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
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
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
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
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
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
though easie to mount and to passe with carriage and artillerie yet not commodious to giue battaile where the armie consisted most of horsemen The same day the Portugals had passed Mucazen and come to their fifth lodging they were in doubt whether to encampe on this side or on the other side of a small riuer which beginnes in the marishes of Alcasarquiuir part of the armie hauing passed the water they turned head resoluing to lodge on this side there they vnderstoode that Moluc approched making shew to fight and if it had not growne late the armies might haue discouered each other Moluc grew then extremely sicke without hope to liue many daies not forbearing to command and dispose of all things that were necessarie with great resolution and seeing the enimie to draw neere he first called his brother vnto him saying That although he did not thinke him to haue the spirite and courage fit for the place he woulde giue him yet being his brother he made him generall ouer all the horse that he might fight conquer and die with them assuring him that if he were noted with the least shew of cowardise he himselfe would strangle him with his owne handes and issuing foorth of his tent he put his armie into battaile going himselfe from ranke to ranke in a small litter carried by men executing the office of a Sergeant His armie consisted of many nations there were three thousand Moores of Andalousie as well on foote as horsebacke vnder the conduct of Doali Algori and Osain their Commaunders valiant men which are those that passed into Affricke from the warres of Alpussarres or the mountaines of Grenado he had also three thousand foote and twentie fiue thousand horse with a thousand Harquebuziers on horsebacke the most part of them Renegados and Turkes all of them men of warre entertained daily in paie and this was the principall force of his campe He had about ten thousand horse gathered togither fiue thousand foote so as in all he had about fortie thousand horse eight thousand foote besides a great number of Arabians and aduenturers that were come vnto him Moluc had no great confidence in the hirelings or Arabians esteeming the first fearefull and the last inconstant Amongst his entertained bandes he had likewise three thousand horse which as is saide he suspected to be friends to Mulei Mahamet and not greatly fauouring his rule But the Portugals who for their honour do willingly augment their number affirme that the Moores were threescore and ten thousand horse and twenty thousand foote and the Moores who do encrease their owne actions doe report their number to be very great but it is verified by men without passion that although Moluc coulde haue assembled threescore thousand horse and more footemen then he did yet had he no more in his armie then we haue specified with thirtie and fower peeces of artillerie Moluc kept to himselfe the title of Generall he gaue to his brother as is saide the charge of all the horse Osarin of Raguse was Colonell of all the Harquebuziers on horsebacke Mahamet Faba of the Renegados Doaly of the Andalusians the rest were vnder men of lesse qualitie euery one commanding his nation Musa was captaine of his guard The same day towards night Moluc sent Soliman the master of his horse a Renegado of Cordube with certaine horse to view the enimies armie and to discouer if they were in battaile who descrying the Portugals that had passed the riuer to returne againe did not beleeue it had bin done to leaue the riuer betwixt the two armies but imagined they had retired he returned to the campe with this false newes that the Portugals fled wherewith the Moores being mooued woulde haue pursued and not let them depart without some domage but Moluc woulde not suffer them and as a wise Captaine who pretended onely to defende himselfe and to make a bridge vnto the enimie if he woulde flie saide Let them goe in a good hower I will not runne after them sodainly he altered the disposition of his armie not for that he beleeued the Portugals were retired but being informed by Mahamet Taba Colonell of the Renegados that there was treason in his campe forasmuch as there were three thousand Harquebuziers Moores that had neither powder nor bullet sodainly he caused to be proclaimed that whosoeuer wanted munition shoulde repaire vnto the Purueior and he should furnish him and euery Harquebuzier that should be found the next morning without fiftie bullets and two pounds of powder shoulde be corporally punished He called vnto him likewise all the Captaines and to be more assured of their fidelities and to take from them all meanes to effect any treason they might haue practised he changed euery mans charge and made one Captaine of an others companie without leauing any man of qualitie in his accustomed place This night passed with more quiet then the neerenes of the armies did threaten And although Sebastian had proclaimed that no man shoulde shoote at any Moore that shoulde willingly retire himselfe into their campe but receiue him yet there came not any one either for that they bare no such affection to Mahamet as he made a shew of or for that they kept so strict a guard in the Moores campe that none coulde issue foorth as indeed they did It preuailed little for Mahamet to plant his colours in the head of the armie as it were calling them for no man stirred And the day being come the Portugals held a Councell what to doe The King became more milde hauing assembled the chiefe heard with greater patience the opinions of such as would not haue proceeded so farre They propounded either to retire backe or to march against Alarache to passe the riuer at the mouth but the most expert in warre those that had disswaded the course they had taken and laboured by al meanes to flie the sight of the enimie helde that they must fight the resolution being too late nowe to auoide the battaile and to turne head for to retire they could not without great losse to stande still want of victuals would not suffer them and to continue their vndertaken way they coulde not without the hazard of a battaile that it was better to encounter the enimie valiantly then to giue him courage by a retraite or by shunning the way The Cheriffe Mulei Mahamet although his hopes to recouer this kingdome were grounded vpon the onely victorie of a battaile and that the King being master of Alarache and the sea townes he shoulde reape no profite thereby yet did he all he coulde to disswade him from fight esteeming the Portugals to be inferiour perswading them to keepe close togither and to seeke meanes to retire although it were with some losse And although Sebastian were some what tempered yet was he not amazed like to all the rest but with great courage desired the combate not esteeming the enimies forces so great as they
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
great desire and affection his people of Lisbone beseecheth the Lorde to graunt him a long life for thereon depends all our good hoping that in time it may alter many things which nowe holdeth vs in carefull consideration The wounde of afflictions which this Realme hath suffered is yet so greene and so lamentable as we will not at this present make mention thereof It sufficeth they are such as the memorie will neuer be extinct whilest the worlde continueth and although we be bound to lay the fault vpon our owne offences yet may we attribute a parte to the negligence of the people and of such as at that time did gouerne the common wealth But being expedient not to heape error vpon error it seemes we ought with a liuely voice and due humilitie cry vnto your highnes that as a iust and holy king you woulde preuent the miseries that hang ouer vs It cannot enter into our thoughts to mooue you to marriage being no iudges of your conscience and disposition but we may well say if these two cōsiderations do allow it why do you suffer the delay of one day If you be resolued not to marry your Highnes ought with the like care to say vnto such as pretend to the succession that within a time prefixed they shoulde come to deliuer their reasons that if the successor be a naturall borne the people shal haue some breathing from the afflictions they suffer if he shall be a stranger it seemes conuenient they shoulde know it and haue leisure to aduise what to do For if our sinnes permit that the Lorde shall call away your Highnes being in the state we are now what shall become of vs being most apparant that all such as pretend to haue any title do consult arme plot and measure their forces while the people remaines doubtfull not knowing with reason vnto what part to incline Your Highnes dying in this time before the deciding of the cause we beseech you to cōsider the oppressions they shal suffer the spoilings the murthers the dishonoring of women and holy things and all other excesse which is commonly practised in such times the which may be wholie auoided by knowing who shall succeede vnto the crowne We do solicite your Highnes to sweare a Prince for it may be he that at this present hath interest to this Realme God may call him before your Highnes but the contrary hapning we may plainly knowe who shall succeed for heerein consistes the quiet of this Realme if you do it not willingly or that there be any let you ought to consent that the people declare one especially they of the citie of Lisbone vpon whom all Portugall dependes The holie Ghost who is the guide of kings inspire your Highnes that by his merits the anger of God may be pacified the which he powreth downe vpon vs for our offences and grant that we may amend our liues and preserue your Highnes in health for which all his people praie In this manner the officer of the Chamber spake in vaine but forasmuch as it seemed vnto the king ouer ruled in this respect by the diuine power that the remedie was not so easie nor the matter so soone decided as they supposed he made answere that it was a care grauen in his hart the which he woulde effect with all possible speede resoluing to haue regard vnto it But this succession gaue greater cause both to thinke talke secretlie and openlie in Castill then in anie other place for the King resoluing by all possible meanes to vnite Portugall with his other Kingdomes the Nobilitie did not willingly entertaine it but did seeme that the greatest from Charles the fifth forwards had not tasted the greatnes of the King lesse respecting them then had done the auncient Kings of Castill making them march in one degree of equall iustice with their inferiours The other Gentlemen and common people were nothing enclined to this vnion Saying that if this Realme were not separated from the rest of Spaine they shoulde haue no meanes to marrie their Kings daughters but into other prouinces which were dangerous both for that the women did not inherite and for the heresies wherewith the northren Regions bee at this present infected Manie and of all qualities who holding Portugall as the Sanctuarie of Castill were content with the separation remaining as an assured retreate for offenders It seemed to the King that hee shoulde not onely send a sufficient man thither to performe that office but also that it was necessarie that one of the chiefe of Spaine and best acquainted with the affaires of State shoulde goe to propound the cause of succession For this occasion they named as it is said Gasper Quiroga Cardinall and Archbishop of Toledo Ferdinand Aluares of Tolede Duke of Alua Anthony of Toledo Prior of the order of Saint Iohns master of the Kings Horse Frauncis Pacheco Cardinall of Burgos all principall personages Quiroga was thought verie fit by reason of his dignitie and wisedome togither with the experience he had gotten in the court of Rome hauing beene there long Auditor of the Rota The Duke of Alua for his authoritie experience and wisedome was thought the better for beginning to feare they should come to armes it seemed that he best could treate of the succession and withall sounde the Portugals forces and what succours they might drawe vnto them and afterwardes if neede required being a great captaine coulde by his aduise vndertake the warre with greater assurance Manie did approoue Anthony of Tolledo for besides the opinion they had of his wisedome he was accounted godly religious and otherwise vertuous the which they supposed woulde make him more pleasing vnto Henry But in the iudgement of the most aduised they preferred the Cardinall of Burgos for besides those other good parts which he enioied with the rest he was thought most able to treate the matter of State besides that being a priest and a Cardinall they shoulde seeme to sende vnto Henry a companion But notwithstanding there was not in Spaine any greater personages of like experience vnto these to mannage a matter of so great importance being the greatest that euer was presented vnto this crowne yet the preferred Peter Girone Duke of Ossuna and although his qualitie being great among the greatest of the Realme was woorthie of anie charge accompanied with manie vertues and some other particularities that were necessarie for the voiage notwithstanding some did attribute this election to the ordinarie diseases of the court and to the respects which Kings Councels doe commonly vse inferring thereby that therein he was extraordinarily fauoured by Peter Fassardo Marques de los Veles his kinsman at that time fauoured by the king Some said also and it may be not without grounde that it was not conuenient to sende anie personage into Portugall whose wisedome and iudgement were knowne vnto the worlde to the ende the Portugals shoulde not feare to treate freely with him of all
he called him bastard with many other reasons whereby he concluded that he declared Anthony these be the proper wordes of the sentence not lawfull but illegitimate And touching the pretended marriage and legitimation hee imposed him perpetuall silence still reseruing to himselfe power to proceede against the witnesses and himselfe as he shoulde thinke conuenient This sentence being pronounced the king sent Edward de Castelbianco chiefe of the Sergeants to Crato with commission to apprehende the Prior prisoner But some imagined this was rather a shew of the king to amaze him then for any other effect iudging as it hapned that he would not be found Nowe was the Catholique king more effectually satisfied touching the interest he had to this Realme for although in the beginning the Doctors had resolued him that the succession appertained vnto him yet desirous to know with more grounde the opinion of learned men of other prouinces especially of Portugall who waighing and disputing the reasons of euery pretendent with their contrarieties and tearmes had resolued amongst them that Philip was vndoubtedly the successour being the eldest kinsman that Henry had a male and lawfull and that with these qualities he did surpasse and exclude all the competitours one after an other They helde Anthonie directly to be vnlawfull hauing alwaies liued in that opinion and was so held by his Father Lewes at his death as it appeered by his testament that although he had demaunded his legitimation at Rome and had obtained it yet coulde not any roiall or pontificiall legitimation serue for the succession of a kingdome They discharged themselues of Phillibert Duke of Sauoy in fewe words saying onely that he was yoonger of yeeres and sonne of a yonger sister then the Empresse Mother to the Catholique King They denied the reasons of eldership whereon Rainucius did ground himselfe saying moreouer they might well graunt it without danger for that the same Doctors which fauoured this lawe do not vnderstande it shoulde take place if the same person from whom they woulde transport it did not enioy it And forasmuch as Edward was deceased many yeeres before Henry succeeded or euer thought to come vnto the Crowne he could haue no interest nor any considerable hope that might come to his descēdents so as they made small account of al that Rainucius could alleage touching the linnage eldership imaginary degrees and transmissions saying that such as groūd thēselues most vpon these subtilities do leane stil vpon representations without the which they are of smal moment prouing that Rainucius coulde not aide himselfe with representation being out of the degree wherein the lawes allow it and therefore remained inferior to Philip. Against the Dutchesse they alleaged that kingdomes appertaining to the ancient lawes of nations the succession ought not to be ruled by the Ciuill lawe full of fictions and subtileties the which were framed by the Emperours many yeeres since And although souereigne Princes did bring them in for the good gouernment of their subiects yet had they not altered the simple naturall rules of the succession the which they affirmed shoulde be obserued in this case as it had beene before the birth of Iustinian who was the author of these representations And although some Doctors woulde rashly make the succession of Realmes subiect to ciuill institutions yet according to this consideration they made Philips title vndoubtfull and those which helde this opinion were learned men and more curious of antiquitie then are commonly our ordinarie Lawyers But least they shoulde seeme to take that course to auoide the lawes they woulde also withdrawe themselues within the tearmes of the Ciuill lawe as if it were a matter in controuersie betwixt two persons for a priuate possession There did they prooue that in Realmes more properly then in any other thing they succeeded by right as they call it of consanguinitie that is to say hauing regard vnto the first instituter and that following this law they shoulde consider the persons of the pretendents by themselues without representations or respect of their fathers as if they were childrē of the last possessor in which sort Philip remained in stead of the eldest vnto Henry They said also that if they should yeelde that which the Dutchesse pretends that they succeede not in Realmes by right of consanguinitie but by that which they call inheritance hauing regarde vnto the last possessor yet coulde she not be equall vnto Philip for that the representation where with she pretends to helpe herselfe doth not extend to the Nephew but in concurrents with the same vncle according to the most auncient most approoued and most grounded opinion They added moreouer that the succession of kingdomes not onely by the right of nations as is formerly related but also by the same Ciuill lawe is exempt from al representations being not brought in by custom And although the Dutchesse may represent the degree of her Father notwithstanding it were impossible she should represent the qualitie of a male being a harde matter that a woman equall onely in degree and in all other things inferiour shoulde pretend to be preferred before a man in administration of Realmes and that her priuate defect shoulde hurt her lesse then to Philip that of his Mother It was therefore resolued that of all the Nephewes of king Emanuel he that should be founde to be eldest a male and lawfull shoulde precead the rest and this was the Catholique King And although the pretention of the people and of the most Christian Queene were held vaine and onely mooued to trouble Philip yet did they answere them formally Against the people they saide that they had no greater priuiledge of election within this Realme then in the rest of Spaine the which all fall by succession when there is any lawfully descended of the bloud royall And that in Portugal they haue lesse libertie then the rest growing from the gifts of the kings of Castill and from the conquest of the kings of Portugall And forasmuch as the people hath not giuē the realme to their first kings there could not any thing chance whereby they should name or choose one And for that which they alleage of the electiō of king Iohn the first they answered that not onely this reason did not serue them but thereby it did appeere that the realme in that case was successiue hauing leauing apart that it was rather a violent crie of cōquering Partizants then a free election themselues secretly confessed that they had no right to choose whilest there remained any one lawfully descended of the Roiall issue inferring that Beatrice Queene of Castill was a bastard and that the Realme was in the same estate wherein other Realmes of succession may choose their King all the kinsemen of the last deceased being extinct They pleaded against the most Christian Queene that her pretention was improbable and prescribed seeing that the successours of the Earle of Bulloigne had neuer made any
his forces And although the consideration had beene easie many protesting against it and many foretelling the future euent yet God tooke from them their vnderstanding as he doth from those whom he meaneth to punish and in this manner he hath depriued them of iudgement who aduise to take from the Catholique King the succession of the Realme They compared the amitie of Castill with that of Fraunce reporting the wrongs and pyracies which the French being at sea had daily done to Portugall and the small reckoning was helde of them that had complained and contrariwise the concord and rest which since the last peace made with the Castillians vntill that day they had enioyed without the breach of any one article blaming the manner of the French saying that they sought nothing else but to be admitted and after to become masters the which not succeeding they striued to be admitted to plead the equitie of their Kings cause seeking alwaies occasion to complaine They added that if the election were in the people and that the Catholique king had no enterest onely to be free from the French they shoulde vnite themselues with Castill that they might liue in peace and bridle this French furie which hath often throwne the Portugals aliue into the sea and slaine their gouernors and the Kings captaines by their Kings commission for by this vnion besides the seruice of God the French would feare and not spoile so boldly at sea They commended king Henry as iust and holie saying that the best resolution they coulde take was to fall at his feete beseeching him that seeing the Catholique king was the most honorable the most neerest and the eldest kinsman that he had that in the name of God he shoulde sweare him Prince according with him of the most necessarie points for the libertie of the Realme and shewing themselues conformeable to the bequest sometimes made by king Emanuell That they should not loose this occasion during his life but laying aside their obstinate intercessions labour iointly to flie the warre and not be forced to yeelde to Castill at such time when as it shoulde not be acceptable perfourming the which they shoulde not onely preserue their owne goods but inherite others seeing the greatnes of Castill doth indifferently admit all subiects Spaniards to the greatest dignities bringing for examples that the Archbishop of Toledo and the office of the President of the Councell roiall which be the highest dignities spirituall and temporall were not then enioied by Castillians They protested that if they stopped their eares to the truth and did open them to apparant lies they shoulde feele within their owne home warre with the murthers spoiles theftes and burnings it bringes with it On the other side the Portugals made answere to their letters saying they desired no warre but woulde defende themselues against any that shoulde attempt it They alleaged many reasons of their iustice and force with auncient examples of the holie Scriptures whereas small numbers in a iust cause haue vanquished a great armie They refuted that opinion that God by the vnion of these Realmes would fortifie in Castill an arme of the church shewing many grounds wherby they should iudge the contrarie blaming the sacke of Rome and some other vnwoorthy actions of the Castillians They laboured much to prooue that the Prior of Crato was legitimate that King Henrie had bin a most passionate iudge in that cause They spared not to touch the reasons of the Dutchesse of Bragance shewing that she ought to precead the Catholique King in the succession They condemned the said King saying that distrusting his Title he had prepared to armes They shewed by a long discourse that the vnion of Portugall would neither breed them profit nor honour but losse and dishonour were the conditions neuer so ample and good drawing examples from Flaunders and Aragon shewing that the behauiour of the Spaniardes in the Low-countries had beene the cause that those people had rebelled against God and against their temporall Lord They did obiect that all nations subiect to the Catholique King were reputed his subiects in matters of charge and burthens of the warre but in honours recompences and exemptions they were vnknowen They valued not the Kings forces saying that if it were fearfull to other Prouinces yet was it not so in Spaine beeing apparent that by reason of the barrennes of that countrey he could entertaine no great Armies neither durst he for the weaknes of the places draw in mercenarie souldiers bringing for example the war of Granado where incountring but with fower disarmed Moores there was so great daunger with the losse of so many men They added moreouer that the King had not at this day one Captaine of account naming a number which were of the Seminarie of Charles the fifth who were all dead and not any other which had succeeded them imitating the Kings humour who loues rest more then armes by meanes whereof he had not augmented his Realme but lost Goletta with the States of Flaunders and had yet made greater losses had there beene other Kings liuing in this age but that in Fraunce England and Portugall the Scepters were in the hands of women and children They concluded that it was not credible that the Catholique King notwithstanding his threatnings and his prepared forces woulde take armes in Spaine for that his forces being vnited he was in daunger vpon the least contrarie euent that some of his Prouinces would rebell against him and that the French being a stirring nation would imbrace this occasion besides that being now old and the howres of his death vncertaine hee should consider that not inioying the Realme of Portugall in peace and dying with an Armie in Spaine hauing no heires but pupilles hee should leaue them in danger not onely to be depriued of the possession of Portugall but also to be much troubled in Castill and his other Kingdomes of Spaine labouring to prooue that the Kings were not there beloued as in Portugall Then began the yeere 1580. a yeere full of miseries and afflictions for the Portugals not onely by reason of the warre which followed but also for the dearth and plague for that the season hauing beene verie drie the fruit of the earth was in a manner all lost neither had the husbandmen in many places reaped what was sowne besides there came not from Fraunce and Germanie such quantitie of corne as was vsuall But this miserie was supportable in regard of the rest for neuer was the scarsitie so great but things necessarie would be found for money That of the contagion was most cruell for hauing runne through Italy Germanie England and a part of Fraunce it came finally into this Realme from whence it spread throughout all Spaine but most of all in the citie of Lisbone hauing begonne lightly the yeere before it increased at the entring of this spring and so augmented all sommer but declined in the fall This contagious mortalitie
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
in giuing but honourable in the expences of his house hee was a great dissembler of the disgraces of the Courte and cunning in their secret practises for so it behooued him to be to preuent such as were his competitors He was generally hated for that he treated proudlie with his inferiors and his equals hated his greatnes The ambition to purchase the Princes fauour a shelfe wherein proude mindes cast themselues was great in him for this respect it may be or for the preheminence and greatnes he pretended aboue all other officers the which made him odious hee was not much pleasing to Charles and lesse to Philip although from their birthes vntill their later daies he had serued them 60. yeeres But Princes loue them better whom they haue rewarded then such as haue serued them Hee was greatly enclined to warlike discipline wherein hee was so cunning as there was not any captaine of his nation in long time comparable vnto him and to conclude for his many yeeres and great experience there was not in a manner any one in the worlde but yeelded vnto him He was of great iudgement and dexteritie to encampe and make choice of a lodging so as alwaies with lesse forces then the enimies he kept them in awe he was so well experienced as he neuer refused battaile wheresoeuer he came Hee did willingly hazard his owne person but his soldiers with greater consideration trusting more to policie then fortune He was a rough inexorable executioner of the seuere lawes of war of whose pittifull crueltie depends the health of armies and the conseruation of States He was by nature enclined to vanquish without effusion of bloud and was imploied in warres conformable to his inclination for the greatest part of them being defensiue wherein a wise captaine should rather temporize and suffer the enimie to consume by the difficulties of warre in a strange countrey then to hazard an estate vpon so vnequall a game as is the winning of a battaile against him that hath but men to loose To this effect hee answered the councell of warre in the kingdome of Naples in the yeere 1558. when as the Frenchmen being expelled they woulde haue charged the enimie retiring hee saide hee woulde not hazarde the realme against a cassock of golde for such was then the habite of the Duke of Guise Lieutenant generall to Henry the seconde King of Fraunce yet some did blame him to be too warie in the execution of matters of importance in warre He serued his King in greater charges and with greater authority then euer any of their subiects and it may be there hath not beene in many ages a captaine which hath so long mannaged armes nor displaied his ensignes in so manie countries For he hath made warre in Italy Spaine and Fraunce in Hungarie Germanie Flaunders and Affrick although he were accustomed to say that he had done nothing seeng that he was neuer so happie as to see a Turkish armie But the last wars of Flaunders did somewhat obscure the glorie he had gotten for although as captaine he did warre valiantly yet he knew not as it hapned to him in other places howe to vse the victorie but arrogating too much vnto himselfe he caused a statue of brasse to be erected for him in the Cittadell of Antwerpe which the king caused afterwards to be beaten downe It appeeres that he coulde better carrie himselfe in aduersitie then prosperitie for in the one he had great force in the other too much conceite so as he reaped more commendations by afflictions then by victorie Hee shewed in dying the magnanimitie he had in his life and that which is of great moment hee shewed tokens of a religious Christian being happie that Frier Lewes of Granata that famous preacher whose diuine writings are pleasing to the worlde was present at his death They did substitute in his place Charles Borgia Duke of Gandia a man of greater vertue then experience The King had caused the bones of King Sebastian to be brought out of Affricke the which with King Henries that were at Almerin he woulde before his departure see solemnly interred in the church of Belem neere to the other Kings of Portugall and for that cause remained there three daies He caused also to be brought from diuers parts of the realme vnto the saide monasterie the bodies or at the least the ashes of his kinsfolkes the children and nephewes to King Emanuel who as a man may say dying resigned him the crowne that they might bee all kept togither There was made a most sumptuous obsequie with great shewes and all the religious persons in the name of Henry were present for the rest had beene performed before and in the funerall sermon Sebastians actes were likewise touched and Henry extremely commended the which was more pleasing being dead then the praises of Philip liuing and present wherein the Orator dilated much hauing first in particular set downe the branches of King Emanuel and brought the succession to the said Philip. I will not leaue heere to make mention as of a rare matter although it be somewhat from our purpose that in this yeere of our Lorde 1582. they did reckon ten daies lesse then in others for by the Popes decree all Christian princes obeying the Romish sea gaue commaundement to cut off ten daies in the moneth of October so as for the fift day they should generally write 15. the which was done to fitte the times to the meanes and principall aspects wherein the heauens were when as our Redeemer Iesus Christ suffered that they might celebrate Easter and the other feasts vpon their proper daies The which they had not formerly done for that the true course of the sunne which makes the yeere being certaine minuts of an hower lesse then the time which they vntill then had taken for a yeere it seemed that in the course of so manie yeeres so small a difference had mounted vnto ten daies so as by this equalitie it was made conformable to the time past The King beganne to vnburthen himselfe of the affaires of Portugall for to go into Castill and therefore the xxvj day of Ianuary in the yeere 1583. hauing assembled the estates of the realme they began in the pallace of Lisbone where after Alphonso de Castelbianco newly made Bishop of Algarues had briefly made the proposition shewing how much the King was grieued with the death of the Prince and the necessitie there was to sweare a newe Melchior d' Amaral one of the Deputies of the citie of Lisbone made answere in the behalfe of the whole realme shewing the desire and readines they had to performe this acte Whereupon the yoong Duke of Barcellos as Duke of Bragance beginning for his father with sword in hande did supplie the office of Constable kneeling downe before the King held foorth his hande to take the oath after the accustomed manner the which being likewise performed by all the rest this ceremonie
should receiue a benefit thereby if it happened he should take Allarache or any place vpon the coast it were more aduantage to Philip then to him hauing his Dominions fronting neerer to Affricke then the other but if he should happen to die in these wars a greater good should come vnto him being heire vnto the Realme But to say the truth Philip was mooued to doe this office towards Sebastian both of his owne quiet disposition beeing no friend to broyles as also for another priuate subiect of no small importance which was At that time the Treatie of Truce was reuiued betwixt him and the Turke whereunto both were mooued for one and the selfe same respect not to diuide their forces at such time as they had most need of them to be vnited the Turke against the Sophi and the King against the Rebles in Flaunders So as without infringing this Truce the Catholike King could not send any Armie to endomage Affricke being tributarie to the Turke and especially of Mulei Moluc his friend and confederate And this excuse was so much the more tolerable for that he laboured to comprehend the King of Portugall within this truce desiring him to enter into it but he not onely refused it but also answered That he maruelled he would treat a peace for three yeeres with the Turke to auoide war during that tearme in Italy being most assured that Affrick should be replenished with Turkes and the three yeeres expired he should haue that war in Spaine which now he sought to auoide in Italy He did aduise him not to conclude or if he would needes not to comprehend him to the end he might afterwards secretly assist him against Mulei Moluc by meanes whereof with small charge he might assure himselfe of Italy by the truce and of Affricke by war in the name of the Portugals Philip disallowed of these friuolous reasons solliciting Sebastian to resolue himselfe either to enter or be excluded After some delaies he was contented to bee comprehended therein But as these Treaties were in handling he supposed it should not any wise hinder his enterprise of Affricke And therefore they armed their gallions at Lisbone they stayed merchants ships they inrolled all their shipping throughout the Realme to transport men horse victuals and munition making readie other preparatiues Lewis Dataide was named generall of this Action but he did not exercise the charge with the authoritie due to the place for as much as the King with Peter D'alcasoua and some other his fauorites resolued and gaue order for many things concerning the war which belonged to the Generall to do or at the least to consult of But as he was not greatly pleasing vnto the King although he were the most renowmed of all the Portugals so did he not follow this enterprise being sent Vizeroy to the Indies Diego de Sosa was made Generall at the sea Christopher de Tauora his Chamberlaine and master of his horse whom he loued entirely was made commander of all the Nobilitie that should go into Affricke and of many strangers that came by aduenture giuing him the Title of Captaine of the Aduentures by meanes whereof he was preferred before all the Nobilitie And for that he could not make himselfe equall with the Moore in horsemen he resolued to fortific himselfe better with foote commanding that no man should furnish himselfe with horse but such as he should appoint the which should not be lightly armed but barded like to the ancient men of armes so as many gentlemen that prepared to go on horse backe remained on foot It was strange to see the Portugals furnish themselues to war for being an exercise that requireth order measure all things were there disordered and confused The faults which were committed in taking of Musters giuing of paies superfluitie in many things and defect in other were infinite The gentlemen after a new prodigious manner attired themselues like vnto the Castillians in steede of scouring their Armes they guarded their habits for corslets they prouided dublets of silke gold they were charged with sugar and conserues in steed of water bisket The vessels of siluer the tents lined with silke and satten were without number euery gentleman went furnished like a king and the poore souldiers died for hunger To conclude it seemed they supposed that hee that went brauest and best furnished with delights and pleasures shoulde soonest conquer the enimy contrary to the opinion of true souldiers who beleeue that when a man goes to the combate clad in gold and silke he is either slaine or returnes home laden with blows but when he goeth couered with iron and steele he returnes a conquerour laden with gold Sebastian was carefull to whom he should leaue the gouernment of the Realme for that there was none remaining of the bloud Royall but his vncle the Cardinall whom being very old not greatly pleasing vnto him he woulde not willingly admit to so great a charge yet hauing no other he went to Euora where he liued entreating him to take the care in his absence the which he would by no meanes accept excusing it by reason of his age and indisposition so as he made choise of fower gouernours to command in his name which were George d'Almeda archbishop of Lisbone Peter d'Alcasoua Frauncis de Sada Iohn Mascaregnas to whom he gaue full power in al things leauing with thē a Seale which did imprint with inke this word REII with the which he cōmanded thē to subscribe their dispatches In the meane time vpon Affrick side the Cheriffe Mahamet did still sollicite Sebastian by Embassadors to make haste and by no meanes to abandon the enterprise and with many hopes he gaue him to vnderstand that besides a good number of souldiers he had already armed he was most assured that vpon the present view of the Portugals ensignes in Affrick being knowne that they came in his fauour the greatest part of townes fortes and men of warre woulde rebell against Mulei Moluc come to him It is most true he disswaded the King for going in person saying it was not necessarie but woulde prooue very hurtfull alleaging that the Moores which easily would yeeld at his deuotion seeing the King of Portugall there in person woulde grow iealous least he came to subdue them to the Christians and therefore woulde not so willingly leaue the enimie The which he saide both for that it might so fall out as also fearing not without reason that if the King were conquerour and there in person to he would not leaue him his kingdome free Al these things greatly enflamed Sebastian the more the Cheriffe disswaded his going the more his desire encreased supposing that the Moore grew fearefull that his cōming should depriue him of his kingdome he did firmely beleeue that he should conquer it and continued so blinde in this desire that he caused a crowne to be made and carried with him with other preparatiues to be
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