The Revolutions of Portugal

9781465642158

108 pages

Library of Alexandria

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Overview

Portugal is part of that vast Tract of Land, known by the Name of Iberia or Spain, most of whose Provinces are call'd Kingdoms. It is bounded on the West by the Ocean, on the East by Castile. Its Length is about a hundred and ten Leagues, and its Breadth in the very broadest part does not exceed fifty. The Soil is fruitful, the Air wholesome; and tho under such a Climate we might expect excessive Heats, yet here we always find them allay'd with cooling Breezes or refreshing Rains. Its Crown is Hereditary, the King's Power Despotick, nor is the grand Inquisition the most useless means of preserving this absolute Authority. The Portuguese are by Nature proud and haughty, very zealous, but rather superstitious than religious; the most natural Events will amongst them pass for Miracles, and they are firmly persuaded that Heaven is always contriving something or other for their Good. Who the first Inhabitants of this Country were, is not known, their own Historians indeed tell us that they are sprung from Tubal; for my part, I believe them descended from the Romans and Carthaginians, who long contended for those Provinces, and who were both at sundry times in actual possession of them. About the beginning of the fifth Century, the Swedes, the Vandals, and all those other barbarous Nations, generally known by the Name of Goths, over-run the Empire; and, amongst other Places, made themselves Masters of the Provinces of Spain. Portugal was then made a Kingdom, and was sometimes govern'd by its own Prince, at other times it was reckon'd part of the Dominions of the King of Castile.