whilst others acknowledged the true King so that this difference came to be decided by the Sword 7. The Dominicans and Franciscans were appointed to put in Execution this unjust decree and one Giles a Dominican durst notify it to the King King Sancho flies into Castile He seeing himself deprived of his Wife and Government and the People in Rebellion fled to Toledo then the Court of Ferdinand the Holy King of Castile By the way King Sancho reposing himself at Moreira certain Gentlemen came to him offering to stand by him and support his cause provided he would put away his Favourite The King disapproving of this conditional Loyalty no better then open Rebellion continued his Journey At Toledo he spent the remainder of his life in works of Grandeur and Piety He expended a great Treasure in Alms and Building the Royal Chappel in the Cathedral having done extraordinary Pennance for his Sins and given singular marks of great Piety His Death he departed this life the Thirty Ninth Year of his Age and the Thirteenth of his Reign reckoning in those that his Brother Governed for him He is said to have had a special Devotion to S. Lazarus and also that he appeared twice to him in his life-time and was present at his Death In the beginning of his Reign he peopled the City Idanha which had been destroyed by his Grand-father King Sancho when he took it from the Moors He maintained the City Aleazer against the Infidels who Besieged it who after much loss sustained begged a Truce He not only preserved his Kingdom but recovered many places that had been lost and may be accounted amongst the best of our Princes 8. In this King ended the direct line of the Kings of Portugal His Person described he being the Fourth King and Second of the Name His Countenance was Beautiful his Hair fair and long his Forehead high his Eyes green and cheerful his Nose large and his Complexion inclined to pale In his Antient Pictures he is represented in Scarlet Robes a Crown on his Head a Book in one Hand and in the other a Scepter with a Pigeon on the top of it as the commonalty would have it or else it might be a Stork as many Antient Kings used denoting by the care that Bird has of its young ones the love of a Prince towards his Subjects He built from the ground the Monasteries of St. Dominick in the Cities of Lisbon and Porto Some say his Queen accompanied him at Toledo and others affirm she was never heard of more after being taken from him He had no Issue and consequently his Brother suceeded him CHAP. VII The Life and Reign of Alonso the third of the Name and Fifth King of Portugal his Actions and Death from the Year 1210. till 1279. 1. D. Alonso the Third of the Name Alonso III. his Birth and Actions till his assumption to the Crown and Fifth King was Brother to King Sancho whose lot it was to have a Crown without the power of the Government and a Wife without Issue He was Born in the City of Coimbra on the 5th of May was the second Son of King Alonso II. and Married Maud Countess of Bolen in France 1210. then Widdow of Phillip the curled Son of Philip Augustus King of France and Grand-son to the Duke of Maravia whose Daughter Queen Mary was 1245. His thoughts were employed upon the Holy War when he was called to the Crown of Portugal The Kingdom being in confusion the Nobles made suite to Pope Innocent the III. that Alonso might ascend the Throne instead of his Brother Sancho The Pope not to deprive the King of his right and being informed he was not of Ability to Govern consented that Alonso should have the Authority of Regent but Sancho should still have the regal stile and preheminence and his Children if he had any should inherit At Paris Alonso took Solemn Oath as Regent which was to this Effect That he would preserve the Priviledges of the Clergy Nobility and Commonalty That he would constitute upright Judges without Favour or Affection That such as had committed Crimes against Priests should be punished That their Estates should be restored That all Buildings erected to the prejudice of Prelates should be Demolished and nothing for the future should be taken from them This was the promise made and consequently such were the miscarriages then in the Government so that the King suffered for some miscarriages in his Ministers 2. Alonso having taken upon him the Title of Regent Alonso received as Regent set out from Paris and returned to his Country where he was received by most places yet several having more regard to their Loyalty than the present Danger held out long after and some till King Sancho died at Toledo Alonso possessed of the Kingdom He puts away his Wife and Marries another like an ungrateful Man put away his Wife Maud the Countess who Married him when he had nothing and took in her place Beatrix Bastard Daughter to King Alonso the Tenth of Castile Some Authors say the Countess was contrary to all Human and Divine Laws put away on account of Barrenness but that is a mistake for it will appear she had Children Pope Alexander the Fourth thundered out Censures against this second Marriage as unlawful but all to no purpose the King continuing obstinate till the Death of Maud put an end to the dispute Alonso with the ambition of rule pressed all Governours to deliver up their Forts into his hands and yet they that did so were accounted no better than Traitors and such as held out against him were afterwards most esteemed even by him Obidos was the first Town Besieged by Alonso but what the event was 1247. is not known Ferdinand Rodriguez Pacheco valiantly defended Cerolico de los Bebados or Bebado and being reduced to great want one Morning a Bird of Pray dropped a large Trout before him taken out of the River Mondego The Governour sent it as a present to Alonso who judging thereby there was plenty in the Town raised the Siege and departed Thus the Besieged were left at liberty to look abroad for Sustenance so that the Trout may be said to have fed them all 3. The Regent removed to Coimbra A notable example of Loyalty where he met with no better success being opposed by the invincible Loyalty of D. Martin de Freitas Both Parties resolved not to give way to one another The Siege lasted long and the Defendants wavering their noble Governour performed more than Man to retain them in their Duty insomuch that one day he brought out to the Parade his Daughter telling the Soldiers That if want of Women obliged them to think of a Surrender they might make use of that one This act wholly confirmed the minds of the Garrison to him insomuch that they resolved to live and die with him Such was the posture of affairs when News was
overcome without much strugling The Great Master of the Game his Brother and D. Stephen da Cunha charged the Spanish Company before the Palace at the Place called The Fort. Most of the Townsmen who knew of the Design were in this Action and boldly fell in with Sword in Hand upon the Court of Guard None signalized himself more than a Priest who carrying a Crucifix in one hand and a Sword in the other amidst his loud Exhortations ceased not to Act beyond the most desperate of the Conspirators None could stand before him so that after some small Resistance the Spanish Officer and his Soldiers were forced to Surrender themselves and for safety of their Lives to cry out with the rest God save the Duke of Bragança King of Portugal Pinto having made his way into the Palace headed those that were to Attack Vasconcellos his Apartment At the foot of the Stairs they met Francis Soarez de Albergaria Judge of the Civil Causes who seeing this Tumult would have interposed his Authority to appease them but hearing all cry God save the Duke of Bragança he thinking in the Duty of his Office cry'd God save the King of Spain and Portugal This cost him his Life for one of the Conspirators shot him with a Pistol thinking it meritorious to punish that Fidelity which now became Criminal Antony Correa first Clerk to the Secretary ran out upon the noise and was stabb'd by D. Antony de Meneses yet ye turned up his Eyes full of Revenge and said What I dare you strike me All the Answer Meneses returned was to stab him three or four times again till he fell yet he survived all these Wounds to die some time after by the hand of the Hangmanâ— Being quit of this Obstacle the Conspirators pressed forward towards the Secretary's Chamber James 〈…〉 a Captain of Foot was then with him who seeing so many armed Men and supposing they sought the Life of Vasconcellos tho' he owed no Obligation to that Minister yet out of meer Generosity he endeavoured to keep the Door with his Sword till the Secretary could make his escape but being wounded in his Right Arm so that he could not hold his Sword and over-powered by the Multitude he leaped out at a Window and had the good Fortune to escape Immediately the Conspirators broke into the Chamber and not finding the Secretary tho' they searched all corners they threatned an Old Woman-Servant with present Death if she did not discover him and she to save her Life pointed to the Place where he was being a close Cupboard or Closet taken out of the thickness of the Wall where they found him covered with Papers Fear prevented his uttering one word and D. Roderick de Saa gave him the first Wound firing a Pistol at him after which several of the Conspirators having struck him they cast the Body out at the Window crying The Tyrant is dead let Liberty live and D. John King of Portugal 15. The Multitude who had flocked to the Palace gave great shouts of Joy seeing the Body cast down and falling upon it every one endeavoured to have a stroke at it Such was the end of Vasconcellos a Man of great Parts and indefatigable who had gathered vast Riches part whereof was plundered in this hurly-burly The Vice-Queen and others seized Pinto losing no time hasted to joyn the Party that was to seize the Vice-Queen and found they and all the rest were already successful Those who were to enter that Princess's Apartment being come to the Door and the enraged Multitude crying out they would set fire to it if not opened quickly the Vice-Queen with her Ladies and the Archbishop of Braga appeared in her Chamber believing her Presence would appease the Nobility and cause the Commonalty to retire Whereupon advancing some steps towards the chief of the Conspirators she said I confess Gentlemen that the Secretary has justly incurred the hatred of the People and your Indignation by his Austerity and insolent manner of proceeding His Death is a sufficient Revenge Believe that what has hitherto passed may be attributed to the hatred conceived against the Secretary but if you proceed in this Uproar you cannot avoid being reputed Rebels and you will deprive me of means of excusing you to the King D. Antony de Meneses answered That so many Persons of Worth were not met only to punish a Wretch who ought to have died by the Hands of the Hangman that they came to do Right to the Duke of Braganza to whom the Crown of Right appertained She would have replyed but Almeida fearing the Conspirators might cool said Portugal had no King but the Duke of Braganza and then all the Conspirators cryed out God save D. John King of Portâ—â—â— The Vice-Queen seeing them past reclaiming thought to find more Respect in the City but as she offered to go down D. Charles de Noronha prayed her to retire to her Chamber and not expose her self to the fury of the incensed People In a Rage finding her self forcibly detained she cryed out Why what can the People do to me To which Noronha rudely answered Nothing Madam but throw your Highness out at the Window The Archbishop of Braga enraged at what Noronha said snatched a Sword from a Soldier and offered to run upon the Conspirators in Vindication of the Vice-Queen but D. Michael de Almeida laid hold of and told him the danger of provoking those who but for him had decreed his Death This made him curb his Passion in hopes of a more favourable Opportunity of Revenging himself upon Noronha The rest of the Conspirators seized the Spaniards that were in the Palace or City The Marquess de la Puebla Steward to the Vice Queen D. James Cardenas Major-General D. Ferdinand de Castro Intendant of the Sea the Marquess de Bainetto an Italian Master of the Horse to the Vice-Queen and several Sea-Officers were made Prisoners which was done with as great ease as if they had been apprehended by Order of the King of Spain No Man stirred to defend them and they were in no condition to do it being most of them taken in Bed 16. This done Antony de Saldanha led the People to the Courts of Judicature where he made an Harangue to them upon the present Happiness of Portugal in being delivered from Tyranny All Proceedings ordered to run in the Name of D. John King of Portugal and restored to their Natural Prince His words were received with general Applause and all Proceedings for the future ordered to run in the Name of D. John King of Portugal In the mean while D. Gaston Coutinho released all those out of Prison who had been committed through the Severity of the Spanish Ministers and they thus unexpectedly delivered formed themselves into a Body no less Formidable than that of the first Conspirators Amidst this general Joy Pinto and the other Principal Men were not free from Care The Spaniards were still possessed of the
the King 's farther entertaining of young Conti. He obeyed for a while or at least saw him but by stealth till at length impatient to be curbed he slighted their injunctions and fell again to his former familiarities with him The Queen and Count who had no power to constrain seeing their advice rejected were force to connive at this return of their Familiarity hoping that Time or some Accident would change the King's Inclination The King being of Age to be able to mount a Horse his Governour instructed him carefully in that manly Exercise as believing this might conduce to draw him from other less honourable Pastimes but it proved not as he expected For Alphonso took the advantage of the riding place to admit not only Conti but also many others of the meanest sort whom he delighted to see wrestle pitch the Bar and Fight not sparing at times to mix himself among them The Count not knowing what other course to take to break the King of that Company adventured one day to cast them all out of the Place in the King's sight reproaching and threatening them all but particularly Conti to whom he denounced Death if he were seen again with the King who though at that time he said nothing yet he highly resented it and afterwards was mindful of this Boldness of his Governor The absence of Conti lasted not long for the King's Mind being wholly bent upon him and some who thought to make their Fortunes by flattery representing this Separation as a Diminution of the Royal Authority he was soon recall'd Being to return to Court the more to terrifie his Enemies he endeavoured and that successfully to incline the King to mischievous Sports such as fighting of Mastives Bulls and Horses and to flinging of Stones with Slings which often flying at Rovers did harm to People at a distance These accidents were the cause that no Murther or other Mischief was committed in the City but what was improved by his Enemies as if Countenanced by Alphonso But now the Count de Odemira to draw him from these unseemly Exercises put him upon Fencing in which he made no great Improvement because he would not observe Rule but wholly put himself upon cutting and thrusting with all his Force in such sort as he often eluded Art it self Within the same Pallace with the King lived his Brother Peter The Queens Ambition and Differences betwixt the two Brothers and their Mother the Queen Regent a Woman not so zealous for her Children as careful to preserve the power she had got being used to rule and disdaining to part with it The Infante so all the Children of Kings are called except the Heir to the Crown who alone has the Title of Prince and his Brother were ever at Variance nor was it possible to reconcile them because the Elder looked upon it as a Presumption in the younger who blamed and condemned all his Actions and the younger being supported by his Mother and the great ones of his Party never ceased to give him fresh provocations Antony Conti perceiving the King was now at those Years that the Charms of Beauty began to work upon him lost not this opportunity of securing himself in his Favour but by all possible means endeavoured to heighten his Desire and promote his Pleasure The Queen Mother observing that her Son though he carried it with great Dissimulation in respect to her could not forbear casting many amorous glances upon her â—adies and fearing least the splendor of the Crown might induce some of them to submit to his Will sound no expedient to secure their Honour but by taking away all Opportunity To this purpose she appointed him a separate Retinue and a particular apartment in the Pallace which tho' he was of Age she had forbore doing before least he should wrest the Government she was so unwilling to part with out of her hands This sudden change for some time withheld Alphonso always beset with the great men of the Kingdom from the mean company he before took delight in But Conti fearing least if he took to a solid deportment his favour would soon decline never ceased till he drew him back from those grave formalities to the practice of his former violent and extravagant Exercises It is worth the observing that tho' in Portugal it be one of the things the Nobility and Gentry most value themselves upon to ride at a Bull with a spear and strike him therewith yet one of the great crimes objected against Alphonso is that as he was riding in the Plain beyond Tagus he ran with his spear at a Bull but so unfortunately that his Horse being gored he was cast to the ground and taken up for dead His delighting in unruly Horses his liking to fierce Dogs and many other such youthful excesses are urged against him and painted out as the blackest infamies Yet nothing has since been more improved to his disadvantage or then made a greater noise Slanders cast upon the King than his attacking alone three men in a dark Night whom for a considerable space he set very hard till Number prevailing he at length fell having received at their hands two wounds and was saved from farther perill by his servants comming in These very Actions alledged against him prove that he was not so Lamed with the Palsy as was pretended by his adversaries And as for the extravagancy of quarrelling in the street it is a fault so habitual to Youth in all parts that to object it to him as a crime unpardonable looks as if indeed there were none real to accuse him of But it is most certain that what in the unfortunate is accounted Vice in the fortunate passes for Virtue However after he was recovered of his wounds the Councel of State in the Name of the Kingdom made a remonstrance to him upbraiding him with things past and desiring him for the future to have more regard to the safety of his Person Indeed as it proved a course piece of Court-ship to pray their King to spare his Life that he might afterwards End it miserably in imprisonment This remonstrance had such effect upon the King that tho' he did not abandon Vice yet he changed those his fierce inclinations for others more soft and secure such as are the intriegnes of Love so that now his whole delight was in Feasting and Women He walked the streets of Lisbon at Night with a Train of bravoes ranging to lewd houses and sometimes those that accompanied him committed outrages upon such as they met Neither was this all for at length even by day he would slip out or suffer women to be brought to him to the Court. To divert him from these scandalous courses his Mother with some of the Nobility contrived to fill his mind with business giving him some part in the administration of publick Affairs yet so as that the supream Authority might still remain in her hands Thus Alphonso was brought to give
Synod was held at Braga to reform Abuses much about this time the Africans with a great Fleet scouring along the Coast of Spain did much harm The King sent his Forces against them by whom they were overthrown their Fleet burnt and all their power both by Sea and Land consumed It is thought that one Count Ervigius a Grecian banished by the Emperor of Constantinople was the cause of their coming he aspiring to the Crown thought that the Goths thus invaded would easily have submitted themselves to him because he had married a Niece of King Recesinudus and that Wamba was then very Aged Failing of his design he gave Wamba a sort of Poison that disturbed his Brain and at the same time prevailed with him to appoint him his Successor Besides these his Contrivances Wamba desirous of himself to lay down the burden of a Crown to him grown unsupportable voluntarily quitted the regal Authority and took the habit of a Monk in the Monastery of Pampliega betwixt Burgos and Valladolid on the Banks of the River Pisuerga where he approved himself as good a Religious Man as he had been a King Eight or more Years he Reigned and lived Seven in the Monastery it is not known that he had any Children nor so much as a Wife he was Buried at Pampliega King Ferdinand the Saint designed to Translate him to Toledo and his Son D. Alonso the Wife put it in Execution There are two Tombs now in the Chappel of St. Leocadia in the Cathedral of that City one supposed to be Wamba 's and the other of King Recesiundus King Philip the II. causing them to be opened in the Year 1575 one of the Bodies was found cloathed in the habit of St. Benedict which was therefore concluded to be that of Wamba because he wearing that Habit whilst living was doubtless Buried in it Some Authors will have him to be Buried at Cinanium or Citania a City in the Mid-way betwixt Braga and Guimaraens 5. Ervigius Successor to Wamba 681. was Son to Ardebastus Ervigius 〈◊〉 Wamba whom Ancient Records call Count who was married to the Daughter of King Chindasuindus Tho' he deserved not the Crown as being an unjust Usurper he afterwards seemed worthy of it for his good Government his ensuing Virtues attoned for his former Crimes One of his first Actions was the assembling of a national Counsel 682. the chief intent whereof was to secure the Crown he had wrongfully got 684. Two Years after he called together another Council which confirmed all the Acts of the former A third also met the following Year to receive the Decrees of the sixth General Council of Constantinople against the Heresy of Apollinarus His Actions Ervigius though well settled in the Throne the better to secure himself married his Daughter Cixilona to Egica Wamba's Nephew being the Son of his Sister Ariberga A great part of Portugal was at this time Governed by Sala a Noble and Valiant Commander He repaired the Walls and Bridge of Merida and other publick Structures King Ervigius himself Built almost from the Ground the Walls of Idaria Ervigius Reigned Seven Years and died at Toledo the same Year as did King Wamba at Pampliega 6. Egica the Nephew of King Wamba 687. the more to express his Aversion to Ervigius King Egica whom he succeeded in the Throne put away his Daughter whom as was said he had Married whereupon her Children were as ill treated as were those of her Father All the Brethren felt the want of right in their Father being cast out and not respected so much as Noble Men. However Egica gave them some ease till such time as a Council could be assembled to order what ought to be done with them 689. This Counsel at length meeting Decreed the King might lawfully prosecute all that were guilty of the Treason whereby Ervigius ascended the Throne Several were punished in different manners Hereupon ensued a Conspiracy against the King in which Segibertus Archbishop of Toledo was the principal Actor This design being discovered Egica called together another Counsel to be the better able to proceed against the Archbishop Sixty Bishops met among whom were Ten Portuguese who gave Sentence against the Archbishop Excommunicating Banishing and Deposing him from his Dignity 693. Some dangerous Commotions happened in Gallia Narbonensis then subject to the Spanish Monarchs fortune therein favouring the Rebels These troubles were followed by Plague and Famine The Jews conspire against the King and are punished The Jews who were then numerous in Spain took occasion herefrom to conspire against the King and for the carrying on their Designs held correspondence with others that lived in Africk and other Foreign parts The King informed thereof called another Counsel at Toledo 694. to punish the Guilty excepting those of Narbonne because of the Plague and Famine that consumed them The Plot being proved the Criminals were Condemned to serve as Slaves throughout all Spain and to have their Children taken from them at Seven Years of Age to be instructed in the Christian Faith 7. About this time Witisa Son to Egica Reigns in Portugal one Count Vitulus rebelled in that part of Galicia that joyns to Portugal His design was to usurp the Monarchy of the Goths but his Power being too small he soon suffered the penalty of his Rashness To prevent the like Practices for the future the King gave the Kingdoms of Portugal and Galicia to his Son Witisa the Grandson of Ervigius being then of Age to Govern To himself he kept the rest of Spain and Gallia Narbonensis Witisa went into Portugal and kept his Court in the City Braga where by his unjust Actions he raised many Troubles and much Blood was spilt his Father having sent him thither to prevent Discord which he seemed rather to sow This Country was eased by his absence for he removed to Tuy in Galicia where he lived till the Death of his Father It is no new thing for a vertuous Father to have wicked Children King Egica besides Witisa had Opas Archbishop of Toledo famous for assisting to the Destruction of Spain he was also Father of Fandina Wife to the unfamous Count Julian and Mother to Florinda the only cause of that lamentable Tragedy 8. Witisa being possessed of the Government of all Spain 701. became so insolent After 〈…〉 Death he is Monarch of all Spain that giving way to all manner of Vice discouraging Vertue and laying open all places of strength in the Kingdom he may well be stiled the Spanish Nero. I will not go about to relate all his Cruelties and leud Practices but must not omit to say he cast off all Obedience to the Pope and gave great Priviledges to the Jews so that they returned to Spain and erected Synagogues The Inhabitants of Braga sent Felix their Archbishop to Toledo to Petition the King that the Walls of their City might not be Demolished as he
had ordered He was not admitted to speak with the King but only with Count Julian then the great Favourite of whom he obtained what he went about This lascivious King killed Favila the Father of Pelayus and Duke of Cantabria thinking by that means the better to enjoy his Wife D. Luz His Cruelties he put out the Eyes of Theodofredus Father to King Roderick and D. Luz thereby to make him incapable of inheriting the Crown but Roderick did the same by him 711. so that he died Blind having Reigned Ten Years There is no Account who was his Wife but it appears he had two Sons which were Evan and Sisebutus who being Banished by King Roderick into Africk fled to the Protection of Requila Commander of Tangier their Father's Friend and thence came over a Commander among the Moores that destroyed Spain and so died Those Calamities require another Chapter CHAP. VI. The Reign of King Roderick from the Year 711 till the coming of the Moores in 714 all Spain subdued by them in Eight Months the Restauration began by Pelagius and his Successors till the Year 783. 1. SOme Writers who have obtained no small Credit 711. name Acosta or Aconsta as Successor to Witisa yet others there are who absolutely exclude him as fabulous If any such was he was Eldest Son to Theodofredus and Brother to King Roderick however it is we have no account of his Actions and if any were being so dubious Roderick last King of the Goths they are scarce worth relating Roderick then may be allowed immediate Successor to Witisa he was Granson to King Chindasuindus and Son to Theodofredus Duke of Cordova by his Wife Recilona Favila Duke of Cantabria was Brother to Theodofredus and had Pelagus or Pelagius by his Wife and Niece to the Lady Luz Thus the Subversion and Restauration of Spain had their Authors proceeding from the same stock for as Roderick was cause of the Destruction so Pelagus was the first that laid his Hand to the Reparation of it Roderick ascended the Throne with no small hopes conceived by his Subjects of a better Government than had been before Count Julian Favorite to Roderick but the event made him more odious than his Predecessor had been Count Julian the great Favorite and prime Master to Witisa continued in the same Post under King Roderick Julian was Father to her whom the vulgar calls Cava and our Historians Florinda of her Roderick became enamoured that so the greatest Desolution might not happen without the help of a Woman Having chosen her for his Wife it fortuned that Egilona or Eilata an African Princess or according to others a Goth was droven by Tempest into a Port of Spain she being brought to the King her Beauty so captivated him that forgetting Florinda he took her to Wife Thus she who thought to have been Queen continued at Court as one of the Queen's Ladies Julian her Father enraged beyond measure immediately contrived how to be Revenged and in order to it perswaded the King to Dismantle all the strong places left standing by Witisa and disarm his Subjects which was accordingly done 2. Soon after the King sent Julian Ambassador to Muza in Africk Julian sent Ambassador into Africk to request of him not to protect Evan and Sisebutus the Sons of Witisa The more to move Muza he thought it proper to send him some considerable Present and being informed that in a Tower near Toledo great Treasures were of Antient time reported to be hid the Doors having many locks upon them because it was a received Opinion that when they were opened great Calamities would ensue the King resolved to enter this place In it was found nothing but a Chest containing only a Picture representing Men a Horse-back in Moorish Apparel with several sorts of Weapons and an Inscription denoting that when those Gates were opened Spain would be Invaded and Conquered by that sort of Men. The King thought the Prediction would be Averted by locking up the place again with what it contained but it proved otherwise Julian being gone upon his Embassage King Roderick relapsed into the love of Florinda and courted her but without receiving any Favour Frandina her Mother perceiving it and desiring to be her self the Mistress of a King caused one Bigamota an attendant of hers to deliver some Messages to the King as from Florinda Roderick ravishes Florinda Daughter to Julian tending to meet him in some convenient place where shrowded with Darkness she might supply the place of her Daughter the King encouraged by those false invitations watched his opportunity and finding Florinda alone ravished her 3. Florinda now doubly wronged first of the Throne and then of her Honour was touched with the highest Resentment her Mother soon discovered the effect being sensible of the cause and changing her love to the King into hatred perswades Florinda to acquaint her Father by Writing with the loss of her Honour 712. Julian hereupon hasts back into Spain Julian meditates Revenge dissembling his Rage and appearing joyful before the King having succeeded in his Embassy obtained fresh Favours He begged the Government of the Towns held in Africk and thither he went with his Wife leaving his Daughter at Court to prevent all suspicion Julian treated with Muza about betraying the Kingdom of the Goths unto the Caliphs and he having received instructions from his Prince agreed upon the Conditions without much difficulty the Traitor not only encouraging the Barbarian to pass over into Spain but drawing over many great Men in his Government to take part with them Having settled these Affairs at Malaga he came to Court and obtained leave to carry away his Daughter with him He brings the Moors into Spain the King nothing mistrusting any Treason Muza in pursuance of what was agreed upon sent over 6000 Arabs under the Command of Tarif Abenzarca to make the first incursion into Spain 713. these being joyned by the like number of the Rebels broke through Andaluzia into Lusitania where nothing being less thought of than War Men Women and Children were seen in droves flying to the Mountains King Roderick alarmed with this invasion sent his Nephew D. Inhigo Sanchez with some number of Men armed only with Staves and Stones yet such as they were they had several rencounters with the Enemy but at last their Commander being slain and they overpowered were put to flight The Victorious Arabs returned into Africk with Booty and many Captives this was the first Scene of the wicked Count's Revenge and of the overthrow of the Spanish Monarchy 4. Whilst Count Julian and the Caliph prepared for a more powerful Expedition King Roderick now awake raised the greatest number of Men he could and with all possible speed provided Arms and Fortified his Towns He thought the Barbarians would have given him more time but they immediately passed over the streights of Gibraltar with a wonderful Fleet 200000 Foot and
flight of his Daughter Ximena The third was Sancha Daughter to the King of Navarre by these two he had no Children 923. The last Action of his life darkn'd all the Glory of his former Triumphs He sent for four Counts who governed Castile upon safe Conduct to Carrion and there cut off their Heads Which so incensed the People of Castile that they only wanted an Opportunity to rebell and take Revenge But Death prevented their Designs 924. taking him away at Zamora His Body was buried in the great Church of Leon which City he had so entirely loved that he took its Name for the Title of his Kingdom leaving that of King of Oviedo and Galicia CHAP. VIII The Succession of the Kings of Castile and Leon from the Year 924 till 985 With the Revolt of Count Fernan Gonzalez And the Desolation made in Portugal by Alcoraxis and Almanzor the Moors 1. D. Fruela II. was Successor to his Brother Ordonno Fruela II. usurps the Crown usurping the Crown from his Children who were then very young He was nothing like to his Brother in Valour for he ceased the Prosecution of the War against the Infidels but was not unlike to him in the last Action of his Life for as Ordonno unjustly put to death the fore-mentioned Counts so Fruela wrongfully executed certain Gentlemen called Olmudes He became so odious to the Castilians that the Nobility Castile separates from Leon. and creates a Government under Judges joining together rebelled and separated themselves from the Crown of Leon. To this purpose they chose two Judges to rule them The two first were Nunno Rasura and Lain Calvo They were of the Middle Sort of People neither of the Greatest nor Meanest that so they might neither be too powerful nor become contemptible Yet from them are the Kings of Spain descended At the same time that this Government was instituted in Castile we find Counts governing in some Parts of Portugal as D. Gutierre Arias at Porto and Hufo Hufez at Viseo A Leprosie consumed King Fruela so fast 925. that he died at Leon having reigned scarce a Year and was buried in the Cathedral He had two Wives D. Munia and D. Vrraca By them he had Issue Ordonno Alonso and Ramiro King Ramiro II. put out all their Eyes and thrust them into the Monastery of St. Julian either upon Suspicion or Proof that they conspired against him He had also a fourth Son called Fruela 2. Alonso IV Alonso IV. resigns the Government to his Brother Ramiro Eldest Son of King Ordonno II after the Death of Fruela recovered his Right and Kingdom He was not wicked as his Predecessor but as unprofitable to his Kingdom as he His best Quality was That he was sensible of his own Insufficiency and therefore first sent his Brother Ramiro to govern Portugal and afterwards resigned the Kingdom to him and became himself a Monk Ramiro had chosen the City Viseo for his Residence in Portugal whence he made Inroads into the Frontiers of the Moors and by his gentle Government gained the Affections of the People Here he received Letters from the King his Brother calling him to Court in order to resign the Crown to him for that his Son Prince Ordonno was but an Infant D. Ramiro fearing his Brother's Inconstancy hasted to Zamora that he might not have Time to repent The King immediately put the Crown upon his Head and was the first that did him Homage as his Subject Which done he took the Habit of a Benedictine Monk in the Monastery of Sahagun and is therefore called Alonso the Monk He was married to Ximena the Daughter of King Sancho Abarca of Navarre and had by her Ordonno who came to be King and D. Alonso who died young He died in the Monastery of St. Julian and lies there buried But we shall see him repent and disturb his Brother's Reign 3. King Alonso being become a Monk 928. and repenting Alonso repents and raises a Civil War his Brother Ramiro now possessed of the Crown resolved not to part with it and thus began a Civil War which was the Cause of much Mischief The Moors making their Advantage thereof recovered the Cities of Lamâ—go Braganza and Porto with all the Country lying between the Rivers Tagus and Duero The Castilians also made use of this Opportunity their Judges Nunno and Lain being dead to raise up in their stead the Count Ferran Gonzalez King Ramiro politickly winking at this Affront 932. which he could not revenge upon the Authors invaded the Kingdom of Toledo destroying all before him with Fire and Sword King Alonso the Monk held out two Years in Leon against his Brother Ramiro But then despairing of Success he stirred up Alonso Ordonno and Ramiro the Sons of his Predecessor Fruela to raise a Rebellion in Asturias and Biscay believing that would draw away the King his Brother from attending upon him Nevertheless the King continued the Siege obliged him to surrender and afterwards put him into Prison This done he found Means to apprehend the three Brothers and to prevent future Designs put out theirs and his Brother the Monk's Eyes Two Years Alonso lived blind But the King repenting of this Cruelty used towards his Brother to testifie his Repentance built the Monastery of St. Julian 4. Two Months are said to have passed in the Year 934 934. in which Time the Light of the Sun was scarce seen Prodigies in the Sky at the End whereof a Breach or Yawning appeared in the Sky along which great Flames of Fire were seen to run and the Stars seemed to wander in the Region of the Air. Many Judgments were made upon these Prodigies but most agreed they portended the End of the World to be at hand At last the Sun shined out and whilst the Christians appeased God with Prayers the Moors consulted their Wizards Alfarani of Meca affirmed to King Abderramen that this Prodigy threaten'd the Downfall of Christian Princes if he would take in hand to pull them down Diviners fore-tell what they know is pleasing to Princes and Princes believe that which pleases them Abderramen declares War and makes mighty Preparations for it drawing great Succours out of Africk under the Command of Almanzor With an Army almost innumerable he broke into Portugal bearing down all before him and putting the Christians to most cruel Deaths King Ramiro having gathered the greatest Power he could set forward to meet the Enemy whose Multitude obliged him to retire to the Mountains of Clavijo Ramiro destroys a great Army of Infidels Here the Apostle St. James is said to have appeared to him promising he should obtain a wonderful Victory in that Place In the Fight the Apostle was seen on Horseback making great Slaughter among the 〈◊〉 This Victory some will have to be the Cause of his being taken for Patron of Spain though others say it was that in the Time of King Alonso I. as was
before observed 5. There is a very strange Story about this King A Romantick Story of King Ramiro which because it looks rather Romantick than Historical I will lightly pass over It is as follows King Ramiro was married to the Lady Vrraca but understanding that Alboazar a powerful Moor had a most beautiful Sister called Zara he fell in Love with her by Hear-say He demanded her of Alboazar but being denied had her betrayed to him for Money then putting away his Queen he married her Alboazar to revenge this Wrong surprized and carried away Queen Vrraca who was left at Millor on the other side the River Duero Ramiro hearing hereof filled his Galleys with the choicest of his Men and running up a River near which she was kept he planted the Galleys all covered with Green close under certain Trees that over-shaded the River Then having laid an Ambush and ordered them to lie close till he sounded a Cornet he carried with him he in Disguize approached the Castle where the Queen was kept There he met a Maid belonging to the Queen carrying a Pitcher of Water for her whereof with the Maid's Consent he drank and dropped a Jewel into it well known to the Queen She seeing the Jewel caused him to be brought up to her and having yielded her self up before to the Lust of Alboazar she now betrayed the King into his Hands Ramiro seeing himself taken begged Leave only to sound his Cornet which being granted his Men that lay in Ambush broke into the Castle killed Alboazar and carried away the Queen whom the King caused to be cast into the Sea with a Stone about her Neck because asking of her why she looked so melancholy she answered It was for the Death of the Moor who was a better Man than he To this Relation let every Man give the Credit he thinks it may deserve This King Ramiro had two Wives besides the Moor we have now spoke of The First was the Lady Vrraca and by her he had Ordonno his Successor Sancho and Bermudo The Second was Teresa Daughter to Sancho Abarca King of Navarre Her Issue were Sancho Audonio and Elvira By Artida the Moor he had Alboazar Ramirez and Artiga Ramirez King Ramiro reigned 19 Years 950. he died at Leon and lies in the Monastery of Our Holy Saviour founded by himself and his two Wives Vrraca and Teresa 6. King Ordonno III. was Successor to Ramiro II. King Ordonno III. disturbed by Rebels subdues them The Beginning of his Reign was blessed with Peace which lasted not long for he was soon disturbed by his Brother Sancho who aimed to usurp the Crown assisted by the Count Fernan Gonzalez who took part with him through Malice and contrary to Right and the Tyes of Affinity for Ordonno had married his Daughter Vrraca The Count was guilty of many Enormities besides this notwithstanding the vulgar Opinion of his extraordinary Vertues and Merit D. Garcia Sanchez King of Navarre and Uncle to Sancho as well as Brother to his Mother favoured his Designs With these Aids Sancho presumed to assume the Regal Stile and enter'd the Kingdom of Leon wasting that very Country where he intended to reign King Ordonno soon repulsed the Invaders and the better to be revenged of the Count he was divorced from his Daughter and sent her back to him Some Towns in Galicia had also rebelled but the King reduced them with a great Slaughter of the Rebels No sooner had he quelled the Rebels but he marched through Portugal as far as Lisbon whither no Christian King had reached since D. Alonso the Chaste He takes Lisbon After a fierce Assault he took the City by Storm and gave the Plunder thereof to his Army Which done he returned to his Court laden with Spoils and bestowed them in rewarding those that had deserved best and in Religious Works Conveniency made the King and Count Fernan Gonzalez who had been long at Variance agree and unite their Forces against the King of Cordova They came to a Battel near Gormaz where the Christians obtained a glorious Victory which brought Peace to their Frontiers before subject to continual Incursions This was the Posture of Affairs 955. when Ordonno died at Zamora He lies buried in the Church of Our Blessed Saviour at Leon by his Father with his two Wives Vrraca from whom he was divorced and Elvira whose Parentage is unknown By her he had D. Bermudo and Teresa a Nun in the Monastery of St. Julian in Leon. 7. Sancho Sancho 〈◊〉 Usurper called The Fat. the Brother of King Ordonno usurped the Crown from Bermudo the late King's Son then a Child This Sancho was excessively swelled with the Dropsie and thence though improperly called The Fat He had not long enjoyed the Crown when those very Rebels who had unjustly set it upon his Head 957. took it thence Ordonno Surnamed the Wicked advanced to the Crown to bestow it upon D. Ordonno Surnamed The Wicked Son to King Alonso the Monk The Rebel Count Fernan Gonzalez was the chief Actor in promoting him to the Throne and therefore gave him to Wife his Daughter Vrraca before put away by the other King Ordonno King Sancho fled to Navarre and thence to Cordova Sancho returns and expels him where there were famous Physicians who cured him of his Dropsie Being recovered of his Indisposition he gathered an Army and was so fortunate as to take the Count Fernan Gonzalez and his Son-in-Law Ordonno Though he had them Prisoners he would not presently put them to Death but kept the Count in Custody D. Sancha his Wife coming to see him in Prison changed Clothes with him and by that Means he escaped leaving her in his stead A great Rebellion was raised by the Counts that governed Portugal but the Presence of the King soon reduced them Only Count Gonzalo who governed beyond Duero durst march with an Army to meet his Sovereign yet finding him too strong he made a feigned Submission and was pardoned It was not long before he compassed by Poyson what he had failed of by the Sword The Portuguese Counts being accused of this Treason to clear themselves challenged D. Gonzalo and Count Fruela Vermuiz their Champion overcame him at the Town of Salas near the City of Perto King Sancho perceiving his Death draw near ordered himself to be carried to Leon 96◠but died by the Way at the Monastery of Castrillo where he was buried but was afterwards translated to Leon where his Queen was also interred Queen Teresa was Daughter to Assur Fernandez Count of Monzon By her the King had Issue D. Ramiro III his Successor Vrraca married to Count Nepociano Diaz and Ermesenda by whom the King her Brother is said to have had D. Sancho the Hairy About this time Castile revolted from the Crown of Leon. Authors write that the Cause was because the King could not pay Count Fernan Gonzalez for an Horse and an Hawk he had
〈◊〉 a King leaving the Formalities of the inauguration of the new King for another place The Judges and their Officers walk a foot from the Town-house with long mourning Cloaks with Hoods to them on their head After them the Town Standard Bearer on a Horse with mourning trappings with black colours on his Shoulder the end whereof trails upon the Ground Then follows the Sheriff with two others in Mourning like the others each of them carrying a Bucler over his head Next to them come the Aldermen followed by a multitude of People in this manner they proceed to the great Church where the Sheriff having made a short Speech declaring the King's death and their great loss he lets fall the Buckler from his head upon the Stones and breaks it to pieces at which the People raise a hideous lamentation Then they go to the Mint and so to the great Hospital at both which places they perform the same Ceremony which done they return to the great Church and hear Mass The third day after is performed the Ceremony of inauguration which shall be spoke of in another place This Ceremony was now performed at Coimbra where Martin then Bishop crowned King Sancho and his Queen Dulcis according to the custom of those times 3. The first action of the new King was paying his Obedience to Pope Vrban III. 1186. after which he so much addicted himself to repairing of Towns and Castles and building others anew He repairs and builds many Towns as also to encouraging of Tilling that he was called the Peopler and the Farmer or Tiller To the Military order of Santiago he gave the Towns of Alcazar Palmela Almada and Arruda to that of Avis Alpedriz and Alcanede to the Templars Idanha He repaired the great Town of Covillam to whose jurisdiction 300 Villages are subject and gave a Charter to it as he did to Gouvea Viseo and Braganza Ferdinand King of Leon entred into Portugal 1187. with greater force than success for after several repulses he was defeated in the Country of Cerolico Bebado now called la Vera The Governour of Villota a Town on a Hill near the City Guardia observing the King of Leon's Army dispersed about the Villages for Plunder gatherered all the Forces near him and marching from Trancoso recovered all the Booty killing many and putting the rest to flight A Fleet of English Flemings and Danes consisting of 53 sail 1188. Commanded by Jaques Lord of Avesnes entred the Mouth of the River Tagus being designed for the Holy Land The King supplied them with all they wanted and designing the Conquest of the City Silves the Metropolis of Algarve Silves in Algarve taken with the help of a Foreign Fleet. and refuge of all the Moorish Pyrates he proposed advantagious terms to these Strangers if they would assist him in that Expedition They consented Articling for the Plunder of the City if taken Forty Portuguese Gallies were joined to the Foreign Fleet besides Tenders carrying Provision and warlike Munitions The King marched with his Army by Land whilst the Fleet made the best of its way at Sea Both being come before the City they furiously Battered and gave several Assaults to it for the space of two Months meeting a vigorous resistance in the Defendants At the end of that time the Moors pressed with Hunger and the continual attacks of the Christians delivered up the City capitulating only for their lives 4. This City of Silves taken 1189. as has been said was again lost the ensuing Year Algarve subdued King Sancho adds that Title to Portugal King Sancho soon returned into Algarve and not only recovered it but took also the Town of Albor and Castle of Abenabacci besides other places This Country thus conquered King Sancho stiled himself King of Algarve and to the Royal Arms of Portugal added an Orle of Castles Some of his Coin has been seen which in the Orle has 7 Castles which number is still used in the Armes of Algarve when separated from those of Portugal King Alonso III. added more making the Number uncertain but King John II. long after fixed the Number again at seven Betwixt this Year and that of 1200 were repeopled the Towns of Penamacor Pinel Torres Novas Azambuja Penucova Gondomar Ermelo Covellinas Soto de Panoyas and Povos Mâ—ntemayor the New was now first Built as also the City Guarda on the side of the Mountain formerly called Herminius now Serra da Estrella 1190. King Sancho entred Andaluzia a second time laid Siege to the Town of Serpa overthrew the Moors that came to relieve it and yet was forced to rise without taking it Soon after it was taken by the Knights of the Order of Avis Peter Fernandez de Castro that famous Castilian who taking offence at his King often led the Moors against him being now General for the King of Morocco did great harm in Portugal All the territory of Tomar was wasted and Abrantes plundered As he was retiring loaded with rich Plunder Martin Lopez a famous Commander encountred him and after a most sharp dispute recovered all the Prey and took him Prisoner 5. The Miramamolin again overwhelmed this Kingdom with an Army of 400000 Horse and 500000 Foot I could wish a Cipher were cut off from each Number and it would appear more credible He took Torres Novas without opposition but Tomar was bravely defended by Galdin Paez Master of the Templers who had done notable service in the Holy Land The Moor offered to exchange the places he had taken for the City Silves but this proposition being rejected by King Sancho he in a fury laid Siege to Santarem where the Plague raging in his Army Robert Labril and Richard Cambil Englishmen with a fleet of 63 Ships arrive at Lisbon and assist the Portuguese against the Moors he was forced to break it up and depart 63 Men of War from the Northern parts arrived at Lisbon commanded by two English Men of Note called Robert Labril and Richard Cambil The first ten that came in aided the King at Santarem against the Miramamolin the others being joined to them there arose such contention betwixt them and the Portuguese as might have been the cause of much Bloodshed had not the King prudently prevented it and sent the Strangers away well contented A most terrible Plague and devouring Famine followed all these great successes and not only destroyed Men in their Houses but even the wild Beasts in the Woods or else they ran to the Towns for Prey whilst Men fled to the Mountains for Shelter 1191. The Monks of Alcobaca perceiving they must of necessity Perish Great Famine hid an Image of our Lady in the Mountain which being afterwards found A total Eclipse of the Sun a Church was built there and called Our Lady of Help To be brief a great part of the Kingdom was altogether unpeopled all this was foreshown by a total Solar Eclipse 6. As if
with the Aragonian and our King joyned in League with the former against the other But the Castilian knowing the inconstancy of Ferdinand soon came to agreement with the Aragonian The more to bind the Portuguese to him he proposed a Match betwixt our Princess Beatrix and his own Bastard-Son Frederick 1375. This Match being approved of by the Cortes at Leyria they were married by Proxy and the King of Castile Swore to perform the Articles of the Treaty 1376. on the 19th of January 1377. Our King being forsaken by the Castilian Prince John privately marries Mary Sister to Queen Ellenor concluded a League against Aragon with Lewis Duke of Anjou Son to the King of France Prince John of Portugal falling in Love with the Lady Mary Sister to the then Queen Ellenor raised also by her Beauty to the Throne he was privately married to her But Queen Ellenor instead of rejoycing at the Advancement of her Sister fearing that the King dying without Issue she might come to be Queen contrived her Death and to compass her ends she perswaded the Prince she would Marry him to the Princess Beatrix the King 's only Daughter and by that means secure him the Succession of the Crown At the same time she accused her Sister of defiling his Bed He Murders her The Prince moved with Hope and Revenge hasted to Coimbra and breaking in upon the Innocent Lady murdered her as she leaped naked out of Bed and taking Horse fled to secure himself and his followers As soon as the News of this Action came to Court 1378. the Queen went into deep Mourning The Prince easily obtained his Pardon and coming to Court began to sollicit the Conclusion of the Match before proposed to him by the Queen with the Lady Beatrix but finding nothing in her but Deceit he retired to the Province that lies betwixt Duero and Minho and thence fled to Castile where he was kept from the Crown of Portugal which would have fallen to him as we shall see in the next Reign had he not fled for killing his Wife 2. A mighty Solar Eclipse preceded the Death of Henry A great Eclipsâ— of the Sun King of Castile which happened on the 30th of May. Embassadors went immediately from Portugal to propose to John the new King a Match betwixt his Eldest Son Ferdinand then a Year old and Beatrix Princess of Portugal tho' she was before contracted to Frederick 1380. King Henry's Bastard Son The Castilian approving of this Proposal sent his Embassadors to Portugal who concluded upon the Articles of Marriage But notwithstanding this so late Capitulation King Ferdinand underhand treats with the Dukes of Lancaster and York about subduâ—ng of Castile King Ferdinand hoping to gain some Advantage over the Young King resolved upon War John Fernandez Andeyro one of them expelled Portugal upon the Pacification with King Henry was at this time in England to whom private Instructions were sent to treat with the Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Duke of York for Succours They espoused the Cause and Andeyro came away with the News to Portugal where the King being at Estremoz kept him up in a Tower that the Design might not take Air nor he seem to Entertain any of the Fugitives It fell out the Queen spoke sometimes with Andeyro in this Retirement and as Queens are but Women their Familiarity became scandalous for she who had forsaken her Lawful Husband for a King now abandoned that King for a Private Man whom she raised to the honour of an Earl After some time the King ordered him to appear publickly at Leyria as if newly come from England and there as had been agreed he was apprehended for coming into Portugal without leave Within a few days he was again set at Liberty and it was given out he should lose his Head if he stay'd in the Kingdom Under this Pretence he returned to England to sollicite the execution of the Treaty concluded 3. King John understanding that Edmund Duke of York raised Forces in England to Conquer Castile for his Brother the Duke of Lancaster who had a Right to it by his Wife the Daughter of King Peter and that he intended to assist the King of Portugal marched now as far as Zamora fitted out his Fleet at Sevil and sent Ferdinand Osores Master of the Knights of Santiago to secure Badajoz The King of Portugal had already fitted out 22 Galleys at Lisbon and sent Commanders to all the Frontiers The first Action of King Ferdinand was the demolishing the Walls of his own City of Evora which were so strong that three Years were spent in that Work The Portuguese Fleet commanded by the Earl John Alonso Tello the Queen's Brother set out from Lisbon and in the Sea of Algarve met with the Fleet of Castile consisting of 17 Galleys under the Command of Ferdinand Sanchez de Toar He being inferiour in number endeavoured to shun coming to an Engagement But our Admiral pursues and comes up with him off of Saltes All the Portuguese Fleet except one Galley taken by the Castilians having left behind 8 Galleys that went to take in some Fisher-Boats Toar seeing our Galleys dispersed bravely boards and takes 12 of the first that came up and afterwards Seven of the Eight that were behind Only one of our Galleys escaped to bring the News to Lisbon the rest were carryed in Triumph to Sevil. Few were killed in this Engagement but the Prisoners amounted to 6000. In the mean time the Master Ferdinand Osores infested the Frontiers with frequent Excursions from Badajoz Peter Alvarez Pereyra Prior of Crato marched with 1000 Lances and 4000 Cross-bow-Men in quest of him but came too late for he was retired to Badajoz King John streightly besieged the Town of Almeyda thither came to him Prince John who was fled from Portugal on account of killing his Wife and offered with the assistance of some banished Portugueses to cause Lisbon to be delivered up to the King Upon this he appeared before Lisbon with six Galleys but being disappointed of his Design returned back to Sevil. 4. King Ferdinand sent his Chancellor Laurence Yannez Fogaça into England to hasten the promised Succours The Duke of York set Sail from Plymouth with 3000 Men 1381. and entred the River of Lisbon on the 19th of July The Duke of York arrives at Lisbon with 3000 Men With him came the Princess his Wife and many Ladies as also his Son Edward and some of the banished Portugueses among whom was Andeyro who came not so much to serve the King in his Wars as the Queen in her Amours the King's Sickness administring a favourable Opportunity The King went aboard to receive the new Guests who were lodged in the Monastery of S. Dominick where Rich Presents were bestowed upon them and they were sumptuously entertained The King was by the Treaty obliged to furnish the English with Horses and he gave them
the King how he left his Brother in Servitude and tho he was the chief Cause of his falling into that Misfortune yet advised not to Ransom him at so dear a rate as by restoring Ceuta to the Infidels Those many Portuguese who escaped out of Africk most Wounded Naked and Starved Landing on the Coast of Spain in the dead of Winter found such extraordinary Charity in the Towns of Castile The Charity of the Spaniâ—â—ds 〈…〉 through which they travelled that I dare avouch they had not met the like in their own Country They were all bountifully Cloathed their Wounds dressed and Money liberallâ— bestowed upon them In every House they had the 〈◊〉 Beds given them and being well recovered were supplied with all they could desire to carry them home The King informed by these People of the charitable Entertainment they had found ceased not to extol the goodness of those who had shown such Favour to his Subjects and to express his Gratitude he sent Letters to Sevil and other Places of Andaluzia where his Subjects had been received full of Acknowledgments and Commendations and offering himself and his Kingdom ready to require them 5. The King before the News came of this Disaster was removed from Lisbon to Santarem flying from the Plague that then raged in that City The Plague at Lisbon Having Advice there of the danger his Forces were in at Tangier he made all possible Preparations to relieve them but too late for before any could set out part of the vanquished Fleet returned 14â—8 The following Year the King summoned the Cortes or Parliament to meet at Leyria He gave them in Charge to consider what was to be done concerning Prince Ferdinand left an Hostage to the Moors for the delivery of Ceuta Differences in the Cortes about the ransoming of Prince Ferdinand He produced a Paper written by that Prince signifying that Ceuta could not be maintained and therefore it was better to give it up then suffer it to be taken The Princes Peter and John with all the Commons voted that the Place should be delivered but the Archbishop of Braga said That a Christian Town could not be given away to the Infidels for one Man without the consent of the Pope Others were for deferring the Exchange for some time and in the mean while to offer a Summ of Money and all the Moors in Portugal which were many for the Prince and in Case this were not received that the Pope and Christian Princes should unite their Forces against Africk which if it could not be effected then Ceuta should be delivered 6. The King stood dubious amidst such variety of Opinions At length he resolved to have recourse to the Pope and all the Christian Princes believing they would all together assist him to ransom his Brother From them he received nothing but words of Comfort and Advice not to surrender Ceuta The Plague was now so diffused throughout the Kingdom that the King wandred from Town to Town Being on the way to Tomar a Letter was given him which he no sooner opened but the infection it brought seized him 14â—â— In that Town he diâ—â— on the 9th of September King Edward 〈◊〉 of the Plague in the 47th Year of his Age having reigned Five Years and near a Month. In his Will he ordained his Brother should be ransomed with Money but in Case that were refused then Ceuta should be given for him That his Wife Queen Ellenor should Govern the Kingdom and the Prince his Son He was well Shaped Strong his Visage round his Beard thin his Hair black his Eyes heavy but taken altogether his Countenance was graceful He loved gay Apparel and always appeard in Publick with Splendour As to his Inclinations he was Merciful and a lover of Truth and Justice For outward Accomplishments he was an excellent Horseman loved Wrestling and was much addicted to Hunting He writ some Treatises in Latin favoured learned Men and was very Religious Several New sorts of Money were coined by him and considering how prodigal his Predecessors had been in giving away the Revenues of the Crown he confirmed a Law invented by his Father That no Female should inherit any Gift of the Crown 7. His lawful Issue as he had no other was as follows His Issue 1st D. Alonso his Successor 2dly Ferdinand Duke of Viseo Master of the Military Orders of Christ and Santiago and Constable of Portugal and also Father to Emanuel who was afterwards King 3dly Philippa who died of the Plague at 12 Years of Age. 4thly Ellenor married to the Emperor Maximilian who was Grand-Father to the ever-renowned Charles the 5th D. John de Silva and Meneses fell passionately in Love with this Princess and followed her till he saw her married after which he became a Franciscan Fryar and led a very exemplary Life at Montorio near Rome 5thly Katherine contracted in England and Navarre yet never married 6thly Joanna Born after the Death of her Father and married afterwards to King Henry the 4th of Castile CHAP. V. The First Part of the Life 〈◊〉 Reign of King Alonso the Fifth of the Name and Twelfth King of Portugal from the Year 1432. till 1469. 1. KIng Alonso the 5th The Birth of King Alonso Succeeded his Father being but Six Years of Age. He was born at the Palace of Sintra in the Year 1432. His Father in his Will ordained 1432. That the Queen should have the Government of the Young King and Kingdom His Accession to the Crown and Differâ—â—â— between the Qâ—â—â—n and Nobility but every Nobleman striving to draw the Power into his own Hands caused all to run into Confusion whence ensued greater Destruction than had been produced by the preceding Plague They blamed the King for committing the care of the Realm to a Woman she a Forreigner and what they most resented a Castilian as they termed her tho' she was Daughter to the King of Aragon The Princes Brothers to the late King were the Heads of these Factions and particularly Prince Peter who was always an Enemy to the Queen Prince Alonso being proclaimed King in the Sixth Year of his Age on the Tenth of September in the Town of Tomar the Second Day after his Father's Death Queen Ellenor took upon her the Government as had been ordained by her Husband's Will and so far laid aside all former Animosity with Prince Peter that they did nothing without his Advice and desired him joyntly with her to Sign the Writs of Summons for the Cortes or Parliament Before the Cortes could meet Prince Peter upon pretence of Zeal to secure the Succession in Case the Young King should die before he was Marriageable caused his younger Brother Ferdinand to be Sworn Heir to the Crown conditionally if the other died without Issue The Queen pleased with these outward shows of Loyalty in Prince Peter discovered to him That the King her Husband had declared to his Confessor
the Pope's Dispensation should be immediately obtained for him to Marry Queen Joanna true Heiress of Castile That each of them should appoint four Persons to adjust what Army and Treasure was requisite for carrying on their Design King Lewis readily offered a good Sum of Money to Bribe all such Governours of Towns as could by that means be drawn to their Party Embassadors were immediately dispatch'd to Rome to obtain the Dispensation and King Alonso set out to meet the Duke of Burgundy who then lay at the Siege of Nancy in Lorrain They met upon the River then frozen over and the King being conducted to the Army with all possible marks of Honour and Respect the Duke there shewed him how little Confidence was to be reposed in the Promises of the King of France who the next day appeared with an Army in favour of the Lorrainer The day after the Burgundian was killed and King Lewis being bent upon the Conquest of Burgundy sent King Alonso to Paris where he was received with the greatest Magnificence imaginable All the Embassadors could obtain of the Pope was that if the King of France would furnish King Alonso with a sufficient Force to reduce Castile he would then grant the Dispensation Hereupon the two Kings met at Arras where Alonso plainly discovered he could repose no Trust in Lewis He went away to Roan and there spent a great part of the Summer waiting till his Fleet was fitted out to return home He went down the River to his Fleet then at Harfleur but fearing to be stayed by the King of France and ashamed to return home after that unfortunate Journey K. Alonâ—â— resolves 〈…〉 his 〈◊〉 at Hierusalem he resolved to go spend the rest of his Days in Hierusalem On the 24th of September before Day he went out to a Chappel near the City with only four Servants having ordered his Chaplain Stephen Martinez to expect him half a League further There he dismissed one of the four giving him the Key of a Cabinet in which were found four Letters one for the King of France giving him an Account of his Design and desiring him to favour those Servants he left in his Kingdom Another for Prince John his Son charging him upon his Blessing immediately to cause himself to be Proclaimed King Another to the Kingdom in general Commanding the People to receive him as such The last was to those left at Harfleur directing them to be Obedient to the Earl of Faâ—â— till their return to Portugal 8. Monsieur de Labret by the King of France his Order attended upon King Alonso who sent out every way to find him and having met with him the second day stopped him but with all imaginable Respect There he received a Letter from King Lewis by which he was perswaded to alter his Resolution and to return to Portugal where on the Tenth of November his Son was Proclaimed King in the Town of Santarem 〈…〉 pursuant to the Letters he had sent to that effect Only four days had he worn the Crown when his Father arrived and he in Confusion asking how he should receive him The Duke of Braganza answered As your Father and as your King The Prince accordingly met him at Oeyras where kneeling he kissed his â—ands and resigned the Government up 〈…〉 Alonso would have contented himself with the 〈◊〉 of King Algarve but the Prince persisted he would accept of nothing during his Life Whilst the King was abroad Queen Elizabeth laid Siege to Toro which was bravely defended till one Bartholomew a Shepherd discovered to the Castilian Generals a Place which being thought unaccessible was left unguarded Wherefore Six Hundred Men in the Night conducted by the Shepherd surmounâ—ed all those difficult Passes and got into the Town The Count de Marialva who was Governour quitting the Castle fled to Castro Nunho yet the Lady Mary Sarmiento Widow of John de Vlloa who had been Constable of that Fort defended that Place till seeing no hopes of Relief she was obliged to surrender it upon most Honourable Articles Presently after Queen Elizabeth caused the other Places that held for Portugal to be besieged and had them surrendred to her In the mean while the Portuguese Forces wasted the Country about Badâ—â—oz and Cuidad Rodrigo and Alonso de Carâ—â—â—as Master of Santiago did the same on the Portuguese Borders both Parties executing the utmost Cruelâ—â—es usual in War 9. Upon the return of King Alonso out of France 14â—3 the War was revived 〈…〉 and he thought of Marrying the Lady Joanna having obtained a Dispensation but Prince John his Son used his utmost Endeavours to obstruct it The Bishop of Evora going into Castile with 700 Horse and 〈◊〉 Number of Foot to assist the Countess of Mâ—â—ellin 〈…〉 followed the Portuguâ—se Interest was met by the Master of Santiago routed and taken Prisoner yet bribing his Keeper he escaped to Merida and ever after did the Castilians much harm till the Peace was concluded Both Parties being sufficiently exhausted easily condescended to Treat of a Peace which was concluded at Alcaçovas on the Fourth of September 1479. excluding the unfortunate Princess Joanna Peace concluded betwixt the two Crowns who against her will was forced to become a Nun. Yet she lived to see God's Judgments fall upon them that drove her to that Necessity for Prince John who hoped to Marry his Son to the Princess Elizabeth of Castile and by that means to make him Heir to that Crown saw that same Son dragged to Death by a Horse and none of his Race ascended the Throne of Portugal King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth outlived their only Son John and had only a Daughter left who conveyed that Crown to the House of Austria 1480. Nor was the Plague that began the following Year at Lisbon and lasted Fourteen Years less to be accounted of than Heavenly Vengeance The Castilians contrary to the last Articles of Peace sent a Fleet to Trade on the Coast of Guinea Our King sent a Squadron under the Command of George Correa to obstruct them 1481. He met with 30 Ships of Castile upon the Coast called Mina and after a sharp Engagement obtained a compleat Victory bringing several of them to Lisbon 10. King Alonso ever since the Lady Joanna of Castile was constrained to take upon her a Religious Habit fell into an extraordinary Melancholy and had resolved himself to turn a Monk but returning from acquainting his Son with his Design to Cintra he there fell sick of a violent Fever which in a few days carryed him off His Death was upon the Eighth of August The Death of King Alonso in the 49th Year of his Age and 43d of his Reign He was oâ— a Graceful Presence somewhat bulky had a thick Beard his Hair dark-brown and of Condition extreamly courteous In War he was active in Peace negligent a Lover of Learning learned himself and was the first King that collected a
the Fifth to offer him Elizabeth the King 's Eldest Sister in Marriage Yet of a sudden his Instructions were altered and he ordered only to Complement that Prince upon his happy Arrival in Spain The cause of this sudden change was this The Ship called the Victory the first that sailed round the World and the only one that escaped of those that discovered the Streights of Magellan arriving at the Islands of Cabo Verdâ— the Inhabitants understanding she came from the Molucco Islands designed to secure her but they on board having some Jealousie of it immediately set Sail leaving behind their long Boat with thirteen Men who were sent away Prisoners to Lisbon whilst the Ship made her Voyage and arrived safe at Sevil. The Emperor complained hereof to the King and he again that the Emperor's Ships invaded his Conquests demanding the Lading of the Ship Victory D. Lewis de Silveyra spent Eight Months in his Embassy at the Emperor's Court without dispatching any Business and then returning to Portugal found the King at Almeirin where at his first access forgetting or neglecting to kiss his Hand he found himself quite out of favour for D. Antony de Atayde making his Advantage of the others absence had quite worked him out of his Master's Affections Nevertheless D. Lewis continued at Court without ever expressing the least Resentment for his Fall 3. D. Antony de Atayde The Character of D. Antony de Atayde the King's Favourite now the only Favourite was a Person well deserving that high Honour for his singular Prudence and Moderation There are sufficient Testimonies of the former and I will bring one that may fully evince the latter The Lord of Azambuja Head of one of the ancientest Families in Portugal designed to sell that Town to supply his present wants The King told D. Antony it would be proper for him to buy it because it joyned to his Estate He answered It was more for his Highness's Reputation to supply the wants of so Ancient and Honourable a Family than to suffer it to fall to nothing by selling an Estate of that Antiquity The King took his Advice and so generously relieved that Gentleman that he was enabled to preserve his Patrimony This is a good Remark for those who to advance their own Fortunes are so far from regarding any Private Person that they stick not to ruin Kings and overturn Kingdoms It was now thought time that the King should Marry and James Duke of Bragança proposed to him Queen Ellenor his Mother-in-law as Wife to the late King who was vastly Rich. This Proposal being noised abroad was so well liked that the Council of Lisbon addressed him in behalf of themselves and the whole Kingdom praying he would condescend to it The King could not approve of Marrying his Father's Wife and was freed from their Importunities by the Emperor's desiring he would suffer his Sister to return to Castile which was accordingly performed 4. A March being proposed for the King with Katherine 15â—â— Sister to the Emperor Charles the Fifth King John Marries Katherine Sister to the Emperor Charles the Fifth Embassadors were sent to Burgos where that Prince then kept his Court to treat about it The Articles agreed upon were That the Bridegroom should pay the Charge of the Dispensation the Emperor should be at the Expence of her Journey That she should have 200000 Ducats down and 5000 a Year for her Portion besides Jewels and other Necessaries That the third part should be given to her at her Marriage and that her Joynture should be 10000 Ducats a Year with all the Lands and Towns the Queens used to possess The former Peace was confirmed and Supplies promised reciprocally in case of need About the end of the Year she was conducted to the Borders by the Bishop of Siguença and Duke of Vejar and there delivered to the Princes Lewis and Ferdinand sent to attend her The King received her at Crato and she proved one of the best Queens in the World She was happy in bringing forth many Children but unfortunate in the shortness of their Lives which gave occasion to the Multitude to say It was a Judgment of God on the King for the Familiarity he was suspected to have with the Queen his Mother-in-law 1525. At the beginning of the Year a motion was made of a Match betwixt the Emperor and our King's Sister The Emperor Charles the Fifth Marries Elizabeth Sister to King John the Princess Elizabeth Embassadors of the Emperor and the King's Commissioners meeting upon this Subject agreed That the Emperor should be at the Expence of the Dispensation and the King defray the Charge of her Journey as had been done in the Marriage of the Emperor's Sister but the Portion now given with this Princess far exceeded that for it amounted almost to a Million of Crowns In November the Emperor's Embassador was contracted for the Emperor to the Princess and the day after they set forward with the King and Princes 5. The Empress's Journey into Spain was delayed till the Dispensation came from Rome 1526. and then being attended to the Frontiers by many of the Nobility she was there delivered to the Spanish Noblemen sent to receive her She was conducted to Sevil and there received with Pomp suitable to so great a Princess Soon after came the Emperor and in March the Marriage was solemnized We must now pass over seven Years without mentioning any thing of the Affairs of this Kingdom because we find nothing Remarkable except that in the Year 1531. there happened a most terrible Earthquake 1531. which overthrew many Buildings A great Earthquake but chiefly at Lisbon and round about it where whole Towns were overwhelmed About this time also the Tribunal of the Inquisition was erected for suppressing of the Jews Muley Hazen 1534. expelled the Kingdom of Tunis by the Famous Pirate Hariaden Barbarossa fled to the Emperor Charles the Fifth for Succour The Emperor undertook his Protection and in order to it desired Assistance of King John particularly praying him to send an extraordinary Galeon then Famous for its greatness called the S. John 1535. The King sent him that and two others of great Bulk King John sends Succours to the Emperor besides 20 smaller ones loaded with store of Ammunition and bravely manned The Command of this Squadron was given to Antony de Saldana who had served well in India At Barcelona he joyned the Emperor and was by him Honourably received Prince Lewis stole away from Court to serve under the Emperor Charles the Fifth but of this we spoke at the time of his Birth in the Reign of King Emanuel The King sent him 100000 Crowns and the Emperor received him at Barcelona with all possible marks of Honour They set out with 400 Sail and made themselves Masters of Guletta and Tunis 6. From the Year 1535. we find nothing worthy of Memory till 1539. a Year
Galley and five Ships to follow him All that followed him seeing themselves shipped just in their Hunting Apparel stood amazed From Cape S. Vincent the King sent Messengers with Letters to all Cities Towns and the Gentry informing them with his Designs that they might follow him Many from all Parts resorted to him both by Sea and Land The Cardinal Prince Henry was left Governour of the Kingdom The King was received in Africk with great Joy by his Subjects but not with much Terror of his Enemies for they perceived his Preparations were not suitable to the Undertaking He hunted there as if he had been at home and made several Inroads into the Country which provoked the Moors in great numbers under the Command of the Alcayde Cid Admubenania Viceroy of Mequines to draw together to oppose him The Multitude was great and advanced Confidently seeing the small number of Christians Our Cannon plaied upon them and the Infidels gave the first Onset in which many of them that were foremost fled The King was always in the Front and with his Example so encouraged his Men He defeats the Moors and returns to Lisbon that they cleared the Field of the Enemy Next Day the King expected the Enemy in the same Place but they thought not good to attack him nor did he prosecute his Victory saying He came not to make War but to visit his Garrisons He returned to Lisbon in November at such time as it was feared he was lost for News was brought of his embarking at Tangier and a violent Storm had long â—osted him at Sea 5. Before this time a Match had been proposed for King Sebastian with Margaret second Daughter to Henry the second King of France And Embassador was sent to King Philip the second of Spain by King Sebastian at his return out of Africk to incline him to give him his Daughter Clara Eugenia to wife she was afterwards married to the Archduke Albertus and the result of the Embassy was 1576. That the two Kings should meet at Guadalupe He has an interview with the King of Spain To save expence King Sebastian travelled by the Post with several Persons of Quality and assoon as he came into the Borders of Castile was Magnificently Entertained at the Cost of King Philip who had also ordered all the Keys of the Towns he passed through to be delivered to him Nine Days after the King's Departure the great Warehouses of Merchant Goods next to the King's Palace were accidentally Blown up with such force that the Noise was heard at Santarem which is fourteen Leagues distant and great Stones and pieces of Timber were cast far from the Place and many remote Buildings were shaken King Philip met our Sebastian the Day before Christmas-Eve half a League from Guadalupe They embraced friendly and then Philip saluted the Portuguese Noblemen Sebastian as the Stranger went first into the Coach Fifteen Days they staied at Guadalupe Philip endeavoured to disswade the Portuguese from his designs upon Africk but not prevailing promised to assist him with 50 Galleys and 5000 Men and contracted at his return from that Expedition to deliver to him his Daughter 1577. After this they parted with the same expressions of Love and Affections as they had met and King Sebastian in his return home presented the Spanish Gentry and Officers that attended him 6. Being come to Lisbon Preparations for a second Voyage into Africk he hasted his Preparations for a second Voyage into Africk to which he was the more encouraged by Muley Hamet who was at War with his Unkle Muley Maluco for the sovereignty of Morocco and being worsted offered to remain Tributary to Portugal if enthroned by the King Cid Adelcherim Lord of Arzila having sided with Hamet delivered up Arzila to Edward de Meneses Governour of Tangier who sending for Succours to the King there was scarce enough found in the Magazines to furnish him whereby King Sebastian perceived how impossible it was for him to fit out a Royal Fleet that Year Nevertheless he ceased not to use all possible means for forwarding his Design To this effect he had a free Gift of 15000 Duccats from the Clergy The Croisade was set on foot to 〈◊〉 Money a Tax laid upon Salt Donatives required of the People Money borrowed of rich Men the Revenues of the Crown anticipated and a great Summ raised of the Convert Jews on Account of a general Pardon granted them Besides this they listed none but the basest sort of People that had no Money to buy themselves off Several Prodigies and were carried away by force King John the Third's Ghost is said to have appeared to F. Lewis de Moura foretelling the ill success of this Enterprize About the same time a vast number of Fishes called Espada's or Sword-fish were cast a Shoar one whereof of an extraordinary Bigness had upon it a Cross from the Arms of which hung two Scourges and the number of that Year 1578. which was 1578. Armies were seen fighting in the Air in the Province bewixt Duero and Minho Colonel Vasco de Silveira always heard a doleful Voice following of him and one Night in the Field of Almeyria saw a great Fantome it proceeded from which being by him asked the cause of its Groans answered I bewail my self and you seeing you and those I always loved engaged in so great a Disaster This same Hobgoblin was seen by him near the King's Tent in the Field of Alcacer the Night before the Battle 7. Notwithstanding all these Preparations The King not to be moved from his Resolution there wanted not some who urged the King ought not to expose his Person but he to divert them caused Edward de Meneses Governour of Tangier to signifie by Letters to him that the Moors were wholly unprovided These he shewed in Council and because D. John Mascarenhas persisted to contradict him he caused a Consult of Physitians to declare That tho a Man had been brave in his Youth he might become a Coward in his old Age. D. Lewis de Ataide known for his brave Exploits in India he sent thither again after having chosen him General of his Army and this because he advised him to be very circumspect in this Affair The Citizens of 〈◊〉 protested to the King that if he persisted in his Resolution they would detain him by force The King of Morocco tho he were well provided against this Invasion failed not to exhort King Sebastian to Peace but neither these Motives nor King Philip of Spain his failing to send the promised Supplies of 50 Galleys and 5000 Men could stop this unfortunate Prince from runing headlong to his Ruin All things being in readiness for his Departure the King would have appointed Henry the Prince Cardinal to Govern the Kingdom in his Absence but he refusing Five Governours were appointed viz. D. George de Almeyda Archbishop of Lisbon Peter de Alcaçova Surveyor of the Revenue Francis
after being dispersed by a Terrible Storm met again at Corâ—na Sailing thence the greatest part of this Mighty Fleet was destroyed either by the English or by violent Storms which drove it round Scotland and Ireland so that the Duke of Medina Sidonia with a very few returned to Santander In Revenge of this Attempt Queen Elizabeth sent the Fleet we before spoke of in the Life of Antony the Grand Prior to Invade Portugal The Disappointment she met there made her think of Intercepting our India Fleet. To this purpose she fitted out 50 Sail 1591. commanded by the Earl of Essex who sailed directly to the Islands Azores King Philâ—â— sent out his Fleet under the Command of D. Alonso Bazan against him Near the Island Flores the two Fleets engaged with so much Advantage on the part of the Spaniards that they took the English Vice-Admiral yet presently after some of the Spanish Fleet perished in a Storm However the English took the Flag-Ship of three that came from India in the Year 1593. 1593. tho D. Alonso Bazan sailed from Lisbon to prevent them He found seven English Ships in the Island Flores waiting for the other two that came from India and he took them 7. The Arch-Duke 1594. Cardinal Albertus being called away to Madrid Portugal governed by Commissioners to receive the Archbishoprick of Toledo the Government of Portugal was committed to D. Michael de Castro Archbishop of Lisbon the Counts D. John de Sylva of Portalegre D. Francis Mascarenhas of Sancta Cruz D. Duarte de Castelobranco of Sabugal and Michael de Moura Secretary The English Fleet again appeared before the Tercera Islands hoping to meet with the Ships from India The Earl of Essex was Admiral he destroyed Fayal and Pico then Landing upon S. Michael plundered Villafranca Lastly one of the India Ships falling into his Fleet he thought to have carryed it off but was disappointed by her being fired This done he sailed from the Islands Prince Charles Son to King Philip was naturally of a turbulent Spirit and is said to have held Correspondence with his Father's Enemies and to have practised against him Hereupon he was cast into Prison and Judges appointed to inspect into the Cause who passed Sentence of Death against him His Father allowed him no other Favour than to choose what Death he would die and he said they might kill him as they pleased Being prepared for it four Slaves strangled him with a Silken Rope D. John of Austria tho' a Bastard was no less haughty and aspired first to the Kingdom of Tunis then to that of England but the King lowered all his haughty thoughts and he is believed to have died a violent Death King Philip having been some time sick at last was confined to his Bed as well by reason of Weakness as that the Gout was broke out in Sores upon his Hand Foot and Knee Fifty three days he lay in such condition that his Bed could not be made and on the last of them he died His Patience in his Sufferings was wonderful for he pityed those that attended him more than he did himself Having performed all Offices of a good Christian he gave up the Ghost the 13th day of September being Sunday 1599. at Five in the Morning in the Year 1599 in the Famous Monastery of the Escurial King Philip dies the 71st Year of his Age the 18th of his Reign over Portugal and 41st over the rest of Spain He was the first King since the Goths that possessed all this Monarchy entire 8. King Philip was of a middle Stature His Description an awful Presence had a high Forehead blue and beautiful Eyes a handsom Nose thick Lips the lower somewhat fallen as is usual to the House of Austria fair Hair and taken altogether his Person was Majestick He wanted the Sense of Smelling or at least had very little of it He had four Wives First Mary Daughter to King John the Third of Portugal His Wives and Issue Secondly Mary Queen of England Daughter to Henry the Eighth by whom he had no Issue Thirdly Elizabeth Daughter to Henry the Second King of France Fourthly Ann Daughter to the Emperor Maximilian By the first he had Charles whom he put to Death as has been said By the third Elizabeth Clare Eugenia Countess of Flanders Wife to the Arch-Duke Albertus Also Katherine Wife to Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy By the fourth first Ferdinand secondly Charles Lawrence thirdly James all three died young fourthly Philip who succeeded his Father fifthly Mary who died an Infant CHAP. V. The Reign of Philip the Third of Spain and Second of Portugal and Nineteenth King from the Year 1578. till 1621. 1. SIngular was the Wisdom of the late King and consequently the loss of him was extraordinarily lamented by all his People Their Sorrow was much mitigated by the great hopes conceived that his Successor Philip would prove no less capable to wield the Sceptre than his Father had been Birth of Philip the Third This Prince being the Seventh Child of his Father and Fourth of his Mother Queen Ann was Born in the renowned Town of Madrid 1578. on the 14th of April 1578. and was the Second of the Name in Portugal and Third in Spain He was sworn Heir of Portugal on the first of February 1583. 158â— and afterwards of his other Kingdoms 1598. this being the first of them that took an Oath to him The many Embassages he received with singular Grandeur the Fleets he set out the great Supplies he sent to Pope Paul the Fifth and the Emperor Ferdinand and many other particulars of his Reign as appertaining more properly to the History of Spain where he resided are purposely omitted here because we design only to adhere to what particularly belongs to Portugal His Resolution was wonderful in banishing the Moriscoes The Moriscoes banished Spain or those that were descended of the Race of the Moors who pretending to become Christians committed many Villanies and Sacriledges at the same time underhand holding Correspondence in Africk and Turky in order to bring over the Moors into Spain again Charles the Fifth Ferdinand and Philip the Second had all of them entertained thoughts of putting this same Design in execution but the many Inconveniences that attended it still deterred them 400000 of these base People were dispersed throughout the Kingdom who all upon the King's Edict departed the Kingdom having liberty to carry away with them all they were worth Upon the Birth-day of this King a Preacher Prophetically foretold the Banishment of the Moriscoes threatning them with the New-born Prince 2. Often did this King promise to Visit his Realm of Portugal in Person but still failed being put by his Resolution by his Favourites who for their private Ends disswaded this Journey not regarding how much a King loss the Affections of his People who never suffers himself to be seen by them 1619.
the Marquess on the Scaffold had spoke to the people they cried out furiously let him die let him die To which the Marquess answered So the Jews cried out against Christ 4. These Executions having secured the Prince Several Military expeditions he bent all his Thoughts upon War and having to that purpose obtained of the King of France five Colonels of Horse three of Foot and two of Dragoons he ordered them to be ready to march to the Frontiers and raised new Troops to reinforce his Army that lay then before Badajoz However they were otherwise employed for the Council not thinking it expâ—â—â—ent to wast an Army before a Town that did them no 〈◊〉 those Troops that besieged it were recalled to serve elsewhere The first Act of Hostility I meet with betwixt the Spaniards and Portuguese was in the Province of Alentejo near Elvas A Party of Spaniards having broke into that Province exercised all manner of Cruelties to terrifie the People sparing neither Age nor Sex nor even the Churches D. John de Acosta who Commanded at Elvas having notice hereof sent out five Companies of Foot under the Command of Gaspar de Sequeira Manuel These were followed by 400 Men under the Conduct of Luis Mendez de Vasconcellos These being joyned by certain Troops three Leagues from Campo Major marched towards the Spaniards who still continued their Ravages and Charging them killed 200 upon the spot pursuing the rest to the Gates of Badajoz where they took shelter This fortunate beginning was followed by like consequences 600 Spaniards advancing into the Province of Alentejo to surprize the Town of Montalvao Mascarenhas Collonel of a Portuguese Regiment with only four Companies Attacked them before they came to the Town and with such good success that having killed 18 or 20 the rest retired to the Pass on a small River and he fearing some ambush because Night drew on pursued no further In the morning perceiving they were quite gone he followed them as far as the Town of Ferreira in Castile which he Plundered and Burnt without any opposition though it might easily have been defended against a greater power Beyond the Mountains the Spaniards had sacked and Burnt four open Towns to revenge which Lewis Gomez de Figueiredo passed over into Galicia took the Town of Monterey and having pillaged reduced it to Ashes To requite this another party of Spaniards fell into the Countrey about Braganza but the Inhabitants and Soldiers who Quartered thereabouts assembling cut most of them in pieces and then piercing into Castile burnt seven Villages and the Town of Geronda of which they left nothing standing but the Walls At the same time Luis Gomez de Figueiredo with 1500 Foot and 300 Horse fell upon the Marquess of Tarrasona who marched towards Valverde with 2000 of the former and 200 of the latter and after a Fight which lasted about four hours obtained the Victory which had been greater but that Night coming on hindred the pursuit 5. Daily Action more and more incensed the two Nations Other War like exploits and an implacable hatred had taken possession of their hearts so that the Frontiers were never free from slaughter and Rapine D. Gaston Coutinho the Portuguese General being informed that 6000 Spanish Foot and 800 Horse had fortified themselves in two Villages one whereof was in Galicia the other in Portugal he marched with 30 Horse to view them and finding their Works weak enough to be overthrown if Attacked with vigour ordered his Foot to advance A Party of the Enemies Horse that advanced was easily Repulsed which causing some Consternation in the main Body gave time to plant two pieces of Canon against them These two pieces having played some time D. Gaston who had made four Batallions of his Foot courageously assaulted the Works in as many places The Soldiers being as forward in the pursuit of Honour as their Officers nothing could withstand them They forced the Entrenchments took four redoubts entred the place and took all the Baggage but not contenting themselves with this Victory and the gaining of 11 Colours they burnt all the Villages for two Leagues about Above 400 Spaniards were killed upon the place 14 Officers and 70 Soldiers were taken Nor was this all the Portuguese General making his advantage of the Enemies Consternation the next day marched into Galicia and pursuing those that having escaped had fortified themselves in another Village forced them again to retire burnt nine Houses and then returned home with Honour and his Soldiers enriched with Plunder In the mean while Vasco de Azevedo Coutinho and Emanuel de Sousa de Abreu being continually infested by the Excursions of the Spaniards gathered all the Forces they could and marched to Lobos in the Castle of which place the Spaniards always had a safe retreat after committing their ordinary Ravages This Castle they assaulted and carried with the loss only of 22 Men which done they burnt 700 Houses as well in the Town of Lobos as in the neighbouring Villages This was not yet the last stroak of ill fortune the Spaniards felt Martin Alfonso de Mello understanding a great body of them was marched from Badajoz to Attack Olivenza a Town seated on the River Guadiana which parts Spain and Portugal assembled all the Forces he could to relieve that place Being on his March an Express came to him from the Governour giving an account that they had assaulted the Town in two places but met with such a vigorous opposition that they were forced to retire with the loss of 200 Men nevertheless he desired some succour least they should return They accordingly returned hoping to surprize the place feigning themselves a Portuguese Convoy with Provisions yet met they with no better success being again repulsed with the loss of 140 Men. Martin Alphonso still hoped to be able to overtake them in their return but they taking another way than was given out he missed of them and therefore dismissed his Troops to their several Garrisons It was a generally received Opinion throughout all Spain though the Author of it was not known that the Duke of Medina Sidonia The Duke of Medina Sidonia being suspected in Spain Challenges King John held secret Correspondence with the King of Portugal and favoured his Cause The ground of this Suspicion was that King John had to his Queen the Sister of that Duke and upon this Jealousie it is thought the King of Spain talking one Day with the Count Duke de Olivarez complained to him That he had three or four times observed the Family of Guzman was fatal to his Grandeur The Count Duke who was himself of that Family immediately dispatched an Express to the Duke of Medina Sidonia summoning him to appear at Court with all possible Speed He obeyed and being come to Madrid he was perswaded that to clear himself of the imputation of Disloyalty cast upon him he should publish a Manifesto containing a Challenge to the new King of
and they as soon retired till they drew him into the ambush He was at first surprized seeing himself Attacked by that fresh body but recovering himself divided his men and sent one part to charge those that had drawn him on whilst the other engaged those that lay in ambush In this manner the Fight continued a considerable time after which fresh Troops appeared coming from Badajoz to the assistance of the Spaniards and others from Elvas to sustain the Portuguese These last were 1600 Foot and four Squadrons of Horse under the Conduct of the Count de Obidos Now the face of Affairs was changed for the Portuguese obtained a Compleat Victory The first of the Spanish Troops were cut in pieces and the last retired with the loss of 176 Horse Of the Portuguese 37 were killed in the ambush and 16 in the Engagement after it 8. The Assembly of the States The Cortes or Parliament held or Parliament of Portugal being the only Authority that could establish the Crown and raise such supplies as were necessary for the support of it the King fixt their Meeting for the 18th of September and that day the Session was commenced with all the Ceremonies usual upon such occasions The Bishop of Elvas performed the Office of Chancellor acquainting that Assembly in the King's Name with the causes of their being convened He represented the great Blessing of Liberty the King 's extraordinary Care to repair the Harms done by the Spaniards the mighty Power he had as well by Sea as Land the Alliances he had made Abroad and put them in mind how he had never lay'd any Impositions upon his People but maintained the expence of his House upon the private Patrimony of his Family and that being now much exhausted he recommended it to them to find out means to support so great a Charge assuring them of his Royal Protection and that their Liberties and Privileges should be religiously preserved Great was the expectation the King had conceived of this Assembly nor was he disappointed for they gave such Testimonies of their Duty as exceeded even his Hopes They returned Thanks for his Care in asserting their Liberties for delivering them from the Yoke of Spain for the Alliances he had made Abroad and for all his good Intentions offering him their Lives and Fortunes and sending him a Blank Paper that he might dispose of their Estates as he thought fit for the support of the State and purchasing his Brother's Liberty who was kept Prisoner by the Spaniards ever since the beginning of the War having been put into their hands by the King of Hungary in whose service he had been nine Years The King returned the blank as it was sent to him and had more plentiful supplies granted him than he himself would have demanded The Parliament settled two Funds the one for Land the other for Sea-Service All other expences were to be supplied out of the Patrimony of the House of Braganza 9. D. John Rodriguez de Souza y Vasconcellos Count of Castelmelhor A Conspiracy to seize Carthagena discovered and the Portugueses secured went over to Brazil in the Spanish Fleet in the Year 1639. In 1641. he was sent by his General to the Spanish Plantations in the West-Indies The News of the Revolution of Portugal being then brought to the Fleet the Spaniards cryed down the New King's Title and exclaimed against the Portugueses as Rebels This sensibly touched the Count de Castelmelhor yet he was forced to bear with it being in no condition to make his resentment appear without his certain destruction There were seven Portuguese Gallions in the Fleet and in them 3000 Men. With the Officers of these Ships he conspired to seize the Fleet as also the Town and Cittadel of Cartagena in new Spain before which they were then at Anchor Most of the Officers were already engaged in this Design and all disposed for putting of it in execution but the Count having communicated it to Antony Tenezedo a Portuguese in whom he confided as having done him many signal favours he discovered the whole matter to the Governour of the Cittadel who immediately apprehended the Count and had him Condemned to Death This Sentence had been executed within two days had not the Count appealed to the Court of Madrid and the Admiral of the Fleet having had the Sentence confirmed by the Council there no hopes remained for his deliverance but in God Whilst the Admiral sent into Spain to have the Sentence confirmed the King of Portugal got intelligence of what had hapned He immediately sent away a Caravel Commanded by a Captain in whose Conduct he had great confidence ordering him to sail for Cartagena and use all possible means to deliver the Prisoner The Weather proved favourable to the Design the Captain Arrived safe and found means to let the Count know he was come to rescue him To this purpose he agreed with a Dutch Captain who Commanded a Frigat in that Port for the Caravel being so leaky that it could not be put to Sea again he burnt it In the mean while the Count with ready Money and large promises corrupted a Corporal and two Spanish Soldiers that had the keeping of him and they altogether got aboard the Dutch Frigat which carried them safe to the Island of Tortuga where they were favourably received by the French Governour Thence they went over to the Island Tercera and lastly arrived at Lisbon where they were bountifully rewarded by the King Anno 1643. 1. THE hatred the Spaniards and Portugueses bore to one another was too great to suffer them to lie still Though the Season was not yet fit for Action the Frontiers were never free from incursions D. Sancho Manuel a Portuguese Major-General thinking no difficulties too great to be surmounted marched out with 150 Horse judging that a sufficient number to plunder the Town of Fituro in Castile four Leagues from the Frontiers of Portugal His Design being divulged and the Spaniards believing his Forces greater than they were they abandoned the Town leaving it to be ransacked by the Soldiers without the least opposition But the retreat proved not without danger for the Spaniards of the neighbouring places assembling to the number of 200 Horse Charged them before they could recover their own Frontiers and that with such resolution that the Portugueses were at first forced to give ground But having quitted all the Booty which encombred them they rallied and giving a fresh Charge worsted those by whom before they had been drove Night coming on put an end to the Battle The number of the Dead was equal and the Victory had been dubious but that the Spaniards got away in the dark leaving the Booty and the Field to the Portugueses This small Action was the cause of a greater for the Marquess de Elecha General of the Spanish Horse resolving to revenge that loss entred Portugal with 500 Horse and 300 Musketiers surprized the Town of Sabugal fired 13
of Badajoz thought to have surprized that place and in order to it marched with 5500 Foot and 1200 Horse two Petards and eight pieces of Canon which last being useless for a surprize were the cause he failed of his design for the Carriages breaking by the way as was thought rather through the malice of those who had them in charge than neglect so much time was spent in fixing them again that it was day before he could reach the Fort of Telena which being a League from the City he was forced to return without attempting any thing to Elvas 2. The King having certain intelligence that the Spanish Army daily increased at Badajoz gave out all the necessary Orders for his Troops to Rendesvouz at Elvas and to be himself the more at hand went over to Aldea Gallega which was the cause that many of the Nobility and Gentry repaired to the Army The Spanish Army on the Portuguese Frontiers On the 25th day of October the Marquess de Leganez marched from Badajoz with 12000 Foot 3000 Horse 10 pieces of Cannon and a Train proportionable and halted in sight of the Bridge of Olivenza and Fort St. Antony In two days he took the said Fort and another at the foot of the Bridge both which he demolished and broke several Arches of the Bridge to cut off the Communication of Olivenza Whilst the Spaniards were busie at this work a Party of 600 of their Horse meeting 400 of our Foot under the Command of Major John da Fonseca Barreta within two Leagues of Estremoz cut most of them off the Major being the first that Fled whereas he might have easily drawn his Men within an Inclosure which was by and have thereby secured them against any Horse The King of the Maldivy Islands in India being now come to Portugal to crave Aid of the King against a Brother who had Usurped the Crown served in the Army this Campaign and was treated with all imaginable respect Count Castelmelhor having drawn together all the Force he could and being yet Inferiour to the Enemy kept himself still within the Olive-Gardens at Elvas but continually sent out Parties to Alarm the Enemy D. Roderick de Castro with 1000 Horse and 500 Musketiers sustaining one of those Parties the Enemy Charged it and pursuing too far he cut off 90 of their Horse Another of our Parties being beyond Badajoz took the Count de Izinguen who came to be Lieutenant-General of Horse in the Spanish Army and being sent to Lisbon continued a long time Prisoner in the Castle of Belem The Marquess de Leganez having done nothing more than break the Bridge and demolish the two Forts returned towards Badajoz and in 12 days erected a new Fort at Telena near that City destroying at the same time a Tower in which was an Ensign and 15 of our Men a League from Elvas This is all that was done of moment in the Province of Alentejo and both Armies went into Winter-Quarters 3. In the Province betwixt Duero and Minho The War in the Provinces betwixt Duero and Minho and Tralos Montes there was no memorable Action only small inroads made on both sides But the Province Tralos Montes enjoyed perfect Peace both Parties lying still each fearing to provoke the other D. Ferdinand Mascarenhas Count de Serem Governed Beira At his first coming thither the Spaniards drove a Prey from about Villa Tropim and Malpartida but Captain Ruy Tavarez de Brito overtaking them with 100 Horse recovered all though at the cost of his own Life Soon after the Enemy layed Siege to Salvaterra but without success for the Count having drawn together all the Force he could make to relieve it and being reinforced from Alentejo they broke up the Siege and departed They being gone the Count fortified the Frontier places and obliged the Countrey People to retire farther from the borders because he was inferiour to the Enemy in Forces 4. We left John Fernandez Vieyra Actions of John Fernandez Vieyra in Brazil against the Dutch the last Year in the Mountains of Pernambuco expecting succours from Bahia to make War upon the Hollanders They laid several designs to take him but he having timely notice still escaped their hands They promised 1000 Florins Reward for his Head and he on the other side offered 8000 Crusados for any of the Heads of those of their supream Council Henry Hus was sent with 1500 Dutch and 800 Indians into the Mountains to cut him off with all his Party but he having gathered 1200 men whereof only 200 had Fire-Arms posted himself so advantageously and received them with such resolution that after a dispute of several hours they were totally routed with much slaughter and had not the Night sheltered them none had returned to carry the News The Arms taken in this Action were the principal part of the Booty because of the great want of them there was among the Portugueses John Hus revenged himself upon the innocent Inhabitants of the Towns of St. Laurence and Apopucos who lived under the protection of the Dutch robbing and putting them to the rack Soon after Antony Philip Camarao and Henry Dias with the Blacks and Indians under their Command joyned John Fernandez Vieyra Andrew Vidall also sent with some Foot by Antony Tellez Governour of Bahia to apprehend John Fernandez for breaking the Truce with the Dutch took part with him against them Advice being brought them that the Hollanders plundered Varzea and carried away the Women that were there they marched with all speed and defeating them in the Field obliged those that retired into a House to surrender themselves Though the Hollanders complained that Andrew Vidal being sent to their assistance had joyned their Enemies yet they as soon as he was landed had burnt the Ships that brought him from Bahia 5. The Dutch going about to disarm the Portuguese Inhabitants of the Town of Sirinhaem Faithless proceedings of the Dutch in Brazil they were so incensed that gathering together under Hypolito de Vercoza they drove them not only out of the Town but out of the Fort whither they had fled for safety At Pontal de Nazareth our Men had also Besieged the Dutch in the Fort and Martin Sourez Moreno with his Regiment coming to the assistance of the Besiegers Theodosius Straet the Governour underhand contrived how to deliver it up to them and he with most of his Men entred into their Service Andrew Vidal who had been in this last Action having again joyned John Fernandez Vieyra they resolved to block up the place called Arrecife and the City Mauricea which was immediately put in execution all the Forces being posted in the most convenient places to cut off the Enemy from all relief by Land They Attacked and took the Fort St. Cruz seated betwixt the Arrecife and the Town of Olinda the Commander with 60 Men taking Service among the Portugueses The Fort of Porto Calvo was also taken by Christopher Lins the
tho' much inferior in number stood their Ground and obstinately defended themselves for the space of seven Hours but were at last forced to retire having lost many Men besides many more wounded The Spaniards say the Fort of Telena was not Demolished but left in the same Condition the Portugueses found it they wanting time to ruin the Works or remove any thing out of it being forced to retreat with Precipitation 3. Nothing better was the success of the Marquess de Aytona Actions in the Province of Beira the Catholick King 's General betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho in his design of surprizing Salvaterra He marched with 600 Foot and 500 Horse but the Count de Castelmelhor who commanded the Portugueses in that Province understanding his Design posted himself under the Walls of that Place and the Marquess perceiving his Intentions had taken Air posted himself not far off and being master of the Field erected a Fort upon an Eminence that might serve as a Bridle upon the Garrison of Salvaterra and where he might be at Hand upon any Opportunity to throw himself into that place which was very considerable as being upon the Frontiers of Beira Some considerable Action might reasonably be expected here the Spaniards keeping to their Strength and the Portuguese to theirs and the Forces on both sides daily encreasing The Spanish Army grew up to the Number of 10000 Foot and 3000 Horse which on the 20 of November undertook the Siege of Salvaterra and pressed it so vigorously that they soon lodged themselves upon the Ditch and had begun to mine hoping in few days to carry the place This was the posture of their Affairs when understanding that all the Forces of the Province of Beira commanded by Count Seren reinforced by others of Alentejo under the Conduct of D. Sancho Manuel were marching with all possible speed to the Relief of the Town they raised the Siege with such Precipitation that they left behind them much Provision Ammunition their Baracks and about 300 sick and lame Souldiers The Portugueses coming later then they had hoped as those who were stayed by the violent Rains were much troubled to be disappointed of meeting the Spanish Army the routing of which they had promised to themselves and greater Security to their Frontiers for the future Having burnt the Baracks and the Country round about they returned to their Winter-quarters as the Spaniards had done on their side 4. Thus stood all the Affairs on both sides Both sides cease from Hostilities when as well the one as the other perceived that this sort of Action served only to harrass themselves The Catholick King seemed to maintain an Army to no purpose since in 5 or 6 Years time he had done nothing but waste Mony and loose Men and Ground All the Portugueses did was to destroy Towns frighten the Country People and kill some few Soldiers These Considerations moved both Parties to put their standing Forces into Garrisons and forbear farther Hostilites Whilst the Catholick King attended the Affairs of Catalonia and made his Interest at Rome to obstruct the new King 's being treated as such by the Pope and the vacant Benefices in Portugal to be filled by Men of that Princes presenting he laboured to heap up Treasure of the Riches brought him from India that whenever the Catholick King should renew the War he might not want Money which is the Life and Sinews of all Armies He also took care to strengthen himself with Friends and Confederates and having secured the King of France his Ministers endeavoured to joyn in Amity with the new Common-wealth of England Portugues Affairs at Rome It remained to sollicite the Friendship of the See of Rome not only by performing the publick Act of Obedience and filling the vacant Churches but by satisfying that Court as to two Points which it seemed to resent One was that King John persisted in retaining some Revenues taken from the Church The other that he kept the Arch-bishop of Braga Prisoner for which he was excommunicated and therefore the Pope demanded that the Revenues should be restored and the Arch-bishop put into his Hands as being his proper Judge To those things the Portuguese Ministers answer'd that had the Pope sent his Nuncio the Dispute about those Revenues might have been easily accommodated it being made appear that the Crown was in possession of them for about 600 Years And as to the Arch-bishop that he being guilty of High-Treason what the King had done was justifiable according to the Canons and therefore he could incur no Censure of the Church Nevertheless the King was ready to commit the Tryal of that Cause to such Judges as his Holiness should appoint but not to deliver his Person because of the danger there was that he should be set at Liberty by the way if he touched at any port of Spain as also because King John not being yet owned as such at Rome they would not adjudge the Arch-bishop guilty of High-Treason The Court of Rome seemed satisfyed as to this Point but not as to the other 5. In this place it will not be amiss to relate the end of the Misfortunes befallen to Edward Of Edward Brother to King John Brother to King John It was said above how he was taken in Germany where he served the Emperor and delivered up to the Ministers of Spain as guilty of being privy to the revolt of Portugal It was layed to his Charge that being a Subject of the King of Spain he had not discovered to him the designed revolt of that Kingdom On this account he was put into the Castle of Milan where fresh Evidence was found against him He was kept with Guards upon him in the very Room all his own Servants being removed from him upon Suspicion that they contrived his Escape The Governor of the Castle imagining that his Confessor who was a Jesuit might have a hand in that Contrivance sent him word to chose another so it were a Subject of the King of Spain and no Jesuit letting him also know that every now and then he must change his Confessor This Message being delivered by the Lieutenant of the Castle D. Edward broke out into a Passion which he had never done before and among many other rash Expressions said His Comfort was that he suffered for the King his Brother for his Family and Country for which he was willing to lay down his Life This the Lieutenant deposed against him and several Soldiers also restifyed that being upon his Guard they had heard him drink a Health to the King his Brother The Governor having taken those depositions there came a Commission from Spain appointing three Judges to try him and they again examined all the Witnesses then they proceeded to examine the Prisoner himself who being asked what he knew of the design of revolting in Portugal utterly denyed he had any knowledge of it but unadvisedly in his Discourse added that being at
diverted him from that Action offered to break open the door whereupon Conti seeing no hopes of escaping and the Count not able to relieve him or acquaint the King delivered himself up to the Duke upon promise of Life At the same time some some others of Conti's partizans were secured partly in the pallace and partly in the Town all which were immediately put aboard a Ship that lay ready to Sail in the River and sent away to Brazil The Queen being informed that all she had commanded was put in Execution led the King forth into the great Hall whither she had assembled all the Nobility Ministers of State and Magistrates of the City the better to appease and terrify the King Here a Remonstrance was made to him in the Name of the Kingdom full of grievous complaints against his Conduct and against his Favourites whom to prevent any farther ill consequences they declared they had been obliged to send into banishment This done having kissed his hand they departed It was no small surprize to the King to be brought so unexpectedly into that assembly and therefore not rightly conceiving the drift of what had been said he began to ask the meaning of it Garcia de Melo told him that to satisfy the complaints of his People they had sent Conti and his adherents into banishment He scarce believing they durst offer him such an indignity began loudly and in a rage to call upon Conti and running to seek for him threatned to follow him wheresoever they had sent him Melo told him his search would be in vain for that he was now under Sail for Brazil that as the case stood he must have either parted with Conti or his Crown At this answer he seemed somewhat to compose himself Then calling for Emanuel Antunes who only had escaped of all his former Favourites he shut himself up with him and the Count of Castellomelhor These two gave him a full Relation of what had passed and here were layed the first Foundations of the Counts ensuing greatness After this meeting the King appeared unconcerned at what had hapned and rid according to custom that Afternoon but he had learned to Counterfeit and had other thoughts within his breast than what appeared by his countneance This mighty act of policy which the Queen had contrived to perpetuate her Regency Count Castelmelhor succeeds in the King's Favour was the very cause of her speedy falling from it Count Castelmelhor a Man above exception for his Birth and Parts had now succeeded in the Kings Favour in the place of Conti and omitted not to encourage him in the resolution of taking upon him the Government Besides a young Lady belonging to the Queen for whom the King had a more then ordinary Affection made him the more earnest discovering to him all his Mothers private Discourses For the better carrying on his Design the King ordered the Count whose waiting Week was expired to wait on another least one might succeed him whom he could not so well confide in This done he retired according to custom to Alcantara a House near Lisbon carrying with him his Brother and a great Train That same day he returned to Lisbon and visited his Mother discoursing so lovingly with her that all resentment seemed to be passed but on a sudden without acquainting her he went back to Alcantara accompanyed only by the Count de Castelmelhor and the Count de Antouguia From thence he dispersed Letters into all parts of the Kingdom to the Officers of the Army and Governors of Towns acquainting them that being now at Age he had taken upon him the Government The King resolves to take the Government upon him Then he ordered all the Nobility and Ministers of State that were at Lisbon to repair to him to Alcantara The Queen astonished at this News and fearing to be cast down from her Regency assembles the Council of State where it was resolved that Emanuel Pacheco should be placed upon the Road to stop all those that should offer to repair to the King that the Queen should write a Letter to him in soft Terms desiring him either to delay some time his taking the Government upon him or at least to admit her to bear a great part with him and that in case perswasions failed she should then use Force to constrain him Accordingly Pacheco turned back those that were going to Alcantara the Guards and all the Queens Adherents were ordered to be ready in Arms to support her and a Letter was sent to the King from her full of alluring and soft but all deceitful Expressions But before the sending of the Letter the People of Lisbon perceiving that the Court armed against the King began to run into tumult for his Defence fearing least any violence might be offered him This zeal of the Multitude was what humbled the Queen and therefore seeing no hope left of prevailing by open force she had recourse to Artifice and Entreaty and therefore as has been said sent a submissive Letter by the Bishop of Targa In this Letter among other things the Queen urged to have the Cortes or Parliament call'd that she might there resign the Government but the King and the Count perceiving this was only a contrivance to gain time an answer was sent her by the same Bishop The purport of this Answer was that the King considering the great Burthen of care that attended the Government was willing to ease his Mother who had long laboured under it of that Toil and to take it upon himself She now plainly perceiving that there was no longer hope either by Force or Art of retaining the Government resolved at length to quit it least it should be violently taken from her However she wished it might be done in the Pallace that the World might believe it had been freely resigned and not to be forcibly extorted from her Those who were acquainted with her Subtilties advised the King not to trust himself to her Power which made him delay some time at Alcantara However at length finding himself secured on all sides and the Queens Interest declining since the People of Lisbon had declared for him he repaired to the Pallace where in the presence of the Nobility Ministers of State and Magistrates of the City She is at length forced to resign the Queen delivered up the Seals into his Hands which is the usual Ceremony in Portugal when a King takes upon him the Government This Ceremony was perform'd on the 23d of June 1662 the King then wanting but one Month of 19 Years of Age whereas according to the antient custom of Portugal their Kings were always reputed of Age at 14 and accordingly at those Years the Regency ought to cease The Queen Mother thus discharged of the care of Government She pretends to retire but stays at Court in hopes to wrest the Power from her Son began again to talk of retiring but that after such a manner that no Body
supported by the lustre of a Crown In short his Vices were too visible to be excused but to lay to his Charge all the Villanies his Adversaries have aspersed him withal were too much to wrong his Memory for it is certain that no insolence was committed during his Reign which the malice of his Enemies has not reproached him withal However so certainly it was that the King indulging his Appetites and Vicious desires the whole burthen of the Government was in a manner devolved upon the three Favourites that is the Counts of Castelmelhor and Antouguia and Sebastian Caesar de Meneses Castelmelhor had long meditated to overthrow the other two but as long as the Queen continued at Court durst not attempt it least they having lost the King should become an accession to and strengthen her party Now she being removed there remained no other obstacle to the fulfilling his desire and therefore by often buzzingâ— false informations into the King's Ears he first caused the Count de Atouguia to be expelled the Court and soon after to be banished the City None remained now to cope with him but Meneses Conti recalled from Brazil who to support himself perswaded the King to recall Antony Conti from Brazil hoping that he being returned and restored to his former Favour would not in gratitude omit to stand by the man that had been the cause of bringing him back from banishment The Count could not be long ignorant of this practice and therefore immediately so worked the King that Meneses was banished before Antony Conti could arrive to support him Soon after Conti arrives from Brazil the Ship that brought him being received into the port of Lisbon with sound of Trumpets firing of Cannon and all other demonstrations of joy as if it had been the reception of some Soveraign Prince Yet all this was but a glimmering of happiness to Conti for Count Castelmelhor having perswaded the King that as it was a Vindication of his Royal Authority to recal him from banishment whither he had been sent in contempt of Majesty so to entertain him at Court would only serve to provoke the Nobility But banished the Court. to whom the very name of Conti was odious for these reasons without suffering him to Land at Lisbon he was sent away into the Country with express Command not to presume to come near the Court. Nevertheless to the End it might be thought this exile was not the effect of his jealousie but rather of his care both for the safety of the King and Conti he omitted not to caress him at that distance sending him frequent presents and a considerable employment at Court falling he caused it to be conferred upon him tho' absent and bestowed a Rich Benefice upon John Conti Brother to Antony who was in orders Conti was not so dull but he could Easily see through these Artifices Therefore he used all his endeavours to obtain an interview with the King Conti privately meets the King not doubting but if he once saw him he should be restored to his former favour Such industry was used to compass his design that at length he had a private meeting with Alphonso at Alcantara the Count being then absent At this conference the King 's former affection was so revived that he offered to carry him immediately to Court But Conti fearing his sudden and unexpected return might prove dangerous desired it might be put off for the present only praying the King that he would recal from banishment those Noblemen who had been exiled for adhering to his Mother This interview and the proposal made by Conti being made known to the Count by one that had overheard their discourse he soon discovered the design was to make a party to ruin him To the End then to prevent his Enemy and turn that destruction upon himself he employed several Spies to observe all his words and Actions not sparing any expence for intelligence By these means at length he discovered that Conti had conspired with the Noblemen to restore the Queen to the regency A conspiracy against the King discovered and mercifully puninished leaving the King nothing but the empty name and Title without any power or Authority Having got knowledge of this Treasonable practice and found witnesses to prove it he instantly acquaints the King who appointed judges to examine the matter Upon a full hearing and sufficient proof several of the conspirators were convicted and yet tho' by his Enemies the King had always been accused of excessive cruelty not one of the Criminals suffered death only D. Theodosius de Melo Brother to the Duke de Cadaval was banished Five Leagues from Lisbon Sebastian Cesar de Meneses into Algarve and Antony de Conti to O Potro The General depositions involved the Queen Mother in the common guilt whereupon a Secretary was sent to examine her but she refusing to answer the King let that fall Count Castelmelhor puffed up with this success removed from the apartment he was in before to another nearer the King where it being observed by such as envied him that more Court was made to him than to the King himself his name was thereby rendred the more odious and he being now arrived to the highest pitch of his greatness and capable of no increase began soon after to decline Simon Vasconcellos Brother to Count Castelmelhor The Counts brother favourite to thâ— Infante after serving in the Army several Years with great Reputatation coming now to Court so gained the ascendant over the Infante that it was observed as very remarkable to see the two Royal Brothers so vastly differing otherwise in inclinations yet so addicted to these two Brothers that they seemed not to move without them Soon after the Infante falling sick Vasconcellos attended him with such dilligence that he not only confirmed himself in his favour but incurred the ill will of all his other principal Servants who upon this disgust quitted the Infante's Service but very few days past before they were all recalled by the King except only the Count de Ericeira All things being thus restored the King preferred Vasconcellos not only to be Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to his Brother but also constituted him Superintendant of his House This his preferment again displeasing the Family they all quitted their Employments and it being too great a condescention to recal them again others were put into their places for the most part creatures of Count Castelmelhor and therefore not acceptable to the Infante He thereupon thinking himself beset with so many Spies resolved to alter his course of Life so as he might become less suspitious to his Brother and at the same time more popular The Infante counterfeits a Religious Life to gain followers Nothing could be more fit for these designs than Religion to that therefore he seemed wholly addicted being sedulous at Prayers visiting Churches reading pious Books conversing with Religious Persons and employing the rest of his
to withdraw himself yet the preparations for his Journey were so publick that there was none so blind who could not discover it Nor was this done without cause for the report of his removal being spread abroad and that it was in the nature of a Flight from the Favourite the whole City began in a moment to rise in mutiny several of the Nobility openly fomenting it and declaring that was the day on which according to an antient Propheâ—ie Lisbon mutinies at the instigation of the Nobility the Streets of Lisbon were to run with human Blood Seven Thousand Men are reckoned to have appeared that day in Arms to stop the Infante's Journey and to decide the Controversie betwixt the Count and him This popular Fury being made known to the King and Count they both perceiving themselves too weak to withstand the violence of that Storm resolved instead of that lofty Course they had followed before to stoop to Necessity and try what good Words could work upon the Infante To this purpose the King sent him a Letter full of most loving Expressions desiring him to suppress that Tumult which had been raised on his Account and to come to Court where all things should be disposed to his Satisfaction The Answer to this Letter was in no less obliging Terms only in the Conclusion the Infante again intimated that the King must resolve either to part with the Count or him and must take his choice before things came to Extremity Count Castelmelhor perceiving that neither Threats nor Intreaties prevailed upon the Infante and that the mutiny in the City was grown to such a head it would endanger both the King and himself resolved at last to consent to leave the Court the King promising him that as soon as that Storm were blown over he would take a progress on pretence of visiting the Frontiers and in his return would restore him to the Court The Queen assists the Infante and to his Favour But least his Banishment should seem wholly extorted by the Infante he perswaded the Queen to interest her self in that affair and beg it of the King that he so might rather seem to have condescended to her intreaty than to the necessity imposed upon him by his brother She fearing to disoblige the Infante or thwart his designs would not intermeddle in it till by a messenger sent to him she had his direction how to proceed Nor was she satisfyed with one message but sent again for more particular instructions so great was her concern for him and so little for her husband Being now fully informed of his will she concludes the business with the King and Count who submitted to withdraw himself upon faith given for the safety of his person But before he departed he would have articled that the Infante upon his removal should clear him from the imputation of the design of poisoning him Whether his conscience accused him of any such practice or whether he feared being once cast down his innocence could not protect him against the malice of his Enemies is uncertain Thus the Count being assaulted on all fides by the Infante by the Queen by the Nobility and by the multitude and not able to stand the shock of so many Enemies at length withdrew from the Court The Count withdraws and lodged himself in a Monastery about Seven Leagues from the City But as his expulsion was not the End but rather the means to compass the designs then carryed on so the divisions and distractions at Court instead of ceasing increased for as long as the ambition of the Infante and the King's neglect of the Government lasted only the pretence but not the cause of these troubles was removed Nothing could be more grievous to the King The King in great perplexity than to consider that upon all occasions his brother being backed by the multitude extorted from him whatever he desired which made it plain to him that at last he would not forbear to aim at or fail of wresting from him the Crown His violent nature made him more open when he should have been most circumspect and therefore his thoughts being filled with the hatred his Brother bore him the jealousy he had of his Wife the perfidiousness of the People and the disloyalty of the Nobility he could not forbear inveighing against his Brother in publick and even before the Queen who he knew gave the Infante a particular account of all his words and Actions In this perplexity he caused the extraordinary companies that had been raised by Count Castelmelhor to be filled up for the security of the pallace The Infante resolves to proceed On the other side the Infante flushed with success resolved wholly to root out all that was left of the Favourites party about the King for tho' the Count himself was removed yet his creatures remained at Court and nothing of moment was Transacted without his advice had by messengers betwixt them Before the Infante could put his designs in practice he was advertized by the Queen of all the words the King daily let fall against him The King betrayed by the Queen and perhaps of more than ever had been spoken This intelligence caused him to hasten the Execution of his projects The principal men at that time remaining near the King of Count Castelmelhor's faction were Henry Enriquez de Miranda Emanuel Antunez and Antony de Sousa de Macedo the Secretary of State Of these the chiefest was Miranda whom therefore the Infante resolved first to destroy and to that end sent some privately to warn him to depart the Court before he run himself into greater danger Despair so seized the unfortunate man considering the expulsion of the Count that he attempted to kill himself but being prevented he fled fearing to be torn in pieces by the Rabble Count Castelmelhor having received information hereof instantly advised the King to be circumspect in all his words and Actions for that it was easier by fair means to supplant his Brother than by open Force His advice being approved by the King upon the next occasion that offered he summoned his Brother to appear in Council where some important matter was to be debated but no kind messages or Letters were of any Force to move him to come till the Queen sent for him when he appeared with a great Train of followers and full of dissimulation The King received him not so coldly as before but being no Master of the Art of Counterfeiting could not so well hide his just displeasure as the other However this feigned reconciliation might have produced some good Effects The King makes choice of Antony de Sousa de Macedo in the place of the Count. had it not been decreed by fate that the unhappy King must perish To hasten his ruin it fell out that Alphonso who was not used to that continual burden of business seeking on whom he might lay that weight pitched upon Antony de
The Infanta only Daughter to the Prince being now almost marriagable and her Father despairing of having any more Issue by his Wife he thought of disposing of her and having cast about to all parts for a fit match at last pitched upon the present Duke of Savoy then a youth under the tuition of his Mother Embassadors were sent on both sides to Treat in the Year 1680 1680. who so managed the affair A match concluded betwixt the Infanta and the Duke of Savoy that all things were concluded and agreed upon And to remove the only obstacle which was the Law of Lamego whereby it is enacted that the heiress of the Crown Marrying a Forreigner she shall forfeit her Title to provide I say against the obstacle of this Law the Cortes were summoned and met at Lisbon the same Year There they passed an Act for dispensing with the said Law for that time provided it should not be a president for any other This impediment being taken away there seemed to remain nothing to obstruct the happy conclusion of the Nuptials but the distance of the Parties the Duke of Savoy who according to contract was to come into Portugal sent before over Land a considerable Number of Coach and saddle Horses On the other side the Prince Regent fitted out a squadron of 12 men of War to Conduct the Duke to Lisbon All the Ships were gilt and painted but above all the Admiral was gilt from stem to stern the poop and prow down to the surface of the Water and the sides down to the gunwale The great Cabin was painted by the best Masters in Lisbon and the floor layed in squares of Ebony and Ivory The Bed was most Rich and the Royal-Standard all of Cloath of tissue with the arms of Portugal in the highest raised Embroidery Portuguese Seamen being at that time scarce especially able ones great encouragement was given to all strangers that would enter into the Service When all things were prepared this sightly Squadron set Sail in the Year 1681 and arrived safe at the Port of Villafranca in Savoy expecting there to take the Duke of Savoy on board The Match broke off In the mean time all things were preparing at Lisbon with the greatest splendor imaginable for his reception Triumphal Arches were built extraordinary bull Feasts contrived and all the Gentry strove to outvie one another even to the ruin of their Estates and empoverishing their Families in Gallantry Yet all these mighty preparations were cast away for when it was thought the Duke would have gone aboard the Fleet he at first began to delay and protract time and after deluding them in this sort as long as he could he at last positively brokeâ— off the Match His subjects had always been averse to it and that with good cause as being unwilling to part with their Soveraign without hope of ever seeing him again as going to leave them for a Crown and then if he should return it must be with dishonour as being disappointed of the End for which he left them These considerations had at last prevailed upon his Mother his Council and himself to alter their resolutions so that tho' the Articles of the marriage had been ratified on both sides and so great an expence made towards the comsummating of it all that had been done was dissolved and came to nothing The Fleet returned to Lisbon with small satisfaction and found as little there either at the Court for the affront put upon it or in the City for the extravagant and useless expence it had been put to This was the End of the designed marriage of the Infanta with the Duke of Savoy The year 1683 put an End to the long sufferings of the most unfortunate Alphonso the 6th King of Portugal Death of King Alphonso He dyed on the 12th of December at the Castle of Cintra in the Fortieth year of his Age and 16th of his imprisonment It is impossible to give a just character of him fear of offending the prevailing party having stopt the mouths of his Loyal Servants and Friends who best knew and would speak honourably of him and there being no credit to be given to the slanders of his adversaries whose chief care it ever was to reproach his person and blacken his Actions And this perhaps is the greatest of calamities Kings are subject to that their misfortunes do not terminate with their Lives for never Prince was yet dethroned tho' never so barbarously but his memory was also rendred odious to prosperity by all the Arts that malice could invent because prevailing wrong could not subsist but under the colour of Right and to defame justice oppressed is to flatter and support iniquity Reigning To say King Alphonso had no vices were to say he was not man yet to make them so enormous as some would have them believed were only to vouch for malice and countenance disloyalty Through the course of his Reign that is whilst he was in power there appears none of his actions that have been urged against him tho' aggravated with the most malicious circumstances which have not been seen in thousands of Subjects and yet passed unpunished either as without the reach of the Law or excused as the effects of extravagant Youth For his judgment as it could not be expected to be so solid at his Years as in a riper Age so neither can it be found by his words or deportment that he was any way defective therein And lastly as to his impotency in regard to procreation that if true could have been no lessening of his personal right to government but it is so far from being certain that I have heard several persons affirm they knew his illegitimate issue whose mothers if they durst would upon Oath confirm the assertion But there is nothing so certain as that Portugal never was more successful both by Sea and Land than under this government for under him were obtained four of the greatest victories against the Spaniards which produced the Peace the glory whereof was ascribed to his brother who had done nothing to purchase it And if any object that those Triumphs were due to the Generals we must deprive all King 's of the glory of warlike Exploits who do not actually Command their Armies in person besides that it is no small honour to him that he chose such Counsellors as could direct and such generals as knew how to act so much for his advantage And as for the maritine affairs greater Fleets came home yearly from India and Brazil and far lesser losses were sustained by Ship-wrack during his Reign than in many years after This may suffice in some measure to do right to the memory of this unhappy Prince Yet it may not be ungrateful to add one word more touching certain words reported to have been spoken of him just before his death The closeness of his confinement and the danger of reporting his words abroad by those who
heard them is the cause that we cannot be so positive in this particular therefore I do not avouch it for a certain known truth but as a rumour whispered about where People durst speake It is said of him that when he was in the last agony and as it were breathing his last he should say I am now going but it will not be long before the Queen shall follow me to give an account before the dreadful tribunal of the wrong she has done me As I do not averr this for a certainty so it is very observable the said Queen outlived him but a very short time The Queens death that is only three months and a few days Her death was on the 27th of December of the same year 1683 and since there is little to be said in her commendation it will be better to be altogether silent than to make reflections upon the dead King Peter II. now seated on the Throne of Portugal King Peter upon the death of his brother succeeds in his Throne by the Death of his Brother received the Compliments of all Forreign Princes upon his accession to the Crown In the Year 1684. and the first of the new King's Reign D. Francis de Tavora being Vice-Roy of India the City Goa the Capital of all the Portuguese Conquests in those parts was besieged with a mighty Army by the Raja Savagi an Indian Prince 1684. who took part with the eldest Son of the Great Mogul Goa besieged by the Indians Aurenge Zeb then in Rebellion against his Father The Inhabitants defended themselves with Resolution and sent to acquaint Aurenge Zeb with the danger they were in upon his Account praying Relief He presently commanded his second Son to march with an Army of 100000 Foot and 80000 Horse and a great Train of Artillery to their Succour Upon the approach of this mighty Army The siege raised the Raja raised his Siege and departed in his way destroying all the Country about Goa The Siege being raised the young Prince sent to assure the Portugueses that his Father would be always ready to assist them against their Enemies They in return sent a solemn Ambassy to the Mogul by whom a setled Friendship was established with that great Monarch The King having long continued a Widdower and having no Issue but only one Daughter was earnestly pressed by his Subjects to Marry to secure the Succession Hereupon by the advice of his Council he resolved to demand in Marriage one of the Daughters of the Elector Palatine and accordingly in the Month of October 1686 he named the Count de Villar Mayor his Ambassador Extraordinary to that Elector upon this occasion who set forward in December following for Heydelberg where he arrived in the beginning of the Year 1687 with a very splendid Retinue In June he made his publick Entry which was extraordinary magnificent and the next day after he had Audience in which he demanded of the Elector his Daughter the Princess Mary Sophia in Marriage for the King his Master At the same time in complyance to the Request of the King of Portugal a Squadron of Men of War was fitted out in England and sailed under the command of the Duke of Grafton to Rotterdam there to take aboard the new Queen and conduct her to Lisbon On the 8th of July the Ceremony of the Marriage was performed at Heydelberg on the 10th the Queen set out on her Journey towards Rotterdam on the 27th she went aboard the English Squadron 1687. at the Briel and on the 11th of August King Peter Marries the Princess of Newburg arrived in the River of Lisbon That same day the King went aboard to receive the Queen and conducted her ashore where the Marriage was consummated the same Night The exact Neutrality which Portugal has observed during the late Wars which have harrassed and exhausted the greatest part of Europe is the cause there is nothing worthy our Observation to add relating to that Kingdom Only this may be observed that as the War has improverished other States so they by continuing in Peace have vastly enriched themselves and so improved their Maritime Strength that they have at this Present near 100 Sea-Men for one they had 20 Years ago for now they Trade in their own Vessels to all parts of Europe whereas at that time all their Commodities were transported upon Forreign Bottoms And moreover their own particular Trade to their Plantations in America and to India is vastly augmented Such are the Fruits of Peace especially when other Nations sink under the Calamities of War To conclude there remains nothing more but to set down the Royal Issue of Portugal The Present King Peter II. on the 11th of August 1687. as was said before marryed Mary Sophia Princess of Newburg He had issue by her first John born in 1689 and dyed the same Year Secondly another John born in 1690. Thirdly Francis born 1691. Fourthly Louisa born in 1694. And lastly Emanuel born in 1697. FINIS An Alphabetical Table containing the Principal Matters in this History A. ABidis exposed brought to Court teaches the People to yoke Oxen Plow and Sow page 13 He Reigns p. 14 Actions of the Lusitanians in Africk p. 31 Actions in the Province of Alentejo p. 426 Actions of John Fernandez Vieyra in Brazil against the Dutch p. 428 Actions in the Province of Beira p. 433 and 468 Actions betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho p. 439 Actions in Africk p. 305 An account of the Portuguese Conquests in India p. 319 Adrian the Emperour p. 78 Affairs of America p. 425 Of Castile p. 290 Of Africk and India p. 438 Of India p. 472 Africans invading Spain destroyed p. 104 Africk and India p. 452 L. Agnes de Castro cruelly murdered p. 228 Alans and Suevians in Lusitania p. 83 Albertus the Cardinal Governour of Portugal p. 367 Alcazer and Tangier on the Coast of Africk taken p. 287 Alliances in Africk and Asia p. 413 Almanzor again makes great Spoil p. 135 K. Alonso the I. of Leon successful against the Infidels p. 114 K. Alonso the II. of Leon called the Chaste His Conquests p. 117 K. Alonso the III. of Leon called the Great p. 122 King Alonso the IV. of Leon resigns the Government to his Brother Ramiro He repents and raises War p. 127 K. Alonso the V. of Leon under tuition p. 137 Is slain p. 139 K. Alonso the VI. of Leon flies to the protection of the Moors After his Brothers Death returns and is received by the People as their King p. 148 His Wives and Issue p. 149 K. Alonso the I. of Portugal his Birth p. 158 He Knights himself Besieges his Mother takes and puts her into Irons p. 159 Being himself besieged by King Alonso of Castile he articles for his Deliverance and breaks his Faith Wars with the Moors Then with Castile p. 160 Is saluted King p. 162 Defeaâ—s the King of Castile p. 163 Takes Lisbon Particulars
Inhabitants King Emanuel as to Stature was tall somewhat lean his Hair dark-brown his Forehead high his Eyes green and pleasant his Arms so long that when hanging down his Fingers reached below his knees He was much addicted to all Sports as Riding Dancing Musick and Feasting very Devout and therefore on Holy-days went to several Churches extraordinary Charitable a lover of Astrologers and Jesters He reformed several Religious Houses that lived not regularly 9. His Structures were so many His Structures and other Work and so great it would swell to a Volume to particularize them in short they were Thirteen Monasteries in Portugal besides all those in Asia Africk and America and besides Repairs in other Places Eight great Churches the great Hospital of Lisbon Five Palaces Custom-houses Store-houses many Magazines plentifully stored and above Twenty Forts of considerable Magnitude besides many of less note Also several Bridges Moles Fountains and other Works were begun and finished by him To encourage Gentlemen to serve in Africk he instituted new Commendaries to Reward those that deserved well and allowed Wages to an Hundred Knights for their Entertainment there He first gave the hundredth Penny of his Revenue to Pious Uses By him the Laws of the Kingdom were digested into Method and Registers made of all Estates and Foundations as also a Book of the Arms of the Nobility Kings at Arms and Rules of Blazon were of his introducing into Portugal Antony Rodriguez the first Master of that Science here being sent to most Courts of Christendom to inform himself perfectly therein The Chronicles down to his own days he caused to be corrected Rewarding Edward Galvam and Ruy de Pina who laboured in that Affair He had three Wives the first Elizabeth Widow of Prince Alonso in her Right he was at Toledo sworn Heir to the Crowns of Castile and Leon. The second was Mary Sister to the former both Daughters to King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth of Castile and Aragon The third was Ellenor Daughter to King Philip the First of Spain Sister to the Emperor Charles the Fifth and Niece to both his former Wives 10. By his First Wife he had Issue His Wives and Issue Prince Michael who died at Zaragoça not quite Two Years of Age having been Sworn Heir to all the Kingdoms of Spain By the Second Wife he had First John his Successor Secondly Elizabeth Wife to Charles the Fifth and Mother to King Philip the Second Thirdly Beatrix Wife to Charles the Third Duke of Savoy Fourthly Lewis Duke of Beja and Constable of Portugal Father to Antony Prior of Crato who tho a Bastard aspired to the Crown Fifthly Ferdinand Duke of Guarda who left no Issue Sixthly Alonso the Cardinal and Archbishop of Lisbon Seventhly Henry the Cardinal and Archbishop of Braga Lisbon and Evora who afterwards was King Eighthly Edward Duke of Guimaraens who married Elizabeth Daughter and Heiress of James Duke of Bragança by whom he had two Daughters Mary the eldest married to Alexander Farnesius Duke of Parma and Katherine Dutchess of Bragança from whom tho the younger are Descended the late Kings of Portugal Ninthly Mary Tenthly Antony who both died in their Infancy By the Third Wife First Charles who died in Infant Secondly Mary who died a Maid at the Age of 57 Years having been disappointed of several Matches that were proposed for her CHAP. XI The First Part of the Life and Reign of John the Third of the Name and Fifteenth King of Portugal from the Year of our Lord 1502. till 1543. 1. KIng John the Third King John the Third his Birth was Second Son to King Emanuel and the First by his Second Wife born at Lisbon on the 6th of June 1502 about Two in the Morning It was observable that this being the midst of Summer when the Weather is usually settled fair just at that time there arose such a terrible Storm of Wind Rain Thunder and Lightning that none living had ever seen the like Whilst this Prince was Baptizing there broke out such a Fire in the Palace as alarmed the whole Court and gave occasion to various Conjectures on what it might Prognosticate 150â— The Prince was just a Year old when his Father Assembling the Cortes or Parliament at Lisbon caused him to be sworn Heir to the Crown At three Years of Age he was weaned Being come out of his Infancy he was given in charge to Gonzalo Figueyra a Noble Citizen of Lisbon the Queen his Mother still overseeing his Education The Bishop of Tangier taught him his Grammar and Lewis Teyxeyra instructed him in the Laws yet he profited little in either never thoroughly understanding any Book that belonged to them Nor was he more successful in Astrology taught him by Thomas de Torres then Famous in that Science and Physick In short at the end of his Studies the Prince was found very ignorant for tho' he had an excellent Memory he never applyed himself to Learning and his Masters feared disobliging him In the Year 1512. the Prince fell down from a Gallery in the Palace 1512. so that for 24 hours the Doctors despaired of his Life After that he came to himself and recovered a small scar of a hurt received in the fall remaining on his forehead Next he had a violent Fit of Sickness which once passed he continued healthy all the remaining part of his Life At this Age the King began to make himself acquainted with Business to which he applyed himself better than to his Book 2. The King 1515. later than had been expected settled the Prince's Family and appointed all the Officers of his Houshold among which his principal Favourites were D. Lewis de Silveyra and D. Antony de Ataide D. Lewis de Silveyra was suspected to incense the King against his Father after his marrying Queen Ellenor Sister to Charles the Fifth once designed for the Prince as was said in the forgoing Chapter 1519. Hereupon D. Lewis was banished the Court but as soon as ever King John came to the Crown he was recalled It being the Custom to Proclaim the new King the third day after the Death of his Predecessor 1521. this Solemnity was for several urgent Reasons King John proclaim'd deferred till the sixth day when it was performed with the usual Ceremonies The new King understanding that a Fleet was fitting in France in order to make new Discoveries in India and Brasil and that several French Pirates infested the Portuguese Seas sent D. John de Silveyra to put that King in mind of the Ancient Friendship betwixt those two Crowns and require redress of those Wrongs This Embassador had an Honourable Reception but no Success in his Business Ayres â—e Sousa went Embassador to the new Pope Adrian 1522. then at Zaragoça in his way to Rome to Complement him upon his Promotion to S. Peter's Chair 1523. D. Lewis de Silveyra King John's Favourite was sent to the Emperor Charles
India or some other remote parts of the World yet so that if he should make resistance or attempt to escape then he should be killed Many days passed not before the Count had intire Information of the whole Conspiracy against him and having layed it before the King he was by him impowered to use such means for their common Security as he should think most effectual He presently doubles the Guards at the Palace arms all his own Creatures set his Spies and stirs not out of the Palace without a sufficient Train and Guard for his Security This sudden change at Court alarm'd the City so that the People ran in heaps to the Palace for Information but finding that there was no interruption of publick Affairs nor any thing but the increase of the Guards they soon dispersed and returned to their Houses The Infante finding his project defeated to avoid all Suspition retired to his Country-House at Quelas Whilst he was there almost in despair for the great disappointment he had received a Discovery was made or pretended to be made for the certainty of it could never appear that the Count had hired People to poison him Hereupon his Partizans advise him to be very circumspect in securing himself and they on their part were not wanting in spreading abroad the danger they pretended him to be in Having thus prepared the Multitude and being sensible that the Count could not but study to secure himself by his downfal the Infante made instant application to the King to punish him according to the hainousness of the Offence he alledged To this effect he wrote to the King acquainting him that he was convinced the Count practised against his Life that therefore he demanded he should be banished from the Court or else that he himself should be forced to fly into Foreign parts for Safety Both the King and Count having read this Letter referred the whole matter to the Council of State There it was fully discussed one party affirming that it was a Presumption at one time to accuse the King's Favourite and assign his Punishment in such a manner as seemed to threaten the King himself that if the Count were justly accused he ought to be tryed according to the known Laws of the Kingdom and if convicted to be punished but that if it should appear he was wronged care ought to be taken least the Prince's aspiring practices should not be prejudicial to the King The other side on the contrary being devoted to the Infante's Interest urged all the plausible Reasons they could gather to shew that he ought to be complyed with Right or Wrong either in regard he was the King's Brother or for fear he might effect that by force which he could not obtain by Entreaty After conferring both Opinions they came to this Resolution That it should be put to the Tryal The King offers the Infante Satisfaction whether the Infante could be appeased by Submission and all manner of humble Application To this effect the Marquess of Marialva was sent by the King to acquaint the Infante that the Count was â—â—ady to come and beg his Pardon upon his Knees But he considering that to accept of this Submission would no way forward his End for that the Count would still remain at Court after two days delay sent back the Marquess with his Answer signifying that nothing but the Banishment of the Earl could satisfie him Alphonso hoping his Brother's Fury might abate in time delayed sending to him again for the present whereat he being the more enraged caused a Letter to be deliver'd to the King among other things threatning not to appear at Court as long as Coâ—nt Castelmelhor continued in it A Cabinet Council being called upon this second Billet some were for apprehending the Infante himself as now grown too dangerous others more moderate were only for securing his Family and Adherents and so leaving him naked This latter Advice was approved off but the Execution being delayed and Peter having received Intelligence thereof he stood upon his Guard arming all his Followers and promising to live and dye by them Next he summons the Counsellors of State The Council and Magistrates of Lisbon combine with the Infante and Magistrates of Lisbon who being met at his House he inveighed before them against the King his Brother and Count Castelmelhor impeaching him of Practices against his Life and desiring their assistance to be revenged of him since the King would not consent to his Banishment After having spoken to this effect he gave them the same in Writing to which they unanimously answer'd they would stand by him and support his Dignity to their utmost It is easie to conceive how much King and Count were concerned at this audacious proceeding The King fearing the faction offers to compound with the Infante which was an absolute usurpation upon the regal Authority for it was no less in the Infante to summon the Tribunals and in them it was not much less than Treason to obey the Summons but above all to ingage to stand by him Finding by this Tryal how great the strength of his Party was they resolved if possible to mollifie him and therefore the King sent to him to discover who were the Count's Accusers that so he might be proceeded against in due form of Law The Infante positively refused to discover the Evidence unless the Count were first removed from Court Alphonso put it to the Council and ablest Lawyers whether it were legal and beseeming the King's Dignity that the Count should be removed before the Witnesses were known and it was carryed by the Majority that the demand was unjust and unreasonable This their result under their Hands the King sent to his Brother at the same time sending away Expresses to the Commanders on the Frontiers and Sea-ports to suffer no Man to depart the Kingdom By these means the expectation of a Civil War which till then had gone no farther then Lisbon was spread abroad throughout the whole Kingdom The Infante advising with his Friends upon the result of the Council sent him by the King they came to this Resolution that in case his Majesty persisted in protecting the Count then Peter without his consent should speed into the Province beyond the Mountains where the Count of St. John had the command of the Forces which he should march to Lisbon and joyning with the multitude by open Force should constrain the King to comply with all his demands Having fixed this Resolution he sent the King a long Letter full of invectives against the Count and complaints that he could not obtain Justice concluding that his Majesty made more account of the Earl then of him and seeing both could not live together he had resolved to quit the Court. Upon what Account he intended to withdraw we have seen but just before not to submit to the King's Will but to force him to comply with his And though he pretended privately