month. King John proclaimed Nunho Pereyra immediately upon the New King's Acession to the Crown presented him with a Note he had given him under his Hand in his Minority promising to make him an Earl whensoever he ascended the Throne The King considering he had obtained that Note in his Infancy when he had not judgment to know on whom he ought to bestow Honours tore it telling him it was a sufficient Favour he did not punish him for having used sinister means to obtain it He had resolved to build a Town and Fort on the Coast of Africk called Mina to this purpose he fitted out a Fleet commanded by James de Azambuja who had with him 500 fighting Men and 100 Masons with all materials for the Work so fitted that at their landing there was nothing to do but to put them together Azambuja landing caused Mass to be said on the Shoar under a Tree Fort of St. George on the Coast of Africâ—◠〈◊〉 whither the King called Caramansa came to him with a great Retinue and was converted The Fort was built and called S. George which done Azambuja sent home his Caraveâ—s with a great quantity of Gold 3. Before this Fleet sailed the Cortes or Parliament had met at Ebora where the Form of Obligation that Lords and Governours of Places were to enter into with the King was settled because till then the Nobility and Commanders exercised a despotick Power in their Juridiâ—cions independent of the Kings and by their tyrannied Proceedings were grown burdensome to the People and dangerous to the Sovereign who had little more left him but the Name King John being now at Peace abroad ordered that no Lord should exercise a judicial
Power in Cases Criminal This pleased the People but made him odious to the Nobility Soon after he made a Law That his Judges and other Officers of Justice should execute their employments throughout all the Territories of great Men that pretended exemption from them All the Grandees opposed these New Ordinances but the King was not so jealous of any as of Ferdinand Duke of Bragança a Servant of whom presented to the King certain Letters from the King of Castile to the said Duke which much increased the King's suspition 1482. and caused him to decree his Death In the mean while The Plague at Lisbon the Plague beginning to diffuse it self at Lisbon King John removed his Court to Monte-Mayor a more healthy Place An Embassador was sent into England to confirm the established Friendship with that King Another was also dispatch'd to Castile about concluding the Match designed betwixt Prince Alonso of Portugal and the Princess Elizabeth of Castile which was not effected till afterwards Embassadors came thence to Portugal on that Account By his Embassadors that had been in Castile the King had farther information concerning the Duke of Bragança his holding Correspondence with that King The Duke was warned by the King to forbear any farther proceeding in that Correspondence yet he desisted not but on the contrary proposed to unnaturalize himself in order to be at liberty to withstand his Sovereign The King understanding that the Duke accompanied his Son Prince Alonso in his Journey from Moura to Evora he resolved to apprehend him After the Solemnity of the Princes Reception was over the Duke coming to take his leave of the King was by his order secured 4. The Duke being now in Custody the King called his Council and laid before them the Copies of his Letters of Correspondence with Castile Judges were appointed for his Trial before whom he appeared twice but refused to come the third time The Duke of Braganca beheaded for High-Treason They thereupon past Sentence of Death upon him which was publickly executed upon a Scaffold by severing his Head from his Body D. Alvaro de Portugal one of the Duke's Brothers was banished and found such Favour in Castile that he was made President of the Council The Marquis of Monte-Mayor his other Brother having made his escape was executed in Effigy This done the King and Queen took a Progress through the Provinces betwixt Duero and Minho and behind the Mountains In February they returned to Santarem 1484. where they found the Death of the Duke of Bragança instead of security to them The Duke of Viseo Conspires against the King's Life was like to produce greater danger The Duke of Viseo Brother to the Queen had conspired to Murder the King in hopes to Succeed him as he would have done had he not endeavoured to anticipate the time His Associates were the Bishop of Evora and several other Persons of Note This Treason was discovered to the King by Antony de Faria who had it from James Tinoco Brother to a Servant-Maid of the Bishop that gave him the first information James Tinoco gave the King a particular Account of the Design but found not entire Credit till D. Vasco Coutino confirmed all he had said Three times the King escaped the Danger being provided against it since the information given him and yet none of the Conspirators perceived he knew any thing of it On the 22d of August being at Setuval he sent for the Duke and having taken him aside asked of him what he would do to the Man that designed to kill him The Duke answered The Duke stabbed by the King I would kill him first if I could Then replied the King You have given judgment against your self At the same Instant he stabbed him so that he fell down dead at his Feet 5. Late at Night Proclamation was made for apprehending the rest of the Conspirators The other Conspirators punished and the next Morning the Duke's Carcass was exposed to publick view upon the Scaffold Most of the Traitors were apprehended The Bishop of Evora being put into a Cestern was there eaten alive by Worms His Brother Ferdinand was beheaded the same end had Peter de Albuquerque D. Gutiere Coutino died in Prison and D. Alvaro de Atayde fled to Castile and was afterwards pardoned by King Emanuel The Count de Pena-Macor died at Sevil and Ferdinand de Sylveyra was killed in France D. Vasco Coutinho one of the discoverers for his loyalty was created an Earl and Tinoco the other being of less Quality had 5000 Crowns down given him and a Church Revenue worth 1500 a Year This done the King bestowed all that had belonged to the Duke of Viseo upon his Brother Emanuel and with it the hopes of Succeeding to the Crown as also of the Empire of Asia for at this time Burtholomew Diaz by the King's order discovered the Cape of Good Hope which he then called Tormentoso or Stormy because of the ill Weather he met with there 6. Whilst these things passed in Portugal the City S. George in Guinea increased and the Christian Religion diffused it self whereupon the King this Year first stiled himself Lord of Guinea 1485. Several sorts of new Coin King John stiles himself Lord of Guinea as well of Gold and Silver as of Copper were now also spread abroad in Portugal The King had sent D. Peter de Noronha his Embassador to Rome to pay his Obedience to the Pope and obtain of him the Croisade in order to prosecute his Conquests in Africk for which he made Preparations throughout the Kingdom 1486. Four Venetian Galleys being taken by the French and the Men put ashoar almost naked at Cascaes the King not only relieved them with Cloaths and other Necessaries but gave them such a Sum of Money as redeemed their Galleys wherewith they returned home Whereupon that Republick sent a Solemn Embassy with Presents to return him Thanks for that extraordinary Act of Hospitality Azamor in Africk submits to the King The Town of Azamor in Africk sent this Year to submit it self to our King and was taken into Protection The way to India by Sea beginning to be laid open after the Discovery of the Cape of Good Hope the King sent Alonso de Payva and John de Cubillan to take a Journey into India by Land Others followed them but the particulars of those Actions belong to the Portuguese Asia where they may be found The Catholick King and Queen falling short of Ammunition at the Siege of Granada sent to desire a Supply of King John which was speedily and plentifully conveyed to them John Alonso de Aveyro discovered the Coast of Beni and brought thence the first Pepper that was ever brought from those Parts as also an Embassador from that King who was honourably entertained and sent back loaded with Presents James de Almeyda a Knight of Malta Sailing for Africk with 30 Sail in which
were 1500 Horse and 1000 Foot and being put by his Port landed near the City Anafe where encountring a multitude of Moors he killed 900 and carryed away 400 Prisoners The King improved this Accident by giving out he had chastised those Moors for their Disobedience to their Prince Mâ—ley Belâ—abe which that Prince believed and ever accounted himself much obliged to King John 7. Barraxe a Valiant Moor with a Party of 400 Horse and as many Foot took a great Booty about Tangier but the Governour of that Place D. John de Meneses instantly pursued him took him Prisoner and recovered all the Prey The Jews who in great Numbers lived in Castile seeing themselves condemned to the Flames by the erecting the Inquisition in that Country The Jews fly out of Castile into Portugal swarmed into Portugal King John at first entertained them but afterwards being sensible of their wicked Practices for that pretending to be Christians they ceased not to Judaize he sent out his Officers who burnt some chastised others and filled all the Prisons with them This made many of them fly over into Africk where they professed themselves openly Jews whereupon the King forbid any more passing over thither upon pain of Death giving them Liberty at the same time to remove to any Christian Country But tho' it happened some Years latter let us here relate what was done in this case In the Year 1492. vast multitudes of Jews came out of Castile into Portugal engaging to pay the King a certain number of Ducats for each Head and only desiring to be permitted to pass through the Kingdom Eight Months were allotted them to stay and certain Ports assigned them to Embark The Term expiring many went over to the Coast of Fez where they were plundered and abused by the Moors having been little better treated by the Portuguese Many returned to Castile pretending they were converted and many stay'd in Portugal under the same colour The King the following Year finding them obstinate in their wicked Practices made all that could be found Slaves and taking their Children away sent them to the Island of S. Thomas to be there brought up Christians Thus the Jews came first to mix their Race with that of the Ancient Portuguese 8. The King notwithstanding it was a time of Peace ceased not to lay up Magazines in all his Garrisons 1488. and fortified the Town of Olivença which alarmed the King and Queen of Castile but he satisfied them and went on with what he had begun In Africk D. Vasco Coutinho Earl of Borba with only 70 Horse defeated 450 Moors and took their Commander who lay in wait to have surprized him Upon the receipt of this News the King sent over 150 Horse and some Foot to encourage his Forces there They passed the Bridge of Alcacerquibir that had never before been passed by the Portuguese and returned with Slaves and Cattle In the Month of October arrived at Lisbon Bemoy an African King 〈◊〉 into Portugal Bemoy King of Jalof in Africk who being expelled his Kingdom came to ask Succours for recovering of it He had Audience of the King at Setuval and having proposed the Motive of his coming was answered That nothing could obstruct the assisting him but his being an Infidel for that it was not allowed Christian Princes to give Aid to Pagans He replyed he was ready to receive the Faith and only sorry that it might be thought he was moved to it by any Temporal Interest On the Third of November he and six of his principal Followers were baptized the King Prince and Duke Emanuel being Godfathers On the seventh the King Knighted him and gave him for his Arms Gules a Cross Or within an Orle of Portugal Next he did Homage to the King and promised Obedience to the Pope This done the King sent him home with 20 Caravels well manned and provided under the Command of Peter Vaz da Cunha with Orders to erect a Fort at the Mouth of the River Zanaga He is 〈…〉 Peter 〈…〉 This Expedition succeeded not for Cunha fearing to venture himself in that unhealthy Country murdered the unfortunate Bemoy and so returned home with the Fleet and the King unjustly connived at this Villany 9. At the beginning of the Year the King went into Algarve 〈…〉 and thence sent over some Forces with Masons and Materials to build a Fort at the Mouth of the River Larache ordering it to be called Graciosa Muley King of Fez in whose Territory it was understanding how the Work advanced set down before it with 40000 Horse and a vast multitude of Foot King John sent Succours to the besieged but all too weak to withstand so great a Force He thought of going over in Person but the Moors offering to suffer the Christians to depart the offer was accepted and the Place abandoned Barraxe that Moor who had been taken Prisoner by D. Vasco Coutinho being ransomed now held Correspondence with a Gentleman called Lope Sanchez about betraying the City Ceuta to him Sanchez held him in hand and gave Advice to the King who sent to secure that Place 50 Sail from Algarve well manned and stored under the Command of D. Ferdinand de Meneses He and his Brother Antony that was before at Ceuta marched out with 150 Horse and 1000 Foot and falling upon the Town of Targa easily took it as being abandoned The Town they utterly destroyed took some Ships Cannon and Ammunition and released some Christian Captives This Action cost not one drop of Blood D. Ferdinand marched away to Alcaçar and joyning with the Governours of that Place and Tangier he again set out with 400 Horse and 1200 Foot towards Camice which the Moors call the Inchanted because it was thought inaccessible standing upon a craggy Hill Now the Inchantment ceased for the Place was taken by Assault and razed down to the Ground 400 of the Defendants who hid themselves in the Mountain being put to the Sword But this Victory was not so cheaply purchased as the other for it cost the Lives of 70 Men. 10. Prince Alonso was now going into his Fifteenth Year 1490. an Age fit to Marry and he was already contracted to the Princess Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth of Castile The News of her being affianced to him by Proxy at Sevil being brought to Evora where the King then was that City was filled with all publick Demonstrations of Joy From thence soon after it was diffused throughout the whole Kingdom The Plague in Portugal The Plague then raging a Lisbon and spreading as far as Evora as also the News brought of the Death of the Princess Joanna the King's Sister in the Monastery at Aveyro might have been looked upon as ill Omens forboding the evil Success of this Marriage The publick Joy was turned for some time into Mourning but soon after resumed again Nor did the Preparations for the Wedding cease all that time and
after being dispersed by a Terrible Storm met again at Corâ—na Sailing thence the greatest part of this Mighty Fleet was destroyed either by the English or by violent Storms which drove it round Scotland and Ireland so that the Duke of Medina Sidonia with a very few returned to Santander In Revenge of this Attempt Queen Elizabeth sent the Fleet we before spoke of in the Life of Antony the Grand Prior to Invade Portugal The Disappointment she met there made her think of Intercepting our India Fleet. To this purpose she fitted out 50 Sail 1591. commanded by the Earl of Essex who sailed directly to the Islands Azores King Philâ—â— sent out his Fleet under the Command of D. Alonso Bazan against him Near the Island Flores the two Fleets engaged with so much Advantage on the part of the Spaniards that they took the English Vice-Admiral yet presently after some of the Spanish Fleet perished in a Storm However the English took the Flag-Ship of three that came from India in the Year 1593. 1593. tho D. Alonso Bazan sailed from Lisbon to prevent them He found seven English Ships in the Island Flores waiting for the other two that came from India and he took them 7. The Arch-Duke 1594. Cardinal Albertus being called away to Madrid Portugal governed by Commissioners to receive the Archbishoprick of Toledo the Government of Portugal was committed to D. Michael de Castro Archbishop of Lisbon the Counts D. John de Sylva of Portalegre D. Francis Mascarenhas of Sancta Cruz D. Duarte de Castelobranco of Sabugal and Michael de Moura Secretary The English Fleet again appeared before the Tercera Islands hoping to meet with the Ships from India The Earl of Essex was Admiral he destroyed Fayal and Pico then Landing upon S. Michael plundered Villafranca Lastly one of the India Ships falling into his Fleet he thought to have carryed it off but was disappointed by her being fired This done he sailed from the Islands Prince Charles Son to King Philip was naturally of a turbulent Spirit and is said to have held Correspondence with his Father's Enemies and to have practised against him Hereupon he was cast into Prison and Judges appointed to inspect into the Cause who passed Sentence of Death against him His Father allowed him no other Favour than to choose what Death he would die and he said they might kill him as they pleased Being prepared for it four Slaves strangled him with a Silken Rope D. John of Austria tho' a Bastard was no less haughty and aspired first to the Kingdom of Tunis then to that of England but the King lowered all his haughty thoughts and he is believed to have died a violent Death King Philip having been some time sick at last was confined to his Bed as well by reason of Weakness as that the Gout was broke out in Sores upon his Hand Foot and Knee Fifty three days he lay in such condition that his Bed could not be made and on the last of them he died His Patience in his Sufferings was wonderful for he pityed those that attended him more than he did himself Having performed all Offices of a good Christian he gave up the Ghost the 13th day of September being Sunday 1599. at Five in the Morning in the Year 1599 in the Famous Monastery of the Escurial King Philip dies the 71st Year of his Age the 18th of his Reign over Portugal and 41st over the rest of Spain He was the first King since the Goths that possessed all this Monarchy entire 8. King Philip was of a middle Stature His Description an awful Presence had a high Forehead blue and beautiful Eyes a handsom Nose thick Lips the lower somewhat fallen as is usual to the House of Austria fair Hair and taken altogether his Person was Majestick He wanted the Sense of Smelling or at least had very little of it He had four Wives First Mary Daughter to King John the Third of Portugal His Wives and Issue Secondly Mary Queen of England Daughter to Henry the Eighth by whom he had no Issue Thirdly Elizabeth Daughter to Henry the Second King of France Fourthly Ann Daughter to the Emperor Maximilian By the first he had Charles whom he put to Death as has been said By the third Elizabeth Clare Eugenia Countess of Flanders Wife to the Arch-Duke Albertus Also Katherine Wife to Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy By the fourth first Ferdinand secondly Charles Lawrence thirdly James all three died young fourthly Philip who succeeded his Father fifthly Mary who died an Infant CHAP. V. The Reign of Philip the Third of Spain and Second of Portugal and Nineteenth King from the Year 1578. till 1621. 1. SIngular was the Wisdom of the late King and consequently the loss of him was extraordinarily lamented by all his People Their Sorrow was much mitigated by the great hopes conceived that his Successor Philip would prove no less capable to wield the Sceptre than his Father had been Birth of Philip the Third This Prince being the Seventh Child of his Father and Fourth of his Mother Queen Ann was Born in the renowned Town of Madrid 1578. on the 14th of April 1578. and was the Second of the Name in Portugal and Third in Spain He was sworn Heir of Portugal on the first of February 1583. 158â— and afterwards of his other Kingdoms 1598. this being the first of them that took an Oath to him The many Embassages he received with singular Grandeur the Fleets he set out the great Supplies he sent to Pope Paul the Fifth and the Emperor Ferdinand and many other particulars of his Reign as appertaining more properly to the History of Spain where he resided are purposely omitted here because we design only to adhere to what particularly belongs to Portugal His Resolution was wonderful in banishing the Moriscoes The Moriscoes banished Spain or those that were descended of the Race of the Moors who pretending to become Christians committed many Villanies and Sacriledges at the same time underhand holding Correspondence in Africk and Turky in order to bring over the Moors into Spain again Charles the Fifth Ferdinand and Philip the Second had all of them entertained thoughts of putting this same Design in execution but the many Inconveniences that attended it still deterred them 400000 of these base People were dispersed throughout the Kingdom who all upon the King's Edict departed the Kingdom having liberty to carry away with them all they were worth Upon the Birth-day of this King a Preacher Prophetically foretold the Banishment of the Moriscoes threatning them with the New-born Prince 2. Often did this King promise to Visit his Realm of Portugal in Person but still failed being put by his Resolution by his Favourites who for their private Ends disswaded this Journey not regarding how much a King loss the Affections of his People who never suffers himself to be seen by them 1619.
Andaluzia of great Courage and Colonel of a Regiment who offered to hold out three Weeks longer to expect the Succours from Spain which they heard to be at Sea under the Conduct of the Duke of Maqueda The King thought it not fit longer to delay his Coronation that his Royal Authority might become the more Sacred and his Person more respected among the People This Ceremony was performed on the 15th of December with all possible Magnificence The Duke of Aveiro the Marquess of Villareal the Duke de Caminha his Son the Count de Monsanto and all the Nobility of the Kingdom assisted at the Ceremony The Archbishop of Lisbon at the head of his Clergy and attended by several other Bishops received the King at the Gate of the Cathedral and there all the Three Estates took the Oath of Fidelity to him A few Days after the Queen came to Lisbon having been received at a distance by the whole Court and the King himself 19. The News of this Revolution being soon carried to the Court of Spain How the News of his revoltâ— was received in Spain struck to the Heart of the Prime-Minister yet making the best of that Disaster he accosted the King with a Countenance chearful and full of Assurance saying Sir I bring you happy News your Majesty has just now gained a great Dutchy and a considerable parâ—el of Lands The King in a surprize asked in what manner Sir replied the Minister the Duke of Braganza is run mad he has suffered himself to be deluded by the Multitude who have proclaimed him King of Portugal now all his Lands are forfeited to the Crown and that Family being extirpated your Majesty will for the future possess that Kingdom in Peace The King was not much taken with these plausible Words and only told him That Care must be taken to suppress a Rebellion that might prove of dangerous Consequence Anno 1641. 1. THE new King of Portugal omitted nothing that might conduce to his Establishment on the Throne After his Arrival at Lisbon New Governours placed in the Frontiers he presently appointed Governours for all the Frontier Towns choosing for that purpose Men of Fidelity Valour and Experience who immediately went away to their Posts with what Forces they could gather and used all possible diligence to put the places committed to them into a posture of defence Commissions were given out to raise Forces and immediately after the Coronation the Cortes or Parliament was Summon'd They met the 28th of January and by a solemn Act acknowledg'd King John to be their lawful and rightful Soveraign as descended by the Princess his Mother from Prince Edward Son to King Emanuel In this Assembly of the three Estates the King declared that for the support of his Houshold he would content himself with his own private Revenue and would lay apart all those of the Crown to supply the necessities of the Kingdom and that the people might relish the sweetness of his Government he abolished all new Taxes imposed by the Spaniards The most considerable employments he gave to such of the Conspirators as had best deserved yet Pinto had no share in this promotion but nevertheless had so great an influence over the King that though he had not the Title of a Minister of State nothing of moment was done without him Having settled all things at home the King next bent his thoughts towards Foreign Princes Ambassadors sent to all the Courts of Europe He dispatched Ambassadors to all the Courts of Europe to move them to own him and at the same time to gain Allies and raise new Enemies to the House of Austria A League offensive and defensive was concluded with the Hollanders and Catalonians both at that time in Rebellion against the King of Spain That Monarch nor being in a condition to use immediate force for the reducing of Portugal still hop'd he might by fair means or threats work upon the new King and to that end writ a Letter to him in the Stile of a Sovereign but in most affectionate terms The Answer was such as no less touched the King of Spain than the News of the Revolt had done before He had his hands full in Flanders Italy Roussillon and Catalonia and yet rather than seem to abate any thing of his Royal Grandeur resolved to hazard all rather than suffer this Affront to pass unrevenged The Duke of Medina Sidonia was order'd to raise Forces in Andaluzia the Count de Monterey in the two Castiles and the Marquess de Valparaiso in Leon and Galicia And because a Fleet was the most absolutely necessary the Duke de Maqueda Admiral of the Ocean had Orders to gather all the Vessels that were fit for Service and to infest the Coast whilst the others acted by Land 2. Of all the Ambassadors sent by the King of Portugal to the Christian Princes The Bishâ—p of Lamego going Ambassadorâ— to Rome 〈◊〉 by the Spaniards only the Bishop of Lamego designed for Rome miscarried The Master of the Vessel that carried him put into Cartagena a Port of the Kingdom of Murcia and delivered him up to the Spaniards for which Treachery he received a Reward of 2000 Crowns That Prelate's Life was in great danger for he had certainly been Executed but that the King was put in mind that the Marquess de la Pueblâ— and five or six other persons of Quality were Prisoners at Lisbon This Consideration mov'd him to order the Bishop should be civilly Treated least the Prisoners at Lisbon might suffer for his sake Fortune which the Year before had so highly favoured the new King still seemed wholly devoted to his Party All the Forts on the Coast of Africk except Ceuta and Tangier which at last afterwards submitted upon the first News of what had hapned in Portugal withdrew themselves from their Obedience to the Spaniards and sent to acknowledge King John and assure him of their utmost Fidelity Nor was this all for the Vice-Roy of Brasil having Intelligence of the Revolution sent his Son to Lisbon to take the Oath of Allegiance to the new King in his Name and in the Name of all the Inhabitants oâ— that Coast who testified an extraordinary satisfaction for that Change The Islands Azores resolved not to be the last that declared for the King and to give him some proof of their Fidelity at the very beginning of his Reign they seized 10 Ships coming from India that knew nothing of the Revolution and sent them to Lisbon after having taken off all the Soldiers that were aboard them In May also this Year a 〈◊〉 dispatched Express from India by John de Sylva Tello the Vice-Roy brought the News that the King had been Proclaimed in all his Dominions in Asia King John Proclaimed in India and as far as the Coast of China The Hollanders at this time were very powerful in those Seas and being at War with Spain did all the harm they could in the
Houses killed seven of the Inhabitants he found in Arms and drove away all the Cattle he found Not content with this he returned by the way of Alfayates to brave the Garrison but this boldness cost him dear Ferdinand Tellez de Menezes the General who was within two Leagues of that place gathering 200 Horse and three Companies of Foot sent to the Governour of Alfayates to joyn him with the best men he had which was accordingly performed that Governour bringing with him 200 Men. With this force they pursued the Spaniards and having overtaken fell upon them The Fight was bravely maintained for the Spaniards and Portugueses gave three several Charges in such a manner that it was not discernable who had the better being now fallen in after the Fire with Sword in hand and the Marquess de Elecha the Spanish General and D. Francis de Erasso who was next in Command to him being both Slain Victory began to incline to the Portugueses for the Spaniards dismayed at the loss of their Commanders fled leaving the Field strewed with Dead Bodies Arms and Plunder which they quitted to save their Lives The Portugueses were forward enough to have pursued them but Ferdinand Tellez held them in fearing to fall into some ambush being to pass before the Enemy The Duke of Alva's Enterprize redounded more to the honour of the Spaniards He being desirous of doing something considerable in Portugal drew together 8000 Foot and 900 Horse with which he entred Portugal burnt four open Towns put many of the Inhabitants to the Sword and finding a vigorous resistance at Eschallam which place he had caused to be Attacked at the same time he retired again to avoid meeting all the Troops of the Frontiers drawn together to oppose him 2. It was not only the success on the Frontiers that rendred the King of Portugal fortunate Two Jesuits being procurators for the Provinces of Cochin and Goa in India arriving at this time brought him an Account how well affected the people in those distant Provinces were to his interest This happy News was a great addition to the joy of his success in War for they assured him that most of those Eastern Princes had joyned in League with his Vice-Roy as soon as they understood he was restored to the Crown of his Ancestors The King who omitted nothing that might encourage his faithful Servants and gain him new Friends sent away two Gallions and six other Vessels with all necessaries to the former and with assurances to the latter that they should always find in him a brotherly return of affection as long as they continued their friendship towards him 3. Francis de Lucena The Secretary Francis Lucena put to Death upon account of a supposed Conspiracy Secretary of State ever since the Revolution had upon complaints preferred against him by his Enemies been committed Prisoner to the Castle of St. Julian but nothing being proved against him after a long Imprisonment the King had resolved to restore him to his Honour when an unfortunate accident on a sudden brought him to an untimely end The Count de Obidos General of the Province of Aleitejo hapned to take a fellow coming from Badajoz who proved to be Servant to Peter Bonete Adjutant to the Major-General Upon examination this Man declared that his Master held Correspondence with the Spaniards and he being thereupon Apprehended and put upon the Rack made a Confession which at his Death he declared to be false but wherein he accused D. Joseph de Meneses Governour of Fort St. Julian of a Design of betraying it to the Spaniards Francis de Lucena the Secretary of holding Correspondence with them and several others of joyning with them in these Treasonable practices All the persons accused being put to Torture some of them to the last denied their knowledge of any such Treason but others to be eased of their misery owned all that was laid to their Charge Upon this weak evidence several were put to Death D. Joseph de Meneses endured the Rack constantly denying it and being cured the King offered him again a Command but he refused it saying He was now resolved to serve him who knew how to Reward services and punish Offences The unfortunate Secretary Francis de Lucena being put upon the Rack and being weak with Age fainted away without Confessing Nevertheless though all had recanted that accused him he was Condemned to Death as a Traytor and suffered accordingly positively denying any guilt in the matter he was accused of to the last minute of his Life The Rabble would have torn him in pieces when he was brought Prisoner from the Castle of St. Julian for in all Countries they are ready to devour the innocent buâ— he was then preserved by the Guards to be made a Sacrifice to that many headed Monster in a more solemn manner being publickly beheaded upon a Scaffold 4. Whilst due Examination was making into this piece of Treachery King John rewards those that suffered for the Conspiracy at Carthageâ—â— the King of Portugal made generous acknowledgments to the Count de Castelmelhor on account of his good Endeavours and Sufferings before-mentioned The post of General of the Frontiers betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho given him as the first Reward of his Fidelity in the West-Indies seeming too small a Recompence for a Service of such Consequence he added to it a present of a considerable Sum of Money a Commendary of the Military Order of Christ worth 2000 Crowns a Year gave the reversion of it to his Children and confirmed that Earldom to his third Generation To Father Ambrose a Benedictin concerned in the Counts Escape he gave a Benefice To Antony de Abien Captain of the Caravel that went for him a considerable Commendary And because Dominick de Sylva Antony Rodiguez the Spanish Corporal two Souldiers that were upon the Guard and the Dutch Captain that lent his Vessel to forward the undertaking had all contributed to the Earl's Deliverance they also were made parâ—â—kers of the King's Bounty The Dutch Captain had 2000 Crowns Dominick de Sylva was Knighted and had a Company in a Marine Regiment with a Pension The Spanish Corporal had also a Company in the Land-Service with a Pension as the other The two Souldiers were likewise made Captains but without any other addition of Honour or Pension These Acts of Generosity in the King redounded much to his Honour as did no less his Prudence in placing good Commanders upon the Frontiers George de Melo General of the Galleys was put into the Fort of St. Julian to secure that Place whilst D. Joseph de Mâ—nezes the former Goververnour was proceeded against D. Francis de Sousa Coutinho returning from his Embassy of Sweden had the Government of the Island Tercera conferred on him D. Alvaro de Abranchez was appointed General of the Frontiers of Beira aâ—d D. John de Sousa of those of the Province Tralos Montes 5. About this time News was
Horse had the boldness to appear about the Bridge of Badajoz as it were provoking the whole Force of the Spanish Army which then lay in and about that place to revenge this excess D. John immediately sent out D. John Pacheco Lieutenant General of the Horse who attacked the Portugueses with a small handfull of men at first yet with such resolution that they gained no advantage till he was shot dead upon the place but then fresh Supplies still comming from the Town at last the Portugueses were overpowered many of them slain many taken and the rest Forced to save themselves by Flight This success was the less pleasing to the Spaniards because of the Loss of D. John Pacheco who was a person of tryed Valour and Conduct D. John being informed that much dammage was done on the Frontiers of Castile D. John of Austria takes Alconchel by the excursions of the garrison of Alconchel sent D. James Cavallero with the best part of the Army to invest it and himself followed soon after him Alconchel is near the River Guadiana has a Castle and had been lately fortifyed by the Portugueses The Seige was carryed on but coldly either to draw the Portugues Army to attempt the relief of the place or else because the inhabitants being divided in factions it was not doubted but they must speedily surrender Nor was D. John deceived in his expectation for the Governour perceiving the heats within to increase and the Enemy without to threaten the utmost extremity if he proved obstinate was forced to submit and accept of honourable conditions The Fortifications were speedily repaired and a Spanish Garrison put into the place This done D. John returned to Badajoz and put his Army into Winter-Quarters Anno 1662. 1. THe Last years losses and the present preparations of the Spaniards had sufficiently alarmed Portugal to oblige the Queen to use her utmost industry to be in a condition to oppose her Enemy In order to it the Treasury being exhausted heavy Taxes were imposed upon the People which they did not pay without much murmuring Catherine Infanta of Portugal married to King Ch. the II of England and reluctancy To strengthen her self by foreign allyances she had concluded a match for her daughter the Princess Catherine with his Majesty Charles the Second King of Great Britain The Queen had Entertained hopes of Marrying this Princess to the King of France but he having chosen the Infanta of Spain her next recourse was by that affinity to secure the Friendship of the King of England The new Queens portion was a considerable Sum of Money the City of Tangier upon the mouth of the Streights in Barbary and the Island of Bombain in the East-Indies On the other side the King of England was to assist the Portugueses with a body of Foot to serve as auxiliaries under the Command of Count Schomberg The Earl of Sandwich with the Royal-Navy conveyed the Queen into England Upon the News of this match and that Tangier was to be delivered up to the English the King of Spain once more attempted the fidelity of the governour of that City D. Lewis de Almeida endeavouring to perswade him rather to betray the place to him upon hopes of a considerable Reward than to put it into the hands of the English but the governour was not to be moved who rather fearing that the inhabitants and Garrison would never be brought to consent to their Kings orders of delivering up the place as soon as the English Fleet appeared in sight to take possession of it he sent out the greatest part of the garrison and many of the inhabitants upon pretence to repell the Moors who appeared then in bodies about the Town and whilst they were abroad ingaging and pursuing the Infidels gave possession of the City to the English 2. Notwithstanding all the Queens care and diligence the Spaniards were first in the field and much superiour the Portugueses in Strength D. John of Austria burns and plunders the Country D. John of Austria took the field at the beginning of May with 13000 Foot and 5000 Horse all old Troops His first design was to lay Siege to Estremoz but the Count de Castaneda the Portugues General prevented him by planting himself before the place with his whole Army which then consisted of 8000 Foot and 3000 Horse Hereupon D. John turned away as if he intended to march directly to Lisbon which put that City into a consternation and no less surprized the Count de Castaneda fearing least the Capitall of the kingdom should fall into the hands of the Enemy and had the Spanish Army held on their march as they began in all likelihood they must have made themselves masters of it without any opposition But D. John spent his time in plundering and burning the Country and having made a halt near a brook called Zapateros he sent then D. James Cavallero with Two Regiments of Foot and most of the Horse to attack the Town of Villabuim a place considerable both for it's Riches and Strength nevertheless the Governour who was a French man upon the first approach of the Spaniards resolved to Surrender having privately Articled with the Spanish General that for the saving of his Reputation he might be permitted to fire his Cannon for an hour without ball that so he might be thought to have made some defence Yet the Surrender was not without blood for some of the inhabitants encouraged by a Parish-Priest He takes and raises Villabuim endeavoured to make some opposition but were soon quelled by the Spaniards The Town and Castle were raised down to the Ground for a Terror to other places Hence the Army moved towards Villaviciosa and having taken an express that was going to Elvas and Jurumenha to encourage those governours to defend themselves couragiously upon promise of speedy relief D. John sent him back to the Count de Castaneda to let him know he would be with him the next day He performed his word but the Count who was much inferiour to him in numbers kept himself close in his Camp under the Walls of Estremoz D. John intending to attack him in his Camp was diswaded by the Duke of St. German and marched away to Borba a place of small Strength but that had a Castle and the governour Roderick da Cunha being a desperate man had perswaded the Townsmen to joyn with the Garrison to defend it Such was his Folly or rashness that he reproached and fired upon the Trumpet that came to bring him the Summons to Surrender whereupon the Town was assaulted on all sides and taken The governour with a few men retired into the Castle which having for a while stood the shock of the Canon and beginning now to give way to it's fury Acunha's heat being somewhat allayed he sent out to beg he might be admitted to conditions No intreating could prevail with D. John who being incensed would admit of nothing but that they
India or some other remote parts of the World yet so that if he should make resistance or attempt to escape then he should be killed Many days passed not before the Count had intire Information of the whole Conspiracy against him and having layed it before the King he was by him impowered to use such means for their common Security as he should think most effectual He presently doubles the Guards at the Palace arms all his own Creatures set his Spies and stirs not out of the Palace without a sufficient Train and Guard for his Security This sudden change at Court alarm'd the City so that the People ran in heaps to the Palace for Information but finding that there was no interruption of publick Affairs nor any thing but the increase of the Guards they soon dispersed and returned to their Houses The Infante finding his project defeated to avoid all Suspition retired to his Country-House at Quelas Whilst he was there almost in despair for the great disappointment he had received a Discovery was made or pretended to be made for the certainty of it could never appear that the Count had hired People to poison him Hereupon his Partizans advise him to be very circumspect in securing himself and they on their part were not wanting in spreading abroad the danger they pretended him to be in Having thus prepared the Multitude and being sensible that the Count could not but study to secure himself by his downfal the Infante made instant application to the King to punish him according to the hainousness of the Offence he alledged To this effect he wrote to the King acquainting him that he was convinced the Count practised against his Life that therefore he demanded he should be banished from the Court or else that he himself should be forced to fly into Foreign parts for Safety Both the King and Count having read this Letter referred the whole matter to the Council of State There it was fully discussed one party affirming that it was a Presumption at one time to accuse the King's Favourite and assign his Punishment in such a manner as seemed to threaten the King himself that if the Count were justly accused he ought to be tryed according to the known Laws of the Kingdom and if convicted to be punished but that if it should appear he was wronged care ought to be taken least the Prince's aspiring practices should not be prejudicial to the King The other side on the contrary being devoted to the Infante's Interest urged all the plausible Reasons they could gather to shew that he ought to be complyed with Right or Wrong either in regard he was the King's Brother or for fear he might effect that by force which he could not obtain by Entreaty After conferring both Opinions they came to this Resolution That it should be put to the Tryal The King offers the Infante Satisfaction whether the Infante could be appeased by Submission and all manner of humble Application To this effect the Marquess of Marialva was sent by the King to acquaint the Infante that the Count was â—â—ady to come and beg his Pardon upon his Knees But he considering that to accept of this Submission would no way forward his End for that the Count would still remain at Court after two days delay sent back the Marquess with his Answer signifying that nothing but the Banishment of the Earl could satisfie him Alphonso hoping his Brother's Fury might abate in time delayed sending to him again for the present whereat he being the more enraged caused a Letter to be deliver'd to the King among other things threatning not to appear at Court as long as Coâ—nt Castelmelhor continued in it A Cabinet Council being called upon this second Billet some were for apprehending the Infante himself as now grown too dangerous others more moderate were only for securing his Family and Adherents and so leaving him naked This latter Advice was approved off but the Execution being delayed and Peter having received Intelligence thereof he stood upon his Guard arming all his Followers and promising to live and dye by them Next he summons the Counsellors of State The Council and Magistrates of Lisbon combine with the Infante and Magistrates of Lisbon who being met at his House he inveighed before them against the King his Brother and Count Castelmelhor impeaching him of Practices against his Life and desiring their assistance to be revenged of him since the King would not consent to his Banishment After having spoken to this effect he gave them the same in Writing to which they unanimously answer'd they would stand by him and support his Dignity to their utmost It is easie to conceive how much King and Count were concerned at this audacious proceeding The King fearing the faction offers to compound with the Infante which was an absolute usurpation upon the regal Authority for it was no less in the Infante to summon the Tribunals and in them it was not much less than Treason to obey the Summons but above all to ingage to stand by him Finding by this Tryal how great the strength of his Party was they resolved if possible to mollifie him and therefore the King sent to him to discover who were the Count's Accusers that so he might be proceeded against in due form of Law The Infante positively refused to discover the Evidence unless the Count were first removed from Court Alphonso put it to the Council and ablest Lawyers whether it were legal and beseeming the King's Dignity that the Count should be removed before the Witnesses were known and it was carryed by the Majority that the demand was unjust and unreasonable This their result under their Hands the King sent to his Brother at the same time sending away Expresses to the Commanders on the Frontiers and Sea-ports to suffer no Man to depart the Kingdom By these means the expectation of a Civil War which till then had gone no farther then Lisbon was spread abroad throughout the whole Kingdom The Infante advising with his Friends upon the result of the Council sent him by the King they came to this Resolution that in case his Majesty persisted in protecting the Count then Peter without his consent should speed into the Province beyond the Mountains where the Count of St. John had the command of the Forces which he should march to Lisbon and joyning with the multitude by open Force should constrain the King to comply with all his demands Having fixed this Resolution he sent the King a long Letter full of invectives against the Count and complaints that he could not obtain Justice concluding that his Majesty made more account of the Earl then of him and seeing both could not live together he had resolved to quit the Court. Upon what Account he intended to withdraw we have seen but just before not to submit to the King's Will but to force him to comply with his And though he pretended privately
Crowns in Gold to any that could discover him and the many poor People were concerned in his Escape none ever offered to betray him Antony came in disguise to Lisbon and thence to Setuval where a Woman assisted to hire a small Vessel for him which carried him into England whence he passed into France and was there favourably entertained by the Queen Mother Katherine of Medicis and her Son the Duke of Alenson who aspired to a Crown and hoped if he could get Forces into Portugal to secure that to himself 9. The Tercera Islands still held for Antony 〈◊〉 and at the same time expected King Sebastian who was killed in Africk The Tercera Islands for Antony and many pretended to prophecy the Day he would come to them King Philip being about to make his Entry into Lisbon received this News from the Islands and therefore sent thither Peter Valdez with 600 Men and some Cannon to reduce them He found a very ill Reception and therefore kept at Sea not knowing what to do Advice was brought him That D. Lope de Figueroa was preparing at Lisbon to follow him with a greater Force and he that the other might not have any share in the Honour of subduing those Islands rashly adventured to land With much difficulty he got ashoar upon S. James his Day and at First took some pieces of Cannon from the Portuguese But Cyprian de Figueyredo the Governour coming out of the City with all the Force he could make drove before a Herd of Oxen which being pricked forwards upon the Spaniards put them into disorder and he then falling on drove them into the Sea where 450 of them perished Many Barbarities were committed towards the Dead some being cut in Pieces and others dragged about the Streets Valdez was in this miserable Condition when D. Lope de Figueroa came to be a Witness of his rashness for he could do nothing after that Loss Upon the News that Levies were making in England France and Flanders to bring Antony into Portugal the King sent the Prior of Malta to secure the Province betwixt Duero and Minho Ambrose de Aguiar and Peter Peixoto were sent to the Terceras The Marquis de Santa Cruz returned from Sevil with Twelve Galleys and Twenty Galleons and found there Thirty Vessels gathered from Portugal Biscay and other Places With this Force he sailed towards the Islands in July Antony arrives at the Terceraâ— with a Fleet from France Antony at the same time sailed from France with Fifty eight Sail in which were above Seven thousand Men commanded by Philip Strozi and Monsieur de Brisâ—â— He arrived at the Island of S. Michael before the Spaniards and plundered the Town of Laguna The Inhabitants of Punta Delgada the chief Town of the Island fled to the Mountains Ambrose de Aguiar who had been Governour was dead and now Peter Peixoto and Laurâ—â—â—e Nogueyra commanded They marched out with about Three thousand Spaniards and Portuguese to meet the French by whom they were defeated and Nogueyra flying to the Fort died there of his Wounds Antony after summoning the Fort in vain prepared to batter it when the Spanish Fleet appearing diverted him from that Design 10. After several Essays made 1582. the Two Fleets joyned Battle on the 26th of July Antony's Fleet destroyed by the Spanish The Engagement lasted Five Hours in which the French Admiral and Vice-Admiral being taken Two great Ships sunk and about Two thousand of their Men slain the rest fled Philip Strozi being taken died of his Wounds as did D. Francis de Portugal Earl of Vimioso John de Jaen Chaplain to the Major General frighted by the Cannon ran down into the Hold where he died with fear Anthony thinking some of his Commanders had not done their Duty as being corrupted by the Spaniards cut off D. Duarte de Castro's Head on suspition that he was one of them He was not himself in the Fight being then received ashoar in the Island Tercera where he was received as King Some of the French Ships returned to France others plundered the Island of Fayal The Marquess after his Victory having Twenty eight Lords Fifty Gentlemen and a great number of Marriners and Soldiers Prisoners beheaded all the former and hanged the latter This done he returned to Lisbon carrying with him Two India Ships he met in the way Antony coined Money much under Weight wracked the People to raise more incited the religious Men to take Arms and forbore not too in the midst of his Misery to endeavour to corrupt Nuns He sailed thence in November with Thirty Sail for France but some of them forsook him by the way 〈◊〉 About the middle of February King Philip returned to Castile As soon as the Season was fit for sailing Monsieur de Chartes a Knight of Malta came from France with 1200 Men to secure the Islands to 〈◊〉 In July arrived there the Spanish Fleet consisting of Sixty Sail and among them Twelve Galleys which caused admiration for that those Vessels had never before been used in the Ocean but for Coasters In this Fleet were One thousand two hundred Men commanded by the Marquess de Santa Cruz. On the 24th of this Month the Admiral would have proclaimed a general Pardon but could not be heard He landed at 〈◊〉 Mole The 〈…〉 and after Three Days resistance became absolute Master of the 〈◊〉 the Defendants flying to the Mountains Monsieur de Chartes articled to depart with the French leaving their Colours D. Emanuel de Silva the Governour after absconding some time was betrayed by a Slave taken and beheaded His Head was put up where he had set up that of Belchior Alfonso for finding with King Philip and it is remarkable he had said it should be taken down when his were fixed in the Place Some were beheaded others hanged and all that had any Honours or Employments conferred by Antony were deprived of them All the other Islands were easily reduced 11. Antony having left all he possessed in the Seas Antony flies into England and having no hopes of Succour in France went over into England the differences betwixt King Philip and Queen Elizabeth encouraging him to hope for assistance there The Queen was easily perswaded to embrace this Enterprize and offered her Ships and Two thousand Men that had served in Holland but upon very hard Terms which were granted and are these That the Queen should furnish 120 Sail 15000 Landmen and 5000 Marriners for which Antony within Two Months after he was in possession of Lisbon should pay down Five Millions and 300000 Duccats a Year for ever That the English should Traffick freely in Portugal and India That the Queen might bring her Fleet into Lisbon River and Antony should be obliged to assist her against King Philip. That the Garrisons in Portugal should alwalys be in the hands of English maintained by the Kingdom That Bishopricks should be conferred on English Catholicks and
so others too tedious to relate Sir Francis Drake had the Command of the Fleet and Sir John Norris of the Land Forces which were 22000 Men. They sailed from Plimouth and arrived at Coruna the 4th of May where they landed and having spent Five Days before the Place without any success returned to their Ships with loss In the mean while King Philip sent Advice to Lisbon That the Cardinâ—â— Alvertus who was Governour and the Count de 〈◊〉 who was General might be in readiness The English landed some Horse and 12000 Foot at Peniche which Place they took and thence coasting along entered thâ— River of Liâ—bâ—â— The Count de Fuentes with some Troops of Horse endeavoured to secure the Country â—et Norris marched with a great Body of Troops 〈◊〉 wards Lisbon and fortyfied himself close to the City There he lay some time but still finding that not one Portuguese came over to him nor that Drake did not come up the River he marched back and embarked his Forces Many of his Men died by the way of the Plague which was got among them in Portugal and the rest arriving at Plimouth spread it through all England 12. Antony seemed now only to have come to take his last Farewel of his Country for ever after he resided in France He dies in France tho' never quitting his claim to this Crown till he died at Paris in great Poverty and the 64th Year of his Age. His Body was buried in the Church of the Nuns of Ave Maria and the Inscription on his Tomb calls him King He was endued with several good Qualities his Person was comly and his Countenance pleasing He was not unlearned especially in Divinity and wrote a Paraphrase upon the Penitential Psalms He could not marry as being of the Military Order of Malta but by several Women had the following Bastard Children First D. Emanuel de Portugal who married Emilia Daughter to William Prince of Orange Secondly Christopher who died in France Thirdly Peter who became a Franciscan Friar and was called of the Desart remarkable for Piety and Learning Fourthly Denis who took the Habit of S. Bernard in the Monastery of Valbuena Fifthly Alonso who served in the Galleys of Naples where he died Sixthly John who died very Young Seventhly Philippa a Bernardin Nun. Eightly Luisa a Franciscan Nun. Ninthly and Tenthly Two Daughters whose Names are not extant but they were both kept in the Monastery of Huelgas near Burgos by King Philip the Second CHAP. VII The Reign of Philip the Second of Spain and First of Portugal and Eigthteenth King from the Year 1580 till 1598. 1. PHilip the Second of Spain Birth of King Philip and First of Portugal Son to the Emperor Charles the Fifth and the Empress Elizabeth Daughter of King Emanuel of Portugal was born at Valladolid on the 23th of March 1527. After the loss of King Sebastian in Africk he sent Don Christopher de Moura to condole with the New King and Cardinal Henry offering his assistance in reestablishing the Kingdom in its former Splendor and Money for the redemption of Captives The First he ransomed was the Duke of Barcelos Son to him of Bragança and with him several Gentlemen King Henry dying and the Kingdom being in a Confusion for that the Governours feared to declare who was the next Heir and the Multitude began to declare for Antony the Grand Prior King Philip came to Badajoz hoping his approach would induce the Portuguese to declare for him but being deceived of his Expectation he sent the Duke of Alva who reduced all the Country with much ease as we have seen in the foregoing Chapter At the time the King intended to enter the Kingdom in Person he fell so dangerously Sick that he was given over He suddenly recovered and Ann his Queen who was with him died Being restored to his Health he was received at Elvas He enters Portugal D. Christopher de Moura and Nunho Alvarez Pereyra attending upon him as Ministers of State for this Kingdom Lisbon was not yet quite clear of the Plague and therefore he ordered the Cortes or Parliament to meet at Tomar on the 15th of April In his way thither he met the Dutchess of Bragança and they were long together tho' their Discourse was not over pleasant for the King treated her not with all the Complement she expected and she never gave him the stile of Majesty Being come to Tomar before the opening of the Parliament he caused himself to be Sworn King according to the Portuguese manner and his Son Prince James Heir of the Crown An Amnâ—sty Next he granted a general Pardon to all that had sided with Antony the Grand Prior only excepting Fifty two Persons and excluding all religious Men that espoused his Quarrel from Spiritual Promotions 2. The Parliament was opened the 19th of April He holds a Parliament the King sitting on his Throne The King bountifully bestowed his Favours upon all there and yet there were more discontented than pleased It was proposed to suppress the University of Coimbra because it had supported the Grand Prior but the King would not suffer it to be done What the King granted of his own will to the Kingdom in general Priviledges granted to Portugal was as follows That he will keep all their Ancient Priviledges and Immunities That the Parliament shall always meet within the Kingdom That none shall be Governour of Portugal but a Native unless it be a Prince of the Blood That all Places of Trust and Honour shall be given to Natives That all the Officers of the Houshould shall be kept up and none but Natives shall be such That the same be observed in India and America and none but Portuguese Ships shall be allowed to Trade thither That all the Money coined in the Kingdom shall be stamped with only the Portuguese Arms. That all Church Preferments and Commendaries of Military Orders shall be given to Natives That no New Imposition shall be laid upon the Church That there shall be always a Portuguese Council with his Majesty for the Affairs of the Kingdom These are the Principal Heads the others being much of the same Purport or less Material I omit for brevity sake They were in all Twenty five Articles King Philip bound himself by Oath to perform them left his Blessing to such of his Heirs as preserved and his Curse to those that violated them 3. The Cortes being broke up Philip's publick Entry into Lisbon King Philip resolved to make his solemn Entry into Lisbon but because the City had not yet finished the Works designed for his Reception he staid some Days at Almada a Town on the opposite side of the River On the 29th of June he entered the City attended by all the Nobility with the greatest Splendor and Majesty imaginable Thus ended the Calamities of this Kingdom which had lasted Two Years during which short time there may be reckoned Five several