till he had a Son Born nor should wear a Crown on his Head nor take the Right-hand of his Wife 5. That it should be a binding Law for ever among the Portugals That the Crown might not descend to Forreigners if the Kings Eldest Daughter should Marry a Forreign Prince she should be be excluded from her right of Succession for that they would not have the Kingdom which they had obtained by their own Valour go out of the Race of the Portugals First Thus Alphonso the First obtained the Crown of the Kingdom of Porugal and within a while he added to his rown by Conquest after a five months iege the Rich and Populous City of Lisbon which ever since became the Capital City of his Kingdom and Place of Residence for him and his Successors He made divers other Acquists to the enlargment of his Dominions and being 90 years of Age in the year 1185 he Died leaving behind him Sancho his Son who succeeded in his Kingdom and two Daughters Uracca married to Ferdinand King of Leon and Therasia by some called Matiida Married to Philip the first Earl of Flanders These he had with Henry who dyed young by a second Wife for he had no Issue by Uracca the Daughter of Count Trastamarense Mafalda Sister to Amadeo Earl of Morenna Secondly Sancho the First and Second King of Portugal Son of Alphonso his only Legitimate Son that he had living born at Conimbra the 12th of November 1154 Succeeded his Father being Crowned the 12th of December 1185 three dayes after his Fathers Death He applyed himself much to the Setling of his Kingdom and to Tillage and Planting his Country therefore called the King of Husbandmen He by help of some Christian Souldiers put into Lisbon in their Voyage to the Holy Land Invaded Algarve and took the Chief City Sylva although he did not very long enjoy his Conquest but was driven thence by the Moors and had like to have lost his Kingdom of Portugal being furiously assaulted by the Moores He took to Wife the Daughter of Raymond Berengurio Count of Brachinona called Aldonsa by her he had 8 Children 3 Sons and 5 Daughters The Sons were Alphonso who succeeded in his Kingdom Ferdinand a Man of great Virtue and Parts Married to Joanna Countess of Flanders and Pietro Count of Irgelense The Daughters were Therasia Married to Alphonso King of Leon Mafalda to Henry the first King of Castile both after their Marriages turning Nuns Sancha became a Nun of the Order of Saint Francis who lived about this time Biancha and Beringilla who dyed young This King at 57 years of Age and in the 26th of his Reign dyed being accounted for his Virtue and Goodness among the best of the Portugal Kings Thirdly His Son Alphonso the second succeeded Born at Conimbra 1185 was about 27 years Old when Crowned King between whom and his Brothers and Sisters there were great Jarrs He was a Man of an high and very willful Spirit and in his latter dayes grew so unweldy and fat that he could not prosecute the Wars He Married Uracca the Daughter of Alphonso the Eighth King of Castile and Elenor Daughter of Henry King of England by her he had divers Children First Sancho who succeâ—ed him in his Kingdom Alphonso by Right of his Wife Duke of Bologna afterward also King of Portugal Ferdin and Count of Serpia Vincenzo dyed young Leonora a Daughter Married to the King of Dacia Alphonso in the 48 year of his Age and 21th of his Reign dyed Anno 1233. Fourthly Sancho the Second succeeded his Father and was Born in Conimbra the first of September 1207 being very sickly and unlikely to live but came to the Crown at twenty six years of Age spending most of his time in Baths and Hot-houses for the recovery of his Health He Married with Messa Lopez the Widdow of Alvaro de Castro She was accounted but an inferiour Match tho of Blood Royal being made by his Favourites who with the Assistance of the Queen by reason of the Kings weakness and indisposition made a Prey of the People and mightily oppressed them so that they were enforced to call to their Assistance Alphonsus the Kings Brother who coming from Bologna possest himself of the Kingdom Sancho being forced to retire to Toledo where addicting himself wholly to Devotion he dyed in the Year 1245 at 39 Years of his Age having reigned 13 Years Fifthly Alphonso the Third who succeeded his Brother was Born in Conimbra May 5. 1210 Educated with great Care and Diligence by his Father because of his Brothers Sickness He married Matilda Countess of Bologne Widow of Philipo Crispo and Daughter of Philipo Augustino He was a Man of great Parts but they were over shadowed by his Lusts For after he was setled in the Kingdom he repudiated his Wife and contracted a wicked Marriage with Beatrice the illegitimate Daughter of Alphonso the King of Castile and his Concubine Maria Villenia And notwithstanding the Threats of the Pope Alexander the 4th at the Tears and Complaints of the Dutchess of Bologne he caused her to be Crowned Queen and confirmed his Succession by the Birth of three Children Dionysio his eldest Son succeeded in the Kingdom Alphonso who married the Daughter of Prince Emanuel Son of Ferdinand King of Castile and Ferdinand who dyed young He very much infested the Moors increasing his Kingdom with the full Conquest of Algarve with much Glory and Reputation He died at Lisbon Anno 1279 at 69 Years of Age and 32 of his Reign accompting from his Brothers Death Sixthly Dionysius or Dennys his Son succeeded his Father He was born on the day of the Great Areopagite for whose sake they imposed that Name Anno 1260. He was a great and famous Poet. He was about 20 Years of Age when he came to the Crown and would by no means admit his Mother to the Administration of the Government He never oppressed his Subjects neither with Tribute or Taxes yet left to his Heir a full Exchequer He made many good Laws which are to this day observed The Order of the Templers was extinct in his Time and he first instituted the University at Conimbra He took to Wife Elizabeth Daughter to Peter King of Arragon who was most remarkable for her Sanctity by her he had Alphonso who succeeded him and Constance who was married to Ferdinand King of Castile After he had reigned 46 Years he dyed at the Age of 84 Years Anno 1235. Seventhly Alphonso the Fourth and the Seventh King of Portugal succeeded his Father and was born in Conimbria Anno 1290. He married with Beatrice Daughter to Sancho the Fourth King of Castile A Man given to hunting and disports to the neglect of his People but being at last made sensible of it he took the Reins into his hands and proved a good King About the Year 1340 Alboacen the potent Miramamolin of Morocco and Granada set himself against all Spain with an Army of 470000 Men but
The Queen desired ardently to see this Marriage accomplished the Infante declared Prince and the Government of the State in the hands of the King to the end that she might loose her self from all Affairs of the World and to retire her self to a Covent that she might there be at leisure to give her self up to Prayer and Contemplation For this end she wrote with her own hand in her Natural Language the Reasons which made her take this Resolution This she shewed to one of her Ministers to know his Opinion of her Design And for that this Writing refutes the Calumnies which the Enemies of that Princess made use of to sullie her Reputation in publishing she would have taken away the Crown from the King to have given it to the Infante I have judged it necessary to Report it here By reason of the Uncertainty of Life every one being Obliged to endeavour his Health I have wished I might be able to find out a way to overcome the great Difficulties which have hindred me from Acquitting my self of that Duty and have filled my Mind with trouble There is nothing more troublesome nor hard than this Life of mine in which I may say there is something Extraordinary since contrary to the Order and Nature of Monarchy we are two that Reign But to say better I do not Reign but in Appearance whilst the King Reigns in Effect for I am Obliged to consent to all his Desires because he is more than an Infant and the Kingdom is his Besides this I am perswaded he would loose the Respects which he owes to me if â— should contradict his Desires So though I would have Justice rendred to every one it is not done because the King doth oppose it or they who Govern him After this what can I do to defend my self from such an Unhappiness but to withdraw my self from his presence and demand that after having made a serious Reflection on my Design they would give me such Councel as is most proper in the Condition I am in My Inclination carrys me to enter into a Religious House not out of Design because I can bear it no longer to free my self from a Slavery so long and troublesome as my Regency hath been I would have nothing to do and while I should be there I would not desire many Attendants only some few necessary and I would the Abbess should take care of my Revenue and she her self should Sign all things for me though I have no design to dismiss my Officers nor my Domesticks The Reason that makes me desire that the Abbess should have the Administration of my Revenue without my Officers intermedling proceeds from the great desire that I have to live in great Retiredness If I would not at first become a Religious it is because I fear to be engaged to follow the Rules of a Superiour in all Obedience though they are more sweet than those I have prescribed to my self And if it happen that the King would write to me or desire to see me though it would Combat the Resolution of my Retreat what should I then do that I might not offend on this occasion against Decency I well know the Inclination that I have for a Covent of the Order of St. Teresa but Donna Maria is an Obstacle to my entering into that of Carnide It is not that I could not live in the House where she is without any Repugnancy but as the manner of Life I would choose will not suffer me to have Communication with any Body if I should be in the House where she is I could not civily dispence with my self from answering the Respects which she would pay me If by chance I should be Melancholy as it may very well happen she might be perswaded she was the cause of it at least I should do to my self some Violence to dissemble it which would render me unhappy So that it is easie to judg by this I should not live in this House with all the Freedom I would As to that of the Carmelites of St. Albert I there find this difficulty the fewness of the Lodgings which they have for it seems to me to make a good choice of a Retreat in which one intends to end their days or wholly to shut themselves up within the Walls of the Palace according to the Custome of the Country one should make Election of a spacious and pleasant Place and one that had a Prospect towards the Sea would please me extreamly If instead of St. Teresa I should have recourse to St. Dominie whom I revere as an unfortunate Relation I find the Covent of Good Success of that Order which is most Commodious both because of its fair Situation and large Extent Nevertheless it hath an Inconvenience for as it stands at the Mouth of a River it will be the first Covent that will be exposed to the Violences of War All things well considered I think that I had better be at Lisborn than in any other place because it is a City in which there is no want of any Commodity without speaking of the great number of the Religious Virtuous and Learned Men which are there to be found for the ease of ones Conscience In the Lands of my Apanage there is no Place proper for my Design And as for my Building a Covent I have not patience enough for such an Enterprise besides as I hope that my Retreat will be happy and finding my strength decaying I would very suddenly execute my Resolution Having therefore no further care than about the manner of executing my Design I ask not Counsel about it because I am assured that it will not be Approved and that very many will desire me not to Abandon the State and the King though the most part of them will wish the contrary in their Souls Being certain that they are capable of such Disguisements I may fear every day lest they should order me to withdraw and in this fear I think it would be much better for me to do it by my own Motion There is nothing but the Infancy of my Children could have kept me in the World which now will be well enough my Daughter being Married it remains that I see the Infante declared Prince which is a thing I have long desired it being necessary to Assemble the States for that Cause But I must yet wait nevertheless maugre my Impatience till the departure of the Queen of England then I shall give Order about it As for the Peace with Spain I have no hope I shall be able to conclude it before my Retirement however I shall do all my endeavours to bring it to pass Besides after the departure of the Queen of England there will be Speech of nothing but War the report of which will not penetrate my Retirement but if I should defer any long time to quit the World they would have Reason to reproach me for leaving the State embroiled They may
leave off his pursuit The day following the Marquess return'd with an Order in Writing from the King which contain'd the same thing with the former only he had added that he hoped by this second satisfaction things would be accommodated and that the Infante would find he most passionately desired it But this Billet did not yet satisfy the Infante because it let him understand that they would bury his Complaint in silence which obliged him to answer the next day by another Billet which the same Marquess rendered to the King the substance of which was That as nothing was more evident than that those Arms wherewith he had filled the Palace were not introduced but upon some secret design of the Count 's he was content however to believe this was done by order of his Majesty since he would have it so that however he could not pardon the Count for having called all his Friends to secure the Person of his Majesty he had forgot him although he well knew he was every way more interessed than they were in his conservation That to see the Count prostrate at his Feet was not a satisfaction proportionate to his Complaint since at other times the Count caused to be made most exact search and had exiled thereupon very Illustrious Persons upon the only suspition that they had conspired against his favour It was not just that for the offence had been done against him there should not be the same Inquisitions and the same Punishments and that an Infante against whose life they had conspir'd should be worse treated than the Count who had only had a simple thought that they would have opposed his favour That to give liberty to those that would inform of the Count's Crime they ought to interdict him from the Functions of his Charges and remove him from Court with all the security possible for his Person and Family against whom he had no design but only to secure himself Besides that he was not able to go to the Palace to cast himself at the Feet of his Majesty as he had desired to see that the tye of Blood which he had in the quality of his Brother had less power over his Spirit than the Amity which he had for a simple Subject who was his Minister When this Billet was sent the City of Lisbon was in a great trouble and alarm to see the Regiments embattell'd in the Grand place of the Palace the Guards redoubled the Rounds re-enforc'd and the rest of the Troops in such an estate that it seem'd a War was already begun The Infante in the mean time not knowing whether all these preparations were made to affright the people or make an assault upon him under the pretext of hindering him from executing his pretended Resolution was in his own Palace with as much tranquility as if there had been nothing exrraordinary in that of the King 's trusting to his own Innocency and the Affection of the people But fearing nevertheless that his Complaint should be ill interpreted by any he resolved to communicate it to all the Tribunals to the Court of the City and that of the Four and Twenty writing to them upon this subject and sending them a Copy of his Letter and Billet which he had sent to the King At the same time he sent to the Councellors of State to the Grandees and Gentlemen of the Realm that they should repair to him after all which he so well instructed them in the Causes of his Complaints that even the Partisans of the Count said they would themselves be the Executioners of the Counts Chastisement should he happen to forget that respect which he owed to his Highness The justice of the Infante's Complaints by this means became so publick that there was not one who did not blame the Favourite in not being willing to justifie himself and the King for hindring any from informing against him At last the King answer'd the Infante's Billet with another and sent it him by the Marquess de Marialva the Marquess de Sande and Ruy de Monra Tilles the substance of which Answer was That he desired to know the person by whom he was informed of the Counts intention to kill him to the end that the Count might be punish'd if they were able to prove he had fail'd in his duty if not that the Informer might Desiring also that he would have the Infante understand it was necessary for the conservation of the State and People that they two should live together in good correspondence To which the Infante answered That it had pleas'd his Majesty to order him to name the person from whom he had understood the design of the Count against him but that he was not able to do that or to go about to make it clear until he should be interdicted of his Charges and removed from the Court so long as it should be judged fit because whilst he should exercise them be at Court it was impossible they should be able freely to do any thing against him This Billet having been read the King assembled the Councellors of State the Great Chancellor the Councellors of Parliament two Ministers of each of of the other Tribunals The Judges of the Crown the Procurator of the Crown and that of the Finances to the end that he might examine with them all the proposition of the Infante but the night before they assembled they made most powerful solicitations for the Count and he himself entertained the Judges before they entred into the Council at which the Ministers were offended insomuch that they would not deliberate before him of his business but only in the presence of the King where this Proposition was read My Lord the Infante having wrot to his Majesty a Letter in which he complain'd that he had not been advertised of the redoublement of the Guards which they had made in the Palace and that the Count de Castlemelhor had conspired against his Life although ineffectually whereupon he had demanded of his Majesty that he would remove the Count from his person and service His Majesty had declared to my Lord the Infante upon his first Complaint that it was by his Order they had armed the Palace And as to the second that he was ready to cause the Count to be chastised as he deserved for so detestable a Crime a greater than which none could imagine but nevertheless it was first necessary to have proofs against the accused and for that end he should name the person from whom he had received that advice The Lord the Infante did rest satisfied with what his Majesty had said in reference to his first Complaint but that did not hinder him from maintaining what he had urged before in reference to the other that it was absolutely necessary the Count should be interdicted his Charge because of the power it gives him and that he ought to be removed from Court so long as it should be judged fit to the
the Secretary nor Emanuel Autunes judged well that they were gone away upon which he demanded to have them chastised for going away without his consent sending an Order to all the Superiors of the Covents in the City to let him know if they were retired into any of them and making all the places near to be search'd by Gonsalo de Costa de Menose and Joseph de Sousa Cid but they could be no where found But at last having heard that Emanuel Autunes was gone into Alemtejo he sent Diego Lewis Ribeira Soares with an Order to Dennis de Mello de Castro Master of the Camp General of that Province that he should find him out and having found him to remit him into his hands So soon as Soares was return'd the King briskly ordered him back again to search again saying he was resolved to put off the Feast of the Bulls until he returned so that those Animals staid many days and the Barridos stood many Months in the great Place of the Palace not without considerable loss the Souldiers that Emcamp'd there either burning or breaking them as they had need of them or as their fancy took them The King was not only in a rage against the Secretary and Emanuel Autunes for going away but also against all those who contributed to their retreat and particularly against the Infante upon which having advice he abstained from going to the Palace In the mean time the Infante and the most zealous for the publick good seeing the King's Exchequer emptied by so many profusions and excessive expences and that the raising of Contributions were very difficult and that through all this expedition of the Wat was hindred they were afraid the return of these Favourites which the King so obstinately desired would expose the Realm a Prey to their Enemies To avoid this therefore they resolved to call together the three Estates of the Realm The Winter-season being best for this purpose because of the ceasing of the War they judged it not amiss forthwith to cause the Councels of the Cities to act it That of Lisbon as it was the most considerable of all others presented to the King the first Remonstrance in which after they had most amply shown their Reasons for assembling the States they demanded of him their Convocation As the Name of the States gave an offence to the King he took this Remonstrance without communicating it to the Councel publishing that he would not have them called together for he knew very well wherefore they would have them called for all along they had perswaded him that the Assembly of the People was some lessening the Authority of Kings and if the three Estates should joyn with his Brother against him how could he be able to help himself And if they should enterprize any thing against his person how could he avoid it Foreseeing this he would give no answer to the Common Council of the City however pressing they were and for the most part he would not so much as hear them And if he had appointed them a time to come to receive his resolution he would very unhandsomly hold his peace Sometimes he would have the States called and sometimes he would not so that the Common Council of the City of Lisbon dispairing to obtain any answer from the King wrote to all the others and to all the Chapters of the Realm to give them an account of that which had passed and represented to them that it was very convenient for the publick good to demand from the King the Convocation of the States But they could do no more with him than they and the more pressing they were in perswading the more inflexible he became The Council of State being assembled the King Queen and Infante being there it was unanimously agreed that without assembling the States General the disorders of the Kingdom could not be remedied But the King took this for a Conspiracy against him and would not yeild to a Remedy that should give him so much fear and gave ill words and injurious speeches to those who would have given him that Council which diminish'd very much of his Authority The Marquess of Sande presented a Memorial to the Council of State in which he did remonstrate to the King that he ought to treat with more love and respect than he had hitherto done so illustrious a Princess as his Queen was and the Infante with that civility and regard which the Quality of an only Brother to a King required That he should suffer them to be near him who might jointly govern the State with him and not as he had hitherto done put it into the hands of a Favourite That it would be more glorious for him and all the Portugals that he gouern with the help of Royal Persons who had as well as his Majesty all qualities necessary for it than to suffer a Subject to do it who had not only rais'd himself above all other Subjects but who would yet raise himself above him That by consequence there was an indispensable necessity the Estates of the Realm be Convocated since they were obliged to give some remedy how violent soever it might be being he would not give them any other The Councellors of State approv'd this Remonstrance and having sign'd it to authorize it they carried it to the King but he instead of taking notice of their good will condemn'd it as criminal and conceiv'd a mortal hate against the Author But the Ministers of the State sacrificing all their resentments to their Countries good they had so much patience that they brought it about notwithstanding the wilfulness of the King who consented at last to assemble the States on condition it should not be till his return from Salvaterre whither he was resolved to go according to custom on the 19 th of January the year following and to return on the 14 th of February Without this they had lost the opportunity of remedying an evil that would admit of no delay At the same time it was reported the King design'd to leave the City with his Braves of his Pratroville and to join himself with his Favourites and their Partisans This was confirmed by the advice they had that he had distributed Horses to his Querries and stop'd many Barques which were in the Harbour before the great place of the Palace and at a place called Grilo which gave a suspicion that he had a design to pass into the Province of Alemteijo But all these projects vanish'd either through the care of the Infante or by the negligence of the King As they had been forc'd to come to a kind of Battel with the King to make him consent to the Convocation of the States so it was not without much trouble the Ministers had obtained from him it should begin on the first of January 1668. But then when the Commissioners were expedited for the Council of the City he would not sign them although he had solemnly promised
leave him The King as he lay in his Bed sent to John dos Caes to have a care of his Dogs which was his ordinary employ and which griev'd him in such sort that he could not refrain from Tears We have reported this though but little considerable that you may thereby judge the better of the Spirit of the King and whether he was capable to govern the State When the Infante had made known to all the Realm that which had hapned he signed the Letters which were writ in the King's Name to call together the States on the first of January And because the Act which the King since he was arrested had sent to the Infante gave him power to take upon him the Quality of King which the greatest part of the Nobles and of the People ardently wish'd he would do he order'd by this Decree that they should examine the Cession which the King had made Don Rodrigo de Meneses Gentleman of my Chamber and Master of my Horse Makes known upon my part to Pedro Fernandes Monteiro Councellor of Parliament to Martin Alphonso de Mello Deputy of the Council of Conscience to Joseph Pinhero Councellor of the Finances to Lewis Fernandes Teixeira Judge of the Pleas of the Crown to John Lamprea de Vargas one of the Quarter Provosts and to John de Roxas de Osevedo my Secretary That I desire that they will assemble themselves in the Chamber which Don Rodrique possesses in the Palace to the end that they may let me know after they have made serious reflexions upon the Estate in which they find the King my Lord and the Affairs of these Realms if I ought to demand the Convocation of the States and if that after their Assemblies shall be ended I should continue the Government with the Title of Curator of his Majesty and that of Regent of this Realm which are those which I have taken at this present or whether I ought to consent that they give me that of King with all the Prerogatives that accompany it And I also desire to know if I shall make use of the Renunciation that his Majesty hath made in my favour a little after he was arrested of the Right which he hath to the Crown or of that which they have given me through his incapacity of Governing himself Considering that though I have accepted the Government of these Realms it is not through any Ambition nor Covetousness nor for any End which respects my self but only for the Conservation of the State and to satisfie the desires which the Portugals have incessantly made to me Let them put their Opinions in this Business in writing and I declare to them that I shall follow the greatest number From Lisbon 10 Jan. 1668. The Infante These Ministers assembled themselves according to the Infante's Order and some days after they wrote their Conclusion When it was read in the Presence of the Infante of his Gentlemen and some other Persons of Quality whom he had most Confidence in they found that the greatest part of the Voices were That he should not make use of the Renunciation and that he should not take upon him the Title nor the Quality of King which gave him a very great Contentment because this Conclusion was according to his Desires and moreover this delivered him from the Importunities which he suffer'd under every day upon this Subject The Procurators of the Chapters and those of the Greater and Lesser Cities of the Realm being arrived the three Estates assembled themselves in the Great Hall of the Guards where the Infante was solemnly declared Prince by a publick and Authentick Act conceived in these Terms We Swear and Declare upon the Holy Evangelists which we touch with our Hands That we do acknowledge and receive for our true and natural Prince and Lord the most High and most Excellent Prince Don Pedro the Legitimate Son of the King Don John the Fourth and the Queen Dona Louysa his Wife and Brother to the most Great and most Puissant King Don Alphonso the sixth our Lord his True and Natural Successor to these Realms and as his true and natural Subjects and Vassals as we are we render him Faith and Homage and promise him That his Majesty hapning to die without Legitimate Children we will acknowledge and receive him for our True and Natural King and Soveraign of the Realms of Portugal and the Algarves on this side and beyond the Sea Lord of Guinny and of the Countries conquer'd by our Navigations through the Commerce of Ethiopia Arabia Persia and the Indies c. And that we will obey thorowly and wholly all his Orders and Judgements Soveraign and others making for him War and entertaining Peace with his Allies and that we will not obey any other King nor acknowledge any other than Him And all this which is above said we swear and protest to God and to this Holy Cross and to the Holy Evangelists upon which we lay our hands we will observe and keep fully and wholly and in sign of our Obedience and of our Acknowledgement of this Royal Soveraignty we Kiss the Hand of his Highness here present After this Oath had been made to the Prince every one of the three Estates began to assemble themselves in particular That of the Nobles in the Colledg of St. Roch that of the Commons in the Covent of the Religious of the Order of St. Francis and that of the Clergy in the Covent of St. Dominick The first day of their Assembling the Prince sent to each of the States the substance of this Act with the Dismission of the King I desire that you may see in the Assembly of the People the dismission of the King where'tis inserted and that it should be examined by you as well what hath been pass'd when I took upon me the Government as the Reasons that mov'd me to do it and to take upon me the Quality of Curator of my Lord the King and that of Regent of these Realms by vertue of which I have caused his Royal Person to be arrested And because these two things might be justified by this Act I pray this Assembly to approve them and to Declare whether I shall continue the Government with this Title or whether you think good that I should take any other and in that Case what it ought to be If your Conclusion be found conformable to that of the other Assemblies as I hope it will I shall after that swear to maintain the Laws and the Priviledges of the Realm in the accustomed manner after which also you shall make to me an Oath of Fidelity and Obedience during the time I shall have the Government The Body of the Nobless is composed of Thirty Great Lords Councellors of the King Lords of Castles Lands and Territories the chiefest of their Rank That of the People is of Two Procurators or Burgesses from every City of the Realm who have a deliberative Voice which they call definitive
signifying a Gosh hawk in the Spanish Tongue They are Nine in Number the chief of them is the Tercera the place of Residence of Alphonso the sixth since his Resignation of the Crown The rest are St. Maries St. Michaels Fayal Gratiosa St. Georges Duo Flores Corvo from the abundance of Crows therein In Asia the Kings of Portugal have very large Possessions with many Forts and Places of Strength The chief and richest is the City of Goa in the Kingdom of Decan one of the Keys of the East-Indies Here the Portugals have their Arsenals with an Harbour for their Fleet. Then they have Diu a Peninsula in the Province of Guzarate in the Kingdom of Cambaia Here they have an impregnable Cittadel Over against this Place upon the Sea-side they are possessed of Daman a beautiful and a pleasant Town Also Chial a Sea-Town Solsette with a Peninsula of twenty miles in Compass containing about thirty Villages and 80000 Inhabitants with many other considerable places In Africa they have many large Possessions in the Kingdoms of Gongo and Angola till dispossessed thereof by the Hollandar But they are still in the Possession of the Islands of Cape Verd so called because scituated opposite to that Promontory of which there are nine of them the chief of which is St. Jago In the West Indies they are possessed of Brazile from whence we have plenty of Wood and Sugars at least every year 150000 Arrobes every Arrobe containing 25 Bushels of our measure They have here thirteen Captainships or Governments the Chief of which is St. Vincents The rest are Rio de Janeiro del Spiritu Sancto or of the Holy Ghost Porto Sepurio des Ileos or the Isles Todos les Sanctos or All Saints Penambuccio Tamaraca Paraiba Riogrande Siarra Maragnon and Para. Having thus given you an account of the Dominion of the Kings of Portugal I shall succinctly give you a Relation of their Kings even to Alphonso the sixth the Subject of the following Discourse but little more than naming them it being not my Intention to write their History but only as a preparative to what I shall more fully relate that you may not be altogether in the Dark as to the Succession of that Kingdom Lusitan a being under the Empire of the Romans followed the Fortune of the rest of Spain and was subject to the various turns and changes which often hapned in those days till the declining of the Roman Greatness when the Alans were the first that preyed upon it and endeavoured to Plant it but they were soon driven out by the Swemans and sent to seek for other places of Habitation These made Braga their Imperial City and enjoyed it for so he time till the great inundation of the Goths and Vandals who overrunning the whole Continent of Spain made all become Vassals to them and put this under their Power and Dominion These continued here for a lorg time and at last embrac't the Christian Religion till the Moors again like an irresistable Flood coming out of Africa fell in upon them and possessed themselves both of it and the greatest part of Spain But at last after much Strugling many Battels and much Bloodshed this Kingdom was in part Recovered from them by the Kings of Castile and by them enjoyed till they got a King of their own Henry the Second Duke of Lorraine whom some affirm to be Nephew to Godfry Duke of Bolloigne flying from the fuâ—â—y of the Emperor Henry the Fifth came into Spain where moved by the generous Emulation of his Uncle Godfry who was gon to the Conquest of Jerusalem be offered his service against the Moores and by his many valourous Atchievements against the Enemies of the Christian Religion he in a short time arrived at so great and consider able Repute with Alphonso the Sixth King of Castile that he gave him his Base Daughter Teresa to Wife with all those Lands he had Conquered from the Moores in Lusitania for her Dower the chief of which being the Country about Portus Gallorum mentioned in the Description before called then Porto he gave him the the Title of Count or Earl of Portugal And so he called the Lands he had Conquered from the Moores in Lusitania by that Name as did also his Successors and from thence proceeded the Name Portugal This Henry Earl of Portugal having been a Terror to the Moores and having enlarged his Territories being 77 years old lied leaving behind him by his Wife Teresa a Son who was born in the Year â—094 being 18 years Old at the Death of â—is Father and succeeded him in his Earlâ—om and came to be The Frst King of Portugal called Alphonso the First after his Grandfathers Name For being bred up in Military Discipline by his Father he prosecuted his 〈◊〉 against the Moors and all the Kings his Neighbours The Count of Trastamarense despising his Youth Married his Mother Teresia upon which there fell Wars between them but Alphonso behaved himself so well that he forced the Count to give him his Sister Uracca to Wife with an addition of Lands for her Dower He then made War with his Grandfather Alphonso the Sixth King of Castile and took him Prisoner but upon his Release he had conferred on him the Title of Duke of Portugal After that he turned his Forces against the Saracens and took from them Leirida and Torre da Ova and several other places Whereupon Ismaurus King of the Moores with four other Kings â—â—s Neighbours invaded Duke Alphonso with 400000 Men but were by him utterly Overthrown and Discomfited up on which memorable Battel he placed the five Escutchions which are now born in the Arms of Portugal in remembrance of the Overthorow of those five Moorish Kings His Souldiers grown proud with this Success thinking the Title of Duke too low for his great Merit saluted him by the Name of King which he accepting of the Estates of the People and all the Nobility and Gentry being Convocated in the City of Lamego and in the Church of Saint Almacave they conferred on him the Grown and Scepter and other Ensigns of Royalty by the hands of the Archbishop of Braga and confirmed by the Popes Letters they with joynt consent made him then King And at the same time they made several Fundamental Laws as a mutual Obligation between the King and his People Among the rest were 1. That Alphonso should be their King and his Children and Childrens Children after him for ever 2. That the Eldest Son should succeed but if he dye before his Father the next Brother should succeed 3. That if the King should dye without Issue having a Brother he should succeed but not his Sons without the consent of the Estates 4. That if the King should have only Daughters the Eldest should succeed after her Father upon condition she be Married to a Native of the Kingdom and that he be a Nobleman who should not have the Power to take the Name of King
many People in that Hall He replied it was no matter since it could be no better By these Answers of the King they judg'd that all things would be well and they councelled him to pass by the Antichamber of the Queen to shew himself to the Nobles and by the Hall of the Almane Guards to be seen by the People This unusual thing made them believe that he would soon have the Government and every one conceived either hope or fear according to the state of their Fortunes And now since there were none near the King but those Persons whose Merits begat them Respect he for some time abstained from seeing Conti and those of his Cabal but this did not last long for he quickly found ways to bring them to him The King continued his Exercises but without any Progress because he neglected the Lessons of his Masters He used his Weapons with so much fury as if he had been in Combat and he forced his Horse in such a manner as if he would kill him or make him break his Neck choosing always the most furious and that which had the hardest Mouth One Day when he was at Alcantara a place which he had chosen for his Debauches believing that they would be there less in view than in the City of Lisbon whilst the Gentlemen who waited on him were at Dinner he went to go to Azeytaon followed by a small Company of Officers He Encountred upon the way a Bull which he irritated in such sort that his Horse having been wounded by that Animal fell into that fury and violence that he flung him to the Ground without sense His Servants running to his succour found him cold He was five times let Blood for that fall They made him divers Remonstrances upon that Accident but it was with very much Modesty because those they had formerly made him were received with Importment Those who had the most Zeal for the Service of the King contented themselves not to approve of those Disorders which they had not power to hinder He did not only let Beasts feel his Fury but he also would essay it upon Men. One Night as he was returning from Palhavam where he had been he got loose from those who followed him to take up his stand And having perceived two Men of a good Presence he put on his Horse with might and main to Ride over them but his Stirrop being entangled in the Belt of one of them he could not bring about his Design Being vext he was not known he turned about and drew his Sword to kill him When this Man saw his Sword in his Hand he also drew his so that he was ready to Repulse the King when the Grand Master of the Game came in and putting himself between them he told the King it was not reasonable that his Majesty should kill his Subjects At the word Majesty this Man understanding he had drawn his Sword against his King with a Respect mingled with Confusion and Fear withdrew himself behind a Wall whither the King had pursued him if that Obstacle had not hindred him After this he stopp'd in the middle of the Field to Recount this Action which he praised as one most Heroick This Adventure was followed with another much more dangerous The King passing before the Noviciat of the Jesuites they put him in mind that over against it there were some lusty brave Coursers which he presently alighted to see In the mean time while he waited for some Torches some-body told him that there were great Mastiffs in the Close of the Noviciate upon this forgetting the Horses he Commanded they should open the Gate But when he saw it was not very readily done he fell into a Passion and gave Order that they should break it open But as they began to do it they opened it and the King negligently entring got from those that followed him with one Foot-Man only on Foot He had not gone many Paces but he Encountered with three Men and he very briskly took his Sword into his Hand they did the like The King who was Booted had entangled himself in such a manner that at the first Thrust he fell backwards with a Blow he received at the same time His Gentlemen being come in at the clashing of Swords and at the Cry of the King who at first cry'd out I am Kill'd and a little after I am Wounded He was presently carried to his Palace in a Coach but his Wound was not very dangerous Two of the Men fled the third was taken but the Master of the Game hindered them from killing him When the King had Recovered it and was something better the Councel of State Ordered with the Queens consent that they should go in a Body together to make him a Remonstrance for the preservation of his Person Don Nuno Alvares Pereira Duke de Cadaval speaking for the rest told him That the Councel of State who were all there present to satisfie their Zeal and the Order that they had received from the Queen his Mother from the Infante his Brother and from the Infanta his Sister and generally from the whole Realm they were come to Supplicate his Majesty that he would change that manner of Living which every day exposed his Life to Danger and put the State into hazard of a deplorable Ruine That it was not Reasonable that his Majesty should be so careless of his Life nor Just that without Cause he should take away the Life of his Subjects which would Alienate the Love they have for him in which principally consists the Art of Reigning That his Majesty would be pleased now to think of himself and of all his Subjects who were ready to pour forth their Blood for his Service That this was the only way to establish Tranquility in the Realm The King was Diverted from this Remonstrance by those who foresaw that the Face of their Fortune would be changed if he should change his Life They had so well Confirm'd him in the Opinion that there was nothing like the Liberty of doing what one would that the Counsel of these Great and Illustrious Ministers was unprofitable His Favourites were not contented to have rendred his Humour violent but would further that he should give himself to naughty Women hoping that that Passion would render him the more capable to Resist stoutly all those who should go about to Condemn his Licentiousness And indeed they had ti'd him to it in such sort that he observed no measure insomuch that he would not so much as be thought Chast He had a Gentleman that always lay in his Anti-chamber who never went to Supper until he was in Bed In the mean time this Gentleman was absent the King often times arose and Arming himself as if to fight a Battle he went out of his Chamber by a Ladder of Ropes followed by Antony and John de Conti and some other Braves all Armed as well as he who seemed to
in 〈…〉 that which they feigned to discover 〈…〉 They named 〈…〉 it and for Judges John 〈…〉 Grand Chancellor of the 〈…〉 George de Silva 〈…〉 Montiero Rodrigâ—◠〈…〉 Councellors of Parliament 〈…〉 de Basto Judg of the Crown and 〈…〉 to the Count that they were Hatching something against him and as it is the custome of Favourites to interest their Masters in their Conservation he made the King believe they went about to take from him his Crown And at the same time there went a Report that he had discovered this Conspiracy by a Divine Revelation He accused the Queen who was in her Retirement the Duke de Cadaval who was at Tentugal the Count de Atouguia who was disgraced Sebastine Cesar de Meneses who was absent and Antony de Conti who was Banished It was then resolved that they should take the Informations of this pretended Conspiracy and a Commission was given to John Gabriel de Barros and to the Register Francisco de Fonseca Sinel Councellor of the Chamber Criminal it was Lewis Correa de Torres who gave in the first Deposition being Interrogated by the King who had his naked Sword in his Hand After this they extended it to very many other Persons of great Quality The Register was charged with a private Consultation to give to the Secretary Belchior de Andrade with a Superscription to the Queen with an Order from the King to carry it to her and to let him know her Answer the Secretary obeyed but the Queen would not see the Consultation and she bid them who brought it to carry it back to those who sent him without taking any other notice of it They then ordered Don Theodosius Mello Brother to the Duke of Cadaval that he should retire fifty Leagues from the Court and that Sebastian Cesar de Meneses should go into the Covent of Battaile until he should be ready to go to the Algarves and an Order sent to Antony de Conti to go to Porto After this they went to kiss the Kings Hand for his happy Deliverance and Success This Inquest lasted a long time either because they would be thought to do nothing in Passion or else to augment the Terror of the Accused in Exaggerating that which they feigned to discover every day They named Gabriel de Barros to Report it and for Judges John Velho Barreto Grand Chancellor of the Realm George de Silva Mascarenhas Pedro Fernandes Montiero Rodrigue Rodriguez de Lemos Councellors of Parliament Lewis Gomes de Basto Judg of the Crown and Finances Duarte Vas d'Ossorio one of the Four grand Provests of the Court Domingo Autunes John Lamprea de Vargus Councellors of Parliament George Privado de Faria Procurator of the Crown was also with them All these Judges met divers times in the Criminal Chamber Although the Informations did not Charge the Accused some would nevertheless perswade that they were not Innocent but the Integrity of the Judges was not to be shaken and almost all of them concluded in the favour of the Innocent The Accused often demanded to see what they were accused of but they would never deliver them any Copy of their Charges And that Information which ought to have been Cancell'd because it contained nothing of Proof against the Accused was Conserved by the credit of the Favourites as an armed Hand ready to discharge its Blow on some other Occasion on the Heads of the Accused After this success which let all the World see that the Credit of the Court was not to be Limited he was not afraid to leave the Apartment he had in the Palace and to take one more Splendid and answerable to the glory of his Fortune his Anti-chamber being thronged with Courtiers whilst the King 's was naked and empty By these ways and by others yet less Legitimate the Count de Castlemelhor had acquired so much power in the Realm that he lived no longer as a Subject so that the King who had formerly complained during the Regency of the Queen He was but a Statue of which she was the Organ might with much more Reason say the same thing of the Count. About this time Simon de Vasconcellos and Sousa the Favourites Brother carried himself so well about the Infante that when the Prince fell Sick in the Autumn following he performed about his Person the Functions of all the Gentlemen of his Chamber which made them seeing him respected before them to Retire under divers pretexts but the Count de Castlemelhor made the King recal them all except the Count de Ericeira although he was the most worthy to have been recalled because of his high Virtues and the greatness of his Wit After this Re-establishment Simon de Vasconcellos was also made Gentleman of the Chamber to the Infante and had also besides that a Brief for Superintendant of the House of the same Infante Sometime after Pedro Cesar de Meneses George de Mello Ruy de Figueredo de Alarcon and Antony de Miranda Anriquez retired themselves As for Don Diego de Meneses he took leave publickly which was thought so strange of by the Favourite that he menaced him with a Chastisement although he had for his excuse the Count de Ericeira who a little before had taken leave after the same manner And the Chastisement had soon followed the Menace had not an Affair happened which suspended the Resolution he had taken thereupon Ruy Fernandes de Almada was retired to execute his Charge of President of the Court in the City leaving in his place his Son Christopher de Almada Antony Cavide Secretary having also left the Service of the Infante John de Roxas de Azevedo who was at that time Councellor of the Inquests exercised his Charge Things being at this pass the Marquess de Sande arrived from France the 17th of March 1665. where he had been having passed out of England thither with the Articles of the Marriage of the King with the most Serene Princess de Nemours and an Order to Treat of a Marriage between the Infante and Mademoisselle de Bouillen Daughter to the Duke of Bouillen As this last was but as it were in Agitation upon a Letter which that Prince had wrote to the Marquess of Sande by the Importunity of the Favourites he declared he did not desire that Negotiation should be continued which did extremely surprise them To make him consent to the Marriage they told him that this Rupture would trouble the Repose of the Publick and that the Treaty which had been begun by virtue of his procuration could not be left off without breaking off the Kings also which would be a great prejudice to the State But the Prince in his own behalf told them That the Essence of Marriage consisted in the Consent of the Parties and that he had never given his to that And moreover he had not given his positive Word as they had made People believe but if it had been so before the Treaty should be concluded he
that he declare that what he hath remonstrated to the Councel is false and demand pardon since he hath therein offended God your Majesty and Me and the Councellors whom he hath also deceived as well as Justice which he hath abused with divers lies and malicious suppositions and that there may be an Act made of this beginning of Satisfaction and that it be inserted in the place of that detestable Conclusion in the Registry of the Councel of State My Lord May it please your Majesty to order that this Crime and my Complaint may be examined since that there ought to be satisfaction given to an offended Queen to repair her Honour which is inseparable with that of your Majesties as well as of your Sovereign Authority I demand Justice my Lord against this Decree which were unjust had it been given against the least of your Subjects without being heard and therefore with more reason being given against a Queen oppressed with the Artifices the Violence and the great Credit of her Enemies The King put this Letter into his Pocket without reading it and very unbecoming his State publickly solicited the Secretaries Return which the Queen not being able to consent to shut her self up in her Apartment without seeing any one but the King who gave her nothing but cross and unbecoming words In the mean time the Secretary appears in the Palace with all his Accouâ—rements and there went a Report that the King was resolved to leave the City and to carry with him all the Cavalry with an order to all the Gentlemen who were about the Infante to follow him to which they added that in case they did not obey that Order he would come back into the City to cut off the Heads of some of whom he had a List Upon this the same thought which formerly the Queen had to chase away Anthony de Conti came into the mind of the Infante to demand from the King that he should oblige the Secretary to retire from about his Person so that on the 5th of October 1667 the Infante went to the Palace followed by the most part of the Nobility and by a grand concourse of the People The King was yet in his Chamber which obliged the Infante to attend with some Councellors of State with whom being entred he spake to the King with very much vehemency nevertheless without losing the Respect which he owed him but the King falling into a rage cry'd out in a fury that they should give him his Sword the Infante had no sooner heard that but he drew his half way out of his Belt and presenting the Guard to him said my Lord if it is against me that your Majesty asks for a Sword dispose of mine if it be against any other suffer me to defend your Majesty But the King would not take it only continued his cries The Queen who knew nothing of this enterprize ran to the Chamber of the King trying to appease him by reasons and prayers but she was not able to gain any thing upon him being perswaded they had killed the Secretary although they did assure him he was not slain saying he would not believe it unless he saw him which obliged the Duke de Cadaval to go fetch him from the Chamber where he had shut himself up that he himself might satisfie the King that they had done him no violence but however they had much a-do to keep him safe for bringing him to the Kings Chamber through the crowd of people they had kill'd him if the Duke turning himself about to those who had that design had not said to them with an angry countenance and imperious tone that he was his Conductor The presence of the Secretary having a little appeased the King the Queen retired and also the Infante Upon this there was heard a Voice that cry'd oftentimes that all would be well The same Voice having called on the Queen and the Infante the King went out of his Antichamber with them having the Secretary by his side going to a window which looks into the grand Place of the Palace where the people seeing him cry'd out oftentimes God save the King After this the King withdrew thorow the people who had fill'd the Antichambers those who went before him saying he pardon'd all the people which offended them so much thinking that they had committed no fault that John Mascarenhas Count of Sabugal was fain to tell the King that they would not have a Pardon but Thanks The King who did not well hear those last words repented he granted them Pardon but having at last comprehended that the Count refused it and that he asked of him only his Thanks he replied he granted both the one and the other But that which most of all astonish'd the people was to see him in the midst of this trouble and importment fall to playing upon a Flagelet it very ill becoming so grave a person to do so This boyish divertisement and his crying out were remark'd as an unbecoming thing in the mind of a King and imputed to the default of his Organs This success so different from what they had imagined made them conceive such an indignation against the King that they said aloud they ought to take from him the Crown and give it to the Infante insomuch that one pronounc'd these words Either take it your self or we will take it for you but the Infante growing angry made him hold his tongue with his look As it was the design of the Infante to make the Secretary leave the Palace he resolv'd to lie there that night to finish the Work he had begun but the Secretary fearing it would be fatal for him sent to tell the Infante that if he did not leave the Palace that very moment it was because he could not do it in security and that he would not fail to depart assoon as it was night for which Laurence de Sousa de Meneses Count de Santiago Don Pedro D'Almeida Admiral of the Realm became Sureties Emanuel Autunes sent at that time to demand the same Grace which was likewise granted him although he had merited a more severe Chastisement This man who had been the Son of a Sexton to the Church of Miserecorde de Vilaviciosa had passed from the Charge of the Repostery to that of Groom of the Chamber besides that the King had granted him the Order of St. Jaques and several other Favours it was he that made the secret dispence but the 〈◊〉 and the profusion of it had rendred this private expence too publick The near access that he had with the King came from the service that he rendred him in his secret pleasures his boldness was such that at all times he intermedled with the Affairs of the Infante and the King Upon these assurances the Infante withdrew to his own Palace followed by the greatest part of the Nobility and an innumerable concourse of People The King the next day seeing neither
Affair with all the Favour the Sacred Canons would permit we have received from you a Letter wherein you very much acknowledg this Pontifical Grace This Testimony which we receive from you gives us a very great Satisfaction nevertheless this Favour for which you thank us with as much piety as affection according as the importance of the thing deserves we do demand of you with Justice that as you do chiefly owe it to the Goodness of the Holy See you would acknowledg that it is from her that you have received it which if you testifie as in truth you ought to do it is by having always more and more care and affection for those things which respect the Holy See and the Catholick Religion imitating in that the ancient Devotion of the Princes of Portugal who made it their Glory to obey the same See For if heretofore it hath been necessary in your State to endeavour the re-establishment of the things which concern the Church and Divine Worship and to reduce them to their Primitive Splendor at this present there is more reason through the want of the Pastors and the length of the War to do the same thing But we hope all these Mischiefs will be soon repaired by your Zeal and by your Prudence in joyning your Cares to ours as well in the choice of the Bishops as for all other things As to that of your Embassador of Obedience which you propose to us when he shall arrive we shall willingly receive him and yield him all the Honours that are justly due to him In the mean time our most beloved Son we do give you with the most sincere Affection that we are capable of our Apostolick Benediction From Rome near Saint Peters under the Seal of the Fisher 2 April 1669. the Second Year of our Popedom R. Florentin As they had search'd for a Retreat for the King Alphonso where he might live in some sort at liberty without troubling the Repose of the Realm they made him many Propositions but it was a long time before he would resolve not knowing what place to choose till at last he pitch'd upon the Isle of Tercera which was very easily granted him for that he might there find all Conveniencies and all sort of Divertisements according to his humour He departed then being accompanied with all the Magnificence that was requisite on such an occasion and of which the present Condition of the Realm was capable The Count de Prado with the Royal Navy carried him into that Island where he remains to this day The Dispensation granted by the Cardinal de Vendosm Legat à Latere for Clement the 9th in France For the Marriage of the Prince Don Pedro of Portugal with the Princess Maria Frances Isabella of Savoy LEwis Cardinal-Deacon of St. Mary in Porticu named of Vendosme Legat à Latere of his Holiness Clement by the Providence of God Pope the Ninth of that Name and of the Holy Sea Apostolique with Lewis the most Serene and most Christian King of France and Navar in all his Realms Provinces Seignories Cities and Lands and in all places dependant on him or that are adjacent thereunto and in all other places whither we shall go To our Well-beloved in Jesus Christ the Official or the Vicars Generals of the Church of Lisbon Deputies of its Chapter during the vacancy of the Archiepiscopal Sea and to every one of you in particular Eternal Health in our Lord. Having received a Request which hath been presented to us on the part of the most Serene Prince Don Pedro Infante of Portugal Regent of the Realm and of the most Serene Princess Mary Frances Isabella of Savoy by which they have shewn us that it being necessary for the Publique Good of the Realm of Portugal and the satisfaction of all the People who passionately desire it also that the said most Serene Prince and Princess should marry together and that doubting they may not be able to do it without an Apostolique Dispensation because the said Princess hath been before Contracted in Marriage with the most Serene and Puissant Prince Alphonso King of Portugal Brother to the said most Serene Prince Don Pedro and that it was Solemnized in the Face of the Church but that it never had at any time been consummated because of the Inability of the said King for which cause it had been declared Nul by course of Law from which Marriage lest there might arise some Impediment to this because of the publick Honesty they have humbly supplicated us to provide for it according to our Benignity And as we are furnish'd sufficiently with Power to do what is desired by the Letters of the Holy See which we are not obliged to insert here and that we are able by vertue of the Apostolick Legation committed to us to provide for the Necessities of all those who shall address themselves to us from what part soever they shall come or where soever they shall dwell or from what place soever they shall send being willing to give them all the Marks of our Favour and Benignity and particularly to those who are of Royal Blood we do absolve them and hold them both and each of them apart absolved from all Excommunications Suspensions Interdicts and other Sentences Ecclesiastick Censures pains of Law either Divine or Humane which they may have incurred for any Occasion or Cause whatsoever if so be they may have incurr'd them and not having a certain knowledge of that which is above-said being willing nevertheless to satisfie their Supplications by vertue of the Apostolique Authority which we have here we commit to your discretion of which we have in our Lord a particular confidence in this Point And we ordain you by these Presents That without hope of any Present or Salary though it should be given you freely from which we do enjoyn you wholly to abstain you do inform your selves exactly of all that is above affirmed and if by that Information you find that these Requests are founded upon the Truth with which we charge your Consciences provided that they be not forced thereto that you dispence with them by the same Authority for the Impediment of Publique Honesty in such sort that they may be publickly married according to the Form of the Council of Trent Solemnly make it in the Face of the Church and that it may stay be and continue thenceforth Free and Legitimate notwithstanding the said Impediment and all Apostolique Constitutions of Councils General Provincial or Synodical or any other thing whatsoever Declaring and pronouncing those Legitimate Children that shall therein be born And we will and intend if that despising this Admonition you shall have the boldness to take any Salary Present or Recompence for or concernining this matter although the same should be offer'd you that you incur the pains of Excommunication from which you shall not be absolved but by the Pope or by us or by some other who have a