and Townes holding the party of the king deceased did conuey themselues into Portugall where they were receiued by the king Fernand and had most honourable entertainment with most notable fauours rich presents and incredible gifts which hee gaue vnto them most bountifully In so much that from thenceforth the Castres did continue still and inhabit in Portugall from whom are descended those which are there of that name now at this day Hierom Guliel cap. 23. fol. 81 pag. 2. The like happened to Diego Lopez Pacheco a Portugall albeit not for so iust and honourable a cause who going from Portugall into Castile for being charged with the death of the Queene Dame Iues de Castro in the time of the king Don Peter of Portugall hee was then created Lord of Beiar and his children also made Lords of other peoples of whom the Marquesse of Villana the Dukes of Escalon and many other great Lords haue their descent and originall In like manner in the time of king Juan of Portugall of happy memory Alias Iohn the Acugnas and Pimentels went into Castile and of them are descended directly in the line masculine the Dukes of Ossuna and Counties of Benauent and in a manner all the Princes and Lords of Castile and Dame Iulian de Lancastre Duchesse of Auero in Portugall Now at this day the Nobilitie of Spaine doth greatly want such places of refuge and sanctuarie and now The Nobilitie of Spain want places of refuge and sanctuary at this day the least Prouost or Marshall is sufficient to arrest the greatest Lord of the countrey yea though it were the brother of the King himselfe in so much that the Princes and Lords of Spaine doe as heartily desire to see some Realme or Prouince set at libertie as they doe their owne safetie The sorrow griefe of the Princes and Lords of Spaine to see the inuasion vsurpation of Portugal the desire they haue to see it at libertie None can tell how great an affliction and notable a misery famine is but hee that wanteth bread to eat and the Nobilitie of Spaine doth at this day with great griefe finde that to be true which they most of all feared in the time of Charles the fifth whose greatnesse they had euen then suspected and for this cause they did shew themselues mightily aggrieued at such time as King Philip did enterprise the vsurpation of Portugall Conestagio a Genouois in the booke which he hath written in fauour of the sayd Philip and which is intituled The vnion of the Realme of Portugall with the Crowne of Castile doth tell vs both the one and the other of these matters And although in that worke of his there be many true reports yet we doe know him for a great and notable Lyer and euen the very first word of that booke is an vntruth in that he hath entituled it The vnion of Portugall with the Crowne of Castile The oth of K. Philip. for king Philip in the assembly of estate which he held at Tomar in the yeare 1581. where the Portugals against their wills and by force did receiue him for their king promised and sware with a solemne oath neuer to intermingle the matter and affaires of Portugall with those of Castile The Explication of the Genealogy of the French K. now raigning The authour whereof was Frier Ioseph Texere but to keepe for euer the Monarchy of Portugall entire in the same estate and in the same manner as the kings his precessors had alwayes preserued and maintained it paying all the pensions fees and wages to all the officers of the kings house both Spirituall and Temporall in like sort as they were payd in the times of the true and good kings forepassed Somewhat of this matter a man may see in the end of the booke of Explication of the Genealogie of his most Christian Maiestie where it is spoken of the first king of Castile Moreouer the said Conestagio as a man of a maligne and peruerse spirit is a most vngratefull enemy of that nation which hath both aduanced and honoured him For wee knew him at Lisbon when he serued Anthonio Caulo and afterwards with Stephen Lercaro 3. fol. 62. a Marchant of Genoa He hath in his booke these words In Castile this succession gaue great matter whereof both to muse and to talke both in priuate and in publike for that the king caused the Estate of Portugall to be vnited to his other Realmes and Dominions not caring how nor in what fashion it were done so it were effected The which the Nobilitie tooke very ill in so much as it seeemeth that all the great men of Spaine since the time of Charles the fifth to this day could not away nor like of the greatnesse of the king because thereof it hath proceeded that hee maketh lesse reckoning of them then did the ancient kings of Castile and hee constraineth them to be equall to their inferiours as well in iustice as otherwise If Don Antonio king of Portugall were liuing hee could witnesse how after that the enemie was entred into Portugall with a huge armie and had taken Lisbon hee being then in the towne of Badaios many Lords of Castile did offer him to haue entrance into the sayd towne and did promise him all their best aide and assistance to seize vpon the enemie himselfe The which the said Prince could not effect nor put in execution for that within few dayes after he was dispossessed of all the realme in the citie of Puerto of Portugall He could also certifie vs how that seeing in these parts many great Lords of Castile did send vnto him offring him their seruice and assistance in case that he would set foot in Portugall the which matter he communicated if I bee not deceiued to the king and principall Lords of France and principally to the estate and Councell of England Notwithstanding touching this desire of libertie it is a matter which doth principally touch the Princes great Lords and Hijos de Algo of Spaine For as concerning those masters of the long robe and the rascall sort of Castilians they take a pleasure in this their slauery and seruitude vnder the king because they alone doe command and rule all and triumphing ouer others haue the principall and chiefe managing of all the affaires of the Realme yea and euen the gouernment of the king himselfe in their owne hands And although they doe hate him most extremely and doe wish ill enough to his person yet notwithstanding they doe wish so well to their owne country and doe so delight to see themselues to haue the command ouer all others that if they know any thing either in publike or in priuat which might hinder and endamage his tyrannie they will not faile onely in regard thereof to aduertise him of it such is the naturall disposition of the Castilians Iosephus de bello Iudaice lib. 1. cap. 3. who being issued and sprung
and puissant doe despoile and consume the others who are of lesse puissance Now we know that there are two especiall reasons for which the Authour hath prolonged and drawne out at length this his Discourse enriching it with Histories so singular and beautifying it with such rare authorities and examples The former is for that as he hath endeuoured liuely to depaint vnto vs our enemy and to make vs know the naturall disposion of those Nations of whom we haue great cause to take good heed seeing that all that which he hath spoken doth set forward this his intent and purpose he saw it would not be any inconuenience to vse therein some prolixity If a man by compact as bound thereto by another or of his owne proper motion and free will and vpon curiosity would vndertake a voyage of some three or foure leagues not hauing any time prefixed nor limited for dispatch thereof what harme would it be vnto him if in his passage he doe find some Gardens where he may recreate and refresh himselfe from the trauell and wearisomenesse of the way So doe you my Masters reade this Treatise at your pleasure vse it for your recreation and take your delight in the sweete odours of her flowres and pleasant posies You neede make no great hast there is no man that doth vrge you thereto A second reason of the prolixity of this Treatise is for that as the Author is driuen of necessity to handle the vertues and the vices of diuers persons and sundry Nations so his will was that each of them should haue his due desert the good and those that haue done well praise and honour but the euill and vitious blame and reprehension In the end of this Treatise you shall find the explication which he promiseth Fol. 143 in the which there are many things both of great curiosity and also as necessary to the matter in hand as any of the rest For that in knowledge vnderstanding and experience hee doth farre exceed me as his worke doth shew apparantly Touching the which briefly I dare not affirme any thing but this that each word of his is a sentence and that each sentence containeth many I must confesse that to some persons in particular his Treatise will be ill accepted but what remedy he hath spoken but the truth and what he affirmeth he proueth and hee alledgeth nothing without his Authour to iustifie it And truly I for my part am of this opinion that it is not against reason to publish the wickednesse and vices of some one particular person which being true may be made knowne to euery man especially when the knowledge thereof may redound to the great good and benefit of the weale publike But to come to an end let me entreat you to take in good part that which I haue said A Table made by the Author of the principall things contained in this Treatise THe reasons which haue mooued Philip king of Castile to stirre vp warre in Fraunce and what opinion he hath of the French page 2. The league in Fraunce imitateth that in Spaine in the yeare 1463. page 4. Philip against his promise causeth the captaine Anthonie to hanged page 4. What paines and labour Philip hath taken to procure warre against the most Christian king Henrie the 3. deceassed by the meane of the king now being and of the promises which he hath made vnto his Maiestie for that purpose page 6. The great desire which the late king Henrie the third had to haue set Portugall at libertie page 8. That Portugall is the cause of the warre in Fraunce page 8. How necessarie and important a thing it is that the enemie haue warre made vpon him in his owne countrie page 8. What the nature and disposition is of the naturall Spaniards page 15. What sorrow and griefe the Princes and Lords of Spaine did take to see the inuasion and vsurpation of Portugall and what desire they haue to see it deliuerer page 17. The malice of the Castiliannation and their disloyalty against strangers when they haue any occasion offered them to domineere and rule ouer them page 19. The enmitie and hatred of the Castilians against the Portugals page 22. The loyaltie and fidelitie of the Portugal page 24. The cause why Portugall was not restored to her libertie in the yeare 1589 when the king Don Anthonio drew the English into Portugall with a true declaration of that voyage page 27. The great riches found at Lisbon page 29. The reason why so many faults were committed in that Armie of the English page 33. That the most Christian king and the Princes and Potentates of Europe haue very great cause and interest to hinder the Portugals from according with the Castilian page 33. A deduction of certaine reasons betweene the Author and a Frenchman vpon the voyage which it behoueth the French to make into Spaine and what losses they haue had for default of putting the same in execution in times past page 36. What the state and condition is of an assailant and of a defendant page 40. That tyrannie and crueltie and a disordinate and dishonest life is the cause of the ruine and destruction of great Estates and Monarchies page 43. The cause wherefore the king Rodericke lost Spaine page 44. That the English heretofore going into Spaine with the Portugals did constraine the kings of Castile to demaund peace in all humilitie and what conditions to their great disaduantage they were constrained to receiue of them and of the valour of the Portugals with the honourable testimonie of the king of Castile and of the force and puissance of Portugall against Spaine from page 50. to 53. Where and by what way Spaine may be inuaded and the enemy easily ruinated page 55. The Portugals most impatient vvhen their honour is in question page 56. How and by what meanes the king of Castile hath so easilie vsurped the realme of Portugall page 57. What and how great the force of Portugall is the negligence of the king Don Anthonio and of his Counsell page 59. The vnlawfull and vniust treaties made by king Philip with Muley Malucco whereof ensued the losse and destruction of the king Don Sebastian And how Philip doth reioyce triumph at the prosperitie of the Turke and for what cause he forbeareth to hinder the Turke from making warre in Europe which he may easily doe page 60. The description of Portugall with the greatnesse riches and puissance thereof page 65. King Philip much addicted to Cosmographie and greatly practised and expert in histories page 70. That the Castilians for these three hundred yeeres last past haue done nothing of any worth without the Portugals page 73. That Portugall is the principall cause of all the warres and reuolts which haue bin since the yeare 1580 euen till this day and will be still if order be not taken to the contrary page 74. How king Philip doth gourmandise and incroch vpon the elections of the Popes
from the race of the Iewes cannot but follow the tracke of their predecessors Today they would follow and honour Antigonus to morrow they would accuse his bountie as a crime of high treason and iudge it to bee little lesse then pride and vanitie and as traitors they abandon and forsake him accusing him before Aristobulus and so be the causers of his death and destruction And therefore most humbly I beseech your Maiesties and all Christian Princes to keepe your selues from the Castilians and not to trust them Good and sound counsell howsoeuer they shew themselues mortal and deadly enemies to their kings and do make neuer so faire semblance that they are well and heartily affected to do you seruice The common sort of Castilians Sir are so maligne and peruerse so full of pride arrogancy ambition The malitious nature of the Castilian nation tyranny and infidelity that Fernand king of Portugall being the right and lawfull heire to the Realmes of Castile and Leon and being called vpon by the people of the same kingdomes who offred to receiue him for their Lord and king the Portugals would in no wise consent therunto saying that they would not haue any thing to doe nor meddle with them no not though it were to command ouer them It was my hap one day to deuise vpon this matter with a noble man of the French kings Councell who seeming much astonished at the report thereof did make mee this answer Certainly this that you tell me doth make me not so much to maruell as that which I haue heard reported of a Fryer Preacher who in the yeare of our Lord 1576. Math. 22. preaching vpon this part of the Gospel Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God c. and thy neighbour as thy selfe said that by this precept God commanded vs not onely to loue our father and mother brothers kinsfolke friends and countreymen but euen heretikes also and strangers Iewes Paynims An example worthy the marking Moores Turkes and the Castilians themselues This happened as it was told him and this Preacher was a religious person of the order of S. Dominicke and he did Preach in a parish Chuâ—ch of Lisbon called Saint Magdalens being one of the principall Churches within the citie and there were present at it the most part of the Gouernours of the towne with many Presidents of the Parliament Councellors Gentlemen and rich Marchants The said noble man shewing himselfe greatly abashed at this report did demand of me how it could be tollerated that this should be spoken openly in the Pulpit and the religious person not punished for it Whereunto I answered that there wanted not any accusers to call him in question for it but the number of them that did beare with him and fauoured him for the franknesse and libertie of this his speech was so great Portugals hold the Castilians to be worse then Infidels that those which did accuse him could not be heard Moreouer it is an ordinary and vsuall thing with the Portugals to say That the Castilians are worse then the Infidels themselues But let them speake the worst of them they can yet will they beare and endure it because they reâ—pe great benefite and aduantage by it The which the sayd Nobleman seeing in sort to make doubt of he did thus reply vnto me Albeit I doe beleeue some part of this you say yet there resteth one thing which is as a scruple in my mind and that is in that as I haue read the Portugals and the Castilians are both of one and the same Prouince and are borne in a manner of one Stock and issued of one Root and doe speake one and the selfe-same Language that is the opinion of Conestagio Conestag lib. 1. fol. 4. pa. 2. of whom we haue before spoken But he sayth he knoweth not what for the Portugals are descended of the Gaules the Celtes and the Braccates and their Language is almost the same with the Latine Tongue But as touching the Castillians we cannot certainely say from whence they are descended Neuerthelesse the best iudgement and coniecture thereof that can be made by circumstances and euident proofes is that they are descended of the Vandals of the Iewes and of the Moores and their Language is in a manner all one with that of the Moores and their pronunciation is all one or much alike Thereof it commeth that the Castillians being in the countrey of the Saracens or of the Turkes they doe soone and very easily denie the Christian Faith and doe turne altogether Turke and Infidell True it is that the Princes great Lords and Hijos de Algo are extracted eyther from the Gothes or from the ancient Spaniards which inhabited the mountaines and the countries of Leon and of Ouiedo and the Prouince of Galitia within which is enclosed the ancient Portugall Conestagio in the same place last before recited sayth that these two Nations doe hate each other most extreamely and hee setteth downe one notable vntruth to wit The vntruth of Conestagio That the hatred of the Portugall doth farre exceed that of the Castillians which is altogether false and vntrue The Portugals doe not hate the Castillians but they abhorre their actions as most wicked and full of crueltie and tyrannie The Castillians on the contrarie because they cannot with any reason hate the actions of the Portugals for that they are good and iust they doe therefore haâ—e their persons who haue so often ouercome vanquished and ill handled them and so much the more for that their numbers were alwayes as a man may say infinite and the Portugals were very few and in comparison of them as nothing The hatred of the Castillians is so certaine against the Portugals that it is vsually spoken in manner of a prouerbe That since the battaile of Alijbarto the Castillians would neuer suffer any to preach vpon the Fryday in the first weeke of Lent on which day the Church vseth to sing that part of the Gospell Matth. 5. where it is said Loue your enemies and therefore they iudge the Portugals to be like themselues and they esteeme them to be of the same nature and disposition as they are Both the one and the others hatred may well be seene by that which Charles the fift said one day to the Colonell Ferras a Portugall who in the warres betweene the sayd Emperour and Francis the first King of France did serue on the French partie against the Imperialists The warres being ended and peace concluded betweene those two Princes the Portugall retyring himselfe into his countrey did passe by the way of Castile where he went to visit the said Charles the fift who knew him very well and did loue him for his valour and doing him great honour in his Court he stayed him there for certaine dayes with him during which time as hee was one day deuising with him very familiarly A speech of Charles the 5. to Captaine Ferras a
the Countie de Altimira and the Leane of S. Iames de Compostella and many other Gentlemen insomuch that they of the citie had resolued that as soone as they should see the Fleet and sea forces of the English to passe the Tower of Bethleem or the Armie by land to giue an assault vnto the citie the Cardinall of Austria would haue embarked himselfe with all his people to passe on the other side of the sea and for this purpose they held all the Gallies and many barkes in a readinesse to set saile Amongst which there were many hired for 300 duckats for the passage of three leagues onely This counsell being ended and Drake himselfe being a boord the ship called the Reuenge did set saile about three houres after noone and tooke his course towards Lisbon Some thought he went to see the channell of Alcacena which is an entry into the Hauen by which men do commonly passe which would auoyd the danger of the Tower of S. Iulian because in this councell where had beene called many old Pylots Portugals Tower of S. Iulian. who were very expert and well acquainted in that sea it was resolued that the Fleet and sea forces should enter that way for their more surety besides that at that time there was water enough for them by reason of the coniunction of the Moone Drake taketh the Sea contrary to the resolution taken in counsel and the winde also was very fauourable vnto them Notwithstanding Drake when it grew towards euening turned the head of his ship to the Westward by reason he was aduertised that there passed by a Fleet of thirty saile of Esterlings of the which hee tooke 25. or 26. But this hindered the resolution formerly taken so as it sorted not to that effect which was purposed And it constrained the Lord Generall Norris The embarking of the army for England the King and the Earle of Essex to embarke themselues the day following and to take the Sea where they met with Drake the Friday following I suppose that this short Discourse which I haue here set downe without specifying of any other the particularities of this expedition will suffice to satisfie the desire of your Maiesties and to shew the cause why there was nothing done in Portugall and that Gods will was not as yet to re-establish her by the meanes of this voyage And I say moreouer that the principall cause The reason why so many faults were committed in the English Armie for Portugall why so many faults and ouersights were committed and that nothing was performed or put in execution according as had been resolued in councell was because this armie was leuiâ—d by Merchants whereas in matters of this kinde Princes onely ought to employ themselues and that with a setled and aduised deliberation in such sort that there ought not any name of an army to be vsed but by and from them onely and they ought to haue more interest therein then any other and ought to be at the whole and onely costs and charges both of leuying and maintaining of all armed forces And last of all to them alone doth belong the choyse and election both of the Heads and Leaders and of one Generall and chiefe Commander vnto whom as to the Soueraigne all the others should be subiect and obedient See then the reason why the Lord Generall Drake being named and sent by Merchants who were most ingaged in this voyage did frame himself to do that which they would and what came into his owne braine and fancy rather then that which the other Lord Generall Norris did well and wisely aduise and counsell him who was a man of singular experience wisdome and vnderstanding as well in politike gouernment as in deeds of Armes and all matters of warfare For this worthy Lord did striue and labor by all meanes conuenient to haue made a longer abode in Portugall both in the quarters of Lisbon and elsewhere but after that the army had once set sayle the said Lord General Norris could not from thence forward by any entreaties perswade Drake to set foot on land againe in Portugall and not so much as to take one Citie where it was wel knowne that there was not any forces nor any resistance made neyther was there any meane for the enemie eyther to haue succoured it or after the taking thereof to besiege it for one yeere at the least Besides that with the same it is most certaine that they might haue found in Gold Siluer Silkes and Clothes more then a million of Duckats Moreouer the said place might easily haue beene fortified and by that meanes might haue commanded many other places and afterwards money being sent into France England Holland and other parts they might haue leuied and led thither aboue fiftie thousand souldiers sooner then the enemie could haue gotten together fiue thousand And this I thinke will suffice for your Maiesties to vnderstand that which you desire in this behalfe But now let vs returne to the purpose which wee had in hand We haue said that by this one example it may easily be perceiued how faithfull and loyall the Portugall Nation is to them vnto whom they do once promise faith and loyaltie and therefore God graunt that they doe not accord nor vnite themselues to the Castilian and that neyther your Maiesties nor the other Princes and Potentates of Europe doe not consent nor permit them to doe it nor doe giue them occasion to lose the hopes which they yet haue of their libertie And you ought not to attend or stay vpon the death of Philip for it may be that the Portugall will more easily accord with the sonne then with the father And further as the Monarchie of the Castillian is neyther gouerned nor conserued with the sword but by good and sage counsaile so albeit he should die yet the same counsaile continueth and remaineth still Besides for these many yeeres of late it hath beene gouerned without his presence and therefore there is little or no hope for any great change or alteration by his death Now of what great weight and importance this matter will be Don Francisco de Ivara the father of Don Diego de Ivara lately Embassadour at Paris during the League did confesse and make knowne vnto a French Gentleman at Madril in the yeere 1579. The Gentleman is yet liuing and can testifie the truth of that which I will now tell you The said Francis demaunding of that Gentleman who was then newly come from Barbarie where the late King had sent him for certaine of his affaires what newes hee brought out of that Countrey his answere was That the Moores were in a notable feare by reason they had intelligence that the King Catholike did leuie a great Armie to passe into Barbarie to reuenge the death of his Nephew the King Don Sebastian The speech of a Spanish nobleman to a French Gentleman Whereunto the sayd Francis replyed It is not
touching your incredulitie and the opinion which you haue that the loue of a mans countrey doth easily deceiue them and make the remedie of their miseries and seruitude to seeme easie surely wee may with good reason call this incredulitie a blind â—nueiglement and darknesse of vnderstanding and therefore I come once againe to say as I haue sayd and I doe againe and againe aduise you That to send a good and well conducted Armie into Spaine or other parts of his Dominions will be the onely meane to resist and withstand the enemie to breake the course of his designes to beat downe his pride and to destroy his puissance And albeit that this may well be granted to follow by that which hath beene aboue spoken yet I will proue it by one other example onely which being most true maketh very much to our intended purpose Henry Count of Trastamara The Histories of Castise Portugall England c. the bastard sonne of Alphonsus the Iusticier by the aide of the French had slaine the King Don Pedro his lawfull brother Of this Peter there remayned two daughters The youngest Isabel espoused Edmond de Langley the fifth sonne of Edward the third King of England This Edmond hauing gotten sundry victories in fauâ—ur of the Portugals who accompanied him against the Castillians in Spaine did manage those affaires with such prudence and wisdome that he constrayned the sayd Henry King of Castile to accept and receiue of Fernand King of Portugall who was in a manner brought to vtter destruction both he and his whole Realme such conditions of peace as were most ignominious and dishonourable and very preiudiciall both to himselfe his vassalls and subiects In regard of which his notable deedes and deserts the said Edmond was afterwards made Duke of Yorke by Richard the second King of England his Nephew the sonne of Edward the Blacke Prince his eldest brother in a Parliament holden at Westminster in the yere of Christ 1386. Of these two Edmond and Isabell descended the Queene of England likewise named Isabell The other daughter being the eldest of King Peter and called Constance espoused Iohn of Gaunt the fourth brother of the sayd Edmond both by father and mother and Duke of Lancaster by his first wife Blanche who had by him Henry the fourth afterwards King of England and two daughters of which the eldest Philip was Queene of Portugall the wife of Ivan the Bastard Of John of Gaunt and Constance was borne one onely daughter called Katherine of whom we shall hereafter make further mention The said John of Gaunt in regard of his wife Constance did entitle himselfe King of Castile and Leon Guaribay lib. 15. cap. 25. and for the obtayning of his right to that Kingdome hee passed from Gascoigne which was then vnder the Dominion of the English into Spaine with eighteene thousand footmen and two thousand horse where with the aide of the Portugals who were his good friends he tooke the Groigne From thence he went into Portugal out of which he entred into Castile marching euen to the Citie of Burgos which was distant from the place of his departure more then a hundred and twentie Leagues The entry and inuasion of the English with the Portugals into Castile And from the time of his first arriuall he tooke and made himselfe Lord of all the Cities Townes and Castles which hee found in his way besides such as being farther off did come to render and yeeld themselues for very feare and terror And he might easily haue passed on much further if his people had not died who by reason of their disorder which they kept and by their ill rule and demeaning of themselues were oppressed with extreame famine whereof ensued this plague and pestilence amongst them And they were reduced to such necessitie of Victuals The amitie of the French and English out of their owne Countreyes that they were constrayned to haue recourse euen to the Campe of their enemies where then was in fauour of the King Iohn of Castile Lewes Duke of Burbon accompanied with the French forces of whom they demaunded reliefe for the sustentation of their poore and wretched liues The which being perceiued by John the Bastard then elected King of Portugall he complayned to the Duke of Lancaster telling him that he held it not good nor conuenient that his souldiers should goe to entreat with the enemie affirming that these might more endomage him then the others and that therefore he should immediately recall them and forbid them to haue any communication conference or parley with any of the contrary party otherwise that hee would fight against them altogether The valour of Iohn the Bastard King of Portugall Thomas Walsingham and would cause them all to be put to the sword the one for the loue of the other Thomas Walsingham an English Historiographer doth set it downe in these very words and he sayth that the King of Portugall had then with him foure thousand Portugals well armed Some haue esteemed the saying of this Historiographer as very ridiculous or as a meere Brauado onely The valour of the Portugals but they are much deceiued for these foure thousand Portugals hauing their King for their Chiefetaine and Leader had beene sufficient to defeat twentie thousand Castillians The same King with fiue thousand An Historie worthie the marking and so many Portugals and a hundred and fiftie Englishmen did defeat the said Iohn King of Castile both of them being present in person in the battaile of Aljibarot and put him to flight hauing with him foure and thirtie thousand fighting men of the which died vpon the place twelue thousand and there were of prisoners ten thousand taken by foure thousand and so many Portugals and a thousand Englishmen who remained masters of the field for there died in the fight about a thousand Portugals and fiue hundred English who fought as if they had beene Lyons About the same time Don Nunalvres Pereira This Historie is well worthie the marking the battell was called the battel of Valverde Constable of Portugall with three thousand footmen and a thousand horse defeated fiue and twentie thousand Castillians and slew and tooke the principall and chiefe men of Castile The same King before that he came to reigne and afterwards had many victories vpon his enemies no lesse admirable then that other insomuch that a certaine Nobleman of Castile being in speech one day and deuising with his King which was the said John he sayd vnto him Sir I cannot conceiue the cause why the King of Portugall with so few men hath so often vanquished you seeing that you haue alwayes had fiue or six against one of them The King answered him The cause is for that the King of Portugall doth fight against me being accompanied with his children and I combat against him being accompanied with my subiects I am King and Lord of Castile and hee is King and Lord of the
in question for then they will sooner grow to blowes then to words The French Translatour This is a thing most certaine and assured and the Portugals do so regard their hononur and they are so ambitious of the same and it is so recommended vnto them from the father to the sonne that if they should lose but one iot thereof they would grow starke mad as men that had lost all sense and vnderstanding Fernand Magellan his great impatiency and folly Fernand de Magellan a Gentleman of Portugall vpon an opinion that his King had done him much wrong did conceiue such a despight thereof that he fled from Portugall and retired himselfe to the King of Castile purposing to discouer vnto him the enterprise of Peru. Now see the folly or rather madnesse of the man his discontentment proceeded of no other matter but of this for that the King had denied to giue him a pension onely of halfe a Duckat monethly for his sonne for the custome of Portugall is that all the Gentlemen shall take a pension which they call Moradia of the King according to the degrees and qualities of their Nobilities which they doe properly call Fuero and they are to bee enrolled in the bookes of the Kings house which they call the Booke of the Kitchin or the Booke of Matriculation The qualitie of Magellan was to bee one of the Knights of Hidalgo that is to say Feal or one that doth Fealtie his pension was euery moneth three Duckats and hee had a petition to the king that his sonne might be admitted into the same qualitie as himselfe was and that he might haue the like pension Of these demands the King granted the one The reason why Magellan did disco the enterprise of Peru to the king of Castile and refused the other for he accepted his sonne for one of his Knights Feal but hee would not giue any more then two Duckats and a halfe for his pension obseruing therein the custome of his predecessours who did not vse to giue to the children so great a pension as to the fathers saue onely when by the death of their parents they came to succeede them in their inheritance And for as much as in Portugall the manner is that the Nobles haue their place and precedence according to the degree and qualitie of their Nobilitie and they which are of one like degree and qualitie doe take their place each of other according to the quantitie of the ponsion more or lesse which they receiue Magellan did take in so euill part this refusall of the King made vnto his sonne of halfe this duckat onely because by meanes hereof he should lose his precedence that he became most foolishly enraged as a man that had lost all sense and vnderstanding and to shew the extreme griefe and sorrow which he tooke for the losse of so small an honour he purchased to himselfe the name and estimation of a Traitor and for such a one doe all histories recount him because he did not performe that duâ—ie and deuoire to his king which he ought him but did giue it vnto a stranger and he was the occasion that things came to that passe that the two realmes of Portugall and Castile were vpon the point to haue fallen at variance each with other So that it was the extreme and ambitious desire of honour which made Magellan thus mad and will worke the like effect with all true Portugals and it was not the desire of getting a little piece of money as some haue taken it and haue not been ashamed to set downe as much in writing for the matter and subiect incident hereunto doe shew the contrary I speake not this without cause for that S. Goulart de Senlis in his translation imprinted at Paris by N. Bonfons in the yeare 1587. and in the three and twentieth Discourse doth affirme as much The words of Osorius touching this matter Hier. Osorius of the deeds of Emanuel klng of Portugall lib. 11. are these Notwithstanding the Portugals for that they are vnmeasurably desirous of honour and doe thinke that their Nobilitie is greatly increased and augmented by the adding of a little money vnto their liuing that they do oftentimes imagine and are perswaded that they ought stoutly to fight and contend for such a small summe of money as if their whole safetie reputation and dignitie did depend thereupon This being so you will say perhaps that it is greatly to be wondred at how the Castilians should then bee able so easilie to subdue and conquer the realme of Portugall as they haue done the same being so great and so puissant a Monarchie Hereunto I answer that it would be a long and tedious matter to recount all the reasons thereof and in verie trueth it so happened rather for want of resolution then for any defect of colour or courage for the Castilians are not better souldiers then the Portugals as we haue before shewed and it did well appeare how about fiue thousand foot and some thousand horse did defend themselues for the space of foure moneths and twenty dayes against more then twentie thousand old souldiers vnder the Duke de Alua the others being but new souldiers and plaine country peasants The reasons why the Castilians took Portugal so easily and if there had not beene such abundance and store of treasons it may bee that the Duke himselfe had found but bad entertainment and woult haue passed any further But Portugall was altogether vnprouided of Chieftains and leaders all of them being lately slaine in Africa with their king Conestagio li. 1. fol. 45. pa. 2. as Conestagio in the end of his first booke doth sufficiently set downe vnto vs where he hath these words Sebastian went into Afrike leauing his realme quite and cleane without mony without any of the Nobilitie without any to succeed or inherit it and in the hands of such Gouernors as were but badly affected towards him The Translatour In this battell died the Duke de Aueyro great graund-child of Don Iuan the second king of Portugall two Princes his cousine germans one of the sonnes of Theodosius Duke of Bragancia and one other that was heire to the Marquisat of Ferrara and foure Counties as it is reported in the life of the King Don Sebastian by a Jew Duard Nonnes de Leon a Iew his book of Censures c. named Duard Nonnes de Leon who contrary to the lawes of Portugall which excludeth all Iewes and such as are descended of the Iewish nation from al honors dignities yet was made of the Councel of the realme of Portugall by the King Catholike who preferred him to that honour onely in recompence of a Booke which hee made called the Booke of Censures and is not onely most infamous but full of hereticall vnaduised propositions it was written against Frier Ioseph Texere a Portugall of the order of the Friers Preachers who is at this day a personage greatly renowned
hath extended Religion in Affrique hee hath euen of late against the institutions of the order of the Knights of the Religion of Iesus Christ and others concluded and made peace in Barbarie with the Infidels to the intent hee might with the more commoditie make warre in Europe against the Christians And what doeth hee at this day against the Turke but onely dallie and trifle with him Touching the third of your propositions histories doe well recount and all men may assure themselues how much hee loueth the Ecclesiasticall persons and what reuerence hee beareth to them that are religious In times past it was neuer seene that any Ecclesiasticall or religious person hath beene put to death in Spaine for any matters concerning the estate The greatest crueltie and most rigorous seuere iustice that the Arrian Princes shewed vppon them for being contrarie to their opinions was to imprison them and to keepe them enclosed within Monasteries True it is that of some of them they did put out the eyes and afterwards some Princes did cause them to be put to death secretly in prison but as for the gallowes and such like infamous deaths they knew not what it meant saue onely since the reigne of his Maiestie that will be held for so great and so good a Catholike And I for my part do beleeue that he is no lesse and yet I know he is but a very bad Christian for I make no doubt but he beleeueth all that which the holy Catholike Apostolike Romane Church our mother teacheth and instructeth vs howbeit I know full well that he doth not obserue any of the precepts commanded in the Decalogue And as concerning the rest of your allegations made in his excuse although that Philip hath builded vp a great number of Monasteries and many Churches endowing them with rich reuenues yet all this will not make me but that I must needes take him and acknowledge him for a notable tyrant and a most cruell Prince Historiographers haue written largely of the cruelty of Brunhault Brunhault caused ten kings of France to be put to death howbeit that some would excuse her and doe attribute this fault vnto the first Writers and they doe affirme that shee caused to be put to death ten seuerall Kings in France and many other persons of great quality Also they write of her that shee caused a great number of Churches to be builded and did prouide them of so great goods and riches that it is a very strange thing to be reported See what Gaguin Gaguin writeth thereof in so much that if a man would compare the charge and expences of Brunhault with the meanes shee had he would greatly maruell how this woman was able in one age to build so many Temples and assigne vnto them also so good and large reuenues Now Brunhault hath deserued another manner of praise and commendation for vsing so great liberality towards the Church then doth Philip because shee gaue of her owne and Philip giueth of other mens In Spaine they finde great fault with those that will steale a sheepe and will giue the feete for Gods sake and so doth his Catholike Maiesty hee draweth from the Clergy Tercias Subsidio Pila Escusado in so much See the meaning of these words a little after that of ten he taketh at the least fiue and one Prelate payeth more vnto him then 2000 labourers or 4000 Gentlemen See then how liberall he is to the Clergy and by the meanes of these feete of his sheepe hee buildeth vp Monasteries and other Churches and endoweth them with great reuenues Moreouer who is he that hath medled with setting to sale the Townes and Castles which were of the iurisdiction and vassals of the Church It is your great friend Philip whom you accompt so vertuous and so Catholike The Translator Tercias is the third part of the rent which a Prelate receiueth yeerely out of his Benefice or Spirituall liuing Subsidio is an ouerplus and certaine summe which he payeth out of the two third parts which remaine and of other reuenues appertaining to his estate Pila is that summe which he taketh of all the Parish Churches in Spaine namely of euery Parishioner that is of them that are of any wealth he taketh the tithes or tenth part And some of the regular persons who doe possesse anâ— hâ—ritages in the same Parish doe helpe to pay this tribute after the rate The Regulars themselues doe pay tithe also of all that which they possesse euen to the Apples Oranges and other fruits of their Gardens Escusado is a certaine summe which the Clergy both Ecclesiastical and Regular persons because they may not beare armes doe pay vnto the King Catholike to be excused in that behalfe Obiection I know well you will reply vnto me and alledge that the rents of the Churches of Spaine are so great and excessiue that although the Prelates doe pay vnto their King the one halfe of them yet they doe all of them still continue and remaine rich because there be some Prelates in Spaine which haue greater reuenues yeerely then 50 or 60 Prelats in France Answer Hereunto I answer that although it be so yet his Catholike Maiesty may not spoile the Church of her goods which Princes and others Catholike and deuout persons haue giuen vnto her And if the dowry of any Damosell or maiden be priuiledged how much more ought that so to be which is giuen to God and to our Lady and to the Saints who as Histories doe specifie haue foughten visibly and really and haue beene seene in sundry battels personally doing of great miracles And therefore seeing that his Catholike Maiesty doth take away from the Churches that which is giuen them for the causes and reasons by vs alledged he committeth fraud and sacriledge which may be an occasion that hee himselfe may happen ere he die or his successors for him to repay the same againe For this cause did Nebuchadnezzar wander vp and downe for many yeeres in the fields in the shape of a brute beast Daniel 4. and Balthazar his sonne saw that horrible vision of a hand writing vpon a wall his future death and destruction Daniel 5. Acts 5. Ananias and Saphira his wife fell downe dead at the feete of Saint Peter We haue many examples touching this matter in the holy Scriptures and many more in pâ—ophane Writers and there is a great number of them euen in Spaine especially in Castile The Queene Dame Viraca the Daughter of Alphonsus the sixt Emperour The common Histories of Spaine going out of the Church of S. Isidore with the riches which shee had taken thence fell downe dead at the Church doore Don Alphonsus the warriour her Husband for the like matter was vanquished by the Moores in the battell of Fraga and was neuer more seene nor heard of after that time neither aliue nor dead The King Don Henry brother germane to the mother of Saint Lewes being but a ladde
foretold and as it were prophecied as the prinâ—ipall counsellers of estate both in Fraunce in England can well testifie both all this which is come to passe in this behalfe and hath also foreshewed all that which hath beene lost in Fraunce and to what end and issue things will grow at the last if there be not some better order taken in these affaires And I beleeue that if they were demanded the question they will tell you how I haue passed away my time with as great griefe and discontentment as a man possibly might do to see the enemy daily to prosper and to waxe more proud and arrogant by your owne proper sufferance consent and wilfulnesse for this cause I am in a manner wholly resolued to leaue and abandon the conuersation of men to retire withdraw my selfe into some solitary mountaine Notwithstanding because I know and am acquainted with all that hath befalne for these 50 yeeres last past in the greatest part of Europe I doe therefore tell you as one that hath had experience of these matters that as yet you may recouer if you will all that which hitherto you haue lost and both deliuer your friends and bridle your enemies And you may take such order that the time to come shall be more happy and fortunate vnto you then the time already past hath beene And moreouer I doe assure you that sithens the losse of great part of Christendome wonne by the Turke the late losse of the most part of Germany the hereditary possession of the King of Bohemia all Switzerland with the great hazard of losing all the Netherlands who are now striuing for breath against the King of Spaines mighty powers now in the field which I for my part doe thinke to haue proceeded from the very hand of God as of your louing Father who by a fatherly loue doth chastise you to the end you should awaken you out of your security and negligence I haue beene euer since resolued to set downe in writing that which I haue so often pronounced by word of mouth to so many persons of speciall marke and quality before that euer they did entreat me thereunto And this is the cause that if this my writing doe not produce that publike good and that effect which I desire I protest that from henceforth I will for euer hold my peace and be silent Neuerthelesse I most humbly beseech your Christian Maiesties and all the Princes and Potentates of Europe and all the great Lords and Officers of the Crownes of England and of Fraunce that it would please you to descend into your selues and at your leisure according to your accustomed prudence and wisdome to consider that good fortune and felicity doth not consist so much in the conquest and subduing of great Seigniories and large dominions for the time present with an intent to leaue the same to your successors but rather to assure confirme and preserue them for the time to come to your children and posterity to the intent that when it shall please God to call you hence they may quietly and peaceably enioy them in peace and tranquility without any trouble disquiet or hinderance For it is a farre greater vertue to preserue and keepe that which is gotten then to get and purchase new things daily Non minor est virtus quà m quarere parta tuêri The poore Pilgrime beaten by Time and pesecuted by Fortune P. Ol. I am resolued to make warre vpon the Castillian wherein if you also will beare a part assure your selfe you may account me as one of your most faithfull and surest friends But if you once grow to any termes of peace and amity with him then seeke you some other with whom ye may deliberate vpon that matter AN EXPLICATION OF THE PILGRIME VPON THE PROVERB IF THE COCKErell had not come the Cock had not bene taken And of the loyaltie of Auila and Simanchas in Castile and of Celorico and the Castell of Coimbre in Portugall Item What the diuersitie is betweene the King of Castile and of Spaine and who they bee whom wee call Castillians and what is vnderstood by Cities and Townes HEnry the fourth King of Castile of whom wee haue before spoken being at the point of death If the Cockerel had not come the Cock had not beene taken named foure Executors of his Testament to gouerne the Realme after his death and to marrie his daughter the Ladie Iane two of which Executors to wit Don Aluaro de Estugniga Duke de Areualo and Don Diego Lapez Pacheco Marquis de Vâ—llena ioyning with the Archbishop of Toledo named Don Alphonso Carrillo Don Bertrand de la Cueua Duke de Albuquerke the Maister of Calatraua Don Rodrigo Telles Giron Countie de Vâ—egne Don Iohn Telles Giron hif brother Marquisse of Calis Don Alphonso de Aguilar and manie other great Lords with foureteene Cities of Castile sent vnto Don Alphonso the Affrican King of Portugall praying him that he would take to wife the said Queene Dame Iane the which the King of Portugall accepted against the willes and good liking of many of his Realmes who would not by any manner of meanes haue to doe nor meddle with the Castillians By reason of this mariage in the yeere 1475 Don Alphonso went into the Lands and Countrey of his said wife where he had many encounters and combats with Fernand King of Arragon the Husband of Jsabel the pretended Queene of Castile and with his people till such time as they encountered in the battell which was foughten neere the City of Toro The battell of Toro in March 1476 which was ordered in this manner the King Alphonso had made one Campe of the Lords and Nobles of the Realmes of Castile and Leon with some Portugals the Prince Don Juan his sonne who was come to the succours of his Father had made another Campe of his Portugals without any Castillians mingled amongst them The King Fernand made also two campes the one of the Castillians which tooke his part and his wiues and the other of Arragonois the Catalans the Valencians and such other peoples and Nations as were the subiects of his owne Realmes and Seigniories whereof himselfe was Lord and commaunder Fernand encountring with Alphonso defeated and ouercame him and hauing taken his Guidon royall made him forsake the field and to betake himselfe to flight But the Prince Don Iuan gaue in and charged so resolutely vpon the Castillians that he made them to flie and hauing slaine many of them vpon the place he tooke a great number of prisoners and himselfe remaining whole and entire with his Forces did with singular hardinesse and magnanimity assaile Ferdinand also the vanquisher of his Father and making him to flie did recouer againe the Guydon royall which the said Alphonso his Father had lost The History of Portugall saith that the Prince did great honour vnto a Knight which saued the said Guydon and gaue him an yeerely rent or annuity of
fiue thousand Marauedis which was at that time no small reuenue in comparison of that it is at this pay being about 12 duckats and a halfe allowing 400 Marauedis to each duckat and gratified him with sundry other gifts and great honours Fernand wrote vnto Jsabel the successe of this battell giuing her to vnderstand that if the Prince had not come the King his Father had beene taken Whereupon he returned him this answer that if the Cockerell had not come the Cocke had beene taken and hereof came that prouerbe which wee told you Guaribay sâ—tteth downe these last words and confesseth the very truth Neuerthelesse touching the residue of the History he reporteth a thousand vntruths which may be verified by the History which Damian de Goyes hath written of this Prince Don Juan in the which he saith Damianus de Goyes in the life of the Prince Don Iuan. that the Prince would haue kept and remained in the field where the battell was foughten by the space of three dayes if the Archbishop of Toledo had not disswaded him who with great instance and earnest entreaty caused him to retire into the City because the weather was extreame cold and his men were sore trauelled and wearied and had beene ouer-watched for want of sleepe And he said vnto him Sir your Highnesse hath kept the Field long enough these three houres you haue staied here are as good as three dayes and one houre is as much as three Some write that in memory of this victory King Edward the fourth of England sent vnto this Prince the order of the Garter And the Castillians had such ill successe continually against the Portugals that to grace themselues because the King Alphonso was defeated and forsooke the field though his sonne held the field and remained vanquisher yet they shame not to attribute vnto themselues the honour and victory of this battell Alphonsus Raymond the onely sonne of Vrraca the daughter of Alphonsus the sixt surnamed the Emperor was borne in Auila Auila a City of Castile and was nourished and kept by them of the City during the raigne of Alphonsus King of Aragon called the warriour together with his wife Vrraca Queene of Castile Mother of the said Raymond Now there were great reuolts and troubles in Castile in the which they of Auila following the party of Raymond against the said Alphonsus his Father in Law did so much that the Father in Law was dispossessed of the gouernment and the Sonne in Law was installed in the siege royall And for this cause this word hath passed for a common prouerbe The fidelity of Auila and Auila is for the King Simancas Touching Simancas you are to vnderstand that in the yeere 1463 Henry the 4 raigning in Castile at the perswasion of some of the Princes many other Cities and Townes did reuolt from him and grew into a rebellion which they called The league of the Princes and they entituled themselues Princes of the League And in imitation hereof did Philip King of Castile in the yeere 1582 baptize the League which hath beene the occasion of so many mischiefes and afflictions of which Fraunce hath especially tasted and had experience for these nine yeeres last past This is that League which hath wrought so great damage to the Church of Rome and hath so ruinated and pulled it downe as it shall neede many hundreds of yeeres to restore it againe But to our matter in processe of time the Souldiers of the Kings Army being greatly augmented and their puissance much increased they came to the City of Toro and the King hauing aduertisement that they of the League were issued out of Valladolid and that hauing broken downe and razed the walles of Begnafleur they were gone to Simancas he sent presently Iohn Hernandes Galiude his Captaine Generall with 3000 Horses for the succours of the Towne which being entred into Simancas were besieged by them of the League who notwithstanding were more afraid then those whom they had besieged The Lackies within the Towne who shewed themselues to be of a wonderfull good courage hauing assembled themselues one day in a great number and mocking those that had besieged them did make a picture which represented the Archbishop of Toledo whom because he was a Rebell against his King and Lord they called Don Opas the brother of the Count Iulian who caused the Moores to enter into Spaine against the King Rodericke After which one of the Lackies being appointed for a Iudge Iudgement giuen by the Lackies against the Archbishop of Toledo sate himselfe downe on the iudgement seat commanding the prisoner to be brought before him which was the picture of the Archbishop and he gaue iudgement vpon him in this manner For as much as Don Alphonso Carillo Archbishop of Toledo Guar. lib. 17. cap. 14. following the steppes of the Bishop Don Opas the destroyer of Spaine hath beene a Traytor to his King and naturall Lord rebelling against him with his places and Fortresses and with the money which he put into his hands to doe him seruice For these causes hauing seene and considered of his deserts by his triall wherein hath appeared his wicked practises and felonious offences we doe therefore condemne him to be burned and that he be first trayled and drawne through the streetes and publike places of Simancas and that in the execution thereof the common cryer shall cry and proclaime with a loud voice This is the iustice commanded to be done namely that this cruell Don Opas shall be burnt for his offence and trespasse because hauing receiued diuers places fortresses and monies of his King hee hath notwithstanding reuolted and rebelled against him Quien tal haze que tal pague That is to say So doe so haue The iudgement being pronounced another Lackey taking the picture between his armes with an open cry threw it forth of the Towne hauing in his company more then three hundred Lackies and immediately two of their company made a great fire to burne it not farre from the campe of the enemy who looked on whilest they were doing of it and whilest the picture was in burning all the Lackies together with open throat cryed and sang Esta es Simancas Don Opas Trahidor Y no Penaflor Which is to say This is Simancas Don Opas O thou Traitour And not Pegnastor With many other speeches to that purpose Which song of theirs was for a long time after vsed in Castile and was commonly sung both in the Court and throughout all that Realme Celorico After that the Portugals had deposed Don Sancho surnamed Capelo from his Realme and Kingdome Don Alphonso his brother who was then County of Bologne vpon the Sea was chosen Gouernour of Portugall by the same Portugals This election which they made together with the deposition of the said Sancho was approued and confirmed by Pope Innocent the 4 in a Councell held at Lyons which was the cause that the said Alphonso went
Portugall hee vsed this speech vnto him Captaine Ferras I would gladly know what should be the cause that made you to follow the partie of the French against me seeing wee are of one and the same Nation for albeit you be a Portugall and I a Castillian yet are we both Spaniards The Colonell made him this answere Sir when the Portugals doe trauaile abroad out of their owne countrey whether they be rich or poore their onely end and scope is to get them honour and reputation For mine owne part I had the meanes to liue honestly in my countrey like a Gentleman neuerthelesse being resolued to see the world I began to cast my account with my selfe what course I were best to take Hauing made my reckoning I conceiued with my selfe that I should purchase me more honour by bearing Armes against the greatest Captaine of the World then in taking of his part to serue against any other and for this cause I tooke Armes against your Maiestie The Emperour smyling sayd I beleeue that this is not the cause but rather the old rancour and hatred which the Portugals beare to the Castillians Portugall answered him againe in great choller Sir An excellent answere of a Portugall to Charles the 5. I sweare vnto your Maiestie That neyther for good nor for bad I trouble not my minde with the Castillians not so much as to thinke of them The Emperour making semblance as though this answere did content him did embrace him many times and often but hee iudged of the Portugall as his affection led him for hee had enough of the bloud of a Castillian by his mothers side to make him to hate him A little Leauen c. And thus may you see the vntruth of Conestagio His Historie is well written and in a good style but most false and full of passion for hee both reprehendeth and iniurieth all those of whom hee speaketh yea euen King Philip himselfe in whose fauour hee wrote it and for this cause principally it was forbidden in Portugall But leauing Conestagio now that we haue shewed how the Castillian Nation is much more maligne and peruerse then all the other people of Spaine I will tell you one thing worthy to be noted ere wee proceed which doth more neerely touch the Portugall Nation than any of the rest that is That all those Nations generally are so desirous of libertie that they doe seeke by all meanes possible to obtayne it being readie to receiue euen the Deuils themselues if they would be readie to further and fauour them in the same And yet if any strange Nation should passe into Spaine to any other end they would vse the vttermost of their endeuours to stop their passage and to hinder their entrance making little or no reckoning of their liues and much lesse of their goods and substance When I doe speake of causing strange Nations to passe into Spaine I must tell you thus much That they shall be much more welcome and finde better entertainment of the people of the Countrey when they shall be mingled many and diuers Nations together then if one should goe thither alone for that this diuersitie will take from them all conceit and suspition which they might otherwise haue that their comming were to make a conquest of their countrey and not to procure their libertie and freedome and so they would vndoubtedly receiue them ioyfully and with all assurance In like manner if the Tyrant should commaund them to goe to the warres out of their owne countrey especially if it were for their Religion they would serue him more faithfully then did Auila and Simancas in Castile or Celorico the Castle of Coimbre in Portugall For proofe hereof The meaning hereof is expounded in the end of this Treatise you may remember how in the yeere 1588. the King of Castile in his Fleet and Armie by Sea that came vpon the Coast of France sent two Regiments of Portugals each of them consisting of eight hundred men or thereabouts The loyaltie of the Portugals These forces notwithstanding that in regard of his vsurpation of the countrey they were enemies to him yet hauing promised to serue him faithfully in this voyage in the fight which they had against the Englishmen and Flemings they did make such proofe of their valour that they did farre excell all the rest of the Army in prowesse and deedes of Armes and they alone did more for the seruice of the King of Castile then all the residue of his Allyes insomuch that there was none of them who had command and gouernment in the Army that were receiued with honour by the King Catholike saue only the Portugall Colonels Portugall Colonels in the Armie of the yeere 1588. namely Gasper de Sousa and Antonie Perera The which Perera before that time had serued and fought most valiantly for the defence of the libertie of his Countrey and for the seruice of his true and naturall King against the said King of Castile at such time as hee entred into Portugall with a mightie Army to inuade it In the yeere 1582. when Don Aluar de Bassana Marquesse de Santa Cruce did encounter vpon the Sea with the Lord de Stroce those which fought best and shewed themselues most valiant was the Marquesse de Fauare Marquesse of Fauare a Portugall most true and faithfull to his Countrey and to his King and by whose counsaile and aduertisements a certaine great and excellent seruitor of the estate and of the King Don Antonio had his life preserued besides certaine other Gentlemen his countreymen Who tooke the Ship called the Reuenge The taking of the Reuenge of England belonging to the Queene of England euen Don Lewes Coutigno a Lord of Portugall who before time had beene most true and faithfull to his Countrey and for the defence of his King fighting against the Duke de Alua had receiued many mortall wounds in the battaile of Alcantara the same day that Lisbon was lost which was in the yeere 1580. and the 26. of August And for the more distinct and cleare demonstration of the truth of this matter I will recite vnto you a most true Historie In the yeere 1589. Don Anthonie King of Portugall accompanied with the Englishmen and Hollanders made a Voyage into Portugall and casting anchor in the Hauen of Penicha they of the Castle began to play with their Ordinance vpon the armie but the Captaine of the Castle Anthonio de Arauio a Portugall being ascertained that the king Don Anthonio was in that armie he forbad the Cannoniers to shoot any more and caused a white Ensigne to be put forth vpon sight whereof Don Anthonio commanded that euery man should goe on shore and take their way towards the Towne the which they did not without some resistance made by certaine companies of Castillians who in the end were forced to retyre with the losse of some of their people The first that arriued to the Towne was