Part 9
_Castel-Melhor_ did all he could to persuade the People, that this happy Success was owing to him; though if the Truth had been search'd into, it would have appear'd that all he could justly boast of, was his being the first Man to whom the News was sent. By these means the Minister's Credit encreas'd, and he actually enjoy'd the Sovereign Authority. The King was nothing but a piece of Clock-work, whose Springs he could wind up, and put into what Motion he pleas'd. The Barbarity of his Temper he made use of, to ruin and destroy all those of whom he was jealous; amongst these were the greatest part of the late Queen's Ministry: so that there was a strange Alteration at Court, all Places were fill'd with the Count's Creatures; nor could any one hope for Favour, but those who took care to please the Favourite. _Melhor_ went farther than this, for _Conti_ being recall'd, he got him banish'd a second time; for no sooner was he landed, but the King sent him an Express, to congratulate him upon his safe Arrival, and _Melhor_, by the same Express, sent him Orders not to come near the Court: such a Sway had this Minister over his Sovereign, that he durst not contradict his Orders, but for fear of dipleasing him, was obliged to see _Conti_ in private. The Count had notice of it, and fearing that should their antient Intimacy be renew'd, there would be no place left for him in the King's Favour, had him accus'd of a Design upon the Prince's Life; and tho there were no Witnesses found, no Proofs, no Probabilities of his Guilt, yet Sentence of Banishment was pass'd upon him.
The Count, no longer apprehensive of _Conti_, began to consider how he should secure his Interest at Court, in case of any Accident. To this end he endeavour'd to ingratiate himself with Don _Pedro_, the King's Brother, but a Prince of a quite different Character: His Soul was truly great, and his Inclinations noble; his Actions princely, and his manner of Living regular: the _Portuguese_ admir'd, or rather ador'd him, for he had not his own Vertues only, but his Brother's Vices also, to set him off.
To this end, _Melhor_ plac'd a Brother of his in the Prince's Houshold, and bad him do all he could to insinuate himself into his Master's Favour, as he had into the King's; hoping by these means to govern both the Princes.
Don _Pedro_ us'd him with all the Civility imaginable, and shew'd him more than common Respect; but as for giving him any place in his Favour, or Confidance, he could not; the whole was taken up. The late Queen having always look'd upon her younger Son as the Hopes and Support of her Family, she had taken care to put about him none but those, whose Wisdom, Learning, and Integrity might entitle them to a share of the Prince's Love; such were his Governours, and of such chiefly was his Houshold compos'd. These had taken care to let the Prince know, that he need not despair of one day wearing the Crown of _Portugal_, for that there was no great likelihood of his Brother's ever having any Children; but at the same time they told him, that there was nothing but _Melhor_ was capable of doing, to keep him from inheriting the Crown, since he was well assur'd that he must never hope for any share in the Ministry, when Don _Pedro_ should ascend the Throne.
By degrees these different Views and Interests divided the Court into two Cabals; the Count indeed had the greatest Number on his side, there being more who love to swim with the Stream, than against it. But the ablest Statesmen, who plainly saw that so violent and arbitrary a Government could not last long, with all the Grandees, and the best of the Nobility, who would not cringe to such a Favourite as the King's was, were always about the Prince, to whom they paid their Respects as to the Heir apparent.
The Count being sensible that the Hope of the adverse Faction was founded upon the Infirmity of the King, determin'd to destroy it at once, by marrying him; and by his Advice a Match was propos'd and concluded between the King and _Mary-Elizabeth-Frances_ of _Savoy_, Daughter to _Charles_ Duke of _Nemours_, and _Elizabeth de Vendome_. _Cæsar d'Estrées_, a Relation of hers, Bishop and Duke of _Laon_, and known all over _Europe_ by the Name of the illustrious Cardinal _d'Estrées_, conducted her into _Portugal_, accompany'd with the Marquiss _de Ruvigni_, the _French_ Ambassador, and several other Persons of Quality.
This Marriage was celebrated with all the Pomp and Magnificence imaginable. The whole Court admir'd the young Queen's extraordinary Beauty, but no one was more sensibly affected with it than the Prince. The King was the only Person who seem'd regardless of her Charms, and who by his Indifference soon convinc'd the whole Nation, that he had taken the Name of a Husband, but was not capable of discharging the Duty of one.
Count _Melhor_ had at first flatter'd himself with the Hopes of governing the Queen as well as the King, but soon found that she had too great a Spirit for such a Submission. Enrag'd at this, he resolv'd to lose no Opportunity of revenging himself, all publick Business was carefully hid from her, all her Desires were cross'd; her Recommendation certainly excluded any Person from the Place to which she recommended him. Shortly after, neither the Expences of her Houshold, nor her own Pensions were paid, under pretence that the War and other Necessities of the State had exhausted the Royal Treasury. And so insolent was this haughty Minister to every body, to the Prince himself, but especially to the Queen, that she has been often seen coming out of the King's Apartment bath'd in Tears.
Her Beauty, her Merits, her Misfortunes, and the Complaints of all the Ladies of the Court, and the Officers of the Queen's Houshold, whose Salaries were stopp'd, touch'd the Hearts of all those who had not an immediate Dependence on the Minister; and these form'd a third Party at Court, where nothing now was talk'd of but the Improbability of the Queen's having any Children, tho she had not yet been married a Year.
What encreas'd every one's Suspicion, was the Report which was spread of a private Door, which by the King's Order was made in the Queen's Chamber, and open'd just against her Bed-side, and of which he himself kept the Key. The Queen was alarm'd at the Novelty of the thing, and the Danger to which she saw her Honour expos'd. And many concluded, that this was an Artifice of _Melhor_'s, who, notwithstanding the Infirmity of the King, was nevertheless resolv'd that the Queen should have Children.
The poor unfortunate Princess discover'd her Apprehensions to her Confessor, with Orders to impart them to the Prince's. These two Religious Men advis'd them to unite their Cabals, and go hand in hand together in a Matter so much the Concern of them both. The Count of _Schomberg_ was easily drawn into this Party, and the Prince took care to make himself beloved by the Magistrates of the City, and all those who had any influence over the People.
It would have been a very easy matter to have push'd the King from out his Throne, had he not had a Minister to support him, who was ambitious, could govern the King as he pleas'd, make him do any thing, and who would spare no pains to preserve himself at the head of Affairs; the only way therefore of compassing their Ends, was to remove this Man, which was at last brought about in this manner. One of his Friends was bribed to tell him, that the Prince had swore he would sacrifice him, if he continued any longer at Court. The Count upon this Information doubled the Guards, arm'd all the Officers of the Household, and would have had the King go at the head of them, and seize the Prince. But as furious as the King was in his Midnight-Revels and Debauches, he had not Courage enough to attempt any thing of this nature, justly fearing that he should meet with no small Resistance. Wherefore he only wrote a Letter to the Prince, to order him to come to the Palace. He excus'd himself, objecting that he could not come whilst the Count was at Court, who had spread so many Stories to his disadvantage, and endeavour'd all he could to blast his Reputation; besides which, the Count was Master of the Palace, and that therefore he fear'd he could not be in safety there. Several Letters pass'd between the King and Prince; the former offer'd, that _Melhor_ should come, and on his Knees beg his pardon. But this was not what the Prince wanted, and he openly refus'd to come to Court till _Melhor_ was banish'd from it.
The News of this had put _Lisbon_ into a strange Confusion, and a Civil War was just breaking out; but _Melhor_ with grief perceiv'd that _Schomberg_ favour'd the other Party, and that the Grandees of the Kingdom had all unanimously declar'd themselves in favour of the Prince; who, assisted also by the Queen's Friends, grew too powerful for him. Nay, _Melhor_'s very Relations, and those whom he had rais'd, forsook him, and told him, that if he must sink, he should sink alone. Wherefore disguising himself, he by Night escaped from the Palace, and retired to a Monastery seven Leagues from _Lisbon_; which he soon after left, to seek a sure Refuge in the Court of _Turin_.
Upon this the Prince immediately came to the Palace, to pay his Devoirs to the King; every thing fell under his Management, and he soon dispersed all the late Favourite's Creatures. The King, destitute of Counsel, lay at the Prince's mercy, who had a Design upon, but durst not as yet touch his Crown, for fear of being thought an Usurper; but waited with patience till it should be given him by Lawful Authority, that is, by a Decree of the States of the Kingdom.
But then it was in the King's power only to call together this Assembly of the States, which he was often advis'd to do, there being an absolute Necessity of their Meeting, to remedy the present Grievances of the Nation.
The King was not so weak, but he plainly perceiv'd that this Advice was given him, with a design to transfer the Royalty from himself to his Brother; wherefore he long refus'd it, but was at last so press'd to it both by his Council, and by different Petitions from several Parts of the Kingdom, that he call'd them together, and they were order'd to meet on the first of _January_, 1688.
The Prince having obtain'd this, which he look'd upon as a sure step to the Throne, gave the Queen notice, that it was time for her now to appear, and play her part. Upon which she immediately retired into a Convent, and wrote a Letter to the King, to tell him, that she thought herself in Conscience obliged to quit the Palace, since he was not capable of being her Husband; that he was very sensible that their Marriage was never consummated, and that therefore she begg'd that he would repay her her Portion, and give her leave to return to her Country, and amongst her own Relations.
Upon the Receipt of this Letter, the King in a great Rage flew towards the Convent, to fetch the Queen back to the Palace by force; but the Prince, who foresaw the Effect of her Message, took care to be at the Convent-Door, with all the Nobility, and told his Brother this was a Place too sacred to have any Violence us'd in it, and persuaded, or rather forc'd the King to return to the Palace, who all the way complain'd of being calumniated, and was for bringing half the Prostitutes of _Lisbon_ to prove his Virility, and swore that he would be reveng'd both on the Queen and the Prince.
[Sidenote: _Nov. 23. 1667._]
But Don _Pedro_ was not in the least frightned at his Menaces, knowing that the whole Power of the Kingdom was in his own hands; and the next Morning (thinking it unsafe to delay the mighty Work any longer) order'd the Council to assemble, and follow'd by the Nobility, the Magistracy, and a whole Crowd of People, who wanted to see the Event of this Business, he went into the Palace to them; and after a short Debate, an Order was sent by the Prince to arrest the King, who shortly after this sign'd his own Abdication.
Notwithstanding this, the Prince would not take any other Title, but that of Regent; under which Name the States of the Kingdom took the Oath of Allegiance to him.
[Sidenote: _Febr. 13. 1668._]
The next thing he did, was to secure a Peace with _Spain_; the King of _England_ made himself their Mediator, and _Spain_, by a solemn Treaty, acknowledg'd the Crown of _Portugal_ independent of the Crown of _Spain_.
[Sidenote: _Nov. 22. 1667._]
[Sidenote: _Mar. 24. 1668._]
But one thing was still wanting to compleat the Regent's Happiness: he loved his Sister-in-law; who, as soon as she was got into the Convent, had presented a Petition to the Chapter of the Cathedral of _Lisbon_, to desire them, during the Vacancy of the Holy See, to declare her Marriage void; since, notwithstanding fifteen Months Cohabitation with her Husband, it had not been consummated. The Chapter, without waiting for any farther Proof, immediately declar'd the Marriage void.
[Sidenote: _March 2. 1668._]
[Sidenote: _Dec. 10. 1668._]
By these means the Regent saw himself at liberty to marry his Sister-in-law; however, he was advis'd, for fear of scandalizing any one, to get a Dispensation from the See of _Rome_. Just at this time the Cardinal _de Vendome_, Legate _à Latere_, was order'd by the See to put on the Papal Dignity, that he might assist as Pope at the Christening of the Dauphin of _France_; from him was the Dispensation obtain'd, which Mr. _Verjus_ arriv'd with in _Portugal_ about the time that the Chapter pronounced their Sentence. All which Accidents falling out together, made some People imagine that they were premeditated. The Bishop of _Targa_, Coadjutor to the Archbishop of Lisbon, married them in virtue of this Brief, which was afterwards confirm'd by Pope _Innocent_ IX.
Don _Alphonso_ was banish'd to the Isle of _Tercera_, which belongs to the _Portuguese_. This something displeas'd the People, who generally pity the Unfortunate, and who now cry'd out, that it was enough to rob him of his Wife and Crown, without driving him from his Country; but however, no one dar'd speak to the Regent about it. He continued in this Exile till the Year 1675, at which time the Regent recall'd him, being inform'd that there were some discontented People contriving how to fetch him from _Tercera_, and reinstate him in the Throne. He died not far from _Lisbon_, 1683, and at his Death Don _Pedro_ was proclaim'd King; a Title he would not, during his Brother's Life, accept, and the only thing of which he had not depriv'd that unfortunate Prince.
_=FINIS=._
INDEX.
A.
Abdalla, _King of ~Morocco~_, 5.
Acugna, _Archbishop of ~Lisbon~, his Character_, 24. _His Speech to the Confederate Nobility_, 25. _Is made Lord-Lieutenant of ~Portugal~ after the Revolution_, 65.
Aiamonti, _a ~Castilian~ Nobleman, related to the Queen of ~Portugal~_, 76. _Negotiates a Business between the King of ~Portugal~ and the Governour of ~Andalusia~_, ibid. _Discovers the ~Spanish~ Plot_, 85. _His Character_, 91. _Writes to the Duke of ~Medina Sidonia~, to persuade him to revolt_, 92. _Is seiz'd as a Traitor_, 104. _Deceiv'd by ~Olivarez~_, 114. _His Courage when led to Execution_, 115.
Alba, _the Duke of, General to ~Philip II.~ King of ~Spain~, conquers ~Portugal~_, 12
Almada, _a Castle near ~Lisbon~_, 29
Almada, _~Antonio~ and ~Lewis~, two of the Conspirators_, 25
Almanzor, _the Caliph, conquers ~Spain~_, 2
Almeida, _one of the chief Conspirators, his Character_, 24. _Is deputed with two more to confer with the Duke of ~Braganza~_, 30
Alphonso VI. _King of ~Castile~ and ~Leon~, gives ~Portugal~ in Dowry with his Daughter to ~Henry~ Count of ~Burgundy~_, 3
Alphonso, _Son to the former, first King of ~Portugal~_, 4
Alphonso VI. _King of ~Portugal~, is but thirteen Years old when his Father dies_, 117. _His Character_, 121. _Debaucheries_, 122. _Retires to ~Alcantra~_, 124. _Takes the Government upon himself_, 125. _Marries ~Mary-Elizabeth-Frances~ of ~Savoy~, Princess of ~Nemours~_, 130. _Signs his Abdication_, 136. _Is banish'd to ~Tercera~_, 137. _Recall'd, and dies near ~Lisbon~_, 138
Antonio, _Grand-Prior of ~Crato~, pretends to the Crown of ~Portugal~_, 10. _Is proclaim'd King by the People, and defeated by the Duke of ~Alba~_, 12
Aviedo, _the Duke of, an Officer in ~Africa~ under ~Don Sebastian~_, 9
B.
Baeze, _a rich ~Jew~ of ~Lisbon~, drawn into the Conspiracy against the King of ~Portugal~_, 84. _Sends Letters for the other Conspirators_ _into Castile_, ibid. _Is examin'd, and confesses_, 88
Baynetto, _an ~Italian~ Nobleman, arrested at ~Lisbon~_, 62
Braganza, _Don ~James~ Duke of, claims the Crown of ~Portugal~ at the Death of the Cardinal King_, 10. _But does not assert his Right by Force of Arms_, 12
Braganza, _~Theodossus~, Son to the former, his Character_, 15
Braganza, _Don ~John~, Grandson to Don ~James~, his Character_, 15. _Stratagems us'd to draw him out of ~Portugal~_, 17. _Is made Governour of that Kingdom, and General of the ~Spanish~ Forces in it_, 18. _~Olivarez~'s Design to arrest him when on board the Admiral's Ship_, ibid. _All Governours of Forts and strong Places order'd to seize him_, 19. _He disappoints them_, 20. _Comes to ~Lisbon~_, 29. _His Answer to the Confederate Nobility_, 32. _Is proclaim'd King_, 56. _Endeavours to make the Governour of ~Andalusia~ rebel against the King of ~Spain~_, 76. _His Death and Character_, 116
Braganza, _~Louisa de Gusman~, married to Don ~John~, her Character_, 33. _Her Answers to the Duke when he talk'd about his Restoration_, 36. _Her Answer to the Archbishop of ~Lisbon~, when he begg'd the Life of a Traitor_, 90. _Is made Regent_, 117. _Engages the Earl of ~Schomberg~ to come and command her Forces_, 118. _Marries her Daughter to King ~Charles II.~ of England_, 119. _Her Speech to the Count ~de Castel-Melhor~_, 124. _To her Son when she resign'd the Regency_, 125. _Retires into a Convent, and dies_, 126
C.
Camino, _the Duke of, assists at the King's Coronation_, 72. _Conspires against him_, 80. _Is arrested_, 86. _Executed_, 90
Cardenas, _Don ~Didaco~, Lieutenant-General of the ~Spanish~ Cavalry, is arrested at ~Lisbon~ at the time of the Revolution_, 62
Castel-Melhor, _Favourite and first Minister of State to ~Alphonsus VI.~ King of ~Portugal~, his Character_, 123. _Persuades the King to take the Government upon himself_, ibid. _To affront the Queen his Mother, that she might retire from Court_, 126. _Places his Brother near the Prince_, 129. _Marries the King_, 130. _Yet cannot agree with the Queen_, 131. _Persuades the King to go himself and arrest the Prince_, 133. _Is forc'd to leave the Court, and fly to ~Turin~_, 134
Catherine _of ~Austria~, Regent of ~Portugal~ during the Minority of Don ~Sebastian~_, 4
Catherine de Medicis _pretends to the Crown of ~Portugal~_, 11
Catherine, _Daughter to King ~John IV.~ of ~Portugal~, married to King ~Charles II.~_, 119
Castro-Marino, _a Town in ~Portugal~_, 95
Challenge _sent to the King of ~Portugal~_, 107
Cherifs, _a Law of theirs_, 5
Ciudad-real, _the Duke of, enters ~Cadiz~ with ten thousand Men_, 104.
Conti, _the Son of a Merchant of ~Lisbon~, ~Alphonsus~'s first Favourite_, 122. _Is banish'd by the Regent Queen into ~Brazil~_, ibid. _Recall'd by the King, but banish'd again by ~Castel-Melhor~_, 128
Correa, _a Clerk of ~Vasconcellos~'s, runs out as the Conspirators are coming up to the Secretary's Apartment_, 56. _And receives several Stabs, but does not die_, 57. _Conspires against the King of ~Portugal~_, 81. _And is executed with the other Traitors_, 90
Coreo, _a Citizen of ~Lisbon~, an Instrument of the Revolution_, 43
Coutingno, _Don ~Gaston~, during the time of the Revolution delivers the Prisoners_, 63
D.
Del Campo, _Governor of the Citadel of ~Lisbon~, surrenders to the Confederate Nobility_, 64
Diego Garcez Palleia, _a Captain of Foot, defends ~Vasconcellos~ for some time_, 57
Daiamonti, _vid. ~Aiamonti~_.
E.
Estrees _related to the young Queen of ~Portugal~, Bishop and Duke of ~Laon~, and known by the Name of the Cardinal ~d'Estrees~_, 130
Evora, _the People of, rise in a tumultuous manner, and declare themselves for the House of ~Braganza~_, 16
F.
Ferdinand de Castro, _Comptroller of the Navy-Office, arrested at ~Lisbon~ at the time of the Revolution_, 62
Ferdinand de la Cueva, _Governour of the Citadel of ~St. John~'s, surrenders upon Terms_, 71
Ferreira, _the Marquiss of, is of opinion that all the Traitors ought to be executed_, 89
G.
Goa, _and all the other Places in ~India~ and ~Africa~, which formerly belong'd to ~Portugal~, revolt from the King of ~Spain~, and acknowledge the Duke of ~Braganza~_, 77
Garray, _Don ~John~, Lieutenant-General of the ~Spanish~ Forces, Second to the Duke of ~Medina~_, 114
George, _Brother to the Lord ~Ranger~, a Conspirator_, 25. _Reveals the Conspiracy to a Relation_, 52
H.
Hamet, _Brother to ~Muley-Moluc~, King of ~Morocco~, commands the Army_, 8
D'Haro, _Don ~Lewis~, Nephew to ~Olivarez~_, 103
Henry, _Count of ~Burgundy~, Son to ~Robert~ King of ~France~, drives the ~Moors~ from ~Portugal~_, 3
Henry, _Cardinal and Archbishop of ~Evora~, succeeds Don ~Sebastian~_, 10. _Refuses to name his Successor_, 12
Hyde, _Chancellor of ~England~, persuades King ~Charles II.~ to marry the Infanta of ~Portugal~_, 119
I.
Jews _conspire against the King of ~Portugal~_, 82
Inchequin, _General of the ~English~ Forces in ~Portugal~_, 120
Inquisitor, _the ~Grand~, conspires against the King_, 81. _Is arrested_, 86. _And condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment_, 90
John, _Don, Prince of ~Portugal~, Son to King ~John III.~ dies before his Father_, 4
John, _Don, of ~Austria~, natural Son to ~Philip IV.~ King of ~Spain~, and General of the Troops sent against ~Portugal~_, 127
Julian, _an ~Italian~ Nobleman, invites the ~Moors~ into ~Spain~_, 2
L.
Lemos, _a Merchant of ~Lisbon~, and an Instrument of the Revolution_, 43
Lewis de Camara, _a Jesuit, Tutor to Don ~Sebastian~_, 4
Lewis de Castile, _is sent by the Duke of ~Medina~ to the Marquis ~Daiamonti~_, 92. _Returns back to the Duke_, 94
M.
Margaret _of ~Savoy~, Dutchess of ~Mantua~, Vice-Queen of ~Portugal~_, 14. _Complains of ~Vasconcellos~'s Conduct_, 40. _Endeavours to appease the Confederate Nobility_, 59. _Is confin'd_, 61. _Removes to ~Xabregas~-House_, 67
Mattos, _Don ~Sebastian de Norogna~, Archbishop of ~Braga~, and President of the Chamber of ~Opaco~_, 24. _Conspires against the King of ~Portugal~_, 78. _Confesses his Crime_, 88. _Dies in Prison_, 90
Mello, _Lord ~Ranger~, one of the Conspirators_, 25. _Cuts the ~Spanish~ Guard to pieces_, 55. _Acquaints the Duke and Dutchess of ~Braganza~ with the Success of their Enterprize_, 69
Mendoza, _another of the chief Conspirators_, 25. _Meets the Duke of ~Braganza~ in a Forest, and confers with him_, 39. _Goes with ~Mello~ to ~Villa-viciosa~_, 69
Menezes, _~Alexis~, Governour to Don ~Sebastian~_, 4
Menezes, _~Antonio~, his Answer to the Vice-Queen_, 60