Devotion which the Catholick Kings above all other Princes have ever born in mind and testify'd by their Actions towards the Apostolical See Their meaning was understood well enough at Rome and this Intimation of what they should do gave a strange force to their Arguments and so confirm'd the wavering Pope that he remained ever after steady to their Interest The Portugueses had apparently all the Right on their side but the Spaniards were Masters of Milan Naples and Sicily From this time forward Pope Innocent turned a deaf Ear to all that could be said in Favour of King John of Portugal and could never be brought to grant him that which was never deny'd to an Usurper That Prince had his Agents continually soliciting for him at Rome in his own Name and in behalf of the Clergy and of the three Estates of the Kingdom but all to no purpose The French made the most pressing Instances in his behalf but the Pope did not mind them at that time for France being embroil'd with intestine Dissentions He was sure they could do him no harm Great Court and Application was made to Donna Olympia as we are told by the Conde da Ericeyra who observes that she seldom used to fail in any Temporal Business that she undertook alluding I suppose to a Saying to that purpose which was current at that time in the Courts of Popish Princes where upon any Disappointment of their Affairs at Rome the Nuncio's were sure to be told That if the Business had been solicited by Donna Olympia it had never miscarried But on this occasion Donna Olympia her self could do no good for either she did not heartily espouse the King of Portugal's cause or if she did all her Artifices were ineffectual upon the obdurate Pontiff All the answer that could be got from this and the former Pope besides those frivolous Complaints before mention'd for which satisfaction was still offered was that the Pope as the common Father of Christendom thought himself bound to carry it equally between Castille and Portugal and not acknowledge or oblige one Son when it could not be done without offence to the other but the Portugueses could not perswade themselves that in this case He in any sort acted the part of a common Father whilst to gratify the unreasonable Ambition of the one he did not stick wholly to cast off the other and to use him in a more barbarous manner than he could have done an Infidel But in short the Spaniards were very rugged in their Threats and that stood them in stead of Right and Merit the Portugueses valuing themselves upon their blind Obedience to the Holy See kept within the terms of Respect which instead of gaining ought upon those of Rome gave encouragement to their Insolence Had King John but follow'd the Spaniards Example or come to any vigorous Resolution he had doubtless soon brought his Holiness to a compliance or he might have had a fair opportunity to vindicate his Country's Liberty in a yet more glorious manner than he had done already by shaking off the Spanish Yoke For we must know that all these Applications to the Court of Rome were not made to the end only that his Title might be acknowledged there but in order to have the vacant Sees in his Dominions supplied with Bishops for in a few years after the Revolution there was but one Bishop remaining in Portugal and he not Resident upon his Diocess being obliged to attend the Court and there was a like want of them in the East and West-Indies in the Madera and Cap Verde Islands and upon the Coasts of Africa the Portugueses therefore laboured all they could to make his Holiness sensible of the miserable state of their Churches thus destitute of Pastors petitioning for a supply the King according to the Practice of his Ancestors proposing the Persons for that end and to remove all Objections he agreed that his Nomination of the Bishops should be admitted with the Clause sine Praejudicio Tertij notwithstanding its being a clear Maxim in the Rota and confirmed by the practice of the Roman Church That the simple possession of an Inheritance City or Territory that has Jus Patronatus annext to it gives the right of Presentation to the Possessor but neither the reason of the thing nor the desolate condition of the Orphan Churches could have any weight upon the obstinate Pope He was more apprehensive of the Spanish Threats than the loss of Millions of Souls all that could be got from him was that He would appoint Bishops for Portugal on condition that he might name them de motu proprio he offered indeed another very strange Concession which was that the Bishops he chose of his own mere motion should be the very same Persons that the King had named But the Portugueses could not agree to this Proposal for this among other Reasons that the Popes might make it a Precedent for assuming to themselves a Right of nominating Bishops in after times which would prove a great grievance to the Nation since the Benefices that were already at his Disposal were generally the worst supply'd Things being thus at a stand the Gallicane Church undertook the cause of her Sister of Portugal and took the liberty to mind the Holy Father of his Duty in a Letter written by the Prelates assembled in a Synod which was presented in their Name by Cardinal Francisco Barbarini but the Pope at that time had as little regard to the French Church as he had to the French Coutt The Clergy of that Kingdom sent their Agent to Rome to take care of the concerns of the Portuguese Church as well as their own the Bishops whom King John had nominated sent their humble Petition to his Holiness that they might be admitted to the Exercise of their Charge and their Petition was rejected with scorn the Cardinals of the French Faction did all the good Offices they could but to no purpose Este signalized himself in a very particular manner on this occasion the Pope taking notice that he loytered about the City more than became him ordered him one day to his Diocess saying That it went against his Conscience to see him absent from it so long the Cardinal who was Young and Resolute answered That his Holiness had a great deal of reason to be thus scrupulous but being so much concerned as he was for one single Church he ought not wholly to neglect so many as there were in Portugal unprovided of Bishops and therefore he conjur'd him before God and in the Name of the King of France from whom he had Commission so to do that he would speedily grant Bishops to that Kingdom The Pope not a little surpriz'd at so brisk an Attack was going away without making any other reply than saying I shall pluck the Cap from off that Boy 's Head Este turns to him again and crys If you do I shall put on another of Iron and thereupon retires
Commotions acting as it were the part of a Massaniello by Law Great things are told concerning those that bore this Office during the War King John the 4th being observed to be a little remiss in the Affairs of Government and too intent upon his Sports 't is reported that he once going to ride out into the Country to Hunt the Juis do Povo laid hands on the Reigns of his Horses Bridle and oblig'd his Majesty to stay at home and mind his Business nor will this seem strange if his Power were so great as they say it is to this Day that he could at a Words speaking raise the whole Posse of the Commonalty The Envoy found the Person that was then in Place to be an honest well meaning Man and ready to concurr with him in his Design on which as one of a moderate Capacity might easily be made to understand the Happiness of his Country depended and this Man showed himself so very Zealous and Industrious to promote it that his Picture is to be seen at this Day amongst theirs who were more immediately concern'd in making the Peace The Envoy took care likewise to have his Party amongst the Peoples Representatives in Cortes which were assembled some time after Alfonso had been Deposed his Table was open for the Members and he had his Cabals with them the Effects whereof appear'd as soon as the Business came under Debate The Letters of the Spanish Noblemen were answer'd with Powers from the Queen Regent to the Marquess de Eliche to enter upon a Treaty with the Prince of Portugal to the intire satisfaction of that Kingdom Letters to this purpose were no sooner come but care was taken to have the Contents of them publish'd every where both in City and Country the News was welcomed by the People who now hoped to see a speedy end of their Miseries with such Publick Demonstrations of Joys as it deserv'd which the Court in vain laboured to suppress Mr. de S. Romain had now great occasion to bestir himself but he found the People so prepossessed already that all his Artifices were like to have no effect upon them he therefore sets forth a Memorial directed to the Prince the Ministers and the Cortesoens or Members of Cortes wherein he Declares That the Prince could not break the League with France and consequently not make Peace with Spain both because in taking the Government into his hands he took upon himself the Obligations of the Crown to maintain the Treaty made between his Brother and the King of Spain and in consideration of the great Benefits confer'd on Portugal by His Most Christian Majesty who had given innumerable Demonstrations of his Friendship to that Kingdom having spent his Treasures and the Blood of his Subjects in its Defenec and likewise because it was impossible for an advantageous Peace with Spain to be made with security in the form Proposed since the Intervention of the King of France was wanting wherein alone consisted the certainty that the Promises and Conditions of the Treaty should be kept That the Castillians whilst they dreaded the Armies of France and Portugal would indeed to free themselves from the Danger they were in submit to any Terms that the Prince as a Conqueror should impose But a few days of Delay could be no loss in this Conjuncture and since France was not far off he advised the Prince to send thither a Copy of the Spanish Proposals and when he had received an Answer from thence he might then consult what was most conducive to his Subject's Good As for the Spaniards they minded nothing but their own Interests and as they had shown upon several Occasions would never stand to the Treaty but while they were under an Impossibility to carry on the War That their Ancient and inbred Hatred was now mightily increased by the Miseries which the Valient Portugueses had brought upon them and therefore they in all future Ages would be indeavouring either by Force or Art or Alliances to reunite the Crown of Portugal to Castille and all this in order to take their Revenge in so cruel a manner as to destory the very Memory of the Nobility by scattering over the face of the Earth such of them as should escape their Tortures and Poisons and to impoverish the People to that Degree that they should have nothing left to enable them any more to shake off their heavy and Tyrannical Yoke The Marquess de Eliche who had his Agents abroad was one of the first that got a sight of this Memorial and he immediately drew up an Answer to it which he took care to have dispers'd throughout the Kingdom In it he sets forth That the French Artifices to augment their own Power by weakning their Neighbours were Notorious to the World of which there was no need to go far for a Proof none doubting but that they had succour'd Portugal in this last War to the end only that by other Mens Hands they might beat down the formidable Power of Castille in order to become themselves too strong for both Parties That this and no other was their Design was demonstrated by their Proceedings after the Peace made at the Pirenees where the King of France in Person gave his Word to King Philip the 4th and confirm'd the same in the Capitulations of Marriage between him and that King's Daughter that he would give no Succours to Portugal against Castille and at the same time assisted that Kingdom with Money Generals Officers and Soldiers that having obtain'd an Advantagious Match with the Princess of Spain under an Obligation containing the most binding Clauses the Law could afford and confirm'd with the most dreadful Oaths that neither he nor his Successors would make any claim of Inheritance to the Kingdoms or Dominions of Castille he was now contrary to his Promise and the Treaty making War against that Monarchy That he laboured to obstruct the Peace with Portugal in order to divide the Forces of Spain that he might the more easily seize upon that Crown in case the Succession should fail That he might with the same injustice attempt the Conquest of Portugal under the same Pretext that he used in breaking with Spain viz. it s not being in his Power to Defraude his Successors of their Right That though he now oppos'd King Philip's Right to that Crown he would doubtless make use of it hereafter as a Colour for his unjust Invasion That the Prince did not make the League with France which as 't was Notorious was clapt up upon some secret Designs without the Peoples consent That if the King of France could make War upon Castille on pretence of his want of Power to deprive his Heirs of the Succession belonging to them with how much greater Reason was the Prince oblig'd not to deny his People the Blessings of an Advantageous and Honourable Peace after a cruel War of Seven and Twenty Years which had hitherto been carried on for
Advantages by a free Trade during the late War yet the Money being convey'd out of the Kingdom by such ways as shall be mention'd in another place their Condition is not much mended thereby That this is the present Case of the Kingdom will appear from two Instances of a very fresh Date The King is as all the World knows at this time putting his Kingdom in a Posture of Defence to this end among other things it was thought convenient to secure St. Julian's Castle which stands upon the Bar of the Tagus and guards the Entrance into the River and is in effect the main Bulwark of Lisbon or rather the Key to the whole Kingdom It is strongly built after the Modern Way and well fortified with Guns but hath this Disadvantage that it may be commanded on one side from a Rising Ground that is near it It was therefore debated in Council Whether it were cheapest to level that Ground or to raise a small Fort upon it But after the Place had been survey'd it was at last concluded That both Ways were too chargeable either of them requiring a greater Expence than the State could well bear and so neither way was taken From this Instance which came from a good Hand it appears that the Exchequer must run very low at this time And that the People can afford but small Supplies will appear from hence The King to enable himself to augment and maintain his Army summon'd the Cortes or Parliament to meet at Lisbon the First of December 97 All that he demanded of them was an Additional Revenue of 600000 Crowns a Crown in Portugal is scarce worth Half a Crown English The Parliament considering the Occasion could not but acknowledge the Request to be reasonable but then how to raise the Money was a matter of insuperable difficulty In short they sat down as hath been said the First of December 97 and were sitting in July 98 and were considering all the while of Ways and Means and had made no Progress in the Affair but at last they referr'd it to the King to lay the Tax as he should judge convenient For their parts tho' none could be insensible of the King 's great want of a Supply yet they found the People so burden'd already that they knew not how to lay on them any further Weight without danger of their sinking under it The King as hath been reported since has laid the Tax upon Tobacco which the Merchant thinks is the ready way to destroy that Trade and consequently the best and clearest part of the Revenue The most considerable Transactions of this Reign will fall under some of the following Heads and therefore I have nothing further to add in this Chapter but that the King of Portugal is an Absolute Prince having the Legislative as well as the Executive Power in his hands For the Royal Edicts have the Force of Laws and a Collection of these is much the same thing there as our Satute-Book is in England when these fail the Civil Law takes place There are indeed certain Constitutions chiefly relating to the Succession called the Laws of Lamego made by the Cortes at the first Institution of the Government which cannot be dispens'd with but by Consent of the Three Estates It belongs likewise to the Cortes to lay Taxes upon the People tho' certain Imposts that are now upon Flesh and Wine and were given for a limited time have been continued by the King's Authority and the Pope's together the manner in which this was done shall be told in the following Chapter Of the Publick Revenues and the Forces of the Crown by Land and Sea BEfore I speak of the Revenues c. it is requisite to give an Account of the Money currant in this Kingdom All considerable Sums are here reckoned by Millreis i. e. Thousand of Reis sometimes by Crusado's or Crowns which consist of 400 Reis a piece Tho' great Payments are commonly made in Spanish Pieces of Eight which are reckon'd at 750 Reis There is no such Piece as a Millrei nor indeed a Crown at present for that which was last coyn'd for a Crown-piece is now rais'd to 480 Reis Lesser Coyns in Silver are a Teston 100 Reis a half Teston 50 Reis a Vintain 20 Reis The Gold Coyn called the Moeda de Ouro contains 4800 Reis of which there are likewise Half and Quarter-pieces The Portuguese Money according to the intrinsick Value answers to our English Money thus  s. d. q. A Millrei i. e. 1000 Reis to 05 10 00 A Crown 400 Reis 02 04 00 A Teston 100 Reis 00 07 00 A half Teston 50 Reis 00 03 02 A Vintain 20 Reis 00 01 01 ⅗ The Moeda of Gold 4800 Reis makes 28 s.    The Revenues arise chiefly from Customs Taxes Monopolies Rents belonging to the Orders of Knighthood and Moneys raised purely by the Pope's Bulls The Customs paid here are excessively great all Foreign Commodities excepting some few sorts of small Bulk and easie Conveyance pay no less than 23 per Cent 20 for the ordinary Custom and 3 for a certain Duty call'd the Consulado which last is likewise paid for all Goods exported whether by Natives or Foreigners They are indeed set at a favourable Valuation except Fish from Newfoundland which pays 22 per Cent in Specie Goods brought hither in order only to be transported to other Countries pay 4 per Cent. But it is believed that nothing of all this comes to the King or indeed to the Publick the Consulado excepted which is appropriated to the building of Ships and buying in of Stores The Taxes are 7 Reis per Pound upon all Flesh brought into the Market and as much per Canada upon Wine sold in by Retail few People here keep any in their Houses A Canada holds something less than Three Pints Fresh Fish which is caught here in great abundance in the River and on the Sea-Coasts and is the best part of the Peoples Food pays no less than 47 per Cent and that exacted with great Rigor and paid commonly in Specie At the Sale of Lands Houses Cattle of all sorts and indeed of almost every thing that is known to be bought and sold 10 per Cent of the Price goes to the King A great part of these Taxes were granted by the Three Estates in Cortes to King John the Fourth in 1641 and at other times towards the Charges of the War with Spain but after the Peace was made the Cortes in the Year 1674 rais'd them to what they are at present by giving the Prince a Supply of a Million of Crowns per Annum one half whereof was to be rais'd by an Additional Impost upon Flesh and Wine But this was then given only for Six Years yet it hath been paid ever since The Court in the Year 1675 thought convenient to procure the Pope's Consent to this last Impost that the Clergy might have leave to pay their share because as it
was given for a Reason the last Lateran Council and other Canons of their Church had made it unlawful for any Prince to receive Tribute from the Clergy without the Pope's leave even tho' it were voluntarily offer'd by themselves as this had been by the Ecclesiastical as well as the two other Estates in Cortes And since that time at the end of every Sixth Year a Breve hath been procured from Rome for continuing the Taxes for Six Years longer therein the Pope impowers the Nuncio residing at Lisbon to use his Apostolical Authority in obliging the Clergy to pay them This Breve is of course published in Portugal and tho' it chiefly regards the Clergy yet it is not unlikely but it may be design'd to induce the People likewise to pay their Taxes quietly without putting the King and the Three Estates of the Realm to the trouble of meeting together in Cortes For it must needs be a great Argument among them that the thing is but just and reasonable since the Holy Father consents to and approves of it and it weighs much with them no doubt when they consider why his Holiness grants the Breve which as 't is declared in the Narrative of it is The Exchequers being exhausted by the vast Expences that the Crown hath been continually at for the maintenance and propagation of the Catholick Faith in the Dominions abroad especially in Brazil and the East-Indies where the Dutch Hereticks and other Infidels were endeavouring to extirpate it Which Reason is said to continue still or rather to become more strongly urgent every time there is occasion for a new Breve The Pope gives Commission to his Nuncio to enquire into the Truth of this and other Allegations as that the Three Estates the Clergy more especially have given their Consent the Nuncio cites the King's Procurator before him and puts him upon the Proof He shews that the Nobility and People have agreed to the continuance of the Taxes because they still pay them and that the whole Body of the Clergy are likewise willing because the Bishops have given their Consent which as he pretends to prove withal comprehends that of all the rest But it does not appear how he makes good the Main Point viz. The Danger that the Catholick Faith is in from the Dutch Hereticks and other Infidels As for the Dutch they renew'd their Peace with Portugal in the Year 1669 and have kept it ever since However the Nuncio is entirely satisfied with the Proofs whatever they be and thereupon gives order for the Execution of the Breve requiring Obedience thereto from all Persons Secular as well as Ecclesiastical upon pain of the greater Excommunication and 500 Crowns applicable to the Reverend Chamber Apostolick as the Words of the Order run Under the Title of Monopolies we may reduce the other part of the Supply granted at the same time which was an Impost upon Tobacco made into Snuff by which 500000 Crowns per Annum were design'd to be rais'd In order to make this Sum the King had the whole Trade of Snuff put into his own Hands and it became almost as great a Crime in Portugal for any to Make Snuff for themselves as 't is with us in England to Coin Money tho' People almost universally take it here This Monopoly was let out to Farm to the Duke of Cadaval the principal Person in the Kingdom next His Majesty and it was so managed that 't is said the King receiv'd much more than double the Value of what it was given for The Tobacco as it come from Brazil was bought up for the King at a Teston and half or less per Pound and sold out in Snuff for 16 or 20 and sometimes more the best and 14 the more ordinary sort But 't is said that this Trade is now laid aside and an Equivalent with the Advantage of 600 000 tax'd upon Tobacco in Rolls The King hath likewise in his Hands a great part of the Trade from Foreign Plantations as that of Elephants Teeth from Africa of Wood from Brazil Besides great Duties upon Sugar and of all Goods coming from the East-Indies This last Trade is indeed but of little worth for he hath several times offered to make it over to a Company of Merchants but could never get a sufficient Number of Subscribers The King is likewise Grand Master of the Orders of Knighthood in his Kingdom and has the disposal of all the Commenda's belonging to them viz. of the Order of Christ which in Portugal succeeded to that of the Knights-Templers and is still in possession of their Lands and hath 454 Commenda's belonging to it 2dly The Order of St. Jago which hath 60 Commenda's and those of considerable Profit 3dly Of Avis which hath 43 and these esteem'd very rich Besides the King hath the disposal of the Commenda's in his Kingdom that belong to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem commonly called the Knights of Malta the chief of which viz. the Priory of Crato accounted one of the richest in the World is at present bestowed upon Dom Francisco the King 's Second Son I reckon these among the King's Revenues because they are put to the same use as the greatest part by much of his other Incomes are viz. given away in Pensions or Rewards for Services But the Kings of Portugal have for this last Century made use of one extraordinary way to raise Money which among all Ways and Means perhaps hath never been thought of by any other Temporal Prince the Kings of Spain excepted who first brought it up in this Kingdom and this is by selling Indulgences to the People for the Pardon of their Sins and the Deliverance of their own or their Relations Souls out of Purgatory The Popes having been for some time shamed out of this Trade by the Noise that Luther made in the World the Kings of Spain thought fit to take it up and have made more Money of it with less Scandal To this end Philip the Second after he had got Possession of the Crown of Portugal obtained Bulls of Pope Gregory the 14th in the Year 1591 which since that time have been publish'd almost every Year in Portugal And the Profits arising from them are become a part of the Standing Revenues of the Crown And indeed they may well be accounted a very considerable part of them The Substance of these three Bulls are all contain'd in one which carries for Title The Bull of the Holy Croisade But they are retailed out to the People under the Names of The Bull for the Living The Bull of Composition And The Bull for the Dead They have their general Name from the Croisade as if they were granted for carrying on the Holy War and were we to judge of the Levies I mean of Money that are here made one would think that War was still prosecuted with as great Vigour as it was 500 Years ago It 's true indeed that the Kings of Portugal even
to talk of calling to account such as were possest of any Lands belonging to former Queens and more than this to interpose in Affairs of State and Matters of Government giving the Ministers to understand that she expected to know how things went and she made her self to be obey'd so far that nothing of Moment was transacted in the King's Council but Her Majesty was consulted about it Not content with all this she seemed to have a further Aim still and to design no less than a Total Change of the Ministry in order to engross the whole Power to her self or impart it to such as she should engage in her Interests The Great Men of the Kingdom were at this time divided into Two Irreconcileable Parties neither of which could be safe but by a Total Overthrow of the other the one consisting of those that had been in the Government in the late Queen Mother's time or had done their utmost to continue her Regency and were at this time wholly broken driven from Court or deprived of their Charges and the Principal of them Banish'd into several remote parts of the Kingdom The other was of them that were then in the Ministry or had been instrumental in placing King Alfonso on the Throne in opposition to the Queen his Mother and obliging her to retire into a Monastery The new Queen presently after her Arrival publickly declar'd for the vanquish'd Party at least did that which in effect was the same thing for she openly sollicited the return of the Duke of Cadaval and his re-establishment at Court This Duke was the chief Person of the whole Party and had shewn himself the most active of them all in the Queen Mothers Service and thereby had drawn upon himself the largest share of the King's Displeasure Besides the Conde de Castelmelhor who was then the Prime Minister and the Principal Man next the King at Court had reason to look upon the Duke as his most formidable Antagonist and to apprehend his Return as a Step towards the Ruine of himself and his whole Party especially if it were obtained by the Queens Sollicitation which would have engaged that Great Man to her Service and it might prove impossible for him to hold out against their united Interests There had that passed between the Duke and the Conde that the Court could not well hold them both as it cannot to this day for they are both still alive the Duke is now in the Ministry and for that reason some give it for the only reason the Court for this last Reign hath remain'd shut to the Conde But to put things in their due light I find it will be necessary to look back to the time of the late Queens Regency and give a brief account of some former Transactions particularly those wherein either of these two great Men were concern'd Donna Luisa Francisca de Gusman who by her Courage had animated Duke John of Bragança her Husband to take upon him the Crown which she is said to have preserved likewise upon his Head by her Counsels was left by that King at his Death which happened the Sixth of November 1656 Regent of the Kingdom and Tutress or Guardian to the Princes their Children but her Regency was not like to continue long should the Young King her Son be reckoned to be of Age at the usual time of Majority it having been customary for Kings of this as well as of other Nations to be declared Majors at Fourteen and Dom Alfonso was near the end of his Thirteenth Year at the King his Father's Death for he was born the 21st of August 1643 so that should former Presidents be observed in the present Case she was like in a short time to be forced to let go the Power out of her hands and see a Kingdom which she had contributed so much to procure and preserve for the Family committed to the discretion of a Child or entrusted by him to she knew not whom for he once declared Major would be at liberty to chuse his own Ministers The best-established Governments in such a case must necessarily be exposed to many great Inconveniencies but that of Portugal which was then new and unsettled and struggling as it were for life in a War with the Spanish Monarchy would be in danger of utter Ruine For these considerations as we may well suppose the Queen resolv'd to prolong her Regency for some Years beyond the ordinary time to this end she conferred all Offices of Trust upon Creatures of her own or such as she could conside in and took such ways to engage those in Power as should make them more apprehensive of a Change than her self and in effect she so manag'd Matters as to remain possest of the Government till the King was within a Month of Nineteen and had not the Conde de Castelmelhor by an unexpected Surprize broken all her Measures she might in all likelihood have kept it in her hands as long as she pleas'd and her Enemies used to say That by her good will she had never parted with it while she lived And in truth her Conduct in regard to the King her Son may have given some colour to this Aspersion the Education of that Prince in his tender Age was such as has been now described It s true the Queen Mother took notice with what Scandalous Companions he associated himself and made grievous complaints of it but still they had access to him even while he was of those Years when one would think his Governours should be responsible for his Carriage As the King grew bigger he became guilty of such Excesses as might be expected from a Youth so Bred and left to his own Liberty without a Curb He took great pleasure in walking the Streets a Nights in Company of his Braves to haunt the Houses of leud Women and sometimes he would order the Prostitutes to be brought to him to the Palace he is reported likewise to have committed several Outrages upon those he met with in his Night-Walks nor did he wholly abstain from those Pranks in the Day-time several Instances of this nature are reckoned up by those that have made a strict enquiry into his Faults but I do not find that he ever did any great mischief He often endangered his Person indeed and began to loose himself much in the Peoples Opinion The Queen Mother made loud Complaints of these disorders but then she took such a course as might make her Enemies suspect she desired that the People rather than her Son might become sensible of his Faults she exposing them in as Publick Manner as was possible in order as some imagine to make her self thought more Necessary and him less capable of the Government One time she contriv'd it so that all the Counsellors of State should wait upon him in a Body and let him understand how his Person and the Kingdom were in danger by the Courses he took The young Duke of Cadaval
Duke of Cadaval was sent to give the Infante an Account how things stood and nothing was further done till towards the Evening which as it is pretended was to give the King time to change his mind but as 't is more likely to perswade the Infante to finish what they had begun He at last Night drawing on accompanied by the Magistrates of Lisbon the Nobility of the Party and a great Concourse of the People went to the Palace where he was received by the Council of State and at the Head of this Company went and lock'd up the King in his Chamber securing all the Passages through which he might escape A Form of Resignation was then drawn up read and approved of by the Council which before they broke up was sent to the King for him to Sign and accordingly it was brought back sign'd by him but it is not known by what Means he was prevailed upon to do it The Prince takes up his Lodgings that Night in the Palace he had no sooner thrown himself upon the Bed it being very late but a Message came to him from Alfonso to desire that John the Dog-Keeper might be sent to keep him Company the Message drew Tears from the Prince's Eyes 't is pretended that he wept in commiseration of his Brothers weakness and little sense of his Condition tho' 't is not improbable but the Dethroned King took this way to make his Brother sensible of the ill Usage he had met with perhaps from their hands that had been sent to make him Sign the Resignation which but the same Morning as hath been shown the most Brutal Menaces could not extort from him The King being thus Deposed the Prince Signs the Writs that had been prepared for Summoning the Cortes before they assembled it was debated Whether it might be convenient for him to take the Title of King but it pass'd in the Negative in a Committee of Judges and other Ministers to whom the Matter was referred and it was carried that he should content himself with the Title he then used viz. that of Curator of the King's Person and Governor of the Kingdom The same Question was afterwards long debated in the Cortes which met on the 27th of January 1668 but in the end it was concluded That he should have the Kingly Power with the Title of Prince Regent In the mean time the Queen having commenc'd her Process against Alfonso the day before he was deposed upon his Confinement was at liberty to prosecute the same with the utmost vigour There being no Bishops at this time in Portugal the Cause as hath been said was brought before the Chapter of Lisbon I shall for many reasons forbear giving a particular account of the Proceedings tho' there be no want of Materials but in short Alfonso after a few Days Confinement was as 't is pretended brought to sign an Acknowledgment of what the Queen had declared concerning the Nullity of their Marriage contrary to what he had asserted to the Infante when he signify'd her Declaration to him the Day after her Retreat while he was yet at liberty It fell out happily for the Queen as she thought at least that her Uncle the Duke of Vendome lately made a Cardinal-Deacon was at this very time commissioned by the Pope to represent the Person of his Holiness as Godfather to the Dauphin then seven Years old at that Formality of a Christning which is used for the Children of France For this end the Cardinal-Duke had the Title and Patent given him of Legat a Latere To him as invested with the Plenitude of the Pope's Power Monsieur Verjus who was sent as hath been said into France upon the Queen's first leaving her Husband applied himself for a Dispensation that the Queen might marry with the Infante The Cardinal was no doubt willing enough to oblige his Niece and to do for her whatever was in his Power but then he question'd much whether it was in his Power to help her out in this Case as well he might For who cou'd think that a Proxy to be Godfather to a Child in France should enable him to make it lawful for a Woman in Portugal to marry with her living Husband's Brother But Monsieur Verjus having satisfied the French King about what the Queen of Portugal had been doing the Dispensation was obtain'd without much difficulty for he and Monsieur de Lionne reading the Cardinal's Bull of Legate found out that it contain'd some Clauses that did as it were point to the very Case in Hand and to give the Cardinal as ample Powers as they could wish and so the Dispensation was granted without more a-do And in truth they in France were a little too hasty in this Business for the Dispensation was obtain'd there before they were ready for it in Portugal it bears Date the 17 Calends of April i. e. the 16th Day of March and in it 't is supposed and affirmed that the former Marriage had been declared null by Course of Law But the Chapter of Lisbon were not so very hasty for they did not pronounce Sentence 'till the 24th of March tho' considering how long Causes of Divorce between Royal Persons used to depend which we in England have good Cause to remember none will accuse them of dilatory Proceedings They at last by their Delegates appointed to examine and determine the Matter pronounc'd the former Marriage to be null by reason of Alfonso's incurable Inability to consummate it occasion'd by his Sickness during the time of his Childhood of which Inability as 't is affirm'd in the Sentence there was more than sufficient Proof and at least a Moral Certainty so that as they said there was no need of Inspection of Trial for 3 Years or any other limited time The Queen was now talking of nothing but returning into France by the Fleet that lay in the River to carry off the French Troops that had been in the Portuguese Service with this Design she made the three Estates of the Kingdom acquainted desiring that the Portion which she had brought with her might be return'd her The doleful News of her intended Departure saith the Writer employ'd to give the World an account of these Transactions was with great Grief heard by the States and they entring into politick Considerations in the midst of their Affliction find that this Princess on account of all the Conveniencies of State all the Endowments of Mind and all the Perfections of Nature was the most ready most convenient most worthy and most lovely Spouse that a Prince could wish for went all in a Body to the Nunnery saith another Writer of the same Stamp to supplicate her Majesty with Tears in their Eyes That she would not abandon them but stay and marry with the Prince because they were neither able nor willing to return her Portion But the Queen would give them no positive Answer then they went in a Body to the Prince begging of him to save
they should share in the Power they had given him partly moved thereto by the frequent Remonstrances of the Jesuits who are in great Credit with his Majesty and as some ill-natur'd People give out are set on by the Ministers to be ever and anon suggesting to him that he is oblig'd in Conscience to take this Course But most People are so well satisfied of his Majesty's Prudence and Justice as to think that Things would go much better than they do if he would take a greater part of the Government upon himself This Council as it imitates that of Madrid in other things so it is seldom guilty of any great Precipitation in its Proceedings but People complain rather of its Slowness and want of Dispatch and some who love to make the worst of things say That when a Business is brought before Them they shall sit upon it four or five Times each Session lasting five or six Hours and after all the Matter be oftentimes more perplex'd and intricate than before and the King who loses all this time waiting for their Resolution be as much to seek as ever But such as talk after this rate seem to have that Opinion of the Chapter which is very different from what the World has entertain'd of the Canons as will appear from the Characters of some of those excellent Persons that compose this Council As first of Dom Manoel Telles de Silva Conde de Villar Mayor Marchese de Alegrete I name him first not because of his Quality for tho' he be most Nobly descended yet he gives place to others whom I shall mention afterwards but because He is in effect the Prime Minister of State Affairs of the greatest Concern being chiefly intrusted to his Management This Lord having born Arms for some time in his Youth apply'd himself afterwards with extraordinary Diligence to the Study of Letters and made a very considerable Progress therein insomuch that he is esteem'd for one of the most Learned Men in the Nation It is said that he was much admir'd in Germany for his Readiness in speaking Latin and I suppose it was to exercise himself in the same Tongue that in the time of his Embassy into that Country he set himself to write in elegant Latin the Life of John the Second Sir-nam'd The Perfect Prince which hath been publish'd since In this Piece the Noble Author hath attempted to follow the Stile and Method of the Ancients How far he hath attain'd to either I will not pretend to judge but I believe most candid Readers will think he hath succeeded to admiration considering at how low an Ebb Learning hath been in Portugal for this last Age But by this Application to his Studies he qualify'd himself for much Greater and more Honourable Employments than that of an Author At Twenty-four Years of Age he was made one of the Infante's Camarists and is supposed to have had a great hand in the last Revolution and he hath been ever since one of the nearest to the Person of that Prince After some Overtures had been made of a Marriage between the King his Master and the Princess of Nieubourg this Lord was pitch'd upon as the fittest Person to carry on so important a Negotiation which he brought to a happy Conclusion and conducted the Royal Bride with him into Portugal Nor was that the only Service the Conde did on this occasion he gain'd an Honour for his Master which the Emperor excepted no Crown'd Head in Christendom had ever attain'd to before For before he made his Publick Entry into Heidelberg he so adjusted Matters in a Preliminary Treaty that he was to have the Precedency of the Elector and the Place of Honour on all Occasions This say the Portugueses had never before been granted by an Elector the Ambassador Extraordinary of any King tho' some of the greatest had been seeking it with much Earnestness But the Reputation of his Majesty's Grandeur say they so worthily represented by this Great Minister together with his Excellency's great Prudence and Dexterity gain'd for this Crown that singular Prerogative When his Excellency made his Publick Entry the two Princes Frederick and Philip waited to receive him in the Court of the Castle and the Elector himself went down some of the Steps that are open to the Court to meet the Ambassador as he came out of his Coach his Electoral Highness desiring his Excellency to be covered gave him the Right-hand let his Excellency go before him through every Door and when he had conducted him to the Place of Audience gave him the most Honourable Seat This was so very great an Honour that it had been deny'd not only to Ambassadors but to a King in Person For when Henry Elect of Poland afterwards the Third of that Name in France call'd at Heidelberg in his way to his new Kingdom there was not a Man to be seen in this very Court where the Conde de Villar Mayor had Princes to wait upon him at his Portiere and the poor King was so out of Countenance that he was fain to step aside on pretence of making Water 'till some Body might come to shew him up Stairs at last the Rhinegrave accompanied with two Gentlemen that had escaped from the Butchery of Saint Barthlemi met him half way on the Steps excusing the Elector his Father Frederick the Third that he came not to do this Office by reason of a certain Pain that he had in his Leg but the old Elector invited King Henry the next Morning to take a Walk with him and by no less than Thirty Turns in his Great Hall like that at Westminster he so breath'd the young King as fully to convince him that what his Son had said was but a meer Excuse But Henry came then just reeking from shedding the Blood of Innocents and the old Elector who otherwise entertain'd him like a Royal Guest had a mind to let the young King see how much a Prince falls from his Dignity by becoming guilty of such Barbarities So that I confess this Precedent ought not to be much insisted upon in the Case of our Ambassador Extraordinary As for the late Elector Philip William he it seems was resolv'd not to stand upon Ceremonies with his Excellency he not only gave him the Upper-hand at his first Reception but likewise at Meals The Lord Ambassador always wash'd first sat in the best Place was serv'd first nay the very Electoress her self and the Princesses her Daughters would needs have his Excellency take the Precedency of them too but he was more a Gentleman than to insist upon his Punctilio's with Ladies And so it was contriv'd that at Conferences with them there should be no Canopy in the Room and consequently no Distinction between the Right and the Left-hand and that of two Rows of Chairs opposite to each other the Ambassador should take the uppermost on the one side and the Electoress on the other with the Princesses her Daughters after
his Competitors being excluded by virtue of the Renunciation which was the necessary Condition of his Mothers Marriage and the German line with the House of Savoy for their being Forreigners This appears to be the best Title the King of Portugal can pretend to by Descent 't is true the forementioned Writer sets up another which he saith His Master derives from his Predecessor Dom Ferdinand King of Portugal but upon what Grounds I shall not examine It were much to be wished for the sake both of the common Repose of Europe and the Preservation of the Spanish Monarchy in particular that his Majesty's Right was unquestionable since Spain by the Re-union of Portugal might be enabled even at present to do something towards its own Defence and in time gather strength so as to subsist of it self and ease its Allys of the great Charge and Trouble they are at in keeping it from falling into Ruin There is one Advantage on the King of Portugal's side that must not be omitted which is That it will be very difficult for any other Prince to gain this Crown without his Consent he being ready upon the place to oppose any other Pretender his Forces indeed are but very small when compared to those of other Princes yet they are such as with a little assistance from his Allies may be able to make head against an Invader and perhaps prove more numerous than any Army that can march into the heart of Spain though furnish'd out by the great Monarch himself Spain having this advantage from her present Desolation and Misery that though she can make little Resistance against any powerful Enemies yet she 'll go near starve them if they come upon her in any considerable Numbers An Army that passes the Pirenees must not look for such Entertainment as is to be met with in other parts of Europe it was no difficult matter for the French King possess'd as he was of the strong Holds on both sides him to maintain his hundreds of thousands in the fruitful Countrys of Flanders and on the Banks of the Rhine but he may find it a harder task to subsist a third part of that Number in Spain than it was for him to do the same in Piedmont during the last War A Traveller that passes through such Parts of this Country as Nature hath been most indulgent to is like to fare but ill unless he carries Provision with him and that for Beast as well as Man but whether an Army like any of those that have been on foot of late Years can come thus provided for so long a March as 't is over the Pirenees into the midst of Spain let others more skillful in these matters judge but if it brings not along with it all things necessary for life it is like to be ill suppli'd and that not only in those bare and cragged Mountains over which it must climb but in the flat Country likewise ill water'd for the most part dispeopled and uncultivated and so parcht up that scarce any thing Green appears in the Season when Armies usually take the Field In effect the impossibility for a more numerous Army than their own to subsist in Spain is generally what the Portugueses answer when they are told of the great Forces which his Most Christian Majesty hath in readiness and it is very probable that in case they be assisted with a competent number of well disciplin'd Troops from abroad their being beforehand with him upon the Place and having their Magazins on the Frontiers will give them a great Advantage especially if they can but bring the Spaniards heartily to join with them in defence of their common Liberty and one would think they should readily accept the Party at least in opposition to the French whose Government they must necessarily have in greater abhorrence than the Portugueses themselves considering the Antipathy that hath been always between them and the French which has been kept alive by the continual Wars they have had with them and of late Years seems to have been heightened to the utmost Extremity of Hatred by the many intolerable and ungenerous insults they have received from them with which the French have on all occasions been very careful to refresh their Memories so that there is all reason to believe they will be much sooner inclin'd to forget their former Animosities with their Portuguese Neighbours Their Enmity to these never was so great as to make them banish all thoughts of uniting under one head a thing often declar'd impracticable in regard to the French in several Publick and Solemn Treaties whereas in the very heat of the last War with Portugal there was a Negotiation carrying on and some advances made on both sides to have a Portuguese Prince plac'd on the Throne of Spain For in the Year 1650. when Philip the 4th having no other Child to inherit his Crown but the Infanta Donna Teresa Maria the great Men in Spain were all for having that Princess married within the Kingdom it being a common saying among them at that time That it was a very hard thing that they could never have a King with Black Whiskers upon this the King of Portugal was encouraged by the secret Intelligence he had at that Court to think of a Marriage between the Infanta and his Eldest Son Dom Theodosio and thereupon sent Antonio Vieira the Jesuit to Rome upon other Pretences but with Instructions and Powers to propose the Match to the Spanish Ministers there and he pretends that he wrought so effectually with some of the Principal Persons of that Nation and Faction that he brought them to a great liking of his Proposal insomuch that they seem'd desirous it should take effect though the Match could not be approv'd of by the Court of Madrid The Arguments by which Vieira prevail'd with the Ministers at Rome were drawn from the high Birth of the Prince his being descended from the same Ancestors with the Infanta and his Extraordinary Qualifications all which were such that had things continued in the same state they had been in before the War there was no question but that Dom Theodosio would have been the only Person pitcht upon but the Jesuit urged that as the case then stood there were much stronger Arguments in his Favour he being to bring along with him the Kingdom of Portugal with all the Dominions belonging thereto in the one half of the World that Portugal it self was a part and member of Spain and by its Re-union would make the Monarchy entire again which would thereby become more Powerful and Flourishing than before the Separation for the several Armies which at that time were employed on both sides upon the Frontiers might then be all united together in one Body under the same Head and Spain be so strengthened thereby as to be able to give Protection to their Friends be rever'd by Neutrals and become a Terror to their Enemies These Arguments if we can believe
Compensation elsewhere and that the Catholick King might bestow upon him either the two Calabrias with the Kingdom of Sardinia or the Government of the Low Countries with the same Authorithy and Emoluments as it was possess'd by the Cardinal Infante and some places for himself on the Frontiers but the Cardinal would consent to nothing of all this saying That the Prince must resolve to be wholly French or wholly Spanish that is have no dependence upon the King of Spain or have nothing to do in France Yet since the King of Spain was so willing to part with these Countries he desired that the Kingdom of Sardinia might be given to the King of Portugal and he would desire his Master to agree to it so as that the Portugueses should have cause to be satisfy'd This saith he to Don Luis is the finest Expedient in the World both to content the King and let the World see that my Master seeks to get a handsome Retreat for his Ally for if the King of Portugal shall embrace this Expedient the Catholick King will be put in Possession of several Kingdoms the least of which is more considerable than that of Sardinia I do not find that the Cardinal propos'd any other Expedient besides this and this is enough to show what an extream Passion he had to serve his Master's Ally he would have him surrender up all his Dominions for that poor and little Kingdom of Sardinia which the Spaniards on several such occasions have offered to give away but could never get any one to accept of it and yet it seems the Cardinal thought this was too much for the King of Portugal for he propos'd it as he saith himself without any hopes of succeeding There was indeed another Expedient offer'd at but it came from Don Luis which was That on condition the Prince might have some Place of surety given him such as Havre de Grace the Duke of Bragança should have Olivença bestow'd on him be re-establish'd in his Estate and Honour and have over and above the Office of Constable of Castille But this Expedient was laught at by the Cardinal he thought that what Don Luis offer'd was too dear at the price of Havre de Grace and therefore he would bid nothing at all When he was brought to consent at last that the Prince of Conde should have the Government of Burgundy with the Castle of Dijon and the Duke of Anguien his Son the Place of Grand Maitre he did not so much as pretend to an Equivalent for his Ally of Portugal but screw'd from the Spaniards avesness for his Master and the Restitution of Juliers for the Duke of Nieubourg As for the King of Portugal he was to surrender up all his Kingdoms and Dominions and content himself with his Paternal Estate and a Pardon for what was past which as the Article saith was all that his most Christian Majesty by his powerful Offices could procure for him but in case that he did not accept of the same within three Months after the Ratification of the present Treaty his said Majesty promis'd engag'd and oblig'd himself upon his Honour in the Faith and Word of a King for himself and his Successors not to give to the said Kingdom of Portugal in common or to any Person or Persons therein in particular of what Dignity Estate Quality or Condition soever any Aid or Assistance Publick or Secret Directly or Indirectly of Men Arms Ammunitions Provisions Ships or Money nor any thing else either by Land or by Sea or in any other Manner and that he would not suffer Levies to be made in any parts of his Kingdoms or Estates nor grant Passage to such as might come from other States to the Assistance of the said Kingdom of Portugal so that hitherto the House of Bragança hath not been very much obliged to France But before I proceed further I find my self obliged to justify the Cardinal's Memory from a most horrible crime which the French men themselves do not stick to charge him with for they among others pretend that at the making of this Solemn Promise he had already resolv'd to violate his Faith and that he was intending to send those succors into Portugal which afterwards arriv'd there from France at the very time when he was obliging his Master who was then but a young Man and under his Direction to swear the contrary but I think there is Cause to believe that so detestable a Perfidy had not as yet enter'd into his thoughts It s true what he saith to Mr. Le Tellier That for some reasons unknown to the Spaniards his yielding in the point of Portugal was not so advantageous to them as he made them believe would look very suspicious were it not a usual thing with him on all other occasions to affect being thought a greater Fourbe than he really was for we find him bragging in most of his Letters how he cheated the Spaniards in making them think more highly of almost every one of his Concessions than they deserved whereas they took his Eminence for the Duppe all the while But I do not in the least Question but that he really did design to abandon Portugal to the Spaniards at this time according as he was now obliged by all that is Sacred among Men I will not urge for a Reason that he all along most solemnly protested to Don Luis that in case the Portugueses submitted not to the conditions offer'd them by this Peace he would perswade his Master to hold them for his Enemies for I believe few will give much heed to Protestations made by his Eminence on these occasions but he spoke his mind without doubt in another Letter sent by him to Mr. Le Tillier to be communicated to the King wherein he represents the affairs of Portugal to be in so deplorable a State That the Queen Regent was neither in a condition to defend her self nor in any terms of accommodation with the Spaniards so that as things stood both she and her Son were in great danger not only of their Crown but of their Persons But notwithstanding all this he doth not advise the King that the Troops should be ready for a Voyage to Portugal against the signing of the Treaty in order to preserve that Crown and save the Persons of the distressed Queen and her Children had he any such design in his head at that time we should in all probability find him giving some hints of it in these Letters But to put this matter out of doubt he talks of sending to that Princess to let her know That he thought it most expedient for her to submit her self to the King of Spain from whom he was perswaded she might obtain an Equivalent to advantage elsewhere for what Estate she and her Son were possess'd of in Portugal since he had been often told by Don Luis that his Master in order to compleat the Peace would not stick to bestow on her Son the
Charge of Constable of Castille with other such like Honours This surely is not the Language of one who was designing to send Forces to her assistance to animate her to carry on the War so that it seems to be an unjust Aspersion upon his Memory to say that he made this Peace with a purpose to violate it as soon as it was Sign'd there is indeed cause enough to suspect that he was not so passionately concern'd for the Well-fare of his Master's Allie as is pretended in the Article or rather he may be justly accused of the greatest Inhumanity to say no worse who when he thought this Family was in so deplorable a Condition as he describes and the Castillians so disposed to an Accommodation procured no better terms for them as he certainly might have done while the Treaty lasted and the business of the Prince of Conde was in agitation But still he clears himself of that which would have rendered him more infamous to Posterity of engaging his Master in so black a Crime as is a premeditated willful Perjury But by whose fault soever it was this is certain That the Peace was no sooner ratified on both sides confirm'd by the Marriage between the French King and the Infanta of Spain and sworn to at the high Altar before the Sacrament which was exposed on this occasion but while the People were every where making publick Demonstrations of their Joy for so happy a Conclusion of a long and calamitous War great Numbers of the most expert Officers in the Kingdom Gentlemen Soldiers Engineers Miners were marching towards Havre de Grace in order to Embark for Portugal These were afterwards follow'd by the choice of the King's Troops till at last the French Auxiliaries in Portugal amounted to near 6000 effective Men. But this was none of the Cardinal 's doing for as little as he kept his faith with the Portugueses he dealt more sincerely with the Spaniards for he sent the Marquis de Choup upon the Message mention'd in his Letters to perswade the Queen Regent to surrender up the Kingdom in hopes that the Dukes of Brogança should hereafter be made perpetual Governors or Vice Roys of Portugal and these were all the Instructions he gave the Marquis as the Marquis declar'd when he arrived at Lisbon where he met with such a cold Reception as his Message deserv'd so far was he from giving any underhand encouragement to the Portugueses to carry on the War as some Writers affirm he did with great Injustice to the Cardinal It s true that while his Eminence was disabusing the Portuguese Ambassador as to all his former Promises he entertain'd him in hopes that ways might be found out for the French Troops to pass into Portugal after the Peace was made with Spain but when the Count de Harcourt offer'd the same Ambassador to put himself with two Regiments into the Portuguese service in case he could but have the Tacit Consent of France he was not only denied by the Cardinal but told that if he persisted in the Design he should forfeit the place of Grand Ecuyer which had been granted to his Son the Count d' Armagnac so that the Cardinal seems to be pretty clear of this so great and direct a Violation of the new made Treaty Nor is it to be thought that his Master could have any hand in it for his most Christian Majesty to manifest to the World how disposed he was to observe the Oath he had so Religiously taken when it appeared that the Portuguese Ambassador was listing Men in France sent him repeated Orders to depart the Kingdom and some time afterwards commanded the Agent of the same Nation to be turn'd out likewise and publish'd his Edicts to recal home such Officers and Soldiers as were in the Portuguese service confiscating the Estates of the Disobedient 'T is true the Ambassador after he had been order'd to be gone continued sometime at Havre de Grace with no less then 600 Officers Gentlemen c. about him that he had raised for the service and they did not lie concealed all the while for the Inhabitants of the Town rose in a Mutiny against them for eating up their Provisions and when they and others after them arrived in Portugal they were under Military Discipline so that should they offer to obey their King's Edicts Count Schonberg who was their Leader might have hang'd them for Desertion and the Count for his part when he return'd into France was rewarded with a Marshals Bâton Levies were afterwards publickly made indeed for the same service but then it was done in Marshal Turenne's Name who took the Portuguese Affairs upon his account and when the Spaniards made loud complaints of it as a manifest infraction of the Treaty their Ambassador was put off with a cold and contemptuous Answer that it was but the Act of a private Person and that the Court did not concern it self in the Business The same thing its true was at last done openly and without Disguise but it does not appear where the fault lay then As the French succors arrived in Portugal the affairs of that Kingdom began to change face for if they were before as the Cardinal supposed them to be in a bad state they now fell from bad to worse The Portugueses while they were left to stand on their own Leggs had as meanly as the Cardinal thought of their condition bravely defended themselves and gain'd several very considerable Advantages over their Enemies particularly at the two famous Battles of Montijo in 1644. and Elvas in 1658. This last Victory was the more considerable for that it gave a check to the fury of the Spaniards when spur'd on by the Pope who pretended he must be forc'd to acknowledge that King's Title they made their utmost efforts to quiet his Holiness and destroy them out of hand and had the year before taken Olivença the most important Place for strength next to Elvas that the Portugueses had and that year Don Luis de Haro himself at the head of all the Forces he could muster together had obliged them to rise from the Siege of Badajoz at the very time when the place was reduc'd to Extremity but at the last they entirely routed Don Luis when he laid Siege to Elvas which defeat so disheartned the Spaniards that for the two following Years they gave the Portugueses little trouble it seems they thought fit to defer their Revenge till the Peace was made with the French and then they took it to some purpose on the Portugueses and the French together For in the Years 1661 and 62. Don John of Austria at the head of a small Army in all not amounting to 20000 but consisting of Veteran Troops drawn from Italy and Flanders entred Portugal Ravaging Spoiling and Burning all before him 't is true he never gain'd any set Battle for by all the Havock he made he never could provoke the Enemy to fight though he several times
but lately come out of the destructive War that they had been prosecuting against each other took the Alarm and together with the Swede made the famous Triple Alliance in order to oblige his most Christian Majesty to lay down his Arms. This made that King begin to show some Deference to Pope Clement the 9th's Solicitation for a Peace and it was agreed upon by the Parties concern'd that a Congress of their Ministers should be held in order to adjust all Differences of this Agreement the French King gives notice to his Ally the Prince Regent of Portugal to the end that he should send thither his Plenipotentiary to act in concert with the French Minister And now to all appearance were the Portugueses in much the same condition as they had been at the Pirenean Treaty having no other hopes of a Pea 〈…〉 e but what the French should procure for them and what reason could they have to think otherwise but that they should be sacrificed in the same manner as they were then and sold for some of the controverted Places in Flanders Philipville and Marienburg were their Price then as such of their Writers that are most partial to France have declar'd to the World possibly the Spaniards might bid higher for them now and how could the Portugueses be sure that they would not be taken at their Word They had the French Faith indeed for their security and that engaged to them by the late League in a more solemn manner then formerly but not in so solemn a manner as it had been given before to the Spaniards when it was sworn in the manner before related That France would wholly Cast them off and not afford them the least Succors They were promis'd its true that if they would but put themselves wholly upon the French and leave them to make their Peace they should have such Conditions got for them as were both advantagious and honourable but then if France should think her self oblig'd to have greater regard to her own Interest and Conveniency then to all other Engagements and that such a thing was possible some former Transactions had sufficiently proved In that case why might the little Kingdom of Sardinia be once more thought to be a pretty convenient Retreat for a King of Portugal or the Office of Constable of Castille an honourable Employment for a Duke of Bragança But in case France should think it convenient to continue her self or keep Portugal embroil'd in the War then all that the Spaniards could give or the Portugueses ask might not be thought to be either honourable or safe it was not thought so upon Tryal as shall be made appear anon But however the Portugueses had now their Hands tied up and could do nothing towards their own Relief To the French they had given themselves and for any thing they saw to the French they must Trust The Prince was consulting about the choice of a Minister whom he should send as his Plenipotentiary to Aix la Chapelle when on a sudden they receiv'd an unexpected Deliverance from these their pretended Friends brought them by the same Hand that had rescued them from their Victorious though perhaps less Dangerous Enemies but this likewise must be spoken of in another Chapter These are the most memorable Transactions that have passed between the two Crowns since that of Portugal hath been in the House of Bragança and they afford us one Single instance of the so much talkt of French Friendship viz. the sending of their Troops into that Kingdom upon conclusion of the Pirenean Treaty an action which the French or all People in the World should be the last to remember they were ashamed as they had a great deal of reason to own it at the Time and the success that attended their Auxiliaries hath given them little cause to glory in it since but this kindness if it was meant for such has been more than out balanc'd by the hard usage which the Portugueses have met with at their hands for certainly never were People so trick'd abus'd and trifled withal as the Portugueses were during the whole course of Mazarin's Ministry never were Allies so dishonourably sacrific'd as they were to an enrag'd Enemy at the Pirenean Treaty for I think I have made it plain that they were then design'd to be utterly abandon'd and as for this last Business of the League and Treaty of Peace the French could have no other regard to Portugal than to make that Kingdom to its own great Prejudice subservient to all their designs So that it must have been by other means than Offices of true Friendship that the French have all along supported their Interest in Portugal and many are of Opinion that their Money hath had as free a course into this Kingdom as into any other part of Europe But other Instruments are likewise made use of and those of two very different kinds from each other but considering the Genius of the Portuguese Nation it is very hard to determine which of them are the most likely to succeed These are 1st the Ladies that are continually sent hither to marry with Persons of Quality who when they match out of their own Families do usually supply themselves with Wives from France and to say the truth they have been furnish'd out of some of the best Houses in that Kingdom and 't is reported that the French King to encourage these Alliances between the two Courts allows every Lady a Portion which perhaps contributes not a little to render them acceptable to the Portuguese Nobility who for the most part are not very easy in their Fortunes and when they marry among themselves have seldom any Money with their Wives for in Portugal Blood serves instead of a Portion It is hard to give a particular account what services these Ladies do for the Crown of France but the Portuguese Writer that sets forth his King's Pretensions to Spain gives a broad hint of what may be expected from them for he says that of the several methods used by the French to gain their ends upon those they have to deal with that of sending French Wives to govern them is the most infallible and that they have found this a surer way to succeed than all inveigling Perswasions or specious appearances of Advantage and that it excels the force even of secret Bribes for as he saith they in Consequence of their having married French Women shall be so bewitched that seeing and knowing they shall seek their own Ruin as if led thereto by a fatal kind of Necessity It is true this Portuguese speaks in the Person of a Spanish Noble Man and lays the Scene in that Court where I believe there are as yet but very few if any such Marriages so that there is cause to suspect that he speaks so feelingly from the Experience of his own Country However by his leave one that looks upon things at some distance may be tempted to question whether
the force of these Syren's Charms be altogether so irresistible as he makes it for Portugal it self where they are more numerous than in any other Country stands yet undestroyed since their first coming in which is now more than thrice ten Years and indeed should we suppose the Sex to have never so ardent a Zeal for the Grandeur of their Monarch one would think it should be not a little cool'd in such as are thus sacrific'd to his Interests and sent in perpetual Banishment to so hideous a Country as Portugal must needs appear to them that have been accustomed to the Gallantrys of a French Court But granting that the great Monarch by procuring Husbands for these Ladies doth most strongly engage them to his Service he by the same means disobliges a great many others and renders them highly disaffected to His Majesty viz. the Ladies of the Country who as 't is said do not spare to make most bitter Complaints of the wrong done them by this intrusion of Foreigners and Jealousie together with those other Passions that usually accompany it have no doubt as great an Influence upon them as Loyalty and Gratitude have upon the others And the Portuguese Women if they do not belie their Character are as subtle and intriguing as the French can be Should they in revenge once take to Politicks why may they not Cabal together and form their Faction too Did they once set about it there is no doubt but they have power enough left to make a Party of their own amongst the Fidalgo's that shall be able to make head against that of their Rivals Together with the Ladies the Jesuits are reckon'd most zealous Promoters of the French Cause these Fathers as the World knows very well have been always Men of Intrigue since their very first appearance and the greatest Monarchs have thought fit to make use of them in carrying on their Desins In the last Age the Spaniards had them wholly at their Devotion and Philip the 2d was much obliged to the Society on many accounts and more particularly for their clearing his way to the Throne of Portugal had it not been for them it is thought that K. Henry the Cardinal had according to Justice and his own Inclinations settled the Crown in the House of Bragança but King Philip was then more in Favour with the Society and therefore was the Crown reserved for him But as the whole Order hath sometimes since chang'd Sides and come over to the French these in Portugal have not been behind the rest and are now supposed to serve that Party in this Court with as much Zeal as any of their Order do elsewhere some may perhaps be apt to accuse the Society of Inconstancy on this occasion but if any do so it is certainly without Reason for these Fathers are still what they were from the very Beginning The Fortunes of Spain and France are alter'd but not the Jesuits they continue firm to their Principles it was for the Interests of the Society in the last Age as it is in this to gain the Favour of such as had the greatest Power the Spaniards had it then and the French have it now and therefore Louis the 14th is to them what Philip the 2d was Since the Spanish Monarchy hath been falling to Ruin it was time for them to make their Court elsewhere for it is not to be thought that they have less Sagacity than those Animals who are ready to quit a decay'd Building when its fall is at hand But that which is most to be admired in the Conduct of these Fathers is that notwithstanding their being look'd upon as little better than Spys to those aspiring Princes that have bid fairest for the Universal Monarchy they have yet manag'd their Affairs with that Dexterity as to maintain their Ground as long as they thought convenient in all other Courts even those not excepted that were like to suffer first when ever the Design should take effect several instances might be given of this admirable Address of theirs in keeping in with all Parties both in the last and the present Age were I not to confine my self to Portugal In this Court they have enjoyed an uninterrupted Reign from the time of Simon Rodriguez one of the first Companions of Loyola and the first Jesuit that enter'd Portugal He getting into Favour with John the 3d. laid the Foundations of their greatness in this Kingdom in Sebastian's time the Jesuits govern'd all and the Blame is laid at their doors I know not how justly of the lamentable Destruction wherein that ill advis'd Prince involv'd both himself and his Kingdom yet notwithstanding this King Henry the Cardinal was wholly at their Devotion When the Spaniards got possession of this Crown none were more zealous in their Cause than the Jesuits Yet when Fortune began to frown upon them and the present King's Father regain'd his Right the Jesuits were ready immediately to assert his Title and that not only to this Crown but to all the World besides by way of Prophecy I mean for in Effect they are doing what they can to procure their so much talk'd of Fifth Monarchy for another Prince and in all the Revolutions and Turns of State that have happened since it was sure to be their Side which soever it was that chanc'd to come uppermost In the present Court their Power is certainly very great they having all along had the Direction of the Kings and both the Queens Consciences so that considering how religiously disposed his Portuguese Majesty is and his misfortune in having been so Educated that his improvements in Knowledge have not kept pace with his other great Accomplishments their Advice must necessarily go a great way with him I find in a Memoire written by one who seems well acquainted with the Secrets of this Court that the Jesuits have a great Influence not only over His Majesty but over the Ministers likewise who are said to be obliged to these Fathers for the great share they have in the Government and that one who hath the Address to get into Favour with their Reverences which is done by enlarging on the Praises of the Society may makc a very good use of them in any Business depending at Court provided that it doth not clash with the Interest of France for it seems they have always an eye to that which is now the grand concern of the Society My Author gives one signal Instance of their Zeal and Affection to the French Party which shows them to be capable of any thing in order to promote that even to the sacrificing of all other Interests it being of a Design which had it taken effect must have outed the present Ministers from Court or at least abated much of their Power for it was to bring the Conde de Castelmelhor into Business again and that because they know him saith my Author to be well affected to France I cannot tell upon what
of the aforesaid unlawful Gains and at this Rate one may Compound for 100 Millreis but when the Sum exceeds an hundred Millreis he must pay for the excess 2 Testons out of every Five Millreis till he comes to 200 but after that there is no Composition till he applies himself to the Commissary or his Deputy and he commonly exacts 10 per Cent but does not so ty himself up but will require more or less according to the Circumstances of the Case The Purchaser of this Bull must receive a Printed Copy of it or else the Commissary saith it will do him no good however he saith it may be presently torn in Pieces as that for the Dead may too and be of as much Benefit as before but such as will keep it by them must have their Names Subscrib'd or if they are shy to do this as being tender of their Credit they must themselves subscribe Foam that is Some-body None can have the Benefit of these two later Bulls unless he has taken out the former They may be all Three had by any that reside in Portugal whether Natives or Strangers and by Portugueses residing in Foreign Countrys in case they design to return Home in any Time Many other Matters of as great Importance as any thing yet mentioned might be related concerning these Bulls The Reader perhaps will think I have trifled too long about them already but he may depend upon it that nothing hath been said on the Subject but upon sufficient Authority The Money rais'd by all these Contributions goes I suppose for the most part the same way as the rest of the Publick Revenues do The Pope indeed has his Share out of it but if it be no more than is pretended it is but a very inconsiderable one since the King stands so much oblig'd to him for the whole for it is said to have been no more at first than 12000 Crowns a Year as I remember I have been told that it is now 15000 but it has been of late one part of the Nuncio's business at Lisbon to get it rais'd higher However if his Holiness fails in this he knows how to make it up out of the Kingdom of Portugal by other ways Another small part of these Incomes goes to maintain the Portuguese Garison in Mazagam consisting of about 1500 Men. Mazagam is a Rock in the Atlantick Ocean in the Coast of Barbary so contiguous to the Shoar that at Low-Water it seems to be join'd to the Firm Land and serves sometimes as a Refuge to Christian Slaves from Mequenes I know not what other use it may be of unless it be to keep them in countenance that are employed in Preaching up the Croisade but they fearing belike that the Pretence may not be sufficient to bear them out take care to inform the People that were there no such Place in being and not a Souldier Paid in Barbary they shall have every thing made made good to them to a Tittle that is promis'd in the Bulls for whatever becomes of the Money their Merit is the same and that they say by the help of the Indulgences will be sure to carry them directly to Heaven I have the Sermon of one of these Preachers now before me and he among other Prodigious Extravagances is proving That the Croisade Bull is of greater Benefit to his Auditors than their Baptism it self or than Martyrdom would be I shall not repeat his Profane Arguments But the Conclusion he pretends to make out is That these Indulgences are able to purifie them from the Guilt of all their Sins and free them from the Punishment due to them either in Hell or Purgatory The King of Portugal's Land-Forces used in Times of Peace to amount to about 12 or 13000 Men Horse and Foot but they have been encreas'd of late Years and with the New Levies rais'd above a year ago they made 25000 Men and new Commissions are still giving out But the King's Pay is so poor a Subsistence that tho' there be Lazy Beggars enough in this Kingdom and People live as hardly here as in any Part of Europe yet it would be impossible even in times of Peace to get Souldiers to supply the Garrisons were not Compulsion us'd The Pay of those that serve about Lisbon which as I have been told is double to what they receive in other Parts of the Kingdom is half a Teston per diem out of which such Deductions are made that besides a small Ammunition-Loaf there comes scarce a Vintain to the Souldier for which reason the Officers whose business it is to raise Souldiers are dreaded and courted by the People in their several Districts as Men in whose power it is to do the greatest mischief in the World to their Neighbours and when any Person is pitch'd upon for the King's Service lest he should run his Country his Father or his nearest Relations are made responsible for his Forth-coming and this in time of Peace But it is commonly reported that during the War with the Spaniards It was a Customary Thing among the Poor People to blind their Children when they were young lest when they grew up they should be taken from them for Soldiers and this is usually given for the reason why there are so many Blind Beggars about the City that gain their Livelihood by singing Prayers at the Doors of the poorer sort who Contract with them for their Attendance each Customer allowing them a Pension of about Ten Reis or Vintain per Month and there are many who think the Parents of these miserable Creatures have well provided for them The King hath about 25 Ships of War great and small most of them well built and they say after the best English Models according to His Majesties immediate Directions who is said to have great Skill in these Matters and to delight much therein It is thought that about Seventeen may be Fitted out for Service Nor hath this King been less careful to provide himself with Seamen to which end he hath taken care to have a certain Number Enroll'd and ready always upon Occasion and for their Encouragement he has bestowed several considerable Priviledges and Immunities upon such as being found duly qualified shall enter their Names in the List But the Number required is so very small as shews that there is a great Want of Seamen in the Kingdom for they are no more than 300 at least they were no more at their first Institution in 1676 and I have not heard that they have been encreas'd since Whence it appears That the Portugueses who were once so famous for Navigation all over the World are now much fallen from what they were 150 Years ago Another Proof of this great Change is this Tho' they have every Summer a small Squadron out a Cruising upon the Algerines and Sallee-men they have never been able to take a Prize at least in the Memory of the Oldest Men of my Acquaintance who have known
Dom Nuno Alvarez Pereira upon the account of his Quality he being then as he is still the only Duke in the Kingdom was chosen Spokesman and he at the Head of the rest in the Name of the Queen the King's Brother and Sister the Court and the whole Kingdom admonish'd His Majesty to change the whole Course of his Life and not to expose as he did himself and the Nation to ruine Another time she assembled together the Officers of the Crown the Courts of Justice the Nobility and Gentlemen about the Court and the Magistrates of Lisbon The Design of this great Assembly was to make a more solemn Remonstrance to the King and withal to remove one Antonio Conti from about his Person this Conti had been one of those Boys that had had the good hap to get into the King's Favour by distinguishing himself at the Exercises aforementioned and by this means from serving in a Pedling Shop in the Capella a small Cloyster within the Palace he grew to be a considerable Person at Court becoming the King 's constant Companion in his Extravagancies and he was thought to contribute more to the corrupting of him than any other Person whatsoever The seizing of this Conti was the first thing to be put in Execution and therefore whilst the Queen Mother entertain'd the King in private the Duke of Cadaval with some other Lords took him violently out of the Palace it self where he had shut himself up in the King 's own Apartment which the Duke was ready to force and had done it had not Conti opened to him he having caus'd instruments to be brought in order to break down the Doors resolving to kill Conti upon the Place in case he refus'd to surrender himself Conti taken and with some others of the like Stamp convey'd on Board a Ship then under Sail for Brazil the whole Company came and presented themselves before the King and in the Name of them all the Secretary of State read a Remonstrance to him that had been drawn up by general Consent it contain'd an account of the Queens Complaints the Grievances of the Nation the King 's ill Conduct and the Exorbitancies of his Favourites The King was mightily surpriz'd to see himself thus unexpectedly attack'd by so great a Crowd of People for he had not the least Warning given him of their coming was so little prepared to receive and answer their Address that it was some time after the Company was gone before he knew what Business brought them thither and this makes it look as if there was some further Design in hand than barely the King's Amendment 'T is plain that in case the Queen had a Design to create a mutual Distrust between her Son and all the most Considerable Persons in the Kingdom in order to keep him out and secure her self in the Government she could not have taken a more effectual Course to gain her Ends. She might be sure that those she employ'd in such ungrateful Offices would be very unwilling to see Alfonso in a condition to call them to account the Portuguese Nation is as little addicted to Forgiveness as any perhaps in Europe and such as are apt to revenge Injuries themselves do of course expect the like Returns from those they have offended Alfonso was a Prince violent of his Nature had not been bred to restrain or dissemble his Resentments so that these who had thus violated the Palace of their King and had laid open his Infirmities to the World in so publick and solemn a manner as they had wounded him in his most sensible part could never think themselves seeure while it was in his power to revenge the Affronts And this seems to me to have been the Rise of that powerful Party which the New Queen found so ready to stand by her to prosecute her Quarrels and which enabled her at last to finish what the Queen Mother contrary to her intentions no doubt had begun that is the Ruine of the Unfortunate Alfonso This great Assembly dissolv'd the King coming to understand upon what account they had been with him and what they had been doing about his Palace after he had given way to the first Transports of his Passion began to think it was high time for him to assert his Authority and to secure himself from the like Insults or rather to beware of a Third Admonition His Mother by using him so like a Minor at the end of Five Years that had past since the time of his Majority did not a little confirm him in his suspicions that he was never like to come of Age while she liv'd nor perhaps enjoy the Crown at her Death for he had been for some time perswaded that her intention was to set up the Infante his Brother in his place wherefore he resolv'd once for all to withdraw himself from under her Jurisdiction by wresting if it were possible the power out of her hands 't is hard to tell whether these and the like thoughts were suggested to him or confirm'd by Dom Luis de Vascomcellos Sousa Conde de Castelmelhor but 't is not doubted that the Project of putting them in execution was form'd presently after the Queen Mother and her Party were withdrawn when the King shut himself up for some time with the Conde This Nobleman was of the First Quality and one of the best Families in Portugal but of Fortunes not equal to his Birth or at least not to his aspiring mind for tho' he was then but young yet he had for some time been entertaining great Designs in his Head which an occasion now offering it self he made appear that he wanted neither Courage nor Abilities to go through with He had improved his natural Endowments by Travel an advantage not common to those of his Rank in Portugal and he himself had been obliged to it by Necessity rather than Choice he having had the Misfortune to be engag'd with several other Noble-men in a Quarrel wherein one of them was kill'd It is reported of him that while he was in Italy in the time of his Flight he took occasion to declare That he must needs go home for his mind gave him that it would be his Fortune one day to become the greatest Man in Portugal The late King having granted him his Pardon and upon his Death-Bed reconciled the Parties he came again to Court and when Alfonso's Houshold was settled he by means of his Countesses Relations got in to be a Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber 'T was his Week when this great Stir was made about the Court but the Queen had not thought fit to make him of the Party and his Enemies give the World to understand that it was for this and no other reason that he dis-approv'd of the action But he appear'd a little too warm while the business was transacting to let one think he was so very indifferent for meeting with the Duke in a Gallery while he was in pursuit of
Conti he took occasion to reproach him for having lost his Respect to the King by using this Violence in a Place that ought to be accounted Sacred upon which such hard words pass'd between them that had not the Queen Mother made up the Quarrel afterwards 't was fear'd that they would have come to Blows this Discourse happen'd while he was endeavouring to get in to the King to acquaint him of what they were doing about his Court and had he not found all the Passages Guarded he might have spoil'd the Design But in the Conference he had presently afterwards with the King 't is said he laid the Project of that entire Defeat which in a few days he gave the whole Party For the present he prevail'd with the King to dissemble his Resentments which contrary to his Custom he did and carried it fair with his Mother and her Creatures so that all things seem'd to be well again The Queen was highly applauded by the Courtiers for her prudent Resolution and Conduct and those vile Creatures that Conti had rais'd took it extreamly ill that they were not thought fit to be employ'd in the Action But some wiser than the rest were a little startled at the King 's ordering the Conde to wait another Week tho' others were of Opinion that the Conde did not think himself safe unless about the King's Person But the Alarm was more general on the Monday after this Transaction which had pass'd on Saturday the 16th of June 1662 when the King taking occasion according to his custom to go to Alcantara but in greater State than ordinary the Conde from thence wrote to the Secretary of State in an imperious Stile that it was the King's Pleasure to know what they had done with Conti whether any Order had been given to put him to Death and whether Manoel Antunes one of his Associates had been arrested but at Evening the King return'd visited and caress'd his Mother and on Tuesday all things were quiet again On Wednesday about Twelve a Clock the Plot broke out for the King at that unseasonable Hour when People in this Country at this time of the Year are going to sleep taking the Conde with him in his Litter withdraws privately to Alcantara and thence sends to the Court for his Guards and afterwards for Necessaries to fit up his Lodgings Summons the Nobility to come and attend his Person first those that he thought best affected to him and afterwards all in general dispatches away Expresses to the Commanders of his Army and Garrisons to give them notice That he had taken the Government into his own hands By this hardy Enterprize the Conde in a few hours time entirely defeated the Queens most numerous and powerful Party and broke all the Measures which that Princess the most accomplisht of her Sex in the Arts of Policy had been concerting for several Years Not that her accustomed Prudence fail'd her on this occasion for she did all that could be expected from one of her Character to preserve her Authority and the Conde who got the better of the day was not a little oblig'd for his Success to his good Fortune For at first News of what was doing at Alcantara the Queen plac'd a Guard at the Passage from the City to that place called her Confidents about her and assembl'd the Council giving out Orders at the same time that none should go near the King 'till they had been first with her And she was so well obey'd that the Fortune of the Day was for some time in Ballance and it was towards Evening when the Conde found his Design had taken so little effect that he was thinking to secure the King and himself in St. Julian's Castle For notwithstanding his sending out the Summons with such an Air of Authority there were no more than two Noblemen of the Secret and it grew late before a Man besides them appear'd at Alcantara But this was not known at Lisbon nor had the adverse Party so much time to recollect themselves as to consult one another's Sentiments or be inform'd how People stood affected it was hard for them to think such Summons could have been sent unless some under-hand Assurance had been given that they would be obey'd and no Man could know how far others were engaged or might comply but every one might be assured that his own Fortunes were spoil'd should he be found among the last that came in While things were thus in suspence at the Court and at Alcantara two Persons gave the Turn to the King's side the one was Antonio de Sousa de Macedo a faithful Servant of the King and a true Friend of the Conde's of whom I shall afterwards have occasion to speak but he being not so considerable for his Birth or Quality his Example was the less likely to draw others after him The other was a great Lord who proved afterwards the most bitter Enemy the King had in the World but at this time contrary to his Intentions did him a most important piece of Service This was the Marquess of Cascaes would needs be going to Alcantara contrary to the Queen's Order that he might see what they were doing there and return to give Her Majesty an account But other People could not see upon what Design he went so that he having thus broke the Ice several followed his Example who drew many after 'em that were not sent for as well as of those that were The King's Party growing apparently the stronger the Highway to Alcantara was fill'd with Herds of such as think the strongest must surely be in the right all Men striving to get foremost to assure his Majesty of the great Zeal which they for their parts always had for his Service 'T is not my Business to give the Particulars of this Revolution In short the Queen after fome struggle found her self obliged to make a formal Surrender of the Government into the King's Hands the following Friday The Conde having thus gotten possession of the Government tho' he had discovered much of the Young Man in the Attempt yet in the Management of Affairs he proceeded with all the Flegm and Prudence of an old experienc'd States-man It 's true that in the beginning he found it necessary for the King's Safety and his own to use some Rigor in making great Alterations at Court The leading Men of the Queen's Party as they had more or less incurr'd the King's Displeasure were either banish'd into remote Parts of the Kingdom removed from their Places forbid the Court or excused their Attendance but notwithstanding the Murmurs of the interessed Persons and their Dependants he managed things so well that in a short time he became exceeding popular He found the State at the Brink of Ruin being in all appearance reduced to the last Extremity by a War of Two and twenty Years standing The Spaniards after they had made Peace with the French falling in upon Portugal with the choice
the Kingdom by marrying the Queen protesting they would never suffer him to marry any Body else for there was a Match about the same time propos'd between him and the Princess of Austria with great Advantages to the State the Prince told them That he for his part was willing provided they could but gain the Queen's Consent Then they return'd again in a Body to the Queen and with repeated Entreaties beseeched her to Consent Her Majesty at last preferring the Welfare of the Kingdom saith my Author to her own Satisfaction put off her Return to her own Country and by a heavenly Inspiration gave Consent that they should treat of the Marriage The Match was soon made up for the Sentence of Divorce pass'd but on Saturday the Eve of Palm-Sunday and on Wednesday in the Passion-Week the Duke of Cadaval her Proxy was married in a private Oratory of the Palace to the Marquess of Marralva who represented the Prince On Easter-Monday the Prince with a numerous Attendance fetched the Bride from the Nunnery and carried her to Alcantara where the Marriage was consummated Poor Alfonso sending his Complements upon it to wish Joy as 't is said to the new-married Couple They will have it likewise that he acquiesced all along to the Proceedings in the Cause of his Divorce and that by the Advice of two Dominicans and a Jesuit he confess'd the Inability objected to him by the Queen and at last submitted to the Sentence declaring that he would not appeal But he was a Prisoner all the while This dethroned Prince after he had been confined some time in the Palace was sent to the Terceira Island one of the Azores but having been kept there for some Years he was for greater Security brought back to Portugal and shut up in the Castle of Cintra formerly a Royal Palace where he ended his Days the 12th of December 1683. After Consummation of this Marriage between the Infante and the Queen the Pope was applied to to dispense with it which he did by a Breve dated the 10th of December 1668 directed to the chief Inquisitor and others impowring them in case they found the Allegations of the Petitioners true to annul the former Marriage and confirm the Second which was done accordingly the 18th of Feb. following This Bull hath some very extraordinary Clauses in it inserted I suppose Ex abundanti cautelâ which yet it will not be amiss to mention here if for no other Reason than to see how far the Plenitude of the Pope's Power reaches in such Cases By it the Commissioners are impowred and commanded to cancel dissolve and annul Alphonso's Marriage even without his Consent or in case the said Marriage did appear or should be found to have been valid and commands them to dispense with the Second Marriage notwithstanding the Impediment Publicae honestatis or any other Impediment of what nature soever that may arise or appear decreeing That altho' the said King Alfonso or any other Persons concern'd have neither given their consent appear'd been cited or heard and altho' the Causes for which these Letters were granted be neither sufficiently proved nor justified that all this notwithstanding the said Letters and the Contents of the same shall never be call'd in question retracted or violated for any lawful Cause or any defect how great or substantial soever that no Person shall obtain Relief against them upon any Plea of Right Fact or Favour and in case Relief be obtain'd it shall be of no benefit tho' granted de motu proprio with full Power and Apostolical Authority but that they shall be for ever valid in all respects without limitation to the said Prince c. So that the Pope had a great deal of reason to tell the Prince as he did afterwards in his Letter That in this Cause he had certainly shewn him all the Favour that the sacred Canons would permit Of this Marriage was born within the first Year the late Infanta of whom I shall speak anon but never any other Child tho' the Queen liv'd with the Prince for above 15 Years She departed this Life the 17th Day of Decem 1683 after having languish'd in great Misery for the space of six Months together under the Distemper that occasion'd her Death After having mention'd so many Particulars which seem to bear hard upon the Memory of this Princess common Equity requires that I should enlarge a little upon what is said in her Commendation She was much celebrated for her great Understanding and Insight into Affairs of which I think there can be no better Proof than this the Prince her Husband for he had not the Title of King 'till a little before she died had so high an Opinion of her Judgment as to consult her upon all occasions of moment and never came to a Resolution in any Business of Importance before he had first taken her Advice which may perhaps be one Reason why he regretted her loss so much as that he remain'd inconsolable for some time and as it 's said could not be perswaded to think of a Second Marriage 'till Pope Innocent XI by his Paternal Admonitions in a manner oblig'd him to it They are not wanting who make large Encomiums upon her other Vertues I have two Sermons now before me preach'd in her Commendation by two of the most famous for Eloquence in Portugal the one a little after her Second Marriage and the other upon her Death and I have consulted both these in order to give her Character to the best advantage The former speaks in general Terms of many wonderful Things that might be said in her Praise but when he comes to Particulars he falls a trifling He highly magnifies her Noble Birth chiefly because she was descended from a Bastard-Son of Henry IV. and reckons up the Titles that were related to the Family and among others the Prinpalities of Anet and Martignes the Duchies of Pontievre and Tampis the Marquisats of Sansorlem and Sasors He tells her Majesty for he preached before her That she was a very great Beauty and he hoped would be as handsome when she came to be 90 Years old as she was at 20. He thinks it was discreetly done of her Parents to Christen her with three Names since one was not enough to express her Merit For Astrologers call the finest Star in the Firmament Venus Lucifer and Vesper Speaking of her forsaking her Husband which he calls leaving a Crown to keep her Conscience unblemished he profanely compares it to Moses's refusing to be call'd the Son of Pharaoh ' s Daughter chusing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Season And hence he infers That this Princess ought to be excepted from that general Maxim of Tacitus which represents the Female Sex as ambitious and greedy of Power The other is no less copious in her Praises but speaks a little more to the purpose he highly extols her great
Antonio Bento Bernardo the King 's eldest Son living born the 22d of October 1689 and sworn Heir to the Crown by the Three Estates of the Kingdom assembled in Cortes held at Lishon Decemb. 1. 1697 a Prince as they who frequent the Court report of a sweet and mild Disposition and likely to inherit the King his Father's Vertues as well as his Throne Dom Francisco born the 25th of May 1691 a Prince of great Vivacity and Spirit as appears by many pretty Stories of him which the Portugueses entertain themselves withal He is designed for a Knight of Malta at least to hold the Grand Priory of Crato the richest Commenda in Portugal or perhaps in all Spain of which he is at present in Possession Dom Antonio born the 15th of March 1695 He was cloath'd in a Jesuit's Habit upon his first coming into the World which he still wears or did at least not long ago her Majesty having devoted him to her St. Xavier and if the Jesuits are to be believ'd he is design'd to be of their Order Dona Theresa Francisca Josepha born the 24th of Feb. 1696. Dom Emanuel born the of 1697. Another Princess born in the beginning of this Year 1699. If I remember a-right her Name is Dona Maria Xavier Josepha Besides these his Majesty hath acknowledg'd one Natural Daughter whose Mother is reported to have been imploy'd about the Palace to sweep the lower Rooms This young Lady hath been bred up in a Monastery 'till the Year 1695 when the King bestow'd her in Marriage upon the Eldest Son of the Duke of Cadaval to the great Dissatisfaction of the Nobility insomuch that few or none of them would appear at the Publick Reception of the Bride I never heard that their Discontent proceeded from an Opinion that this Marriage of the principal Person among them was a Disgrace to the Fidalguia In other Countries perhaps and in former Times so Illustrious a Body might think their Blood debased by such a Match But their Dissatisfaction was said to proceed from another Cause they thought the Honour was too great for any Subject the Duke of Cadaval not excepted and that he was raised thereby too much above their Level tho' it be confess'd by all at the same time that next his Majesty his Excellency hath the greatest Authority and the greatest Estate and is of the Noblest Blood in the Kingdom Yet he is not of equal Quality to them on whom the French King hath bestowed his Bastards for they to whom his Most Christian Majesty hath done so very great an Honour are such Princes as are the nearest to his Blood much nearer than the Duke is to the King of Portugal no wonder then if so great a Value is put upon the like Honour in smaller Courts the Authority of the French being in this Age sufficient to alter if not the Nature at least the Appearance of Things and make Things look glorious in our Days which in former Times had another Aspect In one Particular the Portuguese Court seems to have out-done the French on this occasion that is in the Title given to this Lady upon her being first own'd For as I was inform'd at the time it was ordered that she shou'd be treated with Altesa Real whereas I do not find that the French King 's Natural Children have as yet got above Altesse Serenissime and this may possibly be the Reason why Monsieur L'Abbe d'Estrees the French Ambassador forbore to visit her 'till he had express Orders for it from France For his Master having been for some time used to prescribe Rules for the Ceremonial he might perhaps think it a kind of Usurpation for any others to take upon them to alter it But the Portugueses did not altogether innovate on this occasion for they had a Precedent at the Court of Madrid where the late Don John of Austria took Royal Highness upon him which perhaps may have been the cause why the Court of Portugal which is resolved in all things to swell up to the Grandeur of Spain gave the same Title to this Lady It is now commonly said in Portugal that the King 's Natural Children have a Right to succeed him in the Throne in default of his lawful Issue But I believe this Opinion to be as ill grounded as 't is derogatory to the Honour of that Nation Had Royal Bastards a Right to the Succession John the Second who ruled with a more Absolute Power than any King of this Nation either before or since would doubtless have left the Crown to his Natural Son Dom Jorge Duke of Coimbra Progenitor of the Dukes of Aveiro now in Spain he having laboured all he could to obtain the Succession for him but all in vain For he was forc'd before his Death to acknowledge for his Successor Dom Emanuel then Duke of Beja whose Brother that King had slain with his own Hands When Dom Antonio pretended to the Crown after the Death of Henry the Cardinal he had put an end to the great Controversie at that time on foot about the Succession had Bastards a Right thereto But he himself was far from thinking they had and therefore he grounded his Claim upon a supposed Marriage between Dom Luis Son of Emanuel with his Mother It was a Prejudice to him indeed that some suspected Judaism to lie lurking in his Mother's Blood However the Judges constituted by Henry to determine this Controversie alledged his Illegitimacy as a sufficient and the only Cause of his Exclusion The only Bastard that ever Reign'd in this Kingdom was John the First yet he never pretended a Right of Succession to the Crown but came in by Election of the Estates assembled in Cortes at a time when the Throne was declared vacant the other Pretenders being at that time Prisoners in Castille and what is more declared Illegitimate by the Cortes whether justly or not is another Question so that Bastard for Bastard it was thought fit in this Case of Necessity to Elect Dom John before any other Of the MINISTRY ALL Publick Affairs of Importance and such as immediately concern the King are here managed by a Sett of Ministers as many or as few as the King pleases to appoint who together are called the Council of State and as Members of this Body they are all treated with Excellency The Reason I suppose is because that Title is given to the Counsellors of State at Madrid tho' another Reason was given by one of their Number who said It was their due because they had all of them been Ambassadors To this Council the King refers all Matters of Moment seldom or never resolving upon any thing before the Affair has been considered and debated among them 'T is said the Reason why the King pays so great a Deference to this Council is partly because it consists of those who had a great hand in advancing him to his Brother's Throne He for this Cause thinking it but reasonable that
her in their Order his Excellency satisfying himself with this Equality with her Highness thinking that he had gain'd his Point while he kept the Elector below him The old Elector for his part contented himself with having got a good Match for his Daughter while the Portugueses had all the Advantage in the Ceremonial on their side and were not a little elevated with the Honour their Ambassador gain'd to the Crown though it was no more than was lost by the Father of their Queen Nor need we wonder that this Court should be so highly pleas'd with his Excellency's Dexterity and Success herein since the Ceremonial is become the Grand Concern of Europe and the Subject of the most important Negotiations now on foot For what is there that doth perplex and embroil most Courts in Christendom so much as the additional Sound of two or three Syllables in some Princes Titles Have we not lately seen the Force of Blood it self suspended in the most endearing Relations And is not Infallibility it self at a stand and all for want of one to determine the several Degrees that are between an Arm'd Chair and a Folding Stool This Nobleman at his Return had the Title of Marquess de Alegrete bestow'd upon him as a Mark of Honour in Reward for his Service But his Dexterity in Negotiations of this sort make but a small part of his Character He is represented by all that pretend to know him as a most accomplish'd States-man even by those who are so ill-natur'd as to allow that Title to no other Minister about the Court He is suppos'd to be well acquainted with the present Posture of Affairs in Europe and throughly to understand his Master's Interest and above all is accounted a Person of unbiass'd Integrity his Country-men generally esteem him a true Portuguese disinteressed in his Counsels and espousing no Party as having no other Designs in view but such as he thinks may make for his Master's Service and his Country's Good This is the Character that 's commonly given of the Marquess the worst that is said of him that I could ever hear is that his Tenderness for a numerous Family and Care in providing for them may have a little slackned his Vigor in opposing the Counsels of such as are thought to have something else in view than the Good of the State He is said to be very zealously addicted to the Religion of his Country He ascribed the happy Issue of his Negotiation at Heidelberg to the Prayers of two Sisters and a Daughter of his that are Nuns in the Convent of Madre de Deos a little without the City At least the King was of this Opinion when Cardinal de Alemcastro was commending him for his prudent Management his Majesty reply'd That this Lord had no part in the Success but that all was done to his Hand by the Madre de Deos. I have been told of another remarkable Instance of his Lordship's Devotion but know not what Credit it deserves having no other ground for it than the common Talk of the People among whom it was reported That when St. Antoninho a small diminutive Image of St. Antonio that hath been in great Credit for these three last Years at Lisbon was hired out to go Sargente Mor to the Fleet that went last Year 98 with the Vice-Roy to the East-Indies among other Perquisites promis'd to the Saint over and above his Standing-Wages of 10 Millr per Month the Marquess de Algrete bargain'd to give him a fine new Chappel in case he conducted a Relation of his Lordship's safe home from Goa Dom Nuno Alvarez Pereira Duke of Cadaval Marquess of Ferreira Earl of Tentugal c. mentioned on several Occasions before descended of the House of Bragança from Ferdinand the Second Duke of that Title and consequently the King's Kinsman This Noble Person notwithstanding his high Birth and vast Riches hath qualify'd himself for all manner of Employments having commanded both by Sea and Land and all along made a most considerable Figure in the State wherein he has at present the greatest Power and Authority next the King having a hand in all Affairs relating to his Majesty his Domestick Concerns not excepted If any part of the Publick Business be more than other his peculiar Province I take it to be the Revenue of the Crown whereof he is a great Farmer as the Foreign Affairs seems to be that of the Marquess de Alegrete It is agreed that the Authority of the Council of State doth in a manner wholly reside in these two Great Men. It is said they have been formerly in competition about the King's Ear and Favour wherein the Marquess was upheld by the Opinion his Majesty hath of his Prudence and Integrity The King no doubt hath a like Opinion concerning the Duke too but he they say by the Pleasantness of his Conversation contributes likewise to his Majesty's Diversion the Marquess consulting only his Country's Good and his Master's Service the Duke as 't is suppos'd doth not wholly neglect his own Interest Some will have it that he is biass'd in favour of France but perhaps the only Reason may be because both his Wives have been French-Women the present Duchess being Daughter of the Marquess of Harcourt The Duke being as I have said the greatest Subject in the Kingdom takes a particular Method to make People sensible of his Grandeur he is not of Opinion that he stands in any need of a pompous Equipage or a numerous Attendance to make himself appear considerable but like those famous States-men that have made the greatest Figures in the Modern as well as the Ancient Common-Wealths thinks the Authority of his Person sufficient to Command those Respects that are due to his Quality When his Excellency appears abroad in his Litter which certainly is not made for show he is followed only by a Trooper and by him because he is General of the Cavalry Dukes in Portugal had formerly their Guards allowed them but I have not heard that his Excellency chuses to be attended by a Soldier to keep up his Pretensions to that Priviledge He is a Familiar of the Inquisition as I suppose all other Noble-men are it being a Mark of Honour in this County but at an Auto da Fe other Noblemen serve as Guards to those poor Wretches that come out to hear their Sentence whereas his Excellency supplies the Place of a Door-keeper Many other things are told of his Excellency by such as pretend to give his Character but they are Matters which the Publick is not concern'd to know Dom Luis now Cardinal de Sousa Arch-Bishop of Lisbon and Capellaon Mor to the King which I suppose I may translate Dean of his Majesties Chappel a Prelate who as he is of a Noble Extraction seems to have a Mind suitable to his Birth and Quality and a Capacity sufficient to carry on his Designs which have been always great and always successful at long run notwithstanding
very little of that Leudness in them which abounds in so scandalous a manner in those of another Country But though Crimes of this sort are not taught in the Play-House there yet it is much suspected that they are practised amongst them the Women that tread the Stage having no better Character there than in other Places And this I presume might be the Reason why their Admittance into Lisbon was so vigorously opposed by the Arch-Bishop who to put a stop to all Importunities in their behalf published an Excommunication against the Players in case they should Act and against all that went to see them It was in vain for the Fidalgo's to desire his Lordship to recall the Sentence but at last they apply'd themselves to Nicolini the Nuncio who had now a fair Opportunity presented him to engage a powerful Party against the Arch-Bishop nor did he let slip his Advantage It is true Religion and Vertue were like to suffer by what he was about but those of Rome think these are things to be minded when they prove subservient to their Designs he therefore without more ado takes off the Excommunication by Virtue of his Legantine Power The Play-House hereupon opens and fills the Fidalgo's flocking to it like so many School-Boys let loose from under the Discipline of their Master and perhaps the more eagerly that they might a little mortifie the rigid Arch-Bishop His Lordship withdraws for a time to his Country-House that he might not be a Witness to so great a Slur put upon him and to suppress his just Indignation against the Nuncio But this was only a short Mortification which considering the Occasion must doubtless have turn'd to his Lordship's Credit even among those that were pleas'd with it at that time The Court of Rome hath since thought convenient to present him with a Cap viz. in the Year 1697 at a Promotion wherein his Lordship and Monsignor Cornaro the then Nuncio at Lisbon were the only Persons advanced to the Purple Dom Anrique de Sousa de Tavares da Silva Conde de Miranda Marquis de Aronches Brother to the Arch-Bishop and acting in concert with him a Minister of great Sufficiency but too much as 't is thought addicted to his Pleasures He hath served in several Embassies as to England Spain Holland and remains well affected to the People among whom he has resided Insomuch that during the late War such as would needs have the Ministers of State to take Parties have always given the Marquess of Aronches together with his Family to the Allies and we may suppose them to be much in the right if we judge how the Noble Families stand affected to other Nations from the Alliances they contract with Foreigners This Lord having given his Daughter to the Prince of Ligne a Fleming Subject of Spain and Prince of the Empire who succeeds him in his Estate and Title the same Person who by Procurement of the Family was sent Ambassador Extraordinary from his Portuguese Majesty to the Emperor and made that splendid Entry into Vienna of which the Publick had so large an Account in the Gazettes c. If I do not mention the rest that are of this Honourable Body it is because I am not so well instructed as to be able to give a particular Account of them But I must not omit to mention the Secretary of State who tho' he hath neither a Deliberative nor a Decisive Voice in any of the Councils is yet as some term him the Primum Mobile of the whole Kingdom His Office is compounded of that of Clerk of the Council and another long since abolished but revived for a small time by the Conde de Castelmelhor he that executed it was called the Escrivam de Puridade Puridade in old Portuguese signifies Secrecy or Privacy but is now out of use in that Sense The Office seems to have been much the same as that of Privado in Spain or Prime Minister in France but nothing remains of it now at least in the Secretary of State but what is purely Ministerial The Office of Secretary at present as 't is a Place of Great Trust so it is in a manner a Place of infinite Business he gives an Account to the King of whatsoever is done in the Council of State he is address'd to by all sorts of People that have any thing to do at Court of what Nature soever their Business is he proposes the Matter to the King and returns his Answer and is apyly'd to by Foreign Ministers on all occasions This Place is at present executed by Mendo Foyos Pereira one rais'd by the House of Aronches and as some say greatly devoted to the Family He is a Person not so considerable for his Birth as for his indefatigable Diligence in his Employment of which he acquits himself so well that it seems to be without Reason that some represent him of a narrow Capacity Foreign Ministers find it to be much for their Convenience to Manage the Secretary and hold a good Understanding with him if they desire to have quick Dispatches or when Matters relating to the Ceremonial are in Question For if he be ill us'd they may chance to meet with more Rubs in their way than they look'd for The Nuncio's that have been on ill Terms with him have not been insensible of his Resentments However it is thought advisable by those that have to deal with this Minister that in the Measures they keep with him they beware lest he perceives they are in any Awe of him since an over-great Complaisance may be of worse Consequence than a Conduct that is quite contrary FINIS Books Printed for Tho. Bennet FOLIO THucydides Greek and Latin Collated with five entire Manuscript Copies and all the Editions extant Also illustrated with Maps large Annotations and Indexes By J. Hudson M. A. and Fellow of Vniversity-College Oxon. To which is added an exact Chronology by the Learned Henry Dodwell never before Publish'd Printed at the Theater Oxon. Athenae Oxoniensis Or an exact History of all the Writers and Bishops who have had their Education in the University of Oxford from 1480 to the end of the Year 1690 giving an Account of the Birth Fortune Preferment and Death of all those Authors and Prelates the great Accidents of their Lives with the Fate and Character of their Writings The Work so compleat that no Writer of Note of this Nation for Two hundred Years is omitted In Two Volumes A new Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Siam By Monsieur de la Loubiere Envoy Extraordinary from the French King to the King of Siam in 1687 and 1688 wherein a full and exact Account is given of their Natural History as also of their Musick Arithmetick and other Mathematick Learning Illustrated with Sculptures Done out of French by Dr. P. Fellow of the Royal Society Father Malbranch's Treatise concerning the Search after Truth The whole Work compleat to which is added his Treatise of
Nature and Grace being a Consequence of the Author's Principles contained in the Search together with F. Malbranch's Defence against Mr. de la Ville and several other Adversaries All English'd by J. Taylor M. A. of Magdalen-College Oxon and Printed there The Second Edition with some Additions communicated by the Author QVARTO A Critical History of the Texts and Versions of the New Testament In two Parts By Father Simon of the Oratory A Discourse sent to the late King James to perswade him to embrace the Protestant Religion By Sam. Parker late Bishop of Oxon. To which are prefixed two Letters the first from Sir Lionel Jenkins on the same Subject the second from the Bishop sent with the Discourse All Printed from the Original Manuscripts A short Defence of the Orders of the Church of England By Mr. Milbourn Sermons and Discourses upon several Occasions In Three Vol. By Robert South D. D. Sermons and Discourses upon several Occasions By G. Strading D. D. and late Dean of Chichester Sermons and Discourses upon several Occasions By R. Meggot D. D. Of the Reverence due to God in his Publick Worship In a Sermon before the King and Queen at White-Hall By the Right Reverend Father in God Nicholas Lord Bishop of Chester Three Sermons upon several Occasions By the Right Reverend Father in God William Lord Bishop of Oxford Two Sermons one before the House of Commons the other before the Queen By W. Jane D. D. and Dean of Gloucester Three Sermons before the Queen By Nath. Resbury D. D. Five Sermons upon several Occasions By Mr. Francis Atterbury Two Visitation-Sermons and one before the Societies for the Reformation of Manners By Mr. William Whitfield The Certainty and Necessity of Religion in General or the first Grounds and Principles of Humane Duty Established In Eight Sermons Preached at St. Martins in the Field At the Lecture for the Year 1697. Founded by the Honourable Robert Boyl Esq The Certainty of the Christian Revelation and the Necessity of Believing it establish'd in opposition to all the Cavils and Insinuations of such as pretend to allow Natural Religion and reject the Gospel Both by Francis Gastril B. D. Preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolns-Inn A Conference with a Theist In Four Parts compleat By W. Nichols D. D. Mr. Luzancy against the Socinians In Two Parts A Discourse of Religious Assemblies for the Use of the Members of the Church of England By G. Burghorpe Rector of Little Gaddesden in Hertford-shire A Discourse of Schism address'd to those Dissenters who conform'd before the Toleration and have since withdrawn themselves from the Communion of the Church of England By R. Burscough M. A. The Inspiration of the New Testament Asserted and Explained in Answer to Mr. Le Clerc and other Modern Writers By G. Lamothe The Lives of all the Princes of Orange from William the Great Founder of the Commonwealth of the United Provinces Translated from the French by Mr. Tho. Brown Monsieur Bossu's Treatise of the Epick Poem containing many curious Reflections very useful and necessary for the right understanding of the Excellency of Homer and Virgil. The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus the Roman Emperor concerning himself treating of a Natural Man's Happiness wherein it consisteth and of the Means to attain it Translated out of the Original Greek with Notes by M. Casabon D. D. To which is added The Life of Antoninus with some select Reflections upon the Whole By Monsieur and Madam Daceir Never before in English The Art of Glass Shewing how to make all sorts of Glass Crystal and Enamel likewise the making of Pearls Precious Stones China and Looking Glasses To which is added The Method of Painting on Glass and Enameling also how to extract the Colours from Minerals Metals Herbs and Flowers A Work containing many Secrets and Curiosities never before discovered Illustrated with Sculptures Written originally in French by Mr. H. Blancourt and now translated into English With an Appendix contaning Exact Instructions for making Glass Eyes of all Colours Jacobi Patriarchae de Shiloh Vaticinium a depravatione Johannis Clerici in Pentateuchum Commentatoris Assertum Opera Studio Sebastini Edzardi Accedit Ejudem Dissertatio de nomine Elohim Aurocti Judicii de R. Simonii Historia V. Test Critica opposita An Essay concerning Self Murther Wherein is endeavour'd to prove That it is unlawful according to Natural Principles With some Considerations upon what is pretended from the said Principles by the Author of a Treatise intituled Biathaenatos and others By J. Adams Rector of St. Alban's Wood street and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty The Pretensions of the several Candidates for the Crown of Spain discuss'd and the Necessity of the King of Portugal's being declared Successor to his Catholick Majesty prov'd In a Letter from a Spanish Nobleman to a Counsellor of State at Madrid OF THE INTERESTS OF PORTUGAL With Relation to other SOVEREIGNS CONTAINING An Account of the most Considerable Transactions that have pass'd of late between that Court and those of Rome Spain France Vienna England c. PART II. Of the Interests of Portugal with Relation to Rome OF all the Courts with which this of Portugal hath any Intercourse that of Rome challenges the Pre-eminence and not without Reason considering what great Interest and Power the Pope has within the Kingdom for however He may be slighted in other Countries accounted Catholick he hath hitherto made shift to maintain his Authority in this by virtue of the extraordinary Devotion of the Portuguese Kings towards the Holy See which his present Majesty has inherited from his Ancestors together with the Title of The most Obedient Son of the Church It is well known what Power Popes have had in former Ages in other parts of Christendom and by what means they procured and maintained it notwithstanding the Opposition they almost every where met with from Princes who were perpetually strugling to preserve or recover their Liberty But the Case of Portugal seems peculiar in this respect That as it hath brought its self into a greater subjection to the See of Rome than any other Kingdom so it can plead the Merit of a voluntary Obedience Other Nations have shown that they were in a State of Violence while the Soveraign Pontiffs were exercising the Plenitude of their Power over them since all of them have in some measure more or less eased themselves of the Oppression while the Portugueses who doubtless might have gone as far as any towards the recovery of their Liberty do to this day bear the Yoke It is indeed with some Impatience for they are not insensible of its weight and smart and see plainly that its like to lie heavier upon them still Alfonso Henriquez their first King refused to accept of the Crown till it was made Tributary to his Holiness John the 2d who in other Cases knew as well as ever any Prince did how to assert the Royal Authority exceeded his first
Predecessor in his Respect and Deference to the Holy See for he gave the Pope an uncontroulable kind of Soveraignty within his Dominions granting that his Bulls should be Publish'd for the future without being examin'd by the Chancellor or any other of the King's Ministers which was the former practice of this and is still observed with great exactness in other Kingdoms to prevent incroachments upon the Civil Power When that Magnanimous Prince John the 3d. had been treated with the utmost Indignities by those of Rome and they conscious to themselves of their Offences were apprehensive of his Resentments Inigo Loyola Founder of the Jesuits could assure them that he knew the King of Portugal to be so good a Catholick that he would suffer his very Beard to be trampled under feet by his Holiness without showing the least sign of Disobedience The Brave Sebastian when the Pope to flatter his desire of Glory bid him choose what Title he pleased answered That he was ambitious of no other but that which his Ancestors had so well deserved viz. That of The most obedient Son of the Church This great Devotion of the Portuguese Kings toward the Romish See hath given the Pope the advantage to establish an Absolute Dominion within their Kingdom It s true his Holiness hath the Title of Soveraign only in Spirituals but he so manages the matter that Temporals fall in of course in Ordine ad Spiritualia he is not indeed at the trouble nor the charge of maintaining the Civil Government but then he has the Power and the Emoluments of a Temporal Soveraignty He has his Nuncio always residing at Lisbon with a Legantine Power and wanting only the Title of Vice-Roy exercising his Jurisdiction in his own Courts whence there is no appeal but to Rome over the whole Body of the Clergy who with their Dependents may well be reckon'd one half of the Kingdom They are commonly supposed to have much above two thirds of the Wealth the secular Clergy who are more exempt than the rest from his Dominion are yet his Tributarys great summs are extorted from them for Collations to Benefices and Bulls for Bishops There goes to Rome as I have been informed no less than 90 Thousand Crowns before an Archbishop of Evora can be setled in his Chair and all the rest may be supposed to pay in their Proportion As for the Regulars they are his more immediate Vassals or Soldiers rather its true they are not in his Pay for they live upon free Quarter and keep the Country under Contribution and his Holiness comes in for a share of the Spoils by continually draining them of what they scrape from the People every Monastery having always some Business or other depending before the Nuncio or their Agents at Rome to procure Privileges or Indulgencies or Composition for unsaid Masses that have been paid for of which they will sometimes be behind hand for many thousands but upon Composition made at Rome one high Mass said at a privileged Altar will serve for all or to make the Ministers of that Court acquainted with their Squabbles among themselves And on all these occasions the Money of the Kingdom is carried to Rome to be dispos'd of there by underhand Conveyances as well as open Practices for when a Fryar is to pass the Mountains he is furnished with Bills for Secret as well as Publick Service and it is not impossible that the Holy See may by this means undergo greater Scandal than it deserves for the Fryars Account is allowed of upon his own word so that should he convert a considerable summ to his own use he cannot be discovered unless it be by a very rare Accident indeed and yet it is no unheard of thing at Lisbon for one to be found out in reckoning some Thousands of Crowns for Bribes which never were expended in the Service But these are not the only ways by which the Riches of Portugal are drawn to Rome his Holiness hath his Apostolical Collectors for so they are called to raise Tribute from the King's Subjects as well as his own and to receive his share of the Taxes which the King levys in his own Dominions by his Holiness's Permission Dispensations for Marriages must necessarily bring him in a very considerable and constant Revenue the forbidden Degrees being so very many in the Roman Church whether upon the account of Consanguinity or Spiritual Relation that one would think there could scarce be a Wedding among Neighbours or People that have for any time been acquainted without a Dispensation and it rarely if ever happens that a Match is broken off for want of one supposing the Parties will come up to the price of it if they apprehend any difficulty in it it is but beginning the Marriage at the wrong End and then the Dispensation is granted of course and the Price being rais'd according to the Quality of the Persons and nearness of the Relation great summs are continually drawn from Families of the better sort who commonly marry within themselves and some of them intrench so far upon the Laws of Nature that the House of Austria in the last Age was not more confounded by the various Relations of its several Branches to each other than some Noble Families in Portugal are at this day In fine Portugal is so beneficial a Province to his Holiness that could a just Computation be made there is no doubt but his Revenues from thence would be found to exceed the Kings by far the necessary Charges of the Government deducted They are so great that if some sudden stop be not put to them the Kingdom is like to be exhausted in a very short time which gives thinking People here a sad prospect of the approaching Ruin of their Country This may appear strange to the rest of Europe considering the vast advantages that must necessarily have accrued to this Kingdom from an undisturbed Peace of above Thirty Years continuance during which time all other parts of Christendom have been more than once engaged in Expensive Wars one would think that during the last War at least which among many other advantages brought hither so great and gainful a Trade with England as took off all the Commodities the Country could vent and that too at prodigious Rates I believe I may safely say above double to what they formerly sold for one would think I say by this time that Riches and Plenty should have abounded every where But they that have travelled the Country of late beheld another Face of Things and at the late Assembly of the Cortes the Mouths of the Deputies were full of complaints of an Universal Desolation and Poverty and I have been told that some of them were sensible enough of the cause of their Misery but I have not heard that any Motion was made in their Publick Meetings for a Redress to this their greatest Grievance Having given some Account of the State of Portugal with respect to Rome it
the Pope might as he was bound both edify in Spirituals and preserve the Kingdom of Portugal to its lawful Soveraign at the same time That in the present state of things there were three sorts of People of the Portuguese Nation and that the receiving of an Ambassador from Portugal would manifestly turn to the prejudice of them all First the Rebellious and Obstinate who would believe him to be their lawful King whom Christ's Vicar should declare for such and thereby be confirm'd in their Rebellion Secondly the Timorous and Wavering who would go over to their sentiments whom before they took for Rebels arguing that a King receiv'd and approv'd of by the Pope ought not to be rejected by any Christian Thirdly the Constant and Loyal that were now at King Philip's Court who either drawn by their Love to their Country or wearied out by the inconvenicies they were under might come to some desperate Resolution so that by this Action of his Holiness the Kingdom of Portugal might be put out of a possibility of being conquered by King Philip wherefore to obviate these Inconveniencies they thought it to be the duty of his Holiness to thunder out his censures against the Duke of Bragança to the end that the Rebels might be reclaim'd the Timorous take courage and the good Subjects confirm'd in their duty The Nuncio thought That Censures in this case would do no good but turn to the prejudice both of the Pope and the King of Spain of the Pope because his Apostolical Authority might be slighted for the Duke of Bregança took himself to be either the lawful King or the Usurper of Portugal if the former he could never value an unjust Excommunication for what he had justify'd to his own Conscience and it would have less effect upon him in case he took himself for an Usurper it being plain that he would never renounce the Kingdom to the loss of his Life and the ruin of his Family Than an Excommunication would be of no benefit to the King of Spain for if the Duke and the People of Portugal should despise and take no notice of it as it was likely they would the probable and almost necessary consequence would be the introduction of Calvinism or of some other Heresie by reason of the Neighbourhood and Correspondence of that Kingdom with the Northern Nations in which case the conquest of Portugal would become the most difficult for all Sectaries being to be chastised not with ordinary Punishments but according to the Rigor of the Canons the Portutugueses seeing themselves branded with a perpetual mark of Ignominy would grow desperate and choose rather to die than in any case put themselves into the Power of King Philip. But here the Spanish Ministers took him up short and told him that these were Sophistical Subtilities and not fair Arguments without vouchsafeing them any further answer The Nuncio seeing that this way of arguing would not serve the turn betook himself to another quoting Precedents from the proceedings of former Popes in the Cases of Princes whose Titles were disputable and thereby demonstrated it to have been constant practice of the Holy See to acknowledge such as were Kings de facto without any regard to right alledging to this purpose a saying of Pope Pius the 2d Moris est sedis Apostolicae eum Regem appellare qui Regnum tenet and the practice of the same Pope both in the Case of Matthias Corvinus and the Emperor Frederick the 3d. contending about the Kingdom of Hungary and of Ferdinand and Renè about the Kingdom of Sicily to which Renè pretending while Ferdinand was in Possession was put off by the Pope with this Answer Siquid juris competit ablatum est Ferdinando Regni Principes Duces Comites Populares omnes obediunt eumque sibi Regem constitui expetiverunt But the Nuncio not content with one Example brings in that of Pope Zachary who being consulted what account was to be made of the Kings of France the later Kings of the Merovignian Race they having the Name and Dignity but others the Mayres of the Palace the Power determined the Question with this Answer That he ought to be stiled King and held for such who was found Reigning and who as King had the supreme Authority of the Common-wealth in his hands Of John the 22d who received the Ambassadors of Robert Bruce he being in Possession of the Kingdom of Scotland Of Innocent the 8th who received in publick Consistory the Ambassadors of Richard the 3d. of England as he did likewise those of Henry the 7th when they came to pay Obedience to the Holy See He show'd likewise that the same thing had been done for Alfonso Henriquez and John the 1st Kings of Portugal notwithstanding the great Opposition and Power of the Kings of Leon and Castille for Henry of Castille the Murtherer of his King and Brother Don Pedro against the consent and right of Constança Pedro's Daughter and for Ferdinand and Isabella to the Prejudice of D. Joanna the only Daughter of Henry the 4th These Instances were all home to the Point supposing the King of Portugal's Title to be as bad as his Enemies would have it for let him be a Traytor Usurper Tyrant or what the Spaniards pleased there had been as bad or worse acknowledged for lawful Kings and highly caressed by the Holy See But the Spaniards had another way to deal with the Nuncio than disputing they offered indeed at something of an answer to all these Instances affirming without the least grounds that the greatest part of the Princes now mentioned sent their Ambassadors not to pay their Obedience but to plead their Cause and justify their Pretensions and in that case granted it to be lawful for the Popes to receive them But to admit of an Ambassador from Dom John as King of Portugal after that the Kings of Castille have been in Possession of that Kingdom for the space of 60 Years and sworn to as lawful Sovereigns was they said a manifest injury to their cause They thought that there was no account to be made of any thing done or said by Pius the 2d because that Pope was guided only by his Interest and varied in his Sentiments every day and as for the Kings of France that were acknowledged by Pope Zachary they must needs say the Spaniards have been Rightful and Lawful Kings since the Oracle of the Holy See had pronounced them for such for otherwise this grand Absurdity would follow that Popes were no better than Incendiaries Instigators of Rebellion and Usurpation and instead of promoting Equity and Virtue gave encouragment to the most abominable Practises and in conclusion they told the Nuncio that the Pope had best consider well what was just and convenient for otherwise they should take such Resolutions as might not be well pleasing to his Holiness but to sweeten the menace a little they added that however they should always retain that most humble
the Spanish Court from the most obliging Carriage of the Marquis de Castel dos Rios their late Minister at Lisbon one would think that Spain expected to reap all the advantage from the good amity little would one guess from the Conduct of this Minister that the King of Portugal was not many years ago lookt upon as his Master's Rebel there being scarce a Gentleman in Portugal more intent than he in making his Court or more careful to render himself acceptable He to gain their Majesties Favour hath during the whole time of his Residence that is for about seven years together on every Birth-night of the Eldest Prince entertained the Nobility and Foreign Ministers with a new Opera of his own Composure and acted by his own Family and all to Celebrate the future Glorys of his Highness It would perhaps seem trifling in any other times but ours to draw Consequences from any thing of this kind but in our Age Persons of his Excellencies Character do every thing by Prescription and the lightest matters of Ceremony are exactly weighed It does not yet appear what advances the King of Portugal hath made at Madrid towards the making good his Pretensions to the Succession the publick Relations of the Proceedings at that Court do as yet give but a slender Account of his Success however the frequent Couriers that pass and repass between the two Courts upon every alarm of the King of Spain's Indisposition show that his Agents there are busy in carrying on his Interests and his late Levies raised and maintained at an expence which his Kingdom is so little in a condition to bear are an Argument that he is resolved to make One among the Competitors as indeed it concerns him much to be considering the apparent danger of his own Crown in case he miscarries in his design upon that of Spain for whether a Prince of the House of Austria or of France shall inherit that Crown he 'll be Heir at the same time to Philip the 2d's Title to Portugal which as unjust as it was was strengthen'd by sixty years Possession and the Approbation of several Popes and whosoever reflects upon the Conduct of the House of Austria in the last Age or of the French King in this will find that very slender Pretences have served the turn when either of them hath had a fair opportunity to invade his Neighbour and see cause enough to be afraid for the House of Bragança should it ever have the misfortune to ly at their Mercy as it almost infallibly will do when either of them shall be in quiet Possession of the Spanish Monarchy for Spain upon any change of Government will almost necessarily recover so much of its ancient Vigor as to be overmatch for Portugal This small Kingdom may perhaps have some cause to hope that its destruction will come on more slowly in case it hath to deal with an Austrian Prince but whether it will be therefore the less sure is a question soon decided when we consider what a close Union there hath always been between the two Branches of that House each espousing the Interest and Quarrels of the other and making them its own how great a part the Spaniards had in the German Usurpations in the business of the Palatinate and the Catholick League and how far the German Line interessed it self in behalf of the Spaniards upon the Revolt of Portugal when to revenge their Quarrel the Imperialists contrary to all Faith and Honour the Right of Nations and the Laws of Hospitality seiz'd upon Prince Duarte the King of Portugal's Brother and made him end his days in a Prison Now when a Prince of the same House less Religious than his present Imperial Majesty and one of his Character does not arise in every Age shall come to have Portugal in his power can we think it likely that he will so far forget the Maxims of his Ancestors as to cherish a Race that hath occasion'd so many disgraces to a Family But if the King of Portugal hath little cause to expect security from that House he would have less reason to think himself safe should he fall under the Power of France 't is true indeed if words of Friendship could insure him he would be freest from danger while the French are putting themselves in a Condition to destroy him who till they are ready to give the Blow are always lavish of their kind Promises which such as have trusted in them have found to be the forerunners or the means rather of their Ruin Should a French Prince become possess'd of the Spanish Monarchy if Philip the 2d's Title will not do there are a great many others now dormant that will quickly be started up the Kingdom of Portugal will soon be found to have been a Dependance of Castille and it is but erecting a Chamber of Re-union to annex it thereto again or a Right of Devolution may be pretended by the forfeitures which the Kings have incurr'd they having been formerly Feudatorys to those of Leon or the Great Monarch may think it will be for his Glory or his Convenience to order his Generals to take Possession of this small Kingdom and that as appears from some Presidents may be thought right sufficient It is not to be imagined that the Court of Portugal is at this time of the Day insensible of the Dangers they are threatned with the Agonies that the Ministers were in not long ago during his Catholick Majesty's Sickness could scarce be thought to proceed from any other Cause and a Paper lately published in English shows that they have been setting their Wits at Work to find out means for their Preservation that is to make good their Master's Claim to the Succession which as they seem to be perswaded is the only visible way to secure themselves at this Juncture The Author of that Paper seems to have left nothing unsaid that may make for his Master's Cause and he hath gone a great way to prove him to have a much better Right than any other Pretender if it be true as he intimates that there is such a Fundamental Law in Spain as excludes Forreigners from the Succession and I believe there can be no Instance given of any such that have succeeded in a regular Way except it be Charles the 5th who was yet Son to the immmediate Heiress and possess'd of the Crown in his Mother's life-time As for his Son Philip the 2d and the rest that came after him they were all natural born Spaniards which Privilege must be granted to the Kings of Portugal while Portugal is allowed to be a part of Spain and it is certain that they are descended from Donna Maria Daughter to Ferdinand and Isabella and Sister to her who brought the Crown into the Austrian Family so that if there be any such Law as the aforesaid Author hints at the King of Portugal may have a very fair Title the Dauphin as 't is asserted by
Vieira were well tasted by those of the Spanish Party at Rome at a time when the Enmity between the two Nations was at the highest but now all Animosities being laid aside perhaps the same or others of a like nature may be hearkned to at Madrid and incline those of that Court to distinguish the King of Portugal from among the rest that are Candidates for the Succession There was one Scruple that the Portugueses made themselves at that time they were unwilling to consent to a Re-union unless Lisbon was to be the Capital of the Spanish Monarchy but certainly the Spaniards if they knew their own Interests in case they agreed in other things would readily gratify them in this Point Lisbon by its Scituation so near the Sea and upon the noblest River in the World seems designed by Nature for the great Emporium of Europe and were it in the hands of a People that knew how to improve their Advantage it would go near to draw to it self the Trade and Riches of the World Philip the 2d was sensible of this and therefore when he came to take Possession of the Kingdom he promised and as it was thought designed that instead of keeping his Court at Madrid a 100 Leagues within the Land Lisbon should be thence forward the place of his Residence and in order thereto he began the Structure of a most magnificent Palace but it was well for Christendom that he continued not in this Resolution and that his Son Philip the 3d. took it not up after him for perhaps nothing could have contributed more to bring about the design they had laid of an Universal Monarchy I shall conclude this Chapter with this one Remark that it seems fatal to the Spanish Monarchy to owe her Preservation from utter Ruin to those who have brought her to a Condition in which she is unable to help her self they were the English that first humbled the Spaniards when in the very heighth of their Pride and from them do they now expect Relief in this their Extremity By that expensive War in the Low Countrys carried on successively by the three Philips this Monarchy was brought into a languishing State and the Dutch have since stood in the gap between it and destruction the Portugueses at last gave that Monarchy its mortal Wound since which it hath never been able to hold up its Head the French indeed had endeavour'd to do the the same in that long War which preceded the Peace of the Pirenees but did not effect it for the Spaniards stood upon the level with them at that Treaty it is true some thought their Ruin might have been then compleated had that War according to Mr. Turenne's Advice been continued a little longer and Don Luis de Haro if it be true what is reported of him was much of the same Opinion but Cardinal Mazarin was ambitious to have that Spanish Minister and all the World sensible of the Superiority of his Genius and so interrupted the course of Turenne's Victories and would needs meet Don Luis on the Frontiers that they might have a publick Tryal of each others Politicks Don Luis met the Cardinal and gave his Eminence occasion to make as great a flourish as he pleased of all his rare Talents but when the Peace came to be Sign'd he could hold out no longer nor forbear crying to his Friends Spain was lost but is now safe So that the French left to their abandon'd Friends of Portugal the Honour of working out the destruction of the Spanish Monarchy which by the help of their Allies they did effectually at the two decisive Battles of Ameixial and Montesclaros the Spaniards having never after been able to stand upon their own legs but as they were crutch'd up by the English and Dutch who ever since have had them lying on their hands as a Punishment for what they did towards bringing them into this deplorable Condition and now it seems that the Portuguses have their turn come to contribute on their parts to the Relief of this distressed Nation and who knows but the Spanish Monarchy may at last receive its Cure from the Hand that gave it the last and deepest Wound and recover new Life and Vigour by means of the Portugueses who have been the immediate occasion of its fall OF THE INTERESTS OF PORTUGAL With Relation to FRANCE SInce the Revolt of Portugal from the Spaniards there hath been till now of late an Appearance of a very close Union between This and the Crown of France which seemed to be so well cemented as if nothing were able to separate them and indeed were the common Opinion of the World true concerning the Obligations of the Portuguese Nation to the French it would be no wonder if their Friendship was in Effect so great as it appeared For they would then stand engaged to each other by the most endearing Tyes in the World France would have cause to account of Portugal as a Creature of its own raising and the House of Bragança would owe its establishment upon the Throne to his most Christian Majesty What greater Testimony of a sincere and cordial Affection can there be expected from one Ally to another than that which France gave to Portugal in the Preamble to the 60th Article in the Pirenean Treaty that very Article whereby Portugal was abandoned to the mercy of the Spaniards for therein his most Christian Majesty declares himself to be so passionately concerned for the good of this Kingdom that on condition he could but procure for it the Benefits of Peace he was willing among other things to yield up all the Conquests he had gain'd in the course of a tedious War of twenty five years continuance and all this out of pure Generosity He being as 't is there declared under no other sort of Engagement than that of his own Good-will But upon a Review of the Transactions that have pass'd between the two Crowns it will perhaps be found that the obligations of Portugal to France have not been so very great as the World is apt to imagine It cannot be denied but that the French have all along exceeded other People by far in their Professions of Kindness to this Nation but it will appear that those Professions have not always been accompanied with suitable Effects and it must have been some other means besides real Acts of Friendship whereby they have supported their Interest and Party in this Kingdom I shall in conclusion of this Chapter show as well as I am able what those means were When the Portuguses had shaken off the Spanish Yoke they found the French ingaged in a War against the same Nation and they look'd for mighty assistance from them considering the Diversion they were like to give to the common Enemy and in effect the Ambassadors sent by King John to that Court were received by Cardinal Richelieu with all the Demonstrations of kindness imaginable his Promises out running all that they
could desire or wish for insomuch that the Messineses in our days did not think themselves more happy in the French Friendship at the first Engagement than the Portugueses did at that time A perpetual Peace was presently concluded between the two Crowns each obliging himself to distress the Common Enemy by all possible means to this end the King of France was to send twenty Men of War to join so many of the King of Portugals But I do not find that any great matter came of this Agreement unless it were the taking of Port Longone for the French in 1646. when they perswaded the Portugueses to join them with a Squadron of their Ships for it does not appear that the Portugueses for the space of almost twenty years received the least assistance from France but they were left to shift for themselves unexperienced as they were and unprovided of all Military Preparations They were all that time exposed to the first fury of the Spaniards at their own home while in all other Parts of their Dominions the French were possessing themselves of their Frontier Towns 'T is true the Portugueses were encouraged all along with very large Promises of intended succours but these Promises were turn'd into Excuses as often as they had occasion to make tryal of what their Friends would do for them when they desired a supply of Money towards the Charges of the War the French were in want themselves when they asked for Auxiliary Troops the French on their Part would have Money for them and required such excessive Summs that the Portugueses though they were brought in their necessity to bid high could never come up to their Price Once indeed Mazarin was for sending them a far greater supply of Men than they desired for when the treaty of Munster was on foot while the French were thinking of making their Peace the Cardinal was very desirous to have the War transferred into Portugal and to discharge into that Kingdom the Soldiery that might prove burthensom to France But the Portugueses had no mind to have more French among them than they knew how to deal with and gave his Eminence to understand that they were afraid in case they should accept his offer of being more oppressed by their Friends than they were already by their Enemies so that after almost twenty years spent in Negotiations I do not find that there was so much as one Company of French Soldiers in the Portuguese Service Being thus left to themselves to bear the Brunt of the War they were still encouraged with hopes that their Allies whensoever they made Peace would not fail to procure very advantageous Terms for them who contributed so much as they did to divert and weaken the Enemy At their first making an Alliance with France they found the Ministers of that Court so extreamly obliging and ready to do more for them than they demanded that they did not then think it necessary to press them upon this Point But coming afterwards to perceive their Error they obtained a Promise of Louis the 13th to make with them a League offensive and Defensive and in order thereto a Treaty was entered upon with Richelieu but when they were in a fair way to bring it to a Conclusion that Cardinal died to their great Misfortune For he being of a far more generous Temper than his Successor they had doubtless received better Usage from him than they afterwards met with at the French Court. Mazarin indeed who succeded him in the Ministry was used on all occasions to go beyond him in fair Promises but to come very short in Performances He when the Portugueses proposed the League to him finding them already embarkt so far that there was no drawing back for them would by no means hearken to their Proposal telling them that the Alliance already made was sufficient to enter into new Engagements would argue a Distrust between the two Kings whereas his most Christian Majesty had so tender a concern for his Friends that nothing should be wanting on his part for their Preservation however he did not put them out of Hopes but that such a League as they desired should be concluded some time or other but when they afterwards grew urgent with him he fed them still with Promises or put them off with Delays and sometimes he would keep them in Play by amusing them with all the Formalities of a Treaty which went forwards or was broken off according to the several occasions he had for them While there was any Prospect of concluding a Peace or Truce between the French and Spaniards at Munster the Cardinal was thinking to dispose the French Troops in the manner now mentioned for which and other Reasons he judged it convenient to have Portugal excluded out of the Peace But the Portugueses at the same time were the more importunate with him to get themselves comprehended and to that end solicited with greater earnestness than ever the Ratification of the so long promised League and they pressed so very hard upon him that his Eminence was at a loss how to put by their importunities his Excuses were now spent or by being often used had lost their force and he was reduced to his last shifts for a new one The King of Portugal at last furnished him with one it was indeed such a one as a Body would think was very remote and odd however it served the Cardinal's Turn for that time There stands at Villa Viçosa the ancient seat of the Dukes of Bragança an old Lady of the Conception the most ancient of all the Ladies bearing that Title throughout Spain to whom the Dukes have all along had a most singular Devotion and as they thought not without Reason she having serv'd them in place of a Lar to the Family For as I remember I have been told by one that had reason to know the concerns of that House there have no considerable Alterations happened in the Family but this Image as it hath been believed since hath some way or other given them notice of it before hand King John after he had been pretty well settled in the Throne began to remember his old Penates and thought he could do no less in gratitude for the Favours received from this Lady than devote himself and all his Dominions to the Immaculate Conception declaring the Lady of that Appellation Protectress and Guardian of the Kingdom obliging himself and his Successors to pay her at her House at Villa Viçosa the annual Tribute of fifty Crowns of Gold as an acknowledgment of their Homage and withal according to the Custom of ancient Chivalry he made a solemn Vow to defend her Immaculate Conception with his Arms. Not content to do this himself he obliged the three Estates of the Kingdom assembled in Cortes to enter into an Association to the same purpose every Member engaging himself by Oath to hold and maintain that Important Article At the same time it was Declared
and Enacted by his Majesty That whosoever should attempt any thing against it in case he were a Subject he should be unnaturalized and cast out of the Kingdom if he were a King he desired that God's Curse and his own might light upon him that he might not be reckoned among his Descendents hoping through the Divine Favour that he would be thrown down from the Throne and dispoiled of the Royal Dignity This Act passed the 5th of March in the year 1646. Hitherto all things went smoothly on there being nothing in the Association but what the generality of the Portugueses were willing to assent to and maintain with their Lives and Fortunes But the King would needs have the Dominican Fryars swear to it Men that are Thomists upon Oath and whose Order had all along asserted a contrary Doctrine to that which the King would now force upon them This Business was in Agitation while the Portugueses were adjusting all things in order to conclude the League with France But Mazarin had now what he look'd for a Pretext to break off the Treaty for his Eminence sent the King word that he thought it a very strange thing for him to put such a hardship upon the Dominicans But the King continued in his Resolution which the Cardinal took very ill at his hands but the King in this case made no Account of his Anger for as the Conde da Ericeyra saith his Devotion to our Lady was such that no Politick Consideration could make him desist from his Purpose and doubtless the Cardinal foresaw as much or else he had put his Invention to the rack to find out some other occasion for a Quarrel But the Congress at Munster being upon the point to break up and things remaining in the same state as before between France and Spain the Cardinal was for bringing on again the Treaty of a League with Portugal but still he insisted upon unreasonable Conditions and among others would have cautionary Towns put into the French hands with two Harbours that were capable of the greatest Fleets He was encouraged to make this Demand by the famous Jesuit Antonio Vieira who had been sent to Paris to assist at the Conferences with the French Ministers with Power to make what Proposals he in his own Discretion thought fit and the Father was so very forward in making large Promises that the Cardinal thought he could not be too exorbitant in his Demands and they made such a bargin of it between them that the Ambassador was fain to interpose and put a stop to their Proceedings by declaring that he would sooner have his hands cut off than sign what the Jesuit was agreeing to After this manner did his Eminence play fast and loose with his Friends till the year 1655. when the Spaniards had like to have done their Enemies of Portugal a kindness which they found it impossible to do for themselves for if the Portugueses had made use of the advantage which the Spaniards had put into their hands they might have managed the Cardinal as they pleased and brought him to Terms of their own prescribing The Spaniards in order to make mischief in Portugal and incense the People against the Court gave out that they had made an offer of Peace to the King and found him of himself willing enough to hearken thereto but that he was imposed upon by his Ministers who for their own Interests were still putting him upon continuing the War This Report coming to the Cardinal's Ears gave him the Alarm and raised a suspicion in him that there might be some under-hand Negotiation carrying on between Spain and Portugal which if such a thing there was might spoil all his designs He therefore dispatches away the Chevalier de Sainte Foy to adjust the League on Condition that the King of Portugal would engage himself to a vigorous Prosecution of the War to which end he should be furnished with Money for the Expense of the next Campagne but withall the Envoy was ordered to complain how little Portugal minded the Interests of France and of the several infractions of the Capitulations already made between the two Crowns and to let fall some hints of the King 's being suspected of having an Understanding with the common Enemy The good King took care to vindicate himself from this unjust Aspersion which the Castillians by their Calumnies had cast upon him and clear'd himself so well that St. Foy began to perceive that there was no occasion for a League and so found out Pretences to defer the Conclusion of it Hereupon King John dispatches away an Irish Fryar with the Character of his Envoy I suppose to satisfie the Court of France of his Innocence but with express orders to hasten the Conclusion of the League and it seems the Irish Polititian acquitted himself of the first part of his Commission so much to the Cardinal's satisfaction that his Eminence would hear no talk of what he had to say further and so Frey Domingos do Rosario for that was his Fryars name I think his true one was O Dally was sent back again and ordered to tell his Master that he should make his Peace with Spain himself if he would and think no more of a League with France This was the last Negotiation between France and Portugal in the Reign of King John the 4th the first King of the House of Bragança and let the Reader judge how far he was obliged to France for his Establimment upon the Throne After his death there was little entercourse between the two Courts the French leaving the Widdow and the Orphan to shift for themselves till the Treaty of the Pirenees was drawing on and then the Cardinal had a further occasion for Portugal During the course of this long War Spain had lost several important places to the French which they expected to have restored to them at the Peace or some Compensation for them at least For the Spaniards had not yet been accustomed to make Peace on such Terms as they have since been used to they stood likewise obliged by Treaty made with the Prince of Conde at his first putting himself into their service never to lay down their Arms till he was restored to all the Places and Governments possest by him in France when he first came over to them The French on the other side were as unwilling to part with the places in Question as the Spaniards were to yield them up and as for the Prince of Conde neither the King nor the Cardinal could be prevailed with to put him in a condition to give them the like trouble again as he had done formerly for they were not without some jealousy that he had a mind to be playing over his old Game again and should he come off so well after all the Bustle he had made in the Kingdom others might in after times be tempted to follow his Example So that unless some Expedient could be found out to satisfy
be permitted to return into France and be restor'd to the King's Favour but remain depriv'd of his Governments The Court hereupon removing to Paris the principal Articles were there adjusted that were afterwards confirm'd by the two great Ministers at the Pirenees But the Allies of France seem to have been quite forgot at this Treaty of Paris as it was called at least no mention made of Portugal unless it were in that Article whereby the French oblig'd themselves to abandon it but that Article had then none of the fine Preamble before it which now sets it off so much to advantage in the printed Copys of the Pirenean Treaty While these things were transacted the Conde de Soure was coming Ambassador extraordinary from Portugal with such Instructions as show'd that the Queen Regent was intirely satisfied of the sincere Affection of her intended Son-in-law for he was ordered to demand no less then 4000 Foot form'd into six Regiments and 1000 Horse and all to be paid by his most Christian Majesty even while they were in the Portuguese service or if France could not spare so much Money he was at least to raise the Men in that Kingdom He was likewise to choose out two General Officers and engage them in his Master's service Cardinal Mazarin undertaking for their Fidelity and Ability he was also to put the last hand to the League that had been so long in Agitation there being little Cause to doubt but that it would now be soon brought to happy Conclusion But the Ambassador upon his arrival at Havre de Grace was surprized with the News that a Truce had been Proclaim'd between the Crowns of France and Spain and a day fixt for a Conferences between the Cardinal and Don Luis de Haro in order to conclude the Peace When he was got to Roan he receiv'd a Message from the Portuguese Agent more mortifying than what he had heard before for the Agent having acquainted the Cardinal of the Ambassador's arrival was bid to advise him to come Incognito to Paris his Eminence doubting whether it was convenient to receive a Publick Embassy from Portugal whose Interests France was obliged to abandon by the Peace to be made with Spain Upon his coming to Paris the Cardinal entirely disabus'd him and put an end to all the hopes they had hitherto been feeding themselves with in Portugal for now there was no more talk of the League with France nor of any conditions to be made with Spain but such as the Cardinal might be assured that the Portugueses would never be brought to accept of so far was the Ambassador from obtaining the 5000 Men he came to Demand that he could not prevail to have two General Officers of that Nation The Cardinal having so much Honour left as to tell the Ambassador that should he recommend French Men to him in case the Peace with Spain ensued the Portugueses might well question their Fidelity and the Spaniards his Sincerity However he named to him two that were of other Nations whom he advis'd him to Treat with they being Persons of known Valour and Conduct and in all respects qualified to Command in the Posts they were design'd for The Ambassador took his advise after having consulted with Marsh Turenne who knew the Men and highly approv'd of the choice the first That the Ambassador treated with was the Earl of Inchiquin who presently embark'd for Portugal but had the misfortune to be taken in his Passage by the Algerines and after having regain'd his Liberty he had been but a little while at Lisbon when the News came of King Charles his Restoration which occasion'd his Return home He was design'd afterwards to Command the Forces which that King sent to the assistance of Portugal but he did not continue long there The other was the Famous Count afterwards Marshal and late Duke of Schonberg who when he came to have the Command of Men that were worthy of such a Leader soon chang'd the face of things in Portugal and restored the most desperate Affairs of that Nation to such a state that the Spaniards who now made sure of over running it were glad to sue for a Peace and the French who at this time were casting off the Portugueses with so much contempt thought fit to court their Alliance but those by whom the Count effected all this were not French men and the Cardinal was no Prophet At present he had so little consideration for Portugal that when he was presented with a Memorial containing twenty seven Reasons why France ought not to make Peace with Spain without including Portugal his Eminence having now gain'd his ends could not find so much as one Reason among all the seven and twenty that was conclusive though the Portugueses pretended to a Promise under the Hand and Seal of King Louis 13th After this came on the Conferences between the Cardinal and Don Luis de Haro at the Pirenees there indeed the Cardinal would sometimes put in a word for the King of Portugal but it was only in order to keep Don Luis quiet when he had nothing else to defend himself withal from the Persecutions of that Minister who notwithstanding what had been agreed upon at Paris and consented to in Spain could not help making some motion or other in almost every Conference for the Prince of Conde and sometimes he would do it with so much Vehemence that the Treaty was several times like to be broken off purely on this Account even when all other Matters were adjusted For Don Luis was so very tender of his Master's Honour which seem'd to him to ly at stake on this single point that he thought he could never do enough to retrieve it one would think were we to judge of the Conduct of these two great Men as 't is represented in Mazarin's Letters that on this occasion he had changed Characters with the Cardinal Don Luis is represented at other times as having all the distinguishing qualities of a Spaniard and the Cardinal on all other occasions complains of him for being stiff slow and cold but when he makes him Pleading for the Prince of Conde he represents him as transform'd into another Man He would then become supple on a sudden using all the most Insinuating and Engaging ways of Address to gain upon the Cardinal he would Caress Court and Flatter him enduring his Repulses without the least Resentment as long as he thought it possible to bring him to a Compliance and as he found all would not do he would then begin to take Fire grow Impatient and break out into the most passionate Complaints as unable to bear the Reproach that his Master must be forc'd to abandon his Allie The Cardinal did not show himself so very passionate for the honour of his Master or the safety of his Allie had the Affair of Portugal gone as much to his Heart it is not unlikely but the Italian would have fawn'd and cringed as much and winded
sent them the Defiance and insulted them in their very Trenches so he contented himself with taking a vast number of their Towns many of them Rich Populous and Strong The first year he took Arronches and Alconchel and fortified and put Garrisons into both places in the former near 5000 men the next year he was early in the Field and in the heart of Portugal putting all things to Fire and Sword and Lisbon it self was in such a horrible Consternation that had he marched directly thither 't is thought he might have taken the City without Resistance But continuing to destroy the Country he sent a Detatchment to take Villa Boim a strong and rich Place but presently surrendered by a French Governour After this he braved the Portuguese Army in their Camp under the Walls of Estremos but in vain for it was impossible to draw them to a Battle he then took Borba a place of small strength indeed but desperately Defended for it had a Portuguese Governor Next he laid Siege to Geromenha a place strongly Situated and Fortified after the modern way with a Garrison of 3000 Men and provided with all things necessary for a stout Defense but surrendered in a Months time after the Portuguese Army had in vain attempted to relieve it this done Don John would have fought the Portugueses but found they had alter'd their mind and having strongly intrench'd themselves near Villa Viçosa patiently beheld him Ravaging the Country round about them he seeing he could do no good upon them took Veyros and blew up the Castle enter'd Monforte and put a Garrison in it destroy'd Alter-Chaon Cabeça de Vide and Alter Poderoso and all the Country round about He then took Crato and in it the Portugueses stores and Provisions ordering the Governor to be shot to Death for making Resistance upon that Assumar was presently surrendered to him he would have taken Possession likewise of Alegrete but that place as it must be acknowledg'd was preserv'd by a French Governor For when Don John sent him a menacing Summons he was answer'd with a Present of two Bottles of Wine the Governor desiring his Highness to tast what excellent Liquor the place afforded sending him word with all that he was resolv'd to defend the Town to the last Drop The jest took and Don John without giving the Man any further trouble continued his march and entered Ouguella without Resistance a small place but of great Importance and having left two Regiments in it the Summer heats coming on retired into Quarters The Next year he took the Field again with an Army much stronger and better provided then before He had no sooner past the Frontiers but he was expected at Lisbon however he thought fit to make himself Master first of Evora the second City of Portugal as he did after nine days Siege the Garrison which was numerous being made Prisoners of War for that Summer and sent away into Castille by this success Don John became in a manner Master of all Alemtejo or the Country on the other side of the Tagus He sent a Detachment of 3000 Horse and 2000 Foot down as far as Alcacere do Sal a Town situated upon the River Sado not far from Setuval the most considerable Sea-port Town next to Lisbon and but at a small distance from it This was done with design to encrease the Consternation at Lisbon in order to Don John's marching thither to put an end to the War The People of that City when they heard of his laying Siege to Evora expecting that their turn should be next were all in an Uproar but when the News came that Evora was taken such a fury possess'd the City that the better sort through rage and dispair joyn'd the Rabble and all in a common Mob fell a committing such Outrages that they seem'd resolv'd to prevent the Spaniards and finish their own Ruin themselves Their violence was not a little increas'd by Antonio de Sousa a Man never good at dealing with a Multitude He thinking to amuse them and divert their Fury upon the common Enemy would needs have a line drawn a cross the Terreiro do Paço causing it to be published that all those brave Men that would pass the Line and come over to the side next the Palace should be chosen out to help the Army in defence of their Countrys Liberty The Novelty of the thing drew an innumerable concourse of People together who when their Passions were up forgot the Enemy and leaving the Terreiro do Paço fell foul upon the Houses of the Ministers of State such more especially as had manag'd the Military Affairs and after they had been Ransacking Plundring and Burning whatever came to hand they return'd again and it may have been through weariness rather then want of will that they spared the Palace it self These terrible Convulsions seizing upon the Kingdom at a time when the Enemy was raging in its Bowels with so much Violence look'd like the symptoms of an approaching end but the English were now arriv'd and ready for Action and they by the quick and happy Turn which they gave to the Portuguese Affairs recovered the expiring State to Life again and enabled that People to expel the Enemy and follow him into his own Country and to humble him to the Condition in which he hath remained ever since but of this in its due place As soon as the Affairs of Portugal were by the help of these their Friends brought to a flourishing condition they could be in their circumstances considered and the War in all appearance drawing towards a happy conclusion on their side his most Christian Majesty began to have a particular Esteem for the King of Portugal and to own him publickly for his Allie and his Affection for that Prince was now so very great that notwithstanding the Engagements he was under to Spain not to concern himself with him He was now resolved to stand by him and take his part against all Opposers the Spaniards more especially and to become as his Majesty was pleased himself to express it his Companion in Arms He telling the Portuguse Ambassador at a secret Audience in 1666. that he was ready not only to bear a share with him in the Expences of the War but likewise to accompany him into the Field offering withal of his own accord to enter into the League which the Portugueses had for so many years together implored in vain during the time of their Distress and more than that was very urgent in pressing their consent to it It s true indeed the Portugueses had never less occasion for his Assistance then at the time when he was so earnest with them to accept of it but his most Christian Majesty had great occasion for theirs For that King being then in his full Vigour and the very flour of his Age he out of his extreme thirst after Glory was meditating a suddain Irruption into the Spanish Netherlands several of which
for Sir Richard Fanshaw's coming and testified their satisfaction at his Arrival by giving him the most splendid Reception that was possible at that distance from Lisbon but all the hopes conceiv'd on both sides from this Treaty soon vanish'd for Sir Richard had so order'd matters that the Treaty was to be enter'd upon as between Kingdom and Kingdom by which means the Spaniards would have been excus'd from making any formal acknowledgment of the King of Portugal's Title This so disgusted the Portugueses whose spirits had been mightily rais'd by their late Successes and perhaps not a little by these large Promises from France that they return'd back the Proposals without looking further then the Inscription with a short Answer that they never would have Peace with Spain unless it were made between King and King The English Ambassador returning to Madrid found the Spaniards become as High on their side and utterly averse from renewing the Treaty those fears which had been a great motive to them in advancing so far as they had gone already were over for the present They had been all along guessing at the true Design of those great Levies that the French were making which notwithstanding all the French Protestations and Offers of Mediation had given them terrible Apprehensions and therefore that they might put themselves into some posture of Defence against so powerful an Agressor they had been prevail'd with to enter upon a Treaty with Portugal But now they were of another mind for a War was broken out of a suddain between England and France which secured them for that time from any attempt of the French upon Flanders and should this War continue the English having the Dutch and French to deal with at the same time might not be in a condition to send supplies to Portugal and in case that Kingdom were once abandon'd by them there might be hopes of reducing it again to the same state in which the English found it But notwithstanding this Backwardness of the Spaniards and the Occasion of it the Portugueses could not yet be brought to consent to the French League for as great as their Danger was from the Enemy they thought it seems they should run a greater risk by this Engagement with their pretended Friends All Monsieur de S Romain's Rhetorick could not prevail with them to sign it this Year though the French Interest had been much increased by the King of Portugal's Marriage and the Arrival of fresh supplies from France and their Fortune in the War instead of making any Progress seem'd to be at a stand or rather had receiv'd some very considerable checks this Year But then they were unprovided with Moneys to bear the expenses of the next Campagne and at a loss where to seek for a supply the French indeed continued to make their large offers but their kindness was look'd upon as the last Remedy and to be accepted of only in a desperate Case and when they thought that they must at last have recourse to it yet to show that they would try all expedients first before they would come to an agreement with Mr. de S. Romain they made their application for Money to the Court of England as little in a condition as they knew that Court to be to furnish them after an expensive War with two most powerful Nations and such great Calamities as befel us at home this and the foregoing Year but no Money coming from England they at last viz. in the beginning of the Year 1667. yielded to the French Importunities and agreed to the League The principal Conditions of this League were That both Parties should have the same Friends and the same Enemies England only excepted That France should find as many Men as were necessary to carry on an Offensive War against Spain and all Sea-port Towns taken from the Spaniards were to be delivered up to the French France was to contribute by way of Loan one half of the pay due to the Auxiliary Troops and give withal by way of Loan likewise the summ of 300000 Crowns per Annum Neither Party was to treat of a Peace or a Truce without the consent of the other And it was agreed that this League should last for the Term of ten Years Had this League continued in force it would have been to little purpose that the Portugueses withdrew their necks from the Spanish Yoak and so bravely defended their Liberty as they had done in so long and tedious a War for they had now in a manner chang'd Masters and from being Subjects to Spain had surrendered themselves up to the Discretion of the French instead of seeing an end of their Miseries they had now in all appearance ten Years of War behind still and that not only a-against the Spaniards but almost all the World besides that is all the Enemies that France should make whose designs upon the Universal Monarchy were then breaking out and had they been suffer'd to go on England would not have been long excepted out of the Number It may justly deserve ones Wonder that so able and clear sighted a Minister as all Parties allow the Conde de Castelmelhor to have been should upon any account whatsoever be prevail'd with thus to sacrifice the Repose of his Country to the Ambition of Strangers Possibly Monsieur de S. Romain might make his advantage of the Disorders that the Court was in at that time and the Conde see that the Faction which had been formerly against him was grown to such a head that the fury of the People when diverted from a Foreign Enemy was like to turn upon himself and his Master and might therefore think of securing to himself a place of Retreat when the Storm that was a gathering should break upon his Head But if these were his thoughts he found himself afterwards much out in his measures for whatsoever promises France might have made him when in Power yet after his Fall tho' he betook himself to that Kingdom he staid not long there but found himself oblig'd to seek for Refuge in another Country and so far was he from securing himself at home by this unhappy League that 't is thought it did but hasten his Master's Ruin and his own by increasing the Peoples murmurs against them This is certain his Enemies pretended that it was made in an undue manner without either the Advice or Consent of the Council or the three Estates to the Violation as they said of the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom The French King having thus found Work for the Spaniards at home while his Ambassador was assuring the Court of Madrid that if there were any Faith in his Master the Pirenean Treaty should be kept inviolable began the so much celebrated Expeditions into Flanders and the Franche Compte conquering all before him The Success of his Arms was so astonishing to those that did not consider how he had laid his Designs that the English and Dutch who were
afterwards with one so nearly Related to the House of Austria as her late Majesty was laid the Foundation of a solid Friendship and it was generally expected that this Match would have brought the King wholly over to the Austrian Interest it was thought that there was something of a Negotiation on foot to engage him on that side in the beginning of the last War viz. in 1689. when the Count de Mansfield employed in the Business of the King of Spain's second Marriage took Lisbon in his way from Madrid to Nieubourg and the French Ambassador seem'd to have smelt out some such thing and thereupon by way of Revenge found means to mortify both the King and the Count. For the King having ordered one of his Ships to be got ready for the Count to Embark upon the Ambassador took occasion to acquaint His Majesty that the Count de Mansfield being a Minister of the Emperor and one of his Generals there was cause to fear that the Ship which carried him would be attack'd by French Men of War which might occasion some distast between his most Christian and his Portuguese Majesty the King was fain to hearken to the Admonition and digest the Menace rather than expose himself to a greater Insult perceiving I suppose that the Ambassador saw plain enough that he was not in a condition to resent it wherefore the Count was left to provide a Ship for himself however the King order'd two of his Frigats to convoy him to the mouth of the Channel As the War was drawing towards a conclusion the King sent a most splendid Embassy to Vienna at the same time when he sent another to the French Court as it was thought to interpose his good Offices towards the drawing on of the Peace Nor did the disgrace which befel the Portuguese Ambassador to his Imperial Majesty break off the Correspondence between the two Courts the Emperor seeming now resolved to have his Ministers constantly Resident at Lisbon having never before had any such since the House of Bragança was possess'd of the Crown it is much for the Interest of both Parties to have a good understanding together whilst the cause of the Succession of Spain is depending for though in regard to that affair they have different ends in view yet they are both alike concern'd to act in concert till the greatest and most difficult point be gain'd which is the Exclusion of France With the Dutch this Court hath had a fair and amicable Correspondence ever since the Year 1669. when all differences were made up that had broken â—ut since the Peace with that Nation in 1662. of which I shall say nothing here since it would oblige me to give an account of the preceding War which would take up more room then can be now spared There seems to be little or no Communication between this and the two Northern Crowns the great distance between them being the cause that they have seldom any thing to do with one another all the Business the Danes and Swedes have here being about the Trade for Salt which they load yearly at Setubal but this is easily managed by the Consuls The deserved Esteem this King had for the great Sobieski and the Marriage of Prince James his Son with the Queen's Sister afforded matter for some Reciprocal Compliments between them but there was a difficulty in the Ceremonial which would not permit them to have this little Intercourse together The King of Poland in his Letter named himself first which this Court could not bear and therefore refused to receive the Letter because that King is only the Head of a Republick whereas his Majesty of Portugal is an Absolute Sovereign The present King of Poland's Envoy when he came to Lisbon to notify his Master's advancement to that Crown could not be received nor admitted to Audience for the same Reason and not as some thought for that this King refus'd to acknowledge his Master or disapprov'd of his Election The Princes of Germany and Italy can have very little to do here and therefore little notice is taken of them the Elector Palatine himself having no Minister residing at Court The Elector of Brandenbourg indeed hath his Resident but that is more for the Honour and Security of the Person than on account of any Business he being a considerable French Merchant of the Religion I have not heard that since the Business of the Infanta's Marriage any thing hath past between this Court and those of Savoy and Florence The Duke of Parma hath had his Envoy here upon Offices of Ceremony I suppose upon account of his Relation to the Royal Family he being descended from a Daughter of Dom Emanuel that was eldest Sister to her in whose right the House of Bragança lays claim to the Crown and consequently he would have an undoubted Right thereto were he not excluded by the Laws of Lamego OF THE INTERESTS OF PORTUGAL With Relation to ENGLAND I Believe there are no People in the World that have valued themselves less upon their Friendship to the Portugueses or deserved more at their Hands then the English I should have placed them first had I rank'd the rest according as they merit in the Esteem of this Nation for they well deserve to be reckon'd and that in the chief place among the Founders the Protectors and the Restorers of the Kingdom They have certainly been the surest and most dis-interess'd Friends to it almost from the time when Portugal first became a Nation to the Establishment of the now Reigning Family upon the Throne And in truth the ancient Portugueses have shown so much Gratitude that there remain in this Country several Memorials of the English Generosity and Valour that have been forgotten by our selves and are over look'd by our own Writers but of late we have not had the like reason to commend their Justice though our Nation in the present Age as great as the Merits of our Ancestors were hath deserv'd no less at their Hands Their Ancient Writers set forth at large how great a share the English had in the first raising of their Kingdom and how they have since more then once rescued it from Destruction and there are those yet alive among them that know very well how their Deliverance from utter Ruin and that Liberty and Peace which they now enjoy is owing to the Bravery of our Soldiers and the Prudence of our Ministers but their late Writers have not been so Ingenuous as to deliver what they knew to Posterity It will not be expected that in so short a space as is left me I should give a particular Account of these Transactions however I shall briefly touch upon some of those that have pass'd in former Ages as they are related by the Portuguese Historians hoping that it will not be altogether ungrateful to the English Reader to hear News from Foreigners as old as it is concerning his own Country Men And some mention
his time he wrote in the Year 1600. I have seen a large Collection of Priviledges granted by the several Kings of Portugal to the English beyond those enjoy'd by the Portuguese Subjects I know not whether I may call them Charters These were copied from the Archives of the Kingdom in the Torre de Tumbo but the most ancient was of King Ferdinand whose Reign began not till 1367. There are several of John the 1st his Successor some of which refer to others granted by his Predecessors By this it appears that the English had a great hand in setting up the Kingdom of Portugal and if the Historians of this Country deceive us not they had as great a share in Protecting and Securing it as often as it hath been brought into Danger by a Foreign Enemy Twice it was like to be wholly over-run by the Castillians who had possed themselves of the greatest part of the Kingdom and gain'd a numerous Party of the Nobility over to their side and had been very near taking Lisbon it self the first time in the Reign of Ferdinand the last of the lawful Descendants from Alfonso Henriquez the other time while John the 1st from whom all that have succeeded him derived their Titles was strugling for the Crown and they have been as often reliev'd by the English and enabled to carry the War into the Enemies Country our Princes of the Blood condescending to go in Person to their Assistance first Edmund de Langley then Earl of Cambridge and afterwards John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster And if after the several flourishing Reigns that succeeded they were at last reduc'd under the Spanish Yoke it was because they were wanting to themselves the English having sent out a Gallant Fleet and Army to their Rescue under Dom Antonio whom they had made their King but they would not accept Deliverance and so they remain'd under the Power of their Enemies In the last War after the French had given them up or assisted them in such a manner as they should not own without Confusion when all Europe looked upon their Ruin as inevitable some of the most considerable Persons in the Kingdom being so far of the same Opinion that they thought it now high time for them to save themselves and make their Peace with the Spaniards as the Duke of Aveiro and their Ambassador in Holland who went over to them Cardinal Mazarin making himself merry with our Locker at the Folly of all the rest for not doing the same and for thinking it possible for them to hold out longer Don Luis de Haro who was not accounted Sanguin making nothing of the little Expedition that his Master was about against the Duke of Bragança for after this rate he is reported to have talk'd to King Charles the 2d at the Pirences Those small Forces sent by King Charles after his Restoration by their unparallel'd Valour soon put an end to the Quarrel and the Victories obtain'd by their Means being seconded as they were by the Vigilence Dexterity and Conduct of the same King's Ministers recover'd Portugal and restor'd it to the condition in which it now remains These Forces consisted of about 3000 Men formed into three Regiments two of Foot which made near 2400 and one of Horse of about 800. They were at first Commanded by the Earl of Inchiquin but his Lordship returning to England before they took the Field they were by Commission from the King of England put under the Conduct of Count Schomberg who had himself the immediate Command of one of the foot Regiments They arriv'd in Portugal soon after Don John had made an end of that successful Campagne before mention'd in 1662. and were dispos'd of into Quarters till the following Spring when they joyn'd the Portuguese Army in order to relieve Evora but in their March towards that City they were met with the News of its being surrender'd without Resistance in a manner and upon very Dishonourable Terms though it had in it a Garrison of 7000 Foot and 700 Horse and was provided with all things necessary for a stout Defense till such time as the Army should come up and attempt to raise the Siege The News of this loss so struck the Commanders of the Army that 't is no wonder it should put the People into that consternation before described The Conde de Villa Flor the Gen. was so discouraged that his concern appear'd to the very Soldiers in his Looks which our Men who had been used to see their Commanders so Dejected observ'd with Indignation A Council of War being called it appear'd that the Army was in no condition to fight the Enemy and it was resolv'd not to attempt it as bad as their Case was Something might have been done had Evora held out they relying upon the Garrisons fallying at the same time when they should attack the Besiegers But the Garrison was now made Prisoners of War so it was resolv'd that they should encamp themselves at a Place call'd Landroal which lay so between the Enemies Frontier Places that they might cut off any convoys of Provisions coming from thence Don John in the mean while having possess'd himself of so Great and Populous a City in the very heart of Alemtejo became thereby Master in a manner of the whole Province and was providing for his Army at his Enemies Cost by putting all the Country under Contribution for which end and to gave the greater Alarm to Lisbon whereby to increase the Tumult there he sent that large Detachment before mention'd as far as Alcacere do Sal. The Court at this time apprehending no less Danger from the Multitude then the Enemy and seeing the Affairs of Portugal to be in all respects desperate was continually sending Orders to the Commanders to fight at any rate the Army at last being reinforc'd with what Troops other parts of the Kingdom could send or the Garrisons spare march'd towards the Spaniards hoping to find them divided but not being able to hinder their Detachments from joyning the main Body they were for retiring again Don John follow'd at their Heels to give them Battle but they had pass'd a small River call'd Degebe before he came up with them and they had posted themselves so advantageously that there were but two Passes through which he could come to Attack them That where the Portugueses thought the greatest Danger was it being in its self the easiest to be forc'd was defended by one of the English Regiments Don John made his greatest Efforts to gain it and there ensued a very hot Dispute for at several times he sent in fresh Troops to renew the Charge which were as often repulsed with loss so that he was oblig'd at last to desist from the Attempt Don John found now that he had other Enemies to deal with then those he had hitherto been used to Being frustrated of his Design he put a Garrison into Evora and began to march towards the Frontiers where he
that end only That if Self-defence made the War be hitherto accounted Just yet when it could be continued upon no other Pretence then the Conquest of other Kingdoms to which neither Portugal nor France had any Right it would become unjust displeasing to God and consequently unprosperous In Conclusion he declared that his Powers were restrained to a limited time for that Spring coming on the Queen Regent was about disposing of her Forces as she should judge convenient wherefore he desired that the Prince would appoint Persons to confer with him about the Treaty of Peace or else he should look upon himself as disingag'd from his Commission leaving upon the Prince's Conscience all the Mischiefs of the War with the Damages and Inconveniencies sustain'd by the Prisoners who filled the Gaols at that time In this Paper Combat the Spaniards had all the Advantage they could desire unless it were among such as either out of Interest or for some secret Reasons were for having the War continue The Officers of the Army would fain have had it prosecuted with Vigour that Portugal by the Conquest of the Neighbouring Kingdoms might re-imbourse it self for the damages it had sustained in the Sixty Years of the Spanish Usurpation The Ecclesiasticks the Cortesoens and the People were more Loud and Clamourous for a Peace as thinking the War would become Unjust if it continued any longer it being the common Voice to be heard at that time from the Pulpits and in the Streets that Castille might have some Pretensions upon Portugal but Portugal could have none upon Castille But the Court held out still as being or seeming at least to be utterly against the Peace and that possibly because the Prince thought himself oblig'd by the French League perhaps the Queen might be afraid to disoblige France by consenting to the Peace while the Cause of her Divorce and of her intended second Marriage was depending before that Court for should that Court be dissatisfied with her Conduct who could tell but that Monsieur de Lionne might never have found out the Clause in the Pope's Bull which at last inabled Cardinal Vendome to grant the Dispensation This Business was hotly debated on both sides when the Earl of Sandwich unexpectedly arrived at Lisbon from Madrid with full Power from the King of England and the Queen Regent of Spain to conclude the Peace His Excellency by his Presence and Authority soon put an end to the Dispute for by this time they that were for the Treaty had made their Party so strong that nothing could withstand them the Cortes plyed the Prince with three several Addresses for a Peace and upon his demurring to give his Answer The Juis do Povo came and peremptorily demanded his Consent The Juis waited likewise on the Earl and upon his Knees assured his Excellency of the Favour and Protection of the People in all his Proceedings and as 't is said he went to the French Ambassador likewise to assure him that in case he did any thing to obstruct the Peace he must expect to have his House pulled down about his Ears In short the Earl of Sandwich by his prudent Management so order'd the Matter that in a very few daies all things were adjusted for his Powers given him at Madrid bear Date the Fifth of January 1668. and the Peace was Concluded and Sign'd the Thirteenth of February following to the unspeakable Joy of the Parties concern'd By this Peace the Portugueses became an Independant People and were restored to the same Condition with respect to Spain as they had been in under the most flourishing Reigns of their former Kings at the same time when their Deliverance from the Spanish Yoke was compleated they were set at liberty likewise from the French League which might have proved the more intolerable Bondage of the two and all this without being brought under any Engagements to their Deliverers the obligations of Gratitude excepted Those indeed are the strongest of all other Tyes upon generous Minds but then they are often complied with by a bare Acknowledgment of the Benefits receiv'd Having mention'd the Benefits conferr'd on the Portuguese Nation by ours it may be expected that an Account should be given of those receiv'd from them It must be acknowledg'd to their Honour that on several occasions they show'd a generous concern for our Kings Charles the First and Second in their Distress doing them many good Offices by their Ministers both in England and elsewhere and that they gave a Hospitable Reception to the Princes Robert and Maurice in their Port of Lisbon though they were like to suffer no small Damage thereby themselves the Remembrance of which things proved no doubt a great Motive to King Charles the Second to take them into his Protection But as to Returns in Kind thanks be to God our Nation was never in a condition to need them and the Forces of Portugal are so limited that little can be expected from thence upon any the most urgent Occasion Their Concurrence indeed might have serv'd to a good purpose in the Leagues that have been made of late against the common Enemy if on no other account but the conveniency of their Habours which in a War by Sea must have been of a mighty Advantage to the side they adhered to But they thought it was for their Interest all along to continue Neuters and our Princes have not thought fit to oblige them to Declare though in Defence of the common Liberty in which they had as great a concern as others We suffered them to enjoy the Benefit of Trade which we lost our selves while we were engaged in their Defence we did not make the least offer to compel them to take Party while they were wholly at our Discretion we being Lords of all the Seas about them the Ocean and the Mediterranean as well as our own Channel Such a compulsion would have been to destroy our own Gift and take from them that Independency we had maintain'd them in It is the Property of another Monarch to treat as his Vassals such Sovereigns as he takes into his his Protection to get them into his Power by assisting them and then to serve himself of them in working out the Ruin of their Neighbours and their own among the rest whereas our Princes have taken another Course and far from making their Benefits uneasy to the Receivers or snares to entrap them withal have treated them as Sovereigns whom they raised to their own Level and therefore notwithstanding their advantage of so much greater Power they have abstain'd from every thing that carried the least appearance of Constraint as thinking it beneath themselves to require such a Submission even to their just demands as might lessen the Majesty of a Crown'd Head Such a generous Proceeding must needs have wrought very much upon a Prince of so great a Soul as his Portuguese Majesty is known to have and laid stronger Obligations upon him than all other
himself into as many shapes to gain his ends as the Spaniard They that know any thing of Cardinal Mazarin's former Conduct would surely have expected a great deal more of this from him than from a Person of Don Luis de Haro's Character and Quality It s true his Eminence was at this time at the very heighth of his Greatness and Glory and might think it beneath him to be playing over his old tricks he would now be thought to have put off the Italian and pretended much to the Promptitude and Vivacity of a Frenchman but then had he any concern for his Allie he would surely have receiv'd some warmth from all that heat He observed in Don Luis at least that natural Vanity of his which was at this time encreased to as great a height as the station he was in could raise it should have put him upon doing something for a Prince who had no other Dependence but upon him and what could there have been more Glorious for this proud Great Man who had a Crown'd Head for his Client being so sensible as he was that the Eyes of all Christendom were upon him Princes and Nations expecting their Fate in the Issue of his Proceedings than instead of wrangling and squabbling about the exchange of every little Bicocque to be pleading the Cause of a Distressed and Orphan King But alas he did not lay the Cause of Portugal to heart at all nor concern himself for its Preservation He had used that People before so basely that he seem'd to desire their Destruction no less than the Spaniards themselves He contented himself sometimes to repell the most lively instances of Don Luis for the Prince of Conde by telling with all the Coldness and Phleme imaginable That his Master was so desirous of Peace that he had no such Considerations for the King of Portugal as he expressed for the Prince and that his Master might in Justice use the Prince of Conde in the same manner as the Spaniards intended to serve the King of Portugal It s true that in one of the first Conferences when he had no other way to put by the Importunities of Don Luis he told him knowing very well as he saith himself in his Letter to Mr. Le Tellier that he should not be taken at his Word that since he was so very Passionate for the Interests of the Prince he himself had one Proposal to make and would desire the King his Master's Consent which should be more advantageous to the Prince than any thing Don Luis had yet desired The Spaniard over joy'd at this News was impatient to know what the Proposal might be the Cardinal told him He would desire the King of France to restore the Prince and his Son the Duke of Anguien to all their Charges and Governments on Condition that the Catholick King would leave Portugal in the state it was then in The Offer was rejected with all the Indignation that the Cardinal look'd for and had he not thought as much it never had been made for as his Eminence saith to Mr. Le Tellier when he made this bold or hardy Proposal as he calls it he knew it would not be accepted Now if the French did not think it worth their while to rescue the Kingdom of Portugal from apparent Ruin at so small an Expence as giving the Prince of Conde his Employments again it is more unlikely still that they should be wiling both to do that and yield up the many strong Towns and some entire Provinces that they had possess'd themselves of in a five and twenty years War and this it is that tempts me to believe that the Proposal mention'd in the 60th Article of this Treaty was never made in earnest the Cardinal in the same Letter gives a little more light into this Mystery he saith there That he made these offers to let Don Luis see what vast Advances his Master had made towards a Peace and of what consequence his yielding in the point of Portugal was since rather than do that he would be content to restore the Prince to his Governments and give up all his Conquests and it is a great Ease to me continues he that when Don Luis is reckoning up the great Advantages the King gets by this Peace counting the Places and Provinces that remain to his Majesty that I can answer him again that all he said was nothing in Comparison to the Concession we make in the Article of Portugal though he gives a hint to Mr. Le Tellier by the by that for certain Reasons unknown to the Spaniards all this was no such great matter neither as he endeavour'd to make them believe I do not find by his Letters that he made this Hardy Proposal as he calls it any more during the whole time of the Treaty but I find him afterwards directing Mr. De Lionne to word the Preamble of the Article in the same manner as it now stands the Body it seems was adjusted before at the Treaties of Madrid and Paris so that possibly the Preamble had no better grounds for it than the occasional Discourse of which I have now given an account let the Reader then judge what we are to make of this formal Declaration vid. the 60th Article of the Treaty of the Pirenees That his most Christian Majesty desiring with an extreme Passion to see the Kingdom of Portugal enjoy the same Repose that other Christian States acquire by this present Treaty had to that end propos'd a good number of Ways and Expedients which he thought might be to the satisfaction of his Catholick Majesty among which notwithstanding as hath been said that he is under no sort of Engagement in this affair he hath gone so far as to be willing to deprive himself of the Principal Fruit of that happy Success which his Arms have had during the course of a long War offering besides the Places which he restores by this present Treaty to his Catholick Majesty to surrender up all the Conquests in general that his said Arms have made in this War and to re-establish entirely Monsieur the Prince of Conde provided and on condition that the Affairs of the Kingdom of Portugal might be left in the state they are in at present c. I cannot pretend to tell what the many Ways and Expedients here mention'd were finding little or nothing said of them in the Accounts of the Treaty that are yet extant or in the Cardinal's Letters who seems to have given an account of all the most material Passages and yet he mentions but one expedient as propos'd by himself and he saith too that he offered that rather to divert Don Luis from pressing him in behalf of the Prince than out of hopes that it would be accepted He made it on this occasion Don Luis had been very urgent with him that since the Prince could not be restored to his Charges and Governments in France he might be allow'd to accept of a