OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 43.9 



nions which he now possesseth, the empire of Al- 

 maign, nevertheless sunk in that enterprise ; whereby 

 he perceived that the nation was of too strong a 

 composition for him to deal withal : though not long 

 since, by practice, he could have been contented to 

 snatch up in the East the country of Embden. 

 For Portugal, first, the kings thereof were good sons 

 to the see of Rome ; next, he had no colour of 

 quarrel or pretence ; thirdly, they were officious 

 unto him : yet if you will believe the Genoese, who 

 .otherwise writeth much to the honour and advantage 

 of the kings of Spain, it seemeth he had a good 

 mind to make himself a way into that kingdom, 

 seeing that for that purpose, as he reporteth, he did 

 artificially nourish the young king Sebastian in the 

 voyage of Afric, expecting that overthrow which 

 followed. 



As for his intention to war upon the Infidels and 

 Turks, it maketh me think what Francis Guicciar- 

 dine, a wise writer of history, speaketh of his great 

 grandfather, making a judgment of him as historio 

 graphers use ; that he did always mask and veil his 

 appetites with a demonstration of a devout and 

 holy intention to the advancement of the Church 

 and the public good. His father also, when he 

 received advertisement of the taking of the French 

 king, prohibited all ringings, and bonfires, and other 

 tokens of joy ; and said, those were to be reserved 

 for victories upon infidels : on whom he meant never 

 to war. Many a cruzado hath the bishop of Rome 

 granted to him and his predecessors upon that 



