PHILIP II

On the failure of the Portuguese dynasty in 1580, Philip II, a grandson of Manuel I, was the most powerful of the claimants. After the defeat of his nearest rival at the battle of Alcantara, he became master of the country and was crowned on the 25th March 1581.TranscriptionEL REY Procura. real /o/ Reg. Se. el dicho officio, Porque queremos ver los auctos de las consignaciones /o/ assignaciones que esse vro officio face de Censos para los beneficiados de los beneficios fundados por los Sers. mos Reyes nros predecessores, nos embiareys dos /o/ tres dellos los mas modernos y auisareis muy en particular porque causa se facen estas consignaciones y nose pagan a los beneficiados por esse vro officio lo que tiene cada beneficio renta ordinaria y de todo lo que acerca desto se os offreciere, que en hacerlo assi seremos de vos servidos dats en Ebara a XXVY de Febrero M.D. LXXXVY Yo El ReyTranslationTHE KINGRoyal Procurator, or Register Se. of this letter? Because we want to see the acts of the consignments or assignments in which your occupation did censuses for the benefited people of the benefits founded by our very honorable predecessors, The Lord Kings. You will send us two or three of the most modern of them (the acts) and you will explain very particularly why these consignments are made and the benefited people are not paid for that. (Also) who has each benefit, ordinary revenues, and all of the things that are offered to them, in doing so, we will be at your service.Dated in Ebara, February 26, 1586. I, The King