As politick as this Conduct of _Olivarez_ might appear, yet did he miss his aim; for carrying his Cruelty to too high a pitch, at a time when the Court of _Spain_ was in distress, and seeming rather to plunder an Enemy's Country, than levying Taxes from the _Portuguese_, who daily saw their Miseries encrease, and be the consequence of their Attempt what it would, they could never fare worse; unanimously resolv'd to free themselves from the intolerable Tyranny of Spain. [Sidenote: 1640.] _Margaret of Savoy_, Dutchess of _Mantua_, was then in _Portugal_, where she had the Title of Vice-Queen, but was very far from having the Power. _Miguel Vasconcellos_, a _Portuguese_ by Birth, but attach'd to the _Spanish_ Interest, had the Name of Secretary of State, but was indeed an absolute and independent Minister, and dispatch'd, without the knowledge of the Vice-Queen, all the secret Business; his Orders he receiv'd directly from _d'Olivarez_, whose Creature he was, and who found him absolutely necessary for extorting vast Sums of Money from the _Portuguese_. He was so deeply learn'd in the Art of Intriguing, that he could perpetually make the Nobility jealous of one another, then would he foment their Divisions, and encrease their Animosities, whereby the _Spanish_ Government became every day more absolute; for the Duke was assur'd, that whilst the Grandees were engag'd in private Quarrels, they would never think of the Common Cause. The Duke of _Braganza_ was the only Man in all _Portugal_, of whom the _Spaniards_ were now jealous. His Humour was agreeable, and the chief thing he consulted was his Ease. He was a Man rather of sound Sense, than quick Wit. He could easily make himself Master of any Business to which he apply'd his Mind, but then he never car'd much for the Trouble on't. Don _Theodosius_, Duke of _Braganza_, his Father, was of a fiery and passionate Temper, and had taken care to infuse in his Son's Mind an Hereditary Aversion to the _Spaniards_, who had usurp'd a Crown, that of Right belonged to him; to swell his Mind with the Ambition of repossessing himself of a Throne, which his Ancestors had been unjustly depriv'd of; and to fill his Soul with all the Courage that would be necessary for the carrying on of so great a Design.