MOst excellent Princes, they which doe make profession of wrastling or of fen­cing, doe principally studie how to di­scouer the trickes and deuises vsed by their aduersaries in these kindes of ex­ercises; for that hauing once marked and taken notice of the same, they doe enter into the lists, and present themselues in place, and doe combat with so much the more hardinesse and assurance, as hauing conceiued thereby a full and assured hope to ouer­come their enemies, and by giuing them the foyle, to gaine the prize propounded for the victory. In like manner ought we in all affaires diligently to search out the origi­nall of euery thing, that we may foresee and preuent all the [Page 2] inconueniences which may grow therein, to the intent, they may not endamage vs in the time to come afterwards. Now that which we in this Treatise ought most curiously to put in practise, is to know and discouer the reasons which haue moued Philip King of Castile to make warre in France, with so great expence and charge of his treasure, with so great losse of his people, and with so great decrease and diminution of his dominions, especially in the Low Countries. If the most Christian King Henrie the third were liuing, he could say as much as a certaine stranger his seruant comming from Spaine, in the yeare 1583. in the moneth of May, did giue him to vnderstand: and that was, that the sayd King Philip seeing how his most Christian Maiestie had permitted Monsieur de Shosse, the County du Brissar, The reasons that moued Philip king of Castile to stir vp warres in France, what opinion he hath of the French nation and other Lords and Gentlemen, to goe with an ar­my by Sea to giue aide and succour to Don Anthony the true & rightfull King of the Realms of Portugall, who had beene elected King according to the custome of the Portu­gals, by all the cities and townes of the sayd Realme, and by many Prouinces and Signories out of Europe, being de­pendants of the same Realme and Kingdome. The said Phi­lip did deliberate in a solemne set Councell to stirre vp and procure a ciuill warre in France: saying,the French nation is at this day of such a nature, and likewise the English, that they neuer thinke vpon the time to come, nor care for any thing, but for the present, and that which they haue in hand, as being more desirous to gaine day by day three or foure Crownes then to keep three or foure thousand alrea­dy gotten: so farre are they changed from their old and na­turall disposition. For in former times they had a desire to goe abroad out of their owne Counttey for the succouring of Kings and Princes afflicted & despoyled of their Realms and Dominions: and to make warre vpon the Infidels, and to chastise tyrants, whereas now their thoughts are quite & cleane altered, and they doe set their minds altogether to the gotting of money v [...]on any conditions whatsoeuer, and [Page 3] they are now growne to be no lesse in loue with the lasciui­ousnesse, and delights of their owne country, then they are in dislike with the sterility and extreame heat of Spaine, & other discommodities of this countrey: and for this cause we shall the more easily perswade and induce them to make warre within their owne countries, euen against their own brethren, cousins, parents, and countrimen, rather then a­broade against their enemies. And for this cause I will and am resolued to spend one million of gold the more yearely, to the intent I may keepe and entertaine them alwayes in domesticall and ciuill warres. So that being held occupied, and hauing their hands full in their owne countrey, they shall not be able to resolue to passe into the Realmes and dominions of any other. And so by meanes hereof shall I be able easily to preserue the Realme of Portugall to my sefle with all that doth depend vpon it. And whatsoeuer it shall cost me the keeping, yet the profit will be greater then the expence, for that each yeare I doe leauy thereof neare three millions of gold, and continuing in the possession of the same. It may be that in time I shall be able to gaine the af­fections and good wils of the Portugals, howbeit that I know they be now at this day very contrary against me. But hereafter, if I get them once to be my friends, and ha­uing with them their strong ships, gallions, and other ves­sels of warre, besides the good counsell and conduct of all their sage and experienced mariners, I shall make my selfe sole and absolute Lord of all the Ocean Sea, and I shall cause my selfe to be redoubted and obeyed throughout the whole world, and so wil I retaine & keepe in my hands this realm, which of all the kingdoms of Spain is of most importance, to the intent I may leaue it sure & peaceable to my succes­sors. This is the sum of the speech which Philip had, and of the conclusions which he tooke with his counsell in the ci­ty of Tison in Nouember 1582. after the arriual thither of the Marquesse de Santa Cruce, at such time as he returned victorious from the Iland of S. Michaell. In the same [Page 4] Councell was by him also laid the first and principall stone,The league of France made in imitation of that in the yeare 1463. Stephen Gari­bay. lib. 17. cap. 10. 11 12. whereupon the late League of France was founded. And there it was first by him ordained, concluded and baptized, in imitation of that which was so named, and made by the rebels in Castile against King Henrie the fourth, and which afterwards was againe reuiued in fauour of Isabell and Fer­dinand his great grand parents. This great designe and re­solution of his was faithfully reported vnto the said King (as hath beene said) by this stranger his seruant with many particularities: and amongst others, that the Castilian had sent into France nine sundry men, of purpose to corrupt with mony and faire promises, the Princes, Lords and Gentlemen of France, of whom many were particularly named, who from thence forward held the party of Philip, and many which were ready to doe the like, as the euent did afterwards make manifest. And the said Philip to gaine likewise the Captaine Landreau, had once resolued to send into France the Captaine Anthony, a Portugall, who being married at Rochel, was at that time prisoner in the Castle of Lisbone; and for this effect had granted him his life, with offer of his good fauour by the meanes and procurement of the Alcade Tayade, A leade is the grand Prouost of the kings house. who did oftentimes repaire to the castle of purpose to see and visit him, and had conference with him for a long time together. Notwithstanding Philip fearing least he should discouer the practise, caused him af­terwards to be hanged, notwithstanding the promise hee had made him. This Captaine Anthony discouered the whole matter vnto a certaine personage in whom he had great trust and affiance, and requested him to keepe it very secret, till such time as he should be gotten into France, to aduertise the most Christian king thereof, and the king of Portugall: vnto whom the said Captaine Anthony had prai­ed him to communicate it, as he did. And as touching the Captaine Landreau, he was enforced to take part with the Castilian, and to accept the mony that was offred him for the safetie of his owne life: whereof also he aduertised the [Page 5] king of Portugall, who was then at Beauvais on the Sea: and hauing giuen him to vnderstand to what intent he had done it; he prayed him to looke to the safeguard of his per­son, for that he was in exceeding great danger. The which the said Prince Don Anthonio did within few dayes after proue to be most true, and had beene taken, if he had not sa­ued himselfe with great speed, as there was then taken one of his sonnes, with many gentlemen Portugals of his traine, by the people of the Duke de Mercaeur: who did ransacke and make spoile of all that did appertaine both to him and his traine, of whom some held themselues happy, that they could get away in safetie. Of these nine men (of whom I haue spoken) certaine were apprehended, who discouered the whole intention of the enemy. Notwithstanding as little and small reckoning was made thereof at that time, as there is now at this day of any thing, be it held neuer so ne­cessary and needfull to free vs from vtter ruine and destru­ction. Moreouer, the same stranger (of whom wee haue made mention) did at the same time of his comming, ad­vertise the most Christian king, that it was reported throughout all Spaine, among all persons of any good sort and qualitie, that his Catholike Maiestie had resolued to enter into league, and to confederate himselfe (Sir) with your Maiestie, and to make you great proffers, to your ex­ceeding great benefit and aduantage, so that you would make warre vpon the sayd late king your predecessor. Be­sides, it was reported, that he promised to giue vnto your Maiestie a pension of two hundreth thousand crownes a yeare. Howbeit, some say, that this was onely to be for an earnest and assurance of his promises: and they doe affirme this for most certaine; that the two hundreth thousand crownes were all in a readinesse within a castle named Ox­agaui appertaining to the Lord of Luxes not farre from Rounceual. And it was further reported at the same time,Philip by vn­lawfull trea­ties laboreth to stir vp war against the French king that the said Philip, to be the better assured of the amitie of your Maiestie, did demaund to haue in mariage the La­die [Page 6] your sister, with this condition, that the children which should be borne of this mariage (were they sonnes or daughters) should be inheritors to the realme of Na­uarre: and that hee would giue vnto your Maiestie in re­compence the Isles of Sardinia & Maiorque and Minorque, and would moreouer bind himselfe to establish your Maie­stie, at his owne proper costs and charges, king of Guyene: and that he did also desire to giue you in mariage, the La­die Isabel Clare Eugeuia, The practise of a good Ca­tholike. the infant of Spaine his eldest daughter, together with the Duchy of Mylan: promising to that effect, to get a dispensation from the Pope, and all such declarations, as should be needfull thereunto. Your Maie­stie should know these things here alledged better then any other: and whether the report which ran thereof at that time (when he did hold treatie with you) were true or no. Surely this was a great tentation: but the lo [...]e, which your Maiestie bare to your countrey, and the obligation of loy­alty which you ought vnto your king, had more force and interest in you, then all the promises of an ambitious Ty­rant. The bruite which ran thereof throughout all France, and also the certaine report of the ill entertainment giuen by your Maiestie to a gentleman, who had the managing of this businesse, and had made an ouerture thereof vnto you, did gaine you the affections of all good Frenchmen: who did thereupon imprint you in their hearts, and much more, when it was knowne, that your Maiestie had aduer­tised the most Christian king of the same, in the year 1583 Insomuch that his Maiesty did permit you the yeare fol­lowing 1584. to make an assembly of the chiefe Heads and Lords of the religion at Mountaban: where it was well knowne, that your Maiesty did sharply reproue those which had plotted these troublesome practises, and others which were seene afterwards to bee set abroach by the e­nemy, in the yeare 1585. And that your Maiestie did then make an accord reciprocally, neither to enterprise, nor to deliberate vpon any thing, the one against the other. [Page 7] And it was reported, that all the pretended reformed Chur­ches in this assembly, did require your Maiestie for their Chiefe; and secondly, Monsieur the Prince of Conde: and that all this was done by the permission of the said most Christian King; who did greatly repent himselfe, that hee had let passe the oportunitie, to giue aid and succours to the late king of Portugall, for the recouerie of his Realme, as himselfe declared to that stranger aboue mentioned, being at Bloys, in the yeere 1589. At which time he complained of the tyrannie and irreligion of Philip, and sent him into England, there to entreat vpon his affaires with the Queene and the King of Portugall: vnto whom hee promised, that the first thing which he would doe, after he had recouered Paris, should be, to send an armie into Portugall, and to make warre vpon the enemie within his owne countrey, and to constraine him to demand peace, as the English with the aid of the Portugals had at other times constrained his predecessors to doe the like. And in case, that the said King of Portugal did and should vndertake the Voyage, as it was giuen him to vnderstand that he was so resolued; he prayed him, that so soone as he should be arriued thither, he would aduertise him hereof; to the intent,The desire that the Frēch K. Henry the third had, to restore Portu­gall to her li­bertie. that immediately vpon his comming into Portugall, or any other part of Spaine, if he had but two thousand men, yet hee would send them a­way with all speed, because he knew full well, and was most assured, that if the enemie were once entangled in Spaine, and kept busied at home, hee should soone be rid of him in France, as the euent did make it manifest. For as soone as the newes came, that the King of Portugall was at Lisbon, the most Christian King, for the accomplishing of his pro­mise, commanded the late Monsieur, the Marshall de Biron, that he should put himselfe in a readinesse to passe into Por­tugall with as great speed and diligence as was possible, for to succour the Portugals, and to giue aide to their rightfull King Don Anthonio, to reestablish him in his Kingdome.

But God, which with a iust and equall ballance doth weigh [Page 8] and examine all things, did display his wondrous workes, where and when it pleased him.

Portugall the gate of the war in France.Hereof then we doe gather two things: the first, That the enemie, to keepe Portugall, hath brought and caused the ci­uill Warre in France: the second, That our deliuerance and his ruine doe depend vpon this, That there be sent a good army into Spaine, whereof he is exceedingly afraid.

Wherefore, most excellent Princes, to deliuer your estates from the danger that threateneth them, and to set them in assurance, you ought to vndertake, and to enterprise this Voyage, so importune, and so necessarie for all Christen­dome, without hauing any regard to the charge thereof, be it neuer so great, considering that in not doing it, and that presently, you shall euery day more and more in time to come, bring your selues into hazard and extreame danger. Take example by the times fore-past, and looke vpon the instructions contayned in Histories, written by men no lesse curious then vigilant and well affectioned to the weale publike, and in reading and vnderstanding them, make your owne profit and benefit of them.

Agathocles, after he had beene about seuen yeeres King of Sicily, being enuironed both by Land and by Sea, within the Citie of Syracusa, by the Carthaginians: and finding himselfe in great trouble and perplexitie,How impor­tant a thing it is, to make war vpon an enemy in his owne Countrey. as being lately forsaken of many people of his owne Realme, who had at the first beene partakers with him; and perceiuing also that he wanted both victuals, money, and other necessarie muni­tions for the warre, and that it was not possible for him to escape out of the hands of the Carthaginians, if he did not vse some draught or deuice, which had not erst beene put in practise: He did at the last leaue within the Towne a bro­ther of his owne, to whom hee committed the commaund and charge thereof, and left with him for the defence there­of, a certaine number of men, whom he knew to be well af­fected vnto him; and taking with himselfe certaine other troopes, he embarked them, vnknowne to any whither hee [Page 9] went, and setting sayle to Africke, hee there landed: where hee warred so couragiously vpon the Carthaginians, as if they had beene but his equals. And hauing at the first be­ginning defeated certaine of their Captaines that came a­gainst him, he ouer-ran, harried, and wasted all their Coun­trey, hee burnt and ransacked all their Townes, Villages, and houses of pleasure round about Carthage. After which victorie and good fortune, with a certaine number of soul­diers, Bandoliers, and aduenturers, which came and ioyned themselues with him (a thing vsuall and ordinarie in such tumultuous and troublesome times) he encamped within a League of Carthage. By this stratageme, his affaires did not onely prosper in Africke, but throughout all Sicily also: for Antander (so was his brother named) being certified of the good successe of Agathocles, tooke courage vnto him, and sallying out of Syracusa vpon the Carthaginians that besieged him, hee woon their trenches, and hauing slaine a great number of them, hee made such hauocke a­mongst them, that this their ouerthrow, and the victories of Africke, being spread abroad and reported, from thence­forth all the strong-holds and places of Sicily (that before held with the Carthaginians) did then reuolt from them,This was a­bout 314. yeres before the birth of Christ and did altogether abandon them: which was the occasion also, that Agathocles returning victorious into Sicily, did all the rest of his life time afterwards enioy it quietly and peaceably.

After the death of Agathocles, and his partizans, the Signiorie of Carthage continued the Warre for the Con­quest of Sicilia, in such sort, that in the end they carryed it, and held the whole Island in their possession, which was about 277. yeeres before the birth of Christ. Where­upon the Romanes considering of all these their exploits, and perceiuing that the puissance of the Carthaginians was very great, and that they held not onely the grea­test and best part of Africke, which they had subdued by force of Armes, but also many peoples of Spaine, [Page 10] with sundry Isles in the Sea, round about Sardinia & Italy, they did very wisely imagine, that this neighbourhood of theirs would proue very dangerous & perillous vnto them, if they should finish and goe through with the conquest of all Sicily. For this cause they tooke such good order in pro­uiding for their affaires, as they brought the Carthaginians to this extremitie, that they had no more in their possession saue the Towne of Erix: the which Amilcar Barcyn, the father of Hanniball, did defend against them most valiantly for a long time, and did therein maruellous deeds of armes. Notwithstanding,This was a­bout 240 yeres before the birth of Christ the Carthaginians seeing that they could not withstand nor resist the force and puissance of the Ro­mans, they sent a messenger vnto Amilcar, commanding him to render and deliuer vp the Towne immediately, and to make peace with them, to the greatest honor, profit, and ad­uantage that he could possibly, for the state of Carthage.

Amilcar (doing as the Seigniorie had commanded him) gaue vp the Towne to the Consul Luctatius, and within few dayes after, following the course of his affaires, returned in­to Africke, where hee had many victories against certaine seditious persons: and so he setled the estate of Carthage in rest and quietnesse.In the yeere 237. This done, hee made a voyage into Spaine, taking with him his sonne Hanniball, who was not then aboue eight or nine yeeres of age, together with his mother (who was a Spaniard) and three other of his youn­ger sonnes, Asdrubal, Mago, and Hanno; of whom, Amil­car their father was wont to say,A saying of Amilcar tou­ching Hanni­bal and his o­ther sonnes. That hee nourished foure fierce Lyons whelpes, who were resolute to worke the de­struction of the estate of Rome. Amilcar then being in Spaine, by his prudence and liberalitie did gayne the hearts and good affections of the Spaniards, that he knew well he should be able by their meanes to haue about againe with the Romans, to recouer from them both Sicilia and Sardi­nia (which they had also in their puissance) and that so in the end he might passe from thence into Italy, and there to procure their vtter ruine and destruction. But being pre­uented [Page 11] by death,In the yeere 228. he charged his sonne Hannibal (whom hee had coniured to be, during his life, an vtter and vnreconcila­ble enemie to the Romans) to put this his enterprise in exe­cution. Hannibal, after the death of Asdrubal his brother in law (who succeeded his father in law Amilcar in that gouernment) being then made gouernour of Spaine,In the yeere 223. tooke the Citie of Saguntum (which is now called Monvedre) after hee had held it besieged the space of eight moneths.In the yeere 217. After the taking whereof, he began to dispose and prepare himselfe to the voyage of Italy: and hauing with great tra­uailes and many difficulties passed the Alpes,In the yeere 216. he obtayned in proces of time so many notable victories against the Ro­mans, and did put them in such feare and terror,Hannibal pas­seth into Italy. that they did in a manner hold themselues vtterly vndone & forlorne. And so had they beene indeed, if they had not beene aduised to send Scipio into Africke:Scipio goeth against Car­thage. who made such cruell warre so forcibly and so violently vpon the Carthaginians, that hee constrayned them to call home Hannibal out of Italy; who within short time after, with the whole estate of Carthage, was ouerthrowne & brought to nought, as is well knowne vnto all men. And so by this meanes were the Romans ea­sed and deliuered, enioying peace and quietnesse, and the Carthaginians vndone, defeated, and subdued: and their estate (which had beene so famous and renowned) was vt­terly ruinated and brought vnder the power and puissance of their enemies.

Xerxes King of Persia seeing himselfe in a miserable e­state, and bethinking how he might deliuer and rayse him­selfe vp againe, he made choyse of certaine of his seruants, fit for the execution of his intended purpose, and them hee sent into Europe with store of money, to corrupt the Ora­tors of the Townes and Commonwealths of Greece: and hauing corrupted them of Athens and of Thebes, hee made them to rise in armes, and to make warre vpon the Spar­tans.Plutarch in the life of Agesi­laus. By this meanes Greece being set in trouble and dis­sention, sent for Agesilaus (who hauing at that time subdued [Page 12] a great part of the Empire of Persia) and being willed to come home, was enforced to quit and abandon the same, for the relieuing of his Countrey from those troubles wherewith it was entangled. And because the Money of Persia had an Archer engrauen on the one side thereof, the same Agesilaus had a saying, That ten thousand Archers had driuen him out of Asia, and had beene the cause to make him loose a most stately and puissant Empire. By this pol­licie then did Xerxes rid himselfe from the trouble and ex­tremitie wherein he was, driuing out his enemie from his Countrey, and recouering his estate, that was neere ruine and confusion.

By these examples (most excellent Princes) was Achaius King of Scotland,Achaius King of Scotland. the sonne of Elfinis, a singular good Prince, and of excellent vertue, induced in the yeere of Christ 791. to make a perpetuall and irreuocable Peace and League of Amitie with Charlema [...]ne King of France, at such time as he saw himselfe hardly bestead by the Sax­ons & English, who then possessed the better part of Great Brittaine, which within a few yeeres after was called by one onely name, England. The other Kings, the successors of Charlemaigne, considering that this peace and amitie was more necessarie for them, as being more to their profit and aduantage, then it was to the Scots themselues, who sought it, they haue continued the same euen till this day, and by meanes thereof haue oftentimes constrayned the English­men, when they haue beene in warres & enmity with them, to retire and withdraw themselues out of France: and many times also they haue kept them so busied in their own coun­trey, that they haue had enough to do to defend themselues. And they haue taken from them both the desire & the means to passe into strange & foreine Nations:Money giuen to the Scots by the French yea, there haue bin some of the French kings, who haue giuen to the Scot, to this end and purpose, more then 500000. Crownes; which was as much in those dayes then (hauing regard to the change and difference of the times) as two millions are at this day.

I will omit many other Histories, which make notably to this our purpose, because I know well that these are suf­ficient to shew how greatly it concerneth and importeth the Protestant Princes, and most Christian King of France to free your selfe from the encombrance of this burthen now laid vpon you, and to send a good armie into Spaine: for as much as by such a voyage well handled and to good purpose, dependeth both the safety of your selues, and the ruine of your enemy. If you make warre vpon your enemy within Spaine, hee shall be compelled to call home all his forces, not onely from France & the Low Countries, but al those which he hath in Lombardy, Naples, Sicily, Sardinia, and other countries:The meanes to ruina [...]e the enemy. we had good proofe and experience hereof euen of late: For as soone as the Castilian saw the English possess [...]d of Calice, hee did incontinently send for all his gallies of Naples, Sicily, and Genes: He sent to in­treate the grand master of Maltha to send him the Gallies appertaining to the knights of the Religion. Which had been done if the French Gentlemen, which were of the or­der, had not opposed themselues against it. He caused in all haste the Forces which hee had in Brittaine to passe into Spaine: and there is no doubt but hee had likewise called home all those which he had in other countries, if the Eng­lish had remained there any longer time. You see then (most excellent Princes) that by passing into Spaine, you may withdraw from o [...]er your heads the sword of the Castilian and deliuer your country from his proud yoke and tyranny. But you will say: the enemy hath great and puissant forces, and a great number of old and expert souldiers; by whose meanes, albeit they be farre off, yet being called backe into Spaine, he will greatly endamage and annoy you, and con­sequently, your voyage may proue vnprofitable, and per­haps very dangerous: and so you may be enforced to retire and returne home againe, not onely with shame and con­fusion, but (which is more) in great trouble and extreame perill. But vnto this I answer.

Good and sound counsellFirst, if you do all things with prudence and good aduise, 1 you reape thereby incredible profit and commoditie, and the danger will be small, or none at all.

2 Secondly, that in Spaine there are many places vpon the Sea coast which you may easily take and command, and whose situation is so strong by nature, that if they be for­tified by art and the industrie of man, you shall defend and keepe them with a very small charge, and much more easily then the enemy doth keepe Blauet in Brittaine: and those will serue you for sure places of retrait.

Thirdly, in Spaine there are many nations which do hate the Castilian extremely: for that they haue beene tyranni­zed, either by himselfe, or by his predecessors: and these (when they shall see themselues aided and assisted in good earnest, and to purpose) for the great desire which they haue to be at libertie, will soone take armes against the e­nemie.

Fourthly, those Souldiers which are out of Spaine being called backe by their Lord and master, cannot arriue there within foure moneths at the soonest, and within two moneths may you arme and furnish fit and ready for the warres, all those of the countrey which will take your part. For this is most certaine, that the very Climate of the coun­trey doth helpe and aide to make them able and actiue. I my selfe, and many others in Portugall haue sometimes seene a company of new souldiers at their first entring into garrison, to seem rather a troupe of beggers, and poore ras­cals, rather then souldiers, al of them being so poore, naked and miserable, as we had pittie to see them; and yet within foure or fiue dayes, after that they haue beene new appa­relled, and well appointed, if you had seene them settled in the garrison, you would haue said, that they had beene great Gentlemen, and they did carrie themselues with so good a grace and countenance, as if they had beene braue and old trained souldiers. I doe assure you, that two moneths will suffice to them of the country to make them souldiers. [Page 15] The greatest difficultie is to make them abide, and not to feare the fire of the Hargubush. Moreouer, the Prouinces of Spaine are rich, as all the world knoweth,The nature of the naturall Spaniard. and the inhabi­tants make not any account nor reckoning of their wealth, when there is any question for the recouering of their li­bertie. For in this case they will not spare to spend it libe­rally, as was to be seene by the offer which they made to king Philip, after that the Englishmen were retired from Calice: and therefore by sending of money into these quar­ters, they will gather together fiftie thousand men of warre to passe into Spaine for their succour, defence, and preser­uation, sooner then the enemie shall bee able to cause fiue thousand to come thither from any forraine partie.

If any man shall say, that seeing two moneths are suffi­cient to make the naturall Spaniards good souldiers, the e­nemy may therfore much sooner assemble and arme a great number of men then we shall get for succour. I answer: I would agree thereto, if there were in Spaine armes suffici­ent wherewith to arme and furnish them: but they are so rare and daintie there to be had, that there bee many great townes notably well peopled, within the which a man can­not finde fiftie Hargubushes.Armes very rare in Spaine. And if there were any store of armes to be had, yet the Spaniards in Spaine would take armes sooner, and much more cheerefully for their libertie, then for the seruice of one that tyrannizeth ouer them. E­specially the Princes and great Lords, who doe desire no­thing so much as that there were some realme or prouince within Spaine in full and free libertie, and which might be gouerned by it selfe, to the intent it might serue them for a place of refuge and sanctuarie, as they had the like in times past. For Spaine being in manner as an Iland, at this day the Princes,Spaine in ma­ner of an Ilād. Lords and Gentlemen of marke cannot easily withdraw themselues from thence; by meanes whereof they are held in great slauerie and subiection. When there were seuerall kings in Nauarre, Arragon and Portugall, if the Castilians were at any difference with their king, or [Page 16] the Nauarrois, the Arragonois, or Portugals with theirs, they would haue retired themselues the one to the other; by whose liberalitie they were euer prouided of all things needfull and necessary for the life of man, and sometimes with greater ease and commodity then in their owne coun­trey: as it happened in the time of Fernand king of Portu­gall, and of Henrie the second king of Castile, who slue his owne naturall and lawfull brother; which was the cause that County Don Fernand de Casire, and Don Alvar peres de Castre his brother: Men Suares, Grandmaster of Alcantara: Suer Iuan de Parada Gouernour of the Realme of Galatia: Petro Giron, Grandfather of Calatraua, Alonso Giron his Nephew, and many other great Lords and Gentlemen, with a great number of Cities and Townes holding the party of the king deceased, did conuey themselues into Portugall, where they were receiued by the king Fernand, and had most honourable entertainment, with most nota­ble fauours, rich presents, and incredible gifts, which hee gaue vnto them most bountifully. In so much that from thenceforth the Castres did continue still and inhabit in Portugall, from whom are descended those which are there of that name now at this day.Hierom Gu­liel. cap. 23. fol. 81 pag. 2. The like happened to Diego Lopez Pacheco a Portugall (albeit not for so iust and ho­nourable a cause) who going from Portugall into Castile for being charged with the death of the Queene Dame Iues de Castro, in the time of the king Don Peter of Portugall, hee was then created Lord of Beiar, and his children also made Lords of other peoples, of whom the Marquesse of Villana, the Dukes of Escalon, and many other great Lords haue their descent and originall. In like manner, in the time of king Juan of Portugall of happy memory,Alias Iohn. the A­cugnas and Pimentels went into Castile: and of them are descended directly in the line masculine, the Dukes of Ossuna and Counties of Benauent, and in a manner all the Princes and Lords of Castile, and Dame Iulian de Lanca­stre Duchesse of Auero in Portugall. Now at this day the [Page 17] Nobilitie of Spaine doth greatly want such places of re­fuge and sanctuarie, and now,The Nobilitie of Spain want places of re­fuge and san­ctuary at this day. the least Prouost or Marshall is sufficient to arrest the greatest Lord of the countrey, yea though it were the brother of the King himselfe: in so much that the Princes and Lords of Spaine doe as heartily desire to see some Realme or Prouince set at libertie, as they doe their owne safetie.The sorrow & griefe of the Princes and Lords of Spaine to see the inuasion & vsurpation of Portugal, & the desire they haue to see it at libertie. None can tell how great an afflicti­on and notable a misery famine is, but hee that wanteth bread to eat: and the Nobilitie of Spaine doth at this day with great griefe finde that to be true, which they most of all feared in the time of Charles the fifth, whose greatnesse they had euen then suspected: and for this cause they did shew themselues mightily aggrieued at such time as King Philip did enterprise the vsurpation of Portugall.

Conestagio a Genouois in the booke which he hath writ­ten in fauour of the sayd Philip, and which is intituled, The vnion of the Realme of Portugall with the Crowne of Castile, doth tell vs both the one and the other of these matters. And although in that worke of his there be many true reports, yet we doe know him for a great and notable Lyer: and euen the very first word of that booke is an vn­truth; in that he hath entituled it, The vnion of Portugall with the Crowne of Castile:The oth of K. Philip. for king Philip in the assembly of estate which he held at Tomar in the yeare 1581. where the Portugals against their wills, and by force did receiue him for their king, promised and sware with a solemne oath, neuer to intermingle the matter and affaires of Por­tugall with those of Castile,The Explica­tion of the Genealogy of the French K. now raigning: The authour whereof was Frier Ioseph Texere. but to keepe for euer the Mo­narchy of Portugall entire in the same estate, and in the same manner, as the kings his precessors had alwayes pre­serued and maintained it: paying all the pensions, fees and wages to all the officers of the kings house, both Spirituall and Temporall, in like sort as they were payd in the times of the true and good kings forepassed. Somewhat of this matter a man may see in the end of the booke of Explication of the Genealogie of his most Christian Maiestie, where [Page 18] it is spoken of the first king of Castile.

Moreouer, the said Conestagio, as a man of a maligne and peruerse spirit, is a most vngratefull enemy of that nation, which hath both aduanced and honoured him. For wee knew him at Lisbon when he serued Anthonio Caulo, and afterwards with Stephen Lercaro, 3. fol. 62. a Marchant of Genoa. He hath in his booke these words: ‘In Castile this succession gaue great matter whereof both to muse and to talke, both in priuate and in publike: for that the king caused the Estate of Portugall to be vnited to his other Realmes and Dominions, not caring how, nor in what fashion it were done, so it were effected. The which the Nobilitie tooke very ill: in so much as it seeemeth that all the great men of Spaine, since the time of Charles the fifth to this day, could not away nor like of the greatnesse of the king: because thereof it hath proceeded; that hee maketh lesse reckoning of them then did the ancient kings of Castile, and hee constrai­neth them to be equall to their inferiours, as well in iustice as otherwise.’

If Don Antonio king of Portugall were liuing, hee could witnesse, how after that the enemie was entred in­to Portugall with a huge armie, and had taken Lisbon, hee being then in the towne of Badaios, many Lords of Castile did offer him to haue entrance into the sayd towne, and did promise him all their best aide and assistance to seize vpon the enemie himselfe. The which the said Prince could not effect nor put in execution; for that within few dayes after he was dispossessed of all the realme in the citie of Puerto of Portugall. He could also certifie vs, how that seeing in these parts many great Lords of Castile did send vnto him, offring him their seruice and assistance, in case that he would set foot in Portugall: the which matter he commu­nicated (if I bee not deceiued) to the king and principall Lords of France, and principally to the estate and Coun­cell [Page 19] of England. Notwithstanding, touching this desire of libertie, it is a matter which doth principally touch the Princes, great Lords, and Hijos de Algo of Spaine. For, as concerning those masters of the long robe, and the ras­call sort of Castilians; they take a pleasure in this their sla­uery and seruitude vnder the king, because they alone doe command and rule all, and triumphing ouer others, haue the principall and chiefe managing of all the affaires of the Realme: yea, and euen the gouernment of the king himselfe, in their owne hands. And although they doe hate him most extremely, and doe wish ill enough to his person: yet not­withstanding they doe wish so well to their owne country, and doe so delight to see themselues to haue the command ouer all others; that if they know any thing, either in pub­like or in priuat, which might hinder and endamage his ty­rannie, they will not faile, onely in regard thereof, to ad­uertise him of it: such is the naturall disposition of the Ca­stilians,Iosephus de bello Iudaice lib. 1. cap. 3. who being issued and sprung from the race of the Iewes, cannot but follow the tracke of their predecessors. Today they would follow and honour Antigonus, to mor­row they would accuse his bountie, as a crime of high trea­son, and iudge it to bee little lesse then pride and vanitie, and as traitors they abandon and forsake him, accusing him before Aristobulus, and so be the causers of his death and destruction. And therefore most humbly I beseech your Maiesties, and all Christian Princes, to keepe your selues from the Castilians, and not to trust them,Good and sound counsell howsoeuer they shew themselues mortal and deadly enemies to their kings, and do make neuer so faire semblance, that they are well and heartily affected to do you seruice.

The common sort of Castilians (Sir) are so maligne and peruerse, so full of pride, arrogancy, ambition,The malitious nature of the Castilian na­tion. tyran­ny, and infidelity; that Fernand king of Portugall, being the right and lawfull heire to the Realmes of Castile and Leon, and being called vpon by the people of the same kingdomes, who offred to receiue him for their Lord and [Page 20] king, the Portugals would in no wise consent therunto, say­ing: that they would not haue any thing to doe, nor med­dle with them, no not though it were to command ouer them. It was my hap one day, to deuise vpon this matter with a noble man of the French kings Councell, who see­ming much astonished at the report thereof, did make mee this answer: Certainly, this that you tell me, doth make me not so much to maruell, as that which I haue heard re­ported of a Fryer Preacher, who in the yeare of our Lord 1576.Math. 22. preaching vpon this part of the Gospel: Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God, &c. and thy neighbour as thy selfe: said, that by this precept, God commanded vs, not onely to loue our father and mother, brothers, kinsfolke, friends, and countreymen: but euen heretikes also and strangers, Iewes, Paynims,An example worthy the marking. Moores, Turkes, and the Castilians themselues. This happened (as it was told him) and this Preacher was a religious person of the order of S. Dominicke, and he did Preach in a parish Chu [...]ch of Lisbon, called Saint Magda­lens, being one of the principall Churches within the citie, and there were present at it, the most part of the Gouer­nours of the towne, with many Presidents of the Parlia­ment, Councellors, Gentlemen, and rich Marchants. The said noble man shewing himselfe greatly abashed at this report, did demand of me; how it could be tollerated, that this should be spoken openly in the Pulpit, and the religi­ous person not punished for it. Whereunto I answered: that there wanted not any accusers, to call him in question for it: but the number of them (that did beare with him and fauoured him for the franknesse and libertie of this his speech) was so great,Portugals hold the Ca­stilians to be worse then In­fidels. that those which did accuse him, could not be heard. Moreouer, it is an ordinary and vsuall thing with the Portugals, to say: That the Castilians are worse then the Infidels themselues. But let them speake the worst of them they can, yet will they beare and endure it, be­cause they re [...]pe great benefite and aduantage by it. The which the sayd Nobleman seeing, in sort to make doubt [Page 21] of, he did thus reply vnto me: Albeit I doe beleeue some part of this you say, yet there resteth one thing, which is as a scruple in my mind; and that is, in that (as I haue read) the Portugals and the Castilians are both of one and the same Prouince, and are borne in a manner of one Stock, and issued of one Root, and doe speake one and the selfe-same Language: that is the opinion of Conestagio, Conestag. lib. 1. fol. 4. pa. 2. of whom we haue before spoken. But he sayth he knoweth not what: for the Portugals are descended of the Gaules, the Celtes, and the Braccates, and their Language is almost the same with the Latine Tongue. But as touching the Castillians, we cannot certainely say, from whence they are descended: Neuerthelesse, the best iudgement and coniecture thereof, that can be made by circumstances and euident proofes, is, that they are descended of the Vandals, of the Iewes, and of the Moores; and their Language is in a manner all one with that of the Moores, and their pronunciation is all one, or much alike. Thereof it commeth, that the Castilli­ans being in the countrey of the Saracens, or of the Turkes, they doe soone and very easily denie the Christian Faith, and doe turne altogether Turke and Infidell. True it is, that the Princes, great Lords, and Hijos de Algo, are ex­tracted eyther from the Gothes, or from the ancient Spa­niards, which inhabited the mountaines and the countries of Leon, and of Ouiedo, and the Prouince of Galitia, with­in which is enclosed the ancient Portugall. Conestagio in the same place last before recited, sayth, that these two Nations doe hate each other most extreamely: and hee setteth downe one notable vntruth, to wit,The vntruth of Conestagio That the hatred of the Portugall doth farre exceed that of the Castillians; which is altogether false, and vntrue. The Portugals doe not hate the Castillians, but they abhorre their actions, as most wicked, and full of crueltie and tyrannie: The Castil­lians on the contrarie, because they cannot with any reason hate the actions of the Portugals, for that they are good and iust, they doe therefore ha [...]e their persons, who haue so [Page 22] often ouercome, vanquished, and ill handled them; and so much the more, for that their numbers were alwayes (as a man may say) infinite, and the Portugals were very few, and in comparison of them, as nothing. The hatred of the Castillians is so certaine against the Portugals, that it is vsually spoken in manner of a prouerbe, That since the bat­taile of Alijbarto, the Castillians would neuer suffer any to preach vpon the Fryday, in the first weeke of Lent; on which day the Church vseth to sing that part of the Gos­pell,Matth. 5. where it is said, Loue your enemies: and therefore they iudge the Portugals to be like themselues; and they esteeme them to be of the same nature and disposition as they are. Both the one and the others hatred may well be seene by that which Charles the fift said one day to the Colonell Ferras, a Portugall, who in the warres betweene the sayd Emperour and Francis the first, King of France, did serue on the French partie against the Imperialists. The warres being ended, and peace concluded betweene those two Princes, the Portugall retyring himselfe into his countrey, did passe by the way of Castile, where he went to visit the said Charles the fift, who knew him very well, and did loue him for his valour; and doing him great honour in his Court, he stayed him there for certaine dayes with him: during which time, as hee was one day deuising with him very familiarly,A speech of Charles the 5. to Captaine Ferras, a Por­tugall. hee vsed this speech vnto him:Captaine Ferras, I would gladly know, what should be the cause that made you to follow the partie of the French against me, seeing wee are of one and the same Nation? for al­beit you be a Portugall, and I a Castillian, yet are we both Spaniards. The Colonell made him this answere: Sir, when the Portugals doe trauaile abroad out of their owne countrey, whether they be rich or poore, their onely end and scope is, to get them honour and reputation. For mine owne part, I had the meanes to liue honestly in my countrey, like a Gentleman: neuerthelesse, being resolued to see the world, I began to cast my account with my selfe, [Page 23] what course I were best to take. Hauing made my recko­ning, I conceiued with my selfe, that I should purchase me more honour, by bearing Armes against the greatest Cap­taine of the World, then in taking of his part to serue a­gainst any other: and for this cause I tooke Armes against your Maiestie. The Emperour smyling, sayd: I beleeue that this is not the cause, but rather the old rancour and hatred which the Portugals beare to the Castillians. Portugall answered him againe in great choller: ‘Sir,An excellent answere of a Portugall to Charles the 5. I sweare vnto your Maiestie, That neyther for good, nor for bad, I trouble not my minde with the Castillians, not so much as to thinke of them.’The Emperour making sem­blance as though this answere did content him, did em­brace him many times and often: but hee iudged of the Portugall as his affection led him, for hee had enough of the bloud of a Castillian by his mothers side, to make him to hate him: A little Leauen, &c. And thus may you see the vntruth of Conestagio: His Historie is well written, and in a good style, but most false, and full of passion, for hee both reprehendeth and iniurieth all those of whom hee speaketh; yea, euen King Philip himselfe, in whose fauour hee wrote it: and for this cause principally it was forbid­den in Portugall. But leauing Conestagio, now that we haue shewed how the Castillian Nation is much more maligne and peruerse then all the other people of Spaine, I will tell you one thing worthy to be noted ere wee proceed, which doth more neerely touch the Portugall Nation than any of the rest; that is, That all those Nations generally are so desirous of libertie, that they doe seeke by all meanes pos­sible to obtayne it, being readie to receiue euen the De­uils themselues, if they would be readie to further and fa­uour them in the same. And yet, if any strange Nation should passe into Spaine to any other end, they would vse the vttermost of their endeuours to stop their passage, and to hinder their entrance, making little or no reckoning of their liues, and much lesse of their goods and substance. [Page 24] When I doe speake of causing strange Nations to passe into Spaine, I must tell you thus much, That they shall be much more welcome, and finde better entertainment of the peo­ple of the Countrey, when they shall be mingled many and diuers Nations together, then if one should goe thither a­lone: for that this diuersitie will take from them all conceit and suspition which they might otherwise haue, that their comming were to make a conquest of their countrey, and not to procure their libertie and freedome; and so they would vndoubtedly receiue them ioyfully, and with all as­surance. In like manner, if the Tyrant should commaund them to goe to the warres out of their owne countrey, espe­cially if it were for their Religion, they would serue him more faithfully then did Auila and Simancas in Castile, or Celorico & the Castle of Coimbre in Portugall. For proofe hereof,The meaning hereof is ex­pounded in the end of this Treatise. you may remember, how in the yeere 1588. the King of Castile in his Fleet and Armie by Sea, that came vpon the Coast of France, sent two Regiments of Portu­gals, each of them consisting of eight hundred men, or thereabouts.The loyaltie of the Portu­gals. These forces (notwithstanding, that in regard of his vsurpation of the countrey, they were enemies to him) yet hauing promised to serue him faithfully in this voyage, in the fight which they had against the Englishmen and Flemings, they did make such proofe of their valour, that they did farre excell all the rest of the Army in prow­esse and deedes of Armes; and they alone did more for the seruice of the King of Castile, then all the residue of his Al­lyes: insomuch, that there was none of them (who had command and gouernment in the Army) that were recei­ued with honour by the King Catholike, saue only the Por­tugall Colonels;Portugall Co­lonels in the Armie of the yeere 1588. namely, Gasper de Sousa, and Antonie Pe­rera: The which Perera before that time had serued and fought most valiantly for the defence of the libertie of his Countrey, and for the seruice of his true and naturall King, against the said King of Castile, at such time as hee entred into Portugall with a mightie Army to inuade it.

In the yeere 1582. when Don Aluar de Bassana, Mar­quesse de Santa Cruce, did encounter vpon the Sea with the Lord de Stroce, those which fought best, and shewed them­selues most valiant was the Marquesse de Fauare, Marquesse of Fauare. a Portu­gall, most true and faithfull to his Countrey, and to his King; and by whose counsaile and aduertisements, a cer­taine great and excellent seruitor of the estate, and of the King Don Antonio, had his life preserued, besides certaine other Gentlemen, his countreymen.

Who tooke the Ship called the Reuenge,The taking of the Reuenge of England. belonging to the Queene of England? euen Don Lewes Coutigno, a Lord of Portugall, who before time had beene most true and faithfull to his Countrey; and for the defence of his King, fighting against the Duke de Alua, had receiued many mortall wounds in the battaile of Alcantara, the same day that Lisbon was lost, which was in the yeere 1580. and the 26. of August.

And for the more distinct and cleare demonstration of the truth of this matter, I will recite vnto you a most true Historie.

In the yeere 1589. Don Anthonie, King of Portugall, ac­companied with the Englishmen and Hollanders, made a Voyage into Portugall, and casting anchor in the Hauen of Penicha, they of the Castle began to play with their Ordi­nance vpon the armie: but the Captaine of the Castle, An­thonio de Arauio, a Portugall, being ascertained that the king Don Anthonio was in that armie, he forbad the Cannoniers to shoot any more, and caused a white Ensigne to be put forth; vpon sight whereof, Don Anthonio commanded that euery man should goe on shore, and take their way towards the Towne: the which they did, not without some resi­stance made by certaine companies of Castillians, who in the end were forced to retyre, with the losse of some of their people. The first that arriued to the Towne, was the County of Essex, a Prince of the bloud Royall of England, and one that was adorned with many morall vertues. This [Page 26] Lord comming to speake with the Captaine of the Castle, which was vpon the Wall, one of his companie sayd: My Lord, the Earle of Essex is come hither by the commande­ment of the Queene of England, in whose name hee com­mandeth to haue the Castle rendred vnto him. The Cap­taine answered him; Philip King of Castile hath commit­ted the keeping of this Castle vnto me, and for the same I haue done him homage: in regard whereof, I will defend it against all those that shall seeke to dispossesse me of it; and I will not yeeld it vp to any person, saue to the King Don Anthonio, because his it is, and I acknowledge him onely for my King and Lord: and if he be not in this armie, as hath been told me that he is, I would aduise that euery man doe retyre himselfe, otherwise I shall cause you all to loose your liues. Vpon this word, the Countie of Essex retyred himselfe to the Sea side, and there went to meete him, the Lords Scipio de Figueyredo Ʋascoucelles, late Gouernour of the Terceras, and Anthony de Brito Pimentell, and other Gentlemen Portugals of the Kings trayne; who vnderstan­ding by the Count the speech of the Captaine, went on di­rectly to the Castle, and assured the Captaine, that the King Don Anthonio, their Lord, was come thither. Within a while after the King arriuing there, and calling the Captaine, who knew him by his speech, hee made him this answere: Sir, I come to open the gates vnto your Maiestie. The port being opened, he kneeled downe before the King, and kissing his hands,The yeelding of the Castle of Penicha. deliuered him the Keyes of the Castle. This is most true, that if he would haue held good, the English armie had not bin able to haue taken that Castle, it was so well furni­shed and prouided of artillerie, and all things necessarie: for besides great store of Iron peeces, there were 85. of Brasse.

All these examples doe shew euidently, how faithfull the Portugals are to them, to whom they haue once promised and plighted their faith and fidelitie. And for as much as I know that your Maiesties haue conceiued an opinion of me as of a person giuen to be somewhat curious, and who is [Page 27] acquainted with the accidents which passed in this Voyage, and that your Maiesties haue a desire to vnderstand what was the cause why Don Anthonio did not continue in Por­tugall, and what made him to render vp this Castle, and o­ther places which were impregnable, and to returne into England with his armie, without doing any other act of any worth, and with the losse of the greatest part of his compa­nie, with which he was embarked; I will briefely recount the successe of this Iourney, crauing many particularities, because to count them all, it would require much more time then is requisite for the finishing of this Treatise. I say then, that as God, when he chasteneth & humbleth great Estates and Monarchies, doth suffer and permit, for the sinnes of the people, such as are like Pharao's, Nabuchodonozors, Caligu­la's, Nero's, and Dioclesians, vsing them as his executioners and hangmen (as Attila called himselfe the Scourge of God, and Tamerlan the Wrath of God:) so it seemeth he hath per­mitted, that K. Philip should be his minister & the executio­ner of his wrath & anger; and that in his secret iudgement, beyond all apparance of humane reason, his will is not yet that Portugall should be deliuered and set at libertie: for it is not possible, that men should be so blinded, to their owne losse and destruction, as they were in this Voyage, if the Diuine puissance had not blinded them, by taking a­way the vse of their sence and vnderstanding.

The greatest part of the Armie was embarked at Douer,The declarati­on of the Por­tugall Voyage in the yeere 1589. the 24. of March, and from thence went to Plimmouth: From thence they departed all together the 29. of Aprill; at which time perceiuing their numbers to be greatly di­minished, by the contagion that was amongst them; in stead of taking the direct way to Portugall, they set their course for the Groine, where the most part of the souldiers died, and all the best Canoniers: insomuch, that their forces were much abated, and they gaue thereby good leysure vn­to the enemie, both to send fresh men into Lisbon, and to draw out of Portugal those who were any way suspected: [Page 28] as they did indeed take from thence more then an hundred Lords and Gentlemen of marke,Noble men taken out of Portugall by the Castillian. who were all of them very contrarie to him, and by their absence were greatly missed both of their King and countrey. They came to the Groine the sixt of May, where they were till the twentieth, on which day they did againe take shipping, and set sayle to­wards Portugall, where they tooke land at Penicha the sixe and twentieth. From thence (hauing left in the Castle cer­taine souldiers with Anthonie de Brito Pimentell, aboue na­med, who is the chiefe of the House of the Pimentels of Spaine, and about 800. sick men) they tooke their way (the Generall Drake by Sea, and the Lord Generall Norris by Land) with 35. or 40. horse, and some 6000. foot, so ill ar­med, that a good part of them wanted their Swords, and there was not of them aboue 50. Corslets: the cause where­of, was want of Waggons and Carriages, for to carry them ouer the land; and the souldiers themselues were constrained to carry their powder on their shoulders. Besides, many of them at their departure out of their lodgings, had left their Pikes, and some their Harquebuses, loading themselues with pots & bottels of Wine, which they found there in great a­bundance,Wine marreth all. the which in very truth did the more hinder and endomage them: for by meanes hereof they fell into diuerse diseases, and died in great numbers; the English Nation not being accustomed to drinke Wine alwayes, & their Beere is not so strong a kind of drinke. The day following, 3. leagues before their arriuall to a Towne called Loires Vedras, the keyes of the Castle were brought to the king Don Anthonio, which Castle is so strong, that 20. men with necessarie mu­nitions may keepe & defend it against 100000. All the way along to Lisbon (which is 60. good miles) there was not one Castillian that durst appeare; and 7. horsemen English did put to flight 60. Castillians. From thenceforth many Portugals came to kisse the hands of their King, in great a­bundance: notwithstanding, for that they came without armes, hauing beene before disarmed, and for that there [Page 29] was no body of whom they might get or haue any neither for loue nor money (howbeit that they brought with them good store of siluer purposely to that effect) they did the most part of them returne againe to their owne houses: and there could not be armed of them aboue one thousand foot, and 120. horse with Lances and targets: notwithstanding that the number of them which came was in a manner in­finite. Amongst whom there were many Gentlemen of good re [...]oning, who (because they were not clothed in Veluet and Satin, but plainly after the fashion of the coun­trey) were not knowne nor acknowledged by the strangers to be of that qualitie. On the Friday the second of Iune,The armie ar­riueth at Lis­bon. they came in the night time to Lisbon, and were lodged in the suburbs of Saint Katherine, which are so great, that there were aboue 12000. persons of the Armie lodged there all at large, and yet they held not the third part there­of. The officers of the king Don Anthonio found,A great sub­urbs. that the Marchandize in this suburbs was worth more then foure millions, to wit, spices, drugs, sugers, wines, flesh, corne,4. Millions of marchandize of the suburbs of Lisbon. Biskets, and other prouisions: as Sir Roger Williams an English Colonell (who was in this armie) did witnesse af­terwards in the towne of Manthu, in the presence of many persons of good quality: affirming that he had entred into most of the houses of the sayd suburbs, with an English Marchant which is come forth of the citty, and that the Marchandizes which he saw there, were worth aboue sixe millions. This suburbe is toward the West Lisbon;6. Millions. in the which they were lodged contrary to the resolution which they had before set downe in a Councell held the day be­fore, about two leagues from the citie; which resolution was, that they should haue encamp [...]d on the East side of the citie for two reasons: one was, to hinder the enemy, that they should not haue any succours by land: for that the armie by sea being on the West side, and the sea vpon the South side, and the mountaines of Sintre on the North side, they could not possibly haue any intelligence from [Page 30] any part. The other reason was, for that being in that quar­ter, on the East side, they should cleare and free the way for the good people of Portugall to come and to haue re­course vnto their king. Now in that they tooke vp their lodging on the West part, was an occasion that the enemy might safely and at pleasure sally out of the towne with two hundred horse,A sally of the Castilians. who slew and tooke prisoners many Portugals, and a great quanrity of victuals which were sent by the townes that tooke part with the king: and they were an hindrance also to many others that they could not come to ioyne with him. The Saterday following, the third of Iune, about two or three houres after mid day, there issued out of the citie about two hundred horse and eight hundred foot; some of the which entring within the streets of the suburbs, and crying aloud, God saue the king Don An­thonie, The great neg­ligence of the officers of the armie. they came euen vnto one of the courts of Guard, and there slue to the number of thirteene or foureteene, for that they were lodged in the street without any Baricado [...] made for the fortitying of their lodgings. Notwithstan­ding the Portugals which followed the king, hauing disco­uered them to be Castilians and not Portugals, did giue the Alarme so hotly, that a regiment of Englishmen with certaine Portugals making out towards the enemy, did charge him with that fury, that they made them betake themselues to plaine flight,The repulse & flight of the Castilians. and slue of them vpon the place sixescore: besides that they tooke fortie or fiftie of their horses; and the flight of the Castilians was so hastie and headlong, that in their entry into the Citie, they left the gate of Saint Antan wide open. In this encounter died an English Cauallier, Colonel of a regiment named Bret, a braue man, and had great experience in the art Militarie. Now for that the Generall Drake did not enter within the port or hauen of the citie vntill the Sunday following (as was before resolued hee should haue done:) and for that also the most part of the souldiers had neither match nor powder left, saue onely for the discharge of some two or [Page 31] three volley of shot,The siege rai­sed from be­fore Lisbon: the Lord Generall Norris was con­strained to raise the siege, and to retire his forces the Mon­day morning, without any other thing attempted against the city:The hope of the Portugals. within the which the Portugals did expect to haue seene the ladders raised vp against the walls, for to haue made an assault vpon the Castilians.Don Rodrigo de Lobo exe­cuted by the Castilians in Lisbon. And for this very cause the same day that the campe did rise, Don Rodrigo Lobo, a Gentleman issued of an honourable house, and brother to the Baron de Aluito (which is the onely Baron in Portu­gal, & a great Lord) was made prisoner and lost his head. The same monday being the fifth of Iune, the army came to Cascais, from whence they of the army made certaine sal­lies against the enemy, who were so terrified, that 50 Mus­quetiers English, and 7. horsemen Portugals made 200. horse Castilians to dislodge from a village within a league and a halfe of Cascais, and to flie to Lisbon in such post hast that they left behind them part of their Arms and baggage and their dinner ready dressed.The Castle of Cascais ren­dred to the K. After that (the Castle Cas­cais being rendred) the King and the Generals in a coun­cell held the twelfth of that moneth about noone (whereat were present the Count de Essex with many other Lords & all the chiefe Commanders of the Armie) they resolued to returne againe to the Citie of Lisbon the day following, which was the day of S. Anthonie, A Councell held to returne to Lisbon. a Portugall by birth surnamed Saint Anthonie of Padoa: & their resolution was thus set downe; That the Lord Generall Norris with all such souldiers as are sound and lustie should march by land, and in his company should bee the king: and that the Generall Drake with the Mariners, and all the hurt and sicke souldiers, and such Gentlemen as were not able to march by land, should goe by sea: And to put the ene­my in the greater disorder and confusion, they should cause 2to passe on the other side of the Sea 300. Portugals and 800. English. Which if they had put in execution, with­out all doubt they had gained the Cittie, notwithstan­ding that there were within it more then foure thou­sand [Page 32] Castilians: who had conceiued a notable feare of the English and Portugals which were with the king, and they of the cities likewise,The victorie at the Groine. as knowing well that at the Groigne 800. English, with 200. Hollanders, and few Portugals, had defeated 10000. of their people, amongst whom there were some thousand old souldiers which lay there, and were the remainder of the Armie by sea, set forth the yeere before: besides the Countie de Andrada, the Countie de Al­timira, and the Leane of S. Iames de Compostella, and many other Gentlemen: insomuch that they of the citie had resol­ued, that as soone as they should see the Fleet and sea forces of the English to passe the Tower of Bethleem, or the Ar­mie by land to giue an assault vnto the citie, the Cardinall of Austria would haue embarked himselfe with all his peo­ple to passe on the other side of the sea: and for this purpose they held all the Gallies, and many barkes in a readinesse to set saile. Amongst which there were many hired for 300 duckats for the passage of three leagues onely. This coun­sell being ended, and Drake himselfe being a boord the ship called the Reuenge, did set saile about three houres after noone, and tooke his course towards Lisbon. Some thought he went to see the channell of Alcacena, which is an entry into the Hauen, by which men do commonly passe, which would auoyd the danger of the Tower of S. Iulian, because in this councell (where had beene called many old Pylots Portugals,Tower of S. Iulian. who were very expert and well acquainted in that sea) it was resolued, that the Fleet and sea forces should enter that way for their more surety: besides that at that time there was water enough for them, by reason of the coniunction of the Moone:Drake taketh the Sea, con­trary to the resolution ta­ken in counsel and the winde also was very fauourable vnto them. Notwithstanding Drake, when it grew towards euening, turned the head of his ship to the Westward, by reason he was aduertised, that there passed by a Fleet of thirty saile of Esterlings: of the which hee tooke 25. or 26. But this hindered the resolution former­ly taken; so as it sorted not to that effect which was purpo­sed. [Page 33] And it constrained the Lord Generall Norris, The embar­king of the ar­my for Eng­land. the King, and the Earle of Essex, to embarke themselues the day following, and to take the Sea, where they met with Drake the Friday following.

I suppose that this short Discourse (which I haue here set downe, without specifying of any other the particularities of this expedition) will suffice to satisfie the desire of your Maiesties, and to shew the cause, why there was nothing done in Portugall, and that Gods will was not as yet to re­establish her by the meanes of this voyage. And I say more­ouer, that the principall cause,The reason why so many faults were committed in the English Armie for Portugall. why so many faults and ouer­sights were committed, and that nothing was performed or put in execution (according as had been resolued in coun­cell, was, because this armie was leui [...]d by Merchants, whereas in matters of this kinde, Princes onely ought to employ themselues, and that with a setled and aduised deli­beration: in such sort, that there ought not any name of an army to be vsed, but by and from them onely: and they ought to haue more interest therein then any other, and ought to be at the whole and onely costs and charges both of leuying and maintaining of all armed forces. And last of all, to them alone doth belong the choyse and election both of the Heads and Leaders, and of one Generall and chiefe Commander: vnto whom, as to the Soueraigne, all the o­thers should be subiect and obedient. See then the reason why the Lord Generall Drake (being named and sent by Merchants who were most ingaged in this voyage) did frame himself to do that which they would, and what came into his owne braine and fancy, rather then that which the other Lord Generall Norris did well and wisely aduise and counsell him, who was a man of singular experience, wis­dome and vnderstanding, as well in politike gouernment, as in deeds of Armes, and all matters of warfare. For this worthy Lord did striue and labor by all meanes conuenient to haue made a longer abode in Portugall, both in the quar­ters of Lisbon and elsewhere: but after that the army had [Page 34] once set sayle, the said Lord General Norris could not from thence forward, by any entreaties, perswade Drake to set foot on land againe in Portugall, and not so much as to take one Citie, where it was wel knowne that there was not any forces, nor any resistance made: neyther was there any meane for the enemie eyther to haue succoured it, or after the taking thereof, to besiege it for one yeere at the least. Besides that, with the same it is most certaine, that they might haue found in Gold, Siluer, Silkes, and Clothes, more then a million of Duckats. Moreouer, the said place might easily haue beene fortified, and by that meanes might haue commanded many other places: and afterwards, money be­ing sent into France, England, Holland, and other parts, they might haue leuied and led thither aboue fiftie thousand soul­diers sooner, then the enemie could haue gotten together fiue thousand. And this I thinke will suffice for your Maie­sties to vnderstand that which you desire in this behalfe.

But now let vs returne to the purpose which wee had in hand. We haue said, that by this one example it may easily be perceiued, how faithfull and loyall the Portugall Nation is to them, vnto whom they do once promise faith and loy­altie: and therefore God graunt, that they doe not accord nor vnite themselues to the Castilian, and that neyther your Maiesties, nor the other Princes and Potentates of Europe doe not consent nor permit them to doe it, nor doe giue them occasion to lose the hopes which they yet haue of their libertie. And you ought not to attend or stay vpon the death of Philip: for it may be, that the Portugall will more easily accord with the sonne then with the father. And fur­ther, as the Monarchie of the Castillian is neyther gouer­ned nor conserued with the sword, but by good and sage counsaile; so albeit he should die, yet the same counsaile con­tinueth and remaineth still. Besides, for these many yeeres of late, it hath beene gouerned without his presence: and therefore there is little or no hope for any great change or alteration by his death.

Now of what great weight and importance this matter will be, Don Francisco de Ivara (the father of Don Diego de Ivara, lately Embassadour at Paris during the League) did confesse and make knowne vnto a French Gentleman at Madril, in the yeere 1579. The Gentleman is yet liuing, and can testifie the truth of that which I will now tell you. The said Francis demaunding of that Gentleman (who was then newly come from Barbarie, where the late King had sent him, for certaine of his affaires) what newes hee brought out of that Countrey? his answere was, That the Moores were in a notable feare, by reason they had intelligence, that the King Catholike did leuie a great Armie to passe into Barbarie, to reuenge the death of his Nephew, the King Don Sebastian. The speech of a Spanish no­bleman to a French Gen­tleman. Whereunto the sayd Francis replyed, It is not amisse that the Moores should be in feare: but it were more meet, that the King your Maister did vnderstand to what end this Armie is leuyed; for in very deede, it is for Portugall.The most Christian king and all the Princes and Potentates of Europe haue great reason to hinder that the Portugals doe not accord with the Ca­stillians, and that they giue them no occa­sion to lose the hope of their libertie. And if the King Catholike, my Lord, doe make himselfe Mai­ster of that Realme, as hee verily hopeth (for hee hol­deth it in a manner as alreadie wrought and practised) hee will bring to passe, that not onely the most Christi­an King shall be inferior and tributarie vnto him, but also all the other Princes of Europe shall bee subiect vn­to him, especially the seuen vnited Prouinces of the Low Countreyes: and the Pope, with all the Court of Rome, shall doe nothing but what seemeth good vn­to him; because, hauing added vnto his Empire the Monarchie of Portugall, who can be able to resist him? For this reason it will concerne the most Christian King, and all other Christian Princes, to ioyne themselues to­gether, as in a common cause, for that otherwise the King my Maister will make himselfe Lord, and the vniuersall Monarch of all the World, whereby they shall be his sub­iects, and wee shall be his slaues and vassalls perpe­tually.

This that wee haue here left recited, doth prooue that which was before spoken: and therefore to returne to the matter in hand: I say in the fifth and last place, that when­soeuer a great and puissant army shall be raised to passe in­to Spaine, be the charge neuer so great, if it do nothing else then wast and spoile the countrey, and take some few cities and townes, and if in regard thereof the Castilian be enfor­ced to call home his forces (which he holdeth in these parte of Europe for his owne defence, though the comming of those his forces should cause our army to retire, yet I should hold this for a very great benefit; because that which can­not now be done with an hundred, will then be done with ten men, and the charge and expences will bee still lesse and lesse. But it may be, that some of your Maiesties subiects will say vnto me, that this is a matter of great difficultie, and at this time especially very hard to be done: for that hauing the enemy here at hand, euen at our backes, there were small reason for vs to transport our forces into foraine parts. This a good doubt, and may be some trouble to men of a shallow and small vnderstanding, and such as haue lit­tle iudgement to discourse vpon the state of matters: but to them which know the depth and ground of things, it will carry no apparance of danger. But to the intent the trueth may the better appeare, let vs reason together each with o­ther by way of demanding and answering, as is vsed in the Schooles.

A discourse or reasoning be­tweene the Author and a Frenchman touching the passing of an Armie into Spaine. The Subiect. Be it so if you please, for I will heare you with a right good will. The Pilgrim. Say then, what is it that you thinke will endamage you? Subiect. The ene­my with his forces and with his intelligences. Pilgrim. But if you finde a meane to disnest him from hence, who then can hurt you afterwards? Subiect. No body. Pil­grim. Doe then as I haue told you, and without doubt the enemy will be gone from you. Subiect. That cannot bee. Pilgrim. Wherefore? Subiect. Wherefore, say you? How would you, that we should goe into a strange and foraine [Page 37] country to warre vpon others, and leaue our owne country in the power and puissance of our enemies? If we send our forces into Spaine (as you would perswade vs) we should be vtterly vndone, as I haue giuen you to vnderstand. Pil. Good God, how are you without iudgement and vnder­standing? Take that which I tell you, as I speake it, and not as you conceiue it, and answer me to one question ca­tegorically. If there were now an armie raised to goe into Spaine, to the making whereof, let France spare some foure or fiue thousand men: England three or foure thousand: the Estates of Holland, Zeland, Freezland, and all the rest of their Allies, two or three thousand, besides ships, of which they haue great store; and let some other Princes, Poten­tates, and Common-weales, disburse some proportion of money, for the aiding and furthering of this enterprise: & to these adde three or foure thousand Zwitzers or Lance knights: and then tell me shall France bee vnprouided? or shall England be dispeopled? or shall the Estates be vnfur­nished of men and shipping, and without meanes to keepe the Seas? or shall the other Princes and common-weales be reduced to such misery, that they shall be vnable to hold their ordinary course in their affaires and proceedings: but rather as they may well spare twice so many men to furnish them to passe into Spaine out of the seuerall King­domes, and yet they are sufficient to imploy greater forces into other his dominions in the West, and neuerthelesse powerfully maintaine their owne. Sub. No: I think not so. Pilg. Why then doe you not that which concerneth you so neere, and whereof dependeth the whole and onely remedy of your mischiefe and misery, and wherein you for your part, haue a greater interest then any of the rest. Sub. Marry sir: to make vp these thousands of men which you speak of; there must be had great store of mony, which will as hardly be had, as they that haue it, will be loth to depart with it. Pilg. O how blind is this people! and how deuoyd of counsell and prudence is this nation! O that [Page 38] they would be wise, and that they would vnderstand, and prouide for things to come. Our towne, which the enemy may take to morrow next, doth it not import vs more then 300000. crownes, which is the most that wee shall neede for the furnishing of 4. or 5. thousand men? If after the taking of Laon, and the reducing of so many good townes, there had been imployed 200000 crowns, which are demanded for this enterprise, it may bee, you should haue had by this time more then three milllions in your purse, and you should not haue lost al these towns in France of so great import; Cambray, Dourlan, Calice, Ardes, A­miens, and many other places, with your great Admirall: and so many braue gentlemen and Captaines which are now dead, would stil haue liued to speake in French. More­ouer, doe not excuse your selfe and say for your discharge, that a man cannot diuine what will follow: for you haue beene too too much forewarned of matters as they haue fallen out, and there is yet liuing a Lord, one of the Coun­cell, who at Fountaine Belleau in May 1595. did by all meanes he could possibly deuise, perswade the vndertaking of this enterprise; alledging so many reasons and so euident, that he plainly shewed, how greatly it did import France to make a voiage into Portugall: but they would not vn­derstand, nor so much as giue eare vnto him: Thy destru­ction is of thy selfe, O Israell. Is not this true? answer mee. Sub. I confesse it; there is nothing more true: and at Cam­bray, Calice, and Amiens wee haue lost so much, as it is a mockery to speake of three millions, for that the moueables of Calice onely were worth more then a million, and those of Amiens much more. And if the enemy should happen to possesse those two places any long time, the game would soone cost vs more then 13. Millions. Pilg. Now then, if you confesse thus much, and doe know what the issue and effect of this matter wil be, as you say: why do you not that which concerneth you so much, and is so necessary for you? Sub. Seeing you doe presse mee so farre, I will tell you [Page 39] without hiding any of our thoughts from you. The cause is, for that we are vnwilling to hazard and set vp the rest of our estates vpon the sayings,Nota. and vpon the opinions of a Nation that is passionate and in miserie: but we hold it bet­ter, to defend our owne as well as we may, rather then ex­pose all to vtter ruine and destruction: for to what purpose will it be to send 12. or 15. thousand men into Spaine, where there is so great a multitude of people? We cannot beleeue that there can come so great good of such a iourny, as you in the beginning of your Treatise would perswade vs: and all the world doth both thinke and speake no lesse; affirming, that it is onely the desire of those (who are ty­rannized and in bondage, and doe long to see their coun­trey deliuered from that tyrannicall seruitude) which doth make all things to seeme and appeare easie to bee done. Pil. O that it would please God to open the eyes of your vnderstandings, that you might know your selues, and that you might be able to discerne the good from the ill, the sweet from the sower, and the blacke from white. It must needs bee a great griefe vnto the Phisitions, when they see that their patients are wilfull and obstinate, because in the curing of them, there is neither reason nor counsell which will seeme pleasing or agreeable vnto them. And in very truth, I doe assure you, that I hold it in a manner im­possible for any man (be he neuer so sage, or quick & cleere sighted) to perceiue the thousandth part of the griefe and sorow which I endure to see you (my masters) euen you of France and England so obstinate, as that you will nei­ther conceiue, nor so much as vnderstand, that whereupon your whole saftetie and deliuerance doth depend: that you are so inclined to follow a tracke or by-path, which will throw you downe headlong to a most miserable ruine, out of which there will be no recouerie. But seeing I haue gai­ned so little in speaking to you in particular, and that euery man doth talke of these matters in publike, I will now ther­fore turne my speech to the whole world.

First, I say, that it is very hard and difficult to put in exe­cution any matter of great waight and importance, with­out indangering of some things of like kinde and nature;To gaine any thing there must be much hazarded. and a man cannot gaine or purchase any thing without some great hazard and aduenture. If Marchants should not aduenture their goods vpon the Seas, and commit them to the mercy of tempests and pyrats, or enemies, they would not make such great gaine and commoditie as we see them to do dayly: neither should Kings or Princes haue need of so many officers, or of so many customers: and the excessiue profit which men make both for themselues, as well as for their countrey would soone cease: neither would they so prodigally spēd & bestow their goods & their liues, in run­ning into so many dangers for the discouering of Lands so farre scattered and remoued from them. If all this be done for the gaining of 10, 15, or 20, for 100, how much more ought you to doe it to redeeme and deliuer your selues from so great trouble and calamitie, and from so many dangers which doe threaten and menace you? And if you cast your your account well, you shall finde that you gaine more then 100 for one. Thus much concerning the first point of your speech. And whereas you spake of people passionate and in misery: I cannot forget it, but I must and will answer you to that point also. O how it would reioyce me, if you wold vnderstand, that this is but the malice of the deuill and his followers, to make men beleeue, that that which is told them (howsoeuer it be founded vpon truth and reason, and those aduertisements which are giuen them for their good and benefit (and which were needfull for them to receiue and imbrace) do proceed onely of passion: to the intent he may by meanes hereof hinder and withdraw them from all good actions, and bring them to vtter ruine and destru­ction.The condition of the assailāt farre differeth from that of the defendant.

Secondly, it is most certaine, that the condition and estate of them which are defendants, is much more miserable then that of the assailants, because for to defend themselues they [Page 41] shall need greater store of men and forces, then to assaile their enemies. The reason: for that those which stand vpon their defence, doe not know vpon what side the enemy will essault them: and they which do assaile, do well know where the enemy holdeth his principall force and strength for his defence. For example; suppose that the enemy put within Amiens 100. horse onely, and foure or 5000, foot: now for you to defend your selfe from them, it will be need­full that you doe place good and strong garrisons in Abbe­uille, Eeu, Diep, Roan, Gisors, Gournay, Pontoise, Beau­mont, Senlis, Compeigne, Han, S. Quintin, Pe [...]onne, Corbie, Bologne, Montreil, S. Esperit de Ru Beauuoys, Clermont, and many other places, if you would not see your selfe rui­ned: but assaile your enemie, and then shall you haue the aduantage. March therefore into Spaine, into Flanders,That it is ne­cessary to passe with an army into Spaine. or other his dominions that may be nominated, and you shall haue peace at your pleasure, otherwise you shall haue it with shame and dishonour, and you will in the end repent you, that euer you spake of peace. If you stand here at home vpon your owne defence, you seeke your own ruine and perdition: if you goe thither to assaile him, you shall ruinate and destroy him. Let the multitude of examples which are euery where in all histories learne you to bee wise; consider well I beseech you that which Scipio Scipio. (one of the most peudent and greatest Captaines of the world) said vnto the Romanes:The Romans. Hannibals Speech of Scipio, who had lost three great battailes against Hanniball: There is great difference and ods (said he) betweene spoyling and preying vpon the countrey of the enemie, and to see our owne flaming with fire, and spoi­led and ransackt by our enemies. Moreouer, he which as­saulteth is more couragious then hee which is put to his defence: adde hereunto, that the feare and astonishment is much the more and greater, where it is not foreseene and preuented. Now as soone as a man entreth within the ene­mies countrie, he shall soone take knowledge both of the good and euill that may befall him therein, & he shal quick­ly discouer the commodities or the discommodities of the [Page 42] country.Liu. Dec. 4. lib. [...]. Saying of P. Sulpitius to the Romans. Remember well that which P. Sulpitius saide vn­to the Romans, and take it to your selues, as if he had spo­ken it vnto you, to wit: That they had had good experi­ence by that which was past, how their warres were al­waies more happy and fortunate, and their armies much more puissant in the countrey of the enemie, then in their owne. Hearken to the counsell which Hanniball gaue vn­to Antiochus, Idem. Decad. 4. lib. 4. and make your profit thereof better then he did: Assure your selfe that the countrie of the enemy will yeeld you souldiers, who desire their libertie: and will furnish you with victualls, and all commodities for your armie. Let the faults and ouersights of others make you wise: doe as Cyrus did, who cast himselfe away by con­temning the counsell of Croesus, Herodotus. and by not making any recknoning of Tomyris his enemie.Halicar. lib. 1. Take heede that you doe not incurre more blame in this behalfe then all others, and it may bee more deseruedly; because you haue euer, and doe daily, vse too too much to contemne, and not to regard your enemie. Certainly, this is the first and prin­cipall cause of the ruine of all estates, when they con­temne and set not by their enemies: and when they will not hearken to any thing that shall bee alledged to the con­trary. For the question is not now of entring into a for­raigne countrey, to subdue and conquer it, or to get to bee Lord and Master of it: but onely to restore vnto libertie so many peoples and nations, who doe crie and call for aide vnder the yoke and burthen of this tyranny: and to deliuer your owne subiects from the armes of the enemie, who hath gotten footing in the best and goodliest prouince of your realmes and kingdomes. If you doe not as I aduise you, I feare me, least to morrow they will take yet some o­ther of your townes, and the next day another, and so after­wards at one blow will seize vpon all the rest. Take heed therefore to that which I tel you: I would not haue you for the assailing of your enemie, to leaue your selues vndefen­ded; but that in doing of one thing, you do not let passe ano­ther: [Page 43] because 4. or 5. thousand men which you men of Guy­en, Languedock, Dauphine, and other prouinces, will not bring you to any such want of men, but that you may haue meanes enough to defend your selues both in Picardie and elsewhere.

Thirdly, to depriue a king from his Crowne and scep­ter, and to dispossesse him of his realmes and dominions,Two things do soone de­priue a Prince of his crowne and scepter: crueltie, and licencious liuing. when he is a tirant, cruell, or of a wicked, licentious and lewd life, there needeth no great forces.

Two thousand men which Charles the 8. King of France gaue vnto Henrie Earle of Richmond his cousine german remoued (for he was the grand child of Katherine sister of Charles the 7. his grandfather, who had to her first hus­band Henrie the fifth king of England) were sufficient for the said Earle passing ouer into England to gather together men enough to bid battel to Richard the third: in the which Richard was defeated and slaine most shamefully,The cronicles of England. by reason of hir crueltie and tyrannie.

Peter king of Castile the sonne of Alphonse the Iusticier, The histories of Spaine. for his tyrannie and many cruelties which hee committed, got the sirname of cruell, and was for the same cause slaine by his brother Henrie the bastard.

The crueltie which Christierne (the second of that name,Many histo­ries. brother in law to Charles the fifth) vsed towards the principall and chiefe Nobles of Swethland, made him lose the said Realme, and consequently also the kingdomes of Denmarke and Norwaie, which he was rightfull king and Soueraigne.

The kingdome of Spaine was taken from the King Ro­derike, a most loose and licentious Prince,The common historie of Spaine. onely by twelue thousand Moores, whom the Earle Iulian, Captaine of the towne of Septa, procured from Ʋlit king of Barba­rie: who in the yeare 713. passing into Spaine in Mar­chants ships, had for their Chiefe and Generall Tarif Ab [...]n Zarca, who being blind of one eye, gaue the name vnto the Towne of Tarifa, which was before called Car­teya: [Page 44] and hauing destroyed the Towne of Seuill, did take and ruinate many others, both i [...] [...]he Prouince of Boetica, and in Portugall, and did ouerthrow in set battell a cousin of the sayd king Roderike, which Roderike himselfe after­wards assembling his forces vpon the riuer of Guadelethe on the seuenth of Iuly (or according to others) on the se­uenth of September, in the yeare 724. did giue battell vnto the Moores: in the which hee was ouercome and van­quished, and immediatly after he lost almost all Spaine. The wicked li [...] of this king was the onely cause of this losse, and of the ruine of that kingdome, and especially be­cause he had dishonoured Caua the daughter of the sayd Earle Julian, who vpon this occasion finding himselfe grie­uously outraged, gaue free entry vnto the Moores by that towne of Septa, which is (as it were) the key of Affrike and Europe. Besides, he did serue for a guide vnto them in that their inuasion. At which time the said Mores had very good and happy successe in their affaires in Spaine, by rea­son that they found the people not vsed nor accustomed to the warres, as they are not now at this day likewise.

Antiochus the Great, for his dissolute & disordinate life, at such time as he should haue set Greece at libertie, and haue made warre vpon the Romaines, for the assurance & security of his owne Empire, was reduced to such termes, that he saw himselfe constrained in the end to accept peace of them, vpon such conditons as pleased them. And retiring himselfe out of Europe and Asia, he was glad to withdraw himselfe into a corner, as their vassall and tributary.

The Annalls of France. Childericke for his voluptuous liuing, and for seeking nothing but for his owne pleasures, lost the Crowne and kingdome of France. By all which examples, sufficing as well as 6000. moe, may be seene how little strength and small forces there doe need to trouble and ruinate the ene­my in in Spaine, which hath not at any time induced, nor had any Prince so tyrannous and cruell, nor of such wicked and licentious liuing.

Fourthly, touching your incredulitie, and the opinion which you haue, that the loue of a mans countrey doth ea­sily deceiue them, and make the remedie of their miseries and seruitude to seeme easie; surely wee may with good reason call this incredulitie a blind [...]nueiglement, and dark­nesse of vnderstanding. and therefore I come once againe to say as I haue sayd, and I doe againe and againe aduise you, That to send a good and well conducted Armie into Spaine, or other parts of his Dominions, will be the onely meane to resist and withstand the enemie, to breake the course of his designes, to beat downe his pride, and to de­stroy his puissance. And albeit that this may well be gran­ted to follow, by that which hath beene aboue spoken, yet I will proue it by one other example onely; which being most true, maketh very much to our intended purpose.

Henry, Count of Trastamara,The Histories of Castise, Portugall, England, &c. the bastard sonne of Al­phonsus the Iusticier, by the aide of the French had slaine the King Don Pedro, his lawfull brother. Of this Peter there remayned two daughters: The youngest, Isabel, espoused Edmond de Langley, the fifth sonne of Edward the third, King of England. This Edmond hauing gotten sundry vi­ctories in fau [...]ur of the Portugals (who accompanied him against the Castillians in Spaine) did manage those affaires with such prudence and wisdome, that he constrayned the sayd Henry, King of Castile, to accept and receiue of Fer­nand, King of Portugall (who was in a manner brought to vtter destruction, both he and his whole Realme) such con­ditions of peace as were most ignominious and dishonou­rable, and very preiudiciall both to himselfe, his vassalls, and subiects. In regard of which his notable deedes and deserts, the said Edmond was afterwards made Duke of Yorke by Richard the second, King of England, his Ne­phew, the sonne of Edward the Blacke Prince, his eldest brother, in a Parliament holden at Westminster in the yere of Christ, 1386. Of these two, Edmond and Isabell, descen­ded the Queene of England, likewise named Isabell. The [Page 46] other daughter, being the eldest of King Peter, and called Constance, espoused Iohn of Gaunt, the fourth brother of the sayd Edmond both by father and mother, and Duke of Lancaster by his first wife Blanche, who had by him Henry the fourth, afterwards King of England; and two daugh­ters, of which the eldest, Philip, was Queene of Portugall, the wife of Ivan the Bastard. Of John of Gaunt, and Con­stance, was borne one onely daughter, called Katherine, of whom we shall hereafter make further mention. The said John of Gaunt, in regard of his wife Constance, did entitle himselfe King of Castile and Leon:Guaribay, lib. 15. cap. 25. and for the obtayning of his right to that Kingdome, hee passed from Gascoigne (which was then vnder the Dominion of the English) into Spaine with eighteene thousand footmen, and two thou­sand horse; where, with the aide of the Portugals, who were his good friends, he tooke the Groigne. From thence he went into Portugal, out of which he entred into Castile, marching euen to the Citie of Burgos, which was distant from the place of his departure more then a hundred and twentie Leagues.The entry and inuasion of the English, with the Portugals, into Castile. And from the time of his first arriuall, he tooke and made himselfe Lord of all the Cities, Townes, and Castles, which hee found in his way: besides, such as being farther off, did come to render and yeeld themselues for very feare and terror. And he might easily haue passed on much further, if his people had not died, who by reason of their disorder which they kept, and by their ill rule and demeaning of themselues, were oppressed with extreame famine, whereof ensued this plague and pestilence amongst them. And they were reduced to such necessitie of Victu­als,The amitie of the French and English out of their owne Countreyes. that they were constrayned to haue recourse euen to the Campe of their enemies (where then was in fauour of the King, Iohn of Castile, Lewes Duke of Burbon, accom­panied with the French forces) of whom they demaunded reliefe, for the sustentation of their poore and wretched liues. The which being perceiued by John the Bastard, then elected King of Portugall, he complayned to the Duke of [Page 47] Lancaster, telling him, that he held it not good, nor con­uenient, that his souldiers should goe to entreat with the enemie, affirming, that these might more endomage him then the others: and that therefore he should immediately recall them, and forbid them to haue any communication, conference, or parley with any of the contrary party; other­wise, that hee would fight against them altogether,The valour of Iohn, the Ba­stard King of Portugall. Thomas Wal­singham. and would cause them all to be put to the sword, the one for the loue of the other. Thomas Walsingham, an English Hi­storiographer, doth set it downe in these very words; and he sayth, that the King of Portugall had then with him foure thousand Portugals, well armed.

Some haue esteemed the saying of this Historiographer as very ridiculous, or as a meere Brauado onely;The valour of the Portugals. but they are much deceiued: for these foure thousand Portugals, hauing their King for their Chiefetaine and Leader, had beene sufficient to defeat twentie thousand Castillians.

The same King with fiue thousand,An Historie worthie the marking. and so many Portu­gals, and a hundred and fiftie Englishmen, did defeat the said Iohn, King of Castile (both of them being present in person in the battaile of Aljibarot) and put him to flight, hauing with him foure and thirtie thousand fighting men; of the which died vpon the place twelue thousand: and there were of prisoners, ten thousand taken by foure thousand, and so many Portugals, and a thousand Englishmen, who re­mained masters of the field: for there died in the fight about a thousand Portugals, and fiue hundred English, who fought as if they had beene Lyons.

About the same time, Don Nunalvres Pereira, This Historie is well worthie the marking, & the battell was called the bat­tel of Valverde Constable of Portugall, with three thousand footmen and a thousand horse, defeated fiue and twentie thousand Castillians, and slew and tooke the principall and chiefe men of Castile.

The same King, before that he came to reigne, and after­wards, had many victories vpon his enemies, no lesse admi­rable then that other; insomuch, that a certaine Noble­man of Castile being in speech one day, and deuising with [Page 48] his King (which was the said John) he sayd vnto him: Sir, I cannot conceiue the cause why the King of Portugall, with so few men, hath so often vanquished you, seeing that you haue alwayes had fiue or six against one of them. The King answered him: The cause is, for that the King of Portugall doth fight against me, being accompanied with his chil­dren, and I combat against him, being accompanied with my subiects; I am King and Lord of Castile, and hee is King and Lord of the Portugals. Euen so did the valiant Alphonsus Henriques, the first King of Portugall, begin to entitle himselfe King and Lord of the Portugals.

An honorable testimonie of the loyaltie of the Portugals.This valour of the Portugals was not then at that time onely, but it hath still continued euen to this day: for wee our selues haue seene, in the yeere 1580. how the King Don Anthonio, with lesse then fiue thousand footmen, Por­tugals, being but euen nouices in Armes, and young soul­diers, did defend himselfe for many dayes against more then twentie thousand old souldiers of the Duke de Alna.

In the yeere following, on the fiue and twentieth of Iuly, being S. James his day, Scipio de Figueiredo de Ʋasconcelles, a Gentleman whose valour and fidelitie is well knowne, and of whom there is often mention made in Histories, being Gouernour of the Iles of Assores, hee defended him­selfe in plaine field with lesse then foure hundred Portugals against more then a thousand Castillians, whom Don Petro de Valdes had made to take land in the Ile of Terceras, neere to the citie of Angra. The Portugals were no souldiers, but mechanicall persons, handycrafts men, and labourers, and amongst them, there were not ten Gentlemen; for the Gouernour had left them in the Towne, for the defence and gouernment thereof. The Castillians were old souldi­ers, amongst whom (as is reported) there were two hun­dred men who had beene Commanders in Armies of Ca­stile, and they fought from foure houres after morning, till foure of the night: at which time they caused a great quan­titie of Kine to be driuen downe from the Mountaines, [Page 49] with the which they brake the rankes and order of the Ca­stillians, to the intent they might come to handy-strokes with them: and by this stratageme comming to the sword,A good strata­geme. they ouerthrew them. Some of the said Castillians saued themselues by swimming, many were drowned, and there were buried by iust account, 875.A notable vi­ctorie of the Portugals vp­on the Castil­lians. Conestagio 8. fol. 234. pag. 1. Of the Portugals were slaine by the hand of their enemies, fifteene; and by the fall of a wall, sixe; and some hurt. The famous Conestagio doth recount this Historie otherwise, but falsely; howbeit, that hee confesseth, that there were slaine sixe hundred Castil­lians, and thirtie Portugals. But I haue heard what passed in this encounter, of many Gentlemen Spaniards, my coun­treymen, who were present at it, and especially of one that was borne in Valentia, named Don Gasper, who saued him­selfe by Sea, being sore hurt; and of a Drumme, that was a Castillian; and of a Portugall, borne in Villa Vicosa: the which two onely had their liues saued, being found vpon the Sea-shore, after the heat of the fight was past. There died one of the nephewes of the Duke de Alua, and one of the nephewes of the Marquesse de Santa Cruce, and a nephew of the aboue-named Don Pedro de Valdes, and that renowned Philip Hartada, an Arragonnois, and seuentie more, of such as were the eldest brethren of sundry good Houses; of whom, a good part were neere neighbours to Salamanca. To be briefe, there died all the flower of Castile: for that they seeing how Portugall was yeelded vnto them so easily, and hauing heard that the Iles were very rich, and that the East Indie Fleet was like to fall into their hands, and being allured with the late sacke of the suburbes of Lisbon, which was valued at three Millions; they had embarked themselues for this seruice as cheere­fully, as if they had beene going to a Wedding. This is a thing well knowne, that foure or fiue young Portugals, from betweene eighteene and twentie yeeres of age, did at Lisbon, with their Swords and Cloakes onely, make no account of a dozen of Castillians. By these reasons men [Page 50] may vnderstand, that that which Walsingham sayth, is not a ridiculous thing, much lesse a Brauado. But returne wee to that wee had in hand.

Within a few dayes after, there came certaine Embassa­dours to the Duke of Lancaster, sent from the King of Ca­stile, who in all humilitie did demaund to haue peace; but the Duke would not hearken vnto them. Notwithstan­ding, hunger and the pestilence constraining him to retyre into Portugall, to the Towne of Trancoso, they came againe to seeke him out, being sent thither vnto him the second time by the said John, King of Castile, with their former re­quest; shewing vnto the Duke by many good reasons and arguments, the great profit which would ensue of a good peace made betweene them.The Castilian demandeth peace of the Duke of Lan­caster in all humilitie. Thereupon did the Duke giue them audience, and in the end did accord to their demand, howbeit that it was full sore against his will: First, be­cause he was giuen to vnderstand, that the King of Portu­gall was willing to haue it so: And secondly (which in effect was the thing that did most vrge him) because he was aduertised, that the troubles and warres began afresh betweene the French and the English, and that there were certaine Seditions growne in England, by reason whereof hee should not be able to haue any fresh succours from thence,The Castilian constrained to receiue condi­tions to his disaduantage. whereof it seemed he had then great want; and the mortalitie which was in his Armie did now threaten him, that hee should haue need of a further supply. The accord therefore was made betweene the King and the Duke in this sort: That Henry, the eldest sonne of Iohn, named Prince of Castile, should espouse Katherine, the onely daughter of the said Duke, and of Constance his wife; and that they two should succeed in the Realmes of Castile and Leon, and other his Seigniories: That the King should endow both the Mother and the Daughter (as he did) giuing to the Mother the Citie of Guadalaiara, Medina del Cam­po, and Ouiedo; and afterwards, being with her in the said Towne of Medina, he gaue her Hueta also: and to the daugh­ter [Page 51] for her Dowrie, hee gaue the Esturies, making and na­ming her Princesse, and his sonne Prince of Esturie. And from that time forward, the eldest sonne of the Castillian King hath alwayes borne and had the surname of this Prin­cipalitie, as of Dauphine in France the Dolphin. Besides it was couenanted, That he should giue vnto the Duke sixe hundred thousand Franks of Gold, for his returne into Eng­land, and fortie thousand Franks of yeerely rent, during the liues of him and his wife. Iohn of Castile accepted all these conditions, and that very gladly: for albeit he had France, and the Frenchmen also on his side, and the King of Arra­gon likewise (with whose sister hee had beene marryed, of whom was borne the said Prince Don Henry and Fernand, who was afterward king of Arragon,All Spaine with the suc­cors of France against Portu­gal, which gai­ned notwith­standing. against all right and equitie, and to the preiudice of the true and lawfull heires:) and had also Charles the third king of Nauarre to his friend: yet he knew neuerthelesse that hauing ciuill warres in his owne Realme, and Portugall his enemy: hee should hazard the fortune of all his estates and dominions, of such power was the Realme of Portugall against all the rest of Spaine. This is most certaine and assured,The paissance of Portugall. that at all times and as often as Portugall shall haue the ayd and fauour of France or of England, or of any other strange Prince what­soeuer, she will soone constraine the king of Castile (to whom it is as a bridle) to yeeld a reason, and to submit him­selfe to the yoke, and to receiue such conditions as shall bee both dishonourable and preiudiciall. And those of the Duke had beene much more to his profit and aduantage in this accord, if the king of Portugall had been willing thereunto: because he hauing the sword in his owne hand, hee might haue made partition of the countrey at his owne will and pleasure: he was the iudge, and did what seemed good in his owne sight.Plutarch in Apothege. Hee that hath the sword may deuide the lands as he listeth. Thereof it came to passe, that the Duke departed not very well contented with the King, notwith­standing that he had giuen him in marriage Philip his eldest daughter.

An exhortati­on to the French King, &c.Oh that it would please your Maiesties to consider well this that I tell you, and to the which I would willingly perswade both your Highnesses, and other the Princes and Potentates of Europe, and that you would once know your owne puissance; and being assisted by your neigh­bours, with their Shipping, Gallions, and hardie Mariners, with their Artillerie, Munitions, and other furniture for the Warres, and of which they haue great abundance; besides the ready forwardnesse and willing desire which they haue to accompanie you, as hath beene most apparant for these many yeeres: you shall finde, that you alone haue men enough, and forces sufficient, to make your selues the Iudge and Arbitrator of these Affaires: and holding the Sword fast and firmely in your hands, it will be in your powers to make partition of the Realmes and Prouinces of Spaine; and you shall be able, not onely to take backe vnto your selues that which is belonging and appertaining vnto you, but you shall make them to render vnto euery man his owne. What greater honour? What greater felicitie can there be? Defend (Princes) your right, which for so many Ages you haue inherited from your predecessors. There wanteth not euen at this day in your Realme of England, neyther Champions of Saint George, nor other late Cap­taines, such as Noble Essex, Drake, Candish, Forbisher, Flawkins, Norris, Williams. Likewise in the Realme of France, who neyther wanteth Martelles, nor Pepins, nor Rowlands, nor Oliuers, nor Renaulds. In stead of the twelue Peeres of France, you are enriched with more then twelue hundred of the like. Your neighbors for one Richard, will furnish you with an hundreth; and their Allyes will fit you with an Ogier, so fully adorned with all perfections, and so expert and well practised in the Art Militarie, and so fol­lowed with good and valiant souldiers, that the Constables of Castile, the Counties de Fueutes, and the Verdugo's, with all the residue of their companions, shall haue no oddes, nor aduantage of them.

This is the right and direct way: this is the most cer­taine and most assured meane to haue a good and happy peace: euen by the strength of your owne armes, without the vse and employment of any supporters. You shall giue lawes vnto the enemy, according to your owne will & de­sires: you shall force him to accept of such conditions as shall be profitable and commodious, not onely to you and your owne realmes, but to your friends and allies also. What can the enemy doe, if you should passe into Spaine with an armie well furnished of all necessaries?The qualitie of a good Ge­nerall. and being led and conducted by some Prince which may bee chosen and named by your Maiesties for chiefe and Generall of the same, such a one as shall bee descended of some great and ancient house, and of noble bloud: and accompanied and adorned with such graces and rare gifts, as may easily draw others without any difficultie or grudging, to submit themselues to his cōmand; and one that shall bee a­ble to gouerne with great prudence and wisedome? with­out doubt the enemie would hold himselfe vtterly for­lorne and vndone, (as indeed he should be no lesse) and hee would esteeme himselfe happy and well apaid, if we would suffer him to remaine Lord of Castile: he would restore vn- your Maiesties the realme of Nauarre and surplus of that which he and his predecessors haue vsurped vpon France: vnto the most excellent Duke of Loraine, he would restore the Realmes of Naples, Sicily, Arragon, Valentia, and Catolonia, and such other signiories as are dependants of the same: and the Realme of Portugall, to whom of right it appertaineth. And he would be brought to doe reason vn­to the house of the Duke de Neuers, of the Duchie of Bra­bant, of Limbourg, or Lothier, and of the towne of Ant­werpe. Likewise it would constraine him to restore the Pa­latinate and Zwitzerland.

If you should demand of mee, on what side it were most fit and commodious, and conuenient to enter into Spaine: I say, that if you would enter by Nauarre (whereof his [Page 54] Christian Maiestie, is the naturall and lawfull king) you should euen at this day there finde the grand children of them which haue lost their liues and their goods for the ser­uice of his ancesters, and many others likewise who doe loue and desire him, as their rightfull king and Lord, and will incurre all worldly hazards and dangers for him, espe­cially he being turned true and perfect Catholike.

If by Arragon, the wounds thereof are yet so fresh, that the bloud thereof doth yet, euen now seem new to abound. If by Portugall, the sores are yet open in the quicke flesh, and remaine altogether vnheaded, and that with such griefe and dolour, that euen those verie hands which should offer to touch them (though it were to remedie them) would make them to quake and tremble: for, ‘Horrent admotas vulnera cruda manus.’

And as it is a verie difficult and hard matter for a sicke man, being in captiuitie and seruitude, to recouer his health: so it is impossible for any man (though he should liue a hun­dreth yeeres (to see those two nations, the Portugall and Castilian, to agree and loue together: notwithstanding the king of Castile doth at this day entreat the Portugals (in comparison of his ordinarie and naturall crueltie) with some gentlenesse, and doth maintaine them in their priui­ledges and liberties.The Castilian prowd and ar­rogant. The Portugall impatient. For proofe whereof, leauing an infi­nite number of reasons that might be alledged, one onely shall suffice; and that is, because the Castilians are extreme proud and arrogant, the Portugals too too impatient, when their honour is any way touched or in question, for then they will sooner grow to blowes then to words.

This being so: you will say perhaps, that it is greatly to be wondred at, how the Castilians should then bee able so easilie to subdue and conquer the realme of Portugall as they haue done, the same being so great and so puissant a Monarchie. Hereunto I answer: that it would be a long and tedious matter to recount all the reasons thereof: and in ve­rie trueth it so happened, rather for want of resolution, then for any defect of colour or courage: for the Castilians [Page 57] are not better souldiers then the Portugals, as we haue be­fore shewed: and it did well appeare, how about fiue thou­sand foot, and some thousand horse did defend themselues for the space of foure moneths and twenty dayes, against more then twentie thousand old souldiers vnder the Duke de Alua; the others being but new souldiers, and plaine country peasants: The reasons why the Casti­lians took Por­tugal so easily. and if there had not beene such abun­dance and store of treasons, it may bee that the Duke him­selfe had found but bad entertainment, and woult haue pas­sed any further. But Portugall was altogether vnprouided of Chieftains and leaders: all of them being lately slaine in A­frica with their king, Conestagio. li. 1. fol. 45. pa. 2. as Conestagio in the end of his first booke doth sufficiently set downe vnto vs, where he hath these words; Sebastian went into Afrike, leauing his realme quite and cleane without mony, without any of the Nobilitie, without any to succeed or inherit it, and in the hands of such Gouernors as were but badly affected towards him.

The residue of them which remained vnslaine in Barba­rie, the Castilian with gifts and faire promises had so cor­rupted, that they desired nothing more then to deliuer [Page 59] vp the Realme vnto him. The chiefe force of Por­tugall wherein it consisteth. The Knights of the Launce (which are those whom we in France call Esquiers, and in whom consisteth the greatest force of Portugall,) did in a manner stand still looking on, not hauing any other com­mandement; The negli­gence of the king Don An­thonio and his counsell. which was long of the negligence of the King Anthonio and his Councell, who did alwayes shew them­selues very vnresolute and inconstant in the administration of their affaires: by meanes whereof the Realme of Portu­gall is fallen into this so piteous and miserable estate, not knowing how to recouer her former liberty: there was none that had any faithfull affection or desire to oppose themselues against the enemy, saue onely the Ecclesiasticall and Regular persons, and some few of the nobility. And though the people (who were both without experience, and without armes) were likewise of the same affection, yet had the Castilian by his policy and fraudulent deuices drawne them into his power, by giuing out a false bruit and report, that the Souldiers which did then leuy and assemble in Castile, were onely to passe into Affricke against the In­fidels, for to reuenge the death of his Nephew Don Seba­stian: which notwithstanding were in very deed for Por­tugall, as the successe did make manifest: for hee began to make those his preparations for that attempt as soone as the King Don Sebastian did beginne to make prouision for his voyage; to whom he hauing promised fiue thousand Souldiers and fifty Gallies, when it came to the issue that hee should haue had them, Conestagio l. 1. fol. 18. pa. 1. he vtterly refused to giue him any, to the intent he might the sooner attaine to that hee desired. And besides, falling to an accord and agreement with Muley Maluco, hee promised in the treaty made with him, that he would abandon the poore King of Por­tugall: The Castilian king accordeth with an infidel and to that effect did the Moo [...]e promise him cer­taine Townes in Barbary, which he had before offered to the said Sebastian, vpon condition hee should not giue any aide or succours to Mahumet Xeriffe. But that [Page 60] Prince would not accept them, saying, that hee had passed his word to the said Xeriffe to helpe him. Surely Sebastian was more true of his promise then his Vncle Philip, who to compasse his affaires the beteer, and to get that into his hands, which he had of a long time most ardently desired, did assure his owne doings by the breach of his conscience, The Infidelity of the Castil­lian King. his faith, and his promise, in refusing to giue those succours, which hee had promised vnto Sebastian: and more then that, in commanding by a publike Edict or Proclamation, that none of his Subiects should follow him, nor serue vn­der him in that voyage. And this doth Conestagio giue vs euidently to vnderstand in his second Booke, Conestagio lib. 2. fol. 34. pag. 1. where hee saith: At that time there arriued in the Campe the Captaine Francisco de Aldana, who had promised the King Sebastian to serue him in that iourney: who to that effect had gotten leaue and licence of the King Catholike, which no other could obtaine of him.

It seemeth that his Sorcerers by the meanes of the Di­uell (who is very skilfull in coniectures) had prognosticated vnto him the losse and ouerthrow of the Christians. Thus you may see how euen before the departure of this poore Prince, he did then prepare himselfe to swallow vp and de­uoure that morsell which hee so much esteemeth and lo­ueth: [Page 61] and for preseruation whereof he is at great costs and expences,The Castilian to keepe Por­tugall to him­selfe, doth worke many mischiefes to all Christen­dome. and feareth not to worke exceeding great mis­chiefes vnto all Christendome, and to make peace with the Infidels, to the intent hee may the more commodiously make warre vpon the Christian: in so much, that hee doth euen now triumph in the good successe which the Turke hath against them. His reason is; because, seeing how the Popes holinesse hath embraced and receiued to fauour the most Christian King (whose ruine he desired more then his owne proper safety,) and that the Princes of Italy doe seeke his friendship and amity (which I hope they will doe con­tinually, in regard of the publike good that may ensue thereby: he iudgeth, and not amisse, that it may turne to his domage and detriment, and that it may be an occasion to breake off the course of his great designes and enterpri­ses.Viz. The House of Au­stria, which is indamaged by the Turke. For this cause doth hee reioyce at the losses and misad­uentures of the Christians: notwithstanding that the mis­chiefe doe light vpon his owne flesh and bloud: in so much, that the prosperity of the Infidels maketh him the more proud and haughty.

And this is it, that hath made him so hardy,The Embassa­dor of Venice ill intreated by the Castillian. as to giue ill entreatie to the Embassadour of Venice, if it be true that is reported; if hee be not hindred, ere long hee will giue worse entertainment to all other, without any excep­tion of persons. Hee thinketh that Almaine and Italie e­specially, in their afflictions and troubles, will haue need of his helpe and assistance: by reason whereof, he is per­swaded, that they will not resolue themselues to follow and fauour the partie of the most Christian king: by meanes whereof hee shall bee well able to effect his affaires in France. If hee had beene disposed to hinder the Turke from making warre in Europe, hee might very well haue done it, by molesting and disquieting him in the East Indies as the true and lawfull kings of Portugall haue done. Hee needed haue done no more but haue ioyned with Xata­ma the great King of Persia, the friend of the Portugals, [Page 62] for to keepe the Turke in awe, and within compasse.

Infinite are the praises, wherewith Historiographers haue celebrated the victory which D. Stephen de Gama a Portugall,The victorie of Stephen de Gama against the Turkes. Gouernour of the East Indies, did obtaine a­gainst the Turke, vpon whom hee made warre for that ef­fect and purpose. This battell was fought at the foot of Mount Synay:Gama made many knights at the foote of Mount Sinay. after which the said Gama made many Por­tugals knights, for bearing themselues valiantly in that bat­tell: amongst the which there were two of speciall marke; who being issued of noble parents, did leaue behind them an immortall memorie of their honour and glorie. The one of them was called Don Juan de Castre, The victory of Don Iohn de Castre who afterwards being Viceroy of the said East Indies, did get that famous victory, which you may read of in the life of the king Don Emanuel: in the which with lesse then foure thousand Portugals, he defeated an infinite number of enemies, and put to flight Moiecatan Constable of Cambaia; who be­ing sent by the king Mamud his Lord and maister with foureteene thousand men, to succour the citie of Diu, which held the Portugals besieged within the Castle: he was con­strained to leaue 300. of his men dead vpon the place: ha­uing lost the Guydon royall, with all their baggage. Iuzar­can the yonger (a great Lord in those parts) was taken pri­soner, and Raman the Gouernour of the said citie, (which was great, goodly and populous) was there slaine: and the Portugals made themselues absolute Lords of the citie. Of this valorous Captaine, Don Iuan de Castre, who is now at this present in France, is the grand child: and he also hath beene as faithfull to his king and countrey, as the said Don Iuan his grandfather. The other of those two knights was called Don Lewes de Altaida, Don Lewes de Altayda. afterwards Countie of A­ [...]ouguia, who being in Almaign at the battle which the Im­perialists gaue to the Duke of Saxonie, and the Princes of his partie,Anno Dom. 1548. 24. Aprill. Charles the fift did him great honour, by reason he surmounted all the rest in that iourney, and recouered the imperiall Guydon, which the enemies had once gained: [Page 63] in so much, that the Emperour gaue him all the honour of this victorie, according as himselfe wrote vnto Don Juan the third, king of Portugall, his brother in law,Don Lewes de Altaida Go­uernour of the East Indies the first time. and cou­sen German, who had sent him thither for his Embassador: and this noble man was twice Viceroy of the East Indies. First, in the life time of Don Sebastian, at which time hee defended it against all the forces of Asia, both Moores and Paynims had made a league against the Portugals, who both by defending themselues, an assailing of their e­nemies, did purchase perpetuall and immortall glory.Don Lewes, Viceroy the second time. Af­terwards being made Viceroy, the second time after the death of the King Sebastian, during the raigne of King Henry: and knowing that the people of Portugall had cho­sen and appointed certaine Gouernours to gouern and de­fend the realme after the death of the said Henry, and that they had named ce [...]taine Iudges also to decide the cause, touching the difference vpon the succession of that king­dome: he said openly; I for my part will not yeeld vp the Indies to any other,His saying, touching the possession of Portugall and the East In­dies. then to whom the Realme of Portu­gall shall be adiudged. Insomuch (as some say) that they (which followed the partie of the Castilian:) knowing well that the Iudge would neuer admit him to the succes­sion of Portugall, and being drawne on by the counsell, per­swasions, and faire promises of the Castilian himselfe, which were sent vnto them ouer land: (adde hereunto the notable diligence and industrie which he vseth in all his af­faires. They caused the said Lewes to bee made away with poyson: so died that valiant and faithfull Portugall;Don Lewes de Alcaida poysoned. and there succeeded him in that gouernment a most vngratefull and notable Traitour, who presently after deliuered vp the Indies to the enemy. To the intent the happy memory of Don Stephan de Gama might be preserued, there is an Epi­taph set in a Pallace builded by Gama himselfe (after his re­turne from the Indies) neere to the towne of Setuval in Portugall, which in the Portugall language, though some­what glossely, is thus written:

That is to say:

But to our purpose: At this day Philip hath more force, more puissance, and many more commodities, to hinder the Turke on that side of the East Indies, from making warres in Europe, then all the other kings of Portugall haue had heretofore. Howbeit, as that is not the way to ad­uance his ambitious desires: so cannot he abide in any case to heare thereof. For, though it were a good deede and well done: yet it will not be any helpe vnto him towards the preseruation of this his Monarchy of Portugall, which he hath vsurped with so many fraudulent deuises and vn­lawfull meanes: and which he pretendeth to leaue vnto his heire, be it by right or by wrong: for he knoweth it to be of most great and noble puissance,Portugall, the most rich and precious pearle of the crowne of Spaine. and hee esteemeth it as the most rich, precious, and important pearle of his crowne: & indeed so it is. And therefore I cannot but grieue at some that hold themselues to be wise, and of no small iudgement and vnderstanding; both French and English, who will not in any case be perswaded, but that Portugall is a very small and barren countrey, and no greater then Normandie. And some others (who shew their ignorance) affirme it to bee as great as Brie onely: neither will they beleeue nor agree, that Portugall is within Spaine; but that it is a countrey se­parated therefom: and they will seeme (forsooth) to reason and discourse hereupon, breaking their owne braines about it, to the trouble both of themselues, and those that heare them. These my maaisters doe constraine me to become a Geographer in this discourse; howbeit, that I make no profession of that science: neuerthelesse, because it maketh to our purpose, it will be requisite, that we make a generall [Page 65] description of that countrey, and recount some speciall par­ticulars thereof, to the intent the greatnesse, riches, ferti­litie, and puissance thereof, may be the better knowne and discerned.

Portugall is a part of Spaine,The descrip­tion of Por­tugall. situated vpon the maine Ocean: and it extendeth to the Westward from the East 115. leagues, and from the South to the Northward 25. leagues. On the North side thereof is the realme of Gali­cia: towards the East, it hath the Prouinces of Taragon, Lu­sitania, and Boetica: and to the South, it is bounded with that part of the Ocean Sea, which lieth towards the coast of Affrique. It containeth foure principall Prouinces: the first la Transtagana, which encloseth the realme of Al­garba: the second, la Cistagana: the third, betweene Duero and Migno: and the fourth, la Tronsmontana. These foure Prouinces containe part of the Prouince of Taragon, the greatest part of Lusitania, and a part of Boe­tica. It hath in length 5. degrees and a halfe from North to South, and beginneth at Cape S. Vincent, in 37. degree, ta­king a little of the 36. and endeth in a manner in 42. and a halfe, not farre from Bayonne de Vigo: and it extendeth from the South South East, to the North North East, where euery degree containeth 19. leagues and a halfe: and it hath commonly in bredth 40. leagues, in some part lesse and some part more.Of the great­nesse of Por­tugall. The leagues are not reckoned accor­ding to the leagues of France, but by the leagues of the degrees: each of which hath from North to South seuen­teene leagues and, according to the accompt of Portugall: and so hauing regard what is ouerplusse, and what is wan­ting, the country of Portugall is fully fortie leagues in bredth: so that making a Figure quadrant of fiue degrees and in length, drawne from the North North East, to the South South East, and of fortie leagues in bredth from East to West, it will enclose within it all Normandie, a good part of Beaulce, the Duchies of Maine and of Aniou, the greatest part of Tourayn, in a manner all Poicteau, and [Page 66] almost all Xantogne, and some part of Angolesme, with a part of Perigort. And this we shall see cleerely by demon­stration, if we make the said Figure quadrant in France of 5. degrees and in length, and 40. leagues in bredth: the forme thereof will bee thus: Draw a line from the Angle on the East side of the quadrant and where it hath the North at the head; and it will begin at Crotoy vpon the riuer of Somme (which is in 50. degrees of eleuation) e­uen to Lybourne in Perigort (which is 44. degrees and a halfe) passing neere by Roan, by Eureux, Dreux, and Am­boise, neere by Chastellerauld, by Coue, and betweene Ne­gre and Iarnac and Angolesme, and between Barbesieux & Coutras, till you come to the sayd towne of Libourne: All that countrey which is in the West of this figure, is as great as Portugall. And to the intent, that this which I say, may be the better perceiued, it shall not be amisse to describe the rest of the Figure. The quadrant which hath his head towards the North, and beginneth in the East at Crotoy, drawing toward the West, endeth in the Sea, a­bout 6. leagues off the Sea coast of Cherebourg, and so pas­sing by Constance and by Graundville neere the towne of Dol by the villages of Becherel, Redon, and Arebon, and entring into the Sea betweene Guerrand and Croisic, euen to 44. degrees and a halfe, to the East of the sayd towne of Libourne 10. leagues from the land, which is to the South of Anchises: wee shall come to haue our Figure perfect. Moreouer, because there may be no doubt in this demon­stration, we will answer to an obiection which may bee made by those which will not that Portugall should bee greater then Normandie, and that is, seeing the line from the west side of our Figure passeth by Cherebourg, Constance, Obiections. &c. so as it commeth into the Sea betweene Guerrand and Croisic; what shall be done with the land which remaineth, which is a little part of Normandy, and endeth neere the Ifle of Alderney, and from thence alongst the greatest part of Brittaine? Whereunto I answer, Answer. that [Page 67] all this land, and all the countrey which remaineth there, may be put within the West Angles of the Figure, which are voyd, because they end within the Sea. Now this de­monstration being well made and vnderstood, and being compared with the greatnesse of Portugall,Portugall as great as Eng­land. we shall finde that her circuit is not only as great as all these Prouinces of France, which we haue spoken of, but euen as great as all that circuit which is comprehended in the Isle of great Brittaine, which we call England.

As touching the fertilitie of Portugall, a man may easily iudge thereof by that which Strabo writeth of it speaking of Lusitania, The fertilitie of Portugall. Strabo. lib. 3. de situ orbis. which is the greatest part of the sayd Realme, saying, Lusitania, is a Region most fertile in fruits, in cattell, in gold and siluer, and many other like commodities. And the Prouinces and lands which the Portugals possesse in Spaine out of Lusitania, are held to be much more fertile, then those of Lusitania it selfe: as the lands which they hold in Boetica, in the Prouince Tronsmontana, (which the common people call Tras los Montes) and in the Prouince betweene Duero and Mig­no, which the Latines named Interamnis, and which (the sayd Strabo) against the common and true opinion, pla­ceth within Lusitania. And he sayth further; in Lusitania is the riuer Lethe which many call Limaea, and some others Belion: wherein he is deceiued; as also in saying that Mi­nius surpasseth all the riuers of Lusitania in greatnesse: for Lyme is shut in within the Prouince that lieth betweene Duero and Migno: which Prouinces (following the true description, are enclosed in the Prouince of Taragon: and Migno is much lesse then Duero, Tago, and Guadiana, which are in Lusitania.

There are in Portugall three Archbishoprickes, and ten Bishoprickes: all which,Archbishops and Bishops of Portugall and their reuenues euen at this day doe bring to their Prelates about 400. thousand Ducats of yeerely rent. The countrey for the greatnesse thereof is well peopled: the Duke of Bragantia alone in one Cittie, and in the Townes, [Page 68] castles and villages (of which hee is Lord) hath 200000.The dominion of the Duke of Bragantia. vassals. Portugall sendeth into the East Indies, Barbary Ca­pe de Ʋerd, the Isles of Buan, Mina, S. Thomas, Congo, An­gola, Brasill, and other places some 6000. men yearely, of whom, the third part neuer returneth home againe into their countrey. If Philip durst at this day put any confi­dence and trust in the Portugals, he might draw out from Portugall, to send vnto his war [...]es more then 100000. men from the age of 25. yeares to 40. who hauing nothing to hinder them from going, nor haue any excuse not to obey him, if he should command them.

It is not vnknowne to the whole world, that in the time of Sebastian king of Portugall, there were throughout all that realme 1200. companies of footmen, in the which there were none enrolled nor mustered, but onely the peo­ple of that countrey, Artizans, handicrafts-men, and such like mechanicall persons and laborers, and yet not all of them: the Noblemen, Gentlemen, officers of iustice: the the gouernours of cities and townes: the students and such as professed learning: in sum, all the Nobilitie, the Ecclesia­sticall and regular persons, with their seruants, and many other sorts of men priuiledged were excused and exempted, and were not bound to enroll themselues in the sayd Com­panies: of which the most part consisted of 200 men, some of 300.The number of men fit for warre in Por­tugall. and of 400. Let vs allow to each of them 200 men onely, and they will amount to the number of 240000 men. Consider then how great the number may be of them, which were not bound to be enroled in those Companies. I doe not here make any mention of the number of compa­nies of Horsemen, of which this Realme hath a great quan­tity, because it is not possible to know the certainty and truth thereof.

The greatnes of the king of Portugall.Moreouer the Kings of Portugall are so great in one re­spect, that therein they exceede all the Kings and Princes of Europe, and that is, that they are able in lesse then a quar­ter of an houre to giue vnto their vassals and subiects 10 [Page 69] 15 or 20 Millions in tickets, consisting in dispatches for Gouernorships, Captainships, receits, and other charges and Offices, and for licenses to make voyages by Sea to Banda, Malucco, China, and other parts of the East Indies: by meanes of which dispatches, they which doe obtaine them, doe recouer the said summes of money immediatly.

Hereby may a man easily iudge the greatnesse, the riches, and the puissance of this Realme, whereunto adding the seigniories which it hath and possesseth in Affrike, Asia and America, and in the Ilands which it holdeth in the Ocean Sea, it maketh a most notable, great and puissant Monar­chy: and therefore I maruell not though the King of Castile doth commit such excesse, and is at so great costs and expen­ces for the keeping and preseruing of the same: he knoweth full well how much it importeth him, and of what value and worth it is vnto him: he is not ignorant, as one that knoweth not the estate of things, but on the contrary rather he is wise, aduised, very politike, and well experienced in affaires and matters of state.

Besides, the said Philip is notably addicted to Cosmo­graphy: for hee hath in his Palace of Madril,Philip much giuen to Cos­mography. a very great and goodly House, wherein are the descriptions of all the Prouinces and Realmes of the World, not onely in generall Maps, but euen in particular: there doth hee spend the most [Page 70] part of the day, and contemplating and beholding those de­scriptions, he doth whet on and augment his ambition, and extendeth the bounds of his tyranny: there he seeth what is most fit and conuenient for him, and most easie for him to conquer: there he seeth by what meanes he may take Cam­bray, and how afterward he may obtaine Calis, and what reason he hath from thence to leape ouer to Amiens: and thus doth hee consider and deuise with himselfe what will be most for his profit and aduantage, in such sort that no­thing can escape his hands, and that hee may not be at charge,Philip well seene in Histo­ries. nor hazard his meanes in vaine, and to no purpose. He is also well seene and much conuersant in Histories; and by them hath he seene and discerned how much it doth im­port him (for the attaining to his desire) to haue the Monar­chy of Portugall,The Castili­ans for these 300 yeeres past haue done nothing with­out the Portu­gals. The warre of Salado. and the Portugals at his deuotion, to the intent hee may haue the aydes and succours from thence which both hee and his predecessors haue heretofore had from them: for during these 300 yeeres past, the Castilians haue done nothing worthy of memory without them.

The chiefe cause of that famous victory which they call del Salado (where were partly taken, and partly slaine 400 thousand Moores,) and onely 20 Christians (as was repor­ted from the mouth of Alboacem himselfe King of Maroc­quo) was the King of Portugall Alfonsus the 4. called the Braue, and his Portugals, the which Alfonsus, at such time as the Moores besieged Tariffa, gaue succours to Alfonsus King of Castile, called the Iusticier his sonne in law, not be­cause he deserued to be ayded, but because the warre was against the Infidels.

The warre of Granado in the yeer 1501.At such time as Alfonsus de Aquilar was slaine in Gra­nado, and that the Moores remained victors, and pursued the victory, the Portugals did hinder them from passing for­ward: and keeping the field where the battell was fough­ten, did saue and preserue the rest of the Castilians.

When the peoples of Castile did rise in armes vnder pretence of the common and publike good, and many great [Page 71] Lords and Princes with them against Charles the fifth,The commu­nalty of Ca­stile in armes against Charls the 5. by reason of the great, excessiue and new exactions and im­posts laid vpon them: the Embassadors of the said Princes, and of many Cities and Townes of Castile came to the King of Portugall Don Emanuell, praying him that hee would vouchsafe to take and acknowledge them for his vas­sals and Subiects,The true ami­ty of Emanuel King of Por­tugall to Charles the 5. for that they were desirous to haue him to their King and Lord: but he would not onely not receiue their offer; but he gaue them good counsell and admonition, shewing them how they ought to conforme themselues in obedience to their King. And to other of the Princes, Ci­ties, and Townes of Castile, which taking part with the said Charles, came vnto him likewise for his ayde, he gaue them both money, artillery, powder, and other munition for the warre. Some say that the said King Don Emanuell did lend them 500000 duckats, and many peeces of artil­lery, which was an occasion that they which were risen in armes, did fall to an accord and agreement with their Prince:Anno 1522. and thereof it ensued that Charles the fifth did a­gaine vsurpe the Realme of Nauarre, which Mounsieur Andrew de Foix had before restored and set at liberty: the King Don Emanuell neuer suspecting nor doubting of any such matter intended by him. And Philip now likewise for his part hath rewarded Portugall with the like good turne, as hee hath done the like to France, and now lately a great part of Christendome, to whom he was not meanely boun­den.

When the said Charles the fifth passed to Goletta in the yeere 1535, who tooke it?The taking of Goletta with 22 other ships of warre. That did the Gallion Cagafuego of Portugall, which the King Don Iohn the third had com­manded to accompany the Infant Don Lewes his yonger brother.

How came it to passe that the same Charles the fift tooke the Towne of Tunes, The taking of Tunes. the capitall and chiefe City of the Realme of Lybia? was it not with the assistance and ayde of the said Infant and his Portugals?

The taking of Pignon de Belles by the Portugals.Who was it that tooke Pignon de Belles with the residue, not aboue 35 yeeres since, for the King of Castile? euen Francisco Bareto, Generall of the Gallies of Portugall, and the Captaine Diego Lopez de Sequeira his Nephew, with the Portugals of his company.

The warre of Granado fini­shed by the Portugals.Who finished and gaue an [...]nd to the oppression of Ca­stile, in the behalfe of the Granadians that were reuolted in Granada in the yeeres 1566. 67. and 68? That did 7 or 8 thousand Portugals send for a succour by the King Don Sebastian. Philip King of Castile knoweth all this full well: and that is the cause that he laboureth and paineth himselfe with so grear care and diligence to keepe this Monarchy of Portugall, pretending not onely to vsurpe it, to tyrannize ouer it, and to plucke it by force and violence out of the hands of the Portugals, but to take from them also their ho­nour, their glory, and their valour: for hee seeth well, that hauing the Portugals on his side, hee shall be able by their meanes to satisfie his ambitious humour: and yet shall they not haue the honour due vnto them for their prowesse, but hee attributeth all to the generosity of his Castilians. So hath he tyrannized, and doth yet still tyrannize ouer the ho­nour of the Arragonnois, the Catalans, the Valentians, the Nauarrois, and other the Nations of Spaine: and onely his Castilians (which cary the name of Spaniards, and are so called by those that are ignorant, and know not the diffe­rence that is between the seuerall Nations of Spaine,) they (I say) are those Lyons, those Tygers, and conquerours of the World. But we will come to the conclusion of this part of our Treatise touching Portugall, the most precious and chiefest pearle of his Crowne. It was my chance to be one day in his company with a personage of great estate, who is daily at great charges, and doth spend good store of duc­kats to haue notice and intelligence of that which passeth abroad in the World: and hee did assure me for a certaine and vndoubted truth, that one of the greatest fauourites of the King of Castile did demand of him this question:What [Page 73] should be the cause that he suffered Freezland,A question moued by a gentleman to the King of Castile. and many Townes of other Prouinces of no small importance to be lost, and to fall into the hands, and into the power and sub­iection of Heretikes; by meanes whereof they were con­strained to forsake the true Religion, (a thing worthy to be lamented) onely to succour the Princes and Townes of the League, and to entertaine the warre a foote still in France? Whereunto the King smiling, answered: Let them alone: let them take Freezland and all the rest:The answer of the King of Castile. that which most toucheth me is the keeping of Portugall: which if I doe; as I hope I shall, I will cut them out so much worke, and giue them so much to doe in their owne Countrey, that they shall not easily come neere mine, and I doubt not at length but to haue the rest also: for know this; that if I keepe and possesse Portugall in peace and quietnesse, they shall not onely not be able to liue without me, but I shall make them in the end to be my subiects, and to become tributaries vnto me: and therefore let it not grieue you to see what is lost, for all will be recouered well enough in time, and leaue the care thereof to me alone.

Portugall the principal cause of all the warres.By those last words aboue vsed by the King, and the for­mer recited examples, may be easily discouered, not onely the ingratitude of this peruerse and vn pleasing Catholike, but wee may also collect and gather, that Portugall is the principall cause of so many warres, so many murthers and mischaunces: and that if the same were wrung out of the hands and power of this tyrant, the most Christian King, and the other Princes of Christendome should dwell in peace; the Potentates and common wealths of Europe should be in rest, the Cardinals at Rome should not be at his direction, nor the elections of the Popes at his will and pleasure: ouer the which he doth so tyrannize, that in each of them he maketh himselfe the first person: and (as the saying is) preferreth himselfe before the holy Ghost. There is neuer any election of a Pope,How Philip doth german­dise the electi­ons of the Cardinals and Popes. but he nameth some three, foure, or fiue persons, to the end that the Conclaue of Car­dinals should choose one of them: was there euer seene greater impudency or presumption, that a mortall man should dare vsurpe Gods office? Ha, most Christian King, it is the part of your Maiesty, to defend and maintaine the soueraigne and chiefe Bishops: they are in their possession to be defended and preserued by the most Christian Kings of France: and to that end haue they endowed them with so great priuiledges, liberties, and prerogatiues. Banish therefore and driue away (Sir) this monster, breake the head of this Serpent, tame this Lyon, and deliuer the [Page 75] Church from this so tyrannicall seruitude and hard cap­tiuitie. Restore vnto your pupils their wonted peace and liberty, to the intent they may with hardinesse chastise the euill and vicious, and without feare reward the good and vertuous. How often haue the soueraigne Bishops desired to honour and doe good to some persons, in re­compence of their vertues and merits, and to correct o­thers for their vices: and haue not beene able to performe either the one or the other? Oftentimes against their wils haue the Popes permitted the wicked to triumph, and more often haue they consented that the good should endure af­flictions.

Who did better deserue to be made a Cardinall (if I may not say Pope) then that famous learned man, Do­ctor Martin Aspilcueta of Nauarre,Martin Aspil­cueta a Na­uarrois. whose memory shall be eternall, both for his doctrine, and for his holinesse and vertue? Neuerthelesse onely because Philip could not abide him, for defending against him the cause of that re­uerend Prelate Don. Fra. Bartholmew Carrance, Fra. Barthol­mew Carrance Archbishop of Toledo. a reli­gious person of the order of S. Dominicke Archbishop of Toledo: and for maintaining also with many and strong reasons, that the Portugals ought of right to choose their King by election: and for prouing by most firme and in­fallible arguments, that his Catholike Maiesty, did possesse the Realme of Portugall by vniust and tyrannicall title, was therefore thrust out of all, and dyed in the estate of a poore and simple Priest. Who did euer in all reason deserue better, or more worthily to be strangled and burnt then N? and yet because Philip would haue it so, hee liueth still and triumpheth. Wherefore, most humbly I beseech both your Maiesties, euen for the honour of GOD, (wherein your selues haue more interest then any other) that you would vouchsafe to attend this matter of so great importance: and that you would vndertake to leuy and make ready a good Armie to passe into Spaine: and to consider [Page 76] withall, how great is the prudence, the industry, and subtilty of this common enemy: that your Maiesty would regard his actions, his ambition, and his tyranny: that you would awaken and grow to a resolution, knowing that you haue so great a tyrant to your Neighbour, as of himselfe alone is greater then all others that euer were, or which now are in the World,Tyranny as natural to Ph [...] ­lip, as is laugh­ter to a man. all of them set together: and who hath gotten, (like his predecessors) all that which he possesseth, by pure and plaine tyranny: which is indeede so proper and naturall vnto him, and doth belong vnto him as properly and vnse­parably, as laughter doth to a man.

Giue me leaue, I p [...]ay you, to proue that which I speake, by most cleere and certaine Histories, to the intent I may take away all occasion from those (who are addicted to ill speaking, and to deceitfull dealing) to thinke or take me for a lyar, for this that I say, may be verified by all the Historio­graphers of Spaine, both ancient and moderne, which are worthy to be credited, or haue any truth in them: some of which doe liue yet at this day, and it is no long time since they made their workes, and imprinted them with the fa­uour, and at the costs and charges of the said Philip. And this I will endeuour to proue as briefly as I can, and I will shew how in all the Realmes and Prouinces which the King Catholike possesseth in Spaine, (whereof I my selfe being a Spaniard, doe know somewhat) hee possesseth and holdeth them by tyranny, committed many times and often. And for as much as to proue that which I in­tend, it shall suffice to touch onely that which hath hap­pened since the 380 yeeres last past: I will not speake of any thing that hath befalne before the yeere of Christ 1217.

Castile tyran­nized [...]he first time. Henry King of Castile the sonne of Alphonsus the no­ble, dying, left his eldest sister Blaunch Queene of France, which was the mother of S. Lewes, who was then but two yeeres old:Garibay. lib. 22. cap 41. and his Father (who was not yet King of France) was occupied in the warres of England, [Page 77] whither hee was called by them of that land against their King called King John, who was reputed for a tyrant. Hen­rie being dead (as is sayd) his youngest sister named Beran­gera, the wife of Alphonsus King of Leon with her sonne Fernand encroched vpon the possession of the Realme of Castile, and vsurped it against the right of the sayd Blanch her eldest sister, and consequently against the sayd S. Lewes her nephew.

Fernand being dead, Alphonsus his eldest sonne called Emperour of the West (because some of the Electors of the Empire had elected him, whereas the residue had chosen Richard the brother of Henrie the third King of England) made an accord with the sayd S. Lewes the cousen Ger­man of his father, touching the succession of Castile in this manner: That Fernand the eldest sonne of Alphonsus should e [...]pouse Blanch the daughter of the sayd S. Lewes, with condition, that the children borne of that marriage should inherit Castile. Of them twaine were issued Al­phonsus and Fernand, who were depriued of their right by Sancho their Vncle, the yonger brother of their father Fer­nand, Castile tyran­nized the 2. time: and [...]eon the first time. who died hauing the gouernment of the Realme of Castile and Leon, in the absence of his sayd father Alphon­sus, which then was gone into Italy, there to sollicit his friends, and to make meanes for the Empire. As soone as Fernand was dead, the sayd Sancho tooke vpon him the go­uernment,Ierom Gudiel in the History of the Girons. Garib. lib, 13. cap. 16. getting the possession of many cities and towns in Castile, against the will of Alphonsus his father, who dy­ing at Seuill, vpon a friday the 2. of Aprill 1284. cursed his sonne Sancho, calling him disobedient, rebellious, vsur­per, and a tyrant, and pronounced and named for the true and right heires of his Realmes, and Seigniories, his grand­children Alphonsus and Fernand: and in case they should die without children, then Philip the hardie King of France his cousine German remoued, the sonne of the sayd S. Lewes his Vncle. But neither the curses nor denuntiations of the father, nor the feare of God, could make Sancho to render [Page 78] or restore to the others their right, but he still detained it, and left for his heire his sonne Fernand the fourth of that name.

Alphonsus surnamed the Iusticier, king of Castile, the sonne of the sayd Fernand, and the grand-child of Sancho, amongst many tyrannous acts by him exercised, is reported to haue committed one act most vnworthy not onely of a king, but of a man euen of most vile and base condition: for that it was an action full of notable treasons and infide­litie.Don Iuan le Tuerto Lord of Biscay mur­thered. For hauing inuited Don Iuan le Tuerto, (that is to say, the squint eyed) Lord of Biscay, to dine with him, he caused him most cruelly to be murthered in the yeare 1327. And albeit, he had begun to discharge himselfe of this murther for a season, yet he could not disguise nor couer his tyran­ny:Gariba. lib. 14 cap. 4. Biscay tyran­nized. for that afterwards hee caused him to bee condemned as a traitor, and confifcated his lands and Seigniories: and within a short time he seized vpon them all: namely, about a fourescore townes and castles.

The same Alphonsus caused Don Aluar Nugnes Osorio his Gouernour to be slaine, who had before receiued of him many great honours and fauours; and afterwards be­ing as certained of his death (which was in the yeare 1328) hee seized vpon all his liuings,The Countie [...] de Trastama­res vsurped. The Countie thereof slaine. Garib. lib. 14. cap. 5. Castles, and great Treasures, and vpn the Countie de Trastamara: and within a few dayes after, he caused him to be condemned at Tordehumos as a traitor: and hauing made him to bee digged vp out of his graue, hee willed his body should bee burned, and his goods confiscated.

Henrie the 2. a bastard sonne of this Alphonsus Count de Trastamara slue his brother Peter, (of whom we haue for­merly spoken) and possessed himselfe of the Realmes of Ca­stile and Leon, [...]e tyran­ [...] [...] third [...] & Leon [...] disinheriting his Neeces Constance and Jsa­bel, who with a solemne oath had beene acknowledged Princesses and heires of Castile, first by the estates assem­bled at Seuill to that end and purpose: and afterwards at Albuberca 1363. And if it had beene true, that these two [Page 79] sisters had no right in the said realmes, because hee alledged them to be bastards: by the same reason, had the sayd Hen­rie much lesse right and interest in them: for he was not on­ly a bastard, but murtherer also of his owne brother. And in such like case was Fernand King of Portugall the great grand child of Sancho aboue named, right inheritor to the said realmes; as was the king Don Peter his cousine german remoued, and cousin german also: for Beatrix the mother of Peter, was the sister of Peter the father of Fernand. For this cause Samora, Toco, Cindad-Rodrigo, and other citties and townes of the realmes of Castile and Leon, did call in the said Fernand, and offered to receiue him for their king: especially the realme of Galitia, which was wholly resol­ued to render it selfe vnto him. And for this reason did Fer­nand go in person to take possession of the Groigne:The History of Fernand king of Por­tugall, anno 1369. and he might as well haue seized vpon the other places and holds, if the Portugalls would haue consented thereunto. For they did purposely oppose themselues against the desire and will of their King, for two reasons: the first was, because they had good tryall and experience, that there wanted much of that valour in Fernand, which was in the father and his auncestors: the second was,The Portu­gals haue an ill opinion of the Castilians. because the Castilian Nation is so maligne and peruerse (as the Portugals doe hold it for a maxime among themselues) that it is dange­rous to haue any thing to doe with them, yea to haue any command ouer them, as hath beene before touched. And I say yet once againe, that their nature is so maligne and peruerse, that the venome and poyson thereof doth so spread it selfe abroad, that they which are their next neighbours and borderers doe feele the reuerberation of their malignitie and malitious disposition: insomuth,The malignity of the Casti­lians. that some of them, when they leaue and abandon their owne countrey, and doe withdraw themselues into strange and forraine lands, are more wicked and malicious, more dan­gerous, and more to bee feared, then the very Castilians themselues.

In the yeare 1474. after the death of Henrie the fourth king of Castile, Jsabel the sister, the wife of Fernand king of Arragon, did most tyrannically get possession of the Realmes of Castile and Leon, and of their other Seignio­ries, excluding Jane the daughter of the sayd Henrie her brother: who in the yeare 1461. had been acknowledged Princesse and inheritrix of the said Realmes, for default of heire males, in a full assembly of the three estates, which were assembled to that end at Madrill, by the commande­ment of her father. And the first persons which tooke the oath of fidelitie, and did so acknowledge her, were the in­fant Don Alpho [...]sus, and the sayd Isabel, the brother and sister of the sayd king: after whom all the residue did the like, euery one in order according to their degrees. And af­ter that shee was againe the second time acknowledged Princesse and heire of the sayd Realmes in Ʋal-de-Loçoia, after diligent enquiry made vpon the legittimation of the sayd Princesse, which was done by the Cardinall de Alby a Frenchman, who to that effect was come into Castile by the commandement of King Lewes the eleuenth of France: the which Cardinal in the presence of all the Princes and Lords of the Realme, hauing caused the mother to be sworne and take her oath, demanded of her, if the Princesse Dame Jane her daughter, were the daughter of the King her hus­band: whereunto shee answered vpon her oath, that shee was. Secondly, the King (which tooke the same oath, and) protested that he did fully beleeue and assure himselfe, that this infant Dame Jane was his daughter, and that in all cer­taintie hee had continually so taken and reputed her euer since she was borne: and therefore he did wil and command that the oath of fidelitie and obeysance, which was vsually accustomed to be taken in his Realmes and Dominions, as due to the eldest of the Kings children,Guarib. lib. 17. cap. 2 [...]. should be made vn­to her. These are the very words of Steuen Guaribay: Hie­rome Surite (who is yet liuing) doth rehearse this historie very plainely and distinctly in his generall history of Spain, [Page 81] and how Henrie being ready to yeeld vp the Ghost,Hierome Su­rite in the ge­nerall historie of Spaine. did euen then maintaine, that the said Iane was his daughter and that he commanded his Confessor openly to reuale it. And the said Guaribay affirmeth that Henrie did confesse himselfe the space of a good hower, before his soule de­parted from his body, and that he being in good and per­fect quietnesse of sense, and of a sound and good memory, after he had named the executors of his last will and testa­ment, and declared them for the Gouernors of this Realm, and had giuen commandement, that his seruants should be payd out of his treasures and iewels, he named the said Princesse Iaene, for the vniuersall heire of all his Realmes and dominions, calling her by the name of his daughter, and recommending her with all his affection to the sayd Gouernours.

By that which hath beene sayd, appeareth clearely, that the Realme of Castile, in lesse then 258. yeares hath beene tyrannized foure times, and that of Leon thrice, and all the other Realmes and Seigniories likewise, which are dependants of the same: the which the king Philip pos­sesseth euen at this present day by a most vniust, wrongfull and tyrannicall title.

This also is one thing worthy to bee marked, and (which may be seene by the histories both of the same authours, and of diuers others) namely, that when there hath hap­pened any difference or disagreement vpon the sayd suc­cession, they which haue beene in possession, haue al­together preuayled, and made their title, euen by the right of those very parties whom they haue dispossessed: which is the greatest tyranny that can bee. And that this may the better be perceiued, I will alledge onely two ex­amples.

Rodrigo Sanches Bishop of Palance recounteth,In the life of Iohn the first king of Castile how Iohn the first King of Castile and Leon (of whom wee haue before spoken) seeing that John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, pretended the sayd Realmes of Castile and of [Page 82] Leon to appertaine vnto him, for the reason heretofore alledged; hee said in defence of his claime, that the sayd Realmes did of right belong vnto him,The cunning of Iohn the first king of Castile. as being the sonne of Iane and the Grand-child of Don Iuan Emanuel and of his wife, who was the daughter of Fernand de la Cerda, the lawfull heire of the sayd Realmes: because his brother Alphonsus was deceased without children, and that for this cause hee did hold them with a good conscience, and that he did not hold them from his father, whom himselfe confessed to be a bastard.

The other example is like vnto the former. For in a great assembly of Princes, Lords, and other principall persona­ges, held in the towne of Trogillo, for the taking of the oath of fidelitie to Fernand the second king of Arragon,The policy of Fernand the [...]econd King of Arragon, &c. and Isabel his wise Queene of Castile, the sayd Fernand pre­tended that hee had more right of himselfe, then the sayd Isabel, and that hee ought to be acknowledged as the true and principall heire of the sayd Realmes of Castile and Leon, not as husband to the said Isabel, but as discending in the right and lawfull line male of the kings his prede­cessors, because hee was the sonne of John the grand-child of Fernand, and the great grand-child of Iohn the first: who on the side of his mother same Iane the grand daughter of Fernand de la Cerda (as hath [...]eene sayd) was the true and rightfull heire of the said Realmes. Jsabel knowing the intent and ambition of Fernand her husband, resol­ued to bend and employ all her force and puissance for the maintaining of her right: and for a reply to his speech she said: That that which hee had spoken was to bee gran­ted, if women had not beene vsually admitted to the suc­cession of those Realmes: but seeing the custome was to the contrary, therefore her said husband ought not to bee pre­ferred: and for proofe of that which she sayd, she named certaine women which had succeeded to the said crownes: amongst others Katherine the daughter of Constance, and of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster aboue mentioned, [Page 83] where she did assure her selfe had beene admitted, and re­ceiued to that inheritance as the grand-daughter of her graund-father Peter, and that Henrie the husband of the said Katherine, her ancestors, had right thereunto onely by meane of the said Katherine his wife. For these reasons Jsabel was preferred before Fernand, and she was acknow­ledged as the true heire of the said Realmes of Castile and Leon, and he reputed to haue right onely as her husband and companion, and not otherwise. And this is it which Marin Sicilian speaketh of. In this assembly of estates (saith he) Fernand seeing himselfe king and Lord of the most of two third parts of Spaine,Marin Sici­lian. partly in his owne right, and partly in his wiues, and hauing there prefent all the Lords and Deputies of citties and townes, which were their subiects, he did endeuour by all meanes, to cause him­selfe to be entitled king of Spaine: but those of that assem­bly would in no case yeeld their consent thereunto: but to the vttermost of their power, did oppose themselues a­gainst it, and did thereupon giue vnto the kings of Castile a new title, which Philip holdeth and retaineth at this day, hauing augmented those Realmes and Seigniories, which both the said Fernand and Charles the 5. his father did suc­cessiuely vsurpe each after other.

So that herein may bee seene most apparantly, the no­table tyranny of the predecessors of the king Catholike now raigning: who, after they had for a while suppressed the right of others, to the intent themselues might tyranize ouer those Realmes: yet would afterwards seeke againe to reuiue, and to retaine that very right, and title which they had before most iniuriously vsurped. A thing certainly, which may induce vs rather to sigh and to lament, then to conceiue any pleasure and delight, to see the Princes of the earth, which beare the name and title of Catho­lickes, to bee neuerthelesse so bad Christians, and so insupportable tyrants, as is this Philip the King of Castile. Which is the cause that all the Ecclesiasticall and regular persons of Portugall doe hate him so extremely, that when the commandement was giuen them, that in certaine of their prayers, and in their Canonicall houres, they should expressely pronounce the name Philip (for the King knew well, that vnder the name of King vsed indetermi­nately, they did in their hearts vnderstand and pray for Don Anthonio.) They tooke his commandement in so ill part, that they could not bee brought to doe it. But in the end they seeing themselues pressed by the commandement of the Bishops and Prelates, they did at length pronounce his name, but with such disdaine and in dignitie, as I am ashamed to speake it: notwithstanding because these matters doe well concurre together, and it is not from [Page 85] our purpose; and besides, because hee that shall rehearse them, is not to be blamed for the reciting, for that hee is bound to represent them onely in manner and forme as they were done, I haue determined to recount vnto you two examples concerning this matter, of the which we doe now intreat.

The Archbishop of Lisbon hauing giuen out and pub­lished the Kings commandement afore mentioned, through out all the Churches of Lisbon, in the yeere 1582. the first of Ianuary: vpon the day of the three Kings next ensuing, a certaine Curate, as he was saying a solemne Masse in his Parish Church, with great pompe and solemnity, and the Church full of people, when hee came to the end of the prayer which is vsually said after Gloria in excelsis: in sing­ing of these words, Et Famulum tuum regem nostrum (that is) thy seruant our King; he suddenly stopped, and turning himselfe towards the Deacon and Subdeacon, he spake vn­to them with loud voyce. Tell me, tell me, how call you this Diuell: And they answering him, Philip, he named Philip, and so went on with his Masse.

At the same time it happened that a religious person of the order of S. Dominicke, making mention of the King in a certaine prayer, without naming him by his name of Phi­lip, and being commanded by his Prelate, vnder paine of contempt and disobedience, that he should name him by his proper name: he then repeated it, saying; Et Famulum tuum regem nostrum Philippum, Ducem Albensem, Sanchum de Auila & Rodericum Sapata, caeterósque omnes diabolos, &c. That is to say: And thy seruant our King Philip, the Duke de Alua, Sancho de Auila, and Rodericke Sapata, and all the other Diuels. When I rehearsed this vnto a No­bleman of good account, with whom I communicated the greatest part of this discourse, hee wondered greatly, vsing this exclamation; Iesu, doe the Priests and Religious per­sons of Portugall thus hate his Catholike Maiesty? This is a strange thing, and I maruell much that they hating him so [Page 86] extreamely, and being of such strength and puissance in their Countrey, (for the most part of them are Noblemen and Gentlemen, and some of them great Princes) that they doe not cause the people to rise in armes against that Ty­rant. I answered him, the cause is, for that albeit they haue neuer so iust a cause to take armes, yet the Portugals are a people of great patience and sufferance towards their Prince: and they doe also goe to the warres with so ill a will, (howbeit, that being once in the warres, they proue very good Souldiers) that they had rather goe to hanging. Neuerthelesse, if they should once rise against the Castilian, they would defend themselues in such manner, that hee should neuer more be able to suppresse them.

The whole substance of the matter is: that they doe once grow to a resolution, and that they set hand to the worke: which if they once doe, I beleeue that they will make as great a wall betweene Portugall and Castile, as they of China did in times past make betweene them and the Tar­tarians: and if it were but onely to content the soule of their King Iohn the second,Iohn the 2. the scourge of the Castilians, named, The man and King of peace. named, The man and King of peace, who was the scourge and plague of the Castilians: and of him is yet spoken that old prouerbe; Jf the Chicke had not come, the Cocke had beene taken. This Prince knowing the manners, the life, and the tyrannicall actions of the Casti­lian, was wont to say, that hee did greatly desire to see be­tweene Portugall and Castile,The griefe and discōtentment of King Iohn the 2. of Por­tugall. a wall feared vp so high, as might reach vp to Heauen; protesting, that the thing that most grieued him in this World, was: for that the Sunne did first passe by Castile, before it came into Portugall: and that which made him quite and cleane out of all patience, was, because he knew not how to remedy it.

The Nobleman, to whom I recounted all these things, giuing me great thankes, said vnto me: Certainely I am ve­ry glad, and doe thanke you heartily for acquainting me with these particulars, which are things worthy to be re­membred, and such as I haue not at any time heard or seene [Page 87] written. But I doe not vnderstand (quoth he) what should be meant by that prouerbe aboue mentioned: If the Chicke had not come, the Cocke had beene taken: as that also which you haue spoken of the loyalty of Auila and Simancas in Castile: of Celorico and of the Castle of Coimbre in Por­tugall: and of the King of Castile and the Castilians, and of the Cities and Townes. Monsieur (quoth I againe) I would gladly declare the same vnto you, but I feare lest I be blamed for making such long digressions: for I am so well acquainted with the disposition of men, that I am not ignorant in how many parts of this my discourse, they may accuse me in that behal [...]e: and therefore I pray you to suffer me first to make an end, and then after the conclusion of this Treatise, I will satisfie your desire particularly and at good leysure: for I doe assure you, I would keepe silence concer­ning many things in this worke, were it not most requisite and needfull that they should be spoken of and published, for the better attaining to that which I intend and purpose; the which (I doe perswade my selfe) that both you my ma­sters of England and likewise of France, and you also my masters the Princes of Europe (who are all of you highly interessed in the greatnesse of the Castilian) will embrace cheerefully, and with open armes, if you be not altogether without iudgement and vnderstanding. But it is now meet, that we pursue the proofe and demonstration of the tyran­ny of King Philip, which calleth himselfe the King Catho­like.

We haue lately shewed, how King Philip by vsurpation and tyranny, non solum in modo, sed in genere, (as the Ciuilians vse to speake) of his predecessors, doth possesse the Realmes of Castile, of Leon, of Galicia, of Tole­do, of Siuill, of Cordona, of Murcia, &c. with some other Prouinces contained within the precincts and streights of his Realme. Let vs now come to the Realmes of Aragon, of Valentia, the Counties of Barcelona, of [Page 88] Cerdonia, and Roussillon, and the Isles of Maiorica, Mino­rica, and Sardinia.

Aragon, Va­lentia, &c, ty­rannized. Fernand the Infant of Castile, the graund Father of Fer­nand aboue named, vsurped all these Realmes and seignio­ries, of the which he depriued Isabel Countesse of Vrgell his owne Aunt, sister to his Mother: which Isabel had also one Daughter named Isabel, which maried with Don Peter the Infant of Portugall, the younger sonne of John the ba­stard King of the said Realme. Of Peter and Isabel was borne the Lord Don Peter Constable of Portugall:The Lord Don Peter Constable of Portugall, and King of Ara­gon, poysoned by Iohn. which Don Peter, by reason of his Mothers right, and other aun­cesters, was called and acknowledged by the Catalognians, for their King and Lord. And after hee had reigned ouer them for the space of fiue yeeres and more, he was poysoned by Iohn the second of that name, sonne of the first Ferdi­nand, whom we named to be the successour of Alphonsus King of Arragon his elder brother.

Charles the 4. the rightfull King of Na­uarre, empoy­soned by his stepmother.This Iohn was a notable Tyrant, and hee retained the Kingdome of Nauarre tyrannously after the death of the Queen Blaunch his wife, the right heire of the said Realme, against the rightfull title of Charles his owne sonne, vnto whom that Realme ought to haue descended, by the death of his mother: as it did likewise fall vnto Lewes Hutin by the death of his mother Jane, who dyed eight yeeres before her Husband Philip the faire. For this cause the said Charles (being a most curteous and vertuous Prince) had great dif­ference and suite with his Father, who caused him to be poysoned by his stepmother Jane, the Daughter of Don Fe­derike, the second, Admirall of Castile.

Of Peter Constable of Portugall and King of Aragon, there was no lawfull issue remaining: for the line of Jsabel his mother, was extinguished in John the second, King of Por­tugall: by reason whereof, the right of that Realme, and all the Seigniories depending thereupon, ought to descend, and doe appertaine to the most excellent Dukes of Loraine, as the true and rightfull heires of Yoland Dutchesse of Anion,The Duke of Loraine, the right heire of the Kingdome of Arragon. the wife of Lewe [...], Grandfather in the fift degree of the said excellent Duke of Loraine now liuing: the which Yoland was the lawfull Daughter of Iohn King of Aragon, (the el­dest sonne of Peter the ceremonious King of that Realme, who was also the Father of Martin, which raigned after the said Iohn his elder brother,) and was the true heire of this Crowne, and of all the demaines thereof, by the death of her elder sister, the wife of the Earle of Foix, of whom shee had neither sonne nor daughter.

The Realme of Nauarre was vsurped, (as is reported by diuers Historians,Nauarre vsu [...] ­ped. euen Spaniards themselues) vpon false informations by Fernand the great Grandfather of King Philip, which Fernand was one of the Masters of Machia­uel, Fernand the 5: king of Castile one of the ma­sters of Machi­auell. In his Booke of the Coun­cels & Coun­cellers of Prin­ces. Dis. 14. par. 11. (as Bartholmew Philip doth tell vs in that Booke which he caused to be imprinted in the yeere 1585, where he hath these words:) Those Princes which do fully resolue themselues to preuaile and grow great by force of armes, ought to imitate the Catholike Don Fernand the fift of that name, King of Ca­stile, who held himselfe apart, and gaue the looking on to the warres, which the Princes of Christendome made one vpon ano­ther, to see what issue and what forces they should haue, to the intent hee might aide and succour those which were weakest: and hee would not suffer any to grow great or puissant in Italy, who pretended to be Lords and Commaunders there, neither would hee at any time enter into any leagues made by the [Page 90] Princes of Christendome, vnlesse he might make some profit and benefit thereby vnto himselfe. This was Lewes the 12. of that name. For this cause he would not make warre vpon Lewes King of France, when Pope Iulius, the Em­perour, and the Swissers did warre against him, for that hee thought he should not aduantage himselfe by the diminution of that Realme, if the aduersaries of the said Lewes should make themselues great by his losses: and yet being perswaded that the said French King would augment his estate, Let the French King and the Princes and Potentates of Europe consi­der this well. by making warre vpon the Realme of Naples, hee entred into league against the King of Fraunce, with the Emperour and the King of Eng­land.

The Booke (whereof I speake) was dedicated by the Authour to Albert Cardinall of Austria, when hee was Vice-roy of Portugall, who is the third Graundchild of the said Fernand, both on the Fathers and Mothers side.

Portugal and her demaines tyrannized.Now how Philip himselfe hath tyrannized and vsurped the Realme of Portugall, and the Seigniories which are de­pendant thereupon, raising himselfe into a great and mighty Monarchy, and yet ill considered, or knowne by strange and forraigne Princes, all Bookes in generall doe sound it forth: and the Vniuersities of Coimbre, of Bologna, and of Pisa, and many learned personages haue adiudged it to Kathe­rine Dutchesse of Bragancia in Portugall,The sonnes of Katherin Dut­chesse of Bra­gancia. 1. The Duke Theodosius:2. Edward.3. Alexander.4. Philip. the lawfull daugh­ter of the Infant Don Edward brother to the mother of his Catholike Maiesty: which Katherine is at this day yet li­uing, and hath foure sonnes, good and sound Catholikes, learned, wise, goodly, and couragious Gentlemen, and two o [...] three daughters. And the Vniuersity of Pauy hath ad­iudged it to Raynuncio, now at this present Duke of Parma, the sonne of Mary the eldest sister of the said Katherine, the said Mary being deceased a long time before her Vn­cle Henry. I suppose that I haue most cleerely and suffici­ently shewed the tyranny which all Spaine hath endured and suffered vnder the predecessors of King Philip the Ca­tholike: and as for that which the West Indies hath suffe­red vnder himselfe, as also all the rest whereof hee doth [Page 91] write himselfe Lord, by what title and pretence they haue beene gotten, it is well knowne euen to the little children, who doe openly cry and speake of it in the streetes: and both Naples, Sicily, Millan, Vtreich, Guelders, Zutphen, and other the Prouinces of the Low Countries, and the Countries of high Almaine, (all which haue beene tyran­nized by him and his Auncestors) doe manifestly proue and verifie it: so that it seemeth vnto me, that I haue made good and sufficient proofe by these Histories and examples, that tyranny is the first and principall heritage of his Ca­tholike Maiesty, euen of Don Philip of Austria; and that it is as proper and naturall vnto him, as laughter is vnto a man, and that it belongeth vnto him properly and insepa­rably. Wherefore now that wee haue made knowne his tyranny, me thinketh it would not be amisse, nor imperti­nent to our purpose, (most Christian Kings) to entreat somewhat touching his cruelty: for asmuch as Spaine did neuer yet find his like or equall, as the flesh and bloud there­of hath too too well tried, and had the experience.

All Bookes, all men, and euen his owne mischieuous and wicked actions,Of the cruelty of King Philip. doe euery where yeeld open and abundant testimonies of his cruelty. If Iulius Caesar (as it is reported of him) were cause of the death of more then a million of men, they which haue beene acquainted with the cariage & behauiour of this tyrant, will confesse, that he hath been the death and destruction of a farre greater number. Caesar was extreamely grieued to see Pompey his enemy dead. And as Antigonus when his sonne Alcinous presented him with the head of Pyrrhus, slaine at the entry of the City of Argos, did sharpely reproue him,Plutarch. (Filium (que) nefarium & barbarum vocauit) calling him a wicked and barbarous sonne: so Cae­sar in imitation of his example, seeing the signet and the ring of Pompey, did of pure compassion fall a weeping, in so much as he was resolued to make warre vpon Ptolomey, because he had slaine Pompey traiterously, and hee did so much, that hee caused him in the end to be the instrument of his owne [Page 92] death.See hereafter. Philip on the contrary, doth not onely not grieue at the death of his seruants, friends, cousens, nephewes, bro­ther, sonne and wife: but hee doth reioyce and triumph at the same; yea, he doth procure and aduance it, giuing great summes of money, excessiue rewards, and great honours vnto the executioners and ministers of his cruelty: and for the satisfying of his pernicious ambition, when there is any thing whatsoeuer, be it neuer so little that toucheth him, he maketh no exception of persons, be it Pope, Nuncio, Bi­shop, Monke, or other Ecclesiasticall person, hee poysoneth them all, without feare of God, or shame of man.

Behold then how hee dispatcheth all his affaires, and in what manner hee dealeth with all the world. It was not long since there was taken in the Citie of Leon a pac­ket of letters, written with his owne hand, and sent [Page 95] to the Constable of Castile, within the which were found certaine graines amongst the letters: and a certaine Gen­tleman suspecting somewhat, gaue of those graines to eate to manie liuing creatures, which all died immedi­atlie. Another like matter as this same happened within a while after in the franke Countie of Burgoigne, in a certaine house where the Constable of Castile had lodged; after his departure from thence, a chamber-maide of the house founde a ball within a verie faire purse; with­in which ball shee thinking to haue founde some great treasure, founde certaine graines, of which was made the same proofe and experience: and all those creatures that did eate thereof, died. This is that notable ty­rant which doeth all that hee can doe, to the vttermost of his abilitie, and that dareth seeke to take away the life of the most Christian Maiestie,To wit, of [...]he Queene of England, and Prince Mau­rice Count of Nassau, &c, Fol 216. p. 2. 80000. duc­kats promised by king Phi­lip to kill Don Anthonio and other Princes by such shamefull and abhominable meanes, as there is none but would shame to write them, saue onelie maister Hieronyme Franchi Conestagio, of whome wee haue formerlie spoken. For hee in the seuenth booke of his historie saieth, that Philip did prize the life of the Priour (that is to say, of Seigniour Don Anthonio king of Portugall) at fourescore thousand duckats, as beeing a rebell and disturber of the publike peace and quietnesse. And so did hee handle another Prince that was both his cousin germane, and cousin germane remo­ued, and so manie wayes of kinne vnto him, and so strict­ly allied vnto him in friendship and amitie, that they carried themselues each to other, as if they had bene each others father; yea, and as if they had bene but one person: and yet did hee vse him as if hee had bene a com­mon theefe, a robber, a malefactor, and a man of no rec­kening nor estimation. And this horrible and abhominable crueltie doeth not end in Portugall, but it passeth ouer the sea, and the Pyrenean mountaines, into Fraunce, and into England; where he hath bent and imployed all his meanes [Page 96] to take away the liues of the Monarches of those realmes. O barbarous, O abhominable hang-man and murtherer! hast thou no shame? If thou be a Catholike, as thou doest entitle thy selfe, how is it, that thou knowest not what a deede of shame and enormitie it is to commit murther? God would not that any man should touch Caine himselfe, who had murthered his owne brother: and commanded that if any were so hardy as to kill him, that he should bee seuerely punished:Genes. 4. Omnis qui occiderit Caine, septuplum pu­nietur, Whosoeuer shall kill Caine, shall be punished seuen sold. If thou doe know this, why doest thou not keepe the commandements of God eternall? The good workes (I say not of Saints, nor of Christians) but euen of Idolaters which hauing no knowledge of the true light, doe follow onely the simple law of Nature, doe they not worke any shame in thee? Doest thou not remember what the Ro­manes did when Pyrrhus Pyrrhus. his Physitian did offer Fabricius Fabritius. to poyson him? And how they handled the Schoole-maister to the children of the Fuliscians, which came to betray to them to Camillus? Lucius Florus Pompo. Mela. Lucas Tuden­sis, Paulus C [...] ­sirus, and ma­ny others. If thou thinke that these Examples bee nothing to the purpose, learne what sentence they gaue a­gainst Seruilius Caepio, who returning to Rome with victo­rie, and demanding that he may triumph, in recompence of his seruice done to the commonwealth, by the death of Ʋiriatus (whom he had caused to be slaine by treason) and for that he had subdued a great part of Spaine to the Ro­mane Empire: they pronounced this iudgement against him; that both the said Caepio, and the murtherers of Viriatus were more worthy to be chastised then to be recompenced: and that there was no reason they should allow any re­ward for the destroying of their enemies, and the victories gotten against them by money and through corruption. Quae victoria empta erat à Senatu, & percussores indigni prae­mio iudicati.

By this then that hath beene said, may bee seene, as in a mirrour, the crueltie of this maligne and peruerse tyrant, [Page 97] whome many will not beleeue to bee such a one as in very deede and in trueth he is: but contrariewise, without all consideration, as people blinded, peruerse, and obstinate, they will striue and contend to gratifie him, be it well or ill done. And that which doth make me most out of patience in this behalfe, is to see and heare some, who moued with an indiscreet zeale: or els being wickedly enclined, and (it may bee) guided and seduced by the diuell, doe hold any man whomsoeuer a most lewd and vile man, and in manner of an heretike, who being drawne by a true and iust zeale, shall publish this much for a trueth and certaintie: in so much, that whether it be for feare or for gaine, or for hatred, or of a disordinate loue and charitie, they doe esteeme it a farre worser deede to accuse and to reproue such open & knowne iniquities, then the very act of doing them. All of you in a manner will confesse and can not denie, but that all this which hath bene spoken touching the malice of this tyrant is most true and certaine: and yet neuerthelesse, they them­selues will not for all that stick to say, that notwithstanding it be so, yet it is ill done, so to report of a Prince, that is so great a Catholike. See, I pray you, what a blindnesse, and how strange a matter this is, most vnworthie and vnbeseeming any man, that would bee counted either a Christian, or a iust and honest man.Nefarium est & maleficum cognitam ve­ritatem dam­nare. It is as the sin of witchcraft, to condemne the knowne truth. Obiections or allegations of reasons to iu­stifie or ex­cuse K. Philip. If it bee true and publikely knowne, wherefore then doe you contradict it, euen against your owne conscience, and to the hurt and detriment of others? Doe you not knowe, that it is a most wicked and cursed thing, and a manifest sinfull crime to condemne the knowne and notorious trueth? and especially in such thinges, which by the commande­ment of God; and in holie and pure religion we are boun­den to reproue and reprehend? But you will say vnto me; that there is reason Princes should bee excused in some faultes, when they are otherwise endowed with any no­table and excellent vertues. And that there did neuer reigne in Spaine any Prince, which hath giuen bett [...]r triall, [Page 98] nor made such euident demonstration of him selfe to bee a good Catholike, as his Catholike Maiestie, of whome now wee are in question. There is no Prince that hath so much enlarged, and augmented the Ca­tholike faith as hee. There was neuer any that did vse the Clergie, and all, both Ecclesiasticall and Re­gular persons with greater loue, nor greater reuerence. And in briefe, there is not any hath builded more Mo­nasteries, nor edified so many Churches, nor exerci­sed so great bountie and liberalitie towards the Church as he hath done; for besides the great and excessiue costs and expences which hee hath bene at in building them, hee hath founded them with most great and rich rents and reuenues, and hath honoured them with most am­ple and beneficiall priuiledges. This is well said. Be­leeue me my maisters, I am infinitely sorrie, that I may not briefely aunswer to these propositions, for that eue­rie one of them doeth require a more ample treatise then this worke which wee haue in hand: neuerthelesse, I will not leaue by the way (as it were) to say something touching the same,An answer to the former ob­iections, or al­legations. and to shewe you how you doe abuse your selues in all these matters. And first, to aunswer to the former of your allegations; I confesse that you say nothing but reason: when a Prince shalbe a good Catho­liste, iust, honest, and valiant, without being liberall: it is great reason he should be pardoned of this defect; and so doe I thinke also, when any of those vertues shalbe wan­ting in a Prince, which are conuenient and fit for the royall person and dignitie: so as notwithstanding he be furnished and adorned with the residue. Howbeit I doe not forget what the commaundement of God is, touching this point: Quicunque totam legem seruauerit, Iames. 2. v. 10. in vno autem offenderit, factus est omnium reus: whosoeuer shall keepe the whole law, and yet faileth in one point, he is guiltie of all. But I speake now as touching man, and in respect of men onely, and not of God: and I am of this opinion, that if a Prince [Page 99] be touched with some notable vice: as if he be vniust, or cruell, or a tyrant, or an ill or loose liuer, &c. yet being accompanied and furnished with other vertues, we ought not neuerthelesse, for any one of those vices aboue men­tioned, (how great and haynous so euer it be) neither to reuolt from him, nor yet so to complot or conspire a­gainst him, as to procure his ruine and d [...]struction (for as­much as in seeking his ruine, we shall sooner finde our own, which Fraunce hath w [...]ll p [...]ooued of to her cost.) But we are bound to haue our recourse to God, by hartie prayer, fa­sting, and abstinence, and to pray to his diuine Maiestie,Good and wholesome counsel for the demeanor of subiects to­wards their Princes. to turne his mercie toward him, and to pardon him, and to giue him grace and vnderstanding to auoide that which is euill, and iudgement and wisedoome, to choose that which is good: that hee would giue him a concrite and humble heart, and would deale with him according to his mercies, to the intent the sweete smelling sacrifice may ascend vp to heauen, and that of his clemencie it would please him to re­ceiue his prayers and oblations made vnto his diuine Maie­stie. By such meanes did the people of Loraine obtaine by the mercie and fauour of God so much grace for their Duke Thierri, the sonne of William, the brother of Godfrey and Balawin Kings of Ierusalem, a most cruell and tyrannicall Prince, & one that was a persecuter of the Church of God, and an oppresser of his subiects and vassals, in so much as he did not only come to himselfe and amended his wick [...]d life, (but also restoring that which he had wrong [...]ully taken) he withdrew & shut himselfe vp in a Monasterie, where by the space of foure yeares before his death, he led a perfect & ho­ly life. O that it would please God, that your great friend Philip the Catholike (in whom are wanting all the vertues which are fit and decent for a good and iust Prince) would doe the like, and would restore vnto others, the goods & li­uings taken from them, after the example of Duke Thierri, and not as did Charles the fift his father. And let this suffice for an aunswer to the first proposition alledged by you.

As touching the second: true it is, that Philip hath greatly aduaunced the Christian faith in the West Indies: in so much that this doeth serue him greatly as a cloake or mantle to couer, and to augment his vsurped power and tyrannie: but this good worke ought to bee impu­ted to such deuout and religious persons, both of his subiects and others, as haue bene the instruments there­of, rather then to him. See, I pray you, and consider well, how hee hath extended Religion in Affrique: hee hath euen of late, against the institutions of the order of the Knights of the Religion of Iesus Christ, and others, concluded and made peace in Barbarie with the Infidels, to the intent hee might with the more commoditie make warre in Europe against the Christians. And what doeth hee at this day against the Turke, but onely dallie and trifle with him?

Touching the third of your propositions: histories doe well recount, and all men may assure themselues, how much hee loueth the Ecclesiasticall persons, and what re­uerence hee beareth to them that are religious. In times past, it was neuer seene, that any Ecclesiasticall or reli­gious person hath beene put to death in Spaine, for any matters concerning the estate. The greatest crueltie, and most rigorous seuere iustice, that the Arrian Princes shewed vppon them for being contrarie to their opinions, was to imprison them, and to keepe them enclosed with­in Monasteries. True it is, that of some of them they did put out the eyes, and afterwards, some Princes did cause them to be put to death secretly in prison: but as for the gallowes, and such like infamous deaths, they knew not what it meant, saue onely since the reigne of his Ma­iestie, that will be held for so great and so good a Catholike. And I for my part do beleeue, that he is no lesse: and yet I know he is but a very bad Christian: for I make no doubt but he beleeueth all that which the holy Catholike, Aposto­like Romane Church our mother teacheth, and instructeth [Page 101] vs: howbeit I know full well, that he doth not obserue any of the precepts commanded in the Decalogue.

And as concerning the rest of your allegations made in his excuse; although that Philip hath builded vp a great number of Monasteries, and many Churches, endowing them with rich reuenues, yet all this will not make me, but that I must needes take him and acknowledge him for a no­table tyrant, and a most cruell Prince. Historiographers haue written largely of the cruelty of Brunhault, Brunhault caused ten kings of France to be put to death. (how­beit, that some would excuse her, and doe attribute this fault vnto the first Writers) and they doe affirme, that shee caused to be put to death ten seuerall Kings in France, and many other persons of great quality. Also they write of her, that shee caused a great number of Churches to be buil­ded, and did prouide them of so great goods and riches, that it is a very strange thing to be reported. See what Gaguin Gaguin. writeth thereof: in so much, that if a man would compare the charge and expences of Brunhault, with the meanes shee had, he would greatly maruell, how this woman was able in one age to build so many Temples, and assigne vnto them also so good and large reuenues. Now Brunhault hath deserued another manner of praise and commendation, for vsing so great liberality towards the Church, then doth Philip, because shee gaue of her owne, and Philip giueth of other mens. In Spaine they finde great fault with those that will steale a sheepe, and will giue the feete for Gods sake: and so doth his Catholike Maiesty; hee draweth from the Clergy Tercias, Subsidio, Pila, Escusado: in so much,See the mea­ning of these words a little after. that of ten he taketh at the least fiue: and one Prelate payeth more vnto him then 2000 labourers, or 4000 Gentlemen. See then how liberall he is to the Clergy: and by the meanes of these feete of his sheepe, hee buildeth vp Monasteries and other Churches, and endoweth them with great reuenues. Moreouer, who is he that hath medled with setting to sale the Townes and Castles which were of the iurisdiction and vassals of the Church? It is your great friend Philip, [Page 102] whom you accompt so vertuous and so Catholike.

Obiection. I know well, you will reply vnto me, and alledge, that the rents of the Churches of Spaine are so great and exces­siue, that although the Prelates doe pay vnto their King the one halfe of them, yet they doe all of them still continue and remaine rich; because there be some Prelates in Spaine, which haue greater reuenues yeerely then 50 or 60 Pre­lats in France. Answer. Hereunto I answer: that although it be so, yet his Catholike Maiesty may not spoile the Church of her goods, which Princes, and others Catholike and deuout persons haue giuen vnto her. And if the dowry of any Da­mosell or maiden be priuiledged, how much more ought that so to be, which is giuen to God, and to our Lady, and to the Saints: who (as Histories doe specifie) haue foughten visibly and really, and haue beene seene in sundry battels personally, doing of great miracles? And therefore seeing that his Catholike Maiesty doth take away from the Chur­ches [Page 103] that which is giuen them, for the causes and reasons by vs alledged, he committeth fraud and sacriledge, which may be an occasion, that hee himselfe may happen ere he die, or his successors for him to repay the same againe. For this cause did Nebuchadnezzar wander vp and downe for ma­ny yeeres in the fields in the shape of a brute beast:Daniel 4. and Bal­thazar his sonne saw that horrible vision of a hand writing vpon a wall his future death and destruction.Daniel 5. Acts 5. Ananias and Saphira his wife fell downe dead at the feete of Saint Peter. We haue many examples touching this matter in the holy Scriptures, and many more in p [...]ophane Writers: and there is a great number of them euen in Spaine, especially in Ca­stile. The Queene Dame Viraca, the Daughter of Alphon­sus the sixt Emperour,The common Histories of Spaine. going out of the Church of S. Isidore with the riches which shee had taken thence, fell downe dead at the Church doore. Don Alphonsus the warriour her Husband, for the like matter was vanquished by the Moores in the battell of Fraga, and was neuer more seene nor heard of after that time, neither aliue nor dead. The King Don Henry brother germane to the mother of Saint Lewes, being but a ladde, was slaine by the hazard of a brick or tile falling vpon him within Placentia. Some doe attri­bute this his death to the carelesnesse of the said Henry, for not prouiding a remedy (albeit hee were in his tender and younger yeeres,) against the extortions done vpon the Churches, by the children of the Count Don Nugno de La­ra, who were Tutors to the said Henry, and Gouernours of his Realme: and they doe affirme, that all those disasters and mishaps which Histories doe write of, did happen by the occasion of those his Tutors. These examples may suf­fice to proue vnto you the abuse and inualidity of your re­ply, and to shew that your Philip by laying of his hands vpon the Ecclesiasticall liuings, (as he hath done) cannot excuse himselfe of fraud, sacriledge, and tyranny; and so by this meanes (with an ill conscience) hee stealeth [Page 104] the sheepe of another man, notwithstanding that hee giue againe the feete for God sake. And yet ouer and aboue all this, I doe assure you euen in the faith of an honest man, that if there were no other vices the person of King Philip saue onely these two, to wit, tyranny and cruelty, and if hee were a true obseruer of the rest of the Law and faith Catho­like, I would excuse you of your blindnesse and inueigle­ment: but you may hold this for a certainty, that his abho­minable workes will proue any man whomsoeuer to be an egregious lyer, that shall be so hardy as to defend that hee is no such manner of man. For this enemy and generall per­secuter, vnder the cloake and shadow of a Catholike, hath done more mischiefe, and committed more insolencies a­gainst the Church of Rome, then all the other persecuters that euer went before him. Will you see the proofe how you are abused, and how bad and vile a Christian hee is? Open your eye liddes, and you shall see how he bewrayeth it, euen as if a man should with his finger point at it. In the yeere 1575, this King Catholike being aduertised that the late Monsieur did make great preparation to enter with a mighty Army into Flaunders, hee beganne very secretly to sound certaine of the principall Lords and chiefe heads of the p [...]etended reformed Religion, within the Prouinces of Languedoc, Foix, Bearne, Bigorre, and of the Countrey de la Bort, neere to Guipuscua, ouer against Fontaraby, to know if they would vnder his protection defend their li­berty, promising them, that he would cause an Army of Al­maines to descend against the most Christian King,Offers made for King Phi­lip to those of the reformed Religion, to make warre against the late French King. and that hee would giue them fiue hundred thousand crownes yeerely to that effect, and for the entertainement of the Mi­nisters of their Churches: beating into their eares, and ma­king them beleeue, that the enterprise of Flaunders, which the Duke of Alanson had vndertaken, did not tend to any other end, but onely to entrap, and to make another mas­sacre of them, as had lately beene done vnder the King Charles the ninth his brother, when the Lord de la Noue was [Page 105] taken, and the Lord de Iuoy was put to death betweene two Tables, with many other Lords and Gentlemen. He had the better meanes and opportunity to treat with the said Churches, by reason there were many Catholikes mingled amongst the Huguenots: all of which did gouerne, and de­meane themselues according to the conuentions and agree­ments made betweene them: and a great Lord of France, and the Lord Mounsieur de Chastillion, howbeit that af­terwards this vnion was broken. Some of their chiefe heads did giue eare vnto those perswasiōs of Philip, insomuch that there were great preparations made for a strong & mighty warre against them, which succeeded not long after, when Brouage was taken. Besides, the said Lords and heads of the reformed Religion, with some of their Ministers, being en­tred into a great iealousie of the most Christian King now raigning, (who was then King of Nauarre) and of the late Monsieur the Prince of Condy, they resolued secretly with­in the Towne of Montauban, to call in strangers of their Re­ligion to be their Protectours and defenders. And to that effect, they sent one of their Ministers into Almaine, feining that they sent him vnto the pretended reformed Church of Metz. Notwithstanding the matter was discouered by one of the principall Lords, newly drawne to be of their Reli­gion, who had taken great indignation against a Minister of his owne, and because hee had been an assistant at the same Councell, he thought he had beene of the same minde also: and did therefore reproue him, saying: that he greatly mar­uelled how he could suffer such a quill to be thrust through his nose, without laughing at it. But the Minister excused himselfe, assuring him that he knew nothing of that matter. But that was an occasion, that the practise brake off: be­sides, that they were not well agreed amongst themselues, whom they should choose to bee their chiefe and prote­ctour: some of them desired the Duke Casimier: others would haue England: and some others the Duke of Sauoy: who all that time did not know any thing at all of that [Page 106] which passed betweene him and the Ministers. But after that, at such time as the young Duke (now presently ru­ling) came to succeed his Father, he being aduertised there­of, sent vnto the King of Nauarre, to demaund the Lady his sister for his wife: one named Seruin was dispatched as the messenger to that effect, and after him a Viscount; who seeing great difficulty in the demaund, went by Bearne into Spaine, where he treated the mariage of the Infant D. Ka­therine, at this day Dutchesse of Sauoy: which mariage Don Amadis the bastard brother of the said Duke after­wards effected. This mariage came well to purpose for Philip, because by this meanes hee assured himselfe of the Duke, that he should attempt nothing in Portugall: where he knew full well, that after the death of King Henry, there was great diuision amongst the Portugals, for that some would haue had the Lady Katherine Dutchesse of Bragan­cia: others the Lord Don Anthonio: and in a manner all well neere not liking to haue any of those which were na­med, would haue had the said Duke of Sauoy, being the Graund-childe of a Daughter of Portugall, who (as the re­port is) if hee had gone thither during the inter-raigne in Portugall, at the time of that dissention, and by reason of their vnwillingnesse to admit the one or the other of those aboue named, he had without doubt beene receiued of all the Portugals.

To proceede, and to shew you yet more plainely what manner of man this is, for whose loue you doe euen seeke your owne destruction, and in whose seruice you are so for­ward and so diligent: I will adde here somewhat more tou­ching this matter, for it is not possible to vtter all that may be spoken to that effect. It is not long since, that for to fol­low the steppes of some other good and godly Catholikes as himselfe is, he rendered the City of Arzile to Muley Hamet King of Marocco, against the will and liking of the Portugals which did inhabit it, who had bound them­selues without his aide to defend it. It was supposed by [Page 107] all the Christians, that Philip surrendered the City, because hee was assured that hee should not be able to defend it a­gainst the puissance of Infidels, for so did he himselfe cause it to be giuen out, saying:The reason why Philip rendred that City of Arzil to Muley Ha­met. That it was a lesse mischiefe to render it without hazarding the liues and goods of the In­habitants, then by keeping it, to put them all in daunger. But therein hee abused them most maliciously, for the true cause why this good Catholike rendered this City of Chri­stians vnto the Moores, was because he had promised it vn­to their King, vpon condition he should not lend two hun­dred thousand Crownes to Don Anthonio his cousin ger­man, King of Portugall. The which summe the Moore had before promised to lend him at the intercession of England: and for this reason had the said Don Anthonio sent his sonne Don Christopher to Marocco to be there in hostage for the said summe of money, who remained there by the space of foure yeeres. You see now what a good and Catholike Christian deede this man did, whom you doe so defend for a most singular Christian and Catholike, who to hinder a King, a farre better Catholike then himselfe, from recoue­ring of his owne, doth not onely tyrannically detaine ano­thers right, but doth make it away from Christians, to giue it vnto Infidels. What answer doe you make hereunto? I make your selues the Iudges: wherefore then will you not acknowledge the irreligion of this man, to whom you are so affectionate, and the great malice and peruersenesse of him, whom you loue so well? Consider and know, that you are taken and bound with a grosse chaine:Psalme 41. and that abissus abissum inuocat: One depth calleth another. And I say to you, one fault draweth on an hundred thousand after it. Of the maintaining and defending of an euill and wic­ked man, ensueth commonly a sinister and peruerse iudgement of them which are good. This was well seene to be true and verified in the life time of Don Antho­nio, and is yet still euen at this day. It is a shame to heare the abhominations which the fauourers of this [Page 108] pretended King Catholike haue heretofore spoken and gi­uen out, and doe not yet cease to speake of this poore Prince deceased. Some call him rebell, others terme him a runni-gate, and a fugitiue from place to place, and from Countrey to Countrey: and some others call him a seditious person, an enemy to Christendome, an Infidell, and an hereticke. Can there be any thing more grieuous, more sensible, more vniust, and more vnworthy of a Christian? How dare you (against all Lawes both diuine and humane) handle and vse so ill, a Prince, the sonne of the greatest Prince of his age: the graund-child of that great Emanuel, from whom the Princes of Europe doe glory to draw their descent and originall: a Prince sore pressed and turmoyled with afflicti­ons, trouble and perplexity. He hath well shewed euen in his exile and banishment, that he was a better Catholike then your Philip his cousin: lesse ambitious, without chol­ler, without hatred, and full of charity. For if he would haue beene content to recouer his Realme of Portugall, with more honourable meanes then your tyrant hath tyrannized ouer it, and doth yet tyrannously detaine it, hee might well haue done it. If he would haue accorded, that the Eng­lish should haue had exercise of their Religion in Portugall, onely within their owne Houses and lodgings, the Earle of Leicester (whom some call the Count of Lest) would haue vndertaken to set him againe in possession of his Realmes and Seigniories. In the yeere one thousand fiue hundred eighty nine, when hee passed into Portugall with the Eng­lish, amongst other Articles of agreement made betweene them, there was no other thing granted nor yeelded vnto them, but onely a licence or liberty for them to liue in Por­tugall, without being bound or compelled by the Eccle­siasticall Prelates, to repaire to the Churches to the seruice and exercise of the Catholikes. And in the same man­ner, as the Queene of England did then entertaine the straungers Catholickes, inhabiting within her Realme of England: euen so did hee accord and ordaine that the [Page 109] English should finde the like vsage and entertainement in Portugall. And it may be, that if he would haue enlarged their libertie in this respect, the English would againe haue enforced their aboade in that Countrey. But he proceeded so like a Catholicke with them, that they had a kinde of di­strust, and tooke occasion to suspect him. The king of Ma­rocco at this day now raigning, (of whom wee haue lately spoken) sent an Embassadour into England, to intreat him, touching the deliuering of Portugall from her tyranny: of­fering him to make present payment of 100 thousand Crownes at London, for the prouyding of 100 sayle of shipps to passe into Barbary, from whence he promised to embarke, and to passe with him in person, and also to set at liberty about seuen or eight thousand Portugalls, whom he held in captiuity, and which were good souldiers, and with them and the principall horse of Barbary, to take land and set foote in Spaine, and to put him in possession of his Realme. But Don Anthonio would not accept those his of­fers, because hee would giue no occasion to the Moores, (namely those Moores that are baptized and liue as Chri­stians in Arragon, Valentia, Murcia,The cause why Don Antho­nio refused the meanes to re­couer his Realme. and other quarters of Spaine, where the Moore did assure himselfe to finde 60 thousand men at his deuotion) there to rebell, and to worke the misery and calamity of the Christians. This was a more daungerous matter, and would haue beene more burthen­some and chargeable to King Pbilip, then to the King Don Anthonio, with whome Muley Hamet desired to haue made a peace very beneficiall and aduantageous to the Realmes of Portugall: but Don Anthonio refused all, onely mooued thereunto of a godly Catholicke zeale. Now shew me (my Masters) where or when your Don Philip euer did as much: He hath made great promises to Don Anthonio, to the in­tent he might cause him to renounce his right, which he had in Portugall, by reason of his election. He offered to make him Viceroy of Naples,Offers of king Philip to Don Anthonio. with 400 thousand Crownes of yearely rent, and the collation of the officers and benefices [Page 110] of that kingdome. Moreruer he would haue giuen him 500 thousand Crownes to pay his debts, and to defray the charge of going to take that Gouernement vpon him: And that hee would bee bound to restore all those Portugals to their former estates, whose goods he had taken and con­fiscated for following of his partie. And that hee would aduaunce and recompence such as did serue and attend him actually: and that he would pardon all in generall. Whereunto Don Anthonio made him this aunswer: God defend that he should commit so great a fault:Don Antho­nio full of conscience. and that he had rather die in an hospitall, then to doe a thing so hai­nous, wicked, vniust, and against his conscience, for that the lawes had taught him thus much, that he might not contract for that which appertained to another. For, when he was chosen at Sautaren, he had then sworne, and after­wards againe at Lisbon (when he was confirmed King by the deputies of the cities and townes of Portugall, which came thither to take their oath for their allegeance, and to doe him homage) that he should neuer accord nor fall to any agreement with the enemy, without leauing Portu­gall in her full and perfect libertie. This may serue to shew how much better a Catholike, and how lesse ambitious the King Don Anthonio was then King Philip. And as tou­ching his choller and his hatred or charitie, that may ap­peare by this which followeth, in that there haue beene many men who haue oftentimes offered to Don Anthonio to kill Philip: neuerthelesse he would neuer giue them any entertainment,Most christian speaches of D. Anthonio. alledging that Kings are the annoynted of the Lord: and although (quoth he) my cousin King Philip blinded by ambition and tyrannie, do persecute me, and do seeke to take my life from me, yet will not I be content nor consent for all that, that any man for the loue of me, should attempt to take his life. And whosoeuer shall dare or ad­uenture to do it, let him looke to himselfe that he come not into my hands. For though his sins do so blind and bewitch him, as that they make him shew himselfe a Saul against me [Page 111] yet I for my part do protest before God, to shew my selfe a Dauid towards him. A certaine man on a day demaunding of him a fauour for the good newes which hee brought him (for he had assured him that King Philip was dead) he aun­swered him halfe in choller; My good friend, doest thou not know who it is of whom thou speakest vnto me? hee is my cousin germane, bring me newes that I haue eight or ten thousand faithfull men, and well armed with good and sage Captaines, and all things necessary to restore Portugall to libertie, and I promise thee in the word of an honest man, to make thee so rich and so honourable in my Realme, as no Gentleman shall go beyond thee: go, go, learne to know the disposition of Princes Now my masters, what thinke you of these examples? do you now see what reason I haue to say, that the King Don Anthonio was more Catholike, and lesse ambitious then the king Philip, & that he was a man with­out choller & hatred, but contrarywise full of charity? I pray you therefore for the loue of God, that from henceforth you would resolue your selues, with a sound and vncorrupted iudgement, & a pure conscience, and without any inueigle­ment or indiscreet zeale, to embrace the good, and to reiect the euill. If he be dishonest, luxurious & licentious, I say no­thing in that behalfe: for that is not the butt or ende of our treatise: and I beleeue, that the Prince of Orange in his A­pologie, hath said something touching that matter: and the infamous rumour and detestable report which hath runne, and doth yet runne throughout the world, doeth say much to that effect. God giue him the grace to know himselfe, and to conuert, and to render to euery man his owne before his death, better then he hath restored that which (as is repor­ted) his father at the hower of his death commaunded him to render and to restore againe.

Now, most humbly I beseech your Maiesties to hold me excused, for hauing beene so large in this matter: because I haue not done it without good cause, knowing that to come to the butte and end of my purpose, it was very needfull, [Page 112] and did much import me, to haue sayd that which I haue done. This is a thing proper and conformable to the law of God, and agreeable to the nature of charitie, to bring them into the right way, that wander and goe astray, and to dis­charge and cleare the innocent, though it bee to the dam­mage and displeasure of the wicked.