THis vnfortunate King , Don Sebastian , hauing bene brought from Florence to Naples , was put in the castle of Oeuf , in a chamber , without any other furniture in it , then a halter & a long knife of the length of halfe the arme : Where for the space of three dayes , they neither gaue him ought to drinke or to eate , nor whereon to lie : Which space , hee spent in continuall prayers , induring his crosses with an incredible patience . On the fourth day after , the Auditor Generall , accompanied with two Notaries , came to visite him , and found him , for his life , of good disposition , & maruailed exceedingly at him ( for all of them did verily beleeue , that seeing himselfe so ill intreated , he would in despaire haue hanged himselfe , or with one of those two instruments haue ended his dayes , which for that purpose were prepared and placed in that roome , or at least incurre thereby some grieuous maladie ) and said vnto him , that if he would not deny , and cease to maintaine , what he had auouched and maintained , in reporting himselfe to be Don Sebastian King of Portugall , hee should neuer haue either drinke , meat , or lodging . To whom the king made answere :

Doe what you will ; for I shall neuer sing any other song : and I beseech God omnipotent , of his infinite goodnes and diuine mercy , that he will stretch out his powerfull hand , and assist me in these my troubles , and that hee will not suffer me to commit so foule a fault , or to fall into so great a mischiefe , and so contrarie to mine owne soule , that for feare and terrour of men , I should come to denie the truth , and to confesse a falshood . God defend me from it . I am that selfe same Don Sebastian , king of Portugall , which in the yeare 1578. passed into Affricke against the Infidels , and the very same , who , to augment the name & power of the Christians , put my life in hazard : and am that vnfortunate Prince , who for the punishment of his sinnes lost a battaile , which losse begat so many misaduentures , and occasioned so many changes in Christendome . This is the verie truth , neyther can I say any other . With this answere , the Auditor & his Notaries went their way . After this they began to giue him for his nourishment some bread and water : and some few dayes after , hee was allowed fiue crownes a moneth , and a man to wayte vpon him . The Viceroy of Naples last deceased , came to visite him , and there passed betweene them that which hath bin published by so many hands , & set forth in so many languages . Now , as soone as it was bruted abroad , and that fame had runne and told it through the world , that hee remained prisoner , & that all men had leaue to see him , many persons , of diuers , both qualities , and nations , made a voyage vnto Naples , onely to see him , and to speake vnto him : And amongst the rest , many Portugals , some out of Portugal , and some from other places of their being , past into Italy , that they might with their owne proper eyes behold so admirable , and so rare a wonder . Many of the Portugals , especially the elder sort , who had seene him , and knew him ; and some also of Castile , and other strangers besides , hauing seene him , and discoursed with him , confessed and maintayned , that he was Don Sebastian , the true King of Portugal . During the life of the said Viceroy , his imprisonment was not so austere nor so strict as it was afterwards , when his sonne succeeded in the said gouernment , who kept him exceeding close , and double garded , suffring him notwithstanding to goe abroad on the Sundayes , and other festiuall dayes , for to heare masse in a Chappel within the said Castle . He liued in perpetual prayers and fastings . Euery Friday and Saturday , he fasted with bread and water . He did the like sometimes also on other dayes , as on Mundayes , and Wednesdayes . Hee often frequented the Sacraments , and vsed much confession ; and all the Lent long fed nor ate of any thing saue only herbes and pulse .

The seuenteenth of Aprill last past , within a yeere after that he was deliuered to the Castilians , the said Viceroy , who also is County of Lemos , sonne to him that was deceased , married with the daughter of the Duke of Lerma , who now at this day is a gouernour in Spaine : At that time it was demaunded of him , that hee should suddenly make answere , without any other proceedings or diligence in his cause , vnto that which on the fourth day was proposed by the Auditor general , accompanied , as before we mentioned . To whom he replied .

That it was no lawful nor direct course , to take vpon them to examine and iudge him without proces : but rather that they should present him to the Portugals , who had both nourished him , knowne him , and serued him . For on their relation and their testimonie , ought to depend the true proofe and approbation of his businesse : Affirming , that if it were possible for him to liue a thousand yeeres longer , he would neuer answer otherwise : And that if they should determine to doe iustice on him , without any other order or proofe , hee must take God for his only Iudge , who knowes the truth of this matter , and that he is the proper and true King of Portugall , Don Sebastian . Wherefore , if you are so disposed , take your course in effecting that , vpon which heretofore you purposed .

The officers appointed for this affaire , being gone from him with this answere , he went incontinently and threw himselfe downe on his knees before the Crucifix , and began to dispose and prepare himselfe for death . He fasted the space of three dayes with bread & water : He made his generall confession , and receiued the holy Sacraments . As he thus attended his latest houre , before the said month of Aprill was ended , they sent againe vnto him for his finall answere . To which message hee made the like answere as before . And vpon these his last words , hee was iudged and condemned by the Castilians , to be led in ignominy through the streets of Naples , and from thence to labour in the Gallies all the rest of his life .

The last day of the said moneth , they brought him out of the Castle , and mounted him on an Asse , & led him openly thorow the streetes of the City , three Trumpets marching afore him , with a Cryer , who cryed with a lowd voyce , This is the iustice which his Catholike Maiestie hath commaunded to bee executed . Hee hath commaunded this man should be thus shamefully led vp and downe , and that be should perpetually be doom'd to the Galleys , for naming himselfe to be Don Sebastian King of Portugall , being no other then a Calabrian . And still before the Cryer beganne , the Trumpets sounded , and so continued to the end . And when they named King , he would cry alowd , Why , so I am . And when they sayd , Being no other then a Calabrian : hee would answere , That is false . Yet notwithstanding in the repetition of these wordes , all the while that they were pronounced by the Cryer , hee no whit hindred the course of iustice , nor once moued himselfe against it .

Now must you note , that the Castilians not knowing how to verifie that he was the said Marcus Tullius Cartizzone , as they indowed him withall at the first , when he was deliuered vnto them , they proclaymed him at that howre , by the indefinite name of a Calabrian .

This act bringeth an extreme amazement to al the whole city , and ingenders a great sorrow , & causeth much compunction in the hearts of all men ; insomuch , that they went away stroken with wonder , and full of astonishment . They looked one vpon another with a silent strangenesse , and were vnable to vtter so much as one word one to another , the greatnesse of their griefe stopping the passage of their speach . And if any amongst them were heretofore perswaded , that he was a Calabrian , after they had now beheld his owne proper person , & this so strange a spectacle , they were confirmed in this beleefe , and did certainely assure themselues , that he whom they thus reprochefully led vp and downe vpon an Asse , was the very right & true Don Sebastian , King of Portugall ; and they were touched with such great compassion and remorsefull fellow-feeling , in beholding this his miserable estate ; and the iniustice wherewith they did intreate him , that they were not able to refraine from teares : the sighes and lamentations of one , inciting the rest to the same , who mourned and bewayled his miserie , whilest the King himselfe cryed out in this pitifull maner :

I am in the hands of mine enemies , who worke what themselues will vpon this my body , but my soule I recommend vnto God , who hath created it , and knowes the truth , and can witnes for me , that I am the same , whom I professe and say I am .

After they had carried him thus throughout the Citie , they brought him to the Kings royall Gallies , whereinto he was no sooner entred , but they presently pulled off his owne apparrell , and put vpon him a flauish attire , and placed him at the prow of the Galley , where hee remained a whole day : and the next day following , they put him with a gard , in a little Barke that was linked to the Galley , whither there repaired a great concourse of people of diuers nations : Amongst the which , were present , a great number of noble personages , and of very honourable houses , who steadily viewing his visage , and marking him with an especiall attention , and a most searching eye , Without doubt ( said they ) this is that true D. Sebastian , King of Portugall .

The sift day , they rankt him in the Galleyes , and shaued off the haires both of his head and beard , the which were gathered vp , & kept by those that stood by , as a most precious thing , and of great esteeme .

This being done , they fettred him with chaynes , signifying vnto him , that he should not be bound to rowe . Some French Lords were present at most of these proceedings : and amongst the rest , a sonne of Monsieur de Berault ( who is now at this day nominated for to be Ambassadour of Castile ) and a Gentleman , who is a follower of his , with some others of the same sute .

In these dayes of so great affliction , the King ceased not to continue in his dayly prayers and fastings , with such admiration of those that beheld it , that they held him for a Saint : and by the meanes of his patience , modestie , and other apparant demonstrations of his vertues , he gained so much reputation amongst those with whom he liued , that they were inforced to confesse , that the truth of this matter was couered and hidden , by the inuentions and subtilties of his enemies , and maintained , that he was the rightfull Don Sebastian King of Portugall .

Many of verie good qualities haue writ out of Naples into diuers partes of Europe , touching the successe of this affayre , according to the trueth thereof , and in such forcible maner , that as many as are either in the Court of Rome , or in Italy , are perswaded to beleeue , & doe hold most constantly for true , that this miserable Prince , is the same person hee professeth himselfe to be .

But some will happely say , that he doth deserue farre more grieuous chastisement , because hee escaping aliue from the battell of Affricke , so much famoused in the world , and comming afterwards vnknowne into his owne kingdome of Portugall , hee did not demaund it againe , leauing it as a prey to his enemies ; which hath occasioned so many mens deathes , so many and so diuers misaduentures , so many mischiefes , afflictions , and miseries , as haue hapned thereby , and haue crossed those Christian people these 22. yeeres : as one , who should haue preferd the publike good , before his owne particular imaginations , and priuate fantasies . But whosoeuer shall take knowledge of his pure vertue , pietie , feare of God , wisdome , and vnderstanding , will sing another song , and onely say this : Sic erat in fatis : and that God would haue it so , to the intent , that in the law of grace , there should be found another Iob , like vnto him in the law of nature .

These Galleyes passed from Naples into Spayne , where some do report , that they saw him at Barcelonne , in one of the Kings royall Galleyes , and that hee sat on the third seat , and that they vsed him very wel , and serued him with verie much honour , and with great respects .

We beleeue well the former , but not the latter , as it shall appeare by that we shal manifest hereafter : for they are but tales and fables , divulged by his enemies , who haue publisht it so abroad , for to cloake their malicious wickednesse , and their treasonable intents , and to conserue the good loue and fauour of such as loue him with all their hearts , and who with all the arte they can , with all their soule , and with all their power seeke to regaine him , & to acknowledge him for their Lord and Master : whereas the other , preferring their owne particular interest , and forgetting wholy the common good , haue quite lost both the remembrance of their loyaltie , and the Obligation , wherein they stand bound to their Countrey .

From Bercelonne , the Gallies entred into the Ocean sea , where they remayned till the beginning of the month of August , at the port of Saint Lucar de Barrameda .

A Currier from his Catholike Maiestie recounted to the thrice Christian King , the cause why the foresayd vessels past forth of the Mediterranean sea into the Ocean , which was a rebellion in Angra , a City in the I le of Tergere , which is the chiefest of the Iles , which they call by the name of Assores , which is the key of all the Ocean sea : for those that come out of Affricke , out of Asia and America , are constrayned to passe that way , as to the principal But of their nauigation . The I le is situated in 39. degrees , and some minutes , betweene the Septentrion , and the Meridian .

The certainty of this insurrection , is not yet to this day made fully knowne . Some say , that the Portugals did rise against the Catholike King , a Noble man of Spayne being a party with them . Others , that the Gouernour of the I le , being by nation a Castilian , did mightily bastenado a Captaine of his regiment ; who weighing with himself , that he could not challenge his superior the field , & that he remained in an I le inuironed round about with the sea , & 300. leagues from Lisborne , he resolued to take some other course to satisfie his vengeance vpon him . For effecting of which reuenge , he discouered his intention to his souldiours , and especially to the Portugals of the said Ile : whome hee finding propitious , and fully bent to yeeld him their best assistance , for to make himselfe satisfaction for the wrong he was offred , hee determined to kill the Gouernour , and to rise with the whole I le , in fauour of the Portugals : which was effected after the same maner , as it was resolued on .

This reuolt was the cause that his Catholike Maiestie caused his Galleyes to come from Naples into the Ocean .

Yet for all this , will I not deliuer neither the one nor the other cause for currant : for they are but fables , framed out of the forge of the enemy , whose custome it is to sow such false tales , to see how the world will stand affected with it , and to discouer the heartes , as well of the nobler , as the vulgar sort . It is rather to be thought , that his Maiestie commaunded the sayd Galleyes to come out of Naples into the Ocean , vpon the rumour of those forces that were raysed in England , being designed ( as some say ) to enter Portugall .

But whatsoeuer they say , so it was , that his Galleyes came downe thither : and it shall suffice vs for our purpose , to knowe for certayne , that the Royall Galley of Naples , in which Don Sebastian , King of Portugall was put , rides at Saint Lucar de Barrameda , and that the said Don Sebastian is within her in the maner aforesaid .

On the twelfth or thirteenth day of the said moneth , there arriued in Fraunce in a Shippe of the Rochelers , two French marchants , well knowne to bee men of credit and of trueth , who did assure , as well by word of mouth , as by letters written to persons of Honour in Paris ,

That they haue seene the foresayd prisoner at Saint Lucar de Barrameda , within the Royall Galley of Naples : And that they spake vnto him : And that they sawe him in chaynes poore and miserable : And that they offered him Lynnen , and Siluer , and other commodities , which hee would by no meanes take , but refused their kindnesse , and returned them thankes : And that hee brooked his affliction with wonderfull patience : And that all they of the Galleyes did acknowledge him to bee the same that himselfe had sayd he was , and did generally call him King : And that he is serued by two Galley-slaues that are Turkes : That hee labours not at the Oare ; But in all things else is vsed like the rest of the slaues : And that the Duke of Medina Sidonia and his wife , had a desire to see him ; who hauing talked a long time with him , the King demaunded of him , if hee had that sword still which hee gaue him , when he embarked himselfe for Barbarie .

The Duke made answere , that indeed Don Sebastian King of Portugall presented him with a sword , which he bestowed vpon him before his imbarking , which he had caused to be kept in his Armory amongst the rest .

Since that you haue it then ( replied the King ) I pray you let mee intreate that it may bee brought hither : for although it be now foure and twenty yeres since I gaue it you , I doubt not but I shall know it full well . The Duke had commanded some douzen to be brought : the which the King hauing seuerally viewed , told him , Mine is not amongst any of these . Then the Duke willed they should bring all the rest . And the King espying it in the hands of him that brought them , Loe , Duke ( sayd he ) behold the sword which I gaue you , when I past into Affricke .

There was in the company of the Duchesse , a Negro , whom the King knew , & said , that he had serued him for the washing of his lynnen , being one of his Launderers , when hee raigned in Portugall . The Duke seeing these things to bee so apparant , and so probably true , that they seemed miraculous vnto him , blest himselfe with many a crosse , and was seene to goe from him with a heauy and a sorrowfull countenance , and weeping , as it were , through compassion and meere pitty , to see so miserable a Prince , in so wretched and vnhappy an estate . And the most part of the Castilians themselues , subiects to King Philip , amazed with these so many signes and testimonies of trueth , ( howbeit they dare not speake it openly , yet notwithstanding in their priuate discourses ) they wil not stick to say , That it is impossible , that this man should be any other , than the true Don Sebastian ; And that it is to be feared , that God will swallow them all in hell , if the Catholike King restore not all that vnto him , which of right appertayneth vnto him . But those , who doe not looke on these great miracles , with the eyes of pitty , say that he is possessed with a deuill .

This Duke ( if I am not deceyued ) was called D. Alphonse de Guzman le Bon , the tenth County of Niebla , and the seuenth Duke of Medina Sidonia , who in the yeere 1578. the King Don Sebastian arriuing at Cales , for to goe into Affricke , receyued him with great royaltie , magnificent feastings , with Tilting , & Tourning , with Bul-bayting , and other sportes and pastimes , such as the I le could afford .

The sayd King continued eight dayes with the Duke , who ( they say ) tooke much trauaile with him , to disswade him from passing into Barbary in his owne person .

This considered , men need not to think it strange if the Duke had a desire to see him , and also to speake with him : Nor that likewise which the Rochelers report , touching the sword , and the Negro , since that the wife and Ladie of the sayd Duke , is Dame Anne de Silua , daughter to K. Gomes de Silua , a Portugall , and Prince of Eboli , who gouerned the kingdome of Castile for many yeres , who might verie well retaine the sayd Negro in her service , by reason he had beene brought vp in the Princes house of Portugail .

Wee haue diuers letters written from Cales , into many places round about , which wee finde to be as followeth :

There arriued out of Spaine , sixe or seuen Marchants , Inhabitants of this towne , men of the most credit & wealth amongst them , who reported they had seene Don Sebastian , King of Portugall , in the Kings Galley of Naples , at Saint Lucar de Barrameda ; and that they saw him chayned as a prisoner , and intreated as the rest of the slaues , but serued with more respect , and free from the oare : which fauour , it is thought , was obtayned for him by the Popes fauour .

They added moreouer , that many old men , Portugals of diuers sorts , in great abundance , came thither to see him , and that all of them did confesse and maintayne , that this was the true Don Sebastian King of Portugall ; and that the Castilians cryed with alowd voyce , in these termes , which we haue here aboue mentioned , touching the wrath of God hanging ouer Spayne .

And if wee shall but weigh all the successes of this King , his peregrinations thorow the world , his imprisonments , his deliuerance out of Venice , the maner of his comming from Florence vnto Naples , his sentence , and execution vpon it , it makes the case appeare in our sight , miraculous and full of wonder : But aboue all , his imbarking and arriuall at Saint Lucar de Barrameda . And yet beside all these , this is a rare and extraordinary thing , that the Gallies , comming downe from Naples into the Ocean sea , did sute in such conformity , and correspondencie with the ancient old prophecies , which touch these aduentures .

The reuerend father , Dvctor Eampayo , a religious & holy man , of the order of Preachers , being at Paris the last yeere , hath assured many men , that hee had seene in the Library of S. Victor , in a certayne booke , a prophecy , which we wil openly deliuer vnto you : to wit , That the King , Don Sebastian , should come out of Naples , vpon a horse of wood , which out of the Mediterranean sea , should enter into the Ocean , and that his horse should rest at Saint Lucar de Barrameda .

See , what father Sampayo hath trucly recounted to these persons touching this Prophecie : the same is confessed and confirmed anew , by the religious men of that Monastery : For it hath bene communicated and declared to diuers of them . Also , they haue writ the verie same , to some of his friends . And within the selfe same Library they haue shewed the prophecy to some such secular Gentlemen , as stand well affected to the liberty of this vnfortunate King . And for as much as the said father Sampayo is far from hence , we cannot cite the very words of the prophecy , nor the Author of it . Yet notwithstanding , it shall make very well for that we haue in hand , if wee shall but know that which is found written touching the aduerse , & prosperous haps of this vnhappy Prince , by men of great learning , & holines of life : which if we do , we may the more easily be excused . Saint Isioore , a very wise and learned man , and of the bloud royall , as being the sonne of Thtodora , and of Seuerian , sonne to Thierry , King of the Ostrogothes and of Italy , who flourished about the yeere 580. hath left vnto vs in writing : Occultus Rex , bis piè datus , in Hispaniam veniet in equo ligneo , quem multi videntes , illum esse non credent , &c. Which is as much to say , A secret and vnknowne King , exceeding deuoutly giuen , shall come into Spayne vpon a woodden horse , which many men seeing , shall not beleeue it is he , &c.

This here , is found to be published in a strange aduenture lately imprinted :

A Shooe-maker of Portugall , named Bandarra , borne in the towne of Trancoso , who liued heere about some 300. yeeres since , hath left vnto vs in writing in Portugall verse , very many Prophecies vpon diuers and sundry subiects : Amongst the which , there are found some , which intreat Del Incubierto : videlicet , Of the concealed and hidden Prince ; in one part whereof , we haue obserued the accomplishment in the person of King Don Sebastian . And if those which remaine behinde , shall proue but so true as those that are past , doubtlesse wee shall see this King seated in his Royall throne .

The poore labouring people of Portugall retaine this as an old tradition :

That a time shall come , wherein a King , whose name shall be as it were De Bestia , shall disappeare for a time ; and that after that hee and his Realme shall haue suffred many afflictions and calamities , the verie selfe same King , whom all the world holdeth for dead , shall rise againe , and gayne his throne with incredible happinesse . In which tradition , we are to note one thing , concerning the name of Bestia : For the Pesants of Portugall , in stead of saying , Sebastian , pronounce Bestiam : so that , taking away the last letter of the word , there remaines Bestia . Moreouer , we may also perswade ourselues , that this tradition of those base , rusticke , and barbarous men , shall haue his full accomplishment in the person of this Prince , hitherto so vnfortunate . It is no such strange & vnvsuall thing , to see God permit , that we behold his secrets in the mouth of ignorant persons , since that his Sonne hath taught vs , Abscondisti ea a sapientibus , & reuelasti ea parvulis . And we may as well , by the permission of God , see this rusticke prophecie fulfilled , as they did that , which runneth thorough the mouthes of the laborers of Beaulse , in these latter yeeres of the King that was , which was by tradition deliuered still from the father to the sonne .

We haue also elsewhere , an other old fellow , who hath composed a booke in Castilian verse , which serues as an explication of those prophecies of Saint Isidore , and of some other , who haue writ of the Incubierto . In which booke I haue read some 45. yeres since , many curious things , which if I could remember them , would at this time stand me in good stead . But because I read them in my youth , without any notice of things to come , or imagining of any changes or reuolutions to happen in the world these 24. yeeres past : and besides , being then vncapable of vnderstanding them , made me the more negligent in the apprehension of them : onely my memory hath in a confused maner , furnished me with a Poeme of seuen lines , very fit for our present purpose . And not long since , a Gentleman of Portugall , a faithfull seruant to his King , and very desirous of his countries liberty , gaue it me in writing .

Which is as much to say :

For the better vnderstanding of these verses , wee are to vnderstand what this garden , and what this wall is : for the exposition and vnderstanding of these two words , shall giue vs light to the rest , and shall lay open to our view , those admirable things , which a simple Poeme prophecieth vnto vs .

We are then to vnderstand , that this garden may bee taken for the countrey , which extends it selfe beyond the Mount Calpe , which is in Spaine , at the mouth of the Streight of Gibraltar , fronting on Mount Abyla , which is situated on the other side of the sayd Streight , in Affricke , which are the two Mountaynes , which are named by the Ancient , Hercules Pillers , as farre as the riuer , which the Latines call Baetis , and is named now at this day , by the Inhabitants , Guadal quiber , a name , imposed by the Moores , after they had made themselues Lords of Spaine , which signifieth in our language , Great-water : for Guad , in the Arabian tongue , is as much as water , and Quiber signifieth great .

The I le of Cales is in that countrey , and was once farre greater , then now it is . All this countrey is very sertill , plentifull , and delightsome .

Ancient Authors doe report of it , that if their sheepe should goe but thirty dayes without letting of bloud , they would die with fatnesse .

In this countrey did Homer dwell before he grew blind , which was in the yeere 1 ; 07. after the flood , and 255. before the foundation of Rome , and a thousand before the incarnatiou of Christ . In those daies they called it Melesegines . They that haue seene the fruitfulnesse and good temperature thereof , affirme , that these were the Elisian fieldes , whither the gods sent the soules of the blessed . Whence we see clearely , that this countrey is the garden of Spatne , and so we likewise call it .

Yet there are some Authors , notwithstanding , who maintaine & approue with very strong and euident reasons , that Lisborne is the garden of Spaine , with the appurtenances thereunto belonging : For as much as it is a very pleasant Territorie , large , fertill , plentifull , fayre , and delectable , wherein grow great abundance of all fruits , the most excellent , and the most perfit that Europe affordeth .

Your elder writers affirme , that the mares that liue thereabout , will be impregned by the wind , and that the coltes which come of them , seeme rather to flye then runne , so swift they are of foot .

Vlisses ( whom writers allot vnto vs , as sounder of the sayd Citie ) and his companions , arriued after his shipwracke , in these quarters , and entring into the Ocean sea by Tagus , moued by the fertilnesse of the Territorie , with the waters , & the abundance of fish , that were bred in the sayd riuer , being so deepe , and so marueilous fit for all kind of commodities , besides the great store of Gold , which seemed to be in those sands , he named it Theodora , which in the Greeke tongue , signifieth Gods gift . So that the garden of Spaine is that countrey , which we affirme to bee betweene the mount Calpe , and the riuer of Guadiana : Or else the towne of Lisborne , with her Territories .

The King Don Sebastian hauing entred some of these parts with prosperity , it importeth vs a little for the verification of this Prophecie , whether the one or the other be the garden of Spaine .

Touching the wall , all they that are well seene and practised in the ancient Histories of Spayne , confesse , that it is the I le of Cales , which they call Gades , and by reason of the affinity of the G. with the C. is conuerted into the name of Cades .

And for the better declaring from whence this name came , it is necessarie that wee heere alleage some ancient Histories , who teach vs , that there are sixe men that beare the name of Hercules : whereof , two of them haue stifled eche others reputation . One was sonne vnto Iupiter & Alcmena : the other , sonne of the same father , and of Asteria sister to Latona . And this Hercules is adored with great reuerence at Tyr.

The Histories doe report , that hee commaunded the Gaditanes by a dreame , who were the Inhabitants of that Citie , that they should passe into Spayne , and build a Temple vnto him in Cales , where his name should be held in veneration .

For to accomplish this commaundement , the Gaditanes imbarked themselues in the yeere two hundred thirty fiue , after the foundation of Rome ; and sayling by the Mediterranean sea , they entred the Ocean : and not farre from the mouth of the Streight , they landed at Cales .

There beganne they to build a towne , obseruing the customes and Ceremonies of the Hetruscians , who did ( as M. Varro mentioneth ) couple a Bull and a Cowe vnder one yoke , and so made a deepe furrowe with their plow-share , in a circular or round figure , whose circuit they drew as large as the City should bee , which they intended to build . The plowe share made the furrow , and the earth they threw vp , formed their walles . So did Romulus , when he vndertooke the foundation of Rome : as it is storied by Dionisius Halicarnesseus . So did Aeneas also , according to the testimony of Virgil.

And thus in this maner , was the sayd place held afterwards for a thing holy , and religious .

As soone as the building of this towne and temple was bruted in the world , great multitudes out of Europe , Affricke , and Asia , came to see it . And in after yeeres , the Garthaginians , considering that the inhabitants thereof , as being all of one countrie , ( for they and the Gaditanes came both out of Tyr ) would continue still friends vnto them , determined to vndertake the conquest of Spaine .

And for the better effecting their designe , they cloaked their ambition , with pietie and religion , as I shall shew you : giuing the Spaniards to vnderstand , that it was not fit , since so many out of all parts of the world came to visit this Citie , and the temple belonging vnto it , and to doe sacrifice vnto the God thereof , of whom they had receiued such exceeding benefits , that the said God should bee worshipped in so poore a temple , and of so base a structure , the walles thereof being no better then durt and earth : And therefore would intreat them , that they might haue leaue to build a greater , a richer , and more sumptuous temple .

The Spaniards , not suspecting any ill that might succeed , nor any way being ielous of the Carthaginians at that time , did easily condescend to their request , suffering them to obtaine whatsoeuer they desired .

Presently hereupon , the Carthaginians began , with incredible haste to build a mightie huge temple of squared stone , and so strong , that it might serue them in stead of a castle , for the effecting of this their intention .

There were also all along the temple some strong buildings , saying they were to scrue for the Priests , the officers , and the seruants of the sayd temple .

Not content with this , acquainting the Spaniards with the bad entertainment , which those receiued which came with such great deuotion , and vndertooke such long iournies for to visite the house of this their God , that they might haue where to retire themselues , and to shelter themselues for all seasons , that they would permit them to build a greater number of houses , for to lodge and receiue these poore pilgrimes .

In a word , the Carthaginians obtayned all that they would : and ioyning one house to another , they made a very strong place , by meanes whereof , they grew great Lords in Spaine . And the same report is now at this day very common also in the mouthes of many . When the Earle of Essex tooke the said towne by force , the Inhabitants trembled , and cried out , Is it possible that the walles of Spayne should bee taken by the enemie ? O God , what shall we doe ?

Out of this , which hath bin said , you may clearely see , that this is that wall , and that garden , which the Author of these Prophecies hath spoken of in his verses . So that in knowing this , wee may easily haue knowledge of the gate which is on the hither side of the wall , which must be that of Saint Lucar de Barrameda , which is on the other side in the Ocean sea , some fiue leagues distant from Cales .

God graunt that this vertuous and holy Prince , Don Sebastian , King of Portugall , fulfilling all that which is prophecied of him , may enter into the possession of his kingdome , for the peace and tranquillity of his countries , & the common good of all Christendome . Amen . Farewell , the last of August . 1602.