though 't is to be supposed at that time he thought not to have arrived at so great height as to be King of Portugal When he was grown to the age of about three and twenty years he was by his brother made a chief Commander of his Armies in which Military imployment he behaved himself with so much courage and magnanimity as was admirable his valor soon gained the love of the soldiers and his courtesie and affability the affection of the people the very Moors his enemies would applaud him as both a perfect soldier and a Courtier His brother being dead and his Nephew Beatrice uncapable of succession by reason of her having married a forreign Prince he claimed the Crown as next of the blood but his claim was at first made void by reason of his being illegitimate when afterwards the Councel of Estates finding that if they should refuse him they might perchance choose one less deserving conferred the Crown upon him yet so as he should receive it not as his indubitable right by birth but as given him by election Yet some Writers there be that affirm that there were several legitimate sons of his father King Pedro then alive who all laid their several claims to the Crown as of right belonging to them before him but that he being at the time of his brothers death General of the Armies in Algarve and having gained so much upon the soldiers and people presuming upon their affection and his desert laid claim to the Crown which they being no way able to resist were forced to rest content and permit him to enjoy what was likewise willingly conferred upon the people so that he came to the Crown partly by force and partly by election But howsoever he came by it enjoy it he did and entred into his government about the two and thirtieth year of his age and in the beginning of the year 1388. received with great applauses by the whole kingdom as a Prince from whom they expected great and good things having already had so large experience of him Soon after his Coronation he married Philippa daughter to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster which match he the rather inclined to because Henry the bastard King of Castile in right of his wife Beatrice pretended a title to the Crown of Portugal which he hoped he might the better oppose by matching into that â—amily which had equal if not more indubitable â—ight to the kingdom of Castile For Iohn Duke of Lancaster having married Constance the eldest daughter to Peter the deposed and murthered King of Castile and Leon claimed a right to and was a great stickler for those kingdoms yet never enjoyed any other but the bare title King Iohn having setled his kingdom applied himself to the prosecuting the War against the Moors who being quite driven out of his conâ—ines he resolves to follow into their own country and be the first King of his Nation that ever past the sea to this purpose he mans out a potent fleet and having fraighted it with a sufficient Army puts to sea and lands in Mauritania where in several battels he discomfits the Barbarians wastes their Countrey burns their Villages and possesses himself of a Sea-port Town called Seplene or Ceâ—ta whereby he gained both a retiring place and an in-let into the Country when he pleased By his Queen Phillippa King Iohn had a noble and numerous Issue first Edward so named from King Edward the third of England his God-father who succeeded in the kingdom secondly Ferdinand a man of so great abstinence and so devoutly religious that the Portuguese added him to the Calender of their Saints he was in the Wars against the Moors taken prisoner and during his captivity behaved himself with such an admirable patience as worthily deserves our wonder never murmuring to be linckt together with one of his meanest servants and with him forced for his living to grinde in a Mill though such was the piety of the servant that if he could he would willingly have performed the task himself and excused his Lord from the toil if it had been possible at length he was ransomed and returning ended his days in a recluse the third son of King Iohn was named after his own name the fourth Pedro but the fifth who most worthily deserves to be recorded was the Infante Henry This Prince whether emulating the great actions of his father or out of a natural inclination in himself was the first that encouraged the Portugueses to affect forreign Voyages he first set out with a great fleet in or about the year 1425. and made discovery of the Islands in the Atlantique sea which at first were called from their being newly found out Insulae Novae or the New Islands afterwards and now vulgarly called the Azores he likewise in many other Voyages made discovery of the Islands of Maderae Holy Port and Capo Verde and sailing farther along the Coast of Africa was the first that found out the way by Sea to Guiana at length wearied with travel and overpressed with age he retired and lived upon Cape St. Vincent which place he choose because of the constant sereness of the Air being a great lover of Astrologie and the Mathematiques he died about the year 1465. and was buried in the Chappel of that Monastery built by Ferdinand the first King Iohn reigned in all forty seven years having from the King of England received the honor of being Knight of the Garter as likewise did his two sons Prince Edward and the Infante Henry He died in the year 1436. leaving the World full of his glory He was a Prince in whom all Vertues seemed naturally to flow endowed with all imaginable Ornaments both of body and minde of a tender and affable Nature yet in the field as Valiant as the fiercest though 't is by some observed that he was never perceived upon any charge given upon the enemy many of which he made in his own person to change countenance or shew any sign of discomposure from his constant temper EDWARD the I. Eleventh KING of PORTVGAL EDward the first of that Name King of Portugal was born at the City of Braga in or about the year of our Lord one thousand three hundred ninety and two he was educated during his youth in all those exercises befitting a a Prince under the tutorage of the Arch-Bishop of Lisbon in which he profited so that in his most tender years his great judgement was deservedly wondered at after he had past his minority in studies he several times accompanied his father in the Wars of Africa where he showed great proofs of his magnanimity and courage He came to the Crown at the age of forty four years or thereabouts some report that being to have the Ceremonies of his Coronation performed the same morning that the Crown was to be put upon his head a Jew one of his Physicians and a great Student inâ— Astrologie came to him and falling down
their souls He was equally strong and valiant nor was it ever known that the greatest danger 〈◊〉 strike terror into his undaunted minde he observed with a strict punctuality the rules of hoâ—nesty and justice and towards God he with 〈◊〉 ordinary piety was both zealous and reverâ—â—â— he made several Laws for the benefit 〈…〉 kingdom which are still continued among the Statutes of that Realm If he had not taken Arms against his father or if he had moderated his hatred to his 〈◊〉 or if he had not imbrued his hands in the 〈◊〉 blood of Agnesa envy it self coul◠〈◊〉 have found out any subject of blame in the 〈◊〉 course of his life he resembled his 〈…〉 many vertues but was much inferior to him in liberality his death happened to him in that condition when he had little reason to desire longer life for it was when he saw his actions of glory forgotten though he was yet alive for his subjects began onely to remember his faults which being fresh in memory made his loss the less lamented PEDRO The Eighth KING of PORTVGAL PEdro the first of that Name who succeeded his father Alfonso in the kingdom of Portugal was born at Lisbon in the year 1325. two years before his father came to sit at the heâ—m of government at the time of his being Crowned he was about the age of three and thirty years He was the onely male-childe that lived of four and some danger there was of him in his youth he being very sickly till he arrived to about eighteen years of age which made his father to be assured of a Successor for his Crown to defer the marriage of Leonora his youngest daughter to Pedro King of Arragon till he perceived him in a perfect measure of health He was about the age of one and twenty years married to Constance daughter to D. Iuan Emanuel by whom he had onely one son named Ferdinand who succeeded him in the kingdom and she as if she had onely come into the world to bear him and having performed that task died After the death of the Infante D. Pedro fell in love with Agnesa de Castro a most beautiful woman and descended of the blood Royal by her he had many children amongst whom one was Iohn who afterward was the first of that name King of Portugal this Lady being accused to King Alphonso at his return from his great Victory over the Moors nigh the River Saledo was by him for what crimes is unknown put to death which so incensed Pedro that he took up those Arms against his father which he laid not down till his death As soon as he was come to the Crown he brought to condigne punishment those who had wrongfully accused and counselled the Lady Agnesas death he afterwards renewed the old War betwixt his father and the King of Castile about the stopping of his espoused wife Constance But because the Pope had before made up this breach he by his Letters commands Piedro to desist from further prosecuting the War which he for the present obeys but soon after upon a slight pretence again enters into Castile with his Army whereupon an excommunication was thundred out against him which forced him to retire and to gain his Pardon turn his Army upon the Moors from whom he took the strong Port Town of Pharo in the kingdom of Algarve At his return home he fell sick and in the tenth year of his kingdom and about the three and fortieth of his age in September 1367. he died he was buried in the Cathedral of Lisbon not far distant from his father having caused before his death three Tombs to be erected on each side he caused the bodies of his wife Constance and the Lady Agnesa to be laid reserving the middle one for himself where he was accordingly buried He was a man of as comely a personage as any whatsoever of the Kings of Portugal of a sweet and affable disposition nor did he want any of his fathers vertues but one vice they both had which overshadowed all their vertues warring against their fathers FERDINAND The ninth KING of PORTVGAL FErdinand the first of that Name succeeded his father Pedro in the kingdoms of Portugal and Algarve he was born at Lisbon in the year one thousand three hundred forty seven and was the onely childe of Constance daughter of D. Iuan Emanuel He arrived at the Crown at the age of about two and twenty years in the year 1369. as soon as he had fininished the Ceremonies of his Coronation he prosecuted the War his father had begun against the Moors and in several battels drove them quite out of Algarve he built a Monastery upon a Promontory of Land called Cape St. Vincent now by us the Southern Cape which stretcheth it self out into the Atlantique sea He addicted himself to the planting and peopling of that kingdom distributing the waste Lands among the Inhabitants he repaired many Cities Towns and Castles which had been destroyed by the fury of the War he built several Churches and Monasteries in that kingdom all which he enriched with great Revenues but particularly a Monastery for Franciscan Friers erected in Silva the chief City of that Territory About this time it was that Pedro son of Alphonso the eleventh king of Castile having committed several tyrannical outrages intollerable to his subjects oppressing and destroying his subjects putting away and after murdering his wife daughter to Peter Duke of Burbon was by his bastard brother Henry chased out of his kingdom and forced to live an exile He at first seeks for aid to Ferdinand King of Portugal but in vain he next addresses himself to Edward the black Prince of Wales who was then at Burdeaux with an Army of thirty thousand men he consents to assist him and encountring Henry on the borders of Castile with near one hundred thousand men utterly discomfits him and establisht Pedro in the Throne who shortly after falling again to his former tyrannical courses is deserted by his subjects taken by his brother Henry and put to death Ferdinand had but one only daughter that survived named Beatrice who was married to Henry King of Castile and thereby excluded from the right of succession according to the Law made in the first Assembly Estates held at Lamâ—go in the reign of Alfonso the first King so that in this King ended the legitimate Line of Henry Duke of Lorrein This King had now reigned 18. years and lived forty when seized by a violent sickness he gave up the ghost in the year of our Lord God 1387. and was buried by his Ancestors in the Cathedral Church of Lisbon JOHN the 1. Tenth KING OF PORTVGAL JOhn the first bastard son to Pedro the first by Agnesa de Castro who succeeded Ferdinand in the kingdom was born in Lisbon in the year 1356. he was in his minority educated in the famous Conimbricense University where he addicted himself to all those studies which became a Prince
the slaughter of them for three miles together and two days after having burnt and pillaged the villages they put to sea steering their course towards Portugal But whilst they laboured with contrary winds plying to and fro at Sea Robert Earl of Essex fell in amongst them who being very young had out of the heat of Military glory hatred of the Spaniards and commiseration of Don Antonio declining the pleasures of the Court and committed himself to Sea without the knowledge and absolutely against the Queens mind in hopes by reason of the influence he had over most of the Commanders of the Land-Forces to be made their General Two days after his being joyned with them they with much trouble arrived in Penicha a town of Portugal which with the loss of some drowned in landing they became masters of the Castle being likewise immediately rendred to Don Antonio Hence the Land-forces under the Command of Sir Iohn Norris marched directly and with all possible speed towards Lisbon about Sixty miles distant Drake promising to follow with the Fleet by the way of the River Tagus The Army being arrived at Lixbon though they had before at a Councel of War determined to encamp on the East-side of the town the better to bar succours from coming out of Spain now contrary to their own resolutions sat down before St. Kathermes suburbs on the West-side where as at first they found no resistance so they found little help but what the prayers of some few disarmed men gave them who now and then cried out God save the King Antonio and indeed other help they could not afford him Albertus Archduke of Austria the Vice-Roy having before disarmed the Portugals The next day when the English weary with their long march betook themselves to their rest the Spanish Garison sallied out upon them who were at first resisted by Bret and his Companies till more coming up to their assistance forced the Spaniards to give back the valiant Earl of Essex chasing them to the very gates but the English had several Commanders of note and no small quantity of private soldiers slain In sum when they had now stayed two days before the town and perceived that the Portugals notwithstanding the great brags and fair promises of Don Antonio did not at all incline to a Revolt and that no advice came of any assistance from Muley Hamet King of Morocco but that instead of them fresh Forces flocked in great numbers from the East parrs into the City whilst their Army was lessened by a violent sickness their Provision and Amunition failed and their great Guns for battery arrived not they raysed their siege and took their way towards Cascais a small town at the mouth of the river the Spaniards following them at a distance but not ever daring to fall into their Rear The town of Cascais they took blew up the Castle and so notwithstanding all the intreaties of Don Antonio set Sayl for England firing in their way Vigo a Port-town deserted of its inhabitants This and some small bustles with one or two Counterfeit Sebastians not worth mentioning were the onely storms that hapned in this kingdom during the reigns of Phillip the second and third for they keeping their words in most things though some of their priviledges they infringed had almost brought the people to a willingness to be their slaves whereas Phillip the fourth committing the whole charge of the Government to Count Olivares who though without doubt an able Statesman yet would seem to have a way in policy by himself which no body else could understand the reasons of lost the whole kingdom and all its Territories For such was the new rigorous ways which he would prescribe in the Government of Catalonia and Portugal both people very tender of their Priviledges the least breach of which should have been seconded by a potent Force to have suppressed them in case they should attempt an Insurrection when in stead of having such power in readiness the Catalonians had rather opportunity given them to rebel and spurs to provoke them to make use of the opportunity for some soldiers being scatteringly quartered among them but too few to curb them they looked upon that as a greater intrenchment upon their Liberties than any before and a design utterly to enslave them wherefore converting their patience into fury they took Arms massacred those soldiers slew their Viceroy and put themselves under the French Protection This Revolt of the Catalonians was a president to the Portugals who had extreamly suffered under the breach of their Priviledges for contrary to the second Article sworn to by King Philip the Second which said That the Viceroy or Governor should be either Son Brother Uncle or Nephew to the King of Spain The Infanta Margarita di Mantoua who had no relation at all to the kings of Castile was made Governess which they might and perhaps would have born had they not been incensed by a more feeling injury Anno. 1636. when the Tax of a fifth part was imposed upon all the Subjects of that kingdom an intollerable grievance and thought so insufferable by the Southern parts of the Nation that they rose in Arms to oppose it and had set the whole kingdom in a combustion had it not been timely quenched by the timely care and industry of the then Governess the Infanta Margarita of Mantoua Yet this small stir gave an Item to the Court of Spain of the readiness of the people to revolt which made Olivarez endeavor by all ways possible to cut off the means of their being able to do but whilest he endeavored to prevent them he gave them the means to do it though he failed not to make use of those courses which in probability might ensure that kingdom the chief of which was the endeavoring to allure from thence the Duke of Braganza whom the people of Portugal looked upon as the person who of right ought to be their king and who was the onely Native of the kingdom who might restore again the Line of Alphonso besides he was a Prince who for Power Riches and Number of Tenants not onely exceeded all the Nobles of Portugal but even of Spain it self And indeed the Duke of Braganza was one of the most glorious Subjects in Europe being allied to most Kings in Christendom which made the Kings of Spain though they were Competitors for the Crown of Portugal treat this Family with more honor than any other of his Grandees receiving them almost with as much respect as if they were Sovereign Princes which appeared in Philip the Second who most of all desired to abase this Family yet would always when the Duke of Braganza came to visit him meet him in the middle of the room and not permitting him to kiss his hand seat him with himself under the Canopy of Estate To draw him therefore out of that kingdom Olivarez first politickly offered him the Government of Milan a place of great trust
English Merchants Ships and Goods concluding that they must have reparation made for the publique damage of the Commonwealth which they would be willing to accept of in any honorable manner and were willing to that purpose if the Ambassador had sufficient power to treat with him to that effect In summe after sometime the Count Del Sa Lord Chamberlain of the Kingdom of Portugal arrived in England in the quality of an Ambassador extraordinary who after many Conferences Addresses and large Offers made obtained a Peace upon condition to repay great Sums of monyes towards the satisfaction of the losses of the English Merchants During the stay of this Ambassador his brother D. Pantaleon Sa Knight of Malta led by I know not what frantick madness made a great uproar upon the New Exchange in London where some English were by him and his followers murdered for which several of his retinve were hanged and himself notwithstanding the earnest solicitations of his brother afterwards beheaded upon Tower-hill when the government of England was changed from a strange kinde of Commonwealth to a stranger kinde of Monarchy under a Protector But to return back again to the affairs of the Kingdom of Portugal The Earl of Castle Melhor who had been sent Vice-Roy into Brazile had so good success that with the assistance of those Portugueses before in the Kingdom he expulsed the Hollanders out of all their Garrisons there except the strong Fortress of Recif which was built upon a Rock wholly invironed by the Sea This animated the United States of the Netherlands to endeavour a revenge and recovery of that country and to that end and purpose a Potent Fleet was set out and notwithstanding the very earnest endeavours and large offers of the Portuguese Ambassador at the Hagne set sail to reconquer that Kingdom but not with that success which was expected for the expedition proved wholly fruitless and after so great an expence the States were so highly discontented that the Admiral Wittison was arrested at the Hague to answer such things as should be objected against him concerning that voyage It much concerns that King who hath to deal with enemies too potent for him to strengthen himself with such Alliance as may most advantage him and endammage his foe This consideration made King Iohn of Portugal about the year 1652. send an Ambassador to the young Duke of Savoy who by reason of the scituation of his Country had good and frequent opportunites to annoy the Catholique King and divert him from turning his whole Force upon this Kingdom offering reciprocal Marriage between that Duke and his Daughter and the young Prince Theodosio and Savoy's Sister But this his intention was I suppose diverted if not wholly hindred by the great power of Cardinal Mazarine in France who designed one of his Nieces as a fit match for Eugenius young Duke of Savoy 'T is not at all safe nor fit for a Subject to grow too rich at least not to exceed his Soveraign in Treasure for he thereby layes himself open to the envy and suspicion of his Prince nor is it possible that any who hath managed a publique employment can be so without faults as that somewhat cannot be laid to his charge to render him at a Kings mercy Sufficient example of this we have in D. Phillip de Mascarendas Vice-Roy of Goa in the East-Indies who having for many years officiated in that high imployment had gathered up an infinite Mass of Riches and now being called home thought in peace and quiet to enjoy what with a penurious and industrious hand he had been many years storing up but the King being informed that he had indeed such a vaste treasure in Gold Diamonds Pearls and other Jewels as he could not with his own honor or safety permit a Subject to enjoy easily found out them who were ready to form complaints against him which were as readily listned to by the Kings Councel who presently drawing up a charge against him for having used an arbitrary power oppressed and abused the Subjects and Merchants trading thither c. caused the Ship wherein he came with all the riches laden on it to be seized on for the Kings use and himself for sometime imprisoned nor had it been a wonder if he had made a forfeiture of his life as well as of the greatest part of his Estate The strength of the Hollanders at Sea had been the greatest obstacle to the Portuguese not wholly regaining there ancient possession in Brazile but the Wars wherein the Hollanders had involved themselves with England proving so powerful a diversion the Portuguese took the advantage to reduce Recif which with several Forts that encompassed it and some few other were the onely places that held out against them Against this therefore with a sufficient Land-force came Don Francisco Barreto governor of Pernambuco whilst the Portuguese Navy consisting of 65 Sayl blocked it up by Sea and first by storm took the Fort of Salines and thence coming before that of Burracco found it already abandoned and blown up be the defendants he next proceeded to the new Fortress the next and strongest Fort to that of Recif and well manned and munitioned Thus having made a sturdy resistance was at length forced by the Portugal which so amazed the Hollanders that though they had fifteen hundred men and six months provisions in Recif yet they agreed to yield it upon honorable tearms on the 26 of Ianuary 1654. being twenty four years after they had taken it from the Portugals THe conditions upon which this stronge fortess was surrendred up were to this effect 1. That D. Francisco Bareto should forget all Acts of Hostility made by the Hollanders against the Portugals by Sea and Land 2. That all persons whatsoever even the Jews in Recif and Maurice town though Rebells against the King of Portugals should be pardoned 3. That all Hollanders should be free to carry away those goods they actually possessed 4. That they should have sufficient numbers of Ships able to pass the Equinectial Line with Iron-guns for their transportation 5. That the Hollanders married with Portugal Woman or Natives there should be dealt so withal as if they had married Dutch Women and should with the consent of the women have power to carry them away with them 6. That those who would stay there under the obedience of the Portugals should be used as well as if they were native Portugals and as to their Religion should live as other strangers do in Portugal 7. That all forts about Recif and Maurice-town viz. the port of St. Bastions Boa Vista St. Austines Convent the Castle of Maurice-town that of the three Bastions the Brum with it's Redoubt the Castle of St. George and all others should be surrended to the aforesaid D. Francisco Barreto governor of Pernambucco with all the Ordnance and Ammunition presently after the signing of these Articles 8. That the Hollanders should be free to remain in Recif and
always accounted good Sea-faring men and fortunate in discovery of forein Countreys It aboundeth with Rivers of all sorts having neer two hundred great and small The chief are 1. Minius full of red Lead and thence called Minium by the Latines navigable with small Vessels neer a hundred miles 2. Lethes now Lavada 3. Muliadas now Mundego 4. Tagus 5. Duerus and 6. Anas These three last common to all the rest of Spain Anas or Guadiana passing by Portugal onely for seven leagues Tagus for eighteen and Duero for eighty None of these navigable for any long space by Ships of any great burthen all the Rivers of Spain being generally swift of course restrained within narrow Channels between sharp Rocks and therefore incommodious for navigation but that want is supplyed by three excellent Havens 1. That of Lisbon upon Tagus 2. Porto upon Duero to the north of Lisbon 3. That of Setaval south of Lisbon scituate on a Goll twenty miles in length and three in breadth a place of great importance The principal Cities of this Countrey are 1. Lisbon seated upon Tagus a City famous for Commerce called by the Latines Olisippo or Ulisippo and as some have fabulously imagined built by Ulysses in his ten years travel It is in compass seven miles and contains upwards of thirty Parishes in which are at least 20000 houses neat and comely Fabricks There are on the Walls seventy six Turrets and Towers twen-two Gates to the Sea-side Towards the Continent it is scituate upon five small Hills betwixt which is a valley which runs down to the River On the highest Hill stands an ancient Castle not strong but by reason of its vicinity to the Palace serving now onely for a Prison for great men The Entrance of the River is defended by the Castle of Cascais and neerer the City by the Fort of St. Iulians and the Rock of Belem muniâ—ioned by twenty Pieces of Ordnance This is the Chamber of the Kings of Portugal the Sea of an Archbishop the Staple of Commodities for all the kingdom and thought more worth than all the Realm besides 2. The second City of note is Santaren seated on the Tagus so called from Sancta Irene a Nun of Tomar a Monastery wherein the old Kings of Portugal used to be crowned martyred heâ—e by the Moors this City is called by Ptolomy Scavaliscus then a Roman Colony 3. Sintrâ— upon the main Atlantick at the end of high mountains called Montes Lunae hither by reason of the cool refreshings of the Sea and pleasure of the Woods adjoyning the Kings of Portugal use to retire in the heat of Summer 4. Corimbra seated on both sides the River Mondego a pleasant Scituation among the Vineyards and Woods of Olives a Bishops Sea an University and sometime the Residence of the Kings 5 On the north side of the River Duero betwixt that and Minio is placed the City of Braga once the Royal Seat of the Swevian Kings now the Sea of an Archbishop conâ—ending for the supremacy with Ioledo 6. Porto the Haven of the Galls before-mentioned standing at the mouth of Duero now vulgarly called Portuport 7. Miranda a Bishops Sea seated also on the Duero 8. Bragance the Dukes whereof now Kings of Portugal were accounted so great Princes that it was thought one third part of Portugal were their Vassals and lived on their Lands they are originally descended from Alphonso natural son to Iohn the First who was first by his Father created Earl of Borcellos and after Duke of Bragance they after came to have right to the Crown by marriage of Katherine Daughter to Emanuel 9. On the south of Tagus and betwixt it and Algarve is seated in the middest of a large and spacious Plain the City of Eubora the Sea of an Archbishop and an University the last founded by King Henry the Cardinal 10. Is Portolegre a Bishops Sea 11. Olivenza on the Guadiana 12. Beja called by Pliny anciently Pax Iulia now Mean not very well inhabited but anciently a Roman Colony and one of the three Juridicial Resorts of Lusitania The Kingdom of Algarve THe kingdom of Algarve lyeth South of Portugal from which it is divided by a Line drawn from Aschorin on the Western Sea to Odochere a Castle on the Guadiana on the East bounded by Andalusia on the West and South by the main A lantick more wilde and barren it is then the kingdom of Portugal peopled with few Towns and those not very populous hilly and mountanous but by the benefit of the Sea yielding a great Trade of fishing specially of Tunny of which there is abundance caught It took its name from its Western scituation for so Algarve signifieth in the Arabick the utmost end of it was antiently called Promontorium Sacrum now Cape St. Vincent because the bones of St. Vincent religiously preserved by the Christians were here burnt and scattered by the Moors but now vulgarly by Mariners called the Southern Cape the Places of most importance in this kingdom are 1. Niebla the seat of Abed Mefad once King of this Country 2. Sylvia an inland City the seat of a Bishop 3. Villa Maona scituate beyond the Cape 4. Tavila 5. Faro 6. Lagos all Haven Towns This Country conquered by the Moors with the rest of Spain in the distractions of their power was for a time under the Soveraignity and command of the Kings of Sevil recovered from the Moors of Sevil by the Kings of Morocco It became subject unto them till they left this Country and was after parcelled among many Kings one of which was Aben Mefad reigning in Niebla and the parts adjoyning being dispossessed of his Estate by Alfonso the wise most of the other Towns and Princes submitted unto him and became his Vassals Anno 1257. more absolutely subdued and made subject to the Crown of Portugal by Alfonso the third Anno 1260. to whom the said Alfonso the renth of that Name in Leon and seventh in Castile had given the same in Dowry with Beatrix his daughter The Azores or Tenera Islands THe Azores or Tenera Islands are certain Islands belonging to the Crown of Portugal seated in the Atlantick Ocean directly opposite to Lisbon and distant from it 250 leagues first found out and subdued by the Portugals under the Conduct of Prince Henry son of Iohn the first scituate between 38. and 40. degrees of the Latitude and one of them in the first Longitude which is commonly reckoned from these Islands being the most Western parts of the world before the discovery of America They were called Azores from the multitude of Gossehawk at first found there Azor in the Spanish Tongue signifying a Gossehawk though at this time there are few or none found they were called also the Flemish Islands because first discovered by them and in the Isle of Faial one of the chief there are some families still resemble Flemings both in complexion and habit and not far from their abode is a Torrent called by the Portugals
this speech of the Archbishops His Majesty returned answer in expressions equal to his love and greatness That the weight of the Scepter and subjection to the Crown were things always dissonant to his Genius That he had of late years given them sufficient testimony of it whilst they were not more affectionate in offering then he was ready to deny the taking upon him the weight of the Kingdom That his now condescending to their desires was onely to provide for the kingdom which had been acquisted and agrandized with the blood of his Predecessors and to take it from the hands of those who besides their unjustly possessing it had rendred themselves unworthy of it by endeavouring by all means to ruine it in sum he concluded with thanks for their love offering himself ready to adventure his health and life for their preservation the redeeming them from slavery and maintaining of their priviledges This short discourse ended His Majesty went to the great Church in the same order as before where being set in a Chair of Estate raised upon a Stage for that purpose with a Christal Scepter in his right hand at which stood the Lord Constable and behind him the Lord Chamberlain there was placed before him a Table Covered with Cloth of Gold and a Cushion thereon upon the Cushion lay a Gold Crucifix and a Messal Here the Archbishops of Lisbon and Braga administred the ensuing Oath to the King WE swear and promise by the grace of God to rule and govern you well and justly and to administer justice as far as humane frailty will permit to maintain unto you your Customs Priviledges and liberties granted unto you by the Kings our Predecessors So God help us God and this his holy Gospel This Oath being administred the three Estates to wit the Clergy Nobility and Commons took the following Oath of Allegiance to his Majesty one for every one of the Estates pronouncing these words I Swear by this holy Gospel of God touching corporally with my hand That I receive for our King and lawful Soveraign the High and Mighty King Don John the fourth our Soveraign and do homage unto him according to the use and custom of his Kingdoms This and the Ceremonies attendant ended his Majesty accompanied with all his Nobles returned to his Palace whether notwithstanding it was a very great rain all the Grandees went bare-headed where there was a most sumptuous Banquet prepared but his Majesty gave himself wholly to consult of preparations for the War shewing thereby that Kings in their greatest felicity and delights should not forget affairs of State and taking care for the preservation of their Subjects But amongst debates of the War abroad there happened one of an affair neer home concerning the placing or displacing Officers of State and because His Majesty knew that the charge of such Officers must needs be with the resentment of many and that there is nothing more alienates the minds of men then to see themselves undeservedly deprived of their honors he took away onely the places of two to wit that of the Providitore of the Custom-house because he was Son in Law to Diego Soarez and brother in Law to Vasconsellos the late deservedly slain Secretary and that of the Count of Castanhie who was President of the Tribunal or Court of Conscience because he was too much interessed with His Catholick Majesty As for the Infanta Margarita di Mantoua late Vice-Queen and the Marquess Della Puebla kinsman to Olivarez the Castle called Pasos de Angiobregas was assigned them with fourteen thousand Crowns a year for maintenance An honorable prison it was nor could they desire any thing but liberty which show'd a great nobleness of minde in King Iohn but Princes always do like Princes and much it demonstrates the Magnanimity of the mind to honor our enemies though they be our prisoners Nor must we here forget the magnanimous and couragious Carriage of the Dutchess of Mantoua late Vice-Queen during these confusions and distractions for King Iohn sending to ascertain her that she should want none of those civilities that were suitable to a Princess of her high birth provided she would forbear all discourse and practises which might infuse into any an ill opinion of his present Government She returned thanks to the Duke for she would not stile him King for his complement but withal fell into a grave Exhortation to those Nobles that carried the message telling them That they should lay aside all vain hopes and not cozen themselves but return to their old Allegiance according as they were obliged by Oath which if they did she doubted not to finde them all pardon The rest of the Castilians of Authority were confined in the Castle and all the souldiers took the Portuguese pay either because they believed doing so to be most for their interest or else because being most of them linkt in parentage with the Portugusses they believed the Portugal interest to be their own Shortly after Lucia now Queen of Portugal Sister to the Duke of Medina Sidonia with her Son the Prince Theodosio arrived at Lisbon who were received with all imaginable expressions of joy the Queen was soon after solemnly crowned and the Prince installed at whose installation the Nobles and Grandees of the Realm took to him the following Oath WE acknowledge and receive for our true and natural Prince the high and excellent Prince D. Theodosio as Son Heir and Successor of our Soveraign Lord the King and as his true and natural Subjects we do him homage in the hands of the King and after the death of our true and natural King and Soveraign of these Kingdomes of Portugal and Algarve and beyond Sea in Affrica Lord of Guiana of the Conquests Navigations and Commerce in Ethiopia Arabia Persia India c. we will obey his Commands and Decrees in all and through all both high and low we will make War and maintain Peace with all those that His Highness shall Command us And all this we swear to God upon the holy Cross and the holy Gospel These Ceremonies performed withal fitting solemnity the King to show that the good of His Subjects was his onely care called an Assembly of the three Estates of the Kingdom who being convened and the King seated in His Royal Throne Don Emanuel D' Acugna Bishop of Elvas made a Speech to them to the following purpose THat one of the first laws of nature was the uniting of men together from whence Cities and Kingdoms had their Original and by which they after defended themselves in War and maintained themselves in Peace That for that cause His Majesty had called this assembly to consult for the better service of God defence in War and Government in Peace That there could be no service of God without union of Religion no defence without union amongst men no Regular Government without union of Councils That His Majesty did expect to be informed by his loyal Subjects what was for