〈◊〉 a King leaving the Formalities of the inauguration of the new King for another place The Judges and their Officers walk a foot from the Town-house with long mourning Cloaks with Hoods to them on their head After them the Town Standard Bearer on a Horse with mourning trappings with black colours on his Shoulder the end whereof trails upon the Ground Then follows the Sheriff with two others in Mourning like the others each of them carrying a Bucler over his head Next to them come the Aldermen followed by a multitude of People in this manner they proceed to the great Church where the Sheriff having made a short Speech declaring the King's death and their great loss he lets fall the Buckler from his head upon the Stones and breaks it to pieces at which the People raise a hideous lamentation Then they go to the Mint and so to the great Hospital at both which places they perform the same Ceremony which done they return to the great Church and hear Mass The third day after is performed the Ceremony of inauguration which shall be spoke of in another place This Ceremony was now performed at Coimbra where Martin then Bishop crowned King Sancho and his Queen Dulcis according to the custom of those times 3. The first action of the new King was paying his Obedience to Pope Vrban III. 1186. after which he so much addicted himself to repairing of Towns and Castles and building others anew He repairs and builds many Towns as also to encouraging of Tilling that he was called the Peopler and the Farmer or Tiller To the Military order of Santiago he gave the Towns of Alcazar Palmela Almada and Arruda to that of Avis Alpedriz and Alcanede to the Templars Idanha He repaired the great Town of Covillam to whose jurisdiction 300 Villages are subject and gave a Charter to it as he did to Gouvea Viseo and Braganza Ferdinand King of Leon entred into Portugal 1187. with greater force than success for after several repulses he was defeated in the Country of Cerolico Bebado now called la Vera The Governour of Villota a Town on a Hill near the City Guardia observing the King of Leon's Army dispersed about the Villages for Plunder gatherered all the Forces near him and marching from Trancoso recovered all the Booty killing many and putting the rest to flight A Fleet of English Flemings and Danes consisting of 53 sail 1188. Commanded by Jaques Lord of Avesnes entred the Mouth of the River Tagus being designed for the Holy Land The King supplied them with all they wanted and designing the Conquest of the City Silves the Metropolis of Algarve Silves in Algarve taken with the help of a Foreign Fleet. and refuge of all the Moorish Pyrates he proposed advantagious terms to these Strangers if they would assist him in that Expedition They consented Articling for the Plunder of the City if taken Forty Portuguese Gallies were joined to the Foreign Fleet besides Tenders carrying Provision and warlike Munitions The King marched with his Army by Land whilst the Fleet made the best of its way at Sea Both being come before the City they furiously Battered and gave several Assaults to it for the space of two Months meeting a vigorous resistance in the Defendants At the end of that time the Moors pressed with Hunger and the continual attacks of the Christians delivered up the City capitulating only for their lives 4. This City of Silves taken 1189. as has been said was again lost the ensuing Year Algarve subdued King Sancho adds that Title to Portugal King Sancho soon returned into Algarve and not only recovered it but took also the Town of Albor and Castle of Abenabacci besides other places This Country thus conquered King Sancho stiled himself King of Algarve and to the Royal Arms of Portugal added an Orle of Castles Some of his Coin has been seen which in the Orle has 7 Castles which number is still used in the Armes of Algarve when separated from those of Portugal King Alonso III. added more making the Number uncertain but King John II. long after fixed the Number again at seven Betwixt this Year and that of 1200 were repeopled the Towns of Penamacor Pinel Torres Novas Azambuja Penucova Gondomar Ermelo Covellinas Soto de Panoyas and Povos Mâ—ntemayor the New was now first Built as also the City Guarda on the side of the Mountain formerly called Herminius now Serra da Estrella 1190. King Sancho entred Andaluzia a second time laid Siege to the Town of Serpa overthrew the Moors that came to relieve it and yet was forced to rise without taking it Soon after it was taken by the Knights of the Order of Avis Peter Fernandez de Castro that famous Castilian who taking offence at his King often led the Moors against him being now General for the King of Morocco did great harm in Portugal All the territory of Tomar was wasted and Abrantes plundered As he was retiring loaded with rich Plunder Martin Lopez a famous Commander encountred him and after a most sharp dispute recovered all the Prey and took him Prisoner 5. The Miramamolin again overwhelmed this Kingdom with an Army of 400000 Horse and 500000 Foot I could wish a Cipher were cut off from each Number and it would appear more credible He took Torres Novas without opposition but Tomar was bravely defended by Galdin Paez Master of the Templers who had done notable service in the Holy Land The Moor offered to exchange the places he had taken for the City Silves but this proposition being rejected by King Sancho he in a fury laid Siege to Santarem where the Plague raging in his Army Robert Labril and Richard Cambil Englishmen with a fleet of 63 Ships arrive at Lisbon and assist the Portuguese against the Moors he was forced to break it up and depart 63 Men of War from the Northern parts arrived at Lisbon commanded by two English Men of Note called Robert Labril and Richard Cambil The first ten that came in aided the King at Santarem against the Miramamolin the others being joined to them there arose such contention betwixt them and the Portuguese as might have been the cause of much Bloodshed had not the King prudently prevented it and sent the Strangers away well contented A most terrible Plague and devouring Famine followed all these great successes and not only destroyed Men in their Houses but even the wild Beasts in the Woods or else they ran to the Towns for Prey whilst Men fled to the Mountains for Shelter 1191. The Monks of Alcobaca perceiving they must of necessity Perish Great Famine hid an Image of our Lady in the Mountain which being afterwards found A total Eclipse of the Sun a Church was built there and called Our Lady of Help To be brief a great part of the Kingdom was altogether unpeopled all this was foreshown by a total Solar Eclipse 6. As if
used to make Excursions and Ravage all the Neighbouring Country The young Prince gave good proof of his Valour at this Siege and became Master of the place by plain force King Sancho perceiving his Son to be worthy to continue the race of Portuguese Kings gave him to Wife Vrraca Daughter to Alonso VIII of Castile The Bride and Bridegroom could not lawfully be Married without a Dispensation being Cousins in the fourth degree of Consanguinity yet without any they had a Son the following Year 1208. 1208. King Sancho lived but four Years after and our Prince succeeded him being then Twenty Six Years of Age. The first thing he did was to give the Town of Avis to the Military Order of that Name Ferdinand Yâ—nez being the Master of it who removed thence from Evora where he had resided till then 2. King Sancho perceiving that his Son Alonso did not well agree with his Brothers and Sisters as he left him the Crown so he provided for them giving the Brothers Money and Jewels and to their Sisters the Towns of Alenquer and Aveiras King Alonso attacks the Towns given by his Father to his Sisters King Alonso not satisfyed with the Crown pretended his Father could not alienate any Towns from it to give to his Sisters The Brothers fearing his Power fled Ferdinand to Castile and Peter to Leon and then to Morocco The Sisters Fortifying the Towns left them by their Father provoked their Brother who by force of Armes took the Town of Aveiras This done he sent Forces to Besiege Alenquer and sat down himself before Montemayor These Sieges lasted four Months the King of Leon who had Married Teresa Sister to our King forced him to quit that Enterprize He marched with Prince Peter through the Province between Duero and Minho wasting all that Country and besieged King Alonso as he lay before Montemayor He is routted by the King of Leon. Much Blood was shed and all the Country ruined but at last coming to a Battle our King was Worsted and the victorious Army in their return took the Towns of Valencia Melgazo Fulgoso and Freixa with other places of less Note which they Plundered and Burnt what they could not carry away The Portuguese in the absence of the King of Leon again provoked him to send his Forces Martin Sanchez Brother to our King but offended at him commanded the Army of Leon being that King's Lieutenant All things being in readiness to give Battle he refused to Fight against his natural Prince in Person who being informed thereof with-drew himself to the City Porto The Army left to Engage Martin Sanchez was commanded by Mendo Gonzalez de Soufa John Perez de Maya and Giles Vasquez de Soverosa The King being gone the Fight began in which singular acts of valour were performed D. John Perez de Maya with his Lance overthrew seven Horsemen Recovering defeats the Army of Leon. in short the Portuguese obtained the Victory in the Plain called Vareza betwixt Duero and Minho The second day they Engaged near Braga and the third hard by Guimaraens with the like success so that the Enemy retired into Galicia These and the like misfortunes moved the Sisters to sollicite Pope Innocent III. to interpose his Apostolical Authority to oblige the King to do them Justice Nevertheless the Power of the Sword prevailed beyond Equity or Spiritual Weapons 3. Ten Years were spent in these Domestick Broiles He is reconciled to his Brethren at the end of which the King was in some measure reconciled to his Brethren and had leasure to attend other Enterprizes from which Civil Discord had diverted him Though he could not go in Person to the famous Battle of Navas in Castile against the Infidels he sent some Forces under the Command of Gemez Ramires Our King being now disposed to advance his Conquests on the Infidels Heaven ordered it so that a Fleet of 100 Sail from the North under the Command of Walter de Avesnes was drove by stress of Weather into the River Tagus The King ordered the Bishop to relieve and cherish them and then both perswaded them to give their helping hand towards the gaining of Alcazar do Sal. The King being hindred by Sickness sent the Bishop General of 20000 Portuguese who marched by Land whilst the Strangers steered the same course at Sea At the first attacks many fell on both sides but the Besieged fearing so great Power sent advice of their distress to the Kings of Badajoz Jaen Sevil and Cordova who came to their relief with 15000 Horse and 40000 Foot besides 10 Gallies well provided Providence ordered it so that at the same time Thirty Sail of French and Flemings arrived at Setuval these immediately moved to aid the Christians who gave the Enemy Battle whilst another part attacked the Town All the first day the Christians had the worst but the next renewing their strength and courage they obtained an absolute Victory with the slaughter of 30000 Infidels and two of the Kings supposed to be those of Badajoz and Cordova because the other two soon after appeared before Elvas A bright Cross carried like the Standard of a Troop of Angels with White Garments crossed with Red is said to have been seen this day in the Air not only by the Christians but by the Infidels themselves several of them confessing it after the Battle The Victors prosecuted the Siege and carried on a Mine which being discovered by the Defendants much Blood was shed under Ground at length the Town was taken on St. Luke's Day and the Governour having seen the strange signs mentioned in the Sky became a Christian 4. The Kings of Sevil and Jaen The Moors vanquished at Elvas with a numerous Army Encamped before the City Elvas confiding they should carry it by their Multitude Our King disappointed their expectation giving them Battle and overthrowing them in open Field after which he entred Andaluzia victorious overruning that Province with Fire and Sword This done he returned home in Triumph and his Army laden with Plunder this Action so daunted the Infidels that they never after invaded that part of the Country Nevertheless Moura and Serpa were soon after Besieged by the Moors but they were forced from both places with great loss by the King in Person Out of the last Engagement he was drawn almost stifled being very corpulent and oppressed with the heat of the Weather and weight of his Armour Afterwards he overthrew the King of Badajoz near Alcozer killing 30000 of his Men. He â—et 〈◊〉 a Fleet to Sea for the War in the Holy Land To be short in all his undertakings he came off with Honour as became the Son and Grandson of such a Father and Grand-father Many other his Warlike Exploits are Buried in Oblivion 5. Of the excellency of his politick Government there are sufficient Testimonies Till his time this Kingdom was Governed according to the private Laws of every Town Laws are
for the Expence of the War with which and some good Troops they returned The Earl of Gijon Bastard-Brother to the King of Castile and Elizabeth his Wife Bastard-Daughter to the late King of Portugal were both secured in Castile on Account of holding Correspondence in Portugal The King and Queen of Castile removed from Puebla de Montalvan to Toledo where against their being proclaimed Standards were made with the Arms of both Kingdoms And now it was debated in Council whether Portugal ought presently to be invaded The wiser sort were for trying all obliging Methods First but the hotter Youths allowed of nothing but force of Arms and this Advice as followed 6. The King marched to the City Guarda which was delivered to him by the Bishop but Alvaro Gil Governour of the Castle would not Surrender The Towns of Cerolico The King of Castile invades Portugal Bedado and Linhares were also put into his Hands Some other Places submitted conditionally that the King should fulfil the Articles of Marriage Queen Ellenor sent to perswade the King to proceed and meet her at Santarem Several Places submitted themselves to him in his way and being come to Santarem the First Resolution of Queen Ellenor was to request he would revenge the 〈◊〉 done to her The K. answered he could not 〈…〉 quarrel unless she would resign up the 〈…〉 which she accordingly did and then they 〈…〉 Town Here the King took 〈…〉 On the right side of the Royal 〈◊〉 were the Arms of Castile and Leon and on the left those of Portugal The Royal Seal ran thus John King of Castile and Leon of Portugal of Toledo c. Money was also coyned after that manner Many of the Nobility adheared to the King of Castile and he was possest of the best Part of the Kingdom but the Multitude generally was inclined to the Bastard D. John Master of the Order of Avis The King of Castile sent D. Peter Fernandez Cabeça de Vaca with 1000 chosen Horse and a proportionable number of Foot to invest Lisbon These Troops being advanced as far as Lumiar John Fernandez Moreyra engaged them with a small Party but was himself Killed with some others many Prisoners were taken and the rest fled And now D. John the Protector marched out to meet the Enemy but they not expecting his coming fled in great disorder to Alenquer and Tâ—rres Vedras leaving all behind them 7. At First the Castilians behaved themselves modestly at Santarem but after a few Days they turned the Inhabitants out of their Houses pillaged them and abused their Wives and Daughters and there being no redress the Town began to be abandoned The Office or chief Rabbi among the Jews being vacant Queen Ellenor begged it of the King for one Man and he gave it to another recommended by his Wife Queen Beatrix This repulse and their different Humours set Queen Ellenor at Variance with the King The King of Castile and Queen Ellenor at Variaâ—â—â— and she now repented her calling him in and resigning the Government into his Hands in so much that she advised many of her Followers to go over to the Master of Avis telling them he was their Natural Lord. The King and Queen went away to Coimbra which City had promised to receive them yet when the King was Quartered in a Monastery without the City A Conspiracy against the King of Castile discovered they refused to admit him Here a Conspiracy was laid to Convey Queen Ellenor into the City and Murder the King This Design was betrayed by a Jew some of the Conspirators fled and Queen Ellenor was sent Prisoner to the Monastery of Tordesillas near Valladolid As soon as the News of Queen Ellenor's imprisonment was brought the Town of Alenquer revolted to the Protector but the King being Re-inforced marched to Besiege Lisbon At Aruda 40 Portuguese hid themselves in a great Cave and Fire being applied to it most of them died Two hid themselves in the House where the King Quartered designing to Murder him but being discovered were Hanged Many Places in the Province of Alentejo held for the Protector and sent to him for one to Command over them he sent Nâ—nho Alvarez Pereyra with an absolute Power who having visited some Places of his Charge and hearing that a great Body of Castilians was upon their March to Besiege the Town of Frontera he hasted with a much smaller number to releive that Place His Men knowing how much more numerous the Enemy was at First refused to follow him but being encouraged by his Resolution they gave the Charge and put the Castilians to the Rout killing many and among them several Persons of Note This done he took Aronches by Force and Alegrete was surrendred to him 8. The Protector understanding that a mighty Fleet was coming from Castile ordered the Archbishop of Braga to over-see the Equipping of his Vessels Lisbon Besieged by Sea and Land which performed with great industry so that Twelve Galleys some Galliots and Seven Ships were fitted out The King of Castile spread his Army about Lisbon where one of his Parties approaching to S. Augustin's Gate was defeated by 200 Horse that Sallied out of the City About the end of May 13 Galleys and 40 Ships of Castile appeared in the River of Lisbon The King drew nearer to the City and encamping at the Foot of Mount Olivet wasted the Country then encompassing it on all sides resolved to Starve it In the mean while a considerable Fleet was setting out at Porto for the relief of Lisbon and the King having notice thereof with the Advice of his Commanders resolved to give the Enemy Battle in the River The Portuguese Fleet consisted of 17 Galleys and as many Ships which entred the River in this order First 5 Ships then the 17 Galleys and after them the other 12 Ships The Portuguese Fleet stops up the River to Lisbon The Castilians furiously assailed the 5 Ships where they met with a most vigorous Opposition yet they took 3 of them but whilst they were intent upon them the rest of the Portuguese slipped by and got safe up the Harbour Soon after the King's Fleet was re-inforced by several Vessels so that now it consisted of 60 Ships and 17 Galleys besides Carracks which made the Protector lay aside all thoughts of engaging 9. The Fort of Almada opposite to Lisbon after enduring great extremities for want of Water was at length Surrendred to the King who entred into that Place on the 1st of August 1384. At this time Ruy Freyre and others discovered to the Protector a Design of betraying the City to the Castilians carried on by D. Peter de Castro Son to Count Alvaro Perez and his Accomplices who were all apprehended Many also deserted to the King and among them D. Alonso Enriquez who at Coimbra had plotted to convey away Queen Ellenor Hunger now began to pinch in Lisbon and was hard to be remedied but that at the
Church of Alverca where it was buried The King was received at Lisbon in Triumphant manner Many Persons were executed on Account of these Troubles and their Heirs to the Fourth Generation declared Infamous The Prince's Enemies fearing the Queen might some time or other Revenge the Death of her Father advised the King to be divorced from her but he received her with all the marks of True Love and Affection They begged of him some Towns that had belonged to the Prince which he freely gave them but the Cities of Porto and Portalegre would not submit to be given away to any Body and were therefore annexed to the Crown 9. The Princess Ellenor during this time was contracted to the Emperor Frederick the Third The Princess Ellenor contracted to the Emperor Frederick the Third and was now delivered in the Month of August to his Embassadors They embarked at Lisbon and landed at Leghorn whence she was conducted to Sienna where the Bridegroom met her attended by Ladislaus King of Hungary his Brother Albertus the Arch-Duke and other Princes Hence they travelled together to Rome where they were crowned with the usual Solemnity 1451. Prince Ferdinand who was marryed to the Lady Beatrix 1452. Daughter to Prince John privately built a Caravel and went away in it to Ceuta to employ himself against the Moors but the King soon sent for him home and to settle his Mind gave him the Towns of Beja 1453. Moura and Serpa The great Monarch of the Turks Mahomet having taken Constantinople Pope Calixtus stirred up the Christian Princes to unite their Forces against the Common Enemy Our King offered to serve in Person one Year with 12000 Men but all these Projects fell to nothing Our Queen had before this time brought forth a Son and a Daughter whereof the former died 1455. and now on the third of May she was delivered at Lisbon of another Son whom she called John as the first had been for the special Devotion she had to that Name He was sworn Prince being but a Month old with great Solemnity The Queen upon this Occasion obtained leave of the King that the Body of her Father Prince Peter might be placed in the Tomb he had built for himself at the Famous Monastery of Batalla At this time also a Match was concluded betwixt the Princess Joanna King Alonso's Daughter and Henry the Fourth King of Castile She was Seventeen Years of Age and very beautiful which was all her Portion and she was conducted to Castile by Count Alvaro Gonzalez de Atayde Elizabeth our Queen died on the Second of December following The Queen's Death not without suspicion of Poison given her by her Father's Enemies fearing she might prevail with the King to Revenge his Death She was carried to the Church of Batalla with the greatest Pomp that had been used at the Funeral of any Queen For Beauty Patience Obedience and Piety she was inferior to none The Monastery of Xabregas of the religious of S. Eloy was founded by her 1456. The King ordered the Body of his Mother Queen Ellenor to be brought from Toledo to be buried at the Church of Batalla As far as Elvas it was conducted by the King and Queen of Castile and there they were met by our King 10. The Bishop of Silves brought the Croisade from Rome 1457. granted to Encourage Christian Princes to joyn their Forces against the Turks The Croisade brought into Portugal Our King made Preparations for that Expedition and recalled Peter the Constable and Master of Avis Son to Prince Peter who was Banished to Castile He also coined a New sort of pieces called Cruzadoes from the Croisade and the Cross on them These were of pure Gold and great Weight that they might pass in Forreign Countries but the other Christian Princes not answering on their Part he bent his Mind upon Prosecuting the Conquest of Africk Tangier was first aimed at 1458. but this Resolution was changed for Alcaçer Alcazer on the Coast of Africk taken by King Alonso Twenty thousand Landmen were appointed for this Service who set sail from Setuval the 12th of October in Two hundred Sail of Ships They no sooner arrived than that they were Victorious and reduced that Place the Particulars of which Action are in the Portuguese Africk A Peace was now established with the Duke of Britany 1459. whose Subjects had taken many Portuguese Ships which was repaid them in the same kind 1460. The following Year died Prince Henry who first gave Encouragement and promoted the Discoveries on the Coast of Africk A Year after he was followed by Alonso Duke of Bragança Bastard-Son to King John the First 1461. The King being advertised That it would be easie to surprize Tangier Tangier taken set sail from Lisbon in November and tho he met with many difficulties he became Master of that Place The Catalonians rebelling against their lawful Sovereign King John of Aragâ—n sent to invite Peter Son to the Unfortunate Prince Peter to that Principality as being descended of the Ancient Earls of Barcelona He hasted thither from Ceuta but lived not long there and lies buried in the Cathedral King Alonso went over from Ceuta to Gibraltar to meet the King of Castile who craved Aid of him against his Nobility that not content with staining his Honour sought to deprive him of the Crown 1464. Here it was agreed King Alonso should marry Elizabeth Sister to the Castilian and his Son Prince John the Princess Joanna but all this took no effect 1466. Queen Joanna of Castile on whom those People cast all their Reproaches accusing her of Adultery only in malice to D. Beltran de la Cueva the King's Favourite whom she treated with Courtesie came to the City Guarda to crave Aid of the King her Brother against the Rebels who called her Daughter a Bastard and had opprobriously used a Statue they had erected to the King her Husband King Alonso intended to have succoured her but was prevented by the Death of Prince Alonso of Castile who had been proclaim'd King in opposition to the King his Brother whereupon ensued some tranquility in the Affairs of Castile King John of Aragon made great Interest that his Son Ferdinand might marry Elizabeth Sister to the King of Castile Our King Alonso also sent Embassadors to demand her according to the Articles concluded at Gibraltar But these Embassadors could not prevail for she was already engaged to Ferdinand and much more to those who advised that Match in opposition to her Brother that she might the better with their assistance deprive him of the Crown That Match was concluded in February 1469. 1469. This is that Elizabeth so much admired by the Spaniards for Sanctity and yet by this it appears she aimed to Usurp the Crown from her Brother and actually did it from his only Daughter CHAP. VI. The remaining Part of the Life and
Reign of King Alonso the Fifth of the Name and Twelfth King of Portugal and his Death from the Year 1470 till 1481. 1. ON the 18th of September 14â—â— died at Setubal Prince Ferdinand Brother to King Alonso and Father to many Children whereof one was Emanuâ—l afterwards King Soon after his Death his Daughter Ellenor was married to Prince John he being Fourteen Years of Age and she Thirteen Twelve Portuguese Ships now coming from Flanders were taken by the English whereupon our King ordered Reprisals to be made and sent Embassadors to complain of it which was followed by a lasting Peace In the mean while Persons were sent to discover the Port of Arzila on the Coast of Africk who brought an Account that 30000 Men were requisite for that Expedition 24000 Landmen besides the Seamen were shipped on Board 308 Sail of all sorts 14â—1 The King sailed to Lagos in Algarve King Aloâ—so 〈…〉 and Tangier before he discovered his Design then passing over to Arzila took that Place as he did Tangier forsaken by the Inhabitants upon the first News of his approach He changeâ— his 〈◊〉 Upon this Conquest the King changed his Titles which before were King of Portugal Algarve and Ceutâ—â— for those of King of Portugal and both Algarves that on this side and that on the other in Africk Prince Ferdinand after he was taken in the former Expedition against Tangier lived Six Years in Slavery and his Body remained Twenty more among the Infidels But the King gave now in exchange for his Bones Two Wives and a Daughter of 〈…〉 Lord of that Place 14â—â— and afterwards King of Fiâ— Thâ— Bones were brought over and buried in the Famous Church of Batalla King Hâ—â—ry of Castâ—â—e and our King Alonso had an interview between Badâ—â—â—z and Elvas about a Match for the Prince of Portugal with 〈◊〉 Princess of Castile but it had no Effect for the rebellious Castilians openly declared her a Bastard and Elizabeth that Kingâ—â— Sister was married to Ferdinand 〈◊〉 Aragon by the Name of Princess of Castile It it horrid to think with what Impudence they durst Declare that Princess a Bastard seeing she was Born in Wedlock and for what they pretended of the King's Impotency it was contrary to Reason since it is notorious the Queen was Jealous of him and she could have no occasion for jealousie had she found the King unfit for the Company of Women But the World is sufficiently convinced there can be no true Reason given to justifie Rebellion yet Rebels never want pretences to Colour their Villany 2. King Henry of Castile met his Sister Elizabeth at Segovia Affairs of Castile and he dying on the 11th of December following it was generally believed he was poisoned In his Will he appointed his Daughter Joanna to succeed him and desired the King of Portugal to take her to Wife At the Hour of his Death his Confessor pressed him to declare who was his lawful Heir and he answered his Daughter Joanna Nothing more could have been done to prove her Legitimate but nothing will suffice against hardned Rebels Scarce was the Princess Elizabeth assured of the King's Death when she caused her self to be proclaimed Queen at Segovia In the mean while the Marquis de Villena the Earl of Benavente and the Bishop of Siguenza appointed by King Henry to see his Will executed sent to the King of Portugal praying him to set forward with all possible speed and that not only they but many more Nobles and the principal Cities of Castile would declare for him The King was then at Estremoz where having consulted his Council he resolved to accept of what was offered and in order thereunto sent his Lord Chamberlain Lope de Albuquerque to Castile who returned to him with fresh Assurances in the Month of January the King being then at Evora Elizabeth the New Queen sent some religious Men to advise our King not to engage in an unjust War as she termed it and to offer him another Joanna Sister to her Husband Ferdinand Alonso 〈◊〉 War with Castile in 〈◊〉 of the 〈…〉 in Marriage He answered he was resolved to stand by his Niece being obliged to it as an Unkle as a King and as a Gentleman 3. Whilst he made Preparations for War he sent an Embassador to Ferdinand and Elizabeth to demand that Crown who returning with such an Answer as he had expected he immediately advances to Castile by the way of Aronches with 5600 Horse and 14000 Foot With this Army he came to Plasencia and was there joyfully received by many of the Nobility There he found the true Queen and was contracted to her those there present and many absent by Proxy swore Allegiance to him The King then stiled himself King of Castile and Portugal and nothing was wanting for Bedding with the Queen but the Dispensation from Rome which Ferdinand and Elizabeth with all their might opposed No sooner was this known to the Castilian King and Queen but they also took the stile of Castile and Portugul and sent Forces to invade that Kingdom which having made some spoil returned without any opposition Queen Joanna sent her Letters to all the Towns of Castile exhorting them to return to her Obedience since they had twice sworn her lawful Heiress to the Crown The King marched to Arevalo and thence to Toro which City held for him and the Castle he took by force Zamora was delivered to him and thither he conducted his Bride Thence they returned to Toro where Queen Joanna Mother to the Bride and Sister to the Bridegroom died on the 13. of June Ferdinand and Elizabeth raised all the Forces they could and had now gathered together 12000 Horse and 30000 Foot With this Force Ferdinand marched and encamped before Toro where feigning Friendship he sent to advise King Alonso to depart or to decide the matter by single Combat neither whereof he well knew could as circumstances stood be accepted However Peter de Avendanho so cut off the Castillian's Provisions that he was forced to draw off his Army to Medina del Campo Thither came Elizabeth to Ferdinand reproaching him that he had not accepted of a single Combat on such terms as the Portuguese allowed of But Money beginning now to fail them and they fearing to tax the People had recourse to the Clergy who gave them half the Plate of the Churches 4. Some Overtures of Peace were now made 〈…〉 but came not to any head Our King marching to relieve Burgâ—s was recalled by the revolt of Zamora which Elizabeth of Castile laying hold of gave out that he fled which drew many to her Party The Portuguese now grew weary of being abroad and the King wanting Money his Subjects refused to furnish him upon that Account so that all his Affairs went backwards King Alonso thus streightned discharged many of his Army and many more went away without expecting a Discharge The Governour of the Castles on
Power in Cases Criminal This pleased the People but made him odious to the Nobility Soon after he made a Law That his Judges and other Officers of Justice should execute their employments throughout all the Territories of great Men that pretended exemption from them All the Grandees opposed these New Ordinances but the King was not so jealous of any as of Ferdinand Duke of Bragança a Servant of whom presented to the King certain Letters from the King of Castile to the said Duke which much increased the King's suspition 1482. and caused him to decree his Death In the mean while The Plague at Lisbon the Plague beginning to diffuse it self at Lisbon King John removed his Court to Monte-Mayor a more healthy Place An Embassador was sent into England to confirm the established Friendship with that King Another was also dispatch'd to Castile about concluding the Match designed betwixt Prince Alonso of Portugal and the Princess Elizabeth of Castile which was not effected till afterwards Embassadors came thence to Portugal on that Account By his Embassadors that had been in Castile the King had farther information concerning the Duke of Bragança his holding Correspondence with that King The Duke was warned by the King to forbear any farther proceeding in that Correspondence yet he desisted not but on the contrary proposed to unnaturalize himself in order to be at liberty to withstand his Sovereign The King understanding that the Duke accompanied his Son Prince Alonso in his Journey from Moura to Evora he resolved to apprehend him After the Solemnity of the Princes Reception was over the Duke coming to take his leave of the King was by his order secured 4. The Duke being now in Custody the King called his Council and laid before them the Copies of his Letters of Correspondence with Castile Judges were appointed for his Trial before whom he appeared twice but refused to come the third time The Duke of Braganca beheaded for High-Treason They thereupon past Sentence of Death upon him which was publickly executed upon a Scaffold by severing his Head from his Body D. Alvaro de Portugal one of the Duke's Brothers was banished and found such Favour in Castile that he was made President of the Council The Marquis of Monte-Mayor his other Brother having made his escape was executed in Effigy This done the King and Queen took a Progress through the Provinces betwixt Duero and Minho and behind the Mountains In February they returned to Santarem 1484. where they found the Death of the Duke of Bragança instead of security to them The Duke of Viseo Conspires against the King's Life was like to produce greater danger The Duke of Viseo Brother to the Queen had conspired to Murder the King in hopes to Succeed him as he would have done had he not endeavoured to anticipate the time His Associates were the Bishop of Evora and several other Persons of Note This Treason was discovered to the King by Antony de Faria who had it from James Tinoco Brother to a Servant-Maid of the Bishop that gave him the first information James Tinoco gave the King a particular Account of the Design but found not entire Credit till D. Vasco Coutino confirmed all he had said Three times the King escaped the Danger being provided against it since the information given him and yet none of the Conspirators perceived he knew any thing of it On the 22d of August being at Setuval he sent for the Duke and having taken him aside asked of him what he would do to the Man that designed to kill him The Duke answered The Duke stabbed by the King I would kill him first if I could Then replied the King You have given judgment against your self At the same Instant he stabbed him so that he fell down dead at his Feet 5. Late at Night Proclamation was made for apprehending the rest of the Conspirators The other Conspirators punished and the next Morning the Duke's Carcass was exposed to publick view upon the Scaffold Most of the Traitors were apprehended The Bishop of Evora being put into a Cestern was there eaten alive by Worms His Brother Ferdinand was beheaded the same end had Peter de Albuquerque D. Gutiere Coutino died in Prison and D. Alvaro de Atayde fled to Castile and was afterwards pardoned by King Emanuel The Count de Pena-Macor died at Sevil and Ferdinand de Sylveyra was killed in France D. Vasco Coutinho one of the discoverers for his loyalty was created an Earl and Tinoco the other being of less Quality had 5000 Crowns down given him and a Church Revenue worth 1500 a Year This done the King bestowed all that had belonged to the Duke of Viseo upon his Brother Emanuel and with it the hopes of Succeeding to the Crown as also of the Empire of Asia for at this time Burtholomew Diaz by the King's order discovered the Cape of Good Hope which he then called Tormentoso or Stormy because of the ill Weather he met with there 6. Whilst these things passed in Portugal the City S. George in Guinea increased and the Christian Religion diffused it self whereupon the King this Year first stiled himself Lord of Guinea 1485. Several sorts of new Coin King John stiles himself Lord of Guinea as well of Gold and Silver as of Copper were now also spread abroad in Portugal The King had sent D. Peter de Noronha his Embassador to Rome to pay his Obedience to the Pope and obtain of him the Croisade in order to prosecute his Conquests in Africk for which he made Preparations throughout the Kingdom 1486. Four Venetian Galleys being taken by the French and the Men put ashoar almost naked at Cascaes the King not only relieved them with Cloaths and other Necessaries but gave them such a Sum of Money as redeemed their Galleys wherewith they returned home Whereupon that Republick sent a Solemn Embassy with Presents to return him Thanks for that extraordinary Act of Hospitality Azamor in Africk submits to the King The Town of Azamor in Africk sent this Year to submit it self to our King and was taken into Protection The way to India by Sea beginning to be laid open after the Discovery of the Cape of Good Hope the King sent Alonso de Payva and John de Cubillan to take a Journey into India by Land Others followed them but the particulars of those Actions belong to the Portuguese Asia where they may be found The Catholick King and Queen falling short of Ammunition at the Siege of Granada sent to desire a Supply of King John which was speedily and plentifully conveyed to them John Alonso de Aveyro discovered the Coast of Beni and brought thence the first Pepper that was ever brought from those Parts as also an Embassador from that King who was honourably entertained and sent back loaded with Presents James de Almeyda a Knight of Malta Sailing for Africk with 30 Sail in which
the Fifth to offer him Elizabeth the King 's Eldest Sister in Marriage Yet of a sudden his Instructions were altered and he ordered only to Complement that Prince upon his happy Arrival in Spain The cause of this sudden change was this The Ship called the Victory the first that sailed round the World and the only one that escaped of those that discovered the Streights of Magellan arriving at the Islands of Cabo Verdâ— the Inhabitants understanding she came from the Molucco Islands designed to secure her but they on board having some Jealousie of it immediately set Sail leaving behind their long Boat with thirteen Men who were sent away Prisoners to Lisbon whilst the Ship made her Voyage and arrived safe at Sevil. The Emperor complained hereof to the King and he again that the Emperor's Ships invaded his Conquests demanding the Lading of the Ship Victory D. Lewis de Silveyra spent Eight Months in his Embassy at the Emperor's Court without dispatching any Business and then returning to Portugal found the King at Almeirin where at his first access forgetting or neglecting to kiss his Hand he found himself quite out of favour for D. Antony de Atayde making his Advantage of the others absence had quite worked him out of his Master's Affections Nevertheless D. Lewis continued at Court without ever expressing the least Resentment for his Fall 3. D. Antony de Atayde The Character of D. Antony de Atayde the King's Favourite now the only Favourite was a Person well deserving that high Honour for his singular Prudence and Moderation There are sufficient Testimonies of the former and I will bring one that may fully evince the latter The Lord of Azambuja Head of one of the ancientest Families in Portugal designed to sell that Town to supply his present wants The King told D. Antony it would be proper for him to buy it because it joyned to his Estate He answered It was more for his Highness's Reputation to supply the wants of so Ancient and Honourable a Family than to suffer it to fall to nothing by selling an Estate of that Antiquity The King took his Advice and so generously relieved that Gentleman that he was enabled to preserve his Patrimony This is a good Remark for those who to advance their own Fortunes are so far from regarding any Private Person that they stick not to ruin Kings and overturn Kingdoms It was now thought time that the King should Marry and James Duke of Bragança proposed to him Queen Ellenor his Mother-in-law as Wife to the late King who was vastly Rich. This Proposal being noised abroad was so well liked that the Council of Lisbon addressed him in behalf of themselves and the whole Kingdom praying he would condescend to it The King could not approve of Marrying his Father's Wife and was freed from their Importunities by the Emperor's desiring he would suffer his Sister to return to Castile which was accordingly performed 4. A March being proposed for the King with Katherine 15â—â— Sister to the Emperor Charles the Fifth King John Marries Katherine Sister to the Emperor Charles the Fifth Embassadors were sent to Burgos where that Prince then kept his Court to treat about it The Articles agreed upon were That the Bridegroom should pay the Charge of the Dispensation the Emperor should be at the Expence of her Journey That she should have 200000 Ducats down and 5000 a Year for her Portion besides Jewels and other Necessaries That the third part should be given to her at her Marriage and that her Joynture should be 10000 Ducats a Year with all the Lands and Towns the Queens used to possess The former Peace was confirmed and Supplies promised reciprocally in case of need About the end of the Year she was conducted to the Borders by the Bishop of Siguença and Duke of Vejar and there delivered to the Princes Lewis and Ferdinand sent to attend her The King received her at Crato and she proved one of the best Queens in the World She was happy in bringing forth many Children but unfortunate in the shortness of their Lives which gave occasion to the Multitude to say It was a Judgment of God on the King for the Familiarity he was suspected to have with the Queen his Mother-in-law 1525. At the beginning of the Year a motion was made of a Match betwixt the Emperor and our King's Sister The Emperor Charles the Fifth Marries Elizabeth Sister to King John the Princess Elizabeth Embassadors of the Emperor and the King's Commissioners meeting upon this Subject agreed That the Emperor should be at the Expence of the Dispensation and the King defray the Charge of her Journey as had been done in the Marriage of the Emperor's Sister but the Portion now given with this Princess far exceeded that for it amounted almost to a Million of Crowns In November the Emperor's Embassador was contracted for the Emperor to the Princess and the day after they set forward with the King and Princes 5. The Empress's Journey into Spain was delayed till the Dispensation came from Rome 1526. and then being attended to the Frontiers by many of the Nobility she was there delivered to the Spanish Noblemen sent to receive her She was conducted to Sevil and there received with Pomp suitable to so great a Princess Soon after came the Emperor and in March the Marriage was solemnized We must now pass over seven Years without mentioning any thing of the Affairs of this Kingdom because we find nothing Remarkable except that in the Year 1531. there happened a most terrible Earthquake 1531. which overthrew many Buildings A great Earthquake but chiefly at Lisbon and round about it where whole Towns were overwhelmed About this time also the Tribunal of the Inquisition was erected for suppressing of the Jews Muley Hazen 1534. expelled the Kingdom of Tunis by the Famous Pirate Hariaden Barbarossa fled to the Emperor Charles the Fifth for Succour The Emperor undertook his Protection and in order to it desired Assistance of King John particularly praying him to send an extraordinary Galeon then Famous for its greatness called the S. John 1535. The King sent him that and two others of great Bulk King John sends Succours to the Emperor besides 20 smaller ones loaded with store of Ammunition and bravely manned The Command of this Squadron was given to Antony de Saldana who had served well in India At Barcelona he joyned the Emperor and was by him Honourably received Prince Lewis stole away from Court to serve under the Emperor Charles the Fifth but of this we spoke at the time of his Birth in the Reign of King Emanuel The King sent him 100000 Crowns and the Emperor received him at Barcelona with all possible marks of Honour They set out with 400 Sail and made themselves Masters of Guletta and Tunis 6. From the Year 1535. we find nothing worthy of Memory till 1539. a Year
Andaluzia of great Courage and Colonel of a Regiment who offered to hold out three Weeks longer to expect the Succours from Spain which they heard to be at Sea under the Conduct of the Duke of Maqueda The King thought it not fit longer to delay his Coronation that his Royal Authority might become the more Sacred and his Person more respected among the People This Ceremony was performed on the 15th of December with all possible Magnificence The Duke of Aveiro the Marquess of Villareal the Duke de Caminha his Son the Count de Monsanto and all the Nobility of the Kingdom assisted at the Ceremony The Archbishop of Lisbon at the head of his Clergy and attended by several other Bishops received the King at the Gate of the Cathedral and there all the Three Estates took the Oath of Fidelity to him A few Days after the Queen came to Lisbon having been received at a distance by the whole Court and the King himself 19. The News of this Revolution being soon carried to the Court of Spain How the News of his revoltâ— was received in Spain struck to the Heart of the Prime-Minister yet making the best of that Disaster he accosted the King with a Countenance chearful and full of Assurance saying Sir I bring you happy News your Majesty has just now gained a great Dutchy and a considerable parâ—el of Lands The King in a surprize asked in what manner Sir replied the Minister the Duke of Braganza is run mad he has suffered himself to be deluded by the Multitude who have proclaimed him King of Portugal now all his Lands are forfeited to the Crown and that Family being extirpated your Majesty will for the future possess that Kingdom in Peace The King was not much taken with these plausible Words and only told him That Care must be taken to suppress a Rebellion that might prove of dangerous Consequence Anno 1641. 1. THE new King of Portugal omitted nothing that might conduce to his Establishment on the Throne After his Arrival at Lisbon New Governours placed in the Frontiers he presently appointed Governours for all the Frontier Towns choosing for that purpose Men of Fidelity Valour and Experience who immediately went away to their Posts with what Forces they could gather and used all possible diligence to put the places committed to them into a posture of defence Commissions were given out to raise Forces and immediately after the Coronation the Cortes or Parliament was Summon'd They met the 28th of January and by a solemn Act acknowledg'd King John to be their lawful and rightful Soveraign as descended by the Princess his Mother from Prince Edward Son to King Emanuel In this Assembly of the three Estates the King declared that for the support of his Houshold he would content himself with his own private Revenue and would lay apart all those of the Crown to supply the necessities of the Kingdom and that the people might relish the sweetness of his Government he abolished all new Taxes imposed by the Spaniards The most considerable employments he gave to such of the Conspirators as had best deserved yet Pinto had no share in this promotion but nevertheless had so great an influence over the King that though he had not the Title of a Minister of State nothing of moment was done without him Having settled all things at home the King next bent his thoughts towards Foreign Princes Ambassadors sent to all the Courts of Europe He dispatched Ambassadors to all the Courts of Europe to move them to own him and at the same time to gain Allies and raise new Enemies to the House of Austria A League offensive and defensive was concluded with the Hollanders and Catalonians both at that time in Rebellion against the King of Spain That Monarch nor being in a condition to use immediate force for the reducing of Portugal still hop'd he might by fair means or threats work upon the new King and to that end writ a Letter to him in the Stile of a Sovereign but in most affectionate terms The Answer was such as no less touched the King of Spain than the News of the Revolt had done before He had his hands full in Flanders Italy Roussillon and Catalonia and yet rather than seem to abate any thing of his Royal Grandeur resolved to hazard all rather than suffer this Affront to pass unrevenged The Duke of Medina Sidonia was order'd to raise Forces in Andaluzia the Count de Monterey in the two Castiles and the Marquess de Valparaiso in Leon and Galicia And because a Fleet was the most absolutely necessary the Duke de Maqueda Admiral of the Ocean had Orders to gather all the Vessels that were fit for Service and to infest the Coast whilst the others acted by Land 2. Of all the Ambassadors sent by the King of Portugal to the Christian Princes The Bishâ—p of Lamego going Ambassadorâ— to Rome 〈◊〉 by the Spaniards only the Bishop of Lamego designed for Rome miscarried The Master of the Vessel that carried him put into Cartagena a Port of the Kingdom of Murcia and delivered him up to the Spaniards for which Treachery he received a Reward of 2000 Crowns That Prelate's Life was in great danger for he had certainly been Executed but that the King was put in mind that the Marquess de la Pueblâ— and five or six other persons of Quality were Prisoners at Lisbon This Consideration mov'd him to order the Bishop should be civilly Treated least the Prisoners at Lisbon might suffer for his sake Fortune which the Year before had so highly favoured the new King still seemed wholly devoted to his Party All the Forts on the Coast of Africk except Ceuta and Tangier which at last afterwards submitted upon the first News of what had hapned in Portugal withdrew themselves from their Obedience to the Spaniards and sent to acknowledge King John and assure him of their utmost Fidelity Nor was this all for the Vice-Roy of Brasil having Intelligence of the Revolution sent his Son to Lisbon to take the Oath of Allegiance to the new King in his Name and in the Name of all the Inhabitants oâ— that Coast who testified an extraordinary satisfaction for that Change The Islands Azores resolved not to be the last that declared for the King and to give him some proof of their Fidelity at the very beginning of his Reign they seized 10 Ships coming from India that knew nothing of the Revolution and sent them to Lisbon after having taken off all the Soldiers that were aboard them In May also this Year a 〈◊〉 dispatched Express from India by John de Sylva Tello the Vice-Roy brought the News that the King had been Proclaimed in all his Dominions in Asia King John Proclaimed in India and as far as the Coast of China The Hollanders at this time were very powerful in those Seas and being at War with Spain did all the harm they could in the
diverted him from that Action offered to break open the door whereupon Conti seeing no hopes of escaping and the Count not able to relieve him or acquaint the King delivered himself up to the Duke upon promise of Life At the same time some some others of Conti's partizans were secured partly in the pallace and partly in the Town all which were immediately put aboard a Ship that lay ready to Sail in the River and sent away to Brazil The Queen being informed that all she had commanded was put in Execution led the King forth into the great Hall whither she had assembled all the Nobility Ministers of State and Magistrates of the City the better to appease and terrify the King Here a Remonstrance was made to him in the Name of the Kingdom full of grievous complaints against his Conduct and against his Favourites whom to prevent any farther ill consequences they declared they had been obliged to send into banishment This done having kissed his hand they departed It was no small surprize to the King to be brought so unexpectedly into that assembly and therefore not rightly conceiving the drift of what had been said he began to ask the meaning of it Garcia de Melo told him that to satisfy the complaints of his People they had sent Conti and his adherents into banishment He scarce believing they durst offer him such an indignity began loudly and in a rage to call upon Conti and running to seek for him threatned to follow him wheresoever they had sent him Melo told him his search would be in vain for that he was now under Sail for Brazil that as the case stood he must have either parted with Conti or his Crown At this answer he seemed somewhat to compose himself Then calling for Emanuel Antunes who only had escaped of all his former Favourites he shut himself up with him and the Count of Castellomelhor These two gave him a full Relation of what had passed and here were layed the first Foundations of the Counts ensuing greatness After this meeting the King appeared unconcerned at what had hapned and rid according to custom that Afternoon but he had learned to Counterfeit and had other thoughts within his breast than what appeared by his countneance This mighty act of policy which the Queen had contrived to perpetuate her Regency Count Castelmelhor succeeds in the King's Favour was the very cause of her speedy falling from it Count Castelmelhor a Man above exception for his Birth and Parts had now succeeded in the Kings Favour in the place of Conti and omitted not to encourage him in the resolution of taking upon him the Government Besides a young Lady belonging to the Queen for whom the King had a more then ordinary Affection made him the more earnest discovering to him all his Mothers private Discourses For the better carrying on his Design the King ordered the Count whose waiting Week was expired to wait on another least one might succeed him whom he could not so well confide in This done he retired according to custom to Alcantara a House near Lisbon carrying with him his Brother and a great Train That same day he returned to Lisbon and visited his Mother discoursing so lovingly with her that all resentment seemed to be passed but on a sudden without acquainting her he went back to Alcantara accompanyed only by the Count de Castelmelhor and the Count de Antouguia From thence he dispersed Letters into all parts of the Kingdom to the Officers of the Army and Governors of Towns acquainting them that being now at Age he had taken upon him the Government The King resolves to take the Government upon him Then he ordered all the Nobility and Ministers of State that were at Lisbon to repair to him to Alcantara The Queen astonished at this News and fearing to be cast down from her Regency assembles the Council of State where it was resolved that Emanuel Pacheco should be placed upon the Road to stop all those that should offer to repair to the King that the Queen should write a Letter to him in soft Terms desiring him either to delay some time his taking the Government upon him or at least to admit her to bear a great part with him and that in case perswasions failed she should then use Force to constrain him Accordingly Pacheco turned back those that were going to Alcantara the Guards and all the Queens Adherents were ordered to be ready in Arms to support her and a Letter was sent to the King from her full of alluring and soft but all deceitful Expressions But before the sending of the Letter the People of Lisbon perceiving that the Court armed against the King began to run into tumult for his Defence fearing least any violence might be offered him This zeal of the Multitude was what humbled the Queen and therefore seeing no hope left of prevailing by open force she had recourse to Artifice and Entreaty and therefore as has been said sent a submissive Letter by the Bishop of Targa In this Letter among other things the Queen urged to have the Cortes or Parliament call'd that she might there resign the Government but the King and the Count perceiving this was only a contrivance to gain time an answer was sent her by the same Bishop The purport of this Answer was that the King considering the great Burthen of care that attended the Government was willing to ease his Mother who had long laboured under it of that Toil and to take it upon himself She now plainly perceiving that there was no longer hope either by Force or Art of retaining the Government resolved at length to quit it least it should be violently taken from her However she wished it might be done in the Pallace that the World might believe it had been freely resigned and not to be forcibly extorted from her Those who were acquainted with her Subtilties advised the King not to trust himself to her Power which made him delay some time at Alcantara However at length finding himself secured on all sides and the Queens Interest declining since the People of Lisbon had declared for him he repaired to the Pallace where in the presence of the Nobility Ministers of State and Magistrates of the City She is at length forced to resign the Queen delivered up the Seals into his Hands which is the usual Ceremony in Portugal when a King takes upon him the Government This Ceremony was perform'd on the 23d of June 1662 the King then wanting but one Month of 19 Years of Age whereas according to the antient custom of Portugal their Kings were always reputed of Age at 14 and accordingly at those Years the Regency ought to cease The Queen Mother thus discharged of the care of Government She pretends to retire but stays at Court in hopes to wrest the Power from her Son began again to talk of retiring but that after such a manner that no Body
with such Brotherly Love The Lominii three Sons of Gerion reign and such perfect Union that they gave occasion to the Fable That Spain was ruled by a King with three Heads Such was the Entrance of their Sway that it seemed they were resolved to preserve with Justice what their Father had gained with Violence But it was not long before it appeared they had rather be thought Sons of such a Father than Fathers of their Subjects They were good no longer than till they had the Power to be wicked which was till Osiris was removed Then remembring the People of Andaluzia Aragon and Valencia had been the Cause of their Father's Death by calling in Osiris they removed towards those parts on pretence of Affection but in reality to wreak their Revenge 2. Osiris being basely Murdered by his Brother Typhon his Son Orus Lybicus succeeded him having slain the Murderer The People of Andaluzia now again oppressed by the Tyranny of the Lominii who upon the departure of Osiris were exercising their revenge on those their Subjects Orus Lybicus or Hercules comes into Spain 〈◊〉 the Lominii 〈◊〉 makes his Son Hispalus King sent for and to Orus Lybicus called also Hercules who speedily came to their relief as his Father had done out of Africk where he had killed the Giant Anteus and marched after the Enemy who were retired to the Fastnesses of Lusitania and there resolutely waited his approach The Lominii had posted themselves in a secure place called formerly Saltus Tercenorum Hercules seeing them in place almost inaccessible resolved to save his Men and avoid the hazard of a Battle by challenging the three Brothers to fight him hand to hand which he did and they accepting of it were all three slain successively 1718. The Portuguese seeing their Princes slain began to move to revenge their Death but Orus making use of perswasions rather than force appeased them and calling the Nobles to him he made a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving This done he advanced as far as the Promontorium Sacrum where he built a magnificent Temple wherein the Aegyptian Ceremonies taught by the Founder were for many Ages after Religiously observed The People in acknowledgment for the Benefits received by Hercules or rather swayed by fear joyfully received his Son Hispalus for their King who continued in Lusitania with many of his Aegyptians 3. Hispalus was installed 42 Years after the Gerions had begun to Reign and being peaceably seated on the Throne his Father Orus Lybicus marched away for Italy The gentle Government of Hispalus was the reviving of the hearts of that People after so many Calamities but Prosperities are not durable for he died the 17th Year of his Reign Among the memorable Customs introduced by him were those of Burying the Dead and wearing Mourning for them what sort of Mourning it was appears not but that which many Ages after was used till the time of King Emanuel of Portugal and Ferdinand of Castile was on the lightest occasions rough Canvass and the deep used for Kings and such like occasions of the coursest Sack-cloth and that always White as is still used in China 4. Hispanus succeeded his Father Hispalus and was Proclaimed in the Temple of Hercules with great Ceremony The Spaniards in those days held it a crime to look upon the setting Sun therefore those that lived upon the Coast used to turn their backs towards it those who lived near the Promontorium Sacrum retreated at Night far off from it believing the Gods spent the Night there in Sport and Pastimes not to be seen by Mortal Eyes Only the Priests and the King on the Night of his inauguration were permitted to stay on that point of Land and look towards the West but as soon as the Sun quite disappeared they prostrated themselves on the Ground and then retired to the Temple where they continued till break of day when the King returned to the same place and continued there till the Sun again spread its Beams over all that part of the Country Then he returned joyfully to the People offered Sacrifice and was thence forward esteemed wiser than all others as being one that had seen Divine Secrets and Hidden Mysteries It is a common Opinion among the vulgar that Hispalis now Sevil was built by Hispalus and that the Name Hispania came from Hispanus 1169. who died when he had Reigned 32 Years leaving no Issue 5. Hercules Hercules Governs Spain and leaves the Crown to Hesperus after the Death of his Grandson Hispanus returned to Spain which he Governed Nineteen Years in Peace with singular Wisdom and Goodness and finding his end draw on he appointed Hesperus one of his Officers his Successor The Funeral Obsequies being performed 1650. Hesperus took upon him the Sovereignty but the giddy People being dissatisfied with his Government revolted from him to his Brother Atlas Italus who came out of Italy pretending a right as being the Elder Brother though neither had any other Title but the choice of Hercules which was of the Younger Hesperus deposed and Atlas set up in his place By this desertion of the Subjects Hesperus was easily deprived of the Crown and flying into Italy outlived not long his Misfortune Italus having Reigned in Portugal the space of Ten Years returned into Italy 1618. leaving the Dominion of Spain to his Son Sic-Orus He leaves the Crown to his Son Sicorus during whose Reign the Noise of Arms was not heard he left his Name to that River of Catalonia that washes the Walls of Lerida and is now called Segre but formerly Sicoris and a great part of that Country was of him long after called Sicoria he Reigned 55 Years 6. Sicanus the Son of Sicorus succeeded his Father Sicanus Succeeds them and Sicceleus him he is reported to have waged War in Italy and thence to have passed over and conquered Sicily which of him our Author will have to take the Name of Sicania and he to have Reigned 31 Years His Son Sicceleus immediately entred upon the Government and of him also is continued that Romantick Story of going into Italy with an Army where also he is said to have died in the 44th Year of his Reign 2453 from the Creation 797 from the Flood and 1509 before the Birth of Christ 1509. 7. After the Death of Sic-Celeus his Son Lusus was proclaimed King Lusus ascends the Throne and for the singular Affection he shewed to the Western part of Spain where he spent the most of his life that Country took his Name being afterwards called Lusitania Under this Name was comprehended all the Country between the Rivers Guadiana and Duero the main Ocean bounded it on the West and its limits on the East were formed by an imaginary line drawn almost straight from the turning of the River Duero near Castrominho down to Guadiana which River divided it from the Province Betica Nothing else is recorded of Lusus but that he
from this time the Lusitanians inhabiting Vouga or Vacca made an expedition as far as the Cities Assota and Lacedemona in whose Territory they founded a Town which of the Name of their own Country they called Vacca and being delighted with the pleasantness of the Place they added the word Chara whereby it came to be called Charavacca The News of the Death of the Emperor Augustus being brought into Lusitania his Funeral Honours were performed with no less Grandeur than they had been at Rome Hispania Vlterior which includes Portugal was at this time Governed by the Proconsul Vibius Serenus whose unlimitted Avarice was the cause he exercised many Cruelties towards the People nor were the Spanish Mines and Rivers yielding Yearly three Millions of Crowns in Gold sufficient to satisfy his unmeasurable Covetousness 2. Tiberius having succeeded Augustus in the Empire Tiberius succeeds Augustus in the Empire appeared no less insatiable than his Lieutenant The Lusitanians by their Ambassadors asked leave to Erect a Temple to him and his Mother Drusilla which he pretending Modesty refused But in Reality was more desirous of their Gold than of their Adoration To shew that Learning was then esteemed here several Lasitanians went into Italy only to see the famous Historian Titus Livius with them went Ambassadors from Lisbon to give an Account of a Prodigy there seen It was a perfect Man coming out of the Sea who sitting upon the Rocks sounded a great Shell as if it had been a Horn so loud and shrill that it drew the People thither to see who it was Admiring the sight of that Creature they sent that Embassage which is a token no such Creature had been seen before tho' Authors affirm that several have appeared since The Roman Emperors were Lords of our Kingdom of Lusitania for some Ages but for Brevity sake I will not mention them all as they succeeded one another but only speak of those who left something memorable among us 3. After Tiberius Caius Caligula the Imperial Crown was put upon the Head of Caius Caligula whose horrid course of Life made the wickedness of his Predecessor be looked upon as innocence Caligula in the 4th Year of his Reign was Murthered St. James the Apostle in Spain as had been his Predecessor During his Reign St. James the Apostle came into Spain where he Preached the Gospel and converted many by virtue of the mighty Miracles he Wrought Among the rest he is said to have raised to life a Citizen of Braga by extraction a Jew called Samuel the Younger or Malachias the Elder Son to the Prophet Vrias who had been Buried near 600 Years him he called Peter and constituted the first Bishop of Braga and the first in all Spain 44. This Bishop suffered Martyrdom at Rates four Leagues from Braga and is therefore called St. Peter of Rates Another of his Disciples St. James left in the Church of Cinania once a populous City now a poor place scarce the shaddow of what it was between Braga and Guimaraens upon the River Ave. In this same place he was Martyred by the Neighbouring People in memory whereof they to this day as it were acknowledging the crime resort to his Church bare-footed and with Cords about them The Martyrs name was Torquatus now corruptly called Torcade St. James embarking at Corunna sailed into England in whose absence Peter the Archbishop of Braga having spread the Faith made several Bishops 46. As the Nuptials of a little King's Son were Celebrating on the shoar of Bouzas not far from Porto the Bride-groom being on Horse-back among many others suddenly there appeared a Ship at Sea When it drew near the Bride-groom was carried away by his Horse through the Water and suddenly appeared upon the Ship covered with Crosses and Shells Wondring what this should mean he asked of those in the Ship who told him They brought the Body of St. James the Apostle who had wrought that Miracle to convert him and the Neighbouring People and a voice from Heaven said it was the Will of God that all those who went to visit the Apostle's Sepulcher should be so adorned with Crosses The Bridegroom returned ashoar his Horse treading the Water as if it had been firm Land whereupon he and all present were Baptized Thus much may suffice as to the Preaching of St. James the Apostle and the bringing of his Body after his Death into Spain 4. After Caligula Reigned 56. Claudius a Prince as foolish as his Predecessor was wicked The Emperors Claudius and Nero. no Memory of him remains in Portugal it had been well if there were none in the World Of Nero his Successor there are still many Monuments in Lusitania and also of his Mother â—gâ—ippina for to her they Erected Statues In the time of Nero Silvius Otho Governed Portugal the Emperor conferred that Honour upon him the more freely in his absence to enjoy his Wife Popea whose incontinency gave occasion for him to fall in love with her Beauty Ten Years did Otho Govern this Province with so great Equity and Moderation that he obliged the People afterwards to assist him towards obtaining the Empire A great number of Martyrs suffered under this cruel Emperor as well in Spain as in other parts Galba Next to Nero Galba ascended the Imperial Throne rather for the hatred all Men bore his Predecessor than for any Merit of his own Otho then Governor of Lusitania in Revenge of the wrong done him in the Person of his Wife Popea assisted him Nevertheless once possessed of the Government he grew as odious as he had been before desirable and therefore having held it but Eight Months was Murthered Otho His Death opened the way for Otho who had won the hearts of all Men with much Bounty and Clemency to aim at the Crown Otho to gratifie the Affections of the Lusitanians granted great Priviledges to many Towns but particularly to Merida then the Metropolis of the Province only three Months lasted the Sovereignty of Otho for understanding that Vitellius with the German Army by which he was saluted Emperor was marching against him he in despair Slew himself Vitellius nor did Vitellius hold it above Eight Months 5. Vespasian succeeded Vitellius Vespasian and by his Prudence and Moderation cheared the hearts of all his People Lusitania was particularly favoured by him for he adorned it with noble Works one of them was the great Road he made from Braga to Orense the space of Fifteen Leagues which breaking through many rough and uncooth places runs so smooth there is not the least Ascent or Descent in it Near to the Town of Chaves of him called Aquae Flaviae he built a Bridge over the River Tamaga 80. with a large Inscription on it Vespasian died having Reigned Nine Years and a half and left the Empire to his two Sons Titus and Domitian Titus the Good and Domitian the Wicked During their sway
Guard of the Pyraenean Hills was committed to the Suâ—vians and Alans that they might keep out the other Barbarous Nations dispersed throughout France Thus flushed with the rich Booty they had got in Spain they invited the Vandals Alans Suevians and Selingi whom they were to have kept out into Spain 416. Those People though under several Commanders unanimous in the same purpose passed the Mountains Guadericus was King of the Vandals Hermenericus of the Suevians and Resplandianus of the Alans They over-ran all the Country gaining several Victorie so that the Roman Authority was wholly abolished and Spain entirely brought under that barbarous Tyranny All the Civility and Policy learnt of the Romans reduced to a Brutal Disorder and most of the antient Natives destroyed by Sword Pestilence and Famine 4. The Vandals and Silingi planted themselves in the Province of Betica Alans and Suevians in Lusitania The Alans and Suevians in Galiciae and Lusitania In this universal Desolation the Relicks of the Saints being destroyed together with the Churches Panoracius Archbishop of Braga gathered a Synod of some Bishops and ordered them to hide the Bodies of the Saints so that some Memory of the Places might be preserved to better Times This was the First Council of Braga First Council of Braga In the mean while the Invaders took Lisbon Coimbra Idanha Merida Astorga and afterwards the rest Having divided the Lands Kings of the Alans and Suevians and Resplandianus King of the Alans dying Attaces succeeded him in the Kingdom of Lusitania and settled his Court in the City Merida Hermenericus King of the Suevians Rept Lisbon and all as far as Algarve with a part of Galicia Both these Nations in process of Time became more tractable and joined with the Natives Attaces now grown powerful became terrible to his Neighbours sometimes breaking into Celtiberia and sometimes into Carpentania Lastly he fell upon Hermenericus King of the Suevians residing at Lisbon From him besides other Lands he took the City Colimbria seated then where now is Conderia the Old To ennoble this his Conquest he laid the Foundation of another City on the Banks of the River Mondego which is now the University of Coimbra This Prince being an Arian Heretick obliged the Catholicks and even the Prelates before taken to work at this Building Whilst he was busie at this Structure Hermenericus having gathered Forces and joined with Gundericus came as far as Porto Porto re-built then an Heap of Ruins But fearing lest Attaces should there encounter him he fortified himself and that so effectually that People flocking thither the City was re-built and called New Portucale and Fistavole which in the Suevian Language signified the New Shoar This was the second Foundation of Porto Hermenericus perceiving that Attaces came not to molest him in his new Work marched to disturb him but being overthrown he was glad to sue for Peace The Conditions were such as pleased the Alans but particularly that which contained his marrying Cindasunda the Daughter of the Suevian King a Lady of incomparable Beauty and Vertue Hermenericus carried the Bride to the new City Coimbra where the Nuptials were solemnized with the greatest Magnificence that had been seen among the Barbarians 5. Attaces to express to his Father-in-Law how firmly he intended to observe the new-settled Friendship caused Cindasunda to be painted on his Colours standing upon a Pedestal with a Green Dragon on the one side and a Red Lion on the other By those two Creatures were signified the two Kings before Competitors now united by her The Work-men to flatter their King carved the same upon many Stones which have been so preserved Arms of Porto that it is now the Coat of Arms of that City Cindasunda who was a Catholick privately favoured those that the King forced to labour at his Structures But particularly she took Compassion on the Priests and Bishops and among them the Bishop Elipanidus and the Priest Esenus She with her Beauty and Intreaties so mollified the King that many Catholicks were delivered from that Slavery They lived some Time together very unanimously He employed himself in endeavouring to subdue such Provinces as yet remained subject to the Roman Empire but the Romans joining with the Goths defended themselves as will appear by the Sequel 6. The Emperor Honorius 417. then at Ravenna seeing the mighty Decay of the Empire for Constantius was possessed of a great part of France while Ataulfus the Goth held Gallia Narbonensis and the Vandals Suevians and Alans Spain Against all these Enemies he made choice of Constantius a Noble Roman who besieged Constantine in Arles and drove him for fear to enter into Orders Yet this availed him not for he was put to Death Constantius designed next to turn his victorious Arms against Constans but understood that he was killed by Geronicus who rebelling had proclaimed Emperor a Friend of his own called Maximus This Geronicus passed over into France And hearing that Constantius having slain Constantine was coming upon him he returned into Spain and in Scorn was murder'd by the Roman Legions Maximus fearing the like Death fled and ended his Days in Misery In the mean time Honorius having by his General Constantius reduced France and Great Britain he employed him against Ataulfus King of the Goths The Goths enter Spain in Gallia Narbonensis The Goth hard pressed by the Way of Roussillon broke into Spain committing greater Outrages than the Alans Vandals Suevians or Silingi had done 418. After many Events which appertain not to our History the Goths came to Composition with Honorius But it was not so with the Alans who possessed the greatest part of Portugal and continued their Conquests treating the Vandals and Suevians not as their Fellows in Arms but as their Vassals This put all Spain into a Flame every one standing up for his Liberty as Attaces lifted up himself to Lord it over all That each Nation might be the more at leisure to follow their desperate Designs they all writ to the Emperor to this Effect Preserve the Peace Sir with us all Take Hostages from us all Let us fight for if we kill one another the Loss is our own and yours the Fruit of the Victory whoever has the better Your greatest Advantage is to see us all consumed The War was accordingly begun the Alans commencing it against the Vandals and Silingi Constantius came to thâ— War bringing with him Walia King of the Goths whose Residence was in Gatalonia And Attaces not able to withstand that Power fled into Portugal 7. The Victors pursued and Attaces giving them Battel was overthrown though joined by the Native Lusitanians Those that escaped out of the Battel fled some into Galicia to Gundericus others to Lisbon to the Suevians seeking the Protection of those they had before prosecuted as Enemies Thus they rested a while without any King But Constantius being called away to appease other Troubles in
Valour At last Ricciarius was utterly overthrown with the Slaughter of all the flower of the Suevians 2. Ricciarius after this rout fled to the Sea-side Ricciarius his end and Embarking thought to have got over into Africk to call the Vandals and Alans to his assistance but by a violent Storm was drove to the River of Porto Those People to gain the Favour of the Conqueror who was now subduing the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho secured and delivered him up to Theodoricus He Governed by Passion cut off his Head and in him perished the Glory of the Suevian Kingdom so that it never after rose to any Grandeur His Death was the more lamented for that he was a Prince zealous of the true Religion Accordingly in his life-time he assembled a National Synod at Aquae Celenae a Town in Galicia now called St. George of Codesâ—da here several Heresies were Condemned and particularly that of Priscilian The Victorious Theodoricus laid Siege to Braga which was soon Surrendred to him Here he left one Aliulfus Governour whilst he crossing the River Duero went on to conquer all that had been subject to the Suevian King all yielded to him without any opposition except the City Merida the Garrison and Inhabitants of which place were so hardy as to meet the Goths in the Feild which Theodoricus so highly resented that he promised to rase the City but the Virgin St. Eulalia is said to have appeared to him in a Dream and deterred him from putting his design in Execution 3. Theodoricus was upon his return to France Theodoricus having conquered Spain puts it under Governours when he had intelligence that Aliulfus whom he had made Governour of Braga had assumed the Title of King and raised a considerable Army to maintain it But giving Battle to Nepocianus Theodoricus his General lost his life From that time the Suevians remained subject to the Goths All things being thus quieted Theodoricus went away to France leaving Governours over all his Conquests The People considering the oppression they lay under by the ill Administration of these Governours and wanting the power to Revolt had recourse to the Bishops and Clergy praying them to intercede with Theodoricus that he would appoint a King over them whom they might obey and who yet might be subordinate to him The Bishops undertook the Business and Idacius Prelate of Lamego having proposed the matter of the Embassy to Theodoricus in France he tho' an Arrian respecting the Character of the Embassadors not only granted their request but allowed the People to choose a King among themselves to Govern them according to their Ancient Laws only paying some small acknowledgment to the Kings of the Goths Two Kings set up in Lusitania As soon as the Bishops returned to Braga joyning with the Laity they chose for their King one Masdra the Son of Masila This which was intended for the peace of the Country proved its greatest Confusion for some of the Nobility who were not present at the Election set up for their King one Franta who presently possessed himself of all the Lands along the Coast of Galicia with the Cities of Astorga Orense and Iria Flavia. Masdra held all Lusitania and was accounted King of the Suevians he thought by his submission and paying the Tribute to gain the favour of Theodoricus and obtain Aid against his Competitor But the Goth politickly thinking it better the Kingdom should be divided as being thereby the less capable of Rebelling against him accepted of the submission of them both for Franta had sent to pay his obedience with no less speed than the other 4. The Kingdom of the Suevians thus divided 457. fell into those Calamities which commonly attend States that depend between Competitors Two Years the Wars continued very furious during which time so many Towns about the Frontiers were subverted as might well have contented either party but at last both of them grown weary 460. gave over the strife Masdra who had the better Title died and left a Son called Remismundus his Successor he considering how little had been gained on either side by the War not only made Peace but entred into League with his Competitor Thus with their united Forces they conquered several parts of Lusitania which owned neither of them but either followed their own Captains or had again put themselves under the Roman Empire Thus done they both returned home satisfied having enlarged their Dominions which they would have wasted by waging War upon one another A prodigious Birth Two Years Franta enjoyed Peace at the end whereof he died leaving the Crown to his Brother Frumarius At this time hapned a Prodigy in the Territory of Braga which was the Birth of two Children each of them having two heads like one another and of two several Sexes Remismundus and Frumarius falling at variance about Precedency took up Arms by force whereof the latterâ—gained of the other the City Flavia now Chaves in which and all its Territory he spared not even the Stones all the Country was consumed with Fire and Sword Remismundus was satisfied with doing as much harm in his Enemies Country as he received in his own he took by open force the Cities of Orense and Lugo in which he exercised the utmost Efforts of his Fury 5. This Desolation continued for the space of two Years 464. when Death put a stop to it by taking away Frumarius The Suevian Kingdom again united under Remismundus and his subjects having left him for whom before they had forfeited their quiet submitted themselves to Remismundus who thus became absolute and sole King of the Suevians He presently thought of recovering all that remained of Lusitania and passing over the River Duero with his Army marched to the Ancient Coimbra now Condeixa which the Romans had Rebuilt and Fortified It was then a place impregnable and accordingly put a stop for a while to Remismundus but he persisting before it had it at last surrendred upon Honourable Conditions though contrary to his Faith given he broke the Conditions robbing the Garrison and rasing the City Lisbon made such a vigorous Defence that he began to despair of carrying it but a Citizen called Lusidius privately gave him Entrance into it so that he was within before the Townsmen could put themselves in order to oppose him Remismundus thus possessed of all those Dominions before divided fearing least Theodoricus the Goth might grow jealous of his great power sent him an account of his Victories with the best of the spoiles He Marries the Daughter of Theodoricus assuring him of the continuance of his Fidelity to the Gothish Kings Theodoricus overcome with this Generosity sent him his Daughter for Wife with a great Mass of Treasure under the charge of his Ambassador Salanus 6. This was an unhappy Match for Lusitania The Arian Heresie first spread in Lusitania for the Suevians being before true Sons of the
Catholick Church were now infected with the Arian Heresie taught them by one Ajax a Galatian whom the Queen being her self an Arian brought with her The love of the Queen and the perswasions of Ajax wrought upon the King so effectually that he not only gave his Subjects the Example of embracing that Heresie but persecuted those that continued firm in the Faith All the care of the Prelates for repressing of this current was fruitless for it spread it self during the space of 100 Years in which time the Catholicks suffered Oppression Banishment and cruel Deaths There is no further memory of the Actions of Remismundus after his Marriage till his Death nor much of his Successors Theodulus Varamundus Mirus Faramirus and others till Theodomirus during the 100 Years that the Arian Heresie continued 490. In the Year 490 some Fishes were taken in the River Minho which on their Scales had certain Characters expressing that same number of Years 497. Not long after came into Spain Euricus King of the Goths with a design to subdue all the Country and began with Lusitania where having made great havock he returned Victorious into France and died at Arles Amalaricus 530. Grandson to Theodoricus succeeded Euricus he being Married to Crosilda â—he Daughter of Clouis and Sister to â—â—hildebert Clotarius and Clodomirus Kings of France treated her ill because she was a Catholick he being an Arian She complained her Brothers by the means of Ausbertus Archbishop of Braga 531. Childebert hereupon came into Lusitania and having overthrown and slain his Brother-in-law returned into France laden with Booty and carrying away his Sister who died by the Way 7. In the Year 549 549. Agila was Proclaimed King of the Goths he being overthrown at Cordova retired into Lusitania There he raised new Forces to withstand Athanagildus a valiant ambitious Captain who being possessed of Sevil stiled himself King of Spain He was supported by Roman Forces under the Command of Patricius Liberius a General in esteem with the Emperor Justinian 554. Near to Sevil they came to a Battle wherein Agila was otherthrown and afterwards Murthered by his own Subjects at Merida 555. Athanagildus thus became Sovereign of all that part of the Kingdom of the Goths which lies between the Mouth of Tagus and Cape St. Vincent The greatest part of this Dominion was again recovered by the Romans notwithstanding that Athanagildus did all he could to oppose them till he died at Toledo in the Year 567. 567. In these times were famous for Piety and Learning Men famous for Learning the Bishops St. Julian of Evora Lucenius of Coimbra Aprigius of Beja Idacius of Lamego and Ausbertus of Braga a Fleming by Birth Also the famous Orosius born at Tarragona in Catalonia flourished at Braga The Prelates of Spain finding it not only convenient but necessary to consult with St. Augustin then Bishop of Hippo in Africk for the better settling and adjusting of matters of Religion then much perplexed with Doubts and Controversies Baleonius at that time Bishop of Braga made choice of Orosius to be sent to him with this Message The chief point given him in charge was about the means of extirpating the Heresies then spread about Spain St. Augustin having therein given his own Opinion ordered Oresius to pass over into the Holy Land there to take the advice also of the other Pillar of the Church St. Hierome who resided there at that time There Orosius found the Priest Avitus a Lusitanian who for the love he bore his Country sent by Orosius at his return some relicks of the Protomartyr St. Stephen whose body had been about that time miraculousâ—â—â—ound out This may be supposed to be the same that was held in Veneration at Ossel which Town some will have to be in the Territory of Beja and others of Bajadoz CHAP. IV. The Reigns of the Tributary Suevian Kings from the Year 560 till 585 when Lusitania was again subdued by Leovigildus the Goth. And the Government of the Gothish Kings till the Year 672. 1. WE are now come to the End of the 100 Years which Historians pass over without any considerable Mention of our Portuguese or Suevian Kings In Theodemirus 560. the Memory of our Princes is happily renewed Conversion of the Lusitanians from Arianism since through his Means most of the Subjects returned to the true Faith At the Beginning of his Reign he was an Arrian but miraculously converted He removed his Court to the City Braga where his Son being desperately sick and no Medicines availing he asked one Day which had been the Religion of St. Gregory of Tours this Saint being then famous for Miracles It was told him he had been a Catholick Immediately four Gentlemen were sent with as much Gold and Silver as the sick Person weighed besides other Gifts to offer at the Shrine with a Promise That if the Prince recovered he should embrace the Catholick Religion The Sickness hereupon decreased yet the Prince recovered not perfect Health Whereupon the King begged some Relick of the Saint promising to renounce his Heresie The Relick was refused the Ambassadors and they at Night spreading a thin Veil over the Sepulchre said They would reverence it as a Reliok if in the Morning its Weight were considerably increased Accordingly the next Morning they found it as heavy as if it had been made of some weighty Metal This Veil the Ambassadors brought with them and the same Day they landed the Prince perfectly recovered The King performed his Promise embracing the Faith and by his Example and the Preaching of another St. Martin who then came out of France according to some Authors or as others will have it out of Greece most of the People were converted Theodemirus had before erected a Church in Honour of St. Martin of Tours Of this Church he made the other Martin Abbot first and then Bishop whence he was preferred to the Archiepiscopal See of Braga 2. Two Years were spent in the Embassages and other pious Works of the King Several Synods for his Son's Health and all things being now in Peace he ordered Lucrecius Archbishop of Braga to assemble a Synod for the better regulating the Affairs of the Church 563. Eight Bishops being met they again condemned the Heresie of Priscilianus and took Order for the propagating of the Faith 569. Another Synod met after that at Lugo to appoint the Limits of every Diocess which were afterwards confirmed in the general Distribution made throughout Spain 570. by King Wamba Theodemirus dying the Crown came to his Son Ariamirus who with the Approbation of St. Martin now Archbishop of Braga ordered another Synod to meet in that City which was accordingly done two Years after 572. Twelve Prelates assembled there and one of the principal Matters handled was the fixing the due Time of Observing of Easter After settling the Affairs of the Faith the King raised
Braga not content that he had done 9 Months private Penance accused himself openly in the Synod of committing Incontinency wherefore he was deposed from his Dignity with extraordinary Horrour of all the Prelates who heard the Accusation though from the Mouth of one so penitent So rare was it then to see a Prelate guilty of any Crime So rare now to see them endued with any Vertue CHAP. V. The Succession of the other Gothish Kings in the Monarchy of Spain till Roderick the last of them from the Year of Grace 672 till 711. 1. NOw was the Monarchy of Spain in a dangerous Condition Theodofredus the Son of Recesuindus if there were any such for it is dubious being left so Young that he was wholly incapable of managing the Government the Nobility consulting what was to be done asked advice of the Pope who by Divine Revelation answered It was the Will of God that Wamba should be preferred to the Crown Wamba his strange advancâ—ment to the Crown He being a Man not known many went out in search of him and at last found him near Idanha then a famous City in Portugal he was then busie at Plow with a pair of Oxen. They told him what they came about and he taking it for Jest or believing it impossible answered That when the Goad he held in his hand Blossomed Wamba would be a King The Goad accordingly shooting out Flowers he was immediately carried away and Crown'd at Toledo At the time of Anointing his Head a Vapour like a Cloud was seen to rise from it and in the midst thereof a Bee which ascending into the Air at last vanished This is in short what some Authors relate as to the Election of Wamba Others wholly rejecting all that is miraculous therein say He was a Great Man at Court and others That he was Son to the late King Recesuindus and proclaimed the 3d. day after his Death so that there could not be time to repair to the Pope and the working of the Miracles These latter are the most suitable Opinions to Reason and there is nothing certain in these Antiquities every Man may believe as he pleases 2. Wamba howsoever it was being placed on the Throne His Wars in France and Spain the People of Navarre and other their Neighbours took up Arms to shake off the Gothish Yoak but the New King taking the Field against them soon quelled that Rebellion In the mean while the Count Hilpericus revolted in the City of Nismes which is in Gallia Narbonensis then subject to the Dominion of Spain which made Wamba raise new Forces against that Rebell and gave the Command of them to Paul a Valiant Grecian He being Master of the Field instead of punishing the Count rebelled himself and with him Ranosindus Governour of Tarragona and Hildigisius the Civil Magistrate By these he was Proclaimed King of Spain and Crowned at Narbonne with a rich Crown offered by the Holy King Recaredus at the shrine of St. Felix Martyr of Gironne Hilpericus the first Rebel and all Gallia Norbonensis joned with the others the same did Catalonia and Navarre Paul strengthned with the accession of so many Provinces had the boldness to send a Challange in most insolent Terms to King Wamba He at that time was in War with the People of Navarre and Biscay and having caused the Challenge to be Read in an Assembly of his chief Commanders tho' most of them advised to the contrary he resolved to march with speed against the rebellious Enemy none hesitated to follow the resolute Prince They entred Navarre which they entirely subdued in seven days and being come into Catalonia the King divided his victorious Army into three parts one took the way of Perpignan another that of Ausetania and the third kept along the Sea Coast The King himself stayed behind with certain choice bands to be ready to repair to the place where most Danger was He took Barcelona by Force and was peaceably received into Gironne for the Tyrant believing that Wamba would not have the Courage to come to meet him and that he should soon be there himself had sent to order Amador the Bishop That he should acknowledge as his Prince the first that came to the Walls Wamba being the first the Prelate did as he was ordered and the King said to him Paul has prophesied my coming hither Immediately he advanced to the Pyrenean Hills and at the foot of them took Colibre and other strong places 3. Whilst Wamba reduced the Rebels The Rebells in France subdued by him Paul retired to Nismes leaving all he had provided for his Defence behind him at Narbonne All that was not sufficient to secure that City to Witimerus whom he had left there as his Lieutenantâ— for Wamba to avoid the Effusion of Blood having offered him some good Terms and he obstinately refusing an Assault was given which lasted three hours at the end whereof the City was taken and in it Witimerus with others of his Associates The same hapned at Magalona Agate and other strong holds all taken by force and with much Slaughter Nismes held out longer despair fighting for Paul but at last it submitted to Wamba The French in the Town thinking they were betrayed by the Spaniards in hope of Pardon fell upon them and so they slaughtered one another whilst the Besiegers breaking in put them all indifferently to the Sword 673. Paul quitting the Royal Robes retired to an Amphitheater a strong Roman Work where he stayed two days the Victors only keeping Guard least he should escape thence The King coming to the City Argebatus Archbishop of Narbonne one of the followers of Paul came out to meet him in his Pontifical Robes and casting himself at his Feet begged Pardon for himself and all the rest This action somewhat appeaseth Wamba who Pardoned him and promised to moderate his anger towards the rest He entred the City in Triumph where Paul was brought Prisoner and fell down prostrate before him as others did their lives were granted but they were committed to custody till it were resolved what punishment to inflict upon them all the French were set free and the City ordered to be repaired It was voted that Paul and his Associates should have their Eyes put out their lives being before granted them but Wamba was content they should only remain perpetual Prisoners When he entred Toledo in Triumph they were all carried before him upon Camels and Paul in the midst of them barefooted with a Crown of black Leather on his Head instead of that of Gold he had aspired to all their Beards long and their Heads shaved Penalties usually inflicted on Traitors at that time and thus Peace was restored 4. After this he assembled a National Council 675. wherein the bounds of all the Bishopricks of Spain were determined The Africans invading Spain destroyed which continued in the same form till the Moores conquered Spain The same Year another
it must be in the Reign of Aurelius who governed from the Year 768 till 774 and then Mauregatus did not institute but only continued to pay it Whensoever it began certain it is it continued till the Year 788 which was the last of Mauregatus's Reign 788. He died without Issue and was buried at Pravia 2. Bermudo Bermudo advanced to the Throne overthrows the Moors then in Deacon's Orders Grandson to the Catholick Alonso being Son either to Wimaranus or Fruela his Brother was promoted to the Crown after Mauregatus The first Action of this King was very honourable for Abderramen King of Cordova sending to demand of him the Tribute of the Maids he not only refused to pay it but with a small Number encountring an Army of his of 60000 Men under the Command of Muza overthrew it and so recovered the Honour of Spain delivering it from that heavy Imposition Bermudo though a Deacon was married to Ousenda or Vsenda by whom he had Ramiro afterwards King and a Daughter named Christina He had also a Bastard-Son called D. Nunho Though the Action we have spoken of was great 793. his last was incomparably beyond it He resigns the Crown for he not only resigned the Crown but having Children of his own gave it up to D. Alonso Son to King Fruela from whom it had been wrongfully taken by Mauregatus 795. This done he took the Habit of a Monk in the Monastery of Sahagun where he died and was buried but afterwards translated to Oviedo 3. D. Alonso who was restored to the Crown by Bermudo Alonso the Chaste was born in the Year 758. Though married to the French Lady Berta he had no issue having lived continently with her and therefore he was called The Chaste a Name rare among Princes This Name of Alonso as it was fortunate to Spain in general so was it also to Lisbon in particular 798. for its Recovery Restauration and Defence His Conquests This King took it from the Moors killing a great Number of them in the Assault and in several Battels he fought to come to it Some Authors will have it that Charlemaigne came over out of France in Person to his Assistance Others deny his Personal Presence But all agree his Army was so great that the Infidels could never make Head against it The following Year 799. the King took the Cities of Viseo Lamego Coimbra Braga and other Places about Porto Omar King of Merida with a great Power laid Siege to Benavente but he and the greatest part of his Army were put to the Sword by Bernard del Carpio commanding the Forces of King Alonso In the mean while Aliatan by the Way of Estremadura enter'd Portugal putting all to Fire and Sword with such Success that he took Lisbon the 8th Year after it had been gained by King Alonso Many other Places submitted to the Barbarian and he left Alchama King of Badajoz or Beja to command there This Alchama afterwards making an Expedition out of his Province was killed by Bernard del Carpio 812. at the City Zamora Aliatan to revenge this Loss raised great Forces in Barbary which he divided into two Bodies whereof the one enter'd Castile the other Portugal making great Havock in both Places Both these Armies were cut in pieces one in which Alahaban commanded by the King near the River Cefa the other conducted by Melich by Bernard 813. in the Plain of Narnon Abdalla Governor of Valencia and Mahomet of Merida rebelled at once against King Aliatan He marched against Abdalla but whilst he was there engaged Mahomet joined in League with King Alonso whereby he became powerful enough to conquer a good part of Portugal and Estremadura Aliatan returning with a mighty Army overthrew the Rebel and possessed himself of all which he had conquered betwixt Merida and Lisbon Mahomet thus expelled his Dominion fled with such as would follow him to King Alonso submitting himself to him as his Vassal The King sent him with one Raymund to subdue certain places then in Rebellion in Gallicia they easily overcame the Mutiniers and the King ordered Mahomet to reside in those parts hoping to make his advantage of him against the King of Cordova 814. as he did for some time But Mahomet finding himself powerful thought to recover what he had lost and therefore privately conspiring with Raymond they both Rebelled usurping great part of Galicia The King hasted thither with a considerable Army Raymond presently submitted himself and was not only Pardoned but Married the King's Kinswoman Mahomet though he had then 60000 Men durst not give Battle in open Field but retired to the strong Castle of St. Christina two Leagues from Lugo There the King Besieged and Hunger forced him to come out and give Battle in which his Army was entirely routed and he Slain About this time was found the Sepulcher of St. James the Apostle and Patron of Spain which had been hid almost 800 Years it was discovered by Theodemirus Bishop of Iria King Alonso removed it to Compostela which he made a Bishoprick erecting there a Church capable of so great a Relick Thus Crowned with Victories and loaded with Years for he lived Eighty Five 843. and Reigned Fifty Two he died at Oviedo Tryal by Ordeal in use and lies Buried in the Church of St. Mary de Recasto his own Foundation At this time the old Gothish Law of trying People by Fire was in use in Portugal as appears by the Tryal of Elosinda accused of Adultery by her Husband Ariovigildus she after this manner clearing her self and he being Condemned to be Burnt as she should have been if Convicted Pope Honorius the III. abolished this Custom yet afterwards another worse started up which was that the Woman accused should assign a Champion to fight the Accuser and that party which had the Victory was held innocent 5. King Bermudo by an incomparable Act of Justice had taken the Crown from his own Children to give it to Alonso to whom of right it appertained and God to reward this rare Equity ordained that Alonso should live Chast King Ramiro his Actions and restore it to Ramiro the Son of the same Bermudo Scarce was he seated on the Throne when Count Nepocianus rebelled in Austurias and usurped the regal Title The New King with all the speed he could marched against him and having defeated and taken him Prisoner put out his Eyes and thrust him into a Monastery Soon after he overthrew the Normans who destroyed the Coast of Galicia and the English who had laid Siege to Lisbon Returning to the River Duero he vanquished Mahomet Cid Atauf Lord of the Fort and Town of Gaya and also Muley Achim of Agueda more to the Southward Zuleyma Ibon Muza the tributary King of Lamego and Tarif Iben Rages of Viseo were admitted to grace upon their submission Alhamar King of Coimbra boldly standing upon his Defence was
overthrown and all the Country reduced which done Ramiro leaving good Garrisons in his Conquests returned to Oviedo in his way he visited John the Abbot of the Monastery of Lorvan and bestowed Lands upon the Monastery The principal part of the Gift was the Town of Montemayor the Old a strong place the Garrison whereof the Abbot was obliged to maintain In this Town was one Garcia Yannez a foundling brought up by the Abbot and by him preferred for his Valour This Fellow envying the Honour of D. Bermudo the Abbot's Nephew and Governour of that Territory fled to Abderramen King of Cordova offering not only to renounce the Faith but also to put into his hands Montemayor and the other Conquests of King Ramiro 6. Whilst Garcia Yannez was with the Moorish King the Abbot and his Nephew Bermudo took the two Rebel Counts Alderedus whose Eyes he put out and Pinelus whom with his Seven Sons he put to Death as being more obstinate in their Crime Knowing that Rages of Viseo was joyning in League with other Moorish Commanders he assaulted his City and rased it to the Ground Sebastian Bishop of Salamanca with the Abbot's Consent afterwards repairing of it is said to have found there the Tomb of Roderick the last King of the Goths Garcia Yannez having renounced the Faith and calling himself Zulema had the Command of an Army given him to execute what he had proposed He entred Portugal committing greater Barbarites than the Infidels and laid Siege to Montemayor which was bravely defended by the Abbot and his Men. Hunger beginning to pinch they thought of an Expedient more to be wondered at than imitated which was that they slew all their Women and Children the Abbot beginning with his Sister and Nephews This done they sallied out upon the Enemy with such Fury that they soon put them to flight The Rebel Zulema was killed by the Abbot many of his Men were drowned in the River Mondego and most of them perished by several means so that few returned Home 76000 were destroyed and Night stopped the pursuit of the Victors Morning discovered the Fields covered not only with dead Carcasses but with plenty of rich Booty This was a small comfort to them that had imbrued their hands in the Blood of their Wives An incredible relation Children and Relations but some that had hasted to the Town after the Victory brought back the News that all those they had killed were miraculously restored to life and so all returned joyful with the Victory and Recovery of their Friends The Abbot stayed in the place where he obtained the Victory and there Built a small Hermitage and ended his days in Sanctity His Monks endeavoured it but could not remove his Body and our first King D. Alonso Enriquez Founded a Monastery in that place which was finished by his Son and Successor D. Sancho and given to the Cistercian Order This is what related to Portugal in the Reign of King Ramiro he obtained many other Victories particularly the memorable one called of Clavijo in which St. James the Apostle is said to have been seen fighting for the Christians and was thence called the Patron of Spain 850. The King Married Paterna whose extraction is not known he left the Crown to his Son Ordonno and died at Oviedo where he lies Buried 7. D. Ordono was no way inferior to his Father for Valour King Ordono Rebuilds many Towns and being at full Age when he died was very acceptable to all the States His first care was to repeople the Cities of Leon Astorga Tuy Amaya and others 855. almost left desolate in the late Invasions this done he obtained two notable Victories one over the rebellious Vascones and the other over Muza by extraction a Goth but turned Mahometan This Muza had possessed himself of the greatest part of Spain but was entirely defeated by our King in the Plains of Alvelda or Albayda 857. two Leagues from Logronno Many Moors upon this Defeat sent to Congratulate the Victor He is overthrown by the Moores and others stood to see the Consequences of it Mahomet King of Cordova alarmed at this success of the Christians drew mighty succours out of Africk and with a formidable Army began to conquer the Christian Territories Ordonno met him in Estremadura near the River Tagus and though he killed double the number that he lost was forced to leave the Victory to the Barbarian who recovered much of what the Christians had before taken He took Santarem Irena and Rotas then returning towards Cordova he took and Fortified many Towns betwixt the Rivers Guadiana and Tagus the next Year was not so favourable to him for the best part of his Fleet was cast away on the Coast of Galicia and his Army was overthrown on the Borders of Navarre 859. by the King thereof D. Inigo Ximenez Arista Irena is supposed to be the Town now called Leyria and Rotos Roda near Redina Many Christians at this time obtained the Crown of Martyrdom under the power of the Moors but especially at Cordova King Ordonno was Married to the Lady Munia by whom he had D. Alonso his Successor D. Bermudo D. Nunno Odvarius and Fruela whose Eyes the King their Brother caused to be put out for conspiring against him He had also a Daughter called Aragonta Wife to Sancho Abarca King of Navarre King Ordono was troubled with the Gout and died of it at Oviedo 863. having Reigned Twelve Years his Body was Buried in the Chappel of King Alonso the Chast 8. Authors do not agree upon the Age of King Alonso the III. King Alonso III. called the Great when he came to the Crown some say Nine some Fourteen and some Seventeen Years The most is too little for the great Actions performed by him immediately after his Accession to the Crown his Valour and other Vertues purchased him the Sir-name of the Great only attributed to him among all the Kings of Castile and Leon. Fruela Bermudez a great Man in Galicia rebelled and came down so suddenly to Oviedo that the young King was forced to fly to Alava where haing gathered his Forces the Rebels put to death their Leader and submitted themselves to him Then he repaired the Cities of Oviedo and Leon and built many Castles In the mean while Count Eylon rebelled in Alava but was oppressed by the King's Celerity During this time he was at peace with the Infidels Mahomet King of Cordova and Lot or Lope the Son of Muza King of Toledo being at War among themselves They two being agreed the King of Cordova sent Albucazen and Alemandarin his Generals the one into Biscay the other into Galicia where they made great havock the People flying before them from the Plains to the Mountains But King Alonso marched with such expedition that he oppressed them both before they thought he had been moving towards them this success produced Peace which he employed in rebuilding ruined
places among which were Braga Porto Chaves and Viseo all in Portugal The King of Cordova coming down suddenly with an Army took Viseo first and then Salamanca and so returned to Cordova refusing to give our King Battel who thereupon wasted all the Country of Toledo Then turning into Portugal he retook Viseo and had Coimbra yielded to him 9. It appears by a Grant of his to Sisenandus Bishop of Compostela that the Territories betwixt Duero and Minho and that called Tras os Montes or Beyond the Mountains were Desart from the first coming of the Moors till his time when he Peopled and made them fit to with stand the Enemy At this sametime the King continued the Structure of the stately Church of St. James the Apostle The Church of St. James the Apostle in Galicia Dedicated Seventeen Bishops were present at the Dedication of it above half of them were Portuguese Next by Order of Pope John the VIII the King held a National Council at Oviedo to provide for the Bishops that were Expelled from their Diocesses and erect the Bishoprick of Oviedo into an Archbishoprick after which the King again applied himself to Peopling of the Country 903. and was come as far as the River Tagus when he understood his own Sons conspired to depose him being encouraged by their Mother and some of the Nobility He voluntarily performed what they intended to extort from him The Christian Dominions divided betwixt the two Sons of King Alonso to D. Garcia he gave Oviedo Leon and Castile to D. Ordono Gallicia and Portugal Having resigned his Kingdoms he went in Pilgrimage to Santiago and at his return asked of his Son Garcia some Forces to make an incursion into the Moorish Territories which he performed successfully He entred into League with the Kings of France and Navarre to the latter he gave his Sister Vrraca in Marriage and married himself Ximena Daughter either of France or of D. Ynigo Ximenez Arista of Navarre His Sons were Garcia Fruela Ordonno Ramiro and Gonzalo who was Archdeacon of Oviedo He Reigned 48 Years died at Zamora 914 and was Buried at Astorga where his Tomb is still to be seen tho' the Body was translated to the Chappel of King Alonso the Chast in Oviedo where also lies his Wife Ximena 10. D. Garcia having wrested the Scepter out of his Father's hand Garcia has for his part Galicia and the North of Portugal enjoyed it but three Years Tho' he got the Crown by unlawful means he Governed well overcame Ayola Lord of Talavera and is said to have obtained other Victories he died at Zamora was Buried at Recasto of Oviedo and had been Married to the Lady Nunna His Brother Ordonno Succeeds him Daughter to the Count D. Nunno Fernandez de Amaya but left no-Issue His Brother Ordonno in his time Governed so much to the satisfaction of the People that after his Death he was unanimously allowed his Heir He had not only preserved the Conquests on this side Tagus but passing that River took the City Beja putting all the Inhabitants to the Sword which so terrified the Neighbouring People that they abandoned the Towns before he came near them Having received his Brother's Kingdom after some other exploits he returned into Lusitania and wasted all the Country along the River Guadiana Among other places he took the Castle called Alhaje where all the Treasure of the Moorish Kings lay as in a place inpregnable whereby he so humbled all the Infidels throughout Estremadura and as far as Algarve that they submitted themselves as tributaries to him after which he returned to Leon. No sooner was he gone but they encouraged by Abderramen King of Cordova revolted but King Ordonno speedily returning and ravaging the Country they as soon submitted themselves begging Pardon The chief of these were the People of Merida Badajoz and the Territories adjacent then so fruitful and plentiful of all things that thence came the name of Badajoz He twice overthrows the Moors being a corruption of Beled Aiz two Arabick words signifying The Land of Life King Ordonno hearing that Abderramen was marching towards him advanced to meet him and in a Battle near Talavera slew 25000 of his Men. This done he returned to Leon and applied the spoiles of the War to Building the great Church there Mean while Abderramen having drawn vast supplies out of Africk laid Siege to Santistevan de Gormaz but the King surprising him in the Night forced him with great Slaughter to fly back to Cordova Still the Moore recruits his broken Army and having wasted all the Country sits-down before the City Porto which was bravely defended by Count Hermenegildus Our King came to his relief and made a great Slaughter among the Besiegers 920. yet so that he was not assured of the Victory till the next day he found the Enemy had quitted the Field leaving their Tents Baggage and warlike Engines behind them Having obtained this Victory the King returned to Leon. 11. Early the next Year 921. Ambassadors came to Ordonno from the King of Navarre Ordonno vanquished by the Infidels recovers and spoiles their Country to crave aid against a great power of the Infidels He thought not enough to send but went himself in Person and Fortune here forsaking him was overthrown near Valdejunquera many Captives were taken by the Infidels among whom were the Bishops of Salamanca and Tuy and the Kings themselves escaped narrowly Our King grieved at this loss the following Year broke into the Moorish Territories driving all before him even to the Walls of the City Cordova which it was feared he would Besiege Having struck an universal Terror into his Enemies he returned to Zamora He had a Daughter called Ximena who falling in Love with a Courtier ran away with him carrying all her Jewels along with her and he left her on a Mountain having fulfilled his desires She travelled on and took up with a Farmer as his Servant from which he raised her to be his Wife The King long after Hunting that way lost himself and fell into this Cottage where he was entertained his Daughter making a sort of Puff-past she knew he loved and putting a Ring well known to him into it the Ring caused him to suspect somewhat and examining the matter he found that was his Daughter whom he forgave and preferred her Husband whose Name was Tello and the place of his aboad called Meneses Hence some will have the Family of Meneses to proceed others Write that this passage hapned to the Lady Teresa Sanchez bastard Daughter to King Sancho the First and Wife to D. Alonso Tellez de Meneses whom they esteem the Progenitor of this Family King Ordonno had three Wives the first Elvira whose Parentage is unknown by her he had D. Sancho D. Alonso D. Ramiro D. Garcia and D. Ximena The second was Aragonta of Galicia whom he is said to have put away suspecting she knew of the
before being only Governor at certain Times he used to follow and serve King Alonso in his Wars This King Alonso was born in Galicia in the Year 1035 was married the first time in 1076 died at Toledo in 1108 having reigned 35 Years and lived 73. His Body lies in the Monastery of Sahagun with that of his Son Prince Sancho There also lie four of his Wives Agnes Constance Beatrix and Zayda the other two Elizabeth and Berta in the Church of St. Isidorus at Leon. Now we shall be almost 500 Years without returning to Castile for now begins to bud the Tree of the most August Kings of Portugal a Tree which has shaded much of the World The End of the Second BOOK THE HISTORY OF PORTUGAL The Third BOOK CHAP. I. The Country Extraction Life and Death of Henry first Earl of Portugal and progenitor of all the Kings thereof Opinions concerning Henry the Progenitor of the Portuguese Kings from the Year 1067 till 1112. 1. HEnry the first Founder of the Portuguese Monarchy is by all Men allowed to have been of noble Extraction but others very much differ both as to his Country and Family As to his Family the Bishops D. Roderick Sanchez and D. Alonso de Cartagena say he was of the House of Lorrain but do not name his Parents Duarte Galvan our Antient Chronologer affirms He was second Son to a King of Hungary which Opinion the famous Poet Camoens in his Lusiads follows Damianus de Goes in the life of King Emanuel says he was Son to William Baron of Joinville and Duke of Lorrain and Abida of Champagne James de Valera and Antony Beuter bring him from Constantinople grounding their Opinion upon the History of Spain writ by King Alonso mistaking a Quotation of the Archbishop D. Roderick who Writes that he was of the Bisontine Province meaning Besancon the Capital of the Dukedom of Burgundy which they take for Bisantium or Constantinople Wolfangus Lazius writes he was of Limburg Duarte Nunnez de Leon endeavours to prove he was Grandson to Reginald Earl of Burgundy by his Son Guido Earl of Verneuille in Normandy Lewis Gollut in his History of that Earldom says he was Brother to Raimund both Sons to Earl William All these doubts are cleared by the Antient Manuscript of Fleury which being a fragment of French History was writ in the time of our Count Henry for the Author of it brings himself as an Eye Witness of the three Suns that were seen at the Town of Scyrs on the Banks of the River Garonne in the Year 1108. It was writ by a famous Benedictin Monk of that Convent and reaches from the Year 897 till the Year 1110. Petrus Piteus a learned Man published it with other like Manuscripts and it was Printed at Francfort in the Year 1596. By this Antient Manuscript it appears that Robert the first Duke of Burgundy younger Brother to King Henry I. of France had by his Wife Hermengarda one onely Son called Henry who died before his Father leaving five Sons by his Wife Sibila Daughter to Reginald Earl of Burgundy These were Hugo who was heir to his Grandfather but being left a Widdower without Children became a Monk of Cluni and so died in the Year 1092. Eudo or Odoa who succeeded his Elder Brother Robert Bishop of Langres Henry our Earl and Reginald an Abbot many other Authors too long to insert have hinted that he was of the House of Burgungy tho' perhaps none specified it so particularly His Family once allowed to be that of Burgundy it will need no further proofs to shew his Country besides that it is more likely he should come out of France which joyns with Spain than from Hungary or Constantinople so remote It is also a sufficient proof of his Country that all his followers were French which could not have been were he a stranger to them 2. The Portuguese strive to clear two points for their Honour A remark upon some Conceits of the Portuguese Authors in which there is great difficulty or rather an imposibility for that all arguments are against them the one is to make out that the Sovereignty of Portugal was granted to Count Henry without any acknowledgment to Castile the other that Teresa was lawful Daughter to King Alonso The Arguments for the first are That no Records are to be found in Castile or Leon to prove the Title to such acknowledgment and that their King Alonso the first was anointed King by Christ himself and therefore owed his Crown to him These proofs are meerly Suppositious for as to the first whether such Record remains or not it is not credible that a King would alienate a Kingdom to a Bastard Daughter so as to reserve no Sovereignty to himself nor if he had is it in the power of a Prince to give away the right of a Legitimate Successor to one Illegitimate The second instance about Christ giving a right to the Crown seems so extravagant a Notion that as it carries no proof it needs no Confutation The other point insisted upon is the Legitimacy of Teresa the Counts Wife but that has been spoke of already no Author of Note has named her otherwise than an unlawfully begotten and the computation of the time her Father was married to and lived with his six Wives makes it impossible to allow of a Seventh There is another doubt about Earl Henry's going to the Holy Land which some Pertuguese Authors insist upon without any sufficient Grounds or rather without any probability but whether he did or not is not easy to decide nor worth the discussing let us go on to his Life or rather to the small fragments that remain of it as of all other things before his time but we begin now by degrees to come into days of more light 3. By what has been said Count Henry of Burgundy it appears that Earl Henry was a Burgundian the Son of Henry Son to Robert the first Duke of that Country and Hermengarda Daughter to Count Reinald of Burgundy There he was Born in the Year 1035. being descended by the Fathers side of the Royal Family of Hugh Capet and by his Mother from the Earls of Burgundy The cause that moved Henry to pass over into Spain was the desire of Glory to be purchased in the continual Wars betwixt the Christians and the Moors Authors do not agree about the time of his coming but it appears by Ancient Records that he Governed Portugal in the Year 1073 His coming into Portugal so that he must have been in Castile when King Ferdinand died and when the fame of Roderick de Bivar's exploits 1067. incited strangers to come from Foreign Parts to imitate his Actions Roderick was then near Fifty Years of Age and Henry about Forty The Author of the Manuscript above mentioned says That succours were sent out of France to King Alonso at his request to King Philip I. being then pressed with the War
enacted by him He was the first that instituted general Laws in the first Year of his Reign holding a Parliament for that purpose at Coimbra In these Laws great regard was had to the Church-Men the prices of all things necessary for the support of life were settled so that the meanest might buy as cheap as the greatest the Extortions of publick Ministers were retrenched Plaintiffs if cast were ordered to pay a Fine Sentence of Death passed by him was appointed not to be Executed till 20 days after to prevent the Effects of Passion This King used extraordinary severity towards the Church-men 1221. for which being reproved by Stephen Suarez de Silva Archbishop of Braga instead of amending he set Officers to destroy all the Possessions of that See He persisted so obstinately in this fury that Honorius the third wrote a Letter to him full of most severe Expressions calling him Tyrant In fine the King died before he was reconciled to the Clergy His Death or his own Sisters the Kingdom at that time lying under an interdict He lived 48 Years and Reigned 21 His Body lies Buried with the Queen his Wife in the Royal Monastery of Alcobaca in a plain Tomb without any Epitaph or Inscription as were all the first Kings of this Nation Of Body he was extraordinary gross and therefore called the Fat yet his Gigantick Stature carried it off his Countenance was Comly his Forehead High 1223. his Eyes Chearful and his Hair Yellow which he always wore long 5. King Alonso Married Vrraca His Wife and Issue the Daughter of Alonso VIII of Castile called the Noble and Good a most vertuous and beautiful Princess His Issue by her was Sancho who succeeded in the Throne Alonso Earl of Bolen in right of his Wife Maud whence he was called to Govern the Kingdom by reason of the insufficiency of his Brother whom he succeeded Ferdinand called de Serpa married to Sancha Fernandez Daughter to Ferdinand Earl of Lara Lastly Elenor who was Queen of Dacia The King had one Bastard Son called John Alonso of whom there is no other memory but that he lies Buried in the Church of Alcobaca Tho' it be said before at the end of the last King's Reign that then the orders of St. Dominick St. Francis the Blessed Trinity and the Carmelites came into Portugal our Author repeats it again in the Reign of this King which is the most likely CHAP. VI. The Life and Reign of King Sancho II. he is deposed by his Brother flies to Toledo and there ends his days all betwixt the Years 1207 and 1246. 1. SAncho II. of the Name 1203. and Fourth King of Portugal Sancho II. ascends the Throne Eldest Son to King Alonso was Born on the Eighth of September at Coimbra He was called Capelo because being sickly in his Child-hood his Mother confiding to obtain his Health through the intercession of the Holy Father St. Augustin caused him to wear that Habit. His Weakness rather than want of Years must be the cause that he appeared not in any Military Action with his Father for we have no account of him till he ascended the Throne which was about the 20th 1223. or 21st Year of his Age. His first Action was a Reconciliation with the Clergy who had suffered much under his Father but he soon followed his Example After this agreement with the Church the Ecclesiastical Censures were taken off and those who died during the interdict were now Buried in hallowed Ground The controversies also between the late King and his Sisters ceased they now swearing fealty to the King for the places they possessed His next care was to visit his Kingdom which he did taking a Progress through it leasurely doing justice to all Men and giving prudent Orders in all places Then laying aside for a while the Civil Affairs he applied him to the Military making several incursions upon the Moors whence he returned with Honour Our King and Ferdinand of Castile met at Sabugal to adjust certain Differences which they amicably put an end to King Ferdinand delivering up the Town of Chaves which had been engaged to him 2. Still the Arabs ranged about the territory of Elvas He entirely defeats the Moors at Elvas wasting the Country and destroying the Villages King Sancho assembling his Forces soon drove them thence but no sooner was his back turned then they came again laid Siege to Elvas and carried it by Assault Our King returning with speed utterly discomfitted those Barbarians so that they never again attempted any thing there Nor did he desist till he had Juremenha 1226. Serpa and other Castles which had often been gained and again fallen into the Enemies hands For four Years there was nothing of Action but in the Year 1230 1230. he made War on the Moors in the Province of Alentejo The following year he advanced into Algarve to recover what his Grand-father had conquered there and was now again fallen into the hands of the Infidels 1232. Some places he re-took consecrated the Churches and placed therein Evangelical Pastors 1235. After this by his Commanders the chief whereof was Payo Perez Correa he took Aljustrel which he gave to the Military Order of Santiago 1239. then the Towns of Mergola and Alfajar de Penna which also he bestowed on the same Order Of late Years the insolencies of Favourites were grown insupportable they abusing the King and their Kindred and friends them Common complaints when subjects will rebell The Subjects were treated worse than conquered Moors their Persons Imprisoned their Estates Wasted their Children Murdered unless redeemed for Money and their Wives and Daughters openly Ravished Nor was the Sanctuary of the Church any refuge for even in those Holy Places all Villanies were committed The King knew nothing but what his Favourites told him and it was their study to keep him in ignorance and hence proceeded the ruin of this unhappy Prince 3. In the Year 1240. Cacela and Ayamonte were taken by Assault 1240. in which Actions D. Payo Perez Correa particularly signalized himself Complaints made to the Pope and all things adjusted wherefore the King gave those places to the Military Order of Santiago whereof he was Commendary During this current of Affairs the King was highly commended and received Spiritual Favours from Pope Gregory IX The Spiritual Graces were for such as died in the War and for the King himself who lay under Ecclesiastical Censures for having proceeded unjustly against Peter Bishop of Porto who carried his complaints to Rome Besides he seized the Ecclesiastical revenues on pretence of urgent necessities and of punishing Clergy Men who kept Women in their Houses Silvester Archbishop of Braga had hereupon made application to the Pope who therefore wrote to the King and recommended the charge of reducing him to certain Bishops But he prevented them by submitting himself and so all differences were adjusted The King
considering the great merit of D. Payo Correa before spoken of made him General for the conquest of Algarve He acted therein with the success that was hoped of his conduct taking several strong holds among which were Estombar and Alvor Garcia Rodrigues who had travelled that Country as a Merchant was his principal Guide having forsaken the pursuit after Riches to purchase Honour with his Sword Paderne was also taken but cost dear the success remaining a long time dubious The Enemy having proposed a Cessation of Arms it was granted because our forces fatigued with so many expeditions required some time of refreshment During this Truce the Commendary Peter Perez with five Gentlemen went out to hunt in the Mountains of the Village of Antas In their passage by Tavira a City belonging to the Moors they were set upon by a greater number of Infidels Garcia Rodriguez the Merchant above mentioned passing that way hasted to their succour and after a brave resistance they were all killed upon the place D. Payo Correa could not come time enough to save their lives though upon the first advice of the accident he hasted thither Seeing his Friends could not be saved he fell upon the Enemy for revenge and they flying to the City he entred it together with them and though he met with a vigorous resistance made himself Master of it King Sancho hearing of the taking of Tavira gave it to the Knights of Santiago 4. The conquest of Silves only was wanting to compleat our General 's Glory Silves again recovered His Policy and Celerity brought it about the Enemy offering him a favourable opportunity The Inhabitants of that place went out to assist King Aben Afan at the Siege of Estombar D. Payo instead of relieving the Besieged attacked Silves then forsaken of its Defendants and easily made himself Master of it The Moorish King hasting to succour the City came late for his design but in time for D. Payo who rushing out of the City put him to flight so precipitately that he was drowned on the Coast which in memory of him is to this day called the Sea of Abenafan Thus all Algarve was brought under the power of King Sancho The Pope about this time having invited all Christian Princes to joyn their Forces against the Tartars 1244. King Sancho provided a Gallant Army for that Expedition but all his Preparations were disappointed for he went not as he had designed Roderick Sanchez Son to King Sancho I. having been long at variance with Giles de Soverosa a powerful Man in those days they met with armed Troops near the City Porto and after a sharp Engagement the dispute ended with the life of Roderick Sanchez who was there slain In this Encounter Roderick Fafes a Man of Note having lost his Horse asked Gonzalo Rodriguez de Abreu to give him his he gave it upon condition the other should give him his Daughter Mencia in Marriage which according to promise Fafes afterwards performed 5. The King continued to bestow liberally most rich Possessions on the Church The subjects ripe for rebellion tho' the King was blameless His goodly Actions deserved no less love of his Subjects than any of his Predecessors but it is not always Merit that gains esteem among Men. Envy towards his Favourites produced Malice against him nor was the fault in his Government or in choosing such Ministers but that all who aspired to it could not be Favourites There never is wanting a pretence to subjects disposed to rebell The King easing himself on his Favourites the Portuguese gave out he was uncapable to Govern and therefore proposed to erect a Lieutenant to manage affairs for him and made application to the Pope hereupon having fixed upon the King's Brother Alonso to fill that place and succeed him It was want of Loyalty in them and not of capacity in him that produced this Resolution One objection raised against King Sancho by his Enemies They cavil at all his Actions was That he had married a Wife below his Quality and was too fond of her Weak motives to a Rebellion especially considering his Queen was the Daughter of D. Lope Diaz de Haro Lord of Biscay and of Vrraca bastard Daughter to Alonso IX King of Leon so that she was equal to him either as being both the Off-spring of the same King's Bastards or as to grandeur her Father wanting nothing but the usurped Title of King to make him as great as he of Portugal It is true the Queen favouring those who had been instrumental in advancing her to the Crown hid some miscarriages from the King which gave occasion to the multitude to commit several insolencies and the King not punishing them whilst he could had not afterwards the power to do it when he would Some would have it that the Queen had given her Husband a Potion the more to secure his love to her and to divert him wholly from the care of the Government 6. The tumultuous Cryes of the People not prevailing The Clergy joins in the Rebellion with the Laity the Clergy took upon them to espouse their Quarel and had recourse to Pope Gregory IX who thundered out Ecclesiastical Censures against the King on account of his being Married to Queen Mencia who was his Kinswoman within the prohibited degree The King making no account of the Spiritual Weapons the People mutinied being headed by Raymund Viegas Portocarreo a Man of quality The Rebels seize the Queen and breaking into the Palace at Coimbra took away the Queen and put her into the Castle of Ourem This exasperated the King to that height that gathering what force he could he endeavoured to recover her but all in vain for the Rebels conveyed her into Castile The King betrayed by all his Ministers Now it plainly appeared that King Sancho was rather Unfortunate than unfit to Govern for even the Ambassadors he employed abroad betrayed him He sent John Egas Archbishop of Braga and Peter and Tiburicus Bishops of Porto and Coimbra to Rome and they forgetting they were sent by their Prince became Sollicitors for the Rebels who held correspondence there Hereupon a Council was held at Lions in France assembled by Pope Innocent IV. and King Sancho having sent thither his Ambassadors Ruy Gomez de Briteiros Gomez Viegas Peter Alonso a Franciscan and Dominick de Braga a Dominican they joyned with the mutinous Prelates Alonso Brother to King Sancho made Vicar of the Kingdom by the Rebels and thereupon Count Alonso Brother to King Sancho then Married in France to Maud Countess of Bolen was at Paris Sworn Vicar of the Kingdom and as such confirmed by the Pope yet so that King Sancho should still retain the Title and Preheminence of King and his Sons if he had any should inherit This new Substitute brought more harm than good to the Kingdom for his followers treated him as a King and he assumed that respect which did not belong to him
the Host in the end of her Head-cloaths and going home the Blood trickled down and she not observing it was told of it by those that met her Being come home she locked the Bloody Hood with the Host in a Closet In the dead of the Night her Husband awaking saw a great light upon the Chest and calling upon his Wife asked whether she saw it not She then declared the truth to him and he rising ran to the Parish Church and to the Dominicans The Friers still preserve the White Hood or Vaile bloody in a Glass Case the Parish keeps the Host and Blood gathered on a Ball of Wax Some Years after the Prior of that Church which is Dedicated to St. Stephen going to show that Relick to the People found it shut up in a Cristalline Pyramidal Case with a hole so small that neither the Host nor Ball could be put in unless it were miraculously The Ball is still to be seen round with drops of Blood on it the Host is bent and Bloody Many Persons of Credit have affirmed That they have there seen our Saviour in several Postures of his Passion Another Miracle is Recorded of a Christian who was slave to a Moor and daily recommended himself to St. Dominick of Sovereira His Master every Night loaded him with Irons and laid him in a Chest upon which he made his own Bed One Night this Chest with the slave in it and the Master upon it was brought to the Door of the Chappel of that Saint in the Town of Penamacor This Miracle so wrought upon the Moor that he imbraced the Faith and the Slave and he lived there as Hermits all the residue of their lives The Chest and Chains are still kept in that little Church 8. No sooner was the King seated on the Throne Alonso resumes his former gifts and opposes the Clergy but he made it appear that what he had before bountifully bestowed was only to secure himself and not to reward those that promoted him He took from the Military Orders what he had before given them neither did he make account of what he swore at Paris in order to be Regent for his Brother 1268. for he so treated the Clergy that several of them had recourse to Rome for Redress of which were the Bishops of Braga Coimbra Guarda Porto and Viseo Pope Clement the Fourth and after him Gregory the Tenth 1272. reproved his oppressing the Clergy and forbidding the Jews and Moors under severe Penalties not to turn Christians The King at first shunned the Pope's Commissioners but when he could no longer do so appointed to hear them before the Cortes or Parliament summoned to meet at Santarem where he shewed some disposition to obey them though at the same time he designed nothing less The Pope offended at his proceedings 1274. issued out Bulls containing the highest Censures and in case the King was not reclaimed within three Months absolving his Subjects from their Allegiance The King continued obstinate and the Nuncio went away leaving him Excommunicated 1175. and the Kingdom under an interdict The Pope died and the King no way relented 1276. Pope John the 20th or 21st Born at Lisbon was promoted to St. Peter's Chair He sent a Spaniard his Nuncio to perswade the King by fair means to comply The Nuncio accompanied by Dominican and Franciscan Fryars of which latter order he was attended the King and found him as obdurate as ever 1277. Sickness made the King begin to relent and Death surmounted all difficulties At his Death the King ordered his Son to perform all he had refused to do 9. During this King's Reign certain devout Women went from Evora to Rome to obtain of the Pope the confirmation of a Monastery of Bernardin Nuns in that City A battle betwixt private Men and their forces There wanted not Civil Broils among the Subjects for Peter Estevas de Tavares and Ferdinand Alonso de Cambra fought a Battle in the Plain of Gouvea in which much Blood was shed and many Persons of note killed the latter obtained the Victory The Holy Laurence Mendez a Dominican of the Province betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho walking in a Field an Angel appeared to him and gave him a small Box which he said contained many Relicks brought from a City then fallen into the hands of Infidels Which Relicks are still preserved in the Monastery of Guimaraens where the said Laurence placed them 10. King Alonso was of such extraordinary Stature King Alonso described that all Men admired when King Sebastian caused his Tomb to be opened His Countenance was Majestick his Eyes little but Sparkling his Hair black his Complexion fair He died at Lisbon on the 20th of March 1279. 1279. being 64 Years of Age His Death and having Reigned and Governed 34. Ten Years after his Death King Denis his Son translated him to the Monastery of Alcobaza near to his Father and opposite to his second Wife Queen Beatrix whose Tomb being afterwards opened she appeared as Beautiful as if she had been a live His Issue His Issue by the first Wife most Authors agree he had two Sons as they do in calling the second Robert who they say succeeded his Mother in the Country of Bologne About the Elder they vary some calling him Ferdinand others Peter and lastly others say he is the same with Alonso Denis counted among the illegitimate By his second Wife he had Denis who succeeded in the Throne Secondly D. Alonso Lord of Portalegre who lies buried in the Monastery of St. Dominick at Lisbon Thirdly Sancha Fourthly Mary Fifthly Vincent who died young Sixthly Ferdinand who died also in his Infancy all these Buried at Alcobaza Seventhly Blanch Abbess of Lorvan first and then of Huelgas at Burgos Eighthly Constance Buried at Alcobaza Illegimate he had Ferdinand a Knight Templar Giles Alonso Alonso Denis Martin Alonso gotten on the Governour of Faro's Daughter as was said before Ellenor Alonso Vrraca Alonso Elenor for whom her Father built the Monastery of St. Clare at Santarem where she was famous for Sanctity and Roderick Alonso who died Young 11. The Arms of the Kingdom of Algarve His Arms. given by this King were Sanguine Semee of Castles Or. Over these he placed the Arms of Portugal so that the Castles of the former made an Orbe to the latter He also made an alteration in the number of Bezants in each Escutcheon of the Portuguese Arms leaving but Eleven in each whereas before there were Thirteen He was the first that stiled himself King of Portugal and Algarve Men famous in his time Men famous for Sanctity in his time were St. Gonzalo St. Laurence Mendez and St. Giles all three Dominicans at least the two latter without dispute Also St. Walter of the Order of S. Francis Pope John the 21st famous for his Learning and Dignity was Born at Lisbon Many Men were famous for Military Exploits the
heavier on the Knights Templars To this purpose at the instigation of the King those Knights were charged with most heinous Crimes and their great Master with Sixty Knights were publickly burnt at Paris to the astonishment of all the World The Pope had sent Orders to all Parts that these Knights should every where be apprehended on the same Day but the Kings of Castile Aragon and Portugal obeyed not esteeming the merits of that Noble Order above the unjust Commands of a Byassed Pope Yet after much Debate the Order was wholly suppressed their greatest Crime being their Riches which nevertheless in Spain were for the most part bestowed on the Knights Hospitallers of St. John now called the Knights of Malta But King Denis begged of the Pope that the Revenues of the Knights Templars in Portugal might be given to a new Order of Knighthood he then instituted to serve against the bordering Moors His suit being granted this Year 1310. was erected the Order of Knights of our Saviour Jesus Christ 131◠the King besides the possessions of the Templars bestowing on it several Towns and Churches that were in his gift This from time to time has been so increased that at present the Order enjoys a Revenue of about 500000 Duccats divided into 500 Commendaries to Encourage Gentlemen with this reward to the Conquest of Africk At present those thoughts are quite laid aside and those Revenues are almost become Hereditary Many of the Knights Templars being found innocent were admitted to this New Order and a Master of it created At first these Knights were obliged not to Marry but that vow was abolished in the time of King Emanuel by Pope Alexander VI. 9. King Denis King Denis at 〈◊〉 with his Son in his latter Days had much Contention with his Son Prince Alonso This Prince took for the occasion of his Disgust the great Favour that Duke Alonso Sanchez and Count John Alonso the King's Bastard Sons were in with him Having drawn Peter another Bastard Brother to his Party the Prince presumed to ask of the King to resign to him the Power of the Administration of Justice Being justly denied so unreasonable a Demand he drew over his Mother-in-Law Queen Mary to assist him towards obtaining his desires by Force to which purpose she asked leave of his Father for him to come to her into Castile and being refused the Prince went to her to Cuidad Rodrigo against his Fathers Consent Being returned to Portugal the Queen sent to demand of the King what he had before refused to his Son and now again denied to her This Project failing the Prince contrived by his Servants an Information to be drawn as if left by a Man that died at Magaula containing a Design of the Elder Bastard the King 's chiefest Favourite to Poyson the Prince A Copy of the false Information he sent to the King who having examined the matter found it was a piece of Forgery Being again disappointed he perswaded some of his Followers to Murder Alonso Sanchez saying his Father negotiated with the Pope to exclude him the lawful Heir and leave the Crown to a Bastard but he in this did not succeed neither All these practices failing the Prince betook himself to open Hostility robbing the King 's Loyal Subjects ravishing Women sacrilegiously ransacking Monasteries killing Giraldus Bishop of Evora and committing many other Enormities without the reach of Justice as acted under the Heir of the Crown The Prince proceeds in his Disobedience 10. The King advertised Pope John XX. of his Son's Disobedience and he dispatched his Bulls admonishing him to desist from force and submit to his Father but all to no effect For he gathering a number of Criminals and Out-laws pretended to go in Pilgrimage to the Church of St. Vincent without Lisbon designing to surprize that City The King having timely Advice of it hasted thither to prevent him and the Queen after him to Mediate betwixt the Father and the Son The Prince thus prevented turned away towards Sintra and his Father after him Both Bodies stood as if they designed to give Battle but on a sudden the Son marched off and tho' the King might have overtaken him he persued not Being come to Coimbra the Prince sent away his Princess to Alcanizes in Castile and then gave out that his Father intended to kill him After disabusing the World of the falsehood of that Report his Father declared all such as should adhere to the Son Traitors and knowing that the Inhabitants of Leyria had entertained him he hasted thither where Nine of the chief as Rebels had their Hands and Feet cut off and were afterwards burnt The Prince went away to Santarem and flying thence before his Angry Father possessed himself of the Castle of Coimbra of Monte-Mayor the Old of Feira Gaga and Porto whither came to him his Bastard-Brother Peter out of Castile Guimaraens was defended against him by Mem Rodriguez de Vasconcelos In the mean while the King laid Siege to Coimbra which obliged the Prince to quit Guimaraens and return to relieve that City Here were to be seen all the usual dire effects of Civil Wars The Holy Queen Elizabeth ceased not to pass betwixt the Two Armies mediating for a Reconciliation 1323. which at last she compassed the King giving to the Prince the Cities of Porto and Coimbra and the Old Town of Monte-Mayor with some additional Revenue Pardon was given on both sides and the Prince took an Oath to be Obedient to his Father for the future But notwithstanding this reconciliation the Prince pressed his Father to call the Cortes or Parliament and yet would not be present at it but went from Santarem towards Lisbon with armed Troops The King came out in the like manner commanding him to return which he refusing 1324. the Trumpets sounded and both Parties Engaged Yet the Queen rushing through all dangers came to her Son and upbraiding him with breach of Faith and Obstinacy at length the Battle was parted and the Father and Son once more were Reconciled That this agreement might be the more lasting D. Alonso Sanchez the King's Bastard-Son was sent out of the Kingdom and went to the Town of Albuquerque which he possessed in Castile by that means becoming a Subject to that Crown 11. King Denis fortified many Towns and Cities King Denis his Structures and other Works encompassing them with beautiful Walls as is to be seen at Porto Braga Guimaraens Miranda and other Places He Built from the Ground above Fifty Castles and some Towns besides those he new Peopled Neither did he forget pious Work and therefore he endowed many Churches Pope John XXII granted him the Tenths of Church Revenues for 3 Years to the end he should keep his Gallies in the Streights of Gibraltar to hinder the Moors from passing into the Kingdom of Granada He was addicted to Learning especially to Poetry and it was he that first erected the University at
of the Nobles contrived that D. John might escape yet the King was so watchful they were disappointed 6. The King of Portugal War betwixt Castile and Portugal impatient of longer Disappointments sent a Challenge to him of Castile grounded upon these Reasons That he treated ill the Queen his Wife that he gave out he would be divorced from her and Marry the Lady Ellenor de Guzman that he designed to declare Peter her Son his Heir and that he hindred the Princess Constance from going into Portugal While his Embassador executed his Commission he made all manner of Warlike Preparations both by Sea and Land He laid Siege to Badajoz and at the same time his Parties ravaged all the Country about Arauna Aroncha and Cortegana The Siege being tedious the King left sufficient Forces to continue it and he with the rest of the Army over-ran a great part of Andaluzia as far as Sevil which done he returned to the Siege His Brother Count Peter did the like in Galicia the Archbishop and other Commanders in vain endeavouring to oppose him Numerous Forces were raising in Castile to relieve Badajoz when the King considering the difficulty of the Enterprize and that Peter Alonso one of his Officers had been defeated raised the Siege and returned dissatisfied to Portugal But whilst he prepared to return thither stronger than before the Queen without his knowledge went away to Badajoz where the King of Castile her Son-in-law then was thinking her Prayers might prevail with him to desist from War and comply with her Husband The King received her with Respect but demanded such Conditions as he knew could not be granted Scarce was she gone from Badajoz when the Castilian followed as far as Elvas ravaging all the Country Two days he spent Plundering that Territory and then laid Siege to Aronchez but understanding that the Portuguese Parties infested the Neighbourhood of Xerez Badajoz Burguillos and Alconchel he removed to meet them Not meeting with them he besieged Olivenca and being taken with an Ague was forced to depart and return to Sevil leaving his Forces to do all the harm they could Some Troops under the Command of the Brothers Ferdinand and John Roiz de Castro pillaged all the Country betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho till being met by the Archbishop of Braga with 1400 Portugueses D. John de Castro was killed with 300 of his Men and a great Booty recovered At Sea 20 Galleys carrying 2000 Men put into Lepte in Andaluzia where they landed Plundering the Country and being met by D. Nunno Portocarrero there ensued a hot Fight between them in which 26 Portugueses and 80 Castilians were killed Camello the Portuguese General was taken and by the Portugueses two Castilian Commanders for whom he was exchanged The Castilians set out 40 Sail to Revenge this Affront but a Storm dispersed and wrecked both Fleets Another Portuguese Squadron commanded by Misser Emanuel Pissano a Genoese had spoiled the Coast of Galicia and was now again sent against the Spanish Fleet that did no less harm in the Kingdom of Algarve They met about Cape S. Vincent and fought with extraordinary Resolution till the Portuguese Admiral and many more were taken and the Castilian returned Victorious to Sevil. At the same time Ferdinand Arraez lying in Ambush took 70 Portugueses and killed 180. 7. Our King King Alonso enters Castile with an Army leaving an Army to Besiege Salvaterra pierced as far as Orense destroying all before him whilst Peter Fernandez de Castro who commanded on those Frontiers for the King of Castile refused to oppose him on pretence of the Favours he had received from him and his Father The Castilian always ready to take Revenge with 10000 Horse and a number of Foot broke into Algarve and having in vain besieged Castro Marin laid waste without Mercy all the Country along that Coast 1337. Pope Benedict XII sent Bernard Bishop of Rhodes his Nuncio to endeavour to bring these two Kings to some Accommodation Philip the Fourth King of France sent the Archbishop of Rheims upon the same Errand The Castilian turned them over to Portugal and the Portuguese to Castile Both were desirous of Peace but neither would ask it The Portuguese carried himself highest with the Nuncio At length a Truce was concluded for a Year A Truce for a Year After much Debate the Pope was chosen Arbitrator betwixt them but the Castilian fearing the Revolt of his Nobles and an Invasion from Africk required of the Portuguese to send his Embassadors to him and they would agree without going so far as Rome 1340. or Avignon Hereupon three Embassadors were sent from Portugal who meeting with the Commissioners of Castile concluded a Peace upon these Conditions That all Places taken since the War and Prisoners on both sides should be restored That neither without consent of the other should make Peace with the Moorish King Banarin That the Princess Constance should be permitted to go into Portugal That the Princess Blanch being unfit for Wedlock should return into Castile That all former Articles should continue in force That the King of Castile should restore all due State to his Queen and put away the Lady Ellenor Nunnez The Castilian performed all Points except putting away the Lady Ellenor yet he behaved himself better towards the Queen 8. Aliboacem Alonso in Person aids the Castilian against the Moors King of Morocco being about to pass into Spain as being sent for by the Moorish King of Granada the Castilian sent his Queen to ask Succours of her Father the King of Portugal who immediately marched thither in Person with a better disciplined than numerous Army The King of Castile having notice hereof visited him at Jurumenna in Portugal Our King was received at Sevil by the Clergy singing Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini Here a Council of War was held to consult whether it were fit to fight the Moors who besieged Tarifa and were an innumerable Multitude or no. While some were of Opinion to yield Tarifa to them our King's Opinion prevailed that the Place should be relieved All the Mountains and Plains about Tarifa were covered with multitudes of Infidels yet the King of Castile was overjoyed to understand they had resolved to give the Mahometan Battle Both the Christian Kings advanced and passed the River Guadalete Being there joyned by some Troops that were not before come up on Sunday the 27th of October they marched to Penna de Cuervo where they first discovered the Barbarians covering all the Land as far as they could see It was agreed the Castilian should attack the King of Morocco who lay along the Shoar and the Portuguese him of Granada that was at the Foot of the Mountain On Monday the 28th at break of Day the Army heard Mass many received the Sacrament and the Archbishop of Toledo exhorted them to expose their Lives in Defence of the Faith Being come before their Enemies
both Kings made short Speeches to their Men. This done the Armies engaged with such terrible shouts that the Mountains seemed to shake Nor was the noise of clattering of Arms less hideous Vast numbers of Dead were soon trod under foot and the wounded in that Confusion were scarce sensible of their hurts The two Christian Kings overthrow the Infidels Our King rushing into the midst of the Enemies made such havock that the Moors soon turned their backs and fled to Algezira the Portugueses making a greater slaughter in the Pursuit than they had done in the Fight The King of Castile with no less Bravery thrust himself into the midst of his Enemies till stopp'd in his rash Carreer by the Archbishop of Toledo Yet so did he press Aliboacem that despairing of Success he fled to Algezira and not thinking himself safe there passed the Streights over into Africk Both the Christian Princes followed the Chace as far as the Rivers Britabotellas and Guadamicil which they dyed with the Blood of Infidels 9. Queen Fatima with many other Moorish Ladies were killed by the Soldiers in their Tents Some Princes also died and two were taken The quantity and value of the Booty is not to be expressed The number of the Infidels and greatness of the Booty for they came to divide Spain among them and brought over above 100000 Families besides their innumerable Army all which was so great that they spent five Months in passing the Streights sixty Galleys being continually employ'd in Transporting them and twelve Galleys were fifteen days in carrying back the Remnants of this Overthrow 450000 Infidels are said to have died in this Battle Of the Christians so few were missing that it will be scarce credited if the Number were reported The Victorious Kings entred Sevil in Triumph the chiefest of the Captives dragging the Colours that were taken Many Carts followed laden with Spoil and then a multitude of Moorish Horses with all their Accoutrements Several Colours and Horses were sent for a Present to Pope Benedict The seventh day after the Victory the Portuguese being obliged to return home the Castilian laid all the Booty before him to take what he liked best whereof he only took some Arms one of the Captive Princes 1347. and five Colours The Prince he released without Ransom Eâ—lenor second Daughter to K. Alonso marry'd to Peter King of Aragon and hung up the Colours in the Cathedral of Lisbon 10. King Peter the Fourth of Aragon by his Embassadors demanded of our King his Second Daughter Ellenor in Marriage His Request was granted and her Portion settled at 50000 Doubloons The King of Castile endeavoured to hinder this Marriage but failing of his Design the Princess was carryed to Valencia and there marryed with great Solemnity 1348. The three following Years Portugal was infested with that Universal Pestilence A great Plague which began by the opening of the Earth after a terrible Earthquake in the Eastern Countries whence issued such a destructive stench as infected those Parts and thence diffused it self into these The Princess Constance dying after she had brought forth three Children our King found that Discord at home which had before drawn him thence He thought to Marry the Prince to strengthen the Succession to the Crown but found he was in Love with the Lady Agnes de Castro a Kinswoman and one of the Ladies to the late Princess and that enjoying her Person he refused a second Wife and enquiring farther into it K. Alonso his Eldest Son privately Marries the Lady Agnes de Castro he was informed they were privately marryed by Giles Bishop of Guarda and yet the Prince fearing his Father's Displeasure denyed it tho' he promised if it were really so to treat her as Princess The Nobility envying the Lady Agnes her Happiness perswaded the King to oblige his Son to Marry another Wife or else to kill her alledging that if she came to be Queen her Brothers Ferdinand and Alvaro would destroy the Princeâ—s Son Ferdinand that one of their Nephews might Inherit the Crown They also said the Lady Agnes was not of sufficient Quality to be a Queen but in this they wronged her for she was of Royal Blood and her Sister came to be Queen of Castile Upon these Pretences her Death was contrived and tho' the Prince had notice given him hereof by the Queen his Mother and the Archbishop of Braga yet he thought none durst attempt such an Action whilst he was in the way The King overcome by Perswasions set out from Monte-Mayor and went to Coimbra with a great number of armed Men at such time as the Prince was gone out a Hunting The Lady Agnes was in the Palace called S. Clare The Lady Agnes cruelly murdered and understanding the King came to kill her went out to receive him and falling at his Feet with the three Children she had bathed them with her Tears This sad Spectacle moved the King and he turned back to depart But those who had perswaded him to this Action the chief whereof were Alvaro Gonçalez James Lopez Pacheco and Peter Coello blamed the King's Remissness and so earnestly pressed him to give them leave to execute what they came about that he condescended and they immediately with more than barbarous Inhumanity struck off her Head 11. The Prince returning from Hunting The Prince begins his Revenge for some time was almost distracted with Rage Being come to himself he began to execute his Revenge destroying all the Country betwixt Duero and Minho where those Cruel Executioners had their Estates with Fire and Sword The City Porto he spared for the sake of the Archbishop who had given him notice of the Design Thus King Alonso's Disobedience towards his Father was now with more Reason punished by his own Son The Prince marched to the Town of Canaveses where the Queen his Mother and the Archbishop met and reduced him to submit to his Father and disband his Followers conditioning that both Parties should Pardon all Offences and that in all Places where the Prince was all Acts of Justice should be performed in his Name It was visible enough that the Prince would some time or other be revenged on the Murderers of the Lady The Murderers fly into Castile therefore the King being near his End advised them before his Death to shift for themselves They thereupon fled to Castile and we shall hereafter see what became of them This was the end of King Alonso an Unnatural Son towards his Father The Death of King Alonso and a Barbarous Father towards his Son Yet he was an excellent King either for Peace or War He coined a new sort of Money called Alfonsines worth in English Money about Three Shillings Many wholesom Laws were instituted by him and his Government was equitable and just He had a large Forehead but with wrinkles in it his Visage long a proportionable Nose a large Mouth his
Interment a Majestick Presence his Forehead large his Eyes black and beautiful his Hair reddish which he wore long his Mouth small his Visage long He somewhat stammered in his Speech was addicted to Poetry and some Verses of his are still extant He Reigned Ten Years wanting Two Months and died in January 1367. 1367. He is buryed by the Lady Agnes de Castro and his Picture to the Life on the Tomb. The Lady Constance his first Wife lies in the Church of S. Francis at Santarem By her he had Issue 1. Lewis who died an Infant 2. Ferdinand who succeeded in the Throne 3. Mary marryed to Ferdinand Prince of Aragon Son to King Alonso the Fourth His Children by the Lady Agnes de Castro were 1. Alonso His Issue who died a Child 2. Denis who refusing to kiss the Hand of Queen Ellenor Wife to King Ferdinand went away to Castile where he marryed Joanna Bastard-Daughter to King Henry 3. John who by the Advice of Queen Ellenor killed the Lady Mary Tellez de Meneses his own Wife and the Queen's Sister He should have succeeded King Ferdinand but that King John of Castile kept him Prisoner and in the mean while his Bastard Brother called also John usurped the Crown In Castile he marryed Constance Bastard Daughter to King Henry 4. Beatrix Wife to D. Sancho Earl of Albuquerque Bastard Son to King Alonso XI of Castile King Peter had one Bastard Son called John Master of the Military Order of Avis who after the Death of King Ferdinand usurped the Crown CHAP. XI The First Part of the Life and Reign of Ferdinand the first of the Name and ninth King of Portugal from the Year 1340. till 1373. 1. FErdinand was the Second Son of King Peter King Ferdinand his Birth and his Wife Constance He was Born in the City Coimbra and succeeded his Father at 27 Years of Age. The Peace and Treasures King Ferdinand inherited 1340. were not at all lasting 1367. for he engaged himself in a War against Castile He engages in a War against Castile pretending a Right to that Crown after the Death of King Peter as Great Grandson to King Sancho Henry the present Possessor being a Bastard and Regicide Many Persons of Note who fled out of Castile encouraged him in this Enterprize and many Towns not admitting Henry offered themselves to Ferdinand He bestowed vast Possessions on several of the Castilians that came over to him as particularly to Ferdinand Earl of Castro Xeres and Brother-in-law to King Henry he gave Fifteen Towns to D. Alvaro Perez de Castro his Brother Eight Towns the Earldom of Arroyolos and the Office of Constable to Ferdinand Alonso de Zamora Nineteen Towns and so to many others too long to recount besides Gifts in Money and Jewels which exhausted the Treasures left by his three Predecessors Many Cities and Towns also of Castile declared for our King where he immediately coined Money bearing the Arms and Titles of both Kingdoms Our King in outward appearance pretended more Zeal to Revenge the Murder of King Peter than Ambition to joyn that Kingdom to his own To inculcate this Opinion he sent Embassadors to the Pope the King of England and other Princes laying before them the heinousness of the Crime as committed by a Brother against his Brother and by a Subject against his Soveraign 2. Whilst the Embassadors were on their way Enters into League with the Moorish King of Granada the King concluded a League with the Moorish King of Granada for Fifty Years during which time they were to assist one another and neither was to pretend any Right to whatsoever Places of Castile were taken by the other nor was either of them if assisted with any Troops by his Confederate to allow them any Pay For farther Security King Ferdinand asked of King Peter the Aragonian his Daughter Ellenor in Marriage and Embassadors were sent on both sides to agree the Articles tho' that Lady was before betrothed to John the Eldest Son of King Henry The Princess was marryed by Proxy to our King at Lisbon the Aragonian Embassador representing her Person The Articles of Marriage were That she should bring 100000 Florins Portion That her Father should make War on Castile two Years That the Husband should give three Months Pay to 3000 Horse in his Father-in-law's Service Some Places in Castile were also allotted to the Aragonian for every Man gives freely of what he has not Soon after the Bridegroom that was to have been but never was sent a Rich Present to Barcelona for the Bride without expecting the Payment of the 100000 Florins He also sent Eighteen hundred weight of Gold to be coined to defray Charges there To Convoy the Bride seven beautiful Galleys were fitted out whereof that which was to carry her had her Sails of Silk wrought with Gold and all that was above Water was gilt The Rowers were cloathed in the King's Livery and many gallant Gentlemen went as Volunteers Among other things of value there was carried a Crown of inestimable price for the Bride D. John Alonso Tello Earl of Barcelos attended by the Bishops of Evora and Silves and the Abbot of Alcobaça went Embassadors and performed the Ceremony of marrying the Princess in his Masters Name But her Father put off the delivering of her till the Pope's Dispensation was obtained and times altering all came to nothing 3. King Ferdinand began the Wars in Galicia with a small Power Coruna and other Places voluntarily submitted to him Monterrey was taken by Force after it had made a vigorous Defence But understanding that King Henry drew near with numerous Forces Ferdinand went away by Sea to Porto leaving D. Nunno Freyre Master of the Military Order of Christ with 400 Horse in Coruna Alonso Gomez de Lira at Tuy and others in other Places 1369. Henry to bring our King to Peace Henry of Castile invades Portugal left them and entered Portugal burning all the Country as far as Braga where Lope Gomez de Lira made a vigorous Defence but was forced to abandon the Place after loosing 48 Men because he was not releived and the Town was not Walled nor Garisoned having Articled to Surrender if not releived by a certain time Henry finding the Place was not Tenable Burnt it and removed to Guemaraens which being better Fortified held out against him Seing he prevailed little by Force he thought to take it by Stratagem and to that purpose James Gonzalez de Castro got into the Place disguished like a Country-Man but being discovered was put to Death and his Body exposed to the Dogs Now it was that Count Ferdinand de Castro Brother-in-Law to King Henry carried about by him as a Prisoner made his Escape into the Town with his Keeper Ramiro Nunez and both went into the Portuguese's Service King Ferdinand who was then at Coimbra with a numerous Army with all speed made towards the Castilian sending before a
English Order of the Garter which is of S. George he used for his Crest the Head of a winged Dragon and from that time forward the Portuguese use to call upon S. George in the time of Battle 10. Discoveries in this King's time were made by John Gonzalez Zarco Discoveries made in his time Tristan Vaz Teixeira and Bartholomew Perestrello who being drove they knew not whither by a storm found the Island they called Puerto Santo in the Year 1418 and two Years after that of Madera where they found a little Oratory and Inscription declaring that one Machin an English-Man had been there before Giles Yanez attempting what none durst before him passed beyond Cape Bojador and there planted a Cross CHAP. IV. The Life and Reign of Edward the First of the Name and Eleventh King of Portugal his Actions and Death from the Year 1391 till 1438. 1. KIng Edward was Born at Viseo Birth of King Edward in the Year 1391. He was with his Father at the taking of Ceuta and married Ellenor Daughter to King Ferdinaâ—d the first of Aragon 1391. in the Year 1428. The Body of King John being deposited in the Cathedral of Lisbon 1428. on the 14th of August the next Day his Eldest Son Edward was proclaimed King 1433. An Astrologer advised him to pass by that unfortunate Day An Astrological Prediction for that all the Constellations were Conspired against him But he religiously â—lighting these Predictions went on with the Solemnity and was Crowned that very Day Then began the Astrologer publickly as he had before done in private to denounce that his Reign would be short as to time but tedious for the Misfortunes which would happen in it The New King went to divert himself at Sintra where his Son Alonsâ— not full 20 Months Old was Sworn Heir to the Crown by the Nobility This was the only time the like Ceremony was performed without the Concurrence of the Commonalty by their Representatives He was also the first that had the Title of Prince given him in Portugal Alonso Son to King Edward the first that 〈◊〉 the Title of Prince in Portugal his Father following the example of the other Courts of Christendom The first that used it was that of England where the Heir of the Crown was called Prince of Wales From Sintra the King sent his Summons to all the Prelates and Nobles for them to meet in order to attend the Translation of his Father's Body to a noble Sepulchre designed for it in the Church of Batalla belonging to the Dominicans and of the invocation of the Assumption of our Blessed Lady built by that King in Memory of the Victory obtained in that Place 2. It will not here be amiss The Funeral of King John in short to say something of his Funeral which may shew the Custom of those times All the Nobility and Clergy Assembled at Lisbon The Mourning then used was either white Sack-Cloath or raw Canvas Such was the Apparel of all the Nobility and their Families The Pallace was all Hung with Black On the 25th of October all the Company marched in orderly Procession from the Pallace to the Church with great silence the Bells of all the Churches ringing At the Church after a short Sermon the Body was placed on a Mausoleum and then the Divine Office for the dead performed with great Solemnity Prince Peter and many other great men stay'd in the Church all Night with the Body and next Day after Mass and Sermon a costly Offering was made of Gold Silver and rich Brocados This done the Body was placed on a Triumphant Charriot which was drawn through the Streets by the King his Brothers and the Nobility In the New Street and in the great Place called Recio Scaffolds were erected on which Learned Men made Funeral Orations suitable to the Occasion At S. Vincent's Gate Four Horses were put to the Charriot Four times the Funeral halted betwixt Lisbon and the Church of Batalla at Odivellas Villafranca Alcoentre and Alcobaça The Fifth Day it came to the Church of Batalla whither the Cortes or Parliament was summoned and there all that great Assembly assisted at Mass and the other Funeral Rites 3. The King hasted away to Leyria King Edward holds a Parliament flying from the Plague for here began his Misfortunes The Cortes or Parliament was held at Santarem where the King gave general Satisfaction Then he applied himself to the cares of the Government He caused also the Laws to be epitomized and reduced to one Volume taking special care that they should be put in Execution His next care was to moderate excess in Apparel and Diet and then he Ordered That only one of the Princes and such of the Nobility as were named should attend at Court at one time the rest being sent away to their Estates and they to relieve the others in their turns 1434. Thus the ensuing Year was spent A general Council Pope Martin had before this time summoned a general Council to meet at Basle for Uniting the Greek and Latin Churches 1435. To this Council were sent Six Embassadors from Portugal The Union of the Two Churches took Effect but was not lasting for the Greeks not finding those Supplies they expected from the Pope against the Turks soon fell off The Portuguese Embassadors obtained a Grant of the then Pope Eugenius That the Kings of Portugal might be Crowned and Anointed in the same manner as those of England and France This same Year the King designed his Sons should receive the Sacrament of Confirmation with great Pomp and Solemnity but News being then brought that the Kings of Naples and Navarre Prince Henry and above 100 Persons of great Note were taken Prisoners in a Sea Fight by Philip Duke of Milan all publick Joy ceased and the Court was filled with Mourning nevertheless the Young Princes were confirmed 4. This same Year also it was An Expedition against Tangier that the Princes Henry and Ferdinand having first gained the Queen to their Party perswaded the King to take in Hand an Expedition against Tangier in Africk It was long before they could prevail upon him but at last overcome by their importunities he took the Fatal Resoluton A Tax was laid upon the Kingdom for the Expence of this War and all the Preparations for such an Expedition diligently made On the 17th of August the Princes Embarked and the 22th they sailed from Belem 1437. The particulars of this Unhappy Undertaking belong properly to the Portuguese Africk where they are to be seen at large but the even was The Portuguese Army destroyed by the Moors and the King's Brother taken That most of the Portuguese Army perished and Prince Ferdinand remained in Captivity he being left as an Hostage for restoring Ceuta to the Moors upon their suffering the Relicks of the Portuguese to return home Prince Henry the Adviser of this Enterprize sent Notice to
the Bridge of Zamora being corrupted by Ferdinand and Elizabeth some advised to build a Wall betwixt them and the Town and they would perish but the Archbishop of Toledo and other great Men perswaded the King to remove to Toro leaving behind in the Castle all his Equipage because he could not then Travel with so much Baggage Ferdinand immediately entred the City and attacked the Castle but without success King Alonso sent him a challenge and he refused any single Combat for which he was again severely reproved by his Wife Elizabeth she being fitter to have been Ferdinand than he was to be Elizabeth 1476. In January the Prince of Portugal came to Toro with some Troops and was there received with great joy except by the Duke of Arevalo and Marquis de Villena who began to incline to King Ferdinand King Alonso however resolved to put all to the issue of a Battle tho the Archbishop of Toledo of all the Castilian Nobility that invited him was the only Person that stood now by him Fifteen Days after the Princes arrival King Alonso marched towards Zamora to meet King Ferdinand leaving his Queen behind at Toro He attacked the Bridge but to no purpose Overtures of Peace were again made without any likelihood of success for it was decreed no Accommodation should be purchased without Blood King Alonso seeing he wasted his Army lying before a Town in the dead of Winter his Enemy lying close returned towards Toro his Forces braving the Castilians by the slowness of their March Ferdinand ashamed to have been so long dared at length sallied out to fall upon the Rear of the Portuguese Army Alonso suspecting no such thing was now marched down a Hill in great disorder as being at the Gates of his own City It was debated among the Castilians whither they ought to pursue their Enemy who they said fled or return to Zamora but the Cardinal Peter Gonzalez de Mendoza having from the top of the Hill taken a view of the Portuguese Army said it would be a shame to return without bidding Battle and thereupon their Army advanced 5. King Alonso perceiving the approach of the Enemy 〈…〉 drew up his Army In the Van he placed the Castilians and his own Houshold He himself â—ed the main Body Prince John the left Wing and the Archbishop of Toledo the Right D. John de Castro Earl of Monsanto brought up the Rear The Sun was now going down and a small Rain began to fall when the tâ—o Armies engaged Prince John gave a vigorous Charge on his side and was received with no less Bravery yet forced the Castilian Wing to retire to the main Body At the same time the King advanced before his Men and the Fight was maintained on both sides for the space of an hour before any gave Ground both Reserves coming up to second their Princes The Portuguese over-powered by the number of their Enemies began to forsake the Royal Standard which was taken after both the bearer's Hands were cut off King Alonso in despair would have cast himself into the midst of his Enemies if not disswaded by some of his Followers The Portuguese Army routeâ— In Conclusion the King and those Gentlemen that could bear him Company fled to Castro Nunho where they were honourably received by Peter de Avendano the Governour Prince John who had defeated the Enemy's Right Wing seeing the rout of the Army with what Forces he could gather stood firm on an Eminence where he continued all the day Most of the other routed Portuguese cast themselves into the River Duero where more perished by Water than had done by the Sword King Ferdinand who never loved Fighting did not lead his Men but stood with a strong Party on a rising Ground to secure his own Escape in case of need and seeing his Right Wing drove by Prince John and the main Body hard put to by King Alonso he with that Body of Guards hasted away towards Zamora without expecting to see the Event of the Battle Thus he came at Night to Zamora in a Consternation not knowing whether he was Victorious or defeated Such was his Cowardize and Precipitation 6. The Prince continued all the Night on that Eminence 〈…〉 we have already mentioned by sound of Trumpets and the light of Fires calling together the Remains of the scattered Army In the Morning when he expected to have been charged by the Castilâ—ans it appeared they were gone after the King to Zâ—mora whereupon he marched away in good Order with Colours flying to Toro Finding no News of his Father there all was in great Confusion â—ill Advice was brought him where 〈◊〉 was They met and together received a courteous Message from King Ferdinand who sent the King all his Equipage which he had taken in the Castle of Zamora The Archbishop of Toledo who only of all the Castilian Nobility adhered to the Portuguese asked leave now to depart to defend his own Lands which were wasted by King Ferdinand's Commanders The Bishop of Evora with his Troops was sent to Conduct him on his way who being come back returned with the Prince to Portugal to defend the Frontiers then much infested by the Enemy King Alonso had sent D. Alvaro de Atayde from Toro into France designing to follow in Person and crave Succour for carrying on the War in case this Embassador found a favourable Reception King Lewis entertained D. Alvaro with such feigned Friendship that he easily perswaded the King his Master to go over into France The King having resolved upon that Journey after settling the Government of those few Places he held in Castile about the beginning of June set forward for Portugal carrying with him his Bride that should have been Queen Joanna now spoiled of her Crown Being come to Miranda 〈◊〉 Alonso Saâ—â—s into â—â—ance she went away to the City Guarda and he to Porto where he intended to Embark for France Thither repaired the Prince Nobility and Clergy disswading him from that Voyage but he was not to be moved from that Resolution He set Sail with 21 Vessels of several sort and in them 500 Gentlemen and 2200 Men at Arms. By the way he touched at Ceuta next at Marseilles and landed at Colivre where he was received with Respect by the Governour At Perpignan in Honour to him the Prison-Gates were set open Thence he sent D. Francisco de Almeyda to King Lewis to appoint the Place where they should meet and great Honour was shewn him all the way he travelled through that Country 7. At Bourges King Lewis met him 〈…〉 and extraordinary Civilities passed between them They agreed that King Alonso should go to the Duke of Burgundy his Cousin to crave Aid of him or in case he could not grant it by reason of the War he was engaged in with â—orrain then to perswade him not to molest King Lewis whilst he assisted King Alonso That to make the King's Title undeniable
they were the greatest that had ever been seen in Portugal The Palace at Evora being thought too little to Entertain the Bride Prince Alonso marries Elizabeth Daughter to the King and Quein of Castile and Aragon was much enlarged On the 22d of November the Bride was brought to the Borders of the two Kingdoms and on the Bridge of the River Caya the Cardinal D. Gonzalo Perez de Mendâ—ça Archbishop of Toledo delivered her to Emanuel Duke of Beja sent to receive her Betwixt Eâ—vas and Estremoz the King and Prince met her At the Church of our Lady of Espineiro which is without the Walls of Eâ—ora they were marryed by the Archbishop of Braga and in that Monastery the Prince bedded her November the 27th they made their Solemn Publick Entry into the City with such Grandeur as is not easily to be expressed no more than can the infinite Rarities that were served up that Night at Supper Besides the Balls Musick and other extraordinary Divertisements the King appointed a Solemn Tilting in which he deservedly carryed away the Honour from all that ran In May the King Queen and Princes removed to Santarem the Divertisements never ceasing 149â— till upon Tuesday the 12th of July The Prince killed by 〈◊〉 fall of his Horse the Prince riding abroad after Dinner and being upon a Full-speed his Horse fell upon and Mortally bruised him He was past all Remedy and died the next day at the same hour he had fallen Thus was that Scene of Joy converted into a horrid Spectacle of Sadness The Prince was magnificently Interred in the Church of Batalla The Princess was sent back to Castile all clad in the deepest Mourning and in a Horse-Litter covered with Sackcloath CHAP. VIII The remaining Part of the Life and Reign of King John the Second of the Name and Thirteenth King of Portugal from the Year 1492 till 1495. 1. ON the 25th of May 1492. 1492 King John laid the Foundation of the Magnificent Church and Hospital of All-Saints in the beautifullest Square or Market-Place of Lisbon scattering some Money under the first Stones laid having obtained leave of the Pope to incorporate all other Hospitals into this The French then at Peace with Portugal had taken a Caravel bringing Gold from Guinea whereupon the King seized all the Vessels of that Kingdom within his Ports which caused the Caravel to be restored untouch'd King John in the Year 1485 had sent James Cano with a Fleet to Guinea Further Dâ—sâ—â—veries in Guinea He came to an Anchor at the Mouth of the River Manicongo lying in Seven Degrees of South Latitude and understanding that King was far off in the In-land Parts he sent some Portuguese to him with a Present who not returning he seized some Blacks and brought them away to Portugal assuring the People they should be restored whereupon King John sent them back loaded with Gifts which so obliged the Black King that he said That must be the true God whom a Prince of so much Honour adored He sent an Embassador to him offering Submission to his Authority and desiring Priests to Instruct the People and Workmen to build Churches and a Fleet returned with all that had been desired The King and a great number of his Subjects were baptized as also the Queen and Prince The King soon fell off again because Christianity obliged him to adhere to only one Wife and therefore he resolved to declare his Second Son Panso Aquitimo who continued an Idolater his Heir Alonso the eldest Brother the Lawful Heir and a Christian was absent when his Father died but hasting to Court was proclaimed King His Brother Aquitimo thought to surprize him but failed for his great Army was overthrown by a handful of Portuguese and Blacks that followed Alonso Many of the Prisoners declared they were overthrown by a glittering Army led by a Commander that carryed a white Cross Alonso being secured in his Throne became the Apostle of that People in which good Work most of his Successors have followed his Example 2. In the Month of March 1493. Christopher Columbus after discovering the Islands of America Columbus after discovering of America â—â—rives at Lisbon entred the Port of Lisbon to Revenge himself by shewing what he had found to King John who had before rejected him when he came to offer his Service and whom he thought it would now grieve to see what he had lost Some Gentlemen offered the King to Murder him which he not only refused but calling Columbus to him honoured and made him Presents This Discovery alarmed all Spain the Castilians fearing to be disturbed in their Conquests there and the Portuguese pretending it appertained to them Many Messengers and Embassadors passed between the two Kings Spain and Portugal divide the World 〈◊〉 them at last their Ministers meeting at Tordesillas divided the World betwixt them To the Portuguese was allotted from 370 Leagues to the Westward of Cabo Verdâ— all to the Eastward and all to the West from that Place to the Castilians drawing a Line there from North to South so that commencing from that Point one half of the Globe remained to each Crown Many Persons of Note came about this time from Foreign Parts to see and some to serve King John Among them was a French Prince whom the Portuguese call Monsieur de Lion who offered to serve in Africk with 300 Horse at his own cost The King of Naples also sent his Embassador with Rich Presents 3. This Year and part of the next the King spent in taking a Progress through his Kingdom 14â—4 and settling the Affairs of greatest Importance for being grown sickly he could not apply himself to Business of less moment He also fitted out the Ships in the River of Lisbon that were to Sail to discover the way to India by the Ocean and gave the Command of them to Vasco de Gama with Instructions how to proceed His Distemper increased and not only cost him his Life but laid a lasting stain upon the Good Name of his Subjects Some of those who designed to have murdered him by the Sword King John poisoned now executed their Design with Poison A Woman held in Esteem for her Sanctity warned him to have a care of Poison which nevertheless he drank out of a Spring near Evora which Water he liked best That this was true appeared by that two Gentlemen who drank with him at the same time died as well as he His Distemper seemed to turn to a Dropsie and the Physicians advised him to go to the hot Baths at Alvor in Algarve One of them opposed the rest affirming this would shorten his Days but he was a Jew and therefore found no Credit The King fell into a Flux which being stopped he became wholly Lethargick Coming a little to himself he asked how the Tide was and being told said he should die within two hours 〈…〉 Just at Sun setting he gave
Remarkable for the Death 1539. first Death of Prince Philip and of the Empress of Prince Philip who was scarce Six Years of Age who departed this Life at Lisbon and then of the Empress Elizabeth who ended her days at Toledo Nor was the following Year less fatal 1540. since in it were snatch'd away And of others first Antony the King's Son being but Eleven Months old then the Cardinal Alonso and lastly Prince Edward both Brothers to the King D. Michael de Silva 1541. Bishop of Portalegre and Clerk of the Closet at this time fled privately to Rome where he had before negotiated for a Cardinal's Cap which was given him immediately upon his arrival at that Court 1542. The King was so highly offended at this Contempt that he disclaimed him as a Subject and deprived him of all the Benefices and Honours he enjoyed in the Kingdom All Persons that should presume to hold Correspondence with him were subjected to the same Penalties yet the Cardinal's Brother D. George transgressed against this Decree and was therefore committed Prisoner to the Fort of Belem to answer that Misdemeanor The Princess Mary the King's Daughter at the time of her departure to Castile to Marry Prince Philip begged and obtained of her Father that the said D. George might be pardoned only upon the Penalty of going to serve at Arzila 1543. where he behaved himself in such a manner as gained him great Reputation 7. The Match betwixt Prince Philip of Spain and the Princess Mary of Portugal was concluded by the Spanish Embassador Prince Philip of Spain Marries Mary Princess of Portugal Lewis Sarmiento de Mendoza who stood Proxy for the Prince at the Ceremony of Contracting the Princess to him which was performed by Prince Henry About the middle of October the Princess set forward towards Castile with a most Splendid and Honourable Retinue consisting of 5000 Horse and 2700 Sumpture Mules Francis King of France hearing of this Match whereof the King had given him no Account was highly offended and expressed his Resentment to D. Francis de Noronha the Portuguese Embassador at his Court That Gentleman tho' unacquainted with the Affair so mitigated that King and soothed him with such convincing Reasons that he appeared wholly satisfied and by his Prudence a Breach that might have happened between the two Crowns so strictly allied for many Years was prevented In August Edward the King's Bastard-Son came to Lisbon and was received with general Applause by the King Queen and all the Court He was Born in the Year 1525. and brought up in the Royal Monastery of S. Hierome da Costa He was a promising Youth but cut off in his Prime for he lived not much above two Months after his coming to Court and died in the 22d Year of his Age. CHAP. XII The remaining Part of the Life and Reign of John the Third of the Name and Fifteenth King of Portugal from the Year 1544 till 1557. 1. THE Years 1544 and 1545 passed without any thing Remarkable 1546. or at least Historians do not give us Account of any Passages in them King John receives the Golden Fleece Nor is there any thing of more note in the Year 1546 besides that King John received the Order of the Golden Fleece sent him by the Emperor Charles the Fifth In March following the King being at Almeyrin King Henry of France sent Monsieur de Biron to him desiring he would stand Godfather to a Son he had newly born which the King granted and D. Constantine of Bragança Brother to that Duke went to represent his Person It was found necessary for the security of the Conquests in Africk to erect a Fort over the Bay of Alcaçar The King ordered his Embassadors residing at Brussels with the Emperor and with Prince Maximilian then Governing Spain to encline them both to send some Auxiliary Galleys for carrying on that Work the particulars of it may be seen in the Portuguese Africk 1548. Prince John was now Twelve Years of Age and still continued under the Government of Women when the King began to think of settling his Family which was accordingly done in February following 1549. Antony de Pesquera had some Years since set out a Ship at S. Lucar and traded in the Portuguese Conquests of Guinea and Brasil and was now returning to those Parts King John sent out Vasco Lorenço with Orders not to take him unless in the Conquests but he over-hastily seized him in the Canary Islands whereof Prince Maximilian who then governed Spain complaining he was released and Vasco Lorenço for a time confined to the Castle of Ovidos but soon discharged George Bastard-Son to King John the Second who had absented himself from Court all the time of his Youth came now to it at 70 Years of Age and fell in Love with one of the Queen's Ladies not above 16. They were privately contracted yet never married the King obstructing it and so the Young Lady was left under some Scandal 2. The King considering long Peace had disarmed the Kingdom Ordinances 〈◊〉 by the King ordered all People should furnish themselves with Arms. Such as had 2500 Royals per Annum were obliged to keep compleat Armour a Sword and Spear every Man that had double this Yearly Income to keep a Musqueteer and so forward for every time that Revenue was doubled Because Horses were scarce he forbid Mares engendring with Asses for Mules The Wolves being numerous and destroying much Cattle general Huntings were appointed upon certain days and Rewards assigned to such as brought in the Skin of a Wolf The King weary of multiplicity of Business remitted a great part of his Care to the Council and from this time the Kingdom began to decline Pope Paul III. dying about the end of this Year Dr. Baltasar Faria the Portuguese Embassador at Rome used all his Interest for Prince Henry of Portugal but on the 17th of February 1550. Cardinal John Maria was declared Pope by the Name of Julius the Third and King John sent D. Alonso de Lancastre to Complement him upon his Promotion to S. Peter's Chair Most of the Copper Coin of the Kingdom having been carryed out because the Metal was worth more than it was coined for the King new coined other Pieces New Coin which being much under the value the Kingdom was soon filled with it counterfeit from other Parts Tho' Prince John had his Family settled before yet he kept not House apart from his Father till this Year 1551. 1551. Certain French and Turkish Pirates infesting the Coasts of Spain and Portugal the King prevailed with the Emperor to fit out some Ships to scour those Seas 1552. he did the same himself and they were appointed their several Stations with Orders upon occasion to joyn and assist one another 3. A Match being concluded for Prince John with the Princess Joanna 1553. Daughter to Charles the
Fifth and Elizabeth Prince John Marries Joanna Daughter to Charles the Fifth the Prince's Aunt and her Portion settled at 360000 Ducats the Duke of Aveyro and the Bishop of Coimbra went with a numerous and splendid Retinue to receive her upon the Frontiers She came to Elvas about the end of November At Barreyro the King met and conducted her thence to Lisbon where a few days after she was marryed to the Prince to the general Joy of all the Kingdom hoping a numerous Issue from them But all Humane hopes are vain for the Prince died the Second of January following 1554. His Distemper was an inward consuming Fever Prince John dies which being supposed to proceed from too much use of his Wife she was removed from him to the Queen's Apartment There the Prince's Death was kept from her knowledge the King visiting her without Mourning The Princess was left with Child and on the 19th of January brought forth a Son The Princess delivered of a Son who was called Sebastian The Princess being out of danger was acquainted with the Death of the Prince and went into strict Mourning She would have cut off her Hair in token of Sorrow but the King would not permit it Being one Night in Bed with her Husband there appeared to her a Woman in Mourning who giving one blast vanished as if she had foretold all her Delights would vanish into Air. Other Nights she perceived the Lights in her Chamber put out without seeing any Body to do it Twice being at a Window with her Ladies she saw many Men cloathed after the Moorish Fashion with Torches in their Hands cast themselves into the River All these were looked upon as unhappy Omens of the Prince's Death and other Calamities that ensued 4. Prince Philip of Spain Brother to the Widow Princess being upon his Departure for England to marry Mary the Heiress of that Crown by his Embassadors desired of King John that he would suffer the Princess to return to Spain to Govern that Kingdom In May the Princess set forward from Lisbon The Princess Governs Spain attended by Prince Lewis as far as Arroyolos where he delivered her to the Duke of Bragança who conducted her to the Borders of the Kingdom and there gave her up to the Bishops of Osma and Badajoz and to D. Garcia de Toledo who was Lord Steward She Governed Spain with Discretion and Founded a Monastery and Hospital in Madrid This Summer sailed from Lisbon D. Peter da Cunha with Five Ships and Four Galleys to Guard the â—â—ast of Algarve Being in the Bay of Tavira An Engagement he discovered the famous Turkish Pirate Xaramet Arraez with Eight Galleys D. Peter gave orders to engage them but the Ships not being able to come up for want of Wind he engaged with only his Four Galleys The Admiral Galleys attacked one another and at first the Portuguese had the worst whereupon the Turks boarder her but were beaten out and Fortune changing D. Peter took the Turk The other Three Christian Galleys boarded as many of the Infidels whereof they took two and sunk the Third The remaining Turkish Galleys seeing these lost fled Of the the Turks 150 were killed and 100 taken 230 Christian Slaves were released and 40 Portuguese perished Two Portuguese left ashoar when the Galleys went out to meet the Enemy swam aboard with their Swords in their Mouths D. Peter returned Victorious to Lisbon where he maintained the Turk his Prisoner till he was exchanged for a Turk who turning Christian was called Peter Paul and had behaved himself so well that the Command of the Galley was given him but he being taken by the Infidels and carried to Mazagam had certainly been put to Death but was spared only upon Account of Xaramet for whom he was exchanged 5. On the the 27th of November 1555 1555. died Prince Lewis the Delight of Portugal Prince Lewis dies and a Person of singular Learning Judgment Courage Generosity and Piety He went twice into Castile once to agree with the Emperor about reducing the King of France to forbear trading in the Portuguese Conquests which he effected The Second time to Conclude a Peace betwixt the Emperor and King of France He built a stately Palace at Salvaterra but lived not to finish it The following Year the King settled the Rules of Precedency 1556. about which there had been great Contests ordering that all Titles should take place according to Seniority Now the Misfortunes of this Crown seem to be Compleat 1557. for the King died aged 55 Years The King dies when he was ripest for Government and left the Crown to Prince Sebastian then unfit for Rule as being but Three Years old He was suddenly snatched away yet not so but he had time to end his Life like a Christian He was of a mean Stature rather inclined to Fat than Leanness his Complexion ruddy his Eyes dark Blew but lively In matters of Justice he always inclined most to Mercy was a great lover of Peace made an excellent choice of Ministers and loved not to heap many Employments upon one Man In the Year 1553 he founded the University at Coimbra and afterwards with great charge brought Professors to it from Paris The Ancient Aqueduct built by Sertorius at Evora was by him repaired much was added by him to the Building of the Monastery of Belem by him also the Custome-House and Arsenals were erected as also the Churches of our Lady of Grace S. Francis and S. Rocque besides many other publick Works All the religious Orders were by him reduced to live up to the rigor of their Rules and Houses founded for all sorts of Women to retire to He instituted the Council of Conscience and that of the Military Orders No want ever prevailed with him to lay heavy Taxes on his Subjects Tho' he heard the Advice of many he always followed his own Opinion which was the Cause he often erred 6. To conclude King John proved an excellent Prince and singular Champion of the Catholick Religion His Children were as follows First Alonso who died a Child Secondly Mary First Wife to Philip the Second of Spain Thirdly Elizabeth Fourthly Beatrix Fifthly Emanuel Sixthly Philip. Seventhly Denis all which died young Eighthly John who married the Princess Joanna Daughter to the Emperor Charles the Fifth and died soon after Ninthly Antony who lived not out a Year His Bastard Issue was First Emanuel who died a Child Secondly Edward Archbishop of Braga a Prelate of Piety and Learning 7. In India Nunho da Cunha overthrew the King of Monbaça Actions abroad duing his Reign and slew him of Cambaya D. John de Castro with such wonderful Courage as rather seemed Rashness Engaging a vast Multitude at the Second Siege of Diu obtained one of the most wonderful Victories that raised the Renown of the Portuguese Valour Hector de Silveyra besides many other remarkable Actions subdued the King of
On the contrary the Silver was raised which drew much out of Spain King Sebastian coined some Pieces of Gold worth 1000 others of the value of 750 Royals for himself to give away with his own Hand CHAP. II. The Life and Reign of Henry the First of the Name and Seventeenth King of Portugal from the Year 1512 till 1580. 1. CArdinal Henry Birth of K. Henry Eighth Son to King Emanuel and Seventh by his Second Wife Queen Mary was Born at Almeyrin on the last day of January 1512. Pope Paul the Third sent him the Cardinal's Cap and he was at once Archbishop of Braga Lisbon and Coimbra Abbot of the Famous Monastery of Alcobaça and twice Governour of the Kingdom tho' unfit for the Crown so fit for the Mitre that upon the Death of Pope Paul he had many Votes in the Conclave to succeed him Whilst Governour he never forbore to Act as a Prelate and tho' a Prince of the Church he performed all the Duties of a private Priest He was at Alcobaça when the News was brought of the loss of the King his Nephew 1578. and his Army The Governours sent him this Advice by D. John Serran Provincial of the Jesuiâ—â— He immediately set out for Lisbon where upon his arrival the publick sorrow was renewed upon the Consideration that the Inheritance of the Crown should fall to him then 67 Years of Age and the last of the Male Line Henry being come to Lisbon called to him the Duke of Bragança and other Persons of Knowledge and Experience and seeing there was yet no certain Account of his Nephew 's being dead or alive the Council and a number of able Lawyers were ordered to Consult what was to be done in that Case They agreed the Cardinal tho' a Priest was capable of Inheriting the Crown Cardinal Henry first declared Protector but it being yet doubtful what was become of the King he should therefore take upon him the Government with the Title of Protector which he accordingly did in the Palace of the Duke of Bragança on the 22d of August 2. Soon after his entring upon the Government He is crowned King the News of the King's Death was brought and his Funeral Obsequies were performed with general Lamentation On the 28th of August after having said Mass the new King and Bishop Henry proceeded to the Church of All-Saints Hospital where he had before received the Mitre now to put on a Crown He was the second Melchisedeck for since the first till him none ever was at once both Priest and King The Ceremony of his Inauguration was performed with no less Lamentation than Pomp and he returned from the Church to the Palace a Temporal as well as Spiritual Prince A few days after his Exaltation came the News that Antony Bastard-Son to Prince Lewis having escaped out of Slavery was at Arzila and tho' much offended at him before he extreamly rejoyced to hear of his Safety Antony by his Affability had gained the Affections of all Men and the People looked upon him to have as good a Title to the Crown as King John the First had almost two Ages before and in Truth the Right was the same for they were both Bastards Antony had fallen into the Hands of a poor Moor who ransomed him for a small matter being told he was a Priest and if not presently redeemed would lose his Benefice and thereby become incapable of paying his Ransom About 16000 Persons remained in Captivity to Redeem whom 20 Trinitarians were sent to Fez and Morocco F. Francis da Costa settled the Ransom of 80 Gentlemen at 400000 Ducats and paid down 300000 remaining himself an Hostage for the rest Ingratitude of certain Gentlemen yet those Gentlemen getting home never thought of releasing him till he was bought offâ—by the Kingdom the Moor refusing to take any thing for him but Pearls F. Amador Rebelo a Jesuit was sent to Argiers to Ransom those that had been sold thither King Philip of Spain obtained of the Moors the Body of King Sebastian which he afterwards brought into Portugal He also redeemed the Duke of Barcelos Son to John Duke of Bragança and afterwards entertained him with all possible expressions of Affection in Castile 3. No sooner was the new King enthroned Several Pretenders to the Succession of the Crown but all those who pretended a Right began to put in their Claims to the Inheritance of the Crown Philip the Second of Spain afterwards the First of Portugal sent D. Christopher de Moura to condole with King Henry for the late Loss and to Congratulate his Accession to the Crown without mentioning his Title to the Succession but with private Instructions to advance his Interest The Candidates were First King Philip of Spain as Son to the Empress Elizabeth Daughter to King Emanuel Secondly the Lady Katherine of Bragança Daughter to Prince Edward who was Brother to the Empress The difference betwixt these two Pretenders was that the Lady tho' a Female claimed the Crown as descended of the Male and the King as being himself the Male tho' descended of a Female Of these the former was the better Title without dispute but neither so good as that of Alexander Prince of Parma in the Right of his Mother who was elder Sister to the Lady Katherine The Duke of Savoy had a Title but not so good by his Wife the Princess Beatrix Daughter to King Emanuel Antony Prior of Crato pretended to be Lawful Son to Prince Lewis Brother to Prince Edward the Empress and Dutchess of Savoy but having never been owned as such by his Father or any other Person that was meer Pretence The People pleaded the Right of Election was in them and shewed Prescription as in the case of their first King of King Alonso the Third and King John the First all which in reality were but Fortunate Usurpers The Pope also would Inherit this Crown as being now devolved to the Church being in the Hands of a Cardinal and urged that it had been Tributary to the See of Rome which was true but a poor Title for Inheritance Katherine of Medicis Queen of France alledged she was descended of King Alonso the Third by his first Wife Maud Countess of Bologne on whom he had a Son but her Title was rejected as over antiquated being above 330 Years standing Savoy and Parma were soon thrown out because too weak to carry on their Pretences not because they wanted a Title The People attempted to carry it by Election but miscarried The Dispute rested betwixt Philip of Spain Katherine of Bragança and Antony Prior of Crato we shall soon see where the Controversie ended 4. Several Methods were proposed to determine these Differences Means proposed to reconcile thaâ— different Pretensions Some would have one of King Philip's Sons Marry the Daughter of the Duke of Bragança Others more inclined to Antony would have that Daughter given to him Others there were who advised the
Reigns which were that of Sebastian of Henry of the Five Governours of Antony and now of Philip. For the easier dispatch of Business the King ordered there should be but Two prime Minister viz. Antony Pineyro Bishop of Leyria and D. Christopher de Moura the former because he had no Kindred and the latter because he made no Account of them for Moura was never known to prefer any of his tho' he had many Nunho Alvarez Pereyra was made Secretary and was equal in Power to them tho' not in Title The King had appointed to return to Castile in November but Prince James dying 〈◊〉 he was forced to call a Parliament to cause his Second So◠〈…〉 sworn Heir to the Crown 1583. The Parliament met the beginning of the New Year Another Parliament held and swore the Prince and among other things the King granted leave for wearing of Silks Mary the Empress Sister to King Philip and her Daughter Margaret came to meet the King at Lisbon The Portuguese expected the former would have been left to govern them Philip returns to Castile but the King made choise of her Son the Cardinal Albertus Archduke of Austria On the 11th of February the King set forward for Castile carrying with him the Lady Juliana de Lancastro Heiress of the Noble House of Aveiro 4. All Men began to observe how the Cardinal Albertus was qualified Cardinal Albertus Governour of Portugal and they found his Inclinations were good Only two things remarkable happened during the time of his Government One was the English Invasion under Antony the Grand Prior before spoken of The other the counterfeit Sanctity of a Nun. The Hipocrisie of a Nun. She pretended to live without eating and indeed had no other Sustenance but what she got out of artificial Candles she pretended to burn in her Oratory She also imprinted on her Body the Five Wounds of our Saviour so artificially that the cheat was scarce to be discerned even after she was discovered During the short time this Hypocritical Scene was acted she wrought some Miracles Being at last examined she was punished and from thenceforth led so Godly a Life as almost purchased her the Opinion of Sanctity she before endeavoured to gain by Hypocrisie The King tho' he left the Cardinal in Portugal governed the Kingdom himself with the assistance of his Portuguese Council composed of very worthy Persons in the choice of which he never erred The conceit some People entertained that King Sebastian was yet living 15â—â— gave Occasion to some Persons to take upon them his Name and Character 〈◊〉 Sebastian The Son of a Tiler born at Alcobaza who had been Apprentice to a small Turner of Heads in Lisbon and expelled the Order of Carmelites in his Noviceship went away and lived like a Hermit on the Borders of the Kingdom near Aâ—â—â—querque After some time the People censuring his course of Life he left it and putting on good Apparel he travelled about that Country well mounted Some presently gave out he was King Sebastian which he at first denied but finding them positive at last complied with their Humour and suffered two of his Followers to call themselves the one Christopher 〈…〉 and the other the Bishop of Guarda both which had been slain with the King in Africk Some few days they lived well among their Adherents and gathered Money but being apprehended by Order of the Arch-Duke Albertus the Counterfeit Sebastian after having been shewed at Lisbon was sent to the Galleys and his Companion the pretended Bishop hanged 5. Scarce was the last Impostor punished when another started up in his place This was one Gonzalo Alvarez the Son of a Mason who like the other became an Eremite and did much seeming Penance lashing himself and then crying out where he might be heard O unhappy Sebastian all thy Penance is but little in respect of thy Crimes A Rich Farmer called Peter Alfonso joyned with him and concealed him giving out Orders in his Name At length he gathered 800 Men calling himself Earl of Torresnovas Lord of Cascais and Governour of Lisbon None saw the pretended King but the Daughter of the false Earl she being designed Queen and also the Wife of Antony Simoens a Rich Man Whensoever this Pageant King was forced to appear abroad he wore a great pair of Spectacles which covered most part of his Face He sent a Son of Simoens to the Governour Albertus to Order him to quit the Palace for that he was coming to undeceive the People This Messenger being taken and then let go increased the Opinion of the People that it was King Sebastian because Antony Simoens having known him would not otherwise have suffered his Son to go on that Message The Judge of Torresvedras was ordered to Apprehend them but he attempting it was together with his Clerk cast headlong from a High Place and killed Gasper Pereira for reproving them was also murdered with his Son and Nephew and his House plundered Antony Fonseca an Alcalde de Corte went next with 400 Spaniards The false Sebastian executed commanded by Captain Calderon who after killing a few of the Mutiniers took the Upstart King At Lisbon he was hanged and quartered as was the false Earl Peter Alfonso with others Some were sent to the Galleys and the Towns of Ericeyra Carbonero and Mafra were left almost desolate the Inhabitants flying for fear of Punishment Yet after all this many thought King Sebastian must come out from the Desart and there was scarce any that lived an Eremitical Life in Portugal who was not imagined to be that King 6. Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth's Provocations and King Philip's Design against her Queen of England not regarding that she owed her Life to King Philip joyned with the Rebels of Holland against him She sent over to then Assistance Robert Earl of Leicester with 3000 Men. Sir Francis Drake also sailed from Plymouth in August and Landing at Bayona was beaten off thence Next he fell upon the Islands of Caboverde where he took a considerable Booty and all the Cannon of the Fortifications along the Sea-coast Thence he sailed to Sancto Domingo in the West-Indies 1586. which City he â—â—ok and plundered The same he did at Cartagena and then passed over to Florida About the beginning of this Year King Philip set out the Proclamation for regulating the Stile to be used in Letters which till then caused much Confusion every one aspiring to greater Titles than belonged to them King Philip provoked by the many Wrongs done him by Queen Elizabeth resolved upon the Conquest of England and to that purpose gathered a Mighty Fleet in the vast Port of Lisbon It contained 130 Sail most of them very large under the Command of D. Alonso Perez de Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia and Generalissimo The Land Forces amounted to 20000 1588. the Mariners above 11000. They sailed from Lisbon the 27th of May and
de Meneses the latter by D. Frederick de Toledo Ossorio Marquess of Valdueza Whilst these Squadrons now united make their Voyage let us see what was doing at Baia. The Hollanders possess'd of the City Other Actions of the Dutch after taking Baia. took several Vessels which knowing nothing of what had happened fell ignorantly into that Port. They sent five Ships laden with Booty to their Country with the News of their Success and with the Governour and Provincial of the Jesuits that had been taken Prisoners After the taking of the City D. Mark Teixeira the Bishop took upon him the Command of General for the Defence of the Country and drew near to the Place with 1500 Men the third part of them Blacks Several Encounters happened betwixt his Men and the Enemies in which he lost 7 or 8 Men and the Rebels above 300. In one of these Skirmishes Capt. Francis de Padillâ— killed Col. John Dort and cut off his Finger on which he wore a Ring the Soldiers stripping his Body cut off his Privities to shew them to his Men. These Barbarities were a greater shame to them that acted than to him that suffered them Two runagate Portuguese repenting and deserting back from the Enemy were received by our Men upon the points of their Swords and cut in pieces The Port of Tapagipe was recovered from the Rebels and the Commander of it sent Prisoner to Lisbon The Bishop fell sick and died and Francis Nunez Marinho succeeded him in the Command who behaved himself will till D. Francis de Moura was sent thither by the King with some Supplies till the Fleet could come He pent up the Enemy within the Town recovering from them the Suburbs of the Carmelites and S. Benedict but the City was strong and in the Port were 26 Ships well manned Their whole Force consisted of 3000 Men of several Nations and 500 Blacks 5. The Spanish and Portuguese Fleet arrived at Baia upon Good-Friday 1626. to the great Terror of the Rebels 4000 Men landed immediately The Spanish and Portuguese Fleets arrive at Brasil The General D. Emanuel de Meneses and the Admiral D. John Faxardo remained aboard drawing up their Fleet like a Half Moon to hinder the flight of the Enemy Peter Roiz de San Estevan Marquess of Cropani marched with the 4000 Men to the City D. Frederick de Toledo the Spanish General following him They took their Posts and began to carry on their Works when about 300 of the besieged sallying killed 50 of our Men most of them Persons of Note yet they were forced to retire The Cannon being planted the Bullets flew so thick that in a few days all was full of Ruins and the besieged began to be dismay'd The same Fate attended their Fleet for D. Emanuel de Meneses landing from a Battery he raised on the Shoar sunk several of their â—hips destroying many Men. The Enemy's only hope was in the Succours they expected but they came only to be Spectators of their shameful quitting the Town Their Soldiers began to complain they had been decoyed thither and were weary of the Service their Commander in Chief proclaimed that all such as would go over to the Portuguese Camp should have leave but two that declared for it were hanged This silenced them for a while but soon after they proposed the surrendring the City and the Governour opposing them was not only affronted but wounded To prevent their deserting him he designed to burn the Fleet but before he could put it in execution they surrender'd Articling only for their Lives Baia recavered In the Town was found an extraordinary Rich Booty which the Spanish Soldiers made the most of The Merchandize found there was valued at above Three Millions in Money 300000 Ducats 2000 Quintals of Powder each Quintal is an Hundred Weight an infinite quantity of Ball 230 Pieces of Cannon 3000 Musquets 800 Corslets the same number of Saddles 600 Blacks 6000 Bushels of Meal 50000 Hides and 2000 Pipes of Wine The two Squadrons returning home suffered by Storms some perished the rest arrived in their Ports 6. King Philip most generously rewarded the Portuguese King Philip Rewards the Portuguese who so signalized their Zeal upon this occasion for his Council Advising that he should grant to the Sons of those that were killed in his Service all that they possessed belonging to the Crown he not only consented to it but afterwards without being asked he added more with his own Hand That forasmuch as he was desirous such Subjects might live he not only allowed that Favour to those that were killed but to all that went in the Fleet. This same Year a Fleet of above 100 Sail of English assaulted the Island of Cadiz Cadiz assaulted by the English whither many Portuguese Gentlemen after providing for the Security of their own Coasts resorted to express their Zeal for the King's Service After some time the Enemy was repulsed with loss and retired leaving many of their Men dead behind them Before this Invasion of the English the Famous Bell of Villilla in the Kingdom of Aragon is said to have rung out of it self Two great Losses to Portugal Portugal sustained two inestimable Losses the one before the Passages we have spoke of happened the other after The first was the taking the City Ormuz by the Persians with the assistance of the English The other the Destruction of its Fleet which being set out to Convoy the Ships from India was wrecked on the Coast of France where all the Ships and most of the Men among whom were many of Note perished Since the loss of King Sebastian in Africk this Kingdom had not so great a Misfortune 7. Here our Author The Conclusion Emanuel de Faria puts an end to his History He composed the whole at Madrid and being there at the time of the Revolution durst not proceed any further because as a Portuguese he would not write any thing that should derogate from the Honour of his Country and as being in the hands of the Spaniards it was dangerous to say any thing that might be offensive to them He only adds an Account of the Children King Philip had till that time and some short Remarks upon the Publick Affairs of the World which make nothing to this History Let us therefore put an end to this Part of the History and proceed to the Supplement wherein will be found all that was worth our Knowledge from the Time where he leaves off to our Days The End of Emanuel de Faria y Sousa his History of PORTUGAL The Supplement to Emanuel de Faria e Sousa his History of Portugal from the Year 1640 where he left off till this present time collected from the best Authors that have written thereof and from Authentick Information of Eye-Witnesses Anno 1640. 1. THE Spaniards had now been near 60 Years possessed of the Kingdom of Portugal 1640. Philip the Second of Spain
and they as soon retired till they drew him into the ambush He was at first surprized seeing himself Attacked by that fresh body but recovering himself divided his men and sent one part to charge those that had drawn him on whilst the other engaged those that lay in ambush In this manner the Fight continued a considerable time after which fresh Troops appeared coming from Badajoz to the assistance of the Spaniards and others from Elvas to sustain the Portuguese These last were 1600 Foot and four Squadrons of Horse under the Conduct of the Count de Obidos Now the face of Affairs was changed for the Portuguese obtained a Compleat Victory The first of the Spanish Troops were cut in pieces and the last retired with the loss of 176 Horse Of the Portuguese 37 were killed in the ambush and 16 in the Engagement after it 8. The Assembly of the States The Cortes or Parliament held or Parliament of Portugal being the only Authority that could establish the Crown and raise such supplies as were necessary for the support of it the King fixt their Meeting for the 18th of September and that day the Session was commenced with all the Ceremonies usual upon such occasions The Bishop of Elvas performed the Office of Chancellor acquainting that Assembly in the King's Name with the causes of their being convened He represented the great Blessing of Liberty the King 's extraordinary Care to repair the Harms done by the Spaniards the mighty Power he had as well by Sea as Land the Alliances he had made Abroad and put them in mind how he had never lay'd any Impositions upon his People but maintained the expence of his House upon the private Patrimony of his Family and that being now much exhausted he recommended it to them to find out means to support so great a Charge assuring them of his Royal Protection and that their Liberties and Privileges should be religiously preserved Great was the expectation the King had conceived of this Assembly nor was he disappointed for they gave such Testimonies of their Duty as exceeded even his Hopes They returned Thanks for his Care in asserting their Liberties for delivering them from the Yoke of Spain for the Alliances he had made Abroad and for all his good Intentions offering him their Lives and Fortunes and sending him a Blank Paper that he might dispose of their Estates as he thought fit for the support of the State and purchasing his Brother's Liberty who was kept Prisoner by the Spaniards ever since the beginning of the War having been put into their hands by the King of Hungary in whose service he had been nine Years The King returned the blank as it was sent to him and had more plentiful supplies granted him than he himself would have demanded The Parliament settled two Funds the one for Land the other for Sea-Service All other expences were to be supplied out of the Patrimony of the House of Braganza 9. D. John Rodriguez de Souza y Vasconcellos Count of Castelmelhor A Conspiracy to seize Carthagena discovered and the Portugueses secured went over to Brazil in the Spanish Fleet in the Year 1639. In 1641. he was sent by his General to the Spanish Plantations in the West-Indies The News of the Revolution of Portugal being then brought to the Fleet the Spaniards cryed down the New King's Title and exclaimed against the Portugueses as Rebels This sensibly touched the Count de Castelmelhor yet he was forced to bear with it being in no condition to make his resentment appear without his certain destruction There were seven Portuguese Gallions in the Fleet and in them 3000 Men. With the Officers of these Ships he conspired to seize the Fleet as also the Town and Cittadel of Cartagena in new Spain before which they were then at Anchor Most of the Officers were already engaged in this Design and all disposed for putting of it in execution but the Count having communicated it to Antony Tenezedo a Portuguese in whom he confided as having done him many signal favours he discovered the whole matter to the Governour of the Cittadel who immediately apprehended the Count and had him Condemned to Death This Sentence had been executed within two days had not the Count appealed to the Court of Madrid and the Admiral of the Fleet having had the Sentence confirmed by the Council there no hopes remained for his deliverance but in God Whilst the Admiral sent into Spain to have the Sentence confirmed the King of Portugal got intelligence of what had hapned He immediately sent away a Caravel Commanded by a Captain in whose Conduct he had great confidence ordering him to sail for Cartagena and use all possible means to deliver the Prisoner The Weather proved favourable to the Design the Captain Arrived safe and found means to let the Count know he was come to rescue him To this purpose he agreed with a Dutch Captain who Commanded a Frigat in that Port for the Caravel being so leaky that it could not be put to Sea again he burnt it In the mean while the Count with ready Money and large promises corrupted a Corporal and two Spanish Soldiers that had the keeping of him and they altogether got aboard the Dutch Frigat which carried them safe to the Island of Tortuga where they were favourably received by the French Governour Thence they went over to the Island Tercera and lastly arrived at Lisbon where they were bountifully rewarded by the King Anno 1643. 1. THE hatred the Spaniards and Portugueses bore to one another was too great to suffer them to lie still Though the Season was not yet fit for Action the Frontiers were never free from incursions D. Sancho Manuel a Portuguese Major-General thinking no difficulties too great to be surmounted marched out with 150 Horse judging that a sufficient number to plunder the Town of Fituro in Castile four Leagues from the Frontiers of Portugal His Design being divulged and the Spaniards believing his Forces greater than they were they abandoned the Town leaving it to be ransacked by the Soldiers without the least opposition But the retreat proved not without danger for the Spaniards of the neighbouring places assembling to the number of 200 Horse Charged them before they could recover their own Frontiers and that with such resolution that the Portugueses were at first forced to give ground But having quitted all the Booty which encombred them they rallied and giving a fresh Charge worsted those by whom before they had been drove Night coming on put an end to the Battle The number of the Dead was equal and the Victory had been dubious but that the Spaniards got away in the dark leaving the Booty and the Field to the Portugueses This small Action was the cause of a greater for the Marquess de Elecha General of the Spanish Horse resolving to revenge that loss entred Portugal with 500 Horse and 300 Musketiers surprized the Town of Sabugal fired 13
brought to Lisbon of two several Accidents which moved different Passions in the People The King of Spain's Favourite disgraced One was that the Count Duke de Olivarez had lost the favour of the Catholick King whose prime Minister he had been for the space of 22 Years and because his Government had appeared Tyrannical to the Portugueses there were few of them who did not express extraordinary satisfaction at his fall The other piece of News produced great Compassion in such as were least Zealous for Religion Several Persons suffered Martyrdom in Japan F. Antony Francis Cardin a Jesuit and general Procurator for the Society in the Province of Japan gave an account that four Portuguese Amabassadors from Macao being at the Town of of Nangassaqui with 66 Persons in their retinue for the settling of Trade and to endeavour the planting of the Faith there the Emperor of that Island whose Name was Toyogun had cast them all into Dungeons then put to Death the four Ambassadors with 53 of the chief of their Retinue and sent home the other 13 in derision of the Apostles to carry the News of that Bloody Execution to Macao The Dutch notwithstanding the Cessation of Arms betwixt the Crown of Portugal and the States of Holland entred the City Negapatan in India the Portugueses not being able to withstand them and obliged them to ransom it for 110000 pieces of Eight A Treaty was afterwards set on foot for settling a Truce betwixt the two Nations in those parts but the Hollanders thinking it more for their Advantage to continue the War soon broke it off The next Act of Hostility they committed was in the Island Ceylon where thinking to surprize the Portugueses quarter'd in the Village Curaza as relying on the Truce betwixt the two Nations they marched against them but they having intelligence of their coming charged them with such Bravery that of 400 Hollanders scarce any escaped being kill'd or taken This Victory gave the Portugueses in that Island quiet for some time But still the War was continued in other parts After the Dutch had left Negapatan it was besieged by a Neighbouring Nayque or Prince of the Indians but he meeting with a vigorous opposition soon desisted 6. In America the Portugueses under the command of Antony Teyxeyra after a long Siege recovered from the Dutch the City St. Luis of Maranhao they being forc'd to abandon it for want of Provisions and most of them afterwards perished by the hands of the Indians whom they had barbarously used Our Affairs were not so successful in Angola where our Men under the Command of Peter Cesar were worsted by the Dutch who afterwards concluding a Truce with them treacherously fell upon them killing 40 taking 187 Prisoners and forcing the rest to fly for safety to the Mountains Our Fort at Mozambique enjoyed most Peace for the Emperor of Monomotapa having been lately converted to the Faith by the religious of the Order of St. Dominick professed an inviolable Friendship towards the Portugueses and had obtained a number of them of Julius Moniz the Governor of that Fort for his Guard 7. The Pope always continuing fix'd in his Resolution The Portuguese Ambassador at Rome not being admitted returns home not to give Audience to the Bishop of Lamego sent by the King of Portugal with the quality of his Ambassador to Rome that Bishop was at length oblig'd to return home He was conducted by some of the Duke of Florence's Horse to Leghorn where four Portuguese Ships lay ready to carry him to Lisbon D. Luis Pereira de Castro Counsellor in his Majesties Council of Conscience was nevertheless chosen to undertake another Voyage to Rome But because the rejecting of a second Ambassador might be of ill Consequence to the Crown of Portugal this Counsellor took only the stile of Deputy of all the Clergy of the Kingdom to represent their wants and how prejudicial it was to refuse to admit an Ambassador from his Portuguese Majesty who had omitted nothing that might tend to convince the Christian World of his Zeal for Religion and his Respect to the Holy See Anno 1644. 1. IN pursuance to the League concluded betwixt the Kings of France and Portugal Great Preparations both in Spain and Portugal the former excited the latter to invade the Territories of Spain with all his Power by Sea and Land that so he might be put into a Condition to make the greater progress in Catalonia Hereupon King John gave Orders for gathering an Army of 12000 Foot and 2000 Horse which was to enter Castile by the way of Alentejo The Catholick King having Advice hereof the better to secure his Dominions on that side whilst he attended the Affairs of Catalonia gave the command of his Army in Estremadura to the Marquess de Torrecusa Mathias de Albuquerque having served the King of Portugal well was by him continued General of the Frontiers The first attempt made by the Marquess proved unfortunate for he could not make himself Master of Ougela a little Town in Portugal which after the Gate had been forced with a Petard was bravely defended by the Inhabitants for the space of six Hours The Portuguese army in Estremadura Among the other Defendants a Woman did Wonders with a Baker's Peel and though wounded could never be perswaded to retire till the Assault was given over The Portugueses after this were not slack to return the Spaniards their Visit at Mentejo which place though well fortifyed and defended by four Companies they assaulted and took by Scalade where falling disorderly to Plunder the Spaniards took the opportunity to rally and fell upon them so resolutely that they had all Perished but that the Monteiero Mor came in opportunely with his Horse and forced the Spaniards to retire to the River Guadiana where many of them were drowned Hence the Portugueses advanced and rased Membrillo an open Town save a Trench that had been thrown up about it The same they did to Villa Nueva de Barcarota but attempted not the Castle in which was D. Francis de Velasco Lieutenant General of the Horse of Castile who having but 500 Horse with him was not able to appear in the Field against the Portugueses They being now 6000 Foot and 1100 Horse with 6 pieces of Canon took and destroyed Villar del Reâ— Roca de Almanacite and Puebla all Towns of Estremadura These Actions of the Portugueses struck to the Heart of the Marquess de Torrecusa as perceiving a sort of Faintness in his Soldiers which looked like infatuation being wholly opposite to the natural Bravery of the Spaniards He called a Council of War in which he proposed to take the Field and give the Enemy Battle Many applauded his Propositions yet others advised to besiege Olivenza as the strongest of the Enemies Garrisons which would draw their Forces out of Spain and perhaps necessitate them to give Battle upon Terms of Disadvantage This opinion wanted not some to
Orleans which the Cardinal seemed to approve of yet it took no effect no more than the League at that time However King John sent three Men of War to joyn the French Fleet. At Rome F. Nunho da Cunha presented a long memorial to the Pope pressing him to Confirm the Bishops Elected by the King because of the great want of Prelates there was in all the Portuguese Dominions but without any success for three Popes successively absolutely persisted in the denial Francis de Souja Coutinho who was Ambassador in Holland after having interposed all the delays that could be admitted to hinder the States sending a Fleet to Pernambuco finding they had now 30 Sail ready to put to Sea boldly made use of certain blanks he had of the King 's to assure them that Parnambuco should be restored which done he immediately gave the King an Account thereof desiring he would order him to be secured and if it were necessary to take off his Head to satisfie the States rather than the fraud should be imputed to His Majesty By this wile the Fleet was kept back from June till December when it was put out three times and was still beat back by unseasonable weather to the great advantage of the Portugueses in Pernambuco The King on the other hand always pretended he had ordered his Subjects in that Province to lay down their Arms that they maintained the War in Contempt of his Commands and that the succours they had from Bahia were all by stealth Several proposals were made for buying those places the Dutch possessed there but they all came to nothing 5. We left Sigismund Vanscop Prosecution of the War in Brazil the Dutch Commander at Pernambuco preparing his Fleet to attempt the Conquest of Bahia All things being in readiness he set sail from the Coast of Pernambuco called Arrecifâ— about the end of January steering his course for the River of St. Francis the better to conceal his Design upon Bahia There he took in what necessaries he wanted and being joyned by Anderson's Squadron sent thither before put to Sea again and soon appeared before Bahia Fearing to attempt the City â—e Anchored at the Island Taparica opposite to it and three Leagues distant where he speedily erected a Forâ— and four redoubts on as many Hills that Command it then stretched out his Fleet so that all the Shoar lay exposed to his Cannon Antony Tellez the Governour of Bahia fortified the passage from the Island to the City but adventuring contrary to the advice of the Council of War to Attack the Hollanders in their strength was repulsed with great loss This done he immediately sent advice to the King of the Condition he was in who ordered him speedy relief Twelve Ships were fitted out under the Command of Antony Tellez de Menezes Count de Villa-Pouca with Orders that after relieving Bahia five of them should be delivered to Salvador Correa de Sá and Benavides appointed Governour of the Province of Rio de Janeyro and Captain-General for the Kingdom of Angola His instructions were to endeavour the recovery of that Kingdom basely usurped by the Dutch after they had overthrown Peter Cesar de Meneses under colour of friendship as was said before The Fleet set sail and the Dutch at Pernambuco having intelligence of it and fearing it was designed against them earnestly pressed Sigismund Vanscope to quit Bahia and come to their assistance for they were much pressed by the Besiegers The Portuguese Governours at Pernambuco perceiving that the Dutch about Rio Grande improved that Countrey which was a great relief to the Besieged sent Major Antony Dias Cardoso with 300 Men who destroyed all he found there driving away 200 Prisoners and a vast number of Cattle After this Andrew Vidal marched with 800 Men to Ceará Merim on the North of Rio Grande and wasted all that Territory killing 70 Hollanders and bringing away many Prisoners and as much Cattle as supplied the want of Provisions there was before in the Camp Whilst these 800 Men were abroad the Besieged made several Sallies but without any success and John Fâ—rnandez Vieyra to curb them ordered that several Parties should continually keep the Enemy in alarm Then the more to streighten them he raised a Fort opposite to one the Dutch had built to cover the City Mauricia which he managed with such dexterity keeping them always upon their guard that though it was begun about the beginning of October they never perceived the work till the 6th of November when our Artillery began to play upon the City the Shoar and the bar for all those places were within reach We also Attacked and carried the Palace of Count Nasau guarded by two Companies which having Plundered our Men returned without any loss At this time Sigismund Vanscop returned with his Fleet having abandoned his Fort at the Island Taparica before the Arrival of our Fleet. The Count de Villapouca Arrived at Bahia eight days after the Enemy had abandoned the Fort but eight of their Ships again appeared upon the Coast Some Ships went out to receive them and after a long dispute two Portugueses and as many Dutch were burnt and sunk The Count took possession of the Government of Bahia and Antony Tellez de Silva the former Governour remained there about his private Affairs but with ill success as will hereafter appear The five Ships designed for Angola went away in December to joyn Salvador Correa at Rio de Janeyro what they did we shall see in its place 6. D. Gaston Continho How things stood in Africk and India Governour of Tangier never ceased to infest the Moors and overthrew some parties of theirs that came to ravage the Territories of Tangier This Year the Fleet of Spain consisting of 47 Ships and several small Vessels and Commanded by D. John of Austria appeared before that City as if it were designed to Land Men but after some Hours Canonading on both sides put to Sea again D. John Luis de Vasconcellos who Commanded at Marzagam sent Presents to the Alcayde of Azamor and the King of Morocco to purchase their friendship yet the Alcayde with 300 Horse made an Incursion to the Walls of Marzagam and though D. John fought with him from nine in the Morning till three in the Afternoon he was forced to retire being overpowered by the number of the Infidels In India the King of Marava commonly called Yeveré trusting to the strength of the Island Ramanancor revolted from the Nayque of Madure to whom he was tributary The Nayque asked the assistance of the Portugueses for conveying his Forces into the Island They sent a Fleet to his aid and by their means the Rebel was reduced and they received the Reward promised for their assistance Four Ships sailed this Year from Lisbon to India two whereof perished in the Latitude of Mozambique Anno 1648. 1. THE Count de St. Lorenzo The Spaniards Besiege Olivenza without success govern'd Alentejo and with
great industry disposed all things for the defence of that Province D. James Mexia Marquess of Leganes came the second time to Badajoz to Command the Spanish Forces His coming was the cause that all the Portuguese preparations were redoubled new Forces raised and the Frontiers fortified Whilst the main Bodies were gathering on both sides the Marquess de Leganes sent 600 Horse by the way of Albuquerque to plunder the Countrey as far as Marvao The Count St. Lorenzo having timely notice of it sent Achim de Tamericourt the Commissary-General with 400 Horse and Orders to fight wheresoever he should meet him Tamericourt executed his Orders with so much bravery that meeting the Enemy near Portalegre he soon routed them took 200 Prisoners and recovered all the prey This disaster provoked the Marquess de Leganez to hasten putting in execution his Design upon Olivenza which place the Ingenier Cosmander who before we said was won by the Spaniards had ingaged to put into the Catholick King 's hands without much difficulty On the 20th of June he appeared at break of day before Olivenza with 8000 Foot and 3000 Horse Cosmander who had the directing of the Attack divided these Troops into four parts ordering them to give the Assault in as many places reserving to himself a barrier of the covered way where the Soldiers used to come out to work The Spaniards advanced with resolution and mounted two Bulwarks before the Centinels gave the Alarm The Soldiers of the next Guards and some of the Inhabitants hasting to the places where the danger was maintained the Fight till the rest of the Garrison came to their relief D. John de Menezes the Governour at the first Alarm ran half Naked with his Sword in his hand into the Street and with his example so encouraged the Soldiers that they drove the Enemy forcing many to cast themselves down headlong from the Bullwarks Yet the danger was not over for in other places the Spaniards had turned some Cannon of the other Bullwarks upon the City and many fell on both sides D. John though he had received three wounds ceased not to act as well as give out Orders The danger lasted till it was clear day when Cosmander thinking to force the barrier of the covered way was shot dead from the Wall His death put an end to the dispute for though the Marquess de Leganez dismounted his Horse to carry on the Assault those that were drove out so discouraged the others that were to come on that the Marquess was forced to sound a retreat and immediately returned to Badajoz After this in several small rencounters the Portugueses were successful against the Spaniards took a considerable Convoy from them near Albuquerque and the Count de St. Lozenco made an Incursion as far as Talavera whence he returned with a great Booty passing in sight of Badajoz in hopes the Marquess de Leganez might be drawn out but he stirred not Some difference arising betwixt the Count and John Mendes de Vasconcellos who had governed that Province before the King sent the latter Prisoner to the Old-Tower where he remained till the time we shall speak of him hereafter In all the other parts of the Kingdom there was no Action of any consideration this Year 2. On the 26th of April was Born the King's third Son Prince Peter now King and was Baptized by the Bishop of Elvas Birth of King John's Son Peter now Reigning Negociations in France and Rome with all Solemnity and publick Demonstration of Joy The Marquess de Niza who was Ambassador in France ceased not to sollicite the conclusion of a League betwixt the two Crowns but all his endeavours proved successless whereupon in February of the following Year he left Paris and returned home F. Nunho da Cunha was still at Rome solliciting the Affairs of Portugal Two Capucins came to Rome with the Title of Ambassadors from the King of Congo to give his Obedience to the Pope and obtain of him Bishops and Missioners for propagating of the Faith The Pope gave them publick Audience and appointed an Arch-Bishop two Bishops and 3◠Missioners Spaniards and Italians giving them a Summ of Money and ordering them to imbark in 〈◊〉 port of Spain F. Nunho da Cunha opposed the sending of these Bishops and Missioners because that the Kingdom of Congo appertained to the Conquest of Portugal and Dr. Emanuel Alvarez Corrillo was sent from Lisbon by the King to second him as well in that as solliciting the Expediting of Bulls for the Bishops of Portugal but all they could effect was only to stop the Voyage of the Bishops and Missioners of Congo 3. Whilst these things happened in Europe Success of the Portugueses against the Dutch in Brazil the Dutch continued blocked up on the Coast of Pernambuco In January the Portuguese Governors of that Province received Intelligence that the Fleet under the Count de Villa Pouca was arrived at Bahia but that no Succour was to be expected from thence They were no ways dismayed at this News but resolved to proceed more vigorously than before Accordingly they sent Henry Dias with his own Regiment and some Companies of D. Antony Philip Camarao to Rio Grande He march'd with such Secresie and Expedition that the Enemy knew nothing of it till they felt the effects of his Arrival for he Burnt and destroyed all before him Such as could escape retired to Gurairas a fortifyed place in a Lake but he attacked and carryed that also by Night putting all within to the Sword without sparing Sex or Age. Thence he marched to Cunhau which was also fortified yet was deliver'd up those within only compounding for their Lives The King at last considering of how great Consequence it was to expell the Dutch out of America sent Francis Barreto de Menezes with two small Vessels and 300 Men to command there as Camp-Master General By the way he met a Dutch Squadron by whom he was taken and carryed Prisoner to Arrecife where he was kept in Custody 9 Months and at last made his Escape with one Francis Bra Son to the Officer that had him in keeping Being come into the Portuguese Quarters he joyned with John Fernandez Vieyra and Andrew Vidal being positively set down to endure the utmost Extremities rather then forsake the Enterprize they had in hand They sent Captain Paul de Cunha to sollicit some Succours from the Count de Villa Pouca at Bahia but he returned without any at such time as a Fleet was arrived from Holland which consisted of 44 Sail with 9000 Land-Men aboard it besides Sea-Men when it came out but some had perished in a Storm Upon the Arrival of this great Power the Portugueses gather'd all their Forces quitting the most distant and least advantagious Posts and yet after all they could make up but 2200 Men fit for Service Sigismund Vanscop who commanded the Dutch proclaimed a Pardon to all Slaves or Portugueses that should come over to
before they could intercept him With this Design he gathered 350 Foot and 200 Horse and marching to Segura sent before Captain Gaspar de Tavora with 140 Horse to drive the Cattle about Sacravim which done he had orders ro retire to Collonel John Fialho who should expect him with 60 Horse and the rest of the Foot at a place called Salto near the River Lagao Gaspar de Tavora executed his Orders with such expedition that by Noon he had joyned John Fiallo But the Spaniards having notice of D. Sancho's March no sooner entred Portugal then they turned back and marching towards their Town of Carza by which the Portugueses must of necessity pass appeared before John Fialho when least he expected it with 600 Horse and as many Foot He covering his Horse with the Foot retired in good order for above a League till coming to a Pass the Enemy drew up before him Necessity now obliging him to charge them he fell with such Bravery upon the 600 Foot that he absolutely broke them but in the mean while the 600 Spanish Horse charging his 200 now divided from their Foot after some short dispute overpowered and totally routed them The Enemy pursued their Advantage and John Fialho rallying his Foot recovered an advantagious Post to defend himself The Enemy ceased their pursuit in care for their Foot which had been overthrown and return'd to compleat their Victory by destroying John Fialho and his party He had as was said gained an advantagious post but having spent all his Ammunition was made Prisoner with all the Officers of Horse and Foot 140 Horse escaped the rest with all the Foot were either killed or taken After this Disaster D. Sancho Manuel retired to Idanha Nova and garrisoned the Frontiers with the Militia writing to the Prince for supplies which were soon sent him Being recruited and joyning his Forces with those of D. Roderick de Castro he resolved to revenge the late Affront by surpising the City Coria They marched with 1500 Foot and 700 Horse some Petards and other necessaries for such an Enterprize but the distance being great they could not come before the City till after day However having divided their Foot they attacked the Suburbs in two places which they entered plunder'd and burnt which done seeing no possibility of forcing the City they retired and each returned to his Province 3. The troubles of France increasing rendred all Foreign Negotiations so uncertain at that Court that Francis de Sousa Coutinho having obtained leave of the King came to Portugal leaving D. Felicianus Dourado Secretary of the Embassy to Reside there during his absence At this time there was held at Paris a Synod of Bishops Endeavours used for obtaining Bishops but in vain to whose Consideration King John recommended the finding of some expedient for prevailing with the Pope to precognize the Bishops of Portugal They used their utmost endeavours but the Spanish Interest still prevailing nothing could be done at this time Antony de Sousa de Macedo having obtained leave of the King to quit the Embassy of Holland D. Antony Rapozo Succeeded him in that employ He made it his business to heighten the misunderstanding betwixt the English and Dutch because the latter having sustained great losses by the War they were engaged in with the former were thereby disabled from sending succours to Pernambuco The King at the same time considering how advantageous the Friendship of England might prove to his Affairs resolved to send an Ambassador thither and pitched upon the Count de Penaguiao for that employ as we have said before 4. Francis Barreto Francis Barreto his further Actions in Brazil the General of Pernambuco continued the Siege of Arrecife with considerable resolution hoping at length to reduce the Besieged whose only hope consisted in the succours they expected from Holland The first part of the Year passed without any memorable Action In May Francis Barreto ordered Major Antony Diaz Cardozo with 400 Men to lie close in ambush and send out parties to endeavour to draw the Garrisons of the Forts Barreta and Affogados into the snare The Major posset himself of the post assigned him without being discovered and sending out certain small Parties drew out the Enemy as he had designed but the number of the Hollanders being greater than had been expected the Fight continued doubtful for above an hour at length the Dutch were routed and fled to their Forts leaving the Field covered with dead Bodies After this Barreto being informed that the Enemy had laid up great store of Brazil-Wood and other Commodities at Rio Grande in order to be transported into Holland he sent thither the Collonel Andrew Vidal with 300 Men who burnt their wood wasted all the Countrey and returned with a great booty and many Prisoners The Dutch had in those Seas 50 sail of Ships from 20 to 30 Guns but so ill Manned and Equipped for want of supplies from Holland that tho' they met the Portuguese Brazil-Fleet and fought it yet after a short dispute they were forced to retire without any Prize and the Fleet arrived safe at Lisbon on the 26th of October 5. We left the Baron de Alvito The Spaniards try the Governour of Tangier without success Governour of Tangier labouring under great scarcity of Provisions the last Year He had not as yet received any relief from Lisbon which being known at Ceuta D. John Soares who Commanded there for the Spaniards hoping their wants might reduce that Garrison to revolt from their King sent two Brigantines and a Bark thither ordering the Commander of the Bark to enter the Port and convey the Letters he had writ for that purpose to the Baron and other Men of note This being put in execution the Baron read the Letters which were to perswade him to submit himself to the King of Spain with promise of great Rewards or else to offer him safe passage to Lisbon The Baron whose Loyalty was not shaken having in vain endeavoured to draw those in the Bark a-shoar caused another to be fitted out in which went several resolute Gentlemen with Fire-Arms and Orders to Attack the Enemies Bark when they should approach to receive the Letter they expected The Barks coming together they fired killed three of the Spaniards and carried the rest Prisoners to the City This Action so exasperated the Spaniards that they sent three Ships to interrupt any relief that might be designed for Tangier but the Baron ordering the Vessels that came from Lisbon to be detained in Algarve till further advice from him the Enemy quitted their station and gave way to five Caravels with Provisions to relieve that City The Baron being informed that certain Captive Moors in the Town had by intelligence with those abroad agreed to let themselves down the Wall of the old Town near which the others were to lie hid in order to receive them he ordered three Soldiers habited like Moors to be let down and when
be master of so weak a place before the Portuguese General could gather a sufficient Force to attempt the relief of it However the Trenches were opened against the Town and Batteries raised but the first that gained a post were the Italians who with much bravery stormed and took the Monastery of the Carmelites whence planting their Cannon they made a great havock in the Town The Spaniards ashamed to be outdone by the Italians carryed on their Works with great diligence and having with much slaughter repulsed the Besieged who sallyed upon them made themselves master of the Church of St. Dominick which overlooking the Town they planted their Cannon upon it to the great Damage of the Besieged D. John seeing the miserable condition of the Place sent another Summons offering honourable Conditions if they surrendred in time which all the Officers of the Garrisons seeing no possibility of holding the Place or likelyhood of Relief thought it time to accept of but Lewis de Sousa Elect Bishop of Porto and Administrator of the Church of Ebora a Man fitter for the Army than the Church crossed their design raising Factions among the People and Garrison and by this means obstructed the surrender that and the following day The Clergy and Laiety Women and Children flocked to the Works and endeavoured to make up the Breaches but all in Vain for more was already ruined than could be retrieved and the continual Fire of the Enemies Cannon rendred all their efforts unsuccessful This Fury being spent and the People coming to themselves at length they capitulated and delivered up the City upon such Conditions as could be obtained which were not very Honourable On the 9th day after it waâ— invested Ebora delivered to D. John the City was surrendred There marched out 2000 Foot and 300 Horse of the Garrison who according to Articles were to be conducted into Castile and there to remain Prisoners of War during the Summer 4. The News of the Siege of Ebora being brought to Lisbon The Portuguese General Count de Villaflor ordered to relieve Ebora caused mighty commotions and tumults in that City whereupon the Young King by the advice of his Counsel sent orders to the Count de Villaflor to releive Evora at any rate and at the same time commanded the Count de Castaneda with what Troops he had and could raise to suppress all Seditions in Lisbon The Count de Villaflor received his orders the very day that Evora was Surrendred of which as yet he had no notice and therefore having called a Council of War the advice of the Count Sabugal was followed which was not to hazard a battle at any disadvantage but to cut off the Enemies Provisions In order hereto the Army being now 12000 Foot and 4000 Horse and having received intelligence of the Surrender of Evora marched and incamped at Laondil where they had plenty of Provisions and streightned the Enemy In the mean while the News of the Surrender of Evora being brought to bon A mutiny at Lisbon for the loss of Ebora the multitude ran headlong into all Sorts of Licentiousness and not only the vulgar rabble appeared in the sedition but great Numbers of the more substantial sort joyned with them The First effort of their fury fell upon the Arch-Bishops Pallace which they plundered burning and carrying away all that was in it the Arch-Bishop himself having before made his escape to Court Thence they turned their rage against the Count of Castaneda whose house they ransacked as they had done the arch-Arch-Bishops he himself being also fled and after him they exercised the same barbarity towards the principal Magistrates and other great Men of the City Whilst this passed in the City the King consulted with the Arch-Bishop the Count de Castaneda and other great Men about the means of quelling this Sedition The Count advised to fall upon the raging Multitude with such Forces as were in the Town whereof the greatest part were Forreigners and therefore would be faithful in the performance of their duty But the Arch-Bishop's opinion prevailed which was to let the fury of the multitude pass over and then of themselves they would Return to their Duty The Rabble having raged all about the Towâ— came at last to the Kings Pallace where many being weary and coming to themselves began to slink away and at last the King Looking out of the Window and telling them that his Army now besieged those who had before layed Siege to Evora they all retired with confusion to their houses blaming one another for what they had all done No Notice was for the present taken of what had hapned but some time after several of the Ring-leaders were punished under other pretences 5. During these Transactions D. John marches out of Ebora to give the Portugueses battle D. John of Austria repaired the Fortifications of Evora and finding Provisions began to grow short having left a small garrison in the City marched out to give the Portugueses battle tho' contrary to the advise of the Duke of St. German who was utterly against hazarding a battle till the Forces they dayly expected from Castile were arrived and for the subsistance of the Army advised the turning out of the inhabitants upon whose stores the Souldiers might live many days The Portugues Army lay within half a League of Evora having a small River before it Thither D. John marched thinking either the Portugueseâ— would give him battle upon equal Terms or else that he should remove them from their advantagious Posts by 17 pieces of Canon which he planted upon an Eminence But the Count de Villaflor resolving not to quit his Advantage and the Canon which was ill planted doing as much Execution among his own as among the Enemies men D. John drew back and encamped without Canon Shot of the River Thus both Armies continued all Night ready for Action At break of Day D. John moved in order of battle to force the passage of the River where a bloudy dispute ensued till after a considerable Loss on both sides the Portugueses standing their ground the Spaniards who fought at great disadvantage were forced to give way and retire into the plain of Ebora D. John discouraged at this repulse put 3000 Foot and 600 Horse under the Command of Francis Gattinara Count of Sartirane into Ebora resolving to march back into Castile without coming to a battle if possible to avoid it by marching over the Mountains His first days march met with no obstruction because the Count de Villaflor was marched before in order to choose an advantageous Post to give battle in where the Horse might be of small use in which the Spaniards were much Superior to him Some there were who advised to march on all Night but D. John thinking that would look too like flying refused that wholesom advice In the Morning he was informed that the Portugues Army was at hand being covered from him by the tops of the
imprisoned that for the better palliating that odious Action and involving the People as a party in it the Infante himself accompanyed by all the Nobility and Magistrates should put it in Execution that the King's confinement should be at first concealed till by spreading abroad several rumours the People were prepared to allow of it and lastly that either by Art or Threats the King should be obliged to sign an Act of Renunciation The Infante heads the multitude and sets upon the King and exâ—orts from him an instrument of Resignation to the end it might be thought the King had voluntarily given up the Government to his Brother All things being thus disposed at break of day the Infante repairs to the Palace attended by an infinite multitude There he set a Guard upon the King and having locked all the Doors that led to his Apartment he sent Antony Cavide to notifie to him that by the general consent of the Kingdom he was deprived of the Government and his Liberty and also by the most terrible Threats to extort from him the signing of the Instrument of Resignation prepared for him The unfortunate King seeing himself wholly in the power of his Enemies and fearing the utmost effects of their Malice signed the Instrument which was immediately made publick as a justification of the Treasonable Practice It contained in substance that he freely resigned the Government to his Brother Peter and his Heirs reserving only to himself Three Hundred Thousand Cruzados a Year with the Mansion House of the Family of Braganza A Cruzado is Four Hundred Reis of Portuguese Money and Three Thousand Reis is just Twenty Shillings English so that 300000 Cruzados makes the just Sum of 37500 l. Sterling But how well even this miserable Composition for a Crown was observed may appear by his being kept ever after a Prisoner with only a few Servants of no Note such as his Brother thought fit to allow him so that in all probability his Expence could not amount to the tenth part of that Summ. The unhappy King being thus dethroned The Cortes meet and made Prisoner the Cortes or Parliament summoned by him met soon after at Lisbon about the beginning of February 1668 to destroy him by his own Authority At first there were great Debates amongst them whether it were at all lawful to take an Oath to Peter as Regent and next Heir to the Crown or whether the Crown should also be transferred to him some doubting whether the first were justifyable and others more violent urging the latter ought to be done At last the Majority agreed to the setling the Regency and Succession upon Peter but were generally averse to his usurping the style of King thinking it enough that he who was judged unfit for Government was removed from the Helm Peter after having put it to the Vote whether he should assume the Crown finding his Pretension rejected endeavoured to have it believed he was averse from it But the Queen who intended to make him her Husband and could not endure to think of losign any part of her Title The Queen presses to have Peter declared King He is received as Regent or abating any thing of her Pride and being a Woman that knew not how to dissemble her Vanity urged the matter more home to the States who nevertheless decreed that he should exercise all the regal Power without assuming the stile The Controversie being decided there arose another which was whether the King should be allowed his Liberty or confined but in Conclusion it was determined he should undergo perpetual Imprisonment There had been a League offensive and defensive 1668. concluded betwixt France and Portugal Peace with Spain at the beginning of the Year 1667 against Spain by which the French were obliged to give the Spaniards a powerful diversion in Flanders which they performed with great Success After that some Overtures of Peace being made by the Spaniards the Portugueses began readily to give ear to them and though the French Ambassador pressed that the Negotiation might be in common with his Master as in justice according to the League betwixt them it ought to have been yet the Prince who now haâ—â— the Government more mindful of the peculiar Interest which was to secure the Power he had newly gotten then of what in Honour was due to France entered upon a separte Treaty of Peace with Spain His Majesty of Great Britain was the Mediator and in his Name the Earl of Sandwich assisted at the Conferences At length the Peace was concluded betwixt the two Crowns on the 13th of February 1668 and published 10th of March following This Peace was highly cryed up among the Rabble as an effect of the Government of the Prince when all Men plainly saw and were sensible that in reality the victories obtained by King Alphonso were the only motives that obliged the Spaniards to propose it and that the Overtures had been made while he was yet at the Helm which must have had as good a success had he remained time enough in the Throne to bring things to Perfection and perhaps he might have done it without the dishonour of abandoning his Confederates the French On the 13th of February 1668. the Chapter of the Cathredal of Lisbon with others they had culled out all prepared for the design pronounced the Marriage betwixt King Alphonso The Marriage of the King and Queen declared null and the Princess Mary Francis Elizabeth of Savoy null and that therefore both of them were left at Liberty to dispose of themselves Then the three Estates and Magistrates of Lisbon as they had been before directed moved the Prince and Princess that since the former Marriage was declared null they would consent to match together on pretence it was for the good of the Kingdom This they were moved to in regard they were unwilling to restore her Dower and the Parties were no less ready to consent to what themselves had before contrived and agreed betwixt themselves However tho' there had been care taken for the disanulling the former marriage by such persons as were wholly in the interest of the cause there was yet started a scruple that it was not Lawful to proceed to a new match especially with the Brother of the former husband without a dispension But the Prince though pretending only to comply with the Cortes had not been negligent in that Affair for not long after the Publication of the nullity arrived in Portugal the dispensation from the Cardinal of Vendosme the Popes Legate a Latere in France by which it appears the dispensation was granted by one that was a party interessed in the Affair and precedent to the sentence of nullity The Infante marries the Queen Upon these grounds they made no difficulty to proceed to the Nuptials the Ceremony whereof was performed at Alcantara by the Bishop of Targa Administrator of the Arch-Bishoprick of Lisbon on the 2d of April 1668. After
the marriage fresh instances were made that the Prince might be declared King by the Cortes but this attempt also proving ineffectual he notifyed to them that on the 9th of June following he would take his Oath to maintain the Laws of the Realm and receive from them theirs of fidelity which was accordingly performed The three Estates continued their Session after this till the first day of August 1668 when they broke up Several months being passed after the consummation of this marriage when the thing done was not to be retrieved without horrid scandal and embroiling the whole State of the Church then at last the Prince bethought himself of sending to the Pope to confirm the Cardinal's dispensation Pope Clement the 9th who sate in St. Peter's chair seeing no possibility of recalling what was past and relying upon the information of the Chapter of Lisbon did expedite a Brief directed to James de Sousa Chief Inquisitor Antony de Mendâ—za commissary for the Bull of the Croisade Martin Alphonso de Melo Dean of Evora Lewis de Sousa Dean of Porto and Emanuel de Meneses Arch-Deacon of Evora impowering them to dispense in his name with the said marriage This Brief was dated December the 10th 1668. These persons so authorised accordingly in the Popes name delared the marriage of King Alphonso null that of his Queen with the Prince to be good and valid and all the Children that were or should be gotten between them to be Legitimate which sentence they pronounced upon the 18th of February 1669. When the unfortunate King had been detained a considerable time Prisoner in the Pallace of Lisbon 1669. it was thought necessary to remove him King Alphonso sent prisoner to the Island Tercera least the People comming to themselves and commiserating the sufferings of their Sovereign should make some commotion that might endanger the present government It was therefore resolved to send him into the Island Terecera whether he was conveyed by the Count de Prado then Commanding the Portuguese Fleet and there continued several years under a strict Guard At length not only the People of Lisbon but throughout all Portugal understanding by those who came from that Island that he led a most miserable Life in that remote Island and was almost reduced to the last extremity through sufferings and anguish of mind there was cause to apprehend they would in time be moved to resent his calamities and perhaps be stirred up to revenge them upon those who were the cause thereof Besides it fell out that the King of Spain at the same time fitted out a Navy at Cadiz without declaring for what intent which being known at Lisbon those who dreaded the Return of the King as having been the promoters of his Ruin presently imagined it was to take him from his banishment For these reasons he was sent for with all possible speed and brought back into Portugal He is brought back and confined to the Castle of Cintra where he was lodged in the Castle of Cintra upon the Sea Coast not far from Lisbon In this place he was not only observed and Guarded but as closely confined as if he had been a common Malefactor the very Windows of his lodgings being made up so that he could not look out but that what Light he had came from above his height This account of his usage in that place I received from Dr. Reis a Phisitian at Lisbon whose Son was Phisitian to the King and who had several times the opportunity of seing him being sent for by his said Son to assist his Majesty when indisposed for scarce any body else was admitted to see him In this deplorable condition the wretched King continued till his death But before we give an account of his End it will be fit to set down those few matters of moment that preceded it And indeed there are but few things that can furnish matter for History Portugal ever since the conclusion of the Peace with Spain having been ingaged in no War nor furnished any other important subject to treat of Warlike Kings and turbulent governments are the properest for swelling of Histories the great accidents and Councels then occurring giving great variety to dilate upon but in a peaceable and quiet State there is little to be found more then the settled and regular proceedings which being always in a manner the same are not worth the writing because they neither delight nor instruct in the reading Some few things remain which being of no mighty consequence shall briefly be set down that we may at length put an End to this History The new Prince regent as has been said Birth of the Infante Mary Frances was Marryed to his brothers Wife Mary Frances Elizabeth of Savoy on the 2d of April By her he had before the End of the same year a daughter named Mary Frances the only fruit of that surprizing marriage And tho' at first it was looked upon as a great token that God approved of their proceedings by giving them issue so suddenly yet afterwards those very persons who cryed up this providence could not but be undeceived when they perceived that these Princes living together about 16 years never had any other Child and even she dyed without being marryed All things having succeeded prosperously to that Prince as he that had established himself in the government secured his Brother gained his Wife and now got a Daughter his only care was how to continue in amity with all the World that so he might firmly Establish his new attained power He preserved Peace both at home and abroad in such Tranquility that for several years there will remain nothing else memorable of him to posterity In the Year 1677 1677. the Portugueses of the continent of Brazil in America seeeking to extend their borders A Portuguese Colony at Rio de la Plata in America destroyed by the Spaniards which reached to the great River called de la Plata passed over the said River and Planted a Colony at Buenos Aires which the Spaniards looking upon as an incroachment upon them they gathered to a body in those parts and falling upon the Portuguese Planters put them all to the Sword Advice hereof being brought into Portugal the Prince Regent expressed his resentment by his Embassadour at the Court of Madrid demanding Reparation of dammages The thing was long in debate both parties arguing for their Right to the place and protracting time At length the Portuguese weary of delay began to let fall some threats of a War but with so little preparation to it that the Effects were not to be feared However the Spaniards being more inclinable to compose the difference amicably than to enter upon a War on so slight an occasion The difference adjusted sent into Portugal the Duke of Giovenazzo their Embassadour extraordinary who after several conferences with the Portuguese Ministers concluded the matteâ— to the satisfaction of both Parties