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
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
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
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
satisfied and to be bound to stand to iudgement They did vrge them to take information by way of Iustice against those that in the cause of succession did suborne with promises of money honours and also such as were suborned hauing knowledge that there were many such Whereunto the gonernors answered that they would presently depart from Almeryn but whither it was not expedient then to say and that it shoulde be conformable to the demaund of the citie of Lisbone They saide that they woulde not discharge the souldiers being leuied by the commandement of King Henry for the guard of his Court and of the pretendents That some hauing refused to carrie this Embassage into Castill yet in the ende they had chosen Gaspard de Casale Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo who prepared to go That alreadie they had commaunded al Captaines to remaine in their fortresses where there were none they were prouiding as also of armes both in the fortresses vpon the riuer as in all other prouinces That it seemed not necessarie to send to Rome but if king Philip made shewe to stirre they woulde beseech his holines to doe as he hath beene accustomed and that they woulde proceede with all the rigour against such as shoulde be found culpable in the matter of subornation Now had the Agents of the Catholique king sent newes into Castill of King Henry his death and were remaining still at Almerin fearing some alteration but this people accustomed to a heauie yoke without knowledge of libertie did not stirre The Duke of Bragance saide vnto the Gouernours that he was readie to obey and that they should proceed to sentence for the succession He sent to the Duke of Ossuna and the Catholique Agents willing them not to feare any thing that he woulde assure them from danger offering them his lodging the like did the Gouernors Whilest these things passed in Almerin Anthony Prior of Crato who at the Kings death was not far from thence ran vnto Lisbone lodging himselfe in a garden neere vnto the citie he did write vnto the Magistrate of the chamber and to many of the chiefe signifying vnto them that hee was there and that they shoulde come vnto him The which the Magistrate vnderstanding disdained sending him worde that he shoulde retire but making no reckoning thereof he sent both into the citie and places of pleasure thereabouts some of his followers who both in priuate and in publike gaue out that the king was dead and that the Prior expected them there beleeuing by that meanes for the affection the people bare him they woulde all iointly proclaime him king which being done in that citie which is the principall all the rest of the Realme for he was greatly beloued would follow their example yet he was soone deceiued And this may serue as an example to those which relie too much vpon the vulgar sort for there was not any one that durst come vnto him but in secret and as for gentlemen there were none by reason of the plague As for the new Christians which are there in great number whereof a part was likewise abroad they wanted courage and being rich feared to doe that which might cause the losse of their goods The people most base of themselues had no commander that could mooue them or lead them so as hauing labored by diuers meanes to draw men to his deuotion finding his practise not to succeed hauing spent some time there he went to the Monasterie of Belem from whence he did write to the Councel of States with words more conformable to the qualitie of time then his intention saying That hauing intelligence of the death of the King his Lord vnderstanding likewise that his bodie should be transported to that Monasterie and that not to faile of his dutie he was come thither to attend it seeing he could not be in time to accompanie it the which he had done that perfourming this last office he might doe them the seruice he ought but vnderstanding that he was not brought thither he had assisted the fathers in their sacrifices and deuotions recommending him vnto God And as a true Portugall and mindfull of the bond which as sonne and nephewe to his father and grandfather he had to the quiet and preseruation of these Realmes he thought it good to aduertise them that he was readie to expose for this cause not onely his life and receiue the lawes which they should please to lay vpon him but also in all present occasions to liue in submission due obedience not any way transgressing their commissions He protested to shew the innocencie of those crymes imposed vpon him in the sentences which it had pleased his vncle to pronounce against him togither with the interest hee had to the suceession of the Realme Hee promised to yeeld himselfe into their hands and protection relying vpon those persons who by the special grace of God in so afflicted a season had been chosen as a remedie to restore this Realme referring himselfe for the rest to Lewis de Brito who should deliuer it by mouth To this letter the which was receiued in councell cōtrarie to the aduise of some who said it ought not to be accepted Brito added that the Prior would be there with speede that they should cōmaund where they pleased he should lodge They answered that he might come when he pleased yet they would not intermeddle with his lodging but leaue it to his owne choice But almost all in generall were pleased with his cōming He staied not long but presently vpon his arriuall he presented the Popes Bull contayning the suspension of the Kings sentence he began to renue the pretention of his legitimation without the finall decision wherof they said they could not treat of the succession wanting no hope to obtaine by the councell of States that which before he did expect from the multitude at Lisbone The Deputies of the Realme did assemble daily at Saint Arem without effecting any thing of importance They spent some daies onely in sending to visit the pretendents and their deputies to make vnto them offers of iustice and likewise to receiue from them thanks for their good dispositions wherin all aboured to shew themselues protectors of the libertie of the Realme and most of all such as least desired it And for that the going and comming to Almeryn was very incōmodious being forced to passe the water without a bridge that by this reason in communicating the affaires to the rest of the States that is to the Cleargie and nobilitie by treating with the Gouernours they lost much time it was propounded in councel to reduce all togither yet could they not effect it for manie of the Deputies began to want money for their ordinarie charges desiring rather to be dismissed then vnited They desired to depart saying that they were not furnishèd frō their cities but as they were not discharged so were they not relieued
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
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
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
there he shoulde shewe vs his forces that the generall opinion is that there hee may trouble his Maiestie in the iust possession of the realme so as chasing him wee shall deserue the greater recompence by performing an enterprise that seems vneasie the which in my iudgement wil prooue no more difficult then the rest of this realme hath beene if you be the same men you were few daies since Yet suppose not that I acknowledge these victories wholie from your valour for I thinke I may attribute it better to his Maiesties right the iniustice of Anthony Who is he but knoweth that the realme appertaineth by iust title vnto our king what iudgment seate is there in the world which hath not of themselues giuen sentence in his fauour And contrariwise who is ignorant that Anthony hath tyrannously vsurped the title of a king that he hath neither right nor title to the realme that hee is a bastard insufficient and vncapable of this degree which things are knowne to all men and therefore the iustice of God will make vs instruments to punish him that deserues it So as neither rampiers riuers nor fortresses can serue him that is in the wrong for that a guiltie conscience not onely weakens the hart but makes all forces vaine The equitie of the kings cause and your valour are not to bee encountred by so weake enimies but will surmount greater difficulties then this as you haue seene and shall see tomorrowe if it please God These words with the authoritie of the captaine most renowmed amongst these soldiers made all men iudge that his resolution was well considered and therefore Sanches d' Auila for the night and the day following did thus order the armie He caused them to plant vpon the banke directly against the towne such artillerie as he had in a place conuenient both to scoure the passage to endammage the other side leauing his lodging guarded with Germaines and Spaniards he tooke the thirde parte of his foote his boates and horsemen went by night vnto the passage where he had been there to imbarke passe to the other banke meaning to charge the enimie in flanke the other two thirds of the armie vnder the charge of Rodorick Sapatta shoulde imbarke at Pietra Salata in the rest of the barkes and draw after them so many horses as they coulde tied by the reines making shew to passe there to the end to keepe the enimie busied with this feare yet commaunding them not to passe vntill they shoulde see the enimie charged by the other thirde part which had beene transported at the other passage All these things were duly executed for the Portugals being vnexperienced in warre coulde not prouide for so ordinarie a stratagem so as Sanches d' Auila being come to the towne side he founde so weake resistance that although some companies of soldiers were runne thither yet he landed easily And whereas their boates were not able to transport all their soldiers togither the first which landed hauing entred skirmish with the Portugals before the comming of the rest hauing slaine tenne or eleuen of them they put them all to flight The Prior beleeued not the Castillians shoulde so soone haue passed but vnderstanding what they had done and the small resistance of his men being not yet generally published hauing assembled many and of the chiefe he spake thus vnto them Tyrants vse in their pretentions when they distrust their right to flie vnder other colours to force vsing this in steede of iustice to obtaine their desires but iust and louing Princes not onely submit themselues to iustice but do continually striue to be conformable to the will of their subiects As for me at such time as the succession of this realme failed I was resolute to obey him that by right shoulde bee declared king I remained quiet vntill that Philip dispairing of his iustice and taking armes it pleased you to name mee your king and protector I accepted this burthen more as God shall preserue our libertie not seeing any one that coulde gouerne you with true loue then for any desire to rule howe I haue behaued my selfe how euery thing hath passed you knowe who haue beene alwaies and in all things not my subiects but my companions want of time woulde not suffer vs to prouide many things necessarie for the warre for I was no sooner named king but the enimie prepared hauing before plotted many ambushes and resolute what to doe inuaded vs with his forces the which was cause that the munitions appointed the succors promised by Christian princes could not come in due time the which hath made our successe vnhappie we haue in a manner disarmed already tried the hazard of a battaile if you thinke good to aduenture it againe against an enimie that followeth vs do as you please but I am not of that opinion for hauing hitherto aduentured my person and made this breast a buckler I am not now resolued except you do otherwise aduise me to thrust both you and my selfe to the hazard of a doubtfull battaile by the victorie whereof although it shoulde remaine on our sides there could not succeed the intention we haue to expell the enimie out of this realme by loosing it I should be frustrate of the hope I haue conceiued to free you soone from the yoke which hangs ouer you God is my witnes that al which I haue done and shall do neither hath beene nor shall be to any other ende but for the loue of you and to make equall this ballance of iustice the which is now forced by the might of the greatest enimie that euer Portugall had I know well you will beleeue me but if any amongst you doth distrust my words let him consider that if I had not regarded your profite but mine owne priuate interest I had beene now quiet rich and reconciled with the Catholique king who hath often sought me by offers and large promises and you had beene tyrannized ouer and in a manner slaues as those be that haue no kings of their owne countrie But God forbid that euer I shoulde preferre mine owne profite before yours or mine owne benefite before the realmes whose people haue so much loued my progenitors I may well at this time yeeld vnto the vniust forces that doe oppresse me yet will I neuer renounce the realme nor my title but with newe armes and new force I hope againe to trie mine action so as this sorrow which I now see in your faces shall be soone turned to ioy those armes that munition those men which are not now arriued in time shall serue hereafter And if it be a humaine thing to take compassion of the afflicted I hope being so vniustly molested to moue pitie not only in the most pitifull but also in the cruellest nations of the world I knowe that this loue which you haue alwaies borne to me and my predecessors shall no waies be diminished by any sinister euent
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
easily by the practise and industrie of another For Martin Gonzales de Camera his competitour hauing succeeded him in his offices with some other depending of the Iesuites whom the Cardinall sought to bring in they had no lesse conflict with their enimies then Peter had with his for that Aluaro de Castro fauorite to the king of a contrarie faction with some of his friendes desiring secretly to withdraw the Kings affection from Martin and his partie tooke occasion to effect it when as the King was at Cape Saint Vincent whether he went in Sommer to satisfie the desire he had to go to sea making him beleeue and it may be not without cause that Martin and the fathers as men ignorant in matters of State of the wealth of Princes had wasted the treasure of the Crowne and cut off the meanes for all such enterprizes as he might execute by their lawes made vpon the changes of money the which if they did not reuoke it were impossible to effect his glorious designes This was a deadly blowe yet did they adde one more of greater moment giuing the King to vnderstande being yoong and high minded that he was oppressed by them that they ruled in effect and he in shew and they passed on so farre that they caused a Secretarie of the chamber well fauoured of the King and a great talker presenting him one day with a commandement of small importance to signe to say vnto him that he might boldly subscribe it for that hee was king vntill he shoulde returne to Lisbone so as mingling sport with truth they drew this yoong Prince from the affection he bare to the ministers which had beene giuen him by the Queene and Cardinall and changed the doctrine wherein he had beene nourished But Peter D'Alcasoua reapt the whole fruite thereof for the King being estranged from his enimies and the lawes made by them reuoked Aluaro de Castro the author thereof died none of his faction remaining saue Emanuel Quaresinia who had the office which they call Dispaccio of great importance beeing Controwler of the Kings rewardes who hauing neither experience nor authoritie to maintaine himselfe long in this degree nor yet iudgement to contend with Alcasoua the said Peter laid holde of this occasion to recouer his former place And to effect it the more safely he married Lewes his eldest sonne with the daughter of Christopher de Tauora a great fauorite of Sebastians Being thus returned into fauour with the king he easily maintained it seconding his humours in making the meanes easie to recouer money and vnfolding all doubts for the execution of his enterprise by reason whereof he made him Chamberlaine or rather Veador de Hazenda a place of greater countenance then the other imploying him in most important affaires And although his cunning did somewhat assist the King in his determinations yet was there another occasion presented which made his hopes increase which was this Long time before there died in Affrick Mulei Mahamet Cheriffe he who had vnited the Kingdome of Feez Marroc and Turedant the which he had alwais possessed deuided with his brother Mulei Hamet It seemes that these whiles they liued quietly togither made a law that al the children that suruiued after their decease should succeed in the kingdome before any one of the nephewes should enioy the succession so as to the yongest vncle should succeed the eldest nephew yet after their decease although they left many children the greatest part thereof euen as it hapned vnto their fathers died by the sword or were strangled in prison for the iealousie of State by the commandemēt of Abdala one of the sonnes of Mahamet who succeeded his father raigned xvij yeres the most happie peaceable Prince that euer that countrey enioied This man although he were cruel yet did he refraine from murthering his three brethren it may be for that they were very children when he came to the succession but growing to more yeeres they fell to distrust him so as two of them fled to the Turke the thirde tooke his way by lande and went to liue amongst the Arabians And although the lawe had decreed that the next brother shoulde succeed to the Crowne yet Abdala resolued to sweare his eldest sonne Mahamet his successour which being performed sodainly this newe Prince practised against his vncles sending a Moore to Tremisenne to kill the eldest who was deteined by the Turkes the which he did effect wounding him with a dart in the Mezquita This act did greatly trouble the other brother Mulei Moluc yoong and of great hope who remaining at Algier demaunding succours in vaine from Philip King of Spaine by the meanes of Rodorike Alphonso Pimentel Earle of Benauent then Viceroy of Valencia he resolued to goe seeke it at Constantinople where he attended long with patience exclaiming against his kindred and not obtaining that which he demaunded till in the end hauing giuen an honorable testimonie of himselfe in the last sea fight at Nauarin betwixt the armies of the league and Turke and at the taking of Golette he obtained three thousand souldiers of the Turke for this conquest vpon certaine conditions that were not obserued With these forces and his Moores that followed him which wanted not in Affrick he entred his Nephewes kingdome for his brother was now dead and defeated three armies whereof the last which seemes woonderfull consisted of threescore thousand horse and ten thousand foote and tooke absolute possession of the Realmes liuing with great reputation both of the Moores and Christians Mulei Mahamet being in this manner expelled his countrey he fled to Pignon of Velay a fortresse which the Catholique king holdes in Affrick and from thence by the counsell as they say of a Renegado he sent his ambassadors to the said King letting him vnderstand of his disgrace and crauing aide to be restored to his estate Whereunto the Catholique King hauing made no answere conformable to the desires of the Moore being gone to Ceuta he did the like office with King Sebastian shewing vnto him that by this occasion he shoulde easilie make himselfe Emperour of Marocco The yoong Prince fedde with this vaine hope seemed nowe to haue a lawfull subiect to make warre whereon he resolued and to succour the Moore Mahamet He propounded this to his Counsell laboring to proue that it was both profitable and honorable whereunto although there were some of contrarie aduise laying before him that he was without heires that Christians shoulde rather imploy their armes against heretikes then Infidels that his forces alone were too feeble for so great an action strengthning their reasons with many examples notwithstanding as Princes blinded with their owne desires will not allow the mishaps and disgraces of an other issuing from their ill measured Counsell to serue them as examples of better aduise there was neither reason nor example could preuaile against the Kings opinion but fortified in his resolution by many who either for their owne
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
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
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