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
any Age. The greatest Fury was King Sancho overthrows his Brother Garcia and takes him Prisoner when the Portuguese strove to gain the Standard of the Castilians King Sancho came thither in Person to defend it and being unhorsed by D. Egas Gomez de Sousa was taken Prisoner by D. Roderick Frojaz who delivered him up to King Garcia No sooner had he delivered his Prisoner but he fell down dead of the Wounds he had before received King Garcia put his Brother into the Custody of certain Gentlemen whilst he pursued the flying Enemy But King Sancho making his Escape from them made his Way to join Roderick Diaz de Bivar called Cid who was then coming up with fresh Troops that had not been engaged These charging the Portuguese before tired and now dispersed in the Pursuit changed the Fortune of the Day However the Fight thus renewed lasted till Night D. Peter and D. Vermui Brothers to D. Roderick Frojas were killed and King Garcia was taken by his Brother who not long before had been his Prisoner and who now knew better how to secure him than he had been kept himself Thus the Castilians recovered the Day and the Portuguese before victorious were put to the Rout. King Garcia continued in Prison 10 Years when he was released by Death There are Authors who write that King Sancho enlarged his Brother Garcia contenting himself that he should be Tributary to him and that D. Alonso Brother to both returned him to Prison in the Castle of Luna where he died with Irons on his Legs With those very Fetters at his own Request he was buried in the Church of St. Isidorus at Leon. 7. King Sancho having obtained the Victory over his Brother Garcia all the Kingdom of Portugal and Galicia submitted to him This Kingdom being subdued he turned his victorious Arms against King Alonso of Leon Sancho after subduing Portugal â—onquers Leon and becomes sole Monarch who well deserved it for consenting to the Destruction of his Brother The War continued bloody for some time with various Success till at length King Alonso overthrown was taken Prisoner To deliver himself from that Misery he retired to Sahagun pretending to become a Religious Man Soon after finding a fit Opportunity 1072. by the Advice of Count Peter Anzures King Alonso of Leon flies to the Protection of the Moors he fled to Toledo where the Moorish King Alimaimon entertained him with Royal Magnificence Nothing now remained to disturb King Sancho's ambitious Thoughts but his Sister Vrraca's possessing Zamora He laid Siege to that City and had now reduced it to Extremity but here in this last Act God permitted the Curses of his Father to reach him for in the Height of his Confidence a Traytor called Vellido Dolphes coming out of the City upon pretence of revealing some Secret to him took his Opportunity to strike him through the Body with a Spear whereof he fell down dead King Sancho reigned six Years and was murder'd in 1073. 1073. He was called The Brave and was married to the Lady Blanch Daughter to his Uncle Garcia Sanchez King of Navarre or according to others to Alberta of France His Body lies in the Church of our Blessed Saviour at Onna 8. King Alonso being generously protected by the Moor Alimaimon King of Toledo lived in hopes of better Fortune when Advice was brought him from Zamora by Order of his Sister Vrraca of the Death of his Brother Alonso after his Brother's Death returne and is received by the People aâ— their King King Sancho He immediately came to take Possession of his Kingdoms and was received with general Applause Only Roderick Diaz de Bivar called Cid would not take the Oath of Allegiance to him till he swore he had no Hand in the Death of King Sancho It is strange amidst the universal Satisfaction the King should have need of one Man But he resented this Affront so heinously that he afterwards banished him in which Exile Roderick gained much Honour King Alonso the 6th of that Name being settled in quiet Possession of his Kingdoms approved himself worthy of greater Dominions being one of the most victorious Princes of Spain and that farthest extended his Conquests He seemed rather to have fled to Toledo as a Spy than for Protection for he took that City from the Infidels and valued himself so much upon it that from thenceforwards he stiled himself Emperor 1085. and was the Honour of the Spanish Monarchy 9. King Alonso had six Wives Alonso's Wâ—ves and Issue The First was Agnes her Parentage unknown and she left no Issue The Second was Constance Daughter to Duke Robert II. of Burgundy She had a Daughter called Vrraca afterwards married to Count Raymund of Burgundy and her Portion was the Kinâ—â—â—om of Galicia Her Husband came to Spain with her Mother and they had Issue Sancha and Alonso the Emperor King Alonso's Third Wife was Berta Daughter to Philip I King of France By her he had the Ladies Sancha and Elvira the First married to Count Roderick Gonzalez Giron the Latter to Roger I King of Naples and Sicily The Fourth Wife was Elizabeth Daughter to the Emperor The Fifth Beatrix a French Lady Neither of them had any Children The Sixth was Zaida her Christian-Name Elizabeth Daughter of Almucamuz Aben Hamet King of Sevil She bore him a Son called Sancho killed at Twelve Years of Age in the Battel of Velez in the Year 1100. The King in his Youth had to do with the Lady Ximena Nunez de Gusman Daughter to King Garcia VI of Navarre By her he had three Daughters The First Elvira married to Count Raymund of Toulouse her Portion was a great Summ of Money with which he returned to France The Second Daughter was Teresa Wife to Count Henry the Progenitor of the Kings of Portugal Grandson to Robert I. Duke of Burgundy being the Fourth Son to Henry Eldest Son to the Duke Of the Third Daughter we have no Account unless it was one that was married to Ferdinand Mendez the Elder Son to Mâ—m Alao Lord of Braganza Some Authors would make the Lady Ximena to be lawful Wife to King Alonso but there are undeniable Proofs to the contrary in old Records specifying the Time when each Wife was married to the King wherein none is left for this Lady who doubtless was no other than a Mistress 10. Count Henry Count Henry marries the Bastard Daughter of King Alonso after he had married the Bastard-Daughter of King Alonso served the King in his Wars and was some Times sent Governor into Portugal as were several others from the Year 1072 till 1098. For tho' the Count was married in the Year 1072 the Kingdom of Portugal was not absolutely assigned over to him till after the Birth of his Son Alonso which was in the Year 1094 And we find that from the Year 1099 the Count continued settled in Portugal as absolute Lord and Proprietor thereof whereas
concluded a Truce for Eleven Years conditionally That both Kings should be obliged if they designed to make War at the expiration thereof to notify the same to the other Party Eighteen Months before Several discoveries had been of late Years attempted through the industry of Prince Henry 1420. and now this Year 1420 the Islands of Puerto Santo and Madera were First found such were the beginnings that gave Encouragment to the Discovery of India and America But of these Discoveries we have writ particular Books 1422. In the Year 1422 the King changed the computation of time till then used in Portugal which was from the Reign of Augustus to that of the Year of our Lord in imitation of King John the First of Castile who had made the like Reformation there before 5. This same Year the Constable Nunho Alvarez Pereyra being 62 Years of Age took upon him the religious Order of the Carmelites 1423. in the Monastery of Lisbon built by himself Peace ratified betwixt Castile and Portugal There he lived a very exemplary Life the space of 9 Years and died aged 71 Years To secure the Peace with Castile the King sent his Embassadors thither but one of them being overthrown and almost killed at the exercise of Tilting the Castilian sent an Embassador to Portugal who exchanged the Ratifications War now ceasing 1424. Prince Peter the Kings Second Son resolved to Travel and setting out with a Train sutable to his Quality he ran through a great Part of Europe Asia and Africk Four Years he spent in this imployment having been nobly entertained in the Courts of all Princes These Travels being then rare especially in such Persons gave occasion to many fabulous Relations thereof afterwards spread abroad which rendred the Truth it self suspected The King in the mean while applying himself to the Civil Government Enacted many good Laws 1428. Prince Edward was now 26 Years of Age and yet unmarried Prince Edward contracted to Ellenor Sister to Alonso King of Aragon therefore a Match was at this time concluded for him with the Princess Ellenor Sister to Alonso King of Aragon and Naples Her Dower was 200000 Florins At the same time also the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Earl of Vrgel and Grand-Child to Peter the Fourth King of Aragon was contracted to Prince Peter coming home after his Travels and the following Year she was Conducted to Portugal This same Year Philip of Burgundy 1429. Earl of Flanders being the second time a Widower sent to ask the Princess Elizabeth in Marriage which was granted and she sent into Flanders with a Portion of 150000 Crowns 6. The King sent two Embassadors to mediate a Peace betwixt the Crowns of Castile 1430. Arragon and Navarre the two latter whereof were hard pressed by the other The Castilian also that he might not seem to proceed upon unjust Grounds dispatched an Embassador to the Portuguese to acquaint him with the righteousness of his Proceedings 1431. Now at last came the final Conclusion of the long-desired perpetual Peace with Castile for the ratifying whereof Peter Gonzalez Malafaya being sent thither he accompanied that King in his Expedition against the Moors of Granada At their return from that War the Peace was proclaimed in Castile and an Embassador came thence into Portugal to see the same performed there This was the end of those Pretensions which had alarmed these two Kingdoms for the space of almost Fifty Years The victorious King John at length overcome with Age King John falls sick fell sick of his last Malady He was removed to Alcouchete to try whether the Air would do him good but perceiving his Death draw on he caused himself to be carried back to Lisbon There on the Fourteenth of August 1433. 1433. having performed all the Parts of a good Christian His Death he gave up his Ghost Yet with the Authors leave I cannot conceive with what Piety an Usurper can die not having made Restitution The News of his Death being spread through the City it is impossible to express the Sorrow the City was filled with His Body was carried to the Cathedral on the Shoulders of his Sons the Nobility the whole Multitude of both Sexes and all Ages following 7. He had a pleasing Aspect His Character his Stature large and his Strength proportionable for his Helmet kept to this Day is too large for any Head and his Battle-Ax too weighty for any Arm. Prosperity and Adversity he bore equally was Constant Magnanimous Merciful Bountiful and Religious His Buildings were fair and sumptuous as appears by the Monasteries of Peâ—â—longa and Carnota and the Palaces of Lisbon and Santarem and above all the prodigious Structure of the Church of our Blessed Lady of Batalla or of the Battle erected in Memory of the famous Victory obtained at Aljubarrota To describe this wonderful Pile would take up too much room in the small compass of this short History therefore we shall pasâ— it by To this Place was the deceased King with mighty Pomp translated by his Son King Edward just the Day 12 Months after his Death that is on the 14th of August 1434. 8. King John had Eight Children by his Wife Philippa His Wife and Issueâ— Daughter to John Duke of Lancaster 1st Blanch who died in her Infancy 2dly Alonso Born at Santarem and lived but 10 Years 3dly Edward who succeeded him in the Throne 4thly Peter Duke of Coimbra a Man so learned that he wrote several Books he also travelled a great Part of the then known World as was said before and married Elizabeth the Daughter of the Earl of Vrgel which also has been above intimated Being Governour of the Kingdom during the Minority of his Nephew King Alonso he gained many Enemies and was at their instigation put to Death by that King 5thly Henry Duke of Viseo and Master of the Order of Christ who being studious in the Mathematicks fitted out Ships at his own cost to discover the Coasts of Africk wherein he made a great Progress and occasioned the Discovery of India To the end he might wholly addict himself to these Affairs he settled his abode at Sagres near Câ—pe S. Vincent in the Kingdom of Algarve where he died 6thly John Master of the Order of Santiago in Portugal and Constable 7thly Ferdinand Master of the Order of Avis accounted a Martyr for his great Sufferings and Death in slavery among the Moors of Africk 8thly Elizabeth married to Philip the third Earl of Flanders and Duke of Burgundy This King's Bastard-Children were Alonso Earl of Barcelos and first Duke of Bragança and Beatrix married to Thomas Earl of Arundel in England 9. This King reduced the ten Bezants His Arms. before used in each of the five Scutcheons of the Arms of Portugal to five the Cross of Avis appearing underneath in Memory that he had been Master of that Order and because he received the
me to run it out to a much greater bulk than at first I designed Neither have I wanted information in many particulars touched in this Supplement from Persons who were present and Eye-witnesses to the Actions therein related Nay one of my Authors viz. the Count de Ericeyra who has handled this subject very largely was not only a Commander in the Army but also a Councellor of State and therefore a most fit Man to give an account as well of the Warlike Exploits in the Field as of the private Transactions at Court But now to come to the last part of all which I call the Conclusion of the History it is so distinguished from the rest of the Supplement in regard that therein we look back into several Years before treated of This as is there said was so ordered to avoid interrupting the series of the War with the relation of Factions and Animosities at Court. And the Councels and Practises which tended to that extraordinary change which was made in the Government in the imprisoning and confining a King for many Years being matters meriting a special observation I thought it better to lay the whole series of them together so that they may appear at one view than to interrupt them with other Narrations Monarchies as all other wordly things have their rise and fall and consequently those which have once been glorious ought to merit our esteem for what they were no less than those which are now great are admired for what they are It is no disgrace to a famous General that he is grown old and worn out with labours nor ought it to lessen our esteem for a Kingdom because we see it sunk under the too great Burthen of its undertakings This has hapned to Portugal which being of its self but a small spot of Ground yet adventured and that with success to spread its Conquests into the four parts of the World to build Cities and Forts among People before unknown to the Europeans to traffick among Rude and Barbarous Nations to engage Multitudes not of naked Indians but such as had the use of all sorts of Fire-arms to Preach the Gospel to inhuman Infidels who had never heard the sacred Name of Christ and in fine to People the vast Ocean if I may so call it with their Fleets to pierce through dangers of unknown Seas and to discover to us the course of the Sun by tracing his Carrier round this Terrestrial Globe These are the mighty Actions which gained Portugal that renown it stood possessed of and these very exploits have helped to sink it into that obscurity which now in a manner hides it from us The greatness of the attempts gained them renown but their own and their Neighbours boundless avarice proved the bane of all their Glories Their own because being but so small a People they yet set no limits to their desires but rather stretched forth their greedy hands to catch at all the Riches of the East and turn them to their peculiar use without considering how much easier it has always been found to acquire much than to preserve what is so unreasonably acquired It was their Neighbours avarice as I said that hastned their ruin because there was scarce a nation of any consideration in Europe which did not strive to pluck a Feather from them and to gain footing where such mighty prospect of profit appeared and above all the Dutch have been the Cormorants that have devoured their Lands their Metals and their Spice Such was the downfall of the Portuguese Nation raised by their Ambition and Valour to the highest pitch of Honour and cast down by the Covetousness and Envy of their Neighbours Nor has the late War which involved the greatest part of Europe contributed less to the obscuring of their Name for all Mankind being wholly taken up with the thoughts of those that were active had not l'easure to cast an Eye upon a People that lay happily obscured under the Blessed cloud of Peace Yet tho' the calm they have of late enjoyed may have put them by the Honour of any fresh martial Atchievments an Honour it is their greatest felicity to want nevertheless their more glorious former Exploits are not worthy to be buried in Oblivion The Empires of the Assyrians Persians Greeks and Romans have long since perished and still we read their Actions with Delight and Admiration The Kingdoms of the Parthians the Goths the Huns and other barbarous Nations are now no more and still the remembrance of their Valour their Victories and their success is the subject of many Volumes Portugal still stands an independent Monarchy and though but the skeleton of what it was still its former Glories merit to be Recorded either for what that Kingdom then was or for what it may possibly be again But it is high time I look about for fear of transgressing in too long a Preface Hitherto something has been said concerning the Author concerning his Works and concerning the Kingdom he treats of What now remains is to remove some objections which may be raised by such as would have all Histories as infallible as the Holy Scripture both as to Time and Actions This is what all Men may wish but none ever yet could attain to He that would read no History in which there is a fault may resolve to spare his Eyes or apply them to some other study The first thing I find in this Book which may be carped at is the account of the first planting this Kingdom and the succeeding race of Kings till the coming in of the Carthaginians Nothing more can be said in defence hereof but that all Antiquity at such a distance is obscure every Nation has laboured to deduce it self from the nearest time to the Flood it could and what is most even the Ancient Josephus writes that Jobel or Tubal the Grandson of Noah came into Spain and other Greek and Latin Authors make mention of Spanish Kings here named therefore in such a mist of Antiquity it may be reckoned a great Happiness that such lights as these can be found to lead us to any part of it that we may rely upon The next objection will be against many passages of somewhat a latter date as for example the strange life of Abidis the coming of Nebuchadnezer into Spain and several other things very incredible to those who have not heard of them before The answer is That these things though strange to us are not at all impossible that they are left to us upon credit of very Authentick Authors and that if in them there be any thing fabulous yet that must not blast the Reputation of this History no more than the English Chronicle ought to be wholly condemned for the far fetcht History of Brutus and his Trojans or Livy for his Poetical Noursery of Romulus and Remus by a Wolf What follows till the Birth of our Saviour and some time after will not be liable to much
had ordered He was not admitted to speak with the King but only with Count Julian then the great Favourite of whom he obtained what he went about This lascivious King killed Favila the Father of Pelayus and Duke of Cantabria thinking by that means the better to enjoy his Wife D. Luz His Cruelties he put out the Eyes of Theodofredus Father to King Roderick and D. Luz thereby to make him incapable of inheriting the Crown but Roderick did the same by him 711. so that he died Blind having Reigned Ten Years There is no Account who was his Wife but it appears he had two Sons which were Evan and Sisebutus who being Banished by King Roderick into Africk fled to the Protection of Requila Commander of Tangier their Father's Friend and thence came over a Commander among the Moores that destroyed Spain and so died Those Calamities require another Chapter CHAP. VI. The Reign of King Roderick from the Year 711 till the coming of the Moores in 714 all Spain subdued by them in Eight Months the Restauration began by Pelagius and his Successors till the Year 783. 1. SOme Writers who have obtained no small Credit 711. name Acosta or Aconsta as Successor to Witisa yet others there are who absolutely exclude him as fabulous If any such was he was Eldest Son to Theodofredus and Brother to King Roderick however it is we have no account of his Actions and if any were being so dubious Roderick last King of the Goths they are scarce worth relating Roderick then may be allowed immediate Successor to Witisa he was Granson to King Chindasuindus and Son to Theodofredus Duke of Cordova by his Wife Recilona Favila Duke of Cantabria was Brother to Theodofredus and had Pelagus or Pelagius by his Wife and Niece to the Lady Luz Thus the Subversion and Restauration of Spain had their Authors proceeding from the same stock for as Roderick was cause of the Destruction so Pelagus was the first that laid his Hand to the Reparation of it Roderick ascended the Throne with no small hopes conceived by his Subjects of a better Government than had been before Count Julian Favorite to Roderick but the event made him more odious than his Predecessor had been Count Julian the great Favorite and prime Master to Witisa continued in the same Post under King Roderick Julian was Father to her whom the vulgar calls Cava and our Historians Florinda of her Roderick became enamoured that so the greatest Desolution might not happen without the help of a Woman Having chosen her for his Wife it fortuned that Egilona or Eilata an African Princess or according to others a Goth was droven by Tempest into a Port of Spain she being brought to the King her Beauty so captivated him that forgetting Florinda he took her to Wife Thus she who thought to have been Queen continued at Court as one of the Queen's Ladies Julian her Father enraged beyond measure immediately contrived how to be Revenged and in order to it perswaded the King to Dismantle all the strong places left standing by Witisa and disarm his Subjects which was accordingly done 2. Soon after the King sent Julian Ambassador to Muza in Africk Julian sent Ambassador into Africk to request of him not to protect Evan and Sisebutus the Sons of Witisa The more to move Muza he thought it proper to send him some considerable Present and being informed that in a Tower near Toledo great Treasures were of Antient time reported to be hid the Doors having many locks upon them because it was a received Opinion that when they were opened great Calamities would ensue the King resolved to enter this place In it was found nothing but a Chest containing only a Picture representing Men a Horse-back in Moorish Apparel with several sorts of Weapons and an Inscription denoting that when those Gates were opened Spain would be Invaded and Conquered by that sort of Men. The King thought the Prediction would be Averted by locking up the place again with what it contained but it proved otherwise Julian being gone upon his Embassage King Roderick relapsed into the love of Florinda and courted her but without receiving any Favour Frandina her Mother perceiving it and desiring to be her self the Mistress of a King caused one Bigamota an attendant of hers to deliver some Messages to the King as from Florinda Roderick ravishes Florinda Daughter to Julian tending to meet him in some convenient place where shrowded with Darkness she might supply the place of her Daughter the King encouraged by those false invitations watched his opportunity and finding Florinda alone ravished her 3. Florinda now doubly wronged first of the Throne and then of her Honour was touched with the highest Resentment her Mother soon discovered the effect being sensible of the cause and changing her love to the King into hatred perswades Florinda to acquaint her Father by Writing with the loss of her Honour 712. Julian hereupon hasts back into Spain Julian meditates Revenge dissembling his Rage and appearing joyful before the King having succeeded in his Embassy obtained fresh Favours He begged the Government of the Towns held in Africk and thither he went with his Wife leaving his Daughter at Court to prevent all suspicion Julian treated with Muza about betraying the Kingdom of the Goths unto the Caliphs and he having received instructions from his Prince agreed upon the Conditions without much difficulty the Traitor not only encouraging the Barbarian to pass over into Spain but drawing over many great Men in his Government to take part with them Having settled these Affairs at Malaga he came to Court and obtained leave to carry away his Daughter with him He brings the Moors into Spain the King nothing mistrusting any Treason Muza in pursuance of what was agreed upon sent over 6000 Arabs under the Command of Tarif Abenzarca to make the first incursion into Spain 713. these being joyned by the like number of the Rebels broke through Andaluzia into Lusitania where nothing being less thought of than War Men Women and Children were seen in droves flying to the Mountains King Roderick alarmed with this invasion sent his Nephew D. Inhigo Sanchez with some number of Men armed only with Staves and Stones yet such as they were they had several rencounters with the Enemy but at last their Commander being slain and they overpowered were put to flight The Victorious Arabs returned into Africk with Booty and many Captives this was the first Scene of the wicked Count's Revenge and of the overthrow of the Spanish Monarchy 4. Whilst Count Julian and the Caliph prepared for a more powerful Expedition King Roderick now awake raised the greatest number of Men he could and with all possible speed provided Arms and Fortified his Towns He thought the Barbarians would have given him more time but they immediately passed over the streights of Gibraltar with a wonderful Fleet 200000 Foot and
40000 Horse of them incamped on the Spanish Coast 200000 Foot and 40000 Horse of the Moors land in Spain The King's Army consisted of 120000 Foot and 10000 Horse a sufficient number had they been well Armed and Disciplined Men he Encamped betwixt Xeres and Medina Sidonia leaving the Sea open at the Enemies backs whereby they received Succours Upon Saturday the 1st of September in the fatal Year 714. the two Armies came in sight of one another The King's Army consisted of 120000 Foot and 10000 Horse That day was spent in taking up their Lodgments along the River Guadalete on Sunday with the day began the Battle which continued very Bloody till Night parted them all the Week the fight continued still renewed with the Day as it was broke off by the Night 714. King Roderick appeared in all parts in his Royal Robes A great and bloody Battle over his Armour he wore a rich Garment a Crown on his Head a Scepter in his Hand on his Feet Golden Buskins set with Pearl and precious Stones he was carried in a high Ivory Chariot as was the manner of the Gothish Kings in Battle and thence encouraged his Men who the 2d Sunday began to faint The King perceiving them give way left his Chariot and mounting upon a Horse he called Orelia rushed couragiously into the thickest of his Enemies making them give way to his Valour The Spaniards overthrown The Spaniards encouraged at this sight came on so vigorously that the Battle for some time continued doubtful but at Sun-setting the Vigour of our Men quite failing Victory appeared on the Enemies side and the Darkness gave the Christians an opportunity to fly 5. I cannot forbear remarking how fatal the number Eight has appeared upon this occasion A remark upon the number Eight Eight days the fight lasted Eight months the Barbarians spent in subduing all Spain and 800 Years it cost the Spaniards to recover it The King seeing he laboured in vain fled to a Mountain where he changed his Apparel with a Shepherd In this condition he came to the Monastery of Cauliniana two Leagues from Merida on the Banks of the River Guadiana Here overcome with Trouble and Sorrow for his Sins he fell into a Swoun and was brought to himself by one Romanus a Holy Monk With him he fled into Portugal where they took up their Habitation on a Rock upon the Sea Coast near the Town of Pederneira They took two different Cells about a Mile from one another where both of them ended their Days Here as is said was found an Image of our Blessed Lady in the Time of Alonso our first King and a Tomb with this Inscription HIC REQUIESCIT RUDERICUS ULTIMUS REX GOTHORUM that is Here reposes Roderick the last King of the Goths Thus far our Author Emanuel de Faria setting down this as an approved and undoubted Opinion But many others and those of good Note reject this as fabulous most Men agreeing that King Roderick was drowned in the River Gundalete where most of his Royal Apparel was found he being never after heard of Many more strange Stories have been spread abroad as it commonly happens in such Cases where the Bodies of Princes in such Universal Calamities are not found but they are rather Romantick than Historical and therefore not fit for any but least of all for the Brevity of this History After the Victory The Moors over-run all Spain the Moores spread themselves over all the Province committing inhumane Barbarities not without losing in several Rencounters during the eight Months of their Conquest 80000 Men besides 20000 before slain in the great Battel The chief Resistance was made at Merida The Defendants whereof many were Portugueses that being then the supream Tribunal of Lusitania were commanded by Sacaru a Noble Goth. Many brave Actions passed at the Siege but at length there being no Hopes of Relief and Provisions failing the Town was surrender'd upon Articles The Commander of the Lusitanians with such as would follow him traversing Portugal came to a Sea-port Town where gathering a good Number of Ships he put to Sea but to what part of the World they were carried does not appear There is an antient Fable of an Island called Antilia in the Western Ocean inhabited by Portugueses which could never yet be found and therefore we will leave it till such time as it is discovered but to this Place our Author supposes these Portugueses to have been driven Fortune having now wholly forsaken Spain the Moores easily over-ran all that remained as far as the River Minho under the Command of Abdalaziz Son to Muza Yet the Andaluzians and Lusitanians Muza being absent rose up in Arms and put to the Sword the Moorish Garrisons of Sevil Beja and Ilipula which done being assembled to a great Number they took Merida by Force killing all they found therein Muza who was then at Zaragosa hasted to quell this Commotion which was easily done Merida he spared Sevil suffered much at Ilipula there was not one Stone left upon another but what he did at Beja is not known though it may be supposed not to have escaped having been the Place of Rendesvouz for the People of Sevil. 7. The famous Actions of D. Pelayo Pelagius the first that opposed the Moors or Pelagius and the miserable Ends of Count Julian his Wife and Daughter the principal Actors in this Tragedy are treated of in the Chronicles of those Kingdoms to which they appertain Pelagius during the 19 Years he reigned had no Command in Portugal where the Moors were so predominant that there were as many Kings as Cities But because the Actions of Pelagius were so great in themselves and in the Consequence of them we will give some Hints of what others write at large Pelagius was in the great Battel with his Cousin-German King Roderick After which he fled with 1000 Christians to Asturias de Oviedo where he took Shelter in a vast Cave now called Covadonga among the Mountains of Auseva and was in that miserable Condition by his Men proclaimed King of Spain a mighty Title for so poor a Beginning and yet here began those Victories which in the Space of 800 Years recovered all Spain Pelagius had a Sister whose Name is not known but Muza Governor of Gijon in Asturias being taken with her Beauty enjoy'd her upon Promise of Marriage The Desire of Revenging this Wrong first moved Pelagius to appear in Arms Thus it fell out that as one Lady was the Cause of the Destruction of Spain so another was the Motive of its Restauration Pelagius was the Son of Favila Duke of Cantabria Third Son of King Chindasuindus and of his Wife D. Luz the Daughter of Theodofredus Duke of Cordova and Brother to Favila He was born at Toledo and bred at Alcantara by Grafes Brother to the Lady Luz his Mother This was the first King that we find had the Title of Don annexed
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 observed 5. There is a very strange Story about this King A Romantick Story of King Ramiro which because it looks rather Romantick than Historical I will lightly pass over It is as follows King Ramiro was married to the Lady Vrraca but understanding that Alboazar a powerful Moor had a most beautiful Sister called Zara he fell in Love with her by Hear-say He demanded her of Alboazar but being denied had her betrayed to him for Money then putting away his Queen he married her Alboazar to revenge this Wrong surprized and carried away Queen Vrraca who was left at Millor on the other side the River Duero Ramiro hearing hereof filled his Galleys with the choicest of his Men and running up a River near which she was kept he planted the Galleys all covered with Green close under certain Trees that over-shaded the River Then having laid an Ambush and ordered them to lie close till he sounded a Cornet he carried with him he in Disguize approached the Castle where the Queen was kept There he met a Maid belonging to the Queen carrying a Pitcher of Water for her whereof with the Maid's Consent he drank and dropped a Jewel into it well known to the Queen She seeing the Jewel caused him to be brought up to her and having yielded her self up before to the Lust of Alboazar she now betrayed the King into his Hands Ramiro seeing himself taken begged Leave only to sound his Cornet which being granted his Men that lay in Ambush broke into the Castle killed Alboazar and carried away the Queen whom the King caused to be cast into the Sea with a Stone about her Neck because asking of her why she looked so melancholy she answered It was for the Death of the Moor who was a better Man than he To this Relation let every Man give the Credit he thinks it may deserve This King Ramiro had two Wives besides the Moor we have now spoke of The First was the Lady Vrraca and by her he had Ordonno his Successor Sancho and Bermudo The Second was Teresa Daughter to Sancho Abarca King of Navarre Her Issue were Sancho Audonio and Elvira By Artida the Moor he had Alboazar Ramirez and Artiga Ramirez King Ramiro reigned 19 Years 950. he died at Leon and lies in the Monastery of Our Holy Saviour founded by himself and his two Wives Vrraca and Teresa 6. King Ordonno III. was Successor to Ramiro II. King Ordonno III. disturbed by Rebels subdues them The Beginning of his Reign was blessed with Peace which lasted not long for he was soon disturbed by his Brother Sancho who aimed to usurp the Crown assisted by the Count Fernan Gonzalez who took part with him through Malice and contrary to Right and the Tyes of Affinity for Ordonno had married his Daughter Vrraca The Count was guilty of many Enormities besides this notwithstanding the vulgar Opinion of his extraordinary Vertues and Merit D. Garcia Sanchez King of Navarre and Uncle to Sancho as well as Brother to his Mother favoured his Designs With these Aids Sancho presumed to assume the Regal Stile and enter'd the Kingdom of Leon wasting that very Country where he intended to reign King Ordonno soon repulsed the Invaders and the better to be revenged of the Count he was divorced from his Daughter and sent her back to him Some Towns in Galicia had also rebelled but the King reduced them with a great Slaughter of the Rebels No sooner had he quelled the Rebels but he marched through Portugal as far as Lisbon whither no Christian King had reached since D. Alonso the Chaste He takes Lisbon After a fierce Assault he took the City by Storm and gave the Plunder thereof to his Army Which done he returned to his Court laden with Spoils and bestowed them in rewarding those that had deserved best and in Religious Works Conveniency made the King and Count Fernan Gonzalez who had been long at Variance agree and unite their Forces against the King of Cordova They came to a Battel near Gormaz where the Christians obtained a glorious Victory which brought Peace to their Frontiers before subject to continual Incursions This was the Posture of Affairs 955. when Ordonno died at Zamora He lies buried in the Church of Our Blessed Saviour at Leon by his Father with his two Wives Vrraca from whom he was divorced and Elvira whose Parentage is unknown By her he had D. Bermudo and Teresa a Nun in the Monastery of St. Julian in Leon. 7. Sancho Sancho 〈◊〉 Usurper called The Fat. the Brother of King Ordonno usurped the Crown from Bermudo the late King's Son then a Child This Sancho was excessively swelled with the Dropsie and thence though improperly called The Fat He had not long enjoyed the Crown when those very Rebels who had unjustly set it upon his Head 957. took it thence Ordonno Surnamed the Wicked advanced to the Crown to bestow it upon D. Ordonno Surnamed The Wicked Son to King Alonso the Monk The Rebel Count Fernan Gonzalez was the chief Actor in promoting him to the Throne and therefore gave him to Wife his Daughter Vrraca before put away by the other King Ordonno King Sancho fled to Navarre and thence to Cordova Sancho returns and expels him where there were famous Physicians who cured him of his Dropsie Being recovered of his Indisposition he gathered an Army and was so fortunate as to take the Count Fernan Gonzalez and his Son-in-Law Ordonno Though he had them Prisoners he would not presently put them to Death but kept the Count in Custody D. Sancha his Wife coming to see him in Prison changed Clothes with him and by that Means he escaped leaving her in his stead A great Rebellion was raised by the Counts that governed Portugal but the Presence of the King soon reduced them Only Count Gonzalo who governed beyond Duero durst march with an Army to meet his Sovereign yet finding him too strong he made a feigned Submission and was pardoned It was not long before he compassed by Poyson what he had failed of by the Sword The Portuguese Counts being accused of this Treason to clear themselves challenged D. Gonzalo and Count Fruela Vermuiz their Champion overcame him at the Town of Salas near the City of Perto King Sancho perceiving his Death draw near ordered himself to be carried to Leon 96◠but died by the Way at the Monastery of Castrillo where he was buried but was afterwards translated to Leon where his Queen was also interred Queen Teresa was Daughter to Assur Fernandez Count of Monzon By her the King had Issue D. Ramiro III his Successor Vrraca married to Count Nepociano Diaz and Ermesenda by whom the King her Brother is said to have had D. Sancho the Hairy About this time Castile revolted from the Crown of Leon. Authors write that the Cause was because the King could not pay Count Fernan Gonzalez for an Horse and an Hawk he had
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
made by the Almoravides It is likely that Henry came with the Command of these Troops and having gained esteem had the Government of the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho committed to him other great Men governing the others at the same time After the death of King Ferdinand who divided his Kingdoms among his three Sons Sancho King of Castile having taken Portugal from his Brother Garcia and Leon from Alonso his other Brother obliged him to fly for safety to the Moors 1071. Henry accompanied him in all misfortunes till Sancho being killed Alonso was not only restored to his own but seated in the Thrones of Castile and Portugal 1073. King Alonso considering that he who follows a Prince Gains the Affection of King Alonso deposed in his misfortunes does something more than Man concluded that Henry was a prodigy among mortals and therefore from that time resolved to suit his reward to his Fidelity 4. Beatrix the second Wife of King Alonso dying 1076. a match was agreed for him with the Lady Constance Alonso marries his Aunt Aunt to Earl Henry and he was sent to France to conduct her into Spain With him went Raymund Earl of Toulouse and with them both came Raymund Earl of Burgundy which is the reason some Authors write they came all together whereas the other two had been long before in Spain Thus Henry became great at Court the King being his Friend and the Queen his Aunt which his power he used with such moderation that he was beloved by all Men. 1081. He accompanied King Alonso at the memorable Seige and taking of Toledo as also at the Battle of Sagulias near Badajoz 1087. where the King was overthrown 1090. To reward all these Services the King at last gave him to Wife his Bastard Daughter Teresa He takes to Wife Teresa Bastard Daughter to Alonso and has in Dower the City Porto and its Territory whom he had by the Lady Ximena Nunnez de Gusman Her Dower was the City Porto with its Territory then the best part of what was gained in Portugal giving him leave to retire thither and live with his Wife His Age was the cause that he died leaving Teresa young to marry a second Husband which much disturbed the publick Peace Soon after the Christian Princes joining in League to conquer the Holy Land Earl Henry was chosen General of the Forces sent by King Alonso in which employ he gained great Honour He returned from this Expedition to Toledo where the Court of Castile was then kept in the Year 1099. King Alonso at this time being of a great Age sent his Son Prince Sancho being but Twelve Years of Age under the direction of D. Garcia Count of Cabra with an Army to oppose Almanzor the Moor. With them went many Persons of Quality among which the chief was Earl Henry they came to a Battle in the Plains of Veles where the Prince was unhorsed and killed 1100. though Henry and Garcia exposed themselves to save him Overthrows the Infidels and takes Almanzor prisoner Earl Henry meditating Revenge met Almanzor again in the Field whom he dismounted and took Prisoner delivering him to James Ordonnez for to carry him to the King this done Henry broke through the Infidels putting them to flight with a mighty slaughter 5. As it is doubtful whether Henry went to Hierusalem with the other Christian Princes so is it also whether he was present at the taking of Lisbon Santarem Sintra and other strong places by King Alonso but that he was at these latter Expeditions as most properly appertaining to him is most likely For his good services he receives other Territories of King Alonso But his great Age requiring some rest the King at last gave him leave to retire to Portugal giving to him for himself and his Heirs all that was conquered there which was the Cities Coimbra and Viseo and the three Provinces that betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho Beira and Tras os Montes with that part of Galicia as far as the Castle Lobeira and leave to conquer as far as Algarve Earl Henry settled his residence at Guimaraens taking the Title of Earl of Portugal The Portuguese encouraged by the presence of a Prince of their own did much upon the borders of the Province betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho till then not entirely subdued but we have no particular account of their Actions Hecha Martin King of Lamego being a tributary to Henry rebelled and drawing together a powerful Army did much hurt in the Christian Territories The Earl with Egas Moniz a Gentleman then famous and afterward Tutor to King Alonso marched to recover the Booty he had taken and overtook him in a Valley near the Monastery of Arouca The Moor for greater security in case of any misfortune placed his Wife Queen Axa Anzures and all the Prey on the top of a Mountain he thought unaccessible called Sierra Seca The Christian Army encamped along the River Alarda and Egas Moniz seeing the Enemy advantagiously posted undertook with a good party by Night to go about the Mountains and at break of Day to be ready to fall upon them on the top Another overthrow given by him to the to the Moors whilst the Christian Army charged the Enemy below This was accordingly put in Execution and after a bloody Fight the Queen was taken above and the King below they becoming Christians the Earl bestowed the City Lamego upon them they paying tribute for the same 6. The Moores rebelling against their King for changing his Religion 1103. he fled to Guimaraens to crave aid of Earl Henry A Moorish King restored by him who by force took the City Lamego and restored him He fearing in the Earl's absence his Subjects would again revolt desired of him to leave some Portuguese Gentlemen to secure those Lands which was accordingly done and the Country People with Inhabitants brought from the Province betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho He performs other great Actions This year some Writers will have it that Earl Henry went to the Holy Land with Guy of Lusignan and other Princes all the likelihood there is thereof is That we have no account of him in Portugal from the Year 1103. till the Year 1109. King Ali Haben Joseph with a numerous Army laid Siege to Coimbra which he furiously battered during a Month. Earl Henry marched to their relief and coming to a Battle overthrew the Infidels with a great Slaughter Cintra and other places revolted and were overcome but rising again they could not easily be subdued Whilst our Earl was diverted in the Wars of Galicia and Leon where he took some Towns Cyrus King of the Arabs taking the opportunity laid Siege to Santarem whither our Forces hasting to relieve the place were by him overthrown and so the Town being distressed Surrendred The Earl took several places in Leon so that King
deliverance and breaks his Faith and having provoked the King of Castile by the late overthrow given him to revenge the Affront that King marched with a Powerful Army and besieged Prince Alonso in the Town of Guimaraens There being no hope of relief nor possibility of holding out Egas Muniz was sent out by the Prince to treat of some accommodation with the King which Business he managed so Dexterously that the King upon Promise and Articles that Prince Alonso should hold that Country of him and do him homage for the same in a certain time prefixed raised his Siege and departed Prince Alonso delivered of that danger thought of nothing less than performing the Articles agreed upon Porteguese Authors will have it that Egas Muniz who managed this Treaty because it was not performed presented himself to the King of Castile with a Halter about his Neck for him to punish that breach of Faith and was pardoned by the King But this is as Romantick as what our Authors writes that the whole treaty was concluded without the privity of Prince Alonso as if the King could be so infatuated to treat with a private Man stolen out of a Town where his Prince was closely Besieged without seeing his Commission or to conclude Articles and depart upon his bare word without the Ratification of the principal Points These Chimerical Notions are better passed by than to interrupt the course of History with them however I would not wholly omit this wild imagination of the Author 4. Albucazan King of Badajoz did great harm in the Province of Beira 1131. and took the Town of Trancoso before Prince Alonso could come to relieve it War with the Moors However our Prince soon retook it and repulsed the Moor who came to have hindred him from fortifying of it In his return from this place Alonso was worsted by the Moors but recovering himself near the Town of Guimaraens he overthrew a great multitude of them and so entred that Town victorious 1135. where he hunged up the Colours taken in the Church Thâ—n with Castile The War broke out again betwixt Castile and Portugal in the Reign of Alonso VII of Castile called the Emperor and much harm was done on both sides though with no great advantage to either 1136. At last our Prince broke into Galicia where King Alonso meeting him was in Battle overthrown and the Earl D. Roderick Vela made Prisoner After this our Alonso valiantly defended Coimbra besieged by the Moor Eujuni so powerful a Prince that he is said to have covered all the plains about the City with an Army of 300000 fighting Men But a violent Plague raging among his Troops forced him to break up and depart much weaker than he came Our Prince thus delivered entred the Territory of Leyria which place tho' strong he took by Escalade putting most of the Defendants to the Sword This being the first of his notable Conquests he offered it up to God delivering it to Theotonius Prior of the Monastery of Santa Cruz whether after the taking of Torres Novas he returned to repose himself in order to prosecute greater Designs 5. Ismar or Ismael 1139. a powerful Moor was Sovereign of all the Country beyond the River Tagus A Fabuâ—ous Relation called Alentejo Our Prince passed that River and made great Havock in the Territories of those Infidels Ismael assembled twenty petty Princes subject to five little Kings who were all under his Dominion Each of those Kings led 80000 Men wherewith they covered all the plains With our Authors leave it is wholly incredible That such inconsiderable Princes as they must be whose Dominions extended not to above half the limits of Portugal should raise so prodigious a Multitude for it amounts to no less than 480000. This may perhaps be added to gain the greater Reputation to those strange miracles he talks of in the Sequel The Christians were not above 13000 and those wholly dismayed as well they might at the sight of such an Army as they could not be capable to number However Prince Alonso reposing his confidence in God ceased not to encourage and animate his fainting Forces They encouraged with his undaunted Contenance and resolute Expressions took heart and offered their ready service It was then Night when the Prince retiring to rest read the History of Gideon and fell asleep in a Dream there appeared to him a venerable Old Man promising him Victory and being awakened was told there was such an one pressed to speak with him being admitted he found it was the same Man he saw in his Dream and that he came to give him the same assurances At break of day he went out of his Tent and looking towards the East saw a mighty Brightness in the midst of which appeared our Saviour on the Cross surrounded with Angels who promised him Victory over the Infidels and commanded him to accept the Title of King if offered to him by his Army Soon after the Portuguese flocked about him Alonso saluted King demanding the signal of Battle and unanimously saluted him King He at first seemed to refuse that Title but it being the consequence of the Vision he had seen soon admitted it Let every one give that credit to this strange relation he shall think fit I have briefly set it down that I might not wholly cut off so extraordinary a passage in my Author yet would I not extend it to that length as he has done because I believe most Men will give as little credit to it as I do 6. Alonso thus encouraged drew up his Army into four Bodies the Enemy making twelve The charge was seconded by a most hideous cry raised by both Armies The Battle of Ourique an incredible clattering of Weapons and such showers of Darts and Arrows as seemed to darken the light of the Sun No Christian sought to save himself all their study was to kill the King encouraged all Men by his example and every Man sought to out-do another Six hours the fight lasted in which time the plain of Ourique where they engaged was all covered with dead Bodies which almost floated in a Pool of Blood At length the Victory fell to the Christians and was one of the greatest ever obtained against Infidels Reflections vpon this Battle It is very hard to reconcile the account of this Battle to any thing of probability for whereas the Author says but a little before there were five lesser Kings and one Sovereign of them all with each 80000 Men which amounts to 480000 now he says they were above 600000. Doubtless there must be willful mistakes in these Numbers to magnifie the Action which would seem great if not rendred incredible Besides he reckons six Kings which are those of Silves Merida Sevil Badajoz Lisbon and Algezira whereas all other Authors agree they were but five and give that for the reason that the Portuguese Arms contain five small Scutcheons within the
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
Princess of Portugal was void by reason of Consanguinity But that Lady considering the danger of aspiring to rise from a Mistress to a Queen slighted his Advice 3. It was now found in Portugal Blanch divorced from the Prince that the Princess Blanch by reason of the Tissick was unfit for Matrimony and the King of Castile having sent his Physitians to examine into it they agreed in the Point This Prince being on this score disengaged from that Bride 1334. it was proposed he should marry the Lady Constance He Contracts with the Lady Constance Daughter to D. John Emanuel Daughter to D. John Emanuel whom the King of Castile had before put away This King was consulted with thereupon but he advised the contrary yet seemed to allow of whatsoever ours should do The Portuguese took this for Consent whilst the Castilian used all possible means to obstruct the Match telling her Father he designed her for the Prince of Navarre Both seemed to mean as they spoke and each designed to deceive the other D. Gonzalo Vaz Master of the Order of Avis and Embassador from Portugal came to D. John to conclude the Match The King of Castile sent D. John Orders to apprehend the Embassador as coming without his leave with armed Men and having committed Extortion on his way D. John doubting the Embassador advised him to conclude their Affair and he would go deliver up himself to the King at Burgos They agreed D. John offered with his Daugter 300000 Doubles The Articles were That the Lady Constance should be absolute over the Lands assigned her in Dower That the Prince should keep no Mistress whilst his Wife was of Age to bear Children or did not appear to be Barren That there should be a League Defensive betwixt the Father and Son-in-Law that he might go visit his Daughter whensoever he pleased and that the Second Son should inherit D. John's Possessions in Castile or else the First should inherit in case she had but one 4. The Embassador went immediately away to Burgos 1335. and presenting himself before the King was satisfied with feigned excuses At this time came one Martin Catina craving leave of the King A single Combat to Combat with Gonzalo Rodriguez Ribeiro one who followeth the Embassador and had killed his Brother The King would have made them Friends but Ribeiro opposing it they were allowed to enter the Lists according to the Custome of those Days where Catina had his Head clove asunder by his Adversary Many other notable Acts were performed by this Ribeiro and Two of his Companions in a solemn Tilting wherein they gained much Reputation to the Portuguese Nation But the King of Castile ceased not all this while underhand to endeavour to break off the Match writing to the King of Portugal by way of Advice That he should not be too hasty herein The King of Castile obstructs the Marriage of the Lady Constance for that D. John was rich and would increase the Portion if he was backward At the same time he blamed D. John for offering so much and lastly with his own Hand he wrote a Letter to the Lady Constance assuring her of his sincere Affection to her and declaring he had been ill advised in marrying the Princess of Portugal but that by Reason of Consanguinity that Marriage was void and he would not fail to be always hers The Lady sent the Letter to her Father who dictated an Answer to this effect That he had much wronged her Innocence having by false insinuations gained her Love That his ill Inclinations did appear by his unjust proceedings towards Queen Mary his present Wife That she had so often found him false that she could now find no Reason to give any Credit to his Words and that she gave Thanks to Almighty God who had delivered her from being his Wife that she might not suffer as the Queen did by his inordinate Affection to the Lady Elenor Nunez de Guzman who had entertained other Lovers before him 5. It was agreed betwixt the King of Portugal and D. John Emanuel that the Lady Constance should be brought into Portugal in June and the Bride and Bridegroom were contracted by Proxy Embassadors were sent to Valladolid where the King of Castile was to be acquainted with the Conclusion of the Match He tho much Displeased expressed great Satisfaction sent Presents to the Embassadors and ordered publick Demonstrations of Joy to be made The Portuguese sent Martin Lopez Machado his Embassador to return thanks for those Courtesies But still the Castilian resolved to hinder the Bride's Journey into Portugal and to that purpose guarded the Roads always pretending other Reasons for so doing The King of Portugal to remove this Obstacle sent another Embassador who being killed about Play at Valladolid his Tutor for he was a Young Man continued his Journey to the Court of Castile where he delivered to that King his Master's Letter containing how evidently he was convinced of his ill Intentions and made great Threats in case he persisted to obstruct the Lady Constance's Journey into Portugal The Castilian shewed that Letter to the Lady Ellinor his Mistress who with that Liberty that is Natural to such Women spared not to blame his unjust Proceedings in that Particular yet he forbore not to stop the Princess tho' he excused himself to the Portuguese Our King already disgusted at this ill Usage was yet farther provoked for his Admiral Stephen Vaz de Barbuda pursuing certain Pirates with five Ships and three Galleys was driven by stress of Weather to Cadiz where instead of a kind Reception his Vessels were taken by the Fleet of Castile under the Command of Peter Ponce de Marchena Our King gave Advice hereof to D. John Emanuel and he making suit to his King that he would suffer his Daughter to depart received no Answer whereupon he openly declared against his Soveraign The Portuguese demanded of the Governours of the Cautionary Towns for Performance of Articles that they should deliver them up to him since the fault lay on the side of Castile They consulting together sent one of their number to the King to represent to him how unjustly he dealt with the Portuguese He answered That if they delivered the Towns they would incur an infamous breach of Fealty and that he would not depart from the Siege he had laid to D. John Nunnez de Lara's Garrison till he had his Head Yet considering the Difficulty of that Design he intimated he would desist if the King of Portugal should request it of him Queen Mary advertised her Father hereof and he immediately wrote to the Castilian desiring him to raise the Siege and promising to make D. John Nunnez submit himself as soon as the Princess was sent into Portugal The Queen her self carried the Letter to the King and he answered angrily that he would raise the Siege for no Man Which made her return disconsolate to Burgos But tho some
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
same time the Plague raged in the Castilian Army Overturâ—â— of Peace rejeâ—â—â—d Overtures of Peace were also made by the King to the Protector but he would hearken to none Nunho Alvarez Pereyra having ventured to pass the River in a Boat through the midst of the Fleet of Castile returned thence to Ebora and had the Town of Portel betrayed to him by 3 Citizens Twice he attempted Villaviciosa but was both times repulsed with Loss The Protector lay before Torres Vedras and Nunho Alvarez understanding that several Parties of the Enemy provided to fall upon him he hasted to his Succour which the Castilians understanding they gave over that Design however the Protector was forced to quit the Siege Nunho returning to his Châ—rge took Monzaraz defeated a Castilian Party near Badajâ—z another before Almada and made himself Master of Roca de Palmela and Couna 10. The Scarcity was now so great at Lisbon that they turned out the Poor and unserviceable People to the Enemy who sent them back well lashed No hopes now remained but that the Plague raged so violently among the Castilians The Siege of Lisbon raised when it had lasted five Months that Two hundred died in a Day and of them very many of Quality But the King no way moved hereat continued the Siege till the Infection touched the Queen and then he raised it having lain Five Months before the City Being come to Santarem he sent Troops to re-inforce the Garrisons of such Places as still held for him but passing by Torres Novas he was not admitted into the Town by Gonçalo Vasquez de Azevedo who before kept that Place for him His Wife went out to visit the Queen and there promised to reduce her Husband and not prevailing she returned to the Camp and the King sent to bid him Farewell for that his Wife was going to Castile He fearing to lose his Wife delivered himself and the Town but the King carried him and his Son away Prisoners leaving their Wives behind and a New Governour in the Place Whilst the King marched home the Protector granted large Immunities to the City of Lisbon in recompence of its Fidelity to him Next he contrived how to recover some places out of the Hands of the Castilians He marched by night to surprize Sintra but was disappointed by a violent Storm and Floods that swelled the Rivers above their Bridges Soon after Almada was surrendred to him notwithstanding that the King had carried away the Children of the principal Inhabitants as Hostages Alcnquer summitted to him also after having made some Defence But Torres Novas held out against all his Attemps and to add to his Grief he understood that Nunho Alvarez had been also repulsed at Vilâ—aviâ—iosa that the Master of the Order of Christ the Prior of Crato and Alvaro Gonzalez Camello were taken Prisoners at Torres Novas and that Two Galleys of Castile stealing into the Port of Lisbon by night had â—urnt Three Vessels there CHAP. II. John the Bastard-Son of King Peter of Protector is declared King he continues the War with Castile successfully from the Year 1384. till 1393. 1. ABout the beginning of the New Year was discovered a Conspiracy against the Protector 138â— Peter Earl of Trastamara A Conspiracy against the Protector discoverâ—â—â— was stirred up by the King of Castile to kill him as he lay at the Siege of Torres Vedras The Count communicated this Affair to D. Peter de Castro John Duque Governour of Torres Vedras John Alonso de Baeza Garcia Gonzales de Valdez and several others of whom only 3 Men were apprehended and one of them burnt In Revenge whereof John Duque sent out six Portuguese he had in Torres Vedras with their Hands and Noses cut off The Protector raised the Siege of Tâ—rres Vedras in order to go to Coimbra to meet the Cortes or Parliament he had caused to be thither Assembled and most of the Inhabitants about Torres Vedras went away with him In his way Leyria refused to admit him but he was well received at Monte-mayor and Coimbra In this City 〈◊〉 about proclaiming the Protector King some were for proclaiming the Protector King and others for the Princes John and Denis lawful Sons to King Peter but all agreed the present Protector should continue as long as Prince John should be Prisoner and in case neither he nor his Brother could come to Portugal then the Protector was to be received as King Dr. John de Regâ—as a famous Civilian made two Harangues on behalf of the Protector casting scandalous Reflections upon Queen Eâ—lenor to incapacitate her Daughter Queen Beatrix from succeeding in the Throne the same he did on the Lady Agnes de Castro Wife to king Peter with an intent to exclude her Sons the Princes John and Denis Some little Opposition was made at first by several of the Nobility but at length they all consented the Protector should be proclaimed King the so much celebrated Nunho Alvarez Pereyra having offered to Murder Martin Vasquez chief of the adverse Party only because he stood up for the lawful Heirs 2. The Protector with a counterfeit Modesty seemed to excuse himself from accepting of their Offers but it was only to heighten their Zeal and so on the 6th of April he complyed with them He immediately shewed great Favour towards the Cities of Lisbon and Porto for having so constantly adhered to him Thus it appears how little hopes of Salvation there can be left for Lawyers who by false Interpretations invert Justice as it appears in the case of this John de Reglas before-mentioned who standered the Queens Beatrix and Ellenor and the Princess Agnes de Castro and excluded the Lawful Heirs the Princes John and Denis only for his own private Interest in promoting the Bastard Protector who could have no Title to the Crown I think it were better to breed up Children Thieves than Lawyers for the former will at least Repent at the Gallows but the latter are never permitted by Worldly Interest to Repent All Parties thus agreed The 〈…〉 the Protector was solemnly Proclaimed King of Portugal and accordingly chose all his Officers of State and of the Houshold Marching into the Field he mustered 6000 Men a small number but resolute and unanimous and Nunho Alvarez Pereyra now made Constable of Portugal was ordered to Sea with a Squadron from Porto to engage the Castisian Fleet before Lisbon Missing of that Enemy he sailed back to the Province betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho to recover part of that Country then holding for Castile Here he took Neyva and Ponte de Lima by force Villa Nova de Cerveyra and Monçon opened their Gates to him 3. The new-made King went from Coimbra to Porto where he was received with great Joy 〈…〉 the new King Here he consulted with Alonso Lorenzo de Carvallo a Man then Powerful at Guimaraens about betraying that Place to him which was accordingly performed The Castle held
out some time but there being no hopes of Relief at last it surrendred The City Braga mutinying drove their Governour into the Castle and sending to the new King offered to receive him He ordered Nunho Alvarez the Constable to take Possession of the City and force the Castle which was accordingly performed The same happened at Ponte de Lima. The King of Castile now at Cordova having twice sent his Fleet against Lisbon ordered a strong Party to enter Portugal by the way of Cuidad Rodrigo They plundered all the Territory of Trancoso and the City of Viseu but as they returned laden with a Rich Booty they were charged by a Portuguese Body much inferiour to them in Number yet with such Resolution that of all the Castilians only 200 escaped not one Portuguese being lost in the Action if Credit may be given to such a Relation after affirming the Fight was obstinately maintained In the mean while the Fleet of Castile consisting of Forty Ships Ten Galeons The Castilians enter Portugal some Galleys Twelve Barks and other small Vessels rode in the Harbour of Lisbon That King also marched from Cordova with a numerous Army and appeared before Elvas which was resolutely defended and now finding the general Aversion of the Portuguese to him it was debated whether Portugal ought to be invaded at all but at last it was resolved to enter it by the way of the Province of Beyra 4. The new Portuguese King understanding the approach of the Castilians marched out of Guimaraens to give them Battle having drawn together his Forces from Coimbra Porto and other Places On the 14th of August in the Morning he entred the Plain of Aljubarrota where he Knighted several Gentlemen The Castilians designed not to fight intending to march directly to Lisbon Tâ—â— Famâ—â—â— Bâ—â—â—â—â—â— Aâ—jubarâ—â—â— yet after some Consultation they resolved to Engage There was a great disproportion in Numbers for the Castilians are reported to have been 33000 strong and the Portuguese but 6500 besides which Disadvantage they had the Sun and Dust in their Eyes The Sun was going down when these two unequal Armies engaged The Castilians at the first Charge broke through our Vanguard but the new King then coming up not only with Words but with his Example so animated his Men that in less than an hour that multitude of Enemies was put to the rout The King of Castile who began the Fight on a Mule being then troubled with an Ague was forced to take a Horse to save himself Most of the Portuguese who sided with Castile and were in the Front of the Army were put to the Sword for no Quarter was given to them The Royal Standard of Castile was taken but many pretending to the Honour it could not be decided by whom The full Number of the slain is not known but it was very great on the part of Castile of whom about 3000 Horse are reckoned to have perished and very many Men of great Account This is the Famous Battle of Aljubarrota so called for that it was fought near the Village of that Name The Booty was vastly Rich. 5. The Victorious King continued three days in the Field of Battle erecting Trophies it being then the Custom so long to expect the return of the Enemy The King of Castile fled with speed from Aljubarrota to Santarem which is Twelve Leagues and having rested there a short time went down the River to his Fleet then Riding before Lisbon where he continued two days and on the 17th of August left that Port attended by Seventeen Galleys He arrived at Sevil and tired there with the Clamours of the People went away to Carmona Now we have heard what the Portuguese Authors write of this Battle The Account given of this Battle by the Spanish Historians which seems altogether incredible but let us give an hint of what those of Castile write which is much more probable They say the King of Castile advancing towards his Enemy found him posted in an Advantageous Ground betwixt two Morasses out of which Place he could not be drawn because much inferiour in Number That he was above 12000 strong and before the Engagement made Overtures of Peace That the Castilians would not be disswaded from giving Battle in that Place so disadvantageous to them because they exceeded their Enemies in Number and in fine that they lost the Day through their own Pride and Rashness in assailing an Enemy so well posted when they might have ranged all the Country at their own pleasure This I believe to all Impartial Men will appear nearer to the Truth for we must allow all Authors to magnifie the Exploits of their own Country and so let us return to our History The new King coming to Santarem had it delivered to him and finding there many Ladies whose Husbands were in the Service of Castile he gave them all Liberty to go to them which they gladly embraced 6. The Portuguese King 's next care was to Reward those who had signalized themselves in the Battle The Constable of Portugal upon the Frontiers of Castile the chief whereof was the Constable to whom he gave large Possessions and the Title of Count of Ourem He encouraged by this Honour resolved to invade Castile Having gathered 4000 Men he met and defeated the Master of Calatrava D. Martin Yanez de Barbuda who had entred Portugal with a strong Party and pursuing his Success took the strong Town of Villa Garcia Thence he marched to the Plain betwixt Magaçela and Villa Nueva de la Serena where he had a terrible and long as well as doubtful Battle with D. Peter Moniz Master of the Order of Santiago Three several times the Fight was renewed and lasted almost two days with incredible Obstinacy but in the Conclusion the Portuguese obtained a most Glorious Victory This done he went away to aid the King then lying at the Siege of Chaves which was surrendred to him Moving thence they laid Siege to Coria but after having battered it some days with great Fury were forced to rise and depart the Constable to the Province of Alentejo and the King on foot in Pilgrimage to Our Lady's Church at Guimaraens as he had promised before the Battle of Aljubarrota Most of them that held any Fortresses for Castile surrendred themselves now to the new King He laid Siege to the Town of Chaves whereof Martin Gonzalez de Atayde was Governour who held it out till he had no Water left 1386. and then articled to Surrender in Forty days if not relieved from Castile and by consent of that King he at length delivered up the Place 7. The Portuguese Embassadors in England stirred up the Duke of Lancaster to lay hold of this Opportunity to assert his Right to the Crown of Castile The Duke of Lancaster invited by the Portuguese Lands in Galicia with 2000 Horse and 3000 Archers to which he had a most Legal Title by his Wife the Lady
up the Ghost on the 25th of October 〈…〉 Being sensible he must die he commanded the Plate furnished by the Churches for the late Wars to be restored He ordered Duke Emanuel should Succeed him having first used all possible means to leave the Crown to his Bastard-Son George which was the greatest Act of Injustice he was 〈…〉 indeed that could be Having 〈◊〉 the Queen Princess Beatrix and the Clergy in his Life time he now begged Pardon of them 4. Tho' the King earnestly desired to see Duke Emanuel before his Death he could not compass it some Persons perswading that Prince his Design was to kill him There was a small Box whereof he always kept the Key which was generally supposed to contain nothing but Poison 〈…〉 Saint But this Box being opened after his Death there was found in it a Book of Instructions for to make a good Confession a Hair-cloath and a Discipline stained with Blood Hence the People took occasion 〈◊〉 call him a Saint as many before accounted him a Tyrant In his Will the King ordered 3000 Masses should be said for his Soul that 41 Orphans should be marryed that the like number of Captives should be redeemed that the great â—ospital of Lisbon should be finished that half the Plate taken from Churches by his Father for the War against Castile should be restored that Duke Emanuel should Succeed him in the Throne that his Bastard-Son George should have the City Coimbra with all the Royalties wherewith Prince Peter had it before that in case Duke Emanuel died without Issue the aforesaid George should Inherit the Crown and that none of the Persons banished the Kingdom by him should be restored After his Death he had the Commendations of his very Enemies His Body was conducted with great State from the Cathedral of Silves to the Monastery of Batalla where it is said to have been found long after uncorrupted which increased the Opinion of his Sanctity He marryed his Cousin-German Ellenor Daughter to Prince Ferdinand Duke of Viseo and the Lady Beatrix Daughter to Prince John She was a Princess endued with singular Beauty Wit and Vertue and lies buried in the Monastery of the Mother of God at Lisbon founded by her self in the Cloister among the Nuns is her Grave without any distinction 5. Let us now give some Specimen of the many Vertues that adorned this King 〈◊〉 Vertues First for his great Zeal in Matters of Religion Pope Innocent VII publickly called him The Eldest Son of the Church Daily he performed several Devotions upon his bare Knees and in the Holy Week spent whole Nights in mourning before the Sepulchre He forbid the use of Mules and because the Clergy said they would have recourse to the Pope on that account he made it Death for any Body to 〈◊〉 them and so that Dispute 〈…〉 Justice was such that he rewarded some Judges before whom he was Cast in Law Suits and hearing a Man was condemned to Death who had been Fourteen Years in Prison he pardoned him saying They better deserved to die who had kept him so long to Condemn him at last Few ever exceeded him in Liberality and Gratitude for having borrowed 1500 Ducats of Peter Pantoja and kept them but five days he then sent him his Money and 250 Ducats for the Use of it Pantoja complaining that the Interest was too great he ordered him as much more and said He would do so as often as he complained James Fernandez Correa his Factor in Flanders having lent Maximilian the King of the Romans 30000 Ducats without his Order he sent him Thanks for so doing and gave him 1000 Crowns Edward del Casal a Man of Worth having employed another to beg some Favour for him the King seeing him said Since you have Hands to serve me with why have not you a Tongue to speak to me 6. There was nothing that daunted him More of his good Qualities in so much that others fearing to go aboard the Fleet because of the Plague he went himself and is said to have spoke unconcerned with the Ghost of a Gentleman that was dead and came to warn him of the Conspiracy of the Duke of Viseo Favourites he never had any and was such an Enemy to those sort of Ministers that the Cardinal George da Costa who had entire influence over his Father fled to Rome before his Accession to the Crown None that deserved well passed unrewarded for he carryed about him a Table-Book in which were the Names and Services of all those that merited of him All Men had access to him their Business was heard and answered Truth was so much admired by him that he made D. John de Meneses his Lord Steward only because he said He always spoke the Truth 〈◊〉 it were displeasing to him As for Learning he understood Philosophy was skilled in Mathematicks well versed in History and a great admirer of Poetry Tho' his Countenance represented much of Gravity and his Carriage had much of Majesty yet at times he was pleasant and facetious To conclude his Government was inferiour to none of the best Kings that preceded him and may be a Pattern to all those that come after him Scarce any excelled him in all sorts of Vertues and foâ— his Zeal to Religion he was the first that propagated it in the Torrid Zone In short he was a Father of his People Bountiful Just Merciful Generous Brave a lover of Truth and sure rewarder of Merit 7. King John had only one Lawfully Begotten Son His Issue which was Prince Alonso born at Lisbon in the Year 1475. and who died as has been said unfortunately by a Fall off his Horse in the Year 1491. being newly married to the Princess Elizabeth Daughter to King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth of Castile This King had also One Bastard-Son called George created Duke of Coimbra Marquis of Torres Novas Master of the Military Orders of Santiago and Avis and Lord of the Lands that had belonged to Prince Peter He had also the Town of Aveiro and of him are descended the Dukes of that Title who keep the sirname of Lancaster taken by them in Memory of Queen Philippa Daughter to the Duke of Lancaster King John at length fixed the Arms of the Kingdom in the manner they are used at this Day reducing the Castles in the Orle to the certain Number of Seven and setâ—ing the Five middle Escutcheons upright 8. Discoveries in the Reign of King John were as follow 〈…〉 James Cano sailed to the River and Kingdom of Manicongo James Alonso de Aveiro to that of Beni and brought thence the first Pepper that came from those Parts Bartâ—â—â—â—mew Diaz to the Cape of Good Hope and passed beyond it to the River called Del Infante Peter Covillam and Alonso de Paiva Men versed in many Languages went to Grand Cairo in Egypt then embarking on the Red Sea saw the City Adem where parting Paiva went into Ethiopia
Adem George de Albuquerque with only 80 Men held out a Siege against the King of Bintam who had 12000. D. Simon de Meneses burnt the City Braçalor Peter de Silva defended Malaca against the Power of Five Confederate Kings Thus many others in Asia and Africk and even the Portuguese Women at Zafin shewed their Valour helping to defend that Place against the Moors The Particulars of these Actions belong to the Books of the Portuguese Asia and Africk to which we refer the Readers our intent here being to Treat only of the Portuguese Affairs in Europe The END of the FOURTH BOOK THE HISTORY OF PROTUGAL The Fifth BOOK CHAP. I. The Life and Reign of Sebastian the First of the Name and Sixteenth King of Portugal with the total Destruction of him and his whole Army in Africk from the Year 1554. till 1578. 1. PPrince John â—he Birth of King Sebastian Son to King John the Third dying left his Wife the Princess Joanna Daughter to the Emperor Charles the Fifth with Child On the 18th Day of her Widowhood she was delivered of Prince Sebastian at Lisbon it being the 20th of January 1554. This Prince's Birth cleared up the Clouds of Sorrow contracted by the Death of his Father and all the Kingdom resounded with Expressions of Joy On Account of his Name Pope Paul the 4th sent him one of the Arrows taken out of the Body of S. Sebastian which this Prince took for his device and instituted the Military Order of the Arrow which lasted not long He was Three Years of Age when by the Death of his Grand-Father he inherited the Crown being left under the Government of his Grand-Mother Queen Katherine 1557. a Princess extraordinarily qualifyed for that Charge His Accession to the Crown Yet the Queen thinking it a dangerous Employ quitted it when she had held it little above Two Years From her the Government was transferred to the Cardinal Henry Cardinal Henry Regent the King's Unkle who was judged to undertake it with a willing Mind He being much affected to the Jesuits sent for F. Lewis Gonzalez de Camara from Rome to be the King's Preceptor and joyned with him F. Amador Rabelo and F. Maurice D. Alexius de Meneses was appointed his Governour 1563. He took upon him the Government on the Day of S. Sebastian which was his Birth Day he being then just Fourteen Years of Age and was warned by Peter Nunez the famous Mathematician that it was an Unhappy Day 2. King Sebastian Odd Actions of King Sebastian tho he shewed great Zeal in matters of Religion yet had some actions so Extravagant as seemed to foreshew his Destruction After going to Bed he would rise at Midnight and go out with D. Alvaro de Meneses his Page whom also he would leave behind and spend an Hour or Two by himself on the Shoar after which he returned home Other times he would cross the River Tagus in a Boat with Sancho de Toar at the same time of Night where landing a Boat was seen to bring another Man from towards Belâ—m they two would walk together two Hours and no Body could tell who the Man was or what they discoursed about Near Sintra there is a thick Wood where he used to spend two Hours at Night alone At Almeirin he lay in wait on a Tree for a wild Boar and hearing the Boughs shake he discovered a Bulk which he ran at and laid hold of it some of his Company coming in found him Wrestling with a wild Black who having fled from his Master had lived long on the Mountain Having ordered that none should be suffered to pass by the Forts of 〈◊〉 and S. Julian without being obliged to come in and give an Account of themselves To see if his orders were observed he went into a Boat passing both these Forts through showers of Bullets sent after him and returned without discovering himself He would put out to Sea in a Galley when the Weather was most Stormy and laughed at the Danger D. Alvaro de Castro his Favourite dying he went some Nights to his Grave where he was heard to talk and returned with Tears in his Eyes Most of his time he spent among the wild Beasts in the Woods seldom applying himself to Business for the dispatch whereof by the Advice of Cardinal Henry he made choice of two Gentlemen which were D. Martin Pereyra and Martin Gonzalez de Camara a Priest These two discharged that Trust with much Honour but Martin Gonzales wholly Monopolized all the King's Favour to himself 3. Tho the Kingdom was miserably exhausted The King prepares for an Expedition into Africk the King who had fixed his Mind upon the Conquest of Africk ceased not to make vast Preparations for that Enterprize All that Flattered him upon this score were advanced to his Favour but such as more prudently represented the mighty difficulties and dangers of that Enterprize were soon removed from his Presence Even his Grand-Mother for giving Advice against this undertaking became so irksome to him that she was upon departing to Castile yet he was again reconciled to her Whilst the Kingdom was thus tossed with various agitations at home Exploits in India several Fleets arrived from India and brought Advice of the Progress the Portuguese made in those Parts D. Constantine Son to James Duke of Bragança had taken the City Damam D. Lewis de Ataide made Braçalor Tributary and with 600 Portuguese defended the City Goa against Hidalcan who Besieged it with 100000 Indians 2000 Elephants and 400 pieces of Cannon D. Francis Mascarenhas held out nine Months in Chaul against Nizamaluco who Besieged it with 150000 Men. George de Moura and Antony Chale raised the Siege of Onor the same was done at the Town of Chale D. Leonis Pereyra defended Malaca against the King of Achem. D. James de Meneses destroyed many Places on the Coast of Malabar and all the Kingdom of Maâ—galor These and many other such notable Victories which may be seen at large in the Portuguese Asia excited the young unadvised but ambitious King to attempt the Conquest of Africk that he might not be outrun in glory by any of his Subjects 4. Inflamed with these aspiring Thoughts he went the first time into Africk at twenty Years of Age. To this purpose he sent D. James de Sousa 1574. Governour into the Kingdom of Algarve Sebastian passes over into Africk with Orders to Ship off the Forces raised for that Expedition Antony Bastard-Son to Prince Lewis was sent before to Tangier many Gentlemen followed him so that he made up a Body of 800 Horse The King was resolved for Africk and yet had no Fleet and all his Friends disswaded that Voyage He feigning he went to divert himself at Sintra ordered D. Alvaro de Noronha with Three Galleys to meet him at Cascais where on a sudden he Embarked ordering Simon de Vega who guarded the Coast with one
Assemblâ—◠〈…〉 and appeared inflexible Martin 〈…〉 Camara was sent to appease them and promise they should have all the Records relating to the Succession It was proposed the Governours should remove to Santarem and disband the Forces they entertained The Prior of Crato drew near to Lisbon thinking the City would receive him they ordered him to remove farther yet he approached nearer and at last was admitted The Governours and Commons were at variance and could agree upon no one Point King Philip wrote to the Governours Parliament and chief Cities admonishing them to Proclaim him King Philip of Spain Arms to secure the Crown 〈◊〉 Portugal and at the same time suspecting them gathered his Forces He chose Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo Duke of Alva then a Prisoner at Vzeda for Miscarriages in Flanders to be General of this Expedition Philip removed to Guadalupe on Pretence of Devotion thither came to him the Portuguese Embassadors desiring him to forbear Force and stand to the Determination of the Judges But he told them he could not lay down Arms till he was proclaimed King The Governours weary of the Commons sent them word they were dissolved and might depart They doubted at first but soon after obeyed This done the Governours to rid themselves of such as opposed King Philip sent them away to the Frontiers and other Parts on pretence of securing the Kingdom 2. King Philip now at Merida spread his Forces along the Borders of the Kingdom ordering the Commanders to treat such Portuguese as resorted to them courteously Preparations in Portugal to oppose Philip The Portuguese tho' they knew of these Preparations yet because the King courted them they thought he was weak Such of the Governours as favoured him were afraid to discover it and therefore Francis Barreto was sent into France to obtain 6000 Foot of that King which done he was to go to Rome to move the Pope to Mediate that King Philip might stand to Judgment D. Elisio de Portugal was sent to the Emperor The Fleet was also ordered to be fitted out D. Emanuel de Portugal erected a Wooden Fort on a Bank of Sand at the Mouth of the River to secure the Harbour There being great want of Men the Fryars from the Pulpits encouraged them to take up Arms and became more insolent when they incensed the Rabble to Rescue Antony Suarez who was hanged for murdering Ferdinand de Pâ—ca an Ancient Grave Man and Alderman of the City for that he opposed Antony the Grand Prior by whose order he was assassinated and he now pressed the Governours to declare him Legitimate D. John Tello one of the Governours was sent to Belem with absolute Power and there joyned with D. Emanuel de Portugal both of them being Mortal Enemies to Castile These Two wanting Money designed to sell the Crown Jewels but Christopher de Moura deterred any from buying affirming They would lose their Money for that the King would take them from them and their Persons would be in Danger 3. The Portuguese Embassadors followed the King to Badajoz where he dismissed them with the same Answer as before The Governours still remained irresolute but resolved to secure themselves and therefore removed to Setuval that being a stronger Place The Duke of Bragança and Spanish Embassador followed them and they began to talk of summoning the Cortes or Parliament as if the Duke of Alva were not now upon his March Elvas and other places delivered to King Philip. In the mean while the City Elvas was delivered up to King Philip there being Two Parties in the Place and Sixty Horse appearing before it and cutting off its Water The same happened at Olivenza Serpa Mâ—ura Campo-Mayor Aronches and Portalegre did the same Antony the Grand Prior at Santarem was by the Rabble proclaimed Protector of the Kingdom Antony the Bastard declared Protector by the Rabble and he going to lay the Foundation of a Fort a Base Fellow called Antony Baracho flourishing a Clout on the point of his Sword cried out Antony Antony King of Portugal All the Multitude took the word and pursued it so that none durst contradict them Only he made some seeming Opposition which was but to heighten their Desires Mounting on Horseback he was conducted to the Church and thence to the Town-Hall where all present swore Allegiance to him This done he resolved to set forward for Lisbon believing himself secure if received there This News was soon carried to the Governours at Setuval But before we proceed let us give some further Account of this Mob King 4. Antony Prior of Crato that is of the Order of Malta was born at Lisbon in the Year 1531 being Bastard-Son to Prince Lewis the Son of King Emanuel by Vâ—â—lante Gomez yet he made efforts to prove himself Legitimate but all unsuccessfully He was bred to Learning but made but little progress 1531. only understood Latin and had some rudiments of other Sciences The Birth and Education of Antony Prior of Crato His Particular Talent was a smooth Tongue which was very Attractive Incontinency was so predominant in him that in the depth of his Misfortunes he could not refrain from it Upon some Distast given him at Court he went into Castile and was kindly Entertained by King Philip. 1560. At Tangieâ— he served against the Moors and gained Reputation 1568. and Accompanied King Sebastian in both his Voyages to Africk where as we have seen he remained in Captivity Being ransomed he returned to Portugal and soon began to aspire to the Throne Finding King Philip so powerful an Enemy he offered to Compound but his Proposals were rejected What followed till his being proclaimed King at Santarem we have seen above The Governours hearing thereof and fearing he would soon be upon them Fortifyed themselves At Lisbon all things were in the greatest Confusion imaginable King Philip was at Badajâ—z and the power of his Army much extolled which spurred all Antony's Followers to press the Kingdom to Declare for him that so united they might the better oppose the Spaniards The Council of Lisbon refused to admit Antony as King but would receive him as Protector which he refusing they prepared to oppose him 5. Antony advanced to Lisbon Antony enters Lisbon 〈…〉 and tho but slenderly attended entered the City all that saw him saluting him as King He went to the Town-House and being there proclaimed all that were present swore Allegiance to him which done he immediately sent to acquaint the Duke of Bragança the Governours and other Noblemen of his Exaltation His next care was to raise Men and dispatch Expresses to England and France to crave Succours Having gathered 1500 Men he set forward for Setuval where the Governours were sending before the young Count de 〈◊〉 his great Favourite with a Letter admonishing them to submit They thought to have defended themselves but the Gount being possessed of the Gates they fled away privately and met again at 〈◊〉
the Air representing Men Fires and Battles The Holy Man F. Bartholomew of the Martyrs Archbishop of Braga was beatified his Body is in the Town of Viana Margaret de Chaves now flourished in Sanctity and made a miraculous end CHAP. VI. The Reign of Philip the Fourth of Spain and Third of Portugal and the Twentieth King from the Year of our Lord 1605 till 1628. 1. KIng Philip the Third of Spain Birth of Philip the Fourth of Spain and Third of Portugal and Second of Portugal being at Valladolid with his Wife Queen Margaret their Son Philip the Fourth of Spain and Third of Portugal was born upon Good-Friday which fell then upon the 8th day of April in the Year 1605. His Birth was celebrated with the greatest Demonstrations of Joy and most of Expence 1625. that had ever till then been seen His Father dying he retired to the Royal Monastery of S. Hierome 1621. whence a few days after he returned to take Possession of his Crowns left him by his Ancestors his Magnificent Entry dispelling the Clouds of Sorrow that hung over the Heads of the Subjects and filling their Hearts with Joy He entred upon the Government giving ample Testimonies of a more pregnant Judgment than could have been expected at those tender Years His Accession to the Crown for he reformed the Councils established wholsom Laws punished evil Ministers and ordered that all those who were in Office should give in true Estimates of what they were worth that it might afterwards appear how their Estates were advanced in his Service K. Charles the First of England then Prince of Wales in Spain On the 16th of May Charles Prince of Wales afterwards King of England came incognito by the Post to Madrid and went to Lodge at the English Embassador's House and by him made known the design of his coming The Catholick King made a Publick Entry with him from the Escurial with that Solemnity that is only used at the Reception of the Spanish Kings giving him the Right Hand under the Canopy and attended by all his Court every Man thâ—â— day vying to out do the rest in Splendor and in testifying his Joy Afterwards several Sports were made to Entertain the Prince the King himself at the Riding used with Canes instead of Spears signalized his Dexterity The Match betwixt the Prince and Princess Mary being proposed learned Men were consulted and agreed upon the Conclusion but not the Formalities It was hoped it would have succeeded but Providence had ordered otherwise 2. The Arms of Spain were at this time employed in several Parts The Dutch in Brasil in all which many Portuguese served with singular Reputation The Rebel Hollanders having Intelligence of the evil Posture of Affairs in Brasil resolved to attempt the Conquest of that Country and to that effect moved several of the Northern Princes grown envious of the Power of Spain to assist them in the Enterprize They fitted out a Fleet in Holland and Zealand it consisting of 35 Sail under the Command of Admiral John Vandort and carryed 3000 chosen Men a good Train of Artillery with all other Necessaries The Design was kept very private In December the Fleet set Sail and having passed the Line in 6 Degrees of South Latitude according to the Orders given the Admiral opened his Instructions and found he was commanded to invade Baya de Todos Santos or the Bay of All-Saints This Bay is thought to be the greatest in the World and is the sort to the City S. Salvador seated on a rising Ground along that Mountainous Shoar extending out in length from North to South It has a Cathedral Church and had once a Court of Chancery which has been taken away with good cause for the greatest Injustice that can be in a State is to be pestered with too many Officers of Justice This City is the Metropolis of all that vast Province of Brasil in America and on the East side of that Continent stretching forth 1200 Leagues along the Coast being a Delightful Rich and Pleasant Soil 3. The Fleet entred this Bay and began to batter the Suburb next the Sea The Dutch Land and take the Capital City of all Brasil called Baia. where was begun a Fort in the Water in which Antony de Mendoza Son to the Governour James de Mendoza commanded but was forced to abandon it because in no condition then to withstand the fury of the Enemy's Cannon In the mean while 1000 Musqueteers landed and advanced towards the City without any Opposition They halted in the Suburb of S. Benedict Night came on and all the Inhabitants fled out of the City which the Enemy took Possession of in the Morning The Governour staid 〈◊〉 his House and was thence carried away aboard the Admiral All the People had forsaken their Houses leaving an inestimable Booty to the Rebels who polluted the Churches and committed all manner of Sacrilegious Outrages D. Mark Teyxeira the Bishop with his Clergy had offered to withstand the Enemy but none adhering to him he retired to a Village Mathias de Albuquerque who was next in Command to the Governour then a Prisoner was 100 Leagues off at Pernambuco He sent an Account of what had happened into Portugal where the Advice arrived in July The King writ to the Governours of Portugal a Letter with his own Hand in which he expressed how much he valued the Portuguese Loyalty and what returns he expected from them upon such an Exigency A Fleet sent against the Dutch The Portuguese to answer their King's Expectation speedily resorted from all Parts of the Kingdom to Lisbon and in the space of three Months fitted out a Fleet of 26 Sail in which was most of the Gentry of the Kingdom all at their own Cost without putting the King to any charge D. Emanuel de Moura Corte Real Marquess of Castel Rodrigo gave the Example to others raising a sightly Company of Musquetiers which he sent upon this Expedition at his own Expence This stirred up others to do the like for among the Portuguese Emulation is more prevalent than Vertue D. Alonso de Noronha tho' old that had been Governour of India listed himself and many Gentlemen of Quality followed his Example I shall not name them because among the Portuguese every one had rather his Name should be omitted than that his Neighbours should be inserted with him 4. The Portuguese not being a sufficient Power to recover Brasil a Spanish Fleet was at the same time fitting out but not so soon ready for the former stay'd a Month for the other in the Port of Lisbon and sailing thence in November expected it at the Island of Santiago the chief of those of Cabo Verde till February which delay proved not a little advantageous to the Enemy The Portuguese Squadron consisted of 26 Ships 1625. and in them 4000 Men in the Spanish were more Ships and 8000 Men the former commanded by D. Emanuel
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
Portugal Others are of Opinion that the Duke knowing himself to be in some measure guilty published the said Declaration and Challenge of his own accord to blot out the ill Opinion conceived of him Whatsoever the grounds were that moved him to it Certain it is he published and dispersed throughout Spain and Portugal a Cartell in Vindication of his Honour charging the new King with the Crime of Rebellion and challenging him to single Combat with all the Formalities used in those Cases This Cartel was dated at Toledo the 29th day of September 1641. and is too long to trouble the Reader with in this place nor is it significant since as it happens to most things of that Nature no Notice was taken of it 7. The Bishop of Lamego betrayed to the Spaniards The Portuguese Ambassador at Rome as has been said above being now exchanged for certain Spaniards of Quality continued his Journey to Rome on his Embassy to his Holiness Upon his Arrival the Spanish Embassador protested that he would immediately return to Spain in case the Pope received him as Embassadour from Portugal Hereupon the Pope to prevent Disorders that might happen ordered he should come to Town by Night but suffered him to be visited as an Embassador He of France sent his Coach to fetch him from Civita Vecchia with a Guard of all the Portugese and Catalonians that were then at Rome Being come thither he took up his Lodging at the French Embassadors who received him at his Door with all possible marks of Respect We shall see what became of this Embassy in its proper place On the 27th of September arrived at Lisbon a Fleet of 18 Sail from Angola richly laden two days after came in another from Rio de Janeiro of no less value in sundry sorts of Commodities Anno 1642. THE Island Terzera was the only Place which had refused to submit to the new King of Portugal The Island Terzera reduced the Governour thereof proving more faithful then the rest to the King of Spain He began to want Provisions and Ammunition which being known in Spain two Ships were sent to him loaden with all Necessaries for his Relief These Vessels were taken by the Ships of Portugal which lay about this Island on purpose to intercept all Succours D. Alvaro de Viveiro who commanded in the Fort being now reduced to great streights and seeing no likelihood of being reliev'd capitulated and march'd out with 263 Men two pieces of Canon and all other marks of Honour leaving behind 800 sick Men who according to Articles were to be taken care of and sent away as soon as well D. Emanuel de Souza Pacheco was sent to govern that Island The Portuguese Fleet consisting of 13 Sail sailed together with the Dutch designing to intercept the Spanish Galeons but the Dutch treacherously forsook the Portuguese who in a Storm lost their Admiral and Vice-Admiral the other Ships being much shatter'd 2. Soon after the Surrender of the Island Forreign Alliances concluded News was brought that the Portuguese Ambassador in Sweden had concluded an Alliance betwixt the two Crowns which the King for the satisfaction of his People caused to be proclaimed by his Heraulds To confirm which in a few Days there arrived at Lisbon four Swedish Ships laden with Naval and Warlike Stores sent by the Ambassador and Letters were brought from the Queen of Sweden in which she gave their Portuguese Majesties assurances of her firm Adherence to them in all that should be for their Service Tristan de Medoza had in like manner established a firm Friendship and Alliance with the Hollanders However the Dutch Fleet that was upon the Coast of Goa in India took some Portuguese Ships commanded by Sancho Faria de Silva who was kill'd in the Action with 50 of his Men. At the same time they took several places in Brasil driving out the Portuguese D. George Mascarenhas who was Vice-Roy there sent Advice to the King and he immediately writ to Francis de Andrade Leitan his Ambassador in England ordering him instantly to go over to complain to the States of the taking of those Places The States considering how uncapable the King was at that time to do himself right made small account of his Ambassador demanding restitution Goa was at the same time Besieg'd by the same Fleet which not being strong enough for such an Enterprize begged the assistance of a Neighbouring King That Prince blocked it up by Land but as soon as he understood of the Revolution of Portugal he rais'd the Siege joyn'd in League with the Portuguese Vice-Roy and by this Means the Dutch Fleet was forc'd to retire 3. All this while the Frontiers of Castile and Portugal were full of Soldiers The Progress of the War in the Province of Alentejo The Garrison of Campo Mayor often broke into Estremadura Parties of Horse from Badajoz appeared frequently at the Gates of Elvas and the Governor of this last Place as often drove Cattel from about Badajoz Though these inroads were not very considerable yet they were not performed without Bloodshed Time heightning the hatred betwixt the two Nations both Parties encreased their Troops The King of Portugal erected six places of Arms on his Frontiers and put 5000 Men into each of them The Spaniards assembled on all sides and four or five Armies appeared in as many places to oppose and infest the Portuguese Hereupon daily Action ensued sometimes the one and sometimes the other being superior Ferdinand Tellez de Meneses Governor of the Province of Beira was one of the first that gained upon the Spaniards He made an inroad into Old Castile where he took and burnt the Towns of S. Martin and Elgas with the Castle of the latter which commands all the Territory of Gata Having made himself Master of Valverde and finding it conveniently seated to annoy the Enemy he left in it a Garrison well provided A small Body of 2500 Spaniards endeavouring to give a check to his Proceedings was put into Disorder at the first Charge and the Portuguese using their Advantage cut in pieces most of their Enemies Martin Alphonso de Melo Governor of Elvas was no less successful about the same time For having received intelligence that a party of 300 Spanish Horse ravaged the Country betwixt Badajoz and Valverde he sent out a good Body of Horse with 150 Musqueteers ordering them to attack the Enemy wherever they met them This was so couragiously performed that most of the Spanish Horse being slain upon the place the rest quitted their Horses to save themselves in a small Wood hard by so that 274 Horses became a prey to the Victors These were yet but small Advantages D. Francis de Melo General of the Portuguese Horse in the Province of Alentejo entred Estremadura where finding no Forces to oppose him he took Aroches Villar del Rey Codissera and Ancinasola defeated some Troops that adventured to oppose him took a vast Booty and so
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
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
the vices of the latter no less exaggerated but above all the affection of the one and the aversion of the other to Count Castelmelhor weighed more than all other things with the People who bore him an implacable hatred Many of the Nobility interposed to pacify the brothers but all their endeavours proved in vain for neither of them would abate any thing of his demands When all other means failed the Queen who then was indisposed sent for the Infante Strange show of affection betwixt the Infante and the Queen who being come to her they received one another with such affection as seemed to be a sufficient earnest of the Love that was growing betwixt them Here the Queen prevailed that he should not depart the Court and should wholly leave that affair to her management which he could not refuse her being as was believed already somewhat fired with that Sight of her At length the difference betwixt the Brothers was reconciled the Prince chose other Servants and the King allowed of them Yet tho' they seemed to have layd aside all animosities the grudges betwixt them were of a higher nature than to be so easily forgot But Peter was supported with a deep dissimulation Alphonso had little of that Art and for the most part threatned much more than he would perform which was the cause that he was often heard to let slip very harsh expressions against his Brother He having long meditated how to rid himself of these displeasures at last â—ixed upon a Method which was to beg of the King the Post of Constable of Portugal which is the same as Generalissimo The more he insisted in demanding the more positive the King was in refusing as being not ignorant of the danger of such a Grant Count Castelmelhor was astonished at this Request and spared not to tell the King that it was not the General 's Staff but the Crown that he aspired to and that it were well to crush his aspiring Spirit Nor so satisfyed he used all his Endeavours to find out who had advised him to demand that Post At length it appeared to him that Counsel could proceed from none but the Counts of Torres and St. John who had been excellent Commanders in the Portuguese Army Them therefore he instantly removed from him sending them away to their Charges on the Frontiers Nevertheless though the abetters were removed the causes of dissention still remaining the differences betwixt the two Brothers grew daily higher and higher and at last the Queen who ought to have laboured to compose them became her self a Party leaving the Interest of her Husband to adhere to that of his Brother Besides her proper Inclination to the Infante two things perhaps might conduce to move the Queen to this unjust proceeding Motives of the Queens Aversion to the King the one that the King was already grown weary of her and the other from which perhaps his Aversion proceeded that he was jealous of her too great Propension to his Brother Count Castelmelhor contriving how to dissolve this knot of Affection that was betwixt the Queen and the Infante thought nothing so effectual as marrying of him which without delaying he proposed to the King who approving of the Advice commanded his Brother to make choice of a Wife He having desired some time to consider of a matter of that Importance returned his Answer in Writing signifying in substance that he was ready to comply with the King only praying that a Servant of his might be employed to go to the Courts of Europe to find out a Lady fit for him to match with Neither the King nor the Count saw into the design of this deceitful Answer which was contrived only to protract time and therefore they approved of it and admitted of John de Roxas whom he had named to go upon that Embassy About the beginning of the Year 1667 1667. the King went to Salvaterra The Queen and Infante's Party increases according to custom with all the Court There the Cabals were continued betwixt the Queen and the Infante and now the party they had gained was more numerous then that which adhered to the King But some time after an Accident that happened was improved to heighten their Animosities A French Man belonging to the Queen was murthered upon the Road in Alenâ—ejo by a Carryer who fled and took Sanctuary but being forced from thence was carryed Prisoner to Coimbra and thence conducted to Lisbon There he was tryed before all the Tribunals till he came to the Council of State none daring to pronounce Judgment against him because he implored the protection of the Church as having been taken out of Sanctuary a thing never permitted in Portugal The Queen who thought nothing was done to thwart her but through the Malice of Count Castelmelhor to her being inraged that Justice was not done upon the Murtherer of her Servant and Country-man railed bitterly at him laying all her discontents to his Charge Nor yet so satisfyed she refused to be present at the Bull Feast usually kept at Lisbon upon St. Anthony's Day alledging she could not shew her self to the People till Justice were done her Among the rest that took upon them to vindicate the Queens cause The Infante openly espouses the Queens quarrel the Infante was the hottest as looking upon the Injuries done to her to be levelled at himself who had wholly espoused her Interest Therefore he ordered Count Castelmelhor to bring the Secretary of State who had carryed himself very disrespectfully towards the Queen in the Affair of the Murtherer before the Council to answer for his Insolency There contrary to his Custom Peter inveighed largely against him and with such vehemency that the Council signed an Order for his Banishment which notwithstanding all the Count's opposition was obeyed and he sent into Exile This Success against the Favourite encouraged the Infante to aim at greater things his party daily encreasing for besides the Queen there adhered to him the Duke of Cadaval who had been Banished by the Counts Procurement D. Sancho Manuel who after defeating the Spanish Army at Estremoz had been remov'd from his command by thesame Interest and many more of the Nobility on sundry other Accounts besides the thoughtless multitude stirred up by the desire of Novelty and animated with the name of so many Heads of Note Notwithstanding the Strength of this Faction it was yet thought too soon to attempt any thing against the King directly and judged more proper to let the Storm fall upon his Favourite The Faction level against the Favourite who being once cast down the King would be left exposed to all their Practises To consult of the means of removing the Count there was a great Meeting held of all the Infante's Confederacy he also being present There most Men being averse to Murther if the thing might be otherwise performed it was resolved to seize upon and send him away either into
India or some other remote parts of the World yet so that if he should make resistance or attempt to escape then he should be killed Many days passed not before the Count had intire Information of the whole Conspiracy against him and having layed it before the King he was by him impowered to use such means for their common Security as he should think most effectual He presently doubles the Guards at the Palace arms all his own Creatures set his Spies and stirs not out of the Palace without a sufficient Train and Guard for his Security This sudden change at Court alarm'd the City so that the People ran in heaps to the Palace for Information but finding that there was no interruption of publick Affairs nor any thing but the increase of the Guards they soon dispersed and returned to their Houses The Infante finding his project defeated to avoid all Suspition retired to his Country-House at Quelas Whilst he was there almost in despair for the great disappointment he had received a Discovery was made or pretended to be made for the certainty of it could never appear that the Count had hired People to poison him Hereupon his Partizans advise him to be very circumspect in securing himself and they on their part were not wanting in spreading abroad the danger they pretended him to be in Having thus prepared the Multitude and being sensible that the Count could not but study to secure himself by his downfal the Infante made instant application to the King to punish him according to the hainousness of the Offence he alledged To this effect he wrote to the King acquainting him that he was convinced the Count practised against his Life that therefore he demanded he should be banished from the Court or else that he himself should be forced to fly into Foreign parts for Safety Both the King and Count having read this Letter referred the whole matter to the Council of State There it was fully discussed one party affirming that it was a Presumption at one time to accuse the King's Favourite and assign his Punishment in such a manner as seemed to threaten the King himself that if the Count were justly accused he ought to be tryed according to the known Laws of the Kingdom and if convicted to be punished but that if it should appear he was wronged care ought to be taken least the Prince's aspiring practices should not be prejudicial to the King The other side on the contrary being devoted to the Infante's Interest urged all the plausible Reasons they could gather to shew that he ought to be complyed with Right or Wrong either in regard he was the King's Brother or for fear he might effect that by force which he could not obtain by Entreaty After conferring both Opinions they came to this Resolution That it should be put to the Tryal The King offers the Infante Satisfaction whether the Infante could be appeased by Submission and all manner of humble Application To this effect the Marquess of Marialva was sent by the King to acquaint the Infante that the Count was â—â—ady to come and beg his Pardon upon his Knees But he considering that to accept of this Submission would no way forward his End for that the Count would still remain at Court after two days delay sent back the Marquess with his Answer signifying that nothing but the Banishment of the Earl could satisfie him Alphonso hoping his Brother's Fury might abate in time delayed sending to him again for the present whereat he being the more enraged caused a Letter to be deliver'd to the King among other things threatning not to appear at Court as long as Coâ—nt Castelmelhor continued in it A Cabinet Council being called upon this second Billet some were for apprehending the Infante himself as now grown too dangerous others more moderate were only for securing his Family and Adherents and so leaving him naked This latter Advice was approved off but the Execution being delayed and Peter having received Intelligence thereof he stood upon his Guard arming all his Followers and promising to live and dye by them Next he summons the Counsellors of State The Council and Magistrates of Lisbon combine with the Infante and Magistrates of Lisbon who being met at his House he inveighed before them against the King his Brother and Count Castelmelhor impeaching him of Practices against his Life and desiring their assistance to be revenged of him since the King would not consent to his Banishment After having spoken to this effect he gave them the same in Writing to which they unanimously answer'd they would stand by him and support his Dignity to their utmost It is easie to conceive how much King and Count were concerned at this audacious proceeding The King fearing the faction offers to compound with the Infante which was an absolute usurpation upon the regal Authority for it was no less in the Infante to summon the Tribunals and in them it was not much less than Treason to obey the Summons but above all to ingage to stand by him Finding by this Tryal how great the strength of his Party was they resolved if possible to mollifie him and therefore the King sent to him to discover who were the Count's Accusers that so he might be proceeded against in due form of Law The Infante positively refused to discover the Evidence unless the Count were first removed from Court Alphonso put it to the Council and ablest Lawyers whether it were legal and beseeming the King's Dignity that the Count should be removed before the Witnesses were known and it was carryed by the Majority that the demand was unjust and unreasonable This their result under their Hands the King sent to his Brother at the same time sending away Expresses to the Commanders on the Frontiers and Sea-ports to suffer no Man to depart the Kingdom By these means the expectation of a Civil War which till then had gone no farther then Lisbon was spread abroad throughout the whole Kingdom The Infante advising with his Friends upon the result of the Council sent him by the King they came to this Resolution that in case his Majesty persisted in protecting the Count then Peter without his consent should speed into the Province beyond the Mountains where the Count of St. John had the command of the Forces which he should march to Lisbon and joyning with the multitude by open Force should constrain the King to comply with all his demands Having fixed this Resolution he sent the King a long Letter full of invectives against the Count and complaints that he could not obtain Justice concluding that his Majesty made more account of the Earl then of him and seeing both could not live together he had resolved to quit the Court. Upon what Account he intended to withdraw we have seen but just before not to submit to the King's Will but to force him to comply with his And though he pretended privately
Souza de Macedo one of the Counts creatures who for some words spoken to the Queen had been ordered into banishment but unknown to her lay concealed at Court In order to raise him to the Honour of prime Minister the King begged of the Queen that she would forgive his offence and consent that his banishment should be remitted but notwithstanding his repeated instances and submissive intreaties she remained implacable Alphonso thinking to Conquer her obstinacy by extenuating the crime put into her hands the order of Council for his banishment wherein it was expresly set down that rather for to satissfy her resentment than for that his fault deserved such punishment they had for some days thought fit to send him into exile This which should have been a motive to appease so enraged her that she flew out into many extravagant speeches unbeseeming a private woman and much more a Queen The Queen 's undecent behaviour towards the King and after venting her fury in this undecent manner without any regard to the King's presence she flung into another Room whence she sent a billet to him demanding to have Antony de Souza severely punished The King hoping her passion would fall by degrees and that she might be brought to reason shewed not her billet according to custom to the Council of State but she on the contrary becomming dayly more intractable and he not able long to hide his resentment their animosities swelled to such a pitch that the Court was almost empty all men shunning him as declining and she admitting none to her presence being wholly Transported with the desire of Revenge Mean while Antony de Souza appeared more openly in the pallace than he had done before being always well attended to prevent danger But there wanted not those who soon spread it among the People that he threatned the City in case he were expelled the Court that he would repair to the Army with the which he would return to punish their Rebellion with fire and Sword Many such like discourses were framed and given out on purpose to incense the People against the King and fix their affections upon his brother as their deliverer from Tyranny and oppression Things being thus disposed the Infante to requite the Queens Favours and raise himself one step nearer to the Crown resolved by open Force if other means failed to expel Antony de Sousa from the Court. In order hereto on the 5th of October 1667 he went from his House to the Pallace accompanyed by a great Number of the Nobility The Infante heads the Rabble and all the Rabble of the City following in a most Tumultuous manner Being come to the Pallace he stayed till all the Councellors of State summoned by him the day before were come that the foulness of the Action might be somewhat disguized by their presence They being all come he enters with them the King's Bed-Chamber before he was awake who was not a little surprized to see such a croud Rush in upon him at so unseasonable an hour Then the Infante told him that his Crown and Person were in extream danger the multitude being in Arms about the Pallace demanding Antony de Souza should be delivered to them to receive condign punnishment for the affront he had done to the Queen To these words he added more threats in the name of the People but as he would have run on the King in a rage interrupted him calling aloud for his Sword The Infante according to his usual dissimulation calmly offered him his which he would not accept The Noise of the Multitude filling the Pallace brought the Queen to the King's apartment where she found him in a violent passion and enquiring as if she had not known what the matter was he told her that Antony de Souza in malice and despight to his Authority had been murdered and that now they came in Tumultuous manner to force him to pardon the murderers But she who knew better replyed that Souza was living which the King would not believe till the Duke of Cadaval having dragged him from his lurking place brought him into his presence At his sight he was somewhat appeased and then the Queen Infante and the rest of their followers left him abruptly When they were gone the King said he forgave them who had so undecently urged the expulsion of Antony de Souza to which the Count de Sabugal then present insolently answered they stood not in need of pardon but deserved praise and this he repeated till the King told him he would bestow pardon and praise where each was requisite So much is regal Authority depressed when faction prevails Antony de Souza this Tumult being over continued still in the Pallace which the Infante observing consulted with his Friends what was next to be done One among them hotter than the rest said the next thing was to assume the Crown whilst the Peoples affection stood for him but he took him up very short being unwilling as yet to have the secrets of his heart pryed into as fearing an Action done in that Tumultuous manner could not be durable Antony de Sousa and Emanuel Antunes the remaining Friends of the King forced to fly It was resolved that Antony de Souza and Emanuel Antunes should be threatned with death unless they departed the Pallace They perceiving no power was left in the King or their friends to protect them stole away privately without the King's knowledge by Night Next Morning the King missing them ordered search to be made for them The King abandoned by all Men. but in vain for his orders were wholly neglected In this Condition finding himself forsaken by his Friends and oppressed by his Enemies he knew not which way to turn himself or of whom to ask Advice His Council sided with the Infante his Queen favoured him the People followed and the Nobility adhered to him Thus all things being in extream Confusion even the moderate party began to think no way was left to settle Peace and restore Tranquility but the assembling of the Cortes or Parliament The Magistrates of Lisbon and the Common Council were the first that petitioned the King to summon the three Estates but he being sensible the only design was to dethrone him put them off from day to day without any positive Answer Whereupon they took the boldness to write to all the principal Towns of the Kingdom exhorting them by importunate petitioning to extort the King's Consent A few days after the Council of State at which were present the King Queen and Infante unanimously made their Application to him to the same effect but he being the more convinced it was a design lay'd against his Person became the more obstinate in refusing so that nothing was done for that day But the next day the Council meeting again and sending him a most audacious remonstrance full of invectives against his Conduct and urging the necessity of assembling the three Estates and
The Condition of Portugal after the Death of Henry the cardinal-Cardinal-King had carryed it against the House of Bragança by force of Arms tho' with no good Title and that Kingdom was insensibly become a Province of Spain without any appearance that the Portuguese could ever be able to withdraw themselves from that Foreign Subjection The Nobility of the Kingdom durst not appear in that Splendor which became their Quality or claim all the Priviledges due to their Birth for fear of raising a Jealousie in the Spanish Ministers at a time when Riches Birth or Meritâ—were thought sufficient to render a Man suspicious and cause him to be persecuted The Gentry were in a manner banished to their Country Houses and the Commonalty groaned under the heavy Burthen of the Taxes The Count Duke de Olivares Prime Minister of State to Philip the Fourth of Spain thought a new Conquest could never be too much weakned He knew that the Natural Antipathy which was betwixt the two Nations could not but render the Sovereignty of the Spaniards odious to the Portuguese That it must be ever offensive to them to see all Places of Trust filled by Strangers or else by Men of no Extraction who were wholly devoted to the Interest of Spain Therefore he thought to secure his Masters Authority by keeping the Nobility out of Employ the Gentry remote from Business and the Commonalty so poor that they could not have the heart to aspire to any change Besides he drew out of the Kingdom all the Young Men that were fit to bear Arms employing them in Foreign Wars lest those turbulent Spirits should disturb the Peace of the Government Yet this proceeding which might have succeeded if not pushed on too far had a far different consequence than was expected both by reason of the ill Circumstances the Court of Spain then lay under as also because of the Prime Minister's Character who was naturally morose and inflexible No pleasing Methods were now used in raising of Taxes but they were rather collected as if they had been Contributions gathered in an Enemy's Country The Portuguese having now nothing more to lose and as little to hope for thought of casting off that Subjection which they always believed unjust and was now become insupport able 2. Margaret of Savoy Margaret of Savoy Dutchess of Mantua Governs Portugal Dutchess of Mantua governed Portugal with the Title of Vice-Queen yet she bore only the Title circumscribed within a limited Power The whole Intrigue of the Government and all the Authority was in the Hands of Michael de Vasconcellos a Portuguese who under the Character of Secretary of State was the absolute Minister in the Kingdom He received his Orders immediately from the Count Duke whose Creature he was and became most acceptable to him by finding Methods to draw great Sums of Money out of Portugal and by sowing the Seeds of Sedition among the Nobility favouring some and depressing others which raised implacable Enmity betwixt them This Discord was the Minister's Security he believing they could never Plot against the Government who meditated how to exercise their Revenge upon one another 3. In all Portugal there was none but the Duke of Bragança who could give the Spaniards any Disturbance Only the Duke of Braganza could give the Spaniards Jealousie That Prince was of a soft and agreeable Temper much given to his Ease his Judgment rather sound than piercing in Business he aimed at the main Point and could easily dive into such Matters as he applyed himself to but loved not application His Father Duke Theodosius who was of a fiery Temper had laboured to ingraft in him his Natural Hatred to the Spaniards that he might regard them as Usurpers of his Right and had done all that in him was to inspire into him Ambition and Resolution enough to attempt the Recovery of a Crown which was due to him D. John had imbibed his Father's Sentiments but that in such measure as was most suitable to his Peaceable Temper He hated the Spaniards but not so as to seek Revenge with the Expence of his Quiet He was ambitious and did not despair of ascending the Throne of his Ancestors but was not so impatient as his Father had been He thought it enough to keep within Prospect of his Hopes without hazarding an easie Life and more than Private Fortune in Possession for a Crown that was very uncertain Doubtless had he been the Man Duke Theodosius would have had him he could never have compassed what he aimed at His Actions were so narrowly looked into by the Count Duke's Order that if he had not been so entirely given up to his Ease and Pleasure he must of necessity have been discovered and if once discovered his Repose and Fortune had both been sacrificed The Court of Spain would never have put such Power into his hands and suffered him to live in the midst of his Country Nature made him more Politick than Art could have done His Birth Estate and Right to the Crown were no Crimes but his being Formidable was Crime enough according to the Laws of true Policy He was not ignorant of it and found there was no way to wipe off that Guilt but by rendring himself less to be feared and appearing wholly devoted to his Pleasure Nothing was to be seen at Villaviciosa the ordinary Residence of the Dukes of Bragança but Hunting Feasting and such-like Country Divertisements as if Nature and Fortune had conspired to qualifie him for those Times In short such was his course of Life as gave not the Spaniards the least Umbrage of his aspiring to the Crown and yet it furnished the Portuguese with assured hopes of a wise and mild Government if they themselves would attempt to Enthrone him 4. His Conduct could breed no Suspicion The People of Evora Mutiny but an Accident that happened some time before in which he had no hand had begun to raise a Jealousie in the Prime Minister The People of Evora provoked by certain new Taxes had mutinied and in the heat of that Fury amidst their Complaints against the Tyranny of the Spaniard some Acclamations had been heard for the House of Bragança Here it first appeared how much Philip the Second erred in leaving within the Kingdom a Family so Powerful and that had so good a Title to the Crown Hereupon the Council of Spain resolved to secure the Duke of Bragança or at least to remove him out of Portugal Immediately the Government of Milan was offered him which he refused pleading want of Health and Knowledge in the Affairs of Italy The Prime Minister seemingly approved of his Reasons but found out another Method to draw him to Court The King being about to March to the Frontiers of Aragon to punish the Rebellion of the Catalonians he wrote to the Duke exhorting him to be present in that Expedition at the Head of the Nobility of his Country The Duke The Duke of Braganza