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
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
with money although Balthasar de Faria Deputie of Barcellos the Pryor of Saint Steuens and the Bishop of Parma euerie one apart did offer money to such as wanted that the assembly might not be dissolued yet the Deputies vnfurnished would not accept thereof not willing to be bound in their owne proper names for that their cities were bound to furnish them Besides in this assembly the opinions were diuers few inclined to fauour the pretention of the Catholike king many knew not what to resolue a great part were affected to the Prior but all in generall feared the Gouernors mistrusted their proceedings so as besides the aduertisements they sent daily vnto them they did solicite the execution making new demaunds pressing them aboue al to discharge the soldiers They demanded a copie of the authority to gouerne left them by King Henrie the words of his will which concernes the point of succession the which were wholy deliuered vnto them his wil was made 8. moneths before cōtained these words Seeing at the time of my will making I haue no descendents directly to succeed to the Crowne of these realmes and haue called my nephewes which may pretend and haue put the matter of succession in Iustice I do not at this time declare who shall be my successor but leaue it vnto him to whom by right it shall appertaine him I doe declare my heire successor except that before my decease I shall name him that hath this interest And therefore I command all men within these my realmes of what quality soeuer that presētly after I or the iudges appointed shal haue named him to acknowledge him for heir lawful successor so to obey him There followed many other words in recōmendation of iustice religiō but they serued not to this purpose And although his wil contained these words yet they say the King at his death would haue resourmed it declared the Catholike king successour of the realme But the Gouernors desirous to hold the gouernment for a time in their own hands did diuert him saying That whether he made any declaration or not no other then the Catholike king could succeed both by law force that it was not expediēt to nominate him to the end that the realme might with greater aduantage capitulate agree with him Many supposed that they did not disswade the king from this declaration so much for these reasons as fearing it would breed som popular sedition to their hurt being held as autors of the said declaration The limitation which he had left to the Gouernors contained that they could not create Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Bishops nor Archbishops nor giue any commandery nor reuenue which passed 125. duckats But in matters of war reuolutions they might doe giue any thing with the aduise of the councel not otherwise The deputies being satisfied with these writings whilest they debated the reasons of their pretended election Stephen Lopez Doctor deputy of Portalegré spake publikely amongst them who hauing shewed how fit it were to giue God thanks for the quiet they now enioyed said it was not necessary to continue so many deputies stil together with so much trouble so great charge that they should be reduced vnto few the rest returne to their houses And for as much as they were aduertised that the Catholique King began to arme they should surcease from the cause of succession vntill the said King had dismissed his forces and the preparatiues for war he had made for by that meanes the free libertie to treat of the cause and for the pretendents to alleage their interest was taken away That by the suspension of the cause they shall discouer the Catholique Kings disposition in laying aside armes If he doe it it shall breed these good effects That in the meane time they shall haue leisure to prouide for things necessarie to gather in the fruits of the earth and the pretendents shall liue in peace and quiet if he refuse it which we ought not to beleeue of so Christian a Prince then shall they be satisfied and both the States and the pretendents vnited in one bodie may the better defend themselues and when as all things were quietly setled then to determine the cause disabling notwithstanding before all things the saide Catholique King who vsing force when as iustice is offered him for being King of these Realmes And this he said was the disposition of the lawe that in the meane time they should commaund the Pretendents to the Crowne to make their residence in diuers places the one at Elues and the other at Begia as fronter townes swearing not to attempt any thing one against the other The reasons of this Doctor as a man of small account were not followed but the councell being resolued with two others of the States to send six Deputies to Almerin to treat of matters of importance with the Gouernours Thither they sent them with instructions different from this fourme of speech videlicet that the Gouernours should passe to Saint Arem and there make their residence to take a view what armes men and munition the citie of Lisbone had for their defence to supply what wanted to take notice what Captaines be appointed in the fortresses vpon the riuer of Lisbone and being suspected or not valiant to place others with men and other necessaries That they should send armes to all cities of the Realme and traine vp their men with exercise thereof that they should beseech the Pope by his Ambassadours to perswade all the pretendents to take the course of iustice and lay aside armes vpon paine to loose the interest they pretend requiring that Emanuell de Portugal purueyor of the fortresses of the Realme might be restored to the same office whereof the King had suspended him and that they should do the like to Diego Salema and to Aluaro de Morais in their offices in the Chamber of Lisbone And for that they found themselues tobee vnfurnished they would haue all the ships vessels staied throughout all the ports of the realme for the conducting of things necessarie for the war The Gouernors made but a cold answere to these demands as they had done before to all others saying that being matters of so great importāce they would consider of them first then aduertise them what should be done The Cheriffe had as it is said before in the life of King Henrie and at the instance of the Catholique King deliuered the Duke of Barcellos who hauing passed the streight to returne into Portugall being arriued at Gibralter where as afterwardes at Saint Lucar the Duke of Medina Sidonia Lord of those places did him great honour by meanes whereof he spent sometime in sports At this time the newes comming of King Henries death the Duke of Medina thought it a matter importing the Catholique King to deteine the saide Duke of Barcellos
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
the Doctors which had read and writ against him with great mildenes but also with a noble resolution confirmed them in their lectures and preferred others to them that were voide In the meane time the Pope discouering the Priors weakenesse to maintaine Portugall and that there was no meanes of agreement hauing called home his Legate he seemed well content with Philips successe saying that his onely intention was to auoid wars so as hauing obtained great rewardes for his sonne or at the least assured hopes he graunted vnto the king that George de Taida bishop of Viseu who was his first chaplaine shoulde be iugde without appeale of all causes concerning the Ecclesiasticall rebels and of the proces of their confiscations so as the Prior in a manner doomed to sentence of death with the Bishop of Guarda and others were againe cited by edicts to be depriued by iustice of all spirituall liuings they held within the realme There was yet no newes of him notwithstanding the reward promised and the great care the Castilians vsed through the realme to finde him yet were they daily lesse certaine for that disguised in a base habite hee went vnknowne oftentimes amongst those that sought for him He had intelligence that the Counte of Vimioso was come by land into Fraunce labouring to mooue the French to warre against the Catholique King promising great succours by the people in the matters of Portugal By reason whereof and for the Priors concealement the King kept in a manner his whole armie dispersed in the fortresses and cities of the realme and although hee had dismissed the Italians and sent the greatest part of his galleies into Italy yet they gaue out that he after repented the realme seeming daily lesse peaceable and that the French in those parts might arme a good number of ships of warre and more conueniently in that sea then the galleies whereof fowre being in Algarues had taken a French pirate with great slaughter who being a knight of Malta had fought valiantly By reason of these garrisons of the rigor of officers of the smal recompence that was giuen them and of the conceite that the Prior was yet within the realme the Portugals harts beganne to turne some of them assembled at times lamented the miserie wherein they seemed to be by their not agreeing to defend themselues or not yeelding in time yet the greatest part held opinion that vnited togither they might haue made resistance They could not endure that the Castillian officers shoulde intermeddle in matters of iustice as they pretēded to do neither was the Portugals disdaine appeased in saying that the King hauing commaunded Iohn Andrew Doria Prince of Melfy to conduct the Empresse his sister into Spaine whom he had caused to come out of Germany was for no other cause but to leaue her Gouernesse in Portugall and so returne into Castill and that as a woman she shoulde raigne with greater mildenes then the kings of Portugall had done for although this was the common discourse yet many helde opinion that the king should not depart being constrained to keepe garrisons the which he would not dismisse vntill he were better assured of the Prior of whom they spake diuersly for some helde that he was dead and spoiled by the Castilians who for that they woulde yeelde no account of the iewels he had about him kept it secret Others saide that he had sent into Fraunce and England from whence hee expected great armies at whose arriuall he would discouer himselfe Many supposed that he shoulde keepe himselfe secret within the realme vntill the death of Philip who according to their discourse coulde not liue long and yet was there small difference betwixt their ages at what time shewing himselfe as hee did vpon the death of king Henry hee shoulde againe take possession of the realme the kingdomes of Castill remaining in the handes of pupilles And although some beleeued that he was departed the realme yet the greatest part helde that he was there yet labouring to escape as couertly as he coulde fearing to be taken prisoner the which was true indeede as it appeared by some of his friends that were taken in the porte of Lisbone who sought to imbarke with some prouision of victuals they had made who confessed vpon the racke that he was in the realme amongst which was Peter d'Alpoe Doctor of the lawes who since for that cause and others of high treason lost his head at Lisbone The Estates were now ended and the king desirous to goe to Lisbone but for that the preparations and triumphs which the citie pretended were not yet ready he went to Almada which is directly against the citie vpon the other banke of Tagus to giue them time to finish their preparations At what time the King hauing intelligence that those of the Ilands of Terceraes notwithstanding the letters which Ambrose d'Aguiar had carried stoode firme in their first resolution of defence hee sent Peter Baldes with fower ships sixe hundreth Spanish foote and some cannon with commandement to assure himselfe fully of the Iland of Saint Michaell which was obediēt to spoile the ships which should come from the Indies not to attēpt any thing by land vntill he had sent a greater supply of men The Court was ill appointed at Almada and the needfull ministers for dispatches could not all bee lodged there The King desirous to enter the citie would not attende after Saint Peters day when passing the water with his galleies he lāded in the city vpon a bridge of wood framed for that purpose without giuing them time to finish their arches statues prepared for his entry But the sloth and ignorance of the workemen was in parte cause yet did they make a sumptuous preparation Vpon the bridge he was met by the Magistrate of the chamber where Doctor Hector de Pyna one of them spake thus in the behalfe of the citie shewing the ioy they had conceiued of his entrie That as this citie was the greatest in the worlde so God had deseruedly giuen them conformeable to their owne desires a great monarch to bee their Lorde Hee excused the people saying That if they had no sooner obeied it was done rather by errour then their owne free will and that remaining in their owne power to choose a king they woulde haue made election of no other then himselfe And touching the death of Ferrant de Pyna hee saide that this citie had first of all shedde bloude for his seruice seeing that the saide Ferrant when as Anthony caused him to bee wounded was a member of this Magistrate He excused likewise the sleightnes of their ioyes by the afflictions of the warre the spoile of the citie and the plague remembring their losses of Affricke concluding that they hoped by his Maiesties fauours this realme shoulde not bee saide vnited vnto Castill but that all the other realmes were ioyned vnto Portugall Hee then went on horsebacke vnder a canopie of
to spoile the Ilands as they had already done that of Saint Michaels and that the same armie hauing tried a battaile against his Maiesties the French had beene broken and ouercome in the which being taken eight and twentie noblemen and two and fiftie gentlemen and manie other marriners and soldiers he declared them taken as enimies to the quiet and publike good disturbers of the traffike and fauourers of his Maiesties rebels that as such and as publike pirats hee commaunded the Auditor generall of the armie that for their chasticement and for the example of others hee shoulde execute vpon them the punishment of naturall death beheading the Gentlemen and hanging the rest which passed the age of seuenteene yeeres being so conuenient both for the seruice of God and of the two kings This sentence seemed cruell to all such as heard it and chiefly vnto the Spanish soldiers both for that they feared the like might happen vnto thē an other day as also for that they would not lose the profit which many expected by the raunsome of the saide prisoners or else for their owne good inclination so as some of the soldiers laying aside all respect saide it was not well grounded for that there was no firme and inuiolable peace betwixt the Catholique King and most Christian but warre and that those were neither pirats nor theeues but valiant soldiers That there was no peace they prooued it by the warres of Flaunders more hot then euer where the French did in a manner possesse all the Catholique Kings patrimonie And that they were no pirats they prooued by the letters patents they had from the King vnder the which the ships and soldiers were enrolled besides the number and qualitie of these men were such as it appeered cleerely they woulde not haue attempted it of themselues if the king had not sent them And although betwixt the two crownes they dissembled many things the Christian King excusing himselfe sometimes vpon his mother sometimes vpon his brother that they were all deuises of Princes but for all that they were not without open warre the lawes whereof they saide was not so stricte as to commaund them to hang all their prisoners And this execution did so mooue the hearts of manie that some of the principall soldiers being assembled togither went with a commendable example vnto the Marques to make intercession for the life of their enimies who answered that the most Christian King had expresly commaunded that all Frenchmen that shoulde take armes against the Catholique King shoulde be corporally punished so as the same day these Gentlemen with a generall pittie and great seueritie were beheaded vpon the scaffolde and the marriners and soldiers hanged in diuers places and the pittie was the greater being apparant that they were all not onely valiant soldiers but Catholique and deuout Christians The blame of this seuere execution was not imputed to the Marques supposing that he had expresse commaundement from the King whom likewise they excused for hauing so determined seeing it was not to bee presumed that so many personages of importance should come with such an armie and remaine prisoners especially knowing that Philip by his owne inclination was not cruell yet on the other side they considered that the King in his minde shoulde haue conceiued a cruell disdaine against the French seeing that vnder the shadow of amitie peace and alliance Kings writing daily one to the orher greeuing and reioycing at their troubles and contents did not onely aide his rebels but also tooke his countries and sent so great an armie to endomage him And although that Princes do vsually dissemble and counterfeit in many things yet it seemed the French vnder a new kinde of dissimulation would make warre whereby they did inferre that this execution did nothing displease the King The armie being a little repaired here the Marques went to the I le of Coruo to meete with the Indian fleete and hauing past in view of the citie of Angra he put Anthonie and all the people into confusion for although the Marques content with the victorie would not thrust himselfe into a new danger yet Anthonie doubted that in the heat of the victorie he would pursue and assaile the Ilande in the which although he had men enough both of the nation and of the French yet were they fearfull and disordered and Anthonie himselfe at the same time prouided a light ship to imbarke if neede were These newes came slowly to Lisbone for the which they were in great care hauing newes of the fight by the meanes of a Zabra of Biscay but a French ship which had beene sore beaten by the gallion Saint Mathew being fled from the battel gaue assurance of the euent for beeing arriued disguised at Settuual he was discouered finding within her some Spanish souldiers dead in the bosome of one of them was written all that had passed in the armie since their departure from Lisbone vntill the time that he was slaine The Marques attended long about the Ilands for the Indian fleete whereof two being arriued the seas growing high he came with them to Lisbone to the great ioy of all the court where he was extraordinarily fauoured by the King Anthony after the Marques his departure remained more quiet in minde supposing that for one whole yeere he need not feare any enimie He greatly greeued for the death of the French prisoners fearing it would preiudice his cause in France But Emanuel de Silua pressed him to reuenge in hanging about fiftie or threescore Castillians which were there taken prisoners at diuers times the which he woulde not suffer being better enclined He was ill furnished with money although hee had great store of armes and munition For this consideration he daily all by the inuention of the saide Silua made rigorous commandements to draw money from the people and from such as did not follow him willingly He caused gold to be coined which hee valued at fiue and twentie roials although it weied but eight He made testons of siluer weighing a roiall and a halfe the which he made currant for halfe a duckat and the copper money which was woorth three in Portugall hee valued at tenne And for that many were retired to the mountaines to be free from troubles within the citie hee commaunded euery one to returne and if any deferred his comming longer then the time limited by his commaundement they presently seazed his goods Many for feare of the souldiers had carried and hidden their goods without the citie and therefore he commaunded euerie one to bring them backe againe whereby he gained much for he demaunded a loane of money of such as came and brought it backe and if any one obeyed not he sent Souldiers to search their goods and to spoile them with a thousand indignities It was a lamentable thing to see how the Church causes were handled for the religious men except the Iesuits imploied in militarie actions
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
if it were not their pleasure he should deale with those causes of the succession he would willingly desist and onely treat of that which did simply concerne the charge of an Ambassadour and after retire himselfe if neede were But this modestie made him more suspect for thereby they might iudge he desired nothing more then once to haue an entrie and after to make himselfe Patrone of the whole cause At that time Christopher de Mora was called to court who treated secretly with the King of many things concerning the Realme he laboured to be sent backe with the Title of Ambassador yet many supposed his commission being ended he should not returne But being accounted as he was indeed confident iudicious and diligent although of no great experience in matters of waight being made gentleman of the chamber he was sent backe with the Title he desired to keepe Sylua from returning into Portugall all his hopes being frustrate they stayed him saying it was conuenient the King should retaine him neere about him to iudge the better of what should be written out of Portugall And hauing reduced the number of twelue coūsellors of the succession to fower he commaunded he should be one the rest being the Cardinall of Toledo Lewis Manriques Marques of Aguilar both of the councell of State and Anthonie of Padiglia President of the councell of millitarie orders The generall discourse concerning the election of the one for Ambassador and the exclusion of the other was diuers but when as the excluded could not preuaile according to the counterfeit show of the court he tooke all for a fauour Whilest these things passed in Castil the pretendents in Portugal both naturall borne and strangers called by citation framed their reasons and euerie man laboured to make the King capable of his right The Duke of Ossuna pleaded for King Philip Charles de la Rouuere for the Duke of Sauoy Ferrant Farnese Bishop of Parma for Rainucius Fernese The Queene of Fraunce was not cited yet did not she desist from her pretention by the meanes of Vrban of Saint Gelais Bishop of Cominges who had some difficultie to be admitted The King seemed long doubtfull in this point for on the one side with the inclination he had to the Dutchesse he would exclude al others with the desire he had to frustrate Philip he labored to admit all that did pretend In this point hatred preuailed before affection Enduring this infamous allegation of the Queen who saide that Henry of whom she demaunded iustice and eleuen other Kings his predecessors had beene all bastards and vnlawfull for that was her plea And although he doubted of the Bishops procuration after some difficulties promising to satisfie him within a limited time by an other commission he was receiued to plead appointing him an aduocate in the cause The principall groundes of the pleaders were these Anthonie at the end of fiftie yeeres would be admitted for lawfull hauing neuer before pretended it and therfore vndoubtedly the succession of the Realme did appertaine vnto him for that as a male issued from a male he saide with the qualitie of his father he did surmount his age wherein Philip did surpasse him that being a male he was before the Dutchesse and did vanquish Rhanucius by his age and neerenes Phillibert Duke of Sauoy did not wholie deceiue himselfe for as he assisted not for any other ende but to shewe that as the neerest of kinne he did preceade the Prince of Castill in case that Henry outliued Philip he was least importune They did pleade vehemently for Rainucius Farnese and in his fauour the Doctors of the Vniuersitie of Padua had written and to confute the reasons of proximitie wherein the other competitors did surmount they alleaged that conformeable to pure and simple lawe so many sonnes as Kings haue so many heires of inheritance they do frame whereof the first line doth inherite whilest it remaines which being extinct the seconde doth succeed it and so consequently in order That Edward the Grandfather by the Mothers side of the saide Ranucius was chiefe of the second race of the children of King Emanuel whereof the first being vtterly extinct in Sebastian the line of the second ought to succeed vntill it were likewise extinct where by descending from braunch to braunch it came directly to the saide Ranucius And although Philip and Phillibert were pretendents male and lawfully issued from an elder feminine stocke whilest there was remaining any heires descending from the elder feminine males as he was they coulde not inherite and that the Dutchesse who was a woman and Anthony vnlawfull ought not to take it from him although he succeeded them all The Dutchesse with more liuely hope both of her iustice and of the Kings fauour had caused to be written in the Vniuersitie of Coimbra a long curious allegation the Doctors who are the learnedst of the Realme hoping to please the King handled the cause with all possible care She laboured to prooue that they succeed in Realmes by the inheritance of the last possessor and that in this kinde of succession the lawes allowe the benefite of representation and in the difficultie which the Doctors mooue in the deciding whether this priuiledge be allowable to the Nephewes when they do not ioine with the Vncle in the inheritance they ought to follow those which holde the affirmatiue and that the women doe not onely represent the degree of the predecessors but also the sexe She therefore representing Edwrad her Father sonne to King Emanuel and brother to king Henrie woulde precead all the other pretendents both the Catholique king for that he issued from a daughter Anthony being a bastard Ranucius as being neerer vnto Henry admitting neither degrees elderships nor representations alleaging for that purpose infinite authorities of Doctors These her allegations were imprinted and sent to the Pope and to all the Princes in Christendome hoping thereby to make a great breach in their harts The Catholique king saide he was the eldest and lawfullest Nephew male of king Emanuel then liuing and that not any one of the others being not able to make themselues equall vnto him they sought to helpe themselues with fixions and representations the which he woulde prooue by some lawes were not to be admitted in this case nor amongst these persons for that going before them all ingeneral by age he did surpasse them in particular one after an other Anthony by legitimation the Duchesse by sexe Ranucius by nearenes the Duke of Sauoy by the age of Isabell Augusta his mother elder then Beatrice Mother to the saide Duke The people alleage that the issue male of their Kings failing in that case the election appertained to them fortifying this reason by the example of the election which was made of their King Iohn the first but of this pretention being generall they made small account The Queene Mother of Fraunce with a
satisfied and to be bound to stand to iudgement They did vrge them to take information by way of Iustice against those that in the cause of succession did suborne with promises of money honours and also such as were suborned hauing knowledge that there were many such Whereunto the gonernors answered that they would presently depart from Almeryn but whither it was not expedient then to say and that it shoulde be conformable to the demaund of the citie of Lisbone They saide that they woulde not discharge the souldiers being leuied by the commandement of King Henry for the guard of his Court and of the pretendents That some hauing refused to carrie this Embassage into Castill yet in the ende they had chosen Gaspard de Casale Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo who prepared to go That alreadie they had commaunded al Captaines to remaine in their fortresses where there were none they were prouiding as also of armes both in the fortresses vpon the riuer as in all other prouinces That it seemed not necessarie to send to Rome but if king Philip made shewe to stirre they woulde beseech his holines to doe as he hath beene accustomed and that they woulde proceede with all the rigour against such as shoulde be found culpable in the matter of subornation Now had the Agents of the Catholique king sent newes into Castill of King Henry his death and were remaining still at Almerin fearing some alteration but this people accustomed to a heauie yoke without knowledge of libertie did not stirre The Duke of Bragance saide vnto the Gouernours that he was readie to obey and that they should proceed to sentence for the succession He sent to the Duke of Ossuna and the Catholique Agents willing them not to feare any thing that he woulde assure them from danger offering them his lodging the like did the Gouernors Whilest these things passed in Almerin Anthony Prior of Crato who at the Kings death was not far from thence ran vnto Lisbone lodging himselfe in a garden neere vnto the citie he did write vnto the Magistrate of the chamber and to many of the chiefe signifying vnto them that hee was there and that they shoulde come vnto him The which the Magistrate vnderstanding disdained sending him worde that he shoulde retire but making no reckoning thereof he sent both into the citie and places of pleasure thereabouts some of his followers who both in priuate and in publike gaue out that the king was dead and that the Prior expected them there beleeuing by that meanes for the affection the people bare him they woulde all iointly proclaime him king which being done in that citie which is the principall all the rest of the Realme for he was greatly beloued would follow their example yet he was soone deceiued And this may serue as an example to those which relie too much vpon the vulgar sort for there was not any one that durst come vnto him but in secret and as for gentlemen there were none by reason of the plague As for the new Christians which are there in great number whereof a part was likewise abroad they wanted courage and being rich feared to doe that which might cause the losse of their goods The people most base of themselues had no commander that could mooue them or lead them so as hauing labored by diuers meanes to draw men to his deuotion finding his practise not to succeed hauing spent some time there he went to the Monasterie of Belem from whence he did write to the Councel of States with words more conformable to the qualitie of time then his intention saying That hauing intelligence of the death of the King his Lord vnderstanding likewise that his bodie should be transported to that Monasterie and that not to faile of his dutie he was come thither to attend it seeing he could not be in time to accompanie it the which he had done that perfourming this last office he might doe them the seruice he ought but vnderstanding that he was not brought thither he had assisted the fathers in their sacrifices and deuotions recommending him vnto God And as a true Portugall and mindfull of the bond which as sonne and nephewe to his father and grandfather he had to the quiet and preseruation of these Realmes he thought it good to aduertise them that he was readie to expose for this cause not onely his life and receiue the lawes which they should please to lay vpon him but also in all present occasions to liue in submission due obedience not any way transgressing their commissions He protested to shew the innocencie of those crymes imposed vpon him in the sentences which it had pleased his vncle to pronounce against him togither with the interest hee had to the suceession of the Realme Hee promised to yeeld himselfe into their hands and protection relying vpon those persons who by the special grace of God in so afflicted a season had been chosen as a remedie to restore this Realme referring himselfe for the rest to Lewis de Brito who should deliuer it by mouth To this letter the which was receiued in councell cōtrarie to the aduise of some who said it ought not to be accepted Brito added that the Prior would be there with speede that they should cōmaund where they pleased he should lodge They answered that he might come when he pleased yet they would not intermeddle with his lodging but leaue it to his owne choice But almost all in generall were pleased with his cōming He staied not long but presently vpon his arriuall he presented the Popes Bull contayning the suspension of the Kings sentence he began to renue the pretention of his legitimation without the finall decision wherof they said they could not treat of the succession wanting no hope to obtaine by the councell of States that which before he did expect from the multitude at Lisbone The Deputies of the Realme did assemble daily at Saint Arem without effecting any thing of importance They spent some daies onely in sending to visit the pretendents and their deputies to make vnto them offers of iustice and likewise to receiue from them thanks for their good dispositions wherin all aboured to shew themselues protectors of the libertie of the Realme and most of all such as least desired it And for that the going and comming to Almeryn was very incōmodious being forced to passe the water without a bridge that by this reason in communicating the affaires to the rest of the States that is to the Cleargie and nobilitie by treating with the Gouernours they lost much time it was propounded in councel to reduce all togither yet could they not effect it for manie of the Deputies began to want money for their ordinarie charges desiring rather to be dismissed then vnited They desired to depart saying that they were not furnishèd frō their cities but as they were not discharged so were they not relieued
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