reigned 33 Years Siculus the next King and dying left the Kingdom to Siculus who being born in Lusitania preserved the same Affection his Father had done for that Province and People He also is supposed to have passed over into Italy and to have overthrown the Aborigines whence sailing into Sicily 1416. he subdued that Island and left his Name to it where he ended his Days having reigned 61 Years 8. The Death of Siculus was so much resented by the Spaniards and particularly the Lusitanians that he leaving no Heir An interregnum for 100 Years they resolved not to submit themselves to another King Above an Hundred Years they lived at their Liberty referring all Controversies to the ancientest Men Bacchus in Spain and standing to their Decision till Bacchus the Son of Semele with a numerous Army of sundry Nations came into Spain The Fame of so mighty an Army terrified the Spaniards but they were no less delighted with their Luxurious manner of living all their Martial Exercises being intermixed with Pleasures and Delights Hence the Sports used to this day in Portugal called Folias are supposed to have deduced their Original which consists of Dancing Taboring and Singing The Word is either derived from the Latin Folia or leaves because the Bacchanals were so Crowned or from the Italian signifying Madness which is proper enough to such Divertisements and to the Feasts of the Bacchanals 9. Bacchus finding the Lusitanians opposed his Command and cut off many of his Army retiring to the Mountains after doing the Mischief employed his Tutor Silenus to work upon them by fair means which he did so effectually that they submitted themselves to him only upon condition he should not use the Name of King which they would allow to none since the Death of their beloved King Lusus However Bacchus finding them an Ignorant and Credulous People perswaded them that the Soul of Lusus was transmigrated unto his Son Lisias Lisias made King who for the Love they bore him was returned to Reign over them This Fiction so took with the People that they put themselves wholly into his Power congratulating with themselves the Happiness of having recovered their admired King Bacchus returned into Italy and his Son remained possessed of this great part of Europe which he enjoyed not full Three Years 1299. He dying the Lusitanians would not admit any other King but chose for their Commander Cacus chose General one Cacus a bold Fellow and one of Lisias his Companions he raising a powerful Army marched against Palatuus King of Andaluzia whom in a Bloody Battle he overthrew and by that means remained possessed of the greatest part of all Spain puffed up with this Success he became Insolent and Cruel which rendred him Odious to the People 10. Palatuus who lay lurking in the Mountains laid hold of this opportunity sent some to sound the affections of the Multitude and finding them well inclined towards him adventured to raise Forces and march towards Lusitania Hercules the Theban in Spain overthrows Cacus At the same time Hercules the Theban with the rest of the Argonauts being by stress of Weather cast ashore in Spain near the mouth of Guadalquivir was lovingly received and entertained by Palatuus this Courtesie obliged him to espouse his Quarrel and so joyning their Forces they overthrew the Tyrant Cacus or Licinius who fled into Italy whither presently after Hercules returned Still the Lucitanians preserved their Liberty as before as they did whilst Erithreus whom some call the Son others the Cousin of Palatuus reigned in the other parts of Spain Palatuus seems to have Reigned 67 Years and Gargoris is said to have been his Son but for this there is no manner of Authority 11. The Tyranny of Cacus or Licinius lasted Thirty Six Years which are to be included in the 70 of Palatuus his Reign and many more Lusitania remained free from any subjection being governed only by the Rules of Reason 1158. and some of Tubal's Laws which remained in Verse Gargoris finds the use of Honey and its making It fell out accidentally that a Man called Gargoris which formerly signified a burning Coal or Flame found a Swarm of Bees in a hollow Oak and discovering their Honey taught the use of it to the People This sweet Discovery was worth a Crown which the Multitude iâ— Requital for that Benefit freely bestowed upon him He was afterwards by the Latins called Melicola for discovering to the Spaniards the Use of Honey Whilst Gargoris reigned he had a Daughter got with Child by some Gallant or as some thought by her own Father for as soon as the Child was born Abidis exposed Brought to Court Teaches the People to yoke Oxen plow and sow he caused it to be exposed to the Wild Beasts But they instead of destroying nourished the Infant of which he being informed caused him to be cast into the Sea and that Element milder than the Grandfather carried it up the River Tagus as far as Santarem formerly called Scalabis where it was suckled by a Doe Of her being grown up he took to a natural Swiftness so that they that hunted in the Mountains admired to see in him the Figure of a Man and the Wildness of a Beast Gargoris hearing hereof and not imagining it was his Grandson caused him to be taken in a Gin and being brought before him he by known Signs perceived it was the same he had exposed His Hatred now turned into Love he called him Abidis causing him to be carefully instructed And he was so great a Proficient that it was he who first civilized that barbarous Multitude He also taught them to yoke Oxen to plow and sow 11. Troy being reduced to Ashes 1130. Vlysses with a part of the Grecian Fleet driven by Storms out of the Mouth of the Streights arrived at length at the Mouth of the River Tagus Ulysses in Portugal and entring landed where he found already built a City on the Hill to which he left his Name which remains to this Day being called Vlyssippo which is the famous City Lisbon Here in Memory of the Favours received of the Goddess Minerva he built a stately Temple and dedicated it to her Gargoris upon the News of his Arrival marched towards him with an Army but they both meeting and conferring together parted Friends And not so content Gargoris gave to Vlysses his Daughter the Mother of Abidis in Marriage However the Greeks committing several Insolences in the Country they became odious to the People who rising up in Arms against them Vlysses stole away to Sea leaving his new Wife behind How long Gargoris reigned cannot positively be set down the best Guess that can be given is Seventy seven Years 1105. At the same time that Vlysses sailed out of Tagus Diomedes enter'd the River Mino in the North of Portugal There he founded a City which after the Name of his Father
with such Brotherly Love The Lominii three Sons of Gerion reign and such perfect Union that they gave occasion to the Fable That Spain was ruled by a King with three Heads Such was the Entrance of their Sway that it seemed they were resolved to preserve with Justice what their Father had gained with Violence But it was not long before it appeared they had rather be thought Sons of such a Father than Fathers of their Subjects They were good no longer than till they had the Power to be wicked which was till Osiris was removed Then remembring the People of Andaluzia Aragon and Valencia had been the Cause of their Father's Death by calling in Osiris they removed towards those parts on pretence of Affection but in reality to wreak their Revenge 2. Osiris being basely Murdered by his Brother Typhon his Son Orus Lybicus succeeded him having slain the Murderer The People of Andaluzia now again oppressed by the Tyranny of the Lominii who upon the departure of Osiris were exercising their revenge on those their Subjects Orus Lybicus or Hercules comes into Spain 〈◊〉 the Lominii 〈◊〉 makes his Son Hispalus King sent for and to Orus Lybicus called also Hercules who speedily came to their relief as his Father had done out of Africk where he had killed the Giant Anteus and marched after the Enemy who were retired to the Fastnesses of Lusitania and there resolutely waited his approach The Lominii had posted themselves in a secure place called formerly Saltus Tercenorum Hercules seeing them in place almost inaccessible resolved to save his Men and avoid the hazard of a Battle by challenging the three Brothers to fight him hand to hand which he did and they accepting of it were all three slain successively 1718. The Portuguese seeing their Princes slain began to move to revenge their Death but Orus making use of perswasions rather than force appeased them and calling the Nobles to him he made a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving This done he advanced as far as the Promontorium Sacrum where he built a magnificent Temple wherein the Aegyptian Ceremonies taught by the Founder were for many Ages after Religiously observed The People in acknowledgment for the Benefits received by Hercules or rather swayed by fear joyfully received his Son Hispalus for their King who continued in Lusitania with many of his Aegyptians 3. Hispalus was installed 42 Years after the Gerions had begun to Reign and being peaceably seated on the Throne his Father Orus Lybicus marched away for Italy The gentle Government of Hispalus was the reviving of the hearts of that People after so many Calamities but Prosperities are not durable for he died the 17th Year of his Reign Among the memorable Customs introduced by him were those of Burying the Dead and wearing Mourning for them what sort of Mourning it was appears not but that which many Ages after was used till the time of King Emanuel of Portugal and Ferdinand of Castile was on the lightest occasions rough Canvass and the deep used for Kings and such like occasions of the coursest Sack-cloth and that always White as is still used in China 4. Hispanus succeeded his Father Hispalus and was Proclaimed in the Temple of Hercules with great Ceremony The Spaniards in those days held it a crime to look upon the setting Sun therefore those that lived upon the Coast used to turn their backs towards it those who lived near the Promontorium Sacrum retreated at Night far off from it believing the Gods spent the Night there in Sport and Pastimes not to be seen by Mortal Eyes Only the Priests and the King on the Night of his inauguration were permitted to stay on that point of Land and look towards the West but as soon as the Sun quite disappeared they prostrated themselves on the Ground and then retired to the Temple where they continued till break of day when the King returned to the same place and continued there till the Sun again spread its Beams over all that part of the Country Then he returned joyfully to the People offered Sacrifice and was thence forward esteemed wiser than all others as being one that had seen Divine Secrets and Hidden Mysteries It is a common Opinion among the vulgar that Hispalis now Sevil was built by Hispalus and that the Name Hispania came from Hispanus 1169. who died when he had Reigned 32 Years leaving no Issue 5. Hercules Hercules Governs Spain and leaves the Crown to Hesperus after the Death of his Grandson Hispanus returned to Spain which he Governed Nineteen Years in Peace with singular Wisdom and Goodness and finding his end draw on he appointed Hesperus one of his Officers his Successor The Funeral Obsequies being performed 1650. Hesperus took upon him the Sovereignty but the giddy People being dissatisfied with his Government revolted from him to his Brother Atlas Italus who came out of Italy pretending a right as being the Elder Brother though neither had any other Title but the choice of Hercules which was of the Younger Hesperus deposed and Atlas set up in his place By this desertion of the Subjects Hesperus was easily deprived of the Crown and flying into Italy outlived not long his Misfortune Italus having Reigned in Portugal the space of Ten Years returned into Italy 1618. leaving the Dominion of Spain to his Son Sic-Orus He leaves the Crown to his Son Sicorus during whose Reign the Noise of Arms was not heard he left his Name to that River of Catalonia that washes the Walls of Lerida and is now called Segre but formerly Sicoris and a great part of that Country was of him long after called Sicoria he Reigned 55 Years 6. Sicanus the Son of Sicorus succeeded his Father Sicanus Succeeds them and Sicceleus him he is reported to have waged War in Italy and thence to have passed over and conquered Sicily which of him our Author will have to take the Name of Sicania and he to have Reigned 31 Years His Son Sicceleus immediately entred upon the Government and of him also is continued that Romantick Story of going into Italy with an Army where also he is said to have died in the 44th Year of his Reign 2453 from the Creation 797 from the Flood and 1509 before the Birth of Christ 1509. 7. After the Death of Sic-Celeus his Son Lusus was proclaimed King Lusus ascends the Throne and for the singular Affection he shewed to the Western part of Spain where he spent the most of his life that Country took his Name being afterwards called Lusitania Under this Name was comprehended all the Country between the Rivers Guadiana and Duero the main Ocean bounded it on the West and its limits on the East were formed by an imaginary line drawn almost straight from the turning of the River Duero near Castrominho down to Guadiana which River divided it from the Province Betica Nothing else is recorded of Lusus but that he
Navarre kills King Bermudo and becomes sole Monarch of Castile Leon Portugal Galicia and Navarre and his Son Ferdinand succeeding him King Bermudo was in hopes to recover what Ferdinand's Father had taken from him They came to a Battel in the Valley of Tamara near Fromista where after a bloody Fight King Bermudo was killed and his Army overthrown Ferdinand now victorious immediately laid Siege to Leon and having made himself Master thereof he was there Crowned King of Leon Galicia and Portugal in the Right of his Wife Sancha the lawful Heiress of those Kingdoms Thus for want of Issue Male to the Kings of Leon and Earls of Castile those two Dominions fell to the House of Navarre 1037. by the Female Line 9. What I am about to relate happen'd in the Reign of King Bermudo but in what Year is not certain Two Grandsons of Prince Alboazar Ramirez Son to King Ramiro III called Tedon and Rosendo with a Body of resolute Men broke into that part of the Country that lies betwixt the Rivers Tavora and Duero Having drove the Moors thence A Stratagem of the Christians against the Moors they began to Till the Land and knowing well that the Infidels would not suffer them quietly to rest there they fortified themselves on a Rock over the River Tavora which running round great part of it makes it a sort of Peninsula which with the Steepness of the Rock it self renders it inaccessible any Way but one Here they built their Habitation and hence infested the Country of the Moors At length on Midsummer-Day which is much reverenced even by those Infidels in Honour of St. John the Baptist the Moors of the Town of Paredes resorted in great Numbers to sport and divert themselves on the Banks of the River and to bathe themselves in it D. Rosendo cloathing his Men in Moorish Apparel passed the River out of sight and lay close in Ambush till he saw all the Banks covered with the Barbarians Then by degrees coming out as if he had been some of their own Company he suffered his Men to mix with the Enemy who took them for Friends Being all mixed the Christians fell upon them and turned their Pleasure into Sorrow However many stood and made a good Defence and others coming to their Aid the Success was doubtful till D. Tedon fording the River with his Men ended the Dispute with the Slaughter of most of the Moors This and other Victories put the two Brothers in Possession of many Lands in that Country And in Memory of the Action they took to themselves the Name of the River which still continues in the Family of the Tavora's 10. The Fame of the Exploits of D. Tedon particularly that upon the River together with that of the Comliness of his Person reaching the Ears of Ardinga the beautiful Daughter of Aliboazen King of Lamego she fell in Love with him by Hear-say The Effects of Love Love perswaded her to quit her Father's Palace and disguised in the Habit of a Man through bye Ways she found out the Abbot Gelasius a solitary Hermit She told him who she was and the Cause of her Coming and he baptized her promising to perswade D. Tedon to take her to Wife This took not effect for her Father closely pursuing her overtook and put her to death Tedon hearing of her Love had promised to marry her and she being dead would take no other Wife but was afterwards killed by the Moors near a small Brook which of him was called Tedo So he took his Surname from one River and gave his Name to another There being nothing else remarkable recorded in Portugal during the Reign of King Bermudo and he being the last King thereof of that Name I must not omit to remark that Bermudo is the same Name with Veremundus which the Spaniards call Veremundo so that to make it Bermudo there is corruptly an e and an n omitted and to use B for V is common in Spanish Thus Bermudo and Veremundus appear to be the same Name CHAP. X. The remaining Kings from the Year 1037 till the Year 1108 and till the Establishment of Count Henry of Burgundy in the Sovereignty of Portugal where begins the Line of the Portuguese Kings and ends the Second Book 1. FErdinand Prince of Navarre inherited the Crown of Leon King Ferdinand called The Great in the Right of his Wife the Lady Sancha Daughter to King Alonso V and Sister to King Bermudo III who died without Issue The Earldom of Castile fell to him by his Mother the Lady Nunna and the Crown of Navarre he inherited from his Father Three Crowns were united in him and he was well worthy thereof purchasing by his Piety Valour and Bounty the Title of The Great The Moors believing King Ferdinand was wholly employed in reconciling his new Subjects in Castile Leon Galicia and Portugal broke into Lustainia but hearing he was provided to receive them they retired hastily He once provoked would not put up his Sword without doing Execution His Conquests over the Infidels He took the Town of Sea and the Cities Merida Badajoz Beja and Evora without any Resistance Viseo guilty of the Death of King Alonso and fearing a Revenge was strongly fortified and governed by Cid Alafun a notable Commander The King sate down before it resolving not to stir thence till he were Master of it Eighteen Days the City was battered and bravely defended at the End whereof being the Eve of the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul it was enter'd by Force and never after returned under the Yoak of the Infidels The Man that shot King Alonso being taken in the City had his Eyes put out and both his Hands and one Foot cut off which done he was shot to Death The Governor Alafun had in Consideration of his Valour Lands given him to live upon paying a certain Tribute His Name is still preserved in those Parts in the Mountain called Alafun the Council of Alafâ—â—â— and other Places 2. The City Lamego held out no less obstinately during Twenty Five Days at the end whereof it was surrendred upon Articles the 22th Day of July It was not then used to expel the Moors but to bring them to pay a moderate tribute After these Conquests the King crossed the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho into Galicia to visit the Sepulcher of the Apostle St. James 1039. and make his Offerings there The following Year he conquered many places in the Province of Tras os Montes and pierced down even to the River Tagus King Ferdinand made glorious Conquests the ensuing Years but they being out of Portugal do not appertain to us Coimbra taken by the Advice and Assistance of the Monks of Lorvan Two Monks of the Monastery of Lorvan advertised the King that the City Coimbra was ill provided and worse fortified and therefore it would be easie to gain it King Ferdinand marched in December 1063
both Kings made short Speeches to their Men. This done the Armies engaged with such terrible shouts that the Mountains seemed to shake Nor was the noise of clattering of Arms less hideous Vast numbers of Dead were soon trod under foot and the wounded in that Confusion were scarce sensible of their hurts The two Christian Kings overthrow the Infidels Our King rushing into the midst of the Enemies made such havock that the Moors soon turned their backs and fled to Algezira the Portugueses making a greater slaughter in the Pursuit than they had done in the Fight The King of Castile with no less Bravery thrust himself into the midst of his Enemies till stopp'd in his rash Carreer by the Archbishop of Toledo Yet so did he press Aliboacem that despairing of Success he fled to Algezira and not thinking himself safe there passed the Streights over into Africk Both the Christian Princes followed the Chace as far as the Rivers Britabotellas and Guadamicil which they dyed with the Blood of Infidels 9. Queen Fatima with many other Moorish Ladies were killed by the Soldiers in their Tents Some Princes also died and two were taken The quantity and value of the Booty is not to be expressed The number of the Infidels and greatness of the Booty for they came to divide Spain among them and brought over above 100000 Families besides their innumerable Army all which was so great that they spent five Months in passing the Streights sixty Galleys being continually employ'd in Transporting them and twelve Galleys were fifteen days in carrying back the Remnants of this Overthrow 450000 Infidels are said to have died in this Battle Of the Christians so few were missing that it will be scarce credited if the Number were reported The Victorious Kings entred Sevil in Triumph the chiefest of the Captives dragging the Colours that were taken Many Carts followed laden with Spoil and then a multitude of Moorish Horses with all their Accoutrements Several Colours and Horses were sent for a Present to Pope Benedict The seventh day after the Victory the Portuguese being obliged to return home the Castilian laid all the Booty before him to take what he liked best whereof he only took some Arms one of the Captive Princes 1347. and five Colours The Prince he released without Ransom Eâ—lenor second Daughter to K. Alonso marry'd to Peter King of Aragon and hung up the Colours in the Cathedral of Lisbon 10. King Peter the Fourth of Aragon by his Embassadors demanded of our King his Second Daughter Ellenor in Marriage His Request was granted and her Portion settled at 50000 Doubloons The King of Castile endeavoured to hinder this Marriage but failing of his Design the Princess was carryed to Valencia and there marryed with great Solemnity 1348. The three following Years Portugal was infested with that Universal Pestilence A great Plague which began by the opening of the Earth after a terrible Earthquake in the Eastern Countries whence issued such a destructive stench as infected those Parts and thence diffused it self into these The Princess Constance dying after she had brought forth three Children our King found that Discord at home which had before drawn him thence He thought to Marry the Prince to strengthen the Succession to the Crown but found he was in Love with the Lady Agnes de Castro a Kinswoman and one of the Ladies to the late Princess and that enjoying her Person he refused a second Wife and enquiring farther into it K. Alonso his Eldest Son privately Marries the Lady Agnes de Castro he was informed they were privately marryed by Giles Bishop of Guarda and yet the Prince fearing his Father's Displeasure denyed it tho' he promised if it were really so to treat her as Princess The Nobility envying the Lady Agnes her Happiness perswaded the King to oblige his Son to Marry another Wife or else to kill her alledging that if she came to be Queen her Brothers Ferdinand and Alvaro would destroy the Princeâ—s Son Ferdinand that one of their Nephews might Inherit the Crown They also said the Lady Agnes was not of sufficient Quality to be a Queen but in this they wronged her for she was of Royal Blood and her Sister came to be Queen of Castile Upon these Pretences her Death was contrived and tho' the Prince had notice given him hereof by the Queen his Mother and the Archbishop of Braga yet he thought none durst attempt such an Action whilst he was in the way The King overcome by Perswasions set out from Monte-Mayor and went to Coimbra with a great number of armed Men at such time as the Prince was gone out a Hunting The Lady Agnes was in the Palace called S. Clare The Lady Agnes cruelly murdered and understanding the King came to kill her went out to receive him and falling at his Feet with the three Children she had bathed them with her Tears This sad Spectacle moved the King and he turned back to depart But those who had perswaded him to this Action the chief whereof were Alvaro Gonçalez James Lopez Pacheco and Peter Coello blamed the King's Remissness and so earnestly pressed him to give them leave to execute what they came about that he condescended and they immediately with more than barbarous Inhumanity struck off her Head 11. The Prince returning from Hunting The Prince begins his Revenge for some time was almost distracted with Rage Being come to himself he began to execute his Revenge destroying all the Country betwixt Duero and Minho where those Cruel Executioners had their Estates with Fire and Sword The City Porto he spared for the sake of the Archbishop who had given him notice of the Design Thus King Alonso's Disobedience towards his Father was now with more Reason punished by his own Son The Prince marched to the Town of Canaveses where the Queen his Mother and the Archbishop met and reduced him to submit to his Father and disband his Followers conditioning that both Parties should Pardon all Offences and that in all Places where the Prince was all Acts of Justice should be performed in his Name It was visible enough that the Prince would some time or other be revenged on the Murderers of the Lady The Murderers fly into Castile therefore the King being near his End advised them before his Death to shift for themselves They thereupon fled to Castile and we shall hereafter see what became of them This was the end of King Alonso an Unnatural Son towards his Father The Death of King Alonso and a Barbarous Father towards his Son Yet he was an excellent King either for Peace or War He coined a new sort of Money called Alfonsines worth in English Money about Three Shillings Many wholesom Laws were instituted by him and his Government was equitable and just He had a large Forehead but with wrinkles in it his Visage long a proportionable Nose a large Mouth his
Herse the Corps was conducted to Alcobaça to be placed in that rich Urn with the noblest Attendance and greatest Grandeur that has been seen vast numbers of Noblemen and Gentlemen in long Mourning Cloaks and Ladies in White Mourning Vailes attended the Funeral From Coimbra to Alcobaça it is 17 Leagues and yet all that Distance was filled with many Thousands of Men in two Rows making a continued Lane with lighted Flambeaus in their Hands 4. The Unfortunate King Peter of Castile being drove out of his Kingdom by his Bastard-Brother Henry assisted by the French King Peter of Castile flying from his Rebellious Subjects is refused Protection in Portugal and flying from Sevil after loosing all the Treasure he had amassed arrived at the Town of Coruche in Portugal with his two Daughters Constance and Elizabeth and thence sent to Advertise our King then at Coimbra of his Arrival That King's Daughter Beatrix was Travelling another way to be Married to the Portuguese Prince her Father not having any fore-thought of what hapned to him This Accident much surprized the Portuguese some were for protecting a rightful King their Neighbour and Confederate others were for more safe than honourable Courses not to embroil themselves in the Quarrels of others This Advice was followed and our King made the best Excuse he could for not entertaining that Unhappy Prince He failing of this Refuge withdrew to Albuquerque but neither was he to be admitted there He sent to ask a Pass of our King to Travel through his Dominions into Galicia and the Earl of Barcelos and Alvaro Perez de Castro were sent to Conduct him But they not only forsook him by the way but stole from him Elenor the Daughter of his Bastard-Brother Henry whom he carried with him From Galicia he passed over into England where he so grievously Complained to the Prince of Wales against the King of Portugal that he was forced to send Embassadors to Vindicate himself In the mean while the New King or rather Usurper Henry Solicited the Friendship of Portugal and Embassadors meetting to that Effect betwixt Badajoz and Elvas a Treaty was Concluded And it was Stipulated That the Castilian should solicite an Accommodation betwixt Aragon and Portugal and also That the Aragonian should suffer the Portuguese Princess Mary Widow of Prince Ferdinand to return to her Country if she thought good 5. About the end of October Prodigiâ—â—â— seen in the Sky almost Three Months before the Death of our King was seen a prodigious Alteration or rather Confusion in the heavenly Luminaries On the 27th Day at Midnight all the Stars in a Body began to run from East to West then suddenly dispersing they wandred through several parts of the Sphere next falling nearer to the Region of the Air the nearness made them appear like vast Globes of Fire so that the whole Heaven seemed to be in a Flame and the Earth threatned to be reduced to Ashes The Sky in many places seemed to gape the Stars being removed This Spectacle lasting a considerable time Men stood amazed expecting the Dissolution of the Universe Three Months after this Prodigy King Peter's Death our King died It will not be amiss to give some Instances of his Justice and Magnificence His Justice and Magnificence He was not as some have called him Cruel but a zealous lover of Justice punishing Crimes with the utmost Severity and rewarding Vertue with Liberality The Punishments he inflicted tho' in appearance terrible were necessary and well applyed A Young Man having struck his supposed Father and the King hearing thereof called the Mother and pressed her to tell him who was the Youth's Father for it was impossible it should be her Husband She confessed in some time a Fryar had got him Thereupon the King went in Person to the Monastery and putting the Fryar into a Case of Cork sawed him in two One of his Favourites lived in Adultery with a Judge's Wife for which the King caused his Privities to be cut off A Priest being suspended for killing a Man he caused him to be put to Death by a Mason saying That the Ecclesiastical Judges condemned a Priest for killing a Man to be suspended from his Office but he in his Tribunal would suspend the Mason from Working for killing the Priest The Bishop of Porto he scourged for having to do with a Citizen's Wife He caused a Gentleman to be beheaded for staving a Country-man's Cask that was full A Clerk of the Treasury was hanged for receiving a small Bribe Hearing a Woman upbraid another with being forced he asked the cause and being told her Husband ravished her before they were marryed he caused him to be hanged Knowing that a Merchant's Wife cuckolded him one day when the Merchant was at some Publick Feast he surprized his Wife with her Gallant and burnt them and then congratulated the Merchant that he was revenged A Bawd having procured a Young Woman for the Admiral Lancelote Pessana the Bawd was burnt and the Admiral hardly obtained Pardon after several Years absence A Country-man complaining that a Gentleman to whom he had lent certain Silver Cups would not restore them the King kept him in hand a Year and then caused the Gentleman to pay him Nine times the value which was then the Penalty of Thieves and farther told him he should be always answerable for the Country-man's Life A Pursivant complaining that in the Execution of his Office a Gentleman had struck him and torn his Beard the Gentleman was immediately beheaded 6. The Laws he instituted Laws established by him were religiously observed One of them condemned Judges who received Bribes to Death To avoid delays in Suits he established there should be no Counsellors Sollicitors nor Attorneys He went about the Kingdom in Person to administer Justice impartially to all Men. Tho' so much subdued himself by the Love of the Lady Agnes de Castro he suffered no Crime of Incontinency to pass unpunished Several new Pieces were coined by him on the one side whereof was his Effigies sitting in a Chair holding a naked Sword on the reverse the Royal Arms with these Inscriptions Peter King of Portugal and Algarve God assist me and make me Victorious over my Enemies He was so Bountiful that like the Emperor Titus he thought himself not a King the day he gave nothing To this purpose he kept always much Plate He was much addicted to Musick and used to go abroad at Nights and dance to the sound of Trumpets Notwithstanding his great Liberality he left a considerable Treasure to his Successor which he gathered without the least dissatisfaction to his Subjects In fine such was his Life that his Death was generally lamented and it was in all mens Mouths That such Ten Years Government never were nor would again be seen in this Kingdom Others said That either he should never have been born or never have died 7. This King was of great Stature His Person and
Church of Alverca where it was buried The King was received at Lisbon in Triumphant manner Many Persons were executed on Account of these Troubles and their Heirs to the Fourth Generation declared Infamous The Prince's Enemies fearing the Queen might some time or other Revenge the Death of her Father advised the King to be divorced from her but he received her with all the marks of True Love and Affection They begged of him some Towns that had belonged to the Prince which he freely gave them but the Cities of Porto and Portalegre would not submit to be given away to any Body and were therefore annexed to the Crown 9. The Princess Ellenor during this time was contracted to the Emperor Frederick the Third The Princess Ellenor contracted to the Emperor Frederick the Third and was now delivered in the Month of August to his Embassadors They embarked at Lisbon and landed at Leghorn whence she was conducted to Sienna where the Bridegroom met her attended by Ladislaus King of Hungary his Brother Albertus the Arch-Duke and other Princes Hence they travelled together to Rome where they were crowned with the usual Solemnity 1451. Prince Ferdinand who was marryed to the Lady Beatrix 1452. Daughter to Prince John privately built a Caravel and went away in it to Ceuta to employ himself against the Moors but the King soon sent for him home and to settle his Mind gave him the Towns of Beja 1453. Moura and Serpa The great Monarch of the Turks Mahomet having taken Constantinople Pope Calixtus stirred up the Christian Princes to unite their Forces against the Common Enemy Our King offered to serve in Person one Year with 12000 Men but all these Projects fell to nothing Our Queen had before this time brought forth a Son and a Daughter whereof the former died 1455. and now on the third of May she was delivered at Lisbon of another Son whom she called John as the first had been for the special Devotion she had to that Name He was sworn Prince being but a Month old with great Solemnity The Queen upon this Occasion obtained leave of the King that the Body of her Father Prince Peter might be placed in the Tomb he had built for himself at the Famous Monastery of Batalla At this time also a Match was concluded betwixt the Princess Joanna King Alonso's Daughter and Henry the Fourth King of Castile She was Seventeen Years of Age and very beautiful which was all her Portion and she was conducted to Castile by Count Alvaro Gonzalez de Atayde Elizabeth our Queen died on the Second of December following The Queen's Death not without suspicion of Poison given her by her Father's Enemies fearing she might prevail with the King to Revenge his Death She was carried to the Church of Batalla with the greatest Pomp that had been used at the Funeral of any Queen For Beauty Patience Obedience and Piety she was inferior to none The Monastery of Xabregas of the religious of S. Eloy was founded by her 1456. The King ordered the Body of his Mother Queen Ellenor to be brought from Toledo to be buried at the Church of Batalla As far as Elvas it was conducted by the King and Queen of Castile and there they were met by our King 10. The Bishop of Silves brought the Croisade from Rome 1457. granted to Encourage Christian Princes to joyn their Forces against the Turks The Croisade brought into Portugal Our King made Preparations for that Expedition and recalled Peter the Constable and Master of Avis Son to Prince Peter who was Banished to Castile He also coined a New sort of pieces called Cruzadoes from the Croisade and the Cross on them These were of pure Gold and great Weight that they might pass in Forreign Countries but the other Christian Princes not answering on their Part he bent his Mind upon Prosecuting the Conquest of Africk Tangier was first aimed at 1458. but this Resolution was changed for Alcaçer Alcazer on the Coast of Africk taken by King Alonso Twenty thousand Landmen were appointed for this Service who set sail from Setuval the 12th of October in Two hundred Sail of Ships They no sooner arrived than that they were Victorious and reduced that Place the Particulars of which Action are in the Portuguese Africk A Peace was now established with the Duke of Britany 1459. whose Subjects had taken many Portuguese Ships which was repaid them in the same kind 1460. The following Year died Prince Henry who first gave Encouragement and promoted the Discoveries on the Coast of Africk A Year after he was followed by Alonso Duke of Bragança Bastard-Son to King John the First 1461. The King being advertised That it would be easie to surprize Tangier Tangier taken set sail from Lisbon in November and tho he met with many difficulties he became Master of that Place The Catalonians rebelling against their lawful Sovereign King John of Aragâ—n sent to invite Peter Son to the Unfortunate Prince Peter to that Principality as being descended of the Ancient Earls of Barcelona He hasted thither from Ceuta but lived not long there and lies buried in the Cathedral King Alonso went over from Ceuta to Gibraltar to meet the King of Castile who craved Aid of him against his Nobility that not content with staining his Honour sought to deprive him of the Crown 1464. Here it was agreed King Alonso should marry Elizabeth Sister to the Castilian and his Son Prince John the Princess Joanna but all this took no effect 1466. Queen Joanna of Castile on whom those People cast all their Reproaches accusing her of Adultery only in malice to D. Beltran de la Cueva the King's Favourite whom she treated with Courtesie came to the City Guarda to crave Aid of the King her Brother against the Rebels who called her Daughter a Bastard and had opprobriously used a Statue they had erected to the King her Husband King Alonso intended to have succoured her but was prevented by the Death of Prince Alonso of Castile who had been proclaim'd King in opposition to the King his Brother whereupon ensued some tranquility in the Affairs of Castile King John of Aragon made great Interest that his Son Ferdinand might marry Elizabeth Sister to the King of Castile Our King Alonso also sent Embassadors to demand her according to the Articles concluded at Gibraltar But these Embassadors could not prevail for she was already engaged to Ferdinand and much more to those who advised that Match in opposition to her Brother that she might the better with their assistance deprive him of the Crown That Match was concluded in February 1469. 1469. This is that Elizabeth so much admired by the Spaniards for Sanctity and yet by this it appears she aimed to Usurp the Crown from her Brother and actually did it from his only Daughter CHAP. VI. The remaining Part of the Life and
〈◊〉 Hâ— now understanding that his Son Michael born of 〈…〉 Queen had been sworn Heir of the Crowns of 〈◊〉 and Aragon resolvâ—d to have him sworn in like manner in Portugal To this purpose he assembled the 〈◊〉 or Parliament at Lisbon on the 7th of March where all the Representatives took an Oath to him as lawful Successor 〈◊〉 the King confirming his former Grant that no Castilians should at any time be admitted to Places of Honour and Trust in Portugal About the end of this Year which was the 4th of his Reign the King resolved to translate the Body of King John his Predecessor from Silves where he was buried to the stately Church of Batalla the burial Place of the Portuguese Princes He went in Person to Silves and found the Body whole as it was seen Fifteen Years after by the Cardinal Henry and others which confirmed the Opinion of Sanctity that was conceiv'd of him The Body was honourably conducted to the Church of Batalla and there laid in a Marble Tomb. This Year also the King dispersed several sorts of new Coins of Silver and Gold as he did again in the Years 1504 and 1517. He had before given large Revenues to George the late King's Bastard-Son and this Year 1500 gave him the City Coimbra with the Title of Duke made him Lord of Montemayor â—l Viejo and bestowed on him the Mastership of the Military Orders of Santiago and Avis Next he married him to the Lady Beatrix de Villena Daughter to D. Alvaro the Brother of Ferdinand Duke of Bragança Beheaded by King John 5. Now came the News that Prince Michael 〈…〉 King Emanuel's Son and sworn Heir of all the Kingdoms of Spain had departed this Life at Granada being not yet Two Years of Age. It was requisite the King should marry again 〈…〉 and a Match was accordingly concluded with Mary Daughter to King Ferdinand and Sister to King Emanuel's late Queen Her Portion was 200000 Crowns down and 10000 a Year settled upon the Revenue of Sevil. The Archbishop D. James Hurtado de Mâ—raâ—za conducted her to the Borders where the Duke of Bragança attended by several of the Nobility 〈◊〉 her The Marriage was solemnized at Alcacer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the 30th of October No sooner was the King married but he resolved to make an Expedition into 〈◊〉 in Person 〈…〉 and to that effect had assembled an Army of 26000 Men. The Venetians at this time hard 〈◊〉 by the Turks made use of the Pope's Mediation to obtain of our King to desist from the Enterpize he had in Hand and to employ his Forces in their Assistance The King consented and sent them Thirty Saâ—l under the Command of D. John de Meneses Son to the Earl 〈…〉 and for his Encouragement before his Departure he was created Earl of â—â—rouça In this Squadron were 3500 fighting Men. Another Squadron followed being designed for the Coast of Oran in order to attempt taking the Fort of Mazalquivir They sailed from Lisbon about the middle of June and having assaulted that Place in July with the loss of 20 Men and no prospect of Success the Squadron provided for that Expedition returned to Lisbon D. John de Meneses with his 30 Sail off of Tunez took 3 Genoese Ships full of Turks Moors and Jews the Genoese he set at liberty Near Corfu he was met by Twenty five Venetian Galleys and five Galleons where both Fleets saluted each other with great Joy The Turks understanding the Fleets were joyned retired to their Ports and the Portuguese Squadron returned home 6. The King had yet reaped no Advantage from India 〈…〉 but the bare Discovery of it by Vasco de Gama and yet as if the Treasures of that Empire had been brought him he in Thanksgiving laid the Foundation of that wonderful Structure of the Church and Monastery called Bâ—â—eâ— or Betâ—lem on the Banks of Tagus about a League from Lisbon This Fabrick is Magnificent for its Greatness and Workmanship but above all for the largeness of the Arch above the Chancel where after the manner of all Cathedrals it opens into a Cross which Arch tho vastly spacious has no Pillar to support it This Monastery was given to the Fryars of the Order of S. Hierome and is plentifully endowed Opposite to the Monastery in the very River the King erected a Fort which tho not large is Beautiful and Commands the River serving at the same time for a Rampart to the Church it is called the Fort of S. Vincent D. Jayme or James Duke of Bragança who was restored to that Honour by King Emanuel laboured under such a deep melancholy that he sometimes forbore taking his natural Sustenance Nevertheless through the King's Perswasions he married the Lady 〈◊〉 Daughter to D. John de Guzman third Duke of Mâ—diâ—â— Sidonia But no sooner was he married than he absented himself with only one Servant leaving a Letter for the King in which he begged of him to bestow all his Possessions upon his Brother Denis because he was resolved to spend his days at the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem Messengers were sent several ways with orders to bring him back Some of them found him at Calatayud in the Kingdom of Aragon and prevailed upon him to return Being brought back he had by his Wife a Son called Theodosius who succeeded him and a Daughter named Elizabeth married to Prince Edward Son to King Emanuel His first Wife dying he fell in Love with the Lady Joanna de Mendoza Daughter to the Governour of Mouram and having obtained leave of the King married her and by her had Four Sons and as many Daughters 7. Queen Mary 1502. second Wife to King Emanuel was delivered of her first Son on the 6th of June 1502. The Queen delivered of a Son At the time of his Birth happened a violent Storm of Rain and when he was Baptized a Fire broke out in the Palace we shall see in his Life what these Prodigies portended A Fleet sailed from Lisbon under the Command of George de Melo and Gaspar de Aguilar designing to take the City Targa on the Coast of Africk but returned having sustained Loss and effected nothing The King for the Success of his Fleet undertook a Pilgrimage to Santiago in Galicia presented that Church with a rich Silver Lamp made in the Form of a Castle and gave Bountiful Alms. In his return at Coimbra he resolved to erect a stately Tomb for Alonso the first King of Portugal whose Body lay there in a very mean Sepulchre At Porto he finished the Silver Shrine of S. Pantaleo 1503. Patron of that City The King had now a second time resolved to pass over into Africk A Famine in Portugal and had all things in readiness for the Expedition when he was again prevented being obliged to attend to the Relief of his own Kingdom labouring under a Famine He remedied this Evil by bringing in Plenty of Corn from all the
time in other Studies Being thus taken up he seldom visited the King as if he had been wholly bent upon Heavenly Affairs Some thought his change of Life to proceed from a Disaster which hapned and was that Augustin de Ceuta fell suddenly dead at his and the King's Feet but those who pretended to see farther thought it only a politick device to gain applause and get the Crown from his Brother Whilst these things were in agitation A match concluded for the King on the 1â—th of March 1665 arrived at Lisbon the Marquess de Sande from France where he had concluded a Match for the King with the Princess of Nemours and by the Infante's order had made overtures on his behalf to the Duke of Bouillons daughter which also had taken effect so far as they were agreed in words tho' the Articles were not signed This Marrige was proposed in order to secure the succession of the Crown in case the King as had been given out should be incapable of getting Children But now the Infante having changed his mind upon what account is uncertain could by no perswasions be prevailed upon to consent to this marriage although the King himself pressed it very home This match being thus broke off the Marquess de Sande having in order to conclude for the King first enquired whether the report that went of the King's impotency were true was assured by the Count Castelmelhor that the King had already several illegitimate Children which was a sufficient evidence against that imputation All things being then disposed for the comming of the Royal-Bride the Marquess returned to France to Conduct her to Lisbon On the 25th of February 1666 The Queen motherdyes the Queen Mother falling sick and perceiving her End to approach sent to both her Sons who according to custom were then at their diversion of Hunting at Salvaterra to come and take their last Farewel of her They came not till the 3d day after when having kissed her hand and received her blessing they departed and within an Hour after she expired making a very Pious and Religious End She was a woman of a wonderful resolution a great Soul and singular wisdom which appear'd in the administration of the government both in Peace and War It was she that pushed her husband to take the Crown she helped to keep it on his head and she by her industry and care secured it to his posterity Her skill in matters of government was above the capacity of a woman and she was so sensible of the danger of discord betwixt brothers that she obstructed Edward brother to her husband King John from making his escape when he was confined by the Emperor least returning home he should not brook the greatness of the King his Brother But what appeared most rare in her was that being a Spaniard a name odious to the Portugueses yet she knew so to carry herself that she gained the Love and esteem of the whole Country Yet all these good Qualities were somewhat sullied by her unbounded ambition and insatiable desire of rule which were the cause she would never quit the government or Court till forced from them both and that she increased the hatred betwixt her two Sons by setting up the younger in opposition to the Elder In fine to give her her due her Verrues far surpassed her vices and it may justly be said of her that she was the glory of her Family the deliverer of Portugal and the honour of Spain The Queen Mother being dead the King believed himself more safe and on the contrary the Infante deprived of her support thought himself more exposed Count Castelmelhor who till then had stood in some awe of him because of her power acted now with more freedom Thus the Infante growing more discontented The Infante grows discontented and the King jealous the King at the same time grew the more jealous of his reservedness and consequently averse to all those he saw him favour or cherish Upon these discontents some of his Servants fearing to offend quitted him and others were removed from him so that his retinue was much below the dignity of the Brother of a King Some days he bore with this hardship till the News of the New Queens being set forward obliged him to press the King that he might appear like himself at her reception The King ordered him to give the Names of such as he desired should attend him but not approving of those he made choice off nothing was concluded upon tho' many debates passed betwixt them on that account At length on the 2d of August 1666 the Fleet which brought the Queen entred the River of Lisbon the News whereof being brought to the King he is reported to have received without the least demonstration of joy or satisfaction which was then looked upon as an ill omen of the future success of that Marriage The Marquess de Ruvigny who Commanded the French Fleet having sent to the Infante to beg leave to pay his respects to him he layed hold of this opportunity to put the King in mind how dishonourable it was to them both that the Admiral should find him so ill attended What could be done in so sudden an Emergency was that the King sent his own Servants to attend his Brother during that Ceremony This was no way pleasing to the Infante who being highly incensed against Count Castelmelhor The Infante enraged against Count Castelmelhor as the only man that had obstructed his having those Servants he desired forbore not openly to revile and threaten him with the severest punishment when occasion should offer which Vasconcellos the Counts Brother who was present resenting went away and quitted his Service So now there remained with him but two Servants of any Note or Quality whereupon he sent a message to the King to desire he would give him leave to retire from Court since he would not allow him to live in that Splendor that was due to him Nothing could have more incensed the mind of the King than this message did insomuch that thoâ— Count Castelmelhor fearing least the discord betwixt the two brothers should run too high used all his interest to obtain of the King for the Infante those Servants he desired he could never prevail Therefore the Infante perceiving the King's obstinacy was not to be overcome since it had not yielded to the intreaties and power of the Count when he had amidst the rest of the crowd hid his want of attendance at the Queens solemn entry into Lisbon he withdrew himself to Quelas a League and a half from the City accompanied only by Roderick de Meneses Fame having immediately spread abroad not only through the City but through the whole Kingdom the News of his retreat the universal report was that all things were preparing for a Civil War At Lisbon Peter's party was already more numerous than Alphonso's the vertues of the former were every where extolled and