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
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
matters but it was necessarie they shoulde esteeme him affable and curteous to discouer easilie vnto him their minds of which humour the rest were not And although on the one side the Cardinals did seeme fittest to treate with a king who was also a Cardinall they did think on the other side that Henry might take it ill to sende one vnto him who was equall with him in dignitie There hapned at the same time a matter which bred no small woonder in this court and in others likewise the which for that it chaunced to a person of whom we are often to make mention although it be somewhat from our purpose we will not leaue to report The Duke of Alua was banished by the kings commandement to Vzeda fiue and twentie miles from the court for that Fredericke his eldest sonne being taken at Tordefillas a village of that Realme for that he refused to marrie with one of Queene Isabella of Valoys her maides to whom as she said he had promised whilest the king was entreated by her friends to force him to marrie her he by the aduise of his father brake prison and was gone to Alua to marrie with Marie de Toleda his cosen daughter vnto Garcie he which was Generall at sea the which hee effected returning presently vnto the same prison The Duke bare this affliction with great humilitie and constancie so as all hatred ceasing his verie enimies did pittie his miserie This banishment was remarkeable both for his estate age and the notable seruices he had done vnto this crowne as also to see the integritie of the king who notwithstanding the necessitie he seemed to haue of his person in matters of importance that drewe neere could not cause him any thing to dissemble the execution of that which he thought fit for iustice or his reputation It was also remarkeable for the great offices which some Princes did in his fauour but most of all his holines who did instantly sollicite his deliuerie by the meanes of his Nuncio saying that although he coulde not presume of the kings iust intention but that the Dukes imprisonment proceeded from some great cause yet he coulde not in duty but performe this office It was saide this good will of the Pope towards the Duke proceeded from the seruice hee had done vnto the Apostolique seate hauing made long warre against the Infidels and heretikes and also for that which he had done against the Church it selfe effecting that which was conuenient to his king whilest as enimie hee was contrarie vnto it as he did defende it being a friend binding vnto him not onely Paule the fourth who was then Pope but also his successors And it seemes strange that the greatest loue they say the Church had vnto him sproong from the warre which he made against it The Deputies of Castill which were then in court laboured for him and although the king sent them worde they shoulde be contented and not sue vnto him for that he woulde not refuse anie thing they shoulde demaund yet this manner of demaunding and denying serued for a great office The King from the beginning was in hope to make himselfe peaceable Lord of the Realme of Portugall although he were not ignorant of the small inclination the Portugals had vnto him but hee let passe nothing which he thought fit to gaine their loues and to this effect he did write to all the chiefe cities of the Realme his pretention offering and threatning but in the greatest part his letters were not receiued in publike To the citie of Lisbone he did write in this manner Most noble and our welbeloued although I haue appointed Christopher de Mora to saie vnto you some things which you shall vnderstande from him yet woulde I giue you to knowe by my letters that there is no man in this world more then my selfe that hath felt the losse of noble king Sebastian my nephew and of his men The reasons for which I ought to haue this iust feeling are easie to be considered hauing lost a sonne and a friend whom I loued tenderly and in the same degree I held and hold all those that are lost with him for I doe cherish and loue all them of this Realme as my owne subiects And I thinke it is not vnknowne the great diligence I vsed to diuert his iourney as well personally my selfe at Guadalupa as also before and since by my ministers whereof many of the principall of this Realme are good witnesses But not to reuiue so great a griefe let vs lay apart the things which cannot be remedied fixing our eies on the true consolation which is that those afflictions were giuen by the hande of God and suffered by the greatnes of his prouidence we ought likewise particularly to comfort our selues that in this wretched and miserable age this Realme hath gotten for their Gouernour so Christian and wise a Prince as is the king mine vncle whose rare vertues and exemplarie life giueth vs cause with reason to expect that he will settle the present affaires in so peaceable an estate that we shall proceede in all things with the mildenes and gentlenes I wish for the loue I beare to all and singularly for the degree of amitie and affinitie which hath alwaies beene betwixt these two crownes and betwixt my selfe and the Lords of the same Realme being all of one bloud and my selfe and my children nephewes of noble king Emanuel being nourished and brought vp by the Empresse and Ladie my Mother For these causes and considerations I haue as great respect to the king mine vncle and as great cause to wish him a long and happie life as your selues But the affaires of the succession of this Realme being in the estate you know I haue with great consideration and due aduise examined the right which it hath pleased God by his secret iudgments to giue me And causing this action to be viewed by men of great learning and conscience both within mine owne Realme and without all doe finde that without doubt the succession thereof doth rightlie appertaine vnto me and that there liues not any at this day that can with reason contradict me by manie and cleere grounds being a male the eldest as it is apparently knowne And hauing resolued to make this point knowne to the noble King mine vncle with loue and due respect I haue earnestly entreated him that it would please him presently to declare it as he is bounde for the discharge of his conscience and for the bond he hath to doe right and iustice but most of al for that it concernes the preseruation peace rest augmentation and prosperitie of these Realmes and of all the subiects thereof the which hee ought both chiefly to care for and to procure seeing that besides the saide effects it shall cause an other of greater importance which is that which concerneth the seruice of God our Lord the assurance encrease of our holy Catholike faith I
strange grounde to the dishonour of so many kings woulde come by direct line to the succession of the Realme offering to prooue by writing out of the auncient Registers of Fraunce and by the auncient possession of the Earle of Bulloigne that she was lineally descended from Robert sonne to king Alphonso the thirde and of the Countesse Matilda his first and lawfull wife and that from that time to this all the descendents of Beatrice the second wife of Alphonso haue vniustly reigned from whom all the pretendents to the succession drawe their beginnings and therefore they coulde haue no better interest then their predecessors King Henry seemed nowe more colde to determine the question of succession then the importance of the cause and the shortnes of his life required He was greatly pressed by the people who be naturally hard to please seeing his slow proceedings complained by words and writings dispersed without authors and were well content their griefes should come to the kings eares They inferred that the losse of the warre of Affricke partly restored by his comming to the Crowne was nowe reuiued seeing their hopes that he shoulde preuent their imminent dangers succeeded vainely They complained that the time which shoulde be wholie imploied to decide the succession was spent in accidentall things contrarie to their dutie hauing no other care but to drawe into question such as the king hated to search by iustice things of small moment to borrowe money of the merchants to redeeme the Portugals that were in Affricke to treate of newe impositions to the oppression of the people and such like some whereof as the redemption of prisoners and that which concerns iustice they could not reiect as euill they blamed the time and the meanes that was spent in them Passing from this discourse hauing as it were a desire to speake slaunderously they touched the ministers of iustice to the quicke inferring they had corrupt consciences that the poore were persecuted the rich fauoured that all punishments were pecuniarie or barbarous expresly inuēted to molest the poore innocents giue autority to the rich culpable who are seldome punished They shewed againe how much a briefe decision of the succession did import and that it was no sound aduise to cite the pretendents assemble the States being tedious matters alleaging that if the king to receiue the scepter had no neede of these things neither had his successour but that he ought to decide this cause by himselfe with the aduise of learned and confident Doctors and according to that which he shoulde finde conuenient treate the accordes and capitulations with the greatest libertie of the Realme he coulde giuing contentment to the excluded and making of many members one body thereby to auoide the bottomlesse gulfe of ciuill warres And in truth this was the wisest and most Christian resolution of all others They did not allow of the making of Gouenours tearming them bodies without a head saying they coulde not after the kings decease effect any good iudging there woulde be amongst them diuersitie of opinions the people woulde be altered the great woulde disobey and euery one of the pretendents woulde call himselfe king they did foretell the Realme woulde be deuided in factions that one would follow one party the other an other party in the meane time the strongest woulde preuaile by armes The most aduised feared the forces of the Catholique king being neere and alwaies readie and although some trusting in his modestie beleeued after the death of Henrie he shoulde peaceably attend the sentence yet such as more practised in the affaires of the worlde knewe that the encrease of kingdomes had neither end nor measure that they be neuer giuen or taken away by the opinion of Doctors they feared most of all they termed it a diuelish temptation of those that perswaded Henry to take a wife or once to speake of it saying they were not woorthie that God shoulde nowe worke miracles for the loue of them The king mooued with these reasons which were partly deliuered vnto him began more vehemently then accustomed to treate of these affaires And forasmuch as the Prior hauing taken his oath to obey the Gouernours was retired to Almada a citie vpon the riuer of Tagus right against Lisbone where he made his vsual residence the king doubting that remaining there and comming sometimes to the citie as he did he might encounter with the Duke of Bragance and that as concurrents in one action and competitors in present there might growe some perillous contention the which was doubted hearing there was hatred betwixt them for this cause he commanded the saide Prior to retire himselfe to his said Priorie of Crato the which he did and likewise to the Duke though somewhat later to withdrawe himselfe The Prior was there cited not without permission to come personally to the court but to sende his Attourneies wherewith being grieued he did write vnto the king thanking him that he had admitted him to plead and complaining that he was in a manner banished He said that he ought not to forbid him to assist in his owne cause when as the Duke of Ossuna Embassador for the Catholique king and the Duke of Bragance were present at their pleas For besides the discommoditie hee shoulde haue in deliuering his reasons whosoeuer shoulde see him banished from the Court whilest they treated of so weightie a cause woulde suppose him so farre in the princes disgrace as he shoulde not dare to maintaine his title But all this preuailed not for the king woulde neuer suffer him to depart from Crato and although he did obey with difficultie going often from place to place yet would he neuer admit him to Court The first processe the king put vppon the file was touching the satisfaction the Prior pretended to giue for his legitimation wherein he had secretly all the pretendents opposite desiring to haue it tried first as indeed it ought to be for vpon proofe of his legitimation he was either to be admitted or excluded from the succession And forasmuch as Princes doe commonly execute that carefully which they do affect for this reason and to the ende the sentence he shoulde pronounce thereupon shoulde remaine firme he had obtained secretly at Rome a briefe from the Pope by the which he gaue him authoritie absolutely to iudge the cause of legitimation without any forme or processe according to the truth thereof So as hauing strictly examined the witnesses he allowed some reasons and reiected others and duely weighed the processe Finally he came to sentence framed by vertue of the Popes owne motion wherein was reported in a manner the whole processe The deposition of the witnesses which were fowre two conuinced to be false for they recanted confessing they had beene suborned by Anthony and the other two were suspected being neere kinsemen and disagreeing betwixt themselues The words of the testament of Lewes father to the saide Prior were annexed wherein
but of the great desire he had to be assured of this Realme wherein he did surmount his owne nature and the custome of the Spanish nation who by their long delaies doe often faile in their enterprises The galleies and ships which had transported these men went to Saint Marie Porte where the whole nauie by sea should assemble Henry was still discontented with Anthony who notwithstanding the Kings late commandement not to approch within a hundreth miles of the Court wandered from place to place drawing the peoples harts vnto him The King was desirous to finde some meanes to punish him with a more rigorous sentence But the Prior when as the cause of his legitimation was in question before the King by vertue of his holines briefe mistrusting what hapned had by the counsell of Alexander Formento then the Popes Nuncio in the Realme sent to Rome complaining vnto the Pope of the hatred his vncle did vniustly beare him beseeching him to reuoke the cause vnto himselfe and to be the onely iudge thereof for that the King was suspect vnto him By reason whereof the Pope saying that his first intention was not to make Henry absolute iudge to giue sentence inclusiue he write vnto him by an other briefe with defence not to proceede in the cause for the which he appointed as newe iudges the said Nuncio George de Almada archbishop of Lisbone but not with authoritie to giue sentence but after due information of the processe to sende it to Rome This briefe was sent to the Nuncio that he might deliuer it vnto the King the which he did by an apostolike Notarie fearing he should haue refused it Henry was greatly mooued that the Pope had reuoked the cause vnto himselfe both for that the execution of the sentence did import as also imagining he was wronged by taking the cause out of his handes whereof before he had made him iudge So as greatly discontented with the Pope and his choler encreasing against his Nephew he woulde now vse his roiall authoritie and leauing to proceede as the Popes substitute he began as King to proceed against the Prior. And although the Nuncio it may be by the Popes commandement or rather by his own inclination was fauourable vnto him shewing himselfe very opposite to the Catholique King yet Henry left not daily yet coldly to continue the cause of the succession for hauing cited him to courte and he not daring appeere he caused his edicts and proclamations to be set vpon the pallace gate whereby he was cited to appeere within twelue daies The Prior who had soone a copie of this edict from his agents was greatly displeased to see the course the King held against him yet durst he not appeere fearing if he fell into the kings hands the hatred he did beare him woulde drawe him to some strange conclusion he resolued therefore to absent himselfe labouring to appease his wrath by letters which he did write vnto him complaining of the manner of his proceedings in his behalfe striuing to make knowne his better deseruing He saide that he ioyed in his afflictions calling him in his edicts Nephew as indeed he was and sonne to that his brother to whom this Crowne hauing so great a bond he did not beleeue he should so sonne forget it although his ill deseruings had bin greater then his fathers merits He remembred the respect the King himselfe and his predecessors had vnto his father and the amasement they should haue to see him thus by him vniustly persecuted He did not attribute the blame of the kings inclination to the king himselfe but to the sinnes of the Realme and to the ill disposition of some fauorites shewing on the one side that he bare with patience what it shoulde please God to impose and on the other side complained of his vncle that he did execute against him the passions of priuate men And forasmuch as when he returned from prison out of Affrick some had giuen out that he had fledde from the battaile and was not taken prisoner he touched likewise this point lamenting to be so slaundered He complained of the King saying that to the ende no man shoulde haue compassion on him he was forced to leaue the Court by night hauing only had some speech of his legitimation shewing he was not woorthie of any brotherly reprehension He did aggrauate his banishment with no small preiudice to his credite at such a time as his competitors were fauoured inuironed with their kinsemen and demaunded iustice face to face He alleaged that his holines briefe which the king had obtained against him was ignominious and full of discurtesies nothing agreeing to the honor of his father And although he had obtained an other contrary thereunto whereby his holines had reuoked to himselfe the knowledge of the cause yet was he resolued not to alter any thing but to passe his daies in miserie and sorrow whilest the euill deserued passion of the king shoulde continue He lamented to haue beene forced to giue in his proofes within two daies much more time being granted to any other that pretended and that they had giuen no answere to many things he demanded He complained grieuously of the sentence and commandement to apprehend him for subornation of false witnesses the which he denied although he saide that in the kings publike seate of iustice such as had produced false witnesses were not greatly punished He seemed to be greatly greeued to be called disobedient a troubler of the publike quiet of the realmes excusing himselfe with most vehement wordes He lamented that the Realme was ruined which his predecessors had woone defended and maintained He made no mention of appearance but saide it was lawfull for him as to theeues to hide himselfe and flie the face of iustice adding that if the faults wherewith hee is charged were such as the lawes of the Realme command the Church to redresse for that he hath no sure accesse it woulde please his highnes to graunt that Crato shoulde serue as his sanctuarie And although if his sinnes so required that being Nephew to the king the first person of the Realme his humble and obedient vassall it coulde not mollifie his vncles hart he woulde craue at Gods hands remedies for his afflictions He required with humilitie that it might be lawfull for him to appeale from his edicts vnto the king himselfe better instructed demaunding copies thereof to contradict them concluding that if it might not be graunted yet at the least his letter might be annexed to the proces for if due respect would haue suffred him he woulde haue caused it to be set vp in the same place of the edicts for the discharge of his honor and to make knowne to the worlde that he was vassal nephew faithful seruant vnto the king This letter did nothing mooue the kings hart but wrought the same effect with his choler as a little water doth to a great fire For being more
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
suffered it may be of God for our sinnes proceeded not from any corruption of the Aire but from infection and was brought into the Realme by men and merchandise from countries infected for the citie being a great part vnwalled and of great traffique it could not easily be guarded The naturall inclination of the aire the filch of the citie their feeding of fish which all generally do vse and the ill order nay the great disorder of the magistrate of the health in separating the sicke from the whole and in all other things touching his charge did helpe to increase it The suddennes wherewith it did infect and kill in a manner all those that did frequent the sicke as fire doth in powder strooke a great terrour in the citizens their remedies and diets were most vncertaine for although that many did phisicke themselues diuersly and were gouerned in sundrie manners yet there died infinite numbers of all qualities experience did teach that the application of lenitiue things the drinking of Vnicornes horne and the Bezars stone were most soueraigne remedies yet to manie it did no good The greatest part of the Nobilitie and of such as had ability to do it retyred themselues to their gardaines and farmes in the countrey where although the whole countrey were infected yet did they seeme to liue more assured or at the least out of the infection from the horrible spectacle of dead bodies which were howerly seene in the citie where the mortalitie grew so great that there was nothing to be seene but Beeres with dead bodies for the buriall whereof the churchyards being full they were forced to vse the streets and fieldes At this time were assembled in the citie of Almerin where the king remained all the Deputies of the Realme being called thither The citie of Lisbone made election of Emanuell of Portugall and Diego Salema who went not but were reiected of the King as seditious and depriued of their offices in whose place they made choise of Phoebus Moniz and Emanuel de Sosa pacheco The said Salema was not beloued of the king for that before as Vereador of the citie of Lisbone he saide vnto the king that they vnderstoode he went about not onely to iudge to whom the Realme appertained but also to make a composition the which he ought not to doe without hearing the people whereunto the King hauing answered that the people was not capable of this matter he replied that he woondered the king shoulde iudge this people incapable whom he had held to be most sufficient to raise him to the crowne wherewith Henry was greatly mooued This alteration of Deputies ministred matter of discourse vnto the worlde for it seemed the King had declared himselfe against the people and that not accepting their election of Deputies he woulde drawe by force from the States what he pleased but such as knewe the true reason and howe that Emanuell and all those of the house of Portugall deserued in this case to bee repelled commended this act These were suspect forasmuch as Iohn of Portugall Bishop of Guarda brother to the saide Emanuell alwaies esteemed more then he was woulde not onely precead his equals but did scarce beare any respect vnto the Cardinall before he was king whereof grew a great hart burning so as the Cardinall to debase him hauing drawne foorth a certaine information of his ill behauiour libertie of life and ill gouernment in his Bishopricke sent it to Rome so as the Bishop as it were forced went to his holines to purge himselfe Hee was much grieued with this crosse for passing by the court of Castill the Catholique King being infourmed of his voyage woulde not suffer him to visite him although he were entreated so as now although the Cardinall were come vnto the Crowne their hatred continued and hauing no other meanes of reuenge then to oppose himselfe to his resolutions seeing him enclined to giue the Realme to the Catholique king he laboured all he coulde to let it by meanes whereof he seemed at one instant to be reuenged of two kings for the effecting whereof there conspired togither the Bishop Emanuell his brother Franncis earle of Vimioso his nephew for the cōtrarieties that both Alphonse his father and he had with the Cardinall with other their kinsfolkes and friendes fauouring Anthony Prior of Crato they resolued to make him king trusting to the peoples humors But King Henry hauing discerned the equitie of the Catholique kings cause resolued as it is said to giue him the Realme hauing assembled the States he sent Paule Alphonse a doctor in whom he reposed great trust to Villa Vizosa whereas the Duke and the Dutchesse of Bragance remained giuing them to vnderstande that finding the succession of the Realme to appertaine to Philip and that they were vpon the point to pronounce sentence in his fauour he did aduertise them in time to the end they might make their composition with him But hauing made small account of this aduertisement interpreting it otherwise they did not embrace the occasion the which was likewise represented vnto them by the Catholique king In this time the Estates were begun in the pallace of Almeryn the ninth of Ianuary in the kings presence who being very sicke was brought in his chaire whereas Anthony Pignero bishop of Leiria an eloquent Orator made the oration enriched with a goodly stile saying That the Kings thoughts were bent to procure the generall good of al Christendome the preseruation and encrease of our holie Catholique faith and the peace and tranquillitie of his subiects for the effecting of that which concernes his charge to follow the examples of kings his predecessors progenitors conformeable to the actions of his life passed considering with sound iudgement great experience wise discourse how much it doth import the generall good to declare during his life to whom the lawfull succession of the Realme did appertaine he did apply all his care to the decision of that cause with so great study and zeale that not suffering himselfe any way to be interrupted with the many graue and extraordinary affaires nor by the trouble of his long infirmity he had with the helpe of God brought it to that estate that it might speedily be declared as they had required and ought generally to wish for And seeing the finall decision of the cause was brought to that issue it seemed conuenient to the king to assemble the States and to communicate vnto them some points of great importance for the seruice of God and the good and quiet of these Realmes as they shoulde vnderstande by that which shoulde be particularly deliuered vnto them by his commandement He exhorted them that vsing the my steries which had been presented lately to al faithfull Christians with praiers sacrifices workes of deuotion and charitie they shoulde dispose themselues to receiue the light of that heauenly wisedome which God doth alwaies impart to such as frame
as eldest sonne to the Duke of Bragance and of Katherine chiefe pretendent to the Realme vntill the cause of the succession were decided so as the sports before shewed vnto the saide Duke in courtesie were now redoubled for this other intent detayning him expresly vntill he might receiue answere from the King so as shewing him first one place and then another this yoong Prince was taken vnawares But the Duke of Medina hauing staied certaine carriages vnder colour to shew him some feastes he then conceiued the cause of his detaining and wrote foorthwith vnto his father in Portugall that he should not then expect him and that his detention should not any way preiudice the rights of the Realme preferring iustice before his owne life This letter being come into Portugall was by the Duke his father sent vnto the assembly of the States shewing on the one side a griefe for the detayning of his sonne and on the other side a contentment that in so yong an age he was so great a louer of his countries good offering if need were to sacrifice him for the seruice of the Realme Yet this feare of the Dukes continued not long for hauing written to his son that he should labour to come away or they should make declaration of his staie he was suffered freelie to depart for so the King had commaunded Some say that Philip had long before this consideration hauing meanes to stay him not onely in Spaine but also in Affrique but fearing to incense the Portugals and desirous to make the Duke his friend he had procured his release in Affrick and suffered him safely to depart from Andoluzia into Portugall yet the said Duke of Barcellos or his father by whose commaundement he was directed was noted of some ingratitude for being inuited by Philip to passe by his court as desirous to see him the iealousie of the State of these Realmes preuayled so much that he did not satisfie his desire but tooke his direct way to Villauizosa fearing perhaps a new detention These things passed in Portugall when as in Castill the Catholique King beeing aduertised by his Agents of the death of King Henrie of the small affection the Portugals bare vnto him of the liuely pretention of Authonie and other pretendents and to what estate the matter was brought was greatly discontented seeming he should be forced to take armes for the obtaining of the conclusion of his interest But desirous to satisfie his conscience in the effecting thereof he had formerly the aduise of Diego de Chiaues of the order of preaching Fryers being his confessor and of some other principall Diuines of that order and yet not well satisfied with their opinions least he should seeme onely to follow the aduise of the dominical Fryers he desired likewise to treat with other orders of religious persons and to that intent he sent one to acquaint the chiefe Deuines in Spaine with the cause and to demaund their aduise This care perfourmed not only with the chiefe prelates and readers in Diuinitie but with the Iesuits and the Fryers of Saint Francis all agreede that the Kings right being so apparant he was not bound to represent it otherwise then out of iudgement to King Henrie as he had done and to make his councell and the rest of the Realme of Portugall capable thereof such as with sinceritie of hart would vnderstand the truth and by the mildest meanes procure as he had done that Henry should declare him successor if these diligent proceedings were not sufficient to perswade the King and the Realme that then Philip had sufficiently iustified his cause and that he might assure himselfe by armes without thrusting the succession which was due vnto him into euident perill his person being as it is saide soueraigne exempt and free from all reprehension and onely bound to iustifie his right before God and to signifie it to the King and the Realme saying that this point was now without all doubt since the death of Henrie no man liuing that could pretend any interest in the decision of the cause It appertained not to the Pope being a matter wholy temporall nor agreeing with the circumstances which may giue him any right ouer temporall matters and lesse to the Emperour beeing no way acknowledged by the Realmes of Castill and Portugall and much lesse to certaine Iudges named by Henrie for besides that he could not choose any after his death they were now become the materiall partie and the thing it selfe whereon they pleaded Besides that all the Realme was become insufficient when as making themselues a partie they pretended power to choose a Prince although all this ceased yet would they prooue that no Portugall but was suspect in this cause to be excepted against for the manifest hatred they bare to the Castillian nation They found likewise that he was not bound to submit himselfe to any compremise for besides the difficultie and impossibilitie to finde a trustie person in so dangerous and iealous a cause as this is the bond of compremise is not incident but in a matter of doubt and the definition of doubt is when as the aduocate and Doctors conclude not for any partie finding equiualent reasons for either but in this all being of one agreement the cause is not doubtfull nor to be compremitted The King being resolued to take armes hauing no possession deliuered vnto him prouided for it for this cause he writ to the gouernors to the three estates and to the fiue principall cities to all of one subiect but in diuerse formes after he had lamented the death of his vncle he required them to receaue and sweare him King as King Henry had resolued and declared him to be he thanked the nobility and clergie for their good affection showne when as Henrie had said that the succession appertained vnto him he made offer to all and threatned cunningly he sent to the gouernors a copie of the priuiledges which King Henry had required in the behalfe of the Realme offering to graunt them more amplie then they had bene demaunded protesting if they would not obey to vse force But all these things were receiued and reiected according to the humors of men The gouernors made aunswere they could not resolue vntill the returne of their Ambassadours which they had sent vnto them At this time there was readie at sea as well in Spaine as in Italie about threescore gallies whereof Aluaro de Bassan Marques of Saint Croix was generall the which should saile towards Portugall as the occasion of the time should serue there was yet no generall named for this enterprise and euerie man greedilie expected who should be chosen for that few were thought fit for so great a burthen The Duke of Alua was generallie held most sufficient yet few beleeued that the King would willingly free him from prison the Marques of Mondegiar who was returned from the gouernment of Naples affected this charge many beleeued
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
persons in number aboue three hundred The fight had continued fiue howers when as the French seeing their generall yeelded their Admirall lost two others sunke and many broken with artillerie they began to flie but the Marques by reason of the night pursued them not fearing for that they were better sailers he should not boord them and being separated hee should be forced to diuide his armie the which he would not willingly doe besides he should be constrained to leaue the gallion Saint Mathew behinde him in danger being vnable to sayle without tackling sailes and anchors the which the enemie had burnt and throwen into the sea There was one thing woorthie the obseruation that being within this gallion a Priest called Iohn de Iaem Chaplein vnto the Marshall of the fielde a man which had seene the warres during the fight being vnder the lowest decke of the gallion when he saw so much wilde fire cast by the French hearing their shot and finding the hurt the cannon did hee died onely of feare and amasement hauing receiued no wound The Spaniards recouered one of their carauels with horse which had beene taken and had taken more of their French ships if they could haue manned them with mariners to conduct them but for this cause the Admirall which was cast away abandoned and some others torne and abandoned by the French were not kept for this consideration the Marques burnt two which had been abandoned and some others ranne vpon the Iland In this battell the French lost seuen or eight of their best ships and there died in the fight aboue two thousand of their men with many hurt as for the Spaniards there died about two hundred and aboue fiue hundred wounded The Portugals pertisants vnto Anthonie say that the French fought not at all for that the Captaines were corrupted by King Philip and this opinion encreased for that after Anthonie caused Edward d' Castro to lose his head in the Iland supposing him to be the meanes thereof but they were deceiued for although that Castro had promised many things vnto the Kings ministers when as they deliuered him out of prison whereunto hee was committed when they tooke him flying out of Portugall yet could he neuer effect any but the cause of his death was for certaine practises begun after this defeate and for that he had committed murther vpon the person of Anthony Baraccio a deere friend vnto the said Prior and one of them that had proclaimed him King Behold the issue of the sea fight at the Ilands which possibly is one of the greatest that euer happened within the bounds of the Ocean for although in the Low-Countries there hath beene like factions in these last warres yet were they not truely within the Ocean but in chanels and riuers neere vnto the Ilands of Holland and Zealand rather at land then at sea But the issue hereof besides the greatnes of it was of more importance then euer any for besides that not onely the Realme of Portugall by this victorie remained settled but also all Spaine if the contrarie had fallen out all had beene full of confusion for that the French pursuing their victorie might with these forces their good fortune the presence of Anthony and the inclination of the people renue the warre in a suspended kingdome more dangerous for the Spaniards then euer seeing the great number of vnexpert Portugals vnited with so many French souldiers might giue them great hope of happie successe Anthony who remained in a small barke light and well furnished the day before the battaile when as they had resolued to fight although his whole fortune depended in a manner on this day not finding himselfe secure in this place retired with two other small barkes to the Terceres where in the citie of Angra they had prepared for him a sumptuous entrie with arches images and all triumphes commonly vsed at the ioyfull comming of Princes But deuining it may be the vnhappie successe these preparations seemed out of season for hauing forborne to passe to a bridge of woode which they had built onely for his comming whereby hee shoulde enter the streets that were garnished he landed farre from thence with small companie and more sorrow then ioy There did he howerly receiue sundry newes of the armie and by little and little he vnderstoode the successe thereof with an incredible griefe the which encreased the more by the intelligence giuen him of the death of Strozzi and the Earle and now caring for his safetie wauering in his thoughts hee knewe not howe to behaue himselfe in so rough an accident for although he relied much in the inhabitants of the Ilands and in the strength thereof seeming to be safe in this place yet feared he least the Marques pursuing his victorie should assaile him and that his men hauing their harts vanquished with this losse shoulde not be able to make resistance and therefore he enclined rather to abandon then defend it He was some what assured of this feare vpon the arriuall of seuenteene French and English ships to that place of those that had fledde from the battaile to repaire their hurts receiued to cure their wounded men and to take in water with these men he thought himselfe able to defende it yet had they all but fewe soldiers hauing in the battaile succoured the Counte of Brisack and Strozzi with all their men yet there arriued still more for at that time there returned but eighteene French ships into Fraunce with Brisack and fiue other English Mounsieur de Landes captaine of nine ships flying from the battaile went to Fayale where his soldiers began to spoile although it were not his meaning but hauing auoided the sacke retired to Angra yet for this cause they woulde not suffer him to enter or else that Anthony doubted his safetie The Marques as it is saide the day being ended resoluing not to pursue the enimie he drew neere to the Iland of Saint Michael to repaire his shippes to looke to his hurt men and to water but the winde being contrary woulde not suffer him keeping him three daies off at sea the fourth he drew neere to Villa Franca where he landed his hurt men and prouided what he needed the inhabitants of all parts of the Ile hauing yeelded their obedience The first of August Frauncis de Bouadilla landed with fowre companies of soldiers in the middest whereof vpon the sea shoare hee put all the French prisoners leading them to the market place of Villa Franca vnto a scaffolde built the height of a man where with a loude voice was read the sentence of the Marques whereby shewing that the Catholique King hauing peace with the most Christian King against the saide peace publikely sworne an armie of many aduenturers was come out of Fraunce in fauour of Anthony Prior of Crato with an intent to take the Catholique Kings fleete which he expected from the Indies and the new founde lands and
in giuing but honourable in the expences of his house hee was a great dissembler of the disgraces of the Courte and cunning in their secret practises for so it behooued him to be to preuent such as were his competitors He was generally hated for that he treated proudlie with his inferiors and his equals hated his greatnes The ambition to purchase the Princes fauour a shelfe wherein proude mindes cast themselues was great in him for this respect it may be or for the preheminence and greatnes he pretended aboue all other officers the which made him odious hee was not much pleasing to Charles and lesse to Philip although from their birthes vntill their later daies he had serued them 60. yeeres But Princes loue them better whom they haue rewarded then such as haue serued them Hee was greatly enclined to warlike discipline wherein hee was so cunning as there was not any captaine of his nation in long time comparable vnto him and to conclude for his many yeeres and great experience there was not in a manner any one in the worlde but yeelded vnto him He was of great iudgement and dexteritie to encampe and make choice of a lodging so as alwaies with lesse forces then the enimies he kept them in awe he was so well experienced as he neuer refused battaile wheresoeuer he came Hee did willingly hazard his owne person but his soldiers with greater consideration trusting more to policie then fortune He was a rough inexorable executioner of the seuere lawes of war of whose pittifull crueltie depends the health of armies and the conseruation of States He was by nature enclined to vanquish without effusion of bloud and was imploied in warres conformable to his inclination for the greatest part of them being defensiue wherein a wise captaine should rather temporize and suffer the enimie to consume by the difficulties of warre in a strange countrey then to hazard an estate vpon so vnequall a game as is the winning of a battaile against him that hath but men to loose To this effect hee answered the councell of warre in the kingdome of Naples in the yeere 1558. when as the Frenchmen being expelled they woulde haue charged the enimie retiring hee saide hee woulde not hazarde the realme against a cassock of golde for such was then the habite of the Duke of Guise Lieutenant generall to Henry the seconde King of Fraunce yet some did blame him to be too warie in the execution of matters of importance in warre He serued his King in greater charges and with greater authority then euer any of their subiects and it may be there hath not beene in many ages a captaine which hath so long mannaged armes nor displaied his ensignes in so manie countries For he hath made warre in Italy Spaine and Fraunce in Hungarie Germanie Flaunders and Affrick although he were accustomed to say that he had done nothing seeng that he was neuer so happie as to see a Turkish armie But the last wars of Flaunders did somewhat obscure the glorie he had gotten for although as captaine he did warre valiantly yet he knew not as it hapned to him in other places howe to vse the victorie but arrogating too much vnto himselfe he caused a statue of brasse to be erected for him in the Cittadell of Antwerpe which the king caused afterwards to be beaten downe It appeeres that he coulde better carrie himselfe in aduersitie then prosperitie for in the one he had great force in the other too much conceite so as he reaped more commendations by afflictions then by victorie Hee shewed in dying the magnanimitie he had in his life and that which is of great moment hee shewed tokens of a religious Christian being happie that Frier Lewes of Granata that famous preacher whose diuine writings are pleasing to the worlde was present at his death They did substitute in his place Charles Borgia Duke of Gandia a man of greater vertue then experience The King had caused the bones of King Sebastian to be brought out of Affricke the which with King Henries that were at Almerin he woulde before his departure see solemnly interred in the church of Belem neere to the other Kings of Portugall and for that cause remained there three daies He caused also to be brought from diuers parts of the realme vnto the saide monasterie the bodies or at the least the ashes of his kinsfolkes the children and nephewes to King Emanuel who as a man may say dying resigned him the crowne that they might bee all kept togither There was made a most sumptuous obsequie with great shewes and all the religious persons in the name of Henry were present for the rest had beene performed before and in the funerall sermon Sebastians actes were likewise touched and Henry extremely commended the which was more pleasing being dead then the praises of Philip liuing and present wherein the Orator dilated much hauing first in particular set downe the branches of King Emanuel and brought the succession to the said Philip. I will not leaue heere to make mention as of a rare matter although it be somewhat from our purpose that in this yeere of our Lorde 1582. they did reckon ten daies lesse then in others for by the Popes decree all Christian princes obeying the Romish sea gaue commaundement to cut off ten daies in the moneth of October so as for the fift day they should generally write 15. the which was done to fitte the times to the meanes and principall aspects wherein the heauens were when as our Redeemer Iesus Christ suffered that they might celebrate Easter and the other feasts vpon their proper daies The which they had not formerly done for that the true course of the sunne which makes the yeere being certaine minuts of an hower lesse then the time which they vntill then had taken for a yeere it seemed that in the course of so manie yeeres so small a difference had mounted vnto ten daies so as by this equalitie it was made conformable to the time past The King beganne to vnburthen himselfe of the affaires of Portugall for to go into Castill and therefore the xxvj day of Ianuary in the yeere 1583. hauing assembled the estates of the realme they began in the pallace of Lisbone where after Alphonso de Castelbianco newly made Bishop of Algarues had briefly made the proposition shewing how much the King was grieued with the death of the Prince and the necessitie there was to sweare a newe Melchior d' Amaral one of the Deputies of the citie of Lisbone made answere in the behalfe of the whole realme shewing the desire and readines they had to performe this acte Whereupon the yoong Duke of Barcellos as Duke of Bragance beginning for his father with sword in hande did supplie the office of Constable kneeling downe before the King held foorth his hande to take the oath after the accustomed manner the which being likewise performed by all the rest this ceremonie
same reuenewes which they call the Knights of Christ bearing a red crosse and in the midst a white the which are bound to goe to the warre against infidels to whome Pope Alexander the sixth did since graunt libertie to marrie And their Kings hauing encreased their reuenewes a great part of their Nobilitie affected this order although they haue many times receiued men base and vnworthie A great part of this Realme was sometimes vnited to the crowne of Castill but in the yeere of our Lord one thousand one hundreth and tenne Alphons the sixth being King that part towards the north was separated giuing it in marriage for a certaine tribute to Henrie nephew to the Earle of Burgundie borne at Besanson marrying Therasie his bastard daughter for that comming out of Fraunce with Count Raimond of Tholouse his vncle who was after Earle of Gallicia he went to the warres which the Castillians had against the Moores that possessed Spaine And although some deriue the originall of this Count Henrie from Hungarie others from Aragon and from other places yet this is the most approoued opinion But it hapneth in the originall of Kings as of great riuers whose mouthes are knowne but not their springs Portugall was then obscure vntilled poore and reduced into streight limits yet Alphons Henry sonne vnto this first Earle did greatly augment it by his valiant exploits taking many places from the Moores by force against whom hauing woone a great victorie in a pitched battaile he was proclaimed King by his soldiors in a place called Campo d'Ourique and following his victorie woone Saint Arem and Lisbone remaining peaceable Lord of the Realme he had the title of King confirmed by Pope Alexander the fourth for a certaine small tribute Their first king which succeeded him named Alphonso the thirde did no lesse augment it by another meanes For hauing before his comming to the Crowne married with Matilda Countesse of Boloigne in Picardie being now in possession of the Realme he put her away of his owne proper motion and without cause taking to wife Beatrice bastard daughter to Alphonso the tenth King of Castill surnamed the wise to haue in dowrie with her as indeed he had the kingdome of Algarues So as their lymits being extended as they be at this present and the Moores subdued who kept them in martiall exercise they began since to make war with the Kings of Castill although their Dominions were alwaies greater then the Portugals the which they did so often and with such obstinacie that these nations all of one continent issued from one stocke of one language were enflamed one against the other with so mortall a hatred that it remaineth euen vntill this daie but more with the Portugals then the Spaniards And although these late warres did breede them more honor then profit yet were they not without some vtilitie for that this continuall exercise did maintaine them in discipline and keepe them from delights and idlenes capitall enimies to any State Since which time they haue not remained idle but inured vnto war wonne vnto themselues some honour vnder Iohn the first at the perswasion of Henry his sonne they laboured to take from the Moores certaine places in Affricke the which succeeded happily For in time they became Maisters in Mauritania Tingitana of the townes of Ceute Tanger and Arzilla and this is that auncient Zillia and other places which since they haue either lost or abandoned to the Moores as they did Arzilla being of great charge and small profit They onely maintained and defended the two first and built towards the West Mazagon being seated at the mouth of Hercules straites for holding those places the Moores should not harbor so neere vnto Spaine but they serue as a buckler vnto that Prouince By reason of these euents they extended their hopes yet further so as the Ilands of Madera not farre distant and the Terceres lying from Lishbone 850. miles in the fortie degree of latitude then vntilled and vninhabited were by them discouered and peopled And not yet content especially the said Henry who aspiring to higher matters though with lesse hope then the effect which followed they began sailing through the Ocean to coast Affricke searching new countries and nations So as running along that coast by the space of many yeeres they went on so far that comming to the other Hemisphere they discouered all Ethiopia And although Alphonso the fifth of that name and the twelfth King renewed the war against the Spaniard yet did they not discontinue their nauigation to their great good but in the end hauing made peace with the catholique King Ferdinand in the yeere of our Lord 1479. they had more leisure to think of their new conquest It is worth the obseruing that in capitulations then made it was particularly specified that the peace was concluded for a hundreth yeeres and one naming alwaies a certaine for an vncertaine But this prooued a prophesie for it continued iust a hundreth yeeres one for so much time passed from those wars vnto this which I vndertake to write if the words of the Treatie agree with the qualitie of the euent The Realme was greatly strengthened both with people and wealth and since encreased more when as Ferdinand and Isabell King and Queene of Castill in the yeere 1482. expelled the lewes out of their Dominions being then in great numbers they agreed with Iohn the second successor to Alphonso the fifth and obtained libertie paying eight duckats for euerie person to enter into his countrey vpon condition to depart at a certaine time prefixed and that the King should appoint them shipping to transport them So as vpon those conditions which were not fully obserued there entred about 20000. families and in euery one ten persons at the least the time of their departure expired and not performed many remained slaues others either vnwilling to depart or to loose their goods were baptized as the rest had done that remayned in Castill So as vnder the name of new Christians the greatest part remayned in Portugall vnknowen being vndistinguished and allyed for money with some Noblemen of the countrey they laboured to be admitted for citizens And although according vnto reason of State this manner of peopling were not good being of a nation different in blood and law the which in multiplying might cause an important diuision being many in number yet brought it great profit to the Crowne Since in the time of Emanuell the fourteenth King who began to raigne in the yeere 1495. they continued their new nauigation with greater feruencie and more quiet For the Castillians being growen mightier by meanes of the forces annexed to their Crowne and hauing by new alliances drawen vnto them the loue of the Portugales the one durst no more contend the other suffered them to liue in peace His predecessors hauing many yeeres coasted along Affricke they built a fort at Argin tooke the Islands of Hesperides which now are called
onely vnprofitable and ridiculous but did confirme the opinion of such as hold that Clergie men are as vncapable to gouerne in politique affaires as secular magistrates be in ecclesicall causes but God when he meaneth to punish taketh away mans vnderstanding and giueth him an ouerweening spirit euen so did he with the Portugals sending them chastisements for their offences committed in time of prosperitie or by his secret iudgements when as they thought themselues most secure their fall was the greater being in their greatest glorie For this nation the proudest in the world in this last warre of Affrick became slaues vnto the Arabians and Moores and being free in a short time by their warre against the Castillians were conquered by them whom they holde for their capitall enimies The afflictions of this Realme tooke their beginning in the twentieth yeere of the age of Sebastian who borne after the death of his father a little before the decease of his grandfather by entreaties and to the fatall ruine of his subiects strong of body and of a couragious minde full of ouerweening the which is a naturall vice in Portugals not content with his owne dominions resolued as it were by force to alter the quiet which his Realme had so long enioyed And although it seemed hard of execution being inuironed with the territories of Phillip of Austria King of Spaine his deare friend and kinsman more mightie than himselfe with whom he might not contend nor passe by land into any other countrey But as it is easie to perish for him that is desperate he let him vnderstande the excessiue desire he had to ruine himselfe all his He had first plotted a warre against the Indians which his kinsmen and subiects woulde not consent vnto But as there was some difficultie wholie to withdrawe the yoong Prince who had a warlike spirite from this enterprise such as were neere about him laboured to diuerte him by meanes of an other which they laide before him turning all his resolutions vpon Affrick to indomage the Moores which liue in that part which is called Mauritania Tingitana whereas the Portugals maintaine to their great charge vpon the borders of the Sea those three forenamed fortresses Ceute Tanger and Mazagon the buckler and key of Spaine by which the Moores haue heeretofore conquered it But this diuersion whereunto they perswaded the King was cause of great ruines proceeding from want of iudgement for although it were hard wholie to disswade him from the enterprise of the Indies and therefore conuenient to represent vnto him some other action yet shoulde they aduisedly haue foreseene not to drawe him from one mischiefe to thrust him into a greater But these men diuerted him from an enterprise farre off and of hard execution by representing vnto him a neerer easier to effect but more perillous And although they surmized he would not haue vndertaken it but with deliberation yet shoulde they not haue giuen too much confidence to his yoong age for the which the Iesuits were greatly blamed who hauing planted their religion in this Realme more then in any other of the worlde and with more zeale as enimies to the enimies of God they did encourage this yoong Prince whom Queene Katherine had giuen to them in charge to this enterprise with carefull instructions the which as then they might easily effect But finding the King soone after readie to execute it with rashnes they had no more the credite to diuert him being in disgrace So as this yoonge King bred vp amongst women religious persons delights and pleasures had a more bould and warlike spirite then if he had beene borne and nourished in the middest of armies He raised certaine troupes of footemen of his people of Lisbone whom he did inrowle and traine vp to the Pike and Harquebuse sending them once a weeke to the fielde to practise with intent to vse them when neede shoulde require The which he staied not long to effect For in the yeere 1574. he assembled against the will of the wisest certaine of his souldiers and with fower gallies and certaine ships and caruels passed into Affrick vnder colour to visite his Fortes although in his minde he had a desire to do more then he spake and as yoong and without experience thought to effect more then he did Being arriued in those countries he onely discouered finding his owne weakenesse but in light skirmishes which are made daily vpon those frontires with the Moores he shewed himselfe most willing to be in person vexing himselfe when he coulde not do as he desired but as a royall person it behooued him to containe himselfe within the tearmes of grauitie the which hee often exceeded Hee returned soone to Lisbone still deuising with himselfe some newe manner of warre and was so disquieted and carefull in his conceite that he neither saide nor did any thing that tended to other end deuising not as a king but as a priuate souldier to accustome his body to labour seeming vnto him by this meanes to make himselfe more strong and better able to endure the discommodities of warre This inclination wherein the heauens had some part was not gainsaid by any of his chiefe Counsell nor kinsmen of riper age who might haue disswaded him and drawn him to haue enioyed his Realme For although the action seemed rash yet ambition and feare of the Kings disgrace were of such force that the Nobles Magistrates and great persons who might haue forced him durst not open their mouthes nor oppose themselues against his will and if any one did mutter or speake to the contrary they were men of base qualitie and not admitted The Cardinall Henry his vnckle brother to Iohn the thirde his grand-father and Queene Katherine in whom flatterie shoulde finde no place had small credite with the King neither did they vse the authoritie they might haue had both fearing they shoulde not preuaile but loose with the Kings disgrace the small commandement was yet remaining in them so as by a fatall silence they suffered this yoong Prince to returne the second time into Affrick with apparant perill wherein Peter D'Alcasoua was a chiefe actor who hauing before time beene Secretarie of the Realme and Counsellour of the State greatly fauoured of King Iohn and Queene Katherine was now disgraced and put from his places when as the Cardinall Henry gaue the gouernment to King Sebastian the which hapned more by emulation and for that the Cardinall woulde settle a newe forme and plant newe officers in the managing of the affaires then for any faults that were imputed vnto him were they true or false But in the declining of fauorites it alwaies chanceth that faults serue rather to iustifie the ambition of an other then the offenders punishment And in these afflictions he had liued content for being wise and rich he had borne his aduersitie with a constant courage still expecting some meanes to returne into his place and dignitie the which fell out
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
particular or for want of iudgement did counsell him to warre it was concluded And although his owne weakenes was vnknowne vnto himselfe yet was he aduised by others to take a companion and to drawe the Catholique King into this action belieuing it were easily performed the State of Affrick being of greater importance for his kingdome which was adioining to it then for Portugall He desired greatly to marrie to haue issue although his Phisicions feared much he was vnable for generation and woulde willingly haue taken one of the daughters of the Catholique King whereof they had giuen him an assured hope for these two causes he desired to enter parle with him sending Peter D' Alcasoua as Embassadour vnto him with commandement to treat of three points that is for aide in the action of Affrick for the marriage of his daughter and for an enteruiew The Embassador departed and effected with great diligence the charge his maister had giuen him and hauing attended some time in this court he obtained all three the promise of marriage with one of his daughters when she shoulde come to yeeres for as yet they were too yoong That the Catholique King should goe to Guadalupa to meete with King Sebastian And as for succours he shoulde furnish men galleies to vndertake the enterprize of Alarache the which was spoken very coldly For the Catholique King knowing the Portugals to presume beyond their strength and holding it nothing safe to vndertake this action of Affrick without great forces he laboured what he could by letters to temper this heate disswading him with many reasons if not from the enterprize at the least not to go himselfe in person but this yoong Prince resting immooueable in his counsels and most obstinate in his opinion did still importune him by letters Phillip confirmed the succours of men and galleis so as the Turke should sende no men into Italy and that they shoulde vndertake Alarache in the yeere 1577. the whole being referred vnto their enteruiew at Guadalupa The Embassadour returnes home more fauoured then euer seeming to haue effected more then was thought or looked for In both Courts they make no great delaies but take their way for Guadalupa where both kings arriue with no great traines but with the chiefe Noblemen and Gentlemen of their Realmes There the Portugals who arriued last were receiued with great shewes of loue finding in all places of Castill where they passed the kings expresse commandement to receiue him of Portugall as his owne proper person so as at Badagios and in other places where he past the chiefe men went to meete him the prisons were opened and he conducted to his lodging vnder a cloth of estate The Catholique King tooke great pleasure to see yoong Sebastian whom he entertained as his host laying aside all tearms fitte for a greater King entreating each other equally in maiestie talking particularly of the warre being both profitable and honorable for the Realmes of Spaine The Catholique King did not disswade him yet he aduised him not to goe in person excusing himselfe that he could giue no great succour by reason of the continuall charge he was put to in Italy to resist the Turke but Sebastian being fully resolued to goe and admitting no excuse Phillip desirous to please him accorded with him in this sort That the generall opinion being and especially of the Duke of Alua that this action woulde require 15000. foote not Portugals but of other nations trained vp in warre deuided into Italians Germaines Spaniards that the king of Portugall should entertaine ten thousand and the Catholique King fiue thousand furnishing the enterprize with fiftie galleis alwaies prouided if the Turke sent not an armie into Italy and thatthey should goe vnto Allarache without entring into the maine land and this to be attempted in the yeere 1577 otherwise he should not be bound to any thing This treatie being ended euery one returned from whence he came In Portugall they made slowe preparatiues to warre and in the first beginning their money failed them for that the reuenewes of the Crowne are small and ill imploied The whole Realme vpon the maine land yeelding but a million and one hundreth thousand duckets a yeere The greatest part in customes the which be vnreasonable paying for all things twentie in the hundreth except fish which paieth the one halfe The new found lands as Saint Thomas Myna Brazil and the Indies yeeld but a million at the most which makes in all two millions and one hundreth thousand duckats which comes to the Crowne And although the Indies yeelde one other million of rent yet make they neither receipt nor paiment thereof being whollie reteined there for the entertaining of armies and garrisons Of these two millions and a hundreth thousand duckats there remaines nothing at the yeeres end in Court and if the King vse any liberalitie his charge exceeds the reuenewes for that they receiue without order and spende without measure For these Kings were neuer so happie as to be serued with men of iudgement and discretion who could order the reuenewes and expences but giuing the charge alwaies vnto Noblemen who were aduanced thereunto by fauour and not by merite an ordinarie custome in that countrey they studied to maintaine themselues in that throne by other meanes letting the reuenewes of the Crowne goe as it woulde So as what in wages of officers rents created recompence for life priuiledges which they call Giuros sold by him entertaining of Fortresses in Affrick preparation of nauies and expences of the Court all is spent They went therefore seeking heere and there for money forcing the people to contribute and the chiefe Citizens extraordinarily for although they gathered much by this meanes yet they did drawe vpon them the curses and exclamations of the people being most affectionate and obedient to their King but nothing preuailed against the burning desire of officers They exacted from the Clergie the thirde part of their reuenewes whereunto they would not yeeld yet seeing the Pope yeelded vnto the Kings affections they granted a hundreth and fiftie thousand duckats They granted vnto the new Christians paying two hundreth fiue twentie thousand duckats that which before had been for a time granted often since denied that for sinning against the Inquisition they shoulde not loose their goods as they did They imposed a newe custome vpon the salt and exacted money from the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of the Realme against their auncient customes many being by this meanes vniustly vexed Amongst other Noblemen the King sent to Frauncis de Melo Earle of Tentuguel who excusing himselfe did write vnto the King with greater libertie then possiblie reason woulde allowe For noting greatly the demand of money which they had made vnto him as vniust he said it agreed not with the vertues with which his highnes was indued neither did it seeme reasonable that they whose fathers had beene helpers to conquer the Realme shoulde be
great desire and affection his people of Lisbone beseecheth the Lorde to graunt him a long life for thereon depends all our good hoping that in time it may alter many things which nowe holdeth vs in carefull consideration The wounde of afflictions which this Realme hath suffered is yet so greene and so lamentable as we will not at this present make mention thereof It sufficeth they are such as the memorie will neuer be extinct whilest the worlde continueth and although we be bound to lay the fault vpon our owne offences yet may we attribute a parte to the negligence of the people and of such as at that time did gouerne the common wealth But being expedient not to heape error vpon error it seemes we ought with a liuely voice and due humilitie cry vnto your highnes that as a iust and holy king you woulde preuent the miseries that hang ouer vs It cannot enter into our thoughts to mooue you to marriage being no iudges of your conscience and disposition but we may well say if these two cōsiderations do allow it why do you suffer the delay of one day If you be resolued not to marry your Highnes ought with the like care to say vnto such as pretend to the succession that within a time prefixed they shoulde come to deliuer their reasons that if the successor be a naturall borne the people shal haue some breathing from the afflictions they suffer if he shall be a stranger it seemes conuenient they shoulde know it and haue leisure to aduise what to do For if our sinnes permit that the Lorde shall call away your Highnes being in the state we are now what shall become of vs being most apparant that all such as pretend to haue any title do consult arme plot and measure their forces while the people remaines doubtfull not knowing with reason vnto what part to incline Your Highnes dying in this time before the deciding of the cause we beseech you to cōsider the oppressions they shal suffer the spoilings the murthers the dishonoring of women and holy things and all other excesse which is commonly practised in such times the which may be wholie auoided by knowing who shall succeede vnto the crowne We do solicite your Highnes to sweare a Prince for it may be he that at this present hath interest to this Realme God may call him before your Highnes but the contrary hapning we may plainly knowe who shall succeed for heerein consistes the quiet of this Realme if you do it not willingly or that there be any let you ought to consent that the people declare one especially they of the citie of Lisbone vpon whom all Portugall dependes The holie Ghost who is the guide of kings inspire your Highnes that by his merits the anger of God may be pacified the which he powreth downe vpon vs for our offences and grant that we may amend our liues and preserue your Highnes in health for which all his people praie In this manner the officer of the Chamber spake in vaine but forasmuch as it seemed vnto the king ouer ruled in this respect by the diuine power that the remedie was not so easie nor the matter so soone decided as they supposed he made answere that it was a care grauen in his hart the which he woulde effect with all possible speede resoluing to haue regard vnto it But this succession gaue greater cause both to thinke talke secretlie and openlie in Castill then in anie other place for the King resoluing by all possible meanes to vnite Portugall with his other Kingdomes the Nobilitie did not willingly entertaine it but did seeme that the greatest from Charles the fifth forwards had not tasted the greatnes of the King lesse respecting them then had done the auncient Kings of Castill making them march in one degree of equall iustice with their inferiours The other Gentlemen and common people were nothing enclined to this vnion Saying that if this Realme were not separated from the rest of Spaine they shoulde haue no meanes to marrie their Kings daughters but into other prouinces which were dangerous both for that the women did not inherite and for the heresies wherewith the northren Regions bee at this present infected Manie and of all qualities who holding Portugall as the Sanctuarie of Castill were content with the separation remaining as an assured retreate for offenders It seemed to the King that hee shoulde not onely send a sufficient man thither to performe that office but also that it was necessarie that one of the chiefe of Spaine and best acquainted with the affaires of State shoulde goe to propound the cause of succession For this occasion they named as it is said Gasper Quiroga Cardinall and Archbishop of Toledo Ferdinand Aluares of Tolede Duke of Alua Anthony of Toledo Prior of the order of Saint Iohns master of the Kings Horse Frauncis Pacheco Cardinall of Burgos all principall personages Quiroga was thought verie fit by reason of his dignitie and wisedome togither with the experience he had gotten in the court of Rome hauing beene there long Auditor of the Rota The Duke of Alua for his authoritie experience and wisedome was thought the better for beginning to feare they should come to armes it seemed that he best could treate of the succession and withall sounde the Portugals forces and what succours they might drawe vnto them and afterwardes if neede required being a great captaine coulde by his aduise vndertake the warre with greater assurance Manie did approoue Anthony of Tolledo for besides the opinion they had of his wisedome he was accounted godly religious and otherwise vertuous the which they supposed woulde make him more pleasing vnto Henry But in the iudgement of the most aduised they preferred the Cardinall of Burgos for besides those other good parts which he enioied with the rest he was thought most able to treate the matter of State besides that being a priest and a Cardinall they shoulde seeme to sende vnto Henry a companion But notwithstanding there was not in Spaine any greater personages of like experience vnto these to mannage a matter of so great importance being the greatest that euer was presented vnto this crowne yet the preferred Peter Girone Duke of Ossuna and although his qualitie being great among the greatest of the Realme was woorthie of anie charge accompanied with manie vertues and some other particularities that were necessarie for the voiage notwithstanding some did attribute this election to the ordinarie diseases of the court and to the respects which Kings Councels doe commonly vse inferring thereby that therein he was extraordinarily fauoured by Peter Fassardo Marques de los Veles his kinsman at that time fauoured by the king Some said also and it may be not without grounde that it was not conuenient to sende anie personage into Portugall whose wisedome and iudgement were knowne vnto the worlde to the ende the Portugals shoulde not feare to treate freely with him of all
thought good to doe the like office to this citie hauing regard vnto the fidelitie whereof it hath alwaies made profession being the chiefe of these Realmes assuring you therwithall that he that shall inherite is no forreine king but a naturall borne as I haue saide before seeing that I am nephew and sonne to your naturall Princes issued of the same bloude and will be alwaies a father to euerie one of you as you shall finde when it shall please God But at this time I will entreate you that with your wisedome and great experience you woulde consider and note wherein I may honour and fauour you not onely to conserue your liberties and priuiledges both ingenerall and particular desiring that all other cities of the Realme shoulde vnderstande the same whereof I praie you to giue them notice being requisite that euerie one shoulde know the loue and affection which I beare to all and it shall be iust that in knowing it you conforme your selfe to that which is the will of God whose iudgements and determinations no man may resist but we ought to beleeue that what he determines is for the best So as trusting that both this citie and the rest when time shall require will doe that whereunto they are bound I haue nothing to say but that besides the feeling which I haue had of miseries past I haue beene in particular grieued for the losse of so great numbers of the Nobilitie and Commons of this Realme whereof that battaile was the cause And therefore I require you to aduise what I may do for those that remaine yet slaues and write vnto me for although I both haue and daily had that care I haue thought fit and couenient yet shall I be glad to vnderstande your aduise that all thinges conuenient might bee performed for their deliuerie and rest assured that whatsoeuer shall concerne you I will deale in it with the loue of a father as you shall know more particularlie by the effects when as occasion shall serue to make triall thereof the which you shall vnderstande by Christopher de Mora to whom I referre you The Catholique king sent this Letter by the saide Mora to be deliuered to the Magistrate of the Chamber who going for that intent presented it vnto them But being troubled they doubted that in receiuing thereof they shoulde offende against the Crowne so as refusing it they willed him to take it with him and deliuer it to the King the which Mora denying it remained still with them vnopened And least they shoulde be ignorant of the contents he drewe a copie out of his bosome and read it vnto them publikely dispersing sundrie copies throughout the citie The orignall was by the Vereadures carried to the king This did smally further Philips affaires but rather hinder him and was by the wisest both of Spaine and Portugall and also by some of the Kings Counsell helde as a remedie not fitting the Portugals humour who generally hating the Castillians being newe and rude in this matter it was not probable they shoulde yeelde vpon a simple Letter At this time there came intelligence that he who had the charge of Embassadour of Portugall was not onely liuing in Alcazerquiuir although sore hurt but that the Cheriffe had released him was comming with the bodie of King Sebastian to Ceuta and from thence within fewe daies being at Christmas in the yeere 1578 they vnderstoode he was arriued at Ciuill his comming was by the best acquainted with the affaires of Portugall held verie profitable for returning to his charge he seemed more sufficient then anie other to treate of so weightie a cause being indued besides his good iudgement with many other good parts necessarie for the mannaging of such a busines For besides that he had good experience of King Henrie his disposition and the humour of the Portugals he was verie pleasing vnto them it may be for that he was of the house of Sylua who being verie noble in Portugall passed into Castill during the controuersies betwixt king Iohn the first and the master of the Auis and being borne of a Portugall mother they helde him for their countreyman Besides that with the fauour of King Sebastian he was married in Portugall with Phillippa de Silua heire to Aluaro de Silua Earle of Portalegra Lord Steward of the Kings house and one of the principall Noblemen of the Realme But whilest that euerie man expected his present departure from Ciuill to Portugall the King called him to Court saying that he woulde first instruct him by mouth of his intentions and of the present occurrents In the meane time the Duke of Ossuna arriued within the Realme who seeming to be sent onely to performe complements with the king he was lodged and roially entertained at the charge of the Court where hauing deliuered his simple legation he went to Settuuall to visite Magdalen Girone his sister widow to George d' Alencastro Duke of Auero but hee returned sodainly making shewe he had newe commission to treate of the succession wherewith king Henrie was greatly discontented being vnwilling to haue the presence of a personage so qualified on the behalfe of Philip as it were a witnes of his actions the which did likewise displease all the Portugals the rather for that with Mora he began to solicite the King to declare Philip successour of the Realme shewing vnto him formerly by many reasons that his title was iust Nowe did King Henrie at the great intreatie of his subiects resolue to set the best order he could touching the question of succession and to content them For this cause remaining greatly in suspence hauing consulted the matter with fewe but of his greatest fauorites they concluded after much counsell infinite opinions and many disputations that it was not conuenient at that time to declare any one Prince The reason was that the neerest heire vnto the Realme they supposed to be the Catholique King whom they hated most and therefore sought by all meanes possible to flie his commād thinking nothing more fit to effect it then to protract the nomination of the Prince not meaning to specifie any For naming any other they shoulde procure his indignation against them and giue him occasion or his heires that should succeed him to attempt an action better grounded whereas by delaying it there should remaine vnto them at the least this weake hope that the Catholique king although yoonger yet mortall might die before olde King Henry which hapning they shoulde be freed from the Castillians and then shoulde succeed as it is said the Duke of Sauoy of whom they had no such feare but woulde more willingly yeeld to his subiection The King supposed that Katherine Dutches of Bragance preceaded all other pretendents except the Catholique King aided as it may be by his owne naturall inclination he conuerted all his thoughts in her fauour and if it were possible to giue her the crowne writing to the vniuersitie
of Coimbra many allegations in her behalfe To effect this it was thought necessarie to cite all the pretendents to appeere and produce their reasons the which was sodainly put in execution although in the iudgement of many it was thought out of season seeming more conuenient first to conclude it in parliament and then to effect it whereby it was apparant that the king did gouerne himselfe daily without order or any constant resolution what he woulde doe He did yet foresee that dying before Philip as it was likely the Realme should remaine confused and without a Gouernour which shoulde rule the Realme during the interreigne and that the Noblemen and Commons shoulde presently sweare obedience vnto them and after examine the reasons of the pretendents And although they feared that King Philip woulde be displeased yet they hoped to satisfie him promising it shoulde no way preiudice his title nor any thing delay it but onely to proceede with more grounde as it was conuenient giuing out that King Henrie woulde marrie and send to Rome for a dispensation being a Priest so as being capable of issue it was not expedient to sweare a Prince This matter being concluded amongst fewe and of the chiefest within fewe daies after least it should not seeme to be done in priuate but with a general consent and to choose gouernours Henrie called to Court the three estates of the Realme that is the Clergie the Nobilitie and the Deputies of the cities and townes the which assembled the first day of Aprill in the yeere 1579. in the great hall of the pallace at Lisbone the King hauing before him nine Herolds accompanied with the Duke of Bragance and many Noblemen he went in the scarlet habite of a Cardinall retaining nothing of a king but the scepter being mounted vpon a scaffold of wood prepared at the vpper end of the hal fower steps higher then the Deputies he seated himselfe in a chaire prepared for him couered with cloth of gold vnder a cloth of estate of the same Euerie one being in his ranke according to their ancient degrees Alphonso de Castelbianco a priest stood vp by the Kings commandement at one of the endes of the scaffold who with a long speech after he had a little renewed the sorrowes of their forepassed miseries and mittigated them with hope of a future good hee forgot not to praise the King with all vertues adding that being weake he did not spare his life imploying it to what was profitable to the Realme he compared him in his gouernment to the King of heauen in his loue iustice pitty and sacrificing himselfe for his people he commended this assembly resembling it to the Councels and saide it coulde not erre he concluded the king had there assembled them to propound what was conuenient for the Realme to prouide for it with their aduise The first acte being ended it was decreed that daily the Clergie the Nobilitie and the Deputies of the Realme shoulde assemble a part the which they effected where they found diuersitie of opinions and very different one from an other some of them friendes to the conclusion woulde sodainly haue it determined to whom the Crowne appertained without hearing the pretendents allegations others held the parties should be cited and that they shoulde proceed with deliberation to sentence after instruction of the processe many enclined to haue gouernours others would not heare speake of them euery one taking the course neuer to agree The king hearing of this hauing called the chiefe of his Councell one after one and acquainting them with his resolution he shewed vnto them that it was so conuenient for the libertie of the Realme so as all difficulties accorded they concluded not to make any election of a Prince at that instant but the pretendents being heard the King shoulde iudge to whom the Realme belonged that he might be declared after his death And although God did suffer it may be for a punishment to the Portugals that the King held this Councell for the best yet experience did shewe that it was the woorst course they coulde haue taken for to put the cause in processe did breed vaine hopes in some of the pretendents which after were causes of great ruine to the crowne And to the end the motion of the kings marriage shoulde seeme to be spoken with some grounde they named vnto the estates Edward de Castelbianco to goe to Rome and treate with the Pope for his dispensation they did choose fifteene gentlemen vpon the backe of the rowle whereof the King with his owne hand shoulde write fiue of them which so chosen shoulde gouerne the Realme vntill it were decided who shoulde be King There was also about this nomination of the Gouernours no small controuersie betwixt the King and his Councell of estates for that the king would absolutely name the fiue the Councell woulde not consent vnto it but they would do it And when they were agreed that the Councell should name fifteene and the King choose fiue of them there grew a newe discord among them for the Councell desired to know who should be these fiue some woulde not onely haue them published but also during the Kings life put in possession of the gouernment that after they might be the better obeied but notwithstanding they resolued to keepe it secret yet generally they coniectured and truely who they were They chose also fower and twentie Iudges vpon the backe of the rowle of these the King did name eleuen to iudge the cause of the succession if he shoulde not determine it before his death This was held and chiefly by the Castillians a fault of importance the king shewing himselfe to be ignorant that his roiall iurisdiction did end with his life and that this naming of Gouernours was to rule after his death whereof they had an example with them of Elizabeth Queene of Castill who in vaine prescribed lawes for the gouernment of the Realme after her decease In this sorte the States ended and soone after the Duke of Bragance with the Nobilitie and the Deputies of the Realme sware obedience to such as the king had chosen Gouernours and to him that shoulde be declared king It would not be forgotten the manner of oath the Prior tooke for being called before the king and commanded to sweare to obey the forme aforesaid he answered that he would first speake vnto him The King replied that there was no neede but that he shoulde sweare the which he refusing to doe the king grewe in choler whereupon casting his eies vpon his friendes that were about him as who shoulde say that he was forced to lay his handes vpon the Euangelist against the opinion of many who beleeued he shoulde rather commit some disorder then sweare The Rowle of the Gouernours with the nomination vpon the backe of it was locked vp in a coffer and deliuered to the keeping of the Magistrate of the Chamber of Lisbone the people
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
incensed against his Nephew he proceeded still against him So as within short time he pronounced a newe sentence not as a Iudge substitute by his holines but as an absolute king that it might not be subiect to any appeale supposing by this meanes seeing hee coulde not cast him into prison he shoulde banish him the Realme Wherin repeating his faults his absence his contumacy his disobedience with the premisses as was that he had made to drawe the Nobilitie people to follow his faction he depriued him of all his iurisdictions preheminences honors prerogatiues liberties graces and what other recompence soeuer he had from the kings his predecessors commaunding he shoulde be rased out of the bookes and not paide any thing not holding him for a naturall borne but a forraine to these Realmes He pronounced the like against such as shoulde aide him lodge him or any way treate with him He commaunded him to depart the Realme within fifteene daies saying it was expedient for the seruice of God of him and the peoples quiet But notwithstanding this sentence so seuere yet was it not of force to expell the Prior for being wel beloued of his friendes and common people he remained safely in secret And although for a shew onely he had retired him selfe into a monasterie of Castill yet he staied not long there onely to procure a certificate as he did of his departure whereof king Philip being aduertised he was aduised by some to take him prisoner both to be assured of him to please Henry but he thought it not then conuenient whereof after he repented him for Anthonie being returned againe into Portugall it was generally thought that he was ill affected and grieued with the king for the sentence he had pronounced against him Henry grew fearefull he shoulde attempt something against his person which so encreased that besides his ordinarie guard he raised certaine cōmpanies of souldiers for the assurance of himselfe and his Courte a thing at any time vnseene in that Realme At this time the Embassadors of Philip had made Henry capable of his title hauing laide before him both the good and euill which might ensue by giuing and taking from him the crowne who being enclined to do iustice mooued therewithall with the feare of war hauing wel considered the matter and laid aside all affection which made him inclinable to Katherine he resolued with all his power to giue it vnto Philip by the best meanes he coulde deuise And hauing imparted this his meaning to the Duke of Ossuna and Christopher de Mora he said he woulde ende the cause by way of composition betwixt Philip and the Realme without proceeding vnto sentence Prouided alwaies that the Catholique king shoulde graunt certaine priuileges not dispose the offices of gouernment and iustice but vnto the naturall Portugals and giue certaine graces exemptions to the generall good of the Realme Heere plainly appeered the errour of Henry who hauing cited all the pretendents and brought the matters to tearmes of iustice thought it after wards more conuenient to come to composition with Philip which shoulde haue beene formerly done if it were to be done These capitulations were sent vnto Philip to Madrill whom Henry entreated to keepe them secret as one that feared a contrarie disposition in the people And although hee were not ignorant howe hard the quiet execution of this his will woulde be by reason of the people and some Gentlemen of contrary faction yet commaunded he it shoulde be propounded to the states with all the mildenes it might be Some hold that father Leon Anriquez of the order of Iesuits the kings Confessour was rather the cause of this his vnexpected resolution then the practises of the Catholique kings ministers and that from him in whom the King did greatly trust proceeded his first inclination to the Dutchesse of Bragance but fearing the indignation of Philip he turned the thoughts of Henry to fauour his title By means whereof in October 1579. he called againe the deputies of the Cities and other estates vpon colour to impart vnto them a matter of importance Philip disallowed this resolution of Henry to assemble the States for being assured of the small affection the Portugals bare him he was most assured that assembling them togither they woulde neuer agree to yeelde him the Crowne and therefore hee aduised the King without any other assembly to declare a successor seeing in the last Estates held at Lisbone the whole Realme had giuen him full power the which if he would vse in this controuersie of the Realme and not make any new conuocation of Deputies he shoulde write to euery citie in particular his intention and aduise thinking it more easie to perswade them deuided then vnited in one body But Henry not daring effect it did sollicite the comming of the Deputies In Italy seeing the Catholique King a little before assemble so great forces they made diuers coniectures thereof they furnished the places of ordinarie suspect with newe garrisons some beleeued he that had entred league with the Cheriffe Mulei Hamet that both iointly togither would attempt Alger supposing the Moores had propounded this enterprise for feare of the Turkes and that the king with his aide woulde expell them from thence being so necre neighbour vnto Spaine The Pope vnderstanding the contrarietie in Portugall seeing the Catholique King prepare so greatly to armes he commaunded Philip Sega his Nuncio in Castillia to say vnto him that although he knewe these preparatiues of warres were against Infidels yet seeing the estate wherein Portugall stoode it might bee supposed it was intended against that Realme and being dangerous to come to armes and to stirre vppe the humours which cannot be setled at pleasure hee offred himselfe to be a mediatour betwixt him and Henry and to settle this busines peaceablie The king accepted the Popes offer in generall words entertaining his Nuncio with delaies without giuing him any resolute answer for that as it was saide many things did trouble his minde concerning this action He considered of the one side that being of good yeeres and his heires but yoong enioying except the state of Flaunders all his countries quietly it was not fitte to stirre vp humours in Spaine besides being fearefull to other nations they woulde not willingly see him augment his dominions he doubted that in busying himselfe in Portugall some woulde then take occasion to breede some alteration in his territories and therefore hee willingly gaue eare to any treatie of peace On the otherside he was not well assured of the Popes disposition seeming he shoulde preiudice his title to put it to compremise besides that to former presidents he woulde not willingly adde this of new to acknowledge the Apostolike seate as a iudge of Realmes He thought it lesse danger to attend the sentence of Henry then of any other for pronouncing it hauing not acknowledged him for iudge he was not bounde to obey if it were in
for by that meanes he should prouide for all things fit for the Realme giuing satisfaction to him that should haue the strongest pretention And although the matter were still in doubt yet the King had thought it the best course as they should well finde and if they would consider thereof being of such importance as his Highnes had thought it conuenient to impart it vnto them and with their counsell to determine what should be most necessarie for the seruice of God and the profit of the Realme That hee did recommend it vnto them that with quietnes of mindes and the onely respect of the diuine seruice and the common good they should treat and consider of this matter giuing the King present knowledge of their opinions This Ambassage did greatly alter the councell who expected an Ambassage from the King whether he would admit their demand concerning the election and seeing they treated with them of a matter halfe ended laying aside what the Ambassador had propounded they resolued to send backe to the King to expostulate an answere of their Ambassage which done they profited no more then before But to Phebus Moniz one of those which went who possibly spake without respect the King made answere with great patience That he should haue come accompanied with choler whereunto he replied that it was reasonable seeing his Highnes would giue the Realme vnto the Castillians Let him giue it to any Portugall whosoeuer they were all contented The day following the Bishop returned to the assembly and without any answer to the Deputies demaund hee saide vnto them in the Kings behalfe That his Highnes vnderstood that some of the Councell were mistaken supposing the accord whereof he had made mention should be betwixt the King of Castill the Duchesse of Bragance which being contrarie he thought it good to explaine his meaning that the accord which he laboured was betwixt the King of Castill and these Realmes and to let them vnderstande that sentence was readie to be giuen in fauour of the king of Castill and therefore they shoulde consider how much more fit it were to ende it by accorde then by sentence that they shoulde well consider of that which he had sent to be deliuered vnto them for being a matter so important to the Realme it was necessarie that all should be capable The Bishop being departed many of the Deputies grewe in choler some of them saying that the Bishop affected vnto Philip had forged this Embassage of himselfe and that it was not credible the King had deliuered it thus vnto him Many spoke freely and some sought to interrupt him before hee had ended seeming vnto them that the king not answering their demaunde made small account of this assemblie saying that he coulde be no iust iudge of this cause seeing he had declared his intention But weighing better if they should confesse that he had pronounced it as a king and iudge they were bound to obey they beganne to say he had made no declaration holding it in suspence They sent to the assemblie of the Clergie to let them vnderstand what had passed and to complaine and to the King likewise to demaund an answer who answering them that he woulde sende did presse them to rest satisfied and to commit the care of this resolution to some fewe of them whereunto the Deputies woulde not agree fearing least the authoritie of the pretendents might force them or corrupt the iudges protesting openly that they woulde neither conuent nor accord with the Castillians But King Henry seeing the Deputies obstinately forcing an aunswere to their demaund finding he coulde neither drawe them to composition nor to compremit the matter to fewe fearing if hee shoulde pronounce the sentence they woulde make some exception resolued to make short to graunt that which they demaunded For which cause he sent backe the Bishop the thirde time who with a more pleasing audience then before saide vnto them in the kings behalfe That seeing the accord he had propounded did not seeme pleasing vnto them as vnto his Highnes he woulde make no other motion but woulde admit them to pleade the interest they had in the Kings election giuing them notwithstanding but two daies libertie to produce their reasons The Deputies glad of this answere sent to kisse the Kings hand for this fauour crauing leaue to draw some auncient writings out of the Records requiring more libertie of time the which he would not graunt referring them to the Soueraigne magistrate for the writings The Portugals were puffed vp with hope by this permission to elect a King at their owne pleasure and therefore many more hastily then they should declared themselues protesting they would rather yeeld to any then to the Castillians And not onely the common people but many of the Nobilitie said the same whereof many shewing themselues too seditious were banished the assemblies whereas such as seconded the Kings will besides the promises of the Catholike Kings Agents were fauoured and rewarded by Henrie The pretendents to the succession were discontented with the Kings inclination some complayned others dissembled The Duke of Bragance relied greatly vpon his wiues Title The Bishop of Parma comming to the assembly of States complayned publikely of the King with graue wordes to whom Emanuell de Sosa made a wise answere assuring him of the Kings intent to doe iustice whilest the matter stoode vpon these termes the King grew so weake as he could not rise from his bed giuing signes of a short life yet did he not leaue to the hower of his death to prouide for all things necessarie At that time the Duke of Bragance thought it fit to send Katherine his wife to Almeryn to visite Henrie to perswade him to declare her heire to the Crowne the which he did with small content to Henrie to whom she spake freely This her comming the Archbishop of Euora vncle to the Duke hauing at the same time giuen a prebend of the same church of great reuenue to Paul Alphonso bred matter of iealousie in such as were affected to the Catholique King who not knowing the qualitie of this Doctor and the obedience wherewith they keepe the Kings commaundements charged him not to haue perfourmed such offices with the Dutchesse as were conformable to Henries commission who drawning neere vnto midnight passed into an other life a thing woorthie to be noted that he began to die in the beginning of the Ecclipse of the moone he died with the end thereof as if that the celestiall signe had wrought that effect in him being a King of a weake bodie which it doth not in stronger or at the least not so suddenly as Astrologians doe write neither is the hower to be neglected being the same wherein he was borne 68. yeeres before The religious which were at his death saide that he was alwaies talking About ten of the clocke hee demaunded howe the time went and being told he desired some rest and that they
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
land the places were thus deuided The Italians had three coronels Prosper Colonna Vincent Caraffa and Charles Spinelli hauing for Generall Peter de Medicy brother to Frauncis the great Duke of Tuscaine with whom was sent by the saide great Duke Lewes d'Ouara whom the King had made one of his Councellers at warre Sanches d'Auila was Lord Marshall of the field There was no commaunder of the horse the Captaines being all Noblemen and men of account they could not conueniently make them subiect to any one of their companions the place requiring a man of such qualitie as he coulde not be inferior to the Duke and superior to the saide Captaines although after in time of necessitie Ferrant of Tolledo sonne to the saide Duke was made their leader Count Ierome of Lodron commaunded the Germaines Frauncis d'Allaua had his ordinarie charge as Generall of the artillerie but although the preparations were brought to this point yet the King daily protested by his ministers to the Gouernors of the inconueniences of the warre if they deliuered not the realme in peace vnto him neither did they cease to treate many things in Portugall concerning an agreement for that the King rather desired to shew his forces then to vse them to conquer by gentlenes then by rigor he offred vnto the realme many graces and priuileges deliuering him peaceable possession and the Gouernors the greatest part whereof enclined thereunto had alreadie debated with the Agents of the Catholique King what conditions the King shoulde graunt vnto the realme the which were published by the Duke of Ossuna and signed with his hand offring that the King should graunt them in giuing him the crowne and they were these That the King should take a formall oath to obserue all the customes priuileges and liberties graunted to these realmes by the Kings his predecessors That when there shall be neede to assemble the States for the affaires of Portugall it shall be done within the realme and that in no other assemblie of States whatsoeuer They shall neither propound nor resolue vpon any matter concerning these realmes That appointing a Viceroy to gouerne or any persons with what title soeuer they shall be Portugals The like is to be vnderstood in sending of a Visitor or Iudge with this condition notwithstanding for as much as concernes the authoritie of the realmes and to do them a greater fauour his maiestie and his successors may send for Viceroy or Gouernour one of the bloud royall be he sonne vncle brother cosen or nephew to the King Besides that all superior officers or inferior belonging either to iustice or to the reuenewes of the crowne shall be distributed to Portugals and not to strangers That all offices which haue beene in the times of former kings both of the court and of the realme shall be bestowed vpon the naturall borne such as shall deserue the same when as his Maiestie or his successors shall enter into the realme And the like is to be vnderstood of all other dignities of what qualitie soeuer either at sea or lande which are at this present or shall be heereafter created The garrisons which shall remaine in any forts shall be Portugals Moreouer they saide that the traffike of the Indies Ethiopia and other places appertaining to these realmes being discouered or to discouer shall not be dismembred from the same neither shall there be any other alteration made then is at this present And that the officers and their ships which shall be emploied in these traffikes shall be Portugals and shall saile in the ships of Portugall That the golde and siluer which shall be coined in these realmes and their dependancies and all that which shall come from those prouinces shall be coined with the armes of Portugall without any other addition That all Bishopricks abbeies benefices and pensions shall be giuen to Portugals And the like is to be vnderstoode of the office of Inquisitor Maior of commaunderies of the offices of militarie orders of the Priorie of Crato and finally of all other ecclesiasticall liuings as hath beene formerly spoken of the temporall He did yeelde there shoulde be no thirds exacted of ecclesiasticall goods neither subsidies nor croysades and that for any of these causes they should procure no buls That they shoulde not giue either citie towne place iurisdiction nor roiall prerogatiue to other then to Portugals And falling any vacancie of the liuings of the crowne his Maiestie nor his successors should not reteine them for themselues but giue them to the kinseman of him that did enioy him or to other Portugals that shall deserue them Prouided alwaies that the Castillians and strangers which now liue in these realmes and haue beene seruitors to the Kings deceased shall not be excluded That in militarie orders nothing shal be altered of the state it now stands in That gentlemen shall be paide their pensions amounting to twelue yeeres and that his Maiestie and his successors shall yeerely entertaine into his seruice two hundreth Portugals to whom he shal giue that paie which they call Moradia and those which haue no title of gentlemen shall serue in the warres of the realme That when his Maiestie or his successors shall come into those realmes they shall not take vp their lodgings as they vse in Castill but shall obserue the custome of Portugall Moreouer his Maiestie in what place soeuer he shall be shall carrie with him a man of the Church a Superintendent of the reuenewes of the crowne a high Chauncellor and two Disambarcadours of the court which iointly shall be called the Councell of Portugall by whose meanes all matters shall be dispatched with them shall go to clarkes of the reuenewes and two of the chamber for all occasions incident two their charge all shall bee written in the Portugall toong and all shall be Portugals And when his Maiestie or his successors shall come into Portugall he shall retaine the saide Councell and officers which shall be vnited to such as shall treate of the gouernment of the realme That all correctors and other officers of iustice with all other inferior offices shall in the Kings absence be disposed of in the realme as they be at this present the like shall be vnderstood of the officers of purueyors auditors of the reckonings and others of the like qualitie concerning the reuenewes of the crowne He declared likewise that all causes and charges appertaining to iustice of what qualitie or summe soeuer should be definitiuely ended and executed in these realmes as they be at this present That his Maiestie and his successors shall entertaine a chappell in manner and forme as the kings of these realmes haue formerly done the which shall be resident at Lisbone that the diuine seruice may be continually celebrated with the accustomed ceremonies except the Kings person or in his absence the Viceroy or gouernour shall make his residence in some other part of the realme and woulde haue there the saide chappell remaine
That his Maiestie shall conformably admitte Portugals to the offices of his house according to the custome of Burgundie without any difference betwixt them the Castillians and his subiects of other nations That the Queene shall likewise entertaine into her seruice Noblemen and the chiefe Ladies of Portugall whom she shall fauour and recompence marrying them in Portugall or in Castill That for the good of the people and generally of these realmes the encrease of traffique and the good correspondencie with those of Castill his Maiestie shall be pleased to open the barred hauens on both parties that the marchandize may passe freely as it hath formerly done before the impositions of such customes as are nowe paide That he woulde commaund that all curtesies possible may be done for the bringing in corne into Castill for the prouision of these realmes That he shall commaund to be deliuered three hundred thousand duckats to be imploied for these causes following First sixescore thousand for the redemption of captiues at the disposition of the house of Pittie at Lisbone the one halfe to be imploied for the redeeming of poore gentlemen and the other halfe for ordinary persons all Portugals one hundreth and fiftie thousand to make the ground of a stocke to be lent without interest whereas neede shall require as it shall be disposed by the magistrate of the chamber of Lisbone and the thirtie thousand remaining to cure the infirmitie that now raignes which shall be distributed by order from the Archbishop and chamber of Lisbone They saide likewise that touching the prouision which shall be made for armies sent to the Indies the defence of the realme the punishment of pirats and defence of the frontiers of Affricke his Maiestie shall take such resolution as shall be conuenient within these realmes although it be with the helpe of his other countries and the great expence of his roiall treasure That in recompence of the loue which the naturall borne of these realmes do beare vnto their princes it would please the King to make his ordinarie abode there And although the gouernment of his other realmes which God hath subiected vnto him hinder the effect of this his desire notwithstanding he promiseth to make the most aboad he can in this realme and hauing no cause of hinderance he will leaue the Prince in his place that being brought vp amongst the Portugals he may knowe esteeme and cherish them as his Maiestie doth This role was published throughout all the principall cities of the realmes by the ministers of the Catholique king adding thereunto that if the Portugals desired more the king would grant them anything supposing that as Christians they would require nothing but iust and godly things inferring it may be secretly that they would not yeeld to points of the Inquisition and of iustice THE FIFTH BOOKE The Contents of the fifth Booke The fortification of the Driehead the confusion of matters within the Realme and of the Gouernours The Catholique Kings answere to the Ambassadours of Portugall his expedition in the Vniuersitie of Alcala touching his entrie into the Realme The contrarietie of opinions whether the King should march with his armie in person or not The recouerie of Eluas and of Olliuenza The creating of Antonie for King The Gouernours flight The embassage of the Duke of Bragance to King Philip and his answere The taking of Villauizosa The entrie of the Armie into Portugall The yeelding vp of Stremos THe Portugals did not generally accept the offers made by the Catholique King for although three of the Gouernours the Nobilitie and the Cleargie did in their harts like of them yet the thirde estate did blame them saying it was a rowle of deceipts and a discouerie of Philips small force And that such as had framed these cōditions were more inclined to their owne priuate profit then the good of the realme desiring still the cause might be ended by iustice The Gouernours therefore stil continue the preparation for defence and had secretly sent Francis Barretto into Fraunce to let the Christian King vnderstand their right and the wrong the Catholique King did them seeking to possesse the Realme by force and to demaund the succour of six thousand foote giuing commission to Barretto to goe from thence to Rome to beseech the Pope to mediate with the King a suspension of armes and to binde himselfe to iudgement They sent Elizee of Portugall into Germanie to satisfie the Emperor and other princes touching their defence with manie iustifications such force had their desire to choose a king after their owne humour that seeking succours from forreine princes it was the greatest care they vsed to shake off Philips yoke for that the which would seeme incredible euen in the life of king Henrie some gentlemen that were prisoners in Affrick had required aide of victuals and men from the Cheriffe although there were no likelihood he should graunt it seeing that besides the diuersitie of lawes there was no amitie nor other respect of state whatsoeuer could binde him vnto it For although the vnion of these Realmes vnder Philip discontented him yet being wise and of iudgement it was not likely he should discouer himselfe against so mightie a neighbour nor trust to the weake Portugals being offended and as a man may say hauing their hands yet died with their bloud They proceeded slowly with the preparation of their armies and fortifications both for want of money and for the often disagreement of their ministers And Lewes Caesar chiefe purueior enclined to Philip cared not greatly to hasten the affaires yea expresly sometimes with one let sometimes with an other delaied them so as they onely repaired the fortresses vpon the mouth of the riuer of Tagus and made new rampiers in places where they might descend putting greater garrisons in all places then was accustomed and throughout all the citie of Lisbone they began to build many platformes to plant artillerie for the defence of the sea making readie their gallions and such other ships as they had Yet Emanuel of Portugall either not well satisfied with these fortifications or being naturally enclined to seeme to haue more knowlegde then the rest resolued against the opinion of many well skilled in that acte to builde a forte in the midst of the riuer at the mouth thereof for that being large in that place ships should not passe but within shotte of their artillerie it seemed vnto him that he had good meanes to effect it for that neere to the place whereas it runs into the sea there riseth a small flat hill of Sand but little discouered of the waters the which they call Cabesasecca the which deuides the nauigation or entrie thereof into two parts the one lying betwixt the Iland and the left shoare hauing but a shallow chanell is not nauigable but at a full sea and with small vessels but the other which lies betwixt the Iland and the banks on the right hand is likewise deuided into
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
obserued not the custome of all nations which is that when an armie enters master of the field they commaund all places which cannot defend themselues to yeeld to the end they may auoide the violent course of warre to slaie all such as make resistance whereas not vsing of this rigour they shall be forced to bring the cannon before euerie cottage and make the warre perpetuall yet this letter neuer induced them to set a resolute order to any towne They were wel resolued to giue the realme to the Catholique King yet coulde they not conclude for the effecting thereof They feared in a manner to be stoned if they discouered this intention and therefore they woulde not hazard themselues loosing daily all hope to bring the matter to that passe that the King should acknowledge the crowne from them as they pretended Besides the King being wholie of an other minde they knew not what they could do if they had would The people who flatter themselues much and endure little supposed the defence was easie euery man shewed himselfe a lion for the defence of his owne house yet woulde they not go armed to fielde Those of the house of Portugall and the other aduersaries to the Catholique King were in no lesse confusion then the Gouenours for hauing beene obstinate in their opinions they found they had mooued the indignation of Philip against them without profite And although they were more confident in the defence then they ought to be yet did they feare the kings protestations by the which demaunding possession of the realme he threatned such as should withstand him The Agents of the Catholique King laboured to suborne those as they had the rest yet it preuailed not for being in the beginning obstinate confident in the midst and distrustfull in the end to obtaine pardone they woulde neuer agree yet left they not to hope that the more they proceeded in the defence the better they shoulde let the King vnderstand their forces and might compound with greater aduantage And for that the warres continued the Gouernors supposed that in this forte the King shoulde acknowledge the crowne from them But he being well enfourmed of all these matters and hauing treated with many frontier townes of Portugall to yeeld hauing imparted vnto them the equitie of his cause by ample allegations entreating them not to be the cause of the ruine of the realme hauing caused Peter de Velasco soueraigne iudge of Badagios to write to some particulars he first attempted Eluas as neerest vnto him The Citizens fearing they should either in deed or worde be first set vpon attended daily this Embassage They were deuided as it often happens into two contrarie factions the one enclined to the obedience of Philip the other vnder colour of liberty fidelity to the Gouernors would by no meanes receiue him for their Lorde The heades of the first partie were George Passano and Iohn Rodrigo Passano brothers followed by many Citizens whom they call Esquires On the other side was Anthony de Melo captaine of the citie whose opinion was followed by the greatest part of the Nobilitie but in farre lesse nnmber then the rest whereas euery man spake his minde openly Diego de Meneses had beene there a little before to fortifie the citie and seeking to enlarge their ditches he found it a matter of some difficultie so as he departed without effecting any thing saying that he would returne with armes which the Gouernours shoulde sende whereof failing the Citizens knew well they coulde not resist True it is that the King had long before prepared their mindes by the meanes of Frier Vincent of Fonseca a preaching Frier kinseman to the Passani a noble familie and well followed enclined from the beginning with al their followers to the deuotion of Philip he vsed all meanes to drawe the rest vnto him yet the day of Th' annunciation of the blessed Virgin this religious man preaching labouring to perswade the people to the Kings obedience they did not willingly heare him So as now when he sought to take possession thereof hauing dispatched many messengers to the Bishop and Anthony de Melo in the ende he sent Peter de Velasco with letters to the principall of the towne and procuration to receiue this citie to his obedience Being arriued at Eluas the xvij of Iune with eighteene men vnarmed although the gates were shut by reason of the infection yet was he presently let in by the iudge of the towne and going to the church of pittie he caused the Bishop the Magistrate of the chamber and the Nobilitie to be assembled to whom he deliuered the letters which the King had written containing in substance that the matter being apparant that the succession of the realme belonged vnto him he had sent the saide Peter with procuration to receiue it vnto his obedience if they woulde yeeld it adding vnto his kinde wordes many offers And although the Bishop Melo and the Magistrate of the chamber receiued these letters and read them yet the Nobilitie did not accept them so easilie for that some feared to commit an errour and others debating who shoulde receiue them they did not accept them yet they agreed that Frier Anthony de la Cerda Prior of the Monasterie of Saint Dominick shoulde receiue the letters for the Nobilitie and bring them to the cathedrall church so as all letters being read Melo and the Magistrate who preceaded the rest demaunded eight daies libertie to consult and to giue their answere intending in the meane time to sende to the Gouernours the which Velasco would not graunt but saide vnto them that he woulde presently returne wishing them to aduise and not to cause the armie which his Maiestie had so neere to march to their losse yet they sent Gaspar de Britto to Stremos where Diego de Meneses generall of that prouince remained to aduertise him of what had passed remaining thus in suspence vntill the next day When as the Passani enformed of Melos intention contrarie to their will and authoritie resolued to kill him if he refused to yeeld and had alreadie incensed the people against him causing many to giue out publikely that they woulde be Castillians Velasco went after to the castell to perswade Melo in priuate to make the matter more easie and not to shewe himselfe without reason enimie to the King But it was in vaine for he saide that he had receiued this place from the Gouernors and that he woulde not yeelde it to any man without their commandement If it were adiudged to appertaine vnto the King he woulde presently yeelde Standing vpon these tearmes there appeared by the commandement of Velasco about the towne ditches neere sixe hundreth horse armed who seased vpon the wels and conduits of water which serued the inhabitants for their watering putting the Portugals into great feare so as nowe the women began to crie and to curse Melo and all those that woulde not yeeld obedience vnto the king Some
yoong men induced by Philips partisans seeing into what danger the captaine had brought the safety of the citie resolued to kill him and going to the Cathedrall church where they were all assembled they attended at the doore to effect it when he shoulde come foorth but discoursing with the Bishop who perswaded him ignorant of the danger wherein he was a nephew of his named likewise Anthony de Melo vnderstanding in the castell in what danger his grandfather was came foorth with certaine Harguebusiers to his succour and came in time before he was yet issued out of the church Old Anthony seeing this yoong man enter armed was amazed not knowing the cause but vnderstanding it afterwards and withall the hazard whereunto he was brought by such as did watch for him he sent to Velasco that he shoulde compound with the magistrate that as for him he was content to yeeld obedience to king Philip by meanes whereof all was pacified for the Magistrate had alreadie yeelded At the taking of their oathes the Citizens ill aduised required Velasco that in the Kings name hee shoulde graunt vnto the citie many priuileges and exemptions of customes and impostes throughout the realme with many other things of importance And hee liberall of that which he could not giue graunted all that was demaunded but these promises were not obserued by the King saying as it was true indeed that Velasco had exceeded his commission These things ended they were aduertised that Gaspar de Britto whom the citie had sent to Diego de Meneses was returning with three hundred men horse and foote ill appointed to guard this place to whom they presently sent word that he should turne back and hauing discouered the Castillian horse of himselfe he fled with al his troupes The day following the vsuall ceremonies perfourmed in proclaiming a newe King Velasco returned hauing staied there but three daies The principall of Eluas went after to Badagios to kisse the Kings hande of whom they had better reception then he is accustomed to giue vnto such people sending Garcia de Cardenas nephewe to the Duke of Alua to the citie to thanke the Citizens for their good wils Eluas being reduced Peter Velasco for the same intent tooke his way towards Oliuenza whither he had before written labouring that Nugno Aluares sonne to the Earle of Tentuguell being captaine of the place shoulde depart the which he easily obtained for the Citizens who had their affections enclined to the Catholique King were resolued to yeelde vnto him hauing entreated the King that it woulde please him not to make this place the first whereof he shoulde take possession seeing that he had woone their harts desiring rather to deserue lesse by obtaining late then to be accused of inconstancie by hastening much For this cause they not onelie thrust foorth Nugno Aluarez but also Diego de Sosa a knight of the order of Saint Iohn who had succeeded in his place The newes of all this and of the successe of Eluas came presently to Saint Arem whereas Anthony remained labouring with the people to be proclaimed King He was alwaies impatient in his pretention notwithstanding the persecutions that king Henry inflicted vpon him labouring still by all meanes possible to aspire to the crowne intreating threatning and suborning He treated by his Agents with the Catholique King in diuers manners Sometimes he seemed iealous of the Duke of Bragance and would ioine with the King against him Sometimes he treated to resigne his interest to Philip if he would make him a good composition carrying himselfe as his hopes increased or diminished So as it hapned vnto such as mannaged his affaires with the king when they found themselues to haue concluded a matter they found their authoritie reuoked The King in the end caused Christopher de Mora to talke with him and to make offer of all he should demaund for the great loue he bare vnto him without naming either summe or any thing else whatsoeuer but for that he hated Mora he would not by his meanes treate of this matter of agreement Notwithstanding when as the Duke of Ossuna deliuered vnto the Gouernors a copie of the kings minde as is before set downe he deliuered vnto Anthony a letter from the King wherein he did write vnto him That forasmuch as he was not ignorant many yeeres since of the good will he had alwaies borne him the which he had laboured to make shewe of in all occasions he was assured he woulde not prooue ingrate but shew himselfe answerable vnto that whereunto reason did binde him the neerenes of bloud that was betwixt them He said moreouer that hauing vnderstoode the right and apparant title hee had to the realmes of Portugall he entreated him most hartely to shew himselfe one of the first to receiue and to sweare him for his King and naturall Lord as God had appointed that by his example the rest might do that whereunto they were bounde assuring him that for his owne particular he woulde holde that regard of him to recompence and grace him as was conuenient referring the rest to that which the Duke of Ossuna and Mora shoulde deliuer vnto him But this letter wrought no effect for he then saide vnto the Duke that he woulde neuer agree making answere vnto the King that he could not satisfie him for that being vnder the peoples protection he must gouerne himselfe according to their mindes and therefore vnderstanding that the Castillians began to enter within the realm he made haste to dispatch this busines with the people the Deputies and making his profite of the possession the King tooke seeing the necessitie they had of a commaunder to make resistance he induced them to choose him Protector or King And although this resolution was made by the most seditious and arrogant who by force seeke to execute what they please who woulde needes proclaime him King yet were there many that woulde not yeeld vnto it many helde it more fit to call him Protector The Prior himselfe was not well resolued of this point suffring himselfe to be ledde as in all other his actions by the greatest number and his most fauorites who to induce the people to performe this acte in despight of some that woulde not assent being then in question to builde a fortresse a little without Saint Arem where there standes a small chappell dedicated to the inuocation of the Apostles they spred foorth a rumour that Anthony shoulde go thither the 19. of Iune to lay the first stone and that all the people shoulde worke in that fortification labouring in such an assembly to effect their desires But there needed no great arte for the people desirous of innouation ranne all thither that morning The Bishop of Parma being innocent and he of Guarda ofset purpose came to the chappell where masse was celebrated in the midst whereof they exhorted the assemblie to defence and with darke speeches to make an election
and baggage by reason wherof he carried with him aboue sixe thousand chariots and fiue and twenty peeces of canon and passing vnder the walles of Eluas there was nothing to be done being already yeelded In three daies march he came to Stremos receiuing all places thereabouts to obedience which might be amazed at the bruite of the armie But for that he laboured to assure the kings person aboue all being entred two daies iourney within the countrey he sent backe Peter Manrique de Padilla a knight of account and well experienced in the warre with two companies of men at armes and Peter d' Ayala Marshall of the field an old soldier with a regiment of Spaniards who lodged at Eluas assuring those quarters from all reuolutions that might be feared within Stremos was captaine Iohn Dazeuedo Admirall of the realme yoong and hardie who put himselfe in defence and was cause that the armie made longer stay there then at any other lodging He whē as the gouernors were yet at Almeryn had obtained by the meanes of Martin Gonzales de Camera somewhat allyed vnto him the Captainship of that place and after being written vnto by Anthonie as king he would not obey him saying that he did not acknowledge any other superiour then the gouernours to whom he had giuen his oath At this time the Duke being arriued he sent vnto him Peter de Luna a captaine of horse with letters from the king requiring his obedience but he refused to yeeld it for the same reasons he had giuen to Anthonie he trusted more to the defence of the place then the force thereof would warrant and the rather for the diligence of Diego de Meneses who when he had speech of the fortifying of Eluas seeing it could not be effected he had retired himselfe to Stremos thinking there to make head and hauing animated the people to defende it he promised them great succours so as all agreeing with the Admirall they were resolute to fight At this time Christopher de Mora who went from Settuual to Badagios passing through the citie he persuaded the Landini chiefe citizens to yeeld obedience vnto the king and for that it was easie for them to turne the people as they pleased they induced them soone to obey So as the Admirall remained alone in his obstinacie within the castell with some of his friends and familiars and although they laboured to bring him to obedience yet would he not yeeld excusing himselfe that it appeered not vnto him that the king was heire to the realme neither did the comming of the Prior Ferrant de Toledo sonne to the Duke of Alua preuaile who discouering him to be a man of small consideration made offer vnto him that the Duke should be bound that whensoeuer it should appeere that the realme appertained not vnto Philip hee should restore him to the place he now enioyed neither preuailed it to let him vnderstand that he could not resist making answere obstinately that when he had done his last endeuour hee woulde abandon the place with the losse of his life seeming that he coulde not otherwise saue his honour But this resolution lasted little for discouering from the castell that the Duke had already planted his artillerie that those of the citie which had promised to defend him were all against him and that some Castillian soldiers were entred the citie being all amazed he resolued to retire himselfe and leaue the fortresse wanting courage to defend it but in issuing foorth the Castillians tooke him prisoner and led him to the Duke who was in doubt whether he should punish him corporally to terrifie the rest by his first example but he pardoned him and sent him prisoner to Villauizosa writing vnto the king that he tooke pitie of him being yoong and without experience When the magistrate and the citizens had taken their oath and done the accustomed ceremonies to obey the king the armie marched towardes Mounte maior by the way of Arraialos leauing Euora on the left hande a citie of importance but then greatly afflicted with the plague But to the ende it shoulde not remaine behinde vnyeelded the Duke sent thither Henry de Guzman with twentie horse to take possession thereof both for that hee knewe it was vnpeopled as also vnderstanding that Diego de Castro who was Captaine there and the principalles of the citie who were retired to their gardens thereabouts desired to yeeld their obedience by reason whereof the saide captaine and Magistrate being assembled togither a mile from the citie vnder the Portall of our Ladies church there Constantine de Brito a Notarie receiued a publike acte whereby they deliuered the citie to his Maiesties obedience the which they all assigned The Duke beeing now arriued in fower daies march at Mount Maior the new where hauing found no resistance although the Counte Vimioso had beene there a little before taking possession thereof he came within fower daies to Settuual without wasting the countrey as is vsuall in warre for he neither slewe nor spoiled the inhabitants of townes nor suffered them to tread downe the corne which was then ripe It seemed that Diego de Meneses had not shewed the fruits that were expected of his valour within that prouince nor of that heate wherewith hee vndertooke the defence hauing for that cause refused the place of Viceroy of the Indies which is the greatest charge giuen in that realme For hauing first from the Gouernours and after from the Prior receiued charge to defend the saide prouince hee not onely neglected the defence but also retired himselfe He excused this weake resistance saying that the Gouernors had deceiued him in not furnishing him with armes and other things necessarie and that hauing no other armes with the people but wordes he was enforced to retire himselfe But whatsoeuer the cause was all that part beyond the riuer of Tagus which is the most fertile within the realme remained disarmed and in pray to the enimie Anthonie being returned from Settuuall to Lisbone he was receiued with great ioy being the first time he had entred as king And although the infection with the diuision of the Nobilitie had much vnpeopled it yet made they deuises with great shewes of ioy I will not leaue to report as a thing remarkable that there was a cōpany of poore women which sell thinges in the market place the which marching in order like soldiers with their armes she which was their captaine in steade of a Halberd carried a fire panne seeming to remember the auncient battaile of Algibarotta betwixt the Castillians and the Portugals where these being conquerors they vaunted that a Bakers wife had slaine seauen Castillians with a fire panne The Gouernors who were fledde from Settuuall to a castell whereas Ambrose de Aguiar was then captaine imbarqued secretly and their feare was so great as not holding themselues assured in any part of the realme they were conducted to Ayamont a citie belonging to the
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
at the rising of the sunne hauing discouered the truth this feare vanquished yet did there a greater seaze vpon euery mans minde for vnderstanding in trutth the Duke to be strong they began to heare newes of the soldiers insolencies which disbanded and drewe daily neerer giuing no small astonishment to see certaine Negro slaues returne wounded who hauing rashly passed with their ensignes to the other banke were ill entreated by some horse and shot of the enimie They founde that Anthony made no preparation neither had he any forces to resist gouerning himselfe with small iudgement and therefore he neither knew how to fight nor which way to flie neither yet how to yeelde himselfe He was daily in counsell with his men but as he suffred himselfe to be gouerned by many whose authorities were equall and their opinions diuers so did he neuer resolue any good thing as it hapneth often in the like accidents They then propunded more plainly then before the treatie of an accorde and although some who before did seeme brauest shewed themselues nowe more milde yet for that the Counte of Vimioso being a yoong man perswaded to warre no man durst contradict him He affected the charge of generall but hee knewe not by what meanes to displace Diegode Meneses who enioied it so as contrarying one an other they prouided slowly for things necessarie whereunto was a great hinderance the credite that Anthony gaue to Edward de Castro a rich yoong man to whom he was bounde hauing furnished him with money who desirous to shew himselfe valiant obtained a commission to assemble what horse he coulde vnder his cornet imploying him in matters of greater authoritie then was fitte for his base qualitie His holines hauing intelligence of the refusall the Catholique king had made touching his entermedling in the cause doubted least the wars of Portugall shoulde alter the quiet of all Christendome In the beginning hee had shewed himselfe newter to both Kings seeming to bee doubtfull in himselfe to whether part hee should encline whether vnto Henry that woulde giue the crowne vnto the Dutchesse of Bragance or to Philip that sought it for himselfe for by reason of state he should not be wel pleased to see these two realmes vnited whereby the Catholique king shoulde become more mightie and superior in forces to all other princes yet did he not willingly seeme to oppose against him fearing to displease a Prince that had deserued well of him But vnderstanding that the two kings were agreed and that Henry had changed his minde and laboured to giue the realme to Philip he then made it manifest that he would fauour Anthony and the Portugals the which was more apparant after the death of King Henry when as hee laboured to haue the cause of succession ended by sentence But Philip in regard of the qualitie of the iudges detested this decision But his Embassadors hauing laboured in vaine in this respect Philip growing iealous and not greatly trusting the Popes good meaning woulde not put to compremise that which he seemed to holde certaine His holines determined to sende a Cardinall into Spaine expresly to treat vpon this busines Therefore before the Prior was proclaimed king he dispatched Cardinal Alexander Riario his Legat vnto Philip with commission to disswade the king from armes and from thence to passe into Portugall to fauour this busines with commission likewise to offer himselfe for iudge in the Popes behalfe vnto all the pretendents There were diuers discourses in Spaine vpon the comming of this Legat and although the Castillians feared not his sentence seeming hee shoulde not offer himselfe alone to determine so great a matter in Spaine if he had no meaning to pronounce it in fauour of Philip yet they helde it not conuenient to put the matter into his hands being of opinion that the Pope vnder colour to perfourme the office of a generall father came as it is saide to make himselfe absolute iudge of realmes that besides the extraordinarie authoritie he shoulde draw vnto the Aposto like sea hee shoulde binde the king vnto his house by giuing him a kingdome For this cause the King hauing intelligence of his departure from Rome desirous to take possession of the realme before his arriuall hee commaunded throughout all Spaine where he shoulde passe that he shoulde be entertained and receiued with all possible pompe whereof the Legat taking no heede he accepted of all their kindnes For this cause and for that the voiage was long he spent much time being arriued at Badagios he found that the affaires had taken an other forme then when he was at Rome For he vnderstood that Anthony was King and that Philips forces were entred Portugall being then at the wals of Settuuall Finding therefore the matter he had to treate of thus altred he sent to his Holines for new direction being in the meane time lodged without the citie in a cōuent of religious men which go barefoote he sent Traian Mario Apostolike Prothonotarie to visite the King who receiuing him with great fauor said vnto him that he was right sorie that by reason of his sicknes he could not go to meete the Legat as he was bounde but when God should giue him health he woulde then performe it supposing by this meanes to entertaine him the longer that the Cardinall desirous to enter with accustomed ceremouies would attend his recouerie and in the meane time the Duke of Alua should take possession of the realme But the Legat seeing his indisposition finding how much delay did import craued leaue to come to him by night priuately in coach the which with great difficultie was graunted comming vnto him one night accompanied with the Duke of Ossuna and the Earle of Chinchion But this audience was of small effect for the Legat by the alteration of the affaires being irresolute and the Catholique King most resolute to proceede in this enterterprise trusting more to armes then wordes there was no agreement the king saying that the matter was so farre aduaunced as it coulde admit no treating The Cardianll was lodged in the house of the Marquesse D'Oignion not being receiued at his entrie with the ceremonies accustomed for a Cardinall Legat Hee remained a while without doing any thing but to effect the Popes cōmission he would passe into Portugall The King who desired to stay him entertained him all he could supposing that the Legat being within Lisbone it woulde be scandalous to goe against him with an armie Moreouer he had no great confidence in the Legat but held him as suspect for that being before in Portugall with Cardinall Alexandryn he had entred a strict league of amitie with the Duke of Bragance one of the pretendents who had lodged and entertained him So as to delay his departure the King being now recouered of his sicknes sent vnto him that he woulde not haue him take his iourney before he had made his entrie with the ceremonies accustomed to a
of the greatest part hee retired himselfe by the counsell of Sforce Orsin to Alcantara a mile neerer the citie putting a riuer betwixt him and the enimie the which hauing the banks high on that part serued him as a fortresse And although this retraite was rather caused by the inconsideratenes wherewith hee went to Belem then by any newe feare of the enimie yet was it iudicious the place being strong by nature and fitte for Anthonies intent who desired not to retire farre from the citie to keepe it in obedience The Catholique King who remained still at Badagios vnderstanding the Dukes proceedings being on the one side glad and on the otherside troubled to see this people attende the scourge of warre besides that he did incense them against him whom he desired much to entertaine as friendes for this cause hee sought all meanes possible as he had euer done to winne them with the least shewe of hostilitie and therefore he thought it good to graunt a generall pardon to all portugals that had beene imploied in this action against him seeking by clemencie to make his enimies friends the which he published being thus in effect That being informed that in the rebellion that Anthony had raised vsurping tirannouslie the name of a king of Portugall many of them which had followed his faction had done it being oppressed forced and deceiued and that seeking to prouide that such should not be punished with offenders and that the people more easie to be abused then the rest shoulde not bee chasticed with that rigour which lawe doth inflict his pleasure was That al such as leauing the part of the said Anthony and embracing his as of their King and naturall Lorde shoulde come vnto his seruice within a certaine time prefixed to that effect by the Duke of Alua shoulde bee freely pardoned all their faultes whereinto they had runne by taking and following the voice of the saide Anthony He excepted notwithstanding the Prior and all the seductors and authors of the rebellions committed at Saint Arem Lisbone and Settuual and all such as had receiued from him any charges offices and recompences as King and such as did serue him actually all which shoulde not enioy the saide pardon And although this latter point was not approoued of all men yet the rest seemed to be done with great iudgement for thereby they did not onely discouer the kings good meaning but also his great wisedome vsing clemencie to pardon and martiall policie to procure the Portugals to abandon the Prior But this writing although there were many copies dispersed thorough the realme wrought small profite to Philip and little hurt to Anthonie for neither did any greater number follow the Catholique Kings partie then before neither did any man for feare abandon Anthonies his fauorites only were a little greeued who examining the forme thereof seemed to be excluded as those that had receiued offices honors and recompences so as they did see their offences become daily more capitall togither with the example they had seene by the death of Diego de Meneses Many noted in this pardon that besides it was written in the Portugall toong it beganne with the name of King onely with the ordinarie titles of kings of Portugall and being accustomed to signe with these words IO EL REY now he only subscribed REY pointed with fiue points called by the Portugals the fiue wounds after the same manner the kings of Portugall had vsed so as some said that in matters of small importance he began to shewe himselfe a Portugall The Duke of Alua marched easilie towards Oeiras to the rocke of Saint Iulian seeming so to doe expressely that the Portugals might haue leisure to resolue being incamped so farre from the fortresse as their cannon coulde not annoy them he presently sent a trumpet to demaund obedience But being the very same whom he had formerly sent to the castell of Cascayes at whom they had shot he durst not approch neere to the forte fearing they woulde doe the like so as onely hauing made a signe a farre off without attending any answere he returned saying that they woulde not yeelde For this cause hauing planted their artillerie on Saint Lawrence day they began their batterie with tenne cannons encreasing the number vnto fower and twentie The galleies coulde not approch for that the forte stoode vpon the sea and therefore the Portugall gallions drawing neere to the lande did greatly indomage the Castillians with their culuerings and other great artillery but hauing planted three cannons in the night they forced the gallions with a fewe volleies to retire themselues higher vnto Saint Katherines shoare Anthony was now at Alcantara vpon a hill being but fiue miles distant from the fortresse where he remained an vnprofitable behoulder of this battery wheron it seemed his whole fortune depended for that the whole realme of Portugall had no other forte but this that coulde make any resistance so as loosing it his greatest hope was vanished but for that he might well succour it by sea both with men and munition as he did he hoped well it shoulde not be forced or at the least holde out vntill that either winter shoulde draw on or some prince taking pittie of his miserie should relieue his estate before the winning thereof without the which he did see himselfe helpelesse and the rather for that he had intelligence that the citie of Lisbone being grieued with the great insolencies committed daily by the soldiers disbanded from the enimies campe thereabouts were resolued not to giue him entrance within the citie vnlesse he returned with victory or had compounded with the enimie fearing otherwise the Duke woulde be displeased and being weake giue it in spoile vnto the soldiers Some were of opinion that the Prior in whom desire of rule was of more force then religion or other respect whatsoeuer should finding al hopes lost procure that this citie which is in a manner the whole realme shoulde remaine as a praie to the auarice and voluptuousnes of the Castillians desiring that the Portugals being forced to yeelde the realme shoulde be so entreated by the Catholique Kings men as there might remaine no hope of peace or amitie to the end that if heereafter he shoulde pretende the recouerie of the realme the people in regard of the hatred that such losses engender togither with their naturall inclination shoulde remaine still enimie and be more willing to yeeld to his deuotion For this cause he sought dailie with all his force to reforme the magistrate of the chamber and to place men in whom he had great affiance as well to haue entire into the citie if need were as also to dispose of things at his pleasure But forasmuch as the greatest part of those magistrates were mechanicke men in whom feare hath a more interest then the respect of a King he did not greatly trust them When he was proclaimed king there followed him a gentleman of Castill who
serued him as the first vallet of his chamber seeing the warres to grow betwixt the Portugals and Castillians hee craued and obtained leaue to retire himselfe into his countrey This man going to King Philip made offer for the great familiaritie hee had with Anthony to treate an accord with him being in great hope to effect it so as hee was sent to the Duke of Alua with order that he shoulde suffer him to goe and conferre with the Prior For the effecting heereof hee came to Lisbone at such time as the Duke tooke Cascayes and hauing discoursed at large with the Prior he enformed him of the Kings forces and aduised him to compound The Prior gaue eare to this treatie and Diego de Carcamo for so this gentleman was called did greatly presse him to giue him a letter of credite vnto the king with commission what he had in charge That such as had beene their mediators were the cause that he had not serued him as he desired but as much as the time woulde suffer him he was ready to do it That if it pleased him to sende any person as Embassador to the three Estates that hee woulde perswade them to yeelde him obedience and that he woulde say he had defended them so much as possiblie hee coulde but his succours from Fraunce and other Prouinces failing he could no longer resist and therefore he aduised them to agree In this letter which he had written to the King he did signe Rey. But repenting him afterwarde he did write it againe at the perswasion of Carcamo and subscribed it Anthony hauing receiued the letter his charge he seemed to haue ended his busines but being with the King he was returned backe to Anthony with a resolutiō which he supposed should haue succeeded but with certaine letters to the Duke of Alua whereby he was commanded to gouerne himselfe as the estate of the affaires shoulde require Hee arriued at such time as the Duke was emcamped before the rocke of Saint Iulian. Now did there lighten foorth a great hope of peace the which soone after vanished away For although the Duke seemed to be well pleased with this practise yet may we well say it did not content him seeming happely vnto him that being so farre aduanced hee shoulde haue more honour to conquer it by armes then by agreement For which cause he returned Carcamo to the Prior with this aunswer That he was glad of his resolution to serue his maiestie but there was no reason to sende an Embassador to the States seeing hee helde not the crowne from them but from the people to whom if hee pleased hee woulde sende and grant the like graces vnto them which other cities had receiued by their yeelding These words were deliuered him in writing but by mouth the Duke added that he had beene an affectionate seruant to Lewes his father and that as he had now taken armes to depriue him of the realme so woulde he take them in hande againe to conquer him an other so as it were not any of those that belonged to his King and Lord. Carcamo was not yet without hope to conclude the busines but nowe the Spanish grauitie hindred the effect of so great importance For the Duke supposed he shoulde not giue vnto Anthony any greater title then Seignory and hee that was mounted from Excellencie to Highnes held himselfe contemned and so much disdained it that both for the cold answere for this respect he was assured the Duke would haue no agreement He therefore made answer by mouth that seeing he woulde not agree if his people would obey him and be conformable to his will they would either vanquish or all die in that place Vpon this answere the Duke repenting his manner of writing or it may bee fearing the King woulde not like of this kind of proceeding sent backe Carcamo to say vnto Anthony that he should send one by sea or by land and he woulde sende another and that in the midde way they should conclude all thinges But the Prior who had small confidence in the Duke being greatly mooued made no other replie but that Kings were Kings and captaines captaines but that victories came from the hands of God so as the Duke dispairing of the matter deuised for his discharge that Anthony had sent him worde that he desired to conferre with him by night in a barke and the better to induce men to beleeue it he went publikely to lie aboord in a galley and being disimbarked in the morning he seemed discontented that Anthony had not come to conference with him it may be with this apparant iustification to haue more cause to make warre and not to compounde and so to lay the faulte vpon Anthony but in truth they did neuer treat of any meeting Now had they battered the fort of S. Iulian touching the which there was before growen some difficultie amongst the Inginers vpon what part they shoulde make their batterie Some woulde haue him plant their cannon at the strongest place but most conuenient to giue an assault Others would batter the weakest part although most vneasie to enter for that their defences being taken away their place of armes shoulde remaine open to their artillerie wherevpon the Duke to quite this controuersie went himselfe allowing the opinion of Fratino and of Philip Terzi where it hapned that hauing battered neere two whole daies and made but a small breach the soldiers fainting although they had good meanes to entrench themselues their armie neere at hand and the hauen alwaies open Tristan vaz de Vega captaine thereof was in doubte whether hee shoulde yeelde or defende it so long as hee coulde but enclining more to yeeld then to fight he was in suspence what meanes to vse to treate secretly not trusting greatly to some that were about him But fortune made the way for him for at that time a poore woman neere to Oeiras hauing her daughter and sonne in lawe within the forte amazed with the noise of the artillerie came crying to the Duke beseeching him to giue her leaue to drawe her sonne in lawe and her daughter out of the forte which he battred The old Duke who sought such occasions embraced this and saide vnto the woman that she should go in safetie causing the cannon to cease in the meane time He willed her to say vnto the captine of the forte that he had done ill to make so small account of the Dukes message and that he shoulde not wilfully cast himselfe away she deliuered her ambassage being returned with her daughter to the campe she said vnto the Duke on the behalfe of Tristan Vaz that he defended himselfe hauing not as yet seene any messenger from him whom he woulde haue heard and entertained and that if he woulde assure him vpon his word he woulde go to the campe to speake with him The Duke sent this woman presently backe to the captaine saying vnto him that
that Anthony had made so great a stay betwixte Sacabem and Saint Arem so as he might easily haue suppressed him and this was the issue of the battaile of Alcantara In the meane while the ships which came from the Indies were disanchored from the Ilands of Terceraes sailed towards Portugall ill aduertised of what had passed And for as much as they had former intelligence of their arriuall at the Ilands it was thought good they shoulde staie there being valued at three millions many doubted they should be lost For on the one side the Duke had sent some ships armed to seeke them on the other side the Prior had sent certaine carauels with aduise to go to Penichie a place vpon the coast twentie miles from Lisbone towardes the north and therefore it was feared they coulde not escape the one or the other either to be taken by the kings ships or to follow the direction of Anthony and in what sort soeuer they shoulde bee lost For falling into the hands of the Castillians they shoulde bee spoiled and going to Penichie the Prior woulde become master of priuate mens goods and imploy them for the necessitie of the warres And some ignorant of Anthonies commission supposed they should either go to Fraunce or England and that the Prior finding the weakenes of his force by the euent of this battaile shoulde followe them notwithstanding fortune did so second the beginning that two daies after the battaile they appeered in safetie without any intelligence of these troubles within the realme or any encounter vpon the way such was the Catholique kings good fortune that they arriued safe at Lisbone where he receiued what appertained to the crowne and deliuered to euery priuate man his owne All this while they were in suspence at Badagios expecting whether this enterprise shoulde be ended by armes or agreement and so doubtfull euery man was for that there appeared on either side great difficultie the rather for that the Duke could not stay long from entertaining one of these parties so different But the xxvj day of August in the morning there arriued a Spanish merchant without any letters from the Duke who brought newes of the successe This man following the Spanish campe when he saw the Priors armie in route presently passed the riuer in a small barke and tooke poste before him that brought aduertisement from the Duke who presenting himselfe vnto the King deliuered what hee had seene whereof he receiued such contentment as may bee supposed This newes was presently spred throughout all the court with the incredible ioy of all men and to the great honour of the Duke and with such kinde of commendations as the force of truth doth vsually draw vpon the sodaine euen from the mouth of enimies But the confirmation of these newes staying longer then was conuenient for the neerenes of the place and the importance of the action they began to doubt with so great perturbation that there was no lesse shewe of their generall desire then of their receiued content The which was after confirmed by the Arriuall of Ferrant de Toledo the Dukes nephew whom he had dispatched with a priuate relation not onely of the successe but also of the reasons which had induced them to fight and his direction giuen vnto the captaine the which was generally approoued of all with no small honour to the Duke saying that he had now satisfied mens mindes who held him alwaies to be too cunning and watchfull to assure his enterprise by aduantages of lodging and stratagems auoiding the battaile by all meanes possible without great aduantage following amongst the auncient Captaines Fabius Maximus and amongst the later Prosper Colonna the elder whom he sought to imitate And this cōmendation of the Dukes proceeded from his two resolutions The one to passe from Settuual to Cascaies and the other to fight at Alcantara seeing in the first he alone did contradict his counsell and contested both against sea and enimie And in the second he resolued to fight dangerously with the Portugals within their owne trenches hauing a well peopled citie behinde them and against the aduise of some of the principall of the armie They did highly commend him to haue kept Lisbone from spoile and at one instant to play the conqueror and protector attributing vnto him for this respect more honour then to haue retired his armie from the wals of Rome in the yeere 1557. hauing not fought there vnto the gates of the citie as he did at Lisbone But these reasons with other were dashed by a sodaine cruell accident which so troubled the mindes of all men as there was no time to thinke nor speake of any thing the which was that vpon the newes of this happie successe the king fell most dangerously sicke the which so encreased being brought to that point that there was small hope of his life and euen his Phisitions themselues almost gaue him ouer vpon this subiect was all their discourses for the king dying it was supposed that the protector of Christendome shoulde faile and if there were any doubt that his death in time might cause any alteration it was then most of all to be feared for besides that the affaires of Flaunders were troublesome the humors of the French ill disposed Portugall yet in ballance to incline to a contrarie partie and the rest of Spaine was not well assured The opinions were diuers what course to take but all was confused and all full of feare The Duke of Alua whose opinion many of the better sort did follow thought it fit that the king dying the Queene with the prince should presently enter into Portugall and goe to Lisbone thinking by this meanes with the forces he had there readie not onely to keepe the realme in peace but also to assure the other estates of Spaine He now laboured to stablish the affaires for depriuing from the office of the magistrate of the chamber of Lisbone such as had been installed by the Prior he restored such as had bin before calling them vnto him he said it was now time that in the cities behalfe they should sweare obedience vnto the king and proclaime his name in the publique streetes with accustomed ceremonie whereunto they willingly offered themselues demaunding leaue for this cause to make publique feastes and that withall the priuileges of the citie might be confirmed Whereunto he answered that there was then no neede but they should reserue it vntill the prince were there present to be sworne whome his Maiestie had resolued to send vnto the citie to be bred vp amongst them and as for their priuileges they were very small that he woulde graunt them more amplie So as the eleuenth day of September in the Dukes lodging they tooke their oath in forme and the next day after dinner the magistrate going thorough the citie with the standard and their Attaballes they proclaimed the name of King Phil p after the accustomed manner yet with
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
betwixt the armie and the enimie not able to discerne which should be the contrarie parties for it seemed the soldiers neither could nor ought to make themselues parties against their Commaunder neither ought the enimies to be admitted against a conquering armie And if so strange a thing shoulde happen it might likewise be supposed that the enimie shoulde be declared faithfull and the armie which had conquered the realme pronounced rebels They inquired wherein the Duke had offended if as a Gouernour or as a captaine for saide they he coulde not erre as a gouernour hauing neuer resolued the smallest matter without the kings aduise besides that hee had not gouerned aboue two moneths If as a captaine what had lawes to doe with armes and the militarie stile with the ciuill But for all this discourse they did not greatly weigh the Dukes offences supposing in the ende that his greatnes and innocencie shoulde protect him Their owne priuate interest did most of all trouble them loosing all hope of recompence for their former seruices saying that for this last and notable exploite they did rather see punishment prepared then rewards They imagined the king did not well conceiue howe they had conquered him a kingdome in eight and fiftie daies after the same manner to followe their owne phrase as the kingdome of heauen is woone that is to say in fasting with bread and water and without taking from any man the which they said being furnished with nothing but bisket hauing no libertie to spoile any towne They could not endure to be slaundered by idle courtiers and bachelors for so the soldiers in hate and derision of lawes iustice terme the greatest Doctors of the Councell saying that those men remained at Badagios to drinke coole in sommer with ice scorning those that suffered these dangers They remembred their labours suffred at sea comming out of Italy the famine of Spaine the intolerable heate of Estremadura the plague of Portugall the seuere discipline of the Duke and the gibbets set vp for euery small disorder they added that to the end the victorie gotten at Porto shoulde not remaine vnpunished the King to speake plainly had sent another Doctor against Sanches d'Auila and that part of the army which had made an ende and assured him the realme And it was true that Frauncis Tedaldo Auditour of the seate of iustice which remaines in Gallicia was sent thither who did strictly informe of all manner of excesse imputed either to Autla or his soldiers They saide it was apparant in this courte howe much letters were preferred to armes seeing that all such as followed this action vnarmed had wrested from the soldiers the fruites of their labours and the price of their blouds seeing the King had satisfied their desires in the greatest measures they coulde wish not giuing any recompence vnto others the which they prooued in setting downe particularly the offices the King had giuen to the Duke of Ossuna and other Embassadors for they did assure and it is true that the greatest in Spaine aspire to no other charge then to be Viceroy of Naples whereunto they labour to come by many degrees and that the King had reserued this for the Duke of Ossuna As for other Noblemen and Gentlemen they sought for nothing more then to be of the Kings chamber which place he had giuen to Christopher de Mora togither with the best offices of the realme of Portugall They touched likewise the Lawyers which be of the Kings Councell saying they coulde not aspire higher then to be of the Councell of the Chamber the which is a tribunall of three or fower Doctors elected who determine with the King of pardons and other matters of grace and that this office which Rodorique Vasques enioied he had likewise giuen to Lewes de Molina preferring him before his auncients These speeches with others more inconsiderate were spred amongst the soldiers with a soldier-like libertie And although they erred not much from the truth yet men without passion iudged that this aggrauating was vniust and slaunderous being no great maruaile that a King who ought to haue regarde to infinite matters the which passed the consideration of priuate men shoulde giue eare to the many complaints that were made against this armie and force them to their purgation and that it was not likely that Villafagna or Tedaldo had power to iudge in this case but onely to examine the truth That whereas Villafagna had in a manner carried his commission secrete it was an argument of the Kings respect and modestie who sought to proceede with the more mildenes and without any blemish to the Duke or his captaines although it was not reasonable the soldiers shoulde treade this realme vnder their feete as the rebellious countrey of Flaunders or of a King that were an enimie or giue vnto the Portugals the odious titles of rebels and disloyal although they deserued well the name of troublesome and transported subiects vneasie to yeeld vnto this new yoke This mutinie continued long but for as much as the Commissioners did not punish any nor as I beleeue made any triall their humours grewe more calme wherein the wisedome of Villafagna preuailed much togither with the small subiect they founde when as they came to examine the truth of such complaints as had beene made to the King Now the day appointed by the King for the assemblie of the States grew neere but before he shoulde goe to Tomar the place appointed for their assemblie he ment to visite Katherine Duchesse of Bragance who for that cause was come from Villauizosa to Villa Boim whither he went to her accompanied with all the chiefe of his Courte and hauing staied with her halfe a day in great familiaritie he returned to Eluas and from thence departed towards Tomar He did not there so sodainly dispose of rewards as the Portugals expected hauing as it is saide before made a Councell for Portugall of speciall men to whom he referred all matters not admitting the Castilliās to entermeddle with any cause of the realme no man was heard nor dispatched as he pleased for the King made no haste his ministers were confounded in the quantitie qualitie of their requests not able to resolue in so intricate a busines so as the care of expedition was delaied by reason whereof the Portugals saide that although the King in his letters words and habite seemed curteous altogither enclined to Portugall had promised great rewards yet in particular whether it were his fault or any others they yet see no recompence To the Duke of Bragāce who aspired to great matters as then they gaue nothing being excessiue in his demaunds he had onely confirmation to be Constable of the realme they gaue him the order of the golden fleece and the King fauoured him extraordinarily taking him to masse with him behinde the curtaine without any other recompence which might either breede him profite or power Before
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
the which is the more woorthie of admiration for that the diligence the King vsed to finde him out was admirable for all Iudges all Captaines and all soldiers were carefully imploied And although they had sometimes aduertisement of the place of his aboad and did follow him in a manner by his foote yet could they neuer finde him Ierom Mendosa with the help of Emanuel of Portugal in whom it was likelie that Anthony should trust treating an agreement laboured much to speake with him But although some of his familiar friends came vnto him somtimes at Alanquer somtimes at Vidigueira with hope they should meete yet did hee neuer discouer himselfe vnto them but the sleight execution of the punishment inflicted vpon such as did cōceale him did greatly preiudice their search for many therby did boldly receiue him The Duke of Alua his officers in the end of Lent had like to haue surprised him in Lisbon where the Duke had so many spies corrupted so many of his friends that it seemed vndoubtedly he shoulde fall into his hands but when as with greatest heate he shoulde haue pursued it he grew cold For vnderstanding that the king helde some regard of Mendoza his practise who with doubtfull hopes gaue him to vnderstande that the weeke before Easter the Prior woulde cast himselfe at the Kings feete hee feared to amaze him but the said Mendoza laboured in vaine For as it happens to him that feares Anthony distrusting all men performed nothing of what he promised neither went hee to any person where hee had appointed so as there neither followed the effect that was expected but they lost all hope to do any good Yet was it apparant that the affection which this nation bare vnto him was of great force for although that fortune preuailed in many more then faith yet in his afflictions and hauing so great an imposition laide vpon his person there was neuer any one amongst so many in whom he must of necessitie trust that euer sought to betraie him for hope of recompence although some laboured to saue themselues amongst which was Edward de Castro And therefore hee went safely throughout all the portes of the sea he was at Lisbone as it is saide where the king himselfe remained not finding meanes to imbarke some of his men being surprised hee went to Settuual where by the helpe of a woman hee hired a Flemmish ship for sixe hundreth crownes with the helpe of a religious man of the order of Saint Frauncis and with tenne of his faithfullest seruants he imbarked by night and so went to Caleis where wee may truely saie that God had not yet withdrawne his hand frō punishing of this nation and that this was as a scourge for by reason of the affection this people bare vnto him it was necessarie to keepe this people in awe with garrisons to the great hurt and ruine of the subiects Now was come the yeare 1581. at what time they expected the ships from the Indies Brasil Saint Thomas Cape Vert all other new found landes the which staied somewhat long and put them in some feare being looked for with greater desire then euer anie were Some feared they woulde not come others wished they shoulde come many helde opinion they shoulde willingly staie at the Terceres and from thence go into England the which if they should not willingly yeeld vnto touching vnaduisedly at the Ilands they shoulde bee forced thereunto by the Ilanders They were wished for both for the riches they carried as to vnderstande by them howe the people of those parts were addicted to the obedience of the Catholique king whereof many doubted Such as helde opinion they shoulde safely arriue at Lisbone saide that the Indies and other prouinces coulde not maintaine themselues without Spaine and shoulde bee forced to yeelde obedience to whomsoeuer that shoulde be Lorde of Portugall that they needed not feare the Terceres although they had spoiled some ships which they had taken or that had anchored there of their owne free will yet now the Castillian armie being master at sea vpon their discouerie they woulde conduct them to Lisbone not suffring them to approch the lande Such as supposed they woulde not come saide that the saide ships were departed from Lisbone in the yeere 1580. after King Henries death during the Gouernours raigne and that Lewes de Taide Earle of Toghia Viceroy of the Indies knowing there was a space-gouernement with likelihood of warre woulde attende the euent without yeelding obedience to any for that he woulde then shew it when he had intelligence who were king to be the more acceptable vnto him or hoping that amidst these tumults there woulde something remaine to his share But if notwithstanding he were resolued to sende them hee woulde appoint a captaine of his owne making and conformeable to his owne will with commission to obey him to whom he were most affected and that it were hard to iudge whom he wished most to be King besides that Emanuel de Melo being captaine Generall of the same armie when it departed from Portugall being a deuoted seruant to the Prior and had made shew to be of his faction it was likely that if he returned had any intelligēce of the Priors being in England the which he might easily vnderstande at the Ilands that he woulde saile thither the which if he coulde not performe in the same ships hee woulde then lande in the Ilands and after saile in other boats whether hee pleased with hope of gaine and bootie And although it were true that the Indians coulde not maintaine themselues yet Fraunce and England might more aboundanly furnish them and with greater profite then Portugall But for as much as in discoursing of matters which depends vpon an others will we cannot cōsider al causes of their errors a matter priuate to the diuine knowledge it fell out in an other manner then had beene discoursed For the Earle Viceroy of the Indies hauing by the same ships receiued letters from the Catholique King who enformed him of the equitie of his cause and of his intent with large promises whereunto and by the meanes of others which he receiued from the gouernors he gaue credite preferring them before such as he had receiued from Anthonie resolued to obey the King so as the ships departed and being arriued neere to the Terceres they came sailing without euer discouering of the kings armie for that Baldes discouraged with his ill successe at the Ilands could find no fit place to encounter thē True it is that after they had remained a whole day amongst those Ilands they were encountred by a French Barke sent from the Terceres who entreated the Captaines to go to Angra The Portugals demaunded the state of the realme that they might thereby know howe to gouerne themselues but for that there were none but marriners they coulde neither perswade dissemble nor speake the truth but contradicting themselues those of the fleete
coulde drawe nothing from them but was confused For one saide that the Catholique king was master of the realme an other but onely of a great parte of it and that Anthony with a great armie made warre to expel him whereby there grew some controuersie in the fleete For some especially such as had little to loose woulde lande in the Iland others woulde haue them hold togither vntill they had certaine intelligence of the state of the realme others without expecting any further information woulde haue them go to Lisbone and yeeld themselues to him that were king The Captaine generall being retired into his chamber to parley with certaine Portugals and French men entertained them with these practizes but the marriners doubtful of some euill the rumor being appeased directed their course towards Lisbone where remained their wiues and children although some opposed themselues It seemed that these ships being of such importance to the Prior and his disseines he should haue vsed more care to intercept them then it seemed hee did but in truth he omitted no diligence for he wrote vnto the Captaine generall of the armie that at his arriuall at the Ilands they should be deliuered vnto him whereby he entreated him with large promises to remaine there and to consigne him his armie and not to the Catholique King But the too great diligence of the Gouernour as it often hapneth did him harme for hauing sent foorth a Barke with these letters to attende the ships they did not encounter them so as sayling towards Portugall vpon the mid way they met with the armie of Lopo de Figueroa who woondring at the negligence of Baldes whom they denied to haue seene he furnished them with water and other refreshings They arriued after at Lisbone to the great contentment of the king and yet they staied so long vpon the way that it was constantly beleeued they were gone into England and nowe the merchants began to assure their goods with the losse of the fifth and the Captaine was extraordinarilie fauoured by the King In this while Lopo de Figueroa arriued at the Terceres where he vnderstands of Baldes his misfortune hauing viewed the Iland fortified on all parts where he might descend and by nature vnaccessible finding himselfe to haue fewe men the enimie victorious and the season of the yeere farre aduanced the seas swelling betimes in those parts he resolued and with iudgement to returne to Portugall without attempting any thing by force Hee first sent one to aduise the citie of Angra to yeelde obedience vnto his Maiestie promising them pardons recompences and many fauours but they measuring the assurance of his promises not by the Kings clemencie but by their owne merits arrogantly made him answere that he should say in what part hee woulde descend and they would open him the passage by reason whereof Figueroa returned into Portugall with Baldes whom the King presently committed to prison yet he was after deliuered shewing the instructions that had beene giuen him to be doubtfull and not to prohibite him to fight This returne of the armie encouraged the Ilanders perswading themselues that Figueroa had greater forces then indeed hee had and seeing him fearefull to descend they supposed he made great reckoning of theirs They wrote the newes of all these things vnto the Prior being in Fraunce who thanked them with curteous letters and sent them artillerie harquebusies powder and other munition promising to furnish them with men Hee commaunded them to seaze vpon the goods of all such as arriued there being subiect to the Catholique king and send them into Fraunce so as they sent him all the merchandise which they had taken in fower or fiue ships come from the west Indies And for as much as it seemed to many that this could not continue that the King should send from Portugall a great armie against them so as they shoulde not bee able to make resistance they dispatched into Fraunce one Anthony Aluarez and an other base officer to vnderstande what the Prior did what forces he had and what they might expect from thence who being returned with the orders the one of Saint Iaques the other of d'Auis which the Prior had giuen them they reported at his entreatie that he had a great armie readie to descend into Portugall the which in truth was not so bringing letters to the Gouernor whereby the Prior gaue vnto them likewise a coller of the order with a thousand duckats of reuenew the which mooued some others to go into Fraunce from whence as also from England there came some fewe soldiers to the Iland in ships which sailed into those parts yet they were neuer three hundreth in number being often of opinion to sende them backe for that the winter was at hand and to cal them backe in sommer the which the people would not yeeld vnto saying that since the King had sent them they woulde entertaine them The Iesuits being walled vp within their monasterie to whom they gaue meate but twise a weeke greeuing to be thus wrongully imprisoned vpon a certaine day they opened the doores of the Church and hauing placed the sacrament in the midst they would trie by this meanes if they might remaine free The ministers of iustice went vnto the couent to demaund the reason of this innouation to whom it was propounded by the fathers that if their offences so required they should punish them but holding them as suspect they shoulde suffer them to depart into Portugall The resolution was after some speeches vsed beyond the termes of modesty that the fathers shoulde be walled vp againe and a certaine person who said that in iustice they should burne these priests with their monasterie the which they had deserued for the affection they bare vnto the Castillians he staied not long to acknowledge his error for departing from thence he fell sicke vnto the death and God woulde haue him confesse as he saide that this griefe hapned vnto him for that occasion All the other religious men did what they coulde to wrong these fathers who being of a contrarie opinion and practising profession of war could not endure that these should be Castillians in their harts refusing to enioy that libertie They imprisoned the Vicar who gouerneth the spiritualtie in the Bishops name which remaineth in the Iland of Saint Michael and chose an other after their owne humour These things did much displease the Catholique king whereupon he resolued to vndertake this enterprise the sommer following although hee doubted it for many causes which behooued him to prouide for togither with the new iealousies which grew hauing intelligence that the Turke prepared an armie at sea to send to endomage Christendome That Lucciali a famous pirat and Captaine generall of the Turkes armie was come from Constantinople to Alger with threescore and tenne galleies and although it were to no other end then to visite the state of Affricke and to prouide for
against her hauing seene the proofe thereof in the affaires of Ireland sought to secure hirselfe that they might not wrong her and to that end she entred into an agreement as it was said with the Queene and her yoongest sonne to the preiudice of Philip whereof the effect was soone seen The saide Alançon being returned againe into England being alreadie agreed with the Prince of Orenge who was the instrument of all these practizes he passed from thence to Antwerpe where the peoples humours being before disposed by the saide Prince he was receiued in all these places with great ioy and the xix day of Februarie in the yeere of our Lord 1582. they did sweare him Duke of Brabant the which caused a generall admiration for many reasons It seemed strange that the Prince of Orenge in a manner absolute Lord in those countries the which he had so long defended woulde vpon the end of the worke spoile himself of the state giue it vnto a stranger without constraint without profit to the preiudice of his honor And although it seemed he had done the like to Mathias Arch Duke of Austria afterwards sent him back into Germany it was not credible that he hoped euer to do so vnto the Duke for besides that he was entred in a manner by maine force his power the neernes of Fraunce the fauor of England might wel induce men to beleeue that he woulde so establish himselfe as he need not feare to be expelled There wanted not such as woulde excuse the Prince saying that the people were nowe wearie and vnfurnished of money by reason of so great warres that they coulde not relieue him as hee had neede and thefore it behooued him to seeke some one that should aide him against the Catholique king who hauing now recouered the realme of Portugall shoulde bee able with greater ease to molest those countries seeing that he was forced to seeke for succours there was no greater person then this making in a manner an muincible vnion of these estates with Fraunce and England besides the Prince shoulde attaine to the wished ende which was to depriue the Catholique king of the whole possession and many did so much relie vpon the Princes foresight and iudgement that they supposed hee woulde like wise expell Alançon when hee pleased Many blamed the manner of the Dukes proceeding who sought to vsurpe an others patrimonie without any title others excused him forging lawes of state after their owne humours saying that the priuileges of the countrey did allow that if the Catholique King did not obserue them they might choose a Prince of themselues the which the King hauing broken they had sought out an other Lorde The effect of the league was not yet ended in those parts but to diuert the Catholique King from making warre in those countries at the mediation of Anthony to trouble the state of Portugal they prepared a great armie in Fraunce Some said it was to be imploied against the same realme hoping the people woulde rise against the Castillians some supposed it shoulde be sent to succour the Terceraes the winning whereof Philip threatned to attempt and some beleeued that they went for no other intent but to surprise certaine ships that came from the newe nauigations charged with golde and spice There hapned at that time in Flaunders a matter of admiration and seldome seene For the Prince of Orenge being in Antwerpe quiet and in the greatest fortune that he was euer was shot in his house rising from his table in the midst of all his seruants with a pistoll by Iohn Scaurigni a yoong man a Biscaine mooued thereunto by zeale of religion as he pretended the bullet hitting him vnder his right iawe passed forth through the window and although he was supposed to be dead yet was he cured and liued and the offender was presently slaine by his guard and all such as were founde accessarie were executed Whilest these things were determined in Fraunce and the low Countries the king who remained still in Portugall sought to giue contentment to the Portugals who hauing long and with importunitie sought for recompence were in the ende all in a manner dispatched giuing vnto many of them orders of knighthoode much of the reuenewes and all the offices that might bee giuen to the great griefe of the Castillians who saide that this realme with more right appertained vnto Philip seeing he had inherited it bought it and conquered it This distribution was made by the two Deputies with great bountie yet wrought it no good effect in the Kings fauour neither was it acceptable for finding two kinde of Portugals which sought for reward that is those to whom Philip in the time of Henry and the Gouernours had promised money and honors to follow his partie and such as faithfully without promises yea refusing them had loially serued him It was in a manner impossible to equall their recompences so as one of the parties should not be discontented but they proceeded so as some were grieued and others proude For besides the errors that were committed by reason of the ignorance of the officers being more easie to promise then to performe the kings Agents had made large offers not onelie to such as coulde helpe but also to many of small meanes and lesse countenance The King desired in any case to satisfie these bonds and although he woulde haue rewarded the most faithfull aboue all others yet could he not performe it for that by reason of their excessiue promises all the reuenewes of the crowne had not beene sufficient so as it often hapneth in Courts they gaue not vnto them that deserued with the like proportion as to such as were vnworthie So as the loue of the subiects was nothing encreased by this meanes for the most trusty were discontented seeming against reason to bee woorse entreated then those which had beene lesse faithfull but with rewarde in hande alleaging also that many of them had not performed that for which they were paide seeming sufficient vnto many to remaine newters and to some that had serued Anthony to say that they were forced and such as were least faithfull for that their harts were not so firmely setled to the Kings seruice they supposed to haue carried themselues wisely They esteemed euery small matter to be of great importance and supposing the king to vnderstand wel what neede he had of them in contempt of the rest they grew insolent These were the generall causes for the which the greatest distribution that euer was within the realme was not pleasing but the nature of the Portugals is vneasie to content in this respect for being enuious they doe feele with greater griefe an other mans profite then their owne losse Those of the baser sort although they expected no answere hauing enriched themselues in their trades by the great multitude of Courtiers yet coulde they not suffer the Castillians to be superiors and as
vneasie landing beeing of all parts rough and inaccessible but in some fewe places which it was likely they woulde fortifie and guard They saide that the garrisons of strangers which they vnderstoode were there were they neuer so fewe with the inhabitants of the Iland were sufficient to hinder their landing They made great reckoning of the roughnes of the sea the which commonly suffreth not any ships to ride there aboue two moneths in the yeere concluding it was better deferre it then attempt it in vaine as they had twise done with small honor They said that the assurance of the enterprise consisted in delay for that the Iland shoulde bee neither stronger nor better furnished then it was at that instant seeing their strength is by nature that a great garrison cannot long liue there that by delaying the inhabitants themselues will be aduised for besides the insolencie of the French wanting their traffique with Spaine they shoulde growe so poore as they will soone acknowledge their errours That the ships from the Indies made so small stay at the Ilands as they had no neede of them but onely to take in fresh water wherewith they may furnish themselues at Saint Michaels These reasons helde the Catholique king in suspence and for that he was a friend to peace he enclined to delay but as the newes from Fraunce Flaunders and England did varie so did they hasten or slacke the preparation for the enterprise In this sorte and with no small trouble of minde the three first moneths in the yeere 1582. passed away but hauing intelligence at the spring that they did arme many ships both in Fraunce Flaunders and England and that they were meant for Portugall that the Turke notwithstanding his warre against the Sophy threatned to send forth his galleies that certaine troupes of foote were come out of Fraunce vnto the Marquisat of Salusses the King thought it expedient to arme both to performe this enterprise of the Ilands as for the guarde of many places where he might be endomaged He thought it a hard thing and vnwoorthie to suffer the states of the Low-Countries to be wrested from him by the Duke of Alançon without reuenge He did foresee that the charge would bee verie great and that he was furnished with little money and lesse credite for by meanes of the decree he had made against the merchants he was cause of more hurt to himselfe then to his creditors The prouisions it behooued him to make were all forced for hee could not doe lesse then prouide for Italy as well in regarde of the French as of the Turke Hee must of force entertaine an armie in Portugall for although the Realme were in shew quiet yet the Portugals being of a stirring humor he could not auoide to arme a nauie sufficient to encounter the Fleete He thought it necessarie to prouide for Flanders if not wholy to recouer those estates yet for feare he should loose more But that which troubled the King more then all the rest was the shippes which hee expected this yeere from the Indies and New-found lands fearing that the French hauing the aduantage of the Ilands might spoile them finding that some Pirat had not onely passed into that sea but also threatned to assaile the Iland of Saint Michael and that of the Maderes And therefore the King began to preuent all these dangers in this manner He mustred all the foote he could in Spaine and caused them to march towardes Portugall especially to the Prouince betwixt Doro and Minio to the gouernment whereof he sent Ferrant de Toledo Prior of Saint Iean He sent the Marquesse of Saint Croixe to Seuille to arme all the great ships hee could and to prepare some galleies In Biscay he commaunded eighteene Biscaine ships to be furnished to make their randeuous in Andelouzie where they prepared their galleies and built a good number of great boats to land their souldiers He wrote into Italy to the Viceroy of Naples and to the Gouernor of Millaine that either of them should leuie 6000. Italian foote He gaue order in Germany to bring downe 10000. Germanes vnder colour to sende these two nations into Flaunders And for to be assured of the Iland of Saint Michael although that Ambrose d'Aguiar were there with one Galeon hee sent thither Peter Peixotto with fiue other shippes who arriued there in good time for certaine French Pirats were assembled to assaile it the which they did not forbeare to attempt for Peixotto with his ships lying at anchor before the city of punta Delgada three French ships leauing other sixe behinde shewed themselues supposing that with his fiue ships he would not faile to fight with them three and as hee should retire the other sixe comming to succour them they might conquer them and after this victorie assaile the Iland being weake and vnarmed But this deuise succeeded not for Peixotto who desired not to fight but to preserue the Ilande all hee could would not come foorth against those three French ships the which hee forbare the rather for that the other sixe shippes which remained behinde discouered themselues so as the Frenchmen finding they coulde not deceiue the Portugals and their ambush as one may say being discouered being loath to retire without some booty they resolued to charge Peixotto as he laie at anchor But the winde grew scant to approch to land and the artillerie from a certaine weake forte would not suffer them to ioine But the Captaines shippe being of better saile then the rest drewe so neere that hee grappled with a Portugall where they fought aboue three howers with great slaughter on both sides but the French had beene victors if Ambrose d'Aguiar who was at lande foreseeing that the losse of the ships woulde be the ouerthrowe of the Iland had not succoured Peixotto by boats sending him aboue an hundred fiftie men with the which he defended himselfe and the French shippe vnloosing itselfe retired to the rest woorse handeled then the Portugall but it was supposed that if the winde had beene any thing stronger so as the other French ships mought haue come vp to the Portugals they had beene taken in the viewe of all the Iland And for that soone after there arriued eighteene Biscaine ships at Lisbone which the king had commaunded should be armed in that Prouince he sent fower of them with sixe hundreth men for the assurance of that Iland the which arriued soone after the departure of the French Sommer was nowe come and there was still newes from Fraunce that they made greater preparation for war arming many ships in all their ports at the instance of Anthony The Catholique kings affaires went slowlier forwardes then the importance of the cause required for that it seemed the Spaniards were not yet well assured whether the French woulde turne against Portugall and not goe to the Ilands yea some beleeued that making shew to do so they woulde take their course for
Flaunders seeming more to importe wholie to assure those countries and to expell the Catholique Kings forces then to vndertake an other enterprise of greater difficultie And the assurance of this opinion did helpe the Fren̄ch for it did diuert or at the least deuided the Spanish forces and was cause that in Spaine they prepared not their armies with such expedition as was conuenient But hauing after assured intelligence that the French prepared to encounter the ships that came from the Indies and the newe founde lands the prouision for Flaunders went slowly forwarde in Italie And in Spaine they made greater haste of their nauie for the which there was want of sailers and other necessaries yet with some trouble they had prepared in Andelouzia about twentie ships and twelue galleies The Marquesse was returned to Lisbone giuing order to the nauie to goe to Cape Saint Vincent and there to attend their charge At his arriuall he found within the riuer of Tagus twenty other ships ill appointed comprehending the Biscaines and some Flemmings hired in a manner by force where hauing shipped sixe thousand Spanish foote vnder Lopo de Figueroa the Marquesse imbarked with many noble men Ferrant of Toledo going as a priuate soldier with some other gentlemen This was not the kings first intention being resolued to assemble the body of his armie in Andelouzia whither the ships of Biscay at their departure had commaundement to repaire but in sailing being come to Lisbone and hauing hired some others with the gallions of Portugall the king supposed the greatest number was there that he should spende time to cause one parte of the armie to goe seeke the other supposing they shoulde meete he commaunded both the one and the other to saile towardes Portugall as they did labouring to ioine by the way And although all this was slowly executed yet had it bin more if the king by his owne presence had not hastened their departure the which was not before the x. of Iuly in the yeere 1582. so slow are the Spaniards by nature in the execution of their businesse At that time the French armie departed with Anthony and all his followers being in number aboue threescore and ten saile and seuen thousand foote whereof Philip Strozzi and Mounsieur de Brisack were commaunders THE NINTH BOOKE The Contents of the ninth Booke The description of the Jland of Saint Michael The arriuall of the French armie there The arriuall of the Spanish armie The battaile at sea The death of Philip Strozzi and of the Count of Vimioso The voiage of Anthony to the Terceres and his manner of proceeding The sentence of the Marquesse against the prisoners and his execution The death of the Duke of Alua and his praises The new estates where Prince Philip was sworne by reason of the death of Prince Diego And how the Cardinall Archduke of Austria was made Gouernour of Portugall WHilest the French and Spanish armies sailed towards the Terceres both Courtes were in suspence and in diuers hopes of successe but in Fraunce they conceiued more assurance then in Portugall for the French not esteeming the Spanish forces helde themselues superiours in number both of ships and men and hauing the Ilands at their deuotion they stoode assured that their armie should both spoile the Indian fleete sacke the Iland of Saint Michael and ouercome the enimies armie if they ioined with them And they relied so much thereon that extending their hopes farther furthered by the promises of Anthony and of what he said that he had followers in Portugall they hoped to approch the realme and to put men on lande and to arme the vnarmed Portugals for which cause they carried great quantitie of armes and to set so firme a footing vpon the maine lande as they should easily maintaine themselues so as with this intention many Noble men and gentlemen imbarked with the Armie both for that the French are easie to mooue as also heerein to please the Queene mother In the Court of Spaine their thoughts were not all so conformeable nor so ioyfull for the Portugals being now as contrarie in their humours to the Castillians as they had beene euer making hope equall to their owne desires seeing the affaires now in equal ballance many wished they should make no resistance and many expected the comming of Anthonie The rest of the Portugals more content with the present state of the Castillians shewed great hope the warres should now ende saying they were assured they should defeat this Armie take Anthonie prisoner and either by loue or force subdue the Ilandes yet inwardly they were not well satisfied For seeing their armies deuided without hope to ioyne it seemed vnto the wisest the victorie was not so assured as some supposed and that the Spaniards by giuing battaile should hazard to lose much and winne little and contrariwise the French to winne much and loose little for that the greatest mischiefe that coulde seeme to happen to the enimies was the defeating of the Armie and taking the Ilandes from their obedience which things although they shoud all happen yet were they not of any great moment to Fraunce but if contrariwise the Spanish Armie should be defeated their losse would be equall to the French for besides the ships they should with all lose with the Iland of Saint Michaell the hope to recouer the rest the Indian Fleet withal their treasure should serue as a Pray to the French and the realme should be stil in doubt subiect to all those inconueniences which so great a losse should bring with it chiefly vnto a realme newly conquered This feare was augmented for that their Armie which consisted of good ships and was manned with good souldiers was notwithstanding vnprouided of mariners and wilde fiers whereof some were drawen by force and the Marques himselfe went with small contentment not for that hee feared but hauing beene at his departure somewhat discountenanced by the King blaming him to haue beene too slacke in the dispatch of the Armie besides going in Flemmish ships and with Germane soldiers little acquainted with the sea increased these doubts yet outwardly these men shewed a great confidence grounding the rests of their hopes vpon the qualitie of the Spanish souldiers and the greatnes of their ships Manie woondred how the wordes of Anthonie could so preuaile in Fraunce as in a maner to moue all that Court to vndertake his protection with so great vehemencie as they had done not shewing any pretention he had vnto the Crowne hauing no great hope to make him Lord nor to imploy such forces as he pretended to haue seeing that such as fauoured him were kept vnder in Portugall with great garrisons And this readines of the French seemed to them the greater for that before they had shewed themselues more slack to succour the Portugals against the Castillians when as they had a fitter occasion and a more grounded hope of good successe then now they could haue for in
to spoile the Ilands as they had already done that of Saint Michaels and that the same armie hauing tried a battaile against his Maiesties the French had beene broken and ouercome in the which being taken eight and twentie noblemen and two and fiftie gentlemen and manie other marriners and soldiers he declared them taken as enimies to the quiet and publike good disturbers of the traffike and fauourers of his Maiesties rebels that as such and as publike pirats hee commaunded the Auditor generall of the armie that for their chasticement and for the example of others hee shoulde execute vpon them the punishment of naturall death beheading the Gentlemen and hanging the rest which passed the age of seuenteene yeeres being so conuenient both for the seruice of God and of the two kings This sentence seemed cruell to all such as heard it and chiefly vnto the Spanish soldiers both for that they feared the like might happen vnto thē an other day as also for that they would not lose the profit which many expected by the raunsome of the saide prisoners or else for their owne good inclination so as some of the soldiers laying aside all respect saide it was not well grounded for that there was no firme and inuiolable peace betwixt the Catholique King and most Christian but warre and that those were neither pirats nor theeues but valiant soldiers That there was no peace they prooued it by the warres of Flaunders more hot then euer where the French did in a manner possesse all the Catholique Kings patrimonie And that they were no pirats they prooued by the letters patents they had from the King vnder the which the ships and soldiers were enrolled besides the number and qualitie of these men were such as it appeered cleerely they woulde not haue attempted it of themselues if the king had not sent them And although betwixt the two crownes they dissembled many things the Christian King excusing himselfe sometimes vpon his mother sometimes vpon his brother that they were all deuises of Princes but for all that they were not without open warre the lawes whereof they saide was not so stricte as to commaund them to hang all their prisoners And this execution did so mooue the hearts of manie that some of the principall soldiers being assembled togither went with a commendable example vnto the Marques to make intercession for the life of their enimies who answered that the most Christian King had expresly commaunded that all Frenchmen that shoulde take armes against the Catholique King shoulde be corporally punished so as the same day these Gentlemen with a generall pittie and great seueritie were beheaded vpon the scaffolde and the marriners and soldiers hanged in diuers places and the pittie was the greater being apparant that they were all not onely valiant soldiers but Catholique and deuout Christians The blame of this seuere execution was not imputed to the Marques supposing that he had expresse commaundement from the King whom likewise they excused for hauing so determined seeing it was not to bee presumed that so many personages of importance should come with such an armie and remaine prisoners especially knowing that Philip by his owne inclination was not cruell yet on the other side they considered that the King in his minde shoulde haue conceiued a cruell disdaine against the French seeing that vnder the shadow of amitie peace and alliance Kings writing daily one to the orher greeuing and reioycing at their troubles and contents did not onely aide his rebels but also tooke his countries and sent so great an armie to endomage him And although that Princes do vsually dissemble and counterfeit in many things yet it seemed the French vnder a new kinde of dissimulation would make warre whereby they did inferre that this execution did nothing displease the King The armie being a little repaired here the Marques went to the I le of Coruo to meete with the Indian fleete and hauing past in view of the citie of Angra he put Anthonie and all the people into confusion for although the Marques content with the victorie would not thrust himselfe into a new danger yet Anthonie doubted that in the heat of the victorie he would pursue and assaile the Ilande in the which although he had men enough both of the nation and of the French yet were they fearfull and disordered and Anthonie himselfe at the same time prouided a light ship to imbarke if neede were These newes came slowly to Lisbone for the which they were in great care hauing newes of the fight by the meanes of a Zabra of Biscay but a French ship which had beene sore beaten by the gallion Saint Mathew being fled from the battel gaue assurance of the euent for beeing arriued disguised at Settuual he was discouered finding within her some Spanish souldiers dead in the bosome of one of them was written all that had passed in the armie since their departure from Lisbone vntill the time that he was slaine The Marques attended long about the Ilands for the Indian fleete whereof two being arriued the seas growing high he came with them to Lisbone to the great ioy of all the court where he was extraordinarily fauoured by the King Anthony after the Marques his departure remained more quiet in minde supposing that for one whole yeere he need not feare any enimie He greatly greeued for the death of the French prisoners fearing it would preiudice his cause in France But Emanuel de Silua pressed him to reuenge in hanging about fiftie or threescore Castillians which were there taken prisoners at diuers times the which he woulde not suffer being better enclined He was ill furnished with money although hee had great store of armes and munition For this consideration he daily all by the inuention of the saide Silua made rigorous commandements to draw money from the people and from such as did not follow him willingly He caused gold to be coined which hee valued at fiue and twentie roials although it weied but eight He made testons of siluer weighing a roiall and a halfe the which he made currant for halfe a duckat and the copper money which was woorth three in Portugall hee valued at tenne And for that many were retired to the mountaines to be free from troubles within the citie hee commaunded euery one to returne and if any deferred his comming longer then the time limited by his commaundement they presently seazed his goods Many for feare of the souldiers had carried and hidden their goods without the citie and therefore he commaunded euerie one to bring them backe againe whereby he gained much for he demaunded a loane of money of such as came and brought it backe and if any one obeyed not he sent Souldiers to search their goods and to spoile them with a thousand indignities It was a lamentable thing to see how the Church causes were handled for the religious men except the Iesuits imploied in militarie actions
lost his head and many others put to death And the returne of the armie to Andelouzia THE estate of the Realme after the Kings departure remained all that winter quiet and although the people had their mindes yet disquieted and some of the nobilitie not fully satisfied hauing left the kings court and the Cardinals likewise retyred themselues to their castles and houses yet no man durst shew any discontent The greatest part although they loued peace and desired the tranquillitie of the Realme yet were they in their hearts contented to see the Terceres make resistance and continue in the deuotion of Anthonie and the French supposing that whilest the King had any warres he would entreat them better and beare them more respect then they thought hee should doe if all were pacified neither preuailed it that the Portugalles were made much of in Castile and admitted neere the King as they had woonte to bee when hee was in Portugall nor yet that the saide King had it may bee to make the present gouernement conformeable to that was passed obtained from the Pope the authoritie of the Legate for the Cardinall euen as Henry enioied it the which bredde a great benefite to the realme for as it hapneth to passionate mindes they were not remooued from their opinion for the Cardinall being made Legate for two yeeres onely they feared that the time being expired they woulde take an occasion to recall him into Castill and so the Realme should be reduced into a prouince and that the king remaining at Madrill shoulde gouerne it At that time Sanches d'Auila died being stroke with a horse for that leauing chirurgerie he woulde be cured by a soldier with certaine blessings the which caused the Castillians to mourne for although he were but marshall generall of the fielde yet remaining after the death of the Duke of Alua of greatest knowledge amongst the Spaniards in the arte of warre there was not any man neere the Duke of Gandia of so great experience Hee was a man without feare and happie in warre esteemed by the Duke of Alua aboue all the soldiers of his time but this life which he had vnto his olde age so happily aduentured at the cannons mouth was nowe taken away by death vpon a small mischance In Fraunce it seemed that all the French were turned vnto the affaires of Flaunders affecting them more then Portugall and although there were an intent at the Priors instance to set foorth some ships of warre yet founde they therein coldenes and want of money whereby it appeered that whereas they attempted something it should not be to offend but rather to prouide for defence And although they had now intelligence that certaine French ships guided by the Portugals and especially by one Emanuel Serradas had inuaded the Ilands of Cape Vert and spoiled some part of them yet they made no account thereof vnderstanding they were but small barkes of pirates At the Terceres Emanuel de Silua was still gouernour who shewed himselfe an obstinate enimie to the Catholique King a faithfull minister to the Prior and a cruell persecutor of the Philippines Notwithstanding ill disposed of small iudgment and little experience With these his qualities he afflicted the poore people in diuers manners for the meanes which he inuented to borrow money to molest and condemne many persons were insupportable The pride arrogancie whereunto he was growen as it hapneth often in him that is not accustomed to commaund made him seeme inuincible and immortall the wrongs he committed were so infinite that iustice had lost her place the libertie his friendes and seruants tooke vpon them was without restraint the subiection and seruitude of those that did not flatter him was such as the slaues were more free I leaue the executions he committed vpon such as would haue compounded with the Catholique king and coulde not conceale their mindes for vsing many stratagemes to discouer their affections wherein as he founde any one lesse obstinate then himselfe hee was miserable being cruelly punished both in body and goods And for this occasion he caused manie to be slaine betraied by one Amador Vieira who hauing beene secretlie sent into this Iland by King Philip to continue his followers in their fidelitie to sounde the disposition of the people and to drawe all he coulde to his deuotion after he had wel executed his charge he reuealed vnto Silua such as had discouered themselues by whom they were miserablie afflicted And as tyrannie taught him he daily made newe ordinances and lawes in the name of Anthony the officers and ministers of iustice in the citie which were vsually chosen by voices he alone woulde haue the naming of them He was not onely contented to obserue those lawes which treated of high treason but also made a new lawe more seuere that such as did but talke of that matter shoulde suffer death and that such witnesses should serue although lesse in number then the auncient lawes had ordained He would haue the sentences in such cases registred by the Magistrate of the citie for a perpetuall memorie to all to terrifie and tyrannize the more There was within the Iland little aboue seauen hundreth French soldiers one onely company of English and about three thousand Portugals it was fortified on all partes where they might lande with aboue thirtie fortes and many trenches made with such arte and diligence as it seemed impossible to enter if they were guarded And although these thinges with the other qualities of the place made it vneasie to force yet Silua iudged it stronger then it was and did trust as a man of no experience more in the defenders then was conuenient In the meane time they prepared an armie for sea at Lisbone and assembled the Spanish soldiers to imploy them against this Iland vnder the command of the Marques of Saint a Croix being more in number both in ships and men then the yeere before besides there was speech to sende fowre galliasses and twelue galleies for which cause they shortned their yardes prouiding square sailes and of a thirde maste which they call the meane In Spaine there were diuers opinions concerning this armie making diuers discourses thereon both by worde and writing Such as were not to be imploied in this action to whom no part of the honour or praise did belong made it easie saying that the people were alreadie so wearied poore and oppressed by the garrisons as the armie should no sooner appeere but they woulde bee at the Kings deuotion And the cause why they did no sooner yeeld was the subiection wherein they were held and although they neither would nor coulde come to composition yet were they easie to force for the citie of Angra and all other places being dismantled and weake they had no other defence then the landing the which they supposed were impossible to hinder proouing by ancient and latter examples that in warre there was no meanes to stoppe
although it were not verie great in number yet we may say the Catholique king had neuer so many trained Spaniards as in this For besides that the greatest part had beene in Italy such as had beene in the battaile at sea of the league against the Turke were there and likewise those that remained at the warres of Flaunders As the fleete went out of the riuer a shippe striking against a shelfe was made vnfitte to saile and an other hauing not sailed farre lost her helme but hauing transported their soldiers into other ships they went to harbour This fleete sailing altogither the swiftest shippe of saile was faine to staie her course for the slowest and the galleies being of all other swiftest were constrained to linger for the shippes but for as much as this was the first time that euer these kinde of vessels with oares had beene within the Ocean so farre from land the Marques wished that they should not lose the occasiō of faire weather which they had to passe the gulph fearing that euery small storme might endomage them he therefore desired rather to dismember them from the armie then to retaine them with peril For this cause the xxvj day vnderstanding the Patrons desire to goe before he suffered them to depart alone towards the Iland of S. Michael with order to attende him there so as sailing more at ease with scant windes the thirde of Iuly they discouered land And for that the winde woulde not suffer the armie to approch the Marques sent a Zabre vnto Punta Delgada commanding Augustine Iniquez coronel of two thousand Spaniards which had remained there the yere before for the guard of the Iland to shippe all his men within the galleies which had arriued there before in safetie he shoulde likewise take with him certaine peeces of batterie and moiles to vse at lande if neede were with other prouisions and therefore setting vp all his sailes the winde growing somewhat better he drew neere with his ships to Villa Franca and from thence went in a galley to Punta Delgada where likewise a part of the armie had cast anchor hee set all things in order but the windes growing contrary he coulde not depart before the xxij day when as setting saile hee came the xxiiij to the Terceres This Iland is scituated as is said in the fortith degree of latitude and three hundreth forty two of longitude it hath fortie miles in circuite extending it selfe in length from the east vnto the west so as it is not much aboue twelue miles broad although it be rough for the most part and stony yet is it in a maner all inhabited towards the south for the commoditie of the shoares it is more populous then the rest for comming from the west you first discouer the citie of Angra a place in a small bosome of the sea but not greatly secure from the windes where of it takes the name for Angra in their language is a bosome Ioyning to this citie there is a castell begun in the time of King Sebastian and made defensible for the garde of this porte Sixe miles towards the east neere vnto a dangerous shoare which they call the port of Mole is Saint Sebastian a place smally inhabited and three miles farther is that of Piaggia so called being the best landing place of all others This place is neere vnto Punta de la Serra which is the last promontorie towards the East behinde the which turning to the North is another place which they call Agua Alua sixe miles from that of Piaggia This coast towards the North although it be as we haue saide inhabited yet doth it not containe any places of woorth being replenished onely with peasants houses neere to the point of the West there is a small assembly of inhabitants which they call the Altari The Marques being arriued at this Iland he discouered within that small bosome of sea of the citie of Angra those ships which had brought the succours and some others assembled for spoile with some merchants He cast anchor at Saint Sebastian beginning visiblie to finde that the Iland was no lesse fortified then had beene described vnto them The fleete lay onely a cannon shot from land so as there was many a shotte spent at them in vaine from the forts not suffering his men to discharge one volley it may be for that it seemed vnto him a vaine diligence or rather as he saide the better to iustifie his Kings cause Hee commaunded fower galleies to lie before the towne to serue as a bridle for those ships and to keepe them from comming foorth the which was helde too much ouerweening some holding opinion that he should in dissembling giue them meanes to depart rather then to force them to dispaire Hee sodainly sent a trumpet to lande offering to all such as were in the Iland a generall pardon in his Maiesties behalfe if they woulde yeeld but approching to land he was vnkindly kept backe by their artillerie The pardon concerned the succession of the King to the crowne the disobedience of the Iland and the clemencie of his Maiestie he offred vnto all such as were naturall borne their liues and goods if they woulde yeelde obedience and to strangers ships to transport them into their countries with their goods armes and ensignes But being not able to publish it by this meanes he sent two Portugals secretly to land who deliuered a copie thereof to Emanuel de Silua but making no account thereof hee concealed it least others should see it supposing it may be that it was nowe too late to vse it and therefore hee not onely refused to accept of this pardon but also threatned to hange them that brought it if they discouered the cause of their comming least the Ilanders should likewise embrace it The armie spent all the xxiiij day and the next following in discouering the circuit of the Iland with the places and fortifications in consulting where to land most fitly and what course to hold The Marques himselfe the marshals of the fielde with other of the chiefe commaunders in a small barke ran alongst the shoare they found they had fortified more carefully then elsewhere in the citie of Angra and Piaggia as places most fit for landing and it seemed that the French did watch there with greater care then in other parts Some Portugals of this Iland who going to discouer had beene taken prisoners by them of Saint Michaell and now brought vnto the armie saide there was no fitter place to land then at the port of Mole neere Saint Sebastian but whether they spake it to deceiue the Castillians the place being more rough then it seemed or that they deliuered their opinion faithfully the Marques had still his eie vpon that part for finding it rather lesse fortified then the rest although the shoare were not so commodious there as in other places enclining rather to fight against the difficulties of Nature then Rampiers
armes in all places and the cause thereof 274. his order in preparing 275. he departs from Portugall 304. his armie departs from Lisbone 312. arriues at the Terceres and their proceeding 314 Plague in Portugall 108 Places fortified by the Portugals 140 Portugals conquests at the Indies 4. they prepare for the warre of Africke 25. their armie landes in Africke and their proceedings 30. the qualitie of their armie 37. their conceite to fight 39. the order of their battaile 40. their aduantage of the Moores 41. their armie at sea returnes to Lisbone 54. their sorrow 56. their ceremonie in bewailing their king dead 58. they pretend election of their king 62. their demands 66. their reasons for the election 84. they complaine of king Henrie 85. their discourse vpon the estate of the realme 101. they answere the Castillians 106. they disagree with them 229. they are discontented 252. they abandon the French 319. their ships are spoiled 320 Pope pretends election 63 Pope Gregorie the xiij his offer to the Catholike king 98. he fauours Anthonie 190 his offer against England 243. seemes content with the successe of Portugall 251 Porto yeelded 236 Preparations at the Terceres 264 Preparations of the French for the Tercerâ—â— 269 Prince of Orange wounded by a Biscaine 269 Pretendants to the crowne of Portugall and their descent 60. cited to declare their reasons 80 Prosper Colonna Colonell of the Italians 134. he passeth the bridge defended by the Portugals 215 Q QVeene mother of France pretends to the crowne of Portugal 62. her reasons for it â—â— shee is discontented with Philip and the cause 67 Question whether the Catholic king should goe in person with his armie 152 Queene Anne died 238 R REason of the Portugals by way of discourse touching their future King 66 Reasons and grounds of king Philip to the realme of Portugal 67. examined by diuines 126 Regencie of the Gouernours 118 Religious men diuided into factions 200. they holde militarie charges 180. and keepe the keies of Lisbon pag. 208 Resolution of Gonsalues charge 119 S SAint Arem yeeldes obedience pag. 222 Sanches d' Auila Marshall generall of the Spanish camp 134. he is sent against Anthonie 227. he passeth the riuer of Doro at Auintes 232 his speech to his soldiers ibid. his stratageme to passe the riuer 234. hee dies 307 Sebastian king of Portugal his life 10. his first voyage into Africke 11. his enteruiew with Philip at Guadalupe 15. hee is perswaded to make war in Africke by Mahamet ibid. lands his armie at Arzille 30. hee fights valiantly and is vanquished 50. he is slaine by the Moores and carried to Molucs tent 51. his funerals at Madril 66. his obsequies with the Princes of Portugall 302 Settuuall taken 182 Summarie of an oration made at the assembly of Estates 77 Sosa Deputie of Lisbon his answere pag. 111 Spaniards discourse vpon the Cardinals legation 191 Spanish souldiers discontented with the sentence giuen against the French prisoners 295. they intreat for them ibid. Spaniards discourse vpon the enterprise of the Terceres 309 Stratagem with oxen diuised by a religious man 257 Stremos taken 175 Strozzi slaine 291 Suburbes of Lisbon spoiled 217 T TErceres 227. the description thereof 239 the resolution of the inhabitants 241. their confusion 272 Testament of King Henrie 123 Thomas Stukley an Englishman with 600. Italians serues King Sebastian pag. 27 Tower of Belem yeelded 210 Tower of Settuuall taken 184 Treatie of accord betwixt King Philip and Anthonie by the meanes of Carcamo a Castillian 204 V VAlour of the Italians and Spaniards 49 Valour of King Sebastian 50 Viana taken 237 Villauisosa surprised 173 Vniuersitie of Coimbra 250 W WOmen at Lisbon arme like souldiers 178 FINIS The description of Lisbone The Portugals conquests * Of good hope * Of good hope The life of king Sebastian Sebastians first voyage into Affrick Sebastians enteruiew with Phillip at Guadalupa Preparation for the war of Affrick Preparation for the second voyage of Affricke The second voyage of Sebastian with his armie into Affricke The arriuing of the Portugall armie in Affrick and their proceedings A light skirmish of the Moores against the Portugals The meanes of Moluc to defeat the Portugals The counsell and resolution of the Portugals to enter into the maine land of Affricke The Counts of Vimioso seconded the des gnes of the King of Portugall The aduise of Lewis de Silua concerning this voyage The counsell of Mulei Mahamet to the King of Portugall The Armie of the Portugals and their quality The arriuall of Aldana in the Portugall campe Letters and a Present from the Duke of Alua to the King of Portugall Molucs speech to his brother The qualitie of Molucs armie The conceit of the Portugall to fight The order of the Portugals armie The disposition of Molucs Armie Molucs Oration to his Armie The beginning of the battell The Portugals haue the aduantage of the Moores Molucs feare Molucs death The Arabians spoile their friends Frauncis de Tauora slain in the battaile The death of the Duke of Auero and of Aldana and the imprisonment of the Prior. The King of Portugall fights valiantly but is vanquished The King slaine by the Moores and carried to Molucs tent Mulei Mahamet drowned Hamet proclaimed king of the Moores A battaile famous by the death of three Kings The names of the chiefe slaine in the battaile The couetousnes of Hamet The Portugals armie at sea returnes to Lisbone A message sent to the Cardinall Henrie by the Catholique king An embasage from Hamet to the Catholique king The Portugals sorrow Cardinall Henrie swerne King of Portugal The ceremonie of the Portugals in bewailing their King dead The ceremonie of the Portugals in swearing their King The descent of the pretendants to the Crowne of Portugall * Of fower Crownes The pretendents to the Crowne of Portugall The King of Spaine The Duke of Bragance The Prince of Parma Anthonie Prior of Crato The Duke of Sauoy The people of Portugall The Queene mother of Fraunce The Pope pretends the election The deliberations of King Henry at his comming to the Crowne Peter d' Alcasoua in disgrace with King Henry Sebastians obsequies at Madrill The discord that fell out for that one said Philip did preceade Henrie The demands of the people of Portugall Councell vpon the Embassage the King sent to Henry The Duke of Ossuna sent to Henrie The imprisonment of the Duke of Alua and the cause Philips letters to the citie of Lisbone The deliuerance and returne of Iohn de Silna Embassador for Philip in Portugall The Duke of Ossuna arriues in Portugall and his proceedings King Henry inclined to the pretence of the Duches of Bragance The States of Portugall at Lisbone A summarie of the Oration made at the assemblie of the estates An Embassador chosen to goe to Rome to obtaine dispensation for Henrie to marrie The nomination of 5. gouernors of the iudges of the succession The oath to obey the elected Gouernours
The discontentments of the people of Lisbone Henrie desired to marrie The Catholique King sends a lacobin into Portugall The predendents to the Crowne of Portugall cited to declare their reasons Philip frames a counsell of the affaires of Portugal Iohn de Silua solicites to be sent backe into Portugall Christopher de Mora called againe and sent Ambassadour into Portugall in steede of Iohn de Silua The grounds of the Prior. Of the Duke of Sauoy Of the Duke of Parma Of the Dutchesse of Braganca Of the Catholike King The ground of the people The Queen Mother of Fraunce The peoples complaint against King Henrie The letters of the Prior to Henrie The sentence of King Henry against the Prior touching his legitimation The reasons of the Catholique king against the pretendents Against the Prior. Against the Duke of Sauoy Against the Duke of Parma Against the Dutchesse of Bragance Against the people Against the Queene mother of Fraunce Philip sendeth to signifie his right to Henry Philip prepares for warre against the Portugals The suspension of Henries briefe The Priors letters to Henry con cerning his rigor Henries second sentence against the Prior. Henrie changeth his opinion to the benefit of Philip touching the succession The offers of Pope Gregory 13 to the Catholike King A publication of the gouernors of Portugall The discourse of the Portugals vpon the state of the Realme The Castillians discourse touching the affaires of Portugall The Portugals answere to the Castillians discourse The plague in Portugall and the proceedings Bezar stone excellent against the plague The States of Almerin Henry changeth the Deputies of Lisbone and the cause The opening of the Estates at Almerin by the Bishop of Leiria The answere of Sosa Deputie of Lisbne A mutinie at Coimbra The speech of Moniz Deputie of Lisbone The Deputies of the Realme sent to Henrie to be admitted to the election of the King with the answere King Henry sicke The death of King Henry The life of Henry The regencie of the gouernors Martin Gonsalues sent to the deputies of the Realme The deputies aunswere to Martin The resolution of Gonzalues ambassage Anthonies course to obtaine the Crowne Anthony his letters to the states of Almerin The States answere to Anthony and his arriuall The clause of King Henries testament The speach of the Deputie of Portalegre The states send to the Gouernors The duke of Barcellos detained by the Duke of Medina Sidonia The diligence of the catholique King to assure his conscience for the Realm of Portugall The Catholique Kings preparatiues against Portugall The duke of Alua chosen generall of the army into Portugall The Catholique Kings Letters to the Duke of Alua. The Catholique King goes towards Portugall The Duke of Alua ariues at his Army The nombers of the Dukes Army The comming of the Ambassadors from the gouernors to the Catholique King and their negotiation The conclusion of the States at Almeryn The Gouernors prepare for defence The manner of the enterprise of Portugall The state of the Duke of Alua his armie The conditions that the Catholique King offred if they would deliuer the realme quietly The Gouernors sollicite their defence The Drie head fortified A confusion of the affaires of Portugall and the Gouernours The disorder of the religious of Belem Doctor Fernand de Pina slaine The answer of the Catholique king to the Portugals The gouernours inconstancie The diligence of the Catholique King vpon his entrie by force into Portugall made by the Diuines of Alcala The Catholique King takes possession of Portugall A question whether the Catholique King should go with the armie in person The Kings army wasted Confusion in Portugall The taking of Eluas The Kings letters to them of Eluas The reduction of Oliuenza The Catholique king his letter vnto Anthonie Anthonie proclaimed King of Portugall Two contrarie factions in Oliuenza The Catholique king sworne at Oliuenza The gouernors neglect the defence of Lisbone Anthonie arriues at Lisbone and proclaimed King The speech of Fonsequa for the creation of Anthonie The flight of Teglio The flight of the gouernors Anthonie arriued at Settuual Cascayes S. Iulian yeelde to Anthonie The Duke of Bragance sendes to Philip. The Catholique kings answere to the Duke of Bragance The taking of Villauisosa Reasons why the King should not goe in person The Kings army entred into Portugall The taking of Stremos Euora yeelded The taking of Mount Maior Anthony his entrie into Lisbone The decree of the Gouernors Anthonies preparation for the defence of the kingdome Disorders at Lisbone The taking of Settuual The arriuall of the Marques of Saint Crux with the armie by sea The yeelding of the fortresse Three poore women crying to Anthony to succour Settuual Anthonies care to succour Settuual The counsell of Anthonie and his resolutions Anthonies feare The resolutions of Anthony and of his counsell The Bishop of Guarda seconds Anthony The counsell of Anthony ill grounded An allarum at Lisbone Anthony offers to compound Cardinall Riario sent Legatinto Spaine The discourse of the Spaniards vpon this Legation The Legat visites the King The sundrie opinions for the passage of the army The armie passeth at Cascaies The disimbarking of the Dukes armie The disposition of the Dukes armie They charge the Portugals who retire The blames of Meneses and his excuses A confusion in the citie of Lisbone Anthony goes towards Cascaies Cascaies taken and spoiled The castell taken Diego de Meneses beheaded Henry Pereira hanged Anthonie marcheth towards Belem with his men consusedly Religious men deuided into factions Anthonic retires to Alcantara The Catholique kings pardon to the Portugals The Duke marcheth against the rocke of Saint Iulian. A treatie of agreement with Anthony Anthony his letter to the King The answere of the Duke to Anthony The rocke of Saint Iulian battered and the aduise of the Inginers A poore woman cause of the yeelding of Saint Iulian The rocke of Saint Iulian yeelded Cabessa Secca abandoned The feare of them at Lisbone The yeelding of the tower of Belem The Duke of Alua his speech to the soldiers The order of the Dukes armie Anthony his preparation against the Duke The flight of Anthony towards the citie his defeate and hurt The yeelding of Lisbone The spoile of the suburbs of Lisbone The number that were slaine in the battaile The Duke blamed The commendations of the Duke of Alua. The Catholique kings sicknes and the discourse vpon it Lisbone sweares obedience to the king A contagious Catar Saint Arem yeelds obedience The Prior assembles new forces Auero taken The Duke blamed The Dukes excuses The yeelding of the places in Affricke which the Portugals held The Terceraes Sanches de Auila against the Prior. The yeelding of Coimbra The estate of Porto and the reduction The Portugals and Castillians disagree The yeelding of Auero and other exploites of Sanches d'Auila The statagem of Anthony Serrano to recouer aboate Sanches D' Auila passeth the riuer of Doro at Auintes The speech of Auila
to his soldiers The stratagem of Auila to passe the riuer The oration of Anthony to his soldiers The flight of Anthony to Viana The flight of the Portugals The citie of Porto yeelded The taking of Viana Anthonie saues himselfe on the other side of the riuer Minio in danger to be taken The death of Queene Anne The King enters into Portugall by the citie of Eluas The description of the Ilands of Terceraes and the inhabitants thereof The resolution of the inhabitants of Terceraes The Iesuits walled vp at the Terceraes The Popes offer against England The complaint of the Dukes soldiers The auditor of Gallicia sent to Auilas campe The Councell of the Kings chamber The King visites the Duchesse of Bragance The King sworne at Tomar and the Prince Diego The kings pardon to the Portugals The beginning of the parliament at Tomar The demands of the Estates Touching the Vniuersitie of Coimbra The Pope seemes content with the successe of Portugall The Portugals animated and wherefore The Kings entrie to Lisbone The speech of the Magistrate of Lisbone to the king The Portugals discontented The councell of state of Portugall reduced vnto two Baldes attempt vpon the Terceraes The preparation of them of Angra against Baldes Iohn de Betancour affect to the King A stratagem with oxen made by a religious man The ill successe of Baldes soldiers The crueltie of those of Tercera The defeate of Baldes is preiudiciall vnto the king The Priors good fortune Ierom Mendoza treateth an agreement with the Prior. Anthonie arriues at Caleis The Indian fleete expected and the discourse of their arriuall The Indian fleete met with a French ship neere the Terceres The diligence of Anthony to haue the fleete The fleete arrtues at Lisbone The arriuall of Figueroa at the Terceres and his returne to Lisbone Baldes imprisoned in Portugall The preparation of them of Terceres A miracle performed by the Iesits The estate of Fraunce and Flaunders The Queene of Fraunce discontented with Philip and the cause The Duke of Alancon sworn Duke of Brabant Preparation of the french against the Terceres The Prince of Orenge wounded by a Biscaine The kings recompence to the Portugals The Empresse Mary comes to Lisbone The Cardinall of Austria made Gouernour of Portugal The Terceres in confusion The cariage of Emanuel de Sylua at the Terceres The preparation at Lisbone against the Terceres and the aduise vpon this enterprise The Catholique King armes in all places and the cause The kings order in preparing Peixotto sent to Saint Michaels fought with by certaine French ships The Marquesse of Saint Cruze embarkes for the Terceres The hopes of the French armie at sea with Strozzi The hopes of the Court of Spaine touching the Armie at sea The arriuall of the French ar mie at the Ilande of Saint Michael and the description thereof Or the dogs head The death of Ambrose D Aguiar The first encounter of the French The arriuall of the Spanish armie at the Ilands The Marques resolues to fight The Marques order for his battell The Marques gets the wind of the French armie The French disagree The beginning of the fight at sea Mounsier Brisac flies The death of Strozzi and of the Count Vimioso Apriest dies for feare The number of the dead in the battel Edward de Castro beheaded by Anthonie Anthony his voyage to the Terceres and his atchieuements there The sentence of the Marques against the French prisoners The Spaniards discontented with the sentence and the reason The Spanish soldiers entreat for the French The French beheaded and hanged * A kinde of small ship The carriage of Anthonie after the sea fight The departure of Anthonie for Fraunce Emanuell de Silua staies at the Terceres The French displeased at their ouerthrow The amplification of pardon towards the Portugals The death of Duke of Alua his commendation The blames of the Duke of Alua. The obsequies of Sebastian and other Princes Portugals A reformation of the Kalendar A new assembly of estates at Lisbone where the prince Philip was sworne Cardinall Albert made gouernour of Portugall The kings departure from Portugall The death of Auila The French spoile the Ilands of Cape Vert. The carriage of Silua at the Terceres The Kings preparation against the Terceraes The discourse in Spaine vpon this enterprise Mounsieur de Chattes sent to succour the Iland A discourse betweene Chattes and Silua vpon the strength of the Iland The kings armie departs from Lisbone The description of the Terceres The arriual of the kings army at the Terceres and their proceedings The diligence of the Ilanders for their defence The landing of some of the Marques his men The first assault giuen by the Marques his men The second landing of the Marques with his men and their skirmish against the French Silua his flight hindred The Portugals abandon the French The Marques takes S. Sebastian Angra put to be spoiled three daies The Portugall shippes spoiled The Marques sends to Fayall The French compound with the Spaniards The condition of the accorde Chattes doth visite the Marques They of Faiall kill a trumpet that was sent vnto them The landing of Peter de Toledo at Fatal and the sacke thereof Anthony Guedez de Sosa hanged by the arme and wherefore Emanuel de Silua taken and executed with others The French men sent to the galleies
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
the rocke of Saint Iulian 202. his answere to Anthonie 205. his speech to his souldiers 212. the order of his armie ibid. blamed for slacknes 218. his prayses 220. blamed and his excuses 223. his souldiers complaine 245. his death with his prayse and dispraise 300 E EDward de Castro beheaded by Anthonie 292 Eluas taken 155 Emanuel de Silua staies at the Terceres 298. his carriage there 307. his flight hindred 318. taken and executed with others 323 Empresse Marie comes to Lisbone 271 Estates at Almerin 109. begon by the Bishop of Leiria 110 Estate of Fraunce and Flaunders 265 Euora yeelded 175 F FActions in Oliuenza 161 Feare in the citie of Lisbone 207 Flight of Teglio 167 Figueroa arriues at the Terceres and returnes to Lisbone 263 Fonsequa his speech for the creation of Anthonie 165 Fortresse of Settuuall yeelded 184 Francis de Tauora slaine in the battaile pag. 48 Francis de Melo Earle of Tentuguell writes to king Sebastian 18 Francis Barretto sent by the Portugals to the French king for succors 139 Francis de Valois Duke of Alanson enimy to king Philip and why 266. sworne Duke of Brabant 268. seeks to be master of Antwerpe but in vaine 305 Francis de Villafagna Auditor of the Councell of state sent to Lisbone by king Philip 244 French armie arriues at S. Michaels 280. their first encounter 282. they disagree 288. they are beheaded and hanged 295. displeased with their ouerthrowe 299. they spoile the Ilands of Cape Vert 307. they compound with the Spaniards at the Terceres 320. sent to the gallies 324 G GAllies arriue at the Terceres in safetie 312 Generals ship of the French taken by the Spaniards 291 George de Meneses generall at sea imprisoned by Anthonies command pag. 186 Gouernors of Portugal published 99. they prepare for defence 132. their inconstancie 148. they neglect the defence of Lisbone 163. they flie from Settuuall 168. their decree 178 H HAmet proclaimed by the Moores 52. his couetousnes 53 Henry Cardinall called to the crowne of Portugal 55. sworne king 57. his resolution comming to the crowne 64. he fauors the Dutchesse of Bragance 76. he desires to marrie 80. his sentence against the Prior touching his legitimation 87. he changeth his minde in fauour of Philip 97. he falleth sicke and dies 116. his life 117 Henry Pereira hanged 198 Hopes of the French armie at sea with Strozzi 278 Hope of the Spanish court touching their armie at sea 279 I IEan de Betancour affected to Philip pag. 256 Ieron Mendoza treats with Anthonie 260 Iesuits called Apostles in Portugall not able to redresse the corruptions of the Portugals 9. blamed as moters of Sebastians voiage into Africke II. walled vp at the Terceres 243 Iohn de Silua Ambassadour for Philip in Portugall deliuered and returns out of Africke 74. he labours to be sent backe into Portugall 82 Iohn d'Austria gouernoūr of Flaunders for king Philip 23 Iohn d'Azeuedo admirall of Portugall taken prisoner by the Castillians 176 Iland of the Terceres described 313 Iland of Saint Michael described 280 Inhabitants of Fayall kill a trumpetter that was sent vnto them 322. are taken 323 Irishmen demaund succours of the Pope against their Prince 27 L LAwes made betweene Mahumet Cheriffe and Hamet his brother touching the succession of the realme 14 Legate visites the king 192 Leon Henriquez Confessor to Henrie supposed to haue drawne him to fauour Philips title 98 Letters and a present from the Duke of Alua to king Sebastian 38 Lewes Dataide Cont of Toghia sent Viceroie to the Indies by Sebastian 25. obeies king Philip 262 Lisbone chiefe citie of Portugall 3 yeeldes to the Duke of Alua 217 sweares obedience to Philip 221 Lucciali comes to Algier with seuenty gallies 265 M MAgistrate of Lisbone perswades Anthony to compound 208. Mahamet sonne to Abdala kils his vncle 14. is expelled by his vncle Moluc and seekes for succour of Philip and Sebastian 15. disswades Sebastian to go in person into Africk 26. despeares of the victory 36. disswades the battaile 41. is drowned in Mucazen 51. his skinne fleied off 53 Manner of the enterprise of Portugal pag. 132 Marques of Saint Cruz arriues at Settuuall with an armie by sea 183. he imbarkes for the Terceres 277. he resolues to fight with the French and the order of his battaile 285. he defeats them and giueth sentence against the prisoners 294 he landeth some men at the Terceres 316 his skirmish with the French 317. taketh S. Sebastian 319. sends to Faiall 320 Martin Gonsalues sent to the deputies of the realme 118 Messenger sent to Cardinall Henrie from king Philip 55 Meneses blamed and his excuses 195 Mulei Moluc prepares against the Portugals 31. his meanes to defeat them 34. his aduise to the king of Portugal 36. his speech to his brother 38. his armie 39. the ordering thereof 42. his oration to his soldiers 43. his feare and death 47 Mutinie at Coimbra 112 N NAmes of the chiefe men slaine in the bataile of Africke 52 Number of the Christians Moores slaine in the battaile ibid. Number slaine in the battaile at Alcantara 218 Number slaine in the battaile at sea pag. 293 O OFfer made by Moluc to the kings of Spaine and Portugall 31 Oliuenza yeelded to the Catholique king 158 Opinions touching the passage of the riuer of Tagus 192 Order of the Portugals and Moores armie 41 42 Originall of the hatred betwixt the Portugals and Castillians 5 P PArleament at Tomar 248 Peiyoxto sent to Saint Michaels fought with by French ships 276 Peter d'Alcasoua sent ambassadour to Philip 16 punished by Henry and the cause 64 Peter de Medici generall of the Italians 134 Peter Dora Consul of the French sent into Fraunce for Anthonie 178 he remaines there with the money he receiued 188 Peter de Toledo landes at Faiall and spoiles it 322 Philip king of Spaine meetes with Sebastian at Guadalupa 15 perswades him to accept of Molucs offer 20. labors to diuert Sebastian from Africke 24. accepts peace Sebastians bodie 56. claimes the crowne of Portugal 61. writes to the city of Lisbone 72. sendes a Iacobin into Portugall 80. erects a councell for the affaires of Portugal 81. his reasōs against the other pretēdents 81 his reasons for his pretētion 81. he giueth Henry notice of his right 91. he prepares to war against the Portugals 92. his care to assure his conscience for the realme of Portugall 126. his answere to the Portugals 144. he takes possession of the realme 152. his armie is wasted 153. his letters to the inhabitants of Eluas 156. his letters to Anthonie 159. proclaimed at Oliuenza 162. his answer to the Duke of Bragance 171. his pardon to the Portugals 201. he falleth sick 221. he enters into Portugall by Eluas 238. he visits the Dutchesse of Bragance 247. sworne king at Toruas with the prince Diego 248. his entrie into Lisbone 253. his recompence to the Portugals 270. he prepares against the Terceres 273. he