Herse the Corps was conducted to Alcobaça to be placed in that rich Urn with the noblest Attendance and greatest Grandeur that has been seen vast numbers of Noblemen and Gentlemen in long Mourning Cloaks and Ladies in White Mourning Vailes attended the Funeral From Coimbra to Alcobaça it is 17 Leagues and yet all that Distance was filled with many Thousands of Men in two Rows making a continued Lane with lighted Flambeaus in their Hands 4. The Unfortunate King Peter of Castile being drove out of his Kingdom by his Bastard-Brother Henry assisted by the French King Peter of Castile flying from his Rebellious Subjects is refused Protection in Portugal and flying from Sevil after loosing all the Treasure he had amassed arrived at the Town of Coruche in Portugal with his two Daughters Constance and Elizabeth and thence sent to Advertise our King then at Coimbra of his Arrival That King's Daughter Beatrix was Travelling another way to be Married to the Portuguese Prince her Father not having any fore-thought of what hapned to him This Accident much surprized the Portuguese some were for protecting a rightful King their Neighbour and Confederate others were for more safe than honourable Courses not to embroil themselves in the Quarrels of others This Advice was followed and our King made the best Excuse he could for not entertaining that Unhappy Prince He failing of this Refuge withdrew to Albuquerque but neither was he to be admitted there He sent to ask a Pass of our King to Travel through his Dominions into Galicia and the Earl of Barcelos and Alvaro Perez de Castro were sent to Conduct him But they not only forsook him by the way but stole from him Elenor the Daughter of his Bastard-Brother Henry whom he carried with him From Galicia he passed over into England where he so grievously Complained to the Prince of Wales against the King of Portugal that he was forced to send Embassadors to Vindicate himself In the mean while the New King or rather Usurper Henry Solicited the Friendship of Portugal and Embassadors meetting to that Effect betwixt Badajoz and Elvas a Treaty was Concluded And it was Stipulated That the Castilian should solicite an Accommodation betwixt Aragon and Portugal and also That the Aragonian should suffer the Portuguese Princess Mary Widow of Prince Ferdinand to return to her Country if she thought good 5. About the end of October Prodigiâ—â—â— seen in the Sky almost Three Months before the Death of our King was seen a prodigious Alteration or rather Confusion in the heavenly Luminaries On the 27th Day at Midnight all the Stars in a Body began to run from East to West then suddenly dispersing they wandred through several parts of the Sphere next falling nearer to the Region of the Air the nearness made them appear like vast Globes of Fire so that the whole Heaven seemed to be in a Flame and the Earth threatned to be reduced to Ashes The Sky in many places seemed to gape the Stars being removed This Spectacle lasting a considerable time Men stood amazed expecting the Dissolution of the Universe Three Months after this Prodigy King Peter's Death our King died It will not be amiss to give some Instances of his Justice and Magnificence His Justice and Magnificence He was not as some have called him Cruel but a zealous lover of Justice punishing Crimes with the utmost Severity and rewarding Vertue with Liberality The Punishments he inflicted tho' in appearance terrible were necessary and well applyed A Young Man having struck his supposed Father and the King hearing thereof called the Mother and pressed her to tell him who was the Youth's Father for it was impossible it should be her Husband She confessed in some time a Fryar had got him Thereupon the King went in Person to the Monastery and putting the Fryar into a Case of Cork sawed him in two One of his Favourites lived in Adultery with a Judge's Wife for which the King caused his Privities to be cut off A Priest being suspended for killing a Man he caused him to be put to Death by a Mason saying That the Ecclesiastical Judges condemned a Priest for killing a Man to be suspended from his Office but he in his Tribunal would suspend the Mason from Working for killing the Priest The Bishop of Porto he scourged for having to do with a Citizen's Wife He caused a Gentleman to be beheaded for staving a Country-man's Cask that was full A Clerk of the Treasury was hanged for receiving a small Bribe Hearing a Woman upbraid another with being forced he asked the cause and being told her Husband ravished her before they were marryed he caused him to be hanged Knowing that a Merchant's Wife cuckolded him one day when the Merchant was at some Publick Feast he surprized his Wife with her Gallant and burnt them and then congratulated the Merchant that he was revenged A Bawd having procured a Young Woman for the Admiral Lancelote Pessana the Bawd was burnt and the Admiral hardly obtained Pardon after several Years absence A Country-man complaining that a Gentleman to whom he had lent certain Silver Cups would not restore them the King kept him in hand a Year and then caused the Gentleman to pay him Nine times the value which was then the Penalty of Thieves and farther told him he should be always answerable for the Country-man's Life A Pursivant complaining that in the Execution of his Office a Gentleman had struck him and torn his Beard the Gentleman was immediately beheaded 6. The Laws he instituted Laws established by him were religiously observed One of them condemned Judges who received Bribes to Death To avoid delays in Suits he established there should be no Counsellors Sollicitors nor Attorneys He went about the Kingdom in Person to administer Justice impartially to all Men. Tho' so much subdued himself by the Love of the Lady Agnes de Castro he suffered no Crime of Incontinency to pass unpunished Several new Pieces were coined by him on the one side whereof was his Effigies sitting in a Chair holding a naked Sword on the reverse the Royal Arms with these Inscriptions Peter King of Portugal and Algarve God assist me and make me Victorious over my Enemies He was so Bountiful that like the Emperor Titus he thought himself not a King the day he gave nothing To this purpose he kept always much Plate He was much addicted to Musick and used to go abroad at Nights and dance to the sound of Trumpets Notwithstanding his great Liberality he left a considerable Treasure to his Successor which he gathered without the least dissatisfaction to his Subjects In fine such was his Life that his Death was generally lamented and it was in all mens Mouths That such Ten Years Government never were nor would again be seen in this Kingdom Others said That either he should never have been born or never have died 7. This King was of great Stature His Person and
with the Aragonian and our King joyned in League with the former against the other But the Castilian knowing the inconstancy of Ferdinand soon came to agreement with the Aragonian The more to bind the Portuguese to him he proposed a Match betwixt our Princess Beatrix and his own Bastard-Son Frederick 1375. This Match being approved of by the Cortes at Leyria they were married by Proxy and the King of Castile Swore to perform the Articles of the Treaty 1376. on the 19th of January 1377. Our King being forsaken by the Castilian Prince John privately marries Mary Sister to Queen Ellenor concluded a League against Aragon with Lewis Duke of Anjou Son to the King of France Prince John of Portugal falling in Love with the Lady Mary Sister to the then Queen Ellenor raised also by her Beauty to the Throne he was privately married to her But Queen Ellenor instead of rejoycing at the Advancement of her Sister fearing that the King dying without Issue she might come to be Queen contrived her Death and to compass her ends she perswaded the Prince she would Marry him to the Princess Beatrix the King 's only Daughter and by that means secure him the Succession of the Crown At the same time she accused her Sister of defiling his Bed He Murders her The Prince moved with Hope and Revenge hasted to Coimbra and breaking in upon the Innocent Lady murdered her as she leaped naked out of Bed and taking Horse fled to secure himself and his followers As soon as the News of this Action came to Court 1378. the Queen went into deep Mourning The Prince easily obtained his Pardon and coming to Court began to sollicit the Conclusion of the Match before proposed to him by the Queen with the Lady Beatrix but finding nothing in her but Deceit he retired to the Province that lies betwixt Duero and Minho and thence fled to Castile where he was kept from the Crown of Portugal which would have fallen to him as we shall see in the next Reign had he not fled for killing his Wife 2. A mighty Solar Eclipse preceded the Death of Henry A great Eclipsâ— of the Sun King of Castile which happened on the 30th of May. Embassadors went immediately from Portugal to propose to John the new King a Match betwixt his Eldest Son Ferdinand then a Year old and Beatrix Princess of Portugal tho' she was before contracted to Frederick 1380. King Henry's Bastard Son The Castilian approving of this Proposal sent his Embassadors to Portugal who concluded upon the Articles of Marriage But notwithstanding this so late Capitulation King Ferdinand underhand treats with the Dukes of Lancaster and York about subduâ—ng of Castile King Ferdinand hoping to gain some Advantage over the Young King resolved upon War John Fernandez Andeyro one of them expelled Portugal upon the Pacification with King Henry was at this time in England to whom private Instructions were sent to treat with the Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Duke of York for Succours They espoused the Cause and Andeyro came away with the News to Portugal where the King being at Estremoz kept him up in a Tower that the Design might not take Air nor he seem to Entertain any of the Fugitives It fell out the Queen spoke sometimes with Andeyro in this Retirement and as Queens are but Women their Familiarity became scandalous for she who had forsaken her Lawful Husband for a King now abandoned that King for a Private Man whom she raised to the honour of an Earl After some time the King ordered him to appear publickly at Leyria as if newly come from England and there as had been agreed he was apprehended for coming into Portugal without leave Within a few days he was again set at Liberty and it was given out he should lose his Head if he stay'd in the Kingdom Under this Pretence he returned to England to sollicite the execution of the Treaty concluded 3. King John understanding that Edmund Duke of York raised Forces in England to Conquer Castile for his Brother the Duke of Lancaster who had a Right to it by his Wife the Daughter of King Peter and that he intended to assist the King of Portugal marched now as far as Zamora fitted out his Fleet at Sevil and sent Ferdinand Osores Master of the Knights of Santiago to secure Badajoz The King of Portugal had already fitted out 22 Galleys at Lisbon and sent Commanders to all the Frontiers The first Action of King Ferdinand was the demolishing the Walls of his own City of Evora which were so strong that three Years were spent in that Work The Portuguese Fleet commanded by the Earl John Alonso Tello the Queen's Brother set out from Lisbon and in the Sea of Algarve met with the Fleet of Castile consisting of 17 Galleys under the Command of Ferdinand Sanchez de Toar He being inferiour in number endeavoured to shun coming to an Engagement But our Admiral pursues and comes up with him off of Saltes All the Portuguese Fleet except one Galley taken by the Castilians having left behind 8 Galleys that went to take in some Fisher-Boats Toar seeing our Galleys dispersed bravely boards and takes 12 of the first that came up and afterwards Seven of the Eight that were behind Only one of our Galleys escaped to bring the News to Lisbon the rest were carryed in Triumph to Sevil. Few were killed in this Engagement but the Prisoners amounted to 6000. In the mean time the Master Ferdinand Osores infested the Frontiers with frequent Excursions from Badajoz Peter Alvarez Pereyra Prior of Crato marched with 1000 Lances and 4000 Cross-bow-Men in quest of him but came too late for he was retired to Badajoz King John streightly besieged the Town of Almeyda thither came to him Prince John who was fled from Portugal on account of killing his Wife and offered with the assistance of some banished Portugueses to cause Lisbon to be delivered up to the King Upon this he appeared before Lisbon with six Galleys but being disappointed of his Design returned back to Sevil. 4. King Ferdinand sent his Chancellor Laurence Yannez Fogaça into England to hasten the promised Succours The Duke of York set Sail from Plymouth with 3000 Men 1381. and entred the River of Lisbon on the 19th of July The Duke of York arrives at Lisbon with 3000 Men With him came the Princess his Wife and many Ladies as also his Son Edward and some of the banished Portugueses among whom was Andeyro who came not so much to serve the King in his Wars as the Queen in her Amours the King's Sickness administring a favourable Opportunity The King went aboard to receive the new Guests who were lodged in the Monastery of S. Dominick where Rich Presents were bestowed upon them and they were sumptuously entertained The King was by the Treaty obliged to furnish the English with Horses and he gave them
promised the next Day to hear them when they were Calmer at the Church of S. Dominick By Day the Multitude was in the broad Place before that Church but the King fearing the popular Fury was already gone away to Santarem When the People understood it they vented their Malice in Reproaches and this made the Queen stir up the King to Revenge The Taylor was apprehended and many of his Followers some whereof had their Hands others their Feet cut off many more fled now too late understanding that Subjects ought to have no other Redress against the Miscarrages of their Sovereigns than by their Prayers to God In the mean while the King traversed the Kingdom with his beloved Consort till being come to the pleasant Monastery of Leça Two Leagues from Porto he then declared what he denied at Lisbon to wit That he was Married to the Lady Ellenor and assigned her a greater Joynture than any Queen before her ever had 8. All the Nobility kissing the Queen's Hand only Prince Denis Son to the late King by the Lady Agnes de Castro refused it for which the King offered to Stab him but was prevented and the Prince fled to Coimbra Tho many of the Multitude were punished the clamours of the People against the King's Marriage ceased not nor were they continued without reason for that Marriage was in reality unlawful she being the true Wife of John Lorenço Ferdinand at last remembring he was contracted to the Princess of Castile sent to inform her Father That tho he could not perform that Article he would fulfil all the rest That Prince did not seem at all to be concerned but Embassadors were sent on both sides to Ratifie the Peace The New Queen gains Friends by her Generosity The New Queen having gained a Crown by her Beauty sought now to gain the Affections of the Nobility by her Bounty and she attained her end in a great Measure for many who before railed having tasted of her Favours began to extol her Generosity Besides the more to bend them to her she married all her Relations among the Nobility 9. King Ferdinand still pursuing his inconstant Humour King Ferdinand joyns in League with John of Ghent against Castile began again to break with Castile taking some Ships of that Crown in the River of Lisbon and entering into a Confederacy with John Duke of Lancaster Third Son to Edward the Third King of England and married to Constance the Eldest Daughter of King Peter of Castile in whose right he stiled himself King It was agreed they should joyntly make War upon the Kings of Castile and Aragon That they should bear an equal part in the expence of the War and that King Ferdinand should have all he could take in Castile excepting Towns and Castles That each should have what he could gain in Aragon King Henry sent an Embassador to Protugal to protest against these proceedings but to no effect Hereupon Henry marched with his Army towards Lisbon his Admiral Misser Ambrosio Bocanegra at the same time entring the River Tagus with 12 Galleys About the middle of September he set forward from Zamora Henry of Castile invades Portugal and by the way took Almeyda Pinnel Linnares Cerolico and Viseo where Prince Denis offended at King Ferdinand offered his Service to him They marched to Coimbra from whence Ferdinand was newly gone to Santarem and here Henry quartered in the Suburbs Our King being less forward to Fight than he had been to give the Occasion 1373. Henry marched without observing much order He Quarters in the Suburbs of Lisbon towards Lisbon about the end of February The King and those that were with him could from the Walls of Santarem discover the Enemy marching towards Lisbon yet had not the Courage to attack them Lisbon being surprized Henry entred at S. Antony's Gate and took up his Quarters in the Monastery of S. Francis the People retired to the stronger parts of the Town Our Fleet had been sent to hinder the Castilian Squadron from entring the Port but our Ships were taken by them and only 4 of our Galleys escaped saving themselves in the Creeks The People of Lisbon understanding there was a design to betray the City dragged one of the Conspirators about the Streets and then cut him in pieces another was exposed to the sails of a Mill which cast him into the River The Franciscan Friars where the King quartered thought to have expelled him thence but their design being discovered he put them into Boats without Sails or Oars and exposed them to the mercy of the Sea yet they got a Shoar The Castilians possessed the Skirts of the Town and many Skirmished dayly hapned In the mean while the Earl of Gijon King Henry's Son took Cascaes at the Mouth of Tagus whilst several Parties wasted the Country Most of the City Burnt The Lisbonians not able to expel the Enemy out of the Suburbs fired the Houses and they in requital set Fire to the Rua-nova or New Street and so the greatest part of the City was Burnt The Country betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho was no less infested by the Forces of Galicia which routed a Portuguese Body that came to oppose them 10. Such was the posture of Affairs Peace concluded when in the Month of March Guido of Bononia a Cardinal was sent by the Pope to compose these Differences and towards the latter end of that Month the Peace was concluded upon these Conditions That both the Kings should joyn with him of France against the King of England and Duke of Lancaster That the Portuguese should furnish a Fleet for Three Years to be maintained by the Castilians That the English should not be supplied with Ammunition from Portugal That the Portuguese should expel the Castilians that followed him That a general Pardon should be granted on both sides That the Princess Beatrix Sister to King Ferdinand should be married to Sancho Lord of Albuquerque Brother to King Henry The Two Kings meet in friendly manner The two Kings met upon the Banks of the River Tagus and parted in Friendly manner In pursuance of the Treaty of Peace Count Sancho married the Lady Beatrix and the Wedding was kept with great Solemnity A Match was also agreed betwixt Elizabeth Bastard-Daughter to our King and Alonso Earl of Gijon Bastard-Son to King Henry Thus ended the War to the Satisfaction of both Kings but with the Desolation of their Kingdoms CHAP. XII The remaining Part of the Life and Reign of Ferdinand the First of the Name and Ninth King of Portugal from the Year 1373. till 1383. 1. KIng Ferdinand had not yet forgot the Treasure detained from him by the King of Aragon 1374. in return of his Mutability Ferdinand enters into a League with the King of Castile against the King of Aragon He thereupon meditated Revenge but it was hard to compass It happened the King of Castile fell at Variance
the Queen's Favourite and the said Master being appointed General of the Country betwixt the Rivers Tagus and Guadiana he marched Three Leagues from Lisbon whence suddenly returning with armed Men he rushed into the Place and there Murdered the Unhappy Count. The Queen when she heard it said He has died a Martyr and I will to Morrow in proof of it undergo the Trial of Ordeal Next she went to know of the Master whether she also must die and a civil Answer was returned to quiet her The Rabble raised by the clamours of one of the Master's Pages who cryed he would be killed in the Palace flocked thither and would certainly have destroyed the Queen had not D. John the Master of Avis looked out at the Window He seeing the Multitude on his side went away followed by them to the great Market called Recio to Dine with the Queen's Brother the Earl of Barcelos who was consenting to the Murder The Bishop of Lisbon was then also at Dinner at his House and with him the Prior of Guimaraens and a Notary of Silves They hearing the Tumult got up into the Belfrey where the People seeing them called out to have the Bells ring They not regarding to obey these Tumultuary Shouts the Rabble broke in and cast them headlong from the Tower then dragged them to the Market called Recio where they lay naked and exposed to the Dogs till the next Day D. John after Dinner went to Court to beg the Queen's Pardon for murdering the Count. She took little Notice of him but threatned the Kingdom with the Power of Castile yet fearing the Rabble she went away from Lisbon to Alenquer praying to God at her departure that she might see the City burnt 3. Don John fearing the Power of the Queen resolved to go away into England but the more this was rumoured the more the Multitude pressed him to stay and protect them against Castile He made some seeming opposition but was soon brought to comply A Council was named where it was resolved that D. John should marry Queen Ellenor for defence of the Kingdom and that if the King of Castile had ever a Son by Queen Beatrix the Government should continue in D. Jâ—â—n and the Queen till that Son came to Age. Here ceased all the Reproaches that had been cast upon the Queen who when this Overture was made to her rejected it with Scorn Nevertheless he was declared Protector of the Kingdom He is declared Protector of the Kingdom by the Commonalty in the Church of S. Dominick and because most of the Nobility were absent then they were summoned to meet in the Town-House where the chief of them being dubious what to do one Alonso Jannez a Cooper stept into the midst of them and laying his Hand on his Sword threatned such as should refuse their Consent and they fearing the Multitude consented to what had been done in the Church of S. Dominick Thus was D. John Master of Avis entrusted with the Government and Defence of the Kingdom His First Action that gained him Reputation was the Prudent Choice he made of Counsellors not according to Men's Quality but their Ability Next to secure many of his Party he distributed a considerable Treasure belonging to those that followed the Queen or sided with Castile amongst them and promised a general Pardon for all Crimes but Treason not considering that the only Treason was to support him 4. The Queen began to think herself in Danger at Alenquer The Castle of Lisbon taken by the Protector and therefore leaving Vasco Perez de Camoens Governour there she went away to Santarem Here Nunno Alvarez Pereyra who had been Educated by her forsook her and went away to Lisbon where he was admitted into the Council of State D. John Alonso the Queen's Brother was Governour of the Castle of Lisbon and Martin Alonso Valente was within as his Lieutenant Alonso Yannez Nogueira got in with some Men sent by the Queen to Re-inforce the Garrison These refusing to deliver up their Trust to the New Protector they were Besieged and the Assailants threatning to Sacrifice their Wives and Children before their Faces if they held out they surrendred the Place The Nobility who opposed D. John called the Commonalty that followed him The People of the Messiah because they seemed to Adore him And the Rabble termed them Schismaticks and Traitors Several Places then in the Hands of the Nobility were easily wrested from them by the Commonalty as Beja Portalegre Evora and others Now the Rabble being uppermost began throughout the Kingdom to commit the most execrable Villanies Barbarities of the rebelliouâ— Rabble under the Pretence of defending their Country It was an unpardonable Offence even to name Castile And the Lady Joanna Perez Ferreyrim Abbess of the Monastery of Castres seeing a Man ill used for that pretended Crime modestly reproved their Cruelty but such was their Rage that tho' she fled into the great Church and embraced the Sanctuary in which the Holy Sacrament is kept there they gave her several Wounds then dragging her from the Altar tore off her Vail next they cut off her Coats so high as modesty forbids to utter which done she was dragged into the Market and there hewed in pieces Lastly the Body was dragged to the Place where they shut up the Cattle and left there till some Charitable Body buried it by Night To compleat this Sacrilege they returned to the Monastery designing to Murder all the Nuns but they withdrew themselves from their Fury 5. Queen Ellenor seeing her self in manifest Danger Queen Elenor flies to Castile fled to her Son-in-Law the King of Castile who espoused his own Quarrel in her The First thing he did was to secure Prince John Son to the Lady Agnes de Castro by that means to cut off the Hopes the Portuguese might have of a lawful Successor But the Portuguese ceased not to Encourage D. John to proceed in the Defence of the Kingdom and he the more to try them seemed doubtful and spread some Reports as if he would depart the Countrey But finding an inclination in the Multitude towards Prince John the more to exasperate them against Castile he caused a Standard to be made in which that Prince was drawn to the Life loaded with Chains The Protector his contrivances to Usurp the Crown which being carried about the City enraged the People against the King of Castile Thus pretending to Revenge the Wrong done to the Prince he gained the means of Establishing himself in the Throne and stirred up all the Kingdom to defend it self against Castile The Commonalty every where took his Part but not the Nobility Yet he believing he could not prevail without Forreign Aid asked it of Richard King of England at the same time perswading the Duke of Lancaster to assert the Right he had to the Crown of Castile by his Wife The Embassador's Proposals were admitted and much Money advanced to them
out some time but there being no hopes of Relief at last it surrendred The City Braga mutinying drove their Governour into the Castle and sending to the new King offered to receive him He ordered Nunho Alvarez the Constable to take Possession of the City and force the Castle which was accordingly performed The same happened at Ponte de Lima. The King of Castile now at Cordova having twice sent his Fleet against Lisbon ordered a strong Party to enter Portugal by the way of Cuidad Rodrigo They plundered all the Territory of Trancoso and the City of Viseu but as they returned laden with a Rich Booty they were charged by a Portuguese Body much inferiour to them in Number yet with such Resolution that of all the Castilians only 200 escaped not one Portuguese being lost in the Action if Credit may be given to such a Relation after affirming the Fight was obstinately maintained In the mean while the Fleet of Castile consisting of Forty Ships Ten Galeons The Castilians enter Portugal some Galleys Twelve Barks and other small Vessels rode in the Harbour of Lisbon That King also marched from Cordova with a numerous Army and appeared before Elvas which was resolutely defended and now finding the general Aversion of the Portuguese to him it was debated whether Portugal ought to be invaded at all but at last it was resolved to enter it by the way of the Province of Beyra 4. The new Portuguese King understanding the approach of the Castilians marched out of Guimaraens to give them Battle having drawn together his Forces from Coimbra Porto and other Places On the 14th of August in the Morning he entred the Plain of Aljubarrota where he Knighted several Gentlemen The Castilians designed not to fight intending to march directly to Lisbon Tâ—â— Famâ—â—â— Bâ—â—â—â—â—â— Aâ—jubarâ—â—â— yet after some Consultation they resolved to Engage There was a great disproportion in Numbers for the Castilians are reported to have been 33000 strong and the Portuguese but 6500 besides which Disadvantage they had the Sun and Dust in their Eyes The Sun was going down when these two unequal Armies engaged The Castilians at the first Charge broke through our Vanguard but the new King then coming up not only with Words but with his Example so animated his Men that in less than an hour that multitude of Enemies was put to the rout The King of Castile who began the Fight on a Mule being then troubled with an Ague was forced to take a Horse to save himself Most of the Portuguese who sided with Castile and were in the Front of the Army were put to the Sword for no Quarter was given to them The Royal Standard of Castile was taken but many pretending to the Honour it could not be decided by whom The full Number of the slain is not known but it was very great on the part of Castile of whom about 3000 Horse are reckoned to have perished and very many Men of great Account This is the Famous Battle of Aljubarrota so called for that it was fought near the Village of that Name The Booty was vastly Rich. 5. The Victorious King continued three days in the Field of Battle erecting Trophies it being then the Custom so long to expect the return of the Enemy The King of Castile fled with speed from Aljubarrota to Santarem which is Twelve Leagues and having rested there a short time went down the River to his Fleet then Riding before Lisbon where he continued two days and on the 17th of August left that Port attended by Seventeen Galleys He arrived at Sevil and tired there with the Clamours of the People went away to Carmona Now we have heard what the Portuguese Authors write of this Battle The Account given of this Battle by the Spanish Historians which seems altogether incredible but let us give an hint of what those of Castile write which is much more probable They say the King of Castile advancing towards his Enemy found him posted in an Advantageous Ground betwixt two Morasses out of which Place he could not be drawn because much inferiour in Number That he was above 12000 strong and before the Engagement made Overtures of Peace That the Castilians would not be disswaded from giving Battle in that Place so disadvantageous to them because they exceeded their Enemies in Number and in fine that they lost the Day through their own Pride and Rashness in assailing an Enemy so well posted when they might have ranged all the Country at their own pleasure This I believe to all Impartial Men will appear nearer to the Truth for we must allow all Authors to magnifie the Exploits of their own Country and so let us return to our History The new King coming to Santarem had it delivered to him and finding there many Ladies whose Husbands were in the Service of Castile he gave them all Liberty to go to them which they gladly embraced 6. The Portuguese King 's next care was to Reward those who had signalized themselves in the Battle The Constable of Portugal upon the Frontiers of Castile the chief whereof was the Constable to whom he gave large Possessions and the Title of Count of Ourem He encouraged by this Honour resolved to invade Castile Having gathered 4000 Men he met and defeated the Master of Calatrava D. Martin Yanez de Barbuda who had entred Portugal with a strong Party and pursuing his Success took the strong Town of Villa Garcia Thence he marched to the Plain betwixt Magaçela and Villa Nueva de la Serena where he had a terrible and long as well as doubtful Battle with D. Peter Moniz Master of the Order of Santiago Three several times the Fight was renewed and lasted almost two days with incredible Obstinacy but in the Conclusion the Portuguese obtained a most Glorious Victory This done he went away to aid the King then lying at the Siege of Chaves which was surrendred to him Moving thence they laid Siege to Coria but after having battered it some days with great Fury were forced to rise and depart the Constable to the Province of Alentejo and the King on foot in Pilgrimage to Our Lady's Church at Guimaraens as he had promised before the Battle of Aljubarrota Most of them that held any Fortresses for Castile surrendred themselves now to the new King He laid Siege to the Town of Chaves whereof Martin Gonzalez de Atayde was Governour who held it out till he had no Water left 1386. and then articled to Surrender in Forty days if not relieved from Castile and by consent of that King he at length delivered up the Place 7. The Portuguese Embassadors in England stirred up the Duke of Lancaster to lay hold of this Opportunity to assert his Right to the Crown of Castile The Duke of Lancaster invited by the Portuguese Lands in Galicia with 2000 Horse and 3000 Archers to which he had a most Legal Title by his Wife the Lady
concluded a Truce for Eleven Years conditionally That both Kings should be obliged if they designed to make War at the expiration thereof to notify the same to the other Party Eighteen Months before Several discoveries had been of late Years attempted through the industry of Prince Henry 1420. and now this Year 1420 the Islands of Puerto Santo and Madera were First found such were the beginnings that gave Encouragment to the Discovery of India and America But of these Discoveries we have writ particular Books 1422. In the Year 1422 the King changed the computation of time till then used in Portugal which was from the Reign of Augustus to that of the Year of our Lord in imitation of King John the First of Castile who had made the like Reformation there before 5. This same Year the Constable Nunho Alvarez Pereyra being 62 Years of Age took upon him the religious Order of the Carmelites 1423. in the Monastery of Lisbon built by himself Peace ratified betwixt Castile and Portugal There he lived a very exemplary Life the space of 9 Years and died aged 71 Years To secure the Peace with Castile the King sent his Embassadors thither but one of them being overthrown and almost killed at the exercise of Tilting the Castilian sent an Embassador to Portugal who exchanged the Ratifications War now ceasing 1424. Prince Peter the Kings Second Son resolved to Travel and setting out with a Train sutable to his Quality he ran through a great Part of Europe Asia and Africk Four Years he spent in this imployment having been nobly entertained in the Courts of all Princes These Travels being then rare especially in such Persons gave occasion to many fabulous Relations thereof afterwards spread abroad which rendred the Truth it self suspected The King in the mean while applying himself to the Civil Government Enacted many good Laws 1428. Prince Edward was now 26 Years of Age and yet unmarried Prince Edward contracted to Ellenor Sister to Alonso King of Aragon therefore a Match was at this time concluded for him with the Princess Ellenor Sister to Alonso King of Aragon and Naples Her Dower was 200000 Florins At the same time also the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Earl of Vrgel and Grand-Child to Peter the Fourth King of Aragon was contracted to Prince Peter coming home after his Travels and the following Year she was Conducted to Portugal This same Year Philip of Burgundy 1429. Earl of Flanders being the second time a Widower sent to ask the Princess Elizabeth in Marriage which was granted and she sent into Flanders with a Portion of 150000 Crowns 6. The King sent two Embassadors to mediate a Peace betwixt the Crowns of Castile 1430. Arragon and Navarre the two latter whereof were hard pressed by the other The Castilian also that he might not seem to proceed upon unjust Grounds dispatched an Embassador to the Portuguese to acquaint him with the righteousness of his Proceedings 1431. Now at last came the final Conclusion of the long-desired perpetual Peace with Castile for the ratifying whereof Peter Gonzalez Malafaya being sent thither he accompanied that King in his Expedition against the Moors of Granada At their return from that War the Peace was proclaimed in Castile and an Embassador came thence into Portugal to see the same performed there This was the end of those Pretensions which had alarmed these two Kingdoms for the space of almost Fifty Years The victorious King John at length overcome with Age King John falls sick fell sick of his last Malady He was removed to Alcouchete to try whether the Air would do him good but perceiving his Death draw on he caused himself to be carried back to Lisbon There on the Fourteenth of August 1433. 1433. having performed all the Parts of a good Christian His Death he gave up his Ghost Yet with the Authors leave I cannot conceive with what Piety an Usurper can die not having made Restitution The News of his Death being spread through the City it is impossible to express the Sorrow the City was filled with His Body was carried to the Cathedral on the Shoulders of his Sons the Nobility the whole Multitude of both Sexes and all Ages following 7. He had a pleasing Aspect His Character his Stature large and his Strength proportionable for his Helmet kept to this Day is too large for any Head and his Battle-Ax too weighty for any Arm. Prosperity and Adversity he bore equally was Constant Magnanimous Merciful Bountiful and Religious His Buildings were fair and sumptuous as appears by the Monasteries of Peâ—â—longa and Carnota and the Palaces of Lisbon and Santarem and above all the prodigious Structure of the Church of our Blessed Lady of Batalla or of the Battle erected in Memory of the famous Victory obtained at Aljubarrota To describe this wonderful Pile would take up too much room in the small compass of this short History therefore we shall pasâ— it by To this Place was the deceased King with mighty Pomp translated by his Son King Edward just the Day 12 Months after his Death that is on the 14th of August 1434. 8. King John had Eight Children by his Wife Philippa His Wife and Issueâ— Daughter to John Duke of Lancaster 1st Blanch who died in her Infancy 2dly Alonso Born at Santarem and lived but 10 Years 3dly Edward who succeeded him in the Throne 4thly Peter Duke of Coimbra a Man so learned that he wrote several Books he also travelled a great Part of the then known World as was said before and married Elizabeth the Daughter of the Earl of Vrgel which also has been above intimated Being Governour of the Kingdom during the Minority of his Nephew King Alonso he gained many Enemies and was at their instigation put to Death by that King 5thly Henry Duke of Viseo and Master of the Order of Christ who being studious in the Mathematicks fitted out Ships at his own cost to discover the Coasts of Africk wherein he made a great Progress and occasioned the Discovery of India To the end he might wholly addict himself to these Affairs he settled his abode at Sagres near Câ—pe S. Vincent in the Kingdom of Algarve where he died 6thly John Master of the Order of Santiago in Portugal and Constable 7thly Ferdinand Master of the Order of Avis accounted a Martyr for his great Sufferings and Death in slavery among the Moors of Africk 8thly Elizabeth married to Philip the third Earl of Flanders and Duke of Burgundy This King's Bastard-Children were Alonso Earl of Barcelos and first Duke of Bragança and Beatrix married to Thomas Earl of Arundel in England 9. This King reduced the ten Bezants His Arms. before used in each of the five Scutcheons of the Arms of Portugal to five the Cross of Avis appearing underneath in Memory that he had been Master of that Order and because he received the
Horse had the boldness to appear about the Bridge of Badajoz as it were provoking the whole Force of the Spanish Army which then lay in and about that place to revenge this excess D. John immediately sent out D. John Pacheco Lieutenant General of the Horse who attacked the Portugueses with a small handfull of men at first yet with such resolution that they gained no advantage till he was shot dead upon the place but then fresh Supplies still comming from the Town at last the Portugueses were overpowered many of them slain many taken and the rest Forced to save themselves by Flight This success was the less pleasing to the Spaniards because of the Loss of D. John Pacheco who was a person of tryed Valour and Conduct D. John being informed that much dammage was done on the Frontiers of Castile D. John of Austria takes Alconchel by the excursions of the garrison of Alconchel sent D. James Cavallero with the best part of the Army to invest it and himself followed soon after him Alconchel is near the River Guadiana has a Castle and had been lately fortifyed by the Portugueses The Seige was carryed on but coldly either to draw the Portugues Army to attempt the relief of the place or else because the inhabitants being divided in factions it was not doubted but they must speedily surrender Nor was D. John deceived in his expectation for the Governour perceiving the heats within to increase and the Enemy without to threaten the utmost extremity if he proved obstinate was forced to submit and accept of honourable conditions The Fortifications were speedily repaired and a Spanish Garrison put into the place This done D. John returned to Badajoz and put his Army into Winter-Quarters Anno 1662. 1. THe Last years losses and the present preparations of the Spaniards had sufficiently alarmed Portugal to oblige the Queen to use her utmost industry to be in a condition to oppose her Enemy In order to it the Treasury being exhausted heavy Taxes were imposed upon the People which they did not pay without much murmuring Catherine Infanta of Portugal married to King Ch. the II of England and reluctancy To strengthen her self by foreign allyances she had concluded a match for her daughter the Princess Catherine with his Majesty Charles the Second King of Great Britain The Queen had Entertained hopes of Marrying this Princess to the King of France but he having chosen the Infanta of Spain her next recourse was by that affinity to secure the Friendship of the King of England The new Queens portion was a considerable Sum of Money the City of Tangier upon the mouth of the Streights in Barbary and the Island of Bombain in the East-Indies On the other side the King of England was to assist the Portugueses with a body of Foot to serve as auxiliaries under the Command of Count Schomberg The Earl of Sandwich with the Royal-Navy conveyed the Queen into England Upon the News of this match and that Tangier was to be delivered up to the English the King of Spain once more attempted the fidelity of the governour of that City D. Lewis de Almeida endeavouring to perswade him rather to betray the place to him upon hopes of a considerable Reward than to put it into the hands of the English but the governour was not to be moved who rather fearing that the inhabitants and Garrison would never be brought to consent to their Kings orders of delivering up the place as soon as the English Fleet appeared in sight to take possession of it he sent out the greatest part of the garrison and many of the inhabitants upon pretence to repell the Moors who appeared then in bodies about the Town and whilst they were abroad ingaging and pursuing the Infidels gave possession of the City to the English 2. Notwithstanding all the Queens care and diligence the Spaniards were first in the field and much superiour the Portugueses in Strength D. John of Austria burns and plunders the Country D. John of Austria took the field at the beginning of May with 13000 Foot and 5000 Horse all old Troops His first design was to lay Siege to Estremoz but the Count de Castaneda the Portugues General prevented him by planting himself before the place with his whole Army which then consisted of 8000 Foot and 3000 Horse Hereupon D. John turned away as if he intended to march directly to Lisbon which put that City into a consternation and no less surprized the Count de Castaneda fearing least the Capitall of the kingdom should fall into the hands of the Enemy and had the Spanish Army held on their march as they began in all likelihood they must have made themselves masters of it without any opposition But D. John spent his time in plundering and burning the Country and having made a halt near a brook called Zapateros he sent then D. James Cavallero with Two Regiments of Foot and most of the Horse to attack the Town of Villabuim a place considerable both for it's Riches and Strength nevertheless the Governour who was a French man upon the first approach of the Spaniards resolved to Surrender having privately Articled with the Spanish General that for the saving of his Reputation he might be permitted to fire his Cannon for an hour without ball that so he might be thought to have made some defence Yet the Surrender was not without blood for some of the inhabitants encouraged by a Parish-Priest He takes and raises Villabuim endeavoured to make some opposition but were soon quelled by the Spaniards The Town and Castle were raised down to the Ground for a Terror to other places Hence the Army moved towards Villaviciosa and having taken an express that was going to Elvas and Jurumenha to encourage those governours to defend themselves couragiously upon promise of speedy relief D. John sent him back to the Count de Castaneda to let him know he would be with him the next day He performed his word but the Count who was much inferiour to him in numbers kept himself close in his Camp under the Walls of Estremoz D. John intending to attack him in his Camp was diswaded by the Duke of St. German and marched away to Borba a place of small Strength but that had a Castle and the governour Roderick da Cunha being a desperate man had perswaded the Townsmen to joyn with the Garrison to defend it Such was his Folly or rashness that he reproached and fired upon the Trumpet that came to bring him the Summons to Surrender whereupon the Town was assaulted on all sides and taken The governour with a few men retired into the Castle which having for a while stood the shock of the Canon and beginning now to give way to it's fury Acunha's heat being somewhat allayed he sent out to beg he might be admitted to conditions No intreating could prevail with D. John who being incensed would admit of nothing but that they