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
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
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
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
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