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
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
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
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
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
publique thanks to be given and Te Deum to be sung in all Churches Hopes to revenge the late defeat given by the Lord Therimicourt and desire to do some valiant act before he departed from his Government made the Marquess of Leganez governour of the Spanish forces at Estramadura give an Alarum to the Portuguese Frontiers and enter into the Country with two thousand horse and 6000 foot but the valiant Count of St. Laurence assaulting him forced him to retire with shame and excuse himself that he marched out onely to meet the Marquess of Mortare who was appointed to succeed him in the Government Yet this small and worthless Alarum made the King of Portugal who knew that too much care could not be had of the safety of his Kingdom to send Orders to the Governors to look more exactly to the countries committed to their charges then formerly and strictly to give charge to Don Iuan de Menezez Governour of Porto The Viscount Ponte de Lima Governour of the countries between Douro and Mimbo to the Count of Arogna Governor of Trasmontes and Don Roderigo de Castro Governour of Beira to repair with all expedition to their several Commands Nor was his Majesty less careful of his dominions abroad then of those neer home which made him dispatch the Baron of Alviro to be Governour of Tanger and D. Franciso De Norogna to Mazagan both strong Forts in Africa the last of which had been neer surprized by the Moors of Barbary but the Commander of that party which assaulted it being slain by a valorous French-man they were beaten off with loss for which service the King bestowed upon the French-man a pension of six hundred Crowns per annum And whilst His Majesty was distributing his bounties he could not forget the Lady Dona Maria Manuel widdow to the some-time before deceased D. Antonio Coello D. Caravallio who had ever since His Majesties coming to the Crown been one of His Privy-Councellors and was one of the chief persons that went Ambassadors into France to renew the Alliance and conclude a firm League between the King of Portugal and Lewis the thirteenth King of France His Majesty therefore in consideration of his services bestowed a valuable pension on his aforesaid widdow There was almost dayly inroads made upon the Frontiers in some places or other amongst the rest the Baron of Themericourt entred with a strong party into the Spanish Territories surprized the Suburbs of the City of Albuquerque and brought away a very rich booty without the loss of so much as one souldier upon the place and not above twenty wounded The succor of the distressed Subjects of the more distressed King of England about the year 1650. gave occasion to the King of Portugal to manifest his affection to the English Nation which he did by giving assistance to the gallant Prince Rupert who being by His Majesty of England made Admiral of those few ships which in the year 1648. returned to their Allegiance had ever since been pursued by the more poâ—ent Fleets of the English Rebels and was now by them driven to seek the protection of his Portugal Majesty who notwithstanding that the Fleet of the Rebels with threatning Bravado's demanded the said Kings leave either to assault them in his port or to force them to come out bravely protected them under his Castles In revenge of which the Rebels of England who stiled themselves a Parliment proclaimed an open War with the Portugal Nation which His Majesty notwithstanding his great engagement at that present both against the Spaniards at home and the Hollanders on the other side the Line resolved to endure rather then deliver up the faithful Subjects of England into the hands of Murther Tyranny and Treason and therefore in part to cry quittance with the English who had taken Prize several Ships belonging to this Nation he made seizure of all the English Ships and goods within his whole dominions but onely those he had before protected But at length Prince Rupert finding a clear passage from out his ports where he had for many months been blocked up the King by reason of his other large expences in defence of his Kingdom finding himself unable to maintain a War against the English and nature dictating us to the preservation of our selves resolved more moved out of necessity then inclination to send an Agent into England to conclude a peace The person deputed to go on this unpleasant imployment viz to court Rebels was D. Suarez de Gimeraines who had for his assistance and interpreter Mr. Myles and English Merchant these two embarqued upon a Hamburger hired for that purpose by the King of Portugal arrived in England in Ianuary 1650. About the beginning of Feburary D. Suarez had audience before a Committee of the pretended Parliament to whom he made a Speech in Latine to this effect THe Serenissimo King of Portugal my Master sends me hither to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England that on his behalf and in his name having first most friendly saluted you as I now do with the greatest affection of my heart that I am able I may joyntly tender and make known to you the Royal desire which my Master feels within himself to conserve and more and more to knit the knot of that Amity which uninterrupted hath ever been between the Serenissimo Kings of Portugals their Ancestors and this renowned English Nation It being my part to endeavor what lies in me to remove all obstacles that may hinder the most vigorous effect of this hearty union and conjunction of minds so to preserve inviolably the ancient peace between us This I come to continue hoping and wishing all happy success therein this I come to intimate and offer unto the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England with that sincere and pristine affection which hitherto the experience of many ages hath made manifest Nor shall you need to scruple the sincerity of my intention and purpose by reason of the divers past attempts not to say fights between your power and ours since they have not been such as have broken or dissolved our amity nor have had their rise or approbation from the King my Master nor as we believe from the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England but more probably carried on either by the impulse of their own private affections or by the defect of that circumspection which in such cases is ever necessary But as I hope particularly and fully to prove indeed to demonstrate this truth unto the Parliament of the Republique of England so I am assured they will not onely rest satisfied therein but shall also have accruing to them a newer force and sence of mutual friendship between us since the jarrs that happen amongst friends are oftentimes justly accounted as certain redintigrations of love And I do admire our enemies have not made this reflection whilst fed with vain hope they have thought it in their power to sow and