Part 1
THE
REVOLUTIONS
OF
_PORTUGAL_.
Written in _French_ by the
Abbot _DE VERTOT_, Of the ROYAL ACADEMY of INSCRIPTIONS.
Done into _English_ from the last _French_ Edition.
_O think what anxious Moments pass between The Birth of Plots, and their last fatal Periods! Oh! 'tis a dreadful Interval of Time, Fill'd up with Horror all, and big with Death! Destruction hangs on ev'ry Word we speak, On ev'ry Thought, till the concluding Stroke Determines all, and closes our Design._
ADDISON'S Cato.
_LONDON_,
Printed for WILLIAM CHETWOOD, at _Cato_'s- _Head_, in _Russel-Street, Covent-Garden_. M.DCC.XXI.
To His GRACE
_PHILIP_
Duke of _Wharton_.
_May it please your Grace_;
I am not ignorant of the Censure I lay my-self open to, in offering so incorrect a Work to a Person of Your Grace's Judgment; and could not have had Assurance to do it, if I was unacquainted with Your Grace's Goodness. As this is not the first time of this Excellent Author's appearing in _English_, my Undertaking must expose me to abundance of Cavil and Criticism; and I see my-self reduced to the Necessity of applying to a Patron who is able to protect me.
Our modern Dedications are meer Daub and Flattery; but 'tis for those who deserve no better: Your Grace cannot be flatter'd; every body that knows the Duke of WHARTON, will say there is no praising him, as there is no loving him more than he deserves. But like other Great Minds, Your Grace may be blind to your own Merit, and imagine I am complimenting, or doing something worse, whilst I am only giving your just Character; for which reason, however fond I am of so noble a Theme, I shall decline attempting it. Only this I must beg leave to say, Your Grace can't be enough admir'd for the Universal Learning which you are Master of, for your Judgment in discerning, your Indulgence in excusing, for the great Stedfastness of your Soul, for your Contempt of Power and Grandeur, your Love for your Country, your Passion for Liberty, and (which is the best Characteristick) your Desire of doing Good to Mankind. I can hardly leave so agreeable a Subject, but I cannot say more than all the World knows already.
Your Grace's illustrious Father has left a Name behind Him as glorious as any Person of the Age: it is unnecessary to enter into the Particulars of his Character; to mention his Name, is the greatest Panegyrick: Immediately to succeed that Great Man, must have been extremely to the Disadvantage of any other Person, but it is far from being so to Your Grace; it makes your Virtues but the more conspicuous, and convinces us the Nation is not without one Man worthy of being his Successor.
I have nothing more to trouble Your Grace with, than only to wish you the Honours you so well deserve, and to beg you would excuse my presuming to honour my-self with the Title of,
_May it please your Grace, Your Grace's most Obedient, Humble Servant_,
Gabriel Roussillon.
PREFACE.
_Amongst the Historians of the present Age, none has more justly deserv'd, neither has any acquir'd a greater Reputation than the Abbot ~de Vertot~; not only by this Piece, but also by the ~Revolutions of~ Sweden ~and of~ Rome, which he has since publish'd._
_This small History he has extracted from the[A] Writings of several ~French~, ~Spanish~, ~Portuguese~, and ~Italian~ Authors, as well as from the Testimony of many Persons, who were in ~Lisbon~ at the time of the Revolution. And I believe that it will be no difficult matter to persuade the Reader, that this little Volume is written with much more Politeness and Fidelity than any which has been publish'd on this Subject._
_And indeed there could be no Man fitter to undertake the Work than Monsieur ~de Vertot~; not only as he was Master of an excellent Style, and had all the Opportunities imaginable of informing himself of the Truth, but also as he could have no Interest in speaking partially of either the one or the other Party; and therefore might say much more justly than ~Salust, de Conjuratione, Quam verissime potero, paucis absolvam; eoque magis, quod mihi a Spe, Metu, Partibus Reipublicæ Animus liber est~._
_Would I undertake to prove the Impartiality of my Author, I could easily do it from several little Circumstances of his History. Does he not tell us, that the Inquisition is oftner a Terror to honest Men than to Rogues? Does he not paint the Archbishop of ~Braga~ in all the Colours of a Traitor? And I am fully persuaded, that if a Churchman will own and discover the Frailties, or rather the Enormities of those of his own Cloth, he will tell them in any thing else, and is worthy of being believed._
_There are several Passages in the following Sheets, which really deserve our Attention; we shall see a Nation involv'd in Woe and Ruin, and all their Miseries proceeding from the Bigotry and Superstition of their Monarch, whose Zeal hurries him to inevitable Destruction, and whose Piety makes him sacrifice the Lives of ~13000~ Christians, without so much as having the Satisfaction of converting one obstinate Infidel._
_Such was the Fate of the rash Don ~Sebastian~, who seem'd born to be the Blessing of his People, and Terror of his Foes; who would have made a just, a wise, a truly pious Monarch, had not his Education been entrusted to a Jesuit. Nor is he the only unfortunate Prince, who, govern'd by intriguing and insinuating Churchmen, have prov'd the Ruin of their Kingdom, and in the end lost both their Crown and Life._
_We shall see a People, who, no longer able to bear a heavy Yoke, resolve to shake it off, and venture their Lives and their Fortunes for their Liberty: A Conspiracy prevail, (if an Intent to revolt from an Usurping Tyrant may be call'd a Conspiracy) in which so many Persons, whose Age, Quality and Interest were very different, are engag'd; and by the Courage and Publick Spirit of a few, a happy and glorious Revolution brought about._
_But scarce is the new King settled upon his Throne, and endeavouring to confirm his Authority abroad, when a horrid Conspiracy is forming against him at home; we shall see a Prelate at the head of the Traitors, who, tho a bigotted Churchman, makes no scruple of borrowing the Assistance of the most profess'd Enemies of the Church to deliver her out of Danger, and to assassinate his Lawful King: but the whole Plot is happily discover'd, and those who were engaged in it meet with the just Reward of Treason and Rebellion, the Block and Gallows. Nor is it the first time that our own Nation has seen an Archbishop doing King and Country all the harm he could._
_After the Death of her Husband, we see a Queen of an extraordinary Genius, and uncommon Courage, taking the Regency upon her; and tho at first oppress'd with a Load of Misfortunes, rises against them all, and in the end triumphs over her Enemies._
_Under the next Reign we see the Kingdom almost invaded by the antient Usurper, and sav'd only by the Skill of a Wife and Brave General, who had much ado to keep the Foes out, whilst the People were divided at home, and loudly complain'd of the Riots and Debaucheries of their Monarch, and the Tyrannick Conduct of his Minister. But we find how impossible a thing it is, that so violent a Government should last long; his Brother, a Prince whose Virtues were as famous, as the other's Vices were odious, to preserve the Crown in their Family, is forced to depose him, and take the Government upon himself: ~Ita Imperium semper ad optumum quemq; ab minus bono transfertur~._
THE
REVOLUTION
OF
_PORTUGAL_.
Portugal is part of that vast Tract of Land, known by the Name of _Iberia_ or _Spain_, most of whose Provinces are call'd Kingdoms. It is bounded on the West by the Ocean, on the East by _Castile_. Its Length is about a hundred and ten Leagues, and its Breadth in the very broadest part does not exceed fifty. The Soil is fruitful, the Air wholesome; and tho under such a Climate we might expect excessive Heats, yet here we always find them allay'd with cooling Breezes or refreshing Rains. Its Crown is Hereditary, the King's Power Despotick, nor is the grand Inquisition the most useless means of preserving this absolute Authority. The _Portuguese_ are by Nature proud and haughty, very zealous, but rather superstitious than religious; the most natural Events will amongst them pass for Miracles, and they are firmly persuaded that Heaven is always contriving something or other for their Good.
Who the first Inhabitants of this Country were, is not known, their own Historians indeed tell us that they are sprung from _Tubal_; for my part, I believe them descended from the _Romans_ and _Carthaginians_, who long contended for those Provinces, and who were both at sundry times in actual possession of them. About the beginning of the fifth Century, the _Swedes_, the _Vandals_, and all those other barbarous Nations, generally known by the Name of _Goths_, over-run the Empire; and, amongst other Places, made themselves Masters of the Provinces of _Spain_. _Portugal_ was then made a Kingdom, and was sometimes govern'd by its own Prince, at other times it was reckon'd part of the Dominions of the King of _Castile_.
[Sidenote: 712.]
About the beginning of the eighth Century, during the Reign of _Roderick_, the last King of the _Goths_, the _Moors_, or rather the _Arabians_, _Valid Almanzor_ being their Caliph, enter'd _Spain_. They were received and assisted by _Julian_, an _Italian_ Nobleman, who made the Conquest of those Places easy, which might otherwise have proved difficult, not out of any Affection to the _Arabians_, but from a Desire of revenging himself on _Roderick_, who had debauched his Daughter.
[Sidenote: 717.]
The _Arabians_ soon made themselves Masters of all the Country between the Streights of _Gibraltar_ and the _Pyrenees_, excepting the Mountains of _Asturia_; where the Christians, commanded by Prince _Pelagus_, fled, who founded the Kingdom _Oviedo_ or _Leon_.
_Portugal_, with the rest of _Spain_, became subject to the Infidels. In each respective Province, Governours were appointed, who after the Death of _Almanzor_ revolted from his Successor, made themselves independent of any other Power, and took the Title of Sovereign Princes.
They were driven out of _Portugal_ about the beginning of the twelfth Century, by _Henry_ Count of _Burgundy_, Son to _Robert_ King of _France_. This Prince, full of the same Zeal which excited so many others to engage in a holy War, went into _Spain_ on purpose to attack the Infidels; and such Courage, such Conduct did he show, that _Alphonso_ VI. King of _Castile_ and _Leon_, made him General of his Army: and afterwards, that he might for ever engage so brave a Soldier, he married him to one of his Daughters, named _Teresia_, and gave him all those Places from which he had driven the _Moors_. The Count, by new Conquests, extended his Dominions, and founded the Kingdom of _Portugal_, but never gave himself the Royal Title.
[Sidenote: 1139.]
_Alphonso_, his Son, did not only inherit his Father's Dominions, but his Virtues also; and not content with what the Count his Father had left him, he vigorously carried on the War, and encreas'd his Territories. Having obtained a signal Victory over the _Arabians_, his Soldiers unanimously proclaimed him King; which Title his Successors have ever since borne.
And now this Family had sway'd the Scepter of _Portugal_ for almost the space of five hundred Years, when Don _Sebastian_ came to the Crown; he was the posthumous Son of Don _John_, who died some time before his Father, Don _John_ III. Son of the renowned King _Emanuel_.
[Sidenote: 1557.]
Don _Sebastian_ was not above three Years of Age when the old King died; his Grandmother _Catherine_, of the House of _Austria_, Daughter to _Philip_ I. King of _Castile_, and Sister to the Emperor _Charles_ V. was made Regent of _Portugal_ during his Minority. Don _Alexis de Menezes_, a Nobleman noted for his singular Piety, was appointed Governour to the young King, and Don _Lewis de Camara_, a Jesuit, was named for his Tutor.
From such Teachers as these, what might not be expected? They filled his Mind with Sentiments of Honour, and his Soul with Devotion. But, (which may at first appear strange or impossible) these Notions were too often, and too strongly inculcated in him.
_Menezes_ was always telling the young Prince what Victories his Predecessors had obtain'd over the _Moors_ in the _Indies_, and in almost every part of _Africa_. On the other hand, the Jesuit was perpetually teaching him, that the Crown of Kings was the immediate Gift of _God_, and that therefore the chiefest Duty of a Prince was to propagate the Holy Gospel, and to have the Word of the _Lord_ preached to those Nations, who had never heard of the Name of _Christ_.
These different Ideas of Honour and Religion made a deep impression on the Heart of Don _Sebastian_, who was naturally pious. Scarce therefore had he taken the Government of _Portugal_ upon himself, but he thought of transporting an Army into _Africa_; and to that end he often conferr'd with his Officers, but oftener with his Missionaries and other Ecclesiasticks.
A Civil War breaking out about this time in _Morocco_, seem'd very much to favour his Design. The Occasion was this: _Muley Mahomet_ had caus'd himself to be proclaim'd King of _Morocco_ after the Death of _Abdalla_, his Father; _Muley Moluc_, _Abdalla_'s Brother, opposed him, objecting that he had ascended the Throne contrary to the Law of the Cherifs, by which it is ordained, That the Crown shall devolve to the King's Brethren, if he has any, and his Sons be excluded the Succession. This occasion'd a bloody War between the Uncle and the Nephew; but _Muley Moluc_, who was as brave a Soldier as he was a wise Commander, defeated _Mahomet_'s Army in three pitch'd Battles, and drove him out of _Africa_.
The exil'd Prince fled for Refuge to the Court of _Portugal_, and finding Access to Don _Sebastian_, told him, that notwithstanding his Misfortunes, there were still a considerable Number of his Subjects, who were loyal in their Hearts, and wanted only an Opportunity of declaring themselves in his favour. That besides this, he was very well assured that _Moluc_ was afflicted with a lingring Disease, which prey'd upon his Vitals; that _Hamet_, _Moluc_'s Brother, was not belov'd by the People; that therefore if Don _Sebastian_ would but send him with a small Army into _Africa_, so many of his Subjects would come over to him, that he did not in the least question but that he should soon re-establish himself in his Father's Dominions: which, if he did recover by these means, the Kingdom should become tributary to the Crown of _Portugal_; nay, that he would much rather have Don _Sebastian_ himself fill the Throne of _Morocco_, than see it in possession of the present Usurper.
Don _Sebastian_, who was ever entertaining himself with the Ideas of future Conquests, thought this Opportunity of planting the Christian Religion in _Morocco_ was not to be neglected; and therefore promis'd the _Moorish_ King not only his Assistance, but rashly engaged himself in the Expedition, giving out that he intended to command the Army in Person. The wisest of his Counsellors in vain endeavour'd to dissuade him from the dangerous Design. His Zeal, his Courage, an inconsiderate Rashness, the common Fault of Youth, as well as some Flatterers, the Bane of Royalty, and Destruction of Princes, all prompted him to continue fixed in his Resolution, and persuaded him that he needed only appear in _Africa_ to overcome, and that his Conquests would be both easy and glorious. To this end he embarked with an Army of Thirteen Thousand Men, with which he was to drive a powerful Prince out of his own Dominions.
_Moluc_ had timely notice given him of the _Portuguese_ Expedition, and of their landing in _Africa_; he had put himself at the head of Forty Thousand Horsemen, all disciplin'd Soldiers, and who were not so much to be dreaded for their Number and Courage, as they were for the Conduct of their General. His Infantry he did not at all value himself upon, not having above Ten Thousand Regular Men; there was indeed a vast Number of the Militia, and others of the People who came pouring down to his Assistance, but these he justly look'd upon as Men who were rather come to plunder than to fight, and who would at any time side with the Conqueror.
Several Skirmishes were fought, but _Moluc_'s Officers had private Orders still to fly before the Foe, hoping thereby to make the _Portuguese_ leave the Shore, where they had intrench'd themselves. This Stratagem had its desir'd Effect; for Don _Sebastian_ observing that the _Moors_ still fled before him, order'd his Army to leave their Intrenchments, and marched against the Foe as to a certain Victory. _Moluc_ made his Army retire, as if he did not dare to fight a decisive Battle; nay, sent Messengers to Don _Sebastian_, who pretended they were order'd to treat of Peace. The King of _Portugal_ immediately concluded, that his Adversary was doubtful of the Success of the War, and that 'twould be an easier matter to overcome _Moluc_'s Army, than to join them; he therefore indefatigably pursued them. But the _Moor_ had no sooner drawn him far enough from the Shore, and made it impossible for him to retire to his Fleet, but he halted, faced the _Portuguese_, and put his Army in Battalia; the Horse making a half Circle, with intent, as soon as they engaged, to surround the Enemy on every side. _Moluc_ made _Hamet_, his Brother and Successor, Commander in chief of the Cavalry; but as he doubted his Courage, he came up to him a little before the Engagement, told him that he must either conquer or die, and that should he prove Coward enough to turn his back upon the Foe, he would strangle him with his own hand.
The reason why _Moluc_ did not command the Army himself, was, that he was sensible of the Increase of his lingring Disease, and found that in all probability this Day would be his last, and therefore resolved to make it the most glorious of his Life. He put his Army, as I said before, in Battalia himself, and gave all the necessary Orders with as much Presence of Mind, as if he had enjoy'd the greatest Health. He went farther than this; for foreseeing what a sudden Damp the News of his Death might cast upon the Courage of his Soldiers, he order'd the Officers that were about him, that if during the Heat of the Battle he should die, they should carefully conceal it, and that even after his Death, his _Aides de Camp_ should come up to his Litter, as if to receive fresh Orders. After this he was carried from Rank to Rank, where he exhorted his Soldiers to fight bravely for the Defence of their Religion and their Country.
But now the Combat began, and the great Artillery being discharg'd, the Armies join'd. The _Portuguese_ Infantry soon routed the _Moorish_ Foot-Soldiers, who, as was before mention'd, were raw and undisciplin'd; the Duke _d'Aviedo_ engaged with a Parry of Horse so happily, that they gave ground, and retir'd to the very Center of the Army, where the King was. Enraged at so unexpected a Sight, notwithstanding what his Officers could say or do, he threw himself out of his Litter; Sword in hand he clear'd himself a Passage, rallied his flying Soldiers, and led them back himself to the Engagement. But this Action quite exhausting his remaining Strength and Spirits, he fainted; his Officers put him into his Litter, where he just recover'd Strength enough to put his Finger upon his Mouth once more, to enjoin Secrecy, then died before they could convey him back to his Tent. His Commands were obey'd, and the News of his Death conceal'd.
[Sidenote: _Aug. 4. 1578._]
Hitherto the Christians seem'd to have the Advantage, but the _Moorish_ Horse advancing at last, hemm'd in _Sebastian_'s whole Army, and attack'd them on every side. The Cavalry was drove back upon their Infantry, whom they trampled under foot, and spread every where amongst their own Soldiers, Disorder, Fear, and Confusion. The Infidels seiz'd upon this Advantage, and Sword in hand fell upon the conquer'd Troops; a dreadful Slaughter ensu'd, some on their knees begg'd for quarter, others thought to save themselves by flight, but being surrounded by their Foes, met their Fate in another place. The rash Don _Sebastian_ himself was slain, but whether he fell amidst the Horror and Confusion of the Battle, not being known by the _Moors_, or whether he was resolv'd not to survive the Loss of so many of his Subjects, whom he had led on to a Field of Slaughter, is doubtful. _Muley Mahomet_ got off, but passing the River _Mucazen_, was drown'd. Thus perish'd, in one fatal Day, three Heroick Princes.
The Cardinal, Don Henry, great Uncle to Don _Sebastian_, succeeded him; he was Brother to _John_ III. the late King's Grandfather, and Son to _Emanuel_. During his Reign, his pretended Heirs made all the Interest they could in the Court of _Portugal_, being well assur'd that the present King, who was weak and sickly, and sixty-seven Years old, could not be long-liv'd; nor could he marry, and leave Children behind him, for he was a Cardinal, and in Priest's Orders. The Succession was claim'd by _Philip_ II. King of _Spain_; _Catherine_ of _Portugal_, espous'd to Don _James_, Duke of _Braganza_; by the Duke of _Savoy_; the Duke of _Parma_; and by _Antonio_, Grand Prior of _Crete_: They all publish'd their respective Manifesto's, in which every one declar'd their Pretensions to the Crown.
_Philip_ was Son to the Infanta _Isabella_, eldest Daughter of King _Emanuel_. The Dutchess of _Braganza_ was Granddaughter to the same King _Emanuel_, by _Edward_ his second Son. The Duke of _Savoy_'s Mother was the Princess _Beatrix_, a younger Sister of the Empress _Isabella_. The Duke of _Parma_ was Son to _Mary_ of _Portugal_, the second Daughter of Prince _Edward_, and Sister to the Dutchess of _Braganza_. Don _Lewis_, Duke of _Beja_, was second Son to King _Emanuel_ by _Violenta_, the finest Lady of that Age, whom he had debauch'd, but whom the Grand Prior pretended to have been privately married to that Prince. _Catherine de Medicis_, amongst the rest, made her Claim, as being descended from _Alphonso_ III. King of _Portugal_, and _Maud_ Countess of _Bolonia_. The _Pope_ too put in his Claim; he would have it, that after the Reign of the _Cardinal_, _Portugal_ must be look'd upon as a fat Living in his Gift, and to which, like many a modern Patron, he would willingly have presented himself.
But notwithstanding all their Pretensions, it plainly appear'd that the Succession belong'd either to _Philip_ King of _Spain_, or to the Dutchess of _Braganza_, a Lady of an extraordinary Merit, and belov'd by the whole Nation. The Duke, her Spouse, was descended, tho not in a direct Line, from the Royal Blood, and she herself was sprung from Prince _Edward_; whereas the King of _Spain_ was Son to _Edward_'s Sister: besides, by the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, all Strangers were excluded the Succession. This _Philip_ own'd, since thereby the Pretensions of _Savoy_ and _Parma_ vanish'd; but he would by no means acknowledge himself a Stranger in _Portugal_, which he said had often been part of the Dominions of the King of _Castile_. Each had their several Parties at Court, and the _Cardinal_ King was daily press'd to decide the Difference, but always evaded it; he could not bear to hear of his Successors, and would willingly have liv'd to have bury'd all his pretended Heirs: however, his Reign lasted but 17 Months, and by his Death _Portugal_ became the unhappy Theatre of Civil Wars.
[Sidenote: 1580.]