Piemontoise borne also who often vsed to checke and reprooue his sonne in law for going so much to the King saying he was am impostor and a counterfeit and his son in law boldly defended the King by all the meanes and reasons he could deuise During this contention betwixt the father and the son in law the old man said Come hither heare me Emanuel Philibert Duke of Sauoy sent an Ambassador to Dom Sebastian king of Portugal his nephew sonne to his cosin germaine which Ambassador brought him a present and returned backe againe from the said King with answer and another present from the King to the Duke the Ambassadors name was Dominico Belli whose seruant I was at that very instant by meanes whereof I saw and was priuie to all the parcels and placed them my selfe in the casket and likewise saw aduisedly what was returned from the King Now sit if you can perswade that man that says he is D. Sebastiā c. to tel me what parcels those were that were sent to and fro directly you shall bring me to be of your mind and to confesse that he is the very same man he nominates himselfe to be Iohn Bassanesse hearing these words bethought himselfe which way he might come to haue conference with the King to vnderstand the right of this matter as he was studying how to bring his purpose about he dreamed of a stratageme which should effect his designe which was that he wold perpetrate some light crime in hope therfore to be cōmitted to the prison where the king was wherupō he resolued to take a cudgel vnder his cloake go to the Realto the chiefest place in Venice and there quarel with one or other and bastinado him vntil he had drawn bloud of him for which act he doubted not but to be committed he proceeded according to his secret determination and when he was come neare the Realto he met with a friend of his who perceiuing by his countenanee that he was troubled in mind said vnto him Sir I see by you there is somewhat amisse Iohn Bassanesse being wel assured that he was a faithfull seruant to the King laid open his intention vnto him who found a meanes to get a note in writing vnder the kings hand of all the parcels that passed from the one to the other This memorandum was put into the hands of one Lecnardo Donato one of the Sabio grande that first examined the King and was thought to owe him litle good will but after he surueyed his cause and found it so iust true trauelled earnestly to the Senate to pronounce him Dom Sebastian the true king of Portugal All this I haue heard confirmed by many very worthy persons the originall I could not bring with me for that Donato at my being there was employed as Generall of fiue and twentie thousand foote and fiue thousand horse in the countie of Brosse which force the Siegniorie had leauied the yeare before for their defence vpon some intelligence c. But as soone as Iohn Bassanesse had got the writing he hyed him home to his father in law and they agreed betweene them that one should stand at one end of the table and the other below and the father wrote the peeces he knew and the son by his note was able to informe the old man of diuers parcels that he had forgotten and the old man said it was hast made him ouerslip somewhat those foure white horses said he I did not well remember but I thinke verily it was true and the old man wondred not a little how his sonne came by this intelligence and said he had deuised it himselfe but seeing himselfe vanquished said to his sonne Visit the King my son at your pleasure and do him what good you may and I beseech God to assist him Forasmuch as I know the curious sort of people desire to view the particulars and to make our proofe the more autentical I haue here set thē down in order as they were inuentoried The parcels presented by the Duke to the King A case full of silkes of diuers colours Another full of cloth of siluer of diuers sorts and colours Another full of cloth of gold of diuers colours A diamond set in a ring An auncient garment of very great value being a trophe taken from the French at S. Quintaines embrodered garnished about the necke with many iewels foure white horses which the old man had forgotten and diuers other peeces not named Those parcels that were sent from the King to the Duke A great chaine of gold of very good value two peutrils two bits two paire of stirops all garnished with diamonds rubies and other stones of great price One diamond set in gold which Bartholomeo Veneti said was as big as the naile of his right thombe Many East-Indian dishes of sundrie colours with other rich things of good esteeme For the second of the last proofes being the fourth and last you shall vnderstand that there be foure merchants at Venice men indued with wealth honour estimation and charitie that in my hearing haue named these foure witnesses Barnaba Rizzo Iean Bassanesse Constantin Nicoli who keeps in his hand the original letter of D. Raimond Marqueti by which it is manifest that D. Sebastian is one man and Marco Tullio Catizzone another which letter he shewed publickely at S. Markes to conuince the falshood of the Castilians and their adherents for the which and such other like seruices the Spaniards could not be appeased without reuenge The nineteenth of October I had intelligence by letters that one came into this honest mans shop his seruants being sent all out of the way and cut him on the head with a curtelaxe and in diuers other places so dangerously that he was in great perill of his life The malefactor escaped vnknowne The fourth and last is called Baptiste Dolphine and these foure haue bene euer good friends to the King both by entertaining him and trauelling in his affaires to the vttermost of their power to set him at libertie without intermission of any minute of oportunitie that might be spent in his profitable seruice But the Castilian Agents considering and knowing the zeale of these personages and obseruing their constancie that both with all their might and maine defended the cause of the King my maister seeing that neither faire promises perswasions nor threatnings could make them desist from their vowed fidelitie and assistance entred into this diuellish practise First they beganne to publish these witnesses to be fooles cosiners and rogues and perswaded certaine bankers and brokers to lay wagers with them that the prisoner was not Dom Sebastian the King assuring them that they might offer to giue a thousand for one if euer it were prooued or published for that they knew assuredly that he was a Calabrian a Sodomite a theefe a cosiner and a counterfeit and that ere long they should see him hanged vpon one of the pillars of S. Markes
Church These vsurers beleeuing this to be true and desirous to make gaine of any thing beganne to enter into the course of laying wagers as the Castilians had aduised them The witnesses hearing they offered so franckly a thousand for one if the prisoner were iudged to be Dom Sebastian c. knowing certainly that it was he beleeuing that the Senate in regard of such especiall markes tokens and proofes would not refuse to publish him what they had found him were easily drawne to bargaine with these bankers to some of the which the simple and honest men gaue out twentie some thirtie some fiftie some ten some fiue crownes in hope to be paid a thousand for one so that they had giuen out some three hundred crownes or more and shortly after they found out the wrong and hindrance they had done to the poore Kings cause by their mony they begun to repent themselues exceedingly of their folly the account was cast that the repaiment would amount to three hundred thousand crownes And the bankers seeing themselues ingaged for so great a sum of monie and if the Senate should chance to publish that which they knew to be true that they were like to be stripped of the greatest part of their substance began to complot and oppose themselues to counterchecke the truth which fell out to be a great preiudice and barre to the King my maisters cause for that many chiefe men and the factors of many principall houses were interested in this hazard of indemnitie as those of the house of Astroci Caponi Baglioni Labia Iacobo Begia Antonio Simone Pietro Tobon Bastian Garinoni and many others of their parents and allies for their sakes among which were diuers that bare office in the common-weale as Iacobo Fuscurini a proctor in S. Marke that was euer enemie to the King my maister In the end this diuellish inuention and Castilian pernicious pollicie wrought vs much woe and multiplied our enemies infinitely for it was so commonly knowne and spoken that litle children as they went for mustard could say that this was the principall cause why the Senators would haue had Dom Sebastian say he was not Dom Sebastian but a Calabrian and they promised straight to set him at libertie and not that fauour alone but they would do what else for him he could or would require Whereupon he wrote a letter to the Pope complaining iustly vpon the Senators of Venice for requiring at his hands so vnlawfull a thing to whom he declared in his letter that he answered them that he had rather die a tortured death then confesse so palpable an vntruth to gaine an ignominious life and libertie O that it were possible for me to speake all that is true in this case but I must let passe infinite iniuries least the reuealing all might rather aggraute then relieue my maisters miserie If I durst this discourse should haue bene more ample and better vnderstood if it were lawful that I might say what I could say that the Monarks and Princes of Christendome haue done the King my Lord secretly and openly much good and ill and are vnwilling either of both should be manifested to the world in writing Notwithstanding I will neuer burie in silence an answer that a grand Sabio of this commonwealth made to a magnificent Prince in Europe of great vnderstanding but of no great antiquitie This Sabio going to visite this Prince was intreated by him to tell him what ground the Seigniorie of Venice had to proceed vpon the prisoner in that forme which called himselfe Dom Sebastian King of Portugale for said he if they found him to be a Calabrian why did they set him at libertie without chastisement And if it were verified vnto them by good proofes and euidence that he was Dom Sebastian King of Portugal why did they vse him in that maner The grand Sabio publikely made this answer in the presence of many Sir forasmuch as the affaires concerned the estate of Spaine the Seigniorie would not presume to iudge whether it was he or not This man was committed for disobeying a commaundement the Seigniorie laid vpon him and therefore restrained two yeares of his libertie to the end he might repent him of his fault and after the expiration of two yeares againe dismissed him vpon the like commaundement And to be plaine with your Excellencie the man would follow no good aduice but was wilfull turbulent and of ill gouernement by which meanes much ill is come vnto him That word ill aduised might haue bene well interpreted for that he would not denie himselfe to be that which vndoubtedly he was It was not my fortune to be present at this act being elsewhere employed out of those parts but at my returne it was related to me by a learned person that was there in present which afterward the same Prince himselfe did ratifie vnto me assuring me that the answer of that Sabio grand did verily induce him to beleeue that that prisoner was Dom Sebastian the very true King of Portugale for if the Seigniorie had held this man to be a Calabrian said this Prince to what purpose did the Sabio hold me with such a long discourse publickely considering he knew the priuitie of the affaires if he had bene proued a Calabrian it had bene sufficient to haue said in a word Sir he was a Calabrian an impostor and a cosiner without any more ado But you see how the world fares and how it swayes abruptly and so ends my pitifull narration aduising intreating and coniuring you gentle Reader to shun the snares and trips of these subtill enemies for I can assure you by the testimonie of a good conscience that they be those that S. Chrysostome terme the Pharises Qui portabant mel in ore fel in corde they will flap you in the mouth with honie which when you begin to chew perhaps you shall taste sweete but in the digestion you shall find it most bitter in operation Farewell FINIS
and vse all the diligence you can in these things I haue giuen you in charge The father being dead the sonne respected the prisoner with much more reuerence then he did before but allowed him lesse libertie then he had in the old Counts life I haue also two letters from Doctor Sampayo the one bearing date the 18 of Nouember the other the fourth of December which confirme the same contents before mentioned There be many other letters here lately sent from Portugals to the same purpose reinforcing the truth and here lately past a Portugall by this towne that protesteth he spake with Dom Sebastian declaring markes and tokens of his apparell chamber and bed and other appertenances The same Portugall said further the King inquired of him for certaine persons which this partie being then but yong could not remember and therefore gaue him no direct answer We haue here many rumours from diuers places neare about One wrote out of Portugale which diuers other comming from thence confirme that vpon S. Anthonies day of Padua the last yeare they rong the great bell at Villila in Arragone in the city of Coimbre an vniuersity of Portugale where befell a very admirable and rare wonder In the same towne there is a couent of Canons regulars of the order of S. Augustine sincerely reformed great and rich in the which is interred the bodie of D. Alphonse Henriques the first King of Portugale whom they adore for a Saint In whose behalfe they say God hath shewed some miracles vnto men to cōfirme their opinion of him that they beleeue not amisse Many religious men for this foure hundred yeares space successiuely continuing this Saint for their intercessor to God vt ferunt haue obtained much release and consolation in their afflictions aswel strangers as the naturall countrimen and to this effect they haue a booke written recording all the benefits receiued thereby so that this house neuer harboured any other then those that were deuoted to this holy King The last yeare an old man whom age had made feeble and decrepit vsed euer to kneele down and pray at the sepulcher of the said King and vpon S. Anthonies day the last yeare he there in happie time offered his solemne prayers and continued a long time in meditation before the sepulcher where he remained vntill he was stiffe and not able of him selfe to rise but by the assistance of his iuniors and religious brethren who beholding all his face bedeawed with teares demaunded of him how it came to passe This old man answered I am very much displeased and grieued at the negligence of our Kings and Princes of Portugale aswell dead as liuing I meane descending from this holy King that being assured by infinite miracles that he is in heauen in eternall glorie and liues in the presence of God and we neuer yet knew any man that trauelled to canonize him To whō one or two answered That houre shal come And father seeing your deuotion and loue is so great to this holy King beseech him to be a mediator for the libertie of Dom Sebastian descending of his masculine line that he may be restored to his former dignities and Realmes and that good deed will cause him to be canonized We haue heard lately more reports by the passengers from Italy and France that he whom the Venetians imprisoned and released the last yeare is Dom Sebastian our true King and Lord and that he seemes no whit to degenerate from the steps and traces of his auncestors As those religious men were aduising and contemplating vpon the vision of this Alphonse which was mentioned in the Admirable aduenture c. and considering the promise God made vnto him whē he appeared vnto him in the field Orique the sepulcher resounded vnto them three strokes hearing the eccho with abilitie to iudge frō whence the noise came The sound being past they approched nearer vnto the tombe continuing their discourse and sodainly againe the tombe gaue three other great blows so terrible that they were forced to recule for feare and the eccho continued so long that they all were amazed and became as pale and wan as men vse to be in the horror of death When afterward they came to themselues recouering their senses and perfect vnderstanding and conceiued that it came by the old mans praier they went and reuealed this accident to the Bishop of that citie who in all the time of treatie betweene Portugale and the King of Castile approoued himselfe as ranke a traitor to his countrey as he proued true seruant to the King of Spaine who for his recompence was established in that sea and created Bishop of Coimbre Count of Arganill c. with 50000 duckets of yearely annuitie This Bishop aduertised of the noise came to the Couent and made inquisition and finding it a thing so extraordinary said You Portugals that wonder at these toies and giue credite to bables know that the soule of this Saint being aloft in glory is so sore offended with you that God suffereth these senslesse monuments to giue testimonie of your fopperies These words were so ill taken by the people of the town assembled about that strange noise that the Bishop was constrained to vnsay that he had said and to confesse it was very wonderfull Furthermore there are many letters come of late from Portugale that testifie that at Lisbone the last of October in the yeare 1601. the Church and hospitall of the King called all Saints sodainly fell on fire by night and flamed so furiously that the roofe was burnt and all the images of the Kings of Portugal that were painted vpon the wall only the pourtrait of D. Sebastian was left vndefaced The selfe same ruine happened to the armes of the Kings and Princes of Portugal which were drawn in scutchions vpō the wall The day following being the feast of all Saints in the forenoone fell an infinite number of hailstones as big as small egges red of colour which bred as great cause of wonder as the raine that fell the day following which was so extreme that as I haue heard credibly reported by many the people of that towne durst not go out of their doores all that day for seare of drowning These things to me aswell as to others I assure your Lordship seeme maruellous and can find no reason of their rarenesse God of his diuine mercie turne them to good I could haue written to your Lordship more newes of great consequence if my paper had not bin iniurious But now to returne to our first subiect which I wil intirely deliuer vnto your Lordship seeing I haue recouered my strength I will proceed to declare vnto you the successe of D. Sebastian King of Portugale since his escape from the battell in Afrike which I intreat your Lordship to cause to be imprinted that all Princes may haue free knowledge of the historie Paris the twelfth of Ianuarie 1602. Immediatly after my last writing I receiued letters
me from being adiudged to the gallies and also preuented me from being stretched vpon the racke and further obtained pardon of his Maiestie for Emanuel Texere my vnkle that was condemned to loose his head and caused all his goods to be restored that were confiscate for being in employment with D. Antonio against the king and when he could not obtaine a graunt at my hands of that which he demaunded himself he incited my friends and acquaintance to do their vttermost to win me from my constant resolution hoping in regard of the great distance and separation from my countrey and what by the want and necessitie I endured in France with my aged constitution of bodie I would retire from that place and end my age in Portugal where I began my youth attempting afterward by rating reuiling to make me recant when other prouocations would not preuaile All which inticements mixt with bitter taunts moued me nothing at all and at this instant if I would vouchsafe acceptance I might receiue the same entertainement before offered It is not yet two yeares past sithence a very deare friend of mine in this towne prest me with vehement perswasions to returne into Portugale assuring me of as much aduancement there as I would defire but God forbid that euer I should accept it for I had rather be a poore religious beggar in France then a great discontented Bishop in Castile or in Portugale considering the countrey is not it selfe but in bondage most seruilly subiect to Castilian tyrannie In this towne a nobleman of France in the presence of diuers Princes of the Bloud accompanied with some religious men of mine owne order often perswaded me to leaue the habit of S. Dominicke and betake me to another assuring me in liew therof an Abbey which he had in his power at that time to giue afterward a couēt of 8 or 9 thousand liuers annuall rent and to make me capable thereof he promised to procure me a dispensation from his Holinesse to allow the exchange of my present habite All which bountifull proffers could not once moue me to change my shape like a mutable weather-cocke or an airie Camelion For if the spirit of God forsake me not I will die as I haue liued a religious votarie to S. Dominicke and a naturall Portugal and the same blessed stabilitie possesse all those that seeke and spred my reproch and defamation and to those that make a scorne of me I answer nothing but that I am a true religious Portugale of the same disposition that other my countrimen be I meane the godly vertuous and loyall Portugals Neither wil I admit any for my associates in this case but such as be most intirely sincere and constant So I end my present narration in the name of God and purpose to proceed to the handling of my promised discourse which albeit I cannot so exacty relate as I desire not being an eye-witnes of all that hath bene done and suffered by this miserable king my Lord and master I haue gathered out of the greatest probabilities and assertions of the iustest and honestest that I could possibly learne or vnderstand that were able to giue me the best intelligence which diligence I was bound in dutie and conscience to exercise and am withall inforced by the importunitie of many meeting me in the towne and field at euery corner to discourse vnto them my maisters aduentures Therefore to satisfie them and all the world and to meete with their tedious inquisitions I haue effected this collection to rid my selfe of trouble and to quench their inordinate thirst after the truth referring all that can reade to this and my former discourse of Admirable aduentures Farewell The Narration AT my being in Venice gentle Reader I vnderstood by diuerse that the opinion conceiued of many and the rumor commonly spred concerning the death of Dom Sebastian the king of Portugal my Lord and Maister was false and beleeued rather that their reports were more like to be true that maintained the contrarie For that it was confidently iustified by credible persons that he was seene aliue and safe since the battell in Africke namely by Cid Albequerine Emanuell Texer my Vncle N. Murselo Higuera and many other Gentlemen and personages of great qualitie and account He escaped by flight among the route being sore hurt in his head and in one arme and passed as a priuate man to his ships and was embarqued amongst the remnant of his armie that saued themselues by flight as he was forced to do After a few daies he arriued in Portugale in a towne called Neu feu de mille fuentes neare vnto S. Vincents Cape where he refreshed himselfe and sent for a Chirurgian from Faro his name I haue forgotten but well I remember he was reckened excellent in his Art There the king soiourned accompanied with the Duke of Aneiro and Christopher Tauora and diuerse other Lords vntill he was perfectly healed The tidings of his being at the Cape were sodainly spred at Lisbon and was soon published generally throughout all Portugal And it was affirmed that he was seene at the Couent of Capuchins built vpon the point of S. Vincent amongst his companions This rumor was soone quailed by the policie and authoritie of Petro de Alcaçoua great Secretarie of Portugal in the behalfe of Dom Philip king of Spaine with whom he had before-hand concluded when Dom Sebastian the king employed him in Embassage into Spaine before his departure into Africke And for that cause this Petro Alcaçoua a damnable Politician and a monstrous traitour as soone as the first newes came that the Christians had lost the day and his King and Maister slaine this Iew gaue secret intelligence to the king of Castill of all that happened signifying vnto him that nowe were a fit time to surprise the kingdome of Portugall and bid him make readie for the purpose I respected the handling of the second establishment of vnion betweene the king my maister before his departure and the king of Castile which is expressed by one Connestay at large who being a man of good respect in Portugal came post to seeke me from Rome to Venice and amongst many other newes he reported vnto me that as soone as euer it was bruted abroad in Portugall that Dom Sebastian the king was liuing and prisoner in Venice there were many deuises reuiued concerning this brute that long time before lay buried And withall you must note that Dom Diego de Sosa the Admirall which conducted the king into Africke re-embarqued him from thence into Portugall againe and gaue continual intelligence vnto his kindred and assured friends that their king was liuing and that he had secretly receiued him a boord among the scattered troupes and gaue them an especial charge that they should conceale it And further that he gaue him a secret signe whereby he might know him hereafter if need required which priuitie Dom Diego discouered vnawares when a counterfeit
proofes that might easily confute his allegations this one shall serue to satisfie all men that haue any sparke of discretion or iudgement It is impossible that any man should by art force or skil make a mans right arme and leg bigger in all proportions then the left that is only reserued to God that made him And further this reuerend Lord would haue perswaded me that the religious man that so marked him was D. Sampayo which was impossible to be true for the said father neuer once saw the King since he departed from Lisbone to go into Afrike vntill the eleuenth of December last past when he was set at libertie by the Venetians Beside this D. Sampayo neuer knew any priuie marks of the Kings bodie vntil the yeare of our Lord 1599. that he went into Portugale to inquire of them Hearing so many reports so much differing and knowing how hardly this Archbishop could hide his owne errour and considering that to answer him peremptorily might rather hurt then further my purpose and to saue my selfe from perill being within his iurisdiction I was faine to suppresse my inward passions but said vnto him My Lord seeing you vnderstand that the imprisonment of this man was the chiefe cause of my arriual in these parts and as I vnderstand the honourable Knight came from thence being foure times sent for by letters frō Paris to the great Duke sithence I was in Loraine whatsoeuer is or shall become of his persō or affaires I resolue herafter to take litle care but meane to follow the other employment I recounted to your lordship Notwithstanding as one that hath some interest in the cause I will render your Lordship my censure and resolution in a word and make you partaker of my inward and secret contemplations Forasmuch as your lordship hath acquainted with this impostor and deluders confession dissimulation and trumperies I can do no lesse thē grieue thereat very much and the rather that he escaped without punishmēt being as your lordship assures me he is so vile and so notorious an offender maruelling you would suffer so pestilent and damnable a wretch to liue that hath bene the cause of so many mens disasters confiscation of goods ruines and extinguishments by vndertaking misaduentures by sea land and what not indemnities for his sake abandoning countrie father mother wife children house and home rest and safetie and I wonder it pleased God to suffer such a one to be borne that his mother in his conception before her deliuerance had not bene transformed into a stone or presently bin dissolued into smoke or aire What vnhappie man could haue caused me to forsake my place in Paris where I was well and quietly seated to thrust my life into perill but onely he that wicked and vngodly man I haue twise in this vnluckie iorney bene afflicted with the gout diuers times almost ouerwhelmed with snow drenched in waters tormented with clambring rocks and hils sustaining all hazards that sea and land might present me with thunder and lightning from clouds and is it iustice thinke you my good Lord that a man occasioning so many troubles should liue vnpunished This man hath troubled me much and grieued my very soule This noble Duke might by the aprouemēt of many haue caused him to haue bene indited arraigned and condemned and haue ministred to him some extraordinarie death to the terrible example of all others and haue manifested the same to all the world In my conceit my noble Lord this execution had bin most expedient conuenient to the commendation of equitie and iustice The Archbishop hearing these words pronounced with such vehement passion as though my soule had giuen franke consent to my passionate vtterance in lamentation of my hard successe said I am much grieued for your vexation notwithstanding I cānot so hainously accuse nor condemne the man but only for his folly to call himselfe Dom Sebastian king of Portugal for surely he was a reuerend man for vertue and sinceritie of life I could rather agree to accuse that Religious traitor by whom he was first perswaded and suborned to take the name of King vpon him These many such like words he vsed aswell to iustifie himselfe as to recouer me out of that affliction which he perceiued his speeches had thrust me into but in the end I took my leaue of his lordship and returned to my cloister of S. Mark where the religious fathers receiued with many curtesies and kind welcomes The like entertainment I found in all other couents as I went specially at Mantua where I was importuned to remaine many daies God giue me abilitie grace to requite them that I may not be found vnthankfull for I assure your Lordship I cannot expresse the merites and fauours I found at their hands much lesse see which way I may yeeld them due recompence From Mantua I thought best to go to Rome in hope by the friendship of the Cardinals and other noble Lords and Gentlemen to find some furtherance in my affaires to the bettering of my vnhappie Princes fortunes That he should be my very king and lord I am greatly fortified in hope find many good signes and apparant arguments amongst the most serious and religious men of estimation Princes Lords and others finding it not expedient to nominate all the fauorers of this enterprise desiring your Lordship to pardon me for not satisfying you in euery particular concerning my successe at this time according to your request which defects I will repaire in my intelligence from Rome from whence I hope to send your lordship more exact aduertisemēts concerning the life and successe of this Prince since the battell in Africke from whence he hardly escaped by flight with al that past here in the time of his imprisonmēt how in what maner what day houre he departed herehēce Fa. Seraphin Banchi hath hitherto much assisted me in the businesse was very ioyfull of the honourable greetings from your Lordship desiring his continuance in your honourable fauours By his meanes I am so much furthered as I trust to morrow morning to be dispatched hence The Almightie blesse your honourable person in all you desire Florence the third of Iuly 1601. Your noble Lordships humble seruant father Fr. IOSEPH TEXERE Portugueze c. A Letter written by the said Fr. Texere to the Bishop before saluted IN my last Letter written to your excellent Lordship from Florence I promised to performe as much or rather more at my arriuall at Rome wherein I feare I shall faile for many causes checking my will and endeuour to keepe touch with your Lordship First because I came not hither so soone as I intended being hindred by reason of my sicknesse which lengthned my iorney for being in Viterbe I soiourned seuen or eight dayes in the house of our Ladie De la Quercia a Monasterie of our order distant some halfe league from the towne where God by the intercession of the Virgin
Auiz Which being ouer-heard by some of his followers whom she tooke no heed of hearing and seeing what the wench had both said and done came no sooner into their Lords lodging but they reported vnto him what they had heard a young frolike wench say and seene her do Wherewithall this noble gallant being stirred sent for her presently and finding meanes to haue her secretly vpon her begot a sonne And this maide was a shoomakers daughter of that town very rich and of good account who vnderstanding that his daughter was sent for to such a noble man and being informed that her owne speech and light behauior was the first cause and being assured she was defloured by her owne franke consent took it so hainously that at her return home he reuiled her with most opprobrious and despitefull words and beate her out of his doores openly and to manifest vnto the world how much he was inwardly vexed with the spoile of his daughter he neuer after would eate at any table nor sleepe in a bed nor put on any shirt neuer pared his nails pol'd his haire nor cut his beard which grew so long that the people called him Barbadon for it continued vncut till it reached beneath his knees This malcontent liued so long that his grand child called D. Alphonse grew to be a man and Duke of Bragance created by the great Auize maister his father who by the election of the people afterward became King of Portugale and for his worthie acts was surnamed memorable and Barcelos by the right of his wife the sole daughter and inheritor to the Constable of Portugale This towne of Veyros stāds betweene 7 or 8 other towns belonging to the said Duke and is distant but foure leagues from Villa Vicosa where his pallace is This vicinitie was the cause that he had perfect intelligence of the shoomaker his grandfather the reports he heard of him made him so desirous to see him that he determined to go seeke him out himself in his owne town where meeting him in the streets he alighted frō his horse and kneeled downe before him bare-headed and desired him to giue him his hand and his blessing withall The shoomaker hauing an eye to the Dukes traine that attended vpon him and seeing his base humblenesse and hearing his speeches amazedly conceiued him to be some great personage vnknowne to him said Sir do you mocke me The Duke answered So God help me I do not but in earnest I craue I may kisse your hand and receiue your blessing for I am your grand child and sonne to Ines your daughter conceiued by the King my Lord and father Assoone as the shoomaker heard these sayings he clapped his hand before his eyes and said God blesse me from euer beholding the soone of so wicked a daughter as mine was Yet forasmuch as you are not guiltie of her offence hold take my hand and my blessing In the name of the father c. But neither the Duke nor his followers could perswade him to pull away the hand that couered his eyes so confident this old man was in his discontentment neither would he talke any longer with the Duke Shortly after this old man died and before his death he tooke order for a tombe to couer him whereupon he communded to be ingrauen all manner of tooles that belonged to a shoomaker with this Epitaph This sepulcher Barbadon caused to be made Being of Veyros a shoomaker by his trade For himselfe and the rest of his race Excepting his daughter Ines in any case I haue heard it reported by the ancientest persons that the fourth Duke of Bragance D. Iames soone to Donna Isabel sister to the king D. Emmanuel caused that tombe to be defaced being the sepulcher of his fourth grandfather As for the daughter after she was deliuered of that son continued a very chast and vertuous woman all her life and the king made her Commandresse of Santos a most honorable place and very plentiful to the which none but Princesses are admitted liuing as it were Abbesses and Princesses of a Monastery builded without the walles of Lisbone called Santos that is Saints founded by reason of some Martyrs that were there martyred And the religious women of that place haue libertie to marrie with the Knights of their order before they enter into that holy profession the order is called S. Iames bearing the same Crosse In this Monasterie the same Donna Ines died leauing behind her a glorious reputation for her vertue and holinesse Obserue gentle Reader the constancie that this Portugale a shoomaker continued in lothing to behold the honourable estate of his grand child nor would any more acknowledge his daughter hauing bene a leud woman so purchasing aduancement with dishonour This considered you will not wonder at the Count Iulian that plagued Spaine and executed the King Rodrico for forcing his daughter la Caua The example of this shoomaker is especially worthie the noting and deeply to be considered for beside that it makes good our assertion it teaches the higher not to disdaine the lower as long as they be vertuous and louers of honour It may be that this old man for his integritie rising from a vertuous zeale merited that a daughter comming by descent from his grand child should be made Queene of Castile and the mother of great Isabell grandmother to two Emperours Charles the fifth and Ferdinando and confute the prouerbe in Spaine De cien en cien an̄os los Reyes villanos Y de ciento en seyes los villanos Reyes which is From a hundred to a hundred yeares Kings become villains and from a hundred to sixe villaines become Kings so here the plough was conuerted into the Scepter in lesse then three score and ten yeares For the proofe of my second proposition I must necessarily referre you to the historie expressed in the discourse of the twelfth letter intituled Admirable aduentures c. concerning Dom Sebastian the true and lawfull King of Portugale where it is reported of D. Alphonse the African King of Portugale that seeing King Lewis the sixt deluded him in not giuing him aid according to his promise made at the beginning when he first arriued in France by which meanes for two yeares space he left Portugal not being able for want of power to bring his purpose to any good passe for his rteurne being ashamed to be seene of the Portugals for that he lost a battell against the Castilians determined with himselfe to steale as vnknowne out of France secretly and place himselfe in a Monastery neare vnto Rome And to effect that dissigne he disguised himselfe in a strange habite taking with him but two of his people to accompanie him but he and they were intercepted and taken by the way by Robinet termed the Oxe of Normandy which Philippus Comineus also confirmeth with this addition that king Lewis was much offended with Robinet for that peece of seruice forcing him to supply him with
to tell it me that I might disclose it to Doctor Sampayo fearing least he might die burdened with so great a secret as concerned the good of all Christendome holding his conscience greatly charged with the weight thereof coniuring me seriously to deliuer it safe to Doctor Sampayo meane while if it please God to take him out of this transitorie world it might be lawfull for me to publish it openly before my death This and such other like speeches being ended he began to vnbosome his conceit in this manner It was my chaunce to meete with a Gentleman in this towne my countriman betweene the which and me there had bene auncient amitie after many dayes conference at secret meetings he told me that Dom Sebastian the King of Portugale was not dead wherat the said Godigno seemed to be astonished and said he did not beleeue it vntil he had seene him aliue with his owne eyes and then said he I may haue reason to be of your mind Which the other promised should be effected and to that purpose caried him to dinner to the house where Dom Sebastian was lodged which was as I remember in S. Iames his streete or in harpe streete whether the first or second day or shortly after he had vsed to that place he could not certainely name the time but a friend of his a Portugal came and inquired at the house for Dom Sebastian King of Portugal and as he was comming vp the stayers Godigno hasted downe the stayers to stop his passage and tooke occasion to carie away his friend faining some other affaires with him because he would preuent the King from discouery who was very iealous of publicke notice But the morrow after the same gentleman came againe about his former businesse and inquired earnestly for the King and being there denied him ceased not to aske of euery one he met throughout all the citie for Dom Sebastian King of Portugale but not preuailing at all he fell into an extreme agonie and desisted not from inquisition to litle purpose and surprised with great care what to do was at length inspired with a motion frō God to professe a solitarie life and take vpon him the habit of an hermite so being disguised trauelled towards Spaine and arriuing at the Court made meanes to speake with the Catholicke King saying that he had matters of great importance to reueale vnto him and to none but the King And after long attendance he was admitted to the Kings presence to haue audience to whom he protested he had lately seene Dom Sebastian in Paris and confirmed it by many signes and tokens of veritie The King presently forbad him by any meanes to vtter it to any man liuing and willed him to go abroade euery where to search out and discouer what he might possibly allowing him present money to beare his charges deliuering him a letter to D. Bernardin Mendosa then his ledger Ambassador in France to giue him any money he should haue cause to vse not signifying vnto him for what cause or intent and thereupon he shewed me letters which made the matter euident that he had bene in Spaine as is aforesaid but for the particularities of the said letters I do not well remember but that I hold my selfe satisfied thereby that he had bene in Spaine c. but to continue his tale he told he had trauelled so long that his money being well wasted he was forced to go to Mendosa to be supplied in his necessitie to whom when he would not reueale the cause of his comming into those parts and hauing letters of intelligence out of Spaine from some great man that he should deliuer that Godigno no more money being but an impostor and a deluder as they termed him Mendosa was soone confirmed in that parsimonie intending before to shut vp his liberalitie and to giue him neuer a deneere at which deniall this Godigno began to lament and burst forth into bitter teares as I iudge his lamentation was because he was crost and preuented for comming to the type of his enterprise In the end protesting before God and his Angels and by vertue of that holy Sacrament he had that day receiued that all that he had vttered to me was true in the end without protestation of beleeuing or shew of incredulitie I promised him my secrecie as he desired some few daies after this conference he returned vnto me as he vsed to do inquiring what news I heard of father Sampayo to whom I answered I vnderstood of him no more then before Meane while I was as it were distracted in conceit seeing this Gentlemans relation a paradoxe aduerse to the fame and vulgar opinion of Dom Sebastians death and weying this Gentlemans integritie zeale and communication with the lacobins could not in my cōscience condēne him for a lier But whether it were true or false according to my promise I concealed it though it were in some sort an offence so to do It came to passe in some litle space after in the house of an Apothecarie dwelling in the suburbes called S. Germaine neare the gate whose house was razed at the siege of Paris that this man died Here is all that I can say concerning this subiect which I neuer opened to any man sauing to Doctor Sampayo which was a good while after but the time I do not iustly remember and one cause why I was loth to speak of it was for that I was afraid to be thought deluded And me thinks this I haue written vnto you may seeme very strange notwithstanding the cōmon report at this houre is that Dom Sebastian was seene aliue two yeares after he was detained in Venice but I tell ye the greater part of the world suppose that he is a counterfeit suborned c. God knowes what he is who euer send you happie and long life so with my humble recommendations to your reuerend self I leaue you From Annisi the last of September anno 1601. I forgot to tell you that Emmanuel Godigno added to that before mentioned that the Catholicke King gaue him in especiall charge to tell Dom Sebastian that the Catholike King requested him by any meanes to hasten his returne without delay to him desiring nothing so much as to render him the possession of his Realme and kingdome and to bestow his eldest daughter vpon him in mariage I am farther to desire you of so much fauour as to send me these bookes from Lions here mentioned in a catalogue inclosed in this letter and I will faithfully repay whatsoeuer you shall lay out to that purpose Here follow the titles All the workes you can find De regno Christi temporali I beseech you salute for me Monsieur le Feure recommending my faithfull seruice vnto him of whom if it please you you may craue assistance in my businesse for he is a man multae lectionis Good Lord I had forgotten my dutie to Monsieur de Tyron to Monsieur Pelle jay to