St. Michael the Archangel is said to have been seen by his side hewing down the Infidels Hence he went to the Monastery of Alcobaca to return thinks to God for this success and staying there a Month is said to have instituted a new order of Knighthood called that of the Wing for that in the Battle he saw a winged Arm near him fighting against the Moors which the King supposing to be St. Michael or his Guardian Angel he dedicated the order to them both The chief Rules were that the Knights should wear a red Wing embroidered with Gold that none but Gentlemen of Note should be admitted to the Order that in fight they should carry the Royal Standard that they should take the Oath of Allegiance administred by the Prior of Alcobaca who was to be superior of the Order that they should every day say the same Prayers as did the Converts of that Monastery that their Feast should be observed on Michaelmass Day The King and principal Men were enrolled in this Order but it was not lasting 5. At this time there was in the Portuguese Court Gonzalo Hermiguez his actions a Gentleman called Gonzalo Hermiguez much esteemed of the Ladies for his Eloquence and Art in Poetry and no less envied of the Men as well for those Qualities as for that his extraordinary Actions had purchased him the Title of Moor Swallower This Gentleman with a party that used to follow him passed over the River Tagus before it was light on Midsummer Day from Lisbon to Almada and there lay in Ambush The Moors according to their Custom coming out that Morning with their Women to be merry upon the Banks of the River he suddenly rushed out upon them expecting no such Entertainment and made a great slaughter of them The Infidels strove to defend themselves but in vain for he carried off a rich Booty to his Boats Being ready to put off he espied a Moor carrying away a beautiful Woman and leaping again ashore he forced her from him and so made over to Santarem with his Prey Of all the booty he took nothing to himself but the fair Captive whom Baptized he made his Wife She soon after dying he was so afflicted that leaving the World he took upon him the habit of St. Bernard in the Monastery of Alcobaca and out of his own Patrimony having no Children founded the Monastery of St. Mary de Tumarayâ— near Ourem Much about this time it is recorded that the King being near the mouth of the River Mondego found a small Chappel with the Image of our B. Lady which restored to life one of his Servants killed with a fall from his Horse An old Hermit told him it was the same that had preserved all the Women and Children killed by John the Abbot as was said in its place when he sallied out of Montemayor and unexpectedly overthrew a multitude of Infidels This moved the King to erect a Monastery there called at present St. Mary de Seica and the Image being several times removed from the poor Chappel to the magnificent Church of this Monastery is said always of it self to have returned to its own place Peter the King's Bastard Brother ranging abroad met a party of Moors conducting a Beautiful Lady with much Treasure all which having routed them he took Cide Achim a Moor of Silves who courted this Lady begged her of the King or else desired him to keep him also for his slave The King referred him to his Brother Peter who not only restored to him the Lady but all the Treasure taken with her upon condition he should send no succours to Lisbon which it seems was not then taken 6. Peter of Peter Bastard Brother to Alonso Bastard Brother to King Alonso was sent into France to prevail with St. Bernard to use his interest with the Pope for to obtain his investiture and confirmation of the new Kingdom of Portugal To omit what is too Romantick concerning this Peter he is said for his extraordinary valour to have been admitted into the number of the 12 Peers of France and that preparing to accompany that King to Hierusalem he was diswaded by St. Bernard who advised him rather to act against the Moors in Spain He followed his advice and was at the taking of Santarem Lisbon Trancoso Badajoz and other great Actions After this he was chosen Master of the new instituted order of Knight-hood called that of Avis which Honour he obtained of the King that he might not be obliged by him to Marry Returning one day with a party from an Engagement with the Moors he laid down in a Field and fell a Sleep at which time St. Bernard appeared to him in a Dream perswading him to take upon him the Habit of his Order which he accordingly performed and lived 13 Years in the Monastery of Alcobaca with an extraordinary opinion of Sanctity 7. The Dominions of Portugal being now enlarged from a small Dower given by the King of Leon with his Bastard Daughter to the proportion of a considerable Kingdom King Alonso sued to Pope Alexander III. for his invessiture in the same offering to pay to the See of Rome for ever two pound of Gold yearly as an acknowledgment of his holding that Crown of the Pope His Holiness granted his request and accordingly expedited his Bulls to that effect in the Year 1172. 1172. Hereupon the Cortes or Parliament was assembled at Lamego Pope Alexander grants the Investiture of the Kingdom of Portugal to Alonso under a Tribute in which pursuant to these Bulls the King was crowned with a Crown of Gold by the Archbishop of Braga and all the States there assembled unanimously voted their Kingdom independent of the Crown of Leon For the better regulating of the succession it was enacted That the King's Sons should inherit and for want of them his Brothers whose Sons should not succeed them without consent of the People That Daughters might Inherit provided they Married not out of the Kingdom that their Husband should not be called King till the Queen had a Son that he should not wear the Crown on his Head in Parliament that if she Married a Forreign Prince she should not inherit least the Crown should be transferred to Strangers 8. About this time the King made an incursion into Algarve The body of St. Vincent translated to Lisbon as far as the Promontorium Sacrum or Cape St. Vincent desiring to translate the Body of that Saint which he understood to be there but he could not perform it and retired Afterwards the Council of Lisbon sent People to discover it who brought it away to that City where it is kept with great Veneration a number of Crows following the Body from the Mountain to the great Church where it lies and there they also continue to this Day Abenjacob Son to the Miramamolin or Emperor of Morocco with a mighty Army besieged and much streightned the Town of Abrantes but certain
brought of the Death of King Sancho at Toledo The great Freitas demanded a Truce whilst he went to Toledo to be assured of the Truth There he caused the King's Grave to be opened and seeing him Dead delivered to him the Keys of the City he had entrusted him with and asking leave to deliver them to his Brother 1248. took them again Being come to Coimbra he opened the Gates to King Alonso who admiring so unparallelled a Gallantry restored to him the Command without demanding Homage of him for it which favour he extended to his Heirs but he knowing how hard it was to make a return suitable to such a favour refused to accept of it and layed his Curse even to the fourth Generation upon such as should admit of it 4. Alonso now become absolute King by the Death of his Brother resolved to imitate his Predecessors or if it might be to out-doe them by adding to his Dominions the Kingdom of Algarve and not suffering it to be lost again as had happened to them D. Payo Correa with the Forces under his Command had already taken several places in that Kingdom the King joyned him and both together layed Siege to the Town of Faro 1249. The King observing the place might be relieved by Sea King Alonso conquers Algarve placed some Vessels at the Mouth of the River to guard the Passage and then began to batter the place on all sides The Besieged perceiving no hope to hold out began privately to treat of a Surrender with the King he taking only Ten Gentlemen that were privy to the Treaty ventured into the Town so secretly that none of his Army knew it D. Payo Correa missing the King and hearing no account of him furiously assaulted the place the Portuguese fighting like Lions instead of being discouraged at the absence of their Sovereign Many were killed and more had perished but that the King appeared on the Walls holding out the Keys of the Town Thus this place was reduced submitting to pay the same tribute it had before payed to the Miramamolin The Government of it was given to Stephen Perez de Tavares D. Payo Correa was sent before to invest the Town of Albufiera and had signalized his Valour when the King came to second him Both together finished the Conquest of the place which was given to D. Payo for his good Service I guess the motive of the King 's staying behind was the Beauty of the Governour of Faro's Daughter with whom he fell in Love when he received the Keys of the Town for by his Lady he had D. Martin Alonso Chichorro from whom is Descended the Family of Sousa of that Name Fortune now bent upon favouring our King caused other places to submit to him before he could appear before them 1250. Loule surrendred but not without some Bloodshed Algezar Perches and other places were all reduced The King before his departure placed trusty Governours in all the Towns with sufficient Garrisons so as to secure that new conquered Kingdom which never after offered to revolt from him King Alonso having nothing now to employ his Arms within his own limits entred Andaluzia and took the Towns of Arouche and Araâ—na 1251. This Action moved King Alonso the Wife of Castile and Leon to invade the Kingdom of Algarve which he conquered 1252. After much contention betwixt the Crowns of Castile and Portugal Differences betwixt Castile and Portugal 〈◊〉 to Pope Pope Innocent the Fourth composed all Differences so that the King of Castile was to hold Algarve during his Life and he of Portugal to marry his Bastard Daughter Both Kings were so willing to embrace this accommodation that they never considered the Bride was not Twelve Years of Age and the Bridegroom above Forty nor that the Countess of Bolen was still alive It is true Pope Innocent approved of this Match and yet afterwards Pope Alexander would not allow of it All Military Employment now ceasing the King applied himself to the Civil Affairs and held a Parliament at Leiria Next he took a Progress through the Kingdom 1255. repairing the Forts Towns and Churches that had been ruined during the War He spared neither cost nor labour in those publick Works he built from the Ground the Monastery of Santarem the Towns of Estremoz 1258. Odemira Monforte Valencia del Minho then called Contrasta 1259. and Viana de Lima. His whole study was bent upon the good of the Government and knowing how necessary Trade is to support it ordered many Fairs and cleared the Roads of Robbers to secure Commerce 6. In the midst of these Employments came to him two Gentlemen to Freilas The King's cruelty towards his lawful Wife where he then was sent by Maud the Countess his first and lawfull Wife to advertise him that she perceiving he did not send for her to his Kingdom and hearing he was Married again was come of her self to find him out and lay then at Cascais The King who had for the sake of his new Wife regarded neither Divine nor Human Laws sent her such an Answer that she was forced to return to Bolen leaving a Letter for him wherein she taxed himwith Ingratitude and False-hood threatning him with the censures of the Church the Power of Christian Princes and the revenging hand of God Authors add that she brought with her two Children she had by him whom in revenge she left exposed upon the Rocks which are ever since called Cachopos that word in Portuguese signifying Boys That the Countess had Children by him is proved by the authority of Antient Authors and there is no proof but bare surmises to the contrary besides that a Tomb has been seen with an Inscription denoting it contained a Son of theirs that followed him into Portugal and was entirely beloved by him King Alonso of Castile 1260. Father-in-law to our King having composed the difference about Algarve marched into Andaluzia his Son-in-law assisting him both by Sea and Land In return for this kindness the Castillian resigned up to him all his Title to Algarve and delivered the Towns to D. John de Aboin and his Son D. Peter Anes de Portel upon condition the Portuguese should during his life be obliged to assist him with Fifty Lances whensoever he should demand them This obligation was also taken off when his Grandson Prince Denis being Seven Years of Age visited him at Sevil and desired to be knighted by him 1263. Before this time to prevent Broils and Animosites the bounds of the Kingdoms of Leon and Portugal were marked out 7. About this time hapned an unparallelled wonder A strange action of a jealous Woman a Woman perceiving she was not beloved by her Husband acquainted a Jewish Woman therewith desiring her assistance The Jew perswaded her that when she received the Blessed Sacrament she should keep the Host and bring it to her wherewith she would work her relief She tied
so others too tedious to relate Sir Francis Drake had the Command of the Fleet and Sir John Norris of the Land Forces which were 22000 Men. They sailed from Plimouth and arrived at Coruna the 4th of May where they landed and having spent Five Days before the Place without any success returned to their Ships with loss In the mean while King Philip sent Advice to Lisbon That the Cardinâ—â— Alvertus who was Governour and the Count de 〈◊〉 who was General might be in readiness The English landed some Horse and 12000 Foot at Peniche which Place they took and thence coasting along entered thâ— River of Liâ—bâ—â— The Count de Fuentes with some Troops of Horse endeavoured to secure the Country â—et Norris marched with a great Body of Troops 〈◊〉 wards Lisbon and fortyfied himself close to the City There he lay some time but still finding that not one Portuguese came over to him nor that Drake did not come up the River he marched back and embarked his Forces Many of his Men died by the way of the Plague which was got among them in Portugal and the rest arriving at Plimouth spread it through all England 12. Antony seemed now only to have come to take his last Farewel of his Country for ever after he resided in France He dies in France tho' never quitting his claim to this Crown till he died at Paris in great Poverty and the 64th Year of his Age. His Body was buried in the Church of the Nuns of Ave Maria and the Inscription on his Tomb calls him King He was endued with several good Qualities his Person was comly and his Countenance pleasing He was not unlearned especially in Divinity and wrote a Paraphrase upon the Penitential Psalms He could not marry as being of the Military Order of Malta but by several Women had the following Bastard Children First D. Emanuel de Portugal who married Emilia Daughter to William Prince of Orange Secondly Christopher who died in France Thirdly Peter who became a Franciscan Friar and was called of the Desart remarkable for Piety and Learning Fourthly Denis who took the Habit of S. Bernard in the Monastery of Valbuena Fifthly Alonso who served in the Galleys of Naples where he died Sixthly John who died very Young Seventhly Philippa a Bernardin Nun. Eightly Luisa a Franciscan Nun. Ninthly and Tenthly Two Daughters whose Names are not extant but they were both kept in the Monastery of Huelgas near Burgos by King Philip the Second CHAP. VII The Reign of Philip the Second of Spain and First of Portugal and Eigthteenth King from the Year 1580 till 1598. 1. PHilip the Second of Spain Birth of King Philip and First of Portugal Son to the Emperor Charles the Fifth and the Empress Elizabeth Daughter of King Emanuel of Portugal was born at Valladolid on the 23th of March 1527. After the loss of King Sebastian in Africk he sent Don Christopher de Moura to condole with the New King and Cardinal Henry offering his assistance in reestablishing the Kingdom in its former Splendor and Money for the redemption of Captives The First he ransomed was the Duke of Barcelos Son to him of Bragança and with him several Gentlemen King Henry dying and the Kingdom being in a Confusion for that the Governours feared to declare who was the next Heir and the Multitude began to declare for Antony the Grand Prior King Philip came to Badajoz hoping his approach would induce the Portuguese to declare for him but being deceived of his Expectation he sent the Duke of Alva who reduced all the Country with much ease as we have seen in the foregoing Chapter At the time the King intended to enter the Kingdom in Person he fell so dangerously Sick that he was given over He suddenly recovered and Ann his Queen who was with him died Being restored to his Health he was received at Elvas He enters Portugal D. Christopher de Moura and Nunho Alvarez Pereyra attending upon him as Ministers of State for this Kingdom Lisbon was not yet quite clear of the Plague and therefore he ordered the Cortes or Parliament to meet at Tomar on the 15th of April In his way thither he met the Dutchess of Bragança and they were long together tho' their Discourse was not over pleasant for the King treated her not with all the Complement she expected and she never gave him the stile of Majesty Being come to Tomar before the opening of the Parliament he caused himself to be Sworn King according to the Portuguese manner and his Son Prince James Heir of the Crown An Amnâ—sty Next he granted a general Pardon to all that had sided with Antony the Grand Prior only excepting Fifty two Persons and excluding all religious Men that espoused his Quarrel from Spiritual Promotions 2. The Parliament was opened the 19th of April He holds a Parliament the King sitting on his Throne The King bountifully bestowed his Favours upon all there and yet there were more discontented than pleased It was proposed to suppress the University of Coimbra because it had supported the Grand Prior but the King would not suffer it to be done What the King granted of his own will to the Kingdom in general Priviledges granted to Portugal was as follows That he will keep all their Ancient Priviledges and Immunities That the Parliament shall always meet within the Kingdom That none shall be Governour of Portugal but a Native unless it be a Prince of the Blood That all Places of Trust and Honour shall be given to Natives That all the Officers of the Houshould shall be kept up and none but Natives shall be such That the same be observed in India and America and none but Portuguese Ships shall be allowed to Trade thither That all the Money coined in the Kingdom shall be stamped with only the Portuguese Arms. That all Church Preferments and Commendaries of Military Orders shall be given to Natives That no New Imposition shall be laid upon the Church That there shall be always a Portuguese Council with his Majesty for the Affairs of the Kingdom These are the Principal Heads the others being much of the same Purport or less Material I omit for brevity sake They were in all Twenty five Articles King Philip bound himself by Oath to perform them left his Blessing to such of his Heirs as preserved and his Curse to those that violated them 3. The Cortes being broke up Philip's publick Entry into Lisbon King Philip resolved to make his solemn Entry into Lisbon but because the City had not yet finished the Works designed for his Reception he staid some Days at Almada a Town on the opposite side of the River On the 29th of June he entered the City attended by all the Nobility with the greatest Splendor and Majesty imaginable Thus ended the Calamities of this Kingdom which had lasted Two Years during which short time there may be reckoned Five several
At length when least expected he suddenly set out in April 1619. bringing with him Prince Philip Philip the Third comes into Portugal and the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary and as his Father had done he made his Publick Entry into Lisbon on S. Peter's Day His Reception was the greatest that ever till then had been heard of for the Portuguese ravished with Affection and Joy to see their Prince among them erected such Fabricks on the Land and made such mighty Works on the River as seemed to fill up both those Elements of Land and Water and scarce left room for the admiring Multitude to behold him that all those Expences were made for His Reception It is impossible to describe the particulars of this most Glorious Entry The River Tagus was covered with an innumerable multitude of Vessels built in the shape of several Fishes and Sea-Monsters The King was brought in a Galley attended by many others built with such admirable Workmanship that the like was never before seen and it obliterated the Memory of the Famous one made by Ptolomy King of Egypt which at that time was the Wonder of the World Whilst this multitude of Vessels rowed down the River the thundring of the Cannon from the Vessels themselves and from the Castle shook the Earth and rent the Air. Being come on shoar the King proceeded to the Cathedral and thence to the Palace entertaining his Lyes with such prodigious Sights of Gold and Silver that the time falling short to view all he returned the next day to behold the lofty Fabricks which expressed the greatness of their Affection who received him Such was the Magnificence of the Piles erected such the Cost bestowed on them and such the solid Strength of them that they seemed as if designed for many Ages not for the use of one only day which was too short a space even to demolish them 3. The Majesty of these Works was so amazing that the King tho' used to Regal Entertainments said He never till that day thought himself a great King Hereby seeming to call Lisbon Felicitas Philippica as once Julius Caesar gave it the Name of Felicitas Julia. In the Palace he performed the two Solemn Acts of Swearing the Prince and holding the Cortes or Parliament He holds Parliament which met with extraordinary Joy and Satisfaction of all Men but 〈◊〉 the end disappointed them of their hopes First for that the King was scarce seen by his Subjects and next for the unsatisfactory Answer he gave to their Demands The Reason of it was that his coming to the Kingdom and calling the Parliament were Actions proceeding from his own Inclination but the disobliging of them was wholly the product of the ill Advice of his Ministers His Favourites fearing he should take an Affection to the Portuguese and perhaps continue among them were uneasie at the Splendor of his Entertainment and so much Influence had they over him that he gave more Credit to their Words than to those marks of Respect and Loyalty he saw with his Eyes This is the greatest Misfortune can befal a Prince to be so led away and infatuated by the Flatteries of Favourites who only attend their private Interest as to forfeit the Affections of their People This is the height of Tyranny in Ministers to covet all for themselves and allow nothing to others 4. Seven Months the King spent in his Journey to Portugal His stay and return to Madrid staying there and returning home Being come to Madrid he departed this Life the last day of March in the Year of Grace 1621. the 43d 1621. Year of his Age and 23d of his Reign His Death His Body lies buried with his Predecessors in the Royal Monastery of St. Lawrence commonly called the Escurial His Picture drawn as he appeared at the Cortes or Parliament held at Lisbon in his Robes with the Collar of the Golden Fleece and the Steptre in his Hand represents him of a pleasing Aspect yet full of Majesty Of Stature he was rather little but proportionable his Forehead high his Eyes blue his Lips thick his Complexion fair with a fresh Colour his Hair yellow his whole Countenance beautiful and representing much Grandeur He was a most Holy Prince and at his Death seemed to have only one thing to lament which was that he fulfilled what his Father had Prophetically foretold viz. That he suffered his Favourites to have so much the Ascendant over him Had he given less Ear to his Ministers who always mind their own Advantage tho' with the loss of their Master's and been more absolute in taking his own measure he had proved one of the greatest and most successful Princes in the World For he was so Fortunate that notwithstanding all the Miscarriages of those that governed him he still came off with Honour and Reputation adding new Conquests to his Dominions both in India and Africk 5. His only Wife was Margaret of Austria His Wife and Issue Daughter to the Arch-Duke Charles and his Dutchess Mary She was one of the most Renowned Queens this Kingdom ever had and it enjoyed many that deserve Immortal Fame After her Death the King in Continency imitated his Predecessor Alonso the Fifth for he never would Marry again and it is generally believed he never had to do with any Woman but his Queen His Issue was First Ann Mary Mauricia Wife to King Lewis XIII of France her Dowry 500000 Crowns in Gold Secondly Philip who succeeded him Thirdly Mary born at Valladolid the 18th of August 1606. afterwards Queen of Hungary Fourthly Charles born at Madrid the 14th of September 1607. Fifthly Ferdinand born at the Escurial May the 17th 1609. he was a Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo Prior of Crato and Abbot of Alcobaça Sixthly Margaret born at Lerma in May 1610. and died the 11th of March 1617. Seventhly Alonso born at the Escurial September the 22d 1611. and died the following Year His Mother also died in Childbed of him leaving her Subjects in unspeakable sorrow and want of her 6. In this King's Time the Plague raging in the City of Lisbon Prodigies was observed to cease immediately after the Image of the glorious Martyr S. Sebastian had been seen to sweat plentifully A Year before the King's Journey to Lisbon two Comets of a wonderful Magnitude appeared in the Signs of Virgo and Libra one of them so prodigiously great it renewed the Memory of that which appeared at the Birth of Mithridates that extended over one quarter of the Heaven After them ensued the Death of Popes and Kings the overturning of States and the fall of Great Ministers whose Ruin is by nothing more evidently foretold than by the unlawful means they use to rise and yet none takes warning by him that went before to avoid the Precipice At the City Baçaim in India there happened such a violent Storm as carryed away Churches Houses Trees and Mountains Several Apparitions were seen in
Kings Eldest Son dyes whom for his excellent qualities he entirely loved The Prince as has been before hinted had Laboured under a tedious sickness and tho' the Force of it was abated he never after enjoyed perfect health for there continued a defluxion upon his stomach which no medicines could ever remove but on the contrary some that were used seemed to hasten his End On the 3d of May he took to his bed and for 6 Days the Phisitians Employed all their Art for recovering of him the whole Clergy and layety offering up their Prayers to God for him All proved in vain for the Number of his days was compleat therefore on the Night he received the Viaticum and on the 15th gave up his Ghost The Encomiums bestowed on this Prince are so great they will appear incredible and therefore I think fitter to omit than trouble the Reader with them He dyed Aged 19 Years 3 months and 7 days His body was buryed in the Royal Monastery of Belem being Attended thither by an incredible multitude of the People Lamenting the Loss of so hopefull a Prince Immediately after his death the King assembled the Parliament in which his Second Son Prince Alfonso was Sworn Heir to the Crown The 3 Estates agreed to Support the charge of the War with the Tenth of all Temporal and Spiritual Estates and in case the Spaniards should besiege any considerable place then to add one Fourth part more of the said Tax but if it should happen the Enemy Invaded the Kingdom with such powerfull Forces as might bring it into danger then they offered all they had for the Support of the Crown Before the Parliament broke up the King sustained another Loss in the Death of his Eldest Daughter Joanna who departed this Life on the 17th of September She Lyes buried in the Monastery of Belem 3. The Affairs of Portugal continued much in the same posture we left them at the Courts of Rome The Portuguese Embassadors brother beheaded for murder in England France and Holland In England the Count de Penaguiao sollicited the settling of a Peace with the Usurper Oliver who was much offended at the protection given in Lisbon to the Princes Rupert and Maurice But this Embassador before the End of his Negotiation met there with a Disaster which cost the Life of his Brother The manner of it in short was thus D. Pantaleon de Sa the Embassadors Brother walking one Evening in the New Exchange and resenting an affront which he thought he had received from one Gerard the Night following repairs to the same place attended by the Embassadors retinue and with Sword and Pistoll falls upon all he meets A great Hubub rising the Portugueses were beat off chiefly by one Collonel May an Irish man One Greenway was killed in the scuffle For this Murder D. Pantaleon de Sa as the Author of the Tumult was Tryed and condemned Having in vain pleaded his priviledge and made his escape out of Prison by the help of the Lady Mohun being again taken he was beheaded upon a Scaffold on Tower-Hill 4. Francis Barreto who Commanded in Pernambuco Francis Barreto holds the Dutch closely besieged in Brazil tho' his Forces were much lessened and no supplies came was not at all discouraged but carryed on the Seige of Arrecife with a full Resolution either to Conquer or die The besieged were now reduced to despair and therefore determined to attempt gaining the Fort Arrayal which Sigismund their Generall knowing to be a difficult Enterprize endeavoured to divert them from but perceiving he Laboured in vain told them the only means to attack that Fort was by Gaining first the quarter of Aguiar On the 11th of March he marched out of the Fort Affogados with the greatest part of that and the Neighbouring Garrisons Captain Alfonso de Albuquerque Commanded at the quarter of Aguiar He not thinking it for his honour to receive them in his works marched out and soon drove them back to their Forts Twice after this they attempted the same Post and were both time repulsed with considerable Loss which caused them to forbear any farther attempts on the besiegers and employ their Men in bringing provisions from the River of S. Francis These Men were met there by 100 Portugueses and some Blacks Commanded by Captain Francis Barregos who the first firing was shot through the body Yet his Men continued the Charge with such bravery that they drove the Dutch to their Fort and thence to their Ships without the provisions they came for Here upon the Council sent one of their body into Holland to press for speedy releif but the Dutch having been defeated at Sea by the English were not then in a condition to send any Francis Barreto having notice hereof resolved when the Portuguese Fleet arrived to make his utmost Efforts for expelling the Enemy that Country Accordingly he met the Admirall and Vice-Admirall to concert the measures they were to take but the result of this Consultation and the Effect that followed belong to the next Year 5. D. Roderick de Alencastre at the Beginning of this Year D. Roderick de Alencastre defeats a party of Moores at Tanier succeeded the Baron de Alvito in the Government of Tangier which he managed with greater dexterity than many had expected by reason of his Youth Being informed that about a place called Gibalcaro there were certain Hords of Arabs come thither for conveniency of pasture he sent the Commander in cheife of the Horse with 92 Troopers to attack them by Night Being come near them some advised him not to fall on them till morning when he could do better Execution however he obeyed his orders slew a great Number of Infidels took 17 prisoners and returned with a great booty in which were six Camels which D. Roderick sent to the King D. Roderick performed severall other actions of less note for a Famine raging among the Moors at that time they brought him intelligence for bread and others brought Horses and Cattle to sell in the City 6. The danger increased in India War in India with the Dutch where D. Bras de Castro had usurped the Government for the Dutch threatened Ceylon and other places were not free from Apprehensions The three Governors who we said last Year commanded in Ceylon sent Gaspar de Figueyra de Serpa with 900 Foot to reduce the Towns that had revolted and bring in Provisions The King of Candia's Forces forsook the lower Country and entrenching themselves strongly endeavoured to exclude him the Upper He attacked them vigorously and their number being great was repulsed but they adventuring to pursue him he rallyed drove them back and entred their Works with them making a mighty Slaughter This Success made many Towns submit which payed their Arrears of Contributions and a great quantity of Cinnamon Provisions Arms and other Plunder was conveyed to Columbo Soon after 10 Companies were sent to attack a Town on the Frontiers
audience with his Mother and to assist in Council and was not at all averse to it so that tho' he did not quite forsake his vices yet he had not so much leisure to indulge them Conti was not at all displeased at these proceedings hoping this would be the means for advancing his Fortune and therefore lost no time or opportunity but plyed the King with immoderate suits for himself and his companions The first thing the King asked for him of his Mother was that he might be admitted into the order of Knighthood called of Christ which as she durst not absolutely refuse for fear of provoking her Son so she delayed granting it still putting him off from time to time with seveal excuses Conti perceiving her subtilty sailed not to press the King urging how unworthy his grandeur it was to be refused that which was in his power to take and by these and other insinuations so fiered his mind that at length he forced the Queen to condescend to all that was asked for him Being thus raised from the degree of a Merchant to that of a Minister of State not only the meaner sort made application to him in their Suits but even the Nobility had recourse to him in matters of moment least his interest should thwart their designs nay even the Queen herself tho' contrary to her haughty inclination refused not to truckle to his greatness fearing she could not maintain her Authority by opposing him But he knowing all this Courtship was Feigned used Art against Art shewing a good countenance to all yet at the same time arming himself against all Emergencies To this purpose he began to make a party in the Court introducing instead of the experienced Nobility all the youth into places of honour and preferring some of mean parentage till the Queen fearing least the increase of his party should prove her downful began openly to oppose him Thus the Court was divided into factions some siding with the King others with the Queen and others adhering to Neither Conti ceased not to blow the Coles but his chief aim was to perswade the King to take upon himself the Government urging as the truth was Denis Alphonso the 5th and Sebastian Kings of Portugal took upon them the administration being yet younger than he That which most moved the King was that his Mother falling sick at this time the whole Court was made to him which gave him to understand what a diminution it was to his splendor and therefore he began to be inflamed with a desire of absolute command The Queen recovering and reasuming the care of the government found the King more intractable than he had been before as being wholly bent upon wresting the power from her by force if she should refuse to resign This was a deadly stroke to her ambitious Spirit which abhorred the thought of falling from that height wherein she had upheld herself for so many Years nor could she be without some care for the Kingdom if it were wholly left at the disposal of a wilful and unexperienced Youth beset with a croud of dangerous and unskilful favourites and Councellors Being perplexed and tormented with these thoughts she resolved to set up her Younger Son Peter against the King The Queen sets up the Infante against the King that so he in hopes of attaining the Crown through her means might be wholly at her devotion and at the same time Alphonso fearing to lose his right might be kept in awe Therefore to prepare the Infante who of himself was willing enough she perswaded him he ought to be declared Prince and Heir to the Crown alledging that his Brother was impotent and consequently the Kingdom must devolve to him For the Executing of this design she tampered with all the Nobility and Magistrates intending to call the Cortes or Parliament to confirm her resolution but finding it a matter of greater difficulty than she had expected most men abhorring to set up two Brothers as it were two King's to rend the Kingdom and destroy themselves and thinking it a rashness to condemn Alphonso as impotent before any proof were made of his Ability she desisted from the method but not from the design Her next practice then was to set out the Infante in the most splendid apparel to cause him to show himself often to the People to give him a Family composed of all such as were disaffected to his Brother and to put him into a house the best in Lisbon built by Christopher de Moura Marquess of Castelrodrigo Having thus set up the Infante in opposition to his Brother and secured him to herself her next artifice was to counterfeit a desire of quitting the regency and retiring into a Monastery of Nuns For this purpose she drew up a subtle writing intimating her pretended desire and yet so worded it that the great men and principal Ministers to whom she sent it for their advice soon saw into the depth of it which was that she desired to be as it were constrained to continue the Regency yet so as she must be drawn to condescend by the removal of Antony Conti and the rest of his party from about the King Those to whom the writing had been communicated being all her creatures The Council combine with the Queen and fearing least if she were suffered to abandon the government they should by the King be deprived of the preferments they enjoyned resolved not to forsake her least they should be involved in her fall Therefore by writing they gave her to understand that tho' she were resolved to lay down the administration of the Kingdom it was not yet time to do it till she had removed from the Person of the King those that seduced and led him into ill courses Nothing could be more pleasing to the Queen than this answer so pat to her purpose since they had fulfilled all her wishes without obliging her to express them However that all might seem to be carried by the advice of the Council knowing they were all resolved to perform her will she would have nothing done but what should be there discussed and given under their hands The Councel met accordingly and tho' some of the gravest among them opposed the design as too visible an affront to the King yet it was carried The faction seize Conti the Kings favourite in the King's appartment and send him to Brazil that Conti and his adherents should be seized and sent into banishment contrary to the will of the King for this Council sat not to serve him but his Mother In pursuance to this resolution the Queen having secured the King in her Lodgings upon pretence of business the Duke of Cadaval with his Party Entred the King's apartment where Conti then was He seeing a Throng and suspecting some danger locked himself in but the Duke without respect to the Sacredness of the place or to the Remonstrances of the Count de Castellomelhor who would have
reigned 33 Years Siculus the next King and dying left the Kingdom to Siculus who being born in Lusitania preserved the same Affection his Father had done for that Province and People He also is supposed to have passed over into Italy and to have overthrown the Aborigines whence sailing into Sicily 1416. he subdued that Island and left his Name to it where he ended his Days having reigned 61 Years 8. The Death of Siculus was so much resented by the Spaniards and particularly the Lusitanians that he leaving no Heir An interregnum for 100 Years they resolved not to submit themselves to another King Above an Hundred Years they lived at their Liberty referring all Controversies to the ancientest Men Bacchus in Spain and standing to their Decision till Bacchus the Son of Semele with a numerous Army of sundry Nations came into Spain The Fame of so mighty an Army terrified the Spaniards but they were no less delighted with their Luxurious manner of living all their Martial Exercises being intermixed with Pleasures and Delights Hence the Sports used to this day in Portugal called Folias are supposed to have deduced their Original which consists of Dancing Taboring and Singing The Word is either derived from the Latin Folia or leaves because the Bacchanals were so Crowned or from the Italian signifying Madness which is proper enough to such Divertisements and to the Feasts of the Bacchanals 9. Bacchus finding the Lusitanians opposed his Command and cut off many of his Army retiring to the Mountains after doing the Mischief employed his Tutor Silenus to work upon them by fair means which he did so effectually that they submitted themselves to him only upon condition he should not use the Name of King which they would allow to none since the Death of their beloved King Lusus However Bacchus finding them an Ignorant and Credulous People perswaded them that the Soul of Lusus was transmigrated unto his Son Lisias Lisias made King who for the Love they bore him was returned to Reign over them This Fiction so took with the People that they put themselves wholly into his Power congratulating with themselves the Happiness of having recovered their admired King Bacchus returned into Italy and his Son remained possessed of this great part of Europe which he enjoyed not full Three Years 1299. He dying the Lusitanians would not admit any other King but chose for their Commander Cacus chose General one Cacus a bold Fellow and one of Lisias his Companions he raising a powerful Army marched against Palatuus King of Andaluzia whom in a Bloody Battle he overthrew and by that means remained possessed of the greatest part of all Spain puffed up with this Success he became Insolent and Cruel which rendred him Odious to the People 10. Palatuus who lay lurking in the Mountains laid hold of this opportunity sent some to sound the affections of the Multitude and finding them well inclined towards him adventured to raise Forces and march towards Lusitania Hercules the Theban in Spain overthrows Cacus At the same time Hercules the Theban with the rest of the Argonauts being by stress of Weather cast ashore in Spain near the mouth of Guadalquivir was lovingly received and entertained by Palatuus this Courtesie obliged him to espouse his Quarrel and so joyning their Forces they overthrew the Tyrant Cacus or Licinius who fled into Italy whither presently after Hercules returned Still the Lucitanians preserved their Liberty as before as they did whilst Erithreus whom some call the Son others the Cousin of Palatuus reigned in the other parts of Spain Palatuus seems to have Reigned 67 Years and Gargoris is said to have been his Son but for this there is no manner of Authority 11. The Tyranny of Cacus or Licinius lasted Thirty Six Years which are to be included in the 70 of Palatuus his Reign and many more Lusitania remained free from any subjection being governed only by the Rules of Reason 1158. and some of Tubal's Laws which remained in Verse Gargoris finds the use of Honey and its making It fell out accidentally that a Man called Gargoris which formerly signified a burning Coal or Flame found a Swarm of Bees in a hollow Oak and discovering their Honey taught the use of it to the People This sweet Discovery was worth a Crown which the Multitude iâ— Requital for that Benefit freely bestowed upon him He was afterwards by the Latins called Melicola for discovering to the Spaniards the Use of Honey Whilst Gargoris reigned he had a Daughter got with Child by some Gallant or as some thought by her own Father for as soon as the Child was born Abidis exposed Brought to Court Teaches the People to yoke Oxen plow and sow he caused it to be exposed to the Wild Beasts But they instead of destroying nourished the Infant of which he being informed caused him to be cast into the Sea and that Element milder than the Grandfather carried it up the River Tagus as far as Santarem formerly called Scalabis where it was suckled by a Doe Of her being grown up he took to a natural Swiftness so that they that hunted in the Mountains admired to see in him the Figure of a Man and the Wildness of a Beast Gargoris hearing hereof and not imagining it was his Grandson caused him to be taken in a Gin and being brought before him he by known Signs perceived it was the same he had exposed His Hatred now turned into Love he called him Abidis causing him to be carefully instructed And he was so great a Proficient that it was he who first civilized that barbarous Multitude He also taught them to yoke Oxen to plow and sow 11. Troy being reduced to Ashes 1130. Vlysses with a part of the Grecian Fleet driven by Storms out of the Mouth of the Streights arrived at length at the Mouth of the River Tagus Ulysses in Portugal and entring landed where he found already built a City on the Hill to which he left his Name which remains to this Day being called Vlyssippo which is the famous City Lisbon Here in Memory of the Favours received of the Goddess Minerva he built a stately Temple and dedicated it to her Gargoris upon the News of his Arrival marched towards him with an Army but they both meeting and conferring together parted Friends And not so content Gargoris gave to Vlysses his Daughter the Mother of Abidis in Marriage However the Greeks committing several Insolences in the Country they became odious to the People who rising up in Arms against them Vlysses stole away to Sea leaving his new Wife behind How long Gargoris reigned cannot positively be set down the best Guess that can be given is Seventy seven Years 1105. At the same time that Vlysses sailed out of Tagus Diomedes enter'd the River Mino in the North of Portugal There he founded a City which after the Name of his Father
pressed he might either have the Money or Liberty to make use of his Captive She snatching a Ponyard out of his Hand ran to kill him but missing her Stroke stab'd her self The Bracarenses retiring the Romans took their Posts and many Skirmishes passing between them it happen'd that Antistius one of the Roman Generals was taken and fell into the Hands of the Father of that Maid above-mentioned who for that he had honourably buried his Daughter sent him away free and honourably presented Agrippa to requite the Kindness shewn to his Colleague raised the Siege and obtained many Favours of Augustus for the City perswading him that those of Porto were in the wrong Thenceforth it was called Augusta Bracara and had the Privilege of a Roman Colony 4. The Emperor Augustus being at Tarragona Augustus acknowledged Empâ—ror of the World and Temples erected to him received there Ambassadors from all Parts of the then known World congratulating his happy Accession to so great an Empire Then it was he concluded himself an absolute Monarch being complemented flattered and fawned upon by all Nations in so much that they begged Leave to erect Temples to him and give him Divine Honours He granted their Request and among that Multitude to the Ambassadors of Lusitania At Santarem a Temple was built in the manner of a Fort which was afterwards thought to denote a greater Inclination to War than to Devotion On this Account Accidius Cestius Augustus's Legate obstructed the building of another at Lisbon The People to remove his Suspicion erected it on the Rock of Sintra upon the Ocean No less than for these stately Structures Augustus was renowned for the Computation of Time begun from him and commonly called Aeraâ— The Reason of this Name is not our Affair to decide Certain it is it continued in Arragon till the Year of Christ 1358 when K. Peter IV. ordered the Computation of Time for the future to be from the Birth of our Saviour K. John I of Castile followed his Example in the Year of Grace 1383. And King John I of Portugal imitated them both in 1415. 5. It was two Years before the Birth of Christ when all Portugal Portugal how divided by Augustus entirely subdued enjoyed perfect Peace Augustus had divided the Kingdom into four Provinces subject to as many Courts of Judicature These were Merida Santarem Braga and Beja In each of these was a Praetor and other Officers of Justice Augustus was still at Tarragona when he published that memorable Decree for numbering of all the People in his Empire and imposing on every Head a Tribute or Poll-Tax which as some compute it was to the value of about 4d according to others 4d half Penny or as others say 9d The first Court in Lusitania where the Edict was published was Santarem By the Lists it appeared that in Lusitania there were 5068000 Heads of Families a wonderful Number if true but much to be doubted 6. About this time Corocota a famâ—ous Robber in the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho there started up a Lusitanian called Corocota who gathering a parcel of Outlaws together after committing several Outrages durst venture to give the Romans Battel in open Field But being defeated they fled to Biscay where they in Warlike manner followed the Trade of Robbing Octavius the Emperor promised 3000 Crowns and a Pardon for all Crimes whatsoever to any that should apprehend him He fearing there could not be wanting Criminals desirous of Pardon nor covetous Persons who would attempt any thing for Interest resolved to gain the Reward and Pardon by a magnanimous though dangerous Action He presented himself to the Emperor demanding both the Reward and promised Pardon since he delivered into his Hands Corocota whom perhaps no Man else could have put into his Power With which that generous Prince was so taken that he proved much better than his Word for he not only pardoned him and gave him the Money The Birth of oâ—r Saviour but admitted him into his Guards 7. It was now the Year of the World 3952 according to Bede and the Hebrews according to Eusebius 5199 according to Orosius 5200 according to Isidorus 5219 according to the Astronomers 5328 according to King Alphonso 6980 according to John Lucidus 3960 such is the Variety of Computations and according to others 3962. This last being in my Opinion the best Account and followed in this History it must then be 2432 Years after the Flood when on the 25th of December about Midnight the REDEEMER of Mankind was born in the Stable at Bethlehem wonderful Signs preceding his Birth The Angels descended singing Glory to GOD on high and on Earth Peace unto Men of Good Will They spread abroad the News of that wonderful Birth and awaked the Shepherds to behold the LAMB of GOD. In the mean while the Three Kings of the East travelled conducted by a miraculous STAR to pay their Adoration to the KING of Kings Signs of our Saviour's Birth in Spain 8. Spain wanted not its particular Signs of the Blessing communicated to Mankind that happy Night That very Night was enlighten'd with a glorious bright-shining Cloud which not only diffused a Light equal to the Noon-day-Sun but also an Heat nothing inferiour to it This Cloud drove away to the West and set in the Ocean at such time as the Morning-Beams appearing no Distinction could be made between Day and Night And that Portugal might not want some singular Tokens of the Coming of the GOD of Peace the Idol of the false God Endovelicus whose Temple was near Villaviciosa fell from the Altar to the Ground and though of Massy Silver it was broke into several Pieces which for the Rarity were sent to Rome where many other Idols had been destroyed at the same Hour Besides this an extraordinary Light appeared like that which was seen all over Spain upon the Promontory called Barbaricus now Serra da Arabida The End of the First BOOK ☞ Note That hitherto we have diminished the Years from the Flood till the Coming of CHRIST henceforward we shall increase them from his Birth to the End of the History THE HISTORY OF PORTUGAL The Second BOOK CHAP. I. All that hapned remarkable in Lusitania under the Roman Emperors from the Birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ till the Year of Grace 260. 1. THE whole Universe being restored to Peace by the Birth of the King of Peace Peace after the Birth of Christ Augustus Caesar caused the Gates of the Temple of Janus to be shut This was the third and last time those Gates were closed and Augustus the remaining part of his Life enjoyed a wonderful Felicity Our Lusitania had its share in this Tranquility having entirely submitted it self to the Roman Yoak and now reaping the Fruits of Peace under its Government Quadratus and Titus Flavius Caudianus were Legates or Pretors at this time as appears by several Ancient Inscriptions found upon Stones Not far
Guard of the Pyraenean Hills was committed to the Suâ—vians and Alans that they might keep out the other Barbarous Nations dispersed throughout France Thus flushed with the rich Booty they had got in Spain they invited the Vandals Alans Suevians and Selingi whom they were to have kept out into Spain 416. Those People though under several Commanders unanimous in the same purpose passed the Mountains Guadericus was King of the Vandals Hermenericus of the Suevians and Resplandianus of the Alans They over-ran all the Country gaining several Victorie so that the Roman Authority was wholly abolished and Spain entirely brought under that barbarous Tyranny All the Civility and Policy learnt of the Romans reduced to a Brutal Disorder and most of the antient Natives destroyed by Sword Pestilence and Famine 4. The Vandals and Silingi planted themselves in the Province of Betica Alans and Suevians in Lusitania The Alans and Suevians in Galiciae and Lusitania In this universal Desolation the Relicks of the Saints being destroyed together with the Churches Panoracius Archbishop of Braga gathered a Synod of some Bishops and ordered them to hide the Bodies of the Saints so that some Memory of the Places might be preserved to better Times This was the First Council of Braga First Council of Braga In the mean while the Invaders took Lisbon Coimbra Idanha Merida Astorga and afterwards the rest Having divided the Lands Kings of the Alans and Suevians and Resplandianus King of the Alans dying Attaces succeeded him in the Kingdom of Lusitania and settled his Court in the City Merida Hermenericus King of the Suevians Rept Lisbon and all as far as Algarve with a part of Galicia Both these Nations in process of Time became more tractable and joined with the Natives Attaces now grown powerful became terrible to his Neighbours sometimes breaking into Celtiberia and sometimes into Carpentania Lastly he fell upon Hermenericus King of the Suevians residing at Lisbon From him besides other Lands he took the City Colimbria seated then where now is Conderia the Old To ennoble this his Conquest he laid the Foundation of another City on the Banks of the River Mondego which is now the University of Coimbra This Prince being an Arian Heretick obliged the Catholicks and even the Prelates before taken to work at this Building Whilst he was busie at this Structure Hermenericus having gathered Forces and joined with Gundericus came as far as Porto Porto re-built then an Heap of Ruins But fearing lest Attaces should there encounter him he fortified himself and that so effectually that People flocking thither the City was re-built and called New Portucale and Fistavole which in the Suevian Language signified the New Shoar This was the second Foundation of Porto Hermenericus perceiving that Attaces came not to molest him in his new Work marched to disturb him but being overthrown he was glad to sue for Peace The Conditions were such as pleased the Alans but particularly that which contained his marrying Cindasunda the Daughter of the Suevian King a Lady of incomparable Beauty and Vertue Hermenericus carried the Bride to the new City Coimbra where the Nuptials were solemnized with the greatest Magnificence that had been seen among the Barbarians 5. Attaces to express to his Father-in-Law how firmly he intended to observe the new-settled Friendship caused Cindasunda to be painted on his Colours standing upon a Pedestal with a Green Dragon on the one side and a Red Lion on the other By those two Creatures were signified the two Kings before Competitors now united by her The Work-men to flatter their King carved the same upon many Stones which have been so preserved Arms of Porto that it is now the Coat of Arms of that City Cindasunda who was a Catholick privately favoured those that the King forced to labour at his Structures But particularly she took Compassion on the Priests and Bishops and among them the Bishop Elipanidus and the Priest Esenus She with her Beauty and Intreaties so mollified the King that many Catholicks were delivered from that Slavery They lived some Time together very unanimously He employed himself in endeavouring to subdue such Provinces as yet remained subject to the Roman Empire but the Romans joining with the Goths defended themselves as will appear by the Sequel 6. The Emperor Honorius 417. then at Ravenna seeing the mighty Decay of the Empire for Constantius was possessed of a great part of France while Ataulfus the Goth held Gallia Narbonensis and the Vandals Suevians and Alans Spain Against all these Enemies he made choice of Constantius a Noble Roman who besieged Constantine in Arles and drove him for fear to enter into Orders Yet this availed him not for he was put to Death Constantius designed next to turn his victorious Arms against Constans but understood that he was killed by Geronicus who rebelling had proclaimed Emperor a Friend of his own called Maximus This Geronicus passed over into France And hearing that Constantius having slain Constantine was coming upon him he returned into Spain and in Scorn was murder'd by the Roman Legions Maximus fearing the like Death fled and ended his Days in Misery In the mean time Honorius having by his General Constantius reduced France and Great Britain he employed him against Ataulfus King of the Goths The Goths enter Spain in Gallia Narbonensis The Goth hard pressed by the Way of Roussillon broke into Spain committing greater Outrages than the Alans Vandals Suevians or Silingi had done 418. After many Events which appertain not to our History the Goths came to Composition with Honorius But it was not so with the Alans who possessed the greatest part of Portugal and continued their Conquests treating the Vandals and Suevians not as their Fellows in Arms but as their Vassals This put all Spain into a Flame every one standing up for his Liberty as Attaces lifted up himself to Lord it over all That each Nation might be the more at leisure to follow their desperate Designs they all writ to the Emperor to this Effect Preserve the Peace Sir with us all Take Hostages from us all Let us fight for if we kill one another the Loss is our own and yours the Fruit of the Victory whoever has the better Your greatest Advantage is to see us all consumed The War was accordingly begun the Alans commencing it against the Vandals and Silingi Constantius came to thâ— War bringing with him Walia King of the Goths whose Residence was in Gatalonia And Attaces not able to withstand that Power fled into Portugal 7. The Victors pursued and Attaces giving them Battel was overthrown though joined by the Native Lusitanians Those that escaped out of the Battel fled some into Galicia to Gundericus others to Lisbon to the Suevians seeking the Protection of those they had before prosecuted as Enemies Thus they rested a while without any King But Constantius being called away to appease other Troubles in
Italy the Alans and Lusitanians before dispersed began to take heart and recover what they had lost founding also many new Towns Among these were Albuquerque and Terabrica which last was rather repaired being called Alankerken which signifies The Church of the Alans and now corruptly Alanquer Whilst the Alans thus without any King only following their Generals paid Tribute to the Emperor The Suevians incorporate with the antient Lusitanians Hermenericus the Suevian King at Lisbon applied himself to the repairing of the Towns that had been destroyed treating the Native Lusitanians no otherwise than his own Country-men The Lusitanians having the free Liberty of their Religion and being equally admitted to all Honours with the Suevians the two Nations joined Marriage and by that Means became so entirely one that there was no knowing the Suevian from the Lusitanian or the contrary Being thus joined into one Body they could afterwards never be parted but notwithstanding the Invasion of the Goths the Inhabitants of Portugal were afterwards called Suevians Thus the Portugueses are descended from the Suevians no less Noble than the Goths if either of those Barbarous Nations deserve to be esteemed Honourable And thus the Province of Lusitania lost that Name and was long after called Suevia 8. The Alans enjoyed Tranquility 419. without any King as did the Suevians or Portugueses under their Sovereign Hermenericus till Gundericus King of the Vandals thinking it easie to subdue the Alans in Lusitania and the Silingi in Andaluzia if Hermenericus were once oppressed he broke the Peace with the Suevians and rushing suddenly with Fire and Sword into their Territories Hermenericus though surprized at this unexpected Invasion gathering his Forces together received the Enemy so successfully that he sent him to seek new Seats in the Islands of Majorca and Minorca where we will leave him to be spoken of by those Historians to whom it belongs 420. Gensericus the Brother of Gundericus The Suevians Alans and Silingi join in League against the Romans succeeded him Who understanding that Etius Honorius's General was coming into Spain to revenge the Wrongs done by his Brother he joined in League with Hermenericus King of the Suevians and with the Alans and Silingi believing none would dare to oppose their United Power At Merida they Mustered their Forces Etius dreading their Multitude but much more surprized at the death of the Emperor 423. attempted nothing upon them Thus Gensericus was left at leasure to pass over into Africk where he utterly abolished the Name of the Roman Empire and Hermenericus 427. whilst the Vandals were employed in Africk enlarged the Borders of his Kingdom to almost the same extent it now bears 9. Valentinian the Emperor Wars betwixt the Romans and Suevians who succeeded Honorius understanding the Vandals were gone over into Africk Commanded his General Sebastian to invade the Alans left in Lusitania Merida and all that Territory was easily taken from them as was Lisbon and Estremadura from the Suevians Sebastian now Victorious forgetting his Duty caused himself to be Proclaimed King of what part he had recovered of Lusitania yet his Friends failing him he was soon killed and by his Death the Alans and Suevians had an opportunity of recovering Merida and Lisbon Hermenericus grown Old and Infirm caused his Son Richila to be Proclaimed King who proved one of the most fortunate Princes of the Suevians whilst Hermenericus rejoyced in the hopes of surviving in the Person of his Son Andebalus the Imperial General was on his march to recover what Sebastian had lost Richila to begin his Reign honourably gathered a mighty Power and meeting Andebalus on the Banks of the River Xenil then called Silingus slew him and the greatest part of his Army 10. All Andaluzia easily submitted to the Victorious King Richila makes himself Master of Lusitania and Andaluzia as did also Merida where there had been an Imperial Garrison ever since Sebastian took it All Lusitania in like manner was brought under and Richila became absolute in Andaluzia and Lusitania Old Hermenericus died contentedly leaving such an Heir in the Town of Britonium near Viana de Caminha on the mouth of the River Minho 440. Another Author who calls him Monarch of Spain says he was drowned in the River Guadiana near unto Merida Richila being sensible how much more easie it is to gain than to preserve too large a Dominion voluntarily resigned up Cartagena and Carpentania to the Romans and entring into League with them by that means established a large and peaceable Kingdom 448. He died Eight Years after his Father and left his Son Ricciarius to succeed him being equal to him in valour but more fortunate in the true knowledge of the Evangelical Law which he professed living and adhered to at his death CHAP. III. The Kingdom of the Suevians subdued by the Goths two Kings set up by their consent all again reduced under one with the other remarkable occurrences between the Years of Grace 448 and 560. 1. RIcciarius succeeded his Father Richila 448. not only in the Kingdom of Portugal Ricciarius his Reign but the greatest part of Spain The beginning of his Reign was disturbed with some Conspiracies of the Great Men but he privately took off many of them and by that means secured his Life and Kingdom He Married a Daughter of Theodoredus King of the Goths her Name is not known Ricciarius after his Marriage raising a great Army made War upon those parts of Navarre which were yet subject to the Roman Jurisdiction and through them he forced his way into France to see his Father-in-law Theodoredus The old Man perceiving his aspiring Spirit gave him considerable supplies for the carrying on of his Designs In his return he conquered the Province of Tarragona and Carpentania which his Father had abandoned to the Romans In Aragon he took Zaragoza and Lerida in Catalonia after plundering the Province of Cartagena he returned loaded with Booty and Honour into Lusitania Ricciarius being now at rest 451. his Father-in-law Theodoredus died and Theodoricus his Son succeeded him Him Ricciarius thought to have been no less forward toward his Assistance than the Father had been and upon this conceit he resolved to conquer the other Lands of the Empire The Goth who was in League with the Romans and feared the Ambition of his Brother-in-law might involve him in his own Ruin advised him to moderate his extravagant desires Ricciarius offended at this wholesome advice marched against his Brother-in-law with a powerful Army Theodoricus was not backward to meet him being strengthned with Succours from the Kings of France and Burgundy He is overthrown by Theodoricus King of the Goths The two Armies furiously ingaged in the Plains about Astorga both Kings were present in all places where the greatest Danger was Encouraging their Soldiers and the Men fought as those who had their Kings to be Spectators of their
Valour At last Ricciarius was utterly overthrown with the Slaughter of all the flower of the Suevians 2. Ricciarius after this rout fled to the Sea-side Ricciarius his end and Embarking thought to have got over into Africk to call the Vandals and Alans to his assistance but by a violent Storm was drove to the River of Porto Those People to gain the Favour of the Conqueror who was now subduing the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho secured and delivered him up to Theodoricus He Governed by Passion cut off his Head and in him perished the Glory of the Suevian Kingdom so that it never after rose to any Grandeur His Death was the more lamented for that he was a Prince zealous of the true Religion Accordingly in his life-time he assembled a National Synod at Aquae Celenae a Town in Galicia now called St. George of Codesâ—da here several Heresies were Condemned and particularly that of Priscilian The Victorious Theodoricus laid Siege to Braga which was soon Surrendred to him Here he left one Aliulfus Governour whilst he crossing the River Duero went on to conquer all that had been subject to the Suevian King all yielded to him without any opposition except the City Merida the Garrison and Inhabitants of which place were so hardy as to meet the Goths in the Feild which Theodoricus so highly resented that he promised to rase the City but the Virgin St. Eulalia is said to have appeared to him in a Dream and deterred him from putting his design in Execution 3. Theodoricus was upon his return to France Theodoricus having conquered Spain puts it under Governours when he had intelligence that Aliulfus whom he had made Governour of Braga had assumed the Title of King and raised a considerable Army to maintain it But giving Battle to Nepocianus Theodoricus his General lost his life From that time the Suevians remained subject to the Goths All things being thus quieted Theodoricus went away to France leaving Governours over all his Conquests The People considering the oppression they lay under by the ill Administration of these Governours and wanting the power to Revolt had recourse to the Bishops and Clergy praying them to intercede with Theodoricus that he would appoint a King over them whom they might obey and who yet might be subordinate to him The Bishops undertook the Business and Idacius Prelate of Lamego having proposed the matter of the Embassy to Theodoricus in France he tho' an Arrian respecting the Character of the Embassadors not only granted their request but allowed the People to choose a King among themselves to Govern them according to their Ancient Laws only paying some small acknowledgment to the Kings of the Goths Two Kings set up in Lusitania As soon as the Bishops returned to Braga joyning with the Laity they chose for their King one Masdra the Son of Masila This which was intended for the peace of the Country proved its greatest Confusion for some of the Nobility who were not present at the Election set up for their King one Franta who presently possessed himself of all the Lands along the Coast of Galicia with the Cities of Astorga Orense and Iria Flavia. Masdra held all Lusitania and was accounted King of the Suevians he thought by his submission and paying the Tribute to gain the favour of Theodoricus and obtain Aid against his Competitor But the Goth politickly thinking it better the Kingdom should be divided as being thereby the less capable of Rebelling against him accepted of the submission of them both for Franta had sent to pay his obedience with no less speed than the other 4. The Kingdom of the Suevians thus divided 457. fell into those Calamities which commonly attend States that depend between Competitors Two Years the Wars continued very furious during which time so many Towns about the Frontiers were subverted as might well have contented either party but at last both of them grown weary 460. gave over the strife Masdra who had the better Title died and left a Son called Remismundus his Successor he considering how little had been gained on either side by the War not only made Peace but entred into League with his Competitor Thus with their united Forces they conquered several parts of Lusitania which owned neither of them but either followed their own Captains or had again put themselves under the Roman Empire Thus done they both returned home satisfied having enlarged their Dominions which they would have wasted by waging War upon one another A prodigious Birth Two Years Franta enjoyed Peace at the end whereof he died leaving the Crown to his Brother Frumarius At this time hapned a Prodigy in the Territory of Braga which was the Birth of two Children each of them having two heads like one another and of two several Sexes Remismundus and Frumarius falling at variance about Precedency took up Arms by force whereof the latterâ—gained of the other the City Flavia now Chaves in which and all its Territory he spared not even the Stones all the Country was consumed with Fire and Sword Remismundus was satisfied with doing as much harm in his Enemies Country as he received in his own he took by open force the Cities of Orense and Lugo in which he exercised the utmost Efforts of his Fury 5. This Desolation continued for the space of two Years 464. when Death put a stop to it by taking away Frumarius The Suevian Kingdom again united under Remismundus and his subjects having left him for whom before they had forfeited their quiet submitted themselves to Remismundus who thus became absolute and sole King of the Suevians He presently thought of recovering all that remained of Lusitania and passing over the River Duero with his Army marched to the Ancient Coimbra now Condeixa which the Romans had Rebuilt and Fortified It was then a place impregnable and accordingly put a stop for a while to Remismundus but he persisting before it had it at last surrendred upon Honourable Conditions though contrary to his Faith given he broke the Conditions robbing the Garrison and rasing the City Lisbon made such a vigorous Defence that he began to despair of carrying it but a Citizen called Lusidius privately gave him Entrance into it so that he was within before the Townsmen could put themselves in order to oppose him Remismundus thus possessed of all those Dominions before divided fearing least Theodoricus the Goth might grow jealous of his great power sent him an account of his Victories with the best of the spoiles He Marries the Daughter of Theodoricus assuring him of the continuance of his Fidelity to the Gothish Kings Theodoricus overcome with this Generosity sent him his Daughter for Wife with a great Mass of Treasure under the charge of his Ambassador Salanus 6. This was an unhappy Match for Lusitania The Arian Heresie first spread in Lusitania for the Suevians being before true Sons of the
Forces 577. and invading the People called Rucones now Rieja subdued them Luiva was now King of the Goths and took for his Companion and Successor his Brother Leovigildus Which done he returned into France leaving Leovigildus in Spain to secure his former Conquests and add others to them He victoriously traversed the greatest part of Spain and at last enter'd Galicia Ariamirus in vain striving to put a Stop to his Progress who now perceiving how ineffectual Force proved thought better to try if Fair Means would prevail Therefore he sent Ambassadors to Leovigildus to put him in mind of the Peace and Alliance established betwixt their Predecessors and to desire the Renewing thereof Leovigildus content with this Submission curbed his aspiring Thoughts concluded a Peace and retired 3. Leovigildus had now two Sons Hermenegildus and Recaredus The first was married to Ingunda Daughter of Sigebert King of France and his Wife Brunechilde Upon this Marriage he lived apart from his Father and had the Stile of a King given him at Merida There by the Means of his Wife who was a Catholick and of his Uncle St. Leander Archbishop of Sevilâ— he embraced the Catholick Faith and in Baptism was called John Leovigildus the Goth Wars upon his Son Hermenegildus on Account of Religion His Father being an obstinate Arian was so offended at his Conversion that he deprived him of the Regal Dignity The Prince fled into Portugal and was there protected by King Ariamirus who was a Catholick Hermenegildus raised Forces but his Father coming speedily upon him he fled with 3000 Men to Ossela a Place thought impregnable But Leovigildus for all that enter'd it by Force put all to the Sword burnt the Town and carried away his Son Prisoner to Toledo From thence he made his Escape to Sevil where he fortified himself King Leovigildus laid Siege to that City being assisted by King Ariamirus of Portugal and having forced his Way into it carried away Hermenegildus to Tarragona where he was put to Death in the Year 586. Which Passage is here related to avoid interrupting the Narration 4. Our King Ariamirus died at that Siege 583. and his Son Eburicus then very young succeeded him in the Crown of Portugal under the Protection of Leovigildus the Goth. Endeca usurps the Crown of Portugal Endeca a Noble-man in great Power at the Portuguese Court taking Advantage of the King 's tender Years married Sisegunda the Queen-Dowager and with the Help of his Friends possessed himself of the Government upon pretence of managing it for the young King But having in Process of Time secured his Interest he usurped the Regal Title and put Eburious into Prison at first and soon after obliged him to take the Habit of a Monk that so he might forfeit his Pretensions to the Crown The Tyrant Endeca fearing Leovigildus the Goth who was Protector to the deposed King joined in League with Gunteranus the French King But the Goth whose Courage was not to be shocked sent his Son Recaredus against the French and himself invaded the usurping Suevian He is deposed and shorn a Monk by Leovigildus the Goth He soon took him Prisoner and obliged him to take the same Habit he had before forced upon the Rightful King and to enter into Holy Orders banishing him to the City Beja then possessed by the Goths Yet Leovigildus though he was thought to have conquered that Kingdom for Eluricus kept it for himself adding it to his other Dominions Thus ended the Kingdom of the Suevians after it had with various Turns of Fortune lasted about 180 Years 585. It expired in the Year 585. The People dissatisfied with Leovigildus rose up in Arms and proclaimed a Noble-man called Malaricus King but he being soon overthrown and taken Prisoner by the Forces of the Goth the Kingdom of the Lusitanians or Suevians was entirely brought under the Dominion of the Goths He persecutes the Catholicks but dies one himself The Lusitanians at this time continued firm in the Faith and Leovigildus ceased not to persecute the Professors thereof deposing the Catholick Prelates and filling their Places with Arians who perverted many of the People Leovigildus having raigned 18 Years died at Toledo a Catholick though he had lived an Arian His first Wife was Theodora Daughter of Severianus Governor of Cartagena and his Wife Theodora Daughter to Theodoricus King of the Ostrogoths in Italy and Sister to Isidorus and Leander Archbishops of Sevil and of Fulgentius of Cartagena By her he had Hermenegildus whom he put to death and Flavius Recaredus who succeeded him 5. Recaredus 586. born at Sevil in the Year 566 now in the 20th of his Age Recaredus succeeds inherited his Father's Throne He proved an excellent Prince and having embraced the Catholick Faith restored all those that his Father had expelled He becomes a Catholick His pious Intention of Assembling a National Synod was for some time obstructed by the Treasonable Conspiracies of the Hereticks The first Council was held at Merida under the Direction of Claudius who governed the small Remainder of the Roman Empire along the Sea-Coast of Lusitania Suna the Arian Archbishop being now compelled to resign that See to Mansona the Catholick before expelled by Leovigildus conspired with other Hereticks to murder him and Claudius Witericus who was afterwards King now one of the Conspirators laying his Hand upon his Sword to execute his Purpose he could not draw it whereat being moved he discovered the Treachery and was therefore pardon'd Suna the Heretical Archbishop was banished as were the other Accomplices and their Estates confiscated Amidst this Confusion Gunteranus King of France made War upon Recaredus sending against him an Army under the Command of his General Bossus Claudius a Man fortunate in War marched to oppose him and overthrew him near Carcassonne with a great Slaughter Some will have it that Claudius with only 300 Men defeated Bossus who had 60000 But let every one judge thereof as he pleases 6. Recaredus having thus subdued his Enemies both at home and abroad was at leisure to assemble the Council he had before designed at Toledo 589. Seventy two Prelates met together there A Synoâ— at Toledo St. Leander Archbishop of Sevil presiding The King himself made an Oration at the Opening of the Council Now the Arian Heresie was totally extinguished the Catholick Faith triumphed and Recaredus for his singular Piety had the Title of Catholick or Most Christian King conferred upon him 601. After triumphing over his which were the Enemies of Christ Recaredus dies our Religious King Recaredus died at Toledo He was born at Sevil in the Year 565 reigned 16 and lived 37. His Coin has been seen in our Age at several Places Some at Lisbon with this Inscription on the one side RECAREDUS REX and on the Reverse OLISIBONA PIUS Others at Evora with RECAREDUS REX and on the
Synod was held at Braga to reform Abuses much about this time the Africans with a great Fleet scouring along the Coast of Spain did much harm The King sent his Forces against them by whom they were overthrown their Fleet burnt and all their power both by Sea and Land consumed It is thought that one Count Ervigius a Grecian banished by the Emperor of Constantinople was the cause of their coming he aspiring to the Crown thought that the Goths thus invaded would easily have submitted themselves to him because he had married a Niece of King Recesinudus and that Wamba was then very Aged Failing of his design he gave Wamba a sort of Poison that disturbed his Brain and at the same time prevailed with him to appoint him his Successor Besides these his Contrivances Wamba desirous of himself to lay down the burden of a Crown to him grown unsupportable voluntarily quitted the regal Authority and took the habit of a Monk in the Monastery of Pampliega betwixt Burgos and Valladolid on the Banks of the River Pisuerga where he approved himself as good a Religious Man as he had been a King Eight or more Years he Reigned and lived Seven in the Monastery it is not known that he had any Children nor so much as a Wife he was Buried at Pampliega King Ferdinand the Saint designed to Translate him to Toledo and his Son D. Alonso the Wife put it in Execution There are two Tombs now in the Chappel of St. Leocadia in the Cathedral of that City one supposed to be Wamba 's and the other of King Recesiundus King Philip the II. causing them to be opened in the Year 1575 one of the Bodies was found cloathed in the habit of St. Benedict which was therefore concluded to be that of Wamba because he wearing that Habit whilst living was doubtless Buried in it Some Authors will have him to be Buried at Cinanium or Citania a City in the Mid-way betwixt Braga and Guimaraens 5. Ervigius Successor to Wamba 681. was Son to Ardebastus Ervigius 〈◊〉 Wamba whom Ancient Records call Count who was married to the Daughter of King Chindasuindus Tho' he deserved not the Crown as being an unjust Usurper he afterwards seemed worthy of it for his good Government his ensuing Virtues attoned for his former Crimes One of his first Actions was the assembling of a national Counsel 682. the chief intent whereof was to secure the Crown he had wrongfully got 684. Two Years after he called together another Council which confirmed all the Acts of the former A third also met the following Year to receive the Decrees of the sixth General Council of Constantinople against the Heresy of Apollinarus His Actions Ervigius though well settled in the Throne the better to secure himself married his Daughter Cixilona to Egica Wamba's Nephew being the Son of his Sister Ariberga A great part of Portugal was at this time Governed by Sala a Noble and Valiant Commander He repaired the Walls and Bridge of Merida and other publick Structures King Ervigius himself Built almost from the Ground the Walls of Idaria Ervigius Reigned Seven Years and died at Toledo the same Year as did King Wamba at Pampliega 6. Egica the Nephew of King Wamba 687. the more to express his Aversion to Ervigius King Egica whom he succeeded in the Throne put away his Daughter whom as was said he had Married whereupon her Children were as ill treated as were those of her Father All the Brethren felt the want of right in their Father being cast out and not respected so much as Noble Men. However Egica gave them some ease till such time as a Council could be assembled to order what ought to be done with them 689. This Counsel at length meeting Decreed the King might lawfully prosecute all that were guilty of the Treason whereby Ervigius ascended the Throne Several were punished in different manners Hereupon ensued a Conspiracy against the King in which Segibertus Archbishop of Toledo was the principal Actor This design being discovered Egica called together another Counsel to be the better able to proceed against the Archbishop Sixty Bishops met among whom were Ten Portuguese who gave Sentence against the Archbishop Excommunicating Banishing and Deposing him from his Dignity 693. Some dangerous Commotions happened in Gallia Narbonensis then subject to the Spanish Monarchs fortune therein favouring the Rebels These troubles were followed by Plague and Famine The Jews conspire against the King and are punished The Jews who were then numerous in Spain took occasion herefrom to conspire against the King and for the carrying on their Designs held correspondence with others that lived in Africk and other Foreign parts The King informed thereof called another Counsel at Toledo 694. to punish the Guilty excepting those of Narbonne because of the Plague and Famine that consumed them The Plot being proved the Criminals were Condemned to serve as Slaves throughout all Spain and to have their Children taken from them at Seven Years of Age to be instructed in the Christian Faith 7. About this time Witisa Son to Egica Reigns in Portugal one Count Vitulus rebelled in that part of Galicia that joyns to Portugal His design was to usurp the Monarchy of the Goths but his Power being too small he soon suffered the penalty of his Rashness To prevent the like Practices for the future the King gave the Kingdoms of Portugal and Galicia to his Son Witisa the Grandson of Ervigius being then of Age to Govern To himself he kept the rest of Spain and Gallia Narbonensis Witisa went into Portugal and kept his Court in the City Braga where by his unjust Actions he raised many Troubles and much Blood was spilt his Father having sent him thither to prevent Discord which he seemed rather to sow This Country was eased by his absence for he removed to Tuy in Galicia where he lived till the Death of his Father It is no new thing for a vertuous Father to have wicked Children King Egica besides Witisa had Opas Archbishop of Toledo famous for assisting to the Destruction of Spain he was also Father of Fandina Wife to the unfamous Count Julian and Mother to Florinda the only cause of that lamentable Tragedy 8. Witisa being possessed of the Government of all Spain 701. became so insolent After 〈…〉 Death he is Monarch of all Spain that giving way to all manner of Vice discouraging Vertue and laying open all places of strength in the Kingdom he may well be stiled the Spanish Nero. I will not go about to relate all his Cruelties and leud Practices but must not omit to say he cast off all Obedience to the Pope and gave great Priviledges to the Jews so that they returned to Spain and erected Synagogues The Inhabitants of Braga sent Felix their Archbishop to Toledo to Petition the King that the Walls of their City might not be Demolished as he
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
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
flight of his Daughter Ximena The third was Sancha Daughter to the King of Navarre by these two he had no Children 923. The last Action of his life darkn'd all the Glory of his former Triumphs He sent for four Counts who governed Castile upon safe Conduct to Carrion and there cut off their Heads Which so incensed the People of Castile that they only wanted an Opportunity to rebell and take Revenge But Death prevented their Designs 924. taking him away at Zamora His Body was buried in the great Church of Leon which City he had so entirely loved that he took its Name for the Title of his Kingdom leaving that of King of Oviedo and Galicia CHAP. VIII The Succession of the Kings of Castile and Leon from the Year 924 till 985 With the Revolt of Count Fernan Gonzalez And the Desolation made in Portugal by Alcoraxis and Almanzor the Moors 1. D. Fruela II. was Successor to his Brother Ordonno Fruela II. usurps the Crown usurping the Crown from his Children who were then very young He was nothing like to his Brother in Valour for he ceased the Prosecution of the War against the Infidels but was not unlike to him in the last Action of his Life for as Ordonno unjustly put to death the fore-mentioned Counts so Fruela wrongfully executed certain Gentlemen called Olmudes He became so odious to the Castilians that the Nobility Castile separates from Leon. and creates a Government under Judges joining together rebelled and separated themselves from the Crown of Leon. To this purpose they chose two Judges to rule them The two first were Nunno Rasura and Lain Calvo They were of the Middle Sort of People neither of the Greatest nor Meanest that so they might neither be too powerful nor become contemptible Yet from them are the Kings of Spain descended At the same time that this Government was instituted in Castile we find Counts governing in some Parts of Portugal as D. Gutierre Arias at Porto and Hufo Hufez at Viseo A Leprosie consumed King Fruela so fast 925. that he died at Leon having reigned scarce a Year and was buried in the Cathedral He had two Wives D. Munia and D. Vrraca By them he had Issue Ordonno Alonso and Ramiro King Ramiro II. put out all their Eyes and thrust them into the Monastery of St. Julian either upon Suspicion or Proof that they conspired against him He had also a fourth Son called Fruela 2. Alonso IV Alonso IV. resigns the Government to his Brother Ramiro Eldest Son of King Ordonno II after the Death of Fruela recovered his Right and Kingdom He was not wicked as his Predecessor but as unprofitable to his Kingdom as he His best Quality was That he was sensible of his own Insufficiency and therefore first sent his Brother Ramiro to govern Portugal and afterwards resigned the Kingdom to him and became himself a Monk Ramiro had chosen the City Viseo for his Residence in Portugal whence he made Inroads into the Frontiers of the Moors and by his gentle Government gained the Affections of the People Here he received Letters from the King his Brother calling him to Court in order to resign the Crown to him for that his Son Prince Ordonno was but an Infant D. Ramiro fearing his Brother's Inconstancy hasted to Zamora that he might not have Time to repent The King immediately put the Crown upon his Head and was the first that did him Homage as his Subject Which done he took the Habit of a Benedictine Monk in the Monastery of Sahagun and is therefore called Alonso the Monk He was married to Ximena the Daughter of King Sancho Abarca of Navarre and had by her Ordonno who came to be King and D. Alonso who died young He died in the Monastery of St. Julian and lies there buried But we shall see him repent and disturb his Brother's Reign 3. King Alonso being become a Monk 928. and repenting Alonso repents and raises a Civil War his Brother Ramiro now possessed of the Crown resolved not to part with it and thus began a Civil War which was the Cause of much Mischief The Moors making their Advantage thereof recovered the Cities of Lamâ—go Braganza and Porto with all the Country lying between the Rivers Tagus and Duero The Castilians also made use of this Opportunity their Judges Nunno and Lain being dead to raise up in their stead the Count Ferran Gonzalez King Ramiro politickly winking at this Affront 932. which he could not revenge upon the Authors invaded the Kingdom of Toledo destroying all before him with Fire and Sword King Alonso the Monk held out two Years in Leon against his Brother Ramiro But then despairing of Success he stirred up Alonso Ordonno and Ramiro the Sons of his Predecessor Fruela to raise a Rebellion in Asturias and Biscay believing that would draw away the King his Brother from attending upon him Nevertheless the King continued the Siege obliged him to surrender and afterwards put him into Prison This done he found Means to apprehend the three Brothers and to prevent future Designs put out theirs and his Brother the Monk's Eyes Two Years Alonso lived blind But the King repenting of this Cruelty used towards his Brother to testifie his Repentance built the Monastery of St. Julian 4. Two Months are said to have passed in the Year 934 934. in which Time the Light of the Sun was scarce seen Prodigies in the Sky at the End whereof a Breach or Yawning appeared in the Sky along which great Flames of Fire were seen to run and the Stars seemed to wander in the Region of the Air. Many Judgments were made upon these Prodigies but most agreed they portended the End of the World to be at hand At last the Sun shined out and whilst the Christians appeased God with Prayers the Moors consulted their Wizards Alfarani of Meca affirmed to King Abderramen that this Prodigy threaten'd the Downfall of Christian Princes if he would take in hand to pull them down Diviners fore-tell what they know is pleasing to Princes and Princes believe that which pleases them Abderramen declares War and makes mighty Preparations for it drawing great Succours out of Africk under the Command of Almanzor With an Army almost innumerable he broke into Portugal bearing down all before him and putting the Christians to most cruel Deaths King Ramiro having gathered the greatest Power he could set forward to meet the Enemy whose Multitude obliged him to retire to the Mountains of Clavijo Ramiro destroys a great Army of Infidels Here the Apostle St. James is said to have appeared to him promising he should obtain a wonderful Victory in that Place In the Fight the Apostle was seen on Horseback making great Slaughter among the 〈◊〉 This Victory some will have to be the Cause of his being taken for Patron of Spain though others say it was that in the Time of King Alonso I. as was
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
sold to him upon Credit But it appears very fabulous that a King should part with a Kingdom upon so slender an Account The true Reason was the Rebellion of the People headed by the wicked Count. 8. King Ramiro III. Ramiro III succeeds under the Tuition of his Mother and Aunt succeeded his Father when he was but six Years of Age his Mother Queen Teresa and his Aunt Elvira the Nun managing the Government with such Prudence during his Minority that there was no Want of him to be perceived Besides there was then a Truce with Hiscen King of Cordova then but 11 Years of Age and under the Tuition of the famous Ahagis Surnamed Almanzor a most cruel Enemy to the Christians The Normans invade Galicia and are cut in pieces This Tranquility was disturbed by the Normans invading Galicia But the Count Gonzalo Sanchez falling upon them with a great Force left not one of them to carry the News of the Defeat At this time the City Coimbra was subject to the Kings of Leon and the Christians about it possessed their Lands in Peace After all things had thus remained quiet 7 or 8 Years 975. Alcoracis supposed to be King of Sevil broke into Lusitania with such a Power that the Christian Counts not able to withstand him fled from the Plains to the inaccessible Mountains The Barbarians destroying all the Country as they went passed even the River Minho and laid Siege to Compostela where the Plague so violently raged in their Army that few of them returned home 978. King Ramiro being come to Age he shewed himself so incapable of the Government Civil Broils that the Counts of Portugal and Galicia took Occasion to proclaim another King which was Bermudo Son to King Ordonno III by his Second Wife Elvira The King awaking at the News of this Rebellion met the Rebels 981. and a Battel was fought between them which lasted the whole Day Night parted the Armies and each returned home neither victorious nor overthrown In this Fight perished the Flower of the Spanish Cavalry that used to withstand the Moors Coimbra was not concerned in this Rebellion it then enjoyed Peace under Portuguese Governors The Chief who commanded all the rest was Count Gonzalo Moniz 9. The Civil Broils we have spoken of 983. encouraged the Moorish General Almanzor spurred on by the Fugitive Count D. Vela who had been expelled his Lands to break the Truce Many Places in Portugal taken and destroyed by the Moors Many notable Places in Portugal were again brought under by the Infidels and among them Coimbra Porto Braga and Britonium which was laid level with the Ground so that only the Memory of its Name remains The same Fate attended Lamego and Viseo in the Province of Beira The King adventuring to give the Moors Battel was overthrown and forced to retire to the Mountains being almost reduced to the miserable Condition that Pelayus or Pelagius had been when first Spain was over-run Count Garcia Fernandez Lord of Castile being persecuted by D. Vela and his Adherents always kept the Field against the Moores but being forsaken by the People of Leon was not able to prevent the Loss of many Places In Portugal only the small Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho and the Mountain-Country of Beira now adhered to D. Bermudo who still called himself King in Galicia To these Parts many great Men who before lived in the Territories of Coimbra withdrew themselves The unfortunate King thus thrust into a Corner by D. Bermudo on the one side 985. and by the Moors on the other died at Leon in the 33th Year of his Age and 28th of his Reign was buried in the Monastery of St. Michael of Distriana founded by his Grandfather King Ramiro II and 200 Years after translated thence by King Ferdinand to the Cathedral of Astorga He was married to the Lady Vrraca of whose Parentage we have no Account nor did she leave any Issue By his own Sister Ermesenda he had incestuously a Son called D. Sancho el Velloso or The Hairy CHAP. IX The Succeeding Kings from the Year 985. till 1037. with the coming of the Gascons into Portugal and their exploits against the Moores many places recovered by them and others from the Infidels 1. KIng Ramiro dying 985. D. Bermudo was left sole Possessor of the Crown Bermudo 〈◊〉 many places and 〈…〉 by Almanzor At the beginning of his Reign he wholly applied himself to the Government but soon after he became so entirely given up to his Vices and especially to incontinency that he was slighted by his Subjects 989. and became contemptible to his Enemies Almanzor laying hold of this opportunity and prompted by the fugitive D. Vela invaded again the Christian Territories and without any considerable opposition subdued all the Towns between the Rivers Dueâ—â— and Ezla Here King Bermudo came upon him so unexpectedly that he put his vast Army to the rout but Almanzor perceiving how disordered the Christians pursued rallying some of his scattered Forces changed the fortune of the Day and drove those that before were victorious to the Gates of Leon. That City had immediately fallen into the hands of the Infidels had not the matchless valour of Count William Gonzalez a Portuguese placed there Governour by the King defended it against the fury of the Infidels tho' the King then lying at Oviedo took no care to relieve the place In the year 996. 996 Almanzor again incamped before the same City resolving not to depart thence till he were Master of it Above a Year the Count held out against all the fury of Almanzor's Assaults and Batteries in so much that the Moore was about quitting the Siege and had certainly done it had the King either come or sent any Succour to the Besieged At length a great part of the Wall shaken with a continual Battery fell down and the Moores gave a furious Assault which obliged the Count tho' then sick in Bed to cause himself to be carried as he was to the Breach to give the necessary Orders and encourage his Soldiers Three whole days did he make good the Breach with great Slaughter of the Assailants till another Breach being made the Infidels broke in overpowering the Defendants All the Inhabitants were put to the Sword the City Plundered and laid level with the Ground The same fate attended Astorga which done Almanzor with his Army loaded with Booty returned to Cordova to Winder 2. Ataulphus Archbishop of Compostelâ— A strange trial of an 〈◊〉 Archbishop being wrongfully accused before the King he ordered him to be exposed to the fury of a wild Bull who coming to him instead of Tossing him upon his Horns left them both in his Hand which was a sufficient Testimony of that Prelates innocence Almanzor again broke out like a Torrent overturning all that the Christians had repaired of the former Ruins and destroying what was before
untouched Montemayor the Old Viseo Lamego Porto and Braga were rased down to the Ground The Barbarian entring Galicia Almanzor again makes great spoil made a Font in the Church of St. James the Apostle serve for a Manger and sent away the Gates and the Bells of the Church upon the shoulders of Christians to Cordova but presuming to prophane the Sepulcher of the Apostle he was drove back by flames which issued out of it Almanzor returning through Protugal heavy with Plunder was overtaken with vengeance from Heaven for profaning the Church of the Apostle A mortal Flux destroying great part of his Army the rest marched leasurely in several Bodies King Bermudo sent some light Troops who made such havock among them that not the 20th part of that great Army returned to Cordova all the Country the way they went being covered with dead Carcasses Count Fruela Vermuiz who as has been said overcame Count Gonzalo that Poisoned King Sancho fell upon Almanzor himself who led the choice of the Army and put him to flight with great Slaughter of his People King Bermudo at length awaking out of his dead Sleep joyned his Forces with the King of Navarre and Count Garci Fernandez They expected the coming of the Enemy near Aleantaroz 999. four Leagues from Osma here they fought from Morning till Night and then at length victory inclined to the Christians who slew of their Enemies 70000 Foot and 40000 Horse Almanzor flying towards Toledo died of Grief near Berlanga soon after his Son Abdel Melich to revenge him invaded the Christian Territories but being met by Count Garci Fernandez was defeated and fled back to Cordova King Bermudo had two Wives the first called Velasquita by whom he had no issue the second Elvira her Children were Alonso Successor to his Father Teresa married to Abdala King of Toledo and afterwards a Nun and Sancha a Nun also The King gave great Scandal by keeping two Sisters at the same time publickly as his Mistreses one of them was Mother to Elvira the other to Ordonno By Velasquita a Peasant the King had a Daughter called Christina he died in the Year 999. at Villabuena in Galicia very penitent for his sins There he lay Buried till his Son King Alonso translated him to Leon where he lies with his Wife in the Church of St. Isidorus 3. Let us look a little back to see the coming of the first Strangers The Gascons come into Portugal and assist the Christians that assisted the Natives of Portugal in expelling the Moores These were the Gascons who came in a mighty Fleet and were Commanded by D. Moninno Viegas There is a great dispute among Authors whether this D. Moninno was a Gascon or a Portuguese and whether he came with those People or only headed them after their coming he being by some supposed to be then a great Man in Portugal All that is said on either part being rather Suppositions than Proofs we will pass by this Dispute leaving it free to every one to believe as he shall be inclined This Fleet cast Anchor in the River Duero on the one side whereof was the Castle of Gaya Demolished by King Ramiro II. when he killed Alboazar and on the other the City Porto destroyed long before by the Moores Here they landed and their first care was to repair the City then only a heap of Rubbish in the highest part of it they built a Castle supposed to be the same that is now the Bishop's Pallace The compass of the Walls was but small and they weak for our times but then considerable some part of them is still to be seen in the midst of the City which being increased has hemmed them in Two of these Ancient Gates are still standing the one called St. Ann's Gate the other our Blessed Ladies over which is an Image of the Blessed Virgin with our Saviour in her Arms which Image between two Towers is the Arms of that City Having Repaired and Fortified this place the Natives and Strangers began joyntly to conquer the Neighbouring Country Men remarkable among them were Sisenandns Brother to D. Moninno and D. Nonego of Vendosme The first that felt their fury were the Moors who possessed the Territories of Resende and Bienviver and all up the River Duero this done thinking their Conquest secure they chose Sisenandus Bishop of the City and yet he ceased not to appear in Arms till he died at Bienviver and was Buried in the Monastery of Villaboa D. Nonego of Vendosme also a Bishop carried on his Conquests on the other side and four Leagues from Porto in the Mountain built a Castle which he called Vendosme and so streightned the Moores that they were forced to abandon all that Neighbourhood The Castle is ruined by time but the name of Vendosme still continues in the Mountain In this exercise he continued till his Death and was Buried in the Monastery of Aviaos The conquered Lands were equally divided as well among the Auxiliary strangers as among the native Portuguese 4. King Alonso V. succeeded his Father Bermudo 999. he is the first of the Alonsos that appears without some Sirname King Alonso V. for the First was called the Catholick the Second the Chast the Third the Great the Fourth the Monk Not that this deserved less Titles for he might have been called the Brave for his Valour the Legislator for giving good Laws to his People the Restorer for repairing Leon and in fine the Desired as being one who left the greatest desire of himself and was most lamented by his People He was Six Years of Age when he began his Reign Under Tuition under the Tuition of Count Mendo Gonzalez and his Wife the Lady Mayor who had great possessions in Galicia and some in Portugal and Governed so well that the King's minority was no prejudice to his Kingdom The Christians in Portugal began to be so powerful that under the conduct of some notable Commanders they repaired many places before ruined and conquered others possessed by the Moores 1000. D. Alboazar Ramirez Son to King Ramiro II. by Zara or Artida Many places recovered from the Moors whom he stole from the Lord of Gaya as was said before wiâ—h many Gentlemen and Forces maintained at his own Charge entred Portugal and drove the Moores out of all the Province betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho He took St. Roman Gastro de Avioso and Castro de Gondomar Beyond the River Duero he forced them to retire as far as St. Martin de Moras and Lamego making room for the Christians to dilate themselves The lands of Arouca and that Neighbourhood were again Peopled the Year following he overthrew the Moores in many places 1001 took the City Braganza and other considerable Towns in those Mountains and so extended the Christian Dominions that he deserves to be accounted one of the principal Restorers of Portugal His two Sons D. Trastamiro and D. Hermigio or
Hermiron Alboazar accompanied him in these Conquests of whom are descended some Honourable Families in Spain 5. The tranquility the King's Tutors endeavoured to preserve in the Kingdom Count Froila a Portugues Rebels during his Minority was disturbed by the Portuguese Count Froila Vermuiz who took up Arms against the King They came to a Battle in the Territory of Mafra betwixt Villanueva and Betancos where Froila got the Victory The King now grown bigger was much incensed against Count Froila and his anger was increased by the insinuations of Q. Elvira his Wife and Daughter to Count Mendo Gonzalez Froila being in disgrace had again recourse to Arms which not a little troubled the King and the more for that at the same time he received the News that another had rebelled in the City Oviedo Thither the King hasted leaving Froila till he was more at leasure But he marched directly after the King and overtook him at such time as he was ready to Assault the City The King was advised to forbear the Assault least in the heat of it Froila should fall upon him behind His Submission but he Answered Let the Assault be carried on for the Count is so much a Gentleman that he will not fall upon the backs of his Enemies As he said it fell out for Froila overcome by that Generosity joyned his Forces to the King 's and so forwarded the attack that the City was immediately carried In this Action the Count behaved himself so bravely that he lost both his Eyes at which the King was exceedingly grieved and bestowed large possessions on him in some measure to recompense his loss About this time Count Garcia Fernandez of Castile was killed in a Battle betwixt Alcozar and Langra having behaved himself with great Bravery he being one of the most notable Commanders of that Age. His Son Sancho succeeded him as well in his Courage as Dominions and often revenged his Death upon the Moores There being several pretenders to the Kingdom of Cordova he seemingly sided with each of them to have the better opportunity to ruin them all The fugitive Count Vela who used to stir up the Moores against the Christians was now dead and his Sons Roderick James and Innigo were restored to their Estates and served the Count as their natural Lord. He the more to Honour them made the Eldest God-father to his own Eldest Son D. Garcia and yet he afterwards behaved himself like a Traitor as his Father had done before 6. The Divisions among the Moores at Cordova were very advantagious to the Christians of Leon Castile and Portugal Those that had escaped the desolation made by Almanzor about Coimbra dealt with the Infidels and bought Lands of them at a very low rate it appears by the original Deeds still extant that Oborez a Moore sold the Town of Botam to Arias Prior of the Convent of Botam for a Mare and her Fole 1012. either the Mare was worth much or the Town very little Till the Year 1020 1020. we have no account of any thing remarkable in Portugal Out of it the King repaired the City Leon and gave it a Charter and great Priviledges to all that would come and inhabit there 1026. Six years after was Born the renowned Captain Roderick de Bivar Roderick de Bivar commonly called Cid his Birth commonly called Cid which in Arabick signifies Lord of whom mention will be made hereafter The Christian affairs throughout Spain were in a flourishing condition the King entred Portugal recovering many Towns in the Province of Beira till he came and incamped before Viseo 1027. The City was obstinately defended and the King going out in the Evening unarmed to view the Enemies Works was shot through the Body with an Arrow from the Walls King Alonso slain Some write that he died there presently others that he was carried to Porto His death we shall hereafter see revenged as far as it could be His body was laid in a stately Tomb at Leon he lived Thirty Two Years and Reigned Twenty Eight being bred in Galicia by Count Mendo Gonzalez Lord of Vierzo he married his Daughter By her he had Bermudo his Successor and Sancha who afterwards came to be Queen he had also a Bastard Son called Nunno Alvarez de Amaya or Roderick Anzures Lieutenant of Asturias and Lord of Gijon 7. Bermudo III. Bermudo III. Succeeds of the Name succeeded his Father Alonso V. but so young it was much feared his tender Years might produce some notable Disorders in the Government His extraordinary Abilities far above his Years soon dried up the Tears his subjects shed for his Father and made them rejoice in so unexpected a Blessing He was extreamly Religious and Devout and therefore applied himself to the re-establishing of many ruined Churches Being of Age to Marry he took to Wife the Lady Ximena or Teresa younger Daughter to Count Sancho Lord of Castile by whom he had D. Alonso who lived but a few days He concluded a match between his Sister the Lady Sancha and D. Garcia An inhuman Murther the Son of Count Sancho of Castile King Sancho of Navarre who was Brother-in-law to D. Garcia bore him Company to Leon to honour his Marriage The next day after their Arrival the Bridegroom went out with the Bishop to hear Mass in the way he was assaulted by the Sons of the traitor D. Vela before spoke of and by them stabbed in several places his own God-father being the first that wounded him This News being carried to Court the Bride forgetting her Grandeur ran out to the place and pittifully lamenting her loss it was thought she would have given up the Ghost upon the dead Body She railed at the Murderers which Count Fernan Flavino hearing had the impudence to strike her on the Face The Murderers for the present escaped but Sancho King of Navarre afterwards getting them into his power burnt them alive declaring all their progeny for ever infamous 8. D. Garcia thus murder'd and no Heir Male remaining to the Earldom of Castile Sancho King of Navarre possessed himself thereof in the Right of his Wife the Lady Elvira Wars betwixt the Christian Kings of Spain Sister to the late Count. Grown Great with this Accession of Power he made War upon King Bermudo about the Limits of Castile and Leon and conquered much of the Country betwixt the Rivers Pisuerga and Cea More had been won by him but that Sancha 1034. only Sister to King Bermudo was given in Marriage to Ferdinand Second Son to King Sancho This Lady swore she would never consent to the Match unless Count Fernan Flaminio who struck her on the Face as she lay upon the Body of the dead Count Garcia was delivered up to her This was accordingly done and she with her own Hands put him to a cruel Death 1035. but well deserved by him The King of Navarre dying Ferdinand of
Navarre kills King Bermudo and becomes sole Monarch of Castile Leon Portugal Galicia and Navarre and his Son Ferdinand succeeding him King Bermudo was in hopes to recover what Ferdinand's Father had taken from him They came to a Battel in the Valley of Tamara near Fromista where after a bloody Fight King Bermudo was killed and his Army overthrown Ferdinand now victorious immediately laid Siege to Leon and having made himself Master thereof he was there Crowned King of Leon Galicia and Portugal in the Right of his Wife Sancha the lawful Heiress of those Kingdoms Thus for want of Issue Male to the Kings of Leon and Earls of Castile those two Dominions fell to the House of Navarre 1037. by the Female Line 9. What I am about to relate happen'd in the Reign of King Bermudo but in what Year is not certain Two Grandsons of Prince Alboazar Ramirez Son to King Ramiro III called Tedon and Rosendo with a Body of resolute Men broke into that part of the Country that lies betwixt the Rivers Tavora and Duero Having drove the Moors thence A Stratagem of the Christians against the Moors they began to Till the Land and knowing well that the Infidels would not suffer them quietly to rest there they fortified themselves on a Rock over the River Tavora which running round great part of it makes it a sort of Peninsula which with the Steepness of the Rock it self renders it inaccessible any Way but one Here they built their Habitation and hence infested the Country of the Moors At length on Midsummer-Day which is much reverenced even by those Infidels in Honour of St. John the Baptist the Moors of the Town of Paredes resorted in great Numbers to sport and divert themselves on the Banks of the River and to bathe themselves in it D. Rosendo cloathing his Men in Moorish Apparel passed the River out of sight and lay close in Ambush till he saw all the Banks covered with the Barbarians Then by degrees coming out as if he had been some of their own Company he suffered his Men to mix with the Enemy who took them for Friends Being all mixed the Christians fell upon them and turned their Pleasure into Sorrow However many stood and made a good Defence and others coming to their Aid the Success was doubtful till D. Tedon fording the River with his Men ended the Dispute with the Slaughter of most of the Moors This and other Victories put the two Brothers in Possession of many Lands in that Country And in Memory of the Action they took to themselves the Name of the River which still continues in the Family of the Tavora's 10. The Fame of the Exploits of D. Tedon particularly that upon the River together with that of the Comliness of his Person reaching the Ears of Ardinga the beautiful Daughter of Aliboazen King of Lamego she fell in Love with him by Hear-say The Effects of Love Love perswaded her to quit her Father's Palace and disguised in the Habit of a Man through bye Ways she found out the Abbot Gelasius a solitary Hermit She told him who she was and the Cause of her Coming and he baptized her promising to perswade D. Tedon to take her to Wife This took not effect for her Father closely pursuing her overtook and put her to death Tedon hearing of her Love had promised to marry her and she being dead would take no other Wife but was afterwards killed by the Moors near a small Brook which of him was called Tedo So he took his Surname from one River and gave his Name to another There being nothing else remarkable recorded in Portugal during the Reign of King Bermudo and he being the last King thereof of that Name I must not omit to remark that Bermudo is the same Name with Veremundus which the Spaniards call Veremundo so that to make it Bermudo there is corruptly an e and an n omitted and to use B for V is common in Spanish Thus Bermudo and Veremundus appear to be the same Name CHAP. X. The remaining Kings from the Year 1037 till the Year 1108 and till the Establishment of Count Henry of Burgundy in the Sovereignty of Portugal where begins the Line of the Portuguese Kings and ends the Second Book 1. FErdinand Prince of Navarre inherited the Crown of Leon King Ferdinand called The Great in the Right of his Wife the Lady Sancha Daughter to King Alonso V and Sister to King Bermudo III who died without Issue The Earldom of Castile fell to him by his Mother the Lady Nunna and the Crown of Navarre he inherited from his Father Three Crowns were united in him and he was well worthy thereof purchasing by his Piety Valour and Bounty the Title of The Great The Moors believing King Ferdinand was wholly employed in reconciling his new Subjects in Castile Leon Galicia and Portugal broke into Lustainia but hearing he was provided to receive them they retired hastily He once provoked would not put up his Sword without doing Execution His Conquests over the Infidels He took the Town of Sea and the Cities Merida Badajoz Beja and Evora without any Resistance Viseo guilty of the Death of King Alonso and fearing a Revenge was strongly fortified and governed by Cid Alafun a notable Commander The King sate down before it resolving not to stir thence till he were Master of it Eighteen Days the City was battered and bravely defended at the End whereof being the Eve of the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul it was enter'd by Force and never after returned under the Yoak of the Infidels The Man that shot King Alonso being taken in the City had his Eyes put out and both his Hands and one Foot cut off which done he was shot to Death The Governor Alafun had in Consideration of his Valour Lands given him to live upon paying a certain Tribute His Name is still preserved in those Parts in the Mountain called Alafun the Council of Alafâ—â—â— and other Places 2. The City Lamego held out no less obstinately during Twenty Five Days at the end whereof it was surrendred upon Articles the 22th Day of July It was not then used to expel the Moors but to bring them to pay a moderate tribute After these Conquests the King crossed the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho into Galicia to visit the Sepulcher of the Apostle St. James 1039. and make his Offerings there The following Year he conquered many places in the Province of Tras os Montes and pierced down even to the River Tagus King Ferdinand made glorious Conquests the ensuing Years but they being out of Portugal do not appertain to us Coimbra taken by the Advice and Assistance of the Monks of Lorvan Two Monks of the Monastery of Lorvan advertised the King that the City Coimbra was ill provided and worse fortified and therefore it would be easie to gain it King Ferdinand marched in December 1063
and laid Siege to it where he continued till July following so that 7 Months were spent in the Siege 1064. And it may be supposed the Moors before unprovided upon Notice of his Coming had prepared to receive him Provisions grew so scarce in the Army towards the latter end of the Siege that the King was about raising it and departing But the Monks of the aforesaid Monastery of Lorvan supplied him plentifully and the City was taken the 8th Day after The King offered the Monks to take what they pleased in requital for their Intelligence and Supplies but they modestly begged only a Church in the City However he gave them many rich Gifts and confirmed all the former Grants made by his Ancestors In token of Gratitude the Monks presented the King with a Golden Crown which Count Gonzalo Moniz Governor of the Province between Duero and Minho had offered to their Church The King restored it with 10 Marks of Silver to make a Cross Roderick de Bivar Surnamed Cid that famous Captain was at this Siege and Knighted by the King in this City Here was also the renowned Portuguese Roderick Frojas Contemporary and not much inferiour to the other for Warlike Exploits 3. The King returning to Leon left Sisnandus a noble and valiant Man Governor of Coimbra He made War upon Abudad a resolute and powerful Moor who had much disturbed the King at the Siege but being subdued became a most loyal Subject Soon after the Moors 1065. under the Command of Benalfagi a great Lord in Estremadura repaired the Fortifications of Montemayor the Old that it might be a Check upon Coimbra This Place was so obnoxious to it that King Ferdinand was forced to come with a powerful Army wherewith he laid Siege to it for many Days 1066. Here Roderick de Bivar took great Pains to supply the Camp with Forage all the Country about being kept by great Multitudes of Moors Montemayor taken and demolished At length the Besieged surrender'd upon Promise of their Lives and the King offended at the Resistance he had found there demolished the Walls The Governor Sisnandus repaired them again in the Reign of King Alonso VI. King Ferdinand was born in the Year 1007 and in 1030 married the Lady Sancha by whom he had the following Children in Order as named Vrraca Elâ—â—â—a Sancho Alonso and Garcia By a Daughter of Raymund Lord of Savoy he had Ferdinand who was a Cardinal and D. Mininno Fernandez of Toro Ferdinand dying divides his Dominions The King finding his End draw near divided his Kingdoms among his Sons To Sancho he gave Castile to Alonso Leon and to Garcia Galicia and Portugal To the Lady Vrraca he left the City Zamora with half the Principality of Leon to the Lady Elvira Garcia is King of Galicia and Portugal the other half â—â—d the City Toro Having thus settled his Affairs King Ferdinand died in the 60th Year of his Age and the 30th of his Reign and was buried in the Church of St. Isidorus 1067. where a Year after his Wife Sancha was also laid 4. King Ferdinand foreseeing that the Division of his Kingdoms could not but produce Discord among his Sons bound them by Oath to stand to this Distribution leaving his Curse upon him that should attempt to alter it But of what Force are Oaths against Ambition The three Brothers fall at Variance None of them was satisfied Sancho the Eldest thought himself wronged as having a Right to all Garcia was grieved that the Cities of Toro and Zamora were given to his Sisters Alonso was offended that Sancho should think he had Right to his Dominions Garcia was the youngest and therefore the last in the Distribution But he proved the first that took up Arms against his Sisters and invaded the Lands of Toro and others along the River Duero which he would have to belong to Portugal D. Sancho soon followed his Example in taking the Field not to defend his Sisters but to strip them all King Sancho before he undertook this Enterprize asked the Advice of all his Noblemen who unanimously disswaded him from the Undertaking for fear of incurring his Father's Curses However finding him not to be moved they counselled him to continue in Amity with King Alonso and ask Leave of him to pass through the Kingdom of Leon into Portugal To this purpose he met his Brother Alonso at the Monastery of Sahagun but could not prevail to have Passage granted him Nevertheless upon second Thoughts they both agreed to conquer Portugal 1069. Our King Garcia taken up with his own ambitious Designs had no Leisure to look into the Practices of his Brothers What was yet worse his Subjects were discontented for that he made Account of none but his Favourite Verna by whose Advice he began the War of Toro unsuccessfully 5. The Portuguese Nobility and Gentry consulted together The Portuguese Nobility insult their King on account of his Favourite how they might remove this mighty Favourite and it was resolved that D. Roderick Frojas a mighty Man in those Days should discourse the King upon that Matter When he had made a long Harangue upon the Subject all the Answer the King made was to turn his Back upon him and go away D. Roderick seeing how little his Words had prevailed soon after killed Verna in the Palace The Death of Verna troubled not the King so much as the News that King Sancho was marching against him and the small Confidence he had in his Subjects especially for the Brothers of that D. Roderick conspired together to oppose his punishing the said D. Roderick Necessity obliged the King to wink at Offences and send for D. Roderick who was fled into Navarre designing for France He immediately returned and came to Coimbra then the Court of Portugal at such time as King Sancho's Forces began to range in Galicia and in the Province of Beira without meeting with any Opposition 1071. The two Earls D. Nunho de Lara and D. Garcia de Cabra advanced to the Walls of Coimbra with some Troops of Horse The King would have gone out to fight them The Forces of Castile overthrown by those of Portugal but D. Roderick Frojas said It was not fit for him to hazard himself where there was no King against him D. Roderick went out with his two Brothers Peter and Vermui to meet the Enemy and in the Field called Agua de Mayas overthrew them killing 600 among whom were many of Note 200 Portuguese were slain and Frojas himself received many Wounds 6. King Garcia was gone to Santarem when King Sancho to revenge the former Loss pierced through Portugal with a numerous Army Some advised to protract the War and not hazard a Battel but D. Roderick Frojaz now recovered of his Wounds was positive for Fighting A Plain not far from Santarem was chose for that Purpose where was fought as bloody a Battel as has been seen in
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
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
Alonso was glad to abandon that City upon promise to relieve it in four Months He overthrew King Alonso of Navarre in defence of Queen Vrraca and about the Government of Prince Alonso soon after Henry being dissatisfied with the said Queen took part with the King against her and defeated Count Gomes who espoused her Quarrel 7. Whilst he was absent from Astorga those People of the Kingdom of Leon that he had subdued revolted 1112. and he returning His Death and Character laid Siege to Astorga In the heat of the Siege he died and his Son Alonso rising with his Army went away to Bury him at Braga Thus Astorga with all its Territory was lost The death of Earl Henry was much lamented of his Subjects for that he was a Prince of extraordinary Piety Valour and Generosity He overthrew the Moors in Seventeen several Battles and took from them many Cities and places of Strength He lived Seventy Seven Years Governed Portugal with the Title of Earl above Twenty and was Governour of part thereof almost as many more He was of a middle Stature a beautiful and awful Presence his Complection fair his Eyes blew and his Hair yellow inclining to red In his antient Pictures he is represented with his Sword in his hand his Body lies in the Cathedral of Braga with a modern Inscription on his Tomb which mistakes his Country and Parentage The Countess Dowager governed this Dominion for some years as being her Dower and her Son being under Age. She might have ruled longer had she not Married or proposed to Marry the Earl of Trastamara D. Ferdinand de Trava this or some other cause produced Civils Wars betwixt the Mother and Son which ended in her overthrow her Son without regard to the duty he owed to a Mother when she was made Prisoner keeping her in the Castle of Lannoso with Fetters on her Feet till she died in the Year 1130. and was Buried by her Husband 8. The Issue of Earl Henry was His Issue First Alonso Enriquez taking his Name and Sir-Name from his Father and Grand-Father This being his Heir is named before the Sisters though they preceded him as to Birth Secondly the Lady Vrraca Wife to D Bermudo Pâ—â—z Earl of Trastamara Thirdly the Lady Sancha Wife to D. Ferdinand Nunnez a great Man in the Kingdom of Galicia they left no Children Fourthly the Lady Teresa Married to D. Sancho Nunnez Son to Count Nunno de Celanova Fifthly he had a Bastard Son by a Woman of Quality his Name was Peter Alonso of whose brave Actions we shall hear in the life of his Brother Earl Henry for some Years wore a plain white Shield till after he had obtained renown by his Sword he added to it a plain blew Cross CHAP. II. The Birth of Alonso first King of Portugal he takes upon him the Government is proclaimed King by the Army his wonderful Victory over the Moors at Ourique he takes Lisbon Santarem and many other places all from the Year 1094. till the Year 1148. 1. IN July 1094. or according to others on the 15th of August 1094. was Born D. Alonso Enriquez only Son to Earl Henry The Birth of Alonso Enriquez Son to Count Henry and his Lady Teresa at the Town of Guimaraens He is said to have been Born with both his Legs cleaving together from the Knees down and that his Governour Egas Muniz having devoutly begged of Heaven to loosen his Feet the Blessed Virgin appeared to him bidding him carry the Child to an old ruined Church at Carquere near Lamego and that restoring the place and setting the Infant upon the Altar he should recover his Limbs Egas for the space of five Years did as he had been ordered and the Child recovered 1105. This Prince was but Fourteen Years of Age when he began to follow the Wars under his Father and was with him when he died at the Siege of Astâ—rga as has been said before 1112. Having paid the last Honours to his Father to express his great respect towards his Mother he committed the Government to her though then of Age to undertake it himself St. Bernard haâ—â—ng at his Convent of Claraval in France had a vision of St. John Bapist Mâ—nks of Claraval came into Portugal directing him to send some of his Monks to found a Monastery in Portugal in the place that should be shown to them by one John Cerita whom they should find there he accordingly sent seven of his Monks They found Cerita who lived an Austere Eremitical life and conducted them to Prince Alonso by whom they were honourably received and encouraged in their Foundation 1120. Being dismissed they settled in a deep Valley encompassed with high Mountains near the River Barosa almost two Leagues from Lamego where they built a Chappel Dedicated to our Saviour which is still in being in the Village called Pinegro 1121. The following Year they built in a place where they had seen certâ—â—â— Lights during Nine Nights as had been foretold by St. John Baptist to St. Bernard Here Prince Alonso visiting them enlarged the Structure at his own cost John Cerita took the order here and reduced several who lived an Eremitical Life in the Mountains to follow his Example The number of Monks thus increasing he founded another Monastery called St. Christopher de Lafoens Both these Churches were afterwards Consecrated and great Gifts offered in them at the Solemnity 2. Prince Alonso having now weilded a Sword long enough to gain Renown 1125. thought it requisite to be Knighted according to the Custom of those days Alonso Knights himself and thinking there was none about him great enough to Confer that Honour on him by putting on his Armour and girding on his Sword as was then the Custom he laid the Arms upon an Altar and taking them thence put them on himself so taking the Honour at his own hands Prince Alonso's Mother being about to marry the second time it bred such Animosities betwixt them that they finally came to Battle near the Town of Guimaraens 1128. the Mother overthrown fled to the Castle of Lannoso He besieges his Mother takes and puts her into Irons which is hard by and was there Besieged by her Son Alonso VII King of Castile and Leon came to her relief with a powerful Army The Portuguese Alonso was not unprovided but meeting him in the plains of Valdevez put to the Sword the greatest part of his Forces took seven Earls Prisoners and the King himself hardly escaped having received two Wounds This done the young Prince returns to the Siege of the Castle which being yielded to him he put his Mother into Irons She provoked at this dis-respect as her Bolts were put on prayed to God that his Legs might be broke and her Prayers were heard as will appear hereafter 3. Alonso now grown absolute Being himself besieged by King Alonso of Castile he Articles for his
this exploit among them was one Henry of Bonneville near 〈◊〉 at whose Tomb in the Church of St. Vincent many Miracles are reported to have been wrought many others were buried where now is the Church called that of the Martyrs from those that were buried there The King according 〈◊〉 what had been before agreed offered to the Strangers half the City but they satisfied with the Booty and some other rewards departed to prosecute their holy designs â—or to their own Countries Such as would stay had Lands assigned them many other strong places were taken soon after in this current of the King 's good Fortune 1148. the chief of them were Mafra Almada Palmela Cintra Obidos Trancoso Alenquer Serpa Beja Elvas Coruche and Cezimbra Thus the Pride of the Mahometans began to be humbled and this Christian Kingdom to lift up its head CHAP. III. Continues the mighty Actions of the victorious King Alfonso the Kingdom confirmed to him by the Pope his Death issue and description all from the Year 1148. till 1185. 1. SInce we cannot give the particulars of all the Heroical Actions of this King Alonso overthrows the Moors with a handfull of Men. let us at least in two of them represent somewhat of the grandeur of the rest He sat down before Aleazar do Sal with a small handful of Men 500 Moorish Horse and 10000 Foot came to raise the Siege whom he went out to meet with only 60 Horse and a proportionable number of Foot With this small Body he put his Enemies to flight but was himself wounded in the Leg most misfortunes always lighting upon his Legs ever since his Mother laid that Curse on him as was said before After this Victory returning to the Siege he took it at the end of two Monâ—hs this done he went with 60 Lances and a few Cross-bow-men to take a view of the Fortress on the Rock of Palmela Being before the place he discovered the King of Badajoz coming down a Hill with 400 Horse and 60000 Foot Another like exploit but without any order Our King lay a while betwixt certain Rocks out of sight considering their disorderly march whilst his Company meditated on their Numbers At length breaking out suddenly with that handful he soon covered the Hill with dead Bodies and the Infidels believing a greater Army had followed fled in confusion leaving all their Baggage to a few above 60 Conquerors Palmela upon the News of this defeat immediatly surrendred upon only promise of Life 1160. The City Tuy left him by his Father and now revolted he reduced to his Obedience and at the same time concluded a match for his Daughter Mafalda then 12 Years of Age with Raymund Prince of Catalonia 2. Some time before he had subdued the City Beja after a tedious Siege but the Moors who are faithful no longer than compelled by necessity finding now a fit opportunity 1162. rebelled Certain valiant Commanders imitating the example of their King assaulted this place by Night with such resolution and so unexpectedly that they carried it making great slaughter among the Inhabitants A Gentleman of Quality called Giraldus living like an outlaw on account of certain crimes he had committed A number of Christian Out-laws 〈◊〉 Evora entred into hopes of regaining the King's Favour by some extraordinary action Considering therefore that the City Evora was not guarded by the Infidels with that circumspection that was requisite at such a time he resolved to surprize it There was a Watch-tower where the Centinel was kept by a Moor and his Daughter by turns Giraldus knowing this Scales the Tower alone and killing both Father and Daughter who were asleep returns with their heads to his Men being 500 Horse and a good number of Foot They encouraged by this success scaled the Walls then unguarded and breaking open one of the Gates let in their Companions Thus with a mighty slaughter made of the Inhabitants the City was gained The King not only Pardoned but Rewarded all those Out-laws and made their Captain Governour of the City 3 King Alonso thus become terrible to the Moors fell at variance with his Son-in-law Ferdinand the Second King of Leon 1168. and thereupon entred Galiciâ— in the 75th year of his Age. War with Leon. Here he took the Towns of Lima and Turon and putting Portuguese Garrisons into them turned his Forces against Badajoz then a tributary City to the King of Leon. This City he assaulted and entred but not the Castle Mean while King Ferdinand came to defend that place which fell within the limits of his Conquest The Portuguese Army encountring him in the Field King Alonso put to flight breaks his Leg fulfilling his Mothers curse when he put Fetters upon her was overthrown and King Alonso forced to fly into the City whence thinking to make his escape he struck his Leg against a bolt of the Gate so violently that he broke it and here his Mothers Curse reached him fully Nor was that all for in that condition he was taken by the King of Leon who treated him with extraordinary courtesy and was content that he should restore to him only such places as he had wrongfully taken in Galicia and Leon tho' he offered others in Portugal Our Author will not allow that King Alonso promised any acknowledgment to the Crown of Leon for his Dominions but all Spanish Authors are positive he did Certain it is that from henceforward he remained lame so that he never after could ride a Horseback but was carried in a Chariot 4. The King had some time since taken the City Beja but it was soon after lost Gonzalo Mendez de Maya called the Combatant 1170. about this time made a Road into the territory of Beja where was a great body of Moors under the Command of Almoâ—â—â—mar a Soldier of Reputation These two Bodies encountred and Maya remained Master of the Field scarce had he vanquished this Enemy when he was met by Alboazem King of Tangier who was coming to the assistance of the vanquished The fight was renewed on the same spot of Ground and a second Victory added to the former Maya was 95 Years of Age when he obtained these two Victories but died immediately of the Wounds he had received which made his Army return home in mornful manner Albaraque King of Sevil made bold by the King's lameness 〈…〉 Santarem by the Moors 〈…〉 drawing a vast multitude out of Andaluzia presumed not only to wast the Country beyond Tagus but to set down before Santarem where the King then in the 88th Year of his Age reposed himself he caused himself to be carried out in his Chariot to give the Besiegers Battle The fight was so obstinate he was forced to quit his Chariot and appear at the head of his Men with his Sword in Hand Hereat his Soldiers took so much Courage that they soon put their Enemies to the rout with a great slaughter
all these Calamities had not been sufficient to humble so small a number of People and so narrow a Country the Miramamolin Abenjoseph Brother to him that besieged Santarem assisted by the Kings of Cordova and Sevil entred Portugal with 400000 Men. The Moors ravage the Country All the open Country was by him miserably wasted and the Towns of Alcazar Almada and Palmela taken with all that the Christians had before gained in Algarve Our King not able oppose so puissant an Enemy concluded a Truce with him for five Years which ended in a wonderful Eclipse of the Sun This was followed by Earthquakes Earthquakes inundations and Storms for 8 Years Floods Storms at Sea and many other Calamities for the space of 8 Years Men laboured under a horrid Distemper for their Entrails consuming they died raving A considerable body of Portuguese was at the famous Battle of Alarcos in Castile against the Moors 1195. commanded by D. Ganzalo Viegas Master of Avis who died honourably in that glorious Action A multitude of Arabs after the Expiration of the Truce overran a great part of Portugal 1196. consuming all that was not before spoiled and putting to the Sword all the Monks of the Monastery of Alcobaza 1197. King Sancho at last provoked by these losses marched out with his Forces took Roca de Palmela and recovered Elvas not long before taken from him Next he made War on the King of Leon his Son-in-law having obtained of Pope Celestin III. 1200. the Croisade for all that fought against him as a favourer of Infidels against Christians He took from him the City Tuy and Towns of Pontevedrâ— and St. Payo de Lombeo and recovered Contrasta now called Valencia before taken by the King of Leon. At length these two Kings were reconciled through the mediation of the King of Aragon who to that effect came to Coimbra 1208. then the Court of Portugal Some time after there ensued Civil Wars in Portugal betwixt certain great Men the most considerable betwixt Peter Rodriguez de Pereyre and his Cousin Peter Mendez de Poyares who coming to a Battle near Valongo two Leagues from Porto the latter was there slain with many other Men of Note 7. The Holy City of Hierusalem being taken by Saladin the Christian Princes made preparations for recovery of it and our King Sancho designed to have gone thither himself but being disswaded sent supplies and encouraged the knights Templers and Hospitallers to proceed vigorously in that religious Enterprize In this King's time was used in Portugal the weight called a Talent A Talent used in Portugal but less than the Roman Greek or Hebrew being worth but four Ducats I have seen silver Coin of this King 's with his Image a Horseback on the one side his Sword held up a cross on his Reines and about it these Words In nomine Patris filij spiritus Sancti On the reverse the Arms of the Kingdom and this Inscription Sanctius Dei Gratia Rex Portugaliae King Sancho fixed not his abode in any one place but often removed that so all might equally enjoy his presence He was a great Patron to the religious and Military Orders careful of rewarding Merit a Friend to the Poor an Enemy to Idleness and true Father of his Country The misfortunes during his Reign and his own bounty might well have exhausted the Treasure yet so well did he manage it that at his death he distributed 7â—8000 Crowns and 1400 Marks of Plate and 100 of Gold His Legacies extended to Rome and Hierusalem The death of King Sancho he was of a middle Stature and strongly set he Reigned 26 Years and lived 57 died in March and lies Buried in the Church of the Holy Cross at Coimbra opposite to his Father whose Tomb is on the right side of the Altar His Tomb being opened by King Emanuel to put him into a new one 400 Years after his Decease the body was found uncorrupted 8. Some Years before the death of his Father His Issue he married Dulcis or Aldonza Daughter to Raymund Berengarius Earl of Barcelona by whom he had issue Alonso his Successor Ferdinand married to Joanna Countess of Flanders Daughter and Heiress to Baldwin Emperor of Constantinople Peter who married the Daughter and Heiress of Earl Armengaud in whose right he had the Earldoms of Vrgel and Segorbe and Island of Majorca Henry that died young and Raymund that lived a short time His Daughters were Teresa married to the King of Leon and parted from him on account of Consanguinity when she had three Children by him she is esteemed a Saint Mafalda married to Henry I. King of Castile and divorced as well as her Sister on the same account of Consanguinity she lies buried in the Monastery of Arouca and is Worshiped as a Saint Sancha who converted her own Pallace at Alenquer into a Franciscan Monastery which was the first in Portugal that holy Man being then alive She also built the Monastery of Celas near Coimbra and lies Buried at Lorvan with the same esteem as her Sisters Blanch Lady of Gaudalajara in Castile where she died but was translated to the Church of the Holy Cross at Coimbra among her Parents Berengaria died young at Lorâ—an and lies there His illegitimate Children were Martin Sanchez Earl of Trastamara Vrraca Sanchez Wife to Laurence Suarez Teresa Sanchez second Wife to Alonso Tello the Elder Giles Sanchez who became a Priest Constance Sanchez finished the Monastery of St. Francis at Coimbra Ruy Sanchez killed in Battle as will appear in the year 1245. Nunno Sanchez and Mayor Sanchez All these the King had before he was Married by a Lady of Quality called Mary Paez 9. King Sancho left out all the small Scutcheons used by his Father in his Arms His Armes only retaining the five principal in form of a Cross with the strings that bind them together In his time the Orders of St. Dominick and St. Francis first founded in Portugal and those of the Holy Trinity and Carmelites were then also admitted CHAP. V. The Life and Reign of King Alonso II. of the Name and third King of Portugal his actions and death from the Year 1183. till 1223. 1. ALonso Eldest Son to King Sancho 1185. and his Wife Queen Dulcis The Birth of King Alonso II. who was the third King of Portugal and second of the Name was Born the 25th of April in the famous City Coimbra He falling desperately sick and being given over by the Physitians his Father had recourse to Heaven for his Health which was obtained through the Prayers of the Holy Nun Sennorina then living in the Mountains of Basto of the Province betwixt Duero and Minho as an acknowledgment for which benefit received the King bestowed Lands and Possessions on that Church as did some of his Successors Soon after his miraculous recovery his Father sent him General against Torres Novas whence the Infidels
enacted by him He was the first that instituted general Laws in the first Year of his Reign holding a Parliament for that purpose at Coimbra In these Laws great regard was had to the Church-Men the prices of all things necessary for the support of life were settled so that the meanest might buy as cheap as the greatest the Extortions of publick Ministers were retrenched Plaintiffs if cast were ordered to pay a Fine Sentence of Death passed by him was appointed not to be Executed till 20 days after to prevent the Effects of Passion This King used extraordinary severity towards the Church-men 1221. for which being reproved by Stephen Suarez de Silva Archbishop of Braga instead of amending he set Officers to destroy all the Possessions of that See He persisted so obstinately in this fury that Honorius the third wrote a Letter to him full of most severe Expressions calling him Tyrant In fine the King died before he was reconciled to the Clergy His Death or his own Sisters the Kingdom at that time lying under an interdict He lived 48 Years and Reigned 21 His Body lies Buried with the Queen his Wife in the Royal Monastery of Alcobaca in a plain Tomb without any Epitaph or Inscription as were all the first Kings of this Nation Of Body he was extraordinary gross and therefore called the Fat yet his Gigantick Stature carried it off his Countenance was Comly his Forehead High 1223. his Eyes Chearful and his Hair Yellow which he always wore long 5. King Alonso Married Vrraca His Wife and Issue the Daughter of Alonso VIII of Castile called the Noble and Good a most vertuous and beautiful Princess His Issue by her was Sancho who succeeded in the Throne Alonso Earl of Bolen in right of his Wife Maud whence he was called to Govern the Kingdom by reason of the insufficiency of his Brother whom he succeeded Ferdinand called de Serpa married to Sancha Fernandez Daughter to Ferdinand Earl of Lara Lastly Elenor who was Queen of Dacia The King had one Bastard Son called John Alonso of whom there is no other memory but that he lies Buried in the Church of Alcobaca Tho' it be said before at the end of the last King's Reign that then the orders of St. Dominick St. Francis the Blessed Trinity and the Carmelites came into Portugal our Author repeats it again in the Reign of this King which is the most likely CHAP. VI. The Life and Reign of King Sancho II. he is deposed by his Brother flies to Toledo and there ends his days all betwixt the Years 1207 and 1246. 1. SAncho II. of the Name 1203. and Fourth King of Portugal Sancho II. ascends the Throne Eldest Son to King Alonso was Born on the Eighth of September at Coimbra He was called Capelo because being sickly in his Child-hood his Mother confiding to obtain his Health through the intercession of the Holy Father St. Augustin caused him to wear that Habit. His Weakness rather than want of Years must be the cause that he appeared not in any Military Action with his Father for we have no account of him till he ascended the Throne which was about the 20th 1223. or 21st Year of his Age. His first Action was a Reconciliation with the Clergy who had suffered much under his Father but he soon followed his Example After this agreement with the Church the Ecclesiastical Censures were taken off and those who died during the interdict were now Buried in hallowed Ground The controversies also between the late King and his Sisters ceased they now swearing fealty to the King for the places they possessed His next care was to visit his Kingdom which he did taking a Progress through it leasurely doing justice to all Men and giving prudent Orders in all places Then laying aside for a while the Civil Affairs he applied him to the Military making several incursions upon the Moors whence he returned with Honour Our King and Ferdinand of Castile met at Sabugal to adjust certain Differences which they amicably put an end to King Ferdinand delivering up the Town of Chaves which had been engaged to him 2. Still the Arabs ranged about the territory of Elvas He entirely defeats the Moors at Elvas wasting the Country and destroying the Villages King Sancho assembling his Forces soon drove them thence but no sooner was his back turned then they came again laid Siege to Elvas and carried it by Assault Our King returning with speed utterly discomfitted those Barbarians so that they never again attempted any thing there Nor did he desist till he had Juremenha 1226. Serpa and other Castles which had often been gained and again fallen into the Enemies hands For four Years there was nothing of Action but in the Year 1230 1230. he made War on the Moors in the Province of Alentejo The following year he advanced into Algarve to recover what his Grand-father had conquered there and was now again fallen into the hands of the Infidels 1232. Some places he re-took consecrated the Churches and placed therein Evangelical Pastors 1235. After this by his Commanders the chief whereof was Payo Perez Correa he took Aljustrel which he gave to the Military Order of Santiago 1239. then the Towns of Mergola and Alfajar de Penna which also he bestowed on the same Order Of late Years the insolencies of Favourites were grown insupportable they abusing the King and their Kindred and friends them Common complaints when subjects will rebell The Subjects were treated worse than conquered Moors their Persons Imprisoned their Estates Wasted their Children Murdered unless redeemed for Money and their Wives and Daughters openly Ravished Nor was the Sanctuary of the Church any refuge for even in those Holy Places all Villanies were committed The King knew nothing but what his Favourites told him and it was their study to keep him in ignorance and hence proceeded the ruin of this unhappy Prince 3. In the Year 1240. Cacela and Ayamonte were taken by Assault 1240. in which Actions D. Payo Perez Correa particularly signalized himself Complaints made to the Pope and all things adjusted wherefore the King gave those places to the Military Order of Santiago whereof he was Commendary During this current of Affairs the King was highly commended and received Spiritual Favours from Pope Gregory IX The Spiritual Graces were for such as died in the War and for the King himself who lay under Ecclesiastical Censures for having proceeded unjustly against Peter Bishop of Porto who carried his complaints to Rome Besides he seized the Ecclesiastical revenues on pretence of urgent necessities and of punishing Clergy Men who kept Women in their Houses Silvester Archbishop of Braga had hereupon made application to the Pope who therefore wrote to the King and recommended the charge of reducing him to certain Bishops But he prevented them by submitting himself and so all differences were adjusted The King
considering the great merit of D. Payo Correa before spoken of made him General for the conquest of Algarve He acted therein with the success that was hoped of his conduct taking several strong holds among which were Estombar and Alvor Garcia Rodrigues who had travelled that Country as a Merchant was his principal Guide having forsaken the pursuit after Riches to purchase Honour with his Sword Paderne was also taken but cost dear the success remaining a long time dubious The Enemy having proposed a Cessation of Arms it was granted because our forces fatigued with so many expeditions required some time of refreshment During this Truce the Commendary Peter Perez with five Gentlemen went out to hunt in the Mountains of the Village of Antas In their passage by Tavira a City belonging to the Moors they were set upon by a greater number of Infidels Garcia Rodriguez the Merchant above mentioned passing that way hasted to their succour and after a brave resistance they were all killed upon the place D. Payo Correa could not come time enough to save their lives though upon the first advice of the accident he hasted thither Seeing his Friends could not be saved he fell upon the Enemy for revenge and they flying to the City he entred it together with them and though he met with a vigorous resistance made himself Master of it King Sancho hearing of the taking of Tavira gave it to the Knights of Santiago 4. The conquest of Silves only was wanting to compleat our General 's Glory Silves again recovered His Policy and Celerity brought it about the Enemy offering him a favourable opportunity The Inhabitants of that place went out to assist King Aben Afan at the Siege of Estombar D. Payo instead of relieving the Besieged attacked Silves then forsaken of its Defendants and easily made himself Master of it The Moorish King hasting to succour the City came late for his design but in time for D. Payo who rushing out of the City put him to flight so precipitately that he was drowned on the Coast which in memory of him is to this day called the Sea of Abenafan Thus all Algarve was brought under the power of King Sancho The Pope about this time having invited all Christian Princes to joyn their Forces against the Tartars 1244. King Sancho provided a Gallant Army for that Expedition but all his Preparations were disappointed for he went not as he had designed Roderick Sanchez Son to King Sancho I. having been long at variance with Giles de Soverosa a powerful Man in those days they met with armed Troops near the City Porto and after a sharp Engagement the dispute ended with the life of Roderick Sanchez who was there slain In this Encounter Roderick Fafes a Man of Note having lost his Horse asked Gonzalo Rodriguez de Abreu to give him his he gave it upon condition the other should give him his Daughter Mencia in Marriage which according to promise Fafes afterwards performed 5. The King continued to bestow liberally most rich Possessions on the Church The subjects ripe for rebellion tho' the King was blameless His goodly Actions deserved no less love of his Subjects than any of his Predecessors but it is not always Merit that gains esteem among Men. Envy towards his Favourites produced Malice against him nor was the fault in his Government or in choosing such Ministers but that all who aspired to it could not be Favourites There never is wanting a pretence to subjects disposed to rebell The King easing himself on his Favourites the Portuguese gave out he was uncapable to Govern and therefore proposed to erect a Lieutenant to manage affairs for him and made application to the Pope hereupon having fixed upon the King's Brother Alonso to fill that place and succeed him It was want of Loyalty in them and not of capacity in him that produced this Resolution One objection raised against King Sancho by his Enemies They cavil at all his Actions was That he had married a Wife below his Quality and was too fond of her Weak motives to a Rebellion especially considering his Queen was the Daughter of D. Lope Diaz de Haro Lord of Biscay and of Vrraca bastard Daughter to Alonso IX King of Leon so that she was equal to him either as being both the Off-spring of the same King's Bastards or as to grandeur her Father wanting nothing but the usurped Title of King to make him as great as he of Portugal It is true the Queen favouring those who had been instrumental in advancing her to the Crown hid some miscarriages from the King which gave occasion to the multitude to commit several insolencies and the King not punishing them whilst he could had not afterwards the power to do it when he would Some would have it that the Queen had given her Husband a Potion the more to secure his love to her and to divert him wholly from the care of the Government 6. The tumultuous Cryes of the People not prevailing The Clergy joins in the Rebellion with the Laity the Clergy took upon them to espouse their Quarel and had recourse to Pope Gregory IX who thundered out Ecclesiastical Censures against the King on account of his being Married to Queen Mencia who was his Kinswoman within the prohibited degree The King making no account of the Spiritual Weapons the People mutinied being headed by Raymund Viegas Portocarreo a Man of quality The Rebels seize the Queen and breaking into the Palace at Coimbra took away the Queen and put her into the Castle of Ourem This exasperated the King to that height that gathering what force he could he endeavoured to recover her but all in vain for the Rebels conveyed her into Castile The King betrayed by all his Ministers Now it plainly appeared that King Sancho was rather Unfortunate than unfit to Govern for even the Ambassadors he employed abroad betrayed him He sent John Egas Archbishop of Braga and Peter and Tiburicus Bishops of Porto and Coimbra to Rome and they forgetting they were sent by their Prince became Sollicitors for the Rebels who held correspondence there Hereupon a Council was held at Lions in France assembled by Pope Innocent IV. and King Sancho having sent thither his Ambassadors Ruy Gomez de Briteiros Gomez Viegas Peter Alonso a Franciscan and Dominick de Braga a Dominican they joyned with the mutinous Prelates Alonso Brother to King Sancho made Vicar of the Kingdom by the Rebels and thereupon Count Alonso Brother to King Sancho then Married in France to Maud Countess of Bolen was at Paris Sworn Vicar of the Kingdom and as such confirmed by the Pope yet so that King Sancho should still retain the Title and Preheminence of King and his Sons if he had any should inherit This new Substitute brought more harm than good to the Kingdom for his followers treated him as a King and he assumed that respect which did not belong to him
whilst others acknowledged the true King so that this difference came to be decided by the Sword 7. The Dominicans and Franciscans were appointed to put in Execution this unjust decree and one Giles a Dominican durst notify it to the King King Sancho flies into Castile He seeing himself deprived of his Wife and Government and the People in Rebellion fled to Toledo then the Court of Ferdinand the Holy King of Castile By the way King Sancho reposing himself at Moreira certain Gentlemen came to him offering to stand by him and support his cause provided he would put away his Favourite The King disapproving of this conditional Loyalty no better then open Rebellion continued his Journey At Toledo he spent the remainder of his life in works of Grandeur and Piety He expended a great Treasure in Alms and Building the Royal Chappel in the Cathedral having done extraordinary Pennance for his Sins and given singular marks of great Piety His Death he departed this life the Thirty Ninth Year of his Age and the Thirteenth of his Reign reckoning in those that his Brother Governed for him He is said to have had a special Devotion to S. Lazarus and also that he appeared twice to him in his life-time and was present at his Death In the beginning of his Reign he peopled the City Idanha which had been destroyed by his Grand-father King Sancho when he took it from the Moors He maintained the City Aleazer against the Infidels who Besieged it who after much loss sustained begged a Truce He not only preserved his Kingdom but recovered many places that had been lost and may be accounted amongst the best of our Princes 8. In this King ended the direct line of the Kings of Portugal His Person described he being the Fourth King and Second of the Name His Countenance was Beautiful his Hair fair and long his Forehead high his Eyes green and cheerful his Nose large and his Complexion inclined to pale In his Antient Pictures he is represented in Scarlet Robes a Crown on his Head a Book in one Hand and in the other a Scepter with a Pigeon on the top of it as the commonalty would have it or else it might be a Stork as many Antient Kings used denoting by the care that Bird has of its young ones the love of a Prince towards his Subjects He built from the ground the Monasteries of St. Dominick in the Cities of Lisbon and Porto Some say his Queen accompanied him at Toledo and others affirm she was never heard of more after being taken from him He had no Issue and consequently his Brother suceeded him CHAP. VII The Life and Reign of Alonso the third of the Name and Fifth King of Portugal his Actions and Death from the Year 1210. till 1279. 1. D. Alonso the Third of the Name Alonso III. his Birth and Actions till his assumption to the Crown and Fifth King was Brother to King Sancho whose lot it was to have a Crown without the power of the Government and a Wife without Issue He was Born in the City of Coimbra on the 5th of May was the second Son of King Alonso II. and Married Maud Countess of Bolen in France 1210. then Widdow of Phillip the curled Son of Philip Augustus King of France and Grand-son to the Duke of Maravia whose Daughter Queen Mary was 1245. His thoughts were employed upon the Holy War when he was called to the Crown of Portugal The Kingdom being in confusion the Nobles made suite to Pope Innocent the III. that Alonso might ascend the Throne instead of his Brother Sancho The Pope not to deprive the King of his right and being informed he was not of Ability to Govern consented that Alonso should have the Authority of Regent but Sancho should still have the regal stile and preheminence and his Children if he had any should inherit At Paris Alonso took Solemn Oath as Regent which was to this Effect That he would preserve the Priviledges of the Clergy Nobility and Commonalty That he would constitute upright Judges without Favour or Affection That such as had committed Crimes against Priests should be punished That their Estates should be restored That all Buildings erected to the prejudice of Prelates should be Demolished and nothing for the future should be taken from them This was the promise made and consequently such were the miscarriages then in the Government so that the King suffered for some miscarriages in his Ministers 2. Alonso having taken upon him the Title of Regent Alonso received as Regent set out from Paris and returned to his Country where he was received by most places yet several having more regard to their Loyalty than the present Danger held out long after and some till King Sancho died at Toledo Alonso possessed of the Kingdom He puts away his Wife and Marries another like an ungrateful Man put away his Wife Maud the Countess who Married him when he had nothing and took in her place Beatrix Bastard Daughter to King Alonso the Tenth of Castile Some Authors say the Countess was contrary to all Human and Divine Laws put away on account of Barrenness but that is a mistake for it will appear she had Children Pope Alexander the Fourth thundered out Censures against this second Marriage as unlawful but all to no purpose the King continuing obstinate till the Death of Maud put an end to the dispute Alonso with the ambition of rule pressed all Governours to deliver up their Forts into his hands and yet they that did so were accounted no better than Traitors and such as held out against him were afterwards most esteemed even by him Obidos was the first Town Besieged by Alonso but what the event was 1247. is not known Ferdinand Rodriguez Pacheco valiantly defended Cerolico de los Bebados or Bebado and being reduced to great want one Morning a Bird of Pray dropped a large Trout before him taken out of the River Mondego The Governour sent it as a present to Alonso who judging thereby there was plenty in the Town raised the Siege and departed Thus the Besieged were left at liberty to look abroad for Sustenance so that the Trout may be said to have fed them all 3. The Regent removed to Coimbra A notable example of Loyalty where he met with no better success being opposed by the invincible Loyalty of D. Martin de Freitas Both Parties resolved not to give way to one another The Siege lasted long and the Defendants wavering their noble Governour performed more than Man to retain them in their Duty insomuch that one day he brought out to the Parade his Daughter telling the Soldiers That if want of Women obliged them to think of a Surrender they might make use of that one This act wholly confirmed the minds of the Garrison to him insomuch that they resolved to live and die with him Such was the posture of affairs when News was
the Host in the end of her Head-cloaths and going home the Blood trickled down and she not observing it was told of it by those that met her Being come home she locked the Bloody Hood with the Host in a Closet In the dead of the Night her Husband awaking saw a great light upon the Chest and calling upon his Wife asked whether she saw it not She then declared the truth to him and he rising ran to the Parish Church and to the Dominicans The Friers still preserve the White Hood or Vaile bloody in a Glass Case the Parish keeps the Host and Blood gathered on a Ball of Wax Some Years after the Prior of that Church which is Dedicated to St. Stephen going to show that Relick to the People found it shut up in a Cristalline Pyramidal Case with a hole so small that neither the Host nor Ball could be put in unless it were miraculously The Ball is still to be seen round with drops of Blood on it the Host is bent and Bloody Many Persons of Credit have affirmed That they have there seen our Saviour in several Postures of his Passion Another Miracle is Recorded of a Christian who was slave to a Moor and daily recommended himself to St. Dominick of Sovereira His Master every Night loaded him with Irons and laid him in a Chest upon which he made his own Bed One Night this Chest with the slave in it and the Master upon it was brought to the Door of the Chappel of that Saint in the Town of Penamacor This Miracle so wrought upon the Moor that he imbraced the Faith and the Slave and he lived there as Hermits all the residue of their lives The Chest and Chains are still kept in that little Church 8. No sooner was the King seated on the Throne Alonso resumes his former gifts and opposes the Clergy but he made it appear that what he had before bountifully bestowed was only to secure himself and not to reward those that promoted him He took from the Military Orders what he had before given them neither did he make account of what he swore at Paris in order to be Regent for his Brother 1268. for he so treated the Clergy that several of them had recourse to Rome for Redress of which were the Bishops of Braga Coimbra Guarda Porto and Viseo Pope Clement the Fourth and after him Gregory the Tenth 1272. reproved his oppressing the Clergy and forbidding the Jews and Moors under severe Penalties not to turn Christians The King at first shunned the Pope's Commissioners but when he could no longer do so appointed to hear them before the Cortes or Parliament summoned to meet at Santarem where he shewed some disposition to obey them though at the same time he designed nothing less The Pope offended at his proceedings 1274. issued out Bulls containing the highest Censures and in case the King was not reclaimed within three Months absolving his Subjects from their Allegiance The King continued obstinate and the Nuncio went away leaving him Excommunicated 1175. and the Kingdom under an interdict The Pope died and the King no way relented 1276. Pope John the 20th or 21st Born at Lisbon was promoted to St. Peter's Chair He sent a Spaniard his Nuncio to perswade the King by fair means to comply The Nuncio accompanied by Dominican and Franciscan Fryars of which latter order he was attended the King and found him as obdurate as ever 1277. Sickness made the King begin to relent and Death surmounted all difficulties At his Death the King ordered his Son to perform all he had refused to do 9. During this King's Reign certain devout Women went from Evora to Rome to obtain of the Pope the confirmation of a Monastery of Bernardin Nuns in that City A battle betwixt private Men and their forces There wanted not Civil Broils among the Subjects for Peter Estevas de Tavares and Ferdinand Alonso de Cambra fought a Battle in the Plain of Gouvea in which much Blood was shed and many Persons of note killed the latter obtained the Victory The Holy Laurence Mendez a Dominican of the Province betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho walking in a Field an Angel appeared to him and gave him a small Box which he said contained many Relicks brought from a City then fallen into the hands of Infidels Which Relicks are still preserved in the Monastery of Guimaraens where the said Laurence placed them 10. King Alonso was of such extraordinary Stature King Alonso described that all Men admired when King Sebastian caused his Tomb to be opened His Countenance was Majestick his Eyes little but Sparkling his Hair black his Complexion fair He died at Lisbon on the 20th of March 1279. 1279. being 64 Years of Age His Death and having Reigned and Governed 34. Ten Years after his Death King Denis his Son translated him to the Monastery of Alcobaza near to his Father and opposite to his second Wife Queen Beatrix whose Tomb being afterwards opened she appeared as Beautiful as if she had been a live His Issue His Issue by the first Wife most Authors agree he had two Sons as they do in calling the second Robert who they say succeeded his Mother in the Country of Bologne About the Elder they vary some calling him Ferdinand others Peter and lastly others say he is the same with Alonso Denis counted among the illegitimate By his second Wife he had Denis who succeeded in the Throne Secondly D. Alonso Lord of Portalegre who lies buried in the Monastery of St. Dominick at Lisbon Thirdly Sancha Fourthly Mary Fifthly Vincent who died young Sixthly Ferdinand who died also in his Infancy all these Buried at Alcobaza Seventhly Blanch Abbess of Lorvan first and then of Huelgas at Burgos Eighthly Constance Buried at Alcobaza Illegimate he had Ferdinand a Knight Templar Giles Alonso Alonso Denis Martin Alonso gotten on the Governour of Faro's Daughter as was said before Ellenor Alonso Vrraca Alonso Elenor for whom her Father built the Monastery of St. Clare at Santarem where she was famous for Sanctity and Roderick Alonso who died Young 11. The Arms of the Kingdom of Algarve His Arms. given by this King were Sanguine Semee of Castles Or. Over these he placed the Arms of Portugal so that the Castles of the former made an Orbe to the latter He also made an alteration in the number of Bezants in each Escutcheon of the Portuguese Arms leaving but Eleven in each whereas before there were Thirteen He was the first that stiled himself King of Portugal and Algarve Men famous in his time Men famous for Sanctity in his time were St. Gonzalo St. Laurence Mendez and St. Giles all three Dominicans at least the two latter without dispute Also St. Walter of the Order of S. Francis Pope John the 21st famous for his Learning and Dignity was Born at Lisbon Many Men were famous for Military Exploits the
chief whereof was D. Payo Perez Correa Master of the Military Order of Santiago CHAP. VIII The Life and Reign of Denis the first of that Name and sixth King of Portugal his Actions and Death from the Year 1261. till 1325. 1. KIng Denis King Denis his Birth and Succession to the Crown Eldest Son to Alonso III. and Queen Beatrix was born at Lisbon on the 9th of October 1261. and was so called from the Saint whose Day that was From his Infancy he was educated in all those Vertues and Accomplishments that make an Excellent Prince In Truth Justice and Liberality he exceeded most of them that had been before him His Father dying when he was but Eighteen Years of Age though he honoured his Mother in all other Respects he would allow her no share in the Government She resenting this as an Affront went away into Castile pretending her Journey was only to pay a Visit to her Father That King desiring to please her took a Journey to Badajoz and sent to desire King Denis to come as far as Elvas Thither the Princes Peter Sancho Jayne and his Brother Emanuel repaired to him by whom the King of Castile desired they might meet at Badajoz King Denis having entertained them magnificently for the space of three Days sent them back saying He would soon be after them but suddenly returned to Lisbon thinking it a better Expedient not to meet his Grand-father than to deny his Request The Queen thus disappointed went away with her Father to Sevil where she continued being convinced her Son would admit no Partner in the Throne 2. The King being Twenty Years of Age He Marries Elizabeth the Daughter of King Peter of Aragon sent his Embassadors to Peter III. King of Aragon to ask his Daughter Elizabeth then but Eleven Years old in Marriage His Request was easily granted and the Bride conducted to Braganza where she was received by Alonso the King's Brother who conveyed her to Trancoso where the best King of Portugal and one of the best Queens in the World were marryed His next Care was â—o compleat what his Father had begun which was to dear the Kingdom of Robbers and Out-laws and to Protect the meaner sort against the Insolencies of Great Men and particularly the Country People whom he called the Sinews of the Commonwealth For this Reason and because he built many Castles he was called the Husbandman and Father of his Country Having at his Entrance into the Government passed many extravagant Grants when he came to the Age of 22 he recalled them all 1283. He had some Difference with his Brother Alonso who refused to make any Acknowledgment for the Towns left him by his Father Has Differences with his Brother Alonso and had some Pretensions to the Crown pleading that Denis was Born before the Death of the Countess of Bologne and consequently must be Illegitimate whereas he was Born after her Death when the Pope had ratified the Match They both took Arms and Alonso was besieged by his Brother in Portalegre yet at last they agreed The chief Articles were That Alonso should be allowed 30000 Crowns a Year out of the King's Revenue and instead of the Towns he possessed should have Sintra and Ourem for that the others were more dangerous to the King as lying on the Borders of Castile Thus ended those Civil Broils 3. A War broke out with King Sancho the Third of Castile War betwixt Castile and Portugal called the Fierce for that he performed not the Covenants about the Marriages of the Princes for Security whereof he had put into Portuguese Hands the Cities of Badajoz and Truxillo as also the Towns of Moura Serpa Caceres Allariz and Aguiar de Neiva All these Places he again suddenly surprized and made several inroads into Algarve and into Portugal by the way of Leon destroying all the Country before him King Denis being then wholly unprovided for War sent Embassadors to adjust Affairs but to no effect King Denis now moved to Wrath challenged King Sancho and at the same time caused his Forces to do much harm in the Enemy's Country Sancho designed to answer the Challenge but was prevented by Death at which time he ordered all that had been before stipulated should be performed Ferdinand the Fourth his Successor not answering what was expected from him King Denis sent his Embassadors to demand the Restitution of the Towns taken by his Predecessor and in case of Refusal to fix the Challenge upon him Restitution being denied the Challenge was accordingly given and the Embassadors withdrew This done King Denis with a Puissant Army marched from the City Guarda and entred Castile committing all manner of Hostilities Prince Henry who was Governour to the young King Ferdinand put a stop to our King 's further Progress making him advantageous Proposals and referring the Conclusion to Cuidad Rodrigo where the two Kings met with the Queen-Mother of Castile and concluded all Articles the Towns demanded by the Portuguese being put into the Hands of Ferdinand Longominhâ— as a Pledge for performing all other parts But this Compliance on the part of Castile being the Product of Fear and not of any Friendly Intention nothing of what had been promised was performed 4. King Denis draws together his Forces again Denis enters Castile the second time and furiously enters Castile and with him Prince John who stiled himself King of Leon as Son to King Alonso the Tenth and John Nunnez de Lara who was in Rebellion against his Prince Our Army being in the Province of Beira near the Frontiers of Castile there came to the King Margaret Daughter to the Earl of Narbonne Wife to Prince Peter the Son of King Alonso and with her her Son Sancho de Ledesma who offered to serve our King being disgusted with his own Yet tho he was much honoured and received great Bounties from King Denis he soon returned to his own Master and served against him of whom he had received such Favours King Ferdinand understanding that King Denis had invaded his Dominions sent his Fleet from Sevil under the Command of that Sancho we last spoke of to Lisbon where he surprized some Portuguese Vessels Our Admiral having gathered what Force he could pursued and overtook the Fleet of Castile without the Bar. The Fleet of Castile worsted by the Portugueses There was fought a most obstinate Battle till the Castillians were worsted and their Commander D. Sancho brought back Prisoner In the mean while K. Denis without Opposition ranged about the Territories of Cuidad Rodrigo and Ledesma where he took the Castle of Torres putting all the Defendants to the Sword He passed by Simancas where King Ferdinand was and laid Siege to Possaldes where neither Sex nor Age was spared nor was any Reverence paid to the Churches where the Altars were stained with Blood nor did their Sacrilegious Hands abstain from Plundering those Holy Places The Castilians were not
idle 1296. for many great Men laid waste our Borders Alonso Perez de Guzman who Commanded on the Frontiers about Guadiana with a good Body of Andaluzians shed much of our Blood and carried away great Spoils The Master of Avis met him with some Portuguese Forces but was overthrown and almost One Thousand Prisoners carried away who were ransomed at an easie rate not to retard the course of their Victory He also recovered the Castle of Torres where he spared no Portuguese and thus Fire and Sword raged in all Parts King Denis understanding hereof committed the greater Cruelties in the Villages about Salamanca where he then was The Inhabitants fled to the Mountains and to the Churches but neither Churches nor Mountains could protect them rage bore down all Divine as well as humane Considerations 5. The Moorish King of Granada laying hold of this advantage Peace concluded betwixt the Kings of Castile and Portugal broke into Andaluzia took Fifteen Castles and retired with a mighty Booty Mary the Queen-Mother and Prince Henry Governours to King Ferdinand now sensible of their Danger offered King Denis all manner of Satisfaction as to the Points before promised which were That King Ferdinand should marry his Daughter Constance and Prince Alonso Beatrix Sister to Ferdinand and for performance they gave him sufficient Hostages King Danis in his return to be in some sort revenged on D. Sancho de Ledesma took from him all the Towns he possessed in the Province of Riba de Coa The King of Castile sent Alonso Perez de Guzman to the Portuguese 1297. to sollicite that they might meet at Alcanizes where this Discord was to have an end There both Kings accordingly met honourably attended A Peace was Concluded for Forty Years and it was Stipulated that whosoever did infringe it should be delivered up to the Party aggreived The Towns of Olivenza Campo-Mayor and S. Felices were delivered up to the Portuguese in lieu of Aroche and Aracena That King Denis should still hold all the Towns of the Province of Riba de Coa and for the Title the King of Castile might claim to them he resigned up to him Valencia Ferreyra Esparragal Ayamonte and other Places in Leon and Gallicia 6. Articles being signed The Peace confirmed with mutual Alliances King Ferdinand presently Married the Portuguese Princess Constance and delivered his Sister Beatrix to her Father-in-Law as Wife to Prince Alonso who expected the event of this interview at Trancoso The Portuguese Princess being left in Castile King Denis with the Castilian returned to Coimbra then the Seat of the Portuguese's Court. Till the Princess came to Age. for Marriage the King assigned her a competent Revenue and appointed Martin Archbishop of Braga and Count Martin de Sousa his Standard-bearer her Governours The Day she was delivered to the Prince the King added to what he had before given her the Towns of Viana Terena Ourem and Armamar King Ferdinand of Castile made this Accomodation in good time being then pressed by the neighbouring Princes in favour of D. Alonso de la Cerda Grand-son to King Alonso X. from whom Sancho Father to Ferdinand and Uncle to the said Alonso had Usurped the Crown so that Alonso de la Cerda was the rightful Prince and Ferdinand then in possession and Usurper The dispossessed Prince gave the Kingdom of Leon to his Unkle John and that of Murcia to Jayme or James King of Aragon upon Condition they should assist him to recover his right Both those Princes endeavoured to possess themselves of what was allotted them before the Injured Prince could be Re-inthroned King Ferdinand overwhelmed with these Enemies craved Aid of our King Denis and that they might meet at Fuente Guinaldo and Badajoz There having declared his wants our King presented him with a great Summ of Money a Cap made of an Emerald of inestimable Value and sent him such supplies of Men as gained him a Superiority over his Enemies 7. Pope Benedict XI sent his Legate to compose these Differences King Denis chosen Mediator betwixt thâ— of Castile and the lawful Heir then Banished and with the general Consent of all Parties concerned our King Denis was appointed Mediator between them It was agreed that all Parties should stand by his Determination to which purpose a solemn Instrument was signed and Cautionary Towns given on all sides King Denis set forward towards the Plain where the Conference was to be held with an Honourable Retinue to the number of One thousand Persons and to avoid all disorders that might happen in Towns lay all the way in Tents 1304. in the open Field King Ferdinand met him at Cuellar they travelled together to Soria and there parted our King proceeding to Torrellas in the Kingdom of Aragon where Jamye or James King of Aragon and Blanch his Queen received him Here King Denis entertained them with such Magnificence as had scarce been seen in Spain The Arbitrators and Parties being come to Taracona the Kingdom of Murcia An unjust Sentence given by King Denis against the rightful Heir was by them divided betwixt the Kings of Castile and Aragon and several Towns were assigned to D. Alonso de la Cerda and he ordered to forbear stiling himself King of Castile This Sentence of King Denis our Author admires for its equity as if it could be any justice to deprive the rightful Prince of Three Kingdoms and give him the Revenue of a few Towns in lieu of them and those Towns to be held of that same Usurper who kept him out of his right Judgment being given they went away to Agreda where King Ferdinand was with his Mother There Kings dined at one Table and Three Queens at another which were those of Castile Aragon and Portugal Hence King Denis went to Valladolid to see his Daughter Queen Constance and so returned to his Kingdom 8. King Ferdinand now at Peace with the Christians resolved to employ his Arms against the Moors of Granada To this effect he craved Succours of King Denis who sent him Seven hundred Horse 1305. Commanded by D. Martin Gil de Sousa his Standard-bearer and lent him Seventeen thousand Marks of Silver for which Badajoz Alconchel and Burguillos were given in pawn This expedition was well begun by the taking of Gibraltar but its Progress was stopped First by want of Provisions and next by the Death of King Ferdinand Phillip the Fair King of France placed Clement V. before Archbishop of Bourdeaux in St. Peters Chair 1309. upon Condition he should remove the Papal Seat to Lions that he should publickly burn the bones of his Predecessor Boniface VIII give him the rents of the Church Revenues The cruel suppression of the Knights Templars for Five Years and suppress the Order of the Knights Templars that he might seize their Revenues This Pope not willing to perform that part touching the burning of his Predecessor thought to make the King amends by falling the
heavier on the Knights Templars To this purpose at the instigation of the King those Knights were charged with most heinous Crimes and their great Master with Sixty Knights were publickly burnt at Paris to the astonishment of all the World The Pope had sent Orders to all Parts that these Knights should every where be apprehended on the same Day but the Kings of Castile Aragon and Portugal obeyed not esteeming the merits of that Noble Order above the unjust Commands of a Byassed Pope Yet after much Debate the Order was wholly suppressed their greatest Crime being their Riches which nevertheless in Spain were for the most part bestowed on the Knights Hospitallers of St. John now called the Knights of Malta But King Denis begged of the Pope that the Revenues of the Knights Templars in Portugal might be given to a new Order of Knighthood he then instituted to serve against the bordering Moors His suit being granted this Year 1310. was erected the Order of Knights of our Saviour Jesus Christ 131◠the King besides the possessions of the Templars bestowing on it several Towns and Churches that were in his gift This from time to time has been so increased that at present the Order enjoys a Revenue of about 500000 Duccats divided into 500 Commendaries to Encourage Gentlemen with this reward to the Conquest of Africk At present those thoughts are quite laid aside and those Revenues are almost become Hereditary Many of the Knights Templars being found innocent were admitted to this New Order and a Master of it created At first these Knights were obliged not to Marry but that vow was abolished in the time of King Emanuel by Pope Alexander VI. 9. King Denis King Denis at 〈◊〉 with his Son in his latter Days had much Contention with his Son Prince Alonso This Prince took for the occasion of his Disgust the great Favour that Duke Alonso Sanchez and Count John Alonso the King's Bastard Sons were in with him Having drawn Peter another Bastard Brother to his Party the Prince presumed to ask of the King to resign to him the Power of the Administration of Justice Being justly denied so unreasonable a Demand he drew over his Mother-in-Law Queen Mary to assist him towards obtaining his desires by Force to which purpose she asked leave of his Father for him to come to her into Castile and being refused the Prince went to her to Cuidad Rodrigo against his Fathers Consent Being returned to Portugal the Queen sent to demand of the King what he had before refused to his Son and now again denied to her This Project failing the Prince contrived by his Servants an Information to be drawn as if left by a Man that died at Magaula containing a Design of the Elder Bastard the King 's chiefest Favourite to Poyson the Prince A Copy of the false Information he sent to the King who having examined the matter found it was a piece of Forgery Being again disappointed he perswaded some of his Followers to Murder Alonso Sanchez saying his Father negotiated with the Pope to exclude him the lawful Heir and leave the Crown to a Bastard but he in this did not succeed neither All these practices failing the Prince betook himself to open Hostility robbing the King 's Loyal Subjects ravishing Women sacrilegiously ransacking Monasteries killing Giraldus Bishop of Evora and committing many other Enormities without the reach of Justice as acted under the Heir of the Crown The Prince proceeds in his Disobedience 10. The King advertised Pope John XX. of his Son's Disobedience and he dispatched his Bulls admonishing him to desist from force and submit to his Father but all to no effect For he gathering a number of Criminals and Out-laws pretended to go in Pilgrimage to the Church of St. Vincent without Lisbon designing to surprize that City The King having timely Advice of it hasted thither to prevent him and the Queen after him to Mediate betwixt the Father and the Son The Prince thus prevented turned away towards Sintra and his Father after him Both Bodies stood as if they designed to give Battle but on a sudden the Son marched off and tho' the King might have overtaken him he persued not Being come to Coimbra the Prince sent away his Princess to Alcanizes in Castile and then gave out that his Father intended to kill him After disabusing the World of the falsehood of that Report his Father declared all such as should adhere to the Son Traitors and knowing that the Inhabitants of Leyria had entertained him he hasted thither where Nine of the chief as Rebels had their Hands and Feet cut off and were afterwards burnt The Prince went away to Santarem and flying thence before his Angry Father possessed himself of the Castle of Coimbra of Monte-Mayor the Old of Feira Gaga and Porto whither came to him his Bastard-Brother Peter out of Castile Guimaraens was defended against him by Mem Rodriguez de Vasconcelos In the mean while the King laid Siege to Coimbra which obliged the Prince to quit Guimaraens and return to relieve that City Here were to be seen all the usual dire effects of Civil Wars The Holy Queen Elizabeth ceased not to pass betwixt the Two Armies mediating for a Reconciliation 1323. which at last she compassed the King giving to the Prince the Cities of Porto and Coimbra and the Old Town of Monte-Mayor with some additional Revenue Pardon was given on both sides and the Prince took an Oath to be Obedient to his Father for the future But notwithstanding this reconciliation the Prince pressed his Father to call the Cortes or Parliament and yet would not be present at it but went from Santarem towards Lisbon with armed Troops The King came out in the like manner commanding him to return which he refusing 1324. the Trumpets sounded and both Parties Engaged Yet the Queen rushing through all dangers came to her Son and upbraiding him with breach of Faith and Obstinacy at length the Battle was parted and the Father and Son once more were Reconciled That this agreement might be the more lasting D. Alonso Sanchez the King's Bastard-Son was sent out of the Kingdom and went to the Town of Albuquerque which he possessed in Castile by that means becoming a Subject to that Crown 11. King Denis fortified many Towns and Cities King Denis his Structures and other Works encompassing them with beautiful Walls as is to be seen at Porto Braga Guimaraens Miranda and other Places He Built from the Ground above Fifty Castles and some Towns besides those he new Peopled Neither did he forget pious Work and therefore he endowed many Churches Pope John XXII granted him the Tenths of Church Revenues for 3 Years to the end he should keep his Gallies in the Streights of Gibraltar to hinder the Moors from passing into the Kingdom of Granada He was addicted to Learning especially to Poetry and it was he that first erected the University at
Coimbra His Liberality was such that it became a Proverb As liberal as Denis The Presents he made to Kings Queens and Nobility when he went to compose Affairs betwixt the King of Castile and Duke Alonso de la Cerda were inestimable and cannot be reckoned After that a Gentleman of Castile telling him that none but himself had fallen short of his Bounty he gave him the Silver Table whereon he dined To reckon up the particular acts of his Generosity were too tedious it may suffice to say this above the rest was his peculiar Vertue in which he exceeded most Princes He knew all the Product of his Kingdom and valued it so much that he never desired to be supplied from abroad with any thing that he could have at home Of the Gold gathered in Tagus he made a rich Crown and Scepter But notwithstanding his prodigious Liberality he never oppressed his Subjects with heavy Taxes He was of a middle Stature his Hair black full Faced not so Beautiful as Majestick He died at Santarem the 7th of January 1325. at the Age of 64 Years 1325. having Reigned 46. It became a Proverb That Denis could do all he would His stately Tomb built by himself is in the Monastery of Odivelas of Benedictine Nuns near Lisbon of the Invocation of St. Denis 12. Elizabeth His Wife and Issue Daughter to King Peter III. of Aragon and his Queen Constance the Daughter of Manfredus King of Naples and Sicily was the only Wife of King Denis He being extreamly addicted to Women she bred up all the Children he had by them as if they had been her own by which her patience she made him afterwards forbear that Vice and punish it severely in others To be short she was a most holy Woman and an excellent Queen and was Canonized in the Reign of Phillip IV. of Spain By her the King had Alonso his Successor and Constance Wife to King Ferdinand IV. of Castile His illegitimate Issue were by Aldonza Rodriguez Alonso Sanchez created Earl of Albuquerque By the Lady Grace Peter Earl of Barcelos the first Title of that kind given by the Kings of Portugal another Peter called also Earl By other Women John Alonso Ferdinand Sanchez the Lady Mary Married to Duke John de la Cerda another Mary a Nun at Odivelas CHAP. IX Yhe Life and Reign of Alonso the Fourth of the Name and the Seventh King of Portugal his Actions and Death from the Year 1290. till 1357. 1. THE Favour that King Denis shewed to Learning made him reside where he had caused it to flourish King Alonso the 4th wholly addicted to his Pleasure Having therefore resettled the Court at Coimbra on the Eighth of February 1290. was Born to him in that City of his Wife the holy Queen Elizabeth his Son Alonso 4th of the Name and the Seventh King of Portugal 1290. who for his forward and fiery spirit was called the Fierce He who as we have seen was so eager to Rule whilst his Father lived after his Death cast off all the care of Government giving himself wholly up to his Pleasure and particularly to Hunting Upon his Accession to the Crown instead of settling the Affairs of the Kingdom he went away to the Forrest of Sintra 1325. where he spent a whole Month among the wild Beasts Returning to Court and appearing at the Council-Board instead of the Business of that Place he gave them an Account of his Sport Hereupon one of the Counsellors took the Boldness to reprove him with threatning Expressions which the King being offended at all the Council stood up and said they would choose another King if he did not alter his Course of Life The King tho he then went out in a Passion being grown cool thought good to curb his Inclination Our Author here extols the Bravery of those Counsellors I find nothing to admire in the matter but the Insolency of wicked and haughty Subjects and the want of Resolution in him he stiles a Magnanimous Prince The King not satisfied with having during his Father's Life unjustly Persecuted his Bastard-Brother and Expelled him the Kingdom At Variance with his Bastard-Brother still persisting in his ill grounded Malice towards him laid many things to his Charge and by formal tho' unjust Process Condemned him to forfeit all his Possessions in Portugal at once endeavouring to deprive him of his Fortune and Honour D. Alonso Sanchez modestly sued for Redress but none was to be had from a byassed Judge He was now powerful and beloved in Castile and Leon and therefore raising a good Force entred the Territory of Bragança with Fire and Sword whilst others of his Troops did the like from Medellin and Albuquerque in the Country about Guadiana 1326. This done he returned to his Town of Albuquerque where he Fortified himself and made preparations for open War D. Gonzalo Vaz Master of the Knights of Avis being sent against him by the King was put to the rout and Duke Alonso falling Sick returned to Medellin In the mean time the King Besieged the Castle of Codesseyra near Albuquerque which being basely delivered to him by the Governour was rased to the Ground 2. The King proposed a Match betwixt his Son Prince Peter 1327. and Constance the Daughter of D. John Emanuel who was of the Blood Royal of Castile and his Wife of that of Aragon King Alonso IX of Castile broke off this Match contracting himself to her for she was under age and yet afterwards he contemned her and was Married to Mary Marries his Daughter to the King of Castile Daughter to King Alonso of Portugal To that effect he came into Portugal and received the Princess at the Town of Alfayates whither her Father had Conducted her At this Place a Match was concluded betwixt Henry 1328. Prince of Portugal and the Princess Blanch Henry Prince of Portugal marries Blanch Aunt to the King of Castile Aunt to the King of Castile The following Year the Portuguese received her at Fuentegrinaldo where he again met with her Father Prince Peter about some alterations to be made in the Hostages given for exchange of the Ratifications Two Years after the King of Castile was Married to our Princess he became so intangled in the Love of the Lady Ellenor Nunnez de Guzman 1330. that he treated her as Queen and the Queen as if she had been but a Concubine Our holy Queen Elizabeth met him at Xerez de Badajoz to endeavour to reclaim him but could obtain nothing but promises for he continued obstinate in his Amours 1332. D. John Emanuel desiring to be revenged of the King of Portugal for that giving his Daughter to the King of Castile in Marriage he had caused his Daughter Constance to be put by made his interest with the Lady Ellenor the King of Castile's Mistress perswading her to prevail with the King to marry her for his Marriage with the
Herse the Corps was conducted to Alcobaça to be placed in that rich Urn with the noblest Attendance and greatest Grandeur that has been seen vast numbers of Noblemen and Gentlemen in long Mourning Cloaks and Ladies in White Mourning Vailes attended the Funeral From Coimbra to Alcobaça it is 17 Leagues and yet all that Distance was filled with many Thousands of Men in two Rows making a continued Lane with lighted Flambeaus in their Hands 4. The Unfortunate King Peter of Castile being drove out of his Kingdom by his Bastard-Brother Henry assisted by the French King Peter of Castile flying from his Rebellious Subjects is refused Protection in Portugal and flying from Sevil after loosing all the Treasure he had amassed arrived at the Town of Coruche in Portugal with his two Daughters Constance and Elizabeth and thence sent to Advertise our King then at Coimbra of his Arrival That King's Daughter Beatrix was Travelling another way to be Married to the Portuguese Prince her Father not having any fore-thought of what hapned to him This Accident much surprized the Portuguese some were for protecting a rightful King their Neighbour and Confederate others were for more safe than honourable Courses not to embroil themselves in the Quarrels of others This Advice was followed and our King made the best Excuse he could for not entertaining that Unhappy Prince He failing of this Refuge withdrew to Albuquerque but neither was he to be admitted there He sent to ask a Pass of our King to Travel through his Dominions into Galicia and the Earl of Barcelos and Alvaro Perez de Castro were sent to Conduct him But they not only forsook him by the way but stole from him Elenor the Daughter of his Bastard-Brother Henry whom he carried with him From Galicia he passed over into England where he so grievously Complained to the Prince of Wales against the King of Portugal that he was forced to send Embassadors to Vindicate himself In the mean while the New King or rather Usurper Henry Solicited the Friendship of Portugal and Embassadors meetting to that Effect betwixt Badajoz and Elvas a Treaty was Concluded And it was Stipulated That the Castilian should solicite an Accommodation betwixt Aragon and Portugal and also That the Aragonian should suffer the Portuguese Princess Mary Widow of Prince Ferdinand to return to her Country if she thought good 5. About the end of October Prodigiâ—â—â— seen in the Sky almost Three Months before the Death of our King was seen a prodigious Alteration or rather Confusion in the heavenly Luminaries On the 27th Day at Midnight all the Stars in a Body began to run from East to West then suddenly dispersing they wandred through several parts of the Sphere next falling nearer to the Region of the Air the nearness made them appear like vast Globes of Fire so that the whole Heaven seemed to be in a Flame and the Earth threatned to be reduced to Ashes The Sky in many places seemed to gape the Stars being removed This Spectacle lasting a considerable time Men stood amazed expecting the Dissolution of the Universe Three Months after this Prodigy King Peter's Death our King died It will not be amiss to give some Instances of his Justice and Magnificence His Justice and Magnificence He was not as some have called him Cruel but a zealous lover of Justice punishing Crimes with the utmost Severity and rewarding Vertue with Liberality The Punishments he inflicted tho' in appearance terrible were necessary and well applyed A Young Man having struck his supposed Father and the King hearing thereof called the Mother and pressed her to tell him who was the Youth's Father for it was impossible it should be her Husband She confessed in some time a Fryar had got him Thereupon the King went in Person to the Monastery and putting the Fryar into a Case of Cork sawed him in two One of his Favourites lived in Adultery with a Judge's Wife for which the King caused his Privities to be cut off A Priest being suspended for killing a Man he caused him to be put to Death by a Mason saying That the Ecclesiastical Judges condemned a Priest for killing a Man to be suspended from his Office but he in his Tribunal would suspend the Mason from Working for killing the Priest The Bishop of Porto he scourged for having to do with a Citizen's Wife He caused a Gentleman to be beheaded for staving a Country-man's Cask that was full A Clerk of the Treasury was hanged for receiving a small Bribe Hearing a Woman upbraid another with being forced he asked the cause and being told her Husband ravished her before they were marryed he caused him to be hanged Knowing that a Merchant's Wife cuckolded him one day when the Merchant was at some Publick Feast he surprized his Wife with her Gallant and burnt them and then congratulated the Merchant that he was revenged A Bawd having procured a Young Woman for the Admiral Lancelote Pessana the Bawd was burnt and the Admiral hardly obtained Pardon after several Years absence A Country-man complaining that a Gentleman to whom he had lent certain Silver Cups would not restore them the King kept him in hand a Year and then caused the Gentleman to pay him Nine times the value which was then the Penalty of Thieves and farther told him he should be always answerable for the Country-man's Life A Pursivant complaining that in the Execution of his Office a Gentleman had struck him and torn his Beard the Gentleman was immediately beheaded 6. The Laws he instituted Laws established by him were religiously observed One of them condemned Judges who received Bribes to Death To avoid delays in Suits he established there should be no Counsellors Sollicitors nor Attorneys He went about the Kingdom in Person to administer Justice impartially to all Men. Tho' so much subdued himself by the Love of the Lady Agnes de Castro he suffered no Crime of Incontinency to pass unpunished Several new Pieces were coined by him on the one side whereof was his Effigies sitting in a Chair holding a naked Sword on the reverse the Royal Arms with these Inscriptions Peter King of Portugal and Algarve God assist me and make me Victorious over my Enemies He was so Bountiful that like the Emperor Titus he thought himself not a King the day he gave nothing To this purpose he kept always much Plate He was much addicted to Musick and used to go abroad at Nights and dance to the sound of Trumpets Notwithstanding his great Liberality he left a considerable Treasure to his Successor which he gathered without the least dissatisfaction to his Subjects In fine such was his Life that his Death was generally lamented and it was in all mens Mouths That such Ten Years Government never were nor would again be seen in this Kingdom Others said That either he should never have been born or never have died 7. This King was of great Stature His Person and
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
Herauld to Challenge him but he drew off by the way of Bragança Vinaes and Outeyro which Places he took Miranda was Surprized by certain Castillians who in Carriers Habit were admitted in Cedavin after a vigorous resistance was Betrayed by Vasco Estevez but his Treason tho' not discovered in time to prevent the Loss of the Place was so soon found that he was Hanged for it Henry having secured Bragança hasted to Castile for that the King of Granada was now acting with a great Power in Andaluzia 4. Ferdinand having missed of his Enemy Several Military Expeditions divided his Army under several Commanders Garrisoning all Places he was suspicious of He had recovered most of what was lost but the People not satisfied with his Proceedings complained he only knew the way betwixt Lisbon and Santarem because he often went from the one Place to the other whence it became a Proverb That the Fool goes and comes betwixt Lisbon and Santarem when they would express a Man often does the same thing to no purpose Giles Fernandez with 60 Horse and 400 Foot made an Incursion towards Medellin where he took so great a Booty that fearing to loose it if pursued he caused his Uncle Martin Yannez to feign himself to be Prince John and as such to discharge several Prisoners who reporting his being there with a greater Force than really was deterred the Enemy from following him Gonzalo Mendez being General took this Giles Fernandez with him to make an Inroad to Badajoz The Garrison issued out upon them and both sides fought with great Resolution In this Action a Butcher of Lisbon called Laurence killed several Castilians In the mean while Prince John forcing his way into the Suburbs of Badajoz Burnt them Gomez Lorenço de Avelar on the side of Cuidad Rodrigo took S. Felices Inojosa and Cerralvo Here John Roiz Portocarrero with only 23 Horse killed or took almost 80 of the Enemy from Ledesma This Year ended with a Fire at Lisbon which Burnt down all the then Smiths Street it is now the Confectioners 5. As the Last Year ended in Fire 1370. so this began with storms of Rain and Wind Great Storms which were so Violent that the Gate of the Cathedral tho' fastned with Iron Locks and Bolts was carried into the middle of the Church the Ships in the Harbour being drove from their Anchors were dashed into pieces but the Gallies escaped better by lying in the Mouth of the River Guadalquiâ—ir The great Rains and also the Moors who infested his Frontiers obliged King Henry to quit the Siege of Cuidad Rodrigo The Queen his Wife in Person had distressed Alonso Lopez de Tejada in Carmona so that he agreed to Surrender the Place it not releived by a Day prefixed and gave up his Two Sons as Hostages Misser Gregorio a Campomorâ—o with only 60 Men made his way through the Camp into the Town at the Day prefixed the Queen threatned to execute his Sons he bid her do so for he was able to get others and so he persisting Obstinate they were beheaded all Men calling that Barbarity which he thought would be accounted Magnanimity but it could not be such being a breach of Promise Thirty two Portuguese Galleys had been a Year upon the Coast under the Command of the Admiral Lancelot Pessano a Genoese The Castilians when this Fleet appeared before Barrameda scoffed at our Men for that having refused Aid to King Peter The Portuguese Fleet wastes the Island of Cadiz whilst living they now pretended to Defend him after he was Dead But they in Revenge destroyed the Island of Cadiz and the Shores of the Continent till the severity of the Winter and Diseases almost consumed them The Fleet of Castile coming out of Sevil took a Portuguese Ship that had Money and Provisions on Board and then shut up our Admiral Pessano in the River to oblige him to Fight in that narrow Place He fitted out Two Fireships which dispersed the Enemy and in that time he escaped having lost one Galley 6. Carmona still held out 1371. but fearing the Power of King Henry sent a Gentlemen to our King Ferdinand for Succour according to his promise This being refused the Town was obliged to Surrender There was in it a considerable Treasure of King Peter's and Two of his Bastard-Sons who were cast into Prison Pope Gregory the 11th sent Two Nuncio's to Mediate a Peace betwixt the Two Kings which was concluded at Alcoutin in Algarve upon these Conditions Peace concluded at the instance of the Pope That they should be obliged to assist one another That the Portuguese should be a Friend to Charles King of France that he should take to Wife Ellenor Henry's Daughter That he should have with her Cuidad Rodrigo Valencia de Alcantara Monte-Mayor Alhariz and a Summ of Money That a general Pardon should be granted on both sides Thus our King broke his Word with him of Aragon who in revenge kept all the Treasure that had been sent to his Daughter King Ferdinand finding his Treasures exhasted called in the Old Money and enhanced the Value of the New which did great Harm and much more when he endeavoured afterwards to rectifie that Error The Five Months allowed for the Princess Ellenor to come out of Castile were now expiring when the King falling in Love with the Lady Ellenor Tellez de Meneses forgot his Bride This Lady Ellenor Tellez was Wife to John Lorenço de Cunha Lord of Pombeyro He fell in Love with her at his Sister 's the Princess Beatrix where he was always so assiduous as gave occasion to suspect him guilty of a more than Brotherly Affection This Lady being about to return into the Country whence she came the King ordered her Sister who attended the Princess to stay her in Town for he would marry no other Woman The Sister objected that he was engaged to the Princess of Castile and her Sister Married The First he replyed might be easily put by and as for the latter he said she being Married to a Kinsman without Dispensation the Marriage was void All which gave the Lady Ellenor to understand the King's Affection was not at all Nice 7. Scarce had she consented when her Marriage being called in question The Lady Ellenor being divorced from her First Husband the King marries her and the Husband not opposing it Judgment was easily obtained for the K. Hereupon her Husband went away to Castile and there publickly wore a pair of Golden Horns In fine Ferdinand Married the Lady Ellenor The whole Kingdom was astonished at this Action but Lisbon shewed it self above all other Places Here a Taylor called Ferdinand Vasquez a bold well-spoken Fellow gathered 3000 of the People and with them went to the Pallace nothing being heard but Reproaches against the New Queen A great meeting at Lisbon on account of the Marriage To appease them the King protested he was not Married to her and
promised the next Day to hear them when they were Calmer at the Church of S. Dominick By Day the Multitude was in the broad Place before that Church but the King fearing the popular Fury was already gone away to Santarem When the People understood it they vented their Malice in Reproaches and this made the Queen stir up the King to Revenge The Taylor was apprehended and many of his Followers some whereof had their Hands others their Feet cut off many more fled now too late understanding that Subjects ought to have no other Redress against the Miscarrages of their Sovereigns than by their Prayers to God In the mean while the King traversed the Kingdom with his beloved Consort till being come to the pleasant Monastery of Leça Two Leagues from Porto he then declared what he denied at Lisbon to wit That he was Married to the Lady Ellenor and assigned her a greater Joynture than any Queen before her ever had 8. All the Nobility kissing the Queen's Hand only Prince Denis Son to the late King by the Lady Agnes de Castro refused it for which the King offered to Stab him but was prevented and the Prince fled to Coimbra Tho many of the Multitude were punished the clamours of the People against the King's Marriage ceased not nor were they continued without reason for that Marriage was in reality unlawful she being the true Wife of John Lorenço Ferdinand at last remembring he was contracted to the Princess of Castile sent to inform her Father That tho he could not perform that Article he would fulfil all the rest That Prince did not seem at all to be concerned but Embassadors were sent on both sides to Ratifie the Peace The New Queen gains Friends by her Generosity The New Queen having gained a Crown by her Beauty sought now to gain the Affections of the Nobility by her Bounty and she attained her end in a great Measure for many who before railed having tasted of her Favours began to extol her Generosity Besides the more to bend them to her she married all her Relations among the Nobility 9. King Ferdinand still pursuing his inconstant Humour King Ferdinand joyns in League with John of Ghent against Castile began again to break with Castile taking some Ships of that Crown in the River of Lisbon and entering into a Confederacy with John Duke of Lancaster Third Son to Edward the Third King of England and married to Constance the Eldest Daughter of King Peter of Castile in whose right he stiled himself King It was agreed they should joyntly make War upon the Kings of Castile and Aragon That they should bear an equal part in the expence of the War and that King Ferdinand should have all he could take in Castile excepting Towns and Castles That each should have what he could gain in Aragon King Henry sent an Embassador to Protugal to protest against these proceedings but to no effect Hereupon Henry marched with his Army towards Lisbon his Admiral Misser Ambrosio Bocanegra at the same time entring the River Tagus with 12 Galleys About the middle of September he set forward from Zamora Henry of Castile invades Portugal and by the way took Almeyda Pinnel Linnares Cerolico and Viseo where Prince Denis offended at King Ferdinand offered his Service to him They marched to Coimbra from whence Ferdinand was newly gone to Santarem and here Henry quartered in the Suburbs Our King being less forward to Fight than he had been to give the Occasion 1373. Henry marched without observing much order He Quarters in the Suburbs of Lisbon towards Lisbon about the end of February The King and those that were with him could from the Walls of Santarem discover the Enemy marching towards Lisbon yet had not the Courage to attack them Lisbon being surprized Henry entred at S. Antony's Gate and took up his Quarters in the Monastery of S. Francis the People retired to the stronger parts of the Town Our Fleet had been sent to hinder the Castilian Squadron from entring the Port but our Ships were taken by them and only 4 of our Galleys escaped saving themselves in the Creeks The People of Lisbon understanding there was a design to betray the City dragged one of the Conspirators about the Streets and then cut him in pieces another was exposed to the sails of a Mill which cast him into the River The Franciscan Friars where the King quartered thought to have expelled him thence but their design being discovered he put them into Boats without Sails or Oars and exposed them to the mercy of the Sea yet they got a Shoar The Castilians possessed the Skirts of the Town and many Skirmished dayly hapned In the mean while the Earl of Gijon King Henry's Son took Cascaes at the Mouth of Tagus whilst several Parties wasted the Country Most of the City Burnt The Lisbonians not able to expel the Enemy out of the Suburbs fired the Houses and they in requital set Fire to the Rua-nova or New Street and so the greatest part of the City was Burnt The Country betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho was no less infested by the Forces of Galicia which routed a Portuguese Body that came to oppose them 10. Such was the posture of Affairs Peace concluded when in the Month of March Guido of Bononia a Cardinal was sent by the Pope to compose these Differences and towards the latter end of that Month the Peace was concluded upon these Conditions That both the Kings should joyn with him of France against the King of England and Duke of Lancaster That the Portuguese should furnish a Fleet for Three Years to be maintained by the Castilians That the English should not be supplied with Ammunition from Portugal That the Portuguese should expel the Castilians that followed him That a general Pardon should be granted on both sides That the Princess Beatrix Sister to King Ferdinand should be married to Sancho Lord of Albuquerque Brother to King Henry The Two Kings meet in friendly manner The two Kings met upon the Banks of the River Tagus and parted in Friendly manner In pursuance of the Treaty of Peace Count Sancho married the Lady Beatrix and the Wedding was kept with great Solemnity A Match was also agreed betwixt Elizabeth Bastard-Daughter to our King and Alonso Earl of Gijon Bastard-Son to King Henry Thus ended the War to the Satisfaction of both Kings but with the Desolation of their Kingdoms CHAP. XII The remaining Part of the Life and Reign of Ferdinand the First of the Name and Ninth King of Portugal from the Year 1373. till 1383. 1. KIng Ferdinand had not yet forgot the Treasure detained from him by the King of Aragon 1374. in return of his Mutability Ferdinand enters into a League with the King of Castile against the King of Aragon He thereupon meditated Revenge but it was hard to compass It happened the King of Castile fell at Variance
That in case King Ferdinand died without Heirs his Daughter should inherit and after her her Issue but if she had none then King John should succeed and that if King John his new Queen and the Princess Ellenor Wife to the Prince of Navar died without Heirs before King Ferdinand then he should inherit the Crown of Castile That till the new Queen of Castile had a Son Fourteen Years of Age Queen Ellenor her Mother should govern Portugal Thus it appears the future Pretensions of the King of Castile to the Crown of Portugal were just as were Queen Ellenor's to the Government and that the succeeding King John was an Usurper having no lawful Title to the Crown 8. King Ferdinand being Sick King Ferdinand falls sick his Queen Ellenor conducted the Princess then not full Thirteen Years of Age to Elvas When both Parties had sworn the Performance of Articles the King and his Bride met in Tents near that City Such was Queen Ellenor's Beauty that the Castilians seeing her said King Ferdinand were much to blame had he not loved her having seen her or if having loved her he had not made her a Queen Here the Cardinal of Luna produced a Dispensation for them to marry they being within the prohibited Degrees of Consanguinity after which there was a most splendid Entertainment Then they returned to Elvas where the nuptial Rites were solemnly performed with extraordinary Pomp and after all publick Testimonies of Joy and Demonstrations of Grandeur were over the King of Castile gave rich Presents to all the Portuguese Gentry Queen Ellenor returning to Almada where King Ferdinand lay sick and intimating That she liked not the King of Castile The Master of the Order of Avis commended his Sense and Modesty to which she answered That is true but I would have a Man be more a Man At last King Ferdinand being convinc'd of the extravagant Familiarity that was betwixt the Queen and Count John Fernandez Andeyro and being unwilling by punishing to expose her Weakness or to lose her he so passionately loved he ordered the Master of the Knights of Avis to make him away privately But though he performed not at this time what was enjoyned him yet afterwards he murdered him in the Revolution that happened when the Order was void 9. The King now spent with Sickness removed from Almada to Lisbon 1383. where he died very Penitent on the 24th of October 1383. Ferdinand dies He was almost Forty four Years of Age reigned Seventeen and was buried with Pomp in the Quire of the Monastery of S. Francis at Santarem His Presence was so Graceful and Majestick that through any Disguise he appeared to be a King his Visage was long his Complexion fair as was his Hair and his Eyes sparkling His Character The great Expence of his Wars obliged him to enhance the price of the Money whereof he coined several Sorts but after his Wars ceased all the Coin was restor'd to its intrinsick Value He removed the University erected by King Denis at Coimbra to Lisbon but it afterwards returned to the same Place from whence he brought it He was rather Prodigal than Liberal which may appear by the many Towns we have mentioned he gave to the Castilians that came over to him As to his other Gifts one Instance will serve to demonstrate the rest To John Alonso de Moxica one of the Castilian Gentlemen that came over to Portugal besides Towns and Lands he gave in one Day 50 Horses 30 Mules 3 Suits of Armour 30000 Marks of Plate and 4 Sumptures loaded with rich Tapistry He pulled down the Roman Walls of Ebora to build New And thus though unfortunate in all his Undertakings he secured to himself the Love of all Men. 10. His lawful Issue was His Issue first Beatrix married to King John the first of Castile they wronged her who said she was Daughter to Count Fernandez Andeyro for she was Eight Years of Age when he begun to be familiar with the Queen Secondly A Son who died in his Infancy Thirdly Another in the same nature One Bastard Daughter he had married to Alonso Earl of Gijon Bastard Son to King Henry the second of Castile from whom sprung the Family of the Noronhas The END of THE THIRD BOOK THE HISTORY OF PORTUGAL The Fourth BOOK CHAP. I. The Birth Education and Actions of John Bastard Son to King Peter of Portugal His Promotion to be Protector of the Kingdom and Wars with Castile from the Year 1357. till the end of 1384. 1. JOHN Bastard Son to King Peter by Teresa Alonso of Galicia was born at Lisbon on the 22d of April 1357. 1357. In his Infancy he was kept by Laurence de Lyria John Bastard Son to King Peter aspires to the Crown a noted Citizen then delivered to Nunho Freyre de Andrade Master of the Order of Christ who presented him to the King at the Age of Seven Years asking for him the Mastership of the Order of Avis then vacant by the Death of D. Martin de Avelar This was the first time his Father saw him and having Knighted him gave him that Honour He was sent to receive it at Avis a Convent of that Order and was there educated till of Age to bear Arms. His Actions till the Death of King Ferdinand have been related it now remains to recount what he did afterwards The late King in his Will left the Administration of the Government to his Wife Queen Ellenor in pursuance of what had been Stipulated with King John of Castile upon his marrying the Lady Beatrix lawful Daughter to King Ferdinand tho the unbridled Malice of the Multitude Defamed her with the Name of Count John Fernandez Andeyro his Daughter Queen Ellenor entred upon the Government with Extraordinary tokens of Grief for the Death of the King her Husband The Council of the City of Lisbon advised her not to be so negligent in the Government as her Husband had been and she answered them so graciously that they went away well satisfied The King of Castile immediately sent Embassadors to condole her Loss and at the same time to require himself to be proclaimed King in the Right of his Wife and in pursuance of the late Capitulations Scarce was this mentioned throughout the Kingdom when a general reluctancy appeared in the Countenances of all Men. D. Henry Manuel de Villena Earl of Sea and Unkle to the King Castile was ordered to Proclaim him in Lisbon but was opposed by D. Alvare Perez de Castro in behalf of King Peter's lawful Issue by the Lady Agnes de Castro The same happened at Santarem Elvas and in most Places of the Kingdom King John proposed his Title by his Embassador to the City of Lisbon but it was not favourably received 2. The First contrivance of the Master of Avis Before his Assuming the Crown he Murders Count John Fernandez Andeyro with some others was to Murder the Count John Fernandez
the Queen's Favourite and the said Master being appointed General of the Country betwixt the Rivers Tagus and Guadiana he marched Three Leagues from Lisbon whence suddenly returning with armed Men he rushed into the Place and there Murdered the Unhappy Count. The Queen when she heard it said He has died a Martyr and I will to Morrow in proof of it undergo the Trial of Ordeal Next she went to know of the Master whether she also must die and a civil Answer was returned to quiet her The Rabble raised by the clamours of one of the Master's Pages who cryed he would be killed in the Palace flocked thither and would certainly have destroyed the Queen had not D. John the Master of Avis looked out at the Window He seeing the Multitude on his side went away followed by them to the great Market called Recio to Dine with the Queen's Brother the Earl of Barcelos who was consenting to the Murder The Bishop of Lisbon was then also at Dinner at his House and with him the Prior of Guimaraens and a Notary of Silves They hearing the Tumult got up into the Belfrey where the People seeing them called out to have the Bells ring They not regarding to obey these Tumultuary Shouts the Rabble broke in and cast them headlong from the Tower then dragged them to the Market called Recio where they lay naked and exposed to the Dogs till the next Day D. John after Dinner went to Court to beg the Queen's Pardon for murdering the Count. She took little Notice of him but threatned the Kingdom with the Power of Castile yet fearing the Rabble she went away from Lisbon to Alenquer praying to God at her departure that she might see the City burnt 3. Don John fearing the Power of the Queen resolved to go away into England but the more this was rumoured the more the Multitude pressed him to stay and protect them against Castile He made some seeming opposition but was soon brought to comply A Council was named where it was resolved that D. John should marry Queen Ellenor for defence of the Kingdom and that if the King of Castile had ever a Son by Queen Beatrix the Government should continue in D. Jâ—â—n and the Queen till that Son came to Age. Here ceased all the Reproaches that had been cast upon the Queen who when this Overture was made to her rejected it with Scorn Nevertheless he was declared Protector of the Kingdom He is declared Protector of the Kingdom by the Commonalty in the Church of S. Dominick and because most of the Nobility were absent then they were summoned to meet in the Town-House where the chief of them being dubious what to do one Alonso Jannez a Cooper stept into the midst of them and laying his Hand on his Sword threatned such as should refuse their Consent and they fearing the Multitude consented to what had been done in the Church of S. Dominick Thus was D. John Master of Avis entrusted with the Government and Defence of the Kingdom His First Action that gained him Reputation was the Prudent Choice he made of Counsellors not according to Men's Quality but their Ability Next to secure many of his Party he distributed a considerable Treasure belonging to those that followed the Queen or sided with Castile amongst them and promised a general Pardon for all Crimes but Treason not considering that the only Treason was to support him 4. The Queen began to think herself in Danger at Alenquer The Castle of Lisbon taken by the Protector and therefore leaving Vasco Perez de Camoens Governour there she went away to Santarem Here Nunno Alvarez Pereyra who had been Educated by her forsook her and went away to Lisbon where he was admitted into the Council of State D. John Alonso the Queen's Brother was Governour of the Castle of Lisbon and Martin Alonso Valente was within as his Lieutenant Alonso Yannez Nogueira got in with some Men sent by the Queen to Re-inforce the Garrison These refusing to deliver up their Trust to the New Protector they were Besieged and the Assailants threatning to Sacrifice their Wives and Children before their Faces if they held out they surrendred the Place The Nobility who opposed D. John called the Commonalty that followed him The People of the Messiah because they seemed to Adore him And the Rabble termed them Schismaticks and Traitors Several Places then in the Hands of the Nobility were easily wrested from them by the Commonalty as Beja Portalegre Evora and others Now the Rabble being uppermost began throughout the Kingdom to commit the most execrable Villanies Barbarities of the rebelliouâ— Rabble under the Pretence of defending their Country It was an unpardonable Offence even to name Castile And the Lady Joanna Perez Ferreyrim Abbess of the Monastery of Castres seeing a Man ill used for that pretended Crime modestly reproved their Cruelty but such was their Rage that tho' she fled into the great Church and embraced the Sanctuary in which the Holy Sacrament is kept there they gave her several Wounds then dragging her from the Altar tore off her Vail next they cut off her Coats so high as modesty forbids to utter which done she was dragged into the Market and there hewed in pieces Lastly the Body was dragged to the Place where they shut up the Cattle and left there till some Charitable Body buried it by Night To compleat this Sacrilege they returned to the Monastery designing to Murder all the Nuns but they withdrew themselves from their Fury 5. Queen Ellenor seeing her self in manifest Danger Queen Elenor flies to Castile fled to her Son-in-Law the King of Castile who espoused his own Quarrel in her The First thing he did was to secure Prince John Son to the Lady Agnes de Castro by that means to cut off the Hopes the Portuguese might have of a lawful Successor But the Portuguese ceased not to Encourage D. John to proceed in the Defence of the Kingdom and he the more to try them seemed doubtful and spread some Reports as if he would depart the Countrey But finding an inclination in the Multitude towards Prince John the more to exasperate them against Castile he caused a Standard to be made in which that Prince was drawn to the Life loaded with Chains The Protector his contrivances to Usurp the Crown which being carried about the City enraged the People against the King of Castile Thus pretending to Revenge the Wrong done to the Prince he gained the means of Establishing himself in the Throne and stirred up all the Kingdom to defend it self against Castile The Commonalty every where took his Part but not the Nobility Yet he believing he could not prevail without Forreign Aid asked it of Richard King of England at the same time perswading the Duke of Lancaster to assert the Right he had to the Crown of Castile by his Wife The Embassador's Proposals were admitted and much Money advanced to them
for the Expence of the War with which and some good Troops they returned The Earl of Gijon Bastard-Brother to the King of Castile and Elizabeth his Wife Bastard-Daughter to the late King of Portugal were both secured in Castile on Account of holding Correspondence in Portugal The King and Queen of Castile removed from Puebla de Montalvan to Toledo where against their being proclaimed Standards were made with the Arms of both Kingdoms And now it was debated in Council whether Portugal ought presently to be invaded The wiser sort were for trying all obliging Methods First but the hotter Youths allowed of nothing but force of Arms and this Advice as followed 6. The King marched to the City Guarda which was delivered to him by the Bishop but Alvaro Gil Governour of the Castle would not Surrender The Towns of Cerolico The King of Castile invades Portugal Bedado and Linhares were also put into his Hands Some other Places submitted conditionally that the King should fulfil the Articles of Marriage Queen Ellenor sent to perswade the King to proceed and meet her at Santarem Several Places submitted themselves to him in his way and being come to Santarem the First Resolution of Queen Ellenor was to request he would revenge the 〈◊〉 done to her The K. answered he could not 〈…〉 quarrel unless she would resign up the 〈…〉 which she accordingly did and then they 〈…〉 Town Here the King took 〈…〉 On the right side of the Royal 〈◊〉 were the Arms of Castile and Leon and on the left those of Portugal The Royal Seal ran thus John King of Castile and Leon of Portugal of Toledo c. Money was also coyned after that manner Many of the Nobility adheared to the King of Castile and he was possest of the best Part of the Kingdom but the Multitude generally was inclined to the Bastard D. John Master of the Order of Avis The King of Castile sent D. Peter Fernandez Cabeça de Vaca with 1000 chosen Horse and a proportionable number of Foot to invest Lisbon These Troops being advanced as far as Lumiar John Fernandez Moreyra engaged them with a small Party but was himself Killed with some others many Prisoners were taken and the rest fled And now D. John the Protector marched out to meet the Enemy but they not expecting his coming fled in great disorder to Alenquer and Tâ—rres Vedras leaving all behind them 7. At First the Castilians behaved themselves modestly at Santarem but after a few Days they turned the Inhabitants out of their Houses pillaged them and abused their Wives and Daughters and there being no redress the Town began to be abandoned The Office or chief Rabbi among the Jews being vacant Queen Ellenor begged it of the King for one Man and he gave it to another recommended by his Wife Queen Beatrix This repulse and their different Humours set Queen Ellenor at Variance with the King The King of Castile and Queen Ellenor at Variaâ—â—â— and she now repented her calling him in and resigning the Government into his Hands in so much that she advised many of her Followers to go over to the Master of Avis telling them he was their Natural Lord. The King and Queen went away to Coimbra which City had promised to receive them yet when the King was Quartered in a Monastery without the City A Conspiracy against the King of Castile discovered they refused to admit him Here a Conspiracy was laid to Convey Queen Ellenor into the City and Murder the King This Design was betrayed by a Jew some of the Conspirators fled and Queen Ellenor was sent Prisoner to the Monastery of Tordesillas near Valladolid As soon as the News of Queen Ellenor's imprisonment was brought the Town of Alenquer revolted to the Protector but the King being Re-inforced marched to Besiege Lisbon At Aruda 40 Portuguese hid themselves in a great Cave and Fire being applied to it most of them died Two hid themselves in the House where the King Quartered designing to Murder him but being discovered were Hanged Many Places in the Province of Alentejo held for the Protector and sent to him for one to Command over them he sent Nâ—nho Alvarez Pereyra with an absolute Power who having visited some Places of his Charge and hearing that a great Body of Castilians was upon their March to Besiege the Town of Frontera he hasted with a much smaller number to releive that Place His Men knowing how much more numerous the Enemy was at First refused to follow him but being encouraged by his Resolution they gave the Charge and put the Castilians to the Rout killing many and among them several Persons of Note This done he took Aronches by Force and Alegrete was surrendred to him 8. The Protector understanding that a mighty Fleet was coming from Castile ordered the Archbishop of Braga to over-see the Equipping of his Vessels Lisbon Besieged by Sea and Land which performed with great industry so that Twelve Galleys some Galliots and Seven Ships were fitted out The King of Castile spread his Army about Lisbon where one of his Parties approaching to S. Augustin's Gate was defeated by 200 Horse that Sallied out of the City About the end of May 13 Galleys and 40 Ships of Castile appeared in the River of Lisbon The King drew nearer to the City and encamping at the Foot of Mount Olivet wasted the Country then encompassing it on all sides resolved to Starve it In the mean while a considerable Fleet was setting out at Porto for the relief of Lisbon and the King having notice thereof with the Advice of his Commanders resolved to give the Enemy Battle in the River The Portuguese Fleet consisted of 17 Galleys and as many Ships which entred the River in this order First 5 Ships then the 17 Galleys and after them the other 12 Ships The Portuguese Fleet stops up the River to Lisbon The Castilians furiously assailed the 5 Ships where they met with a most vigorous Opposition yet they took 3 of them but whilst they were intent upon them the rest of the Portuguese slipped by and got safe up the Harbour Soon after the King's Fleet was re-inforced by several Vessels so that now it consisted of 60 Ships and 17 Galleys besides Carracks which made the Protector lay aside all thoughts of engaging 9. The Fort of Almada opposite to Lisbon after enduring great extremities for want of Water was at length Surrendred to the King who entred into that Place on the 1st of August 1384. At this time Ruy Freyre and others discovered to the Protector a Design of betraying the City to the Castilians carried on by D. Peter de Castro Son to Count Alvaro Perez and his Accomplices who were all apprehended Many also deserted to the King and among them D. Alonso Enriquez who at Coimbra had plotted to convey away Queen Ellenor Hunger now began to pinch in Lisbon and was hard to be remedied but that at the
Constance Daughter to King Peter from whom Henry the Bastard had usurped that Kingdom The Duke having this Right to the Crown of Castile set Sail from Plymouth with a numerous Fleet and arrived at Coruna in Galicia on the 25th of July where he landed 2000 Horse and 3000 Archers besides some other Forces and several Persons of Note The Duke was Sixty Years of Age without any grey hairs was tall and well shaped affable modest in Discourse of an excellent Deportment and in all respects answerable to his Royal Extraction With him came his Wife Constance and his two Daughters Philippa by his first Wife and Katherine by the second Scarce was he landed at Coruna when that Place owned him for its Lawful Sovereign as did the City Santiago and the greatest part of this Kingdom of Galicia Our King was at Lamego when the Duke landed in Spain The New King John and Duke of Lancaster meet Thence he removed to Porto and having agreed to meet the Duke at Ponte-Mauro set forward with a numerous Retinue They met upon the First of November in a Plain near Melgazo There it was agreed That if the Duke succeeded he should give the Towns of Ledesma Montilla Melgazo Plazenzia Grimal Canaveral Caceres Mendao Fuente del Maestre Zafra Torres de-Medina Fegenal and other Places with their Territories to the King of Portugal as Dower with his Daughter Philippa The Pope's Dispensation being come whereby the King was loosed from his Vow of Chastity made as Master of the Military Order of Avis and the Princess Philippa being conducted to him they were solemnly married upon Candlemas-Day Immediately the Queen's Household was settled and a plentiful Revenue assigned her 1387. which afterwards some other Queens of Portugal enjoyed 8. The King having spent Two Months with his Queen at Porto went with her to see her Father at Bragança and thence sent her back to Coimbra Many of the English were dead of Diseases With the King were 3000 Lances 2000 Cross-Bow Men and 5000 Foot They entred the Dominions of Castile and took Castro Calvo Mâ—â—tila Râ—sales Valderas and Villalobos Tho' Galicia had received the Duke as lawful King yet no Place in Castile admitted him but by Constraint Hereupon the King told him That to make an absolute Conquest it was requisite he should return to England for greater Forces The Duke approved of his Advice and they returned to Cuidad Rodrigo By the way they defeated a Party of the Enemies consisting of 500 Horse and some Foot Another Skirmish happened near the City upon the Passage of a Brook with the same Success The Duke being now in Portugal Embassadors came to him from the King of Castile Prince Henry of Castile marries the Daughter of the Duke of Lancaster Peace is concluded offering that Prince Henry Heir to the Crown should marry Katherine the Duke's Daughter that so all Pretensions to the Kingdom might cease The Duke assented and Articles being agreed upon and performed the War betwixt him and Castile ended He being with the King at Coimbra a Castilian was there burnt for contriving to Poyson him Soon after he returned to England 9. The King having held the Cortes or Parliament at Braga 1388. set out to recover some Places which still held for Castile Melgazo having held out to the last was then delivered up the Defendants having only leave to depart without Arms. It was remarkable at this Siege that Two Women A combat betwixt two Women one of the Town and the other of the Camp challenged each other and fought the latter was Victorious Hence the King marched to Lisbon and in September to the Province of Alentejo where about the middle of October after a stout Defence the Town and Castle of Campo-Major were taken by force At the beginning of the following Year 1389. the King being at Lisbon one of the Queens Ladies called Beatrix was found to have admitted Ferdinand Alonso one of the King's Bed-Chamber and his Favourite to her Bed Hereupon he was apprehended and having made his Escape from the Officer took Sanctuary in the Church Thence the King himself went to drag him and tho' he urged he was married caused him to be burnt The Lady went away to Castile to her Mother Embassadors came to the King being then in the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho proposing a Truce for some Months and so Commissioners were appointed to treat with him and in the mean while the King to lose no time Besieged and took the City Tuy in Galicia 139â— At length a Cessation was concluded for Three Years A Cessation of Arms betwixt Spain and Portugal for three Years and some Places restored on both sides but more to the Portuguese Nevertheless the King of Castile ceased not to make mighty preparations for War but his Designs were prevented by Death which happened to him by a fall from his Horse After the expiration of the Three Years the Nobles of Castile 1393. and the Governours to King Henry Son to the late King John by his First Wife the Lady Ellenor advised him to desist from his Pretensions to Portugal since he was not Born of Queen Beatrix on whom that Title was grounded Embassadors were sent to this Effect to Portugal where a Peace was concluded for Fifteen Years all Prisoners on both sides to be released and all Dammages done during the late Cessation to be made good and then Hostages for performance were given on both sides 10. But these Articles were not faithfully performed on the Part of Castile The Truce not duly observed neither as to restitution of Dammages nor releasement of Prisoners wherefore the Portuguese resolved to do himself Justice by taking some Towns and accordingly surprized Badajoz and Albuquerque Embassadors sent from Castile promised performance of Articles upon Restitution of those Places and it was only done to amuse the King for at the same time Vessels were fitting out in Biscay against Portugal and two Portuguese Ships laden with Warlike Stores were taken off of Cape S. Vincent At the same time the Castilians made Incursions wasting all the open Country But the Constable defeated a Party of 400 of them that was returning home with a rich Booty Campo-Mayor was soon after taken by the King Having thus secured themselves against their Enemy the King and Constable gave themselves some Repose The latter distributed most of what the King had bestowed on him for his Services on such Gentlemen as had always adhered to him On the contrary the King now established on the Throne took back to himself much of what he had bestowed on many great Men for their good Service in the War As the Constable had received most this fell heaviest upon him and therefore he resolved to depart the Kingdom but the King returning part of what he had taken from him with difficulty perswaded him to stay The taking of Badajoz and Albuquerque before mentioned
had renewed the War and the Country was now again in Hostile manner wasted on both sides wherein many notable Skirmishes happened CHAP. III. The remaining Part of the Life and Reign of King John the First of the Name and Tenth King of Portugal from the Year 1393. till 1433. 1. MAny great Men disgusted for that the King as was before said Had since his establishment recalled part of the Grants made to them during his Necessity went over to Castile where settling themselves they became the Heads of Noble Families The King having taken Salvatierra layed Siege to Tuy which after a vigorous Defence was surrendred to him In the mean while Denis Son to King Peter enters Portugal with an Army Prince Denis Son to King Peter by Lady Agnes de Castro was by the King of Castile sent into Portugal with an Army and the Title of King At the same time the Castilian Admiral James Hurtado de Mendoza entred the River Tagus with a Fleet of Forty Ships and Fifteen Galleys Nunho Alvarez Pereyra with all the Forces he could make marched to oppose Prince Denis who upon the News of his approach returned to Castile The King had given to the Constable the sole Government of the Province of Alentejo and Algarve which he for some time held but soon after resigned and went away to the King to assist him at the Siege of Tuy but it was taken before he arrived there 1398. Misser Ambrosio Marines a Genoese was sent Embassador from Castile to settle a Peace in order to which a Cessation was agreed upon for Nine Months 1401. This Term expired and nothing was concluded Hereupon the King about the middle of May layed Siege to Alcantara but was forced after some Days to desist from that Enterprize 2. A Treaty of Peace was again set on Foot at Segovia Peace concluded betwixt the Two Crowns where after long Debates it was concluded upon the following Conditions That no Money should be demanded of Castile on account of former Breach of Articles That Towns and Prisoners should be exchanged on both sides That the Castilian Hostages should be restored That the Portugueses who fled to Castile should return to their Estates On these Terms a Truce was concluded for Ten Years Nâ—t observed and Hostages were given on both sides for Performance But this Cessation produced no more quiet than the former continual Hostilities were exercised tho' the Actions seem not very considerable for there is no particular Account of them but the 4th Year after the conclusion of the last Truce a perpetual Peace began to be discoursed of King Henry of Castile was then dead and Queen Katherine Sister to the Queen of Portugal had the tuition of King John the Second not yet a Year Old In her Husband's Life time she had always advised Peace and she now moved That Embassadors from both sides might meet on the Frontiers of the Two Kingdoms who did so accordingly but came to no conclusion because the Castilians Demands ran high After many Messages had passed on both sides and much time spent the Treaty was again set a Foot and now Embassadors employed to manage it who at length agreed upon Articles whereof the chiefest was 1411. That the Subjects of both Crowns who had served against their Princes should be restored to their Countries and Estates Peace now established and the Crown secured Peace at length established application was made to the Pope for Absolution of the Censures laid on the Kingdom upon Account of promoting King John to the Throne he being a Bastard and having professed in the Order of Avis Pope Boniface the 9th granted his Request and Absolved the Kingdom The King had a Bastard-Son called Alonso whom he loved no less than his lawful Issue and therefore gave him to Wife Beatrix the only Daughter of the Constable Nunho Alvarez Pereyra They had a Daughter called Elizabeth who was Wife to Prince John Son to King John the First and two Sons which were Alonso afterwards Earl of Ourem and Ferdinand Earl of Arroyolos and First Duke of the House of Bragança 3. The King now fixed in his Throne The King bent upon publick rejoycings for the Peace had bent his thoughts upon solemn entertainments and publick rejoycings designing to Knight his Five Sons with all imaginable Solemnity But they advised him to expend that Money on some Forreign enterprize since all was quiet at home and it would be more honourable for them to be Knighted in the Field 1412. than in the Court The Design they fixed upon was the taking of Ceuta on the Coast of Africk which they acquainted the King withal and he approving thereof enjoyned them to keep it secret To this end Two Gallyes were sent to view the Place and sound the Port and to conceal what they went about they continued their Voyage to Sicily as had been at First given out Great industry was used in fitting out Vessels at Lisbon and many more of Galicia Biscay England and the Low-Countries were hired The Young Princes at the same time raised Forces in all Parts of the Kingdom Various judgments were made of the Intent of these Preparations Castile began to grow jealous the Aragonian was not well satisfyed and the Moorish King of Granada feared all the Storm would fall upon him The Rumour of these preparations drew many Martial Men from Forreign Parts to gain Honour in this Enterprize The Plague in Lisbon the Queen dies of it At this time the Plagâ—e had spread it self throughout Lisbon and having entred the Pallace Queen Philippa died of it Her Body was found Fifteen Months after not only uncorrupted but yielding a most Fragant smell Her Life was a Pattern of Piety and Vertue her happy Death was on the 18th of July 1415 1415. in the 64th Year of her Age. Many looked upon her Death as an ill Omen to the Enterprize in Hand and therefore advised to desist from it but the King and Princes could not be moved 4. On the last Day of July 1415. the Fleet sailed from Lisbon A great Fleet sails from Lisbon for the Conquest of Ceuta the 7th of August it came to Faro and the 14th the City Ceuta was taken to the Wonder of all Europe and Terror of the Enemies of Portugal The particulars of this Action which are not many the Place being taken in Four Hours are to be found in the Portuguese Affrick The King returning home created his Second Son Peter Duke of Coimbra and his Third Henry Duke of Viseo This done he went to Ebora and was there received in Triumph by the Princes John and Ferdinand and the Princess Elizabeth The Ratification of the perpetual Peace with Castile had been delayed till that King came to the Age of Fourteen and took the Government upon himself 1419. He being at that Age this Year 1419 Embassadors passed to and fro and after much Debate
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
English Order of the Garter which is of S. George he used for his Crest the Head of a winged Dragon and from that time forward the Portuguese use to call upon S. George in the time of Battle 10. Discoveries in this King's time were made by John Gonzalez Zarco Discoveries made in his time Tristan Vaz Teixeira and Bartholomew Perestrello who being drove they knew not whither by a storm found the Island they called Puerto Santo in the Year 1418 and two Years after that of Madera where they found a little Oratory and Inscription declaring that one Machin an English-Man had been there before Giles Yanez attempting what none durst before him passed beyond Cape Bojador and there planted a Cross CHAP. IV. The Life and Reign of Edward the First of the Name and Eleventh King of Portugal his Actions and Death from the Year 1391 till 1438. 1. KIng Edward was Born at Viseo Birth of King Edward in the Year 1391. He was with his Father at the taking of Ceuta and married Ellenor Daughter to King Ferdinaâ—d the first of Aragon 1391. in the Year 1428. The Body of King John being deposited in the Cathedral of Lisbon 1428. on the 14th of August the next Day his Eldest Son Edward was proclaimed King 1433. An Astrologer advised him to pass by that unfortunate Day An Astrological Prediction for that all the Constellations were Conspired against him But he religiously â—lighting these Predictions went on with the Solemnity and was Crowned that very Day Then began the Astrologer publickly as he had before done in private to denounce that his Reign would be short as to time but tedious for the Misfortunes which would happen in it The New King went to divert himself at Sintra where his Son Alonsâ— not full 20 Months Old was Sworn Heir to the Crown by the Nobility This was the only time the like Ceremony was performed without the Concurrence of the Commonalty by their Representatives He was also the first that had the Title of Prince given him in Portugal Alonso Son to King Edward the first that 〈◊〉 the Title of Prince in Portugal his Father following the example of the other Courts of Christendom The first that used it was that of England where the Heir of the Crown was called Prince of Wales From Sintra the King sent his Summons to all the Prelates and Nobles for them to meet in order to attend the Translation of his Father's Body to a noble Sepulchre designed for it in the Church of Batalla belonging to the Dominicans and of the invocation of the Assumption of our Blessed Lady built by that King in Memory of the Victory obtained in that Place 2. It will not here be amiss The Funeral of King John in short to say something of his Funeral which may shew the Custom of those times All the Nobility and Clergy Assembled at Lisbon The Mourning then used was either white Sack-Cloath or raw Canvas Such was the Apparel of all the Nobility and their Families The Pallace was all Hung with Black On the 25th of October all the Company marched in orderly Procession from the Pallace to the Church with great silence the Bells of all the Churches ringing At the Church after a short Sermon the Body was placed on a Mausoleum and then the Divine Office for the dead performed with great Solemnity Prince Peter and many other great men stay'd in the Church all Night with the Body and next Day after Mass and Sermon a costly Offering was made of Gold Silver and rich Brocados This done the Body was placed on a Triumphant Charriot which was drawn through the Streets by the King his Brothers and the Nobility In the New Street and in the great Place called Recio Scaffolds were erected on which Learned Men made Funeral Orations suitable to the Occasion At S. Vincent's Gate Four Horses were put to the Charriot Four times the Funeral halted betwixt Lisbon and the Church of Batalla at Odivellas Villafranca Alcoentre and Alcobaça The Fifth Day it came to the Church of Batalla whither the Cortes or Parliament was summoned and there all that great Assembly assisted at Mass and the other Funeral Rites 3. The King hasted away to Leyria King Edward holds a Parliament flying from the Plague for here began his Misfortunes The Cortes or Parliament was held at Santarem where the King gave general Satisfaction Then he applied himself to the cares of the Government He caused also the Laws to be epitomized and reduced to one Volume taking special care that they should be put in Execution His next care was to moderate excess in Apparel and Diet and then he Ordered That only one of the Princes and such of the Nobility as were named should attend at Court at one time the rest being sent away to their Estates and they to relieve the others in their turns 1434. Thus the ensuing Year was spent A general Council Pope Martin had before this time summoned a general Council to meet at Basle for Uniting the Greek and Latin Churches 1435. To this Council were sent Six Embassadors from Portugal The Union of the Two Churches took Effect but was not lasting for the Greeks not finding those Supplies they expected from the Pope against the Turks soon fell off The Portuguese Embassadors obtained a Grant of the then Pope Eugenius That the Kings of Portugal might be Crowned and Anointed in the same manner as those of England and France This same Year the King designed his Sons should receive the Sacrament of Confirmation with great Pomp and Solemnity but News being then brought that the Kings of Naples and Navarre Prince Henry and above 100 Persons of great Note were taken Prisoners in a Sea Fight by Philip Duke of Milan all publick Joy ceased and the Court was filled with Mourning nevertheless the Young Princes were confirmed 4. This same Year also it was An Expedition against Tangier that the Princes Henry and Ferdinand having first gained the Queen to their Party perswaded the King to take in Hand an Expedition against Tangier in Africk It was long before they could prevail upon him but at last overcome by their importunities he took the Fatal Resoluton A Tax was laid upon the Kingdom for the Expence of this War and all the Preparations for such an Expedition diligently made On the 17th of August the Princes Embarked and the 22th they sailed from Belem 1437. The particulars of this Unhappy Undertaking belong properly to the Portuguese Africk where they are to be seen at large but the even was The Portuguese Army destroyed by the Moors and the King's Brother taken That most of the Portuguese Army perished and Prince Ferdinand remained in Captivity he being left as an Hostage for restoring Ceuta to the Moors upon their suffering the Relicks of the Portuguese to return home Prince Henry the Adviser of this Enterprize sent Notice to
the King how he left his Brother in Servitude and tho he was the chief Cause of his falling into that Misfortune yet advised not to Ransom him at so dear a rate as by restoring Ceuta to the Infidels Those many Portuguese who escaped out of Africk most Wounded Naked and Starved Landing on the Coast of Spain in the dead of Winter found such extraordinary Charity in the Towns of Castile The Charity of the Spaniâ—â—ds 〈…〉 through which they travelled that I dare avouch they had not met the like in their own Country They were all bountifully Cloathed their Wounds dressed and Money liberallâ— bestowed upon them In every House they had the 〈◊〉 Beds given them and being well recovered were supplied with all they could desire to carry them home The King informed by these People of the charitable Entertainment they had found ceased not to extol the goodness of those who had shown such Favour to his Subjects and to express his Gratitude he sent Letters to Sevil and other Places of Andaluzia where his Subjects had been received full of Acknowledgments and Commendations and offering himself and his Kingdom ready to require them 5. The King before the News came of this Disaster was removed from Lisbon to Santarem flying from the Plague that then raged in that City The Plague at Lisbon Having Advice there of the danger his Forces were in at Tangier he made all possible Preparations to relieve them but too late for before any could set out part of the vanquished Fleet returned 14â—8 The following Year the King summoned the Cortes or Parliament to meet at Leyria He gave them in Charge to consider what was to be done concerning Prince Ferdinand left an Hostage to the Moors for the delivery of Ceuta Differences in the Cortes about the ransoming of Prince Ferdinand He produced a Paper written by that Prince signifying that Ceuta could not be maintained and therefore it was better to give it up then suffer it to be taken The Princes Peter and John with all the Commons voted that the Place should be delivered but the Archbishop of Braga said That a Christian Town could not be given away to the Infidels for one Man without the consent of the Pope Others were for deferring the Exchange for some time and in the mean while to offer a Summ of Money and all the Moors in Portugal which were many for the Prince and in Case this were not received that the Pope and Christian Princes should unite their Forces against Africk which if it could not be effected then Ceuta should be delivered 6. The King stood dubious amidst such variety of Opinions At length he resolved to have recourse to the Pope and all the Christian Princes believing they would all together assist him to ransom his Brother From them he received nothing but words of Comfort and Advice not to surrender Ceuta The Plague was now so diffused throughout the Kingdom that the King wandred from Town to Town Being on the way to Tomar a Letter was given him which he no sooner opened but the infection it brought seized him 14â—â— In that Town he diâ—â— on the 9th of September King Edward 〈◊〉 of the Plague in the 47th Year of his Age having reigned Five Years and near a Month. In his Will he ordained his Brother should be ransomed with Money but in Case that were refused then Ceuta should be given for him That his Wife Queen Ellenor should Govern the Kingdom and the Prince his Son He was well Shaped Strong his Visage round his Beard thin his Hair black his Eyes heavy but taken altogether his Countenance was graceful He loved gay Apparel and always appeard in Publick with Splendour As to his Inclinations he was Merciful and a lover of Truth and Justice For outward Accomplishments he was an excellent Horseman loved Wrestling and was much addicted to Hunting He writ some Treatises in Latin favoured learned Men and was very Religious Several New sorts of Money were coined by him and considering how prodigal his Predecessors had been in giving away the Revenues of the Crown he confirmed a Law invented by his Father That no Female should inherit any Gift of the Crown 7. His lawful Issue as he had no other was as follows His Issue 1st D. Alonso his Successor 2dly Ferdinand Duke of Viseo Master of the Military Orders of Christ and Santiago and Constable of Portugal and also Father to Emanuel who was afterwards King 3dly Philippa who died of the Plague at 12 Years of Age. 4thly Ellenor married to the Emperor Maximilian who was Grand-Father to the ever-renowned Charles the 5th D. John de Silva and Meneses fell passionately in Love with this Princess and followed her till he saw her married after which he became a Franciscan Fryar and led a very exemplary Life at Montorio near Rome 5thly Katherine contracted in England and Navarre yet never married 6thly Joanna Born after the Death of her Father and married afterwards to King Henry the 4th of Castile CHAP. V. The First Part of the Life 〈◊〉 Reign of King Alonso the Fifth of the Name and Twelfth King of Portugal from the Year 1432. till 1469. 1. KIng Alonso the 5th The Birth of King Alonso Succeeded his Father being but Six Years of Age. He was born at the Palace of Sintra in the Year 1432. His Father in his Will ordained 1432. That the Queen should have the Government of the Young King and Kingdom His Accession to the Crown and Differâ—â—â— between the Qâ—â—â—n and Nobility but every Nobleman striving to draw the Power into his own Hands caused all to run into Confusion whence ensued greater Destruction than had been produced by the preceding Plague They blamed the King for committing the care of the Realm to a Woman she a Forreigner and what they most resented a Castilian as they termed her tho' she was Daughter to the King of Aragon The Princes Brothers to the late King were the Heads of these Factions and particularly Prince Peter who was always an Enemy to the Queen Prince Alonso being proclaimed King in the Sixth Year of his Age on the Tenth of September in the Town of Tomar the Second Day after his Father's Death Queen Ellenor took upon her the Government as had been ordained by her Husband's Will and so far laid aside all former Animosity with Prince Peter that they did nothing without his Advice and desired him joyntly with her to Sign the Writs of Summons for the Cortes or Parliament Before the Cortes could meet Prince Peter upon pretence of Zeal to secure the Succession in Case the Young King should die before he was Marriageable caused his younger Brother Ferdinand to be Sworn Heir to the Crown conditionally if the other died without Issue The Queen pleased with these outward shows of Loyalty in Prince Peter discovered to him That the King her Husband had declared to his Confessor
it was his Will that the present King Alonso should marry Elizabeth Daughter of the said Prince Peter to which she willingly consented and desired it might be immediatly performed The Prince tho' astonished at so great a favour accepted the offer No sooner was this noised abroad but Alonso Earl of Barcelos Bastard-Brother to Prince Peter designing to marry the King to his own Grand Daughter prevailed with the Archbishop of Lisbon the Queen's Favâ—â—rite to diswade her from that Resolution Prince Petâ—â— understanding the Design asked the Queen to confirm her Promise to him under her Hand which she tho her mind was altered easily granted 2. The Cortes being met at Torres Novas The Cortes meet and instead of settling Peace widen the Breach where Peace ought to have been established there Discord broke out The Nobility envying Prince Peter the Honour of marrying his Daughter to the King Conspired against him However it was carried in this Parliament That the Queen should have the Education of the King and Prince Peter the Power of the Government She was content but his Adversaries stickled against this Resolution so that they came to be divided the Nobility affirming the Queen ought to Govern and the Commons asserting it was their Right to nominate the Prince a Protector Prince Henry mediated between them allotting the Queen the Charge of the King and the Revenue appointing the Prince to Defend the Kingdom and allowing Earl Alonso to take Charge of the Administration of Justice with the Advice of the Council and Approbation of the Queen and Prince directing the Cortes to meet Yearly to settle all greater Matters Prince Peter tho' nothing was left him but the bare Title of Protector submitted rather than embroil the Kingdom Earl Alonso tho' he had more than he could have demanded was dissatisfied and the Queen pushed on by the Prince's Adversaries would part with nothing The mutinous People obliged the Queen to accept of what was allotted her Earl Alonso sent his Son to demand of Prince Peter the Note the Queen had given him for Security of the King 's Marrying his Daughter he in scorn tore it in pieces and so returned it 3. Embassadors from Castile had been some time in Portugal Embassadors of Castile sent away without an Answer and could not be heard by reason of the present Disorders At length they had Audience of the Queen at Lisbon where they proposed in the Name of King John the Second of Castile That the Bishops expelled during the Schism should be restored That the Military Orders of Avis and Santiago in Portugal should submit themselves as they had been before to those of Calatrava and Avis in Castile That some Portuguese Bishopricks formerly subject to the Archiepiscopal See of Sevil should return to its Obedience After some Debate they were sent away without any Answer which was to be given by Portuguese Embassadors appointed to follow them The People were not at all pleased with the Queen's Administration and pressed Prince Peter to take it upon himself She flying from the Plague then in the City retired to Mount Olivet where she was delivered of the Princess Joanna afterwards Queen of Castile and received Letters from the Pope condoling the Death of the King and advising her not to deliver Ceuta for Prince Ferdinand Prince Peter stirred up by the People to take upon him the Government and advised to it by his Brother Prince John to prevent a Civil War delayed the time At length the People wholly averse to the Queen The People averse to 〈◊〉 Queen ran in multitudes to oblige the Prince to enter upon the Administration of the Publick Affairs and he tho' displeased with the Queen pacified the Multitude perswading them to put off that Design till the Meeting of the Cortes or Parliament 4. The Queen privately writ to all the Members of Parliament to come armed Tumults against the Queen that they might suppress the Rabble But Prince Peter understanding it as Protector charged them to be ready to obey his Orders This done he took leave of the Queen in a course manner which President made her the more slighted she being sensible of it speedily removed to Alenquer The Citizens of Lisbon elected a Standard-bearer and held Seditious Meetings in contempt of the Queen's Letters The Archbishop fortified himself against the Citizens they stopped his Revenue sent Complaints against him to Rome and he was forced to fly to Castile The Multitude headed by a Cooper declared Prince Peter should Govern and a Taylor ratify'd this Decree Thus the Kingdom was disposed of by a Cooper and a Taylor The Governour of the Castle of Lisbon held for the Queen but being sore pressed by the People was forced to surrender it to Prince John Prince Peter sent to Summons the Queen to the Parliament she replyed she would not go unless he resigned all Claim to the Government but he rather chose to stand to the Election made of him by the Cooper and the Taylor Prince Peter made Regent by a Cooper and a Taylor Heads of the Rabble The Prince coming from Coimbra to Lisbon accepted the Government at the hands of the Multitude which was afterwards confirmed to him by the Cortes or Parliament to which the Young King was brought after sufficient Security given his Mother that he should be restored to her Nevertheless he was forcibly taken from her and she retired to Sintra Thence she craved Assistance of her Brothers the Princes of Aragon who sent Embassadors to intercede for her but they were dismissed without any Answer She ceased not to make Friends in Navarre and Aragon and the Prince secured Castile to his Party The Queen in order to make her Escape sent away her Plate and Jewels which were of a great Value to be kept in the Castle of Albuquerque Embassadors came from Castile to require she might either be restored to the Government or have leave to depart the Kingdom But no satisfactory Answer being given them she hereupon made her Escape with her Daughter Joanna born after the Death of the King 5. The Queen being missing Civil War in Portugal all was in Confusion Crato and all the Castles subject to that Priory held for her and thus the Civil War commenced Some Places were taken by the Prince and he resolved to Besiege the Queen in the Town of Crato but she having called some Castilian Troops to her Assistance after making much havock withdrew into Castile Alonso Earl of Barcelos still held out for the Queen but his Son following the Prince brought him over to that Party tho' not without difficulty Thus for some time all Storms seemed to be blown over About this time was brought from Rome a Dispensation for the Young King to Marry Prince Peter's Eldest Daughter Elizabeth as also the Orders of Santiago and Avis in Portugal were exempted from any Subjection to the Orders in Castile The Dispensation being come the King
Reign of King Alonso the Fifth of the Name and Twelfth King of Portugal and his Death from the Year 1470 till 1481. 1. ON the 18th of September 14â—â— died at Setubal Prince Ferdinand Brother to King Alonso and Father to many Children whereof one was Emanuâ—l afterwards King Soon after his Death his Daughter Ellenor was married to Prince John he being Fourteen Years of Age and she Thirteen Twelve Portuguese Ships now coming from Flanders were taken by the English whereupon our King ordered Reprisals to be made and sent Embassadors to complain of it which was followed by a lasting Peace In the mean while Persons were sent to discover the Port of Arzila on the Coast of Africk who brought an Account that 30000 Men were requisite for that Expedition 24000 Landmen besides the Seamen were shipped on Board 308 Sail of all sorts 14â—1 The King sailed to Lagos in Algarve King Aloâ—so 〈…〉 and Tangier before he discovered his Design then passing over to Arzila took that Place as he did Tangier forsaken by the Inhabitants upon the first News of his approach He changeâ— his 〈◊〉 Upon this Conquest the King changed his Titles which before were King of Portugal Algarve and Ceutâ—â— for those of King of Portugal and both Algarves that on this side and that on the other in Africk Prince Ferdinand after he was taken in the former Expedition against Tangier lived Six Years in Slavery and his Body remained Twenty more among the Infidels But the King gave now in exchange for his Bones Two Wives and a Daughter of 〈…〉 Lord of that Place 14â—â— and afterwards King of Fiâ— Thâ— Bones were brought over and buried in the Famous Church of Batalla King Hâ—â—ry of Castâ—â—e and our King Alonso had an interview between Badâ—â—â—z and Elvas about a Match for the Prince of Portugal with 〈◊〉 Princess of Castile but it had no Effect for the rebellious Castilians openly declared her a Bastard and Elizabeth that Kingâ—â— Sister was married to Ferdinand 〈◊〉 Aragon by the Name of Princess of Castile It it horrid to think with what Impudence they durst Declare that Princess a Bastard seeing she was Born in Wedlock and for what they pretended of the King's Impotency it was contrary to Reason since it is notorious the Queen was Jealous of him and she could have no occasion for jealousie had she found the King unfit for the Company of Women But the World is sufficiently convinced there can be no true Reason given to justifie Rebellion yet Rebels never want pretences to Colour their Villany 2. King Henry of Castile met his Sister Elizabeth at Segovia Affairs of Castile and he dying on the 11th of December following it was generally believed he was poisoned In his Will he appointed his Daughter Joanna to succeed him and desired the King of Portugal to take her to Wife At the Hour of his Death his Confessor pressed him to declare who was his lawful Heir and he answered his Daughter Joanna Nothing more could have been done to prove her Legitimate but nothing will suffice against hardned Rebels Scarce was the Princess Elizabeth assured of the King's Death when she caused her self to be proclaimed Queen at Segovia In the mean while the Marquis de Villena the Earl of Benavente and the Bishop of Siguenza appointed by King Henry to see his Will executed sent to the King of Portugal praying him to set forward with all possible speed and that not only they but many more Nobles and the principal Cities of Castile would declare for him The King was then at Estremoz where having consulted his Council he resolved to accept of what was offered and in order thereunto sent his Lord Chamberlain Lope de Albuquerque to Castile who returned to him with fresh Assurances in the Month of January the King being then at Evora Elizabeth the New Queen sent some religious Men to advise our King not to engage in an unjust War as she termed it and to offer him another Joanna Sister to her Husband Ferdinand Alonso 〈◊〉 War with Castile in 〈◊〉 of the 〈…〉 in Marriage He answered he was resolved to stand by his Niece being obliged to it as an Unkle as a King and as a Gentleman 3. Whilst he made Preparations for War he sent an Embassador to Ferdinand and Elizabeth to demand that Crown who returning with such an Answer as he had expected he immediately advances to Castile by the way of Aronches with 5600 Horse and 14000 Foot With this Army he came to Plasencia and was there joyfully received by many of the Nobility There he found the true Queen and was contracted to her those there present and many absent by Proxy swore Allegiance to him The King then stiled himself King of Castile and Portugal and nothing was wanting for Bedding with the Queen but the Dispensation from Rome which Ferdinand and Elizabeth with all their might opposed No sooner was this known to the Castilian King and Queen but they also took the stile of Castile and Portugul and sent Forces to invade that Kingdom which having made some spoil returned without any opposition Queen Joanna sent her Letters to all the Towns of Castile exhorting them to return to her Obedience since they had twice sworn her lawful Heiress to the Crown The King marched to Arevalo and thence to Toro which City held for him and the Castle he took by force Zamora was delivered to him and thither he conducted his Bride Thence they returned to Toro where Queen Joanna Mother to the Bride and Sister to the Bridegroom died on the 13. of June Ferdinand and Elizabeth raised all the Forces they could and had now gathered together 12000 Horse and 30000 Foot With this Force Ferdinand marched and encamped before Toro where feigning Friendship he sent to advise King Alonso to depart or to decide the matter by single Combat neither whereof he well knew could as circumstances stood be accepted However Peter de Avendanho so cut off the Castillian's Provisions that he was forced to draw off his Army to Medina del Campo Thither came Elizabeth to Ferdinand reproaching him that he had not accepted of a single Combat on such terms as the Portuguese allowed of But Money beginning now to fail them and they fearing to tax the People had recourse to the Clergy who gave them half the Plate of the Churches 4. Some Overtures of Peace were now made 〈…〉 but came not to any head Our King marching to relieve Burgâ—s was recalled by the revolt of Zamora which Elizabeth of Castile laying hold of gave out that he fled which drew many to her Party The Portuguese now grew weary of being abroad and the King wanting Money his Subjects refused to furnish him upon that Account so that all his Affairs went backwards King Alonso thus streightned discharged many of his Army and many more went away without expecting a Discharge The Governour of the Castles on
the Pope's Dispensation should be immediately obtained for him to Marry Queen Joanna true Heiress of Castile That each of them should appoint four Persons to adjust what Army and Treasure was requisite for carrying on their Design King Lewis readily offered a good Sum of Money to Bribe all such Governours of Towns as could by that means be drawn to their Party Embassadors were immediately dispatch'd to Rome to obtain the Dispensation and King Alonso set out to meet the Duke of Burgundy who then lay at the Siege of Nancy in Lorrain They met upon the River then frozen over and the King being conducted to the Army with all possible marks of Honour and Respect the Duke there shewed him how little Confidence was to be reposed in the Promises of the King of France who the next day appeared with an Army in favour of the Lorrainer The day after the Burgundian was killed and King Lewis being bent upon the Conquest of Burgundy sent King Alonso to Paris where he was received with the greatest Magnificence imaginable All the Embassadors could obtain of the Pope was that if the King of France would furnish King Alonso with a sufficient Force to reduce Castile he would then grant the Dispensation Hereupon the two Kings met at Arras where Alonso plainly discovered he could repose no Trust in Lewis He went away to Roan and there spent a great part of the Summer waiting till his Fleet was fitted out to return home He went down the River to his Fleet then at Harfleur but fearing to be stayed by the King of France and ashamed to return home after that unfortunate Journey K. Alonâ—â— resolves 〈…〉 his 〈◊〉 at Hierusalem he resolved to go spend the rest of his Days in Hierusalem On the 24th of September before Day he went out to a Chappel near the City with only four Servants having ordered his Chaplain Stephen Martinez to expect him half a League further There he dismissed one of the four giving him the Key of a Cabinet in which were found four Letters one for the King of France giving him an Account of his Design and desiring him to favour those Servants he left in his Kingdom Another for Prince John his Son charging him upon his Blessing immediately to cause himself to be Proclaimed King Another to the Kingdom in general Commanding the People to receive him as such The last was to those left at Harfleur directing them to be Obedient to the Earl of Faâ—â— till their return to Portugal 8. Monsieur de Labret by the King of France his Order attended upon King Alonso who sent out every way to find him and having met with him the second day stopped him but with all imaginable Respect There he received a Letter from King Lewis by which he was perswaded to alter his Resolution and to return to Portugal where on the Tenth of November his Son was Proclaimed King in the Town of Santarem 〈…〉 pursuant to the Letters he had sent to that effect Only four days had he worn the Crown when his Father arrived and he in Confusion asking how he should receive him The Duke of Braganza answered As your Father and as your King The Prince accordingly met him at Oeyras where kneeling he kissed his â—ands and resigned the Government up 〈…〉 Alonso would have contented himself with the 〈◊〉 of King Algarve but the Prince persisted he would accept of nothing during his Life Whilst the King was abroad Queen Elizabeth laid Siege to Toro which was bravely defended till one Bartholomew a Shepherd discovered to the Castilian Generals a Place which being thought unaccessible was left unguarded Wherefore Six Hundred Men in the Night conducted by the Shepherd surmounâ—ed all those difficult Passes and got into the Town The Count de Marialva who was Governour quitting the Castle fled to Castro Nunho yet the Lady Mary Sarmiento Widow of John de Vlloa who had been Constable of that Fort defended that Place till seeing no hopes of Relief she was obliged to surrender it upon most Honourable Articles Presently after Queen Elizabeth caused the other Places that held for Portugal to be besieged and had them surrendred to her In the mean while the Portuguese Forces wasted the Country about Badâ—â—oz and Cuidad Rodrigo and Alonso de Carâ—â—â—as Master of Santiago did the same on the Portuguese Borders both Parties executing the utmost Cruelâ—â—es usual in War 9. Upon the return of King Alonso out of France 14â—3 the War was revived 〈…〉 and he thought of Marrying the Lady Joanna having obtained a Dispensation but Prince John his Son used his utmost Endeavours to obstruct it The Bishop of Evora going into Castile with 700 Horse and 〈◊〉 Number of Foot to assist the Countess of Mâ—â—ellin 〈…〉 followed the Portuguâ—se Interest was met by the Master of Santiago routed and taken Prisoner yet bribing his Keeper he escaped to Merida and ever after did the Castilians much harm till the Peace was concluded Both Parties being sufficiently exhausted easily condescended to Treat of a Peace which was concluded at Alcaçovas on the Fourth of September 1479. excluding the unfortunate Princess Joanna Peace concluded betwixt the two Crowns who against her will was forced to become a Nun. Yet she lived to see God's Judgments fall upon them that drove her to that Necessity for Prince John who hoped to Marry his Son to the Princess Elizabeth of Castile and by that means to make him Heir to that Crown saw that same Son dragged to Death by a Horse and none of his Race ascended the Throne of Portugal King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth outlived their only Son John and had only a Daughter left who conveyed that Crown to the House of Austria 1480. Nor was the Plague that began the following Year at Lisbon and lasted Fourteen Years less to be accounted of than Heavenly Vengeance The Castilians contrary to the last Articles of Peace sent a Fleet to Trade on the Coast of Guinea Our King sent a Squadron under the Command of George Correa to obstruct them 1481. He met with 30 Ships of Castile upon the Coast called Mina and after a sharp Engagement obtained a compleat Victory bringing several of them to Lisbon 10. King Alonso ever since the Lady Joanna of Castile was constrained to take upon her a Religious Habit fell into an extraordinary Melancholy and had resolved himself to turn a Monk but returning from acquainting his Son with his Design to Cintra he there fell sick of a violent Fever which in a few days carryed him off His Death was upon the Eighth of August The Death of King Alonso in the 49th Year of his Age and 43d of his Reign He was oâ— a Graceful Presence somewhat bulky had a thick Beard his Hair dark-brown and of Condition extreamly courteous In War he was active in Peace negligent a Lover of Learning learned himself and was the first King that collected a
Power in Cases Criminal This pleased the People but made him odious to the Nobility Soon after he made a Law That his Judges and other Officers of Justice should execute their employments throughout all the Territories of great Men that pretended exemption from them All the Grandees opposed these New Ordinances but the King was not so jealous of any as of Ferdinand Duke of Bragança a Servant of whom presented to the King certain Letters from the King of Castile to the said Duke which much increased the King's suspition 1482. and caused him to decree his Death In the mean while The Plague at Lisbon the Plague beginning to diffuse it self at Lisbon King John removed his Court to Monte-Mayor a more healthy Place An Embassador was sent into England to confirm the established Friendship with that King Another was also dispatch'd to Castile about concluding the Match designed betwixt Prince Alonso of Portugal and the Princess Elizabeth of Castile which was not effected till afterwards Embassadors came thence to Portugal on that Account By his Embassadors that had been in Castile the King had farther information concerning the Duke of Bragança his holding Correspondence with that King The Duke was warned by the King to forbear any farther proceeding in that Correspondence yet he desisted not but on the contrary proposed to unnaturalize himself in order to be at liberty to withstand his Sovereign The King understanding that the Duke accompanied his Son Prince Alonso in his Journey from Moura to Evora he resolved to apprehend him After the Solemnity of the Princes Reception was over the Duke coming to take his leave of the King was by his order secured 4. The Duke being now in Custody the King called his Council and laid before them the Copies of his Letters of Correspondence with Castile Judges were appointed for his Trial before whom he appeared twice but refused to come the third time The Duke of Braganca beheaded for High-Treason They thereupon past Sentence of Death upon him which was publickly executed upon a Scaffold by severing his Head from his Body D. Alvaro de Portugal one of the Duke's Brothers was banished and found such Favour in Castile that he was made President of the Council The Marquis of Monte-Mayor his other Brother having made his escape was executed in Effigy This done the King and Queen took a Progress through the Provinces betwixt Duero and Minho and behind the Mountains In February they returned to Santarem 1484. where they found the Death of the Duke of Bragança instead of security to them The Duke of Viseo Conspires against the King's Life was like to produce greater danger The Duke of Viseo Brother to the Queen had conspired to Murder the King in hopes to Succeed him as he would have done had he not endeavoured to anticipate the time His Associates were the Bishop of Evora and several other Persons of Note This Treason was discovered to the King by Antony de Faria who had it from James Tinoco Brother to a Servant-Maid of the Bishop that gave him the first information James Tinoco gave the King a particular Account of the Design but found not entire Credit till D. Vasco Coutino confirmed all he had said Three times the King escaped the Danger being provided against it since the information given him and yet none of the Conspirators perceived he knew any thing of it On the 22d of August being at Setuval he sent for the Duke and having taken him aside asked of him what he would do to the Man that designed to kill him The Duke answered The Duke stabbed by the King I would kill him first if I could Then replied the King You have given judgment against your self At the same Instant he stabbed him so that he fell down dead at his Feet 5. Late at Night Proclamation was made for apprehending the rest of the Conspirators The other Conspirators punished and the next Morning the Duke's Carcass was exposed to publick view upon the Scaffold Most of the Traitors were apprehended The Bishop of Evora being put into a Cestern was there eaten alive by Worms His Brother Ferdinand was beheaded the same end had Peter de Albuquerque D. Gutiere Coutino died in Prison and D. Alvaro de Atayde fled to Castile and was afterwards pardoned by King Emanuel The Count de Pena-Macor died at Sevil and Ferdinand de Sylveyra was killed in France D. Vasco Coutinho one of the discoverers for his loyalty was created an Earl and Tinoco the other being of less Quality had 5000 Crowns down given him and a Church Revenue worth 1500 a Year This done the King bestowed all that had belonged to the Duke of Viseo upon his Brother Emanuel and with it the hopes of Succeeding to the Crown as also of the Empire of Asia for at this time Burtholomew Diaz by the King's order discovered the Cape of Good Hope which he then called Tormentoso or Stormy because of the ill Weather he met with there 6. Whilst these things passed in Portugal the City S. George in Guinea increased and the Christian Religion diffused it self whereupon the King this Year first stiled himself Lord of Guinea 1485. Several sorts of new Coin King John stiles himself Lord of Guinea as well of Gold and Silver as of Copper were now also spread abroad in Portugal The King had sent D. Peter de Noronha his Embassador to Rome to pay his Obedience to the Pope and obtain of him the Croisade in order to prosecute his Conquests in Africk for which he made Preparations throughout the Kingdom 1486. Four Venetian Galleys being taken by the French and the Men put ashoar almost naked at Cascaes the King not only relieved them with Cloaths and other Necessaries but gave them such a Sum of Money as redeemed their Galleys wherewith they returned home Whereupon that Republick sent a Solemn Embassy with Presents to return him Thanks for that extraordinary Act of Hospitality Azamor in Africk submits to the King The Town of Azamor in Africk sent this Year to submit it self to our King and was taken into Protection The way to India by Sea beginning to be laid open after the Discovery of the Cape of Good Hope the King sent Alonso de Payva and John de Cubillan to take a Journey into India by Land Others followed them but the particulars of those Actions belong to the Portuguese Asia where they may be found The Catholick King and Queen falling short of Ammunition at the Siege of Granada sent to desire a Supply of King John which was speedily and plentifully conveyed to them John Alonso de Aveyro discovered the Coast of Beni and brought thence the first Pepper that was ever brought from those Parts as also an Embassador from that King who was honourably entertained and sent back loaded with Presents James de Almeyda a Knight of Malta Sailing for Africk with 30 Sail in which
were 1500 Horse and 1000 Foot and being put by his Port landed near the City Anafe where encountring a multitude of Moors he killed 900 and carryed away 400 Prisoners The King improved this Accident by giving out he had chastised those Moors for their Disobedience to their Prince Mâ—ley Belâ—abe which that Prince believed and ever accounted himself much obliged to King John 7. Barraxe a Valiant Moor with a Party of 400 Horse and as many Foot took a great Booty about Tangier but the Governour of that Place D. John de Meneses instantly pursued him took him Prisoner and recovered all the Prey The Jews who in great Numbers lived in Castile seeing themselves condemned to the Flames by the erecting the Inquisition in that Country The Jews fly out of Castile into Portugal swarmed into Portugal King John at first entertained them but afterwards being sensible of their wicked Practices for that pretending to be Christians they ceased not to Judaize he sent out his Officers who burnt some chastised others and filled all the Prisons with them This made many of them fly over into Africk where they professed themselves openly Jews whereupon the King forbid any more passing over thither upon pain of Death giving them Liberty at the same time to remove to any Christian Country But tho' it happened some Years latter let us here relate what was done in this case In the Year 1492. vast multitudes of Jews came out of Castile into Portugal engaging to pay the King a certain number of Ducats for each Head and only desiring to be permitted to pass through the Kingdom Eight Months were allotted them to stay and certain Ports assigned them to Embark The Term expiring many went over to the Coast of Fez where they were plundered and abused by the Moors having been little better treated by the Portuguese Many returned to Castile pretending they were converted and many stay'd in Portugal under the same colour The King the following Year finding them obstinate in their wicked Practices made all that could be found Slaves and taking their Children away sent them to the Island of S. Thomas to be there brought up Christians Thus the Jews came first to mix their Race with that of the Ancient Portuguese 8. The King notwithstanding it was a time of Peace ceased not to lay up Magazines in all his Garrisons 1488. and fortified the Town of Olivença which alarmed the King and Queen of Castile but he satisfied them and went on with what he had begun In Africk D. Vasco Coutinho Earl of Borba with only 70 Horse defeated 450 Moors and took their Commander who lay in wait to have surprized him Upon the receipt of this News the King sent over 150 Horse and some Foot to encourage his Forces there They passed the Bridge of Alcacerquibir that had never before been passed by the Portuguese and returned with Slaves and Cattle In the Month of October arrived at Lisbon Bemoy an African King 〈◊〉 into Portugal Bemoy King of Jalof in Africk who being expelled his Kingdom came to ask Succours for recovering of it He had Audience of the King at Setuval and having proposed the Motive of his coming was answered That nothing could obstruct the assisting him but his being an Infidel for that it was not allowed Christian Princes to give Aid to Pagans He replyed he was ready to receive the Faith and only sorry that it might be thought he was moved to it by any Temporal Interest On the Third of November he and six of his principal Followers were baptized the King Prince and Duke Emanuel being Godfathers On the seventh the King Knighted him and gave him for his Arms Gules a Cross Or within an Orle of Portugal Next he did Homage to the King and promised Obedience to the Pope This done the King sent him home with 20 Caravels well manned and provided under the Command of Peter Vaz da Cunha with Orders to erect a Fort at the Mouth of the River Zanaga He is 〈…〉 Peter 〈…〉 This Expedition succeeded not for Cunha fearing to venture himself in that unhealthy Country murdered the unfortunate Bemoy and so returned home with the Fleet and the King unjustly connived at this Villany 9. At the beginning of the Year the King went into Algarve 〈…〉 and thence sent over some Forces with Masons and Materials to build a Fort at the Mouth of the River Larache ordering it to be called Graciosa Muley King of Fez in whose Territory it was understanding how the Work advanced set down before it with 40000 Horse and a vast multitude of Foot King John sent Succours to the besieged but all too weak to withstand so great a Force He thought of going over in Person but the Moors offering to suffer the Christians to depart the offer was accepted and the Place abandoned Barraxe that Moor who had been taken Prisoner by D. Vasco Coutinho being ransomed now held Correspondence with a Gentleman called Lope Sanchez about betraying the City Ceuta to him Sanchez held him in hand and gave Advice to the King who sent to secure that Place 50 Sail from Algarve well manned and stored under the Command of D. Ferdinand de Meneses He and his Brother Antony that was before at Ceuta marched out with 150 Horse and 1000 Foot and falling upon the Town of Targa easily took it as being abandoned The Town they utterly destroyed took some Ships Cannon and Ammunition and released some Christian Captives This Action cost not one drop of Blood D. Ferdinand marched away to Alcaçar and joyning with the Governours of that Place and Tangier he again set out with 400 Horse and 1200 Foot towards Camice which the Moors call the Inchanted because it was thought inaccessible standing upon a craggy Hill Now the Inchantment ceased for the Place was taken by Assault and razed down to the Ground 400 of the Defendants who hid themselves in the Mountain being put to the Sword But this Victory was not so cheaply purchased as the other for it cost the Lives of 70 Men. 10. Prince Alonso was now going into his Fifteenth Year 1490. an Age fit to Marry and he was already contracted to the Princess Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth of Castile The News of her being affianced to him by Proxy at Sevil being brought to Evora where the King then was that City was filled with all publick Demonstrations of Joy From thence soon after it was diffused throughout the whole Kingdom The Plague in Portugal The Plague then raging a Lisbon and spreading as far as Evora as also the News brought of the Death of the Princess Joanna the King's Sister in the Monastery at Aveyro might have been looked upon as ill Omens forboding the evil Success of this Marriage The publick Joy was turned for some time into Mourning but soon after resumed again Nor did the Preparations for the Wedding cease all that time and
they were the greatest that had ever been seen in Portugal The Palace at Evora being thought too little to Entertain the Bride Prince Alonso marries Elizabeth Daughter to the King and Quein of Castile and Aragon was much enlarged On the 22d of November the Bride was brought to the Borders of the two Kingdoms and on the Bridge of the River Caya the Cardinal D. Gonzalo Perez de Mendâ—ça Archbishop of Toledo delivered her to Emanuel Duke of Beja sent to receive her Betwixt Eâ—vas and Estremoz the King and Prince met her At the Church of our Lady of Espineiro which is without the Walls of Eâ—ora they were marryed by the Archbishop of Braga and in that Monastery the Prince bedded her November the 27th they made their Solemn Publick Entry into the City with such Grandeur as is not easily to be expressed no more than can the infinite Rarities that were served up that Night at Supper Besides the Balls Musick and other extraordinary Divertisements the King appointed a Solemn Tilting in which he deservedly carryed away the Honour from all that ran In May the King Queen and Princes removed to Santarem the Divertisements never ceasing 149â— till upon Tuesday the 12th of July The Prince killed by 〈◊〉 fall of his Horse the Prince riding abroad after Dinner and being upon a Full-speed his Horse fell upon and Mortally bruised him He was past all Remedy and died the next day at the same hour he had fallen Thus was that Scene of Joy converted into a horrid Spectacle of Sadness The Prince was magnificently Interred in the Church of Batalla The Princess was sent back to Castile all clad in the deepest Mourning and in a Horse-Litter covered with Sackcloath CHAP. VIII The remaining Part of the Life and Reign of King John the Second of the Name and Thirteenth King of Portugal from the Year 1492 till 1495. 1. ON the 25th of May 1492. 1492 King John laid the Foundation of the Magnificent Church and Hospital of All-Saints in the beautifullest Square or Market-Place of Lisbon scattering some Money under the first Stones laid having obtained leave of the Pope to incorporate all other Hospitals into this The French then at Peace with Portugal had taken a Caravel bringing Gold from Guinea whereupon the King seized all the Vessels of that Kingdom within his Ports which caused the Caravel to be restored untouch'd King John in the Year 1485 had sent James Cano with a Fleet to Guinea Further Dâ—sâ—â—veries in Guinea He came to an Anchor at the Mouth of the River Manicongo lying in Seven Degrees of South Latitude and understanding that King was far off in the In-land Parts he sent some Portuguese to him with a Present who not returning he seized some Blacks and brought them away to Portugal assuring the People they should be restored whereupon King John sent them back loaded with Gifts which so obliged the Black King that he said That must be the true God whom a Prince of so much Honour adored He sent an Embassador to him offering Submission to his Authority and desiring Priests to Instruct the People and Workmen to build Churches and a Fleet returned with all that had been desired The King and a great number of his Subjects were baptized as also the Queen and Prince The King soon fell off again because Christianity obliged him to adhere to only one Wife and therefore he resolved to declare his Second Son Panso Aquitimo who continued an Idolater his Heir Alonso the eldest Brother the Lawful Heir and a Christian was absent when his Father died but hasting to Court was proclaimed King His Brother Aquitimo thought to surprize him but failed for his great Army was overthrown by a handful of Portuguese and Blacks that followed Alonso Many of the Prisoners declared they were overthrown by a glittering Army led by a Commander that carryed a white Cross Alonso being secured in his Throne became the Apostle of that People in which good Work most of his Successors have followed his Example 2. In the Month of March 1493. Christopher Columbus after discovering the Islands of America Columbus after discovering of America â—â—rives at Lisbon entred the Port of Lisbon to Revenge himself by shewing what he had found to King John who had before rejected him when he came to offer his Service and whom he thought it would now grieve to see what he had lost Some Gentlemen offered the King to Murder him which he not only refused but calling Columbus to him honoured and made him Presents This Discovery alarmed all Spain the Castilians fearing to be disturbed in their Conquests there and the Portuguese pretending it appertained to them Many Messengers and Embassadors passed between the two Kings Spain and Portugal divide the World 〈◊〉 them at last their Ministers meeting at Tordesillas divided the World betwixt them To the Portuguese was allotted from 370 Leagues to the Westward of Cabo Verdâ— all to the Eastward and all to the West from that Place to the Castilians drawing a Line there from North to South so that commencing from that Point one half of the Globe remained to each Crown Many Persons of Note came about this time from Foreign Parts to see and some to serve King John Among them was a French Prince whom the Portuguese call Monsieur de Lion who offered to serve in Africk with 300 Horse at his own cost The King of Naples also sent his Embassador with Rich Presents 3. This Year and part of the next the King spent in taking a Progress through his Kingdom 14â—4 and settling the Affairs of greatest Importance for being grown sickly he could not apply himself to Business of less moment He also fitted out the Ships in the River of Lisbon that were to Sail to discover the way to India by the Ocean and gave the Command of them to Vasco de Gama with Instructions how to proceed His Distemper increased and not only cost him his Life but laid a lasting stain upon the Good Name of his Subjects Some of those who designed to have murdered him by the Sword King John poisoned now executed their Design with Poison A Woman held in Esteem for her Sanctity warned him to have a care of Poison which nevertheless he drank out of a Spring near Evora which Water he liked best That this was true appeared by that two Gentlemen who drank with him at the same time died as well as he His Distemper seemed to turn to a Dropsie and the Physicians advised him to go to the hot Baths at Alvor in Algarve One of them opposed the rest affirming this would shorten his Days but he was a Jew and therefore found no Credit The King fell into a Flux which being stopped he became wholly Lethargick Coming a little to himself he asked how the Tide was and being told said he should die within two hours 〈…〉 Just at Sun setting he gave
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
Covillan to Cananor Calicut Goa Sofala Mozambique Quiloa Mombara and Melinde then returned to Adem and Grand Caire where his Companion and he had appointed to meet but the other being dead he returned again to Adem thence to Ormus and then traversed Abissinia being the first Man that ever performed those Travels Christopher Columbus offer'd his Service to King John but not being encouraged by him he discovered the West Indies for King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth of Castile and Aragon CHAP. IX The first Part of the Life and Reign of Emanuel the First of the Name and Fourteenth King of Portugal from the Year of our Lord 1469 till 1509. 1. THough the late King John laboured all that in him was to have left the Crown to his Bastard-Son George yet neither the Queen nor the Subjects would consent because Duke Emanuel had a most undoubted Title to it King Emanuel his Birth and Descent This Emanuel was Son to Prince Ferdinand Grandson to King Edward and Great Grandson to King Alonso V. and Cousen German to his Predecessor King John whose undoubted Heir he was that King leaving no lawful Issue He was born in the Town of Alconchete 1469. in the Province of Riba Tejo upon Thursday the last Day of May being the Feast of Corpus Christi His Mother being in Labour was delivered of him just at the time that the Blessed Sacrament passed by her Door and therefore she called him Emanuel the proper Name of Christ which signifies God is with us During his Infancy Emanuel was one of the Hostages between the King of Castile and King John the Second The very Day King John killed James Brother to this Emanuel 1â—â—4 he gave him all the other's Estate only changing the Title from Duke of Viseo to that of Beja He also constituted him Master of the Order of Christ Constable of the Kingdom and General of the Frontiers betwixt the Rivers Tagus and Guadiana so that his Revenue amounted to above 70000 Crowns per Annum which was very great in that Age and that Kingdom 〈◊〉 His Family was encreased when he went the second time into Castile to conduct the Princess Elizabeth Wife to Prince Alonso into Portugal King John as is said King Emanuel 〈…〉 dying without any lawful Issue and not able to prevail for his Bastard-Son George Emanuel was proclaimed King with the usual Solemnity upon 〈◊〉 the 27th of October 1495 and in the 26th Year of his Age. 2. The New King went away to 〈…〉 â—uevo where James 〈…〉 Prior of Crato presented to him George King John's Bastard-Son whom he received favourably and treated as if he had been his own Here the Cortes or Parliament met but did little Business as well by reason of the Plague as for that King John had left all Things in good Order After sending Embassadors to Rome and Castile the King gave the Tenth of all his Revenues in Africk to the Churches there and reinforced those Garrisons At Setuval came to him the Sons of the late Duke of Bragança 1496. executed by King John their Unkle D. Alvaro and D. Sancho Son to Alonso another of that Duke's Brothers who were all restored to their Estates He now sent another Embassador to Rome to obtain the Pope's Dispensation for Knights of the Military Orders to marry which was granted At Torres Vedras whither he fled from the Plague he received Embassadors from the State of Venice Jewâ— banished the Kingdom The Jews whom King John had made Slaves in great Numbers had now Liberty to depart the Kingdom and though they offer'd the King a Present of a considerable Summ of Money he would not accept it A time was set for them all to depart and it was order'd that they should leave behind them all their Children that were under Fourteen Years of Age. Many of them rather than deliver their Children to be bred up Christians 14â—7 murdered them and some there were that killed themselves as well as their Children The time of their Departure being put off they offer'd if their Children were restor'd them and Twenty Years allowed them in which they could not be punished for Offences against Religion that they would become Christians This granted the greatest part of them was Baptized the rest were sent over into Africk together with the Moors then also expelled but these were allowed to carry their Children with them Those that remained in Portugal committed many Enormities in contempt of the Christian Religion and becoming Rich had the Opportunity of corrupting all the Nobility of the Kingdom by mixing their Families 3. At 〈◊〉 the King had it debated in Council 〈…〉 whether the Discovery of India ought to be prosecuted or not and after much contesting it was resolv'd in the Affirmative Vasco de Gama was thereupon piâ—ched upon to command Four Ships designed for that Voyage The Particulars of his Success may be seen in the first Vol. of the Portuguese Asia The King by his Embassadors having concluded a Match for himself with Elizabeth Emanuel marries Elizabeth Widow of the late Prince Alonso Princess of Castile Widdow of the Late Prince Alonso of Portugal in the Month of October she was brought to Valencia de Alcantara where King Emanuel waited for her Presently after the King and Queen were married came the News of the Death of John Prince of Castile Brother to the new Queen and Heir of that Kingdom New Charters were now given to all the Cities and Towns of Portugal which were all contained in Five Books One of each Province About the end of the Year the Queen being with Child Embassadors came from Castile to induce the King and her to go into Castile to be sworn Heirs to that Crown The King took the Advice of the Cortes or Parliament therein 1498. and it was resolved he should go On the 29th of March they set forwards with a small Retinue not exceeding 300 Horse All this Company was in Mourning for the Prince of Castile The Duke of Medina Sidonia met them at Badajoz with a Retinue somewhat less Soon after the Duke of Alva and Count de Feria with a like Number King Ferdinand came out of Toledo to receive them and they were entertained with extraordinary Magnificence On the 28th of April King Emanuel and his Queen were sworn Heirs of Castile in the Cathedral Church This Ceremony being over they travelled towards Zaragosa to be there sworn to the Succession of Aragon They entred that City on the first of June where many Disputes arose concerning the Privileges of that Kingdom On the 24th of August the Queen of Portugal was delivered of a Son and died before she could be laid in her Bed She was buried in the Church of St. Hierome without any Pomp because she had so ordered it in her Will 4. King Emanuel returned to Portugal 〈…〉 Aragonâ— and Portugal and was received at Lisbon with great Joy in
〈◊〉 Hâ— now understanding that his Son Michael born of 〈…〉 Queen had been sworn Heir of the Crowns of 〈◊〉 and Aragon resolvâ—d to have him sworn in like manner in Portugal To this purpose he assembled the 〈◊〉 or Parliament at Lisbon on the 7th of March where all the Representatives took an Oath to him as lawful Successor 〈◊〉 the King confirming his former Grant that no Castilians should at any time be admitted to Places of Honour and Trust in Portugal About the end of this Year which was the 4th of his Reign the King resolved to translate the Body of King John his Predecessor from Silves where he was buried to the stately Church of Batalla the burial Place of the Portuguese Princes He went in Person to Silves and found the Body whole as it was seen Fifteen Years after by the Cardinal Henry and others which confirmed the Opinion of Sanctity that was conceiv'd of him The Body was honourably conducted to the Church of Batalla and there laid in a Marble Tomb. This Year also the King dispersed several sorts of new Coins of Silver and Gold as he did again in the Years 1504 and 1517. He had before given large Revenues to George the late King's Bastard-Son and this Year 1500 gave him the City Coimbra with the Title of Duke made him Lord of Montemayor â—l Viejo and bestowed on him the Mastership of the Military Orders of Santiago and Avis Next he married him to the Lady Beatrix de Villena Daughter to D. Alvaro the Brother of Ferdinand Duke of Bragança Beheaded by King John 5. Now came the News that Prince Michael 〈…〉 King Emanuel's Son and sworn Heir of all the Kingdoms of Spain had departed this Life at Granada being not yet Two Years of Age. It was requisite the King should marry again 〈…〉 and a Match was accordingly concluded with Mary Daughter to King Ferdinand and Sister to King Emanuel's late Queen Her Portion was 200000 Crowns down and 10000 a Year settled upon the Revenue of Sevil. The Archbishop D. James Hurtado de Mâ—raâ—za conducted her to the Borders where the Duke of Bragança attended by several of the Nobility 〈◊〉 her The Marriage was solemnized at Alcacer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the 30th of October No sooner was the King married but he resolved to make an Expedition into 〈◊〉 in Person 〈…〉 and to that effect had assembled an Army of 26000 Men. The Venetians at this time hard 〈◊〉 by the Turks made use of the Pope's Mediation to obtain of our King to desist from the Enterpize he had in Hand and to employ his Forces in their Assistance The King consented and sent them Thirty Saâ—l under the Command of D. John de Meneses Son to the Earl 〈…〉 and for his Encouragement before his Departure he was created Earl of â—â—rouça In this Squadron were 3500 fighting Men. Another Squadron followed being designed for the Coast of Oran in order to attempt taking the Fort of Mazalquivir They sailed from Lisbon about the middle of June and having assaulted that Place in July with the loss of 20 Men and no prospect of Success the Squadron provided for that Expedition returned to Lisbon D. John de Meneses with his 30 Sail off of Tunez took 3 Genoese Ships full of Turks Moors and Jews the Genoese he set at liberty Near Corfu he was met by Twenty five Venetian Galleys and five Galleons where both Fleets saluted each other with great Joy The Turks understanding the Fleets were joyned retired to their Ports and the Portuguese Squadron returned home 6. The King had yet reaped no Advantage from India 〈…〉 but the bare Discovery of it by Vasco de Gama and yet as if the Treasures of that Empire had been brought him he in Thanksgiving laid the Foundation of that wonderful Structure of the Church and Monastery called Bâ—â—eâ— or Betâ—lem on the Banks of Tagus about a League from Lisbon This Fabrick is Magnificent for its Greatness and Workmanship but above all for the largeness of the Arch above the Chancel where after the manner of all Cathedrals it opens into a Cross which Arch tho vastly spacious has no Pillar to support it This Monastery was given to the Fryars of the Order of S. Hierome and is plentifully endowed Opposite to the Monastery in the very River the King erected a Fort which tho not large is Beautiful and Commands the River serving at the same time for a Rampart to the Church it is called the Fort of S. Vincent D. Jayme or James Duke of Bragança who was restored to that Honour by King Emanuel laboured under such a deep melancholy that he sometimes forbore taking his natural Sustenance Nevertheless through the King's Perswasions he married the Lady 〈◊〉 Daughter to D. John de Guzman third Duke of Mâ—diâ—â— Sidonia But no sooner was he married than he absented himself with only one Servant leaving a Letter for the King in which he begged of him to bestow all his Possessions upon his Brother Denis because he was resolved to spend his days at the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem Messengers were sent several ways with orders to bring him back Some of them found him at Calatayud in the Kingdom of Aragon and prevailed upon him to return Being brought back he had by his Wife a Son called Theodosius who succeeded him and a Daughter named Elizabeth married to Prince Edward Son to King Emanuel His first Wife dying he fell in Love with the Lady Joanna de Mendoza Daughter to the Governour of Mouram and having obtained leave of the King married her and by her had Four Sons and as many Daughters 7. Queen Mary 1502. second Wife to King Emanuel was delivered of her first Son on the 6th of June 1502. The Queen delivered of a Son At the time of his Birth happened a violent Storm of Rain and when he was Baptized a Fire broke out in the Palace we shall see in his Life what these Prodigies portended A Fleet sailed from Lisbon under the Command of George de Melo and Gaspar de Aguilar designing to take the City Targa on the Coast of Africk but returned having sustained Loss and effected nothing The King for the Success of his Fleet undertook a Pilgrimage to Santiago in Galicia presented that Church with a rich Silver Lamp made in the Form of a Castle and gave Bountiful Alms. In his return at Coimbra he resolved to erect a stately Tomb for Alonso the first King of Portugal whose Body lay there in a very mean Sepulchre At Porto he finished the Silver Shrine of S. Pantaleo 1503. Patron of that City The King had now a second time resolved to pass over into Africk A Famine in Portugal and had all things in readiness for the Expedition when he was again prevented being obliged to attend to the Relief of his own Kingdom labouring under a Famine He remedied this Evil by bringing in Plenty of Corn from all the
Northern Countries Discoveries in North America In the Year 1500 sailed from Lisbon Gaspar Cortereal to attempt some Discovery in the Northern Seas He discovered a Country which by Reason of its delightful Groves he called Verde that is Green The People were but Barbarous of a middle Stature very Swift expert at shooting with the Bow and skilful at casting Darts whose Points are hardned in the Fire cloathed in Skins living in Caves and Cottages and having no Religion but believing in Auguries and very jealous of their Women The following Year he returned thither to make some farther Discovery but he staying long his Brother Michael went out in Quest of him with two Ships in May 1502 and neither returning another Brother prepared to seek them but was hindred by the King It being believed both these Brothers were lost in that Country discovered by the first the Name of it was changed to that of Tierra de Cortereales About the middle of this Year the Cortes being Assembled the King caused his Son to be sworn Heir to the Crown The Country tho Poor gave the King 50000 Duccats to carry on the War in Africk On the 4th of October was born at Lisbon the Princess Elizabeth her Birth being attended with the same Prodigies of Storms as her Brother 's was she was afterwards married to the Emperor Charles the Fifth her Dower above a Million of Ducats 900000 in Money and the rest in Jewels 8. Elizabeth 1504. Queen of Castile and Aragon died this Year 1504 at Medina del Campo Her Death was concealed from Elizabeth Queen of Portugal her Daughter because she was near her time of Delivery and accordingly on the last Day of December was brought to Bed of a Daughter called Beatrix after Dutchess of Savoy There followed upon it such Terrible Earthquakes that whole Towns being swallowed up 15â—5 the People fled Distractedly to the Mountains The 〈◊〉 of Egypt threatens Jerusalem The New Year began with Threats from the Soldan of Egypt that he would destroy the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem unless the Portuguese desisted from their Conquests in India where Edward Pacheco was now doing Wonders and King Ferdinand of Castile from invading the Moors An Account of the Portuguese Conquestâ— in India But these Menaces were little regarded both Kings proceeding in what they had undertaken Now returned the King's Embassadors sent to Pope Julius and with them came a Merchant Ship which being infected with the Plague spread it throughout all Spain Edward Pacheco returned at this time from India leaving that Part of the World astonished at his Actions King Emanuel himself went out to receive him at landing with a numerous Train he walked under a Canopy with the King his Actions were set out in the Church by the Bishop of Viseo An Account of them was also given to all Forreign Princes and they were made known to all the Kingdom After all this Honour the same Pacheco was cast into Prison loaded with Irons and tho he cleared himself of all that could be laid to his Charge he was only turned out of Goal and left to live upon Charity as did his Son and Grand-Son after him till in the time of King Sebastian the prime Minister Giles Yanez de Costa obtained him the grant of a Commendary and because none was then Vacant gave him that he had obtained for his own Son 9. On the third of March 1506. 1506. at Abrantes was born the King's fourth Son Birth of the King 's fourth Son Lewis an admirable Prince for his Judgment Learning and Valour So addicted to Warlike Affairs that a Fleet of 60 Sail was provided for him to go into India but the Design was disappointed He served under the Emperor Charles the Fifth at the taking of Tunis and gained Honour He was never married but had a Bastard-Son by the Lady Violante Gomez this was Antony who afterwards upon the Death of Henry the King and Cardinal aspired to the Crown Upon the 6th of April A great Mutiny on Account of a supposed Miracle it being Sunday certain Persons in the Church of S. Dominick fancied a Crucifix in one of the Chappels cast forth a miraculous Light a New Convert that had been a Jew said it was the Reflection of the Sun from a Window Hereupon without farther Examination they dragged him out of the Church and burnt him The Rabble assembled about the Fire one of the Friars with vehement Speeches Encouraging them Two other Friars ran about the Streets crying out Heresie Heresie with Crucifixes in their Hands Above 500 Men gathered in Arms who slew as many of the New Converts burning their Bodies The number increasing upon Monday Morning they murdered Men Women and Children dragging them from the very Altars whither they fled for Sanctuary so that this Day above 1000 perished This was continued the third Day to the number of 400 being destroyed so that in all they amounted to 2000 murdered among them many that were not New Converts for the desire of Plunder was more than the Zeal of Religion as it is in all Mutinies whatever the Pretences be The King then at Avis was highly offended at this Insolency He took away the City Charter and sent thither the Prior of Crato and Baron of Alvito to punish the offenders Some were hanged others had their Goods confiscated and the two Friars burnt all that belonged to the Monastery were banished 10. James de Azambuja was sent to erect a Fort on a Point of Land in Africk 1507. opposite to the Island Magador Birth of the King 's fifth Son it was called Fort Royal. July the 5th the King and Queen being at Abrantes was born their fifth Son whom they called Ferdinand 1508. He was a great lover of History and no less addicted to Warlike Affairs The following Year the Limits of the Conquests on the Coast of Africk were settled betwixt the two Crowns of Spain and Portugal All Eastward of Belez de la Gomera was assigned to the Spaniards thence Westward was allowed to the Portuguese This Year 1509 was born the Prince of Portuguese Poets 1509 Luis de Camoens On the twenty third of April Birth of Camoens the great Portuguese Poet the Queen was delivered at Evora of her sixth Son called Alonso At Seven Years of Age Pope Leo the Tenth sent him a Cardinal's Cap afterwards he had both the Archbishopricks of Lisbon and Evora and the Abby of Alcobaça all at one time This Year also the Work continued from the time of King John the First and Founder of the famous Church and Monastery of Batalla which ought to have been finished was interrupted and nothing done to it since so that ever after that mighty Fabrick remains Imperfect Mondragon a French Pirate having the foregoing Year taken a Rich Ship coming from India had now fitted out Four great Galleons upon the same Design The King sent out some Ships
against him under the Command of the Renowned Edward Pacheco who after a sharp dispute near Cape Finisterre sunk one of the Pirate's Galleons and took the other three Mondragon was presented to the King who freely forgave him CHAP. X. The remaining Part of the Life and Reign of Emanuel the First of the Name and Fourteenth King of Portugal from the Year of our Lord 1510 till 1521. 1. NOthing remarkable happened the Year 1510 1510. but that many Moors and Hords of Arabs along the Coast of Africk submitted themselves to King Emanuel 1511. and became his Tributaries The following Year threatned a Breach between Castile and Portugal because King Ferdinand fitted out a Fleet at Malaga with Design to invade the Portuguese Conquests The Pope calling upon him for Succour against the French obliged him to desist from that Enterprize Nevertheless that Faithless King as if his Designs had not been known solicited King Emanuel to joyn with him against France and highly resented that he Courteously entertained a French Squadron in his Ports Henry the 8th King of England who had married Katherine Sister to the Queen of Portugal King Emanuel receives the Order of the Garter from King Henry the Eighth of England now sent King Emanuel the Garter having received him into that most Noble Order On the last Day of January was born at Lisbon Prince Henry the King 's Seventh Son a mighty Snow falling just before his Birth which is a thing rarely seen in Lisbon We shall have more occasion to speak of him hereafter when he ascends the Throne Alonso King and Apostle of Congo this Year sent his Son Henry and his Brother Emanuel 1512. with many Young Noblemen into Portugal to be instructed in the Christian Faith Henry Son to the King of Congo comes into Portugal With them came Peter that King's Cousin whom he sent as his Embassador to Rome to submit him and his Kingdom to the Pope King Emanuel sent the Black Prince Henry with the Embassador they arrived at Rome the following Year where they were courteously received and dismissed by Leo the Tenth 1513. then sitting in 8. Peter's Chair 2. D. Alvaro de Castro The King punishes his Lord Steward for his cruelty to a Servant was Lord Steward of the Houshold and in great Favour He finding a Servant of his own whom he had turned away talking with a Slave in his House caused him to be so cruelly lashed that all his Body was but one continued Sore The Servant putting nothing on but his Cloak came into the King's Presence where letting it fall he said Ecce Homo Your Lord Steward has done this to me only for talking to one of his Slaves The King astonished at this Barbarity immediately sent Andrew Perez Landin his Clerk of the Closet to acquaint D. Alvaro that he deprived him of his Charge ordered he should remain a Prisoner in his House till farther order and pay 500 Crowns to that Man D. Alvaro's Kindred came to the King to intercede for him but finding the King implacable they went away Discontented and returned not to Court whereupon the King ordered the Two Sons of D. Alvaro to be struck out of his Books At last upon the humble Application of D. Alvaro's Wife he was sent for to Court severely reprimanded and then pardoned Last Year began the Preparations and now was fitted out a Fleet of above 400 Sail 1514. carrying 18000 Foot and 2600 Horse all under the Command of Jayme or James Duke of Bracança He sailed from Lisbon about the middle of August and landing on the 28th of the same Month in Africk Azamor on the Coast of Africk taken took the City Azamor Those of Tite and Almedina being abandoned by the Inhabitants he also possessed himself of with ease Then having ravaged the Country without any opposition he returned to Lisbon The Particulars of this Expedition properly belong to the Portuguese Africk 3. King Emanuel resolving to Dedicate to God Presents of the First Fruits of India sent to the Pope the First Fruits of India thought the shortest way was to present them to the Pope his Vicegerent With this Present he sent Three Embassadors the chief whereof was Tristan da Cunha with a most magnificent Retinue The Present consisted of an Elephant covered with Cloth of Gold and governed by an Indian a Persian Horse with rich Furniture a Panther that would Hunt and was at Command like a Dog and a whole Suit of Vestments for all occasions all of Cloth of Gold so thick Embroidered with Pearls and precious Stones that the Ground of it could not be discerned The whole was valued at 500000 Crowns Bernardin Freyre and Francis Pereyra Pestana arriving now from India the King caused them to be cast into Prison being informed how unworthily they had treated Mathew Embassador from Ellen Grand-Mother of David Emperor of Ethiopia and Regent of that Empire during her Grand-Son's Minority There they remained till the said Embassador interceded for them He was an Armenian Christian Judicious Learned and Bold The King received him with Respect and by him a Letter from the Empress Five Medals of Gold and a great Cross made of the Wood of that our Saviour suffered upon and kept in a Gold Case In her Letter the Empress offered her assistance towards forwarding the King's undertakings in Asia and desired since they were both Christians that their Families might be allyed by mutual Marriages that so they might be the better enabled to destroy the Turks 1515. and Moors The King 's Eighth Son born in those Parts On the 7th of September 1515 was born at Lisbon Edward the King 's 8th Son of whom more at the end of this Chapter Embassadors were sent to Castile 1516 to condole with Queen Germana upon the Death of her Husband King Ferdinand and to Flanders to Charles afterwards the 5th of that Name Emperor to offer him Elizabeth Daughter to King Emanuel in Marriage and ask his Sister Ellenor for Prince John This Year ended with the Birth and Death of Mary Emanuel's Ninth Child 4. Prince Antony 1517. the King 's Tenth Child was born at Lisbon Birth of the King 's tenth Child on the 9th Day of September He lived but a few Days and left his Mother so Weak that she died the 7th of March following of an Impostume in her Bowels The Queen dies being but 35 Years of Age. She was generally lamented being extreamly beloved for her Fruitfulness her great Love to the King her liberality to the Poor her Devotion Affability Modesty Piety Industriousness in the good spending her Time and special care of Instructing her Children As to Features she was neither beautiful nor deformed She founded the Monastery of S. Hierome in the Berlings and lies buried in the Church of Belem Before the Queen's Death the King put an Elephant and a Rhinoceros together to see the manner of their
Fight being naturally Enemies but the Elephant being young was frighted and forcing his way through a Place that was barred ran about the City overturning all he met The Rhinoceros was afterwards sent as a Present to the Pope but the Ship was cast away however the dead Rhinoceros being cast a Shoar was taken up and the Skin stuffed and carried to Rome John Diaz Golez a Portuguese Pilot flying from Justice escaped into Castile where he perswaded certain Merchants to fit out Two Ships and Trade into Brasil King Emanuel complaining to the Young King Charles these Encroachers were punished John Wallop an English Gentleman of Worth afterwards Governour of Callis came into Portugal offering to serve in Africk upon his own Expence He served Two Years at Tangier honourably and then returned home having received the Order of Knighthood of Christ and other considerable Favours and continued always a great Favourer of the Affairs of Portugal 5. Soliman the great Emperor of the Turks having taken Grand Cairo and all the Dominions of the Egyptian Soldans King Emanuel pressed the Pope to excite all the Christian Princes to joyn their Forces against him but without success The Body of S. Auta one of the 11000 Virgins was now brought to Lisbon and placed in the Monastery of the Mother of God where it is held in great Veneration The King being extreamly afflicted for the Loss of his Queen had thoughts of retiring to Algarve contenting himself with that little Portion of his Kingdom and leaving the rest to the Prince his Son But the Prince led away by his Favourites being too forward and dropping some disrespectful words of his Father moved him to change that Resolution and not only to retain the Power in his own Hands but to marry the Wife he had designed for him 1518. To this purpose The King marries again D. Alvaro da Costa was sent Embassador into Castile and the Treaty so privately managed that the Bride was contracted to the King by Proxy before the Design of the Embassador was known in Portugal Her Portion was 200000 Crowns down and 5000 per Annum during her Life She was conducted to the Borders of the two Kingdoms by several Noblemen of Spain and there received by Jayme or James Duke of Bragança accompanied by a great Train of Persons of Quality on the Twenty third of November At Crato the next Day she was married by the Archbishop of Lisbon Thence they went to Almeyrin because the Plague was brief at Lisbon Here the King on St. Andrew's Day received the Order of the Golden Fleece sent him by his Brother-in-law King Charles 6. Ferdinand Magellanes a Gentleman of Worth who had served well in India and Africk being refused some small Addition to the Pension he enjoyed for his good Services some envious Persons disswading the King from showing him any Favour discontented at this hard Usage solemnly Unnaturalized himself as the Custome was then and went over to Castile at such time as the Molucco Islands were thought to appertain to the Conquests of that Crown He there offered to find out a New way to those Islands 1519. and being furnished with Five Ships sailed from Sevil about the beginning of August Magellan discovers the Streights of his Name and discovered those Streights which will Eternize his Name being of him called the Streights of Magellan The Particulars of this Voyage as more properly appertaining to that History are to be seen in the Portuguese Asia The King laid a Duty upon Corn to which imposition some Places consented John Mendez Cecâ—oso Mayor of Evora opposed it The King sent for and promised to reward him if he would comply but he persisting obstinately was confined to his House Soon after he commended him for his Resolution and remitted that Tax The Commonalty of Castile now rising in Rebellion against their King 1520. who was gone into Germany being chosen Emperor upon the Death of Maximilian sent the Dean of Avila to offer the Crowns of Castile and Leon to King Emanuel He believing no Confidence could be reposed in those that were Rebels to their Lawful Sovereign not only advised them to return to their Obedience but sent Supplies of Ammunition and Money to the Cardinal Adrian afterwards Pope the Constable and Admiral then Governours during the King's Absence 7. Ellenor the new Queen of Portugal was the last Year at Evora on the 18th of February delivered of a Prince called Charles who lived but Fifteen Months This Year on the 18th of June 1521. at Lisbon she brought forth the Princess Mary Many Matches were proposed for this Lady but none took Effect so that she died a Maid at the Age of 57 Years After long Debates and Three several Embassies sent by Charles Duke of Savoy to obtain Beatrix King Emanuel's second Daughter for his Wife Beatrix Daughter to King Emanuel married to the Duke of Savoy the Match was concluded She had 150000 Crowns Portion and was conducted to Savoy with extraordinary Expence Eighteen Sail were fitted out to transport the Princess and a most splendid Retinue accompanied her In fine she embarked on the 5th of August lay Five Days a Board on the River and then set Sail on the Day of the Feast of S. Laurence By this Princess the Duke of Savoy had his Son Emanuel Filibertus from whom the Dukes of that House are descended Bernardin Ribeyro a Man well born and an ingenious Poet was in love with the Princess and she favoured him for his Wit Seeing her depart he became a Hermit at Sintra thence he went a Pilgrim into Italy and returning through Savoy he received Charity of the Dutchess who knowing him ordered he should not stay in the City He returned Home and ended his Life with his Pilgrimage The Venetians who had for many Years enjoyed all the Trade of Spice being now depriv'd of it by the Portuguese having discovered India sent an Embassador to pray they might be allowed all that was above what the Kingdom consumed at a certain Rate This Embassador was honourably entertained but received not a satisfactory Answer 8. Such was now the flourishing Estate of Lisbon that it was thronged with Forreign Embassadors and Merchants from all Parts In the height of this Prosperity and Grandeur King Emanuel fell sick of a Lethargy then the epidemical Distemper reigning Perceiving his End draw nigh he performed all the Acts of a good Christian King Emanuel dies and died the 13th of December 1521. the Ninth day of his Sickness the 53d Year of his Age and 27th of his Reign His Body was Interred in his Church of Belem where his Son built him a stately Tomb. Before his Death happened a most cruel Famine and after that a terrible Plague The Pestilence continued the following Year and such prodigious Earthquakes shook the Island of S. Michael that Mountains fell upon some Villages and others were overturned into the Sea with great slaughter of the
the Fifth to offer him Elizabeth the King 's Eldest Sister in Marriage Yet of a sudden his Instructions were altered and he ordered only to Complement that Prince upon his happy Arrival in Spain The cause of this sudden change was this The Ship called the Victory the first that sailed round the World and the only one that escaped of those that discovered the Streights of Magellan arriving at the Islands of Cabo Verdâ— the Inhabitants understanding she came from the Molucco Islands designed to secure her but they on board having some Jealousie of it immediately set Sail leaving behind their long Boat with thirteen Men who were sent away Prisoners to Lisbon whilst the Ship made her Voyage and arrived safe at Sevil. The Emperor complained hereof to the King and he again that the Emperor's Ships invaded his Conquests demanding the Lading of the Ship Victory D. Lewis de Silveyra spent Eight Months in his Embassy at the Emperor's Court without dispatching any Business and then returning to Portugal found the King at Almeirin where at his first access forgetting or neglecting to kiss his Hand he found himself quite out of favour for D. Antony de Atayde making his Advantage of the others absence had quite worked him out of his Master's Affections Nevertheless D. Lewis continued at Court without ever expressing the least Resentment for his Fall 3. D. Antony de Atayde The Character of D. Antony de Atayde the King's Favourite now the only Favourite was a Person well deserving that high Honour for his singular Prudence and Moderation There are sufficient Testimonies of the former and I will bring one that may fully evince the latter The Lord of Azambuja Head of one of the ancientest Families in Portugal designed to sell that Town to supply his present wants The King told D. Antony it would be proper for him to buy it because it joyned to his Estate He answered It was more for his Highness's Reputation to supply the wants of so Ancient and Honourable a Family than to suffer it to fall to nothing by selling an Estate of that Antiquity The King took his Advice and so generously relieved that Gentleman that he was enabled to preserve his Patrimony This is a good Remark for those who to advance their own Fortunes are so far from regarding any Private Person that they stick not to ruin Kings and overturn Kingdoms It was now thought time that the King should Marry and James Duke of Bragança proposed to him Queen Ellenor his Mother-in-law as Wife to the late King who was vastly Rich. This Proposal being noised abroad was so well liked that the Council of Lisbon addressed him in behalf of themselves and the whole Kingdom praying he would condescend to it The King could not approve of Marrying his Father's Wife and was freed from their Importunities by the Emperor's desiring he would suffer his Sister to return to Castile which was accordingly performed 4. A March being proposed for the King with Katherine 15â—â— Sister to the Emperor Charles the Fifth King John Marries Katherine Sister to the Emperor Charles the Fifth Embassadors were sent to Burgos where that Prince then kept his Court to treat about it The Articles agreed upon were That the Bridegroom should pay the Charge of the Dispensation the Emperor should be at the Expence of her Journey That she should have 200000 Ducats down and 5000 a Year for her Portion besides Jewels and other Necessaries That the third part should be given to her at her Marriage and that her Joynture should be 10000 Ducats a Year with all the Lands and Towns the Queens used to possess The former Peace was confirmed and Supplies promised reciprocally in case of need About the end of the Year she was conducted to the Borders by the Bishop of Siguença and Duke of Vejar and there delivered to the Princes Lewis and Ferdinand sent to attend her The King received her at Crato and she proved one of the best Queens in the World She was happy in bringing forth many Children but unfortunate in the shortness of their Lives which gave occasion to the Multitude to say It was a Judgment of God on the King for the Familiarity he was suspected to have with the Queen his Mother-in-law 1525. At the beginning of the Year a motion was made of a Match betwixt the Emperor and our King's Sister The Emperor Charles the Fifth Marries Elizabeth Sister to King John the Princess Elizabeth Embassadors of the Emperor and the King's Commissioners meeting upon this Subject agreed That the Emperor should be at the Expence of the Dispensation and the King defray the Charge of her Journey as had been done in the Marriage of the Emperor's Sister but the Portion now given with this Princess far exceeded that for it amounted almost to a Million of Crowns In November the Emperor's Embassador was contracted for the Emperor to the Princess and the day after they set forward with the King and Princes 5. The Empress's Journey into Spain was delayed till the Dispensation came from Rome 1526. and then being attended to the Frontiers by many of the Nobility she was there delivered to the Spanish Noblemen sent to receive her She was conducted to Sevil and there received with Pomp suitable to so great a Princess Soon after came the Emperor and in March the Marriage was solemnized We must now pass over seven Years without mentioning any thing of the Affairs of this Kingdom because we find nothing Remarkable except that in the Year 1531. there happened a most terrible Earthquake 1531. which overthrew many Buildings A great Earthquake but chiefly at Lisbon and round about it where whole Towns were overwhelmed About this time also the Tribunal of the Inquisition was erected for suppressing of the Jews Muley Hazen 1534. expelled the Kingdom of Tunis by the Famous Pirate Hariaden Barbarossa fled to the Emperor Charles the Fifth for Succour The Emperor undertook his Protection and in order to it desired Assistance of King John particularly praying him to send an extraordinary Galeon then Famous for its greatness called the S. John 1535. The King sent him that and two others of great Bulk King John sends Succours to the Emperor besides 20 smaller ones loaded with store of Ammunition and bravely manned The Command of this Squadron was given to Antony de Saldana who had served well in India At Barcelona he joyned the Emperor and was by him Honourably received Prince Lewis stole away from Court to serve under the Emperor Charles the Fifth but of this we spoke at the time of his Birth in the Reign of King Emanuel The King sent him 100000 Crowns and the Emperor received him at Barcelona with all possible marks of Honour They set out with 400 Sail and made themselves Masters of Guletta and Tunis 6. From the Year 1535. we find nothing worthy of Memory till 1539. a Year
Remarkable for the Death 1539. first Death of Prince Philip and of the Empress of Prince Philip who was scarce Six Years of Age who departed this Life at Lisbon and then of the Empress Elizabeth who ended her days at Toledo Nor was the following Year less fatal 1540. since in it were snatch'd away And of others first Antony the King's Son being but Eleven Months old then the Cardinal Alonso and lastly Prince Edward both Brothers to the King D. Michael de Silva 1541. Bishop of Portalegre and Clerk of the Closet at this time fled privately to Rome where he had before negotiated for a Cardinal's Cap which was given him immediately upon his arrival at that Court 1542. The King was so highly offended at this Contempt that he disclaimed him as a Subject and deprived him of all the Benefices and Honours he enjoyed in the Kingdom All Persons that should presume to hold Correspondence with him were subjected to the same Penalties yet the Cardinal's Brother D. George transgressed against this Decree and was therefore committed Prisoner to the Fort of Belem to answer that Misdemeanor The Princess Mary the King's Daughter at the time of her departure to Castile to Marry Prince Philip begged and obtained of her Father that the said D. George might be pardoned only upon the Penalty of going to serve at Arzila 1543. where he behaved himself in such a manner as gained him great Reputation 7. The Match betwixt Prince Philip of Spain and the Princess Mary of Portugal was concluded by the Spanish Embassador Prince Philip of Spain Marries Mary Princess of Portugal Lewis Sarmiento de Mendoza who stood Proxy for the Prince at the Ceremony of Contracting the Princess to him which was performed by Prince Henry About the middle of October the Princess set forward towards Castile with a most Splendid and Honourable Retinue consisting of 5000 Horse and 2700 Sumpture Mules Francis King of France hearing of this Match whereof the King had given him no Account was highly offended and expressed his Resentment to D. Francis de Noronha the Portuguese Embassador at his Court That Gentleman tho' unacquainted with the Affair so mitigated that King and soothed him with such convincing Reasons that he appeared wholly satisfied and by his Prudence a Breach that might have happened between the two Crowns so strictly allied for many Years was prevented In August Edward the King's Bastard-Son came to Lisbon and was received with general Applause by the King Queen and all the Court He was Born in the Year 1525. and brought up in the Royal Monastery of S. Hierome da Costa He was a promising Youth but cut off in his Prime for he lived not much above two Months after his coming to Court and died in the 22d Year of his Age. CHAP. XII The remaining Part of the Life and Reign of John the Third of the Name and Fifteenth King of Portugal from the Year 1544 till 1557. 1. THE Years 1544 and 1545 passed without any thing Remarkable 1546. or at least Historians do not give us Account of any Passages in them King John receives the Golden Fleece Nor is there any thing of more note in the Year 1546 besides that King John received the Order of the Golden Fleece sent him by the Emperor Charles the Fifth In March following the King being at Almeyrin King Henry of France sent Monsieur de Biron to him desiring he would stand Godfather to a Son he had newly born which the King granted and D. Constantine of Bragança Brother to that Duke went to represent his Person It was found necessary for the security of the Conquests in Africk to erect a Fort over the Bay of Alcaçar The King ordered his Embassadors residing at Brussels with the Emperor and with Prince Maximilian then Governing Spain to encline them both to send some Auxiliary Galleys for carrying on that Work the particulars of it may be seen in the Portuguese Africk 1548. Prince John was now Twelve Years of Age and still continued under the Government of Women when the King began to think of settling his Family which was accordingly done in February following 1549. Antony de Pesquera had some Years since set out a Ship at S. Lucar and traded in the Portuguese Conquests of Guinea and Brasil and was now returning to those Parts King John sent out Vasco Lorenço with Orders not to take him unless in the Conquests but he over-hastily seized him in the Canary Islands whereof Prince Maximilian who then governed Spain complaining he was released and Vasco Lorenço for a time confined to the Castle of Ovidos but soon discharged George Bastard-Son to King John the Second who had absented himself from Court all the time of his Youth came now to it at 70 Years of Age and fell in Love with one of the Queen's Ladies not above 16. They were privately contracted yet never married the King obstructing it and so the Young Lady was left under some Scandal 2. The King considering long Peace had disarmed the Kingdom Ordinances 〈◊〉 by the King ordered all People should furnish themselves with Arms. Such as had 2500 Royals per Annum were obliged to keep compleat Armour a Sword and Spear every Man that had double this Yearly Income to keep a Musqueteer and so forward for every time that Revenue was doubled Because Horses were scarce he forbid Mares engendring with Asses for Mules The Wolves being numerous and destroying much Cattle general Huntings were appointed upon certain days and Rewards assigned to such as brought in the Skin of a Wolf The King weary of multiplicity of Business remitted a great part of his Care to the Council and from this time the Kingdom began to decline Pope Paul III. dying about the end of this Year Dr. Baltasar Faria the Portuguese Embassador at Rome used all his Interest for Prince Henry of Portugal but on the 17th of February 1550. Cardinal John Maria was declared Pope by the Name of Julius the Third and King John sent D. Alonso de Lancastre to Complement him upon his Promotion to S. Peter's Chair Most of the Copper Coin of the Kingdom having been carryed out because the Metal was worth more than it was coined for the King new coined other Pieces New Coin which being much under the value the Kingdom was soon filled with it counterfeit from other Parts Tho' Prince John had his Family settled before yet he kept not House apart from his Father till this Year 1551. 1551. Certain French and Turkish Pirates infesting the Coasts of Spain and Portugal the King prevailed with the Emperor to fit out some Ships to scour those Seas 1552. he did the same himself and they were appointed their several Stations with Orders upon occasion to joyn and assist one another 3. A Match being concluded for Prince John with the Princess Joanna 1553. Daughter to Charles the
Fifth and Elizabeth Prince John Marries Joanna Daughter to Charles the Fifth the Prince's Aunt and her Portion settled at 360000 Ducats the Duke of Aveyro and the Bishop of Coimbra went with a numerous and splendid Retinue to receive her upon the Frontiers She came to Elvas about the end of November At Barreyro the King met and conducted her thence to Lisbon where a few days after she was marryed to the Prince to the general Joy of all the Kingdom hoping a numerous Issue from them But all Humane hopes are vain for the Prince died the Second of January following 1554. His Distemper was an inward consuming Fever Prince John dies which being supposed to proceed from too much use of his Wife she was removed from him to the Queen's Apartment There the Prince's Death was kept from her knowledge the King visiting her without Mourning The Princess was left with Child and on the 19th of January brought forth a Son The Princess delivered of a Son who was called Sebastian The Princess being out of danger was acquainted with the Death of the Prince and went into strict Mourning She would have cut off her Hair in token of Sorrow but the King would not permit it Being one Night in Bed with her Husband there appeared to her a Woman in Mourning who giving one blast vanished as if she had foretold all her Delights would vanish into Air. Other Nights she perceived the Lights in her Chamber put out without seeing any Body to do it Twice being at a Window with her Ladies she saw many Men cloathed after the Moorish Fashion with Torches in their Hands cast themselves into the River All these were looked upon as unhappy Omens of the Prince's Death and other Calamities that ensued 4. Prince Philip of Spain Brother to the Widow Princess being upon his Departure for England to marry Mary the Heiress of that Crown by his Embassadors desired of King John that he would suffer the Princess to return to Spain to Govern that Kingdom In May the Princess set forward from Lisbon The Princess Governs Spain attended by Prince Lewis as far as Arroyolos where he delivered her to the Duke of Bragança who conducted her to the Borders of the Kingdom and there gave her up to the Bishops of Osma and Badajoz and to D. Garcia de Toledo who was Lord Steward She Governed Spain with Discretion and Founded a Monastery and Hospital in Madrid This Summer sailed from Lisbon D. Peter da Cunha with Five Ships and Four Galleys to Guard the â—â—ast of Algarve Being in the Bay of Tavira An Engagement he discovered the famous Turkish Pirate Xaramet Arraez with Eight Galleys D. Peter gave orders to engage them but the Ships not being able to come up for want of Wind he engaged with only his Four Galleys The Admiral Galleys attacked one another and at first the Portuguese had the worst whereupon the Turks boarder her but were beaten out and Fortune changing D. Peter took the Turk The other Three Christian Galleys boarded as many of the Infidels whereof they took two and sunk the Third The remaining Turkish Galleys seeing these lost fled Of the the Turks 150 were killed and 100 taken 230 Christian Slaves were released and 40 Portuguese perished Two Portuguese left ashoar when the Galleys went out to meet the Enemy swam aboard with their Swords in their Mouths D. Peter returned Victorious to Lisbon where he maintained the Turk his Prisoner till he was exchanged for a Turk who turning Christian was called Peter Paul and had behaved himself so well that the Command of the Galley was given him but he being taken by the Infidels and carried to Mazagam had certainly been put to Death but was spared only upon Account of Xaramet for whom he was exchanged 5. On the the 27th of November 1555 1555. died Prince Lewis the Delight of Portugal Prince Lewis dies and a Person of singular Learning Judgment Courage Generosity and Piety He went twice into Castile once to agree with the Emperor about reducing the King of France to forbear trading in the Portuguese Conquests which he effected The Second time to Conclude a Peace betwixt the Emperor and King of France He built a stately Palace at Salvaterra but lived not to finish it The following Year the King settled the Rules of Precedency 1556. about which there had been great Contests ordering that all Titles should take place according to Seniority Now the Misfortunes of this Crown seem to be Compleat 1557. for the King died aged 55 Years The King dies when he was ripest for Government and left the Crown to Prince Sebastian then unfit for Rule as being but Three Years old He was suddenly snatched away yet not so but he had time to end his Life like a Christian He was of a mean Stature rather inclined to Fat than Leanness his Complexion ruddy his Eyes dark Blew but lively In matters of Justice he always inclined most to Mercy was a great lover of Peace made an excellent choice of Ministers and loved not to heap many Employments upon one Man In the Year 1553 he founded the University at Coimbra and afterwards with great charge brought Professors to it from Paris The Ancient Aqueduct built by Sertorius at Evora was by him repaired much was added by him to the Building of the Monastery of Belem by him also the Custome-House and Arsenals were erected as also the Churches of our Lady of Grace S. Francis and S. Rocque besides many other publick Works All the religious Orders were by him reduced to live up to the rigor of their Rules and Houses founded for all sorts of Women to retire to He instituted the Council of Conscience and that of the Military Orders No want ever prevailed with him to lay heavy Taxes on his Subjects Tho' he heard the Advice of many he always followed his own Opinion which was the Cause he often erred 6. To conclude King John proved an excellent Prince and singular Champion of the Catholick Religion His Children were as follows First Alonso who died a Child Secondly Mary First Wife to Philip the Second of Spain Thirdly Elizabeth Fourthly Beatrix Fifthly Emanuel Sixthly Philip. Seventhly Denis all which died young Eighthly John who married the Princess Joanna Daughter to the Emperor Charles the Fifth and died soon after Ninthly Antony who lived not out a Year His Bastard Issue was First Emanuel who died a Child Secondly Edward Archbishop of Braga a Prelate of Piety and Learning 7. In India Nunho da Cunha overthrew the King of Monbaça Actions abroad duing his Reign and slew him of Cambaya D. John de Castro with such wonderful Courage as rather seemed Rashness Engaging a vast Multitude at the Second Siege of Diu obtained one of the most wonderful Victories that raised the Renown of the Portuguese Valour Hector de Silveyra besides many other remarkable Actions subdued the King of
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
Galley and five Ships to follow him All that followed him seeing themselves shipped just in their Hunting Apparel stood amazed From Cape S. Vincent the King sent Messengers with Letters to all Cities Towns and the Gentry informing them with his Designs that they might follow him Many from all Parts resorted to him both by Sea and Land The Cardinal Prince Henry was left Governour of the Kingdom The King was received in Africk with great Joy by his Subjects but not with much Terror of his Enemies for they perceived his Preparations were not suitable to the Undertaking He hunted there as if he had been at home and made several Inroads into the Country which provoked the Moors in great numbers under the Command of the Alcayde Cid Admubenania Viceroy of Mequines to draw together to oppose him The Multitude was great and advanced Confidently seeing the small number of Christians Our Cannon plaied upon them and the Infidels gave the first Onset in which many of them that were foremost fled The King was always in the Front and with his Example so encouraged his Men He defeats the Moors and returns to Lisbon that they cleared the Field of the Enemy Next Day the King expected the Enemy in the same Place but they thought not good to attack him nor did he prosecute his Victory saying He came not to make War but to visit his Garrisons He returned to Lisbon in November at such time as it was feared he was lost for News was brought of his embarking at Tangier and a violent Storm had long â—osted him at Sea 5. Before this time a Match had been proposed for King Sebastian with Margaret second Daughter to Henry the second King of France And Embassador was sent to King Philip the second of Spain by King Sebastian at his return out of Africk to incline him to give him his Daughter Clara Eugenia to wife she was afterwards married to the Archduke Albertus and the result of the Embassy was 1576. That the two Kings should meet at Guadalupe He has an interview with the King of Spain To save expence King Sebastian travelled by the Post with several Persons of Quality and assoon as he came into the Borders of Castile was Magnificently Entertained at the Cost of King Philip who had also ordered all the Keys of the Towns he passed through to be delivered to him Nine Days after the King's Departure the great Warehouses of Merchant Goods next to the King's Palace were accidentally Blown up with such force that the Noise was heard at Santarem which is fourteen Leagues distant and great Stones and pieces of Timber were cast far from the Place and many remote Buildings were shaken King Philip met our Sebastian the Day before Christmas-Eve half a League from Guadalupe They embraced friendly and then Philip saluted the Portuguese Noblemen Sebastian as the Stranger went first into the Coach Fifteen Days they staied at Guadalupe Philip endeavoured to disswade the Portuguese from his designs upon Africk but not prevailing promised to assist him with 50 Galleys and 5000 Men and contracted at his return from that Expedition to deliver to him his Daughter 1577. After this they parted with the same expressions of Love and Affections as they had met and King Sebastian in his return home presented the Spanish Gentry and Officers that attended him 6. Being come to Lisbon Preparations for a second Voyage into Africk he hasted his Preparations for a second Voyage into Africk to which he was the more encouraged by Muley Hamet who was at War with his Unkle Muley Maluco for the sovereignty of Morocco and being worsted offered to remain Tributary to Portugal if enthroned by the King Cid Adelcherim Lord of Arzila having sided with Hamet delivered up Arzila to Edward de Meneses Governour of Tangier who sending for Succours to the King there was scarce enough found in the Magazines to furnish him whereby King Sebastian perceived how impossible it was for him to fit out a Royal Fleet that Year Nevertheless he ceased not to use all possible means for forwarding his Design To this effect he had a free Gift of 15000 Duccats from the Clergy The Croisade was set on foot to 〈◊〉 Money a Tax laid upon Salt Donatives required of the People Money borrowed of rich Men the Revenues of the Crown anticipated and a great Summ raised of the Convert Jews on Account of a general Pardon granted them Besides this they listed none but the basest sort of People that had no Money to buy themselves off Several Prodigies and were carried away by force King John the Third's Ghost is said to have appeared to F. Lewis de Moura foretelling the ill success of this Enterprize About the same time a vast number of Fishes called Espada's or Sword-fish were cast a Shoar one whereof of an extraordinary Bigness had upon it a Cross from the Arms of which hung two Scourges and the number of that Year 1578. which was 1578. Armies were seen fighting in the Air in the Province bewixt Duero and Minho Colonel Vasco de Silveira always heard a doleful Voice following of him and one Night in the Field of Almeyria saw a great Fantome it proceeded from which being by him asked the cause of its Groans answered I bewail my self and you seeing you and those I always loved engaged in so great a Disaster This same Hobgoblin was seen by him near the King's Tent in the Field of Alcacer the Night before the Battle 7. Notwithstanding all these Preparations The King not to be moved from his Resolution there wanted not some who urged the King ought not to expose his Person but he to divert them caused Edward de Meneses Governour of Tangier to signifie by Letters to him that the Moors were wholly unprovided These he shewed in Council and because D. John Mascarenhas persisted to contradict him he caused a Consult of Physitians to declare That tho a Man had been brave in his Youth he might become a Coward in his old Age. D. Lewis de Ataide known for his brave Exploits in India he sent thither again after having chosen him General of his Army and this because he advised him to be very circumspect in this Affair The Citizens of 〈◊〉 protested to the King that if he persisted in his Resolution they would detain him by force The King of Morocco tho he were well provided against this Invasion failed not to exhort King Sebastian to Peace but neither these Motives nor King Philip of Spain his failing to send the promised Supplies of 50 Galleys and 5000 Men could stop this unfortunate Prince from runing headlong to his Ruin All things being in readiness for his Departure the King would have appointed Henry the Prince Cardinal to Govern the Kingdom in his Absence but he refusing Five Governours were appointed viz. D. George de Almeyda Archbishop of Lisbon Peter de Alcaçova Surveyor of the Revenue Francis
Cardinal tho' old and a Priest should Marry Many Pamphlets were spread abroad some of them against King Philip and others for him which last were so well penned that they seem to have inclined King Henry to his Interest as they did many others throughout the Kingdom But the City of Lisbon openly declared its aversion to him offering to raise 20000 Men and threatning to burn the Houses of those that favoured him Antony Grand Prior of Crato that is of the Knights of Malta in Portugal laboured in vain to prove himself Legitimate and King Henry seeing him persist obstinately in that Design banished him the Court. The City of Lisbon now again pressed King Henry to obtain a Dispensation of the Pope to Marry he excused himself on account of his Ecclesiastical Dignity rather than his Age or Infirmities No Excuses availing D. Duarte de Castello-Branco and Dr. Ruy de Castanheda were appointed to go Embassadors to Rome but they went not for the King still urging his Inability and his Infirmities being apparent his Excuses were at last received 5. Since there were no hopes of Issue in King Henry Five Persons appointed to Govern after the King's Death he was pressed to declare who ought to Succeed him which he refused leaving it to Governours and Judges to determine after his Death For appointing of them he presently summoned the Cortes or Parliament who named Fifteen Persons for Governours of whom the King chose five which were D. George de Almeyda Archbishop of Lisbon D. John Mascarenhas Francis de Sa James Lopez de Sousa and D. John Tello de Meneses Also 24 Lawyers were nominated and of them 11 elected to be Judges and the Names of them all to be kept close till the Death of the King All swore to stand by these Decrees The substance of the Oath was The same appointed to decide the Controversie concerning the Succession That the King dying they would obey the Governours appointed and would acknowledge him for their Lawful Sovereign that should be declared such by them The Duke of Bragança as one of the Candidates swore to stand to their Determination the same did Antony the Grand Prior yet afterwards he recanted before the Pope's Nuncio alledging he had sworn for fear of his Unkle King Philip's Embassadors refused to take the Oath for their Master pleading he was Lawful Heir of the Crown and therefore not obliged to allow of that Decision The Cortes being broke up each of the Candidates which were now but three viz. King Philip the Duke of Bragança and the Grand Prior began to speak their Thoughts more boldly The two latter were soon banished the Court by King Henry who perceiving that Antony grew haughty having obtained a surreptitious Judgment of his Legitimacy got leave of Pope Gregory XIII to inspect into and determine that Affair After some time spent in enquiring into it he at length positively declared him Illegitimate The Grand Prior dismayed at this Sentence and the great Power of his Adversary proposed to King Philip's Embassadors that he would be content with the Kingdom of Algarve and Title of King or else that he might have the Government of the Kingdom for Life with a Revenue of 300000 Ducats half of them to remain to his Heirs King Philip answered That Kingdom was too small for so many Kings 6. King Henry ceased not to prosecute the Grand Prior and sent Orders to Apprehend him at Coimbra where he then was but he made his Escape and lurked about in the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho Next he issued out his Proclamation Summoning him to Surrender himself but he obeyed not The King was now at Almeyrin The Plague at Lisbon whither he fled from the Plague that raged at Lisbon and spread it self throughout the Kingdom There he summoned before him the Principal Members of the Cortes or Parliament and the Embassadors before whom he declared himself for King Philip ordering them to Capitulate with him The Lords Spiritual and Temporal were easily brought to approve of the King's Proposition but the Commons opposed it Soon after the King Assembles the Cortes intending to put an end to this Controversie but all he or the Nobility could do availed not so that the Division ran as high as ever it had been The King's Death now drawing on apace Katherine Dutchess of Bragança came from Villa Viciosa 1580 to try if she could prevail with him to declare her his Heiress K. Henry dies He heard her and soon after without returning any Answer gave up the Ghost 7. King Henry was of a middle Stature His 〈◊〉 in shape like his Father of a lively Spirit patient of Labour and in his Youth trained in all the Exercises that belong to a Prince Damianus de Goes says he understood Latin Greek and Hebrew and was well read in Mathematicks Philosophy and Divinity He says further of him That he had an absolute Command over his Passions was temperate in Speech a great lover of Truth a notable keeper of Secrets an Enemy to Detraction an admirer of Justice free in giving Advice averse to Favourites and inclinable to all Vertue Notwithstanding all these Qualities he was a better Priest than King His first Spiritual Promotion was to the Priorship of Sancta Cruz which Monastery he reformed and increased its Revenue Next he had the Archbishoprick of Braga where he spent his Revenue relieving the Poor in time of Famine The same he did at Evora He maintained many Foundlings gave Portions to Young Maids redeemed Captives and performed himself all the Duties of a private Priest At Braga he assembled a Synod endowed Schools in that City repaired the Monastery of S. Fructuosus punished severely all Crimes in the Clergy especially Incontinency The See of Evora being added to his other of Braga he did the same good Offices there and founded the University under the Jurisdiction of the Jesuits Many other notable Works he performed and being created Cardinal and Legate to the Pope still increased in Works of Piety 8. In this Henry expired the Kingdom Observations on the Rise and Fail of Portugal erected by another of the same Name the first died in the Year 1112. and the latter was born in 1512. So that the Name of Henry and Number 12 were the beginning and end of this Monarchy Thus the Seventeenth was the last Native King of Portugal The Moon laboured under a great Eclipse when he died 15â—â— in the 68th Year of his Age and second of his Reign His Body was deposited at Almeyrin where he died till King Philip translated it to the Monastery of Belem CHAP. III. The short Administration of the Five Governours Antony Grand Prior of Crato or the Order of Malta proclaimed King by the Multitude the short time of his Vsurpation 1. NO sooner was King Henry dead at Almeyrâ—â— but the Five Governours began to exercise 〈…〉 Power 〈…〉 The Commons held their
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 〈◊〉
where they gave their definitive Sentence in Favour of King Philip. Antony hasted to Setuval and having secured the City returned to Lisbon where the Forts of S. Julian and 〈…〉 The Duke of 〈◊〉 who had retired to his Town of Portel sent thence to King Philip offering to come to Composition but it was now too late for that Prince was too far advanced The Duke aâ— Alva had passed the River Caya in June which parts the two Kingdoms with 20000 Men 6000 Carts and 25 pieces of Cannon He marched peaceably as if it had been through a Country subject to his Master all Places submitting themselves as far as Estremoz This Town was soon perswaded by D. Christopher de Moura to surrender but D. John de Azevedo held out in the Castle till seeing the Cannon planted against him he endeavoured to escape and being taken was sent Prisoner to Villa Viciosa the Duke of Alva declaring he spared his Life in regard to his want of Experience Hence the Army moved and took in Evora and Monte-Mayor and so proceeded to Setuval without committing any wasâ— in all the Country 6. The grand Prior provided for his Defence but wanting Men and no Succours coming from France he sent the French Consul residing at Lisbon to hasten them and he went to spend the Money he carried The Spanish Forces 〈◊〉 Duke 〈◊〉 Alva 〈◊〉 near to Lisbon Now perceiving the Duke approached having taken Alcaçer do sal near Setuval and being wholly unprovided to oppose him he suffered his Officers to commit many Extortions to raise Money Slaves had their Freedom given them to take Arms Money was coined of less Weight than usual all the Jewels of the Crown were sold the Money designed for Redemption of Captives seized Convents were searched for Money deposited in them and the Plate of the Churches was seized The Fryars took Arms and went about the Streets exciting others to do the like Setuval was soon surrendred to the Duke of Alva and only a Tower held out that secures the Haven under which lay Three Galleons D. Alvaro Bazan Marquess of Santa Cruz coming up now with 60 Galleys and 25 Ships and some Cannon being planted on an Eminency at the first shot the Galeons surrendred and soon after the Tower The Grand Prior seeing the best Part of the Kingdom in the Power of King Philip and the Nobility daily resort to him began now to suspect his own Followers Duke de Alva passâ—â— the River Tagus The Duke of Alva after long consulting where to pass the River Tagus at length took the Advice of the Portuguese that adhered to him which was to go over in the Galleys to Cascais D. James de Mâ—â—â—es lying with some Men behind a Mountain did not hinder the landing and was therefore accused of Cowardize The Grand Prior marched out to Belem with some few ill armed Troops but soon retired The Duke took and plundered Cascais where D. James de Meneses being taken had his Head cut off This put Lisbon and the Grand Prior into a great Consternation and he gathered about 8000 undisciplined Men with which he marched towards Belem on the 5th of August On the 4th Day after he removed and posted himself on an Advantageous rising Ground over against the Bridge of Alcantara In the mean while the Duke advanced to batter the Fort of S. Julian 7. D. James de Cazamo a Spaniard who had served the Grand Prior came now to him and prevailed with him to submit himself to King Philip but the King remitted the whole Affair to the Duke of Alva who broke off that Negotiation The Fâ—â—ts upon the River taken by the Spaniards The Castle of S. Julian after being Two Days battered was delivered up to him The Wooden Fort at the Bar was abandoned by the Defendants and the Spaniards possessed themselves of it King Philip now published his general Pardon to all Persons whatsoever concerned in these Broiles except the Grand Prior and some other of the Heads conditionally that they submitted by a Day appointed Lisbon was willing enough to embrace this offer but feared as much to be plundered by its armed Rabble as by the Enemy Eight Days the Two Armies lay close by each other without doing any thing At length the Duke sent Sanchâ— de Avila with 15 Horse and some Foot to discover which way the Tower of Belâ—m might be attacked A greater number of Portuguese met them and a Skirmish 〈◊〉 tho not considerable the Spaniards retiring That 〈◊〉 they planted their Cannon and the next Day the Tower was delivered to them The Duke perceiving the Ground Prior kept his Ground which prevented the City 〈◊〉 from surrendring he went in Person to take a view 〈◊〉 his Camp and found it well seated but not fortifyed He resolved to attack it at Midnight and have strict Ordere that the City should not be plundred King Philip having given it him particularly in Charge At the tâ—mâ— appointed he marched the Spanish Shâ—ps and 〈◊〉 then riding in the River The Grand Prior encourageâ— his Mâ—n which were now but a small number and 〈…〉 disciplined The Spanish Army consisted of 20000 Men the Portuguese were not above 4000. The Cannon having played on both sides Antony's Army routted the Spaniards assaulted the Bridge where was a sharp dispute but that once gained the Portuguese soon fled to the City where Antony opened the Prisons and then with some few that would follow him shifted for himself 8. Notwithstanding the contrary Orders the Spaniards during Three Days plundered Lisbon Lisbon plundered by the Spaniards which so displeased King Philip that he threatned to punish all the Officers and so severely reproved the Duke that he is thought to have died of Grief Antony having staied at Sacavem near Lisbon removed to Santarem which Place tho the first that declared him King refused now to admit him Thence he fled to Coimbra where he fortifyed himself and having gathered 5000 Men sent Orders to the Province betwixt Duero and Minho to own him King and entered Aveyro by force The Towns in Africk immediately submitted Antony forced to fly 〈◊〉 abscond but the Tercera Islands stood by Antony Sancho de Avila set out from Lisbon with 400 Horse and 6000 Foot to pursue Antony Coimbra opened her Gates to him and Antony removed to Porto which Place refusing him admittance he began to batter and thereupon it was surrendred to him Sancho de Avila followed the Grand Prior close and coming to Porto battered it from the same Place the other had done and entring plundered it Antony escaping thence and being forsaken of all Men absoncded for a long time in the Mountains Being close pursued at the River Lima he had certainly been taken but that one Thomas Cacheyro who still followed him Swam over the River with him on his Back In this manner he fled from Place to Place narrowly escaping in several Disguises King Philip offered 80000
Crowns in Gold to any that could discover him and the many poor People were concerned in his Escape none ever offered to betray him Antony came in disguise to Lisbon and thence to Setuval where a Woman assisted to hire a small Vessel for him which carried him into England whence he passed into France and was there favourably entertained by the Queen Mother Katherine of Medicis and her Son the Duke of Alenson who aspired to a Crown and hoped if he could get Forces into Portugal to secure that to himself 9. The Tercera Islands still held for Antony 〈◊〉 and at the same time expected King Sebastian who was killed in Africk The Tercera Islands for Antony and many pretended to prophecy the Day he would come to them King Philip being about to make his Entry into Lisbon received this News from the Islands and therefore sent thither Peter Valdez with 600 Men and some Cannon to reduce them He found a very ill Reception and therefore kept at Sea not knowing what to do Advice was brought him That D. Lope de Figueroa was preparing at Lisbon to follow him with a greater Force and he that the other might not have any share in the Honour of subduing those Islands rashly adventured to land With much difficulty he got ashoar upon S. James his Day and at First took some pieces of Cannon from the Portuguese But Cyprian de Figueyredo the Governour coming out of the City with all the Force he could make drove before a Herd of Oxen which being pricked forwards upon the Spaniards put them into disorder and he then falling on drove them into the Sea where 450 of them perished Many Barbarities were committed towards the Dead some being cut in Pieces and others dragged about the Streets Valdez was in this miserable Condition when D. Lope de Figueroa came to be a Witness of his rashness for he could do nothing after that Loss Upon the News that Levies were making in England France and Flanders to bring Antony into Portugal the King sent the Prior of Malta to secure the Province betwixt Duero and Minho Ambrose de Aguiar and Peter Peixoto were sent to the Terceras The Marquis de Santa Cruz returned from Sevil with Twelve Galleys and Twenty Galleons and found there Thirty Vessels gathered from Portugal Biscay and other Places With this Force he sailed towards the Islands in July Antony arrives at the Terceraâ— with a Fleet from France Antony at the same time sailed from France with Fifty eight Sail in which were above Seven thousand Men commanded by Philip Strozi and Monsieur de Brisâ—â— He arrived at the Island of S. Michael before the Spaniards and plundered the Town of Laguna The Inhabitants of Punta Delgada the chief Town of the Island fled to the Mountains Ambrose de Aguiar who had been Governour was dead and now Peter Peixoto and Laurâ—â—â—e Nogueyra commanded They marched out with about Three thousand Spaniards and Portuguese to meet the French by whom they were defeated and Nogueyra flying to the Fort died there of his Wounds Antony after summoning the Fort in vain prepared to batter it when the Spanish Fleet appearing diverted him from that Design 10. After several Essays made 1582. the Two Fleets joyned Battle on the 26th of July Antony's Fleet destroyed by the Spanish The Engagement lasted Five Hours in which the French Admiral and Vice-Admiral being taken Two great Ships sunk and about Two thousand of their Men slain the rest fled Philip Strozi being taken died of his Wounds as did D. Francis de Portugal Earl of Vimioso John de Jaen Chaplain to the Major General frighted by the Cannon ran down into the Hold where he died with fear Anthony thinking some of his Commanders had not done their Duty as being corrupted by the Spaniards cut off D. Duarte de Castro's Head on suspition that he was one of them He was not himself in the Fight being then received ashoar in the Island Tercera where he was received as King Some of the French Ships returned to France others plundered the Island of Fayal The Marquess after his Victory having Twenty eight Lords Fifty Gentlemen and a great number of Marriners and Soldiers Prisoners beheaded all the former and hanged the latter This done he returned to Lisbon carrying with him Two India Ships he met in the way Antony coined Money much under Weight wracked the People to raise more incited the religious Men to take Arms and forbore not too in the midst of his Misery to endeavour to corrupt Nuns He sailed thence in November with Thirty Sail for France but some of them forsook him by the way 〈◊〉 About the middle of February King Philip returned to Castile As soon as the Season was fit for sailing Monsieur de Chartes a Knight of Malta came from France with 1200 Men to secure the Islands to 〈◊〉 In July arrived there the Spanish Fleet consisting of Sixty Sail and among them Twelve Galleys which caused admiration for that those Vessels had never before been used in the Ocean but for Coasters In this Fleet were One thousand two hundred Men commanded by the Marquess de Santa Cruz. On the 24th of this Month the Admiral would have proclaimed a general Pardon but could not be heard He landed at 〈◊〉 Mole The 〈…〉 and after Three Days resistance became absolute Master of the 〈◊〉 the Defendants flying to the Mountains Monsieur de Chartes articled to depart with the French leaving their Colours D. Emanuel de Silva the Governour after absconding some time was betrayed by a Slave taken and beheaded His Head was put up where he had set up that of Belchior Alfonso for finding with King Philip and it is remarkable he had said it should be taken down when his were fixed in the Place Some were beheaded others hanged and all that had any Honours or Employments conferred by Antony were deprived of them All the other Islands were easily reduced 11. Antony having left all he possessed in the Seas Antony flies into England and having no hopes of Succour in France went over into England the differences betwixt King Philip and Queen Elizabeth encouraging him to hope for assistance there The Queen was easily perswaded to embrace this Enterprize and offered her Ships and Two thousand Men that had served in Holland but upon very hard Terms which were granted and are these That the Queen should furnish 120 Sail 15000 Landmen and 5000 Marriners for which Antony within Two Months after he was in possession of Lisbon should pay down Five Millions and 300000 Duccats a Year for ever That the English should Traffick freely in Portugal and India That the Queen might bring her Fleet into Lisbon River and Antony should be obliged to assist her against King Philip. That the Garrisons in Portugal should alwalys be in the hands of English maintained by the Kingdom That Bishopricks should be conferred on English Catholicks and
Reigns which were that of Sebastian of Henry of the Five Governours of Antony and now of Philip. For the easier dispatch of Business the King ordered there should be but Two prime Minister viz. Antony Pineyro Bishop of Leyria and D. Christopher de Moura the former because he had no Kindred and the latter because he made no Account of them for Moura was never known to prefer any of his tho' he had many Nunho Alvarez Pereyra was made Secretary and was equal in Power to them tho' not in Title The King had appointed to return to Castile in November but Prince James dying 〈◊〉 he was forced to call a Parliament to cause his Second So◠〈…〉 sworn Heir to the Crown 1583. The Parliament met the beginning of the New Year Another Parliament held and swore the Prince and among other things the King granted leave for wearing of Silks Mary the Empress Sister to King Philip and her Daughter Margaret came to meet the King at Lisbon The Portuguese expected the former would have been left to govern them Philip returns to Castile but the King made choise of her Son the Cardinal Albertus Archduke of Austria On the 11th of February the King set forward for Castile carrying with him the Lady Juliana de Lancastro Heiress of the Noble House of Aveiro 4. All Men began to observe how the Cardinal Albertus was qualified Cardinal Albertus Governour of Portugal and they found his Inclinations were good Only two things remarkable happened during the time of his Government One was the English Invasion under Antony the Grand Prior before spoken of The other the counterfeit Sanctity of a Nun. The Hipocrisie of a Nun. She pretended to live without eating and indeed had no other Sustenance but what she got out of artificial Candles she pretended to burn in her Oratory She also imprinted on her Body the Five Wounds of our Saviour so artificially that the cheat was scarce to be discerned even after she was discovered During the short time this Hypocritical Scene was acted she wrought some Miracles Being at last examined she was punished and from thenceforth led so Godly a Life as almost purchased her the Opinion of Sanctity she before endeavoured to gain by Hypocrisie The King tho' he left the Cardinal in Portugal governed the Kingdom himself with the assistance of his Portuguese Council composed of very worthy Persons in the choice of which he never erred The conceit some People entertained that King Sebastian was yet living 15â—â— gave Occasion to some Persons to take upon them his Name and Character 〈◊〉 Sebastian The Son of a Tiler born at Alcobaza who had been Apprentice to a small Turner of Heads in Lisbon and expelled the Order of Carmelites in his Noviceship went away and lived like a Hermit on the Borders of the Kingdom near Aâ—â—â—querque After some time the People censuring his course of Life he left it and putting on good Apparel he travelled about that Country well mounted Some presently gave out he was King Sebastian which he at first denied but finding them positive at last complied with their Humour and suffered two of his Followers to call themselves the one Christopher 〈…〉 and the other the Bishop of Guarda both which had been slain with the King in Africk Some few days they lived well among their Adherents and gathered Money but being apprehended by Order of the Arch-Duke Albertus the Counterfeit Sebastian after having been shewed at Lisbon was sent to the Galleys and his Companion the pretended Bishop hanged 5. Scarce was the last Impostor punished when another started up in his place This was one Gonzalo Alvarez the Son of a Mason who like the other became an Eremite and did much seeming Penance lashing himself and then crying out where he might be heard O unhappy Sebastian all thy Penance is but little in respect of thy Crimes A Rich Farmer called Peter Alfonso joyned with him and concealed him giving out Orders in his Name At length he gathered 800 Men calling himself Earl of Torresnovas Lord of Cascais and Governour of Lisbon None saw the pretended King but the Daughter of the false Earl she being designed Queen and also the Wife of Antony Simoens a Rich Man Whensoever this Pageant King was forced to appear abroad he wore a great pair of Spectacles which covered most part of his Face He sent a Son of Simoens to the Governour Albertus to Order him to quit the Palace for that he was coming to undeceive the People This Messenger being taken and then let go increased the Opinion of the People that it was King Sebastian because Antony Simoens having known him would not otherwise have suffered his Son to go on that Message The Judge of Torresvedras was ordered to Apprehend them but he attempting it was together with his Clerk cast headlong from a High Place and killed Gasper Pereira for reproving them was also murdered with his Son and Nephew and his House plundered Antony Fonseca an Alcalde de Corte went next with 400 Spaniards The false Sebastian executed commanded by Captain Calderon who after killing a few of the Mutiniers took the Upstart King At Lisbon he was hanged and quartered as was the false Earl Peter Alfonso with others Some were sent to the Galleys and the Towns of Ericeyra Carbonero and Mafra were left almost desolate the Inhabitants flying for fear of Punishment Yet after all this many thought King Sebastian must come out from the Desart and there was scarce any that lived an Eremitical Life in Portugal who was not imagined to be that King 6. Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth's Provocations and King Philip's Design against her Queen of England not regarding that she owed her Life to King Philip joyned with the Rebels of Holland against him She sent over to then Assistance Robert Earl of Leicester with 3000 Men. Sir Francis Drake also sailed from Plymouth in August and Landing at Bayona was beaten off thence Next he fell upon the Islands of Caboverde where he took a considerable Booty and all the Cannon of the Fortifications along the Sea-coast Thence he sailed to Sancto Domingo in the West-Indies 1586. which City he â—â—ok and plundered The same he did at Cartagena and then passed over to Florida About the beginning of this Year King Philip set out the Proclamation for regulating the Stile to be used in Letters which till then caused much Confusion every one aspiring to greater Titles than belonged to them King Philip provoked by the many Wrongs done him by Queen Elizabeth resolved upon the Conquest of England and to that purpose gathered a Mighty Fleet in the vast Port of Lisbon It contained 130 Sail most of them very large under the Command of D. Alonso Perez de Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia and Generalissimo The Land Forces amounted to 20000 1588. the Mariners above 11000. They sailed from Lisbon the 27th of May and
after being dispersed by a Terrible Storm met again at Corâ—na Sailing thence the greatest part of this Mighty Fleet was destroyed either by the English or by violent Storms which drove it round Scotland and Ireland so that the Duke of Medina Sidonia with a very few returned to Santander In Revenge of this Attempt Queen Elizabeth sent the Fleet we before spoke of in the Life of Antony the Grand Prior to Invade Portugal The Disappointment she met there made her think of Intercepting our India Fleet. To this purpose she fitted out 50 Sail 1591. commanded by the Earl of Essex who sailed directly to the Islands Azores King Philâ—â— sent out his Fleet under the Command of D. Alonso Bazan against him Near the Island Flores the two Fleets engaged with so much Advantage on the part of the Spaniards that they took the English Vice-Admiral yet presently after some of the Spanish Fleet perished in a Storm However the English took the Flag-Ship of three that came from India in the Year 1593. 1593. tho D. Alonso Bazan sailed from Lisbon to prevent them He found seven English Ships in the Island Flores waiting for the other two that came from India and he took them 7. The Arch-Duke 1594. Cardinal Albertus being called away to Madrid Portugal governed by Commissioners to receive the Archbishoprick of Toledo the Government of Portugal was committed to D. Michael de Castro Archbishop of Lisbon the Counts D. John de Sylva of Portalegre D. Francis Mascarenhas of Sancta Cruz D. Duarte de Castelobranco of Sabugal and Michael de Moura Secretary The English Fleet again appeared before the Tercera Islands hoping to meet with the Ships from India The Earl of Essex was Admiral he destroyed Fayal and Pico then Landing upon S. Michael plundered Villafranca Lastly one of the India Ships falling into his Fleet he thought to have carryed it off but was disappointed by her being fired This done he sailed from the Islands Prince Charles Son to King Philip was naturally of a turbulent Spirit and is said to have held Correspondence with his Father's Enemies and to have practised against him Hereupon he was cast into Prison and Judges appointed to inspect into the Cause who passed Sentence of Death against him His Father allowed him no other Favour than to choose what Death he would die and he said they might kill him as they pleased Being prepared for it four Slaves strangled him with a Silken Rope D. John of Austria tho' a Bastard was no less haughty and aspired first to the Kingdom of Tunis then to that of England but the King lowered all his haughty thoughts and he is believed to have died a violent Death King Philip having been some time sick at last was confined to his Bed as well by reason of Weakness as that the Gout was broke out in Sores upon his Hand Foot and Knee Fifty three days he lay in such condition that his Bed could not be made and on the last of them he died His Patience in his Sufferings was wonderful for he pityed those that attended him more than he did himself Having performed all Offices of a good Christian he gave up the Ghost the 13th day of September being Sunday 1599. at Five in the Morning in the Year 1599 in the Famous Monastery of the Escurial King Philip dies the 71st Year of his Age the 18th of his Reign over Portugal and 41st over the rest of Spain He was the first King since the Goths that possessed all this Monarchy entire 8. King Philip was of a middle Stature His Description an awful Presence had a high Forehead blue and beautiful Eyes a handsom Nose thick Lips the lower somewhat fallen as is usual to the House of Austria fair Hair and taken altogether his Person was Majestick He wanted the Sense of Smelling or at least had very little of it He had four Wives First Mary Daughter to King John the Third of Portugal His Wives and Issue Secondly Mary Queen of England Daughter to Henry the Eighth by whom he had no Issue Thirdly Elizabeth Daughter to Henry the Second King of France Fourthly Ann Daughter to the Emperor Maximilian By the first he had Charles whom he put to Death as has been said By the third Elizabeth Clare Eugenia Countess of Flanders Wife to the Arch-Duke Albertus Also Katherine Wife to Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy By the fourth first Ferdinand secondly Charles Lawrence thirdly James all three died young fourthly Philip who succeeded his Father fifthly Mary who died an Infant CHAP. V. The Reign of Philip the Third of Spain and Second of Portugal and Nineteenth King from the Year 1578. till 1621. 1. SIngular was the Wisdom of the late King and consequently the loss of him was extraordinarily lamented by all his People Their Sorrow was much mitigated by the great hopes conceived that his Successor Philip would prove no less capable to wield the Sceptre than his Father had been Birth of Philip the Third This Prince being the Seventh Child of his Father and Fourth of his Mother Queen Ann was Born in the renowned Town of Madrid 1578. on the 14th of April 1578. and was the Second of the Name in Portugal and Third in Spain He was sworn Heir of Portugal on the first of February 1583. 158â— and afterwards of his other Kingdoms 1598. this being the first of them that took an Oath to him The many Embassages he received with singular Grandeur the Fleets he set out the great Supplies he sent to Pope Paul the Fifth and the Emperor Ferdinand and many other particulars of his Reign as appertaining more properly to the History of Spain where he resided are purposely omitted here because we design only to adhere to what particularly belongs to Portugal His Resolution was wonderful in banishing the Moriscoes The Moriscoes banished Spain or those that were descended of the Race of the Moors who pretending to become Christians committed many Villanies and Sacriledges at the same time underhand holding Correspondence in Africk and Turky in order to bring over the Moors into Spain again Charles the Fifth Ferdinand and Philip the Second had all of them entertained thoughts of putting this same Design in execution but the many Inconveniences that attended it still deterred them 400000 of these base People were dispersed throughout the Kingdom who all upon the King's Edict departed the Kingdom having liberty to carry away with them all they were worth Upon the Birth-day of this King a Preacher Prophetically foretold the Banishment of the Moriscoes threatning them with the New-born Prince 2. Often did this King promise to Visit his Realm of Portugal in Person but still failed being put by his Resolution by his Favourites who for their private Ends disswaded this Journey not regarding how much a King loss the Affections of his People who never suffers himself to be seen by them 1619.
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
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
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
Citadel whence they might Canonade the City and whilst it held out the King of Spain had always an inlet at Command Therefore thinking they had done nothing till they were Masters of that Place they went to the Vice-Queen The Citadel taken from the Spaniards demanding of her an Order for the Governour to deliver it up to them She rejected them with scorn but Almada swearing if she persisted he would instantly Murder all the Spaniards that were taken For fear of Sacrificing so many Persons of Quality she signed the Order believing the Governour knew his Duty too well to obey an Order he could not but be convinced was extorted from her It fell not out as 〈◊〉 expected for the Spanish Governour D. Lewis del Campo a Man of no Resolution seeing all the Conspirators in Arms before the Citadel vowing they would put the Garrison to the Sword unless they instantly surrendred was glad to depart with so good a Pretence to hide his Cowardize The Citadel being surrendred and the Conspirators now secure on all sides they immediately dispatched Mendoza and the Great Master of the Game to carry the Happy News to the Duke of Braganza and assure him there wanted nothing to compleat the People's Happiness but the Presence of their King Yet was not his Presence equally desired by all Men. The Nobility looked upon his Exaltation with an envious Eye The Gentry who had no hand in the Conspiracy stood dubious Some said they knew not whether he would justifie those proceedings The Creatures of Spain were in a Consternation and only took care to save themselves from the Fury of the Multitude The Duke's Friends knowing his Intention prosecuted their Business They met at the Palace to settle Affairs till the Arrival of the King and unanimously chose the Archbishop of Lisbon President of the Council and Lieutenant of the Kingdom He refused at first saying there was more need of a General than a Person of his Character but soon complyed upon Condition the Archbishop of Braga should be joyned in Commission with him This subtil Prelate's Design was to make the other as guilty in respect of the Spaniards as himself if he accepted or if he refused to render him odious to the new King and People He of Braga perceived the Snare but being wholly devoted to the Spaniards positively refused to have any share in the Government Thus the whole Power fell into the Hands of the Archbishop of Lisbon D. Michael de Almeida Peter de Mendoza and D. Antony de Almada were appointed his Counsellors 17. The Governour 's first care was to make himself Master of three great Spanish Galeons that were in the Port. Three Spanish Galeons seized in the River of Lisbon Several Barks were fitted out and manned with the choice Youth of the City each endeavouring to signalize himself but they met with no Opposition the Officers and most of the Soldiers having been secured ashore at such time as the Conspiracy took effect Expresses were sent the same Evening to all the Provinces to excite the People to give Thanks to Heaven for the Recovery of their Liberty and Commanding all Magistrates to cause the Duke of Braganza to be proclaimed King and to secure all the Spaniards The next care was to dispose all things for the Reception of the new King The Archbishop acquainted the Vice-Queen she must withdraw to make room for the King and his Family He caused an Apartment to be furnished for her in the Royal Mansion-House of Xabregas which is in the Suburbs The Vice-Queen upon the first Order left the Palace but with a Countenance full of Indignation and without speaking one Word Only a few of her own Servants and the Archbishop of Braga though with the hazard of his Life attended her Still the Duke of Braganza was in suspense not knowing how Affairs had succeeded at Lisbon till Melo and Mendoza arriv'd at Villaviciosa By the joy of their Countenances and their casting themselves at his Feet more then by their Words he understood he was King of Portugal He conducted them to the Dutchess to relate what had happened and they gave her the Title of Majesty whereas the former Kings and Queens of Portugal had only the Stile of Highness given them The Duke proclaimed King in the Towns of his Dependance That same Day D. John was proclaimed King in all the Towns that depended of him Alfonso de Melo did the same at Elvas The new King set forward for Lisbon with the same Equipage he had provided to go to the Court of Spain He was attended by the Marquess de Ferreira his Kinsman the Count de Vimioso and many other Persons of Quality The Queen was left at Villaviciosa to confirm that Province in its Obedience by her Presence All the ways as he went were thronged with People that ran to see him pouring Blessings on him and Curses on the Spaniards All the Nobility Officers of the Crown and principal Magistrates went out to receive him far from Lisbon where he made his Entry amidst the joyful Acclamations of the Multitude on the 6th of December All that Night the City was enlightned with Bonfires and Illuminations which gave occasion to a Spaniard to say That he was a happy Prince since all that Kingdom had cost him but one Bonfire 18. The whole Kingdom followed the Example of Lisbon The whole Kingdom follows the Example of Lisbon as if there had been a particular Conspiracy in every Town Expresses arriv'd at Court daily bringing the King Advice of Towns and whole Provinces that had expelled the Spaniards and submitted themselves to him The Governours of other strong Places had no more Courage than he of Lisbon most of them shamefully marching away without so much as firing a Musket Thus within Fifteen Days the Spaniards were drove out of all the Kingdom of Portugal Only D. Ferdinand de la Cuâ—va 〈◊〉 St. Julian at the Mouth of the River taken Governour of the Castle of St. Julian at the Mouth of the River 〈◊〉 appeared resolutely set down to keep that Fortress for the King his Master The Garrison consisted only of Spaniards commanded by brave Officers who made a vigorous Resistance at the first Approaches of the Portuguese There was no remedy but to besiege the Place in form Heavy Cannon was brought from Lisbon the Trenches opened and carried on to the Counterscarp notwithstanding the continual Fire and frequent Sallies of the besieged But Treaty being the surest and often the shortest way the King made such Advantagious Proposals to the Governour as he had not the Power to withstand The great Summs the King offered him together with a Commendary of the Order of Christ prevailed with him The Treaty was concluded and the Fortress surrendred upon pretence he had not a sufficient Garrison to defend it notwithstanding the principal Officers refused to sign the Capitulation and principally D. Roderick Chalon a young Gentleman of
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
Portuguese Colonies and Factories endeavouring with the assistance of the Indians utterly to extirpate all others that they might themselves ingross that Trade To this purpose they omitted not any manner of Villainies that might conduce to their advantage and particularly though they had afterwards certain Intelligence of King John's being Proclaimed and being in amity with their State yet they ceased not to prosecute their ends in those remote parts as shall appear in the Sequel of this History However before the Revolution reached India they had got footing in Ceylon laid Siege to Malaca which they took and had their designs against Goâ— and all other the Portuguese Conquests in India In America also they were possessed of Pernambuco Paraiba Rio Grande Ciara the Islands of Tamaraca and Ferdinand de Noronha and towards the South of Porto Calvo and Segeripe all places appertaining to the Crown of Portugal But after they had information of the Truce concluded betwixt Portugal and Holland they perfidiously made themselves Masters of Angola and the Island of St. Thomas in Africk of Maranhao in America and of Malaca in India To compleat this Prince's Happiness though before there was a mortal Enmity betwixt the Portuguese and the Hollanders yet now on the 12th of June a Cessation of Arms betwixt the two Nations was agreed upon and concluded A Cessation of Arms with the Dutch at the Hague for 10 Years and soon after the States sent an Ambassador to Congratulate the King upon his Accession to the Crown The Portugal Ambassador returning brought with him Two Regiments of Horse and considerable supplies of Arms and Ammunition The Catalonians also sent the Lord Sala on the same Account and to Ratifie the League before concluded by the Portuguese Ambassador 3. All new erected Monarchyes are subject to a thousand accidents A Conspiracy against the New King discovered and unless protected by some Heavenly power can scarce continue long in their full splendor The King of Portugal was raised to the Throne of his Ancestors in a manner almost miraculous he mounted without any opposition 600 Towns and 15000 Villages submitted to him in less than eight days and all the people of the Kingdom declared they were never happy till his Accession to the Crown Nevertheless no sooner was he seated on the Throne but he found many Enemies and among them some of those who had helped to raise him to that Grandeur About 100 of the Greatest Men in his Kingdom Conspired to destroy him and if Heaven had not protected him there had been but a short space betwixt the Birth and Grave of his Sovereignty The Arch-Bishop of Braga the chief Inquisitor two other Bishops the Marquess of Villareal and his Son the Duke de Caminha were the principal Conspirators D. Lorenzo Pidez de Carvallo the Count de Armamar and D. Augustin Manuel were brought in as Associates the Jews of Lisbon were concerned in the Design and there was a party in the Fleet then lying at Belem one Man being aboard every Ship in order to Fire it upon a signal given Laurence Pidez de Carvallo was to break into the Queens Apartment with 100 Men to secure all there It was given in Charge to the Jews to fire the City in 8 or 10 places that the people being busied there they might have time to force the Palace The Inquisitor General sent Letters into Spain to acquaint the King with the Design that the Forces on the Frontiers might be ready to March to Lisbon upon the first Advice and the Duke de Maqueda to enter the Port with the Fleet of Spain Concerning the manner of discovering this Conspiracy there are three several Accounts One is that the Letters being directed to the Marquess de Ayamonte who was Governour of the Spanish Frontiers he broke them open and sent them back to the King of Portugal when he had seen the Contents which is most probable he being afterwards Convicted of High-Treason and put to Death at Segovia for Conspiring against his King with the Duke of Medina Sidonia and the new King of Portugal Another says that a Spy employed by the King to go often into Spain meeting a Bohemian who was employed to carry the said Letters and suspecting something by his Discourse made him Drunk then Stabbing him and having taken the Packet brought it to the King but this seems not to have any thing of probability or consequently of Truth The third is that D. Alfonso de Portugal Count de Vimioso being deprived of his Command on the Frontiers and grievously resenting that Affront the Arch-Bishop of Braga conceived the desire of revenge would easily engage him to enter into the Conspiracy He therefore discover'd the whole design to him and the Count seeming to embrace the proposition acquainted the King with the whole matter The Conspiracy being discovered the King so ordered the Affair that most of those persons therein concerned were apprehended without the least noise or confusion The 5th of August at 11 at Night was the time appointed for putting the Conspiracy in execution That very morning the King caused all the Troops that Quartered in the neighbouring Villages to march into Lisbon upon pretence of a review to be taken in the large place before the Palace He with his own hand gave several Billets Sealed up to persons he could confide in with positive Orders to every one not to open his Billet till 12 at Noon and then punctually to obey what it directed Then having sent for the Arch-Bishop of Braga and Marquess of Villareal under colour of communicating some important Affairs The principal Conspirators seized and punished they were both seized in the King's Lodgings about Noon without any noise At the same time a Captain of the Guards publickly apprehended the Duke of Caminha in the place before the Palace Those who had received the Billets having opened them found each an Order to take up one of the Conspirators and secure him in such a Prison till further order which was so punctually executed that 47 were taken without any difficulty none endeavouring to escape When the News of the Conspiracy was noised abroad it is not possible to express the rage conceived by the multitude against those that were the fomenters of it every Man desiring to be the Executioner of them as is the nature of the Rabble wherever they conceive a hatred The Wrack forced a Confession from many of the Criminals and the Arch-Bishop the Inquisitor the Marquess of Villareal and Duke de Caminha to save themselves that misery owned the whole Design The Marquess the Duke the Count de Armamar and D. Augustin Manuel were sentenced to be Beheaded The Arch-Bishop and Inquisitor because of their Character the King Condemned to perpetual Imprisonment All the others were adjudged to be Drawn Hanged and Quartered and they all suffered according to the Sentence pronounced against them upon the 29th day of August It is remarkable that when
many Prisoners that the King of Portugal ordered many of the least considerable to be set at Liberty D. John de Garay Governor of Badajoz sent out 800 Horse and 2000 Foot with design to surprize Olivenza but D. Francis de Melo charging them by the way put them to flight with the slaughter of 300 Men. 4. These continual Incursions kept the Spaniards always upon their Guard Other Military Actions and made them think of securing themselves To this purpose they began to fortifie Aldea del Obispo but Ferdinand Tellez de Meneses being unwilling to suffer that Work to go forward marched with 500 Foot and four Squadrons of Horse attacked the Place and carryed it though obstinately defended 140 Spaniards were kill'd in the Assault and 116 taken and all the Works as well Old as New were levelled with the Ground Then passing on he did the same to the Town of Castillejo which was no less offensive to the Portuguese Frontiers then the other would have been The King to shew he was no less formidable by Sea then by Land even in the first rise of his Greatness fitted out 13 great Men of War under the command of Antony Tellez ordering him to seek out the Spanish Fleet or in case he found it not to attempt some Sea-port Town the Spaniards though weak omitted not to make their utmost efforts and infest their Enemies Country as much as in them was Chelas a considerable Town of Estremadura and seated near the Frontiers of Alentejo did often send out Parties which did incredible damage in that part of the plain Country subject to Portugal Francis de Melo who had the charge of those Frontiers incensed hereat marched with all the Force he could gather with a resolution to carry that Place nor did he fail of his Design altogether for meeting a Squadron of Spanish Horse he cut them off and then applying his Scaling Ladders after a Dispute of five Hours entred the Town His Men immediately fell to the Plunder which lost them the opportunity they might have had of entring the Castle with the flying Enemy Francis de Melo seeing nothing more could be done then plundering the Town returned leaving the Streets full of dead Bodies and having lost but 16 of his own Men. 5. Whilst the War continued in this manner betwixt these two Neighbouring Nations Alliances in Africa and Asia those of a greater distance sought the Friâ—ndship of the new King of Portugal That King near Goa whom we mentioned before was the first that moved for this Friendship when he rais'd his Siege from before the City The King of Morocco was not long behind him for he understanding how fast the Crown was settl'd by the unanimous approbation of the whole Kingdom and so many Alliances with most Princes of Europe except those that were devoted to Spain sent now into Portugal to desire leave of the King that an Ambassador might come to put an end to the Animosities which had been produced by the violent procedure of the Spaniards 6. The ill Fortune of the Spaniards raised in them an implacable desire of Revenge Military Action in the Province of Tralos Montes They assembled 1500 Foot and 300 Horse to take a Fort that Ferdinand Tellez de Meneses had built in Val de Mula on the Frontiers of the Province Tralos Montes and marcâ—â—â— till they came in sight of the Fort there discovering 〈◊〉 Portuguese Horse and 400 Foot they halted to consult what was to be done D. Sancho Manuel the Portuguese Camp-Master having obtained Leave of Ferdinand Tellez though so unequal in Number charged the Enemy so vigorously that at the first shock the Foot fled and the Horse seeing the Rout durst not come up to support them Having with such ease overthrown those Troops the Portuguese General resolved to make use of the Advantage being informed they were retired to Fuentes in Castile where some Fortifications were begun to be thrown up Being too weak to attack them there he stayed till 500 Foot more had joyn'd him and then advanced he planted some Canon against the Place and began to batter it but seeing no effect thought of sending for more Troops to carry it by Escalade when he was told the Spaniards assembled in great Numbers from all parts to cut off his Retreat His danger drew D. Alonso Furtado de Mendoza to his Assistance but being still much inferiour to the Enemies they retired with Speed and unmolested by the Spaniards Nor was there any more quiet on the Frontiers of Galicia for D. Martin Daradin the Governour of that Kingdom not being in a condition to oppose two Portuguese Armies that broke in upon him at once they burnt 150 Villages in that Country and returned home with a considerable Booty 7. It was now but reasonable the Forces should have been put into their Winter Quarters nevertheless the Duke d'Alva having gather'd all the Power he could sent them under the Conduct of his Son to wast the Province of Beira In the Province of Beira Ferdinand Tellez de Meneses having Notice hereof formed a Body of 7000 Foot and 2700 Horse resolving to prevent the Spaniards whose Forces were no less Considerable he marched to Val de Mula and encamped before the Town of Guardan which he Summoned and finding no Disposition in the Governor to surrender batter'd it with two pieces of Canon The Battery was of little effect and therefore Ferdinand Tellez commanded Peter Sousa de Castro to attack the Out-works with all the Musqueteers and Gaspar de Seixas with some other Battalions to sustain him The Attack was begun with great Resolution and continued for three Hours at the end whereof the Besieged put 〈◊〉 a white Flag and sent a Drum to offer to Capitulateâ— The Garrison marched out upon sorry Terms the Governor and Officers being only allowed to carry their Swords and all the Souldiers to the number of 340 being sent Prisoners to Lisbon The Booty was great besides much store of Provision and Ammunition found in the Place but the main Consequence of taking this place was that it secured the Portuguese Frontiers and laid those of Castile open to Incursions Whilst this was doing about the Province of Beira without the Spanish General who had taken the Field his attempting to succour the Town D. Antony Mascarenhes commander of Valladores took Quintas and Corgra D. Sancho Manuel plunder'd and burnt the Towns of Sorvo Avilar and Chalenga the Captains Edward Miranda and Emanuel de Andras did the same to those of Basquilha Villar del Puerto and Saranitho and so did others all along the Frontiers D. Francis de Melo General of the Cavalry in Allentejo being abroad with 300 Men the Governour of Badajoz upon Notice of it marched out with 700 and leaving half of them in Ambush with the other half advanced to draw on the Portuguese Melo thinking he had no more Enemies to deal with but what were in sight charged them
tho' much inferior in number stood their Ground and obstinately defended themselves for the space of seven Hours but were at last forced to retire having lost many Men besides many more wounded The Spaniards say the Fort of Telena was not Demolished but left in the same Condition the Portugueses found it they wanting time to ruin the Works or remove any thing out of it being forced to retreat with Precipitation 3. Nothing better was the success of the Marquess de Aytona Actions in the Province of Beira the Catholick King 's General betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho in his design of surprizing Salvaterra He marched with 600 Foot and 500 Horse but the Count de Castelmelhor who commanded the Portugueses in that Province understanding his Design posted himself under the Walls of that Place and the Marquess perceiving his Intentions had taken Air posted himself not far off and being master of the Field erected a Fort upon an Eminence that might serve as a Bridle upon the Garrison of Salvaterra and where he might be at Hand upon any Opportunity to throw himself into that place which was very considerable as being upon the Frontiers of Beira Some considerable Action might reasonably be expected here the Spaniards keeping to their Strength and the Portuguese to theirs and the Forces on both sides daily encreasing The Spanish Army grew up to the Number of 10000 Foot and 3000 Horse which on the 20 of November undertook the Siege of Salvaterra and pressed it so vigorously that they soon lodged themselves upon the Ditch and had begun to mine hoping in few days to carry the place This was the posture of their Affairs when understanding that all the Forces of the Province of Beira commanded by Count Seren reinforced by others of Alentejo under the Conduct of D. Sancho Manuel were marching with all possible speed to the Relief of the Town they raised the Siege with such Precipitation that they left behind them much Provision Ammunition their Baracks and about 300 sick and lame Souldiers The Portugueses coming later then they had hoped as those who were stayed by the violent Rains were much troubled to be disappointed of meeting the Spanish Army the routing of which they had promised to themselves and greater Security to their Frontiers for the future Having burnt the Baracks and the Country round about they returned to their Winter-quarters as the Spaniards had done on their side 4. Thus stood all the Affairs on both sides Both sides cease from Hostilities when as well the one as the other perceived that this sort of Action served only to harrass themselves The Catholick King seemed to maintain an Army to no purpose since in 5 or 6 Years time he had done nothing but waste Mony and loose Men and Ground All the Portugueses did was to destroy Towns frighten the Country People and kill some few Soldiers These Considerations moved both Parties to put their standing Forces into Garrisons and forbear farther Hostilites Whilst the Catholick King attended the Affairs of Catalonia and made his Interest at Rome to obstruct the new King 's being treated as such by the Pope and the vacant Benefices in Portugal to be filled by Men of that Princes presenting he laboured to heap up Treasure of the Riches brought him from India that whenever the Catholick King should renew the War he might not want Money which is the Life and Sinews of all Armies He also took care to strengthen himself with Friends and Confederates and having secured the King of France his Ministers endeavoured to joyn in Amity with the new Common-wealth of England Portugues Affairs at Rome It remained to sollicite the Friendship of the See of Rome not only by performing the publick Act of Obedience and filling the vacant Churches but by satisfying that Court as to two Points which it seemed to resent One was that King John persisted in retaining some Revenues taken from the Church The other that he kept the Arch-bishop of Braga Prisoner for which he was excommunicated and therefore the Pope demanded that the Revenues should be restored and the Arch-bishop put into his Hands as being his proper Judge To those things the Portuguese Ministers answer'd that had the Pope sent his Nuncio the Dispute about those Revenues might have been easily accommodated it being made appear that the Crown was in possession of them for about 600 Years And as to the Arch-bishop that he being guilty of High-Treason what the King had done was justifiable according to the Canons and therefore he could incur no Censure of the Church Nevertheless the King was ready to commit the Tryal of that Cause to such Judges as his Holiness should appoint but not to deliver his Person because of the danger there was that he should be set at Liberty by the way if he touched at any port of Spain as also because King John not being yet owned as such at Rome they would not adjudge the Arch-bishop guilty of High-Treason The Court of Rome seemed satisfyed as to this Point but not as to the other 5. In this place it will not be amiss to relate the end of the Misfortunes befallen to Edward Of Edward Brother to King John Brother to King John It was said above how he was taken in Germany where he served the Emperor and delivered up to the Ministers of Spain as guilty of being privy to the revolt of Portugal It was layed to his Charge that being a Subject of the King of Spain he had not discovered to him the designed revolt of that Kingdom On this account he was put into the Castle of Milan where fresh Evidence was found against him He was kept with Guards upon him in the very Room all his own Servants being removed from him upon Suspicion that they contrived his Escape The Governor of the Castle imagining that his Confessor who was a Jesuit might have a hand in that Contrivance sent him word to chose another so it were a Subject of the King of Spain and no Jesuit letting him also know that every now and then he must change his Confessor This Message being delivered by the Lieutenant of the Castle D. Edward broke out into a Passion which he had never done before and among many other rash Expressions said His Comfort was that he suffered for the King his Brother for his Family and Country for which he was willing to lay down his Life This the Lieutenant deposed against him and several Soldiers also restifyed that being upon his Guard they had heard him drink a Health to the King his Brother The Governor having taken those depositions there came a Commission from Spain appointing three Judges to try him and they again examined all the Witnesses then they proceeded to examine the Prisoner himself who being asked what he knew of the design of revolting in Portugal utterly denyed he had any knowledge of it but unadvisedly in his Discourse added that being at
Lisbon F. Bartholomew Gerreiro a Jesuit had told him that many Sebastianists so they called those affected to the line of Braganzza desired him not to depart Portugal because they thought his Presence necessary for carrying on their Designs that nevertheless he would not see any of them but went away for Germany Next they asked him whether he had given the King meaning the Catholick King an account of those Words he said he had not as making no account of them but had immediately departed the Kingdom They also put Questions to him about the Healths he had drunk and the words he spoke upon the changing his Confessor but they laid the chief stress on the words spoke by F. Guerreiro and his not discovering them to the King for which they pretended he was guilty of High-Treason and consequently deserved Death D. Edward pleaded that he being a Knight of the Military Order of Christ the judgment of secular Judges against him was void To this they answered that in cases of High-Treason those Priviledges cease besides that two of the Judges were also Knights of Military Orders Death put an end to this Controversie for the Prisoner falling Sick either through his long Suffering or some other Cause put the same period to his Life and Imprisonment 6. For the better settlement of the Affairs of the Nation The Cortes or Parliament meet then in some disorder through the long continuance of the War the King had summoned the Cortes or Parliament to meet in December of the foregoing Year They being accordingly assembled redressed many Grievances occasioned by the Army ordered that for defence of the Frontiers there should be kept in Pay 16000 Foot and 4000 Horse and as well for the payment of them as other Expences of the War assigned 2150000 Cruzados which in English Money is 286666 l. 13 s 4 d. allowing 3000 Reis to the pound according to the common Computation 7. We left the Portugueses at Pernambuco last Year successful on both sides The War in Brazil and besieging the Hollanders in their Towns all along the Coast These last erected a new Fort to secure the Communication between Sinco Pontas and Afâ—â—gados but their Garrisons attempting to cast down the Woods that were in the way were obliged to quit that Work with the loss of many Men. At the same time D. Antony Philip Camarhao who was gone to reduce the Indians of Rio Grande gave a great overthrow to the Dutch who came to attack him with 500 Men of their own and 1000 Indians The News of this success being brought to John Ferdinandez Viegra he sent for Andrew Vidal with six Companies to reinforce the Victors To the end the Enemy might not perceive his Forces were lessened he kept them in continual Alarm and Henry Diaz who commanded the Blacks with only his own Men took the new Fort the Dutch had erected putting all within it to the Sword Andrew Vidal at Paraiba having laid himself in Ambush sent out 40 Portugueses who drew 220 Dutch and Indianâ— into the Snare where they all perished Both the Besieged and the Besiegers at Pernambuco suffered great Want but several methods were found to relieve the latter The former had no hopes but in a Fleet they expected from Holland They had three Ships which lay to secure their passage to the Island Itamaraca and other parts of the Continent which John Fernandez Vieyra perceiving he attack'd them with 500 Men in Boats who took one and burnt the other two then passing over to the Shore he drove the Defendants from several small redoubts and erected a Fort at the Port St. Mark in which he left 200 Men with 18 pieces of Cannon which he had taken from the Enemy 8. The Dutch were now reduced to the last Extremity The Dutch in Brasil receive Succors when 3 Ships arrived from Holland bringing Provisions Ammunition and Men as also an Account that two Fleets were fitting out the one to secure Pernambuco the other to conquer Bahia Near the same time a small Ship and two Caravels brought some relief to the Besiegers from Portugal John Farnandez Vieyra was several times warned that a Conspiracy was carryed on against his Life yet he still slighted the Advice till being one day advanced from his Company he saw three Fire-locks levelled at him whereof only one gave Fire and shot him through the Shoulder Nevertheless he pardoned the Conspirators contenting himself with only a verbal Check given them Face to Face Now at length arrived a great Fleet from Holland under the Command of Sigismund Van Scop with 4000 Men and all other Necessaries To oppose this great Power the Portuguese Commanders gather'd all the Souldiers and Inhabitants that were before dispersed in places of less Consequence and so considerably encreased their Force that they stood no longer in fear of their Enemies On the 5th of August Sigismund Van Scop marched with 1200 Men to attack the Town of Olinda but a pass that led to it being well fortifyed he twice assaulted it and was as often repulsed with great loss and himself wounded The following Night 1000 Men sallyed upon one of the Portuguese Quarters but with with no better Success After this Sigismund raised some small Forts in convenient places as well to secure that Coast as to amuze his Enemies his design being as soon as his Fleet could be made ready to sail for Bahia and make himself Master of that Place but that belongs to another Year 9. Africk this Year affords us nothing remarkarble Affairs in Africk and India only some Incursions of D. Gaston Coutinho Governor of Tangier and the Martyrdome of Sebastian Gomez who suffered Death with exquisite Torments for his constancy in the Faith D. Phillip Mascarenhas continued in the Government of India where likewise there happened little of moment by reason of the Truce with the Dutch only about the latter end of April 46 Sail lying at Anchor without the Bar of Goa ready to sail the next day such a sudden violent Storm arose that not a Vessel or so much as one Man was saved but all together perished in the Sea Anno 1647. 1. JOhn Mendez de Vasconcellâ—s Several Enterprises on the Frontiers of Alentejo who still commanded in Alentejo finding his Forces too weak to withstand the many Incursions of the Enemy applyed himself with great diligence to fortifie the Frontiers and particularly Ouguela and Campo Mayor but upon Advice that the King had appointed Martin Alfonso de Melo Governor of that Province he retired to Lisbon being unwilling to serve under him Andrew de Albuquerque General of the Artillery commanded during the Absence of the Governour No sooner was he vested with this Power but the Spaniards made an Incursion with all their Horse into the Country betwixt Geromenha and Elvas and carryed away a great Prey Albuquerque though he drew out of Elvas being too weak to oppose them To revenge this he sent Henry de
great industry disposed all things for the defence of that Province D. James Mexia Marquess of Leganes came the second time to Badajoz to Command the Spanish Forces His coming was the cause that all the Portuguese preparations were redoubled new Forces raised and the Frontiers fortified Whilst the main Bodies were gathering on both sides the Marquess de Leganes sent 600 Horse by the way of Albuquerque to plunder the Countrey as far as Marvao The Count St. Lorenzo having timely notice of it sent Achim de Tamericourt the Commissary-General with 400 Horse and Orders to fight wheresoever he should meet him Tamericourt executed his Orders with so much bravery that meeting the Enemy near Portalegre he soon routed them took 200 Prisoners and recovered all the prey This disaster provoked the Marquess de Leganez to hasten putting in execution his Design upon Olivenza which place the Ingenier Cosmander who before we said was won by the Spaniards had ingaged to put into the Catholick King 's hands without much difficulty On the 20th of June he appeared at break of day before Olivenza with 8000 Foot and 3000 Horse Cosmander who had the directing of the Attack divided these Troops into four parts ordering them to give the Assault in as many places reserving to himself a barrier of the covered way where the Soldiers used to come out to work The Spaniards advanced with resolution and mounted two Bulwarks before the Centinels gave the Alarm The Soldiers of the next Guards and some of the Inhabitants hasting to the places where the danger was maintained the Fight till the rest of the Garrison came to their relief D. John de Menezes the Governour at the first Alarm ran half Naked with his Sword in his hand into the Street and with his example so encouraged the Soldiers that they drove the Enemy forcing many to cast themselves down headlong from the Bullwarks Yet the danger was not over for in other places the Spaniards had turned some Cannon of the other Bullwarks upon the City and many fell on both sides D. John though he had received three wounds ceased not to act as well as give out Orders The danger lasted till it was clear day when Cosmander thinking to force the barrier of the covered way was shot dead from the Wall His death put an end to the dispute for though the Marquess de Leganez dismounted his Horse to carry on the Assault those that were drove out so discouraged the others that were to come on that the Marquess was forced to sound a retreat and immediately returned to Badajoz After this in several small rencounters the Portugueses were successful against the Spaniards took a considerable Convoy from them near Albuquerque and the Count de St. Lozenco made an Incursion as far as Talavera whence he returned with a great Booty passing in sight of Badajoz in hopes the Marquess de Leganez might be drawn out but he stirred not Some difference arising betwixt the Count and John Mendes de Vasconcellos who had governed that Province before the King sent the latter Prisoner to the Old-Tower where he remained till the time we shall speak of him hereafter In all the other parts of the Kingdom there was no Action of any consideration this Year 2. On the 26th of April was Born the King's third Son Prince Peter now King and was Baptized by the Bishop of Elvas Birth of King John's Son Peter now Reigning Negociations in France and Rome with all Solemnity and publick Demonstration of Joy The Marquess de Niza who was Ambassador in France ceased not to sollicite the conclusion of a League betwixt the two Crowns but all his endeavours proved successless whereupon in February of the following Year he left Paris and returned home F. Nunho da Cunha was still at Rome solliciting the Affairs of Portugal Two Capucins came to Rome with the Title of Ambassadors from the King of Congo to give his Obedience to the Pope and obtain of him Bishops and Missioners for propagating of the Faith The Pope gave them publick Audience and appointed an Arch-Bishop two Bishops and 3◠Missioners Spaniards and Italians giving them a Summ of Money and ordering them to imbark in 〈◊〉 port of Spain F. Nunho da Cunha opposed the sending of these Bishops and Missioners because that the Kingdom of Congo appertained to the Conquest of Portugal and Dr. Emanuel Alvarez Corrillo was sent from Lisbon by the King to second him as well in that as solliciting the Expediting of Bulls for the Bishops of Portugal but all they could effect was only to stop the Voyage of the Bishops and Missioners of Congo 3. Whilst these things happened in Europe Success of the Portugueses against the Dutch in Brazil the Dutch continued blocked up on the Coast of Pernambuco In January the Portuguese Governors of that Province received Intelligence that the Fleet under the Count de Villa Pouca was arrived at Bahia but that no Succour was to be expected from thence They were no ways dismayed at this News but resolved to proceed more vigorously than before Accordingly they sent Henry Dias with his own Regiment and some Companies of D. Antony Philip Camarao to Rio Grande He march'd with such Secresie and Expedition that the Enemy knew nothing of it till they felt the effects of his Arrival for he Burnt and destroyed all before him Such as could escape retired to Gurairas a fortifyed place in a Lake but he attacked and carryed that also by Night putting all within to the Sword without sparing Sex or Age. Thence he marched to Cunhau which was also fortified yet was deliver'd up those within only compounding for their Lives The King at last considering of how great Consequence it was to expell the Dutch out of America sent Francis Barreto de Menezes with two small Vessels and 300 Men to command there as Camp-Master General By the way he met a Dutch Squadron by whom he was taken and carryed Prisoner to Arrecife where he was kept in Custody 9 Months and at last made his Escape with one Francis Bra Son to the Officer that had him in keeping Being come into the Portuguese Quarters he joyned with John Fernandez Vieyra and Andrew Vidal being positively set down to endure the utmost Extremities rather then forsake the Enterprize they had in hand They sent Captain Paul de Cunha to sollicit some Succours from the Count de Villa Pouca at Bahia but he returned without any at such time as a Fleet was arrived from Holland which consisted of 44 Sail with 9000 Land-Men aboard it besides Sea-Men when it came out but some had perished in a Storm Upon the Arrival of this great Power the Portugueses gather'd all their Forces quitting the most distant and least advantagious Posts and yet after all they could make up but 2200 Men fit for Service Sigismund Vanscop who commanded the Dutch proclaimed a Pardon to all Slaves or Portugueses that should come over to
him but it took no effect On the 18th of April he took the Field with 7500 Foot 500 Seamen 300 Indians 5 pieces of Cannon and a great quantity of Ammunition and marching to the Fort Barreta the Captain who commanded there unadvisedly went out with 80 Men most of whom were kill'd the Captain taken and his Ensign surrendred the Fort. Francis Barreto who commanded the Portugueses having called a Council of War it was resolved to give the Enemy Battle though at such great odds rather than stay to be beaten out of all their Posts by degrees According to this Resolution they marched and posted themselves in a small Plain at the Foot of the Mountains Gararapes on the 16th of April They sent out Major Antony Diaz Cardoso with 20 Men to observe the Enemy who stirred not that Night but appeared next Morning being Low Sunday upon the Mountains Antony Dias with his 20 Men and 40 Indians that had joyned him skirmishing in their Van. The Enemy drawing near our Men attack'd them with Sword in Hand and at the first Charge disordered their Van which retiring to the other Troops endeavoured to rally Henry Dias with his Regiment pressing hard upon them was overpowred by the fresh Troops and forced to give way so that many of the Portugueses who were disordered in Confidence of the Victory began to fly Francis Barreto in good time rallyed them and charging the Enemy again recovered the Day Yet the Dutch were not soon broke for the Fight continued four Hours very obstinate At last the Dutch gave way and retired to a Hill whether Francis Barreto thought not good to pursue them because his Men were spent with Travel and fasting 24 Hours There were taken 33 Colours many Arms and a great Booty At Night the Enemy returned to the Shoar leaving behind 1000 Dead and carrying 523 wounded of the Portugueses 80 were killed and 400 wounded This done Francis Barreto marched back to possess his former Quarters hoping the Enemy was not in a Condition to destroy them and so it proved for they had only possessed themselves of the Fort Barreta and Town of Olinda which last he resolved to recover At Night he sent Henry Diaz with his Regiment and some other Companies who drove out the Enemy killing 160 of them and recovered 5 pieces of Canon Francis Barreto ordered the Works to be rased and his Men to retire to their Post Sigismund Vanscop sent a Drum demanding exchange of Prisoners which was refused and they all sent away to Bahia Some Ships of the Dutch Fleet that had been separated by Storm arriving now Sigismund several times attacked the Quarters of Henry Dias but was as often valiantly repulsed by the Blacks There was great want of Men and Provisions in our Quarters which was in some measure remedyed by the arrival of Collonel Francis de Figueyroa from Bahia with 300 Men and a quantity of Cattle The joy of this Succour was abated by the Death of D. Antony Philip Camarao Governor of the Indians a good Christian and resolute Soldier Sigismund Vanscop perceiving Fortune favour'd him not at Pernambuco put to Sea with some Ships and landing in several parts of Baâ—ia returned with a great Booty he had gather'd Francis Barreto growing better versed in the Affairs of that Country continued the War with good Conduct as we shall see in the following Years 4. It has been said above that Salvador Correa was sent from Lisbon with the Title of Governour of Rio de Janeyro The Dutch beaten out of Angola in Africk and General of the Kingdom of Angola In January he arrived at Rio de Janeyro and found there Emanuel Pacheco de Mello with the 5 Ships sent by the Count de Villa Pouca in pursuance of the King's Orders Salvador Correa was no sooner landed but he called a Council to deliberate about recovering the Kingdom of Angola It was unanimously resolved to go upon the Enterprize and for the carrying of it on the Inhabitants contributed 55000 Cruzadoes which is 7333l 06 s. 04 d. This encouraged him to hire 6 Ships and buy 4 small Vessels He listed 900 Land Men and 600 Sea-men and having made all necessary Provision for them sailed for Angola on the 12th of May with 15 Sail. The weather proved so bad his small Vessels could not keep up with him However he arrived at Quicombo where he was ordered to raise a Fort and landed to view the place Five days after arrived his Vice-Admiral and two of the small Vessels but the Night following the Vice-Admiral sunk in the Bay without the least Wind no Man knowing what should be the cause of it In her perished 360 Men for only two were saved Salvador Correa called a Council where he proposed that though the King's Orders were not to make War upon the Dutch as supposing they lived peaceably with the Portugueses yet finding on the Contrary that they ceased not to make War upon those who were retired up the Country he thought it was but reasonable to assist their Country Men and expell those Usurpers All that were present answered they would either recover Angola or dye With this unanimous Consent he set sail again and arrived at Loanda Having taken a Black he reported that 300 Dutch with 3000 Blacks so streightned the Portugueses who were fled to the City Masangano that it was impossible to have any Correspondence with them Having received this Confirmation of the unjust proceedings of the Dutch he sent to summon the Governor of Loanda to surrender This Message so surprized him that he sent to desire only 8 days to resolve what was to be done Salvador Correa perceiving this was only to gain Time to call in their Men that were Abroad replyed he would grant two Days after which they must expect to be treated with the utmost Rigour They accepted of the offer and in that time gather'd all the Force they could into the Fort of St. Michael which commands the City and that of our Lady on the Shoar both which can contain 5000 Men. At the expiration of the two days Salvador Correa sent to know whether they were ready to surrender but they answered they were resolved to hold out to the last Hereupon he instantly landed 900 Men and marched to the Town which he entred without Opposition possessing himself of the Fort S. Antony abandoned by the Enemy who had left in it 8 pieces of Canon whereof only two were nailed With the other 6 and 4 Demi-Canon brought from the Ships he formed two Batteries that Night which at break of Day began to play on the Fort of St. Michael but not with any considerable effect Salvador Correa displeased at this disappointment and more at the News that the Dutch had defeated the Portugueses at Masangano resolved to venture upon a desperate Action which was to assault both the Forts joyned by a Line of Communication and defended by 1200 Dutch French and Germans and as many Blacks
maintained upon Grass alone so that it was difficult to make Excursions which added much to the great scarcity of Provisions D. Francis de Noronha Governor of Mazagam sent an Ambassy and Presents to the King of Morocco which was by him honourably received and generously returned D. Francis continued in this Command till the Year 1654 during which time nothing remarkable happened there so that we shall not have occasion to make any mention of him This was the last Year of D. Philip Mascarenhas his Vice-Royship in India and in it there was little remarkable only the Chendarraos a vagabond sort of People in the Country of Hidalcan possessed themselves of the Mount or Promontory of Chaul whence they were drove by the Vice-Roy's Order by D. Alvaro de Atayde This Year two Galeons and a Pink sailed from Portugal to India and the Galeon S. Philip built there arrived at Lisbon Anno 1652. 1. THE Prince who as was said returned to Lisbon the latter end of the last Year The Prince made Captain General of all the Forces in Portugal used all possible means to perswade his Father to send him again to the Frontiers but the King jealous of him could not be worked upon At length to conceal his own Jealousie and disappoint that Design of his Son he appointed him Captain General of all the Forces in the Kingdom thaâ— having the Charge of all he might not apply himself to command in any one Province D. John de Costa neveâ— ceased to harrass the Enemies Frontiers bringing iâ— thence considerable Booty In revenge the Spaniardâ— drove a great Prey from the Territory of Telena and though Lieutenant General Tamericourt marched after them with the Troops of Olivenza they being far beforâ— him got safe into Barcarota Before that place was 〈◊〉 large Field encompassed with a Ditch and lying undeâ— the Cannon and small shot of the Town which the Spaâ—niards believed would secure their Prey However Tamaricourt coming to Barcarota dismounted part of hâ—â— Horse and breaking into the Field before day droâ— away all the Cattel without receiving any considerablâ— Loss The Spaniards sallyed out upon him but suddeâ—â—ly retired and he marching off with the Booty restâ—â—red it to the Country People Neither was he less suâ—â—cessful a few days after when engaging the Troops of Badajoz he took the Spanish Lieutenant General of Horse D. Francis Hibarra with other Officers and 120 Horses The Prince being now Generalissimo sent his Orders to all the Provinces of the Kingdom absolutely forbidding any Incursions to be made for the future into the Spanish Frontiers D. John de Costa upon receipt of this Order replyed to it shewing how disadvantagious it was to the Kingdom by reason of the great Benefit reaped by those inroads for he in the space of two Years had destroyed above 1400 of the Spanish Horse having scarce lost 100 of his own Besides he looked upon this as so great a check to his Authority that he desired leave to lay down his Command The Prince being well satisfyed of D. John's Zeal and Fidelity recalled his Order and the King gave him the Title of Earl of Soure He to appear worthy of this Honour endeavoured to make amends by his Conduct for what he wanted in Strength To this purpose he secretly gathered 1500 Horse from the Neighbouring Garrisons which Lieutenant General Tamericour and Commissary General Duquesne divided betwixt them With these Troops they passed the River Guadiana and lay close in the Wood near Badajoz In the Morning a Squadron of Horse issuing out of the Town according to Custom they were drove back by some of our Troops Fresh Troops seconded the Enemy from the City and they kept in play till D. Alvaro de Viveros took the Field with all the Horse of that place and having drawn them up advanced further then was thought convenient for the safety of the Town Duquesne who was nearest thinking it now time moved towards him with more Courage than Order The Spanish General halted and bravely stood the Charge in which Duquesne received three Wounds and Captain Sancho Dias was kill'd with several Soldiers the rest of the Troops missing their Commander retired with Precipitation Tamericour perceiving this Disorder charged furiously with his formost Troops which being too open in their Ranks made but little Impression but those in the Rear coming up behaved themselves with such Bravery that after a long Dispute they broke the Enemy The Troops of Duquesne and part of those with Tamericour being wholly blinded by the Dust fled to Olivenza believing the rest were cut off Tamericour rallyed the rest marched off with above 200 Horses he had taken from the Prisoners among whom was a Captain of Horse and other Officers The Count de Soure being a strict observer of Discipline commended those that had behaved themselves well and severely checked those that had fled giving the King also a particular Account of the Merits of the former and Demerits of the latter 2. The Viscount de Villa Nova Governor of the Province betwixt Duero and Minho still continued in perfect Tranquility nothing happening in his Command but that Captain Labar a valiant French-Man disorderly with a party of Horse charging another of the Enemy was himself killed and most of his Men wounded The Province Tras os Montes governed by the Count de Antouguia by consent of both Parties was for several Months free from Action Some small Incursions were afterwards made on both sides but none of Note The King having now chose the Count de Penaguiao his Lord Chamberlain to go Ambassador into England appointed the Count de Atouguia to execute his Office and John Mendez de Vasconcellos was sent in his place to govern the Province The most remarkable Action performed this Year by D. Roderick de Castro in his Division of the Province of Beyra was the burning of the Town of Martiago Some Actions in Beira which contained 300 Houses the other Enterprizes were too small to merit any place here D. Sancho Manuel who commanded in the other part of Beyra understanding that a Troop of the Enemies was quartered at Lobeyros and had twice repulsed parties of the Portuguese Militia that ravaged the Country thereabouts ordered the Cornet Dominick Homen with 40 chosen Men to lye in wait for them He sent before some of the Militia to drive the Cattel the Spanish Troop backed by a company of Foot immediately rushed out upon them but the Ensign who was at hand furiously falling in upon the Foot broke them and with the same Success routed the Horse killing many and taking several Prisoners This Success was soon ballanced by a greater disaster for D. Sancho being informed that the Spaniards gathered a great Power in order to break into his Province and not being in a condition to oppose them he thought to divert them by making at the same time an inroad into their Frontiers hoping he might retire to places of safety
others who had any share in the Administration of the Government At length on the 6th of November being Munday having given all imaginable Tokens of true Repentance and Christian Piety he gave up the Ghost into the Hands of his Redeemer The King being dead the Lord Chamberlain dressed him in the Royal Robes and layed him upon a Bed the Bells throughout the City and the Tears of his Subjects equally signifying the loss sustained by the Kingdom After noon the Council met and opening his Will found he appointed the Queen Regent of the Kingdom and Protectress of his Children that the Royal Chappel should be finished according to the Model by him begun that the Monastery of S. Clare at Coimbra should be finished That several Pensions should be given to Persons there named That 2000 Cruzados should be immediately distributed to poor Monasteries and that his Body should be interred in the Church of S. Vincent All the while the Body lay in State in the Guard Chamber of the Pallace the People thronged to see it Thence it was removed attended by all the Officers of the Houshold and Clergy of the whole City to the Church of S. Vincent and there put into the Tomb appointed for it King John was of a middle Stature very handsome before he had the Small Pox his Hair fair his Body gross but strong He hated gayety in Cloaths and therefore was careless in his Dress always an Enemy to new Fashions His Discourse was Witty and Pleasant his Judgment sound but affecting to have all his Orders unblameable he was often too slow in his Resolutions He had but one Wife which was the Lady Luisa de Guzman Daughter to the Duke of Medina Sidonia By her he had Issue Theodosius who dyed at Lisbon His Wife and Issue in the 19th Year of his Age Emanuel and Anne who both dyed in their Infancy at Villa Viciosa before their Father ascended the Throne Alfonso who succeeded his Father and was afterwards deposed Peter now reigning Joanna who dyed at Lisbon in the 16th Year of her Age. And Catherine Queen of England One Bastard Daughter called Mary who lived and dyed in the Monastery of Carnide near Lisbon In this City the King dyed upon Monday the 26th of November in the Year 1656 at the age of 5â— Years and 7 Months whereof he was 26 Duke oâ— Barcelos 10 Duke of Braganza and 16 King of Portugal Anno 1657. AFter the death of the King the Queen Dowager whâ— was also regent during the minority of her Son being a Woman of a haughty and active Spirit presently bent her thoughts upon making some considerable attempt on the Enemies Frontiers least they should imagine that the loss of their King had discouraged the Portugueses or dissipatated their Councils To this effect and to gain her self a greater Reputation among her own People she ordered the Count de San Lorenzo who then Commanded upon the Frontiers with all secrecy and expedition to attempt the surprizing of the Fort of Barcarota in which she was informed there was but a small Garrison At this time Francis Tutta-villa Duke of St. German was Generall of the Spanish Frontiers by birth he was an Italian and as to his person and experience a Soldier of known courage and Conduct He having private intelligence of the design covertly put 500 chosen men into Barcarota with orders to Stand upon their guard that they might surprize those who came to surprize them The Portugueses aâ—temptinâ— Barcarota are repulsed with loss The Portuguese Forces who knew nothing of this reinforcement boldly making up to the Fort before break of day were on a sudden assaulted by the Spaniards sallying furiously upon them and they expecting no such reception were soon put to flight and a great number slain and taken prisoners This rash and fruitless attempt by which the Queen thought to have made herself terrible to her Enemies produced a quite contrary effect for it only provoked his Catholick Majesty to carry on the War against Portugal with greater vigour than had been done of late years In order thereto the Spanish Generall the Duke of St. German having been sent for to Madrid and there fully empowered to act as he should find most expedient returned to the Frontiers well furnished with mony Armes provisions 20 peices of Canon and an Army of 13000 Foot and 4000 Horse He was at first doubtfull whether he should bend his Force against Elvas or Olivenza but considering the dammage received from the frequent excursions of the garrison of the latter of these two places he resolved to attack it Olivenza is seated in a plain almost a League from the River Guadiana and beset on all sides with hills that command it being within Canon shot The Fortifications of the place were after the modern manner consisting of Nine bastions two half Moons and two Forts and was next to Elvas the strongest place in Portugal The Duke being come before the Town and perceiving the Seige would be a work of time The Duke of St. German the Spanish Generall besieges Olivenza enclosed the whole place within his lines possessing himself of the hills and strengthning his lines with 21 redoubts and four large places of Armes Four batteries were presently raised which played with good success upon the Town but whatever they cast down in the day the besieged repaired by Night After which another was planted on the Monastery of St. Francis which overtopping the Walls slew many in the streets till such time as a strong work was cast up by the garrison which covered that part of the Town The trenches were diligently carryed on and many sallies made by the besieged The Duke perceiving the conquest of this place to be a work of great difficulty thought fit to reduce it by Art as well as Main-force Having therefore suffered his men to lye still severall days as if he intended to starve the Town on a sudden in the dead of Night he assaulted the greater of the two Forts with his whole power The besieged being at first surprized and not knowing whither to run gave way 〈◊〉 the Enemy who thought themselves possest of the Fort till Emanuel de Saldanha the Governour of the Town comming with fresh supplies drove them out and the Duke fearful of exposing his men sounded a retreat Twenty days after the Town was invested the Count de St. Lorenzo came to the relief of it with an Army of 12000 Foot and 3500 Horse After being four days on the Banks of the River he moved nearer to the Enemy and planted a battery against their works but the Duke having raised also another did such Execution that he was glad to withdraw and return to his Camp near Jurumenha Three days he lay there and then again drew near to Olivenza to discover how the Town might best be relieved or at least to encourage the besieged by his presence to which purpose he sent severall Messages to
made themselves Master of the place D. John by his Authority took care that none but such as were in Arms should be put to the Sword no woman Ravished nor no Churches sacked Through a mistake both the Governours were led to Execution till D. John being informed of the innocence of the former that had been layed aside caused him to be honourably dismissed and the latter for his rashness was Shot to Death in the Market-Place The Town of Crato was plundered and burnt down to the Ground and the Castle blown up From Crato the victorious Army marched to Oguela which at first stood out against the Summons sent in but soon after whilst the Governor had sent out to treat of a Surrender the Spanish Soldiers as they had done at Crato attacked and entred the Place Of which dishonourable Action when the Governor complained to D. John he caused all their Goods to be restored to the Inhabitants and granted honourable Conditions to them and to the Garrison The Count de Sartinara was appointed Governour of this place and with him were left two Italian Regiments After which Actions D. John put his Army into Quarters and so ended the Affairs of this Year Anno 1663. 1. BOth Crowns were earnestly intent upon renewing the War this Year King Alfonso takes upon him the Government and nothing was omitted on either side that seemed conducing to a vigorous Campaign King Alfonso being now at Age to take upon him the Government of his Kingdom according to the custom of Portugal had removed his Mother from the publick Administration of Affairs and was therefore ambitious to begin his Rule with some important Action which might gain him Reputation both at Home and Abroad His first step hereto was to remove the prime Ministers and Officers of the Kingdom and to supply their places with others more suitable to his own Inclination or less offensive in the Eyes of the People then the former had been He called to him the Count de Castaneda who had of late commanded the Portuguese Army pretending he had need of his Counsel at Court but in reality to ease himself of a Man who being preferred by the Queen was likely to adhere to her party and she who was of a haughty proud Spirit and had been removed from the Government against her Will now was forming a Faction to support her Authority D. Sancho Manuel Count de Villaflor who had commanded in the Province of Beira was made General of the Army in the place of the Couut de Castaneda It was this D. Sancho Manuel who bravely defended Elvas when besieged by D. Luis de Haro Denis de Melo was appointed General of the Horse Luis de Meneses of the Artillery Count Schomberg was continued in the post of Camp-Master General and now was the Custom first introduced into Portugal of using Major Generals which they had not in their Armies before The Army also was considerably reinforced by the accession of the English and French Auxiliaries The Count de Villaflor haâ—ing spent a few days at Lisbon to receive Orders took a Progress and visited all the Garrisons of his Province of Alentejo giving the necessary Orders in all places 2. D. John of Austria had thought to take the Field very early in rhe Spring but was disappointed by the laâ— coming of the Spanish Regiments from Milan As soon as they arrived he took a review of his Army which he found to consist of 15000 Foot D. John of Austria in Portugal with an Army of 21000 Men. and about 6000 Horse With these Forces he marched into the Frontiers of Portugal the same way he had taken the year before when he besieged Jurumenha His design was not known to any Man except the Duke of St. German but it was given out he intended directly for Lisbon At first the Count de Villaflor was in Confusion not knowing what place this Storm would fall upon but upon second thoughts seeing D. John still advance into the Country he concluded that Ebora was the place he aimed at because he well knew it was that Generals custom to attempt the conquest of Towns that were of great Name and small Strength such as Ebora was Being fixed in this his Opinion he threw into that City 3000 Foot and about 1000 Horse which with 5000 Men of the Inhabitants able to bear Arms he thought would so long defend the Town till he could be in a posture to relieve it In the mean while the Spanish Army advanced through the Countrey burning and wasting all in their way without the least Opposition till at last the Count de Villafor with a small Army on a sudden fell in upon their Rear and for the present put all into some Disorder but D. John having given Orders for all to halt and then brought his Light Horse about to relieve those that were ingaged in the Rear he was forced to draw off and retire to Estremoz with some loss Three days after the Spanish Army encamped near Ebora D. James Cavallero the General of the Horse was sent before to secure all Posts about it which done the whole Army followed and took its Posts about the Town at such time as they seized all the Cattle which was then too late to be drove from the Country about into the place 3. Ebora is one of the largest and most antient Citieâ— Portugal seated in a large Plain On the South in prospect is terminated by beautiful and fruitful Hills Ebora besieged by D. John aâ— the foot whereof is the stately Monastery of the Carthâ—sians On the North of it runs a small River which being drawn out into little Trenches fertilizes the Plain About the Town is a Mud Wall and at this time some other small Works had been cast up such as the present Exigency would permit The Water for the use of the City is brought from the Neighbouring Hills upon a continued row of Arches This Aqueduct they thought to secure by a Fort but the Enemies sudden approach prevented them Luis de Mesquita was now Governor of the Town a Man of noble Extraction but no Souldier whom the Garrison disdaining to submit to Emanuel de Miranda an old Commander was substituted in his Place The Spanish Army having invested this place the general Officers were intent upon securing all the advantagious Posts In the mean while the Portuguese Horse made some Skirmishes to keep them off at a distance but being beaten back to the Town the Besiegers in the pursuit possessed themselves of the Monastery of St. Antony which they found but slenderly guarded and lay commodiously to offend the Town But the Spaniards sped not so well at the Carmelite Monastery which lay betwixt that of St. Antony and the City for after six Hours sharp dispute they were forced to leave the besieged possessed of it This done D. John distributed the Posts to his Army but thought it needless to intrench himself not doubting to
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
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
besides not only the Magistrates and multitude of Lisbon but generally of the whole Country pressing upon him with Threats and open Violence he was at last constrained contrary to his Inclination to comply with their demands For it was now come to that pass that the Council did not advise but command him wheresoever he went the clamours of a Parliament followed him and from all parts Letters were brought urging the same thing It was now equally dangerous to him to refuse or to call the Cortes for the intent was not to do justice by calling them The King forced by his Enemies to call the Assembly of the States but to palliate disloyal practices under that Name Not content to have extorted a complyance to the meeting of the States though the King desired it might be delayed till his return from Salvaterra which would be about the middle of February they obliged him to send out the Writs of Summons for the first of January 1668 so impatient is the desire of Rule After this Violence committed upon him the King finding himself beset on all â—ides by his Enemies and no hope left of safety among them his Crown Liberty and Life being all in eminent danger he resolved to fly to some other place To this purpose he caused Horses to be provided and Boats upon the River He designs to fly to the Armâ— but is prevented by his Brother thinking to try his Fortune in the Province of Alentejo but his Brother who wanted not Intelligence having all the Power prevented his Design The time appointed for the meeting of the Cortes or Parliament being come the Queen who well knew the King would be deposed by them The Queen knowing the King would be deposed flies to a Monastery disdaining to appear her self in a less Sphere than that she had been raised to resolved before Hand to separate her self from him Accordingly on the 21st of November 1667. she retired to the Monastery of Franciscan Nuns called Esperanca into which when she was entred she gave out she was a Maid as being untouched by the King and that she came thither for refuge amidst those Confusions that embroiled the Kingdom Presently after she sent the King a Billet writ with her own Hand to this effect That she had left her Country and Friends to become his Wife but finding she was not acceptable to him and fearing the dangers that threatned on all sides she had resolved to return into France That she desired his leave and the restitution of her Dower since the Marriage was void for want of Consummation Having read this Billet the King was so enraged that he immediately took Coach with a resolution to force her from the Monastery but the Infante who was privy to the whole matter was there before him with a vast Company and withstood him so that he was forced to return without doing any thing Amidst all his Misfortunes and the Affronts put upon him nothing so nearly touched Alphonso as this last offered him by the Queen As soon as setled she sent for the Infante and conferred with him in private as was then given out about her return into France but the more received Opinion and approved by the Event was that there they agreed to be Marryed as soon as her Marriage with the King could be made void Her next Care was to send to the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Lisbon to desire their Judgment for the dissolution of the Marriage then she sent for all the Nobility who being come into her Presence she demanded their Assistance and Protection and lastly she sent an Express into France to acquaint the King and her Kindred with what she had done Mean while King Alphonso overwhelmed with such a continual stream of disasters following one upon the Neck of another being insulted by the Commonalty contemned by the Nobility deluded by his Brother and forsaken by his Wife stood as one amazed and almost stupified not knowing what course to take Nor was there any left to extricate himself out of this Labyrinth of Confusions and Miseries But now approached the last act of this Tragedy and all that had been before acted under a mask must appear bare-fac'd to the World Therefore the Council of State being assembled together with the Magistrates of the City it was resolved the King should be layed aside and the Government put into the hands of his Brother Yet that the Action might appear the more justifiable they agreed to endeavour to perswade the King to resign up the Government to his Brother but in case he refus'd then it was concluded he should not only be deposed but imprisoned However that it should be left to the determination of the Parliament whether the Infante should be enthroned as King or the King restored to his Liberty This Decree being passed in the morning by break of day the whole Council went without the Infante to acquaint the King with their Resolution Amongst them the Marquess of Cascaes more insolent then the rest being told by the King's Servants that he was still asleep bid them awake him at the same time fell himself a knocking rudely at his Door Insolent words of the Marquess de Cascae◠〈…〉 The King being thus disturbed ordered the Council to be admitted Then the Marquess of Cascaes with a loud Voice accosted the King in these very Words without the least respect or common Civility Thou lyest wallowing in Sloath and Pleasures when the ruin of the Kingdom threatens thee and us through thy Fault Therefore since thou art unfit to Rule or get Children pass from thy Self willingly that Burthen which thou art not able to bear to thy Brother Peter least the Kingdom be deprived of a King and the Royal Family of an Heir and least thou be forced to that against thy Will which thou wilt not freely consent to The rest of the Council spoke to the same effect though not altogether in such audacious Language The King tho' surprized at so trayterous a Proposition answered That he was a lawful King and brought to that pass by the Malice and Perfidiousness of his Enemies Alphonso resolutely denies to resign the Crown but that however no Fear or Danger should force him to resign the Crown as long as he had Breath to draw yet if they would use Violence to him that then he would appeal for Justice to the supream Tribunal which is above all Kings against those that violated his Authority and wrongfully snatched his Crown Being thus disappointed of their first attempt the Council repaired to the Infante where they protracted their Debates till late at Night for being resolved to use force they feared least the People who before took their part against the Favourites should be of another Mind when the matter came to touch the King's Person However after much time spent in fruitless projects they came to this Resolution That the King should be forcibly deposed and
imprisoned that for the better palliating that odious Action and involving the People as a party in it the Infante himself accompanyed by all the Nobility and Magistrates should put it in Execution that the King's confinement should be at first concealed till by spreading abroad several rumours the People were prepared to allow of it and lastly that either by Art or Threats the King should be obliged to sign an Act of Renunciation The Infante heads the multitude and sets upon the King and exâ—orts from him an instrument of Resignation to the end it might be thought the King had voluntarily given up the Government to his Brother All things being thus disposed at break of day the Infante repairs to the Palace attended by an infinite multitude There he set a Guard upon the King and having locked all the Doors that led to his Apartment he sent Antony Cavide to notifie to him that by the general consent of the Kingdom he was deprived of the Government and his Liberty and also by the most terrible Threats to extort from him the signing of the Instrument of Resignation prepared for him The unfortunate King seeing himself wholly in the power of his Enemies and fearing the utmost effects of their Malice signed the Instrument which was immediately made publick as a justification of the Treasonable Practice It contained in substance that he freely resigned the Government to his Brother Peter and his Heirs reserving only to himself Three Hundred Thousand Cruzados a Year with the Mansion House of the Family of Braganza A Cruzado is Four Hundred Reis of Portuguese Money and Three Thousand Reis is just Twenty Shillings English so that 300000 Cruzados makes the just Sum of 37500 l. Sterling But how well even this miserable Composition for a Crown was observed may appear by his being kept ever after a Prisoner with only a few Servants of no Note such as his Brother thought fit to allow him so that in all probability his Expence could not amount to the tenth part of that Summ. The unhappy King being thus dethroned The Cortes meet and made Prisoner the Cortes or Parliament summoned by him met soon after at Lisbon about the beginning of February 1668 to destroy him by his own Authority At first there were great Debates amongst them whether it were at all lawful to take an Oath to Peter as Regent and next Heir to the Crown or whether the Crown should also be transferred to him some doubting whether the first were justifyable and others more violent urging the latter ought to be done At last the Majority agreed to the setling the Regency and Succession upon Peter but were generally averse to his usurping the style of King thinking it enough that he who was judged unfit for Government was removed from the Helm Peter after having put it to the Vote whether he should assume the Crown finding his Pretension rejected endeavoured to have it believed he was averse from it But the Queen who intended to make him her Husband and could not endure to think of losign any part of her Title The Queen presses to have Peter declared King He is received as Regent or abating any thing of her Pride and being a Woman that knew not how to dissemble her Vanity urged the matter more home to the States who nevertheless decreed that he should exercise all the regal Power without assuming the stile The Controversie being decided there arose another which was whether the King should be allowed his Liberty or confined but in Conclusion it was determined he should undergo perpetual Imprisonment There had been a League offensive and defensive 1668. concluded betwixt France and Portugal Peace with Spain at the beginning of the Year 1667 against Spain by which the French were obliged to give the Spaniards a powerful diversion in Flanders which they performed with great Success After that some Overtures of Peace being made by the Spaniards the Portugueses began readily to give ear to them and though the French Ambassador pressed that the Negotiation might be in common with his Master as in justice according to the League betwixt them it ought to have been yet the Prince who now haâ—â— the Government more mindful of the peculiar Interest which was to secure the Power he had newly gotten then of what in Honour was due to France entered upon a separte Treaty of Peace with Spain His Majesty of Great Britain was the Mediator and in his Name the Earl of Sandwich assisted at the Conferences At length the Peace was concluded betwixt the two Crowns on the 13th of February 1668 and published 10th of March following This Peace was highly cryed up among the Rabble as an effect of the Government of the Prince when all Men plainly saw and were sensible that in reality the victories obtained by King Alphonso were the only motives that obliged the Spaniards to propose it and that the Overtures had been made while he was yet at the Helm which must have had as good a success had he remained time enough in the Throne to bring things to Perfection and perhaps he might have done it without the dishonour of abandoning his Confederates the French On the 13th of February 1668. the Chapter of the Cathredal of Lisbon with others they had culled out all prepared for the design pronounced the Marriage betwixt King Alphonso The Marriage of the King and Queen declared null and the Princess Mary Francis Elizabeth of Savoy null and that therefore both of them were left at Liberty to dispose of themselves Then the three Estates and Magistrates of Lisbon as they had been before directed moved the Prince and Princess that since the former Marriage was declared null they would consent to match together on pretence it was for the good of the Kingdom This they were moved to in regard they were unwilling to restore her Dower and the Parties were no less ready to consent to what themselves had before contrived and agreed betwixt themselves However tho' there had been care taken for the disanulling the former marriage by such persons as were wholly in the interest of the cause there was yet started a scruple that it was not Lawful to proceed to a new match especially with the Brother of the former husband without a dispension But the Prince though pretending only to comply with the Cortes had not been negligent in that Affair for not long after the Publication of the nullity arrived in Portugal the dispensation from the Cardinal of Vendosme the Popes Legate a Latere in France by which it appears the dispensation was granted by one that was a party interessed in the Affair and precedent to the sentence of nullity The Infante marries the Queen Upon these grounds they made no difficulty to proceed to the Nuptials the Ceremony whereof was performed at Alcantara by the Bishop of Targa Administrator of the Arch-Bishoprick of Lisbon on the 2d of April 1668. After
Lancaster and York about subduing Castile p. 245 After the Peace he again submits to the Antipope p. 249 He falls sick p. 250 He dies His Character and Issue p. 251 Fifteen Thousand Spaniards slain by Mummius p. 30 Five persons appointed to govern after the Death of the King and Cardinal Henry the same to decide the Controversie concerning the succession p. 352 They rule Portugal p. 354 Flavius Gundemarus Reigns p. 99 Flavius Suintila Reigns He utterly expels the Romans p. 100 Fleet of Castile worsted by the Portugueses p. 211 Fleet of Castile ravages the Coast p. 248 Fleet of French at Porto p. 163 Fleet of English French and Flemmings in the River of Lisbon p. 164 Fleet sent against the Dutch p. 377 Forces of Castile overthrown by those of Portugal p. 146 Foreign Alliances concluded p. 410 Fort S. George on the Coasts of Africk p. 300 Francis Barreto prosecutes the War in Brazil p. 465 His further Actions in Brazil p. 470 He bolds the Dutch close Besieged in Brazil p. 476 Turns his blockade at Arrecife into a formal Siege p. 480 Francis de Lucena the Secretary put to Death upon account of a supposed Conspiracy p. 419 Froila a Portuguese Count rebels His submission p. 138 K. Fruela kills 60000 Moors p 115 Fruela II. Usurps the Crown p. 126 Fulvius overthrows the Spaniards p. 29 Funeral Pomp of the Lady Agnes de Castro p. 232 Further Discoveries in Guinea p. 307 G. GAlba governs the Province p. 32 Galba Emperor p. 76 Galicians overun the most part of Lusitania p. 66 Galienus Emperor p. 79 Garzia has for his part Galicia and the North of Portugal p. 124 Gargoris finds the use of Honey p. 12 Gascons come into Portugal and assist the Christians p. 136 General Council p. 276 Gerion comes into Portugal p. 5 He becomes King Introduces Idolatry p. 6 S. German Duke Besieges Olivenca p. 492 Goa Besieged by the Indians The Siege raised p. 571 Gonzalo Hermigues his Actions p. 169 Goths who they were p. 82 They enter Spain p. 85 Great and bloody Battle p. 111 Dearths and Storms p. 20 Famine p. 177 Fleet from Lisbon for the Conquest of Ceuta p. 271 Floods Storms and Sickness in Spain p. 65 Preparations in Spain and Portugal p. 422 Guimaraens betrayed to the New King p. 262 H. HAmilcar subdues all Spain p. 22 Hannibal settles in Spain p. 23 Marches into Italy p. 25 Henry the Count marries the Bastard Daughter of King Alonso of Castile p. 149 Opinions concerning him p. 151 His Original of Burgundy p. 153 His coming into Portugal He gains the Affection of King Alonso who marries his Aunt He takes to Wife Teresa the said King's Bastard Daughter and has in Dower the City Porto and its Territory p. 154 Overthrows the Infidels and takes Almanzor Prisoner For his good Services receives other Territories of King Alonso p. 155 Another Overthrow given by him to the Moors A Moorish King restored by him He performs other great Actions p. 156 His Death Character and Issue p. 157 Henry K. of Castile in Portugal p. 238 He invades Portugal p. 242 Quarters in the Suburbs of Lisbon p. 243 Henry Prince of Portugal marries Blanch Aunt to the King of Castile p. 220 He contracts with the Lady Constance Daughter to D. John Emanuel p. 221 Henry the Cardinal Regent p. 341 His Birth He is declared Protector and crowned King p. 349 His Death His Eulogy p. 353 Henry Son to the King of Congo comes into Portugal p. 322 Hercules governs Spain and leaves the Crown to Hesperus p. 10 Hercules the Theban in Spain â—verthrows Cacus p. 12 Hesperus deposed and Atlas set up in his pâ—ace p. 10 Hostilius Mancinus overthrows 30000 Spaniards p. 37 How things stood in Africk and India p. 444 Hypocrisie of a Nun. p. 367 I. S. James the Apostle in Spain p. 74 D. James de Lima Governor of the Province betwixt Duero and Minho p. 453 Iberus II. King of Spain p. 4 Jews conspire against the King and are punished p. 106 Fly out of Castile into Portugal p. 304 Banished the Kingdom p. 314 Ingratitude of certain Gentlemen p. 350 Inhuman Murder p. 140 Insolent Words of the Marquess de Cascais to the King p. 561 Interregnum of an Hundred Years p. 11 John Bastard Son to K. Peter aspires to the Crown p. 252 Before assuming the Crown he murders Count John Fernandez Andâ—yro p. 253 He is declared Protector of the Kingdom p. 254 The Castle of Lisbon taken by him p. 255 His Contrivances to usurp the Crown p. 256 He fails Sick p. 272 He dyes his Character Wife and Issue p. 273 His Arms discoveries in his time p. 274 His Funeral p. 275 John II. proclaimed King his Father arrives 4 days after p. 296 His Birth p. 299 He is again proclaimed King p. 300 Stiles himself Lord of Guinea p. 303 Is poysoned His Death p. 309 Is reputed a Saint his Virtues p. 310 More of his good Qualities p. 311 His Issue Discoveries during his Reign p. 312 John the III. King his Birth p. 329 He is proclaimed King p. 330 Marries Catherine Sister to the Emperour Ch. the V. p. 331 Sends Succors to the Emperour p. 333 Ordinances made by him p. 335 He dies p. 338 Actions abroad during his Reign p. 339 John the IV. proclaimed King in India p. 403 He rewards those that suffered for the Conspiracy at Carthagena p. 420 His last Sickness and Death p. 489 His Wiâ—e and Issue p. 490 John Prince of Portugal privately marries Mary Sister to Q. Elenor. p. 244 He murders her p. 245 John Prince of Portugal marries Joanna Daughter to Charles the V. He dies His Princess delivered of a Son p. 336 D. John of Austria with the Spanish Army invades Portugal Takes Aronches p. 501 Takes Alconchel p. 502 Burns and plunders the Country p. 503 Takes Villabuim and Borba Besieges Jurumenha p. 504 Takes Jurumenha p. 506 Enters Crato p. 507 Comes again into Portugal with an Army of 21000 Men. p. 509 Besieges Evora p. 510 Evora is delivered to him p. 511 Marches out of Evora to give the Portugueses Bartle p. 512 Is defeared Attempts Elvas and is repulsed p. 515 Islands of Bayona in Galicia p. 45 Jubelus III. King of Spain p. 4 Julian the Count Favourite to King Roderick p. 108 Is sent Ambassador into Africk p. 109 Meditates Revenge Brings the Moors into Spain p. 110 K. KIngs of the Alans and Suevians p. 83 King of Castile obstructs the Marriage of the Lady Constance p. 222 King of Castile marries the Daughter of K. Ferdinand p. 249 King of Castile invades Portugal Is at variance with Queen Ellenor p. 257 Kings of France and Portugal meet p. 294 King of Spain's Favourite disgraced p. 421 King bent upon publick Rejoycing for Peace p. 270 Kingdom of the Suevians united under Remismundus p 91 L. LEovigildus the Goth wars upon his Son Herminigildus on account of Religion p. 96 He
with the Aragonian and our King joyned in League with the former against the other But the Castilian knowing the inconstancy of Ferdinand soon came to agreement with the Aragonian The more to bind the Portuguese to him he proposed a Match betwixt our Princess Beatrix and his own Bastard-Son Frederick 1375. This Match being approved of by the Cortes at Leyria they were married by Proxy and the King of Castile Swore to perform the Articles of the Treaty 1376. on the 19th of January 1377. Our King being forsaken by the Castilian Prince John privately marries Mary Sister to Queen Ellenor concluded a League against Aragon with Lewis Duke of Anjou Son to the King of France Prince John of Portugal falling in Love with the Lady Mary Sister to the then Queen Ellenor raised also by her Beauty to the Throne he was privately married to her But Queen Ellenor instead of rejoycing at the Advancement of her Sister fearing that the King dying without Issue she might come to be Queen contrived her Death and to compass her ends she perswaded the Prince she would Marry him to the Princess Beatrix the King 's only Daughter and by that means secure him the Succession of the Crown At the same time she accused her Sister of defiling his Bed He Murders her The Prince moved with Hope and Revenge hasted to Coimbra and breaking in upon the Innocent Lady murdered her as she leaped naked out of Bed and taking Horse fled to secure himself and his followers As soon as the News of this Action came to Court 1378. the Queen went into deep Mourning The Prince easily obtained his Pardon and coming to Court began to sollicit the Conclusion of the Match before proposed to him by the Queen with the Lady Beatrix but finding nothing in her but Deceit he retired to the Province that lies betwixt Duero and Minho and thence fled to Castile where he was kept from the Crown of Portugal which would have fallen to him as we shall see in the next Reign had he not fled for killing his Wife 2. A mighty Solar Eclipse preceded the Death of Henry A great Eclipsâ— of the Sun King of Castile which happened on the 30th of May. Embassadors went immediately from Portugal to propose to John the new King a Match betwixt his Eldest Son Ferdinand then a Year old and Beatrix Princess of Portugal tho' she was before contracted to Frederick 1380. King Henry's Bastard Son The Castilian approving of this Proposal sent his Embassadors to Portugal who concluded upon the Articles of Marriage But notwithstanding this so late Capitulation King Ferdinand underhand treats with the Dukes of Lancaster and York about subduâ—ng of Castile King Ferdinand hoping to gain some Advantage over the Young King resolved upon War John Fernandez Andeyro one of them expelled Portugal upon the Pacification with King Henry was at this time in England to whom private Instructions were sent to treat with the Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Duke of York for Succours They espoused the Cause and Andeyro came away with the News to Portugal where the King being at Estremoz kept him up in a Tower that the Design might not take Air nor he seem to Entertain any of the Fugitives It fell out the Queen spoke sometimes with Andeyro in this Retirement and as Queens are but Women their Familiarity became scandalous for she who had forsaken her Lawful Husband for a King now abandoned that King for a Private Man whom she raised to the honour of an Earl After some time the King ordered him to appear publickly at Leyria as if newly come from England and there as had been agreed he was apprehended for coming into Portugal without leave Within a few days he was again set at Liberty and it was given out he should lose his Head if he stay'd in the Kingdom Under this Pretence he returned to England to sollicite the execution of the Treaty concluded 3. King John understanding that Edmund Duke of York raised Forces in England to Conquer Castile for his Brother the Duke of Lancaster who had a Right to it by his Wife the Daughter of King Peter and that he intended to assist the King of Portugal marched now as far as Zamora fitted out his Fleet at Sevil and sent Ferdinand Osores Master of the Knights of Santiago to secure Badajoz The King of Portugal had already fitted out 22 Galleys at Lisbon and sent Commanders to all the Frontiers The first Action of King Ferdinand was the demolishing the Walls of his own City of Evora which were so strong that three Years were spent in that Work The Portuguese Fleet commanded by the Earl John Alonso Tello the Queen's Brother set out from Lisbon and in the Sea of Algarve met with the Fleet of Castile consisting of 17 Galleys under the Command of Ferdinand Sanchez de Toar He being inferiour in number endeavoured to shun coming to an Engagement But our Admiral pursues and comes up with him off of Saltes All the Portuguese Fleet except one Galley taken by the Castilians having left behind 8 Galleys that went to take in some Fisher-Boats Toar seeing our Galleys dispersed bravely boards and takes 12 of the first that came up and afterwards Seven of the Eight that were behind Only one of our Galleys escaped to bring the News to Lisbon the rest were carryed in Triumph to Sevil. Few were killed in this Engagement but the Prisoners amounted to 6000. In the mean time the Master Ferdinand Osores infested the Frontiers with frequent Excursions from Badajoz Peter Alvarez Pereyra Prior of Crato marched with 1000 Lances and 4000 Cross-bow-Men in quest of him but came too late for he was retired to Badajoz King John streightly besieged the Town of Almeyda thither came to him Prince John who was fled from Portugal on account of killing his Wife and offered with the assistance of some banished Portugueses to cause Lisbon to be delivered up to the King Upon this he appeared before Lisbon with six Galleys but being disappointed of his Design returned back to Sevil. 4. King Ferdinand sent his Chancellor Laurence Yannez Fogaça into England to hasten the promised Succours The Duke of York set Sail from Plymouth with 3000 Men 1381. and entred the River of Lisbon on the 19th of July The Duke of York arrives at Lisbon with 3000 Men With him came the Princess his Wife and many Ladies as also his Son Edward and some of the banished Portugueses among whom was Andeyro who came not so much to serve the King in his Wars as the Queen in her Amours the King's Sickness administring a favourable Opportunity The King went aboard to receive the new Guests who were lodged in the Monastery of S. Dominick where Rich Presents were bestowed upon them and they were sumptuously entertained The King was by the Treaty obliged to furnish the English with Horses and he gave them
more Mules than Horses for there were scarce any in the Kingdom and he gave such as could be had The Duke of York advised our King to adhere to Pope Vrban and disown the Anti-Pope Glement which the King willingly complyed with A Schism in the Church The Duke of York's Son contracted to the Princess Beatrix for there being then a Schism in the Church the English would not hear the Masses said by Portuguese Priests because they acknowledged the Anti-Pope Edward the Duke's Son was solemnly contracted to the Princess Beatrix they being both about six Years of Age. Elvas was at that time besieged by the Castilians who hearing of the Arrival of the English raised the Siege and departed The English committed many Outrages in Lisbon and being ordered to March against Castile did no less harm in the Country as they went which was the cause that many of them were cut off by the Pertugueses D. John Alonso Earl of Ourem and the Queen's Brother dying the Queen gave his Title and Honours to her Gallant John Fernandez Andeyro He was a marryed Man and his Wife in Galicia The King to take him from the Queen caused his Wife to come to Court and the Queen endeavoured to gain her with Gifts which she received yet at the same time openly spoke of the Queen whatsoever her Jealousie dictated 5. This Year another Powerful Fleet of Castile from Biscay entred the River Tagus 1382. and meeting no Opposition destroyed some Vessels The Fleet of Castile again ravages the Coast then Landing they burnt three Royal Palaces and ravaged all that Coast At lengh Peter Alvarez Pereyra Prior of Crato with 200 Horse cut off almost all the Party of the Enemy and recovered the Booty they carryed away which was some check to them for the future Nunno Alvarez Pereyra lay in Ambush with 24 Horse and 30 Foot near the Bridge of Alcantara there he put to flight 20 of the Enemy who fled to the Shoar The Enemy increasing to about 250 his Men refused to Engage at such odds and he to draw them on run upon them alone where his Horse fell upon him but his Men coming to his Rescue brought him off the Castilians at the same time retiring to their Vessels The Queen having in Publick rent a Veil in two and given one half to her Gallant John Fernandez Andeyro and the other to Count Gonçalo for that they were sweaty and had no Handkerchiefs to wipe their Faces for it seems they were not then used in Portugal Gonzalo Vasquez de Azevedo her Cousin reproached her with it and she in Revenge accused him and John Bastard Son to the late King of holding Intelligence with the Spaniards Hereupon they were both committed to Prison She contrived to put them to Death but failing in her Projects set them at Liberty and shewed extraordinary Kindness to them both the better to disguise her Practices against them as also since she had failed to destroy them to bind them to her Interest 6. The Master of the Knights of Avis being now at Liberty The English and Portuguese take Towns in Castile joyned with some English and making together 200 Horse and 4000 Foot they marched to Castile and laid Siege to Loboâ— which they took the English being the first that entred Cortijo fell into their hands and was more hardly used for tho the Priests appeared on the Walls with the Blessed Sacrament the English put all to the Sword in Revenge of one of theirs that was killed The Kings of Castile and Portugal were now at the Head of their Armies the former at Badajoz the latter at Elvas ready to decide their Quarrel by Battle King Ferdinand Knighted 24 of his own People and the English but being told he could not tho' a King confer that Honour because he had not received it himself he caused the Duke of York to Knight him and then repeated the Ceremony to those 24 Knights The whole Day was spent by both Armies looking upon each other and at last the one drew back to Badajoz and the other to Elvas What the cause of parting so should be cannot certainly be assigned but some said The Castilian feared the English who had been before victorious in Castile to which the Duke of Lancaster had a good Title and had been once proclaimed by part of the Army Whatever it was a Treaty of Peace was immediately set a foot none knowing who had first moved for it Embassadors being sent on both Sides the Articles were at length agreed upon without the Knowledge of the English Peace concluded without the Knowledge of the English and were first That the Princess Beatrix lately contracted to Edward Son to the Duke of York should marry Prince Ferdinand King John's second Son having before been promised to the eldest But this Match was better liked to prevent the Union of the Two Crowns Secondly That the Twenty two Galleys taken by the Castilians should be restored Thirdly That a general Pardon should be granted on both sides Fourthly That the King of Castile should furnish Ships to carry the English Home as if he had sent for them When these Articles were to have been ratified the Castilian demurred as to restoring the Gallies and sending Home the English The Embassadors hereupon challenged him in their Master's Name and he scornfully answered I did not think he had so much Courage Nevertheless through the Perswasion of the Master of the Knights of Santiago he ratify'd the Peace 7. The Peace was proclaimed at Elvas which made the English rail After the Peace King Ferdinand again submits to the Antipope for that it was concluded without their Knowledge and the King put them off the best he could At this time came to the Court Cardinal Peter de Luna an Aragonian sent by the Anti-Pope Clement requiring King Ferdinand to acknowledge him again for he had cast him off at the Request of the English The King assembled some learned Men and the worst Advice was followed for he again submitted himself to the Schismatical Pope 1383. In the mean while died Ellenor Queen of Castile The King of Castile marries the Daughter of King Ferdinand and King Ferdinand forgetting he refus'd his Daughter to the eldest Son of Castile to prevent Disputes about the Succession now offered her to the Father His Offer was accepted and this Princess at last found a Husband the fifth time she had been contracted For she was first promised to Dâ—ke Frederick secondly to Henry Prince of Castile thirdly to Ferdinand his Brother fourthly to the Duke of York and now lastly to King John She proved a Pattern of Chastity for her Husband dying whilst she was yet very young and being courted by several Princes she answered That Women of Honour did not marry twice The Archbishop of Santiago came to Portugal to receive the Bride the King being then at Salvatierra upon the River Tagus It was agreed
refuses to go into Castile who was upon his Guard against all Artifices of the Court answered He was not in a Condition to defray the Expence he must be at in that Expedition to support the Grandeur of his Family These repeated Denyals gave the Prime Minister ground to fear the Duke notwithstanding his Natural Propension to Ease had still some thoughts of a Crown Considering therefore of what Importance it was to the King his Master to secure his Person he omitted nothing that might conduce to the compassing his Design But it being dangerous to use Force because of the great Affection the Portuguese always bore to the House of Bragança he resolved to bring him to his beck by all imaginable exterior marks of Affection and of an entire Confidence in him 5. There was War at that time betwixt France and Spain The Duke made General and the French Fleet having appeared on the Coast of Portugal furnished the Prime Minister with a fair Pretence for carrying on his Designs It was requisite there should be a General to Command the Forces that were to Guard the Coast This Commission was sent to the Duke with such an Absolute Power as seemed to put the whole Kingdom into his hands Yet this served only the better to hide the Bait. For at the same time D. Lope de Ossorio Admiral of the Spanish Fleet had Orders to put into the nearest Port to the Duke as if he were drove in by stress of Weather or on some other Pretence and having drawn him aboard as to an Entertainment to carry him away to Spain But Fortune ordered it otherwise for the Spanish Admiral lost several Ships in a Storm and the rest being dispersed he could not gain the Coast of Portugal This no way discouraged the Count Duke who looked upon the Disappointment as meerly accidental and therefore he laid his Project another away writing to D. John in such terms as expressed the greatest Confidence lamenting the loss of the Fleet which left the Coast open to be insulted by the Enemy and advising him to visit and strengthen those Places that were most exposed At the same time he sent him 40000 Ducats to raise new Forces if requisite and to defray the Charge of his Progress In the mean while the Governours of all Strong Holds being for the most part Spaniards had private Instructions to secure him if a favourable Opportunity were offered and send him into Spain D. John suspecting these extraordinary marks of Kindness made the Minister fall into the Snare he had laid for him Tho' he returned Thanks for the Trust reposed in him and gave special Assurances of Fidelity yet he made use of this Opportunity to prefer his Friends to such Posts as might be most for his own Interest He made use of the Money to Purchase new Creatures and always visited the Forts so well attended that there was no hopes of seizing his Person 6. All the Court of Spain The Duke in his Progress lays the Foundation of his future Greatness being ignorant of the Design it was grounded upon loudly exclaimed against the Prime Minister for putting such Power into the hands of a Person so suspitious 〈◊〉 the King liked the Project the better because no Body could dive to the bottom of it Thus the Duke of Bragança under colour of executing his Employment freely traversed all Portugal laying at the same time the Foundation of his future Greatness He had a Magnificent Retinue which drew the Eyes of the People after him he heard all Men with extraordinary Courtesie he curbed the Insolency of the Soldiers and at the same time commended the Officers and used all possible meanâ— to oblige them His Behaviour charmed the Nobility for he received them with obliging marks of Distinction according to every Man's Merit and Quality To be short he bestowed Favours where-ever he came and yet gained more Friends upon the hopes of what they might promise themselves from him than what at present they received So that those who saw him thought they prayed for their own Interest when they offered up their Vows for his exaltation to the Throne His Partisans did not neglect at the same time to do all things that might be for the establishing of his Reputation John Piâ—â—to Ribeiro the Comptroller of his Houshold was the Man that laboured most to reduce to an exact Method the hopes of his Master's Exaltation which were yet but in Prospect This was a vigilant active Man expert in Business and passionately zealous for his Master's Promotion as hoping to have no small hand in the Government if the Duke ascended the Throne His Master had owned to him that he would willingly embrace a fair Opportunity of seizing the Crown but would not do it like one who had nothing to lose that therefore he gave him leave to manage that Affair yet so as it should never appear that he was any ways concerned 7. Pinto had long applyed himself to discover what discontented Persons there were at Lisbon Pinto the Duke's Agent Conspires with some of the Nobility and to increase their number He spread Complaints against the present Government He put the Nobility in mind of the Honourable Employments their Families enjoyed under their Natural Princes and represented their being summoned to the War in Catalonia as an Honourable Banishment Among the Merchants and Shop-keepers he complained of the loss of their Trade discoursed of the Tyranny they lay under and extolled the Dutch and Catalonians who had asserted their Liberties The Clergy he stirred up by shewing how the Priviledges of the Church were infringed and benefices given to Strangers which ought to be the Reward of Merit and Learning among the Natives Such as he knew to be Malecontents he discoursed about his Master's Qualities to sound their Inclinations So cunningly did he manage their several Humours that after having secured many in private he at last gathered a Number of the Nobility and among them was the Archbishop of Lisbon This Prelate was of the Family of the Cunhas which is one of the best in the Kingdom a Man of â—arts beloved by the People but hateful to the Spaniards for whom he had no less aversion because they had through the Interest of the Vice-Queen given the Archbishoprick of Braga to D. Sebastian de Matos de Noronha and made him President of the Council called d'O Paço The rest that made up this Assembly were D. Michael de Almeida so great an Enemy to the Spaniards that he could never be perswaded to appear at Court D. Antony de Almada and his Son D. Lewis D. Lewis da Cunha Nephew to the Archbishop Melo the great Master of the Game D. George his Brother Peter de Mendoza D. Roderick de Sâ—a the Great Chamberlain and many Officers of the Houshold whose Employments were become only Titular since Portugal had lost its Native Kings To these the Archbishop who was naturally a well-spoken Man
made a Speech representing the state of the Kingdom since it fell into the hands of the Spaniards in its most hideous form He shewed them how Philip the Second to secure his Conquest had put to Death many of the Nobility not sparing even the Clergy having to that effect obtained a Bull from the Pope How the Spaniards had ever since followed the same Maxims of Government That no Man's Life or Estate was safe That the Nobility was slighted Benefices given to unworthy Persons the People consumed with Taxes the Country lay waste and Towns desart the Men being carryed away by force to the War in Catalonia That the last Orders from Court for Summoning the Arrier-Ban served only to draw away all the Nobility that they might end their days in Exile whilst their Estates were given away to Strangers In fine that he would rather wish to die than survive the utter Ruin of his Country and hoped so many Worthy Persons were not met there to no purpose 8. This Discourse renewed the Memory of every man's private Grievances The Conspirators incensed resolve to put their Designs in execution but above all they resented the Summons for Catalonia as designed for their utter Ruin These Considerations and the desire of Revenge made them resolve to take the necessary Measures for shaking off so heavy a Yoke They blamed themselves for having suffered patiently so long and concluded it was absolutely necessary to expel the Spaniards but were divided upon what Form of Government to choose Some were for a Commonwealth like that of Holland The others were for a King but differed about the Person some proposing the Duke of 〈◊〉 others the Marquess of Villarcal and others the Duke of 〈◊〉 all three Princes of the Blood-Royal of Portugal every Man speaking according to his private Affection or prospect of Advantage The Archbishop who was entirely devoted to the House or Bragança making use of the Authority of his Character declared to them that the choice of a Governour was not Arbitrary since they could not in Conscience break the Oath of Fidelity they had taken to Spain unless it were to enthrone the Rightful Heir to the Crown which was the Duke of Bragança Besides that his Power and Interest was such that without him they could hope for no Success tho' he were not as indeed he was the first Prince of the Blood Then he descanted upon the Duke 's good Qualities and so managed the Assembly that they all resolved to make him their King and that every Man should use the utmost of his Endeavours for carrying on that Design Thus the Assembly broke up having first fixed the Time and Place for another Meeting wherein they should take the necessary Measures to secure a speedy and happy Success to their Enterprize Pinto seeing all well disposed in favour of his Master writ privately to him to draw near to Lisbon as well to encourage the Conspirators by his Presence as to take Order with them about putting the Design in execution Upon this Advice the Duke some days after set forward from Villaviciosa and came to Almada a Village opposite to Lisbon on the other side the River as if he had fallen in there accidentally in his Progress through the Kingdom He had so splendid an Equipage and was followed by such a Numerous Train of Persons of Quality and Officers that he looked more like a King going to take Possession of his Crown than a General that was visiting the Posts under his Charge The Duke visits the Vice-Queen Being so near Lisbon he could not omit paying his Respects to the Vice-Queen When he entred the Great Court before the Palace all the Avenues were thronged with People flocking to see him and all the Nobility came to Conduct him before the Vice-Queen Such was the Joy throughout the City at the first sight of him that he seemed either to want only a Herald to Proclaim his King then or else courage to seize the Crown But he was too wise to commit his Fortune to the wild Sallies of the giddy Multitude and therefore having visited the Vice-Queen he instantly retired to Almada without so much as entring the House of Bragança for fear of heightning the Jealousie of the Spaniards who were already too much alarmed 9. Pinto having made the Conspirators observe his Master 's fearful Cautiousness The Conspirators Deputies confer with the Duke at Almada said they must make their Advantage of his stay at Almada and use a sort of Violence to oblige him to accept of the Crown His Advice being approved of they gave him in charge to know of his Master when they might wait upon him with their Proposals which he did upon Condition only three of the Conspirators should come to him Michael de Almeida Antony de Almada and Mendoza were accordingly privately conducted into the Duke's Closet at Almada Antony de Almada represented to him the miserable state of the Kingdom the little Security any Man had of his Life or Estate and that even he himself had no other Refuge to fly to but the Crown He shewed him the low Condition the Spaniards were reduced to the Assistance he might expect from Foreign Princes who were Enemies to the House of Austria and particularly from France the Conveniency of the Sea for bringing of Succours and lastly the small Number of Spaniards that were left in Portugal the Garrisons being drained to supply the Army in Catalonia This Discourse was pleasing enough to the Duke yet nevertheless keeping himself within the Bounds of his Natural Timidity he answered so as they might not have cause to despair of him nor to hope much more than they did before telling them He was sensible of the deplorable Condition of the Kingdom and of his own Danger that he commended their Zeal for their Country and was beholding to them for their good Wishes towards him but that it was not as yet time to think of applying such violent Remedies which might prove of Fatal Consequence To this dubious Answer he added such Caresses and particular Thanks that they could no longer doubt but that their Proposals were acceptable and yet they found he would make no advances till the Success of their Enterprize was past all danger After some private Conference with Pinto he returned to Villaviciosa but not with that inward quiet which he used to enjoy as a private Man and therefore immediately communicated the whole Affair to the Dutchess This Lady was by Birth a Spaniard and Sister to the Duke of Medina Sidonia a Grandee of Spain and Governour of Andaluzia She was naturally ambitious and her Father had endeavoured to improve that Inclination in her Besides her Knowledge in other Languages she was so perfect in her own and had such an insinuating way that she drew all mens hearts All the Customs of Portugal she had made Natural to her self and had by her extraordinary Application and Carriage gained an