I speake of the king Dom Sebastian I iustifie him not to be dead and that the bodie which was buried in Bethlehem as his was the bodie of a Swizzer In the said yeare because it was so long since the matter had past I held it as no inconuenience to speake the contrarie to what I had said before wherefore I intreat that this may serue as an answere and satisfaction to the alleaged argument As for the bodie worthie sir whether it were his or no I say once again that it was not that the body buried in Bethlehem in the moneth of Ianuarie 1583. I then being prisoner in Lisbon with 40. pound waight of yron on my feete by the commaundement of D. Philip II. king of Castile was the bodie of a Swizzer for so the Portuguezes commonly called him They that visited me in prison the number was but small but they were people of great authoritie mockt such as said it was the bodie of Dom Sebastian and often spake thus to me Oh happie Swizzer to haue thy bodie buried with so much honouâ— faâ—g and solemne pompe King Philip dealt herein very industriously as well by thrusting a dead man into the mouthes of the Portuguezes who â—ustified their king to be liuing as also thereby to deceiue others who knowing litle or nothing herein might the better be emâ—oldened in following his course Our king worthie Lord is liuing according to the newes that we haue of him which are correspondent to sundrie prophecies whereto in times past albeit that I hold it as most assured that my Lord and King could not be dead and that the bodie which king Philip caused to be brought from Affricke and enterred at Bethlehem was the body of a Swizzer though they came neither from a Dauid nor an Esay nor a Daniell or any like Prophet yet no man at all but would giue both faith and credit to them If herein I deceiue my selfe I desire that my infirmitie may be pardoned confessing that much more greaâ— is the desire I haue to see so straunge a maruell in my time then any hope I haue at all of accomplishmeÌ„t of those Prophecies which your holy fatherhood may behold in the discourse annexed to the end of this answere and that discourse the reuerend Father Doctor Sampayo intituled Diuinum Oraculum c. To prooue that that bodie was not the bodie of our king Dom Sebastian 〈◊〉 sufficeth to know that many saw him liuing who at this very day are dwelling foure fiue and sixe leagues distant from the field of battell Moreouer I remember that being by Gods grace escaped from the rigorous imprisonment wherein I was conferring of this matter with some religious persons of my Order who had endured bondage and slauerie they all told me that the king Dom Sebastian was in Barbarie with the Arabes and liued in the mountaines And I call to mind that as the reuerend Father brother Thomas Sequera Superiour of Ebora and my auncient friend came to visite me I saying to him that I was much bound to Father Vincent of Aphonseca who was then Archbishop of Goa for the kind fauours he had done me during my captiuitie he answered me If brother Vincent shewed himselfe courteous to your fatherhoode I beleeue he did it because he was your kinsman as indeed he was but very farre off not in respect he was any good Portugueze Vnderstand my worthie Lord that this man was a very cunning craftie Spaniard and was one of them we sent for Barbarie He was so bad a man and of so vile a conscience that he durst maintaine for certaintie that the bodie of a Swizzer was the very true bodie of our king Dom Sebastian when all other else affirmed the contrarie He lies buried in Bethlehem by commaundement of the King of Castile but I trust in God that one day a king shall come into Portugal who shall disinterre him out of Bethlehem and send him to be buried in the Escuriall This brother Vincent of Afonseca when the king of Castile began to recompence the seruices of some of his partakers but scarce faithfull friends to their owne countrie was made Archbishop of Goa which is Primate of all the East Indies and D. Edward de Meneses Viceroy of the said Indies Moreouer the Portuguezes did so certainly assure themselues of their king Dom Sebastians life that a Portugall Mason was so bold as to publish himselfe to be the said king Dom Sebastian and found in the action very many followers who went with him straight to Lisbon and if he had entred the euen of S. Iohn Baptist he had bene receiued in seate of the same king Dom Sebastian But being badly councelled he lodged that night a league off the citie whither sallied foorth diuerse Castilian souldies and good store of Portuguezes that knew him to be a meere seducer Whereupon being forsaken of his associates that followed him like vnarmed fooles he was taken and hanged and caused diuers others to be hanged likewise of royall authoritie among whom to his owne great ill hap was a President hanged Likewise in a certaine Prouince of Portugall called Beyra a poore Portugueze of meane condition gaue out himselfe to be the King Dom Sebastian and this was deliuered for a matter so true and confident as the Cardinall of Austria who at this day is Archduke and earle of Flaunders being Viceroy in Portugall determined to withdraw himselfe thence into Castile Neuerthelesse following the counsell of the fiue Gouernours of Portugall who gouerned the kingdome conioyntly with him he sent to Captaine Gil de Mesa who now is one of the gentlemen of the chamber to the most christian King that he should go with his companie of two hundred men and to take the man there and bring him thither with all honour and reuerence because if he chaunced to be that man he named himselfe to be he would redeliuer into his hands the scepter and the Crowne belonging to the Portugall Kings and their kingdomes Gil de Mesa went on his iourney and arriuing in the Prouince of Beyra came to the towne of Penamacor and finding the man tooke him very easily and brought him along with him to Lisbon where being knowne for an impostor he was publickely whipped with rods and after sent to the gallies he was liuing still not many yeares since and euerie one called him sober Sebastian He was not hanged because in his triall he could not be charged with any other crime then this which was but of his owne inuention Lastly we know that in Spaine a Cooke or Pye-baker of Madrigall made himselfe to be held for the king Sebastian and in secret caused it so to be giuen foorth but afterward as each of this false opinion had found before he was knowne to be an abuser and for he had committed other very hainous offences was executed according to iustice These examples do witnesse perfectly to our eyes that since the losse of their king
of our Lord 696. Then afterward by the Moores Capelicastrum This was a Parliament and colonie of the Empire and one of the greatest and most important townes of Lusitania whereof the Moores were Lordes The King thinking one while in this siege and of the Fortresse of this cittie because it was built on a high mountaine that it was a matter verie doubtfull and difficult to take and subdue to purchase ayde and help of God by the intercession of our blessed Ladie the virgine concluded in his soule if he might happen to win the said citie to make her great offers and to erect in his kingdome a great and notable monasterie of Monkes of the order of the Cisteaux whereof ensued the said monasterie of Clairuaux which should and did flourish greatly through the world and so doth to this day The King Dom Alphonso soiourned then in the towne of Coimbre which then was the capitall place of all the kingdome within some few dayes after the King departed from the saide towne to be present at the siege with his sonne and traine and as he was vpon the way there came before him two or three religious men of the said order who demaunded of him on the behalfe of Frier Bernard place for beginning the building of the monasterie which he had promised The King considering apart by himselfe and remembring that he had made this promise is his heart and yet had not imparted it to any person whatsoeuer and seeing that Frier Bernard who was distant off from him more then three hundred miles knew therof he took it as a good augurie or presage and began to hold it for certaintie that the heauenly Architect would not slack his grace toward him but that without all doubt he should conquer the said citie Hauing then giuen good and charitable welcome to the religious men he said My brethren you come in a verie apt season let vs iourney on together and I will recount it vnto you as also make accomplishment of my promise so soone as I haue recouered the citie of Santaren frō the Moores which I haue besieged by my son soldiers Three dayes after the arriuall of the King there the citiie was wonne and taken more by the help of heauen then by the valour and strength of the Christians albeit no way to disparage their deseruing they fought like hardie and very valiant men The King doing the dutie of a most braue Prince and Captaine seeing him selfe in extreame great danger at the entrance of a gate which he had wonne wheron is an imag of our Lady and is called the gate of our Lady Alamarma which is as much to say as fasten o◠mine Armes the very portugall words which the King vsed then to his Squire because one had vntied the buckles of his armour The King being made Lord of a place of such weighty importance marked out forthwith to the saide religious men a great quantitie of ground whereon they should begin to build their monasterie which afterward increased in such sort as in short time the number amounted to 999. They liued in particuler little celles dispersed among the vallies and mountaines and on feast dayes they would meete together to praise the Lord. The religious men of this monasterie doe hold by tradition that their number shall neuer amount to a thousand because if they giue the habite to one within the church they shall find another to be dead without This hath bene assured to me by persons of good yeares religious men of the said monasterie who call themselues d' Alcobaça among whom are diuers of my kinred A thing which right worthie Lord may verie wel be so For if if we shall giue credite to Camden an English historian who yet liueth at this day and is an author worthie of beleefe he certifies to to vs in his Brittania that in the land which at this day is called England which such as are seene in Cosmography know to be no greater thē the kingdom of Portugal with that of Algarbe in Lusitania a tyrant King put to death twelue thousand religious persons because they followed the part of another who was the true and rightfull King The same Camden doth tell vs that these religious people were of a monasterie which was diuided into three seuerall bands and that the least companie of them contained seuen hundred compleate But to come to our purpose these religious folke of Alcobaça builded by succession of time in the great breadth of ground granted them by the King Dom Alphonso seuen citties so do the Spaniards call them and the Latines oppida siue vrbes because that almost all of them are engirt with walles and haue castels as in France Poissy Meulan Mante Vernon c. Philip II. King of Castille would haue sold the iurisdiction of them as he hath sold others in Spain belonging to the Church This moued the fathers of the said monasterie to turne ouer their papers and was the cause that we saw with our eies a donation so deuout and holy made to the blessed mother of God our Ladie of Clairuaux whereof Saint Bernard hath bin Abbot Now reuerend Lord may it please you licence me to come to the declaration of some words in the prophesies which perhaps may seem difficult to some wheresoeuer Concerning that of S. Cyril the Hermite Tempore annorum 54. c. This proposition hath lately beene declared elsewhere speaking of the King Dom Sebastian who was borne in the yeere 1554. the 20. of Ianuarie betweene eleuen and twelue of the clocke at night as I well remember I lacking bookes here and haue not my memorie so good worthie Lord now as in times past my trauails banishments sicknesses especially the last hath depriued me of the better part so that I cannot now cite some common knowne Psalmes without booke which I had in my yonger yeeres by heart and could say readily Concerning that of S. Isidore Occultus Rex bis piè datus c. This may be verie wel applied to Dom Sebastian my Lord and king because that after the twelfth of Ianuarie the day whereon his father died aged but sixteene yeeres and seuen moneths till the twentie of the said moneth An. 1554. when he was borne at Lisbone throughout all Portugall day and night they made continuall processions fastings and prayers with very much deuotion and great store of tears as the reuerend father doctor Sampaye makes known in his Epistle to the reader The reason was because the Portuguezes feared that the kingdom should fal into the Spaniards hands For that when the King D. Iohn 3. grandfather to to King D. Sebastian gaue his daughter Mary as wife to Philip then prince of Castille it was said by the contract of this mariage that if it happened that the King D. Iohn should deceasse without children he that should be borne of Philip and Mary should be heyre to the kingdome of Portugall whereto the people then consented
sirname of this principalitie as of Daulphinies in Fraunce of Wales in England of Girona in Aragon of Vienna in Nauarre c. Moreouer he should giue the Duke sixe hundreth thousand Franckes of gold for his returne into England and fortie thousand Franckes in name of rent beside the sayd cities and townes during the liues of him an her Iohn of Castile accepted of all these conditions with right good will yet he had Fraunce and the French on his side and the King of Aragon with whose sister he was maried of whom was borne the sayd Prince Dom Henrie and Fernand that after was king of Aragon against the right of the true heires indeed and Charles the III. king of Nauarre his brother but he knew notwithstanding all these that hauing ciuill wars in Castile and Portugall for an enemy fortune wold forsake him in all his realmes Seigneuries Thus could and can the kingdome of Portugall beare head against the rest of Spaine It is most certaine that at all times and as often as Portugall hath the fauour of Fraunce of England or some other straunge Prince whosoeuer it be it compels the king of Castile to whom that is a bridle to make him yeeld to reason and come at commaund nay to accept of conditions very ignominious and preiudiciall And those of the Duke might haue bene much more aduantageable to this agreement if the king of Portugall had bene willing because hauing the sword in his hand he might haue cut out his partage at his owne pleasure He was the Iudge and it was done with his will Qui habet gladium potest diuidere campos And hence it came that the Duke departed not very well contented with him although he gaue him in mariage his eldest daughter Philippe By this already rehearsed worthy Lord may be vnderstood that they who haue not the pearles of spotted affection in their eyes may discerne and others whose harts are not fatted with hate to this good king may know that my wordes are neither bourdings nor songs For if this King Dom Iohn the bastard hauing all Spaine all Fraunce and some of Castile his allies banding against him for himselfe only foure thousand Portuguezes and some English in weake estate and yet then suspected to being withdrawne from Castile into Portugall could make lawes to his enemies what shall Sebastian do accompanied with a great number of Princes of Europe with his Portuguezes and his owne person which degenerates not a iot from that of his graundfather Dom Iohn the bastard who for his faire deedes was sirnamed Of worthy memory against a young king slenderly experimented and but badly armed It is not to be doubted but he shall restore Portugall seeing God and the prophesies haue so made him promise and that he shall cleanse and purge the Spaniards of their vices and abuses according as S. Isidore hath prophesied who since he florished it is more then a thousand yeres What contentment what ioy shall the world receiue by sight hereof and namely they that are the children of God What felicitie for the Romane Church What good for the weale publike of Christendome Let the enemie iudge this cause and as one said in Portugall let them cracke this nut and know that yet at this daye Portugall is farre stronger then Spaine yea all Spaine in the time of the said Bastard Then all that were souldiers were skilful in handling the sword the launce the halbard and the crosse or long bow now at this day they can not be drawne from the harquebuse or musket for this reason the Portugals haue yet more souldiers then Spaine Because the Castilians yea or the Spaniards that come from the garrisons of the king of Castile do neuer part thence but lame and maimed except it be some of the principal Gentlemen Of the Portugueses sent from Portugall to the East Indies there comes backe commonly the third part of them and of them that are scattered in diuerse places of Affricke the second part This is most certaine for in the beginning of the raigne of our Lord D. Antonio I found a rolle of the souldiers that were to be had in Portugall wherein it was assured me that within the prouince d'Entre Douro and Migno which is called in Latine Interamnis which containes no more then eighteene leagues in length twelue in breadth at the most three thousand old souldiers were to be found To this aunswere it remaines for me yet to satisfie another obiection which your reuered sanctitie may make vnto me to wit Some that haue a mightie opinion of the King of Castilles strength would make the world beleeue that he is infinitely powerfull and can inuade Portugall with huge numbers of souldiers To the first point I aunswere briefely and succinctly That the King of Castille is in no place more weake then in Spaine To the second Whence shall hee gather such supplies of souldiours Shall hee furnish him selfe out of those garrisons and forces which hee hath from Spaine Not so If in case he will cull out of the said garrisons some souldiers to forrage Portugall hee must at the least haue foure moneths time to do it In lesse then foure dayes may men passe frō Brittanie to Lisbone Could he bring fiftie thousand men into Portugall wherewithall wil he feed them I would onely twentie thousand Moreouer what would auaile fiftie thousand soldiers in Portugal All those being there could not impeach the King Don Sebastian from landing for Portugall hath an hundred and fortie leagues on the coast and throughout is landing easily to be had In some parts they that are on land in one place cannot in a day giue succour to the other albeit they are distant but two leagues If king Sebastian did but set foote on land all Portugall would presently run to him by which reason strange souldiers would be forced to yeeld themselues or throw themselues headlong into the sea or die with famine or else by the hands of their enemies Now giue I conclusion to this present discourse humbly beseeching your worthie Lordship to hold excused such slips as are therein because in the writing thereof I haue bene driuen to some nightly houres which could not be verie manie since I receiued your last letter for so long a certification by pen and but that I was enioyned thereto by your expresse commaund I could gladly haue excused my selfe from so tedious a trauel But the honors and graces receiued from so worthie a person haue bene so great and continued in such sort as they bound me to obey without all excuse If my pen haue erred in anie point whereof I doubt not this hope is left me that one day I may giue your Lordship more ample certaine assured satisfaction in all whatsoeuer shall please you to require I write in the Castilian language because your worthie selfe did so commaund me and in regard you take some delight therein as it hath bene often told me
himselfe flatly foyled in the field and out of all hope of making head any more fled to Morocco whence he passed to the mountaines called Montes Claros and by this retraite Muley Maluco made himselfe sole Lord of Barbary By this historie is apparantly to be seene with what small helpe a man may game those kingdomes whereto he hath any right In like manner and with much more ease may king Sebastian recouer his because it appertaines to no other but him for he is true Lord and King thereof From the mountaines Muley Mahamet sent his Embassadors to the king Dom Sebastian and desired succour at his hands making him such large offers as were very profitable and greatly for the aduantage of Christendome He gaue him as I haue learned from diuerse credible persons all the shoares which he held on the Ocean sea and sixe leagues into firme land with the townes and cities thereto belonging among which were the cities of Arzile Saphin Larache all very strong places of great importance Some say that he gaue him the abounding Alcacarquibir Tituan and other places more he caused in the field a plaine deliuerie of Arzile to be made by Cid Albequerin brother to his wife who was the gouernour of the sayd city And granted him moreouer that the faith of Iesus Christ should be preached in Barbarie and full power to crowne himselfe Emperour of Morocco This was the reason that made the King Dom Sebastian loâ—ke vp his crowne which the Kings his predecessours and himselfe euen vntill that time had openly worne I saw that Crowne lockt vp into peeces of Artillerie which were newly and purposely made for that voyage in like maner I saw the Banners Standards and the ships vnder saile for that armie And I know that the king Dom Sebastian tooke with him an vnkle of mine my mothers brother who was iudge of the Armories in the kingdomes of Portugall to serue him as maister of those ceremonies which were to be vsed in the act of his coronation as Emperour The king Dom Sebastian seeing so great offers and being a Prince of the loftiest enterprises desirous to winne honour and such reputation as should wait on due merit knowing what vertues consisted in himselfe accompanied with such forces couragious fearelesse hardie actiue â—nd presuming in himselfe that he onely was borne to breake downe and squander the infidelles impieties accepted the conditions that were made vnto him And thus iustly deserued the sinnes of Portugall that he should put his person in daunger of losse his kingdomes and Monarchie in the ballance as a pray to strange nations Hence may your worthinesse gather what you desire to know out of the first demand An answere to the second demaund I answere to the second demaund negatiuely that king Sebastian did not die in the battell and that the body which was buried in Bethlehem was none of his But before by manifest reasons I approue my sayings let me intreate your sacred fatherhood to vnderstand that when he began to make his preparation for this voyage I was then a man of yeares and in some authority which admit as spoken betweene our selues because that which oftentimes contenteth friends displeaseth and raiseth a repining nature in such as are not so When he parted from Lisbone to passe into affricke being the yeare 1578. and in the moneth of Iune I was in the 35. yeare of mine age and had the vse of very honorable charges gouerning some couents of mine order and had preached in diuerse places of Portugall with applause and satisfaction of mine auditors The same yeare I was in Lent called from my couent at Santeren where I then aboade to Lisbone by Dom Alphonso de Chasteaublanâ— chiefe Almoner to the king and Commissary generall of the Bull for the Croisade to preach in the townes of Esbernos Borba Villaricosa Landroal Terena Moncaras Moran Mora and Portel and I was enrolled in the register of them who were appointed to accompany the king in his present voyage which could not by my selfe be performed because my Prelates that had commaund ouer me had consigned me to the gouernement of the Couent of Santeren which is the fourth of our order and the chiefest in Portugall because the Priour there ruling began to find himselfe not well and had accoÌ„plished his three yeares iurisdiction in which respect my Prelates prayed the king to pardon me from bearing him company in his purposed voyage and at their requests it was obtained Thus I stayed at home although against my will in Portugal without passing into Affricke I hold the rather this kind of discoursing with your Lordship because you may the better perceiue that I had yeares and authority as before I declared sufficient to know great men and what belonged to state affaires The king parted from Lisbone taking with him about thirty religious persons of my order to whom he bare very kind affection and reposed trust inough in them for he vsed to call them his brethren One of their number was our Prouinciall of Portugal who commanded the orders through all the gouernement of the kingdome and as well in Europe as in Affricke Asia and America named brother Iohn de Silue graund-child or sonne to the Gouernour of Portugal brother to the Bishop of the city called the Port of Portugall and to Fernand de Silue who at that very time was Embassador into Castile brother Manuell de Bosa brother Vincent Afonseca and other religious men of very good discent There was also mine vnckle Manuell Texere of whom I made mention in my first answere a brother of mine likewise called brother Diego Cardose de Mirande that maried with a sister of mine and diuers others of my kindred King Sebastian hauing ioyned with his army in Affricke at the city of Arzile and leauing Larache was gone toward the city of Alcacarquibir there in the field thereto belonging he put his men in order the fourth of the moneth of August When the heauy newes was brought to Portugal and that I had intelligence therof because of the intrest I had in the iourney I was constrained to go to Lisbone being fourteene leagues distant from Santeren to vnderstand whether they were true or no. Where arriuing the 25. of the sayd moneth I met with mine vnckle who was the selfe same day returned from Affricke He by commandement of the Generall of the army that remained behind as Lieutenant generall for the king had brought thither with him vnto Lisbone Cid Albequerin and his nephew the young Xarifa sonne to his sister and Muley Mahamet Xarifa which young Xarifa is now a Christian and liues in Spaine bearing the title of the Prince of Morocco and is commander of the order of Saint Iames a Prince of many excellent partes and singular hope Being thus with mine vncle he told me that king Sebastian withdrew himselfe from the battell embarqued in his Galliot but for certaintie that he was aliue If I would know
make a sole benefite of the honour in this action but to diuide some participation thereof to your friends I had forgot to tell you that the prisoner hath had of the Siegneurie fiue crownes of this mony monethly to dispend which is a little more then foure crownes of the Sunne of which he giues away the most part to the poore for the honour of God I once more intreate you to haste your affaires with what breuitie you may and as you come giue copies of this letter to so manie as shal require it for I will send the same to as manie others as I write vnto You shall doe me a singular pleasure in making my commendations to M. de Tiron and tell him that this is the meruaile whereof I had talke with him so manie yeeres since and let him make account to be as certain of my seruice as his merites do iustly challenge And to Monsieur le Commaundeur de Chastes say that the time is now come wherein I shall make knowne to him how much I rest engaged and am readie at his seruice And so please him to credite me if he desire to purchase supreme glorie and great estate let his employment be intire on this Princes behalfe for thereby he shall gaine more honor and repute then his highest thoughts is able to imagin I kisse the hāds of al our friends according to my dutie and let each one receiue me as effectually his Our Lord giue you vnderstanding of all I haue writ vnto you with happie and prosperous sucesse in your trauaile From Venice the 6. of Nouember 1600. humblie kissing your hands The most affectionate to your seruice Dom Iohn de Castro This Dom Iohn de Castro whom I thinke your reuerend Lordship knowes verie wel hath euer held this opinion that the king Dom Sebastian was still aliue and that Portugall should one day be restored by him He tooke it for a matter so firme and certaine that in the yeere 1596. when I was at Folambray about some affaires belonging to mine order and my selfe the King besieging la Fere he iustified it in the Chapter house of our couent of Iacobines at Paris to diuers Portuguezes perswading them neuer to accord with D. Philip. 2. King of Castille neither euer to goe togither for he knew assuredly that the King Dom Sebastian liued that Portugal would be restored within few yeeres saying moreouer that he esteemed it for a matter so certaine as he durst maintaine it vpon his oath Hereupon so soone as he heard that the King Dom Sebastian was kept prisoner at Venice he could not anie waie remaine in quiet Immediatly he made his voiage for England to intreate the royall Queene to fauour and further this case from England he went to Holland for the selfe same purpose and being returned to Faris he neuer ceased till he came to Venice where he arriued the 28. of Iune last past and his voyage was of such importance as we hope it will serue sufficiciently to get his King at libertie An answere to the fift demand The persons that procured the libertie of my Lord Dom Sebastian king of Portugall are these following The father doctor de Sampayo regent in the facultie of Theologie at Tolossa whom your worthie Lordship doth know verie wel He in the seruice of the said King aduentured his life in verie great hazard passing secretly into Portugall and managed the matter wish such dexteritie as it was possible for anie man whatsoeuer to do A doctor of the order of Saint Bernard named Frier Chrysostome a verie religious man as I haue heard of good credit and authoritie Dom Iohn de Castro before named the sonne to Dom Aluaro de Castro who was one of the 4. gouernours that ruled the kingdome coniointly with the King Dom Sebastian those whom we call in Portugal Veadores de la hazienda grand child to Dom Iohn de Castro hertofore viceroy in the East Indies of whose high prowesses worthie deeds of arms victories our histories giue no mean commendation A Chanon of Lisbon a man of noble lignage and rich who abandonning his countrie and forsaking his goods departed expressely from Portugall on this respect and brought the markes which the said king hath on his bodie approoued by authenticall instruments of a Notarie Apostolique Rodrigo Marques Diego Manoel and Sebastian Figuera which three were seruants to the king Dom Antonio namely companions in the same fortune The last is he of whom we haue made mention in the second answer and the same whom Dom Iohn de Castro saith in his letter to arriue at Venice with letters from the generall States of the vnited Prouinces and the Prince Maurice It hath bene told me that they expect at Venice the Lord Dom Christophero youngest sonne to the king Dom Antonio who is at Rome and with him these Lords Manuel de Brito Pimentel Pantaleon Pessoa de Neyua Frances Antoine and other Gentlemen of Portugall of whom I can say nothing what they are because their names were not written to me The newes that I haue at this present are no other then those contained in the said letters from the Doctor de Sampayo and from Dom Iohn de Castro from each of whom I haue receiued diuerse other which neuerthelesse sort all to one selfe same end There be sundrie other letters here from other Portuguezes that affirme this man to be the true king of Portugall Dom Sebastian and approoue it for truth by many reasons giuing such plaine apparance of veritie that according to humane iudgement cannot be encountred or ratified on any other then himselfe So that I see nothing which may call me into doubt of his not being the same man for otherwise he must questionlesse be a spirit or diuell which cannot be considering his life is so holy and perfect his proceeding most simple and to vse the very same words which one hath written to me it is all meere simplicitie If he were a seductour or an euill spirit he would expresse store of artificiall crafts and frauds in his doings beside a wicked spirit would neuer endure so long and rigorous an imprisonment The aforenamed aduertisements instances and intreates from the specified persons beside reason it selfe bind me most worthie Sir to part thus briefly but I hope to visite you againe to morrow after breakefast and so I close vp mine answer to your fift demaund An answer to the sixt and last demaund For answer to the sixt and last demaund I say right reuerend Lord that it is to me very much displeasing to serue as a Confessour in this businesse and by that meanes stand bound to keepe all vnder seale for this reason I dare not answer categorically because I feare to offend my most inward wel-willers in their trust Notwithstanding that I may induce the king of Portugall Dom Sebastian my Lord into Fraunce I promise to make the mightie truth so apparant that it shall violently breake the
very strongest bars opposed against it and ouerflow the whole earth that with much glorie and prosperitie it may floate through al the Septentrion and grace him home into his owne kingdome When the Portugals shall haue their best loued desired king at libertie who shall offer resistance If Sir you reply to me demaunding how I dare assume such confidence in this case of Sebastian seeing in late proofe we could not do any act of great importance when we had Dom Antonio present with vs I answer that to iustifie my words I haue a thousand reasons that make for me There was great difference betweene Sebastian and Antonio Antonio came to the Crowne by a very great hazard and difficultie Sebastian from the wombe of his mother was borne Prince heire Antonio employed his time to gouerne and visite the churches of his Priour de Crato he was grand Prior of Malta in Portugall and for this respect Lord spirituall and temporall of thirteene cities and more then foure hundred villages Sebastian vsed to manage his horses and follow the exercise of armes Antonio as a man Ecclesiasticall and regular kept his sword rusting in the scabberd Sebastian like one secular and a King caried his daily naked shining brighter then christall To confirme what I say me seemes worthie Sir that it is not necessarie to alleage all the reasons which offer themselues it sufficeth vs to know for certaine that the king Dom Sebastian hath at this day and euermore had the will and hart of a Portugueze which is as firme in seeking his subiects benefite and loue as it was euer readie with his weapon to encounter his enemie The Portuguezes know very well that they haue alreadie felt for the space of 21. yeares one moneth and 25. daies the hony sweet relish of his gouernment that if they haue in all the passed time tasted any thing vnsauorie in his actions because he was a little stiffe and sharpe they haue since then bene so ouer-glutted with gall as they will find his very bitterest behauiour more sugred and sweete then the others best tast Moreouer if there be great difference betweene man and man euen so on the other side is there betweene time and time The Portuguezes liue at this day with an vnquenchable thirst of their libertie so that they would gladly cast themselues from the tops of high mountaines to find a redresse for their slauish bondage In the passed time as they had neuer tasted but their owne naturall gouernment so they knew not how to prooue the bitter nor how well to esteem the benefite of the sweete Hence grew so many parts taking both before and after the election of Dom Antonio He had with him the people the Lords of the familie of Vimieuse and others with the most part of the ecclesiasticall and regular persons The duke of Bragancia he brought in his quarter many Lords of Portugall for they were almost all descended of his house and their followers which made neare the number of two hundred thousand in Portugall The Nobles of Portugall which are there called Escuyers or Cheualliers d'vne Launce are the principall strength and sinewes of the Realme they betooke themselues all to see the sport of this play The fourth part which held for his Catholike Maiestie D. Philip king of Castile because of the discord and deuision of the rest was the strongest proceeded at more pleasure in those affaires There was but one sole part with the King Sebastian and to him they continued still vnited firme for it is a thing very publique and knowne through the world that the Portuguezes not only loued Dom Sebastian as their king but honoured him as if he had bene a God Wherefore worthie Lord I hold it for most certain that so soone as they should vnderstand their King to be in France they would immediatly shake off the yoake of Castile they would send him mony to supply his necessities and would leauy an armie by sea with whom they would gladly come to seeke him and no bodie could tell which way to hinder them for they are in possession and hold all Portugall and his Monarchie properly in their hands His Maiestie Catholique holds nothing in Portugall which he can warrant or defend for what can three or foure hundred souldiers do within the castle of Lisbon when for defence of the same there shall need 10000. There is in this Castle a Parish that holds more then 500. houses or make-fires this castle was the pallace of our Kings builded on a mountain all of earth subiect to vndermining blowing vp His said Maiestie keeps his Garrison therin to no other end but only for ostentation I my selfe was prisoner in it 3. moneths and a halfe in the yeare 1582. after the death of the Lord of Strozzi I haue heard Captains say that if 10. thousand souldiers were in it they would make them dance out therof in a moment mockt such as esteemed it for a safe securitie if any rumor or tumult should be blown through the citie His Catholike Maiestie holds as impregnable the Tower of Bethlehem on the sea for guard of the port a league from Lisbon at three leagues that of S. Iohn at 4. that of S. Anthonie at 5. that of Cascayes In the first third fourth there is not aboue 100. men of war in the second of S. Iohn admit there were more then 400. whosoeuer is or shall be Lord of the land shall be so likewise very easily of al those towers But say that S. Iohns is mighty strong I know for certaintie that the 16. part of Prince Maurice his A. B. C. were enough to race batter it in 4. houres This A. B. C. are 24. Canons which the Prince Maurice caused to be made for the batterie of Stenwick tooke it perforce in the yere 1592. Moreouer his Maiestie Catholike hath an other Tower which his father caused to be made in the middest of the sea on a rocke which is called Teste seche this tower serues to no end but that the other of S. Iohns doth countenance it At Setuball sixe leagues frō Lisbon there is also at entrance of the port a tower called S. Philip of very slender importance by being built at the foote of a high mountaine that commands it I thinke besides these at the port of Viana sixtie leagues from Lisbon he keeps a Garrison of Spaniards in another tower behold here the strength of his Maiestie Catholike in Portugall But of what import will they prooue though he had much more aduantage if the Portugals were co-united cōbined together so much the sooner ensued his losse Dom Iohn king of Castile the first of that name called himselfe king of Portugal in the right of his wife who was daughter to D. Fernand king of Portugall the Queene mother her kindred and allies did likewise take part with the Castillians but the Portuguezes knitting them selues in
an vnity together rent forth of his hands whatsoeuer he had insulted on and chased him out of the kingdome after they had ouerthrowne him in the battell of Aljibarota albeit he had in his army foure and thirty thousand men and they were but 7. thousand onely afterward they gaue him defiance againe at Valverde at Trancoso and elsewhere as is to be seene in our histories if your reuerend selfe but please to reade you shall there find it agreeing with my words and in pursuite they gaue him law at their owne pleasure as anon we shall tell you more in this answere Thus we may easily perceiue that it consists not in the strengh of the king Catholicke Dom Philip both to guard Portugall and keepe all the kingdome thereof vnder bridle though he assembled all Spaine and all his other commaund Wherefore I am of the mind most worthy Lord that so soone as his Maiesty Catholicke is giuen to vnderstand how that the King Dom Sebastian is come into Fraunce he will immediatly send his Embassadours to him and offer him the reintegration of his realme in quiet swept cleane already of corne and chaffe as much as to say as without pretending any thing to him but loue and kindnesse And I thinke his Councel wil therto aduise him if they haue any feare of God if they be wise discreet or friends to the seruice welfare of their king For if king Sebastian come with strong hand to the restauration of Portugall no way can hinder him the entrance of Portugall then into Castile and from thence through all Sapine whereby he will bring Dom Philip into such distresse as doubtlesse he will go neare to make ruine of all And when he shall come to vrge his agreement Dom Sebastian not onely will bind him to pay all his dispence domages and wrongs endured by occasion of the warre but likewise to restore him those reuenues and profits which the king his father and himselfe haue hald out of Portugall for the space of more then twenty yeares which will amount to more then forty millions Nay that which is more to destroy him and be gratefull to his friends and them that aided him in the recouerie of his kingdome he will constraine him to render the realme of Nauarre to the king most Christian that of Aragon to the Duke of Lorraine those of Naples and Sicilie to his holinesse and likewise to the other Princes of Europe all that he hath held from them perforce for the flower they are in comming to peace and concord the swifter ensues the great losse and mishap of Spaine This which I say reuerend Sir is not in bare and simple words onely nor shall this be the first time that Portugall hath taught law to Castile such as are pleased in reading histories shall find this very true and of many that we might report and set downe in account we will alleadge but onely one Dom Peter King of Castile sirnamed the cruell who was slaine by his bastard brother that came to raigne afterward and named himselfe Henry the II. left two daughters the first called Constance the second Isabel wife to Edmond of Langley brother to Iohn of Gaunt the husband to the elder daughter Constance of whom was borne a daughter named Catharine The sayd Iohn of Gaunt in the regard of his wife Constance qualified the king of Castile and Leon and made his direct passage from Gascoigne which then was in the rule of the English into Spaine with eighteene thousand foote and two thousand horse and tooke the Groigne with the ayde of Iohn the bastard elected King of Portugall receiued sworne confirmed and obeyed by the Portuguezes who were to him very good friends Thence he went on to Portugall whence he entred into Castile and so on to the City of Burgos distant from the place where he parted more then twentie sixe leagues tooke it at his arriuall and made himselfe maister of all the cities townes and castles he came to moreouer they that were further off came and for feare submitted themselues And easily had he attained to a larger aduantage but that his men died who through their neglect in ordering thēselues and small prouidence in good husbandry were ouertaken by famine whereon a pestilence ensued among thē and they were brought to such scarsity of victuals as they were forced to run to the enemies campe which was vnder the guide of Lewes Duke of Bourbon who in fauor of king Iohn of Castile came thither well accōpanied with the Frēch to request wherewithal to saue their liues Which the sayd Iohn of Portugall beholding complained to the Duke saying that it was not good for his souldiers to treate with the enemy affirming that they would cause more preiudice then all the other therefore he should repeale them presently forbid all community of speech with the contrary part Otherwise when they should enter fight all would by the edge of the sword be destroyed the one in regard of loue to the other Thomas Walsingham an English historian deliuers it in the selfe same termes and sayth that the king of Portugall had with him foure thousand Portuguezes and all of them very well armed Within few dayes after certaine Embassadors sent by the king of Castile came to the Duke desiring peace of him in all humility to whom the Duke wold giue no audience Notwithstanding the hunger pestilēce did enforce him to withdraw thēce into Portugall to the towne of Trancoso whither they came againe seeking to him being sent the second time from the said Iohn king of Castile to vrge once more the same request shewing the Duke by many reasons the great profit might be drawne out of a kind peace betweene them The Duke then gaue them the hearing condiscended to their demand although it was greatly against his will chiefly because he heard that the king hf Portugall was willing thereto and then being touched therein by a more effectuall cause namely the intelligēce of the troubles beginning in France among the French and English and some seditions at home in England all which shewed him that he could draw no fresh supplies thence because that there seemed to be greater need and the mortality in his army did most of all require it The accord betweene the King and the Duke was made in this manner That Henrie eldest sonne to King Iohn named Prince of Castile should espouse Catherine the onely daughter of the sayd Duke Iohn of Gaunt and Constance his wife and should succeed in the kingdomes of Castile Leon and other Seigneuries that the king should endowe the mother and daughter and so he did giuing to the mother the citie of Guadalajata Medina del Campo and Olmiedo afterward being with her in the sayd Medina he gaue her likewise Hueta To the daughter he gaue the Esturies creating and naming her Princesse and his sonne Prince thereof So from thence forward the eldest sonne euer bare the
same difficultie which serued them as their principall obiect to abuse the world withall being broken and disappointed stopt the mouth of their reasons alleaged and wasting their forces and strength held their noses to the ground till they came to knowledge of their owne errors although somewhat too late And much more late had they bene in finding remedie if your most Christian Maiestie moued by your owne â—ind nature and accustomed benignitie had not receiued them â—to grace and fauour So that hence them selues may discerne â—oth what I haue before nowe againe say that the iudgements â—f God are diuerse contrarie to mens who seldome attaine to â—ny perfect accomplishment of their plots and imaginations Nor â—ake I so long a preamble most Christian king to any other â—nd but to serue my selfe with that which I finde fit in my verie â—ule as standing some way bound to speake to your Maiestie in â—uour of the poore and vnfortunate neuerthelesse most happie â—ne day when God shall so please Dom Sebastian the true and â—wfull king of Portugal And to this attempt I bind my selfe the â—ther through the malice of some who for the interest of their eâ—ate onely giue it out in the world and it may be likewise before â—our Maiestie that he is but a sillie foolish Calabrois Wherefore â—ntend by this my letter to make knowne to your Highnesse the â—uth of the matter that when he shall come to the acquaintance 〈◊〉 a king a king so Christian and magnanimous as your Maiestie 〈◊〉 one not to learne what it is to suffer outragious persecutions â—osses and iniustices it may be a meanes to vrge assistaunce to a â—ore prisoned king who desiring this illustrious Seigneurie to â—t him but be seene to such Portegueses as were in this Citie for â—knowledgement of some secret markes which he had naturally â—aractered on his body it might by no meanes be so permitted â—ither he shewed to the world in any sort At length there came â—her a Gentleman of qualitie a Portugueze that brought the â—me markes proued as authenticall vnder the hands of the pubâ—e Notaries and Peeres of Portugal but the honorable Lords of â—s Estate were resolute not to let him see him albeit the prisoner â—de this protestation ensuing to them You say my Lords that â—m not Sebastian king of Portugal let me be seene to my Portuâ—eses yea to all the world and if you find that I am not such as I â—intaine my selfe to be let my head be smitten of Vpon which words I thought good to signifie to your most â—ristian Maiestie some particularities touching the prisoner He â—h the same shape the same hands and feete to wit the right â—re long then the left he beares the same age the same markes â—d gate with the knees bowing inward as Dom Sebastians king 〈◊〉 Portugal did Whereby of diuerse in this citie and other places he hath bene knowne for they accompanied in his voyage to Affricke and had seene him in his kingdome with whom discoursing he put them in mind of sundrie particulars which they had had as then together and were impossible that any other but the King himselfe should know Of all which particular notes I most humbly intreat your Maiestie to heare onely but two There is a merchant here who some fiue and twentie yeres since was wont to trade into Portugall this man being at Lisbon before king Sebastian passed into Affrick mark what befell him As he was vpon the sea shoare stopping his shippe that had receiued a leake he saw a farre off the King comming making a goodly horse wheron he rid to mount and coruet very sprightly vnder him and he not knowing him to be the King this beast quoth he what will he breake his owne necke The King and others of the traine hearing these words gallopped the horse so mainely toward the merchant and made him in such a fearefull taking as the poore man verily thought he should loose his life But when he knew him to be the King he fell to the ground and weeping on his knees desired pardon for he feared lest his lauish tongue might haue made him to be trussed vp The King as he was euer full of clemencie commaunded him to stand vp intreating him verie honorably and bestowing sundrie fauours vpon him Sebastian seeing the same merchant here in our citie before he was arrested as a prisoner demaunded of him vnasked if he remembred such a matter and so acknowledging the one the other diuerse things passed betweene them which happened at that present occasion Moreouer this King I would say this prisoner when he was at Messina knowing that there dwelt a gentleman of a verie famous familie who had accompanied him in his voyage to Affricke he went and found out his house and vpon some priuate passages betweene them they kindly renewed their former acquaintance Besides since his arriuall here in our citie and before his imprisonment he writ diuerse letters to the said gentleman and receiued likewise letters backe againe from him And by his expresse meanes was a man and letters sent into Portugall to sundrie faithfull Lords of that kingdome but we heare that this man so sent to Portugall died in those parts but vnknowne how â—â—ter he had deliuered all or the most part of his letters Notwithâ—anding as afflictions and miseries alters mens minds making â—em forget or lay aside all kindnesse and friendship euen so this â—entleman toucht in this case and to become a subiect to the â—ng of Castile hearing Sebastian was held as a prisoner gaue oâ—er and left off all former acquaintance But I most humbly inâ—eat your Maiestie that in this case you would not stand aloofe â—t beholding the occurrences of this vnhappie King though prisoner yet passing in such sound forme of truth that you â—ould interpose your authoritie and manage this waighty cause â—ith such diligence and dexteritie as your Highnesse hath hereâ—fore giuen accomplishment to affaires much more hote and â—fficult wherein you shall do a worke worthie the name of a â—odly and most Christian King and for which I pray the omniâ—otent Creator to crowne your Maiestie with perpetuall glorie â—d felicitie From Venice this 28. of Iuly M.D.C. The most humble and affectionate seruant in duty to your Maiestie most Christian GIOVANNE CAPVGNANO The Copie of a Discourse concerning the successe of Dom Sebastian King of Portugall since he began his enterprised voyage into Affricke vntill the sixt of Ianuarie this present yeare 1601. Sent by the reuerend Father brother Ioseph Texere Portugueze to a Bishop his friend More a letter of the said Fathers to the same Bishop wherein he declares how the Venetians deliuered out of prison the sayd King of Portugall Dom Sebastian MOST worthie Lord post habitam benedictionem I receiued foure letters from your most worthie Lordship since the end of September hitherto with this last which was deliuered me the two and twentieth of the passed moneth
of our race come to molest the said persons or make rape of their goods and then countenance it that he vsurps on none of our heritage nor of theirs but those belonging to the virgin Marie he shall be held as disloyall to his Lord be exempted from the defence and custodie which we appointed for my kingdome and his seed shall not be seene vpon the earth As for the religious persons which are to serue the Lord in this Monasterie of Clairuaux and the rest of their Order they shall haue care to recommend deuoutly to God the estate of our kingdome and my soule and theirs likewise of my kindred And the Abbot Dom Bernard and his successours perpetually shall celebrate the feast of the dedication of their church euery yeare on the day of the Annunciation of the blessed virgin Marie For which oh Virgin mother of my Lord Iesus Christ in honour and praise of whom this Order is established to shine vpon the earth I Alphonso king of Portugall thy humble seruant doe intreate that thou wouldst defend my kingdome against the Moores enemies to the crosse of thy Son and keepe this crowne free from all straunge domination and permit no one to pay this fee monie and homage but thy loyall seruants and those descended from my selfe That if any one attempt any matter whatsoeuer contrarie to this vassellage and testimoniall of this tribute if he be a subiect let him be expelled out of our kingdome If he be a King which God forefend let him be held as accursed by vs neuer to be mentioned in our lignage but that God who gaue vs this kingdome despoile him of all dignitie I suffer his enemies to vanquish him and himselfe be buried in hell with that traytor Iudas Made in the Church of Lamego the 8. of Apr. MCXLII I Alphonso the King Egaâ— Munis Grandmaister of the houshold Pero Payes Ensigne-bearer to the King Fuas Raupiâ—o Gouernour of Coimbre Polayo de Sousa Certifiers Gonsalo de Sousa Vascho Sanches Mendo Pirez Rodrigo Aluares witnesses Alphonso Egas I Thomas de la Croix Notarie publique Apostolique approued and Secretarie to the Legat in these kingdomes of Portugal haue collationed and corrected this present copie vpon his proper originall which is enabled with the seale Royall and so I certifie by the oath that is enioyned me in regard of mine office In signe whereof I haue vnderwritten and signed this with my seale publique and vsuall At Lisbon the 4. of Nouember MDXCIX THE SVCCESSION AND number of the Kings of Portugall The first generation Alphonso Henriques 1. II. Sanche 1. III. Alphonso 2. IIII. Sanche 2. V. Alphonso 3. VI. Denys 1. VII Alphonso 4. VIII Peter 1. IX Fernand. 1. X. Iohn 1. XI Edward 1. XII Alphonso 5. XIII Iohn 2. XIIII Emmanuel 1. XV. Iohn 3. XVI Sebastian 1. Hereby is vnderstood that Sebastian is the sixteenth in generation whereof king Alphonso Henriques spake in the oath of his reuelation This Sebastian was borne after his fathers decease when were very instant and frequent prayers processions and fastings among the people of Portugall in the yeare 1554. the day of the two holy Martyrs Fabian and Sebastian a matter almost beyond all hope for his father died in nonnage or very young and his mother was but sixteene yeares old This Prince was of an exceeding good nature high in courage accompanied with great bodily strength godly and religious and that in such sort as euen from the cradle his subiects had him in much admiration and they accounted him as another Caesar Augustus according as caries the signification of the name of Sebastian Auncient Prophecies which we cannot more conuenably appropriate to any other then to this selfe same Sebastian S. Cyrille the Hermit in the treatise of the reuelation which was made to him whereof the Abbot Ioachim glozed TEmpore annorum 54. orietur Sol c. Et erit Sol delitescens Pungetur aculeo despectissimo in specu paruo tricamerato vectibus pergrandibus communito ab Scorpionitis mancipabitur Postea ad brauium orbis pertinget c. Reade all this Chapter In English thus In the time of 54. yeares a Sunne shall arise c. And this Sun shall be hidden He shall be pricked with a most despitefull sting he shall be in a little caue of three vaults made strong with verie great barres he shall be thraâ—led by Scorpionites afterward he shall come to triumph ouer the world c. Saint Isidore Occultus Rex bis piè datus in Hispaniam veniet in equo ligneo quem multi videntes illum esse non credent Domabit superbos spurcitias Hispaniarum purgabit In Syriam transfretabit super Sanctum sepulchrum signum Crucifixi ponet erit Monarcha In English thus A hidden King shall twise be holily giuen he shall come into Spaine vpon a horse of wood that is a shippe whom many beholding they will not beleeue that it is he He shall subdue the proud he shall purge the Spaniards of their filthinesses He shall passe into Syria he shall place the Ensigne of the Crucifixe vpon the holy Sepulcher and shall be a Monarch Theophilus the Bishop Dum secundum imperium occupabitur Ciprúsque à Christi hostibus fuerit aggressa Pastor ouium coronis Graecorum nudus erit Rhodia tunc Magistro carebit Hispania potentia virtuâ—éque munita illi tradet Magistrum Romae autem pastor glorio sui ignotus apud homines apud Deum probus iustus erit qui cum vno Rege dictae Prouinciae qui oblitus mortuus non regnaturus putabatur regna deperdita recuperabit Soldanum suae ditioni subiugabit in Christianis domum Dei restituet In English thus While the second Empire shall be troubled and Cyprus inuaded by the enemies of Christ the Pastor of the sheepe of the Grecian troopes shall be left naked Rhodes shall then want a Maister Spaine stored with vertue and power shall giue it a Maister And there shall be at Rome a glorious shepheard vnknowne to men good and iust toward God And this man with a king of the same prouince that shall be forgotten dead and thought neuer more to raigne shal recouer againe his lost kingdomes shall subiugate the Souldan vnder his dominion and shall restore the house of God into Christendome S. Methodus Bishop and Martyr lib. 6. cap. 28. Expergiscetur Rex in furore tanquam homo à somno vini quem existimabant homines tanquam mortuum esse Hic exiet super filios Ismael à mari Aethiopum c. Vide Biblioth Patrum fol. 526. primae Lutet Paris editionis In English thus There shall a king awake in great furie like a man out of a slumber of wine whom men shall repute to haue bene dead He shall goe out against the sonnes of Ismael towards the AEthiopian sea c. Sybilla Erithraea Compressa aquila cuius nomen quinque apicibus inaestimabiliter scriptum ministrum iniquitatis destruet
vrsum conteret sceptruÌ„ eâ—us possidebit c. In tractatu qui incipit Requiritis à me ô illâ—strissima turba Danaûm lib. 2. In English thus The compressing Eagle the name whereof is inestimably written in fiue markes shall destroy the minister of iniquitie bruise the Beare and shall possesse his scepter c. In the Treatise that beginneth You require of me O illustrious company of Grecians The second booke An explication of some pointes contained in this Discourse In the Epistle to the Reader THe cause why the religious persons of Alcobaça sought among their papers some priuiledges and Donations of the Kings of Portugall was because his Maiestie Catholique Dom Philip II. King of Castille pretended to sell the iurisdiction of seuen townes whereof the said Monasterie is Lord. And because this diuine Oracle was imprinted at Lisbone it was made dangerous to declare the said cause Wherefore the father Doctor Sampayo said by way of parenthesis that it was not good to speake of it at that time In the Oath of the King Dom Alphonso The said King commaunded to his successours to come to the field with their shield of armes containing fiue scutchions fashioned like a crosse in each of which should be figured the thirtie pence for which our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was sold c. as more plainly is declared by the Notarie Apostolike Thomas de la Croix in his certificate assuring that they were so figured on the seales It may be that this commandement was obserued at the first beginning of the Realmes of Portugall but whether since then to this present we do not find that it hath bin kept chiefly since the raigne of Alphonso third of that name and fift king of Portugall who was Earle of Bullen in Fraunce He adioyned to the crowne of Portugal the Realmes of Algarbes which were giuen him by Dom Alphonso le sage King of Castille and Emperour of the East in dower of mariage with Domne Beatrix his daughter not to meddle at al with the crosse the first armes of Portugall for first of all Portugall bare for armes a shield argent without any other thing he placed round about the shield which coÌ„tained the fiue that fashioned the said Crosse seuen scutchions of gold in a field Geules which are the armes of the realmes of Algarbes and since then to this present the kings of Portugall haue euermore held the same armes as they do at this day Stephen Garibay in his abridgement of the history of Spaine speaking of the Armes and Colours cals those Castelles of the Realmes of the Algarbes which engirt the Scutchion of the armes of Portugal Orla in French Geule or a border affirming that no other kingdome of Europe beares them but Portugall By which reason we may say that the Geule or border which we see about the armes of Fraunce to wit that of the order of S. Michael and that of the holy Ghost of the Golden Fleece in Burgundie and that of the Garter in England c. are but borrowed thence Now to returne to our armes the King Dom Emanuel seeing himselfe in Europe Lord of the kingdome of Portugall and of the Realme of the Algarbe which is in the prouince of Spaine in Affricke of the other Realme of Algarbe which is in the prouince of Barbarie of all the coast of Guinee euen to the Cape de bonne Esperance and from thence vnto the red sea and of a great number of the Isles situate in the sea of the said Affrica in Asia of the Realme of Goa and of a verie spacious Monarchie considering he held nine Kings his subiects and tributaries and foure Queenes in America of Bresil a prouince of very large extension he bare a Sphere for his deuice which signified the rule that Portugall had in the foure quarters of the world Adioying likewise the Crosse of the Order of the warfare of Iesus Christ because the King of Portugall being graund maister of the said Order is Lord of diuerse lands and townes in Portugal and of all the authoritie which the Portugueses possesse abroad from thence And because sundrie persons haue demaunded of me how they should vnderstand these Scutchions and pence I here tell them that the fiue Scutchions in the Azure field set in one shield the field whereof is Argent each of them figured with fiue white pence do signifie fiue kings Moores vanquished by one Christian king The kings of the Moores subdued are Ismael and his foure confederates the vanquisher is the king Dom Alphonso the first king of Portugall from whom grew this commaundement As for the pence because many haue alleaged to me that in the fiue Scutchions there are but xxv pence and not thirtie as other Authors and my selfe haue written I should be infinitely eased if in remouing their doubt they wold but heare me Would you find thirtie pence Count first of all the three Scutchions aboue and below which containe fifteene pence next them that are trauersed on the right side so that that in the midst be counted twise considering it spreads vnto either hand and there you shall find other fifteene pence which ioyned to the first complete the number of thirtie and thus they may rest satisfied in their demaund To the Testimoniall of vassellage and feoffement And because I haue already rendred my selfe tributary and all such as shall appertaine to me to the blessed S. Peter and his successours c. WE finde in the histories of Portugall that in the yeare 1169. when Pope Alexander the sixt approued the election of the King D. Alphonso and confirmed his kingdome to him the king by the consent of his Portugueses made the said kingdome feudatarie to the holy Church of Rome promising to pay as in tribute euery yeare two pounds of gold In the time since there is no memoriall found at all that this tribute hath bene payd as likewise none of our Historians do shew vnto vs that these fiftie Maruedies of gold haue bene payed to the Monasterie of our Ladie of Clairueaux And me thinks worthy Lord that it were not much from the purpose to make here a digression thereby to acquaint your reuerend worthinesse vpon what reason the king Dom Alphonso had such deuotion to this Monasterie of Nostre dame de Clairuaux The king Dom Alphonso and S. Bernard did both liue at that time and the king being informed of the wisedome learning and reformed life of this holy man and what miracles God wrought by his meanes in fauour and for the benefite of the faithful he began verie quickly to receiue him into good grace and opinion At this verie time the king had sent his sonne Sanche to besiege the Citie of Santeren called by the auncient Tordules Sâ—alabis of Scabelisque the first founder and by the Romanes Presidium Iulium by the Christians Santirenae by reason of the holy Irena a virgin a Martyr who suffred death there for the Christian faith in the yeare
say some but repented afterward that they laboured not to contend rather by law or warre which questionlesse had not wanted because the Lord Dom Edward sonne to the infant Dom Edward brother to the said King D. Iohn 3. then liued who was a Lord endued with many singular vertues and as a legitimate Prince borne of Kings by the ligue masculine did euermore claime the succession of his ancestors in the said kingdome which neuer yet fell vnto the distaffe Hereupon the Portuguezes prayed to God so instantly with so many processions fasts prayers and teares that it might please him to giue them a Lord and Prince Thus by diuine grace was Dom Sebastian giuen to the Portuguezes the first time and thus now againe he giues him the second time An answere to the third demand For manie causes right reuerend Lord it was not necessarie for the King Dom Sebastian to discouer himselfe in Barbary of al which we wil alleage but two The first if he had manifested himselfe he had run into great danger of his lifes losse for his enemie could not more easily haue put him to death then in Barbarie There are a great number of officers kept in pay who giue them such morsels which is called the Boccon or poisoned bit as the poore patient cannot by anie meanes escape they limit them to the yeare moneth daies what shall I say to verie houres and moments The second if Muley Hamet had got him into his power the least that he would haue demaunded for his ransome had been the cities and townes which the Portuguezes possesse in Barbarie This had beene a small gift for him Tanger Arzile Mazagan and the other places which the Kings of Portugall do hold in Barbarie Neuerthelesse Septa had bin great losse to Christendom for it is the key of Affricke and Europe And the Moores hauing that in their own power at all times and whensoeuer they were thereto disposed they might passe into Spaine an hundred thousand horse and more and from Spaine post to other parts of Europe as somtimes they did when they were not so well inured to warre nor expert in Armes Our histories of Portugall doe tell vs that the infant Dom Fernand being taken by the Moores in the field of the citie of Tanger as he there held his siege some few daies after they came to demaund for his raunsome onely the citie of Septa which his father the King Dom Iohn of worthie memorie the Bastard had won from the Mores The king that then was Dom Edward for the singular loue he bare to his brother resolued with his people who loued the Prince entirely to giue what they had demaunded The infant Dom Fernand being aduertised of his brothers kind respect and the peoples goodwill to him likewise found the meanes to write secretly vnto them that they should be very carefull what they did saying God forbid that by my occasion Christendome should endure such a damage I had rather be partaker among an hundred thousand martyrs or die in captiuitie in the Infidels custodie then cause such a manifest daunger to all Christendome The Mores following still their motion yet vsing the infant and his companie with extreame crueltie came to the knowledge that it was hindred much more by the said infant then the king his brother whereupon they began to intreate him in farre better manner that he might the gladlier consent to his owne redemption But they could no way worke him to preferre his owne particular benefite before the weale publique of Christendome So that the Moores growing much displeased hereat put him into an iron prison without any bed or seate and so placed him before the gates of the citie of Marocco giuing him daily to eate certaine ounces of bread and a little water to drinke After some few moneths this holy Lord rendred his spirit to his Creator in that rigorous prison suffering a glorious martirdome for the common good of all Christians after the example of his Lord Iesus Christ redeemer of the whole world His bodie is buried in the Couent of our Ladie of victorie which is of mine Order commonly called de la Battaille in the Chappell of king D. Iohn his father where God in regard of him did continually many miracles for aduancement of the Christian faith The religious Fathers of the said Couent on the day of his death do not vse to sing any Masse of Requiem but that of all Saints because he was not canonized nor yet beatified wherin he is contained amongst them Frier Ierome de Ramos a religious man of mine Order writ a booke concerning the life of this glorious Saint in the Portugall language Which booke I beleeue that the king Dom Sebastian hath both seene and read and that in imitation of the said Saint who was brother to his fourth grandfather I am certainely perswaded that he hauing so apt meanes to conceale himselfe would not be discouered for should he haue there bene reuealed to the Mores they might haue come and demaunded for his ransome the townes and cities elsewhere set downe nay the citie of Septa it selfe And doubtlesse the Portuguezes would haue giuen them all nay rather much more for the libertie of a King so good so vertuous and so holy whome they loued with such and so great affection as if he had bene a God and their redeemer The king Dom Sebastian most worthie Lord was naturally so Catholike and christianly addicted that for the adding but of a very pulse breadth of ground to Christendome he would most gladly haue yeelded himselfe captiue And therefore we may well coniecture and credit his good nature that when he could not get away without danger of his life and likewise in respect of Christendomes generall benefite he held it much more glorious for him to die in prison and slauerie in Barbarie then to liue at libertie being Lord and Monarch of the world Thus right reuerend Lord giue we end to the answer of your third demaund An answer to the fourth demaund Some do coniecture that he hath bene amongst the Moores in Barbarie many yeares Which very well be so although such as haue not bene accustomed to frequent that countrey do imagine it impossible and oftentimes it hath so happened to the Portuguezes that they haue liued captiues in Barbarie for the space of 10.12.15.20.25 and 30. yeares without any tidings heard of them all The reason is that al slaues Noble do appertain to the King and such as hold them in their custodie are bound to make like deliuerie to him of them Whereby very often the Lords of the Moores knowing their slaues to be of noble race dissemble with them that they may not lose them and that they may find meanes to be rid of them graunting them for their libertie some reasonable ransome So got out of captiuitie the Prince my Lord Dom Antonio who died at Paris with the title of King of Portugall because he had bene elected