strange grounde to the dishonour of so many kings woulde come by direct line to the succession of the Realme offering to prooue by writing out of the auncient Registers of Fraunce and by the auncient possession of the Earle of Bulloigne that she was lineally descended from Robert sonne to king Alphonso the thirde and of the Countesse Matilda his first and lawfull wife and that from that time to this all the descendents of Beatrice the second wife of Alphonso haue vniustly reigned from whom all the pretendents to the succession drawe their beginnings and therefore they coulde haue no better interest then their predecessors King Henry seemed nowe more colde to determine the question of succession then the importance of the cause and the shortnes of his life required He was greatly pressed by the people who be naturally hard to please seeing his slow proceedings complained by words and writings dispersed without authors and were well content their griefes should come to the kings eares They inferred that the losse of the warre of Affricke partly restored by his comming to the Crowne was nowe reuiued seeing their hopes that he shoulde preuent their imminent dangers succeeded vainely They complained that the time which shoulde be wholie imploied to decide the succession was spent in accidentall things contrarie to their dutie hauing no other care but to drawe into question such as the king hated to search by iustice things of small moment to borrowe money of the merchants to redeeme the Portugals that were in Affricke to treate of newe impositions to the oppression of the people and such like some whereof as the redemption of prisoners and that which concerns iustice they could not reiect as euill they blamed the time and the meanes that was spent in them Passing from this discourse hauing as it were a desire to speake slaunderously they touched the ministers of iustice to the quicke inferring they had corrupt consciences that the poore were persecuted the rich fauoured that all punishments were pecuniarie or barbarous expresly inuēted to molest the poore innocents giue autority to the rich culpable who are seldome punished They shewed againe how much a briefe decision of the succession did import and that it was no sound aduise to cite the pretendents assemble the States being tedious matters alleaging that if the king to receiue the scepter had no neede of these things neither had his successour but that he ought to decide this cause by himselfe with the aduise of learned and confident Doctors and according to that which he shoulde finde conuenient treate the accordes and capitulations with the greatest libertie of the Realme he coulde giuing contentment to the excluded and making of many members one body thereby to auoide the bottomlesse gulfe of ciuill warres And in truth this was the wisest and most Christian resolution of all others They did not allow of the making of Gouenours tearming them bodies without a head saying they coulde not after the kings decease effect any good iudging there woulde be amongst them diuersitie of opinions the people woulde be altered the great woulde disobey and euery one of the pretendents woulde call himselfe king they did foretell the Realme woulde be deuided in factions that one would follow one party the other an other party in the meane time the strongest woulde preuaile by armes The most aduised feared the forces of the Catholique king being neere and alwaies readie and although some trusting in his modestie beleeued after the death of Henrie he shoulde peaceably attend the sentence yet such as more practised in the affaires of the worlde knewe that the encrease of kingdomes had neither end nor measure that they be neuer giuen or taken away by the opinion of Doctors they feared most of all they termed it a diuelish temptation of those that perswaded Henry to take a wife or once to speake of it saying they were not woorthie that God shoulde nowe worke miracles for the loue of them The king mooued with these reasons which were partly deliuered vnto him began more vehemently then accustomed to treate of these affaires And forasmuch as the Prior hauing taken his oath to obey the Gouernours was retired to Almada a citie vpon the riuer of Tagus right against Lisbone where he made his vsual residence the king doubting that remaining there and comming sometimes to the citie as he did he might encounter with the Duke of Bragance and that as concurrents in one action and competitors in present there might growe some perillous contention the which was doubted hearing there was hatred betwixt them for this cause he commanded the saide Prior to retire himselfe to his said Priorie of Crato the which he did and likewise to the Duke though somewhat later to withdrawe himselfe The Prior was there cited not without permission to come personally to the court but to sende his Attourneies wherewith being grieued he did write vnto the king thanking him that he had admitted him to plead and complaining that he was in a manner banished He said that he ought not to forbid him to assist in his owne cause when as the Duke of Ossuna Embassador for the Catholique king and the Duke of Bragance were present at their pleas For besides the discommoditie hee shoulde haue in deliuering his reasons whosoeuer shoulde see him banished from the Court whilest they treated of so weightie a cause woulde suppose him so farre in the princes disgrace as he shoulde not dare to maintaine his title But all this preuailed not for the king woulde neuer suffer him to depart from Crato and although he did obey with difficultie going often from place to place yet would he neuer admit him to Court The first processe the king put vppon the file was touching the satisfaction the Prior pretended to giue for his legitimation wherein he had secretly all the pretendents opposite desiring to haue it tried first as indeed it ought to be for vpon proofe of his legitimation he was either to be admitted or excluded from the succession And forasmuch as Princes doe commonly execute that carefully which they do affect for this reason and to the ende the sentence he shoulde pronounce thereupon shoulde remaine firme he had obtained secretly at Rome a briefe from the Pope by the which he gaue him authoritie absolutely to iudge the cause of legitimation without any forme or processe according to the truth thereof So as hauing strictly examined the witnesses he allowed some reasons and reiected others and duely weighed the processe Finally he came to sentence framed by vertue of the Popes owne motion wherein was reported in a manner the whole processe The deposition of the witnesses which were fowre two conuinced to be false for they recanted confessing they had beene suborned by Anthony and the other two were suspected being neere kinsemen and disagreeing betwixt themselues The words of the testament of Lewes father to the saide Prior were annexed wherein
discouering their intention said it was fit they should all stay at Saint Arem so as fearing to giue greater cause to suspect they coulde not depart They added moreouer that leauing the Prior there with the deputies in a time when as the Catholique king should begin to take armes they might in their absence vnder colour of defence erect a tyrannie So as ignorant what course to take or how to redresse things they did being friends by their irresolution more hurt to the Catholique king then they coulde haue done being enimies for the king hoping these woulde haue deliuered him the crowne proceeded slowly with his armie At that time it chanced that Iohn Gonzalez de Camera Earle of Caglietta died of the plague at Almeryn so as the Gouernors tooke this occasion to depart from thence and went to Settuual with the Duke of Bragance the Agents of the Catholique King and others of their faction for hauing created captaines placed a garrison they cōmanded the gates to be guarded The Catholique King hauing assembled his armie neere to Badagios receiued aduertisement that his nauie was at Saint Marie porte ready to set saile before they should enter into Portugall not yet well satisfied with the diligence he had vsed as it is saide with many Diuines desired to consult againe in the Vniuersitie of Alcala where the profession of Diuinitie flourisheth most in those realmes vpon his entrie in armes into the realme and the proposition made by the Portugall Embassadors And to that effect hauing assembled all the doctors being in number aboue thirtie hauing made their praiers and supplications vnto God in their sacrifices and the matter considered by euery one apart it was disputed of in three sessions For although the matter were not hard to decide yet was it graue and new All without any disagreement concurre in opinion with the first with whom the King had consulted without viewing of their reasons they sent a publike decree vnto the King There was propounded vnto them three articles I he first that the King being certaine to succeed by right after the death of King Henry to the realmes of Portugall whether he were in conscience bound to submit himselfe to any tribunall iudge or arbitrator who might adiudge him the realmes or put him in possession thereof The second was that the realme of Portugall refusing to acknowledge him for their Prince vnlesse he woulde first stande to iudgement with the pretendents Whether he may of his owne authoritie take possession thereof by force against such as shall make resistance presupposing that there is no doubt or scruple of conscience in his title whatsoeuer The thirde was that the Gouernours of Portugall alleaging that they and the whole realme haue sworne not to receiue any for King but him that shoulde be iudicially so declared and that they may not receiue the King otherwise the rather for that the pretendents complaine and offer to stande to iudgement He desired to know if the saide Gouernors and the whole realme may pretend this oath for an excuse not to receiue him for King To the first they answered that the King was not bound in conscience to submit himselfe to any Iustice or arbitrement seeing that he had of himseife priuate authoritie to adiudge vnto himselfe those realmes and to take possession They excluded especially from this authoritie of iudging all Princes and such as might pretend to take any knowledge thereof And first humblie saluting the Pope and the Apostolike sea they denied that this iurisdiction did appertaine vnto him the cause being meerelie temporall and nothing concurring where by his holines should vse that indirect authoritie which he hath in temporall causes so farre foorth as they concerne the spirituall good They shewed he was not bounde to the censure of the Emperour for that the Kings of Spaine were soueraignes not acknowledging the Emperour in any thing and much lesse to any other King They prooued he was not subiect to the common-wealth nor the realmes of Portugul saying That when as common wealthes doe choose their first King vpon condition to obey him and his successors they remaine subiect vnto him to whom they haue transferred their authoritie no iurisdiction remaining in them either to iudge the realme or the true successor seeing in the first election all the true successors were chosen Being therefore most apparant there is a true successour it followeth that the common wealth of Portugall hath no iurisdiction to iudge of him that doth truely succeede and that the King hath as great a warrant not to be subiect to the censure of this common wealth as he hath to be true successour And as touching the eleuen persons of the fower and twentie which King Henry had named they saide that Henry himselfe coulde not be iudge of him that did succeede after him for that after his death the office of administring iustice was expired and all his authoritie and iurisdiction past vnto his lawfull successor Against arbitrators they spake little onely that the bond of cōpremise had no place when as the equitie of the cause was not doubtfull as it was supposed They answered them which saide that the King had no interest to the realme of Portugall as King of Castill but as kinseman to King Henry by reason whereof he coulde not in this case challenge the preheminence he hath as King of Castill saying that this imaginarie diuision cannot bee made in the person of the King for it is so annexed to the dignitie royall that his person cannot be wronged but the dignitie woulde suffer And seeing the Prince may lawfully make war vpon an other Realme for iniuries done to his brothers and friends confederats with greater reason may he do it in taking possession of a Realme which appertaines lawfully vnto himselfe They made answer to such as said that obseruing the ciuill canon law a matter litigious should be iudged where it happeneth and therfore this shoulde bee decided in Portugall saying that these decisions speake of particular persons who haue their superiour Iudges and not of soueraigne Princes and their dependancies To the seconde article they answered with more reasons then vnto the first saying the King was not bound to any thing but to signifie vnto the Gouernours his Title and certaine interest to the Crowne and if notwithstanding this demonstration they should make resistance then the King by his owne authoritie might take possession of the Realme vsing if neede required force of armes for that in this action it can not bee termed force but a naturall defence of the Realme which is his owne and a iust punishment of Rebels To the third they said that this oath could not binde them that had vndertaken to obserue it seeing it is most certaine that neither in Portugall nor else where any iudge may determine this cause with the King Moreouer that this oath is to the preiudice of his prerogatiue royall and as this oath did not
but of the great desire he had to be assured of this Realme wherein he did surmount his owne nature and the custome of the Spanish nation who by their long delaies doe often faile in their enterprises The galleies and ships which had transported these men went to Saint Marie Porte where the whole nauie by sea should assemble Henry was still discontented with Anthony who notwithstanding the Kings late commandement not to approch within a hundreth miles of the Court wandered from place to place drawing the peoples harts vnto him The King was desirous to finde some meanes to punish him with a more rigorous sentence But the Prior when as the cause of his legitimation was in question before the King by vertue of his holines briefe mistrusting what hapned had by the counsell of Alexander Formento then the Popes Nuncio in the Realme sent to Rome complaining vnto the Pope of the hatred his vncle did vniustly beare him beseeching him to reuoke the cause vnto himselfe and to be the onely iudge thereof for that the King was suspect vnto him By reason whereof the Pope saying that his first intention was not to make Henry absolute iudge to giue sentence inclusiue he write vnto him by an other briefe with defence not to proceede in the cause for the which he appointed as newe iudges the said Nuncio George de Almada archbishop of Lisbone but not with authoritie to giue sentence but after due information of the processe to sende it to Rome This briefe was sent to the Nuncio that he might deliuer it vnto the King the which he did by an apostolike Notarie fearing he should haue refused it Henry was greatly mooued that the Pope had reuoked the cause vnto himselfe both for that the execution of the sentence did import as also imagining he was wronged by taking the cause out of his handes whereof before he had made him iudge So as greatly discontented with the Pope and his choler encreasing against his Nephew he woulde now vse his roiall authoritie and leauing to proceede as the Popes substitute he began as King to proceed against the Prior. And although the Nuncio it may be by the Popes commandement or rather by his own inclination was fauourable vnto him shewing himselfe very opposite to the Catholique King yet Henry left not daily yet coldly to continue the cause of the succession for hauing cited him to courte and he not daring appeere he caused his edicts and proclamations to be set vpon the pallace gate whereby he was cited to appeere within twelue daies The Prior who had soone a copie of this edict from his agents was greatly displeased to see the course the King held against him yet durst he not appeere fearing if he fell into the kings hands the hatred he did beare him woulde drawe him to some strange conclusion he resolued therefore to absent himselfe labouring to appease his wrath by letters which he did write vnto him complaining of the manner of his proceedings in his behalfe striuing to make knowne his better deseruing He saide that he ioyed in his afflictions calling him in his edicts Nephew as indeed he was and sonne to that his brother to whom this Crowne hauing so great a bond he did not beleeue he should so sonne forget it although his ill deseruings had bin greater then his fathers merits He remembred the respect the King himselfe and his predecessors had vnto his father and the amasement they should haue to see him thus by him vniustly persecuted He did not attribute the blame of the kings inclination to the king himselfe but to the sinnes of the Realme and to the ill disposition of some fauorites shewing on the one side that he bare with patience what it shoulde please God to impose and on the other side complained of his vncle that he did execute against him the passions of priuate men And forasmuch as when he returned from prison out of Affrick some had giuen out that he had fledde from the battaile and was not taken prisoner he touched likewise this point lamenting to be so slaundered He complained of the King saying that to the ende no man shoulde haue compassion on him he was forced to leaue the Court by night hauing only had some speech of his legitimation shewing he was not woorthie of any brotherly reprehension He did aggrauate his banishment with no small preiudice to his credite at such a time as his competitors were fauoured inuironed with their kinsemen and demaunded iustice face to face He alleaged that his holines briefe which the king had obtained against him was ignominious and full of discurtesies nothing agreeing to the honor of his father And although he had obtained an other contrary thereunto whereby his holines had reuoked to himselfe the knowledge of the cause yet was he resolued not to alter any thing but to passe his daies in miserie and sorrow whilest the euill deserued passion of the king shoulde continue He lamented to haue beene forced to giue in his proofes within two daies much more time being granted to any other that pretended and that they had giuen no answere to many things he demanded He complained grieuously of the sentence and commandement to apprehend him for subornation of false witnesses the which he denied although he saide that in the kings publike seate of iustice such as had produced false witnesses were not greatly punished He seemed to be greatly greeued to be called disobedient a troubler of the publike quiet of the realmes excusing himselfe with most vehement wordes He lamented that the Realme was ruined which his predecessors had woone defended and maintained He made no mention of appearance but saide it was lawfull for him as to theeues to hide himselfe and flie the face of iustice adding that if the faults wherewith hee is charged were such as the lawes of the Realme command the Church to redresse for that he hath no sure accesse it woulde please his highnes to graunt that Crato shoulde serue as his sanctuarie And although if his sinnes so required that being Nephew to the king the first person of the Realme his humble and obedient vassall it coulde not mollifie his vncles hart he woulde craue at Gods hands remedies for his afflictions He required with humilitie that it might be lawfull for him to appeale from his edicts vnto the king himselfe better instructed demaunding copies thereof to contradict them concluding that if it might not be graunted yet at the least his letter might be annexed to the proces for if due respect would haue suffred him he woulde haue caused it to be set vp in the same place of the edicts for the discharge of his honor and to make knowne to the worlde that he was vassal nephew faithful seruant vnto the king This letter did nothing mooue the kings hart but wrought the same effect with his choler as a little water doth to a great fire For being more
at the rising of the sunne hauing discouered the truth this feare vanquished yet did there a greater seaze vpon euery mans minde for vnderstanding in trutth the Duke to be strong they began to heare newes of the soldiers insolencies which disbanded and drewe daily neerer giuing no small astonishment to see certaine Negro slaues returne wounded who hauing rashly passed with their ensignes to the other banke were ill entreated by some horse and shot of the enimie They founde that Anthony made no preparation neither had he any forces to resist gouerning himselfe with small iudgement and therefore he neither knew how to fight nor which way to flie neither yet how to yeelde himselfe He was daily in counsell with his men but as he suffred himselfe to be gouerned by many whose authorities were equall and their opinions diuers so did he neuer resolue any good thing as it hapneth often in the like accidents They then propunded more plainly then before the treatie of an accorde and although some who before did seeme brauest shewed themselues nowe more milde yet for that the Counte of Vimioso being a yoong man perswaded to warre no man durst contradict him He affected the charge of generall but hee knewe not by what meanes to displace Diegode Meneses who enioied it so as contrarying one an other they prouided slowly for things necessarie whereunto was a great hinderance the credite that Anthony gaue to Edward de Castro a rich yoong man to whom he was bounde hauing furnished him with money who desirous to shew himselfe valiant obtained a commission to assemble what horse he coulde vnder his cornet imploying him in matters of greater authoritie then was fitte for his base qualitie His holines hauing intelligence of the refusall the Catholique king had made touching his entermedling in the cause doubted least the wars of Portugall shoulde alter the quiet of all Christendome In the beginning hee had shewed himselfe newter to both Kings seeming to bee doubtfull in himselfe to whether part hee should encline whether vnto Henry that woulde giue the crowne vnto the Dutchesse of Bragance or to Philip that sought it for himselfe for by reason of state he should not be wel pleased to see these two realmes vnited whereby the Catholique king shoulde become more mightie and superior in forces to all other princes yet did he not willingly seeme to oppose against him fearing to displease a Prince that had deserued well of him But vnderstanding that the two kings were agreed and that Henry had changed his minde and laboured to giue the realme to Philip he then made it manifest that he would fauour Anthony and the Portugals the which was more apparant after the death of King Henry when as hee laboured to haue the cause of succession ended by sentence But Philip in regard of the qualitie of the iudges detested this decision But his Embassadors hauing laboured in vaine in this respect Philip growing iealous and not greatly trusting the Popes good meaning woulde not put to compremise that which he seemed to holde certaine His holines determined to sende a Cardinall into Spaine expresly to treat vpon this busines Therefore before the Prior was proclaimed king he dispatched Cardinal Alexander Riario his Legat vnto Philip with commission to disswade the king from armes and from thence to passe into Portugall to fauour this busines with commission likewise to offer himselfe for iudge in the Popes behalfe vnto all the pretendents There were diuers discourses in Spaine vpon the comming of this Legat and although the Castillians feared not his sentence seeming hee shoulde not offer himselfe alone to determine so great a matter in Spaine if he had no meaning to pronounce it in fauour of Philip yet they helde it not conuenient to put the matter into his hands being of opinion that the Pope vnder colour to perfourme the office of a generall father came as it is saide to make himselfe absolute iudge of realmes that besides the extraordinarie authoritie he shoulde draw vnto the Aposto like sea hee shoulde binde the king vnto his house by giuing him a kingdome For this cause the King hauing intelligence of his departure from Rome desirous to take possession of the realme before his arriuall hee commaunded throughout all Spaine where he shoulde passe that he shoulde be entertained and receiued with all possible pompe whereof the Legat taking no heede he accepted of all their kindnes For this cause and for that the voiage was long he spent much time being arriued at Badagios he found that the affaires had taken an other forme then when he was at Rome For he vnderstood that Anthony was King and that Philips forces were entred Portugall being then at the wals of Settuuall Finding therefore the matter he had to treate of thus altred he sent to his Holines for new direction being in the meane time lodged without the citie in a cōuent of religious men which go barefoote he sent Traian Mario Apostolike Prothonotarie to visite the King who receiuing him with great fauor said vnto him that he was right sorie that by reason of his sicknes he could not go to meete the Legat as he was bounde but when God should giue him health he woulde then performe it supposing by this meanes to entertaine him the longer that the Cardinall desirous to enter with accustomed ceremouies would attend his recouerie and in the meane time the Duke of Alua should take possession of the realme But the Legat seeing his indisposition finding how much delay did import craued leaue to come to him by night priuately in coach the which with great difficultie was graunted comming vnto him one night accompanied with the Duke of Ossuna and the Earle of Chinchion But this audience was of small effect for the Legat by the alteration of the affaires being irresolute and the Catholique King most resolute to proceede in this enterterprise trusting more to armes then wordes there was no agreement the king saying that the matter was so farre aduaunced as it coulde admit no treating The Cardianll was lodged in the house of the Marquesse D'Oignion not being receiued at his entrie with the ceremonies accustomed for a Cardinall Legat Hee remained a while without doing any thing but to effect the Popes cōmission he would passe into Portugall The King who desired to stay him entertained him all he could supposing that the Legat being within Lisbone it woulde be scandalous to goe against him with an armie Moreouer he had no great confidence in the Legat but held him as suspect for that being before in Portugall with Cardinall Alexandryn he had entred a strict league of amitie with the Duke of Bragance one of the pretendents who had lodged and entertained him So as to delay his departure the King being now recouered of his sicknes sent vnto him that he woulde not haue him take his iourney before he had made his entrie with the ceremonies accustomed to a
disgrace that mightie and warlike nation And who should say that the Spaniards are proud should he therefore impugne their reputation published through the worlde neither should he offend the Portugals that should say they are naturally presumptuous seeing they neither can deny it nor do seeke to hide it yea themselues are woont to say that they liue by opinion that is they support themselues more with that they imagine themselues to be then with what they are in effect my accusers shoulde likewise consider that I offend not the Portugals in saying that the ignorant regard not dangers a farre off and feare them neere if they meane not to separate them from the condition of man and against all reason make equall ignorance with knowledge Moreouer I would gladly knowe why it were not lawfull for me without offence to relate with truth the misfortunes and calamities of the Portugals and the altered forme of their realme as well as for some of the same nation to write many of their actions blame woorthie and yet not helde discourteous The entrie which Henrie the bastard king of Castill made armed into Portugall running from the confines of Gallitia vnto Lisbone where he lodged forcing obedience in all places was it not more dishonorable then any thing I haue written king Ferdinand not being able to make any resistance Read the Chronicles of Iohn the second their naturall king being quiet and peaceable what conspiracies were practised against him by the nobilitie of his realme so as he was forced to seeke reuenge by stabbing and to behead some of the chiefe publikely is not this a reprochfull thing Although some alleage that the king exceeded in the execution that by nature he was a seuere man and full of reuenge yet there want not others that do number him amongst the saints but be it as it may it lies not in me to iudge and yet this booke is Printed and sold in Lisbone whereas my booke that treates not of matters of so great doubt is mightily abhorred As for the priuate personages of the realme neither haue they reason to surmise that I haue spoken of them either with passion or immodestlie the which I beleeue themselues haue founde if they haue had any leisure to read this historie with iudgement or haue any perfect knowledge in the Italian toong But relying vpon the report of such as enclined to flatter reprooue all writings that are not corrupted with flatterie it is no woonder if they be induced to beleeue that I haue written discurteously of them and with passion But to make knowne the contrarie they must vnderstande that of vices which are common to states and to mens priuate humours we may saie the like as hath beene saide of those that are commonly incident vnto nations that they blemish not so much as they ought to be concealed but march alwaies vnited to the state and qualitie of the person For example he that talking of a yoong gentleman shoulde say that he were phantasticke cholericke amorous arrogant for all this he doth him no wrong for besides they are no base affections they are commonly incident to youth and nobilitie In like sort an officer respected by his prince or any fauorite whosoeuer ought not repine if he be described to be tealous circumspect ambitious a temporizer carefull in his owne causes and carelesse of others being qualities that do accompanie princes fauours so as when I touch any one with such like no man of iudgement ought to greene more then if I shoulde terme him cholericke or flegmatike being certaine naturall qualities as the humours and inclinations Notwithstanding when I particularly note such points as seeme blame woorthie although they be publike and apparant yet doe I suspend my iudgement attributing the faults to the emulation of courts and the ambition of competitors And such as will not be satisfied with this exception shewe plainly they desire to be flattered but they striue in vaine for I esteeme flatterie in a writer to be like the sinne of idolatrie Some haue beene so sensible as to note for an excesse speaking of any officer to sate couertly that men transported slander him with some secret action to such I can make no answer seeing they are not content that I tearme them passionate that blame others that I reprehende surmises that I call in question that which others affirme for certaine excusing in a manner the accused Others haue laboured to publish vnto the world that in my relation touching the title of the realme I haue shewed my selfe partiall for the Catholique king To such I can not say any thing but wish them to be aduised they accuse not the diuine prouidence as partiall which depriued of life twentie successors of that crowne all preceading the saide king But I woulde haue these men to tell me if in this historie where I coulde not alleage Bartoll nor Bald I haue omitted any one point of importance which hath beene alleaged by the pretendents and haue not set euery reason downe as their owne aduocats did plead it Let them consider if there be any thing omitted touching the representation of the Dutchesse Katherine of the transmission of Rainucius Farnese of the precedence of Phillibert duke of Sauoy in case that Henrie had out liued Philip of the election the people pretended of Antonie his grounds and his pretended legitimation and to conclude if there were anything defectiue of that which Queene Katherine of Medicis alleaged against the eleuen kings of that realme Now if all these reasons which I haue so largely set downe can not hinder the king of Spaine from being the eldest kinseman that Henrie left when he died a male and legitimate what faulte is there in me If men will not beleeue that Katherines prerogatiue by her father be of more vertue and efficacie then Philips owne right and that the imperfection deriued from his mother doth more preiudice the king then that of the Dutchesse which remaines in her owne person how can I helpe it It is most manifest that such onely as are partiall haue held me partiall in relating plainely this title with the rest without giuing mine owne iudgement and the rather for that they see such as are indifferent doe happily esteeme it better then the rest I may not be more tedious in this respect hoping it shall suffice for euerie man of a free iudgement to discerne mine innocencie from the malice or ignorance of mine aduersaries But moreouer I entreate them that know me to be a writer not accustomed to lie to consider that I haue written to Italians in the Italian toong who coulde not perfecty vnderstande the substance of this historie if I had giuen them lesse knowledge of men whom they knew not And to verifie this let a Portugall writer in Italy describe in his owne toong vnto his owne countrimen the tumults of any of our cities he shall well finde if he desire to be vnderstoode in Portugall whether
easily by the practise and industrie of another For Martin Gonzales de Camera his competitour hauing succeeded him in his offices with some other depending of the Iesuites whom the Cardinall sought to bring in they had no lesse conflict with their enimies then Peter had with his for that Aluaro de Castro fauorite to the king of a contrarie faction with some of his friendes desiring secretly to withdraw the Kings affection from Martin and his partie tooke occasion to effect it when as the King was at Cape Saint Vincent whether he went in Sommer to satisfie the desire he had to go to sea making him beleeue and it may be not without cause that Martin and the fathers as men ignorant in matters of State of the wealth of Princes had wasted the treasure of the Crowne and cut off the meanes for all such enterprizes as he might execute by their lawes made vpon the changes of money the which if they did not reuoke it were impossible to effect his glorious designes This was a deadly blowe yet did they adde one more of greater moment giuing the King to vnderstande being yoong and high minded that he was oppressed by them that they ruled in effect and he in shew and they passed on so farre that they caused a Secretarie of the chamber well fauoured of the King and a great talker presenting him one day with a commandement of small importance to signe to say vnto him that he might boldly subscribe it for that hee was king vntill he shoulde returne to Lisbone so as mingling sport with truth they drew this yoong Prince from the affection he bare to the ministers which had beene giuen him by the Queene and Cardinall and changed the doctrine wherein he had beene nourished But Peter D'Alcasoua reapt the whole fruite thereof for the King being estranged from his enimies and the lawes made by them reuoked Aluaro de Castro the author thereof died none of his faction remaining saue Emanuel Quaresinia who had the office which they call Dispaccio of great importance beeing Controwler of the Kings rewardes who hauing neither experience nor authoritie to maintaine himselfe long in this degree nor yet iudgement to contend with Alcasoua the said Peter laid holde of this occasion to recouer his former place And to effect it the more safely he married Lewes his eldest sonne with the daughter of Christopher de Tauora a great fauorite of Sebastians Being thus returned into fauour with the king he easily maintained it seconding his humours in making the meanes easie to recouer money and vnfolding all doubts for the execution of his enterprise by reason whereof he made him Chamberlaine or rather Veador de Hazenda a place of greater countenance then the other imploying him in most important affaires And although his cunning did somewhat assist the King in his determinations yet was there another occasion presented which made his hopes increase which was this Long time before there died in Affrick Mulei Mahamet Cheriffe he who had vnited the Kingdome of Feez Marroc and Turedant the which he had alwais possessed deuided with his brother Mulei Hamet It seemes that these whiles they liued quietly togither made a law that al the children that suruiued after their decease should succeed in the kingdome before any one of the nephewes should enioy the succession so as to the yongest vncle should succeed the eldest nephew yet after their decease although they left many children the greatest part thereof euen as it hapned vnto their fathers died by the sword or were strangled in prison for the iealousie of State by the commandemēt of Abdala one of the sonnes of Mahamet who succeeded his father raigned xvij yeres the most happie peaceable Prince that euer that countrey enioied This man although he were cruel yet did he refraine from murthering his three brethren it may be for that they were very children when he came to the succession but growing to more yeeres they fell to distrust him so as two of them fled to the Turke the thirde tooke his way by lande and went to liue amongst the Arabians And although the lawe had decreed that the next brother shoulde succeed to the Crowne yet Abdala resolued to sweare his eldest sonne Mahamet his successour which being performed sodainly this newe Prince practised against his vncles sending a Moore to Tremisenne to kill the eldest who was deteined by the Turkes the which he did effect wounding him with a dart in the Mezquita This act did greatly trouble the other brother Mulei Moluc yoong and of great hope who remaining at Algier demaunding succours in vaine from Philip King of Spaine by the meanes of Rodorike Alphonso Pimentel Earle of Benauent then Viceroy of Valencia he resolued to goe seeke it at Constantinople where he attended long with patience exclaiming against his kindred and not obtaining that which he demaunded till in the end hauing giuen an honorable testimonie of himselfe in the last sea fight at Nauarin betwixt the armies of the league and Turke and at the taking of Golette he obtained three thousand souldiers of the Turke for this conquest vpon certaine conditions that were not obserued With these forces and his Moores that followed him which wanted not in Affrick he entred his Nephewes kingdome for his brother was now dead and defeated three armies whereof the last which seemes woonderfull consisted of threescore thousand horse and ten thousand foote and tooke absolute possession of the Realmes liuing with great reputation both of the Moores and Christians Mulei Mahamet being in this manner expelled his countrey he fled to Pignon of Velay a fortresse which the Catholique king holdes in Affrick and from thence by the counsell as they say of a Renegado he sent his ambassadors to the said King letting him vnderstand of his disgrace and crauing aide to be restored to his estate Whereunto the Catholique King hauing made no answere conformable to the desires of the Moore being gone to Ceuta he did the like office with King Sebastian shewing vnto him that by this occasion he shoulde easilie make himselfe Emperour of Marocco The yoong Prince fedde with this vaine hope seemed nowe to haue a lawfull subiect to make warre whereon he resolued and to succour the Moore Mahamet He propounded this to his Counsell laboring to proue that it was both profitable and honorable whereunto although there were some of contrarie aduise laying before him that he was without heires that Christians shoulde rather imploy their armes against heretikes then Infidels that his forces alone were too feeble for so great an action strengthning their reasons with many examples notwithstanding as Princes blinded with their owne desires will not allow the mishaps and disgraces of an other issuing from their ill measured Counsell to serue them as examples of better aduise there was neither reason nor example could preuaile against the Kings opinion but fortified in his resolution by many who either for their owne
ignorant of the waies and passage of the riuers were either drowned or fell into their handes who made them slaues There were many drowned deceiued with the rising of the riuer ignorant of their former passage for whereas the riuers and particularly Mucazen doe ebbe and flowe like the Ocean by the course of the Moone filling it selfe with salt water when the armie passed they were almost dry but in their returne the Tide as they cōmonly say being full the riuers were greatly risen wherof the Portugals being ignorant and vnskilfull of the Ford fearefull and chased by the Moores they were swallowed vp so as of a great multitude of Christians which were in this battaile there escaped but one hundreth so well coulde the Barbarians execute their resolutions The King who in the beginning when as Molucs artillerie first plaied went through the armie in coach with Christopher de Tauora tooke his horse and as they say went couragiously toward the vanguard where remaining a while a looker on sending first one then another to commaund what he thought was necessarie he was lightly hurt with a shot in the right arme towarde the shoulder whereof making small account he went ordering thinges in all parts of the armie leauing the triangle of horse where his Standerd remained But for that he was yoong and depriued of the greatest treasure that Kings can enioy I meane a wise man neere him in whome he shoulde trust when he did see his men begin to breake and the Duke of Auero to go forward and retyre backe he came furiously with certaine Gentlemen that were about him to fight among the souldiers encouraging his men valiantly by the effects but with fewe words Those that behelde him fight woondered at his courage for although that they slewe three horse vnder him without any whit daunting him yet was he neuer wearie to charge strike and succour all partes of the armie where was greatest daunger But being but a man aided by fewe he cannot resist the enimies furie nor make his friends partakers of his valour Manie of the Nobilitie which remained yet on horsebacke seeing the armie in route sought the King in all parts to helpe to saue him but the Standard which was carried before him as a marke to knowe him was now taken and the bearer slaine and being deceiued with another somewhat like vnto it which Edward de Meneses carried they followed the one in steade of the other so as the King remained as a man lost with some of his most trustie seruants about him and one Renegado who laboured to saue him Hauing in vaine sought to fly being aduised to yeeld with his armes he would by no means agree vnto it One amongst them holding vpon the point of his sworde a white napkin in signe of peace went towards the Moores as an Embassadour for the rest to yeelde but they either barbarous or wrathfull tooke the messenger prisoner and charged the rest who being fewe in number wearied without courage they were all slaine Some say there grew a controuersie amongst them about the Kings owne person and for that occasion they slew him They sent after to secke his bodie and by a notable example of the inconstancie of this world they carried it naked vpon a saddle pommell into the roiall tent of Moluc where letting it fall to the ground it was carefully viewed by the Nobilitie that was there present a publike certificate made that it was he keeping it aftewardes at Alcazer-Quiuer Such was the death of this vnfortunate King wherein chaunced all things that might make him lamentable his yoong age the expectation of his vertues the want of succession his violent death and the imprisonment of his bodie He was indued with excellent qualities but nothing profitable vnto him wanting by reason of his vnripe yeeres that predominante vertue of our actions For all his resolutions that did guide him to so rash an end were grounded vpon his magnanimitie zeale to religion liberalitie thirst of militarie glorie of the disposition of his body and the vigour of his courage It seemes that we may well saie of this vnfortunate yoong Prince that which was sometimes spoken of Alexander the Great That Nature had giuen him vertue and Fortune vices For in truth Sebastian had his vertues of nature and his vices from his education Mulei Mahamet escaped his enimies hands but his too great haste to passe Mucazen and to recouer Arzille was the cause he was drowned in his passage Those whome idlenes had made curious did note the diuersitie of these Princes deathes for being all lost in one battaile within the space of sixe houres the one died of his naturall death the second by the sword the thirde was smothered in the water When as Hamet see the battaile wonne he ranne towardes his brother thinking to finde him aliue and to reioice with him but being come to his litter they enformed him of his death And although Moluc had left one sonne yet did they salute Hamet as their King running through their campe with ensignes proclaiming of his name according to their custome And for that according to the conformitie of the grandfathers will the eldest as it is saide of the nephewes should succeede therefore Hamet was sworne Prince The Moores fell to spoile and take prisoners making a very rich bootie by reason of many precious things the Portugals had brought with them into the campe but especially for the prisoners which were in great number and of great importance for their wealth and nobilitie besides that the Moores make more account of one Portugall prisoner then of any other nation for that being delicate and not able to suffer they redeeme thēselues for great sums as these gentlemen did afterwards who by an example of small patience set themselues at sixe thousand duckats a peece and more This day was famous by the death of three Kings that is Sebastian Mulei Moluc and Mulei Mahamet by the imprisonment of all the Nobilitie of a Realme of so many souldiers a thing seldome or neuer hapned and also for the importance of Sebastians death in the other affaires of the worlde The number of the dead was not so great as of the prisoners but for that the truth is hard to be verified it hath bred diuers opinions in the Portugals Some haue reported that the enimies were infinite in number others haue bin more moderate yet haue they augmēted this point Notwithstanding there died three thousand Moores and as many Christians or more amongst the which were some men of account For besides the Captaines of the strangers and the Duke of Auero there was slaine Alphonso of Portugall Earle of Vimiosa Lewes Coutigno Earle of Rodondo Vasco de Gama Earle of Vidiguera Alphonso of Norogna Earle of Mira Iohn Lobo Baron of Aluito Aluara of Melo sonne to the Marques of Ferrara Rhoderick of Melo eldest sonne to the Earle of Tentuguel Iamie
thought good to doe the like office to this citie hauing regard vnto the fidelitie whereof it hath alwaies made profession being the chiefe of these Realmes assuring you therwithall that he that shall inherite is no forreine king but a naturall borne as I haue saide before seeing that I am nephew and sonne to your naturall Princes issued of the same bloude and will be alwaies a father to euerie one of you as you shall finde when it shall please God But at this time I will entreate you that with your wisedome and great experience you woulde consider and note wherein I may honour and fauour you not onely to conserue your liberties and priuiledges both ingenerall and particular desiring that all other cities of the Realme shoulde vnderstande the same whereof I praie you to giue them notice being requisite that euerie one shoulde know the loue and affection which I beare to all and it shall be iust that in knowing it you conforme your selfe to that which is the will of God whose iudgements and determinations no man may resist but we ought to beleeue that what he determines is for the best So as trusting that both this citie and the rest when time shall require will doe that whereunto they are bound I haue nothing to say but that besides the feeling which I haue had of miseries past I haue beene in particular grieued for the losse of so great numbers of the Nobilitie and Commons of this Realme whereof that battaile was the cause And therefore I require you to aduise what I may do for those that remaine yet slaues and write vnto me for although I both haue and daily had that care I haue thought fit and couenient yet shall I be glad to vnderstande your aduise that all thinges conuenient might bee performed for their deliuerie and rest assured that whatsoeuer shall concerne you I will deale in it with the loue of a father as you shall know more particularlie by the effects when as occasion shall serue to make triall thereof the which you shall vnderstande by Christopher de Mora to whom I referre you The Catholique king sent this Letter by the saide Mora to be deliuered to the Magistrate of the Chamber who going for that intent presented it vnto them But being troubled they doubted that in receiuing thereof they shoulde offende against the Crowne so as refusing it they willed him to take it with him and deliuer it to the King the which Mora denying it remained still with them vnopened And least they shoulde be ignorant of the contents he drewe a copie out of his bosome and read it vnto them publikely dispersing sundrie copies throughout the citie The orignall was by the Vereadures carried to the king This did smally further Philips affaires but rather hinder him and was by the wisest both of Spaine and Portugall and also by some of the Kings Counsell helde as a remedie not fitting the Portugals humour who generally hating the Castillians being newe and rude in this matter it was not probable they shoulde yeelde vpon a simple Letter At this time there came intelligence that he who had the charge of Embassadour of Portugall was not onely liuing in Alcazerquiuir although sore hurt but that the Cheriffe had released him was comming with the bodie of King Sebastian to Ceuta and from thence within fewe daies being at Christmas in the yeere 1578 they vnderstoode he was arriued at Ciuill his comming was by the best acquainted with the affaires of Portugall held verie profitable for returning to his charge he seemed more sufficient then anie other to treate of so weightie a cause being indued besides his good iudgement with many other good parts necessarie for the mannaging of such a busines For besides that he had good experience of King Henrie his disposition and the humour of the Portugals he was verie pleasing vnto them it may be for that he was of the house of Sylua who being verie noble in Portugall passed into Castill during the controuersies betwixt king Iohn the first and the master of the Auis and being borne of a Portugall mother they helde him for their countreyman Besides that with the fauour of King Sebastian he was married in Portugall with Phillippa de Silua heire to Aluaro de Silua Earle of Portalegra Lord Steward of the Kings house and one of the principall Noblemen of the Realme But whilest that euerie man expected his present departure from Ciuill to Portugall the King called him to Court saying that he woulde first instruct him by mouth of his intentions and of the present occurrents In the meane time the Duke of Ossuna arriued within the Realme who seeming to be sent onely to performe complements with the king he was lodged and roially entertained at the charge of the Court where hauing deliuered his simple legation he went to Settuuall to visite Magdalen Girone his sister widow to George d' Alencastro Duke of Auero but hee returned sodainly making shewe he had newe commission to treate of the succession wherewith king Henrie was greatly discontented being vnwilling to haue the presence of a personage so qualified on the behalfe of Philip as it were a witnes of his actions the which did likewise displease all the Portugals the rather for that with Mora he began to solicite the King to declare Philip successour of the Realme shewing vnto him formerly by many reasons that his title was iust Nowe did King Henrie at the great intreatie of his subiects resolue to set the best order he could touching the question of succession and to content them For this cause remaining greatly in suspence hauing consulted the matter with fewe but of his greatest fauorites they concluded after much counsell infinite opinions and many disputations that it was not conuenient at that time to declare any one Prince The reason was that the neerest heire vnto the Realme they supposed to be the Catholique King whom they hated most and therefore sought by all meanes possible to flie his commād thinking nothing more fit to effect it then to protract the nomination of the Prince not meaning to specifie any For naming any other they shoulde procure his indignation against them and giue him occasion or his heires that should succeed him to attempt an action better grounded whereas by delaying it there should remaine vnto them at the least this weake hope that the Catholique king although yoonger yet mortall might die before olde King Henry which hapning they shoulde be freed from the Castillians and then shoulde succeed as it is said the Duke of Sauoy of whom they had no such feare but woulde more willingly yeeld to his subiection The King supposed that Katherine Dutches of Bragance preceaded all other pretendents except the Catholique King aided as it may be by his owne naturall inclination he conuerted all his thoughts in her fauour and if it were possible to giue her the crowne writing to the vniuersitie
as eldest sonne to the Duke of Bragance and of Katherine chiefe pretendent to the Realme vntill the cause of the succession were decided so as the sports before shewed vnto the saide Duke in courtesie were now redoubled for this other intent detayning him expresly vntill he might receiue answere from the King so as shewing him first one place and then another this yoong Prince was taken vnawares But the Duke of Medina hauing staied certaine carriages vnder colour to shew him some feastes he then conceiued the cause of his detaining and wrote foorthwith vnto his father in Portugall that he should not then expect him and that his detention should not any way preiudice the rights of the Realme preferring iustice before his owne life This letter being come into Portugall was by the Duke his father sent vnto the assembly of the States shewing on the one side a griefe for the detayning of his sonne and on the other side a contentment that in so yong an age he was so great a louer of his countries good offering if need were to sacrifice him for the seruice of the Realme Yet this feare of the Dukes continued not long for hauing written to his son that he should labour to come away or they should make declaration of his staie he was suffered freelie to depart for so the King had commaunded Some say that Philip had long before this consideration hauing meanes to stay him not onely in Spaine but also in Affrique but fearing to incense the Portugals and desirous to make the Duke his friend he had procured his release in Affrick and suffered him safely to depart from Andoluzia into Portugall yet the said Duke of Barcellos or his father by whose commaundement he was directed was noted of some ingratitude for being inuited by Philip to passe by his court as desirous to see him the iealousie of the State of these Realmes preuayled so much that he did not satisfie his desire but tooke his direct way to Villauizosa fearing perhaps a new detention These things passed in Portugall when as in Castill the Catholique King beeing aduertised by his Agents of the death of King Henrie of the small affection the Portugals bare vnto him of the liuely pretention of Authonie and other pretendents and to what estate the matter was brought was greatly discontented seeming he should be forced to take armes for the obtaining of the conclusion of his interest But desirous to satisfie his conscience in the effecting thereof he had formerly the aduise of Diego de Chiaues of the order of preaching Fryers being his confessor and of some other principall Diuines of that order and yet not well satisfied with their opinions least he should seeme onely to follow the aduise of the dominical Fryers he desired likewise to treat with other orders of religious persons and to that intent he sent one to acquaint the chiefe Deuines in Spaine with the cause and to demaund their aduise This care perfourmed not only with the chiefe prelates and readers in Diuinitie but with the Iesuits and the Fryers of Saint Francis all agreede that the Kings right being so apparant he was not bound to represent it otherwise then out of iudgement to King Henrie as he had done and to make his councell and the rest of the Realme of Portugall capable thereof such as with sinceritie of hart would vnderstand the truth and by the mildest meanes procure as he had done that Henry should declare him successor if these diligent proceedings were not sufficient to perswade the King and the Realme that then Philip had sufficiently iustified his cause and that he might assure himselfe by armes without thrusting the succession which was due vnto him into euident perill his person being as it is saide soueraigne exempt and free from all reprehension and onely bound to iustifie his right before God and to signifie it to the King and the Realme saying that this point was now without all doubt since the death of Henrie no man liuing that could pretend any interest in the decision of the cause It appertained not to the Pope being a matter wholy temporall nor agreeing with the circumstances which may giue him any right ouer temporall matters and lesse to the Emperour beeing no way acknowledged by the Realmes of Castill and Portugall and much lesse to certaine Iudges named by Henrie for besides that he could not choose any after his death they were now become the materiall partie and the thing it selfe whereon they pleaded Besides that all the Realme was become insufficient when as making themselues a partie they pretended power to choose a Prince although all this ceased yet would they prooue that no Portugall but was suspect in this cause to be excepted against for the manifest hatred they bare to the Castillian nation They found likewise that he was not bound to submit himselfe to any compremise for besides the difficultie and impossibilitie to finde a trustie person in so dangerous and iealous a cause as this is the bond of compremise is not incident but in a matter of doubt and the definition of doubt is when as the aduocate and Doctors conclude not for any partie finding equiualent reasons for either but in this all being of one agreement the cause is not doubtfull nor to be compremitted The King being resolued to take armes hauing no possession deliuered vnto him prouided for it for this cause he writ to the gouernors to the three estates and to the fiue principall cities to all of one subiect but in diuerse formes after he had lamented the death of his vncle he required them to receaue and sweare him King as King Henry had resolued and declared him to be he thanked the nobility and clergie for their good affection showne when as Henrie had said that the succession appertained vnto him he made offer to all and threatned cunningly he sent to the gouernors a copie of the priuiledges which King Henry had required in the behalfe of the Realme offering to graunt them more amplie then they had bene demaunded protesting if they would not obey to vse force But all these things were receiued and reiected according to the humors of men The gouernors made aunswere they could not resolue vntill the returne of their Ambassadours which they had sent vnto them At this time there was readie at sea as well in Spaine as in Italie about threescore gallies whereof Aluaro de Bassan Marques of Saint Croix was generall the which should saile towards Portugall as the occasion of the time should serue there was yet no generall named for this enterprise and euerie man greedilie expected who should be chosen for that few were thought fit for so great a burthen The Duke of Alua was generallie held most sufficient yet few beleeued that the King would willingly free him from prison the Marques of Mondegiar who was returned from the gouernment of Naples affected this charge many beleeued
That his Maiestie shall conformably admitte Portugals to the offices of his house according to the custome of Burgundie without any difference betwixt them the Castillians and his subiects of other nations That the Queene shall likewise entertaine into her seruice Noblemen and the chiefe Ladies of Portugall whom she shall fauour and recompence marrying them in Portugall or in Castill That for the good of the people and generally of these realmes the encrease of traffique and the good correspondencie with those of Castill his Maiestie shall be pleased to open the barred hauens on both parties that the marchandize may passe freely as it hath formerly done before the impositions of such customes as are nowe paide That he woulde commaund that all curtesies possible may be done for the bringing in corne into Castill for the prouision of these realmes That he shall commaund to be deliuered three hundred thousand duckats to be imploied for these causes following First sixescore thousand for the redemption of captiues at the disposition of the house of Pittie at Lisbone the one halfe to be imploied for the redeeming of poore gentlemen and the other halfe for ordinary persons all Portugals one hundreth and fiftie thousand to make the ground of a stocke to be lent without interest whereas neede shall require as it shall be disposed by the magistrate of the chamber of Lisbone and the thirtie thousand remaining to cure the infirmitie that now raignes which shall be distributed by order from the Archbishop and chamber of Lisbone They saide likewise that touching the prouision which shall be made for armies sent to the Indies the defence of the realme the punishment of pirats and defence of the frontiers of Affricke his Maiestie shall take such resolution as shall be conuenient within these realmes although it be with the helpe of his other countries and the great expence of his roiall treasure That in recompence of the loue which the naturall borne of these realmes do beare vnto their princes it would please the King to make his ordinarie abode there And although the gouernment of his other realmes which God hath subiected vnto him hinder the effect of this his desire notwithstanding he promiseth to make the most aboad he can in this realme and hauing no cause of hinderance he will leaue the Prince in his place that being brought vp amongst the Portugals he may knowe esteeme and cherish them as his Maiestie doth This role was published throughout all the principall cities of the realmes by the ministers of the Catholique king adding thereunto that if the Portugals desired more the king would grant them anything supposing that as Christians they would require nothing but iust and godly things inferring it may be secretly that they would not yeeld to points of the Inquisition and of iustice THE FIFTH BOOKE The Contents of the fifth Booke The fortification of the Driehead the confusion of matters within the Realme and of the Gouernours The Catholique Kings answere to the Ambassadours of Portugall his expedition in the Vniuersitie of Alcala touching his entrie into the Realme The contrarietie of opinions whether the King should march with his armie in person or not The recouerie of Eluas and of Olliuenza The creating of Antonie for King The Gouernours flight The embassage of the Duke of Bragance to King Philip and his answere The taking of Villauizosa The entrie of the Armie into Portugall The yeelding vp of Stremos THe Portugals did not generally accept the offers made by the Catholique King for although three of the Gouernours the Nobilitie and the Cleargie did in their harts like of them yet the thirde estate did blame them saying it was a rowle of deceipts and a discouerie of Philips small force And that such as had framed these cōditions were more inclined to their owne priuate profit then the good of the realme desiring still the cause might be ended by iustice The Gouernours therefore stil continue the preparation for defence and had secretly sent Francis Barretto into Fraunce to let the Christian King vnderstand their right and the wrong the Catholique King did them seeking to possesse the Realme by force and to demaund the succour of six thousand foote giuing commission to Barretto to goe from thence to Rome to beseech the Pope to mediate with the King a suspension of armes and to binde himselfe to iudgement They sent Elizee of Portugall into Germanie to satisfie the Emperor and other princes touching their defence with manie iustifications such force had their desire to choose a king after their owne humour that seeking succours from forreine princes it was the greatest care they vsed to shake off Philips yoke for that the which would seeme incredible euen in the life of king Henrie some gentlemen that were prisoners in Affrick had required aide of victuals and men from the Cheriffe although there were no likelihood he should graunt it seeing that besides the diuersitie of lawes there was no amitie nor other respect of state whatsoeuer could binde him vnto it For although the vnion of these Realmes vnder Philip discontented him yet being wise and of iudgement it was not likely he should discouer himselfe against so mightie a neighbour nor trust to the weake Portugals being offended and as a man may say hauing their hands yet died with their bloud They proceeded slowly with the preparation of their armies and fortifications both for want of money and for the often disagreement of their ministers And Lewes Caesar chiefe purueior enclined to Philip cared not greatly to hasten the affaires yea expresly sometimes with one let sometimes with an other delaied them so as they onely repaired the fortresses vpon the mouth of the riuer of Tagus and made new rampiers in places where they might descend putting greater garrisons in all places then was accustomed and throughout all the citie of Lisbone they began to build many platformes to plant artillerie for the defence of the sea making readie their gallions and such other ships as they had Yet Emanuel of Portugall either not well satisfied with these fortifications or being naturally enclined to seeme to haue more knowlegde then the rest resolued against the opinion of many well skilled in that acte to builde a forte in the midst of the riuer at the mouth thereof for that being large in that place ships should not passe but within shotte of their artillerie it seemed vnto him that he had good meanes to effect it for that neere to the place whereas it runs into the sea there riseth a small flat hill of Sand but little discouered of the waters the which they call Cabesasecca the which deuides the nauigation or entrie thereof into two parts the one lying betwixt the Iland and the left shoare hauing but a shallow chanell is not nauigable but at a full sea and with small vessels but the other which lies betwixt the Iland and the banks on the right hand is likewise deuided into
secular power could not iudge him being taken in the Church came running likewise to the place of execution to succour him And had not Damain D' Aguiar a seuere and resolute officer had the charge thereof who suddenly put this sentence in execution there was so great a concourse of people crying and of religious men with their crosses and excommunications that the offender had been easily rescued These disorders displeased the louers of religion and quietnes who blaming somewhat the Friers for not suffering their Prouinciall quietly to ende the terme of his charge yet did they attribute more fault vnto the gouernours for suffering in such a season so publike and rigorous an execution against the religious and chiefly vpon a Monasterie seated vpon the banks of Tagus saying that if for no other reason yet shoulde they haue forborne in respect that many English and French ships anchored there whose men infected with heresie would reioyce to see the religious in the hands of Sergeants The death of Pina was held for an indiscreet and cruell resolution of Anthony for being but a matter of small moment to be reuenged by so foule an example vpon an olde man alawyer and of meane condition he had thrust himselfe into an exigent either to be held vnthankfull in suffering of Soarez to die as he did or else to doe violence vnto iustice But for that princes hate the executioners of their follies for in their life doth liue the remembrance of their errors euen so the Prior hated this man after the offence committed neither did he labour to saue him although his death made him contemptible to the people The said prior was thē at Almerin laboring the cause of his legitimation solliciting the iudges to decide the same who excused themselues that they could not do it obseruing the lawes of the realme if he retired not himselfe 25. miles from the Court that in so doing they would looke into the cause But for that the Duke of Bragance and the Ambassadors of other princes were there present he would not depart for this reason the matter surceased at this time Emanuel of Portugall who remained at Belem laboured ambitiously that Iohn Teglio one of the gouernours his brother in lawe conformable to himself in opinion principally in the exclusion of Philip should be sent to Belem with authoritie from the other gouernours to prouide by his presence for all things necessarie seeming a matter hard to effect at Almeryn The other gouernours desirous to be rid of his companie and not daring to contradict any thing that seemed to concerne the defence gaue him authoritie and suffered him to goe to Belem There he consulted with Emanuel and receiuing with some difficultie the money borrowed of the merchants he resolued for the gathering together of a greater summe to sell the iewels of the Crowne the which were there and therefore causing them to be brought foorth he dealt with some merchants vpon the price The Duke of Ossuna was then returned into Castill leauing Mora in Portugall with the other Ambassadours that were Lawyers who vnderstanding the iewels were vpon sale the saide Mora in the name of the Catholique King required the said gouernours not to sell them as appertaining to the King protesting both against them and the buiers that they should be bounde to restore the price at their owne charge so as they found not any that woulde deale with them Philip being at Merrida as it was saide hauing by a long protestation required the gouernors to deliuer him the possession of the Realme The Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo returned the second time making the like proposition to the King as they had done at Guadalupa offering to put the cause to arbitrement and complaining he had giuen them too short a time to resolue But Philip being now well resolued what he would doe and infourmed of the aide the Portugals demaunded from other princes he made them the like answere as before Many iudged the proposition of those Ambassadours to be ill grounded saying it was an vnseemely thing to require the King to make himselfe subiect to the iudgement of nominated iudges seeing that King Henry himselfe who with more appearance of reason might pretend to be lawfull iudge in this cause did neuer require the King to acknowledge him for iudge neither did he euer declare him contumax in the cause debated with the pretendents for not acknowledging him The Catholique King came to Badagios the 20. of May where the Portugall Ambassadours laboured to perswade him making suite that before the taking of armes he should admit an assemblie to the estates but they were no more admitted to audience the king resolued to send his answere vnto the gouernors and to publish it throughout the whole realme in the name of his Councell the which he did as followeth That experience had taught that by two examples of the estates last held at Lisbone and at Almerin they wrought no good effect in fauour of the apparant right of his Maiestie but in the one and the other they had still laboured to trouble it seeking lets and delaies which might haue bred the losse thereof and therefore it seemed a treble error to attend againe a new assemblie of these estates That they haue no reason to complaine that his Maiestie had giuen them too short a time to resolue accounting from the day of the receipt of his letters the xiij of March by the which he required them to sweare him saying they made no good computation if they supposed he were dispossessed of the realme but from the time that he demaunded it appertaining vnto him from the hower of King Henries death but that his Maiestie had expressely contained himselfe a moneth and a halfe without making of any motion to the ende they should not loose the thanks by calling him to the succession whom God had called and might haue leisure amongst themselues to make cleere this bond by which they were tied and giue satisfaction making the pretendents capable of reason to the ende they should not hinder the publike quiet and that they might be intercessors for them and for the realme which course the king himselfe had taught them That their excuse might be taken in two senses saying they coulde not receiue his Maiestie but in a generall assemblie of estates their meaning is either that they cannot doe it by right or that they may not doe it for that they dare not In the first case they are deceiued for there needes no assemblie of estates when a king makes his entrie vnto the realme although he succeede not to his father but to his kinseman neither were they necessarie when as Henry succeeded to his nephew In the other case that they cannot doe it because they dare not the excuse is good but not to binde the king neither in iustice nor conscience to desist from taking the possession of his goods if the delaies make the
binde such as had taken it so coulde it not excuse them from the bonde by the which they were tied to receiue him for King and that the allegations of the pretendents and their offer to stand to iudgement did not binde the King to acknowledge for iudge such as were not The Catholique King hauing viewed these reasons resolued to stay no longer frō taking possession of the Realme and therefore he caused his whole Armie to march to Cantigliana three miles from Badagios there to passe into Portugall where hee himselfe with the Queene woulde see it lodged for which effect he commaunded a scaffold to be made in open field where being mounted he set downe all the orders directed by the old Duke of Alua in the habit of a yoong souldier And although it seemed the King had resolued to stay at Badagios yet this matter was disputed amongst the curious with diuers reasons and besides the generall opnions of some who did maintaine that Kings ought to be personall in their enterprises they did alleage some other speciall reasons which did binde the king to goe with his armie They distinguished three qualities incident to the enterprise whereby the King shoulde go in person that is the importance of the pretention the hope of happie successe and the difficultie to execute it by a minister shewing that all three did concurre heerein seeing it was a question for a realme of importance rich and bordering vpon his other countries head of many rich estates and then in the way of greatnes That the hope of victorie was in all humaine consideration certaine both in regard of his iustice and force as also for the weakenes of his aduersaries That the difficulty to vndertake it by a minister was great and proper in that case the King not entering into Portugall to subdue cities but to winne their harts not playing the part of a conquerour but of lawfull Prince who entreth with necessarie forces to suppresse the ordinarie alterations of realmes newly gotten as he had protested to the Gouernors and estates of the realme that such offices for so important causes coulde not be committed but to the person of the eldest Prince being a commission vnfit for any childe or nephew much lesse for a captaine Generall being a Castillian of nation most imperious both by nature and for the great and important affaires which he had mannaged besides being for his owne particular hatefull to the Portugals They saide it was most certaine if the King entred the realme in person of friends he shoulde make faithfull subiects of newters friends and of enimies newters where as contrariwise the Duke woulde make his friendes newters his newters enimies and his enimies obstinate rebels With these reasons and others such as iudged the Kings presence necessarie in the enterprise fortified their opinions On the otherside it was saide that when the resolutions of the one side haue so great difficultie as they draw neere to impossibilities there is no disputing what is conuenient but of force they must obey necessitie that the question of the Kings entring into Portugall was of this nature seeing that by diuers accidents the strength of the armie was so weakened that it was both in quantitie and qualitie most different from that which had beene set downe for there wanted aboue sixe thousand souldiers of them which had been leuied the number of the Spaniards which came out of Italy was greatly diminished and there wanted halfe of those that were new raised and the bands that came from the lowe Countries could not arriue in time If these which were the strēgth of the armie had beene ioyned and the number appointed in the beginning assembled the King might wel haue perfourmed the enterprise in person for then had he made the way open for the succours of men munition from the frontiers vnto Settuual leauing garrisons in al places to receiue conduct them But wanting horse and foote necessarie for the action there was no other remedie but to runne the fortune of two great daungers The one was to conduct all the victuals with the armie which would cause a new and monstrous forme of Campe wanting horsemen to couer their carriages The other of no lesse importance was that the life of these men depended vpon the inconstancie of the sea and winde which shoulde conduct the armie from Andelouzia to Settuuall with the other victuals and munition to serue the want of those whom they transported And although the Duke contented himselfe with the number of his soldiers he did it trusting to his owne dexteritie and the ignorance of his enimies And if he hoped to surmount these dangers he grounded his opinion vpon the Portugals vnskilfulnes to preuent him entertaining him behinde with continuall skirmishes to conuoy him the which if they could effect were dangerous for there by they should force him to turne backe and fight with disaduantage of the place where they might be defeated or staied from passing the armie ouer the riuer of Tagus the which were to put a battaile in compremise for the humours which might daily arise besides there were some difficultie to ioine the two parts of the armie the one being at sea the other at land vneasie to ioine thē at a limited time the delay of 20. daies would hinder the effect for a yeeres imploiment so as they concluded that neither by reason of war nor of state the King ought to hazard his person in this enterprise for that neither industrie nor fortune be sufficient warrants for the safety of Princes who ought not to ground their resolutions vpon an others weakenes but vpon their owne proper forces Whilest that matters in Castill stoode on these termes and that the Portugals grew daily more arrogant and confused it was apparant with small insight how this realme ranne headlong into ruine For al being confounded with vanitie no man knew what he would do no man was resolute what he shoulde execute and if any were yet blinded they knewe not what course to take The Gouernours being at Settuuall assembled the estates being amazed to vnderstand the Duke of Alua was in fielde resolute to inuade the realme presently On the otherside that Anthony was at Saint Arem incensing the Deputies that they shoulde not go to the Estates practising the disorder which hapned after The Duke of Bragance pressed them shewing his griefes in publike it may be for not proceeding according to his humour The Embassadors of the Catholique King gaue them no time to breath Iohn Teglio was at Lisbone preparing for defence with whom they had no good intelligence They desired to content all men yet feared the peoples furie they laboured much and prouided for nothing The cities cried for armes to defend themselues or to haue permission to yeeld they answered in generall tearmes without any effect they receiued letters from the Duke of Alua who accused them of crueltie saying they
moreouer that he was much amazed to heare him confesse with his owne mouth that they had daily practised with Anthony that they treated with a rebell who had committed so horrible a crime aduising him in signe of loue heereafter to abstaine from all such treaties so contrarie to that fidelitie whereunto they were bounde and so vnwoorthie of their authoritie and reputation shewing likewise that he marueiled they woulde suffer themselues to be informed from the Deputies who promised to cause Anthony to forsake the title of a king which he hath vsurped as if it were an offence capable of repentaunce whereas they shoulde well vnderstand that they be ordinary practises and discourses of rebels to deceiue them as they had formerly done And whereas the Deputies call it an accord or vnion for the defence let them take heede that it prooue not a league and a conspiracie framed to make him partaker with Anthony his offence from the which God had yet preserued him He concluded that he would alwaies giue a gentle audience to that which shoulde be propounded on his behalfe with intention to doe him all the grace and fauor possible in his demaunds This answere being receiued the Duke sent certaine gentlemen to treat an agreement with the king the which continued long making vnseasonable demaundes on the Dukes behalfe Notwithstanding the King desiring that before they proceeded further he shoulde acknowledge and sweare him for his Lorde The matter remained in suspence with small content to the Duke who found not onely the hope of his Iustice to fall out vaine but likewise not to be fully reconciled to the king who tooke possession of his countries hauing alreadie lost Villauizosa one of his chiefe places and of great importance where hee made his aboad although he had well fortified it The which hapned presently after the reduction of Eluas by the meanes of a Castillian whom he had left within the castell either trusting in him or neglecting of it This man hauing intelligence with captaine Cisneros who was in the Dukes campe treated to deliuer vnto him in the night one of the gates of the castell the which descends into the ditch thereby secretly to bring in the kings forces the which he did effect The night appointed for this enterprise being come the Duke commanded Sanches d'Auila to go with the soldiers he had about Eluas and take possession of the fortresse who hauing taken their Harquebusiers behinde them marched so that night that in the morning they came to Villauizosa and approching the gate that was promised them they founde that although it were open yet coulde they not enter for that being farre from the ground the ladder which they had brought was too shorte and coulde not reach vnto it so as in dispaire to put it in execution the day growing neere they were readie to returne fearing to be discouered But as many times thinges are fitted to the violent course of fortune the Castillians founde within the castell ditch an other ladder which the soldiers within the forte had by chance left there the which bounde to that they brought reached vnto the gate so as all the soldiers entred the castell without being discouered hauing neither guard nor centinell but were all laide to sleepe hauing a mightie armie of enimies within tenne miles of them so as in this manner the Duke of Bragance lost the best and strongest furnished place he had Many were then of opinion the King shoulde not go in person with the armie for although some helde it was necessarie he should goe alleaging the former reasons yet such as helde the contrarie opinion added vnto their reasons that throughout all the way vnto Lisbone and in the citie it selfe they died most violently of the plague although the aire did not seeme corrupted that it was not conuenient to hazard the life of a Prince who was a pillar of the Church and Lord of so many Realmes That they might answere vnto the reasons of conueniencie which was spoken against this opinion that it was like vnto all other humane things which haue two reasons for waighing the one it importes much and regarding the other they seeme light The importance of the enterprise is verie great considering the valour of the realme and his interest but if you consider that they oppose against the person of so mightie a king that of Anthony a rebell who doth scarse deserue the name of a tirant and that with the Duke of Alua and so many Noblemen Italians and Spaniards you compare the Count of Vimioso yoong without experience and all the rest of their traine and that against so valiant soldiers of all nations there come peasants gathered togither from the villages about Lisbone and the slaues of Ethiopia you may easily iudge the great indignitie the king shoulde suffer being present in this expedition They alleaged the like reason against the hope of good successe for although it seemed a matter easilie to be effected considering the qualitie of the enimies yet regarding the difficulties alleaged the matter was in suspence remembring the examples of King Iohn the first of Castill Alphonse the fifth of Portugall either of them entring at diuers times with an armie into other countries and both returned flying and broken As for the sweete content it seemed the Kings entrie should bring and contrariwise the sharpenes of the Duke of Alua they saide it was well considered yet the King remaining at Eluas or in any other place vpon the frontiers hee shoulde giue a generall content This opinion seeming the better and with most grounde not onely pleased the King but bred such an impression in the mindes of many that it passed the limits for that the cōsiderations of safety are limited with feare so as they began to apprehend too much saying the king was not sure at Badagios and that he shoulde retire himselfe to Ciuill vnder colour to dispatch away the armie seeing it had already entred the realme for the Duke marching from the frontier the King shoulde lie open to all attempts of the Portugals who might make their courses euen vnto the walles of the citie That Anthony seeking to make this diuersion he might easilie effect it with so great force as the king shoulde be constrained to retire himselfe with small authoritie and recall his armie although it were about the wals of Lisbone yet woulde not the king by any meanes heare speake thereof but perswaded such as were of that opinion that for a worlde no for his owne life he woulde not retire a foote backe but was resolued to staie in Portugall in some place of the frontiers which shoulde be thought most conuenient and for that effect reteined certaine troupes for his guard The Duke of Alua who had assembled his armie at Cantigliana passed the 27. day of Iune by the kings commandement the small of Caya which diuides the two realmes entring into Portugall with great quantitie of munition
Catholique king vpon the frontiers where being better aduised they returned into the realme putting themselues in Castromarin with great discontentment There they made a decree repeating the deedes of Anthony from the time of king Henry vnto that day confirming the sentences which the said Henry had pronounced against him calling him rebell and troubler of the publique quiet They declared giuing testimonie of the intention of King Henry that king Philip was the true succussor They commaunded all cities places Noblemen and ministers of iustice to obey him resigning all their authoritie vnto him And although it seemed that all Iustice was now reduced to armes and that the King had no neede of this decree yet was it of great importance both to iustifie his cause with the people as also for that it made many cities to yeeld But Anthony made no reckoning of this sentence preparing for defence vpon the right side of the riuer of Tagus hee had yet no other nation but Portugals and such as he coulde gather togither where with he could not frame a campe vpon any necessitie for that the peasants and the people which were not entertained for the warre coulde not abandon their trades to goe to fielde and therefore he desired to haue mercenarie soldiers and finding that Frauncis Baretto staied long to bring any from Fraunce he dispatched Peter Dora then Consul of the French in that realme into Fraunce giuing him money to leuie two thousand men he named Diego de Meneses his Lieutenant generall and gaue the charge of his armie at sea to George de Meneses He vnderstoode well the course of the Catholique armie but trusting as well in the people as to the passage of the riuer he seemed to be well able to defend himselfe Hee grewe doubtfull being ill aduertised that whilest the Duke marched by small iourneies towardes Settuuall seeming to go thither he should take the way to Saint Arem as some would suppose there to passe the riuer of Tagus with more ease being narrow and after to march by land against Lisbone without regard of smaller towns Hauing therefore grounded a great part of his hopes vpon the defence of the passage of the riuer being amazed with this newes he sent to furnish it with men and armes But vnderstanding afterwards that the Duke was in truth approched to Settuual that he had taken Alcazar which is neere vnto it he called back the men which he had sent to Saint Arem and with some others which hee had forceablie gathered togither he sent them to Settuual forcing the Gentlemen one after an other and all in generall to go thither sometimes with punishments sometimes with entreaties and sometimes with promises of exemptions and priuiledges But for all this no man went willingly and such as were forced complained greatly The Nobilitie was small in number and such as were there nothing resolute the people easie to change vpon euery light occasion were slothful hauing conceiued an opinion that it was not lawfull to fight against Christians so as some fled some hidde themselues and some complained The kings ministers being newe men ill affected and not fashioned to commaund as those which had the reines at libertie did tyrannize with absolute authoritie forcing al men with an vnaccustomed rigor to fight against their wils At that time they did tollerate within the citie infinite disorders and thefts to draw money from the marchants they imprisoned some which woulde not presently paie that which was demaunded of them If any tooke horse to goe out of the citie about their busines sodainly they saide they fledde into Castill and with this slander they seased vpon their persons and goods Hee was vnhappie that did commend the Catholique kings forces for he was either stoned imprisoned or condemned in a great summe of money they tooke from all men by force their horse and armes who so had little credite or no acquaintance with these new officers were ill assured Such as had reckonings to make with the Courte were in ill case for they were forced to paie what they did owe without compensation of what was due vnto them For this cause and for that they seemed friends to quietnes some of great meanes and verie honorable were imprisoned The barbarous decrees the commaundements that were made to surcease the paiments and rents to binde euerie man to retire into the citie and stande to the defence the opening and spoiling of houses that were shut vp were infinite there was nothing but rigour and rudenes and all was executed by men who with their ignorance bad inclination expresly to cause disorders made commaundements inobseruable the crosses of militarie orders especially those which carrie the title of knights of Christ sometime held in reputation were now giuen to many base and vnwoorthie persons by the intercession of one or other The new Christians who were neuer admitted to these orders nor to the degree of Nobilitie nor to any royall offices were sodainely by the fauour of this man mounted to what degree they pleased not for that he was beholding to anie that had succoured him in the time of his necessities but for that he was easily perswaded by whōsoeuer The black Negroes to whom for the great number there is of them in the citie of Lisbone armes were defended were sodainely all armed and as it were free commaundement being made that all such as woulde serue in this warre vnder captaines likewise Moores assigned for that purpose might do it against the will of their masters and without paying for which cause all the slaues being assembled and conceiuing the Kings commaundement to be more in their fauour then it was shaking off the yoke leauing their patrons they ranne vnto the citie where taking horse and armes by force where they found them they committed a thousand insolencies They coined money in the name of Anthony a quarter lesse then it was woont to be the reuenew of the crowne was wasted for besides that he extorted from the treasurers what he coulde he laide handes vpon the iewels of the crowne and vpon that most renowmed by the Portugals saddle and furniture for a horse inriched with stones brought from the Indies which was of great value The money which Henry had gathered togither for the raunsome of the Portugals which were slaues in Affricke was consumed and wholy spent And this liberty proceeded so farre that they sought into religious houses for the money which they thought had beene there laide in guard and hauing founde some although it appertained to friendes and faithfull persons to orphans and pupils yet was it seased on without number or weight togither with the siluer vessels of the same churches the which was violently carried away in some places and in other places with the consent of the religious men themselues Neither were the iewels and treasure which Marie the cousen of the said Anthonie left more assured being giuen to godly vses for the good
that Anthony had made so great a stay betwixte Sacabem and Saint Arem so as he might easily haue suppressed him and this was the issue of the battaile of Alcantara In the meane while the ships which came from the Indies were disanchored from the Ilands of Terceraes sailed towards Portugall ill aduertised of what had passed And for as much as they had former intelligence of their arriuall at the Ilands it was thought good they shoulde staie there being valued at three millions many doubted they should be lost For on the one side the Duke had sent some ships armed to seeke them on the other side the Prior had sent certaine carauels with aduise to go to Penichie a place vpon the coast twentie miles from Lisbone towardes the north and therefore it was feared they coulde not escape the one or the other either to be taken by the kings ships or to follow the direction of Anthony and in what sort soeuer they shoulde bee lost For falling into the hands of the Castillians they shoulde bee spoiled and going to Penichie the Prior woulde become master of priuate mens goods and imploy them for the necessitie of the warres And some ignorant of Anthonies commission supposed they should either go to Fraunce or England and that the Prior finding the weakenes of his force by the euent of this battaile shoulde followe them notwithstanding fortune did so second the beginning that two daies after the battaile they appeered in safetie without any intelligence of these troubles within the realme or any encounter vpon the way such was the Catholique kings good fortune that they arriued safe at Lisbone where he receiued what appertained to the crowne and deliuered to euery priuate man his owne All this while they were in suspence at Badagios expecting whether this enterprise shoulde be ended by armes or agreement and so doubtfull euery man was for that there appeared on either side great difficultie the rather for that the Duke could not stay long from entertaining one of these parties so different But the xxvj day of August in the morning there arriued a Spanish merchant without any letters from the Duke who brought newes of the successe This man following the Spanish campe when he saw the Priors armie in route presently passed the riuer in a small barke and tooke poste before him that brought aduertisement from the Duke who presenting himselfe vnto the King deliuered what hee had seene whereof he receiued such contentment as may bee supposed This newes was presently spred throughout all the court with the incredible ioy of all men and to the great honour of the Duke and with such kinde of commendations as the force of truth doth vsually draw vpon the sodaine euen from the mouth of enimies But the confirmation of these newes staying longer then was conuenient for the neerenes of the place and the importance of the action they began to doubt with so great perturbation that there was no lesse shewe of their generall desire then of their receiued content The which was after confirmed by the Arriuall of Ferrant de Toledo the Dukes nephew whom he had dispatched with a priuate relation not onely of the successe but also of the reasons which had induced them to fight and his direction giuen vnto the captaine the which was generally approoued of all with no small honour to the Duke saying that he had now satisfied mens mindes who held him alwaies to be too cunning and watchfull to assure his enterprise by aduantages of lodging and stratagems auoiding the battaile by all meanes possible without great aduantage following amongst the auncient Captaines Fabius Maximus and amongst the later Prosper Colonna the elder whom he sought to imitate And this cōmendation of the Dukes proceeded from his two resolutions The one to passe from Settuual to Cascaies and the other to fight at Alcantara seeing in the first he alone did contradict his counsell and contested both against sea and enimie And in the second he resolued to fight dangerously with the Portugals within their owne trenches hauing a well peopled citie behinde them and against the aduise of some of the principall of the armie They did highly commend him to haue kept Lisbone from spoile and at one instant to play the conqueror and protector attributing vnto him for this respect more honour then to haue retired his armie from the wals of Rome in the yeere 1557. hauing not fought there vnto the gates of the citie as he did at Lisbone But these reasons with other were dashed by a sodaine cruell accident which so troubled the mindes of all men as there was no time to thinke nor speake of any thing the which was that vpon the newes of this happie successe the king fell most dangerously sicke the which so encreased being brought to that point that there was small hope of his life and euen his Phisitions themselues almost gaue him ouer vpon this subiect was all their discourses for the king dying it was supposed that the protector of Christendome shoulde faile and if there were any doubt that his death in time might cause any alteration it was then most of all to be feared for besides that the affaires of Flaunders were troublesome the humors of the French ill disposed Portugall yet in ballance to incline to a contrarie partie and the rest of Spaine was not well assured The opinions were diuers what course to take but all was confused and all full of feare The Duke of Alua whose opinion many of the better sort did follow thought it fit that the king dying the Queene with the prince should presently enter into Portugall and goe to Lisbone thinking by this meanes with the forces he had there readie not onely to keepe the realme in peace but also to assure the other estates of Spaine He now laboured to stablish the affaires for depriuing from the office of the magistrate of the chamber of Lisbone such as had been installed by the Prior he restored such as had bin before calling them vnto him he said it was now time that in the cities behalfe they should sweare obedience vnto the king and proclaime his name in the publique streetes with accustomed ceremonie whereunto they willingly offered themselues demaunding leaue for this cause to make publique feastes and that withall the priuileges of the citie might be confirmed Whereunto he answered that there was then no neede but they should reserue it vntill the prince were there present to be sworne whome his Maiestie had resolued to send vnto the citie to be bred vp amongst them and as for their priuileges they were very small that he woulde graunt them more amplie So as the eleuenth day of September in the Dukes lodging they tooke their oath in forme and the next day after dinner the magistrate going thorough the citie with the standard and their Attaballes they proclaimed the name of King Phil p after the accustomed manner yet with
there he shoulde shewe vs his forces that the generall opinion is that there hee may trouble his Maiestie in the iust possession of the realme so as chasing him wee shall deserue the greater recompence by performing an enterprise that seems vneasie the which in my iudgement wil prooue no more difficult then the rest of this realme hath beene if you be the same men you were few daies since Yet suppose not that I acknowledge these victories wholie from your valour for I thinke I may attribute it better to his Maiesties right the iniustice of Anthony Who is he but knoweth that the realme appertaineth by iust title vnto our king what iudgment seate is there in the world which hath not of themselues giuen sentence in his fauour And contrariwise who is ignorant that Anthony hath tyrannously vsurped the title of a king that he hath neither right nor title to the realme that hee is a bastard insufficient and vncapable of this degree which things are knowne to all men and therefore the iustice of God will make vs instruments to punish him that deserues it So as neither rampiers riuers nor fortresses can serue him that is in the wrong for that a guiltie conscience not onely weakens the hart but makes all forces vaine The equitie of the kings cause and your valour are not to bee encountred by so weake enimies but will surmount greater difficulties then this as you haue seene and shall see tomorrowe if it please God These words with the authoritie of the captaine most renowmed amongst these soldiers made all men iudge that his resolution was well considered and therefore Sanches d' Auila for the night and the day following did thus order the armie He caused them to plant vpon the banke directly against the towne such artillerie as he had in a place conuenient both to scoure the passage to endammage the other side leauing his lodging guarded with Germaines and Spaniards he tooke the thirde parte of his foote his boates and horsemen went by night vnto the passage where he had been there to imbarke passe to the other banke meaning to charge the enimie in flanke the other two thirds of the armie vnder the charge of Rodorick Sapatta shoulde imbarke at Pietra Salata in the rest of the barkes and draw after them so many horses as they coulde tied by the reines making shew to passe there to the end to keepe the enimie busied with this feare yet commaunding them not to passe vntill they shoulde see the enimie charged by the other thirde part which had beene transported at the other passage All these things were duly executed for the Portugals being vnexperienced in warre coulde not prouide for so ordinarie a stratagem so as Sanches d' Auila being come to the towne side he founde so weake resistance that although some companies of soldiers were runne thither yet he landed easily And whereas their boates were not able to transport all their soldiers togither the first which landed hauing entred skirmish with the Portugals before the comming of the rest hauing slaine tenne or eleuen of them they put them all to flight The Prior beleeued not the Castillians shoulde so soone haue passed but vnderstanding what they had done and the small resistance of his men being not yet generally published hauing assembled many and of the chiefe he spake thus vnto them Tyrants vse in their pretentions when they distrust their right to flie vnder other colours to force vsing this in steede of iustice to obtaine their desires but iust and louing Princes not onely submit themselues to iustice but do continually striue to be conformable to the will of their subiects As for me at such time as the succession of this realme failed I was resolute to obey him that by right shoulde bee declared king I remained quiet vntill that Philip dispairing of his iustice and taking armes it pleased you to name mee your king and protector I accepted this burthen more as God shall preserue our libertie not seeing any one that coulde gouerne you with true loue then for any desire to rule howe I haue behaued my selfe how euery thing hath passed you knowe who haue beene alwaies and in all things not my subiects but my companions want of time woulde not suffer vs to prouide many things necessarie for the warre for I was no sooner named king but the enimie prepared hauing before plotted many ambushes and resolute what to doe inuaded vs with his forces the which was cause that the munitions appointed the succors promised by Christian princes could not come in due time the which hath made our successe vnhappie we haue in a manner disarmed already tried the hazard of a battaile if you thinke good to aduenture it againe against an enimie that followeth vs do as you please but I am not of that opinion for hauing hitherto aduentured my person and made this breast a buckler I am not now resolued except you do otherwise aduise me to thrust both you and my selfe to the hazard of a doubtfull battaile by the victorie whereof although it shoulde remaine on our sides there could not succeed the intention we haue to expell the enimie out of this realme by loosing it I should be frustrate of the hope I haue conceiued to free you soone from the yoke which hangs ouer you God is my witnes that al which I haue done and shall do neither hath beene nor shall be to any other ende but for the loue of you and to make equall this ballance of iustice the which is now forced by the might of the greatest enimie that euer Portugall had I know well you will beleeue me but if any amongst you doth distrust my words let him consider that if I had not regarded your profite but mine owne priuate interest I had beene now quiet rich and reconciled with the Catholique king who hath often sought me by offers and large promises and you had beene tyrannized ouer and in a manner slaues as those be that haue no kings of their owne countrie But God forbid that euer I shoulde preferre mine owne profite before yours or mine owne benefite before the realmes whose people haue so much loued my progenitors I may well at this time yeeld vnto the vniust forces that doe oppresse me yet will I neuer renounce the realme nor my title but with newe armes and new force I hope againe to trie mine action so as this sorrow which I now see in your faces shall be soone turned to ioy those armes that munition those men which are not now arriued in time shall serue hereafter And if it be a humaine thing to take compassion of the afflicted I hope being so vniustly molested to moue pitie not only in the most pitifull but also in the cruellest nations of the world I knowe that this loue which you haue alwaies borne to me and my predecessors shall no waies be diminished by any sinister euent
and I am so well assured that although we shall be now separated one from another that shortly we shall be assembled againe to your great benefite and profite and to the shame and dishonour of our enimies These words did mooue the harts and eies of many no man answering him a word so as being retired with his faithfull followers he departed as it were in secret without publishing his departure and going to the Monasterie of Aronca by the vnknowen way of Vairam and Barcellos hee came to Viana Sanches d' Auila hauing passed all his troupes and put the Portugals that kept the passage to flight he came against the towne the which being ignorant of the Priors intent manned with many soldiers resolued to defend themselues keeping the Castillians all they could from approaching with their artillerie Being come to the enimies cannon Rodericke Sapatta arriued at the same instant with his boates who landed without any contradiction but the Portugals preuented them with their flight so as there remained not any one Sanches did long pursue such as fled and caused his horse to followe them but the rainie day and the diuersitie of the waies gaue them good meanes to escape so as the Castillians returned with the slaughter of few The conquerors beleeued that the Prior was yet remaining in the citie seeing them make shew of defence and continually to play with their artillerie the which did small hurt But whilest that Sanches looked about who made resistance and sought out the fittest lodging to force the towne the citizens discouering the Priors flight changed their resolutions making a signe of peace with a white cloth from the wals which was an assurance of the victorie and of the Priors flight by reason whereof diuiding his horsemen into two parts he caused them to pursue him by two diuers waies and the magistrate of the citie issuing foorth yeelded his obedience who offering to open the gates Sanches commaunded him to the contrarie for feare of the soldiers who were greedie of the spoile But notwithstanding this order from the captaine the city was in danger to be sacked for remaining yet within some of the Priors soldiers as some of the chiefe of the Castillians entred by one of the gates the inhabitants let foorth the Portugals by an other the which they coulde not do so secretly but they were discouered by some of the companies that lay abroad who suffring them to passe entred by the same gate and began to spoile some houses on that side of the towne and so had continued with the rest if before the arriuall of the other companies Sanches d' Auila hearing the noise had not runne in person with the officers and staied them by his authoritie In the meane time the Prior entring Viana finding he coulde no longer make resistance within the realme resolued to imbarke and saile into Fraunce and for that cause did furnish a ship but forbore to imbarke by reason of the contrarie winde At this time there arriued at Viana one part of those horse which persued him hauing intelligence of his being there against whom the citie put themselues in armes But the captaine saying vnto them that if they refused to obey they should be spoiled by the armie which approched and would arriue that day or the next they grew amased and yeelded vpon condition to haue their liues and goods saued Vpon the view of these horsemen the Prior finding himselfe in so great danger in a place of small trust and disarmed resolued rather to contest against the waues and windes then against the enimie and therefore he imbarked with the Bishop and some other of his traine hoping that whilest the citie made resistance hee lying there concealed some small winde woulde driue them from the lande But fortune to speake after the common phrase seemed not yet wearie of him for the sea swelled more and the windes encreased and continued so long that the Castillians being entred and demanding for him they had intelligence he was in the shippe making preparation to go take him wherof they seemed to be assured But the Prior vnderstanding thereof seeing into what danger he was now brought hauing deuided his treasure which was not great to such as were about him hee attired himselfe like a marriner and accompanied with the Earle and Bishop and some of his other fauorites with the most pretious things that he had he tooke boate in great danger of drowing landing vpon the other banke of the riuer of Minio the which is directly against the citie The which the Castillians discouering made haste to pursue him But for as much as the riuer is not to be passed there before the Castillians could embarke he had time to saue himselfe loosing all his seruants and some things of price yet had hee all his most precious iewels sowed in his garments True it is that since there was found in Castill some peeces of the rich caparison where of I made mention in a souldiers possession who said he had then taken it from one of the Priors slaues but the King suspicious that Anthonie had beene his prisoner and deliuered for that ransome kept him long in prison It seemed that Fortune did accompanie the Prior to preserue him it may be for some greater affliction for this Realme for at the same instant he left his boate and went to lande there arriued on the same side that other troupe of horsemen that pursued him who had easily taken him if they had once suspected he had beene there but discouering on the other side a troupe of horse imbarking to passe the riuer not able to discerne by reason of the distance whether they were friends or enemies nor for what reason they passed they were in doubt what to doe during which time the Prior retired himselfe And although by their approch they found by their colours who they were yet before the one could vnderstand the others resolution the time was spent and they effected nothing The king did now beginne to recouer his health after so dangerous a sicknesse at which time Queene Anne his wife fell sicke of a rotten feuer the which in few daies brought her to another life wherewith the king was much grieued being a Ladie wholy conformable to his humour and indued with singular bountie Hauing recouered his former health forbearing to enter the realme vntill all were reduced to his obedience seeing now the Prior to be defeated and to hide himselfe he went to Eluas the first citie of the realme where the Portugals receiued him with great ioy for that in this citie and others bordering vpon Castill their hatred is not so mortall against the Castillians as in other places There he did open the barred hauens that is he disanulled the imposts which were paied as well in Castill as in Portugall of all such merchandize as passed from realme to realme the which amounted yeerely to 150000. duckats he
to his soldiers The stratagem of Auila to passe the riuer The oration of Anthony to his soldiers The flight of Anthony to Viana The flight of the Portugals The citie of Porto yeelded The taking of Viana Anthonie saues himselfe on the other side of the riuer Minio in danger to be taken The death of Queene Anne The King enters into Portugall by the citie of Eluas The description of the Ilands of Terceraes and the inhabitants thereof The resolution of the inhabitants of Terceraes The Iesuits walled vp at the Terceraes The Popes offer against England The complaint of the Dukes soldiers The auditor of Gallicia sent to Auilas campe The Councell of the Kings chamber The King visites the Duchesse of Bragance The King sworne at Tomar and the Prince Diego The kings pardon to the Portugals The beginning of the parliament at Tomar The demands of the Estates Touching the Vniuersitie of Coimbra The Pope seemes content with the successe of Portugall The Portugals animated and wherefore The Kings entrie to Lisbone The speech of the Magistrate of Lisbone to the king The Portugals discontented The councell of state of Portugall reduced vnto two Baldes attempt vpon the Terceraes The preparation of them of Angra against Baldes Iohn de Betancour affect to the King A stratagem with oxen made by a religious man The ill successe of Baldes soldiers The crueltie of those of Tercera The defeate of Baldes is preiudiciall vnto the king The Priors good fortune Ierom Mendoza treateth an agreement with the Prior. Anthonie arriues at Caleis The Indian fleete expected and the discourse of their arriuall The Indian fleete met with a French ship neere the Terceres The diligence of Anthony to haue the fleete The fleete arrtues at Lisbone The arriuall of Figueroa at the Terceres and his returne to Lisbone Baldes imprisoned in Portugall The preparation of them of Terceres A miracle performed by the Iesits The estate of Fraunce and Flaunders The Queene of Fraunce discontented with Philip and the cause The Duke of Alancon sworn Duke of Brabant Preparation of the french against the Terceres The Prince of Orenge wounded by a Biscaine The kings recompence to the Portugals The Empresse Mary comes to Lisbone The Cardinall of Austria made Gouernour of Portugal The Terceres in confusion The cariage of Emanuel de Sylua at the Terceres The preparation at Lisbone against the Terceres and the aduise vpon this enterprise The Catholique King armes in all places and the cause The kings order in preparing Peixotto sent to Saint Michaels fought with by certaine French ships The Marquesse of Saint Cruze embarkes for the Terceres The hopes of the French armie at sea with Strozzi The hopes of the Court of Spaine touching the Armie at sea The arriuall of the French ar mie at the Ilande of Saint Michael and the description thereof Or the dogs head The death of Ambrose D Aguiar The first encounter of the French The arriuall of the Spanish armie at the Ilands The Marques resolues to fight The Marques order for his battell The Marques gets the wind of the French armie The French disagree The beginning of the fight at sea Mounsier Brisac flies The death of Strozzi and of the Count Vimioso Apriest dies for feare The number of the dead in the battel Edward de Castro beheaded by Anthonie Anthony his voyage to the Terceres and his atchieuements there The sentence of the Marques against the French prisoners The Spaniards discontented with the sentence and the reason The Spanish soldiers entreat for the French The French beheaded and hanged * A kinde of small ship The carriage of Anthonie after the sea fight The departure of Anthonie for Fraunce Emanuell de Silua staies at the Terceres The French displeased at their ouerthrow The amplification of pardon towards the Portugals The death of Duke of Alua his commendation The blames of the Duke of Alua. The obsequies of Sebastian and other Princes Portugals A reformation of the Kalendar A new assembly of estates at Lisbone where the prince Philip was sworne Cardinall Albert made gouernour of Portugall The kings departure from Portugall The death of Auila The French spoile the Ilands of Cape Vert. The carriage of Silua at the Terceres The Kings preparation against the Terceraes The discourse in Spaine vpon this enterprise Mounsieur de Chattes sent to succour the Iland A discourse betweene Chattes and Silua vpon the strength of the Iland The kings armie departs from Lisbone The description of the Terceres The arriual of the kings army at the Terceres and their proceedings The diligence of the Ilanders for their defence The landing of some of the Marques his men The first assault giuen by the Marques his men The second landing of the Marques with his men and their skirmish against the French Silua his flight hindred The Portugals abandon the French The Marques takes S. Sebastian Angra put to be spoiled three daies The Portugall shippes spoiled The Marques sends to Fayall The French compound with the Spaniards The condition of the accorde Chattes doth visite the Marques They of Faiall kill a trumpet that was sent vnto them The landing of Peter de Toledo at Fatal and the sacke thereof Anthony Guedez de Sosa hanged by the arme and wherefore Emanuel de Silua taken and executed with others The French men sent to the galleies