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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13572	The strangest aduenture that euer happened: either in the ages passed or present Containing a discourse concerning the successe of the King of Portugall Dom Sebastian, from the time of his voyage into Affricke, when he was lost in the battell against the infidels, in the yeare 1578. vnto the sixt of Ianuary this present 1601. In which discourse, is diuerse curious histories, some auncient prophesies, and other matters, whereby most euidently appeareth: that he whom the Seigneurie of Venice hath held as prisoner for the space of two yeres and twentie two dayes, is the right and true king of Portugall Dom Sebastian. More, a letter that declareth, in what maner he was set at libertie the xv. of December last. And beside, how he parted from Venice and came to Florence. All first done in Spanish, then in French, and novv lastly translated into English.; Adventure admirable, par dessus toutes autres des siecles passez & present. English	Teixeira, José, 1543-1604.; Munday, Anthony, 1553-1633.	1601 (1601)	STC 23864; ESTC S118296	67,947	90

are most dangerous They thinke that they can impeach what God hath ordained ab aeterno as the diuell would haue done the death of Iesus Christ by the meanes of the wife of Pilate That this is very true I sweare to your fatherhood by the passion of Iesus Christ that this man is as truly the King Dom Sebastian as I am knowne to be Frier Stephen de Sampayo And if it be not found to proue accordingly let me not only be condemned as a lyer but for a renegate a blasphemer and an hereticke For this haue I endeuored my very vttermost diligence in my Portugall voyage I haue bene on one side and another and vnderstand secretly that he hath all the markes on his body without failing in any one of them as he had in his infancy onely the wounds excepted which he receiued in the bloudy day at Affricke He giues the reason of his life and yeelds account of all his passages in such sort as there is no vnderstanding so obstinate and blind but must thereby be vtterly vanquished and God be my helper as this is the truth These Lords do expect that Kings and Princes should vndertake this businesse at whose instance they would admit vs to haue sight and knowledge of him because they would not be faulty toward the Spaniard for they say they would not incurre the ill will of any one This is an occasion whereby your reuerend fatherhood may purchase more honour and performe farre greater seruice to God thē euer any Portugueze did in comming hither bringing such letters of fauor with you as may obtaine for vs the sight of him and by examination to apprehend the very certainty for here you shall find with vs more thē twelue persons of all the estates of his time to know him by He hath bene so vnfortunate that leauing all his companions scattered through the world he is here arriued without any one of them Dom George de Lancastre Duke of A●eyro whom he left in Aethiopia were sufficicient for his deliuerance if he were here present I humbly pray your fatherhood that vpon sight of this present letter you would speedily iourney hither for your personall being here is very necessary considering withall that a religious man your brother of the order of S. Dominicke vses these perswasions to you one that desires your good honor and quiet with as earnest affection as his owne It is seuenteene monethes since I put hand to this seruice I haue bene in Portugall and returned thence as I haue told you it is impossible for me to be abused as some are who thinke this man not to be the King Dom Sebastian but that the Seigneurie detaines another hidden in stead of him This man here knowne and reknowne for such by the Concierges by the Iudges by the greater part of the Senate and by his owne Confessor yet such is the inuention of this worlds children as they imagine themselues more powerfull then God and would presume to abolish so maruellous a worke of the Lord. I haue written to the Gouernour and to many other I know not what the sinnes are of our Portugezes in Fraunce who were wont to oppose their liues to extreame daungers and hazard losse of their goods with very good zeale for a figure and will they not now with so much honor in an action of truth and glory make their owne aduantage and benefit not for a shadow but for a rightfull King whose life both in the prison and abroad rauisheth all the countrey with admiration by the meanes of his fastings prayers and disciplines notwithstanding all which his strength is not a iot impaired for he is of very maruellous fortitude Whosoeuer will say that this man is a Calabrois and that he speakes not a word of Portugall he lies he is the true King of Portugall Dom Sebastian and speaketh Portugall though somewhat corrupted because it is 22. yeares since he spake the language vsually Whosoeuer sayth that they haue shewne him to vs he lies for to delay and winne time withall these Lords sent me to Portugall to be enformed of the markes of his body telling me that otherwise they would not let me see him and that the Portugals had such forward desire to be free from the Spaniards as they would maintaine if need were that their king Dom Sebastian was but a Negro Now albeit that I haue brought so many authentical markes approued by publicke instruments from a Notary Apostolicke I haue intreated that we may haue sight of him to examine him and make knowne the truth or falshood of the case by the certifications which I brought hither with me as also a Chanon of Lisbone that came along with me It was answered vs from the Senate after diuerse and sundry contestations that it was not a matter belonging to them to know whether he were a king or no without some Kings and Princes moued the same to them on his behalfe I speake so amply to your fatherhood because you may perceiue with what zeale I write at this instant I iustifie againe vnto you and sweare by the eternall God by his only begotten sonne and by all our faith that this prisoner is our true Lord the King Dom Sebastian If your reuerend selfe would come with letters from his most Christian Maiestie I beleeue that without any hinderance they would shew him to vs and vpon acknowledging let vs haue him enlarged We are now going to moue our request to his Holinesse that it might please him to set a helping hand to this businesse considering it is a case so iust and meritable of pitty wherein we doubt not but to haue his furtherance With this present I haue sent you the oath of the holy King to the end that you may make it publicke by impression and by the first conuenient meanes I will send you a letter which his Maiesty wrote to his holinesse with an Elegie wherein he makes the discourse of his life Once more I earnestly intreate your fatherhood as much as possibly remaines in me that by no meanes you will let slip so notable an occasion well worthy to carry his deseruing talent and that in person you would manage a matter of such importance which beside imploring the strong arme of the King and the fauor of all Princes hath necessarily need of the assistance of all loyal Portuguezes For what account of himselfe can the reuerend father Frier Ioseph Texere render to the world so firme and constant a louer of his countrey What excuse can he alleadge though there may be many for not giuing furtherance to this affaire Will he incur the infamie of N. who for his offences should be seene that this king doth liue What hath your fatherhood done against the kingdome that you should not present your selfe before all the world with plaine and open lookes Oh for the loue of God I beseech you consider in your soule with what sincere affection I

vse this language to you I trust God him selfe will illuminate your reuerend vnderstanding to behold how deare an interest you haue in this cause From Venice the xii of October 1600. The seruant and brother to your fatherhood Frier Stephen de Sampayo Another Letter from Dom Iohn de Castro To the worthie Sir Docto● Texere Counsellour and Almoner to the most Christ●n King chiefe Almoner to my Lord the Prince and Confessour to Madame the Princesse his mother At Paris in the couent of the Iacobius SIR I am extremely astonished being the man that you are and so well knowne for a Portuguese that you should at anie time couet anie thing more then the freedome of Portugall that you make so small account of this incredible maruell concerning the king Dom Sebastian the only prize of all that kingdomes best aduentures considering it is now so manie yeares since that you employed yourselfe in this businesse with no small seruice vnto the said Lord. You haue seene the whole discourse along of this matter by letters as well from my selfe as others and because the former which I writ vnto you were but briefly handled as committing what remained ouerplus to better leisure I am now determined for diuerse good respectes to touch more largely yet as briefly as I can the verie foundation and ground of the whole worke The King Dom Sebastian who in the yeare 1578. lost himselfe in the battell of Affricke he whom the enemie cals a Ca●a●o●s is the verie same prisoner which is now detained here euen as certainly as you are Frier Ioseph and my selfe Dom Iohn He departed safe and aliue from the battell but verie sore woūded God hauing so deliuered him with some other of his companie among whom was the Duke of Aueyro And hauing gone the better part of the world about the end of his peregrination he resolued to liue priuate in an Hermitage where after some time passed he was inspired by God that he should returne again● to Portugall to gouerne his kingdome The selfe same inspiration was likewise giuen to an Hermite in the companie of whom he ●ad liued which Hermite reuealed many things very secret to him touching this matter for which cause he departed from the place where he abode to accomplish what the Spirit of God had inspired and enioyned him to So he arriued in Sicilie in the yeare 1598. where he entertained foure or fiue seruants for he went before without companie with whom he embarked himselfe at Messina in a Galley belonging to his Holinesse to 〈◊〉 for Rome purposing to discouer himselfe to his said Holi● When he was come neare Rome those fellowes 〈…〉 entertained for his seruants robbed and despoiled him of 〈◊〉 had leauing him both poore and naked so that he was 〈◊〉 to seeke to needie and verie wretched people who besto● 〈◊〉 ●omewhat on him for the honor of God This mishap made him alter his former purpose and th● poore miserable man was glad to trace all Italie in hope to find the theeues that had thus despoiled him In the end hearing no tidings at all of them he retired to this Citie the aboue named yeare in the moneth of Iune hauing about him but one poore Gazete a peece of mony valuing three Liards of France In this maner he lodged at a needie wretched house where he remained some dayes not being knowne Afterward diuerse particularly began to listen after him for they heard that he called himselfe first a Knight of the Crosse and then afterward the King Dom Sebastian As this brute ran abrode Antonio de Brito Pimentel Pantaleon Pessoa and many others came oftentimes to see him at his lodging and by occasion of this rumour which spread it selfe more and more through the Citie chaunging his lodging he fell by misfortune into the hands of vile men which being but verie bare themselues yet gaue him clothes and food at their charges He got verie euill reputation by the companie of such people which was the principal cause or his strange misaduenture He was with those companions at Padoa whereof this Seigneurie being aduertised by the Ambassador of Castille and of some tumults made among them to forestall such inconueniences as might ensue they sent to the Podestat of Padoa that he should by cōmandement cause him to auoid the Towne within certaine houres and by like certaine dayes to depart the places belonging to their Estate Hereupon for some speciall reasons best knowne to himself he returned againe vnto this Citie where the Seigneurs thereof at the instance of the said Ambassadour who assured them that he was but a thiefe and a seductour prouing it by the testimony of Iewish merchants Portugueses and other persons of selfsame honest qualitie who tooke their oathes he was not the King Sebastian because the true King died in the battell of Affricke neither did he resemble him in any degree imputing to him many and verie enormous crimes they sent to apprehend him and as a malefactour committed him to verie close imprisonment notwithstanding there were many persons both before and since his commitment that had knowne him verie well in Portugall and affirmed him to be the true king Dom Sebastian At his first questioning withall he declared to the Lords his mishap in Affrica and in what maner God had deliuered him After to diuerse others he did the like and perceiuing they would search into all his secrets yet vsing him verie hardly being a King and one that had no way preiudiced their estate vpon his naturall and wonted inclination to choler moued in a subiect of such iustice and equitie he refused to make them anie more direct answers but one while said one thing then againe another neuerthelesse he euermore maintained him selfe to be the true king Dom Sebastian desiring the Lords therein to beleeue him and if they approued him not to be the same then to chastise him iustly as a false deceiuer which as yet to this instant they would neuer do nor yet permit him to be seene by any He is in a certaine prison where no man may enter or speake to the prisoners neither may one write vnto him on perill of the saylours life if he should but consent thereto He hath endured verie great pouerties and passed through many hard trauerses being no lesse reproched and misprised then the basest prisoners with him His life is very religious addicted altogether to prayer and fasting feeding but on bread water most dayes in the weeke And yet notwithstanding this austere abstinence he is verie strong as I haue heard by one of the prisoners released out of that prison who departed thence greatly affectionate to him seeming to loue him highly and reported matters maruellous of his strength and other good parts As for the exteriour markes of his bodie he wants not one of them which he had when as he raigned the selfe same lip looke head bodie armes thighes legges and feete not fayling of anie one

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 Lega●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 frō 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 ●at you come to tell me Suddenly he againe ratified the for● newes discoursing thē 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 Christo●o youngest sonne to the deceassed King D. Antonio and D. ●n de Castro of whom one had written to him that at the sight ●e king D Sebastian he stood much amazed but comming to ●er consideration threw himselfe suddenly at his feete and ●ed him his Lord and King On the next day came in publike very many letters all groun● vpon this subiect onely The ioy and gladnesse was so great ●ng the Princes euery where in the Court with the Prin●es Ladies and Gentlewomen great and small noble and vn●le Ecclesiasticall and regulars as I cannot expresse to your ●thinesse My Lord your nephew both heard and saw all he 〈◊〉 report it as an eye witnes what ke thinks of the forward wils ●esires which he beheld in the Princes Lords Gentlemen ● coniointly offred their persons their means abilities in the ●ice of this king whō the most part of such as had written of 〈◊〉 from Venice Padoa other parts gaue the name of holy ●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 ●gdome as we alreadie are aduertised his Maiestie most Chri● with all his power and authoritie can hardly hinder the ●ces Lords Gentlemen Souldiers what should I say the ●sts Monkes Merchants Mecanicks the Pilots and Mari● from assisting with their seruice this Prince My Lord I haue euery day hardly passed to and fro from my ●ging for in the streets some call me others meet me some ●y to teare the very cloake off my backe Such as heretofore ●e incredulous made a mockery hereof are those that now ●heir hands highest to heauen and come to make the largest ●s Res miranda Euery day we haue here nothing but false ●mes for so soone as some foure or fiue men are seene to ●e on horsebacke immediatly it is the King Sebastian men ●en and children run out of the Citie to meete him In brief ●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 ●ent and fell on his knees before a Crucifix which he ware in ●osome where he so continued till one came to call him on ●ourney ●ome haue written to me that since he hath beene seene ●ng his Portuguezes he hath made good appearance that he is ●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 thē Christophero de Tauora was slaine before his eies by certain robbers that set vpō thē 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 ●e noble a●d religious persons who by letters written and 〈◊〉 by their owne hands as also by their oathes haue assured ●hat the prisoner set at libertie by the Lords of Venice is our ●ng of Portugall Dom Sebastian then to be led by any Ca● opinions ●s a terrible thing to see and heare the goodly reasons allea●y these wise maisters to vnderprop their false and depraued ●ions It contenteth vs that he is swart and that the King 〈◊〉 Sebastian was faire that he speakes not Portugueze c. To ●s haue no interest at all in this matter but with a purposed ●e yeeld themselues enemies to this truth what imports it whether a man blacke or white should be King of Portugal ●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 ●h for the more white a man is the sooner he becomes the ●er We vnderstand that the king Dom Sebastian hath bene ●thiopia and in Persia where if he haue lost his whitenesse ●oper colour it is not a thing to be wondred at ●osoeuer hath knowne the Lord Dom Christophero reue● Lord youngest sonne to the deceased king Dom Antonio 〈◊〉 his infancie till he came to the age of 18. yeares for so old ●s when he vndertooke his voyage to Barbarie will confesse ●e that he was then as white as milke faire and neately fa●d but little more then three yeares when he liued in Barba●●re sufficient to make him become so black swartie and de●d that at his returne to England whence he had parted be●●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 ●nce Then afterward he came to Paris in the end of the 〈◊〉 1594. on Christmas euen after dinner at what time I was ●g at Chesse with the king his father in the street of S. Hono● ●ere he lodged at the Swan So soone as the newes came to ●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 swear● agai● to your worthinesse as a Christian an honest man and 〈◊〉 ●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