of Coimbra many allegations in her behalfe To effect this it was thought necessarie to cite all the pretendents to appeere and produce their reasons the which was sodainly put in execution although in the iudgement of many it was thought out of season seeming more conuenient first to conclude it in parliament and then to effect it whereby it was apparant that the king did gouerne himselfe daily without order or any constant resolution what he woulde doe He did yet foresee that dying before Philip as it was likely the Realme should remaine confused and without a Gouernour which shoulde rule the Realme during the interreigne and that the Noblemen and Commons shoulde presently sweare obedience vnto them and after examine the reasons of the pretendents And although they feared that King Philip woulde be displeased yet they hoped to satisfie him promising it shoulde no way preiudice his title nor any thing delay it but onely to proceede with more grounde as it was conuenient giuing out that King Henrie woulde marrie and send to Rome for a dispensation being a Priest so as being capable of issue it was not expedient to sweare a Prince This matter being concluded amongst fewe and of the chiefest within fewe daies after least it should not seeme to be done in priuate but with a general consent and to choose gouernours Henrie called to Court the three estates of the Realme that is the Clergie the Nobilitie and the Deputies of the cities and townes the which assembled the first day of Aprill in the yeere 1579. in the great hall of the pallace at Lisbone the King hauing before him nine Herolds accompanied with the Duke of Bragance and many Noblemen he went in the scarlet habite of a Cardinall retaining nothing of a king but the scepter being mounted vpon a scaffold of wood prepared at the vpper end of the hal fower steps higher then the Deputies he seated himselfe in a chaire prepared for him couered with cloth of gold vnder a cloth of estate of the same Euerie one being in his ranke according to their ancient degrees Alphonso de Castelbianco a priest stood vp by the Kings commandement at one of the endes of the scaffold who with a long speech after he had a little renewed the sorrowes of their forepassed miseries and mittigated them with hope of a future good hee forgot not to praise the King with all vertues adding that being weake he did not spare his life imploying it to what was profitable to the Realme he compared him in his gouernment to the King of heauen in his loue iustice pitty and sacrificing himselfe for his people he commended this assembly resembling it to the Councels and saide it coulde not erre he concluded the king had there assembled them to propound what was conuenient for the Realme to prouide for it with their aduise The first acte being ended it was decreed that daily the Clergie the Nobilitie and the Deputies of the Realme shoulde assemble a part the which they effected where they found diuersitie of opinions and very different one from an other some of them friendes to the conclusion woulde sodainly haue it determined to whom the Crowne appertained without hearing the pretendents allegations others held the parties should be cited and that they shoulde proceed with deliberation to sentence after instruction of the processe many enclined to haue gouernours others would not heare speake of them euery one taking the course neuer to agree The king hearing of this hauing called the chiefe of his Councell one after one and acquainting them with his resolution he shewed vnto them that it was so conuenient for the libertie of the Realme so as all difficulties accorded they concluded not to make any election of a Prince at that instant but the pretendents being heard the King shoulde iudge to whom the Realme belonged that he might be declared after his death And although God did suffer it may be for a punishment to the Portugals that the King held this Councell for the best yet experience did shewe that it was the woorst course they coulde haue taken for to put the cause in processe did breed vaine hopes in some of the pretendents which after were causes of great ruine to the crowne And to the end the motion of the kings marriage shoulde seeme to be spoken with some grounde they named vnto the estates Edward de Castelbianco to goe to Rome and treate with the Pope for his dispensation they did choose fifteene gentlemen vpon the backe of the rowle whereof the King with his owne hand shoulde write fiue of them which so chosen shoulde gouerne the Realme vntill it were decided who shoulde be King There was also about this nomination of the Gouernours no small controuersie betwixt the King and his Councell of estates for that the king would absolutely name the fiue the Councell woulde not consent vnto it but they would do it And when they were agreed that the Councell should name fifteene and the King choose fiue of them there grew a newe discord among them for the Councell desired to know who should be these fiue some woulde not onely haue them published but also during the Kings life put in possession of the gouernment that after they might be the better obeied but notwithstanding they resolued to keepe it secret yet generally they coniectured and truely who they were They chose also fower and twentie Iudges vpon the backe of the rowle of these the King did name eleuen to iudge the cause of the succession if he shoulde not determine it before his death This was held and chiefly by the Castillians a fault of importance the king shewing himselfe to be ignorant that his roiall iurisdiction did end with his life and that this naming of Gouernours was to rule after his death whereof they had an example with them of Elizabeth Queene of Castill who in vaine prescribed lawes for the gouernment of the Realme after her decease In this sorte the States ended and soone after the Duke of Bragance with the Nobilitie and the Deputies of the Realme sware obedience to such as the king had chosen Gouernours and to him that shoulde be declared king It would not be forgotten the manner of oath the Prior tooke for being called before the king and commanded to sweare to obey the forme aforesaid he answered that he would first speake vnto him The King replied that there was no neede but that he shoulde sweare the which he refusing to doe the king grewe in choler whereupon casting his eies vpon his friendes that were about him as who shoulde say that he was forced to lay his handes vpon the Euangelist against the opinion of many who beleeued he shoulde rather commit some disorder then sweare The Rowle of the Gouernours with the nomination vpon the backe of it was locked vp in a coffer and deliuered to the keeping of the Magistrate of the Chamber of Lisbone the people
should call him before eleuen So as being turned on the other side he remained somtime but being called by the Religious he asked againe what it was a clocke being answered that it was eleuen O giue me said he that candell for now my hower is come and taking it in his hand died soone after hauing raigned seuenteene moneths This was the last King of Portugall in whom ended the direct masculine line And as the first Lord of Portugall although vnder the Title of an Earle was called Henrie so doth it seeme the last should be so termed He was thin of bodie small of stature and leane of his face as for his wit it was indifferent indued besides the Latine toong with some knowledge He was alwaies held to be chast and did neuer blemish this angelicall vertue but with the desire of marriage in his latter daies He was accounted sparing giuing rather then denying for he refused seldome but he gaue sparingly he was ambitious of all iurisdiction as well Ecclesiasticall as ciuil zealous in Religion and the faith yet in the reformation of religious persons he was more stricte then was conuenient He was Bishop Gouernour of the Realme Inquisitor Maior legate Apostolique and King But the more he mounted the more he discouered his incapacitie suffering himselfe in greatest matters to be ruled by his ministers not being able to determine the cause of the succession Opinions were grafted in him with great obstinacie retayning a continuall remembrance of wrongs so as iustice was in him but an iniust execution of his owne passions and for this cause a religious man whom he had pressed to take vpon him a most strict course of life said vnto him that he would obey seeing there was no humaine helpe against his commandements seeing he had the wil of a man the authority of a Pope the execution of a king Finally he was indued with great vertues with fewer lesse vices yet were they equal for he had the vertues of an Ecclesiasticall person and the defects of a Prince during his life he was feared of many and beloued of few so as no man lamented his death onely such as were well affected desiring the cause had beene first decided before his decease had some feeling These things happened in Almeryn where suddenly the fiue named Gouernours did assemble to prouide for that which should be necessarie tearming themselues Gouernours and Protectors of the Realme of Portugal But in this beginning after the kings death they feared some mutinie of the people both at Almeryn and at Lisbone neither did the gouernours themselues nor the Catholique Kings Agents thinke themselues secure They hated the assembly of the Deputies of the Realme which were continued at Saint Arem both for that they held it as a superiour councell as also fearing it might cause some insurrection of the people and therefore they did still abuse them with words differing from their meanings for which cause they sent Martin Gonzalues de la Camera a gentleman of the church who in the time of Sebastian held the first place in the gouerument of the Realme which he could not continue for although he were not couetous of riches but full of integritie yet was he seuere and hard to be intreated that they held him inexorable Him they sent being a popular man and contrarie to the Catholike King whose words they thought should be of more credit then any others hauing particularly reported the Kings death hee said that the Gouernours chosen at the last estates began to looke vnto the gouernment and to giue order for things necessarie to the Realme And although the death of King Henrie were a great losse yet being in heauen he would mediate for them and that they should rest assured that with the greatest zeale and loue to their countrey they could they would indeuour to doe iustice as well to those of the Realme in the pretention they had to the election as also to the pretendents to the succession That they would deliuer them all writings whereof they had neede exhorting them to treat with peace and loue without causing of any mutinie were it neuer so small in any mans fauour and for the better ordering of that which concerned the common good they were well pleased they should put them in minde of any thing which they thought necessarie Hauing ended this speech all men keeping silence Phoebus Moniz answered that they were all assured that of the fiue Gouernours three were suspect for when the King laboured to bring the States to make agreement with King Philip they were not onely conformable to the will of Henrie but did vrge them and commended this resolution without respect of the libertie of the Realme seeking onely to please the Kings humour and their owne interest which being it was not reasonable to suffer such suspected Gouernours whom they were not bound to obey and this was the opinion of them all Martin replied that he was not of opinion they should then alter any thing for in steed of helping they should heape danger vpon danger and trouble vpon trouble that for a while they should be lookers on and if in time they should finde the Gouernours not to doe their duety as they ought they might then helpe with the same remedie seeing they had alwaies authoritie to doe it whereunto although Phoebus Moniz answered that this remedie could not alwais be applied for that the councel could not stil be vnited for the great charges they were at yet the reasons of Martin Gonzalues were of such force that they resolued not to alter the Gouernours as a matter scandalous but accepting what they had sent to be said vnto them that they should aduise what they thought necessarie they began suddenly to set downe in writing such Articles as they would haue perfourmed by the Gouernours The which were that leauing the aboade at Almerin they should goe to Saint Arem to be neerer neighbours more in quiet and in greater safetie that for the auoiding of charge and scandall they should discharge the Souldiers as vnnecessarie That presently they should sende Ambassadors to the Catholique King that as Gouernours of the Realme they would do iustice to the pretendents in the cause of succession the which his Maiestie should beleeue not suffering within his Realme any attempt against Portugall That they should presently prouide for the fortresses of the Realme as well vpon the sea as in other places sending trustie Captaines garrisons and necessarie munition and to euerie Prouince men of great authoritie to force men to defend and succour the weaker parts that they should send some vnto his holines giuing him to vnderstand the Kings death their succession to the gouernment of the Realme for the defence thereof against any one that would vsurpe it contrarie to equitie against the sentence which should be pronounced touching the succession beseeching him to write to the Catholique King to rest
with money although Balthasar de Faria Deputie of Barcellos the Pryor of Saint Steuens and the Bishop of Parma euerie one apart did offer money to such as wanted that the assembly might not be dissolued yet the Deputies vnfurnished would not accept thereof not willing to be bound in their owne proper names for that their cities were bound to furnish them Besides in this assembly the opinions were diuers few inclined to fauour the pretention of the Catholike king many knew not what to resolue a great part were affected to the Prior but all in generall feared the Gouernors mistrusted their proceedings so as besides the aduertisements they sent daily vnto them they did solicite the execution making new demaunds pressing them aboue al to discharge the soldiers They demanded a copie of the authority to gouerne left them by King Henrie the words of his will which concernes the point of succession the which were wholy deliuered vnto them his wil was made 8. moneths before cōtained these words Seeing at the time of my will making I haue no descendents directly to succeed to the Crowne of these realmes and haue called my nephewes which may pretend and haue put the matter of succession in Iustice I do not at this time declare who shall be my successor but leaue it vnto him to whom by right it shall appertaine him I doe declare my heire successor except that before my decease I shall name him that hath this interest And therefore I command all men within these my realmes of what quality soeuer that presētly after I or the iudges appointed shal haue named him to acknowledge him for heir lawful successor so to obey him There followed many other words in recōmendation of iustice religiō but they serued not to this purpose And although his wil contained these words yet they say the King at his death would haue resourmed it declared the Catholike king successour of the realme But the Gouernors desirous to hold the gouernment for a time in their own hands did diuert him saying That whether he made any declaration or not no other then the Catholike king could succeed both by law force that it was not expediēt to nominate him to the end that the realme might with greater aduantage capitulate agree with him Many supposed that they did not disswade the king from this declaration so much for these reasons as fearing it would breed som popular sedition to their hurt being held as autors of the said declaration The limitation which he had left to the Gouernors contained that they could not create Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Bishops nor Archbishops nor giue any commandery nor reuenue which passed 125. duckats But in matters of war reuolutions they might doe giue any thing with the aduise of the councel not otherwise The deputies being satisfied with these writings whilest they debated the reasons of their pretended election Stephen Lopez Doctor deputy of Portalegré spake publikely amongst them who hauing shewed how fit it were to giue God thanks for the quiet they now enioyed said it was not necessary to continue so many deputies stil together with so much trouble so great charge that they should be reduced vnto few the rest returne to their houses And for as much as they were aduertised that the Catholique King began to arme they should surcease from the cause of succession vntill the said King had dismissed his forces and the preparatiues for war he had made for by that meanes the free libertie to treat of the cause and for the pretendents to alleage their interest was taken away That by the suspension of the cause they shall discouer the Catholique Kings disposition in laying aside armes If he doe it it shall breed these good effects That in the meane time they shall haue leisure to prouide for things necessarie to gather in the fruits of the earth and the pretendents shall liue in peace and quiet if he refuse it which we ought not to beleeue of so Christian a Prince then shall they be satisfied and both the States and the pretendents vnited in one bodie may the better defend themselues and when as all things were quietly setled then to determine the cause disabling notwithstanding before all things the saide Catholique King who vsing force when as iustice is offered him for being King of these Realmes And this he said was the disposition of the lawe that in the meane time they should commaund the Pretendents to the Crowne to make their residence in diuers places the one at Elues and the other at Begia as fronter townes swearing not to attempt any thing one against the other The reasons of this Doctor as a man of small account were not followed but the councell being resolued with two others of the States to send six Deputies to Almerin to treat of matters of importance with the Gouernours Thither they sent them with instructions different from this fourme of speech videlicet that the Gouernours should passe to Saint Arem and there make their residence to take a view what armes men and munition the citie of Lisbone had for their defence to supply what wanted to take notice what Captaines be appointed in the fortresses vpon the riuer of Lisbone and being suspected or not valiant to place others with men and other necessaries That they should send armes to all cities of the Realme and traine vp their men with exercise thereof that they should beseech the Pope by his Ambassadours to perswade all the pretendents to take the course of iustice and lay aside armes vpon paine to loose the interest they pretend requiring that Emanuell de Portugal purueyor of the fortresses of the Realme might be restored to the same office whereof the King had suspended him and that they should do the like to Diego Salema and to Aluaro de Morais in their offices in the Chamber of Lisbone And for that they found themselues tobee vnfurnished they would haue all the ships vessels staied throughout all the ports of the realme for the conducting of things necessarie for the war The Gouernors made but a cold answere to these demands as they had done before to all others saying that being matters of so great importāce they would consider of them first then aduertise them what should be done The Cheriffe had as it is said before in the life of King Henrie and at the instance of the Catholique King deliuered the Duke of Barcellos who hauing passed the streight to returne into Portugall being arriued at Gibralter where as afterwardes at Saint Lucar the Duke of Medina Sidonia Lord of those places did him great honour by meanes whereof he spent sometime in sports At this time the newes comming of King Henries death the Duke of Medina thought it a matter importing the Catholique King to deteine the saide Duke of Barcellos
great desire and affection his people of Lisbone beseecheth the Lorde to graunt him a long life for thereon depends all our good hoping that in time it may alter many things which nowe holdeth vs in carefull consideration The wounde of afflictions which this Realme hath suffered is yet so greene and so lamentable as we will not at this present make mention thereof It sufficeth they are such as the memorie will neuer be extinct whilest the worlde continueth and although we be bound to lay the fault vpon our owne offences yet may we attribute a parte to the negligence of the people and of such as at that time did gouerne the common wealth But being expedient not to heape error vpon error it seemes we ought with a liuely voice and due humilitie cry vnto your highnes that as a iust and holy king you woulde preuent the miseries that hang ouer vs It cannot enter into our thoughts to mooue you to marriage being no iudges of your conscience and disposition but we may well say if these two cōsiderations do allow it why do you suffer the delay of one day If you be resolued not to marry your Highnes ought with the like care to say vnto such as pretend to the succession that within a time prefixed they shoulde come to deliuer their reasons that if the successor be a naturall borne the people shal haue some breathing from the afflictions they suffer if he shall be a stranger it seemes conuenient they shoulde know it and haue leisure to aduise what to do For if our sinnes permit that the Lorde shall call away your Highnes being in the state we are now what shall become of vs being most apparant that all such as pretend to haue any title do consult arme plot and measure their forces while the people remaines doubtfull not knowing with reason vnto what part to incline Your Highnes dying in this time before the deciding of the cause we beseech you to cōsider the oppressions they shal suffer the spoilings the murthers the dishonoring of women and holy things and all other excesse which is commonly practised in such times the which may be wholie auoided by knowing who shall succeede vnto the crowne We do solicite your Highnes to sweare a Prince for it may be he that at this present hath interest to this Realme God may call him before your Highnes but the contrary hapning we may plainly knowe who shall succeed for heerein consistes the quiet of this Realme if you do it not willingly or that there be any let you ought to consent that the people declare one especially they of the citie of Lisbone vpon whom all Portugall dependes The holie Ghost who is the guide of kings inspire your Highnes that by his merits the anger of God may be pacified the which he powreth downe vpon vs for our offences and grant that we may amend our liues and preserue your Highnes in health for which all his people praie In this manner the officer of the Chamber spake in vaine but forasmuch as it seemed vnto the king ouer ruled in this respect by the diuine power that the remedie was not so easie nor the matter so soone decided as they supposed he made answere that it was a care grauen in his hart the which he woulde effect with all possible speede resoluing to haue regard vnto it But this succession gaue greater cause both to thinke talke secretlie and openlie in Castill then in anie other place for the King resoluing by all possible meanes to vnite Portugall with his other Kingdomes the Nobilitie did not willingly entertaine it but did seeme that the greatest from Charles the fifth forwards had not tasted the greatnes of the King lesse respecting them then had done the auncient Kings of Castill making them march in one degree of equall iustice with their inferiours The other Gentlemen and common people were nothing enclined to this vnion Saying that if this Realme were not separated from the rest of Spaine they shoulde haue no meanes to marrie their Kings daughters but into other prouinces which were dangerous both for that the women did not inherite and for the heresies wherewith the northren Regions bee at this present infected Manie and of all qualities who holding Portugall as the Sanctuarie of Castill were content with the separation remaining as an assured retreate for offenders It seemed to the King that hee shoulde not onely send a sufficient man thither to performe that office but also that it was necessarie that one of the chiefe of Spaine and best acquainted with the affaires of State shoulde goe to propound the cause of succession For this occasion they named as it is said Gasper Quiroga Cardinall and Archbishop of Toledo Ferdinand Aluares of Tolede Duke of Alua Anthony of Toledo Prior of the order of Saint Iohns master of the Kings Horse Frauncis Pacheco Cardinall of Burgos all principall personages Quiroga was thought verie fit by reason of his dignitie and wisedome togither with the experience he had gotten in the court of Rome hauing beene there long Auditor of the Rota The Duke of Alua for his authoritie experience and wisedome was thought the better for beginning to feare they should come to armes it seemed that he best could treate of the succession and withall sounde the Portugals forces and what succours they might drawe vnto them and afterwardes if neede required being a great captaine coulde by his aduise vndertake the warre with greater assurance Manie did approoue Anthony of Tolledo for besides the opinion they had of his wisedome he was accounted godly religious and otherwise vertuous the which they supposed woulde make him more pleasing vnto Henry But in the iudgement of the most aduised they preferred the Cardinall of Burgos for besides those other good parts which he enioied with the rest he was thought most able to treate the matter of State besides that being a priest and a Cardinall they shoulde seeme to sende vnto Henry a companion But notwithstanding there was not in Spaine any greater personages of like experience vnto these to mannage a matter of so great importance being the greatest that euer was presented vnto this crowne yet the preferred Peter Girone Duke of Ossuna and although his qualitie being great among the greatest of the Realme was woorthie of anie charge accompanied with manie vertues and some other particularities that were necessarie for the voiage notwithstanding some did attribute this election to the ordinarie diseases of the court and to the respects which Kings Councels doe commonly vse inferring thereby that therein he was extraordinarily fauoured by Peter Fassardo Marques de los Veles his kinsman at that time fauoured by the king Some said also and it may be not without grounde that it was not conuenient to sende anie personage into Portugall whose wisedome and iudgement were knowne vnto the worlde to the ende the Portugals shoulde not feare to treate freely with him of all
matters but it was necessarie they shoulde esteeme him affable and curteous to discouer easilie vnto him their minds of which humour the rest were not And although on the one side the Cardinals did seeme fittest to treate with a king who was also a Cardinall they did think on the other side that Henry might take it ill to sende one vnto him who was equall with him in dignitie There hapned at the same time a matter which bred no small woonder in this court and in others likewise the which for that it chaunced to a person of whom we are often to make mention although it be somewhat from our purpose we will not leaue to report The Duke of Alua was banished by the kings commandement to Vzeda fiue and twentie miles from the court for that Fredericke his eldest sonne being taken at Tordefillas a village of that Realme for that he refused to marrie with one of Queene Isabella of Valoys her maides to whom as she said he had promised whilest the king was entreated by her friends to force him to marrie her he by the aduise of his father brake prison and was gone to Alua to marrie with Marie de Toleda his cosen daughter vnto Garcie he which was Generall at sea the which hee effected returning presently vnto the same prison The Duke bare this affliction with great humilitie and constancie so as all hatred ceasing his verie enimies did pittie his miserie This banishment was remarkeable both for his estate age and the notable seruices he had done vnto this crowne as also to see the integritie of the king who notwithstanding the necessitie he seemed to haue of his person in matters of importance that drewe neere could not cause him any thing to dissemble the execution of that which he thought fit for iustice or his reputation It was also remarkeable for the great offices which some Princes did in his fauour but most of all his holines who did instantly sollicite his deliuerie by the meanes of his Nuncio saying that although he coulde not presume of the kings iust intention but that the Dukes imprisonment proceeded from some great cause yet he coulde not in duty but performe this office It was saide this good will of the Pope towards the Duke proceeded from the seruice hee had done vnto the Apostolique seate hauing made long warre against the Infidels and heretikes and also for that which he had done against the Church it selfe effecting that which was conuenient to his king whilest as enimie hee was contrarie vnto it as he did defende it being a friend binding vnto him not onely Paule the fourth who was then Pope but also his successors And it seemes strange that the greatest loue they say the Church had vnto him sproong from the warre which he made against it The Deputies of Castill which were then in court laboured for him and although the king sent them worde they shoulde be contented and not sue vnto him for that he woulde not refuse anie thing they shoulde demaund yet this manner of demaunding and denying serued for a great office The King from the beginning was in hope to make himselfe peaceable Lord of the Realme of Portugall although he were not ignorant of the small inclination the Portugals had vnto him but hee let passe nothing which he thought fit to gaine their loues and to this effect he did write to all the chiefe cities of the Realme his pretention offering and threatning but in the greatest part his letters were not receiued in publike To the citie of Lisbone he did write in this manner Most noble and our welbeloued although I haue appointed Christopher de Mora to saie vnto you some things which you shall vnderstande from him yet woulde I giue you to knowe by my letters that there is no man in this world more then my selfe that hath felt the losse of noble king Sebastian my nephew and of his men The reasons for which I ought to haue this iust feeling are easie to be considered hauing lost a sonne and a friend whom I loued tenderly and in the same degree I held and hold all those that are lost with him for I doe cherish and loue all them of this Realme as my owne subiects And I thinke it is not vnknowne the great diligence I vsed to diuert his iourney as well personally my selfe at Guadalupa as also before and since by my ministers whereof many of the principall of this Realme are good witnesses But not to reuiue so great a griefe let vs lay apart the things which cannot be remedied fixing our eies on the true consolation which is that those afflictions were giuen by the hande of God and suffered by the greatnes of his prouidence we ought likewise particularly to comfort our selues that in this wretched and miserable age this Realme hath gotten for their Gouernour so Christian and wise a Prince as is the king mine vncle whose rare vertues and exemplarie life giueth vs cause with reason to expect that he will settle the present affaires in so peaceable an estate that we shall proceede in all things with the mildenes and gentlenes I wish for the loue I beare to all and singularly for the degree of amitie and affinitie which hath alwaies beene betwixt these two crownes and betwixt my selfe and the Lords of the same Realme being all of one bloud and my selfe and my children nephewes of noble king Emanuel being nourished and brought vp by the Empresse and Ladie my Mother For these causes and considerations I haue as great respect to the king mine vncle and as great cause to wish him a long and happie life as your selues But the affaires of the succession of this Realme being in the estate you know I haue with great consideration and due aduise examined the right which it hath pleased God by his secret iudgments to giue me And causing this action to be viewed by men of great learning and conscience both within mine owne Realme and without all doe finde that without doubt the succession thereof doth rightlie appertaine vnto me and that there liues not any at this day that can with reason contradict me by manie and cleere grounds being a male the eldest as it is apparently knowne And hauing resolued to make this point knowne to the noble King mine vncle with loue and due respect I haue earnestly entreated him that it would please him presently to declare it as he is bounde for the discharge of his conscience and for the bond he hath to doe right and iustice but most of al for that it concernes the preseruation peace rest augmentation and prosperitie of these Realmes and of all the subiects thereof the which hee ought both chiefly to care for and to procure seeing that besides the saide effects it shall cause an other of greater importance which is that which concerneth the seruice of God our Lord the assurance encrease of our holy Catholike faith I
suffered it may be of God for our sinnes proceeded not from any corruption of the Aire but from infection and was brought into the Realme by men and merchandise from countries infected for the citie being a great part vnwalled and of great traffique it could not easily be guarded The naturall inclination of the aire the filch of the citie their feeding of fish which all generally do vse and the ill order nay the great disorder of the magistrate of the health in separating the sicke from the whole and in all other things touching his charge did helpe to increase it The suddennes wherewith it did infect and kill in a manner all those that did frequent the sicke as fire doth in powder strooke a great terrour in the citizens their remedies and diets were most vncertaine for although that many did phisicke themselues diuersly and were gouerned in sundrie manners yet there died infinite numbers of all qualities experience did teach that the application of lenitiue things the drinking of Vnicornes horne and the Bezars stone were most soueraigne remedies yet to manie it did no good The greatest part of the Nobilitie and of such as had ability to do it retyred themselues to their gardaines and farmes in the countrey where although the whole countrey were infected yet did they seeme to liue more assured or at the least out of the infection from the horrible spectacle of dead bodies which were howerly seene in the citie where the mortalitie grew so great that there was nothing to be seene but Beeres with dead bodies for the buriall whereof the churchyards being full they were forced to vse the streets and fieldes At this time were assembled in the citie of Almerin where the king remained all the Deputies of the Realme being called thither The citie of Lisbone made election of Emanuell of Portugall and Diego Salema who went not but were reiected of the King as seditious and depriued of their offices in whose place they made choise of Phoebus Moniz and Emanuel de Sosa pacheco The said Salema was not beloued of the king for that before as Vereador of the citie of Lisbone he saide vnto the king that they vnderstoode he went about not onely to iudge to whom the Realme appertained but also to make a composition the which he ought not to doe without hearing the people whereunto the King hauing answered that the people was not capable of this matter he replied that he woondered the king shoulde iudge this people incapable whom he had held to be most sufficient to raise him to the crowne wherewith Henry was greatly mooued This alteration of Deputies ministred matter of discourse vnto the worlde for it seemed the King had declared himselfe against the people and that not accepting their election of Deputies he woulde drawe by force from the States what he pleased but such as knewe the true reason and howe that Emanuell and all those of the house of Portugall deserued in this case to bee repelled commended this act These were suspect forasmuch as Iohn of Portugall Bishop of Guarda brother to the saide Emanuell alwaies esteemed more then he was woulde not onely precead his equals but did scarce beare any respect vnto the Cardinall before he was king whereof grew a great hart burning so as the Cardinall to debase him hauing drawne foorth a certaine information of his ill behauiour libertie of life and ill gouernment in his Bishopricke sent it to Rome so as the Bishop as it were forced went to his holines to purge himselfe Hee was much grieued with this crosse for passing by the court of Castill the Catholique King being infourmed of his voyage woulde not suffer him to visite him although he were entreated so as now although the Cardinall were come vnto the Crowne their hatred continued and hauing no other meanes of reuenge then to oppose himselfe to his resolutions seeing him enclined to giue the Realme to the Catholique king he laboured all he coulde to let it by meanes whereof he seemed at one instant to be reuenged of two kings for the effecting whereof there conspired togither the Bishop Emanuell his brother Franncis earle of Vimioso his nephew for the cōtrarieties that both Alphonse his father and he had with the Cardinall with other their kinsfolkes and friendes fauouring Anthony Prior of Crato they resolued to make him king trusting to the peoples humors But King Henry hauing discerned the equitie of the Catholique kings cause resolued as it is said to giue him the Realme hauing assembled the States he sent Paule Alphonse a doctor in whom he reposed great trust to Villa Vizosa whereas the Duke and the Dutchesse of Bragance remained giuing them to vnderstande that finding the succession of the Realme to appertaine to Philip and that they were vpon the point to pronounce sentence in his fauour he did aduertise them in time to the end they might make their composition with him But hauing made small account of this aduertisement interpreting it otherwise they did not embrace the occasion the which was likewise represented vnto them by the Catholique king In this time the Estates were begun in the pallace of Almeryn the ninth of Ianuary in the kings presence who being very sicke was brought in his chaire whereas Anthony Pignero bishop of Leiria an eloquent Orator made the oration enriched with a goodly stile saying That the Kings thoughts were bent to procure the generall good of al Christendome the preseruation and encrease of our holie Catholique faith and the peace and tranquillitie of his subiects for the effecting of that which concernes his charge to follow the examples of kings his predecessors progenitors conformeable to the actions of his life passed considering with sound iudgement great experience wise discourse how much it doth import the generall good to declare during his life to whom the lawfull succession of the Realme did appertaine he did apply all his care to the decision of that cause with so great study and zeale that not suffering himselfe any way to be interrupted with the many graue and extraordinary affaires nor by the trouble of his long infirmity he had with the helpe of God brought it to that estate that it might speedily be declared as they had required and ought generally to wish for And seeing the finall decision of the cause was brought to that issue it seemed conuenient to the king to assemble the States and to communicate vnto them some points of great importance for the seruice of God and the good and quiet of these Realmes as they shoulde vnderstande by that which shoulde be particularly deliuered vnto them by his commandement He exhorted them that vsing the my steries which had been presented lately to al faithfull Christians with praiers sacrifices workes of deuotion and charitie they shoulde dispose themselues to receiue the light of that heauenly wisedome which God doth alwaies impart to such as frame
as eldest sonne to the Duke of Bragance and of Katherine chiefe pretendent to the Realme vntill the cause of the succession were decided so as the sports before shewed vnto the saide Duke in courtesie were now redoubled for this other intent detayning him expresly vntill he might receiue answere from the King so as shewing him first one place and then another this yoong Prince was taken vnawares But the Duke of Medina hauing staied certaine carriages vnder colour to shew him some feastes he then conceiued the cause of his detaining and wrote foorthwith vnto his father in Portugall that he should not then expect him and that his detention should not any way preiudice the rights of the Realme preferring iustice before his owne life This letter being come into Portugall was by the Duke his father sent vnto the assembly of the States shewing on the one side a griefe for the detayning of his sonne and on the other side a contentment that in so yong an age he was so great a louer of his countries good offering if need were to sacrifice him for the seruice of the Realme Yet this feare of the Dukes continued not long for hauing written to his son that he should labour to come away or they should make declaration of his staie he was suffered freelie to depart for so the King had commaunded Some say that Philip had long before this consideration hauing meanes to stay him not onely in Spaine but also in Affrique but fearing to incense the Portugals and desirous to make the Duke his friend he had procured his release in Affrick and suffered him safely to depart from Andoluzia into Portugall yet the said Duke of Barcellos or his father by whose commaundement he was directed was noted of some ingratitude for being inuited by Philip to passe by his court as desirous to see him the iealousie of the State of these Realmes preuayled so much that he did not satisfie his desire but tooke his direct way to Villauizosa fearing perhaps a new detention These things passed in Portugall when as in Castill the Catholique King beeing aduertised by his Agents of the death of King Henrie of the small affection the Portugals bare vnto him of the liuely pretention of Authonie and other pretendents and to what estate the matter was brought was greatly discontented seeming he should be forced to take armes for the obtaining of the conclusion of his interest But desirous to satisfie his conscience in the effecting thereof he had formerly the aduise of Diego de Chiaues of the order of preaching Fryers being his confessor and of some other principall Diuines of that order and yet not well satisfied with their opinions least he should seeme onely to follow the aduise of the dominical Fryers he desired likewise to treat with other orders of religious persons and to that intent he sent one to acquaint the chiefe Deuines in Spaine with the cause and to demaund their aduise This care perfourmed not only with the chiefe prelates and readers in Diuinitie but with the Iesuits and the Fryers of Saint Francis all agreede that the Kings right being so apparant he was not bound to represent it otherwise then out of iudgement to King Henrie as he had done and to make his councell and the rest of the Realme of Portugall capable thereof such as with sinceritie of hart would vnderstand the truth and by the mildest meanes procure as he had done that Henry should declare him successor if these diligent proceedings were not sufficient to perswade the King and the Realme that then Philip had sufficiently iustified his cause and that he might assure himselfe by armes without thrusting the succession which was due vnto him into euident perill his person being as it is saide soueraigne exempt and free from all reprehension and onely bound to iustifie his right before God and to signifie it to the King and the Realme saying that this point was now without all doubt since the death of Henrie no man liuing that could pretend any interest in the decision of the cause It appertained not to the Pope being a matter wholy temporall nor agreeing with the circumstances which may giue him any right ouer temporall matters and lesse to the Emperour beeing no way acknowledged by the Realmes of Castill and Portugall and much lesse to certaine Iudges named by Henrie for besides that he could not choose any after his death they were now become the materiall partie and the thing it selfe whereon they pleaded Besides that all the Realme was become insufficient when as making themselues a partie they pretended power to choose a Prince although all this ceased yet would they prooue that no Portugall but was suspect in this cause to be excepted against for the manifest hatred they bare to the Castillian nation They found likewise that he was not bound to submit himselfe to any compremise for besides the difficultie and impossibilitie to finde a trustie person in so dangerous and iealous a cause as this is the bond of compremise is not incident but in a matter of doubt and the definition of doubt is when as the aduocate and Doctors conclude not for any partie finding equiualent reasons for either but in this all being of one agreement the cause is not doubtfull nor to be compremitted The King being resolued to take armes hauing no possession deliuered vnto him prouided for it for this cause he writ to the gouernors to the three estates and to the fiue principall cities to all of one subiect but in diuerse formes after he had lamented the death of his vncle he required them to receaue and sweare him King as King Henry had resolued and declared him to be he thanked the nobility and clergie for their good affection showne when as Henrie had said that the succession appertained vnto him he made offer to all and threatned cunningly he sent to the gouernors a copie of the priuiledges which King Henry had required in the behalfe of the Realme offering to graunt them more amplie then they had bene demaunded protesting if they would not obey to vse force But all these things were receiued and reiected according to the humors of men The gouernors made aunswere they could not resolue vntill the returne of their Ambassadours which they had sent vnto them At this time there was readie at sea as well in Spaine as in Italie about threescore gallies whereof Aluaro de Bassan Marques of Saint Croix was generall the which should saile towards Portugall as the occasion of the time should serue there was yet no generall named for this enterprise and euerie man greedilie expected who should be chosen for that few were thought fit for so great a burthen The Duke of Alua was generallie held most sufficient yet few beleeued that the King would willingly free him from prison the Marques of Mondegiar who was returned from the gouernment of Naples affected this charge many beleeued
he should preuaile in recompence of the discontentment he had to be drawen from Italy Many beleeued the King would goe to this war in person both for the inclination they see in him as for some other signes which were apparant for he not only caused his armes and pauillions to be readie but also commaunded Ferrant de Silua Conte de Cifuentes Guidon Maior of Castill with the Standard Royall to furnish himself the which in that Realme is not accustomed to be carried but in the Squadron where the King is in person but in this case it behooued him to remaine irresolute and to gouerne himselfe according to the necessitie and occasions which time should discouer In this hope of things the King commaunded a Secretarie of the councell of warre to write to the Duke of Alua demaunding of him if he were able to serue in this enterprise whereunto making answere that in that which concerned his Maiestie he neuer made reckoning of his health hee was commaunded to prepare himselfe within three daies and to goe to the campe the which he putting in execution he went to Barrazas a village ten miles from the court which was at Madrill hauing no leaue to come thither but that which caused admiration the king hauing at the same time caused the Prince Diego his sonne to be sworne by all the estates in a Chappell although with ordinarie ceremonies yet with lesse pompe then of custome did not admit the saide Duke to the oath being so neere and so great a personage He did neither write vnto him nor treated with him concerning these warres but long after So as the Duke marching with the armie finding himselfe not fully released from the prison wherein he had beene saide that the King had sent him to conquer Realmes drawing after him chaines and fetters such was the seueritie of Philip and the obedience of so great a minister All Spaine was pleased with this election for besides the deliuery of the Duke which followed they esteemed not the valour of their soldiers without a Commaunder to their mindes and in the Dukes person they helde any armie good The Generall being dispatched the King prouided all things for his iourney into Portugall he caused a daughter borne at that time to be secretly baptized and hauing made the saide prince of Castill to be sworne without calling or the presence of Ferrant de Sylua to his great discontentment the King went to Guadalupa being now the time of Lent vnder colour to performe the obsequies of King Henry there and so to draw neere vnto Portugall to giue encouragement to his affaires and thus did he write to all the principall cities in Spaine He departed from Madrill in coach almost all alone without giuing order for the Queenes departure or for the officers of his Courte notwithstanding cherishing her dearely After he had passed two daies seeming conuenient and a great signe of amitie that being now to enter into Portugall he shoulde be accompanied with his Queene he called her vnto him The Duke was now gone to Glierena where a part of his armie lay being in farre lesser numbers then had beene leuied for that discommodities and sicknesse had consumed many and many places were voide by the Captaines pollicie being in all but fower thousand fiue hundreth Italians three thousand fiue hundreth Germaines and three thousand Spaniards come out of Italy and other seauen thousand newly raised with fifteene hundreth horse which being a body long before prepared for a matter so well foreseene seemed to him but small But the Duke trusting more to the qualitie then the quantitie of his soldiers desired to haue them fewer and of more experience and these seemed in a manner all without knowledge and therefore the King at his entreatie commanded that all the soldiers which were come out of Flaunders into Italy should passe into Spaine being such whom he knew and had tried in the warres yet they arriued not in time but returned backe The Duke saide that surmounting the enimie in horse he would vndertake this warre with twelue thousand foote well experienced neither did he value the great number of the Portugals which assembled as it was giuen out making reckoning to waste them by policie to conquer them without battaile The King being come to Guadalupa there arriued the Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo Embassadors from the Gouernours of Portugall The King with his Councell were doubtfull in what sort to honor them some would haue them treated like subiects without respecting them as Embassadors Others would not haue any thing altered of the ordinarie course obserued in those causes yet not to discourage them it was resolued they should be heard as Embassadors with their heads couered and that the King should put off his hat yet the King had written before to the Gouernors that he would treat with their Commissaries as with subiects These laboured by a long speech to perswade the King to lay aside armes they saide that King Henry had greatly desired to end the question of succession by the ordinarie course of iustice but that death had preuented him he had in the States held at Lisbone in the yeere 1579. not onely chosen Gouernors and defenders of the Realme but the States had also named fower twentie Iudges whereof the King had chosen eleuen to iudge definitiuely the cause of succession if he died before the effecting it the which after hapned and that the matter being brought to that passe the realme remained quiet and peaceable resolute to obey and acknowledge for their Lord and King him in whose fauour sentence should be giuen conformable to the oath which the whole Realme had taken in the said estates the which was after ministred to the same Gouernors in the great church at Lisbone when as the coffer which contained the nomination was opened and therefore they were readie to administer iustice and to acknowledge for King him vnto whom the realme shoulde be iudged by right to appertaine and being thus affected they beseeched his maiesty to command his embassadors to assist iudicially to the cause in the conclusion thereof But the King being assured of his right prouided of forces and seeming no blot to his conscience made answere that he was well pleased with the shew of zeale to the publike good of these realmes and that he was perswaded that what they had propounded proceeded from a good inclination that he would haue bin glad their demand had bin such as he might haue satisfied them the which he wil do alwaies in matter that shall be iust tending to the generall or particular good of these realmes But the equitie of his cause being so apparant to the world remaining no lawfull or competent iudge they neither ought nor could performe the oath which they saide they had taken seeing it were an apparant preiudice to his title and a domage to his owne realmes and therefore he
entreated them presently to resolue to receiue and sweare him for their king and lord as God would haue it they themselues knowing chiefly touching this matter what king Henry thought determined and had resolued and the bond where by they were tied to obey his will in dooing whereof he woulde grant vnto the realme not onely the priuileges which he had set downe the which the Duke of Ossuna should offer in his name but any other they should require being iust and reasonable hoping they woulde take that course which was to be expected from wise men and Christians he would continue his determination The Embassadors seemed not satisfied with this answere but demanding leaue to impart it to the Gouernors they accompanied the king vntill he came to Merryda Now were the Gouernors in Portugall wearied with the Councell of the States desirous to dissolue them and hauing first required a prolonging of the gouernment the King had left vnto them and not obtaining it they did signifie vnto them that the States were ended that the Deputies might returne to their houses leauing only ten of them to treat of matters which should fal out for so small a number might lodge any where being now forced to leaue Almeryn and to take some small place neere the citie of Lisbone being greatly entreated thereunto but the Deputies who had sent Iohn de Noghera to the Vniuersitie of Coimbra to studie the point of their pretēded election hauing receiued answer that the election belonged to the States of the realme they woulde by no meanes be dissolued perswaded thereunto by the bishop of Parma the Prior the chamber of Saint Arem and many particulars offring money to supply their wants but they opposed in vaine For although they had sent to the Gouernors to alleage their reasons in law labouring to prooue that the States were not to be dissolued that their procurations were offorce yet the Gouernors did againe disable them saying their authorities were of no force so as many began to separate themselues and returne to their houses The Gouernors prepared to defend themselues for although the greatest part of them were not of that opinion yet to content the people and to please the other Gouernors and gentlemen of the popular faction it behooued them so to do For this cause they armed their gallions they brought armes from other countries they mustred men for the warre they sent gentlemen throughout all the prouinces of the realme and laboured to imploy such as contrarie to the Catholique Kings faction being present hindered their resolutions who willingly accepted of these charges seeming to haue greater confidence in them then in any other Diego de Meneses was sent into the prouince beyond Tagus Iohn de Vasconcello into Beira Emanuel of Portugall into the mouth of Tagus and many other to diuers parts of the Realme George de Meneses had charge of the armie at sea so as they were all dispersed and the Gouernors had good meanes to effect their desires yet Martyn Gonzalues de la Camera no lesse popular then the rest remained in court of whom the Gouernors grew iealous that hauing imploied him as a mediator betweene them and the States of the realme he was become a superior But the prouision and preparatiues that were made although some vsed all care and diligence seemed rather done for shew and fashion sake then to any effect In Castill they discoursed vpon the manner of this enterprise seeming impossible vnto the Duke to gather togither so many carriages as was necessarie for the conduct of victuals and munition and therefore deuised to transport his forces by sea He determined with few men to keepe them busied in Extremadure to diuert them and vnder colour to hasten the armie to march towards Andelouzia and speedily to imbarke his soldiers at Saint Marie Port to assaile the entrie of the mouth of Lisbone in despite of all the fortresses that were there making account to loose some ships which should by chaunce touch But receiuing certaine aduertisement by men expresly sent into Portugall that there was aboue six thousand chariots to be founde he left this dangerous resolution more for the regard of the sea then the enimies He determined to march to Settuual thinking it necessary to win a port of the sea of so great importāce for the harboring of the nauie for cōming thither laden with victuals he not able to carrie with him by land aboue a moneths prouision it seemed necessarie to ioine the forces prouisions of the sea to them of the land and that therein consisted the victorie with this resolution he went to Merrida where the King remained of whom being receiued with a cheerefull countenance they treated what course the armie should take There grew some diuersitie of opinion betwixt the Duke and some others who perswaded by some confident Portugals would haue the armie march to Almeryn and there passe Tagus at a foord or at Saint Arem vpon bridges that they should force that place being but weake and so they might passe safely to the wals of Lisbone the which without attending any batterie would yeeld presently or it may be before their arriuall for taking from them the victuals from the plaines of Saint Arem they should not onely besiege them by famine but they shoulde so furnish their armie with corne that they shoulde haue no neede of prouision from the fleete the which they should better receiue at Lisbone then at Settuual without hazarding the enteprise and the armie by the dangers of disimbarking which going to Settuual they must be forced to do against the forts vpō the mouth of the riuer and with losse of time in winning of them This opinion seemed so grounded that it required no lesse authoritie or arte to disprooue then the Dukes who being chiefe of this enterprise and to hazard his reputation drew the King to his opinion Philip had likewise enuironed as a man may say all the realme of Portugall with armes though not with mercenarie soldiers yet with such as they coulde assemble togither he commanded all Noblemen whose liuings ioined to the confines of this realme that hauing enrolled the greatest number of their subiects able to beare armes they shoulde be readie at his commandement yet in the meane time they shoulde receiue gently in his name the cities and subiects of Portugall that woulde obey him In Gallicia Peter de Castro Earle of Lemos and Gaspard de Fonsequa Earle of Monteré had the charge against the prouince behinde the mountaines Iohn Pimentel Earle of Benneuent and Diego de Tolledo Earle of Alua In Estremadura Beltramo dela Cueua Duke of Albequerque and Ferrant Anriques Marquesse of Villa Noua against Vera Iohn Pacheco Marquesse of Seraluo and in Algarues Frauncis de Suniga Duke of Besar and Alonso de Gusman of Medina Cidonia In the armie where the Duke of Alua was commander of all both at sea and at
secular power could not iudge him being taken in the Church came running likewise to the place of execution to succour him And had not Damain D' Aguiar a seuere and resolute officer had the charge thereof who suddenly put this sentence in execution there was so great a concourse of people crying and of religious men with their crosses and excommunications that the offender had been easily rescued These disorders displeased the louers of religion and quietnes who blaming somewhat the Friers for not suffering their Prouinciall quietly to ende the terme of his charge yet did they attribute more fault vnto the gouernours for suffering in such a season so publike and rigorous an execution against the religious and chiefly vpon a Monasterie seated vpon the banks of Tagus saying that if for no other reason yet shoulde they haue forborne in respect that many English and French ships anchored there whose men infected with heresie would reioyce to see the religious in the hands of Sergeants The death of Pina was held for an indiscreet and cruell resolution of Anthony for being but a matter of small moment to be reuenged by so foule an example vpon an olde man alawyer and of meane condition he had thrust himselfe into an exigent either to be held vnthankfull in suffering of Soarez to die as he did or else to doe violence vnto iustice But for that princes hate the executioners of their follies for in their life doth liue the remembrance of their errors euen so the Prior hated this man after the offence committed neither did he labour to saue him although his death made him contemptible to the people The said prior was thē at Almerin laboring the cause of his legitimation solliciting the iudges to decide the same who excused themselues that they could not do it obseruing the lawes of the realme if he retired not himselfe 25. miles from the Court that in so doing they would looke into the cause But for that the Duke of Bragance and the Ambassadors of other princes were there present he would not depart for this reason the matter surceased at this time Emanuel of Portugall who remained at Belem laboured ambitiously that Iohn Teglio one of the gouernours his brother in lawe conformable to himself in opinion principally in the exclusion of Philip should be sent to Belem with authoritie from the other gouernours to prouide by his presence for all things necessarie seeming a matter hard to effect at Almeryn The other gouernours desirous to be rid of his companie and not daring to contradict any thing that seemed to concerne the defence gaue him authoritie and suffered him to goe to Belem There he consulted with Emanuel and receiuing with some difficultie the money borrowed of the merchants he resolued for the gathering together of a greater summe to sell the iewels of the Crowne the which were there and therefore causing them to be brought foorth he dealt with some merchants vpon the price The Duke of Ossuna was then returned into Castill leauing Mora in Portugall with the other Ambassadours that were Lawyers who vnderstanding the iewels were vpon sale the saide Mora in the name of the Catholique King required the said gouernours not to sell them as appertaining to the King protesting both against them and the buiers that they should be bounde to restore the price at their owne charge so as they found not any that woulde deale with them Philip being at Merrida as it was saide hauing by a long protestation required the gouernors to deliuer him the possession of the Realme The Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo returned the second time making the like proposition to the King as they had done at Guadalupa offering to put the cause to arbitrement and complaining he had giuen them too short a time to resolue But Philip being now well resolued what he would doe and infourmed of the aide the Portugals demaunded from other princes he made them the like answere as before Many iudged the proposition of those Ambassadours to be ill grounded saying it was an vnseemely thing to require the King to make himselfe subiect to the iudgement of nominated iudges seeing that King Henry himselfe who with more appearance of reason might pretend to be lawfull iudge in this cause did neuer require the King to acknowledge him for iudge neither did he euer declare him contumax in the cause debated with the pretendents for not acknowledging him The Catholique King came to Badagios the 20. of May where the Portugall Ambassadours laboured to perswade him making suite that before the taking of armes he should admit an assemblie to the estates but they were no more admitted to audience the king resolued to send his answere vnto the gouernors and to publish it throughout the whole realme in the name of his Councell the which he did as followeth That experience had taught that by two examples of the estates last held at Lisbone and at Almerin they wrought no good effect in fauour of the apparant right of his Maiestie but in the one and the other they had still laboured to trouble it seeking lets and delaies which might haue bred the losse thereof and therefore it seemed a treble error to attend againe a new assemblie of these estates That they haue no reason to complaine that his Maiestie had giuen them too short a time to resolue accounting from the day of the receipt of his letters the xiij of March by the which he required them to sweare him saying they made no good computation if they supposed he were dispossessed of the realme but from the time that he demaunded it appertaining vnto him from the hower of King Henries death but that his Maiestie had expressely contained himselfe a moneth and a halfe without making of any motion to the ende they should not loose the thanks by calling him to the succession whom God had called and might haue leisure amongst themselues to make cleere this bond by which they were tied and giue satisfaction making the pretendents capable of reason to the ende they should not hinder the publike quiet and that they might be intercessors for them and for the realme which course the king himselfe had taught them That their excuse might be taken in two senses saying they coulde not receiue his Maiestie but in a generall assemblie of estates their meaning is either that they cannot doe it by right or that they may not doe it for that they dare not In the first case they are deceiued for there needes no assemblie of estates when a king makes his entrie vnto the realme although he succeede not to his father but to his kinseman neither were they necessarie when as Henry succeeded to his nephew In the other case that they cannot doe it because they dare not the excuse is good but not to binde the king neither in iustice nor conscience to desist from taking the possession of his goods if the delaies make the
discouering their intention said it was fit they should all stay at Saint Arem so as fearing to giue greater cause to suspect they coulde not depart They added moreouer that leauing the Prior there with the deputies in a time when as the Catholique king should begin to take armes they might in their absence vnder colour of defence erect a tyrannie So as ignorant what course to take or how to redresse things they did being friends by their irresolution more hurt to the Catholique king then they coulde haue done being enimies for the king hoping these woulde haue deliuered him the crowne proceeded slowly with his armie At that time it chanced that Iohn Gonzalez de Camera Earle of Caglietta died of the plague at Almeryn so as the Gouernors tooke this occasion to depart from thence and went to Settuual with the Duke of Bragance the Agents of the Catholique King and others of their faction for hauing created captaines placed a garrison they cōmanded the gates to be guarded The Catholique King hauing assembled his armie neere to Badagios receiued aduertisement that his nauie was at Saint Marie porte ready to set saile before they should enter into Portugall not yet well satisfied with the diligence he had vsed as it is saide with many Diuines desired to consult againe in the Vniuersitie of Alcala where the profession of Diuinitie flourisheth most in those realmes vpon his entrie in armes into the realme and the proposition made by the Portugall Embassadors And to that effect hauing assembled all the doctors being in number aboue thirtie hauing made their praiers and supplications vnto God in their sacrifices and the matter considered by euery one apart it was disputed of in three sessions For although the matter were not hard to decide yet was it graue and new All without any disagreement concurre in opinion with the first with whom the King had consulted without viewing of their reasons they sent a publike decree vnto the King There was propounded vnto them three articles I he first that the King being certaine to succeed by right after the death of King Henry to the realmes of Portugall whether he were in conscience bound to submit himselfe to any tribunall iudge or arbitrator who might adiudge him the realmes or put him in possession thereof The second was that the realme of Portugall refusing to acknowledge him for their Prince vnlesse he woulde first stande to iudgement with the pretendents Whether he may of his owne authoritie take possession thereof by force against such as shall make resistance presupposing that there is no doubt or scruple of conscience in his title whatsoeuer The thirde was that the Gouernours of Portugall alleaging that they and the whole realme haue sworne not to receiue any for King but him that shoulde be iudicially so declared and that they may not receiue the King otherwise the rather for that the pretendents complaine and offer to stande to iudgement He desired to know if the saide Gouernors and the whole realme may pretend this oath for an excuse not to receiue him for King To the first they answered that the King was not bound in conscience to submit himselfe to any Iustice or arbitrement seeing that he had of himseife priuate authoritie to adiudge vnto himselfe those realmes and to take possession They excluded especially from this authoritie of iudging all Princes and such as might pretend to take any knowledge thereof And first humblie saluting the Pope and the Apostolike sea they denied that this iurisdiction did appertaine vnto him the cause being meerelie temporall and nothing concurring where by his holines should vse that indirect authoritie which he hath in temporall causes so farre foorth as they concerne the spirituall good They shewed he was not bounde to the censure of the Emperour for that the Kings of Spaine were soueraignes not acknowledging the Emperour in any thing and much lesse to any other King They prooued he was not subiect to the common-wealth nor the realmes of Portugul saying That when as common wealthes doe choose their first King vpon condition to obey him and his successors they remaine subiect vnto him to whom they haue transferred their authoritie no iurisdiction remaining in them either to iudge the realme or the true successor seeing in the first election all the true successors were chosen Being therefore most apparant there is a true successour it followeth that the common wealth of Portugall hath no iurisdiction to iudge of him that doth truely succeede and that the King hath as great a warrant not to be subiect to the censure of this common wealth as he hath to be true successour And as touching the eleuen persons of the fower and twentie which King Henry had named they saide that Henry himselfe coulde not be iudge of him that did succeede after him for that after his death the office of administring iustice was expired and all his authoritie and iurisdiction past vnto his lawfull successor Against arbitrators they spake little onely that the bond of cōpremise had no place when as the equitie of the cause was not doubtfull as it was supposed They answered them which saide that the King had no interest to the realme of Portugall as King of Castill but as kinseman to King Henry by reason whereof he coulde not in this case challenge the preheminence he hath as King of Castill saying that this imaginarie diuision cannot bee made in the person of the King for it is so annexed to the dignitie royall that his person cannot be wronged but the dignitie woulde suffer And seeing the Prince may lawfully make war vpon an other Realme for iniuries done to his brothers and friends confederats with greater reason may he do it in taking possession of a Realme which appertaines lawfully vnto himselfe They made answer to such as said that obseruing the ciuill canon law a matter litigious should be iudged where it happeneth and therfore this shoulde bee decided in Portugall saying that these decisions speake of particular persons who haue their superiour Iudges and not of soueraigne Princes and their dependancies To the seconde article they answered with more reasons then vnto the first saying the King was not bound to any thing but to signifie vnto the Gouernours his Title and certaine interest to the Crowne and if notwithstanding this demonstration they should make resistance then the King by his owne authoritie might take possession of the Realme vsing if neede required force of armes for that in this action it can not bee termed force but a naturall defence of the Realme which is his owne and a iust punishment of Rebels To the third they said that this oath could not binde them that had vndertaken to obserue it seeing it is most certaine that neither in Portugall nor else where any iudge may determine this cause with the King Moreouer that this oath is to the preiudice of his prerogatiue royall and as this oath did not
But Anthony arriuing soone after making his praiers a little without the doore of the chappell the two Bishops went out to meete him with their Rochets to hallow the foundation of the fortresse but the ceremonie was no sooner begun but that Anthony Barachio an impudent fellow holding a handkerchiefe vpon the point of his sword proclaimed Anthony King being followed with great noise and acclamations almost of all the companie who to assure themselues of such as were not of that faction or to shew a certaine valour drewe their swordes At that time Anthony faining a certaine modestie or thrust forwarde by his owne irresolution cried no no and stept forward as it were to stay the people Peter Coutigno captaine of that place with choler woulde haue stopt their cries saying that the Prior desired not to be called king but this preuailed nothing for Baracchio bending his pistol against the captaine put him to silence by reason whereof he departed Anthony whether it were for feare to see so many naked weapons about him or that raised by such a meanes to that dignitie bringes feare with it he was amased and trembled giuing notable signes to his followers who helping him to horse at the first steppe he stumbled and almost fell in signe of presaging ill All the Nobilitie that was present followed him on foote bare headed as King And although a great part of the people were vnaduisedly come thither yet all followed him From thence the Prior went to the church and from the church to the house of the Magistrate where finding the gates shut he brake them open and was there solemnly confirmed King with ordinarie actes and writings the which were signed by all the Gentlemen Portugals that were present and Emanuel de Costa Borges with a standerd in his hande pronounced with a loude voice these wordes Reale Reale as their custome is Being then returned to his lodging he prepared to go to Lisbone there to be proclaimed King as the principall place of the realme In the meane time Velasco was come to Oliuenza where entering without stay by night the xix of Iune he was lodged by Diego de Vasconcellos at the request of the Passani of Eluas and hauing the day following requested the magistrate and the Nobilitie to assemble themselues in the Church of Pitie there to receiue certaine letters from the king being all assembled he deliuered them the which were publikely read finding them full of curtesies The conclusion was to sweare him king Velasco pressed them to answere briefly But as of light occasions sometimes grow important matters so did it here for the Nobilitie of this place being diuided into two contrarie factions the one was called Loby and Gama the other Matt s it chaunced that the letters which the king had written vnto the Nobilitie were by meere fortune first deliuered into the hands of the Loby whereof the contrarie faction made a sinister construction and the rather for that Velasco was lodged in the house of one of that faction They resolued to contradict all their aduersaries should propound And for as much as at that instant there were more of the familie of the Matti in office then of the Loby seeing their enimies inclined to giue place vnto the king they began to oppose themselues and without making answere to the letter they sent with all speede to the gouernours and presently after going to the lodging of Velasco they saide vnto him that they could not giue answere in a matter of so great importance without good aduise and aduertising of the gouernours demaunding fower daies libertie whereunto Peter answering that he could giue them no longer time then the next day morning they departed vnsatisfied saying that they feared nothing for that God would succour them where with Velasco discontented woulde haue sent Fratyn an Italian Ingeneur who was then with him to the Duke of Alua to request him to sende some troupes of soldiers within the view of the place to terrifie them yet being aduised by his friendes that were Portugals and finding the people affected to the king he staied The faction of Lâ—by with all their followers seeing the contradiction of the magistrate assembled themselues in councell making an acte in writing signed by them all whereby they protested that they were readie to obey the king In this time Marke Anthonie Iustinian a gentleman of Genoa friend vnto Velasco and kinseman to the Lâ—by aduised him to leaue his lodging and to talke to the people in the streetes winning them with faire words the which hauing effected and gathering a great multitude about him hee made vnto them a long discourse shewing the profit they should receiue in yeelding obedience vnto the king and the hurt in following the opinion of the magistrate seeing there was a mightie armie so neare them wherewith the people who were easily changed seemed content and following him to the Church of the holie Ghost where the Nobilitie was assembled Velasco entred and saide vnto them My maisters what shall we doe To whom Frier Aluaro in the name of the whole assemblie answered that they were readie to serue his Maiestie Then Iustinian raising Velasco from the ground proclaimed the kings name the which was followed by the whole Nobilitie and likewise by the people who going to the house of the magistrate they called for the Iudge and the Vereadors vpon great penaltie who vnderstanding the people was mutined and that Philip was proclaimed king they were afraide and went to yeeld their obedience the which the castell did likewise perfourming the ordinarie actes and ceremonies Velasco offering in the kings name many exemptions In this manner but more quietly in other places all this frontier did yeeld as Serpa Mora Campo maior Arronghez Portalegre and in other places about the realme they vsed the like diligence At this time Anthony was gone from Saint Arem to Lisbone the Gouernors seeing that succeed which they had long foretolde did fortifie at Settuual with the Duke of Bragance and the Embassadors of the Catholique King fearing the new King would march to them They neglected the defence of Lisbone supposing that Peter de Cugna captaine thereof and Iohn Teglio who as is said was at Belem with their procuration woulde prouide for it as they had commanded them and had sent two officers of Iustice to perswade the Citizens to make resistance But the said Teglio who it may be with greater zeale then iudgement was one of those that woulde haue the cause determined vnderstanding that Anthony was proclaimed king was greatly discontented for that of force hee must leaue the gouernment and make his peace with King Philip with greater difficultie if he shoulde now seeke it Besides that Anthony did not acknowledge the crowne from him and therefore greatly mooued seeming also vnto him that as Gouernour he did wrong his companions they being at Settuual and he at Belem to suffer the Prior so easily to
yoong licentious man who had mutined the people and the guard it selfe against them Such of the Nobilitie as abandoning their houses in those partes retired themselues were Fernand de Norogna Peeter de Meneses Edward de Castelbianco Diego Lopez de Sequeira Anthony de Castelbianco Lewes Caesar and some others Anthony hauing aduertisement of their departure passed the riuer and went thither Where he was receiued vnder a cannapie with signes of great ioy hauing giuen order to the fortification guard of that place as it seemed necessarie he returned to Lisbone against the aduise of som who persuaded him to assemble his forces to resist the enimie not to repasse Tagus But he did it not saying he woulde returne presently fearefull as many supposed and not holding himselfe assured on that side the riuer Cascaies and the fortresse of Saint Iulian did not yet obey him yet vnderstanding that Anthony was possessed of Settuual the wife of Anthony de Castro went from Cascaies after whose departure the citie yeelded and the captaine of the fortresse of Saint Iulian being written vnto by Anthony that he woulde giue him fower thousand duckats a yeere rent made answere that seeing the Gouernors had abandoned the realme and that he was proclaimed king he would hold it at his deuotion By reason whereof Bastien de Britto who serued as sergeant maior of the citie of Lisbone in the place of Peter de Cugna turned head who with certaine men gathered togither went by the commaundement of Anthony to encampe about this fortresse so as all places of importance about Lisbone remained at his obedience So did all others in those parts except the citie of Porto which obeied not yet The Duke of Bragance hauing foreseene the sedition which was practised at Settuual being departed as it is saide a little before the Gouernors flight and gone to Portel a place belonging vnto himselfe neere the frontiers of the realme towards Castill seeing iustice reduced to armes and himselfe disarmed he thought it nowe high time to treate with the Catholique King He sent therefore a Gentleman to represent vnto him howe peaceablie he had alwaies caried himselfe in the persuite of Iustice for Katherine his wife that he had neuer troubled the publike quiet nor in any thing surpassed the ordinarie tearmes of Iustice and reason and if he had not compounded with him the cause was for that he vnderstood his reasons were great neither had he meanes to do it by reason of the people who woulde haue withstoode him Notwithstanding he was nowe resolute if his Maiestie woulde make him a good composition to yeelde vnto him all the rights of the saide Katherine and that being agreed he woulde publikely sende one to treate with him He alleaged that his subiects being the thirde part of the realme he coulde make easie or greatly hinder the enterprise He saide that the Deputies of the realme had made offer vnto him that they would procure Anthony to leaue the title of King and vnite himselfe with him for the defence of the crowne and that in the end they should agree And that the said Anthony had sent to make great offers vnto him the which he woulde not accept not seeming reasonable vnto him He requested his Maiestie to commaund the armie not to endomage his countrey Heerein he spake truth for although he were a quiet and religious man yet the Philipins saide that although he had beene otherwise the King had no cause to feare his forces for albeit he had many subiects yet were they not all obedient vnto him That the Nobilitie abhorred his rule more then any other and that some of his kinsemen did him more hurt then good by reason of the emulation amongst the Nobilitie He relied much on the equitie of his cause yet feared he to bee forced by the kings power which he saw prepared supposing he would not receiue iudgement in the cause from any man This feare had induced him to write to all the great Potentates in Christendome shewing his reasons and demaunding succours The like office had he done with some Cardinals at Rome He had sent into Fraunce diuers copies of his allegations to the end they might be dispersed into England and other places making great instance to the two Queenes to succour him with mony munition captaines But his weakenes being knowne to both although hee gaue them to vnderstande he went to ioine with the Gouernors in defence they returned him nothing but curteous words And some say that not content to vse this diligence to such as were enuious of the kings good he did likewise write to his enimies and rebels desiring to treat with the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Alançon These things caused him more losse then profite as it happens commonly to those that will contend with mightie Princes and builde their foundations vpon the succours of their enimies ill willers who wil not commonly declare themselues except their companion be strong Heereupon it grewe that the King returned to the saide propositions so ample and artificiall an answere for as it was reported some of his letters had beene surprised by the Agents of the Catholique king and some other especially those he had written to Rome were sent to the King by them to whom he had written them He answered that he reioiced that in time he had auoided the sedition at Settuual being troubled with the danger and indignitie he might haue suffred That he knewe it to be true that in the persuite of the right of Katherine he had carried himselfe with due modestie but by refusing to agree with him were growne the inconueniences wherein now they were the which he would gladly they should rather haue foreseen then haue made triall of with so great disquietnes and dishonor vnto themselues for the which he was sory in regarde of the neerenes of bloud and affection he bare vnto the said Katherine That his offer to yeelde him his right was acceptable vnto him but he woulde haue them to vnderstand that there was no necessity to adde new actions to those which God had giuen him apparant to all the worlde That he had then wished for two reasons they coulde haue accepted of his liberalitie in recompence of their pretention The first was that he hoped by this meanes he shoulde not haue beene forced to enter armed into the realme and to make warre vpon his owne subiects which is one of the things that doth most trouble him But that good which might haue beene reaped by composition was nowe extinct by their slacknes seeing that his armie was alreadie entred the realme The second reason was the desire to encrease and prosper his house to do good to his children to auoide the ruine of the estate and the hazard to ouerthrow it whereof there was yet some remedie for being so desirous of his good that onely was sufficient to mooue him to doe them good He said
and baggage by reason wherof he carried with him aboue sixe thousand chariots and fiue and twenty peeces of canon and passing vnder the walles of Eluas there was nothing to be done being already yeelded In three daies march he came to Stremos receiuing all places thereabouts to obedience which might be amazed at the bruite of the armie But for that he laboured to assure the kings person aboue all being entred two daies iourney within the countrey he sent backe Peter Manrique de Padilla a knight of account and well experienced in the warre with two companies of men at armes and Peter d' Ayala Marshall of the field an old soldier with a regiment of Spaniards who lodged at Eluas assuring those quarters from all reuolutions that might be feared within Stremos was captaine Iohn Dazeuedo Admirall of the realme yoong and hardie who put himselfe in defence and was cause that the armie made longer stay there then at any other lodging He whē as the gouernors were yet at Almeryn had obtained by the meanes of Martin Gonzales de Camera somewhat allyed vnto him the Captainship of that place and after being written vnto by Anthonie as king he would not obey him saying that he did not acknowledge any other superiour then the gouernours to whom he had giuen his oath At this time the Duke being arriued he sent vnto him Peter de Luna a captaine of horse with letters from the king requiring his obedience but he refused to yeeld it for the same reasons he had giuen to Anthonie he trusted more to the defence of the place then the force thereof would warrant and the rather for the diligence of Diego de Meneses who when he had speech of the fortifying of Eluas seeing it could not be effected he had retired himselfe to Stremos thinking there to make head and hauing animated the people to defende it he promised them great succours so as all agreeing with the Admirall they were resolute to fight At this time Christopher de Mora who went from Settuual to Badagios passing through the citie he persuaded the Landini chiefe citizens to yeeld obedience vnto the king and for that it was easie for them to turne the people as they pleased they induced them soone to obey So as the Admirall remained alone in his obstinacie within the castell with some of his friends and familiars and although they laboured to bring him to obedience yet would he not yeeld excusing himselfe that it appeered not vnto him that the king was heire to the realme neither did the comming of the Prior Ferrant de Toledo sonne to the Duke of Alua preuaile who discouering him to be a man of small consideration made offer vnto him that the Duke should be bound that whensoeuer it should appeere that the realme appertained not vnto Philip hee should restore him to the place he now enioyed neither preuailed it to let him vnderstand that he could not resist making answere obstinately that when he had done his last endeuour hee woulde abandon the place with the losse of his life seeming that he coulde not otherwise saue his honour But this resolution lasted little for discouering from the castell that the Duke had already planted his artillerie that those of the citie which had promised to defend him were all against him and that some Castillian soldiers were entred the citie being all amazed he resolued to retire himselfe and leaue the fortresse wanting courage to defend it but in issuing foorth the Castillians tooke him prisoner and led him to the Duke who was in doubt whether he should punish him corporally to terrifie the rest by his first example but he pardoned him and sent him prisoner to Villauizosa writing vnto the king that he tooke pitie of him being yoong and without experience When the magistrate and the citizens had taken their oath and done the accustomed ceremonies to obey the king the armie marched towardes Mounte maior by the way of Arraialos leauing Euora on the left hande a citie of importance but then greatly afflicted with the plague But to the ende it shoulde not remaine behinde vnyeelded the Duke sent thither Henry de Guzman with twentie horse to take possession thereof both for that hee knewe it was vnpeopled as also vnderstanding that Diego de Castro who was Captaine there and the principalles of the citie who were retired to their gardens thereabouts desired to yeeld their obedience by reason whereof the saide captaine and Magistrate being assembled togither a mile from the citie vnder the Portall of our Ladies church there Constantine de Brito a Notarie receiued a publike acte whereby they deliuered the citie to his Maiesties obedience the which they all assigned The Duke beeing now arriued in fower daies march at Mount Maior the new where hauing found no resistance although the Counte Vimioso had beene there a little before taking possession thereof he came within fower daies to Settuual without wasting the countrey as is vsuall in warre for he neither slewe nor spoiled the inhabitants of townes nor suffered them to tread downe the corne which was then ripe It seemed that Diego de Meneses had not shewed the fruits that were expected of his valour within that prouince nor of that heate wherewith hee vndertooke the defence hauing for that cause refused the place of Viceroy of the Indies which is the greatest charge giuen in that realme For hauing first from the Gouernours and after from the Prior receiued charge to defend the saide prouince hee not onely neglected the defence but also retired himselfe He excused this weake resistance saying that the Gouernors had deceiued him in not furnishing him with armes and other things necessarie and that hauing no other armes with the people but wordes he was enforced to retire himselfe But whatsoeuer the cause was all that part beyond the riuer of Tagus which is the most fertile within the realme remained disarmed and in pray to the enimie Anthonie being returned from Settuuall to Lisbone he was receiued with great ioy being the first time he had entred as king And although the infection with the diuision of the Nobilitie had much vnpeopled it yet made they deuises with great shewes of ioy I will not leaue to report as a thing remarkable that there was a cōpany of poore women which sell thinges in the market place the which marching in order like soldiers with their armes she which was their captaine in steade of a Halberd carried a fire panne seeming to remember the auncient battaile of Algibarotta betwixt the Castillians and the Portugals where these being conquerors they vaunted that a Bakers wife had slaine seauen Castillians with a fire panne The Gouernors who were fledde from Settuuall to a castell whereas Ambrose de Aguiar was then captaine imbarqued secretly and their feare was so great as not holding themselues assured in any part of the realme they were conducted to Ayamont a citie belonging to the
at the rising of the sunne hauing discouered the truth this feare vanquished yet did there a greater seaze vpon euery mans minde for vnderstanding in trutth the Duke to be strong they began to heare newes of the soldiers insolencies which disbanded and drewe daily neerer giuing no small astonishment to see certaine Negro slaues returne wounded who hauing rashly passed with their ensignes to the other banke were ill entreated by some horse and shot of the enimie They founde that Anthony made no preparation neither had he any forces to resist gouerning himselfe with small iudgement and therefore he neither knew how to fight nor which way to flie neither yet how to yeelde himselfe He was daily in counsell with his men but as he suffred himselfe to be gouerned by many whose authorities were equall and their opinions diuers so did he neuer resolue any good thing as it hapneth often in the like accidents They then propunded more plainly then before the treatie of an accorde and although some who before did seeme brauest shewed themselues nowe more milde yet for that the Counte of Vimioso being a yoong man perswaded to warre no man durst contradict him He affected the charge of generall but hee knewe not by what meanes to displace Diegode Meneses who enioied it so as contrarying one an other they prouided slowly for things necessarie whereunto was a great hinderance the credite that Anthony gaue to Edward de Castro a rich yoong man to whom he was bounde hauing furnished him with money who desirous to shew himselfe valiant obtained a commission to assemble what horse he coulde vnder his cornet imploying him in matters of greater authoritie then was fitte for his base qualitie His holines hauing intelligence of the refusall the Catholique king had made touching his entermedling in the cause doubted least the wars of Portugall shoulde alter the quiet of all Christendome In the beginning hee had shewed himselfe newter to both Kings seeming to bee doubtfull in himselfe to whether part hee should encline whether vnto Henry that woulde giue the crowne vnto the Dutchesse of Bragance or to Philip that sought it for himselfe for by reason of state he should not be wel pleased to see these two realmes vnited whereby the Catholique king shoulde become more mightie and superior in forces to all other princes yet did he not willingly seeme to oppose against him fearing to displease a Prince that had deserued well of him But vnderstanding that the two kings were agreed and that Henry had changed his minde and laboured to giue the realme to Philip he then made it manifest that he would fauour Anthony and the Portugals the which was more apparant after the death of King Henry when as hee laboured to haue the cause of succession ended by sentence But Philip in regard of the qualitie of the iudges detested this decision But his Embassadors hauing laboured in vaine in this respect Philip growing iealous and not greatly trusting the Popes good meaning woulde not put to compremise that which he seemed to holde certaine His holines determined to sende a Cardinall into Spaine expresly to treat vpon this busines Therefore before the Prior was proclaimed king he dispatched Cardinal Alexander Riario his Legat vnto Philip with commission to disswade the king from armes and from thence to passe into Portugall to fauour this busines with commission likewise to offer himselfe for iudge in the Popes behalfe vnto all the pretendents There were diuers discourses in Spaine vpon the comming of this Legat and although the Castillians feared not his sentence seeming hee shoulde not offer himselfe alone to determine so great a matter in Spaine if he had no meaning to pronounce it in fauour of Philip yet they helde it not conuenient to put the matter into his hands being of opinion that the Pope vnder colour to perfourme the office of a generall father came as it is saide to make himselfe absolute iudge of realmes that besides the extraordinarie authoritie he shoulde draw vnto the Aposto like sea hee shoulde binde the king vnto his house by giuing him a kingdome For this cause the King hauing intelligence of his departure from Rome desirous to take possession of the realme before his arriuall hee commaunded throughout all Spaine where he shoulde passe that he shoulde be entertained and receiued with all possible pompe whereof the Legat taking no heede he accepted of all their kindnes For this cause and for that the voiage was long he spent much time being arriued at Badagios he found that the affaires had taken an other forme then when he was at Rome For he vnderstood that Anthony was King and that Philips forces were entred Portugall being then at the wals of Settuuall Finding therefore the matter he had to treate of thus altred he sent to his Holines for new direction being in the meane time lodged without the citie in a cōuent of religious men which go barefoote he sent Traian Mario Apostolike Prothonotarie to visite the King who receiuing him with great fauor said vnto him that he was right sorie that by reason of his sicknes he could not go to meete the Legat as he was bounde but when God should giue him health he woulde then performe it supposing by this meanes to entertaine him the longer that the Cardinall desirous to enter with accustomed ceremouies would attend his recouerie and in the meane time the Duke of Alua should take possession of the realme But the Legat seeing his indisposition finding how much delay did import craued leaue to come to him by night priuately in coach the which with great difficultie was graunted comming vnto him one night accompanied with the Duke of Ossuna and the Earle of Chinchion But this audience was of small effect for the Legat by the alteration of the affaires being irresolute and the Catholique King most resolute to proceede in this enterterprise trusting more to armes then wordes there was no agreement the king saying that the matter was so farre aduaunced as it coulde admit no treating The Cardianll was lodged in the house of the Marquesse D'Oignion not being receiued at his entrie with the ceremonies accustomed for a Cardinall Legat Hee remained a while without doing any thing but to effect the Popes cōmission he would passe into Portugall The King who desired to stay him entertained him all he could supposing that the Legat being within Lisbone it woulde be scandalous to goe against him with an armie Moreouer he had no great confidence in the Legat but held him as suspect for that being before in Portugall with Cardinall Alexandryn he had entred a strict league of amitie with the Duke of Bragance one of the pretendents who had lodged and entertained him So as to delay his departure the King being now recouered of his sicknes sent vnto him that he woulde not haue him take his iourney before he had made his entrie with the ceremonies accustomed to a
the Doctors which had read and writ against him with great mildenes but also with a noble resolution confirmed them in their lectures and preferred others to them that were voide In the meane time the Pope discouering the Priors weakenesse to maintaine Portugall and that there was no meanes of agreement hauing called home his Legate he seemed well content with Philips successe saying that his onely intention was to auoid wars so as hauing obtained great rewardes for his sonne or at the least assured hopes he graunted vnto the king that George de Taida bishop of Viseu who was his first chaplaine shoulde be iugde without appeale of all causes concerning the Ecclesiasticall rebels and of the proces of their confiscations so as the Prior in a manner doomed to sentence of death with the Bishop of Guarda and others were againe cited by edicts to be depriued by iustice of all spirituall liuings they held within the realme There was yet no newes of him notwithstanding the reward promised and the great care the Castilians vsed through the realme to finde him yet were they daily lesse certaine for that disguised in a base habite hee went vnknowne oftentimes amongst those that sought for him He had intelligence that the Counte of Vimioso was come by land into Fraunce labouring to mooue the French to warre against the Catholique King promising great succours by the people in the matters of Portugal By reason whereof and for the Priors concealement the King kept in a manner his whole armie dispersed in the fortresses and cities of the realme and although hee had dismissed the Italians and sent the greatest part of his galleies into Italy yet they gaue out that he after repented the realme seeming daily lesse peaceable and that the French in those parts might arme a good number of ships of warre and more conueniently in that sea then the galleies whereof fowre being in Algarues had taken a French pirate with great slaughter who being a knight of Malta had fought valiantly By reason of these garrisons of the rigor of officers of the smal recompence that was giuen them and of the conceite that the Prior was yet within the realme the Portugals harts beganne to turne some of them assembled at times lamented the miserie wherein they seemed to be by their not agreeing to defend themselues or not yeelding in time yet the greatest part held opinion that vnited togither they might haue made resistance They could not endure that the Castillian officers shoulde intermeddle in matters of iustice as they pretēded to do neither was the Portugals disdaine appeased in saying that the King hauing commaunded Iohn Andrew Doria Prince of Melfy to conduct the Empresse his sister into Spaine whom he had caused to come out of Germany was for no other cause but to leaue her Gouernesse in Portugall and so returne into Castill and that as a woman she shoulde raigne with greater mildenes then the kings of Portugall had done for although this was the common discourse yet many helde opinion that the king should not depart being constrained to keepe garrisons the which he would not dismisse vntill he were better assured of the Prior of whom they spake diuersly for some helde that he was dead and spoiled by the Castilians who for that they woulde yeelde no account of the iewels he had about him kept it secret Others saide that he had sent into Fraunce and England from whence hee expected great armies at whose arriuall he would discouer himselfe Many supposed that he shoulde keepe himselfe secret within the realme vntill the death of Philip who according to their discourse coulde not liue long and yet was there small difference betwixt their ages at what time shewing himselfe as hee did vpon the death of king Henry hee shoulde againe take possession of the realme the kingdomes of Castill remaining in the handes of pupilles And although some beleeued that he was departed the realme yet the greatest part helde that he was there yet labouring to escape as couertly as he coulde fearing to be taken prisoner the which was true indeede as it appeared by some of his friends that were taken in the porte of Lisbone who sought to imbarke with some prouision of victuals they had made who confessed vpon the racke that he was in the realme amongst which was Peter d'Alpoe Doctor of the lawes who since for that cause and others of high treason lost his head at Lisbone The Estates were now ended and the king desirous to goe to Lisbone but for that the preparations and triumphs which the citie pretended were not yet ready he went to Almada which is directly against the citie vpon the other banke of Tagus to giue them time to finish their preparations At what time the King hauing intelligence that those of the Ilands of Terceraes notwithstanding the letters which Ambrose d'Aguiar had carried stoode firme in their first resolution of defence hee sent Peter Baldes with fower ships sixe hundreth Spanish foote and some cannon with commandement to assure himselfe fully of the Iland of Saint Michaell which was obediēt to spoile the ships which should come from the Indies not to attēpt any thing by land vntill he had sent a greater supply of men The Court was ill appointed at Almada and the needfull ministers for dispatches could not all bee lodged there The King desirous to enter the citie would not attende after Saint Peters day when passing the water with his galleies he lāded in the city vpon a bridge of wood framed for that purpose without giuing them time to finish their arches statues prepared for his entry But the sloth and ignorance of the workemen was in parte cause yet did they make a sumptuous preparation Vpon the bridge he was met by the Magistrate of the chamber where Doctor Hector de Pyna one of them spake thus in the behalfe of the citie shewing the ioy they had conceiued of his entrie That as this citie was the greatest in the worlde so God had deseruedly giuen them conformeable to their owne desires a great monarch to bee their Lorde Hee excused the people saying That if they had no sooner obeied it was done rather by errour then their owne free will and that remaining in their owne power to choose a king they woulde haue made election of no other then himselfe And touching the death of Ferrant de Pyna hee saide that this citie had first of all shedde bloude for his seruice seeing that the saide Ferrant when as Anthony caused him to bee wounded was a member of this Magistrate He excused likewise the sleightnes of their ioyes by the afflictions of the warre the spoile of the citie and the plague remembring their losses of Affricke concluding that they hoped by his Maiesties fauours this realme shoulde not bee saide vnited vnto Castill but that all the other realmes were ioyned vnto Portugall Hee then went on horsebacke vnder a canopie of
to spoile the Ilands as they had already done that of Saint Michaels and that the same armie hauing tried a battaile against his Maiesties the French had beene broken and ouercome in the which being taken eight and twentie noblemen and two and fiftie gentlemen and manie other marriners and soldiers he declared them taken as enimies to the quiet and publike good disturbers of the traffike and fauourers of his Maiesties rebels that as such and as publike pirats hee commaunded the Auditor generall of the armie that for their chasticement and for the example of others hee shoulde execute vpon them the punishment of naturall death beheading the Gentlemen and hanging the rest which passed the age of seuenteene yeeres being so conuenient both for the seruice of God and of the two kings This sentence seemed cruell to all such as heard it and chiefly vnto the Spanish soldiers both for that they feared the like might happen vnto thē an other day as also for that they would not lose the profit which many expected by the raunsome of the saide prisoners or else for their owne good inclination so as some of the soldiers laying aside all respect saide it was not well grounded for that there was no firme and inuiolable peace betwixt the Catholique King and most Christian but warre and that those were neither pirats nor theeues but valiant soldiers That there was no peace they prooued it by the warres of Flaunders more hot then euer where the French did in a manner possesse all the Catholique Kings patrimonie And that they were no pirats they prooued by the letters patents they had from the King vnder the which the ships and soldiers were enrolled besides the number and qualitie of these men were such as it appeered cleerely they woulde not haue attempted it of themselues if the king had not sent them And although betwixt the two crownes they dissembled many things the Christian King excusing himselfe sometimes vpon his mother sometimes vpon his brother that they were all deuises of Princes but for all that they were not without open warre the lawes whereof they saide was not so stricte as to commaund them to hang all their prisoners And this execution did so mooue the hearts of manie that some of the principall soldiers being assembled togither went with a commendable example vnto the Marques to make intercession for the life of their enimies who answered that the most Christian King had expresly commaunded that all Frenchmen that shoulde take armes against the Catholique King shoulde be corporally punished so as the same day these Gentlemen with a generall pittie and great seueritie were beheaded vpon the scaffolde and the marriners and soldiers hanged in diuers places and the pittie was the greater being apparant that they were all not onely valiant soldiers but Catholique and deuout Christians The blame of this seuere execution was not imputed to the Marques supposing that he had expresse commaundement from the King whom likewise they excused for hauing so determined seeing it was not to bee presumed that so many personages of importance should come with such an armie and remaine prisoners especially knowing that Philip by his owne inclination was not cruell yet on the other side they considered that the King in his minde shoulde haue conceiued a cruell disdaine against the French seeing that vnder the shadow of amitie peace and alliance Kings writing daily one to the orher greeuing and reioycing at their troubles and contents did not onely aide his rebels but also tooke his countries and sent so great an armie to endomage him And although that Princes do vsually dissemble and counterfeit in many things yet it seemed the French vnder a new kinde of dissimulation would make warre whereby they did inferre that this execution did nothing displease the King The armie being a little repaired here the Marques went to the I le of Coruo to meete with the Indian fleete and hauing past in view of the citie of Angra he put Anthonie and all the people into confusion for although the Marques content with the victorie would not thrust himselfe into a new danger yet Anthonie doubted that in the heat of the victorie he would pursue and assaile the Ilande in the which although he had men enough both of the nation and of the French yet were they fearfull and disordered and Anthonie himselfe at the same time prouided a light ship to imbarke if neede were These newes came slowly to Lisbone for the which they were in great care hauing newes of the fight by the meanes of a Zabra of Biscay but a French ship which had beene sore beaten by the gallion Saint Mathew being fled from the battel gaue assurance of the euent for beeing arriued disguised at Settuual he was discouered finding within her some Spanish souldiers dead in the bosome of one of them was written all that had passed in the armie since their departure from Lisbone vntill the time that he was slaine The Marques attended long about the Ilands for the Indian fleete whereof two being arriued the seas growing high he came with them to Lisbone to the great ioy of all the court where he was extraordinarily fauoured by the King Anthony after the Marques his departure remained more quiet in minde supposing that for one whole yeere he need not feare any enimie He greatly greeued for the death of the French prisoners fearing it would preiudice his cause in France But Emanuel de Silua pressed him to reuenge in hanging about fiftie or threescore Castillians which were there taken prisoners at diuers times the which he woulde not suffer being better enclined He was ill furnished with money although hee had great store of armes and munition For this consideration he daily all by the inuention of the saide Silua made rigorous commandements to draw money from the people and from such as did not follow him willingly He caused gold to be coined which hee valued at fiue and twentie roials although it weied but eight He made testons of siluer weighing a roiall and a halfe the which he made currant for halfe a duckat and the copper money which was woorth three in Portugall hee valued at tenne And for that many were retired to the mountaines to be free from troubles within the citie hee commaunded euery one to returne and if any deferred his comming longer then the time limited by his commaundement they presently seazed his goods Many for feare of the souldiers had carried and hidden their goods without the citie and therefore he commaunded euerie one to bring them backe againe whereby he gained much for he demaunded a loane of money of such as came and brought it backe and if any one obeyed not he sent Souldiers to search their goods and to spoile them with a thousand indignities It was a lamentable thing to see how the Church causes were handled for the religious men except the Iesuits imploied in militarie actions
same reuenewes which they call the Knights of Christ bearing a red crosse and in the midst a white the which are bound to goe to the warre against infidels to whome Pope Alexander the sixth did since graunt libertie to marrie And their Kings hauing encreased their reuenewes a great part of their Nobilitie affected this order although they haue many times receiued men base and vnworthie A great part of this Realme was sometimes vnited to the crowne of Castill but in the yeere of our Lord one thousand one hundreth and tenne Alphons the sixth being King that part towards the north was separated giuing it in marriage for a certaine tribute to Henrie nephew to the Earle of Burgundie borne at Besanson marrying Therasie his bastard daughter for that comming out of Fraunce with Count Raimond of Tholouse his vncle who was after Earle of Gallicia he went to the warres which the Castillians had against the Moores that possessed Spaine And although some deriue the originall of this Count Henrie from Hungarie others from Aragon and from other places yet this is the most approoued opinion But it hapneth in the originall of Kings as of great riuers whose mouthes are knowne but not their springs Portugall was then obscure vntilled poore and reduced into streight limits yet Alphons Henry sonne vnto this first Earle did greatly augment it by his valiant exploits taking many places from the Moores by force against whom hauing woone a great victorie in a pitched battaile he was proclaimed King by his soldiors in a place called Campo d'Ourique and following his victorie woone Saint Arem and Lisbone remaining peaceable Lord of the Realme he had the title of King confirmed by Pope Alexander the fourth for a certaine small tribute Their first king which succeeded him named Alphonso the thirde did no lesse augment it by another meanes For hauing before his comming to the Crowne married with Matilda Countesse of Boloigne in Picardie being now in possession of the Realme he put her away of his owne proper motion and without cause taking to wife Beatrice bastard daughter to Alphonso the tenth King of Castill surnamed the wise to haue in dowrie with her as indeed he had the kingdome of Algarues So as their lymits being extended as they be at this present and the Moores subdued who kept them in martiall exercise they began since to make war with the Kings of Castill although their Dominions were alwaies greater then the Portugals the which they did so often and with such obstinacie that these nations all of one continent issued from one stocke of one language were enflamed one against the other with so mortall a hatred that it remaineth euen vntill this daie but more with the Portugals then the Spaniards And although these late warres did breede them more honor then profit yet were they not without some vtilitie for that this continuall exercise did maintaine them in discipline and keepe them from delights and idlenes capitall enimies to any State Since which time they haue not remained idle but inured vnto war wonne vnto themselues some honour vnder Iohn the first at the perswasion of Henry his sonne they laboured to take from the Moores certaine places in Affricke the which succeeded happily For in time they became Maisters in Mauritania Tingitana of the townes of Ceute Tanger and Arzilla and this is that auncient Zillia and other places which since they haue either lost or abandoned to the Moores as they did Arzilla being of great charge and small profit They onely maintained and defended the two first and built towards the West Mazagon being seated at the mouth of Hercules straites for holding those places the Moores should not harbor so neere vnto Spaine but they serue as a buckler vnto that Prouince By reason of these euents they extended their hopes yet further so as the Ilands of Madera not farre distant and the Terceres lying from Lishbone 850. miles in the fortie degree of latitude then vntilled and vninhabited were by them discouered and peopled And not yet content especially the said Henry who aspiring to higher matters though with lesse hope then the effect which followed they began sailing through the Ocean to coast Affricke searching new countries and nations So as running along that coast by the space of many yeeres they went on so far that comming to the other Hemisphere they discouered all Ethiopia And although Alphonso the fifth of that name and the twelfth King renewed the war against the Spaniard yet did they not discontinue their nauigation to their great good but in the end hauing made peace with the catholique King Ferdinand in the yeere of our Lord 1479. they had more leisure to think of their new conquest It is worth the obseruing that in capitulations then made it was particularly specified that the peace was concluded for a hundreth yeeres and one naming alwaies a certaine for an vncertaine But this prooued a prophesie for it continued iust a hundreth yeeres one for so much time passed from those wars vnto this which I vndertake to write if the words of the Treatie agree with the qualitie of the euent The Realme was greatly strengthened both with people and wealth and since encreased more when as Ferdinand and Isabell King and Queene of Castill in the yeere 1482. expelled the lewes out of their Dominions being then in great numbers they agreed with Iohn the second successor to Alphonso the fifth and obtained libertie paying eight duckats for euerie person to enter into his countrey vpon condition to depart at a certaine time prefixed and that the King should appoint them shipping to transport them So as vpon those conditions which were not fully obserued there entred about 20000. families and in euery one ten persons at the least the time of their departure expired and not performed many remained slaues others either vnwilling to depart or to loose their goods were baptized as the rest had done that remayned in Castill So as vnder the name of new Christians the greatest part remayned in Portugall vnknowen being vndistinguished and allyed for money with some Noblemen of the countrey they laboured to be admitted for citizens And although according vnto reason of State this manner of peopling were not good being of a nation different in blood and law the which in multiplying might cause an important diuision being many in number yet brought it great profit to the Crowne Since in the time of Emanuell the fourteenth King who began to raigne in the yeere 1495. they continued their new nauigation with greater feruencie and more quiet For the Castillians being growen mightier by meanes of the forces annexed to their Crowne and hauing by new alliances drawen vnto them the loue of the Portugales the one durst no more contend the other suffered them to liue in peace His predecessors hauing many yeeres coasted along Affricke they built a fort at Argin tooke the Islands of Hesperides which now are called
were No man durst contradict him both for that as it is saide many thought it necessarie to ioine battaile as also for that the Portugals doe generally thinke it cowardise to disswade from fighting holding it more honourable to loose a battaile with rashnes then to conquer with cunning and iudgement without fighting For this reason it was resolued after great contrarietie of opinions to march against the enimie although some practises of peace were yet in hande but with weake hopes So as the same morning they dislodged hauing deuided their armie into three squadrons the one following the other immediately and almost vnited togither that in the front was in a manner diuided into three for in the middest the aduenturers were led by Aluaro Pirez brother and Lieutenant to Christopher of Tauora on the left hande were the Castillians led by Alphonso d'Aguilar lined with Harquebuziers of the same nation commanded by Lewis d'Godoy and the Germaines were on the left hande vnder the Lord of Tamberg intermixed with Harquebuziers Italians and those Portugals that vsed to be at Tanger commanded by captaine Hercules d'Pisa euery nation was set in long rankes with their Commanders in the front In an other squadron which did second this were the Portugals of Michell de Norogna and Vasco de Sylueira with harquebuziers in flanke and in the other which serued for the rereward were the Portugals of Diego Lopez de Sequeira and Frauncis de Tauora although that Sequeira remained at Arzilla for the guard whereof besides two wings of shot there were three hundreth Harquebuziers in the rereward on both sides of the armie were their horsemen deuided being in all fifteene hundred placed in triangles whereof the right wing was commanded by George d' Alencastro Duke d'Auero on the left side was the standerd Roiall Iean de Sylua Embassadour for the Catholique King and yoong Theodose Duke of Barcellos for so they call the eldest sonne of the Dukes of Bragançe and on the right hande a little separated were about two hundreth horse of those which liue commonly on those frontiers which they call Affricans not far from them were the Moores of the Cheriffe Mahamet but fewe in number In this order they marched with their baggage in the midst betwixt their horse and foote on the right winge leauing a space on both sides betwixt their squadrons to retire if need were Moluc who lost no opportunitie had now put his armie in battaile he placed his footmen which were all Harquebuziers in forme of a cressent the first rank were of Andalusians the second of Renegados and the last of Affricanes placed expresly in this sort for that one nation being enimie to an other they might presse forwarde their contraries and not suffer them retire vpon the two hornes of the cressent he planted two squadrons of ten thousand horse in each and behinde as it were in the rereward followed in equall distance all their horse in small troopes resoluing if they ment to fight with so great a number of men to compasse in the Portugals armie and charge them on euery side But in the meane time his sicknes encreased feeling himselfe die by degrees and although his Phisitions vsed all their skill to succour him yet decaying howerly they founde he coulde not liue two daies He felt a double death by reason of the time wherein he died and not being able to execute his resolution in this warre he doubted that he shoulde not leaue any one that could effect them For although hee were then in battaile yet had hee no meaning to fight at that instant foreseeing after that hee vnderstood the Portugals did march into the maine land with their baggage if they sought to delay the battell they were all vndone and that without the losse of any one man he would take them all prisoners by reason of the want they should find in that poore countrey of Affricke But seeing this resolution which required time and could not bee effected in haste would not succeed by reason of the shortnes of his life he was much troubled He thought it not conuenient to discouer his conceit vnto his brother that should succeede him both for that he much doubted of his iudgement and knowing assuredly that if he died before the victorie the Moores would flie and rebell against his brother and yeeld to the Portugals chiefely by the pretence of Mulei Mahamet and in this manner the kingdome would be lost Afflicted with these cares seeing the enimie neere with so great an Armie and his death approaching he resolued not to trust his heire but leauing his first resolution rather during his life to hazard a bloodie and doubtfull battell against all Reason of warre then to die with feare of the losse of his Realme the which he knew assuredly would happen after his death being resolued to fight all practises of accord dismissed he assembled the chiefe commaunders of the Armie and spake vnto them in this manner Your valour souldiers and the iustice of the cause which hath put Armes into your hands will not suffer me to speake much to encourage you to fight For you are those who vnder my command haue alwaies brought to happie ende euerie enterprise were it both difficult and dangerous The enimies which you haue in front are the same Portugals which in times past your fathers and your owne right hands haue often vanquished and ouercome The Italians and Germans which are come to their succours more terrible in name then in deed should not any thing amaze you being men without experience and in small numbers And as for me who haue sometimes made tryall of them I take vpon me the charge to yeeld them subiect to your forces And if reason preuaile any thing in battell shal not the victorie be on our side We liued quiet in our houses without vexing or molesting any one content with our fortunes not practising against the wealth and prosperitie of any other And a nation by nature our enimies differing in law comes from a far countrey not onely to pull from me my Crowne but also to spoile you of all your goods to depriue you of your libertie and to rauish your liues You perchance suppose that in this wicked people pietie hath so much force as to plant Mahamet in the kingdome a stranger contrarie to their Religion whose friendship and bountie is vnknowne to them they should vndertake this paines to hazard themselues to death It is the thirst of gold and of your blood with the desire to rule that hath brought the King of Portugall hither supported not by his owne forces but with the hopes he hath to deceiue you vnder this fained shew of pietie to this Infidell Mahamet who if he had any feeling of a man should be rather contented to liue subiect to my Empire according to our lawes then inuading my Realme by force procure the destruction of his owne blood the ruine of his countrey the
thought good to doe the like office to this citie hauing regard vnto the fidelitie whereof it hath alwaies made profession being the chiefe of these Realmes assuring you therwithall that he that shall inherite is no forreine king but a naturall borne as I haue saide before seeing that I am nephew and sonne to your naturall Princes issued of the same bloude and will be alwaies a father to euerie one of you as you shall finde when it shall please God But at this time I will entreate you that with your wisedome and great experience you woulde consider and note wherein I may honour and fauour you not onely to conserue your liberties and priuiledges both ingenerall and particular desiring that all other cities of the Realme shoulde vnderstande the same whereof I praie you to giue them notice being requisite that euerie one shoulde know the loue and affection which I beare to all and it shall be iust that in knowing it you conforme your selfe to that which is the will of God whose iudgements and determinations no man may resist but we ought to beleeue that what he determines is for the best So as trusting that both this citie and the rest when time shall require will doe that whereunto they are bound I haue nothing to say but that besides the feeling which I haue had of miseries past I haue beene in particular grieued for the losse of so great numbers of the Nobilitie and Commons of this Realme whereof that battaile was the cause And therefore I require you to aduise what I may do for those that remaine yet slaues and write vnto me for although I both haue and daily had that care I haue thought fit and couenient yet shall I be glad to vnderstande your aduise that all thinges conuenient might bee performed for their deliuerie and rest assured that whatsoeuer shall concerne you I will deale in it with the loue of a father as you shall know more particularlie by the effects when as occasion shall serue to make triall thereof the which you shall vnderstande by Christopher de Mora to whom I referre you The Catholique king sent this Letter by the saide Mora to be deliuered to the Magistrate of the Chamber who going for that intent presented it vnto them But being troubled they doubted that in receiuing thereof they shoulde offende against the Crowne so as refusing it they willed him to take it with him and deliuer it to the King the which Mora denying it remained still with them vnopened And least they shoulde be ignorant of the contents he drewe a copie out of his bosome and read it vnto them publikely dispersing sundrie copies throughout the citie The orignall was by the Vereadures carried to the king This did smally further Philips affaires but rather hinder him and was by the wisest both of Spaine and Portugall and also by some of the Kings Counsell helde as a remedie not fitting the Portugals humour who generally hating the Castillians being newe and rude in this matter it was not probable they shoulde yeelde vpon a simple Letter At this time there came intelligence that he who had the charge of Embassadour of Portugall was not onely liuing in Alcazerquiuir although sore hurt but that the Cheriffe had released him was comming with the bodie of King Sebastian to Ceuta and from thence within fewe daies being at Christmas in the yeere 1578 they vnderstoode he was arriued at Ciuill his comming was by the best acquainted with the affaires of Portugall held verie profitable for returning to his charge he seemed more sufficient then anie other to treate of so weightie a cause being indued besides his good iudgement with many other good parts necessarie for the mannaging of such a busines For besides that he had good experience of King Henrie his disposition and the humour of the Portugals he was verie pleasing vnto them it may be for that he was of the house of Sylua who being verie noble in Portugall passed into Castill during the controuersies betwixt king Iohn the first and the master of the Auis and being borne of a Portugall mother they helde him for their countreyman Besides that with the fauour of King Sebastian he was married in Portugall with Phillippa de Silua heire to Aluaro de Silua Earle of Portalegra Lord Steward of the Kings house and one of the principall Noblemen of the Realme But whilest that euerie man expected his present departure from Ciuill to Portugall the King called him to Court saying that he woulde first instruct him by mouth of his intentions and of the present occurrents In the meane time the Duke of Ossuna arriued within the Realme who seeming to be sent onely to performe complements with the king he was lodged and roially entertained at the charge of the Court where hauing deliuered his simple legation he went to Settuuall to visite Magdalen Girone his sister widow to George d' Alencastro Duke of Auero but hee returned sodainly making shewe he had newe commission to treate of the succession wherewith king Henrie was greatly discontented being vnwilling to haue the presence of a personage so qualified on the behalfe of Philip as it were a witnes of his actions the which did likewise displease all the Portugals the rather for that with Mora he began to solicite the King to declare Philip successour of the Realme shewing vnto him formerly by many reasons that his title was iust Nowe did King Henrie at the great intreatie of his subiects resolue to set the best order he could touching the question of succession and to content them For this cause remaining greatly in suspence hauing consulted the matter with fewe but of his greatest fauorites they concluded after much counsell infinite opinions and many disputations that it was not conuenient at that time to declare any one Prince The reason was that the neerest heire vnto the Realme they supposed to be the Catholique King whom they hated most and therefore sought by all meanes possible to flie his commād thinking nothing more fit to effect it then to protract the nomination of the Prince not meaning to specifie any For naming any other they shoulde procure his indignation against them and giue him occasion or his heires that should succeed him to attempt an action better grounded whereas by delaying it there should remaine vnto them at the least this weake hope that the Catholique king although yoonger yet mortall might die before olde King Henry which hapning they shoulde be freed from the Castillians and then shoulde succeed as it is said the Duke of Sauoy of whom they had no such feare but woulde more willingly yeeld to his subiection The King supposed that Katherine Dutches of Bragance preceaded all other pretendents except the Catholique King aided as it may be by his owne naturall inclination he conuerted all his thoughts in her fauour and if it were possible to giue her the crowne writing to the vniuersitie
whereof were male content fearing it had beene giuen to the Castillians The which was apparant for that a little before there came boldly to the assemblie of the Nobilitie before the whole Councell two mechanick officers of those that representing the people are imploied to the Magistrate of the citie The one of them crauing audience said they had vnderstoode that some of the chiefe of that assemblie neglecting their dutie and honour had spoken slaunderously and wrought against the publike good and suretie of the Realme which like good Portugals they resolued to preuent as before the inhabitants of the same citie had done in the times of king Iohn the first and of other kings And therefore they required the whole Councell as the chiefe and principall member of the common wealth to aide and support them that they might not loose their honor and priuiledges thorough partialities and priuate respects They saide also that for this effect and for the defence of iustice and to chastice seditious Portugals they were readie with fifteene or twentie thousand men betwixt the citie and the countie which they woulde assemble if neede were in two howres to burne the houses of such as shoulde speake too boldly or treate against the publike good and quiet of these Realmes the which they would not put in execution hoping to see them punished and the matter redressed by some other course He concluded that he thought it their dutie to giue this aduertisement that with more assurance they might all treate of the common good without feare of violence or any preiudice and to stop the mouthes of those who suspected in such a cause make all things impossible without seeking or procuring of any remedie Hauing ended this speech one of the wisest of the assemblie made answer that this counsell was acceptable for the loue and affection they had to the common good but there was not any one amongst them which did not desire it with the like zeale and therefore they should rest assured that all things should be handled with good order carefully but notwithstanding this answere they returned with threatning This assembly discouered to the Catholique King not onely the intention of the Portugals in these affaires but also of King Henrie himselfe for that it seemed vnto him they rather held a forme of conspiracy against him then a councell of the states Henry encouraged by his followers for a time intended to marrie dayly consulting with his phisitions to see if he were apt for generation which seemed strange to all such as had knowen him for euerie man beleeued considering the chast life hee had alwaies led that although he had come yoonger vnto the Crowne he would not haue taken any wife and now talking of it being decrepit of age and a Priest it seemed the desire to exclude the Catholique King from the Realme preuailed so much that it did estrange him from his ancient disposition But honors breed in men alteration of manners although his age made men thinke his inclination was rather forced in him then voluntarie Some of the wisest said that the Catholique King should haue a special regard least he were abused in this marriage for although the age and disposition of the said Henrie might well assure him yet the matter being of such importance he should suspect some supposed or adulterate childe or some such like deceit But hauing possibly laboured at Rome that no dispence should be graunted to Henrie he sent into Portugall Fryer Ferrant of Castillio of the order of preaching Friers and an eloquent diuine the cause of his voyage being vnknowne I my selfe being vnable to search the secret It was generally thought he went to disswade the King from marriage with many reasons and especially saying that in so dangerous a time by reason of the Heretickes which did raigne when as Heretickes did tolerate marriage in men of the Church if he now did it being Priest and King he should giue them a verie ill president and this conceit of his going was confirmed to be true hauing vnderstood he was neither willingly heard nor presently dispatched The pretendents had beene cited which were the Catholique King the Dutchesse of Bragance the Duke of Sauoy the Prince of Parma and Anthonie Prior of Crato to send shew their reasons The Catholike King did not answere in forme although Henrie had written vnto him with his owne hand but onely sent a certificat with a Secretarie to his Ambassador in Portugall that he had beene cited Many disallowed this diligence and all agreed that the King causing the Duke of Sauoy and the Pryor to be cited had not dealt therein iudicially saying it was a meane to breed contention the Prior being manifestly a bastard and the Duke apparantly after King Philip. Who being cited framed a new Councell of some of the Lords of his Counsell of State of his Confessor one other Diuine and fiue Doctors of the Councell roiall which he called the adioining of the succession of Portugall they were twelue in number and did onely treate of those things that did concerne that point At this time Iohn de Silua arriued at Madrill from Ciuill to be enformed of matters cōcerning his charge who although he were graciously receiued of the King and did often enter into Councell both to giue his aduise and to take his instructions yet did they delay his dispatch sometimes with one excuse and sometimes with an other And although he did earnestly sollicite that he might enter into the mannaging of so great an action as was the vnion of this Realme and after so many trauailes past goe comfort his friendes with his presence yet in this particular he had either many crosses or small good fortune For being prisoner in Affrick although it seemed to these Counsellors that this charge as his shoulde not be otherwise disposed of vntill they had certaine newes of his life or death yet notwithstanding it seemed that both the Kings meaning and the disposition of his ministers were enclined to dispossesse him not onely when he was present but euen then when he had most reason to beleeue it for that the King hauing alreadie discouered himselfe in secret matters to Christopher de Mora woulde not peraduenture reueale them to any other whereof they were apparent signes some curriers comming out of Portugall directed to other ministers then to those that did handle the matters of succession Besides the Duke of Ossuna to whose will both the Cardinall Archbishop of Toledo and other counsellors did conforme themselues hauing entered into great familiaritie with Mora recommending him to the King laboured that no other should be sent to treat of this busines seeming as it may be vnto him as some did suppose that he would not so easily agree with Sylua being more haughtie He answered to these obiections offering not onely to agree with the Duke of Ossuna and with all those that should be sent but
if it were not their pleasure he should deale with those causes of the succession he would willingly desist and onely treat of that which did simply concerne the charge of an Ambassadour and after retire himselfe if neede were But this modestie made him more suspect for thereby they might iudge he desired nothing more then once to haue an entrie and after to make himselfe Patrone of the whole cause At that time Christopher de Mora was called to court who treated secretly with the King of many things concerning the Realme he laboured to be sent backe with the Title of Ambassador yet many supposed his commission being ended he should not returne But being accounted as he was indeed confident iudicious and diligent although of no great experience in matters of waight being made gentleman of the chamber he was sent backe with the Title he desired to keepe Sylua from returning into Portugall all his hopes being frustrate they stayed him saying it was conuenient the King should retaine him neere about him to iudge the better of what should be written out of Portugall And hauing reduced the number of twelue coūsellors of the succession to fower he commaunded he should be one the rest being the Cardinall of Toledo Lewis Manriques Marques of Aguilar both of the councell of State and Anthonie of Padiglia President of the councell of millitarie orders The generall discourse concerning the election of the one for Ambassador and the exclusion of the other was diuers but when as the excluded could not preuaile according to the counterfeit show of the court he tooke all for a fauour Whilest these things passed in Castil the pretendents in Portugal both naturall borne and strangers called by citation framed their reasons and euerie man laboured to make the King capable of his right The Duke of Ossuna pleaded for King Philip Charles de la Rouuere for the Duke of Sauoy Ferrant Farnese Bishop of Parma for Rainucius Fernese The Queene of Fraunce was not cited yet did not she desist from her pretention by the meanes of Vrban of Saint Gelais Bishop of Cominges who had some difficultie to be admitted The King seemed long doubtfull in this point for on the one side with the inclination he had to the Dutchesse he would exclude al others with the desire he had to frustrate Philip he labored to admit all that did pretend In this point hatred preuailed before affection Enduring this infamous allegation of the Queen who saide that Henry of whom she demaunded iustice and eleuen other Kings his predecessors had beene all bastards and vnlawfull for that was her plea And although he doubted of the Bishops procuration after some difficulties promising to satisfie him within a limited time by an other commission he was receiued to plead appointing him an aduocate in the cause The principall groundes of the pleaders were these Anthonie at the end of fiftie yeeres would be admitted for lawfull hauing neuer before pretended it and therfore vndoubtedly the succession of the Realme did appertaine vnto him for that as a male issued from a male he saide with the qualitie of his father he did surmount his age wherein Philip did surpasse him that being a male he was before the Dutchesse and did vanquish Rhanucius by his age and neerenes Phillibert Duke of Sauoy did not wholie deceiue himselfe for as he assisted not for any other ende but to shewe that as the neerest of kinne he did preceade the Prince of Castill in case that Henry outliued Philip he was least importune They did pleade vehemently for Rainucius Farnese and in his fauour the Doctors of the Vniuersitie of Padua had written and to confute the reasons of proximitie wherein the other competitors did surmount they alleaged that conformeable to pure and simple lawe so many sonnes as Kings haue so many heires of inheritance they do frame whereof the first line doth inherite whilest it remaines which being extinct the seconde doth succeed it and so consequently in order That Edward the Grandfather by the Mothers side of the saide Ranucius was chiefe of the second race of the children of King Emanuel whereof the first being vtterly extinct in Sebastian the line of the second ought to succeed vntill it were likewise extinct where by descending from braunch to braunch it came directly to the saide Ranucius And although Philip and Phillibert were pretendents male and lawfully issued from an elder feminine stocke whilest there was remaining any heires descending from the elder feminine males as he was they coulde not inherite and that the Dutchesse who was a woman and Anthony vnlawfull ought not to take it from him although he succeeded them all The Dutchesse with more liuely hope both of her iustice and of the Kings fauour had caused to be written in the Vniuersitie of Coimbra a long curious allegation the Doctors who are the learnedst of the Realme hoping to please the King handled the cause with all possible care She laboured to prooue that they succeed in Realmes by the inheritance of the last possessor and that in this kinde of succession the lawes allowe the benefite of representation and in the difficultie which the Doctors mooue in the deciding whether this priuiledge be allowable to the Nephewes when they do not ioine with the Vncle in the inheritance they ought to follow those which holde the affirmatiue and that the women doe not onely represent the degree of the predecessors but also the sexe She therefore representing Edwrad her Father sonne to King Emanuel and brother to king Henrie woulde precead all the other pretendents both the Catholique king for that he issued from a daughter Anthony being a bastard Ranucius as being neerer vnto Henry admitting neither degrees elderships nor representations alleaging for that purpose infinite authorities of Doctors These her allegations were imprinted and sent to the Pope and to all the Princes in Christendome hoping thereby to make a great breach in their harts The Catholique king saide he was the eldest and lawfullest Nephew male of king Emanuel then liuing and that not any one of the others being not able to make themselues equall vnto him they sought to helpe themselues with fixions and representations the which he woulde prooue by some lawes were not to be admitted in this case nor amongst these persons for that going before them all ingeneral by age he did surpasse them in particular one after an other Anthony by legitimation the Duchesse by sexe Ranucius by nearenes the Duke of Sauoy by the age of Isabell Augusta his mother elder then Beatrice Mother to the saide Duke The people alleage that the issue male of their Kings failing in that case the election appertained to them fortifying this reason by the example of the election which was made of their King Iohn the first but of this pretention being generall they made small account The Queene Mother of Fraunce with a
strange grounde to the dishonour of so many kings woulde come by direct line to the succession of the Realme offering to prooue by writing out of the auncient Registers of Fraunce and by the auncient possession of the Earle of Bulloigne that she was lineally descended from Robert sonne to king Alphonso the thirde and of the Countesse Matilda his first and lawfull wife and that from that time to this all the descendents of Beatrice the second wife of Alphonso haue vniustly reigned from whom all the pretendents to the succession drawe their beginnings and therefore they coulde haue no better interest then their predecessors King Henry seemed nowe more colde to determine the question of succession then the importance of the cause and the shortnes of his life required He was greatly pressed by the people who be naturally hard to please seeing his slow proceedings complained by words and writings dispersed without authors and were well content their griefes should come to the kings eares They inferred that the losse of the warre of Affricke partly restored by his comming to the Crowne was nowe reuiued seeing their hopes that he shoulde preuent their imminent dangers succeeded vainely They complained that the time which shoulde be wholie imploied to decide the succession was spent in accidentall things contrarie to their dutie hauing no other care but to drawe into question such as the king hated to search by iustice things of small moment to borrowe money of the merchants to redeeme the Portugals that were in Affricke to treate of newe impositions to the oppression of the people and such like some whereof as the redemption of prisoners and that which concerns iustice they could not reiect as euill they blamed the time and the meanes that was spent in them Passing from this discourse hauing as it were a desire to speake slaunderously they touched the ministers of iustice to the quicke inferring they had corrupt consciences that the poore were persecuted the rich fauoured that all punishments were pecuniarie or barbarous expresly inuēted to molest the poore innocents giue autority to the rich culpable who are seldome punished They shewed againe how much a briefe decision of the succession did import and that it was no sound aduise to cite the pretendents assemble the States being tedious matters alleaging that if the king to receiue the scepter had no neede of these things neither had his successour but that he ought to decide this cause by himselfe with the aduise of learned and confident Doctors and according to that which he shoulde finde conuenient treate the accordes and capitulations with the greatest libertie of the Realme he coulde giuing contentment to the excluded and making of many members one body thereby to auoide the bottomlesse gulfe of ciuill warres And in truth this was the wisest and most Christian resolution of all others They did not allow of the making of Gouenours tearming them bodies without a head saying they coulde not after the kings decease effect any good iudging there woulde be amongst them diuersitie of opinions the people woulde be altered the great woulde disobey and euery one of the pretendents woulde call himselfe king they did foretell the Realme woulde be deuided in factions that one would follow one party the other an other party in the meane time the strongest woulde preuaile by armes The most aduised feared the forces of the Catholique king being neere and alwaies readie and although some trusting in his modestie beleeued after the death of Henrie he shoulde peaceably attend the sentence yet such as more practised in the affaires of the worlde knewe that the encrease of kingdomes had neither end nor measure that they be neuer giuen or taken away by the opinion of Doctors they feared most of all they termed it a diuelish temptation of those that perswaded Henry to take a wife or once to speake of it saying they were not woorthie that God shoulde nowe worke miracles for the loue of them The king mooued with these reasons which were partly deliuered vnto him began more vehemently then accustomed to treate of these affaires And forasmuch as the Prior hauing taken his oath to obey the Gouernours was retired to Almada a citie vpon the riuer of Tagus right against Lisbone where he made his vsual residence the king doubting that remaining there and comming sometimes to the citie as he did he might encounter with the Duke of Bragance and that as concurrents in one action and competitors in present there might growe some perillous contention the which was doubted hearing there was hatred betwixt them for this cause he commanded the saide Prior to retire himselfe to his said Priorie of Crato the which he did and likewise to the Duke though somewhat later to withdrawe himselfe The Prior was there cited not without permission to come personally to the court but to sende his Attourneies wherewith being grieued he did write vnto the king thanking him that he had admitted him to plead and complaining that he was in a manner banished He said that he ought not to forbid him to assist in his owne cause when as the Duke of Ossuna Embassador for the Catholique king and the Duke of Bragance were present at their pleas For besides the discommoditie hee shoulde haue in deliuering his reasons whosoeuer shoulde see him banished from the Court whilest they treated of so weightie a cause woulde suppose him so farre in the princes disgrace as he shoulde not dare to maintaine his title But all this preuailed not for the king woulde neuer suffer him to depart from Crato and although he did obey with difficultie going often from place to place yet would he neuer admit him to Court The first processe the king put vppon the file was touching the satisfaction the Prior pretended to giue for his legitimation wherein he had secretly all the pretendents opposite desiring to haue it tried first as indeed it ought to be for vpon proofe of his legitimation he was either to be admitted or excluded from the succession And forasmuch as Princes doe commonly execute that carefully which they do affect for this reason and to the ende the sentence he shoulde pronounce thereupon shoulde remaine firme he had obtained secretly at Rome a briefe from the Pope by the which he gaue him authoritie absolutely to iudge the cause of legitimation without any forme or processe according to the truth thereof So as hauing strictly examined the witnesses he allowed some reasons and reiected others and duely weighed the processe Finally he came to sentence framed by vertue of the Popes owne motion wherein was reported in a manner the whole processe The deposition of the witnesses which were fowre two conuinced to be false for they recanted confessing they had beene suborned by Anthony and the other two were suspected being neere kinsemen and disagreeing betwixt themselues The words of the testament of Lewes father to the saide Prior were annexed wherein
but of the great desire he had to be assured of this Realme wherein he did surmount his owne nature and the custome of the Spanish nation who by their long delaies doe often faile in their enterprises The galleies and ships which had transported these men went to Saint Marie Porte where the whole nauie by sea should assemble Henry was still discontented with Anthony who notwithstanding the Kings late commandement not to approch within a hundreth miles of the Court wandered from place to place drawing the peoples harts vnto him The King was desirous to finde some meanes to punish him with a more rigorous sentence But the Prior when as the cause of his legitimation was in question before the King by vertue of his holines briefe mistrusting what hapned had by the counsell of Alexander Formento then the Popes Nuncio in the Realme sent to Rome complaining vnto the Pope of the hatred his vncle did vniustly beare him beseeching him to reuoke the cause vnto himselfe and to be the onely iudge thereof for that the King was suspect vnto him By reason whereof the Pope saying that his first intention was not to make Henry absolute iudge to giue sentence inclusiue he write vnto him by an other briefe with defence not to proceede in the cause for the which he appointed as newe iudges the said Nuncio George de Almada archbishop of Lisbone but not with authoritie to giue sentence but after due information of the processe to sende it to Rome This briefe was sent to the Nuncio that he might deliuer it vnto the King the which he did by an apostolike Notarie fearing he should haue refused it Henry was greatly mooued that the Pope had reuoked the cause vnto himselfe both for that the execution of the sentence did import as also imagining he was wronged by taking the cause out of his handes whereof before he had made him iudge So as greatly discontented with the Pope and his choler encreasing against his Nephew he woulde now vse his roiall authoritie and leauing to proceede as the Popes substitute he began as King to proceed against the Prior. And although the Nuncio it may be by the Popes commandement or rather by his own inclination was fauourable vnto him shewing himselfe very opposite to the Catholique King yet Henry left not daily yet coldly to continue the cause of the succession for hauing cited him to courte and he not daring appeere he caused his edicts and proclamations to be set vpon the pallace gate whereby he was cited to appeere within twelue daies The Prior who had soone a copie of this edict from his agents was greatly displeased to see the course the King held against him yet durst he not appeere fearing if he fell into the kings hands the hatred he did beare him woulde drawe him to some strange conclusion he resolued therefore to absent himselfe labouring to appease his wrath by letters which he did write vnto him complaining of the manner of his proceedings in his behalfe striuing to make knowne his better deseruing He saide that he ioyed in his afflictions calling him in his edicts Nephew as indeed he was and sonne to that his brother to whom this Crowne hauing so great a bond he did not beleeue he should so sonne forget it although his ill deseruings had bin greater then his fathers merits He remembred the respect the King himselfe and his predecessors had vnto his father and the amasement they should haue to see him thus by him vniustly persecuted He did not attribute the blame of the kings inclination to the king himselfe but to the sinnes of the Realme and to the ill disposition of some fauorites shewing on the one side that he bare with patience what it shoulde please God to impose and on the other side complained of his vncle that he did execute against him the passions of priuate men And forasmuch as when he returned from prison out of Affrick some had giuen out that he had fledde from the battaile and was not taken prisoner he touched likewise this point lamenting to be so slaundered He complained of the King saying that to the ende no man shoulde haue compassion on him he was forced to leaue the Court by night hauing only had some speech of his legitimation shewing he was not woorthie of any brotherly reprehension He did aggrauate his banishment with no small preiudice to his credite at such a time as his competitors were fauoured inuironed with their kinsemen and demaunded iustice face to face He alleaged that his holines briefe which the king had obtained against him was ignominious and full of discurtesies nothing agreeing to the honor of his father And although he had obtained an other contrary thereunto whereby his holines had reuoked to himselfe the knowledge of the cause yet was he resolued not to alter any thing but to passe his daies in miserie and sorrow whilest the euill deserued passion of the king shoulde continue He lamented to haue beene forced to giue in his proofes within two daies much more time being granted to any other that pretended and that they had giuen no answere to many things he demanded He complained grieuously of the sentence and commandement to apprehend him for subornation of false witnesses the which he denied although he saide that in the kings publike seate of iustice such as had produced false witnesses were not greatly punished He seemed to be greatly greeued to be called disobedient a troubler of the publike quiet of the realmes excusing himselfe with most vehement wordes He lamented that the Realme was ruined which his predecessors had woone defended and maintained He made no mention of appearance but saide it was lawfull for him as to theeues to hide himselfe and flie the face of iustice adding that if the faults wherewith hee is charged were such as the lawes of the Realme command the Church to redresse for that he hath no sure accesse it woulde please his highnes to graunt that Crato shoulde serue as his sanctuarie And although if his sinnes so required that being Nephew to the king the first person of the Realme his humble and obedient vassall it coulde not mollifie his vncles hart he woulde craue at Gods hands remedies for his afflictions He required with humilitie that it might be lawfull for him to appeale from his edicts vnto the king himselfe better instructed demaunding copies thereof to contradict them concluding that if it might not be graunted yet at the least his letter might be annexed to the proces for if due respect would haue suffred him he woulde haue caused it to be set vp in the same place of the edicts for the discharge of his honor and to make knowne to the worlde that he was vassal nephew faithful seruant vnto the king This letter did nothing mooue the kings hart but wrought the same effect with his choler as a little water doth to a great fire For being more
incensed against his Nephew he proceeded still against him So as within short time he pronounced a newe sentence not as a Iudge substitute by his holines but as an absolute king that it might not be subiect to any appeale supposing by this meanes seeing hee coulde not cast him into prison he shoulde banish him the Realme Wherin repeating his faults his absence his contumacy his disobedience with the premisses as was that he had made to drawe the Nobilitie people to follow his faction he depriued him of all his iurisdictions preheminences honors prerogatiues liberties graces and what other recompence soeuer he had from the kings his predecessors commaunding he shoulde be rased out of the bookes and not paide any thing not holding him for a naturall borne but a forraine to these Realmes He pronounced the like against such as shoulde aide him lodge him or any way treate with him He commaunded him to depart the Realme within fifteene daies saying it was expedient for the seruice of God of him and the peoples quiet But notwithstanding this sentence so seuere yet was it not of force to expell the Prior for being wel beloued of his friendes and common people he remained safely in secret And although for a shew onely he had retired him selfe into a monasterie of Castill yet he staied not long there onely to procure a certificate as he did of his departure whereof king Philip being aduertised he was aduised by some to take him prisoner both to be assured of him to please Henry but he thought it not then conuenient whereof after he repented him for Anthonie being returned againe into Portugall it was generally thought that he was ill affected and grieued with the king for the sentence he had pronounced against him Henry grew fearefull he shoulde attempt something against his person which so encreased that besides his ordinarie guard he raised certaine cōmpanies of souldiers for the assurance of himselfe and his Courte a thing at any time vnseene in that Realme At this time the Embassadors of Philip had made Henry capable of his title hauing laide before him both the good and euill which might ensue by giuing and taking from him the crowne who being enclined to do iustice mooued therewithall with the feare of war hauing wel considered the matter and laid aside all affection which made him inclinable to Katherine he resolued with all his power to giue it vnto Philip by the best meanes he coulde deuise And hauing imparted this his meaning to the Duke of Ossuna and Christopher de Mora he said he woulde ende the cause by way of composition betwixt Philip and the Realme without proceeding vnto sentence Prouided alwaies that the Catholique king shoulde graunt certaine priuileges not dispose the offices of gouernment and iustice but vnto the naturall Portugals and giue certaine graces exemptions to the generall good of the Realme Heere plainly appeered the errour of Henry who hauing cited all the pretendents and brought the matters to tearmes of iustice thought it after wards more conuenient to come to composition with Philip which shoulde haue beene formerly done if it were to be done These capitulations were sent vnto Philip to Madrill whom Henry entreated to keepe them secret as one that feared a contrarie disposition in the people And although hee were not ignorant howe hard the quiet execution of this his will woulde be by reason of the people and some Gentlemen of contrary faction yet commaunded he it shoulde be propounded to the states with all the mildenes it might be Some hold that father Leon Anriquez of the order of Iesuits the kings Confessour was rather the cause of this his vnexpected resolution then the practises of the Catholique kings ministers and that from him in whom the King did greatly trust proceeded his first inclination to the Dutchesse of Bragance but fearing the indignation of Philip he turned the thoughts of Henry to fauour his title By means whereof in October 1579. he called againe the deputies of the Cities and other estates vpon colour to impart vnto them a matter of importance Philip disallowed this resolution of Henry to assemble the States for being assured of the small affection the Portugals bare him he was most assured that assembling them togither they woulde neuer agree to yeelde him the Crowne and therefore hee aduised the King without any other assembly to declare a successor seeing in the last Estates held at Lisbone the whole Realme had giuen him full power the which if he would vse in this controuersie of the Realme and not make any new conuocation of Deputies he shoulde write to euery citie in particular his intention and aduise thinking it more easie to perswade them deuided then vnited in one body But Henry not daring effect it did sollicite the comming of the Deputies In Italy seeing the Catholique King a little before assemble so great forces they made diuers coniectures thereof they furnished the places of ordinarie suspect with newe garrisons some beleeued he that had entred league with the Cheriffe Mulei Hamet that both iointly togither would attempt Alger supposing the Moores had propounded this enterprise for feare of the Turkes and that the king with his aide woulde expell them from thence being so necre neighbour vnto Spaine The Pope vnderstanding the contrarietie in Portugall seeing the Catholique King prepare so greatly to armes he commaunded Philip Sega his Nuncio in Castillia to say vnto him that although he knewe these preparatiues of warres were against Infidels yet seeing the estate wherein Portugall stoode it might bee supposed it was intended against that Realme and being dangerous to come to armes and to stirre vppe the humours which cannot be setled at pleasure hee offred himselfe to be a mediatour betwixt him and Henry and to settle this busines peaceablie The king accepted the Popes offer in generall words entertaining his Nuncio with delaies without giuing him any resolute answer for that as it was saide many things did trouble his minde concerning this action He considered of the one side that being of good yeeres and his heires but yoong enioying except the state of Flaunders all his countries quietly it was not fitte to stirre vp humours in Spaine besides being fearefull to other nations they woulde not willingly see him augment his dominions he doubted that in busying himselfe in Portugall some woulde then take occasion to breede some alteration in his territories and therefore hee willingly gaue eare to any treatie of peace On the otherside he was not well assured of the Popes disposition seeming he shoulde preiudice his title to put it to compremise besides that to former presidents he woulde not willingly adde this of new to acknowledge the Apostolike seate as a iudge of Realmes He thought it lesse danger to attend the sentence of Henry then of any other for pronouncing it hauing not acknowledged him for iudge he was not bounde to obey if it were in
his disfauour retaining still the right of armes by reason whereof in this suspence he forbare still to giue the Nuncio his answere vntill that being better assured of the disposition of Henry he made answere that his interest being so apparant and the King so well enclined there needed not any mediation the which if it were requisite he woulde accept of this office of the good zeale of his holines The indisposition of Henry and the disquietnes of his minde did much afflict him so as he resembled a lampe neere extinct the which sometimes yeelds a great light sometimes seemes quite out They feared he shoulde die of an accident which hapned and therefore his Counsell thought good not to attende his death for the declaration of the Gouernours but to put them as it were in possession the which was partly executed For the King being halfe dead they brought vnto him the coffer wherein the Rowle was kept with the names of the Gouernours in the great Church of Lisbone and hauing opened it they founde them to be George Dalmeda archbishop of Lisbone Frauncis de Sada first groome of the Kings chamber Iean Tello Iean Mascaregnas and Diego Lopez de Sosa President of the Counsell of Iustice of the citie who tooke their oathes to gouerne according to the lawes of the Realme and to the limited commission which Henry had particularly set downe This diligence bredde aswell in the peoples mindes as in the Catholique Kings a iealousie of the kings death and the rather for that two daies before they woulde not suffer any to see him supposing they woulde keepe it secret vntill they had taken counsell put the Gouernours in possession and prepared for defence And although it were presently knowne that the King was yet liuing and so amended that he had almost recouered his former health yet the generall opinion being that he coulde not liue long all mens mindes were in suspence in this Realme THE FOVRTH BOOKE The Contents of the fourth Booke The Castillians and Portugals discourse vpon the state of Portugall the vehemencie of the plague the estate of Almerin the death of King Henry the Regency of the Gouernours the practise of Anthonie to be chosen King the Testament of Henry the diligence of the Catholique King to vnderstande if he might with a safe conscience make warre the election of the Duke of Alua as generall of the enterprise and the priuileges the Catholique King offered if they woulde deliuer him the Realme THe Catholique King in the meane time kept his armie togither in Spaine with greater paines and more charge then he had done else where for the countrey being not greatly fertile he was enforced to fetch victuals from other parts being then about the ende of Nouember 1579. there was then no assuraunce of things whereby they might either dismisse their armie or imploy it For although king Henry was yet liuing and well affected yet the Portugals being most obstinate against the Castillians he desired not to liue any longer doubtfull of the succession as well for the charge as for the euent and therefore he ceased not continually to importune Henry to declare him Successor obiecting many reasons why he was bound to do it and propounding many inconueniences which woulde follow not doing it the which was spoken in doubtfull tearmes whereby it seemed he woulde make the equitie of his cause apparant by force And although this entreatie seemed somewhat to threaten yet did it nothing displease Henry suffering it expresly to bee published that the people might beleeue he was forced to this declaration The whole Realme was discontented to see Henry dying the Catholique King armed and the small remainder of time spent in matters of light importance whereof their discourses and opinions were as diuers as they were different in passions The Priors partisans being in a manner all of base qualitie hauing their reason darkned and not setled in opinion saide that he was legitimate and that the Crowne appertained vnto him but that the king of his absolute authoritie hating him woulde depriue him and that all his fauorites did concurre in this resolution For the King hauing alwaies persecuted Anthony by their aduise they feared that he comming to raigne woulde take such reuenge as they deserued and therefore preferring their owne securitie before the libertie of their countrey they woulde take the Realme from him and giue it to a stranger Many others alleaged that although hee were a bastard yet they ought to giue him the Realme being the neerest allied of the bloud royall Others in whom hatred to their neighbours preuailed more then any other inclination saide that whosoeuer had interest to the Realme yet shoulde they by no meanes giue it to the Catholique King but rather come to armes vaunting themselues to be valiant They added moreouer that they woulde demaund aide from Fraunce and England whereof they were assured and hauing them they doubted not to seate a King at their pleasures There were some yet fewe but of iudgement who comparing the forces of Portugall with Castill founde they coulde not flie the yoke of the Catholique King and although with great griefe yet they hoped it might prooue a gentle amitie and that these Realmes vnited togither Portugall might reape great profit by the commerce traffique Many spake after their owne humors saying that Anthony leauing the habite of Saint Iean shoulde marrie with the daughter of the Duke of Bragance and being vnited togither they needed not to feare Others gaue out that the Catholique King woulde be contented to giue his seconde sonne to the Portugals for their king to be brought vp amongst them the which they shoulde accept for were it whosoeuer it were sufficient to haue a King alone And some say that Henry laboured to effect this but Philip soone resolued him saying that he coulde not do it but to preiudice the Prince his eldest sonne fearing by this meanes to leaue a seminarie of diuision in Spaine betwixt his descendents The perswasion of the Catholique Kings Agents with the Nobility were of great effect by reason whereof there were few Gentlemen amidst this diuersitie of opinion but either did willingly encline to the said King or corrupted held their peace and retired themselues from Court auoiding all occasion to declare themselues Of the fiue Gouernours chosen three were drawne to the Catholique Kings deuotion and although we should not be amazed to see the common people who by custome inconstant and without iudgement holde the woorser part yet did it breed a woonder in many that the Portugals in generall euery one according to his qualitie framed in their mindes a resolution contrarie to that which by reason they ought to haue done in a matter of so great importance in the which they should haue taken greater consideration For that some discoursed without passion that the Nobilitie accustomed to be respected of the King shoulde flie the obedience of the Catholique King being
his forces And although the consideration had beene easie many protesting against it and many foretelling the future euent yet God tooke from them their vnderstanding as he doth from those whom he meaneth to punish and in this manner he hath depriued them of iudgement who aduise to take from the Catholique King the succession of the Realme They compared the amitie of Castill with that of Fraunce reporting the wrongs and pyracies which the French being at sea had daily done to Portugall and the small reckoning was helde of them that had complained and contrariwise the concord and rest which since the last peace made with the Castillians vntill that day they had enioyed without the breach of any one article blaming the manner of the French saying that they sought nothing else but to be admitted and after to become masters the which not succeeding they striued to be admitted to plead the equitie of their Kings cause seeking alwaies occasion to complaine They added that if the election were in the people and that the Catholique king had no enterest onely to be free from the French they shoulde vnite themselues with Castill that they might liue in peace and bridle this French furie which hath often throwne the Portugals aliue into the sea and slaine their gouernors and the Kings captaines by their Kings commission for by this vnion besides the seruice of God the French would feare and not spoile so boldly at sea They commended king Henry as iust and holie saying that the best resolution they coulde take was to fall at his feete beseeching him that seeing the Catholique king was the most honorable the most neerest and the eldest kinsman that he had that in the name of God he shoulde sweare him Prince according with him of the most necessarie points for the libertie of the Realme and shewing themselues conformeable to the bequest sometimes made by king Emanuell That they should not loose this occasion during his life but laying aside their obstinate intercessions labour iointly to flie the warre and not be forced to yeelde to Castill at such time when as it shoulde not be acceptable perfourming the which they shoulde not onely preserue their owne goods but inherite others seeing the greatnes of Castill doth indifferently admit all subiects Spaniards to the greatest dignities bringing for examples that the Archbishop of Toledo and the office of the President of the Councell roiall which be the highest dignities spirituall and temporall were not then enioied by Castillians They protested that if they stopped their eares to the truth and did open them to apparant lies they shoulde feele within their owne home warre with the murthers spoiles theftes and burnings it bringes with it On the other side the Portugals made answere to their letters saying they desired no warre but woulde defende themselues against any that shoulde attempt it They alleaged many reasons of their iustice and force with auncient examples of the holie Scriptures whereas small numbers in a iust cause haue vanquished a great armie They refuted that opinion that God by the vnion of these Realmes would fortifie in Castill an arme of the church shewing many grounds wherby they should iudge the contrarie blaming the sacke of Rome and some other vnwoorthy actions of the Castillians They laboured much to prooue that the Prior of Crato was legitimate that King Henrie had bin a most passionate iudge in that cause They spared not to touch the reasons of the Dutchesse of Bragance shewing that she ought to precead the Catholique King in the succession They condemned the said King saying that distrusting his Title he had prepared to armes They shewed by a long discourse that the vnion of Portugall would neither breed them profit nor honour but losse and dishonour were the conditions neuer so ample and good drawing examples from Flaunders and Aragon shewing that the behauiour of the Spaniardes in the Low-countries had beene the cause that those people had rebelled against God and against their temporall Lord They did obiect that all nations subiect to the Catholique King were reputed his subiects in matters of charge and burthens of the warre but in honours recompences and exemptions they were vnknowen They valued not the Kings forces saying that if it were fearfull to other Prouinces yet was it not so in Spaine beeing apparent that by reason of the barrennes of that countrey he could entertaine no great Armies neither durst he for the weaknes of the places draw in mercenarie souldiers bringing for example the war of Granado where incountring but with fower disarmed Moores there was so great daunger with the losse of so many men They added moreouer that the King had not at this day one Captaine of account naming a number which were of the Seminarie of Charles the fifth who were all dead and not any other which had succeeded them imitating the Kings humour who loues rest more then armes by meanes whereof he had not augmented his Realme but lost Goletta with the States of Flaunders and had yet made greater losses had there beene other Kings liuing in this age but that in Fraunce England and Portugall the Scepters were in the hands of women and children They concluded that it was not credible that the Catholique King notwithstanding his threatnings and his prepared forces woulde take armes in Spaine for that his forces being vnited he was in daunger vpon the least contrarie euent that some of his Prouinces would rebell against him and that the French being a stirring nation would imbrace this occasion besides that being now old and the howres of his death vncertaine hee should consider that not inioying the Realme of Portugall in peace and dying with an Armie in Spaine hauing no heires but pupilles hee should leaue them in danger not onely to be depriued of the possession of Portugall but also to be much troubled in Castill and his other Kingdomes of Spaine labouring to prooue that the Kings were not there beloued as in Portugall Then began the yeere 1580. a yeere full of miseries and afflictions for the Portugals not onely by reason of the warre which followed but also for the dearth and plague for that the season hauing beene verie drie the fruit of the earth was in a manner all lost neither had the husbandmen in many places reaped what was sowne besides there came not from Fraunce and Germanie such quantitie of corne as was vsuall But this miserie was supportable in regard of the rest for neuer was the scarsitie so great but things necessarie would be found for money That of the contagion was most cruell for hauing runne through Italy Germanie England and a part of Fraunce it came finally into this Realme from whence it spread throughout all Spaine but most of all in the citie of Lisbone hauing begonne lightly the yeere before it increased at the entring of this spring and so augmented all sommer but declined in the fall This contagious mortalitie
for by that meanes he should prouide for all things fit for the Realme giuing satisfaction to him that should haue the strongest pretention And although the matter were still in doubt yet the King had thought it the best course as they should well finde and if they would consider thereof being of such importance as his Highnes had thought it conuenient to impart it vnto them and with their counsell to determine what should be most necessarie for the seruice of God and the profit of the Realme That hee did recommend it vnto them that with quietnes of mindes and the onely respect of the diuine seruice and the common good they should treat and consider of this matter giuing the King present knowledge of their opinions This Ambassage did greatly alter the councell who expected an Ambassage from the King whether he would admit their demand concerning the election and seeing they treated with them of a matter halfe ended laying aside what the Ambassador had propounded they resolued to send backe to the King to expostulate an answere of their Ambassage which done they profited no more then before But to Phebus Moniz one of those which went who possibly spake without respect the King made answere with great patience That he should haue come accompanied with choler whereunto he replied that it was reasonable seeing his Highnes would giue the Realme vnto the Castillians Let him giue it to any Portugall whosoeuer they were all contented The day following the Bishop returned to the assembly and without any answer to the Deputies demaund hee saide vnto them in the Kings behalfe That his Highnes vnderstood that some of the Councell were mistaken supposing the accord whereof he had made mention should be betwixt the King of Castill the Duchesse of Bragance which being contrarie he thought it good to explaine his meaning that the accord which he laboured was betwixt the King of Castill and these Realmes and to let them vnderstande that sentence was readie to be giuen in fauour of the king of Castill and therefore they shoulde consider how much more fit it were to ende it by accorde then by sentence that they shoulde well consider of that which he had sent to be deliuered vnto them for being a matter so important to the Realme it was necessarie that all should be capable The Bishop being departed many of the Deputies grewe in choler some of them saying that the Bishop affected vnto Philip had forged this Embassage of himselfe and that it was not credible the King had deliuered it thus vnto him Many spoke freely and some sought to interrupt him before hee had ended seeming vnto them that the king not answering their demaunde made small account of this assemblie saying that he coulde be no iust iudge of this cause seeing he had declared his intention But weighing better if they should confesse that he had pronounced it as a king and iudge they were bound to obey they beganne to say he had made no declaration holding it in suspence They sent to the assemblie of the Clergie to let them vnderstand what had passed and to complaine and to the King likewise to demaund an answer who answering them that he woulde sende did presse them to rest satisfied and to commit the care of this resolution to some fewe of them whereunto the Deputies woulde not agree fearing least the authoritie of the pretendents might force them or corrupt the iudges protesting openly that they woulde neither conuent nor accord with the Castillians But King Henry seeing the Deputies obstinately forcing an aunswere to their demaund finding he coulde neither drawe them to composition nor to compremit the matter to fewe fearing if hee shoulde pronounce the sentence they woulde make some exception resolued to make short to graunt that which they demaunded For which cause he sent backe the Bishop the thirde time who with a more pleasing audience then before saide vnto them in the kings behalfe That seeing the accord he had propounded did not seeme pleasing vnto them as vnto his Highnes he woulde make no other motion but woulde admit them to pleade the interest they had in the Kings election giuing them notwithstanding but two daies libertie to produce their reasons The Deputies glad of this answere sent to kisse the Kings hand for this fauour crauing leaue to draw some auncient writings out of the Records requiring more libertie of time the which he would not graunt referring them to the Soueraigne magistrate for the writings The Portugals were puffed vp with hope by this permission to elect a King at their owne pleasure and therefore many more hastily then they should declared themselues protesting they would rather yeeld to any then to the Castillians And not onely the common people but many of the Nobilitie said the same whereof many shewing themselues too seditious were banished the assemblies whereas such as seconded the Kings will besides the promises of the Catholike Kings Agents were fauoured and rewarded by Henrie The pretendents to the succession were discontented with the Kings inclination some complayned others dissembled The Duke of Bragance relied greatly vpon his wiues Title The Bishop of Parma comming to the assembly of States complayned publikely of the King with graue wordes to whom Emanuell de Sosa made a wise answere assuring him of the Kings intent to doe iustice whilest the matter stoode vpon these termes the King grew so weake as he could not rise from his bed giuing signes of a short life yet did he not leaue to the hower of his death to prouide for all things necessarie At that time the Duke of Bragance thought it fit to send Katherine his wife to Almeryn to visite Henrie to perswade him to declare her heire to the Crowne the which he did with small content to Henrie to whom she spake freely This her comming the Archbishop of Euora vncle to the Duke hauing at the same time giuen a prebend of the same church of great reuenue to Paul Alphonso bred matter of iealousie in such as were affected to the Catholique King who not knowing the qualitie of this Doctor and the obedience wherewith they keepe the Kings commaundements charged him not to haue perfourmed such offices with the Dutchesse as were conformable to Henries commission who drawning neere vnto midnight passed into an other life a thing woorthie to be noted that he began to die in the beginning of the Ecclipse of the moone he died with the end thereof as if that the celestiall signe had wrought that effect in him being a King of a weake bodie which it doth not in stronger or at the least not so suddenly as Astrologians doe write neither is the hower to be neglected being the same wherein he was borne 68. yeeres before The religious which were at his death saide that he was alwaies talking About ten of the clocke hee demaunded howe the time went and being told he desired some rest and that they
land the places were thus deuided The Italians had three coronels Prosper Colonna Vincent Caraffa and Charles Spinelli hauing for Generall Peter de Medicy brother to Frauncis the great Duke of Tuscaine with whom was sent by the saide great Duke Lewes d'Ouara whom the King had made one of his Councellers at warre Sanches d'Auila was Lord Marshall of the field There was no commaunder of the horse the Captaines being all Noblemen and men of account they could not conueniently make them subiect to any one of their companions the place requiring a man of such qualitie as he coulde not be inferior to the Duke and superior to the saide Captaines although after in time of necessitie Ferrant of Tolledo sonne to the saide Duke was made their leader Count Ierome of Lodron commaunded the Germaines Frauncis d'Allaua had his ordinarie charge as Generall of the artillerie but although the preparations were brought to this point yet the King daily protested by his ministers to the Gouernors of the inconueniences of the warre if they deliuered not the realme in peace vnto him neither did they cease to treate many things in Portugall concerning an agreement for that the King rather desired to shew his forces then to vse them to conquer by gentlenes then by rigor he offred vnto the realme many graces and priuileges deliuering him peaceable possession and the Gouernors the greatest part whereof enclined thereunto had alreadie debated with the Agents of the Catholique King what conditions the King shoulde graunt vnto the realme the which were published by the Duke of Ossuna and signed with his hand offring that the King should graunt them in giuing him the crowne and they were these That the King should take a formall oath to obserue all the customes priuileges and liberties graunted to these realmes by the Kings his predecessors That when there shall be neede to assemble the States for the affaires of Portugall it shall be done within the realme and that in no other assemblie of States whatsoeuer They shall neither propound nor resolue vpon any matter concerning these realmes That appointing a Viceroy to gouerne or any persons with what title soeuer they shall be Portugals The like is to be vnderstood in sending of a Visitor or Iudge with this condition notwithstanding for as much as concernes the authoritie of the realmes and to do them a greater fauour his maiestie and his successors may send for Viceroy or Gouernour one of the bloud royall be he sonne vncle brother cosen or nephew to the King Besides that all superior officers or inferior belonging either to iustice or to the reuenewes of the crowne shall be distributed to Portugals and not to strangers That all offices which haue beene in the times of former kings both of the court and of the realme shall be bestowed vpon the naturall borne such as shall deserue the same when as his Maiestie or his successors shall enter into the realme And the like is to be vnderstood of all other dignities of what qualitie soeuer either at sea or lande which are at this present or shall be heereafter created The garrisons which shall remaine in any forts shall be Portugals Moreouer they saide that the traffike of the Indies Ethiopia and other places appertaining to these realmes being discouered or to discouer shall not be dismembred from the same neither shall there be any other alteration made then is at this present And that the officers and their ships which shall be emploied in these traffikes shall be Portugals and shall saile in the ships of Portugall That the golde and siluer which shall be coined in these realmes and their dependancies and all that which shall come from those prouinces shall be coined with the armes of Portugall without any other addition That all Bishopricks abbeies benefices and pensions shall be giuen to Portugals And the like is to be vnderstoode of the office of Inquisitor Maior of commaunderies of the offices of militarie orders of the Priorie of Crato and finally of all other ecclesiasticall liuings as hath beene formerly spoken of the temporall He did yeelde there shoulde be no thirds exacted of ecclesiasticall goods neither subsidies nor croysades and that for any of these causes they should procure no buls That they shoulde not giue either citie towne place iurisdiction nor roiall prerogatiue to other then to Portugals And falling any vacancie of the liuings of the crowne his Maiestie nor his successors should not reteine them for themselues but giue them to the kinseman of him that did enioy him or to other Portugals that shall deserue them Prouided alwaies that the Castillians and strangers which now liue in these realmes and haue beene seruitors to the Kings deceased shall not be excluded That in militarie orders nothing shal be altered of the state it now stands in That gentlemen shall be paide their pensions amounting to twelue yeeres and that his Maiestie and his successors shall yeerely entertaine into his seruice two hundreth Portugals to whom he shal giue that paie which they call Moradia and those which haue no title of gentlemen shall serue in the warres of the realme That when his Maiestie or his successors shall come into those realmes they shall not take vp their lodgings as they vse in Castill but shall obserue the custome of Portugall Moreouer his Maiestie in what place soeuer he shall be shall carrie with him a man of the Church a Superintendent of the reuenewes of the crowne a high Chauncellor and two Disambarcadours of the court which iointly shall be called the Councell of Portugall by whose meanes all matters shall be dispatched with them shall go to clarkes of the reuenewes and two of the chamber for all occasions incident two their charge all shall bee written in the Portugall toong and all shall be Portugals And when his Maiestie or his successors shall come into Portugall he shall retaine the saide Councell and officers which shall be vnited to such as shall treate of the gouernment of the realme That all correctors and other officers of iustice with all other inferior offices shall in the Kings absence be disposed of in the realme as they be at this present the like shall be vnderstood of the officers of purueyors auditors of the reckonings and others of the like qualitie concerning the reuenewes of the crowne He declared likewise that all causes and charges appertaining to iustice of what qualitie or summe soeuer should be definitiuely ended and executed in these realmes as they be at this present That his Maiestie and his successors shall entertaine a chappell in manner and forme as the kings of these realmes haue formerly done the which shall be resident at Lisbone that the diuine seruice may be continually celebrated with the accustomed ceremonies except the Kings person or in his absence the Viceroy or gouernour shall make his residence in some other part of the realme and woulde haue there the saide chappell remaine
That his Maiestie shall conformably admitte Portugals to the offices of his house according to the custome of Burgundie without any difference betwixt them the Castillians and his subiects of other nations That the Queene shall likewise entertaine into her seruice Noblemen and the chiefe Ladies of Portugall whom she shall fauour and recompence marrying them in Portugall or in Castill That for the good of the people and generally of these realmes the encrease of traffique and the good correspondencie with those of Castill his Maiestie shall be pleased to open the barred hauens on both parties that the marchandize may passe freely as it hath formerly done before the impositions of such customes as are nowe paide That he woulde commaund that all curtesies possible may be done for the bringing in corne into Castill for the prouision of these realmes That he shall commaund to be deliuered three hundred thousand duckats to be imploied for these causes following First sixescore thousand for the redemption of captiues at the disposition of the house of Pittie at Lisbone the one halfe to be imploied for the redeeming of poore gentlemen and the other halfe for ordinary persons all Portugals one hundreth and fiftie thousand to make the ground of a stocke to be lent without interest whereas neede shall require as it shall be disposed by the magistrate of the chamber of Lisbone and the thirtie thousand remaining to cure the infirmitie that now raignes which shall be distributed by order from the Archbishop and chamber of Lisbone They saide likewise that touching the prouision which shall be made for armies sent to the Indies the defence of the realme the punishment of pirats and defence of the frontiers of Affricke his Maiestie shall take such resolution as shall be conuenient within these realmes although it be with the helpe of his other countries and the great expence of his roiall treasure That in recompence of the loue which the naturall borne of these realmes do beare vnto their princes it would please the King to make his ordinarie abode there And although the gouernment of his other realmes which God hath subiected vnto him hinder the effect of this his desire notwithstanding he promiseth to make the most aboad he can in this realme and hauing no cause of hinderance he will leaue the Prince in his place that being brought vp amongst the Portugals he may knowe esteeme and cherish them as his Maiestie doth This role was published throughout all the principall cities of the realmes by the ministers of the Catholique king adding thereunto that if the Portugals desired more the king would grant them anything supposing that as Christians they would require nothing but iust and godly things inferring it may be secretly that they would not yeeld to points of the Inquisition and of iustice THE FIFTH BOOKE The Contents of the fifth Booke The fortification of the Driehead the confusion of matters within the Realme and of the Gouernours The Catholique Kings answere to the Ambassadours of Portugall his expedition in the Vniuersitie of Alcala touching his entrie into the Realme The contrarietie of opinions whether the King should march with his armie in person or not The recouerie of Eluas and of Olliuenza The creating of Antonie for King The Gouernours flight The embassage of the Duke of Bragance to King Philip and his answere The taking of Villauizosa The entrie of the Armie into Portugall The yeelding vp of Stremos THe Portugals did not generally accept the offers made by the Catholique King for although three of the Gouernours the Nobilitie and the Cleargie did in their harts like of them yet the thirde estate did blame them saying it was a rowle of deceipts and a discouerie of Philips small force And that such as had framed these cōditions were more inclined to their owne priuate profit then the good of the realme desiring still the cause might be ended by iustice The Gouernours therefore stil continue the preparation for defence and had secretly sent Francis Barretto into Fraunce to let the Christian King vnderstand their right and the wrong the Catholique King did them seeking to possesse the Realme by force and to demaund the succour of six thousand foote giuing commission to Barretto to goe from thence to Rome to beseech the Pope to mediate with the King a suspension of armes and to binde himselfe to iudgement They sent Elizee of Portugall into Germanie to satisfie the Emperor and other princes touching their defence with manie iustifications such force had their desire to choose a king after their owne humour that seeking succours from forreine princes it was the greatest care they vsed to shake off Philips yoke for that the which would seeme incredible euen in the life of king Henrie some gentlemen that were prisoners in Affrick had required aide of victuals and men from the Cheriffe although there were no likelihood he should graunt it seeing that besides the diuersitie of lawes there was no amitie nor other respect of state whatsoeuer could binde him vnto it For although the vnion of these Realmes vnder Philip discontented him yet being wise and of iudgement it was not likely he should discouer himselfe against so mightie a neighbour nor trust to the weake Portugals being offended and as a man may say hauing their hands yet died with their bloud They proceeded slowly with the preparation of their armies and fortifications both for want of money and for the often disagreement of their ministers And Lewes Caesar chiefe purueior enclined to Philip cared not greatly to hasten the affaires yea expresly sometimes with one let sometimes with an other delaied them so as they onely repaired the fortresses vpon the mouth of the riuer of Tagus and made new rampiers in places where they might descend putting greater garrisons in all places then was accustomed and throughout all the citie of Lisbone they began to build many platformes to plant artillerie for the defence of the sea making readie their gallions and such other ships as they had Yet Emanuel of Portugall either not well satisfied with these fortifications or being naturally enclined to seeme to haue more knowlegde then the rest resolued against the opinion of many well skilled in that acte to builde a forte in the midst of the riuer at the mouth thereof for that being large in that place ships should not passe but within shotte of their artillerie it seemed vnto him that he had good meanes to effect it for that neere to the place whereas it runs into the sea there riseth a small flat hill of Sand but little discouered of the waters the which they call Cabesasecca the which deuides the nauigation or entrie thereof into two parts the one lying betwixt the Iland and the left shoare hauing but a shallow chanell is not nauigable but at a full sea and with small vessels but the other which lies betwixt the Iland and the banks on the right hand is likewise deuided into
two chanels by a shelfe which they call Cacippo That which lieth betwixt the right banke and the shelfe is defended by the rocke or castell of Saint Iulian the other which is betwixt the shelfe and the sandie hill which they terme La Carriera d'Alcasoua is not defended by any forte neither can the artillerie of Saint Iulian reach so farre Emanuell woulde builde a forte in the Iland to defend this passage And although hauing digged deepe in the sand he coulde finde no firme ground to settle his foundation yet woulde not Emanuell desist from his opinion but hauing no meanes to builde it of stone he raised it of woode filling it with earth the which he supplied with artillerie and many other things necessarie yet coulde he hardly furnish it with water for that his caske burnt with the sunne and the reuerberation of the sands which is vehement in those partes although they were couered with sailes did breake and woulde holde no water At that time the Gouernours did an acte of great consideration to animate men to the defence of the Realme for by a newe and dangerous example they vsed religious men as instruments to execute their intention commaunding all religious houses that they should not onely in their sermons but also in their confessions commaund their preachers and confessors to animate the people to defence in that sort as they preach the Croisado against infidels And for that the Portugals are too ambitious of honor they commaunded them to vse this encouragement that such should be most honoured who did most readily prepare for resistance so as their preachings which should haue beene religious were become furious orations of soldiers This was greatly blamed by the good and wise and was the cause of great hurt to the whole Realme for besides the imploying of priestes in a prophaned action they did animate the poore people to this defence the which afterwardes did thrust them rashly into armes It was likewise very hurtfull to the religious houses for as it is dangerous to stirre vp the mindes of religious persons these being by the death of king Henry growne more then before adding thereunto this other libertie to speake publikely whilest they did animate others it bred in themselues warlike affections so as hauing passed the limits of their profession in a manner all the Ecclesiasticall state ran into mightie abuses and disorders as we shall hereafter see There wanted money to furnish the charge for this defence and therefore they desired to borrowe one hundreth thousand duckats of the marchants the which although they would not agree vnto they were forced to pay These things were practised at Lisbone more then in any other parts of the Realme In the meane time the Gouernours were in diuision and irresolute loosing still of their reputation For the Prior continuing still in the cause of his legitimation and seeming daily a more obstinate pretendent threatned such as shoulde contradict him The ministers of iustice began to decline from their accustomed authoritie and euery man presumed to speake and do what he pleased shewing well that it was a realme without a king the which was remarkable in two points which then hapned as well amongst the religious as the secular The one was that the religious of the order of Saint Ierome in our Ladies monasterie of Belem being desirous to recouer their libertie which the king had taken from them who with consent of the Pope and of his authoritie had bound them notwithstanding the rules of this religion to chuse superior officers at his pleasure that is one of the fower or fiue religious men that he should name to euerie office Frier Emanuel d'Euora being then Prouinciall all the Religious went vnto him saying That he was not iudicially chosen to that charge and therefore he shoulde renounce his office and they would choose another according to the Statutes The Frier to whom this seemed of harde digestion opposed himselfe to their demaund with many reasons and multiplying many words both of the one side and of the other they did forceably put the Prouinciall prisoner in a Seller vsing him something hardly in their choler The kinsmen to the Prouinciall hearing of this disorder ranne for remedie to Alexander Formento then Nuncio for his Holinesse in that Realme who vnderstanding the reasons of both parties although the Religious protested he was not their Iudge yet he commaunded the Prouinciall should be deliuered and restored to his charge citing some of the Religious men of the Monasterie before him as seditious The Friers to whome this sentence was signified by a publike Notarie would not obey So as the kinsmen of the Religious prisoner crauing aide from the secular power the Gouernours sent the officers of iustice of the citie of Lisbone to the Couent with three Ensignes of soldiers to see this sentence put in execution by force who being come to Belem the Friers shut their gates leauing the Church open where notwithstanding the grate of wood which shuts vp the great Chappell and the Sepulchres of kings was close they went into the quire singing their Letanies But after the officers of iustice had knocked a while at the Couent gate and no man opening it entering into the Church they burst downe the grate of wood so as the soldiers comming into the Cloister of Friers they laide hold of such Religious persons as they met with small respect of their priestly order And although the elders came with their Crosses Buls and excommunications it nothing preuailed for they must of force deliuer the Religious man and restore him to his former estate the which they did protesting they had vsed violence and that they woulde complaine to the Apostolique seate The other case was that Fernand de Pina a Doctor and Citizen being chosen in the place of Diego Salema whome Henry had deposed Vereador of the Chamber which is the highest degree of magistrate that hath charge of the citie he was at noone day in the market place wounded in the head with a Curtelax by Anthony Soarez whereof he died soone after the which the Prior had caused to be done for that Pyna in his office had not onely spoken ill against him but also laboured to draw the officers and all the Councell of the Chamber to the Catholique Kings deuotion Anthonie desired to reuenge himselfe in this manner and the offender who knew better how to strike then to flie being hurt by the Sergeants and retired into a Church without the citie was taken prisoner by the Iustice and after some daies of imprisonment was hanged and quartered the which execution was done with trouble and feare least the people shoulde deliuer him For the authoritie of the Gouernours declining the ministers of iustice were not respected And for that they knew this murther was committed by the commaundement of Anthonie the people were inclined to saue him The Religious for the like respect alleaging that the
yoong men induced by Philips partisans seeing into what danger the captaine had brought the safety of the citie resolued to kill him and going to the Cathedrall church where they were all assembled they attended at the doore to effect it when he shoulde come foorth but discoursing with the Bishop who perswaded him ignorant of the danger wherein he was a nephew of his named likewise Anthony de Melo vnderstanding in the castell in what danger his grandfather was came foorth with certaine Harguebusiers to his succour and came in time before he was yet issued out of the church Old Anthony seeing this yoong man enter armed was amazed not knowing the cause but vnderstanding it afterwards and withall the hazard whereunto he was brought by such as did watch for him he sent to Velasco that he shoulde compound with the magistrate that as for him he was content to yeeld obedience to king Philip by meanes whereof all was pacified for the Magistrate had alreadie yeelded At the taking of their oathes the Citizens ill aduised required Velasco that in the Kings name hee shoulde graunt vnto the citie many priuileges and exemptions of customes and impostes throughout the realme with many other things of importance And hee liberall of that which he could not giue graunted all that was demaunded but these promises were not obserued by the King saying as it was true indeed that Velasco had exceeded his commission These things ended they were aduertised that Gaspar de Britto whom the citie had sent to Diego de Meneses was returning with three hundred men horse and foote ill appointed to guard this place to whom they presently sent word that he should turne back and hauing discouered the Castillian horse of himselfe he fled with al his troupes The day following the vsuall ceremonies perfourmed in proclaiming a newe King Velasco returned hauing staied there but three daies The principall of Eluas went after to Badagios to kisse the Kings hande of whom they had better reception then he is accustomed to giue vnto such people sending Garcia de Cardenas nephewe to the Duke of Alua to the citie to thanke the Citizens for their good wils Eluas being reduced Peter Velasco for the same intent tooke his way towards Oliuenza whither he had before written labouring that Nugno Aluares sonne to the Earle of Tentuguell being captaine of the place shoulde depart the which he easily obtained for the Citizens who had their affections enclined to the Catholique King were resolued to yeelde vnto him hauing entreated the King that it woulde please him not to make this place the first whereof he shoulde take possession seeing that he had woone their harts desiring rather to deserue lesse by obtaining late then to be accused of inconstancie by hastening much For this cause they not onelie thrust foorth Nugno Aluarez but also Diego de Sosa a knight of the order of Saint Iohn who had succeeded in his place The newes of all this and of the successe of Eluas came presently to Saint Arem whereas Anthony remained labouring with the people to be proclaimed King He was alwaies impatient in his pretention notwithstanding the persecutions that king Henry inflicted vpon him labouring still by all meanes possible to aspire to the crowne intreating threatning and suborning He treated by his Agents with the Catholique King in diuers manners Sometimes he seemed iealous of the Duke of Bragance and would ioine with the King against him Sometimes he treated to resigne his interest to Philip if he would make him a good composition carrying himselfe as his hopes increased or diminished So as it hapned vnto such as mannaged his affaires with the king when they found themselues to haue concluded a matter they found their authoritie reuoked The King in the end caused Christopher de Mora to talke with him and to make offer of all he should demaund for the great loue he bare vnto him without naming either summe or any thing else whatsoeuer but for that he hated Mora he would not by his meanes treate of this matter of agreement Notwithstanding when as the Duke of Ossuna deliuered vnto the Gouernors a copie of the kings minde as is before set downe he deliuered vnto Anthony a letter from the King wherein he did write vnto him That forasmuch as he was not ignorant many yeeres since of the good will he had alwaies borne him the which he had laboured to make shewe of in all occasions he was assured he woulde not prooue ingrate but shew himselfe answerable vnto that whereunto reason did binde him the neerenes of bloud that was betwixt them He said moreouer that hauing vnderstoode the right and apparant title hee had to the realmes of Portugall he entreated him most hartely to shew himselfe one of the first to receiue and to sweare him for his King and naturall Lord as God had appointed that by his example the rest might do that whereunto they were bounde assuring him that for his owne particular he woulde holde that regard of him to recompence and grace him as was conuenient referring the rest to that which the Duke of Ossuna and Mora shoulde deliuer vnto him But this letter wrought no effect for he then saide vnto the Duke that he woulde neuer agree making answere vnto the King that he could not satisfie him for that being vnder the peoples protection he must gouerne himselfe according to their mindes and therefore vnderstanding that the Castillians began to enter within the realm he made haste to dispatch this busines with the people the Deputies and making his profite of the possession the King tooke seeing the necessitie they had of a commaunder to make resistance he induced them to choose him Protector or King And although this resolution was made by the most seditious and arrogant who by force seeke to execute what they please who woulde needes proclaime him King yet were there many that woulde not yeeld vnto it many helde it more fit to call him Protector The Prior himselfe was not well resolued of this point suffring himselfe to be ledde as in all other his actions by the greatest number and his most fauorites who to induce the people to performe this acte in despight of some that woulde not assent being then in question to builde a fortresse a little without Saint Arem where there standes a small chappell dedicated to the inuocation of the Apostles they spred foorth a rumour that Anthony shoulde go thither the 19. of Iune to lay the first stone and that all the people shoulde worke in that fortification labouring in such an assembly to effect their desires But there needed no great arte for the people desirous of innouation ranne all thither that morning The Bishop of Parma being innocent and he of Guarda ofset purpose came to the chappell where masse was celebrated in the midst whereof they exhorted the assemblie to defence and with darke speeches to make an election
become Lord of Lisbone without blowes he treated touching the defence thereof being perswaded thereunto by the Magistrate who requested him to enter the citie to that end protesting that if the Prior tooke possession it shoulde not be their fault which coulde not hinder it but his who could and would not By meanes whereof although but coldly he assembled many companies of peasants thereabouts the which he sent for the guard of the citie and to hinder the Priors entrie He commaunded Peter de Cugna to take care for the defence thereof being resolute not to enter himselfe and hauing called to Councell the Gentlemen that were present they resolued to send with speed to Anthony Diego de Sosa and Frauncis de Meneses entreating him not to enter into Lisbone nor to call himselfe King but onely Protector being a name more fit for all occasions that might happen And although they went with this commission yet many aduised Teglio that notwithstanding all these demonstrations he should not hinder the course of the Priors good fortune so as wauering in his opinions not resoluing in any thing he was cause that the souldiers or peasants that were raised about the citie hauing neither order nor commission from the Gouernors knew not what to do whether to accompanie the Prior or hinder his entrie for that Emanuel of Portugal who had proiected to make the Prior King laboured to preuent all their resolutions and hauing resolued he purposely made their executions vaine Peter de Cugna saide that if Iohn Teglio woulde not oppose himselfe in person that he woulde not accomplish it being his inferior whereunto Teglio replied that it was the captaines dutie either of them excusing themselues vpon the other both with seuerall intents The Prior drew neere to Lisbone but he was in danger neuer to come there for neere to Sacaben which is sixe miles from the citie staying in the fielde to speake with Frauncis de Almeda his friende there was a Harquebuse discharged at him wherewith Frauncis was slaine and no man able to discouer from whence it came they supposed it was intended against the Prior himselfe Soone after he arriued at the citie with a small troupe especially of the Nobilitie hauing fewe other with him but Diego de Sosa and Frauncis de Meneses and therefore they suffred him freely to enter being of al those that mette him proclaimed king There were fewe at that time within the citie both by reason of the plague and for that many helde not themselues in safetie seeing the realme in diuision on the one side the Catholique king entred with a mightie armie on the other side were the Gouernors in a manner conformeable to the saide King lastly was the Prior being poore alone ill aduised made King by a handfull of the base people So as there was not any of the Iustice or Nobilitie that went to visite him and of the superior magistrates there was but one Vereador to be founde the rest being hidden Notwithstanding he went to the pallace vpon the riuer wherof he tooke peaceable possession as also of the Arcynal and storehouse of armes he created a newe purueior and newe officers of Iustice and newe Vereadors supplying all other offices that were voide From thence he went to the Towne-house to be proclaimed King with ordinarie ceremonies all the principall of the citie being assembled to whom Emanuel Fonsequa Nobrega a doctor of a bolde spirite spake in this manner I see grauen in your countenances the ioy and content which is conceiued in your harts hauing attained to this so happie a daie wherein you sweare him king whom you so much desire I account all words friuolous to animate you thereunto I may speake vnto you with courage for that your desires exceede my eloquence I know that euery small delay doth not onely grieue you but also greatly displease you that any other shoulde effect that first which you haue so much wished and which was fitte you shoulde haue done seeing that from this citie as principall the rest of the realme shoulde take their lawe But be as ioyfull and willing to this acte as you please be my wordes neuer so superfluous yet encouraged by dutie and loue I must briefely deliuer vnto you my aduise I will not make any particular repetition of his afflictions nor with what iudgement he hath surmounted them being infinite and the time shorte Let it suffice you to vnderstande as you doe that by a fatall destinie he hath alwaies encountred against the proud arrogancie of this world For as vertues be by reason of our sinnes most commonly hatefull to princes in this age and vices cherished as vertuous and nobly minded he hath alwaies beene hated and oppressed So as sometimes tearming him a bastard somtimes preferring those whom he shoulde precead they laboured by all meanes to blemish that glory that did shine in him I will lay aside the disgraces he suffred with king Sebastian at his departure for Affricke which others woulde haue taken for an excuse to staie yet acquainted with the frownes of fortune although he did iudicially foresee that he went to his ruine he chose rather with so great danger of his person following the rashnes of an other to remaine a slaue vnto the Moores then to blemish his honour with any reproch how small soeuer He remained prisoner as he had foreseene in that vnhappie day King Sebastian his nephew died before whom many other princes all heires to the crowne were deceased there remained none but Cardinall Henry who for the ripenes of his age and indisposition of his body was thought to be of short life so as the realme was in a manner without heire But the King of kings although he seemeth sometimes slacke yet doth he equally weigh and execute al things prouiding so that whilest king Henry enioied the realme in those fewe daies of his life which remained he miraculouslie deliuered from the hands of the Moores him whom he intended shoulde be our true king I say miraculouslie for in truth it seemed impossible that mans wisedome coulde deliuer him as it followed for that according to the custome of those infidels he being a prince he shoulde haue beene presented to their prince and there kept in perpetuall prison or at the least redeemed for the exchange of cities and fortresses or for some great summe of money yet see if this were not a miracle in short time he was deliuered and without raunsome He returned into the realme where fortune not yet wearie of him crossed him with a thousand afflictions all which he hath ouercome and surmounted by his vertues behold him now heere and although he seeme to be inuironed more then euer with enimies yet doth he relie vpon your valour and I in his wisedome that he will vanquish all things Reioice then that he doth accept of this scepter against his competitors for the loue of you doth more encourage him thereunto then the desire of
moreouer that he was much amazed to heare him confesse with his owne mouth that they had daily practised with Anthony that they treated with a rebell who had committed so horrible a crime aduising him in signe of loue heereafter to abstaine from all such treaties so contrarie to that fidelitie whereunto they were bounde and so vnwoorthie of their authoritie and reputation shewing likewise that he marueiled they woulde suffer themselues to be informed from the Deputies who promised to cause Anthony to forsake the title of a king which he hath vsurped as if it were an offence capable of repentaunce whereas they shoulde well vnderstand that they be ordinary practises and discourses of rebels to deceiue them as they had formerly done And whereas the Deputies call it an accord or vnion for the defence let them take heede that it prooue not a league and a conspiracie framed to make him partaker with Anthony his offence from the which God had yet preserued him He concluded that he would alwaies giue a gentle audience to that which shoulde be propounded on his behalfe with intention to doe him all the grace and fauor possible in his demaunds This answere being receiued the Duke sent certaine gentlemen to treat an agreement with the king the which continued long making vnseasonable demaundes on the Dukes behalfe Notwithstanding the King desiring that before they proceeded further he shoulde acknowledge and sweare him for his Lorde The matter remained in suspence with small content to the Duke who found not onely the hope of his Iustice to fall out vaine but likewise not to be fully reconciled to the king who tooke possession of his countries hauing alreadie lost Villauizosa one of his chiefe places and of great importance where hee made his aboad although he had well fortified it The which hapned presently after the reduction of Eluas by the meanes of a Castillian whom he had left within the castell either trusting in him or neglecting of it This man hauing intelligence with captaine Cisneros who was in the Dukes campe treated to deliuer vnto him in the night one of the gates of the castell the which descends into the ditch thereby secretly to bring in the kings forces the which he did effect The night appointed for this enterprise being come the Duke commanded Sanches d'Auila to go with the soldiers he had about Eluas and take possession of the fortresse who hauing taken their Harquebusiers behinde them marched so that night that in the morning they came to Villauizosa and approching the gate that was promised them they founde that although it were open yet coulde they not enter for that being farre from the ground the ladder which they had brought was too shorte and coulde not reach vnto it so as in dispaire to put it in execution the day growing neere they were readie to returne fearing to be discouered But as many times thinges are fitted to the violent course of fortune the Castillians founde within the castell ditch an other ladder which the soldiers within the forte had by chance left there the which bounde to that they brought reached vnto the gate so as all the soldiers entred the castell without being discouered hauing neither guard nor centinell but were all laide to sleepe hauing a mightie armie of enimies within tenne miles of them so as in this manner the Duke of Bragance lost the best and strongest furnished place he had Many were then of opinion the King shoulde not go in person with the armie for although some helde it was necessarie he should goe alleaging the former reasons yet such as helde the contrarie opinion added vnto their reasons that throughout all the way vnto Lisbone and in the citie it selfe they died most violently of the plague although the aire did not seeme corrupted that it was not conuenient to hazard the life of a Prince who was a pillar of the Church and Lord of so many Realmes That they might answere vnto the reasons of conueniencie which was spoken against this opinion that it was like vnto all other humane things which haue two reasons for waighing the one it importes much and regarding the other they seeme light The importance of the enterprise is verie great considering the valour of the realme and his interest but if you consider that they oppose against the person of so mightie a king that of Anthony a rebell who doth scarse deserue the name of a tirant and that with the Duke of Alua and so many Noblemen Italians and Spaniards you compare the Count of Vimioso yoong without experience and all the rest of their traine and that against so valiant soldiers of all nations there come peasants gathered togither from the villages about Lisbone and the slaues of Ethiopia you may easily iudge the great indignitie the king shoulde suffer being present in this expedition They alleaged the like reason against the hope of good successe for although it seemed a matter easilie to be effected considering the qualitie of the enimies yet regarding the difficulties alleaged the matter was in suspence remembring the examples of King Iohn the first of Castill Alphonse the fifth of Portugall either of them entring at diuers times with an armie into other countries and both returned flying and broken As for the sweete content it seemed the Kings entrie should bring and contrariwise the sharpenes of the Duke of Alua they saide it was well considered yet the King remaining at Eluas or in any other place vpon the frontiers hee shoulde giue a generall content This opinion seeming the better and with most grounde not onely pleased the King but bred such an impression in the mindes of many that it passed the limits for that the cōsiderations of safety are limited with feare so as they began to apprehend too much saying the king was not sure at Badagios and that he shoulde retire himselfe to Ciuill vnder colour to dispatch away the armie seeing it had already entred the realme for the Duke marching from the frontier the King shoulde lie open to all attempts of the Portugals who might make their courses euen vnto the walles of the citie That Anthony seeking to make this diuersion he might easilie effect it with so great force as the king shoulde be constrained to retire himselfe with small authoritie and recall his armie although it were about the wals of Lisbone yet woulde not the king by any meanes heare speake thereof but perswaded such as were of that opinion that for a worlde no for his owne life he woulde not retire a foote backe but was resolued to staie in Portugall in some place of the frontiers which shoulde be thought most conuenient and for that effect reteined certaine troupes for his guard The Duke of Alua who had assembled his armie at Cantigliana passed the 27. day of Iune by the kings commandement the small of Caya which diuides the two realmes entring into Portugall with great quantitie of munition
Catholique king vpon the frontiers where being better aduised they returned into the realme putting themselues in Castromarin with great discontentment There they made a decree repeating the deedes of Anthony from the time of king Henry vnto that day confirming the sentences which the said Henry had pronounced against him calling him rebell and troubler of the publique quiet They declared giuing testimonie of the intention of King Henry that king Philip was the true succussor They commaunded all cities places Noblemen and ministers of iustice to obey him resigning all their authoritie vnto him And although it seemed that all Iustice was now reduced to armes and that the King had no neede of this decree yet was it of great importance both to iustifie his cause with the people as also for that it made many cities to yeeld But Anthony made no reckoning of this sentence preparing for defence vpon the right side of the riuer of Tagus hee had yet no other nation but Portugals and such as he coulde gather togither where with he could not frame a campe vpon any necessitie for that the peasants and the people which were not entertained for the warre coulde not abandon their trades to goe to fielde and therefore he desired to haue mercenarie soldiers and finding that Frauncis Baretto staied long to bring any from Fraunce he dispatched Peter Dora then Consul of the French in that realme into Fraunce giuing him money to leuie two thousand men he named Diego de Meneses his Lieutenant generall and gaue the charge of his armie at sea to George de Meneses He vnderstoode well the course of the Catholique armie but trusting as well in the people as to the passage of the riuer he seemed to be well able to defend himselfe Hee grewe doubtfull being ill aduertised that whilest the Duke marched by small iourneies towardes Settuuall seeming to go thither he should take the way to Saint Arem as some would suppose there to passe the riuer of Tagus with more ease being narrow and after to march by land against Lisbone without regard of smaller towns Hauing therefore grounded a great part of his hopes vpon the defence of the passage of the riuer being amazed with this newes he sent to furnish it with men and armes But vnderstanding afterwards that the Duke was in truth approched to Settuual that he had taken Alcazar which is neere vnto it he called back the men which he had sent to Saint Arem and with some others which hee had forceablie gathered togither he sent them to Settuual forcing the Gentlemen one after an other and all in generall to go thither sometimes with punishments sometimes with entreaties and sometimes with promises of exemptions and priuiledges But for all this no man went willingly and such as were forced complained greatly The Nobilitie was small in number and such as were there nothing resolute the people easie to change vpon euery light occasion were slothful hauing conceiued an opinion that it was not lawfull to fight against Christians so as some fled some hidde themselues and some complained The kings ministers being newe men ill affected and not fashioned to commaund as those which had the reines at libertie did tyrannize with absolute authoritie forcing al men with an vnaccustomed rigor to fight against their wils At that time they did tollerate within the citie infinite disorders and thefts to draw money from the marchants they imprisoned some which woulde not presently paie that which was demaunded of them If any tooke horse to goe out of the citie about their busines sodainly they saide they fledde into Castill and with this slander they seased vpon their persons and goods Hee was vnhappie that did commend the Catholique kings forces for he was either stoned imprisoned or condemned in a great summe of money they tooke from all men by force their horse and armes who so had little credite or no acquaintance with these new officers were ill assured Such as had reckonings to make with the Courte were in ill case for they were forced to paie what they did owe without compensation of what was due vnto them For this cause and for that they seemed friends to quietnes some of great meanes and verie honorable were imprisoned The barbarous decrees the commaundements that were made to surcease the paiments and rents to binde euerie man to retire into the citie and stande to the defence the opening and spoiling of houses that were shut vp were infinite there was nothing but rigour and rudenes and all was executed by men who with their ignorance bad inclination expresly to cause disorders made commaundements inobseruable the crosses of militarie orders especially those which carrie the title of knights of Christ sometime held in reputation were now giuen to many base and vnwoorthie persons by the intercession of one or other The new Christians who were neuer admitted to these orders nor to the degree of Nobilitie nor to any royall offices were sodainely by the fauour of this man mounted to what degree they pleased not for that he was beholding to anie that had succoured him in the time of his necessities but for that he was easily perswaded by whōsoeuer The black Negroes to whom for the great number there is of them in the citie of Lisbone armes were defended were sodainely all armed and as it were free commaundement being made that all such as woulde serue in this warre vnder captaines likewise Moores assigned for that purpose might do it against the will of their masters and without paying for which cause all the slaues being assembled and conceiuing the Kings commaundement to be more in their fauour then it was shaking off the yoke leauing their patrons they ranne vnto the citie where taking horse and armes by force where they found them they committed a thousand insolencies They coined money in the name of Anthony a quarter lesse then it was woont to be the reuenew of the crowne was wasted for besides that he extorted from the treasurers what he coulde he laide handes vpon the iewels of the crowne and vpon that most renowmed by the Portugals saddle and furniture for a horse inriched with stones brought from the Indies which was of great value The money which Henry had gathered togither for the raunsome of the Portugals which were slaues in Affricke was consumed and wholy spent And this liberty proceeded so farre that they sought into religious houses for the money which they thought had beene there laide in guard and hauing founde some although it appertained to friendes and faithfull persons to orphans and pupils yet was it seased on without number or weight togither with the siluer vessels of the same churches the which was violently carried away in some places and in other places with the consent of the religious men themselues Neither were the iewels and treasure which Marie the cousen of the said Anthonie left more assured being giuen to godly vses for the good
that Anthony had made so great a stay betwixte Sacabem and Saint Arem so as he might easily haue suppressed him and this was the issue of the battaile of Alcantara In the meane while the ships which came from the Indies were disanchored from the Ilands of Terceraes sailed towards Portugall ill aduertised of what had passed And for as much as they had former intelligence of their arriuall at the Ilands it was thought good they shoulde staie there being valued at three millions many doubted they should be lost For on the one side the Duke had sent some ships armed to seeke them on the other side the Prior had sent certaine carauels with aduise to go to Penichie a place vpon the coast twentie miles from Lisbone towardes the north and therefore it was feared they coulde not escape the one or the other either to be taken by the kings ships or to follow the direction of Anthony and in what sort soeuer they shoulde bee lost For falling into the hands of the Castillians they shoulde bee spoiled and going to Penichie the Prior woulde become master of priuate mens goods and imploy them for the necessitie of the warres And some ignorant of Anthonies commission supposed they should either go to Fraunce or England and that the Prior finding the weakenes of his force by the euent of this battaile shoulde followe them notwithstanding fortune did so second the beginning that two daies after the battaile they appeered in safetie without any intelligence of these troubles within the realme or any encounter vpon the way such was the Catholique kings good fortune that they arriued safe at Lisbone where he receiued what appertained to the crowne and deliuered to euery priuate man his owne All this while they were in suspence at Badagios expecting whether this enterprise shoulde be ended by armes or agreement and so doubtfull euery man was for that there appeared on either side great difficultie the rather for that the Duke could not stay long from entertaining one of these parties so different But the xxvj day of August in the morning there arriued a Spanish merchant without any letters from the Duke who brought newes of the successe This man following the Spanish campe when he saw the Priors armie in route presently passed the riuer in a small barke and tooke poste before him that brought aduertisement from the Duke who presenting himselfe vnto the King deliuered what hee had seene whereof he receiued such contentment as may bee supposed This newes was presently spred throughout all the court with the incredible ioy of all men and to the great honour of the Duke and with such kinde of commendations as the force of truth doth vsually draw vpon the sodaine euen from the mouth of enimies But the confirmation of these newes staying longer then was conuenient for the neerenes of the place and the importance of the action they began to doubt with so great perturbation that there was no lesse shewe of their generall desire then of their receiued content The which was after confirmed by the Arriuall of Ferrant de Toledo the Dukes nephew whom he had dispatched with a priuate relation not onely of the successe but also of the reasons which had induced them to fight and his direction giuen vnto the captaine the which was generally approoued of all with no small honour to the Duke saying that he had now satisfied mens mindes who held him alwaies to be too cunning and watchfull to assure his enterprise by aduantages of lodging and stratagems auoiding the battaile by all meanes possible without great aduantage following amongst the auncient Captaines Fabius Maximus and amongst the later Prosper Colonna the elder whom he sought to imitate And this cōmendation of the Dukes proceeded from his two resolutions The one to passe from Settuual to Cascaies and the other to fight at Alcantara seeing in the first he alone did contradict his counsell and contested both against sea and enimie And in the second he resolued to fight dangerously with the Portugals within their owne trenches hauing a well peopled citie behinde them and against the aduise of some of the principall of the armie They did highly commend him to haue kept Lisbone from spoile and at one instant to play the conqueror and protector attributing vnto him for this respect more honour then to haue retired his armie from the wals of Rome in the yeere 1557. hauing not fought there vnto the gates of the citie as he did at Lisbone But these reasons with other were dashed by a sodaine cruell accident which so troubled the mindes of all men as there was no time to thinke nor speake of any thing the which was that vpon the newes of this happie successe the king fell most dangerously sicke the which so encreased being brought to that point that there was small hope of his life and euen his Phisitions themselues almost gaue him ouer vpon this subiect was all their discourses for the king dying it was supposed that the protector of Christendome shoulde faile and if there were any doubt that his death in time might cause any alteration it was then most of all to be feared for besides that the affaires of Flaunders were troublesome the humors of the French ill disposed Portugall yet in ballance to incline to a contrarie partie and the rest of Spaine was not well assured The opinions were diuers what course to take but all was confused and all full of feare The Duke of Alua whose opinion many of the better sort did follow thought it fit that the king dying the Queene with the prince should presently enter into Portugall and goe to Lisbone thinking by this meanes with the forces he had there readie not onely to keepe the realme in peace but also to assure the other estates of Spaine He now laboured to stablish the affaires for depriuing from the office of the magistrate of the chamber of Lisbone such as had been installed by the Prior he restored such as had bin before calling them vnto him he said it was now time that in the cities behalfe they should sweare obedience vnto the king and proclaime his name in the publique streetes with accustomed ceremonie whereunto they willingly offered themselues demaunding leaue for this cause to make publique feastes and that withall the priuileges of the citie might be confirmed Whereunto he answered that there was then no neede but they should reserue it vntill the prince were there present to be sworne whome his Maiestie had resolued to send vnto the citie to be bred vp amongst them and as for their priuileges they were very small that he woulde graunt them more amplie So as the eleuenth day of September in the Dukes lodging they tooke their oath in forme and the next day after dinner the magistrate going thorough the citie with the standard and their Attaballes they proclaimed the name of King Phil p after the accustomed manner yet with
betwixt the armie and the enimie not able to discerne which should be the contrarie parties for it seemed the soldiers neither could nor ought to make themselues parties against their Commaunder neither ought the enimies to be admitted against a conquering armie And if so strange a thing shoulde happen it might likewise be supposed that the enimie shoulde be declared faithfull and the armie which had conquered the realme pronounced rebels They inquired wherein the Duke had offended if as a Gouernour or as a captaine for saide they he coulde not erre as a gouernour hauing neuer resolued the smallest matter without the kings aduise besides that hee had not gouerned aboue two moneths If as a captaine what had lawes to doe with armes and the militarie stile with the ciuill But for all this discourse they did not greatly weigh the Dukes offences supposing in the ende that his greatnes and innocencie shoulde protect him Their owne priuate interest did most of all trouble them loosing all hope of recompence for their former seruices saying that for this last and notable exploite they did rather see punishment prepared then rewards They imagined the king did not well conceiue howe they had conquered him a kingdome in eight and fiftie daies after the same manner to followe their owne phrase as the kingdome of heauen is woone that is to say in fasting with bread and water and without taking from any man the which they said being furnished with nothing but bisket hauing no libertie to spoile any towne They could not endure to be slaundered by idle courtiers and bachelors for so the soldiers in hate and derision of lawes iustice terme the greatest Doctors of the Councell saying that those men remained at Badagios to drinke coole in sommer with ice scorning those that suffered these dangers They remembred their labours suffred at sea comming out of Italy the famine of Spaine the intolerable heate of Estremadura the plague of Portugall the seuere discipline of the Duke and the gibbets set vp for euery small disorder they added that to the end the victorie gotten at Porto shoulde not remaine vnpunished the King to speake plainly had sent another Doctor against Sanches d'Auila and that part of the army which had made an ende and assured him the realme And it was true that Frauncis Tedaldo Auditour of the seate of iustice which remaines in Gallicia was sent thither who did strictly informe of all manner of excesse imputed either to Autla or his soldiers They saide it was apparant in this courte howe much letters were preferred to armes seeing that all such as followed this action vnarmed had wrested from the soldiers the fruites of their labours and the price of their blouds seeing the King had satisfied their desires in the greatest measures they coulde wish not giuing any recompence vnto others the which they prooued in setting downe particularly the offices the King had giuen to the Duke of Ossuna and other Embassadors for they did assure and it is true that the greatest in Spaine aspire to no other charge then to be Viceroy of Naples whereunto they labour to come by many degrees and that the King had reserued this for the Duke of Ossuna As for other Noblemen and Gentlemen they sought for nothing more then to be of the Kings chamber which place he had giuen to Christopher de Mora togither with the best offices of the realme of Portugall They touched likewise the Lawyers which be of the Kings Councell saying they coulde not aspire higher then to be of the Councell of the Chamber the which is a tribunall of three or fower Doctors elected who determine with the King of pardons and other matters of grace and that this office which Rodorique Vasques enioied he had likewise giuen to Lewes de Molina preferring him before his auncients These speeches with others more inconsiderate were spred amongst the soldiers with a soldier-like libertie And although they erred not much from the truth yet men without passion iudged that this aggrauating was vniust and slaunderous being no great maruaile that a King who ought to haue regarde to infinite matters the which passed the consideration of priuate men shoulde giue eare to the many complaints that were made against this armie and force them to their purgation and that it was not likely that Villafagna or Tedaldo had power to iudge in this case but onely to examine the truth That whereas Villafagna had in a manner carried his commission secrete it was an argument of the Kings respect and modestie who sought to proceede with the more mildenes and without any blemish to the Duke or his captaines although it was not reasonable the soldiers shoulde treade this realme vnder their feete as the rebellious countrey of Flaunders or of a King that were an enimie or giue vnto the Portugals the odious titles of rebels and disloyal although they deserued well the name of troublesome and transported subiects vneasie to yeeld vnto this new yoke This mutinie continued long but for as much as the Commissioners did not punish any nor as I beleeue made any triall their humours grewe more calme wherein the wisedome of Villafagna preuailed much togither with the small subiect they founde when as they came to examine the truth of such complaints as had beene made to the King Now the day appointed by the King for the assemblie of the States grew neere but before he shoulde goe to Tomar the place appointed for their assemblie he ment to visite Katherine Duchesse of Bragance who for that cause was come from Villauizosa to Villa Boim whither he went to her accompanied with all the chiefe of his Courte and hauing staied with her halfe a day in great familiaritie he returned to Eluas and from thence departed towards Tomar He did not there so sodainly dispose of rewards as the Portugals expected hauing as it is saide before made a Councell for Portugall of speciall men to whom he referred all matters not admitting the Castilliās to entermeddle with any cause of the realme no man was heard nor dispatched as he pleased for the King made no haste his ministers were confounded in the quantitie qualitie of their requests not able to resolue in so intricate a busines so as the care of expedition was delaied by reason whereof the Portugals saide that although the King in his letters words and habite seemed curteous altogither enclined to Portugall had promised great rewards yet in particular whether it were his fault or any others they yet see no recompence To the Duke of Bragāce who aspired to great matters as then they gaue nothing being excessiue in his demaunds he had onely confirmation to be Constable of the realme they gaue him the order of the golden fleece and the King fauoured him extraordinarily taking him to masse with him behinde the curtaine without any other recompence which might either breede him profite or power Before
cloth of golde vnto the Cathedrall church the streetes being richly hanged were full of people who made shewe of great ioy for the Kings arriuall where hauing done his deuotion hee went in the same sortvnto the pallace accompanied with all the nobilitie on foote This realme within the space of two yeeres had as a man may say fiue kings a thing seldome or neuer happened in any other place and it seemed that God in so short a time had thus altered the state of things for the peoples punishment for all of them wasted their poore subiects Sebastian by his rashnes Henry by his irresolution the gouernours by feare and their priuate interest Anthonie by tyrannie and Philip by armes But when all was in a manner quiet he entred this citie the proper seate of their kings It was supposed the sorrowes and troubles passed shoulde now be conuerted into ioy and quietnes but for that it is an equall punishment to a people either to haue tyrants ruling by force or to make a bad election of gouernours The Portugals were scourged with this last rod desiring rather to be commanded by Anthonie being of so small might and with all other disgraces that proceeded from him then by the great power of Philip impatient to see him so slacke in deuiding amongst them the dignities commaunderies and reuenues of the crowne whereby they grew out of hope euer to draw such recompences from the Court of Castill as they had vsually drawen from that of Portugal And although he had giuen vnto Frauncis de Sada sometimes gouernour the title of Earle of Matosignos to Ferrant de Norogna that of Lignares which his father enioyed made as it is said Christopher de Mora one of his chamber and established Peter d'Alcasoua in his office of Chamberlaine contrarie to the decree of king Henry wherein although the king of himselfe were well inclined and resolued to dispatch euery one with greater liberalitie then the kings of Portugall had euer done yet this distribution according to the new decree appertaining to the Councell of state of Portugall wherein as it is said their opinions being diuerse and the respects of hatred and loue diuers nothing was resolued and the abundance of petitions caused these delaies for that euerie one either iustly or without cause demaunded recompence so as the whole realme did not seeme sufficient to content them the which being ill considered by many they said he would stay from giuing vntill he were assured of the Ilands and of Anthonies person But the king finding that these difficulties and the slacknes in proceeding grew by the excessiue number of Counsellors resolued according to the custome of former kings to referre the dispatch of such as demaunded recompence vnto two persons alone the which were Anthony Pignero Bishop of Leiria and to Christopher de Mora It may be seeming vnto him that these two amongst the other officers were most free from all priuate respects the Bishop for that he was neere his graue by reason of his age and infirmitie although of a sounde iudgement and without kinsemen and Mora being a creature of the kings bredde in Castill and helde for vertuous and fearing God The estate of the Terceraes grew daily woorse with whom all trafficke was interdict there was newes that this people being verie obstinate called in forraine succours resoluing in no sort to obey Philip They vnderstood that Peter Baldes was arriued and that the Kings letters with the rewarde he had carried for that nation were not receiued but contemned By reason whereof the King desirous to subdue them before the ende of this sommer and iudging the enterprise easie for that they had no trained soldiers armed certaine ships and furnished them with soldiers vnder the conduct of Lopo de Figueroa who staied not long before he departed with commission to attempt with Baldes to become master of the Ilands Baldes lay nowe about the Ilands expecting the Indian fleete his marriners had often both by day and night landed with their boates to steale grapes which were then ripe drawing sometimes neere the rockes vpon the which the Portugals had planted behinde a small rampire three or fower iron peeces they parlied often with them the one not fearing the other Peter de Baldes finding the Portugals carelesnes and being aduertised that some within the Ilands amongst a great multitude were well affected to the Catholique king had often resolued to sende some men on lande to the end that such as followed the kings partie who were saide to lie in the mountaines might ioine with them and altogither set vpon the citie of Angra or at the least so fortifie themselues at land as they shoulde not be repulsed But for as much as this resolution with so small a troupe was dangerous and against the Kings commission the which knowing well he did not execute yet hauing intelligence that Lopo de Figueroa was to be sent from Lisbone to vndertake this enterprise with a great number of men who being arriued hee shoulde be commaunded to obey he did confidently beleeue that at his comming either by loue or by force he woulde be master of this Iland and winne that honour whereunto he aspired So as such force hath the desire of honour hauing ill measured his forces against the Kings commaundement he made haste rashly to trie whether the resolution which hee had formerly conceiued woulde succeed well whereunto he was likewise perswaded by some of the Iland who as vnskilfull had their wils more ready then their power So as earely on Saint Iames his day in the morning hauing shipped in a manner all his soldiers in their boates hee sent them to lande whereas the marriners had beene accustomed to go betwixt Angra and Praia the which they call the house of Salga where hauing founde small or no resistance they landed easily and the Portugals who had the guarde of this artillerie fearefully fledde away The Castillians being now become masters thereof began to builde a small rampier of stone to the ende they might holde a more firme footing on lande and retire such as followed the Catholique kings partie but they had no time for the inhabitants of Angra hearing the Castillians were landed had giuen the allarum by bels and other great noise so as many of their stoutest issued foorth to skirmish and although they did no matter of importance many returning terrified or hurte yet did they keepe the enimie from fortifying who remaining in that place from the morning vntill afternoone there went not any one Portugall vnto them for although there were some disposed thereunto yet durst they not distrusting both the one and the other being chiefly terrified by the example of Iohn de Betancour one of the principals of that place who hauing conspired with aboue a hundreth citizens vpon a certaine day to runne armed through the citie and proclaine King Philip he supposed with his authoritie and the
the which is the more woorthie of admiration for that the diligence the King vsed to finde him out was admirable for all Iudges all Captaines and all soldiers were carefully imploied And although they had sometimes aduertisement of the place of his aboad and did follow him in a manner by his foote yet could they neuer finde him Ierom Mendosa with the help of Emanuel of Portugal in whom it was likelie that Anthony should trust treating an agreement laboured much to speake with him But although some of his familiar friends came vnto him somtimes at Alanquer somtimes at Vidigueira with hope they should meete yet did hee neuer discouer himselfe vnto them but the sleight execution of the punishment inflicted vpon such as did cōceale him did greatly preiudice their search for many therby did boldly receiue him The Duke of Alua his officers in the end of Lent had like to haue surprised him in Lisbon where the Duke had so many spies corrupted so many of his friends that it seemed vndoubtedly he shoulde fall into his hands but when as with greatest heate he shoulde haue pursued it he grew cold For vnderstanding that the king helde some regard of Mendoza his practise who with doubtfull hopes gaue him to vnderstande that the weeke before Easter the Prior woulde cast himselfe at the Kings feete hee feared to amaze him but the said Mendoza laboured in vaine For as it happens to him that feares Anthony distrusting all men performed nothing of what he promised neither went hee to any person where hee had appointed so as there neither followed the effect that was expected but they lost all hope to do any good Yet was it apparant that the affection which this nation bare vnto him was of great force for although that fortune preuailed in many more then faith yet in his afflictions and hauing so great an imposition laide vpon his person there was neuer any one amongst so many in whom he must of necessitie trust that euer sought to betraie him for hope of recompence although some laboured to saue themselues amongst which was Edward de Castro And therefore hee went safely throughout all the portes of the sea he was at Lisbone as it is saide where the king himselfe remained not finding meanes to imbarke some of his men being surprised hee went to Settuual where by the helpe of a woman hee hired a Flemmish ship for sixe hundreth crownes with the helpe of a religious man of the order of Saint Frauncis and with tenne of his faithfullest seruants he imbarked by night and so went to Caleis where wee may truely saie that God had not yet withdrawne his hand frō punishing of this nation and that this was as a scourge for by reason of the affection this people bare vnto him it was necessarie to keepe this people in awe with garrisons to the great hurt and ruine of the subiects Now was come the yeare 1581. at what time they expected the ships from the Indies Brasil Saint Thomas Cape Vert all other new found landes the which staied somewhat long and put them in some feare being looked for with greater desire then euer anie were Some feared they woulde not come others wished they shoulde come many helde opinion they shoulde willingly staie at the Terceres and from thence go into England the which if they should not willingly yeeld vnto touching vnaduisedly at the Ilands they shoulde bee forced thereunto by the Ilanders They were wished for both for the riches they carried as to vnderstande by them howe the people of those parts were addicted to the obedience of the Catholique king whereof many doubted Such as helde opinion they shoulde safely arriue at Lisbone saide that the Indies and other prouinces coulde not maintaine themselues without Spaine and shoulde bee forced to yeelde obedience to whomsoeuer that shoulde be Lorde of Portugall that they needed not feare the Terceres although they had spoiled some ships which they had taken or that had anchored there of their owne free will yet now the Castillian armie being master at sea vpon their discouerie they woulde conduct them to Lisbone not suffring them to approch the lande Such as supposed they woulde not come saide that the saide ships were departed from Lisbone in the yeere 1580. after King Henries death during the Gouernours raigne and that Lewes de Taide Earle of Toghia Viceroy of the Indies knowing there was a space-gouernement with likelihood of warre woulde attende the euent without yeelding obedience to any for that he woulde then shew it when he had intelligence who were king to be the more acceptable vnto him or hoping that amidst these tumults there woulde something remaine to his share But if notwithstanding he were resolued to sende them hee woulde appoint a captaine of his owne making and conformeable to his owne will with commission to obey him to whom he were most affected and that it were hard to iudge whom he wished most to be King besides that Emanuel de Melo being captaine Generall of the same armie when it departed from Portugall being a deuoted seruant to the Prior and had made shew to be of his faction it was likely that if he returned had any intelligēce of the Priors being in England the which he might easily vnderstande at the Ilands that he woulde saile thither the which if he coulde not performe in the same ships hee woulde then lande in the Ilands and after saile in other boats whether hee pleased with hope of gaine and bootie And although it were true that the Indians coulde not maintaine themselues yet Fraunce and England might more aboundanly furnish them and with greater profite then Portugall But for as much as in discoursing of matters which depends vpon an others will we cannot cōsider al causes of their errors a matter priuate to the diuine knowledge it fell out in an other manner then had beene discoursed For the Earle Viceroy of the Indies hauing by the same ships receiued letters from the Catholique King who enformed him of the equitie of his cause and of his intent with large promises whereunto and by the meanes of others which he receiued from the gouernors he gaue credite preferring them before such as he had receiued from Anthonie resolued to obey the King so as the ships departed and being arriued neere to the Terceres they came sailing without euer discouering of the kings armie for that Baldes discouraged with his ill successe at the Ilands could find no fit place to encounter thē True it is that after they had remained a whole day amongst those Ilands they were encountred by a French Barke sent from the Terceres who entreated the Captaines to go to Angra The Portugals demaunded the state of the realme that they might thereby know howe to gouerne themselues but for that there were none but marriners they coulde neither perswade dissemble nor speake the truth but contradicting themselues those of the fleete
it fearing that the king of Spaine by reason of the newe Acquisition of Portugall and the warres wherein the Turks were busied against the King of Persia might trouble this prouince yet he ministred matter of suspect for the Catholique King hauing treated with the Cherriffe to yeeld vnto him Alarache in exchange of Mazagon and not agreeing for that the Moores are great deceiuers in their promises It was suspected the Turke vnderstanding this practise had sent Lucciali to diuert this exchange to fortifie Alarache and furnish it with Turkes so as being so neere neighbour vnto Spaine and a conuenient port for galleies it might greatly annoy him But hee returned after to Constantinople being called backe at the pursuite of his competitours The State of Flaunders ministred matter of consideration for although the Prince of Orenge had long enioyed the greatest part of those prouinces yet the king had great hope especially now vpon on the conquest of Portugall that this people woulde be aduised and that one day he shoulde reclaime them but this hope soone failed for that Frauncis de Valois Duke of Alançon brother to the most christian King Henry the thirde being entred with armes into Flaunders and hauing succoured them that were in Cambrey he forced the Prince of Parma Captaine generall for the king being at the siege thereof to retire And although being master of the citie he presently returned yet the state of Fraunce seemed troublesome and readie to attempt some newe and important alteration the rather for that the French were animated by Anthony Prior of Crato who was come thither out of England being embraced by the Queene mother of Fraunce and visited by the whole Courte They had intelligence likewise of a practise which displeased them that the saide Duke of Alançon shoulde marrie with Elizabeth Queene of England and for that he had passed and repassed aboue once into that Iland it was giuen out the marriage was secretly cōcluded but whether it were so or otherwise the death of the said Duke of Alançon ended that combination but men of the greatest iudgement beleeued that her Maiestie of England was not married to the saide Duke bicause she had refused so many great Kings and Princes in former times and had liued with the reputation of a most chaste vertuous Princesse The Catholique king complained to the most Christian king that he had receiued the Prior his rebell into Fraunce of the succours giuen to Cambrey and blamed the marriage with England labouring to diuert it all he coulde saying that he ought by no meanes to yeelde vnto it for the difference of religion The King of Fraunce as they said made answere to these propositions by his Embassador That as for the marriage he left it to the Duke who was thereunto enclined with all the Nobilitie in Fraunce and that hee was not master of their wils That the Prior had beene receiued by the Queene mother who being Queene as she beleeued of that realme had receiued this her vassall That he had opposed himselfe to his brother touching the succours of Cambrey but his admonitions were of no credite This answere confirmed the Catholique king in the opinion hee had conceiued that these expeditions which had beene made in the name of Alançon were all lets proceeding from the King and couered with this maske seeming impossible that the Duke contrary to the Kings will and pleasure shoulde raise so great forces in Fraunce The which although it seemed incredible yet Fraunce had continued long in such an estate that it was no maruaile for that King Henry and his predecessor Charles the ninth hauing beene molested by their subiects vpon the points of religion all was in disorder and although the state seemed somewhat better pacified yet their mindes by the meanes of these former troubles remained still enclined vnto warre And for as much as Fraunce Englande and Flaunders did somewhat assist in these matters of Portugall for the better vnderstanding of things that follow it may be lawfull for me to digresse a little to speake something of these countries In Fraunce liued Katherine de Medicy mother to the king whose age and valour all Fraunce obeied she seemed to be discontented with the Catholique king for diuers respects but that she made most shewe of was that he had taken the realme of Portugall by force refusing to submit himselfe to iustice saying that she had more interest then hee whereupon it was supposed that mooued with this disdaine she shoulde labour to make warre against Portugall with whom agreed the said Duke of Alāçon her son no lesse enimy to the Catholique King then the mother mooued thereunto for that hauing demaunded one of the daughters of the saide King in marriage he was refused for that he required with his wife a portion fitte for her qualitie He was followed by the whole Nobilitie of Fraunce whom he might easily lead where he pleased although it were against the Kings liking the which grewe for that remaining the third sonne to Henry the second with small hope euer to aspire vnto the crowne hauing two brothers Charles and Henry his elders hauing a great minde and stirring he gaue eare to al such as discontented with the king or desirous of innouation whereof there are numbers in Fraunce laboured to alter the quiet of Christendome with whom he had often resolued to conquer himselfe some newe estate out of Fraunce Perswaded to this resolution by such as were about him he supposed for a time that his brothers were opposite vnto him and that by no meanes they woulde like of his greatnes so as that which was giuen him by the wisest for good counsell he did interprete to the ill affection they bare him and that they sought to obscure the glorie whereunto he aspired And this iealousie encreased when as his brother Henry was called to the crowne of Poland by not giuing him presently such places as hee enioied in Fraunce By this and such like those which followed him tooke an occasion to settle in his conceite a hatred against his brethren giuing him to vnderstande that they detested his greatnes the which they could so wel effect that although the said Henry did afterwards come by the death of Charles the ninth from the crown of Poland to that of Fraunce yet the Duke continued still his first desires and that with greater traine then before For some considered that Henry being sickly and without children he shoulde one day be king It was therefore no woonder if without the kings consent yea contrary to his liking he attempted many things although there were some shewe that the king his brother had intelligence with him And although his forces ioyned with the Queene Mothers were of importance might well cause the Catholique king to feare yet it seemed that those of England woulde likewise ioyne with him For it was giuen out that Elizabeth doubting the Kings force and knowing the Popes intention
it is vsuall with the common people they desired innouations the which the King discouering did greatly trouble his minde finding himselfe to faile in that which he supposed shoulde haue bred him a quiet enioying of the realme He did appoint as it hath been saide before that his sister Marie widow to the Emperour Maximilian the seconde being then in Germanie shoulde come into Spaine with Margaret her daughter And although the discourse of her comming were diuers for that some supposed she shoulde remaine at Madrill with the kings daughters others that she should come into Portugall where the King woulde leaue her as Gouernesse of the realme to go vnto the States of Aragon whereunto he was called yet in the ende she came vnto Lisbone Notwithstanding whether the rumours of Fraunce increased by reason whereof the King woulde not depart or that it was not fitte that of an Empresse she shoulde become Gouernesse of a small realme the King for that time did not depart neither did she gouerne at all True it is that hauing resolued to leaue Cardinal Albert Arch Duke of Austria the Empresse son in the gouernment of the realme he beganne to acquaint him with the dispatch of affaires and hauing one day assembled the Councell of estate he saide vnto them that for that hee was burthened with the gouernment of many realmes whereof hee had the care hee desired somewhat to discharg himselfe and for this consideration hauing thought the saide Cardinall fitte for the gouernment of the saide realme of Portugal he would leaue the charge vnto him and therefore heereafter they should holde their Councell in his presence In this space the Portugals of the Terceraes within the city of Angra were in no small cōfusion for after they had imprisoned Iohn de Betancour walled vp the Iesuites within their College taken diuers ships and committed extortions vpon diuers Citizens which followed secretly the Catholique kings partie there grew among themselues some difficultie for that it seemed vnto many that Ciprian de Figueredo chiefe gouernour did not continue with that vehemence he had begun And as it happens to him that rules all the seditious did malice him so as vpon any smal matter they tooke occasion to slander him acuse him of infidelitie although the cause may only be imputed vnto him that this Iland was not obedient vnto King Philip by reason whereof being desirous in the beginning of winter to dismisse certaine ships which were there detained and likewise to deliuer the Iesuits from the prison wherein they were all the obseruers of his actions opposed themselues and chiefly the other religious men as those in that place being more seditious then the rest feared most and were most watchfull of the affaires so as hee that in a manner had beene absolute Lorde the people being nowe incensed against him hee founde that hee coulde no more execute those things which had beene before tolerable And although he laboured so as the ships were dismissed yet coulde hee not deliuer the Iesuits for hee must of force with greater rigor trie the peoples inconstancie and the distrust of Princes For hauing aduertised Anthony being in Fraunce of the estate of the Iland and of the authoritie that many tooke vpon them against him demaunding when hee woulde come into the realme adding withall that this Iland was ruined and that it coulde not long continue in this estate Anthony grew in iealousie of him furthered by the letters he had receiued from his enimies the which saide plainly that he was a traitor and therefore he resolued to sende from Fraunce vnto the gouernment of these Ilands Emanuel de Sylua whom he had newly made Counte of Toresuedras one of his chiefest fauorites who arriued there in March with as ample commission as might be giuen in that place and hauing dispossessed Figueredo from his charge he began with a barbarous tyrannie to molest both friends foes for the recouering of money Before his arriuall a shippe laden with meale departed from Angra with shew to go vnto Brazil the which being not farre from the Iland tooke her course for Lisbone Some supposed that this was a practise of Figueredos and that by this meanes by his letter hee had demaunded pardon of the Catholique King and offered to deliuer him the Iland aduising him what course to take for afterwards an other shippe departing from Lisbone it was knowne they not onely carried the kings letters to Figueredo but also to many of the better sorte the which tooke not the effect that was expected for the saide shippe arriued after the comming of Emanuel de Silua so as Figueredo being dispossessed of his place coulde not execute his practise if he had any such thing in hande During these stirres they made a slowe preparation at Lisbone for the Ilands for that the King was not yet well resolued to attempt it in the yeere 1582. his Councell varying in their opinions Some aduised him presently with all his power to force them alleaging that the longer he delaied it the more daungerous the enterprise would prooue for both the French and English who as it was saide were bounde thither woulde if they landed fortifie if they had time so as hardly afterwards they shoulde finde any entrance They did likewise weigh this enterprise with regard of honor saying that it was a thing of small reputation and dishonorable that so weake an Iland shoulde dare in the view of Spaine resist the forces of so great a King They shewed of how great consequence it was being as they saide seated in a place which was the onely refuge of all the ships which came from the east and west Indies and from all the new nauigations into Spaine for although there were other Ilands in this sea yet was there not any so commodious as this the rest being very vnfitte and if the French and English became masters thereof as it was to bee feared if they protracted time and lodged their armies there they might from thence encounter the ships of those nauigations the which by reason of their long voiage returne home wearie and torne and being of themselues indefensible spoile them to the great losse and dishonour of al Spaine They made the enterprise easie saying that besides that from Fraunce they had receiued no great prouision of armes and munition in the I le it selfe the greatest part of the Nobilitie and many other would obey the king but they were forced by the multitude and durst not discouer themselues yet when the Kings colours shoulde with a mightie armie be discouered there woulde appeere in a manner as many friends as enimies Others that were of a contrarie opinion said that this enterprise was woorthie of great consideration the which they ought not rashly to vndertake for attempting it aduisedly it was most assured but going to it hastely it were dangerous They shewed that the Iland was by nature verie strong by reason of
persons in number aboue three hundred The fight had continued fiue howers when as the French seeing their generall yeelded their Admirall lost two others sunke and many broken with artillerie they began to flie but the Marques by reason of the night pursued them not fearing for that they were better sailers he should not boord them and being separated hee should be forced to diuide his armie the which he would not willingly doe besides he should be constrained to leaue the gallion Saint Mathew behinde him in danger being vnable to sayle without tackling sailes and anchors the which the enemie had burnt and throwen into the sea There was one thing woorthie the obseruation that being within this gallion a Priest called Iohn de Iaem Chaplein vnto the Marshall of the fielde a man which had seene the warres during the fight being vnder the lowest decke of the gallion when he saw so much wilde fire cast by the French hearing their shot and finding the hurt the cannon did hee died onely of feare and amasement hauing receiued no wound The Spaniards recouered one of their carauels with horse which had beene taken and had taken more of their French ships if they could haue manned them with mariners to conduct them but for this cause the Admirall which was cast away abandoned and some others torne and abandoned by the French were not kept for this consideration the Marques burnt two which had been abandoned and some others ranne vpon the Iland In this battell the French lost seuen or eight of their best ships and there died in the fight aboue two thousand of their men with many hurt as for the Spaniards there died about two hundred and aboue fiue hundred wounded The Portugals pertisants vnto Anthonie say that the French fought not at all for that the Captaines were corrupted by King Philip and this opinion encreased for that after Anthonie caused Edward d' Castro to lose his head in the Iland supposing him to be the meanes thereof but they were deceiued for although that Castro had promised many things vnto the Kings ministers when as they deliuered him out of prison whereunto hee was committed when they tooke him flying out of Portugall yet could he neuer effect any but the cause of his death was for certaine practises begun after this defeate and for that he had committed murther vpon the person of Anthony Baraccio a deere friend vnto the said Prior and one of them that had proclaimed him King Behold the issue of the sea fight at the Ilands which possibly is one of the greatest that euer happened within the bounds of the Ocean for although in the Low-Countries there hath beene like factions in these last warres yet were they not truely within the Ocean but in chanels and riuers neere vnto the Ilands of Holland and Zealand rather at land then at sea But the issue hereof besides the greatnes of it was of more importance then euer any for besides that not onely the Realme of Portugall by this victorie remained settled but also all Spaine if the contrarie had fallen out all had beene full of confusion for that the French pursuing their victorie might with these forces their good fortune the presence of Anthony and the inclination of the people renue the warre in a suspended kingdome more dangerous for the Spaniards then euer seeing the great number of vnexpert Portugals vnited with so many French souldiers might giue them great hope of happie successe Anthony who remained in a small barke light and well furnished the day before the battaile when as they had resolued to fight although his whole fortune depended in a manner on this day not finding himselfe secure in this place retired with two other small barkes to the Terceres where in the citie of Angra they had prepared for him a sumptuous entrie with arches images and all triumphes commonly vsed at the ioyfull comming of Princes But deuining it may be the vnhappie successe these preparations seemed out of season for hauing forborne to passe to a bridge of woode which they had built onely for his comming whereby hee shoulde enter the streets that were garnished he landed farre from thence with small companie and more sorrow then ioy There did he howerly receiue sundry newes of the armie and by little and little he vnderstoode the successe thereof with an incredible griefe the which encreased the more by the intelligence giuen him of the death of Strozzi and the Earle and now caring for his safetie wauering in his thoughts hee knewe not howe to behaue himselfe in so rough an accident for although he relied much in the inhabitants of the Ilands and in the strength thereof seeming to be safe in this place yet feared he least the Marques pursuing his victorie should assaile him and that his men hauing their harts vanquished with this losse shoulde not be able to make resistance and therefore he enclined rather to abandon then defend it He was some what assured of this feare vpon the arriuall of seuenteene French and English ships to that place of those that had fledde from the battaile to repaire their hurts receiued to cure their wounded men and to take in water with these men he thought himselfe able to defende it yet had they all but fewe soldiers hauing in the battaile succoured the Counte of Brisack and Strozzi with all their men yet there arriued still more for at that time there returned but eighteene French ships into Fraunce with Brisack and fiue other English Mounsieur de Landes captaine of nine ships flying from the battaile went to Fayale where his soldiers began to spoile although it were not his meaning but hauing auoided the sacke retired to Angra yet for this cause they woulde not suffer him to enter or else that Anthony doubted his safetie The Marques as it is saide the day being ended resoluing not to pursue the enimie he drew neere to the Iland of Saint Michael to repaire his shippes to looke to his hurt men and to water but the winde being contrary woulde not suffer him keeping him three daies off at sea the fourth he drew neere to Villa Franca where he landed his hurt men and prouided what he needed the inhabitants of all parts of the Ile hauing yeelded their obedience The first of August Frauncis de Bouadilla landed with fowre companies of soldiers in the middest whereof vpon the sea shoare hee put all the French prisoners leading them to the market place of Villa Franca vnto a scaffolde built the height of a man where with a loude voice was read the sentence of the Marques whereby shewing that the Catholique King hauing peace with the most Christian King against the saide peace publikely sworne an armie of many aduenturers was come out of Fraunce in fauour of Anthony Prior of Crato with an intent to take the Catholique Kings fleete which he expected from the Indies and the new founde lands and
retayned nothing of a priest but the habit and the name as for sermons confessions and such like things they came from them as from men which had not God before their eies And Anthonie himselfe during these afflictions had not his minde free from lasciuiousnes for the women of honour could hardly be free from his lustes hauing too familiar accesse into the monasterie of religious women amongst whom as well as amongst the men raigned the passions of the affaires of the Realme with no small scandall and great disorder and many of his as also of the French followed this his example Anthonie liued this kinde of life vntill the moneth of October irresolute what to doe To goe into Fraunce after the losse of so great a number of the nobilitie he helde it not safe neither knew he how he should be looked on for he feared as much the disdaine of particulars as he hoped in the protection of the Queene mother To remaine there he saw it a thing not able long to subsist with so great garrisons not hauing wherewithall to pay the souldiers nor in a manner how to furnish his expences He resolued therefore with such shippes as he had to depart for Fraunce but first would goe towardes the Madera and the Iland of Canarie that by spoyling of some weake places hee should content the souldiers with some weake pray For this cause hauing prepared about thirtie saile he not onely shipped his souldiers but with a new deuise he commaunded all the citizens which he suspected and all religious persons affected to the contrarie partie as the Iesuits and others to imbarke making this commaundement most rigorous to those that could least obserue it to the ende they should redeeme this voyage with money But all as vnprofitable in sea causes excused themselues with liuely reasons and entreaties but it preuailed nothing making answere to the yoonger that he had neede of them for his guarde and to the olde for counsell so as many sought to content him with money as hee desired euerie one according to his abilitie by meanes whereof they were freede from his commaundement But this inuention was soone counter-checkt by another for many desired to leaue the Iland to imbarke not with intention to follow the armie but to saile into Spaine Some of the Captaines of the shippes vnderstanding their mindes agreede with the Portugals not to deliuer any money to Anthonie for their stay in the Iland but paying them the like summe and much lesse they would land them in Portugall so as many trusting to the French and English not paying any thing to Anthonie imbarked with them agreeing for a certaine summe to be set on land Anthonie departed with this armie from the Terceres leauing Emanuel de Silua in his place with fiue hundred Frenchmen vnder the charge of Baptiste Florentin and Charles a French man their Captaines He arriued at the Iland of Saint Michael where hauing staied long thereabouts fearing the Spanish garrison there he durst not land being forced to leaue it by a storme that rose Then some of his English and French ships left him keeping promise with the Portugals that were imbarked with them In the meane time they had newes in Fraunce of the defeat of the armie and the death of so many prisoners which caused both in court and throughout the Realme a great griefe and disdaine and enflamed the French to reuenge and as they had Flaunders neere and matters in that estate as hath beene said there they discharged their choler neither did they forbeare after the returne of Anthonie to treat of a new preparation of an armie at sea for the sommer following It was giuen out in Spaine that the faction of Anthony and the French against Portugall was dashed and that they had weakned their forces yet did they not dismisse their hired ships At that time two galliasses being arriued from Naples it seemed the king would assemble a great armie for the next yeere and make himselfe absolute Lorde of the Ocean both in respect of the affaires of Anthony as to assure his ships from the Indies and newe founde landes from the French and English and to force the Iland The Catholique King desired to returne into Castill both for that he was called by the states of Arragon and to finish the marriage of his daughter with the Emperour as also for other business of the realme and was vpon the point to effect it in Nouember 1582. but he woulde first extend his pardon graunted at Tomar to such as had followed Anthony For this cause hauing excepted the religious persons and tenne others hee pardoned freely all the rest that shoulde present themselues within a certaine time but this wrought no effect for there came fewe and many said that the King being yet displeased could not make a free pardon This departure was after staied by the newes of the death of Diego his eldest sonne who as hee had beene sworne Prince of Portugall at the estates of Tomar hee woulde likewise that the same oath shoulde bee made in the person of Philip his second sonne being then sicke And for that he had no other issue male the succession masculine of these Realmes remaining in the breath of one only togither with the kings age and the disposition of the affaires of the world both the quiet seditious were in care But for the swearing of him he assembled the estates at Lisbone in the moneth of Februarie resolute to accomplish this ceremonie before his departure At that time the Duke of Alua consumed with a continuall feauer died in the pallace of Lisbone in the Kings owne quarter being of the age of threescore fourteene yeeres During his sicknes he was greatly fauoured of the King who did visite him a little before his death There is no doubt but the King apprehended the losse of such a seruant which bred no lesse discontentment in him then pleasing to his enimies But the Portugals obserued that the day following he went publikely to masse without any shew of discontent contrary to the custome of their kings who vpon the death of men of lesse qualitie hauing done any notable seruices to the crowne retired themselues for a time the which seemed the more strange for that King Emanuel vpon the death of a notable Pilote withdrew himselfe three daies But the actions of great Princes are so subiect to the censure of the vulgar as the wisest minister matter of discourse to the curious and malicious to slaunder them With him died as a man may say all the warlike discipline of Spaine for there remained not any one captaine equall vnto him He was of a goodly stature of visage leane and graue hee had rare gifts of nature and fortune the which he augmented much by arte he was of a noble minde of a readie and subtill spirite assured in iudgement and peaceable He was not greedy of worldly wealth sparing
in giuing but honourable in the expences of his house hee was a great dissembler of the disgraces of the Courte and cunning in their secret practises for so it behooued him to be to preuent such as were his competitors He was generally hated for that he treated proudlie with his inferiors and his equals hated his greatnes The ambition to purchase the Princes fauour a shelfe wherein proude mindes cast themselues was great in him for this respect it may be or for the preheminence and greatnes he pretended aboue all other officers the which made him odious hee was not much pleasing to Charles and lesse to Philip although from their birthes vntill their later daies he had serued them 60. yeeres But Princes loue them better whom they haue rewarded then such as haue serued them Hee was greatly enclined to warlike discipline wherein hee was so cunning as there was not any captaine of his nation in long time comparable vnto him and to conclude for his many yeeres and great experience there was not in a manner any one in the worlde but yeelded vnto him He was of great iudgement and dexteritie to encampe and make choice of a lodging so as alwaies with lesse forces then the enimies he kept them in awe he was so well experienced as he neuer refused battaile wheresoeuer he came Hee did willingly hazard his owne person but his soldiers with greater consideration trusting more to policie then fortune He was a rough inexorable executioner of the seuere lawes of war of whose pittifull crueltie depends the health of armies and the conseruation of States He was by nature enclined to vanquish without effusion of bloud and was imploied in warres conformable to his inclination for the greatest part of them being defensiue wherein a wise captaine should rather temporize and suffer the enimie to consume by the difficulties of warre in a strange countrey then to hazard an estate vpon so vnequall a game as is the winning of a battaile against him that hath but men to loose To this effect hee answered the councell of warre in the kingdome of Naples in the yeere 1558. when as the Frenchmen being expelled they woulde haue charged the enimie retiring hee saide hee woulde not hazarde the realme against a cassock of golde for such was then the habite of the Duke of Guise Lieutenant generall to Henry the seconde King of Fraunce yet some did blame him to be too warie in the execution of matters of importance in warre He serued his King in greater charges and with greater authority then euer any of their subiects and it may be there hath not beene in many ages a captaine which hath so long mannaged armes nor displaied his ensignes in so manie countries For he hath made warre in Italy Spaine and Fraunce in Hungarie Germanie Flaunders and Affrick although he were accustomed to say that he had done nothing seeng that he was neuer so happie as to see a Turkish armie But the last wars of Flaunders did somewhat obscure the glorie he had gotten for although as captaine he did warre valiantly yet he knew not as it hapned to him in other places howe to vse the victorie but arrogating too much vnto himselfe he caused a statue of brasse to be erected for him in the Cittadell of Antwerpe which the king caused afterwards to be beaten downe It appeeres that he coulde better carrie himselfe in aduersitie then prosperitie for in the one he had great force in the other too much conceite so as he reaped more commendations by afflictions then by victorie Hee shewed in dying the magnanimitie he had in his life and that which is of great moment hee shewed tokens of a religious Christian being happie that Frier Lewes of Granata that famous preacher whose diuine writings are pleasing to the worlde was present at his death They did substitute in his place Charles Borgia Duke of Gandia a man of greater vertue then experience The King had caused the bones of King Sebastian to be brought out of Affricke the which with King Henries that were at Almerin he woulde before his departure see solemnly interred in the church of Belem neere to the other Kings of Portugall and for that cause remained there three daies He caused also to be brought from diuers parts of the realme vnto the saide monasterie the bodies or at the least the ashes of his kinsfolkes the children and nephewes to King Emanuel who as a man may say dying resigned him the crowne that they might bee all kept togither There was made a most sumptuous obsequie with great shewes and all the religious persons in the name of Henry were present for the rest had beene performed before and in the funerall sermon Sebastians actes were likewise touched and Henry extremely commended the which was more pleasing being dead then the praises of Philip liuing and present wherein the Orator dilated much hauing first in particular set downe the branches of King Emanuel and brought the succession to the said Philip. I will not leaue heere to make mention as of a rare matter although it be somewhat from our purpose that in this yeere of our Lorde 1582. they did reckon ten daies lesse then in others for by the Popes decree all Christian princes obeying the Romish sea gaue commaundement to cut off ten daies in the moneth of October so as for the fift day they should generally write 15. the which was done to fitte the times to the meanes and principall aspects wherein the heauens were when as our Redeemer Iesus Christ suffered that they might celebrate Easter and the other feasts vpon their proper daies The which they had not formerly done for that the true course of the sunne which makes the yeere being certaine minuts of an hower lesse then the time which they vntill then had taken for a yeere it seemed that in the course of so manie yeeres so small a difference had mounted vnto ten daies so as by this equalitie it was made conformable to the time past The King beganne to vnburthen himselfe of the affaires of Portugall for to go into Castill and therefore the xxvj day of Ianuary in the yeere 1583. hauing assembled the estates of the realme they began in the pallace of Lisbone where after Alphonso de Castelbianco newly made Bishop of Algarues had briefly made the proposition shewing how much the King was grieued with the death of the Prince and the necessitie there was to sweare a newe Melchior d' Amaral one of the Deputies of the citie of Lisbone made answere in the behalfe of the whole realme shewing the desire and readines they had to performe this acte Whereupon the yoong Duke of Barcellos as Duke of Bragance beginning for his father with sword in hande did supplie the office of Constable kneeling downe before the King held foorth his hande to take the oath after the accustomed manner the which being likewise performed by all the rest this ceremonie
the rocke of Saint Iulian 202. his answere to Anthonie 205. his speech to his souldiers 212. the order of his armie ibid. blamed for slacknes 218. his prayses 220. blamed and his excuses 223. his souldiers complaine 245. his death with his prayse and dispraise 300 E EDward de Castro beheaded by Anthonie 292 Eluas taken 155 Emanuel de Silua staies at the Terceres 298. his carriage there 307. his flight hindred 318. taken and executed with others 323 Empresse Marie comes to Lisbone 271 Estates at Almerin 109. begon by the Bishop of Leiria 110 Estate of Fraunce and Flaunders 265 Euora yeelded 175 F FActions in Oliuenza 161 Feare in the citie of Lisbone 207 Flight of Teglio 167 Figueroa arriues at the Terceres and returnes to Lisbone 263 Fonsequa his speech for the creation of Anthonie 165 Fortresse of Settuuall yeelded 184 Francis de Tauora slaine in the battaile pag. 48 Francis de Melo Earle of Tentuguell writes to king Sebastian 18 Francis Barretto sent by the Portugals to the French king for succors 139 Francis de Valois Duke of Alanson enimy to king Philip and why 266. sworne Duke of Brabant 268. seeks to be master of Antwerpe but in vaine 305 Francis de Villafagna Auditor of the Councell of state sent to Lisbone by king Philip 244 French armie arriues at S. Michaels 280. their first encounter 282. they disagree 288. they are beheaded and hanged 295. displeased with their ouerthrowe 299. they spoile the Ilands of Cape Vert 307. they compound with the Spaniards at the Terceres 320. sent to the gallies 324 G GAllies arriue at the Terceres in safetie 312 Generals ship of the French taken by the Spaniards 291 George de Meneses generall at sea imprisoned by Anthonies command pag. 186 Gouernors of Portugal published 99. they prepare for defence 132. their inconstancie 148. they neglect the defence of Lisbone 163. they flie from Settuuall 168. their decree 178 H HAmet proclaimed by the Moores 52. his couetousnes 53 Henry Cardinall called to the crowne of Portugal 55. sworne king 57. his resolution comming to the crowne 64. he fauors the Dutchesse of Bragance 76. he desires to marrie 80. his sentence against the Prior touching his legitimation 87. he changeth his minde in fauour of Philip 97. he falleth sicke and dies 116. his life 117 Henry Pereira hanged 198 Hopes of the French armie at sea with Strozzi 278 Hope of the Spanish court touching their armie at sea 279 I IEan de Betancour affected to Philip pag. 256 Ieron Mendoza treats with Anthonie 260 Iesuits called Apostles in Portugall not able to redresse the corruptions of the Portugals 9. blamed as moters of Sebastians voiage into Africke II. walled vp at the Terceres 243 Iohn de Silua Ambassadour for Philip in Portugall deliuered and returns out of Africke 74. he labours to be sent backe into Portugall 82 Iohn d'Austria gouernoūr of Flaunders for king Philip 23 Iohn d'Azeuedo admirall of Portugall taken prisoner by the Castillians 176 Iland of the Terceres described 313 Iland of Saint Michael described 280 Inhabitants of Fayall kill a trumpetter that was sent vnto them 322. are taken 323 Irishmen demaund succours of the Pope against their Prince 27 L LAwes made betweene Mahumet Cheriffe and Hamet his brother touching the succession of the realme 14 Legate visites the king 192 Leon Henriquez Confessor to Henrie supposed to haue drawne him to fauour Philips title 98 Letters and a present from the Duke of Alua to king Sebastian 38 Lewes Dataide Cont of Toghia sent Viceroie to the Indies by Sebastian 25. obeies king Philip 262 Lisbone chiefe citie of Portugall 3 yeeldes to the Duke of Alua 217 sweares obedience to Philip 221 Lucciali comes to Algier with seuenty gallies 265 M MAgistrate of Lisbone perswades Anthony to compound 208. Mahamet sonne to Abdala kils his vncle 14. is expelled by his vncle Moluc and seekes for succour of Philip and Sebastian 15. disswades Sebastian to go in person into Africk 26. despeares of the victory 36. disswades the battaile 41. is drowned in Mucazen 51. his skinne fleied off 53 Manner of the enterprise of Portugal pag. 132 Marques of Saint Cruz arriues at Settuuall with an armie by sea 183. he imbarkes for the Terceres 277. he resolues to fight with the French and the order of his battaile 285. he defeats them and giueth sentence against the prisoners 294 he landeth some men at the Terceres 316 his skirmish with the French 317. taketh S. Sebastian 319. sends to Faiall 320 Martin Gonsalues sent to the deputies of the realme 118 Messenger sent to Cardinall Henrie from king Philip 55 Meneses blamed and his excuses 195 Mulei Moluc prepares against the Portugals 31. his meanes to defeat them 34. his aduise to the king of Portugal 36. his speech to his brother 38. his armie 39. the ordering thereof 42. his oration to his soldiers 43. his feare and death 47 Mutinie at Coimbra 112 N NAmes of the chiefe men slaine in the bataile of Africke 52 Number of the Christians Moores slaine in the battaile ibid. Number slaine in the battaile at Alcantara 218 Number slaine in the battaile at sea pag. 293 O OFfer made by Moluc to the kings of Spaine and Portugall 31 Oliuenza yeelded to the Catholique king 158 Opinions touching the passage of the riuer of Tagus 192 Order of the Portugals and Moores armie 41 42 Originall of the hatred betwixt the Portugals and Castillians 5 P PArleament at Tomar 248 Peiyoxto sent to Saint Michaels fought with by French ships 276 Peter d'Alcasoua sent ambassadour to Philip 16 punished by Henry and the cause 64 Peter de Medici generall of the Italians 134 Peter Dora Consul of the French sent into Fraunce for Anthonie 178 he remaines there with the money he receiued 188 Peter de Toledo landes at Faiall and spoiles it 322 Philip king of Spaine meetes with Sebastian at Guadalupa 15 perswades him to accept of Molucs offer 20. labors to diuert Sebastian from Africke 24. accepts peace Sebastians bodie 56. claimes the crowne of Portugal 61. writes to the city of Lisbone 72. sendes a Iacobin into Portugall 80. erects a councell for the affaires of Portugal 81. his reasōs against the other pretēdents 81 his reasons for his pretētion 81. he giueth Henry notice of his right 91. he prepares to war against the Portugals 92. his care to assure his conscience for the realme of Portugall 126. his answere to the Portugals 144. he takes possession of the realme 152. his armie is wasted 153. his letters to the inhabitants of Eluas 156. his letters to Anthonie 159. proclaimed at Oliuenza 162. his answer to the Duke of Bragance 171. his pardon to the Portugals 201. he falleth sick 221. he enters into Portugall by Eluas 238. he visits the Dutchesse of Bragance 247. sworne king at Toruas with the prince Diego 248. his entrie into Lisbone 253. his recompence to the Portugals 270. he prepares against the Terceres 273. he
armes in all places and the cause thereof 274. his order in preparing 275. he departs from Portugall 304. his armie departs from Lisbone 312. arriues at the Terceres and their proceeding 314 Plague in Portugall 108 Places fortified by the Portugals 140 Portugals conquests at the Indies 4. they prepare for the warre of Africke 25. their armie landes in Africke and their proceedings 30. the qualitie of their armie 37. their conceite to fight 39. the order of their battaile 40. their aduantage of the Moores 41. their armie at sea returnes to Lisbone 54. their sorrow 56. their ceremonie in bewailing their king dead 58. they pretend election of their king 62. their demands 66. their reasons for the election 84. they complaine of king Henrie 85. their discourse vpon the estate of the realme 101. they answere the Castillians 106. they disagree with them 229. they are discontented 252. they abandon the French 319. their ships are spoiled 320 Pope pretends election 63 Pope Gregorie the xiij his offer to the Catholike king 98. he fauours Anthonie 190 his offer against England 243. seemes content with the successe of Portugall 251 Porto yeelded 236 Preparations at the Terceres 264 Preparations of the French for the Tercerâ—â— 269 Prince of Orange wounded by a Biscaine 269 Pretendants to the crowne of Portugall and their descent 60. cited to declare their reasons 80 Prosper Colonna Colonell of the Italians 134. he passeth the bridge defended by the Portugals 215 Q QVeene mother of France pretends to the crowne of Portugal 62. her reasons for it â—â— shee is discontented with Philip and the cause 67 Question whether the Catholic king should goe in person with his armie 152 Queene Anne died 238 R REason of the Portugals by way of discourse touching their future King 66 Reasons and grounds of king Philip to the realme of Portugal 67. examined by diuines 126 Regencie of the Gouernours 118 Religious men diuided into factions 200. they holde militarie charges 180. and keepe the keies of Lisbon pag. 208 Resolution of Gonsalues charge 119 S SAint Arem yeeldes obedience pag. 222 Sanches d' Auila Marshall generall of the Spanish camp 134. he is sent against Anthonie 227. he passeth the riuer of Doro at Auintes 232 his speech to his soldiers ibid. his stratageme to passe the riuer 234. hee dies 307 Sebastian king of Portugal his life 10. his first voyage into Africke 11. his enteruiew with Philip at Guadalupe 15. hee is perswaded to make war in Africke by Mahamet ibid. lands his armie at Arzille 30. hee fights valiantly and is vanquished 50. he is slaine by the Moores and carried to Molucs tent 51. his funerals at Madril 66. his obsequies with the Princes of Portugall 302 Settuuall taken 182 Summarie of an oration made at the assembly of Estates 77 Sosa Deputie of Lisbon his answere pag. 111 Spaniards discourse vpon the Cardinals legation 191 Spanish souldiers discontented with the sentence giuen against the French prisoners 295. they intreat for them ibid. Spaniards discourse vpon the enterprise of the Terceres 309 Stratagem with oxen diuised by a religious man 257 Stremos taken 175 Strozzi slaine 291 Suburbes of Lisbon spoiled 217 T TErceres 227. the description thereof 239 the resolution of the inhabitants 241. their confusion 272 Testament of King Henrie 123 Thomas Stukley an Englishman with 600. Italians serues King Sebastian pag. 27 Tower of Belem yeelded 210 Tower of Settuuall taken 184 Treatie of accord betwixt King Philip and Anthonie by the meanes of Carcamo a Castillian 204 V VAlour of the Italians and Spaniards 49 Valour of King Sebastian 50 Viana taken 237 Villauisosa surprised 173 Vniuersitie of Coimbra 250 W WOmen at Lisbon arme like souldiers 178 FINIS The description of Lisbone The Portugals conquests * Of good hope * Of good hope The life of king Sebastian Sebastians first voyage into Affrick Sebastians enteruiew with Phillip at Guadalupa Preparation for the war of Affrick Preparation for the second voyage of Affricke The second voyage of Sebastian with his armie into Affricke The arriuing of the Portugall armie in Affrick and their proceedings A light skirmish of the Moores against the Portugals The meanes of Moluc to defeat the Portugals The counsell and resolution of the Portugals to enter into the maine land of Affricke The Counts of Vimioso seconded the des gnes of the King of Portugall The aduise of Lewis de Silua concerning this voyage The counsell of Mulei Mahamet to the King of Portugall The Armie of the Portugals and their quality The arriuall of Aldana in the Portugall campe Letters and a Present from the Duke of Alua to the King of Portugall Molucs speech to his brother The qualitie of Molucs armie The conceit of the Portugall to fight The order of the Portugals armie The disposition of Molucs Armie Molucs Oration to his Armie The beginning of the battell The Portugals haue the aduantage of the Moores Molucs feare Molucs death The Arabians spoile their friends Frauncis de Tauora slain in the battaile The death of the Duke of Auero and of Aldana and the imprisonment of the Prior. The King of Portugall fights valiantly but is vanquished The King slaine by the Moores and carried to Molucs tent Mulei Mahamet drowned Hamet proclaimed king of the Moores A battaile famous by the death of three Kings The names of the chiefe slaine in the battaile The couetousnes of Hamet The Portugals armie at sea returnes to Lisbone A message sent to the Cardinall Henrie by the Catholique king An embasage from Hamet to the Catholique king The Portugals sorrow Cardinall Henrie swerne King of Portugal The ceremonie of the Portugals in bewailing their King dead The ceremonie of the Portugals in swearing their King The descent of the pretendants to the Crowne of Portugall * Of fower Crownes The pretendents to the Crowne of Portugall The King of Spaine The Duke of Bragance The Prince of Parma Anthonie Prior of Crato The Duke of Sauoy The people of Portugall The Queene mother of Fraunce The Pope pretends the election The deliberations of King Henry at his comming to the Crowne Peter d' Alcasoua in disgrace with King Henry Sebastians obsequies at Madrill The discord that fell out for that one said Philip did preceade Henrie The demands of the people of Portugall Councell vpon the Embassage the King sent to Henry The Duke of Ossuna sent to Henrie The imprisonment of the Duke of Alua and the cause Philips letters to the citie of Lisbone The deliuerance and returne of Iohn de Silna Embassador for Philip in Portugall The Duke of Ossuna arriues in Portugall and his proceedings King Henry inclined to the pretence of the Duches of Bragance The States of Portugall at Lisbone A summarie of the Oration made at the assemblie of the estates An Embassador chosen to goe to Rome to obtaine dispensation for Henrie to marrie The nomination of 5. gouernors of the iudges of the succession The oath to obey the elected Gouernours
The discontentments of the people of Lisbone Henrie desired to marrie The Catholique King sends a lacobin into Portugall The predendents to the Crowne of Portugall cited to declare their reasons Philip frames a counsell of the affaires of Portugal Iohn de Silua solicites to be sent backe into Portugall Christopher de Mora called againe and sent Ambassadour into Portugall in steede of Iohn de Silua The grounds of the Prior. Of the Duke of Sauoy Of the Duke of Parma Of the Dutchesse of Braganca Of the Catholike King The ground of the people The Queen Mother of Fraunce The peoples complaint against King Henrie The letters of the Prior to Henrie The sentence of King Henry against the Prior touching his legitimation The reasons of the Catholique king against the pretendents Against the Prior. Against the Duke of Sauoy Against the Duke of Parma Against the Dutchesse of Bragance Against the people Against the Queene mother of Fraunce Philip sendeth to signifie his right to Henry Philip prepares for warre against the Portugals The suspension of Henries briefe The Priors letters to Henry con cerning his rigor Henries second sentence against the Prior. Henrie changeth his opinion to the benefit of Philip touching the succession The offers of Pope Gregory 13 to the Catholike King A publication of the gouernors of Portugall The discourse of the Portugals vpon the state of the Realme The Castillians discourse touching the affaires of Portugall The Portugals answere to the Castillians discourse The plague in Portugall and the proceedings Bezar stone excellent against the plague The States of Almerin Henry changeth the Deputies of Lisbone and the cause The opening of the Estates at Almerin by the Bishop of Leiria The answere of Sosa Deputie of Lisbne A mutinie at Coimbra The speech of Moniz Deputie of Lisbone The Deputies of the Realme sent to Henrie to be admitted to the election of the King with the answere King Henry sicke The death of King Henry The life of Henry The regencie of the gouernors Martin Gonsalues sent to the deputies of the Realme The deputies aunswere to Martin The resolution of Gonzalues ambassage Anthonies course to obtaine the Crowne Anthony his letters to the states of Almerin The States answere to Anthony and his arriuall The clause of King Henries testament The speach of the Deputie of Portalegre The states send to the Gouernors The duke of Barcellos detained by the Duke of Medina Sidonia The diligence of the catholique King to assure his conscience for the Realm of Portugall The Catholique Kings preparatiues against Portugall The duke of Alua chosen generall of the army into Portugall The Catholique Kings Letters to the Duke of Alua. The Catholique King goes towards Portugall The Duke of Alua ariues at his Army The nombers of the Dukes Army The comming of the Ambassadors from the gouernors to the Catholique King and their negotiation The conclusion of the States at Almeryn The Gouernors prepare for defence The manner of the enterprise of Portugall The state of the Duke of Alua his armie The conditions that the Catholique King offred if they would deliuer the realme quietly The Gouernors sollicite their defence The Drie head fortified A confusion of the affaires of Portugall and the Gouernours The disorder of the religious of Belem Doctor Fernand de Pina slaine The answer of the Catholique king to the Portugals The gouernours inconstancie The diligence of the Catholique King vpon his entrie by force into Portugall made by the Diuines of Alcala The Catholique King takes possession of Portugall A question whether the Catholique King should go with the armie in person The Kings army wasted Confusion in Portugall The taking of Eluas The Kings letters to them of Eluas The reduction of Oliuenza The Catholique king his letter vnto Anthonie Anthonie proclaimed King of Portugall Two contrarie factions in Oliuenza The Catholique king sworne at Oliuenza The gouernors neglect the defence of Lisbone Anthonie arriues at Lisbone and proclaimed King The speech of Fonsequa for the creation of Anthonie The flight of Teglio The flight of the gouernors Anthonie arriued at Settuual Cascayes S. Iulian yeelde to Anthonie The Duke of Bragance sendes to Philip. The Catholique kings answere to the Duke of Bragance The taking of Villauisosa Reasons why the King should not goe in person The Kings army entred into Portugall The taking of Stremos Euora yeelded The taking of Mount Maior Anthony his entrie into Lisbone The decree of the Gouernors Anthonies preparation for the defence of the kingdome Disorders at Lisbone The taking of Settuual The arriuall of the Marques of Saint Crux with the armie by sea The yeelding of the fortresse Three poore women crying to Anthony to succour Settuual Anthonies care to succour Settuual The counsell of Anthonie and his resolutions Anthonies feare The resolutions of Anthony and of his counsell The Bishop of Guarda seconds Anthony The counsell of Anthony ill grounded An allarum at Lisbone Anthony offers to compound Cardinall Riario sent Legatinto Spaine The discourse of the Spaniards vpon this Legation The Legat visites the King The sundrie opinions for the passage of the army The armie passeth at Cascaies The disimbarking of the Dukes armie The disposition of the Dukes armie They charge the Portugals who retire The blames of Meneses and his excuses A confusion in the citie of Lisbone Anthony goes towards Cascaies Cascaies taken and spoiled The castell taken Diego de Meneses beheaded Henry Pereira hanged Anthonie marcheth towards Belem with his men consusedly Religious men deuided into factions Anthonic retires to Alcantara The Catholique kings pardon to the Portugals The Duke marcheth against the rocke of Saint Iulian. A treatie of agreement with Anthony Anthony his letter to the King The answere of the Duke to Anthony The rocke of Saint Iulian battered and the aduise of the Inginers A poore woman cause of the yeelding of Saint Iulian The rocke of Saint Iulian yeelded Cabessa Secca abandoned The feare of them at Lisbone The yeelding of the tower of Belem The Duke of Alua his speech to the soldiers The order of the Dukes armie Anthony his preparation against the Duke The flight of Anthony towards the citie his defeate and hurt The yeelding of Lisbone The spoile of the suburbs of Lisbone The number that were slaine in the battaile The Duke blamed The commendations of the Duke of Alua. The Catholique kings sicknes and the discourse vpon it Lisbone sweares obedience to the king A contagious Catar Saint Arem yeelds obedience The Prior assembles new forces Auero taken The Duke blamed The Dukes excuses The yeelding of the places in Affricke which the Portugals held The Terceraes Sanches de Auila against the Prior. The yeelding of Coimbra The estate of Porto and the reduction The Portugals and Castillians disagree The yeelding of Auero and other exploites of Sanches d'Auila The statagem of Anthony Serrano to recouer aboate Sanches D' Auila passeth the riuer of Doro at Auintes The speech of Auila
to his soldiers The stratagem of Auila to passe the riuer The oration of Anthony to his soldiers The flight of Anthony to Viana The flight of the Portugals The citie of Porto yeelded The taking of Viana Anthonie saues himselfe on the other side of the riuer Minio in danger to be taken The death of Queene Anne The King enters into Portugall by the citie of Eluas The description of the Ilands of Terceraes and the inhabitants thereof The resolution of the inhabitants of Terceraes The Iesuits walled vp at the Terceraes The Popes offer against England The complaint of the Dukes soldiers The auditor of Gallicia sent to Auilas campe The Councell of the Kings chamber The King visites the Duchesse of Bragance The King sworne at Tomar and the Prince Diego The kings pardon to the Portugals The beginning of the parliament at Tomar The demands of the Estates Touching the Vniuersitie of Coimbra The Pope seemes content with the successe of Portugall The Portugals animated and wherefore The Kings entrie to Lisbone The speech of the Magistrate of Lisbone to the king The Portugals discontented The councell of state of Portugall reduced vnto two Baldes attempt vpon the Terceraes The preparation of them of Angra against Baldes Iohn de Betancour affect to the King A stratagem with oxen made by a religious man The ill successe of Baldes soldiers The crueltie of those of Tercera The defeate of Baldes is preiudiciall vnto the king The Priors good fortune Ierom Mendoza treateth an agreement with the Prior. Anthonie arriues at Caleis The Indian fleete expected and the discourse of their arriuall The Indian fleete met with a French ship neere the Terceres The diligence of Anthony to haue the fleete The fleete arrtues at Lisbone The arriuall of Figueroa at the Terceres and his returne to Lisbone Baldes imprisoned in Portugall The preparation of them of Terceres A miracle performed by the Iesits The estate of Fraunce and Flaunders The Queene of Fraunce discontented with Philip and the cause The Duke of Alancon sworn Duke of Brabant Preparation of the french against the Terceres The Prince of Orenge wounded by a Biscaine The kings recompence to the Portugals The Empresse Mary comes to Lisbone The Cardinall of Austria made Gouernour of Portugal The Terceres in confusion The cariage of Emanuel de Sylua at the Terceres The preparation at Lisbone against the Terceres and the aduise vpon this enterprise The Catholique King armes in all places and the cause The kings order in preparing Peixotto sent to Saint Michaels fought with by certaine French ships The Marquesse of Saint Cruze embarkes for the Terceres The hopes of the French armie at sea with Strozzi The hopes of the Court of Spaine touching the Armie at sea The arriuall of the French ar mie at the Ilande of Saint Michael and the description thereof Or the dogs head The death of Ambrose D Aguiar The first encounter of the French The arriuall of the Spanish armie at the Ilands The Marques resolues to fight The Marques order for his battell The Marques gets the wind of the French armie The French disagree The beginning of the fight at sea Mounsier Brisac flies The death of Strozzi and of the Count Vimioso Apriest dies for feare The number of the dead in the battel Edward de Castro beheaded by Anthonie Anthony his voyage to the Terceres and his atchieuements there The sentence of the Marques against the French prisoners The Spaniards discontented with the sentence and the reason The Spanish soldiers entreat for the French The French beheaded and hanged * A kinde of small ship The carriage of Anthonie after the sea fight The departure of Anthonie for Fraunce Emanuell de Silua staies at the Terceres The French displeased at their ouerthrow The amplification of pardon towards the Portugals The death of Duke of Alua his commendation The blames of the Duke of Alua. The obsequies of Sebastian and other Princes Portugals A reformation of the Kalendar A new assembly of estates at Lisbone where the prince Philip was sworne Cardinall Albert made gouernour of Portugall The kings departure from Portugall The death of Auila The French spoile the Ilands of Cape Vert. The carriage of Silua at the Terceres The Kings preparation against the Terceraes The discourse in Spaine vpon this enterprise Mounsieur de Chattes sent to succour the Iland A discourse betweene Chattes and Silua vpon the strength of the Iland The kings armie departs from Lisbone The description of the Terceres The arriual of the kings army at the Terceres and their proceedings The diligence of the Ilanders for their defence The landing of some of the Marques his men The first assault giuen by the Marques his men The second landing of the Marques with his men and their skirmish against the French Silua his flight hindred The Portugals abandon the French The Marques takes S. Sebastian Angra put to be spoiled three daies The Portugall shippes spoiled The Marques sends to Fayall The French compound with the Spaniards The condition of the accorde Chattes doth visite the Marques They of Faiall kill a trumpet that was sent vnto them The landing of Peter de Toledo at Fatal and the sacke thereof Anthony Guedez de Sosa hanged by the arme and wherefore Emanuel de Silua taken and executed with others The French men sent to the galleies