JOHN OF BRAGANZA. THE dominion of Spain pressed considerably on Por tugal when Margaret of Savoy, Duchess of Mantua, resided there in quality of Vice-roy; but the chief power was in the hands of the secretary of state, Miguel Vasconcellos, of a disposition rigid and avaricious, who, by his skilful management in the distribution of honours, fomented among the Portuguese nobility a jealousy favourable to the support of his authority. ONE person alone he dreaded, which was John of Braganza, the son of Theodore, from whom Spain had taken the crown of Portugal; but Vasconcellos well knew the character of that prince, who, retired in his castle, preferred the felicity of diffusing happiness around him to the splendour of a throne, which could only be attained by the sacrifice of his repose. The people were, nevertheless, desirous that he should courageously assert his birth-right, and several of his subjects did not scruple to urge him to it. Too crafty to employ violence, Vasconcellos had recourse to measures to secure the person of the duke, who, being informed of his designs, without appearing sensible of the snare that was laid for him, had always the address to escape it. The superintendant of his house, Pinto Ribiero, increased daily the partizans of his master. The archbishop expatiated on his brilliant qualities, and became fully acquainted with what was going on. The duke communicated the whole to his wife, Louisa de Guzman. "Ac cept," said she, "the crown which is offered to you: it is glorious to die a king, even if you be one but a quarter of an hour." These words confirmed the resolution of the duke, but his conduct was not the less reserved; and, while he was at Villa-Viciosa, the Portuguese accomplished the revolution with a degree of calmness which could not have been expected. They required but one victim-this was Vasconcellos, who was killed by the great chamberlain, by a pistol shot. Some efforts were made to preserve his life. The vice-queen presented herself before the people, accompanied by her maids of honour, and flattered herself that her presence would appease the insurgents.. "What have I to fear from the populace," she exclaimed, "except their scorn?" "You have to dread, Madame," replied Norogna, "that they do not throw your highness out of the window." This answer greatly terrified her, and she retired; and, on the sixth of December, 1630, John of Braganza was crowned by the title of John IV. A little time after, the vice-queen Margaret conspired against him: some of her partizans were put to death, others sent into exile, and Margaret was conveyed to the court of Madrid. He afterwards entered into alliance, offensive and defensive, with the Dutch and the Catalonians; and, to promote the welfare of his subjects, employed himself continually in lessening the taxes, and in the reformation of abuses. This prince was born at Lisbon, in 1604, and died in 1656, at the age of fifty-two, after a reign of twenty-six years. |