if it were not their pleasure he should deale with those causes of the succession he would willingly desist and onely treat of that which did simply concerne the charge of an Ambassadour and after retire himselfe if neede were But this modestie made him more suspect for thereby they might iudge he desired nothing more then once to haue an entrie and after to make himselfe Patrone of the whole cause At that time Christopher de Mora was called to court who treated secretly with the King of many things concerning the Realme he laboured to be sent backe with the Title of Ambassador yet many supposed his commission being ended he should not returne But being accounted as he was indeed confident iudicious and diligent although of no great experience in matters of waight being made gentleman of the chamber he was sent backe with the Title he desired to keepe Sylua from returning into Portugall all his hopes being frustrate they stayed him saying it was conuenient the King should retaine him neere about him to iudge the better of what should be written out of Portugall And hauing reduced the number of twelue coūsellors of the succession to fower he commaunded he should be one the rest being the Cardinall of Toledo Lewis Manriques Marques of Aguilar both of the councell of State and Anthonie of Padiglia President of the councell of millitarie orders The generall discourse concerning the election of the one for Ambassador and the exclusion of the other was diuers but when as the excluded could not preuaile according to the counterfeit show of the court he tooke all for a fauour Whilest these things passed in Castil the pretendents in Portugal both naturall borne and strangers called by citation framed their reasons and euerie man laboured to make the King capable of his right The Duke of Ossuna pleaded for King Philip Charles de la Rouuere for the Duke of Sauoy Ferrant Farnese Bishop of Parma for Rainucius Fernese The Queene of Fraunce was not cited yet did not she desist from her pretention by the meanes of Vrban of Saint Gelais Bishop of Cominges who had some difficultie to be admitted The King seemed long doubtfull in this point for on the one side with the inclination he had to the Dutchesse he would exclude al others with the desire he had to frustrate Philip he labored to admit all that did pretend In this point hatred preuailed before affection Enduring this infamous allegation of the Queen who saide that Henry of whom she demaunded iustice and eleuen other Kings his predecessors had beene all bastards and vnlawfull for that was her plea And although he doubted of the Bishops procuration after some difficulties promising to satisfie him within a limited time by an other commission he was receiued to plead appointing him an aduocate in the cause The principall groundes of the pleaders were these Anthonie at the end of fiftie yeeres would be admitted for lawfull hauing neuer before pretended it and therfore vndoubtedly the succession of the Realme did appertaine vnto him for that as a male issued from a male he saide with the qualitie of his father he did surmount his age wherein Philip did surpasse him that being a male he was before the Dutchesse and did vanquish Rhanucius by his age and neerenes Phillibert Duke of Sauoy did not wholie deceiue himselfe for as he assisted not for any other ende but to shewe that as the neerest of kinne he did preceade the Prince of Castill in case that Henry outliued Philip he was least importune They did pleade vehemently for Rainucius Farnese and in his fauour the Doctors of the Vniuersitie of Padua had written and to confute the reasons of proximitie wherein the other competitors did surmount they alleaged that conformeable to pure and simple lawe so many sonnes as Kings haue so many heires of inheritance they do frame whereof the first line doth inherite whilest it remaines which being extinct the seconde doth succeed it and so consequently in order That Edward the Grandfather by the Mothers side of the saide Ranucius was chiefe of the second race of the children of King Emanuel whereof the first being vtterly extinct in Sebastian the line of the second ought to succeed vntill it were likewise extinct where by descending from braunch to braunch it came directly to the saide Ranucius And although Philip and Phillibert were pretendents male and lawfully issued from an elder feminine stocke whilest there was remaining any heires descending from the elder feminine males as he was they coulde not inherite and that the Dutchesse who was a woman and Anthony vnlawfull ought not to take it from him although he succeeded them all The Dutchesse with more liuely hope both of her iustice and of the Kings fauour had caused to be written in the Vniuersitie of Coimbra a long curious allegation the Doctors who are the learnedst of the Realme hoping to please the King handled the cause with all possible care She laboured to prooue that they succeed in Realmes by the inheritance of the last possessor and that in this kinde of succession the lawes allowe the benefite of representation and in the difficultie which the Doctors mooue in the deciding whether this priuiledge be allowable to the Nephewes when they do not ioine with the Vncle in the inheritance they ought to follow those which holde the affirmatiue and that the women doe not onely represent the degree of the predecessors but also the sexe She therefore representing Edwrad her Father sonne to King Emanuel and brother to king Henrie woulde precead all the other pretendents both the Catholique king for that he issued from a daughter Anthony being a bastard Ranucius as being neerer vnto Henry admitting neither degrees elderships nor representations alleaging for that purpose infinite authorities of Doctors These her allegations were imprinted and sent to the Pope and to all the Princes in Christendome hoping thereby to make a great breach in their harts The Catholique king saide he was the eldest and lawfullest Nephew male of king Emanuel then liuing and that not any one of the others being not able to make themselues equall vnto him they sought to helpe themselues with fixions and representations the which he woulde prooue by some lawes were not to be admitted in this case nor amongst these persons for that going before them all ingeneral by age he did surpasse them in particular one after an other Anthony by legitimation the Duchesse by sexe Ranucius by nearenes the Duke of Sauoy by the age of Isabell Augusta his mother elder then Beatrice Mother to the saide Duke The people alleage that the issue male of their Kings failing in that case the election appertained to them fortifying this reason by the example of the election which was made of their King Iohn the first but of this pretention being generall they made small account The Queene Mother of Fraunce with a
aide enter one foot into Affrick that they had disimbarked rashly had retired like cowards Lewis de Silua one of the Kings chiefe fauorites spake his mind freely vpon this point saying there was no reason for an Armie to march by land that went to a towne adioyning vpon the sea hauing so goodly a Fleete which might easily be furnished with fresh water for so small a voyage which was their onely want He alleaged that it was most easie to goe by sea standing in no feare of any enimie most profitable for that the way short and the descent easie vnderstanding that there was no resistance contrariwise it was most dangerous to march by land being ignorant where the enimie did lie what forces he had So as supposing him to be far off he might be at their backs and hauing any wants which happen often in an Armie being far from the sea they should hardly be supplied that betwixt Alarache and them did run the riuer of Lixe called by Ptolome Lixos vpon the left bank whereof standeth the towne that hauing neither bridge nor barkes to passe they must leauing the sea side by a long course seeke a foorde or the Moores bridge whither being come it were doubtfull to know with what facilitie they should passe it being likely the enemies would fortifie the passage Betwixt these two contrarie opinions the one by sea the other by lande the thirde was spoken of the which was to march along the sea side in view of the Fleete with their Chariots vpon the left hand in steed of Rampiers and being come to the mouth of the riuer to passe them with their barkes but this opinion which seemed to be lesse hurtfull was not liked of by the King although the rest that would haue gone by sea gaue eare to it most willingly yet those that did contradict it although they were more in number yet being of lesse authoritie the King being of the other partie the worst of all three which was to goe by lande preuayled Mulei Mahamet seeing the King so hot in this action grew daily into new feares hoping of no good successe he doubted before that if the King should haue the victorie he would charge him with too heauie a yoke but hauing viewed the Armie he lost all hope of victorie if they should fight and therefore thought it most conuenient to aduise the King to goe by sea to Alarache hoping he should easily win that place and returne into Portugall with that victorie leauing his Armie in Affricke by meanes where of he hoped to win such credit that they should abandon Moluc and flye vnto him yet if he would fight to do it with more facilitie and greater iudgement then it seemed to him Sebastian would But his counsell preuailed no more with the King then the rest so as commaunding Diego de Sosa to attend him with the Fleete at Alarache he marched with his whole Armie to Alcasarquiuir being the direct way vnto the bridge hauing but 13000. foote and 1500. horse that is 8000 Portugals 3000. Germaines 1000. Spaniards and 600. Italians with twelue peeces of Artillerie but the more they aduanced into the firme lande the more their feare increased and chiefely of them that perswaded to goe by sea And although some did againe shew vnto the King that Errors in war cannot be repaired that it would be too late after to change his resolution and that he ought to haue great care in the execution of those things that cannot be redressed beseeching him not to cast himselfe into so dangerous an enterprise and aboue all not to leaue the sea laying before him the perill the small gaine the want of victuals and the little or no experience of the souldiers yet nothing preuailed but as it often happeneth that we reape a bad recompence for good counsel being discōtented with those he should haue fauoured he would scarse heare thē The rest knowing by this proofe he would accept of no counsell durst not aduise him for feare of his disgrace The Armie had no chiefe leaders able to commaund and therefōre could neither march lodge nor fight in order For although the King serued as Generall Edward de Meneses Marshall of the Campe with some others of lesse qualitie yet they wanted experience for although the strangers had their commanders of more experience in actions of war then the Portugals as the Marques generall of the Italians the Lord of Tamberg of the Germaines and Alphonso d' Aguilar of the Spaniards yet for that none of them was Generall and being strangers they might not dispose of the Armie so as none of the Portugals knew his charge The King the 29. of Iuly made his first lodging at the Milles three miles from Arzilla the second at Menera where he had aduertisement that Moluc approched From thence he wrote his letters to Lisbone to Peter d Alcasoua briefly but ful of ouerweening in the which he said he vnderstood that Moluc drew neere him and if he escaped not he woulde ioyne battell with him At that time arriued Captaine Frauncis d'Aldana who had promised to serue the King and for that effect had obtayned leaue of the Catholike King which no man else could do as a man expert in war hauing viewed the ill disposition of the Campe began to execute all the greatest charges disposing the souldiers in the best order that he could although being a stranger and of no credit with the Portugals he could not effect all he vnderstood In this sort they marched slowly lodging alwaies in places of aduantage by the industrie of the saide Aldana and of Philip Terzy who serued as Ingener although they discouered some horse yet knew they not for certaine what Moluc pretended Aldana brought vnto the King letters from the Duke of Alua with present of a headpiece which was the Emperours Charles the fifth and a cassocke of white taffetie with the which the said Charles entered conquerour into Tunis He said vnto some that he had beene sorrie the King should attempt any thing in the firme lande of Affricke But hearing by his owne letters that he would onely goe to Alarache he did receiue great contentment and did commend his resolution being in the meane time come into certaine small hils which they call Cabeza d' Ardana they tooke their third lodging from thence they went to Bercain but to come to the fifth they must passe the small riuer of Mucazen at a foord the which fals somewhat lower into Lixe Moluc aduertised of the Portugals course hauing made longer staie at his lodging beyond Alcazar then he ment to giue the enimie better meanes to approch his troupes being ioined he dislodged the second of August marching towards Alcazar The day following he went directly towards the bridge which the Portugals sought for and being passed did strongly encampe themselues towards the sea not meaning to passe any farther the waies being full of hils
brother to the Duke of Bragance Iohn de Silueira eldest sonne to the Earle of Sorteglia Christopher of Tauora and manie other of account so as some noble families were there wholie extinct Arias of Silua Bishop of Porto and Emanuel of Meneses Bishop of Coimbra died likewise The Duke of Barsellos with Anthonie Prior of Crato were taken prisoners The newe King hauing gathered togither his armie and the greatest number of prisoners he could get resolued to returne to Feez where he entered in great triumph For besides the colours taken and the number of Captiues he led with him he caused the bodie of Mulei Mahamet to be founde out and hauing flaied it and filled the skin with strawe he carried it in triumph to take from the Moores al the hope they had conceiued in him After he studied carefully to discouer the Gentlemen that were prisoners taking them from the Moores and Iewes who had bought them for a small price to drawe from them a greater raunsome as indeede he did Whereupon hee was noted by some to be more couetous then valiant seeming a great indiscretion that after so great and absolute a victorie remaining no reliques of an enimies armie he shoulde so sodainly betake himselfe to rest They woulde being but twentie and fiue miles from the fortes which the Portugals held in Affrick he should presently haue laboured to force them and haue freed the Prouince from such a curbe being the opinion of the most expert that if he had aduanced his campe he had soone forced them vnfurnished both with men and munition and the Portugals that were there in guard remaining so astonished for the death of their King that they could hardly haue made defence and so much the lesse hauing small hope to be succoured out of Portugall Sebastian hauing carried with him all the Nobilitie which were woont to defende those places So as vpon this discourse many saide as was spoken to Hannibal of the same nation that the Affricanes although they knowe sometimes how to vanquish yet coulde they not vse the victorie But all well considered the Moore proceeded in this action with more iudgement then others beleeued for not suffering himselfe to be carried away with prosperitie hauing aduertisement that the Realme of Feez the which they had receiued from such as had escaped the day of the battaile the handes of the vanguard of the Christians and of the Arabians was somewhat altered seeing himselfe newly King he thought it more conuenient being armed to goe pacifie his people and take assured possession of the Realme then to busie himselfe with newe conquests and leaue the certaine in doubt for the vncertaine Besides hauing well considered the conquest of these fortresses of the sea he did not esteeme them easie but of hard attempt for besides they wanted no garrisons and that Portugall was not yet so vnpeopled but that it might soone be succoured he held it for most certaine that King Philip for his owne priuate interest would defend them with all his force the which he might easilie effect by reason of the great number of galleies hee had prepared readie in Spaine fearing perchance that which had happened And for that he doubted the Andaluzians might haue some intelligence with the Turkes and practise some treason against his person hee cut off the head of Doali and some other Commaunders and of some others of his traine By this meanes Hamet got the name of a wise and considerate Prince the which he preserued gouerning himselfe with iudgement Diego de Sosa Generall of the armie at sea who as we haue said remained neere Alarache hearing the noise of the artillerie and the brute of the two armies most assured they were in fight he knew not what to doe for although his commission was there to attende the King yet he doubted least the viewe of the enimie might force him to change his resolution or that the way shoulde be stopped and that he shoulde expect him in vaine not resoluing whether it were more expedient to returne to Arzille or attend in that place He made likewise a question whether he shoulde batter Alarache whereunto he was enclined thinking by his cannon to giue the King a figne of his being there and to trouble the minde of the Moore while he was in fight but he resolued not any thing deteined by his blinde commission and the aduise of some other Capteines The armie being broken he receiued letters from Peter de Mesquita gouernour of Arzille and withall newes of the successe in part false writing vnto him that he shoulde returne with the armie to Arzille and that King Sebastian came thither to imbarke And although this letter did not easilie mooue him doubting that Mesquita demaunded the armie more for his owne assurance then otherwise yet being certified of the Kings death he ranne alongst the coast vnto Tanger seeking to gather vp the remainder of the armie and so after returne to Lisbone These thinges passed in Affrick the news came but without good assurance to the Gouernours the fourteenth of August which did so amaze them that for a time they knewe not what to determine yet they kept it secret resoluing in the meane time to call the Cardinall Henrie who they saide succeeded directly to the crowne he a little before not greatly pleasing nor agreeable to his Nephew in a manner retired himselfe in the Abbey of Alcobassa to whome with great dissimulation they sent father George Serrano of the order of the Iesuits to declare vnto him the successe and to beseech him to come to Lisbone to receiue the Scepter although on the other part some reported that Peter d'Alcasoua had secretlie aduertised the Catholique King of all things beginning to yeelde obedience as to him whom he did foresee woulde be future Lorde of the Realme if this were not a practise of his enimies to make him more suspect vnto the Cardinall Henrie generally through the Realme they knewe nothing of assurance for all passengers were staied by order from the Gouernours all letters that came from forraine parts were taken giuing the people to vnderstande a thousand fables doubting perchaunce that if the people knewe themselues to be without a King they woulde attempt something The Citie of Lisbone as also all the rest were in great garboile vnderstanding that there was a Carrier come with such newes as had greatly altered the Gouernours not knowing what it was seeing the Councell daily assembled the letters retained to vnderstande that they had sent both into Castill and to the Cardinall to heare that both the Christians and the Moores campes were approched helde the whole Realme in feare of some ruine There was none in Lisbone but had some interest in this warre who so had not his sonne there had his father the one her husbande the other her brother the traders and handie-crafts men who had not their kinsemen there and yet many of them had did venture their wealth
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
themselues to receiue it without the which mans wisedome were it neuer so subtill coulde not worke as it ought that dooing so the holy Ghost by his grace woulde inspire their harts and lighten their vnderstādings making their wils conformable to his loue to the end that all that shall be treated of may bee to the seruice of God his glory the encrease of Christian Religion and the quiet and profite of these Realmes as he still pretended in all things and as he doth especially desire and procure in these present occurrents to the hinderance of his health but with a most holy zeale Hauing ended this speech Emanuel de Sosa pachecho Deputie of Lisbone rose vp saying That since God by his prouidence amidst so many afflictions hapned to the Realme had giuen his Highnes for successor trusting in his vertue they did expect from him a remedie to their eminent dangers That they were most assured that for the loue and desire of his subiects peace he did not spare his owne health for which loue and grace they did kisse his handes offring him all auncient and firme loialty loue and obedience wherewith the Portugall nation haue beene woont to serue their Kings his predecessors At the ende whereof the trumpets sounding the King was carried into his lodging and for that Almeryn is of small eceipt all the Deputies were lodged at Arem which is neere vpon the other side of the riuer of Tagus assembling at the conuent of Friers there to holde their councell The king laboured all hee coulde to drawe some good effect from these Estates vsing in one case both mildenes and seueritie but he feared greatly the contrarie for notwithstanding he supposed that he had drawne the citie of Lisbone to choose Deputies according to his owne humour yet coulde he not do the like with other cities besides he knew not whom to trust And now was there hapned at Coimbra some small rumour being aduertised that the Magistrate of the Chamber of that city with some other citizens spake too freely in the behalfe of the Prior of Crato touching the succession of the Realme whither he sent Martin Correa de Sylua to pacifie these stirres and to punish the offenders But they laughed at him and hee returned without effecting any thing neither did it preualie that the king for that respect did imprison Aryas Gonzalez de Macedo Deputie of the same citie who was after freely set at libertie The king receiued great contentment by the answer giuen him by the Clergie and the Nobilitie hauing imparted vnto them the interest of king Philip and propounded that it were conuenient to make some agreement with him they kissed his handes yet was there great disagreement amongst the Nobilitie before they coulde resolue for being all reduced to eight and twentie and those put to voices the Catholique king preuailed onely with one voice to the great discontentment of the contrarie faction and heerein the diligence and promises of the Catholique Agents preuailed much But Henry was no lesse displeased with the proceedings of the thirde estate contrarie to his intent and meaning It was generally thought that Phebus Moniz Deputie of Lisbone was conformable to the kings will was chosen to that intent yet vpon the first assembly of the Deputies the thirteenth of Ianuarie he plainly discouered his hart being all assembled as chiefe of the Councell he spake in this manner That the Portugall nation was more pleased with deeds then words and for that he was a Portugall although some did beleeue the contrarie he woulde speake little I beleeue saide he that euery one of you in the Masse of the holie Ghost which hath beene lately celebrated hath beseeched God to direct all to his honour and glorie for it is that we ought to seeke We haue a most holy king who being such it is not credible that he hath assembled vs heere but to doe vs honor for the preseruation of our publike good The Realme hath chosen vs for Deputies all mens eies are turned vpon vs to view if they haue made a good choice Let vs giue them to vnderstande that they haue attained their desires procuring as much as we may the preseruation of our generall good It doth not displease me to heare some say that God hath reserued this cause of succession to be determined in heauen let vs imbrace this saying Let vs goe all to heauen to begge mercy at his hands let vs all make vs readie as at the last houre let vs forget all things below I will assure you on his behalfe that doing so both here in that heauenly citie he will entreate vs as his best beloued I relie much vpon you and I beseech you that if by reason of my sinnes I decline from the name of a Portugall you will helpe to support me that I may not loose it I will be alwaies ready to ioine in any resolution that shal please you These wordes spoken with more vehemencie then eloquence reuiued the spirits of many of the deputies who doubted of his inclination so that after the creation of the officers they alleaged That seeing that the citie of Lisbone hauing propounded to the learned whether the election of the King appertained onely vnto them as the chiefe citie of the Realme and finding it was a thing incident to the whole Realme that it were conuenient before the King should send vnto them to demaund permission in the behalfe of the Realme to pretend the election of the King being all conformable they sent two deputies to deliuer this Ambassage who being ioyfully receiued and with doubtfull speeches returned with no other satisfaction but that the day following he would sende them an answere who being returned to the assembly and making report what they had done Antonio Pignero Bishop arriued sent from the King who spake thus in his name That the difficultie in assembling the States was so great the matter treated of of such importance that it was fit to touch the point of the conclusion laying aside many things which were of no moment That the Catholique King since that his Highnes had taken the Scepter of these Realmes had pressed him to declare his successor saying that he was assured both by the opinion of Doctors of his owne Realme and of others that the succession appertained vnto him but that King Henrie made answere he must be better enformed heare the parties pretending to the same seccession entertaining him in this sort vntill he had knowledge vnto whom it appertained by right and being now satisfied finding there yet resteth some doubt betwixt the Catholique King and the Dutchesse of Bragance he knew that making declaration by way of iustice it might breed many inconueniences and troubles to the Realme being alreadie exposed to manie dangers And therefore he found no better course then to determine the succession by way of accord if he should die before the King of Castil
for by that meanes he should prouide for all things fit for the Realme giuing satisfaction to him that should haue the strongest pretention And although the matter were still in doubt yet the King had thought it the best course as they should well finde and if they would consider thereof being of such importance as his Highnes had thought it conuenient to impart it vnto them and with their counsell to determine what should be most necessarie for the seruice of God and the profit of the Realme That hee did recommend it vnto them that with quietnes of mindes and the onely respect of the diuine seruice and the common good they should treat and consider of this matter giuing the King present knowledge of their opinions This Ambassage did greatly alter the councell who expected an Ambassage from the King whether he would admit their demand concerning the election and seeing they treated with them of a matter halfe ended laying aside what the Ambassador had propounded they resolued to send backe to the King to expostulate an answere of their Ambassage which done they profited no more then before But to Phebus Moniz one of those which went who possibly spake without respect the King made answere with great patience That he should haue come accompanied with choler whereunto he replied that it was reasonable seeing his Highnes would giue the Realme vnto the Castillians Let him giue it to any Portugall whosoeuer they were all contented The day following the Bishop returned to the assembly and without any answer to the Deputies demaund hee saide vnto them in the Kings behalfe That his Highnes vnderstood that some of the Councell were mistaken supposing the accord whereof he had made mention should be betwixt the King of Castill the Duchesse of Bragance which being contrarie he thought it good to explaine his meaning that the accord which he laboured was betwixt the King of Castill and these Realmes and to let them vnderstande that sentence was readie to be giuen in fauour of the king of Castill and therefore they shoulde consider how much more fit it were to ende it by accorde then by sentence that they shoulde well consider of that which he had sent to be deliuered vnto them for being a matter so important to the Realme it was necessarie that all should be capable The Bishop being departed many of the Deputies grewe in choler some of them saying that the Bishop affected vnto Philip had forged this Embassage of himselfe and that it was not credible the King had deliuered it thus vnto him Many spoke freely and some sought to interrupt him before hee had ended seeming vnto them that the king not answering their demaunde made small account of this assemblie saying that he coulde be no iust iudge of this cause seeing he had declared his intention But weighing better if they should confesse that he had pronounced it as a king and iudge they were bound to obey they beganne to say he had made no declaration holding it in suspence They sent to the assemblie of the Clergie to let them vnderstand what had passed and to complaine and to the King likewise to demaund an answer who answering them that he woulde sende did presse them to rest satisfied and to commit the care of this resolution to some fewe of them whereunto the Deputies woulde not agree fearing least the authoritie of the pretendents might force them or corrupt the iudges protesting openly that they woulde neither conuent nor accord with the Castillians But King Henry seeing the Deputies obstinately forcing an aunswere to their demaund finding he coulde neither drawe them to composition nor to compremit the matter to fewe fearing if hee shoulde pronounce the sentence they woulde make some exception resolued to make short to graunt that which they demaunded For which cause he sent backe the Bishop the thirde time who with a more pleasing audience then before saide vnto them in the kings behalfe That seeing the accord he had propounded did not seeme pleasing vnto them as vnto his Highnes he woulde make no other motion but woulde admit them to pleade the interest they had in the Kings election giuing them notwithstanding but two daies libertie to produce their reasons The Deputies glad of this answere sent to kisse the Kings hand for this fauour crauing leaue to draw some auncient writings out of the Records requiring more libertie of time the which he would not graunt referring them to the Soueraigne magistrate for the writings The Portugals were puffed vp with hope by this permission to elect a King at their owne pleasure and therefore many more hastily then they should declared themselues protesting they would rather yeeld to any then to the Castillians And not onely the common people but many of the Nobilitie said the same whereof many shewing themselues too seditious were banished the assemblies whereas such as seconded the Kings will besides the promises of the Catholike Kings Agents were fauoured and rewarded by Henrie The pretendents to the succession were discontented with the Kings inclination some complayned others dissembled The Duke of Bragance relied greatly vpon his wiues Title The Bishop of Parma comming to the assembly of States complayned publikely of the King with graue wordes to whom Emanuell de Sosa made a wise answere assuring him of the Kings intent to doe iustice whilest the matter stoode vpon these termes the King grew so weake as he could not rise from his bed giuing signes of a short life yet did he not leaue to the hower of his death to prouide for all things necessarie At that time the Duke of Bragance thought it fit to send Katherine his wife to Almeryn to visite Henrie to perswade him to declare her heire to the Crowne the which he did with small content to Henrie to whom she spake freely This her comming the Archbishop of Euora vncle to the Duke hauing at the same time giuen a prebend of the same church of great reuenue to Paul Alphonso bred matter of iealousie in such as were affected to the Catholique King who not knowing the qualitie of this Doctor and the obedience wherewith they keepe the Kings commaundements charged him not to haue perfourmed such offices with the Dutchesse as were conformable to Henries commission who drawning neere vnto midnight passed into an other life a thing woorthie to be noted that he began to die in the beginning of the Ecclipse of the moone he died with the end thereof as if that the celestiall signe had wrought that effect in him being a King of a weake bodie which it doth not in stronger or at the least not so suddenly as Astrologians doe write neither is the hower to be neglected being the same wherein he was borne 68. yeeres before The religious which were at his death saide that he was alwaies talking About ten of the clocke hee demaunded howe the time went and being told he desired some rest and that they
should call him before eleuen So as being turned on the other side he remained somtime but being called by the Religious he asked againe what it was a clocke being answered that it was eleuen O giue me said he that candell for now my hower is come and taking it in his hand died soone after hauing raigned seuenteene moneths This was the last King of Portugall in whom ended the direct masculine line And as the first Lord of Portugall although vnder the Title of an Earle was called Henrie so doth it seeme the last should be so termed He was thin of bodie small of stature and leane of his face as for his wit it was indifferent indued besides the Latine toong with some knowledge He was alwaies held to be chast and did neuer blemish this angelicall vertue but with the desire of marriage in his latter daies He was accounted sparing giuing rather then denying for he refused seldome but he gaue sparingly he was ambitious of all iurisdiction as well Ecclesiasticall as ciuil zealous in Religion and the faith yet in the reformation of religious persons he was more stricte then was conuenient He was Bishop Gouernour of the Realme Inquisitor Maior legate Apostolique and King But the more he mounted the more he discouered his incapacitie suffering himselfe in greatest matters to be ruled by his ministers not being able to determine the cause of the succession Opinions were grafted in him with great obstinacie retayning a continuall remembrance of wrongs so as iustice was in him but an iniust execution of his owne passions and for this cause a religious man whom he had pressed to take vpon him a most strict course of life said vnto him that he would obey seeing there was no humaine helpe against his commandements seeing he had the wil of a man the authority of a Pope the execution of a king Finally he was indued with great vertues with fewer lesse vices yet were they equal for he had the vertues of an Ecclesiasticall person and the defects of a Prince during his life he was feared of many and beloued of few so as no man lamented his death onely such as were well affected desiring the cause had beene first decided before his decease had some feeling These things happened in Almeryn where suddenly the fiue named Gouernours did assemble to prouide for that which should be necessarie tearming themselues Gouernours and Protectors of the Realme of Portugal But in this beginning after the kings death they feared some mutinie of the people both at Almeryn and at Lisbone neither did the gouernours themselues nor the Catholique Kings Agents thinke themselues secure They hated the assembly of the Deputies of the Realme which were continued at Saint Arem both for that they held it as a superiour councell as also fearing it might cause some insurrection of the people and therefore they did still abuse them with words differing from their meanings for which cause they sent Martin Gonzalues de la Camera a gentleman of the church who in the time of Sebastian held the first place in the gouerument of the Realme which he could not continue for although he were not couetous of riches but full of integritie yet was he seuere and hard to be intreated that they held him inexorable Him they sent being a popular man and contrarie to the Catholike King whose words they thought should be of more credit then any others hauing particularly reported the Kings death hee said that the Gouernours chosen at the last estates began to looke vnto the gouernment and to giue order for things necessarie to the Realme And although the death of King Henrie were a great losse yet being in heauen he would mediate for them and that they should rest assured that with the greatest zeale and loue to their countrey they could they would indeuour to doe iustice as well to those of the Realme in the pretention they had to the election as also to the pretendents to the succession That they would deliuer them all writings whereof they had neede exhorting them to treat with peace and loue without causing of any mutinie were it neuer so small in any mans fauour and for the better ordering of that which concerned the common good they were well pleased they should put them in minde of any thing which they thought necessarie Hauing ended this speech all men keeping silence Phoebus Moniz answered that they were all assured that of the fiue Gouernours three were suspect for when the King laboured to bring the States to make agreement with King Philip they were not onely conformable to the will of Henrie but did vrge them and commended this resolution without respect of the libertie of the Realme seeking onely to please the Kings humour and their owne interest which being it was not reasonable to suffer such suspected Gouernours whom they were not bound to obey and this was the opinion of them all Martin replied that he was not of opinion they should then alter any thing for in steed of helping they should heape danger vpon danger and trouble vpon trouble that for a while they should be lookers on and if in time they should finde the Gouernours not to doe their duety as they ought they might then helpe with the same remedie seeing they had alwaies authoritie to doe it whereunto although Phoebus Moniz answered that this remedie could not alwais be applied for that the councel could not stil be vnited for the great charges they were at yet the reasons of Martin Gonzalues were of such force that they resolued not to alter the Gouernours as a matter scandalous but accepting what they had sent to be said vnto them that they should aduise what they thought necessarie they began suddenly to set downe in writing such Articles as they would haue perfourmed by the Gouernours The which were that leauing the aboade at Almerin they should goe to Saint Arem to be neerer neighbours more in quiet and in greater safetie that for the auoiding of charge and scandall they should discharge the Souldiers as vnnecessarie That presently they should sende Ambassadors to the Catholique King that as Gouernours of the Realme they would do iustice to the pretendents in the cause of succession the which his Maiestie should beleeue not suffering within his Realme any attempt against Portugall That they should presently prouide for the fortresses of the Realme as well vpon the sea as in other places sending trustie Captaines garrisons and necessarie munition and to euerie Prouince men of great authoritie to force men to defend and succour the weaker parts that they should send some vnto his holines giuing him to vnderstand the Kings death their succession to the gouernment of the Realme for the defence thereof against any one that would vsurpe it contrarie to equitie against the sentence which should be pronounced touching the succession beseeching him to write to the Catholique King to rest
he should preuaile in recompence of the discontentment he had to be drawen from Italy Many beleeued the King would goe to this war in person both for the inclination they see in him as for some other signes which were apparant for he not only caused his armes and pauillions to be readie but also commaunded Ferrant de Silua Conte de Cifuentes Guidon Maior of Castill with the Standard Royall to furnish himself the which in that Realme is not accustomed to be carried but in the Squadron where the King is in person but in this case it behooued him to remaine irresolute and to gouerne himselfe according to the necessitie and occasions which time should discouer In this hope of things the King commaunded a Secretarie of the councell of warre to write to the Duke of Alua demaunding of him if he were able to serue in this enterprise whereunto making answere that in that which concerned his Maiestie he neuer made reckoning of his health hee was commaunded to prepare himselfe within three daies and to goe to the campe the which he putting in execution he went to Barrazas a village ten miles from the court which was at Madrill hauing no leaue to come thither but that which caused admiration the king hauing at the same time caused the Prince Diego his sonne to be sworne by all the estates in a Chappell although with ordinarie ceremonies yet with lesse pompe then of custome did not admit the saide Duke to the oath being so neere and so great a personage He did neither write vnto him nor treated with him concerning these warres but long after So as the Duke marching with the armie finding himselfe not fully released from the prison wherein he had beene saide that the King had sent him to conquer Realmes drawing after him chaines and fetters such was the seueritie of Philip and the obedience of so great a minister All Spaine was pleased with this election for besides the deliuery of the Duke which followed they esteemed not the valour of their soldiers without a Commaunder to their mindes and in the Dukes person they helde any armie good The Generall being dispatched the King prouided all things for his iourney into Portugall he caused a daughter borne at that time to be secretly baptized and hauing made the saide prince of Castill to be sworne without calling or the presence of Ferrant de Sylua to his great discontentment the King went to Guadalupa being now the time of Lent vnder colour to performe the obsequies of King Henry there and so to draw neere vnto Portugall to giue encouragement to his affaires and thus did he write to all the principall cities in Spaine He departed from Madrill in coach almost all alone without giuing order for the Queenes departure or for the officers of his Courte notwithstanding cherishing her dearely After he had passed two daies seeming conuenient and a great signe of amitie that being now to enter into Portugall he shoulde be accompanied with his Queene he called her vnto him The Duke was now gone to Glierena where a part of his armie lay being in farre lesser numbers then had beene leuied for that discommodities and sicknesse had consumed many and many places were voide by the Captaines pollicie being in all but fower thousand fiue hundreth Italians three thousand fiue hundreth Germaines and three thousand Spaniards come out of Italy and other seauen thousand newly raised with fifteene hundreth horse which being a body long before prepared for a matter so well foreseene seemed to him but small But the Duke trusting more to the qualitie then the quantitie of his soldiers desired to haue them fewer and of more experience and these seemed in a manner all without knowledge and therefore the King at his entreatie commanded that all the soldiers which were come out of Flaunders into Italy should passe into Spaine being such whom he knew and had tried in the warres yet they arriued not in time but returned backe The Duke saide that surmounting the enimie in horse he would vndertake this warre with twelue thousand foote well experienced neither did he value the great number of the Portugals which assembled as it was giuen out making reckoning to waste them by policie to conquer them without battaile The King being come to Guadalupa there arriued the Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo Embassadors from the Gouernours of Portugall The King with his Councell were doubtfull in what sort to honor them some would haue them treated like subiects without respecting them as Embassadors Others would not haue any thing altered of the ordinarie course obserued in those causes yet not to discourage them it was resolued they should be heard as Embassadors with their heads couered and that the King should put off his hat yet the King had written before to the Gouernors that he would treat with their Commissaries as with subiects These laboured by a long speech to perswade the King to lay aside armes they saide that King Henry had greatly desired to end the question of succession by the ordinarie course of iustice but that death had preuented him he had in the States held at Lisbone in the yeere 1579. not onely chosen Gouernors and defenders of the Realme but the States had also named fower twentie Iudges whereof the King had chosen eleuen to iudge definitiuely the cause of succession if he died before the effecting it the which after hapned and that the matter being brought to that passe the realme remained quiet and peaceable resolute to obey and acknowledge for their Lord and King him in whose fauour sentence should be giuen conformable to the oath which the whole Realme had taken in the said estates the which was after ministred to the same Gouernors in the great church at Lisbone when as the coffer which contained the nomination was opened and therefore they were readie to administer iustice and to acknowledge for King him vnto whom the realme shoulde be iudged by right to appertaine and being thus affected they beseeched his maiesty to command his embassadors to assist iudicially to the cause in the conclusion thereof But the King being assured of his right prouided of forces and seeming no blot to his conscience made answere that he was well pleased with the shew of zeale to the publike good of these realmes and that he was perswaded that what they had propounded proceeded from a good inclination that he would haue bin glad their demand had bin such as he might haue satisfied them the which he wil do alwaies in matter that shall be iust tending to the generall or particular good of these realmes But the equitie of his cause being so apparant to the world remaining no lawfull or competent iudge they neither ought nor could performe the oath which they saide they had taken seeing it were an apparant preiudice to his title and a domage to his owne realmes and therefore he
secular power could not iudge him being taken in the Church came running likewise to the place of execution to succour him And had not Damain D' Aguiar a seuere and resolute officer had the charge thereof who suddenly put this sentence in execution there was so great a concourse of people crying and of religious men with their crosses and excommunications that the offender had been easily rescued These disorders displeased the louers of religion and quietnes who blaming somewhat the Friers for not suffering their Prouinciall quietly to ende the terme of his charge yet did they attribute more fault vnto the gouernours for suffering in such a season so publike and rigorous an execution against the religious and chiefly vpon a Monasterie seated vpon the banks of Tagus saying that if for no other reason yet shoulde they haue forborne in respect that many English and French ships anchored there whose men infected with heresie would reioyce to see the religious in the hands of Sergeants The death of Pina was held for an indiscreet and cruell resolution of Anthony for being but a matter of small moment to be reuenged by so foule an example vpon an olde man alawyer and of meane condition he had thrust himselfe into an exigent either to be held vnthankfull in suffering of Soarez to die as he did or else to doe violence vnto iustice But for that princes hate the executioners of their follies for in their life doth liue the remembrance of their errors euen so the Prior hated this man after the offence committed neither did he labour to saue him although his death made him contemptible to the people The said prior was thē at Almerin laboring the cause of his legitimation solliciting the iudges to decide the same who excused themselues that they could not do it obseruing the lawes of the realme if he retired not himselfe 25. miles from the Court that in so doing they would looke into the cause But for that the Duke of Bragance and the Ambassadors of other princes were there present he would not depart for this reason the matter surceased at this time Emanuel of Portugall who remained at Belem laboured ambitiously that Iohn Teglio one of the gouernours his brother in lawe conformable to himself in opinion principally in the exclusion of Philip should be sent to Belem with authoritie from the other gouernours to prouide by his presence for all things necessarie seeming a matter hard to effect at Almeryn The other gouernours desirous to be rid of his companie and not daring to contradict any thing that seemed to concerne the defence gaue him authoritie and suffered him to goe to Belem There he consulted with Emanuel and receiuing with some difficultie the money borrowed of the merchants he resolued for the gathering together of a greater summe to sell the iewels of the Crowne the which were there and therefore causing them to be brought foorth he dealt with some merchants vpon the price The Duke of Ossuna was then returned into Castill leauing Mora in Portugall with the other Ambassadours that were Lawyers who vnderstanding the iewels were vpon sale the saide Mora in the name of the Catholique King required the said gouernours not to sell them as appertaining to the King protesting both against them and the buiers that they should be bounde to restore the price at their owne charge so as they found not any that woulde deale with them Philip being at Merrida as it was saide hauing by a long protestation required the gouernors to deliuer him the possession of the Realme The Bishop of Coimbra and Emanuel de Melo returned the second time making the like proposition to the King as they had done at Guadalupa offering to put the cause to arbitrement and complaining he had giuen them too short a time to resolue But Philip being now well resolued what he would doe and infourmed of the aide the Portugals demaunded from other princes he made them the like answere as before Many iudged the proposition of those Ambassadours to be ill grounded saying it was an vnseemely thing to require the King to make himselfe subiect to the iudgement of nominated iudges seeing that King Henry himselfe who with more appearance of reason might pretend to be lawfull iudge in this cause did neuer require the King to acknowledge him for iudge neither did he euer declare him contumax in the cause debated with the pretendents for not acknowledging him The Catholique King came to Badagios the 20. of May where the Portugall Ambassadours laboured to perswade him making suite that before the taking of armes he should admit an assemblie to the estates but they were no more admitted to audience the king resolued to send his answere vnto the gouernors and to publish it throughout the whole realme in the name of his Councell the which he did as followeth That experience had taught that by two examples of the estates last held at Lisbone and at Almerin they wrought no good effect in fauour of the apparant right of his Maiestie but in the one and the other they had still laboured to trouble it seeking lets and delaies which might haue bred the losse thereof and therefore it seemed a treble error to attend againe a new assemblie of these estates That they haue no reason to complaine that his Maiestie had giuen them too short a time to resolue accounting from the day of the receipt of his letters the xiij of March by the which he required them to sweare him saying they made no good computation if they supposed he were dispossessed of the realme but from the time that he demaunded it appertaining vnto him from the hower of King Henries death but that his Maiestie had expressely contained himselfe a moneth and a halfe without making of any motion to the ende they should not loose the thanks by calling him to the succession whom God had called and might haue leisure amongst themselues to make cleere this bond by which they were tied and giue satisfaction making the pretendents capable of reason to the ende they should not hinder the publike quiet and that they might be intercessors for them and for the realme which course the king himselfe had taught them That their excuse might be taken in two senses saying they coulde not receiue his Maiestie but in a generall assemblie of estates their meaning is either that they cannot doe it by right or that they may not doe it for that they dare not In the first case they are deceiued for there needes no assemblie of estates when a king makes his entrie vnto the realme although he succeede not to his father but to his kinseman neither were they necessarie when as Henry succeeded to his nephew In the other case that they cannot doe it because they dare not the excuse is good but not to binde the king neither in iustice nor conscience to desist from taking the possession of his goods if the delaies make the
obserued not the custome of all nations which is that when an armie enters master of the field they commaund all places which cannot defend themselues to yeeld to the end they may auoide the violent course of warre to slaie all such as make resistance whereas not vsing of this rigour they shall be forced to bring the cannon before euerie cottage and make the warre perpetuall yet this letter neuer induced them to set a resolute order to any towne They were wel resolued to giue the realme to the Catholique King yet coulde they not conclude for the effecting thereof They feared in a manner to be stoned if they discouered this intention and therefore they woulde not hazard themselues loosing daily all hope to bring the matter to that passe that the King should acknowledge the crowne from them as they pretended Besides the King being wholie of an other minde they knew not what they could do if they had would The people who flatter themselues much and endure little supposed the defence was easie euery man shewed himselfe a lion for the defence of his owne house yet woulde they not go armed to fielde Those of the house of Portugall and the other aduersaries to the Catholique King were in no lesse confusion then the Gouenours for hauing beene obstinate in their opinions they found they had mooued the indignation of Philip against them without profite And although they were more confident in the defence then they ought to be yet did they feare the kings protestations by the which demaunding possession of the realme he threatned such as should withstand him The Agents of the Catholique King laboured to suborne those as they had the rest yet it preuailed not for being in the beginning obstinate confident in the midst and distrustfull in the end to obtaine pardone they woulde neuer agree yet left they not to hope that the more they proceeded in the defence the better they shoulde let the King vnderstand their forces and might compound with greater aduantage And for that the warres continued the Gouernors supposed that in this forte the King shoulde acknowledge the crowne from them But he being well enfourmed of all these matters and hauing treated with many frontier townes of Portugall to yeeld hauing imparted vnto them the equitie of his cause by ample allegations entreating them not to be the cause of the ruine of the realme hauing caused Peter de Velasco soueraigne iudge of Badagios to write to some particulars he first attempted Eluas as neerest vnto him The Citizens fearing they should either in deed or worde be first set vpon attended daily this Embassage They were deuided as it often happens into two contrarie factions the one enclined to the obedience of Philip the other vnder colour of liberty fidelity to the Gouernors would by no meanes receiue him for their Lorde The heades of the first partie were George Passano and Iohn Rodrigo Passano brothers followed by many Citizens whom they call Esquires On the other side was Anthony de Melo captaine of the citie whose opinion was followed by the greatest part of the Nobilitie but in farre lesse nnmber then the rest whereas euery man spake his minde openly Diego de Meneses had beene there a little before to fortifie the citie and seeking to enlarge their ditches he found it a matter of some difficultie so as he departed without effecting any thing saying that he would returne with armes which the Gouernours shoulde sende whereof failing the Citizens knew well they coulde not resist True it is that the King had long before prepared their mindes by the meanes of Frier Vincent of Fonseca a preaching Frier kinseman to the Passani a noble familie and well followed enclined from the beginning with al their followers to the deuotion of Philip he vsed all meanes to drawe the rest vnto him yet the day of Th' annunciation of the blessed Virgin this religious man preaching labouring to perswade the people to the Kings obedience they did not willingly heare him So as now when he sought to take possession thereof hauing dispatched many messengers to the Bishop and Anthony de Melo in the ende he sent Peter de Velasco with letters to the principall of the towne and procuration to receiue this citie to his obedience Being arriued at Eluas the xvij of Iune with eighteene men vnarmed although the gates were shut by reason of the infection yet was he presently let in by the iudge of the towne and going to the church of pittie he caused the Bishop the Magistrate of the chamber and the Nobilitie to be assembled to whom he deliuered the letters which the King had written containing in substance that the matter being apparant that the succession of the realme belonged vnto him he had sent the saide Peter with procuration to receiue it vnto his obedience if they woulde yeeld it adding vnto his kinde wordes many offers And although the Bishop Melo and the Magistrate of the chamber receiued these letters and read them yet the Nobilitie did not accept them so easilie for that some feared to commit an errour and others debating who shoulde receiue them they did not accept them yet they agreed that Frier Anthony de la Cerda Prior of the Monasterie of Saint Dominick shoulde receiue the letters for the Nobilitie and bring them to the cathedrall church so as all letters being read Melo and the Magistrate who preceaded the rest demaunded eight daies libertie to consult and to giue their answere intending in the meane time to sende to the Gouernours the which Velasco would not graunt but saide vnto them that he woulde presently returne wishing them to aduise and not to cause the armie which his Maiestie had so neere to march to their losse yet they sent Gaspar de Britto to Stremos where Diego de Meneses generall of that prouince remained to aduertise him of what had passed remaining thus in suspence vntill the next day When as the Passani enformed of Melos intention contrarie to their will and authoritie resolued to kill him if he refused to yeeld and had alreadie incensed the people against him causing many to giue out publikely that they woulde be Castillians Velasco went after to the castell to perswade Melo in priuate to make the matter more easie and not to shewe himselfe without reason enimie to the King But it was in vaine for he saide that he had receiued this place from the Gouernors and that he woulde not yeelde it to any man without their commandement If it were adiudged to appertaine vnto the King he woulde presently yeelde Standing vpon these tearmes there appeared by the commandement of Velasco about the towne ditches neere sixe hundreth horse armed who seased vpon the wels and conduits of water which serued the inhabitants for their watering putting the Portugals into great feare so as nowe the women began to crie and to curse Melo and all those that woulde not yeeld obedience vnto the king Some
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
deliuered into his enimies hands by such as he fauoured most to warrant their persons from the great danger wherein they were And this iealousie did so encrease that he imprisoned George de Meneses captaine generall at sea hauing wrongfully beleeued that he had treated to yeelde the armie to the enimies and to conduct them within the Porte of Lisbone Heereunto they added that halfe the realme was lost for all that part of Tagus towards Andelouzia was possessed by the Castillians and if there were any corner thereof where they had not beene as at Begia and some other places of the realme of Algarues either they made no reckoning thereof or they had compounded and the other moitie of the realme where the enimies had not beene was almost all in suspence for the citie of Porto which is the principall and almost all the rest which lie betwixt the riuers of Doro and Migno did not yet fully obey desiring since they were come to armes to see who shoulde haue the better onely Coimbra was more at his deuotion then all the rest and shewed it selfe more of Anthonies faction then the whole realme for in the beginning of Iuly it began to rise at the perswasion of Iohn Rodrigues de Vasconcellos a gentleman and a priest whom Anthony had sent thither expelling Peter Guedez gouernour thereof who fledde with the Corygidor in great hazard of his life and if the plague had not then afflicted the citie the disorders had beene greater yet this was but one citie onely whereas contrariwise Saint Arem the first place where he was proclaimed king beganne to rise against him for the pacifying whereof he sent Emanuel de Sylua one of the first moters of this popular humour which made him King so as he had scarce any citie remaining but Lisbone whereof he had no great confidence although the common people by their accustomed braggings shewed him great affection in this so apparant danger hee founde not any of so many Potentates enclined to succour him who in reason should not willingly haue seene his enimie aspire to such greatnes So as afflicted with these thoughts he had easily followed the counsell of an accorde although the fidelitie of the Portugals and the name of King woulde not suffer him yet hee had no man about him that coulde perswade him but was cured by contrarie remedies For taking counsell with Diego Boteglio the elder his familiar who had followed him in all his disgraces and with those of the house of Portugall although his flight if he would haue attempted it were stopped and small hope of victory in battaile yet coulde he not agree and yeeld to fortune but resolued to defend himselfe In which resolution he was confirmed by the Bishop of Guarda who as a bolde man woulde haue his opinion passe in all things For he saide the Catholique king was not so mightie as was supposed that his Spanish soldiers were new and vntrained that he woulde not drawe foorth of Italy his trained men fearing that being busied in Spaine the realme of Naples or the state of Millaine shoulde reuolt That the Italians and Germaines were few in number for besides there were many dead it was not safe to bring any great numbers into Spaine a prouince that is weake and hatefull to all other nations That at this present when as the brute should be of his taking armes the States of Italy of Nauarre and of Arragon woulde rebell That the Turke woulde descend vpon his realme of Naples That Castill it selfe being greeued and ouercharged with impostes woulde reuolt That Fraunce England and a part of Germany would come presently with many men to his succours or at the least in assailing the other prouinces of the Catholique king diuert the warre saying it had not yet succeeded the time being too short to giue them notice of his election or receiue an answere That the realme was mightie enough of it selfe to defend it selfe on this side the riuer vntill his friends had meanes to succour him These things being deliuered vnto him by his friends with so great efficacie and faining to haue receiued aduise they did somewhat encourage Anthony besides that the desire to raigne makes the vnbeleeuing credulous These men besides their aforesaide priuate passions although they did well vnderstand the weaknes of the realme and the lightnes of their reasons were blinded with two things whereby they perswaded Anthony from composition The one was that knowing the offence to the Catholique king to be so great that although they shoulde obtaine their pardon yet should they neuer receiue grace nor fauour but remaine still in feare of their liues The other was to enioy in the meane time the gouernment of the realme the which in a manner was all in their hands attributing vnto themselues the principall offices so as for the affection they shewed vnto the crowne it seemed that Anthony bare them respect and in a manner subiection so as the feare of life and the sweetenes of rule made them obstinate Amidst these doubts the Prior was not without hope of some succours from Fraunce for that Frauncis Baretto being first of all sent by the Gouernors and then the Consull of the French by himselfe with some little money he expected at the least one of them shoulde appeare with men although the Gouernors had sent Baretto more to please the peoples desire with this shewe then for any will they had hee shoulde worke it in effect being dispatched with ample commissions they daily by their messengers restrained and in a manner reuoked them so as he effected nothing of importance And although that Anthony had written vnto him yet was it late and the Consull of the French hauing receiued money staied still in Fraunce to take his pleasure so as they expected succours from those parts in vaine chiefly by reason that the Agents of the Catholique king laboured greatly that court to keepe the Portugals from their desire True it is that when Anthony founde them so slowe in comming and that the Catholique Kings galleies were masters of the sea he began to be out of hope Then grew a confusion and disorder in all thinges and forasmuch as their mindes were greatly troubled all without rest and all terrified it chaunced that the night following the daie when as they had receiued newes of the losse of Settuuall by reason of the flight of some Castillian marchants who held not themselues secure within the city they tooke an allarum with great amasement crying that the enimie entred by many places and as there was no ordered discipline nor any man that knew what they should vndertake the feare was so great the confusion such and so vnreasonable the running of people vp and downe to demaund what it was and to seeke for flight adding thereunto the terror of the night in so great and well peopled a citie that there coulde not be seene a greater confusion And although
the Germaines some few Spaniards ordered in three squadrons one a side of an other by Prosper Colona which should amount to the like number On the left hand which was the thirde body were their horsemen cōmanded by Ferrant son to the Duke in the first ranke whereof marched their Harquebusiers on horsebacke in the second their gennetters in the thirde their light horsemen behinde their men at armes where Ferrant himselfe remained vpon the riuer which lay on the right hand the which in that place is about three miles broad was the Marquesse with threescore and two galleies and fiue and twentie ships the which lying but musket shot from their foote serued as a wing to the armie on that side to answer the horse which were on the other In the meane while Anthony hauing viewed the enimies the day before and how little they had effected beleeued notwithstanding the great allarum which he heard in the night it woulde fall out as the day before and that after some light skirmishes the enimie he not issuing foorth of his lodging shoulde retire the second time yet desirous to put his men in order as the day before he coulde not doe it for being vnaccustomed to suffer wearie with the trauaile of the day and disquietnes of the night they did not execute that which was commaunded besides their number was greatly diminished for many being accustomed to lie in the towne all night and returne in the day were not yet come and others amazed were quite fledde away And therefore he commaunded the Bishop of Guarda who plaied at Lisbone as a man may say the part of a king to sende with all diligence to the campe all such men as were within the citie who with drums and bels ceased not all night to sound and with serieants armed to driue the citizens and handy crafts men by force out of their beds compelling them to go foorth armed with some few whereof the saide Bishop went to the campe that night But heereof followed no good effect for such as were sent foorth against their wils being fearefull fled to other places so as the Portugall armie neither encreased in number nor in order The Duke in the meane time presented himselfe on the right banke opposite to the Priors armie vpon the hils where hee had planted his cannon where viewing the Portugals scattered in their lodging hee founde himselfe deceiued in his conceaued opinion that vpon the allarum giuen they shoulde ranke themselues into squadrons Hee now perceiued that this intent to batter their rankes with his artillerie could not succeed as hee had presupposed and disordering them to charge them on all sides supposing in this manner he should easily breake them But hauing changed his resolution according to the occurrants being willing to hazard a battaile he did endomage them all he coulde with his cannon and so did the Prior likewise on his part He commaunded Prosper Colona to attempt the bridge with his men that were in the squadrons on the right hand striuing to passe it and to winne as much ground as he could He gaue order to Sanches d'Auila with two thousande Harquebusiers which he had drawne out of his middle Battalion hauing passed the brooke aboue whereas the bankes are lowest and easiest to ascend to draw the enimie to combate with all the aduantage he could charging them in flanke euen vnto their trenches He gaue commission to Ferrant his sonne who taking a greater compasse shoulde passe the brooke whereas the bankes were not high vnto the other side with his horse and go against the enimie but if he shoulde not issue foorth of his lodging as it was supposed they should then assaile them on all parts at one instant hee remaining behinde with the rest of the foote to succour where need should require in a place more eminent then the rest from the which he might discouer both armies where hauing left his squadrons a little behinde him he sate him downe viewing howe the assault woulde succeed making necessarie countersignes Prosper Colona came to the bridge before that either Sanches d' Auila or the horsemen could attaine to the other banke it may be for that it behooued them to make a longer march or for that the Italians as the Duke said to winne honor made too great haste They found it not vnfurnished for the Portugals had there planted their souldiers of most esteeme who at the first assault made great resistance For although the Italians fought valiantly yet was it long ere they preuailed any thing for the place being narrowe defended and guarded in flanke with some Harquebufiers which had fortified themselues within a mill to the which they coulde not approch by reason it was inuironed with water they came to fight with great disaduantage so as hauing in a manner wone it they were repulsed with some losses But Prosper hauing caused his soldiers to moūt vp on a narrow causway which kept the water of the mill by the which they might though vneasily come vnto the house hauing with the losse of some fewe assaulted it those within were all cut in peeces so as such as guarded the bridge wanting their succours in flanke being endomaged from the same mill by the Italians Colona charging them with greater force at the same instant on the bridge he woone it and passed to the other banke wherein Lewes Douara did good seruice who seeing the Italians repulsed hee caused them to be succoured almost against the Dukes will with some Germaine pikes the which he obtained from the Generall There did they long endure a hot fight for the Portugals being as yet ignoraunt that they were charged in any other other part all the force of the armie with the Prior himselfe ranne to the bridge where Prosper repeld them valiantly and put them to flight The Duke behelde what Sanches d' Auila shoulde do being most assured that if he obeied him all the enimies campe were broken but he feared that seeing the Italians in fight being cholericke he shoulde be impatient to take so long a course as to go charge them in flanke but woulde assaile them at the first encounter the which he esteemed dangerous but seeing him obedient he helde the battaile woone so as comming to the other bank with his Harquebusiers and Ferrant with his horsemen they founde no resistance For although that Anthony being scarce arriued at the bridge came to this other side the Portugals beginning now to vnderstande the successe of the bridge being fearefull presently fled towards the citie At this instant the Duke gaue signe vnto the galleies who without their masters rowed towards the citie with the rest of their armie discharging their artillerie against the Portugals fleete the which being a little retired without any place to flie vnto set saile but without any resistance they became a pray vnto the enimie Anthony being vnexpert neuer supposed the Duke woulde charge him within his
set a tax of 80000. duckats vpon the Priors person as a rebell and disturber of the quiet of the realme He proclaimed a parliament at Tomar the fifteenth day of Aprill where he would assist in person with the generall opinion and great hope of all men that all Portugals that had offended should there receiue their pardon and the obedient haue reward and that to all in generall he would giue great recompences graunting to the cities of the realme whatsoeuer they demaunded There remained neither citie nor place within the maine land of Portugall that had not yeelded their obedience to the king of Spaine For after the Priors flight from Viana all was in the Castillians power the places of Affricke were obedient and so was the Iland of Madera as for the places further off time would not yet suffer them to haue any certaine newes There remained the seuen Ilands of Terceres which had not yet made their submission hauing aduertisement that only S. Michaels excepted all the rest refused to obey and for as much as they were of no account this disobedience made them famous Although they be seuen in number yet are they for the most part small and ill peopled That of Saint Michael a hundreth miles neerer Spaine then the rest is the best There the Bishop of all these Ilands hath his residence They call their principall towne Punta Delgada the next vnto it is called Tercere whereof all the rest take their name This is fertill and by nature more strong then the rest Angra is their greatest dwelling whereof the saide Bishop taketh his name The rest as Saint Marie Fayale Pico Coruo and Flowers be lesser and some of them wholy vnpeopled The inhabitants of all in generall be superstitious and vaine grounding their discourses vpon fancie for since the battaile of Affricke they would neuer beleeue that king Sebastian was dead And although this opinion was helde long through out the Realme yet hath it beene more confidently beleeued there then in any other places for notwithstanding they had seene the innouations which happened in the time of King Henrie and of the Gouernours yet did they still hope he should appeare But when the Prior was proclaymed King it seemed they were somewhat satisfied for hauing presently sent vnto these Ilands to take possession with letters vnto all the Magistrates hee was there sworne and willingly obeyed and to performe this Acte of obedience they sent as Ambassadors vnto him Stephen Siluera and Fryer Melchior of the order of Saint Frauncis who arriuing at Lisbone could not execute their charge for being defeated at Alcantara hee was fled towards Porto yet making no account of the enimies victorie they followed the Prior there in the name of all the inhabitants of these Ilands yeelded him obedience After in the month of Nouember in the yeare 1580. they returned to Tercomes giuing an account of their charge adding that notwithstanding Anthonie had beene broken at Alcantara yet he began in the Prouince betwixt Doro and Mynio with 30000. men to be reuenged vpon the Castillians And although they had after intelligence of Philips absolute victorie and of the flight of Anthonie yet they continued firme in their opinions wherein they were daily confirmed for that as it is said before the Kings ministers had neglected to send vnto them whereas contrariwise Anthonie and the Earle of Vimiosa did still solicite them by curriers and letters to continue firme the said Earle hauing sent Anthonie Scalyn a Frenchman vnto them with letters whereby in the Priors name hee did commende their good affection they so far passed the bounds of ioy as they receiued him into Angra in procession and vnder a cannapie conducting him to the Church of pitie where the saide Fryer Melchior preached applying their intentions to the will of God and Fryer Blaise Camello did sing Masse who in his prayer with a lould voice praied for two Kings that is Sebastian and Anthonie saying vnto the people which demaunded newes of Sebastian that the fourth of August he would satisfie them The inhabitants of the Iland of Saint Michaell which had no such seditious firebrands as that of Tercera beeing by nature more peaceable furthered by the Bishop who followed the Kings party did not runne into so great disorders but shewed themselues daily more obedient vnto Philip who hauing intelligence of all these things desired to trie if hee could by gentle meanes draw this rebellious nation to his obedience and at the last remedie the error of his ministers for to conquer them by force was supposed difficult the Terceraes being naturally strong and inuironed with high rockes besides the sea going so high in those parts as no ships can liue aboue three or fower moneths in the yeare This enterprise was then supposed to be of more importance then it had beene not so much for the qualitie of the place as for the situation beeing an vnauoydable passage for the ships that come from the Indies and the new found lands as well from the East as from the West where the Frenchmen harbouring they might greatly endomage Spaine for this consideration the King sent Ambrose d' Aguiar with a letter and ample pardon in a manner to all offendors if leauing the part of Anthonie they would follow his But arriuing neere vnto Angra and sending his letters to land the Islanders tooke counsell what to doe but the people being then mad and without gouernment did not approoue the opinion of this counsell The richer sort regarding their priuat profit would obey for hauing all their rents in corne the which they commonly send vnto the realme they could not make sale in any other place but being few and not daring to speake their mindes they deliuered it doubtfully The poore who finding the lesse corne were transported from the Ilands the better cheape they shoulde buie it not caring to haue any trafficke with Portugall would by any meanes follow the voice of Anthonie Many kindled with rage aduised they shoulde suffer Ambrose d' Aguiar to enter the citie and after cast him in prison and punish him as Ambassador to a Tyrant Some held they should send him away without answere Some of the chiefe who feared they were not comprehended within the pardon did what they could to preiudice the Kings part for dispairing to obtaine it they laboured that no man should follow his voice but so to wrong Philip as they should lose all hope euer to bee reconciled wherein they preuailed so much as that Ambrose d' Aguiar who was appointed to be Gouernor of the Iland of Saint Michaell was sent backe They caused a Masse to be saide where all the people did sweare to die for Anthonie In which humor they were still confirmed by false reports that were blowen abroad For although the Prior were yet hidden in Portugall yet the shippes which came from Fraunce and England to trafficke at the Ilands to the end they might be the
the entrie of the Parliament the ceremonie of swearing the King was perfourmed and soone after of the Prince in the monasterie of religious men of the order of Christ a religion which is not any where else where he was lodged in the same sorte as was saide of King Henry but with more pompe being in an assemblie of estates and with lesse noise being done with lesse loue yet was it woorth the sight both for the great number of the Nobilitie and the goodly representation of the King in his habite of cloth of gold which Henry had not being a Cardinall There he graunted the pardon expected with so great desire the which although it had the name of generall yet was it helde by the Portugals to be limited artificiall and conditionall It did pardon generally all such as had beene imploied for the Prior against him but particularly he did except many and namely two and fiftie the chiefe whereof was the Prior himselfe the Counte of Vimiosa and the Bishop of Guarda hee pardoned no religious man he made all such as had serued the Prior receiued honor from him profite charge or office whatsoeuer vncapable euer after to beare office or to exercise those they had enioied before so as they saide this pardon serued none but such as had made light faults or had nothing to loose This did much incense the mindes of the Portugals who found themselues deceiued of the hope they had conceiued by this pardon all to remaine freed the which although they much disliked yet could they not get it refourmed but soone after all such were cited by proclamation as were not pardoned to the end their processe might be made The Deputies of the realme being now assembled the Estates began the xix day of Aprill where Anthony Pignero Bishop of Leira made an oration before the king saying First that the Estates seeming to haue the assistance of the holie Ghost by the profite which shoulde redounde to the subiects that Philip following the custome of former Kings had assembled them to the end that with wisedome loue and fide litie they should represent vnto him what they thought conuenient for the generall good of these realmes He did greatly amplifie the graces done by his pardon terming it the fruits of his clemencie he did shew it was a ground of hope of greater good he concludes noting the greatnes of the Kings loue goodnes promising to encrease al their honors recompences fauours conformable to the loialtie and obedience they shoulde carrie to his seruice Whereunto was briefly answered by Damian d'Aguiar Doctor one of the Deputies of the citie of Lisbone saying That in the cities behalfe and of the whole realme he did thanke his Maiestie both for the grace of his pardon as for assembling the Estates offering him obedience All the Deputies both in generall and particular demaunded what they pleased to whom they graunted many things as titles of knighthoode rents for life offices and to some present money there were eight or tenne of the meanest gentlemen chosen of the order and enobled with such other like things the which was done rather according to the vse of Castill then after the manner of Portugall for in this realme it is not the custome to giue any thing to Deputies He gaue greater recompences to the whole realme in generall graunting in a manner al those former things mentioned which the Duke of Ossuna had promised the Gouernors in the Kings name if the realme shoulde yeelde peaceably except it were to the garrisons libertie to saile to America and the west Indies and to participate with the affaires of Castill as if they were borne there saying that it was conuenient before hee shoulde graunt them to impart them to the Estates being preiudiciall vnto them The Deputies deliuered vnto the King a liste of what they demaunded and aduised touching the gouernment whereof the principall were that the King shoulde take a Portugall borne to wife that he shoulde sende the yoong prince to bee brought vp within the realme that the States of Portugall shoulde be separate from them of Castill with their coine apart and many things touching the abatement of impostes the displacing of garrisons the ordering of iustice and such like whereof fewe were graunted at that time of any importance and to all the rest they made answere with doubtfull hopes The Nobilitie the greatest part whereof not hauing borne armes against the King supposed to haue deserued much appointed thirtie amongst them to make petition vnto the King for manie things in the name of the whole Nobilitie First that hee shoulde graunt them iurisdiction ouer their subiects That such Doctors as had beene imploied in matters of iustice shoulde not bee censured but by gentlemen That the King should make no man noble but for the good deserts of some notable seruice and that it should not passe vnto his heires but vpon speciall grace That the chiefe offices of the realme as the chiefe Captaine-ships the three Purueiors of the Arcinall the store-house of the Indies and of the custome house with such other like shoulde not bee giuen but vnto Noble men whereof nothing was graunted Many did not attribute this refusall of their demaunds vnto the kings owne nature nor vnto the iniustice of their requests but most complained of those Portugall fauorites which gouerned Many were of opinion the King shoulde suppresse the Vniuersitie of Coimbra and thought it necessarie by all reason of state saying that it was not safe in a realme newly incorporate to suffer an assemblie of three or fowre thousand yoong men in a manner exempte from the iurisdiction royall the which might wel be called a Seminarie of seditions and Anthony his disciplined soldiers readie to follow any other naturall rebell of the realme whatsoeuer That the auoiding of this euill shoulde cause a greate benefite that the Portugals shoulde go studie in the Vniuersities of Castill where passing the heate of their youth and growing familiar with the Castillians they shoulde returne into Portugall more roially affected and more sufficient to administer iustice then they were They alleaged moreouer that those lawyers had both by wordes and writings wilfully opposed themselues against the Kings right chiefly when as Henry was enclined to the Dutchesse of Bragance that some of them transported with this passion had in their publike letters wrested against Philip not onely the imperiall lawes but also the holie canons interpreting them contrarie to their true sence and contradicting themselues and therefore they were woorthie of punishment But although this opinion seemed grounded and confirmed by many Portugals yet the King either by his bountie or the assurance of his iustice or of his absolute authoritie or else withhelde by the naturall inclination hee seemed to beare to the Portugall nation not onely preserued this Vniuersitie but also tooke it into his protection confirming their liberties and priuileges hee not onely receiued
cloth of golde vnto the Cathedrall church the streetes being richly hanged were full of people who made shewe of great ioy for the Kings arriuall where hauing done his deuotion hee went in the same sortvnto the pallace accompanied with all the nobilitie on foote This realme within the space of two yeeres had as a man may say fiue kings a thing seldome or neuer happened in any other place and it seemed that God in so short a time had thus altered the state of things for the peoples punishment for all of them wasted their poore subiects Sebastian by his rashnes Henry by his irresolution the gouernours by feare and their priuate interest Anthonie by tyrannie and Philip by armes But when all was in a manner quiet he entred this citie the proper seate of their kings It was supposed the sorrowes and troubles passed shoulde now be conuerted into ioy and quietnes but for that it is an equall punishment to a people either to haue tyrants ruling by force or to make a bad election of gouernours The Portugals were scourged with this last rod desiring rather to be commanded by Anthonie being of so small might and with all other disgraces that proceeded from him then by the great power of Philip impatient to see him so slacke in deuiding amongst them the dignities commaunderies and reuenues of the crowne whereby they grew out of hope euer to draw such recompences from the Court of Castill as they had vsually drawen from that of Portugal And although he had giuen vnto Frauncis de Sada sometimes gouernour the title of Earle of Matosignos to Ferrant de Norogna that of Lignares which his father enioyed made as it is said Christopher de Mora one of his chamber and established Peter d'Alcasoua in his office of Chamberlaine contrarie to the decree of king Henry wherein although the king of himselfe were well inclined and resolued to dispatch euery one with greater liberalitie then the kings of Portugall had euer done yet this distribution according to the new decree appertaining to the Councell of state of Portugall wherein as it is said their opinions being diuerse and the respects of hatred and loue diuers nothing was resolued and the abundance of petitions caused these delaies for that euerie one either iustly or without cause demaunded recompence so as the whole realme did not seeme sufficient to content them the which being ill considered by many they said he would stay from giuing vntill he were assured of the Ilands and of Anthonies person But the king finding that these difficulties and the slacknes in proceeding grew by the excessiue number of Counsellors resolued according to the custome of former kings to referre the dispatch of such as demaunded recompence vnto two persons alone the which were Anthony Pignero Bishop of Leiria and to Christopher de Mora It may be seeming vnto him that these two amongst the other officers were most free from all priuate respects the Bishop for that he was neere his graue by reason of his age and infirmitie although of a sounde iudgement and without kinsemen and Mora being a creature of the kings bredde in Castill and helde for vertuous and fearing God The estate of the Terceraes grew daily woorse with whom all trafficke was interdict there was newes that this people being verie obstinate called in forraine succours resoluing in no sort to obey Philip They vnderstood that Peter Baldes was arriued and that the Kings letters with the rewarde he had carried for that nation were not receiued but contemned By reason whereof the King desirous to subdue them before the ende of this sommer and iudging the enterprise easie for that they had no trained soldiers armed certaine ships and furnished them with soldiers vnder the conduct of Lopo de Figueroa who staied not long before he departed with commission to attempt with Baldes to become master of the Ilands Baldes lay nowe about the Ilands expecting the Indian fleete his marriners had often both by day and night landed with their boates to steale grapes which were then ripe drawing sometimes neere the rockes vpon the which the Portugals had planted behinde a small rampire three or fower iron peeces they parlied often with them the one not fearing the other Peter de Baldes finding the Portugals carelesnes and being aduertised that some within the Ilands amongst a great multitude were well affected to the Catholique king had often resolued to sende some men on lande to the end that such as followed the kings partie who were saide to lie in the mountaines might ioine with them and altogither set vpon the citie of Angra or at the least so fortifie themselues at land as they shoulde not be repulsed But for as much as this resolution with so small a troupe was dangerous and against the Kings commission the which knowing well he did not execute yet hauing intelligence that Lopo de Figueroa was to be sent from Lisbone to vndertake this enterprise with a great number of men who being arriued hee shoulde be commaunded to obey he did confidently beleeue that at his comming either by loue or by force he woulde be master of this Iland and winne that honour whereunto he aspired So as such force hath the desire of honour hauing ill measured his forces against the Kings commaundement he made haste rashly to trie whether the resolution which hee had formerly conceiued woulde succeed well whereunto he was likewise perswaded by some of the Iland who as vnskilfull had their wils more ready then their power So as earely on Saint Iames his day in the morning hauing shipped in a manner all his soldiers in their boates hee sent them to lande whereas the marriners had beene accustomed to go betwixt Angra and Praia the which they call the house of Salga where hauing founde small or no resistance they landed easily and the Portugals who had the guarde of this artillerie fearefully fledde away The Castillians being now become masters thereof began to builde a small rampier of stone to the ende they might holde a more firme footing on lande and retire such as followed the Catholique kings partie but they had no time for the inhabitants of Angra hearing the Castillians were landed had giuen the allarum by bels and other great noise so as many of their stoutest issued foorth to skirmish and although they did no matter of importance many returning terrified or hurte yet did they keepe the enimie from fortifying who remaining in that place from the morning vntill afternoone there went not any one Portugall vnto them for although there were some disposed thereunto yet durst they not distrusting both the one and the other being chiefly terrified by the example of Iohn de Betancour one of the principals of that place who hauing conspired with aboue a hundreth citizens vpon a certaine day to runne armed through the citie and proclaine King Philip he supposed with his authoritie and the
coulde drawe nothing from them but was confused For one saide that the Catholique king was master of the realme an other but onely of a great parte of it and that Anthony with a great armie made warre to expel him whereby there grew some controuersie in the fleete For some especially such as had little to loose woulde lande in the Iland others woulde haue them hold togither vntill they had certaine intelligence of the state of the realme others without expecting any further information woulde haue them go to Lisbone and yeeld themselues to him that were king The Captaine generall being retired into his chamber to parley with certaine Portugals and French men entertained them with these practizes but the marriners doubtful of some euill the rumor being appeased directed their course towards Lisbone where remained their wiues and children although some opposed themselues It seemed that these ships being of such importance to the Prior and his disseines he should haue vsed more care to intercept them then it seemed hee did but in truth he omitted no diligence for he wrote vnto the Captaine generall of the armie that at his arriuall at the Ilands they should be deliuered vnto him whereby he entreated him with large promises to remaine there and to consigne him his armie and not to the Catholique King But the too great diligence of the Gouernour as it often hapneth did him harme for hauing sent foorth a Barke with these letters to attende the ships they did not encounter them so as sayling towards Portugall vpon the mid way they met with the armie of Lopo de Figueroa who woondring at the negligence of Baldes whom they denied to haue seene he furnished them with water and other refreshings They arriued after at Lisbone to the great contentment of the king and yet they staied so long vpon the way that it was constantly beleeued they were gone into England and nowe the merchants began to assure their goods with the losse of the fifth and the Captaine was extraordinarilie fauoured by the King In this while Lopo de Figueroa arriued at the Terceres where he vnderstands of Baldes his misfortune hauing viewed the Iland fortified on all parts where he might descend and by nature vnaccessible finding himselfe to haue fewe men the enimie victorious and the season of the yeere farre aduanced the seas swelling betimes in those parts he resolued and with iudgement to returne to Portugall without attempting any thing by force Hee first sent one to aduise the citie of Angra to yeelde obedience vnto his Maiestie promising them pardons recompences and many fauours but they measuring the assurance of his promises not by the Kings clemencie but by their owne merits arrogantly made him answere that he should say in what part hee woulde descend and they would open him the passage by reason whereof Figueroa returned into Portugall with Baldes whom the King presently committed to prison yet he was after deliuered shewing the instructions that had beene giuen him to be doubtfull and not to prohibite him to fight This returne of the armie encouraged the Ilanders perswading themselues that Figueroa had greater forces then indeed hee had and seeing him fearefull to descend they supposed he made great reckoning of theirs They wrote the newes of all these things vnto the Prior being in Fraunce who thanked them with curteous letters and sent them artillerie harquebusies powder and other munition promising to furnish them with men Hee commaunded them to seaze vpon the goods of all such as arriued there being subiect to the Catholique king and send them into Fraunce so as they sent him all the merchandise which they had taken in fower or fiue ships come from the west Indies And for as much as it seemed to many that this could not continue that the King should send from Portugall a great armie against them so as they shoulde not bee able to make resistance they dispatched into Fraunce one Anthony Aluarez and an other base officer to vnderstande what the Prior did what forces he had and what they might expect from thence who being returned with the orders the one of Saint Iaques the other of d'Auis which the Prior had giuen them they reported at his entreatie that he had a great armie readie to descend into Portugall the which in truth was not so bringing letters to the Gouernor whereby the Prior gaue vnto them likewise a coller of the order with a thousand duckats of reuenew the which mooued some others to go into Fraunce from whence as also from England there came some fewe soldiers to the Iland in ships which sailed into those parts yet they were neuer three hundreth in number being often of opinion to sende them backe for that the winter was at hand and to cal them backe in sommer the which the people would not yeeld vnto saying that since the King had sent them they woulde entertaine them The Iesuits being walled vp within their monasterie to whom they gaue meate but twise a weeke greeuing to be thus wrongully imprisoned vpon a certaine day they opened the doores of the Church and hauing placed the sacrament in the midst they would trie by this meanes if they might remaine free The ministers of iustice went vnto the couent to demaund the reason of this innouation to whom it was propounded by the fathers that if their offences so required they should punish them but holding them as suspect they shoulde suffer them to depart into Portugall The resolution was after some speeches vsed beyond the termes of modesty that the fathers shoulde be walled vp againe and a certaine person who said that in iustice they should burne these priests with their monasterie the which they had deserued for the affection they bare vnto the Castillians he staied not long to acknowledge his error for departing from thence he fell sicke vnto the death and God woulde haue him confesse as he saide that this griefe hapned vnto him for that occasion All the other religious men did what they coulde to wrong these fathers who being of a contrarie opinion and practising profession of war could not endure that these should be Castillians in their harts refusing to enioy that libertie They imprisoned the Vicar who gouerneth the spiritualtie in the Bishops name which remaineth in the Iland of Saint Michael and chose an other after their owne humour These things did much displease the Catholique king whereupon he resolued to vndertake this enterprise the sommer following although hee doubted it for many causes which behooued him to prouide for togither with the new iealousies which grew hauing intelligence that the Turke prepared an armie at sea to send to endomage Christendome That Lucciali a famous pirat and Captaine generall of the Turkes armie was come from Constantinople to Alger with threescore and tenne galleies and although it were to no other end then to visite the state of Affricke and to prouide for
in giuing but honourable in the expences of his house hee was a great dissembler of the disgraces of the Courte and cunning in their secret practises for so it behooued him to be to preuent such as were his competitors He was generally hated for that he treated proudlie with his inferiors and his equals hated his greatnes The ambition to purchase the Princes fauour a shelfe wherein proude mindes cast themselues was great in him for this respect it may be or for the preheminence and greatnes he pretended aboue all other officers the which made him odious hee was not much pleasing to Charles and lesse to Philip although from their birthes vntill their later daies he had serued them 60. yeeres But Princes loue them better whom they haue rewarded then such as haue serued them Hee was greatly enclined to warlike discipline wherein hee was so cunning as there was not any captaine of his nation in long time comparable vnto him and to conclude for his many yeeres and great experience there was not in a manner any one in the worlde but yeelded vnto him He was of great iudgement and dexteritie to encampe and make choice of a lodging so as alwaies with lesse forces then the enimies he kept them in awe he was so well experienced as he neuer refused battaile wheresoeuer he came Hee did willingly hazard his owne person but his soldiers with greater consideration trusting more to policie then fortune He was a rough inexorable executioner of the seuere lawes of war of whose pittifull crueltie depends the health of armies and the conseruation of States He was by nature enclined to vanquish without effusion of bloud and was imploied in warres conformable to his inclination for the greatest part of them being defensiue wherein a wise captaine should rather temporize and suffer the enimie to consume by the difficulties of warre in a strange countrey then to hazard an estate vpon so vnequall a game as is the winning of a battaile against him that hath but men to loose To this effect hee answered the councell of warre in the kingdome of Naples in the yeere 1558. when as the Frenchmen being expelled they woulde haue charged the enimie retiring hee saide hee woulde not hazarde the realme against a cassock of golde for such was then the habite of the Duke of Guise Lieutenant generall to Henry the seconde King of Fraunce yet some did blame him to be too warie in the execution of matters of importance in warre He serued his King in greater charges and with greater authority then euer any of their subiects and it may be there hath not beene in many ages a captaine which hath so long mannaged armes nor displaied his ensignes in so manie countries For he hath made warre in Italy Spaine and Fraunce in Hungarie Germanie Flaunders and Affrick although he were accustomed to say that he had done nothing seeng that he was neuer so happie as to see a Turkish armie But the last wars of Flaunders did somewhat obscure the glorie he had gotten for although as captaine he did warre valiantly yet he knew not as it hapned to him in other places howe to vse the victorie but arrogating too much vnto himselfe he caused a statue of brasse to be erected for him in the Cittadell of Antwerpe which the king caused afterwards to be beaten downe It appeeres that he coulde better carrie himselfe in aduersitie then prosperitie for in the one he had great force in the other too much conceite so as he reaped more commendations by afflictions then by victorie Hee shewed in dying the magnanimitie he had in his life and that which is of great moment hee shewed tokens of a religious Christian being happie that Frier Lewes of Granata that famous preacher whose diuine writings are pleasing to the worlde was present at his death They did substitute in his place Charles Borgia Duke of Gandia a man of greater vertue then experience The King had caused the bones of King Sebastian to be brought out of Affricke the which with King Henries that were at Almerin he woulde before his departure see solemnly interred in the church of Belem neere to the other Kings of Portugall and for that cause remained there three daies He caused also to be brought from diuers parts of the realme vnto the saide monasterie the bodies or at the least the ashes of his kinsfolkes the children and nephewes to King Emanuel who as a man may say dying resigned him the crowne that they might bee all kept togither There was made a most sumptuous obsequie with great shewes and all the religious persons in the name of Henry were present for the rest had beene performed before and in the funerall sermon Sebastians actes were likewise touched and Henry extremely commended the which was more pleasing being dead then the praises of Philip liuing and present wherein the Orator dilated much hauing first in particular set downe the branches of King Emanuel and brought the succession to the said Philip. I will not leaue heere to make mention as of a rare matter although it be somewhat from our purpose that in this yeere of our Lorde 1582. they did reckon ten daies lesse then in others for by the Popes decree all Christian princes obeying the Romish sea gaue commaundement to cut off ten daies in the moneth of October so as for the fift day they should generally write 15. the which was done to fitte the times to the meanes and principall aspects wherein the heauens were when as our Redeemer Iesus Christ suffered that they might celebrate Easter and the other feasts vpon their proper daies The which they had not formerly done for that the true course of the sunne which makes the yeere being certaine minuts of an hower lesse then the time which they vntill then had taken for a yeere it seemed that in the course of so manie yeeres so small a difference had mounted vnto ten daies so as by this equalitie it was made conformable to the time past The King beganne to vnburthen himselfe of the affaires of Portugall for to go into Castill and therefore the xxvj day of Ianuary in the yeere 1583. hauing assembled the estates of the realme they began in the pallace of Lisbone where after Alphonso de Castelbianco newly made Bishop of Algarues had briefly made the proposition shewing how much the King was grieued with the death of the Prince and the necessitie there was to sweare a newe Melchior d' Amaral one of the Deputies of the citie of Lisbone made answere in the behalfe of the whole realme shewing the desire and readines they had to performe this acte Whereupon the yoong Duke of Barcellos as Duke of Bragance beginning for his father with sword in hande did supplie the office of Constable kneeling downe before the King held foorth his hande to take the oath after the accustomed manner the which being likewise performed by all the rest this ceremonie
was ended He procured that the assemblie of Deputies for this effect shoulde not be called estates to the ende hee might take away all occasion of demaunding new things or to redemaund those which had beene required in the former estates and not graunted and therefore hee had contrarie to the custome sent into all places briefes of the procurations the Deputies should bring with them so drawne as they should not extend further then the swearing of the Prince and although it were so executed yet the estates did not forbeare especially he that was for the Deputies of the realme to reuiue the demaunds made at the estates helde at Tomar with some others and especially that it woulde please his Maiestie to shewe magnanimitie and clemencie in giuing a generall pardon to all such as were culpable of Anthonies offence saying it shoulde greatly profite and do little harme But whatsoeuer the cause was he neither satisfied them in this point nor in any other of importance He dispatched some Portugals which sought reward for although hee had giuen vnto many yet were they not content But notwithstanding all this care and diligence whether it were his faulte or his ministers or else the disposition of the suters or of all togither there remained many of them discontented part of them for that they were not recompenced and others for that they did not seeme to be recompenced according to their merits The Duke of Bragance at the assembly of the estates hoped to haue receiued recompence from the King which he supposed to haue deserued for although hee were rewarded yet was it not according to his expectation for aspiring to greater offices greater authoritie then he had it seemed the Kings wil was therein directly contrarie so as for that the recompences were small in regard of the greatnes of his hope they were not published but hee was suffered to replie that they might be after specified The Marques of Villa Real receiued likewise no contentment to his liking so as both remained ill satisfied and the Duke leauing the Court being long before sicke died soone after although the Portugals say that the griefe he conceiued of the weake recompence hee receiued from Philip hastened his daies The King at the time of his departure reformed the state of iustice publishing many newe lawes suffering the Portugals to attire themselues more freely with silke then other kings had done He made Cardinall Albert Archduke of Austria gouernour of the realme in his absence leauing him notwithstanding accompanied with three counsellors that is George d'Almada Archbishop of Lisbone Peter d'Ascasoua and Michael de Mora who was Secretorie of the realme newly created Notarie which they call of the puritie so great a charge as yet had neuer beene giuen but to the chiefest personages of the realme whereunto since the time of King Iohn the third that Michael de Silua Bishop of Viseu who was after Cardinall went to Rome in disgrace there was neuer any aduanced The King gaue procuration to the said Cardinall causing him to take an oath in the presence of the councell of State and of the magistrate of the Chamber of Lisbone to gouerne with iustice and to resigne him the realme at his returne The Empresse his sister who was to goe into Castill visiting first the Nunnes of the monasterie of Santos who may lawfully marrie she tooke foorth and carried with her Iulian d' Allan castro of the age of thirteene yeeres who by the decease of Maudlyn Girone her mother remained Dutchesse of Auero The Portugals were much grieued with this acte for although she said the King woulde prouide she should not marrie but with his liking yet notwithstanding she seemed to be rauished and manie feared that he woulde not marrie her in Castill When these things were ended the king departed the eleuenth of Februarie in the yeere 1583. the which greatly displeased the quiet and did glad the seditious for those feared least there shoulde grow some controuersie betwixt the people and the garrisons that the soldiers ill paied woulde mutine and that the Cardinals authoritie was not of such force as the kings presence to redresse it and contrariwise the rest hoped that the kings absence the small affection the people bare vnto them the oppression of the garrison and the great dearth woulde in the spring considering principally the army which was prepared in Fraunce minister matter of alteration although it now seemed that things succeeded in fauour of the kings intention hauing intelligence that in Flaunders the Duke of Alonçon seeking to assure himselfe of the citie of Anwerp wherein he was as Lord and Protector hauing his armie lodged thereabouts it had not succeeded for forcing of a gate and hauing drawne in three thousand French they were by the great valour of the Citizens repulsed and the one halfe slaine so as it seemed the Flemmings would no more trust the Duke but compound with the King Such Portugals as had receiued no answere to their demaunds doubted of all dispatch in the Kings absence but this feare was qualified by the opinion which they had conceiued that the Cardinall remaining gouernour they should be no lesse fauored by him then they had beene by the King himselfe albeit this hope soone vanished after the Kings departure for the Cardinall did not onely forbeare to vse the authoritie which hee seemed to haue left him but hee refused to signe the commaundements or other writings which concerned the affaires of the realme And although some beleeued that he had forborne to do it for that the king was yet vpon the way and not out of the realme vpon a respect of soueraigntie yet they were deceiued for the King being out of the realme he did not signe the which bred a great disdaine in the Portugals who pretended to holde the realme distinguished from that of Castill it seemed that this manner of gouernment which the king vsed from Madrill was a more strict vnion then they desired besides the troubles of their expeditions for the distance of the court And this disdaine was much augmented for that the king had placed in the councell of the reuenewes of the crowne which they terme d'Hazenda two counsellors Castillians of nation a doctor a merchant saying that it was vnseemely against their priuileges THE TENTH BOOKE The Contents of the tenth Booke In this last Booke is contained the death of Sanches d'Auila The sacke of the Ilands of Cape Vert The carriage of Emanuel de Silua Gouernour of the Terceres The preparatiō of king Philip to force the said Ilands The succours sent thither from Fraunce The fortification and the garrison The departure of the armie from Lisbone The description of the Iland of Terceres The arriuall there of the Spanish armie The assault skirmishes and taking of the Iland The yeelding of the French The taking of the Iland of Fayale and the obedience of all the rest How that Emanuel de Silua
The discontentments of the people of Lisbone Henrie desired to marrie The Catholique King sends a lacobin into Portugall The predendents to the Crowne of Portugall cited to declare their reasons Philip frames a counsell of the affaires of Portugal Iohn de Silua solicites to be sent backe into Portugall Christopher de Mora called againe and sent Ambassadour into Portugall in steede of Iohn de Silua The grounds of the Prior. Of the Duke of Sauoy Of the Duke of Parma Of the Dutchesse of Braganca Of the Catholike King The ground of the people The Queen Mother of Fraunce The peoples complaint against King Henrie The letters of the Prior to Henrie The sentence of King Henry against the Prior touching his legitimation The reasons of the Catholique king against the pretendents Against the Prior. Against the Duke of Sauoy Against the Duke of Parma Against the Dutchesse of Bragance Against the people Against the Queene mother of Fraunce Philip sendeth to signifie his right to Henry Philip prepares for warre against the Portugals The suspension of Henries briefe The Priors letters to Henry con cerning his rigor Henries second sentence against the Prior. Henrie changeth his opinion to the benefit of Philip touching the succession The offers of Pope Gregory 13 to the Catholike King A publication of the gouernors of Portugall The discourse of the Portugals vpon the state of the Realme The Castillians discourse touching the affaires of Portugall The Portugals answere to the Castillians discourse The plague in Portugall and the proceedings Bezar stone excellent against the plague The States of Almerin Henry changeth the Deputies of Lisbone and the cause The opening of the Estates at Almerin by the Bishop of Leiria The answere of Sosa Deputie of Lisbne A mutinie at Coimbra The speech of Moniz Deputie of Lisbone The Deputies of the Realme sent to Henrie to be admitted to the election of the King with the answere King Henry sicke The death of King Henry The life of Henry The regencie of the gouernors Martin Gonsalues sent to the deputies of the Realme The deputies aunswere to Martin The resolution of Gonzalues ambassage Anthonies course to obtaine the Crowne Anthony his letters to the states of Almerin The States answere to Anthony and his arriuall The clause of King Henries testament The speach of the Deputie of Portalegre The states send to the Gouernors The duke of Barcellos detained by the Duke of Medina Sidonia The diligence of the catholique King to assure his conscience for the Realm of Portugall The Catholique Kings preparatiues against Portugall The duke of Alua chosen generall of the army into Portugall The Catholique Kings Letters to the Duke of Alua. The Catholique King goes towards Portugall The Duke of Alua ariues at his Army The nombers of the Dukes Army The comming of the Ambassadors from the gouernors to the Catholique King and their negotiation The conclusion of the States at Almeryn The Gouernors prepare for defence The manner of the enterprise of Portugall The state of the Duke of Alua his armie The conditions that the Catholique King offred if they would deliuer the realme quietly The Gouernors sollicite their defence The Drie head fortified A confusion of the affaires of Portugall and the Gouernours The disorder of the religious of Belem Doctor Fernand de Pina slaine The answer of the Catholique king to the Portugals The gouernours inconstancie The diligence of the Catholique King vpon his entrie by force into Portugall made by the Diuines of Alcala The Catholique King takes possession of Portugall A question whether the Catholique King should go with the armie in person The Kings army wasted Confusion in Portugall The taking of Eluas The Kings letters to them of Eluas The reduction of Oliuenza The Catholique king his letter vnto Anthonie Anthonie proclaimed King of Portugall Two contrarie factions in Oliuenza The Catholique king sworne at Oliuenza The gouernors neglect the defence of Lisbone Anthonie arriues at Lisbone and proclaimed King The speech of Fonsequa for the creation of Anthonie The flight of Teglio The flight of the gouernors Anthonie arriued at Settuual Cascayes S. Iulian yeelde to Anthonie The Duke of Bragance sendes to Philip. The Catholique kings answere to the Duke of Bragance The taking of Villauisosa Reasons why the King should not goe in person The Kings army entred into Portugall The taking of Stremos Euora yeelded The taking of Mount Maior Anthony his entrie into Lisbone The decree of the Gouernors Anthonies preparation for the defence of the kingdome Disorders at Lisbone The taking of Settuual The arriuall of the Marques of Saint Crux with the armie by sea The yeelding of the fortresse Three poore women crying to Anthony to succour Settuual Anthonies care to succour Settuual The counsell of Anthonie and his resolutions Anthonies feare The resolutions of Anthony and of his counsell The Bishop of Guarda seconds Anthony The counsell of Anthony ill grounded An allarum at Lisbone Anthony offers to compound Cardinall Riario sent Legatinto Spaine The discourse of the Spaniards vpon this Legation The Legat visites the King The sundrie opinions for the passage of the army The armie passeth at Cascaies The disimbarking of the Dukes armie The disposition of the Dukes armie They charge the Portugals who retire The blames of Meneses and his excuses A confusion in the citie of Lisbone Anthony goes towards Cascaies Cascaies taken and spoiled The castell taken Diego de Meneses beheaded Henry Pereira hanged Anthonie marcheth towards Belem with his men consusedly Religious men deuided into factions Anthonic retires to Alcantara The Catholique kings pardon to the Portugals The Duke marcheth against the rocke of Saint Iulian. A treatie of agreement with Anthony Anthony his letter to the King The answere of the Duke to Anthony The rocke of Saint Iulian battered and the aduise of the Inginers A poore woman cause of the yeelding of Saint Iulian The rocke of Saint Iulian yeelded Cabessa Secca abandoned The feare of them at Lisbone The yeelding of the tower of Belem The Duke of Alua his speech to the soldiers The order of the Dukes armie Anthony his preparation against the Duke The flight of Anthony towards the citie his defeate and hurt The yeelding of Lisbone The spoile of the suburbs of Lisbone The number that were slaine in the battaile The Duke blamed The commendations of the Duke of Alua. The Catholique kings sicknes and the discourse vpon it Lisbone sweares obedience to the king A contagious Catar Saint Arem yeelds obedience The Prior assembles new forces Auero taken The Duke blamed The Dukes excuses The yeelding of the places in Affricke which the Portugals held The Terceraes Sanches de Auila against the Prior. The yeelding of Coimbra The estate of Porto and the reduction The Portugals and Castillians disagree The yeelding of Auero and other exploites of Sanches d'Auila The statagem of Anthony Serrano to recouer aboate Sanches D' Auila passeth the riuer of Doro at Auintes The speech of Auila