assembled together in January following, having judged by a publick Instrument
in writing, that the Right of reigning in Portingale belonged onely to the said Lo. Knig
John; where upon his Majesty desirous to beginne his Reigne, like his Preceedors; in
that piety and reverence which they have [unr] borne unto the Horie See of Rome, 10.
solved to send to the then Pope, Vrban the 8 to assure him of his Obedience, and ob[nl]taine
his Benediction, th' Efficacy whereof he hoped would enable him the better to administer
Justice within his Kingdom.
For th' Execution of this famous Embassage, hee chose Dom. Michael de Portugal one
of his Majesties Counsellours of State, Bishop of La Megue[unr] and Son to th' Earle of Vinrios[unr];
the Doctor Pantaleon Rodriguez Paebec[nl]o, (on his Counsell also) Generall of th'
Inquisition, Canon of Lisborue, and at present Bishop of Elvas, and Agent of th' Affairs
of the Crowne; And as Secretary for this Embassage, the Doctor Rodrigo Rodriguez of
Lemos, Counsellours in the Parliament or Lisborne, and Knight of th' Order of Jeius
Christ.
They rook their journey by the waylo France, with a Dispensation worthy of the Majesty
of him that sent them And being arrived at the Haven of CivitaVec[nl]chia (part of
the Temporall Demaine of the Church) the Bishop Embassadour had notice from the
Secretary of the French Embassadour at Rome (the Marquis of Fiontenaim Mareüll)
that his Holinesse very willingly yeelded unto his Landing, and that he should come unto
his Court. And the Cardinall Barberin; (understanding that the Prince of Gall[nl]ieane
had offered Don John Ciumussers, then Embassadour to the Catholick King at Rom,
that he would seize upon this Bishop as the passed along) sent him a Troop of Horse, by
whom he was daily conducted, with great expressions of mutuall Satisfaction.
Some few dayes after his Arrival, his Holi[nl]nesse appointed a Conclave; composed of
the Cardinals Pamphilio (now Sovereigne Bishop by the Name of Innocent the 10th.
Barbet in, Antonio, Lanti, Bentivoglto, Rocci, Roma, Palato, Spada, and Caieton, to understand
the Pretensions of this Bishop; But because that, by reason of th'evill Intentions
of the Spaniard, it would be dangerous for him to propound them in person, it was
ordered before hand that th' Agent should represent them for him; and for his greater
safety, this Porting all Embassadour should be lodged with the Embassadour of France.
Accordingly, this Agent shewed his Holinesse before the said Assembly, that by the
decease of the King Don Henriques, his Neece th' Insanta Dona Catherina, daughter to th'
Instant D: Edward his Brother, was to have succeeded in the Crowne: but that the Catholick
King taking advantage of the successe of his Armes had by force usurped that
which belonged to the said Insanta, in Justice, and by her Birth. So that le got the
possession thereof, and after his Son and Grand-son Philip the 3d. and 4th. continued
the same, exceeding so much th' Injustice of their Predecessors by their own Oppressions,
and Violence, that the Portingals resolved to shake off th' insupportable yoke of
Forreigne Kings, and to recover their natural Liege Lord, as was the Grand child of the
said Insanta Dona Catherina; whereof his Majesty of Portingall, as an obedient Son to the
Church, had sent to give an Accon[nl]pt by this Embassadour unto his Holinesse; in hope
to receive likewise from him all the Graces and Favours of a true Father of the Christians,
and which the Sovereigne Bishops his Predecessors, had ever vouchsafed unto the
Kings of Portingall; to th' end that by th' helps and Forces of his Estate, he right endevour
to propagate the Faith in the furthest parts of the World, where to his Dominions
extends; and thereby acquit himselfe worthily, as became him, of those Duties where
to God had obliged his Predecessors, Don Also aso Henriques, by putting the Scepter of
portingall into his Hands.
The Cardinals of the Congregation testified their liking of this Discourse: Onely
the Cardinal Barber in required d'more perticulerly in writing, the Reason which the Kingdom