Page:The Lusiad; Or, The Discovery of India.djvu/41

 dangers which threatened his youth, became the founder of the Portuguese monarchy. In 1139 the Moors of Spain and Barbary united their forces to recover the dominions from which they had been driven by the Christians. According to the accounts of the Portuguese writers, the army of the Moors amounted to near 400,000; nor is this number incredible, when we consider what armies they at other times have brought to the field, and that at this time they came to take possession of the lands they expected to conquer. Don Alonzo, however, with a very small army, gave them battle on the plains of Ourique, and after a struggle of six hours, obtained a most glorious and compleat victory, and which was crowned with an event of the utmost importance. On the field of battle Don Alonzo was proclaimed King of Portugal by his victorious soldiers, and he in return conferred the rank of nobility on the whole army. The constitution of the monarchy was not settled, nor was Alonzo invested with the Regalia till six years after this memorable victory. The government the Portuguese had experienced under the Spaniards and Moors, and the advantages which they saw were derived from their own valour, had taught them the love of liberty, which was not to be complimented away in the joy of victory, or by the shouts of tumult. Alonzo himself understood their spirit too well to make the least attempt to erect himself a despotic Monarch, nor did he discover the least inclination to destroy that bold consciousness of freedom which had enabled his army to conquer and elect him their Sovereign. After six years spent in farther victories, in extending and securing his dominions, he called an assembly of the prelates, nobility, and commons, to meet at Lamego. When the assembly opened, Alonzo appeared seated on the throne, but without any other mark of regal dignity. And ere he was crowned, the constitution of the state was settled, and eighteen statutes were solemnly confirmed by oath as the charter of king and people; statutes diametrically opposite to the jure divino and arbitrary power of kings, to the principles which culcate