the Nation But however upon the death of Henry which was in the year 1510 and in whom ended the male Line of the House of Lorrain Eighteenthly Philip the 2d K. of Spain obtained the Kingdom of Portugal and was the eighteenth King thereof For he had no sooner heard the news of Henry's death but he sent an Army having one ready for that purpose under Ferdinand de Toledo Duke D' Alva who were at the Walls of Lisbon before they were aware and so surprized them that they were not able to make any great resistance But they were forced to receive him for their King who coming hither himself in person was sworn to several Articles which seemed pleasing and beneficial to the Portugals and which it is thought he never intended to keep neither did he First That he should observe all Laws Liberties Priviledges and Customs granted to the People by the former Kings of Portugal Secondly That the Vice-King should be either a Son Brother Uncle or Nephew of the King or else a Native of Portugal Thirdly That all Offices of the Church and State and the Government of Towns and Places should be conferred on the Natives of Portugal and not upon Strangers Fourthly That all Countries now belonging to Portugal should so continue to the Commodity and Benefit of the Nation Fifthly That the Portugals should be admitted to the Offices of the Kings House as well as the Castilians Sixthly That he should send the Prince always to be bred up amongst them And thus he obtained the Crown of Portugal making the Emperors Son Albertus Arch-Duke of Austria and his Nephew Viceroy keeping it in quiet possession till he dyed Nineteenthly Philip the 3d K. of Spain succeeded his Father to that Crown and also to this of Portugal being the 18th King of Portugal In his Reign Antonio the Bastard being entertained by Q. Elizabeth of England and bountifully releived acknowledging him her Kinsman descended of the Blood Royal of England and House of Lancaster he remained here till the Wars broke out between King Philip and Q. Elizabeth when she sent Antonio with a Fleet under the Command of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake with whom also went the Earl of Essex into Portugal where they landed and came before Lisbon but finding none ready to joyn with them as Antonio had made them believe after some exploits they were forced to return re infecta Thus he kept his Grown making the Portugals for fear and awe of his Power more than out of good will to subject and submit themselves to his yoak which they of tentimes discovered by their murmurings and repinings As soon as he was dead Twentiethly Philip the 4th his Son K. of Spain succeeded and was the 20th King of Portugal he committing all to the Government of his great Favourite Olivares by his way of policy different from his Father by seeking to establish the yoak more firm by tyranny and oppression at last lost the whole for the Portugals were very sensible of their slavery and hated the Spanish yoak to the death they perceived that the Kings of Spain had broke their words with them in all things and had now set over them a Woman to be their Governess Margaret di Mantona who had no relation at all to the Kings of Castile and though she of her self was a prudent woman yet she was swayed too much by the Secretary of State Vasconsellos a Spaniard one of mean extraction a proud fellow and one who sought by all ways the utter ruine of the Portugals and wholly to enslave them that the Portugals conspired together and were resolved to have a King of their own they were also encouraged to this by the revolt of the Catalonians from the Spaniard At last therefore finding the Government insufferable and their Grievances no longer to be born the smother'd fire broke forth into a flame upon the 1 of Feb. An. 1640 and all on a sudden the chief of the Nobility and Gentry and a world of the Commonalty led on by the Marquess of Ferrer and the Count of Vimiosa took Arms and coming to the Castle of Lisbon surprised the Guards being two Companies of Spaniards and two of Germans who affrighted at the suddenness of the Tumult and the Multitude made no resistance They soon entred securing the Governess and killing the Secretary Vasconsellos with some few more that made resistance shewing a great despight to the Secretary whom the common people cut all to pieces using his body in a most vile manner to satisfie their implacable rage This done they proclaim the Duke of Braganza King And thus the Kings of Spain lost the whole Dominion of Portugal all the rest of the Territories both abroad and at home in a few months returned wholly into the King of Portugal's hands and so have continu'd to this day the Spaniards keeping only the Town of Cexta in Affrica of all that justly belonged to the Portugal so great so full and so quick a change was hardly to be paralleld in past Ages and all through the natural hatred the Portuguize bore to the Spaniards Twenty one John the 4th Duke of Braganza thus came to the Crown who was the Grandson of John Duke of Bragance and Katherine the right and indubitable Heir of the House of Lorrain He was married to Lonysa Sister to the Duke of Medina Sidonia a Woman of a noble heroick and masculine Spirit and whose prudence and courage was no small furtherance of the Dukes obtaining his Right saying That 't was better nobly to dy in adventuring for the Crown than to be made a slave by the Spanish Tyranny and to live always in fear of his Enemies They were both Crowned at Lisbon with great pomp and splendor and as they had obtained the Crown with much prudence and magnanimity so they kept it with courage and policy God blessing their Armys with victory and success all their days Thus I have given you a brief Accompt of the History of Portugal from the beginning to make way for the better understanding the following Relation of the Actions of the Son of King John Alphonso the sixth being the 22d King of that Nation and as they were remarkable and notorious I have given you a full and ample Relation thereof which you may find in the following Narrative A RELATION OF THE Troubles that happened in the Court OF PORTUGAL In the Years 1667 and 1668. AFTER the Re-establishment of Don John the Eighth Duke of Bragansa in the Throne of his Ancestors which the Castilians had taken from them the Portugals being glad that they had shaken off the yoak of their Dominion began to find the sweetness which they used to have when they lived under the Power of their own natural Princes This new King had then by his Wife Donna Lonysa Frances de Gusman but three Children the Prince Theodosius and the Infantas Joan and Catherine Three years after he increased his
till he had a Son Born nor should wear a Crown on his Head nor take the Right-hand of his Wife 5. That it should be a binding Law for ever among the Portugals That the Crown might not descend to Forreigners if the Kings Eldest Daughter should Marry a Forreign Prince she should be be excluded from her right of Succession for that they would not have the Kingdom which they had obtained by their own Valour go out of the Race of the Portugals First Thus Alphonso the First obtained the Crown of the Kingdom of Porugal and within a while he added to his rown by Conquest after a five months iege the Rich and Populous City of Lisbon which ever since became the Capital City of his Kingdom and Place of Residence for him and his Successors He made divers other Acquists to the enlargment of his Dominions and being 90 years of Age in the year 1185 he Died leaving behind him Sancho his Son who succeeded in his Kingdom and two Daughters Uracca married to Ferdinand King of Leon and Therasia by some called Matiida Married to Philip the first Earl of Flanders These he had with Henry who dyed young by a second Wife for he had no Issue by Uracca the Daughter of Count Trastamarense Mafalda Sister to Amadeo Earl of Morenna Secondly Sancho the First and Second King of Portugal Son of Alphonso his only Legitimate Son that he had living born at Conimbra the 12th of November 1154 Succeeded his Father being Crowned the 12th of December 1185 three dayes after his Fathers Death He applyed himself much to the Setling of his Kingdom and to Tillage and Planting his Country therefore called the King of Husbandmen He by help of some Christian Souldiers put into Lisbon in their Voyage to the Holy Land Invaded Algarve and took the Chief City Sylva although he did not very long enjoy his Conquest but was driven thence by the Moors and had like to have lost his Kingdom of Portugal being furiously assaulted by the Moores He took to Wife the Daughter of Raymond Berengurio Count of Brachinona called Aldonsa by her he had 8 Children 3 Sons and 5 Daughters The Sons were Alphonso who succeeded in his Kingdom Ferdinand a Man of great Virtue and Parts Married to Joanna Countess of Flanders and Pietro Count of Irgelense The Daughters were Therasia Married to Alphonso King of Leon Mafalda to Henry the first King of Castile both after their Marriages turning Nuns Sancha became a Nun of the Order of Saint Francis who lived about this time Biancha and Beringilla who dyed young This King at 57 years of Age and in the 26th of his Reign dyed being accounted for his Virtue and Goodness among the best of the Portugal Kings Thirdly His Son Alphonso the second succeeded Born at Conimbra 1185 was about 27 years Old when Crowned King between whom and his Brothers and Sisters there were great Jarrs He was a Man of an high and very willful Spirit and in his latter dayes grew so unweldy and fat that he could not prosecute the Wars He Married Uracca the Daughter of Alphonso the Eighth King of Castile and Elenor Daughter of Henry King of England by her he had divers Children First Sancho who succeâ—ed him in his Kingdom Alphonso by Right of his Wife Duke of Bologna afterward also King of Portugal Ferdin and Count of Serpia Vincenzo dyed young Leonora a Daughter Married to the King of Dacia Alphonso in the 48 year of his Age and 21th of his Reign dyed Anno 1233. Fourthly Sancho the Second succeeded his Father and was Born in Conimbra the first of September 1207 being very sickly and unlikely to live but came to the Crown at twenty six years of Age spending most of his time in Baths and Hot-houses for the recovery of his Health He Married with Messa Lopez the Widdow of Alvaro de Castro She was accounted but an inferiour Match tho of Blood Royal being made by his Favourites who with the Assistance of the Queen by reason of the Kings weakness and indisposition made a Prey of the People and mightily oppressed them so that they were enforced to call to their Assistance Alphonsus the Kings Brother who coming from Bologna possest himself of the Kingdom Sancho being forced to retire to Toledo where addicting himself wholly to Devotion he dyed in the Year 1245 at 39 Years of his Age having reigned 13 Years Fifthly Alphonso the Third who succeeded his Brother was Born in Conimbra May 5. 1210 Educated with great Care and Diligence by his Father because of his Brothers Sickness He married Matilda Countess of Bologne Widow of Philipo Crispo and Daughter of Philipo Augustino He was a Man of great Parts but they were over shadowed by his Lusts For after he was setled in the Kingdom he repudiated his Wife and contracted a wicked Marriage with Beatrice the illegitimate Daughter of Alphonso the King of Castile and his Concubine Maria Villenia And notwithstanding the Threats of the Pope Alexander the 4th at the Tears and Complaints of the Dutchess of Bologne he caused her to be Crowned Queen and confirmed his Succession by the Birth of three Children Dionysio his eldest Son succeeded in the Kingdom Alphonso who married the Daughter of Prince Emanuel Son of Ferdinand King of Castile and Ferdinand who dyed young He very much infested the Moors increasing his Kingdom with the full Conquest of Algarve with much Glory and Reputation He died at Lisbon Anno 1279 at 69 Years of Age and 32 of his Reign accompting from his Brothers Death Sixthly Dionysius or Dennys his Son succeeded his Father He was born on the day of the Great Areopagite for whose sake they imposed that Name Anno 1260. He was a great and famous Poet. He was about 20 Years of Age when he came to the Crown and would by no means admit his Mother to the Administration of the Government He never oppressed his Subjects neither with Tribute or Taxes yet left to his Heir a full Exchequer He made many good Laws which are to this day observed The Order of the Templers was extinct in his Time and he first instituted the University at Conimbra He took to Wife Elizabeth Daughter to Peter King of Arragon who was most remarkable for her Sanctity by her he had Alphonso who succeeded him and Constance who was married to Ferdinand King of Castile After he had reigned 46 Years he dyed at the Age of 84 Years Anno 1235. Seventhly Alphonso the Fourth and the Seventh King of Portugal succeeded his Father and was born in Conimbria Anno 1290. He married with Beatrice Daughter to Sancho the Fourth King of Castile A Man given to hunting and disports to the neglect of his People but being at last made sensible of it he took the Reins into his hands and proved a good King About the Year 1340 Alboacen the potent Miramamolin of Morocco and Granada set himself against all Spain with an Army of 470000 Men but
was overthrown at the River Saledo by the Kings of Castile and Portugal where they obtained a great Victory with much Treasure and many Ensigns of Glory He had by his Queen Beatrice six Children Three Sons dyed in their Infancy the Fourth Don Pedro succeeded his Father in the Throne the other two were Daughters Mary who was Married to Alphonso King of Castile and Elenora espoused to Piedro the fourth King of Arragon King Alphonso being overloaded with the Burthen of 77 Years departed this Life Anno 1356 and was buried at Lisbon Eighthly Pedro the First of that Name the Eighth King of Portugal succeeded his Father Alphonso He was born at Lisbon Anno 1325 and was a-about 33 Years of Age when he came to the Government He was married to Constance Daughter to D. Juan Emanuel Son to Prince Emanuel Nephew to Ferdinand surnamed the Holy by whom he had one onely Son named Ferdinand who succeeded him in his Kingdom After the death of his Wife he fell in Love with Agnesa de Castro a most beautiful Woman descended of the Blood Royal by whom he had many Children among whom â—â— is John who was afterwards King of Portugal This Lady was put to death by his Father very unjustly but he brought those to condigne Punishment who had wrongfully accused her assoon as he came to the Crown It having caused long Wars between him and his Father But in the tenth Year of his Reign and about the 43d of his Age Anno 1367 he paid his Debt to Nature and was buried between the Bodies of his Wife and his Beloved Agnesia Ninthly Ferdinand the First of that Name and the ninth King of Portugal succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of Portugal and Algarve He was born at Lisbon Anno 1347 the onely Son of Constance the Daughter of D. Emanuel he came to the Crown at the Age of 22 Years in the Year 1369. He wholly drove the Moors from the Confines of Algarve and addicted himself much to the planting the Wast Lands he erected a Monastery for Franciscan Friars in Sylva the chief City of that Territory About his time it was that Pedro King of Castile being thrust out of his Kingdom by his Bastard Brother Henry for his many tyrannical Outrages done upon his Subjects sued in vain to Ferdinand not being willing to assist him but was re-established in his Throne by the Valiant Prince Edward commonly called the Black Prince Ferdinand had but one Daughter onely that survived him who was married to Henry King of Castile and thereby excluded from the Right of Succession according to that Law made at Samego by the General Assembly of the Estates so that in this King ended the Legitimate Line of Henry Duke of Lorrain This King having now reigned 18 Years and lived 40 being seised by a violent Sickness gave up the Ghost Anno 1387 and was buried in the Cathedral Church of Lisbon Tenthly John the First Bastard Son to Pedro the First after the death of Ferdinand his Brother and Neece Beatrice uncapable of Succession by reason of her Marriage with a forreign Prince claimed the Crown as next of Blood but was for a while debarred by reason of his Illegitimation when afterwards considering that they might choose one less deserving they conferred the Crown upon him yet so as he should receive it not as his indubitable Right by Birth but as given him by Election Thus he obtained the Crown by the Name of John the First and was the Tenth King of Portugal He was born in Lisbon in the Year 1356 and entered into the Government in the 32 Year of his Age in the Year 1388 with very great Applause of the whole Kingdom Soon after his Coronation he married Philippa Daughter to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster which he did to oppose Henry of Castile who claimed Portugal in Right of his Wife Beatrice by matching into that Family which had an equal if not greater Right to the Kingdom of Castile for that John Duke of Lancaster married the Eldest Daughter of Peter the murthered King of Castile and Leon. By Philippa he had a numerous Issue First Edward so named of his God-father Edward th Third of England who succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Ferdinand a Man of great Abstinency and Devotion John Pedro and the most Renowned Henry who was the First of the Portugal Nation that made any forreign Voyages he discovered the Azores Anno 1425 also the Islands of the Madera and sailing along the Coasts of Africa found the Way to Guiana King John reigned 47 Years being made Knight of the Garter as also his Sons the Infants Edward and Henry and dyed in the Year 1436 leaving the World full of his Glory Eleventhly Edward the First of that Name the Eleventh King of Portugal succeeded his Father he was Born at Braga Anno 1392 and came to the Crown about the Age of 44 Years or thereabouts He was married long before he came to the Crown and had four Children Ferdinand who dyed young Alphonso who succeeded him in the Kingdom Joane married to the King of Castile and Leon and Leonora married to the Emperor Ferdinand and was the Mother of the Emperor Maximilian He had but a short Reign of 5 Years and those with bad Success Twelfthly Alphonso the Fifth and the Twelfth King of Portugal succeeded his Father He was born at Lisbon about the Year 1420 and came to the Crown at the One and Twentieth Year of his Age in the Year 1441. He made Wars against the Moors in Barbary and took from them Tangier Alcazar and Arzilla which he fortified and kept He made Traffick famous encouraging Navigation which began to flourish with them exceedingly He left behind him several Children two of which succeeded him in the Kingdom John his eldest Son and Emanuel who reigned after his Brother He was a very affable and courteous Prince of a mild and gentle Disposition He dyed at Lisbon in the 43 Year of his Reign and 64 of his Life in the Year 1484. Thirteenthly John tho Second and Thirteenth King of Portugal succeeded his Father He was born about the Year 1456 and entred into the Government of the Kingdom at the Age of about 28 Years He made an Expedition into Barbary against the Moors with Success He sent out two Fleets for Discoveries one of which steered its Course along the Coast of Africa as far as Guinny where they made a Conquest of the Kingdom of Congo After he had reigned 14 Years with happy Success in all his Enterprises he dyed by a Fall from his Horse in Hunting leaving no Legitimate Issue Fourteenthly Emanuel the First and Fourteenth King of Portugal Brother to King John and Son to Alphonso succeeded He was born about the Year 1462 and took possession of the Crown about the Age of 32 Years He was bred up in all Sorts â—f Learning and was very Pious and Religious He was also a Lover of Navigation and set
breath nothing but Blood and Slaughter These Braves the King named the one Fixos the other Porradas words invented in favour of this new Militia With these People he ran thorow the Streets and entered those scandalous Places where they did a thousand Violences to Women There was never a Night that they went out thus but on the Morning were recounted a hundred Tragick Stories In fine he was feared every where as a Wild Beast Although he saw these Prostitute Women at their Houses yet they did not forbear to bring them into the Palace to him He vaunted himself to have to do with them in such Excess that as it was above all likelihood so no Body believed any thing of it One Day being put in mind that he was to meet with a certain fair Gossip in the Church of our Lady de Rocher about one a Clock he went into his Litter with John de Conti and Francis de Sequeira the Groom of his Wardrobe to see for her there but missing of her she being gone to the Church of our Saviour he Commanded them to carry him thither passing through the narrow Street of St. Peter de Alfama they met the Coach of Martin Correa de Sa Vicout de Asseca The King being in great hast the Conductors of his Litter cried out to the Vicounts People to get out of the way with such Injurious words that they not being able to take it drew the others doing the like and the Combat grew so hot that the Vicount was forced to leave his Coach to help his People also Francis de Sequeira did the like from that of the Kings to help the others The King might with one word have made all this Disorder have ceased but however he would not but on the contrary being himself come forth of his Litter with John Conti he set a Pistol to the Throat of the Vicount who was already Wounded and had certainly kill'd him if the Pistol had taken fire So soon as the Vicount knew the King he kiss'd his Sword and falling upon his knees demanded Pardon but neither this Submission nor the Innocency of this Gentleman could hinder the King from giving him many outragious Speeches All the People were surprised to see the King was come abroad with so small a Company and that he would have kill'd one of his Subjects without any Cause and a Gentleman brought up with him in the Palace at Noon-day and in a publick place so that they perceived he took Pleasure to intermingle with these Quarrels and to Foment them which made every Body to fear the Danger to be general and every one to begin to be afraid for himself As the King increased in Age the more he was corrupted and the disorder came to that pass that by his example the more vertuous began to grow loose they began to quit virtue to embrace vice by example and emulation The Queen was obliged to have recourse to the Protection of Heaven having no other Remedy she was capable of for these misfortunes with which the Realm was threatned However she would try one human way more perswading her self if she could bring the King to the publick Audiences which she gave twice a week to the Subjects to the Councel and to Business he might be brought to be capable of governing the Realm but all was in vain for he was not able to apply himself to it for his pleasures They had perswaded him that he was not truly a King who parted with the Government to another and so long as the Queen hindred his Liberalities to those he loved the people believed that it was she who reigned and not he that he was now of age enough to govern the State himself for King Dennis had done it at the age of sixteen years and the Kings Alphonso at fifteen and Sebastian at fourteen and that it was insupportable they should refuse the King a thing that he had power to take himself By such discourses they filled the mind of the King with troublesom suspitions against the Queen The King was no sooner out of the Apartment they had given him but he let them know by what he did the kindness he had for Conti for he was not contented to have given him a Command a House in the Country and a right of Peerage but he also made him Gentleman of his House Knight of Christ and Groom of the Wardrobe Honours that were never granted but to persons that were illustrious by Birth and Merit He added at the same time to all these Favours an Apartment in the Palace that he might have communication with himself and the Arch-deaconry de Sobredello for John de Conti his Brother After this the Courtiers ran in heaps to render homage to Conti as a new Favourite and every one began to seek his Protection and to commend their most important Affairs to him The Queen her self was obliged to have recourse to his Credit in some Businesses which she was not able to effect of her self which was the only way to maintain him in that height to which Fortune had exalted him for this way he was able to manage the mind of that person who gave him most jealousy As the King was every day sensible of those infirmities which his sicknesses had caused the Physicians were of opinion that he should go again to the Baths of Obidus But he instead of bathing himself there did nothing but divert himself causing so much trouble and damage to all the Country about and committing himself such cruel actions that the people were fain to shut themselves up in their houses or else to fly and leave them that they might shun meeting him so much horror had they for him In the mean time the Queen falling sick and the Favorites and the King by some discourses having caused a suspition that he would take the Government they were afraid that this sickness would serve for a pretext to that design but instead of that he applyed himself to combat a Lion against a Bull but the Lion being so obstinate as not to be forced out of his Cage he made them bring so much wood and fire that they choak'd him with the smoak In the beginning of the Year 1661 the Count of Odemira his Governour dyed who was very much bewailed by all the people for the King after his death abandoned himself to all manner of evil Inclinations more than before although he was not Master of the Kings Spirit yet his Merit and his Address made those to stand in aw of him who had the most power over him They had about this time begun to treat of the Marriage of the most serene Infanta Catherine with his Majesty Charles the Second King of England not long before established in the Throne of his Ancestors Francisco de Mello de Torres Embassadour Extraordinary in England was charged with this Negotiation which the Spaniards endeavoured to hinder what they could
the King as Subjects If her Majesty should retire for fear best the King should fail to pay that respect which he ows her how could the Ministers hope to maintain their Authority That her Majesty should before hand remove from the King those that were about him and fill up their places with others more capable that this was the only Remedy to correct his evil Inclinations But if this should not produce the wished for Effect and Heaven should not second her good Intentions her Majesty having at least let all the World see it was not her fault that things would be no better she might after this execute with more honour the Resolution which her Piety and those other Considerations had made her to undertake The Queen approved of this Councel as profitable to the King and to the State and her Resolution gave place to that which they had taken of calling the States to see what Remedy they could find for these present Disorders which might have a very ill Sequel for the Remonstrances of the Ministers of State the Advice of a Governour and of a Tutor had not made any Impression on the mind of the King and those cruel mischances the disgraces which had happened to him at the running at the Bulls the Perils that he had escaped in a thousand Rencounters had not rendred him more circumspect In sine That this was not to be wanting in any part of Duty to the King since it was the only means to bring him to himself that in extream and desperate evils violent Remedies are necessary to be used and as they had heretofore laboured with so much success for the recovery of the publick Liberty they ought still to go on with the same vigour to save the State from the Ruin with which it was threatned But as the Convocation of the Estates General would require a long time and their Assembling would be retarded by those who feared it they judged instead of that it might be supplied by the Assembly of the Council of State and Courts of Justice and by a Convocation of the Gentry and of the Commonalty of Lisbon as had been accustom'd to be done in pressing necessities It was then resolved that they should have recourse to this Remedy and whilst the King should be busie in dispatches with the Queeen they should arrest those whom they should think fit and all the Assembly should presently go to render an Accompt of it to the King and to conjure him to approve of the thing as done for the Service of his Majesty and the Good of his Realm This Project was communicated to the Duke de Cadaval to the Marquess of Govea to Don Antony de Meneses Marquess de Marialva to Don Francisco soto Mayor Bishop de Targa to the Count of St. Laurence to the Count of Soure Don Rodrigue de Meneses George de Mello Doctor Nioholas Monteiro to the Secretary Pedro Vieira de Sylva to Father Antony Vieira the Jesuit and to many other Persons of the Court. Antony de Conti was altogether Master of the Kings Mind and in such sort that he meddled with the greatest Affairs Gaspar de Faria private Secretary by order of the King put into his hands oftentimes papers of greatest Concerns and they attributed to his direction the Preparatives that were made for the Marriage of the Queen of England which Edward Montague Earl of Sandwich Ambassador for his Majesty of Great Britain and Admiral of the Fleet which was to convey the Queen seeing he made no difficulty to communicate to him Affairs of the greatest Importance as to a Minister of State and to treat him magnificently aboard his Vessel But whether that Conti had received any advice of what they were contriving against him or that he mistrusted it he began never to leave the Palace unless it were with the King or with those of whom he was very well assured This way he sometime averted the design they had upon his person For to arrest him in the City they could not find the opportunity neither was that very easie and to arrest him in the Palace there it was yet much more difficult for besides that good manners would not permit it they knew it would too much provoke the King Nevertheless they passed over all these scruples and it was resolved that he should be arrested in the Palace To facilitate the Execution of this Enterprise the Queen kept the King with her in the Chamber of Dispatches one Saturday Morning being the 16th of June 1662. and whilst they were there together the Duke de Cadaval Lewis de Mello Captain of the Port and his Son Emanuel de Mello followed by Edward Vas de Orta Osorio one of the Grand Provests of the Court came into the lower Apartment of the King Whilst the Duke stayed there to put Guards at the Door and gave Orders that none might go either in or out Lewis de Mello and his Son went up stairs Assoon as they were come to the Door by which they entered into the two Anti-Chambers of the King they perceived Conti in that next to them But Lewis de Mello seeing the Duke de Cadaval was not with those that followed him he asked aloud where he was Conti having by this discovered what he before had suspected flung himself into the second Anti-Chamber where he shut himself in At the same instant the Duke arrived and would have opened the Door with his seoret key but he could not do it for Conti had on his side put his into the key-hole So that the Duke and Lewis de Mello having push'd softly called to him to open the Door but he would not answer As they were afraid lest Conti should gain the Queens Appartment by the Door which gave Communication between the two Apartments Emanuel de Mello ran with all speed and possest himself of that In the mean time the Duke was got into the Tarrass which overlookt the Chamber of the Indies for fear Conti should save himself that way where finding him putting forth his head between the Bars of the Window he seiz'd him by the Hair Conti seeing himself laid hold on asked Wherefore they did that violence to him The Duke answered him That the King had given him order to Arrest him and that he would do well to open the Door Conti demanded if he would kill him To which the Duke replied No. Whereupon Conti pray'd him to let him go and he would open the Door to which the Duke yielded But so soon as he saw himself at Liberty he changed his mind The Duke and Lewis de Mello knowing the least Retardment was capable of ruining their Project they ordered Andrea de Leiria the keeper of the Kings Tapestry to fetch an Ax. In the mean time the Count de Castlemelhor having had an inkling of it either out of design to acquire the Friendship of Conti or to flatter the King he would have entered into the Chamber of
King that it was necessary whereupon it follow'd that the Confessor of these two Princes went to the Infante and told him as from the King that although God might give him Children yet it was most profitable to increase as much as was possible the Royal Family that for this reason he would act with him as a Father and as a King and desired ardently therefore to see him married That if he had not hitherto been able to accomplish that desire he believed that from his prudence and his inclination to the good of the Kingdom this proposition would be very agreeable to him that therefore he should inform himself of the Princesses of Europe and fix his choice upon her for whom he found the greatest inclination and also that he should cast his eyes upon those persons which he should judg most capable of that Negotiation and as for his part that all which depended upon him to advance the Conclusion of such a Treaty should be perform'd The Infante having consider'd this Affair according to the importance of it sent his answer in writing by the same Confessor to the King in which he thank'd him for the proposition his Goodness had made unto him submitting himself intirely to his will to follow the order which his Majesty had thereupon made known to him he should declare his mind not as a Rule that he should follow but only as a mark of that Obedience which he would testifie on all occasions He then made mention of all the Princesses of Europe representing to him all the circumstances both of Alliance and Love telling him also that the Confidence and Veneration which had united his Majesty with the King and Queen of England required that first of all he should send to their Majesties some person to ask their Advice and Consent thereupon and having received all necessary instructions he should pass into France or Italy to negotiate that Affair adding since his Majesty among the cares of his publick Affairs would be pleased to think of his own particular he was obliged to let him know it was impossible after a proposition of that nature but he would appoint him some Revenues whereby he might be able to maintain the Expences which that condition would charge him with hoping his Majesty without prejudicing the Publick which ought to be preferr'd to all things would act with him according to his ordinary Generosity which he had made proof of so often In the end proposing John de Roxas d' Azevedo his Secretary as a person who was most capable of managing that affair the King approved of all these sentiments of the Infante giving him hope that he would satisfy all his desires But the day being appointed for his Majesty's Secretary and that of the Infante to confer about this business there hapned in the mean time accidents which hindred this Conference and embroiled all the Court. A French-man an Officer of the Queens returning from the Province of Alemtejo was killed by a Carrier who was pursued and taken in the City of Canimbre and carried to the Limoriro in Lisbon but being he was taken out of a Church which are Sanctuaries in Portugal for all Criminals it was for a while disputed whether it should be a Sanctuary for his life which was the occasion that his Process was delayed and the solitude of the place where the Murther was committed rendred the proofs difficult At the same time there hapned between the Count de St. Croix grand Master of the Queen's House and Pedro d' Almeyda her Secretary a difference about their Charges both of them wrot their Reasons and put them into the hands of the Queen who ordered the Secretary of State to have them examined by two Masters of Requests but he waving that order after he had shewed them to all the Parliament carried them to the Council of State without rendring any account of it to her Some time after the Queen ask'd the Secretary what was done in those two Affairs he replied that as to the first there must be some clearer proof before the accused could be condemned and to the other it was before the Council of State advising her to speak with the Count de Castlemelhor about it The Queen surprized with this answer told him he had not executed her Orders and that she did not approve of his councel to speak to the Count de Castle-melhor having made a resolution by Oath never in her life to speak to him about any Affair That he was always against her and had reduc'd her to so miserable a condition that it might be called poverty that for this eight months past she had not so much as to give an Alms and notwithstanding all this he had the credit of acting for her Interests That they had not consign'd to her the fifty thousand Livres which the King had granted her That besides being she was not willing by reason of the necessity of the Realm to require presently all those things which she might lay claim to by the Contract of Marriage they ought not at least to fail of paying her that Sum. That this Refusal would not so sensibly move her if it were done for the good of the State and the ease of the People it not being just that whilst many persons at the Court overflowed with Riches they should refuse her the Money of that Consignation and yet they paid not the Souldiers retaining unjustly from the Religious the Orphans the Widows and the Nobles their dues feoadal Rents and Pensions hiding from her all that passed in the State as if she had not the most interest next the King adding further that they could not but know very well she should have had joy in the Re-establishment of the Duke of Cadaval at the Court since they had seen her solicit it but they acted in secret so that her speaking in the favour of any although it were with the greatest Justice in the World was sufficient cause to beget obstacles and oppositions against them That if she testified a desire to any thing they made it presently seem a thing impossible to be obtained though before that it had been very easy that likewise it seem'd as if they endeavoured to let all the World know she had no part in the Government That although good manners should teach them otherwise they had neither respect or regard as they ought to have for her and that it was so far from being so that some persons were so forgetful of themselves as not to forbear the giving her affronts and treating her with so much contempt as she could not but think by their actions they would have her to understand she came to Portugal rather to be their Slave than Queen The Secretary to excuse his boldness for shewing the Consultation to the Grand Chamber and carrying it to the Council of State urged that the Count of Castlemelhor and his Friends had no other design than to serve
and that of the Ecclesiasticks of the Bishops and Prelates of the Realm And in default of those who fail at such a time of the Procurators or Deputies of their Chapters The Decree of the Prince was read in all the Chambers of the States In that of the People almost all the Deputies declar'd him King in that of the Nobility and that of the Ecclesiasticks there was nothing Concluded But when these two last were assembled a second time after they had examined the Conclusion of the People which had been carried to them by the Marquess of Marialva and Pedro Monteiro Fernandes Proctors for the City of Lisbon they approved of the Regency in the Chamber Ecclesiastick conformable to the Decree and they demurred upon it in that of the Nobility for that they would consider it and it being not only an Affair of State but also a Matter of Right they would first of all hear the Opinion of those that were better vers'd in the Law before they should be capable to resolve That which was carried to the other two Chambers by the Duke of Cadaval and the Count de Prado were both cast out but it being done at first tumultuarily by that of the People they presently proclaimed Don Pedro King The Prince having understood the Conclusion of the Assembly of the Nobles and that the Learned Persons who were to be Consulted with about it were Father Nuno de Acunha the Jesuit Father Valerius de St. Raymond of the Order of the Preaching Friars Father Francis Ferdinand Sueiro of the same Order Friar John de Mello of the Order of the Hermites of St. Augustin Provincial of that Order John Vello Baretto Grand Chancellor of the Realm Emanuel Delgado de Matos Doctor in Law Lewis Gomes de Basto and Duarte vas a'orta Osorio Councellors of the Finances and Christopher Pinto de Paira He sent to tell them by Francisco Correa de la Cerda his Tutor That it was not his Intention to be King but only that he might give some Comfort to the Realm which he did believe he might do with the Title only of Regent that they should give their Opinions upon that Question with all the Liberty that an Affair of that Consequence demanded All but Emanuel de Matos and Duarte d'Osorio who could not be there to give their Opinions because they were sick and the Great Chancellor whose Opinion was that Don Pedro should be declared King gave their Opinions that he should let alone the Title of King to Don Alphonso so long as he should Live After that these Learned Persons had declared their Opinions the three Estates deliberated apart and it was Concluded in the Assembly of the Ecclesiasticks in that of the Nobility that the Prince should not take the Quality of King But that of the People Concluded that he should take it not only for the Honour of it but also for the Security of the State The Prince was equally satisfied with them Both and witnessed to them his Acknowledgments But the Answer of the Prince was not enough to make them silent who adjudg'd to him the Crown and they maintained their Sentiments so much and opposed that of the others with so strong Reasons that the Question became very difficult to be decided by those who should Judg of it without passion The Contestation pass'd so far that the Prince fearing lest they should Declare him King by a publick Proclamation was forced to hinder the acclamations of the People when he went abroad to imploy all the Persons of Authority who accompanied him Most Princes use to solicit the People to be Kings but this Prince on the contrary solicits them that he may not be one which is a moderation which made him be yet more worthy of that Title In the beginning of the Summer 1667. there was made a League offensive and defensive between France and Portugal against Spain The French by their means assuring them of a diversion in their Favour enterprising a War against Spain in Flanders whose progress was very surprising and it had been very advantagious if the Prince's Allies to either Crown had not put a stop to the swiftness of their Arms. Monsieur de St. Romain Abbot of Corbigny who had been Envoy in Portugal for the negotiating that League having had Order to let the Prince Regent know of the Accommodation that was proposed and that he should send some one to assist therein he consulted his Ministers of State what was best to be done in this Business They were ready to name for that purpose a Plenipotentiary when the Count d'Olivares who had been Prisoner ever since the Battle of Canal in the Castle of St. George gave notice That he had power from the Queen of Spain to accommodate the differences between Spain and Portugal This was a great Obstacle to that Negotiation of the League which was concluded betwixt Portugal and France If Monsieur de St. Romain turn'd all his thoughts to endeavour to perswade the Portugals to entertain a new Alliance against Spain the Ministers of Spain on the other side forgot nothing that might hinder it to the end not to lose so fair an occasion of making one Peace that might produce another and render the Conditions more advantagious So that having obtained by their Importunities and the new Advantages which they offer'd the Portugals so much that they brought it about that the King of England offer'd his Mediation and Edward Montague Earl of Sandwich his Embassadour Extraordinary in the Court of Spain passed thence into Portugal But as in this Incounter there was a necessity of one of these two things either to content France at the Charge of Portugal or to manage the Interests of Portugal to the prejudice of France the Portugals chose the last The consideration of their repose was more strongly pressing on their minds than any other thing and the more for that the Realm had need of rest after a disturbance of five and twenty years The Three States the Common Council of the City of Lisbon and that of the Four and Twenty made their Remonstrances to the Prince so pressing that he could not resist them He named then for to act in this Negotiation the Duke of Cadaval Vasco Lewis de Gama Marquis de Nisa the Marquesses of Gonrea and Marialva Henry de Sousa de Tavares de Sylva Count de Miranda all of them Councellours of State and Pedro Vieira de Sylva Secretary of State All these Plenipotentiaries being assembled with the Marquess d'Eliche and the Earl of Sandwich who had power one of them to make the Treaty and the other to be the Mediator after many Conferences it was at last concluded the 13 Febr. 1668 and published the 10th of March following Although this Peace so glorious for the Prince had encreased the love that the Portugals had for him yet he was not seen to grow proud with these Advantages nor would use this occasion to get the
the Prince made once more an attempt upon him but he was no more to be shaken now than he was at other times he only let the Three States know that on the 9th of June 1668 He would take his Oath to maintain the Laws of the Realm and he would then receive from them theirs of Fidelity This day being come they all Assembled in the Great Hall of the Guards where that Ceremony was done with all the Pomp requisite thereunto and the Prince took his Oath in these Terms I do swear and promise the Grace of God assisting to rule and govern well and Equitably and to administer to you Justice in all Cases as far as the frailty of Humane Nature will permit and to keep and preserve your good Customes Priviledges Graces Recompenses Liberties and Franchises which hath been given granted and Confirmed by the Kings my Predecessors And the Three States of the Realm took theirs in these Terms We swear upon the holy Evangelists which we touch with our hands that we do acknowledge and receive for our Governour and Regent of these Realms because of the perpetual Impuissance of his Majesty as we have adjudg'd the most High and most Excellent Prince Don Pedro Legitimate Son of the King Don John the Fourth and of the Queen Dona Lewysa his Wife Brother and Curator of the most high and most excellent King Don Alphonso the sixth and his True and Natural Successor to these Realms And as the True and Natural Subjects as we are of the Prince Don Pedro we make to him Faith and Homage in the same manner as we have made to the King Don John the Fourth his Father and to the King Don Alphonso the Sixth his Brother whom we do at this present deprive of his Government because of his Incapacity with the same Jurisdiction Power and Authority that any of the Kings and Lords of this Crown have ever had and wee will obey fully and wholly all his Orders and Judgments be they high or be they low Jurisdictions and we will make War with his Enemies for him and entertain Peace with his Allies as it shall please him without obeying any other King but him All this abovesaid we swear to before God by this Cross and by the Holy Evangelists which we touch with our Hands to observe on our parts fully and wholly And as a Mark of our Submission and Obedience and of our acknowledging his Royal Soveraign Jurisdiction we kiss the Hand of his Highness here present These Oaths being made all the Dispatches began to be expedited in the Name of the Prince as Governour Regent of the Realm in the same form as had been formerly done when the Infante Don Alphonso Count de Bologn was made Governour of this same Realm because of the Incapacity of his Brother having been acknowledg'd for such by the Kings of France Spain and England at whose Courts his Embassadors and Envoys had been received with all the prerogatives which they had given to Kings After this Act the Three States continued to deliberate about the Affairs of the Realm until the First day of August 1668. when they separated This change was approved of by all the People excepting some persons who had no reason to approve of it because of their Interest In truth the deposing the King Don Alphonso was maintained not only by those Reasons which have been rehearsed but for many others which they were willing to have Concealed besides the same thing hath happened heretofore in Portugal in the Person of Don Sanche the Second In France in that of Childerick Philip and Theoderick In England in that of King Edward In Germany in that of Charles le Gross In Denmark in that of Christian In the Realm of Naples in that of Charles and in many other Kingdoms As soon as the Prince and the Princess had Consummated their Marriage in good earnest which they had made by Virtue of the Dispensation which they had obtained of Monsieur the Cardinal of Vendosme Legat a Latere in France to the end that there might remain no scruple they sent Father Francis de Ville Jesuit to Clement the 9th to supplicate on their part that he would Confirm this Dispensation His Holiness having received this Request as a Testimony of respect render'd to the Holy Sea he ordained with his Paternal Love That they should expedite this Brief with this Superscription To Our Well-Beloved Sons Deigo de Sousa Chief Inquisitor in the Inquisition against the Hereticks in the Realms of Portugal and Algarves Antony de Mendosa Commissary-General of the Bull of the Croisaide and Deputy of the Inquisition Martin Alphonso de Mello Dean of the Metropolitan Church of Evora also Deputy of the Inquisition Lewis de Sousa Dean of the Church of Porto and Emanuel de Meneses Arch-deacon of the Metropolitan of Evora Clement the 9th Pope Sends Health and Apostolick Benediction to Our Well-beloved Sons The Charge of Pastor which God hath given to us Commands us that according to the understanding which he hath granted us we should provide according to the Laws of Justice and Prudence repose to all the faithful Servants of Jesus Christ and chiefly to the Great Ones And because we have understood by the tenour of a Request which hath been presented to us a little while since on the part of our Son in Jesus Christ the most Beloved and most Noble Don Pedro Prince of Portugal and of our Daughter in Jesus Christ the most Beloved and most Noble Maria Isabella de Savoy Dutchess of Nemours That the said Princess after she had contracted a Marriage with our most Dear Son in Jesus Christ Alphonso the Illustrious King of Portugal and Algarves and lived with him about the space of six months as his Wife during which time she perceived his perpetual inability to consummâ—â— the said Marriage being pressed in her Conscience she hath been obliged to cause the said Marriage to be adjudged Null beginning her Process the Sea of the Archbishoprick being vacant before our Well beloved Sons the Vicar of the Chapter of the Metropolitan Church of Lisbon lawfully deputed and the Chapter and the Cannons of the same Church who hold by reason of the said vacancy an ordinary Jurisdiction and before several other Judges named by the same Chapter joyntly with the said Grand Vicar of the Chapter to the end that they might be the better instructed in that Affair and that they might deliberate thereon more maturely by whom there was given a Sentence that declared the said Marriage Nul because of the aforesaid Impotence which Sentence having been read and shewed to the King Alphonso was approved by him by word of Mouth and by Writing Moreover the aforesaid Princes Mary Isabel and the aforesaid Don Pedro Brother of the aforesaid King Alphonso being willing to Contract a Marriage together at the Requests of the States of the Realm who were at that time assembled at Lisbon to the end that