of our race come to molest the said persons or make rape of their goods and then countenance it that he vsurps on none of our heritage nor of theirs but those belonging to the virgin Marie he shall be held as disloyall to his Lord be exempted from the defence and custodie which we appointed for my kingdome and his seed shall not be seene vpon the earth As for the religious persons which are to serue the Lord in this Monasterie of Clairuaux and the rest of their Order they shall haue care to recommend deuoutly to God the estate of our kingdome and my soule and theirs likewise of my kindred And the Abbot Dom Bernard and his successours perpetually shall celebrate the feast of the dedication of their church euery yeare on the day of the Annunciation of the blessed virgin Marie For which oh Virgin mother of my Lord Iesus Christ in honour and praise of whom this Order is established to shine vpon the earth I Alphonso king of Portugall thy humble seruant doe intreate that thou wouldst defend my kingdome against the Moores enemies to the crosse of thy Son and keepe this crowne free from all straunge domination and permit no one to pay this fee monie and homage but thy loyall seruants and those descended from my selfe That if any one attempt any matter whatsoeuer contrarie to this vassellage and testimoniall of this tribute if he be a subiect let him be expelled out of our kingdome If he be a King which God forefend let him be held as accursed by vs neuer to be mentioned in our lignage but that God who gaue vs this kingdome despoile him of all dignitie I suffer his enemies to vanquish him and himselfe be buried in hell with that traytor Iudas Made in the Church of Lamego the 8. of Apr. MCXLII I Alphonso the King Egaâ— Munis Grandmaister of the houshold Pero Payes Ensigne-bearer to the King Fuas Raupiâ—o Gouernour of Coimbre Polayo de Sousa Certifiers Gonsalo de Sousa Vascho Sanches Mendo Pirez Rodrigo Aluares witnesses Alphonso Egas I Thomas de la Croix Notarie publique Apostolique approued and Secretarie to the Legat in these kingdomes of Portugal haue collationed and corrected this present copie vpon his proper originall which is enabled with the seale Royall and so I certifie by the oath that is enioyned me in regard of mine office In signe whereof I haue vnderwritten and signed this with my seale publique and vsuall At Lisbon the 4. of Nouember MDXCIX THE SVCCESSION AND number of the Kings of Portugall The first generation Alphonso Henriques 1. II. Sanche 1. III. Alphonso 2. IIII. Sanche 2. V. Alphonso 3. VI. Denys 1. VII Alphonso 4. VIII Peter 1. IX Fernand. 1. X. Iohn 1. XI Edward 1. XII Alphonso 5. XIII Iohn 2. XIIII Emmanuel 1. XV. Iohn 3. XVI Sebastian 1. Hereby is vnderstood that Sebastian is the sixteenth in generation whereof king Alphonso Henriques spake in the oath of his reuelation This Sebastian was borne after his fathers decease when were very instant and frequent prayers processions and fastings among the people of Portugall in the yeare 1554. the day of the two holy Martyrs Fabian and Sebastian a matter almost beyond all hope for his father died in nonnage or very young and his mother was but sixteene yeares old This Prince was of an exceeding good nature high in courage accompanied with great bodily strength godly and religious and that in such sort as euen from the cradle his subiects had him in much admiration and they accounted him as another Caesar Augustus according as caries the signification of the name of Sebastian Auncient Prophecies which we cannot more conuenably appropriate to any other then to this selfe same Sebastian S. Cyrille the Hermit in the treatise of the reuelation which was made to him whereof the Abbot Ioachim glozed TEmpore annorum 54. orietur Sol c. Et erit Sol delitescens Pungetur aculeo despectissimo in specu paruo tricamerato vectibus pergrandibus communito ab Scorpionitis mancipabitur Postea ad brauium orbis pertinget c. Reade all this Chapter In English thus In the time of 54. yeares a Sunne shall arise c. And this Sun shall be hidden He shall be pricked with a most despitefull sting he shall be in a little caue of three vaults made strong with verie great barres he shall be thraâ—led by Scorpionites afterward he shall come to triumph ouer the world c. Saint Isidore Occultus Rex bis piè datus in Hispaniam veniet in equo ligneo quem multi videntes illum esse non credent Domabit superbos spurcitias Hispaniarum purgabit In Syriam transfretabit super Sanctum sepulchrum signum Crucifixi ponet erit Monarcha In English thus A hidden King shall twise be holily giuen he shall come into Spaine vpon a horse of wood that is a shippe whom many beholding they will not beleeue that it is he He shall subdue the proud he shall purge the Spaniards of their filthinesses He shall passe into Syria he shall place the Ensigne of the Crucifixe vpon the holy Sepulcher and shall be a Monarch Theophilus the Bishop Dum secundum imperium occupabitur Ciprúsque à Christi hostibus fuerit aggressa Pastor ouium coronis Graecorum nudus erit Rhodia tunc Magistro carebit Hispania potentia virtuâ—éque munita illi tradet Magistrum Romae autem pastor glorio sui ignotus apud homines apud Deum probus iustus erit qui cum vno Rege dictae Prouinciae qui oblitus mortuus non regnaturus putabatur regna deperdita recuperabit Soldanum suae ditioni subiugabit in Christianis domum Dei restituet In English thus While the second Empire shall be troubled and Cyprus inuaded by the enemies of Christ the Pastor of the sheepe of the Grecian troopes shall be left naked Rhodes shall then want a Maister Spaine stored with vertue and power shall giue it a Maister And there shall be at Rome a glorious shepheard vnknowne to men good and iust toward God And this man with a king of the same prouince that shall be forgotten dead and thought neuer more to raigne shal recouer againe his lost kingdomes shall subiugate the Souldan vnder his dominion and shall restore the house of God into Christendome S. Methodus Bishop and Martyr lib. 6. cap. 28. Expergiscetur Rex in furore tanquam homo à somno vini quem existimabant homines tanquam mortuum esse Hic exiet super filios Ismael à mari Aethiopum c. Vide Biblioth Patrum fol. 526. primae Lutet Paris editionis In English thus There shall a king awake in great furie like a man out of a slumber of wine whom men shall repute to haue bene dead He shall goe out against the sonnes of Ismael towards the AEthiopian sea c. Sybilla Erithraea Compressa aquila cuius nomen quinque apicibus inaestimabiliter scriptum ministrum iniquitatis destruet
say some but repented afterward that they laboured not to contend rather by law or warre which questionlesse had not wanted because the Lord Dom Edward sonne to the infant Dom Edward brother to the said King D. Iohn 3. then liued who was a Lord endued with many singular vertues and as a legitimate Prince borne of Kings by the ligue masculine did euermore claime the succession of his ancestors in the said kingdome which neuer yet fell vnto the distaffe Hereupon the Portuguezes prayed to God so instantly with so many processions fasts prayers and teares that it might please him to giue them a Lord and Prince Thus by diuine grace was Dom Sebastian giuen to the Portuguezes the first time and thus now againe he giues him the second time An answere to the third demand For manie causes right reuerend Lord it was not necessarie for the King Dom Sebastian to discouer himselfe in Barbary of al which we wil alleage but two The first if he had manifested himselfe he had run into great danger of his lifes losse for his enemie could not more easily haue put him to death then in Barbarie There are a great number of officers kept in pay who giue them such morsels which is called the Boccon or poisoned bit as the poore patient cannot by anie meanes escape they limit them to the yeare moneth daies what shall I say to verie houres and moments The second if Muley Hamet had got him into his power the least that he would haue demaunded for his ransome had been the cities and townes which the Portuguezes possesse in Barbarie This had beene a small gift for him Tanger Arzile Mazagan and the other places which the Kings of Portugall do hold in Barbarie Neuerthelesse Septa had bin great losse to Christendom for it is the key of Affricke and Europe And the Moores hauing that in their own power at all times and whensoeuer they were thereto disposed they might passe into Spaine an hundred thousand horse and more and from Spaine post to other parts of Europe as somtimes they did when they were not so well inured to warre nor expert in Armes Our histories of Portugall doe tell vs that the infant Dom Fernand being taken by the Moores in the field of the citie of Tanger as he there held his siege some few daies after they came to demaund for his raunsome onely the citie of Septa which his father the King Dom Iohn of worthie memorie the Bastard had won from the Mores The king that then was Dom Edward for the singular loue he bare to his brother resolued with his people who loued the Prince entirely to giue what they had demaunded The infant Dom Fernand being aduertised of his brothers kind respect and the peoples goodwill to him likewise found the meanes to write secretly vnto them that they should be very carefull what they did saying God forbid that by my occasion Christendome should endure such a damage I had rather be partaker among an hundred thousand martyrs or die in captiuitie in the Infidels custodie then cause such a manifest daunger to all Christendome The Mores following still their motion yet vsing the infant and his companie with extreame crueltie came to the knowledge that it was hindred much more by the said infant then the king his brother whereupon they began to intreate him in farre better manner that he might the gladlier consent to his owne redemption But they could no way worke him to preferre his owne particular benefite before the weale publique of Christendome So that the Moores growing much displeased hereat put him into an iron prison without any bed or seate and so placed him before the gates of the citie of Marocco giuing him daily to eate certaine ounces of bread and a little water to drinke After some few moneths this holy Lord rendred his spirit to his Creator in that rigorous prison suffering a glorious martirdome for the common good of all Christians after the example of his Lord Iesus Christ redeemer of the whole world His bodie is buried in the Couent of our Ladie of victorie which is of mine Order commonly called de la Battaille in the Chappell of king D. Iohn his father where God in regard of him did continually many miracles for aduancement of the Christian faith The religious Fathers of the said Couent on the day of his death do not vse to sing any Masse of Requiem but that of all Saints because he was not canonized nor yet beatified wherin he is contained amongst them Frier Ierome de Ramos a religious man of mine Order writ a booke concerning the life of this glorious Saint in the Portugall language Which booke I beleeue that the king Dom Sebastian hath both seene and read and that in imitation of the said Saint who was brother to his fourth grandfather I am certainely perswaded that he hauing so apt meanes to conceale himselfe would not be discouered for should he haue there bene reuealed to the Mores they might haue come and demaunded for his ransome the townes and cities elsewhere set downe nay the citie of Septa it selfe And doubtlesse the Portuguezes would haue giuen them all nay rather much more for the libertie of a King so good so vertuous and so holy whome they loued with such and so great affection as if he had bene a God and their redeemer The king Dom Sebastian most worthie Lord was naturally so Catholike and christianly addicted that for the adding but of a very pulse breadth of ground to Christendome he would most gladly haue yeelded himselfe captiue And therefore we may well coniecture and credit his good nature that when he could not get away without danger of his life and likewise in respect of Christendomes generall benefite he held it much more glorious for him to die in prison and slauerie in Barbarie then to liue at libertie being Lord and Monarch of the world Thus right reuerend Lord giue we end to the answer of your third demaund An answer to the fourth demaund Some do coniecture that he hath bene amongst the Moores in Barbarie many yeares Which very well be so although such as haue not bene accustomed to frequent that countrey do imagine it impossible and oftentimes it hath so happened to the Portuguezes that they haue liued captiues in Barbarie for the space of 10.12.15.20.25 and 30. yeares without any tidings heard of them all The reason is that al slaues Noble do appertain to the King and such as hold them in their custodie are bound to make like deliuerie to him of them Whereby very often the Lords of the Moores knowing their slaues to be of noble race dissemble with them that they may not lose them and that they may find meanes to be rid of them graunting them for their libertie some reasonable ransome So got out of captiuitie the Prince my Lord Dom Antonio who died at Paris with the title of King of Portugall because he had bene elected
make a sole benefite of the honour in this action but to diuide some participation thereof to your friends I had forgot to tell you that the prisoner hath had of the Siegneurie fiue crownes of this mony monethly to dispend which is a little more then foure crownes of the Sunne of which he giues away the most part to the poore for the honour of God I once more intreate you to haste your affaires with what breuitie you may and as you come giue copies of this letter to so manie as shal require it for I will send the same to as manie others as I write vnto You shall doe me a singular pleasure in making my commendations to M. de Tiron and tell him that this is the meruaile whereof I had talke with him so manie yeeres since and let him make account to be as certain of my seruice as his merites do iustly challenge And to Monsieur le Commaundeur de Chastes say that the time is now come wherein I shall make knowne to him how much I rest engaged and am readie at his seruice And so please him to credite me if he desire to purchase supreme glorie and great estate let his employment be intire on this Princes behalfe for thereby he shall gaine more honor and repute then his highest thoughts is able to imagin I kisse the hāds of al our friends according to my dutie and let each one receiue me as effectually his Our Lord giue you vnderstanding of all I haue writ vnto you with happie and prosperous sucesse in your trauaile From Venice the 6. of Nouember 1600. humblie kissing your hands The most affectionate to your seruice Dom Iohn de Castro This Dom Iohn de Castro whom I thinke your reuerend Lordship knowes verie wel hath euer held this opinion that the king Dom Sebastian was still aliue and that Portugall should one day be restored by him He tooke it for a matter so firme and certaine that in the yeere 1596. when I was at Folambray about some affaires belonging to mine order and my selfe the King besieging la Fere he iustified it in the Chapter house of our couent of Iacobines at Paris to diuers Portuguezes perswading them neuer to accord with D. Philip. 2. King of Castille neither euer to goe togither for he knew assuredly that the King Dom Sebastian liued that Portugal would be restored within few yeeres saying moreouer that he esteemed it for a matter so certaine as he durst maintaine it vpon his oath Hereupon so soone as he heard that the King Dom Sebastian was kept prisoner at Venice he could not anie waie remaine in quiet Immediatly he made his voiage for England to intreate the royall Queene to fauour and further this case from England he went to Holland for the selfe same purpose and being returned to Faris he neuer ceased till he came to Venice where he arriued the 28. of Iune last past and his voyage was of such importance as we hope it will serue sufficiciently to get his King at libertie An answere to the fift demand The persons that procured the libertie of my Lord Dom Sebastian king of Portugall are these following The father doctor de Sampayo regent in the facultie of Theologie at Tolossa whom your worthie Lordship doth know verie wel He in the seruice of the said King aduentured his life in verie great hazard passing secretly into Portugall and managed the matter wish such dexteritie as it was possible for anie man whatsoeuer to do A doctor of the order of Saint Bernard named Frier Chrysostome a verie religious man as I haue heard of good credit and authoritie Dom Iohn de Castro before named the sonne to Dom Aluaro de Castro who was one of the 4. gouernours that ruled the kingdome coniointly with the King Dom Sebastian those whom we call in Portugal Veadores de la hazienda grand child to Dom Iohn de Castro hertofore viceroy in the East Indies of whose high prowesses worthie deeds of arms victories our histories giue no mean commendation A Chanon of Lisbon a man of noble lignage and rich who abandonning his countrie and forsaking his goods departed expressely from Portugall on this respect and brought the markes which the said king hath on his bodie approoued by authenticall instruments of a Notarie Apostolique Rodrigo Marques Diego Manoel and Sebastian Figuera which three were seruants to the king Dom Antonio namely companions in the same fortune The last is he of whom we haue made mention in the second answer and the same whom Dom Iohn de Castro saith in his letter to arriue at Venice with letters from the generall States of the vnited Prouinces and the Prince Maurice It hath bene told me that they expect at Venice the Lord Dom Christophero youngest sonne to the king Dom Antonio who is at Rome and with him these Lords Manuel de Brito Pimentel Pantaleon Pessoa de Neyua Frances Antoine and other Gentlemen of Portugall of whom I can say nothing what they are because their names were not written to me The newes that I haue at this present are no other then those contained in the said letters from the Doctor de Sampayo and from Dom Iohn de Castro from each of whom I haue receiued diuerse other which neuerthelesse sort all to one selfe same end There be sundrie other letters here from other Portuguezes that affirme this man to be the true king of Portugall Dom Sebastian and approoue it for truth by many reasons giuing such plaine apparance of veritie that according to humane iudgement cannot be encountred or ratified on any other then himselfe So that I see nothing which may call me into doubt of his not being the same man for otherwise he must questionlesse be a spirit or diuell which cannot be considering his life is so holy and perfect his proceeding most simple and to vse the very same words which one hath written to me it is all meere simplicitie If he were a seductour or an euill spirit he would expresse store of artificiall crafts and frauds in his doings beside a wicked spirit would neuer endure so long and rigorous an imprisonment The aforenamed aduertisements instances and intreates from the specified persons beside reason it selfe bind me most worthie Sir to part thus briefly but I hope to visite you againe to morrow after breakefast and so I close vp mine answer to your fift demaund An answer to the sixt and last demaund For answer to the sixt and last demaund I say right reuerend Lord that it is to me very much displeasing to serue as a Confessour in this businesse and by that meanes stand bound to keepe all vnder seale for this reason I dare not answer categorically because I feare to offend my most inward wel-willers in their trust Notwithstanding that I may induce the king of Portugall Dom Sebastian my Lord into Fraunce I promise to make the mightie truth so apparant that it shall violently breake the
But should I confesse the truth my loue would much more haue forwarded me rather haue had me to write in my natiue Portuguese Our Lord gard and giue prosperity to a personage of such honor From Lions the 6. of Ianuary 1601. The most humble orator and seruant to your worthy Lordship Frier Ioseph Texere Portuguese The copie of another Letter from the said father Frier Ioseph to the same Bishop MOst worthie Lord habita benedictione being since the 23 of this instant moneth dispatched with pasport from his Maiestie most Christian and the worthie Legaâ—e Aldobrandino for my passage into Italie about affaires of mine Order some of mine owne in particular with sundrie letters of fauor for Venice for Rome and other places furnished with all things needfull for my voyage I departed not till the 24 because it was the euen of Christmas I had receiued the 22. your Lordships letter whereto I made no answer till the 6. and then gaue it to my Lord your nephew who is not hence departed as yet And as I thought to depart on the Sonday after the feasts I could not do it by reason we had intelligence that on the way of Lions were disbanded souldiers of the Swizzers who robbed and ill intreated all passengers Hereupon I made account to depart in the companie of my Lord Monsieur de Sancy who trauelled to the Fort of S. Catherine The said Lord being hindred by his businesses made me to attend from day to day till the Sonday following the 7. of this instant and yet our parting was put off froÌ„ Sonday to Monday It seemes that God had so appointed it to the end I should not throw my selfe into danger nor the incommodities of the season neither vndertake a iourney to no ende For on the same Sonday when we had resolued without faile to depart thence about the seuenth houre of night I receiued letters from Venice wherby I was aduertised that the king of Portugal Don Sebastian my Lord was set at liberty And at the ninth houre of the same night came a Gentleman to my lodging one of my friends and acquaintance with him a Page belonging to a Lord my friend likewise carying a lighted torch which Gentleman told me on the behalfe of the said Lord that he had also receiued letters from Venice wherein were some newes that he desired to acquaint me withall I tooke my cloake and went to see him in his lodging where he confirmed to me the same tydings And parting thence after ten a clock I went to visit another Lord who at the first sight of me said I verie well know â—at you come to tell me Suddenly he againe ratified the forâ— newes discoursing theÌ„ to me by diuerse particularities that said king was so parted thence that he went to embarke him 〈◊〉 at Liuorne for passage to Marseilles and from Marseilles to 〈◊〉 Court that there came in his companie the Lord Christoâ—o youngest sonne to the deceassed King D. Antonio and D. â—n de Castro of whom one had written to him that at the sight â—e king D Sebastian he stood much amazed but comming to â—er consideration threw himselfe suddenly at his feete and â—ed him his Lord and King On the next day came in publike very many letters all grounâ— vpon this subiect onely The ioy and gladnesse was so great â—ng the Princes euery where in the Court with the Prinâ—es Ladies and Gentlewomen great and small noble and vnâ—le Ecclesiasticall and regulars as I cannot expresse to your â—thinesse My Lord your nephew both heard and saw all he 〈◊〉 report it as an eye witnes what ke thinks of the forward wils â—esires which he beheld in the Princes Lords Gentlemen â— coniointly offred their persons their means abilities in the â—ice of this king whoÌ„ the most part of such as had written of 〈◊〉 from Venice Padoa other parts gaue the name of holy â—urely I dare affirme thus much vnto you as a matter certaine 〈◊〉 not to be doubted that if this king my Lord come into this â—gdome as we alreadie are aduertised his Maiestie most Chriâ— with all his power and authoritie can hardly hinder the â—ces Lords Gentlemen Souldiers what should I say the â—sts Monkes Merchants Mecanicks the Pilots and Mariâ— from assisting with their seruice this Prince My Lord I haue euery day hardly passed to and fro from my â—ging for in the streets some call me others meet me some â—y to teare the very cloake off my backe Such as heretofore â—e incredulous made a mockery hereof are those that now â—heir hands highest to heauen and come to make the largest â—s Res miranda Euery day we haue here nothing but false â—mes for so soone as some foure or fiue men are seene to â—e on horsebacke immediatly it is the King Sebastian men â—en and children run out of the Citie to meete him In brief â—oy the contentment and the desire of this Princes arriuall is so great yea in all persons without anie difference as if he were giuen as an onely remedie to the trauailes and miseries of this present age And that it may proue so if auncient prophesies deceiue vs not all Christendome hath reason to hope much of prosperitie and welfare by the meanes of this holy King The newes that I haue how he was set at libertie are these After that the Portuguezes had obtained audience of the Senate which the Lords granted them with benigne and readie will Diego Manuell arriued there from France and Sebastian Figuera from the States of Holland with letters in fauour of this affaire as elsewhere you haue heard before and from Rome the Lord Dom Christophero with Manuel de Brito Pimentel Pantaleon Pessoa de Neyua and Frances Antoine with whom there ioyned manie Portugueses more that came from diuers parts The eleuenth of this moneth past the Lords entred into Councell which they there terme Pregay where commonly you shall haue two hundred Lords of the chiefest of that Seigneurie The Pregay held for the space of foure daies On the last which was the instant about ten of the clock in the night the Lords concluded on their last resolution in this case They caused the prisoner to be brought and commanded a Secretarie to set down this determination following Because he names himselfe to be the King of Portugall Dom Sebastian he is commanded out of this Citie within one day and from the parts belonging to this Seigneurie within three daies more on paine of commitment to the gallies for the space of ten yeeres with yron gyues at his feete But if his indisposition of bodie cannot suffer this paine then he stands condemned to perpetual imprisonment Moreouer for punishment of his disobedience committed in not departing the lands belonging to the State at the time when by commaundement of the podestate of Padoa he was so enioyned they had alreadie giuen him these two yeeres and 22. daies imprisonment since the contempt
withdrawne to his rest â—ent and fell on his knees before a Crucifix which he ware in â—osome where he so continued till one came to call him on â—ourney â—ome haue written to me that since he hath beene seene â—ng his Portuguezes he hath made good appearance that he is â—ctually of their nation profferring in all perfection the words he pronounced and if any one of them that parleyed with him intermedled any French words among the rest because the most part of them had liued in Fraunce and spake the French language he would tell them of it so that yet he seemes better to vnderstand that tongue then speake it One writes likewise that he saith the armour he ware is hid in a certaine place That the duke de Aueyro the Earles of Redondo and of Sortella D. Fernand de Meneses and D. Iohn de Castro cosin germaine to him whom we haue so often named are all yet aliue that he very wel knowes where they are so soone as he shal haue commodious means he will send to theÌ„ Christophero de Tauora was slaine before his eies by certain robbers that set vpoÌ„ theÌ„ as they iourneyed Dom Iohn de Castro writ in a letter to me that his face is now much altered from the forme it had at his parting in Affricke As for the small wrinkles in his face those he knew very perfectly so likewise did Sebastian Figuera the Father de Sampayo Pantaleon Pessoa Frances Antoine and other Portuguezes beside sundrie straungers that had seene him and knew him when he was in Portugall And as for his gate or cariage of his bodie it is the verie same without any altering Moreouer that he departed from Venice in the time assigned him and is comming for Fraunce himselfe with others being on the way with him He praies me to order my businesse in sort that I would be present in the Court of his most Christian Maiestie attending this aduenture so strange and maruellous so farre the letter For this cause worthie Lord and in respect whether he come by sea or land or whether he will passe for Holland from hence I am determined not to be absent till I haue seene him here or vnderstand he hath taken some other course If I should do otherwise I thinke the world would repute me a bad seruant to my King and an enemie to my true and soueraigne Lord. But I find there are some moued by what diuels I know not that labour still to perswade me and would perforce make me to beleeue although these newes are so true publique and certaine yet that this King of Portugall Dom Sebastian is no other then a Calabrois But as that language is engendred and borne from the wombe of a Castillian so I answere such kind of men that it is behoouefull for them to knowe I am more bound to credite â—e noble aâ—d religious persons who by letters written and 〈◊〉 by their owne hands as also by their oathes haue assured â—hat the prisoner set at libertie by the Lords of Venice is our â—ng of Portugall Dom Sebastian then to be led by any Caâ— opinions â—s a terrible thing to see and heare the goodly reasons alleaâ—y these wise maisters to vnderprop their false and depraued â—ions It contenteth vs that he is swart and that the King 〈◊〉 Sebastian was faire that he speakes not Portugueze c. To â—s haue no interest at all in this matter but with a purposed â—e yeeld themselues enemies to this truth what imports it whether a man blacke or white should be King of Portugal â—hether he speakes Portugueze or Italian It sufficeth that a 〈◊〉 as white as snowe passeth the Equinoctiall line on the 〈◊〉 of Guinea that he performes the voyage of Saint Thomas 〈◊〉 any other part wheresoeuer he pleaseth of Aethiopia or 〈◊〉 iournes sundrie yeares in Barbarie may become as blacke â—h for the more white a man is the sooner he becomes the â—er We vnderstand that the king Dom Sebastian hath bene â—thiopia and in Persia where if he haue lost his whitenesse â—oper colour it is not a thing to be wondred at â—osoeuer hath knowne the Lord Dom Christophero reueâ— Lord youngest sonne to the deceased king Dom Antonio 〈◊〉 his infancie till he came to the age of 18. yeares for so old â—s when he vndertooke his voyage to Barbarie will confesse â—e that he was then as white as milke faire and neately faâ—d but little more then three yeares when he liued in Barbaâ—â—re sufficient to make him become so black swartie and deâ—d that at his returne to England whence he had parted beâ—â—uen those that had bene most frequent with him could not 〈◊〉 him He arriued in Barbarie in the beginning of the yeare 〈◊〉 and came againe into England in 1592. at which time I was â—nce Then afterward he came to Paris in the end of the 〈◊〉 1594. on Christmas euen after dinner at what time I was â—g at Chesse with the king his father in the street of S. Honoâ— â—ere he lodged at the Swan So soone as the newes came to â—er that he was beneath in the court I craued leaue to goe 〈◊〉 and descending the staires I passed by him not knowing him and went to talke with Dom Iohn de Castro and Scipio de Figueredo who had come with him from England demaunding newes of them of the said Lord Dom Christophero they told me that that was he whome I had met and passed by I sweare to your Lordship that hearing those words I stoode as rapt out of my selfe to see him so deformed and chaunged and the others by no meanes could perswade me that it was he I swearâ— agaiâ— to your worthinesse as a Christian an honest man and 〈◊〉 â—ous as I am that I was so angrie to behold him thus chaunged hauing lost the goodly complexion he had before as I w◠〈…〉 an houre in a roome beneath by my selfe and would neither 〈◊〉 nor speake with him hereof I haue store of good witnesses yet to this day If little more then three yeares had so much power so strangely to alter the Lord Dom Christophero how much more may aboue twentie yeares chaunge the king Dom Sebastian Let this suffice to answer the ignorant and malicious As for his speaking Portugueze who hath examined him not I certainely nor any other Portugueze semblable to me He speakes a mixed kind of Portugueze my good Lord according as Dom Iohn de Castro writes to me in his last letter As for his writing it is the same and the selfe same hand I haue seene many memories and papers written by him which being conferred with the other that he writte before his passage to Affricke the one and other doe truely agree For the rest when the King Dom Sebastian shall be in good estate though he speake not Portugueze I will hold him excused considering it is more then twenty years that he hath bene foorth of his country and still trauelled among
girdle-sted downe to the knees he is very long 5. The right legge is longer then the left 6. The right foote greater then the other 7. The toes almost equall 8. On the little toe of the right foote he hath a wart so increasing as it appeares to be like a sixt toe 9. The instep or necke of the foote very high raised vp 10. On the one shoulder is a seale or marke of the greatnesse of a Vinten of Portugall such a peece of money as a French peece of three blankes the very least and auncientest 11. On the right shoulder toward the chine of the necke he hath a blacke scarre of the largenesse of ones little naile 12. He hath little pimples on his face and hands and very apparant but such as knowes it not cannot discerne them 13. He hath the left side of his body shorter then the right so that he halts a little without any perceiuing 14. He lackes one tooth on the right side in the neather â—aw 15. He hath the fluxe of seed or Gonorrhaea 16. He doth abound in a signall very secret that is to be spoken of when need shall require 17. Besides these secrets and signes he hath many other which my easily be seene as the fingers of the hands long and the nailes likewise 18. The lip of Austriche like his graundfather Charles the fift Emperour father to his mother and of his graundmother Catherine Queene of Portugall mother to his father sister to the sayd Charles the fift 19. His feete little and his legs crooked c. All these markes were borne with him 20. He hath many markes of the harquebuze on his left arme which he receiued in the battell of Affricke 21. Another marke or wound vpon the head 22. Another vpon the right eye-brow â—e copie of a letter written by a Gentleâ— a Portuguese to the most excellent Prince â—he Lord Dom Emanuell sonne to the Lord Dom Antonio elect king of Portugall abiding at Dort in Holland â—e out of Portuguese into Castillian out of Castillian into French and lastly out of French into English â—Ost excellent Lord in the separation which was made at Florence of the Portuguezes who had at Venice procuâ—e deliuerance and freedome of the King of Portugall Dom â—ian our Lord the choise for Fraunce was committed to my â— Dom Christophero your brother Dom Iohn de Castro â— Manuell and Frances Antoine they went by the way of â—ne and from thence intended to go to Marseilles Manuell â—ito and Sebastian Figuera they went for Rome frier Chryâ—e for Parma frier Stephen de Sampayo and Rodrigo Marâ— â—ooke another course as all the others did My direction was â—e States of Holland whither it was not possible for me to â—y Germany in regard of the reasons you shall reade in this â—urse Sebastian Figuera told vs that he had written to you â—e the whole passage touching the King our Lord and vs â—s letters by the ordinary way of Lions Now because it may â— out that those letters are not as yet arriued at you or might â—ps be lost by the way I determined with my selfe in regard may be with you in fewer dayes then I can come to see your â—lency to giue you aduertisement by these letters of all the â—e passages since we arriued at Venice â—he Lord Dom Christophero being at Rome had intelligence â—ters from Doctor Sampayo and other Lords how needfull â—s for him to succor the affaires of our Lord the king Dom Seâ—aâ— For which cause he left Rome bringing in his company â—uell de Brito my selfe Frances Antoine came vnto vs the 18. of NoueÌ„ber the 28. we arriued at Venice where being with other Portuguezes we were enformed of the businesse and what was expedient to be done for him Certaine daies after the Lord Dom Christophero required audience which was giuen him on Monday the 11. of December Before he entred to the Senate he was caused to sit downe without in a chamber richly hung with tapistrie where he attended till he should be called in They gaue him the seate on the right hand of the Prince speaking to him termed him Illustrissime when these courtesies had bin done him he gaue in writing what he desired The same day the Prince with aboue two hundred of the principall Seigneurs of that State entred to Councell touching the matter of the king D. Sebastian our Lord this assembly is called the Pregay there they determine of matters graue and important The Tuesday following the Pregay held againe for the same cause The wednesday being S. Lucies day the Pregay held not at all because they then made election of an Attourney They sate againe the Thurseday and the Friday following the case was concluded At night after ten a clocke the King our Lord was called to the Senate where to him was intimated the selfe intimation which had bene made to him by the Podestate of Padoa the yeare 1598. It is said that when the king entred the Senate and while the decree of his sentence was reading all the Seigneurs were vp on their feete and noted him with very much respect The king being gone from the Senate went presently without admitting the companie of any one though many made offer of themselues to the lodging of his first host maister Frances where I had diuerse times seene him before his imprisonment Thither came Rodrigo Marques and Sebastian Figuera who at first sight of him was much astonished because he found him verie different from him whome he had seene in Portugall and in Barbarie the verie same day of our ouerthrowe flying foure leagues distance from the field of battaile But when he had well considered the forme of his face the dimples the browe the eyes nose and Austrich lippe which is not now so plumpe as when he was in Portugall because then he was in good plight and now verie meagre his speech and the other parts of his bodie he suddenly sent â—o Marques to aduertise the Lord Dom Christophero â—f and the other Portugueses They thought it meete that â—ing should bee brought to the lodging of Don Iohn de â—o and Diego Manuel as being a house more retired from â—oples haunt of the Citie then that belonging to Maister â—es and so it was done Thither resorted all the Portugueâ—â—ccept the father Doctor Sampayo and Frier Chrysostome â—eing ouerlated went to the Monasterie of S. Dominicke â— is of the aduocation as I thinke of S. Iohn and S. Paule â—rs and brethren neither was there the Chanon nor the â—deacon who was gone to Rome 〈◊〉 the King sawe vs all there together he prayed vs that we 〈◊〉 examine him and know if he were the true king of Porâ— Don Sebastian or no and he would haue vnclothed himâ— to shew vs the secret marks of his bodie which we would â—ffer because Dom Iohn de Castro had alreadie known him â—ently and principally by his speech for as he beganne to â—e his voice was
Sebastian in Affâ—icke all the Portuguezes haue euermore taken him to be liuing and hereby appeareth sufficiently that he is not dead neither was that his body which was buried in Bethlehem Moreouer by the same examples your worthy Lordship may easily iudge that this man held as a prisoner at Venice is the King Dom Sebastian himselfe considering that in two yeares and fiue monethes already passed since he first began to manifest himselfe the Seigneurie continually found from day to day more euident appearance still of truth without encountring any thing whatsoeuer to the contrary or could be beleeued for certaine in all the allegations of the Embassadour from Castile against the prisoner The Lords of this honorabble estate warned by the successe of such false impostors may the better excuse themselues that they haue with such extremity and long delay proceeded against the very person of king Dom Sebastian Which being so and the diuine Oracle ensuing added hereto I hope I haue answered reuerend Lord your second demaund A diuine Oracle worthy to be published and knowne through all the world imprinted at Lisbone in Latine with permission of the holy office in the yeare MDC Brother Stephen de Sampayo Portugueze of the order of the Friers Preachers reader of diuinity in the Vniuersitie of Tolossa To the Reader AS the al-good and most mighty God disposeth things with no lesse oportunity then clemency it is come to passe that since the time of some foure yeares past there hath bene found in Portugall two memories or monuments of most venerable antiquity in a very celebrate Monastery of the order of the Cisteaux which we commonly call the Abbay of Alcobaça as the fathers of that couent searched among their papers and registers for certaine priueledges for their warrant for a kind of vexation whereof it shall be needlesse to speake at this time And in short while after they were presented to Philip II. king of Castile by the Priour Prouinciall of the sayd order and read apart each from other before his Catholike Maiesty and then againe redeliuered backe to the Monastery both which for certaine causes haue bene brought to light and the translation of them conferred with the originall The oath of Dom Alphonso first king of Portugall for approbation and assurance of the vision which he saw the yeare MCXL in the Prouince of Campo d'Ourique I Alphonso first King of Portugall sonne to the famous Earle Henry graund child or sonne to the great King Alphonso before you worthy personages the Archbishop of Braga and the Bishop of Coimbre and Theotonio and you other Lords officers and subiects of my kingdome do sweare vpon this Crosse and on this booke of the most holy Euangelists which I touch with my hands that I a miserall sinner haue seene with mine vnworthy eyes my Lord Iesus Christ spread abroad vpon the crosse in manner following I being with mine armie in the land which is neare to the riuer Tagus in the Prouince of Campo d'Ourique to giue battell to Ismael and to foure other kings of the Moores who had with them infinite thousands of men at armes and my people being somewhat sad and fearefull to behold such a numberlesse multitude of warriours came vnto me and sayd that it would be ouer-much boldnesse in vs to bid them battell Whereupon being very much afflicted with what I heard and saw I began to ponder apart by my selfe what I were best to do In my pauillion I had a booke containing both the old Testament and the new of Iesus Christ I opened it and hapning to reade the victorie of Gedeon I began thus to say to my selfe Thou knowest ô Lord Iesus Christ that for the loue of thee I haue vndertaken this warre against thine enemies Lord it is in thy hand to giue me and mine strength to vanquish these blasphemers of thy name And speaking so I fell asleepe vpon the sayd booke and sleeping I saw an olde man come to me saying Alphonse take good courage for thou shalt vanquish and put to repulse all these Kings here and shalt breake their forces and God shall shew himselfe to thee As I was in this vision suddenly came to me Ferdinand de Sousa gentleman of my chamber who awaking me sayd Sir raise your selfe for here is an olde man come to speake with you Let him enter sayd I if he be any of our friends When the man was come in I knew him to be the same good olde man which I had seene in my vision he sayd vnto me Sir be of good cheare you shall vanquish you shall vanquish and you shall not be vanquished God loues you for he hath cast the eyes of his mercy vpon you and on your race euen to the sixteenth generation wherein your ligne shall be weakened and diminished Neuerthelesse in this diminution and feebling there shall be no want of his diuine fauour and succour He hath commaunded me to tell you that when you do heare in the night ensuing the bell of mine hermitage wherein I haue liued sixtie sixe yeares among the infidels and in the protection of the most high you shall come foorth of your campe all alone without company and he will make his great mercy appeare vnto you I obeyed and prostrating my selfe in reuerence to the ground worshipped the messenger and him that sent him And as I attended in prayer the second watch of the night I heard the bell then armed with my sword and shield I went foorth of the campe Then I saw on my right hand toward the East a bright beame in the element the splendour whereof increased more and more And as I held mine eyes respectiuely fixed on that quarter I saw in that beame shining brighter then the Sunne the blessed Crosse and Iesus Christ crucified thereupon likewise both on the one side and other a multitude of young men seeming verie white whom I accounted to be holy Angels When I had beheld this vision I layd by my sword shield and garment put off my shoes and being prostrated along vpon the earth I wept abundantly then going to intreate strength and preseruation for my subiects without any trouble I spake in this manner Lord to what ende dost thou shew thy selfe to me wouldst thou increase the faith of him that only beleeues in thee It were better Lord that these infidels should see thee to the end that they might beleeue as for my selfe from the day of my baptisme I haue knowne and acknowledged thee the true God Sonne of the Virgin and the Father eternall This crosse was of admirable greatnesse and eleuated from the earth about ten Cubites and the Lord with a sweete sound of his voyce which I heard with mine vnworthy eares sayd to me I do not appeare vnto thee in this sort for increase of thy faith but to comfort thy heart against this battell and to fixe the chiefest Princes of this kingdome vpon a firme rocke Courage Alphonso for thou shalt not onely
vanquish and be conquerour in this battell but likewise in all other which thou shalt fight against the enemies of the crosse Thou shalt find thy men cheerfully disposed to the battell and in the name of a king they will require thee to enter the fight make thou no doubt at all but liberally graunt whatsoeuer they demaund For I build and destroy both Empires and Kingdomes and I will establish an Empire in thee and thy posterity to the end that my name may be spread and augmented euen vnto the very vttermost nations And that thy successours may know that I haue giuen thee thy kingdome the Scutchion of your armies shall be fully beautified with the price whereby I bought mankind and of those wherewith the Iewes bought sold me this shall be to me a sanctified kingdome for presâ—auation of the faith and louing of pietie Hauing heard these wordes I worshipped and sayd For what merites O Lord doth it please thee to shew me so great grace I will do whatsoeuer thou hast commanded me and Lord looke fauourably on my posterity as thou hast promised me and keepe my people of Portugall safe and sound But if any misaduenture be to be endured conuert it Lord rather against me and my successours and pardon my people whom I loue as my onely sonne Which the Lord shewing me he would consent vnto Neuer quoth he shall my mercie part from thee nor thine for by them I am to prepare a great haruest and them haue I chosen for my haruest labourers in lands farre remote This sayd he vanished and I full of confidence and contentment returned to my campe And that these matters hapned thus I king Alphonso sweare by the holy Gospels of Christ Iesus which I touch with these my hands Wherefore I commaund my successours that shall come for euer that they beare in their armes fiue Scutchions parted in forme of a crosse because of the crosse and the fiue wounds of Iesus Christ and in each of them thirtie pence and on the top or Crest the Serpent of Moses being the figure of Iesus Christ And that this may be a memoriall to our generation whosoeuer shall go against it let him be cursed of God and with the traytor Iudas eternally tormented in hell Giuen at Coimbre the 29. of October MCXL S. Archbishop of Braga P. Bishop of Coimbre T. Prâ—our Gonsalo de Sousa Atturney of Guimaranyes Pelayo Mendes Atturney of Braga Soâ—â—o Martius Atturney of Coimbre Fernand Pires cup-bearer to the King Pero Payes ensigne-bearer to the King Vasco Sanâ—hes Alphonso Mendes geuernour of Lisbone Mendo Pirez for Albert great Chauncellor to the King I Alphonso king of Portugall I Thomas de la Croix notary publicke Apostolicke and Secretary to the Legate in these realmes of Portugall haue corrected this copie of the oath of D. Alphonso of glorious memory according to the perfect originall which is sealed with fiue seales at labels hanging the two for most whereof seeme to be those of the Archbishop of Braga and the Bishop of Coimbre and the other two lowest to wit the fourth and fift belong to two of those Lords that are named in the role Lastly that in the midst is the seale of the king hauing fiue Scutchions arraunged in the forme of a crosse anâ— in each of them thirty pence according aâ— aunciently the sayd king and his successours were accustomed to beare in their armes All the rest of the seales are in red waxe except the kings seale which is of natural virgin waxe or rather as it is coÌ„monly called white waxe The rest are hanged at labels of the same color red but that of the kings is fastened to a label cut out of the same parchment being altogether whole and sound without harme Thus do I certifie maintaine all this to be true as I am a Notarie according to the oath wherto I stand obliged by reasoÌ„ of mind office In affirmatioÌ„ wherof I haue subscribed to this writing sealed it with my seale publicke accustomed at Lâ—boâ—e the 4. of NoueÌ„ber 1599. being thereunto prayed and requested Thomas de la Croix A testimoniall of Alphonso the first king of Portugall for a vassellage or free money by him granted IN the name of God because it is necessarie that euerie faithfull man should do his part to the Ministers of God of those goods which he hath receiued from the Soueraigne giuer of all things to the end that by their meanes he may be made partaker of the heauenly treasures I Alphonso not long since created by the grace of God King of Portugall and for that cause feeling my selfe to stand more obliged then any other desirous to offer vnto the most High my bodie and all my best meanes that both I and any successours might raigne for euer acknowledge first to hold our kingdome at the hand of God who made a gifter therof to me to the end that with firme heart and perfect charitie I should defend the Christian faith against the outragious Infidels and that I should enrich the holy Church with the reuenues of my Realme for performance whereof it should be a holy kingdome loued of God and established for euer And because I haue alreadie rendred my selfe tributarie and all such as shall appertaine to me to the blessed S. Peter and his successours desiring likewise to haue him my aduocate to God and his blessed mother by the consent of my subiects who by their vertue without any straunge helpe haue established me on this my royal throne I appoint and constitute as well for me as for my successours that my selfe my kingdome my race and them that shall come after me shall be in the safegard protection defence and patronage of the most glorious virgin Marie de Clairuaux Ordaining and commaunding to euery one of my successours that shall come lawfully to the inheritance of this kingdome euery yeare to pay and giue in manner of a fee-monie or tribute and of vassellage to the said church of our Lady of Clairuaux which is of the Order of the Cisteaux situate in the Realme of France 〈◊〉 the diocesse of Langres fiftie Marauedis of gold pure fine 〈◊〉 â—ll and good But if it happen that any one of the said Moâ—rie enter or passe by our demeane where there is builded any Monasterie the persons and goods of such a one shall be vnder the rule and patronage of the King so that he shall not be molested disquieted troubled nor deceiued of his goods by any one And if it happen that they be restored to their former libertie in what houre time or moment it shall so come to passe at their best aduantage let them do as they see cause And because the goods of such Monasteries and persons may be as goods royall the King shall haue so much care of them as he ought to haue if they were properly his owne And if any King or Tyrant which we hope that none such shall be borne
of our Lord 696. Then afterward by the Moores Capelicastrum This was a Parliament and colonie of the Empire and one of the greatest and most important townes of Lusitania whereof the Moores were Lordes The King thinking one while in this siege and of the Fortresse of this cittie because it was built on a high mountaine that it was a matter verie doubtfull and difficult to take and subdue to purchase ayde and help of God by the intercession of our blessed Ladie the virgine concluded in his soule if he might happen to win the said citie to make her great offers and to erect in his kingdome a great and notable monasterie of Monkes of the order of the Cisteaux whereof ensued the said monasterie of Clairuaux which should and did flourish greatly through the world and so doth to this day The King Dom Alphonso soiourned then in the towne of Coimbre which then was the capitall place of all the kingdome within some few dayes after the King departed from the saide towne to be present at the siege with his sonne and traine and as he was vpon the way there came before him two or three religious men of the said order who demaunded of him on the behalfe of Frier Bernard place for beginning the building of the monasterie which he had promised The King considering apart by himselfe and remembring that he had made this promise is his heart and yet had not imparted it to any person whatsoeuer and seeing that Frier Bernard who was distant off from him more then three hundred miles knew therof he took it as a good augurie or presage and began to hold it for certaintie that the heauenly Architect would not slack his grace toward him but that without all doubt he should conquer the said citie Hauing then giuen good and charitable welcome to the religious men he said My brethren you come in a verie apt season let vs iourney on together and I will recount it vnto you as also make accomplishment of my promise so soone as I haue recouered the citie of Santaren frō the Moores which I haue besieged by my son soldiers Three dayes after the arriuall of the King there the citiie was wonne and taken more by the help of heauen then by the valour and strength of the Christians albeit no way to disparage their deseruing they fought like hardie and very valiant men The King doing the dutie of a most braue Prince and Captaine seeing him selfe in extreame great danger at the entrance of a gate which he had wonne wheron is an imag of our Lady and is called the gate of our Lady Alamarma which is as much to say as fasten o◠mine Armes the very portugall words which the King vsed then to his Squire because one had vntied the buckles of his armour The King being made Lord of a place of such weighty importance marked out forthwith to the saide religious men a great quantitie of ground whereon they should begin to build their monasterie which afterward increased in such sort as in short time the number amounted to 999. They liued in particuler little celles dispersed among the vallies and mountaines and on feast dayes they would meete together to praise the Lord. The religious men of this monasterie doe hold by tradition that their number shall neuer amount to a thousand because if they giue the habite to one within the church they shall find another to be dead without This hath bene assured to me by persons of good yeares religious men of the said monasterie who call themselues d' Alcobaça among whom are diuers of my kinred A thing which right worthie Lord may verie wel be so For if if we shall giue credite to Camden an English historian who yet liueth at this day and is an author worthie of beleefe he certifies to to vs in his Brittania that in the land which at this day is called England which such as are seene in Cosmography know to be no greater thē the kingdom of Portugal with that of Algarbe in Lusitania a tyrant King put to death twelue thousand religious persons because they followed the part of another who was the true and rightfull King The same Camden doth tell vs that these religious people were of a monasterie which was diuided into three seuerall bands and that the least companie of them contained seuen hundred compleate But to come to our purpose these religious folke of Alcobaça builded by succession of time in the great breadth of ground granted them by the King Dom Alphonso seuen citties so do the Spaniards call them and the Latines oppida siue vrbes because that almost all of them are engirt with walles and haue castels as in France Poissy Meulan Mante Vernon c. Philip II. King of Castille would haue sold the iurisdiction of them as he hath sold others in Spain belonging to the Church This moued the fathers of the said monasterie to turne ouer their papers and was the cause that we saw with our eies a donation so deuout and holy made to the blessed mother of God our Ladie of Clairuaux whereof Saint Bernard hath bin Abbot Now reuerend Lord may it please you licence me to come to the declaration of some words in the prophesies which perhaps may seem difficult to some wheresoeuer Concerning that of S. Cyril the Hermite Tempore annorum 54. c. This proposition hath lately beene declared elsewhere speaking of the King Dom Sebastian who was borne in the yeere 1554. the 20. of Ianuarie betweene eleuen and twelue of the clocke at night as I well remember I lacking bookes here and haue not my memorie so good worthie Lord now as in times past my trauails banishments sicknesses especially the last hath depriued me of the better part so that I cannot now cite some common knowne Psalmes without booke which I had in my yonger yeeres by heart and could say readily Concerning that of S. Isidore Occultus Rex bis piè datus c. This may be verie wel applied to Dom Sebastian my Lord and king because that after the twelfth of Ianuarie the day whereon his father died aged but sixteene yeeres and seuen moneths till the twentie of the said moneth An. 1554. when he was borne at Lisbone throughout all Portugall day and night they made continuall processions fastings and prayers with very much deuotion and great store of tears as the reuerend father doctor Sampaye makes known in his Epistle to the reader The reason was because the Portuguezes feared that the kingdom should fal into the Spaniards hands For that when the King D. Iohn 3. grandfather to to King D. Sebastian gaue his daughter Mary as wife to Philip then prince of Castille it was said by the contract of this mariage that if it happened that the King D. Iohn should deceasse without children he that should be borne of Philip and Mary should be heyre to the kingdome of Portugall whereto the people then consented
sirname of this principalitie as of Daulphinies in Fraunce of Wales in England of Girona in Aragon of Vienna in Nauarre c. Moreouer he should giue the Duke sixe hundreth thousand Franckes of gold for his returne into England and fortie thousand Franckes in name of rent beside the sayd cities and townes during the liues of him an her Iohn of Castile accepted of all these conditions with right good will yet he had Fraunce and the French on his side and the King of Aragon with whose sister he was maried of whom was borne the sayd Prince Dom Henrie and Fernand that after was king of Aragon against the right of the true heires indeed and Charles the III. king of Nauarre his brother but he knew notwithstanding all these that hauing ciuill wars in Castile and Portugall for an enemy fortune wold forsake him in all his realmes Seigneuries Thus could and can the kingdome of Portugall beare head against the rest of Spaine It is most certaine that at all times and as often as Portugall hath the fauour of Fraunce of England or some other straunge Prince whosoeuer it be it compels the king of Castile to whom that is a bridle to make him yeeld to reason and come at commaund nay to accept of conditions very ignominious and preiudiciall And those of the Duke might haue bene much more aduantageable to this agreement if the king of Portugall had bene willing because hauing the sword in his hand he might haue cut out his partage at his owne pleasure He was the Iudge and it was done with his will Qui habet gladium potest diuidere campos And hence it came that the Duke departed not very well contented with him although he gaue him in mariage his eldest daughter Philippe By this already rehearsed worthy Lord may be vnderstood that they who haue not the pearles of spotted affection in their eyes may discerne and others whose harts are not fatted with hate to this good king may know that my wordes are neither bourdings nor songs For if this King Dom Iohn the bastard hauing all Spaine all Fraunce and some of Castile his allies banding against him for himselfe only foure thousand Portuguezes and some English in weake estate and yet then suspected to being withdrawne from Castile into Portugall could make lawes to his enemies what shall Sebastian do accompanied with a great number of Princes of Europe with his Portuguezes and his owne person which degenerates not a iot from that of his graundfather Dom Iohn the bastard who for his faire deedes was sirnamed Of worthy memory against a young king slenderly experimented and but badly armed It is not to be doubted but he shall restore Portugall seeing God and the prophesies haue so made him promise and that he shall cleanse and purge the Spaniards of their vices and abuses according as S. Isidore hath prophesied who since he florished it is more then a thousand yeres What contentment what ioy shall the world receiue by sight hereof and namely they that are the children of God What felicitie for the Romane Church What good for the weale publike of Christendome Let the enemie iudge this cause and as one said in Portugall let them cracke this nut and know that yet at this daye Portugall is farre stronger then Spaine yea all Spaine in the time of the said Bastard Then all that were souldiers were skilful in handling the sword the launce the halbard and the crosse or long bow now at this day they can not be drawne from the harquebuse or musket for this reason the Portugals haue yet more souldiers then Spaine Because the Castilians yea or the Spaniards that come from the garrisons of the king of Castile do neuer part thence but lame and maimed except it be some of the principal Gentlemen Of the Portugueses sent from Portugall to the East Indies there comes backe commonly the third part of them and of them that are scattered in diuerse places of Affricke the second part This is most certaine for in the beginning of the raigne of our Lord D. Antonio I found a rolle of the souldiers that were to be had in Portugall wherein it was assured me that within the prouince d'Entre Douro and Migno which is called in Latine Interamnis which containes no more then eighteene leagues in length twelue in breadth at the most three thousand old souldiers were to be found To this aunswere it remaines for me yet to satisfie another obiection which your reuered sanctitie may make vnto me to wit Some that haue a mightie opinion of the King of Castilles strength would make the world beleeue that he is infinitely powerfull and can inuade Portugall with huge numbers of souldiers To the first point I aunswere briefely and succinctly That the King of Castille is in no place more weake then in Spaine To the second Whence shall hee gather such supplies of souldiours Shall hee furnish him selfe out of those garrisons and forces which hee hath from Spaine Not so If in case he will cull out of the said garrisons some souldiers to forrage Portugall hee must at the least haue foure moneths time to do it In lesse then foure dayes may men passe frō Brittanie to Lisbone Could he bring fiftie thousand men into Portugall wherewithall wil he feed them I would onely twentie thousand Moreouer what would auaile fiftie thousand soldiers in Portugal All those being there could not impeach the King Don Sebastian from landing for Portugall hath an hundred and fortie leagues on the coast and throughout is landing easily to be had In some parts they that are on land in one place cannot in a day giue succour to the other albeit they are distant but two leagues If king Sebastian did but set foote on land all Portugall would presently run to him by which reason strange souldiers would be forced to yeeld themselues or throw themselues headlong into the sea or die with famine or else by the hands of their enemies Now giue I conclusion to this present discourse humbly beseeching your worthie Lordship to hold excused such slips as are therein because in the writing thereof I haue bene driuen to some nightly houres which could not be verie manie since I receiued your last letter for so long a certification by pen and but that I was enioyned thereto by your expresse commaund I could gladly haue excused my selfe from so tedious a trauel But the honors and graces receiued from so worthie a person haue bene so great and continued in such sort as they bound me to obey without all excuse If my pen haue erred in anie point whereof I doubt not this hope is left me that one day I may giue your Lordship more ample certaine assured satisfaction in all whatsoeuer shall please you to require I write in the Castilian language because your worthie selfe did so commaund me and in regard you take some delight therein as it hath bene often told me
straungers In this citie of Lyons among the Spanish Comedians there is a Portugueze aged about some thirtie yeares a man well born learned and speakes the Latin tongue very well the place of his birth not farre from mine from him I could neuer get one Portugueze word yet speakes he as perfect Castilian as if he had bene borne and brought vp in the Court of Madrill and it is but fiue yeares since he hath bene absent from his owne countrey where be forsooke his kindred some of them being well knowne to me We haue an hundred thousand like examples through all â—s and it is a thing so common as there can neuer want due â—e thereof But I will not spare to speake this as truth if the Dom Sebastian or any other Portugueze whatsoeuer haâ—â—ost the vse of his Portugall language by being conuersant â—g his countreymen come not againe to the recouerie thereâ— shall pardon me then to be suspitious of him By meanes â—gh a man may easily grow into heate my Lord reprouing â—pinions and restrayning the audacious courses of people â—orted with passions therefore whosoeuer will speake truth 〈◊〉 say that my Lord Dom Sebastian king of Portugall is no â—rois But the very selfe same king who in the yeare 1578. 〈◊〉 his voyage into Affrick in fauour of Muley Mahamet Xaâ— mooued by the offers which were made vnto him for the â—tage and weale publique of all Christendome This doth â—re plaine to the eye by those things whereon he hath treaâ—th the Portuguezes and other strangers before he was imâ—ed in the prison and afterward abroad and verifies it selfe â—l by the markes secret as apparant which he beares on his 〈◊〉 and which I will translate to you at the end of this let◠〈◊〉 the rest to close vp this last answer I cannot chuse but 〈◊〉 my complaint to your reuerend worthinesse of these medâ—â—ssieurs that tearme my Lord and king to be a Calabrois â—w two yeares and more since they haue liued in this error â—e as strong headed in this opinion now as they were the â—ay Turely Sir when I but thinke hereon I can hardly 〈◊〉 my coole bloud from warming for I neuer saw any one of 〈◊〉 Gallants that would say to me He is of such a territorie such 〈◊〉 sonne or kin to such a one he hath liued among such c. â—ering Calabria is in subiection to his Maiestie Cathoâ— who for this reason onely might send through all that â—ey and enquire of his qualitie and originall as being his 〈◊〉 that they will not do so much at one time or other this 〈◊〉 afflicteth me â—w Sir remaines an answer to an obiection of the enemie â—o slubber baffull and annihilate a matter so certaine 〈◊〉 of the true King Dom Sebastian say that this fellowe â—he first deceiuer but in Flaunders there was a Baldwin in Fraunce a Martin Guerre c. I can very well as one that hath read some histories helpe such kind of people to proue their intentions remembring them of the names and deedes of some impostors setting apart the Neroes and others as Smerdis the Mago king of the Persians the false Alexander of Syria sonne to Protarcus a man of base condition Lambert Symnell who named himselfe Edward the fift king of England and sonne to Edward the fourth Peter Warbecke whom the English call Periquin or Perkin who needs would be Richard younger brother to the sayd Edward and others But the fact and proceeding of these differed greatly from the examen and true square of King Dom Sebastian also the meanes and respects whereby they presumed for kings titles caried another habite then this of king Sebastians Concerning Baldwin and Martin Guerre their iuglings were discouered in very few daies so fel it out with Smerdis for Phaedimia the daughter of Otanes disproued him quickly by his short eares and so was he knowne to be Mago brother to Cantizites not for Smerdes the son of Cyrus The false Alexander an Aegyptian by nation was brought in by Ptolomie Euergetes against Demetrius the younger Lambert Symnell was prouoked on by great men of England to terme himselfe a king against Henry the seuenth of whom they could not endure the gouernement Peter Warbecke a natiue of Tournay by the meanes and fauour of Margaret Duchesse of Burgundie second wife to Charles the warriour named himselfe Richard youngest sonne to King Edward the fourth and by her bare himselfe against the sayd king Henrie But King Sebastian is risen in another kind of degree without ayde without fauour not assisted by any Prince poore and miserable armed onely with his truth and the conduct of God and yet we hope he shall not want helpe for the recouerie of his kingdome This is then sufficient to answere those questionarie contriuers As for their demaund to me where he hath had abiding for so many yeares and why he spared to make himselfe manifest himselfe one day when it pleaseth God will therein resolue vs. It is no new thing to heare of a man that haue not bene heard of for many yeares I thinke there is at this day a dozen of men in Fraunce that haue come home againe amongst 〈◊〉 ends after their being abroad for the space of twentie 〈◊〉 nay 30. yeares without any newes once heard of them all their absence If I would number them Sir who haue â—mpeld to verifie themselues for such as they maintained â—lues to be I should make a discourse more ample then â—ich I gaue to my Lord your nephew â—e the decrees of the Parliaments in Fraunce looked ouer â— would be found therein of whom I find it no way inâ—ient to nominate some As the Lord of Boisgarnier a Gentleman of Maisse and next him his sonne the Lord of â—erre neare â—o Gyan the Lord of Morinuille called Courteâ— â—ed of the royall house of Dreux and other who haue had â—nd labour enough in making themselues to be knowne â—ng thus answered these obiections I will conclude assuâ—ur worthinesse that being obliged by so many testimonies â—rkes of truth I thinke that not onely my selfe but euen a â—n should commit a mighty trespasse against the holy â— in not beleeuing this for a verity Our Lord giue accomâ—ent to my desires and so soone as he shall be arriued I will speedy imparting to your worthy selfe of all the pleasures â—ntentments I receiue This shall be the end of my trauerses â—serable fortunes this shall be the beginning of my glory city where our Lord giue you ample perfection in aeterâ— â—om Lions the 12. of Ianuary MDCI. Kissing the hands of your reuerend Lordship your deuoted seruant Frier Ioseph Texere Portugueze 〈◊〉 markes and signes which the King of â—ortugall Dom Sebastian beares naturally on his body HE hath the right hand greater then the left The right arme longer then the left 3. The body from the shoulders to the girdle-sted is so short as his doublet can serue none other but himselfe onely 4. From the
somewhat low yet verie strong in conâ—g rose higher and higher as it euer did in Portugall so did â—es Antoine likewise Hee perceiuing that wee would not â—t him to discouer his nakednesse shewed vs the right hand â—r then the left the arme so to afterward his shoulders to â—rdlested and from his girdlested to the knees his legs and 〈◊〉 And to make it more apparant that he was shorter of all â—rts left then on the right he kneeled downe commaunâ—â—s to marke him verie diligently and we saw that without â—ubting the sayd left part of his bodie was shorter more by â—ers breadth then the right Then he prayed Diego Maâ— â—o giue him a booke or else a pantofle which was nearest â— and putting it vnder his left knee then it made his bodie â—ht We saw the pimples in his face and hands the hurt that â—d on the right eye-brow and let euerie one in the compaâ—â—uch the wound in his head with their fingers Afterward â—ewed vs the place where he wanted the tooth in the right â—eneath and we know very well that Sebastian Neto his â—r had thence drawne it foorth of whom himselfe enquiâ—â—erie particularly After he had long time held discourse with vs in common and seuerally of diuerse matters we intreated him to eate something but he answered that because it was Friday hee would not so much as make a collation but only would fast with bread and water and meant not to breake that fast for he was thereto obliged by a vowe Hereupon we intreated him to take his rest but we could not obtaine so much of him all that he would then permit vs to do about him was to pull off his shooes to warme him I pulled off the right and presently passed my hand along the toes where I felt the wart on the litle toe which is so great as it makes a resemblance of a sixt toe Furthermore we desired him to do vs so much grace as to tell vs somewhat of his fortunes whereto he answered That he had liued euermore in trauell in miserie and pouertie but the talke thereof we should referre till another time and tell him some tidings of his friends of such things which as theÌ„ might giue him pleasure to heare Then he began to view vs verie earnestly one after another and seeing vs habited of diuerse fashions and colours because some were attired after the French others like Hollanders some Italian like and Frances Antoine as a Pilgrime with his walking staffe in his hand he began to say smiling Tanto trage So manie sorts which he spake with such a grace as comforted and greatly gladded vs to heare and those of vs that had perfectly knowne him before saw in this verie act that he was our true Lord and King Dom Sebastian He then enquired of the Lord Dom Christophero concerning your Excellencie of D. Iohn de Castro touching his brethren particularly of Frier Fernand a Religious of Saint Dominique beside concerning his vncles and kindred Then of all in generall for the Ladie Domne Catherine his aunt Duchesse of Bragancia and the Duke her sonne telling vs that when he made the Affrick voyage with him he was verie litle but faire the said duke hauing not then accomplished â— yeares Then he enquired likewise of his Pallace de la Ribera of Euchobregas of Castillo and principally of those de Santos le vieil which I thinke did belong to the father of Dom Iohn or else to his grandfather Dom Iohn de Castro whether they were sound enlarged or destroyed He verie much loued the situation thereof as being â—ll on the sea without and within the towne and in a â—ire prospect Moreouer he would be enformed of the â—f S. Iohn and whether the Castilians had built anie Fort 〈◊〉 Teste-seche or no. He demaunded of vs if they kept still 〈◊〉 one the generall procession on S. Sebastians day which â—eginning from the day of his birth They come forth of â—sh of Saint Iohn and then go to the church of S. Vincent â—a which church is a parish and likewise a Monasterie â—nons regulars of Saint Augustine and therein is an arme â—t Sebastian â—nquired also of D. Theotonio de Bragancia who at this â—rchbishop of Euora brother to the grandfather of him 〈◊〉 Duke now of Dom Alphonso de Castello-blanco his Alâ— who now is Bishop of Coimbre of Dom Fernand de â—s sirnamed Bouche-ouuerte otherwise Gobe-mouches or â— mouth of Dom Lewes Perera de Euora godfather to â—hn de Castro and a cousin germane of ours and for maâ—ers naming their names the places of their abiding â—arges that they had giuing such notable ensignes of â—nd so extraordinarily as it rapt vs all into exceeding adâ—n 〈◊〉 like he did of Ladies among whom he named Domne â— de Alcacona daughter to Peter d' Alcacona Earle de las â— and chiefe Secretarie of Portugall who was wife to Aluaro de Mello sonne to the eldest sonne of Dom Alâ— Marquesse of Ferrara which Dom Aluaro de Mello â—ed in the Affricke iourney This Ladie his wife Domne 〈◊〉 according as I haue heard was one of the fairest galâ— best disposed honest and most vertuous Ladies of Porâ— He asked much newes of the Sisters of Christophero de 〈◊〉 and other Ladies the names of whom I do not reâ—r For when I went in the Affricke voyage with the said 〈◊〉 was but a young ladde no other then a Page wherby I â—ot haue the knowledge of many persons All which â—e demaunded of vs with the grace of as royall authoriâ— it had bene in the yeare 1578. when he set forward on â—age to Affricke and in his pallace of Ribera at Lisbon â—h as much simplicitie did he proceed in all and through all plainely without fraude cauillation or heate as it had bene an infant of ten yeeres old When he had awhile well noted the Lord Dom Christophero your brother he said vnto him You resemble verie much Dom Antonio your father but I pray God in deeds you may resemble your grandfather the infant Dom Lewes Duke of Bega in steed of saying Beja He pronounceth what he speakes in Portuguese but makes a mixture of other strange words there amongst or by the breaking of diuers sillables As when he spake to vs of France he would vsually say Franca And we would say Sir in Portuguese we say Franca How quoth he doe not we say in Portuguese Villa-franca Paramanca c In like maner as when we intermeddle some French word among our Portuguese we shall and do rellish it because we haue bene in France and know how to speake French and so by custome fal into the same blame he doth We spent three houres and more with his Maiestie in these discoursings after which the Lord Dom Christophero and others withdrew themselues and he remained with D. Iohn and Diego Manuel who likewise stept aside into another chamber leauing him alone where he had beene to the end he might repose