Itinerary: Voyage to the East or Portuguese Indies

Annotation of Dr. Paludanus Bernardus Paludanus (1550–1633) was a Dutch physician and collector who provided scientific and historical commentary for Linschoten’s work.

This sickness, which was contagious or spreading, ran through not only Spain, but also Italy, Germany, and almost the whole of Christendom, as I myself, being in Italy at that time, also experienced. It was called there Coccolucio original: "Coccolucio"; likely refers to the 1580 influenza pandemic, known in Italian as "coqueluche" or "tosse canina"., because the persons who fell ill with it did nothing but wheeze like roosters original: "Hanẽ doen"; a comparison to the sound of a crowing cock or a coughing bird, typical of whooping cough or severe respiratory distress., due to the catarrhs catarrh: an excessive buildup of mucus in the nose or throat. that shot into the throat; they were constant, foul, pestilential fevers with many different symptoms, though not lasting more than four days.

A short time before this, there was such a great Plague in Portugal that over 80,000 people died within the city of Lisbon in two years, immediately after which followed the aforementioned sickness, which caused cruel destruction throughout all of Spain.

Jan Huyghen enters service with a German Nobleman and travels with him to Portugal.

On August 5th of the same year, having gained some experience in the language, I entered the service of a German Nobleman, who intended to travel overland to Portugal to see that same country, also expecting to find better opportunities there to satisfy his desires. Departing from Seville on the first of September, passing some Villages and Hamlets, we came to Badajoz on the 8th of the same month, where I found my other Brother, who was following the King’s Court; this one was the twin of the aforementioned deceased brother.

The Queen of Spain dies; she is carried from the Monastery of St. Lawrence.

In this same month died the Queen of Spain, Anna of Austria, being the sister of Emperor Rudolph and daughter of the deceased Emperor Maximilian, the King’s fourth and last wife: for which great mourning was observed throughout all of Spain; and she was carried from Badajoz to the Monastery of St. Lawrence in El Escorial original: "Escuriael"; the massive palace and monastery complex near Madrid that served as the burial site for Spanish monarchs. to be buried there; having stayed some days in Badajoz, we departed from there, passing through a city named Elvas, which is the first in the Kingdom of Portugal, about 2 or 3 miles from Badajoz, and between both cities Portugal separates itself from Spain; from there we traveled further through some other places of Portugal, and came to the city of Lisbon on September 20th, where at that time was the Duke of Alva, as Governor for the King of Spain; and great preparations and readiness were being made there to welcome the King and to acknowledge him as Lord, according to the ancient custom of Portugal.

Jan Huyghen, having recovered from a severe illness, enters the service of a Merchant.

Arriving in Lisbon, due to the change of country and the ongoing sickness and corruption of the air, I became ill and was bled seven times from the vein bloodletting: a standard medical treatment of the era intended to balance the "humors" of the body during fever., but with God’s help I recovered; and seeing little advantage in remaining with the nobleman, I left him and joined a Merchant to learn the business of trade until something else should offer itself. During these times, the Plague, which had flared up again, began to cease somewhat, for which reason the King had delayed his entry into Lisbon; and now that it was entirely over in the month of May, in the year [15]81, the King was welcomed into Lisbon with great triumphs, where the German nation won the prize for the best work and spectacle, which was a Gate and Bridge standing on the shore of the River where the King stepped out of the Galley—

In May, year [15]81, the King of Spain was triumphantly welcomed into Lisbon.

—first of all by luck, being decorated with many fine things and Figures, pleasant to see; also all streets and corners were hung with costly Tapestries and hangings original: "Pistolen"; likely referring to decorative banners or a specific type of fabric hanging rather than weaponry., and great triumphs were celebrated, as is the manner in such times.

On December 12th, year [15]81, the Duke of Alva dies in Lisbon.

On December 12th, the year [15]81, the Duke of Alva died in Lisbon in the King’s Palace, and that because he was his Chief Steward; for 14 days before his death he consumed nothing but women's milk A traditional medicinal diet for the elderly or severely infirm in the 16th century.; his body was embalmed and carried to his lands of Alva.

The Prince of Spain, Diego, dies in [15]81.

In this same month, while the King was still in Lisbon, the Prince and Heir of all Spain and Portugal, the King’s eldest son Don Diego, died; he passed away in Madrid, for which mourning was renewed; and no children remained but a young son named Don Philippe The future King Philip III of Spain. and two daughters.

The nobility of Spain and Portugal swear allegiance to the young prince Don Philippe as heir of Spain.

During this time, the King’s sister also came to Lisbon, the Widow of the deceased Emperor Maximilian, bringing with her a young daughter who walked with a limp, who was later placed in a Convent; they were also welcomed with great festivals and triumph. After the passing of the King’s eldest son Don Diego, all the great Lords of Spain and Portugal, both spiritual and temporal, gathered in Lisbon in the King’s Palace and took the oath with great solemnity, according to ancient custom, to the young Prince of Spain, Don Philippe, as heir and rightful Successor of Spain and Portugal and the King’s other dominions.

Expedition and battle at sea against Don Antonio.

In the spring of [15]82, a great fleet of ships departed from Lisbon, the leader of which was the Marquis of Santa Cruz, with whom went the principal nobility of Spain and Portugal of their own free will and at their own expense, to demonstrate the good affection they had for serving their King and Lord, towards the Flemish Islands The Azores. against Don Antonio The Prior of Crato, a claimant to the Portuguese throne who resisted Spanish rule., who remained thereabouts with a fleet of French Ships and men, whose leader was one Philippe Strozzi original: "Philippe Stroffy"; a famous condottiero and Admiral of France.. These two fleets met each other and fought a brave battle with great loss on both sides; but in the end, Don Antonio with his Frenchmen suffered defeat, and many of the Frenchmen were captured, among whom were some of the principal Nobility of France, all of whom were beheaded on the Island of St. Michael by order of the Marquis, and the other Frenchmen were brought to Spain and all put into the Galleys. Don Antonio escaped in a small Yacht, as did the leader Philippe Strozzi in a Boat, though he was wounded and died of those wounds.

The victory of the Marquis of Spain at Sea against Don Antonio.

Because of this victory, the Spaniards were very proud, and great triumphs were celebrated in Lisbon, and the Marquis of Santa Cruz was welcomed with a great Festival. During this time, when all things were settled, the King left his sister’s son, the Cardinal Don Albert of Austria, in Lisbon as Governor, and traveled back with the Empress his sister, and the Cardinal’s Mother, and the entire Court to Madrid in Spain.

Chapter 2.

Jan Huyghen van Linschoten, Plague, Portugal, Lisbon, Spain, Badajoz, Duke of Alva, Don Diego, Don Philippe, Santa Cruz, Don Antonio, Philippe Strozzi, Cardinal Don Albert of Austria