say some but repented afterward that they laboured not to contend rather by law or warre which questionlesse had not wanted because the Lord Dom Edward sonne to the infant Dom Edward brother to the said King D. Iohn 3. then liued who was a Lord endued with many singular vertues and as a legitimate Prince borne of Kings by the ligue masculine did euermore claime the succession of his ancestors in the said kingdome which neuer yet fell vnto the distaffe Hereupon the Portuguezes prayed to God so instantly with so many processions fasts prayers and teares that it might please him to giue them a Lord and Prince Thus by diuine grace was Dom Sebastian giuen to the Portuguezes the first time and thus now againe he giues him the second time An answere to the third demand For manie causes right reuerend Lord it was not necessarie for the King Dom Sebastian to discouer himselfe in Barbary of al which we wil alleage but two The first if he had manifested himselfe he had run into great danger of his lifes losse for his enemie could not more easily haue put him to death then in Barbarie There are a great number of officers kept in pay who giue them such morsels which is called the Boccon or poisoned bit as the poore patient cannot by anie meanes escape they limit them to the yeare moneth daies what shall I say to verie houres and moments The second if Muley Hamet had got him into his power the least that he would haue demaunded for his ransome had been the cities and townes which the Portuguezes possesse in Barbarie This had beene a small gift for him Tanger Arzile Mazagan and the other places which the Kings of Portugall do hold in Barbarie Neuerthelesse Septa had bin great losse to Christendom for it is the key of Affricke and Europe And the Moores hauing that in their own power at all times and whensoeuer they were thereto disposed they might passe into Spaine an hundred thousand horse and more and from Spaine post to other parts of Europe as somtimes they did when they were not so well inured to warre nor expert in Armes Our histories of Portugall doe tell vs that the infant Dom Fernand being taken by the Moores in the field of the citie of Tanger as he there held his siege some few daies after they came to demaund for his raunsome onely the citie of Septa which his father the King Dom Iohn of worthie memorie the Bastard had won from the Mores The king that then was Dom Edward for the singular loue he bare to his brother resolued with his people who loued the Prince entirely to giue what they had demaunded The infant Dom Fernand being aduertised of his brothers kind respect and the peoples goodwill to him likewise found the meanes to write secretly vnto them that they should be very carefull what they did saying God forbid that by my occasion Christendome should endure such a damage I had rather be partaker among an hundred thousand martyrs or die in captiuitie in the Infidels custodie then cause such a manifest daunger to all Christendome The Mores following still their motion yet vsing the infant and his companie with extreame crueltie came to the knowledge that it was hindred much more by the said infant then the king his brother whereupon they began to intreate him in farre better manner that he might the gladlier consent to his owne redemption But they could no way worke him to preferre his owne particular benefite before the weale publique of Christendome So that the Moores growing much displeased hereat put him into an iron prison without any bed or seate and so placed him before the gates of the citie of Marocco giuing him daily to eate certaine ounces of bread and a little water to drinke After some few moneths this holy Lord rendred his spirit to his Creator in that rigorous prison suffering a glorious martirdome for the common good of all Christians after the example of his Lord Iesus Christ redeemer of the whole world His bodie is buried in the Couent of our Ladie of victorie which is of mine Order commonly called de la Battaille in the Chappell of king D. Iohn his father where God in regard of him did continually many miracles for aduancement of the Christian faith The religious Fathers of the said Couent on the day of his death do not vse to sing any Masse of Requiem but that of all Saints because he was not canonized nor yet beatified wherin he is contained amongst them Frier Ierome de Ramos a religious man of mine Order writ a booke concerning the life of this glorious Saint in the Portugall language Which booke I beleeue that the king Dom Sebastian hath both seene and read and that in imitation of the said Saint who was brother to his fourth grandfather I am certainely perswaded that he hauing so apt meanes to conceale himselfe would not be discouered for should he haue there bene reuealed to the Mores they might haue come and demaunded for his ransome the townes and cities elsewhere set downe nay the citie of Septa it selfe And doubtlesse the Portuguezes would haue giuen them all nay rather much more for the libertie of a King so good so vertuous and so holy whome they loued with such and so great affection as if he had bene a God and their redeemer The king Dom Sebastian most worthie Lord was naturally so Catholike and christianly addicted that for the adding but of a very pulse breadth of ground to Christendome he would most gladly haue yeelded himselfe captiue And therefore we may well coniecture and credit his good nature that when he could not get away without danger of his life and likewise in respect of Christendomes generall benefite he held it much more glorious for him to die in prison and slauerie in Barbarie then to liue at libertie being Lord and Monarch of the world Thus right reuerend Lord giue we end to the answer of your third demaund An answer to the fourth demaund Some do coniecture that he hath bene amongst the Moores in Barbarie many yeares Which very well be so although such as haue not bene accustomed to frequent that countrey do imagine it impossible and oftentimes it hath so happened to the Portuguezes that they haue liued captiues in Barbarie for the space of 10.12.15.20.25 and 30. yeares without any tidings heard of them all The reason is that al slaues Noble do appertain to the King and such as hold them in their custodie are bound to make like deliuerie to him of them Whereby very often the Lords of the Moores knowing their slaues to be of noble race dissemble with them that they may not lose them and that they may find meanes to be rid of them graunting them for their libertie some reasonable ransome So got out of captiuitie the Prince my Lord Dom Antonio who died at Paris with the title of King of Portugall because he had bene elected
THE STRANGEST ADVENTVRE THAT EVER HAPPENED EITHER in the ages passed or present Containing a discourse concerning the successe of the King of Portugall Dom Sebastian from the time of his voyage into 〈…〉 battell against the 〈…〉 vnto the sixt of 〈…〉 1601. In which Discourse is diuerse curious histories some auncient Prophesies and other matters whereby most euidently appeareth that he whom the Seigneurie of Venice hath held as prisoner for the space of two yeres and twentie two dayes is the right and true king of Portugall Dom Sebastian More a Letter that declareth in what maner he was set at libertie the IV. of December last And beside how he parted from Venice and came to Florence All first done in Spanish then in French and novv lastly translated into English PSAL. CXVII By the Lord is this thing done and it is miraculous in our eyes LONDON Printed for Frances Henson dwelling in the Black-Friers 1601. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE VVILLIAM RIder Lord Maior of this famous Citie of London and to all the rest of the worshipfull Senatours and Aldermen his brethren particularly by name as bound by some fauours Sir Stephen Soame knight M. Iohn Garrard Alderman with the two worshipfull Sheriffes M. Cambell and M. Crauen THe translation of this straunge and admirable discourse right Honorable and right Worshipfull being committed to my trust and I finding it in the French to bee commended from Venice to the most Christian King of France as a matter of truth and absolute assurance lest in his English attire he should wander vnregarded through the worâ— I was the bolder in loue and humble dutie to â—o◠〈◊〉 generall to make your names and titles the 〈◊〉 â—nance to his free passage the same hauing bene◠〈◊〉 before and sufficiently authorised To tell yo◠〈◊〉 poore opinion of it were needlesse because the mâ— sufficiently commends it selfe and in reading it 〈◊〉 satisfie anie curious questioner Onely my humble 〈◊〉 â—uest is that my boldnesse to you may be held blameâ—esse and my poore goodwill accepted but in indiffeâ—t worth So shal I rest yours in anie greater employment and remaine readie at all times with my verie vttermost seruice Your Honours and Worships in all dutie A. M. To the Reader IN the end of the moneth of August last past gentle Reader I receiued a packet of Letters â—n the Italian tongue wherein one was written in faâ—â—â— of the king of Portugal Dom Sebastian who was as then said to be prisoner in Venice This letter was directed to the most Christian king and I caried it with all possible diligence I could vse and caused it to be deliuered to his Maiestie In the same packet there was also a further traduction of the same letter which hauing thus happened to my hands I acquainted diuerse of my friends therewith who made such reckening and esteeme thereof as it were a matter beyond all other most rare and maruellous This letter was of such power as it prouoked and kindled in the hearts of my said friends an extreme loue and affection towards the Prince and begot in them likewise a vehement desire to see him in libertie and peaceable possession of his kingdome as if themselues had bene subiects thereto belonging So referring that to such as were more obliged by dutie and had more particular interest in such businesse after the receipt of this leeter I laboured all I might to vnderstand some tydings of his estate and successe Hauing then learned that a Religious man of the order of the preaching Friers named brother Ioseph Texere a Portuguese one knowne to the greatest and meanest in Europe as also here very well had writteÌ„ to this Citie to a Bishop a friend of his a discourse of matters happening since the said king began to enterprise his Affricke voyage I so much importuned a nephew to the sayd Bishop who kept this discourse in his hands to send to his vncle as no excuses might serue from transferring it to mine The reading thereof was to me so pleasing and agreeable as both it encouraged and cut off all supposition of labour in the speedie writing and copying it out Hauing by this meanes this version in mine owne power I thought I should commit an inexcusable fault if I should reserue to my proper vse such a strange accident and worthy regard Hereupon attending could get conuenient oportunity to the end that euery one might 〈◊〉 the excellent occasions contained in this discourse I concluded â—mit it to the presse accompanied with a letter of the sayd â—s written by him since the sending of the Discourse to the same 〈◊〉 and wherewith it pleased his Lordship to acquaint me Thou 〈◊〉 find courteous Reader at the beginning of this discourse a â—lation of the letter written to his most Christian Maiestie 〈◊〉 is annexed hereunto because it containes some points that are 〈◊〉 subiect of this worke and which deserue both to be seene and 〈◊〉 And ere thou enter into it be not abashed at the title we haue 〈◊〉 it for so soone as thou hast but stept a litle into it thou wilt â—e it to be most apt and conuenable Now because I would conâ— I intreat thee not onely gently to make acceptance hereof but â—end in all parts and places the right of a king whom God and â—e hath endued with infinite graces wise valiant good iust 〈◊〉 though lost in a cause no lesse honorable then Christian Farewell From Lyons this 30. of Ianuarie 1601. The copie of a Letter written by a Venetian Gentleman to his most Christian Maiesty translated out of Italian into French and out of French into English To the most Christian King Henry the fourth King of Fraunce and Nauarre THat great God whose iudgements are alwayes diuerse and contrary to ours disposeth and ordereth al things on earth by different meanes not being comprehensible to our capacities and no body but himselfe can attaine to any certaine knowledge of their issues and effects But as he is full of soueraigne goodnesse of infinite wisedome and admirable prouidence he knowes how to draw good out of euill exalting and raising vp those things which the ignorant world taxes in his imaginations with titles base and abiect That this is most infallible none knowes or hath better approoued then your most Christian Maiestie whose enemies bred and borne in your owne proper kingdome being your liege people vassals and subiects accompanied with strange and forreine aduersaries most vniustly trauersing and persecuting you till you obtained that whereto God and nature had ordained you Neuerthelesse by the assistance of the same God albeit to further effect the better their damnable intentions they tooke the couerture and pretext of Religion your Maiestie did manage those affaires with such wisedome and speed as entring into the whole and lawfull possession of the kingdome their owne eyes could witnesse the vanitie of their pretences and how ill shaped the cloke was that â—id their loose purposes So that the
same difficultie which serued them as their principall obiect to abuse the world withall being broken and disappointed stopt the mouth of their reasons alleaged and wasting their forces and strength held their noses to the ground till they came to knowledge of their owne errors although somewhat too late And much more late had they bene in finding remedie if your most Christian Maiestie moued by your owne â—ind nature and accustomed benignitie had not receiued them â—to grace and fauour So that hence them selues may discerne â—oth what I haue before nowe againe say that the iudgements â—f God are diuerse contrarie to mens who seldome attaine to â—ny perfect accomplishment of their plots and imaginations Nor â—ake I so long a preamble most Christian king to any other â—nd but to serue my selfe with that which I finde fit in my verie â—ule as standing some way bound to speake to your Maiestie in â—uour of the poore and vnfortunate neuerthelesse most happie â—ne day when God shall so please Dom Sebastian the true and â—wfull king of Portugal And to this attempt I bind my selfe the â—ther through the malice of some who for the interest of their eâ—ate onely giue it out in the world and it may be likewise before â—our Maiestie that he is but a sillie foolish Calabrois Wherefore â—ntend by this my letter to make knowne to your Highnesse the â—uth of the matter that when he shall come to the acquaintance 〈◊〉 a king a king so Christian and magnanimous as your Maiestie 〈◊〉 one not to learne what it is to suffer outragious persecutions â—osses and iniustices it may be a meanes to vrge assistaunce to a â—ore prisoned king who desiring this illustrious Seigneurie to â—t him but be seene to such Portegueses as were in this Citie for â—knowledgement of some secret markes which he had naturally â—aractered on his body it might by no meanes be so permitted â—ither he shewed to the world in any sort At length there came â—her a Gentleman of qualitie a Portugueze that brought the â—me markes proued as authenticall vnder the hands of the pubâ—e Notaries and Peeres of Portugal but the honorable Lords of â—s Estate were resolute not to let him see him albeit the prisoner â—de this protestation ensuing to them You say my Lords that â—m not Sebastian king of Portugal let me be seene to my Portuâ—eses yea to all the world and if you find that I am not such as I â—intaine my selfe to be let my head be smitten of Vpon which words I thought good to signifie to your most â—ristian Maiestie some particularities touching the prisoner He â—h the same shape the same hands and feete to wit the right â—re long then the left he beares the same age the same markes â—d gate with the knees bowing inward as Dom Sebastians king 〈◊〉 Portugal did Whereby of diuerse in this citie and other places he hath bene knowne for they accompanied in his voyage to Affricke and had seene him in his kingdome with whom discoursing he put them in mind of sundrie particulars which they had had as then together and were impossible that any other but the King himselfe should know Of all which particular notes I most humbly intreat your Maiestie to heare onely but two There is a merchant here who some fiue and twentie yeres since was wont to trade into Portugall this man being at Lisbon before king Sebastian passed into Affrick mark what befell him As he was vpon the sea shoare stopping his shippe that had receiued a leake he saw a farre off the King comming making a goodly horse wheron he rid to mount and coruet very sprightly vnder him and he not knowing him to be the King this beast quoth he what will he breake his owne necke The King and others of the traine hearing these words gallopped the horse so mainely toward the merchant and made him in such a fearefull taking as the poore man verily thought he should loose his life But when he knew him to be the King he fell to the ground and weeping on his knees desired pardon for he feared lest his lauish tongue might haue made him to be trussed vp The King as he was euer full of clemencie commaunded him to stand vp intreating him verie honorably and bestowing sundrie fauours vpon him Sebastian seeing the same merchant here in our citie before he was arrested as a prisoner demaunded of him vnasked if he remembred such a matter and so acknowledging the one the other diuerse things passed betweene them which happened at that present occasion Moreouer this King I would say this prisoner when he was at Messina knowing that there dwelt a gentleman of a verie famous familie who had accompanied him in his voyage to Affricke he went and found out his house and vpon some priuate passages betweene them they kindly renewed their former acquaintance Besides since his arriuall here in our citie and before his imprisonment he writ diuerse letters to the said gentleman and receiued likewise letters backe againe from him And by his expresse meanes was a man and letters sent into Portugall to sundrie faithfull Lords of that kingdome but we heare that this man so sent to Portugall died in those parts but vnknowne how â—â—ter he had deliuered all or the most part of his letters Notwithâ—anding as afflictions and miseries alters mens minds making â—em forget or lay aside all kindnesse and friendship euen so this â—entleman toucht in this case and to become a subiect to the â—ng of Castile hearing Sebastian was held as a prisoner gaue oâ—er and left off all former acquaintance But I most humbly inâ—eat your Maiestie that in this case you would not stand aloofe â—t beholding the occurrences of this vnhappie King though prisoner yet passing in such sound forme of truth that you â—ould interpose your authoritie and manage this waighty cause â—ith such diligence and dexteritie as your Highnesse hath hereâ—fore giuen accomplishment to affaires much more hote and â—fficult wherein you shall do a worke worthie the name of a â—odly and most Christian King and for which I pray the omniâ—otent Creator to crowne your Maiestie with perpetuall glorie â—d felicitie From Venice this 28. of Iuly M.D.C. The most humble and affectionate seruant in duty to your Maiestie most Christian GIOVANNE CAPVGNANO The Copie of a Discourse concerning the successe of Dom Sebastian King of Portugall since he began his enterprised voyage into Affricke vntill the sixt of Ianuarie this present yeare 1601. Sent by the reuerend Father brother Ioseph Texere Portugueze to a Bishop his friend More a letter of the said Fathers to the same Bishop wherein he declares how the Venetians deliuered out of prison the sayd King of Portugall Dom Sebastian MOST worthie Lord post habitam benedictionem I receiued foure letters from your most worthie Lordship since the end of September hitherto with this last which was deliuered me the two and twentieth of the passed moneth
dated the fourth and came by the way of Paris For which and for all the honours and graces you haue done me in them I often kisse the hands of your sacred selfe They will me that I should answere as one accused to certaine demaunds set downe therein which in obedience to your worthie commaundement I purpose to do and for my better vnderstanding as also all others whatsoeuer the demaunds shall be set downe in order following The first demaund For what cause the King of Portugall Dom Sebastian without leauing any heire vnto his kingdome would put his life in hazard of losing passing at the age of 24. yeares and a halfe into Affrick a countrie of Infidels and a land extreamely hot and vnfaithfull The second demaund What iudgement I make of his life whether he died in the battell or saued himselfe And what I thinke of the bodie that was buried as his in the church of Bethlehem a couent of Monkes of the order of Saint Ierome a league from Lisbon in the beginning of the yeare 1583. The third demaund Wherefore being aliue he would not discouer himselfe that he might be vsed like a King and freed from so great miserie as is well knowne the slaues in Barbarie do endure The fourth demaund Where he hath bene all this long continuance of time and how chance he came to Venice not to France or some other place where without doubt he might haue receiued better entertainment according as appertained to his condition And whether by my sight of him I know him assuredly The fift demaund What they were that procured his libertie What further tidings I haue of him and whether he determine to passe any further then this citie The sixt demaund Admit that this prisoner be the same king of Portugall Dom Sebastian and that by the helpe of God fauour of his most christian Maiestie as also other Princes and estates of Christendome the Seigneurie of Venice do so acknowledge him what meanes and remedies hath he to recouer his kingdomes and to reestablish himselfe in the possession of them An answere to the first demand For answer to the first demand I say that the principall cause which prouoked king Sebastian to passe into Affricke was as being a very christian Prince honorable and iust his enflamed desire to increase christianitie and to make the name of God knowne through the wide vniuerse And as after he came to the yeares of discretion he alwayes maintained and chearished this â—ope so such an apt occasion instantly offering it selfe he did â—mbrace it with all affection But worthy Lord the better to giue notice of what I intend I must deriue my course from higher â—nstances discoursing of the race and successe of the later Barbaâ—ian kings to wit Muley Mahamet Xarifa and Muley Maâ—uco sirnamed Abdelmelech who would terme himselfe the serâ—ant of the most high this the vncle the other the nephew yet both royall pretenders Muley Mahamet father to Muley Hamet the bastard now raigning in Barbary had three legitimate sonnes Muley Abdela Xarifa Muley Abdelmumen and Muley Abdelmelech otherwise called Maluco of whom we now are come to make mention This was a very wise Prince and of mighty valour he ioyned to his owne inheritance all the kingdomes of Barbary and them he discretly gouerned while he liued At point of death he named for principall heire his eldest sonne Muley Abdela Xarifa conditionally that he should giue to his two brothers part of his kingdomes Muley Abdela succeeding thus his father not onely denied to fulfill his commandement but concluded vpon the death of his brethren Who hearing thereof in the city of Miquines where as then they kept tooke counsell to withdraw themselues into Turky and so trauelling thence after they had dispatched some hindring difficulties within a few dayes they arriued with their mother and sister at Tremessen a city of the Turkes At the same time reigned in the kingdome of Fez the onely sonne to Muley Abdela Xarifa named Muley Mahamet Xarifa who by expresse charge sent a man to Tremessen and there he murthered Muley Abdelmumen as he was at his prayers in the Temple Muley Maluco then being at Constantinople where then bare sway the Sultan Selim Muley Abdela aduertised of this murther although himselfe had before procured it made shew as if it displeased him greatly and with chiding his sonne caused iustice afterward to be done on the murtherer After some few yeares his houre of death approching he left as his only heire the sayd Muley Mahamet his sonne without making any mention of his brother Muley Maluco who still kept himselfe at Constantinople intending to request succour of the great Emperour Muley Maluco being certified of his brothers death made such meanes vnto the Sultan Amurath who reigned then after the death of his father Sultan Selim that he gaue him ten gallies for his passage to the realme of Argell or Argiere and commandement to the king of that countrey to leuie so many men as he could and then to accompany him in his owne person till he had seated him in the kingdomes and lands of Barbary Muley Maluco hauing bene at Argiere departed thence in company of the sayd king and with him three thousand Turkish harquebuziers all arriuing together at Tremessen where with ten peeces of artillery and other munition the inhabitants vnited their forces with them From thence he iourneyed with his power into Barbary and there after diuerse fightes with the king his nephew he tooke possession of Teza which was yeelded to him without any resistance And proceeding onward he came to Fez where then was Muley Mahamet with thirty thousand horse and ten thousand harquebuziers there was likewise an Andalusian Colonnell that came and ioyned eighteene hundreth Andalusians with him The ordinance on either side played very roughly Muley Mahamets part did small dammage but Muley Malucos very much discomfiting almost all his nephewes horsemen and forcing them to a speedy flight On the other side the foote after diuerse hote skirmishes came to handy blowes continuing the fight so long and with such fury as darke night was faine to terminate the battell Muley Mahamet beholding his troupes thus vanquished and considering it was beyond his strength to make any further counter-quarrie against his vnckles forces withdrew himselfe into Morocco and such in his company as bare him best affection His vnckle tooke the way to Fez where he was honorably receiued and few dayes after gaue free liberty to Bacha king of Argiere to depart home againe with his men wherof seuen hundreth remained there still with him Muley Maluco vnderstanding that his nephew prepared to charge him with a fresh encounter went thence to Miquines where continuing his resolution within a while after the two armies began to shew themselues neare to the towne of Halé where the vnckle ouerthrew againe his nephew and his forces which amounted to forty thousand horse and ten thousand harquebuziers Muley Mahamet seeing
Sebastian in Affâ—icke all the Portuguezes haue euermore taken him to be liuing and hereby appeareth sufficiently that he is not dead neither was that his body which was buried in Bethlehem Moreouer by the same examples your worthy Lordship may easily iudge that this man held as a prisoner at Venice is the King Dom Sebastian himselfe considering that in two yeares and fiue monethes already passed since he first began to manifest himselfe the Seigneurie continually found from day to day more euident appearance still of truth without encountring any thing whatsoeuer to the contrary or could be beleeued for certaine in all the allegations of the Embassadour from Castile against the prisoner The Lords of this honorabble estate warned by the successe of such false impostors may the better excuse themselues that they haue with such extremity and long delay proceeded against the very person of king Dom Sebastian Which being so and the diuine Oracle ensuing added hereto I hope I haue answered reuerend Lord your second demaund A diuine Oracle worthy to be published and knowne through all the world imprinted at Lisbone in Latine with permission of the holy office in the yeare MDC Brother Stephen de Sampayo Portugueze of the order of the Friers Preachers reader of diuinity in the Vniuersitie of Tolossa To the Reader AS the al-good and most mighty God disposeth things with no lesse oportunity then clemency it is come to passe that since the time of some foure yeares past there hath bene found in Portugall two memories or monuments of most venerable antiquity in a very celebrate Monastery of the order of the Cisteaux which we commonly call the Abbay of Alcobaça as the fathers of that couent searched among their papers and registers for certaine priueledges for their warrant for a kind of vexation whereof it shall be needlesse to speake at this time And in short while after they were presented to Philip II. king of Castile by the Priour Prouinciall of the sayd order and read apart each from other before his Catholike Maiesty and then againe redeliuered backe to the Monastery both which for certaine causes haue bene brought to light and the translation of them conferred with the originall The oath of Dom Alphonso first king of Portugall for approbation and assurance of the vision which he saw the yeare MCXL in the Prouince of Campo d'Ourique I Alphonso first King of Portugall sonne to the famous Earle Henry graund child or sonne to the great King Alphonso before you worthy personages the Archbishop of Braga and the Bishop of Coimbre and Theotonio and you other Lords officers and subiects of my kingdome do sweare vpon this Crosse and on this booke of the most holy Euangelists which I touch with my hands that I a miserall sinner haue seene with mine vnworthy eyes my Lord Iesus Christ spread abroad vpon the crosse in manner following I being with mine armie in the land which is neare to the riuer Tagus in the Prouince of Campo d'Ourique to giue battell to Ismael and to foure other kings of the Moores who had with them infinite thousands of men at armes and my people being somewhat sad and fearefull to behold such a numberlesse multitude of warriours came vnto me and sayd that it would be ouer-much boldnesse in vs to bid them battell Whereupon being very much afflicted with what I heard and saw I began to ponder apart by my selfe what I were best to do In my pauillion I had a booke containing both the old Testament and the new of Iesus Christ I opened it and hapning to reade the victorie of Gedeon I began thus to say to my selfe Thou knowest ô Lord Iesus Christ that for the loue of thee I haue vndertaken this warre against thine enemies Lord it is in thy hand to giue me and mine strength to vanquish these blasphemers of thy name And speaking so I fell asleepe vpon the sayd booke and sleeping I saw an olde man come to me saying Alphonse take good courage for thou shalt vanquish and put to repulse all these Kings here and shalt breake their forces and God shall shew himselfe to thee As I was in this vision suddenly came to me Ferdinand de Sousa gentleman of my chamber who awaking me sayd Sir raise your selfe for here is an olde man come to speake with you Let him enter sayd I if he be any of our friends When the man was come in I knew him to be the same good olde man which I had seene in my vision he sayd vnto me Sir be of good cheare you shall vanquish you shall vanquish and you shall not be vanquished God loues you for he hath cast the eyes of his mercy vpon you and on your race euen to the sixteenth generation wherein your ligne shall be weakened and diminished Neuerthelesse in this diminution and feebling there shall be no want of his diuine fauour and succour He hath commaunded me to tell you that when you do heare in the night ensuing the bell of mine hermitage wherein I haue liued sixtie sixe yeares among the infidels and in the protection of the most high you shall come foorth of your campe all alone without company and he will make his great mercy appeare vnto you I obeyed and prostrating my selfe in reuerence to the ground worshipped the messenger and him that sent him And as I attended in prayer the second watch of the night I heard the bell then armed with my sword and shield I went foorth of the campe Then I saw on my right hand toward the East a bright beame in the element the splendour whereof increased more and more And as I held mine eyes respectiuely fixed on that quarter I saw in that beame shining brighter then the Sunne the blessed Crosse and Iesus Christ crucified thereupon likewise both on the one side and other a multitude of young men seeming verie white whom I accounted to be holy Angels When I had beheld this vision I layd by my sword shield and garment put off my shoes and being prostrated along vpon the earth I wept abundantly then going to intreate strength and preseruation for my subiects without any trouble I spake in this manner Lord to what ende dost thou shew thy selfe to me wouldst thou increase the faith of him that only beleeues in thee It were better Lord that these infidels should see thee to the end that they might beleeue as for my selfe from the day of my baptisme I haue knowne and acknowledged thee the true God Sonne of the Virgin and the Father eternall This crosse was of admirable greatnesse and eleuated from the earth about ten Cubites and the Lord with a sweete sound of his voyce which I heard with mine vnworthy eares sayd to me I do not appeare vnto thee in this sort for increase of thy faith but to comfort thy heart against this battell and to fixe the chiefest Princes of this kingdome vpon a firme rocke Courage Alphonso for thou shalt not onely
vanquish and be conquerour in this battell but likewise in all other which thou shalt fight against the enemies of the crosse Thou shalt find thy men cheerfully disposed to the battell and in the name of a king they will require thee to enter the fight make thou no doubt at all but liberally graunt whatsoeuer they demaund For I build and destroy both Empires and Kingdomes and I will establish an Empire in thee and thy posterity to the end that my name may be spread and augmented euen vnto the very vttermost nations And that thy successours may know that I haue giuen thee thy kingdome the Scutchion of your armies shall be fully beautified with the price whereby I bought mankind and of those wherewith the Iewes bought sold me this shall be to me a sanctified kingdome for presâ—auation of the faith and louing of pietie Hauing heard these wordes I worshipped and sayd For what merites O Lord doth it please thee to shew me so great grace I will do whatsoeuer thou hast commanded me and Lord looke fauourably on my posterity as thou hast promised me and keepe my people of Portugall safe and sound But if any misaduenture be to be endured conuert it Lord rather against me and my successours and pardon my people whom I loue as my onely sonne Which the Lord shewing me he would consent vnto Neuer quoth he shall my mercie part from thee nor thine for by them I am to prepare a great haruest and them haue I chosen for my haruest labourers in lands farre remote This sayd he vanished and I full of confidence and contentment returned to my campe And that these matters hapned thus I king Alphonso sweare by the holy Gospels of Christ Iesus which I touch with these my hands Wherefore I commaund my successours that shall come for euer that they beare in their armes fiue Scutchions parted in forme of a crosse because of the crosse and the fiue wounds of Iesus Christ and in each of them thirtie pence and on the top or Crest the Serpent of Moses being the figure of Iesus Christ And that this may be a memoriall to our generation whosoeuer shall go against it let him be cursed of God and with the traytor Iudas eternally tormented in hell Giuen at Coimbre the 29. of October MCXL S. Archbishop of Braga P. Bishop of Coimbre T. Prâ—our Gonsalo de Sousa Atturney of Guimaranyes Pelayo Mendes Atturney of Braga Soâ—â—o Martius Atturney of Coimbre Fernand Pires cup-bearer to the King Pero Payes ensigne-bearer to the King Vasco Sanâ—hes Alphonso Mendes geuernour of Lisbone Mendo Pirez for Albert great Chauncellor to the King I Alphonso king of Portugall I Thomas de la Croix notary publicke Apostolicke and Secretary to the Legate in these realmes of Portugall haue corrected this copie of the oath of D. Alphonso of glorious memory according to the perfect originall which is sealed with fiue seales at labels hanging the two for most whereof seeme to be those of the Archbishop of Braga and the Bishop of Coimbre and the other two lowest to wit the fourth and fift belong to two of those Lords that are named in the role Lastly that in the midst is the seale of the king hauing fiue Scutchions arraunged in the forme of a crosse anâ— in each of them thirty pence according aâ— aunciently the sayd king and his successours were accustomed to beare in their armes All the rest of the seales are in red waxe except the kings seale which is of natural virgin waxe or rather as it is coÌ„monly called white waxe The rest are hanged at labels of the same color red but that of the kings is fastened to a label cut out of the same parchment being altogether whole and sound without harme Thus do I certifie maintaine all this to be true as I am a Notarie according to the oath wherto I stand obliged by reasoÌ„ of mind office In affirmatioÌ„ wherof I haue subscribed to this writing sealed it with my seale publicke accustomed at Lâ—boâ—e the 4. of NoueÌ„ber 1599. being thereunto prayed and requested Thomas de la Croix A testimoniall of Alphonso the first king of Portugall for a vassellage or free money by him granted IN the name of God because it is necessarie that euerie faithfull man should do his part to the Ministers of God of those goods which he hath receiued from the Soueraigne giuer of all things to the end that by their meanes he may be made partaker of the heauenly treasures I Alphonso not long since created by the grace of God King of Portugall and for that cause feeling my selfe to stand more obliged then any other desirous to offer vnto the most High my bodie and all my best meanes that both I and any successours might raigne for euer acknowledge first to hold our kingdome at the hand of God who made a gifter therof to me to the end that with firme heart and perfect charitie I should defend the Christian faith against the outragious Infidels and that I should enrich the holy Church with the reuenues of my Realme for performance whereof it should be a holy kingdome loued of God and established for euer And because I haue alreadie rendred my selfe tributarie and all such as shall appertaine to me to the blessed S. Peter and his successours desiring likewise to haue him my aduocate to God and his blessed mother by the consent of my subiects who by their vertue without any straunge helpe haue established me on this my royal throne I appoint and constitute as well for me as for my successours that my selfe my kingdome my race and them that shall come after me shall be in the safegard protection defence and patronage of the most glorious virgin Marie de Clairuaux Ordaining and commaunding to euery one of my successours that shall come lawfully to the inheritance of this kingdome euery yeare to pay and giue in manner of a fee-monie or tribute and of vassellage to the said church of our Lady of Clairuaux which is of the Order of the Cisteaux situate in the Realme of France 〈◊〉 the diocesse of Langres fiftie Marauedis of gold pure fine 〈◊〉 â—ll and good But if it happen that any one of the said Moâ—rie enter or passe by our demeane where there is builded any Monasterie the persons and goods of such a one shall be vnder the rule and patronage of the King so that he shall not be molested disquieted troubled nor deceiued of his goods by any one And if it happen that they be restored to their former libertie in what houre time or moment it shall so come to passe at their best aduantage let them do as they see cause And because the goods of such Monasteries and persons may be as goods royall the King shall haue so much care of them as he ought to haue if they were properly his owne And if any King or Tyrant which we hope that none such shall be borne
vrsum conteret sceptruÌ„ eâ—us possidebit c. In tractatu qui incipit Requiritis à me ô illâ—strissima turba Danaûm lib. 2. In English thus The compressing Eagle the name whereof is inestimably written in fiue markes shall destroy the minister of iniquitie bruise the Beare and shall possesse his scepter c. In the Treatise that beginneth You require of me O illustrious company of Grecians The second booke An explication of some pointes contained in this Discourse In the Epistle to the Reader THe cause why the religious persons of Alcobaça sought among their papers some priuiledges and Donations of the Kings of Portugall was because his Maiestie Catholique Dom Philip II. King of Castille pretended to sell the iurisdiction of seuen townes whereof the said Monasterie is Lord. And because this diuine Oracle was imprinted at Lisbone it was made dangerous to declare the said cause Wherefore the father Doctor Sampayo said by way of parenthesis that it was not good to speake of it at that time In the Oath of the King Dom Alphonso The said King commaunded to his successours to come to the field with their shield of armes containing fiue scutchions fashioned like a crosse in each of which should be figured the thirtie pence for which our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was sold c. as more plainly is declared by the Notarie Apostolike Thomas de la Croix in his certificate assuring that they were so figured on the seales It may be that this commandement was obserued at the first beginning of the Realmes of Portugall but whether since then to this present we do not find that it hath bin kept chiefly since the raigne of Alphonso third of that name and fift king of Portugall who was Earle of Bullen in Fraunce He adioyned to the crowne of Portugal the Realmes of Algarbes which were giuen him by Dom Alphonso le sage King of Castille and Emperour of the East in dower of mariage with Domne Beatrix his daughter not to meddle at al with the crosse the first armes of Portugall for first of all Portugall bare for armes a shield argent without any other thing he placed round about the shield which coÌ„tained the fiue that fashioned the said Crosse seuen scutchions of gold in a field Geules which are the armes of the realmes of Algarbes and since then to this present the kings of Portugall haue euermore held the same armes as they do at this day Stephen Garibay in his abridgement of the history of Spaine speaking of the Armes and Colours cals those Castelles of the Realmes of the Algarbes which engirt the Scutchion of the armes of Portugal Orla in French Geule or a border affirming that no other kingdome of Europe beares them but Portugall By which reason we may say that the Geule or border which we see about the armes of Fraunce to wit that of the order of S. Michael and that of the holy Ghost of the Golden Fleece in Burgundie and that of the Garter in England c. are but borrowed thence Now to returne to our armes the King Dom Emanuel seeing himselfe in Europe Lord of the kingdome of Portugall and of the Realme of the Algarbe which is in the prouince of Spaine in Affricke of the other Realme of Algarbe which is in the prouince of Barbarie of all the coast of Guinee euen to the Cape de bonne Esperance and from thence vnto the red sea and of a great number of the Isles situate in the sea of the said Affrica in Asia of the Realme of Goa and of a verie spacious Monarchie considering he held nine Kings his subiects and tributaries and foure Queenes in America of Bresil a prouince of very large extension he bare a Sphere for his deuice which signified the rule that Portugall had in the foure quarters of the world Adioying likewise the Crosse of the Order of the warfare of Iesus Christ because the King of Portugall being graund maister of the said Order is Lord of diuerse lands and townes in Portugal and of all the authoritie which the Portugueses possesse abroad from thence And because sundrie persons haue demaunded of me how they should vnderstand these Scutchions and pence I here tell them that the fiue Scutchions in the Azure field set in one shield the field whereof is Argent each of them figured with fiue white pence do signifie fiue kings Moores vanquished by one Christian king The kings of the Moores subdued are Ismael and his foure confederates the vanquisher is the king Dom Alphonso the first king of Portugall from whom grew this commaundement As for the pence because many haue alleaged to me that in the fiue Scutchions there are but xxv pence and not thirtie as other Authors and my selfe haue written I should be infinitely eased if in remouing their doubt they wold but heare me Would you find thirtie pence Count first of all the three Scutchions aboue and below which containe fifteene pence next them that are trauersed on the right side so that that in the midst be counted twise considering it spreads vnto either hand and there you shall find other fifteene pence which ioyned to the first complete the number of thirtie and thus they may rest satisfied in their demaund To the Testimoniall of vassellage and feoffement And because I haue already rendred my selfe tributary and all such as shall appertaine to me to the blessed S. Peter and his successours c. WE finde in the histories of Portugall that in the yeare 1169. when Pope Alexander the sixt approued the election of the King D. Alphonso and confirmed his kingdome to him the king by the consent of his Portugueses made the said kingdome feudatarie to the holy Church of Rome promising to pay as in tribute euery yeare two pounds of gold In the time since there is no memoriall found at all that this tribute hath bene payd as likewise none of our Historians do shew vnto vs that these fiftie Maruedies of gold haue bene payed to the Monasterie of our Ladie of Clairueaux And me thinks worthy Lord that it were not much from the purpose to make here a digression thereby to acquaint your reuerend worthinesse vpon what reason the king Dom Alphonso had such deuotion to this Monasterie of Nostre dame de Clairuaux The king Dom Alphonso and S. Bernard did both liue at that time and the king being informed of the wisedome learning and reformed life of this holy man and what miracles God wrought by his meanes in fauour and for the benefite of the faithful he began verie quickly to receiue him into good grace and opinion At this verie time the king had sent his sonne Sanche to besiege the Citie of Santeren called by the auncient Tordules Sâ—alabis of Scabelisque the first founder and by the Romanes Presidium Iulium by the Christians Santirenae by reason of the holy Irena a virgin a Martyr who suffred death there for the Christian faith in the yeare
vse this language to you I trust God him selfe will illuminate your reuerend vnderstanding to behold how deare an interest you haue in this cause From Venice the xii of October 1600. The seruant and brother to your fatherhood Frier Stephen de Sampayo Another Letter from Dom Iohn de Castro To the worthie Sir Doctoâ— Texere Counsellour and Almoner to the most Christâ—n King chiefe Almoner to my Lord the Prince and Confessour to Madame the Princesse his mother At Paris in the couent of the Iacobius SIR I am extremely astonished being the man that you are and so well knowne for a Portuguese that you should at anie time couet anie thing more then the freedome of Portugall that you make so small account of this incredible maruell concerning the king Dom Sebastian the only prize of all that kingdomes best aduentures considering it is now so manie yeares since that you employed yourselfe in this businesse with no small seruice vnto the said Lord. You haue seene the whole discourse along of this matter by letters as well from my selfe as others and because the former which I writ vnto you were but briefly handled as committing what remained ouerplus to better leisure I am now determined for diuerse good respectes to touch more largely yet as briefly as I can the verie foundation and ground of the whole worke The King Dom Sebastian who in the yeare 1578. lost himselfe in the battell of Affricke he whom the enemie cals a Caâ—aâ—oâ—s is the verie same prisoner which is now detained here euen as certainly as you are Frier Ioseph and my selfe Dom Iohn He departed safe and aliue from the battell but verie sore wouÌ„ded God hauing so deliuered him with some other of his companie among whom was the Duke of Aueyro And hauing gone the better part of the world about the end of his peregrination he resolued to liue priuate in an Hermitage where after some time passed he was inspired by God that he should returne againâ— to Portugall to gouerne his kingdome The selfe same inspiration was likewise giuen to an Hermite in the companie of whom he â—ad liued which Hermite reuealed many things very secret to him touching this matter for which cause he departed from the place where he abode to accomplish what the Spirit of God had inspired and enioyned him to So he arriued in Sicilie in the yeare 1598. where he entertained foure or fiue seruants for he went before without companie with whom he embarked himselfe at Messina in a Galley belonging to his Holinesse to 〈◊〉 for Rome purposing to discouer himselfe to his said Holiâ— When he was come neare Rome those fellowes 〈…〉 entertained for his seruants robbed and despoiled him of 〈◊〉 had leauing him both poore and naked so that he was 〈◊〉 to seeke to needie and verie wretched people who besto◠〈◊〉 â—omewhat on him for the honor of God This mishap made him alter his former purpose and thâ— poore miserable man was glad to trace all Italie in hope to find the theeues that had thus despoiled him In the end hearing no tidings at all of them he retired to this Citie the aboue named yeare in the moneth of Iune hauing about him but one poore Gazete a peece of mony valuing three Liards of France In this maner he lodged at a needie wretched house where he remained some dayes not being knowne Afterward diuerse particularly began to listen after him for they heard that he called himselfe first a Knight of the Crosse and then afterward the King Dom Sebastian As this brute ran abrode Antonio de Brito Pimentel Pantaleon Pessoa and many others came oftentimes to see him at his lodging and by occasion of this rumour which spread it selfe more and more through the Citie chaunging his lodging he fell by misfortune into the hands of vile men which being but verie bare themselues yet gaue him clothes and food at their charges He got verie euill reputation by the companie of such people which was the principal cause or his strange misaduenture He was with those companions at Padoa whereof this Seigneurie being aduertised by the Ambassador of Castille and of some tumults made among them to forestall such inconueniences as might ensue they sent to the Podestat of Padoa that he should by coÌ„mandement cause him to auoid the Towne within certaine houres and by like certaine dayes to depart the places belonging to their Estate Hereupon for some speciall reasons best knowne to himself he returned againe vnto this Citie where the Seigneurs thereof at the instance of the said Ambassadour who assured them that he was but a thiefe and a seductour prouing it by the testimony of Iewish merchants Portugueses and other persons of selfsame honest qualitie who tooke their oathes he was not the King Sebastian because the true King died in the battell of Affricke neither did he resemble him in any degree imputing to him many and verie enormous crimes they sent to apprehend him and as a malefactour committed him to verie close imprisonment notwithstanding there were many persons both before and since his commitment that had knowne him verie well in Portugall and affirmed him to be the true king Dom Sebastian At his first questioning withall he declared to the Lords his mishap in Affrica and in what maner God had deliuered him After to diuerse others he did the like and perceiuing they would search into all his secrets yet vsing him verie hardly being a King and one that had no way preiudiced their estate vpon his naturall and wonted inclination to choler moued in a subiect of such iustice and equitie he refused to make them anie more direct answers but one while said one thing then againe another neuerthelesse he euermore maintained him selfe to be the true king Dom Sebastian desiring the Lords therein to beleeue him and if they approued him not to be the same then to chastise him iustly as a false deceiuer which as yet to this instant they would neuer do nor yet permit him to be seene by any He is in a certaine prison where no man may enter or speake to the prisoners neither may one write vnto him on perill of the saylours life if he should but consent thereto He hath endured verie great pouerties and passed through many hard trauerses being no lesse reproched and misprised then the basest prisoners with him His life is very religious addicted altogether to prayer and fasting feeding but on bread water most dayes in the weeke And yet notwithstanding this austere abstinence he is verie strong as I haue heard by one of the prisoners released out of that prison who departed thence greatly affectionate to him seeming to loue him highly and reported matters maruellous of his strength and other good parts As for the exteriour markes of his bodie he wants not one of them which he had when as he raigned the selfe same lip looke head bodie armes thighes legges and feete not fayling of anie one
girdle-sted downe to the knees he is very long 5. The right legge is longer then the left 6. The right foote greater then the other 7. The toes almost equall 8. On the little toe of the right foote he hath a wart so increasing as it appeares to be like a sixt toe 9. The instep or necke of the foote very high raised vp 10. On the one shoulder is a seale or marke of the greatnesse of a Vinten of Portugall such a peece of money as a French peece of three blankes the very least and auncientest 11. On the right shoulder toward the chine of the necke he hath a blacke scarre of the largenesse of ones little naile 12. He hath little pimples on his face and hands and very apparant but such as knowes it not cannot discerne them 13. He hath the left side of his body shorter then the right so that he halts a little without any perceiuing 14. He lackes one tooth on the right side in the neather â—aw 15. He hath the fluxe of seed or Gonorrhaea 16. He doth abound in a signall very secret that is to be spoken of when need shall require 17. Besides these secrets and signes he hath many other which my easily be seene as the fingers of the hands long and the nailes likewise 18. The lip of Austriche like his graundfather Charles the fift Emperour father to his mother and of his graundmother Catherine Queene of Portugall mother to his father sister to the sayd Charles the fift 19. His feete little and his legs crooked c. All these markes were borne with him 20. He hath many markes of the harquebuze on his left arme which he receiued in the battell of Affricke 21. Another marke or wound vpon the head 22. Another vpon the right eye-brow â—e copie of a letter written by a Gentleâ— a Portuguese to the most excellent Prince â—he Lord Dom Emanuell sonne to the Lord Dom Antonio elect king of Portugall abiding at Dort in Holland â—e out of Portuguese into Castillian out of Castillian into French and lastly out of French into English â—Ost excellent Lord in the separation which was made at Florence of the Portuguezes who had at Venice procuâ—e deliuerance and freedome of the King of Portugall Dom â—ian our Lord the choise for Fraunce was committed to my â— Dom Christophero your brother Dom Iohn de Castro â— Manuell and Frances Antoine they went by the way of â—ne and from thence intended to go to Marseilles Manuell â—ito and Sebastian Figuera they went for Rome frier Chryâ—e for Parma frier Stephen de Sampayo and Rodrigo Marâ— â—ooke another course as all the others did My direction was â—e States of Holland whither it was not possible for me to â—y Germany in regard of the reasons you shall reade in this â—urse Sebastian Figuera told vs that he had written to you â—e the whole passage touching the King our Lord and vs â—s letters by the ordinary way of Lions Now because it may â— out that those letters are not as yet arriued at you or might â—ps be lost by the way I determined with my selfe in regard may be with you in fewer dayes then I can come to see your â—lency to giue you aduertisement by these letters of all the â—e passages since we arriued at Venice â—he Lord Dom Christophero being at Rome had intelligence â—ters from Doctor Sampayo and other Lords how needfull â—s for him to succor the affaires of our Lord the king Dom Seâ—aâ— For which cause he left Rome bringing in his company â—uell de Brito my selfe Frances Antoine came vnto vs the 18. of NoueÌ„ber the 28. we arriued at Venice where being with other Portuguezes we were enformed of the businesse and what was expedient to be done for him Certaine daies after the Lord Dom Christophero required audience which was giuen him on Monday the 11. of December Before he entred to the Senate he was caused to sit downe without in a chamber richly hung with tapistrie where he attended till he should be called in They gaue him the seate on the right hand of the Prince speaking to him termed him Illustrissime when these courtesies had bin done him he gaue in writing what he desired The same day the Prince with aboue two hundred of the principall Seigneurs of that State entred to Councell touching the matter of the king D. Sebastian our Lord this assembly is called the Pregay there they determine of matters graue and important The Tuesday following the Pregay held againe for the same cause The wednesday being S. Lucies day the Pregay held not at all because they then made election of an Attourney They sate againe the Thurseday and the Friday following the case was concluded At night after ten a clocke the King our Lord was called to the Senate where to him was intimated the selfe intimation which had bene made to him by the Podestate of Padoa the yeare 1598. It is said that when the king entred the Senate and while the decree of his sentence was reading all the Seigneurs were vp on their feete and noted him with very much respect The king being gone from the Senate went presently without admitting the companie of any one though many made offer of themselues to the lodging of his first host maister Frances where I had diuerse times seene him before his imprisonment Thither came Rodrigo Marques and Sebastian Figuera who at first sight of him was much astonished because he found him verie different from him whome he had seene in Portugall and in Barbarie the verie same day of our ouerthrowe flying foure leagues distance from the field of battaile But when he had well considered the forme of his face the dimples the browe the eyes nose and Austrich lippe which is not now so plumpe as when he was in Portugall because then he was in good plight and now verie meagre his speech and the other parts of his bodie he suddenly sent â—o Marques to aduertise the Lord Dom Christophero â—f and the other Portugueses They thought it meete that â—ing should bee brought to the lodging of Don Iohn de â—o and Diego Manuel as being a house more retired from â—oples haunt of the Citie then that belonging to Maister â—es and so it was done Thither resorted all the Portugueâ—â—ccept the father Doctor Sampayo and Frier Chrysostome â—eing ouerlated went to the Monasterie of S. Dominicke â— is of the aduocation as I thinke of S. Iohn and S. Paule â—rs and brethren neither was there the Chanon nor the â—deacon who was gone to Rome 〈◊〉 the King sawe vs all there together he prayed vs that we 〈◊〉 examine him and know if he were the true king of Porâ— Don Sebastian or no and he would haue vnclothed himâ— to shew vs the secret marks of his bodie which we would â—ffer because Dom Iohn de Castro had alreadie known him â—ently and principally by his speech for as he beganne to â—e his voice was