all these their exploits and perceiuing that the puissance of the Carthaginians was very great and that they held not onely the greatest and best part of Africke which they had subdued by force of Armes but also many peoples of Spaine with sundry Isles in the Sea round about Sardinia Italy they did very wisely imagine that this neighbourhood of theirs would proue very dangerous perillous vnto them if they should finish and goe through with the conquest of all Sicily For this cause they tooke such good order in prouiding for their affaires as they brought the Carthaginians to this extremitie that they had no more in their possession saue the Towne of Erix the which Amilcar Barcyn the father of Hanniball did defend against them most valiantly for a long time and did therein maruellous deeds of armes Notwithstanding This was about 240 yeres before the birth of Christ the Carthaginians seeing that they could not withstand nor resist the force and puissance of the Romans they sent a messenger vnto Amilcar commanding him to render and deliuer vp the Towne immediately and to make peace with them to the greatest honor profit and aduantage that he could possibly for the state of Carthage Amilcar doing as the Seigniorie had commanded him gaue vp the Towne to the Consul Luctatius and within few dayes after following the course of his affaires returned into Africke where hee had many victories against certaine seditious persons and so he setled the estate of Carthage in rest and quietnesse In the yeere 237. This done hee made a voyage into Spaine taking with him his sonne Hanniball who was not then aboue eight or nine yeeres of age together with his mother who was a Spaniard and three other of his younger sonnes Asdrubal Mago and Hanno of whom Amilcar their father was wont to say A saying of Amilcar touching Hannibal and his other sonnes That hee nourished foure fierce Lyons whelpes who were resolute to worke the destruction of the estate of Rome Amilcar then being in Spaine by his prudence and liberalitie did gayne the hearts and good affections of the Spaniards that he knew well he should be able by their meanes to haue about againe with the Romans to recouer from them both Sicilia and Sardinia which they had also in their puissance and that so in the end he might passe from thence into Italy and there to procure their vtter ruine and destruction But being preuented by death In the yeere 228. he charged his sonne Hannibal whom hee had coniured to be during his life an vtter and vnreconcilable enemie to the Romans to put this his enterprise in execution Hannibal after the death of Asdrubal his brother in law who succeeded his father in law Amilcar in that gouernment being then made gouernour of Spaine In the yeere 223. tooke the Citie of Saguntum which is now called Monvedre after hee had held it besieged the space of eight moneths In the yeere 217. After the taking whereof he began to dispose and prepare himselfe to the voyage of Italy and hauing with great trauailes and many difficulties passed the Alpes In the yeere 216. he obtayned in proces of time so many notable victories against the Romans and did put them in such feare and terror Hannibal passeth into Italy that they did in a manner hold themselues vtterly vndone forlorne And so had they beene indeed if they had not beene aduised to send Scipio into Africke Scipio goeth against Carthage who made such cruell warre so forcibly and so violently vpon the Carthaginians that hee constrayned them to call home Hannibal out of Italy who within short time after with the whole estate of Carthage was ouerthrowne brought to nought as is well knowne vnto all men And so by this meanes were the Romans eased and deliuered enioying peace and quietnesse and the Carthaginians vndone defeated and subdued and their estate which had beene so famous and renowned was vtterly ruinated and brought vnder the power and puissance of their enemies Xerxes King of Persia seeing himselfe in a miserable estate and bethinking how he might deliuer and rayse himselfe vp againe he made choyse of certaine of his seruants fit for the execution of his intended purpose and them hee sent into Europe with store of money to corrupt the Orators of the Townes and Commonwealths of Greece and hauing corrupted them of Athens and of Thebes hee made them to rise in armes and to make warre vpon the Spartans Plutarch in the life of Agesilaus By this meanes Greece being set in trouble and dissention sent for Agesilaus who hauing at that time subdued a great part of the Empire of Persia and being willed to come home was enforced to quit and abandon the same for the relieuing of his Countrey from those troubles wherewith it was entangled And because the Money of Persia had an Archer engrauen on the one side thereof the same Agesilaus had a saying That ten thousand Archers had driuen him out of Asia and had beene the cause to make him loose a most stately and puissant Empire By this pollicie then did Xerxes rid himselfe from the trouble and extremitie wherein he was driuing out his enemie from his Countrey and recouering his estate that was neere ruine and confusion By these examples most excellent Princes was Achaius King of Scotland Achaius King of Scotland the sonne of Elfinis a singular good Prince and of excellent vertue induced in the yeere of Christ 791. to make a perpetuall and irreuocable Peace and League of Amitie with Charlemaâ—â—ne King of France at such time as he saw himselfe hardly bestead by the Saxons English who then possessed the better part of Great Brittaine which within a few yeeres after was called by one onely name England The other Kings the successors of Charlemaigne considering that this peace and amitie was more necessarie for them as being more to their profit and aduantage then it was to the Scots themselues who sought it they haue continued the same euen till this day and by meanes thereof haue oftentimes constrayned the Englishmen when they haue beene in warres enmity with them to retire and withdraw themselues out of France and many times also they haue kept them so busied in their own countrey that they haue had enough to do to defend themselues And they haue taken from them both the desire the means to passe into strange foreine Nations Money giuen to the Scots by the French yea there haue bin some of the French kings who haue giuen to the Scot to this end and purpose more then 500000. Crownes which was as much in those dayes then hauing regard to the change and difference of the times as two millions are at this day I will omit many other Histories which make notably to this our purpose because I know well that these are sufficient to shew how greatly it concerneth and importeth
THE SPANISH PILGRIME OR AN ADMIRABLE DISCOVERY of a ROMISH CATHOLICKE Shewing how necessary and important it is for the Protestant Kings Princes and Potentates of Europe to make warre vpon the King of Spaines owne Countrey Also where and by what meanes his Dominions may be inuaded and easily ruinated as the English heretofore going into Spaine did constraine the Kings of Castile to demand peace in all humility and what great losse it hath beene and still is to all Christendome for default of putting the same in execution Wherein hee makes apparant by good and euident reasons infallible arguments most true and certaine Histories and notable examples the right way and true meanes to resist the violence of the Spanish King to breake the course of his designes to beate downe his pride and to ruinate his puissance LONDON Printed by B. A. and are to be sold by Thomas Archer at his shop in Popes head Alley ouer against the signe of the Horse-shooe 1625. THE EPISTLE OF THE French Translator to all the Protestant Kings Princes and Potentates in the Christian World Most excellent Princes IT was my hap to contract amity with certaine Gentlemen of Arragon and other Spaniards not Castillians for to them I wot not how to carry any affection which should exceede the prescript rule of the Gospell of whom I vnderstood many things tâ—uching matters of State which were to me strange and vnknowne by reason that there were amongst them some personages exceedingly well learned and most conuersant and expert in all Histories and notably well seene and practised in the affaires of the World There was one aboue the rest in their company a man of great spirit iudgement and experience who had seene a great part of Europe and hauing beene for a long time in Portugall had dealt and conuersed with the Portugals whose Language he spake naturally and had read all the Histories of that Realme and was so well acquainted with all their affaires and knew them all so particularly that I did greatly wonder at it For in things that were to come I found him in manner of a Prophet in so much that for the viuacity and quicknesse of his spirit and the long experience which hee hath had he seemeth to me to haue as great knowledge in things to come as if he saw them present before his eyes He made proofe vnto me by many reasons which did not onely plainely conuince my opinion but did as it were bind me hand and foote that these voyages and others of like kinde would neuer draw with them any other profit nor serue to any other purpose then to waken the sleeping dogge and to re-enforce the common enemie Now considering that Don Philip King of Castile hath a Councell the most choise and excellent such as neuer Prince in this World had a better his seruitors most loyall and faithfull great forces and abundance of treasure vpon the which all other things doe depend and yet notwithstanding all this hee doth not leaue daily to cause diuers Bookes to be imprinted in his fauour and defence I doe therefore desire to haue drawne from this learned and worthy person some thing written with his owne hand which I might present vnto your Maiesties and to this end did I diuers times make request vnto him but I could neuer get him to yeeld or condescend thereunto Wherefore bethinking with my selfe that as pouerty griefe and melancholie doth bury and as it were kill the spirits of a man so the commodities of this life contentment and cheerefulnesse doth reuiue and quicken them I determined because I saw him sad pensiue and melancholicke by reason of his exile and misfortunes out of his owne Countrey to procure his pleasure and contentment knowing that by this meanes I might obtaine the accomplishment of my desire I did therefore set open my gates and my House vnto him I presented him with my Purse and made him partner of my Coyne I cherished and entertained him for many dayes and for loue of him some other of his company And by this curtesie I made him so beholding to me that afterwards hauing many times held dispute and conference together I caused him in the end to take his Pen in hand Thereupon did he compose in the Castillian Tongue this Discourse which he entitled Trattado paranaetico and he presented it vnto me The which when I had read a most strange admiration or astonishment did rauish me for that I neuer saw I will not say in so little a Volume but not euen in great Bookes so many curiosities reported so many and diuers Histories things so secret and particular admonishments so necessary to be embraced nor counsels so iust to be followed And knowing perfectly the excellency of this worke and how greatly important it would be to be seene of your Maiesties and by the Kings Princes Potentates and Common-weales of Europe And albeit I know my stile to be rude and barbarous yet such was my ambition I confesse mine owne infirmity that I was not willing that any other should haue the pleasure in doing it In some places I haue augmented it holding it so to be needfull for the better and more cleere vnderstanding of the History Touching the originall I thought it reason not to abridge or cut off any part thereof I most humbly beseech in regard of your most Christian Maiesties to receiue it with that good affection which Princes oweth to their Subiects who for his seruice will not esteeme to hazard the losse of all that hee possesseth much lesse to make himselfe vncapable for the obtaining of that which of right is due vnto him and who for the good and honour of his Countrey will spend his life most freely and willingly God preserue and blesse the most Christian persons of your Maiesties with so great abundance of spirituall graces and assist you and make you to prosper with so many riches of temporall blessings as is possible to his diuine Maiestie Amen The most faithfull Subiect of the most Christian King of France and loyall Seruant to the most wise and excellent King of England I. D. Dralymont The Publisher to the Reader FRiendly Reader thou hast in this little Pamphlet an incomparable treasure a rich store-house and magazin full of precious speeches true Histories rare examples liuely reasons and wholsome counsels the which if their Maiesties and the Kings Princes Potentates and Common-weales of Christendome would embrace follow and put in execution without doubt they should soone obtaine and find a medicine for so many mischiefes a remedy for so great and continuall afflictions and intollerable trauels wherewith their Subiects haue for so many yeeres wrastled and contended And I dare assure them that by obseruing the aduise here giuen them they shall preserue their Estates in time to come from all danger for euen as the great fishes doe persecute and deuoure the small and little ones so in like manner those neighbours which are most mighty
and Townes holding the party of the king deceased did conuey themselues into Portugall where they were receiued by the king Fernand and had most honourable entertainment with most notable fauours rich presents and incredible gifts which hee gaue vnto them most bountifully In so much that from thenceforth the Castres did continue still and inhabit in Portugall from whom are descended those which are there of that name now at this day Hierom Guliel cap. 23. fol. 81 pag. 2. The like happened to Diego Lopez Pacheco a Portugall albeit not for so iust and honourable a cause who going from Portugall into Castile for being charged with the death of the Queene Dame Iues de Castro in the time of the king Don Peter of Portugall hee was then created Lord of Beiar and his children also made Lords of other peoples of whom the Marquesse of Villana the Dukes of Escalon and many other great Lords haue their descent and originall In like manner in the time of king Juan of Portugall of happy memory Alias Iohn the Acugnas and Pimentels went into Castile and of them are descended directly in the line masculine the Dukes of Ossuna and Counties of Benauent and in a manner all the Princes and Lords of Castile and Dame Iulian de Lancastre Duchesse of Auero in Portugall Now at this day the Nobilitie of Spaine doth greatly want such places of refuge and sanctuarie and now The Nobilitie of Spain want places of refuge and sanctuary at this day the least Prouost or Marshall is sufficient to arrest the greatest Lord of the countrey yea though it were the brother of the King himselfe in so much that the Princes and Lords of Spaine doe as heartily desire to see some Realme or Prouince set at libertie as they doe their owne safetie The sorrow griefe of the Princes and Lords of Spaine to see the inuasion vsurpation of Portugal the desire they haue to see it at libertie None can tell how great an affliction and notable a misery famine is but hee that wanteth bread to eat and the Nobilitie of Spaine doth at this day with great griefe finde that to be true which they most of all feared in the time of Charles the fifth whose greatnesse they had euen then suspected and for this cause they did shew themselues mightily aggrieued at such time as King Philip did enterprise the vsurpation of Portugall Conestagio a Genouois in the booke which he hath written in fauour of the sayd Philip and which is intituled The vnion of the Realme of Portugall with the Crowne of Castile doth tell vs both the one and the other of these matters And although in that worke of his there be many true reports yet we doe know him for a great and notable Lyer and euen the very first word of that booke is an vntruth in that he hath entituled it The vnion of Portugall with the Crowne of Castile The oth of K. Philip. for king Philip in the assembly of estate which he held at Tomar in the yeare 1581. where the Portugals against their wills and by force did receiue him for their king promised and sware with a solemne oath neuer to intermingle the matter and affaires of Portugall with those of Castile The Explication of the Genealogy of the French K. now raigning The authour whereof was Frier Ioseph Texere but to keepe for euer the Monarchy of Portugall entire in the same estate and in the same manner as the kings his precessors had alwayes preserued and maintained it paying all the pensions fees and wages to all the officers of the kings house both Spirituall and Temporall in like sort as they were payd in the times of the true and good kings forepassed Somewhat of this matter a man may see in the end of the booke of Explication of the Genealogie of his most Christian Maiestie where it is spoken of the first king of Castile Moreouer the said Conestagio as a man of a maligne and peruerse spirit is a most vngratefull enemy of that nation which hath both aduanced and honoured him For wee knew him at Lisbon when he serued Anthonio Caulo and afterwards with Stephen Lercaro 3. fol. 62. a Marchant of Genoa He hath in his booke these words In Castile this succession gaue great matter whereof both to muse and to talke both in priuate and in publike for that the king caused the Estate of Portugall to be vnited to his other Realmes and Dominions not caring how nor in what fashion it were done so it were effected The which the Nobilitie tooke very ill in so much as it seeemeth that all the great men of Spaine since the time of Charles the fifth to this day could not away nor like of the greatnesse of the king because thereof it hath proceeded that hee maketh lesse reckoning of them then did the ancient kings of Castile and hee constraineth them to be equall to their inferiours as well in iustice as otherwise If Don Antonio king of Portugall were liuing hee could witnesse how after that the enemie was entred into Portugall with a huge armie and had taken Lisbon hee being then in the towne of Badaios many Lords of Castile did offer him to haue entrance into the sayd towne and did promise him all their best aide and assistance to seize vpon the enemie himselfe The which the said Prince could not effect nor put in execution for that within few dayes after he was dispossessed of all the realme in the citie of Puerto of Portugall He could also certifie vs how that seeing in these parts many great Lords of Castile did send vnto him offring him their seruice and assistance in case that he would set foot in Portugall the which matter he communicated if I bee not deceiued to the king and principall Lords of France and principally to the estate and Councell of England Notwithstanding touching this desire of libertie it is a matter which doth principally touch the Princes great Lords and Hijos de Algo of Spaine For as concerning those masters of the long robe and the rascall sort of Castilians they take a pleasure in this their slauery and seruitude vnder the king because they alone doe command and rule all and triumphing ouer others haue the principall and chiefe managing of all the affaires of the Realme yea and euen the gouernment of the king himselfe in their owne hands And although they doe hate him most extremely and doe wish ill enough to his person yet notwithstanding they doe wish so well to their owne country and doe so delight to see themselues to haue the command ouer all others that if they know any thing either in publike or in priuat which might hinder and endamage his tyrannie they will not faile onely in regard thereof to aduertise him of it such is the naturall disposition of the Castilians Iosephus de bello Iudaice lib. 1. cap. 3. who being issued and sprung
vpon the countrey of the enemie and to see our owne flaming with fire and spoiled and ransackt by our enemies Moreouer he which assaulteth is more couragious then hee which is put to his defence adde hereunto that the feare and astonishment is much the more and greater where it is not foreseene and preuented Now as soone as a man entreth within the enemies countrie he shall soone take knowledge both of the good and euill that may befall him therein he shal quickly discouer the commodities or the discommodities of the country Liu. Dec. 4. lib. â— Saying of P. Sulpitius to the Romans Remember well that which P. Sulpitius saide vnto the Romans and take it to your selues as if he had spoken it vnto you to wit That they had had good experience by that which was past how their warres were alwaies more happy and fortunate and their armies much more puissant in the countrey of the enemie then in their owne Hearken to the counsell which Hanniball gaue vnto Antiochus Idem Decad. 4. lib. 4. and make your profit thereof better then he did Assure your selfe that the countrie of the enemy will yeeld you souldiers who desire their libertie and will furnish you with victualls and all commodities for your armie Let the faults and ouersights of others make you wise doe as Cyrus did who cast himselfe away by contemning the counsell of Croesus Herodotus and by not making any recknoning of Tomyris his enemie Halicar lib. 1. Take heede that you doe not incurre more blame in this behalfe then all others and it may bee more deseruedly because you haue euer and doe daily vse too too much to contemne and not to regard your enemie Certainly this is the first and principall cause of the ruine of all estates when they contemne and set not by their enemies and when they will not hearken to any thing that shall bee alledged to the contrary For the question is not now of entring into a forraigne countrey to subdue and conquer it or to get to bee Lord and Master of it but onely to restore vnto libertie so many peoples and nations who doe crie and call for aide vnder the yoke and burthen of this tyranny and to deliuer your owne subiects from the armes of the enemie who hath gotten footing in the best and goodliest prouince of your realmes and kingdomes If you doe not as I aduise you I feare me least to morrow they will take yet some other of your townes and the next day another and so afterwards at one blow will seize vpon all the rest Take heed therefore to that which I tel you I would not haue you for the assailing of your enemie to leaue your selues vndefended but that in doing of one thing you do not let passe another because 4. or 5. thousand men which you men of Guyen Languedock Dauphine and other prouinces will not bring you to any such want of men but that you may haue meanes enough to defend your selues both in Picardie and elsewhere Thirdly to depriue a king from his Crowne and scepter and to dispossesse him of his realmes and dominions Two things do soone depriue a Prince of his crowne and scepter crueltie and licencious liuing when he is a tirant cruell or of a wicked licentious and lewd life there needeth no great forces Two thousand men which Charles the 8. King of France gaue vnto Henrie Earle of Richmond his cousine german remoued for he was the grand child of Katherine sister of Charles the 7. his grandfather who had to her first husband Henrie the fifth king of England were sufficient for the said Earle passing ouer into England to gather together men enough to bid battel to Richard the third in the which Richard was defeated and slaine most shamefully The cronicles of England by reason of hir crueltie and tyrannie Peter king of Castile the sonne of Alphonse the Iusticier The histories of Spaine for his tyrannie and many cruelties which hee committed got the sirname of cruell and was for the same cause slaine by his brother Henrie the bastard The crueltie which Christierne the second of that name Many histories brother in law to Charles the fifth vsed towards the principall and chiefe Nobles of Swethland made him lose the said Realme and consequently also the kingdomes of Denmarke and Norwaie which he was rightfull king and Soueraigne The kingdome of Spaine was taken from the King Roderike a most loose and licentious Prince The common historie of Spaine onely by twelue thousand Moores whom the Earle Iulian Captaine of the towne of Septa procured from Vlit king of Barbarie who in the yeare 713. passing into Spaine in Marchants ships had for their Chiefe and Generall Tarif Abâ—n Zarca who being blind of one eye gaue the name vnto the Towne of Tarifa which was before called Carteya and hauing destroyed the Towne of Seuill did take and ruinate many others both iâ—â—he Prouince of Boetica and in Portugall and did ouerthrow in set battell a cousin of the sayd king Roderike which Roderike himselfe afterwards assembling his forces vpon the riuer of Guadelethe on the seuenth of Iuly or according to others on the seuenth of September in the yeare 724. did giue battell vnto the Moores in the which hee was ouercome and vanquished and immediatly after he lost almost all Spaine The wicked liâ— of this king was the onely cause of this losse and of the ruine of that kingdome and especially because he had dishonoured Caua the daughter of the sayd Earle Julian who vpon this occasion finding himselfe grieuously outraged gaue free entry vnto the Moores by that towne of Septa which is as it were the key of Affrike and Europe Besides he did serue for a guide vnto them in that their inuasion At which time the said Mores had very good and happy successe in their affaires in Spaine by reason that they found the people not vsed nor accustomed to the warres as they are not now at this day likewise Antiochus the Great for his dissolute disordinate life at such time as he should haue set Greece at libertie and haue made warre vpon the Romaines for the assurance security of his owne Empire was reduced to such termes that he saw himselfe constrained in the end to accept peace of them vpon such conditons as pleased them And retiring himselfe out of Europe and Asia he was glad to withdraw himselfe into a corner as their vassall and tributary The Annalls of France Childericke for his voluptuous liuing and for seeking nothing but for his owne pleasures lost the Crowne and kingdome of France By all which examples sufficing as well as 6000. moe may be seene how little strength and small forces there doe need to trouble and ruinate the enemy in in Spaine which hath not at any time induced nor had any Prince so tyrannous and cruell nor of such wicked and licentious liuing Fourthly
Portugals Euen so did the valiant Alphonsus Henriques the first King of Portugall begin to entitle himselfe King and Lord of the Portugals An honorable testimonie of the loyaltie of the Portugals This valour of the Portugals was not then at that time onely but it hath still continued euen to this day for wee our selues haue seene in the yeere 1580. how the King Don Anthonio with lesse then fiue thousand footmen Portugals being but euen nouices in Armes and young souldiers did defend himselfe for many dayes against more then twentie thousand old souldiers of the Duke de Alna In the yeere following on the fiue and twentieth of Iuly being S. James his day Scipio de Figueiredo de Vasconcelles a Gentleman whose valour and fidelitie is well knowne and of whom there is often mention made in Histories being Gouernour of the Iles of Assores hee defended himselfe in plaine field with lesse then foure hundred Portugals against more then a thousand Castillians whom Don Petro de Valdes had made to take land in the I le of Terceras neere to the citie of Angra The Portugals were no souldiers but mechanicall persons handycrafts men and labourers and amongst them there were not ten Gentlemen for the Gouernour had left them in the Towne for the defence and gouernment thereof The Castillians were old souldiers amongst whom as is reported there were two hundred men who had beene Commanders in Armies of Castile and they fought from foure houres after morning till foure of the night at which time they caused a great quantitie of Kine to be driuen downe from the Mountaines with the which they brake the rankes and order of the Castillians to the intent they might come to handy-strokes with them and by this stratageme comming to the sword A good stratageme they ouerthrew them Some of the said Castillians saued themselues by swimming many were drowned and there were buried by iust account 875. A notable victorie of the Portugals vpon the Castillians Conestagio 8. fol. 234. pag. 1. Of the Portugals were slaine by the hand of their enemies fifteene and by the fall of a wall sixe and some hurt The famous Conestagio doth recount this Historie otherwise but falsely howbeit that hee confesseth that there were slaine sixe hundred Castillians and thirtie Portugals But I haue heard what passed in this encounter of many Gentlemen Spaniards my countreymen who were present at it and especially of one that was borne in Valentia named Don Gasper who saued himselfe by Sea being sore hurt and of a Drumme that was a Castillian and of a Portugall borne in Villa Vicosa the which two onely had their liues saued being found vpon the Sea-shore after the heat of the fight was past There died one of the nephewes of the Duke de Alua and one of the nephewes of the Marquesse de Santa Cruce and a nephew of the aboue-named Don Pedro de Valdes and that renowned Philip Hartada an Arragonnois and seuentie more of such as were the eldest brethren of sundry good Houses of whom a good part were neere neighbours to Salamanca To be briefe there died all the flower of Castile for that they seeing how Portugall was yeelded vnto them so easily and hauing heard that the Iles were very rich and that the East Indie Fleet was like to fall into their hands and being allured with the late sacke of the suburbes of Lisbon which was valued at three Millions they had embarked themselues for this seruice as cheerefully as if they had beene going to a Wedding This is a thing well knowne that foure or fiue young Portugals from betweene eighteene and twentie yeeres of age did at Lisbon with their Swords and Cloakes onely make no account of a dozen of Castillians By these reasons men may vnderstand that that which Walsingham sayth is not a ridiculous thing much lesse a Brauado But returne wee to that wee had in hand Within a few dayes after there came certaine Embassadours to the Duke of Lancaster sent from the King of Castile who in all humilitie did demaund to haue peace but the Duke would not hearken vnto them Notwithstanding hunger and the pestilence constraining him to retyre into Portugall to the Towne of Trancoso they came againe to seeke him out being sent thither vnto him the second time by the said John King of Castile with their former request shewing vnto the Duke by many good reasons and arguments the great profit which would ensue of a good peace made betweene them The Castilian demandeth peace of the Duke of Lancaster in all humilitie Thereupon did the Duke giue them audience and in the end did accord to their demand howbeit that it was full sore against his will First because he was giuen to vnderstand that the King of Portugall was willing to haue it so And secondly which in effect was the thing that did most vrge him because he was aduertised that the troubles and warres began afresh betweene the French and the English and that there were certaine Seditions growne in England by reason whereof hee should not be able to haue any fresh succours from thence The Castilian constrained to receiue conditions to his disaduantage whereof it seemed he had then great want and the mortalitie which was in his Armie did now threaten him that hee should haue need of a further supply The accord therefore was made betweene the King and the Duke in this sort That Henry the eldest sonne of Iohn named Prince of Castile should espouse Katherine the onely daughter of the said Duke and of Constance his wife and that they two should succeed in the Realmes of Castile and Leon and other his Seigniories That the King should endow both the Mother and the Daughter as he did giuing to the Mother the Citie of Guadalaiara Medina del Campo and Ouiedo and afterwards being with her in the said Towne of Medina he gaue her Hueta also and to the daughter for her Dowrie hee gaue the Esturies making and naming her Princesse and his sonne Prince of Esturie And from that time forward the eldest sonne of the Castillian King hath alwayes borne and had the surname of this Principalitie as of Dauphine in France the Dolphin Besides it was couenanted That he should giue vnto the Duke sixe hundred thousand Franks of Gold for his returne into England and fortie thousand Franks of yeerely rent during the liues of him and his wife Iohn of Castile accepted all these conditions and that very gladly for albeit he had France and the Frenchmen also on his side and the King of Arragon likewise with whose sister hee had beene marryed of whom was borne the said Prince Don Henry and Fernand who was afterward king of Arragon All Spaine with the succors of France against Portugal which gained notwithstanding against all right and equitie and to the preiudice of the true and lawfull heires and had also Charles the third king of Nauarre to his
all Spaine and France it selfe also and it may be hee would not otherwise haue failed to haue sent a good part of those forces euen for England at the least for Ireland Portugall the principal cause of all the warres By those last words aboue vsed by the King and the former recited examples may be easily discouered not onely the ingratitude of this peruerse and vn pleasing Catholike but wee may also collect and gather that Portugall is the principall cause of so many warres so many murthers and mischaunces and that if the same were wrung out of the hands and power of this tyrant the most Christian King and the other Princes of Christendome should dwell in peace the Potentates and common wealths of Europe should be in rest the Cardinals at Rome should not be at his direction nor the elections of the Popes at his will and pleasure ouer the which he doth so tyrannize that in each of them he maketh himselfe the first person and as the saying is preferreth himselfe before the holy Ghost There is neuer any election of a Pope How Philip doth germandise the elections of the Cardinals and Popes but he nameth some three foure or fiue persons to the end that the Conclaue of Cardinals should choose one of them was there euer seene greater impudency or presumption that a mortall man should dare vsurpe Gods office Ha most Christian King it is the part of your Maiesty to defend and maintaine the soueraigne and chiefe Bishops they are in their possession to be defended and preserued by the most Christian Kings of France and to that end haue they endowed them with so great priuiledges liberties and prerogatiues Banish therefore and driue away Sir this monster breake the head of this Serpent tame this Lyon and deliuer the Church from this so tyrannicall seruitude and hard captiuitie Restore vnto your pupils their wonted peace and liberty to the intent they may with hardinesse chastise the euill and vicious and without feare reward the good and vertuous How often haue the soueraigne Bishops desired to honour and doe good to some persons in recompence of their vertues and merits and to correct others for their vices and haue not beene able to performe either the one or the other Oftentimes against their wils haue the Popes permitted the wicked to triumph and more often haue they consented that the good should endure afflictions Who did better deserue to be made a Cardinall if I may not say Pope then that famous learned man Doctor Martin Aspilcueta of Nauarre Martin Aspilcueta a Nauarrois whose memory shall be eternall both for his doctrine and for his holinesse and vertue Neuerthelesse onely because Philip could not abide him for defending against him the cause of that reuerend Prelate Don. Fra. Bartholmew Carrance Fra. Bartholmew Carrance Archbishop of Toledo a religious person of the order of S. Dominicke Archbishop of Toledo and for maintaining also with many and strong reasons that the Portugals ought of right to choose their King by election and for prouing by most firme and infallible arguments that his Catholike Maiesty did possesse the Realme of Portugall by vniust and tyrannicall title was therefore thrust out of all and dyed in the estate of a poore and simple Priest Who did euer in all reason deserue better or more worthily to be strangled and burnt then N and yet because Philip would haue it so hee liueth still and triumpheth Wherefore most humbly I beseech both your Maiesties euen for the honour of GOD wherein your selues haue more interest then any other that you would vouchsafe to attend this matter of so great importance and that you would vndertake to leuy and make ready a good Armie to passe into Spaine and to consider withall how great is the prudence the industry and subtilty of this common enemy that your Maiesty would regard his actions his ambition and his tyranny that you would awaken and grow to a resolution knowing that you haue so great a tyrant to your Neighbour as of himselfe alone is greater then all others that euer were or which now are in the World Tyranny as natural to Phâ—lip as is laughter to a man all of them set together and who hath gotten like his predecessors all that which he possesseth by pure and plaine tyranny which is indeede so proper and naturall vnto him and doth belong vnto him as properly and vnseparably as laughter doth to a man Giue me leaue I pâ—ay you to proue that which I speake by most cleere and certaine Histories to the intent I may take away all occasion from those who are addicted to ill speaking and to deceitfull dealing to thinke or take me for a lyar for this that I say may be verified by all the Historiographers of Spaine both ancient and moderne which are worthy to be credited or haue any truth in them some of which doe liue yet at this day and it is no long time since they made their workes and imprinted them with the fauour and at the costs and charges of the said Philip. And this I will endeuour to proue as briefly as I can and I will shew how in all the Realmes and Prouinces which the King Catholike possesseth in Spaine whereof I my selfe being a Spaniard doe know somewhat hee possesseth and holdeth them by tyranny committed many times and often And for as much as to proue that which I intend it shall suffice to touch onely that which hath happened since the 380 yeeres last past I will not speake of any thing that hath befalne before the yeere of Christ 1217. Castile tyrannized â—he first time Henry King of Castile the sonne of Alphonsus the noble dying left his eldest sister Blaunch Queene of France which was the mother of S. Lewes who was then but two yeeres old Garibay lib. 22. cap 41. and his Father who was not yet King of France was occupied in the warres of England whither hee was called by them of that land against their King called King John who was reputed for a tyrant Henrie being dead as is sayd his youngest sister named Berangera the wife of Alphonsus King of Leon with her sonne Fernand encroched vpon the possession of the Realme of Castile and vsurped it against the right of the sayd Blanch her eldest sister and consequently against the sayd S. Lewes her nephew Fernand being dead Alphonsus his eldest sonne called Emperour of the West because some of the Electors of the Empire had elected him whereas the residue had chosen Richard the brother of Henrie the third King of England made an accord with the sayd S. Lewes the cousen German of his father touching the succession of Castile in this manner That Fernand the eldest sonne of Alphonsus should eâ—pouse Blanch the daughter of the sayd S. Lewes with condition that the children borne of that marriage should inherit Castile Of them twaine were issued Alphonsus and Fernand who were
end and then after the conclusion of this Treatise I will satisfie your desire particularly and at good leysure for I doe assure you I would keepe silence concerning many things in this worke were it not most requisite and needfull that they should be spoken of and published for the better attaining to that which I intend and purpose the which I doe perswade my selfe that both you my masters of England and likewise of France and you also my masters the Princes of Europe who are all of you highly interessed in the greatnesse of the Castilian will embrace cheerefully and with open armes if you be not altogether without iudgement and vnderstanding But it is now meet that we pursue the proofe and demonstration of the tyranny of King Philip which calleth himselfe the King Catholike We haue lately shewed how King Philip by vsurpation and tyranny non solum in modo sed in genere as the Ciuilians vse to speake of his predecessors doth possesse the Realmes of Castile of Leon of Galicia of Toledo of Siuill of Cordona of Murcia c. with some other Prouinces contained within the precincts and streights of his Realme Let vs now come to the Realmes of Aragon of Valentia the Counties of Barcelona of Cerdonia and Roussillon and the Isles of Maiorica Minorica and Sardinia Aragon Valentia c tyrannized Fernand the Infant of Castile the graund Father of Fernand aboue named vsurped all these Realmes and seigniories of the which he depriued Isabel Countesse of Vrgell his owne Aunt sister to his Mother which Isabel had also one Daughter named Isabel which maried with Don Peter the Infant of Portugall the younger sonne of John the bastard King of the said Realme Of Peter and Isabel was borne the Lord Don Peter Constable of Portugall The Lord Don Peter Constable of Portugall and King of Aragon poysoned by Iohn which Don Peter by reason of his Mothers right and other auncesters was called and acknowledged by the Catalognians for their King and Lord. And after hee had reigned ouer them for the space of fiue yeeres and more he was poysoned by Iohn the second of that name sonne of the first Ferdinand whom we named to be the successour of Alphonsus King of Arragon his elder brother Charles the 4. the rightfull King of Nauarre empoysoned by his stepmother This Iohn was a notable Tyrant and hee retained the Kingdome of Nauarre tyrannously after the death of the Queen Blaunch his wife the right heire of the said Realme against the rightfull title of Charles his owne sonne vnto whom that Realme ought to haue descended by the death of his mother as it did likewise fall vnto Lewes Hutin by the death of his mother Jane who dyed eight yeeres before her Husband Philip the faire For this cause the said Charles being a most curteous and vertuous Prince had great difference and suite with his Father who caused him to be poysoned by his stepmother Jane the Daughter of Don Federike the second Admirall of Castile The Translator The grandmother of King Philip on Charles his Fathers side was the graund daughter of this Iohn and this Iane from whom principaly hee hath learned and retained the art and science of poysoning so perfectly that not onely to the said Iohn the Graundfather of his Graundmother and to the said Iane his wife but euen to all his predecessors he may giue forty fiue and a fault at that game and yet be no looser were they neuer so cunning in that art and science Of Peter Constable of Portugall and King of Aragon there was no lawfull issue remaining for the line of Jsabel his mother was extinguished in John the second King of Portugall by reason whereof the right of that Realme and all the Seigniories depending thereupon ought to descend and doe appertaine to the most excellent Dukes of Loraine as the true and rightfull heires of Yoland Dutchesse of Anion The Duke of Loraine the right heire of the Kingdome of Arragon the wife of Leweâ— Grandfather in the fift degree of the said excellent Duke of Loraine now liuing the which Yoland was the lawfull Daughter of Iohn King of Aragon the eldest sonne of Peter the ceremonious King of that Realme who was also the Father of Martin which raigned after the said Iohn his elder brother and was the true heire of this Crowne and of all the demaines thereof by the death of her elder sister the wife of the Earle of Foix of whom shee had neither sonne nor daughter The Realme of Nauarre was vsurped as is reported by diuers Historians Nauarre vsuâ—ped euen Spaniards themselues vpon false informations by Fernand the great Grandfather of King Philip which Fernand was one of the Masters of Machiauel Fernand the 5 king of Castile one of the masters of Machiauell In his Booke of the Councels Councellers of Princes Dis 14. par 11. as Bartholmew Philip doth tell vs in that Booke which he caused to be imprinted in the yeere 1585 where he hath these words Those Princes which do fully resolue themselues to preuaile and grow great by force of armes ought to imitate the Catholike Don Fernand the fift of that name King of Castile who held himselfe apart and gaue the looking on to the warres which the Princes of Christendome made one vpon another to see what issue and what forces they should haue to the intent hee might aide and succour those which were weakest and hee would not suffer any to grow great or puissant in Italy who pretended to be Lords and Commaunders there neither would hee at any time enter into any leagues made by the Princes of Christendome vnlesse he might make some profit and benefit thereby vnto himselfe This was Lewes the 12. of that name For this cause he would not make warre vpon Lewes King of France when Pope Iulius the Emperour and the Swissers did warre against him for that hee thought he should not aduantage himselfe by the diminution of that Realme if the aduersaries of the said Lewes should make themselues great by his losses and yet being perswaded that the said French King would augment his estate Let the French King and the Princes and Potentates of Europe consider this well by making warre vpon the Realme of Naples hee entred into league against the King of Fraunce with the Emperour and the King of England The Booke whereof I speake was dedicated by the Authour to Albert Cardinall of Austria when hee was Vice-roy of Portugall who is the third Graundchild of the said Fernand both on the Fathers and Mothers side Portugal and her demaines tyrannized Now how Philip himselfe hath tyrannized and vsurped the Realme of Portugall and the Seigniories which are dependant thereupon raising himselfe into a great and mighty Monarchy and yet ill considered or knowne by strange and forraigne Princes all Bookes in generall doe sound it forth and the Vniuersities of Coimbre of Bologna and
the Countie de Altimira and the Leane of S. Iames de Compostella and many other Gentlemen insomuch that they of the citie had resolued that as soone as they should see the Fleet and sea forces of the English to passe the Tower of Bethleem or the Armie by land to giue an assault vnto the citie the Cardinall of Austria would haue embarked himselfe with all his people to passe on the other side of the sea and for this purpose they held all the Gallies and many barkes in a readinesse to set saile Amongst which there were many hired for 300 duckats for the passage of three leagues onely This counsell being ended and Drake himselfe being a boord the ship called the Reuenge did set saile about three houres after noone and tooke his course towards Lisbon Some thought he went to see the channell of Alcacena which is an entry into the Hauen by which men do commonly passe which would auoyd the danger of the Tower of S. Iulian because in this councell where had beene called many old Pylots Portugals Tower of S. Iulian. who were very expert and well acquainted in that sea it was resolued that the Fleet and sea forces should enter that way for their more surety besides that at that time there was water enough for them by reason of the coniunction of the Moone Drake taketh the Sea contrary to the resolution taken in counsel and the winde also was very fauourable vnto them Notwithstanding Drake when it grew towards euening turned the head of his ship to the Westward by reason he was aduertised that there passed by a Fleet of thirty saile of Esterlings of the which hee tooke 25. or 26. But this hindered the resolution formerly taken so as it sorted not to that effect which was purposed And it constrained the Lord Generall Norris The embarking of the army for England the King and the Earle of Essex to embarke themselues the day following and to take the Sea where they met with Drake the Friday following I suppose that this short Discourse which I haue here set downe without specifying of any other the particularities of this expedition will suffice to satisfie the desire of your Maiesties and to shew the cause why there was nothing done in Portugall and that Gods will was not as yet to re-establish her by the meanes of this voyage And I say moreouer that the principall cause The reason why so many faults were committed in the English Armie for Portugall why so many faults and ouersights were committed and that nothing was performed or put in execution according as had been resolued in councell was because this armie was leuiâ—d by Merchants whereas in matters of this kinde Princes onely ought to employ themselues and that with a setled and aduised deliberation in such sort that there ought not any name of an army to be vsed but by and from them onely and they ought to haue more interest therein then any other and ought to be at the whole and onely costs and charges both of leuying and maintaining of all armed forces And last of all to them alone doth belong the choyse and election both of the Heads and Leaders and of one Generall and chiefe Commander vnto whom as to the Soueraigne all the others should be subiect and obedient See then the reason why the Lord Generall Drake being named and sent by Merchants who were most ingaged in this voyage did frame himself to do that which they would and what came into his owne braine and fancy rather then that which the other Lord Generall Norris did well and wisely aduise and counsell him who was a man of singular experience wisdome and vnderstanding as well in politike gouernment as in deeds of Armes and all matters of warfare For this worthy Lord did striue and labor by all meanes conuenient to haue made a longer abode in Portugall both in the quarters of Lisbon and elsewhere but after that the army had once set sayle the said Lord General Norris could not from thence forward by any entreaties perswade Drake to set foot on land againe in Portugall and not so much as to take one Citie where it was wel knowne that there was not any forces nor any resistance made neyther was there any meane for the enemie eyther to haue succoured it or after the taking thereof to besiege it for one yeere at the least Besides that with the same it is most certaine that they might haue found in Gold Siluer Silkes and Clothes more then a million of Duckats Moreouer the said place might easily haue beene fortified and by that meanes might haue commanded many other places and afterwards money being sent into France England Holland and other parts they might haue leuied and led thither aboue fiftie thousand souldiers sooner then the enemie could haue gotten together fiue thousand And this I thinke will suffice for your Maiesties to vnderstand that which you desire in this behalfe But now let vs returne to the purpose which wee had in hand We haue said that by this one example it may easily be perceiued how faithfull and loyall the Portugall Nation is to them vnto whom they do once promise faith and loyaltie and therefore God graunt that they doe not accord nor vnite themselues to the Castilian and that neyther your Maiesties nor the other Princes and Potentates of Europe doe not consent nor permit them to doe it nor doe giue them occasion to lose the hopes which they yet haue of their libertie And you ought not to attend or stay vpon the death of Philip for it may be that the Portugall will more easily accord with the sonne then with the father And further as the Monarchie of the Castillian is neyther gouerned nor conserued with the sword but by good and sage counsaile so albeit he should die yet the same counsaile continueth and remaineth still Besides for these many yeeres of late it hath beene gouerned without his presence and therefore there is little or no hope for any great change or alteration by his death Now of what great weight and importance this matter will be Don Francisco de Ivara the father of Don Diego de Ivara lately Embassadour at Paris during the League did confesse and make knowne vnto a French Gentleman at Madril in the yeere 1579. The Gentleman is yet liuing and can testifie the truth of that which I will now tell you The said Francis demaunding of that Gentleman who was then newly come from Barbarie where the late King had sent him for certaine of his affaires what newes hee brought out of that Countrey his answere was That the Moores were in a notable feare by reason they had intelligence that the King Catholike did leuie a great Armie to passe into Barbarie to reuenge the death of his Nephew the King Don Sebastian The speech of a Spanish nobleman to a French Gentleman Whereunto the sayd Francis replyed It is not
amisse that the Moores should be in feare but it were more meet that the King your Maister did vnderstand to what end this Armie is leuyed for in very deede it is for Portugall The most Christian king and all the Princes and Potentates of Europe haue great reason to hinder that the Portugals doe not accord with the Castillians and that they giue them no occasion to lose the hope of their libertie And if the King Catholike my Lord doe make himselfe Maister of that Realme as hee verily hopeth for hee holdeth it in a manner as alreadie wrought and practised hee will bring to passe that not onely the most Christian King shall be inferior and tributarie vnto him but also all the other Princes of Europe shall bee subiect vnto him especially the seuen vnited Prouinces of the Low Countreyes and the Pope with all the Court of Rome shall doe nothing but what seemeth good vnto him because hauing added vnto his Empire the Monarchie of Portugall who can be able to resist him For this reason it will concerne the most Christian King and all other Christian Princes to ioyne themselues together as in a common cause for that otherwise the King my Maister will make himselfe Lord and the vniuersall Monarch of all the World whereby they shall be his subiects and wee shall be his slaues and vassalls perpetually This that wee haue here left recited doth prooue that which was before spoken and therefore to returne to the matter in hand I say in the fifth and last place that whensoeuer a great and puissant army shall be raised to passe into Spaine be the charge neuer so great if it do nothing else then wast and spoile the countrey and take some few cities and townes and if in regard thereof the Castilian be enforced to call home his forces which he holdeth in these parte of Europe for his owne defence though the comming of those his forces should cause our army to retire yet I should hold this for a very great benefit because that which cannot now be done with an hundred will then be done with ten men and the charge and expences will bee still lesse and lesse But it may be that some of your Maiesties subiects will say vnto me that this is a matter of great difficultie and at this time especially very hard to be done for that hauing the enemy here at hand euen at our backes there were small reason for vs to transport our forces into foraine parts This a good doubt and may be some trouble to men of a shallow and small vnderstanding and such as haue little iudgement to discourse vpon the state of matters but to them which know the depth and ground of things it will carry no apparance of danger But to the intent the trueth may the better appeare let vs reason together each with other by way of demanding and answering as is vsed in the Schooles A discourse or reasoning betweene the Author and a Frenchman touching the passing of an Armie into Spaine The Subiect Be it so if you please for I will heare you with a right good will The Pilgrim Say then what is it that you thinke will endamage you Subiect The enemy with his forces and with his intelligences Pilgrim But if you finde a meane to disnest him from hence who then can hurt you afterwards Subiect No body Pilgrim Doe then as I haue told you and without doubt the enemy will be gone from you Subiect That cannot bee Pilgrim Wherefore Subiect Wherefore say you How would you that we should goe into a strange and foraine country to warre vpon others and leaue our owne country in the power and puissance of our enemies If we send our forces into Spaine as you would perswade vs we should be vtterly vndone as I haue giuen you to vnderstand Pil. Good God how are you without iudgement and vnderstanding Take that which I tell you as I speake it and not as you conceiue it and answer me to one question categorically If there were now an armie raised to goe into Spaine to the making whereof let France spare some foure or fiue thousand men England three or foure thousand the Estates of Holland Zeland Freezland and all the rest of their Allies two or three thousand besides ships of which they haue great store and let some other Princes Potentates and Common-weales disburse some proportion of money for the aiding and furthering of this enterprise to these adde three or foure thousand Zwitzers or Lance knights and then tell me shall France bee vnprouided or shall England be dispeopled or shall the Estates be vnfurnished of men and shipping and without meanes to keepe the Seas or shall the other Princes and common-weales be reduced to such misery that they shall be vnable to hold their ordinary course in their affaires and proceedings but rather as they may well spare twice so many men to furnish them to passe into Spaine out of the seuerall Kingdomes and yet they are sufficient to imploy greater forces into other his dominions in the West and neuerthelesse powerfully maintaine their owne Sub. No I think not so Pilg. Why then doe you not that which concerneth you so neere and whereof dependeth the whole and onely remedy of your mischiefe and misery and wherein you for your part haue a greater interest then any of the rest Sub. Marry sir to make vp these thousands of men which you speak of there must be had great store of mony which will as hardly be had as they that haue it will be loth to depart with it Pilg. O how blind is this people and how deuoyd of counsell and prudence is this nation O that they would be wise and that they would vnderstand and prouide for things to come Our towne which the enemy may take to morrow next doth it not import vs more then 300000. crownes which is the most that wee shall neede for the furnishing of 4. or 5. thousand men If after the taking of Laon and the reducing of so many good townes there had been imployed 200000 crowns which are demanded for this enterprise it may bee you should haue had by this time more then three milllions in your purse and you should not haue lost al these towns in France of so great import Cambray Dourlan Calice Ardes Amiens and many other places with your great Admirall and so many braue gentlemen and Captaines which are now dead would stil haue liued to speake in French Moreouer doe not excuse your selfe and say for your discharge that a man cannot diuine what will follow for you haue beene too too much forewarned of matters as they haue fallen out and there is yet liuing a Lord one of the Councell who at Fountaine Belleau in May 1595. did by all meanes he could possibly deuise perswade the vndertaking of this enterprise alledging so many reasons and so euident that he plainly shewed how greatly it did import France
to make a voiage into Portugall but they would not vnderstand nor so much as giue eare vnto him Thy destruction is of thy selfe O Israell Is not this true answer mee Sub. I confesse it there is nothing more true and at Cambray Calice and Amiens wee haue lost so much as it is a mockery to speake of three millions for that the moueables of Calice onely were worth more then a million and those of Amiens much more And if the enemy should happen to possesse those two places any long time the game would soone cost vs more then 13. Millions Pilg. Now then if you confesse thus much and doe know what the issue and effect of this matter wil be as you say why do you not that which concerneth you so much and is so necessary for you Sub. Seeing you doe presse mee so farre I will tell you without hiding any of our thoughts from you The cause is for that we are vnwilling to hazard and set vp the rest of our estates vpon the sayings Nota. and vpon the opinions of a Nation that is passionate and in miserie but we hold it better to defend our owne as well as we may rather then expose all to vtter ruine and destruction for to what purpose will it be to send 12. or 15. thousand men into Spaine where there is so great a multitude of people We cannot beleeue that there can come so great good of such a iourny as you in the beginning of your Treatise would perswade vs and all the world doth both thinke and speake no lesse affirming that it is onely the desire of those who are tyrannized and in bondage and doe long to see their countrey deliuered from that tyrannicall seruitude which doth make all things to seeme and appeare easie to bee done Pil. O that it would please God to open the eyes of your vnderstandings that you might know your selues and that you might be able to discerne the good from the ill the sweet from the sower and the blacke from white It must needs bee a great griefe vnto the Phisitions when they see that their patients are wilfull and obstinate because in the curing of them there is neither reason nor counsell which will seeme pleasing or agreeable vnto them And in very truth I doe assure you that I hold it in a manner impossible for any man be he neuer so sage or quick cleere sighted to perceiue the thousandth part of the griefe and sorow which I endure to see you my masters euen you of France and England so obstinate as that you will neither conceiue nor so much as vnderstand that whereupon your whole saftetie and deliuerance doth depend that you are so inclined to follow a tracke or by-path which will throw you downe headlong to a most miserable ruine out of which there will be no recouerie But seeing I haue gained so little in speaking to you in particular and that euery man doth talke of these matters in publike I will now therfore turne my speech to the whole world First I say that it is very hard and difficult to put in execution any matter of great waight and importance without indangering of some things of like kinde and nature To gaine any thing there must be much hazarded and a man cannot gaine or purchase any thing without some great hazard and aduenture If Marchants should not aduenture their goods vpon the Seas and commit them to the mercy of tempests and pyrats or enemies they would not make such great gaine and commoditie as we see them to do dayly neither should Kings or Princes haue need of so many officers or of so many customers and the excessiue profit which men make both for themselues as well as for their countrey would soone cease neither would they so prodigally speÌ„d bestow their goods their liues in running into so many dangers for the discouering of Lands so farre scattered and remoued from them If all this be done for the gaining of 10 15 or 20 for 100 how much more ought you to doe it to redeeme and deliuer your selues from so great trouble and calamitie and from so many dangers which doe threaten and menace you And if you cast your your account well you shall finde that you gaine more then 100 for one Thus much concerning the first point of your speech And whereas you spake of people passionate and in misery I cannot forget it but I must and will answer you to that point also O how it would reioyce me if you wold vnderstand that this is but the malice of the deuill and his followers to make men beleeue that that which is told them howsoeuer it be founded vpon truth and reason and those aduertisements which are giuen them for their good and benefit and which were needfull for them to receiue and imbrace do proceed onely of passion to the intent he may by meanes hereof hinder and withdraw them from all good actions and bring them to vtter ruine and destruction The condition of the assailaÌ„t farre differeth from that of the defendant Secondly it is most certaine that the condition and estate of them which are defendants is much more miserable then that of the assailants because for to defend themselues they shall need greater store of men and forces then to assaile their enemies The reason for that those which stand vpon their defence doe not know vpon what side the enemy will essault them and they which do assaile do well know where the enemy holdeth his principall force and strength for his defence For example suppose that the enemy put within Amiens 100. horse onely and foure or 5000 foot now for you to defend your selfe from them it will be needfull that you doe place good and strong garrisons in Abbeuille Eeu Diep Roan Gisors Gournay Pontoise Beaumont Senlis Compeigne Han S. Quintin Pe â—onne Corbie Bologne Montreil S. Esperit de Ru Beauuoys Clermont and many other places if you would not see your selfe ruined but assaile your enemie and then shall you haue the aduantage March therefore into Spaine into Flanders That it is necessary to passe with an army into Spaine or other his dominions that may be nominated and you shall haue peace at your pleasure otherwise you shall haue it with shame and dishonour and you will in the end repent you that euer you spake of peace If you stand here at home vpon your owne defence you seeke your own ruine and perdition if you goe thither to assaile him you shall ruinate and destroy him Let the multitude of examples which are euery where in all histories learne you to bee wise consider well I beseech you that which Scipio Scipio one of the most peudent and greatest Captaines of the world said vnto the Romanes The Romans Hannibals Speech of Scipio who had lost three great battailes against Hanniball There is great difference and ods said he betweene spoyling and preying
friend yet he knew neuerthelesse that hauing ciuill warres in his owne Realme and Portugall his enemy hee should hazard the fortune of all his estates and dominions of such power was the Realme of Portugall against all the rest of Spaine This is most certaine and assured The paissance of Portugall that at all times and as often as Portugall shall haue the ayd and fauour of France or of England or of any other strange Prince whatsoeuer she will soone constraine the king of Castile to whom it is as a bridle to yeeld a reason and to submit himselfe to the yoke and to receiue such conditions as shall bee both dishonourable and preiudiciall And those of the Duke had beene much more to his profit and aduantage in this accord if the king of Portugall had been willing thereunto because he hauing the sword in his owne hand hee might haue made partition of the countrey at his owne will and pleasure he was the iudge and did what seemed good in his owne sight Plutarch in Apothege Hee that hath the sword may deuide the lands as he listeth Thereof it came to passe that the Duke departed not very well contented with the King notwithstanding that he had giuen him in marriage Philip his eldest daughter An exhortation to the French King c. Oh that it would please your Maiesties to consider well this that I tell you and to the which I would willingly perswade both your Highnesses and other the Princes and Potentates of Europe and that you would once know your owne puissance and being assisted by your neighbours with their Shipping Gallions and hardie Mariners with their Artillerie Munitions and other furniture for the Warres and of which they haue great abundance besides the ready forwardnesse and willing desire which they haue to accompanie you as hath beene most apparant for these many yeeres you shall finde that you alone haue men enough and forces sufficient to make your selues the Iudge and Arbitrator of these Affaires and holding the Sword fast and firmely in your hands it will be in your powers to make partition of the Realmes and Prouinces of Spaine and you shall be able not onely to take backe vnto your selues that which is belonging and appertaining vnto you but you shall make them to render vnto euery man his owne What greater honour What greater felicitie can there be Defend Princes your right which for so many Ages you haue inherited from your predecessors There wanteth not euen at this day in your Realme of England neyther Champions of Saint George nor other late Captaines such as Noble Essex Drake Candish Forbisher Flawkins Norris Williams Likewise in the Realme of France who neyther wanteth Martelles nor Pepins nor Rowlands nor Oliuers nor Renaulds In stead of the twelue Peeres of France you are enriched with more then twelue hundred of the like Your neighbors for one Richard will furnish you with an hundreth and their Allyes will fit you with an Ogier so fully adorned with all perfections and so expert and well practised in the Art Militarie and so followed with good and valiant souldiers that the Constables of Castile the Counties de Fueutes and the Verdugo's with all the residue of their companions shall haue no oddes nor aduantage of them This is the right and direct way this is the most certaine and most assured meane to haue a good and happy peace euen by the strength of your owne armes without the vse and employment of any supporters You shall giue lawes vnto the enemy according to your owne will desires you shall force him to accept of such conditions as shall be profitable and commodious not onely to you and your owne realmes but to your friends and allies also What can the enemy doe if you should passe into Spaine with an armie well furnished of all necessaries The qualitie of a good Generall and being led and conducted by some Prince which may bee chosen and named by your Maiesties for chiefe and Generall of the same such a one as shall bee descended of some great and ancient house and of noble bloud and accompanied and adorned with such graces and rare gifts as may easily draw others without any difficultie or grudging to submit themselues to his cōmand and one that shall bee able to gouerne with great prudence and wisedome without doubt the enemie would hold himselfe vtterly forlorne and vndone as indeed he should be no lesse and hee would esteeme himselfe happy and well apaid if we would suffer him to remaine Lord of Castile he would restore vn your Maiesties the realme of Nauarre and surplus of that which he and his predecessors haue vsurped vpon France vnto the most excellent Duke of Loraine he would restore the Realmes of Naples Sicily Arragon Valentia and Catolonia and such other signiories as are dependants of the same and the Realme of Portugall to whom of right it appertaineth And he would be brought to doe reason vnto the house of the Duke de Neuers of the Duchie of Brabant of Limbourg or Lothier and of the towne of Antwerpe Likewise it would constraine him to restore the Palatinate and Zwitzerland If you should demand of mee on what side it were most fit and commodious and conuenient to enter into Spaine I say that if you would enter by Nauarre whereof his Christian Maiestie is the naturall and lawfull king you should euen at this day there finde the grand children of them which haue lost their liues and their goods for the seruice of his ancesters and many others likewise who doe loue and desire him as their rightfull king and Lord and will incurre all worldly hazards and dangers for him especially he being turned true and perfect Catholike If by Arragon the wounds thereof are yet so fresh that the bloud thereof doth yet euen now seem new to abound If by Portugall the sores are yet open in the quicke flesh and remaine altogether vnheaded and that with such griefe and dolour that euen those verie hands which should offer to touch them though it were to remedie them would make them to quake and tremble for Horrent admotas vulnera cruda manus And as it is a verie difficult and hard matter for a sicke man being in captiuitie and seruitude to recouer his health so it is impossible for any man though he should liue a hundreth yeeres to see those two nations the Portugall and Castilian to agree and loue together notwithstanding the king of Castile doth at this day entreat the Portugals in comparison of his ordinarie and naturall crueltie with some gentlenesse and doth maintaine them in their priuiledges and liberties The Castilian prowd and arrogant The Portugall impatient For proofe whereof leauing an infinite number of reasons that might be alledged one onely shall suffice and that is because the Castilians are extreme proud and arrogant the Portugals too too impatient when their honour is any way touched or
fraudulent deuises and vnlawfull meanes and which he pretendeth to leaue vnto his heire be it by right or by wrong for he knoweth it to be of most great and noble puissance Portugall the most rich and precious pearle of the crowne of Spaine and hee esteemeth it as the most rich precious and important pearle of his crowne indeed so it is And therefore I cannot but grieue at some that hold themselues to be wise and of no small iudgement and vnderstanding both French and English who will not in any case be perswaded but that Portugall is a very small and barren countrey and no greater then Normandie And some others who shew their ignorance affirme it to bee as great as Brie onely neither will they beleeue nor agree that Portugall is within Spaine but that it is a countrey separated therefom and they will seeme forsooth to reason and discourse hereupon breaking their owne braines about it to the trouble both of themselues and those that heare them These my maaisters doe constraine me to become a Geographer in this discourse howbeit that I make no profession of that science neuerthelesse because it maketh to our purpose it will be requisite that we make a generall description of that countrey and recount some speciall particulars thereof to the intent the greatnesse riches fertilitie and puissance thereof may be the better knowne and discerned Portugall is a part of Spaine The description of Portugall situated vpon the maine Ocean and it extendeth to the Westward from the East 115. leagues and from the South to the Northward 25. leagues On the North side thereof is the realme of Galicia towards the East it hath the Prouinces of Taragon Lusitania and Boetica and to the South it is bounded with that part of the Ocean Sea which lieth towards the coast of Affrique It containeth foure principall Prouinces the first la Transtagana which encloseth the realme of Algarba the second la Cistagana the third betweene Duero and Migno and the fourth la Tronsmontana These foure Prouinces containe part of the Prouince of Taragon the greatest part of Lusitania and a part of Boetica It hath in length 5. degrees and a halfe from North to South and beginneth at Cape S. Vincent in 37. degree taking a little of the 36. and endeth in a manner in 42. and a halfe not farre from Bayonne de Vigo and it extendeth from the South South East to the North North East where euery degree containeth 19. leagues and a halfe and it hath commonly in bredth 40. leagues in some part lesse and some part more Of the greatnesse of Portugall The leagues are not reckoned according to the leagues of France but by the leagues of the degrees each of which hath from North to South seuenteene leagues and according to the accompt of Portugall and so hauing regard what is ouerplusse and what is wanting the country of Portugall is fully fortie leagues in bredth so that making a Figure quadrant of fiue degrees and in length drawne from the North North East to the South South East and of fortie leagues in bredth from East to West it will enclose within it all Normandie a good part of Beaulce the Duchies of Maine and of Aniou the greatest part of Tourayn in a manner all Poicteau and almost all Xantogne and some part of Angolesme with a part of Perigort And this we shall see cleerely by demonstration if we make the said Figure quadrant in France of 5. degrees and in length and 40. leagues in bredth the forme thereof will bee thus Draw a line from the Angle on the East side of the quadrant and where it hath the North at the head and it will begin at Crotoy vpon the riuer of Somme which is in 50. degrees of eleuation euen to Lybourne in Perigort which is 44. degrees and a halfe passing neere by Roan by Eureux Dreux and Amboise neere by Chastellerauld by Coue and betweene Negre and Iarnac and Angolesme and between Barbesieux Coutras till you come to the sayd towne of Libourne All that countrey which is in the West of this figure is as great as Portugall And to the intent that this which I say may be the better perceiued it shall not be amisse to describe the rest of the Figure The quadrant which hath his head towards the North and beginneth in the East at Crotoy drawing toward the West endeth in the Sea about 6. leagues off the Sea coast of Cherebourg and so passing by Constance and by Graundville neere the towne of Dol by the villages of Becherel Redon and Arebon and entring into the Sea betweene Guerrand and Croisic euen to 44. degrees and a halfe to the East of the sayd towne of Libourne 10. leagues from the land which is to the South of Anchises wee shall come to haue our Figure perfect Moreouer because there may be no doubt in this demonstration we will answer to an obiection which may bee made by those which will not that Portugall should bee greater then Normandie and that is seeing the line from the west side of our Figure passeth by Cherebourg Constance Obiections c. so as it commeth into the Sea betweene Guerrand and Croisic what shall be done with the land which remaineth which is a little part of Normandy and endeth neere the Ifle of Alderney and from thence alongst the greatest part of Brittaine Whereunto I answer Answer that all this land and all the countrey which remaineth there may be put within the West Angles of the Figure which are voyd because they end within the Sea Now this demonstration being well made and vnderstood and being compared with the greatnesse of Portugall Portugall as great as England we shall finde that her circuit is not only as great as all these Prouinces of France which we haue spoken of but euen as great as all that circuit which is comprehended in the Isle of great Brittaine which we call England As touching the fertilitie of Portugall a man may easily iudge thereof by that which Strabo writeth of it speaking of Lusitania The fertilitie of Portugall Strabo lib. 3. de situ orbis which is the greatest part of the sayd Realme saying Lusitania is a Region most fertile in fruits in cattell in gold and siluer and many other like commodities And the Prouinces and lands which the Portugals possesse in Spaine out of Lusitania are held to be much more fertile then those of Lusitania it selfe as the lands which they hold in Boetica in the Prouince Tronsmontana which the common people call Tras los Montes and in the Prouince betweene Duero and Migno which the Latines named Interamnis and which the sayd Strabo against the common and true opinion placeth within Lusitania And he sayth further in Lusitania is the riuer Lethe which many call Limaea and some others Belion wherein he is deceiued as also in saying that Minius surpasseth all the riuers of Lusitania
common and publike good and many great Lords and Princes with them against Charles the fifth The communalty of Castile in armes against Charls the 5. by reason of the great excessiue and new exactions and imposts laid vpon them the Embassadors of the said Princes and of many Cities and Townes of Castile came to the King of Portugall Don Emanuell praying him that hee would vouchsafe to take and acknowledge them for his vassals and Subiects The true amity of Emanuel King of Portugall to Charles the 5. for that they were desirous to haue him to their King and Lord but he would not onely not receiue their offer but he gaue them good counsell and admonition shewing them how they ought to conforme themselues in obedience to their King And to other of the Princes Cities and Townes of Castile which taking part with the said Charles came vnto him likewise for his ayde he gaue them both money artillery powder and other munition for the warre Some say that the said King Don Emanuell did lend them 500000 duckats and many peeces of artillery which was an occasion that they which were risen in armes did fall to an accord and agreement with their Prince Anno 1522. and thereof it ensued that Charles the fifth did againe vsurpe the Realme of Nauarre which Mounsieur Andrew de Foix had before restored and set at liberty the King Don Emanuell neuer suspecting nor doubting of any such matter intended by him And Philip now likewise for his part hath rewarded Portugall with the like good turne as hee hath done the like to France and now lately a great part of Christendome to whom he was not meanely bounden When the said Charles the fifth passed to Goletta in the yeere 1535 who tooke it The taking of Goletta with 22 other ships of warre That did the Gallion Cagafuego of Portugall which the King Don Iohn the third had commanded to accompany the Infant Don Lewes his yonger brother How came it to passe that the same Charles the fift tooke the Towne of Tunes The taking of Tunes the capitall and chiefe City of the Realme of Lybia was it not with the assistance and ayde of the said Infant and his Portugals The taking of Pignon de Belles by the Portugals Who was it that tooke Pignon de Belles with the residue not aboue 35 yeeres since for the King of Castile euen Francisco Bareto Generall of the Gallies of Portugall and the Captaine Diego Lopez de Sequeira his Nephew with the Portugals of his company The warre of Granado finished by the Portugals Who finished and gaue an â—nd to the oppression of Castile in the behalfe of the Granadians that were reuolted in Granada in the yeeres 1566. 67. and 68 That did 7 or 8 thousand Portugals send for a succour by the King Don Sebastian Philip King of Castile knoweth all this full well and that is the cause that he laboureth and paineth himselfe with so grear care and diligence to keepe this Monarchy of Portugall pretending not onely to vsurpe it to tyrannize ouer it and to plucke it by force and violence out of the hands of the Portugals but to take from them also their honour their glory and their valour for hee seeth well that hauing the Portugals on his side hee shall be able by their meanes to satisfie his ambitious humour and yet shall they not haue the honour due vnto them for their prowesse but hee attributeth all to the generosity of his Castilians So hath he tyrannized and doth yet still tyrannize ouer the honour of the Arragonnois the Catalans the Valentians the Nauarrois and other the Nations of Spaine and onely his Castilians which cary the name of Spaniards and are so called by those that are ignorant and know not the difference that is between the seuerall Nations of Spaine they I say are those Lyons those Tygers and conquerours of the World But we will come to the conclusion of this part of our Treatise touching Portugall the most precious and chiefest pearle of his Crowne It was my chance to be one day in his company with a personage of great estate who is daily at great charges and doth spend good store of duckats to haue notice and intelligence of that which passeth abroad in the World and hee did assure me for a certaine and vndoubted truth that one of the greatest fauourites of the King of Castile did demand of him this question What should be the cause that he suffered Freezland A question moued by a gentleman to the King of Castile and many Townes of other Prouinces of no small importance to be lost and to fall into the hands and into the power and subiection of Heretikes by meanes whereof they were constrained to forsake the true Religion a thing worthy to be lamented onely to succour the Princes and Townes of the League and to entertaine the warre a foote still in France Whereunto the King smiling answered Let them alone let them take Freezland and all the rest The answer of the King of Castile that which most toucheth me is the keeping of Portugall which if I doe as I hope I shall I will cut them out so much worke and giue them so much to doe in their owne Countrey that they shall not easily come neere mine and I doubt not at length but to haue the rest also for know this that if I keepe and possesse Portugall in peace and quietnesse they shall not onely not be able to liue without me but I shall make them in the end to be my subiects and to become tributaries vnto me and therefore let it not grieue you to see what is lost for all will be recouered well enough in time and leaue the care thereof to me alone The French Translatour Philip seeing himselfe Lord of so great a Monarchy doth aspire by all meanes he may to the Realmes of France and of England and of other Prouinces and hee doth reape so great contentment in his ambitious thoughts and purposes that hee cannot but discouer his conceit in that behalfe insomuch that not onely they of his Councell but his particular priuate Souldiers doe know it After the taking of the I le of Terceras the Captaines which accompanied the Marquesse de Santa Cruce in that iourney said openly Now that we haue all Portugall England is ours and by liitle and little wee shall gaine France also For proofe whereof wee haue neede of no other witnesse then that which his owne Writer Conestagio saith in continuing his Historie before the taking of the said Terceras where he hath these words Conestagio lib. 7. in fine But the King hauing so lately gotten the possession of Portugall and seeing the Portugals not yet very quiet he thought it best to pacifie that Realme before he intended any other enterprise And he said that by keeping his men in armes in those quarters hee should bridle not onely Portugall but
which worse is in Castile and J protest vnto you that although I doe against my will enter in the realm of Castile yet shall not Castile euer enter within me And so as he persisted in this fidelitie to his countrie and disauowing of Philip by his commandement there was poyson giuen him whereof this godly graue learned and excellent man died in the flower of his yeares The like misaduenture happened to Don Laurence Don Laurence Prior generall of the Cannons Regulars of Saint Augustine of the congregation of the holie Crosse of Coimbre who for his singular prudence and religion wherewith hee is notablie adorned had three seueral times with great coÌ„mendation honor executed dischargd this charge What shal we say touching the immane and brutish crueltie vvhich he hath practised in Portugall against an infinite number of other notable personages namelie against that most reuerend Father Frier Steuen Leyton â—ryer Steuen Leyton of the order of Friers Preachers the kinsman of the Duke de Aueyra and of the Duke de Leyria and of other Princes and great Lords vvho vvas twise Prouinciall and thrise Vicar generall of his Order And albeit that all the vvorld did admire the miraculous life of this vvorthie man yet because hee had tooth and naile as the saying is defended the right of his countrie the said Philip caused him to bee taken and imprisoned depriuing him of his voyce actiue and passiue and of the exercise of his Priesthood which vvas the occasion of his death through extreame griefe and sorrow These things and manie others hath hee committed against a great number of persons both Regular and Ecclesiasticall vvhome to recken vp vvere infinite All those aboue mentioned they haue bene either ill intreated or else put to death by the commaundement and order of his Maiestie that is so Catholike as is vvell knowne by true and manifest proofes and by most cleare and euident coniectures It may bee that one day you shall see touching this matter a more ample and large historie then this same vvhich containeth onelie his cruelties towards his neighbours and yet not all of those neither See an epistle vvhich Anthonie King of Portugall sent vnto Pope Gregorie the thirteenth of that name in the yeare 1584. Behold then how hee dispatcheth all his affaires and in what manner hee dealeth with all the world It was not long since there was taken in the Citie of Leon a packet of letters written with his owne hand and sent to the Constable of Castile within the which were found certaine graines amongst the letters and a certaine Gentleman suspecting somewhat gaue of those graines to eate to manie liuing creatures which all died immediatlie Another like matter as this same happened within a while after in the franke Countie of Burgoigne in a certaine house where the Constable of Castile had lodged after his departure from thence a chamber-maide of the house founde a ball within a verie faire purse within which ball shee thinking to haue founde some great treasure founde certaine graines of which was made the same proofe and experience and all those creatures that did eate thereof died This is that notable tyrant which doeth all that hee can doe to the vttermost of his abilitie and that dareth seeke to take away the life of the most Christian Maiestie To wit of â—he Queene of England and Prince Maurice Count of Nassau c Fol 216. p. 2. 80000. duckats promised by king Philip to kill Don Anthonio and other Princes by such shamefull and abhominable meanes as there is none but would shame to write them saue onelie maister Hieronyme Franchi Conestagio of whome wee haue formerlie spoken For hee in the seuenth booke of his historie saieth that Philip did prize the life of the Priour that is to say of Seigniour Don Anthonio king of Portugall at fourescore thousand duckats as beeing a rebell and disturber of the publike peace and quietnesse And so did hee handle another Prince that was both his cousin germane and cousin germane remoued and so manie wayes of kinne vnto him and so strictly allied vnto him in friendship and amitie that they carried themselues each to other as if they had bene each others father yea and as if they had bene but one person and yet did hee vse him as if hee had bene a common theefe a robber a malefactor and a man of no reckening nor estimation And this horrible and abhominable crueltie doeth not end in Portugall but it passeth ouer the sea and the Pyrenean mountaines into Fraunce and into England where he hath bent and imployed all his meanes to take away the liues of the Monarches of those realmes O barbarous O abhominable hang-man and murtherer hast thou no shame If thou be a Catholike as thou doest entitle thy selfe how is it that thou knowest not what a deede of shame and enormitie it is to commit murther God would not that any man should touch Caine himselfe who had murthered his owne brother and commanded that if any were so hardy as to kill him that he should bee seuerely punished Genes 4. Omnis qui occiderit Caine septuplum punietur Whosoeuer shall kill Caine shall be punished seuen sold If thou doe know this why doest thou not keepe the commandements of God eternall The good workes I say not of Saints nor of Christians but euen of Idolaters which hauing no knowledge of the true light doe follow onely the simple law of Nature doe they not worke any shame in thee Doest thou not remember what the Romanes did when Pyrrhus Pyrrhus his Physitian did offer Fabricius Fabritius to poyson him And how they handled the Schoole-maister to the children of the Fuliscians which came to betray to them to Camillus Lucius Florus Pompo Mela. Lucas Tudensis Paulus Câ—sirus and many others If thou thinke that these Examples bee nothing to the purpose learne what sentence they gaue against Seruilius Caepio who returning to Rome with victorie and demanding that he may triumph in recompence of his seruice done to the commonwealth by the death of Viriatus whom he had caused to be slaine by treason and for that he had subdued a great part of Spaine to the Romane Empire they pronounced this iudgement against him that both the said Caepio and the murtherers of Viriatus were more worthy to be chastised then to be recompenced and that there was no reason they should allow any reward for the destroying of their enemies and the victories gotten against them by money and through corruption Quae victoria empta erat à Senatu percussores indigni praemio iudicati By this then that hath beene said may bee seene as in a mirrour the crueltie of this maligne and peruerse tyrant whome many will not beleeue to bee such a one as in very deede and in trueth he is but contrariewise without all consideration as people blinded peruerse and obstinate they will striue and contend to
foretold and as it were prophecied as the prinâ—ipall counsellers of estate both in Fraunce in England can well testifie both all this which is come to passe in this behalfe and hath also foreshewed all that which hath beene lost in Fraunce and to what end and issue things will grow at the last if there be not some better order taken in these affaires And I beleeue that if they were demanded the question they will tell you how I haue passed away my time with as great griefe and discontentment as a man possibly might do to see the enemy daily to prosper and to waxe more proud and arrogant by your owne proper sufferance consent and wilfulnesse for this cause I am in a manner wholly resolued to leaue and abandon the conuersation of men to retire withdraw my selfe into some solitary mountaine Notwithstanding because I know and am acquainted with all that hath befalne for these 50 yeeres last past in the greatest part of Europe I doe therefore tell you as one that hath had experience of these matters that as yet you may recouer if you will all that which hitherto you haue lost and both deliuer your friends and bridle your enemies And you may take such order that the time to come shall be more happy and fortunate vnto you then the time already past hath beene And moreouer I doe assure you that sithens the losse of great part of Christendome wonne by the Turke the late losse of the most part of Germany the hereditary possession of the King of Bohemia all Switzerland with the great hazard of losing all the Netherlands who are now striuing for breath against the King of Spaines mighty powers now in the field which I for my part doe thinke to haue proceeded from the very hand of God as of your louing Father who by a fatherly loue doth chastise you to the end you should awaken you out of your security and negligence I haue beene euer since resolued to set downe in writing that which I haue so often pronounced by word of mouth to so many persons of speciall marke and quality before that euer they did entreat me thereunto And this is the cause that if this my writing doe not produce that publike good and that effect which I desire I protest that from henceforth I will for euer hold my peace and be silent Neuerthelesse I most humbly beseech your Christian Maiesties and all the Princes and Potentates of Europe and all the great Lords and Officers of the Crownes of England and of Fraunce that it would please you to descend into your selues and at your leisure according to your accustomed prudence and wisdome to consider that good fortune and felicity doth not consist so much in the conquest and subduing of great Seigniories and large dominions for the time present with an intent to leaue the same to your successors but rather to assure confirme and preserue them for the time to come to your children and posterity to the intent that when it shall please God to call you hence they may quietly and peaceably enioy them in peace and tranquility without any trouble disquiet or hinderance For it is a farre greater vertue to preserue and keepe that which is gotten then to get and purchase new things daily Non minor est virtus quà m quarere parta tuêri The poore Pilgrime beaten by Time and pesecuted by Fortune P. Ol. I am resolued to make warre vpon the Castillian wherein if you also will beare a part assure your selfe you may account me as one of your most faithfull and surest friends But if you once grow to any termes of peace and amity with him then seeke you some other with whom ye may deliberate vpon that matter AN EXPLICATION OF THE PILGRIME VPON THE PROVERB IF THE COCKErell had not come the Cock had not bene taken And of the loyaltie of Auila and Simanchas in Castile and of Celorico and the Castell of Coimbre in Portugall Item What the diuersitie is betweene the King of Castile and of Spaine and who they bee whom wee call Castillians and what is vnderstood by Cities and Townes HEnry the fourth King of Castile of whom wee haue before spoken being at the point of death If the Cockerel had not come the Cock had not beene taken named foure Executors of his Testament to gouerne the Realme after his death and to marrie his daughter the Ladie Iane two of which Executors to wit Don Aluaro de Estugniga Duke de Areualo and Don Diego Lapez Pacheco Marquis de Vâ—llena ioyning with the Archbishop of Toledo named Don Alphonso Carrillo Don Bertrand de la Cueua Duke de Albuquerke the Maister of Calatraua Don Rodrigo Telles Giron Countie de Vâ—egne Don Iohn Telles Giron hif brother Marquisse of Calis Don Alphonso de Aguilar and manie other great Lords with foureteene Cities of Castile sent vnto Don Alphonso the Affrican King of Portugall praying him that he would take to wife the said Queene Dame Iane the which the King of Portugall accepted against the willes and good liking of many of his Realmes who would not by any manner of meanes haue to doe nor meddle with the Castillians By reason of this mariage in the yeere 1475 Don Alphonso went into the Lands and Countrey of his said wife where he had many encounters and combats with Fernand King of Arragon the Husband of Jsabel the pretended Queene of Castile and with his people till such time as they encountered in the battell which was foughten neere the City of Toro The battell of Toro in March 1476 which was ordered in this manner the King Alphonso had made one Campe of the Lords and Nobles of the Realmes of Castile and Leon with some Portugals the Prince Don Juan his sonne who was come to the succours of his Father had made another Campe of his Portugals without any Castillians mingled amongst them The King Fernand made also two campes the one of the Castillians which tooke his part and his wiues and the other of Arragonois the Catalans the Valencians and such other peoples and Nations as were the subiects of his owne Realmes and Seigniories whereof himselfe was Lord and commaunder Fernand encountring with Alphonso defeated and ouercame him and hauing taken his Guidon royall made him forsake the field and to betake himselfe to flight But the Prince Don Iuan gaue in and charged so resolutely vpon the Castillians that he made them to flie and hauing slaine many of them vpon the place he tooke a great number of prisoners and himselfe remaining whole and entire with his Forces did with singular hardinesse and magnanimity assaile Ferdinand also the vanquisher of his Father and making him to flie did recouer againe the Guydon royall which the said Alphonso his Father had lost The History of Portugall saith that the Prince did great honour vnto a Knight which saued the said Guydon and gaue him an yeerely rent or annuity of