endured-in France, with my aged constitution of body, I would retire from that place, and end my age in Portugal where I began my youth, attempting afterward, by rating and reviling, to make me recant, when other provocations would not prevail; all which enticements, mixed with bitter taunts, moved me nothing at all; and at this instant, if I would vouchsafe acceptance, I might receive the same entertainment before offered. It is not yet two years past, since a very dear friend of mine in this town pressed me, with vehement persuasions, to return into Portugal, assuring me of as much advancement there, as I would desire; but God forbid, that ever I should accept it; for I had rather be a poor religious beggar in France, than a great discontented Bishop in Castile, or in Portugal, considering the country is not itself, but in bondage, most servilely subject to Castilian tyranny. In this town, a nobleman of France, accompanied with some religious men of my own order, often persuaded me to leave the habit of St. Dominick and betake myself to another, assuring me, in lieu thereof, of an abbey (which he had in his power at that time to give) and afterwards a convent of eight or nine thousand livres annual rent; and, to make me capable thereof, he promised to procure me a dispensation from his holiness to allow the exchange of my present habit; all which bountiful proffers could not once move me to change my shape, like a mutable weather-cock, or an airy chameleon. For, if the spirit of God forsake me not, I will die, as I have lived, a religious votary to St. Dominick, and a natural Portuguese; and the same blessed stability possess all those that seek and spread my reproach and defamation. And, to those that make a scorn of me, I answer nothing, but that I am a true religious Portuguese, of the same disposition that others of my countrymen be, I mean, the godly, virtuous, and loyal Portuguese; neither will I admit any for my associates, in this case, but such as be most intirely sincere and constant, So I end my present narration in the name of God, and purpose to proceed to the handling of my promised discourse; which, albeit I cannot so exactly relate, as I desire, not being an eyewitness of all that hath been done and suffered by this miserable king, my lord and master, I have gathered out of the greatest probabilities and assertions of the justest and honestest, that I could possibly learn, or understand, that were able to give me the best intelligence; which diligence I was bound in duty and conscience to exercise; and am withal forced, by the importunity of many, meeting me in the town and field at every corner, to discourse unto them my master's adventures. Therefore, to satisfy them and all the world, and to meet with their tedious inquisitions, I have effected this collection, to rid myself of trouble, and to quench their inordinate thirst after the truth, referring all, that can read, to this and my former discourse of "Admirable Adventures." Farewell,

A Narration of things done by Don Sebastian King of Portugal, since the battle he lost in the Fields of Alquiber in Africk, fighting against Muley Maluco, an infidel, Anno 1578, until this present time. Written by Father Joseph Texere, a Portuguese.

AT my being in Venice, gentle reader, I understood by divers, that the opinion conceived of many, and the rumour commonly spread concerning the death of Don Sebastian the King of Portugal, my lord and master, was false; and believed rather, that their reports were more like to be true, that maintained the contrary. For that it was confidently justified by credible persons, that he was seen alive and safe since the battle in Africk, namely, by Cid Albequerine, Emanuel Texere, my uncle, N. Murselo Higuera, and many other gentlemen and personages of great quality and account. He escaped by flight among the rout, being sore hurt in his head and in one arm, and passed as a private man to his ships, and was embarked amongst the remnant of his army, that saved themselves by flight, as he was forced to do. After a few days, he arrived in Portugal, in a town called Neu feu de mille fuentes, near unto St. Vincent's cape, where he refreshed himself, and sent for a chirurgeon from Faro; his name I have forgotten, but well I remember he was reckoned excellent in his art. There the King sojourned, accompanied with the Duke of Aneiro, and Christopher Tavora, and divers other lords, until he was perfectly healed. The tidings of his being at the Cape were suddenly 'spread at Lisbon, and was soon published generally throughout all Portugal. And it was affirmed, that he was seen at the convent of capuchins, built upon the Point of St. Vincent, amongst his companions. This rumour was soon quelled by the policy and authority of Petro de Alcacova, great secretary of Portugal, in the behalf of Don Philip King of Spain, with whom he had before-hand concluded, whom Don Sebastian the King employed him in ambassage into Spain, before his departure into Africk. And for that cause this Peter Alcacova, a damnable politician, and a monstrous traitor, as soon as the first news came, that the Christians had lost the day, and his king and master slain, this Jew gave secret intelligence to the King of Castile of all that happened; signifying unto him, that now were a fit time to surprise the kingdom of Portugal, and bid him make ready for the purpose. I respected the handling of the second establishment of union between the King my master before his departure, and the King of Castile, which is expressed by one Connestay at large, who, being a man of good respect in Portugal, came post to seck me from Rome to Venice, and, amongst many other news, he reported unto me, that, as soon as ever it was bruited abroad in Portugal, that Don Sebastian the King was living, and prisoner in Venice, there were many devices revived concerning this bruit, that long time before lay buried. And withal you must note, that Don Diego de Sosa, the admiral, which conducted the King into Africk, re-embarked him from thence into Portugal again, and gave continual

intelligence unto his kindred and assured friends, that their King was living, and that he had secretly received him a-board, among the scattered troops, and gave them an especial charge that they should conceal it. And further, that he gave him a secret sign, whereby he might know him hereafter, if need required; which private Don Diego discovered unawares, when a counterfeit (suborned for the purpose) came to that Diego's house, sending for him into the field to come home to speak with Don Sebastian the King; to whom he said abruptly, Hath he delivered any secret token betwixt him and me, whereby I might credit thee? By which question he published that, which he secretly had bewrayed before to his allies. Whereupon the cardinal Don Henry, great uncle to the King, took occasion to send a trusty servant of his, called Emanuel Antunes, to St. Vincent's Cape, charging him to use all the industry he might, in finding out what certainty he could learn of the King his nephew. All which this Emanuel performed, with as much endeavour as he might possibly use; and, by his diligent inquisition about the Cape, found that the King had been in the monastery; and was there certified, that he was both hurt in the head and arm, and, in a manner frantick, not only for the exceeding anguish and vexation of mind which he suffered for the loss of victory, but withal the shame did ever perplex him, when he considered the overthrow came by indiscretion and rashness, and that, by his default, the flower and prime of all Portugal was defeated and cut off. Antunes brought a very large testimonial hereof to the cardinal, under the seal of the father guardian, and all the rest of his brethren of the said monastery; which the cardinal received with his own hands, commanding his servant to impart this secret to none, which he, for his own part, buried in his own bosom. And not being able to find out what course his nephew, and his company, took for their escape out of the country, gave over the expectation of his recovery either of his crown and scepter while he lived, though it were his due. But, when it was known in Portugal that the King lived, Antunes began to acknowledge the pains he had undergone in these affairs, by his master's appointment; which was no sooner conveyed to the King of Castile's ear, but he sent for this Antunes, of whom he had a liberal relation of all that he knew concerning that business; and, soon after Antunes's return into Portugal, he died. Whereby it appeareth unto me, that God lengthened his life some space, to reveal a truth, that seemed before to be very intricate and doubtful. Shortly after, the Portuguese began to murmur among themselves, boldly saying, that Don Philip the King had made away Don Sebastian their King, his nephew, going to him to crave his aid before his departure into Africk, because he had a meaning to gain the Kingdom of Portugal to him and his successors, and hold it by usurpation. And this scandal was never extinguished, because fame divulged his arriving at the Cape called St. Vincent, and no certainty appeared to the world, what way he passed from thence. But since it is proved, that from Spain he got shipping and travelled into Alexandria, and there lived in Prester John's court with his followers some twenty months, unknown of what quality he was, professing that he had a desire to see the world, and travelled only to

that end and purpose; for of want he made no shew, he and his company being well furnished with gold and jewels of great price. From Æthiopia they passed over the Red Sea, and so directly to the mount Sinai; from thence to the great Sophi, called Xatama King of Persia, whom he served as a commander five or six years against the Turks, where he atchieved many victories, and divers wounds in his body, with much honour and reputation. In requital whereof, the King of Persia did him many honourable offices, and gave him rich presents of inestimable price, with the which he and his company departed. I heard at Venice of his conference with Colonel Cigogna, a man of great experience in the wars, which assured the lords of the senate, that he never talked with any more wise, learned, or better experienced in military discipline, than this noble person; and he protested he could be no other, than the same he professed to be. The excellent and most reverend lord the archbishop said, he heard the discourse between the King and the Colonel, which delighted him exceedingly. This archbishop I could not speak withal at my being in Venice, for that he was employed in Dalmatia, in the affairs of the state,

The King, leaving Persia, went towards Jerusalem, from whence he travelled by firm land to Constantinople; which, after certain days, he left, and came into Italy, from thence to Hungary, and from thence fetched a compass by Muscovy, Poland, Swedeland, and Denmark, where he took shipping for England; and in London it is reported, he saw Don Antonio, the supposed King of Portugal. From England he passed into Holland; from Holland by Almain back to Antwerp; from thence to Paris, Anno, 1586. It comes to my memory, that, in the latter end of the same year, one Antonio Fernandes Pignero, a priest, which had sometime been almoner to the said Don Sebastian, &c. and was with me in service from the said lord Don Antonio, told me, that the same Don Antonio had heard it credibly reported, that Don Sebastian the King was living, &c. whereat Don Antonio seemed to be sore amazed and perplexed. About which time I craved license of Don Antonio to go out of England into this country, which he gave with some shew of discontentment therewith. By reason whereof, and to avoid all suspicion, I moved no question to him concerning the particularity of this matter; and I must tell you, by the way, that Pignero had all this discourse in writing, sub sigillo confessionis, which although, said he, I make the same known unto you, yet I pray you conceal it from Don Antonio, because it may be very prejudicial to him of whom I heard it. In the year following, after Easter, in the time of Ember, when I was come to that town, whither I made the scope of my journey, I heard the like concerning the same business wuich I before had heard in England, whereof I seemed to make no great care; and coming to Paris, after his Christian Majesty had entered the town, Don Nouvelet assured me, in the presence of divers Portuguese and Frenchmen, not once or twice, but many times, that it was as certain and assured that Don Sebastian, King of Portugal, had been lately in Paris, as he spoke to me; describing him to me by many circumstances; to all which I gave no credit, esteeming all he said to be mere fables. Not that I held any opinion or conceit that he was

slain at the battle in Africk; but my imagination could not receive any impression that he could be guilty of any such rare dissimulation, to pass so many cities and regions without discovery.

The last year writing to the said doctor to Annissi, where he dwelt, of the names which I heard, that my lord and master should be set at liberty by the consent of the seigniory of Venice: I intreated him to write unto me at large, that which he had oft recited to me in this town, concerning the estate of that King. And because his answer was, that he could not agree to the satisfaction of my demands, I ceased to importune him any further in that behalf. But forasmuch as, at my being at Venice, some of the chiefest of the seigniory of that state, asking me, if I were able to say any thing concerning what the King had answered upon his examination; saying, that he had been in Paris, and there conferred with a Portuguese, fled out of this country for Don Antonio's cause, being his cousin. And further, that he met with a gentleman of Swisserland at Soleurre, departing from thence towards Annissi, by whom I sent a letter to Don Nouvelet; in the which I most instantly desired him to set down in writing all that he had declared to me at Paris, concerning my master Don Sebastian, &c. At my great importunity, it pleased him to grant me my desire; and here I have annexed the same, copied out, verbatim, as it was written, in manner and form, with the recommendations he assigned me to do to his friends, named in the same original, men of good esteem for birth, office, and popular affection. So that to his truth and sincerity no man can take exception, being a professor in his art, both very learned and excellently experienced, in his life and manners never detected. There fore all suspicion, either of the matter or the man, is prevented.

The Copy of a Letter, sent from Don Nouvelet, to Father Joseph Texere. SIR,

I received your last letter, dated the eighteenth of the month past; whereby you make me recall to mind the grief I conceived by your letters preceding, concerning the troubles of Emanuel Godigno, a gen tleman born in Portugal. I had long since expressed in writing, and sent it you, if I had conjectured your disposition had been apt to entertain news: So ready and willing I am to apply my endeavours to do you service, in any thing you shall please to command me; But the consideration of your rare perfection of memory made me decline from doubt of any defect therein, and so much the slower in committing that to writing, which I had before so observantly uttered in your hearing, and in the presence of many persons of good respect, as well of your country, as of other nations; imputing this imposition rather to your desire to be better assured, obsignatis tabulis, than to any want of carriage in your understanding parts, I thus address my pen to confirm my tongue's discourse: In the year of our Lord 1588, being at Nantz, in employment and service of my Lord the Cardinal of Gondie, about