THE unseasonable death of King J [...]hn the fourth of happy memory, whom Heaven had miraculously restored to the usurped Scepter of the Portuguais Monarchy, encou­raged the Arms of Spain to try the fortune of war in the minority of the new King Alfonso the sixth.

In order to this end, in the beginning of the year 1657. D. Francisco Tutavila Duke of St. Germane set out of Ba­dajos with 12000 Foot and 4000 Horse against the Town of Olivenza, and notwithstanding the vigilant care of the Queen Regent in sending a brave army to succour that place, (rather by fate and the favour of for­tune, then by any act of valour or military order) he became master of it, and in a few dayes the town of Mouram yielded to him too, having first bravely defended it self.

With these successes the Armies of Spain retired triumphant, making known to the Nations of Europe a secret not till then discovered, that in the military contentions of those two Crowns the Portugueses could be conquered. But the contentment of this victory lasted not many dayes, for in the Autumn of the same year the Army of Portugal under the com­mand of John Mendes de Vasconcellos Lieutenant Geneneral of Alentejo re­covered the town of Mouram, but with this difference in the case, that now it was garrison'd with souldiers it was won in three dayes, which having none before but the people of the Countrey in it, had resisted ele­ven.

Portugal was now deprived of the satisfaction of Olivenza, and though the taking of Albuquerque or Valenza had been a sufficient compensation for it, such was the bravery of the Portugues that they could not be content to proportion their revenge to their loss, but aspiring generously to some greater enterprize, the 12. of June in the year of our Lord 1658. the Ar­my of Portugal sate down before Badajos the place and magazine of Arms of the Kingdome of Castile.

It would be for the credit of Portugal here to relate those glorious feats of Arms which were atchieved in the course of their seige, as well in in­vesting and storming the Fort of St. Christopher, as in the obstinate battail and glorious victory which preceded the taking of Fort St. Michael. But as these successes are committed to the care of another Pen, which will shortly make them publick, and my business is confin'd only to the suc­cess of the succour of Elvas, it will not be for me to intrench upon the glo­ry of another, nor to exceed the limits of my undertaking.

The enterprize of Badajos went to the heart of the King of Spain, who was highly offended that the world should see at this time his place of Arms beseiged, a chance which till then had not happened to him in any part of Europe. And [...]e resentment thereof was so deep, that he recom­mended the succouring of it to his favourite Don Luis de Haro. So great was the umbrage that Kingdome took, though there be so much hazard in the absence of a favourite from his Prince, that Don Luis resolved he would be the first should leave the King in this occasion.

He began then to call together the Nobility of Spain, and the preten­ders to Court, some out of flattery, and others out of dependence, drew presently together, and making many levies through those Kingdomes, their forces arrived at Merida Albuquerque and Olivenza.

At this time the Arms of Portugal with an obstinate seige of four moneths had reduced Badajos to the last gasp. When Heaven fighting in favour of the beseiged afflicted the beseigers with so many and so grievous diseases, that besides the chief Captains who retired to Elvas in that ex­tremity, there dyed 600 officers through the same occasion, the num­ber of the common souldiers who were sick amounting to twelve thou­sand.

Some Armies, that had been deprived of so many vital spirits, would have left off the seige in disorder, not like this Nation, who with invin­cible constancy shewed it possible to live by the river of Guadiana in the heat of the Dog-dayes. But the publick calamity every day encreasing, though their generous ambition would not have let them lose that glory which they had now almost in their hands, it was unanimously resolved [Page 3] by all the Captains to save the remainder of the Army, which was done the twelfth of October, but with so much bravery and good order, that in the judgement of the skilful in the art of war, Portugal might make as much account of that retreat, as she could have done of the greatest victory.

There were now remaining in the fields of Badajos no other marks of the siege, then the Trenches which were made in the earth, and the Car­kases which had perished by the sword of the Portugues. The Besiegers carryed all away with them, with too scrupulous a care, that they even set fire to a little Boat which was broken in their march, that it might not be taken. And so retired in great quiet, the Spanish Army not da­ring to hinder them, or so much as embarasse their retreat. But as soon as our army was retired, the Auxiliaries discharged to refresh them­selves after so long a siege, the Regiments and Troops sent into Garrison to Campo Major, Villa vitiosa, Borba, Estremoz, Arroches and Monforte, and that the power of Portugal was weakned by this division, the Spanish ar­my upon the fifteenth of October appeared in the field, and passing over the River of Caya, marched thorough the Plains of Portugal. The Spa­nish army consisted of Fourteen thousand foot, [...]d Five thousand horse, of which Don Luis de Haro Marquess of Carpio, Count and Duke of Oliva­rez, Favourite to the King, Master of the Horse, and great Chancellor of the East Indies, was Captain General. The Government of Arms was committed to the charge of Francis Tutavila Duke of Saint German. D. Rodrigo Muxica was Camp-master General, the Duke of Ossuna Ge­neral of the Horse, Don Gasper de la Cueva brother to the Duke of Albu­querque and D. Ventura Tarragona Generals of the Artillery, the one in the exercise, the other in the title, who had besides the Office of Engineer Major. D. John Pacheco was Lievtenant General of the Horse.

The Colonels, and the Captains of Horse and Foot, were chosen ei­ther out of the best Nobility, or those who had done the most deserving services. So that in the Regiments as well as the Troops there served many Titulati, many sons, brothers, and kinsmen of the best Houses of Spain, which were inforced with Four thousand Reformado-officers, a strength sufficient to conquer an ample Monarchy.

With this Army so formidable both for number and quality, Don Luis de Haro marched to the Fountain of Sapateiros betwixt Elvas and Estremos, and being able to atchieve greater matters, considering the condition in which the County was, contented himself with the slight enterprizes of Villaboim, Barbacenu, and Sancta Olaya, places so little and of such small importance, that they served onely to discredit the reputa­tion [Page 4] of his Arms, since having his free election of so many populous Towns as were near his Army, he employed it onely upon such, as for the inconsiderable number of the Inhabitants were not able to defend themselves.

At this time the City of Elvas was in so miserable a condition, that it seemed rather an Hospital, then a Town, that had either Inhabitants or Souldiers. The great Officers all sick to extremity, excepting Mendes de Vasconcellos, and D. Sancho Manuel Camp-master General and Gover­nor of the Province of Beira, who was come from the Town of Penamo­cor to give life to the siege of Badajos, and exercise the office of Camp-master General, arriving there the same day that the Army retired. D. Rodrigo de Castro Count of Mesquitela was gone away before, almost despairing of his life, to the town of Montemor. The Regiments, some were without Colonels, or the Colonels without Regiments. The Troops and Companies without Captains, or the Captains without Troops and Companies. They who were in health so toil'd and harassed with a long siege, that they were scarce to be distinguished from the sick, the town destitute of all necessary provisions, since being the next place to Badajos, it wa [...] [...]otally exhausted with supplying the Army du­ring the siege.

This was the condition of the City of Elvas, which besides this cala­mity was afflicted with another as great, and that was from the conside­ration that all they had was in this place. For here were all the great Officers, John Mendes de Vasconcellos, Andrew Albuquerque Camp-master General, and General of the Horse, D. Sancho Manoel Campmaster Ge­neral, and Alfonso Furtado de Mendosa General of the Artillery, Peter James Magellan General too of the Artillery, & who had been General of the Fleet of Brasile, D. Francisco de Sousa Count of Prado, of his Maje­sties Councel of War, and Governour of this Town and Province during the siege of Badajos, Fernando de Silveyra of the Councel of War, and Admiral of the Navy Royal, D. Luis Almeida, who had been Governor of the River of Janeiro in the State of Brasile, and who was to be Gover­nour of this town in case the Count of Prado should be disabled by sickness.

In Elvas also were these Colonels Diego Gomes de Figueiredo Campma­ster of the Army Royal, John Leite d' Oliveira, Augustin Andrada, Si­mon Correa da Silva, Luis Alvares de Tauora Count of Saint John, Diego de Mendosa Furtado of payd Regiments, and Bernardino de Siqueira, Antonio de Sa de Menezes, and Manoel de Sousa de Castro of Auxiliaries, Fran. Pa­checo Mascarenhas and Don John Mascarenhas Count of Torre, whose men [Page 5] were in garrison in other towns, they themselves being detain'd here by sickness, whose forces joyned together made up the number of five or six thousand foot. In this place also were the Lieutenant Generals of the Cavalry, Achim de Tamaricurt, Manoel, Freire d' Andrada, and Gil Vas Lobo with 1500 horse, who in the first moneth of the seige at several sallies got out of the town, leaving behind them in it D. John de Silva Commissary General with 200 horse.

Here were likewise all the provisions which had been sav'd with the Army, which was all that this Province in so long a seige could supply it with, here was the train of Artillery, the Tents, and all the baggage of an Army; and lastly, though there were not much in the place, all was there that was in the Countrey.

This information coming from all parts animated the Spanish Army to the resolution of beseiging Elvas, as being confident that the place had neither force within to defend it self, nor the Kingdome to relieve it, ha­ving brought into the field, in less then a year and half, three numerous Armies only of one Nation, the last of which had been totally dissipated by sickness, and that it would now be difficult to draw together the men that had been disbanded, in regard they had bee [...] so wearied with the inconveniences of the long seige of Badajos, and that the royal patrimony must have been exhausted with the vast and continued charge of three Armies. Elvas is the second City of the Province of Alentejo, and the first that devides the Kingdomes of Portugal and Castile, distant the space of three leagues from the City of Badajos, and the chiefe place of Arms of Portugal. It consists of some three thousand inhabitants, and is an Episco­pal Sea, the Peasants are rich, and the Countrey about it covered with Vines and Olives, and many pleasant gardens which serve both for the use and delight of the inhabitants. It is situated on the side of a hill, upon which there is a Castle which eminently overlooks a deep valley. About it are five small hills, Casarano, St. Lucy, St. Peter, and St. Francis, which are all near, and our Lady of grace which lies at more distance. The two first were fortified with out-works, that of St. Lucy with four Bulwarks and some ravelines, and that of Casarano with a crown; both of them having communication with the town by cover'd wayes.

The hills of St. Francis and St. Peter were not at all fortified, the Ene­my possessing themselves of the first the first day that they sate down be­fore the town, and it was thought fit to fortifie the second after the be­ginning of the seige. Our Lady of Grace, though the most eminent of them all above the Castle was excused from being fortified by reason of the distance. Betwixt these hills run two little rivers by the inhabitants [Page 6] called Chinches and Seto, which in a little space empty themselves into the Caya, and with it into the river of Guadiana. The town was anciently wall'd according to the necessity of those times, but of late fortified with Curtaines, Bulwarks, and half Bulwarks, encompassed with a broad and deep ditch, with divers ravelines, half-moons, and cover'd waygal ac­commodated to the irregularity of the situation, and according to the precepts of modern fortification. The situation does much assist the art of the fortification, being disposed in that manner, that from the irre­gularity of the place there arise so many sorts of defence, that there is no part of the circumference which hath not many batteries, and is not flank­ed with bulwarks, walls and out-works, which are further strengthened by the nature of the situation, as being founded upon a rock, with little earth in the superficies, which made the approaches difficult, the ditch being also cut in the quick rock, all which together makes it one of the strongest and best places of Europe.

The 22. of October in the morning, the Spanish army appeared before the Monastery of St. Francis, that solitary and religious habitation of the Capuchin Friars of the Province of Piedade, distant from the town about musquet shot. In w [...]ch place lay sick in the last period of his life the Count of Penaguiano, who was great Chamberlain to his Majestie, his Councellor of state and war, and had been Ambassador extraordinary to the Commonwealth of England.

Christian modesty obligeth me not to mention the insolencies that were committed against those sacred walls, the indecencies done to those religious persons which inhabited them, the confusion and darkness of the night would not let them take notice of what piety and reverence ob­liged them to. And yet I can not deny, but that the Count being in that condition, they had no natural compassion for him, imprisoning a car­kass rather then a man, for in a few houres after his imprisonment he dy­ed, adding honour by the circumstances of his death to those great ser­vices which he had rendred his Prince when he was living. Upon the first noise of this Mendes de Vasconcellos sent Gomes de Figuiredo with a par­ty to be ascertained of the truth of this rumour, and then Simon Correa da Silva with another, who skirmish'd all day with that part of the ene­mies army, which had taken up their quarters in the Monastery, driving one another out twice, so that on both sides they received great loss, till the approach of night parted the combate, the enemy making good the post.

The 14/24. of October arriv'd at Lisbone the newes of the enemies intent, and of the seige of Elvas, and though there were some reason to deject [Page 7] their hopes considering the state of the Kingdome, they were rais'd with the consideration of the justice of their cause, and the rare prudence and restless activity of the Queen Regent, who took such care for the preser­vation of her Kingdomes, and the defence of her subjects. It was then, that desiring to provide a convenient remedy for the occurring mischief, in which there was such need of some person of great courage and high fidelity, she call'd for the Count of Cantanhede D. Luis de Meneses Coun­cellor of state and war, and Governour of Cascais, and after she had represented to him the importance of the business, nominated him for the imployment.

The reasons with which the Queen perswaded the Count to undertake this expedition as they passed only betwixt her Majesty and the Count are not come to publick knowledge. It is probable that to the zeal of the Count it was enough that the business concerned the good of the King­dome, and that for the same reason that the expedition was so highly ha­zardous, he was the more willing to accept it, it being a quality insepa­rable from valour to love danger. It may be the reasons that prevailed with him are the same as are contain'd in the letter which the Queen was pleas'd to write to him, of which I have here set down a copy for the publick curiosity.

To the commands of Kings, especially when they respect the publick good, ready execution is the best answer. The Count as he was obliged by obedience and publick necessity, forthwith provided what was impor­tant for his journey. The 20. of November he departed from the Court and arrived at Estremos the 24^th. where the general acclamations where­with he was received in that Province, was the first presage of victory, and a certain Prognostication, that he was the person to whom they were to owe their quiet security.

The order of writing requires that I should give account of the arrival of the Count at Estremos before I speak of the sally which was made out of Elvas by Andrew Albuquerque camp-Master General, and Alfonso Furtado de Mendosa General of the Artillery, who being commanded out of Elvas, by reason of the want there was of Officers for the new Army, resolved to make their way through the midst of the Enemies quarters, leaving D. Sancho Manuel behind them to be governour of the town. They sallied the 14. of November accompanied only with a hundred horse, amongst whom were the chief Captains of the Army and Officers of the Treasury, and with their swords in their hands opened their way in such manner, that they got the same day to Estremos, leaving their enemies more busied in admiring, then in hindring of them.

There was not at this time in all the garrisons of the Countrey above two thousand paid Foot and 1800 Horse, both of them harassed out with the continual service of the long seige of Badajos. The train of Artillery was in Elvas and the munition. The Kingdome was mightily exhausted of men, for besides those who were lost in service and wasted in the past Campania's, it had supplied for four moneths continually the seige of Bada­jos with new men, the greater part of which were consumed with sick­ness, and the rest made unserviceable. And since in the Armies of Por­tugal there is no other Nation serves but the Portugues, it was so, that when the Count went to raise a new Army, it seemed a greater business to under­take, then he found it was to effect it.

At this time the Enemy made good about the town fix quarters, the Bargada which lay towards Campo major, la Courte betwixt the fountain dos Ferradores and the valley of Revelles in the way from Atalaya, the val­ley of Marmelo, which fronted Atalaya, the quarter of Cosena which be­gan in the way of Villa boim, and extended to the fifth in the Covent of the Franciscans, the sixth upon the top of our Lady of Grace.

All these quarters were strongly fortified, and lines of circumvallati­ons made with Forts at proportionate distances, all of them wrought ac­cording [Page 9] to art. The best amongst them, and that which had given the Enemy the greatest thought, was the fortification of the valley of Mar­melo, and that of la Corte, which were close together, being affraid of that side towards Villa vitiosa, from whence according to their intelli­gence there was a designe to introduce succour.

The quarter of Bargada was committed to the charge of Don Ventura Tarragona General of the Artillery, in which was lodged the greatest part of the Cavalry. In the quarter of la Corte (which was governed by the Duke of St. German) lay their best regiments of Foot. The valley of Marmelo which was the charge of D. Gaspar de la Cueva was garrison'd with a good grosse of foot to make opposition against the succour which in their opinion would attempt to enter that way. The quarter of Cosena belonged to the Duke of Ossuna, who as General of the Horse had the choisest troops with him, though for number they were no more then those in the quarter of Bargada.

The quarters of St. Francis and our Lady of Grace were alike manned. The one being the charge of D. John de Zuinga son to the Marquis of Avila fuente, and the other of Collonel Martin Sanches Pardo.

In this order the Enemy lay before the place determining to have the victory by the benefit of time, and without using any approaches or assaults, continually offended it with their Canon, from which no part of the City was secure. And yet the Arms which most afflicted the be­seiged were those of Heaven, which scattering abroad with a strange contagion, the malignity of diseases diminished the number of the De­fenders so fast, that in fourscore dayes that the seige continued, there dy­ed betwixt Countrey-men and Souldiers seven thousand persons.

The want of remedies encreased the danger, the consideration that they were wanting encreased the infirmities. In the Apothecaries shops there were none of those medicines, which experience hath invented a­gainst the violence of diseases. There were no Physicians to be had for the sick, since the Physicians wanted help themselves. There was neither dyet nor nourishment for people in that condition, and the misery had been far greater, but for the providence of the Conde General, who continually stole into the town some relief or other of that kind from Campo major.

The Conde General travail'd in raising the new Army with all heat, and without losing an houres time, or giving himself any ordinary refreshment, there seemed a contention betwixt the fatigues of his body and mind. The advice he had of the condition of the place dou­bled his cares, which were encreased by the knowledge that the Ene­my every day expected recrutes, wherewith to re-inforce his strength. [Page 10] And understanding most particularly their Forces, and the calamities of the Town, he used so noble a dissimulation to animate his Souldiers, that with great chearfulness he gave it out, that the Army was rather going to a Victory then Relief, since the Enemy had nothing to hope, nor the Town to fear: So well does a great minde in the appearances of the ex­treamest danger, know how to triumph over bad fortune. In this Siege there was seen a notable testimony of what the Justice of a Cause can do: for during the time of it, there were above 3000 Spaniards who came and rendred themselves voluntarily in several Towns of Portugal, and selling their Arms and Horses at the best price, desired Pasports for their own Countrey, from whence they had been forced by violence. This being a rare case, that not mercenary Nations, but the very natural Vassals of a King, should rather go over to the Enemy, then cooperate in an unjust enterprize. And yet there was not one example either in the Town or Army, of any Portugues that went over to the Spaniard, not­withstanding the many Manifests dispersed through the Camp in which Don Luis de Haro tempted the fidelity of the Portugues with large and ex­traordinary promises.

The success answered the diligence of the Conde General; for in the end of December there was a new Army formed, if not equal to that of the Enemy, at the least capable to attempt the relieving of the place. In this short time a Train of Artillery was formed, Provisions got together, Carriages mounted, the Souldiers paid, and the Auxiliaries assembled out of the Countries, men saw with their eyes an Army, and with their discourses measured the time, when their judgements suspended betwixt their sense and their reason, would hardly let them believe what their eyes saw. But the power of diligence is not to be measured by the space of the hours, and a great zeal often brings things about in an instant, which are not to be wrought by time.

At the same time the Conde General sent to provide store of Ovens in the Town of Campo Mayor, which is three Leagues distant from the City of Elvas, whence there were continually Convoys passing, that in case there were occasion, the Army might be provided that way. And at the same time they had others in Villa Vitiosa, Borba, and Estremos, for the same effect: for though the intent of the General were to succour the place by force, and to break and dislodge the Enemy with his sword in his hand, it was prudence, since the success of War depend up­on the providence of God, to be provided against all accidents, in case necessity should advise another way of succour.

The Conde General having thus disposed things according to the di­ctates [Page 11] of valour and prudence, the 17 of December wrote to D. Sancto Manoel, Governour of the Town, that for the better effecting of a busi­ness of that importance, he thought it fit that he should call together all the Commanders that were with him, and take their opinions concern­ing the way and manner of introducing the succour, advertising him particularly of the condition in which the Enemies Army was. The 23^d, the Conde General received D. Sancto Manoels answer, wherein after he had described the Form, the Fortifications, and the Strength of the Enemies Quarters, he gave an account of the opinion of his Captains, as he was directed, and that by the universal consent of them all, the best way to introduce the Succour, was, for the Army to march with their swords in their hands straight to the Town, by our Lady of Grace, leaving the left-hand way; for besides that our Army by that means would march cover'd and defended by the River of Chinches on the right hand, till they came under the Artillery of the Town: This was the only way that the Town could assist the Army, which by reason of the smallness of their numbers, could not sally out but under their own Cannon.

He advertised him that there were various opinions concerning the taking of the Quarter called our Lady of Grace, some thinking it not fit to imbarque the Army in it, and that there was nothing to be feared from thence, since by reason of its great height, it could give no considerable offence. And yet the greater number of which, he was one thought it best to send a part of the Army to possess that Post, since by that means it would be impossible for the Enemy to body in that place; and the Con­voys of Campo-Major would be secured in case there were any need of them.

The 17 of December arrived at Estremos D. Rodrigo de Castro, Count of Mesquitella, whom a great and dangerous sickness could not hinder from coming to exercise his Office of Camp-Master General in so perillous an occasion, and though his countenance and disposition sufficiently disco­vered the severity of his disease; in the noise of Armes (which are natu­ral to those who are bred to them) within a few days he was perfectly recovered.

These informations being come from the Town, which the Conde Ge­neral trusted only with himself, he called the chief Captains of the Ar­my to Counsel, where for the better observing of secrecy, were only pre­sent, Andrew Albuquerque General of the horse, the Count of Mesquitella the General of the Artillery, Alfonso Furtado de Mendosa, & the Conde de Feira

He represented to them the condition of the Enemies Fortifications, and that the importance of Elvas would admit no dispute whether they [Page 12] should put in succour, but only of the way how succour should be put in; and so they should only confer on that which offered it self upon this par­ticular.

They all agreed unanimously of the same way, which the Captains in the Town had done, in which the Conde General acquiesced with great con­tentment, taking this consent of the Captains in both places, for a certain presage of victory, it seeming probable to him, that the judgements of men being so different, this uniformity of opinions could proceed from no other cause then the inspiration of God, upon whom alone depends the felicity of successes.

The way of putting in the succours being agreed on, there was advice thereof sent to the Governour of the Town, the Conde General ordering him to send Guides to conduct the Army that way, advertising him of what was most necessary, that he might be ready. The next days were spent in getting together what was fit for the march of the Army, which was design'd to be the Eleventh of January, of which there was advice sent to the Governour of the Town, by three Courriers, who were all taken by the Enemy.

The Conde General, by means of Francisco de Brito, Governor of Jeru­menha, who had been General of the Fleets of Brasile, had Spies in the Enemies Army in pay, who continually informed him of their Power, and in the beginning of January he received advice, that with the great levies which successively came to them, and the Horse which they had in their Garisons, their Army came to Eleven thousand Foot, and 3000 Horse, which did not alter the chearfulness and resolution of the Conde General.

The day design'd was come, when men by their discourses conjectured the success; for the days before being rainy and cloudy, the Sun this morning rose with so much brightness, as if the Spring had been come before its time, to give the Portugues Army the welcome of Victory.

With so chearful and auspicious a presage, the Conde General set out of Estremos, and mustering his men, as well those who were with him, as those who out of the Garrisons were to joyn with the Army, he found they amounted in all to 8000 Foot, whereof 2500 only were in pay, the rest being Militia men, who with their gallantry and valour, supply­ed the defects of their number and quality, shewing by the chearfulness of their countenances, that they went rather to conquer then to fight.

There followed 2000 Baggage horses, which carried Victuals and Ammunition, with 2000 sheep and hoggs to put into the Town, a hun­dred [Page 13] Carts loaden with Munition Planks, and other implements of War, seven pieces of Artillery, from two to four pound bullets, the condition of the ways not enduring any bigger.

Who were the chief Commanders of this Army, may be seen in other places as I have had occasion to name them; but here it will be so necessary to particularize every one, that the repetition of them again, can be no fault.

Don Luis de Meneses, then Count of Cantanhede, commanded the Ar­my; Camp-Masters General were Andrew Albuquerque, great Constable of Sintra, who was also General of the Horse, and D. Rodrigo de Castro, Count of Mesquitella, and Governor of the Province beyond the moun­tains, Alfonso Furtado de Mendosa, great Constable of Covilliana, General of the Artillery. Lieutenant-Generals of the horse, were Achim de Ta­maricourt, and Dinis de Mello de Castro, who were of this Province, Manoel Freire d' Andrada, and Gil Vas Lobo of the Province of Beira, and Pedro de Lalanda Frances of the County of Algarue, John Silva de Sousa, and John Vanicheli were Commissaries.

The Infantry was divided into 16 Terces or Regiments, of which were Colonels, Pedro de Mello, D. Manoel Henriques, Anthony Galuano, Ferdinand de Mesquita Pimentel, Bartholmy de Azeuedo Coutinho, Gabriel de Castro Bar­bosa, Luis de Sousa de Meneses, Luis de Mesquita Pimentel, Alvaro de Azeu­edo Barreto, Antonio de Sa Pereira, Gregory de Castro de Morais, Alfonso de Barros Trouano, Lieutenant to the Camp-Master-General, commanded the Regiment of Manoel Velho, who died at Estremos; Captain Lucas Barrozo Sembrano commanded the Regiment of Mertola, Major Baltazar de Sa Sotto, Major of the Regiment of Moura, which had belonged to the Baron de Alvito, Manoel Nunes Leitane, the Regiment of the Conde da Torre, Ma­noel de Silua de Orta, that of Francisco Pacheco Mascarenhas, Diego Gomes de Figueiredo, Ascenso, Alvares Barreto, and Manoel Lobato Pinto were Lieute­nants of the Camp-Master-General.

Our Army lodged in the field which the people of the Countrey call Alcaravisa, near to an Hermitage of our Lady of Orada, an ancient Foun­dation, which acknowledges for its Founder, the Constable Nuno Alvares Pereira, that terror of the Castillian Nation, and immortal honour of the Portugues, the sight of which, with the memory of him, so spirited our Ar­my, that they seem'd to bespeak the like slaughter to the Enemy, as they had anciently suffered by that Captain in the fields of Aljubarotta.

Here the horse and foot which were in the Towns of Villa Vitiosa, Bor­ba, and Jerumenha joyned with the body of the Army, the night following they lodged a league from Atallaya dos Matos, nor would they make any [Page 14] greater march, though the length of the day permitted it, that they might stay for the horse and foot which were to come from Campo major, Arronches and Monforte.

The march continued the third day, and before the Army could reach the fountain dos Sapateiros the Enemy sent to discover them from Atallaya, which they had possest with a troop of horse, which retired, and with them the Souldiers which garrison'd Atallaya, and then the Army advan­cing up the hill from whence they first discovered the City of Elvas, the General of the Artillery by the command of the General saluted the town with all their Artillery, to which they answered with theirs, who confident of their success congratulated one another before the battail with demonstrations that are used in victories.

The Army marched alwayes within sight of the Enemies quarters, till they took their lodging at the Bishops hill on the other side our Lady of Grace, half a league from the town, and not a mile from the Duke of Ossu­na's quarters.

Then the camp-Master General and General of the horse Andrew Al­buquerque went in person to view the Enemies lines and fortifications on that side, which he found so much mended, that the most forward cou­rage might have repented the intention of attempting them. For the next day after the moving of the Army, the Enemy took five men which San­cho Manoel had sent out of the town as guides to the Army, who being all put to the torture, confess'd, that that was the way the succour was to come, which was the cause that the Enemy with incredible labour had added new fortifications to the first, making the lines higher and the trenches deeper, and fortifying all the way with Estacades, Forts and redoubts. That night the Conde General call'd to council all the chiefs of the Army, and proposing to them reasons for the succouring of the town, the consequences that might befall the Kingdome if it were not succour'd, the credit of the Arms of Portugal, the expectation of other Nations, and the particular honour of every Captain, it was unanimously agreed to relieve the place what ever came of it, without so much as one vote that considered either the power of the Enemy so much superiour, or the strength of their fortifications. Here the General received a letter from Francisco de Brito Governour of Jerumenha, who gave him advice, that the night before there were come recruits to the Enemy of 3000 foot and 500 horse, whereby their Army was become so much superiour to ours, that they were 14000 foot and 3500 horse besides the advantage of their forts. And such was the generous courage of the Conde General, that he kept this advice to himself without so much as communicating it [Page 15] to his chief Officers, that he might not alter the resolution which was ta­ken in the Council, upon which depended the saving of the place, whose danger was so pressing, that it was necessary to make use of violent means, even though they appear'd desperate.

There is a report that the chiefs of the Enemies Army were in Coun­cil the day before, and that it being the General opinion of them all, that they should receive our Army without their trenches, or at least by the side of them, Don Luis de Haro resolv'd the contrary, thinking it im­possible, that he being in person with an Army in every respect superiour to that which the Duke of St. German had at the siege of Olivenza, the present power of Portugal inferiour in number and quality to that which was to relieve that place should have the courage to assault the trenches, which in that occasion they had no mind to do. So usual is it with di­vine providence to corrupt the judgements of those, whose fortune it in­tends to change.

The night was wholly spent in disquieting the Enemy, and giving them continual alarms, and notwithstanding the rigour of the season, in the whole army there was not a tent set up more then the Pavilion where the Council met.

The morning of the 14. of January was come, which will be a day of festivity to Portugal in future ages, but overcast with thick clouds, as if Heaven had been unwilling to behold the slaughter of so many Christi­ans, of which those fields this day were to be the theatre, and happening to be upon a Tuseday, which is superstitiously fear'd and fatal to the fa­mily of Meneses, of which the Conde General was chief, his valour over­came the auguries of his name, and the fatality of the day, making it the most fortunate of all the year in the Calendar of Portugal. The felicity of this day began with the presence of all the Army at the holy sacrifice of the Altar.

The Enemy passed all the night in great care, standing continually in Battalia, and at break of day sent to discry our army by D. John Pacheco Lieutenant General of the horse with four troops, who seeing the stilness and quiet of the Portugues army, which was occasioned by the thickness of the clouds, concluded there would be no battail that day, and so assu­red the rest of the Captains, who being of the same opinion, drew off the souldiers, who mann'd the lines, into their quarters, leaving only the forts which defended them garrison'd.

It was now six of clock in the morning, when, as the prologue to those generous and admirable actions which the Portugues perform'd that day, the army of Portugal began to move slowly from the quarter where it was [Page 16] lodged against the trenches of the Enemy, and to put it self in Battalia before them.

Before the Vant-guard as Lieutenant of the Camp-master General was Diego Gomes de Figueiredo, five Sergeant Majors, and a thousand foot selected out of the whole Army to give the assault, divided into five bodies, some arm'd with Pistols, Partisans, Swords and Bucklers, and Firelances, others with Musquets, who carried bavins and spades to fill the ditches. Every one of these bodies was commanded by one of the Sergeant-majors, who were John Machado Fagundes, Antonio Tauares de Costa, Fernando Martins de Seixas, Alvaro Saraiua, & Anthony Vascon­cellos de Mendosa.

The Vant-guard was commanded by D. Rodrigo de Castro Count of Mesquitella, with whom was the General of the Artillery Alfonso Furtado de Mendosa. It consisted of 3000 foot in five squadrons, of which were Collonels Pedro de Mello, Emanuel Henriques, Antonio Galvano, Fernando Mesquita, and Bartolomeo Azeuedo: in the right wing was Pedro de Mello, next to him D. Emanuel Henriques, the left wing was commanded by An­tonio Galvano, the next place by Bartolomeo Azeuedo, the middle by Fer­nando Mesquita. They were flank'd with 16 Battaglions of horse, con­sisting of somewhat above a thousand, in the head of whom marched the General of the horse Andrew Albuquerque. The Lieutenant Generals of that Province Achim de Tamaracourt, and Denis de Mello de Castro with the commissaries John Silva de Souza, and John Vanicheli commanding them.

The main Battail consisted of 2000 foot in six squadrons, which were form'd out of the Regiments of Antonio sa de Pereira, Luis de Sousa de Me­neses, Alfonso de Barros Trovano, and out of the Regiments of the Count da Torre, Francisco Pacheco, and de Moura, which were commanded by their respective Sergeant-majors Emanoel Nunes Leitano, Emanuel de Silva Dorta and Balthezar de sà Sottomajor. The Count of Torre was in the right wing, next to him Luis de Sousa, and then Alfonso de Barros. In the left wing was the Regiment of Moura, next to that the Regiment of Antonio de sa, and then that of Francisco Pacheco. They were flank'd with 16. Battailons of about 900 horse with the Lieutenant Generals Gil Vas Lobo in the right wing, and Emanuel de Andrada in the left.

The Rear-guard was composed of 2000 foot in five squadrons, with the Collonels Gabriel de Castro, Luis de Mesquita, Alvaro de Azeuedo, Grego­ry de Castro, and Luke Barrozo. In the right wing marched Gregory de Ca­stro, next him Alvaro de Azeuedo, in the left wing Gabriel de Castro, who was followed by Luis de Mesquita, and in the middle was Luke Barrozo. [Page 17] They were flank'd with eight Battallions consisting of 800. horse under the command of Lieutenant General Pedro de Lalanda.

The Baggage followed with the succours, but the Artillery could not march with the Army by reason of the wayes which hindred it; and yet it happened to be of great use in the battail, for is was left upon a hill, from whence it did considerable damage to the Enemy, when the Gene­ral of it Alfonso Furtado de Mendosa had taken order for accommodating and securing it, he went himself into the Vant-guard to assist the Count of Mesquitella Camp-master General.

The Conde General was in the body of the main battail, but in the time of fight he kept no certain place, that he might give direction where, ac­cording as the accidents of the day required. He was accompanied by the Count of Feira Garcia de Mello great huntsman of the Kingdome, Chri­stopher de Mello son and heir of the great Porter, Gonsalo Pires, Emanuel de Andrada Governour of the town of Peniche, and of the frontieres of Tor­res Vedras, and Leiria in the Province of Estremadura, Captain Michael Alvares Galvano Governour of fort St. Anthony, Captain Mathias Correa Lieutenant to the Camp-master General Emanuel Pinto, and the compa­nies of guards, of which were Captains Cesar de Meneses and Andrew Gatino.

D. Sancho Manoel Governour of the town, understanding that the fight would be at break of day, placed the night before in the Cover'd way Collonel Diego Gomes de Figueiredo, and Simon Correa de Silva, and the Count of St. John with 450 musquitiers, which were all the men they could make that were able to fight, and in the morning commanded Commissary John de Silva to sally into the field with 170 horse, with whom went the Count de Torre, though he were sick, having no Regi­ment of his own, and Fernando de Silveyra. The Commissary had order to fall upon the Enemy as soon as the battail begun, that he might weak­en them by diversion, and the Collonels were commanded not to pass the river Seto, but to employ themselves only in such occasions as the fortune of war should offer them there. And on that side where the Portugues Army was to fall on, he planted 20 pieces of Artillery of several diame­tres under the charge of Peter James Magellan.

In this order our Army advanced against the fortifications of the Ene­my, and as the distance was but small from the place we lodged to their lines, the Spanish Captains perceiving our designe, call'd back their men in all haste, whom they had drawn to their quarters, out of a per­swasion that we would not assault them, of which their Lieutenant Ge­neral Don John Pacheco had been the cause. The haste they were in was [Page 18] the reason that they changed their orders, their infantry placing them­selves in one front without any depth defended by their lines. Behind their foot stood a Batallion of 800 horse with the Duke of Ossuna their General, that they might dissipate our men, who charged their lines (in case they entred) before they could form themselves into a body, and before the Town stood another Batallion of 800 horse under the command of the Commissary General Quintanales, that the rest of their men might securely employ themselves in the battail without being infe­sted in their backs by the sallies of the besieged.

Now were the minds of the Portugues so elevated, that they could hardly contain themselves within their ranks, all of them desiring the signal of battail, when the Conde General with a presence so chearful as almost infused an assurance of victory, remembred every one of the ob­ligations of his birth and loyalty, That these were the same Enemies over whom they and their Ancestors had so often triumph'd, that the presence of the Favourite & Nobility of Spain might make the victory more glorious, but not more dangerous, that the Enemy contended for our servitude, we for our liberty; that betwixt two such motives that must be most powerfull which concerned ones own preservation. That their glory consisted in our ruin, their gain in our destruction. That those Forts which they had raised upon our land, would rather be monuments of our glory then impediments to our victory; that they were men brought together by force and violence, we out of love and for our own defence. That their minds might easily be conjectured by the numbers of them which had yielded themselves to us, that they who had done so were the bravest of their men, & therefore had the boldness to leave them, that they who stayed behind were detained by their fear and not their courage. That in the Town our wives, our children, our brethren, and our kindred called to us, whose redemption depended upon this succour in the King­dome, the love and preservation of our King, whose fate was involved in this success, in the world the glory of the Kingdome, in which we were born, which would either be won or lost in this battail. Lastly, things were come to that pass, that as to conquer or to dye was the most honourable choise for the valiant, so it was the sa­fest for the fearful, and therefore as they entred into the battail they should remem­ber their Ancestors and have a care of their Posterity.

A painter of Antiquity having undertaken to draw the beauty of a hea­then goddess, covered the face with a vail, for judiciously foreseeing that art could not reach the reality, he would have it understood, that that which would be wronged with the faintness of colours could only be preserved in the profundity of shadowes. Pens astonished and elo­quence confounded would pass in silence the relation of the battail, for no stile being able to arrive to the truth, it will be best, that that which [Page 19] must needs suffer diminution by the touches of a pen, should be pre­serv'd entire in astonishment and admiration. It is certain, that that which cannot be greater when it is done, must appear less when it is written.

'Twas now nine a clock when our Army approached the enemies Lines, betwixt the Quarters of our Lady of Grace, and St. Francis, being flank'd on the right side with the River Chinches, at which time the clouds began to dissipate, that Heaven might be witness of that contest be­twixt the two most valiant and warlike Nations of Europe, of which that Field was to be the Theatre.

The Artillery of the Army play'd without intermission, and that in the Town discharged upon the enemy, when the Portugues after they had received three Volleys of Spanish musquets, throwing down the Bavins which they had to facilitate their passage, with incredible resolu­tion assaulted the enemies Lines, and putting the Defenders to the sword, broke them down, and entred them with so equal fury, that none was second, nor none was first.

The horse were so brave, that they would not stay till the foot had made them a breach to enter, but breaking down the Works them­selves, there joyntly entred into the Trenches, with them the Lieutenant General Denis de Mello, Achim de Tamaracourt, and Gil Vas Lobo, and Manoel Freire, All of them trampling and cutting down such as resist­ed with so brave an emulation, that this admirable action being the work both of the Companies and Troops, it could not be decided whe­ther had the better title to the Victory.

The enemies Trenches being entred, the Spanish horse charged the Regiments of Antonio Galvano, and Bartholameo de Azeuedo (who were both wounded) with intention to break them before they should be form'd into a body; but they were prevented by Commissary John de Silva, who fell in with them, and began a furious skirmish, out of which went wounded the Count of Torre, who, his horse being killed, had in­fallibly been taken prisoner, but that he was reliev'd first by his own courage, and then by another horse which was presented him by a pri­vate souldier.

In this encounter was Ferdinand da Silveyra, of his Majesties Councel of War, a son of the house of Sarzedas, who in his youth served and had charges in the Wars of Flanders, Italy and Brasile, but in Portugal had no other but Admiral of the Navy Royal, by reason of a troublesome accident he had, which some­times took away the use of his reason, depriving him of the service of his Prince, and the Kingdom of so great a Captain. But that impe­diment [Page 20] was not sufficient to keep him from assisting at the siege of Bada­jos, following the generous inclinations of his courage, which was the most prevailing passion in him. The same impulsion which brought him from the Court to the Army, drew him out of the Town into the field, where fighting valiantly he shewed, though he was not the man he had been, he was still a Souldier, till enraged at the resistance he met with, he threw himself amongst the enemy to kill and die, that the world might see, though fortune had kept him from serving his Prince in his life, she could not keep him from serving his Countrey in his death.

The Lieutenant General Denis de Mello, who had entred the Trenches with the Battalions of the left wing which he commanded, briskly charged those of the Duke of Ossuna the General of the enemies horse. At the same time the Infantry stormed the Forts, which obstinately de­fended themselves, and the Colonels Simon Correa, and the Count of St. John exceeding their orders, or interpreting them other then they were given, passing over the River of Seto, imbodied with those who were breaking down the Lines, and after joyned with them who stormed the Quarter of our Lady of Grace; so that in all parts there was a furious and obstinate battail.

In the mean time the Conde General went about with singular courage, animating sometimes one, sometimes another, so proud to see the chief Commanders, Officers and Souldiers do so bravely, that desiring out of an honorable emulation, rather to be their companion then Leader, he often forgot of what importance the life of a General is in such occasi­ons.

The Camp-master-General Count Mesquitella, who went from place to place giving direction, as long as the battail lasted, and the General of the Artillery, who was incessantly employed, seeing they had not yet taken any one fort of the enemies, without which there was no se­curing their success, commanded Colonel Alvaro de Azevedo to assault a fort of the enemies, which bravely defended it self, who marching thither with his Regiment, tearing up the Palissadoes with their hands, and fil­ling the ditches with them, scaled the works, and put the defenders to the sword with so singular a courage, that the Count Mesquitella was so taken with it, that he was pleas'd to honor the combat with his sword, and entring with it in his hand into the Fort, shewed that the charge of Camp-master-General had not made him forget the boldness of a pri­vate Souldier.

The enemy still continued fighting about the Lines of Circumvallati­on, [Page 21] and form'd another Line as it were of Countervallation of that side; when the General of the horse, Andrew Albuquerque seeing a Regiment of Auxiliaries, of which Luis de Sousa was Colonel, lose ground, he cast himself amongst the Souldiers, making them turn again by his example; when it pleasing Heaven to sell the victory to the Portugal at so dear a price, or (which is more likely) it being now time to reward his rare vertues with the immortal felicities of a better life, a musquet bullet hit him, which passing through his Arms, shot him through the breast, he remaining unmoveable for a little time, as if that great minde had been loath to leave the battail before the victory.

He was a Gentleman of extraordinary endowments of body and minde, of a chearful presence, a sweet conversation, affable in discourse, discreet, without malice, valiant without noise, vertuous without hypo­crisy, a religious observer of Military discipline, of great entireness in matters of Justice, of singular constancy in good and evil fortune. He made himself loved, he made himself feared; but in gaining mens af­fections he never employed Caresses, nor securing himself by fear, made use of punishments. He disposed things with sweetness, he did his business without noise, & executed it with felicity. Valour in him was rather natu­ral then acquired, he being always master of his mind in the greatest dan­ger, so that that seems to some to be insensibility in him, which indeed was constancy. The service of his King was his life & his delight; yet in nineteen years time he was only twice at Court. He was a Souldier, a Captain, a Co­lonel, a General of the Artillery, a General of the Horse, and Camp-master-General, being always as great a subject as a chief; none knew better to obey, none knew better to command: In a word, he was a Gentleman in all respects so great, that the 14. of January, it being the most auspicious day to future ages that is in the Calendar of Portugal, will be likewise the most lamentable for his memory.

Colonel Luis de Sousa was likewise shot in his left side with a musquet bullet, of which he died, his hasty death preventing those applauses and rewards which were due to his most qualified deserts.

When the battail began, Pedro de Meneses, Andrew Gatino Captains of the Guard to the Conde General, begg'd his leave that they might go help their companions, and coming to the Fort which Pedro de Mello stormed, they valiantly encountred a body of the enemy which was coming to charge, and though the meeting cost the life of Andrew Gatino, who fell valiantly fighting, Pedro Meneses revenged him with the death of above fourscore Spaniards, which he cut the throats of, putting the rest to flight.

Now the resistance of the Spaniard by little and little declined, and victory began to declare her self for the Arms of Portugal, for the horse with whom Lieutenant General Denis de Mello, and Don John de Silva [...] [Page 22] Luis de Haro, who thought the houses of Badajos more secure then the for­tifications of his Trenches, accompanied with a few horse, brought to Ba­dajos the news of their misfortune before three a clock in the afternoon. The foot which did not flie so soon, made good their forts, for though some of them were yielded up, the others still resisted.

At this time, as the fight continued still in the Forts, the Conde General advanced with the succours in spight of the bullets, which without inter­mission crossed the way where he marched, and entring within the Lines, put it into the Town; at the sight of which the besieged revived, and congra­tulating with acclamations of joy, those first signs of their redemption, gave thanks to God for that glorious and wonderful success which he had given to the Arms of Portugal.

At the time that the succour was put into the Town, the Conde General met at the River Seto, with the Governor D. Sancho Manoel, who leaving the Town to the care of the General of the Artillery, Pedro Magalhan was sallied out with D. Luis d' Almeida and 20 horse, and after he had given the Conde the salutation of victory, he marched to that part where Pedro de Mello fought.

Still the enemy fought obstinately in one fort, the furthest to the right side of the line, which was the most capacious of all, & contained the best men of the Spanish Army, where Col. Pedro de Mello who scaled it, fought most part of the day at the expence of many lives of the defendants and assail­ants. And in the fort of our Lady of Grace continued the same resistance in spight of the storms and attempts which were made by Col. Correa da Sil­va, and the Count of St. John, who retired wounded, being driven off with baggs of powder, which the defendants set on fire.

The night parted the contest, and though to open and free the way to­wards Portugal, it was necessary to get these Forts, it seeming a thing im­possible to obtain them in the darkness of the night, the fight was deferr'd till the next day, the conquering Army lodging under the walls of the town with their front toward the quarters of our Lady of Grace and the Bargada, and the Conde General quartered in the Hermitage of St. Laza­rus without the town.

Singular and mighty would be the glory of Portugal in the world, if the Nations who inhabit it had been present at the rare and prodigious acti­ons of valour which were performed that day. Courage, boldness, re­solution was equal in all, some had the better fortune of having occasion to shew it. To particularize some, were odious, to relate what all did, impossible, and in case it were not, who could be named first without justly offending the second, who as well deserved to be first? The field afforded room for all men to doe alike, since they were all engaged at the same time. But it is not so in the order of writing, for there i [...] is ne­ [...] [...]

The stone in which the great Alphonso D. Albuquerque caus'd to be en­graven the names of those Captains who behaved themselves bravely in the conquest of the City of Malaca may be an example for writers, who relate the actions of the Portugues. For that famous General seeing them discontented, whose names he intended to eternize, because he had put one first, another second, as it was necessary in the order of writing them to do, he commanded the stone which had the names in it, and stood over the gate of the Fort which he had built, to be taken out, and turning the writing inwards, engraved on the outside of the stone those words of the 117. Psalm, Lapidem, quem reprobaverunt aedificantes. Besides it is not my intent to inform Portugal what the Portugues did, but to inform the world what was done by Portugal. The actions of those who behav'd themselves bravely are sufficiently known in our own Kingdome. The pub­lick conscience is the best Register of them; all tongues celebrate them, all men admire them, and the munificence with which his Majesty will reward them will make known every mans deservings. I relate the success, and praise only the dead, since envy will spare none who are alive.

All that night the Army stood in Battaglia, intending the next morning to assault the Enemy in the quarter, where they were fortified, and as soon as it was break of day the Conde General marched with the Army towards the quarter of la Corte, which he found as full of munition as it was empty of men. For fear had so possest the conquer'd, that in the obscurity of the night they quitted their quarters in such haste, that they durst not stay to carry away the Cabinet of the favourite, in which were found letters from the K. that discovered all the secrets of the Monarchy.

The Horse presently march'd down to the River of Caja with the Camp-master General D. Sancho Manoel, where though they overtook the reer of the Enemy as they were flying over the water, they contented them­selves having such a number of Prisoners already to let them pass leaving their persons free, and taking from them only a piece of Cannon which they were drawing off; the Souldiers enriching themselves with the spoils of the Duke of Ossuna's baggage.

The Camp-masters Don John de Zuinga, and Don Nicholas of Cordova, who defended the Forts of our Lady of Grace and the Rozario, and the day before had made a brave resistence in hope that by the favour of the night approaching they should receive orders from their chiefs, either for their defence or their retreat, seeing themselves frustrated of their expectation, and the hazard of their condition rendred themselves up with 600 foot to the mercy of the conquerours.

Such was the fear and terrour the conquer'd conceiv'd at our victory, that coming to Badajos they presently fell a breaking down the fortificati­ons which the Portugues had left when they rose from the siege, being a­fraid [Page 24] they might return again to take up their quarters there, and obtain the town, so terrified and astonished with that rout and slaughter.

The loss of the Spaniards was one of the greatest, that till that day the Monarchy had ever suffered. For their Army consisting of 14000 foot, and 3500 horse in the muster at Badajos, after the rout arriv'd only to 5000 foot, and 1500 horse, all the rest were wounded, dead, pri­soners, or fled. But in respect of the circumstances it was the greatest, for the prisoners all agreed, that at the first marching of that Army there were 28000 foot, and 8000 horse, of all which only those few relicks were remaining.

The field was covered with carkasses, amongst which were many of the chief commanders, Collonels, Lieutenant-Generals, Lieutenant-Collonels, Commissaries of horse, Sergeant-majors, Captains of horse and foot, which with the Gentlemen and Reformado's exceeded the number of 3000. The prisoners were as many or more then the slain, and of the [...]ame condition and quality, some Titulati, and many sons and brothers of the Titular houses of Spain, besides 600 sick and wounded, which the Conde General sent to Badajos.

They lost 17 pieces of Canon, 5 Petards, 3 Morter-pieces, all the train [...]f Artillery, many Ensignes, 15000 Arms, & all the provision and ammu­ [...]ition which were got together to support the Army and furnish the [...]owns. Lastly, their whole quarters with their richest baggage, which the Conde General gave as a spoil to his Souldiers.

Of the Portugues there dyed only the General of the horse Andrew Albuquerque, the Admiral Ferdinand de Silveira, Collonel Luis de Sousa, who went off wounded, [...]nd died afterwards. Two Captains of horse, ten Captains of foot, two Adjutants, ten Ensignes, four Sergeants and 177. common Souldiers. There went off wounded the Count of St. John, the Count de Torre Simon Correa da Silva, Bartholomao de Azu­edo, and Antonio Galvano Lieutenant to the Camp-master General Ascenso Alvares, four Sergeant-majors, one Adjutant of a Lieutenant, 23. Captains, 8. Adjutants, 22. Ensignes, 32. Sergeants, and 592. common Souldiers.

The news of the victory arriv'd at Lisbone the 16. of January, at the same time that King Alfonso's Majesty was present at the anniversary solemnity of the holy Sa­crament in the Parish Church of St. Engratia, this being the first time that he had shew'd himself in publick to his people; circumstanc [...]s which prognosticate the great and reiterated felicities which it is to be hoped our Lord God will grant to his auspi­cious government. And father Prospero dos Martyres of the religion of the Regular Canons of St. Augustine, promising in his Sermon good news from the Army of Alen­ [...]ojo, the Post came in, the Letters were read, and then the solemn hymn of Te Deum Laudamus being sung, the Sermon continued, which being begun in prayers ended in thanks, which his Majesty, the Nobility of the Court, and the People with festival demonstrations gave to God, who is the only Lord of Hosts and Victories.