flight of his Daughter Ximena The third was Sancha Daughter to the King of Navarre by these two he had no Children 923. The last Action of his life darkn'd all the Glory of his former Triumphs He sent for four Counts who governed Castile upon safe Conduct to Carrion and there cut off their Heads Which so incensed the People of Castile that they only wanted an Opportunity to rebell and take Revenge But Death prevented their Designs 924. taking him away at Zamora His Body was buried in the great Church of Leon which City he had so entirely loved that he took its Name for the Title of his Kingdom leaving that of King of Oviedo and Galicia CHAP. VIII The Succession of the Kings of Castile and Leon from the Year 924 till 985 With the Revolt of Count Fernan Gonzalez And the Desolation made in Portugal by Alcoraxis and Almanzor the Moors 1. D. Fruela II. was Successor to his Brother Ordonno Fruela II. usurps the Crown usurping the Crown from his Children who were then very young He was nothing like to his Brother in Valour for he ceased the Prosecution of the War against the Infidels but was not unlike to him in the last Action of his Life for as Ordonno unjustly put to death the fore-mentioned Counts so Fruela wrongfully executed certain Gentlemen called Olmudes He became so odious to the Castilians that the Nobility Castile separates from Leon. and creates a Government under Judges joining together rebelled and separated themselves from the Crown of Leon. To this purpose they chose two Judges to rule them The two first were Nunno Rasura and Lain Calvo They were of the Middle Sort of People neither of the Greatest nor Meanest that so they might neither be too powerful nor become contemptible Yet from them are the Kings of Spain descended At the same time that this Government was instituted in Castile we find Counts governing in some Parts of Portugal as D. Gutierre Arias at Porto and Hufo Hufez at Viseo A Leprosie consumed King Fruela so fast 925. that he died at Leon having reigned scarce a Year and was buried in the Cathedral He had two Wives D. Munia and D. Vrraca By them he had Issue Ordonno Alonso and Ramiro King Ramiro II. put out all their Eyes and thrust them into the Monastery of St. Julian either upon Suspicion or Proof that they conspired against him He had also a fourth Son called Fruela 2. Alonso IV Alonso IV. resigns the Government to his Brother Ramiro Eldest Son of King Ordonno II after the Death of Fruela recovered his Right and Kingdom He was not wicked as his Predecessor but as unprofitable to his Kingdom as he His best Quality was That he was sensible of his own Insufficiency and therefore first sent his Brother Ramiro to govern Portugal and afterwards resigned the Kingdom to him and became himself a Monk Ramiro had chosen the City Viseo for his Residence in Portugal whence he made Inroads into the Frontiers of the Moors and by his gentle Government gained the Affections of the People Here he received Letters from the King his Brother calling him to Court in order to resign the Crown to him for that his Son Prince Ordonno was but an Infant D. Ramiro fearing his Brother's Inconstancy hasted to Zamora that he might not have Time to repent The King immediately put the Crown upon his Head and was the first that did him Homage as his Subject Which done he took the Habit of a Benedictine Monk in the Monastery of Sahagun and is therefore called Alonso the Monk He was married to Ximena the Daughter of King Sancho Abarca of Navarre and had by her Ordonno who came to be King and D. Alonso who died young He died in the Monastery of St. Julian and lies there buried But we shall see him repent and disturb his Brother's Reign 3. King Alonso being become a Monk 928. and repenting Alonso repents and raises a Civil War his Brother Ramiro now possessed of the Crown resolved not to part with it and thus began a Civil War which was the Cause of much Mischief The Moors making their Advantage thereof recovered the Cities of Lamâ—go Braganza and Porto with all the Country lying between the Rivers Tagus and Duero The Castilians also made use of this Opportunity their Judges Nunno and Lain being dead to raise up in their stead the Count Ferran Gonzalez King Ramiro politickly winking at this Affront 932. which he could not revenge upon the Authors invaded the Kingdom of Toledo destroying all before him with Fire and Sword King Alonso the Monk held out two Years in Leon against his Brother Ramiro But then despairing of Success he stirred up Alonso Ordonno and Ramiro the Sons of his Predecessor Fruela to raise a Rebellion in Asturias and Biscay believing that would draw away the King his Brother from attending upon him Nevertheless the King continued the Siege obliged him to surrender and afterwards put him into Prison This done he found Means to apprehend the three Brothers and to prevent future Designs put out theirs and his Brother the Monk's Eyes Two Years Alonso lived blind But the King repenting of this Cruelty used towards his Brother to testifie his Repentance built the Monastery of St. Julian 4. Two Months are said to have passed in the Year 934 934. in which Time the Light of the Sun was scarce seen Prodigies in the Sky at the End whereof a Breach or Yawning appeared in the Sky along which great Flames of Fire were seen to run and the Stars seemed to wander in the Region of the Air. Many Judgments were made upon these Prodigies but most agreed they portended the End of the World to be at hand At last the Sun shined out and whilst the Christians appeased God with Prayers the Moors consulted their Wizards Alfarani of Meca affirmed to King Abderramen that this Prodigy threaten'd the Downfall of Christian Princes if he would take in hand to pull them down Diviners fore-tell what they know is pleasing to Princes and Princes believe that which pleases them Abderramen declares War and makes mighty Preparations for it drawing great Succours out of Africk under the Command of Almanzor With an Army almost innumerable he broke into Portugal bearing down all before him and putting the Christians to most cruel Deaths King Ramiro having gathered the greatest Power he could set forward to meet the Enemy whose Multitude obliged him to retire to the Mountains of Clavijo Ramiro destroys a great Army of Infidels Here the Apostle St. James is said to have appeared to him promising he should obtain a wonderful Victory in that Place In the Fight the Apostle was seen on Horseback making great Slaughter among the 〈◊〉 This Victory some will have to be the Cause of his being taken for Patron of Spain though others say it was that in the Time of King Alonso I. as was
the Marquess on the Scaffold had spoke to the people they cried out furiously let him die let him die To which the Marquess answered So the Jews cried out against Christ 4. These Executions having secured the Prince Several Military expeditions he bent all his Thoughts upon War and having to that purpose obtained of the King of France five Colonels of Horse three of Foot and two of Dragoons he ordered them to be ready to march to the Frontiers and raised new Troops to reinforce his Army that lay then before Badajoz However they were otherwise employed for the Council not thinking it expâ—â—â—ent to wast an Army before a Town that did them no 〈◊〉 those Troops that besieged it were recalled to serve elsewhere The first Act of Hostility I meet with betwixt the Spaniards and Portuguese was in the Province of Alentejo near Elvas A Party of Spaniards having broke into that Province exercised all manner of Cruelties to terrifie the People sparing neither Age nor Sex nor even the Churches D. John de Acosta who Commanded at Elvas having notice hereof sent out five Companies of Foot under the Command of Gaspar de Sequeira Manuel These were followed by 400 Men under the Conduct of Luis Mendez de Vasconcellos These being joyned by certain Troops three Leagues from Campo Major marched towards the Spaniards who still continued their Ravages and Charging them killed 200 upon the spot pursuing the rest to the Gates of Badajoz where they took shelter This fortunate beginning was followed by like consequences 600 Spaniards advancing into the Province of Alentejo to surprize the Town of Montalvao Mascarenhas Collonel of a Portuguese Regiment with only four Companies Attacked them before they came to the Town and with such good success that having killed 18 or 20 the rest retired to the Pass on a small River and he fearing some ambush because Night drew on pursued no further In the morning perceiving they were quite gone he followed them as far as the Town of Ferreira in Castile which he Plundered and Burnt without any opposition though it might easily have been defended against a greater power Beyond the Mountains the Spaniards had sacked and Burnt four open Towns to revenge which Lewis Gomez de Figueiredo passed over into Galicia took the Town of Monterey and having pillaged reduced it to Ashes To requite this another party of Spaniards fell into the Countrey about Braganza but the Inhabitants and Soldiers who Quartered thereabouts assembling cut most of them in pieces and then piercing into Castile burnt seven Villages and the Town of Geronda of which they left nothing standing but the Walls At the same time Luis Gomez de Figueiredo with 1500 Foot and 300 Horse fell upon the Marquess of Tarrasona who marched towards Valverde with 2000 of the former and 200 of the latter and after a Fight which lasted about four hours obtained the Victory which had been greater but that Night coming on hindred the pursuit 5. Daily Action more and more incensed the two Nations Other War like exploits and an implacable hatred had taken possession of their hearts so that the Frontiers were never free from slaughter and Rapine D. Gaston Coutinho the Portuguese General being informed that 6000 Spanish Foot and 800 Horse had fortified themselves in two Villages one whereof was in Galicia the other in Portugal he marched with 30 Horse to view them and finding their Works weak enough to be overthrown if Attacked with vigour ordered his Foot to advance A Party of the Enemies Horse that advanced was easily Repulsed which causing some Consternation in the main Body gave time to plant two pieces of Canon against them These two pieces having played some time D. Gaston who had made four Batallions of his Foot courageously assaulted the Works in as many places The Soldiers being as forward in the pursuit of Honour as their Officers nothing could withstand them They forced the Entrenchments took four redoubts entred the place and took all the Baggage but not contenting themselves with this Victory and the gaining of 11 Colours they burnt all the Villages for two Leagues about Above 400 Spaniards were killed upon the place 14 Officers and 70 Soldiers were taken Nor was this all the Portuguese General making his advantage of the Enemies Consternation the next day marched into Galicia and pursuing those that having escaped had fortified themselves in another Village forced them again to retire burnt nine Houses and then returned home with Honour and his Soldiers enriched with Plunder In the mean while Vasco de Azevedo Coutinho and Emanuel de Sousa de Abreu being continually infested by the Excursions of the Spaniards gathered all the Forces they could and marched to Lobos in the Castle of which place the Spaniards always had a safe retreat after committing their ordinary Ravages This Castle they assaulted and carried with the loss only of 22 Men which done they burnt 700 Houses as well in the Town of Lobos as in the neighbouring Villages This was not yet the last stroak of ill fortune the Spaniards felt Martin Alfonso de Mello understanding a great body of them was marched from Badajoz to Attack Olivenza a Town seated on the River Guadiana which parts Spain and Portugal assembled all the Forces he could to relieve that place Being on his March an Express came to him from the Governour giving an account that they had assaulted the Town in two places but met with such a vigorous opposition that they were forced to retire with the loss of 200 Men nevertheless he desired some succour least they should return They accordingly returned hoping to surprize the place feigning themselves a Portuguese Convoy with Provisions yet met they with no better success being again repulsed with the loss of 140 Men. Martin Alphonso still hoped to be able to overtake them in their return but they taking another way than was given out he missed of them and therefore dismissed his Troops to their several Garrisons It was a generally received Opinion throughout all Spain though the Author of it was not known that the Duke of Medina Sidonia The Duke of Medina Sidonia being suspected in Spain Challenges King John held secret Correspondence with the King of Portugal and favoured his Cause The ground of this Suspicion was that King John had to his Queen the Sister of that Duke and upon this Jealousie it is thought the King of Spain talking one Day with the Count Duke de Olivarez complained to him That he had three or four times observed the Family of Guzman was fatal to his Grandeur The Count Duke who was himself of that Family immediately dispatched an Express to the Duke of Medina Sidonia summoning him to appear at Court with all possible Speed He obeyed and being come to Madrid he was perswaded that to clear himself of the imputation of Disloyalty cast upon him he should publish a Manifesto containing a Challenge to the new King of
tho' much inferior in number stood their Ground and obstinately defended themselves for the space of seven Hours but were at last forced to retire having lost many Men besides many more wounded The Spaniards say the Fort of Telena was not Demolished but left in the same Condition the Portugueses found it they wanting time to ruin the Works or remove any thing out of it being forced to retreat with Precipitation 3. Nothing better was the success of the Marquess de Aytona Actions in the Province of Beira the Catholick King 's General betwixt the Rivers Duero and Minho in his design of surprizing Salvaterra He marched with 600 Foot and 500 Horse but the Count de Castelmelhor who commanded the Portugueses in that Province understanding his Design posted himself under the Walls of that Place and the Marquess perceiving his Intentions had taken Air posted himself not far off and being master of the Field erected a Fort upon an Eminence that might serve as a Bridle upon the Garrison of Salvaterra and where he might be at Hand upon any Opportunity to throw himself into that place which was very considerable as being upon the Frontiers of Beira Some considerable Action might reasonably be expected here the Spaniards keeping to their Strength and the Portuguese to theirs and the Forces on both sides daily encreasing The Spanish Army grew up to the Number of 10000 Foot and 3000 Horse which on the 20 of November undertook the Siege of Salvaterra and pressed it so vigorously that they soon lodged themselves upon the Ditch and had begun to mine hoping in few days to carry the place This was the posture of their Affairs when understanding that all the Forces of the Province of Beira commanded by Count Seren reinforced by others of Alentejo under the Conduct of D. Sancho Manuel were marching with all possible speed to the Relief of the Town they raised the Siege with such Precipitation that they left behind them much Provision Ammunition their Baracks and about 300 sick and lame Souldiers The Portugueses coming later then they had hoped as those who were stayed by the violent Rains were much troubled to be disappointed of meeting the Spanish Army the routing of which they had promised to themselves and greater Security to their Frontiers for the future Having burnt the Baracks and the Country round about they returned to their Winter-quarters as the Spaniards had done on their side 4. Thus stood all the Affairs on both sides Both sides cease from Hostilities when as well the one as the other perceived that this sort of Action served only to harrass themselves The Catholick King seemed to maintain an Army to no purpose since in 5 or 6 Years time he had done nothing but waste Mony and loose Men and Ground All the Portugueses did was to destroy Towns frighten the Country People and kill some few Soldiers These Considerations moved both Parties to put their standing Forces into Garrisons and forbear farther Hostilites Whilst the Catholick King attended the Affairs of Catalonia and made his Interest at Rome to obstruct the new King 's being treated as such by the Pope and the vacant Benefices in Portugal to be filled by Men of that Princes presenting he laboured to heap up Treasure of the Riches brought him from India that whenever the Catholick King should renew the War he might not want Money which is the Life and Sinews of all Armies He also took care to strengthen himself with Friends and Confederates and having secured the King of France his Ministers endeavoured to joyn in Amity with the new Common-wealth of England Portugues Affairs at Rome It remained to sollicite the Friendship of the See of Rome not only by performing the publick Act of Obedience and filling the vacant Churches but by satisfying that Court as to two Points which it seemed to resent One was that King John persisted in retaining some Revenues taken from the Church The other that he kept the Arch-bishop of Braga Prisoner for which he was excommunicated and therefore the Pope demanded that the Revenues should be restored and the Arch-bishop put into his Hands as being his proper Judge To those things the Portuguese Ministers answer'd that had the Pope sent his Nuncio the Dispute about those Revenues might have been easily accommodated it being made appear that the Crown was in possession of them for about 600 Years And as to the Arch-bishop that he being guilty of High-Treason what the King had done was justifiable according to the Canons and therefore he could incur no Censure of the Church Nevertheless the King was ready to commit the Tryal of that Cause to such Judges as his Holiness should appoint but not to deliver his Person because of the danger there was that he should be set at Liberty by the way if he touched at any port of Spain as also because King John not being yet owned as such at Rome they would not adjudge the Arch-bishop guilty of High-Treason The Court of Rome seemed satisfyed as to this Point but not as to the other 5. In this place it will not be amiss to relate the end of the Misfortunes befallen to Edward Of Edward Brother to King John Brother to King John It was said above how he was taken in Germany where he served the Emperor and delivered up to the Ministers of Spain as guilty of being privy to the revolt of Portugal It was layed to his Charge that being a Subject of the King of Spain he had not discovered to him the designed revolt of that Kingdom On this account he was put into the Castle of Milan where fresh Evidence was found against him He was kept with Guards upon him in the very Room all his own Servants being removed from him upon Suspicion that they contrived his Escape The Governor of the Castle imagining that his Confessor who was a Jesuit might have a hand in that Contrivance sent him word to chose another so it were a Subject of the King of Spain and no Jesuit letting him also know that every now and then he must change his Confessor This Message being delivered by the Lieutenant of the Castle D. Edward broke out into a Passion which he had never done before and among many other rash Expressions said His Comfort was that he suffered for the King his Brother for his Family and Country for which he was willing to lay down his Life This the Lieutenant deposed against him and several Soldiers also restifyed that being upon his Guard they had heard him drink a Health to the King his Brother The Governor having taken those depositions there came a Commission from Spain appointing three Judges to try him and they again examined all the Witnesses then they proceeded to examine the Prisoner himself who being asked what he knew of the design of revolting in Portugal utterly denyed he had any knowledge of it but unadvisedly in his Discourse added that being at
diverted him from that Action offered to break open the door whereupon Conti seeing no hopes of escaping and the Count not able to relieve him or acquaint the King delivered himself up to the Duke upon promise of Life At the same time some some others of Conti's partizans were secured partly in the pallace and partly in the Town all which were immediately put aboard a Ship that lay ready to Sail in the River and sent away to Brazil The Queen being informed that all she had commanded was put in Execution led the King forth into the great Hall whither she had assembled all the Nobility Ministers of State and Magistrates of the City the better to appease and terrify the King Here a Remonstrance was made to him in the Name of the Kingdom full of grievous complaints against his Conduct and against his Favourites whom to prevent any farther ill consequences they declared they had been obliged to send into banishment This done having kissed his hand they departed It was no small surprize to the King to be brought so unexpectedly into that assembly and therefore not rightly conceiving the drift of what had been said he began to ask the meaning of it Garcia de Melo told him that to satisfy the complaints of his People they had sent Conti and his adherents into banishment He scarce believing they durst offer him such an indignity began loudly and in a rage to call upon Conti and running to seek for him threatned to follow him wheresoever they had sent him Melo told him his search would be in vain for that he was now under Sail for Brazil that as the case stood he must have either parted with Conti or his Crown At this answer he seemed somewhat to compose himself Then calling for Emanuel Antunes who only had escaped of all his former Favourites he shut himself up with him and the Count of Castellomelhor These two gave him a full Relation of what had passed and here were layed the first Foundations of the Counts ensuing greatness After this meeting the King appeared unconcerned at what had hapned and rid according to custom that Afternoon but he had learned to Counterfeit and had other thoughts within his breast than what appeared by his countneance This mighty act of policy which the Queen had contrived to perpetuate her Regency Count Castelmelhor succeeds in the King's Favour was the very cause of her speedy falling from it Count Castelmelhor a Man above exception for his Birth and Parts had now succeeded in the Kings Favour in the place of Conti and omitted not to encourage him in the resolution of taking upon him the Government Besides a young Lady belonging to the Queen for whom the King had a more then ordinary Affection made him the more earnest discovering to him all his Mothers private Discourses For the better carrying on his Design the King ordered the Count whose waiting Week was expired to wait on another least one might succeed him whom he could not so well confide in This done he retired according to custom to Alcantara a House near Lisbon carrying with him his Brother and a great Train That same day he returned to Lisbon and visited his Mother discoursing so lovingly with her that all resentment seemed to be passed but on a sudden without acquainting her he went back to Alcantara accompanyed only by the Count de Castelmelhor and the Count de Antouguia From thence he dispersed Letters into all parts of the Kingdom to the Officers of the Army and Governors of Towns acquainting them that being now at Age he had taken upon him the Government The King resolves to take the Government upon him Then he ordered all the Nobility and Ministers of State that were at Lisbon to repair to him to Alcantara The Queen astonished at this News and fearing to be cast down from her Regency assembles the Council of State where it was resolved that Emanuel Pacheco should be placed upon the Road to stop all those that should offer to repair to the King that the Queen should write a Letter to him in soft Terms desiring him either to delay some time his taking the Government upon him or at least to admit her to bear a great part with him and that in case perswasions failed she should then use Force to constrain him Accordingly Pacheco turned back those that were going to Alcantara the Guards and all the Queens Adherents were ordered to be ready in Arms to support her and a Letter was sent to the King from her full of alluring and soft but all deceitful Expressions But before the sending of the Letter the People of Lisbon perceiving that the Court armed against the King began to run into tumult for his Defence fearing least any violence might be offered him This zeal of the Multitude was what humbled the Queen and therefore seeing no hope left of prevailing by open force she had recourse to Artifice and Entreaty and therefore as has been said sent a submissive Letter by the Bishop of Targa In this Letter among other things the Queen urged to have the Cortes or Parliament call'd that she might there resign the Government but the King and the Count perceiving this was only a contrivance to gain time an answer was sent her by the same Bishop The purport of this Answer was that the King considering the great Burthen of care that attended the Government was willing to ease his Mother who had long laboured under it of that Toil and to take it upon himself She now plainly perceiving that there was no longer hope either by Force or Art of retaining the Government resolved at length to quit it least it should be violently taken from her However she wished it might be done in the Pallace that the World might believe it had been freely resigned and not to be forcibly extorted from her Those who were acquainted with her Subtilties advised the King not to trust himself to her Power which made him delay some time at Alcantara However at length finding himself secured on all sides and the Queens Interest declining since the People of Lisbon had declared for him he repaired to the Pallace where in the presence of the Nobility Ministers of State and Magistrates of the City She is at length forced to resign the Queen delivered up the Seals into his Hands which is the usual Ceremony in Portugal when a King takes upon him the Government This Ceremony was perform'd on the 23d of June 1662 the King then wanting but one Month of 19 Years of Age whereas according to the antient custom of Portugal their Kings were always reputed of Age at 14 and accordingly at those Years the Regency ought to cease The Queen Mother thus discharged of the care of Government She pretends to retire but stays at Court in hopes to wrest the Power from her Son began again to talk of retiring but that after such a manner that no Body
the marriage fresh instances were made that the Prince might be declared King by the Cortes but this attempt also proving ineffectual he notifyed to them that on the 9th of June following he would take his Oath to maintain the Laws of the Realm and receive from them theirs of fidelity which was accordingly performed The three Estates continued their Session after this till the first day of August 1668 when they broke up Several months being passed after the consummation of this marriage when the thing done was not to be retrieved without horrid scandal and embroiling the whole State of the Church then at last the Prince bethought himself of sending to the Pope to confirm the Cardinal's dispensation Pope Clement the 9th who sate in St. Peter's chair seeing no possibility of recalling what was past and relying upon the information of the Chapter of Lisbon did expedite a Brief directed to James de Sousa Chief Inquisitor Antony de Mendâ—za commissary for the Bull of the Croisade Martin Alphonso de Melo Dean of Evora Lewis de Sousa Dean of Porto and Emanuel de Meneses Arch-Deacon of Evora impowering them to dispense in his name with the said marriage This Brief was dated December the 10th 1668. These persons so authorised accordingly in the Popes name delared the marriage of King Alphonso null that of his Queen with the Prince to be good and valid and all the Children that were or should be gotten between them to be Legitimate which sentence they pronounced upon the 18th of February 1669. When the unfortunate King had been detained a considerable time Prisoner in the Pallace of Lisbon 1669. it was thought necessary to remove him King Alphonso sent prisoner to the Island Tercera least the People comming to themselves and commiserating the sufferings of their Sovereign should make some commotion that might endanger the present government It was therefore resolved to send him into the Island Terecera whether he was conveyed by the Count de Prado then Commanding the Portuguese Fleet and there continued several years under a strict Guard At length not only the People of Lisbon but throughout all Portugal understanding by those who came from that Island that he led a most miserable Life in that remote Island and was almost reduced to the last extremity through sufferings and anguish of mind there was cause to apprehend they would in time be moved to resent his calamities and perhaps be stirred up to revenge them upon those who were the cause thereof Besides it fell out that the King of Spain at the same time fitted out a Navy at Cadiz without declaring for what intent which being known at Lisbon those who dreaded the Return of the King as having been the promoters of his Ruin presently imagined it was to take him from his banishment For these reasons he was sent for with all possible speed and brought back into Portugal He is brought back and confined to the Castle of Cintra where he was lodged in the Castle of Cintra upon the Sea Coast not far from Lisbon In this place he was not only observed and Guarded but as closely confined as if he had been a common Malefactor the very Windows of his lodgings being made up so that he could not look out but that what Light he had came from above his height This account of his usage in that place I received from Dr. Reis a Phisitian at Lisbon whose Son was Phisitian to the King and who had several times the opportunity of seing him being sent for by his said Son to assist his Majesty when indisposed for scarce any body else was admitted to see him In this deplorable condition the wretched King continued till his death But before we give an account of his End it will be fit to set down those few matters of moment that preceded it And indeed there are but few things that can furnish matter for History Portugal ever since the conclusion of the Peace with Spain having been ingaged in no War nor furnished any other important subject to treat of Warlike Kings and turbulent governments are the properest for swelling of Histories the great accidents and Councels then occurring giving great variety to dilate upon but in a peaceable and quiet State there is little to be found more then the settled and regular proceedings which being always in a manner the same are not worth the writing because they neither delight nor instruct in the reading Some few things remain which being of no mighty consequence shall briefly be set down that we may at length put an End to this History The new Prince regent as has been said Birth of the Infante Mary Frances was Marryed to his brothers Wife Mary Frances Elizabeth of Savoy on the 2d of April By her he had before the End of the same year a daughter named Mary Frances the only fruit of that surprizing marriage And tho' at first it was looked upon as a great token that God approved of their proceedings by giving them issue so suddenly yet afterwards those very persons who cryed up this providence could not but be undeceived when they perceived that these Princes living together about 16 years never had any other Child and even she dyed without being marryed All things having succeeded prosperously to that Prince as he that had established himself in the government secured his Brother gained his Wife and now got a Daughter his only care was how to continue in amity with all the World that so he might firmly Establish his new attained power He preserved Peace both at home and abroad in such Tranquility that for several years there will remain nothing else memorable of him to posterity In the Year 1677 1677. the Portugueses of the continent of Brazil in America seeeking to extend their borders A Portuguese Colony at Rio de la Plata in America destroyed by the Spaniards which reached to the great River called de la Plata passed over the said River and Planted a Colony at Buenos Aires which the Spaniards looking upon as an incroachment upon them they gathered to a body in those parts and falling upon the Portuguese Planters put them all to the Sword Advice hereof being brought into Portugal the Prince Regent expressed his resentment by his Embassadour at the Court of Madrid demanding Reparation of dammages The thing was long in debate both parties arguing for their Right to the place and protracting time At length the Portuguese weary of delay began to let fall some threats of a War but with so little preparation to it that the Effects were not to be feared However the Spaniards being more inclinable to compose the difference amicably than to enter upon a War on so slight an occasion The difference adjusted sent into Portugal the Duke of Giovenazzo their Embassadour extraordinary who after several conferences with the Portuguese Ministers concluded the matteâ— to the satisfaction of both Parties
with such Brotherly Love The Lominii three Sons of Gerion reign and such perfect Union that they gave occasion to the Fable That Spain was ruled by a King with three Heads Such was the Entrance of their Sway that it seemed they were resolved to preserve with Justice what their Father had gained with Violence But it was not long before it appeared they had rather be thought Sons of such a Father than Fathers of their Subjects They were good no longer than till they had the Power to be wicked which was till Osiris was removed Then remembring the People of Andaluzia Aragon and Valencia had been the Cause of their Father's Death by calling in Osiris they removed towards those parts on pretence of Affection but in reality to wreak their Revenge 2. Osiris being basely Murdered by his Brother Typhon his Son Orus Lybicus succeeded him having slain the Murderer The People of Andaluzia now again oppressed by the Tyranny of the Lominii who upon the departure of Osiris were exercising their revenge on those their Subjects Orus Lybicus or Hercules comes into Spain 〈◊〉 the Lominii 〈◊〉 makes his Son Hispalus King sent for and to Orus Lybicus called also Hercules who speedily came to their relief as his Father had done out of Africk where he had killed the Giant Anteus and marched after the Enemy who were retired to the Fastnesses of Lusitania and there resolutely waited his approach The Lominii had posted themselves in a secure place called formerly Saltus Tercenorum Hercules seeing them in place almost inaccessible resolved to save his Men and avoid the hazard of a Battle by challenging the three Brothers to fight him hand to hand which he did and they accepting of it were all three slain successively 1718. The Portuguese seeing their Princes slain began to move to revenge their Death but Orus making use of perswasions rather than force appeased them and calling the Nobles to him he made a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving This done he advanced as far as the Promontorium Sacrum where he built a magnificent Temple wherein the Aegyptian Ceremonies taught by the Founder were for many Ages after Religiously observed The People in acknowledgment for the Benefits received by Hercules or rather swayed by fear joyfully received his Son Hispalus for their King who continued in Lusitania with many of his Aegyptians 3. Hispalus was installed 42 Years after the Gerions had begun to Reign and being peaceably seated on the Throne his Father Orus Lybicus marched away for Italy The gentle Government of Hispalus was the reviving of the hearts of that People after so many Calamities but Prosperities are not durable for he died the 17th Year of his Reign Among the memorable Customs introduced by him were those of Burying the Dead and wearing Mourning for them what sort of Mourning it was appears not but that which many Ages after was used till the time of King Emanuel of Portugal and Ferdinand of Castile was on the lightest occasions rough Canvass and the deep used for Kings and such like occasions of the coursest Sack-cloth and that always White as is still used in China 4. Hispanus succeeded his Father Hispalus and was Proclaimed in the Temple of Hercules with great Ceremony The Spaniards in those days held it a crime to look upon the setting Sun therefore those that lived upon the Coast used to turn their backs towards it those who lived near the Promontorium Sacrum retreated at Night far off from it believing the Gods spent the Night there in Sport and Pastimes not to be seen by Mortal Eyes Only the Priests and the King on the Night of his inauguration were permitted to stay on that point of Land and look towards the West but as soon as the Sun quite disappeared they prostrated themselves on the Ground and then retired to the Temple where they continued till break of day when the King returned to the same place and continued there till the Sun again spread its Beams over all that part of the Country Then he returned joyfully to the People offered Sacrifice and was thence forward esteemed wiser than all others as being one that had seen Divine Secrets and Hidden Mysteries It is a common Opinion among the vulgar that Hispalis now Sevil was built by Hispalus and that the Name Hispania came from Hispanus 1169. who died when he had Reigned 32 Years leaving no Issue 5. Hercules Hercules Governs Spain and leaves the Crown to Hesperus after the Death of his Grandson Hispanus returned to Spain which he Governed Nineteen Years in Peace with singular Wisdom and Goodness and finding his end draw on he appointed Hesperus one of his Officers his Successor The Funeral Obsequies being performed 1650. Hesperus took upon him the Sovereignty but the giddy People being dissatisfied with his Government revolted from him to his Brother Atlas Italus who came out of Italy pretending a right as being the Elder Brother though neither had any other Title but the choice of Hercules which was of the Younger Hesperus deposed and Atlas set up in his place By this desertion of the Subjects Hesperus was easily deprived of the Crown and flying into Italy outlived not long his Misfortune Italus having Reigned in Portugal the space of Ten Years returned into Italy 1618. leaving the Dominion of Spain to his Son Sic-Orus He leaves the Crown to his Son Sicorus during whose Reign the Noise of Arms was not heard he left his Name to that River of Catalonia that washes the Walls of Lerida and is now called Segre but formerly Sicoris and a great part of that Country was of him long after called Sicoria he Reigned 55 Years 6. Sicanus the Son of Sicorus succeeded his Father Sicanus Succeeds them and Sicceleus him he is reported to have waged War in Italy and thence to have passed over and conquered Sicily which of him our Author will have to take the Name of Sicania and he to have Reigned 31 Years His Son Sicceleus immediately entred upon the Government and of him also is continued that Romantick Story of going into Italy with an Army where also he is said to have died in the 44th Year of his Reign 2453 from the Creation 797 from the Flood and 1509 before the Birth of Christ 1509. 7. After the Death of Sic-Celeus his Son Lusus was proclaimed King Lusus ascends the Throne and for the singular Affection he shewed to the Western part of Spain where he spent the most of his life that Country took his Name being afterwards called Lusitania Under this Name was comprehended all the Country between the Rivers Guadiana and Duero the main Ocean bounded it on the West and its limits on the East were formed by an imaginary line drawn almost straight from the turning of the River Duero near Castrominho down to Guadiana which River divided it from the Province Betica Nothing else is recorded of Lusus but that he
40000 Horse of them incamped on the Spanish Coast 200000 Foot and 40000 Horse of the Moors land in Spain The King's Army consisted of 120000 Foot and 10000 Horse a sufficient number had they been well Armed and Disciplined Men he Encamped betwixt Xeres and Medina Sidonia leaving the Sea open at the Enemies backs whereby they received Succours Upon Saturday the 1st of September in the fatal Year 714. the two Armies came in sight of one another The King's Army consisted of 120000 Foot and 10000 Horse That day was spent in taking up their Lodgments along the River Guadalete on Sunday with the day began the Battle which continued very Bloody till Night parted them all the Week the fight continued still renewed with the Day as it was broke off by the Night 714. King Roderick appeared in all parts in his Royal Robes A great and bloody Battle over his Armour he wore a rich Garment a Crown on his Head a Scepter in his Hand on his Feet Golden Buskins set with Pearl and precious Stones he was carried in a high Ivory Chariot as was the manner of the Gothish Kings in Battle and thence encouraged his Men who the 2d Sunday began to faint The King perceiving them give way left his Chariot and mounting upon a Horse he called Orelia rushed couragiously into the thickest of his Enemies making them give way to his Valour The Spaniards overthrown The Spaniards encouraged at this sight came on so vigorously that the Battle for some time continued doubtful but at Sun-setting the Vigour of our Men quite failing Victory appeared on the Enemies side and the Darkness gave the Christians an opportunity to fly 5. I cannot forbear remarking how fatal the number Eight has appeared upon this occasion A remark upon the number Eight Eight days the fight lasted Eight months the Barbarians spent in subduing all Spain and 800 Years it cost the Spaniards to recover it The King seeing he laboured in vain fled to a Mountain where he changed his Apparel with a Shepherd In this condition he came to the Monastery of Cauliniana two Leagues from Merida on the Banks of the River Guadiana Here overcome with Trouble and Sorrow for his Sins he fell into a Swoun and was brought to himself by one Romanus a Holy Monk With him he fled into Portugal where they took up their Habitation on a Rock upon the Sea Coast near the Town of Pederneira They took two different Cells about a Mile from one another where both of them ended their Days Here as is said was found an Image of our Blessed Lady in the Time of Alonso our first King and a Tomb with this Inscription HIC REQUIESCIT RUDERICUS ULTIMUS REX GOTHORUM that is Here reposes Roderick the last King of the Goths Thus far our Author Emanuel de Faria setting down this as an approved and undoubted Opinion But many others and those of good Note reject this as fabulous most Men agreeing that King Roderick was drowned in the River Gundalete where most of his Royal Apparel was found he being never after heard of Many more strange Stories have been spread abroad as it commonly happens in such Cases where the Bodies of Princes in such Universal Calamities are not found but they are rather Romantick than Historical and therefore not fit for any but least of all for the Brevity of this History After the Victory The Moors over-run all Spain the Moores spread themselves over all the Province committing inhumane Barbarities not without losing in several Rencounters during the eight Months of their Conquest 80000 Men besides 20000 before slain in the great Battel The chief Resistance was made at Merida The Defendants whereof many were Portugueses that being then the supream Tribunal of Lusitania were commanded by Sacaru a Noble Goth. Many brave Actions passed at the Siege but at length there being no Hopes of Relief and Provisions failing the Town was surrender'd upon Articles The Commander of the Lusitanians with such as would follow him traversing Portugal came to a Sea-port Town where gathering a good Number of Ships he put to Sea but to what part of the World they were carried does not appear There is an antient Fable of an Island called Antilia in the Western Ocean inhabited by Portugueses which could never yet be found and therefore we will leave it till such time as it is discovered but to this Place our Author supposes these Portugueses to have been driven Fortune having now wholly forsaken Spain the Moores easily over-ran all that remained as far as the River Minho under the Command of Abdalaziz Son to Muza Yet the Andaluzians and Lusitanians Muza being absent rose up in Arms and put to the Sword the Moorish Garrisons of Sevil Beja and Ilipula which done being assembled to a great Number they took Merida by Force killing all they found therein Muza who was then at Zaragosa hasted to quell this Commotion which was easily done Merida he spared Sevil suffered much at Ilipula there was not one Stone left upon another but what he did at Beja is not known though it may be supposed not to have escaped having been the Place of Rendesvouz for the People of Sevil. 7. The famous Actions of D. Pelayo Pelagius the first that opposed the Moors or Pelagius and the miserable Ends of Count Julian his Wife and Daughter the principal Actors in this Tragedy are treated of in the Chronicles of those Kingdoms to which they appertain Pelagius during the 19 Years he reigned had no Command in Portugal where the Moors were so predominant that there were as many Kings as Cities But because the Actions of Pelagius were so great in themselves and in the Consequence of them we will give some Hints of what others write at large Pelagius was in the great Battel with his Cousin-German King Roderick After which he fled with 1000 Christians to Asturias de Oviedo where he took Shelter in a vast Cave now called Covadonga among the Mountains of Auseva and was in that miserable Condition by his Men proclaimed King of Spain a mighty Title for so poor a Beginning and yet here began those Victories which in the Space of 800 Years recovered all Spain Pelagius had a Sister whose Name is not known but Muza Governor of Gijon in Asturias being taken with her Beauty enjoy'd her upon Promise of Marriage The Desire of Revenging this Wrong first moved Pelagius to appear in Arms Thus it fell out that as one Lady was the Cause of the Destruction of Spain so another was the Motive of its Restauration Pelagius was the Son of Favila Duke of Cantabria Third Son of King Chindasuindus and of his Wife D. Luz the Daughter of Theodofredus Duke of Cordova and Brother to Favila He was born at Toledo and bred at Alcantara by Grafes Brother to the Lady Luz his Mother This was the first King that we find had the Title of Don annexed
before being only Governor at certain Times he used to follow and serve King Alonso in his Wars This King Alonso was born in Galicia in the Year 1035 was married the first time in 1076 died at Toledo in 1108 having reigned 35 Years and lived 73. His Body lies in the Monastery of Sahagun with that of his Son Prince Sancho There also lie four of his Wives Agnes Constance Beatrix and Zayda the other two Elizabeth and Berta in the Church of St. Isidorus at Leon. Now we shall be almost 500 Years without returning to Castile for now begins to bud the Tree of the most August Kings of Portugal a Tree which has shaded much of the World The End of the Second BOOK THE HISTORY OF PORTUGAL The Third BOOK CHAP. I. The Country Extraction Life and Death of Henry first Earl of Portugal and progenitor of all the Kings thereof Opinions concerning Henry the Progenitor of the Portuguese Kings from the Year 1067 till 1112. 1. HEnry the first Founder of the Portuguese Monarchy is by all Men allowed to have been of noble Extraction but others very much differ both as to his Country and Family As to his Family the Bishops D. Roderick Sanchez and D. Alonso de Cartagena say he was of the House of Lorrain but do not name his Parents Duarte Galvan our Antient Chronologer affirms He was second Son to a King of Hungary which Opinion the famous Poet Camoens in his Lusiads follows Damianus de Goes in the life of King Emanuel says he was Son to William Baron of Joinville and Duke of Lorrain and Abida of Champagne James de Valera and Antony Beuter bring him from Constantinople grounding their Opinion upon the History of Spain writ by King Alonso mistaking a Quotation of the Archbishop D. Roderick who Writes that he was of the Bisontine Province meaning Besancon the Capital of the Dukedom of Burgundy which they take for Bisantium or Constantinople Wolfangus Lazius writes he was of Limburg Duarte Nunnez de Leon endeavours to prove he was Grandson to Reginald Earl of Burgundy by his Son Guido Earl of Verneuille in Normandy Lewis Gollut in his History of that Earldom says he was Brother to Raimund both Sons to Earl William All these doubts are cleared by the Antient Manuscript of Fleury which being a fragment of French History was writ in the time of our Count Henry for the Author of it brings himself as an Eye Witness of the three Suns that were seen at the Town of Scyrs on the Banks of the River Garonne in the Year 1108. It was writ by a famous Benedictin Monk of that Convent and reaches from the Year 897 till the Year 1110. Petrus Piteus a learned Man published it with other like Manuscripts and it was Printed at Francfort in the Year 1596. By this Antient Manuscript it appears that Robert the first Duke of Burgundy younger Brother to King Henry I. of France had by his Wife Hermengarda one onely Son called Henry who died before his Father leaving five Sons by his Wife Sibila Daughter to Reginald Earl of Burgundy These were Hugo who was heir to his Grandfather but being left a Widdower without Children became a Monk of Cluni and so died in the Year 1092. Eudo or Odoa who succeeded his Elder Brother Robert Bishop of Langres Henry our Earl and Reginald an Abbot many other Authors too long to insert have hinted that he was of the House of Burgungy tho' perhaps none specified it so particularly His Family once allowed to be that of Burgundy it will need no further proofs to shew his Country besides that it is more likely he should come out of France which joyns with Spain than from Hungary or Constantinople so remote It is also a sufficient proof of his Country that all his followers were French which could not have been were he a stranger to them 2. The Portuguese strive to clear two points for their Honour A remark upon some Conceits of the Portuguese Authors in which there is great difficulty or rather an imposibility for that all arguments are against them the one is to make out that the Sovereignty of Portugal was granted to Count Henry without any acknowledgment to Castile the other that Teresa was lawful Daughter to King Alonso The Arguments for the first are That no Records are to be found in Castile or Leon to prove the Title to such acknowledgment and that their King Alonso the first was anointed King by Christ himself and therefore owed his Crown to him These proofs are meerly Suppositious for as to the first whether such Record remains or not it is not credible that a King would alienate a Kingdom to a Bastard Daughter so as to reserve no Sovereignty to himself nor if he had is it in the power of a Prince to give away the right of a Legitimate Successor to one Illegitimate The second instance about Christ giving a right to the Crown seems so extravagant a Notion that as it carries no proof it needs no Confutation The other point insisted upon is the Legitimacy of Teresa the Counts Wife but that has been spoke of already no Author of Note has named her otherwise than an unlawfully begotten and the computation of the time her Father was married to and lived with his six Wives makes it impossible to allow of a Seventh There is another doubt about Earl Henry's going to the Holy Land which some Pertuguese Authors insist upon without any sufficient Grounds or rather without any probability but whether he did or not is not easy to decide nor worth the discussing let us go on to his Life or rather to the small fragments that remain of it as of all other things before his time but we begin now by degrees to come into days of more light 3. By what has been said Count Henry of Burgundy it appears that Earl Henry was a Burgundian the Son of Henry Son to Robert the first Duke of that Country and Hermengarda Daughter to Count Reinald of Burgundy There he was Born in the Year 1035. being descended by the Fathers side of the Royal Family of Hugh Capet and by his Mother from the Earls of Burgundy The cause that moved Henry to pass over into Spain was the desire of Glory to be purchased in the continual Wars betwixt the Christians and the Moors Authors do not agree about the time of his coming but it appears by Ancient Records that he Governed Portugal in the Year 1073 His coming into Portugal so that he must have been in Castile when King Ferdinand died and when the fame of Roderick de Bivar's exploits 1067. incited strangers to come from Foreign Parts to imitate his Actions Roderick was then near Fifty Years of Age and Henry about Forty The Author of the Manuscript above mentioned says That succours were sent out of France to King Alonso at his request to King Philip I. being then pressed with the War
absolute Ascendant over her Husband who never undertook any thing of moment without her Advice and therefore could not proceed farther in this Affair without consulting her To her he revealed the whole Conspiracy the Parties concerned their Zeal in carrying it on and all that had happened to him at Lisbon and at Almada in the Conference He told her how much the Nobility were offended at the Expedition against Catalonia That nevertheless the greatness of the Danger discouraged him as did the fear that the Great Ones out of Envy would oppose him that the Power of the King of Spain was formidable and little Confidence to be reposed in Foreign Princes These Considerations weighed more with the Duke than the desire he had of a Crown But the Dutches whose Aâ—â—â—ion was more rooted presently embraced the horâ—â— of a Crown and used all the Arguments her Rhetorick could furnish her with to perswade him yet so as that he should see a greater Number of Conspirators engagâ—â— and never openly espouse the Cause till the moment it should be put in execution 10. The Court at this time was not free from Care The Prime Minister of Spain resolves to draw the Duke out of Portugal The extraordinary Joy the People express'd at Lisbon at the sight of the Duke alarmed the Prime Minister He suspected there were Private Cabals held at Lisbon and certain groundless Reports which are commonly the fore-runners of great Revolutions increased his Jealousie Several Councils were held hereupon and it was finally resolved to call the Duke of Bragança to Madrid that so the Portuguese wanting a Head might have no hopes left of succeeding in their intended Revolt On the 20th of October 1640. the Count Duke de Olivares sent an Express to the Duke of Bragança 1640. to acquaint him the King expected him at Court to be informed by him of the Posture of Affairs in Portugal assuring him he should receive all marks of Honour that were due to his Birth and Quality This Positive Command strangly surprized him as knowing should he refuse to Obey the next Orders would be for carrying him away by force and thinking he was betrayed concluded himself fallen into the depth of all Misfortunes The Duke's Arts in refusing Nevertheless that he might gain time and advertise the Conspirators of his Danger by the Advice of his Dutchess he sent a Gentleman to Madrid to assure the Prime Minister of his Resolution to appear suddenly before the King This Gentleman had private Instructions to find some counterfeit Excuses for his delay from time to time Being come to Madrid he assured the King that his Master followed him He hired a great House bought Rich Furniture hired Servants and lay'd out much Money as if he daily expected his Master Soon after he pretended he had received Advice that his Master was sick and finding this Fraud would not last long presented a Memorial to the Prime Minister desiring that the King would ascertain in what manner his Master should be received at Court This was done in hopes that the Grandees opposing him the Dispute might be held on foot some considerable time But the Count Duke to avoid all delays perswaded the King to decide the Controversie in favour of the Duke of Bragança so that he could 〈◊〉 longer doubt of as Honourable a Reception as he cou 〈◊〉 himself desire 11. As soon as the Conspirators understood what Orders the Duke had received from Court they sent Mendoza to assure him of their stedfastness and to perswade him openly to joyn with them They met a Hunting and being withdrawn into a Wood Mendoza made use of the most preâ—ing Arguments to engage him to espouse his own Quarrel The Duke answered He approved of their Proceedings and was fully resolved to Head them Mendoza returning to Lisbon informed the Conspirators how he had sped and that the Duke would have Pinto repair to him He was sent and with him the whole Scheme of their intended Proceedings Pinto acquainted his Master how great a Misunderstanding there was betwixt the Vice-Queen and the Secretary Vasconcellos and withal told him nothing could have fallen out more advantageously for advancing his Affairs The Duke who was fully convinced of the force of his Reasons found himself more pressed forward by the Gentleman he had sent to Madrid for he writ that the Prime Minister would admit of no longer delays This made him resolve to lose no time However he writ to that Gentleman that he should acquaint the Count Duke de Olivares that he would have been at Madrid long since but for want of Money to support his Dignityâ— which as soon as it could be raised he would set out towards the Court. The Duke carryed Pinto to the Dutchess's Apartment where several Methods were proposed about the Execution of their Design At length the Duke concluded that Lisbon should be secured for that being the Capital City would shake the whole Kingdom and that the same day it was done he would cause himself to be proclaimed King in all the Towns that depended on him That such of his Friends as were Governours of Towns should do the like where they commanded and that the People should be made to rise even in the Villages that were subject to any of the Conspirators to the end that the Conflagration being general throughout the Kingdom those few Spaniards that were in it might not know which part to have recourse to first That he would march his own Regiment into Elvas the Governour of which Place was wholly at his Devotion That as to the securing of Lisbon he must leave it to them to Act as Opportunity should offer Nevertheless his Advice was that their first â—â—â—rts should be made against the Palace that having seized the Vice-Queen and all the Spaniards they might serve as Hostages to oblige the Citadel to Surrender which might otherwise incommode the City He gave Pinto two Letters of Credence directed to Almeida and Mendoza only requiring them to give entire Credit to the Bearer and to be faithful and couragious in putting what they had promised in execution 12. Being come to Lisbon Pinto delivered his Credentials to Almeida and Mendoza Then they sent for Lemos and Correa The Conspirators contrive how to incense the Citizens of Lisbon against the Spaniards two Citizens of the Duke's Faction who employing many Workmen and having gone through all the Offices of the City were in great Reputation among the People They had before made it their business to incense the Citizens against the Spaniards by spreading Reports of new Taxes to be raised and had designedly discharged many of their Workmen pretending that the Trade being lost they had no Business for them but in truth that Want might make them the readier to rise and yet from time to time they relieved them that they might be entirely at their Devotion Besides they held Intelligence with the chief Men of every Quarter so
of Badajoz thought to have surprized that place and in order to it marched with 5500 Foot and 1200 Horse two Petards and eight pieces of Canon which last being useless for a surprize were the cause he failed of his design for the Carriages breaking by the way as was thought rather through the malice of those who had them in charge than neglect so much time was spent in fixing them again that it was day before he could reach the Fort of Telena which being a League from the City he was forced to return without attempting any thing to Elvas 2. The King having certain intelligence that the Spanish Army daily increased at Badajoz gave out all the necessary Orders for his Troops to Rendesvouz at Elvas and to be himself the more at hand went over to Aldea Gallega which was the cause that many of the Nobility and Gentry repaired to the Army The Spanish Army on the Portuguese Frontiers On the 25th day of October the Marquess de Leganez marched from Badajoz with 12000 Foot 3000 Horse 10 pieces of Cannon and a Train proportionable and halted in sight of the Bridge of Olivenza and Fort St. Antony In two days he took the said Fort and another at the foot of the Bridge both which he demolished and broke several Arches of the Bridge to cut off the Communication of Olivenza Whilst the Spaniards were busie at this work a Party of 600 of their Horse meeting 400 of our Foot under the Command of Major John da Fonseca Barreta within two Leagues of Estremoz cut most of them off the Major being the first that Fled whereas he might have easily drawn his Men within an Inclosure which was by and have thereby secured them against any Horse The King of the Maldivy Islands in India being now come to Portugal to crave Aid of the King against a Brother who had Usurped the Crown served in the Army this Campaign and was treated with all imaginable respect Count Castelmelhor having drawn together all the Force he could and being yet Inferiour to the Enemy kept himself still within the Olive-Gardens at Elvas but continually sent out Parties to Alarm the Enemy D. Roderick de Castro with 1000 Horse and 500 Musketiers sustaining one of those Parties the Enemy Charged it and pursuing too far he cut off 90 of their Horse Another of our Parties being beyond Badajoz took the Count de Izinguen who came to be Lieutenant-General of Horse in the Spanish Army and being sent to Lisbon continued a long time Prisoner in the Castle of Belem The Marquess de Leganez having done nothing more than break the Bridge and demolish the two Forts returned towards Badajoz and in 12 days erected a new Fort at Telena near that City destroying at the same time a Tower in which was an Ensign and 15 of our Men a League from Elvas This is all that was done of moment in the Province of Alentejo and both Armies went into Winter-Quarters 3. In the Province betwixt Duero and Minho The War in the Provinces betwixt Duero and Minho and Tralos Montes there was no memorable Action only small inroads made on both sides But the Province Tralos Montes enjoyed perfect Peace both Parties lying still each fearing to provoke the other D. Ferdinand Mascarenhas Count de Serem Governed Beira At his first coming thither the Spaniards drove a Prey from about Villa Tropim and Malpartida but Captain Ruy Tavarez de Brito overtaking them with 100 Horse recovered all though at the cost of his own Life Soon after the Enemy layed Siege to Salvaterra but without success for the Count having drawn together all the Force he could make to relieve it and being reinforced from Alentejo they broke up the Siege and departed They being gone the Count fortified the Frontier places and obliged the Countrey People to retire farther from the borders because he was inferiour to the Enemy in Forces 4. We left John Fernandez Vieyra Actions of John Fernandez Vieyra in Brazil against the Dutch the last Year in the Mountains of Pernambuco expecting succours from Bahia to make War upon the Hollanders They laid several designs to take him but he having timely notice still escaped their hands They promised 1000 Florins Reward for his Head and he on the other side offered 8000 Crusados for any of the Heads of those of their supream Council Henry Hus was sent with 1500 Dutch and 800 Indians into the Mountains to cut him off with all his Party but he having gathered 1200 men whereof only 200 had Fire-Arms posted himself so advantageously and received them with such resolution that after a dispute of several hours they were totally routed with much slaughter and had not the Night sheltered them none had returned to carry the News The Arms taken in this Action were the principal part of the Booty because of the great want of them there was among the Portugueses John Hus revenged himself upon the innocent Inhabitants of the Towns of St. Laurence and Apopucos who lived under the protection of the Dutch robbing and putting them to the rack Soon after Antony Philip Camarao and Henry Dias with the Blacks and Indians under their Command joyned John Fernandez Vieyra Andrew Vidall also sent with some Foot by Antony Tellez Governour of Bahia to apprehend John Fernandez for breaking the Truce with the Dutch took part with him against them Advice being brought them that the Hollanders plundered Varzea and carried away the Women that were there they marched with all speed and defeating them in the Field obliged those that retired into a House to surrender themselves Though the Hollanders complained that Andrew Vidal being sent to their assistance had joyned their Enemies yet they as soon as he was landed had burnt the Ships that brought him from Bahia 5. The Dutch going about to disarm the Portuguese Inhabitants of the Town of Sirinhaem Faithless proceedings of the Dutch in Brazil they were so incensed that gathering together under Hypolito de Vercoza they drove them not only out of the Town but out of the Fort whither they had fled for safety At Pontal de Nazareth our Men had also Besieged the Dutch in the Fort and Martin Sourez Moreno with his Regiment coming to the assistance of the Besiegers Theodosius Straet the Governour underhand contrived how to deliver it up to them and he with most of his Men entred into their Service Andrew Vidal who had been in this last Action having again joyned John Fernandez Vieyra they resolved to block up the place called Arrecife and the City Mauricea which was immediately put in execution all the Forces being posted in the most convenient places to cut off the Enemy from all relief by Land They Attacked and took the Fort St. Cruz seated betwixt the Arrecife and the Town of Olinda the Commander with 60 Men taking Service among the Portugueses The Fort of Porto Calvo was also taken by Christopher Lins the
the vices of the latter no less exaggerated but above all the affection of the one and the aversion of the other to Count Castelmelhor weighed more than all other things with the People who bore him an implacable hatred Many of the Nobility interposed to pacify the brothers but all their endeavours proved in vain for neither of them would abate any thing of his demands When all other means failed the Queen who then was indisposed sent for the Infante Strange show of affection betwixt the Infante and the Queen who being come to her they received one another with such affection as seemed to be a sufficient earnest of the Love that was growing betwixt them Here the Queen prevailed that he should not depart the Court and should wholly leave that affair to her management which he could not refuse her being as was believed already somewhat fired with that Sight of her At length the difference betwixt the Brothers was reconciled the Prince chose other Servants and the King allowed of them Yet tho' they seemed to have layd aside all animosities the grudges betwixt them were of a higher nature than to be so easily forgot But Peter was supported with a deep dissimulation Alphonso had little of that Art and for the most part threatned much more than he would perform which was the cause that he was often heard to let slip very harsh expressions against his Brother He having long meditated how to rid himself of these displeasures at last â—ixed upon a Method which was to beg of the King the Post of Constable of Portugal which is the same as Generalissimo The more he insisted in demanding the more positive the King was in refusing as being not ignorant of the danger of such a Grant Count Castelmelhor was astonished at this Request and spared not to tell the King that it was not the General 's Staff but the Crown that he aspired to and that it were well to crush his aspiring Spirit Nor so satisfyed he used all his Endeavours to find out who had advised him to demand that Post At length it appeared to him that Counsel could proceed from none but the Counts of Torres and St. John who had been excellent Commanders in the Portuguese Army Them therefore he instantly removed from him sending them away to their Charges on the Frontiers Nevertheless though the abetters were removed the causes of dissention still remaining the differences betwixt the two Brothers grew daily higher and higher and at last the Queen who ought to have laboured to compose them became her self a Party leaving the Interest of her Husband to adhere to that of his Brother Besides her proper Inclination to the Infante two things perhaps might conduce to move the Queen to this unjust proceeding Motives of the Queens Aversion to the King the one that the King was already grown weary of her and the other from which perhaps his Aversion proceeded that he was jealous of her too great Propension to his Brother Count Castelmelhor contriving how to dissolve this knot of Affection that was betwixt the Queen and the Infante thought nothing so effectual as marrying of him which without delaying he proposed to the King who approving of the Advice commanded his Brother to make choice of a Wife He having desired some time to consider of a matter of that Importance returned his Answer in Writing signifying in substance that he was ready to comply with the King only praying that a Servant of his might be employed to go to the Courts of Europe to find out a Lady fit for him to match with Neither the King nor the Count saw into the design of this deceitful Answer which was contrived only to protract time and therefore they approved of it and admitted of John de Roxas whom he had named to go upon that Embassy About the beginning of the Year 1667 1667. the King went to Salvaterra The Queen and Infante's Party increases according to custom with all the Court There the Cabals were continued betwixt the Queen and the Infante and now the party they had gained was more numerous then that which adhered to the King But some time after an Accident that happened was improved to heighten their Animosities A French Man belonging to the Queen was murthered upon the Road in Alenâ—ejo by a Carryer who fled and took Sanctuary but being forced from thence was carryed Prisoner to Coimbra and thence conducted to Lisbon There he was tryed before all the Tribunals till he came to the Council of State none daring to pronounce Judgment against him because he implored the protection of the Church as having been taken out of Sanctuary a thing never permitted in Portugal The Queen who thought nothing was done to thwart her but through the Malice of Count Castelmelhor to her being inraged that Justice was not done upon the Murtherer of her Servant and Country-man railed bitterly at him laying all her discontents to his Charge Nor yet so satisfyed she refused to be present at the Bull Feast usually kept at Lisbon upon St. Anthony's Day alledging she could not shew her self to the People till Justice were done her Among the rest that took upon them to vindicate the Queens cause The Infante openly espouses the Queens quarrel the Infante was the hottest as looking upon the Injuries done to her to be levelled at himself who had wholly espoused her Interest Therefore he ordered Count Castelmelhor to bring the Secretary of State who had carryed himself very disrespectfully towards the Queen in the Affair of the Murtherer before the Council to answer for his Insolency There contrary to his Custom Peter inveighed largely against him and with such vehemency that the Council signed an Order for his Banishment which notwithstanding all the Count's opposition was obeyed and he sent into Exile This Success against the Favourite encouraged the Infante to aim at greater things his party daily encreasing for besides the Queen there adhered to him the Duke of Cadaval who had been Banished by the Counts Procurement D. Sancho Manuel who after defeating the Spanish Army at Estremoz had been remov'd from his command by thesame Interest and many more of the Nobility on sundry other Accounts besides the thoughtless multitude stirred up by the desire of Novelty and animated with the name of so many Heads of Note Notwithstanding the Strength of this Faction it was yet thought too soon to attempt any thing against the King directly and judged more proper to let the Storm fall upon his Favourite The Faction level against the Favourite who being once cast down the King would be left exposed to all their Practises To consult of the means of removing the Count there was a great Meeting held of all the Infante's Confederacy he also being present There most Men being averse to Murther if the thing might be otherwise performed it was resolved to seize upon and send him away either into