But then it was in the King's power only to call together this Assembly of the States, which he was often advis'd to do, there being an absolute Necessity of their Meeting, to remedy the present Grievances of the Nation.
The King was not so weak, but he plainly perceiv'd that this Advice was given him, with a design to transfer the Royalty from himself to his Brother; wherefore he long refus'd it, but was at last so press'd to it both by his Council, and by different Petitions from several Parts of the Kingdom, that he call'd them together, and they were order'd to meet on the first of _January_, 1688.
The Prince having obtain'd this, which he look'd upon as a sure step to the Throne, gave the Queen notice, that it was time for her now to appear, and play her part. Upon which she immediately retired into a Convent, and wrote a Letter to the King, to tell him, that she thought herself in Conscience obliged to quit the Palace, since he was not capable of being her Husband; that he was very sensible that their Marriage was never consummated, and that therefore she begg'd that he would repay her her Portion, and give her leave to return to her Country, and amongst her own Relations.
Upon the Receipt of this Letter, the King in a great Rage flew towards the Convent, to fetch the Queen back to the Palace by force; but the Prince, who foresaw the Effect of her Message, took care to be at the Convent-Door, with all the Nobility, and told his Brother this was a Place too sacred to have any Violence us'd in it, and persuaded, or rather forc'd the King to return to the Palace, who all the way complain'd of being calumniated, and was for bringing half the Prostitutes of _Lisbon_ to prove his Virility, and swore that he would be reveng'd both on the Queen and the Prince.
But Don _Pedro_ was not in the least frightned at his Menaces, knowing that the whole Power of the Kingdom was in his own hands; and the next Morning (thinking it unsafe to delay the mighty Work any longer) order'd the Council to assemble, and follow'd by the Nobility, the Magistracy, and a whole Crowd of People, who wanted to see the Event of this Business, he went into the Palace to them; and after a short Debate, an Order was sent by the Prince to arrest the King, who shortly after this sign'd his own Abdication.