he may forbeare to specifie much more then I haue done of the humours of the head and principall members of that prouince whereof he writes But if all this sufficeth not to iustimine me I make God iudge of the sinceritie of mine hart and the indifferencie I haue strictly obserued THE GENEALOGIE OF THE Kings of Portugall from the beginning of that Kingdome vnto the ende of the house of Portugall with the pretendants to that Crowne HENRIE issued from Besançon first Earle of Portugall married with Therasie daughter to Alphonse the sixt King of Castile about the yeere of our Lord 1090. by whom he had Alphonse Henrie which was the first king Therasie Henrie and one other daughter married to Ferdinand Mendes 1. Alphonse Henrie first Duke and King of Portugall sonne to the saide Henrie he succeeded his father about the yeere 1112. he tooke vpon him the title of King about the yeere 1139. he raigned in all about 72. yeeres he married with Malfade Manrique de Lara by whom he had issue Sanches who was after King Vrraca Queene of Leon. Therasie Countesse of Flanders Malfade 2. Sanches the first sonne to the said Alphonse about the yeere 1184. he raigned 28. yeeres he married Aldoncia daughter to Count Raimond Berenger of Barcelone by whom he had Alphonse King Ferdinand Earle of Flaunders Peter Earle of Vrgel in Arragon Henrie Therasie wife to Alphonse of Leon. Malfade Queene of Castile Sanches a Nunne Blanche and Berenguela 3. Alphonse the second sonne to Sanches the yeere 1212. he raigned 11. yeeres and married Vrraca of Castile daughter to Alphonse the noble by whom he had Sanche King Alphonse King Ferdinand Leonor Queene of Denmarke 4. Sanche the second called Capello sonne to Alphonse the second the yeere 1223. he raigned in troubles vnto the yeere 1257. he married Mencia Lopez by whom he had no children he died in Castile incapable to rule 5. Alphonse the third called the Braue brother to Sanche the second of a regent he made himselfe King about the yeere 1257. raigned 22. yeeres he married with Matilde Countesse of Boloigne in Picardie by whom he had Ferdinand or Peter Robert in her life time he married with Beatrice bastard daughter to Alphonse the 10. called the wise King of Castile by whom he had Denis King Alphonse Blanche a Nunne Constance 6. Denis sonne to Alphonse the third the yeere 1279. he raigned 48. yeeres and was married to Isabella daughter to Peter King of Arragon by whom he had Constance Queene of Castile Alphonse who was after King Peter Earle of Portalegre 7. Alphonse the fourth sonne to Denis in the yeere 1325. he raigned 32. yeeres and married Beatrice of Castile by whom he had Peter that was King Marie Alphonse Denis Iean Eluira Queene of Aarragon 8. Peter called the cruell sonne to Alphonse the fourth the yeere 1357. hee raigned 10. yeeres and married Blanche daughter to Peter King of Castile whom he put away and after married with Constance daughter to Iean Emanuell by whom he had Lewis who died yoong Ferdinand King Marie wife to Ferdinand of Arragon Beatrice died yoong And of Agnes de Castro a supposed wife he had Alphonse Iean Denis Beatrice Countesse of Albuquerque And by Therasie Gallega his concubine he had Iean who was King 9. Ferdinand sonne to Peter the yeere 1367. he raigned about 17. yeeres and married Leonor Telles de Meneses by whom he had Beatrice Queene of Castile 10. Iean called of good memorie sonne to the said Peter the yeere 1383. he raigned about 49. yeeres and married with Philip daughter to Iean of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster by whom he had Blanche Alphonse Edward King Peter Duke of Coimbra who had by Isabell of Arragon his wife Peter that was Constable Iean King of Cypres Isabell Queene of Portugall Philip a Nunne Ieams a Cardinall Beatrice wife to the Lord of Rauestein Henrie Duke of Viseo Isabell Dutchesse of Burgundie Iean master of Saint Iaques Ferdinand master of the order called d' Auis or Saint Benet 11. Edouard sonne to Iean the yeere 1433. he raigned 5. yeeres he married Leonor of Arragon daughter to Ferdinand the 1. by whom he had Alphonse King Ferdinand Duke of Viseo who had by his wife Philip. Leonor wife to Frederike the 3. Emperour Catherine Iean Queene of Castile Beatrice wife to Iean Master of Saint Iaques Leonor Queene Dominique Emanuell King Isabell Dutchesse of Bragance 12. Alphonse the fift called the Affrican soone to Edward the yeere 1438. he raigned 43. yeeres hee married Isabell daughter to Peter Duke of Coimbra his vncle by whom he had Iean who liued but a while Ieanne Iean King 13. Iean the 2. son to Alphonse the 5. the yeere 1481. he raigned 14. yeeres and married Leonor daughter to Ferdinand Duke of Viseo by whom he had Alphonse who died before his father 14. Emanuell soone to Ferdinand Duke of Viseo borne in the yeere 1468. began to raigne in the yeere 1495. and raigned fiue yeeres he died at Lisbone the third of September 1521. he married Isabell the eldest daughter of Ferdinand and Isabell King and Queene of Castile by whom he had Michaell who died yoong and to his second wife he tooke Marie sister of the said Isabell by whom he had Iean who was after King Isabell wife to Charles the 5. Emperor of whom is issued Philip King of Spaine Beatrice wife to Charles the third Duke of Sauoy from whom issued Emanuell Phillibert father to Charles Emanuell now Duke of Sauoy Lewis father to Anthonie the Bastard Henrie Cardinall King Alphonse Cardinall Katherine Ferdinand Edward husband to Isabell daughter to Iean Duke of Bragance by whom he had Marie wife to Alexander Farnese Prince of Parma father to Rainuce now Duke of Parma and Katherine wife to Iean the second Duke of Bragance sonne to Theodose Anthonie who died soone after his birth And of Elenor daughter to Philip Archduke of Austria sister to Charles the fift he had Charles who died yoong Marie who died a maide of the age of 56. yeeres 15. Iean the third sonne to Emanuell and of Marie his wife borne the 7. of Iune 1502. he began to raigne the 15. of December 1521. and raigned 36. yeeres he died the 27. of Iune 1557. and married with Katherine sister to Charles the 5. Emperour the 5. of September 1525. by whom he had Alphonse Marie the first wife to Philip the second King of Spaine of whom issued Charles that is dead Katherine Beatrice Emanuell Philip. Iean Prince of Portugall who had by Ieanne daughter to Charles the fift Emperour Sebastien who was King Anthonie 16. Sebastien sonne to Prince Iean borne the 20. of Ianuarie 1554. he began to raigne the yeere 1557. and raigned 21. yeeres he died in the battell against the Moores the 7. of August 1578. being vnmarried 17. Henrie Cardinall and Primat of Portugall sonne to King Emanuell by Marie his wife borne the 16. of Ianuarie 1512. in the yeere 1578. he raigned
same reuenewes which they call the Knights of Christ bearing a red crosse and in the midst a white the which are bound to goe to the warre against infidels to whome Pope Alexander the sixth did since graunt libertie to marrie And their Kings hauing encreased their reuenewes a great part of their Nobilitie affected this order although they haue many times receiued men base and vnworthie A great part of this Realme was sometimes vnited to the crowne of Castill but in the yeere of our Lord one thousand one hundreth and tenne Alphons the sixth being King that part towards the north was separated giuing it in marriage for a certaine tribute to Henrie nephew to the Earle of Burgundie borne at Besanson marrying Therasie his bastard daughter for that comming out of Fraunce with Count Raimond of Tholouse his vncle who was after Earle of Gallicia he went to the warres which the Castillians had against the Moores that possessed Spaine And although some deriue the originall of this Count Henrie from Hungarie others from Aragon and from other places yet this is the most approoued opinion But it hapneth in the originall of Kings as of great riuers whose mouthes are knowne but not their springs Portugall was then obscure vntilled poore and reduced into streight limits yet Alphons Henry sonne vnto this first Earle did greatly augment it by his valiant exploits taking many places from the Moores by force against whom hauing woone a great victorie in a pitched battaile he was proclaimed King by his soldiors in a place called Campo d'Ourique and following his victorie woone Saint Arem and Lisbone remaining peaceable Lord of the Realme he had the title of King confirmed by Pope Alexander the fourth for a certaine small tribute Their first king which succeeded him named Alphonso the thirde did no lesse augment it by another meanes For hauing before his comming to the Crowne married with Matilda Countesse of Boloigne in Picardie being now in possession of the Realme he put her away of his owne proper motion and without cause taking to wife Beatrice bastard daughter to Alphonso the tenth King of Castill surnamed the wise to haue in dowrie with her as indeed he had the kingdome of Algarues So as their lymits being extended as they be at this present and the Moores subdued who kept them in martiall exercise they began since to make war with the Kings of Castill although their Dominions were alwaies greater then the Portugals the which they did so often and with such obstinacie that these nations all of one continent issued from one stocke of one language were enflamed one against the other with so mortall a hatred that it remaineth euen vntill this daie but more with the Portugals then the Spaniards And although these late warres did breede them more honor then profit yet were they not without some vtilitie for that this continuall exercise did maintaine them in discipline and keepe them from delights and idlenes capitall enimies to any State Since which time they haue not remained idle but inured vnto war wonne vnto themselues some honour vnder Iohn the first at the perswasion of Henry his sonne they laboured to take from the Moores certaine places in Affricke the which succeeded happily For in time they became Maisters in Mauritania Tingitana of the townes of Ceute Tanger and Arzilla and this is that auncient Zillia and other places which since they haue either lost or abandoned to the Moores as they did Arzilla being of great charge and small profit They onely maintained and defended the two first and built towards the West Mazagon being seated at the mouth of Hercules straites for holding those places the Moores should not harbor so neere vnto Spaine but they serue as a buckler vnto that Prouince By reason of these euents they extended their hopes yet further so as the Ilands of Madera not farre distant and the Terceres lying from Lishbone 850. miles in the fortie degree of latitude then vntilled and vninhabited were by them discouered and peopled And not yet content especially the said Henry who aspiring to higher matters though with lesse hope then the effect which followed they began sailing through the Ocean to coast Affricke searching new countries and nations So as running along that coast by the space of many yeeres they went on so far that comming to the other Hemisphere they discouered all Ethiopia And although Alphonso the fifth of that name and the twelfth King renewed the war against the Spaniard yet did they not discontinue their nauigation to their great good but in the end hauing made peace with the catholique King Ferdinand in the yeere of our Lord 1479. they had more leisure to think of their new conquest It is worth the obseruing that in capitulations then made it was particularly specified that the peace was concluded for a hundreth yeeres and one naming alwaies a certaine for an vncertaine But this prooued a prophesie for it continued iust a hundreth yeeres one for so much time passed from those wars vnto this which I vndertake to write if the words of the Treatie agree with the qualitie of the euent The Realme was greatly strengthened both with people and wealth and since encreased more when as Ferdinand and Isabell King and Queene of Castill in the yeere 1482. expelled the lewes out of their Dominions being then in great numbers they agreed with Iohn the second successor to Alphonso the fifth and obtained libertie paying eight duckats for euerie person to enter into his countrey vpon condition to depart at a certaine time prefixed and that the King should appoint them shipping to transport them So as vpon those conditions which were not fully obserued there entred about 20000. families and in euery one ten persons at the least the time of their departure expired and not performed many remained slaues others either vnwilling to depart or to loose their goods were baptized as the rest had done that remayned in Castill So as vnder the name of new Christians the greatest part remayned in Portugall vnknowen being vndistinguished and allyed for money with some Noblemen of the countrey they laboured to be admitted for citizens And although according vnto reason of State this manner of peopling were not good being of a nation different in blood and law the which in multiplying might cause an important diuision being many in number yet brought it great profit to the Crowne Since in the time of Emanuell the fourteenth King who began to raigne in the yeere 1495. they continued their new nauigation with greater feruencie and more quiet For the Castillians being growen mightier by meanes of the forces annexed to their Crowne and hauing by new alliances drawen vnto them the loue of the Portugales the one durst no more contend the other suffered them to liue in peace His predecessors hauing many yeeres coasted along Affricke they built a fort at Argin tooke the Islands of Hesperides which now are called
fauour him it seemed the Portugals woulde be pleased to haue a yoong king whom they might breede vp after their owne manner But Anthony Prior of Crato sonne of Lewes who was brother to the saide Henrie sought the Crowne but with more vehemencie saying he was legitimate and no bastard as it was supposed And although he were without lands and disgraced by Henry yet being fauoured by the people he supposed that Henry dying he shoulde in despight of all the rest be crowned Emanuel Philibert Duke of Sauoy although sonne to Beatrice yoongest sister to the Catholique Kings Mother and yoonger then the saide King did not yet leaue off his pretentions but with greater modestie And for that amongst the pretendants straungers the Portugals were more inclined to him then to anie other it was supposed he woulde not let slippe the occasion And this inclination proceeded from the opinion they had that in regarde of the qualitie of his person he shoulde be fitter then anie other to defende them from their enimies and if neede were hee might vigorously resist King Philip if he shoulde stirre both by reason of his valour and for the meanes he had to molest him in his Duchie of Millaine ioyning vnto Piedmont vsing chiefly the alliance and neighbourhoode he had with Fraunce The peoples pretention was not vnconsidered for that the issue male of their Kings failing they pretended the election to belong to them they grounded it that women did neuer succeed but in an interreigne a woman was excluded and Iohn the first the tenth king of this Realme chosen by the people It seemed that this pretention shoulde not onely be contrarie to all pretendant strangers but also might breed a diuision within the Realme Katherine of Medecy widdowe to Henry the second King of Fraunce did likewise pretende saying that she was before all others by an action fetched a farre off but fortified with liuely reasons by her Embassadors The ground was That when as Sanches the second raigned in Portugall whom they called Cappello of the habite which he did vse Alphons his brother married with Matilda then Countesse of Bulloigne in Picardie And that after by the weakenes of Sanches the people with the consent of Pope Honorius the thirde then raigning called in Alphonse to be as tutor and gouernour of the Realme a testimony of the auncient Religion of this nation who euen in temporall matters did flie vnto the Pope And although at his cōming he did but vsurpe yet soone after the King dying without heires the Earle did lawfully inherite the Crowne hauing had before by his French wife some children who vnderstanding her husband to be King and not to returne any more to Bulloigne hauing prepared certaine ships she went to him into Portugall But for that Alphonse being now King did treat a marriage in Castill to haue the Kingdome of Algarues in dower as he after had without the consent of the Pope she was neither seene nor receiued by him So as all the other Portugall Kings which haue succeeded haue drawen their originall from this Alphonse and the children of his Castillian wife The Queenes Embassadours said That all the Kings which had succeeded him and his children had as Bastards vniustly inherited and that the kingdome ought to returne by direct line to the heires of the lawfull children of the said Alphonse and the Countesse of Bulloigne whom they said to be Queene Katherine of Medicy mother to King Henry the third daughter to Laurence of Medicy and of Magdalen of Bulloigne the onely remainder in direct line of that house and heire to that County the which although shee did not then possesse being incorporate by the Kings of Fraunce as a matter of importance seated vpon the limits of Flaunders and England yet they gaue vnto the Queene in recompence the Earledom of Lorangueil which shee now inioyeth They did likewise affirme but with small reason that the Pope did pretend alleadging that the Realme was not onely the spoile of the Cardinall but when as Alphonse who was the second Earle of Portugall obtained of the church the Title of a King hee bound himselfe to pay certaine markes of gold for a Tribute But heere of they made small reckoning These pretentions did much afflict the mindes of Princes and made the people feare some broyles vnderstanding that both the Queene of England was displeased against the Catholike King for the affaires of Ireland and that the King of Fraunce and the Turke were not contented to see King Philip become so mightie conquering a kingdome of so great importance On the other side Philip would not indure that any other but himselfe should become Lord for the neighbourhood of their countries supposing the least inconuenience that could happen was the ciuill warre betwixt the Duke of Bragrance and the Prior. But returning to the Cardinall Henrie being seated in the royall throne although he were of 67. yeeres of age and not healthful yet he looked about him and as it were determined from aboue that Portugall should fall by degrees to his declining hee did not prouide for the state according to the opinion that was conceiued of him but the Realme by reason of their miseries passed remayning as a bodie emptie and afflicted which needed a wise Phisition to restore it But as one mischiefe comes not alone the new King did more torment it for although many supposed that hee being olde a priest and of an exemplarie life hee should lay all passions aside and be more carefull to settle the state of the common wealth then he had found it yet notwithstanding he could not temper himselfe with such disposition as was fit for his yeeres and degree But as it often happens to such as haue beene oppressed who comming to rule seeke reuenge of their enimies euen so did he not imitating the example of Lewis the 12. King of Fraunce who disdained to requite the wrongs done him being Duke of Orleance hee resolued to reuenge the iniuries done him being Cardinal if they may be wel termed iniuries when as Princes be not respected of their inferiors as they ought For being not greatly fauoured by the King his predecessor the ministers and fauorites of his nephewe did not respect him as was fit not conceiuing being so old and Sebastian so yoong that euer he should haue attained to the Crowne By reason whereof he depriued almost all the officers of the court and some of them that did mannage the Kings Treasure of their offices and aduanced his owne seruants The first on whom he discharged the heat of his choler was Peter d' Alcasoua for that he did detest him from the time he was Secretorie and he Gouernor of the Realme during the nonage of Sebastian as also for that he thought to haue reason to punish him hauing beene an actor in these warres and seconded the Kings will and as one of his Chamberlaines had had the greatest charge
rule offring to entreat you perpetuallie not as a King but as a father and brother to you all Whom doe you esteeme him to be to whome this day we giue the empire ouer vs It is the true stocke the lawfull line and the onely plant which remaines of our Kings he is nephew to king Emanuel of famous memorie borne of Lewes his sonne the greatest and firmest pillars that euer Portugall had to him these realmes appertaine by right but if it were not so as it cannot be otherwise yet shoulde we flying the rest cast our selues into his bosome for by that meanes we should haue assured libertie and by the rest a most certaine bondage and tirannie At the end of this speech there was great reioicing and all cried out a King deliuering into his hands the standerd of the citie Emanuel Fonseca pronounced from the windowes these words as they were accustomed to doe Reale Reale for don Anthony king of Portugall the which was accepted by the people with great ioy And hauing made declaration in writing of this acte the Prior returned to the pallace where soone after taking the ordinarie oath to obserue the priuileges and liberties of the realme and all that other princes were woont to doe he dispatched his messengers with letters to all other cities and places commaunding them to sende vnto him to yeelde their obedience He made many offers to the Duke of Bragance and to the Marques of Villa Reale entreating all other Noblemen to come vnto him to consult of matters concerning the realme But the Duke perswaded likewise by the Deputies of the realme to compound with Anthony woulde not do it the Marques went not and fewe others did acknowledge him But Teglio seeing the Prior now become king without his helpe making she we to go from Belem where he remained to Lisbone to kisse his hands and hauing agreed with Diego Lopez de Sequeira captaine of three galleyes that were in the riuer he imbarked himselfe in one of them with the Bishop of Leiria Anthony de Castro Lord of Cascaies Martin Gonzales de Camera Emanuel Teles Barretto Frauncis de Meneses Lewes Caesar purueior of the Arcynal with some others carying with them fortie or fiftie thousand duckats in golde which he had caused to be brought from the minte at Lisbone vsurping them from Iaques de Bard a Florentine merchant who was the owner And in his departure whē most men beleeued they should go to the citie they tooke their course towards the sea and went to Settuual where the rest of the Gouernours remained yet two of the three galleis disobeying their captaines woulde not followe the foremost but went to the citie Teglio being arriued with his galleis at the mouth of the forte of Settuual the guard of the towne woulde not suffer him to enter but kept him off with their cannon being disimbarked a little on the one side he went by land towards the Gouernors to discharge himselfe but he was not receiued nor acknowledged of them as a companion who both in their writings and their speeches with him vsed him as a priuate Gentleman and not as a Gouernour for punishment of that which he had done at Belem and at Anthony his entrie at Lisbone And this was the only thing wherein the Gouernors shewed their authoritie for in all other things they discouered their feare and inconstancie The Prior seeing these men whereof he helde some of them to be his confident friendes to flie to carrie away the money and to ioine themselues with the Gouernors his aduersaries who began to fortifie Settuual discouered plainly that they had intelligence with the Catholique King that they woulde entertaine themselues in that place vntill the galleis of Italy which they vnderstood had beene trimmed at Saint Marie Porte shoulde arriue in those quarters to giue them entrie at Settuual whereby might ensue his ruine for that the Catholique King entring there with a great armie the citie of Lisbone shoulde be in a manner besieged and therefore hauing first imprisoned some that were suspected vnto him and demaunded money in loane from the merchants he resolued with what speed he could to recouer this place either by loue or force induced to make this haste by the proceeding of Tristan Vaz de Vega captaine of the fortresse of Saint Iulian at the mouth of Tagus to whom hauing written he made answere that he coulde not consigne him the castell nor hold it in his name alleaging that he had taken an oath not to deliuer it but to such as had put it into his hands which were the Gouernors so as Anthony reseruing this for a second enterprise hauing hastily and by force assembled the peasants about the citie the artisans slaues and other people gathered togither which in all came not to fifteene hundreth he transported them to the other side of the riuer but before he himselfe would passe he sent Frauncis of Portugal Count of Vimioso to Settuual to treate with the Gouernors and to perswade them to yeelde to his obedience to whom he did likewise write that they shoulde not dishonour and vndoe themselues seeking rather to giue the crowne to a stranger then to him who was their countreyman that they should come vnto him and he would freely forgiue all things But the Gouernors trusted neither to this letter nor to the wordes of the Earle being greatly bounde to the Catholique King whereof some of them as fauorites to king Henry had assisted to the sentences that had beene pronounced against him Therefore consulting with the Embassadors of the Catholique King they resolued to defend themselues vntill the comming of the kings armie the which they expected howerly But this practise succeeded not for the windes were still so contrarie that the galleis coulde not arriue the which the Duke of Bragance considering he woulde not attend but departed The Counte of Vimioso desirous to expell them from thence hauing incensed the people to sedition aided by the guard of Halberdiers of the court he tooke armes and became master of the Porte many ranne armed to the Gouernors lodging threatning with iniurious words to kill them wherewith being feared and amazed not onely the Gouernors but likewise the Embassadors of the Catholique King and all the Nobilitie of the citie which followed Philips faction some fledde secretly out at the windowes some by sea some by land except the Archbishop of Lisbone and Iohn Teglio who onely remained the one trusting in his calling the other in the workes which he had formerly done in fauour of the Prior and in his kinsemen The Embassadors retired themselues the next day into Castill This act in truth was full of compassion for although the Gouernors for their irresolutions and priuate interests deserued punishment yet mens harts were mooued to see these graue olde men in whom not two howres before the roiall authoritie remained fastned to ropes creepe out at windowes to auoide the furie of a
subiect to the impositions and tributes which are paid for the warres where of many of meaner qualitie were exempt He laide the blame of these demands vpon the sinnes of the Realme but much more vpon such fauorites as the King had about him of whom he complained he produced the example of that fatall chaunce which hapned at Tanger to Henry and Ferdinand sonnes to King Iohn the first seeking to make warres against the Moores at the peoples charge who ought in reason to pay rather then Gentlemen inferring thereby that hee could attend no better successe of the action the King now tooke in hand being at their charge who had neuer contributed although the Realme by reason of warres had beene seene in greater necessitie then at that present he concluded beseeching the King to consider better what he did and to imitate the example of his auncestors and not to leaue a woorse of himselfe to his successors This letter which the King read with disdaine freed the Earle and many others from the contribution of money seeking by other meanes but chiefly by the bloud of the poore to supplie their wants And to the end there might be greater plentie of money within the Realme he commanded that the Royals of Castill which before were defended should be now currant valuing them a ninth part more then they were accustomed which many noted as ominous The King began now to draw his men oftner to fielde putting them into squadrons to come to encounters and to counterfaite all that which is acted in warre where he himselfe was often present in danger of his person in the midst of their harquebuzes yet had he neither Captaine nor Sergeant that could instruct them onely one Iohn de Gama who in the habite of an Hermit became a great master of the warre So as notwithstanding the great paine they tooke in this exercise in manner forced hauing neuer seene any thing they remained more ignorant then at the beginning The King gaue himselfe much to hunting accounting it a glory to encounter with the most furious beasts wherein he grew very expert If he went as he did often for pleasure from one place to another either by sea or vpon the riuer of Tagus he thought it a shame to go in calme weather but still attended some storme whereby it seemed that some furious destinie lead him headlong to his end But in the meane space time steales away necessarie prouisions want and all things proceed slowly foreward They must prouide money in Italy to leuie the Italian footemen and to pay the Germaines but the Pepper whereby it shoulde be raised was come but that sommer to Lisbone from whence it should be sent by the merchants ships to Liuorno there to be solde This enterprize the which for that they sought to do it with little money we may tearme vndiscreet was now almost made impossible and Peter D'Alcasoua who was Chamberlaine and had charge of the treasure durst not discouer the defects vnto the King fearing his displeasure if he should now contradict that which before he had allowed He did still temporize with hope that the Catholique King shoulde excuse himselfe from furnishing the men whereunto he was bound vpon colour of sending an armie into Italy against the Turks or for some other pretext the which he greatly desired that the whole blame might fall vpon Phillip neither was he without hope for the exceptions vnder which he had promised made him beleeue that which fell out otherwise In the meane time Mulei Moluck hearing of these preparatiues fearing the Catholique king should ioyne with the Portugals sent wisely vnto him to will him aduise what part of his Territories he pleased to haue the which he would giue to be his friend and confederate The King presently let Sebastian vnderstand his offer aduising that it were a matter of consequence to keepe the Moore in hope and to send vnto him to expound his meaning the which must needs be profitable seeing that practizes are no suspensions of armes whereof there might grow some good effect for possiblie the Moore would neglect his defence or yeeld that quietly which they pretended to take from him by force but this yoong King who knew not how much better an assured peace were then an expected victorie and who desired rather to winne by force then by agreement any place whatsoeuer pressed the Catholique King not to treat any accord with Moluck But Phillip knowing Sebastians designes seeing him neither willing to accord nor able to perfourme the enterprise the which was likely to be broken he laboured to effect it himselfe and seeing sommer now come and neither Italian nor Germaine souldiers in Portugall he made offer vnto him by Iohn de Sylua his Embassadour that if he were not prepared for the enterprise as it was conuenient he woulde furnish both men and shipping so as he should pay the two thirdes of the charges according to the Treatie But forasmuch as this offer was farre off from the marke whereat the King of Portugall shot it was neither heard nor accepted And although the season of the yeare was now farre passed and the preparatiues weake matters being concealed from Sebastian who was abused by his ministers yet he feared nothing but that Phillip should excuse himselfe and not keepe promise on his behalfe which should make him vnable to performe the enterprise whereof he was so desirous so as he laboured to obtaine of him an assured promise of aide without exception of the comming of the Turkes army the which he secretly feared and his ministers greatly hoped for so were their mindes distracted The Catholique King being aduertised heereof seeming vnto him impossible to do any thing that were good either to satisfie or to withdraw himselfe from the promise that he made left it to the iudgement of his Embassador to make offer vnto the King of the fifty galleis lent the fiue thousād foote to be presently imploied if neede were according to the Treatie but he should haue a speciall care not offer them if he did see any impossibilitie to imploie them being vnwilling to hazard his forces alone without such as the King of Portugall was bound to leuie Vpon this offer which the Embassador had made Sebastian being come to himselfe and casting vp his reckonings he found himselfe vnable that yeere to passe into Affrick by reason whereof he caused proclamation to be made that the enterprise should be deferred vntill the next yere Phillip a little before being mooued with the practises of this warre had sent Captaine Frauncis D'Aldana diguised into Affrick to viewe the townes and fortresses vpon the sea coast who being in great danger returned This man he sent to Sebastian who receiuing many fauours he informed him particularly of the state of Affrick And although Aldana made the enterprise more difficult then he supposed yet could he no way discourage him but laying aside that discourse he inquired secretly of him as
thought good to doe the like office to this citie hauing regard vnto the fidelitie whereof it hath alwaies made profession being the chiefe of these Realmes assuring you therwithall that he that shall inherite is no forreine king but a naturall borne as I haue saide before seeing that I am nephew and sonne to your naturall Princes issued of the same bloude and will be alwaies a father to euerie one of you as you shall finde when it shall please God But at this time I will entreate you that with your wisedome and great experience you woulde consider and note wherein I may honour and fauour you not onely to conserue your liberties and priuiledges both ingenerall and particular desiring that all other cities of the Realme shoulde vnderstande the same whereof I praie you to giue them notice being requisite that euerie one shoulde know the loue and affection which I beare to all and it shall be iust that in knowing it you conforme your selfe to that which is the will of God whose iudgements and determinations no man may resist but we ought to beleeue that what he determines is for the best So as trusting that both this citie and the rest when time shall require will doe that whereunto they are bound I haue nothing to say but that besides the feeling which I haue had of miseries past I haue beene in particular grieued for the losse of so great numbers of the Nobilitie and Commons of this Realme whereof that battaile was the cause And therefore I require you to aduise what I may do for those that remaine yet slaues and write vnto me for although I both haue and daily had that care I haue thought fit and couenient yet shall I be glad to vnderstande your aduise that all thinges conuenient might bee performed for their deliuerie and rest assured that whatsoeuer shall concerne you I will deale in it with the loue of a father as you shall know more particularlie by the effects when as occasion shall serue to make triall thereof the which you shall vnderstande by Christopher de Mora to whom I referre you The Catholique king sent this Letter by the saide Mora to be deliuered to the Magistrate of the Chamber who going for that intent presented it vnto them But being troubled they doubted that in receiuing thereof they shoulde offende against the Crowne so as refusing it they willed him to take it with him and deliuer it to the King the which Mora denying it remained still with them vnopened And least they shoulde be ignorant of the contents he drewe a copie out of his bosome and read it vnto them publikely dispersing sundrie copies throughout the citie The orignall was by the Vereadures carried to the king This did smally further Philips affaires but rather hinder him and was by the wisest both of Spaine and Portugall and also by some of the Kings Counsell helde as a remedie not fitting the Portugals humour who generally hating the Castillians being newe and rude in this matter it was not probable they shoulde yeelde vpon a simple Letter At this time there came intelligence that he who had the charge of Embassadour of Portugall was not onely liuing in Alcazerquiuir although sore hurt but that the Cheriffe had released him was comming with the bodie of King Sebastian to Ceuta and from thence within fewe daies being at Christmas in the yeere 1578 they vnderstoode he was arriued at Ciuill his comming was by the best acquainted with the affaires of Portugall held verie profitable for returning to his charge he seemed more sufficient then anie other to treate of so weightie a cause being indued besides his good iudgement with many other good parts necessarie for the mannaging of such a busines For besides that he had good experience of King Henrie his disposition and the humour of the Portugals he was verie pleasing vnto them it may be for that he was of the house of Sylua who being verie noble in Portugall passed into Castill during the controuersies betwixt king Iohn the first and the master of the Auis and being borne of a Portugall mother they helde him for their countreyman Besides that with the fauour of King Sebastian he was married in Portugall with Phillippa de Silua heire to Aluaro de Silua Earle of Portalegra Lord Steward of the Kings house and one of the principall Noblemen of the Realme But whilest that euerie man expected his present departure from Ciuill to Portugall the King called him to Court saying that he woulde first instruct him by mouth of his intentions and of the present occurrents In the meane time the Duke of Ossuna arriued within the Realme who seeming to be sent onely to performe complements with the king he was lodged and roially entertained at the charge of the Court where hauing deliuered his simple legation he went to Settuuall to visite Magdalen Girone his sister widow to George d' Alencastro Duke of Auero but hee returned sodainly making shewe he had newe commission to treate of the succession wherewith king Henrie was greatly discontented being vnwilling to haue the presence of a personage so qualified on the behalfe of Philip as it were a witnes of his actions the which did likewise displease all the Portugals the rather for that with Mora he began to solicite the King to declare Philip successour of the Realme shewing vnto him formerly by many reasons that his title was iust Nowe did King Henrie at the great intreatie of his subiects resolue to set the best order he could touching the question of succession and to content them For this cause remaining greatly in suspence hauing consulted the matter with fewe but of his greatest fauorites they concluded after much counsell infinite opinions and many disputations that it was not conuenient at that time to declare any one Prince The reason was that the neerest heire vnto the Realme they supposed to be the Catholique King whom they hated most and therefore sought by all meanes possible to flie his commād thinking nothing more fit to effect it then to protract the nomination of the Prince not meaning to specifie any For naming any other they shoulde procure his indignation against them and giue him occasion or his heires that should succeed him to attempt an action better grounded whereas by delaying it there should remaine vnto them at the least this weake hope that the Catholique king although yoonger yet mortall might die before olde King Henry which hapning they shoulde be freed from the Castillians and then shoulde succeed as it is said the Duke of Sauoy of whom they had no such feare but woulde more willingly yeeld to his subiection The King supposed that Katherine Dutches of Bragance preceaded all other pretendents except the Catholique King aided as it may be by his owne naturall inclination he conuerted all his thoughts in her fauour and if it were possible to giue her the crowne writing to the vniuersitie
strange grounde to the dishonour of so many kings woulde come by direct line to the succession of the Realme offering to prooue by writing out of the auncient Registers of Fraunce and by the auncient possession of the Earle of Bulloigne that she was lineally descended from Robert sonne to king Alphonso the thirde and of the Countesse Matilda his first and lawfull wife and that from that time to this all the descendents of Beatrice the second wife of Alphonso haue vniustly reigned from whom all the pretendents to the succession drawe their beginnings and therefore they coulde haue no better interest then their predecessors King Henry seemed nowe more colde to determine the question of succession then the importance of the cause and the shortnes of his life required He was greatly pressed by the people who be naturally hard to please seeing his slow proceedings complained by words and writings dispersed without authors and were well content their griefes should come to the kings eares They inferred that the losse of the warre of Affricke partly restored by his comming to the Crowne was nowe reuiued seeing their hopes that he shoulde preuent their imminent dangers succeeded vainely They complained that the time which shoulde be wholie imploied to decide the succession was spent in accidentall things contrarie to their dutie hauing no other care but to drawe into question such as the king hated to search by iustice things of small moment to borrowe money of the merchants to redeeme the Portugals that were in Affricke to treate of newe impositions to the oppression of the people and such like some whereof as the redemption of prisoners and that which concerns iustice they could not reiect as euill they blamed the time and the meanes that was spent in them Passing from this discourse hauing as it were a desire to speake slaunderously they touched the ministers of iustice to the quicke inferring they had corrupt consciences that the poore were persecuted the rich fauoured that all punishments were pecuniarie or barbarous expresly inuēted to molest the poore innocents giue autority to the rich culpable who are seldome punished They shewed againe how much a briefe decision of the succession did import and that it was no sound aduise to cite the pretendents assemble the States being tedious matters alleaging that if the king to receiue the scepter had no neede of these things neither had his successour but that he ought to decide this cause by himselfe with the aduise of learned and confident Doctors and according to that which he shoulde finde conuenient treate the accordes and capitulations with the greatest libertie of the Realme he coulde giuing contentment to the excluded and making of many members one body thereby to auoide the bottomlesse gulfe of ciuill warres And in truth this was the wisest and most Christian resolution of all others They did not allow of the making of Gouenours tearming them bodies without a head saying they coulde not after the kings decease effect any good iudging there woulde be amongst them diuersitie of opinions the people woulde be altered the great woulde disobey and euery one of the pretendents woulde call himselfe king they did foretell the Realme woulde be deuided in factions that one would follow one party the other an other party in the meane time the strongest woulde preuaile by armes The most aduised feared the forces of the Catholique king being neere and alwaies readie and although some trusting in his modestie beleeued after the death of Henrie he shoulde peaceably attend the sentence yet such as more practised in the affaires of the worlde knewe that the encrease of kingdomes had neither end nor measure that they be neuer giuen or taken away by the opinion of Doctors they feared most of all they termed it a diuelish temptation of those that perswaded Henry to take a wife or once to speake of it saying they were not woorthie that God shoulde nowe worke miracles for the loue of them The king mooued with these reasons which were partly deliuered vnto him began more vehemently then accustomed to treate of these affaires And forasmuch as the Prior hauing taken his oath to obey the Gouernours was retired to Almada a citie vpon the riuer of Tagus right against Lisbone where he made his vsual residence the king doubting that remaining there and comming sometimes to the citie as he did he might encounter with the Duke of Bragance and that as concurrents in one action and competitors in present there might growe some perillous contention the which was doubted hearing there was hatred betwixt them for this cause he commanded the saide Prior to retire himselfe to his said Priorie of Crato the which he did and likewise to the Duke though somewhat later to withdrawe himselfe The Prior was there cited not without permission to come personally to the court but to sende his Attourneies wherewith being grieued he did write vnto the king thanking him that he had admitted him to plead and complaining that he was in a manner banished He said that he ought not to forbid him to assist in his owne cause when as the Duke of Ossuna Embassador for the Catholique king and the Duke of Bragance were present at their pleas For besides the discommoditie hee shoulde haue in deliuering his reasons whosoeuer shoulde see him banished from the Court whilest they treated of so weightie a cause woulde suppose him so farre in the princes disgrace as he shoulde not dare to maintaine his title But all this preuailed not for the king woulde neuer suffer him to depart from Crato and although he did obey with difficultie going often from place to place yet would he neuer admit him to Court The first processe the king put vppon the file was touching the satisfaction the Prior pretended to giue for his legitimation wherein he had secretly all the pretendents opposite desiring to haue it tried first as indeed it ought to be for vpon proofe of his legitimation he was either to be admitted or excluded from the succession And forasmuch as Princes doe commonly execute that carefully which they do affect for this reason and to the ende the sentence he shoulde pronounce thereupon shoulde remaine firme he had obtained secretly at Rome a briefe from the Pope by the which he gaue him authoritie absolutely to iudge the cause of legitimation without any forme or processe according to the truth thereof So as hauing strictly examined the witnesses he allowed some reasons and reiected others and duely weighed the processe Finally he came to sentence framed by vertue of the Popes owne motion wherein was reported in a manner the whole processe The deposition of the witnesses which were fowre two conuinced to be false for they recanted confessing they had beene suborned by Anthony and the other two were suspected being neere kinsemen and disagreeing betwixt themselues The words of the testament of Lewes father to the saide Prior were annexed wherein
his disfauour retaining still the right of armes by reason whereof in this suspence he forbare still to giue the Nuncio his answere vntill that being better assured of the disposition of Henry he made answere that his interest being so apparant and the King so well enclined there needed not any mediation the which if it were requisite he woulde accept of this office of the good zeale of his holines The indisposition of Henry and the disquietnes of his minde did much afflict him so as he resembled a lampe neere extinct the which sometimes yeelds a great light sometimes seemes quite out They feared he shoulde die of an accident which hapned and therefore his Counsell thought good not to attende his death for the declaration of the Gouernours but to put them as it were in possession the which was partly executed For the King being halfe dead they brought vnto him the coffer wherein the Rowle was kept with the names of the Gouernours in the great Church of Lisbone and hauing opened it they founde them to be George Dalmeda archbishop of Lisbone Frauncis de Sada first groome of the Kings chamber Iean Tello Iean Mascaregnas and Diego Lopez de Sosa President of the Counsell of Iustice of the citie who tooke their oathes to gouerne according to the lawes of the Realme and to the limited commission which Henry had particularly set downe This diligence bredde aswell in the peoples mindes as in the Catholique Kings a iealousie of the kings death and the rather for that two daies before they woulde not suffer any to see him supposing they woulde keepe it secret vntill they had taken counsell put the Gouernours in possession and prepared for defence And although it were presently knowne that the King was yet liuing and so amended that he had almost recouered his former health yet the generall opinion being that he coulde not liue long all mens mindes were in suspence in this Realme THE FOVRTH BOOKE The Contents of the fourth Booke The Castillians and Portugals discourse vpon the state of Portugall the vehemencie of the plague the estate of Almerin the death of King Henry the Regency of the Gouernours the practise of Anthonie to be chosen King the Testament of Henry the diligence of the Catholique King to vnderstande if he might with a safe conscience make warre the election of the Duke of Alua as generall of the enterprise and the priuileges the Catholique King offered if they woulde deliuer him the Realme THe Catholique King in the meane time kept his armie togither in Spaine with greater paines and more charge then he had done else where for the countrey being not greatly fertile he was enforced to fetch victuals from other parts being then about the ende of Nouember 1579. there was then no assuraunce of things whereby they might either dismisse their armie or imploy it For although king Henry was yet liuing and well affected yet the Portugals being most obstinate against the Castillians he desired not to liue any longer doubtfull of the succession as well for the charge as for the euent and therefore he ceased not continually to importune Henry to declare him Successor obiecting many reasons why he was bound to do it and propounding many inconueniences which woulde follow not doing it the which was spoken in doubtfull tearmes whereby it seemed he woulde make the equitie of his cause apparant by force And although this entreatie seemed somewhat to threaten yet did it nothing displease Henry suffering it expresly to bee published that the people might beleeue he was forced to this declaration The whole Realme was discontented to see Henry dying the Catholique King armed and the small remainder of time spent in matters of light importance whereof their discourses and opinions were as diuers as they were different in passions The Priors partisans being in a manner all of base qualitie hauing their reason darkned and not setled in opinion saide that he was legitimate and that the Crowne appertained vnto him but that the king of his absolute authoritie hating him woulde depriue him and that all his fauorites did concurre in this resolution For the King hauing alwaies persecuted Anthony by their aduise they feared that he comming to raigne woulde take such reuenge as they deserued and therefore preferring their owne securitie before the libertie of their countrey they woulde take the Realme from him and giue it to a stranger Many others alleaged that although hee were a bastard yet they ought to giue him the Realme being the neerest allied of the bloud royall Others in whom hatred to their neighbours preuailed more then any other inclination saide that whosoeuer had interest to the Realme yet shoulde they by no meanes giue it to the Catholique King but rather come to armes vaunting themselues to be valiant They added moreouer that they woulde demaund aide from Fraunce and England whereof they were assured and hauing them they doubted not to seate a King at their pleasures There were some yet fewe but of iudgement who comparing the forces of Portugall with Castill founde they coulde not flie the yoke of the Catholique King and although with great griefe yet they hoped it might prooue a gentle amitie and that these Realmes vnited togither Portugall might reape great profit by the commerce traffique Many spake after their owne humors saying that Anthony leauing the habite of Saint Iean shoulde marrie with the daughter of the Duke of Bragance and being vnited togither they needed not to feare Others gaue out that the Catholique King woulde be contented to giue his seconde sonne to the Portugals for their king to be brought vp amongst them the which they shoulde accept for were it whosoeuer it were sufficient to haue a King alone And some say that Henry laboured to effect this but Philip soone resolued him saying that he coulde not do it but to preiudice the Prince his eldest sonne fearing by this meanes to leaue a seminarie of diuision in Spaine betwixt his descendents The perswasion of the Catholique Kings Agents with the Nobility were of great effect by reason whereof there were few Gentlemen amidst this diuersitie of opinion but either did willingly encline to the said King or corrupted held their peace and retired themselues from Court auoiding all occasion to declare themselues Of the fiue Gouernours chosen three were drawne to the Catholique Kings deuotion and although we should not be amazed to see the common people who by custome inconstant and without iudgement holde the woorser part yet did it breed a woonder in many that the Portugals in generall euery one according to his qualitie framed in their mindes a resolution contrarie to that which by reason they ought to haue done in a matter of so great importance in the which they should haue taken greater consideration For that some discoursed without passion that the Nobilitie accustomed to be respected of the King shoulde flie the obedience of the Catholique King being
suffered it may be of God for our sinnes proceeded not from any corruption of the Aire but from infection and was brought into the Realme by men and merchandise from countries infected for the citie being a great part vnwalled and of great traffique it could not easily be guarded The naturall inclination of the aire the filch of the citie their feeding of fish which all generally do vse and the ill order nay the great disorder of the magistrate of the health in separating the sicke from the whole and in all other things touching his charge did helpe to increase it The suddennes wherewith it did infect and kill in a manner all those that did frequent the sicke as fire doth in powder strooke a great terrour in the citizens their remedies and diets were most vncertaine for although that many did phisicke themselues diuersly and were gouerned in sundrie manners yet there died infinite numbers of all qualities experience did teach that the application of lenitiue things the drinking of Vnicornes horne and the Bezars stone were most soueraigne remedies yet to manie it did no good The greatest part of the Nobilitie and of such as had ability to do it retyred themselues to their gardaines and farmes in the countrey where although the whole countrey were infected yet did they seeme to liue more assured or at the least out of the infection from the horrible spectacle of dead bodies which were howerly seene in the citie where the mortalitie grew so great that there was nothing to be seene but Beeres with dead bodies for the buriall whereof the churchyards being full they were forced to vse the streets and fieldes At this time were assembled in the citie of Almerin where the king remained all the Deputies of the Realme being called thither The citie of Lisbone made election of Emanuell of Portugall and Diego Salema who went not but were reiected of the King as seditious and depriued of their offices in whose place they made choise of Phoebus Moniz and Emanuel de Sosa pacheco The said Salema was not beloued of the king for that before as Vereador of the citie of Lisbone he saide vnto the king that they vnderstoode he went about not onely to iudge to whom the Realme appertained but also to make a composition the which he ought not to doe without hearing the people whereunto the King hauing answered that the people was not capable of this matter he replied that he woondered the king shoulde iudge this people incapable whom he had held to be most sufficient to raise him to the crowne wherewith Henry was greatly mooued This alteration of Deputies ministred matter of discourse vnto the worlde for it seemed the King had declared himselfe against the people and that not accepting their election of Deputies he woulde drawe by force from the States what he pleased but such as knewe the true reason and howe that Emanuell and all those of the house of Portugall deserued in this case to bee repelled commended this act These were suspect forasmuch as Iohn of Portugall Bishop of Guarda brother to the saide Emanuell alwaies esteemed more then he was woulde not onely precead his equals but did scarce beare any respect vnto the Cardinall before he was king whereof grew a great hart burning so as the Cardinall to debase him hauing drawne foorth a certaine information of his ill behauiour libertie of life and ill gouernment in his Bishopricke sent it to Rome so as the Bishop as it were forced went to his holines to purge himselfe Hee was much grieued with this crosse for passing by the court of Castill the Catholique King being infourmed of his voyage woulde not suffer him to visite him although he were entreated so as now although the Cardinall were come vnto the Crowne their hatred continued and hauing no other meanes of reuenge then to oppose himselfe to his resolutions seeing him enclined to giue the Realme to the Catholique king he laboured all he coulde to let it by meanes whereof he seemed at one instant to be reuenged of two kings for the effecting whereof there conspired togither the Bishop Emanuell his brother Franncis earle of Vimioso his nephew for the cōtrarieties that both Alphonse his father and he had with the Cardinall with other their kinsfolkes and friendes fauouring Anthony Prior of Crato they resolued to make him king trusting to the peoples humors But King Henry hauing discerned the equitie of the Catholique kings cause resolued as it is said to giue him the Realme hauing assembled the States he sent Paule Alphonse a doctor in whom he reposed great trust to Villa Vizosa whereas the Duke and the Dutchesse of Bragance remained giuing them to vnderstande that finding the succession of the Realme to appertaine to Philip and that they were vpon the point to pronounce sentence in his fauour he did aduertise them in time to the end they might make their composition with him But hauing made small account of this aduertisement interpreting it otherwise they did not embrace the occasion the which was likewise represented vnto them by the Catholique king In this time the Estates were begun in the pallace of Almeryn the ninth of Ianuary in the kings presence who being very sicke was brought in his chaire whereas Anthony Pignero bishop of Leiria an eloquent Orator made the oration enriched with a goodly stile saying That the Kings thoughts were bent to procure the generall good of al Christendome the preseruation and encrease of our holie Catholique faith and the peace and tranquillitie of his subiects for the effecting of that which concernes his charge to follow the examples of kings his predecessors progenitors conformeable to the actions of his life passed considering with sound iudgement great experience wise discourse how much it doth import the generall good to declare during his life to whom the lawfull succession of the Realme did appertaine he did apply all his care to the decision of that cause with so great study and zeale that not suffering himselfe any way to be interrupted with the many graue and extraordinary affaires nor by the trouble of his long infirmity he had with the helpe of God brought it to that estate that it might speedily be declared as they had required and ought generally to wish for And seeing the finall decision of the cause was brought to that issue it seemed conuenient to the king to assemble the States and to communicate vnto them some points of great importance for the seruice of God and the good and quiet of these Realmes as they shoulde vnderstande by that which shoulde be particularly deliuered vnto them by his commandement He exhorted them that vsing the my steries which had been presented lately to al faithfull Christians with praiers sacrifices workes of deuotion and charitie they shoulde dispose themselues to receiue the light of that heauenly wisedome which God doth alwaies impart to such as frame
with money although Balthasar de Faria Deputie of Barcellos the Pryor of Saint Steuens and the Bishop of Parma euerie one apart did offer money to such as wanted that the assembly might not be dissolued yet the Deputies vnfurnished would not accept thereof not willing to be bound in their owne proper names for that their cities were bound to furnish them Besides in this assembly the opinions were diuers few inclined to fauour the pretention of the Catholike king many knew not what to resolue a great part were affected to the Prior but all in generall feared the Gouernors mistrusted their proceedings so as besides the aduertisements they sent daily vnto them they did solicite the execution making new demaunds pressing them aboue al to discharge the soldiers They demanded a copie of the authority to gouerne left them by King Henrie the words of his will which concernes the point of succession the which were wholy deliuered vnto them his wil was made 8. moneths before cōtained these words Seeing at the time of my will making I haue no descendents directly to succeed to the Crowne of these realmes and haue called my nephewes which may pretend and haue put the matter of succession in Iustice I do not at this time declare who shall be my successor but leaue it vnto him to whom by right it shall appertaine him I doe declare my heire successor except that before my decease I shall name him that hath this interest And therefore I command all men within these my realmes of what quality soeuer that presētly after I or the iudges appointed shal haue named him to acknowledge him for heir lawful successor so to obey him There followed many other words in recōmendation of iustice religiō but they serued not to this purpose And although his wil contained these words yet they say the King at his death would haue resourmed it declared the Catholike king successour of the realme But the Gouernors desirous to hold the gouernment for a time in their own hands did diuert him saying That whether he made any declaration or not no other then the Catholike king could succeed both by law force that it was not expediēt to nominate him to the end that the realme might with greater aduantage capitulate agree with him Many supposed that they did not disswade the king from this declaration so much for these reasons as fearing it would breed som popular sedition to their hurt being held as autors of the said declaration The limitation which he had left to the Gouernors contained that they could not create Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Bishops nor Archbishops nor giue any commandery nor reuenue which passed 125. duckats But in matters of war reuolutions they might doe giue any thing with the aduise of the councel not otherwise The deputies being satisfied with these writings whilest they debated the reasons of their pretended election Stephen Lopez Doctor deputy of Portalegré spake publikely amongst them who hauing shewed how fit it were to giue God thanks for the quiet they now enioyed said it was not necessary to continue so many deputies stil together with so much trouble so great charge that they should be reduced vnto few the rest returne to their houses And for as much as they were aduertised that the Catholique King began to arme they should surcease from the cause of succession vntill the said King had dismissed his forces and the preparatiues for war he had made for by that meanes the free libertie to treat of the cause and for the pretendents to alleage their interest was taken away That by the suspension of the cause they shall discouer the Catholique Kings disposition in laying aside armes If he doe it it shall breed these good effects That in the meane time they shall haue leisure to prouide for things necessarie to gather in the fruits of the earth and the pretendents shall liue in peace and quiet if he refuse it which we ought not to beleeue of so Christian a Prince then shall they be satisfied and both the States and the pretendents vnited in one bodie may the better defend themselues and when as all things were quietly setled then to determine the cause disabling notwithstanding before all things the saide Catholique King who vsing force when as iustice is offered him for being King of these Realmes And this he said was the disposition of the lawe that in the meane time they should commaund the Pretendents to the Crowne to make their residence in diuers places the one at Elues and the other at Begia as fronter townes swearing not to attempt any thing one against the other The reasons of this Doctor as a man of small account were not followed but the councell being resolued with two others of the States to send six Deputies to Almerin to treat of matters of importance with the Gouernours Thither they sent them with instructions different from this fourme of speech videlicet that the Gouernours should passe to Saint Arem and there make their residence to take a view what armes men and munition the citie of Lisbone had for their defence to supply what wanted to take notice what Captaines be appointed in the fortresses vpon the riuer of Lisbone and being suspected or not valiant to place others with men and other necessaries That they should send armes to all cities of the Realme and traine vp their men with exercise thereof that they should beseech the Pope by his Ambassadours to perswade all the pretendents to take the course of iustice and lay aside armes vpon paine to loose the interest they pretend requiring that Emanuell de Portugal purueyor of the fortresses of the Realme might be restored to the same office whereof the King had suspended him and that they should do the like to Diego Salema and to Aluaro de Morais in their offices in the Chamber of Lisbone And for that they found themselues tobee vnfurnished they would haue all the ships vessels staied throughout all the ports of the realme for the conducting of things necessarie for the war The Gouernors made but a cold answere to these demands as they had done before to all others saying that being matters of so great importāce they would consider of them first then aduertise them what should be done The Cheriffe had as it is said before in the life of King Henrie and at the instance of the Catholique King deliuered the Duke of Barcellos who hauing passed the streight to returne into Portugall being arriued at Gibralter where as afterwardes at Saint Lucar the Duke of Medina Sidonia Lord of those places did him great honour by meanes whereof he spent sometime in sports At this time the newes comming of King Henries death the Duke of Medina thought it a matter importing the Catholique King to deteine the saide Duke of Barcellos as eldest sonne to
cloth of golde vnto the Cathedrall church the streetes being richly hanged were full of people who made shewe of great ioy for the Kings arriuall where hauing done his deuotion hee went in the same sortvnto the pallace accompanied with all the nobilitie on foote This realme within the space of two yeeres had as a man may say fiue kings a thing seldome or neuer happened in any other place and it seemed that God in so short a time had thus altered the state of things for the peoples punishment for all of them wasted their poore subiects Sebastian by his rashnes Henry by his irresolution the gouernours by feare and their priuate interest Anthonie by tyrannie and Philip by armes But when all was in a manner quiet he entred this citie the proper seate of their kings It was supposed the sorrowes and troubles passed shoulde now be conuerted into ioy and quietnes but for that it is an equall punishment to a people either to haue tyrants ruling by force or to make a bad election of gouernours The Portugals were scourged with this last rod desiring rather to be commanded by Anthonie being of so small might and with all other disgraces that proceeded from him then by the great power of Philip impatient to see him so slacke in deuiding amongst them the dignities commaunderies and reuenues of the crowne whereby they grew out of hope euer to draw such recompences from the Court of Castill as they had vsually drawen from that of Portugal And although he had giuen vnto Frauncis de Sada sometimes gouernour the title of Earle of Matosignos to Ferrant de Norogna that of Lignares which his father enioyed made as it is said Christopher de Mora one of his chamber and established Peter d'Alcasoua in his office of Chamberlaine contrarie to the decree of king Henry wherein although the king of himselfe were well inclined and resolued to dispatch euery one with greater liberalitie then the kings of Portugall had euer done yet this distribution according to the new decree appertaining to the Councell of state of Portugall wherein as it is said their opinions being diuerse and the respects of hatred and loue diuers nothing was resolued and the abundance of petitions caused these delaies for that euerie one either iustly or without cause demaunded recompence so as the whole realme did not seeme sufficient to content them the which being ill considered by many they said he would stay from giuing vntill he were assured of the Ilands and of Anthonies person But the king finding that these difficulties and the slacknes in proceeding grew by the excessiue number of Counsellors resolued according to the custome of former kings to referre the dispatch of such as demaunded recompence vnto two persons alone the which were Anthony Pignero Bishop of Leiria and to Christopher de Mora It may be seeming vnto him that these two amongst the other officers were most free from all priuate respects the Bishop for that he was neere his graue by reason of his age and infirmitie although of a sounde iudgement and without kinsemen and Mora being a creature of the kings bredde in Castill and helde for vertuous and fearing God The estate of the Terceraes grew daily woorse with whom all trafficke was interdict there was newes that this people being verie obstinate called in forraine succours resoluing in no sort to obey Philip They vnderstood that Peter Baldes was arriued and that the Kings letters with the rewarde he had carried for that nation were not receiued but contemned By reason whereof the King desirous to subdue them before the ende of this sommer and iudging the enterprise easie for that they had no trained soldiers armed certaine ships and furnished them with soldiers vnder the conduct of Lopo de Figueroa who staied not long before he departed with commission to attempt with Baldes to become master of the Ilands Baldes lay nowe about the Ilands expecting the Indian fleete his marriners had often both by day and night landed with their boates to steale grapes which were then ripe drawing sometimes neere the rockes vpon the which the Portugals had planted behinde a small rampire three or fower iron peeces they parlied often with them the one not fearing the other Peter de Baldes finding the Portugals carelesnes and being aduertised that some within the Ilands amongst a great multitude were well affected to the Catholique king had often resolued to sende some men on lande to the end that such as followed the kings partie who were saide to lie in the mountaines might ioine with them and altogither set vpon the citie of Angra or at the least so fortifie themselues at land as they shoulde not be repulsed But for as much as this resolution with so small a troupe was dangerous and against the Kings commission the which knowing well he did not execute yet hauing intelligence that Lopo de Figueroa was to be sent from Lisbone to vndertake this enterprise with a great number of men who being arriued hee shoulde be commaunded to obey he did confidently beleeue that at his comming either by loue or by force he woulde be master of this Iland and winne that honour whereunto he aspired So as such force hath the desire of honour hauing ill measured his forces against the Kings commaundement he made haste rashly to trie whether the resolution which hee had formerly conceiued woulde succeed well whereunto he was likewise perswaded by some of the Iland who as vnskilfull had their wils more ready then their power So as earely on Saint Iames his day in the morning hauing shipped in a manner all his soldiers in their boates hee sent them to lande whereas the marriners had beene accustomed to go betwixt Angra and Praia the which they call the house of Salga where hauing founde small or no resistance they landed easily and the Portugals who had the guarde of this artillerie fearefully fledde away The Castillians being now become masters thereof began to builde a small rampier of stone to the ende they might holde a more firme footing on lande and retire such as followed the Catholique kings partie but they had no time for the inhabitants of Angra hearing the Castillians were landed had giuen the allarum by bels and other great noise so as many of their stoutest issued foorth to skirmish and although they did no matter of importance many returning terrified or hurte yet did they keepe the enimie from fortifying who remaining in that place from the morning vntill afternoone there went not any one Portugall vnto them for although there were some disposed thereunto yet durst they not distrusting both the one and the other being chiefly terrified by the example of Iohn de Betancour one of the principals of that place who hauing conspired with aboue a hundreth citizens vpon a certaine day to runne armed through the citie and proclaine King Philip he supposed with his authoritie and the
the which is the more woorthie of admiration for that the diligence the King vsed to finde him out was admirable for all Iudges all Captaines and all soldiers were carefully imploied And although they had sometimes aduertisement of the place of his aboad and did follow him in a manner by his foote yet could they neuer finde him Ierom Mendosa with the help of Emanuel of Portugal in whom it was likelie that Anthony should trust treating an agreement laboured much to speake with him But although some of his familiar friends came vnto him somtimes at Alanquer somtimes at Vidigueira with hope they should meete yet did hee neuer discouer himselfe vnto them but the sleight execution of the punishment inflicted vpon such as did cōceale him did greatly preiudice their search for many therby did boldly receiue him The Duke of Alua his officers in the end of Lent had like to haue surprised him in Lisbon where the Duke had so many spies corrupted so many of his friends that it seemed vndoubtedly he shoulde fall into his hands but when as with greatest heate he shoulde haue pursued it he grew cold For vnderstanding that the king helde some regard of Mendoza his practise who with doubtfull hopes gaue him to vnderstande that the weeke before Easter the Prior woulde cast himselfe at the Kings feete hee feared to amaze him but the said Mendoza laboured in vaine For as it happens to him that feares Anthony distrusting all men performed nothing of what he promised neither went hee to any person where hee had appointed so as there neither followed the effect that was expected but they lost all hope to do any good Yet was it apparant that the affection which this nation bare vnto him was of great force for although that fortune preuailed in many more then faith yet in his afflictions and hauing so great an imposition laide vpon his person there was neuer any one amongst so many in whom he must of necessitie trust that euer sought to betraie him for hope of recompence although some laboured to saue themselues amongst which was Edward de Castro And therefore hee went safely throughout all the portes of the sea he was at Lisbone as it is saide where the king himselfe remained not finding meanes to imbarke some of his men being surprised hee went to Settuual where by the helpe of a woman hee hired a Flemmish ship for sixe hundreth crownes with the helpe of a religious man of the order of Saint Frauncis and with tenne of his faithfullest seruants he imbarked by night and so went to Caleis where wee may truely saie that God had not yet withdrawne his hand frō punishing of this nation and that this was as a scourge for by reason of the affection this people bare vnto him it was necessarie to keepe this people in awe with garrisons to the great hurt and ruine of the subiects Now was come the yeare 1581. at what time they expected the ships from the Indies Brasil Saint Thomas Cape Vert all other new found landes the which staied somewhat long and put them in some feare being looked for with greater desire then euer anie were Some feared they woulde not come others wished they shoulde come many helde opinion they shoulde willingly staie at the Terceres and from thence go into England the which if they should not willingly yeeld vnto touching vnaduisedly at the Ilands they shoulde bee forced thereunto by the Ilanders They were wished for both for the riches they carried as to vnderstande by them howe the people of those parts were addicted to the obedience of the Catholique king whereof many doubted Such as helde opinion they shoulde safely arriue at Lisbone saide that the Indies and other prouinces coulde not maintaine themselues without Spaine and shoulde bee forced to yeelde obedience to whomsoeuer that shoulde be Lorde of Portugall that they needed not feare the Terceres although they had spoiled some ships which they had taken or that had anchored there of their owne free will yet now the Castillian armie being master at sea vpon their discouerie they woulde conduct them to Lisbone not suffring them to approch the lande Such as supposed they woulde not come saide that the saide ships were departed from Lisbone in the yeere 1580. after King Henries death during the Gouernours raigne and that Lewes de Taide Earle of Toghia Viceroy of the Indies knowing there was a space-gouernement with likelihood of warre woulde attende the euent without yeelding obedience to any for that he woulde then shew it when he had intelligence who were king to be the more acceptable vnto him or hoping that amidst these tumults there woulde something remaine to his share But if notwithstanding he were resolued to sende them hee woulde appoint a captaine of his owne making and conformeable to his owne will with commission to obey him to whom he were most affected and that it were hard to iudge whom he wished most to be King besides that Emanuel de Melo being captaine Generall of the same armie when it departed from Portugall being a deuoted seruant to the Prior and had made shew to be of his faction it was likely that if he returned had any intelligēce of the Priors being in England the which he might easily vnderstande at the Ilands that he woulde saile thither the which if he coulde not performe in the same ships hee woulde then lande in the Ilands and after saile in other boats whether hee pleased with hope of gaine and bootie And although it were true that the Indians coulde not maintaine themselues yet Fraunce and England might more aboundanly furnish them and with greater profite then Portugall But for as much as in discoursing of matters which depends vpon an others will we cannot cōsider al causes of their errors a matter priuate to the diuine knowledge it fell out in an other manner then had beene discoursed For the Earle Viceroy of the Indies hauing by the same ships receiued letters from the Catholique King who enformed him of the equitie of his cause and of his intent with large promises whereunto and by the meanes of others which he receiued from the gouernors he gaue credite preferring them before such as he had receiued from Anthonie resolued to obey the King so as the ships departed and being arriued neere to the Terceres they came sailing without euer discouering of the kings armie for that Baldes discouraged with his ill successe at the Ilands could find no fit place to encounter thē True it is that after they had remained a whole day amongst those Ilands they were encountred by a French Barke sent from the Terceres who entreated the Captaines to go to Angra The Portugals demaunded the state of the realme that they might thereby know howe to gouerne themselues but for that there were none but marriners they coulde neither perswade dissemble nor speake the truth but contradicting themselues those of the fleete
it fearing that the king of Spaine by reason of the newe Acquisition of Portugall and the warres wherein the Turks were busied against the King of Persia might trouble this prouince yet he ministred matter of suspect for the Catholique King hauing treated with the Cherriffe to yeeld vnto him Alarache in exchange of Mazagon and not agreeing for that the Moores are great deceiuers in their promises It was suspected the Turke vnderstanding this practise had sent Lucciali to diuert this exchange to fortifie Alarache and furnish it with Turkes so as being so neere neighbour vnto Spaine and a conuenient port for galleies it might greatly annoy him But hee returned after to Constantinople being called backe at the pursuite of his competitours The State of Flaunders ministred matter of consideration for although the Prince of Orenge had long enioyed the greatest part of those prouinces yet the king had great hope especially now vpon on the conquest of Portugall that this people woulde be aduised and that one day he shoulde reclaime them but this hope soone failed for that Frauncis de Valois Duke of Alançon brother to the most christian King Henry the thirde being entred with armes into Flaunders and hauing succoured them that were in Cambrey he forced the Prince of Parma Captaine generall for the king being at the siege thereof to retire And although being master of the citie he presently returned yet the state of Fraunce seemed troublesome and readie to attempt some newe and important alteration the rather for that the French were animated by Anthony Prior of Crato who was come thither out of England being embraced by the Queene mother of Fraunce and visited by the whole Courte They had intelligence likewise of a practise which displeased them that the saide Duke of Alançon shoulde marrie with Elizabeth Queene of England and for that he had passed and repassed aboue once into that Iland it was giuen out the marriage was secretly cōcluded but whether it were so or otherwise the death of the said Duke of Alançon ended that combination but men of the greatest iudgement beleeued that her Maiestie of England was not married to the saide Duke bicause she had refused so many great Kings and Princes in former times and had liued with the reputation of a most chaste vertuous Princesse The Catholique king complained to the most Christian king that he had receiued the Prior his rebell into Fraunce of the succours giuen to Cambrey and blamed the marriage with England labouring to diuert it all he coulde saying that he ought by no meanes to yeelde vnto it for the difference of religion The King of Fraunce as they said made answere to these propositions by his Embassador That as for the marriage he left it to the Duke who was thereunto enclined with all the Nobilitie in Fraunce and that hee was not master of their wils That the Prior had beene receiued by the Queene mother who being Queene as she beleeued of that realme had receiued this her vassall That he had opposed himselfe to his brother touching the succours of Cambrey but his admonitions were of no credite This answere confirmed the Catholique king in the opinion hee had conceiued that these expeditions which had beene made in the name of Alançon were all lets proceeding from the King and couered with this maske seeming impossible that the Duke contrary to the Kings will and pleasure shoulde raise so great forces in Fraunce The which although it seemed incredible yet Fraunce had continued long in such an estate that it was no maruaile for that King Henry and his predecessor Charles the ninth hauing beene molested by their subiects vpon the points of religion all was in disorder and although the state seemed somewhat better pacified yet their mindes by the meanes of these former troubles remained still enclined vnto warre And for as much as Fraunce Englande and Flaunders did somewhat assist in these matters of Portugall for the better vnderstanding of things that follow it may be lawfull for me to digresse a little to speake something of these countries In Fraunce liued Katherine de Medicy mother to the king whose age and valour all Fraunce obeied she seemed to be discontented with the Catholique king for diuers respects but that she made most shewe of was that he had taken the realme of Portugall by force refusing to submit himselfe to iustice saying that she had more interest then hee whereupon it was supposed that mooued with this disdaine she shoulde labour to make warre against Portugall with whom agreed the said Duke of Alāçon her son no lesse enimy to the Catholique King then the mother mooued thereunto for that hauing demaunded one of the daughters of the saide King in marriage he was refused for that he required with his wife a portion fitte for her qualitie He was followed by the whole Nobilitie of Fraunce whom he might easily lead where he pleased although it were against the Kings liking the which grewe for that remaining the third sonne to Henry the second with small hope euer to aspire vnto the crowne hauing two brothers Charles and Henry his elders hauing a great minde and stirring he gaue eare to al such as discontented with the king or desirous of innouation whereof there are numbers in Fraunce laboured to alter the quiet of Christendome with whom he had often resolued to conquer himselfe some newe estate out of Fraunce Perswaded to this resolution by such as were about him he supposed for a time that his brothers were opposite vnto him and that by no meanes they woulde like of his greatnes so as that which was giuen him by the wisest for good counsell he did interprete to the ill affection they bare him and that they sought to obscure the glorie whereunto he aspired And this iealousie encreased when as his brother Henry was called to the crowne of Poland by not giuing him presently such places as hee enioied in Fraunce By this and such like those which followed him tooke an occasion to settle in his conceite a hatred against his brethren giuing him to vnderstande that they detested his greatnes the which they could so wel effect that although the said Henry did afterwards come by the death of Charles the ninth from the crown of Poland to that of Fraunce yet the Duke continued still his first desires and that with greater traine then before For some considered that Henry being sickly and without children he shoulde one day be king It was therefore no woonder if without the kings consent yea contrary to his liking he attempted many things although there were some shewe that the king his brother had intelligence with him And although his forces ioyned with the Queene Mothers were of importance might well cause the Catholique king to feare yet it seemed that those of England woulde likewise ioyne with him For it was giuen out that Elizabeth doubting the Kings force and knowing the Popes intention
the rocke of Saint Iulian 202. his answere to Anthonie 205. his speech to his souldiers 212. the order of his armie ibid. blamed for slacknes 218. his prayses 220. blamed and his excuses 223. his souldiers complaine 245. his death with his prayse and dispraise 300 E EDward de Castro beheaded by Anthonie 292 Eluas taken 155 Emanuel de Silua staies at the Terceres 298. his carriage there 307. his flight hindred 318. taken and executed with others 323 Empresse Marie comes to Lisbone 271 Estates at Almerin 109. begon by the Bishop of Leiria 110 Estate of Fraunce and Flaunders 265 Euora yeelded 175 F FActions in Oliuenza 161 Feare in the citie of Lisbone 207 Flight of Teglio 167 Figueroa arriues at the Terceres and returnes to Lisbone 263 Fonsequa his speech for the creation of Anthonie 165 Fortresse of Settuuall yeelded 184 Francis de Tauora slaine in the battaile pag. 48 Francis de Melo Earle of Tentuguell writes to king Sebastian 18 Francis Barretto sent by the Portugals to the French king for succors 139 Francis de Valois Duke of Alanson enimy to king Philip and why 266. sworne Duke of Brabant 268. seeks to be master of Antwerpe but in vaine 305 Francis de Villafagna Auditor of the Councell of state sent to Lisbone by king Philip 244 French armie arriues at S. Michaels 280. their first encounter 282. they disagree 288. they are beheaded and hanged 295. displeased with their ouerthrowe 299. they spoile the Ilands of Cape Vert 307. they compound with the Spaniards at the Terceres 320. sent to the gallies 324 G GAllies arriue at the Terceres in safetie 312 Generals ship of the French taken by the Spaniards 291 George de Meneses generall at sea imprisoned by Anthonies command pag. 186 Gouernors of Portugal published 99. they prepare for defence 132. their inconstancie 148. they neglect the defence of Lisbone 163. they flie from Settuuall 168. their decree 178 H HAmet proclaimed by the Moores 52. his couetousnes 53 Henry Cardinall called to the crowne of Portugal 55. sworne king 57. his resolution comming to the crowne 64. he fauors the Dutchesse of Bragance 76. he desires to marrie 80. his sentence against the Prior touching his legitimation 87. he changeth his minde in fauour of Philip 97. he falleth sicke and dies 116. his life 117 Henry Pereira hanged 198 Hopes of the French armie at sea with Strozzi 278 Hope of the Spanish court touching their armie at sea 279 I IEan de Betancour affected to Philip pag. 256 Ieron Mendoza treats with Anthonie 260 Iesuits called Apostles in Portugall not able to redresse the corruptions of the Portugals 9. blamed as moters of Sebastians voiage into Africke II. walled vp at the Terceres 243 Iohn de Silua Ambassadour for Philip in Portugall deliuered and returns out of Africke 74. he labours to be sent backe into Portugall 82 Iohn d'Austria gouernoūr of Flaunders for king Philip 23 Iohn d'Azeuedo admirall of Portugall taken prisoner by the Castillians 176 Iland of the Terceres described 313 Iland of Saint Michael described 280 Inhabitants of Fayall kill a trumpetter that was sent vnto them 322. are taken 323 Irishmen demaund succours of the Pope against their Prince 27 L LAwes made betweene Mahumet Cheriffe and Hamet his brother touching the succession of the realme 14 Legate visites the king 192 Leon Henriquez Confessor to Henrie supposed to haue drawne him to fauour Philips title 98 Letters and a present from the Duke of Alua to king Sebastian 38 Lewes Dataide Cont of Toghia sent Viceroie to the Indies by Sebastian 25. obeies king Philip 262 Lisbone chiefe citie of Portugall 3 yeeldes to the Duke of Alua 217 sweares obedience to Philip 221 Lucciali comes to Algier with seuenty gallies 265 M MAgistrate of Lisbone perswades Anthony to compound 208. Mahamet sonne to Abdala kils his vncle 14. is expelled by his vncle Moluc and seekes for succour of Philip and Sebastian 15. disswades Sebastian to go in person into Africk 26. despeares of the victory 36. disswades the battaile 41. is drowned in Mucazen 51. his skinne fleied off 53 Manner of the enterprise of Portugal pag. 132 Marques of Saint Cruz arriues at Settuuall with an armie by sea 183. he imbarkes for the Terceres 277. he resolues to fight with the French and the order of his battaile 285. he defeats them and giueth sentence against the prisoners 294 he landeth some men at the Terceres 316 his skirmish with the French 317. taketh S. Sebastian 319. sends to Faiall 320 Martin Gonsalues sent to the deputies of the realme 118 Messenger sent to Cardinall Henrie from king Philip 55 Meneses blamed and his excuses 195 Mulei Moluc prepares against the Portugals 31. his meanes to defeat them 34. his aduise to the king of Portugal 36. his speech to his brother 38. his armie 39. the ordering thereof 42. his oration to his soldiers 43. his feare and death 47 Mutinie at Coimbra 112 N NAmes of the chiefe men slaine in the bataile of Africke 52 Number of the Christians Moores slaine in the battaile ibid. Number slaine in the battaile at Alcantara 218 Number slaine in the battaile at sea pag. 293 O OFfer made by Moluc to the kings of Spaine and Portugall 31 Oliuenza yeelded to the Catholique king 158 Opinions touching the passage of the riuer of Tagus 192 Order of the Portugals and Moores armie 41 42 Originall of the hatred betwixt the Portugals and Castillians 5 P PArleament at Tomar 248 Peiyoxto sent to Saint Michaels fought with by French ships 276 Peter d'Alcasoua sent ambassadour to Philip 16 punished by Henry and the cause 64 Peter de Medici generall of the Italians 134 Peter Dora Consul of the French sent into Fraunce for Anthonie 178 he remaines there with the money he receiued 188 Peter de Toledo landes at Faiall and spoiles it 322 Philip king of Spaine meetes with Sebastian at Guadalupa 15 perswades him to accept of Molucs offer 20. labors to diuert Sebastian from Africke 24. accepts peace Sebastians bodie 56. claimes the crowne of Portugal 61. writes to the city of Lisbone 72. sendes a Iacobin into Portugall 80. erects a councell for the affaires of Portugal 81. his reasōs against the other pretēdents 81 his reasons for his pretētion 81. he giueth Henry notice of his right 91. he prepares to war against the Portugals 92. his care to assure his conscience for the realme of Portugall 126. his answere to the Portugals 144. he takes possession of the realme 152. his armie is wasted 153. his letters to the inhabitants of Eluas 156. his letters to Anthonie 159. proclaimed at Oliuenza 162. his answer to the Duke of Bragance 171. his pardon to the Portugals 201. he falleth sick 221. he enters into Portugall by Eluas 238. he visits the Dutchesse of Bragance 247. sworne king at Toruas with the prince Diego 248. his entrie into Lisbone 253. his recompence to the Portugals 270. he prepares against the Terceres 273. he
easily by the practise and industrie of another For Martin Gonzales de Camera his competitour hauing succeeded him in his offices with some other depending of the Iesuites whom the Cardinall sought to bring in they had no lesse conflict with their enimies then Peter had with his for that Aluaro de Castro fauorite to the king of a contrarie faction with some of his friendes desiring secretly to withdraw the Kings affection from Martin and his partie tooke occasion to effect it when as the King was at Cape Saint Vincent whether he went in Sommer to satisfie the desire he had to go to sea making him beleeue and it may be not without cause that Martin and the fathers as men ignorant in matters of State of the wealth of Princes had wasted the treasure of the Crowne and cut off the meanes for all such enterprizes as he might execute by their lawes made vpon the changes of money the which if they did not reuoke it were impossible to effect his glorious designes This was a deadly blowe yet did they adde one more of greater moment giuing the King to vnderstande being yoong and high minded that he was oppressed by them that they ruled in effect and he in shew and they passed on so farre that they caused a Secretarie of the chamber well fauoured of the King and a great talker presenting him one day with a commandement of small importance to signe to say vnto him that he might boldly subscribe it for that hee was king vntill he shoulde returne to Lisbone so as mingling sport with truth they drew this yoong Prince from the affection he bare to the ministers which had beene giuen him by the Queene and Cardinall and changed the doctrine wherein he had beene nourished But Peter D'Alcasoua reapt the whole fruite thereof for the King being estranged from his enimies and the lawes made by them reuoked Aluaro de Castro the author thereof died none of his faction remaining saue Emanuel Quaresinia who had the office which they call Dispaccio of great importance beeing Controwler of the Kings rewardes who hauing neither experience nor authoritie to maintaine himselfe long in this degree nor yet iudgement to contend with Alcasoua the said Peter laid holde of this occasion to recouer his former place And to effect it the more safely he married Lewes his eldest sonne with the daughter of Christopher de Tauora a great fauorite of Sebastians Being thus returned into fauour with the king he easily maintained it seconding his humours in making the meanes easie to recouer money and vnfolding all doubts for the execution of his enterprise by reason whereof he made him Chamberlaine or rather Veador de Hazenda a place of greater countenance then the other imploying him in most important affaires And although his cunning did somewhat assist the King in his determinations yet was there another occasion presented which made his hopes increase which was this Long time before there died in Affrick Mulei Mahamet Cheriffe he who had vnited the Kingdome of Feez Marroc and Turedant the which he had alwais possessed deuided with his brother Mulei Hamet It seemes that these whiles they liued quietly togither made a law that al the children that suruiued after their decease should succeed in the kingdome before any one of the nephewes should enioy the succession so as to the yongest vncle should succeed the eldest nephew yet after their decease although they left many children the greatest part thereof euen as it hapned vnto their fathers died by the sword or were strangled in prison for the iealousie of State by the commandemēt of Abdala one of the sonnes of Mahamet who succeeded his father raigned xvij yeres the most happie peaceable Prince that euer that countrey enioied This man although he were cruel yet did he refraine from murthering his three brethren it may be for that they were very children when he came to the succession but growing to more yeeres they fell to distrust him so as two of them fled to the Turke the thirde tooke his way by lande and went to liue amongst the Arabians And although the lawe had decreed that the next brother shoulde succeed to the Crowne yet Abdala resolued to sweare his eldest sonne Mahamet his successour which being performed sodainly this newe Prince practised against his vncles sending a Moore to Tremisenne to kill the eldest who was deteined by the Turkes the which he did effect wounding him with a dart in the Mezquita This act did greatly trouble the other brother Mulei Moluc yoong and of great hope who remaining at Algier demaunding succours in vaine from Philip King of Spaine by the meanes of Rodorike Alphonso Pimentel Earle of Benauent then Viceroy of Valencia he resolued to goe seeke it at Constantinople where he attended long with patience exclaiming against his kindred and not obtaining that which he demaunded till in the end hauing giuen an honorable testimonie of himselfe in the last sea fight at Nauarin betwixt the armies of the league and Turke and at the taking of Golette he obtained three thousand souldiers of the Turke for this conquest vpon certaine conditions that were not obserued With these forces and his Moores that followed him which wanted not in Affrick he entred his Nephewes kingdome for his brother was now dead and defeated three armies whereof the last which seemes woonderfull consisted of threescore thousand horse and ten thousand foote and tooke absolute possession of the Realmes liuing with great reputation both of the Moores and Christians Mulei Mahamet being in this manner expelled his countrey he fled to Pignon of Velay a fortresse which the Catholique king holdes in Affrick and from thence by the counsell as they say of a Renegado he sent his ambassadors to the said King letting him vnderstand of his disgrace and crauing aide to be restored to his estate Whereunto the Catholique King hauing made no answere conformable to the desires of the Moore being gone to Ceuta he did the like office with King Sebastian shewing vnto him that by this occasion he shoulde easilie make himselfe Emperour of Marocco The yoong Prince fedde with this vaine hope seemed nowe to haue a lawfull subiect to make warre whereon he resolued and to succour the Moore Mahamet He propounded this to his Counsell laboring to proue that it was both profitable and honorable whereunto although there were some of contrarie aduise laying before him that he was without heires that Christians shoulde rather imploy their armes against heretikes then Infidels that his forces alone were too feeble for so great an action strengthning their reasons with many examples notwithstanding as Princes blinded with their owne desires will not allow the mishaps and disgraces of an other issuing from their ill measured Counsell to serue them as examples of better aduise there was neither reason nor example could preuaile against the Kings opinion but fortified in his resolution by many who either for their owne
particular or for want of iudgement did counsell him to warre it was concluded And although his owne weakenes was vnknowne vnto himselfe yet was he aduised by others to take a companion and to drawe the Catholique King into this action belieuing it were easily performed the State of Affrick being of greater importance for his kingdome which was adioining to it then for Portugall He desired greatly to marrie to haue issue although his Phisicions feared much he was vnable for generation and woulde willingly haue taken one of the daughters of the Catholique King whereof they had giuen him an assured hope for these two causes he desired to enter parle with him sending Peter D' Alcasoua as Embassadour vnto him with commandement to treat of three points that is for aide in the action of Affrick for the marriage of his daughter and for an enteruiew The Embassador departed and effected with great diligence the charge his maister had giuen him and hauing attended some time in this court he obtained all three the promise of marriage with one of his daughters when she shoulde come to yeeres for as yet they were too yoong That the Catholique King should goe to Guadalupa to meete with King Sebastian And as for succours he shoulde furnish men galleies to vndertake the enterprize of Alarache the which was spoken very coldly For the Catholique King knowing the Portugals to presume beyond their strength and holding it nothing safe to vndertake this action of Affrick without great forces he laboured what he could by letters to temper this heate disswading him with many reasons if not from the enterprize at the least not to go himselfe in person but this yoong Prince resting immooueable in his counsels and most obstinate in his opinion did still importune him by letters Phillip confirmed the succours of men and galleis so as the Turke should sende no men into Italy and that they shoulde vndertake Alarache in the yeere 1577. the whole being referred vnto their enteruiew at Guadalupa The Embassadour returnes home more fauoured then euer seeming to haue effected more then was thought or looked for In both Courts they make no great delaies but take their way for Guadalupa where both kings arriue with no great traines but with the chiefe Noblemen and Gentlemen of their Realmes There the Portugals who arriued last were receiued with great shewes of loue finding in all places of Castill where they passed the kings expresse commandement to receiue him of Portugall as his owne proper person so as at Badagios and in other places where he past the chiefe men went to meete him the prisons were opened and he conducted to his lodging vnder a cloth of estate The Catholique King tooke great pleasure to see yoong Sebastian whom he entertained as his host laying aside all tearms fitte for a greater King entreating each other equally in maiestie talking particularly of the warre being both profitable and honorable for the Realmes of Spaine The Catholique King did not disswade him yet he aduised him not to goe in person excusing himselfe that he could giue no great succour by reason of the continuall charge he was put to in Italy to resist the Turke but Sebastian being fully resolued to goe and admitting no excuse Phillip desirous to please him accorded with him in this sort That the generall opinion being and especially of the Duke of Alua that this action woulde require 15000. foote not Portugals but of other nations trained vp in warre deuided into Italians Germaines Spaniards that the king of Portugall should entertaine ten thousand and the Catholique King fiue thousand furnishing the enterprize with fiftie galleis alwaies prouided if the Turke sent not an armie into Italy and thatthey should goe vnto Allarache without entring into the maine land and this to be attempted in the yeere 1577 otherwise he should not be bound to any thing This treatie being ended euery one returned from whence he came In Portugall they made slowe preparatiues to warre and in the first beginning their money failed them for that the reuenewes of the Crowne are small and ill imploied The whole Realme vpon the maine land yeelding but a million and one hundreth thousand duckets a yeere The greatest part in customes the which be vnreasonable paying for all things twentie in the hundreth except fish which paieth the one halfe The new found lands as Saint Thomas Myna Brazil and the Indies yeeld but a million at the most which makes in all two millions and one hundreth thousand duckats which comes to the Crowne And although the Indies yeelde one other million of rent yet make they neither receipt nor paiment thereof being whollie reteined there for the entertaining of armies and garrisons Of these two millions and a hundreth thousand duckats there remaines nothing at the yeeres end in Court and if the King vse any liberalitie his charge exceeds the reuenewes for that they receiue without order and spende without measure For these Kings were neuer so happie as to be serued with men of iudgement and discretion who could order the reuenewes and expences but giuing the charge alwaies vnto Noblemen who were aduanced thereunto by fauour and not by merite an ordinarie custome in that countrey they studied to maintaine themselues in that throne by other meanes letting the reuenewes of the Crowne goe as it woulde So as what in wages of officers rents created recompence for life priuiledges which they call Giuros sold by him entertaining of Fortresses in Affrick preparation of nauies and expences of the Court all is spent They went therefore seeking heere and there for money forcing the people to contribute and the chiefe Citizens extraordinarily for although they gathered much by this meanes yet they did drawe vpon them the curses and exclamations of the people being most affectionate and obedient to their King but nothing preuailed against the burning desire of officers They exacted from the Clergie the thirde part of their reuenewes whereunto they would not yeeld yet seeing the Pope yeelded vnto the Kings affections they granted a hundreth and fiftie thousand duckats They granted vnto the new Christians paying two hundreth fiue twentie thousand duckats that which before had been for a time granted often since denied that for sinning against the Inquisition they shoulde not loose their goods as they did They imposed a newe custome vpon the salt and exacted money from the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of the Realme against their auncient customes many being by this meanes vniustly vexed Amongst other Noblemen the King sent to Frauncis de Melo Earle of Tentuguel who excusing himselfe did write vnto the King with greater libertie then possiblie reason woulde allowe For noting greatly the demand of money which they had made vnto him as vniust he said it agreed not with the vertues with which his highnes was indued neither did it seeme reasonable that they whose fathers had beene helpers to conquer the Realme shoulde be
of an expert souldiour of many things touching the gouernment of Armies wherein Aldana did amply satisfie him The King now beleeuing he should be well able to execute all he vnderstood not knowing the difference betwixt saying and doing the winter come he gaue Aldana leaue to depart honouring him with a chaine of gold of one thousand duckats making him promise to returne when he should need his seruice In this meane time for the yeere following Sebastian by the meanes of Gomez de Sylua his Embassadour at Rome treated with the great Duke of Tuscane to leuie in his Territories three or fower thousande foote accepting in part the offer which the great Duke had made vnto him not long before by his Embassadors but the effect followed not He sent likewise Sebastian de Costa into Flaunders to VVilliam of Nassau Prince of Orange who being chosen head of the Flemmings against the Catholique King commanded in those parts entreating him to assist him with three of fower thousand Germaines He likewise dispatched fower coronels throughout his Realme of Portugall to leuie twelue thousand foote and those were Michael de Norogna Iames Lopez de Sequeira Frauncis de Tauora and Vasco de Silueira the which had neuer beene at the warres He assembled some Spaniards which came at the brute of warres and of this voyage whereof he gathered a good number without the consent of Philip and in Castill it selfe without any noise of drum he enrolled many souldiers for this warre which caused Philip to punish some Captaines afterwardes But notwithstanding all these goodly shewes no man beleeued it woulde take effect for besides they did esteeme the Kings forces too feeble to attempt any warre much more beyond the sea whereas the charge woulde be greater they did conceiue that when the Catholique King the Cardinall Henry Queene Katherine and the people should see all lets taken away they would not suffer the King to go in person which made euery man suppose that after the expence of much mony it would vanish to nothing as it had hapned the last yeere and some yeeres before with the armie of Edward the Kings vncle prepared for the same Countries of Affrick and some other enterprises But forasmuch as we can hardly resist the diuine powers it seemed that all things did second the effect of this enterprise the Queene a Ladie of bountie and great value who as well for the loue she bare vnto the King being bred in her bosome as to content Philip her nephew who was the sonne of her brother did vehemently disswade this enterprise she died The Pope forasmuch as this warre was attempted against Infidels giuing succours in time of need opened his spirituall treasures granting the Bull of the Croysada which till that time was not brought into the Realme The ships of the Indies returned home to a safe Port very rich The Prince of Orange although he were sufficiently busied in the low Countries yet shewing how little he esteemed the forces of the Catholique King graunted out of his troupes the three thousand foote which were demaunded so as all things seemed to yeeld vnto the Kings wil. All that time which was the ninth of Nouember there appeered in the Zodiaque in the signe of Libra neere vnto the station of Mars the goodliest greatest Comet that hath beene seene in many ages the which happening in the progresse of this war amazed many who looking to examples past said it was a signe of vnhappy successe and that cōming from a corrupt aire it did endomage the delicat bodies of Princes And for as much as the auncient Captaines with their diuines did interpret it to good not for that they beleeued it but to incourage their souldiers the Portugall likewise taking it for a fauour said that this Comet spake vnto the King saying Accometa which is to say in the Portugall toong let him assayle them not hauing any such beliefe but for flatterie fearing more the Kings choler by reason of his rough inclination then the heauens Philip at that time by a certaine treatie of peace had pacified the war of the Low-Countries where Don Iohn de Austria his bastard brother was gouernour who seeming not absolute Master of the people and the Prince of Orange his aduersarie not well satisfied desiring rather to be Lord of all then gouernor of a part they began new practizes against the conuentions agreed on And Don Iohns letters being surprised the which he had written into Spaine by the Lords of the countrey they discouered that vpon the Princes fortifying of some places in Holland he had an other intention then he made shew of who finding his letters surprised and his purposes laid open desirous as he said to subdue them by armes he thought it not safe to remaine vnarmed in those parts So as one day seeming to goe take the aire he retired himselfe to Namur vpon the frontire of Flanders towards Lorraine with his greatest fauorites and there discouering his minde and dismissing such as he trusted not he suddenly called backe the Spanish foot the which according to the Articles of peace were departed and scarse arriued in Italie and hauing made a newe leuie of Wallons and Germaines the warre began in those parts more cruell then before and with greater disaduantage for the King for that in the conformitie of the treatie of pacification they had left all the fortresses in the hands of the Flemmings By reason of these new broiles for that the war of Affrick was deferred a yeere more then was agreed on the Catholike King framed an excuse to denie his promised succours to the King of Portugall shewing that it behooued him to prouide in Flanders for his honour and the safety of his brother hoping by this meanes to diuert him from the enterprise but it preuailed nothing for the other being rash resolued in any sort to vndertake it whether he had his expected succours or not thinking being yoong with his owne forces and the Italians and Germanes which hee attended to bee able to conquer the worlde This resolution displeased Philip and did much afflict him for being vnable to assist him he feared that without his aide the day would be perillous and seeing the danger increase he continued these good offices with more vehemencie either to breake off the enterprise or at least to disswade him from going in person whereupon he did write many letters of his owne hand full of loue he caused the Duke of Alua to write vnto him and in the end sent the Duke of Medina Celi one of the greatest in Spaine to doe his last endeuour to diuert him but all was in vaine he would attempt it at his owne cost although the Catholike King sent him not one souldier And for as much as good deedes are often taken in ill part some saide that all these demonstrations of King Philip were but coūterfeit that he wished Sebastian should go for howsoeuer it should succeed he
crowned King not knowing in the morning what the euening brings But it seemed to him that fortune began now to smile for that Albacarin the Moore who commanded for Mulei Moluc in Arzilla a towne vpon the borders of the sea sometimes belonging to the Portugals voluntarily abandoned to the Moores by the intercession of the Cheriffe Mahamet had deliuered it to the gouernour of Tanger whereof the King receiued great contentment and beleeued now the Moore had such as he saide affectionate to his partie At this time the Irishmen rebelled in diuers parts of that kingdome pretending the libertie of Religion and complained to Pope Gregory the 13. taking for their leader the Earle of Desmond and others as Oneale and some other of the sauage Irish affirming that if they were aided they could easily drawe the whole Island from the Queenes obedience The Pope did communicate this with the Catholique King exhorting him to vndertake this action as most godly to succour this people the which they resolued to do But forasmuch as the Queene of England did seeme in words friend vnto the king did as the Spaniards supposed couertly vnderhand assist the Prince of Orange in Flaunders against him the King woulde likewise march in the same path and make a couert warre against her they concluded to assist this people in the Popes name but secretly at the kings charge To this effect they leuied certaine footemen in the territories of the Church whereof sixe hundreth vnder the conduct of Thomas Stukeley an Englishman fled out of England for treason who a little before had obtained the title of a Marques from the Pope were embarked at Ciuitauechia in a ship of Genua to be transported into Ireland the which arriued at Lisbone in the time they made preparation in Portugall for the warre of Affrick the king hearing of their arriuall and that for want of money he could haue no Italians out of Tuscane desired to see them with an intent to retaine them vse them in the war of Affricke hauing caused them to disimbarke and to lodge at Oeiras neere to the mouth of Tagus he went one day to view them and although they were no chiefe men yet did he admire their order their speedie discharging of their Harquebuzes their disposition to handle the pike and their strict obedience and hauing had some conference with the saide Stukeley they perswaded him to promise to goe with him into Affrick The Catholique King for that he woulde not shew himselfe a partie woulde not contradict it The Pope was so farre off that before the newes coulde come vnto him he gaue them impresse and they remained for his seruice In this time the foote which were leuied by three Coronels approched to Lisbone the fourth which was Frauncis de Tauora shoulde imbarke in Algarues The three thousand Germaines which the Prince of Orange had granted were vnder the conduct of Martin of Burgundie Lord of Tamberg arriued within the mouth of Tagus in Flemmish ships and were lodged at Cascaies and thereabouts to the great amasement of the peasants not accustomed to the charges of warre King Sebastian before his departure desired to see the Duke of Alua whom he sent vnto but he excused himselfe vpon the King and the King at the entreatie of the Duke vpon the infirmitie of the old man so as his desire tooke no effect The Dukes friends tolde him he should haue accepted this fauour whereunto he answered that hauing knowne by the practises and discourses of Guadaluppa and by the Kings letters his resolution to passe into Affrick he thought it impossible to diuert him from that opinion that hauing beene discreet in his youth he woulde not in his declining age make himselfe author of the ruine which he did foresee of a King and kingdome Sebastian without any graue Counsellors hastened his departure impatient of the least delaies his forces being all assembled with the ships at Lisbone the souldiors which were scarce nine thousand were imbarked against their will The Noblemen and Gentlemen likewise had euery one a shippe armed wherein he should imbarque with those vnder his commaund but hardly were they drawne from their deere houses And although there were a certaine day for their departure appointed yet was it not obserued So as the King going one morning in great troupe to the cathedrall church with the Standard he ment to carrie into Affrick he caused it to be hallowed with great pompe and deliuered it to the master of his horse and so returning many beleeuing he would haue returned to the pallace he went directly to the galley wherein he woulde passe to hasten the rest saying that he woulde presently depart And although this were the xvij day of Iune in the yeere 1578. yet did he stay eight daies in the Port and neuer disimbarked preparing the rest of the soldiours who were no sooner readie then the day after Midsommer at what time hauing a prosperous winde the whole armie set saile to the great pleasure and contentment of the King who yoong and vnskilfull guided by some sinister starre or by that diuine permission which woulde punish this people went into Affrick to a dangerous although a glorious enterprise leauing the Realme emptied of money naked of Nobilitie without heires and in the hands of ill affected gouernours THE SECOND BOOKE The Contents of the second Booke The King of Portugals passage into Affricke his counsell and resolution to enter into the maine land the way his armie tooke the preparatiues for the warre of Mulei Moluc the qualitie and disposition of his campe the battaile of Alcazar the ouerthrowe of the Portugals the death of King Sebastian and of Moluc and the creation of King Henry THe King of Portugals departure from Lisbone was so mournefull that it gaue apparant signes of euill successe for in so great a number of men and of so diuers qualities there was not any one with a cheerefull countenance or that did willingly imbarke against the common custome in the beginnings of warre but all as it were presaging of ill euents complained they were forceablie drawne vnto it There was such a deadlie silence in the porte that during all the time of their abode in so great a number of shippes there was neither flute nor trumpet heard The Kings galley issuing foorth was carried downe with the currant and brake her rudder against a Flemmish ship a cannon shot from the towne slew one of his marriners in the boate so as if we shall giue credite to signes as the auncients did these seemed very ominous The first towne they touched vpon the maine lande was Lagos in Algarues where did imbarke the regiment which Frauncis de Tauora had leuied in those parts and certaine other vessels ioined to the armie so as in all one and other they made neere one thousand saile but except fiue galleis and fiftie other ships all the rest were vnarmed and the most of them were barkes
to passe horse and munition They arriued soone at Cadiz whereas the Duke of Medina Sidonia feasted the King with chasing of buls Iocodecanna and all other delights that poore Iland coulde yeelde The Duke laboured to perswade him not to goe personally into Barberie but he preuailed not hauing soiourned there eight daies like a fleete of merchants without guard or Centinell directing their prowesse towards Affrick in fewe daies they arriued at Almadraues betwixt Tanger and Arzilla where hauing cast anchors they staied some space The King hauing then an intention to disimbarke at Alarache a small towne of the Moores lying fifteene miles towards the south a little before the armie approched the land being fully resolued to depart the King with his fiue galleis and fower gallions leauing the rest of the ships went to Tanger where he made a short abode for hauing sent Mulei Cheque son to the Cheriffe of the age of twelue yeeres by land with Martin Correa de Sylua and certaine horsemen Moores and Portugals to the ende they should draw towards Mazagon and backe the people thereabouts that should reuolt against Moluc he returned to his armie hauing supplied the fortresses with fresh souldiors and taking into his ships the Cheriffe and eight hundreth Harquebuzers that were at the guard thereof From the Almadraues he went to Arzilla with all his fleete where seeing his souldiors distressed for water he commanded them to lande and refresh themselues meaning to imbarke them againe or to transport them in barkes to Alarache But wauering in his thoughts nothing was constant for the souldiors being landed with no small confusion it was hard to force them to returne for the small obedience they were in and for the necessitie of water whereof they must make prouision so as he continued long irresolute The armie was lodged vpon the sea shore hauing on the one side fortified their lodging with rampiers of earth and waggons on the two other sides the sea and the towne serued them for trenches It remained in this estate fifteene daies during which the Portugals landing with their King had so troubled all the prouince that the Moores that are neighbours to the sea townes as Alarache Tituan and others were resolued not to make any resistance but to abandon their townes and had alreadie transported their poore wealth with their wiues to the mountaines But Mulei Moluc being at Marrock had before both from Portugall Cadiz and Arzilla very particular aduertisement of the King of Portugals preparation and of the quantitie and qualitie of his men wherewith he was greatly mooued seeming vnto him that Sebastian pretended to depriue him of his kingdome being a Moore to giue it to another Moore no more friend to him then he was without any pretext or iudgement to whom of them the estate did iustly appertaine And seeing the accord with the Catholique King tooke not the effect he desired he resolued vpon his defence but weighing how much better an ill peace is then a iust warre and discerning well the discommodities great charge and dangers it drawes with it he laboured first to compound with him making offer to the King to giue him tenne miles of the countrey lying about his fortresses in Affrick for tillage But Sebastian who was of another conceite made him answere that he had beene at great charge in leuying of forreine forces and therefore he coulde not desist from the enterprise vnlesse he would yeeld him Tituan Alarache and Cape D'Aghero This demaund seemed too excessiue to the Moore and therefore made answere that hee must pause thereon although the siege were before Moroca and that the King should offer to giue him in counterchange Mulei Mahamet his capitall enimie That he had conquered those Realmes with his sword and policie and ment to defend them with all his forces He commaunded presently Rhodeuano his purueyor generall a Portugall Renegado to bring to field all his Tents and Pauillions the which was perfourmed the next day beeing in number aboue 4000. The sixe and twentith of May he went towards Suse the chiefe citie being Northward from Moroca to giue order in those parts for certaine things there concerning the warre But hauing intelligence vpon the way that the King of Portugall was issued out of Lisbone he returned suddenly to Moroca where hauing left the said Rhodeuano as his Vizeroy he assembled those men of war he commonly keepes in paye in that Realme he lodged his campe at Camis and from thence came in three daies to Temisnam townes which lye towards the frontriers of Portugall where he fell sicke with great castings and a fit of an Ague There he vnderstood that Sebastian was come to Cadiz and although he were verie sicke yet continuing his course he went to Salé with 14000 horse and 2500. Harquebuzers whereof one thousand were on horsebacke the rest on foot the most part of Andelousia Renegados Here he vnderstood the Portugals were arriued at Arzilla and therefore hauing passed the riuer of Marmore at a foord hauing caused some quantity of mettal to be brought from Moroco he cast fower pieces of great cannon in his campe three of them with certaine other peeces he drew with him the other he sent to Moroco marching himselfe towards Alcasar Mulei Hemet his bastard brother gouernour of the kingdome of Fesse was alreadie come to field by his commandement as generall of the horse of that prouince and hauing assembled all the souldiers both horse and foote thereabouts was come to the place which they call the faire of Thursday sixe miles neere to Alcazarquiuir where he expected his brother to ioyne their armies togither hauing two and twentie thousand horse and fiue thousand fiue hundreth foote There Moluc arriued the xxiiij of Iuly so sicke that he coulde scarse endure on horsebacke who hauing marched long in his Litter seeing his brother a farre off he tooke his horse to meete him when they approched the one to the other Mulei Hemet put spurres to his horse and being come neere his brother he lighted and kissed the ground in signe of humilitie the whole armie giuing a great volley of shotte His sicknes encreasing daily Mulei Moluc entred not with pompe as the manner was into his lodging but returning to his Litter seated his brother in his place to effect his entrie himselfe going before to take his lodging And forasmuch as he vnderstood that Sebastian had sent Mulei Cheque with troopes to Mazagon he dispatched Mulei Dan his nephew with two thousand horse and some foote to make head least he should indomage those quarters Toward Cape D'Aghere and Alarache he likewise sent men but hearing that Sebastian was disimbarked at Arzilla they returned to the campe Moluc was a man couragious hardie and free in wordes seeming to make small account of the Portugals he saide openly that whosoeuer went not willingly with him he shoulde retire suffering any freely to depart that were more friend to Mulei Mahamet
then to him wherein they should do him a fauour the which he spake not to contemne the enimies forces but knowing how hardly he shoulde staie them that minded to leaue him desiring rather they should then go then attend vntill a battaile or reuolt at some other time when they might do him a greater mischiefe And therefore to giue them the better meanes to escape he made choise of three thousand out of such as he suspected sending them to discouer the Christians Armie to keepe them busied with courses and to giue them often Alarums not with any meaning they should do this exploite but if they meant to flie they might effect it at their pleasure But this meaning vnknowne to that nation wrought in them a contrarie effect to that which Moluc attended for hauing construed this commaundement to the fidelitie and trust he had in them they meant still to remaine faithfull so as few went vnto the Christians armie The greatest part did well performe that which Moluc had giuen them in Charge for being deuided somtimes into 600. sometimes more sometimes lesse they ran to the Trenches of the Portugals lodgings molesting and slaying those they found scattering from the Armie In the meane while the Portugals remayning in their lodgings before they had yet discouered the Moores deceiued with illusions had twice taken the Alarum in vaine seeing themselues one day followed at the heeles by 600. horse like men that had neuer yet seene the enimie neere or far off although they were in a strong lodging ioyning to a friend towne and an Armie at sea within Harquebuze shot yet ran they fearfully to imbarke and notwithstanding that the Enimies after a light skirmish with the Moores of Cheriffe Mahamet who were lodged a little without the trenches returned presently yet the Portugals were so amazed that being kept from imbarking they fled from the campe going by lande to Tanger and so fell out of one mischiefe into another for by the way they were taken prisoners by the Moores of Tituan other places thereabouts who lay in waite to robbe and spoile But the King gathered courage by this first view of the Moore so suddenly retyred for remaining before within the citie he would now lodge without to be more neere vnto the skirmishes when need should require The next day discouering 2000. of the enimies horse the King went to encounter them with 600. horse but the skirmish being begunne the Moores retired wherein the King carried himselfe more like a valiant souldier then a wise Captaine following Edward de Meneses Marshall of the campe who marched ten miles from the Armie with no small danger hauing neither footman nor Harquebuzer for his guarde the safetie of his person being of great importance to the whole Armie he seemed rather wearie of his life then to doe any acte of a braue minde who being a King and might liue deliciously was pricked forward with the onely desire of glorie Moluc had newes of this encounter beyond Alcazar where he lodged from whence he departed not both for that he expected some troupes from Tituan and Mechinee places vpon the sea coast the which arriued soone as also to draw the Portugals into the firme land for so he vnderstood they entended yet he feared it could not so fall out doubting they would continue along the sea coast being most conuenient for them Yet he resolued if they entred not into the maine to march towards them withall speed and before they should attempt any thing to follow them at their backes thereby to draw them into the want of many things not meaning to ioyne battell with them but vpon great aduantage but if they should enter into the maine land to suffer their passage as far as he might with assurance and after cut off their returne to sea In this manner he doubted not to obtaine the victorie almost without fighting both for the great number of men he had in his Armie as also vnderstanding the Portugals were ill prouided of victuals drawne thither by force full of delights and voide of experience In this time the King of Portugall assembled the chiefe of his counsell to resolue of his departure demaunding their aduise what course they were best to take Many durst not speake freely for although they thought the best resolution to goe by sea to Alarache yet discouering by daily practises that the King was otherwise resolued relying more vpon flatterie then vpon the truth they chose rather to counsell him ill and please him then to aduise him well and contradict him He was desirous to goe by land to play both the captaine and the Serieant not foreseeing the difficulties the way would bring nor the danger whereinto he did runne but as ill aduised hauing no aduertisement of the enimies Armie thought with securitie to ouerrune their countrey and that the Moores should flie before him as those few had done which appeared at Arzilla One of the chiefe that did most applaud his humour was Alphonso of Portugall Earle of Vimioso who had beene in the Kings former voyage into Affricke Chamberlaine and had charge of the victuals wherein he behaued himselfe so sparingly as if they had continued any longer in Affricke or else at sea they had beene starued the which his enimies tooke as an occasion to disgrace him with the King whereof he had beene euer sithens secluded This man both ambitious and cunning did second the Kings humours although he did know with himselfe they were rash and hurtfull and against that which he thought conuenient perswading him to march by lande for two reasons The one to make knowne vnto the King vpon his march the want of victuals there was in his Armie by reason whereof he coulde not proceed to make his officers odious and to whip them with the same rod he had beene scourged before whereby the voyage should be broken The other reason was to shew himselfe valiant to please the King and to recouer his disgrace seeming vnto him that whether he did aduise it or not the King would vndertake it and since that he must of force hazard his life he thought it best to make himselfe Author of the resolution if it succeeded ill the losse would be generall if it happened wel he alone should haue the honour of it seeing that he alone was of that opinion He setled the Kings weake iudgement and therewithall enflamed this desire to march saying that this Armie in Affricke being master of the field should not shew any feare by imbarking but turne head wheresoeuer it pleased and open all passages And although they were possibly inferiour to the enimie in number yet their valour exceeded them being well knowne vnto the world how much a Moore was inferiour to a Christian adding thereunto that to disimbarke at Alarache it might prooue vneasie and dangerous he said that both King Philip and the Castilians would report the Portugals durst not without their
were No man durst contradict him both for that as it is saide many thought it necessarie to ioine battaile as also for that the Portugals doe generally thinke it cowardise to disswade from fighting holding it more honourable to loose a battaile with rashnes then to conquer with cunning and iudgement without fighting For this reason it was resolued after great contrarietie of opinions to march against the enimie although some practises of peace were yet in hande but with weake hopes So as the same morning they dislodged hauing deuided their armie into three squadrons the one following the other immediately and almost vnited togither that in the front was in a manner diuided into three for in the middest the aduenturers were led by Aluaro Pirez brother and Lieutenant to Christopher of Tauora on the left hande were the Castillians led by Alphonso d'Aguilar lined with Harquebuziers of the same nation commanded by Lewis d'Godoy and the Germaines were on the left hande vnder the Lord of Tamberg intermixed with Harquebuziers Italians and those Portugals that vsed to be at Tanger commanded by captaine Hercules d'Pisa euery nation was set in long rankes with their Commanders in the front In an other squadron which did second this were the Portugals of Michell de Norogna and Vasco de Sylueira with harquebuziers in flanke and in the other which serued for the rereward were the Portugals of Diego Lopez de Sequeira and Frauncis de Tauora although that Sequeira remained at Arzilla for the guard whereof besides two wings of shot there were three hundreth Harquebuziers in the rereward on both sides of the armie were their horsemen deuided being in all fifteene hundred placed in triangles whereof the right wing was commanded by George d' Alencastro Duke d'Auero on the left side was the standerd Roiall Iean de Sylua Embassadour for the Catholique King and yoong Theodose Duke of Barcellos for so they call the eldest sonne of the Dukes of Bragançe and on the right hande a little separated were about two hundreth horse of those which liue commonly on those frontiers which they call Affricans not far from them were the Moores of the Cheriffe Mahamet but fewe in number In this order they marched with their baggage in the midst betwixt their horse and foote on the right winge leauing a space on both sides betwixt their squadrons to retire if need were Moluc who lost no opportunitie had now put his armie in battaile he placed his footmen which were all Harquebuziers in forme of a cressent the first rank were of Andalusians the second of Renegados and the last of Affricanes placed expresly in this sort for that one nation being enimie to an other they might presse forwarde their contraries and not suffer them retire vpon the two hornes of the cressent he planted two squadrons of ten thousand horse in each and behinde as it were in the rereward followed in equall distance all their horse in small troopes resoluing if they ment to fight with so great a number of men to compasse in the Portugals armie and charge them on euery side But in the meane time his sicknes encreased feeling himselfe die by degrees and although his Phisitions vsed all their skill to succour him yet decaying howerly they founde he coulde not liue two daies He felt a double death by reason of the time wherein he died and not being able to execute his resolution in this warre he doubted that he shoulde not leaue any one that could effect them For although hee were then in battaile yet had hee no meaning to fight at that instant foreseeing after that hee vnderstood the Portugals did march into the maine land with their baggage if they sought to delay the battell they were all vndone and that without the losse of any one man he would take them all prisoners by reason of the want they should find in that poore countrey of Affricke But seeing this resolution which required time and could not bee effected in haste would not succeed by reason of the shortnes of his life he was much troubled He thought it not conuenient to discouer his conceit vnto his brother that should succeede him both for that he much doubted of his iudgement and knowing assuredly that if he died before the victorie the Moores would flie and rebell against his brother and yeeld to the Portugals chiefely by the pretence of Mulei Mahamet and in this manner the kingdome would be lost Afflicted with these cares seeing the enimie neere with so great an Armie and his death approaching he resolued not to trust his heire but leauing his first resolution rather during his life to hazard a bloodie and doubtfull battell against all Reason of warre then to die with feare of the losse of his Realme the which he knew assuredly would happen after his death being resolued to fight all practises of accord dismissed he assembled the chiefe commaunders of the Armie and spake vnto them in this manner Your valour souldiers and the iustice of the cause which hath put Armes into your hands will not suffer me to speake much to encourage you to fight For you are those who vnder my command haue alwaies brought to happie ende euerie enterprise were it both difficult and dangerous The enimies which you haue in front are the same Portugals which in times past your fathers and your owne right hands haue often vanquished and ouercome The Italians and Germans which are come to their succours more terrible in name then in deed should not any thing amaze you being men without experience and in small numbers And as for me who haue sometimes made tryall of them I take vpon me the charge to yeeld them subiect to your forces And if reason preuaile any thing in battell shal not the victorie be on our side We liued quiet in our houses without vexing or molesting any one content with our fortunes not practising against the wealth and prosperitie of any other And a nation by nature our enimies differing in law comes from a far countrey not onely to pull from me my Crowne but also to spoile you of all your goods to depriue you of your libertie and to rauish your liues You perchance suppose that in this wicked people pietie hath so much force as to plant Mahamet in the kingdome a stranger contrarie to their Religion whose friendship and bountie is vnknowne to them they should vndertake this paines to hazard themselues to death It is the thirst of gold and of your blood with the desire to rule that hath brought the King of Portugall hither supported not by his owne forces but with the hopes he hath to deceiue you vnder this fained shew of pietie to this Infidell Mahamet who if he had any feeling of a man should be rather contented to liue subiect to my Empire according to our lawes then inuading my Realme by force procure the destruction of his owne blood the ruine of his countrey the
brother to the Duke of Bragance Iohn de Silueira eldest sonne to the Earle of Sorteglia Christopher of Tauora and manie other of account so as some noble families were there wholie extinct Arias of Silua Bishop of Porto and Emanuel of Meneses Bishop of Coimbra died likewise The Duke of Barsellos with Anthonie Prior of Crato were taken prisoners The newe King hauing gathered togither his armie and the greatest number of prisoners he could get resolued to returne to Feez where he entered in great triumph For besides the colours taken and the number of Captiues he led with him he caused the bodie of Mulei Mahamet to be founde out and hauing flaied it and filled the skin with strawe he carried it in triumph to take from the Moores al the hope they had conceiued in him After he studied carefully to discouer the Gentlemen that were prisoners taking them from the Moores and Iewes who had bought them for a small price to drawe from them a greater raunsome as indeede he did Whereupon hee was noted by some to be more couetous then valiant seeming a great indiscretion that after so great and absolute a victorie remaining no reliques of an enimies armie he shoulde so sodainly betake himselfe to rest They woulde being but twentie and fiue miles from the fortes which the Portugals held in Affrick he should presently haue laboured to force them and haue freed the Prouince from such a curbe being the opinion of the most expert that if he had aduanced his campe he had soone forced them vnfurnished both with men and munition and the Portugals that were there in guard remaining so astonished for the death of their King that they could hardly haue made defence and so much the lesse hauing small hope to be succoured out of Portugall Sebastian hauing carried with him all the Nobilitie which were woont to defende those places So as vpon this discourse many saide as was spoken to Hannibal of the same nation that the Affricanes although they knowe sometimes how to vanquish yet coulde they not vse the victorie But all well considered the Moore proceeded in this action with more iudgement then others beleeued for not suffering himselfe to be carried away with prosperitie hauing aduertisement that the Realme of Feez the which they had receiued from such as had escaped the day of the battaile the handes of the vanguard of the Christians and of the Arabians was somewhat altered seeing himselfe newly King he thought it more conuenient being armed to goe pacifie his people and take assured possession of the Realme then to busie himselfe with newe conquests and leaue the certaine in doubt for the vncertaine Besides hauing well considered the conquest of these fortresses of the sea he did not esteeme them easie but of hard attempt for besides they wanted no garrisons and that Portugall was not yet so vnpeopled but that it might soone be succoured he held it for most certaine that King Philip for his owne priuate interest would defend them with all his force the which he might easilie effect by reason of the great number of galleies hee had prepared readie in Spaine fearing perchance that which had happened And for that he doubted the Andaluzians might haue some intelligence with the Turkes and practise some treason against his person hee cut off the head of Doali and some other Commaunders and of some others of his traine By this meanes Hamet got the name of a wise and considerate Prince the which he preserued gouerning himselfe with iudgement Diego de Sosa Generall of the armie at sea who as we haue said remained neere Alarache hearing the noise of the artillerie and the brute of the two armies most assured they were in fight he knew not what to doe for although his commission was there to attende the King yet he doubted least the viewe of the enimie might force him to change his resolution or that the way shoulde be stopped and that he shoulde expect him in vaine not resoluing whether it were more expedient to returne to Arzille or attend in that place He made likewise a question whether he shoulde batter Alarache whereunto he was enclined thinking by his cannon to giue the King a figne of his being there and to trouble the minde of the Moore while he was in fight but he resolued not any thing deteined by his blinde commission and the aduise of some other Capteines The armie being broken he receiued letters from Peter de Mesquita gouernour of Arzille and withall newes of the successe in part false writing vnto him that he shoulde returne with the armie to Arzille and that King Sebastian came thither to imbarke And although this letter did not easilie mooue him doubting that Mesquita demaunded the armie more for his owne assurance then otherwise yet being certified of the Kings death he ranne alongst the coast vnto Tanger seeking to gather vp the remainder of the armie and so after returne to Lisbone These thinges passed in Affrick the news came but without good assurance to the Gouernours the fourteenth of August which did so amaze them that for a time they knewe not what to determine yet they kept it secret resoluing in the meane time to call the Cardinall Henrie who they saide succeeded directly to the crowne he a little before not greatly pleasing nor agreeable to his Nephew in a manner retired himselfe in the Abbey of Alcobassa to whome with great dissimulation they sent father George Serrano of the order of the Iesuits to declare vnto him the successe and to beseech him to come to Lisbone to receiue the Scepter although on the other part some reported that Peter d'Alcasoua had secretlie aduertised the Catholique King of all things beginning to yeelde obedience as to him whom he did foresee woulde be future Lorde of the Realme if this were not a practise of his enimies to make him more suspect vnto the Cardinall Henrie generally through the Realme they knewe nothing of assurance for all passengers were staied by order from the Gouernours all letters that came from forraine parts were taken giuing the people to vnderstande a thousand fables doubting perchaunce that if the people knewe themselues to be without a King they woulde attempt something The Citie of Lisbone as also all the rest were in great garboile vnderstanding that there was a Carrier come with such newes as had greatly altered the Gouernours not knowing what it was seeing the Councell daily assembled the letters retained to vnderstande that they had sent both into Castill and to the Cardinall to heare that both the Christians and the Moores campes were approched helde the whole Realme in feare of some ruine There was none in Lisbone but had some interest in this warre who so had not his sonne there had his father the one her husbande the other her brother the traders and handie-crafts men who had not their kinsemen there and yet many of them had did venture their wealth
with much people on foote The Cardinall inuironed with a great multitude ascends the staires of the hospitall being entered the Church hauing heard Seruice and ended his praiers he seates himselfe in the chaire prepared on the scaffolde where presently Frauncis de Sada one of those that had bin gouernours put the Scepter in his hand and Michell de Mora Secretarie standing a little off said reading it with a loude voice that King Henrie by the death of King Sebastian did succeede in the Realme and therefore they had deliuered him the Scepter and that he was come to take the accustomed oath to maintaine and obserue vnto his people and to any other all liberties priuiledges and conuentions graunted by his predecessours which done the Secretarie kneeling before him with an open booke the King laide his hande thereon swearing so to do then did the Attabales sounde euery man crying Reale Reale for Henry King of Portugall this done he riseth with the same companie holding alwaies the Scepter in hande he returned to the pallace the Attabales sounding and the Herolds crying from time to time as before THE THIRDE BOOKE The Contents of the third Booke The descent of the Kings of Portugall The pretendants to the succession The resolutions of King Henrie And the peoples demaunds The voyage of the Duke of Ossuna into Portugall and other Embassadors from the Catholique King The imprisonment of the Duke of Alua The Catholique Kings letters to them of Lisbone The States of Portugall The grounds of the pretendants to the succession The sentence of Henry against Anthony Prior of Crato vpon his legitimation by vertue of the Popes Briefe The reasons of the Catholique King to the Realme against euerie one of the pretendants The preparatiues to warre of the Catholique King against the Realme of Portugall The suspension of the briefe The second sentence of Henry against Anthonie The alteration of King Henry his will concerning the succession And the Popes offers to the Catholique king MOst men from all the noted parts of the worlde had their mindes and iudgements turned vpon Portugall both for that hitherto the affaires of Sebastian were worthie attention as to see nowe Henry come to the Crowne who was olde and without successour which made all Princes doubte that the succession of this Realme might trouble the publike quiet for the Pretendants were diuers their actions differing all allied and all with groundes And although their forces were vnequall yet were they made equal by certaine respects But to the ende we may the better vnderstand the groundes of euery one of the pretendants I will make a little digression to report briefly the descent of these Kings And although from the first vnto Henry there raigned seauenteene yet doe I not thinke it necessarie to take their beginning but frō Emanuel forward who was the fourteenth who began his raigne in the yeere of our Lord 1495. for that of his onely progenie is issued the number of Princes that pretended to the Crowne This man had three wiues of the first which was Isabell daughter to Ferdinand King of Castill widow to Alphonse sonne to Iohn the second of Portugall he had no other children for she died in childbed but Michael who died in the cradle who had beene as they say the pillar and corner stone to vnite it and Spaine togither But by his death the Portugals lost the kingdomes of Castill and Arragon whereof Emanuel and Isabell his wife were sworne Princes the issue male of the bloud roiall being extinct in Castill His second wife which was Marie sister to Isabell third daughter of the saide Ferdinand brought him many children vz. sixe sonnes and two daughters Isabel was married to Charles the fifth Emperour Beatrice to Charles the thirde Duke of Sauoy Iohn did inherite the kingdome Lewes died without marrying leauing behinde him Anthony his bastard sonne he who as you shall heare anon was the cause of great miserie to his countrey by reason of his pretention to the Crowne Ferdinand deceased without heires so did Alphons who was Cardinall called by the title of Saint Blaise and Henry of the title of Saint Quatre Coronez this outliued all the rest and it is hee of whom we speake Edward tooke to wife Isabell daughter to Iaime Duke of Bragance by whome he had Marie which afterwardes was married to Alexander Farnese Prince of Parma and Katherine at this present wife to Iohn of Bragance he had likewise a sonne the which being borne after the death of his father who liued but fower yeeres in matrimonie was likewise called Edward This is he who disfauoured by Sebastian died at Euora in the yeere 1576. of his thirde wife which was Leonora daughter to king Philip the first of Castill archduke of Austria who was after married to Frauncis the first king of Fraunce he had none but Charles who died yoong and Marie who being about sixe and fiftie yeeres olde died a maide at Lisbone in the yeere 1578. But returning to Iohn the thirde sonne of the second wife who succeeded Emanuel in the kingdome he contracted marriage with Katherine sister to the Emperour Charles the fifth and had issue Marie who after was the first wife of Philip the second king of Castill now raigning from whom issued Charles who died yoong the which if he had liued without doubt had preceaded the Cardinall Henry in the succession of the crowne The saide Iohn and Katherine had many male children which died yoong one onely outliued the rest named Iohn who as some say died yoong with excessiue loue of his wife sister to the saide Philip leauing her great with childe and after deliuered of Sebastian during his grandfathers life who soone after passed to an other worlde and this is that Sebastian which died in Affrick Let vs now come to the pretentions The Catholique King as it is saide put himselfe foremost being borne of Isabell the eldest daughter of Emanuel And although as a Castillian he was naturally hated of that nation yet he supposed that being mightie compassing in the Realme with his dominions and the Portugals vnexpert he shoulde soone either by loue or force become master thereof Iohn Duke of Bragance challenged the Realme as the right of Katherine his wife alleaging he was neerer to the succession then the Catholique King being although a woman daughter to the said Edward brother to the saide Isabell And forasmuch as the Duke is the greatest personage of the Realme and his subiects most warlike trusting on the fauour of Henry who did then grace him and hauing small experience in the affaires of the worlde he held himselfe halfe in possession Alexander Prince of Parma sonne to Octauius Farnesse did pretend it for his eldest son Rhainucius as male issued from Marie the eldest daughter of the saide Edward sister to the saide Katherine And although his territories were farre off yet besides that some supposed the Church shoulde
matters but it was necessarie they shoulde esteeme him affable and curteous to discouer easilie vnto him their minds of which humour the rest were not And although on the one side the Cardinals did seeme fittest to treate with a king who was also a Cardinall they did think on the other side that Henry might take it ill to sende one vnto him who was equall with him in dignitie There hapned at the same time a matter which bred no small woonder in this court and in others likewise the which for that it chaunced to a person of whom we are often to make mention although it be somewhat from our purpose we will not leaue to report The Duke of Alua was banished by the kings commandement to Vzeda fiue and twentie miles from the court for that Fredericke his eldest sonne being taken at Tordefillas a village of that Realme for that he refused to marrie with one of Queene Isabella of Valoys her maides to whom as she said he had promised whilest the king was entreated by her friends to force him to marrie her he by the aduise of his father brake prison and was gone to Alua to marrie with Marie de Toleda his cosen daughter vnto Garcie he which was Generall at sea the which hee effected returning presently vnto the same prison The Duke bare this affliction with great humilitie and constancie so as all hatred ceasing his verie enimies did pittie his miserie This banishment was remarkeable both for his estate age and the notable seruices he had done vnto this crowne as also to see the integritie of the king who notwithstanding the necessitie he seemed to haue of his person in matters of importance that drewe neere could not cause him any thing to dissemble the execution of that which he thought fit for iustice or his reputation It was also remarkeable for the great offices which some Princes did in his fauour but most of all his holines who did instantly sollicite his deliuerie by the meanes of his Nuncio saying that although he coulde not presume of the kings iust intention but that the Dukes imprisonment proceeded from some great cause yet he coulde not in duty but performe this office It was saide this good will of the Pope towards the Duke proceeded from the seruice hee had done vnto the Apostolique seate hauing made long warre against the Infidels and heretikes and also for that which he had done against the Church it selfe effecting that which was conuenient to his king whilest as enimie hee was contrarie vnto it as he did defende it being a friend binding vnto him not onely Paule the fourth who was then Pope but also his successors And it seemes strange that the greatest loue they say the Church had vnto him sproong from the warre which he made against it The Deputies of Castill which were then in court laboured for him and although the king sent them worde they shoulde be contented and not sue vnto him for that he woulde not refuse anie thing they shoulde demaund yet this manner of demaunding and denying serued for a great office The King from the beginning was in hope to make himselfe peaceable Lord of the Realme of Portugall although he were not ignorant of the small inclination the Portugals had vnto him but hee let passe nothing which he thought fit to gaine their loues and to this effect he did write to all the chiefe cities of the Realme his pretention offering and threatning but in the greatest part his letters were not receiued in publike To the citie of Lisbone he did write in this manner Most noble and our welbeloued although I haue appointed Christopher de Mora to saie vnto you some things which you shall vnderstande from him yet woulde I giue you to knowe by my letters that there is no man in this world more then my selfe that hath felt the losse of noble king Sebastian my nephew and of his men The reasons for which I ought to haue this iust feeling are easie to be considered hauing lost a sonne and a friend whom I loued tenderly and in the same degree I held and hold all those that are lost with him for I doe cherish and loue all them of this Realme as my owne subiects And I thinke it is not vnknowne the great diligence I vsed to diuert his iourney as well personally my selfe at Guadalupa as also before and since by my ministers whereof many of the principall of this Realme are good witnesses But not to reuiue so great a griefe let vs lay apart the things which cannot be remedied fixing our eies on the true consolation which is that those afflictions were giuen by the hande of God and suffered by the greatnes of his prouidence we ought likewise particularly to comfort our selues that in this wretched and miserable age this Realme hath gotten for their Gouernour so Christian and wise a Prince as is the king mine vncle whose rare vertues and exemplarie life giueth vs cause with reason to expect that he will settle the present affaires in so peaceable an estate that we shall proceede in all things with the mildenes and gentlenes I wish for the loue I beare to all and singularly for the degree of amitie and affinitie which hath alwaies beene betwixt these two crownes and betwixt my selfe and the Lords of the same Realme being all of one bloud and my selfe and my children nephewes of noble king Emanuel being nourished and brought vp by the Empresse and Ladie my Mother For these causes and considerations I haue as great respect to the king mine vncle and as great cause to wish him a long and happie life as your selues But the affaires of the succession of this Realme being in the estate you know I haue with great consideration and due aduise examined the right which it hath pleased God by his secret iudgments to giue me And causing this action to be viewed by men of great learning and conscience both within mine owne Realme and without all doe finde that without doubt the succession thereof doth rightlie appertaine vnto me and that there liues not any at this day that can with reason contradict me by manie and cleere grounds being a male the eldest as it is apparently knowne And hauing resolued to make this point knowne to the noble King mine vncle with loue and due respect I haue earnestly entreated him that it would please him presently to declare it as he is bounde for the discharge of his conscience and for the bond he hath to doe right and iustice but most of al for that it concernes the preseruation peace rest augmentation and prosperitie of these Realmes and of all the subiects thereof the which hee ought both chiefly to care for and to procure seeing that besides the saide effects it shall cause an other of greater importance which is that which concerneth the seruice of God our Lord the assurance encrease of our holy Catholike faith I
mention thereof neither is it credible that since this pretention was incorporate to the crowne of so mightie a Realme such wise and mightie Princes as were Frauncis the first and Henry the second woulde haue forgotten to haue called it in question But the truth was the Countesse Matilda left no children as it appeeres in her Testament in the publike Registers of Portugall making therein no mention to leaue any by king Alphonse nor to haue had any and viewing the antiquities of the Realme they saide that a writer was abused who reported that a yoong childe buried in the church of Saint Dominico in Lisbone was her sonne and though it should be so yet doth it not contradict since she doth not affirme she had any children but that he died yoong They did likewise prooue that Matilda had not any by a formal request found in the same registers by the which all the Prelats of the Realme did beseech Pope Vrbane that it would please him to disanull the curse which he had laide vpon the Realme and that he woulde approoue the marriage of Beatrice the second wife of Alphonse that he would make their children legitimate that there might be no hinderance in the succession of this Realme whereby they concluded that if there had beene any lawfull children of Matilda they coulde not haue perswaded the Pope to preferre the bastards of Beatrice They added that these reasons were not vnknowne in Fraunce and that of late there had beene a booke printed of the genealogie of the houses of Medicy and Bulloigne continued vnto Katherine the most Christian Queene whereby it did cleerely appeere that Matilda had left no children by Alphonse her second husband hauing beene formerly married to Philip sonne of Philip Augustus king of Fraunce by which marriage she had one daughter named Iane who succeded not her mother in the Countie dying before her without issue So as Robert sonne of Alix sister to Matilda came to the succession and this is that Robert from whom they would drawe the descent of the Queene Mother being the Nephew not the sonne of Matilda So as not being prooued by any meanes that Alphonse the thirde had any children by his first bedde but the contrary by many reasons they saide the Queene had no reason to pretende neither had she done it in time Philip therefore being grounded in this action sendes into Portugall for assistants to the Duke Rodorik Vasquez and Lewes de Molina Doctors of the law and Auditors of his Councell roiall with the title of Embassadors to signifie vnto the King and to his Councell his apparant iustice with aduertisement not withstanding that they should do no acte whereby they might inferre that they acknowledge any iurisdiction in the king Being arriued and all the Agents of the Catholique King consulting togither they propounded the matter of succession in forme as they were commanded deliuering in writing vnto the king an ample allegation of the reasons of Philip But for that in the beginning they had founde the kings thoughts bending to the Dutchesse of Bragance they laboured long in vaine to make him capable of the iustice of their king They vsed all meanes they thought conuenient and heere in Mora perfourmed great offices not onely with the King and his fauorites but with the Gentlemen and Noblemen of qualitie so as many with liuely reasons giuing to one offering to an other by effects wordes and writings he drew all he coulde to the Catholique Kings deuotion It seemed that this manner of sounding the Nobilitie with money and promises did then serue to purpose And although the course which the king helde for the attaining of his pretention seemed vnto him expedient yet did he not so relie thereon as knowing the Portugals to be restie he woulde omit force for that seeing the indisposition of Henry he sought to winne time and so to prepare himselfe that if he shoulde chaunce to die at such time when as the Portugals woulde not yeeld him the Crowne quietly he might sodainly take possession thereof by force But hauing learned by experience in the warre of Granado the losse of Golette and the defence of Malta that one nation alone sheweth not so great a courage as vnited with another this competencie seruing as a spurre to animate them he resolued to prepare to warre with the forces of diuers nations as if he had beene certaine that of necessitie he must winne this Realme by conquest And although the generall opinion were that fewe men woulde serue against the vnexperienced Portugals and that he shoulde not finde any resistance against his force yet knowing that there is not any humaine force but may be vanquished hee resolued to make an armie of fortie thousand foote considering that although the Portugals were such as it was saide yet being at home and by reason of the hatred and furie of the whole Realme they might in one day drawe togither aboue seuentie thousand men for any expedition and therefore it behooued him to be strong He therefore commaunds Inico Lopez de Mendosa Marques of Moundegiar then Viceroy at Naples to keepe in a readines his Spanish foote with the ships and munition for Portugall he leuied nine thousand Italians vnder the commaund of Peter de Medicy brother to Frauncis the great Duke of Tuscayne hee brought downe sixe thousand Germaines with Counte Ierome of Lodrone and although he might haue raised in Spaine a great number of men of all sorts yet trusting onely to his entertained soldiers he leuied the greatest forces he coulde purposing to ioine to those Spaniards that were but fresh water soldiers some of those that had beene in Italy and such as were come from the warres of Flaunders But these things were effected with more ease and lesse nombers then were appointed For although the Viceroy of Naples did in the beginning very carefully prouide for it yet after hee grew colde abandoning all hauing intelligence that the King had chosen to succeed him in his charge Iohn de Suniga great commander of Castill and that he shoulde returne into Spaine yet the soldiers were inrolled and conducted with armes and munition to Gibraltar and other places of Andelouzia thereabouts from whence they marched after to the confines of Portugall the number chiefly of Italians being greatly diminished with hunger and other discommodities not without consideration that nine thousand men seeme much in Spaine And although they arriued a yeere later then the king had commanded yet came they sooner then necessity required for Henry yet liuing they were long idle But this preuention was done like a valiant and wise Prince maintaining an armie vpon the confines of his owne Realme without vse thereof during a mans life attending his naturall death when as no man is yet so neere death but may liue some yeeres The Catholique King preferring the danger to be vnarmed and Henry deceasing before his expences gaue this testimonie not onely of his wisdome
credible that Philip according to his custome woulde with lawes and his power keepe them vnder and contrariwise that the people shoulde embrace him whom he doth equally fauour yeelding them equall iustice And yet notwithstanding the greater part followed the contrarie for the Nobilitie did embrace Philip and the people fled him For satisfaction whereof and to reclaime them from the opinion they held the Agents of the Catholique King were desirous besides the diligence they had vsed to publish throughout the Realme the Kings title and the mildenes of his yoke seeming not sufficient for the content of the common people to haue priuately imparted it to many Their aduersaries amongst the which was the magistrate of the Chamber of Lisbone woulde willingly haue taken occasion to publish vnto the worlde their contrarie reasons whereon they grounded but it was not tolerated neither for the one nor the other to speake publikely in the assemblies of the people for besides that it was prohibited euery one durst not freely discouer his intention For this occasion diuers fell to write the grounds of their partie by discourse and letters And although writings breede not so firme an impression in the minde as the voice yet their discourse published did perswade with greater efficacie then they had done by speaking for that writings came to the hands of more men then wordes could haue done where reading and examining them they wrought great effects There were many of these letters seene without authors and although some were friuolous and without sense yet the better sorte which followed the Catholique kings partie tended to satisfie the people and to terrifie the motiues thereof by the greatnes of the action and the perill of warre They did particularly touch one after another the reasons of the pretendents and refuting them all shewed that the Catholique King did precead They made no small adoo about the processe of Anthony saying that he was a bastard although he had beene declared legitimate and to precead Philip yet shoulde they neuer satisfie the worlde but they woulde surmise some cosinage deuised to take the Crowne from him who ought to enioy it They disprooued the reasons of such as maintained the election of the King to be in the people hauing a lawfull successor bringing in examples of the Popes authoritie in the nomination of Kings as well of Alphonso the first as of the Earle of Bulloigne And if Iohn the first were chosen king it was after a battaile woone the Portugals affirming there were no lawfull successors but bastards illegitimate but by their owne reason they said it was apparant there was now no question of the election seeing there remained a lawful kinseman They laboured to make knowne that God hauing called vnto him two and twentie successors which did all precead the Catholique king that his pleasure was by vniting of Portugall to the Realmes of Castill to fortifie an arme of the Church to resist all the outragious attempts of infidels and heretikes But leauing the iustice and will of God aside they discoursed examining the honors and blames the losses and profits which by the one or other meanes might happen as for honor they shoulde not take for any disgrace and obedience which fell by lawfull succession alleaging that the States of Castill when as king Emanuell did inherite being strong enough to defende themselues if they woulde receiued him curteously And when as the Archduke of Austria although a Germaine did succeed him they did the like They mocked at such as said that Castill should be vnited to Portugall but not Portugal to Castill proouing that no Portugall euer came neere this Court but he was embraced greatlie honoured many of the principall houses of Castill being issued from Portugall They did contradict with liuely reasons such as feared to be oppressed like to the estates of Flaunders Naples and Millaine saying that in Flaunders they had alwaies vsed the people with great kindnes that they had beene gouerned by their owne nation that the Spaniards had no charge there That many of the principall had rebelled against the church of Rome against their king the which he woulde not suffer that in this enterprise more for that which concerned the good of the Church then for any other respect the King had spent 50. millions of gold and that hauing for enimies both Germany Flaunders England they could not take these countries from the Kings possession but hauing meanes graunting free libertie of Religion to be absolute Lord and to reape thereby great profit he would not accept thereof onely for the remorse of his conscience preferring the seruice of God before all other respects They saide that the Neapolitanes and Millanoyes had beene conquered by force weake of themselues and enuironed with enimies that they were not burdened neither coulde he do lesse then maintaine garrisons inferring thereby that if they were peaceably inherited they shoulde haue libertie like good and faithfull subiects and maintaine with more force that which their fathers had gotten without feare of any thing whatsoeuer but if they suffered themselues to be conquered by armes they should be Neapolitanes Millanoyes and possiblie woorse They commended the Portugals as faithfull obedient and indued with commendable parts blaming the basenes of such as were not ashamed to thinke they coulde be ill intreated of any prince whatsoeuer They said that since Philip was resolute and that hee had written to the cities of the Realme the assurance of his action seeing that in fourteene yeeres hee had neuer abandoned the enterprise in Flaunders being farre off hauing so many kings opposite and the Flemmings suing to be subiect vnder iust conditions that it is not credible he woulde desist from Portugall being so neare so weake without succours and hauing so great an interest they reported with ioy the deeds of the Spaniards saying that when as Spaine takes armes he doth imprison the king of Fraunce and the greatest of Germanie makes the Turke to turne his backe takes from him Malta dissolues his armies maintaines continually in Flaunders an armie sounde and lustie breaking and dispersing his enimies and yet the Noblemen of Spaine remaine quietly in their houses From their valour they came to the consideration how Portugall woulde resist so great a Monarch entreating them with affectionate words to haue regard thereunto They saide that the comfort of men of iudgement was to see the small force of the Portugals for if it were greater they might for a time make some resistance considering their obstinacie iudging that in the beginning of this warre the kings of the Indies woulde presently become Lords of the sea coast the Moores woulde assaile the places of Affricke the French and English woulde attempt the Islands some woulde vsurpe on one side some of another not onely to the losse of the Realme but of all Christendome They brought in the example of King Sebastian shewing that he was lost for not measuring
he should preuaile in recompence of the discontentment he had to be drawen from Italy Many beleeued the King would goe to this war in person both for the inclination they see in him as for some other signes which were apparant for he not only caused his armes and pauillions to be readie but also commaunded Ferrant de Silua Conte de Cifuentes Guidon Maior of Castill with the Standard Royall to furnish himself the which in that Realme is not accustomed to be carried but in the Squadron where the King is in person but in this case it behooued him to remaine irresolute and to gouerne himselfe according to the necessitie and occasions which time should discouer In this hope of things the King commaunded a Secretarie of the councell of warre to write to the Duke of Alua demaunding of him if he were able to serue in this enterprise whereunto making answere that in that which concerned his Maiestie he neuer made reckoning of his health hee was commaunded to prepare himselfe within three daies and to goe to the campe the which he putting in execution he went to Barrazas a village ten miles from the court which was at Madrill hauing no leaue to come thither but that which caused admiration the king hauing at the same time caused the Prince Diego his sonne to be sworne by all the estates in a Chappell although with ordinarie ceremonies yet with lesse pompe then of custome did not admit the saide Duke to the oath being so neere and so great a personage He did neither write vnto him nor treated with him concerning these warres but long after So as the Duke marching with the armie finding himselfe not fully released from the prison wherein he had beene saide that the King had sent him to conquer Realmes drawing after him chaines and fetters such was the seueritie of Philip and the obedience of so great a minister All Spaine was pleased with this election for besides the deliuery of the Duke which followed they esteemed not the valour of their soldiers without a Commaunder to their mindes and in the Dukes person they helde any armie good The Generall being dispatched the King prouided all things for his iourney into Portugall he caused a daughter borne at that time to be secretly baptized and hauing made the saide prince of Castill to be sworne without calling or the presence of Ferrant de Sylua to his great discontentment the King went to Guadalupa being now the time of Lent vnder colour to performe the obsequies of King Henry there and so to draw neere vnto Portugall to giue encouragement to his affaires and thus did he write to all the principall cities in Spaine He departed from Madrill in coach almost all alone without giuing order for the Queenes departure or for the officers of his Courte notwithstanding cherishing her dearely After he had passed two daies seeming conuenient and a great signe of amitie that being now to enter into Portugall he shoulde be accompanied with his Queene he called her vnto him The Duke was now gone to Glierena where a part of his armie lay being in farre lesser numbers then had beene leuied for that discommodities and sicknesse had consumed many and many places were voide by the Captaines pollicie being in all but fower thousand fiue hundreth Italians three thousand fiue hundreth Germaines and three thousand Spaniards come out of Italy and other seauen thousand newly raised with fifteene hundreth horse which being a body long before prepared for a matter so well foreseene seemed to him but small But the Duke trusting more to the qualitie then the quantitie of his soldiers desired to haue them fewer and of more experience and these seemed in a manner all without knowledge and therefore the King at his entreatie commanded that all the soldiers which were come out of Flaunders into Italy should passe into Spaine being such whom he knew and had tried in the warres yet they arriued not in time but returned backe The Duke saide that surmounting the enimie in horse he would vndertake this warre with twelue thousand foote well experienced neither did he value the great number of the Portugals which assembled as it was giuen out making reckoning to waste them by policie to conquer them without battaile The King being come to Guadalupa there arriued the Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo Embassadors from the Gouernours of Portugall The King with his Councell were doubtfull in what sort to honor them some would haue them treated like subiects without respecting them as Embassadors Others would not haue any thing altered of the ordinarie course obserued in those causes yet not to discourage them it was resolued they should be heard as Embassadors with their heads couered and that the King should put off his hat yet the King had written before to the Gouernors that he would treat with their Commissaries as with subiects These laboured by a long speech to perswade the King to lay aside armes they saide that King Henry had greatly desired to end the question of succession by the ordinarie course of iustice but that death had preuented him he had in the States held at Lisbone in the yeere 1579. not onely chosen Gouernors and defenders of the Realme but the States had also named fower twentie Iudges whereof the King had chosen eleuen to iudge definitiuely the cause of succession if he died before the effecting it the which after hapned and that the matter being brought to that passe the realme remained quiet and peaceable resolute to obey and acknowledge for their Lord and King him in whose fauour sentence should be giuen conformable to the oath which the whole Realme had taken in the said estates the which was after ministred to the same Gouernors in the great church at Lisbone when as the coffer which contained the nomination was opened and therefore they were readie to administer iustice and to acknowledge for King him vnto whom the realme shoulde be iudged by right to appertaine and being thus affected they beseeched his maiesty to command his embassadors to assist iudicially to the cause in the conclusion thereof But the King being assured of his right prouided of forces and seeming no blot to his conscience made answere that he was well pleased with the shew of zeale to the publike good of these realmes and that he was perswaded that what they had propounded proceeded from a good inclination that he would haue bin glad their demand had bin such as he might haue satisfied them the which he wil do alwaies in matter that shall be iust tending to the generall or particular good of these realmes But the equitie of his cause being so apparant to the world remaining no lawfull or competent iudge they neither ought nor could performe the oath which they saide they had taken seeing it were an apparant preiudice to his title and a domage to his owne realmes and therefore he
discouering their intention said it was fit they should all stay at Saint Arem so as fearing to giue greater cause to suspect they coulde not depart They added moreouer that leauing the Prior there with the deputies in a time when as the Catholique king should begin to take armes they might in their absence vnder colour of defence erect a tyrannie So as ignorant what course to take or how to redresse things they did being friends by their irresolution more hurt to the Catholique king then they coulde haue done being enimies for the king hoping these woulde haue deliuered him the crowne proceeded slowly with his armie At that time it chanced that Iohn Gonzalez de Camera Earle of Caglietta died of the plague at Almeryn so as the Gouernors tooke this occasion to depart from thence and went to Settuual with the Duke of Bragance the Agents of the Catholique King and others of their faction for hauing created captaines placed a garrison they cōmanded the gates to be guarded The Catholique King hauing assembled his armie neere to Badagios receiued aduertisement that his nauie was at Saint Marie porte ready to set saile before they should enter into Portugall not yet well satisfied with the diligence he had vsed as it is saide with many Diuines desired to consult againe in the Vniuersitie of Alcala where the profession of Diuinitie flourisheth most in those realmes vpon his entrie in armes into the realme and the proposition made by the Portugall Embassadors And to that effect hauing assembled all the doctors being in number aboue thirtie hauing made their praiers and supplications vnto God in their sacrifices and the matter considered by euery one apart it was disputed of in three sessions For although the matter were not hard to decide yet was it graue and new All without any disagreement concurre in opinion with the first with whom the King had consulted without viewing of their reasons they sent a publike decree vnto the King There was propounded vnto them three articles I he first that the King being certaine to succeed by right after the death of King Henry to the realmes of Portugall whether he were in conscience bound to submit himselfe to any tribunall iudge or arbitrator who might adiudge him the realmes or put him in possession thereof The second was that the realme of Portugall refusing to acknowledge him for their Prince vnlesse he woulde first stande to iudgement with the pretendents Whether he may of his owne authoritie take possession thereof by force against such as shall make resistance presupposing that there is no doubt or scruple of conscience in his title whatsoeuer The thirde was that the Gouernours of Portugall alleaging that they and the whole realme haue sworne not to receiue any for King but him that shoulde be iudicially so declared and that they may not receiue the King otherwise the rather for that the pretendents complaine and offer to stande to iudgement He desired to know if the saide Gouernors and the whole realme may pretend this oath for an excuse not to receiue him for King To the first they answered that the King was not bound in conscience to submit himselfe to any Iustice or arbitrement seeing that he had of himseife priuate authoritie to adiudge vnto himselfe those realmes and to take possession They excluded especially from this authoritie of iudging all Princes and such as might pretend to take any knowledge thereof And first humblie saluting the Pope and the Apostolike sea they denied that this iurisdiction did appertaine vnto him the cause being meerelie temporall and nothing concurring where by his holines should vse that indirect authoritie which he hath in temporall causes so farre foorth as they concerne the spirituall good They shewed he was not bounde to the censure of the Emperour for that the Kings of Spaine were soueraignes not acknowledging the Emperour in any thing and much lesse to any other King They prooued he was not subiect to the common-wealth nor the realmes of Portugul saying That when as common wealthes doe choose their first King vpon condition to obey him and his successors they remaine subiect vnto him to whom they haue transferred their authoritie no iurisdiction remaining in them either to iudge the realme or the true successor seeing in the first election all the true successors were chosen Being therefore most apparant there is a true successour it followeth that the common wealth of Portugall hath no iurisdiction to iudge of him that doth truely succeede and that the King hath as great a warrant not to be subiect to the censure of this common wealth as he hath to be true successour And as touching the eleuen persons of the fower and twentie which King Henry had named they saide that Henry himselfe coulde not be iudge of him that did succeede after him for that after his death the office of administring iustice was expired and all his authoritie and iurisdiction past vnto his lawfull successor Against arbitrators they spake little onely that the bond of cōpremise had no place when as the equitie of the cause was not doubtfull as it was supposed They answered them which saide that the King had no interest to the realme of Portugall as King of Castill but as kinseman to King Henry by reason whereof he coulde not in this case challenge the preheminence he hath as King of Castill saying that this imaginarie diuision cannot bee made in the person of the King for it is so annexed to the dignitie royall that his person cannot be wronged but the dignitie woulde suffer And seeing the Prince may lawfully make war vpon an other Realme for iniuries done to his brothers and friends confederats with greater reason may he do it in taking possession of a Realme which appertaines lawfully vnto himselfe They made answer to such as said that obseruing the ciuill canon law a matter litigious should be iudged where it happeneth and therfore this shoulde bee decided in Portugall saying that these decisions speake of particular persons who haue their superiour Iudges and not of soueraigne Princes and their dependancies To the seconde article they answered with more reasons then vnto the first saying the King was not bound to any thing but to signifie vnto the Gouernours his Title and certaine interest to the Crowne and if notwithstanding this demonstration they should make resistance then the King by his owne authoritie might take possession of the Realme vsing if neede required force of armes for that in this action it can not bee termed force but a naturall defence of the Realme which is his owne and a iust punishment of Rebels To the third they said that this oath could not binde them that had vndertaken to obserue it seeing it is most certaine that neither in Portugall nor else where any iudge may determine this cause with the King Moreouer that this oath is to the preiudice of his prerogatiue royall and as this oath did not
yoong men induced by Philips partisans seeing into what danger the captaine had brought the safety of the citie resolued to kill him and going to the Cathedrall church where they were all assembled they attended at the doore to effect it when he shoulde come foorth but discoursing with the Bishop who perswaded him ignorant of the danger wherein he was a nephew of his named likewise Anthony de Melo vnderstanding in the castell in what danger his grandfather was came foorth with certaine Harguebusiers to his succour and came in time before he was yet issued out of the church Old Anthony seeing this yoong man enter armed was amazed not knowing the cause but vnderstanding it afterwards and withall the hazard whereunto he was brought by such as did watch for him he sent to Velasco that he shoulde compound with the magistrate that as for him he was content to yeeld obedience to king Philip by meanes whereof all was pacified for the Magistrate had alreadie yeelded At the taking of their oathes the Citizens ill aduised required Velasco that in the Kings name hee shoulde graunt vnto the citie many priuileges and exemptions of customes and impostes throughout the realme with many other things of importance And hee liberall of that which he could not giue graunted all that was demaunded but these promises were not obserued by the King saying as it was true indeed that Velasco had exceeded his commission These things ended they were aduertised that Gaspar de Britto whom the citie had sent to Diego de Meneses was returning with three hundred men horse and foote ill appointed to guard this place to whom they presently sent word that he should turne back and hauing discouered the Castillian horse of himselfe he fled with al his troupes The day following the vsuall ceremonies perfourmed in proclaiming a newe King Velasco returned hauing staied there but three daies The principall of Eluas went after to Badagios to kisse the Kings hande of whom they had better reception then he is accustomed to giue vnto such people sending Garcia de Cardenas nephewe to the Duke of Alua to the citie to thanke the Citizens for their good wils Eluas being reduced Peter Velasco for the same intent tooke his way towards Oliuenza whither he had before written labouring that Nugno Aluares sonne to the Earle of Tentuguell being captaine of the place shoulde depart the which he easily obtained for the Citizens who had their affections enclined to the Catholique King were resolued to yeelde vnto him hauing entreated the King that it woulde please him not to make this place the first whereof he shoulde take possession seeing that he had woone their harts desiring rather to deserue lesse by obtaining late then to be accused of inconstancie by hastening much For this cause they not onelie thrust foorth Nugno Aluarez but also Diego de Sosa a knight of the order of Saint Iohn who had succeeded in his place The newes of all this and of the successe of Eluas came presently to Saint Arem whereas Anthony remained labouring with the people to be proclaimed King He was alwaies impatient in his pretention notwithstanding the persecutions that king Henry inflicted vpon him labouring still by all meanes possible to aspire to the crowne intreating threatning and suborning He treated by his Agents with the Catholique King in diuers manners Sometimes he seemed iealous of the Duke of Bragance and would ioine with the King against him Sometimes he treated to resigne his interest to Philip if he would make him a good composition carrying himselfe as his hopes increased or diminished So as it hapned vnto such as mannaged his affaires with the king when they found themselues to haue concluded a matter they found their authoritie reuoked The King in the end caused Christopher de Mora to talke with him and to make offer of all he should demaund for the great loue he bare vnto him without naming either summe or any thing else whatsoeuer but for that he hated Mora he would not by his meanes treate of this matter of agreement Notwithstanding when as the Duke of Ossuna deliuered vnto the Gouernors a copie of the kings minde as is before set downe he deliuered vnto Anthony a letter from the King wherein he did write vnto him That forasmuch as he was not ignorant many yeeres since of the good will he had alwaies borne him the which he had laboured to make shewe of in all occasions he was assured he woulde not prooue ingrate but shew himselfe answerable vnto that whereunto reason did binde him the neerenes of bloud that was betwixt them He said moreouer that hauing vnderstoode the right and apparant title hee had to the realmes of Portugall he entreated him most hartely to shew himselfe one of the first to receiue and to sweare him for his King and naturall Lord as God had appointed that by his example the rest might do that whereunto they were bounde assuring him that for his owne particular he woulde holde that regard of him to recompence and grace him as was conuenient referring the rest to that which the Duke of Ossuna and Mora shoulde deliuer vnto him But this letter wrought no effect for he then saide vnto the Duke that he woulde neuer agree making answere vnto the King that he could not satisfie him for that being vnder the peoples protection he must gouerne himselfe according to their mindes and therefore vnderstanding that the Castillians began to enter within the realm he made haste to dispatch this busines with the people the Deputies and making his profite of the possession the King tooke seeing the necessitie they had of a commaunder to make resistance he induced them to choose him Protector or King And although this resolution was made by the most seditious and arrogant who by force seeke to execute what they please who woulde needes proclaime him King yet were there many that woulde not yeeld vnto it many helde it more fit to call him Protector The Prior himselfe was not well resolued of this point suffring himselfe to be ledde as in all other his actions by the greatest number and his most fauorites who to induce the people to performe this acte in despight of some that woulde not assent being then in question to builde a fortresse a little without Saint Arem where there standes a small chappell dedicated to the inuocation of the Apostles they spred foorth a rumour that Anthony shoulde go thither the 19. of Iune to lay the first stone and that all the people shoulde worke in that fortification labouring in such an assembly to effect their desires But there needed no great arte for the people desirous of innouation ranne all thither that morning The Bishop of Parma being innocent and he of Guarda ofset purpose came to the chappell where masse was celebrated in the midst whereof they exhorted the assemblie to defence and with darke speeches to make an election
and baggage by reason wherof he carried with him aboue sixe thousand chariots and fiue and twenty peeces of canon and passing vnder the walles of Eluas there was nothing to be done being already yeelded In three daies march he came to Stremos receiuing all places thereabouts to obedience which might be amazed at the bruite of the armie But for that he laboured to assure the kings person aboue all being entred two daies iourney within the countrey he sent backe Peter Manrique de Padilla a knight of account and well experienced in the warre with two companies of men at armes and Peter d' Ayala Marshall of the field an old soldier with a regiment of Spaniards who lodged at Eluas assuring those quarters from all reuolutions that might be feared within Stremos was captaine Iohn Dazeuedo Admirall of the realme yoong and hardie who put himselfe in defence and was cause that the armie made longer stay there then at any other lodging He whē as the gouernors were yet at Almeryn had obtained by the meanes of Martin Gonzales de Camera somewhat allyed vnto him the Captainship of that place and after being written vnto by Anthonie as king he would not obey him saying that he did not acknowledge any other superiour then the gouernours to whom he had giuen his oath At this time the Duke being arriued he sent vnto him Peter de Luna a captaine of horse with letters from the king requiring his obedience but he refused to yeeld it for the same reasons he had giuen to Anthonie he trusted more to the defence of the place then the force thereof would warrant and the rather for the diligence of Diego de Meneses who when he had speech of the fortifying of Eluas seeing it could not be effected he had retired himselfe to Stremos thinking there to make head and hauing animated the people to defende it he promised them great succours so as all agreeing with the Admirall they were resolute to fight At this time Christopher de Mora who went from Settuual to Badagios passing through the citie he persuaded the Landini chiefe citizens to yeeld obedience vnto the king and for that it was easie for them to turne the people as they pleased they induced them soone to obey So as the Admirall remained alone in his obstinacie within the castell with some of his friends and familiars and although they laboured to bring him to obedience yet would he not yeeld excusing himselfe that it appeered not vnto him that the king was heire to the realme neither did the comming of the Prior Ferrant de Toledo sonne to the Duke of Alua preuaile who discouering him to be a man of small consideration made offer vnto him that the Duke should be bound that whensoeuer it should appeere that the realme appertained not vnto Philip hee should restore him to the place he now enioyed neither preuailed it to let him vnderstand that he could not resist making answere obstinately that when he had done his last endeuour hee woulde abandon the place with the losse of his life seeming that he coulde not otherwise saue his honour But this resolution lasted little for discouering from the castell that the Duke had already planted his artillerie that those of the citie which had promised to defend him were all against him and that some Castillian soldiers were entred the citie being all amazed he resolued to retire himselfe and leaue the fortresse wanting courage to defend it but in issuing foorth the Castillians tooke him prisoner and led him to the Duke who was in doubt whether he should punish him corporally to terrifie the rest by his first example but he pardoned him and sent him prisoner to Villauizosa writing vnto the king that he tooke pitie of him being yoong and without experience When the magistrate and the citizens had taken their oath and done the accustomed ceremonies to obey the king the armie marched towardes Mounte maior by the way of Arraialos leauing Euora on the left hande a citie of importance but then greatly afflicted with the plague But to the ende it shoulde not remaine behinde vnyeelded the Duke sent thither Henry de Guzman with twentie horse to take possession thereof both for that hee knewe it was vnpeopled as also vnderstanding that Diego de Castro who was Captaine there and the principalles of the citie who were retired to their gardens thereabouts desired to yeeld their obedience by reason whereof the saide captaine and Magistrate being assembled togither a mile from the citie vnder the Portall of our Ladies church there Constantine de Brito a Notarie receiued a publike acte whereby they deliuered the citie to his Maiesties obedience the which they all assigned The Duke beeing now arriued in fower daies march at Mount Maior the new where hauing found no resistance although the Counte Vimioso had beene there a little before taking possession thereof he came within fower daies to Settuual without wasting the countrey as is vsuall in warre for he neither slewe nor spoiled the inhabitants of townes nor suffered them to tread downe the corne which was then ripe It seemed that Diego de Meneses had not shewed the fruits that were expected of his valour within that prouince nor of that heate wherewith hee vndertooke the defence hauing for that cause refused the place of Viceroy of the Indies which is the greatest charge giuen in that realme For hauing first from the Gouernours and after from the Prior receiued charge to defend the saide prouince hee not onely neglected the defence but also retired himselfe He excused this weake resistance saying that the Gouernors had deceiued him in not furnishing him with armes and other things necessarie and that hauing no other armes with the people but wordes he was enforced to retire himselfe But whatsoeuer the cause was all that part beyond the riuer of Tagus which is the most fertile within the realme remained disarmed and in pray to the enimie Anthonie being returned from Settuuall to Lisbone he was receiued with great ioy being the first time he had entred as king And although the infection with the diuision of the Nobilitie had much vnpeopled it yet made they deuises with great shewes of ioy I will not leaue to report as a thing remarkable that there was a cōpany of poore women which sell thinges in the market place the which marching in order like soldiers with their armes she which was their captaine in steade of a Halberd carried a fire panne seeming to remember the auncient battaile of Algibarotta betwixt the Castillians and the Portugals where these being conquerors they vaunted that a Bakers wife had slaine seauen Castillians with a fire panne The Gouernors who were fledde from Settuuall to a castell whereas Ambrose de Aguiar was then captaine imbarqued secretly and their feare was so great as not holding themselues assured in any part of the realme they were conducted to Ayamont a citie belonging to the
at the rising of the sunne hauing discouered the truth this feare vanquished yet did there a greater seaze vpon euery mans minde for vnderstanding in trutth the Duke to be strong they began to heare newes of the soldiers insolencies which disbanded and drewe daily neerer giuing no small astonishment to see certaine Negro slaues returne wounded who hauing rashly passed with their ensignes to the other banke were ill entreated by some horse and shot of the enimie They founde that Anthony made no preparation neither had he any forces to resist gouerning himselfe with small iudgement and therefore he neither knew how to fight nor which way to flie neither yet how to yeelde himselfe He was daily in counsell with his men but as he suffred himselfe to be gouerned by many whose authorities were equall and their opinions diuers so did he neuer resolue any good thing as it hapneth often in the like accidents They then propunded more plainly then before the treatie of an accorde and although some who before did seeme brauest shewed themselues nowe more milde yet for that the Counte of Vimioso being a yoong man perswaded to warre no man durst contradict him He affected the charge of generall but hee knewe not by what meanes to displace Diegode Meneses who enioied it so as contrarying one an other they prouided slowly for things necessarie whereunto was a great hinderance the credite that Anthony gaue to Edward de Castro a rich yoong man to whom he was bounde hauing furnished him with money who desirous to shew himselfe valiant obtained a commission to assemble what horse he coulde vnder his cornet imploying him in matters of greater authoritie then was fitte for his base qualitie His holines hauing intelligence of the refusall the Catholique king had made touching his entermedling in the cause doubted least the wars of Portugall shoulde alter the quiet of all Christendome In the beginning hee had shewed himselfe newter to both Kings seeming to bee doubtfull in himselfe to whether part hee should encline whether vnto Henry that woulde giue the crowne vnto the Dutchesse of Bragance or to Philip that sought it for himselfe for by reason of state he should not be wel pleased to see these two realmes vnited whereby the Catholique king shoulde become more mightie and superior in forces to all other princes yet did he not willingly seeme to oppose against him fearing to displease a Prince that had deserued well of him But vnderstanding that the two kings were agreed and that Henry had changed his minde and laboured to giue the realme to Philip he then made it manifest that he would fauour Anthony and the Portugals the which was more apparant after the death of King Henry when as hee laboured to haue the cause of succession ended by sentence But Philip in regard of the qualitie of the iudges detested this decision But his Embassadors hauing laboured in vaine in this respect Philip growing iealous and not greatly trusting the Popes good meaning woulde not put to compremise that which he seemed to holde certaine His holines determined to sende a Cardinall into Spaine expresly to treat vpon this busines Therefore before the Prior was proclaimed king he dispatched Cardinal Alexander Riario his Legat vnto Philip with commission to disswade the king from armes and from thence to passe into Portugall to fauour this busines with commission likewise to offer himselfe for iudge in the Popes behalfe vnto all the pretendents There were diuers discourses in Spaine vpon the comming of this Legat and although the Castillians feared not his sentence seeming hee shoulde not offer himselfe alone to determine so great a matter in Spaine if he had no meaning to pronounce it in fauour of Philip yet they helde it not conuenient to put the matter into his hands being of opinion that the Pope vnder colour to perfourme the office of a generall father came as it is saide to make himselfe absolute iudge of realmes that besides the extraordinarie authoritie he shoulde draw vnto the Aposto like sea hee shoulde binde the king vnto his house by giuing him a kingdome For this cause the King hauing intelligence of his departure from Rome desirous to take possession of the realme before his arriuall hee commaunded throughout all Spaine where he shoulde passe that he shoulde be entertained and receiued with all possible pompe whereof the Legat taking no heede he accepted of all their kindnes For this cause and for that the voiage was long he spent much time being arriued at Badagios he found that the affaires had taken an other forme then when he was at Rome For he vnderstood that Anthony was King and that Philips forces were entred Portugall being then at the wals of Settuuall Finding therefore the matter he had to treate of thus altred he sent to his Holines for new direction being in the meane time lodged without the citie in a cōuent of religious men which go barefoote he sent Traian Mario Apostolike Prothonotarie to visite the King who receiuing him with great fauor said vnto him that he was right sorie that by reason of his sicknes he could not go to meete the Legat as he was bounde but when God should giue him health he woulde then performe it supposing by this meanes to entertaine him the longer that the Cardinall desirous to enter with accustomed ceremouies would attend his recouerie and in the meane time the Duke of Alua should take possession of the realme But the Legat seeing his indisposition finding how much delay did import craued leaue to come to him by night priuately in coach the which with great difficultie was graunted comming vnto him one night accompanied with the Duke of Ossuna and the Earle of Chinchion But this audience was of small effect for the Legat by the alteration of the affaires being irresolute and the Catholique King most resolute to proceede in this enterterprise trusting more to armes then wordes there was no agreement the king saying that the matter was so farre aduaunced as it coulde admit no treating The Cardianll was lodged in the house of the Marquesse D'Oignion not being receiued at his entrie with the ceremonies accustomed for a Cardinall Legat Hee remained a while without doing any thing but to effect the Popes cōmission he would passe into Portugall The King who desired to stay him entertained him all he could supposing that the Legat being within Lisbone it woulde be scandalous to goe against him with an armie Moreouer he had no great confidence in the Legat but held him as suspect for that being before in Portugall with Cardinall Alexandryn he had entred a strict league of amitie with the Duke of Bragance one of the pretendents who had lodged and entertained him So as to delay his departure the King being now recouered of his sicknes sent vnto him that he woulde not haue him take his iourney before he had made his entrie with the ceremonies accustomed to a
it is vsuall with the common people they desired innouations the which the King discouering did greatly trouble his minde finding himselfe to faile in that which he supposed shoulde haue bred him a quiet enioying of the realme He did appoint as it hath been saide before that his sister Marie widow to the Emperour Maximilian the seconde being then in Germanie shoulde come into Spaine with Margaret her daughter And although the discourse of her comming were diuers for that some supposed she shoulde remaine at Madrill with the kings daughters others that she should come into Portugall where the King woulde leaue her as Gouernesse of the realme to go vnto the States of Aragon whereunto he was called yet in the ende she came vnto Lisbone Notwithstanding whether the rumours of Fraunce increased by reason whereof the King woulde not depart or that it was not fitte that of an Empresse she shoulde become Gouernesse of a small realme the King for that time did not depart neither did she gouerne at all True it is that hauing resolued to leaue Cardinal Albert Arch Duke of Austria the Empresse son in the gouernment of the realme he beganne to acquaint him with the dispatch of affaires and hauing one day assembled the Councell of estate he saide vnto them that for that hee was burthened with the gouernment of many realmes whereof hee had the care hee desired somewhat to discharg himselfe and for this consideration hauing thought the saide Cardinall fitte for the gouernment of the saide realme of Portugal he would leaue the charge vnto him and therefore heereafter they should holde their Councell in his presence In this space the Portugals of the Terceraes within the city of Angra were in no small cōfusion for after they had imprisoned Iohn de Betancour walled vp the Iesuites within their College taken diuers ships and committed extortions vpon diuers Citizens which followed secretly the Catholique kings partie there grew among themselues some difficultie for that it seemed vnto many that Ciprian de Figueredo chiefe gouernour did not continue with that vehemence he had begun And as it happens to him that rules all the seditious did malice him so as vpon any smal matter they tooke occasion to slander him acuse him of infidelitie although the cause may only be imputed vnto him that this Iland was not obedient vnto King Philip by reason whereof being desirous in the beginning of winter to dismisse certaine ships which were there detained and likewise to deliuer the Iesuits from the prison wherein they were all the obseruers of his actions opposed themselues and chiefly the other religious men as those in that place being more seditious then the rest feared most and were most watchfull of the affaires so as hee that in a manner had beene absolute Lorde the people being nowe incensed against him hee founde that hee coulde no more execute those things which had beene before tolerable And although he laboured so as the ships were dismissed yet coulde hee not deliuer the Iesuits for hee must of force with greater rigor trie the peoples inconstancie and the distrust of Princes For hauing aduertised Anthony being in Fraunce of the estate of the Iland and of the authoritie that many tooke vpon them against him demaunding when hee woulde come into the realme adding withall that this Iland was ruined and that it coulde not long continue in this estate Anthony grew in iealousie of him furthered by the letters he had receiued from his enimies the which saide plainly that he was a traitor and therefore he resolued to sende from Fraunce vnto the gouernment of these Ilands Emanuel de Sylua whom he had newly made Counte of Toresuedras one of his chiefest fauorites who arriued there in March with as ample commission as might be giuen in that place and hauing dispossessed Figueredo from his charge he began with a barbarous tyrannie to molest both friends foes for the recouering of money Before his arriuall a shippe laden with meale departed from Angra with shew to go vnto Brazil the which being not farre from the Iland tooke her course for Lisbone Some supposed that this was a practise of Figueredos and that by this meanes by his letter hee had demaunded pardon of the Catholique King and offered to deliuer him the Iland aduising him what course to take for afterwards an other shippe departing from Lisbone it was knowne they not onely carried the kings letters to Figueredo but also to many of the better sorte the which tooke not the effect that was expected for the saide shippe arriued after the comming of Emanuel de Silua so as Figueredo being dispossessed of his place coulde not execute his practise if he had any such thing in hande During these stirres they made a slowe preparation at Lisbone for the Ilands for that the King was not yet well resolued to attempt it in the yeere 1582. his Councell varying in their opinions Some aduised him presently with all his power to force them alleaging that the longer he delaied it the more daungerous the enterprise would prooue for both the French and English who as it was saide were bounde thither woulde if they landed fortifie if they had time so as hardly afterwards they shoulde finde any entrance They did likewise weigh this enterprise with regard of honor saying that it was a thing of small reputation and dishonorable that so weake an Iland shoulde dare in the view of Spaine resist the forces of so great a King They shewed of how great consequence it was being as they saide seated in a place which was the onely refuge of all the ships which came from the east and west Indies and from all the new nauigations into Spaine for although there were other Ilands in this sea yet was there not any so commodious as this the rest being very vnfitte and if the French and English became masters thereof as it was to bee feared if they protracted time and lodged their armies there they might from thence encounter the ships of those nauigations the which by reason of their long voiage returne home wearie and torne and being of themselues indefensible spoile them to the great losse and dishonour of al Spaine They made the enterprise easie saying that besides that from Fraunce they had receiued no great prouision of armes and munition in the I le it selfe the greatest part of the Nobilitie and many other would obey the king but they were forced by the multitude and durst not discouer themselues yet when the Kings colours shoulde with a mightie armie be discouered there woulde appeere in a manner as many friends as enimies Others that were of a contrarie opinion said that this enterprise was woorthie of great consideration the which they ought not rashly to vndertake for attempting it aduisedly it was most assured but going to it hastely it were dangerous They shewed that the Iland was by nature verie strong by reason of
retayned nothing of a priest but the habit and the name as for sermons confessions and such like things they came from them as from men which had not God before their eies And Anthonie himselfe during these afflictions had not his minde free from lasciuiousnes for the women of honour could hardly be free from his lustes hauing too familiar accesse into the monasterie of religious women amongst whom as well as amongst the men raigned the passions of the affaires of the Realme with no small scandall and great disorder and many of his as also of the French followed this his example Anthonie liued this kinde of life vntill the moneth of October irresolute what to doe To goe into Fraunce after the losse of so great a number of the nobilitie he helde it not safe neither knew he how he should be looked on for he feared as much the disdaine of particulars as he hoped in the protection of the Queene mother To remaine there he saw it a thing not able long to subsist with so great garrisons not hauing wherewithall to pay the souldiers nor in a manner how to furnish his expences He resolued therefore with such shippes as he had to depart for Fraunce but first would goe towardes the Madera and the Iland of Canarie that by spoyling of some weake places hee should content the souldiers with some weake pray For this cause hauing prepared about thirtie saile he not onely shipped his souldiers but with a new deuise he commaunded all the citizens which he suspected and all religious persons affected to the contrarie partie as the Iesuits and others to imbarke making this commaundement most rigorous to those that could least obserue it to the ende they should redeeme this voyage with money But all as vnprofitable in sea causes excused themselues with liuely reasons and entreaties but it preuailed nothing making answere to the yoonger that he had neede of them for his guarde and to the olde for counsell so as many sought to content him with money as hee desired euerie one according to his abilitie by meanes whereof they were freede from his commaundement But this inuention was soone counter-checkt by another for many desired to leaue the Iland to imbarke not with intention to follow the armie but to saile into Spaine Some of the Captaines of the shippes vnderstanding their mindes agreede with the Portugals not to deliuer any money to Anthonie for their stay in the Iland but paying them the like summe and much lesse they would land them in Portugall so as many trusting to the French and English not paying any thing to Anthonie imbarked with them agreeing for a certaine summe to be set on land Anthonie departed with this armie from the Terceres leauing Emanuel de Silua in his place with fiue hundred Frenchmen vnder the charge of Baptiste Florentin and Charles a French man their Captaines He arriued at the Iland of Saint Michael where hauing staied long thereabouts fearing the Spanish garrison there he durst not land being forced to leaue it by a storme that rose Then some of his English and French ships left him keeping promise with the Portugals that were imbarked with them In the meane time they had newes in Fraunce of the defeat of the armie and the death of so many prisoners which caused both in court and throughout the Realme a great griefe and disdaine and enflamed the French to reuenge and as they had Flaunders neere and matters in that estate as hath beene said there they discharged their choler neither did they forbeare after the returne of Anthonie to treat of a new preparation of an armie at sea for the sommer following It was giuen out in Spaine that the faction of Anthony and the French against Portugall was dashed and that they had weakned their forces yet did they not dismisse their hired ships At that time two galliasses being arriued from Naples it seemed the king would assemble a great armie for the next yeere and make himselfe absolute Lorde of the Ocean both in respect of the affaires of Anthony as to assure his ships from the Indies and newe founde landes from the French and English and to force the Iland The Catholique King desired to returne into Castill both for that he was called by the states of Arragon and to finish the marriage of his daughter with the Emperour as also for other business of the realme and was vpon the point to effect it in Nouember 1582. but he woulde first extend his pardon graunted at Tomar to such as had followed Anthony For this cause hauing excepted the religious persons and tenne others hee pardoned freely all the rest that shoulde present themselues within a certaine time but this wrought no effect for there came fewe and many said that the King being yet displeased could not make a free pardon This departure was after staied by the newes of the death of Diego his eldest sonne who as hee had beene sworne Prince of Portugall at the estates of Tomar hee woulde likewise that the same oath shoulde bee made in the person of Philip his second sonne being then sicke And for that he had no other issue male the succession masculine of these Realmes remaining in the breath of one only togither with the kings age and the disposition of the affaires of the world both the quiet seditious were in care But for the swearing of him he assembled the estates at Lisbone in the moneth of Februarie resolute to accomplish this ceremonie before his departure At that time the Duke of Alua consumed with a continuall feauer died in the pallace of Lisbone in the Kings owne quarter being of the age of threescore fourteene yeeres During his sicknes he was greatly fauoured of the King who did visite him a little before his death There is no doubt but the King apprehended the losse of such a seruant which bred no lesse discontentment in him then pleasing to his enimies But the Portugals obserued that the day following he went publikely to masse without any shew of discontent contrary to the custome of their kings who vpon the death of men of lesse qualitie hauing done any notable seruices to the crowne retired themselues for a time the which seemed the more strange for that King Emanuel vpon the death of a notable Pilote withdrew himselfe three daies But the actions of great Princes are so subiect to the censure of the vulgar as the wisest minister matter of discourse to the curious and malicious to slaunder them With him died as a man may say all the warlike discipline of Spaine for there remained not any one captaine equall vnto him He was of a goodly stature of visage leane and graue hee had rare gifts of nature and fortune the which he augmented much by arte he was of a noble minde of a readie and subtill spirite assured in iudgement and peaceable He was not greedy of worldly wealth sparing
about a yeere and a halfe and died in the beginning of the yeere 1580. he was the last of the house of Portugall to whom succeeded 18. Philip sonne to Charles the fift Emperour and of Isabell King of Spaine c. borne the 7. of May 1527. c. THE VNITING OF THE REALME OF PORTVGALL TO THE CROWNE OF CASTILL The Contents of the first Booke The originall of the Realme of Portugall the description thereof with their newe conquests The life of King Sebastian his first voyage into Affrick his enteruiew with the Catholique King at Guadalupa the preparatiues of warre made at Lisbone for the enterprize of Affrick the kings departure from Portugall with his armie I Vndertake the Historie of the Realme of PORTVGALL from the time that king Sebastian the first passed into Affrick with a mightie armie to make warre against the Moores which inhabite Mauritania Tingitana till that after many afflictions this Realme was vnited to those of Spaine vnder Phillip the second king of Castill A subiect of importance for the generall state by the increase of power to so mightie a king yea considerable for the diuers accidents hapned in so short a time contrarie to common hope and profitable by the examples of the instabilitie of this worlde and the dangers that Princes and people runne into by their ill grounded resolutions I hope to relate these euents sincerely with truth hauing beene present at the greatest part and receiued the rest from a faithfull Reporter I am voide of passion an enimie to the vncorrupt writing of Historiographers being neither borne in any of those countries nor subiect or vassall to any king or prince But before I enter into the welspring of those warres I haue thought it conuenient to make a briefe relation of the state of the Realme of the scituation beginnings enterprises and such like to the end that being to report the fall we may withall see the rising thereof by what meanes it encreased and was supported how and when it declined and finally altered his forme The description of the Realme of Portugall POrtugall is a part of Spaine lying vpon the furthest borders of the Ocean It bordereth vpon the East with the kingdome of Castill vpon the West with the great Ocean vpon the North with Gallicia and towards the South with the Atlantike sea and Andelouzia The late writers haue deuided it into sixe countries which they call Comarques that is beyond the riuer of Tagus Estremadura betwixt Duero and Minies and this with the countrie which stretcheth to Coimbra is the ancient Portugall behinde the mountaines Beira and Algarues which last hath also the Title of a kingdome It containes in circuit 850. miles whereof 400. run along the Sea shore the rest is maine land which maketh it in forme long and narrow It hath in it eighteene cities with many great villages and castles in number aboue 470. Three of these cities haue Archbishopricks Braga Lisbone and Euora whereof the first is Lord both spirituall and temporall Nine haue their Bishopricks Coimbra Lamego Visco Porto Miranda Portalegro Guarda Leiria and Eluas the other fiue remaine without dignitie and those are Bragança Tauira Lagos Faro and Silues These last fower be in the kingdome of Algarues whereof one Bishop hath the Title It is watered with many riuers whereof two are most famous Tagus and Duero the first runneth by the walles of Lisbone and sixe or seuen miles off dischargeth it selfe into the Sea the other doth the like by the citie of Porto and two miles from thence falleth into the Ocean from their mouthes vnto the citie they are no riuers but as it were armes and bosomes of the Sea and most assured and capable portes for many great ships which may saile farre vp against the streame but further in that of Lisbone then of the other whereas many great vessels passe fifteene or twentie miles vp beyonde the towne besides these two portes twentie miles from Lisbone towards the South is Settuual which hath a small Tower at the entrie thereof with a port capable of many ships And in Algarues is Tauira Lagos and Villeneuue these three are of reasonable capacitie the rest are lesse with many pleasant plashes The seate of the countrie is commodious for all partes of the world being in the middest of many great kingdomes fit for the ancient and later nauigations For turning towards the West they discouer directly Gallicya Biscay Fraunce England Germanie the other Northerne Regions Before them lieth the Islands of Azores otherwise called Terceres the fortunate Islands with the countries called the West Indies On the left hād lieth Andelouzia the Streits of Gibraltar by the which they enter into the Mediterranean Sea for the Nauigation of Italie and Greece And leauing the Streits coasting Affrick on the left hand they discouer many nations and new people vnknowne to the auncient who beleeued that the burning Zone was inhabitable from which places many ships arriue at Lisbone with great riches chieflie from the East Indies the which the Portugalles themselues as we shall declare hereafter conquered besides their traffiqne with the kingdome of Castile which lieth behinde them Lisbone is the best and chiefest of all their Cities on the which the whole Realme dependes It is verie populous yea many beleeue that of all the cities of Christendome except Paris it containes the greatest number of people The aire is verie wholesome and temperate distant from the Equinoctiall nine and thirtie degrees and with the ebbing and flowing of the salt water which is great vpon that coast there bloweth alwaies a temperate winde which doth refresh it It is neither wholie plaine nor all mountaines but deuided into fiue small hilles betwixt th' one and the other of these the plaine extends vnto the Riuer It hath beene walled whereof some part continues to this day but for that it hath beene since much augmented that part without the walles exceedes the other in greatnes There stands vpon an high hill a very ancient castell which hath no other strength in it but his height nor any guard but is reserued as a prison for noble men At the mouth of Tagus on the citie side stands a Fortresse built after the newest manner which they cal the rocke of Saint Iulian made to defend the entrie of the Riuer The fruite it bringeth foorth surpasseth all their neighbours in bountie and although it yeeldeth not corne sufficient to feede them yet haue they prouision daily out of Fraunce and Germanie The whole Realme is at this present greatly inhabited being replenished with manie Noblemen and Gentlemen and much building of ships and vessels for sundrie Nauigations Besides the order of the knights of Saint Iaques and Alcantara or of Saint Bennet which they call d'Auis of a place so named these carrie a red crosse and these a greene like vnto the Knights of Castill when as the Templers were suppressed they did institute another order with the
against her hauing seene the proofe thereof in the affaires of Ireland sought to secure hirselfe that they might not wrong her and to that end she entred into an agreement as it was said with the Queene and her yoongest sonne to the preiudice of Philip whereof the effect was soone seen The saide Alançon being returned againe into England being alreadie agreed with the Prince of Orenge who was the instrument of all these practizes he passed from thence to Antwerpe where the peoples humours being before disposed by the saide Prince he was receiued in all these places with great ioy and the xix day of Februarie in the yeere of our Lord 1582. they did sweare him Duke of Brabant the which caused a generall admiration for many reasons It seemed strange that the Prince of Orenge in a manner absolute Lord in those countries the which he had so long defended woulde vpon the end of the worke spoile himself of the state giue it vnto a stranger without constraint without profit to the preiudice of his honor And although it seemed he had done the like to Mathias Arch Duke of Austria afterwards sent him back into Germany it was not credible that he hoped euer to do so vnto the Duke for besides that he was entred in a manner by maine force his power the neernes of Fraunce the fauor of England might wel induce men to beleeue that he woulde so establish himselfe as he need not feare to be expelled There wanted not such as woulde excuse the Prince saying that the people were nowe wearie and vnfurnished of money by reason of so great warres that they coulde not relieue him as hee had neede and thefore it behooued him to seeke some one that should aide him against the Catholique king who hauing now recouered the realme of Portugall shoulde bee able with greater ease to molest those countries seeing that he was forced to seeke for succours there was no greater person then this making in a manner an muincible vnion of these estates with Fraunce and England besides the Prince shoulde attaine to the wished ende which was to depriue the Catholique king of the whole possession and many did so much relie vpon the Princes foresight and iudgement that they supposed hee woulde like wise expell Alançon when hee pleased Many blamed the manner of the Dukes proceeding who sought to vsurpe an others patrimonie without any title others excused him forging lawes of state after their owne humours saying that the priuileges of the countrey did allow that if the Catholique King did not obserue them they might choose a Prince of themselues the which the King hauing broken they had sought out an other Lorde The effect of the league was not yet ended in those parts but to diuert the Catholique King from making warre in those countries at the mediation of Anthony to trouble the state of Portugal they prepared a great armie in Fraunce Some said it was to be imploied against the same realme hoping the people woulde rise against the Castillians some supposed it shoulde be sent to succour the Terceraes the winning whereof Philip threatned to attempt and some beleeued that they went for no other intent but to surprise certaine ships that came from the newe nauigations charged with golde and spice There hapned at that time in Flaunders a matter of admiration and seldome seene For the Prince of Orenge being in Antwerpe quiet and in the greatest fortune that he was euer was shot in his house rising from his table in the midst of all his seruants with a pistoll by Iohn Scaurigni a yoong man a Biscaine mooued thereunto by zeale of religion as he pretended the bullet hitting him vnder his right iawe passed forth through the window and although he was supposed to be dead yet was he cured and liued and the offender was presently slaine by his guard and all such as were founde accessarie were executed Whilest these things were determined in Fraunce and the low Countries the king who remained still in Portugall sought to giue contentment to the Portugals who hauing long and with importunitie sought for recompence were in the ende all in a manner dispatched giuing vnto many of them orders of knighthoode much of the reuenewes and all the offices that might bee giuen to the great griefe of the Castillians who saide that this realme with more right appertained vnto Philip seeing he had inherited it bought it and conquered it This distribution was made by the two Deputies with great bountie yet wrought it no good effect in the Kings fauour neither was it acceptable for finding two kinde of Portugals which sought for reward that is those to whom Philip in the time of Henry and the Gouernours had promised money and honors to follow his partie and such as faithfully without promises yea refusing them had loially serued him It was in a manner impossible to equall their recompences so as one of the parties should not be discontented but they proceeded so as some were grieued and others proude For besides the errors that were committed by reason of the ignorance of the officers being more easie to promise then to performe the kings Agents had made large offers not onelie to such as coulde helpe but also to many of small meanes and lesse countenance The King desired in any case to satisfie these bonds and although he woulde haue rewarded the most faithfull aboue all others yet could he not performe it for that by reason of their excessiue promises all the reuenewes of the crowne had not beene sufficient so as it often hapneth in Courts they gaue not vnto them that deserued with the like proportion as to such as were vnworthie So as the loue of the subiects was nothing encreased by this meanes for the most trusty were discontented seeming against reason to bee woorse entreated then those which had beene lesse faithfull but with rewarde in hande alleaging also that many of them had not performed that for which they were paide seeming sufficient vnto many to remaine newters and to some that had serued Anthony to say that they were forced and such as were least faithfull for that their harts were not so firmely setled to the Kings seruice they supposed to haue carried themselues wisely They esteemed euery small matter to be of great importance and supposing the king to vnderstand wel what neede he had of them in contempt of the rest they grew insolent These were the generall causes for the which the greatest distribution that euer was within the realme was not pleasing but the nature of the Portugals is vneasie to content in this respect for being enuious they doe feele with greater griefe an other mans profite then their owne losse Those of the baser sort although they expected no answere hauing enriched themselues in their trades by the great multitude of Courtiers yet coulde they not suffer the Castillians to be superiors and as