the day consecrated to that great Areopagite when he arrived to age fitting he was instructed in those Sciences which are necessary to adorn a Royal minde he could perfectly speak many forreign Languages but applied himself chiefly to Latine Poesie and may be said to be the best Poet of any King he endeavored to reduce the Portugal Muse before rude and inharmonious to a smooth and sweet verse he published many Elegies and Epigrams which as they attest to posterity his Kingly learning so they stirred up in others a glorious emulation He was about twenty years of age when his father died and was immediately admitted to the government to the great displeasure of his mother who was in hopes to have been made Queen Regent and was either because she thought that she who by her pains and diligence had united several Cities to the Crown of Portugal was slighted or because she feared lest her son being unexperienced should either perswaded out of a youthful folly or drawn by the flattery of Courtiers consume with an unbeseeming liberality the riches of the kingdom Yet her anger could not move him to admit her a share in the government for he was often used to say That man was blame-worthy who being past eleven years of age could not moderate himself without the help of others but that of all things it was most base to desire the assistance of a woman The forces of Alphonso King of Castile father of Beatrice could not prevail to make him change his opinion but between mother and son these discords were easily accorded and she at length being brought to the utmost period of her life he piously went into Castile to visit her and comfort her at her last gasp But though he accorded with his mother he did not so easily adjust things with his brother Alfonso and with Sancio King of Castile with whom he fought many battels the War outlasting Sancho's life but from those cruel contests at length a happy peace was produced which to render perpetual Ferdinand King of Castile took for wife Constanza daughter to Dionisio and on the other side Alfonso espoused Beatriceâ—â—ster â—â—ster to Ferdinand The discords between the Kings of Arragon and Castile were remitted to this Kings prudence in composing of which and making those kingdoms happy in peace he showed admirable effects of his wisdom His liberality gained him the love of all men and made him equally respected both of subjects and strangers he commanded that the waste fields should be distributed amongst the poorest Country people assenting that it should be freed from all taxes there were none poor but such who were not able to gain their living either weakned by age or some other infirmity and these were maintained at the Kings charges He never oppressed the subjects either with tribute or taxes yet left to his heirs a full Exchecquer he made many Laws which to this day are in force his Successors after him forming them into Statutes amongst other things he made a Law for the preventing tediousness in Law suites assigning certain prefixed days to end all differences both taking thereby away a great unnecessary expence of time and money for which very act this King is to this day reverenced among the vulgar In his time the Order of the Knights Templars was extinct whereupon in stead of them he instituted another under the name of the Order OF CHRIST to whom he gave many Castles and Lands for their maintenance their Roab was a black Cassack under a white Surcoat over which a red Cross stroaked in the middle with a white line their duty was to expel the Moors out of Batica the next adjacent Country they have since been famous for many memorable acts He first instituted the University at Conimbria called Academia Conimbricense which he enriched with the most learned men of that age He took to wife Elizabeth daughter to Peter King of Aragon who among all the Queens of Portugal was most memorable for her Sanctity of this marriage was born Alphonso who succeeded his father in the kingdom and Constance who was married to Ferdinand King of Castile he had likewise another son but illegitimate whom he named Alphonso Sancio This bastard son was affected by his father with such a tenderness of Love that he preferred him before all his other children which the Prince Alphonso ill comporting there grew at first a hatred between the brothers in which the fathers indulgence taking part with the base son so exasperated Alphonso that it raised a civil War between him and his father Dionisio had many other sons by diverse Moorish women they with feminine glory boasting themselves great with childe by the King one amongst the rest was Peter Count of Barcello who writ a book of the chief Portugal families others there were who grew up to the disturbance of the kingdom the oppression of the subjects and discontent of their father in his old age reduced to a low estate and afflicted with the civil Wars he was forced by the Prince his son to flie as it were an exile into Castile with his departure the dissentions seemed to cease but Alphonso's heart was not at all mollified towards his brother not being able to comport the generosity and courage of Sancho's spirit The King Dionisio was tall of body of chesnut coloured hair his eyes black but he withall pale and livid and more conspicious for the Majesty of his countenance then the beauty he was pleasant humane and without pride after he had reigned 46. years he died at 84. years of age in the beginning of the year 1325. At the end of his life he left by will one hundred and forty thousand Ducats to be distributed amongst Religious men Pilgrims and unportioned children he left likewise maintenance for five hundred Cavaliers who were enjoyned in his name to fight against the Turks in the Holy Land he was buried in Lisbone in the Cistercian Monastery dedicated to St. Dionisius the Areopagite His Queen Elizabeth lived near eleven years after his death retired into the Monastery of St. Clara in Conimbria begun to be builded by her husband and perfected by her here laying aside her State she â—ed a holy life and is reported to have done many Miracles ALFONSO the IV. Seventh KING of PORTVGAL ALfonso the fourth seventh King of Portugal who succeeded his father Dionisio was born in Conimbria in the year one thousand two hundred and ninety before he came to the government of the kingdom he was married to Beatrice daughter to Sancha the fourth King of Castile and in the seventh lustre took into his hands the reins of the Government In the beginning of his government he ruled his subjects with great negligence addicting himself wholly to the sport of hunting and thereby giving his Ministers liberty to Tyrannize at pleasure some who loved him and hated flattery did publiquely advertise him not to abandon the government of men for the delights of killing
Kings of Leon which Wars he managed with so much courage as was admirable in a Prince so young The Count of Trastamarense despising his youth took to wife his mother Teresia and from that marriage drew occasion to wage War with him Alfonso to vindicate his sleightings cheerfully encountred him and after the diverse accidents of several battels took him prisoner and forced him to regain his liberty to give him to wife his sister Uracca with that part of the land for her Dower which had been the occasion of the War Yet some there be that differ both in the occasion of the marriage and the contest Alfonso likewise fought several battels with his Grand-father Alfonso the 6. King of Castile and in one battel took him prisoner near one of his Castles called Arcos del val de vez upon whose release he had conferred upon him the title of Duke of Portugal he afterwards imployed his forces against the Saracens from whom he took Leirida Torre Naova and several other places Whereupon the King Ismaurus who was the most powerful amongst all the Mauritamans calling to his assistance four other Kings with an Army of four hundred thousand men invaded Portugal but his fortune corresponded not with his numbers for Alfonso encountring this great power with a small Army overthrew them and slew or took prisoners all the five Kings in memory or which â—ignal Victory Alphonso bore five Escutchions in his Arms though others are pleased to affirm it was in memory of the five wounds of our Savior seen by him in a Vision just before the fight The soldiers made proud with this exâ—raordinary success thinking the title of Duke too low for their Commander saluted Alphonso with the tile of King which Alphonso accepted and returning home enriched with spoils addicted himself to the exercise of his Regal power by calling a general Council of the three Estates to wit the Clergy Nobility and Commons for the better establishing by the consent of the whole people that Crown upon his head which the Soldiers love had conferred upon his merit This general Assembly being met in the City of Lamego and in the Church of St. Almacave the King came thither and seating himself upon the Royal Throne but as yet unadorned with his Ensigns of Majesty according to appointment the King Deputy Don Lorenzo Venegas spake to the Estates as followeth You are here assembled by the Authority of King Alphonso to see the Popes Letters and Resolve to confirm him for your King Whereat the whole Estates with one voice cried We will that he shall be our King Upon which the Deputy demanded shall he only be your King and not his sons after him They all answered he so long as he lives shall be our King and after his death his sons shall succeed Give him then the Royal Ensigns said the Deputy They answered we give them in the name of God and therewithall the Arch-Bishop of Braga placed the Crown upon the Kings head and gave him the Scepter in his hand with all accustomed Ceremonies which done his Majesty rose up and drawing his sword spake to this effect Blessed be God that hath been my helper with this sword I have delivered you and overcome our enemies and now that you have made me your King let us make Laws for the government of the Kingdom They answered so we will dread Soveraign we will make such Laws as shall seem good and convenient to you and we and all our children and posterity will be wholly at your command And accordingly several Laws were then and there immediately made the sum of which were 1. That King Alfonso should be Master of the Kingdom and that after him there might be no troubles in the choosing of a King his Son should reign after him his Grand-childe and so from Father to Son in secula seculorum 2. That if the eldest Son should dye during the life of the Father the next brother should be King and so forward 3. That if the King should dye without issue having a brother he should succeed but not his sons without consent of the Estates 4. That if the King should have onely daughters the eldest should be Queen after her father upon condition that she be married to a native of the Kingdom and that he be a Nobleman who should not have the power to take upon him the name of King until he had a son born nor should he till then wear a Crown on his head or take the right hand of his wife 5. That it should be for ever held for a Law among the Portugals that the Kings eldest daughter should marry a Native of the Country that so the Crown might never descend to Forreigners and that in case she should marry a Forreign Prince she should be excluded from her right of succession for they would not have that Kingdom which themselves by their own valor and by the effusion of their own blood without the aid or assistance of any strangers had made so go out of the race of the Portugals The Crown by these Laws and Statutes confirmed Alfonso as he was advanced in Title so he addicted himself to higher and greater enterprizes in five moneths siege he added the great and populous City of Lisbone to his Crown not without the loss of thousands of valiant soldiers and as many hazards of his own life some affirm that in this War the number of the slain amounted to no less then two hundred thousand men This magnanimous King likewise made innumerable acquists both of one side and the other of the Tagus he slew both the Kings of Leon and Castile but at length wounded in a battel he was no longer able to follow the Wars in person for what with his wound and what with age being now sixty six years old he had not strength enough to mount on horseback he therefore bequeathed his command over his Armies to his eldest son Sanctius or Sancho but still reserving to himself the superintendency of all Having thus relinquished the Wars he addicted himself wholly to works of piety and to endeavor the flourishing of the Christian Religion he built within his Kingdom one hundred and fifty Churches and Monasteries all which he enriched with great revenues Amongst the rest he built that at Conimbria from whence that famous University called Academia Conimbricense had its Original In this Monastery called that of the Holy Cross he died at ninety one years of age on the 9. of December Anno 1185. and here he remained buried in a little Tomb scituated in an Angle of that Church till such time as King Emanuel affected with the Fame of his Sanctity erected for him a most stately Monument which is at this day to be seen By Uracca his first wife daughter to the Count Trastamarense he had no children whereupon at fifty two years of age and in the seventh year of his reign he took to wife Mafalda sister to Amadeo
Earl of Morenna by whom he had many children Henry the first died in his childhood Sancho who succeeded him in the Kingdom Uracca who was married to Ferdinando King of Leon though this match was again made void the Pope not approving of it Therasia whom some Historians have likewise called Matilda married to Phillip the first Earl of Flanders He had likewise diverse natural children amongst whom one named Alphonsus who was great Master of the Knights of Rhodes King Alphonso was certainly a great soldier a valiant Captain and a magnanimous King in all his words and actions there appeared a kinde of Majesty and sublimity of minde his liberality and justice made him feared by his enemies and adored by his subjects strength of body and greatness of minde concurred in him to make him the most worthy and admired of the age he lived in he never undertook any War but either to right his injured subjects or to propagate the Christian Religion amongst his greatest facts of Arms he never forgot acts of piety but always before any battel used with vows and prayers to beg the protection of heaven He died having arrived at the highest pitch of glory wept for by his people and lamented by the very Moors themselves who hated him thus topt with all triumph happy in a numerous and as generous an issue weary of worldly vanities he departed this life in hopes to receive in heaven the reward of his piety and vertue SANCHO the I. Second King of Portugal SAncho his eldest son indeed the onely legitimate son he had living succeeded to Alphonso he was born at Conimbria the 11. of November Anno 1154. where he was likewise educated until the fourteenth year of his age in all those studies and exercises which are proper for a Prince born to command he afterwards profited under his fathers tutorage in the Art Military in which emulating his fathers valor and greatness he did things worthy of himself gaining love from the soldiery and respect from the people he accompanied his father in three Victories in which he nobly adventured his life His father being dead he took upon him the government of the Kingdom and was Crowned the 12. of December 1185. three days after his fathers death being aged two and thirty years and finding the Kingdom at the beginning of his reign freed from the incursions of the Moors he applied himself wholly to make the peace enjoyed by his Kingdom profitable to his subjects he caused a multitude of fields to be tilled most of which were before a receptacle for wilde beasts and part of them laid waste by the late Wars with so much diligence did he addict himself to these things that by the vulgar he was called the King of Husbandmen He applied himself afterwards with the same industry to restore publique edifices and structures he rebuilt all Castles which had either been destroyed by the Moors or spoiled by other accidents of the War he restored the Cities Towns and Fortresses to their pristine splendor enriching them with new edifices and supplying them with new inhabitants he gave likewise great Revenues to all the orders of Knight-hood but principally to that of Saint Giacomo Whilest thus he took care of his subjects good and the increasing the Revenue of his Crown there were driven by contrary winds and raging seas into the Port of Lisbone a fleet of thirteen sail of ships belonging to several Christian Princes going to the Holy War with the assistance of these King Sancho invaded the Kingdom of Algarve then possessed by the Moors making this compact with the Christian Princes that commanded the Navy that they should enjoy the whole spoil of the enemy whilest he reserved for himself onely the Cities and the glory The Impress proved not very difficult although the City of Sylva the Metropolis of the Kingdom made a long and obstinate resistance for at length it yielded but he enjoyed not quietly the possession of this Kingdom for the Moors uniting themselves to revenge the injuries done to their Nation he was constrain'd to flie to a defence of himself so much the more dangerous by how much the more unequal and 〈…〉 had with the kingdom of Algarve lost likewise his native kingdom of Portugal if God of his mercy had not bridled and curbed the fury of the Moors by a merciless devouring Pestilence which made them with the loss of two hundred thousand soldiers return flying home But King Sancho was no sooner freed from these dangers but another almost over-whelmed his kingdom by continual rains most part of the land was overflown by reason of which it not being possible to till the ground a famine ensued and that at length brought forth the plague so that the whole kingdom was almost destroyed the Cities and Towns were depopulated the Country remained unmanured nor was there to be seen over the whole kingdom other but spectacles of ruine and misery This sad condition of the Christians made the Moors once more adventure in the field and without any resistance possess themselves of the greatest part of the Kingdom of Algarve the City of Sylva was rendred at discretion whilest the necessities of the King forced him to buy five years of truce or cessation upon low conditions In the mean time he would have sent assistance of ships and men to the Christian Princes who fought against the Saracens in Palestina but the miseries of his kingdom would not permit him yet he assigned to the Knights Templars and Hospitallers who were sometime before come into Portugal great Revenues giving unto them many Castles and Lands The truce was not yet expired when the King either finding or taking occasion to break it in the midst of winter assaulted the Cities of the Moors with so much fury that the Barbarians not expecting so sudden an assault were easily driven not onely out of the Confines of Portugal but out of the best part of the kingdom of Algarve King Sancho had for wife the daughter of Ramond Berengario Count of Barchinona called Aldonsa by her he had nine children of whom eight outlived their father to wit three sons and five daughters the sons were Alfonso who succeeded in the kingdom Ferdinando who for his singular vertues was called into Flanders to marry the Countess Ioanna and Pietro who was Count Iregelense and Lord of the Bateares The five daughters were Therasia Mefalda Sancha Bianca and Beringhella Therasia was married with Alfonso King of Leon her Cousin-german but this marriage not being assented to by the Pope was esteemed void so that after having born three children she was forced to return into Portugal where being shut up in a Monastery she spent the rest of her life in pious meditations it is reported by some that her Sepulchre being opened in the year 1617. her body was found whole and as it were incorrupted and that many who were sick or otherwise had incurable diseases by vowing to her and touching her
corps were healed Mafalda was espoused to Henry the first King of Castile although allied to him in a forbidden degree wherefore this marriage was likewise declared void and she emulating her sister built a Monastery of the Cistercian Order and is reported likewise to have done many Miracles particularly in the year 1627. when her Tomb was opened Sancha the third daughter became a Nun of the Order of St. Francis who lived about this time Bianca and Beringella died young and were buried in Conimbria right against their fathers Tombe though some write otherwise After the death of the Queen Aldonsa which happened in the year 1138. King Sancho gave himself over to the love of diverse Ladies amongst whom he had many children who proved most of them his greatest vexation and disquiet for the pleasures of the senses do not terminate but in the sence of grief At last arrived at the age of 57. years in the 26. year of his reign oppressed in Conimbria by an incurable disease he took leave of this world He was buried in the Church of the Holy Cross on the left side of the Altar in the great Chappel where King Emanuel built him a Sepulchre like to that of his father he left infinite riches which by his Will he divided amongst all his children making no difference between the legitimate and the illegitimate he by his Will supplicated Pope Innocentius the fourth to be his Executor for which he left in Legacy a hundred weight of Gold a gift without doubt worth his pains King Sancho was for vertue and for goodness singular in his age a worthy son of so renowned a father he proved fortunate in the utmost events of War and then did his triumphs flow in upon him when he dispaired of Victory he left it yet in doubt whether he were more wise or more valiant he always snowed himself so great an enemy to sloth and idleness that to avoid it he would not disdain sometimes to throw down the Scepter and hold the plow Fortune who was his friend in War was his foe in Peace for then besides the vexation that he could not vex his enemies he was likewise enforced to bear the injuries of the Land Sea and Skies in sum he was a King worthy the greatest Incomiums if he had not too much drowned all his other vertues in illicite Loves ALFONSO the II. Third King of Portugal ALfonsâ— the second succeeded to Sancho the first he was born in Conimbria on St. Georges day anno 1185. At 27. years old he was Crowned King with the envy of his brothers who little younger then he could hardly confine themselves within the bounds of Allegiance and to their discontents did the Legacies left by Sancho give new motives for Alphonso either out of avaritious desire of riches or out of obstinacy detained from them a great part of what was left them by their father These sinister thoughts of the then Prince Alphonso were discerned by his father before his death which made him leave to the brothers beside some Cities and Castles five hundred thousand Crowns in gold But scarce was his father dead but he began to contend with his brothers and sisters about their inheritance and because his brothers were retired into Elginera and Alenquar Fortresses given them by their father he under pretence that they could not be allienated from the Crown gathered together an Army to possess himself of them which he easily performed his brothers wanting money to hire soldiers and so not being able to make the least resistance His brothers thus driven out of the kingdom fled to the Pope for redress then in great veneration because he then pursued no other interest but justice who commanded Alfonso to remit the difference to indifferent Judges who necessitated to obey chose rather to accommodate the business with indifferent Judges then to run the hazard of a sentence He employed himself afterwards by the advice of Matthew Bishop of Lisbone to fight against the Moors and though these came assisted with ninety five thousand men yet were they forced to yield the Victory to him with the loss of thirty thousand soldiers and four Kings who were slain in the battel Alfonso for some years prosecuted this War but in time he grew so extream fat that he was unable to perform not only those great exercises incumbent on a soldier but every simple motion of the body yet for all that he ceased not to apply himself with extream diligence to prosecute the greatest affairs of State and where he could not in person he present to send such commands as shewed him to be both of great experience and wisdom He married with Uracca daughter to Alfonso the eighth or as others say the ninth King of Castile and Leonora or Elinor daughter to Henry the second King of England by her he had divers children the first was Sancho who succeeded his father in the kingdom Alfonso the second son whom by right of his wife was chosen Duke of Bologna and afterwards came to be King of Portugal The third son was called Ferdinand who obtained the principality of Serpa and married Sancia Fernandez daughter of Ferdinand Count of Castile The fourth died a childe called Vincenzo The last was a daughter called Leonora and was married to the King of Dacia Alfonso arrived to the eight and fortieth year of his age and one and twentieth of his kingdom when in the year 1233. he was constrained to pay the last debt to nature He was buried in Alobaccia in a little Church built by himself more for devotion then magnificence But after many years the Abbot Giorgio di Melo causing that little Church to be demolished carried his bones to that of St. Vincenzo where they now repose in a most sumptuous sepulcher Under this King as many affirm lived for certain time St. Antonio Protector of the City of Padona a Saint held in great veneration among the Roman Catholiques he was a native of Lisbon not so much esteemed for the Nobility of his birth as for his holy life Alfonso taking away his extream fatness was a man of a very comely presence and of singular eloquence his nature did make him pleasant with all but onely those of his own blood which fault in him did much diminish his subjects love and that general respect was due to him though he was a man noted for covetousness yet he oftentimes gave great gifts to his friends and always consumed the greatest part of the revenue of the kingdom The Portugueses while his father was alive did extreamly desire him for their King but did not at all now lament his death either because new things always please the people or else because he after his fathers death shewed himself indifferent from himself or from what they thought him whereupon not being wholly like his Progenitors he renewed in his subjects their grief for their loss SANCHO the II. Fourth KING of PORTVGAL SAncho the second who
having reigned thirteen He was a man of a most noble aspect carrying in his face and in his eyes no ordinary Majesty his nose was somewhat of the biggest yet did not at all disfigure him he was very curious in trimming his beard which somewhat inclined to red his countenance was somewhat earthy his continual indispositions having made a paleness inherent to him His piety was his principal ornament nor was there any crime which did more incense his goodness than that which was dyed in blood There wanted nothing in him to render him worthy the greatest Encomiums but health and the counsel of prudent men by whom he might have been served without design and without self-interest Want of these two things were the occasion that a most just man wholly composed of goodness fell into those miscarriages which made him in the conceit of men impious and unjust He was buried in that Regal Chappel built by himself at Toledo True it is that most Writers disagree whereabouts his Tomb was placed because the Chappel being rebuilt and made greater the Sepulchres were over-turned and placed on the side of the wall without Elegies or Epitaphs so that you can have no other then mens opinions for that without any certain foundation ALFONSO the III. The Fifth KING of Portugal and Algarve ALfonso the Third who succeeded Sancho the Second was born in Conimbria the 5. of May An 1210. he was by his father by reason of his brothers uncertain health educated with great diligence in those studies which might adapt him to Command but Sancho's life deceiving the vulgar opinion he was called by the Queen of France thither who obliged him to marry Matilda Countess of Bologna then Widow of Fillippio Crispo and Daughter of Fillippio Augustino Alfonso was at the time of his marriage twenty seven years and being of stature great strong of body and of an invincible courage of minde he was by the Pope elected Captain of those Knights of the Cruciada who from France and other Provinces were thought worthy to carry their valor to the Holy War but he was diverted this Honor by the necessity of his return into Portugal to put an end to those Troubles which were moved by the ambition of some who presuming upon Sancho's pliable nature were to act a fell Tragedy upon the Stage of the kingdom At his first arrival he appeased those Tumults of the people raised against the wickedness of the evil Ministers who by reason of his brothers weakness did what they list and having after his death reduced all the Forâ—resses of the kingdom to his obedience he addicted himself by severity to purge away those vices which before ruled even in the most potent Personages This made him envied and maligned of many but the glory of his fame did divert all opponent Factions and made him triumph over the imprudence or obstinacy of the most disobedient Home-bred stiâ—s being quite pacified he gave his minde to the increasing and adorning of his kingdom many places destroyed by continual Wars with the Moors he peopled with noble Colonies re-edifying many decayed Towers and building many new Edifices He likewise with an extraordinary liberality erected most stately Temples and Monasteries He instituted for the increasing of Commerce with his Neighbor kingdoms several solemn Fairs delighting much in Traffick and for the encouragement of it remitting his Customs But these singular vertues of Alfonso were darkned by a thick shadow of lust not abstaining for to satisfie his sense from seducing the most noble to his pleasures Interest of State making him afraid to repudiate his wife he contracted a most nefarious Marriage with Beatrice the illegitimate daughter of Alphonso the Ninth king of Castile and his Concubine Maria Villenia This Beatrice was brought up with greater love charge and attendance than any of Alfonso's children Alexander the fourth then Pope moved with the tears of the Countess of Bologna the complaints of her friends and the indignity of the action it self admonished him first by Letters to remember both his wife and his duty as a Christian but those saving documents prevailed nothing with the shut ears of deaf Alfonso whereupon the Pope fulminated forth an excommunication against him and his kingdom prohibiting divine service throughout all his Dominions hoping that these celestial arms might soften Alfonso's obdurate brest but it prevailed nothing till at length the death of the Dutchess procured his pardon which Urban the sixth granted rather to satisfie the clamors of the people then out of his own genius or that Alfonso desired it Beatrice now Crowned Queen and the succession confirmed by the birth of two children Alfonso had a desire to prosecute a War against the Moors but Lusitania having no confines upon Mauritania he procured to be invested King of the confining Countries still possessed by the Moors and that done he drave them from the Confines increasing his kingdoms glory and his own reputation Alfonso had by Beatrice three sons Dyonisio or Denys who succeeded in the kingdom Alfonso who married with Violanse daughter of Prince Emanuel son to Ferdinand the third King of Castile the third son called Ferdinand died in his infancy he increased the number of his children by his amorous conjunctions those thus begot were Egidius and Ferdinand made Knights Templars Alfonso Dionysio or Denys married to Maria Rivera and lastly Leonora wife to Count D. Gazzia de Souza a man no less potent by his great riches then friends Alfonso was blest with a most comely countenance sparkling eyes a most comely proportion of body but so large that it struck no small admiration into the King Sebastian when he made him be taken out of his Sepulchre yet was not his body more large then his soul was sublime he was extream profuse in gifts which made him beloved by those who found themselves benifited by them his prudence was by all admired and amongst his vertues there was nothing wanting but a more serious veneration of Religion greater gratitude towards his first wife Matilda and less dishonesty in his loves in his latter days he was extreamly troubled with the gout which so tormented him that impatient of his pain he permitted himself to be transported by excess of passion He died in Lisbon in the year 1279. at sixty nine years of age and in the two and thirtieth year of his reign not accounting till the death of his brother Sancho he was buried in the Church of St. Dominica from whence his body was removed to that of St. Vincenzo and laid in a great but no curious Tomb on the other part of the Church is to this day to be seen the Sepulchre of his Queen Beatrice whose body preserved by Balsoms is to be shown in the Chappel looking so firm as if it had but lately yielded to death DIONISIO The sixth KING of PORTVGAL DIonysio or Denys his son succeeded to Alphonso who was born in the year 1260. and called Dionysio because born on
wilde beasts that he was destined to hear govern and judge his people and â—hat whilest he did so they would not fear to suffer for him any danger nay they would encounter death it self for his sake that it would redound little to his glory to have killed thousands of Wild-Boars or to have taken ten thousand Stags but much to have administred Justice sustained his Scepter with reputation These advertisements more free then secure stirred up the fierce nature of Alphonso and ready he was to have ' chastised their freedom who would be governed by a King and not by a Huntsman but at length considering with himself the truths they had spoken he pardoned the liberty of their Speech and took them into the number of his dearest friends And that he did esteem them so appeared by his taking their counsel wholly leaving off his hunting and addressing all his endeavors to the government of the kingdom the first of his impresses were against those who had furiously armed themselves against his father Dionisio and because those affections good or bad which have once had growth in the minde are very hardly rooted out the hatred that he bore to his brother Sancho whilest he was Prince now renewed whilest he was King For whilest his brother was absent he caused several wicked men who flattered the fortune of the King to testifie against his brother and charged him with all the imagined thoughts of soul as crimes committed during his fathers life upon which Sancho was by the Judges in complyance to the Royal will deprived of all his honors in Portugal banished the Country and all his goods confiscate Sancho was at Castile when hearing of this sentence he by Letters intreats his brother to restore him to his grace promising that he would serve him not onely as his brother but as his King But his prayers not at all softning his obstinate brother he getting assistance from the King of Castile takes Arms resolving to force that reason and justice with his sword which his supplications could not obtain In fine after a long continuance of War in which the subjects were made subject to infinite oppression he made with his brother a peace more necessary then secure About this time D. Iuan Emanuel son to the Prince Emanuel the Nephew of Ferdinando surnamed the Holy was famous among the Spanjards both for his great Nobility of birth and riches this Iuan Emanuel had a daughter called Constance who not yet marriagable was promised to King Alphonso the eleventh of Castile but this King offended by certain secret occasions broke his vow to her and espoused Mary daughter to Alphonso King of Portugal after a little time passed the King of Portugal thinking Constance to be a fit match for his son the Prince Pedro first writ to his son in Law Alphonso and soon after began to treat with Iuan Emanuel both the one and the other returned answer to his messages the King of Castile with dissimulation and Emanuel with sincerity offering his daughter The King of Castile either out of vexation that she whom he had repudiated should still be a Queen or envying to the Prince Pedro the possession of so worthy a woman after many artifices to hinder the marriage put himself in Arms to hinder the passage of Constance into Portugal From this War happened infinite destructions and murders which after the effusion of a sea of blood were ended by the Authority of Pope Benedict the XII and Constance was married to Prince Pedro. About the year 1340. Albâ—acen that potent Miramamolin of Morocco and Granata with a mighty Army of four hundred and seventy thousand men came against Alphonso King of Castile threatning indeed the ruine of all Spain when Alphonso by the advice of his Councel sent to desire assistance of his father in Law the King of Portugal and that he might the better speed he made his wife the daughter of Alphonso the messenger who willingly heard and listned to the Ambassie and not onely promised assistance of men to further this expedition but to go himself in person Being arrived according to his promise it was determined that they should on both sides assault the Moors which accordingly they did and that with so prosperous success to the Christians that after an innumerable slaughter of the Saracens they gained one of the most rich and most glorious Victories that has been in the memories of man so great quantities of silver and gold found they in the Moorish Tents that one would have imagined all the riches of Africa had been transported into Spain The reason of the Barbarians transporting over so great Treasure was supposed to be out of the assurance of Victory which they flattered themselves withall they had designed Spain for their Country and thereupon all those who had thoughts of planting there brought over all that could either better or conserve their fortune This Victory was gained nigh to the River of Saledo the two Kings gave part of their spoils to Pope Benedict who then resided in Avignion giving him likewise four and twenty Colours taken from the enemy among which was the proper Standard of Alboacen King of Marocco with many horses and many Moorish Princes taken prisoners in the battel For his own portion of the prey Alphonso King of Portugal brought home the son of King Iulinenza made prisoner with his proper hand he likewise with his own hand placed five Colours taken from the enemy in the Church of St. Vincenso that posterity might behold them as a memorial of his valor and glory Scarce was he returned into Portugal but he permitted himself to be overcome by certain evil Councellors and be perswaded unjustly to take away the life of Agnesa di Castro by whom his son Pedro had had divers children After the death of Coâ—stance the Prince kept her like his wife and it was publiquely believed that he would one day make her his Queen This accident was the occasion of cruel Tragedies in the kingdom for it stirred up a civil War betwixt the father and son but all ascribed it to a just judgement of God upon Alphonso who suffered the same injuries from his son which he had done to his father The Queen Beatrice bore Alphonso the fourth six children three sons died in their infancy and Pedro who was the fourth succeeded the other two were daughters to wit Maria who married Alphonso King of Castile and Eleanora who was espoused to Piedro the fourth King of Arragon King Alphonso the fourth of Portugal over-loaden with the burthen of seventy seven years in the month of May in the year 1356. departed this life after he had exercised the Kingly Office thirty years and a half he was buried at the going into the Cathedral at Lisbon together with his wife Beatrice having left to the Priests of that Church rich Revenues not onely for the expences of his sepulchre but for the celebrating continual Anniversary Masses for
John the Third fifteenth King of Portugal 60 XVII Sebastian sixteenth King of Portugal 61 XVIII Henry seventeenth King of Portugal 64 XIX Philip the second third and fourth of that name Kings of Spain and 18 19 20 Kings of Portugal page 69 XX. John the Fourth One and twentieth King of Portugal 88 XXI Alfonso the Sixth Two and twentieth King of Portugal 182 XXII A Cosmographical Description of Portugal 193 XXIII Of Algarve 198 XXIV Of the Azores of Tercera Islands 199 XXV Of the Portugals Possessions in Asia 204 XXVI Of the Portugals Possessions in Africa 207 XXVII Of Brazile 208 IF any person please to repair to my shop at the Sign of Iohn Fletchers head on the back side of St. Clements without Temple-bar they may be furnished with al Plays that were ever yet Printed as also with several sorts of Romances and Histories more especially with the books hereafter mentioned of which though not printed for me I have sufficient numbers viz. The History of Independency compleat being the 1. 2. 3. 4. and last part which may be had single by such as have bought the others Blood for blood or Murthers Revenged lively set forth in 35 Tragical Histories some whereof have been the product of our late Times published by T. N. Esq. Venus undrest or the Practical part of Love extracted out of the Extravagant and Lascivious Life of a fair but subtile Female That useful Book for Gentlemen and Travellers being an exact Description of the several Counties and Shires in England by Ed. Leigh Esq. The Fanatick in his Colours or the rise height and fall of Faction and Rebellion from 1648. unto 1661. with an Apendix concerning Allegiance Government and Order by T. F. Summum Bonum or A Plain Path-way to Happiness conducting the Soul to its Haven of Rest through the Stormy passages of worldly troubles to which is added a short Dialogue of that excellent vertue of the Submission of Mans will to the will of God The Rudiments of Grammar the rules composed in English verse for the greater Benefit and Delight of young beginners by Iames Sherley Gent. A short view of the Life of the Illustrious Prince Hen. D. of Glocester and Maâ—y Princess of Orange Brother and Sister to His Majesty of great Britain lately Deceased by T. M. Esq. Scutum Regale the Royal Buckler or Vox Legis a Lecture to Traytors c. Playes The Beggars Bush a Comedy written by Fran. Beamont and Iohn Fletcher both in folio and in quarto The Humerous Lieutenant a Comedy in folio The Scornful Lady a Comedy The Elder Brother a Comedy Philaster or Love lies Bleeding a Tragi-Comedy c. A King and no King A Comedy The Maids Tragedy The Night-walker or little Theif a Comedy all written by the same Authors in quarto The Quâ—â—n of Arragâ—n A. Tragi-Comedy written by William Habington Esq in folio The Maids Revenge A Tragedy written by Iames Shirley in quarto Loves Mastriss A Masque written by Tho. Heywood in quarto The City Night-cap A Tragi-Comedy by T. B. in 4. The Obstinate Lady A Comedy by Sir Aston Cockain Knight in 4. The Obstinate Lady and Trapolin supposed a Prince both Comedies and several other Poems all written by Sir Aston Cockain Knight in octavo Plutus A Comedy in 4. Troades a Tragedy Translated out of Seneca by Sam. Pordage Gent. in 8. A Short and Compendious HISTORY Of the KINGDOM Of PORTUGAL THe Spaniards have a Proverb very vulgar amongst them terming the Portugueses Pocos y Locos few and fools spoken I suppose rather out of derision and disdain of that Nation then that its people and inhabitants really are so for whosoever shall read their actions will judge them to be managed with as much prudence as the Spaniards can boast of nor will any one believe that they could bring to perfection so great Atchievements as they have done with onely a simple valor 'T is true I believe them to be less numerous then the Castilians and yet I am not of the opinion that they are so few or their Kingdom so inconsiderable as the Spanish Proverb seems to make them which one may easily imagine when one considers that the Romans accounted Lusitania that is Portugal by it self when its bounds did not extend so far as now they do and without the addition of Algarve or Regnum Algarbiorum to be one third part of Spain much less can we think it so now when not onely its proper bounds are enlarged but likewise the Kingdom of Algarve added besides the Island in the Atlantick sea and their great conquests in Asia Africa and America But to return to the Kingdom it self and its original various fortunes after the decay and declension of the Roman Empire was it subject unto before it was setled under a Prince of its own The Alani were the first that preyed upon it and endeavored to plant in it but had scarce begun to do so but themselves were driven out by the Swemans and constrained to go seek another habitation these for some time enjoyed it peaceably making Braga their Imperial City till in the general Inundation of the overflowing Gothes and Vandals they with the rest of that part of the continent which is circumscribed by the sea and the Pyrenean Mountains became vassals to these irresistable Conquerors who living a long time in quiet enjoyed their conquest and were the first that in these parts entertained the Christian Religion till the Moors like a more violent flood fell in upon them and with the greatest part of Spain possessed themselves likewise of that Kingdom But some parts of Spain after many years slavery strugling for their liberty this Kingdom was in part recovered by the King of Castile and by them enjoyed till at length it gained a King of its own the maner thus Henry the second Duke of Lorrain whom some affirm to be Nephew to Godfrey of Bolloigne though others differ both in the person and his alliance to him flying from the fury of Henry the fifth Emperor came into Spain where moved with a generous emulation of his Uncle who was gone to the conquest of Ierusalem offered his service the subjection of the Moors and in short time arrived by his valorous atchievements against those enemies of the Christian Religion grew into so much repute with Alfonso the 6. King of Castile that he gave him his base daughter Teresia in marriage with his whole acquists in Portugal for her dower though with no other title then that of Counte or Earl some further addition he made to his Dominions and in the year 1094. had a son who after his grandfather was named Alphonso at last overborn with the burden of seventy seven years he died in the year 1112. ALFONSO the I. First King of Portugal ALfonso his son who from his very childhood had been bred up under his father in Military excercise after his death valorously prosecuted his victories against the Moors and against the
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
zeal and devotion towards God yet he must needs advise him that God had placed him as King and Governor over his people that the Divine Majesty would be better pleased if he would with his prayers to the Almighty for their welfare add his care for their protection that it was a duty incumbent upon him to provide for his subjects felicity as of parents for their children whilest according to the Apostle He that does not take care for his family was worse then an infidel that for want of his superintendency the kingdom was posting into the road of destruction by reason of the ill administration of his Ministers that according to his duty he could not but advise him to free them from oppression c. These Speeches of the Arch Bishop extreamly stirred up the Kings affections to his people both because he was sensible of the great love the Arch Bishop bore him and because he knew what he had spoken was truth he therefore takes the Helm of State into his own hands calls those unjust Steward to account frees the people from their oppresses where he finds cause punishes them severely and finally makes several Laws for the good and benefit of the people whose affections he in short time so far gained that they surnamed him the Good And having thus setled his kingdom to the content of his subjects at home he next applies his minde to the aggrandising of it to which purpose in the year 1500. he fitted out a great number of ships which he divided into three Fleets sending one towards the East the second towards the West and the third towards the South to make discoveries That which steered their couse towards the East were the first Christian Fleet that ever passed the Cape of Good-Hope and found out the passage by Sea into the East-Indies that towards the West made discovery and took possession of Brazile in America that towards the South reinforced and added to their former Conquests in the kingdoms of Conga and Angola These happy discoveries thus made at the return of the fleet from the East-Indies a more potent was sent out with a convenient Land Army to take possession of some places in the Country these discomfited the great Armies of the Turks and Sultan of Egypt possessed themselves of the Island of Ormus in the Persian Gulf an Island so rich and well situated that the Arabians used to say that if the whole world were a ring that would be like the Diamond in it many other Forts and Places upon the Sea-coast they likewise subjected and fortified and returned home richly laden Thus were the riches of India which before had been brought over the vast Arabian deserts upon the backs of Camels to Grand Cairo in Egypt and from thence by Sea transported to Venice and so dispersed over these parts of the World were now brought home by Sea a longer but less chargeable and far quicker way Emanuel while his Fleets were performing these glorious services abroad governed his kingdoms in peace and prosperity at home blessed with a noble and numerous Issue to wit six sons and two daughters the sons were first Prince Iohn who succeeded him in the kingdom secondly the Infante D. Lewis thirdly the Infante D. Alfonso who was after a Cardinal Arch-Bishop of Lisbon and Abbot of Alcobaza fourthly the Infante D. Henry Cardinal and Arch-Bishop of Braga fifthly Infante D. Fernando sixthly the Infante D. Edward The daughters were first the Infante Isabella who was married to Charles the fifth that famous Emperor and King of Spain and secondly the Infante Beatrice married to Emanuel Duke of Savoy Emanuel having long governed this Nation to his great glory and renown at last in the seventy third year of his life and forty first of his Empire yielded to fate at Lisbon in or about the year 1435. and was buried in the Cathedral of that City amongst many of his Ancestors He was a Prince in whom the Divinity seem'd to have been at a strife whether his body or minde should be made more amiable for the features of his face were worthily to be admired yet his outward part could not boast more beauty then his soul could that imbellisher of man vertue I can not well say whether he was more severe or merciful but where he met with offences that he could not pardon he was always pitiful in sum he so lived and so ruled that he deservedly merited that Glorious Name of Emanuel the Good JOHN the III. Fifteenth KING of PORTVGAL JOhn the third of that Name who succeeded his father in the kingdom was born in the year 1504. and educated in the University of Conimbria in all those Sciences befitting a Prince he arrived at the Crown at the age of one and thirty years Heir as well to his fathers vertues as kingdoms He prosecuted those discoveries made by the Fleets of his father in the East and West Indies in the first of which he took and possessed many Islands and Towns his Armies encountred and overthrew the potent and formidable kings of Bengala Pegu and Siam and likewise obtained many signal Victories over the Moors of Malacca Sumatra and Molucco who were as well provided of Artillery as any Princes of Europe His Armies in West Indies had no worse success taking and fortifying divers places noâ— was fortune less favorable to him in Guiny During his fathers life-time being about the age of three and twenty years he was married to Catherine sister to Charles the fifth Emperor and King of Spain by whom he had Issue Prince Iohn who died during his reign but left behind him a son named Sebastian who succeeded this Iohn his Grand-father in the kingdom Iohn the third reigned in all eight and thirty years making many Laws for the increasing and encouragement of Traffique to the great enriching of his subjects he died in the sixty ninth year of his age and in the year of our Lord 1573. being buried in the Cathedral at Lisbon SEBASTIAN the I. Sixteenth KING of PORTVGAL SEbastian Grand-child of King Iohn the third was his successor in the kingdom which he entred into at about three and twenty years of age Scarce was he well seated in his Throne or had sat in it much above a year and a half when he was by Ambassadors from Muly Mahamet then turned out of his kingdoms of Fesse and Morocco by his Unkle Abdemelech implored to aid him in the recovery of his kingdom with promise that if by his means he could drive out Abdemelech he would freely resign to Sebastian the kingdom of Morocco and content himself with that of Fesse Ambition of glory and hopes to propagate the Christian Religion makes Sebastian readily undertake the enterprize and to that purpose makes all possible speed to levy Men and Arms he sends to Phillip the second King of Spain who promises him the assistance of ten thousand men but fails yet Sebastian not discouraged resolves with his own forces
great importance and they endeavored to explain to his Eminence what was before his sentiment that it very much imported the two Crowns of France and Portugal to be united by an indissoluble League considering that it was the chief and principal end and aim of the House of Austria whose branches were spread over almost all Europe not onely to be the greatest but to be the sole and onely Monarch of Christendom That to effect those ambitious desires he had never made scruple to usurp and seize upon Kingdoms and States upon the least pretences imaginable as had appeared in the kingdoms of Naples Sicily Navarre the Dutchy of Millan and lately several States in Germany seizing upon the Valtoline whereby they had a passage open to lead an Army of Germans into Italy at pleasure That considering the vast power and interest that this Family had not onely in Europe but also in America it could not but be confessed that they had a large foundation of their imaginary universal Monarchy but that nothing gave them so great hopes as the possession of Portugal For by the addition of that Kingdom to the Crown of Castile they became absolute Masters not onely of all Spain but of all the East-Indies of all the Eastern Trade of Ethiopia Persia Arabia China Iapan and all that incredible wealth that was raised out of the Portugal Traffick whereby the Austrian Greatness if not their Monarchy was principally sustained that therefore it concerned all States whatsoever not onely to put a stop to the raving Tyranny of this devouring Monster but to suppress and lessen his Power by all means possible That to do this none was more concerned or more able than the Kingdom of France united with that of Portugal That this having bin called the Right Arm as Catalonia the Left of that great Austrian Colossus now both being separated from it and united to France will be able to do greater service against it than they were ever forced to do for it not onely by assaulting the Spaniard within his own doors but by intercepting the Plate-Fleet which in its return from the West-Indies it being necessarily forced to pass by the Tercera Islands must run in danger of the Portuguez Fleet or be forced to be at the charge of an extraordinary Convoy These were the sum of the Ambassadors discourses to the Cardinal In answer to which his Eminence made offer not onely of all the Assistance of the most Christian King his Master but that he would disburse himself for the service of the King of Portugal promising that he would presently send thither a Fleet of twenty Sayl with his Nephew Admiral and Ambassador Extraordinary This Treatment thus ended the Ambassadors took their leaves his Eminence waiting upon them as far as the Stairs which when they endeavored to hinder he replyed That the Ambassadors of the King of Portugal were to be treated with as much respect as those of the Emperor or Pope Few days after a Iuncto of the King of France his Council were appointed to treat with the Ambassadors in the House of the Lord High Chancellor of the kingdom where a Peace was fully concluded between the two Kingdoms of France and Portugal Other Ambassadors were about the same time that the afore-mentioned were sent into France dispatched into England for it very much concerned the Kingdom of Portugal to maintain a good Correspondence with the Crown of England both in regard of the Navigation and Commerce of both States and also the better to break that Amity and good Understanding which was now held between the Crown of Spain and that State Hither therefore were sent Don Antonio D' Almado and Don Francisco D' Averado Leilon both persons of exquisite parts who notwithstanding that the Dunkirkers chased them arrived safe in England And for all the sturdy endeavors of the Spanish Ambassadors they were received on shore with abundance of respect yet His Majesty of England would not give them Audience or accept of the Ambassage from the King of Portugal so tender was He of His Honor and Conscience till Don Antonio de Sosa their Secretary had drawn up a Paper to satisfie him of the Right and Title of the Duke of Braganza to the Crown of Portugal The sum of which was Vpon the Death of King Henry the Cardinal without Issue many pretended together with the Infanta Donna Catherina Dutchess of Braganza and Grandmother to this present King to the Crown of Portugal but all their pretences wanting foundation soon fell except that of Philip the second King of Spain who propt up his with force King Henry was Vncle equally near to both but with this difference Catherine was the Daughter of a Son named Edward and Philip was the son of a daughter named Isabella brother and sister to King Henry King Philip pleaded That he being in equal degree with Catherine was to be preferred for his Sex Catherine replyed That the constitution of that Kingdom allowing Females to succeed and withal the benefit of Representation in all Inheritances she representing Edward must exclude Philip by the very same right that her father if he were living would exclude Philips mother This Conclusion is infallible in Jure whereto Philip answered That successiou of Kingdoms descending Jure sanguinis there was allowed no Representation Catherine destroyed that foundation alledging That the Succession by the death of the last King was derived Jure haereditatis non sanguinis because the Succession of Kingdoms was to be regulated by that ancient way whereby all things descended by Inheritance the other way of Succession being not known until later Ages nor ever practised either in Spain or Portugal in such cases Briefly in behalf of Catherine it was urged which by the Castilians can never be denied or answered That she was no stranger but a Native of the Kingdom to whom alone according to the Laws of Lamego the Crown of Portugal can appertain The King having perused and deliberated upon this Paper gave immediately order they should be presently conducted to London which was done withal convenient Solemnity and they logded in a Palace ready prepared for them soon after with great ceremony they received audience of His Majesty in a fair and stately Hall prepared for that purpose where his Majesty sat upon a Throne raised two steps and at the entrance of the Ambassador pulled off his Hat nor would be covered till they were so too To the Propositions made in the speech of D. Antonia D' Almoda concerning a Peace between Portugal and England His Majesty replied That he should be very glad if an expedient might be found out to renew the antient Leagues of friendship between the two Crowns without the breaking with Spain Some few days after the Ambassadors were conducted to give a Visit to Mary Queen of England who sat in a Chair of Estate ready to entertain them when they came into the Presence She rose out of the Chair 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