both Kings made short Speeches to their Men. This done the Armies engaged with such terrible shouts that the Mountains seemed to shake Nor was the noise of clattering of Arms less hideous Vast numbers of Dead were soon trod under foot and the wounded in that Confusion were scarce sensible of their hurts The two Christian Kings overthrow the Infidels Our King rushing into the midst of the Enemies made such havock that the Moors soon turned their backs and fled to Algezira the Portugueses making a greater slaughter in the Pursuit than they had done in the Fight The King of Castile with no less Bravery thrust himself into the midst of his Enemies till stopp'd in his rash Carreer by the Archbishop of Toledo Yet so did he press Aliboacem that despairing of Success he fled to Algezira and not thinking himself safe there passed the Streights over into Africk Both the Christian Princes followed the Chace as far as the Rivers Britabotellas and Guadamicil which they dyed with the Blood of Infidels 9. Queen Fatima with many other Moorish Ladies were killed by the Soldiers in their Tents Some Princes also died and two were taken The quantity and value of the Booty is not to be expressed The number of the Infidels and greatness of the Booty for they came to divide Spain among them and brought over above 100000 Families besides their innumerable Army all which was so great that they spent five Months in passing the Streights sixty Galleys being continually employ'd in Transporting them and twelve Galleys were fifteen days in carrying back the Remnants of this Overthrow 450000 Infidels are said to have died in this Battle Of the Christians so few were missing that it will be scarce credited if the Number were reported The Victorious Kings entred Sevil in Triumph the chiefest of the Captives dragging the Colours that were taken Many Carts followed laden with Spoil and then a multitude of Moorish Horses with all their Accoutrements Several Colours and Horses were sent for a Present to Pope Benedict The seventh day after the Victory the Portuguese being obliged to return home the Castilian laid all the Booty before him to take what he liked best whereof he only took some Arms one of the Captive Princes 1347. and five Colours The Prince he released without Ransom Eâ—lenor second Daughter to K. Alonso marry'd to Peter King of Aragon and hung up the Colours in the Cathedral of Lisbon 10. King Peter the Fourth of Aragon by his Embassadors demanded of our King his Second Daughter Ellenor in Marriage His Request was granted and her Portion settled at 50000 Doubloons The King of Castile endeavoured to hinder this Marriage but failing of his Design the Princess was carryed to Valencia and there marryed with great Solemnity 1348. The three following Years Portugal was infested with that Universal Pestilence A great Plague which began by the opening of the Earth after a terrible Earthquake in the Eastern Countries whence issued such a destructive stench as infected those Parts and thence diffused it self into these The Princess Constance dying after she had brought forth three Children our King found that Discord at home which had before drawn him thence He thought to Marry the Prince to strengthen the Succession to the Crown but found he was in Love with the Lady Agnes de Castro a Kinswoman and one of the Ladies to the late Princess and that enjoying her Person he refused a second Wife and enquiring farther into it K. Alonso his Eldest Son privately Marries the Lady Agnes de Castro he was informed they were privately marryed by Giles Bishop of Guarda and yet the Prince fearing his Father's Displeasure denyed it tho' he promised if it were really so to treat her as Princess The Nobility envying the Lady Agnes her Happiness perswaded the King to oblige his Son to Marry another Wife or else to kill her alledging that if she came to be Queen her Brothers Ferdinand and Alvaro would destroy the Princeâ—s Son Ferdinand that one of their Nephews might Inherit the Crown They also said the Lady Agnes was not of sufficient Quality to be a Queen but in this they wronged her for she was of Royal Blood and her Sister came to be Queen of Castile Upon these Pretences her Death was contrived and tho' the Prince had notice given him hereof by the Queen his Mother and the Archbishop of Braga yet he thought none durst attempt such an Action whilst he was in the way The King overcome by Perswasions set out from Monte-Mayor and went to Coimbra with a great number of armed Men at such time as the Prince was gone out a Hunting The Lady Agnes was in the Palace called S. Clare The Lady Agnes cruelly murdered and understanding the King came to kill her went out to receive him and falling at his Feet with the three Children she had bathed them with her Tears This sad Spectacle moved the King and he turned back to depart But those who had perswaded him to this Action the chief whereof were Alvaro Gonçalez James Lopez Pacheco and Peter Coello blamed the King's Remissness and so earnestly pressed him to give them leave to execute what they came about that he condescended and they immediately with more than barbarous Inhumanity struck off her Head 11. The Prince returning from Hunting The Prince begins his Revenge for some time was almost distracted with Rage Being come to himself he began to execute his Revenge destroying all the Country betwixt Duero and Minho where those Cruel Executioners had their Estates with Fire and Sword The City Porto he spared for the sake of the Archbishop who had given him notice of the Design Thus King Alonso's Disobedience towards his Father was now with more Reason punished by his own Son The Prince marched to the Town of Canaveses where the Queen his Mother and the Archbishop met and reduced him to submit to his Father and disband his Followers conditioning that both Parties should Pardon all Offences and that in all Places where the Prince was all Acts of Justice should be performed in his Name It was visible enough that the Prince would some time or other be revenged on the Murderers of the Lady The Murderers fly into Castile therefore the King being near his End advised them before his Death to shift for themselves They thereupon fled to Castile and we shall hereafter see what became of them This was the end of King Alonso an Unnatural Son towards his Father The Death of King Alonso and a Barbarous Father towards his Son Yet he was an excellent King either for Peace or War He coined a new sort of Money called Alfonsines worth in English Money about Three Shillings Many wholesom Laws were instituted by him and his Government was equitable and just He had a large Forehead but with wrinkles in it his Visage long a proportionable Nose a large Mouth his
up the Ghost on the 25th of October 〈…〉 Being sensible he must die he commanded the Plate furnished by the Churches for the late Wars to be restored He ordered Duke Emanuel should Succeed him having first used all possible means to leave the Crown to his Bastard-Son George which was the greatest Act of Injustice he was 〈…〉 indeed that could be Having 〈◊〉 the Queen Princess Beatrix and the Clergy in his Life time he now begged Pardon of them 4. Tho' the King earnestly desired to see Duke Emanuel before his Death he could not compass it some Persons perswading that Prince his Design was to kill him There was a small Box whereof he always kept the Key which was generally supposed to contain nothing but Poison 〈…〉 Saint But this Box being opened after his Death there was found in it a Book of Instructions for to make a good Confession a Hair-cloath and a Discipline stained with Blood Hence the People took occasion 〈◊〉 call him a Saint as many before accounted him a Tyrant In his Will the King ordered 3000 Masses should be said for his Soul that 41 Orphans should be marryed that the like number of Captives should be redeemed that the great â—ospital of Lisbon should be finished that half the Plate taken from Churches by his Father for the War against Castile should be restored that Duke Emanuel should Succeed him in the Throne that his Bastard-Son George should have the City Coimbra with all the Royalties wherewith Prince Peter had it before that in case Duke Emanuel died without Issue the aforesaid George should Inherit the Crown and that none of the Persons banished the Kingdom by him should be restored After his Death he had the Commendations of his very Enemies His Body was conducted with great State from the Cathedral of Silves to the Monastery of Batalla where it is said to have been found long after uncorrupted which increased the Opinion of his Sanctity He marryed his Cousin-German Ellenor Daughter to Prince Ferdinand Duke of Viseo and the Lady Beatrix Daughter to Prince John She was a Princess endued with singular Beauty Wit and Vertue and lies buried in the Monastery of the Mother of God at Lisbon founded by her self in the Cloister among the Nuns is her Grave without any distinction 5. Let us now give some Specimen of the many Vertues that adorned this King 〈◊〉 Vertues First for his great Zeal in Matters of Religion Pope Innocent VII publickly called him The Eldest Son of the Church Daily he performed several Devotions upon his bare Knees and in the Holy Week spent whole Nights in mourning before the Sepulchre He forbid the use of Mules and because the Clergy said they would have recourse to the Pope on that account he made it Death for any Body to 〈◊〉 them and so that Dispute 〈…〉 Justice was such that he rewarded some Judges before whom he was Cast in Law Suits and hearing a Man was condemned to Death who had been Fourteen Years in Prison he pardoned him saying They better deserved to die who had kept him so long to Condemn him at last Few ever exceeded him in Liberality and Gratitude for having borrowed 1500 Ducats of Peter Pantoja and kept them but five days he then sent him his Money and 250 Ducats for the Use of it Pantoja complaining that the Interest was too great he ordered him as much more and said He would do so as often as he complained James Fernandez Correa his Factor in Flanders having lent Maximilian the King of the Romans 30000 Ducats without his Order he sent him Thanks for so doing and gave him 1000 Crowns Edward del Casal a Man of Worth having employed another to beg some Favour for him the King seeing him said Since you have Hands to serve me with why have not you a Tongue to speak to me 6. There was nothing that daunted him More of his good Qualities in so much that others fearing to go aboard the Fleet because of the Plague he went himself and is said to have spoke unconcerned with the Ghost of a Gentleman that was dead and came to warn him of the Conspiracy of the Duke of Viseo Favourites he never had any and was such an Enemy to those sort of Ministers that the Cardinal George da Costa who had entire influence over his Father fled to Rome before his Accession to the Crown None that deserved well passed unrewarded for he carryed about him a Table-Book in which were the Names and Services of all those that merited of him All Men had access to him their Business was heard and answered Truth was so much admired by him that he made D. John de Meneses his Lord Steward only because he said He always spoke the Truth 〈◊〉 it were displeasing to him As for Learning he understood Philosophy was skilled in Mathematicks well versed in History and a great admirer of Poetry Tho' his Countenance represented much of Gravity and his Carriage had much of Majesty yet at times he was pleasant and facetious To conclude his Government was inferiour to none of the best Kings that preceded him and may be a Pattern to all those that come after him Scarce any excelled him in all sorts of Vertues and foâ— his Zeal to Religion he was the first that propagated it in the Torrid Zone In short he was a Father of his People Bountiful Just Merciful Generous Brave a lover of Truth and sure rewarder of Merit 7. King John had only one Lawfully Begotten Son His Issue which was Prince Alonso born at Lisbon in the Year 1475. and who died as has been said unfortunately by a Fall off his Horse in the Year 1491. being newly married to the Princess Elizabeth Daughter to King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth of Castile This King had also One Bastard-Son called George created Duke of Coimbra Marquis of Torres Novas Master of the Military Orders of Santiago and Avis and Lord of the Lands that had belonged to Prince Peter He had also the Town of Aveiro and of him are descended the Dukes of that Title who keep the sirname of Lancaster taken by them in Memory of Queen Philippa Daughter to the Duke of Lancaster King John at length fixed the Arms of the Kingdom in the manner they are used at this Day reducing the Castles in the Orle to the certain Number of Seven and setâ—ing the Five middle Escutcheons upright 8. Discoveries in the Reign of King John were as follow 〈…〉 James Cano sailed to the River and Kingdom of Manicongo James Alonso de Aveiro to that of Beni and brought thence the first Pepper that came from those Parts Bartâ—â—â—â—mew Diaz to the Cape of Good Hope and passed beyond it to the River called Del Infante Peter Covillam and Alonso de Paiva Men versed in many Languages went to Grand Cairo in Egypt then embarking on the Red Sea saw the City Adem where parting Paiva went into Ethiopia
Fight being naturally Enemies but the Elephant being young was frighted and forcing his way through a Place that was barred ran about the City overturning all he met The Rhinoceros was afterwards sent as a Present to the Pope but the Ship was cast away however the dead Rhinoceros being cast a Shoar was taken up and the Skin stuffed and carried to Rome John Diaz Golez a Portuguese Pilot flying from Justice escaped into Castile where he perswaded certain Merchants to fit out Two Ships and Trade into Brasil King Emanuel complaining to the Young King Charles these Encroachers were punished John Wallop an English Gentleman of Worth afterwards Governour of Callis came into Portugal offering to serve in Africk upon his own Expence He served Two Years at Tangier honourably and then returned home having received the Order of Knighthood of Christ and other considerable Favours and continued always a great Favourer of the Affairs of Portugal 5. Soliman the great Emperor of the Turks having taken Grand Cairo and all the Dominions of the Egyptian Soldans King Emanuel pressed the Pope to excite all the Christian Princes to joyn their Forces against him but without success The Body of S. Auta one of the 11000 Virgins was now brought to Lisbon and placed in the Monastery of the Mother of God where it is held in great Veneration The King being extreamly afflicted for the Loss of his Queen had thoughts of retiring to Algarve contenting himself with that little Portion of his Kingdom and leaving the rest to the Prince his Son But the Prince led away by his Favourites being too forward and dropping some disrespectful words of his Father moved him to change that Resolution and not only to retain the Power in his own Hands but to marry the Wife he had designed for him 1518. To this purpose The King marries again D. Alvaro da Costa was sent Embassador into Castile and the Treaty so privately managed that the Bride was contracted to the King by Proxy before the Design of the Embassador was known in Portugal Her Portion was 200000 Crowns down and 5000 per Annum during her Life She was conducted to the Borders of the two Kingdoms by several Noblemen of Spain and there received by Jayme or James Duke of Bragança accompanied by a great Train of Persons of Quality on the Twenty third of November At Crato the next Day she was married by the Archbishop of Lisbon Thence they went to Almeyrin because the Plague was brief at Lisbon Here the King on St. Andrew's Day received the Order of the Golden Fleece sent him by his Brother-in-law King Charles 6. Ferdinand Magellanes a Gentleman of Worth who had served well in India and Africk being refused some small Addition to the Pension he enjoyed for his good Services some envious Persons disswading the King from showing him any Favour discontented at this hard Usage solemnly Unnaturalized himself as the Custome was then and went over to Castile at such time as the Molucco Islands were thought to appertain to the Conquests of that Crown He there offered to find out a New way to those Islands 1519. and being furnished with Five Ships sailed from Sevil about the beginning of August Magellan discovers the Streights of his Name and discovered those Streights which will Eternize his Name being of him called the Streights of Magellan The Particulars of this Voyage as more properly appertaining to that History are to be seen in the Portuguese Asia The King laid a Duty upon Corn to which imposition some Places consented John Mendez Cecâ—oso Mayor of Evora opposed it The King sent for and promised to reward him if he would comply but he persisting obstinately was confined to his House Soon after he commended him for his Resolution and remitted that Tax The Commonalty of Castile now rising in Rebellion against their King 1520. who was gone into Germany being chosen Emperor upon the Death of Maximilian sent the Dean of Avila to offer the Crowns of Castile and Leon to King Emanuel He believing no Confidence could be reposed in those that were Rebels to their Lawful Sovereign not only advised them to return to their Obedience but sent Supplies of Ammunition and Money to the Cardinal Adrian afterwards Pope the Constable and Admiral then Governours during the King's Absence 7. Ellenor the new Queen of Portugal was the last Year at Evora on the 18th of February delivered of a Prince called Charles who lived but Fifteen Months This Year on the 18th of June 1521. at Lisbon she brought forth the Princess Mary Many Matches were proposed for this Lady but none took Effect so that she died a Maid at the Age of 57 Years After long Debates and Three several Embassies sent by Charles Duke of Savoy to obtain Beatrix King Emanuel's second Daughter for his Wife Beatrix Daughter to King Emanuel married to the Duke of Savoy the Match was concluded She had 150000 Crowns Portion and was conducted to Savoy with extraordinary Expence Eighteen Sail were fitted out to transport the Princess and a most splendid Retinue accompanied her In fine she embarked on the 5th of August lay Five Days a Board on the River and then set Sail on the Day of the Feast of S. Laurence By this Princess the Duke of Savoy had his Son Emanuel Filibertus from whom the Dukes of that House are descended Bernardin Ribeyro a Man well born and an ingenious Poet was in love with the Princess and she favoured him for his Wit Seeing her depart he became a Hermit at Sintra thence he went a Pilgrim into Italy and returning through Savoy he received Charity of the Dutchess who knowing him ordered he should not stay in the City He returned Home and ended his Life with his Pilgrimage The Venetians who had for many Years enjoyed all the Trade of Spice being now depriv'd of it by the Portuguese having discovered India sent an Embassador to pray they might be allowed all that was above what the Kingdom consumed at a certain Rate This Embassador was honourably entertained but received not a satisfactory Answer 8. Such was now the flourishing Estate of Lisbon that it was thronged with Forreign Embassadors and Merchants from all Parts In the height of this Prosperity and Grandeur King Emanuel fell sick of a Lethargy then the epidemical Distemper reigning Perceiving his End draw nigh he performed all the Acts of a good Christian King Emanuel dies and died the 13th of December 1521. the Ninth day of his Sickness the 53d Year of his Age and 27th of his Reign His Body was Interred in his Church of Belem where his Son built him a stately Tomb. Before his Death happened a most cruel Famine and after that a terrible Plague The Pestilence continued the following Year and such prodigious Earthquakes shook the Island of S. Michael that Mountains fell upon some Villages and others were overturned into the Sea with great slaughter of the
Cardinal tho' old and a Priest should Marry Many Pamphlets were spread abroad some of them against King Philip and others for him which last were so well penned that they seem to have inclined King Henry to his Interest as they did many others throughout the Kingdom But the City of Lisbon openly declared its aversion to him offering to raise 20000 Men and threatning to burn the Houses of those that favoured him Antony Grand Prior of Crato that is of the Knights of Malta in Portugal laboured in vain to prove himself Legitimate and King Henry seeing him persist obstinately in that Design banished him the Court. The City of Lisbon now again pressed King Henry to obtain a Dispensation of the Pope to Marry he excused himself on account of his Ecclesiastical Dignity rather than his Age or Infirmities No Excuses availing D. Duarte de Castello-Branco and Dr. Ruy de Castanheda were appointed to go Embassadors to Rome but they went not for the King still urging his Inability and his Infirmities being apparent his Excuses were at last received 5. Since there were no hopes of Issue in King Henry Five Persons appointed to Govern after the King's Death he was pressed to declare who ought to Succeed him which he refused leaving it to Governours and Judges to determine after his Death For appointing of them he presently summoned the Cortes or Parliament who named Fifteen Persons for Governours of whom the King chose five which were D. George de Almeyda Archbishop of Lisbon D. John Mascarenhas Francis de Sa James Lopez de Sousa and D. John Tello de Meneses Also 24 Lawyers were nominated and of them 11 elected to be Judges and the Names of them all to be kept close till the Death of the King All swore to stand by these Decrees The substance of the Oath was The same appointed to decide the Controversie concerning the Succession That the King dying they would obey the Governours appointed and would acknowledge him for their Lawful Sovereign that should be declared such by them The Duke of Bragança as one of the Candidates swore to stand to their Determination the same did Antony the Grand Prior yet afterwards he recanted before the Pope's Nuncio alledging he had sworn for fear of his Unkle King Philip's Embassadors refused to take the Oath for their Master pleading he was Lawful Heir of the Crown and therefore not obliged to allow of that Decision The Cortes being broke up each of the Candidates which were now but three viz. King Philip the Duke of Bragança and the Grand Prior began to speak their Thoughts more boldly The two latter were soon banished the Court by King Henry who perceiving that Antony grew haughty having obtained a surreptitious Judgment of his Legitimacy got leave of Pope Gregory XIII to inspect into and determine that Affair After some time spent in enquiring into it he at length positively declared him Illegitimate The Grand Prior dismayed at this Sentence and the great Power of his Adversary proposed to King Philip's Embassadors that he would be content with the Kingdom of Algarve and Title of King or else that he might have the Government of the Kingdom for Life with a Revenue of 300000 Ducats half of them to remain to his Heirs King Philip answered That Kingdom was too small for so many Kings 6. King Henry ceased not to prosecute the Grand Prior and sent Orders to Apprehend him at Coimbra where he then was but he made his Escape and lurked about in the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho Next he issued out his Proclamation Summoning him to Surrender himself but he obeyed not The King was now at Almeyrin The Plague at Lisbon whither he fled from the Plague that raged at Lisbon and spread it self throughout the Kingdom There he summoned before him the Principal Members of the Cortes or Parliament and the Embassadors before whom he declared himself for King Philip ordering them to Capitulate with him The Lords Spiritual and Temporal were easily brought to approve of the King's Proposition but the Commons opposed it Soon after the King Assembles the Cortes intending to put an end to this Controversie but all he or the Nobility could do availed not so that the Division ran as high as ever it had been The King's Death now drawing on apace Katherine Dutchess of Bragança came from Villa Viciosa 1580 to try if she could prevail with him to declare her his Heiress K. Henry dies He heard her and soon after without returning any Answer gave up the Ghost 7. King Henry was of a middle Stature His 〈◊〉 in shape like his Father of a lively Spirit patient of Labour and in his Youth trained in all the Exercises that belong to a Prince Damianus de Goes says he understood Latin Greek and Hebrew and was well read in Mathematicks Philosophy and Divinity He says further of him That he had an absolute Command over his Passions was temperate in Speech a great lover of Truth a notable keeper of Secrets an Enemy to Detraction an admirer of Justice free in giving Advice averse to Favourites and inclinable to all Vertue Notwithstanding all these Qualities he was a better Priest than King His first Spiritual Promotion was to the Priorship of Sancta Cruz which Monastery he reformed and increased its Revenue Next he had the Archbishoprick of Braga where he spent his Revenue relieving the Poor in time of Famine The same he did at Evora He maintained many Foundlings gave Portions to Young Maids redeemed Captives and performed himself all the Duties of a private Priest At Braga he assembled a Synod endowed Schools in that City repaired the Monastery of S. Fructuosus punished severely all Crimes in the Clergy especially Incontinency The See of Evora being added to his other of Braga he did the same good Offices there and founded the University under the Jurisdiction of the Jesuits Many other notable Works he performed and being created Cardinal and Legate to the Pope still increased in Works of Piety 8. In this Henry expired the Kingdom Observations on the Rise and Fail of Portugal erected by another of the same Name the first died in the Year 1112. and the latter was born in 1512. So that the Name of Henry and Number 12 were the beginning and end of this Monarchy Thus the Seventeenth was the last Native King of Portugal The Moon laboured under a great Eclipse when he died 15â—â— in the 68th Year of his Age and second of his Reign His Body was deposited at Almeyrin where he died till King Philip translated it to the Monastery of Belem CHAP. III. The short Administration of the Five Governours Antony Grand Prior of Crato or the Order of Malta proclaimed King by the Multitude the short time of his Vsurpation 1. NO sooner was King Henry dead at Almeyrâ—â— but the Five Governours began to exercise 〈…〉 Power 〈…〉 The Commons held their
Kings Eldest Son dyes whom for his excellent qualities he entirely loved The Prince as has been before hinted had Laboured under a tedious sickness and tho' the Force of it was abated he never after enjoyed perfect health for there continued a defluxion upon his stomach which no medicines could ever remove but on the contrary some that were used seemed to hasten his End On the 3d of May he took to his bed and for 6 Days the Phisitians Employed all their Art for recovering of him the whole Clergy and layety offering up their Prayers to God for him All proved in vain for the Number of his days was compleat therefore on the Night he received the Viaticum and on the 15th gave up his Ghost The Encomiums bestowed on this Prince are so great they will appear incredible and therefore I think fitter to omit than trouble the Reader with them He dyed Aged 19 Years 3 months and 7 days His body was buryed in the Royal Monastery of Belem being Attended thither by an incredible multitude of the People Lamenting the Loss of so hopefull a Prince Immediately after his death the King assembled the Parliament in which his Second Son Prince Alfonso was Sworn Heir to the Crown The 3 Estates agreed to Support the charge of the War with the Tenth of all Temporal and Spiritual Estates and in case the Spaniards should besiege any considerable place then to add one Fourth part more of the said Tax but if it should happen the Enemy Invaded the Kingdom with such powerfull Forces as might bring it into danger then they offered all they had for the Support of the Crown Before the Parliament broke up the King sustained another Loss in the Death of his Eldest Daughter Joanna who departed this Life on the 17th of September She Lyes buried in the Monastery of Belem 3. The Affairs of Portugal continued much in the same posture we left them at the Courts of Rome The Portuguese Embassadors brother beheaded for murder in England France and Holland In England the Count de Penaguiao sollicited the settling of a Peace with the Usurper Oliver who was much offended at the protection given in Lisbon to the Princes Rupert and Maurice But this Embassador before the End of his Negotiation met there with a Disaster which cost the Life of his Brother The manner of it in short was thus D. Pantaleon de Sa the Embassadors Brother walking one Evening in the New Exchange and resenting an affront which he thought he had received from one Gerard the Night following repairs to the same place attended by the Embassadors retinue and with Sword and Pistoll falls upon all he meets A great Hubub rising the Portugueses were beat off chiefly by one Collonel May an Irish man One Greenway was killed in the scuffle For this Murder D. Pantaleon de Sa as the Author of the Tumult was Tryed and condemned Having in vain pleaded his priviledge and made his escape out of Prison by the help of the Lady Mohun being again taken he was beheaded upon a Scaffold on Tower-Hill 4. Francis Barreto who Commanded in Pernambuco Francis Barreto holds the Dutch closely besieged in Brazil tho' his Forces were much lessened and no supplies came was not at all discouraged but carryed on the Seige of Arrecife with a full Resolution either to Conquer or die The besieged were now reduced to despair and therefore determined to attempt gaining the Fort Arrayal which Sigismund their Generall knowing to be a difficult Enterprize endeavoured to divert them from but perceiving he Laboured in vain told them the only means to attack that Fort was by Gaining first the quarter of Aguiar On the 11th of March he marched out of the Fort Affogados with the greatest part of that and the Neighbouring Garrisons Captain Alfonso de Albuquerque Commanded at the quarter of Aguiar He not thinking it for his honour to receive them in his works marched out and soon drove them back to their Forts Twice after this they attempted the same Post and were both time repulsed with considerable Loss which caused them to forbear any farther attempts on the besiegers and employ their Men in bringing provisions from the River of S. Francis These Men were met there by 100 Portugueses and some Blacks Commanded by Captain Francis Barregos who the first firing was shot through the body Yet his Men continued the Charge with such bravery that they drove the Dutch to their Fort and thence to their Ships without the provisions they came for Here upon the Council sent one of their body into Holland to press for speedy releif but the Dutch having been defeated at Sea by the English were not then in a condition to send any Francis Barreto having notice hereof resolved when the Portuguese Fleet arrived to make his utmost Efforts for expelling the Enemy that Country Accordingly he met the Admirall and Vice-Admirall to concert the measures they were to take but the result of this Consultation and the Effect that followed belong to the next Year 5. D. Roderick de Alencastre at the Beginning of this Year D. Roderick de Alencastre defeats a party of Moores at Tanier succeeded the Baron de Alvito in the Government of Tangier which he managed with greater dexterity than many had expected by reason of his Youth Being informed that about a place called Gibalcaro there were certain Hords of Arabs come thither for conveniency of pasture he sent the Commander in cheife of the Horse with 92 Troopers to attack them by Night Being come near them some advised him not to fall on them till morning when he could do better Execution however he obeyed his orders slew a great Number of Infidels took 17 prisoners and returned with a great booty in which were six Camels which D. Roderick sent to the King D. Roderick performed severall other actions of less note for a Famine raging among the Moors at that time they brought him intelligence for bread and others brought Horses and Cattle to sell in the City 6. The danger increased in India War in India with the Dutch where D. Bras de Castro had usurped the Government for the Dutch threatened Ceylon and other places were not free from Apprehensions The three Governors who we said last Year commanded in Ceylon sent Gaspar de Figueyra de Serpa with 900 Foot to reduce the Towns that had revolted and bring in Provisions The King of Candia's Forces forsook the lower Country and entrenching themselves strongly endeavoured to exclude him the Upper He attacked them vigorously and their number being great was repulsed but they adventuring to pursue him he rallyed drove them back and entred their Works with them making a mighty Slaughter This Success made many Towns submit which payed their Arrears of Contributions and a great quantity of Cinnamon Provisions Arms and other Plunder was conveyed to Columbo Soon after 10 Companies were sent to attack a Town on the Frontiers
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
Church of Alverca where it was buried The King was received at Lisbon in Triumphant manner Many Persons were executed on Account of these Troubles and their Heirs to the Fourth Generation declared Infamous The Prince's Enemies fearing the Queen might some time or other Revenge the Death of her Father advised the King to be divorced from her but he received her with all the marks of True Love and Affection They begged of him some Towns that had belonged to the Prince which he freely gave them but the Cities of Porto and Portalegre would not submit to be given away to any Body and were therefore annexed to the Crown 9. The Princess Ellenor during this time was contracted to the Emperor Frederick the Third The Princess Ellenor contracted to the Emperor Frederick the Third and was now delivered in the Month of August to his Embassadors They embarked at Lisbon and landed at Leghorn whence she was conducted to Sienna where the Bridegroom met her attended by Ladislaus King of Hungary his Brother Albertus the Arch-Duke and other Princes Hence they travelled together to Rome where they were crowned with the usual Solemnity 1451. Prince Ferdinand who was marryed to the Lady Beatrix 1452. Daughter to Prince John privately built a Caravel and went away in it to Ceuta to employ himself against the Moors but the King soon sent for him home and to settle his Mind gave him the Towns of Beja 1453. Moura and Serpa The great Monarch of the Turks Mahomet having taken Constantinople Pope Calixtus stirred up the Christian Princes to unite their Forces against the Common Enemy Our King offered to serve in Person one Year with 12000 Men but all these Projects fell to nothing Our Queen had before this time brought forth a Son and a Daughter whereof the former died 1455. and now on the third of May she was delivered at Lisbon of another Son whom she called John as the first had been for the special Devotion she had to that Name He was sworn Prince being but a Month old with great Solemnity The Queen upon this Occasion obtained leave of the King that the Body of her Father Prince Peter might be placed in the Tomb he had built for himself at the Famous Monastery of Batalla At this time also a Match was concluded betwixt the Princess Joanna King Alonso's Daughter and Henry the Fourth King of Castile She was Seventeen Years of Age and very beautiful which was all her Portion and she was conducted to Castile by Count Alvaro Gonzalez de Atayde Elizabeth our Queen died on the Second of December following The Queen's Death not without suspicion of Poison given her by her Father's Enemies fearing she might prevail with the King to Revenge his Death She was carried to the Church of Batalla with the greatest Pomp that had been used at the Funeral of any Queen For Beauty Patience Obedience and Piety she was inferior to none The Monastery of Xabregas of the religious of S. Eloy was founded by her 1456. The King ordered the Body of his Mother Queen Ellenor to be brought from Toledo to be buried at the Church of Batalla As far as Elvas it was conducted by the King and Queen of Castile and there they were met by our King 10. The Bishop of Silves brought the Croisade from Rome 1457. granted to Encourage Christian Princes to joyn their Forces against the Turks The Croisade brought into Portugal Our King made Preparations for that Expedition and recalled Peter the Constable and Master of Avis Son to Prince Peter who was Banished to Castile He also coined a New sort of pieces called Cruzadoes from the Croisade and the Cross on them These were of pure Gold and great Weight that they might pass in Forreign Countries but the other Christian Princes not answering on their Part he bent his Mind upon Prosecuting the Conquest of Africk Tangier was first aimed at 1458. but this Resolution was changed for Alcaçer Alcazer on the Coast of Africk taken by King Alonso Twenty thousand Landmen were appointed for this Service who set sail from Setuval the 12th of October in Two hundred Sail of Ships They no sooner arrived than that they were Victorious and reduced that Place the Particulars of which Action are in the Portuguese Africk A Peace was now established with the Duke of Britany 1459. whose Subjects had taken many Portuguese Ships which was repaid them in the same kind 1460. The following Year died Prince Henry who first gave Encouragement and promoted the Discoveries on the Coast of Africk A Year after he was followed by Alonso Duke of Bragança Bastard-Son to King John the First 1461. The King being advertised That it would be easie to surprize Tangier Tangier taken set sail from Lisbon in November and tho he met with many difficulties he became Master of that Place The Catalonians rebelling against their lawful Sovereign King John of Aragâ—n sent to invite Peter Son to the Unfortunate Prince Peter to that Principality as being descended of the Ancient Earls of Barcelona He hasted thither from Ceuta but lived not long there and lies buried in the Cathedral King Alonso went over from Ceuta to Gibraltar to meet the King of Castile who craved Aid of him against his Nobility that not content with staining his Honour sought to deprive him of the Crown 1464. Here it was agreed King Alonso should marry Elizabeth Sister to the Castilian and his Son Prince John the Princess Joanna but all this took no effect 1466. Queen Joanna of Castile on whom those People cast all their Reproaches accusing her of Adultery only in malice to D. Beltran de la Cueva the King's Favourite whom she treated with Courtesie came to the City Guarda to crave Aid of the King her Brother against the Rebels who called her Daughter a Bastard and had opprobriously used a Statue they had erected to the King her Husband King Alonso intended to have succoured her but was prevented by the Death of Prince Alonso of Castile who had been proclaim'd King in opposition to the King his Brother whereupon ensued some tranquility in the Affairs of Castile King John of Aragon made great Interest that his Son Ferdinand might marry Elizabeth Sister to the King of Castile Our King Alonso also sent Embassadors to demand her according to the Articles concluded at Gibraltar But these Embassadors could not prevail for she was already engaged to Ferdinand and much more to those who advised that Match in opposition to her Brother that she might the better with their assistance deprive him of the Crown That Match was concluded in February 1469. 1469. This is that Elizabeth so much admired by the Spaniards for Sanctity and yet by this it appears she aimed to Usurp the Crown from her Brother and actually did it from his only Daughter CHAP. VI. The remaining Part of the Life and
At length when least expected he suddenly set out in April 1619. bringing with him Prince Philip Philip the Third comes into Portugal and the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary and as his Father had done he made his Publick Entry into Lisbon on S. Peter's Day His Reception was the greatest that ever till then had been heard of for the Portuguese ravished with Affection and Joy to see their Prince among them erected such Fabricks on the Land and made such mighty Works on the River as seemed to fill up both those Elements of Land and Water and scarce left room for the admiring Multitude to behold him that all those Expences were made for His Reception It is impossible to describe the particulars of this most Glorious Entry The River Tagus was covered with an innumerable multitude of Vessels built in the shape of several Fishes and Sea-Monsters The King was brought in a Galley attended by many others built with such admirable Workmanship that the like was never before seen and it obliterated the Memory of the Famous one made by Ptolomy King of Egypt which at that time was the Wonder of the World Whilst this multitude of Vessels rowed down the River the thundring of the Cannon from the Vessels themselves and from the Castle shook the Earth and rent the Air. Being come on shoar the King proceeded to the Cathedral and thence to the Palace entertaining his Lyes with such prodigious Sights of Gold and Silver that the time falling short to view all he returned the next day to behold the lofty Fabricks which expressed the greatness of their Affection who received him Such was the Magnificence of the Piles erected such the Cost bestowed on them and such the solid Strength of them that they seemed as if designed for many Ages not for the use of one only day which was too short a space even to demolish them 3. The Majesty of these Works was so amazing that the King tho' used to Regal Entertainments said He never till that day thought himself a great King Hereby seeming to call Lisbon Felicitas Philippica as once Julius Caesar gave it the Name of Felicitas Julia. In the Palace he performed the two Solemn Acts of Swearing the Prince and holding the Cortes or Parliament He holds Parliament which met with extraordinary Joy and Satisfaction of all Men but 〈◊〉 the end disappointed them of their hopes First for that the King was scarce seen by his Subjects and next for the unsatisfactory Answer he gave to their Demands The Reason of it was that his coming to the Kingdom and calling the Parliament were Actions proceeding from his own Inclination but the disobliging of them was wholly the product of the ill Advice of his Ministers His Favourites fearing he should take an Affection to the Portuguese and perhaps continue among them were uneasie at the Splendor of his Entertainment and so much Influence had they over him that he gave more Credit to their Words than to those marks of Respect and Loyalty he saw with his Eyes This is the greatest Misfortune can befal a Prince to be so led away and infatuated by the Flatteries of Favourites who only attend their private Interest as to forfeit the Affections of their People This is the height of Tyranny in Ministers to covet all for themselves and allow nothing to others 4. Seven Months the King spent in his Journey to Portugal His stay and return to Madrid staying there and returning home Being come to Madrid he departed this Life the last day of March in the Year of Grace 1621. the 43d 1621. Year of his Age and 23d of his Reign His Death His Body lies buried with his Predecessors in the Royal Monastery of St. Lawrence commonly called the Escurial His Picture drawn as he appeared at the Cortes or Parliament held at Lisbon in his Robes with the Collar of the Golden Fleece and the Steptre in his Hand represents him of a pleasing Aspect yet full of Majesty Of Stature he was rather little but proportionable his Forehead high his Eyes blue his Lips thick his Complexion fair with a fresh Colour his Hair yellow his whole Countenance beautiful and representing much Grandeur He was a most Holy Prince and at his Death seemed to have only one thing to lament which was that he fulfilled what his Father had Prophetically foretold viz. That he suffered his Favourites to have so much the Ascendant over him Had he given less Ear to his Ministers who always mind their own Advantage tho' with the loss of their Master's and been more absolute in taking his own measure he had proved one of the greatest and most successful Princes in the World For he was so Fortunate that notwithstanding all the Miscarriages of those that governed him he still came off with Honour and Reputation adding new Conquests to his Dominions both in India and Africk 5. His only Wife was Margaret of Austria His Wife and Issue Daughter to the Arch-Duke Charles and his Dutchess Mary She was one of the most Renowned Queens this Kingdom ever had and it enjoyed many that deserve Immortal Fame After her Death the King in Continency imitated his Predecessor Alonso the Fifth for he never would Marry again and it is generally believed he never had to do with any Woman but his Queen His Issue was First Ann Mary Mauricia Wife to King Lewis XIII of France her Dowry 500000 Crowns in Gold Secondly Philip who succeeded him Thirdly Mary born at Valladolid the 18th of August 1606. afterwards Queen of Hungary Fourthly Charles born at Madrid the 14th of September 1607. Fifthly Ferdinand born at the Escurial May the 17th 1609. he was a Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo Prior of Crato and Abbot of Alcobaça Sixthly Margaret born at Lerma in May 1610. and died the 11th of March 1617. Seventhly Alonso born at the Escurial September the 22d 1611. and died the following Year His Mother also died in Childbed of him leaving her Subjects in unspeakable sorrow and want of her 6. In this King's Time the Plague raging in the City of Lisbon Prodigies was observed to cease immediately after the Image of the glorious Martyr S. Sebastian had been seen to sweat plentifully A Year before the King's Journey to Lisbon two Comets of a wonderful Magnitude appeared in the Signs of Virgo and Libra one of them so prodigiously great it renewed the Memory of that which appeared at the Birth of Mithridates that extended over one quarter of the Heaven After them ensued the Death of Popes and Kings the overturning of States and the fall of Great Ministers whose Ruin is by nothing more evidently foretold than by the unlawful means they use to rise and yet none takes warning by him that went before to avoid the Precipice At the City Baçaim in India there happened such a violent Storm as carryed away Churches Houses Trees and Mountains Several Apparitions were seen in
Lisbon F. Bartholomew Gerreiro a Jesuit had told him that many Sebastianists so they called those affected to the line of Braganzza desired him not to depart Portugal because they thought his Presence necessary for carrying on their Designs that nevertheless he would not see any of them but went away for Germany Next they asked him whether he had given the King meaning the Catholick King an account of those Words he said he had not as making no account of them but had immediately departed the Kingdom They also put Questions to him about the Healths he had drunk and the words he spoke upon the changing his Confessor but they laid the chief stress on the words spoke by F. Guerreiro and his not discovering them to the King for which they pretended he was guilty of High-Treason and consequently deserved Death D. Edward pleaded that he being a Knight of the Military Order of Christ the judgment of secular Judges against him was void To this they answered that in cases of High-Treason those Priviledges cease besides that two of the Judges were also Knights of Military Orders Death put an end to this Controversie for the Prisoner falling Sick either through his long Suffering or some other Cause put the same period to his Life and Imprisonment 6. For the better settlement of the Affairs of the Nation The Cortes or Parliament meet then in some disorder through the long continuance of the War the King had summoned the Cortes or Parliament to meet in December of the foregoing Year They being accordingly assembled redressed many Grievances occasioned by the Army ordered that for defence of the Frontiers there should be kept in Pay 16000 Foot and 4000 Horse and as well for the payment of them as other Expences of the War assigned 2150000 Cruzados which in English Money is 286666 l. 13 s 4 d. allowing 3000 Reis to the pound according to the common Computation 7. We left the Portugueses at Pernambuco last Year successful on both sides The War in Brazil and besieging the Hollanders in their Towns all along the Coast These last erected a new Fort to secure the Communication between Sinco Pontas and Afâ—â—gados but their Garrisons attempting to cast down the Woods that were in the way were obliged to quit that Work with the loss of many Men. At the same time D. Antony Philip Camarhao who was gone to reduce the Indians of Rio Grande gave a great overthrow to the Dutch who came to attack him with 500 Men of their own and 1000 Indians The News of this success being brought to John Ferdinandez Viegra he sent for Andrew Vidal with six Companies to reinforce the Victors To the end the Enemy might not perceive his Forces were lessened he kept them in continual Alarm and Henry Diaz who commanded the Blacks with only his own Men took the new Fort the Dutch had erected putting all within it to the Sword Andrew Vidal at Paraiba having laid himself in Ambush sent out 40 Portugueses who drew 220 Dutch and Indianâ— into the Snare where they all perished Both the Besieged and the Besiegers at Pernambuco suffered great Want but several methods were found to relieve the latter The former had no hopes but in a Fleet they expected from Holland They had three Ships which lay to secure their passage to the Island Itamaraca and other parts of the Continent which John Fernandez Vieyra perceiving he attack'd them with 500 Men in Boats who took one and burnt the other two then passing over to the Shore he drove the Defendants from several small redoubts and erected a Fort at the Port St. Mark in which he left 200 Men with 18 pieces of Cannon which he had taken from the Enemy 8. The Dutch were now reduced to the last Extremity The Dutch in Brasil receive Succors when 3 Ships arrived from Holland bringing Provisions Ammunition and Men as also an Account that two Fleets were fitting out the one to secure Pernambuco the other to conquer Bahia Near the same time a small Ship and two Caravels brought some relief to the Besiegers from Portugal John Farnandez Vieyra was several times warned that a Conspiracy was carryed on against his Life yet he still slighted the Advice till being one day advanced from his Company he saw three Fire-locks levelled at him whereof only one gave Fire and shot him through the Shoulder Nevertheless he pardoned the Conspirators contenting himself with only a verbal Check given them Face to Face Now at length arrived a great Fleet from Holland under the Command of Sigismund Van Scop with 4000 Men and all other Necessaries To oppose this great Power the Portuguese Commanders gather'd all the Souldiers and Inhabitants that were before dispersed in places of less Consequence and so considerably encreased their Force that they stood no longer in fear of their Enemies On the 5th of August Sigismund Van Scop marched with 1200 Men to attack the Town of Olinda but a pass that led to it being well fortifyed he twice assaulted it and was as often repulsed with great loss and himself wounded The following Night 1000 Men sallyed upon one of the Portuguese Quarters but with with no better Success After this Sigismund raised some small Forts in convenient places as well to secure that Coast as to amuze his Enemies his design being as soon as his Fleet could be made ready to sail for Bahia and make himself Master of that Place but that belongs to another Year 9. Africk this Year affords us nothing remarkarble Affairs in Africk and India only some Incursions of D. Gaston Coutinho Governor of Tangier and the Martyrdome of Sebastian Gomez who suffered Death with exquisite Torments for his constancy in the Faith D. Phillip Mascarenhas continued in the Government of India where likewise there happened little of moment by reason of the Truce with the Dutch only about the latter end of April 46 Sail lying at Anchor without the Bar of Goa ready to sail the next day such a sudden violent Storm arose that not a Vessel or so much as one Man was saved but all together perished in the Sea Anno 1647. 1. JOhn Mendez de Vasconcellâ—s Several Enterprises on the Frontiers of Alentejo who still commanded in Alentejo finding his Forces too weak to withstand the many Incursions of the Enemy applyed himself with great diligence to fortifie the Frontiers and particularly Ouguela and Campo Mayor but upon Advice that the King had appointed Martin Alfonso de Melo Governor of that Province he retired to Lisbon being unwilling to serve under him Andrew de Albuquerque General of the Artillery commanded during the Absence of the Governour No sooner was he vested with this Power but the Spaniards made an Incursion with all their Horse into the Country betwixt Geromenha and Elvas and carryed away a great Prey Albuquerque though he drew out of Elvas being too weak to oppose them To revenge this he sent Henry de
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
brought of the Death of King Sancho at Toledo The great Freitas demanded a Truce whilst he went to Toledo to be assured of the Truth There he caused the King's Grave to be opened and seeing him Dead delivered to him the Keys of the City he had entrusted him with and asking leave to deliver them to his Brother 1248. took them again Being come to Coimbra he opened the Gates to King Alonso who admiring so unparallelled a Gallantry restored to him the Command without demanding Homage of him for it which favour he extended to his Heirs but he knowing how hard it was to make a return suitable to such a favour refused to accept of it and layed his Curse even to the fourth Generation upon such as should admit of it 4. Alonso now become absolute King by the Death of his Brother resolved to imitate his Predecessors or if it might be to out-doe them by adding to his Dominions the Kingdom of Algarve and not suffering it to be lost again as had happened to them D. Payo Correa with the Forces under his Command had already taken several places in that Kingdom the King joyned him and both together layed Siege to the Town of Faro 1249. The King observing the place might be relieved by Sea King Alonso conquers Algarve placed some Vessels at the Mouth of the River to guard the Passage and then began to batter the place on all sides The Besieged perceiving no hope to hold out began privately to treat of a Surrender with the King he taking only Ten Gentlemen that were privy to the Treaty ventured into the Town so secretly that none of his Army knew it D. Payo Correa missing the King and hearing no account of him furiously assaulted the place the Portuguese fighting like Lions instead of being discouraged at the absence of their Sovereign Many were killed and more had perished but that the King appeared on the Walls holding out the Keys of the Town Thus this place was reduced submitting to pay the same tribute it had before payed to the Miramamolin The Government of it was given to Stephen Perez de Tavares D. Payo Correa was sent before to invest the Town of Albufiera and had signalized his Valour when the King came to second him Both together finished the Conquest of the place which was given to D. Payo for his good Service I guess the motive of the King 's staying behind was the Beauty of the Governour of Faro's Daughter with whom he fell in Love when he received the Keys of the Town for by his Lady he had D. Martin Alonso Chichorro from whom is Descended the Family of Sousa of that Name Fortune now bent upon favouring our King caused other places to submit to him before he could appear before them 1250. Loule surrendred but not without some Bloodshed Algezar Perches and other places were all reduced The King before his departure placed trusty Governours in all the Towns with sufficient Garrisons so as to secure that new conquered Kingdom which never after offered to revolt from him King Alonso having nothing now to employ his Arms within his own limits entred Andaluzia and took the Towns of Arouche and Araâ—na 1251. This Action moved King Alonso the Wife of Castile and Leon to invade the Kingdom of Algarve which he conquered 1252. After much contention betwixt the Crowns of Castile and Portugal Differences betwixt Castile and Portugal 〈◊〉 to Pope Pope Innocent the Fourth composed all Differences so that the King of Castile was to hold Algarve during his Life and he of Portugal to marry his Bastard Daughter Both Kings were so willing to embrace this accommodation that they never considered the Bride was not Twelve Years of Age and the Bridegroom above Forty nor that the Countess of Bolen was still alive It is true Pope Innocent approved of this Match and yet afterwards Pope Alexander would not allow of it All Military Employment now ceasing the King applied himself to the Civil Affairs and held a Parliament at Leiria Next he took a Progress through the Kingdom 1255. repairing the Forts Towns and Churches that had been ruined during the War He spared neither cost nor labour in those publick Works he built from the Ground the Monastery of Santarem the Towns of Estremoz 1258. Odemira Monforte Valencia del Minho then called Contrasta 1259. and Viana de Lima. His whole study was bent upon the good of the Government and knowing how necessary Trade is to support it ordered many Fairs and cleared the Roads of Robbers to secure Commerce 6. In the midst of these Employments came to him two Gentlemen to Freilas The King's cruelty towards his lawful Wife where he then was sent by Maud the Countess his first and lawfull Wife to advertise him that she perceiving he did not send for her to his Kingdom and hearing he was Married again was come of her self to find him out and lay then at Cascais The King who had for the sake of his new Wife regarded neither Divine nor Human Laws sent her such an Answer that she was forced to return to Bolen leaving a Letter for him wherein she taxed himwith Ingratitude and False-hood threatning him with the censures of the Church the Power of Christian Princes and the revenging hand of God Authors add that she brought with her two Children she had by him whom in revenge she left exposed upon the Rocks which are ever since called Cachopos that word in Portuguese signifying Boys That the Countess had Children by him is proved by the authority of Antient Authors and there is no proof but bare surmises to the contrary besides that a Tomb has been seen with an Inscription denoting it contained a Son of theirs that followed him into Portugal and was entirely beloved by him King Alonso of Castile 1260. Father-in-law to our King having composed the difference about Algarve marched into Andaluzia his Son-in-law assisting him both by Sea and Land In return for this kindness the Castillian resigned up to him all his Title to Algarve and delivered the Towns to D. John de Aboin and his Son D. Peter Anes de Portel upon condition the Portuguese should during his life be obliged to assist him with Fifty Lances whensoever he should demand them This obligation was also taken off when his Grandson Prince Denis being Seven Years of Age visited him at Sevil and desired to be knighted by him 1263. Before this time to prevent Broils and Animosites the bounds of the Kingdoms of Leon and Portugal were marked out 7. About this time hapned an unparallelled wonder A strange action of a jealous Woman a Woman perceiving she was not beloved by her Husband acquainted a Jewish Woman therewith desiring her assistance The Jew perswaded her that when she received the Blessed Sacrament she should keep the Host and bring it to her wherewith she would work her relief She tied
was marryed by the Consent of the Cortes then sitting to the Regent's Daughter 1441. at Obidos on the 15th of August 1441. The Bridegroom was then Ten Years of Age The Young King marries the Regent's Daughter and the Bride Seven or Eight The Queen Dowager still pressed to be restored to the Government and the King of Castile sent several Embassages in her behalf which nothing availing it was feared a War would ensue but that King dying all that Negotiation fell to nothing Thus the Queen Dowager being forsaken on all hands and having spent her Treasure in solliciting to make War upon Portugal went away at last to Toledo where she lived upon Charity and there died as was suspected poisoned by the Regent tho others say by D. Alvaro de Luna then Favourite to the King of Castile 6. The King of Castile being jealous of the Aragonian asked some Supplies of Men out of Portugal They were accordingly sent him under the Command of the Constable Peter Son to the Regent but there being no use for them they returned home However the Constable while he was in Castile concluded a Match betwixt that King and the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to Prince John 144◠King Alonso of Portugal being now Fourteen Years of Age King Alonso take◠upon him the Government and confirms all that had been done by the Regent according to the Custom of Spain took upon him the Government in the Assembly of the Cortes or Parliament thanked Prince Peter for his good Administration till that time and desired him to continue in it till he were of riper Years Next he ratified his Marriage with that Prince's Daughter and then went away to Alcaçaras where the Embassador of Castile was Proxy for his Master in the Ceremony of Contracting the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to Prince John to that King There also the Lady Beatrix Sister to Elizabeth was contracted to Prince Ferdinand Brother to that King Prince Peter by this time thought he had wholly gained over all his Enemies that opposed his Advancement to the Government but now it appeared it was but a counterfeit Reconciliation The Duke of Braganza the Earl of Ourem and the Archbishop of Lisbon prevailed with the King to remove him from the Government laying Disloyalty to his Charge and they at the same time displaced all Officers as well Civil as Military that had been preferred by him Not so content they accused him of aspiring to the Crown and so far prevailed as to have him banished the Court which done several Libels were dispersed abroad fraught with nothing but Reflections upon him and many Articles laid to his charge were Judicially examined Prince Henry came from Algarve to Court to vindicate his Brother's Honour but to little purpose because he was look'd upon to be no less guilty than the other and both of them were charged with poisoning King Edward Queen Ellenor and Prince John D. Alvaro de Almada Earl of Abranchez in the King's Presence challenged any Man that should lay blemish on the Prince's Reputation but the King was carryed away to Sintra by his Favourites that he might not give ear to those that favoured Prince Peter 7. The King from Sintra issued out his Orders Prince Peter the late Regent in Arms and declared Rebel forbidding all Persons to Converse and hold Correspondence with the Prince also Summoning all the Queen his Mother's Servants who had been discarded to appear and put in their Claims and Commanding the Prince not to depart from his own Lands without the King's leave He was also commanded to deliver up all the Arms that were in Coimbra which he refused to do The Duke of Braganza being called to Court was to pass through the Prince's Lands and therefore intended to Travel well attended but the Prince marched out with Forces to oppose him and tho' several times Orders were brought him from the King to return to Coimbra he still advanced towards the Duke who was forced privately to fly 1449. and make his escape to Santarem where the Court then was Hereupon he was declared a Rebel and Traytor and Forces were raised with Expedition against him D. Sancho de Noronha Earl of Odemira was sent with Forces against the Constable Prince Peter's Son who fled to Castile where he found not such kind Entertainment as he expected Queen Elizabeth being the Prince's Daughter studied how to save her Father and gave him Advice that the Fifth of May was the day appointed to Besiege him Then she went to the King to beg Pardon for him which the King said he would grant provided the Prince himself would beg it acknowledging his Faults He did so in a Letter to the King but the Queen shewing him her Letter wherein the Prince vindicated himself and said he complyed so far only to satisfie her the King said since he did not really acknowledge his faults he merited no Pardon The Prince's Enemies to prevent the Queen's interceding for him kept him as much from her as they could and imprisoned D. Alvaro de Castro a Man of a most beautiful Person and excellent Behaviour as standing accused of too much Familiarity with the Queen but the King knowing well her Vertue caused D. Alvaro to be set at Liberty and did him great Honour 8. The King had now gathered a numerous Army but could not set forward for want of Provisions and Carriages The King comes to a Battle with the Rebels But the Prince on his part set forward from Coimbra with 1000 Horse and 5000 Foot and came within five Leagues of Santarem without meeting any Opposition There he was advised to return to Coimbra but he chose to advance towards Lisbon and by the way put to Death about fifty Horse of the King 's that at a distance called him Traytor Being come to a Brook called Alfarreveira he there chose a convenient Ground for a small Body to oppose a greater for he had not yet 8000 Men and the King's Army consisted of above 30000. By that Multitude he found himself encompassed on the 20th of May. Proclamation was made declaring all Traytors that should thenceforth adhere to the Prince yet none forsook him but some of the King's Army deserted to him Some Shot of Musquets and Cross-bows flying from the King's Camp to the Prince's he answered with some Cannon one of the Bullets whereof falling near the King's Tent so enraged his Army that they immediately without Orders fell on and in a moment broke and put to flight the Prince's Forces He himself fighting resolutely Prince Peter killed was shot through with an Arrow and died His inseparable Friend the Earl of Abranchez having sworn not to forsake him in Death after having performed incredible Acts of Bravery was there also slain Most of the Prince's followers were either taken or killed His Body was left three days in the Field and then being laid upon a Ladder four Country men carryed it to the poor
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