great importance and they endeavored to explain to his Eminence what was before his sentiment that it very much imported the two Crowns of France and Portugal to be united by an indissoluble League considering that it was the chief and principal end and aim of the House of Austria whose branches were spread over almost all Europe not onely to be the greatest but to be the sole and onely Monarch of Christendom That to effect those ambitious desires he had never made scruple to usurp and seize upon Kingdoms and States upon the least pretences imaginable as had appeared in the kingdoms of Naples Sicily Navarre the Dutchy of Millan and lately several States in Germany seizing upon the Valtoline whereby they had a passage open to lead an Army of Germans into Italy at pleasure That considering the vast power and interest that this Family had not onely in Europe but also in America it could not but be confessed that they had a large foundation of their imaginary universal Monarchy but that nothing gave them so great hopes as the possession of Portugal For by the addition of that Kingdom to the Crown of Castile they became absolute Masters not onely of all Spain but of all the East-Indies of all the Eastern Trade of Ethiopia Persia Arabia China Iapan and all that incredible wealth that was raised out of the Portugal Traffick whereby the Austrian Greatness if not their Monarchy was principally sustained that therefore it concerned all States whatsoever not onely to put a stop to the raving Tyranny of this devouring Monster but to suppress and lessen his Power by all means possible That to do this none was more concerned or more able than the Kingdom of France united with that of Portugal That this having bin called the Right Arm as Catalonia the Left of that great Austrian Colossus now both being separated from it and united to France will be able to do greater service against it than they were ever forced to do for it not onely by assaulting the Spaniard within his own doors but by intercepting the Plate-Fleet which in its return from the West-Indies it being necessarily forced to pass by the Tercera Islands must run in danger of the Portuguez Fleet or be forced to be at the charge of an extraordinary Convoy These were the sum of the Ambassadors discourses to the Cardinal In answer to which his Eminence made offer not onely of all the Assistance of the most Christian King his Master but that he would disburse himself for the service of the King of Portugal promising that he would presently send thither a Fleet of twenty Sayl with his Nephew Admiral and Ambassador Extraordinary This Treatment thus ended the Ambassadors took their leaves his Eminence waiting upon them as far as the Stairs which when they endeavored to hinder he replyed That the Ambassadors of the King of Portugal were to be treated with as much respect as those of the Emperor or Pope Few days after a Iuncto of the King of France his Council were appointed to treat with the Ambassadors in the House of the Lord High Chancellor of the kingdom where a Peace was fully concluded between the two Kingdoms of France and Portugal Other Ambassadors were about the same time that the afore-mentioned were sent into France dispatched into England for it very much concerned the Kingdom of Portugal to maintain a good Correspondence with the Crown of England both in regard of the Navigation and Commerce of both States and also the better to break that Amity and good Understanding which was now held between the Crown of Spain and that State Hither therefore were sent Don Antonio D' Almado and Don Francisco D' Averado Leilon both persons of exquisite parts who notwithstanding that the Dunkirkers chased them arrived safe in England And for all the sturdy endeavors of the Spanish Ambassadors they were received on shore with abundance of respect yet His Majesty of England would not give them Audience or accept of the Ambassage from the King of Portugal so tender was He of His Honor and Conscience till Don Antonio de Sosa their Secretary had drawn up a Paper to satisfie him of the Right and Title of the Duke of Braganza to the Crown of Portugal The sum of which was Vpon the Death of King Henry the Cardinal without Issue many pretended together with the Infanta Donna Catherina Dutchess of Braganza and Grandmother to this present King to the Crown of Portugal but all their pretences wanting foundation soon fell except that of Philip the second King of Spain who propt up his with force King Henry was Vncle equally near to both but with this difference Catherine was the Daughter of a Son named Edward and Philip was the son of a daughter named Isabella brother and sister to King Henry King Philip pleaded That he being in equal degree with Catherine was to be preferred for his Sex Catherine replyed That the constitution of that Kingdom allowing Females to succeed and withal the benefit of Representation in all Inheritances she representing Edward must exclude Philip by the very same right that her father if he were living would exclude Philips mother This Conclusion is infallible in Jure whereto Philip answered That successiou of Kingdoms descending Jure sanguinis there was allowed no Representation Catherine destroyed that foundation alledging That the Succession by the death of the last King was derived Jure haereditatis non sanguinis because the Succession of Kingdoms was to be regulated by that ancient way whereby all things descended by Inheritance the other way of Succession being not known until later Ages nor ever practised either in Spain or Portugal in such cases Briefly in behalf of Catherine it was urged which by the Castilians can never be denied or answered That she was no stranger but a Native of the Kingdom to whom alone according to the Laws of Lamego the Crown of Portugal can appertain The King having perused and deliberated upon this Paper gave immediately order they should be presently conducted to London which was done withal convenient Solemnity and they logded in a Palace ready prepared for them soon after with great ceremony they received audience of His Majesty in a fair and stately Hall prepared for that purpose where his Majesty sat upon a Throne raised two steps and at the entrance of the Ambassador pulled off his Hat nor would be covered till they were so too To the Propositions made in the speech of D. Antonia D' Almoda concerning a Peace between Portugal and England His Majesty replied That he should be very glad if an expedient might be found out to renew the antient Leagues of friendship between the two Crowns without the breaking with Spain Some few days after the Ambassadors were conducted to give a Visit to Mary Queen of England who sat in a Chair of Estate ready to entertain them when they came into the Presence She rose out of the Chair and
A COMPENDIOUS CHRONICLE OF THE KINGDOM OF PORTUGAL FROM Alfonso the first King to Alfonso the Sixth now reigning Together with A Cosmographical Description Of the Dominions of PORTVGAL By JOHN DAUNCEY LONDON Printed by Tho. Iohnson for Francis Kirkman Henry Brome and Henry Marsh and are to be sold at their Shops 1661. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE Sr EDWARD HIDE Earl of Clarendon c. Lord High Chancellor of ENGLAND Right Honorable THe Glories of your Name make me ambitious to give you a testimony of my duty observance There be some whose vain-glory prompts them to think they by Dedications honor their Patrons but the whole world will judge me free from such vanity when they shall perceive I have made my addresses to a Person who besides his height of Nobility is arrived at such a sublimity of Worth Vertue and Learning that not onely the greatest Wits of the Age are bound to honor him but must confess they receive their splendor and lustre from him Yet thus my Lord I make my self guilty of an almost inexcusable presumption the wisest of men may as well present somewhat worthy a Deity as I any thing which may deserve your LORDSHIPS thoughts It is not fit a Pigmy should call down a IOVE to protect him but where there is so much worth there must needs be an insuperable goodness nor can he be justly blamed who onely aspires at the influence of a benevolent Star I want the confidence to beseech your Lordship to approve this VVork the honor will be sufficient if you accept it as a pledge of that observance which all men are bound to pay you I know your Lordship not only to be vers't in all History but to your glory be it spoken to have always studied the most worthy Authors And History is indeed a Treasure not onely enriching mens mindes with noble thoughts but enanimating them to great and Heroick Actions Your Lordships endeavors to make an Alliance between the two Renowned Crowns of England and Portugal may justly claim all that can be said of that Kingdom as a due Offering This though but a Breviate of the Story of it may perchance contain somewhat though not at all worthy your Lordship yet not wholly unworthy observation which I hope may perswade your Generosity and goodness to grantit protection England my Lord and every member of it are beholding to your Lordships great wisdom but should I undertake to praise all those noble Vertues for which you deserve their loves that Justice which ballances all your actions that Prudence which a whole Nation hath admired that Magnanimity which hath rendred you unalterable in all the frowns and smiles of Fortune that Liberality which hath made you King-like and that Temperance which shown in the height of Heavens and Heavens-Vice-gerents favours hath made you God-like I should be enforced to unite the largest Encomiums and lay them down as a due tribute at the feet of your thrice-renowned Fame But my Lord I dare onely reverence your Vertues they must rather be the subject of my admiration than description Let it suffice then that whilst all strive to offer up their labors to this Shrine it will be sufficient excuse of my ambition to present this Mite and amongst the numbers that thus sacrifice to your Worth to be thought worthy of that honorable Stile of being esteemed the meanest of Your Lordships most humble Servants JOHN DAUNCEY TO THE READER CUstom rather than my own Genius or Fancy inclines me to make this address Good things are but made worse by excuses bad things never a whit the better 't is base and dis-ingenious to court a Reader to a good opinion of ones Work and indeed a kinde of an endeavor to anticipate his judgement which to the wise proves a fruitless labor and to the fools was altogether needless I despair not but wise men may read this Book the truth is I desire all fools would let it alone if it be unworthy the subject 't is writ of the disgrace will be less to be censured by an understanding person and the faults I presume fewer for those of less judgement will be subject to attribute even the litteral errors of the ress to the Authors ignorance Though I dare say thus much in Vindication of this COMPENDIOUS CHRONICLE That it is extracted out of those Authors who have been â—udged by many to have writ best concerâ—ing the Kingdom of Portugal yet I will not presume to clear it of all errors Neâ—o nostrum non peccat homines sumus â—on Dei T is impossible to be mortal and not erre yet all lapses cannot be accounted faults Though I doubt not but to meet with those spirits which will make â—hem Crimes for such is the depravity of the present age that many men led on by atheistical Tenents and blinded with self-conceit dare adventure to censure even the Actions of the Deity But I shall run into that error I promised to eschew and though I beg not the Readers good opinion endeavor to restrain or affright his clearer judgement â—et every man say or think his pleasure of the Work for therefore was it made pubâ—ique and if it be my fortune to fall under any rigid censures where they are made with reason I shall entertain them with â—espect where without cause laugh at â—hem with scorn The present Affairs were sufficient motives for me to publish it both to clear the right King Iohn the fourth had to the Crown and Dominions of Portugal and justify that Title which some mens ignorance or self-will would make deficient terming a noble Redemption of a Nations Liberty black and ignominious Rebellion and methinks the joy at the Restoration of King â—ohn to the Crown of Portugal doth so aptly quadrate with our's aâ— the blessed return of our Gracious Soveraign Lord King Charls the Second that I think it not impertinent to conclude with a wish That as our joy then corresponded with theirs so all the Subjects of England would show the same examples of Loyalty to His Majesty which Ferdinando Paceica did even to the memory of his King and Master Sancho the Second J. D. The general Heads of the ensuing HISTORY I. HEnry Duke of Lorain Earl of Portugal page 3 II. Alfonso the First first King of Portugal ibid. III. Sancho the First second King of Portugal 10 IV. Alfonso the Second third King of Portugal 15 V. Sancho the Second fourth King of Portugal 19 VI. Alfonso the Third fifth King of Portugal and Algarve 25 VII Dionisio the sixth King of Portugal c. 29 VIII Alfonso the Fourth seventh King of Portugal 29 IX Pedro eighth King of Portugal 40 X. Ferdinand ninth King of Portugal 43 XI John the first tenth King of Portugal 45 XII Edward the eleventh King of Portugal 50 XIII Alfonso the Fifth twelfth King of Portugal 52 XIV John the Second thirteenth King of Portugal 54 XV. Emanuel the First fourteenth King of Porgal 56 XVI
satisfaction for the dammage the Portugals had done to their West-India company in Brazile and in case the King of Portugal should deny to comply with their desires to force them to a composition The High and Mighty States easily listned to this councel and Vice-Admiral Opdam with a potent Fleet was sent to Lisbon carrying with him some Commissioners from the States to make their demands which the Queen Regent and Council thought so unreasonable that they could not return any satisfactory answer to them whereupon the Commissioners departed But Opdam still stayed with his Fleet to wait an opportunity of catching the Brazile Fleet in their return home many of which notwithstanding the care and endeavours of the Portugueses to prevent it he made prize of and sent into Holland By this means was the War which for many years had been maintained between the Hollanders and Portugals on the other side the line transferred to this side which the King of France endeavoured by all meanes possible before it's eruption to prevent and afterwards to compose by his Ambassadors Monsieur de Thou in Holland and the Sieur de Comings in Portugal but to no effect Thus assaulted by two potent Nations both by Sea and by Land were the Portugueses which yet made them not at all falter in their courage and resolution the generous Queen Regent causing all possible Leavyes to be made to oppose the Castilian sending into Barbary to buy horses and by Leagues abroad endeavoring to strengthen the interest of the Kingdom an Ambassador was sent to that purpose into England to renew and confirm the Amity before concluded on and many conferences there were between the Archbishop of Goa who had before been Ambassador in France and the Sieur de Comings so that many were in hopes that the Match between the King of France and the Infanta would have gone forward and an indissoluble League both defensive offensive been concluded between the two Nations And to joyn force to policy a gallant Army of about sixteen thousand Foot and three thousand Horse aâ—l Portugueseâ— took the field and in revenge for the loss of Olivenza laid siege to Mouron which in three or four days they took by storm putting 1500 Spaniards to the Sword and resolved to proceed to the regaining of Badayox and Olivenza and to that purpose marching without opposition by Caya which they left fortified they came to the Fort of St. Christopher the strongest hold of the City of Badayox which they several days battered and thrice stormed but were beaten off yet at the length they took it and so securely entrenched themselves about the whole City The Duke of Ossima General of the Castilian horse having notice of this streight siege of the City endeavoured with sixteen hundred Horse to cut off their convoys and provisions but the Count del Prado governour of Elvas receiving advice of his design sallied out of the City with three companies of Horse and all the Foot he had to prevent him by which means Ossima was encompassed on both sides for at the same time that he was on the other part charged by Don Andrea D' Albuquerque General of the Portuguese horse and that with so much gallantry that they presently discomfited their enemies slew four hundred upon the place took three hundred prisoners and forced the Duke of Ossima to save himself by swinning This happy success encouraged them to return with more alacrity to the siege which they prosecuted with all vigor possible and on the three and twentieth of Iune stormed and took a Redoubt which was palisadosed but at length when they had spent much time blood and treasure they were enforced by the powerful Army of Don Lewis de Haro to raise their Siege For the King of Spain exsperated with the loss of Mouron and fearing likewise to loose Badayox had rallyed a great Army which he committed to the care of his favorite Don Lewis de Haro who not onely with it raised the siege from before Badayox but likewise so straightly besieged Elvas one of the Portugueses strongest Frontier-towns the taking of which might have endangered the whole Kingdom and reduced it to such necessity that it was even upon the point of yielding But the Portugals who knew of how much importance it was to them had ever been anxious for its relief and therefore having at length bravely recruited their Army they advanced with full resolution to drive the Spaniards out of their Trenches nor did they effect it less bravely then they had resolved it for they totally routed their General Don Lewis de Haro very hardly escaping but in this battel the Portuguez lost the worthy Albuquerque General of the horse And to counterpoise this victory the strong Fortress of Mounson upon the borders of Gallicia was surrendred to the Spaniards and a Party of the Portugals not having advice that it was already possessed by the Castilians going to relieve it were surprized and forced shamefully to retreat with the loss of some hundreds and this Success encouraged the Spaniards under the command of the Marquis of Viana to besiege the onely City the Portugals were possest of on the River Minho but it was relieved by the Portugals The Spaniards likewise gained a signal Victory over a Party of Portugal Horse nigh Alcantara for advice being brought to the Governor of that Town that the Portuguez with a party of four hundred Horse were entring upon the Frontiers in two Bodies he taking five hundred Horse and a select Party of Foot went to meet them and so handsomly managed his business that he surprized one whole Body scarce a man escaping 〈◊〉 Commissary General five Captains and several other Officers being taken Prisoners But these things were inconsiderable disadvantages to the interest of Portugal in respect of what it was like to feel by the Peace which was treating of between those two mighty Monarchs of France and Spain which the Queen Regent and Council were sensible of and therefore dispatcht Don Iohn D' Acosta Ambassador Extraordinary to the French Court to represent unto his Most Christian Majesty the state of the Kingdom of Portugal and to insist that there might be a due Consideration had of the Interest of his Master in the concluding of the Peace with Spain seeing he had formerly approved himself so good an Ally to the Crown of France But this Embassie could produce no other effect than a promise to endeavor a Mediation for them with the King of Spain and procure them good tearms upon Submission which by the magnanimous Portugueses was rejected with indignation Nor were they at all daunted with the great power of the Spaniard which he intended to imploy against them but manfully resolved to endure all hazards yet would they willingly have concluded a Peace with the Hollanders and to that purpose Don Fernando Tellez de Faro Duke of Alvero was sent Ambassador to the States General but he like a treacherous villain
revolted from them to the King of Spain carrying along with him the papers of his Embassy for which according to his desert his Effigies was executed at Lisbon as a Traytors his Goods confiscated his house razed to the ground and his Children banished and degraded of nobility His brother Don Deigo de Sylâ—a who had served the King of Portugal in the quality of General at Sea was likewise upon this occasion commanded to retire to one of his houses and deprived of all publique employment After him was sent Don Henry de Susa Count of Miranda to negotiate an Accommodation with the Netherland States yet he prevailed little for the pertinacious Hollanders were still resolute in their unreasonable demands computing their losses in Brazile where they had no right to be to amount to no less then thirty millions The Spaniards in the mean time were forced to give the Portugals some respite in the summer 1659. but preparations were made to assault them with the whole power of that Monarchy in the Spring 1660. Don Iohn D' Austria being called out of Flanders to be Generalissimo of the Spanish Forces and having Orders given him in April 1660. to march directly to Merida on the Frontiers of Portugal though he went not that Summer But the Portugueses resolved not to be behind-hand with their Enemies and therefore made several in-roads into the Spanish Territories depopulating all before them which made the Spaniards to be revenged resolve to do the like to them Order was therefore given to fall into the Kingdom on all sides the Marquess of Viana Governor of Gallicia marching in that way with eight thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse and the Governor of Camara invading that part which was adjacent to his government In this condition was the Kingdom of Portugal when His Majesty Charles the Second King of England was restored to his Crowns and Kingdoms welcomed by his Subjects with all gratulatory and submissive Obedience the News of which was no sooner by advice from D. Francisco de Melo Ambassador for the King of Portugal in England conveyed to the ears of his Master but he caused all the Guns of the Town Castle and Ships in the Road to be fired and for three days and nights kept solemn and magnificent Rejoycings the Portuguese Nation as well as by this their joy at the Restoration of King Charles the Second as by their sorrow and general mourning at the Death of King Charles the â—irst expressing their great affection for the English Nation But because their joy should be somewhat for their own as well as our sakes there at the same time arrived News at Lisbon that Don Alfonso Turtudo General of the Horse on the Frontiers of Alentejo meeting with a Brigade of the Enemies Horse nigh to Badajox had fought and defeated them killed and took four hundred of them amongst whom were four Captains of Horse prisoners The Spaniards still continued their Leavies against Portugal being resolved to employ an Army of four thousand Horse and twelve thousand Foot constantly recruited about the Frontiers of Estramadura and another of three thousand Horse and ten thousand Foot about Gallicia and a third of twelve thousand men to serve as a Reserve to the two former In this manner were they resolved to assault them by Land while the Prince of Montesarchio with ten Men of VVar was appointed to coast up and down before their Ports and do them what mischief he could by Sea Thus have we deduced a Compendious Chronicle of the Kingdom of Portugal from its first original under Alfonso the First to the fourth year of the Reign of the present King Alfonso the Sixth Anno 1660. and are forced now to leave her strugling with Spain for her liberty which great Monarch by the prudent Management of Affairs by that Sage and Illustrious Queen Regent she hath hitherto been able to resist and will without doubt still be able to defend her self against him especially if the Match with England take effect as without doubt it will our Nation being like to prove a better Bulwark than the fickle French who were seldom or never constant to their Friends witness their deserting Queen Elizabeth when she waged VVar with the Spaniards as they did now the Portugals FINIS A BRIEF Cosmographical Description Of all the Dominions of PORTVGAL THat part of the Dominions of the King of Portugal which are upon the Continent of Europe contain first the kingdom of Portugal and secondly the kingdom of Algarve or Regnum Algarbiorum The kingdom of Portugal is bounded on the North with the Rivers Minio and Avia which part it from Gallicia on the South with the kingdom of Algarve on the VVest with the Atlantick Ocean and on the East with the two Castiles and Estramadura from which it is deduced by a Line drawn from Ribadonia standing on the Avia to Badayox on the Anas or Guadiana it extendeth on the Sea-coast from North to South four hundred miles the breadth of it in the broadest place is one hundred miles in the narrowest eighty the whole circumference is about eight hundred seventy nine miles in which compass it containeth fourteen hundred and sixty Parishes It was first called Lusitania from the Lusitans its chief Inhabitants and had the name of Portugal either from the Port of Cale now called Caia sometimes a rich Empory or Mart-town or more likely from the Haven of Porto a town standing on the mouth of the River Dueries where the Golls or French used to land their merchandize and so was called Portus Galliorum and by contraction Portugal This Town was given in Dower to Henry Duke of Lorain with Teresa base Daughter to Alphonso the sixth King of Castile with the Title of Earl of Portugal whose Successors coming to be Kings called all those Countries they gained from the Moors by the same name The Air of the Countrey is healthy the Countrey hilly and bare of Corn with which it is supplyed from France and other Northern parts yet that which they have is as good if not better than any Europe affords The soyl and people are in all parts not rich alike for where the soyl is richest the people are poorest not benefited by the Trade of the too-far distant Lisbon and where the soyl is poorest the people are richest helped by Traffick and Manufactures the chief of which are making Salt and Silk which they export in great abundance and where there 's want of Corn that defect is supplyed with abundance of Honey Wine Oyl Alume Fruits Fish Salt white Marble and some Mines of Silver c. The people are of a more plain simple behavior than the rest of Spain and if we may believe the Spanish Proverb neither numerous nor wise but they have found them both They have a kinde of natural Animosity if not Antipathy against the Castilians for depriving them of their native Government and Liberties although they have now recovered both They were
corps were healed Mafalda was espoused to Henry the first King of Castile although allied to him in a forbidden degree wherefore this marriage was likewise declared void and she emulating her sister built a Monastery of the Cistercian Order and is reported likewise to have done many Miracles particularly in the year 1627. when her Tomb was opened Sancha the third daughter became a Nun of the Order of St. Francis who lived about this time Bianca and Beringella died young and were buried in Conimbria right against their fathers Tombe though some write otherwise After the death of the Queen Aldonsa which happened in the year 1138. King Sancho gave himself over to the love of diverse Ladies amongst whom he had many children who proved most of them his greatest vexation and disquiet for the pleasures of the senses do not terminate but in the sence of grief At last arrived at the age of 57. years in the 26. year of his reign oppressed in Conimbria by an incurable disease he took leave of this world He was buried in the Church of the Holy Cross on the left side of the Altar in the great Chappel where King Emanuel built him a Sepulchre like to that of his father he left infinite riches which by his Will he divided amongst all his children making no difference between the legitimate and the illegitimate he by his Will supplicated Pope Innocentius the fourth to be his Executor for which he left in Legacy a hundred weight of Gold a gift without doubt worth his pains King Sancho was for vertue and for goodness singular in his age a worthy son of so renowned a father he proved fortunate in the utmost events of War and then did his triumphs flow in upon him when he dispaired of Victory he left it yet in doubt whether he were more wise or more valiant he always snowed himself so great an enemy to sloth and idleness that to avoid it he would not disdain sometimes to throw down the Scepter and hold the plow Fortune who was his friend in War was his foe in Peace for then besides the vexation that he could not vex his enemies he was likewise enforced to bear the injuries of the Land Sea and Skies in sum he was a King worthy the greatest Incomiums if he had not too much drowned all his other vertues in illicite Loves ALFONSO the II. Third King of Portugal ALfonsâ— the second succeeded to Sancho the first he was born in Conimbria on St. Georges day anno 1185. At 27. years old he was Crowned King with the envy of his brothers who little younger then he could hardly confine themselves within the bounds of Allegiance and to their discontents did the Legacies left by Sancho give new motives for Alphonso either out of avaritious desire of riches or out of obstinacy detained from them a great part of what was left them by their father These sinister thoughts of the then Prince Alphonso were discerned by his father before his death which made him leave to the brothers beside some Cities and Castles five hundred thousand Crowns in gold But scarce was his father dead but he began to contend with his brothers and sisters about their inheritance and because his brothers were retired into Elginera and Alenquar Fortresses given them by their father he under pretence that they could not be allienated from the Crown gathered together an Army to possess himself of them which he easily performed his brothers wanting money to hire soldiers and so not being able to make the least resistance His brothers thus driven out of the kingdom fled to the Pope for redress then in great veneration because he then pursued no other interest but justice who commanded Alfonso to remit the difference to indifferent Judges who necessitated to obey chose rather to accommodate the business with indifferent Judges then to run the hazard of a sentence He employed himself afterwards by the advice of Matthew Bishop of Lisbone to fight against the Moors and though these came assisted with ninety five thousand men yet were they forced to yield the Victory to him with the loss of thirty thousand soldiers and four Kings who were slain in the battel Alfonso for some years prosecuted this War but in time he grew so extream fat that he was unable to perform not only those great exercises incumbent on a soldier but every simple motion of the body yet for all that he ceased not to apply himself with extream diligence to prosecute the greatest affairs of State and where he could not in person he present to send such commands as shewed him to be both of great experience and wisdom He married with Uracca daughter to Alfonso the eighth or as others say the ninth King of Castile and Leonora or Elinor daughter to Henry the second King of England by her he had divers children the first was Sancho who succeeded his father in the kingdom Alfonso the second son whom by right of his wife was chosen Duke of Bologna and afterwards came to be King of Portugal The third son was called Ferdinand who obtained the principality of Serpa and married Sancia Fernandez daughter of Ferdinand Count of Castile The fourth died a childe called Vincenzo The last was a daughter called Leonora and was married to the King of Dacia Alfonso arrived to the eight and fortieth year of his age and one and twentieth of his kingdom when in the year 1233. he was constrained to pay the last debt to nature He was buried in Alobaccia in a little Church built by himself more for devotion then magnificence But after many years the Abbot Giorgio di Melo causing that little Church to be demolished carried his bones to that of St. Vincenzo where they now repose in a most sumptuous sepulcher Under this King as many affirm lived for certain time St. Antonio Protector of the City of Padona a Saint held in great veneration among the Roman Catholiques he was a native of Lisbon not so much esteemed for the Nobility of his birth as for his holy life Alfonso taking away his extream fatness was a man of a very comely presence and of singular eloquence his nature did make him pleasant with all but onely those of his own blood which fault in him did much diminish his subjects love and that general respect was due to him though he was a man noted for covetousness yet he oftentimes gave great gifts to his friends and always consumed the greatest part of the revenue of the kingdom The Portugueses while his father was alive did extreamly desire him for their King but did not at all now lament his death either because new things always please the people or else because he after his fathers death shewed himself indifferent from himself or from what they thought him whereupon not being wholly like his Progenitors he renewed in his subjects their grief for their loss SANCHO the II. Fourth KING of PORTVGAL SAncho the second who
and that as he had in a moment gained that kingdom so he should as soon loose it if he should but give them the least opportunity For that the people were highly discontented might easily appear by their attentive listning after old prophesies among which was one of an old Hermit who told Alphonso the first King of Portugal of the great victory that he should obtain over the five Kings of the Moors that he and his posterity should reign happily King of Portugal but that in the sixteenth generation his line should fail but that God at length should have mercy again upon them and restore them Others had respect to a Letter written by St. Bernard to the same King Alphonso the original of which is reported to have been given to the Portugal Embassadors by Lewis the Thirteenth King of France Anno 1641. the substance of which was to this effect That he rendred thanks to him for the Lands bestowed upon him that in recompence thereof God had declared unto him that there should not fail a Native of Portugal to sit upon that Throne unless for the greatness of their sins God would chastise them for a time but that this time of Chastisement should not last above sixty years Other Prophesies there were of this nature and to this effect which put the people in hopes of a Deliverance and many of them flattered themselves that Don Sebastian was yet alive and would come and deliver them nay so foolish were some of them that though they believed him slain at the battel of Alcazar in Barbary yet they thought he should live again and miraculously come to redeem them But that which most of all expressed the peoples Discontents was what was publickly spoken by the mouthes of their Orators the Priests in their Pulpits who would ordinarily in their Sermons utter speeches much in prejudice of the Spaniards Title and in favor of the Dutchess of Braganza nor were they sparing to do so in the presence of the King himself who would therefore often say That the Portuguez Clergy had made the sharpest war with him Father Lewis Alvarez a Jesuite preaching one day before the Vice-Roy took his Text Surge tolle Grabatum tuum ambula and turning himself to the Duke said Sir the meaning of that is Arise take up your pack and be gone home But above all this might the Discontents be perceived in the Noblemens Chappels especially in the Duke of Braganza's where they were wont to sing the Lamentations of Ieremy applying all the scorn and reproach of the Israelites to themselves as Aquam nostram pecunia bibimus because of the Excize put by the Spaniards upon Wine and other necessaries And that Servi Dominati sunt in nos and that Cecidit Corona Capitis nostri most commonly ending with this Invocation Recordare Domine Quid acciderit nobis Intuere respice opprobrium nostrum Haereditas nostra versa est ad alienos Yet did king Phillip bear all these Affronts with an incomparable patience dissembling with an admirable prudence his passion if he had any for these Discontents for he knew the onely way to win this Nation to an obedience and complyance must be lenity at first what ever he intended to practice afterwards and that he had by his exact keeping of his Word and Oath won much upon this people appears in that during his whole Reign and the Reign of his Successor Philip the Third who followed his fathers foot-steps though not with that craft and dissimulation they made no attempts nor were inclinable to a Revolt which the ensuing Story will evidence Don Antonio Prior of Crato the base born son of Lewis the Infante who had by the tumultuary Rabble on the Death of King Henry been elected King being expulsed Lisbon by the Forces of the Duke D' Alva fled from thence into France to the protection of that Queen who in regard that her Claim was exploded both by the Spaniard and the Portugal as an outworn Title and injurious to all the kings of Portugal ever since as unjust Possessors had long endeavored to excite Queen Elizabeth of England against the Spaniard and to forewarn her and other Princes to beware of his increasing power who now enriched with the addition of Portugal East-India and many Isles in the Atlantique sea might in time overshadow all his neighboring Princes and therefore advising that it behooved them to think of some way to curb his Ambition betimes and restrain his too far extending Power into some reasonable limits Which advice of hers Queen Elizabeth easily listned too being always providently careful of her own and her Subjects safety fore-seeing how dangerous the over-swelling Power of that Prince would be both to Her and her Dominions and therefore though she then entred not into a present War with him yet when Don Antonio came over to her with Recommendations from the French Queen she bountifully relieved him which she then thought she might do without offence considering that she acknowledged him her Kinsman descended of the Blood Royal of England and of the House of Lancaster nor was there ever any promise made in any League between the English and Spaniard that the Portugals should not be received into England Here then Don Antonio resided till the Wars breaking forth between Spain and England after the Spaniard had received that notable Overthrow of his Invincible Armado to whose power and puissance the whole World thought England would have been but a morsel Queen Elizabeth judging it more honorable to assail her Enemy then again to be assailed by him suffered a Fleet to be set forth against Spain which Sir Iohn Norris and Sir Francis Drake with some other private persons to their eternal honor rigged and set out at their own charge requiring nothing of the Queen but some few Ships of War and she granted to them that the Ships and spoils taken should be divided amongst them The Hollanders likewise to this Fleet joyned some Ships so that the number of the whole Fleet was about eleven thousand Soldiers and fifteen hundred Mariners With this Fleet Don Antonio with some few Portugals set Sayl out of England having before loaden the English with great promises of the recovery of this kingdom assuring them that the Portugueses would be ready upon his appearance to revolt from the Spainiard and that Muley Hamet King of Morocco would assist him with twenty thousand men The first place that the English Fleet put into was the Groyne in Gallicia the base town of which they easily took but attempting the higher town were twice repulsed and forced to raise their siege upon advice that the Condy di Andrada had gathered Forces at Burges Bridge and that the Condy di Altamira was coming with more purposing to besiege them in the base town and so cut off their way to their ships which Norris resolved to prevent and therefore with a sufficient force marched against them overthrew them and had
Don Antonio D'Oquendo that when they had relieved Flanders with men and mony they should with the whole Fleet put into Portugal and then as soon as the Duke should according to the duty of his new place and office come aboard they should immediately set Sail and bring him away to Callis but this plot was by a strange divine providence prevented for that Fleet was totally routed by the Hollanders upon the Coast of England JOHN the IV. The One and twentieth KING of PORTVGAL NOw was the time come wherein according to St. Bernards prophecy the kingdom of Portugal was to be released from the tyranny of strangers and restored again to the Government of a Native King to which all things seemed so well to quadrate that we cannot imagine there was less then a divine hand in it for though all Plots failing against the Duke of Braganza the Spaniards beginning to fear somewhat drew out as many of the Native soldiers out of the kingdom as conveniently they could thinking thereby to lessen the ill humors which begâ—n now to appear yet they did thereby onely the more stir up and enflame those discontents which were taken at Vasconsellos managing all Affairs of State For although the most Illustrious Infanta Margarita of Mantoua was a Princess of great judgement and knowledge in State-affairs yet she permitted her self to be so much over-ruled by Vasconsellos Secretary of State or at least was so much over-ruled by him whether she would or no that he either by some secret consent of his Catholick Majesty or led on by his own ambitious spirit confiding in the great favour he had at Court never permitted the Infanta to enjoy other then the title of Vice-Queen And insufferable was the Government of Vasconsellos to the Portuguesses who as much hated his obscure birth as they did his evil Customs he was a man wholly composed of pride cruelty and avarice that knew no moderation but in excesses small lapses were by him made capital crimes chastising with all severity those whom he did but suppose dissatisfied with his Government And exercising with all rigor the Spanish Inquisition punished not onely the actions but the very thoughts of men The infringing of the greatest priviledges of the Portugal Nation seemed to him but a trifle which continued oppressions in the end so exasperated the whole people that animated by the knowledge of their own strength by the many diversions of the Spanish Nation by the late example of the Catalonians and incited by the absolute ruine which they saw hung over their heads whilst six thousand of them were yearly listed and forced to serve the Spaniard in his forreign wars they resolved to loose his yoke from off their Necks and to disclaim his obedience by the election of a King of their own Some have been of opinion that this conspiracy was at least of ten years standing agreed and assented to by most of the Grandees of Portugal I dare not affirm it nor deny it for such great actions of State do resemble lightning which once past leave but the greater darkness the Air of State-mysteries is not to be flown in by less then Eagles I shall therefore omit to search into so great a Privacy and onely recount the publique action On Saturday the first of February Anno 1640. and Saturday's have been often observed to be propitious to the Portugal Nation all the Nobility of the Kingdom led on by the Marquesses of Ferrera the Count of Vimioso took Arms and accompanied with a great multitude of the inhabitants of Lisbon and some Portuguese soldiers came to the Castle which scituate in the middest of Lisbon serves both for a Palace and a Castle this was the residence of the Vice-Queen and hither assembled all the Magistrates for Governing of the Kingdom the guards which were two Companies of Spaniards and two of high Dutch either before gained by secret intelligence or frighted with the great numbers of the Portugals or desire of Novelty or else perhaps unwilling to make resistance against those to whom they were most of them joyned by friendship or marriage without the least opposition abandoning their post gave them free admittance Whilest these things had happened the Secretary Vasconsellos was in the Chambers of his Office upon some reasons he had by the Discontents of the people to suspect an Insurrection at that instant writing into Spain of the Alienation of the mindes of the Nobility from the Spanish Government and earnestly pressing that some rigorous Resolution might be taken to prevent it which Letters afterwards taken did sufficiently demonstrate his ill will to the Portuguese Nation Whilst he was thus busied the confused noise of the Soldiers pierced his ears at which wondring not so much at the tumult as at what should be the cause of it being accompanied onely with a Dutch man and another of the Guard he would have gone down but was hindred by the Portugals who came running up crying Kill the Traytor Kill the enemy of our Blood whereupon not knowing where to save himself he fled with those two accompanying him into an inner chamber and there with his sword in his hand accompanied and assisted by those two that were with him disposed himself to sell his Life at the dearest rare he could but his valor stood him in no stead for those two who endeavored to defend him being slain with two Musquet-shot he seeing it vain to defend himself there longer leapt desperately out of the window rather to seek his death than out of any hopes to save his life for no sooner was he down but numberless swords were embrued in his blood the very women and children running to tear in pieces his dead body with the same alacrity as he used to torment them when alive In the mean time the Marquess of Ferrera was gone to secure the Vice-Queen whom having committed to the Guard of two hundred Musquetteers he calls a Council and in a short Discourse sets forth the miseries the kingdom had endured whilest it lay subject to the Spanish Government who had sought no other end but their destruction Then putting them in minde of the Valor and Merits of their Nation he exhorts them to condescend to the Election of a New King nominating to them the Duke of Braganza as the most worthy of the Crown not so much for his Power Riches or the greatness of his House as because the kingdom was his indubitable Right he being the onely Person left of that Stock which for so many years had gloriously governed Portugal A long Discourse was superfluous to those who were before perswaded A publick shout interrupted the Marquesses Speech all of them crying with a loud voice That they would have John Duke of Braganza for their King In the whole multitude there was not a face much less a voice that did gainsay this general Vote either because they did all really rejoyce to see that they should again have
publique thanks to be given and Te Deum to be sung in all Churches Hopes to revenge the late defeat given by the Lord Therimicourt and desire to do some valiant act before he departed from his Government made the Marquess of Leganez governour of the Spanish forces at Estramadura give an Alarum to the Portuguese Frontiers and enter into the Country with two thousand horse and 6000 foot but the valiant Count of St. Laurence assaulting him forced him to retire with shame and excuse himself that he marched out onely to meet the Marquess of Mortare who was appointed to succeed him in the Government Yet this small and worthless Alarum made the King of Portugal who knew that too much care could not be had of the safety of his Kingdom to send Orders to the Governors to look more exactly to the countries committed to their charges then formerly and strictly to give charge to Don Iuan de Menezez Governour of Porto The Viscount Ponte de Lima Governour of the countries between Douro and Mimbo to the Count of Arogna Governor of Trasmontes and Don Roderigo de Castro Governour of Beira to repair with all expedition to their several Commands Nor was his Majesty less careful of his dominions abroad then of those neer home which made him dispatch the Baron of Alviro to be Governour of Tanger and D. Franciso De Norogna to Mazagan both strong Forts in Africa the last of which had been neer surprized by the Moors of Barbary but the Commander of that party which assaulted it being slain by a valorous French-man they were beaten off with loss for which service the King bestowed upon the French-man a pension of six hundred Crowns per annum And whilst His Majesty was distributing his bounties he could not forget the Lady Dona Maria Manuel widdow to the some-time before deceased D. Antonio Coello D. Caravallio who had ever since His Majesties coming to the Crown been one of His Privy-Councellors and was one of the chief persons that went Ambassadors into France to renew the Alliance and conclude a firm League between the King of Portugal and Lewis the thirteenth King of France His Majesty therefore in consideration of his services bestowed a valuable pension on his aforesaid widdow There was almost dayly inroads made upon the Frontiers in some places or other amongst the rest the Baron of Themericourt entred with a strong party into the Spanish Territories surprized the Suburbs of the City of Albuquerque and brought away a very rich booty without the loss of so much as one souldier upon the place and not above twenty wounded The succor of the distressed Subjects of the more distressed King of England about the year 1650. gave occasion to the King of Portugal to manifest his affection to the English Nation which he did by giving assistance to the gallant Prince Rupert who being by His Majesty of England made Admiral of those few ships which in the year 1648. returned to their Allegiance had ever since been pursued by the more poâ—ent Fleets of the English Rebels and was now by them driven to seek the protection of his Portugal Majesty who notwithstanding that the Fleet of the Rebels with threatning Bravado's demanded the said Kings leave either to assault them in his port or to force them to come out bravely protected them under his Castles In revenge of which the Rebels of England who stiled themselves a Parliment proclaimed an open War with the Portugal Nation which His Majesty notwithstanding his great engagement at that present both against the Spaniards at home and the Hollanders on the other side the Line resolved to endure rather then deliver up the faithful Subjects of England into the hands of Murther Tyranny and Treason and therefore in part to cry quittance with the English who had taken Prize several Ships belonging to this Nation he made seizure of all the English Ships and goods within his whole dominions but onely those he had before protected But at length Prince Rupert finding a clear passage from out his ports where he had for many months been blocked up the King by reason of his other large expences in defence of his Kingdom finding himself unable to maintain a War against the English and nature dictating us to the preservation of our selves resolved more moved out of necessity then inclination to send an Agent into England to conclude a peace The person deputed to go on this unpleasant imployment viz to court Rebels was D. Suarez de Gimeraines who had for his assistance and interpreter Mr. Myles and English Merchant these two embarqued upon a Hamburger hired for that purpose by the King of Portugal arrived in England in Ianuary 1650. About the beginning of Feburary D. Suarez had audience before a Committee of the pretended Parliament to whom he made a Speech in Latine to this effect THe Serenissimo King of Portugal my Master sends me hither to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England that on his behalf and in his name having first most friendly saluted you as I now do with the greatest affection of my heart that I am able I may joyntly tender and make known to you the Royal desire which my Master feels within himself to conserve and more and more to knit the knot of that Amity which uninterrupted hath ever been between the Serenissimo Kings of Portugals their Ancestors and this renowned English Nation It being my part to endeavor what lies in me to remove all obstacles that may hinder the most vigorous effect of this hearty union and conjunction of minds so to preserve inviolably the ancient peace between us This I come to continue hoping and wishing all happy success therein this I come to intimate and offer unto the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England with that sincere and pristine affection which hitherto the experience of many ages hath made manifest Nor shall you need to scruple the sincerity of my intention and purpose by reason of the divers past attempts not to say fights between your power and ours since they have not been such as have broken or dissolved our amity nor have had their rise or approbation from the King my Master nor as we believe from the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England but more probably carried on either by the impulse of their own private affections or by the defect of that circumspection which in such cases is ever necessary But as I hope particularly and fully to prove indeed to demonstrate this truth unto the Parliament of the Republique of England so I am assured they will not onely rest satisfied therein but shall also have accruing to them a newer force and sence of mutual friendship between us since the jarrs that happen amongst friends are oftentimes justly accounted as certain redintigrations of love And I do admire our enemies have not made this reflection whilst fed with vain hope they have thought it in their power to sow and
foment discords between us upon presumption of this trivial innovation The King my Master sends me to continue and preserve our common and ancient peace whereof I am to make a render unto the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England in His Majesties behalf as proceeding from a perfect sincerity in his Royal breast and whereunto he is chiefly drawn by the motive of his singular esteem and love he bears unto this English Nation And this as the main point I shall recommend unto you both in regard of your greater good and ours and as a thing of highest concernment that we reflect how little it can be pleasing to Almighty God and how derogatory it must needs be to our reputation on both sides to give the least beginning of discord between two Christian Nations so well affected to one another as we are It is manifest unto the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England and to all Europe besides in how wonderful a manner such as was onely possible to God the King my Master was restored to his Kingdoms and how the divine Majesty whose handy-work this was doth by his especial care and grace defend and continue this restoration Which as it doth dayly more appear by the victories we have over our enemies at home so again it is seen in our remotest and most distantial dominions in the East-Indies where even at a huge distance His Majesty possessing the hearts of his people enjoyes that greatest peace in the world and is secure in Affrica relying thereupon his prosperous and happy powers To conclude the King my Master lest any thing should be wanting to render him compleatly happy hath according to the wish of an ancient Christian Author for securing the prosperity of the Roman Empire a faithful Senate puissant Armies and a most obedient people Fortifications in the judgement of wisest politicians conducing and necessary both to defend and increase Empires and Kingdoms Now in this good condition of not onely gaining and conserving friends but also of vanquishing our enemies the King my Master loves and embraces peace as the chiefest good amongst humane things holding it forth to all Kingdomes and Commonwealths but especially to this of England with that exceeding good will which he hath hither to born shall ever bear unto the same standing thereunto obliged by such bonds of love and good offices as shall never be forgotten by His Majesty For the people of this Nation are the most worthy successors of those their Heriock Ancestors who by their just power and Arms came freely to vindicate our Crowns from the Mahumetan oppressions And are if not the same persons at least their children who inflamed with a fervor and zeal of defending the Crown of Portugal justly did disdain to see it in the unjust possession of a forreign Prince They are I say those who with so mature deliberation and resolution endeavoured to snatch away this undue possession from the said Usurper maugre the concurrence of some ill affected Portugals with our enemies and that they might archieve this end glorious to themselves and to us emolumental they are those who covered these as with their Squadrons and Fleets of Ships ever formidable to their most potent enemies by a new example of an unheard of valour had our unfortunate Stars then given us leave to be happy come up to the very walls of Lisbon And this having formerly been between us and them most powerful English-men and our most loving brethren now that the Crown of Portugal for which you have fought so valiantly when it was unlawfully detained is happily restored to the possession of the natural and lawful King to whom of right it appertains who would not admire to see you bend your equal power upon no occasion given against the true and rightful King of Portugal by joyning with and favoring the same Usurper beaten by us from whom your selves did heretofore by force of your own Arms in our behalfs endeavor to snatch and wrest away that Crown he had unjustly seized upon and whom indeed you have hitherto both in desire and effect opposed It would to all the world seem a thing much removed from the innate generosity and gallantry of this your Nation and very ill suiting with your Christian justice and equality as also it would be a very unworthy requital of us who have deserved better at your hands and of that benevolence and affection wherewith the whole kingdom of Portugal is passionately câ—rrying on towards you wishing unto you the same happiness that we our selves desire to enjoy Let therefore these imaginary Clouds of discord vanish and be quite blown over from our thoughts as serving onely to Ecclipse with darkness the clear light of our antient amity which with what intention God Almighty knows the importune sagacity of our Common enemy would fain deprive us of Let all obstactles be removed and thrown quite away wherewith the true serving politicians by their inbred ambition of an universal Monarchy do conspire the ruine of us both aiming at nothing more then to set us together by the ears that overthrowing each other with our own Wars we may have brests open when our powers are exhausted to their swords and wounds with greater advantage against our selves and less hazard unto them This new Republique is built upon strong and sure foundations as also our antient and restored Kingdoms let us therefore cast our eyes unto the common interest of our cause joyning hands and mutual benevolence to such effect as may render both parties security the greater forbearing and bewaring above all things all provocations or irruptions of War whereby besides the inconveniences and losses which they ever draw after them all our own affairs and safety may be hazarded extreamly while their councels and endeavours will be promoted who by hidden and wicked arts strive to extend their own power by the common waste they would make in ours The King of Portugal my Master hath sent me hither furnished with a firm ample plenipotentiary power that discussing and screwing all the just and convenient meanes I may confer about the conservation of Peace and removing all emergent obstacles and scruples resolve and establish with the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England whatsoever shall be necessary for composing of our present affairs and maturely to provide with the greatest security that may be possible for their future well being I therefore beseech the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England that weighing and considering these things which I have exhibited they would please to decree whatsoever shall seem to them most convenient and just To this large Speech of forced and known flattery if we respect it in relation to the persons it was spoke to though most true in those particulars relating to the English Nation whilst monarchical was answered by the Rebels with a large Harange of the injuries they supposed done them by the protection of Prince Ruperts Fleet and seizure of the
English Merchants Ships and Goods concluding that they must have reparation made for the publique damage of the Commonwealth which they would be willing to accept of in any honorable manner and were willing to that purpose if the Ambassador had sufficient power to treat with him to that effect In summe after sometime the Count Del Sa Lord Chamberlain of the Kingdom of Portugal arrived in England in the quality of an Ambassador extraordinary who after many Conferences Addresses and large Offers made obtained a Peace upon condition to repay great Sums of monyes towards the satisfaction of the losses of the English Merchants During the stay of this Ambassador his brother D. Pantaleon Sa Knight of Malta led by I know not what frantick madness made a great uproar upon the New Exchange in London where some English were by him and his followers murdered for which several of his retinve were hanged and himself notwithstanding the earnest solicitations of his brother afterwards beheaded upon Tower-hill when the government of England was changed from a strange kinde of Commonwealth to a stranger kinde of Monarchy under a Protector But to return back again to the affairs of the Kingdom of Portugal The Earl of Castle Melhor who had been sent Vice-Roy into Brazile had so good success that with the assistance of those Portugueses before in the Kingdom he expulsed the Hollanders out of all their Garrisons there except the strong Fortress of Recif which was built upon a Rock wholly invironed by the Sea This animated the United States of the Netherlands to endeavour a revenge and recovery of that country and to that end and purpose a Potent Fleet was set out and notwithstanding the very earnest endeavours and large offers of the Portuguese Ambassador at the Hagne set sail to reconquer that Kingdom but not with that success which was expected for the expedition proved wholly fruitless and after so great an expence the States were so highly discontented that the Admiral Wittison was arrested at the Hague to answer such things as should be objected against him concerning that voyage It much concerns that King who hath to deal with enemies too potent for him to strengthen himself with such Alliance as may most advantage him and endammage his foe This consideration made King Iohn of Portugal about the year 1652. send an Ambassador to the young Duke of Savoy who by reason of the scituation of his Country had good and frequent opportunites to annoy the Catholique King and divert him from turning his whole Force upon this Kingdom offering reciprocal Marriage between that Duke and his Daughter and the young Prince Theodosio and Savoy's Sister But this his intention was I suppose diverted if not wholly hindred by the great power of Cardinal Mazarine in France who designed one of his Nieces as a fit match for Eugenius young Duke of Savoy 'T is not at all safe nor fit for a Subject to grow too rich at least not to exceed his Soveraign in Treasure for he thereby layes himself open to the envy and suspicion of his Prince nor is it possible that any who hath managed a publique employment can be so without faults as that somewhat cannot be laid to his charge to render him at a Kings mercy Sufficient example of this we have in D. Phillip de Mascarendas Vice-Roy of Goa in the East-Indies who having for many years officiated in that high imployment had gathered up an infinite Mass of Riches and now being called home thought in peace and quiet to enjoy what with a penurious and industrious hand he had been many years storing up but the King being informed that he had indeed such a vaste treasure in Gold Diamonds Pearls and other Jewels as he could not with his own honor or safety permit a Subject to enjoy easily found out them who were ready to form complaints against him which were as readily listned to by the Kings Councel who presently drawing up a charge against him for having used an arbitrary power oppressed and abused the Subjects and Merchants trading thither c. caused the Ship wherein he came with all the riches laden on it to be seized on for the Kings use and himself for sometime imprisoned nor had it been a wonder if he had made a forfeiture of his life as well as of the greatest part of his Estate The strength of the Hollanders at Sea had been the greatest obstacle to the Portuguese not wholly regaining there ancient possession in Brazile but the Wars wherein the Hollanders had involved themselves with England proving so powerful a diversion the Portuguese took the advantage to reduce Recif which with several Forts that encompassed it and some few other were the onely places that held out against them Against this therefore with a sufficient Land-force came Don Francisco Barreto governor of Pernambuco whilst the Portuguese Navy consisting of 65 Sayl blocked it up by Sea and first by storm took the Fort of Salines and thence coming before that of Burracco found it already abandoned and blown up be the defendants he next proceeded to the new Fortress the next and strongest Fort to that of Recif and well manned and munitioned Thus having made a sturdy resistance was at length forced by the Portugal which so amazed the Hollanders that though they had fifteen hundred men and six months provisions in Recif yet they agreed to yield it upon honorable tearms on the 26 of Ianuary 1654. being twenty four years after they had taken it from the Portugals THe conditions upon which this stronge fortess was surrendred up were to this effect 1. That D. Francisco Bareto should forget all Acts of Hostility made by the Hollanders against the Portugals by Sea and Land 2. That all persons whatsoever even the Jews in Recif and Maurice town though Rebells against the King of Portugals should be pardoned 3. That all Hollanders should be free to carry away those goods they actually possessed 4. That they should have sufficient numbers of Ships able to pass the Equinectial Line with Iron-guns for their transportation 5. That the Hollanders married with Portugal Woman or Natives there should be dealt so withal as if they had married Dutch Women and should with the consent of the women have power to carry them away with them 6. That those who would stay there under the obedience of the Portugals should be used as well as if they were native Portugals and as to their Religion should live as other strangers do in Portugal 7. That all forts about Recif and Maurice-town viz. the port of St. Bastions Boa Vista St. Austines Convent the Castle of Maurice-town that of the three Bastions the Brum with it's Redoubt the Castle of St. George and all others should be surrended to the aforesaid D. Francisco Barreto governor of Pernambucco with all the Ordnance and Ammunition presently after the signing of these Articles 8. That the Hollanders should be free to remain in Recif and
Maurice-town for three months they surrendring their Arms which should be restored to them when they took shipping and in the mean while they should have power to buy them necessary provisions of the Portugals for the voyage 9. All Negotiations and Alienations should be made during the said three months according to the present Articles 10. That the Governor should quarter his Forces where he pleased and that the Hollanders should be protected during those three months and having liberty to end their private differences before their own Iudges 11. That they should carry away all their Papers whatsoever 12. That if they could not sell their goods in the said three months time they should leave them with whom they pleased under the obedience of the Portugals to be disposed of according to their own order 13. That they should have all the victuals in the store houses of Recif and the other Forts for their voyage 14. That as to their pretensions against the Portugals they might sue them at the King of Portugals Court. 15. That all their Vessels should be restored unto them which they might fit for their voyage 16. That they might have liberty to advise all their Ships upon the Coast to come and laid their goods at Recif And in the last article it was expressed that upon the demand of the Hollanders that this might not prejudice any former treaty between the King of Portugal and the States General D. Francisco Barreto would not assent thereunto There were other articles likewise granted to the military Forces the sum of which were that all offences and hostages might be forgotten that all souldiers should go out of Recif with their Arms Match lighted Bullet in mouth Flying-colours but coming near the Portugal Army should put out the Match and lay their Arms in those Magazines appointed by the governour of Pernambucco to be restored to them at their departure provided they went to Nants Rochel or to some place in in the United Provinces and not to any belonging to the King of Portugal for security whereof they should give three hostages and all Officers and Souldiers should be shipt together with General Sigismond Schop after the delivery of the Forts of Riogrando Paraiba and Tamarica That the General should have twenty pieces of brass ordinance from four Pound-Ballet to eighteen withal their furnitures besides all necessary Iron-guns for the defence of the Ships that should be afforded them for their transportation with convenient supplyes of ammunition and provision according to the thirteenth Article before recited That General Sigismond and all his Officers of War should have liberty to carry away or sell all his or their goods or slaves That sick or wounded persons should have liberty to stay till they recovered but the Governour would not condescend to release those Hollanders which were prisoners before this surrendry A general pardon was granted to all rebells chiefly to Amboyna Mendaz and all other Indians and Negroes but they were not to have the honor to march out with their Arms. In sum the supream Councel at Recif did oblige themselves for the surrendring of these places upon the signing of these Articles and for the delivering up the Island of Farnam Viaca Noroga Riogrand Paraiba and Tamarica upon the same conditions for the inhabitants as had been granted to those of Recif These Articles were signed and delivered on both sides at the Camp at Taborda on the 18 of Ianuary 1653. and Conditions on both sides punctually observed Thus did the Hollanders loose all their Acquists in Brazile which so exasperated those high and mighty States that at the coming into Holland of myn Heer Sigismondo Schop who had there been General of their Militia they caused him to be imprisoned and tried for his life by a Councel of War but notwithstanding endeavors of his enemies he was acquitted Nor were the Portugals at home less fortunate against their neighbor enemy the Spaniards for to omit many petty skirmishes inroades made by them withal success desirable in the summer 1654. D. Antonio D' Albuquerque General of the Portuguese horse taking an advantage upon a party of Castilians which lay upon the Borders neer Aronches under the command of Count D' Amaranthe set upon them slew their General Amaranthe and took six hundred horse and farther animated with this success and the knowledge he had that a vigorous prosecution is the onely mother of a true victory pursued them with a Army of 3000 Foot and 1500 Horse eight leagues into their own Country as far as the old and strong Castle of D' Oluce while encouraging his Souldiers made valorous by their former good fortune he resolved to attacque and with continued batteries and storms so wearied out the enemy that after four days siege they yeilded upon composition and Albuquerque looking upon it as a place considerable both for the countenancing of incursions into the enemies country and keeping in awe the town of Xeres which is hard by having repaired it and placed in it a strong Garison returned About the beginning of the year 1655. D. Franciso De Ferrara Rabella arrived in England with Commission from the king of Portugal as Agent to Oliver Cromwel who then swayed here under the title of Protector to make a moâ—e firm confirmation of the Peace with England and to advise I suppose about carrying on the War with Spain which when Cromwel had given some reasons to make the world believe he would commence against that Catholick Monarch and how much such a War was for the interest of Portugal none will doubt who have read the foregoing story which made King Iohn court that English Usurper with more submisness and complacency by both harbouring his Fleets and sending presents to his Generals then otherwise his Genius would have permitted him to have done any way in prejudice of Englands lawful KING In the mean time the death of Pope Innocentius the Tenth made D. Francisco de Souza Ambassador at Rome for the King of Portugal make new addresses to Alexander the seventh his Successor for confirmation of the Church Officers in that Kingdom for he had never had any full grant from Innocent but now the Spanish Ambassadors opposed themselves more then ever and by meanes of the Queen of Sweden who wholly imployed her inâ—erest for the benefit of that Nations endeavoured to frustrate even the Portugueses hopes nay so desperate was the Spaniards malice that they laid several designs to murther the Portugal Ambassador but all proved ineffectual In sum after D. Francisco de Souza had spent some years in the Court of Rome to very little purpose he was upon the death of King Iohn the fourth called home to be Governor of the yong King Alfonso The proffered interchangeable Match with Savoy not taking effect father Du Rozaire a Domincan and Archbishop of Goa was sent Agent to France to treat about a Marriage between that King and the Infanta Donna Catharina with Proposals of