He was born of rich and noble New Christian parents in Leiria, reading philosophy, poetry and writing of shepherds and shepherdesses by the rivers Liz and Lena.

He thereby did a rare service to his country at a time when, owing to the Philippine Dynasty, Castilian was the language preferred by "polite society" and by men of letters.

[2] The characteristics of his prose style are harmony, purity and elegance, and he was one of Portugal's leading writers.

A disciple of the Italian school, his verses were free from imitations of classical models.

Their popularity may be seen by the fact that the Primavera went through seven editions in the 17th century and nine in all, a large number for so limited a market as that of Portugal.