armes in all places and the cause thereof 274. his order in preparing 275. he departs from Portugall 304. his armie departs from Lisbone 312. arriues at the Terceres and their proceeding 314 Plague in Portugall 108 Places fortified by the Portugals 140 Portugals conquests at the Indies 4. they prepare for the warre of Africke 25. their armie landes in Africke and their proceedings 30. the qualitie of their armie 37. their conceite to fight 39. the order of their battaile 40. their aduantage of the Moores 41. their armie at sea returnes to Lisbone 54. their sorrow 56. their ceremonie in bewailing their king dead 58. they pretend election of their king 62. their demands 66. their reasons for the election 84. they complaine of king Henrie 85. their discourse vpon the estate of the realme 101. they answere the Castillians 106. they disagree with them 229. they are discontented 252. they abandon the French 319. their ships are spoiled 320 Pope pretends election 63 Pope Gregorie the xiij his offer to the Catholike king 98. he fauours Anthonie 190 his offer against England 243. seemes content with the successe of Portugall 251 Porto yeelded 236 Preparations at the Terceres 264 Preparations of the French for the Tercerâ—â— 269 Prince of Orange wounded by a Biscaine 269 Pretendants to the crowne of Portugall and their descent 60. cited to declare their reasons 80 Prosper Colonna Colonell of the Italians 134. he passeth the bridge defended by the Portugals 215 Q QVeene mother of France pretends to the crowne of Portugal 62. her reasons for it â—â— shee is discontented with Philip and the cause 67 Question whether the Catholic king should goe in person with his armie 152 Queene Anne died 238 R REason of the Portugals by way of discourse touching their future King 66 Reasons and grounds of king Philip to the realme of Portugal 67. examined by diuines 126 Regencie of the Gouernours 118 Religious men diuided into factions 200. they holde militarie charges 180. and keepe the keies of Lisbon pag. 208 Resolution of Gonsalues charge 119 S SAint Arem yeeldes obedience pag. 222 Sanches d' Auila Marshall generall of the Spanish camp 134. he is sent against Anthonie 227. he passeth the riuer of Doro at Auintes 232 his speech to his soldiers ibid. his stratageme to passe the riuer 234. hee dies 307 Sebastian king of Portugal his life 10. his first voyage into Africke 11. his enteruiew with Philip at Guadalupe 15. hee is perswaded to make war in Africke by Mahamet ibid. lands his armie at Arzille 30. hee fights valiantly and is vanquished 50. he is slaine by the Moores and carried to Molucs tent 51. his funerals at Madril 66. his obsequies with the Princes of Portugall 302 Settuuall taken 182 Summarie of an oration made at the assembly of Estates 77 Sosa Deputie of Lisbon his answere pag. 111 Spaniards discourse vpon the Cardinals legation 191 Spanish souldiers discontented with the sentence giuen against the French prisoners 295. they intreat for them ibid. Spaniards discourse vpon the enterprise of the Terceres 309 Stratagem with oxen diuised by a religious man 257 Stremos taken 175 Strozzi slaine 291 Suburbes of Lisbon spoiled 217 T TErceres 227. the description thereof 239 the resolution of the inhabitants 241. their confusion 272 Testament of King Henrie 123 Thomas Stukley an Englishman with 600. Italians serues King Sebastian pag. 27 Tower of Belem yeelded 210 Tower of Settuuall taken 184 Treatie of accord betwixt King Philip and Anthonie by the meanes of Carcamo a Castillian 204 V VAlour of the Italians and Spaniards 49 Valour of King Sebastian 50 Viana taken 237 Villauisosa surprised 173 Vniuersitie of Coimbra 250 W WOmen at Lisbon arme like souldiers 178 FINIS The description of Lisbone The Portugals conquests * Of good hope * Of good hope The life of king Sebastian Sebastians first voyage into Affrick Sebastians enteruiew with Phillip at Guadalupa Preparation for the war of Affrick Preparation for the second voyage of Affricke The second voyage of Sebastian with his armie into Affricke The arriuing of the Portugall armie in Affrick and their proceedings A light skirmish of the Moores against the Portugals The meanes of Moluc to defeat the Portugals The counsell and resolution of the Portugals to enter into the maine land of Affricke The Counts of Vimioso seconded the des gnes of the King of Portugall The aduise of Lewis de Silua concerning this voyage The counsell of Mulei Mahamet to the King of Portugall The Armie of the Portugals and their quality The arriuall of Aldana in the Portugall campe Letters and a Present from the Duke of Alua to the King of Portugall Molucs speech to his brother The qualitie of Molucs armie The conceit of the Portugall to fight The order of the Portugals armie The disposition of Molucs Armie Molucs Oration to his Armie The beginning of the battell The Portugals haue the aduantage of the Moores Molucs feare Molucs death The Arabians spoile their friends Frauncis de Tauora slain in the battaile The death of the Duke of Auero and of Aldana and the imprisonment of the Prior. The King of Portugall fights valiantly but is vanquished The King slaine by the Moores and carried to Molucs tent Mulei Mahamet drowned Hamet proclaimed king of the Moores A battaile famous by the death of three Kings The names of the chiefe slaine in the battaile The couetousnes of Hamet The Portugals armie at sea returnes to Lisbone A message sent to the Cardinall Henrie by the Catholique king An embasage from Hamet to the Catholique king The Portugals sorrow Cardinall Henrie swerne King of Portugal The ceremonie of the Portugals in bewailing their King dead The ceremonie of the Portugals in swearing their King The descent of the pretendants to the Crowne of Portugall * Of fower Crownes The pretendents to the Crowne of Portugall The King of Spaine The Duke of Bragance The Prince of Parma Anthonie Prior of Crato The Duke of Sauoy The people of Portugall The Queene mother of Fraunce The Pope pretends the election The deliberations of King Henry at his comming to the Crowne Peter d' Alcasoua in disgrace with King Henry Sebastians obsequies at Madrill The discord that fell out for that one said Philip did preceade Henrie The demands of the people of Portugall Councell vpon the Embassage the King sent to Henry The Duke of Ossuna sent to Henrie The imprisonment of the Duke of Alua and the cause Philips letters to the citie of Lisbone The deliuerance and returne of Iohn de Silna Embassador for Philip in Portugall The Duke of Ossuna arriues in Portugall and his proceedings King Henry inclined to the pretence of the Duches of Bragance The States of Portugall at Lisbone A summarie of the Oration made at the assemblie of the estates An Embassador chosen to goe to Rome to obtaine dispensation for Henrie to marrie The nomination of 5. gouernors of the iudges of the succession The oath to obey the elected Gouernours
should receiue a benefit thereby if it happened he should take Allarache or any place vpon the coast it were more aduantage to Philip then to him hauing his Dominions fronting neerer to Affricke then the other but if he should happen to die in these wars a greater good should come vnto him being heire vnto the Realme But to say the truth Philip was mooued to doe this office towards Sebastian both of his owne quiet disposition beeing no friend to broyles as also for another priuate subiect of no small importance which was At that time the Treatie of Truce was reuiued betwixt him and the Turke whereunto both were mooued for one and the selfe same respect not to diuide their forces at such time as they had most need of them to be vnited the Turke against the Sophi and the King against the Rebles in Flaunders So as without infringing this Truce the Catholike King could not send any Armie to endomage Affricke being tributarie to the Turke and especially of Mulei Moluc his friend and confederate And this excuse was so much the more tolerable for that he laboured to comprehend the King of Portugall within this truce desiring him to enter into it but he not onely refused it but also answered That he maruelled he would treat a peace for three yeeres with the Turke to auoide war during that tearme in Italy being most assured that Affrick should be replenished with Turkes and the three yeeres expired he should haue that war in Spaine which now he sought to auoide in Italy He did aduise him not to conclude or if he would needes not to comprehend him to the end he might afterwards secretly assist him against Mulei Moluc by meanes whereof with small charge he might assure himselfe of Italy by the truce and of Affricke by war in the name of the Portugals Philip disallowed of these friuolous reasons solliciting Sebastian to resolue himselfe either to enter or be excluded After some delaies he was contented to bee comprehended therein But as these Treaties were in handling he supposed it should not any wise hinder his enterprise of Affricke And therefore they armed their gallions at Lisbone they stayed merchants ships they inrolled all their shipping throughout the Realme to transport men horse victuals and munition making readie other preparatiues Lewis Dataide was named generall of this Action but he did not exercise the charge with the authoritie due to the place for as much as the King with Peter D'alcasoua and some other his fauorites resolued and gaue order for many things concerning the war which belonged to the Generall to do or at the least to consult of But as he was not greatly pleasing vnto the King although he were the most renowmed of all the Portugals so did he not follow this enterprise being sent Vizeroy to the Indies Diego de Sosa was made Generall at the sea Christopher de Tauora his Chamberlaine and master of his horse whom he loued entirely was made commander of all the Nobilitie that should go into Affricke and of many strangers that came by aduenture giuing him the Title of Captaine of the Aduentures by meanes whereof he was preferred before all the Nobilitie And for that he could not make himselfe equall with the Moore in horsemen he resolued to fortific himselfe better with foote commanding that no man should furnish himselfe with horse but such as he should appoint the which should not be lightly armed but barded like to the ancient men of armes so as many gentlemen that prepared to go on horse backe remained on foot It was strange to see the Portugals furnish themselues to war for being an exercise that requireth order measure all things were there disordered and confused The faults which were committed in taking of Musters giuing of paies superfluitie in many things and defect in other were infinite The gentlemen after a new prodigious manner attired themselues like vnto the Castillians in steede of scouring their Armes they guarded their habits for corslets they prouided dublets of silke gold they were charged with sugar and conserues in steed of water bisket The vessels of siluer the tents lined with silke and satten were without number euery gentleman went furnished like a king and the poore souldiers died for hunger To conclude it seemed they supposed that hee that went brauest and best furnished with delights and pleasures shoulde soonest conquer the enimy contrary to the opinion of true souldiers who beleeue that when a man goes to the combate clad in gold and silke he is either slaine or returnes home laden with blows but when he goeth couered with iron and steele he returnes a conquerour laden with gold Sebastian was carefull to whom he should leaue the gouernment of the Realme for that there was none remaining of the bloud Royall but his vncle the Cardinall whom being very old not greatly pleasing vnto him he woulde not willingly admit to so great a charge yet hauing no other he went to Euora where he liued entreating him to take the care in his absence the which he would by no meanes accept excusing it by reason of his age and indisposition so as he made choise of fower gouernours to command in his name which were George d'Almeda archbishop of Lisbone Peter d'Alcasoua Frauncis de Sada Iohn Mascaregnas to whom he gaue full power in al things leauing with thē a Seale which did imprint with inke this word REII with the which he cōmanded thē to subscribe their dispatches In the meane time vpon Affrick side the Cheriffe Mahamet did still sollicite Sebastian by Embassadors to make haste and by no meanes to abandon the enterprise and with many hopes he gaue him to vnderstand that besides a good number of souldiers he had already armed he was most assured that vpon the present view of the Portugals ensignes in Affrick being knowne that they came in his fauour the greatest part of townes fortes and men of warre woulde rebell against Mulei Moluc come to him It is most true he disswaded the King for going in person saying it was not necessarie but woulde prooue very hurtfull alleaging that the Moores which easily would yeeld at his deuotion seeing the King of Portugall there in person woulde grow iealous least he came to subdue them to the Christians and therefore woulde not so willingly leaue the enimie The which he saide both for that it might so fall out as also fearing not without reason that if the King were conquerour and there in person to he would not leaue him his kingdome free Al these things greatly enflamed Sebastian the more the Cheriffe disswaded his going the more his desire encreased supposing that the Moore grew fearefull that his cōming should depriue him of his kingdome he did firmely beleeue that he should conquer it and continued so blinde in this desire that he caused a crowne to be made and carried with him with other preparatiues to be
little In the vantguard where the King was a looker on they made great resistance killing aboue two thousand Moores but they were in so great numbers that the Italians and Spaniards who fought on that side not being succoured by any others after they had encountered the enimies with their daggers were in a manner all flaine not ouercome but wearie with killing The small order they obserued to inuest the enimie was hurtfull vnto them for the front being composed of diuers nations who contented to make shewe of their valour they did not one stay for another and the Germaines more flegmatike remained behinde so as their forces dismembred wrought not that effect they had done vnited yet notwithstanding the valour of those men the first charge of the horse especially of the Affricanes commanded by Edward de Meneses strooke a great terror in the beginning vnto Mulei Moluc for seeing his men flie although he were sicke to the death mounted to horse in choler going towards them that ranne away to staie them and encourage them And although the presse encreased and the shot of the Christians drewe neere he made shewe to march himselfe foremost either to retaine his men by shame or by the hazarde whereunto hee shoulde thrust himselfe But his greatest fauorites came about him some holding him by the stirrops some by his gowne and some by the raines of his bridle beseeching him not to hazarde himselfe But he persisting his resolution and they to stay him he growe in choler laying holde of his sworde to disperse them at what time being seased with a cruell fit of his disease he swouned and had fallen from his horse but being taken downe by them about him he was laid in his Litter where putting his finger vnto his mouth in signe of silence sodainely or as some report before he was laide downe he gaue vp the ghost The Renegados which remained neere about him kept his death secret with great care hauing so formerly appointed if he should die an argumēt of great magnanimitie in this Barbarian who measured his counsels with the hower of his life and prouided that death shoulde not depriue them of the victorie The Litter being shut they placed at the doore a wittie yoong childe who being instructed what he had to doe making shewe to speake vnto him and receiue his answer tolde them his pleasure was they should passe forwards This secret was of great importance to the Moores for without doubt if his death had beene discouered they had all fled The Arabians who were not come with any intent to fight but with a desire to spoile the conquered hauing first viewed some Moores runne away that their Mercenaries grew fearefull who kept their lodging doubting some ill successe they fell vpon the Moores baggage and spoiled it putting to flight such as kept it who running euen vnto Feez with many others of the campe gaue out that the Moores had lost the fielde so dangerous a thing it is in an armie to conduct a nation light and vnconstant who vpon the least contrarie euent falles vpon his friendes But fortune who had hitherto beene doubtfull although it seemed more to fauour the Moores then the Portugals after the Italians and Castillians were defeated remaining yet a good number of Germaines and aduenturers disordred did now shewe it selfe apparant in fauour of the Moores and the victorie assured hauing gotten their artillerie For the Renegados who were in the second ranke of the Moores their orders being open did without any confusion receiue the Andaluzians and all those that had beene broken by the vanguard and fled who returning a fresh to charge the aduenturers and Germaines they founde but weake resistance The arriuall of certaine Renegados that fled from the enimies preuailed but little bringing newes of the death of Moluc For although some went vp and downe crying victorie and publishing that Moluc was dead thereby to encourage the souldiers yet was there no meanes to draw the Portugals to imitate the example of the strangers but all fearefull without any courage retiring themselues they still lost of the fielde The squadrons of the maine battaile did not yet mooue but vnfurnished of shot who without keeping their places were crept foreward did stande firme without succouring of their friends saying that such was the Kings commandement and therefore charged by the Moores shotte on horsebacke were miserablie consumed when as their commanders finding their errors would haue drawne them forwarde the souldiers were so amazed that they coulde not doe it In the rereward Frauncis de Tauora was slaine with a shotte hauing long by his valour withstoode the Moores charge but being dead his men grew more amazed then before crying for mercie without fighting flying away without any respect of the King who was come thither from the vantguard they retired of all parts so farre backe with so great a confusion and without consideration whither they went that all the squadrons in a confused order came close togither on all sides so as the horse souldiers chariots munition tents and pauillions with their other baggage came all confusedly togither on a heape and in such a straite that many were troden downe in the presse and smoothered vnder the horse and chariots So as this armie which did containe aboue three miles in compasse was in a moment consumed by the sworde and did so restraine it selfe through feare that a small roome might containe it The Duke of Auero Embassador for the Catholique king Aldana and some other chiefe men hauing gathered togither some horse charged the Moores first on the one side and then on the other where they did see greatest neede but being disordred and fewe in number if they preuailed on the one side they receiued hurt on the other For at the same instant when as certaine of them attended the King towardes the rereward whereas there needed succours there came a great number of Arabians against the vanguard who according to their custome to fall vpon those whom they see in route charged that part with such furie that they slewe almost all the Germaines with their Captaines and many men of account There the Duke was slaine with a shot Aldana died likewise the Embassador of the Catholique King was hurt and taken prisoner so was the Prior and the Marshall of the field These being dismounted euery man fled the Moores entring into the ranks of the Christians with their Cymiters cut them miserablie in peeces Whilest this was a dooing the fire fell by chaunce into the Portugall munition which did endomage them no more then the Moores for as they entred among their baggage it consumed manie of them The circle of the Barbarians horse did no way guarde the passage towards the sea so as the Christians that ment to flie that way might easily doe it but such as thought to returne to Arzille were either slaine or taken prisoners for such as escaped the Moores being
ignorant of the waies and passage of the riuers were either drowned or fell into their handes who made them slaues There were many drowned deceiued with the rising of the riuer ignorant of their former passage for whereas the riuers and particularly Mucazen doe ebbe and flowe like the Ocean by the course of the Moone filling it selfe with salt water when the armie passed they were almost dry but in their returne the Tide as they cōmonly say being full the riuers were greatly risen wherof the Portugals being ignorant and vnskilfull of the Ford fearefull and chased by the Moores they were swallowed vp so as of a great multitude of Christians which were in this battaile there escaped but one hundreth so well coulde the Barbarians execute their resolutions The King who in the beginning when as Molucs artillerie first plaied went through the armie in coach with Christopher de Tauora tooke his horse and as they say went couragiously toward the vanguard where remaining a while a looker on sending first one then another to commaund what he thought was necessarie he was lightly hurt with a shot in the right arme towarde the shoulder whereof making small account he went ordering thinges in all parts of the armie leauing the triangle of horse where his Standerd remained But for that he was yoong and depriued of the greatest treasure that Kings can enioy I meane a wise man neere him in whome he shoulde trust when he did see his men begin to breake and the Duke of Auero to go forward and retyre backe he came furiously with certaine Gentlemen that were about him to fight among the souldiers encouraging his men valiantly by the effects but with fewe words Those that behelde him fight woondered at his courage for although that they slewe three horse vnder him without any whit daunting him yet was he neuer wearie to charge strike and succour all partes of the armie where was greatest daunger But being but a man aided by fewe he cannot resist the enimies furie nor make his friends partakers of his valour Manie of the Nobilitie which remained yet on horsebacke seeing the armie in route sought the King in all parts to helpe to saue him but the Standard which was carried before him as a marke to knowe him was now taken and the bearer slaine and being deceiued with another somewhat like vnto it which Edward de Meneses carried they followed the one in steade of the other so as the King remained as a man lost with some of his most trustie seruants about him and one Renegado who laboured to saue him Hauing in vaine sought to fly being aduised to yeeld with his armes he would by no means agree vnto it One amongst them holding vpon the point of his sworde a white napkin in signe of peace went towards the Moores as an Embassadour for the rest to yeelde but they either barbarous or wrathfull tooke the messenger prisoner and charged the rest who being fewe in number wearied without courage they were all slaine Some say there grew a controuersie amongst them about the Kings owne person and for that occasion they slew him They sent after to secke his bodie and by a notable example of the inconstancie of this world they carried it naked vpon a saddle pommell into the roiall tent of Moluc where letting it fall to the ground it was carefully viewed by the Nobilitie that was there present a publike certificate made that it was he keeping it aftewardes at Alcazer-Quiuer Such was the death of this vnfortunate King wherein chaunced all things that might make him lamentable his yoong age the expectation of his vertues the want of succession his violent death and the imprisonment of his bodie He was indued with excellent qualities but nothing profitable vnto him wanting by reason of his vnripe yeeres that predominante vertue of our actions For all his resolutions that did guide him to so rash an end were grounded vpon his magnanimitie zeale to religion liberalitie thirst of militarie glorie of the disposition of his body and the vigour of his courage It seemes that we may well saie of this vnfortunate yoong Prince that which was sometimes spoken of Alexander the Great That Nature had giuen him vertue and Fortune vices For in truth Sebastian had his vertues of nature and his vices from his education Mulei Mahamet escaped his enimies hands but his too great haste to passe Mucazen and to recouer Arzille was the cause he was drowned in his passage Those whome idlenes had made curious did note the diuersitie of these Princes deathes for being all lost in one battaile within the space of sixe houres the one died of his naturall death the second by the sword the thirde was smothered in the water When as Hamet see the battaile wonne he ranne towardes his brother thinking to finde him aliue and to reioice with him but being come to his litter they enformed him of his death And although Moluc had left one sonne yet did they salute Hamet as their King running through their campe with ensignes proclaiming of his name according to their custome And for that according to the conformitie of the grandfathers will the eldest as it is saide of the nephewes should succeede therefore Hamet was sworne Prince The Moores fell to spoile and take prisoners making a very rich bootie by reason of many precious things the Portugals had brought with them into the campe but especially for the prisoners which were in great number and of great importance for their wealth and nobilitie besides that the Moores make more account of one Portugall prisoner then of any other nation for that being delicate and not able to suffer they redeeme thēselues for great sums as these gentlemen did afterwards who by an example of small patience set themselues at sixe thousand duckats a peece and more This day was famous by the death of three Kings that is Sebastian Mulei Moluc and Mulei Mahamet by the imprisonment of all the Nobilitie of a Realme of so many souldiers a thing seldome or neuer hapned and also for the importance of Sebastians death in the other affaires of the worlde The number of the dead was not so great as of the prisoners but for that the truth is hard to be verified it hath bred diuers opinions in the Portugals Some haue reported that the enimies were infinite in number others haue bin more moderate yet haue they augmēted this point Notwithstanding there died three thousand Moores and as many Christians or more amongst the which were some men of account For besides the Captaines of the strangers and the Duke of Auero there was slaine Alphonso of Portugall Earle of Vimiosa Lewes Coutigno Earle of Rodondo Vasco de Gama Earle of Vidiguera Alphonso of Norogna Earle of Mira Iohn Lobo Baron of Aluito Aluara of Melo sonne to the Marques of Ferrara Rhoderick of Melo eldest sonne to the Earle of Tentuguel Iamie
binde such as had taken it so coulde it not excuse them from the bonde by the which they were tied to receiue him for King and that the allegations of the pretendents and their offer to stand to iudgement did not binde the King to acknowledge for iudge such as were not The Catholique King hauing viewed these reasons resolued to stay no longer frō taking possession of the Realme and therefore he caused his whole Armie to march to Cantigliana three miles from Badagios there to passe into Portugall where hee himselfe with the Queene woulde see it lodged for which effect he commaunded a scaffold to be made in open field where being mounted he set downe all the orders directed by the old Duke of Alua in the habit of a yoong souldier And although it seemed the King had resolued to stay at Badagios yet this matter was disputed amongst the curious with diuers reasons and besides the generall opnions of some who did maintaine that Kings ought to be personall in their enterprises they did alleage some other speciall reasons which did binde the king to goe with his armie They distinguished three qualities incident to the enterprise whereby the King shoulde go in person that is the importance of the pretention the hope of happie successe and the difficultie to execute it by a minister shewing that all three did concurre heerein seeing it was a question for a realme of importance rich and bordering vpon his other countries head of many rich estates and then in the way of greatnes That the hope of victorie was in all humaine consideration certaine both in regard of his iustice and force as also for the weakenes of his aduersaries That the difficulty to vndertake it by a minister was great and proper in that case the King not entering into Portugall to subdue cities but to winne their harts not playing the part of a conquerour but of lawfull Prince who entreth with necessarie forces to suppresse the ordinarie alterations of realmes newly gotten as he had protested to the Gouernors and estates of the realme that such offices for so important causes coulde not be committed but to the person of the eldest Prince being a commission vnfit for any childe or nephew much lesse for a captaine Generall being a Castillian of nation most imperious both by nature and for the great and important affaires which he had mannaged besides being for his owne particular hatefull to the Portugals They saide it was most certaine if the King entred the realme in person of friends he shoulde make faithfull subiects of newters friends and of enimies newters where as contrariwise the Duke woulde make his friendes newters his newters enimies and his enimies obstinate rebels With these reasons and others such as iudged the Kings presence necessarie in the enterprise fortified their opinions On the otherside it was saide that when the resolutions of the one side haue so great difficultie as they draw neere to impossibilities there is no disputing what is conuenient but of force they must obey necessitie that the question of the Kings entring into Portugall was of this nature seeing that by diuers accidents the strength of the armie was so weakened that it was both in quantitie and qualitie most different from that which had beene set downe for there wanted aboue sixe thousand souldiers of them which had been leuied the number of the Spaniards which came out of Italy was greatly diminished and there wanted halfe of those that were new raised and the bands that came from the lowe Countries could not arriue in time If these which were the strēgth of the armie had beene ioyned and the number appointed in the beginning assembled the King might wel haue perfourmed the enterprise in person for then had he made the way open for the succours of men munition from the frontiers vnto Settuual leauing garrisons in al places to receiue conduct them But wanting horse and foote necessarie for the action there was no other remedie but to runne the fortune of two great daungers The one was to conduct all the victuals with the armie which would cause a new and monstrous forme of Campe wanting horsemen to couer their carriages The other of no lesse importance was that the life of these men depended vpon the inconstancie of the sea and winde which shoulde conduct the armie from Andelouzia to Settuuall with the other victuals and munition to serue the want of those whom they transported And although the Duke contented himselfe with the number of his soldiers he did it trusting to his owne dexteritie and the ignorance of his enimies And if he hoped to surmount these dangers he grounded his opinion vpon the Portugals vnskilfulnes to preuent him entertaining him behinde with continuall skirmishes to conuoy him the which if they could effect were dangerous for there by they should force him to turne backe and fight with disaduantage of the place where they might be defeated or staied from passing the armie ouer the riuer of Tagus the which were to put a battaile in compremise for the humours which might daily arise besides there were some difficultie to ioine the two parts of the armie the one being at sea the other at land vneasie to ioine thē at a limited time the delay of 20. daies would hinder the effect for a yeeres imploiment so as they concluded that neither by reason of war nor of state the King ought to hazard his person in this enterprise for that neither industrie nor fortune be sufficient warrants for the safety of Princes who ought not to ground their resolutions vpon an others weakenes but vpon their owne proper forces Whilest that matters in Castill stoode on these termes and that the Portugals grew daily more arrogant and confused it was apparant with small insight how this realme ranne headlong into ruine For al being confounded with vanitie no man knew what he would do no man was resolute what he shoulde execute and if any were yet blinded they knewe not what course to take The Gouernours being at Settuuall assembled the estates being amazed to vnderstand the Duke of Alua was in fielde resolute to inuade the realme presently On the otherside that Anthony was at Saint Arem incensing the Deputies that they shoulde not go to the Estates practising the disorder which hapned after The Duke of Bragance pressed them shewing his griefes in publike it may be for not proceeding according to his humour The Embassadors of the Catholique King gaue them no time to breath Iohn Teglio was at Lisbone preparing for defence with whom they had no good intelligence They desired to content all men yet feared the peoples furie they laboured much and prouided for nothing The cities cried for armes to defend themselues or to haue permission to yeeld they answered in generall tearmes without any effect they receiued letters from the Duke of Alua who accused them of crueltie saying they
and baggage by reason wherof he carried with him aboue sixe thousand chariots and fiue and twenty peeces of canon and passing vnder the walles of Eluas there was nothing to be done being already yeelded In three daies march he came to Stremos receiuing all places thereabouts to obedience which might be amazed at the bruite of the armie But for that he laboured to assure the kings person aboue all being entred two daies iourney within the countrey he sent backe Peter Manrique de Padilla a knight of account and well experienced in the warre with two companies of men at armes and Peter d' Ayala Marshall of the field an old soldier with a regiment of Spaniards who lodged at Eluas assuring those quarters from all reuolutions that might be feared within Stremos was captaine Iohn Dazeuedo Admirall of the realme yoong and hardie who put himselfe in defence and was cause that the armie made longer stay there then at any other lodging He whē as the gouernors were yet at Almeryn had obtained by the meanes of Martin Gonzales de Camera somewhat allyed vnto him the Captainship of that place and after being written vnto by Anthonie as king he would not obey him saying that he did not acknowledge any other superiour then the gouernours to whom he had giuen his oath At this time the Duke being arriued he sent vnto him Peter de Luna a captaine of horse with letters from the king requiring his obedience but he refused to yeeld it for the same reasons he had giuen to Anthonie he trusted more to the defence of the place then the force thereof would warrant and the rather for the diligence of Diego de Meneses who when he had speech of the fortifying of Eluas seeing it could not be effected he had retired himselfe to Stremos thinking there to make head and hauing animated the people to defende it he promised them great succours so as all agreeing with the Admirall they were resolute to fight At this time Christopher de Mora who went from Settuual to Badagios passing through the citie he persuaded the Landini chiefe citizens to yeeld obedience vnto the king and for that it was easie for them to turne the people as they pleased they induced them soone to obey So as the Admirall remained alone in his obstinacie within the castell with some of his friends and familiars and although they laboured to bring him to obedience yet would he not yeeld excusing himselfe that it appeered not vnto him that the king was heire to the realme neither did the comming of the Prior Ferrant de Toledo sonne to the Duke of Alua preuaile who discouering him to be a man of small consideration made offer vnto him that the Duke should be bound that whensoeuer it should appeere that the realme appertained not vnto Philip hee should restore him to the place he now enioyed neither preuailed it to let him vnderstand that he could not resist making answere obstinately that when he had done his last endeuour hee woulde abandon the place with the losse of his life seeming that he coulde not otherwise saue his honour But this resolution lasted little for discouering from the castell that the Duke had already planted his artillerie that those of the citie which had promised to defend him were all against him and that some Castillian soldiers were entred the citie being all amazed he resolued to retire himselfe and leaue the fortresse wanting courage to defend it but in issuing foorth the Castillians tooke him prisoner and led him to the Duke who was in doubt whether he should punish him corporally to terrifie the rest by his first example but he pardoned him and sent him prisoner to Villauizosa writing vnto the king that he tooke pitie of him being yoong and without experience When the magistrate and the citizens had taken their oath and done the accustomed ceremonies to obey the king the armie marched towardes Mounte maior by the way of Arraialos leauing Euora on the left hande a citie of importance but then greatly afflicted with the plague But to the ende it shoulde not remaine behinde vnyeelded the Duke sent thither Henry de Guzman with twentie horse to take possession thereof both for that hee knewe it was vnpeopled as also vnderstanding that Diego de Castro who was Captaine there and the principalles of the citie who were retired to their gardens thereabouts desired to yeeld their obedience by reason whereof the saide captaine and Magistrate being assembled togither a mile from the citie vnder the Portall of our Ladies church there Constantine de Brito a Notarie receiued a publike acte whereby they deliuered the citie to his Maiesties obedience the which they all assigned The Duke beeing now arriued in fower daies march at Mount Maior the new where hauing found no resistance although the Counte Vimioso had beene there a little before taking possession thereof he came within fower daies to Settuual without wasting the countrey as is vsuall in warre for he neither slewe nor spoiled the inhabitants of townes nor suffered them to tread downe the corne which was then ripe It seemed that Diego de Meneses had not shewed the fruits that were expected of his valour within that prouince nor of that heate wherewith hee vndertooke the defence hauing for that cause refused the place of Viceroy of the Indies which is the greatest charge giuen in that realme For hauing first from the Gouernours and after from the Prior receiued charge to defend the saide prouince hee not onely neglected the defence but also retired himselfe He excused this weake resistance saying that the Gouernors had deceiued him in not furnishing him with armes and other things necessarie and that hauing no other armes with the people but wordes he was enforced to retire himselfe But whatsoeuer the cause was all that part beyond the riuer of Tagus which is the most fertile within the realme remained disarmed and in pray to the enimie Anthonie being returned from Settuuall to Lisbone he was receiued with great ioy being the first time he had entred as king And although the infection with the diuision of the Nobilitie had much vnpeopled it yet made they deuises with great shewes of ioy I will not leaue to report as a thing remarkable that there was a cōpany of poore women which sell thinges in the market place the which marching in order like soldiers with their armes she which was their captaine in steade of a Halberd carried a fire panne seeming to remember the auncient battaile of Algibarotta betwixt the Castillians and the Portugals where these being conquerors they vaunted that a Bakers wife had slaine seauen Castillians with a fire panne The Gouernors who were fledde from Settuuall to a castell whereas Ambrose de Aguiar was then captaine imbarqued secretly and their feare was so great as not holding themselues assured in any part of the realme they were conducted to Ayamont a citie belonging to the
of her soule For notwithstanding he were greatly bound vnto her yet he tooke them conuerted them to his own vse They gaue libertie to religious men to arme themselues imploying them in militarie charges to the scandall of the people and all good and religious men and without any fruite Many of the better sort remembring the time past and that wherein king Sebastian raigned blamed themselues for then they complained of the arrogancie of his fauorites who they saide had neuer done any harme They blessed king Henrie saying that although he knew not in the small time of his raigne how to gouerne himselfe as hee ought yet did hee neuer erre in will or suffred himselfe to be so easily seduced by any to the hurt of another They cursed the Gouernors who had beene so slowe to resigne the gouernment concluding that rashnes had raigned with Sebastian irresolute arrogancie with Henry confusion with the Gouernors and iniustice with Anthony Some excused this last with weake reasons saying there was nothing done amisse by his commandement being curteous wel enclined but that the greedy couetousnes of many of his followers caused this excesse who hauing long suffred whilest he was persecuted cōming now to rule they satisfied thēselues making things vnlawful tolerable that the Prior durst not deny their demaunds nor punish the offenders both for that the time was vnfit as also to auoid the name of vnthankfull in punishing such as had aided and succoured him when he was abandoned of all the world for the seuere sentences of King Henry THE SIXTH BOOKE The Contents of the sixth Booke The conquest the Catholique King made of Settuual and of the fortresse The arriuall of his sea-armie there The thoughts of Anthonie The voiage of Cardinal Riario into Spaine The passage of the armie from Settuuall to Cascayes And the retraite of Diego de Meneses with his Portugall soldiers The confusion of things in the citie of Lisbone The taking of Cascayes and of the Castell The death of Diego de Meneses Anthony Marcheth with his troupes to Belem to Alcantara Apardon sent by king Philip vnto the Portugals to draw them vnto him The treaties of Pacification The deliuerie of the rocke of Saint Iulian and of the fort Of Cabesa Secca being abandoned the taking of the towre of Belem THe Duke of Alua drew by small iourneies neere vnto Settuual with his armie marching with small order and without feare as they are accustomed to do in their friends countrey But approching neere calling the chiefe commaunders he saide vnto them That although they had hitherto neglected all militarie discipline being so farre distant from their enimies now approching neere vnto them they ought not to contemne them chieflie hauing Settuual so neere a citie of importance wherein it was likely there was a great garrison and therefore that euery one heereafter shoulde carefully doe his dutie lodging his campe within the gardens on the north side He presently sent a trumpet to signifie vnto them of the towne that he was come in the name of the Catholique king to take possession thereof as his owne that they shoulde open him the gates threatning them if they did otherwise with all the miseries that did followe warre offring both to the inhabitants and to the souldiers to leaue their persons and goodes free if they would obey Those within irresolute and deuided demaunded time to aduise And for that we doe vsually regard our owne priuate profite more then any otherthing the Citizens viewing from the wals the soldiers to cut their vines and spoile their banks of salt whereof there is great aboundance in that place would presently haue yeelded vpon any cōdition The marriners some few soldiers made a cold shew of resistance Yet Frauncis Mascaregnas who was captaine of the city Diego Boteglio the yonger who commaunded the soldiers hauing well considered the weakenes of the wals and fearing the enimie neere whom they little regarded a farre off were more enclined to yeeld then to anie thing else neither did it behoue him to linger long vpō this resolutiō For Lewes Douara had practised with a Frenchman who was captaine of a cōpanie within the citie to deliuer him in the night the gate which he had in guard the which he had performed but the citizens being formerly resolued sent Simon de Miranda vnto the Duke to offer him obedience but he could not execute his Embassage for the soldiers of the citie who were priuie to the resolution of the commaunders being issued foorth to go to Lisbone they found the said Simon without the gates saying that he had betraied them they led him by force to Anthony who kept him in prison notwithstanding presently after the soldiers of the armie were brought in without condition or order It is true that in this time the Duke had planted his cannon was resolued to batter it for a punishment of the slack resolution of the inhabitāts to yeeld their suburbs were spoiled so as we may well say that one of the most important cities of the realme was taken by threatnings neither did the wars seeme yet to haue any beginning The Portugal soldiers as I said departed free only Diego Boteglio not trusting to the Duke or seeming to be one of those that had actually serued Anthony would haue fled secretly by sea but he was taken kept prisoner The towre which keepes the entry of the Port remained yet in the hands of the Portugals The which for that it was a place of hard accesse vneasie to bring the cānon to it although it were small and weake yet was it held by the Portugals to be strōg the rather being backed towards the sea with three gallions armed which had beene sent from Lisbone vnder the commaund of Ignace Rodrighez Voloso And although it were manned with few soldiers yet had it no need of any great number not being capable of many It was well furnished with Cannoniers sufficient artillerie and a captaine who amongst the Portugals was counted valiant They attended at Settuual the armie at sea with great deuotion For besides that the short season for galleies to liue in that sea began to weare away if they had made any longer stay the armie at land had presently fallen into great want of victuals and munition For this reason the Duke desired to make himselfe with all speede master of the fortresse therefore he greatly entreated Mendo de la Mota for so the captaine was called to consigne it vnto him the which he refusing the Duke added some promises in the Kings name but they preuailed not And for that Aluaro de Bassan Marques of S. Crux captaine of the said Catholique armie by sea being departed from S. Marie Porte hauing run all the coast of Algarues and reduced many cities of that countrey to the kings obedience was now arriued in this sea with threescore galleis and some round vessels to
easily by the practise and industrie of another For Martin Gonzales de Camera his competitour hauing succeeded him in his offices with some other depending of the Iesuites whom the Cardinall sought to bring in they had no lesse conflict with their enimies then Peter had with his for that Aluaro de Castro fauorite to the king of a contrarie faction with some of his friendes desiring secretly to withdraw the Kings affection from Martin and his partie tooke occasion to effect it when as the King was at Cape Saint Vincent whether he went in Sommer to satisfie the desire he had to go to sea making him beleeue and it may be not without cause that Martin and the fathers as men ignorant in matters of State of the wealth of Princes had wasted the treasure of the Crowne and cut off the meanes for all such enterprizes as he might execute by their lawes made vpon the changes of money the which if they did not reuoke it were impossible to effect his glorious designes This was a deadly blowe yet did they adde one more of greater moment giuing the King to vnderstande being yoong and high minded that he was oppressed by them that they ruled in effect and he in shew and they passed on so farre that they caused a Secretarie of the chamber well fauoured of the King and a great talker presenting him one day with a commandement of small importance to signe to say vnto him that he might boldly subscribe it for that hee was king vntill he shoulde returne to Lisbone so as mingling sport with truth they drew this yoong Prince from the affection he bare to the ministers which had beene giuen him by the Queene and Cardinall and changed the doctrine wherein he had beene nourished But Peter D'Alcasoua reapt the whole fruite thereof for the King being estranged from his enimies and the lawes made by them reuoked Aluaro de Castro the author thereof died none of his faction remaining saue Emanuel Quaresinia who had the office which they call Dispaccio of great importance beeing Controwler of the Kings rewardes who hauing neither experience nor authoritie to maintaine himselfe long in this degree nor yet iudgement to contend with Alcasoua the said Peter laid holde of this occasion to recouer his former place And to effect it the more safely he married Lewes his eldest sonne with the daughter of Christopher de Tauora a great fauorite of Sebastians Being thus returned into fauour with the king he easily maintained it seconding his humours in making the meanes easie to recouer money and vnfolding all doubts for the execution of his enterprise by reason whereof he made him Chamberlaine or rather Veador de Hazenda a place of greater countenance then the other imploying him in most important affaires And although his cunning did somewhat assist the King in his determinations yet was there another occasion presented which made his hopes increase which was this Long time before there died in Affrick Mulei Mahamet Cheriffe he who had vnited the Kingdome of Feez Marroc and Turedant the which he had alwais possessed deuided with his brother Mulei Hamet It seemes that these whiles they liued quietly togither made a law that al the children that suruiued after their decease should succeed in the kingdome before any one of the nephewes should enioy the succession so as to the yongest vncle should succeed the eldest nephew yet after their decease although they left many children the greatest part thereof euen as it hapned vnto their fathers died by the sword or were strangled in prison for the iealousie of State by the commandemēt of Abdala one of the sonnes of Mahamet who succeeded his father raigned xvij yeres the most happie peaceable Prince that euer that countrey enioied This man although he were cruel yet did he refraine from murthering his three brethren it may be for that they were very children when he came to the succession but growing to more yeeres they fell to distrust him so as two of them fled to the Turke the thirde tooke his way by lande and went to liue amongst the Arabians And although the lawe had decreed that the next brother shoulde succeed to the Crowne yet Abdala resolued to sweare his eldest sonne Mahamet his successour which being performed sodainly this newe Prince practised against his vncles sending a Moore to Tremisenne to kill the eldest who was deteined by the Turkes the which he did effect wounding him with a dart in the Mezquita This act did greatly trouble the other brother Mulei Moluc yoong and of great hope who remaining at Algier demaunding succours in vaine from Philip King of Spaine by the meanes of Rodorike Alphonso Pimentel Earle of Benauent then Viceroy of Valencia he resolued to goe seeke it at Constantinople where he attended long with patience exclaiming against his kindred and not obtaining that which he demaunded till in the end hauing giuen an honorable testimonie of himselfe in the last sea fight at Nauarin betwixt the armies of the league and Turke and at the taking of Golette he obtained three thousand souldiers of the Turke for this conquest vpon certaine conditions that were not obserued With these forces and his Moores that followed him which wanted not in Affrick he entred his Nephewes kingdome for his brother was now dead and defeated three armies whereof the last which seemes woonderfull consisted of threescore thousand horse and ten thousand foote and tooke absolute possession of the Realmes liuing with great reputation both of the Moores and Christians Mulei Mahamet being in this manner expelled his countrey he fled to Pignon of Velay a fortresse which the Catholique king holdes in Affrick and from thence by the counsell as they say of a Renegado he sent his ambassadors to the said King letting him vnderstand of his disgrace and crauing aide to be restored to his estate Whereunto the Catholique King hauing made no answere conformable to the desires of the Moore being gone to Ceuta he did the like office with King Sebastian shewing vnto him that by this occasion he shoulde easilie make himselfe Emperour of Marocco The yoong Prince fedde with this vaine hope seemed nowe to haue a lawfull subiect to make warre whereon he resolued and to succour the Moore Mahamet He propounded this to his Counsell laboring to proue that it was both profitable and honorable whereunto although there were some of contrarie aduise laying before him that he was without heires that Christians shoulde rather imploy their armes against heretikes then Infidels that his forces alone were too feeble for so great an action strengthning their reasons with many examples notwithstanding as Princes blinded with their owne desires will not allow the mishaps and disgraces of an other issuing from their ill measured Counsell to serue them as examples of better aduise there was neither reason nor example could preuaile against the Kings opinion but fortified in his resolution by many who either for their owne
subiect to the impositions and tributes which are paid for the warres where of many of meaner qualitie were exempt He laide the blame of these demands vpon the sinnes of the Realme but much more vpon such fauorites as the King had about him of whom he complained he produced the example of that fatall chaunce which hapned at Tanger to Henry and Ferdinand sonnes to King Iohn the first seeking to make warres against the Moores at the peoples charge who ought in reason to pay rather then Gentlemen inferring thereby that hee could attend no better successe of the action the King now tooke in hand being at their charge who had neuer contributed although the Realme by reason of warres had beene seene in greater necessitie then at that present he concluded beseeching the King to consider better what he did and to imitate the example of his auncestors and not to leaue a woorse of himselfe to his successors This letter which the King read with disdaine freed the Earle and many others from the contribution of money seeking by other meanes but chiefly by the bloud of the poore to supplie their wants And to the end there might be greater plentie of money within the Realme he commanded that the Royals of Castill which before were defended should be now currant valuing them a ninth part more then they were accustomed which many noted as ominous The King began now to draw his men oftner to fielde putting them into squadrons to come to encounters and to counterfaite all that which is acted in warre where he himselfe was often present in danger of his person in the midst of their harquebuzes yet had he neither Captaine nor Sergeant that could instruct them onely one Iohn de Gama who in the habite of an Hermit became a great master of the warre So as notwithstanding the great paine they tooke in this exercise in manner forced hauing neuer seene any thing they remained more ignorant then at the beginning The King gaue himselfe much to hunting accounting it a glory to encounter with the most furious beasts wherein he grew very expert If he went as he did often for pleasure from one place to another either by sea or vpon the riuer of Tagus he thought it a shame to go in calme weather but still attended some storme whereby it seemed that some furious destinie lead him headlong to his end But in the meane space time steales away necessarie prouisions want and all things proceed slowly foreward They must prouide money in Italy to leuie the Italian footemen and to pay the Germaines but the Pepper whereby it shoulde be raised was come but that sommer to Lisbone from whence it should be sent by the merchants ships to Liuorno there to be solde This enterprize the which for that they sought to do it with little money we may tearme vndiscreet was now almost made impossible and Peter D'Alcasoua who was Chamberlaine and had charge of the treasure durst not discouer the defects vnto the King fearing his displeasure if he should now contradict that which before he had allowed He did still temporize with hope that the Catholique King shoulde excuse himselfe from furnishing the men whereunto he was bound vpon colour of sending an armie into Italy against the Turks or for some other pretext the which he greatly desired that the whole blame might fall vpon Phillip neither was he without hope for the exceptions vnder which he had promised made him beleeue that which fell out otherwise In the meane time Mulei Moluck hearing of these preparatiues fearing the Catholique king should ioyne with the Portugals sent wisely vnto him to will him aduise what part of his Territories he pleased to haue the which he would giue to be his friend and confederate The King presently let Sebastian vnderstand his offer aduising that it were a matter of consequence to keepe the Moore in hope and to send vnto him to expound his meaning the which must needs be profitable seeing that practizes are no suspensions of armes whereof there might grow some good effect for possiblie the Moore would neglect his defence or yeeld that quietly which they pretended to take from him by force but this yoong King who knew not how much better an assured peace were then an expected victorie and who desired rather to winne by force then by agreement any place whatsoeuer pressed the Catholique King not to treat any accord with Moluck But Phillip knowing Sebastians designes seeing him neither willing to accord nor able to perfourme the enterprise the which was likely to be broken he laboured to effect it himselfe and seeing sommer now come and neither Italian nor Germaine souldiers in Portugall he made offer vnto him by Iohn de Sylua his Embassadour that if he were not prepared for the enterprise as it was conuenient he woulde furnish both men and shipping so as he should pay the two thirdes of the charges according to the Treatie But forasmuch as this offer was farre off from the marke whereat the King of Portugall shot it was neither heard nor accepted And although the season of the yeare was now farre passed and the preparatiues weake matters being concealed from Sebastian who was abused by his ministers yet he feared nothing but that Phillip should excuse himselfe and not keepe promise on his behalfe which should make him vnable to performe the enterprise whereof he was so desirous so as he laboured to obtaine of him an assured promise of aide without exception of the comming of the Turkes army the which he secretly feared and his ministers greatly hoped for so were their mindes distracted The Catholique King being aduertised heereof seeming vnto him impossible to do any thing that were good either to satisfie or to withdraw himselfe from the promise that he made left it to the iudgement of his Embassador to make offer vnto the King of the fifty galleis lent the fiue thousād foote to be presently imploied if neede were according to the Treatie but he should haue a speciall care not offer them if he did see any impossibilitie to imploie them being vnwilling to hazard his forces alone without such as the King of Portugall was bound to leuie Vpon this offer which the Embassador had made Sebastian being come to himselfe and casting vp his reckonings he found himselfe vnable that yeere to passe into Affrick by reason whereof he caused proclamation to be made that the enterprise should be deferred vntill the next yere Phillip a little before being mooued with the practises of this warre had sent Captaine Frauncis D'Aldana diguised into Affrick to viewe the townes and fortresses vpon the sea coast who being in great danger returned This man he sent to Sebastian who receiuing many fauours he informed him particularly of the state of Affrick And although Aldana made the enterprise more difficult then he supposed yet could he no way discourage him but laying aside that discourse he inquired secretly of him as
crowned King not knowing in the morning what the euening brings But it seemed to him that fortune began now to smile for that Albacarin the Moore who commanded for Mulei Moluc in Arzilla a towne vpon the borders of the sea sometimes belonging to the Portugals voluntarily abandoned to the Moores by the intercession of the Cheriffe Mahamet had deliuered it to the gouernour of Tanger whereof the King receiued great contentment and beleeued now the Moore had such as he saide affectionate to his partie At this time the Irishmen rebelled in diuers parts of that kingdome pretending the libertie of Religion and complained to Pope Gregory the 13. taking for their leader the Earle of Desmond and others as Oneale and some other of the sauage Irish affirming that if they were aided they could easily drawe the whole Island from the Queenes obedience The Pope did communicate this with the Catholique King exhorting him to vndertake this action as most godly to succour this people the which they resolued to do But forasmuch as the Queene of England did seeme in words friend vnto the king did as the Spaniards supposed couertly vnderhand assist the Prince of Orange in Flaunders against him the King woulde likewise march in the same path and make a couert warre against her they concluded to assist this people in the Popes name but secretly at the kings charge To this effect they leuied certaine footemen in the territories of the Church whereof sixe hundreth vnder the conduct of Thomas Stukeley an Englishman fled out of England for treason who a little before had obtained the title of a Marques from the Pope were embarked at Ciuitauechia in a ship of Genua to be transported into Ireland the which arriued at Lisbone in the time they made preparation in Portugall for the warre of Affrick the king hearing of their arriuall and that for want of money he could haue no Italians out of Tuscane desired to see them with an intent to retaine them vse them in the war of Affricke hauing caused them to disimbarke and to lodge at Oeiras neere to the mouth of Tagus he went one day to view them and although they were no chiefe men yet did he admire their order their speedie discharging of their Harquebuzes their disposition to handle the pike and their strict obedience and hauing had some conference with the saide Stukeley they perswaded him to promise to goe with him into Affrick The Catholique King for that he woulde not shew himselfe a partie woulde not contradict it The Pope was so farre off that before the newes coulde come vnto him he gaue them impresse and they remained for his seruice In this time the foote which were leuied by three Coronels approched to Lisbone the fourth which was Frauncis de Tauora shoulde imbarke in Algarues The three thousand Germaines which the Prince of Orange had granted were vnder the conduct of Martin of Burgundie Lord of Tamberg arriued within the mouth of Tagus in Flemmish ships and were lodged at Cascaies and thereabouts to the great amasement of the peasants not accustomed to the charges of warre King Sebastian before his departure desired to see the Duke of Alua whom he sent vnto but he excused himselfe vpon the King and the King at the entreatie of the Duke vpon the infirmitie of the old man so as his desire tooke no effect The Dukes friends tolde him he should haue accepted this fauour whereunto he answered that hauing knowne by the practises and discourses of Guadaluppa and by the Kings letters his resolution to passe into Affrick he thought it impossible to diuert him from that opinion that hauing beene discreet in his youth he woulde not in his declining age make himselfe author of the ruine which he did foresee of a King and kingdome Sebastian without any graue Counsellors hastened his departure impatient of the least delaies his forces being all assembled with the ships at Lisbone the souldiors which were scarce nine thousand were imbarked against their will The Noblemen and Gentlemen likewise had euery one a shippe armed wherein he should imbarque with those vnder his commaund but hardly were they drawne from their deere houses And although there were a certaine day for their departure appointed yet was it not obserued So as the King going one morning in great troupe to the cathedrall church with the Standard he ment to carrie into Affrick he caused it to be hallowed with great pompe and deliuered it to the master of his horse and so returning many beleeuing he would haue returned to the pallace he went directly to the galley wherein he woulde passe to hasten the rest saying that he woulde presently depart And although this were the xvij day of Iune in the yeere 1578. yet did he stay eight daies in the Port and neuer disimbarked preparing the rest of the soldiours who were no sooner readie then the day after Midsommer at what time hauing a prosperous winde the whole armie set saile to the great pleasure and contentment of the King who yoong and vnskilfull guided by some sinister starre or by that diuine permission which woulde punish this people went into Affrick to a dangerous although a glorious enterprise leauing the Realme emptied of money naked of Nobilitie without heires and in the hands of ill affected gouernours THE SECOND BOOKE The Contents of the second Booke The King of Portugals passage into Affricke his counsell and resolution to enter into the maine land the way his armie tooke the preparatiues for the warre of Mulei Moluc the qualitie and disposition of his campe the battaile of Alcazar the ouerthrowe of the Portugals the death of King Sebastian and of Moluc and the creation of King Henry THe King of Portugals departure from Lisbone was so mournefull that it gaue apparant signes of euill successe for in so great a number of men and of so diuers qualities there was not any one with a cheerefull countenance or that did willingly imbarke against the common custome in the beginnings of warre but all as it were presaging of ill euents complained they were forceablie drawne vnto it There was such a deadlie silence in the porte that during all the time of their abode in so great a number of shippes there was neither flute nor trumpet heard The Kings galley issuing foorth was carried downe with the currant and brake her rudder against a Flemmish ship a cannon shot from the towne slew one of his marriners in the boate so as if we shall giue credite to signes as the auncients did these seemed very ominous The first towne they touched vpon the maine lande was Lagos in Algarues where did imbarke the regiment which Frauncis de Tauora had leuied in those parts and certaine other vessels ioined to the armie so as in all one and other they made neere one thousand saile but except fiue galleis and fiftie other ships all the rest were vnarmed and the most of them were barkes
to passe horse and munition They arriued soone at Cadiz whereas the Duke of Medina Sidonia feasted the King with chasing of buls Iocodecanna and all other delights that poore Iland coulde yeelde The Duke laboured to perswade him not to goe personally into Barberie but he preuailed not hauing soiourned there eight daies like a fleete of merchants without guard or Centinell directing their prowesse towards Affrick in fewe daies they arriued at Almadraues betwixt Tanger and Arzilla where hauing cast anchors they staied some space The King hauing then an intention to disimbarke at Alarache a small towne of the Moores lying fifteene miles towards the south a little before the armie approched the land being fully resolued to depart the King with his fiue galleis and fower gallions leauing the rest of the ships went to Tanger where he made a short abode for hauing sent Mulei Cheque son to the Cheriffe of the age of twelue yeeres by land with Martin Correa de Sylua and certaine horsemen Moores and Portugals to the ende they should draw towards Mazagon and backe the people thereabouts that should reuolt against Moluc he returned to his armie hauing supplied the fortresses with fresh souldiors and taking into his ships the Cheriffe and eight hundreth Harquebuzers that were at the guard thereof From the Almadraues he went to Arzilla with all his fleete where seeing his souldiors distressed for water he commanded them to lande and refresh themselues meaning to imbarke them againe or to transport them in barkes to Alarache But wauering in his thoughts nothing was constant for the souldiors being landed with no small confusion it was hard to force them to returne for the small obedience they were in and for the necessitie of water whereof they must make prouision so as he continued long irresolute The armie was lodged vpon the sea shore hauing on the one side fortified their lodging with rampiers of earth and waggons on the two other sides the sea and the towne serued them for trenches It remained in this estate fifteene daies during which the Portugals landing with their King had so troubled all the prouince that the Moores that are neighbours to the sea townes as Alarache Tituan and others were resolued not to make any resistance but to abandon their townes and had alreadie transported their poore wealth with their wiues to the mountaines But Mulei Moluc being at Marrock had before both from Portugall Cadiz and Arzilla very particular aduertisement of the King of Portugals preparation and of the quantitie and qualitie of his men wherewith he was greatly mooued seeming vnto him that Sebastian pretended to depriue him of his kingdome being a Moore to giue it to another Moore no more friend to him then he was without any pretext or iudgement to whom of them the estate did iustly appertaine And seeing the accord with the Catholique King tooke not the effect he desired he resolued vpon his defence but weighing how much better an ill peace is then a iust warre and discerning well the discommodities great charge and dangers it drawes with it he laboured first to compound with him making offer to the King to giue him tenne miles of the countrey lying about his fortresses in Affrick for tillage But Sebastian who was of another conceite made him answere that he had beene at great charge in leuying of forreine forces and therefore he coulde not desist from the enterprise vnlesse he would yeeld him Tituan Alarache and Cape D'Aghero This demaund seemed too excessiue to the Moore and therefore made answere that hee must pause thereon although the siege were before Moroca and that the King should offer to giue him in counterchange Mulei Mahamet his capitall enimie That he had conquered those Realmes with his sword and policie and ment to defend them with all his forces He commaunded presently Rhodeuano his purueyor generall a Portugall Renegado to bring to field all his Tents and Pauillions the which was perfourmed the next day beeing in number aboue 4000. The sixe and twentith of May he went towards Suse the chiefe citie being Northward from Moroca to giue order in those parts for certaine things there concerning the warre But hauing intelligence vpon the way that the King of Portugall was issued out of Lisbone he returned suddenly to Moroca where hauing left the said Rhodeuano as his Vizeroy he assembled those men of war he commonly keepes in paye in that Realme he lodged his campe at Camis and from thence came in three daies to Temisnam townes which lye towards the frontriers of Portugall where he fell sicke with great castings and a fit of an Ague There he vnderstood that Sebastian was come to Cadiz and although he were verie sicke yet continuing his course he went to Salé with 14000 horse and 2500. Harquebuzers whereof one thousand were on horsebacke the rest on foot the most part of Andelousia Renegados Here he vnderstood the Portugals were arriued at Arzilla and therefore hauing passed the riuer of Marmore at a foord hauing caused some quantity of mettal to be brought from Moroco he cast fower pieces of great cannon in his campe three of them with certaine other peeces he drew with him the other he sent to Moroco marching himselfe towards Alcasar Mulei Hemet his bastard brother gouernour of the kingdome of Fesse was alreadie come to field by his commandement as generall of the horse of that prouince and hauing assembled all the souldiers both horse and foote thereabouts was come to the place which they call the faire of Thursday sixe miles neere to Alcazarquiuir where he expected his brother to ioyne their armies togither hauing two and twentie thousand horse and fiue thousand fiue hundreth foote There Moluc arriued the xxiiij of Iuly so sicke that he coulde scarse endure on horsebacke who hauing marched long in his Litter seeing his brother a farre off he tooke his horse to meete him when they approched the one to the other Mulei Hemet put spurres to his horse and being come neere his brother he lighted and kissed the ground in signe of humilitie the whole armie giuing a great volley of shotte His sicknes encreasing daily Mulei Moluc entred not with pompe as the manner was into his lodging but returning to his Litter seated his brother in his place to effect his entrie himselfe going before to take his lodging And forasmuch as he vnderstood that Sebastian had sent Mulei Cheque with troopes to Mazagon he dispatched Mulei Dan his nephew with two thousand horse and some foote to make head least he should indomage those quarters Toward Cape D'Aghere and Alarache he likewise sent men but hearing that Sebastian was disimbarked at Arzilla they returned to the campe Moluc was a man couragious hardie and free in wordes seeming to make small account of the Portugals he saide openly that whosoeuer went not willingly with him he shoulde retire suffering any freely to depart that were more friend to Mulei Mahamet
slaughter of you all and the slauerie of himselfe But the deceit is apparant to you all there remaines nothing but that you oppose your valour which shall fight in a most iust cause You shall repell iniuries from your families maintaine your liberties preserue your liues and win honor and conquering or dying in what sort soeuer you shall gaine Paradise Moluc would haue spoken more but his souldiers interrupted him crying that he should presently lead them against the Portugals whereupon he held his peace retyring himselfe into his Littor in the midst of the circle of his Armie where were his colours and his guard In the meane time the Christian Armie marched on and approached neere the enemie in an open Champion which the Moores cal Tamiza When as Moluc halfe dead viewing this weake Armie approach in so small a number being not aboue 12000. foote he gaue order they should not flie as he had resolued before that seeming assured of the victorie there might few eseape And therefore extending the hornes of his croissant and the troupes of his horse he drew them into a large circuit keeping his men rounde about a cannon shot from the enimie he inuironed all the Portugals campe ioyned the two hornes at the backe of the rereward making it an ouall circle hauing thus inuironed it he then straitened it drawing his troupes more close togither so cunning were these barbarous people so as the Christians Armie being compassed in of all sides with their horse the Moores footmen stood in front to stop their passage They continued long in this estate the Moores discharged their artillerie at a reasonable distance the which though it did a little indomage them some bullets passing thorowe the rankes yet did it no great matter of importance The Portugals fearfull and amased imagining vpon the first moouing of the Moores that they dislodged to depart seeing thēselues inuironed did likewise discharge their cannon but with so great disorder and so much out of season as it did small hurt And forasmuch as the Moores hauing charged their cannon againe began to play although to small effect yet the Portugals were so much terrified that vpon sight of the fire they fell all to the ground wherewith the King least the artillerie shoulde any more annoy the Portugals and augment their feare gaue signe to the battaile whereat the squadrons of the auantguard and of the horse did iointly mooue with woonderfull force and great valour then their footemen encountred the Moores who came to it resolutely for that the Andalusians desirous to reuenge olde wrongs did their best endeuors The auantguard did so withstand their force that although the fight was in equall ballance whilest the shot plaied yet when they came to handie blowes the Moores had the woorst for they were thrice broken and put to flight with the losse of their colours But for that their number was great the battaile was still renewed by their Commaunders with fresh troupes and newe order In the rereward they likewise charged Frauncis de Tauora with the regiment of Diego Lopez de Sequiera where for a while they resisted weakely Those in the middest were the last that fell to armes But Moluc gaue them no long time of rest for he sent to assaile Vasco de Sylueire and Michael de Norogna on both sides so as at one instant they fought on all partes These made weaker resistance then the rest for that some of them casting cowardly away their armes and falling on their knees yeelded to the discretion of the Moores who for the most part deuided their heads with their Cimiters in recompence of their base yeelding The combate being hot on all sides the circle of the Moores horse their squadrons that were behinde drew neere and first charged the auantguard where they found their succours were more necessarie then in any other part for that the Italians and Castillians had cut in peeces a great number of the Moores and of their best men pressing the Christians armie on all sides they coulde approch without any disorder of their owne who nowe growne fearefull began to loose grounde and to shrinke togither to the great discontentment of the King who for any labour of his coulde not containe them in their rankes As these Moorish horsemen began to mooue the Portugals horse that were accustomed to liue in those frontiers the Moores of the Cheriffe Mahamet and the Duke of Auero with his triangle did valiantly march towards them charging the first they mette greatly endomaging them and put their horsemen on that side to flight This happie beginning of victorie lasted little for whilest the Duke who commanded the greatest number did fight hand to hand he discouered on the one side not farre from him a great troupe of the enimies horse the which he durst not attende doubting his owne strength but turning head followed expresly the chase of those that were before him thinking to returne to the fight with greater aduantage as indeede he did for turning his horse he went to charge them that came to encounter him in flanke but finding him selfe ouercharged on euery side wanting courage to withstand them and turning his horses violently pressed by the enimie he found no place of retrait among the squadrons but rushing through the rankes of the Germaines some part of the horse entring amongst the foote bredde a great confusion and being vnable to relieue themselues they wrought no other effect but disordered their friends who were after lesse able to resist the enimies horse and foote that came to charge them On the other side of the armie where stoode the Standerd roiall and the rest of the horse which set forwarde somewhat slower they made a great slaughter of Moores although the King were not present being gone towarde the vanguard whom they pursued euen vnto their artillerie But being succoured by one of the squadrons that were behinde them the Moores returned furiously vnto the fight so as in short time it hapned vnto the Portugals that were in that part as to their other horse whose successe was so much the woorse for that on the outside they were charged by the Moores and within their foote were disordered by their horse who had the charge on the other side and all amazed fledde so as in a moment all was confounded the Portugals horse remained disordered and dispersed shewing small courage and lesse discipline for although it were full of Nobilitie and men of resolution yet were there many yoong men sent by their fathers who not expecting they shoulde come to fight were the cause of this disorder so as in one place you shoulde see men of one squadron both fight valiantly and flie away cowardly not being pursued yet the Commaunders of the horse and some others turning face to the enimies they both by words and effect encouraged the rest and slewe some that fled But as their number was small and the amasement great they preuailed
in it some of them for the desire of gaine and others for that they could not call in that which they had lent to Gentlemen and souldiers by reason whereof all were in heauines euerie one seemed to foretell the losse of such friends and goods he had in Affrick and although they stoode yet doubtfull yet might you vnderstand their secret sighes The Catholique King aduertised of the successe of Affrick and of that which was treated in Portugall sent thither presently Christopher de Mora a Portugall at that time a Gentleman sewer one of those which went into Castil with the Princesse mother of Sebastian He carried with him two Commissions the one was to visite Henrie and to let him vnderstande the King woulde presently sende to him another personage for the ful perfourmance of that office The other was to sounde the harts of the Portugals for the which hee was thought best able being there borne and well vnderstanding the state of the Realme They gaue him not the title of an Embassador for that being doubtfull of the life or death of Iohn de Sylua who was in Affrick with that charge the King woulde not yet appoint any other Mulei Hamet before his going to Maroc desirous to make the Catholique King his friend sent to that effect to present him the same peace that had beene betwixt Moluc and him offering him in gift the bodie of King Sebastian which he helde prisoner This Embassadour being arriued in the Court of Castill the King heard it willingly and although he accepted the deliuerie of his Embassage yet woulde he not receiue the Kings bodie but appointed it shoulde be consigned to the Portugals and therefore Andrew Gasper Corse in the name of the saide Cheriffe did consigne it by publike act to the gouernour of Ceuta for the Catholique King who at the same time to requite the Moores bountie sent Peter Venegas of Cordube for his Agent into Affrick with a present of stones valued at a hundreth thousand duckats as well to continue the treaties of peace as to demaund the Duke of Barcellos the which he graunted and sent him after free to the frontiers In this time the Cardinall came to Lisbone at whose arriuall they published this heauie newes so as this inward and generall sorrow which was suppressed by the vncertaintie of the report encreased and burst foorth into teares and lamentations I cannot well describe the generall sorrow how all things were filled with sighes how euerie man was ouerladen with mourning It was a pitifull thing to heare the women whereof the most noble in their houses from whence you might heare the noise and the rest in the streetes powring foorth their cries and teares vnto heauen the which they redoubled so often as the newes was confirmed by any newe aduertisement And as it often happens that mindes supprest doe oftentimes turne to superstition so they and likewise many men did not beleeue what was saide but hoping beyond all hope and trusting more then they shoulde although it were verified vnto them that their husbands and kinsfolkes were dead yet woulde they haue them still liuing and deceiued by sorcerers and witches but most of all by their owne desires remained long without their widdowes habite expecting in vaine newes of him which was passed into an other life Many men complained and some cursed the King and such as suffered him to goe into Affrick one blames the King himselfe an other his fauorites some the Cardinal and some the Chambér of Lisbone who had not hindered so foolish a resolution some did see that Portugall was neere her last period and with their own miserie lamented their countries The Gouernours yeelded their gouernment to the Cardinall who by the Nobles and Magistrates was sworne Gouernour and future successour to King Sebastian The which was done to quiet the people expecting a better confirmation of this newes from Affrick which staied not long but was verified from all partes And therefore they resolued to finish the ceremonie which they haue accustomed in bewailing their King dead and to breake their Scutchions which was this There parted from the Magistrates house a Citizen on horsebacke couered himselfe and his Horse all in blacke with a great Ensigne in his hande likewise of blacke bearing it vppon his shoulder that it might traile on the grounde After him followed three olde men on foote in mourning weedes with three scutchions in their hands like bucklers or targets bearing them high vpon their heades without any figure of them but all blacke Then followed some Citizens of the same Magistrates and other inferiours in great numbers All these went through the principall streetes of Lisbone and comming to the steps of the Cathedrall Church which is neere to the place from whence they parted those which holde the scutchions mount vp certaine degrees and one amongst them lifting vp his target cries with a loude voice People of Lisbone lament your King Sebastian who is dead Then all the people weepes and cries Hauing ended his words he breakes his Scutchion as a fraile thing striking it on the place where he standes Then proceede they on and being come to the newe streete ascending the staires of the little Church of our Ladie of Oliuera an other of them which carries the Scutchions pronounceth the same wordes the former had done and breakes his Scutchion in the same manner The like is done by the thirde vpon the staires of the Hospitall So as all the three Scutchions were broken in these three places and then they returne from whence they came At this time Christopher d' Mora arriued at Lisbone who desirous to deliuer his Embassage from the King vnto the Cardinall was not permitted for Henrie I know not the reason would giue him no audience before he was sworne King Therefore they made haste to performe ordinarie ceremonies which done the King did heare him louingly and he remained in the Realme executing the charge his master had inioyned him The forme of the oath was done in this manner The xxv of August the Hospitall Church of all Saints was hanged with tapestrie of silke in the which they erected a little scaffold on the which they placed a seate of cloth of golde thither came the King in the morning in the habite of a Cardinall going from the pallace there marched before him eight Attabales or drums on horsebacke after the Moresco manner and nine Harolds all on horsebacke carrying vpon their cloakes their coates of Armes after followed on foote almost all the officers of the Courte those of the Chamber and other Magistrates behinde them was the Duke of Bragance on horsebacke bare headed bearing in his hande a sworde with a scabberd of golde as Constable a little after came the Cardinall vpon a Mule the which Aluaro de Silua Counte of Portalegro Lord Steward of his houshold ledde by the reines there followed after many Noblemen and Gentlemen on horsebacke
incensed against his Nephew he proceeded still against him So as within short time he pronounced a newe sentence not as a Iudge substitute by his holines but as an absolute king that it might not be subiect to any appeale supposing by this meanes seeing hee coulde not cast him into prison he shoulde banish him the Realme Wherin repeating his faults his absence his contumacy his disobedience with the premisses as was that he had made to drawe the Nobilitie people to follow his faction he depriued him of all his iurisdictions preheminences honors prerogatiues liberties graces and what other recompence soeuer he had from the kings his predecessors commaunding he shoulde be rased out of the bookes and not paide any thing not holding him for a naturall borne but a forraine to these Realmes He pronounced the like against such as shoulde aide him lodge him or any way treate with him He commaunded him to depart the Realme within fifteene daies saying it was expedient for the seruice of God of him and the peoples quiet But notwithstanding this sentence so seuere yet was it not of force to expell the Prior for being wel beloued of his friendes and common people he remained safely in secret And although for a shew onely he had retired him selfe into a monasterie of Castill yet he staied not long there onely to procure a certificate as he did of his departure whereof king Philip being aduertised he was aduised by some to take him prisoner both to be assured of him to please Henry but he thought it not then conuenient whereof after he repented him for Anthonie being returned againe into Portugall it was generally thought that he was ill affected and grieued with the king for the sentence he had pronounced against him Henry grew fearefull he shoulde attempt something against his person which so encreased that besides his ordinarie guard he raised certaine cōmpanies of souldiers for the assurance of himselfe and his Courte a thing at any time vnseene in that Realme At this time the Embassadors of Philip had made Henry capable of his title hauing laide before him both the good and euill which might ensue by giuing and taking from him the crowne who being enclined to do iustice mooued therewithall with the feare of war hauing wel considered the matter and laid aside all affection which made him inclinable to Katherine he resolued with all his power to giue it vnto Philip by the best meanes he coulde deuise And hauing imparted this his meaning to the Duke of Ossuna and Christopher de Mora he said he woulde ende the cause by way of composition betwixt Philip and the Realme without proceeding vnto sentence Prouided alwaies that the Catholique king shoulde graunt certaine priuileges not dispose the offices of gouernment and iustice but vnto the naturall Portugals and giue certaine graces exemptions to the generall good of the Realme Heere plainly appeered the errour of Henry who hauing cited all the pretendents and brought the matters to tearmes of iustice thought it after wards more conuenient to come to composition with Philip which shoulde haue beene formerly done if it were to be done These capitulations were sent vnto Philip to Madrill whom Henry entreated to keepe them secret as one that feared a contrarie disposition in the people And although hee were not ignorant howe hard the quiet execution of this his will woulde be by reason of the people and some Gentlemen of contrary faction yet commaunded he it shoulde be propounded to the states with all the mildenes it might be Some hold that father Leon Anriquez of the order of Iesuits the kings Confessour was rather the cause of this his vnexpected resolution then the practises of the Catholique kings ministers and that from him in whom the King did greatly trust proceeded his first inclination to the Dutchesse of Bragance but fearing the indignation of Philip he turned the thoughts of Henry to fauour his title By means whereof in October 1579. he called againe the deputies of the Cities and other estates vpon colour to impart vnto them a matter of importance Philip disallowed this resolution of Henry to assemble the States for being assured of the small affection the Portugals bare him he was most assured that assembling them togither they woulde neuer agree to yeelde him the Crowne and therefore hee aduised the King without any other assembly to declare a successor seeing in the last Estates held at Lisbone the whole Realme had giuen him full power the which if he would vse in this controuersie of the Realme and not make any new conuocation of Deputies he shoulde write to euery citie in particular his intention and aduise thinking it more easie to perswade them deuided then vnited in one body But Henry not daring effect it did sollicite the comming of the Deputies In Italy seeing the Catholique King a little before assemble so great forces they made diuers coniectures thereof they furnished the places of ordinarie suspect with newe garrisons some beleeued he that had entred league with the Cheriffe Mulei Hamet that both iointly togither would attempt Alger supposing the Moores had propounded this enterprise for feare of the Turkes and that the king with his aide woulde expell them from thence being so necre neighbour vnto Spaine The Pope vnderstanding the contrarietie in Portugall seeing the Catholique King prepare so greatly to armes he commaunded Philip Sega his Nuncio in Castillia to say vnto him that although he knewe these preparatiues of warres were against Infidels yet seeing the estate wherein Portugall stoode it might bee supposed it was intended against that Realme and being dangerous to come to armes and to stirre vppe the humours which cannot be setled at pleasure hee offred himselfe to be a mediatour betwixt him and Henry and to settle this busines peaceablie The king accepted the Popes offer in generall words entertaining his Nuncio with delaies without giuing him any resolute answer for that as it was saide many things did trouble his minde concerning this action He considered of the one side that being of good yeeres and his heires but yoong enioying except the state of Flaunders all his countries quietly it was not fitte to stirre vp humours in Spaine besides being fearefull to other nations they woulde not willingly see him augment his dominions he doubted that in busying himselfe in Portugall some woulde then take occasion to breede some alteration in his territories and therefore hee willingly gaue eare to any treatie of peace On the otherside he was not well assured of the Popes disposition seeming he shoulde preiudice his title to put it to compremise besides that to former presidents he woulde not willingly adde this of new to acknowledge the Apostolike seate as a iudge of Realmes He thought it lesse danger to attend the sentence of Henry then of any other for pronouncing it hauing not acknowledged him for iudge he was not bounde to obey if it were in
suffered it may be of God for our sinnes proceeded not from any corruption of the Aire but from infection and was brought into the Realme by men and merchandise from countries infected for the citie being a great part vnwalled and of great traffique it could not easily be guarded The naturall inclination of the aire the filch of the citie their feeding of fish which all generally do vse and the ill order nay the great disorder of the magistrate of the health in separating the sicke from the whole and in all other things touching his charge did helpe to increase it The suddennes wherewith it did infect and kill in a manner all those that did frequent the sicke as fire doth in powder strooke a great terrour in the citizens their remedies and diets were most vncertaine for although that many did phisicke themselues diuersly and were gouerned in sundrie manners yet there died infinite numbers of all qualities experience did teach that the application of lenitiue things the drinking of Vnicornes horne and the Bezars stone were most soueraigne remedies yet to manie it did no good The greatest part of the Nobilitie and of such as had ability to do it retyred themselues to their gardaines and farmes in the countrey where although the whole countrey were infected yet did they seeme to liue more assured or at the least out of the infection from the horrible spectacle of dead bodies which were howerly seene in the citie where the mortalitie grew so great that there was nothing to be seene but Beeres with dead bodies for the buriall whereof the churchyards being full they were forced to vse the streets and fieldes At this time were assembled in the citie of Almerin where the king remained all the Deputies of the Realme being called thither The citie of Lisbone made election of Emanuell of Portugall and Diego Salema who went not but were reiected of the King as seditious and depriued of their offices in whose place they made choise of Phoebus Moniz and Emanuel de Sosa pacheco The said Salema was not beloued of the king for that before as Vereador of the citie of Lisbone he saide vnto the king that they vnderstoode he went about not onely to iudge to whom the Realme appertained but also to make a composition the which he ought not to doe without hearing the people whereunto the King hauing answered that the people was not capable of this matter he replied that he woondered the king shoulde iudge this people incapable whom he had held to be most sufficient to raise him to the crowne wherewith Henry was greatly mooued This alteration of Deputies ministred matter of discourse vnto the worlde for it seemed the King had declared himselfe against the people and that not accepting their election of Deputies he woulde drawe by force from the States what he pleased but such as knewe the true reason and howe that Emanuell and all those of the house of Portugall deserued in this case to bee repelled commended this act These were suspect forasmuch as Iohn of Portugall Bishop of Guarda brother to the saide Emanuell alwaies esteemed more then he was woulde not onely precead his equals but did scarce beare any respect vnto the Cardinall before he was king whereof grew a great hart burning so as the Cardinall to debase him hauing drawne foorth a certaine information of his ill behauiour libertie of life and ill gouernment in his Bishopricke sent it to Rome so as the Bishop as it were forced went to his holines to purge himselfe Hee was much grieued with this crosse for passing by the court of Castill the Catholique King being infourmed of his voyage woulde not suffer him to visite him although he were entreated so as now although the Cardinall were come vnto the Crowne their hatred continued and hauing no other meanes of reuenge then to oppose himselfe to his resolutions seeing him enclined to giue the Realme to the Catholique king he laboured all he coulde to let it by meanes whereof he seemed at one instant to be reuenged of two kings for the effecting whereof there conspired togither the Bishop Emanuell his brother Franncis earle of Vimioso his nephew for the cōtrarieties that both Alphonse his father and he had with the Cardinall with other their kinsfolkes and friendes fauouring Anthony Prior of Crato they resolued to make him king trusting to the peoples humors But King Henry hauing discerned the equitie of the Catholique kings cause resolued as it is said to giue him the Realme hauing assembled the States he sent Paule Alphonse a doctor in whom he reposed great trust to Villa Vizosa whereas the Duke and the Dutchesse of Bragance remained giuing them to vnderstande that finding the succession of the Realme to appertaine to Philip and that they were vpon the point to pronounce sentence in his fauour he did aduertise them in time to the end they might make their composition with him But hauing made small account of this aduertisement interpreting it otherwise they did not embrace the occasion the which was likewise represented vnto them by the Catholique king In this time the Estates were begun in the pallace of Almeryn the ninth of Ianuary in the kings presence who being very sicke was brought in his chaire whereas Anthony Pignero bishop of Leiria an eloquent Orator made the oration enriched with a goodly stile saying That the Kings thoughts were bent to procure the generall good of al Christendome the preseruation and encrease of our holie Catholique faith and the peace and tranquillitie of his subiects for the effecting of that which concernes his charge to follow the examples of kings his predecessors progenitors conformeable to the actions of his life passed considering with sound iudgement great experience wise discourse how much it doth import the generall good to declare during his life to whom the lawfull succession of the Realme did appertaine he did apply all his care to the decision of that cause with so great study and zeale that not suffering himselfe any way to be interrupted with the many graue and extraordinary affaires nor by the trouble of his long infirmity he had with the helpe of God brought it to that estate that it might speedily be declared as they had required and ought generally to wish for And seeing the finall decision of the cause was brought to that issue it seemed conuenient to the king to assemble the States and to communicate vnto them some points of great importance for the seruice of God and the good and quiet of these Realmes as they shoulde vnderstande by that which shoulde be particularly deliuered vnto them by his commandement He exhorted them that vsing the my steries which had been presented lately to al faithfull Christians with praiers sacrifices workes of deuotion and charitie they shoulde dispose themselues to receiue the light of that heauenly wisedome which God doth alwaies impart to such as frame
discouering their intention said it was fit they should all stay at Saint Arem so as fearing to giue greater cause to suspect they coulde not depart They added moreouer that leauing the Prior there with the deputies in a time when as the Catholique king should begin to take armes they might in their absence vnder colour of defence erect a tyrannie So as ignorant what course to take or how to redresse things they did being friends by their irresolution more hurt to the Catholique king then they coulde haue done being enimies for the king hoping these woulde haue deliuered him the crowne proceeded slowly with his armie At that time it chanced that Iohn Gonzalez de Camera Earle of Caglietta died of the plague at Almeryn so as the Gouernors tooke this occasion to depart from thence and went to Settuual with the Duke of Bragance the Agents of the Catholique King and others of their faction for hauing created captaines placed a garrison they cōmanded the gates to be guarded The Catholique King hauing assembled his armie neere to Badagios receiued aduertisement that his nauie was at Saint Marie porte ready to set saile before they should enter into Portugall not yet well satisfied with the diligence he had vsed as it is saide with many Diuines desired to consult againe in the Vniuersitie of Alcala where the profession of Diuinitie flourisheth most in those realmes vpon his entrie in armes into the realme and the proposition made by the Portugall Embassadors And to that effect hauing assembled all the doctors being in number aboue thirtie hauing made their praiers and supplications vnto God in their sacrifices and the matter considered by euery one apart it was disputed of in three sessions For although the matter were not hard to decide yet was it graue and new All without any disagreement concurre in opinion with the first with whom the King had consulted without viewing of their reasons they sent a publike decree vnto the King There was propounded vnto them three articles I he first that the King being certaine to succeed by right after the death of King Henry to the realmes of Portugall whether he were in conscience bound to submit himselfe to any tribunall iudge or arbitrator who might adiudge him the realmes or put him in possession thereof The second was that the realme of Portugall refusing to acknowledge him for their Prince vnlesse he woulde first stande to iudgement with the pretendents Whether he may of his owne authoritie take possession thereof by force against such as shall make resistance presupposing that there is no doubt or scruple of conscience in his title whatsoeuer The thirde was that the Gouernours of Portugall alleaging that they and the whole realme haue sworne not to receiue any for King but him that shoulde be iudicially so declared and that they may not receiue the King otherwise the rather for that the pretendents complaine and offer to stande to iudgement He desired to know if the saide Gouernors and the whole realme may pretend this oath for an excuse not to receiue him for King To the first they answered that the King was not bound in conscience to submit himselfe to any Iustice or arbitrement seeing that he had of himseife priuate authoritie to adiudge vnto himselfe those realmes and to take possession They excluded especially from this authoritie of iudging all Princes and such as might pretend to take any knowledge thereof And first humblie saluting the Pope and the Apostolike sea they denied that this iurisdiction did appertaine vnto him the cause being meerelie temporall and nothing concurring where by his holines should vse that indirect authoritie which he hath in temporall causes so farre foorth as they concerne the spirituall good They shewed he was not bounde to the censure of the Emperour for that the Kings of Spaine were soueraignes not acknowledging the Emperour in any thing and much lesse to any other King They prooued he was not subiect to the common-wealth nor the realmes of Portugul saying That when as common wealthes doe choose their first King vpon condition to obey him and his successors they remaine subiect vnto him to whom they haue transferred their authoritie no iurisdiction remaining in them either to iudge the realme or the true successor seeing in the first election all the true successors were chosen Being therefore most apparant there is a true successour it followeth that the common wealth of Portugall hath no iurisdiction to iudge of him that doth truely succeede and that the King hath as great a warrant not to be subiect to the censure of this common wealth as he hath to be true successour And as touching the eleuen persons of the fower and twentie which King Henry had named they saide that Henry himselfe coulde not be iudge of him that did succeede after him for that after his death the office of administring iustice was expired and all his authoritie and iurisdiction past vnto his lawfull successor Against arbitrators they spake little onely that the bond of cōpremise had no place when as the equitie of the cause was not doubtfull as it was supposed They answered them which saide that the King had no interest to the realme of Portugall as King of Castill but as kinseman to King Henry by reason whereof he coulde not in this case challenge the preheminence he hath as King of Castill saying that this imaginarie diuision cannot bee made in the person of the King for it is so annexed to the dignitie royall that his person cannot be wronged but the dignitie woulde suffer And seeing the Prince may lawfully make war vpon an other Realme for iniuries done to his brothers and friends confederats with greater reason may he do it in taking possession of a Realme which appertaines lawfully vnto himselfe They made answer to such as said that obseruing the ciuill canon law a matter litigious should be iudged where it happeneth and therfore this shoulde bee decided in Portugall saying that these decisions speake of particular persons who haue their superiour Iudges and not of soueraigne Princes and their dependancies To the seconde article they answered with more reasons then vnto the first saying the King was not bound to any thing but to signifie vnto the Gouernours his Title and certaine interest to the Crowne and if notwithstanding this demonstration they should make resistance then the King by his owne authoritie might take possession of the Realme vsing if neede required force of armes for that in this action it can not bee termed force but a naturall defence of the Realme which is his owne and a iust punishment of Rebels To the third they said that this oath could not binde them that had vndertaken to obserue it seeing it is most certaine that neither in Portugall nor else where any iudge may determine this cause with the King Moreouer that this oath is to the preiudice of his prerogatiue royall and as this oath did not
But Anthony arriuing soone after making his praiers a little without the doore of the chappell the two Bishops went out to meete him with their Rochets to hallow the foundation of the fortresse but the ceremonie was no sooner begun but that Anthony Barachio an impudent fellow holding a handkerchiefe vpon the point of his sword proclaimed Anthony King being followed with great noise and acclamations almost of all the companie who to assure themselues of such as were not of that faction or to shew a certaine valour drewe their swordes At that time Anthony faining a certaine modestie or thrust forwarde by his owne irresolution cried no no and stept forward as it were to stay the people Peter Coutigno captaine of that place with choler woulde haue stopt their cries saying that the Prior desired not to be called king but this preuailed nothing for Baracchio bending his pistol against the captaine put him to silence by reason whereof he departed Anthony whether it were for feare to see so many naked weapons about him or that raised by such a meanes to that dignitie bringes feare with it he was amased and trembled giuing notable signes to his followers who helping him to horse at the first steppe he stumbled and almost fell in signe of presaging ill All the Nobilitie that was present followed him on foote bare headed as King And although a great part of the people were vnaduisedly come thither yet all followed him From thence the Prior went to the church and from the church to the house of the Magistrate where finding the gates shut he brake them open and was there solemnly confirmed King with ordinarie actes and writings the which were signed by all the Gentlemen Portugals that were present and Emanuel de Costa Borges with a standerd in his hande pronounced with a loude voice these wordes Reale Reale as their custome is Being then returned to his lodging he prepared to go to Lisbone there to be proclaimed King as the principall place of the realme In the meane time Velasco was come to Oliuenza where entering without stay by night the xix of Iune he was lodged by Diego de Vasconcellos at the request of the Passani of Eluas and hauing the day following requested the magistrate and the Nobilitie to assemble themselues in the Church of Pitie there to receiue certaine letters from the king being all assembled he deliuered them the which were publikely read finding them full of curtesies The conclusion was to sweare him king Velasco pressed them to answere briefly But as of light occasions sometimes grow important matters so did it here for the Nobilitie of this place being diuided into two contrarie factions the one was called Loby and Gama the other Matt s it chaunced that the letters which the king had written vnto the Nobilitie were by meere fortune first deliuered into the hands of the Loby whereof the contrarie faction made a sinister construction and the rather for that Velasco was lodged in the house of one of that faction They resolued to contradict all their aduersaries should propound And for as much as at that instant there were more of the familie of the Matti in office then of the Loby seeing their enimies inclined to giue place vnto the king they began to oppose themselues and without making answere to the letter they sent with all speede to the gouernours and presently after going to the lodging of Velasco they saide vnto him that they could not giue answere in a matter of so great importance without good aduise and aduertising of the gouernours demaunding fower daies libertie whereunto Peter answering that he could giue them no longer time then the next day morning they departed vnsatisfied saying that they feared nothing for that God would succour them where with Velasco discontented woulde haue sent Fratyn an Italian Ingeneur who was then with him to the Duke of Alua to request him to sende some troupes of soldiers within the view of the place to terrifie them yet being aduised by his friendes that were Portugals and finding the people affected to the king he staied The faction of Lâ—by with all their followers seeing the contradiction of the magistrate assembled themselues in councell making an acte in writing signed by them all whereby they protested that they were readie to obey the king In this time Marke Anthonie Iustinian a gentleman of Genoa friend vnto Velasco and kinseman to the Lâ—by aduised him to leaue his lodging and to talke to the people in the streetes winning them with faire words the which hauing effected and gathering a great multitude about him hee made vnto them a long discourse shewing the profit they should receiue in yeelding obedience vnto the king and the hurt in following the opinion of the magistrate seeing there was a mightie armie so neare them wherewith the people who were easily changed seemed content and following him to the Church of the holie Ghost where the Nobilitie was assembled Velasco entred and saide vnto them My maisters what shall we doe To whom Frier Aluaro in the name of the whole assemblie answered that they were readie to serue his Maiestie Then Iustinian raising Velasco from the ground proclaimed the kings name the which was followed by the whole Nobilitie and likewise by the people who going to the house of the magistrate they called for the Iudge and the Vereadors vpon great penaltie who vnderstanding the people was mutined and that Philip was proclaimed king they were afraide and went to yeeld their obedience the which the castell did likewise perfourming the ordinarie actes and ceremonies Velasco offering in the kings name many exemptions In this manner but more quietly in other places all this frontier did yeeld as Serpa Mora Campo maior Arronghez Portalegre and in other places about the realme they vsed the like diligence At this time Anthony was gone from Saint Arem to Lisbone the Gouernors seeing that succeed which they had long foretolde did fortifie at Settuual with the Duke of Bragance and the Embassadors of the Catholique King fearing the new King would march to them They neglected the defence of Lisbone supposing that Peter de Cugna captaine thereof and Iohn Teglio who as is said was at Belem with their procuration woulde prouide for it as they had commanded them and had sent two officers of Iustice to perswade the Citizens to make resistance But the said Teglio who it may be with greater zeale then iudgement was one of those that woulde haue the cause determined vnderstanding that Anthony was proclaimed king was greatly discontented for that of force hee must leaue the gouernment and make his peace with King Philip with greater difficultie if he shoulde now seeke it Besides that Anthony did not acknowledge the crowne from him and therefore greatly mooued seeming also vnto him that as Gouernour he did wrong his companions they being at Settuual and he at Belem to suffer the Prior so easily to
become Lord of Lisbone without blowes he treated touching the defence thereof being perswaded thereunto by the Magistrate who requested him to enter the citie to that end protesting that if the Prior tooke possession it shoulde not be their fault which coulde not hinder it but his who could and would not By meanes whereof although but coldly he assembled many companies of peasants thereabouts the which he sent for the guard of the citie and to hinder the Priors entrie He commaunded Peter de Cugna to take care for the defence thereof being resolute not to enter himselfe and hauing called to Councell the Gentlemen that were present they resolued to send with speed to Anthony Diego de Sosa and Frauncis de Meneses entreating him not to enter into Lisbone nor to call himselfe King but onely Protector being a name more fit for all occasions that might happen And although they went with this commission yet many aduised Teglio that notwithstanding all these demonstrations he should not hinder the course of the Priors good fortune so as wauering in his opinions not resoluing in any thing he was cause that the souldiers or peasants that were raised about the citie hauing neither order nor commission from the Gouernors knew not what to do whether to accompanie the Prior or hinder his entrie for that Emanuel of Portugal who had proiected to make the Prior King laboured to preuent all their resolutions and hauing resolued he purposely made their executions vaine Peter de Cugna saide that if Iohn Teglio woulde not oppose himselfe in person that he woulde not accomplish it being his inferior whereunto Teglio replied that it was the captaines dutie either of them excusing themselues vpon the other both with seuerall intents The Prior drew neere to Lisbone but he was in danger neuer to come there for neere to Sacaben which is sixe miles from the citie staying in the fielde to speake with Frauncis de Almeda his friende there was a Harquebuse discharged at him wherewith Frauncis was slaine and no man able to discouer from whence it came they supposed it was intended against the Prior himselfe Soone after he arriued at the citie with a small troupe especially of the Nobilitie hauing fewe other with him but Diego de Sosa and Frauncis de Meneses and therefore they suffred him freely to enter being of al those that mette him proclaimed king There were fewe at that time within the citie both by reason of the plague and for that many helde not themselues in safetie seeing the realme in diuision on the one side the Catholique king entred with a mightie armie on the other side were the Gouernors in a manner conformeable to the saide King lastly was the Prior being poore alone ill aduised made King by a handfull of the base people So as there was not any of the Iustice or Nobilitie that went to visite him and of the superior magistrates there was but one Vereador to be founde the rest being hidden Notwithstanding he went to the pallace vpon the riuer wherof he tooke peaceable possession as also of the Arcynal and storehouse of armes he created a newe purueior and newe officers of Iustice and newe Vereadors supplying all other offices that were voide From thence he went to the Towne-house to be proclaimed King with ordinarie ceremonies all the principall of the citie being assembled to whom Emanuel Fonsequa Nobrega a doctor of a bolde spirite spake in this manner I see grauen in your countenances the ioy and content which is conceiued in your harts hauing attained to this so happie a daie wherein you sweare him king whom you so much desire I account all words friuolous to animate you thereunto I may speake vnto you with courage for that your desires exceede my eloquence I know that euery small delay doth not onely grieue you but also greatly displease you that any other shoulde effect that first which you haue so much wished and which was fitte you shoulde haue done seeing that from this citie as principall the rest of the realme shoulde take their lawe But be as ioyfull and willing to this acte as you please be my wordes neuer so superfluous yet encouraged by dutie and loue I must briefely deliuer vnto you my aduise I will not make any particular repetition of his afflictions nor with what iudgement he hath surmounted them being infinite and the time shorte Let it suffice you to vnderstande as you doe that by a fatall destinie he hath alwaies encountred against the proud arrogancie of this world For as vertues be by reason of our sinnes most commonly hatefull to princes in this age and vices cherished as vertuous and nobly minded he hath alwaies beene hated and oppressed So as sometimes tearming him a bastard somtimes preferring those whom he shoulde precead they laboured by all meanes to blemish that glory that did shine in him I will lay aside the disgraces he suffred with king Sebastian at his departure for Affricke which others woulde haue taken for an excuse to staie yet acquainted with the frownes of fortune although he did iudicially foresee that he went to his ruine he chose rather with so great danger of his person following the rashnes of an other to remaine a slaue vnto the Moores then to blemish his honour with any reproch how small soeuer He remained prisoner as he had foreseene in that vnhappie day King Sebastian his nephew died before whom many other princes all heires to the crowne were deceased there remained none but Cardinall Henry who for the ripenes of his age and indisposition of his body was thought to be of short life so as the realme was in a manner without heire But the King of kings although he seemeth sometimes slacke yet doth he equally weigh and execute al things prouiding so that whilest king Henry enioied the realme in those fewe daies of his life which remained he miraculouslie deliuered from the hands of the Moores him whom he intended shoulde be our true king I say miraculouslie for in truth it seemed impossible that mans wisedome coulde deliuer him as it followed for that according to the custome of those infidels he being a prince he shoulde haue beene presented to their prince and there kept in perpetuall prison or at the least redeemed for the exchange of cities and fortresses or for some great summe of money yet see if this were not a miracle in short time he was deliuered and without raunsome He returned into the realme where fortune not yet wearie of him crossed him with a thousand afflictions all which he hath ouercome and surmounted by his vertues behold him now heere and although he seeme to be inuironed more then euer with enimies yet doth he relie vpon your valour and I in his wisedome that he will vanquish all things Reioice then that he doth accept of this scepter against his competitors for the loue of you doth more encourage him thereunto then the desire of
rule offring to entreat you perpetuallie not as a King but as a father and brother to you all Whom doe you esteeme him to be to whome this day we giue the empire ouer vs It is the true stocke the lawfull line and the onely plant which remaines of our Kings he is nephew to king Emanuel of famous memorie borne of Lewes his sonne the greatest and firmest pillars that euer Portugall had to him these realmes appertaine by right but if it were not so as it cannot be otherwise yet shoulde we flying the rest cast our selues into his bosome for by that meanes we should haue assured libertie and by the rest a most certaine bondage and tirannie At the end of this speech there was great reioicing and all cried out a King deliuering into his hands the standerd of the citie Emanuel Fonseca pronounced from the windowes these words as they were accustomed to doe Reale Reale for don Anthony king of Portugall the which was accepted by the people with great ioy And hauing made declaration in writing of this acte the Prior returned to the pallace where soone after taking the ordinarie oath to obserue the priuileges and liberties of the realme and all that other princes were woont to doe he dispatched his messengers with letters to all other cities and places commaunding them to sende vnto him to yeelde their obedience He made many offers to the Duke of Bragance and to the Marques of Villa Reale entreating all other Noblemen to come vnto him to consult of matters concerning the realme But the Duke perswaded likewise by the Deputies of the realme to compound with Anthony woulde not do it the Marques went not and fewe others did acknowledge him But Teglio seeing the Prior now become king without his helpe making she we to go from Belem where he remained to Lisbone to kisse his hands and hauing agreed with Diego Lopez de Sequeira captaine of three galleyes that were in the riuer he imbarked himselfe in one of them with the Bishop of Leiria Anthony de Castro Lord of Cascaies Martin Gonzales de Camera Emanuel Teles Barretto Frauncis de Meneses Lewes Caesar purueior of the Arcynal with some others carying with them fortie or fiftie thousand duckats in golde which he had caused to be brought from the minte at Lisbone vsurping them from Iaques de Bard a Florentine merchant who was the owner And in his departure whē most men beleeued they should go to the citie they tooke their course towards the sea and went to Settuual where the rest of the Gouernours remained yet two of the three galleis disobeying their captaines woulde not followe the foremost but went to the citie Teglio being arriued with his galleis at the mouth of the forte of Settuual the guard of the towne woulde not suffer him to enter but kept him off with their cannon being disimbarked a little on the one side he went by land towards the Gouernors to discharge himselfe but he was not receiued nor acknowledged of them as a companion who both in their writings and their speeches with him vsed him as a priuate Gentleman and not as a Gouernour for punishment of that which he had done at Belem and at Anthony his entrie at Lisbone And this was the only thing wherein the Gouernors shewed their authoritie for in all other things they discouered their feare and inconstancie The Prior seeing these men whereof he helde some of them to be his confident friendes to flie to carrie away the money and to ioine themselues with the Gouernors his aduersaries who began to fortifie Settuual discouered plainly that they had intelligence with the Catholique King that they woulde entertaine themselues in that place vntill the galleis of Italy which they vnderstood had beene trimmed at Saint Marie Porte shoulde arriue in those quarters to giue them entrie at Settuual whereby might ensue his ruine for that the Catholique King entring there with a great armie the citie of Lisbone shoulde be in a manner besieged and therefore hauing first imprisoned some that were suspected vnto him and demaunded money in loane from the merchants he resolued with what speed he could to recouer this place either by loue or force induced to make this haste by the proceeding of Tristan Vaz de Vega captaine of the fortresse of Saint Iulian at the mouth of Tagus to whom hauing written he made answere that he coulde not consigne him the castell nor hold it in his name alleaging that he had taken an oath not to deliuer it but to such as had put it into his hands which were the Gouernors so as Anthony reseruing this for a second enterprise hauing hastily and by force assembled the peasants about the citie the artisans slaues and other people gathered togither which in all came not to fifteene hundreth he transported them to the other side of the riuer but before he himselfe would passe he sent Frauncis of Portugal Count of Vimioso to Settuual to treate with the Gouernors and to perswade them to yeelde to his obedience to whom he did likewise write that they shoulde not dishonour and vndoe themselues seeking rather to giue the crowne to a stranger then to him who was their countreyman that they should come vnto him and he would freely forgiue all things But the Gouernors trusted neither to this letter nor to the wordes of the Earle being greatly bounde to the Catholique King whereof some of them as fauorites to king Henry had assisted to the sentences that had beene pronounced against him Therefore consulting with the Embassadors of the Catholique King they resolued to defend themselues vntill the comming of the kings armie the which they expected howerly But this practise succeeded not for the windes were still so contrarie that the galleis coulde not arriue the which the Duke of Bragance considering he woulde not attend but departed The Counte of Vimioso desirous to expell them from thence hauing incensed the people to sedition aided by the guard of Halberdiers of the court he tooke armes and became master of the Porte many ranne armed to the Gouernors lodging threatning with iniurious words to kill them wherewith being feared and amazed not onely the Gouernors but likewise the Embassadors of the Catholique King and all the Nobilitie of the citie which followed Philips faction some fledde secretly out at the windowes some by sea some by land except the Archbishop of Lisbone and Iohn Teglio who onely remained the one trusting in his calling the other in the workes which he had formerly done in fauour of the Prior and in his kinsemen The Embassadors retired themselues the next day into Castill This act in truth was full of compassion for although the Gouernors for their irresolutions and priuate interests deserued punishment yet mens harts were mooued to see these graue olde men in whom not two howres before the roiall authoritie remained fastned to ropes creepe out at windowes to auoide the furie of a
of the greatest part hee retired himselfe by the counsell of Sforce Orsin to Alcantara a mile neerer the citie putting a riuer betwixt him and the enimie the which hauing the banks high on that part serued him as a fortresse And although this retraite was rather caused by the inconsideratenes wherewith hee went to Belem then by any newe feare of the enimie yet was it iudicious the place being strong by nature and fitte for Anthonies intent who desired not to retire farre from the citie to keepe it in obedience The Catholique King who remained still at Badagios vnderstanding the Dukes proceedings being on the one side glad and on the otherside troubled to see this people attende the scourge of warre besides that he did incense them against him whom he desired much to entertaine as friendes for this cause hee sought all meanes possible as he had euer done to winne them with the least shewe of hostilitie and therefore he thought it good to graunt a generall pardon to all portugals that had beene imploied in this action against him seeking by clemencie to make his enimies friends the which he published being thus in effect That being informed that in the rebellion that Anthony had raised vsurping tirannouslie the name of a king of Portugall many of them which had followed his faction had done it being oppressed forced and deceiued and that seeking to prouide that such should not be punished with offenders and that the people more easie to be abused then the rest shoulde not bee chasticed with that rigour which lawe doth inflict his pleasure was That al such as leauing the part of the said Anthony and embracing his as of their King and naturall Lorde shoulde come vnto his seruice within a certaine time prefixed to that effect by the Duke of Alua shoulde bee freely pardoned all their faultes whereinto they had runne by taking and following the voice of the saide Anthony He excepted notwithstanding the Prior and all the seductors and authors of the rebellions committed at Saint Arem Lisbone and Settuual and all such as had receiued from him any charges offices and recompences as King and such as did serue him actually all which shoulde not enioy the saide pardon And although this latter point was not approoued of all men yet the rest seemed to be done with great iudgement for thereby they did not onely discouer the kings good meaning but also his great wisedome vsing clemencie to pardon and martiall policie to procure the Portugals to abandon the Prior But this writing although there were many copies dispersed thorough the realme wrought small profite to Philip and little hurt to Anthonie for neither did any greater number follow the Catholique Kings partie then before neither did any man for feare abandon Anthonies his fauorites only were a little greeued who examining the forme thereof seemed to be excluded as those that had receiued offices honors and recompences so as they did see their offences become daily more capitall togither with the example they had seene by the death of Diego de Meneses Many noted in this pardon that besides it was written in the Portugall toong it beganne with the name of King onely with the ordinarie titles of kings of Portugall and being accustomed to signe with these words IO EL REY now he only subscribed REY pointed with fiue points called by the Portugals the fiue wounds after the same manner the kings of Portugall had vsed so as some said that in matters of small importance he began to shewe himselfe a Portugall The Duke of Alua marched easilie towards Oeiras to the rocke of Saint Iulian seeming so to doe expressely that the Portugals might haue leisure to resolue being incamped so farre from the fortresse as their cannon coulde not annoy them he presently sent a trumpet to demaund obedience But being the very same whom he had formerly sent to the castell of Cascayes at whom they had shot he durst not approch neere to the forte fearing they woulde doe the like so as onely hauing made a signe a farre off without attending any answere he returned saying that they woulde not yeelde For this cause hauing planted their artillerie on Saint Lawrence day they began their batterie with tenne cannons encreasing the number vnto fower and twentie The galleies coulde not approch for that the forte stoode vpon the sea and therefore the Portugall gallions drawing neere to the lande did greatly indomage the Castillians with their culuerings and other great artillery but hauing planted three cannons in the night they forced the gallions with a fewe volleies to retire themselues higher vnto Saint Katherines shoare Anthony was now at Alcantara vpon a hill being but fiue miles distant from the fortresse where he remained an vnprofitable behoulder of this battery wheron it seemed his whole fortune depended for that the whole realme of Portugall had no other forte but this that coulde make any resistance so as loosing it his greatest hope was vanished but for that he might well succour it by sea both with men and munition as he did he hoped well it shoulde not be forced or at the least holde out vntill that either winter shoulde draw on or some prince taking pittie of his miserie should relieue his estate before the winning thereof without the which he did see himselfe helpelesse and the rather for that he had intelligence that the citie of Lisbone being grieued with the great insolencies committed daily by the soldiers disbanded from the enimies campe thereabouts were resolued not to giue him entrance within the citie vnlesse he returned with victory or had compounded with the enimie fearing otherwise the Duke woulde be displeased and being weake giue it in spoile vnto the soldiers Some were of opinion that the Prior in whom desire of rule was of more force then religion or other respect whatsoeuer should finding al hopes lost procure that this citie which is in a manner the whole realme shoulde remaine as a praie to the auarice and voluptuousnes of the Castillians desiring that the Portugals being forced to yeelde the realme shoulde be so entreated by the Catholique Kings men as there might remaine no hope of peace or amitie to the end that if heereafter he shoulde pretende the recouerie of the realme the people in regard of the hatred that such losses engender togither with their naturall inclination shoulde remaine still enimie and be more willing to yeeld to his deuotion For this cause he sought dailie with all his force to reforme the magistrate of the chamber and to place men in whom he had great affiance as well to haue entire into the citie if need were as also to dispose of things at his pleasure But forasmuch as the greatest part of those magistrates were mechanicke men in whom feare hath a more interest then the respect of a King he did not greatly trust them When he was proclaimed king there followed him a gentleman of Castill who
followers he expected to mooue the people against Ciprian de Fegueredo and make himselfe Lorde of the Iland in the Kings name But hauing not duely examined the iudgement valour and constancie of such as he had chosen for his companions things necessarily required in them that are to execute matters of such importance being deceiued he did not effect this enterprise for although he had many friends and copartners with him being at the howre appointed come vnto the place calling the rest and proclaiming the kings name he was not followed of any man but was inuironed by the people and beaten outraged in danger to be hanged and therefore no man durst stirre In this space the number of Portugals which the Gouernour had assembled to goe against the enimie was little lesse then two thousand who treating in what manner they shoulde issue foorth they left not to consider that although the Castillians were fewer in number yet were they more experienced and better armed A religious man of the order of Saint Augustine for here as well as in other parts of the realme religious men deale in matters of warre aduised that before their men they shoulde driue a number of oxen and chase them with all force against the Castillians the which being put in practise was the safetie of the Portugals and the defeating of their enimies for that raising a great dust they were not discouered by the Castillians they defended them from their shotte and disordred the enimie for the Castillians hauing by their long skirmish with some of the citie spent their shotte and powder being now charged by so many they thought to retire themselues to their boates and so to imbark which they resolued too late For that the Portugals approching neere couered in safetie hauing the oxen as a rampire they draue them against the enimie with such violence that they were forced to disbande and to quite them the place at what time being charged by the Portugals with fewe shot and many launces they fought a while with disaduantage For the Portugals being many in number the Castillians coulde make no great resistance besides that being minded to saue themselues by their boates they retired towards the sea the which being then rougher then when they landed their boates coulde not come neere the shoare and the marriners which were in them were likewise fearefull to approch for that the Portugals shotte at them from lande so as the soldiers to saue themselues waded vp to the necke in water and yet hardly could get to their boates suffring the punishment of their rashnes for the enimy seeing them now flie without resistance fell to killing without pardoning of any and not onely followed them vnto the water but made an ende of such as being already entred the sea had cast vp againe to shoare halfe dead not hearing any that cried for mercy But the Portugals being nowe growen inexorable not onely slew the soldiers but pages and vallets so as there died aboue fower hundreth and not thirtie Portugals whereof some of them were but hurt in this action hatred preuailed more then any other respect for hauing reserued onely two aliue which termed themselues Portugals the extraordinarie rage of these men shewed it selfe who grieued with those few that were saued turned with crueltie to mangle the dead bodies for cutting them in peeces one caried a head in triumph one one member an other an other dragging whole bodies through the streetes with a thousand indignities The day following there remained not within the citie childe man nor religious person except the Iesuits that went not to the campe to see the slaughter of the enimies with instruments and dauncing taking pleasure to cut and mangle these insensible bodies and some affirme that there were of them who tearing out the harts of the dead woulde feede vpon them The Gouernour hauing put the armes of the dead men into wagons and drawing their colours after him entred the citie with great ioy of the people Baldes hauing hitherto beene a better marriner then he seemed now a soldier founde by this vnhappie euent with how much more iudgement he shoulde haue vndertaken this action but as one mischiefe is followed by many griefe did so blinde his vnderstanding as hee coulde not succour his soldiers as easilie he might and giue them meanes to retire to their ships if drawing neerer to lande hee had discharged his artillerie against the Portugals who were the first that gaue the name of bloudie vnto this warre This important effect did greatly preiudice the Catholique kings affaires for this nation being growen more cruell and more rebellious founde there was no hope of agreement nor remission whereby the King who liued in some hope they woulde be reclaimed grewe no we wholie desperate by this vnhappie successe and the rather for that searching the Prior throughout the realme they had intelligence by letters from Flaunders that hee was arriued in England from whence hee shoulde go into Fraunce to demaund succours vnderstanding also that there was hope hee shoulde obtaine them By reason whereof they did fortifie the seacoast of Portugall and especially the rocke of Saint Iulian And although this storme seemed yet farre off yet they regarded it the more for that the king was vnfurnished of men and the people generally of the realme little inclined to his deuotion so as it seemed if the Prior woulde againe hazard his fortune that at the onely sight of his colours the people woulde take armes There was no restraint could hold them seeing the Italians had beene discharged the Germaines and Spaniards whereof many being dead and many growing rich fledde away there remained in all not aboue fower or fiue thousand whereof one thousand was alreadie imploied with Lopo de Figueroa who was sent vnto the Ilands for although there were fifteene hundreth appointed yet the Germaines went vnwillinglie and for as much as the ships after their departure which was in Iuly returned more then once backe by reason of the contrarie windes many of them stole away not returning to the armie the which greatly diminished their number the rest were deuided into garrisons in the Prouince of Doro and Mynio and other places so as there remained scant a thousand men within Lisbone which seemed a small guard for so great a citie This departure of Anthony was in truth strange and it seemed both in this other like things that hee was either happie or had an extraordinarie gift of nature For remaining captiue in Affricke after that vnfortunate battaile of Sebastian he was the first of so many prisoners that was freed being likely for the qualitie of his person to haue beene the last but he coulde so well hide himselfe and conceale what he was that he was deliuered without discouerie And euen when as he departed from Viana in October 1580. vntill Iune 1581. he remained still within the realme so secretly as he was neuer discouered
the which is the more woorthie of admiration for that the diligence the King vsed to finde him out was admirable for all Iudges all Captaines and all soldiers were carefully imploied And although they had sometimes aduertisement of the place of his aboad and did follow him in a manner by his foote yet could they neuer finde him Ierom Mendosa with the help of Emanuel of Portugal in whom it was likelie that Anthony should trust treating an agreement laboured much to speake with him But although some of his familiar friends came vnto him somtimes at Alanquer somtimes at Vidigueira with hope they should meete yet did hee neuer discouer himselfe vnto them but the sleight execution of the punishment inflicted vpon such as did cōceale him did greatly preiudice their search for many therby did boldly receiue him The Duke of Alua his officers in the end of Lent had like to haue surprised him in Lisbon where the Duke had so many spies corrupted so many of his friends that it seemed vndoubtedly he shoulde fall into his hands but when as with greatest heate he shoulde haue pursued it he grew cold For vnderstanding that the king helde some regard of Mendoza his practise who with doubtfull hopes gaue him to vnderstande that the weeke before Easter the Prior woulde cast himselfe at the Kings feete hee feared to amaze him but the said Mendoza laboured in vaine For as it happens to him that feares Anthony distrusting all men performed nothing of what he promised neither went hee to any person where hee had appointed so as there neither followed the effect that was expected but they lost all hope to do any good Yet was it apparant that the affection which this nation bare vnto him was of great force for although that fortune preuailed in many more then faith yet in his afflictions and hauing so great an imposition laide vpon his person there was neuer any one amongst so many in whom he must of necessitie trust that euer sought to betraie him for hope of recompence although some laboured to saue themselues amongst which was Edward de Castro And therefore hee went safely throughout all the portes of the sea he was at Lisbone as it is saide where the king himselfe remained not finding meanes to imbarke some of his men being surprised hee went to Settuual where by the helpe of a woman hee hired a Flemmish ship for sixe hundreth crownes with the helpe of a religious man of the order of Saint Frauncis and with tenne of his faithfullest seruants he imbarked by night and so went to Caleis where wee may truely saie that God had not yet withdrawne his hand frō punishing of this nation and that this was as a scourge for by reason of the affection this people bare vnto him it was necessarie to keepe this people in awe with garrisons to the great hurt and ruine of the subiects Now was come the yeare 1581. at what time they expected the ships from the Indies Brasil Saint Thomas Cape Vert all other new found landes the which staied somewhat long and put them in some feare being looked for with greater desire then euer anie were Some feared they woulde not come others wished they shoulde come many helde opinion they shoulde willingly staie at the Terceres and from thence go into England the which if they should not willingly yeeld vnto touching vnaduisedly at the Ilands they shoulde bee forced thereunto by the Ilanders They were wished for both for the riches they carried as to vnderstande by them howe the people of those parts were addicted to the obedience of the Catholique king whereof many doubted Such as helde opinion they shoulde safely arriue at Lisbone saide that the Indies and other prouinces coulde not maintaine themselues without Spaine and shoulde bee forced to yeelde obedience to whomsoeuer that shoulde be Lorde of Portugall that they needed not feare the Terceres although they had spoiled some ships which they had taken or that had anchored there of their owne free will yet now the Castillian armie being master at sea vpon their discouerie they woulde conduct them to Lisbone not suffring them to approch the lande Such as supposed they woulde not come saide that the saide ships were departed from Lisbone in the yeere 1580. after King Henries death during the Gouernours raigne and that Lewes de Taide Earle of Toghia Viceroy of the Indies knowing there was a space-gouernement with likelihood of warre woulde attende the euent without yeelding obedience to any for that he woulde then shew it when he had intelligence who were king to be the more acceptable vnto him or hoping that amidst these tumults there woulde something remaine to his share But if notwithstanding he were resolued to sende them hee woulde appoint a captaine of his owne making and conformeable to his owne will with commission to obey him to whom he were most affected and that it were hard to iudge whom he wished most to be King besides that Emanuel de Melo being captaine Generall of the same armie when it departed from Portugall being a deuoted seruant to the Prior and had made shew to be of his faction it was likely that if he returned had any intelligēce of the Priors being in England the which he might easily vnderstande at the Ilands that he woulde saile thither the which if he coulde not performe in the same ships hee woulde then lande in the Ilands and after saile in other boats whether hee pleased with hope of gaine and bootie And although it were true that the Indians coulde not maintaine themselues yet Fraunce and England might more aboundanly furnish them and with greater profite then Portugall But for as much as in discoursing of matters which depends vpon an others will we cannot cōsider al causes of their errors a matter priuate to the diuine knowledge it fell out in an other manner then had beene discoursed For the Earle Viceroy of the Indies hauing by the same ships receiued letters from the Catholique King who enformed him of the equitie of his cause and of his intent with large promises whereunto and by the meanes of others which he receiued from the gouernors he gaue credite preferring them before such as he had receiued from Anthonie resolued to obey the King so as the ships departed and being arriued neere to the Terceres they came sailing without euer discouering of the kings armie for that Baldes discouraged with his ill successe at the Ilands could find no fit place to encounter thē True it is that after they had remained a whole day amongst those Ilands they were encountred by a French Barke sent from the Terceres who entreated the Captaines to go to Angra The Portugals demaunded the state of the realme that they might thereby know howe to gouerne themselues but for that there were none but marriners they coulde neither perswade dissemble nor speake the truth but contradicting themselues those of the fleete
it is vsuall with the common people they desired innouations the which the King discouering did greatly trouble his minde finding himselfe to faile in that which he supposed shoulde haue bred him a quiet enioying of the realme He did appoint as it hath been saide before that his sister Marie widow to the Emperour Maximilian the seconde being then in Germanie shoulde come into Spaine with Margaret her daughter And although the discourse of her comming were diuers for that some supposed she shoulde remaine at Madrill with the kings daughters others that she should come into Portugall where the King woulde leaue her as Gouernesse of the realme to go vnto the States of Aragon whereunto he was called yet in the ende she came vnto Lisbone Notwithstanding whether the rumours of Fraunce increased by reason whereof the King woulde not depart or that it was not fitte that of an Empresse she shoulde become Gouernesse of a small realme the King for that time did not depart neither did she gouerne at all True it is that hauing resolued to leaue Cardinal Albert Arch Duke of Austria the Empresse son in the gouernment of the realme he beganne to acquaint him with the dispatch of affaires and hauing one day assembled the Councell of estate he saide vnto them that for that hee was burthened with the gouernment of many realmes whereof hee had the care hee desired somewhat to discharg himselfe and for this consideration hauing thought the saide Cardinall fitte for the gouernment of the saide realme of Portugal he would leaue the charge vnto him and therefore heereafter they should holde their Councell in his presence In this space the Portugals of the Terceraes within the city of Angra were in no small cōfusion for after they had imprisoned Iohn de Betancour walled vp the Iesuites within their College taken diuers ships and committed extortions vpon diuers Citizens which followed secretly the Catholique kings partie there grew among themselues some difficultie for that it seemed vnto many that Ciprian de Figueredo chiefe gouernour did not continue with that vehemence he had begun And as it happens to him that rules all the seditious did malice him so as vpon any smal matter they tooke occasion to slander him acuse him of infidelitie although the cause may only be imputed vnto him that this Iland was not obedient vnto King Philip by reason whereof being desirous in the beginning of winter to dismisse certaine ships which were there detained and likewise to deliuer the Iesuits from the prison wherein they were all the obseruers of his actions opposed themselues and chiefly the other religious men as those in that place being more seditious then the rest feared most and were most watchfull of the affaires so as hee that in a manner had beene absolute Lorde the people being nowe incensed against him hee founde that hee coulde no more execute those things which had beene before tolerable And although he laboured so as the ships were dismissed yet coulde hee not deliuer the Iesuits for hee must of force with greater rigor trie the peoples inconstancie and the distrust of Princes For hauing aduertised Anthony being in Fraunce of the estate of the Iland and of the authoritie that many tooke vpon them against him demaunding when hee woulde come into the realme adding withall that this Iland was ruined and that it coulde not long continue in this estate Anthony grew in iealousie of him furthered by the letters he had receiued from his enimies the which saide plainly that he was a traitor and therefore he resolued to sende from Fraunce vnto the gouernment of these Ilands Emanuel de Sylua whom he had newly made Counte of Toresuedras one of his chiefest fauorites who arriued there in March with as ample commission as might be giuen in that place and hauing dispossessed Figueredo from his charge he began with a barbarous tyrannie to molest both friends foes for the recouering of money Before his arriuall a shippe laden with meale departed from Angra with shew to go vnto Brazil the which being not farre from the Iland tooke her course for Lisbone Some supposed that this was a practise of Figueredos and that by this meanes by his letter hee had demaunded pardon of the Catholique King and offered to deliuer him the Iland aduising him what course to take for afterwards an other shippe departing from Lisbone it was knowne they not onely carried the kings letters to Figueredo but also to many of the better sorte the which tooke not the effect that was expected for the saide shippe arriued after the comming of Emanuel de Silua so as Figueredo being dispossessed of his place coulde not execute his practise if he had any such thing in hande During these stirres they made a slowe preparation at Lisbone for the Ilands for that the King was not yet well resolued to attempt it in the yeere 1582. his Councell varying in their opinions Some aduised him presently with all his power to force them alleaging that the longer he delaied it the more daungerous the enterprise would prooue for both the French and English who as it was saide were bounde thither woulde if they landed fortifie if they had time so as hardly afterwards they shoulde finde any entrance They did likewise weigh this enterprise with regard of honor saying that it was a thing of small reputation and dishonorable that so weake an Iland shoulde dare in the view of Spaine resist the forces of so great a King They shewed of how great consequence it was being as they saide seated in a place which was the onely refuge of all the ships which came from the east and west Indies and from all the new nauigations into Spaine for although there were other Ilands in this sea yet was there not any so commodious as this the rest being very vnfitte and if the French and English became masters thereof as it was to bee feared if they protracted time and lodged their armies there they might from thence encounter the ships of those nauigations the which by reason of their long voiage returne home wearie and torne and being of themselues indefensible spoile them to the great losse and dishonour of al Spaine They made the enterprise easie saying that besides that from Fraunce they had receiued no great prouision of armes and munition in the I le it selfe the greatest part of the Nobilitie and many other would obey the king but they were forced by the multitude and durst not discouer themselues yet when the Kings colours shoulde with a mightie armie be discouered there woulde appeere in a manner as many friends as enimies Others that were of a contrarie opinion said that this enterprise was woorthie of great consideration the which they ought not rashly to vndertake for attempting it aduisedly it was most assured but going to it hastely it were dangerous They shewed that the Iland was by nature verie strong by reason of
persons in number aboue three hundred The fight had continued fiue howers when as the French seeing their generall yeelded their Admirall lost two others sunke and many broken with artillerie they began to flie but the Marques by reason of the night pursued them not fearing for that they were better sailers he should not boord them and being separated hee should be forced to diuide his armie the which he would not willingly doe besides he should be constrained to leaue the gallion Saint Mathew behinde him in danger being vnable to sayle without tackling sailes and anchors the which the enemie had burnt and throwen into the sea There was one thing woorthie the obseruation that being within this gallion a Priest called Iohn de Iaem Chaplein vnto the Marshall of the fielde a man which had seene the warres during the fight being vnder the lowest decke of the gallion when he saw so much wilde fire cast by the French hearing their shot and finding the hurt the cannon did hee died onely of feare and amasement hauing receiued no wound The Spaniards recouered one of their carauels with horse which had beene taken and had taken more of their French ships if they could haue manned them with mariners to conduct them but for this cause the Admirall which was cast away abandoned and some others torne and abandoned by the French were not kept for this consideration the Marques burnt two which had been abandoned and some others ranne vpon the Iland In this battell the French lost seuen or eight of their best ships and there died in the fight aboue two thousand of their men with many hurt as for the Spaniards there died about two hundred and aboue fiue hundred wounded The Portugals pertisants vnto Anthonie say that the French fought not at all for that the Captaines were corrupted by King Philip and this opinion encreased for that after Anthonie caused Edward d' Castro to lose his head in the Iland supposing him to be the meanes thereof but they were deceiued for although that Castro had promised many things vnto the Kings ministers when as they deliuered him out of prison whereunto hee was committed when they tooke him flying out of Portugall yet could he neuer effect any but the cause of his death was for certaine practises begun after this defeate and for that he had committed murther vpon the person of Anthony Baraccio a deere friend vnto the said Prior and one of them that had proclaimed him King Behold the issue of the sea fight at the Ilands which possibly is one of the greatest that euer happened within the bounds of the Ocean for although in the Low-Countries there hath beene like factions in these last warres yet were they not truely within the Ocean but in chanels and riuers neere vnto the Ilands of Holland and Zealand rather at land then at sea But the issue hereof besides the greatnes of it was of more importance then euer any for besides that not onely the Realme of Portugall by this victorie remained settled but also all Spaine if the contrarie had fallen out all had beene full of confusion for that the French pursuing their victorie might with these forces their good fortune the presence of Anthony and the inclination of the people renue the warre in a suspended kingdome more dangerous for the Spaniards then euer seeing the great number of vnexpert Portugals vnited with so many French souldiers might giue them great hope of happie successe Anthony who remained in a small barke light and well furnished the day before the battaile when as they had resolued to fight although his whole fortune depended in a manner on this day not finding himselfe secure in this place retired with two other small barkes to the Terceres where in the citie of Angra they had prepared for him a sumptuous entrie with arches images and all triumphes commonly vsed at the ioyfull comming of Princes But deuining it may be the vnhappie successe these preparations seemed out of season for hauing forborne to passe to a bridge of woode which they had built onely for his comming whereby hee shoulde enter the streets that were garnished he landed farre from thence with small companie and more sorrow then ioy There did he howerly receiue sundry newes of the armie and by little and little he vnderstoode the successe thereof with an incredible griefe the which encreased the more by the intelligence giuen him of the death of Strozzi and the Earle and now caring for his safetie wauering in his thoughts hee knewe not howe to behaue himselfe in so rough an accident for although he relied much in the inhabitants of the Ilands and in the strength thereof seeming to be safe in this place yet feared he least the Marques pursuing his victorie should assaile him and that his men hauing their harts vanquished with this losse shoulde not be able to make resistance and therefore he enclined rather to abandon then defend it He was some what assured of this feare vpon the arriuall of seuenteene French and English ships to that place of those that had fledde from the battaile to repaire their hurts receiued to cure their wounded men and to take in water with these men he thought himselfe able to defende it yet had they all but fewe soldiers hauing in the battaile succoured the Counte of Brisack and Strozzi with all their men yet there arriued still more for at that time there returned but eighteene French ships into Fraunce with Brisack and fiue other English Mounsieur de Landes captaine of nine ships flying from the battaile went to Fayale where his soldiers began to spoile although it were not his meaning but hauing auoided the sacke retired to Angra yet for this cause they woulde not suffer him to enter or else that Anthony doubted his safetie The Marques as it is saide the day being ended resoluing not to pursue the enimie he drew neere to the Iland of Saint Michael to repaire his shippes to looke to his hurt men and to water but the winde being contrary woulde not suffer him keeping him three daies off at sea the fourth he drew neere to Villa Franca where he landed his hurt men and prouided what he needed the inhabitants of all parts of the Ile hauing yeelded their obedience The first of August Frauncis de Bouadilla landed with fowre companies of soldiers in the middest whereof vpon the sea shoare hee put all the French prisoners leading them to the market place of Villa Franca vnto a scaffolde built the height of a man where with a loude voice was read the sentence of the Marques whereby shewing that the Catholique King hauing peace with the most Christian King against the saide peace publikely sworne an armie of many aduenturers was come out of Fraunce in fauour of Anthony Prior of Crato with an intent to take the Catholique Kings fleete which he expected from the Indies and the new founde lands and
lost his head and many others put to death And the returne of the armie to Andelouzia THE estate of the Realme after the Kings departure remained all that winter quiet and although the people had their mindes yet disquieted and some of the nobilitie not fully satisfied hauing left the kings court and the Cardinals likewise retyred themselues to their castles and houses yet no man durst shew any discontent The greatest part although they loued peace and desired the tranquillitie of the Realme yet were they in their hearts contented to see the Terceres make resistance and continue in the deuotion of Anthonie and the French supposing that whilest the King had any warres he would entreat them better and beare them more respect then they thought hee should doe if all were pacified neither preuailed it that the Portugalles were made much of in Castile and admitted neere the King as they had woonte to bee when hee was in Portugall nor yet that the saide King had it may bee to make the present gouernement conformeable to that was passed obtained from the Pope the authoritie of the Legate for the Cardinall euen as Henry enioied it the which bredde a great benefite to the realme for as it hapneth to passionate mindes they were not remooued from their opinion for the Cardinall being made Legate for two yeeres onely they feared that the time being expired they woulde take an occasion to recall him into Castill and so the Realme should be reduced into a prouince and that the king remaining at Madrill shoulde gouerne it At that time Sanches d'Auila died being stroke with a horse for that leauing chirurgerie he woulde be cured by a soldier with certaine blessings the which caused the Castillians to mourne for although he were but marshall generall of the fielde yet remaining after the death of the Duke of Alua of greatest knowledge amongst the Spaniards in the arte of warre there was not any man neere the Duke of Gandia of so great experience Hee was a man without feare and happie in warre esteemed by the Duke of Alua aboue all the soldiers of his time but this life which he had vnto his olde age so happily aduentured at the cannons mouth was nowe taken away by death vpon a small mischance In Fraunce it seemed that all the French were turned vnto the affaires of Flaunders affecting them more then Portugall and although there were an intent at the Priors instance to set foorth some ships of warre yet founde they therein coldenes and want of money whereby it appeered that whereas they attempted something it should not be to offend but rather to prouide for defence And although they had now intelligence that certaine French ships guided by the Portugals and especially by one Emanuel Serradas had inuaded the Ilands of Cape Vert and spoiled some part of them yet they made no account thereof vnderstanding they were but small barkes of pirates At the Terceres Emanuel de Silua was still gouernour who shewed himselfe an obstinate enimie to the Catholique King a faithfull minister to the Prior and a cruell persecutor of the Philippines Notwithstanding ill disposed of small iudgment and little experience With these his qualities he afflicted the poore people in diuers manners for the meanes which he inuented to borrow money to molest and condemne many persons were insupportable The pride arrogancie whereunto he was growen as it hapneth often in him that is not accustomed to commaund made him seeme inuincible and immortall the wrongs he committed were so infinite that iustice had lost her place the libertie his friendes and seruants tooke vpon them was without restraint the subiection and seruitude of those that did not flatter him was such as the slaues were more free I leaue the executions he committed vpon such as would haue compounded with the Catholique king and coulde not conceale their mindes for vsing many stratagemes to discouer their affections wherein as he founde any one lesse obstinate then himselfe hee was miserable being cruelly punished both in body and goods And for this occasion he caused manie to be slaine betraied by one Amador Vieira who hauing beene secretlie sent into this Iland by King Philip to continue his followers in their fidelitie to sounde the disposition of the people and to drawe all he coulde to his deuotion after he had wel executed his charge he reuealed vnto Silua such as had discouered themselues by whom they were miserablie afflicted And as tyrannie taught him he daily made newe ordinances and lawes in the name of Anthony the officers and ministers of iustice in the citie which were vsually chosen by voices he alone woulde haue the naming of them He was not onely contented to obserue those lawes which treated of high treason but also made a new lawe more seuere that such as did but talke of that matter shoulde suffer death and that such witnesses should serue although lesse in number then the auncient lawes had ordained He would haue the sentences in such cases registred by the Magistrate of the citie for a perpetuall memorie to all to terrifie and tyrannize the more There was within the Iland little aboue seauen hundreth French soldiers one onely company of English and about three thousand Portugals it was fortified on all partes where they might lande with aboue thirtie fortes and many trenches made with such arte and diligence as it seemed impossible to enter if they were guarded And although these thinges with the other qualities of the place made it vneasie to force yet Silua iudged it stronger then it was and did trust as a man of no experience more in the defenders then was conuenient In the meane time they prepared an armie for sea at Lisbone and assembled the Spanish soldiers to imploy them against this Iland vnder the command of the Marques of Saint a Croix being more in number both in ships and men then the yeere before besides there was speech to sende fowre galliasses and twelue galleies for which cause they shortned their yardes prouiding square sailes and of a thirde maste which they call the meane In Spaine there were diuers opinions concerning this armie making diuers discourses thereon both by worde and writing Such as were not to be imploied in this action to whom no part of the honour or praise did belong made it easie saying that the people were alreadie so wearied poore and oppressed by the garrisons as the armie should no sooner appeere but they woulde bee at the Kings deuotion And the cause why they did no sooner yeeld was the subiection wherein they were held and although they neither would nor coulde come to composition yet were they easie to force for the citie of Angra and all other places being dismantled and weake they had no other defence then the landing the which they supposed were impossible to hinder proouing by ancient and latter examples that in warre there was no meanes to stoppe