ignorant of the waies and passage of the riuers were either drowned or fell into their handes who made them slaues There were many drowned deceiued with the rising of the riuer ignorant of their former passage for whereas the riuers and particularly Mucazen doe ebbe and flowe like the Ocean by the course of the Moone filling it selfe with salt water when the armie passed they were almost dry but in their returne the Tide as they cōmonly say being full the riuers were greatly risen wherof the Portugals being ignorant and vnskilfull of the Ford fearefull and chased by the Moores they were swallowed vp so as of a great multitude of Christians which were in this battaile there escaped but one hundreth so well coulde the Barbarians execute their resolutions The King who in the beginning when as Molucs artillerie first plaied went through the armie in coach with Christopher de Tauora tooke his horse and as they say went couragiously toward the vanguard where remaining a while a looker on sending first one then another to commaund what he thought was necessarie he was lightly hurt with a shot in the right arme towarde the shoulder whereof making small account he went ordering thinges in all parts of the armie leauing the triangle of horse where his Standerd remained But for that he was yoong and depriued of the greatest treasure that Kings can enioy I meane a wise man neere him in whome he shoulde trust when he did see his men begin to breake and the Duke of Auero to go forward and retyre backe he came furiously with certaine Gentlemen that were about him to fight among the souldiers encouraging his men valiantly by the effects but with fewe words Those that behelde him fight woondered at his courage for although that they slewe three horse vnder him without any whit daunting him yet was he neuer wearie to charge strike and succour all partes of the armie where was greatest daunger But being but a man aided by fewe he cannot resist the enimies furie nor make his friends partakers of his valour Manie of the Nobilitie which remained yet on horsebacke seeing the armie in route sought the King in all parts to helpe to saue him but the Standard which was carried before him as a marke to knowe him was now taken and the bearer slaine and being deceiued with another somewhat like vnto it which Edward de Meneses carried they followed the one in steade of the other so as the King remained as a man lost with some of his most trustie seruants about him and one Renegado who laboured to saue him Hauing in vaine sought to fly being aduised to yeeld with his armes he would by no means agree vnto it One amongst them holding vpon the point of his sworde a white napkin in signe of peace went towards the Moores as an Embassadour for the rest to yeelde but they either barbarous or wrathfull tooke the messenger prisoner and charged the rest who being fewe in number wearied without courage they were all slaine Some say there grew a controuersie amongst them about the Kings owne person and for that occasion they slew him They sent after to secke his bodie and by a notable example of the inconstancie of this world they carried it naked vpon a saddle pommell into the roiall tent of Moluc where letting it fall to the ground it was carefully viewed by the Nobilitie that was there present a publike certificate made that it was he keeping it aftewardes at Alcazer-Quiuer Such was the death of this vnfortunate King wherein chaunced all things that might make him lamentable his yoong age the expectation of his vertues the want of succession his violent death and the imprisonment of his bodie He was indued with excellent qualities but nothing profitable vnto him wanting by reason of his vnripe yeeres that predominante vertue of our actions For all his resolutions that did guide him to so rash an end were grounded vpon his magnanimitie zeale to religion liberalitie thirst of militarie glorie of the disposition of his body and the vigour of his courage It seemes that we may well saie of this vnfortunate yoong Prince that which was sometimes spoken of Alexander the Great That Nature had giuen him vertue and Fortune vices For in truth Sebastian had his vertues of nature and his vices from his education Mulei Mahamet escaped his enimies hands but his too great haste to passe Mucazen and to recouer Arzille was the cause he was drowned in his passage Those whome idlenes had made curious did note the diuersitie of these Princes deathes for being all lost in one battaile within the space of sixe houres the one died of his naturall death the second by the sword the thirde was smothered in the water When as Hamet see the battaile wonne he ranne towardes his brother thinking to finde him aliue and to reioice with him but being come to his litter they enformed him of his death And although Moluc had left one sonne yet did they salute Hamet as their King running through their campe with ensignes proclaiming of his name according to their custome And for that according to the conformitie of the grandfathers will the eldest as it is saide of the nephewes should succeede therefore Hamet was sworne Prince The Moores fell to spoile and take prisoners making a very rich bootie by reason of many precious things the Portugals had brought with them into the campe but especially for the prisoners which were in great number and of great importance for their wealth and nobilitie besides that the Moores make more account of one Portugall prisoner then of any other nation for that being delicate and not able to suffer they redeeme thēselues for great sums as these gentlemen did afterwards who by an example of small patience set themselues at sixe thousand duckats a peece and more This day was famous by the death of three Kings that is Sebastian Mulei Moluc and Mulei Mahamet by the imprisonment of all the Nobilitie of a Realme of so many souldiers a thing seldome or neuer hapned and also for the importance of Sebastians death in the other affaires of the worlde The number of the dead was not so great as of the prisoners but for that the truth is hard to be verified it hath bred diuers opinions in the Portugals Some haue reported that the enimies were infinite in number others haue bin more moderate yet haue they augmēted this point Notwithstanding there died three thousand Moores and as many Christians or more amongst the which were some men of account For besides the Captaines of the strangers and the Duke of Auero there was slaine Alphonso of Portugall Earle of Vimiosa Lewes Coutigno Earle of Rodondo Vasco de Gama Earle of Vidiguera Alphonso of Norogna Earle of Mira Iohn Lobo Baron of Aluito Aluara of Melo sonne to the Marques of Ferrara Rhoderick of Melo eldest sonne to the Earle of Tentuguel Iamie
in giuing but honourable in the expences of his house hee was a great dissembler of the disgraces of the Courte and cunning in their secret practises for so it behooued him to be to preuent such as were his competitors He was generally hated for that he treated proudlie with his inferiors and his equals hated his greatnes The ambition to purchase the Princes fauour a shelfe wherein proude mindes cast themselues was great in him for this respect it may be or for the preheminence and greatnes he pretended aboue all other officers the which made him odious hee was not much pleasing to Charles and lesse to Philip although from their birthes vntill their later daies he had serued them 60. yeeres But Princes loue them better whom they haue rewarded then such as haue serued them Hee was greatly enclined to warlike discipline wherein hee was so cunning as there was not any captaine of his nation in long time comparable vnto him and to conclude for his many yeeres and great experience there was not in a manner any one in the worlde but yeelded vnto him He was of great iudgement and dexteritie to encampe and make choice of a lodging so as alwaies with lesse forces then the enimies he kept them in awe he was so well experienced as he neuer refused battaile wheresoeuer he came Hee did willingly hazard his owne person but his soldiers with greater consideration trusting more to policie then fortune He was a rough inexorable executioner of the seuere lawes of war of whose pittifull crueltie depends the health of armies and the conseruation of States He was by nature enclined to vanquish without effusion of bloud and was imploied in warres conformable to his inclination for the greatest part of them being defensiue wherein a wise captaine should rather temporize and suffer the enimie to consume by the difficulties of warre in a strange countrey then to hazard an estate vpon so vnequall a game as is the winning of a battaile against him that hath but men to loose To this effect hee answered the councell of warre in the kingdome of Naples in the yeere 1558. when as the Frenchmen being expelled they woulde haue charged the enimie retiring hee saide hee woulde not hazarde the realme against a cassock of golde for such was then the habite of the Duke of Guise Lieutenant generall to Henry the seconde King of Fraunce yet some did blame him to be too warie in the execution of matters of importance in warre He serued his King in greater charges and with greater authority then euer any of their subiects and it may be there hath not beene in many ages a captaine which hath so long mannaged armes nor displaied his ensignes in so manie countries For he hath made warre in Italy Spaine and Fraunce in Hungarie Germanie Flaunders and Affrick although he were accustomed to say that he had done nothing seeng that he was neuer so happie as to see a Turkish armie But the last wars of Flaunders did somewhat obscure the glorie he had gotten for although as captaine he did warre valiantly yet he knew not as it hapned to him in other places howe to vse the victorie but arrogating too much vnto himselfe he caused a statue of brasse to be erected for him in the Cittadell of Antwerpe which the king caused afterwards to be beaten downe It appeeres that he coulde better carrie himselfe in aduersitie then prosperitie for in the one he had great force in the other too much conceite so as he reaped more commendations by afflictions then by victorie Hee shewed in dying the magnanimitie he had in his life and that which is of great moment hee shewed tokens of a religious Christian being happie that Frier Lewes of Granata that famous preacher whose diuine writings are pleasing to the worlde was present at his death They did substitute in his place Charles Borgia Duke of Gandia a man of greater vertue then experience The King had caused the bones of King Sebastian to be brought out of Affricke the which with King Henries that were at Almerin he woulde before his departure see solemnly interred in the church of Belem neere to the other Kings of Portugall and for that cause remained there three daies He caused also to be brought from diuers parts of the realme vnto the saide monasterie the bodies or at the least the ashes of his kinsfolkes the children and nephewes to King Emanuel who as a man may say dying resigned him the crowne that they might bee all kept togither There was made a most sumptuous obsequie with great shewes and all the religious persons in the name of Henry were present for the rest had beene performed before and in the funerall sermon Sebastians actes were likewise touched and Henry extremely commended the which was more pleasing being dead then the praises of Philip liuing and present wherein the Orator dilated much hauing first in particular set downe the branches of King Emanuel and brought the succession to the said Philip. I will not leaue heere to make mention as of a rare matter although it be somewhat from our purpose that in this yeere of our Lorde 1582. they did reckon ten daies lesse then in others for by the Popes decree all Christian princes obeying the Romish sea gaue commaundement to cut off ten daies in the moneth of October so as for the fift day they should generally write 15. the which was done to fitte the times to the meanes and principall aspects wherein the heauens were when as our Redeemer Iesus Christ suffered that they might celebrate Easter and the other feasts vpon their proper daies The which they had not formerly done for that the true course of the sunne which makes the yeere being certaine minuts of an hower lesse then the time which they vntill then had taken for a yeere it seemed that in the course of so manie yeeres so small a difference had mounted vnto ten daies so as by this equalitie it was made conformable to the time past The King beganne to vnburthen himselfe of the affaires of Portugall for to go into Castill and therefore the xxvj day of Ianuary in the yeere 1583. hauing assembled the estates of the realme they began in the pallace of Lisbone where after Alphonso de Castelbianco newly made Bishop of Algarues had briefly made the proposition shewing how much the King was grieued with the death of the Prince and the necessitie there was to sweare a newe Melchior d' Amaral one of the Deputies of the citie of Lisbone made answere in the behalfe of the whole realme shewing the desire and readines they had to performe this acte Whereupon the yoong Duke of Barcellos as Duke of Bragance beginning for his father with sword in hande did supplie the office of Constable kneeling downe before the King held foorth his hande to take the oath after the accustomed manner the which being likewise performed by all the rest this ceremonie
with much people on foote The Cardinall inuironed with a great multitude ascends the staires of the hospitall being entered the Church hauing heard Seruice and ended his praiers he seates himselfe in the chaire prepared on the scaffolde where presently Frauncis de Sada one of those that had bin gouernours put the Scepter in his hand and Michell de Mora Secretarie standing a little off said reading it with a loude voice that King Henrie by the death of King Sebastian did succeede in the Realme and therefore they had deliuered him the Scepter and that he was come to take the accustomed oath to maintaine and obserue vnto his people and to any other all liberties priuiledges and conuentions graunted by his predecessours which done the Secretarie kneeling before him with an open booke the King laide his hande thereon swearing so to do then did the Attabales sounde euery man crying Reale Reale for Henry King of Portugall this done he riseth with the same companie holding alwaies the Scepter in hande he returned to the pallace the Attabales sounding and the Herolds crying from time to time as before THE THIRDE BOOKE The Contents of the third Booke The descent of the Kings of Portugall The pretendants to the succession The resolutions of King Henrie And the peoples demaunds The voyage of the Duke of Ossuna into Portugall and other Embassadors from the Catholique King The imprisonment of the Duke of Alua The Catholique Kings letters to them of Lisbone The States of Portugall The grounds of the pretendants to the succession The sentence of Henry against Anthony Prior of Crato vpon his legitimation by vertue of the Popes Briefe The reasons of the Catholique King to the Realme against euerie one of the pretendants The preparatiues to warre of the Catholique King against the Realme of Portugall The suspension of the briefe The second sentence of Henry against Anthonie The alteration of King Henry his will concerning the succession And the Popes offers to the Catholique king MOst men from all the noted parts of the worlde had their mindes and iudgements turned vpon Portugall both for that hitherto the affaires of Sebastian were worthie attention as to see nowe Henry come to the Crowne who was olde and without successour which made all Princes doubte that the succession of this Realme might trouble the publike quiet for the Pretendants were diuers their actions differing all allied and all with groundes And although their forces were vnequall yet were they made equal by certaine respects But to the ende we may the better vnderstand the groundes of euery one of the pretendants I will make a little digression to report briefly the descent of these Kings And although from the first vnto Henry there raigned seauenteene yet doe I not thinke it necessarie to take their beginning but frō Emanuel forward who was the fourteenth who began his raigne in the yeere of our Lord 1495. for that of his onely progenie is issued the number of Princes that pretended to the Crowne This man had three wiues of the first which was Isabell daughter to Ferdinand King of Castill widow to Alphonse sonne to Iohn the second of Portugall he had no other children for she died in childbed but Michael who died in the cradle who had beene as they say the pillar and corner stone to vnite it and Spaine togither But by his death the Portugals lost the kingdomes of Castill and Arragon whereof Emanuel and Isabell his wife were sworne Princes the issue male of the bloud roiall being extinct in Castill His second wife which was Marie sister to Isabell third daughter of the saide Ferdinand brought him many children vz. sixe sonnes and two daughters Isabel was married to Charles the fifth Emperour Beatrice to Charles the thirde Duke of Sauoy Iohn did inherite the kingdome Lewes died without marrying leauing behinde him Anthony his bastard sonne he who as you shall heare anon was the cause of great miserie to his countrey by reason of his pretention to the Crowne Ferdinand deceased without heires so did Alphons who was Cardinall called by the title of Saint Blaise and Henry of the title of Saint Quatre Coronez this outliued all the rest and it is hee of whom we speake Edward tooke to wife Isabell daughter to Iaime Duke of Bragance by whome he had Marie which afterwardes was married to Alexander Farnese Prince of Parma and Katherine at this present wife to Iohn of Bragance he had likewise a sonne the which being borne after the death of his father who liued but fower yeeres in matrimonie was likewise called Edward This is he who disfauoured by Sebastian died at Euora in the yeere 1576. of his thirde wife which was Leonora daughter to king Philip the first of Castill archduke of Austria who was after married to Frauncis the first king of Fraunce he had none but Charles who died yoong and Marie who being about sixe and fiftie yeeres olde died a maide at Lisbone in the yeere 1578. But returning to Iohn the thirde sonne of the second wife who succeeded Emanuel in the kingdome he contracted marriage with Katherine sister to the Emperour Charles the fifth and had issue Marie who after was the first wife of Philip the second king of Castill now raigning from whom issued Charles who died yoong the which if he had liued without doubt had preceaded the Cardinall Henry in the succession of the crowne The saide Iohn and Katherine had many male children which died yoong one onely outliued the rest named Iohn who as some say died yoong with excessiue loue of his wife sister to the saide Philip leauing her great with childe and after deliuered of Sebastian during his grandfathers life who soone after passed to an other worlde and this is that Sebastian which died in Affrick Let vs now come to the pretentions The Catholique King as it is saide put himselfe foremost being borne of Isabell the eldest daughter of Emanuel And although as a Castillian he was naturally hated of that nation yet he supposed that being mightie compassing in the Realme with his dominions and the Portugals vnexpert he shoulde soone either by loue or force become master thereof Iohn Duke of Bragance challenged the Realme as the right of Katherine his wife alleaging he was neerer to the succession then the Catholique King being although a woman daughter to the said Edward brother to the saide Isabell And forasmuch as the Duke is the greatest personage of the Realme and his subiects most warlike trusting on the fauour of Henry who did then grace him and hauing small experience in the affaires of the worlde he held himselfe halfe in possession Alexander Prince of Parma sonne to Octauius Farnesse did pretend it for his eldest son Rhainucius as male issued from Marie the eldest daughter of the saide Edward sister to the saide Katherine And although his territories were farre off yet besides that some supposed the Church shoulde
mention thereof neither is it credible that since this pretention was incorporate to the crowne of so mightie a Realme such wise and mightie Princes as were Frauncis the first and Henry the second woulde haue forgotten to haue called it in question But the truth was the Countesse Matilda left no children as it appeeres in her Testament in the publike Registers of Portugall making therein no mention to leaue any by king Alphonse nor to haue had any and viewing the antiquities of the Realme they saide that a writer was abused who reported that a yoong childe buried in the church of Saint Dominico in Lisbone was her sonne and though it should be so yet doth it not contradict since she doth not affirme she had any children but that he died yoong They did likewise prooue that Matilda had not any by a formal request found in the same registers by the which all the Prelats of the Realme did beseech Pope Vrbane that it would please him to disanull the curse which he had laide vpon the Realme and that he woulde approoue the marriage of Beatrice the second wife of Alphonse that he would make their children legitimate that there might be no hinderance in the succession of this Realme whereby they concluded that if there had beene any lawfull children of Matilda they coulde not haue perswaded the Pope to preferre the bastards of Beatrice They added that these reasons were not vnknowne in Fraunce and that of late there had beene a booke printed of the genealogie of the houses of Medicy and Bulloigne continued vnto Katherine the most Christian Queene whereby it did cleerely appeere that Matilda had left no children by Alphonse her second husband hauing beene formerly married to Philip sonne of Philip Augustus king of Fraunce by which marriage she had one daughter named Iane who succeded not her mother in the Countie dying before her without issue So as Robert sonne of Alix sister to Matilda came to the succession and this is that Robert from whom they would drawe the descent of the Queene Mother being the Nephew not the sonne of Matilda So as not being prooued by any meanes that Alphonse the thirde had any children by his first bedde but the contrary by many reasons they saide the Queene had no reason to pretende neither had she done it in time Philip therefore being grounded in this action sendes into Portugall for assistants to the Duke Rodorik Vasquez and Lewes de Molina Doctors of the law and Auditors of his Councell roiall with the title of Embassadors to signifie vnto the King and to his Councell his apparant iustice with aduertisement not withstanding that they should do no acte whereby they might inferre that they acknowledge any iurisdiction in the king Being arriued and all the Agents of the Catholique King consulting togither they propounded the matter of succession in forme as they were commanded deliuering in writing vnto the king an ample allegation of the reasons of Philip But for that in the beginning they had founde the kings thoughts bending to the Dutchesse of Bragance they laboured long in vaine to make him capable of the iustice of their king They vsed all meanes they thought conuenient and heere in Mora perfourmed great offices not onely with the King and his fauorites but with the Gentlemen and Noblemen of qualitie so as many with liuely reasons giuing to one offering to an other by effects wordes and writings he drew all he coulde to the Catholique Kings deuotion It seemed that this manner of sounding the Nobilitie with money and promises did then serue to purpose And although the course which the king helde for the attaining of his pretention seemed vnto him expedient yet did he not so relie thereon as knowing the Portugals to be restie he woulde omit force for that seeing the indisposition of Henry he sought to winne time and so to prepare himselfe that if he shoulde chaunce to die at such time when as the Portugals woulde not yeeld him the Crowne quietly he might sodainly take possession thereof by force But hauing learned by experience in the warre of Granado the losse of Golette and the defence of Malta that one nation alone sheweth not so great a courage as vnited with another this competencie seruing as a spurre to animate them he resolued to prepare to warre with the forces of diuers nations as if he had beene certaine that of necessitie he must winne this Realme by conquest And although the generall opinion were that fewe men woulde serue against the vnexperienced Portugals and that he shoulde not finde any resistance against his force yet knowing that there is not any humaine force but may be vanquished hee resolued to make an armie of fortie thousand foote considering that although the Portugals were such as it was saide yet being at home and by reason of the hatred and furie of the whole Realme they might in one day drawe togither aboue seuentie thousand men for any expedition and therefore it behooued him to be strong He therefore commaunds Inico Lopez de Mendosa Marques of Moundegiar then Viceroy at Naples to keepe in a readines his Spanish foote with the ships and munition for Portugall he leuied nine thousand Italians vnder the commaund of Peter de Medicy brother to Frauncis the great Duke of Tuscayne hee brought downe sixe thousand Germaines with Counte Ierome of Lodrone and although he might haue raised in Spaine a great number of men of all sorts yet trusting onely to his entertained soldiers he leuied the greatest forces he coulde purposing to ioine to those Spaniards that were but fresh water soldiers some of those that had beene in Italy and such as were come from the warres of Flaunders But these things were effected with more ease and lesse nombers then were appointed For although the Viceroy of Naples did in the beginning very carefully prouide for it yet after hee grew colde abandoning all hauing intelligence that the King had chosen to succeed him in his charge Iohn de Suniga great commander of Castill and that he shoulde returne into Spaine yet the soldiers were inrolled and conducted with armes and munition to Gibraltar and other places of Andelouzia thereabouts from whence they marched after to the confines of Portugall the number chiefly of Italians being greatly diminished with hunger and other discommodities not without consideration that nine thousand men seeme much in Spaine And although they arriued a yeere later then the king had commanded yet came they sooner then necessity required for Henry yet liuing they were long idle But this preuention was done like a valiant and wise Prince maintaining an armie vpon the confines of his owne Realme without vse thereof during a mans life attending his naturall death when as no man is yet so neere death but may liue some yeeres The Catholique King preferring the danger to be vnarmed and Henry deceasing before his expences gaue this testimonie not onely of his wisdome
his disfauour retaining still the right of armes by reason whereof in this suspence he forbare still to giue the Nuncio his answere vntill that being better assured of the disposition of Henry he made answere that his interest being so apparant and the King so well enclined there needed not any mediation the which if it were requisite he woulde accept of this office of the good zeale of his holines The indisposition of Henry and the disquietnes of his minde did much afflict him so as he resembled a lampe neere extinct the which sometimes yeelds a great light sometimes seemes quite out They feared he shoulde die of an accident which hapned and therefore his Counsell thought good not to attende his death for the declaration of the Gouernours but to put them as it were in possession the which was partly executed For the King being halfe dead they brought vnto him the coffer wherein the Rowle was kept with the names of the Gouernours in the great Church of Lisbone and hauing opened it they founde them to be George Dalmeda archbishop of Lisbone Frauncis de Sada first groome of the Kings chamber Iean Tello Iean Mascaregnas and Diego Lopez de Sosa President of the Counsell of Iustice of the citie who tooke their oathes to gouerne according to the lawes of the Realme and to the limited commission which Henry had particularly set downe This diligence bredde aswell in the peoples mindes as in the Catholique Kings a iealousie of the kings death and the rather for that two daies before they woulde not suffer any to see him supposing they woulde keepe it secret vntill they had taken counsell put the Gouernours in possession and prepared for defence And although it were presently knowne that the King was yet liuing and so amended that he had almost recouered his former health yet the generall opinion being that he coulde not liue long all mens mindes were in suspence in this Realme THE FOVRTH BOOKE The Contents of the fourth Booke The Castillians and Portugals discourse vpon the state of Portugall the vehemencie of the plague the estate of Almerin the death of King Henry the Regency of the Gouernours the practise of Anthonie to be chosen King the Testament of Henry the diligence of the Catholique King to vnderstande if he might with a safe conscience make warre the election of the Duke of Alua as generall of the enterprise and the priuileges the Catholique King offered if they woulde deliuer him the Realme THe Catholique King in the meane time kept his armie togither in Spaine with greater paines and more charge then he had done else where for the countrey being not greatly fertile he was enforced to fetch victuals from other parts being then about the ende of Nouember 1579. there was then no assuraunce of things whereby they might either dismisse their armie or imploy it For although king Henry was yet liuing and well affected yet the Portugals being most obstinate against the Castillians he desired not to liue any longer doubtfull of the succession as well for the charge as for the euent and therefore he ceased not continually to importune Henry to declare him Successor obiecting many reasons why he was bound to do it and propounding many inconueniences which woulde follow not doing it the which was spoken in doubtfull tearmes whereby it seemed he woulde make the equitie of his cause apparant by force And although this entreatie seemed somewhat to threaten yet did it nothing displease Henry suffering it expresly to bee published that the people might beleeue he was forced to this declaration The whole Realme was discontented to see Henry dying the Catholique King armed and the small remainder of time spent in matters of light importance whereof their discourses and opinions were as diuers as they were different in passions The Priors partisans being in a manner all of base qualitie hauing their reason darkned and not setled in opinion saide that he was legitimate and that the Crowne appertained vnto him but that the king of his absolute authoritie hating him woulde depriue him and that all his fauorites did concurre in this resolution For the King hauing alwaies persecuted Anthony by their aduise they feared that he comming to raigne woulde take such reuenge as they deserued and therefore preferring their owne securitie before the libertie of their countrey they woulde take the Realme from him and giue it to a stranger Many others alleaged that although hee were a bastard yet they ought to giue him the Realme being the neerest allied of the bloud royall Others in whom hatred to their neighbours preuailed more then any other inclination saide that whosoeuer had interest to the Realme yet shoulde they by no meanes giue it to the Catholique King but rather come to armes vaunting themselues to be valiant They added moreouer that they woulde demaund aide from Fraunce and England whereof they were assured and hauing them they doubted not to seate a King at their pleasures There were some yet fewe but of iudgement who comparing the forces of Portugall with Castill founde they coulde not flie the yoke of the Catholique King and although with great griefe yet they hoped it might prooue a gentle amitie and that these Realmes vnited togither Portugall might reape great profit by the commerce traffique Many spake after their owne humors saying that Anthony leauing the habite of Saint Iean shoulde marrie with the daughter of the Duke of Bragance and being vnited togither they needed not to feare Others gaue out that the Catholique King woulde be contented to giue his seconde sonne to the Portugals for their king to be brought vp amongst them the which they shoulde accept for were it whosoeuer it were sufficient to haue a King alone And some say that Henry laboured to effect this but Philip soone resolued him saying that he coulde not do it but to preiudice the Prince his eldest sonne fearing by this meanes to leaue a seminarie of diuision in Spaine betwixt his descendents The perswasion of the Catholique Kings Agents with the Nobility were of great effect by reason whereof there were few Gentlemen amidst this diuersitie of opinion but either did willingly encline to the said King or corrupted held their peace and retired themselues from Court auoiding all occasion to declare themselues Of the fiue Gouernours chosen three were drawne to the Catholique Kings deuotion and although we should not be amazed to see the common people who by custome inconstant and without iudgement holde the woorser part yet did it breed a woonder in many that the Portugals in generall euery one according to his qualitie framed in their mindes a resolution contrarie to that which by reason they ought to haue done in a matter of so great importance in the which they should haue taken greater consideration For that some discoursed without passion that the Nobilitie accustomed to be respected of the King shoulde flie the obedience of the Catholique King being
he should preuaile in recompence of the discontentment he had to be drawen from Italy Many beleeued the King would goe to this war in person both for the inclination they see in him as for some other signes which were apparant for he not only caused his armes and pauillions to be readie but also commaunded Ferrant de Silua Conte de Cifuentes Guidon Maior of Castill with the Standard Royall to furnish himself the which in that Realme is not accustomed to be carried but in the Squadron where the King is in person but in this case it behooued him to remaine irresolute and to gouerne himselfe according to the necessitie and occasions which time should discouer In this hope of things the King commaunded a Secretarie of the councell of warre to write to the Duke of Alua demaunding of him if he were able to serue in this enterprise whereunto making answere that in that which concerned his Maiestie he neuer made reckoning of his health hee was commaunded to prepare himselfe within three daies and to goe to the campe the which he putting in execution he went to Barrazas a village ten miles from the court which was at Madrill hauing no leaue to come thither but that which caused admiration the king hauing at the same time caused the Prince Diego his sonne to be sworne by all the estates in a Chappell although with ordinarie ceremonies yet with lesse pompe then of custome did not admit the saide Duke to the oath being so neere and so great a personage He did neither write vnto him nor treated with him concerning these warres but long after So as the Duke marching with the armie finding himselfe not fully released from the prison wherein he had beene saide that the King had sent him to conquer Realmes drawing after him chaines and fetters such was the seueritie of Philip and the obedience of so great a minister All Spaine was pleased with this election for besides the deliuery of the Duke which followed they esteemed not the valour of their soldiers without a Commaunder to their mindes and in the Dukes person they helde any armie good The Generall being dispatched the King prouided all things for his iourney into Portugall he caused a daughter borne at that time to be secretly baptized and hauing made the saide prince of Castill to be sworne without calling or the presence of Ferrant de Sylua to his great discontentment the King went to Guadalupa being now the time of Lent vnder colour to performe the obsequies of King Henry there and so to draw neere vnto Portugall to giue encouragement to his affaires and thus did he write to all the principall cities in Spaine He departed from Madrill in coach almost all alone without giuing order for the Queenes departure or for the officers of his Courte notwithstanding cherishing her dearely After he had passed two daies seeming conuenient and a great signe of amitie that being now to enter into Portugall he shoulde be accompanied with his Queene he called her vnto him The Duke was now gone to Glierena where a part of his armie lay being in farre lesser numbers then had beene leuied for that discommodities and sicknesse had consumed many and many places were voide by the Captaines pollicie being in all but fower thousand fiue hundreth Italians three thousand fiue hundreth Germaines and three thousand Spaniards come out of Italy and other seauen thousand newly raised with fifteene hundreth horse which being a body long before prepared for a matter so well foreseene seemed to him but small But the Duke trusting more to the qualitie then the quantitie of his soldiers desired to haue them fewer and of more experience and these seemed in a manner all without knowledge and therefore the King at his entreatie commanded that all the soldiers which were come out of Flaunders into Italy should passe into Spaine being such whom he knew and had tried in the warres yet they arriued not in time but returned backe The Duke saide that surmounting the enimie in horse he would vndertake this warre with twelue thousand foote well experienced neither did he value the great number of the Portugals which assembled as it was giuen out making reckoning to waste them by policie to conquer them without battaile The King being come to Guadalupa there arriued the Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo Embassadors from the Gouernours of Portugall The King with his Councell were doubtfull in what sort to honor them some would haue them treated like subiects without respecting them as Embassadors Others would not haue any thing altered of the ordinarie course obserued in those causes yet not to discourage them it was resolued they should be heard as Embassadors with their heads couered and that the King should put off his hat yet the King had written before to the Gouernors that he would treat with their Commissaries as with subiects These laboured by a long speech to perswade the King to lay aside armes they saide that King Henry had greatly desired to end the question of succession by the ordinarie course of iustice but that death had preuented him he had in the States held at Lisbone in the yeere 1579. not onely chosen Gouernors and defenders of the Realme but the States had also named fower twentie Iudges whereof the King had chosen eleuen to iudge definitiuely the cause of succession if he died before the effecting it the which after hapned and that the matter being brought to that passe the realme remained quiet and peaceable resolute to obey and acknowledge for their Lord and King him in whose fauour sentence should be giuen conformable to the oath which the whole Realme had taken in the said estates the which was after ministred to the same Gouernors in the great church at Lisbone when as the coffer which contained the nomination was opened and therefore they were readie to administer iustice and to acknowledge for King him vnto whom the realme shoulde be iudged by right to appertaine and being thus affected they beseeched his maiesty to command his embassadors to assist iudicially to the cause in the conclusion thereof But the King being assured of his right prouided of forces and seeming no blot to his conscience made answere that he was well pleased with the shew of zeale to the publike good of these realmes and that he was perswaded that what they had propounded proceeded from a good inclination that he would haue bin glad their demand had bin such as he might haue satisfied them the which he wil do alwaies in matter that shall be iust tending to the generall or particular good of these realmes But the equitie of his cause being so apparant to the world remaining no lawfull or competent iudge they neither ought nor could performe the oath which they saide they had taken seeing it were an apparant preiudice to his title and a domage to his owne realmes and therefore he
secular power could not iudge him being taken in the Church came running likewise to the place of execution to succour him And had not Damain D' Aguiar a seuere and resolute officer had the charge thereof who suddenly put this sentence in execution there was so great a concourse of people crying and of religious men with their crosses and excommunications that the offender had been easily rescued These disorders displeased the louers of religion and quietnes who blaming somewhat the Friers for not suffering their Prouinciall quietly to ende the terme of his charge yet did they attribute more fault vnto the gouernours for suffering in such a season so publike and rigorous an execution against the religious and chiefly vpon a Monasterie seated vpon the banks of Tagus saying that if for no other reason yet shoulde they haue forborne in respect that many English and French ships anchored there whose men infected with heresie would reioyce to see the religious in the hands of Sergeants The death of Pina was held for an indiscreet and cruell resolution of Anthony for being but a matter of small moment to be reuenged by so foule an example vpon an olde man alawyer and of meane condition he had thrust himselfe into an exigent either to be held vnthankfull in suffering of Soarez to die as he did or else to doe violence vnto iustice But for that princes hate the executioners of their follies for in their life doth liue the remembrance of their errors euen so the Prior hated this man after the offence committed neither did he labour to saue him although his death made him contemptible to the people The said prior was thē at Almerin laboring the cause of his legitimation solliciting the iudges to decide the same who excused themselues that they could not do it obseruing the lawes of the realme if he retired not himselfe 25. miles from the Court that in so doing they would looke into the cause But for that the Duke of Bragance and the Ambassadors of other princes were there present he would not depart for this reason the matter surceased at this time Emanuel of Portugall who remained at Belem laboured ambitiously that Iohn Teglio one of the gouernours his brother in lawe conformable to himself in opinion principally in the exclusion of Philip should be sent to Belem with authoritie from the other gouernours to prouide by his presence for all things necessarie seeming a matter hard to effect at Almeryn The other gouernours desirous to be rid of his companie and not daring to contradict any thing that seemed to concerne the defence gaue him authoritie and suffered him to goe to Belem There he consulted with Emanuel and receiuing with some difficultie the money borrowed of the merchants he resolued for the gathering together of a greater summe to sell the iewels of the Crowne the which were there and therefore causing them to be brought foorth he dealt with some merchants vpon the price The Duke of Ossuna was then returned into Castill leauing Mora in Portugall with the other Ambassadours that were Lawyers who vnderstanding the iewels were vpon sale the saide Mora in the name of the Catholique King required the said gouernours not to sell them as appertaining to the King protesting both against them and the buiers that they should be bounde to restore the price at their owne charge so as they found not any that woulde deale with them Philip being at Merrida as it was saide hauing by a long protestation required the gouernors to deliuer him the possession of the Realme The Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo returned the second time making the like proposition to the King as they had done at Guadalupa offering to put the cause to arbitrement and complaining he had giuen them too short a time to resolue But Philip being now well resolued what he would doe and infourmed of the aide the Portugals demaunded from other princes he made them the like answere as before Many iudged the proposition of those Ambassadours to be ill grounded saying it was an vnseemely thing to require the King to make himselfe subiect to the iudgement of nominated iudges seeing that King Henry himselfe who with more appearance of reason might pretend to be lawfull iudge in this cause did neuer require the King to acknowledge him for iudge neither did he euer declare him contumax in the cause debated with the pretendents for not acknowledging him The Catholique King came to Badagios the 20. of May where the Portugall Ambassadours laboured to perswade him making suite that before the taking of armes he should admit an assemblie to the estates but they were no more admitted to audience the king resolued to send his answere vnto the gouernors and to publish it throughout the whole realme in the name of his Councell the which he did as followeth That experience had taught that by two examples of the estates last held at Lisbone and at Almerin they wrought no good effect in fauour of the apparant right of his Maiestie but in the one and the other they had still laboured to trouble it seeking lets and delaies which might haue bred the losse thereof and therefore it seemed a treble error to attend againe a new assemblie of these estates That they haue no reason to complaine that his Maiestie had giuen them too short a time to resolue accounting from the day of the receipt of his letters the xiij of March by the which he required them to sweare him saying they made no good computation if they supposed he were dispossessed of the realme but from the time that he demaunded it appertaining vnto him from the hower of King Henries death but that his Maiestie had expressely contained himselfe a moneth and a halfe without making of any motion to the ende they should not loose the thanks by calling him to the succession whom God had called and might haue leisure amongst themselues to make cleere this bond by which they were tied and giue satisfaction making the pretendents capable of reason to the ende they should not hinder the publike quiet and that they might be intercessors for them and for the realme which course the king himselfe had taught them That their excuse might be taken in two senses saying they coulde not receiue his Maiestie but in a generall assemblie of estates their meaning is either that they cannot doe it by right or that they may not doe it for that they dare not In the first case they are deceiued for there needes no assemblie of estates when a king makes his entrie vnto the realme although he succeede not to his father but to his kinseman neither were they necessarie when as Henry succeeded to his nephew In the other case that they cannot doe it because they dare not the excuse is good but not to binde the king neither in iustice nor conscience to desist from taking the possession of his goods if the delaies make the
to spoile the Ilands as they had already done that of Saint Michaels and that the same armie hauing tried a battaile against his Maiesties the French had beene broken and ouercome in the which being taken eight and twentie noblemen and two and fiftie gentlemen and manie other marriners and soldiers he declared them taken as enimies to the quiet and publike good disturbers of the traffike and fauourers of his Maiesties rebels that as such and as publike pirats hee commaunded the Auditor generall of the armie that for their chasticement and for the example of others hee shoulde execute vpon them the punishment of naturall death beheading the Gentlemen and hanging the rest which passed the age of seuenteene yeeres being so conuenient both for the seruice of God and of the two kings This sentence seemed cruell to all such as heard it and chiefly vnto the Spanish soldiers both for that they feared the like might happen vnto thē an other day as also for that they would not lose the profit which many expected by the raunsome of the saide prisoners or else for their owne good inclination so as some of the soldiers laying aside all respect saide it was not well grounded for that there was no firme and inuiolable peace betwixt the Catholique King and most Christian but warre and that those were neither pirats nor theeues but valiant soldiers That there was no peace they prooued it by the warres of Flaunders more hot then euer where the French did in a manner possesse all the Catholique Kings patrimonie And that they were no pirats they prooued by the letters patents they had from the King vnder the which the ships and soldiers were enrolled besides the number and qualitie of these men were such as it appeered cleerely they woulde not haue attempted it of themselues if the king had not sent them And although betwixt the two crownes they dissembled many things the Christian King excusing himselfe sometimes vpon his mother sometimes vpon his brother that they were all deuises of Princes but for all that they were not without open warre the lawes whereof they saide was not so stricte as to commaund them to hang all their prisoners And this execution did so mooue the hearts of manie that some of the principall soldiers being assembled togither went with a commendable example vnto the Marques to make intercession for the life of their enimies who answered that the most Christian King had expresly commaunded that all Frenchmen that shoulde take armes against the Catholique King shoulde be corporally punished so as the same day these Gentlemen with a generall pittie and great seueritie were beheaded vpon the scaffolde and the marriners and soldiers hanged in diuers places and the pittie was the greater being apparant that they were all not onely valiant soldiers but Catholique and deuout Christians The blame of this seuere execution was not imputed to the Marques supposing that he had expresse commaundement from the King whom likewise they excused for hauing so determined seeing it was not to bee presumed that so many personages of importance should come with such an armie and remaine prisoners especially knowing that Philip by his owne inclination was not cruell yet on the other side they considered that the King in his minde shoulde haue conceiued a cruell disdaine against the French seeing that vnder the shadow of amitie peace and alliance Kings writing daily one to the orher greeuing and reioycing at their troubles and contents did not onely aide his rebels but also tooke his countries and sent so great an armie to endomage him And although that Princes do vsually dissemble and counterfeit in many things yet it seemed the French vnder a new kinde of dissimulation would make warre whereby they did inferre that this execution did nothing displease the King The armie being a little repaired here the Marques went to the I le of Coruo to meete with the Indian fleete and hauing past in view of the citie of Angra he put Anthonie and all the people into confusion for although the Marques content with the victorie would not thrust himselfe into a new danger yet Anthonie doubted that in the heat of the victorie he would pursue and assaile the Ilande in the which although he had men enough both of the nation and of the French yet were they fearfull and disordered and Anthonie himselfe at the same time prouided a light ship to imbarke if neede were These newes came slowly to Lisbone for the which they were in great care hauing newes of the fight by the meanes of a Zabra of Biscay but a French ship which had beene sore beaten by the gallion Saint Mathew being fled from the battel gaue assurance of the euent for beeing arriued disguised at Settuual he was discouered finding within her some Spanish souldiers dead in the bosome of one of them was written all that had passed in the armie since their departure from Lisbone vntill the time that he was slaine The Marques attended long about the Ilands for the Indian fleete whereof two being arriued the seas growing high he came with them to Lisbone to the great ioy of all the court where he was extraordinarily fauoured by the King Anthony after the Marques his departure remained more quiet in minde supposing that for one whole yeere he need not feare any enimie He greatly greeued for the death of the French prisoners fearing it would preiudice his cause in France But Emanuel de Silua pressed him to reuenge in hanging about fiftie or threescore Castillians which were there taken prisoners at diuers times the which he woulde not suffer being better enclined He was ill furnished with money although hee had great store of armes and munition For this consideration he daily all by the inuention of the saide Silua made rigorous commandements to draw money from the people and from such as did not follow him willingly He caused gold to be coined which hee valued at fiue and twentie roials although it weied but eight He made testons of siluer weighing a roiall and a halfe the which he made currant for halfe a duckat and the copper money which was woorth three in Portugall hee valued at tenne And for that many were retired to the mountaines to be free from troubles within the citie hee commaunded euery one to returne and if any deferred his comming longer then the time limited by his commaundement they presently seazed his goods Many for feare of the souldiers had carried and hidden their goods without the citie and therefore he commaunded euerie one to bring them backe againe whereby he gained much for he demaunded a loane of money of such as came and brought it backe and if any one obeyed not he sent Souldiers to search their goods and to spoile them with a thousand indignities It was a lamentable thing to see how the Church causes were handled for the religious men except the Iesuits imploied in militarie actions
retayned nothing of a priest but the habit and the name as for sermons confessions and such like things they came from them as from men which had not God before their eies And Anthonie himselfe during these afflictions had not his minde free from lasciuiousnes for the women of honour could hardly be free from his lustes hauing too familiar accesse into the monasterie of religious women amongst whom as well as amongst the men raigned the passions of the affaires of the Realme with no small scandall and great disorder and many of his as also of the French followed this his example Anthonie liued this kinde of life vntill the moneth of October irresolute what to doe To goe into Fraunce after the losse of so great a number of the nobilitie he helde it not safe neither knew he how he should be looked on for he feared as much the disdaine of particulars as he hoped in the protection of the Queene mother To remaine there he saw it a thing not able long to subsist with so great garrisons not hauing wherewithall to pay the souldiers nor in a manner how to furnish his expences He resolued therefore with such shippes as he had to depart for Fraunce but first would goe towardes the Madera and the Iland of Canarie that by spoyling of some weake places hee should content the souldiers with some weake pray For this cause hauing prepared about thirtie saile he not onely shipped his souldiers but with a new deuise he commaunded all the citizens which he suspected and all religious persons affected to the contrarie partie as the Iesuits and others to imbarke making this commaundement most rigorous to those that could least obserue it to the ende they should redeeme this voyage with money But all as vnprofitable in sea causes excused themselues with liuely reasons and entreaties but it preuailed nothing making answere to the yoonger that he had neede of them for his guarde and to the olde for counsell so as many sought to content him with money as hee desired euerie one according to his abilitie by meanes whereof they were freede from his commaundement But this inuention was soone counter-checkt by another for many desired to leaue the Iland to imbarke not with intention to follow the armie but to saile into Spaine Some of the Captaines of the shippes vnderstanding their mindes agreede with the Portugals not to deliuer any money to Anthonie for their stay in the Iland but paying them the like summe and much lesse they would land them in Portugall so as many trusting to the French and English not paying any thing to Anthonie imbarked with them agreeing for a certaine summe to be set on land Anthonie departed with this armie from the Terceres leauing Emanuel de Silua in his place with fiue hundred Frenchmen vnder the charge of Baptiste Florentin and Charles a French man their Captaines He arriued at the Iland of Saint Michael where hauing staied long thereabouts fearing the Spanish garrison there he durst not land being forced to leaue it by a storme that rose Then some of his English and French ships left him keeping promise with the Portugals that were imbarked with them In the meane time they had newes in Fraunce of the defeat of the armie and the death of so many prisoners which caused both in court and throughout the Realme a great griefe and disdaine and enflamed the French to reuenge and as they had Flaunders neere and matters in that estate as hath beene said there they discharged their choler neither did they forbeare after the returne of Anthonie to treat of a new preparation of an armie at sea for the sommer following It was giuen out in Spaine that the faction of Anthony and the French against Portugall was dashed and that they had weakned their forces yet did they not dismisse their hired ships At that time two galliasses being arriued from Naples it seemed the king would assemble a great armie for the next yeere and make himselfe absolute Lorde of the Ocean both in respect of the affaires of Anthony as to assure his ships from the Indies and newe founde landes from the French and English and to force the Iland The Catholique King desired to returne into Castill both for that he was called by the states of Arragon and to finish the marriage of his daughter with the Emperour as also for other business of the realme and was vpon the point to effect it in Nouember 1582. but he woulde first extend his pardon graunted at Tomar to such as had followed Anthony For this cause hauing excepted the religious persons and tenne others hee pardoned freely all the rest that shoulde present themselues within a certaine time but this wrought no effect for there came fewe and many said that the King being yet displeased could not make a free pardon This departure was after staied by the newes of the death of Diego his eldest sonne who as hee had beene sworne Prince of Portugall at the estates of Tomar hee woulde likewise that the same oath shoulde bee made in the person of Philip his second sonne being then sicke And for that he had no other issue male the succession masculine of these Realmes remaining in the breath of one only togither with the kings age and the disposition of the affaires of the world both the quiet seditious were in care But for the swearing of him he assembled the estates at Lisbone in the moneth of Februarie resolute to accomplish this ceremonie before his departure At that time the Duke of Alua consumed with a continuall feauer died in the pallace of Lisbone in the Kings owne quarter being of the age of threescore fourteene yeeres During his sicknes he was greatly fauoured of the King who did visite him a little before his death There is no doubt but the King apprehended the losse of such a seruant which bred no lesse discontentment in him then pleasing to his enimies But the Portugals obserued that the day following he went publikely to masse without any shew of discontent contrary to the custome of their kings who vpon the death of men of lesse qualitie hauing done any notable seruices to the crowne retired themselues for a time the which seemed the more strange for that King Emanuel vpon the death of a notable Pilote withdrew himselfe three daies But the actions of great Princes are so subiect to the censure of the vulgar as the wisest minister matter of discourse to the curious and malicious to slaunder them With him died as a man may say all the warlike discipline of Spaine for there remained not any one captaine equall vnto him He was of a goodly stature of visage leane and graue hee had rare gifts of nature and fortune the which he augmented much by arte he was of a noble minde of a readie and subtill spirite assured in iudgement and peaceable He was not greedy of worldly wealth sparing
were No man durst contradict him both for that as it is saide many thought it necessarie to ioine battaile as also for that the Portugals doe generally thinke it cowardise to disswade from fighting holding it more honourable to loose a battaile with rashnes then to conquer with cunning and iudgement without fighting For this reason it was resolued after great contrarietie of opinions to march against the enimie although some practises of peace were yet in hande but with weake hopes So as the same morning they dislodged hauing deuided their armie into three squadrons the one following the other immediately and almost vnited togither that in the front was in a manner diuided into three for in the middest the aduenturers were led by Aluaro Pirez brother and Lieutenant to Christopher of Tauora on the left hande were the Castillians led by Alphonso d'Aguilar lined with Harquebuziers of the same nation commanded by Lewis d'Godoy and the Germaines were on the left hande vnder the Lord of Tamberg intermixed with Harquebuziers Italians and those Portugals that vsed to be at Tanger commanded by captaine Hercules d'Pisa euery nation was set in long rankes with their Commanders in the front In an other squadron which did second this were the Portugals of Michell de Norogna and Vasco de Sylueira with harquebuziers in flanke and in the other which serued for the rereward were the Portugals of Diego Lopez de Sequeira and Frauncis de Tauora although that Sequeira remained at Arzilla for the guard whereof besides two wings of shot there were three hundreth Harquebuziers in the rereward on both sides of the armie were their horsemen deuided being in all fifteene hundred placed in triangles whereof the right wing was commanded by George d' Alencastro Duke d'Auero on the left side was the standerd Roiall Iean de Sylua Embassadour for the Catholique King and yoong Theodose Duke of Barcellos for so they call the eldest sonne of the Dukes of Bragançe and on the right hande a little separated were about two hundreth horse of those which liue commonly on those frontiers which they call Affricans not far from them were the Moores of the Cheriffe Mahamet but fewe in number In this order they marched with their baggage in the midst betwixt their horse and foote on the right winge leauing a space on both sides betwixt their squadrons to retire if need were Moluc who lost no opportunitie had now put his armie in battaile he placed his footmen which were all Harquebuziers in forme of a cressent the first rank were of Andalusians the second of Renegados and the last of Affricanes placed expresly in this sort for that one nation being enimie to an other they might presse forwarde their contraries and not suffer them retire vpon the two hornes of the cressent he planted two squadrons of ten thousand horse in each and behinde as it were in the rereward followed in equall distance all their horse in small troopes resoluing if they ment to fight with so great a number of men to compasse in the Portugals armie and charge them on euery side But in the meane time his sicknes encreased feeling himselfe die by degrees and although his Phisitions vsed all their skill to succour him yet decaying howerly they founde he coulde not liue two daies He felt a double death by reason of the time wherein he died and not being able to execute his resolution in this warre he doubted that he shoulde not leaue any one that could effect them For although hee were then in battaile yet had hee no meaning to fight at that instant foreseeing after that hee vnderstood the Portugals did march into the maine land with their baggage if they sought to delay the battell they were all vndone and that without the losse of any one man he would take them all prisoners by reason of the want they should find in that poore countrey of Affricke But seeing this resolution which required time and could not bee effected in haste would not succeed by reason of the shortnes of his life he was much troubled He thought it not conuenient to discouer his conceit vnto his brother that should succeede him both for that he much doubted of his iudgement and knowing assuredly that if he died before the victorie the Moores would flie and rebell against his brother and yeeld to the Portugals chiefely by the pretence of Mulei Mahamet and in this manner the kingdome would be lost Afflicted with these cares seeing the enimie neere with so great an Armie and his death approaching he resolued not to trust his heire but leauing his first resolution rather during his life to hazard a bloodie and doubtfull battell against all Reason of warre then to die with feare of the losse of his Realme the which he knew assuredly would happen after his death being resolued to fight all practises of accord dismissed he assembled the chiefe commaunders of the Armie and spake vnto them in this manner Your valour souldiers and the iustice of the cause which hath put Armes into your hands will not suffer me to speake much to encourage you to fight For you are those who vnder my command haue alwaies brought to happie ende euerie enterprise were it both difficult and dangerous The enimies which you haue in front are the same Portugals which in times past your fathers and your owne right hands haue often vanquished and ouercome The Italians and Germans which are come to their succours more terrible in name then in deed should not any thing amaze you being men without experience and in small numbers And as for me who haue sometimes made tryall of them I take vpon me the charge to yeeld them subiect to your forces And if reason preuaile any thing in battell shal not the victorie be on our side We liued quiet in our houses without vexing or molesting any one content with our fortunes not practising against the wealth and prosperitie of any other And a nation by nature our enimies differing in law comes from a far countrey not onely to pull from me my Crowne but also to spoile you of all your goods to depriue you of your libertie and to rauish your liues You perchance suppose that in this wicked people pietie hath so much force as to plant Mahamet in the kingdome a stranger contrarie to their Religion whose friendship and bountie is vnknowne to them they should vndertake this paines to hazard themselues to death It is the thirst of gold and of your blood with the desire to rule that hath brought the King of Portugall hither supported not by his owne forces but with the hopes he hath to deceiue you vnder this fained shew of pietie to this Infidell Mahamet who if he had any feeling of a man should be rather contented to liue subiect to my Empire according to our lawes then inuading my Realme by force procure the destruction of his owne blood the ruine of his countrey the
anchor might easily be defeated yet the French seemed little to feare it for that they remained long carelesse at lande at what time Anthony was lodged in the couent of Saint Rocke neere vnto the armie labouring both by wordes and threatning to haue the forte and being after come to the towne hee wrote generally to all that were within requiring them to consigne it into his handes as his owne offring to suffer them to depart freely but hauing no answere conformable to his desires he caused some peeces of artillerie to bee landed from the ships to batter it but there followed no effect for the Spanish armie arriued Which hauing sayled eleuen daies with varietie of weather hauing discouered the Iland not being ioyned with the ships and galleies which were parted from Andelouzia but onely the number which came from Lisbone whereof there remained fower ships and some carauels behinde three of them let with the tides could not get out of the riuer of Tagus with the rest and the fourth returned backe vpon a great leake so as the Armie consisted but of eight and twentie ships for although the other three got foorth the next day yet they arriued not with the rest at Saint Michaels but before them where hauing intelligence of the French they went to sea without ioyning afterwardes with the armie The first place the Marques discouered was Le Morro the one and twentith day of Iuly and arriued the two and twentith at Villa Franche without hauing any intelligence of the French Armie In this arriuall the Spaniards had some disaduantage for that the enimies lying close to the land with their ships and in a manner couered sawe them come a farre off without being discouered by them The day before the Marques had sent foorth Captaine Aguirre with two carauelles armed to discouer with instructions what course he should take if he found the enimie to whom he deliuered letters for Ambrose D'Aguiar of whose death he was ignorant whereby he did aduertise him of the comming of the armie of the number of men and ships he had and how he did howerly expect the ships and galleies prepared in Andelouzia demaunding newes of the French armie if it were passed with how many saile and for what place saying that his intention was to fight with them and therefore hee should will Peter Peixotto prepare himselfe with his ships to follow him As the Marques had cast anchor vnder Villa Franca one of the three carauels which had staied behinde and after passed them being laden with horses came vnto the Captaines ship assuring them that the three ships which had remained within the riuer of Tagus were arriued two daies before at the Ilande and were returned backe and that certaine French ships had taken two other carauels laden with horses and that they did hardly escape them But the Marques gaue no trust vnto their words although the French armie were there he sent other men to lande to learne the truth who returned soone without knowing any certaintie for that their approch to lande being defended they had contrarie reports made vnto them Notwithstanding the Marques did still see more apparant signes of the disobedience of the Ilande especially vpon the returne of one of the caruels of Captaine Aguirre the which reported that the saide Captaine with the other had beene taken by a French ship for this cause the Marques called Lopo de Figueroa Marshall of the field to councell where they resolued betwixt them to land some men both to take in fresh water to haue certaine intelligence of the affaires and to approch with the armie to some more conuenient place for that effect But they remained not long in these doubts for they had no sooner appointed some to discouer some better anchoring place the armie being vnder saile they began to discouer towards the towne certaine ships the which increasing still in number came against them iudging what it was as in truth it was the enimy laying aside what they had treated of hauing assembled Peter of Toledo the marshall of the Campe generall the Marques of Fauara Peter Taxis Commissarie generall Frauncis Bouadiglia Marshall of the field and some other gentlemen and Captaines they called a new councell where it was propounded whether they should fight or take any other partie The Castillian armie had no place of retreat to returne backe they could not without great danger to get the winde of the French there was no meanes for with their lighter shippes and easier to turne into the winde they might chase flie fight and retire themselues from fight at their pleasure So as the Spanish Captaines framing their opinions according to the necessitie the matters standing so as the free election remained not in them resolued to fight Anthonie hauing by the letters which the Marques had written to Ambrose d'Aguiar taken in the carauel with Aguirre intelligence what forces they had and what they expected and with all of his intention for this cause he had resolued with Strozzi Brissac and the Counte Vimioso that it was fittest to fight with this armie consisting of so small a number of ships before the other part which they expected should arriue and therefore hauing imbarqued with all possible speed they came in battell against the Marques hauing first laboured but in vaine to take the Castel by new threatnings Then did the Marques appoint what order hee would haue the armie keepe in the fight Vpon the right side of his gallion called S. Martin he placed that of Saint Mathew wherein was Lopo de Figueroa and on the left that of Frauncis Bouadiglia with fower other ships of succour all the rest were put in order onely Christopher d'Erasso remained behinde with a great ship of importance for that hauing his mast a little crased he durst not vse any force so as the Marques had but seuen and twentie ships in all the which especially in the two gallions they gaue verie good order for the fight For hauing deuided the souldiers into their rankes and appointed diuers commanders they prouided not onely for all necessities but also for any thing that could chaunce with great iudgement but it was in vaine for at that time the armies came not neere one another by seuen or eight miles both for that the winde was scant as also for that the night approched so as after the Marques had discharged a peece of artillerie as it were in signe of Battell the French bent towards the citie and the Catholique armie turned to sea not hauing any intelligence of what had passed at lande neither should he haue had it so soone by any other meanes if the same night Iohn de Castillio who had succeeded Laurence Noghero in the castell had not aduertised the Marques what had happened in the Iland and assured him that the fortresse held yet both to the ende he should haue care to succour it and to haue succour from thence if need
him the ship wherein was Christopher d' Erasso then followed that of Saint Mathew wherein was Lopo de Figueroa these went before as a buckler to the rest of the fleete which followed The French had deuided amongst them the Spanish ships where with euery one shoulde grapple but it was a matter that coulde not succeede for the winde the sea and the order which had beene so often altered hindered that resolution The gallion Saint Mathew staied somwhat behinde the which was cause it was first set vpon for the captaine and admirall of the French with other three ships turning their prooes vpon her went to charge her and the captaine with great dexteritie to auoide the shotte ioyned with them towards the prooe and boorded the gallion from the middle forwarde leauing place for the rest to approch the which inuested her rounde with a great streame of fire and shotte Lopo de Figueroa being vnder their lee not able to vse his sailes as he woulde seeing such and so great ships come to charge him staied for them There beganne a cruell fight their artillerie did much harme especially the Spanish being the biggest so as two of the French ships being sorely beaten therewith and with their small shotte after some fight fell vpon the gallion which remained betwixt the captaines ship the admirall and an other who being succoured with fresh men in small boats from the other shippes troubled Figueroa much especially hauing his shippe fired by the enimie in many partes But being a man of great valour accompanied with expert soldiers hee made an honorable defence and with great resolution preuented all inconueniences He remained in this estate aboue two houres without any succour at the ende whereof a Biscaine ship of Peter Garagarza wherein were two companies of Spanish soldiers drawing neere succoured him much The Marques seeing in what danger this gallion was would gladly haue succoured it but he could not so sodainly performe it as neede required for being forced to returne backe and saile directly against the winde a matter impossible but by turning on the right and on the left to gaine a little way hee feared in the meane time she shoulde bee vanquished Against the saide gallion Saint Martin wherein the Marques was when as the Saint Mathew was charged there came likewise two great French ships but they were so beaten with the cannon from the saide gallion and from the ship wherein Frauncis de Bouadilla was neere vnto the captaine that one of the enimies ships was like to sinke so passed on so as the Marques being freed he caused all the armie to turne towards the gallion Saint Mathew and with all possible speede drewe neere vnto him vpon the turning of the armie the areergard fell to be vangard as it hapneth in the like case so as the shippes of Michael d'Oquendo of captaine Villauiciosa an other Biscaine which were the first to succour him remained in the fronte and all three inuested the French admirall who being ill intreated in this cruell fight fell from the gallion Saint Mathew Another shippe wherein was Michael de Benesa passed on forwarde and valiantly grapled with the French captaine on the outside so as the gallion Saint Martin wherein the Marques was could not approch neere any one of the enimies chiefe ships being enuironed with his friends so as he was forced to turne about and passe on The French admirall defended himselfe with great courage against the three ships that of Villauiciosa which fought in the prooe did end omage him greatly but the captaine thereof was slaine that of Oquendo which fought in the sterne had boorded her with his men taken prisoners and ensignes and began to spoile But the captaine finding that his shippe by reason of a shotte was in danger of sinking fell from her to repaire her leake so as being in a manner freed from the enimie hee tooke his course towards Saint Michael yet hee coulde not get thither but sunke by the way being spoiled by the artillerie and Mounsieur Brisac saued himselfe in a small boat But these two armies did not so ioine as it was expected for that the Frēch army although they had a full wind yet would they not willingly grapple with the Spaniards as they might haue done but many of them stoode idle discharging only their great shot And although some of them laboured to boord Frauncis de Bouadilla and Christopher d' Erasso yet the artillerie kept them off so as they durst not approch A Biscaine shippe wherein were captaines Michael de Cardona and Peter Pardo boorded a French man which was fallen from the S. Mathew and forced her to yeeld being already weake hauing spoiled and abandoned it she after fledde Captaine Villauiciosa the elder with his shippe wherein was the company of Lewes de Gueuara boorded an other and after a long fight vngrapled herselfe and one or two ships more boorded her and the rest fought passing onely by and discharging their artillerie The gallion Saint Mathew made a great resistance two of those ships which had fallen from her battered with the cannon sunke and although the generall of the French were succoured with many men yet was he so beaten that they within began to yeeld but for that there were many Spaniards dead and manie hurt so as there remained within the gallion not aboue seuentie able men to fight Lopo de Figueroa would not suffer them to enter make the victorie absolute the which the French finding and receiuing presently a new supply of three hundred men they vngrapled hoping to saue themselues But the Marques who stood vpon his guarde sayling first on one side and then on another pressing the enimie with his artillerie and smal shot when he saw his ship fall off he charged her and so did another Biscaine ship on the other side wherein was Captaine Bastida and Iohn de Viuero but the fight continued not aboue one hower at the ende whereof the Spanish generall became Master of the enimies ship with the losse of aboue 300. French there found they Philip Strozzi whom presently they transported into the Marques gallion but being wounded to the death he died presently without speech to the great griefe of all valiantmen The Counte of Vimioso was taken prisoner by Coronell Mondenaro an Italian aduenturer but being wounded vnto the death he liued onely two daies embraced by the Marques as if he had beene his kinsman Such was the ende of Frauncis of Portugall Counte of Vimioso more honourable then any one of those which had followed Anthonie vnto this day He was yoong indued with good parts both of bodie and minde if they had not beene accompanied with a certaine childish vanitie which made him thus obstinate besides such as knew him lamented his death beeing by nature amiable There found they also with no small admiration fourescore gentlemen whereof thirtie were Lords and had their subiects with many other