But just at this time, a small party arose in Spain, equally opposed to the Emperor, and to the propositions of the King of England.  This party consisted at first of only five persons:  namely, Villafranca, Medina-Sidonia, Villagarcias, Villena, and San Estevan, all of them nobles, and well instructed in the affairs of government.  Their wish was to prevent the dismemberment of the Spanish kingdom by conferring the whole succession upon the son of the only son of the Queen of France, Maria Theresa, sister of the King of Spain.  There were, however, two great obstacles in their path.  Maria Theresa, upon her marriage with our King, had solemnly renounced all claim to the Spanish throne, and these renunciations had been repeated at the Peace of the Pyrenees.  The other obstacle was the affection the King of Spain bore to the House of Austria,—­an affection which naturally would render him opposed to any project by which a rival house would be aggrandised at its expense.

As to the first obstacle, these politicians were of opinion that the renunciations made by Maria Theresa held good only as far as they applied to the object for which they were made.  That object was to prevent the crowns of France and Spain from being united upon one head, as might have happened in the person of the Dauphin.  But now that the Dauphin had three sons, the second of whom could be called to the throne of Spain, the renunciations of the Queen became of no import.  As to the second obstacle, it was only to be removed by great perseverance and exertions; but they determined to leave no stone unturned to achieve their ends.

One of the first resolutions of this little party was to bind one another to secrecy.  Their next was to admit into their confidence Cardinal Portocarrero, a determined enemy to the Queen.  Then they commenced an attack upon the Queen in the council; and being supported by the popular voice, succeeded in driving out of the country Madame Berlips, a German favourite of hers, who was much hated on account of the undue influence she exerted, and the rapacity she displayed.  The next measure was of equal importance.  Madrid and its environs groaned under the weight of a regiment of Germans commanded by the Prince of Darmstadt.  The council decreed that this regiment should be disbanded, and the Prince thanked for his assistance.  These two blows following upon each other so closely, frightened the Queen, isolated her, and put it out of her power to act during the rest of the life of the King.

There was yet one of the preliminary steps to take, without which it was thought that success would not be certain.  This was to dismiss the King’s Confessor, who had been given to him by the Queen, and who was a zealous Austrian.