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rope, whom his majefty could with so much reafon and advantage marry as the infanta of Portugal; with which approbation the king was very much pleased, and thereupon appointed all thofe lords with the same secrecy to enter upon a treaty with the embaffador, in order to have a more particular and fubftantial affurance, for the accomplishment of all those things, than his bare word. Conferences with the embaffador took place accordingly.

CHAP.

V.

1661.

As thofe conferences could not be kept fecret, Conferences opened with the public were led to believe, that they had for the emballa their object a treaty of alliance and commerce with dor. Portugal; but none, except the parties concerned, had any idea of a negociation towards a marriage. At the first interview, the Portuguese embaffador offered, in addition to the before-mentioned inducements, that, in cafe the marriage was approved of, his court should renew the treaty made with Cromwell, without being fo much as exempted from the yearly payment, which he had imposed for the affiftance given to prince Rupert. This offer feemed the more generous,, as that tribute had been exacted from Portugal in the moment of the utmoft diftrefs, and by an ufurper, which rendered the treaty invalid. It was alfo very grateful to the king; for as the money had been affigned by Cromwell to fome English merchants to indemnify them for damages fuftained from prince Rupert; if the payment should be with

Bb 3

CHAP.

V.

1661.

Chief objec

tion to the treaty evaded.

with-held by Portugal, the merchants might think they had a right to claim it from his majesty.

It had been forefeen from the first mention of this marriage, that fhould the propofed alliance take place, it would be very hard to avoid fuch a conjunction with Portugal, as would produce a war with Spain. To this his majesty was very averfe; for, befides that he had received fome civilities from the Spanish king, and that fir Henry Bennet, his refident at Madrid, had in his name renewed the treaty of 1630 between the two crowns, his majesty now refolved to have no difference with any of his neighbours, nor to engage in war which he could avoid, till the ill humours in his own dominions should be wholly compofed or fubdued. This was certainly a very prudent resolution; and if it had been adhered to, much evil, which fucceeded the departure from it, might have been prevented.

any

But the lords found, upon the perusal of the treaty made between Cromwell and Portugal, one article by which the protector engaged, whenever required, to affift the Portuguese with fix thousand foot, to be levied in England at their charge. Now the embaffador urged, that, in confequence of the marriage, the portion, the delivery of the places, the advantages in trade, and the intereft which his majefty would have in the crown of Portugal, he

would

would take a decided part in its defence againft the violent, and unjust pretenfions of Spain. To this, his majesty answered, "that he would not enter into any fuch pofitive engagement, as he was not in a condition to make war, till he could not avoid it he would do what was lawful for him to do:-he could chufe a wife for himself, and he could help a brother and ally with a levy of men at their charge, without entering into a war with any other prince; and if Spain fhould, either upon his marriage or upon fuch fupply, declare war against him, he would defend himself as well as he could, and do as much damage as he could to Spain: that he would then apply fuch affistance to Portugal, as fhould be most advantageous to it; and that he should not be willing to fee it reduced under obedience to Spain for many reafons: that, in the mean time, he would affist Portugal with the fame number of men as Cromwell had promised, and tranfport them at his own charge thither, provided that as foon as they were landed, they should be received into the king of Portugal's pay."

This laft offer the king more readily made upon a reafon not then communicated, but which I have before explained in treating of Scotch affairs. He had been induced by the preffing request of the Scotch parliament, and by the still more perfuafive infinuations of Lauderdale, to refolve upon withdrawing

CHAP.
V.

1661.

CHAP.

V.

1661.

The embaffa

ture for Lif

bon,

drawing the English garrifons from Scotland; and he now thought that such a suspected body of men, as they were compofed of, could with more fecurity and little more charge be transported to Portugal, than be difbanded in the place where they

were.

When the embaffador found that the king would not be perfuaded to enter directly into a war with Spain, he concluded that the alliance and marriage would give a prefent reputation to Portugal, and make impreffion upon her enemies. He alfo thought, and with reafon, that the fteps, which the king himself propofed to take, and the refolution that he expreffed to preferve the independency of Portugal, would unavoidably engage him in a - rupture with Spain. The embaffador therefore accepted his majefty's offer; and there remained nothing to be done, but to give unquestionable fecurity to the king for the performance of all the particulars which had been promised, and for which there appeared yet no other warrant than letters and inftructions from the queen regent.

In order therefore to give his majefty complete dor's depar fatisfaction refpecting all thofe matters, the embaffador propofed to pafs immediately into Portugal; and doubted not, in as fhort time as could be expected, to return with fuch power and authority, and fuch a full conceffion and confirmation of

what

what had been propofed, as should be found unexceptionable. His majesty liked this speedy method of concluding the bufinefs very well; and wrote himself to the queen regent and to the king fuch letters as fignified his full resolution for the marriage. He alfo wrote a letter with his own hand to the infanta, as to a lady whom he looked upon as his wife. His majefty likewise affigned two ships to attend the embassador, who immediately, and with fome fhew of discontent, in order to keep the object of his departure a profound secret from the public, embarked with all his family for the river of Lisbon.

That I may not break off the thread of this narrative, till I bring it to a conclufion, nor leave out any important particular relating thereto, I fhall in this place make mention of a little cloud or eclipfe, raised by the activity and restlessness of the earl of Bristol, that seemed to darken all the boafted luftre of this treaty, and to threaten its very life by extinguishing it in the bud. This earl, upon the defeat of fir George Booth, when the king's hopes in England fecmed totally deftroyed, had no farther patience, but immediately turned papift, that he might with undoubted fuccefs apply himself to the fervice of Spain, to which the good acceptation he then had with Don Juan was the greater encouragement. The noife and

fcandal

CHAP.

V.

1661.

Review of

the earl of Bristol's paft conduct.

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