the Queen's Favourite and the said Master being appointed General of the Country betwixt the Rivers Tagus and Guadiana he marched Three Leagues from Lisbon whence suddenly returning with armed Men he rushed into the Place and there Murdered the Unhappy Count. The Queen when she heard it said He has died a Martyr and I will to Morrow in proof of it undergo the Trial of Ordeal Next she went to know of the Master whether she also must die and a civil Answer was returned to quiet her The Rabble raised by the clamours of one of the Master's Pages who cryed he would be killed in the Palace flocked thither and would certainly have destroyed the Queen had not D. John the Master of Avis looked out at the Window He seeing the Multitude on his side went away followed by them to the great Market called Recio to Dine with the Queen's Brother the Earl of Barcelos who was consenting to the Murder The Bishop of Lisbon was then also at Dinner at his House and with him the Prior of Guimaraens and a Notary of Silves They hearing the Tumult got up into the Belfrey where the People seeing them called out to have the Bells ring They not regarding to obey these Tumultuary Shouts the Rabble broke in and cast them headlong from the Tower then dragged them to the Market called Recio where they lay naked and exposed to the Dogs till the next Day D. John after Dinner went to Court to beg the Queen's Pardon for murdering the Count. She took little Notice of him but threatned the Kingdom with the Power of Castile yet fearing the Rabble she went away from Lisbon to Alenquer praying to God at her departure that she might see the City burnt 3. Don John fearing the Power of the Queen resolved to go away into England but the more this was rumoured the more the Multitude pressed him to stay and protect them against Castile He made some seeming opposition but was soon brought to comply A Council was named where it was resolved that D. John should marry Queen Ellenor for defence of the Kingdom and that if the King of Castile had ever a Son by Queen Beatrix the Government should continue in D. Jâ—â—n and the Queen till that Son came to Age. Here ceased all the Reproaches that had been cast upon the Queen who when this Overture was made to her rejected it with Scorn Nevertheless he was declared Protector of the Kingdom He is declared Protector of the Kingdom by the Commonalty in the Church of S. Dominick and because most of the Nobility were absent then they were summoned to meet in the Town-House where the chief of them being dubious what to do one Alonso Jannez a Cooper stept into the midst of them and laying his Hand on his Sword threatned such as should refuse their Consent and they fearing the Multitude consented to what had been done in the Church of S. Dominick Thus was D. John Master of Avis entrusted with the Government and Defence of the Kingdom His First Action that gained him Reputation was the Prudent Choice he made of Counsellors not according to Men's Quality but their Ability Next to secure many of his Party he distributed a considerable Treasure belonging to those that followed the Queen or sided with Castile amongst them and promised a general Pardon for all Crimes but Treason not considering that the only Treason was to support him 4. The Queen began to think herself in Danger at Alenquer The Castle of Lisbon taken by the Protector and therefore leaving Vasco Perez de Camoens Governour there she went away to Santarem Here Nunno Alvarez Pereyra who had been Educated by her forsook her and went away to Lisbon where he was admitted into the Council of State D. John Alonso the Queen's Brother was Governour of the Castle of Lisbon and Martin Alonso Valente was within as his Lieutenant Alonso Yannez Nogueira got in with some Men sent by the Queen to Re-inforce the Garrison These refusing to deliver up their Trust to the New Protector they were Besieged and the Assailants threatning to Sacrifice their Wives and Children before their Faces if they held out they surrendred the Place The Nobility who opposed D. John called the Commonalty that followed him The People of the Messiah because they seemed to Adore him And the Rabble termed them Schismaticks and Traitors Several Places then in the Hands of the Nobility were easily wrested from them by the Commonalty as Beja Portalegre Evora and others Now the Rabble being uppermost began throughout the Kingdom to commit the most execrable Villanies Barbarities of the rebelliouâ— Rabble under the Pretence of defending their Country It was an unpardonable Offence even to name Castile And the Lady Joanna Perez Ferreyrim Abbess of the Monastery of Castres seeing a Man ill used for that pretended Crime modestly reproved their Cruelty but such was their Rage that tho' she fled into the great Church and embraced the Sanctuary in which the Holy Sacrament is kept there they gave her several Wounds then dragging her from the Altar tore off her Vail next they cut off her Coats so high as modesty forbids to utter which done she was dragged into the Market and there hewed in pieces Lastly the Body was dragged to the Place where they shut up the Cattle and left there till some Charitable Body buried it by Night To compleat this Sacrilege they returned to the Monastery designing to Murder all the Nuns but they withdrew themselves from their Fury 5. Queen Ellenor seeing her self in manifest Danger Queen Elenor flies to Castile fled to her Son-in-Law the King of Castile who espoused his own Quarrel in her The First thing he did was to secure Prince John Son to the Lady Agnes de Castro by that means to cut off the Hopes the Portuguese might have of a lawful Successor But the Portuguese ceased not to Encourage D. John to proceed in the Defence of the Kingdom and he the more to try them seemed doubtful and spread some Reports as if he would depart the Countrey But finding an inclination in the Multitude towards Prince John the more to exasperate them against Castile he caused a Standard to be made in which that Prince was drawn to the Life loaded with Chains The Protector his contrivances to Usurp the Crown which being carried about the City enraged the People against the King of Castile Thus pretending to Revenge the Wrong done to the Prince he gained the means of Establishing himself in the Throne and stirred up all the Kingdom to defend it self against Castile The Commonalty every where took his Part but not the Nobility Yet he believing he could not prevail without Forreign Aid asked it of Richard King of England at the same time perswading the Duke of Lancaster to assert the Right he had to the Crown of Castile by his Wife The Embassador's Proposals were admitted and much Money advanced to them
against the Cruelty and Perfidiousness of Sertorius he offered himself for their Leader Many of them before bribed by him easily consented and others seeing Pompey so near complied with necessity least they should want a Head in that time of Danger Pompey resolving the first thing he did to make an end of Perpenna Perpenna chosen General of the Lusitanians accordingly marched hastily towards him and he nothing Daunted advanced to meet him Both Armies being in sight of one another fell to Fortifying their Camps The Work ended they spent the time in Skirmishes before they would hazard a pitched Battle but Perpenna's Forces decreased much many by night Deserting which obliged him to offer the Enemy Battle before he was quite forsaken Tho' Pompey doubted not of the Victory yet to make it secure he laid an Ambush and retiring drew Perpenna into the Danger of it Thus when he thought himself Victorious he was fallen into the Snare and immediately put to the Rout he himself fled and was as much afraid of his own Men He is vaâ—quâ—shed by Pompey and put to Death as of the Enemy The Romans followed the Chace without giving any Quarter certain Horsemen carried on with this heat found Perpenna among the Shrubs and Bryars He falling down begged his Life assuring them He would make great Discoveries of principal Men in Rome who kept Correspondence with Sertorius which he could prove under their hands The Captain of those Horse acquainted Pompey therewith who ordered his Head to be immediately struck off and those Papers to be brought to him The being accordingly performed Men of Note whom their Conscience accused were in a great Consternation in Pompey's Army for that they had secretly favoured Sertorius But he fearing the ill consequence of such a Discovery publickly Burnt all those Papers and so quieted their Apprehensions 6. Afranius a most Valiant Captain by Pompey's Order entred Lusitania but finding the Camponeses were fled to the Mountains and left all the plain Country Desart he suspected rather Policy than Fear had carried them Pompey subduâ—s many places wherefore he returned to inform Pompey and both of them came before the City Caucia which offered to embrace the Friendship of the Romans but refused to admit a Garrison Pompey requested that whilst they could agree upon Articles his sick Men might be admitted into the City which being granted he sent in a Number of his best Soldiers privately Armed who being let in possessed themselves of the Walls and so the Town was obliged to receive a Garrison and pay a Sum of Money With such like Arts Pompey gained admittance into many Towns of Lusitania Both Pompey and Afranius laid Siege to Oxama now Osma where no fair means prevailing the place was furiously Battered then Undermined and a sufficient Breach being made it was pertinaciously defended as long as any of the Inhabitants were left alive They all died to the last Man and Pompey having none left to kill vented his passion upon the Buildings leaving the place in a confused heap of Rubbish then the Army marched to Calahorra but whilst they lay before it Metellus sent to Advise Pompey it concerned him more to return to Rome than linger the time there He leaving Afranius to continue the Siege in his way laid the Foundation of Pamplona in Navar and so went away to Rome where it was allowed him to Triumph as he had well deserved Afranius left at Calahorra tho' he suffered much by the Weather it being then Winter and also for want of Provisions yet he reduced the Besieged to that extremity that having eaten all the Leather and Hides in the City they killed and eat their Wives and Children Nevertheless Afranius broke in upon them and found many Inhabitants looking rather like Ghosts than Men and many quarters of Women and Children hanging up for Food 7. The Roman Senate thought the Victories of Pompey and Metellus 67. had sufficiently secured Spain therefore they sent thether Publius Piso Pretor a Man more addicted to Peace than War He found all things quiet but after a while understanding that Warlike preparations were making in several parts of Spain he sent his Questor Lucius Flaccus to visit and put all Garrisons into a posture of Defence in the mean while he gathered an Army of Romans and Andaluzians and taking the Field in several places Defeated the Spaniards but Authors do not mention the particulars â—000 Lusitanians slain by Pub. Piso Certain it is he vanquished a Body of Lusitanians that had been plundering the Country and killed 5000 of them His success was doubtless more considerable since it appears he triumphed at Rome 63. Cneus Piso succeeded Publius he by his ill Government lost the Affections not only of the Natives but of the Romans and marching into Lusitania had his Legate cut off by some Light Horse of the Country none of his Army stirring to rescue him The next Pretor was Quintus Calidius who defeated several Parties of Lusitanians 61. that Plundered the Country after him came Tubero who brought with him as his Questor Julius Caesar to whom his future Fortune was foretold at Cadiz For visiting the Temple of Hercules and falling asleep in it he Dreamed that he lay with his Mother This the South-sayers interpreted to Denote his becoming Sovereign of Rome his Mother-Country which he should deprive of its Antient Liberty There also seeing the Picture of Alexander the Great he wept considering that mighty King had subdued so considerable a part of the World at that Age which he then was of and had yet done nothing worthy of Fame 60. These considerations made him quit his Employment and return to Rome to aim at greater A great Earthquake About this time hapned on the Coast of Galicia and Portugal so terrible an Earthquake that many Buildings being overthrown the People fled to the Mountains for Safety The Sea also broke in and drowned several places At Cape St. Vincent a Mare brought forth a Monster with the Head Breast and Fore-feet of a Bull the Body of a Horse and the Hind-feet like a Man's This Monster was thought to foreshew the Calamities that afterwards befell Lusitania 8. Some Years passed that the Romans sent no Commander of Note into Spain which the Lusitanians observing they broke into Castile with a great Power putting all the Country to Fire and Sword The chief among these People were the Herminii inhabiting the deep Valley and high tops of the Mountain Herminius now called Serra de Estrella which crosseth the greatest part of the Kindom of Portugal Julius Caesar comes into Lusitania The next great Man that came was Julius Caesar he to spread a Terror spared none of the Lusitanians that ranged in Castile and Andaluzia but put all to the Sword which made those that escaped home give the Alarm to prepare the People for the Storm that threatned them Caesar over-running all the Province of
St. Michael the Archangel is said to have been seen by his side hewing down the Infidels Hence he went to the Monastery of Alcobaca to return thinks to God for this success and staying there a Month is said to have instituted a new order of Knighthood called that of the Wing for that in the Battle he saw a winged Arm near him fighting against the Moors which the King supposing to be St. Michael or his Guardian Angel he dedicated the order to them both The chief Rules were that the Knights should wear a red Wing embroidered with Gold that none but Gentlemen of Note should be admitted to the Order that in fight they should carry the Royal Standard that they should take the Oath of Allegiance administred by the Prior of Alcobaca who was to be superior of the Order that they should every day say the same Prayers as did the Converts of that Monastery that their Feast should be observed on Michaelmass Day The King and principal Men were enrolled in this Order but it was not lasting 5. At this time there was in the Portuguese Court Gonzalo Hermiguez his actions a Gentleman called Gonzalo Hermiguez much esteemed of the Ladies for his Eloquence and Art in Poetry and no less envied of the Men as well for those Qualities as for that his extraordinary Actions had purchased him the Title of Moor Swallower This Gentleman with a party that used to follow him passed over the River Tagus before it was light on Midsummer Day from Lisbon to Almada and there lay in Ambush The Moors according to their Custom coming out that Morning with their Women to be merry upon the Banks of the River he suddenly rushed out upon them expecting no such Entertainment and made a great slaughter of them The Infidels strove to defend themselves but in vain for he carried off a rich Booty to his Boats Being ready to put off he espied a Moor carrying away a beautiful Woman and leaping again ashore he forced her from him and so made over to Santarem with his Prey Of all the booty he took nothing to himself but the fair Captive whom Baptized he made his Wife She soon after dying he was so afflicted that leaving the World he took upon him the habit of St. Bernard in the Monastery of Alcobaca and out of his own Patrimony having no Children founded the Monastery of St. Mary de Tumarayâ— near Ourem Much about this time it is recorded that the King being near the mouth of the River Mondego found a small Chappel with the Image of our B. Lady which restored to life one of his Servants killed with a fall from his Horse An old Hermit told him it was the same that had preserved all the Women and Children killed by John the Abbot as was said in its place when he sallied out of Montemayor and unexpectedly overthrew a multitude of Infidels This moved the King to erect a Monastery there called at present St. Mary de Seica and the Image being several times removed from the poor Chappel to the magnificent Church of this Monastery is said always of it self to have returned to its own place Peter the King's Bastard Brother ranging abroad met a party of Moors conducting a Beautiful Lady with much Treasure all which having routed them he took Cide Achim a Moor of Silves who courted this Lady begged her of the King or else desired him to keep him also for his slave The King referred him to his Brother Peter who not only restored to him the Lady but all the Treasure taken with her upon condition he should send no succours to Lisbon which it seems was not then taken 6. Peter of Peter Bastard Brother to Alonso Bastard Brother to King Alonso was sent into France to prevail with St. Bernard to use his interest with the Pope for to obtain his investiture and confirmation of the new Kingdom of Portugal To omit what is too Romantick concerning this Peter he is said for his extraordinary valour to have been admitted into the number of the 12 Peers of France and that preparing to accompany that King to Hierusalem he was diswaded by St. Bernard who advised him rather to act against the Moors in Spain He followed his advice and was at the taking of Santarem Lisbon Trancoso Badajoz and other great Actions After this he was chosen Master of the new instituted order of Knight-hood called that of Avis which Honour he obtained of the King that he might not be obliged by him to Marry Returning one day with a party from an Engagement with the Moors he laid down in a Field and fell a Sleep at which time St. Bernard appeared to him in a Dream perswading him to take upon him the Habit of his Order which he accordingly performed and lived 13 Years in the Monastery of Alcobaca with an extraordinary opinion of Sanctity 7. The Dominions of Portugal being now enlarged from a small Dower given by the King of Leon with his Bastard Daughter to the proportion of a considerable Kingdom King Alonso sued to Pope Alexander III. for his invessiture in the same offering to pay to the See of Rome for ever two pound of Gold yearly as an acknowledgment of his holding that Crown of the Pope His Holiness granted his request and accordingly expedited his Bulls to that effect in the Year 1172. 1172. Hereupon the Cortes or Parliament was assembled at Lamego Pope Alexander grants the Investiture of the Kingdom of Portugal to Alonso under a Tribute in which pursuant to these Bulls the King was crowned with a Crown of Gold by the Archbishop of Braga and all the States there assembled unanimously voted their Kingdom independent of the Crown of Leon For the better regulating of the succession it was enacted That the King's Sons should inherit and for want of them his Brothers whose Sons should not succeed them without consent of the People That Daughters might Inherit provided they Married not out of the Kingdom that their Husband should not be called King till the Queen had a Son that he should not wear the Crown on his Head in Parliament that if she Married a Forreign Prince she should not inherit least the Crown should be transferred to Strangers 8. About this time the King made an incursion into Algarve The body of St. Vincent translated to Lisbon as far as the Promontorium Sacrum or Cape St. Vincent desiring to translate the Body of that Saint which he understood to be there but he could not perform it and retired Afterwards the Council of Lisbon sent People to discover it who brought it away to that City where it is kept with great Veneration a number of Crows following the Body from the Mountain to the great Church where it lies and there they also continue to this Day Abenjacob Son to the Miramamolin or Emperor of Morocco with a mighty Army besieged and much streightned the Town of Abrantes but certain
Portuguese Colonies and Factories endeavouring with the assistance of the Indians utterly to extirpate all others that they might themselves ingross that Trade To this purpose they omitted not any manner of Villainies that might conduce to their advantage and particularly though they had afterwards certain Intelligence of King John's being Proclaimed and being in amity with their State yet they ceased not to prosecute their ends in those remote parts as shall appear in the Sequel of this History However before the Revolution reached India they had got footing in Ceylon laid Siege to Malaca which they took and had their designs against Goâ— and all other the Portuguese Conquests in India In America also they were possessed of Pernambuco Paraiba Rio Grande Ciara the Islands of Tamaraca and Ferdinand de Noronha and towards the South of Porto Calvo and Segeripe all places appertaining to the Crown of Portugal But after they had information of the Truce concluded betwixt Portugal and Holland they perfidiously made themselves Masters of Angola and the Island of St. Thomas in Africk of Maranhao in America and of Malaca in India To compleat this Prince's Happiness though before there was a mortal Enmity betwixt the Portuguese and the Hollanders yet now on the 12th of June a Cessation of Arms betwixt the two Nations was agreed upon and concluded A Cessation of Arms with the Dutch at the Hague for 10 Years and soon after the States sent an Ambassador to Congratulate the King upon his Accession to the Crown The Portugal Ambassador returning brought with him Two Regiments of Horse and considerable supplies of Arms and Ammunition The Catalonians also sent the Lord Sala on the same Account and to Ratifie the League before concluded by the Portuguese Ambassador 3. All new erected Monarchyes are subject to a thousand accidents A Conspiracy against the New King discovered and unless protected by some Heavenly power can scarce continue long in their full splendor The King of Portugal was raised to the Throne of his Ancestors in a manner almost miraculous he mounted without any opposition 600 Towns and 15000 Villages submitted to him in less than eight days and all the people of the Kingdom declared they were never happy till his Accession to the Crown Nevertheless no sooner was he seated on the Throne but he found many Enemies and among them some of those who had helped to raise him to that Grandeur About 100 of the Greatest Men in his Kingdom Conspired to destroy him and if Heaven had not protected him there had been but a short space betwixt the Birth and Grave of his Sovereignty The Arch-Bishop of Braga the chief Inquisitor two other Bishops the Marquess of Villareal and his Son the Duke de Caminha were the principal Conspirators D. Lorenzo Pidez de Carvallo the Count de Armamar and D. Augustin Manuel were brought in as Associates the Jews of Lisbon were concerned in the Design and there was a party in the Fleet then lying at Belem one Man being aboard every Ship in order to Fire it upon a signal given Laurence Pidez de Carvallo was to break into the Queens Apartment with 100 Men to secure all there It was given in Charge to the Jews to fire the City in 8 or 10 places that the people being busied there they might have time to force the Palace The Inquisitor General sent Letters into Spain to acquaint the King with the Design that the Forces on the Frontiers might be ready to March to Lisbon upon the first Advice and the Duke de Maqueda to enter the Port with the Fleet of Spain Concerning the manner of discovering this Conspiracy there are three several Accounts One is that the Letters being directed to the Marquess de Ayamonte who was Governour of the Spanish Frontiers he broke them open and sent them back to the King of Portugal when he had seen the Contents which is most probable he being afterwards Convicted of High-Treason and put to Death at Segovia for Conspiring against his King with the Duke of Medina Sidonia and the new King of Portugal Another says that a Spy employed by the King to go often into Spain meeting a Bohemian who was employed to carry the said Letters and suspecting something by his Discourse made him Drunk then Stabbing him and having taken the Packet brought it to the King but this seems not to have any thing of probability or consequently of Truth The third is that D. Alfonso de Portugal Count de Vimioso being deprived of his Command on the Frontiers and grievously resenting that Affront the Arch-Bishop of Braga conceived the desire of revenge would easily engage him to enter into the Conspiracy He therefore discover'd the whole design to him and the Count seeming to embrace the proposition acquainted the King with the whole matter The Conspiracy being discovered the King so ordered the Affair that most of those persons therein concerned were apprehended without the least noise or confusion The 5th of August at 11 at Night was the time appointed for putting the Conspiracy in execution That very morning the King caused all the Troops that Quartered in the neighbouring Villages to march into Lisbon upon pretence of a review to be taken in the large place before the Palace He with his own hand gave several Billets Sealed up to persons he could confide in with positive Orders to every one not to open his Billet till 12 at Noon and then punctually to obey what it directed Then having sent for the Arch-Bishop of Braga and Marquess of Villareal under colour of communicating some important Affairs The principal Conspirators seized and punished they were both seized in the King's Lodgings about Noon without any noise At the same time a Captain of the Guards publickly apprehended the Duke of Caminha in the place before the Palace Those who had received the Billets having opened them found each an Order to take up one of the Conspirators and secure him in such a Prison till further order which was so punctually executed that 47 were taken without any difficulty none endeavouring to escape When the News of the Conspiracy was noised abroad it is not possible to express the rage conceived by the multitude against those that were the fomenters of it every Man desiring to be the Executioner of them as is the nature of the Rabble wherever they conceive a hatred The Wrack forced a Confession from many of the Criminals and the Arch-Bishop the Inquisitor the Marquess of Villareal and Duke de Caminha to save themselves that misery owned the whole Design The Marquess the Duke the Count de Armamar and D. Augustin Manuel were sentenced to be Beheaded The Arch-Bishop and Inquisitor because of their Character the King Condemned to perpetual Imprisonment All the others were adjudged to be Drawn Hanged and Quartered and they all suffered according to the Sentence pronounced against them upon the 29th day of August It is remarkable that when
imprisoned that for the better palliating that odious Action and involving the People as a party in it the Infante himself accompanyed by all the Nobility and Magistrates should put it in Execution that the King's confinement should be at first concealed till by spreading abroad several rumours the People were prepared to allow of it and lastly that either by Art or Threats the King should be obliged to sign an Act of Renunciation The Infante heads the multitude and sets upon the King and exâ—orts from him an instrument of Resignation to the end it might be thought the King had voluntarily given up the Government to his Brother All things being thus disposed at break of day the Infante repairs to the Palace attended by an infinite multitude There he set a Guard upon the King and having locked all the Doors that led to his Apartment he sent Antony Cavide to notifie to him that by the general consent of the Kingdom he was deprived of the Government and his Liberty and also by the most terrible Threats to extort from him the signing of the Instrument of Resignation prepared for him The unfortunate King seeing himself wholly in the power of his Enemies and fearing the utmost effects of their Malice signed the Instrument which was immediately made publick as a justification of the Treasonable Practice It contained in substance that he freely resigned the Government to his Brother Peter and his Heirs reserving only to himself Three Hundred Thousand Cruzados a Year with the Mansion House of the Family of Braganza A Cruzado is Four Hundred Reis of Portuguese Money and Three Thousand Reis is just Twenty Shillings English so that 300000 Cruzados makes the just Sum of 37500 l. Sterling But how well even this miserable Composition for a Crown was observed may appear by his being kept ever after a Prisoner with only a few Servants of no Note such as his Brother thought fit to allow him so that in all probability his Expence could not amount to the tenth part of that Summ. The unhappy King being thus dethroned The Cortes meet and made Prisoner the Cortes or Parliament summoned by him met soon after at Lisbon about the beginning of February 1668 to destroy him by his own Authority At first there were great Debates amongst them whether it were at all lawful to take an Oath to Peter as Regent and next Heir to the Crown or whether the Crown should also be transferred to him some doubting whether the first were justifyable and others more violent urging the latter ought to be done At last the Majority agreed to the setling the Regency and Succession upon Peter but were generally averse to his usurping the style of King thinking it enough that he who was judged unfit for Government was removed from the Helm Peter after having put it to the Vote whether he should assume the Crown finding his Pretension rejected endeavoured to have it believed he was averse from it But the Queen who intended to make him her Husband and could not endure to think of losign any part of her Title The Queen presses to have Peter declared King He is received as Regent or abating any thing of her Pride and being a Woman that knew not how to dissemble her Vanity urged the matter more home to the States who nevertheless decreed that he should exercise all the regal Power without assuming the stile The Controversie being decided there arose another which was whether the King should be allowed his Liberty or confined but in Conclusion it was determined he should undergo perpetual Imprisonment There had been a League offensive and defensive 1668. concluded betwixt France and Portugal Peace with Spain at the beginning of the Year 1667 against Spain by which the French were obliged to give the Spaniards a powerful diversion in Flanders which they performed with great Success After that some Overtures of Peace being made by the Spaniards the Portugueses began readily to give ear to them and though the French Ambassador pressed that the Negotiation might be in common with his Master as in justice according to the League betwixt them it ought to have been yet the Prince who now haâ—â— the Government more mindful of the peculiar Interest which was to secure the Power he had newly gotten then of what in Honour was due to France entered upon a separte Treaty of Peace with Spain His Majesty of Great Britain was the Mediator and in his Name the Earl of Sandwich assisted at the Conferences At length the Peace was concluded betwixt the two Crowns on the 13th of February 1668 and published 10th of March following This Peace was highly cryed up among the Rabble as an effect of the Government of the Prince when all Men plainly saw and were sensible that in reality the victories obtained by King Alphonso were the only motives that obliged the Spaniards to propose it and that the Overtures had been made while he was yet at the Helm which must have had as good a success had he remained time enough in the Throne to bring things to Perfection and perhaps he might have done it without the dishonour of abandoning his Confederates the French On the 13th of February 1668. the Chapter of the Cathredal of Lisbon with others they had culled out all prepared for the design pronounced the Marriage betwixt King Alphonso The Marriage of the King and Queen declared null and the Princess Mary Francis Elizabeth of Savoy null and that therefore both of them were left at Liberty to dispose of themselves Then the three Estates and Magistrates of Lisbon as they had been before directed moved the Prince and Princess that since the former Marriage was declared null they would consent to match together on pretence it was for the good of the Kingdom This they were moved to in regard they were unwilling to restore her Dower and the Parties were no less ready to consent to what themselves had before contrived and agreed betwixt themselves However tho' there had been care taken for the disanulling the former marriage by such persons as were wholly in the interest of the cause there was yet started a scruple that it was not Lawful to proceed to a new match especially with the Brother of the former husband without a dispension But the Prince though pretending only to comply with the Cortes had not been negligent in that Affair for not long after the Publication of the nullity arrived in Portugal the dispensation from the Cardinal of Vendosme the Popes Legate a Latere in France by which it appears the dispensation was granted by one that was a party interessed in the Affair and precedent to the sentence of nullity The Infante marries the Queen Upon these grounds they made no difficulty to proceed to the Nuptials the Ceremony whereof was performed at Alcantara by the Bishop of Targa Administrator of the Arch-Bishoprick of Lisbon on the 2d of April 1668. After
me to run it out to a much greater bulk than at first I designed Neither have I wanted information in many particulars touched in this Supplement from Persons who were present and Eye-witnesses to the Actions therein related Nay one of my Authors viz. the Count de Ericeyra who has handled this subject very largely was not only a Commander in the Army but also a Councellor of State and therefore a most fit Man to give an account as well of the Warlike Exploits in the Field as of the private Transactions at Court But now to come to the last part of all which I call the Conclusion of the History it is so distinguished from the rest of the Supplement in regard that therein we look back into several Years before treated of This as is there said was so ordered to avoid interrupting the series of the War with the relation of Factions and Animosities at Court. And the Councels and Practises which tended to that extraordinary change which was made in the Government in the imprisoning and confining a King for many Years being matters meriting a special observation I thought it better to lay the whole series of them together so that they may appear at one view than to interrupt them with other Narrations Monarchies as all other wordly things have their rise and fall and consequently those which have once been glorious ought to merit our esteem for what they were no less than those which are now great are admired for what they are It is no disgrace to a famous General that he is grown old and worn out with labours nor ought it to lessen our esteem for a Kingdom because we see it sunk under the too great Burthen of its undertakings This has hapned to Portugal which being of its self but a small spot of Ground yet adventured and that with success to spread its Conquests into the four parts of the World to build Cities and Forts among People before unknown to the Europeans to traffick among Rude and Barbarous Nations to engage Multitudes not of naked Indians but such as had the use of all sorts of Fire-arms to Preach the Gospel to inhuman Infidels who had never heard the sacred Name of Christ and in fine to People the vast Ocean if I may so call it with their Fleets to pierce through dangers of unknown Seas and to discover to us the course of the Sun by tracing his Carrier round this Terrestrial Globe These are the mighty Actions which gained Portugal that renown it stood possessed of and these very exploits have helped to sink it into that obscurity which now in a manner hides it from us The greatness of the attempts gained them renown but their own and their Neighbours boundless avarice proved the bane of all their Glories Their own because being but so small a People they yet set no limits to their desires but rather stretched forth their greedy hands to catch at all the Riches of the East and turn them to their peculiar use without considering how much easier it has always been found to acquire much than to preserve what is so unreasonably acquired It was their Neighbours avarice as I said that hastned their ruin because there was scarce a nation of any consideration in Europe which did not strive to pluck a Feather from them and to gain footing where such mighty prospect of profit appeared and above all the Dutch have been the Cormorants that have devoured their Lands their Metals and their Spice Such was the downfall of the Portuguese Nation raised by their Ambition and Valour to the highest pitch of Honour and cast down by the Covetousness and Envy of their Neighbours Nor has the late War which involved the greatest part of Europe contributed less to the obscuring of their Name for all Mankind being wholly taken up with the thoughts of those that were active had not l'easure to cast an Eye upon a People that lay happily obscured under the Blessed cloud of Peace Yet tho' the calm they have of late enjoyed may have put them by the Honour of any fresh martial Atchievments an Honour it is their greatest felicity to want nevertheless their more glorious former Exploits are not worthy to be buried in Oblivion The Empires of the Assyrians Persians Greeks and Romans have long since perished and still we read their Actions with Delight and Admiration The Kingdoms of the Parthians the Goths the Huns and other barbarous Nations are now no more and still the remembrance of their Valour their Victories and their success is the subject of many Volumes Portugal still stands an independent Monarchy and though but the skeleton of what it was still its former Glories merit to be Recorded either for what that Kingdom then was or for what it may possibly be again But it is high time I look about for fear of transgressing in too long a Preface Hitherto something has been said concerning the Author concerning his Works and concerning the Kingdom he treats of What now remains is to remove some objections which may be raised by such as would have all Histories as infallible as the Holy Scripture both as to Time and Actions This is what all Men may wish but none ever yet could attain to He that would read no History in which there is a fault may resolve to spare his Eyes or apply them to some other study The first thing I find in this Book which may be carped at is the account of the first planting this Kingdom and the succeeding race of Kings till the coming in of the Carthaginians Nothing more can be said in defence hereof but that all Antiquity at such a distance is obscure every Nation has laboured to deduce it self from the nearest time to the Flood it could and what is most even the Ancient Josephus writes that Jobel or Tubal the Grandson of Noah came into Spain and other Greek and Latin Authors make mention of Spanish Kings here named therefore in such a mist of Antiquity it may be reckoned a great Happiness that such lights as these can be found to lead us to any part of it that we may rely upon The next objection will be against many passages of somewhat a latter date as for example the strange life of Abidis the coming of Nebuchadnezer into Spain and several other things very incredible to those who have not heard of them before The answer is That these things though strange to us are not at all impossible that they are left to us upon credit of very Authentick Authors and that if in them there be any thing fabulous yet that must not blast the Reputation of this History no more than the English Chronicle ought to be wholly condemned for the far fetcht History of Brutus and his Trojans or Livy for his Poetical Noursery of Romulus and Remus by a Wolf What follows till the Birth of our Saviour and some time after will not be liable to much
thereto by the Avarice of their late Governor Soon after 400. the Celtae of the Province of Alentejo their Territories being thronged by the Turdetani who came out of Andaluzia resolved to move farther into the Country and to that purpose made a solemn Sacrifice and swore ever to continue Friends Whilst they were busie in that Solemnity they descried four Sail which made towards the Shoar and understood they came from Laconica in Peloponnesus seeking some Place to settle in The Celtae received them into their Society and they together passing the Tagus and coming to the River Mondego left there a Company of the Lusitanian Turdetani called Colimbrii or Columbri who there settled a Colony which of them was called Colimbria now known by the Name of Condeixa the Old the Ruins which still are to be seen about it being a Testimony of its former Grandeur Yet some will have that City to have been built by Hercules Lybicus Several Towns founded others by the Carthaginians The Lusitanians and Greeks going on they founded Eminium now Ageuda a great City and a Bishop's See in the time of the Romans and Goths They also were the Founders of Talabrica now Aveyro of Lavara of Lameca or Laconia now Lamego and some other Places whereof there is now no Memory The last Place named was built by the Greeks and the Celtae who continuing their Progress fell at Variance forgetting the Oath made at their Setting out in such manner that in cruel Battle among themselves the greatest part of them perished Such as remained spread themselves about that Country and some of them are supposed to be the Founders of Araduca now Guimaraens 7. The Lusitanians and Africans about the Port of Hanibal were at Peace 359. when Boodes came to succeed Hanno the Carthaginian Commander in Spain He introduced himself politickly by fair means into the Affections of the People The Progress of the Carthaginians in Spain and they together sacrificed to Hercules Having thus setled Friendship Boodes with the Consent of the Natives built a Town called Lacobriga in Algarve now Lagos After Boodes came Maherbal who so managed the People that he became absolute over all that part which is now the Kingdom of Algarve and hearing of the Greatness of the City Elvas marched thither with a good Body of Men and by Kindness so won the Hearts of the Inhabitants that they wholly submitted themselves unto him Maherbal falling sick here was told by the Diviners that there was no way to recover his Health but building a Temple to the God Cupid which he did and recovered This Temple was famoâ—â— many Ages after and the Idol called Endovellicus Tâ—â— Image had its Eyes shut a Heart in its Mouth and Wings on its Feet The Priest when he sacrificed to this God stripped himself naked and then put on a loose Garment which traiâ—ed on the Ground his Back and Left Arm remaining naked then with the Right Hand he ripped up a Lamb and took out his Heart which with the Left Hand he cast into the Fire 8. The City Tyre being destroyed by Alexander the Great 318. 15000 of the Inhabitants were saved by the Sidonians who served in his Army Some of them by means of the Carthaginians came into Lusitania The City Mirtiri built by the Tyrians where they founded a Town which they called Mirtiri that is New Tyre now Mertola This same Year Gatelus sailing from Egypt with his whole Family is reported to have landed in Portugal and it is supposed it was at the City Porto He had two Sons Iberus and Humecus the first of them some will have to have sailed into Ireland and given the Name Hibernia to it these are meer Suppositions Some Years after the Greeks between the Rivers Duero and Minho 310 encreased by the coming of the Celtae and Turdetani finding their Multitude too great for that Province by common Consent sent their Sons to find new Seats Some of them settled in the Mountains of Asturias and others along the Banks of the Rivers Erla 303. The Carthaginians being at War with Pyrrhus Prince of the Epirots who was possessed of Siciâ—y drove him thence by the Assistance of the Spanish Auxiliaries among whom were 2000 Lusitanian Celtae 9. Hamilcar Barcinus a Man extraordinary well qualified was sent from Carthage to promote the Interest of that Commonwealth in Spain His mighty Zeal in the Worship of their Idols endeared him to the People and the more to oblige them he resolved to marry a Woman of the Country by her he had Hannibal the Second by Name but far the greatest in Renown His Project of marrying a Lusitanian to gain the Affection of the Natives Hamilcar subdues all Spain was so highly approved of by the Carthaginians that returning home he was sent back to finish what he had so well begun He brought with him his Wife by whom he had Five Children Hannibal Asdrubal Magâ— Hanno and a Daughter After he had settled the Affairs of Andaluzia he passed thence into Lusitania intending to make 〈◊〉 â—he Seminary of Soldiers Having gathered a mightâ— Army he set forward so fortunate that he subdued all the Country from the Streights of Gibraltar to the Pyrenean Mountains Hanibal then a Youth was present at these Exploits and then learnt his first Military Rudiments In the mean while the Vectones who lived betwixt the Rivers Duero and Coa down as far as Tagus and were ancient Enemies to the Celtae of the Province of Alentejo and to the Turdetani considering that the Flower of these People was drawn out under Hamilcar Barcinus laid hold of this Opportunity and invaded their Territories The Celtae asked leave of their General to return Home to defend their Country and he careful of their good Fortune marched back with them The Vectones being strengthened with Supplies waited his coming in a convenient place with a great number of Carts loaded with Wood before them as if they had been upon the March Hamilcar admired their Resolution but understood not the Stratagem He caused the Celtae to give the Charge but neither their Courage nor Martial Discipline availed them for the Vectones setting Fire to the Wood the Oxen being frighted ran so furiously with the Flaming Carts into the midst of them that they were put into Confusion notwithstanding their General did all that was possible to restore the Battle In the heat of the Action he was killed leaving a bloody Victory to the Vectones Asdrubal his Son-in-law and Hannibal gathering the Relicks of the Army fell upon the Phocentians who had assisted the Vectones but these coming to their Relief the two Generals were obliged to raise a greater Power with which they not only subdued the Phocentians but put all to the Sword that were able to bear Arms. This done he marched towards the Vectones who continued to insult the Celtae and sufficiently revenged their Wrongs But the Celtae not so satisfied ceased not
from this time the Lusitanians inhabiting Vouga or Vacca made an expedition as far as the Cities Assota and Lacedemona in whose Territory they founded a Town which of the Name of their own Country they called Vacca and being delighted with the pleasantness of the Place they added the word Chara whereby it came to be called Charavacca The News of the Death of the Emperor Augustus being brought into Lusitania his Funeral Honours were performed with no less Grandeur than they had been at Rome Hispania Vlterior which includes Portugal was at this time Governed by the Proconsul Vibius Serenus whose unlimitted Avarice was the cause he exercised many Cruelties towards the People nor were the Spanish Mines and Rivers yielding Yearly three Millions of Crowns in Gold sufficient to satisfy his unmeasurable Covetousness 2. Tiberius having succeeded Augustus in the Empire Tiberius succeeds Augustus in the Empire appeared no less insatiable than his Lieutenant The Lusitanians by their Ambassadors asked leave to Erect a Temple to him and his Mother Drusilla which he pretending Modesty refused But in Reality was more desirous of their Gold than of their Adoration To shew that Learning was then esteemed here several Lasitanians went into Italy only to see the famous Historian Titus Livius with them went Ambassadors from Lisbon to give an Account of a Prodigy there seen It was a perfect Man coming out of the Sea who sitting upon the Rocks sounded a great Shell as if it had been a Horn so loud and shrill that it drew the People thither to see who it was Admiring the sight of that Creature they sent that Embassage which is a token no such Creature had been seen before tho' Authors affirm that several have appeared since The Roman Emperors were Lords of our Kingdom of Lusitania for some Ages but for Brevity sake I will not mention them all as they succeeded one another but only speak of those who left something memorable among us 3. After Tiberius Caius Caligula the Imperial Crown was put upon the Head of Caius Caligula whose horrid course of Life made the wickedness of his Predecessor be looked upon as innocence Caligula in the 4th Year of his Reign was Murthered St. James the Apostle in Spain as had been his Predecessor During his Reign St. James the Apostle came into Spain where he Preached the Gospel and converted many by virtue of the mighty Miracles he Wrought Among the rest he is said to have raised to life a Citizen of Braga by extraction a Jew called Samuel the Younger or Malachias the Elder Son to the Prophet Vrias who had been Buried near 600 Years him he called Peter and constituted the first Bishop of Braga and the first in all Spain 44. This Bishop suffered Martyrdom at Rates four Leagues from Braga and is therefore called St. Peter of Rates Another of his Disciples St. James left in the Church of Cinania once a populous City now a poor place scarce the shaddow of what it was between Braga and Guimaraens upon the River Ave. In this same place he was Martyred by the Neighbouring People in memory whereof they to this day as it were acknowledging the crime resort to his Church bare-footed and with Cords about them The Martyrs name was Torquatus now corruptly called Torcade St. James embarking at Corunna sailed into England in whose absence Peter the Archbishop of Braga having spread the Faith made several Bishops 46. As the Nuptials of a little King's Son were Celebrating on the shoar of Bouzas not far from Porto the Bride-groom being on Horse-back among many others suddenly there appeared a Ship at Sea When it drew near the Bride-groom was carried away by his Horse through the Water and suddenly appeared upon the Ship covered with Crosses and Shells Wondring what this should mean he asked of those in the Ship who told him They brought the Body of St. James the Apostle who had wrought that Miracle to convert him and the Neighbouring People and a voice from Heaven said it was the Will of God that all those who went to visit the Apostle's Sepulcher should be so adorned with Crosses The Bridegroom returned ashoar his Horse treading the Water as if it had been firm Land whereupon he and all present were Baptized Thus much may suffice as to the Preaching of St. James the Apostle and the bringing of his Body after his Death into Spain 4. After Caligula Reigned 56. Claudius a Prince as foolish as his Predecessor was wicked The Emperors Claudius and Nero. no Memory of him remains in Portugal it had been well if there were none in the World Of Nero his Successor there are still many Monuments in Lusitania and also of his Mother â—gâ—ippina for to her they Erected Statues In the time of Nero Silvius Otho Governed Portugal the Emperor conferred that Honour upon him the more freely in his absence to enjoy his Wife Popea whose incontinency gave occasion for him to fall in love with her Beauty Ten Years did Otho Govern this Province with so great Equity and Moderation that he obliged the People afterwards to assist him towards obtaining the Empire A great number of Martyrs suffered under this cruel Emperor as well in Spain as in other parts Galba Next to Nero Galba ascended the Imperial Throne rather for the hatred all Men bore his Predecessor than for any Merit of his own Otho then Governor of Lusitania in Revenge of the wrong done him in the Person of his Wife Popea assisted him Nevertheless once possessed of the Government he grew as odious as he had been before desirable and therefore having held it but Eight Months was Murthered Otho His Death opened the way for Otho who had won the hearts of all Men with much Bounty and Clemency to aim at the Crown Otho to gratifie the Affections of the Lusitanians granted great Priviledges to many Towns but particularly to Merida then the Metropolis of the Province only three Months lasted the Sovereignty of Otho for understanding that Vitellius with the German Army by which he was saluted Emperor was marching against him he in despair Slew himself Vitellius nor did Vitellius hold it above Eight Months 5. Vespasian succeeded Vitellius Vespasian and by his Prudence and Moderation cheared the hearts of all his People Lusitania was particularly favoured by him for he adorned it with noble Works one of them was the great Road he made from Braga to Orense the space of Fifteen Leagues which breaking through many rough and uncooth places runs so smooth there is not the least Ascent or Descent in it Near to the Town of Chaves of him called Aquae Flaviae he built a Bridge over the River Tamaga 80. with a large Inscription on it Vespasian died having Reigned Nine Years and a half and left the Empire to his two Sons Titus and Domitian Titus the Good and Domitian the Wicked During their sway
Italy the Alans and Lusitanians before dispersed began to take heart and recover what they had lost founding also many new Towns Among these were Albuquerque and Terabrica which last was rather repaired being called Alankerken which signifies The Church of the Alans and now corruptly Alanquer Whilst the Alans thus without any King only following their Generals paid Tribute to the Emperor The Suevians incorporate with the antient Lusitanians Hermenericus the Suevian King at Lisbon applied himself to the repairing of the Towns that had been destroyed treating the Native Lusitanians no otherwise than his own Country-men The Lusitanians having the free Liberty of their Religion and being equally admitted to all Honours with the Suevians the two Nations joined Marriage and by that Means became so entirely one that there was no knowing the Suevian from the Lusitanian or the contrary Being thus joined into one Body they could afterwards never be parted but notwithstanding the Invasion of the Goths the Inhabitants of Portugal were afterwards called Suevians Thus the Portugueses are descended from the Suevians no less Noble than the Goths if either of those Barbarous Nations deserve to be esteemed Honourable And thus the Province of Lusitania lost that Name and was long after called Suevia 8. The Alans enjoyed Tranquility 419. without any King as did the Suevians or Portugueses under their Sovereign Hermenericus till Gundericus King of the Vandals thinking it easie to subdue the Alans in Lusitania and the Silingi in Andaluzia if Hermenericus were once oppressed he broke the Peace with the Suevians and rushing suddenly with Fire and Sword into their Territories Hermenericus though surprized at this unexpected Invasion gathering his Forces together received the Enemy so successfully that he sent him to seek new Seats in the Islands of Majorca and Minorca where we will leave him to be spoken of by those Historians to whom it belongs 420. Gensericus the Brother of Gundericus The Suevians Alans and Silingi join in League against the Romans succeeded him Who understanding that Etius Honorius's General was coming into Spain to revenge the Wrongs done by his Brother he joined in League with Hermenericus King of the Suevians and with the Alans and Silingi believing none would dare to oppose their United Power At Merida they Mustered their Forces Etius dreading their Multitude but much more surprized at the death of the Emperor 423. attempted nothing upon them Thus Gensericus was left at leasure to pass over into Africk where he utterly abolished the Name of the Roman Empire and Hermenericus 427. whilst the Vandals were employed in Africk enlarged the Borders of his Kingdom to almost the same extent it now bears 9. Valentinian the Emperor Wars betwixt the Romans and Suevians who succeeded Honorius understanding the Vandals were gone over into Africk Commanded his General Sebastian to invade the Alans left in Lusitania Merida and all that Territory was easily taken from them as was Lisbon and Estremadura from the Suevians Sebastian now Victorious forgetting his Duty caused himself to be Proclaimed King of what part he had recovered of Lusitania yet his Friends failing him he was soon killed and by his Death the Alans and Suevians had an opportunity of recovering Merida and Lisbon Hermenericus grown Old and Infirm caused his Son Richila to be Proclaimed King who proved one of the most fortunate Princes of the Suevians whilst Hermenericus rejoyced in the hopes of surviving in the Person of his Son Andebalus the Imperial General was on his march to recover what Sebastian had lost Richila to begin his Reign honourably gathered a mighty Power and meeting Andebalus on the Banks of the River Xenil then called Silingus slew him and the greatest part of his Army 10. All Andaluzia easily submitted to the Victorious King Richila makes himself Master of Lusitania and Andaluzia as did also Merida where there had been an Imperial Garrison ever since Sebastian took it All Lusitania in like manner was brought under and Richila became absolute in Andaluzia and Lusitania Old Hermenericus died contentedly leaving such an Heir in the Town of Britonium near Viana de Caminha on the mouth of the River Minho 440. Another Author who calls him Monarch of Spain says he was drowned in the River Guadiana near unto Merida Richila being sensible how much more easie it is to gain than to preserve too large a Dominion voluntarily resigned up Cartagena and Carpentania to the Romans and entring into League with them by that means established a large and peaceable Kingdom 448. He died Eight Years after his Father and left his Son Ricciarius to succeed him being equal to him in valour but more fortunate in the true knowledge of the Evangelical Law which he professed living and adhered to at his death CHAP. III. The Kingdom of the Suevians subdued by the Goths two Kings set up by their consent all again reduced under one with the other remarkable occurrences between the Years of Grace 448 and 560. 1. RIcciarius succeeded his Father Richila 448. not only in the Kingdom of Portugal Ricciarius his Reign but the greatest part of Spain The beginning of his Reign was disturbed with some Conspiracies of the Great Men but he privately took off many of them and by that means secured his Life and Kingdom He Married a Daughter of Theodoredus King of the Goths her Name is not known Ricciarius after his Marriage raising a great Army made War upon those parts of Navarre which were yet subject to the Roman Jurisdiction and through them he forced his way into France to see his Father-in-law Theodoredus The old Man perceiving his aspiring Spirit gave him considerable supplies for the carrying on of his Designs In his return he conquered the Province of Tarragona and Carpentania which his Father had abandoned to the Romans In Aragon he took Zaragoza and Lerida in Catalonia after plundering the Province of Cartagena he returned loaded with Booty and Honour into Lusitania Ricciarius being now at rest 451. his Father-in-law Theodoredus died and Theodoricus his Son succeeded him Him Ricciarius thought to have been no less forward toward his Assistance than the Father had been and upon this conceit he resolved to conquer the other Lands of the Empire The Goth who was in League with the Romans and feared the Ambition of his Brother-in-law might involve him in his own Ruin advised him to moderate his extravagant desires Ricciarius offended at this wholesome advice marched against his Brother-in-law with a powerful Army Theodoricus was not backward to meet him being strengthned with Succours from the Kings of France and Burgundy He is overthrown by Theodoricus King of the Goths The two Armies furiously ingaged in the Plains about Astorga both Kings were present in all places where the greatest Danger was Encouraging their Soldiers and the Men fought as those who had their Kings to be Spectators of their
Valour At last Ricciarius was utterly overthrown with the Slaughter of all the flower of the Suevians 2. Ricciarius after this rout fled to the Sea-side Ricciarius his end and Embarking thought to have got over into Africk to call the Vandals and Alans to his assistance but by a violent Storm was drove to the River of Porto Those People to gain the Favour of the Conqueror who was now subduing the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho secured and delivered him up to Theodoricus He Governed by Passion cut off his Head and in him perished the Glory of the Suevian Kingdom so that it never after rose to any Grandeur His Death was the more lamented for that he was a Prince zealous of the true Religion Accordingly in his life-time he assembled a National Synod at Aquae Celenae a Town in Galicia now called St. George of Codesâ—da here several Heresies were Condemned and particularly that of Priscilian The Victorious Theodoricus laid Siege to Braga which was soon Surrendred to him Here he left one Aliulfus Governour whilst he crossing the River Duero went on to conquer all that had been subject to the Suevian King all yielded to him without any opposition except the City Merida the Garrison and Inhabitants of which place were so hardy as to meet the Goths in the Feild which Theodoricus so highly resented that he promised to rase the City but the Virgin St. Eulalia is said to have appeared to him in a Dream and deterred him from putting his design in Execution 3. Theodoricus was upon his return to France Theodoricus having conquered Spain puts it under Governours when he had intelligence that Aliulfus whom he had made Governour of Braga had assumed the Title of King and raised a considerable Army to maintain it But giving Battle to Nepocianus Theodoricus his General lost his life From that time the Suevians remained subject to the Goths All things being thus quieted Theodoricus went away to France leaving Governours over all his Conquests The People considering the oppression they lay under by the ill Administration of these Governours and wanting the power to Revolt had recourse to the Bishops and Clergy praying them to intercede with Theodoricus that he would appoint a King over them whom they might obey and who yet might be subordinate to him The Bishops undertook the Business and Idacius Prelate of Lamego having proposed the matter of the Embassy to Theodoricus in France he tho' an Arrian respecting the Character of the Embassadors not only granted their request but allowed the People to choose a King among themselves to Govern them according to their Ancient Laws only paying some small acknowledgment to the Kings of the Goths Two Kings set up in Lusitania As soon as the Bishops returned to Braga joyning with the Laity they chose for their King one Masdra the Son of Masila This which was intended for the peace of the Country proved its greatest Confusion for some of the Nobility who were not present at the Election set up for their King one Franta who presently possessed himself of all the Lands along the Coast of Galicia with the Cities of Astorga Orense and Iria Flavia. Masdra held all Lusitania and was accounted King of the Suevians he thought by his submission and paying the Tribute to gain the favour of Theodoricus and obtain Aid against his Competitor But the Goth politickly thinking it better the Kingdom should be divided as being thereby the less capable of Rebelling against him accepted of the submission of them both for Franta had sent to pay his obedience with no less speed than the other 4. The Kingdom of the Suevians thus divided 457. fell into those Calamities which commonly attend States that depend between Competitors Two Years the Wars continued very furious during which time so many Towns about the Frontiers were subverted as might well have contented either party but at last both of them grown weary 460. gave over the strife Masdra who had the better Title died and left a Son called Remismundus his Successor he considering how little had been gained on either side by the War not only made Peace but entred into League with his Competitor Thus with their united Forces they conquered several parts of Lusitania which owned neither of them but either followed their own Captains or had again put themselves under the Roman Empire Thus done they both returned home satisfied having enlarged their Dominions which they would have wasted by waging War upon one another A prodigious Birth Two Years Franta enjoyed Peace at the end whereof he died leaving the Crown to his Brother Frumarius At this time hapned a Prodigy in the Territory of Braga which was the Birth of two Children each of them having two heads like one another and of two several Sexes Remismundus and Frumarius falling at variance about Precedency took up Arms by force whereof the latterâ—gained of the other the City Flavia now Chaves in which and all its Territory he spared not even the Stones all the Country was consumed with Fire and Sword Remismundus was satisfied with doing as much harm in his Enemies Country as he received in his own he took by open force the Cities of Orense and Lugo in which he exercised the utmost Efforts of his Fury 5. This Desolation continued for the space of two Years 464. when Death put a stop to it by taking away Frumarius The Suevian Kingdom again united under Remismundus and his subjects having left him for whom before they had forfeited their quiet submitted themselves to Remismundus who thus became absolute and sole King of the Suevians He presently thought of recovering all that remained of Lusitania and passing over the River Duero with his Army marched to the Ancient Coimbra now Condeixa which the Romans had Rebuilt and Fortified It was then a place impregnable and accordingly put a stop for a while to Remismundus but he persisting before it had it at last surrendred upon Honourable Conditions though contrary to his Faith given he broke the Conditions robbing the Garrison and rasing the City Lisbon made such a vigorous Defence that he began to despair of carrying it but a Citizen called Lusidius privately gave him Entrance into it so that he was within before the Townsmen could put themselves in order to oppose him Remismundus thus possessed of all those Dominions before divided fearing least Theodoricus the Goth might grow jealous of his great power sent him an account of his Victories with the best of the spoiles He Marries the Daughter of Theodoricus assuring him of the continuance of his Fidelity to the Gothish Kings Theodoricus overcome with this Generosity sent him his Daughter for Wife with a great Mass of Treasure under the charge of his Ambassador Salanus 6. This was an unhappy Match for Lusitania The Arian Heresie first spread in Lusitania for the Suevians being before true Sons of the
Forces 577. and invading the People called Rucones now Rieja subdued them Luiva was now King of the Goths and took for his Companion and Successor his Brother Leovigildus Which done he returned into France leaving Leovigildus in Spain to secure his former Conquests and add others to them He victoriously traversed the greatest part of Spain and at last enter'd Galicia Ariamirus in vain striving to put a Stop to his Progress who now perceiving how ineffectual Force proved thought better to try if Fair Means would prevail Therefore he sent Ambassadors to Leovigildus to put him in mind of the Peace and Alliance established betwixt their Predecessors and to desire the Renewing thereof Leovigildus content with this Submission curbed his aspiring Thoughts concluded a Peace and retired 3. Leovigildus had now two Sons Hermenegildus and Recaredus The first was married to Ingunda Daughter of Sigebert King of France and his Wife Brunechilde Upon this Marriage he lived apart from his Father and had the Stile of a King given him at Merida There by the Means of his Wife who was a Catholick and of his Uncle St. Leander Archbishop of Sevilâ— he embraced the Catholick Faith and in Baptism was called John Leovigildus the Goth Wars upon his Son Hermenegildus on Account of Religion His Father being an obstinate Arian was so offended at his Conversion that he deprived him of the Regal Dignity The Prince fled into Portugal and was there protected by King Ariamirus who was a Catholick Hermenegildus raised Forces but his Father coming speedily upon him he fled with 3000 Men to Ossela a Place thought impregnable But Leovigildus for all that enter'd it by Force put all to the Sword burnt the Town and carried away his Son Prisoner to Toledo From thence he made his Escape to Sevil where he fortified himself King Leovigildus laid Siege to that City being assisted by King Ariamirus of Portugal and having forced his Way into it carried away Hermenegildus to Tarragona where he was put to Death in the Year 586. Which Passage is here related to avoid interrupting the Narration 4. Our King Ariamirus died at that Siege 583. and his Son Eburicus then very young succeeded him in the Crown of Portugal under the Protection of Leovigildus the Goth. Endeca usurps the Crown of Portugal Endeca a Noble-man in great Power at the Portuguese Court taking Advantage of the King 's tender Years married Sisegunda the Queen-Dowager and with the Help of his Friends possessed himself of the Government upon pretence of managing it for the young King But having in Process of Time secured his Interest he usurped the Regal Title and put Eburious into Prison at first and soon after obliged him to take the Habit of a Monk that so he might forfeit his Pretensions to the Crown The Tyrant Endeca fearing Leovigildus the Goth who was Protector to the deposed King joined in League with Gunteranus the French King But the Goth whose Courage was not to be shocked sent his Son Recaredus against the French and himself invaded the usurping Suevian He is deposed and shorn a Monk by Leovigildus the Goth He soon took him Prisoner and obliged him to take the same Habit he had before forced upon the Rightful King and to enter into Holy Orders banishing him to the City Beja then possessed by the Goths Yet Leovigildus though he was thought to have conquered that Kingdom for Eluricus kept it for himself adding it to his other Dominions Thus ended the Kingdom of the Suevians after it had with various Turns of Fortune lasted about 180 Years 585. It expired in the Year 585. The People dissatisfied with Leovigildus rose up in Arms and proclaimed a Noble-man called Malaricus King but he being soon overthrown and taken Prisoner by the Forces of the Goth the Kingdom of the Lusitanians or Suevians was entirely brought under the Dominion of the Goths He persecutes the Catholicks but dies one himself The Lusitanians at this time continued firm in the Faith and Leovigildus ceased not to persecute the Professors thereof deposing the Catholick Prelates and filling their Places with Arians who perverted many of the People Leovigildus having raigned 18 Years died at Toledo a Catholick though he had lived an Arian His first Wife was Theodora Daughter of Severianus Governor of Cartagena and his Wife Theodora Daughter to Theodoricus King of the Ostrogoths in Italy and Sister to Isidorus and Leander Archbishops of Sevil and of Fulgentius of Cartagena By her he had Hermenegildus whom he put to death and Flavius Recaredus who succeeded him 5. Recaredus 586. born at Sevil in the Year 566 now in the 20th of his Age Recaredus succeeds inherited his Father's Throne He proved an excellent Prince and having embraced the Catholick Faith restored all those that his Father had expelled He becomes a Catholick His pious Intention of Assembling a National Synod was for some time obstructed by the Treasonable Conspiracies of the Hereticks The first Council was held at Merida under the Direction of Claudius who governed the small Remainder of the Roman Empire along the Sea-Coast of Lusitania Suna the Arian Archbishop being now compelled to resign that See to Mansona the Catholick before expelled by Leovigildus conspired with other Hereticks to murder him and Claudius Witericus who was afterwards King now one of the Conspirators laying his Hand upon his Sword to execute his Purpose he could not draw it whereat being moved he discovered the Treachery and was therefore pardon'd Suna the Heretical Archbishop was banished as were the other Accomplices and their Estates confiscated Amidst this Confusion Gunteranus King of France made War upon Recaredus sending against him an Army under the Command of his General Bossus Claudius a Man fortunate in War marched to oppose him and overthrew him near Carcassonne with a great Slaughter Some will have it that Claudius with only 300 Men defeated Bossus who had 60000 But let every one judge thereof as he pleases 6. Recaredus having thus subdued his Enemies both at home and abroad was at leisure to assemble the Council he had before designed at Toledo 589. Seventy two Prelates met together there A Synoâ— at Toledo St. Leander Archbishop of Sevil presiding The King himself made an Oration at the Opening of the Council Now the Arian Heresie was totally extinguished the Catholick Faith triumphed and Recaredus for his singular Piety had the Title of Catholick or Most Christian King conferred upon him 601. After triumphing over his which were the Enemies of Christ Recaredus dies our Religious King Recaredus died at Toledo He was born at Sevil in the Year 565 reigned 16 and lived 37. His Coin has been seen in our Age at several Places Some at Lisbon with this Inscription on the one side RECAREDUS REX and on the Reverse OLISIBONA PIUS Others at Evora with RECAREDUS REX and on the
40000 Horse of them incamped on the Spanish Coast 200000 Foot and 40000 Horse of the Moors land in Spain The King's Army consisted of 120000 Foot and 10000 Horse a sufficient number had they been well Armed and Disciplined Men he Encamped betwixt Xeres and Medina Sidonia leaving the Sea open at the Enemies backs whereby they received Succours Upon Saturday the 1st of September in the fatal Year 714. the two Armies came in sight of one another The King's Army consisted of 120000 Foot and 10000 Horse That day was spent in taking up their Lodgments along the River Guadalete on Sunday with the day began the Battle which continued very Bloody till Night parted them all the Week the fight continued still renewed with the Day as it was broke off by the Night 714. King Roderick appeared in all parts in his Royal Robes A great and bloody Battle over his Armour he wore a rich Garment a Crown on his Head a Scepter in his Hand on his Feet Golden Buskins set with Pearl and precious Stones he was carried in a high Ivory Chariot as was the manner of the Gothish Kings in Battle and thence encouraged his Men who the 2d Sunday began to faint The King perceiving them give way left his Chariot and mounting upon a Horse he called Orelia rushed couragiously into the thickest of his Enemies making them give way to his Valour The Spaniards overthrown The Spaniards encouraged at this sight came on so vigorously that the Battle for some time continued doubtful but at Sun-setting the Vigour of our Men quite failing Victory appeared on the Enemies side and the Darkness gave the Christians an opportunity to fly 5. I cannot forbear remarking how fatal the number Eight has appeared upon this occasion A remark upon the number Eight Eight days the fight lasted Eight months the Barbarians spent in subduing all Spain and 800 Years it cost the Spaniards to recover it The King seeing he laboured in vain fled to a Mountain where he changed his Apparel with a Shepherd In this condition he came to the Monastery of Cauliniana two Leagues from Merida on the Banks of the River Guadiana Here overcome with Trouble and Sorrow for his Sins he fell into a Swoun and was brought to himself by one Romanus a Holy Monk With him he fled into Portugal where they took up their Habitation on a Rock upon the Sea Coast near the Town of Pederneira They took two different Cells about a Mile from one another where both of them ended their Days Here as is said was found an Image of our Blessed Lady in the Time of Alonso our first King and a Tomb with this Inscription HIC REQUIESCIT RUDERICUS ULTIMUS REX GOTHORUM that is Here reposes Roderick the last King of the Goths Thus far our Author Emanuel de Faria setting down this as an approved and undoubted Opinion But many others and those of good Note reject this as fabulous most Men agreeing that King Roderick was drowned in the River Gundalete where most of his Royal Apparel was found he being never after heard of Many more strange Stories have been spread abroad as it commonly happens in such Cases where the Bodies of Princes in such Universal Calamities are not found but they are rather Romantick than Historical and therefore not fit for any but least of all for the Brevity of this History After the Victory The Moors over-run all Spain the Moores spread themselves over all the Province committing inhumane Barbarities not without losing in several Rencounters during the eight Months of their Conquest 80000 Men besides 20000 before slain in the great Battel The chief Resistance was made at Merida The Defendants whereof many were Portugueses that being then the supream Tribunal of Lusitania were commanded by Sacaru a Noble Goth. Many brave Actions passed at the Siege but at length there being no Hopes of Relief and Provisions failing the Town was surrender'd upon Articles The Commander of the Lusitanians with such as would follow him traversing Portugal came to a Sea-port Town where gathering a good Number of Ships he put to Sea but to what part of the World they were carried does not appear There is an antient Fable of an Island called Antilia in the Western Ocean inhabited by Portugueses which could never yet be found and therefore we will leave it till such time as it is discovered but to this Place our Author supposes these Portugueses to have been driven Fortune having now wholly forsaken Spain the Moores easily over-ran all that remained as far as the River Minho under the Command of Abdalaziz Son to Muza Yet the Andaluzians and Lusitanians Muza being absent rose up in Arms and put to the Sword the Moorish Garrisons of Sevil Beja and Ilipula which done being assembled to a great Number they took Merida by Force killing all they found therein Muza who was then at Zaragosa hasted to quell this Commotion which was easily done Merida he spared Sevil suffered much at Ilipula there was not one Stone left upon another but what he did at Beja is not known though it may be supposed not to have escaped having been the Place of Rendesvouz for the People of Sevil. 7. The famous Actions of D. Pelayo Pelagius the first that opposed the Moors or Pelagius and the miserable Ends of Count Julian his Wife and Daughter the principal Actors in this Tragedy are treated of in the Chronicles of those Kingdoms to which they appertain Pelagius during the 19 Years he reigned had no Command in Portugal where the Moors were so predominant that there were as many Kings as Cities But because the Actions of Pelagius were so great in themselves and in the Consequence of them we will give some Hints of what others write at large Pelagius was in the great Battel with his Cousin-German King Roderick After which he fled with 1000 Christians to Asturias de Oviedo where he took Shelter in a vast Cave now called Covadonga among the Mountains of Auseva and was in that miserable Condition by his Men proclaimed King of Spain a mighty Title for so poor a Beginning and yet here began those Victories which in the Space of 800 Years recovered all Spain Pelagius had a Sister whose Name is not known but Muza Governor of Gijon in Asturias being taken with her Beauty enjoy'd her upon Promise of Marriage The Desire of Revenging this Wrong first moved Pelagius to appear in Arms Thus it fell out that as one Lady was the Cause of the Destruction of Spain so another was the Motive of its Restauration Pelagius was the Son of Favila Duke of Cantabria Third Son of King Chindasuindus and of his Wife D. Luz the Daughter of Theodofredus Duke of Cordova and Brother to Favila He was born at Toledo and bred at Alcantara by Grafes Brother to the Lady Luz his Mother This was the first King that we find had the Title of Don annexed
places among which were Braga Porto Chaves and Viseo all in Portugal The King of Cordova coming down suddenly with an Army took Viseo first and then Salamanca and so returned to Cordova refusing to give our King Battel who thereupon wasted all the Country of Toledo Then turning into Portugal he retook Viseo and had Coimbra yielded to him 9. It appears by a Grant of his to Sisenandus Bishop of Compostela that the Territories betwixt Duero and Minho and that called Tras os Montes or Beyond the Mountains were Desart from the first coming of the Moors till his time when he Peopled and made them fit to with stand the Enemy At this sametime the King continued the Structure of the stately Church of St. James the Apostle The Church of St. James the Apostle in Galicia Dedicated Seventeen Bishops were present at the Dedication of it above half of them were Portuguese Next by Order of Pope John the VIII the King held a National Council at Oviedo to provide for the Bishops that were Expelled from their Diocesses and erect the Bishoprick of Oviedo into an Archbishoprick after which the King again applied himself to Peopling of the Country 903. and was come as far as the River Tagus when he understood his own Sons conspired to depose him being encouraged by their Mother and some of the Nobility He voluntarily performed what they intended to extort from him The Christian Dominions divided betwixt the two Sons of King Alonso to D. Garcia he gave Oviedo Leon and Castile to D. Ordono Gallicia and Portugal Having resigned his Kingdoms he went in Pilgrimage to Santiago and at his return asked of his Son Garcia some Forces to make an incursion into the Moorish Territories which he performed successfully He entred into League with the Kings of France and Navarre to the latter he gave his Sister Vrraca in Marriage and married himself Ximena Daughter either of France or of D. Ynigo Ximenez Arista of Navarre His Sons were Garcia Fruela Ordonno Ramiro and Gonzalo who was Archdeacon of Oviedo He Reigned 48 Years died at Zamora 914 and was Buried at Astorga where his Tomb is still to be seen tho' the Body was translated to the Chappel of King Alonso the Chast in Oviedo where also lies his Wife Ximena 10. D. Garcia having wrested the Scepter out of his Father's hand Garcia has for his part Galicia and the North of Portugal enjoyed it but three Years Tho' he got the Crown by unlawful means he Governed well overcame Ayola Lord of Talavera and is said to have obtained other Victories he died at Zamora was Buried at Recasto of Oviedo and had been Married to the Lady Nunna His Brother Ordonno Succeeds him Daughter to the Count D. Nunno Fernandez de Amaya but left no-Issue His Brother Ordonno in his time Governed so much to the satisfaction of the People that after his Death he was unanimously allowed his Heir He had not only preserved the Conquests on this side Tagus but passing that River took the City Beja putting all the Inhabitants to the Sword which so terrified the Neighbouring People that they abandoned the Towns before he came near them Having received his Brother's Kingdom after some other exploits he returned into Lusitania and wasted all the Country along the River Guadiana Among other places he took the Castle called Alhaje where all the Treasure of the Moorish Kings lay as in a place inpregnable whereby he so humbled all the Infidels throughout Estremadura and as far as Algarve that they submitted themselves as tributaries to him after which he returned to Leon. No sooner was he gone but they encouraged by Abderramen King of Cordova revolted but King Ordonno speedily returning and ravaging the Country they as soon submitted themselves begging Pardon The chief of these were the People of Merida Badajoz and the Territories adjacent then so fruitful and plentiful of all things that thence came the name of Badajoz He twice overthrows the Moors being a corruption of Beled Aiz two Arabick words signifying The Land of Life King Ordonno hearing that Abderramen was marching towards him advanced to meet him and in a Battle near Talavera slew 25000 of his Men. This done he returned to Leon and applied the spoiles of the War to Building the great Church there Mean while Abderramen having drawn vast supplies out of Africk laid Siege to Santistevan de Gormaz but the King surprising him in the Night forced him with great Slaughter to fly back to Cordova Still the Moore recruits his broken Army and having wasted all the Country sits-down before the City Porto which was bravely defended by Count Hermenegildus Our King came to his relief and made a great Slaughter among the Besiegers 920. yet so that he was not assured of the Victory till the next day he found the Enemy had quitted the Field leaving their Tents Baggage and warlike Engines behind them Having obtained this Victory the King returned to Leon. 11. Early the next Year 921. Ambassadors came to Ordonno from the King of Navarre Ordonno vanquished by the Infidels recovers and spoiles their Country to crave aid against a great power of the Infidels He thought not enough to send but went himself in Person and Fortune here forsaking him was overthrown near Valdejunquera many Captives were taken by the Infidels among whom were the Bishops of Salamanca and Tuy and the Kings themselves escaped narrowly Our King grieved at this loss the following Year broke into the Moorish Territories driving all before him even to the Walls of the City Cordova which it was feared he would Besiege Having struck an universal Terror into his Enemies he returned to Zamora He had a Daughter called Ximena who falling in Love with a Courtier ran away with him carrying all her Jewels along with her and he left her on a Mountain having fulfilled his desires She travelled on and took up with a Farmer as his Servant from which he raised her to be his Wife The King long after Hunting that way lost himself and fell into this Cottage where he was entertained his Daughter making a sort of Puff-past she knew he loved and putting a Ring well known to him into it the Ring caused him to suspect somewhat and examining the matter he found that was his Daughter whom he forgave and preferred her Husband whose Name was Tello and the place of his aboad called Meneses Hence some will have the Family of Meneses to proceed others Write that this passage hapned to the Lady Teresa Sanchez bastard Daughter to King Sancho the First and Wife to D. Alonso Tellez de Meneses whom they esteem the Progenitor of this Family King Ordonno had three Wives the first Elvira whose Parentage is unknown by her he had D. Sancho D. Alonso D. Ramiro D. Garcia and D. Ximena The second was Aragonta of Galicia whom he is said to have put away suspecting she knew of the
untouched Montemayor the Old Viseo Lamego Porto and Braga were rased down to the Ground The Barbarian entring Galicia Almanzor again makes great spoil made a Font in the Church of St. James the Apostle serve for a Manger and sent away the Gates and the Bells of the Church upon the shoulders of Christians to Cordova but presuming to prophane the Sepulcher of the Apostle he was drove back by flames which issued out of it Almanzor returning through Protugal heavy with Plunder was overtaken with vengeance from Heaven for profaning the Church of the Apostle A mortal Flux destroying great part of his Army the rest marched leasurely in several Bodies King Bermudo sent some light Troops who made such havock among them that not the 20th part of that great Army returned to Cordova all the Country the way they went being covered with dead Carcasses Count Fruela Vermuiz who as has been said overcame Count Gonzalo that Poisoned King Sancho fell upon Almanzor himself who led the choice of the Army and put him to flight with great Slaughter of his People King Bermudo at length awaking out of his dead Sleep joyned his Forces with the King of Navarre and Count Garci Fernandez They expected the coming of the Enemy near Aleantaroz 999. four Leagues from Osma here they fought from Morning till Night and then at length victory inclined to the Christians who slew of their Enemies 70000 Foot and 40000 Horse Almanzor flying towards Toledo died of Grief near Berlanga soon after his Son Abdel Melich to revenge him invaded the Christian Territories but being met by Count Garci Fernandez was defeated and fled back to Cordova King Bermudo had two Wives the first called Velasquita by whom he had no issue the second Elvira her Children were Alonso Successor to his Father Teresa married to Abdala King of Toledo and afterwards a Nun and Sancha a Nun also The King gave great Scandal by keeping two Sisters at the same time publickly as his Mistreses one of them was Mother to Elvira the other to Ordonno By Velasquita a Peasant the King had a Daughter called Christina he died in the Year 999. at Villabuena in Galicia very penitent for his sins There he lay Buried till his Son King Alonso translated him to Leon where he lies with his Wife in the Church of St. Isidorus 3. Let us look a little back to see the coming of the first Strangers The Gascons come into Portugal and assist the Christians that assisted the Natives of Portugal in expelling the Moores These were the Gascons who came in a mighty Fleet and were Commanded by D. Moninno Viegas There is a great dispute among Authors whether this D. Moninno was a Gascon or a Portuguese and whether he came with those People or only headed them after their coming he being by some supposed to be then a great Man in Portugal All that is said on either part being rather Suppositions than Proofs we will pass by this Dispute leaving it free to every one to believe as he shall be inclined This Fleet cast Anchor in the River Duero on the one side whereof was the Castle of Gaya Demolished by King Ramiro II. when he killed Alboazar and on the other the City Porto destroyed long before by the Moores Here they landed and their first care was to repair the City then only a heap of Rubbish in the highest part of it they built a Castle supposed to be the same that is now the Bishop's Pallace The compass of the Walls was but small and they weak for our times but then considerable some part of them is still to be seen in the midst of the City which being increased has hemmed them in Two of these Ancient Gates are still standing the one called St. Ann's Gate the other our Blessed Ladies over which is an Image of the Blessed Virgin with our Saviour in her Arms which Image between two Towers is the Arms of that City Having Repaired and Fortified this place the Natives and Strangers began joyntly to conquer the Neighbouring Country Men remarkable among them were Sisenandns Brother to D. Moninno and D. Nonego of Vendosme The first that felt their fury were the Moors who possessed the Territories of Resende and Bienviver and all up the River Duero this done thinking their Conquest secure they chose Sisenandus Bishop of the City and yet he ceased not to appear in Arms till he died at Bienviver and was Buried in the Monastery of Villaboa D. Nonego of Vendosme also a Bishop carried on his Conquests on the other side and four Leagues from Porto in the Mountain built a Castle which he called Vendosme and so streightned the Moores that they were forced to abandon all that Neighbourhood The Castle is ruined by time but the name of Vendosme still continues in the Mountain In this exercise he continued till his Death and was Buried in the Monastery of Aviaos The conquered Lands were equally divided as well among the Auxiliary strangers as among the native Portuguese 4. King Alonso V. succeeded his Father Bermudo 999. he is the first of the Alonsos that appears without some Sirname King Alonso V. for the First was called the Catholick the Second the Chast the Third the Great the Fourth the Monk Not that this deserved less Titles for he might have been called the Brave for his Valour the Legislator for giving good Laws to his People the Restorer for repairing Leon and in fine the Desired as being one who left the greatest desire of himself and was most lamented by his People He was Six Years of Age when he began his Reign Under Tuition under the Tuition of Count Mendo Gonzalez and his Wife the Lady Mayor who had great possessions in Galicia and some in Portugal and Governed so well that the King's minority was no prejudice to his Kingdom The Christians in Portugal began to be so powerful that under the conduct of some notable Commanders they repaired many places before ruined and conquered others possessed by the Moores 1000. D. Alboazar Ramirez Son to King Ramiro II. by Zara or Artida Many places recovered from the Moors whom he stole from the Lord of Gaya as was said before wiâ—h many Gentlemen and Forces maintained at his own Charge entred Portugal and drove the Moores out of all the Province betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho He took St. Roman Gastro de Avioso and Castro de Gondomar Beyond the River Duero he forced them to retire as far as St. Martin de Moras and Lamego making room for the Christians to dilate themselves The lands of Arouca and that Neighbourhood were again Peopled the Year following he overthrew the Moores in many places 1001 took the City Braganza and other considerable Towns in those Mountains and so extended the Christian Dominions that he deserves to be accounted one of the principal Restorers of Portugal His two Sons D. Trastamiro and D. Hermigio or
any Age. The greatest Fury was King Sancho overthrows his Brother Garcia and takes him Prisoner when the Portuguese strove to gain the Standard of the Castilians King Sancho came thither in Person to defend it and being unhorsed by D. Egas Gomez de Sousa was taken Prisoner by D. Roderick Frojaz who delivered him up to King Garcia No sooner had he delivered his Prisoner but he fell down dead of the Wounds he had before received King Garcia put his Brother into the Custody of certain Gentlemen whilst he pursued the flying Enemy But King Sancho making his Escape from them made his Way to join Roderick Diaz de Bivar called Cid who was then coming up with fresh Troops that had not been engaged These charging the Portuguese before tired and now dispersed in the Pursuit changed the Fortune of the Day However the Fight thus renewed lasted till Night D. Peter and D. Vermui Brothers to D. Roderick Frojas were killed and King Garcia was taken by his Brother who not long before had been his Prisoner and who now knew better how to secure him than he had been kept himself Thus the Castilians recovered the Day and the Portuguese before victorious were put to the Rout. King Garcia continued in Prison 10 Years when he was released by Death There are Authors who write that King Sancho enlarged his Brother Garcia contenting himself that he should be Tributary to him and that D. Alonso Brother to both returned him to Prison in the Castle of Luna where he died with Irons on his Legs With those very Fetters at his own Request he was buried in the Church of St. Isidorus at Leon. 7. King Sancho having obtained the Victory over his Brother Garcia all the Kingdom of Portugal and Galicia submitted to him This Kingdom being subdued he turned his victorious Arms against King Alonso of Leon Sancho after subduing Portugal â—onquers Leon and becomes sole Monarch who well deserved it for consenting to the Destruction of his Brother The War continued bloody for some time with various Success till at length King Alonso overthrown was taken Prisoner To deliver himself from that Misery he retired to Sahagun pretending to become a Religious Man Soon after finding a fit Opportunity 1072. by the Advice of Count Peter Anzures King Alonso of Leon flies to the Protection of the Moors he fled to Toledo where the Moorish King Alimaimon entertained him with Royal Magnificence Nothing now remained to disturb King Sancho's ambitious Thoughts but his Sister Vrraca's possessing Zamora He laid Siege to that City and had now reduced it to Extremity but here in this last Act God permitted the Curses of his Father to reach him for in the Height of his Confidence a Traytor called Vellido Dolphes coming out of the City upon pretence of revealing some Secret to him took his Opportunity to strike him through the Body with a Spear whereof he fell down dead King Sancho reigned six Years and was murder'd in 1073. 1073. He was called The Brave and was married to the Lady Blanch Daughter to his Uncle Garcia Sanchez King of Navarre or according to others to Alberta of France His Body lies in the Church of our Blessed Saviour at Onna 8. King Alonso being generously protected by the Moor Alimaimon King of Toledo lived in hopes of better Fortune when Advice was brought him from Zamora by Order of his Sister Vrraca of the Death of his Brother Alonso after his Brother's Death returne and is received by the People aâ— their King King Sancho He immediately came to take Possession of his Kingdoms and was received with general Applause Only Roderick Diaz de Bivar called Cid would not take the Oath of Allegiance to him till he swore he had no Hand in the Death of King Sancho It is strange amidst the universal Satisfaction the King should have need of one Man But he resented this Affront so heinously that he afterwards banished him in which Exile Roderick gained much Honour King Alonso the 6th of that Name being settled in quiet Possession of his Kingdoms approved himself worthy of greater Dominions being one of the most victorious Princes of Spain and that farthest extended his Conquests He seemed rather to have fled to Toledo as a Spy than for Protection for he took that City from the Infidels and valued himself so much upon it that from thenceforwards he stiled himself Emperor 1085. and was the Honour of the Spanish Monarchy 9. King Alonso had six Wives Alonso's Wâ—ves and Issue The First was Agnes her Parentage unknown and she left no Issue The Second was Constance Daughter to Duke Robert II. of Burgundy She had a Daughter called Vrraca afterwards married to Count Raymund of Burgundy and her Portion was the Kinâ—â—â—om of Galicia Her Husband came to Spain with her Mother and they had Issue Sancha and Alonso the Emperor King Alonso's Third Wife was Berta Daughter to Philip I King of France By her he had the Ladies Sancha and Elvira the First married to Count Roderick Gonzalez Giron the Latter to Roger I King of Naples and Sicily The Fourth Wife was Elizabeth Daughter to the Emperor The Fifth Beatrix a French Lady Neither of them had any Children The Sixth was Zaida her Christian-Name Elizabeth Daughter of Almucamuz Aben Hamet King of Sevil She bore him a Son called Sancho killed at Twelve Years of Age in the Battel of Velez in the Year 1100. The King in his Youth had to do with the Lady Ximena Nunez de Gusman Daughter to King Garcia VI of Navarre By her he had three Daughters The First Elvira married to Count Raymund of Toulouse her Portion was a great Summ of Money with which he returned to France The Second Daughter was Teresa Wife to Count Henry the Progenitor of the Kings of Portugal Grandson to Robert I. Duke of Burgundy being the Fourth Son to Henry Eldest Son to the Duke Of the Third Daughter we have no Account unless it was one that was married to Ferdinand Mendez the Elder Son to Mâ—m Alao Lord of Braganza Some Authors would make the Lady Ximena to be lawful Wife to King Alonso but there are undeniable Proofs to the contrary in old Records specifying the Time when each Wife was married to the King wherein none is left for this Lady who doubtless was no other than a Mistress 10. Count Henry Count Henry marries the Bastard Daughter of King Alonso after he had married the Bastard-Daughter of King Alonso served the King in his Wars and was some Times sent Governor into Portugal as were several others from the Year 1072 till 1098. For tho' the Count was married in the Year 1072 the Kingdom of Portugal was not absolutely assigned over to him till after the Birth of his Son Alonso which was in the Year 1094 And we find that from the Year 1099 the Count continued settled in Portugal as absolute Lord and Proprietor thereof whereas
Alonso was glad to abandon that City upon promise to relieve it in four Months He overthrew King Alonso of Navarre in defence of Queen Vrraca and about the Government of Prince Alonso soon after Henry being dissatisfied with the said Queen took part with the King against her and defeated Count Gomes who espoused her Quarrel 7. Whilst he was absent from Astorga those People of the Kingdom of Leon that he had subdued revolted 1112. and he returning His Death and Character laid Siege to Astorga In the heat of the Siege he died and his Son Alonso rising with his Army went away to Bury him at Braga Thus Astorga with all its Territory was lost The death of Earl Henry was much lamented of his Subjects for that he was a Prince of extraordinary Piety Valour and Generosity He overthrew the Moors in Seventeen several Battles and took from them many Cities and places of Strength He lived Seventy Seven Years Governed Portugal with the Title of Earl above Twenty and was Governour of part thereof almost as many more He was of a middle Stature a beautiful and awful Presence his Complection fair his Eyes blew and his Hair yellow inclining to red In his antient Pictures he is represented with his Sword in his hand his Body lies in the Cathedral of Braga with a modern Inscription on his Tomb which mistakes his Country and Parentage The Countess Dowager governed this Dominion for some years as being her Dower and her Son being under Age. She might have ruled longer had she not Married or proposed to Marry the Earl of Trastamara D. Ferdinand de Trava this or some other cause produced Civils Wars betwixt the Mother and Son which ended in her overthrow her Son without regard to the duty he owed to a Mother when she was made Prisoner keeping her in the Castle of Lannoso with Fetters on her Feet till she died in the Year 1130. and was Buried by her Husband 8. The Issue of Earl Henry was His Issue First Alonso Enriquez taking his Name and Sir-Name from his Father and Grand-Father This being his Heir is named before the Sisters though they preceded him as to Birth Secondly the Lady Vrraca Wife to D Bermudo Pâ—â—z Earl of Trastamara Thirdly the Lady Sancha Wife to D. Ferdinand Nunnez a great Man in the Kingdom of Galicia they left no Children Fourthly the Lady Teresa Married to D. Sancho Nunnez Son to Count Nunno de Celanova Fifthly he had a Bastard Son by a Woman of Quality his Name was Peter Alonso of whose brave Actions we shall hear in the life of his Brother Earl Henry for some Years wore a plain white Shield till after he had obtained renown by his Sword he added to it a plain blew Cross CHAP. II. The Birth of Alonso first King of Portugal he takes upon him the Government is proclaimed King by the Army his wonderful Victory over the Moors at Ourique he takes Lisbon Santarem and many other places all from the Year 1094. till the Year 1148. 1. IN July 1094. or according to others on the 15th of August 1094. was Born D. Alonso Enriquez only Son to Earl Henry The Birth of Alonso Enriquez Son to Count Henry and his Lady Teresa at the Town of Guimaraens He is said to have been Born with both his Legs cleaving together from the Knees down and that his Governour Egas Muniz having devoutly begged of Heaven to loosen his Feet the Blessed Virgin appeared to him bidding him carry the Child to an old ruined Church at Carquere near Lamego and that restoring the place and setting the Infant upon the Altar he should recover his Limbs Egas for the space of five Years did as he had been ordered and the Child recovered 1105. This Prince was but Fourteen Years of Age when he began to follow the Wars under his Father and was with him when he died at the Siege of Astâ—rga as has been said before 1112. Having paid the last Honours to his Father to express his great respect towards his Mother he committed the Government to her though then of Age to undertake it himself St. Bernard haâ—â—ng at his Convent of Claraval in France had a vision of St. John Bapist Mâ—nks of Claraval came into Portugal directing him to send some of his Monks to found a Monastery in Portugal in the place that should be shown to them by one John Cerita whom they should find there he accordingly sent seven of his Monks They found Cerita who lived an Austere Eremitical life and conducted them to Prince Alonso by whom they were honourably received and encouraged in their Foundation 1120. Being dismissed they settled in a deep Valley encompassed with high Mountains near the River Barosa almost two Leagues from Lamego where they built a Chappel Dedicated to our Saviour which is still in being in the Village called Pinegro 1121. The following Year they built in a place where they had seen certâ—â—â— Lights during Nine Nights as had been foretold by St. John Baptist to St. Bernard Here Prince Alonso visiting them enlarged the Structure at his own cost John Cerita took the order here and reduced several who lived an Eremitical Life in the Mountains to follow his Example The number of Monks thus increasing he founded another Monastery called St. Christopher de Lafoens Both these Churches were afterwards Consecrated and great Gifts offered in them at the Solemnity 2. Prince Alonso having now weilded a Sword long enough to gain Renown 1125. thought it requisite to be Knighted according to the Custom of those days Alonso Knights himself and thinking there was none about him great enough to Confer that Honour on him by putting on his Armour and girding on his Sword as was then the Custom he laid the Arms upon an Altar and taking them thence put them on himself so taking the Honour at his own hands Prince Alonso's Mother being about to marry the second time it bred such Animosities betwixt them that they finally came to Battle near the Town of Guimaraens 1128. the Mother overthrown fled to the Castle of Lannoso He besieges his Mother takes and puts her into Irons which is hard by and was there Besieged by her Son Alonso VII King of Castile and Leon came to her relief with a powerful Army The Portuguese Alonso was not unprovided but meeting him in the plains of Valdevez put to the Sword the greatest part of his Forces took seven Earls Prisoners and the King himself hardly escaped having received two Wounds This done the young Prince returns to the Siege of the Castle which being yielded to him he put his Mother into Irons She provoked at this dis-respect as her Bolts were put on prayed to God that his Legs might be broke and her Prayers were heard as will appear hereafter 3. Alonso now grown absolute Being himself besieged by King Alonso of Castile he Articles for his
idle 1296. for many great Men laid waste our Borders Alonso Perez de Guzman who Commanded on the Frontiers about Guadiana with a good Body of Andaluzians shed much of our Blood and carried away great Spoils The Master of Avis met him with some Portuguese Forces but was overthrown and almost One Thousand Prisoners carried away who were ransomed at an easie rate not to retard the course of their Victory He also recovered the Castle of Torres where he spared no Portuguese and thus Fire and Sword raged in all Parts King Denis understanding hereof committed the greater Cruelties in the Villages about Salamanca where he then was The Inhabitants fled to the Mountains and to the Churches but neither Churches nor Mountains could protect them rage bore down all Divine as well as humane Considerations 5. The Moorish King of Granada laying hold of this advantage Peace concluded betwixt the Kings of Castile and Portugal broke into Andaluzia took Fifteen Castles and retired with a mighty Booty Mary the Queen-Mother and Prince Henry Governours to King Ferdinand now sensible of their Danger offered King Denis all manner of Satisfaction as to the Points before promised which were That King Ferdinand should marry his Daughter Constance and Prince Alonso Beatrix Sister to Ferdinand and for performance they gave him sufficient Hostages King Danis in his return to be in some sort revenged on D. Sancho de Ledesma took from him all the Towns he possessed in the Province of Riba de Coa The King of Castile sent Alonso Perez de Guzman to the Portuguese 1297. to sollicite that they might meet at Alcanizes where this Discord was to have an end There both Kings accordingly met honourably attended A Peace was Concluded for Forty Years and it was Stipulated that whosoever did infringe it should be delivered up to the Party aggreived The Towns of Olivenza Campo-Mayor and S. Felices were delivered up to the Portuguese in lieu of Aroche and Aracena That King Denis should still hold all the Towns of the Province of Riba de Coa and for the Title the King of Castile might claim to them he resigned up to him Valencia Ferreyra Esparragal Ayamonte and other Places in Leon and Gallicia 6. Articles being signed The Peace confirmed with mutual Alliances King Ferdinand presently Married the Portuguese Princess Constance and delivered his Sister Beatrix to her Father-in-Law as Wife to Prince Alonso who expected the event of this interview at Trancoso The Portuguese Princess being left in Castile King Denis with the Castilian returned to Coimbra then the Seat of the Portuguese's Court. Till the Princess came to Age. for Marriage the King assigned her a competent Revenue and appointed Martin Archbishop of Braga and Count Martin de Sousa his Standard-bearer her Governours The Day she was delivered to the Prince the King added to what he had before given her the Towns of Viana Terena Ourem and Armamar King Ferdinand of Castile made this Accomodation in good time being then pressed by the neighbouring Princes in favour of D. Alonso de la Cerda Grand-son to King Alonso X. from whom Sancho Father to Ferdinand and Uncle to the said Alonso had Usurped the Crown so that Alonso de la Cerda was the rightful Prince and Ferdinand then in possession and Usurper The dispossessed Prince gave the Kingdom of Leon to his Unkle John and that of Murcia to Jayme or James King of Aragon upon Condition they should assist him to recover his right Both those Princes endeavoured to possess themselves of what was allotted them before the Injured Prince could be Re-inthroned King Ferdinand overwhelmed with these Enemies craved Aid of our King Denis and that they might meet at Fuente Guinaldo and Badajoz There having declared his wants our King presented him with a great Summ of Money a Cap made of an Emerald of inestimable Value and sent him such supplies of Men as gained him a Superiority over his Enemies 7. Pope Benedict XI sent his Legate to compose these Differences King Denis chosen Mediator betwixt thâ— of Castile and the lawful Heir then Banished and with the general Consent of all Parties concerned our King Denis was appointed Mediator between them It was agreed that all Parties should stand by his Determination to which purpose a solemn Instrument was signed and Cautionary Towns given on all sides King Denis set forward towards the Plain where the Conference was to be held with an Honourable Retinue to the number of One thousand Persons and to avoid all disorders that might happen in Towns lay all the way in Tents 1304. in the open Field King Ferdinand met him at Cuellar they travelled together to Soria and there parted our King proceeding to Torrellas in the Kingdom of Aragon where Jamye or James King of Aragon and Blanch his Queen received him Here King Denis entertained them with such Magnificence as had scarce been seen in Spain The Arbitrators and Parties being come to Taracona the Kingdom of Murcia An unjust Sentence given by King Denis against the rightful Heir was by them divided betwixt the Kings of Castile and Aragon and several Towns were assigned to D. Alonso de la Cerda and he ordered to forbear stiling himself King of Castile This Sentence of King Denis our Author admires for its equity as if it could be any justice to deprive the rightful Prince of Three Kingdoms and give him the Revenue of a few Towns in lieu of them and those Towns to be held of that same Usurper who kept him out of his right Judgment being given they went away to Agreda where King Ferdinand was with his Mother There Kings dined at one Table and Three Queens at another which were those of Castile Aragon and Portugal Hence King Denis went to Valladolid to see his Daughter Queen Constance and so returned to his Kingdom 8. King Ferdinand now at Peace with the Christians resolved to employ his Arms against the Moors of Granada To this effect he craved Succours of King Denis who sent him Seven hundred Horse 1305. Commanded by D. Martin Gil de Sousa his Standard-bearer and lent him Seventeen thousand Marks of Silver for which Badajoz Alconchel and Burguillos were given in pawn This expedition was well begun by the taking of Gibraltar but its Progress was stopped First by want of Provisions and next by the Death of King Ferdinand Phillip the Fair King of France placed Clement V. before Archbishop of Bourdeaux in St. Peters Chair 1309. upon Condition he should remove the Papal Seat to Lions that he should publickly burn the bones of his Predecessor Boniface VIII give him the rents of the Church Revenues The cruel suppression of the Knights Templars for Five Years and suppress the Order of the Knights Templars that he might seize their Revenues This Pope not willing to perform that part touching the burning of his Predecessor thought to make the King amends by falling the
heavier on the Knights Templars To this purpose at the instigation of the King those Knights were charged with most heinous Crimes and their great Master with Sixty Knights were publickly burnt at Paris to the astonishment of all the World The Pope had sent Orders to all Parts that these Knights should every where be apprehended on the same Day but the Kings of Castile Aragon and Portugal obeyed not esteeming the merits of that Noble Order above the unjust Commands of a Byassed Pope Yet after much Debate the Order was wholly suppressed their greatest Crime being their Riches which nevertheless in Spain were for the most part bestowed on the Knights Hospitallers of St. John now called the Knights of Malta But King Denis begged of the Pope that the Revenues of the Knights Templars in Portugal might be given to a new Order of Knighthood he then instituted to serve against the bordering Moors His suit being granted this Year 1310. was erected the Order of Knights of our Saviour Jesus Christ 131◠the King besides the possessions of the Templars bestowing on it several Towns and Churches that were in his gift This from time to time has been so increased that at present the Order enjoys a Revenue of about 500000 Duccats divided into 500 Commendaries to Encourage Gentlemen with this reward to the Conquest of Africk At present those thoughts are quite laid aside and those Revenues are almost become Hereditary Many of the Knights Templars being found innocent were admitted to this New Order and a Master of it created At first these Knights were obliged not to Marry but that vow was abolished in the time of King Emanuel by Pope Alexander VI. 9. King Denis King Denis at 〈◊〉 with his Son in his latter Days had much Contention with his Son Prince Alonso This Prince took for the occasion of his Disgust the great Favour that Duke Alonso Sanchez and Count John Alonso the King's Bastard Sons were in with him Having drawn Peter another Bastard Brother to his Party the Prince presumed to ask of the King to resign to him the Power of the Administration of Justice Being justly denied so unreasonable a Demand he drew over his Mother-in-Law Queen Mary to assist him towards obtaining his desires by Force to which purpose she asked leave of his Father for him to come to her into Castile and being refused the Prince went to her to Cuidad Rodrigo against his Fathers Consent Being returned to Portugal the Queen sent to demand of the King what he had before refused to his Son and now again denied to her This Project failing the Prince contrived by his Servants an Information to be drawn as if left by a Man that died at Magaula containing a Design of the Elder Bastard the King 's chiefest Favourite to Poyson the Prince A Copy of the false Information he sent to the King who having examined the matter found it was a piece of Forgery Being again disappointed he perswaded some of his Followers to Murder Alonso Sanchez saying his Father negotiated with the Pope to exclude him the lawful Heir and leave the Crown to a Bastard but he in this did not succeed neither All these practices failing the Prince betook himself to open Hostility robbing the King 's Loyal Subjects ravishing Women sacrilegiously ransacking Monasteries killing Giraldus Bishop of Evora and committing many other Enormities without the reach of Justice as acted under the Heir of the Crown The Prince proceeds in his Disobedience 10. The King advertised Pope John XX. of his Son's Disobedience and he dispatched his Bulls admonishing him to desist from force and submit to his Father but all to no effect For he gathering a number of Criminals and Out-laws pretended to go in Pilgrimage to the Church of St. Vincent without Lisbon designing to surprize that City The King having timely Advice of it hasted thither to prevent him and the Queen after him to Mediate betwixt the Father and the Son The Prince thus prevented turned away towards Sintra and his Father after him Both Bodies stood as if they designed to give Battle but on a sudden the Son marched off and tho' the King might have overtaken him he persued not Being come to Coimbra the Prince sent away his Princess to Alcanizes in Castile and then gave out that his Father intended to kill him After disabusing the World of the falsehood of that Report his Father declared all such as should adhere to the Son Traitors and knowing that the Inhabitants of Leyria had entertained him he hasted thither where Nine of the chief as Rebels had their Hands and Feet cut off and were afterwards burnt The Prince went away to Santarem and flying thence before his Angry Father possessed himself of the Castle of Coimbra of Monte-Mayor the Old of Feira Gaga and Porto whither came to him his Bastard-Brother Peter out of Castile Guimaraens was defended against him by Mem Rodriguez de Vasconcelos In the mean while the King laid Siege to Coimbra which obliged the Prince to quit Guimaraens and return to relieve that City Here were to be seen all the usual dire effects of Civil Wars The Holy Queen Elizabeth ceased not to pass betwixt the Two Armies mediating for a Reconciliation 1323. which at last she compassed the King giving to the Prince the Cities of Porto and Coimbra and the Old Town of Monte-Mayor with some additional Revenue Pardon was given on both sides and the Prince took an Oath to be Obedient to his Father for the future But notwithstanding this reconciliation the Prince pressed his Father to call the Cortes or Parliament and yet would not be present at it but went from Santarem towards Lisbon with armed Troops The King came out in the like manner commanding him to return which he refusing 1324. the Trumpets sounded and both Parties Engaged Yet the Queen rushing through all dangers came to her Son and upbraiding him with breach of Faith and Obstinacy at length the Battle was parted and the Father and Son once more were Reconciled That this agreement might be the more lasting D. Alonso Sanchez the King's Bastard-Son was sent out of the Kingdom and went to the Town of Albuquerque which he possessed in Castile by that means becoming a Subject to that Crown 11. King Denis fortified many Towns and Cities King Denis his Structures and other Works encompassing them with beautiful Walls as is to be seen at Porto Braga Guimaraens Miranda and other Places He Built from the Ground above Fifty Castles and some Towns besides those he new Peopled Neither did he forget pious Work and therefore he endowed many Churches Pope John XXII granted him the Tenths of Church Revenues for 3 Years to the end he should keep his Gallies in the Streights of Gibraltar to hinder the Moors from passing into the Kingdom of Granada He was addicted to Learning especially to Poetry and it was he that first erected the University at
Library in the Palace It was said of him That he was a better Man than a King and on the contrary of his Son That he was a better King than a Man He was Bountiful to Prodigality temperate in Eating and Sleeping and of such Continence that becoming a Widower at 〈◊〉 Years of Age he is said never after to have known Woman His Issue His Lawful Issue and he had no other was first John who died in his Infancy Secondly Joanna who being contracted to several Princes they all died before she could be marryed and she became a Dominican Nun at Aveyro Thirdly John who succeeded his Father 11. The Discoveries in this King's Reign were as follows Discoveries during his Reign Nunho Tristan and Antony Gonzalez sailed as far as Cape Blanco in 20 Degrees of North Latitude whence they brought some Moors and also Blacks then a Rarity in Spain Nunho returned and proceeded as far as the Islands of Arguin Lanzarote and Yanez found the Island of Garças whence they brought 200 Slaves Antony Gonzalez returning pierced as far as the Island Tider Alvaro Fernandez discovered Cape Matos and going 100 Leagues farther slew the Lord of that Country Gonzalo de Sintra at Angra lost six Men which was the first Loss sustained in these Discoveries Denis Fernandez reached as far as the River Sanaga in 16 Degrees of North Latitude and discovered the Islands of Cabo Verde Buenavista Santiago and S. Philip. Vincent de Lagos and Lewis Cadamusto a Genâ—ese found the Islands Terceras being Eleven in number The Islands of S. Thomas and Principe the Kingdom of Beni as far as Cape Catherine and Sierra Leona were also discovered John de Santarem and John de Escobar found the Couâ—try called Mina Ferdinand Po that which bears his Name The Islands Azores were now first known so called from the many Hawks seen there and are Nine in number lying due West of the Rock of Sintra In one of these on the top of a Mountain called Del Cuervo or of the Crow was found a Statue of a Man on Horseback his Head bare his Left Hand on the Horse's Main the Right pointing to the West It stood upon a stone Pedestal which together with the whole Statue was all of one piece and under it were certain Characters cut in the Rock but could never be understood CHAP. VII The First Part of the Life and Reign of John the Second of the Name and Thirteenth King of Portugal from the Year of our Lord 1455. till 1491. 1. IN the renowned City Lisbon Birth of King John the Second on the Third of May 1455. was born the most excellent Prince John the Second King of Portugal sirnamed the Perfect and the Great 1455. He was baptized in the Cathedral with the greatest pomp and solemnity that had till then been seen This Prince was educated and instructed in all Arts that can accomplish a Person of that Character This and his personal Worth moved King Henry the 4th of Castile to propose a Match between him and his only Daughter the Lady Joanna However the King his Father gave him to Wife the Lady Ellenor of Lancaster eldest Daughter to his Brother Ferdinand having obtained the Pope's Dispensation for it and they were accordingly married on the 22th of January 1470. 1470. Soon after his Marriage the King preparing for his Voyage into Africk the Prince asked and obtained leave of him to bear him company where he behaved himself with such bravery that his Father Knighted him in the Mâ—sque of Arzila then converted into a Christian Church on the 24th of August 1471. 147â— Alonso the Prince's only Son being born on the 18th of May at such time as King Alonso was marching into Castile to marry the Lady Joanna 1475. rightful Heiress of that Crown he ordained that in case he had Issue by her and his Son should die before him then his Grand-Son should be sworn his Heir which was done and Prince John was left to govern the Kingdom 1476. How he marched with Forces to the assistance of his Father then at Toro in Castile and how he behaved himself in the Battle between that Place and Zamora has been said in the Life of that King 1477. Upon his return into Portugal he recovered Alegretâ— taken by the Castilians Having been as was said in the last Chapter proclaimed King in his Father's life time and by his order upon his return out of France he restored to him the Regal Authority by the advice of the Duke of Bragança and yet he thought to have put that great Man to Death afterwards upon that same Account 2. King Alonso having revived the War with Castile 1478. Lope Vaz de Castel-Branco seized the Town of Moura and called himself Earl thereof The Prince resenting this Insolence sent Six Men who being admitted into his company slew him as he was Hunting which done the Prince secured the Town and gave it to the Princess Beatrix his Mother-in-Law to whom it property appertained The King lying on his Death Bed at Sintra the Prince hasted thither to see him and his Father dying on the Three and twentieth of August 1481. he was the second time proclaimed King the last Day of that Month. King John proclaimed Nunho Pereyra immediately upon the New King's Acession to the Crown presented him with a Note he had given him under his Hand in his Minority promising to make him an Earl whensoever he ascended the Throne The King considering he had obtained that Note in his Infancy when he had not judgment to know on whom he ought to bestow Honours tore it telling him it was a sufficient Favour he did not punish him for having used sinister means to obtain it He had resolved to build a Town and Fort on the Coast of Africk called Mina to this purpose he fitted out a Fleet commanded by James de Azambuja who had with him 500 fighting Men and 100 Masons with all materials for the Work so fitted that at their landing there was nothing to do but to put them together Azambuja landing caused Mass to be said on the Shoar under a Tree Fort of St. George on the Coast of Africâ—◠〈◊〉 whither the King called Caramansa came to him with a great Retinue and was converted The Fort was built and called S. George which done Azambuja sent home his Caraveâ—s with a great quantity of Gold 3. Before this Fleet sailed the Cortes or Parliament had met at Ebora where the Form of Obligation that Lords and Governours of Places were to enter into with the King was settled because till then the Nobility and Commanders exercised a despotick Power in their Juridiâ—cions independent of the Kings and by their tyrannied Proceedings were grown burdensome to the People and dangerous to the Sovereign who had little more left him but the Name King John being now at Peace abroad ordered that no Lord should exercise a judicial
Adem George de Albuquerque with only 80 Men held out a Siege against the King of Bintam who had 12000. D. Simon de Meneses burnt the City Braçalor Peter de Silva defended Malaca against the Power of Five Confederate Kings Thus many others in Asia and Africk and even the Portuguese Women at Zafin shewed their Valour helping to defend that Place against the Moors The Particulars of these Actions belong to the Books of the Portuguese Asia and Africk to which we refer the Readers our intent here being to Treat only of the Portuguese Affairs in Europe The END of the FOURTH BOOK THE HISTORY OF PROTUGAL The Fifth BOOK CHAP. I. The Life and Reign of Sebastian the First of the Name and Sixteenth King of Portugal with the total Destruction of him and his whole Army in Africk from the Year 1554. till 1578. 1. PPrince John â—he Birth of King Sebastian Son to King John the Third dying left his Wife the Princess Joanna Daughter to the Emperor Charles the Fifth with Child On the 18th Day of her Widowhood she was delivered of Prince Sebastian at Lisbon it being the 20th of January 1554. This Prince's Birth cleared up the Clouds of Sorrow contracted by the Death of his Father and all the Kingdom resounded with Expressions of Joy On Account of his Name Pope Paul the 4th sent him one of the Arrows taken out of the Body of S. Sebastian which this Prince took for his device and instituted the Military Order of the Arrow which lasted not long He was Three Years of Age when by the Death of his Grand-Father he inherited the Crown being left under the Government of his Grand-Mother Queen Katherine 1557. a Princess extraordinarily qualifyed for that Charge His Accession to the Crown Yet the Queen thinking it a dangerous Employ quitted it when she had held it little above Two Years From her the Government was transferred to the Cardinal Henry Cardinal Henry Regent the King's Unkle who was judged to undertake it with a willing Mind He being much affected to the Jesuits sent for F. Lewis Gonzalez de Camara from Rome to be the King's Preceptor and joyned with him F. Amador Rabelo and F. Maurice D. Alexius de Meneses was appointed his Governour 1563. He took upon him the Government on the Day of S. Sebastian which was his Birth Day he being then just Fourteen Years of Age and was warned by Peter Nunez the famous Mathematician that it was an Unhappy Day 2. King Sebastian Odd Actions of King Sebastian tho he shewed great Zeal in matters of Religion yet had some actions so Extravagant as seemed to foreshew his Destruction After going to Bed he would rise at Midnight and go out with D. Alvaro de Meneses his Page whom also he would leave behind and spend an Hour or Two by himself on the Shoar after which he returned home Other times he would cross the River Tagus in a Boat with Sancho de Toar at the same time of Night where landing a Boat was seen to bring another Man from towards Belâ—m they two would walk together two Hours and no Body could tell who the Man was or what they discoursed about Near Sintra there is a thick Wood where he used to spend two Hours at Night alone At Almeirin he lay in wait on a Tree for a wild Boar and hearing the Boughs shake he discovered a Bulk which he ran at and laid hold of it some of his Company coming in found him Wrestling with a wild Black who having fled from his Master had lived long on the Mountain Having ordered that none should be suffered to pass by the Forts of 〈◊〉 and S. Julian without being obliged to come in and give an Account of themselves To see if his orders were observed he went into a Boat passing both these Forts through showers of Bullets sent after him and returned without discovering himself He would put out to Sea in a Galley when the Weather was most Stormy and laughed at the Danger D. Alvaro de Castro his Favourite dying he went some Nights to his Grave where he was heard to talk and returned with Tears in his Eyes Most of his time he spent among the wild Beasts in the Woods seldom applying himself to Business for the dispatch whereof by the Advice of Cardinal Henry he made choice of two Gentlemen which were D. Martin Pereyra and Martin Gonzalez de Camara a Priest These two discharged that Trust with much Honour but Martin Gonzales wholly Monopolized all the King's Favour to himself 3. Tho the Kingdom was miserably exhausted The King prepares for an Expedition into Africk the King who had fixed his Mind upon the Conquest of Africk ceased not to make vast Preparations for that Enterprize All that Flattered him upon this score were advanced to his Favour but such as more prudently represented the mighty difficulties and dangers of that Enterprize were soon removed from his Presence Even his Grand-Mother for giving Advice against this undertaking became so irksome to him that she was upon departing to Castile yet he was again reconciled to her Whilst the Kingdom was thus tossed with various agitations at home Exploits in India several Fleets arrived from India and brought Advice of the Progress the Portuguese made in those Parts D. Constantine Son to James Duke of Bragança had taken the City Damam D. Lewis de Ataide made Braçalor Tributary and with 600 Portuguese defended the City Goa against Hidalcan who Besieged it with 100000 Indians 2000 Elephants and 400 pieces of Cannon D. Francis Mascarenhas held out nine Months in Chaul against Nizamaluco who Besieged it with 150000 Men. George de Moura and Antony Chale raised the Siege of Onor the same was done at the Town of Chale D. Leonis Pereyra defended Malaca against the King of Achem. D. James de Meneses destroyed many Places on the Coast of Malabar and all the Kingdom of Maâ—galor These and many other such notable Victories which may be seen at large in the Portuguese Asia excited the young unadvised but ambitious King to attempt the Conquest of Africk that he might not be outrun in glory by any of his Subjects 4. Inflamed with these aspiring Thoughts he went the first time into Africk at twenty Years of Age. To this purpose he sent D. James de Sousa 1574. Governour into the Kingdom of Algarve Sebastian passes over into Africk with Orders to Ship off the Forces raised for that Expedition Antony Bastard-Son to Prince Lewis was sent before to Tangier many Gentlemen followed him so that he made up a Body of 800 Horse The King was resolved for Africk and yet had no Fleet and all his Friends disswaded that Voyage He feigning he went to divert himself at Sintra ordered D. Alvaro de Noronha with Three Galleys to meet him at Cascais where on a sudden he Embarked ordering Simon de Vega who guarded the Coast with one
Cardinal tho' old and a Priest should Marry Many Pamphlets were spread abroad some of them against King Philip and others for him which last were so well penned that they seem to have inclined King Henry to his Interest as they did many others throughout the Kingdom But the City of Lisbon openly declared its aversion to him offering to raise 20000 Men and threatning to burn the Houses of those that favoured him Antony Grand Prior of Crato that is of the Knights of Malta in Portugal laboured in vain to prove himself Legitimate and King Henry seeing him persist obstinately in that Design banished him the Court. The City of Lisbon now again pressed King Henry to obtain a Dispensation of the Pope to Marry he excused himself on account of his Ecclesiastical Dignity rather than his Age or Infirmities No Excuses availing D. Duarte de Castello-Branco and Dr. Ruy de Castanheda were appointed to go Embassadors to Rome but they went not for the King still urging his Inability and his Infirmities being apparent his Excuses were at last received 5. Since there were no hopes of Issue in King Henry Five Persons appointed to Govern after the King's Death he was pressed to declare who ought to Succeed him which he refused leaving it to Governours and Judges to determine after his Death For appointing of them he presently summoned the Cortes or Parliament who named Fifteen Persons for Governours of whom the King chose five which were D. George de Almeyda Archbishop of Lisbon D. John Mascarenhas Francis de Sa James Lopez de Sousa and D. John Tello de Meneses Also 24 Lawyers were nominated and of them 11 elected to be Judges and the Names of them all to be kept close till the Death of the King All swore to stand by these Decrees The substance of the Oath was The same appointed to decide the Controversie concerning the Succession That the King dying they would obey the Governours appointed and would acknowledge him for their Lawful Sovereign that should be declared such by them The Duke of Bragança as one of the Candidates swore to stand to their Determination the same did Antony the Grand Prior yet afterwards he recanted before the Pope's Nuncio alledging he had sworn for fear of his Unkle King Philip's Embassadors refused to take the Oath for their Master pleading he was Lawful Heir of the Crown and therefore not obliged to allow of that Decision The Cortes being broke up each of the Candidates which were now but three viz. King Philip the Duke of Bragança and the Grand Prior began to speak their Thoughts more boldly The two latter were soon banished the Court by King Henry who perceiving that Antony grew haughty having obtained a surreptitious Judgment of his Legitimacy got leave of Pope Gregory XIII to inspect into and determine that Affair After some time spent in enquiring into it he at length positively declared him Illegitimate The Grand Prior dismayed at this Sentence and the great Power of his Adversary proposed to King Philip's Embassadors that he would be content with the Kingdom of Algarve and Title of King or else that he might have the Government of the Kingdom for Life with a Revenue of 300000 Ducats half of them to remain to his Heirs King Philip answered That Kingdom was too small for so many Kings 6. King Henry ceased not to prosecute the Grand Prior and sent Orders to Apprehend him at Coimbra where he then was but he made his Escape and lurked about in the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho Next he issued out his Proclamation Summoning him to Surrender himself but he obeyed not The King was now at Almeyrin The Plague at Lisbon whither he fled from the Plague that raged at Lisbon and spread it self throughout the Kingdom There he summoned before him the Principal Members of the Cortes or Parliament and the Embassadors before whom he declared himself for King Philip ordering them to Capitulate with him The Lords Spiritual and Temporal were easily brought to approve of the King's Proposition but the Commons opposed it Soon after the King Assembles the Cortes intending to put an end to this Controversie but all he or the Nobility could do availed not so that the Division ran as high as ever it had been The King's Death now drawing on apace Katherine Dutchess of Bragança came from Villa Viciosa 1580 to try if she could prevail with him to declare her his Heiress K. Henry dies He heard her and soon after without returning any Answer gave up the Ghost 7. King Henry was of a middle Stature His 〈◊〉 in shape like his Father of a lively Spirit patient of Labour and in his Youth trained in all the Exercises that belong to a Prince Damianus de Goes says he understood Latin Greek and Hebrew and was well read in Mathematicks Philosophy and Divinity He says further of him That he had an absolute Command over his Passions was temperate in Speech a great lover of Truth a notable keeper of Secrets an Enemy to Detraction an admirer of Justice free in giving Advice averse to Favourites and inclinable to all Vertue Notwithstanding all these Qualities he was a better Priest than King His first Spiritual Promotion was to the Priorship of Sancta Cruz which Monastery he reformed and increased its Revenue Next he had the Archbishoprick of Braga where he spent his Revenue relieving the Poor in time of Famine The same he did at Evora He maintained many Foundlings gave Portions to Young Maids redeemed Captives and performed himself all the Duties of a private Priest At Braga he assembled a Synod endowed Schools in that City repaired the Monastery of S. Fructuosus punished severely all Crimes in the Clergy especially Incontinency The See of Evora being added to his other of Braga he did the same good Offices there and founded the University under the Jurisdiction of the Jesuits Many other notable Works he performed and being created Cardinal and Legate to the Pope still increased in Works of Piety 8. In this Henry expired the Kingdom Observations on the Rise and Fail of Portugal erected by another of the same Name the first died in the Year 1112. and the latter was born in 1512. So that the Name of Henry and Number 12 were the beginning and end of this Monarchy Thus the Seventeenth was the last Native King of Portugal The Moon laboured under a great Eclipse when he died 15â—â— in the 68th Year of his Age and second of his Reign His Body was deposited at Almeyrin where he died till King Philip translated it to the Monastery of Belem CHAP. III. The short Administration of the Five Governours Antony Grand Prior of Crato or the Order of Malta proclaimed King by the Multitude the short time of his Vsurpation 1. NO sooner was King Henry dead at Almeyrâ—â— but the Five Governours began to exercise 〈…〉 Power 〈…〉 The Commons held their
after being dispersed by a Terrible Storm met again at Corâ—na Sailing thence the greatest part of this Mighty Fleet was destroyed either by the English or by violent Storms which drove it round Scotland and Ireland so that the Duke of Medina Sidonia with a very few returned to Santander In Revenge of this Attempt Queen Elizabeth sent the Fleet we before spoke of in the Life of Antony the Grand Prior to Invade Portugal The Disappointment she met there made her think of Intercepting our India Fleet. To this purpose she fitted out 50 Sail 1591. commanded by the Earl of Essex who sailed directly to the Islands Azores King Philâ—â— sent out his Fleet under the Command of D. Alonso Bazan against him Near the Island Flores the two Fleets engaged with so much Advantage on the part of the Spaniards that they took the English Vice-Admiral yet presently after some of the Spanish Fleet perished in a Storm However the English took the Flag-Ship of three that came from India in the Year 1593. 1593. tho D. Alonso Bazan sailed from Lisbon to prevent them He found seven English Ships in the Island Flores waiting for the other two that came from India and he took them 7. The Arch-Duke 1594. Cardinal Albertus being called away to Madrid Portugal governed by Commissioners to receive the Archbishoprick of Toledo the Government of Portugal was committed to D. Michael de Castro Archbishop of Lisbon the Counts D. John de Sylva of Portalegre D. Francis Mascarenhas of Sancta Cruz D. Duarte de Castelobranco of Sabugal and Michael de Moura Secretary The English Fleet again appeared before the Tercera Islands hoping to meet with the Ships from India The Earl of Essex was Admiral he destroyed Fayal and Pico then Landing upon S. Michael plundered Villafranca Lastly one of the India Ships falling into his Fleet he thought to have carryed it off but was disappointed by her being fired This done he sailed from the Islands Prince Charles Son to King Philip was naturally of a turbulent Spirit and is said to have held Correspondence with his Father's Enemies and to have practised against him Hereupon he was cast into Prison and Judges appointed to inspect into the Cause who passed Sentence of Death against him His Father allowed him no other Favour than to choose what Death he would die and he said they might kill him as they pleased Being prepared for it four Slaves strangled him with a Silken Rope D. John of Austria tho' a Bastard was no less haughty and aspired first to the Kingdom of Tunis then to that of England but the King lowered all his haughty thoughts and he is believed to have died a violent Death King Philip having been some time sick at last was confined to his Bed as well by reason of Weakness as that the Gout was broke out in Sores upon his Hand Foot and Knee Fifty three days he lay in such condition that his Bed could not be made and on the last of them he died His Patience in his Sufferings was wonderful for he pityed those that attended him more than he did himself Having performed all Offices of a good Christian he gave up the Ghost the 13th day of September being Sunday 1599. at Five in the Morning in the Year 1599 in the Famous Monastery of the Escurial King Philip dies the 71st Year of his Age the 18th of his Reign over Portugal and 41st over the rest of Spain He was the first King since the Goths that possessed all this Monarchy entire 8. King Philip was of a middle Stature His Description an awful Presence had a high Forehead blue and beautiful Eyes a handsom Nose thick Lips the lower somewhat fallen as is usual to the House of Austria fair Hair and taken altogether his Person was Majestick He wanted the Sense of Smelling or at least had very little of it He had four Wives First Mary Daughter to King John the Third of Portugal His Wives and Issue Secondly Mary Queen of England Daughter to Henry the Eighth by whom he had no Issue Thirdly Elizabeth Daughter to Henry the Second King of France Fourthly Ann Daughter to the Emperor Maximilian By the first he had Charles whom he put to Death as has been said By the third Elizabeth Clare Eugenia Countess of Flanders Wife to the Arch-Duke Albertus Also Katherine Wife to Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy By the fourth first Ferdinand secondly Charles Lawrence thirdly James all three died young fourthly Philip who succeeded his Father fifthly Mary who died an Infant CHAP. V. The Reign of Philip the Third of Spain and Second of Portugal and Nineteenth King from the Year 1578. till 1621. 1. SIngular was the Wisdom of the late King and consequently the loss of him was extraordinarily lamented by all his People Their Sorrow was much mitigated by the great hopes conceived that his Successor Philip would prove no less capable to wield the Sceptre than his Father had been Birth of Philip the Third This Prince being the Seventh Child of his Father and Fourth of his Mother Queen Ann was Born in the renowned Town of Madrid 1578. on the 14th of April 1578. and was the Second of the Name in Portugal and Third in Spain He was sworn Heir of Portugal on the first of February 1583. 158â— and afterwards of his other Kingdoms 1598. this being the first of them that took an Oath to him The many Embassages he received with singular Grandeur the Fleets he set out the great Supplies he sent to Pope Paul the Fifth and the Emperor Ferdinand and many other particulars of his Reign as appertaining more properly to the History of Spain where he resided are purposely omitted here because we design only to adhere to what particularly belongs to Portugal His Resolution was wonderful in banishing the Moriscoes The Moriscoes banished Spain or those that were descended of the Race of the Moors who pretending to become Christians committed many Villanies and Sacriledges at the same time underhand holding Correspondence in Africk and Turky in order to bring over the Moors into Spain again Charles the Fifth Ferdinand and Philip the Second had all of them entertained thoughts of putting this same Design in execution but the many Inconveniences that attended it still deterred them 400000 of these base People were dispersed throughout the Kingdom who all upon the King's Edict departed the Kingdom having liberty to carry away with them all they were worth Upon the Birth-day of this King a Preacher Prophetically foretold the Banishment of the Moriscoes threatning them with the New-born Prince 2. Often did this King promise to Visit his Realm of Portugal in Person but still failed being put by his Resolution by his Favourites who for their private Ends disswaded this Journey not regarding how much a King loss the Affections of his People who never suffers himself to be seen by them 1619.
The Condition of Portugal after the Death of Henry the Cardinal-King had carryed it against the House of Bragança by force of Arms tho' with no good Title and that Kingdom was insensibly become a Province of Spain without any appearance that the Portuguese could ever be able to withdraw themselves from that Foreign Subjection The Nobility of the Kingdom durst not appear in that Splendor which became their Quality or claim all the Priviledges due to their Birth for fear of raising a Jealousie in the Spanish Ministers at a time when Riches Birth or Meritâ—were thought sufficient to render a Man suspicious and cause him to be persecuted The Gentry were in a manner banished to their Country Houses and the Commonalty groaned under the heavy Burthen of the Taxes The Count Duke de Olivares Prime Minister of State to Philip the Fourth of Spain thought a new Conquest could never be too much weakned He knew that the Natural Antipathy which was betwixt the two Nations could not but render the Sovereignty of the Spaniards odious to the Portuguese That it must be ever offensive to them to see all Places of Trust filled by Strangers or else by Men of no Extraction who were wholly devoted to the Interest of Spain Therefore he thought to secure his Masters Authority by keeping the Nobility out of Employ the Gentry remote from Business and the Commonalty so poor that they could not have the heart to aspire to any change Besides he drew out of the Kingdom all the Young Men that were fit to bear Arms employing them in Foreign Wars lest those turbulent Spirits should disturb the Peace of the Government Yet this proceeding which might have succeeded if not pushed on too far had a far different consequence than was expected both by reason of the ill Circumstances the Court of Spain then lay under as also because of the Prime Minister's Character who was naturally morose and inflexible No pleasing Methods were now used in raising of Taxes but they were rather collected as if they had been Contributions gathered in an Enemy's Country The Portuguese having now nothing more to lose and as little to hope for thought of casting off that Subjection which they always believed unjust and was now become insupport able 2. Margaret of Savoy Margaret of Savoy Dutchess of Mantua Governs Portugal Dutchess of Mantua governed Portugal with the Title of Vice-Queen yet she bore only the Title circumscribed within a limited Power The whole Intrigue of the Government and all the Authority was in the Hands of Michael de Vasconcellos a Portuguese who under the Character of Secretary of State was the absolute Minister in the Kingdom He received his Orders immediately from the Count Duke whose Creature he was and became most acceptable to him by finding Methods to draw great Sums of Money out of Portugal and by sowing the Seeds of Sedition among the Nobility favouring some and depressing others which raised implacable Enmity betwixt them This Discord was the Minister's Security he believing they could never Plot against the Government who meditated how to exercise their Revenge upon one another 3. In all Portugal there was none but the Duke of Bragança who could give the Spaniards any Disturbance Only the Duke of Braganza could give the Spaniards Jealousie That Prince was of a soft and agreeable Temper much given to his Ease his Judgment rather sound than piercing in Business he aimed at the main Point and could easily dive into such Matters as he applyed himself to but loved not application His Father Duke Theodosius who was of a fiery Temper had laboured to ingraft in him his Natural Hatred to the Spaniards that he might regard them as Usurpers of his Right and had done all that in him was to inspire into him Ambition and Resolution enough to attempt the Recovery of a Crown which was due to him D. John had imbibed his Father's Sentiments but that in such measure as was most suitable to his Peaceable Temper He hated the Spaniards but not so as to seek Revenge with the Expence of his Quiet He was ambitious and did not despair of ascending the Throne of his Ancestors but was not so impatient as his Father had been He thought it enough to keep within Prospect of his Hopes without hazarding an easie Life and more than Private Fortune in Possession for a Crown that was very uncertain Doubtless had he been the Man Duke Theodosius would have had him he could never have compassed what he aimed at His Actions were so narrowly looked into by the Count Duke's Order that if he had not been so entirely given up to his Ease and Pleasure he must of necessity have been discovered and if once discovered his Repose and Fortune had both been sacrificed The Court of Spain would never have put such Power into his hands and suffered him to live in the midst of his Country Nature made him more Politick than Art could have done His Birth Estate and Right to the Crown were no Crimes but his being Formidable was Crime enough according to the Laws of true Policy He was not ignorant of it and found there was no way to wipe off that Guilt but by rendring himself less to be feared and appearing wholly devoted to his Pleasure Nothing was to be seen at Villaviciosa the ordinary Residence of the Dukes of Bragança but Hunting Feasting and such-like Country Divertisements as if Nature and Fortune had conspired to qualifie him for those Times In short such was his course of Life as gave not the Spaniards the least Umbrage of his aspiring to the Crown and yet it furnished the Portuguese with assured hopes of a wise and mild Government if they themselves would attempt to Enthrone him 4. His Conduct could breed no Suspicion The People of Evora Mutiny but an Accident that happened some time before in which he had no hand had begun to raise a Jealousie in the Prime Minister The People of Evora provoked by certain new Taxes had mutinied and in the heat of that Fury amidst their Complaints against the Tyranny of the Spaniard some Acclamations had been heard for the House of Bragança Here it first appeared how much Philip the Second erred in leaving within the Kingdom a Family so Powerful and that had so good a Title to the Crown Hereupon the Council of Spain resolved to secure the Duke of Bragança or at least to remove him out of Portugal Immediately the Government of Milan was offered him which he refused pleading want of Health and Knowledge in the Affairs of Italy The Prime Minister seemingly approved of his Reasons but found out another Method to draw him to Court The King being about to March to the Frontiers of Aragon to punish the Rebellion of the Catalonians he wrote to the Duke exhorting him to be present in that Expedition at the Head of the Nobility of his Country The Duke The Duke of Braganza
absolute Ascendant over her Husband who never undertook any thing of moment without her Advice and therefore could not proceed farther in this Affair without consulting her To her he revealed the whole Conspiracy the Parties concerned their Zeal in carrying it on and all that had happened to him at Lisbon and at Almada in the Conference He told her how much the Nobility were offended at the Expedition against Catalonia That nevertheless the greatness of the Danger discouraged him as did the fear that the Great Ones out of Envy would oppose him that the Power of the King of Spain was formidable and little Confidence to be reposed in Foreign Princes These Considerations weighed more with the Duke than the desire he had of a Crown But the Dutches whose Aâ—â—â—ion was more rooted presently embraced the horâ—â— of a Crown and used all the Arguments her Rhetorick could furnish her with to perswade him yet so as that he should see a greater Number of Conspirators engagâ—â— and never openly espouse the Cause till the moment it should be put in execution 10. The Court at this time was not free from Care The Prime Minister of Spain resolves to draw the Duke out of Portugal The extraordinary Joy the People express'd at Lisbon at the sight of the Duke alarmed the Prime Minister He suspected there were Private Cabals held at Lisbon and certain groundless Reports which are commonly the fore-runners of great Revolutions increased his Jealousie Several Councils were held hereupon and it was finally resolved to call the Duke of Bragança to Madrid that so the Portuguese wanting a Head might have no hopes left of succeeding in their intended Revolt On the 20th of October 1640. the Count Duke de Olivares sent an Express to the Duke of Bragança 1640. to acquaint him the King expected him at Court to be informed by him of the Posture of Affairs in Portugal assuring him he should receive all marks of Honour that were due to his Birth and Quality This Positive Command strangly surprized him as knowing should he refuse to Obey the next Orders would be for carrying him away by force and thinking he was betrayed concluded himself fallen into the depth of all Misfortunes The Duke's Arts in refusing Nevertheless that he might gain time and advertise the Conspirators of his Danger by the Advice of his Dutchess he sent a Gentleman to Madrid to assure the Prime Minister of his Resolution to appear suddenly before the King This Gentleman had private Instructions to find some counterfeit Excuses for his delay from time to time Being come to Madrid he assured the King that his Master followed him He hired a great House bought Rich Furniture hired Servants and lay'd out much Money as if he daily expected his Master Soon after he pretended he had received Advice that his Master was sick and finding this Fraud would not last long presented a Memorial to the Prime Minister desiring that the King would ascertain in what manner his Master should be received at Court This was done in hopes that the Grandees opposing him the Dispute might be held on foot some considerable time But the Count Duke to avoid all delays perswaded the King to decide the Controversie in favour of the Duke of Bragança so that he could 〈◊〉 longer doubt of as Honourable a Reception as he cou 〈◊〉 himself desire 11. As soon as the Conspirators understood what Orders the Duke had received from Court they sent Mendoza to assure him of their stedfastness and to perswade him openly to joyn with them They met a Hunting and being withdrawn into a Wood Mendoza made use of the most preâ—ing Arguments to engage him to espouse his own Quarrel The Duke answered He approved of their Proceedings and was fully resolved to Head them Mendoza returning to Lisbon informed the Conspirators how he had sped and that the Duke would have Pinto repair to him He was sent and with him the whole Scheme of their intended Proceedings Pinto acquainted his Master how great a Misunderstanding there was betwixt the Vice-Queen and the Secretary Vasconcellos and withal told him nothing could have fallen out more advantageously for advancing his Affairs The Duke who was fully convinced of the force of his Reasons found himself more pressed forward by the Gentleman he had sent to Madrid for he writ that the Prime Minister would admit of no longer delays This made him resolve to lose no time However he writ to that Gentleman that he should acquaint the Count Duke de Olivares that he would have been at Madrid long since but for want of Money to support his Dignityâ— which as soon as it could be raised he would set out towards the Court. The Duke carryed Pinto to the Dutchess's Apartment where several Methods were proposed about the Execution of their Design At length the Duke concluded that Lisbon should be secured for that being the Capital City would shake the whole Kingdom and that the same day it was done he would cause himself to be proclaimed King in all the Towns that depended on him That such of his Friends as were Governours of Towns should do the like where they commanded and that the People should be made to rise even in the Villages that were subject to any of the Conspirators to the end that the Conflagration being general throughout the Kingdom those few Spaniards that were in it might not know which part to have recourse to first That he would march his own Regiment into Elvas the Governour of which Place was wholly at his Devotion That as to the securing of Lisbon he must leave it to them to Act as Opportunity should offer Nevertheless his Advice was that their first â—â—â—rts should be made against the Palace that having seized the Vice-Queen and all the Spaniards they might serve as Hostages to oblige the Citadel to Surrender which might otherwise incommode the City He gave Pinto two Letters of Credence directed to Almeida and Mendoza only requiring them to give entire Credit to the Bearer and to be faithful and couragious in putting what they had promised in execution 12. Being come to Lisbon Pinto delivered his Credentials to Almeida and Mendoza Then they sent for Lemos and Correa The Conspirators contrive how to incense the Citizens of Lisbon against the Spaniards two Citizens of the Duke's Faction who employing many Workmen and having gone through all the Offices of the City were in great Reputation among the People They had before made it their business to incense the Citizens against the Spaniards by spreading Reports of new Taxes to be raised and had designedly discharged many of their Workmen pretending that the Trade being lost they had no Business for them but in truth that Want might make them the readier to rise and yet from time to time they relieved them that they might be entirely at their Devotion Besides they held Intelligence with the chief Men of every Quarter so
Andaluzia of great Courage and Colonel of a Regiment who offered to hold out three Weeks longer to expect the Succours from Spain which they heard to be at Sea under the Conduct of the Duke of Maqueda The King thought it not fit longer to delay his Coronation that his Royal Authority might become the more Sacred and his Person more respected among the People This Ceremony was performed on the 15th of December with all possible Magnificence The Duke of Aveiro the Marquess of Villareal the Duke de Caminha his Son the Count de Monsanto and all the Nobility of the Kingdom assisted at the Ceremony The Archbishop of Lisbon at the head of his Clergy and attended by several other Bishops received the King at the Gate of the Cathedral and there all the Three Estates took the Oath of Fidelity to him A few Days after the Queen came to Lisbon having been received at a distance by the whole Court and the King himself 19. The News of this Revolution being soon carried to the Court of Spain How the News of his revoltâ— was received in Spain struck to the Heart of the Prime-Minister yet making the best of that Disaster he accosted the King with a Countenance chearful and full of Assurance saying Sir I bring you happy News your Majesty has just now gained a great Dutchy and a considerable parâ—el of Lands The King in a surprize asked in what manner Sir replied the Minister the Duke of Braganza is run mad he has suffered himself to be deluded by the Multitude who have proclaimed him King of Portugal now all his Lands are forfeited to the Crown and that Family being extirpated your Majesty will for the future possess that Kingdom in Peace The King was not much taken with these plausible Words and only told him That Care must be taken to suppress a Rebellion that might prove of dangerous Consequence Anno 1641. 1. THE new King of Portugal omitted nothing that might conduce to his Establishment on the Throne After his Arrival at Lisbon New Governours placed in the Frontiers he presently appointed Governours for all the Frontier Towns choosing for that purpose Men of Fidelity Valour and Experience who immediately went away to their Posts with what Forces they could gather and used all possible diligence to put the places committed to them into a posture of defence Commissions were given out to raise Forces and immediately after the Coronation the Cortes or Parliament was Summon'd They met the 28th of January and by a solemn Act acknowledg'd King John to be their lawful and rightful Soveraign as descended by the Princess his Mother from Prince Edward Son to King Emanuel In this Assembly of the three Estates the King declared that for the support of his Houshold he would content himself with his own private Revenue and would lay apart all those of the Crown to supply the necessities of the Kingdom and that the people might relish the sweetness of his Government he abolished all new Taxes imposed by the Spaniards The most considerable employments he gave to such of the Conspirators as had best deserved yet Pinto had no share in this promotion but nevertheless had so great an influence over the King that though he had not the Title of a Minister of State nothing of moment was done without him Having settled all things at home the King next bent his thoughts towards Foreign Princes Ambassadors sent to all the Courts of Europe He dispatched Ambassadors to all the Courts of Europe to move them to own him and at the same time to gain Allies and raise new Enemies to the House of Austria A League offensive and defensive was concluded with the Hollanders and Catalonians both at that time in Rebellion against the King of Spain That Monarch nor being in a condition to use immediate force for the reducing of Portugal still hop'd he might by fair means or threats work upon the new King and to that end writ a Letter to him in the Stile of a Sovereign but in most affectionate terms The Answer was such as no less touched the King of Spain than the News of the Revolt had done before He had his hands full in Flanders Italy Roussillon and Catalonia and yet rather than seem to abate any thing of his Royal Grandeur resolved to hazard all rather than suffer this Affront to pass unrevenged The Duke of Medina Sidonia was order'd to raise Forces in Andaluzia the Count de Monterey in the two Castiles and the Marquess de Valparaiso in Leon and Galicia And because a Fleet was the most absolutely necessary the Duke de Maqueda Admiral of the Ocean had Orders to gather all the Vessels that were fit for Service and to infest the Coast whilst the others acted by Land 2. Of all the Ambassadors sent by the King of Portugal to the Christian Princes The Bishâ—p of Lamego going Ambassadorâ— to Rome 〈◊〉 by the Spaniards only the Bishop of Lamego designed for Rome miscarried The Master of the Vessel that carried him put into Cartagena a Port of the Kingdom of Murcia and delivered him up to the Spaniards for which Treachery he received a Reward of 2000 Crowns That Prelate's Life was in great danger for he had certainly been Executed but that the King was put in mind that the Marquess de la Pueblâ— and five or six other persons of Quality were Prisoners at Lisbon This Consideration mov'd him to order the Bishop should be civilly Treated least the Prisoners at Lisbon might suffer for his sake Fortune which the Year before had so highly favoured the new King still seemed wholly devoted to his Party All the Forts on the Coast of Africk except Ceuta and Tangier which at last afterwards submitted upon the first News of what had hapned in Portugal withdrew themselves from their Obedience to the Spaniards and sent to acknowledge King John and assure him of their utmost Fidelity Nor was this all for the Vice-Roy of Brasil having Intelligence of the Revolution sent his Son to Lisbon to take the Oath of Allegiance to the new King in his Name and in the Name of all the Inhabitants oâ— that Coast who testified an extraordinary satisfaction for that Change The Islands Azores resolved not to be the last that declared for the King and to give him some proof of their Fidelity at the very beginning of his Reign they seized 10 Ships coming from India that knew nothing of the Revolution and sent them to Lisbon after having taken off all the Soldiers that were aboard them In May also this Year a 〈◊〉 dispatched Express from India by John de Sylva Tello the Vice-Roy brought the News that the King had been Proclaimed in all his Dominions in Asia King John Proclaimed in India and as far as the Coast of China The Hollanders at this time were very powerful in those Seas and being at War with Spain did all the harm they could in the
Accordingly at break of Day the assault was given and though bravely carryed on he was forc'd to retire leaving 163 Men killed and carrying off 160 wounded However he resolved upon a second attack but the Enemy prevented him by hanging out a white Flag and surrendring the Forts Five days after the Surrender the Dutch that were abroad in the Country being 250 with 2000 Blacks upon Advice that the Forts were besieged came to relieve them but finding them lost agreed to be sent away with the rest notwithstanding the Queen Ginga and the King of Congos Officers encouraged them to continue the War The Fort of Benguela hearing what had happened at Loanda was immediately surrendred by the Dutch that held it Salvador Correa having gathered all the Portugueses that were dispersed about the Mountains repeopl'd the City Loanda and sent some Vessels to recover the Island St. Thomas But those Dutch that he sent away passing by that Island and giving an account of their ill success their Country Men there went away with them leaving behind their Artillery and most of their Ammunition which the Portuguese Inhabitants soon made themselves Masters of Not content with this Salvador Correa sent all along that Coast to all places where the Dutch had factories and in two Months wholly cleared the Country of them Being now rid of the Dutch Salvador Correa resolved to take Revenge of Queen Ginga the King of Congo and their Confederates who had assisted them He gave the Charge of this Expedition to Bartholomew de Vasconcellos with whom joyned the King of Dongo and the Jaga of Ambaca who had always been faithful to the Portugueses Vasconcellos soon reduced the King of Congo and other lesser Princes the Island of Loando being taken from the former and new Tributes imposed on him as a Punishment of his Infidelity Queen Ginga fled 300 Leagues up the Country This Queen was Daughter to a King of Angola who was beheaded by the Portugueses in revenge whereof she gathered all the Youth she could killing the old People and Children wherever she came and continued a savage Life in the Mountains with these Robbers always watching all Opportunities of doing harm to the Portugueses Now at length being driven up the Country she sent an Ambassador and concluded Peace with Salvador Correa who so well settled that Kingdom that it continues ever since under the Dominion of Portugal 5. D. Gaston Coutinho continued in the Government of Tangier Africk and India making many inroads into the Country in which he gained much Honour but the Forces in that City being but small he could not make so great advantages as might otherwise be expected of his Valor and Conduct De Philip Mascarenhas the Vice-Roy of India sent D. Alvaro de Ataide with a Squadron to the Coast of Coromandel to fortifie the Town of Negapatam which the Portugueses had lately built The Nayque of Tanjaor in whose Territory it stood sent an Army to hinder the Work D. Alvaro landed 500 Men and after a sharp Dispute put the Indians to flight with much slaughter This done he saw the Fortifications finished and returned to Goa nothing more of Note happened in India during the Government of D. Philip Mascarenhas which lasted till the Year 1651. The War in Portugal being prosecuted with small Force on both sides and the Campaign being often spent in small Incursions do not afford much matter worthy an History which is the Reason the Relations of Affairs at home are so short and the Actions abroad being very considerable though I endeavour to reduce them to as small Compass as may be yet because I would omit nothing that is remarkable they often swell to a greater Bulk than the Domestick and force me to insist longer upon them then I had designed Anno 1649. 1. WE left the Count de S. Lorenzo Count St. Lorenzo his Actions in Alentejo governing the Province of Alentejo with good success This Year knowing that some Troops of Forreign Horse were come to Badajoz he promised Rewards to all Soldiers or Officers that should come over to him performing his Promise to the full with the first that deserted so that in a short time the greatest part of them quitted the Spanish Service At this time all Prisoners on both sides as well Soldiers as Officers not above the Degree of a Captain were set at liberty on both sides In April 600 Spanish Horse driving the Cattle betwixt Fronteyra and Cabeza de Vide were resolutely Charged by the Commissary Generall Tamericourt with 16 Troops and utterly defeated 120 of them killed and double the Number taken The Baron de Molinguen the Spanish Camp-Master Generall after this defeat quitted his Post and D. Francis de Tutavilla Duke of S. German succeeded him At the Request of the Count de S. Lorenzo the Commissary Generall Tamericourt was made Lieutenant Generall of Horse and a Commendary given to the other Commissary Du Quesne There being also great want of Horse King John sold Crown-Lands to the value of 4000 Cruzodoes per Ann to buy Horses to Mount the Cavalry rather than impose new Taxes upon the People The Horse being recruited their Generall Andrew de Albuquerque Marched with the whole Body and the Foot of Elvas Olivenza and Campo Mayor thinking to reduce Albuquerque He plundered and burnt the suburbs but was repulsed by the Town and Castle and returned with loss Neither had John Homem Cardoso sent out by him with 100 Horse to surprize a Spanish Troop better success for Meeting 15 Spanish Horse he charged them and they kept him in play till 7 Troops came up and took John Homem and 60 of of his party Tamericourt now Lieutenant General Marched with 900 Horse to Revenge this loss and having drawn out the Enemy from Badajoz and Talavera tho' they were more Numerous than he put them to flight killing 250 with the loss of 40 of his own These are the most Remarkable actions of this Year in the Province of Altentejo 2. Count Castello Melhor who till now Governed the Province betwixt Duero and Minho was called away to go Governour of Brasil and the Viscount D. James de Lima succeeded him in his former Post D. James de Lima Governour of the Province betwixt Duero and Minho That Province scarce felt any effects of War except Two or 3 inconsiderable incursions after which both Parties again rested as if it were in Time of Peace D. Hierome de Ataide Count de Atouguâ—a was now sent to Command in the Province Tralos Montes where finding the Standing-Forces very weak he Endeavoured to secure the Country the best he could with the Militia Whilst he went to provide for the Safety of Braganza the Commissary General of Horse La Morle Commanded at Chaves but had positive Orders only to stand upon the Defensive Nevertheless he marched with 220 Foot and 90 Horse to plunder the Town of Vmbra which having performed and returned with the booty he
maintained upon Grass alone so that it was difficult to make Excursions which added much to the great scarcity of Provisions D. Francis de Noronha Governor of Mazagam sent an Ambassy and Presents to the King of Morocco which was by him honourably received and generously returned D. Francis continued in this Command till the Year 1654 during which time nothing remarkable happened there so that we shall not have occasion to make any mention of him This was the last Year of D. Philip Mascarenhas his Vice-Royship in India and in it there was little remarkable only the Chendarraos a vagabond sort of People in the Country of Hidalcan possessed themselves of the Mount or Promontory of Chaul whence they were drove by the Vice-Roy's Order by D. Alvaro de Atayde This Year two Galeons and a Pink sailed from Portugal to India and the Galeon S. Philip built there arrived at Lisbon Anno 1652. 1. THE Prince who as was said returned to Lisbon the latter end of the last Year The Prince made Captain General of all the Forces in Portugal used all possible means to perswade his Father to send him again to the Frontiers but the King jealous of him could not be worked upon At length to conceal his own Jealousie and disappoint that Design of his Son he appointed him Captain General of all the Forces in the Kingdom thaâ— having the Charge of all he might not apply himself to command in any one Province D. John de Costa neveâ— ceased to harrass the Enemies Frontiers bringing iâ— thence considerable Booty In revenge the Spaniardâ— drove a great Prey from the Territory of Telena and though Lieutenant General Tamericourt marched after them with the Troops of Olivenza they being far beforâ— him got safe into Barcarota Before that place was 〈◊〉 large Field encompassed with a Ditch and lying undeâ— the Cannon and small shot of the Town which the Spaâ—niards believed would secure their Prey However Tamaricourt coming to Barcarota dismounted part of hâ—â— Horse and breaking into the Field before day droâ— away all the Cattel without receiving any considerablâ— Loss The Spaniards sallyed out upon him but suddeâ—â—ly retired and he marching off with the Booty restâ—â—red it to the Country People Neither was he less suâ—â—cessful a few days after when engaging the Troops of Badajoz he took the Spanish Lieutenant General of Horse D. Francis Hibarra with other Officers and 120 Horses The Prince being now Generalissimo sent his Orders to all the Provinces of the Kingdom absolutely forbidding any Incursions to be made for the future into the Spanish Frontiers D. John de Costa upon receipt of this Order replyed to it shewing how disadvantagious it was to the Kingdom by reason of the great Benefit reaped by those inroads for he in the space of two Years had destroyed above 1400 of the Spanish Horse having scarce lost 100 of his own Besides he looked upon this as so great a check to his Authority that he desired leave to lay down his Command The Prince being well satisfyed of D. John's Zeal and Fidelity recalled his Order and the King gave him the Title of Earl of Soure He to appear worthy of this Honour endeavoured to make amends by his Conduct for what he wanted in Strength To this purpose he secretly gathered 1500 Horse from the Neighbouring Garrisons which Lieutenant General Tamericour and Commissary General Duquesne divided betwixt them With these Troops they passed the River Guadiana and lay close in the Wood near Badajoz In the Morning a Squadron of Horse issuing out of the Town according to Custom they were drove back by some of our Troops Fresh Troops seconded the Enemy from the City and they kept in play till D. Alvaro de Viveros took the Field with all the Horse of that place and having drawn them up advanced further then was thought convenient for the safety of the Town Duquesne who was nearest thinking it now time moved towards him with more Courage than Order The Spanish General halted and bravely stood the Charge in which Duquesne received three Wounds and Captain Sancho Dias was kill'd with several Soldiers the rest of the Troops missing their Commander retired with Precipitation Tamericour perceiving this Disorder charged furiously with his formost Troops which being too open in their Ranks made but little Impression but those in the Rear coming up behaved themselves with such Bravery that after a long Dispute they broke the Enemy The Troops of Duquesne and part of those with Tamericour being wholly blinded by the Dust fled to Olivenza believing the rest were cut off Tamericour rallyed the rest marched off with above 200 Horses he had taken from the Prisoners among whom was a Captain of Horse and other Officers The Count de Soure being a strict observer of Discipline commended those that had behaved themselves well and severely checked those that had fled giving the King also a particular Account of the Merits of the former and Demerits of the latter 2. The Viscount de Villa Nova Governor of the Province betwixt Duero and Minho still continued in perfect Tranquility nothing happening in his Command but that Captain Labar a valiant French-Man disorderly with a party of Horse charging another of the Enemy was himself killed and most of his Men wounded The Province Tras os Montes governed by the Count de Antouguia by consent of both Parties was for several Months free from Action Some small Incursions were afterwards made on both sides but none of Note The King having now chose the Count de Penaguiao his Lord Chamberlain to go Ambassador into England appointed the Count de Atouguia to execute his Office and John Mendez de Vasconcellos was sent in his place to govern the Province The most remarkable Action performed this Year by D. Roderick de Castro in his Division of the Province of Beyra was the burning of the Town of Martiago Some Actions in Beira which contained 300 Houses the other Enterprizes were too small to merit any place here D. Sancho Manuel who commanded in the other part of Beyra understanding that a Troop of the Enemies was quartered at Lobeyros and had twice repulsed parties of the Portuguese Militia that ravaged the Country thereabouts ordered the Cornet Dominick Homen with 40 chosen Men to lye in wait for them He sent before some of the Militia to drive the Cattel the Spanish Troop backed by a company of Foot immediately rushed out upon them but the Ensign who was at hand furiously falling in upon the Foot broke them and with the same Success routed the Horse killing many and taking several Prisoners This Success was soon ballanced by a greater disaster for D. Sancho being informed that the Spaniards gathered a great Power in order to break into his Province and not being in a condition to oppose them he thought to divert them by making at the same time an inroad into their Frontiers hoping he might retire to places of safety