their souls He was equally strong and valiant nor was it ever known that the greatest danger 〈◊〉 strike terror into his undaunted minde he observed with a strict punctuality the rules of hoâ—nesty and justice and towards God he with 〈◊〉 ordinary piety was both zealous and reverâ—â—â— he made several Laws for the benefit 〈…〉 kingdom which are still continued among the Statutes of that Realm If he had not taken Arms against his father or if he had moderated his hatred to his 〈◊〉 or if he had not imbrued his hands in the 〈◊〉 blood of Agnesa envy it self coul◠〈◊〉 have found out any subject of blame in the 〈◊〉 course of his life he resembled his 〈…〉 many vertues but was much inferior to him in liberality his death happened to him in that condition when he had little reason to desire longer life for it was when he saw his actions of glory forgotten though he was yet alive for his subjects began onely to remember his faults which being fresh in memory made his loss the less lamented PEDRO The Eighth KING of PORTVGAL PEdro the first of that Name who succeeded his father Alfonso in the kingdom of Portugal was born at Lisbon in the year 1325. two years before his father came to sit at the heâ—m of government at the time of his being Crowned he was about the age of three and thirty years He was the onely male-childe that lived of four and some danger there was of him in his youth he being very sickly till he arrived to about eighteen years of age which made his father to be assured of a Successor for his Crown to defer the marriage of Leonora his youngest daughter to Pedro King of Arragon till he perceived him in a perfect measure of health He was about the age of one and twenty years married to Constance daughter to D. Iuan Emanuel by whom he had onely one son named Ferdinand who succeeded him in the kingdom and she as if she had onely come into the world to bear him and having performed that task died After the death of the Infante D. Pedro fell in love with Agnesa de Castro a most beautiful woman and descended of the blood Royal by her he had many children amongst whom one was Iohn who afterward was the first of that name King of Portugal this Lady being accused to King Alphonso at his return from his great Victory over the Moors nigh the River Saledo was by him for what crimes is unknown put to death which so incensed Pedro that he took up those Arms against his father which he laid not down till his death As soon as he was come to the Crown he brought to condigne punishment those who had wrongfully accused and counselled the Lady Agnesas death he afterwards renewed the old War betwixt his father and the King of Castile about the stopping of his espoused wife Constance But because the Pope had before made up this breach he by his Letters commands Piedro to desist from further prosecuting the War which he for the present obeys but soon after upon a slight pretence again enters into Castile with his Army whereupon an excommunication was thundred out against him which forced him to retire and to gain his Pardon turn his Army upon the Moors from whom he took the strong Port Town of Pharo in the kingdom of Algarve At his return home he fell sick and in the tenth year of his kingdom and about the three and fortieth of his age in September 1367. he died he was buried in the Cathedral of Lisbon not far distant from his father having caused before his death three Tombs to be erected on each side he caused the bodies of his wife Constance and the Lady Agnesa to be laid reserving the middle one for himself where he was accordingly buried He was a man of as comely a personage as any whatsoever of the Kings of Portugal of a sweet and affable disposition nor did he want any of his fathers vertues but one vice they both had which overshadowed all their vertues warring against their fathers FERDINAND The ninth KING of PORTVGAL FErdinand the first of that Name succeeded his father Pedro in the kingdoms of Portugal and Algarve he was born at Lisbon in the year one thousand three hundred forty seven and was the onely childe of Constance daughter of D. Iuan Emanuel He arrived at the Crown at the age of about two and twenty years in the year 1369. as soon as he had fininished the Ceremonies of his Coronation he prosecuted the War his father had begun against the Moors and in several battels drove them quite out of Algarve he built a Monastery upon a Promontory of Land called Cape St. Vincent now by us the Southern Cape which stretcheth it self out into the Atlantique sea He addicted himself to the planting and peopling of that kingdom distributing the waste Lands among the Inhabitants he repaired many Cities Towns and Castles which had been destroyed by the fury of the War he built several Churches and Monasteries in that kingdom all which he enriched with great Revenues but particularly a Monastery for Franciscan Friers erected in Silva the chief City of that Territory About this time it was that Pedro son of Alphonso the eleventh king of Castile having committed several tyrannical outrages intollerable to his subjects oppressing and destroying his subjects putting away and after murdering his wife daughter to Peter Duke of Burbon was by his bastard brother Henry chased out of his kingdom and forced to live an exile He at first seeks for aid to Ferdinand King of Portugal but in vain he next addresses himself to Edward the black Prince of Wales who was then at Burdeaux with an Army of thirty thousand men he consents to assist him and encountring Henry on the borders of Castile with near one hundred thousand men utterly discomfits him and establisht Pedro in the Throne who shortly after falling again to his former tyrannical courses is deserted by his subjects taken by his brother Henry and put to death Ferdinand had but one only daughter that survived named Beatrice who was married to Henry King of Castile and thereby excluded from the right of succession according to the Law made in the first Assembly Estates held at Lamâ—go in the reign of Alfonso the first King so that in this King ended the legitimate Line of Henry Duke of Lorrein This King had now reigned 18. years and lived forty when seized by a violent sickness he gave up the ghost in the year of our Lord God 1387. and was buried by his Ancestors in the Cathedral Church of Lisbon JOHN the 1. Tenth KING OF PORTVGAL JOhn the first bastard son to Pedro the first by Agnesa de Castro who succeeded Ferdinand in the kingdom was born in Lisbon in the year 1356. he was in his minority educated in the famous Conimbricense University where he addicted himself to all those studies which became a Prince
Earl of Morenna by whom he had many children Henry the first died in his childhood Sancho who succeeded him in the Kingdom Uracca who was married to Ferdinando King of Leon though this match was again made void the Pope not approving of it Therasia whom some Historians have likewise called Matilda married to Phillip the first Earl of Flanders He had likewise diverse natural children amongst whom one named Alphonsus who was great Master of the Knights of Rhodes King Alphonso was certainly a great soldier a valiant Captain and a magnanimous King in all his words and actions there appeared a kinde of Majesty and sublimity of minde his liberality and justice made him feared by his enemies and adored by his subjects strength of body and greatness of minde concurred in him to make him the most worthy and admired of the age he lived in he never undertook any War but either to right his injured subjects or to propagate the Christian Religion amongst his greatest facts of Arms he never forgot acts of piety but always before any battel used with vows and prayers to beg the protection of heaven He died having arrived at the highest pitch of glory wept for by his people and lamented by the very Moors themselves who hated him thus topt with all triumph happy in a numerous and as generous an issue weary of worldly vanities he departed this life in hopes to receive in heaven the reward of his piety and vertue SANCHO the I. Second King of Portugal SAncho his eldest son indeed the onely legitimate son he had living succeeded to Alphonso he was born at Conimbria the 11. of November Anno 1154. where he was likewise educated until the fourteenth year of his age in all those studies and exercises which are proper for a Prince born to command he afterwards profited under his fathers tutorage in the Art Military in which emulating his fathers valor and greatness he did things worthy of himself gaining love from the soldiery and respect from the people he accompanied his father in three Victories in which he nobly adventured his life His father being dead he took upon him the government of the Kingdom and was Crowned the 12. of December 1185. three days after his fathers death being aged two and thirty years and finding the Kingdom at the beginning of his reign freed from the incursions of the Moors he applied himself wholly to make the peace enjoyed by his Kingdom profitable to his subjects he caused a multitude of fields to be tilled most of which were before a receptacle for wilde beasts and part of them laid waste by the late Wars with so much diligence did he addict himself to these things that by the vulgar he was called the King of Husbandmen He applied himself afterwards with the same industry to restore publique edifices and structures he rebuilt all Castles which had either been destroyed by the Moors or spoiled by other accidents of the War he restored the Cities Towns and Fortresses to their pristine splendor enriching them with new edifices and supplying them with new inhabitants he gave likewise great Revenues to all the orders of Knight-hood but principally to that of Saint Giacomo Whilest thus he took care of his subjects good and the increasing the Revenue of his Crown there were driven by contrary winds and raging seas into the Port of Lisbone a fleet of thirteen sail of ships belonging to several Christian Princes going to the Holy War with the assistance of these King Sancho invaded the Kingdom of Algarve then possessed by the Moors making this compact with the Christian Princes that commanded the Navy that they should enjoy the whole spoil of the enemy whilest he reserved for himself onely the Cities and the glory The Impress proved not very difficult although the City of Sylva the Metropolis of the Kingdom made a long and obstinate resistance for at length it yielded but he enjoyed not quietly the possession of this Kingdom for the Moors uniting themselves to revenge the injuries done to their Nation he was constrain'd to flie to a defence of himself so much the more dangerous by how much the more unequal and 〈…〉 had with the kingdom of Algarve lost likewise his native kingdom of Portugal if God of his mercy had not bridled and curbed the fury of the Moors by a merciless devouring Pestilence which made them with the loss of two hundred thousand soldiers return flying home But King Sancho was no sooner freed from these dangers but another almost over-whelmed his kingdom by continual rains most part of the land was overflown by reason of which it not being possible to till the ground a famine ensued and that at length brought forth the plague so that the whole kingdom was almost destroyed the Cities and Towns were depopulated the Country remained unmanured nor was there to be seen over the whole kingdom other but spectacles of ruine and misery This sad condition of the Christians made the Moors once more adventure in the field and without any resistance possess themselves of the greatest part of the Kingdom of Algarve the City of Sylva was rendred at discretion whilest the necessities of the King forced him to buy five years of truce or cessation upon low conditions In the mean time he would have sent assistance of ships and men to the Christian Princes who fought against the Saracens in Palestina but the miseries of his kingdom would not permit him yet he assigned to the Knights Templars and Hospitallers who were sometime before come into Portugal great Revenues giving unto them many Castles and Lands The truce was not yet expired when the King either finding or taking occasion to break it in the midst of winter assaulted the Cities of the Moors with so much fury that the Barbarians not expecting so sudden an assault were easily driven not onely out of the Confines of Portugal but out of the best part of the kingdom of Algarve King Sancho had for wife the daughter of Ramond Berengario Count of Barchinona called Aldonsa by her he had nine children of whom eight outlived their father to wit three sons and five daughters the sons were Alfonso who succeeded in the kingdom Ferdinando who for his singular vertues was called into Flanders to marry the Countess Ioanna and Pietro who was Count Iregelense and Lord of the Bateares The five daughters were Therasia Mefalda Sancha Bianca and Beringhella Therasia was married with Alfonso King of Leon her Cousin-german but this marriage not being assented to by the Pope was esteemed void so that after having born three children she was forced to return into Portugal where being shut up in a Monastery she spent the rest of her life in pious meditations it is reported by some that her Sepulchre being opened in the year 1617. her body was found whole and as it were incorrupted and that many who were sick or otherwise had incurable diseases by vowing to her and touching her
always accounted good Sea-faring men and fortunate in discovery of forein Countreys It aboundeth with Rivers of all sorts having neer two hundred great and small The chief are 1. Minius full of red Lead and thence called Minium by the Latines navigable with small Vessels neer a hundred miles 2. Lethes now Lavada 3. Muliadas now Mundego 4. Tagus 5. Duerus and 6. Anas These three last common to all the rest of Spain Anas or Guadiana passing by Portugal onely for seven leagues Tagus for eighteen and Duero for eighty None of these navigable for any long space by Ships of any great burthen all the Rivers of Spain being generally swift of course restrained within narrow Channels between sharp Rocks and therefore incommodious for navigation but that want is supplyed by three excellent Havens 1. That of Lisbon upon Tagus 2. Porto upon Duero to the north of Lisbon 3. That of Setaval south of Lisbon scituate on a Goll twenty miles in length and three in breadth a place of great importance The principal Cities of this Countrey are 1. Lisbon seated upon Tagus a City famous for Commerce called by the Latines Olisippo or Ulisippo and as some have fabulously imagined built by Ulysses in his ten years travel It is in compass seven miles and contains upwards of thirty Parishes in which are at least 20000 houses neat and comely Fabricks There are on the Walls seventy six Turrets and Towers twen-two Gates to the Sea-side Towards the Continent it is scituate upon five small Hills betwixt which is a valley which runs down to the River On the highest Hill stands an ancient Castle not strong but by reason of its vicinity to the Palace serving now onely for a Prison for great men The Entrance of the River is defended by the Castle of Cascais and neerer the City by the Fort of St. Iulians and the Rock of Belem muniâ—ioned by twenty Pieces of Ordnance This is the Chamber of the Kings of Portugal the Sea of an Archbishop the Staple of Commodities for all the kingdom and thought more worth than all the Realm besides 2. The second City of note is Santaren seated on the Tagus so called from Sancta Irene a Nun of Tomar a Monastery wherein the old Kings of Portugal used to be crowned martyred heâ—e by the Moors this City is called by Ptolomy Scavaliscus then a Roman Colony 3. Sintrâ— upon the main Atlantick at the end of high mountains called Montes Lunae hither by reason of the cool refreshings of the Sea and pleasure of the Woods adjoyning the Kings of Portugal use to retire in the heat of Summer 4. Corimbra seated on both sides the River Mondego a pleasant Scituation among the Vineyards and Woods of Olives a Bishops Sea an University and sometime the Residence of the Kings 5 On the north side of the River Duero betwixt that and Minio is placed the City of Braga once the Royal Seat of the Swevian Kings now the Sea of an Archbishop conâ—ending for the supremacy with Ioledo 6. Porto the Haven of the Galls before-mentioned standing at the mouth of Duero now vulgarly called Portuport 7. Miranda a Bishops Sea seated also on the Duero 8. Bragance the Dukes whereof now Kings of Portugal were accounted so great Princes that it was thought one third part of Portugal were their Vassals and lived on their Lands they are originally descended from Alphonso natural son to Iohn the First who was first by his Father created Earl of Borcellos and after Duke of Bragance they after came to have right to the Crown by marriage of Katherine Daughter to Emanuel 9. On the south of Tagus and betwixt it and Algarve is seated in the middest of a large and spacious Plain the City of Eubora the Sea of an Archbishop and an University the last founded by King Henry the Cardinal 10. Is Portolegre a Bishops Sea 11. Olivenza on the Guadiana 12. Beja called by Pliny anciently Pax Iulia now Mean not very well inhabited but anciently a Roman Colony and one of the three Juridicial Resorts of Lusitania The Kingdom of Algarve THe kingdom of Algarve lyeth South of Portugal from which it is divided by a Line drawn from Aschorin on the Western Sea to Odochere a Castle on the Guadiana on the East bounded by Andalusia on the West and South by the main A lantick more wilde and barren it is then the kingdom of Portugal peopled with few Towns and those not very populous hilly and mountanous but by the benefit of the Sea yielding a great Trade of fishing specially of Tunny of which there is abundance caught It took its name from its Western scituation for so Algarve signifieth in the Arabick the utmost end of it was antiently called Promontorium Sacrum now Cape St. Vincent because the bones of St. Vincent religiously preserved by the Christians were here burnt and scattered by the Moors but now vulgarly by Mariners called the Southern Cape the Places of most importance in this kingdom are 1. Niebla the seat of Abed Mefad once King of this Country 2. Sylvia an inland City the seat of a Bishop 3. Villa Maona scituate beyond the Cape 4. Tavila 5. Faro 6. Lagos all Haven Towns This Country conquered by the Moors with the rest of Spain in the distractions of their power was for a time under the Soveraignity and command of the Kings of Sevil recovered from the Moors of Sevil by the Kings of Morocco It became subject unto them till they left this Country and was after parcelled among many Kings one of which was Aben Mefad reigning in Niebla and the parts adjoyning being dispossessed of his Estate by Alfonso the wise most of the other Towns and Princes submitted unto him and became his Vassals Anno 1257. more absolutely subdued and made subject to the Crown of Portugal by Alfonso the third Anno 1260. to whom the said Alfonso the renth of that Name in Leon and seventh in Castile had given the same in Dowry with Beatrix his daughter The Azores or Tenera Islands THe Azores or Tenera Islands are certain Islands belonging to the Crown of Portugal seated in the Atlantick Ocean directly opposite to Lisbon and distant from it 250 leagues first found out and subdued by the Portugals under the Conduct of Prince Henry son of Iohn the first scituate between 38. and 40. degrees of the Latitude and one of them in the first Longitude which is commonly reckoned from these Islands being the most Western parts of the world before the discovery of America They were called Azores from the multitude of Gossehawk at first found there Azor in the Spanish Tongue signifying a Gossehawk though at this time there are few or none found they were called also the Flemish Islands because first discovered by them and in the Isle of Faial one of the chief there are some families still resemble Flemings both in complexion and habit and not far from their abode is a Torrent called by the Portugals
John the Third fifteenth King of Portugal 60 XVII Sebastian sixteenth King of Portugal 61 XVIII Henry seventeenth King of Portugal 64 XIX Philip the second third and fourth of that name Kings of Spain and 18 19 20 Kings of Portugal page 69 XX. John the Fourth One and twentieth King of Portugal 88 XXI Alfonso the Sixth Two and twentieth King of Portugal 182 XXII A Cosmographical Description of Portugal 193 XXIII Of Algarve 198 XXIV Of the Azores of Tercera Islands 199 XXV Of the Portugals Possessions in Asia 204 XXVI Of the Portugals Possessions in Africa 207 XXVII Of Brazile 208 IF any person please to repair to my shop at the Sign of Iohn Fletchers head on the back side of St. Clements without Temple-bar they may be furnished with al Plays that were ever yet Printed as also with several sorts of Romances and Histories more especially with the books hereafter mentioned of which though not printed for me I have sufficient numbers viz. The History of Independency compleat being the 1. 2. 3. 4. and last part which may be had single by such as have bought the others Blood for blood or Murthers Revenged lively set forth in 35 Tragical Histories some whereof have been the product of our late Times published by T. N. Esq. Venus undrest or the Practical part of Love extracted out of the Extravagant and Lascivious Life of a fair but subtile Female That useful Book for Gentlemen and Travellers being an exact Description of the several Counties and Shires in England by Ed. Leigh Esq. The Fanatick in his Colours or the rise height and fall of Faction and Rebellion from 1648. unto 1661. with an Apendix concerning Allegiance Government and Order by T. F. Summum Bonum or A Plain Path-way to Happiness conducting the Soul to its Haven of Rest through the Stormy passages of worldly troubles to which is added a short Dialogue of that excellent vertue of the Submission of Mans will to the will of God The Rudiments of Grammar the rules composed in English verse for the greater Benefit and Delight of young beginners by Iames Sherley Gent. A short view of the Life of the Illustrious Prince Hen. D. of Glocester and Maâ—y Princess of Orange Brother and Sister to His Majesty of great Britain lately Deceased by T. M. Esq. Scutum Regale the Royal Buckler or Vox Legis a Lecture to Traytors c. Playes The Beggars Bush a Comedy written by Fran. Beamont and Iohn Fletcher both in folio and in quarto The Humerous Lieutenant a Comedy in folio The Scornful Lady a Comedy The Elder Brother a Comedy Philaster or Love lies Bleeding a Tragi-Comedy c. A King and no King A Comedy The Maids Tragedy The Night-walker or little Theif a Comedy all written by the same Authors in quarto The Quâ—â—n of Arragâ—n A. Tragi-Comedy written by William Habington Esq in folio The Maids Revenge A Tragedy written by Iames Shirley in quarto Loves Mastriss A Masque written by Tho. Heywood in quarto The City Night-cap A Tragi-Comedy by T. B. in 4. The Obstinate Lady A Comedy by Sir Aston Cockain Knight in 4. The Obstinate Lady and Trapolin supposed a Prince both Comedies and several other Poems all written by Sir Aston Cockain Knight in octavo Plutus A Comedy in 4. Troades a Tragedy Translated out of Seneca by Sam. Pordage Gent. in 8. A Short and Compendious HISTORY Of the KINGDOM Of PORTUGAL THe Spaniards have a Proverb very vulgar amongst them terming the Portugueses Pocos y Locos few and fools spoken I suppose rather out of derision and disdain of that Nation then that its people and inhabitants really are so for whosoever shall read their actions will judge them to be managed with as much prudence as the Spaniards can boast of nor will any one believe that they could bring to perfection so great Atchievements as they have done with onely a simple valor 'T is true I believe them to be less numerous then the Castilians and yet I am not of the opinion that they are so few or their Kingdom so inconsiderable as the Spanish Proverb seems to make them which one may easily imagine when one considers that the Romans accounted Lusitania that is Portugal by it self when its bounds did not extend so far as now they do and without the addition of Algarve or Regnum Algarbiorum to be one third part of Spain much less can we think it so now when not onely its proper bounds are enlarged but likewise the Kingdom of Algarve added besides the Island in the Atlantick sea and their great conquests in Asia Africa and America But to return to the Kingdom it self and its original various fortunes after the decay and declension of the Roman Empire was it subject unto before it was setled under a Prince of its own The Alani were the first that preyed upon it and endeavored to plant in it but had scarce begun to do so but themselves were driven out by the Swemans and constrained to go seek another habitation these for some time enjoyed it peaceably making Braga their Imperial City till in the general Inundation of the overflowing Gothes and Vandals they with the rest of that part of the continent which is circumscribed by the sea and the Pyrenean Mountains became vassals to these irresistable Conquerors who living a long time in quiet enjoyed their conquest and were the first that in these parts entertained the Christian Religion till the Moors like a more violent flood fell in upon them and with the greatest part of Spain possessed themselves likewise of that Kingdom But some parts of Spain after many years slavery strugling for their liberty this Kingdom was in part recovered by the King of Castile and by them enjoyed till at length it gained a King of its own the maner thus Henry the second Duke of Lorrain whom some affirm to be Nephew to Godfrey of Bolloigne though others differ both in the person and his alliance to him flying from the fury of Henry the fifth Emperor came into Spain where moved with a generous emulation of his Uncle who was gone to the conquest of Ierusalem offered his service the subjection of the Moors and in short time arrived by his valorous atchievements against those enemies of the Christian Religion grew into so much repute with Alfonso the 6. King of Castile that he gave him his base daughter Teresia in marriage with his whole acquists in Portugal for her dower though with no other title then that of Counte or Earl some further addition he made to his Dominions and in the year 1094. had a son who after his grandfather was named Alphonso at last overborn with the burden of seventy seven years he died in the year 1112. ALFONSO the I. First King of Portugal ALfonso his son who from his very childhood had been bred up under his father in Military excercise after his death valorously prosecuted his victories against the Moors and against the
Kings of Leon which Wars he managed with so much courage as was admirable in a Prince so young The Count of Trastamarense despising his youth took to wife his mother Teresia and from that marriage drew occasion to wage War with him Alfonso to vindicate his sleightings cheerfully encountred him and after the diverse accidents of several battels took him prisoner and forced him to regain his liberty to give him to wife his sister Uracca with that part of the land for her Dower which had been the occasion of the War Yet some there be that differ both in the occasion of the marriage and the contest Alfonso likewise fought several battels with his Grand-father Alfonso the 6. King of Castile and in one battel took him prisoner near one of his Castles called Arcos del val de vez upon whose release he had conferred upon him the title of Duke of Portugal he afterwards imployed his forces against the Saracens from whom he took Leirida Torre Naova and several other places Whereupon the King Ismaurus who was the most powerful amongst all the Mauritamans calling to his assistance four other Kings with an Army of four hundred thousand men invaded Portugal but his fortune corresponded not with his numbers for Alfonso encountring this great power with a small Army overthrew them and slew or took prisoners all the five Kings in memory or which â—ignal Victory Alphonso bore five Escutchions in his Arms though others are pleased to affirm it was in memory of the five wounds of our Savior seen by him in a Vision just before the fight The soldiers made proud with this exâ—raordinary success thinking the title of Duke too low for their Commander saluted Alphonso with the tile of King which Alphonso accepted and returning home enriched with spoils addicted himself to the exercise of his Regal power by calling a general Council of the three Estates to wit the Clergy Nobility and Commons for the better establishing by the consent of the whole people that Crown upon his head which the Soldiers love had conferred upon his merit This general Assembly being met in the City of Lamego and in the Church of St. Almacave the King came thither and seating himself upon the Royal Throne but as yet unadorned with his Ensigns of Majesty according to appointment the King Deputy Don Lorenzo Venegas spake to the Estates as followeth You are here assembled by the Authority of King Alphonso to see the Popes Letters and Resolve to confirm him for your King Whereat the whole Estates with one voice cried We will that he shall be our King Upon which the Deputy demanded shall he only be your King and not his sons after him They all answered he so long as he lives shall be our King and after his death his sons shall succeed Give him then the Royal Ensigns said the Deputy They answered we give them in the name of God and therewithall the Arch-Bishop of Braga placed the Crown upon the Kings head and gave him the Scepter in his hand with all accustomed Ceremonies which done his Majesty rose up and drawing his sword spake to this effect Blessed be God that hath been my helper with this sword I have delivered you and overcome our enemies and now that you have made me your King let us make Laws for the government of the Kingdom They answered so we will dread Soveraign we will make such Laws as shall seem good and convenient to you and we and all our children and posterity will be wholly at your command And accordingly several Laws were then and there immediately made the sum of which were 1. That King Alfonso should be Master of the Kingdom and that after him there might be no troubles in the choosing of a King his Son should reign after him his Grand-childe and so from Father to Son in secula seculorum 2. That if the eldest Son should dye during the life of the Father the next brother should be King and so forward 3. That if the King should dye without issue having a brother he should succeed but not his sons without consent of the Estates 4. That if the King should have onely daughters the eldest should be Queen after her father upon condition that she be married to a native of the Kingdom and that he be a Nobleman who should not have the power to take upon him the name of King until he had a son born nor should he till then wear a Crown on his head or take the right hand of his wife 5. That it should be for ever held for a Law among the Portugals that the Kings eldest daughter should marry a Native of the Country that so the Crown might never descend to Forreigners and that in case she should marry a Forreign Prince she should be excluded from her right of succession for they would not have that Kingdom which themselves by their own valor and by the effusion of their own blood without the aid or assistance of any strangers had made so go out of the race of the Portugals The Crown by these Laws and Statutes confirmed Alfonso as he was advanced in Title so he addicted himself to higher and greater enterprizes in five moneths siege he added the great and populous City of Lisbone to his Crown not without the loss of thousands of valiant soldiers and as many hazards of his own life some affirm that in this War the number of the slain amounted to no less then two hundred thousand men This magnanimous King likewise made innumerable acquists both of one side and the other of the Tagus he slew both the Kings of Leon and Castile but at length wounded in a battel he was no longer able to follow the Wars in person for what with his wound and what with age being now sixty six years old he had not strength enough to mount on horseback he therefore bequeathed his command over his Armies to his eldest son Sanctius or Sancho but still reserving to himself the superintendency of all Having thus relinquished the Wars he addicted himself wholly to works of piety and to endeavor the flourishing of the Christian Religion he built within his Kingdom one hundred and fifty Churches and Monasteries all which he enriched with great revenues Amongst the rest he built that at Conimbria from whence that famous University called Academia Conimbricense had its Original In this Monastery called that of the Holy Cross he died at ninety one years of age on the 9. of December Anno 1185. and here he remained buried in a little Tomb scituated in an Angle of that Church till such time as King Emanuel affected with the Fame of his Sanctity erected for him a most stately Monument which is at this day to be seen By Uracca his first wife daughter to the Count Trastamarense he had no children whereupon at fifty two years of age and in the seventh year of his reign he took to wife Mafalda sister to Amadeo
de Franca were drawn at a horse tayl to an extraordinary high gallows and there hanged whilest Diego de Brito Nabo and Antonio Valente were executed upon a lower the quarters of these four were set up at the gates of the City and their heads placed upon several Frontier Towns In the month of September following for the same offence Antonia Cogamigne and Antonio Correa were likewise executed the first of which during the whole time of his imprisonment was an example of penitence feeding onely upon bread and water and whipping himself very often with continual prayers to God for Pardon of that and all his other sins As for the Arch-Bishop of Braga and the Bishops of Martiria and Malacca and Fryer Emanuel de Macedo though they were the persons that had the greatest hand in the conspiracy yet in regard they were Ecclesiastical persons they suffered noâ— death according to their deserts but were kept in prison till the Popes pleasure were known concerning them Here must not be forgot a great example of humility and repentance in the Arch-Bishop of Braga not onely in his life time when he often writ to the King that he might suffer and others be spared who were rather drawn in in complyance and obedience to him then out of any ill will to the King and kingdom but also at his death which happened about three years after his imprisonment when he gave order that as soon as he was dead his last Will and Testament should be carried to the King wherein he humbly intreated his Majesty to Pardon the Treason committed against him and his Native Country and that he would permit his body to be buried without the Church of any Parish of Lisbon and that without any Inscription or Tomb-stone that there might remain no memory of a man who had been a Traytor to his King and Country This exemplary punishment and rigorous execution of Justice upon the forementioned trayterous Delinquents established the King in his kingdom struck a terror into his enemies and increased his Subjects love and care of him more diligently to watch his Royal Families and the kingdoms safety But in the mean time daily incursions were made upon the Frontiers between the Castilians and Portugueses with the same violence cruelty and animosity as formerly But now come we to relate the most shameful piece of treachery ever yet heard of acted upon that most Noble and Gallant Prince the Infante Don Duarte or Edward brother to the King of Portugal who had served the Emperor in his Wars with much gallantry and no less success long before his brother Don Iohn had any thoughts of a Crown nor did he shew any endeavors to desert the Emperors service after the news arrived of the Revolt of Portugal but seemed resolved to continue there till he was betrayed by Francisco de Mello a Portugal at that time Ambassador to the Catholique King in the Emperial Court This Mello notwithstanding he was bound by many strong Obligations to the House of Braganza yet like an ungrateful villain having opportunity offered now resolves to build his fortunes upon their ruine or at least displeasure he therefore earnestly sollicites the Emperor to seize upon the person of Don Duarte and deliver him up to the King of Spain alledging of what great concernment the securing of his person would be to the Catholique King that it much behoved his Imperial Majesty to shew his affection to his brother the Catholique King in this particular which would not onely prove of Interest to Spain but the whole house of Austria That this Prince was the onely Prop of the House of Braganza that this was the onely means which God had left in the hands of the House of Austria to recover the kingdom of Portugal that it would be a great error both in prudence and policy to let ship so fair an occasion for that if he should scape out of their hands and get to the assistance of his brother both his personal valor and experience in Warlike affairs would very much infest the Catholick King The Emperor was not onely not perswaded by this Discourse of Mello's but extreamly offended at it returning him in answer that he did abhor and detest so great a breach of publique faith and violation of all Laws of hospitality that it would be both against the liberty of the Empire and against his own honor to imprison a Prince who had committed no fault to the Empire but rather had laid innumerable Obligations both upon it and himself Nor was the detestation of the Arch Duke Leopold to an act so foul and shameful less then that of his brothers the Emperor notwithstanding all which Mello was not at all discouraged but still prosecutes his villanous design by corrupting with great sums of money the Count of Tratsmandorf and several other Pensioners of the Crown of Spain but they were soon weary of so base and shameful and employment which made Mello think of a more cunning Artifice which was to perswade the Emperor to hearken to the allurements of one Diego di Quiroga who of a soldier was turned Monk and was now Confessor to the Empress This Father who had often been called to give his judgement in Affairs of State endeavored by all means possible to perswade the Emperor that he might not onely with a good conscience secure the Infante but that according to the best rules of Interest of State he ought to do it His Imperial Maâ—esty notwithstanding all these perswasions was very much unsatisfied in the action and once fully resolved not to do it but at length overcome by Mello's importunities and the Ghostly perswasions of Quiroga he was as it were constrained to alter his resolution and to give order to Don Lewis Gonzaga to go to the Princes quarters at Leipen and summon him to Ratisbone In the mean time to endeavorto prevent all â—ll impressions which an action so hainously wicked might strike into all bosoms that had either honor or honesty it was given out abroad that the Infante Don Duarte was secretly fled for some misdemeanor from Leipen when he confident of his own innocency was in his journey to Ratisbone according to the summons and thereupon proposal made of sixteen thousand Crowns as a reward to any man could bring him either dead or alive so that the Prince being ignorant of any such thing very hardly escaped their hands who out of hopes of the money had gone in search of him but missing them he came to Ratisbone where he was no sooner arrived but without any reason given he was cast into a common goal and all his servants imprisoned Don Francisco de Mello having thus far brought his desires to effect stops not here but afresh sollicites the Emperor that the Prince might be delivered into the Spaniards hands and sent prisoner to Millain but instead of assenting to this he sends a messenger to the Infante assuring him upon his word that
satisfaction for the dammage the Portugals had done to their West-India company in Brazile and in case the King of Portugal should deny to comply with their desires to force them to a composition The High and Mighty States easily listned to this councel and Vice-Admiral Opdam with a potent Fleet was sent to Lisbon carrying with him some Commissioners from the States to make their demands which the Queen Regent and Council thought so unreasonable that they could not return any satisfactory answer to them whereupon the Commissioners departed But Opdam still stayed with his Fleet to wait an opportunity of catching the Brazile Fleet in their return home many of which notwithstanding the care and endeavours of the Portugueses to prevent it he made prize of and sent into Holland By this means was the War which for many years had been maintained between the Hollanders and Portugals on the other side the line transferred to this side which the King of France endeavoured by all meanes possible before it's eruption to prevent and afterwards to compose by his Ambassadors Monsieur de Thou in Holland and the Sieur de Comings in Portugal but to no effect Thus assaulted by two potent Nations both by Sea and by Land were the Portugueses which yet made them not at all falter in their courage and resolution the generous Queen Regent causing all possible Leavyes to be made to oppose the Castilian sending into Barbary to buy horses and by Leagues abroad endeavoring to strengthen the interest of the Kingdom an Ambassador was sent to that purpose into England to renew and confirm the Amity before concluded on and many conferences there were between the Archbishop of Goa who had before been Ambassador in France and the Sieur de Comings so that many were in hopes that the Match between the King of France and the Infanta would have gone forward and an indissoluble League both defensive offensive been concluded between the two Nations And to joyn force to policy a gallant Army of about sixteen thousand Foot and three thousand Horse aâ—l Portugueseâ— took the field and in revenge for the loss of Olivenza laid siege to Mouron which in three or four days they took by storm putting 1500 Spaniards to the Sword and resolved to proceed to the regaining of Badayox and Olivenza and to that purpose marching without opposition by Caya which they left fortified they came to the Fort of St. Christopher the strongest hold of the City of Badayox which they several days battered and thrice stormed but were beaten off yet at the length they took it and so securely entrenched themselves about the whole City The Duke of Ossima General of the Castilian horse having notice of this streight siege of the City endeavoured with sixteen hundred Horse to cut off their convoys and provisions but the Count del Prado governour of Elvas receiving advice of his design sallied out of the City with three companies of Horse and all the Foot he had to prevent him by which means Ossima was encompassed on both sides for at the same time that he was on the other part charged by Don Andrea D' Albuquerque General of the Portuguese horse and that with so much gallantry that they presently discomfited their enemies slew four hundred upon the place took three hundred prisoners and forced the Duke of Ossima to save himself by swinning This happy success encouraged them to return with more alacrity to the siege which they prosecuted with all vigor possible and on the three and twentieth of Iune stormed and took a Redoubt which was palisadosed but at length when they had spent much time blood and treasure they were enforced by the powerful Army of Don Lewis de Haro to raise their Siege For the King of Spain exsperated with the loss of Mouron and fearing likewise to loose Badayox had rallyed a great Army which he committed to the care of his favorite Don Lewis de Haro who not onely with it raised the siege from before Badayox but likewise so straightly besieged Elvas one of the Portugueses strongest Frontier-towns the taking of which might have endangered the whole Kingdom and reduced it to such necessity that it was even upon the point of yielding But the Portugals who knew of how much importance it was to them had ever been anxious for its relief and therefore having at length bravely recruited their Army they advanced with full resolution to drive the Spaniards out of their Trenches nor did they effect it less bravely then they had resolved it for they totally routed their General Don Lewis de Haro very hardly escaping but in this battel the Portuguez lost the worthy Albuquerque General of the horse And to counterpoise this victory the strong Fortress of Mounson upon the borders of Gallicia was surrendred to the Spaniards and a Party of the Portugals not having advice that it was already possessed by the Castilians going to relieve it were surprized and forced shamefully to retreat with the loss of some hundreds and this Success encouraged the Spaniards under the command of the Marquis of Viana to besiege the onely City the Portugals were possest of on the River Minho but it was relieved by the Portugals The Spaniards likewise gained a signal Victory over a Party of Portugal Horse nigh Alcantara for advice being brought to the Governor of that Town that the Portuguez with a party of four hundred Horse were entring upon the Frontiers in two Bodies he taking five hundred Horse and a select Party of Foot went to meet them and so handsomly managed his business that he surprized one whole Body scarce a man escaping 〈◊〉 Commissary General five Captains and several other Officers being taken Prisoners But these things were inconsiderable disadvantages to the interest of Portugal in respect of what it was like to feel by the Peace which was treating of between those two mighty Monarchs of France and Spain which the Queen Regent and Council were sensible of and therefore dispatcht Don Iohn D' Acosta Ambassador Extraordinary to the French Court to represent unto his Most Christian Majesty the state of the Kingdom of Portugal and to insist that there might be a due Consideration had of the Interest of his Master in the concluding of the Peace with Spain seeing he had formerly approved himself so good an Ally to the Crown of France But this Embassie could produce no other effect than a promise to endeavor a Mediation for them with the King of Spain and procure them good tearms upon Submission which by the magnanimous Portugueses was rejected with indignation Nor were they at all daunted with the great power of the Spaniard which he intended to imploy against them but manfully resolved to endure all hazards yet would they willingly have concluded a Peace with the Hollanders and to that purpose Don Fernando Tellez de Faro Duke of Alvero was sent Ambassador to the States General but he like a treacherous villain