adore you my Eyes have told it you my Sighs have assured it you my assiduities shall confirm it I know not whether I am King or Subject when with you and you alone can render me happy Wherefore tell me in the Name of Heaven pursu'd he what I ought to hope or fear and do not make me languish in uncertainty Elvira doubtful and confused had during this Discourse her Eyes upon the ground her Carriage uncertain and her Countenance languishing and as she was sometime without answering the King prepared himself to tell her still something more pressing when the Dutchess of Braganza taking notice of this Conversation spitefully run to them and could not forbear interrupting them notwithstanding all the measures she had resolved to keep in regard of those Lovers Elvira ran maliciously to her but however made Don Sebastian see in her Eyes in quitting him a languishing sweetness that without explaining too much gave him great hopes After the Troop was come to the death of the Stag they return'd to Lisbon where Cardinal Henry came to shew the king Letters that he had newly received from Spain in the Packet of Souza by which Philip let him know that Millei Moluc Brother of the lately deceased King of Morocco was come into Spain to demand Succours of him which he had not thought fit to grant him neither did he think that Don Sebastian ought to grant it him because the Pretentions of Moluc were too opposite to the Laws of the Europeans and it would be but to perplex themselves in a War that could not be advantageous on their side Moluc having neither Troops nor Money to Execute so great an Enterprise But the King impatiently longing to signalize himself and having his Mind only filled with Wars and Conquests told the Cardinal his Uncle That the Succours he should give to Moluc might be advantageous to the Crown of Portugal that the Moors would destroy themselves in that War that in Succouring that Prince they might weaken the strongest without strengthening the weakest And at leng than those Quarrels he should not fail to gain some Cities or Places which they might joyn to those that Portugal already had in Africa The Cardinal who saw with delight the Warlike Ardour of this young King but could have wish'd to have something moderated its excess answered him Before you determide your self for this War Sir it is convenient you be perfectly well acquainted with the Subject of the Quarrel betwixt those two Kings And for the Explaining to you their different Pretentions I must be a little more particular in their History and tell you things that no occasion has yet been offered to discover to you The Kingdoms of Fez Morocco and Turedant pursued he seeing the King gave Ear attentively to him have ever been governed by two different Kings till Mulei Mahumet-Cherif possessing together with his Brother Mulei Hamet those divided Kingdoms endeavoured to reunite them under his Power These two Kings then made a Law by which they ordered that Brother should succeed Brother and should thus Reign after one another to the exclusion of the deceased Kings Children Some time after one of Mahumets Sons called Abdala seeing this Law opposed his Ambition caused several of his Brothers and Nephews to be killed and strangled under divers pretexts of interest of State at last he succeeded his Father and had the most happy and peaceable Reign that the Cherifs had ever enjoy'd Though Abdala had Policy and Cruelty enough to commit all the Crimes that should seem advantageous to him he did not cause all his Brothers Throats to be cut at his coming to the Throne he let three of those unfortunate persons live who by reason they were very young did not appear to him formidable enough for him to take care to dispatch them These weak Children feared his Fury as soon as they were capable of reason Two of them took Refuge with the Grand Seignior to avoid the death that threatned them and the third fled to the Arabians where he died some years after Abdala having Reigned peaceably the space of seventeen years and finding himself decaying delivered his Kingdom into the Hands of his Eldest Son called Mahumet and caused him to be Proclaimed King through all his Territories notwithstanding the Law of the Cherifs which was contrary to that Election Abdala died in a little time after and left a Daughter very young called Almeida whom he caused to be brought up in Spain and whose blooming Beauty began to make great noise in that Court when she departed from it to retire to her Brother Mahumet But as this new King feared at his coming to the Crown that those two Vncles who had took Refuge in Turky for the avoiding his Fathers fury would come grounded upon the Laws of their Ancestors and dispute the Kingdom with him He sent a Moor to Tremisena to Assassinate the eldest who was retired thither It is but two years since this Assassination was committed with all the Rage and Success that Mahumet had wished and only one that remains at present of those three Creatures is this Mulei Moluc whom the King of Spain makes mention of to us in these Letters He has given marks of a great Valour amongst the Ottomans where he had taken Refuge He has Signalized himself against the League which the Christians lately made to fight the Turks He has done a thousand Actions worthy of an Eternal Memory in the late engagement of those two Fleets and when Charles the V. took Golette he was almost the only one who resisted him with vigour but judging himself too near Mahumet in that Country where he had not any Troops and fearing such a treachery as that which had deprived his last Brother of his life he left Algiers where he then resided to come into Spain and implore the Succours of Philip imagining though a Wanderer and a Vagabond without Forces and without Money he could by his Vallour alone recover the Kingdomes belonging to him by their Laws and Conquer Mahumet his Nephew who is settled upon the Throne beloved by his Subjects fortified in his Cities and maintained by a powerful Army Thus pursued Cardinal Henry your Highness sees clearly how King Philip had reason to refuse Succour to Moluc and how to second his Design 's would be to maintain a Law contrary to ours and to declare against him who is Naturally Heir of the Crown These and such other like reasons dissuaded Don Sebostion from aiding Moluc He judged after some Reflexion that this African would not come to demand Succours in Portugal after having been refused by the King of Spain being acquainted with the strict Engagements of those two Kings These Politick Considerations did not so take up the Kings Mind but that he bestowed some thoughts upon his Love If the Declaration he had made of it gave some ease to the violence of his Passion the vexation of not having been able to get
neglected by her King abandoned by her Lover returned into the Convent the Duke d' Avero had caused her to come out of and there gave her self up so to grief that a lingring Feaver took her that was not judged dangerous at first but in a short time made a considerable change in her Person Though the King had neither Forces nor Ships enough to undertake a great War against the Moors who were in their own Country and had beaten an Army much more numerous he did things that surpassed all hopes and expectations He gave in all Places Testimonies of his Valour he was in Person in the least Attacks He went into the very Ports of the Enemies to burn their Ships He Attacqued all that he found without being daunted at the number of the Moors Coming near Arsilla he immediately resolv'd to Besiege it That City is Situated upon the Sea side its Out-works and In works being Fortified with all things necessary for its desence it had been taken formerly by the Portuguez The King had not Troops enough to undertake that Siege But the vexation he was in when he considered how the Moors had gained from him that Conquest and when he made reflexion upon the Glory which would follow that enterprize made him pass over all difficulties he caused with a great deal of Expedition to be prepared all things necessary for the Execution of that attempt he surpriz'd the Garrison entred the City by Scaling the Walls and was in the midst of its Inhabitants with two hundred Men at most of his Attendants The Arsilians somewhat recovered from their first surprize sold their Liberty very dear and Defended themselves veey vigorously This Fight was Bloody several were killed on both sides upon the spot and the King having at length made himself a passage thro all his Enemies and got to the Castle of the City which vielded without fighting upon Condition all the Moorish Women should be left at Liberty that had taken Refuge there and no outrage should be done them the King willingly granted them this Condition and entred the Castle followed only by his Principal Officers He went to see the Ladies who were retired thither and offered safe Conduct for what way soever they would take One amongst others by an Air of greatness and Majesty made him desirous to consider her more nearly He found that the Charms of her Face were answerable to the Beauty of her Shape She was brown and her Features were so fine her Complexion so delicate and her Eyes so piercing that Don Sebastian was amazed He forgot Elvira in that moment and afterwards Comparing the Idea he had of her Beauty with hers he saw he found that African a thousand times more Charming he asked her Pardon for appearing with Arms in his Hands before her and offered her all the Succours she should have occasion for But she received his Compliments with so haughty an Air and retired with so much Maiesty that Don Schastian inquired who she was They told him that she was a Princess called Almeida Sister of Mahumet that this King having already lost two considerable Battels against Moluc his Uncle had sent her to that City where he believed her in more safety than in the midst of his Kingdom which Moluc furiously ravaged He had no sooner learnt the Name and Quality of that African than he remembred that the Cardinal his Uncle had spoke to him of her formerly He was vexed he had not shew'd her more respects He asked to see her but she let him know by the Governour of that City that the greatest mark of goodness he could give was to consent to her retreat without seeing her and she prayed him not to make use of the Rights of Victory against her Liberty The King made known to this Governour that he impatiently longed to pay her the Devoirs he could not acquit himself of before he knew her but this Envoy told him so plainly that his Visit would be so extream a violence to the Princess that this King consented at that instant to her departure notwithstanding all the desire be had to see her again She departed immediately and retired towards her Brother Don Sebastian could not lose the Idea of her Beauty he thought of her night and day and sometimes repented he had let her depart if there had been no more required than Besieging of Placea and Taking of Cities for the having her again he would have undertook the most difficult Sieges but he could not learn to what Place she was retired He feared he should displease her if he pusht his Conquests farther and his Council of War was not willing to let him engage farther in an Enemies Country His Principal Officers remonstrated to him how the Troops he had left were not sufficient to keep and defend the Places he might Conquer and if he went on at this rate he must employ all his Army in Garrisons He was obliged to return to Lisbon Crowned with Honour and full of the Idea of Almeida The other Lovers put on their Chains again and Souza not being able to see without grief the happiness of Don Henry and being evermore in fear of being disgraced at Court retired to one of his Country Houses where he became so much in Love with solitude that there was no less requisite than an Order from the King to make him leave it Notice was given to the Duke d'Avero that his Daughter was dangerously Sick in the Convent where she made her abode He went to see her but did not find her in a Condition to be brought to Lisbon She died four days after Her Father was a long time in the deepest affection having passionately loved her and not quite lost all the hopes he had conceived from her Charms The King was sensibly grieved at her Death but as his Mind was possessed with another Idea his grief was not so violent as 't would have been at another time The Duke d'Avero seeing that Love had not been Assistant to his Ambition was willing to see if War would make it more successful He did all he could to enflame the Passion Don Sebastian had for Arms. The King had given him Orders to cause Forces to be raised in all Parts he zealously seconded his Designs how troubled and averse soever Queen Katherine and Cardinal Henry seemed to be to them The Duke was perpetually representing to this Young King the Glorious Success he had in Africa and the Conquests he had made with a little handful of Men. He assured him that if he would return thither with a considerable Army he would render himself Master of all Tituan and Alarache in a little time Don Sebastian's Courage needed not to be raised and never Man loved Arms so much as he but he could not resolve to make War upon Almeida's Countrey She still returned into his Mind with that Majestick Air with which she had received him in Africa he feared her Indignation
in his favour quitted the left Wing where there was not yet any danger to run to the Vanguard where the Enemies fell on with the greatest sury He advanced at the Head of his Troops The Kings ardour made him be every where he Sacrified a thousand lives to the Beauty he had Consecrated his to Victory durst not remain longer doubtful at the coming up of Don Sebastian the Moors not being able to support the Valour of the Christians animated with the Example of their General gave ground at the first Shock and notwithstanding the endeavours and threatnings of their Leaders who used their utmost endeavours to make them stand to it and put incessantly new Men in the places of those who fell These Barbarians were broken three several times and put to flight to the loss of all their Colours The Duke d'Avero who Commanded the Right Wing charged the Moors Cavalry that came to Attacque him and his heart greedy of Glory made him fly to the greatest dangers and triumph in all places His Squadron in the form of a Triangle was so close and Attacqued so vigorously the Enemies Cavalry that he constrained it to retreat in disorder Mahumet who had likewise ranged himself in in this Body Attacqued Fought and Pursued his Enemies like a desperate King who chose rather to lose his life than his Crown The Duke d' Avero fought with a great deal of Valour and the desire of Conquering carried him very far amongst the Barbarians A Body of Horse coming up to Succour them he judged it convenient not to suffer himself to be environed by those Squadrons and to retire in good order with his advantage hoping these Troops would divide themselves in pursuing him and he might return to the Charge with yet more vigour and success than before Whereupon he turned back upon those who pursued him but he found them all so firm and so well united that his Squadron being weakned with its losses and wounds could no longer bear the Enemies Assaults but were constrained to retire in haste and not finding a sase place in the Army they cast themselves amongst the Cavalry and Infantry with so much disorder that it put those Troops into a Confusion which the Africans made great advantage of On the other side the Body of the Army where the Kings Standard and the Duke de Barcellos were placed made a horrible slaughter of the Moors pursued them to their Canon and those Barbarians finding the King every where fancied that all the Army was composed of Hero's or that this Hero alone composed all the Army The Duke of Barcellos accompanied the King in all places and did a hundred things worthy of his Birth and great Courage The Moors terrified and flying took refuge even in the Quarters where Moluc was who falling into an extream fury at this disorder and being resolved to repair it or die he rose from his Litter without considering that he was half dead and caused himself to be set on Horseback with a great deal of pain resolved to stay the flight of his Men by his Example or to put them to Death himself Those who were about him used all their endeavours to retain him and even seized the Reins of his Horses Bridle but his Courage making him forget his weakness the Crowd of the Runnaways and Fugitives still augmenting and the King at the Head of his Men coming pretty near that Quarter he put his hand to his Sword to disperse those who stopped him and this Effort quite consuming his Strength and Forces he fainted away and fell into the Arms of his Men and died some moments after putting his Finger between his Lips whether it was for vexation that his Men run away or to make them remember they were to conceal his Death And the Prudence of this Barbarous King so well compassed his Designs in the last moment of his Life that dying it self could not ravish from him Victory and he appeared brave and prudent even in the Arms of Death However the Renegado's who were about Moluc concealed his Death with a great deal of care insomuch as the Army of the Barbarians weakned by this accident was so far from flying after having been vigorously repulsed it recovered Forces out of its own shame The Moors Rallied with fresh Troops and returned to the Charge with more Valour than before The Vanguard where Don Sebastian made his Courage be admired gave ground at its turn and though the Christians who were in that Body had killed above two thousand of the Moors there came again fresh ones in so great multitudes that they were forced at length to yield to the numbers in that place and all the Christians who remained there having used all their Arms against the Enemies and being at length come to Ponyards lost their lives appea ring to be rather weary with Killing than Conquered All the Brave Voluntiers that Don Henry led there being dead this General was encompassed by the Moors of Andalousia and fell at length under their numbers and their fury The King received there a Musquet shot in his Right-Shoulder but not ceasing to Act for this wound tho dangerous and seeing his Vanguard was defeated without recovery he run to the Left-Wing where the Duke d' Avero after having rallied several times his Men changed Horses and Succoured those whom the Enemies pressed the most was at length killed by a Musquet shot As he was the Soul of that Body his fall put the Portuguez's to a rout Mahumet endeavoured in vain to retain them by his Example and his Voice They no longer knew any Body but the Conquerours they fell upon their Knees to the Moors instead of standing up in their own defence The King running to this disorder and being acquainted with the Dukes death who was dear to him revenged it upon all those he met with he fought amongst the Souldiers and engaged himself amongst the Moors he animated the Christians with few Words and a great many Examples and cast admiration fear and surprize amongst his Enemies by his Valour He had three Horses killed under him without being daunted and though he was already wounded he did not cease to Attacque Strike and Relieve but he could not vanquish the fury and number of his Enemies nor communicate his Courage to his Troops At length hazard conspiring with the Moors against the Portugals Fire seized the Christians Ammunition for the Compleating their Defeat and put so great disorder in all their Army that Horses Souldiers Waggons Ammunitions Arms Tents Pavillions and all the rest of the Baggage being confusedly heaped one upon another some were stifled others burnt and others cut to pieces by the Enemies The young Duke de Barcellos being fallen from his Horse in that Confusion was taken Prisoner almost all the Chief Officers were killed or put out of condition to fight by reason of their wounds The Portugals who in their flight would have taken the way of Arsilla were
committed to him of the Young King Don Lewis who was likewise his Uncle had signalized his Courage in several Rencounters and with Justice passed for the bravest and handsomest Prince of that Kingdom He had had a long time a very tender Engagement with Violanta and the report even run at Court that he had Married her and by her had a Son whom he brought up at one of his Houses near Lisbon Duke d'Avero had made his Prudence and Valour appear on several occasions under the Reign of John the III and had been one of his Favourites but Cardinal Henry had no great kindness for him knowing him to be ambitious and daring The Young Duke of Barcellos gave great hopes of his Dexterity and Wit and began to view of the Beauty of Leonora with a tender emotion The Count de Sousa was much esteemed both by the King and Cardinal Henry He maintained his Favour by a great merit and had taken care to joyn to all the fine Qualities that make a well bred-Man the solid Virtues that compose an honest-man Don Henry had a thousand good Qualities that made him be beloved by all the World he was well Built and Vallant and breathed nothing but dangers And as he was the chief of an Illustrious Family both for Nobility and Riches his Father had taken care before his Death to Conclude his Marriage with Eugenia they having loved one another from their most tender Infancy All things seem'd to conspire to unite them their Humours being alike their Qualities suitable and their Age almost equal gave all People great hopes of their happiness Amours were the Soul of that Court and even those who were only sensible of Ambition were constrained to call Love to their succours that they might the better succeed in their Designs The Dutchess of Braganza would have been willing to have been indepted for the advancement of her Fortune to this last Passion she placed all her cares to make the King love her but was not able to render his heart sensible He had no other Passion than for Arms he had raised a Regiment which he Exercised continually and frequently Review'd He would as often undertake the Labours of Common Souldiers as the Cares of chief Officers the greatest Perils had a secret Charm to invite him and not believing that any common danger was worthy of him he would not undertake any thing that was not attended with difficulties If he had any Voyage to make upon the Sea he affected to Embark during the Tempest disdaining to rock peaceably in a Calm that might lull his Virtue asleep Duke d'Avero had no less Ambition than the Dutchess of Braganza and likewise fancied that Love might be useful to his Designs He had a Daughter called Elvira He sought in her Beauty for the reputation that was refused his own merit and imagin'd that she had Charms enough to touch the heart of that Young King She had not yet been seen at Court though she was at an Age to appear there with lustre because the Dutchess her Mother having a long time languished in a Disease which occasioned her Death two Years before had retired her self to one of her Country Houses and had ever kept her with her and the Duke after the Death of his Wife had put his Daughter into a Nunnery near his House not designing to take her from thence till he had found out a Match suitable to her Circumstances In the mean time Eugenia had too many Charms to satisfie themselves with the Conquest of Don Henry The Count de Sousa had been long Passionately in love with her His Respects his Complaisances and Assiduities had sufficiently assured her of it but whether she was not willing to understand them or she had only Eyes for Don Henry the Count de Sousa always found in her so much indifference for him that he judg'd it not convenient to declare his Passion more openly He had too much respect and discretion to hazard an unprofitable Declaration Don Henry was his Friend Eugenia had ever seen him only under the notion of Friendship which he could not any longer support the constraint of He saw her every day she was ever lovely in his Eyes she had hardly in the least concealed from him the Passion she had for Henry That Lover likewise made him the Confident of his happiness What a torture is this to a Man whose love is extream and was not capable of easing himself by betraying his Mistress and his Friend After having been for some time in these Extremities and having in vain Employ'd the Succours of his Reason for to cure him he fancied that absence would diminish his Sufferings by weakning his Passion and so was desirous to remove from Court but his Merit had put him there in too good a posture for him to go away without some specious pretext Elizabeth whom Philip the II. had Married in his third Nuptials died in Spain about that time wherefore one was to be sent to make the Compliments of Condolance to this King on the behalf of Queen Katherine his Sister and Don Sebastian his Nephew Sousa fancied that occasion was favourable to him and for the obtaining that Commission he Employed Cardinal Henry's Credit with the King the Cardinal highly esteeming his Virtue used to Queen Katherine the Solicitations of Lewis of Granada his Friend whose Birth and Piety were had in veneration by all People and whom that King had caused to come from Spain to communicate to her all that concerned the Salvation of her Soul and the good of the Kingdom He obtained what he desired was sent to the King of Spain but could not depart without going to take his leave of Eugenia with whom he found Don Henry He used all his endeavours to conceal his Grief and his Love in that separation the Words he spoke had no coherence with one another and the Sighs he vented were half stifled And seeing he could not resist his Grief he quitted those two Lovers and Embraced them bidding 'em Farewell and live happy while I do lead a Languishing life far from you and my Friends His Sighs hindred him from speaking more than these Words he went immediately away for fear they should see him shed tears And Eugenia and Don Henry were really afflicted at his departure and attributed to Friendship alone what a more violent Passion had produced The Duke d'Avero caused Elvira to come and second his Projects He was himself surpriz'd with her Beauty and conceived fresh hopes at the sight of so dazeling an Object The truth is she was capable so â—ngage the most insensible Her blew Eyes were sweet and piercing all her Features were regular her Complexion was admirable and Hair was the finest in the World delicately accompanied by all the Beauty of her Face She was of a middle Stature but her Wit was above what is common she had an insinuating Prefence and engaging ways with her her Conversation was
Charming African if Philip had not staid him with the hopes of some Troops which he promised and perhaps would have given him had it not been for the Obstacles that were raised by the Princess Katherina by earnestly desiring Ruy Gomes de Silva at that time Favourite and Minister of the King of Spain not to hasten the Succours In the mean time Don Sebastian continually possessed with the thoughts of that War and Almeida's Beauty was not sensible of the Pleasures of that Pompous Court nor the marks of kindness which the Princess daily gave him Almeida writ a thousand kind engaging things to this King which the more augmented his impatience To little purpose it was Philip had told him that the Duke of Alva had written to him that this War was not reasonably to be undertaken with Portugal Troops alone that besides them it was requisite to have fifteen thousand Italians Spaniards and Germans It was to little purpose he assured him that he would give him five thousand Spaniards as soon as his Affairs in Italy would give him leave Nothing could stay Don Sebastian and Philip who fancied that the Princess's Beauty and the desire of being in his Alliance would perhaps be capable to persuade him from this Design or at least make him stay yet some time at his Court offered him Catherina Michela in Marriage Don Sebastian did not flye off so much as he would have done if he had not stood in need of Philip. He made some Court to that Princess which put her in some hopes seemed to relish the Pleasures of that Court with less disquiet Remained also there yet some time with little impatience for the having the Succours so often promised The Court he made to Catherina Michela in these hopes was quickly known to Almeida All those who approached her took delight in exaggerating things to her which put her in despair and as the divers Passions and Interests of particular Persons even adds something to the News that comes from afar off the report ran in Portugal that Don Sebastian was going to Marry Catherina Michela A Person who loves and fears is but too credulous Almeida Figured to her self a thousand things far more stinging than all the malice of her Enemies could have Invented upon that Subject How vainly did I flatter my self with the Power of my Charms said she sometimes how weak are they and how am I deceived The Princess Catherina has more than I have she is in Prosperity and Glory I lie under Misfortune and Shame Her Father is a Prudent and Fortunate King whom the greatest Princes would be proud to be Alied to and I have but one Brother whose disgrace is capable of dispersing the most Zealous Friends These and such other like expressions did so trouble her that she was sometime without writing to Don Sebastian This King reproached her with her silence but as she was prepossessed with his infidelity she gave so ill an Interpretation to all that came from him as she fancied he only made her these reproaches for the having a pretext to quit her and made no answer to his Letters The King not being able to support any longer the trouble he was in at Almeida's silence and seeing the propositions and delays of the King of Spain were only vain amusements to retain him he resolved at length to return to Portugal and desired Philip to send him with the soonest all the Troops he could He found Almeida in so great a grief that he could not see it without being much concerned He made her his Complaints she made him her Reproaches and both of them being undeceived of their suspition were more charmed than ever with one another The King of Spain let Don Sebastian know how the Sedition of the Rebels encreased daily in Flanders how he was afraid that Province would get from under his Power how he was oblig'd to send a great many Troops thither and this disorder hindred him from sending the Succours he had promised him All these Obstacles did not at all cool the Ardour of Don Sebastian And Philip being acquainted he had still the same Design he sent the Duke of Medina Coeli to him who was one of the most Eloquent and Understanding Politicians of Spain to represent to him that the Rebellion in Flanders augmented from day to day which putting the King his Master in great fears he found himself obliged to conclude a Truce with the Turks in which he would cause him to be comprehended if he thought good and that being in Conference about that Treaty he could not send Troops into Africa against Moluc for as much as a part of that Country was Tributary to the Port and Moluc was a Friend and Confederate of the Grand Seignior's Don Sebastian answered that Ambassadour that he was very much surpriz'd that Philip had made a Truce of three years with the Turks that in thinking to avoid their Incursions into Italy he gave 'em time to Fortifie themselves in Africa and fill it with Forces which would carry into the Heart of Spain after that Truce a more Cruel War than that he feared He added that he did not think it convenient to be Comprehended in this Treaty that 't was requisite for their Common Interest to leave him the Liberty of assisting the Spaniards against the Irruptions of the Africans and thus the King of Spain would assure himself of Italy by his Truce and of Africa by the War that the Portuguezes were going to make there The Duke of Medina Coeli returned into Spain but little satisfied with his Embasie Queen Katherine who had Governed the State with great Prudence died at that time All the World fancied that the trouble Don Sebastian's Designs gave her occasioned her Death And the King having put his Army in a Posture of marching the Count de Souza went out of his solitude to accompany the King in that War Don Sebastian followed by all his Nobility his Guards and a great number of Voluntiers went to the Cathedral Church of Lisbon where having with great Ceremony caused the Standard to be Blessed which he would carry into Africa he put it into the hands of Christopher de Tavora and as all the Court fancied he was going to return to his Palace he went to to the Port and having met with Almeida who was taking the Air with her Brother in a Chariot coming up he told them That all was preparing to revenge them and in a little time he would re-establish them upon the Throne of their Fathers So many Obstacles answered Almeida have hitherto opposed your good Intentions Sir that I shall not promise my self any Succours from your Highness till you are Embarqued Well Madam we must then Embark reply'd the King in a Transport I accuse as well as you my Love of too much slowness and you shall not see me defer any longer He mounted his Galley after having said these Words Mahumet and his Sister accompanied
if you do any thing unbecoming the rank I place you in I shall employ the little strength I have left to strangle you with my own Hands And for the rest Brother I order you if I die before the Success of this Battel to conceal my death with great care from all the World and to put in my Litter any one of our men who shall most resemble me to the end that feigning to give Orders and acting my part the Enemies may not take advantage of the Consternation that such an accident usually brings into an Army Having ended these Words he embraced Hamet and caused him to be owned by all his Forces After which he went out of Alcazar and retired into the Plain for to draw on the Enemies He was persuaded that having better Officers more Troops and better Disciplined than the Portugals he ought not to fear the Issue of a Battel But prudent as he was he was loth to commit his Crown to the uncertainty of a fight knowing that we ought not to expose our selves to the Fortune of War till after all the efforts of Prudence have not been able to produce any advantage he let the Enemies March without going to meet 'em and fancied that by still permitting them to advance into his Territories he had nothing more to do than to cut off their passage to see them afterwards perish by Famine without costing him so much as one Man He was not able however to bring this Design to perfection as well because his illness reduced him to extremity as by reason he was informed the same day in the Evening that the Enemies were very near and the two Camps might see one another if the obscurity of the night had not hindered it He sent as soon as it was day his Master of the Horse at the Head of two or three hundred Men to observe the Countenance of the Enemies and it happened that some Battalians of the Portugal Army that had passed a little River repassed it in that moment by order from the King who judged it more convenient to be left between the two Armies These Troops which Filed off made the Morish party believe that the sight of them put the Christians to flight and they carried with all diligence this News to Moluc The Barbarians animated by this flight cried out aloud that they ought to pursue them and they might cut them to pieces But Moluc ever wise and ever prudent appeased this too pert Ardor and said he demanded no more than their retreat and if they fled he should vanquish according to his desires without his Army running any danger or losing one drop of Blood While the Moors were deliberating upon this Affair Don Sebastian caused his Council to Assemble to know of his Chief Officers if he should give Battel that same day The most part of them seeing Moluc had three times more Forces than the King of Portugal were unwilling to run the risque of a Battel But the King fancying that as at the Head of six hundred Men he had put to flight two thousand of the Enemies a Christian would ever beat five or six Moors went boldly out of his Camp ranged his Troops in Battel array and divided them into three Battalions The first was Composed of Strangers who had their Officers at the Head of them and of five hundred Portuguez Voluntiers Commanded by Don Henry the second and third were Composed of Portugal Troops The Cavalry was at the two Wings in the form of a Triangle The Duke d'Avero Commanded the Right where Mahumet was Ranged with the Troops that followed him the Kings Standard was at the left with the Duke de Barcellos and the Baggage was betwixt the Infantry and the Cavalry Though Moluc felt the pangs of Death he had still the same Valour and the same Conduct he ranged his Army in Battel with as much presence of Mind as if he had been in perfect health He had forty thousand Horse eight thousand Foot and thirty four pieces of Artillery He kept to himself the charge of Generalissimo and placed his Brother at the Head of the Cavalry He caused immediately all his Infantry to March in the form of a Half-moon at the two points of which he placed two Bodies of Cavalry each of ten thousand Horse the rest of the Horsemen were divided into little Squadrons and followed in equal distance being ordered to March still on and surround the Portugal Army for the Engaging it on all sides When it was in presence it appeared so Weak to Moluc that he thought himself sure of the Victory and thought of nothing but rendring it Compleat He would have made a Speech to his Souldiers but his extream weakness would not permit him to say four words He caused himself to be put again into his Litter and placed himself in the middle of his Troops that he might be able to give Orders on all sides and see all that the two Armies should do Don Sebastian seeing the Enemies make some Motion to advance sent one of his Querries to Almeida for the assuring her that the Battel was going to begin that he would lose his life therein or re-establish her in her State and after having given some moments to the most tender reflections a Lover was ever capable of he set all his thoughts to the Execution of that Enterpize Moluc on his side caused his Cavalry to March and extend in such order that being within a Canon-shot of the Portuguez's the two points of that Half-moon came and joyned behind the King's Arrier-Guard and that great Circle filling by little and little became still more thick as it approached the Portugals insomuch as the Christian Army was environed on all parts by the Moorish Cavalry and took from the most faint hearted all means of running away The Portuguez's were daunted at the doleful aspect of this danger their fears were redoubled at the noise of the Fire of the Moors Artillery which making frequent shots by degrees broke the Files of the Christians and made great breaches in their Squadrons Don Sebastian as ready as the Enemies shot went to every rank to fill it and also causing his Cannon to fire upon the Moors he gave 'em Bullet for Bullet disorder and fear for fear But the Moors being stronger in Artillery than the Christians did much more Execution and the Portugez's were so terrified that the King gave the Signal of the Battel to stop this disorder The Moors made a vigorous attacque upon the Vangard the Christians opposed them Courageously Don Henry at the Head of his Voluntiers made all bend under his blows that opposed his passage and relieved such of the Portugez's as were most pressed so that notwithstanding the numbers of the Moors which were greater than the Portugals those Barbarians could hardly keep for some time things in Equality But the King who impatient to see the Victory so long in suspence would constrain it to declare
he had in that Country for the procuring more certain proofs of Don Henry's being still alive The Merchant promised to use his utmost endeavours to procure those Informations and Souza returned to Eugenia whom they had put to Bed and who did not remember the News that had so much surprized her and occasioned so long a Swoon What ailes you My Lord said she to him seeing him oppressed with grief must my fainting needs make you so very sad or has some accident happened to you that we have reason to deplore Ah! Madam answered Souza overcome with Grief and letting himself fall into a Chair that was near him have you forgotten Don Henry No no I remember it very well he is still alive and you are my Husband Eugenia could not resist the anguish that this Reflexion opprest her with she fell again into a Swoon Souza was not in a condition to relieve her and her Women had all the pains imaginable to recover her out of it Madam said he to her when she had recovered the use of her Senses and he had sent all those out who were in the Chamber you must not abandon your self to Grief perhaps this News is not true the Merchant who brought it us could give no proofs of it and you know that a thousand such false reports ran abroad of all those who perished in that Battel No no reply'd she Don Henry is living he is living he is my Husband and I am Married to you Her tears and her sighs hindred her for some moments and repeating from time to time Don Henry is living and I am Married again Don Henry is living and you are my Husband she abandoned her self to such a Despair as deprived her of her reason She thought it Criminal to look upon Souza she durst not pronounce his Name she could not think without horrour of the Engagements they had made How unhappy am I or rather how guilty my Lord spare me the Confusion of seeing you said she to Souza begon from hence never see me more I can no longer suffer your Presence She had hardly finished these Words than that she would have recalled them What she was to Souza what he had done for her returned into her thoughts and fearing she had failed in the respect she owed so good a Husband she would have repared that fault by some kindness but the remembrance of Don Henry reproached her immediately with that tender motion as if it had been the greatest of Crimes Yes Madam I must leave you said Souza to her being something recovered from his amazement the delights of love are no part of my fate It is not the will of Heaven that I find my happiness here below I should have believed it perfect might I have been beloved by you and tho my grief be never so great I must renounce it for ever Do but form to your self all the horrours that this separation gives me Madam My Lord I feell their violence as much as you do answered Eugenia who could not forbear melting into tears Your love is very different from mine reply'd he and I have occasion for more Constancy than you regulate yours according to mine let us both endeavour to free Don Henry who is no less to be pitied than we He will comfort you for the loss of me and nothing can comfort me for yours While Eugenia and Souza deplored their particular misfortunes the Portuguezes lamented the Publick distresses The Spanish Army was all about Lishon Anthony was fled under a Disguised habit and the Dutchess of Braganza was retired to Villa Bohen Philip went to her thither in Person he promised her great advantages for her Son if she would retire to Villa Visola and recall some Forces she had furnished Anthony withal That Dutchess having lost all hopes of Reigning and fearing to be involved in Anthonies Ruine and yet not being willing to abandon that Prince quite to his misfortunes retired to Visola upon condition of leaving her Forces with Anthony who fled into France after having made some useless Efforts against Philip who shortly after entred Lisbon was saluted King of Portugal and they stifled with great care the News which the Inhabitants of the Terceras spread abroad of Don Sebastian's being alive The Spaniards were in a peaceablepossession of the Kingdom of Portugal Almeida led a private and solitary life at Venice and would not hearken to the vows of any Lover since she had lost Don Sebastian She often deplored the misfortunes she was the cause of and as she was one day all alone in her Chamber thinking of the several accidents of her life she was told that a Portugal Gentleman asked to speak with her She caused him to come in but how great was her surprize at the sight of that Portugueze she gave a great shrick and retired in a fright How Princess said the Portugal to her does Don Sebastian make you afraid Ah Heavens is it you said she turning languishingly towards that Stranger is it your Shade that comes to comfort me or renew my Griefs I am no Shade my Princess interupted he and I come once more to offer you a Life which you shall ever be Mistress of Almeida having recovered the use of her Senses told the Maids that came to help her that she would be alone and when they were withdrawn May I assure my self said she trembling that I see Don Sebastian once again and his Death that I so much bewailed and the News of which has for so long a time been spread through all the World should it not be real No reply'd she immediately Don Sebastian died in my Quarrel Europe and Africa knew it I am but too certain it is so and I cannot give tears enough to his death Impostor leave me to deplore what you cannot restore me No my Princess answered he casting himself at her Knees and kissing her Hand a thousand times that she had not the force to take away I am no Impostor I am that Don Sebastian who am come to dry up the Tears you honour his loss with and who redemands the affection that you have promised him If you do not know again my Shape my Voice and the Features of my Face at least remember my Love 't is not at all changed and you have too many testimonies to be mistaken Ah! Pardon reply'd Almeida after having well examined him I know you again by that Love that was so fatal to you How many Tears have I shed for your loss Sir and how often have I wished to die But tell me for Heavens sake by what miracle you could save your Life and your Liberty from the sury of the Moors Recover from your fright my Princess said the King to her and when you shall have taken some repose I will relate to you all that has happened to me since I left you in charge with Souza My fright is vanished Sir reply'd she and offering him a Chair and I impatiently