had always the advantage over them, and they drove them still farther
from their Frontiers. The King might easily at that time have enter'd
into the very Center of _Castile_, had he had a good General, and
disciplin'd Soldiers; but his Army was chiefly compos'd of Militia,
fitter to make sudden Incursions into the Enemy's Country, than to bear
the Fatigue of a regular Campaign. Another thing that hinder'd his
making a greater Progress with his Army, was, that he had not Money
enough to pay them, and consequently not Forces enough on foot; for as
at his coming to the Crown, he had taken off all Taxes from the People,
that they might the better relish his Government, and had only his own
Estate to defray the Expences of the War; nor would he ever venture to
lay new Taxes upon them. But this Want of his was partly recompens'd by
the Necessity of _Spain_, who at that time had no better Generals than
the _Portuguese_, and whose Treasures, towards the latter end of
_Philip_ the Fourth's Reign, were exhausted.
On the sixth of _November_, 1656. died this Prince: in all the Encomiums
and Panegyricks made upon him by the _Portuguese_, he is celebrated for
his Piety and Moderation. Foreign Historians upbraid him with Cowardice,
and report, that he always distrusted both himself and others; that it
was a difficult point, especially for the Grandees, to get Access to
him; and that he was free with no one but his ancient domestick
Servants, especially with one that was always in company with his
Confessor. In short, from what we can gather of his Life, he was a
peaceable and religious Prince, and endow'd with Qualities which would
better have became a private Gentleman than a Monarch; so that we can
attribute his being rais'd to the Throne only to the inveterate Hate
which the _Portuguese_ bore the _Castilians_, and to the Ambition,
Courage, and Counsels of his Queen, whom by his last Will he nam'd
Regent of the Kingdom during his Son's Minority; not doubting but that
one who could raise herself to a Throne, would not want Courage to
preserve it for her Children. He left behind him two Sons and a
Daughter; the elder of the Sons was Don _Alphonso_, of a peevish and
melancholy Temper, who had quite lost the Use of one Side, and was at
the time of his Father's Death near thirteen Years old: Don _Pedro_, the
younger, was but eight: Donna _Catharina_ their Sister, was older than
either of them, and was born before the Revolution.
Don _Alphonso_ was immediately shewn to the People, and proclaim'd King,
and the Queen took the Regency upon her. This Princess would willingly
have signaliz'd herself by some glorious Action, but the Commanders of
the _Portuguese_ Army were fitter for Soldiers than Generals, and there
was not an Officer amongst them, who was Engineer enough to know how to
fortify a Place, or besiege a Town. Nor was there a Man in the
Privy-Council, who could be look'd upon as a Statesman; most of them
could indeed make fine Speeches and elaborate Discourses upon the
Necessities of the State, and the Misfortunes in which it would probably
fall, but never a one of them knew how to prevent or remedy them.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1657.]
To these Evils we must attribute the ill Success of her Arms before
_Olivenza_ and _Badajos_, where the _Spaniards_ obliged them to raise
the Siege. Besides this, they had fallen out with the _Dutch_ about the
Trade to the _Indies_; and the _French_, after the _Pyrenean_ Treaty,
seem'd to have forgotten them.
The Queen finding herself without any regular Troops, without able
Officers or good Counsellors, and without foreign Alliances, was obliged
by her Courage, Capacity, and Application, to supply the want of all
these; she herself discharg'd the Duty of a Secretary of State, and took
care to keep a good Correspondence with all the Courts of _Europe_,
which might be serviceable to her: In short, had she never encounter'd
all these Difficulties, she could not have reveal'd all those _hidden
Vertues, which shun the Day, and lie conceal'd in the smooth Seasons,
and the Calms of Life_.
By such Care and Diligence for a long time she sav'd _Portugal_ from
that Ruin which threaten'd it; but _Spain_ now pouring all its Forces in
upon her, she found herself unable to resist them, unless she could
procure better Officers. To this end she cast her Eyes upon _Frederick_
Count of _Schomberg_, whose Name and Valour were already sufficiently
known. She would willingly have given him the chief Command of the Army,
but was afraid at this juncture of disobliging her Generalissimo;
wherefore she order'd the Count _de Soure_, her Ambassador in _France_,
to treat with the Count _de Schomberg_ about his coming into _Portugal_,
where he should have only the Title of Lieutenant-General; but in case
of the Death or Resignation of the present Commander, he should be made
Generalissimo of all her Forces.
The Count set out for _Lisbon_ with four-score Officers, and above four
hundred Horsemen, all Veterans, who perfectly understood the Discipline
of an Army, and would upon occasion make good Leaders.
Before the Count went into _Portugal_, he made a Voyage into _England_,
where he saw King _Charles_ the Second, who was lately restor'd: He had
private Orders from the Regent, to endeavour to discover whether King
_Charles_ might be brought to marry the Infanta of _Portugal_. The Count
negotiated this Business with so much Address, that he made both the
King and Chancellor _Hyde_ desirous of this Alliance. The Queen,
extremely satisfy'd with what he had done, desir'd him to hasten into
_Portugal_, and sent the Marquiss _de Sande_ to conclude the Business.
[Sidenote: _May 31. 1662._]
But the King of _Spain_, foreseeing what might be the consequence of
this Match, did all he could to prevent it; he offer'd to give any
Protestant Princess Three Millions for her Portion, provided the King
would marry her; and by his Ambassador propos'd the Princesses of
_Denmark_, _Saxony_, or _Orange_. But the Chancellor represented to the
King how nearly it concern'd him to maintain the House of _Braganza_ on
the Throne, and not let _Philip_ become Master of all _Spain_ and the
_Indies_. His Speech produc'd the desir'd Effect, and King _Charles_
married the Infanta. Thus did a Protestant Statesman persuade his
Sovereign to marry a Catholick Princess, whilst a Prince of the _Roman_
Communion, who valued himself in a particular manner upon the Title of
the most Catholick King, offer'd him vast Sums of Money, to engage him
to wed a Protestant.
Shortly after King _Charles_, by his Mediation, establish'd a Treaty of
Commerce between the States of _Holland_ and the Crown of _Portugal_;
after which he sent a considerable Number of Troops into that Kingdom,
commanded by the Earl of _Inchequin_: but having recall'd him, he
order'd that the Forces should stay under the Command of _Schomberg_; so
that the Count shortly saw himself at the head of the chosen Forces of
three Kingdoms. Not but that there was a _Portuguese_ Generalissimo, or
at least one who had the Title, but the Count had all the Authority,
which he made use of to establish an exact and regular Discipline
amongst the _Portuguese_: He taught them the Order of marching,
encamping, besieging, and regularly fortifying a Town; so that all those
Places on the Frontiers of the Kingdom, which were before naked and
defenceless, soon became capable of making a vigorous Defence.
The Regent Queen, proud of having met with such a General, carry'd the
War vigorously on, and her Arms were almost every where crown'd with
Success; never were the _Portuguese_ Forces better disciplin'd, the
People bless'd her Government, the Grandees continu'd in perfect
Submission to it through Fear and Respect: but though Fortune favour'd
her abroad, she met with domestick Cares and Troubles, which chang'd the
face of every thing.
Whilst the Regent was taking care to place the Crown with Surety on her
Son's Head, he, on the other hand, endeavour'd to make himself unworthy
of it, by his irregular Manner of Living; he was mean-spirited,
melancholy, and cruel, could not bear the Authority of his Mother, and
despis'd the Advices of his Governours and Ministers; he always refus'd
the Company of the Lords of his Houshold, and would divert himself with
none but Negroes, Mulattoes, and all the Scum of the _Lisbonite_ Youth:
and spite of the Care of his Governours, he had got a little Court
compos'd of such like People, whom he call'd his Bravoes, with whom he
us'd to scour the Streets at Night, and insult all those who
unfortunately fell into his way.
This Disorder of Mind had been first caus'd by a Palsy, which had
afflicted him when about four Years of Age, and which had made fatal
Impressions not only on his Limbs, but also on his Brain. Whilst he was
young, his Faults had been wink'd at by his Tutors, who thought that so
infirm a Child could never bear the Fatigues of a severe Education, and
hoped that Time would both strengthen his Body, and sweeten his Temper:
but this Indulgence ruin'd him. 'Tis true, that by the assistance of
Remedies, and help of Time, his Constitution grew stronger, he could
fence, ride, and bear any Fatigue; but his Temper never became better.
His Passions encreasing with his Age, they soon prevail'd over his
Reason, which was but weak, and he gave a loose to Licentiousness and
Debauchery. He would bring common Prostitutes into the Palace, fetch
them himself from the Stews, and very often spend whole Nights amongst
them there.
The Queen, overwhelm'd with Grief, and fearing that the Irregularity of
her Son would at once destroy the Labours of her whole Life, resolv'd
several times within herself to have him confin'd, and make his Brother
reign in his stead; but dreading to excite a Civil War, which would have
favour'd the _Spanish_ Arms, she dropp'd the bold Design: sometimes she
hoped the King might yet be reclaim'd, especially if he was depriv'd of
the Company of _Conti_, a Merchant's Son, his first Favourite, and
Companion of all his Debaucheries. To this end she had _Conti_ privately
seiz'd, and carry'd on board a Ship which was bound for _Brazil_, with
Orders that he should never return to _Portugal_ on pain of Death.
The King at first seem'd very much griev'd at the Loss of his Favourite,
but comforting himself by little and little, he was at last pacify'd,
and seem'd very much alter'd for the better, would hearken to Advice,
and paid the Queen an unusual Respect, who was congratulated by the
Ministry and the whole Court, upon the extraordinary Success of her
Enterprize.
But this apparent Tranquillity and Alteration of the King's, was only a
Veil to cover a deep Design, and of which his Mother never thought him
capable; so that this Princess, who could read in the very Hearts of the
most dissembling Courtiers, was overreach'd by a half-witted Youth.
The King had complain'd of _Conti_'s Banishment to the Count _de
Castel-Melhor_, a _Portuguese_ Nobleman, of an illustrious Birth, subtle
and insinuating, but fitter to manage a Court-Intrigue, than a Business
of Importance. The Count thought that a fair Opportunity offer'd of
supplying _Conti_'s Place in the King's Favour; wherefore to ingratiate
himself, he deplor'd the Exile's Misfortune, and promis'd to use his
utmost Endeavours to have him recall'd. He told the Prince at the same
time, that it was in his own power to remedy this, or any Grievance of
the like nature; that he was of Age, and had been so a great while; that
he might as soon as he pleased take the Supreme Command upon himself,
then recall _Conti_, and let him triumph over the Queen, and all his
other Enemies.
The King was pleas'd with this Advice, and determin'd to follow it; the
Count was his sole Confidant and Favourite: however, he desir'd the King
that their Intimacy should still be a Secret, that the Queen might not
suspect him: but it could not be long conceal'd from this Princess, who
meeting him one day in the King's Train, caught him by the Arm, and
staring him in the face with that Majestick Air, which made every one
tremble; "I am inform'd, Count, _said she_, that the King is wholly
govern'd by your Counsels; take therefore good care of him, for if he
does any thing to thwart me, your Life shall answer it."
The Count, without answering, made a submissive Bow, and follow'd the
King, who call'd him. As soon as he was alone with him, he gave him an
account of what the Queen had said: "I suppose, _continued he_, that I
shall shorty share _Conti_'s Fate, but yet with Joy should I go to
Banishment, could I at the same time see my King shake off the Authority
of an imperious Mother, who will let him enjoy the Title, but never the
Power of a Sovereign."
This artful Discourse threw the Prince into a violent Passion, and he
would go immediately and take the Royal Authority from the Queen, by
taking the Great Seal, which is the Mark of it; but the Count, who knew
too well what the consequence of this would be, advis'd him to retire to
_Alcantra_, and from thence to send Couriers to the Magistrates of
_Lisbon_, and to all the Governours of Provinces, to let them know that
he was of Age, and had taken the Government upon himself.
The King approv'd the Counsel, and having that Evening disguis'd
himself, he left the Palace, follow'd only by the Count and a few
Friends. That Night they arriv'd at _Alcantra_, from whence he sent
Orders to the Secretaries of State, and to the _German_ Guard, to come
to him; and at the same time dispatch'd Couriers to every Town of
_Portugal_, to let them know that he was of Age, and by consequence the
Regency of the Queen at an end.
Most of the Court set out for _Alcantra_, and the Queen saw herself in a
manner forsaken; notwithstanding which, she resolv'd to lay down her
Authority as became her: wherefore she wrote to the King, to ask him the
reason why he took possession of the Throne like an Usurper, that had no
Right to it; and added, that if he would return to _Lisbon_, she would
lay down her Authority in presence of the Grandees and the Magistrates.
The King accordingly return'd, and the Queen having summon'd the
Grandees, Magistrates, and others of the Nobility, to attend her, in
presence of the Assembly took the Seals out of the Great Purse, and
putting them into her Son's Hand, "Here are, _said she_, the Seals,
which, together with the Regency, were entrusted to my Care by the Will
of my late Sovereign Lord: I return them to your Majesty with all the
Authority, which they are the Emblems of; I heartily pray God that you
may make a good use of them, and that your Reign may be as prosperous as
I can wish it." The King took the Seals, and gave them to the first
Secretary of State; after which the Prince, and all the Grandees, kiss'd
his Hand, and acknowledg'd him their Sovereign.
The Queen Dowager had given out, that she intended in six Months time to
retire into a Convent, but that six Months she would spend at Court, to
see what Measures the young King would take. But the Favourite Count,
who still dreaded that Princess, who knew her tow'ring Genius, and was
sensible of the natural Sway which a Mother has over the Mind of her
Son, persuaded the King to treat her most inhumanly, that by frequent
Affronts he might oblige her to leave the Court much sooner than she
intended. The Queen, who was of a haughty Temper, could not bear to be
thus us'd, but immediately threw herself into a Convent; where, being
fully satisfy'd of the Vanities of human Greatness, she spent the
Remainder of her Time, which was scarce a Year, in preparing herself for
another World, and died on the eighteenth of _February_, 1666. lamented
by the whole Nation: for never was there a Princess of a more
extraordinary Genius, or more amply endow'd with all the Vertues
requisite to either the one or the other Sex. Whilst on the Throne, she
shew'd a truly great and heroick Soul; when she quitted it for a
religious Life, she seem'd entirely to have forgotten what Pomp and
Grandeur were, and all her Ambition then was to deserve Heaven.
The King, who now saw himself fully at liberty, and no longer fear'd the
prudent Queen's just Reproofs, gave a loose to his Passions, and
indulg'd his pernicious Inclinations. He would scour the Streets at
Night with his Bravoes, and abuse every one he met with; nor did the
Watch fare better than their Neighbours. Never a Night did he ramble,
but the next Morning tragical Histories were publish'd, of several who
had been wounded or murder'd in the Streets; and People fled before him
with greater Fear than they would before a hungry Lion, just broke loose
from his Den.
The Count _de Castel-Melhor_ was his first Minister; he was an
intriguing, insinuating Courtier, but far from being an able Statesman:
haughty in Prosperity, fawning and timorous in Adversity. In his hands
were the Reins of the Government, the King reserving no Authority to
himself, but that of doing what mischief he pleas'd unpunish'd; nor did
the Count ever make it his business to reclaim him, well knowing that
the King's Follies and his Authority were inseparable.
The _Spaniards_ flatter'd themselves with the Hopes of easily reducing
_Portugal_, whilst it had such a Monarch as Don _Alphonso_. To this end
they sent a strong Army against it, under the Command of Don _John_ of
_Austria_, natural Son to _Philip_ IV. The King of _Portugal_ sent
_Schomberg_ to oppose him, notwithstanding the Count _de Villa-Flor_ had
the Title of Generalissimo. And to the Count of _Schomberg_'s Courage
and Conduct it was that Don _Alphonso_ ow'd the Preservation of his
Crown: He beat the _Spaniards_ several times, notwithstanding what
_Villa-Flor_ did; who, jealous of his Glory, endeavour'd all he could
to cross his Measures, and had effectually done it, had not
_Schomberg_'s Interest been greater both at Court and in the Army, which
joyfully obey'd the Commands of their brave Leader, who always led them
to a certain Victory.
_Castel-Melhor_ did all he could to persuade the People, that this happy
Success was owing to him; though if the Truth had been search'd into, it
would have appear'd that all he could justly boast of, was his being the
first Man to whom the News was sent. By these means the Minister's
Credit encreas'd, and he actually enjoy'd the Sovereign Authority. The
King was nothing but a piece of Clock-work, whose Springs he could wind
up, and put into what Motion he pleas'd. The Barbarity of his Temper he
made use of, to ruin and destroy all those of whom he was jealous;
amongst these were the greatest part of the late Queen's Ministry: so
that there was a strange Alteration at Court, all Places were fill'd
with the Count's Creatures; nor could any one hope for Favour, but those
who took care to please the Favourite. _Melhor_ went farther than this,
for _Conti_ being recall'd, he got him banish'd a second time; for no
sooner was he landed, but the King sent him an Express, to congratulate
him upon his safe Arrival, and _Melhor_, by the same Express, sent him
Orders not to come near the Court: such a Sway had this Minister over
his Sovereign, that he durst not contradict his Orders, but for fear of
dipleasing him, was obliged to see _Conti_ in private. The Count had
notice of it, and fearing that should their antient Intimacy be renew'd,
there would be no place left for him in the King's Favour, had him
accus'd of a Design upon the Prince's Life; and tho there were no
Witnesses found, no Proofs, no Probabilities of his Guilt, yet Sentence
of Banishment was pass'd upon him.
The Count, no longer apprehensive of _Conti_, began to consider how he
should secure his Interest at Court, in case of any Accident. To this
end he endeavour'd to ingratiate himself with Don _Pedro_, the King's
Brother, but a Prince of a quite different Character: His Soul was truly
great, and his Inclinations noble; his Actions princely, and his manner
of Living regular: the _Portuguese_ admir'd, or rather ador'd him, for
he had not his own Vertues only, but his Brother's Vices also, to set
him off.
To this end, _Melhor_ plac'd a Brother of his in the Prince's Houshold,
and bad him do all he could to insinuate himself into his Master's
Favour, as he had into the King's; hoping by these means to govern both
the Princes.
Don _Pedro_ us'd him with all the Civility imaginable, and shew'd him
more than common Respect; but as for giving him any place in his Favour,
or Confidance, he could not; the whole was taken up. The late Queen
having always look'd upon her younger Son as the Hopes and Support of
her Family, she had taken care to put about him none but those, whose
Wisdom, Learning, and Integrity might entitle them to a share of the
Prince's Love; such were his Governours, and of such chiefly was his
Houshold compos'd. These had taken care to let the Prince know, that he
need not despair of one day wearing the Crown of _Portugal_, for that
there was no great likelihood of his Brother's ever having any Children;
but at the same time they told him, that there was nothing but _Melhor_
was capable of doing, to keep him from inheriting the Crown, since he
was well assur'd that he must never hope for any share in the Ministry,
when Don _Pedro_ should ascend the Throne.
By degrees these different Views and Interests divided the Court into
two Cabals; the Count indeed had the greatest Number on his side, there
being more who love to swim with the Stream, than against it. But the
ablest Statesmen, who plainly saw that so violent and arbitrary a
Government could not last long, with all the Grandees, and the best of
the Nobility, who would not cringe to such a Favourite as the King's
was, were always about the Prince, to whom they paid their Respects as
to the Heir apparent.
The Count being sensible that the Hope of the adverse Faction was
founded upon the Infirmity of the King, determin'd to destroy it at
once, by marrying him; and by his Advice a Match was propos'd and
concluded between the King and _Mary-Elizabeth-Frances_ of _Savoy_,
Daughter to _Charles_ Duke of _Nemours_, and _Elizabeth de Vendome_.
_Cæsar d'Estrées_, a Relation of hers, Bishop and Duke of _Laon_, and
known all over _Europe_ by the Name of the illustrious Cardinal
_d'Estrées_, conducted her into _Portugal_, accompany'd with the
Marquiss _de Ruvigni_, the _French_ Ambassador, and several other
Persons of Quality.
This Marriage was celebrated with all the Pomp and Magnificence
imaginable. The whole Court admir'd the young Queen's extraordinary
Beauty, but no one was more sensibly affected with it than the Prince.
The King was the only Person who seem'd regardless of her Charms, and
who by his Indifference soon convinc'd the whole Nation, that he had
taken the Name of a Husband, but was not capable of discharging the Duty
of one.
Count _Melhor_ had at first flatter'd himself with the Hopes of
governing the Queen as well as the King, but soon found that she had too
great a Spirit for such a Submission. Enrag'd at this, he resolv'd to
lose no Opportunity of revenging himself, all publick Business was
carefully hid from her, all her Desires were cross'd; her Recommendation
certainly excluded any Person from the Place to which she recommended
him. Shortly after, neither the Expences of her Houshold, nor her own
Pensions were paid, under pretence that the War and other Necessities of
the State had exhausted the Royal Treasury. And so insolent was this
haughty Minister to every body, to the Prince himself, but especially to
the Queen, that she has been often seen coming out of the King's
Apartment bath'd in Tears.
Her Beauty, her Merits, her Misfortunes, and the Complaints of all the
Ladies of the Court, and the Officers of the Queen's Houshold, whose
Salaries were stopp'd, touch'd the Hearts of all those who had not an
immediate Dependence on the Minister; and these form'd a third Party at
Court, where nothing now was talk'd of but the Improbability of the
Queen's having any Children, tho she had not yet been married a Year.
What encreas'd every one's Suspicion, was the Report which was spread of
a private Door, which by the King's Order was made in the Queen's
Chamber, and open'd just against her Bed-side, and of which he himself
kept the Key. The Queen was alarm'd at the Novelty of the thing, and the
Danger to which she saw her Honour expos'd. And many concluded, that
this was an Artifice of _Melhor_'s, who, notwithstanding the Infirmity
of the King, was nevertheless resolv'd that the Queen should have
Children.