Olivares, the prime minister of Philip IV. would have persuaded Juan to accept the government of Milan; but what Italian government could tempt him who knew himself the lawful heir to a throne? On the successful revolt of the Catalans, this artful politician sent to demand the assistance of my husband; Juan would not assist in oppressing a brave and outraged people, and he refused to appear under arms in such a cause. Dangerous was this noble frankness! the Spaniard dissembling his resentment by a mask of confidence, appointed Juan to command the troops which then lined the coast, protecting it against the threatened attack of the French fleet; the navy of Spain came to menace them in turn, and its admiral Ossorio, invited my Braganza with his principal officers to an entertainment on board his vessel. Providentially, the secretary (a Portuguese by birth) seized with remorse, privily informed us that Ossorio had orders to sail away with his victims for the remotest Spanish port. “Whilst we debated how to elude this treachery without appearing to suspect its existence, a storm dispersed the rival fleets, and drove the admiral’s ship, a total wreck, into the harbour of Cadiz.” “Providential indeed,” exclaimed Sebastian, “what followed this?” “Disappointed in his base design, Olivares was not slow in forming another;” resumed the Duchess, “he invested Braganza with some mockery of power, the duty of which consisted in his visiting the fortresses throughout Portugal, inspecting their state, and reporting it to the court of Madrid. The friends of my dear lord discovered that the same orders which had been given to Ossorio, were issued to the Spanish garrisons; he was to be seized, detained, and hurried into Castille. “My Juan’s answer to this proposed favor, was worthy of his illustrious soul: he told Olivares that the next heir to the crown of Portugal, deemed any other title a degradation rather than a distinction:--he declined the office, and the name annexed to it.” “There spoke his noble blood!” exclaimed Sebastian, while some youthful fire warmed his veins, “Heaven’s blessing be on him! may he fulfil the prophetic hopes which your words kindle in this time-chilled heart!--Go on, sweet daughter! go on!” Luisa with all the enthusiasm of ardent affection, resumed her discourse. “The spirit of her noblest Grandee appears to have lighted up a happy flame in the bosoms of a few gallant patriots: whole provinces have refused to follow the banners of Spain in her attempt to recover Barcelona. The city of Evora resisting an oppressive tax lately levied by our foreign governors, have loudly called for their legitimate sovereign, Juan of Braganza: the garrisons, almost emptied of their Spanish soldiers, (for Philip needs every aid in his war with Catalonia and France) offer an easy prey to our countrymen, whenever they shall have courage to assert their independence.