Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1765 edition. Excerpt: ...alcribing it to his victories. Upon the death of the Duke of Braganza, King of Portugal, four years before this, his widow, now Queen. Regent during the minority of his fons Don Alphonfo and Don Pedro, found herfelf without alliances, difcipltnedTroops or able Generals. In this diftrefs fheoffered the King of Spain to hold her Kingdom as a fief of Caftile, and in homage, pay annually a million of money, furnilh annually four thoufand foot andeight (hips of war; But Philip IV, being perfuaded that Portugal, now for An. 1659. forfaken by France, could riot hold a fingle.campaign, .--would not give ear to anyaccom mediation, but made all his forces march thither,"under the command;of Don Louis de' Haro. The Queen Regent had' arV neroic mind, and/ under all her difad vantages, calmly prepared to defend the Kingdom fhe governed, She affumed to herfelf the whole authority of the Councils, extended her views to all the Courts of Europe, from whence fhe might draw any affiftance, and fent Don Juan d'Acofta Count de Soure to Paris, to treat with Cardinal Mazarin. ' This Minifter, unwilling to give umbrage to Spain, applied himfelf to M. de Turenne, who became the chief manager in all the negotiations. He was of opinion, that the re-union of Portugal to the Crown of Spain would too much increafe the power of a State that was always to be dreaded. Secrecy being necefl'ary in this negotiation, the Portuguefe Ambaffador did not appear in public. The Vi(-, count concealed him in a country-houfe of his nephew the Duke d'Albret, afterwards Cardinal de Bouillon. There, after feveral conferences, a fecret treaty was concluded, by which Louis XIV. promifed to fend troops, money, and even a General, to the afliftance of the Portuguefe. Turenne cafr, his eyes...