_These things have been a sore Affliction to me; but what grieves me still more, is, that his Wife should be my Sister, whose Blood I would gladly shed, since by Rebellion tainted and corrupted, that I might give an evident Proof of my Loyalty to my King, and efface all those Suspicions, which these Rumours may have imprinted in the Minds of the People._ [Sidenote: 1641.] _For these Reasons therefore I challenge the said ~John~ late Duke of ~Braganza~, as being a Traitor both to God and his King, and invite him to meet me in Person, and in single Combat try our Fortune, with or without Seconds, and arm'd in_ _what manner he please; the Place shall be near ~Valentia d'Alcantra~, which is on the Frontiers both of ~Castile~ and ~Portugal~, and where I will wait for him four-score Days, from the first of ~October~ to the nineteenth of ~December~ of this present Year. The twenty last Days I will wait for him in Person, and on the time which he shall appoint I will enter the Lists; which time, though it be long, I give him, not only that he the said Tyrant, but also that all ~Europe~, nay, that the whole World may know it. To this end, I will send Ten Chevaliers a League within ~Portugal~; as also, he shall send Ten a League within ~Castile~, as Hostages, and on that day I will shew him the Heinousness and Baseness of his Crime._ _But if he the said ~John~ late Duke of ~Braganza~, should fail meeting me, to give me Gentleman-like Satisfaction, and thereby deprive me of the Opportunity of shewing my Loyalty to the King my Master, and the natural Hatred which our Family has to Traitors; I offer (with Submission to his Catholick Majesty, whom God preserve) my good Town of ~St. Lucar de Barameda~, which always has been the Seat of the Dukes of ~Medina Sidonia~, to any Man who shall kill him. To which end, I beg of his Catholick Majesty, that I may not have any longer the Command of the Army which is to march against him, being so transported with Rage, that I should not be Master of that Sedateness and Conduct, which are so necessary to_ _a General; but that his Majesty would give me leave to be only at the head of a Thousand of my own People, on whose Courage, as well as my own, I may rely, that in case the said Usurper should not accept my Challenge, we may bring him dead or alive to his said Majesty. And that I may not be thought to be wanting in my Duty to my King, I offer one of my best Towns to the first Governour, or other Officer, belonging to the Usurper, who will surrender any Place to the King my Master; never thinking that I can do enough for his Service, since to him, and to his glorious Ancestors, I owe all that I enjoy._ Given at _Toledo_ the 29th of _September_, 1641. [Illustration]