adore you my Eyes have told it you my Sighs have assured it you my assiduities shall confirm it I know not whether I am King or Subject when with you and you alone can render me happy Wherefore tell me in the Name of Heaven pursu'd he what I ought to hope or fear and do not make me languish in uncertainty Elvira doubtful and confused had during this Discourse her Eyes upon the ground her Carriage uncertain and her Countenance languishing and as she was sometime without answering the King prepared himself to tell her still something more pressing when the Dutchess of Braganza taking notice of this Conversation spitefully run to them and could not forbear interrupting them notwithstanding all the measures she had resolved to keep in regard of those Lovers Elvira ran maliciously to her but however made Don Sebastian see in her Eyes in quitting him a languishing sweetness that without explaining too much gave him great hopes After the Troop was come to the death of the Stag they return'd to Lisbon where Cardinal Henry came to shew the king Letters that he had newly received from Spain in the Packet of Souza by which Philip let him know that Millei Moluc Brother of the lately deceased King of Morocco was come into Spain to demand Succours of him which he had not thought fit to grant him neither did he think that Don Sebastian ought to grant it him because the Pretentions of Moluc were too opposite to the Laws of the Europeans and it would be but to perplex themselves in a War that could not be advantageous on their side Moluc having neither Troops nor Money to Execute so great an Enterprise But the King impatiently longing to signalize himself and having his Mind only filled with Wars and Conquests told the Cardinal his Uncle That the Succours he should give to Moluc might be advantageous to the Crown of Portugal that the Moors would destroy themselves in that War that in Succouring that Prince they might weaken the strongest without strengthening the weakest And at leng than those Quarrels he should not fail to gain some Cities or Places which they might joyn to those that Portugal already had in Africa The Cardinal who saw with delight the Warlike Ardour of this young King but could have wish'd to have something moderated its excess answered him Before you determide your self for this War Sir it is convenient you be perfectly well acquainted with the Subject of the Quarrel betwixt those two Kings And for the Explaining to you their different Pretentions I must be a little more particular in their History and tell you things that no occasion has yet been offered to discover to you The Kingdoms of Fez Morocco and Turedant pursued he seeing the King gave Ear attentively to him have ever been governed by two different Kings till Mulei Mahumet-Cherif possessing together with his Brother Mulei Hamet those divided Kingdoms endeavoured to reunite them under his Power These two Kings then made a Law by which they ordered that Brother should succeed Brother and should thus Reign after one another to the exclusion of the deceased Kings Children Some time after one of Mahumets Sons called Abdala seeing this Law opposed his Ambition caused several of his Brothers and Nephews to be killed and strangled under divers pretexts of interest of State at last he succeeded his Father and had the most happy and peaceable Reign that the Cherifs had ever enjoy'd Though Abdala had Policy and Cruelty enough to commit all the Crimes that should seem advantageous to him he did not cause all his Brothers Throats to be cut at his coming to the Throne he let three of those unfortunate persons live who by reason they were very young did not appear to him formidable enough for him to take care to dispatch them These weak Children feared his Fury as soon as they were capable of reason Two of them took Refuge with the Grand Seignior to avoid the death that threatned them and the third fled to the Arabians where he died some years after Abdala having Reigned peaceably the space of seventeen years and finding himself decaying delivered his Kingdom into the Hands of his Eldest Son called Mahumet and caused him to be Proclaimed King through all his Territories notwithstanding the Law of the Cherifs which was contrary to that Election Abdala died in a little time after and left a Daughter very young called Almeida whom he caused to be brought up in Spain and whose blooming Beauty began to make great noise in that Court when she departed from it to retire to her Brother Mahumet But as this new King feared at his coming to the Crown that those two Vncles who had took Refuge in Turky for the avoiding his Fathers fury would come grounded upon the Laws of their Ancestors and dispute the Kingdom with him He sent a Moor to Tremisena to Assassinate the eldest who was retired thither It is but two years since this Assassination was committed with all the Rage and Success that Mahumet had wished and only one that remains at present of those three Creatures is this Mulei Moluc whom the King of Spain makes mention of to us in these Letters He has given marks of a great Valour amongst the Ottomans where he had taken Refuge He has Signalized himself against the League which the Christians lately made to fight the Turks He has done a thousand Actions worthy of an Eternal Memory in the late engagement of those two Fleets and when Charles the V. took Golette he was almost the only one who resisted him with vigour but judging himself too near Mahumet in that Country where he had not any Troops and fearing such a treachery as that which had deprived his last Brother of his life he left Algiers where he then resided to come into Spain and implore the Succours of Philip imagining though a Wanderer and a Vagabond without Forces and without Money he could by his Vallour alone recover the Kingdomes belonging to him by their Laws and Conquer Mahumet his Nephew who is settled upon the Throne beloved by his Subjects fortified in his Cities and maintained by a powerful Army Thus pursued Cardinal Henry your Highness sees clearly how King Philip had reason to refuse Succour to Moluc and how to second his Design 's would be to maintain a Law contrary to ours and to declare against him who is Naturally Heir of the Crown These and such other like reasons dissuaded Don Sebostion from aiding Moluc He judged after some Reflexion that this African would not come to demand Succours in Portugal after having been refused by the King of Spain being acquainted with the strict Engagements of those two Kings These Politick Considerations did not so take up the Kings Mind but that he bestowed some thoughts upon his Love If the Declaration he had made of it gave some ease to the violence of his Passion the vexation of not having been able to get
concerned at the grief this piece of News would cause in Eugenia and was more sensible of the loss the State had by this accident than of the particular advantage his death might be of to him in the sequel But he could not forbear entertaining some hopes and fancied that if ever Eugenia could be capable of a second engagement all he had done for her would move her to some acknowledgement in the impatience he was to see her again he suddenly Embarqued all the Portugals who had escaped from the Battel he thought of securing Almeida and stillre specting her the King had loved and had committed to his care he asked her what place she would chuse for her retreat that he might Conduct her to it even to the hazard of his life Almeida without Brother King Lover Relations Friends and Succours odious to all the Nations who had interessed themselves in that Quarrel knew not to what place to carry her misfortunes Of all the Train she had brought into Portugal she had only left a Venetian Maid who came into her Service a little before Mahumet was drove out of his Dominions This young Person had been taken at Sea by the Moorish Pirates some time after that Almeida was returned from Spain she was given to that Princess because she had a thousand fine Qualities that distinguished her from other Slaves and her Relations had not yet been able to Ransome her by reason of the troubles that were in that Kingdom which caused Almeida to wander into several places The Princess had taken an affection for her and treated her with a great deal of kindness This Slave seeing her in so great a perplexity told her that in acknowledgment of the favours she had received she offered her a Retreat at Venice that the Bailo of that Republick was her Relation and she was sure if she would become a Christian as she had promised Don Sebastian she would her Family would willingly grant her a Refuge that would not be altogether unworthy of her Almeida willingly accepted the proffer Souza caused her to be conducted to Venice and then made Sail towards Lisbon The whole Kingdom was in an extream Consternation The People knew not if Don Sebastian was dead or alive All the World lamented his misfortunes and no body knew his fate Those who were well intentioned maintained he was still alive and a Prisoner in Africa The Seditious said that though that were true they could not reprieve him from Captivity because War had drained the Revenues and they could not find Money enough in the Kingdom for his Ransome Others caused a report to run how he was dead The People would have a King the best Politicians and those that were most honest doubted of all and said nothing There was nothing seen but Relations which seemed all to confirm the News of the Kings Death Spain had several places upon the Confines of Africa that bordered Portugal Those who were Governours of them stopped all the Pacquets that were sent into Portugal There were daily seen new Lists of the dead the whole Kingdom was in Mourning each City in Tears all Families regretted the loss of a Father a Hsuband a Son or a Brother oftentimes one alone deplored all these Persons together and the Council was at length constrained to appease the Murmurs of the People to cause Cardinal Henry to come out of the Abby of Calcobassa to which place he was retired and to proclaim him Governour General of the Kingdom in the absence of Don Sebastian his Successour to the Crown Eugenia using all her endeavours to have certain News of her Husband was assured after several very exact enquiries that he had lost his life in that Battel The grief she was in surpassed that of all other Widows her Affliction was not confounded in the Publick Desolation she made it be distinguished by its excess Souza was no sooner arrived than he would render the Devoirs that Decency exacts on such occasions He was told she was returned into a Religious House where she admitted of no Visits He had promised to himself so much pleasure in seeing Eugenia again and disengaged from Don Henry that he could not without an extream trouble find himself disappointed of that happiness The Abbess of that Convent was his Aunt He went to beg she would obtain of Eugenia that he might see her for a moment but this Widow prescribed her self too severe Rules to consent to that interview which she fancied would injure the fidelity she owed the Memory of her Husband and she still so firmly opposed the measures that Souza took to discourse her that he was afraid he should be wanting in the respect he owed her if he still endeavoured to procure himself that satisfaction While all Portugal was in Tears Africa echoed with shouts of joy for so great a Victory Hamet Molucs Brother was proclaimed King He made an Entry into Fez he brought thither in triumph Mahumets Body with a great number of Prisoners After which he bethought himself to acquire the favour of the King of Spain He had means in his hands that were sure to obtain it Several Spaniards were among his Prisoners he was Master of Don Sebastian whose fate no Body knew Philip stood in need of him These two Kings sent Ambassadours to one another The King of Spain gave to the Value of a hundred thousand Ducates in Jewels to the King of Fez who likewise restored to Philip without any Ransome all the Spaniards that had been taken Prisoners in that War The report of Don Sebastian's death was renewed every where New Circumstances of it were made Publick It was said that he had not been met withal amongst the Prisoners and that having sought for him amongst the dead a naked Man had been found whose Body resembled his and was known to be so by some Portugal Prisoners Hamet delivered this Corps into the Spanish Governours hands of Ceuta He likewise restored to Philip the Duke of Barcellos without Ransome and the Council thought fit at length to proclaim at Lisbon that Don Sebastian was dead and to perform the Publick Ceremonies that those People are used to practise on such occasions for the appeasing the murmurs and the disorders that were caused by the Doubtful Fate of that unhappy King Cardinal Henry was Crowned King of Portugal At first great hopes were conceived from his age and his probity but besides that the Virtues of one Condition are oftentimes Vices in another the change of our Fortune almost always changes the disposition of our Mind Henry became Haughty Revengeful and Jealous Few of the late Kings Courtiers kept in favour under this new Reign He Persecuted all those who had shared in the pleasures of Don Sebastian he revenged himself on all who had not shewn him respect enough and had only applyed themselves to the Kings Person The Dutchess of Braganza was the only one of the Antient Court whose Credit was augmented under
MODERN NOVELS VOL. V. CONTAINING I. Don Sebastian King of Portugal II. Agnes de Castro or Fatal Beauty III. Amorous Abbess In Two Parts LONDON Printed for R. Bentley in Russel-street in Covent-Garden 1692. Don Sebastian KING OF Portugal An Historical Novel IN FOUR PARTS Done out of French by Mr. FERRAND SPENCE LONDON Printed for R. Bentley and S. Magnes in Russel-street in Covent-garden 1683. TO THE Right Honourable THE COUNTESS OF STANFORD Madam AN Unfortunate Prince begs Audience of Your Ladiship in hopes of representing His Unhappy Circumstances to be such as that he may with Justice lay claim to Your Ladiships Protection He is sensible that neither His Ambition or rather His Destiny could make Him amends for the Misfortunes they have plung'd Him in than by suffering Him to reappear in the World under Your Ladiships Commission If He succeeds in this Request He questions not to Reign again with as much Glory and Lustre as He was before oppress'd with the Malignity and Perverseness of His Fate To You Madam He flies for Refuge knowing the Whole Universe must pay Veneration to such an Asyle and that the Sactuary cannot but be inviolable that is supported by so much Beauty so much Wit and Vertue He is assur'd His greatest Enemies will be forc'd to court His Reconciliation and Friendship when under Your Colours and that they will freely make Restitution of all the Stars unjustly gave them to His disadvantage rather than incur the Blame and Censure of the present Age and all Posterity For it is Declaring War to All to continue at variance with a Prince under the Guarranty of a Lady whose many Charming Qualities would have obtain'd her even the Adoration of the Ancients But he is most capable of telling His own Story And as for doing You Justice Madam in so nice a Character as that of Your Ladiships a Character that entitles You to the Love of Heaven and demands the Esteem and Admiration of all Mankind is what surpasses the Art and Skill both of Pen and Pencil Every Action of Yours is a Panegyrique of it self You stand in no need of the Daubing either of the Writer or the Painter Daubing I said Pardon the Word Madam but every thing must prove Course that vainly attempts to Copy so perfect an Original So much Merit needs no Historian As it has already rendred You the Favourite of the present Age so Tradition will transmit you to Posterity as an Extraordinary Instance of all the Advantages of Birth and of Fortune of Body and of Mind without any of the Vanities that almost constantly attend these Blessings and Accomplishments in others But this is a Subject so bewitching that it had almost transported me beyond the Bounds of the most profound Respect and Submission wherewith I am Madam Your Ladiships Most humble and most obedient Servant F. SPENCE Don Sebastian KING OF PORTUGAL IN the first Years of the Reign of Don Sebastian Portugal was the most Peaceable and Flourishing Kingdom of all Europe The Divisions and Contests about Religion which so cruelly shattered other Provinces had not spread their fury into that Country And ever since Don Alphonso Henry the first King of Portugal aided by William Long-sword had chaced the Moors out of his Territories the Quiet of that People had not been troubled by any fears This King had hardly attained his fifteenth year but he made himself admired by all his People and fear'd by all his Neighbours The vivacity of his Wit the elevation of his Soul the dexterity he made appear in all his Exercises and the greatness of his Courage rendred him the most accomplished Prince of that Age. He was Handsome well made Valiant and Liberal He had a Majestick Port Royal Inclinations and it seemed as if Nature had taken leisure to form him with all the Qualities that can make a Prince recommendable to Mankind A crowd of young Courtiers who were brought up with him or whom the desire of timely advancing themselves by Employes had drawn from all parts to Lisbon composed his most agreeable Court And as Youth Amours and Pleasures have ever been inseparable and as Love is the first and softest amusement of Mankind all these Courtiers insensibly applyed themselves more to their Mistresses than to their Prince and their hearts being little touched with Ambition made them give sighs to Love when they fancied they rendred Assiduities to Fortune That Court was made up of Persons of extraordinary Merit Queen Katherine the Kings Grandmother was no less elevated above those of her Sex by her Virtue than by her Quality She had ever applyed her self with a great deal of Prudence and Success to dissipate the troubles that threatned the State during the Infancy of Don Sebastian And when this young Prince took upon him the Government of his Kingdom she gave her self entirely to the Practice of all those Virtues that can recommend a Queen to the World The Dutchess of Braganza had a great share of Wit and Beauty and though she had a Son of the same age with the King she despaired not of charming that Prince and employ'd all her Arts to inspire him with Friendship Esteem or Affection She was much in Katherine's favour and managed her self with so much Cunning that Acting as well the part of a Lucretia as of a Gossip she shared in all the Exercises of the Queens Devotion and in all the Matches of the Kings Divertisements The Duke her Husband knowing her heart to be too susceptible of Ambition to be the like of Love suffered her with Tranquility enough at Lisbon with the Young Duke of Barcellos their Son and was himself almost always at his Country-House Eugenia whose Relations had ever had the most considerable Charges of the State admirably well maintained her Quality in that Court She was brown of an advantageous Shape and had a sweet and solid Wit And though she had lost her Father and Mother when she was very young her Carriage had been ever so regular that she gave as much admiration for her Virtue as for her Beauty Christopher de Cavora who was Master of the Horse to the King and his Favourite had a Daughter called Leonora who maugre her tender Age was already the Ornament of the Court and with her Blooming Beauty made the most insensible to tremble That Court was filled with several other Persons who had no less merit than those I have mentioned though they were of a less Elevated condition Violanta was of these last She was Maid of Honour to Jane of Austria a perfect Beauty and infinite Deserts and if her Charms were proper to give Birth to a great Passion her heart was capable of being sensible of the like But all the lustre of the Court was not confined within the Circle of the Beauty of this Sex the Men made there likewise admirable Figures Cardinal Henry Don Sebastian's Uncle had ever made appear great deal of Conduct in the Tutelage that was
committed to him of the Young King Don Lewis who was likewise his Uncle had signalized his Courage in several Rencounters and with Justice passed for the bravest and handsomest Prince of that Kingdom He had had a long time a very tender Engagement with Violanta and the report even run at Court that he had Married her and by her had a Son whom he brought up at one of his Houses near Lisbon Duke d'Avero had made his Prudence and Valour appear on several occasions under the Reign of John the III and had been one of his Favourites but Cardinal Henry had no great kindness for him knowing him to be ambitious and daring The Young Duke of Barcellos gave great hopes of his Dexterity and Wit and began to view of the Beauty of Leonora with a tender emotion The Count de Sousa was much esteemed both by the King and Cardinal Henry He maintained his Favour by a great merit and had taken care to joyn to all the fine Qualities that make a well bred-Man the solid Virtues that compose an honest-man Don Henry had a thousand good Qualities that made him be beloved by all the World he was well Built and Vallant and breathed nothing but dangers And as he was the chief of an Illustrious Family both for Nobility and Riches his Father had taken care before his Death to Conclude his Marriage with Eugenia they having loved one another from their most tender Infancy All things seem'd to conspire to unite them their Humours being alike their Qualities suitable and their Age almost equal gave all People great hopes of their happiness Amours were the Soul of that Court and even those who were only sensible of Ambition were constrained to call Love to their succours that they might the better succeed in their Designs The Dutchess of Braganza would have been willing to have been indepted for the advancement of her Fortune to this last Passion she placed all her cares to make the King love her but was not able to render his heart sensible He had no other Passion than for Arms he had raised a Regiment which he Exercised continually and frequently Review'd He would as often undertake the Labours of Common Souldiers as the Cares of chief Officers the greatest Perils had a secret Charm to invite him and not believing that any common danger was worthy of him he would not undertake any thing that was not attended with difficulties If he had any Voyage to make upon the Sea he affected to Embark during the Tempest disdaining to rock peaceably in a Calm that might lull his Virtue asleep Duke d'Avero had no less Ambition than the Dutchess of Braganza and likewise fancied that Love might be useful to his Designs He had a Daughter called Elvira He sought in her Beauty for the reputation that was refused his own merit and imagin'd that she had Charms enough to touch the heart of that Young King She had not yet been seen at Court though she was at an Age to appear there with lustre because the Dutchess her Mother having a long time languished in a Disease which occasioned her Death two Years before had retired her self to one of her Country Houses and had ever kept her with her and the Duke after the Death of his Wife had put his Daughter into a Nunnery near his House not designing to take her from thence till he had found out a Match suitable to her Circumstances In the mean time Eugenia had too many Charms to satisfie themselves with the Conquest of Don Henry The Count de Sousa had been long Passionately in love with her His Respects his Complaisances and Assiduities had sufficiently assured her of it but whether she was not willing to understand them or she had only Eyes for Don Henry the Count de Sousa always found in her so much indifference for him that he judg'd it not convenient to declare his Passion more openly He had too much respect and discretion to hazard an unprofitable Declaration Don Henry was his Friend Eugenia had ever seen him only under the notion of Friendship which he could not any longer support the constraint of He saw her every day she was ever lovely in his Eyes she had hardly in the least concealed from him the Passion she had for Henry That Lover likewise made him the Confident of his happiness What a torture is this to a Man whose love is extream and was not capable of easing himself by betraying his Mistress and his Friend After having been for some time in these Extremities and having in vain Employ'd the Succours of his Reason for to cure him he fancied that absence would diminish his Sufferings by weakning his Passion and so was desirous to remove from Court but his Merit had put him there in too good a posture for him to go away without some specious pretext Elizabeth whom Philip the II. had Married in his third Nuptials died in Spain about that time wherefore one was to be sent to make the Compliments of Condolance to this King on the behalf of Queen Katherine his Sister and Don Sebastian his Nephew Sousa fancied that occasion was favourable to him and for the obtaining that Commission he Employed Cardinal Henry's Credit with the King the Cardinal highly esteeming his Virtue used to Queen Katherine the Solicitations of Lewis of Granada his Friend whose Birth and Piety were had in veneration by all People and whom that King had caused to come from Spain to communicate to her all that concerned the Salvation of her Soul and the good of the Kingdom He obtained what he desired was sent to the King of Spain but could not depart without going to take his leave of Eugenia with whom he found Don Henry He used all his endeavours to conceal his Grief and his Love in that separation the Words he spoke had no coherence with one another and the Sighs he vented were half stifled And seeing he could not resist his Grief he quitted those two Lovers and Embraced them bidding 'em Farewell and live happy while I do lead a Languishing life far from you and my Friends His Sighs hindred him from speaking more than these Words he went immediately away for fear they should see him shed tears And Eugenia and Don Henry were really afflicted at his departure and attributed to Friendship alone what a more violent Passion had produced The Duke d'Avero caused Elvira to come and second his Projects He was himself surpriz'd with her Beauty and conceived fresh hopes at the sight of so dazeling an Object The truth is she was capable so â—ngage the most insensible Her blew Eyes were sweet and piercing all her Features were regular her Complexion was admirable and Hair was the finest in the World delicately accompanied by all the Beauty of her Face She was of a middle Stature but her Wit was above what is common she had an insinuating Prefence and engaging ways with her her Conversation was
aversion My Lord answered Eugenia in Confusion at what she had said and what she had newly heard so far from hating you I have ever had a perfect friendship for you I esteemed your Merit as soon as I knew you but I was not acquainted with your Love before I was engaged and I did not believe the Kings Orders would be so fatal to us Alas they are only so to me answered Souza you will injoy in Peace what you love and I am deprived of what I adore and opprest with the hatred of my King I shall wait for death with impatience Ah Count said she to him in suspence I would not have my happiness cost you so Dear and if your Life be concerned I will do all I can to save you 'T is enough Madam said the Count to her falling at her Feet I am content and I am going to think how to satisfie you No my Lord said Eugenia stopping him it is not just you should make me happy by your unhappiness Duty and Friendship conspire against my Passion I must obey I must follow your Example I have not so much force and so much firmness as you But what Torments soever it may cost me you may tell the King that if your Life be concerned I am ready to do all that is necessary to save you She could not speak these Words without an extream constraint and grief The horrour she figured to her self in losing Don Henry put her into a Condition to have raised pity And Souza who saw all sort of grief painted in her Face told her in reassuring her Madam it is for me to conquer my self my love has ever been concealed in silence and this season is very improper to make it appear You love Don Henry he loves you you have both conceived great hopes to enjoy your happiness you never loved me I never had any hopes you would let me die I shall be content provided the King believes me innocent and you allow some Tears to my Misfortunes The Count went our having spoken these Words and did not wait for Eugenia's answer who was in the Cruellst perplexity that ever was admiring Sanza's Gnerosity fearing the Kings Power and infinitely concerned for her love Don Henry came to her House as she was still in these Reflexions and asked her the reason of the sadness he saw in her Face She made him a sincere recital of all the Count had newly said to her commending his Generosity and his Constancy But as we ever fear to lose what we love Don Henry could not assure himself of Souza's Resolution he fancied there was never such an Honest Wellbred-Man as could resist an ardent love and so favourable an occasion he could not suffer himself to be convinc'd by the strong reasons Eugenia brought to reassure his affection He said to her the most touching things imaginable upon his fears he would have gone and flung himself at the Kings Feet and offered him his life instead of his Mistriss But she let him know that it was to expose two Heads instead of one to the anger of Don Sebastian and this Declaration would without doubt include him in the same disgrace there needed no more than this Declaration to stop Don Henry they both agreed that they ought to content themselves with employing all the Friends they had at Court to serve the Count de Souza in the misfortune that threatned him Souza was to make his Court the day following The King did not fail to ask him if he had executed those Orders He answered with a profound respect that he should be ever ready to obey his Highness but he had acquired so little Reputation and had yet so feebly served the State that he could not resolve to Marry and that such Engagements evermore took up the better part of the Cares that are due to ones Prince The King much displeased at this refusal did no longer doubt but he had an Intrigue with Elvira and told him furiously That a disobedient Subject could not render him good Services and bid appear no more in his presence The Count went away opprest with sorrow and was no sooner at his House than a Captain of the Guards came to Command him from the King to leave the Kingdom with the soonnest He received this Order with all the respect imaginable and not reproaching himself with any Crime nor imputing any thing to the King of his misfortune and Sacrificing all to his love he went out of the City some moments after without murmering and without going to any Friends House for fear of being oblig'd to see Elvira The Count de Souza's Exile being spread a little time after through all the City the best sort of People pitied him and in the Grief that Elvira was in for his a fence she could not forbear having a secret joy being he had refused Engenia she fancied as it is usual to flatter ones self that she might well be the Cause of that refusal and entertaing her self with that thought she resolved to employ all her Friends secretly to solicite Souza's return not daring to ask it her self This incident did help much to encourage the Confidence and Friendship she had for the Count de Sanzay she imagined that in the offers of Services and the promises he had made her he contributed very much towards the hindring the Execution of this Match she imparted to him all the Griefs that Souza's absence gave her she even confessed to him one day that the indifference she had before for the King was even changed into an aversion since this Exile Sanzay laboured in Court with her to cause Souza to be recalled All the better sort of People at Court begged the same of the King but their Prayers were useless Jealousie is not appeased like other troubles and the King being ever inexorable Elvira had coldnesses for him that they would have been capable of revenging Souza if he had known them and if he had been a less good Subject He was some time deliberating into what Kingdom he should go into Banishment and for what Quarrel he should expose his Life The End of the First Part. Don Sebastian KING OF Portugal An Historical Novel PART II. Done out of French by Mr. FERRAND SPENCE LONDON Printed for R. Bentley and S. Magnes in Russel-street in Covent-garden 1683. Don Sebastian KING OF PORTUGAL FRance had at length in a General Peace lulled asleep the Rage and Fury of the Civil-Wars all things were preparing in that Kingdom for the Marriage of Charles IX with Elizabeth Daughter to the Emperour Maximilian II. Queen Margarite who in the intestine troubles of the most Cruel Wars had ever carried along with her Divertisements and Pleasures prepared to Celebrate this Marriage by such Sports and Rejoycings as were worthy of the Princess But what Souza sought was quite different from Joy And Pius V had in his Politick Zeal obliged the King of Spain and the Venetians to joyn
with him to make War against the Grand-Seignior the Count de Souza finding an occasion of Signalizing the Zeal he had ever had for Religion took the Road of Cephalonia otherwise called the Isle of Zantes where was the Randezvous of all the Christian Troops He demanded Employ of Don John Natural Son of the Emperour Charles V who Commanded the Spanish Forces and was Generalissimo He mounted a Galley tho Don John knowing his Merit and having Contracted a Friendship with him in Spain would have given him a more Considerable Command The Ottoman Forces assembled in the Gulph of Lepanto The Armies approached a profound Calm equally favoured both the Fleets the Winds and the Sea seemed to remain in suspence between so many Combatants At last the Engagement began Souza's ardour made his Galley to fly every where where he saw Danger and Glory A hundred Illustrious Actions fignalized him in that Rencounter he sank Ships took Galleys pursued so vigorously Bashaw Bâ—rthai that he was constrained to fly in a Pinace to Lepanto This great Victory acquired an Immortal Glory to the Christians and caused an Irreparable loss to the Infidels A hundred and fourscore Galleys were taken from 'em fourscore and ten sunk fifteen thousand Christian Slaves freed thirty thousand Turks were there drowned ten thousand taken Prisoners and almost all their Chief Officers perished in that Battel Tho the Count of Souza had no very considerable Employ in that Battel he was one of those who gained the most Honour and all he sought was to die in that occasion He was mortally troubled at the Advice he had received some days before that Don Henry had Married Eugenia and that Don Sebastian's displeasure still continued In the mean time the grief and slight of Elvira became an insupportable rigour to the King The Duke d' Avero was in despair and could no ways remedy it All those who took a just interest in the Affairs of State made use of that occasion for to force this love from the heart of Don Sebastian Count Sanzay employ'd himself in it more cunningly than any other The King combated on all sides and extreamly vexed he should be so much in love with Elvira used all manner of Efforts to overcome that Passion But he was too deeply engaged and irritating himself against a Love he was not able to triumph over reproaching himself that he had not yet performed any thing Glorious he resolved to absent himself from Elvira and go seek in his Enemies Territories the means of signalizing and curing himself While he made these Reflexions the report of Don Lewis and Violanta's Marriage became publick Their Son called Don Antonio appeared openly at Court and Don Lewis obtained the Priory of Crato for him The King disapproved in himself the inequality of his Uncles Match but feared to become culpable of as great a weakness He caused all things necessary to be prepared for a speedy departure he strongly endeavoured to over come that Passion and to begin the triumph of it he granted the return of the Count de Souza upon the pressing solicitations of Don Lewis of Granada who had ever been his Friend and who fully justified him in his opinion The Count de Sanzay believing this time was favourable for his Design began to make the Proposals of it to the King and in the desire that this Prince had to make some Voyage to cure him he immediately proposed to him the going into France where he would find Feasts Divertisements and Sights worthy of him But the King sought for Glory and not for Pleasures his trouble was too great to shew himself in a Court filled with so much joy That Ambassador represented to him how the Kingdoms of France and Portugal had ever been in a strict Union but the King his Master desired to continue it always and to make it even more binding how it was to be desired that their Councils would conclude a Marriage betwixt the King of Portugal and the Princess Marguerite the French Kings Sister who joyned to her High-Birth a thousand Beautiful Qualities that tendred her worthy of the greatest Monarchs Don Sebastian received this Proposition as an advantageous mark of esteem and friendship on the part of Charles IX But his Mind and Heart were in too great a perplexity to come to a speedy determination in an Affait of that Importance He told the Count de Sanzay that there required time to consider of it and he would propose it to his Council and give him an answer within eight days This Proposition was Debated in Council but all the Members having particular Interests to hinder this Marriage and the King himself having no great inclination to it the Count of Sanzay made the advantages appear to no purpose which the Crown of Portugal might receive from that Allyance Cardinal Henry and the Duke d'Avero always opposed it The Pensioners the King of Spain had in this Council disapproved it likewise and the French Ambassadour was at length constrained to take his Audience of leave and to return into France without having succeeded in that Affair or made any progress upon the Heart of Leonora The greatest Wits and the greatest Gallants not being always the most successful in Business and in Love All these Propositions and others that were made to the King to prevent the Voyage he was resolved to make into Africa were not capable of disswading him from it And when he Communicated to his Council the desire he had to make War upon the Moors Cardinal Henry seeing he could not raise Troops enough for that Expedition Disputed with all his force the boldness of this Design and the Duke d'Avero who notwithstanding so many Obstacles had not abandoned his Ambitious Project would by specious reasons hinder an absence that might quite destroy a Passion he had seen budding with delight But the King was fixt in his resolutions he was no longer willing to see Elvira he would fly her and Court Glory and for a pretext to this Design he represented to his Council how Mulei Moluc to whom the King of Spain had refused his Succours had newly routed the Moors with three thousand Men only that the Grand-Signior had given him and was ready to chace away his Nephew Mahumet from the Throne that his Heart was as great and his Forces more considerable than Moluc's that Enemies who destroy one another were not difficult to be Vanquished and in fine that he might take advantage of the disorder the Civil-Wars had brought that Country into They were forc'd to yield to the reasons and to the ardour of Don Sebastian Orders were given for the fitting out four Galleys and some Ships Troops were raised and the King went but with a small Force into Africa whither the Duke d' Avero the young Duke de Barcellos Don Lewis the Count of Souza who was arrived some days before and all the other Lords followed him And Elvira treated ill by her Father
more than that of the Mightiest Kings and would gladly have followed his Warlike Ardour without renouncing the respect he had for her While his Mind floated between these two Motions the Governour he had put into Arsilla sent him word that Moluc had vanquished his Nephew a third time in a set Battel that with a handful of Men he led he had defeated in that last Battel an Army of sixty-thousand Horse and ten thousand Foot that he had newly constrained Mahumet to fly the Kingdom and 't was to be feared that this Conquerour after having drove away his Nephew out of Africa would recover the Places the Portugals had in that Country This piece of News inspired Don Sebastian with so much Courage and Emulation that he considered the Glory which Moluc had acquired as a Jewel he had robbed him of and which he was resolved to make him restore he impatiently longed to signalize himself against him and the occasion was but too soon offered for the good of the State Mahumet being drove out of his Country came sometime after with Almeida to take refuge in Portugal The King learn't with an expressible Joy that he should suddenly have the happiness of seeing that Princess again who had Charmed him and who he had never seen but in that Instant and had so often desired to see since that moment He would immediately have made them a Magnificent Entry but that the King and Princess let him know that Pomp and Triumph were not very suitable to the deplorable condition they were then in The King went to meet 'em with all his Court he Embraced Mahumet a thousand times he rendred profound respects to Almeida and after the first Civilities were passed on both sides You see Sir said that Princess to him I am come to Demand the Succours you offered me so obligingly in Arsilla Have you not forgot that Goodness continued she in a Modest and Languishing Air or rather do you remember you have seen me Never any first sight made so much impression upon a Heart Madam answered Don Sebastian passionately as that rencounter did upon mine and you have acquired absolute Power over me from that moment Don Sebastian continued this Conversation till they were arrived at the place that was prepared for their reception After that Mahumet had made known to the King the Justice of his Cause he represented to him the Moors being divided it would be easie for him to vanquish them that if the Portugez's would but descend into Africa tho with but mean Forces they might render themselves Mesters of all the Kingdom he had newly been stript of how the Enterprizes the King had already made and the Glorious Successes he had had there terrified all those People and when they should see him who was born their King joyn'd to those who had already Vanquished 'em they would come of their own accord and range themselves under their Power Glory and Love incited Don Sebastian much more to that War than all the reasons Mahumet could invent His Valour had a long time disposed him to make some Enterprize in Africa and Almeida's Beauty had rendered him too sensible of her Misfortunes to neglect the attempt of revenging her The Council of Portugal opposed his Design with all its might Almeida knew it she went to the King she Employ'd all her Charms she lamented her Disgrace A sensibe Heart makes little resistance against the Tears of a Beautiful Person he promised to Aid her notwithstanding these Obstacles she gave him some hopes of being beloved and he caused Troops to be raised in all parts for the Execution of this Enterprize How great a Comfort was this to Almeida in her Misfortune She saw her self Adored by the most accomplished King that was then in the World she saw that her Beauty Triumphed over all Policy and over all the Forces of Portugal she was persuaded that Don Sebastian would Sacrifice all to her Revenge Her Brother often told her that she was Mistriss of his Fate and hoped they should suddenly be Re-established upon the Throne But that which still Augmented the pleasingness of these hopes was that she found Don Sebastian as Lovely as he was Amorous and that she was yet more sensible of the Affection he had for her than in the Cares he took in her Favour She would have been sorry that any other had rendred this Good Office to her Brother and esteem and acknowledgment conspiring in her Heart in favour of Don Sebastian gave Birth there to a Passion little different from that the King felt for her If he spoke to her passionately she heard him with delight if he continually and eagerly sought her out she never met him but with an extream joy The most fatal Amour has ever in its beginning a thousand Pleasures to engage us this at first laid only Charms to view in the sight of those Lovers All the Court was with Justice alarmed at it Queen Katherine used all her Efforts to destroy it Cardinal Henry opposed it with all his Power but the King was absolute these Obstacles the more enflamed him and they were constrain'd to leave a free Course to his Passion Don Sebastian thought it convenient to take a Journey into Spain to implore Succours of his Uncle in Favour of Mahumet He departed after the Ambassadour he had in that Court had agreed with Philip that Guadalouppe should be the Place of their Interview and gave Order at his Departure that the Moorish King and his Sister whom he left at Lisbon should be Treated and Respected as himself The King of Spain came to the Rendezvous accompanied with one of his Daughters and all the Lords of his Court and received Don Sebastian with great Testimonies of Joy and Affection He endeavoured to dissuade him from so dangerous an Enterprize But danger does but the more enflame Great Souls He then Prayed him not to go in Person to that War but it was to no purpose being he would have exposed his life a thousand times for Almeida's sake Philip at length being desirous to try if Pleasures would not have more Power than Reasons over the Mind of that young King caused Turnaments Lists of Combates to be made for to Divert him He even caused Catharina Michela one of the Daughters he had by the Deceased Queen Elizabeth his third Wife and whom he had brought with him to Guadelouppe to conceive some hopes of the Crown of Portugal And as Philip was then Married again to Anne of Austria his Niece and Sister to Maximilian II the Princess Catharina Michela would have been glad to have freed her self from the Power and ill humour of a Mother-in-law she was Ambitious and the King of Portugal being handsome she took care to engage him and even engaged her self a little But Don Sebastian thinking of nothing but of Re-establishing Almeida's Brother upon the Throne was not much moved with all these attempts and would quickly have returned to that
not able to refuse him They had mutual Interests that concerned the State Policie served Love in that occasion as Love serves Policie in others The Dutchess aimed at a Crown Anthony employ'd all his cares to make himself King He was very much beloved by the People he gained the Suffrages of the Principal Inhabitants of the City who went to desire Henry to name a Successour to the Throne and to consider in that Nomination the Rights of Anthony and the Voice of the People who declared themselves in his favour This Harangue frighted Henry he had conceived a mortal hatred to his Nephew since he had sancied him his Rival He resolved to deprive him at one Cast of the Kingdom and of the Dutchess by Marrying that Princess He coloured this Design with the necessity of giving a Successour to the Throne for the preventing those Wars the pretenders to that Crown threatned the State withal He Communicated this Design to the Dutchess of Braganza He flattered her Ambition she consented to it notwithstanding the inclination she had for Anthony This pretext did lure the simple but there were two great obstacles to this Marriage Henry was a Priest and sixty years old Kings never want able Men who remove the Scruples and Difficulties that are contrary to their Designs The Physiicans told him he was capable of getting Successours Some Casuists assured him that he might easily obtain a Dispensation from the Pope for a Match so necessary to the State and Edward of Castel Bianco was nominated Ambassadour to his Holiness for the obtaining that Dispensation The King of Spain having Advice thereof was very much alarmed His Partizans talked publickly that Henry was incapable of Marriage and he could never have any Children but such as were imposed upon him Philip caused the Pope to be desired he would not grant that Dispensation and sent to Lisbon a certain Jacobin called Ferrand du Castilio a very subtil Divine and Cunning Monk who by the free and good Reception the Fathers of his Order had at Court insinuated himself cunningly into Henry's Favour without making known to any one soever that he came from the Court of Spain and without acquainting any body with the occasion of his Journey he laboured under the Cloak of his Monkiship Habbit and under the appearence of Piety to effect and bring to pass the Designs of Philip. He coloured all his Practices with a great Zeal for the Church and devoutly represented to Henry that his Marrying would utterly destroy the Catholick Religion that the Heresies which then Reigned would be more Spirited by that Action that the Hereticks who pretend that Marriage is not incompatible with the Service of our Altars would cite him amongst all Christian People as an Example that would autherise their belief and would Scandalise the Romanists and that it would be much better to lose all the Kingdoms of the World than to make the least breach in the Catholick Faith But what care soever the Pretenders to the Crown of Portugal had taken since the Defeat in Africa to persuade the People that Don Sebastian was dead they had not been able to establish that belife so well amongst them but there always ran some report in that Kingdom how this King was still alive They learnt from time to time some News of his Captivity One of the Principal Inhabitants of the Isles of Tercera who had accompanied that unfortunate Prince in his Voyage and had escaped out of the Moors Prisons had so well persuaded it to the People of those Islands that they ever made mention of Don Sebastian as of a King who was living in the Publick Prayers He went to Lisbon himself to warrant this News and to assure it to all the Court but Cardinal Henry would give no Credit to it and fancied this rumour was only a New Artifice for the putting by his Marriage This Man was treated as an Imposture his Person was secured without any noise and secretly dispatched into the other World Almeida being still at Venice heard all these rumours and as she desired with more Passion than any other that they were real she gave easier Credit to them than any Body else and by Letters desired those Friends she had left at Lisbon to Contrive some means of Delivering Don Sebastian But all that came from that African Princess was odious to the Portuguezes and this News was so ill entertained at Court that the most disinteressed Politicians stisled it in its Birth Anthony was yet more alarmed at Henrys Projects than the King of Spain was he redoubled his Efforts to become King of Portugal and to render himself worthy of the Dutchess of Braganza He continually endeavoured to acquire new Partizans he sent to Solicite the Magistrates of all the Cities he made known to the People that it was for them to choose a King because the Salick Law being received in that Kingdom the Crown wanting Heirs Males in a direct Line the Election belonged to them and that John I one of their Kings on such another occasion had been chosen by the People He supported the Malecontents flattered the Bold and seduced the Weak But his Love was yet more troublesome than his Ambition he loved the Dutchess as much as the Throne and was no more sure of the Possession of the one than of the Love of the other When he had learnt that she consented to the Match which Henry Projected he went to her privately and told her after having entertained her with the Progresses he made upon the Peoples Minds Heaven is my Witness Madam that I less esteem the Conquest of a Kingdom than that of your Heart and if I did not believe that the Throne would one day advance me up to you I should never think of raising my self up to it I know you are worthy of a Crown I also know you cannot fail of it but I know not whether you had not rather choose to receive it from the Hands of Henry than from mine and if preferring a certain Possession before doubtful Hopes you are not more inclined to that King as old and decrepit as he is than to a young Prince who loves you to odoration But Madam without particularizing the difficulties that oppose the Match you have consented to Sir interupted the Dutchess those would be useless I know all that is contrary to this Vnion on the Kings part and am willing to acquaint you with all those that opposes it on mine I do not find that Henry is lovely you have all that is requisite to please I would prefer you with delight before that King and in fine I should love you if I believed my Heart but Prince better regulated Motions are to be Consulâ—ed for our Vnion Love must be silent and Reason ought alone to speak when we aim at a Crown My endeavours are to reign and tho I am not vain enough to abandon my self to that fancy I am so ambitious as not to
Even some Portugals who were in that City having Examined his Shape his Face and his Voice knew him for their King The News of which being come to the Ears of the Republick and the Venetians fearing a Quarrel with the Spaniards thought themselves oblig'd to seize Don Sebastian and give notice to the Court of Spain of all that passed amongst them upon that account The Spaniards assured the Republick that this Don Sebastian was an Impostour and desired he might be proceeded against as such Commissioners were deputed before whom he maintained with firmness that he was Don Sebastian that he had been detained till then in the Prisons of Africa and that he came to recover the Crown that was due to him by his Birth The Portuguezes who were in that City maintained his asseverations Almeida ascertained he had told her things that only Don Sebastian could know He shewed upon his Body very particular Marks that Nature had Imprinted there and which he was observ'd to have when he was King of Portugal He appealed to his Judges the Venetians of great Consideration who had been Ambassadours for the Republick in his Kingdom and told them the most secret Affairs they had particularly treated of at that time with him In fine he so well represented all the Proofs and all the Circumstances that might make him known to be the King that Don Sebastians Judges could not do any thing more than Banish him from Venice Almeida would have followed him to help him to support his misfortunes but he caused her to stay in that City till he should have settled his Affairs He made towards Tuscany where he thought to meet with some Friends and some favourable Witnesses who had been at the Battel The Great Duke of Tuscany promised to furnish him with some Troops The Dutchess of Parma was his Cousin he went to implore her Succours She received him with all the Joy and all the Kindness that a Good Relation can be capable of but she could neither grant him Forces nor Money All the Favour she could do him was to give him an Equipage becoming his Quality He thought convenient to send to the Cortes or States of Portugal to give them notice of the state he was in and where he was The Dutchess furnished him with People of great Experience in those kind of Negotiations They went and acquainted the States of Portugal with the Fate of their King This Deputation caused great joy and surprize through all the Kingdom They sent to Don Sebastian six of the Principal Men of their Assemblies They saw him the respect which the Majesty of Kings occasions seized them at first sight Don Henry and Phoebus Monis were of the Number of these Envoy's they could not mistake him and Embracing his Knees they conjured him to deliver them from the oppression of the Spaniards The others for fear of being mistaken by too much resemblance asked the King several Questions which no one but Don Sebastian could reply to They were likewise surpriz'd to see so much presence of Mind and so much Memory in his Answers These Envoys returned into Portugal and reported that it was the real Don Sebastian they had spoke to The Partizans of Spain whom all the Kingdom was full of accused these Envoys of Imposture and mantained that they had suffered themselves to be Suborned by an Impostour Others demanded that Don Sebastian should come in Person himself to the Assembly of the States General to be Examined there in all the Forms He was ready to depart to be present there but the Dutchess of Parma and some of his Priends who were about him hindred him telling him that the States were only Composed of People Pentioners to the Spaniards that the true Portugals were no longer Masters there and that there was no safety for him As Don Sebastian was preparing to enter Spain at the head of some Forces the Spaniards caused him to be Seized to prevent his doing so he was carried to Naples and notwithstanding the Publick Ignominies they made him suffer he always made appear the greatness of his Soul and never bely'd his Character in the least They drew up his Process a-new they would have put him to death in the Forms but notwithstanding all that the worst of Envy was capable of inventing against him the injustice of his Judges durst not attempt the life of so great a King and Condemned him to the Gallies for to appease in some manner the rage of his Enemies Almeida entred the Prison just after the Sentence had been read to him What a Desolation for her and for him The Grief of those two Lovers is not to be expressed But that Princess more lively resenting that Don Sebastian had all those outrages done to him died in his Arms of Grief and Regret for having reduced so Great a King into so deplorable a Condition He was Shaved and carried to the Gallies The most Tragical Historians durst never offer to our Eyes such a spectacle as to see Chain'd in the midst of a hundred Malefactors of the Scum of the People a Formidable and Powerful King whose Mind and Body were enriched with a thousand Beautiful Qualities and to whom no other Crime can be imputed than his misfortunes In the mean time the Portuguezes being impatient of the Spanish Yoke and ever bestowing some sighs to the memory of Don Sebastian leagued together and openly demanded their King but it was in vain one rarely consents to restore a Crown and Policy abhors that effeminate Virtue The Spaniards foreseeing the ill Consequences of these Cabals and Leagues and fearing that Don Sebastian whom they ever took for an Impostour might be still capable notwithstanding the deplorable Condition he was reduced to to deprive them of the Crown of Portugal resolved to make sure of his Person They took him from the Gallies they caused him to be carried secretly into Spain and Imprisoned him in the Castle of Saint Lucar where 't is reported this deplorable King was Poisoned in a short time after and with so Tragical an End did Crown a Life that had been filled with so many Misfortunes FINIS