as the Earl of Harcourt or Marshal of Meilleray might come with the Fleet that so it might be in his choice either to entrust this enterprise to me or put it into their hands if they should seem more agreeable the Neapolitans being in so great a necessity of supplies that provided they might receive them they would very little trouble themselves to consider by whom But whether it were that by report of the Condition of affairs he imagined them too hazardous to expect that any but my self would run their fortune or that he thought me too farre engaged to suffer with patience another to take my place being unwilling lightly to offend a person of my Condition He answered that it would be unreasonable after having gone on so farre with me to change thoughts and enter on a different conduct Tonti came with great hast to court me with this answer and to make appear to me as an eminent service the artifice he had used to discover whether they were real in my concernments After which he desired me when I should write to the Court to recommend the Services of himself and brother in law and procure them Pensions and some considerable summe to reward their Friends and Correspondents that they might by interest allure many more Neapolitans to the service of France acquire Creatures and form a powerful Cabal which in time and place might be disposed of to serve her faithfully and contribute to her advantages For my own part I had no other thoughts than to fit my self for my departure and provide all things necessary that I might embarque as soon as the Kings Fleet should be in a Condition and place convenient to receive and transport me And knowing I could not undertake this voyage without Money I used all endeavours to get it I sent for all the French Merchants to draw from them the greatest summes I could giving them Security and Bills of Exchange payable at Paris My misfortune would so have it that the Duke of Modena having taken upon him the command of the Kings armies in Italy and formed great designs and high enterprises wanted it as well as I in so much as that he might be supplyed at the appointed time the Kings Ministers had given them order not to part with what they had in their hands which obliged me to apply my self to the Cardinal of St Cicilia and Monsieur de Fontenay to get them permission to treat with me who thereupon sent for the Sieur Philip Valenti and told him he would do the King acceptable service and a kindness to Cardinal Mazzarin in furnishing me with 4000 Pistols on Bills of Exchange which I would give him for whose payment they would be Security the Crown undertaking to satisfie in case my Family should delay him He kept this summe readie for me in Gold to deliver it at my departure for fear I should spend part of it before I left Rome and so oblige them to supply me with more it being impossible for me to go without Money and the necessity of affairs being such that they could not pass me by nor retard my voyage without entirely ruining them I cannot here forbear mentioning the generosity of a woman though not very pertinent to the Subject I am speaking of who hearing of the care I took to provide Money for this enterprise now no longer a secret in Rome brought me all that she had in plate and jewels and ten thousand Crowns in Obligations on the Bank which with thanks I refused it being all the wealth she had acquired by the industry and travel of many years I resolved to send to the late Dutchess of Guise my mother a Letter of Attorney for disposal of my whole estate thereby to engage her more powerfully to my assistance desiring her to dispose of all for furnishing me with the greatest summe she possibly could because on such a supply depended my establishment or ruine I was daily in continual Conferences with the French Ministers and Cardinals of that Faction to determine with them of all that was to be done for the service and advantage of the Crown but though I pressed them concerning the conduct I was to follow and demanded what instructions they had for me whether after having gained esteem in Naples on pretence of Establishing their Republique I ought not to endeavour an insensible traversing their inclinations towards the King it being impossible that the Nobility and People as much separated by interest as affection could ever so unite as to form the body of a Common-wealth and govern themselves without being weary at last and choosing a Master this unquiet and turbulent Nation having never been under any other Government than that of a Monarch and their natural jealousie one of another considered could never be at rest but under the command of one alone This was granted but apprehending it dangerous to propound to a violent and seditious people a forein power which they ever apprehended he told me that the choice was to be left to themselves of their form of Government and Master The imagination alone that the King had any thoughts of becoming such would gain their hatred in stead of their friendship and contribute to their Reconciliation with the Spaniards That on the other side the Pope without whose authority no innovation could be made in that Kingdom he being Lord Paramont might enter into alliance with the rest of the Princes of Italy to oppose it fearing lest France having gotten so firm a footing might at last attempt to subdue the whole That it would be a sufficient advantage to the King to cut off from Spain so potent a Kingdom from which it derived its principal forces and that by the loss of it France would be as much raised above her as by a conquest that besides this such persons of that Countrey as sought an innovation to advantage themselves by the honours and imployments of the Kingdom by Governments of Towns and Provinces which they had hitherto with regret seen in the hands of Strangers would apprehend to be nothing the better but rather that they should be impoverished and ruined by the enriching other Countries with the transportation of their wealth And lastly reuniting to the enemy all such as on any other grounds were against it the party would be so much weakned it could not long subsist That for such powerful reasons I was to endeavour to dissipate all I possibly could the suspitions they might have of any such thought giving out that France never acted but on Principles of Generosity altogether dis-interessed to relieve the oppressed and procure the Liberty of those that languished under the tyranny of their enemies That the Spaniards at what price soever were to be driven out of that Kingdom that it was no matter what means were used towards so great a work That the King would assist what resolution soever should be taken That he had formerly consented to the crowning
would destroy the business and precipitate me knowing as he did the nature of that people who are much greater enemies to the French than Spanish authority because of the violent and impetuous humor of our Nation and that onely from this might arise the desolation of that Kingdom and the re-establishment of all things in their first condition That I ought to distrust equally both crowns of which the least suspected would do me most mischief That the difference between the Nobility and People would hinder all my Progressions that I should be able to effect nothing till I had reunited them that this ought to be my onely care and principal employment which if I could compass the conquest of that Kingdom was infallible That he could assure me that the Nobility were more incensed and more desirous of Liberty than the people though they dissembled their true resentments That all Italy would oppose the Establishment of the French and would be favourable to that of a particular Prince That on this foundation I was to build my hopes and regulate my proceedings That he loved not the Spaniards so much as was imagined That he would look on all as an indifferent father without concerning or declaring himself on either side That the rigors and vexations under which that whole Kingdom long groaned had drawn down the indignation of Heaven the effects whereof perhaps were now at hand That divine vengeance though slow never fails of arriving at last and that I should have a care to avoid the snares would be laid for me on all sides that I should meet them at every step I made that I was to avoid them by Prudence of which I had great need in an enterprise of so much difficulty and glory That he offered me his Prayers which he would continually pour out for the preservation of a person so dear to him and for whom he had the same tenderness a father hath for his beloved son and at parting after he had given me his blessing embracing me with tears in his eyes told me That he was indifferent who hereafter should present him the white Nag which he would as willingly receive from my hand as any other I besought him yet to hear a word I had to say to him which I thought necessary the better to sound his intentions and discover his most secret thoughts and expressing my acknowledgements for his many favours during my stay at Rome and giving him a thousand thanks I assured him that if he had any design of making advantage by the present revolutions and reunite Naples to the Papacie which by very good right belonged to it more than to any whosoever I was so much devoted to his service that I proffered my interposal and assistance desiring no other recompence than the glory of serving him towards which I thought to find great facility in the present dispositions of the Nobility and People of that Kingdom He thanked me for my good affection and told me he was now too old to expect time for so great a design That it would be the ruine of his family and draw more envy and powerful enmity against his Relations than they would be able to support themselves against after his death That the example of Paul the fourth made him wise and in fine that he would not begin so great a work to leave it imperfect That his ambition was moderate and sought not for his Relations more than such a competent fortune as they might maintain That he was obliged to me for the kindness of my offer but that he would not at all concern himself in any thing that was to be done which he would look on as an indifferent Spectator that his wishes should be on my side and that my advantages would as sensibly concern him as his own and confirming all he had said to me again embraced me and gave me his blessing Having kissed his feet I took leave assuring him that as soon as I should be departed Monsieur de Fontenay should give him an account of my passage towards Naples with the knowledge consent and order of the King as he had promised and punctually performed the day after my embarking That night I desired the Ambassadour and the rest of the Kings Ministers to send some one to continue with me on their behalf to take charge of the ciphers They propounded the Sieur de Cerisantes for want of any other at that time capable of such an employment Having then no Secretary and it being impossible for me to be without one I desired one of their recommending They proposed the Sieur Fabrani who had formerly been imployed in service of the Barbarines and principally in that of Cardinal Antonio He followed me in my Voyage and served me till the day of my prison He had good parts but spoke no French and understood it but indifferently which gave occasion to some complaints were made of me at Court and at which such as loved me not would have taken occasions to my prejudice All the dispatches I made from Naples were in Italian which was excepted against as if I pretended to separate my self from France and make my self independant refusing to make use of that Language But it may easily be understood that this was a pure effect of necessity and not of choice the pressure of affairs that lay on me night and day gave me not time to write with mine own hand and in this I was forced to ease my self by the assistance of Sieur Fabrani who taking only my Orders and Conceptions to write them down could do it in no other than in that Language was known to him besides all which having to do with distrustful people I was forced to shew them all my dispatches which they could not have understood in French This is so innocent and convincing that I need no longer justifie my self of so frivolous an accusation which I touched not at first but by the by to make appear that nothing was omitted towards doing me ill offices to which it was very necessary I should give no occasion by my comportment use being made of a matter of so small importance The Feluccas being at last arrived I seriously prepared my self to be gone taking leave of all such persons as I had respect and friendship for And the Cardinal of Este being with his brother the Duke of Modena I writ to him to acquaint him with my adventures and take leave of him being very sorry I could not in person perform that duty to which I was obliged not onely by the relation of Kindred and near friendship between us but in that notwithstanding my refusals out of fear of incommoding him he had given me the use of his Equipage and Coaches all the while I stayed in Rome I writ also to Cardinal Grimaldi who was at Modena the following Letter For Cardinal Grimaldi I Suppose your Excellence hath been sufficiently informed by the Ambassadour of his Negotiations
persons well informed and that had great Correspondencies though their most important secrets were drawn from Vulgar report His humor naturally neither free nor obliging people ordinarily went ill satisfied from him to give me account of all they had told him so that amongst many triffles I sometimes learned things he vainly sought to conceal from me and I took great care to please and humor every body that I might be informed of all and gain the general inclination of the Neapolitans Amongst this great number of intelligencers there was at Rome one Lorenzo Tonti of mean Birth but quick wit who by many intrigues having made himself agreeable to the Earl of Monterei and finding the way to live by this industry forsaking his handicraft trade gave intelligence for Money and receiving often recompences began to live at his ease on what he had spared but his Patron being out of imployment and returned to Spain he chose to reside at Rome as a secure and pleasant retreat being a place where with a very moderate expence one may live honorably He had applyed himself to follow Prince Ludovisio the Popes Nephew where he practised the Artifices and Subtleties he had learned in Naples and attained the perfection of the School of the Court of Rome by his means his brother in law Augustino Lieto a young man witty and of an active and turbulent humour had obtained a Company in the Regiment of Calabria which gave him the title of Captain These two Persons must not be forgotten each of them having acted a considerable part the first with all Industry endeavouring wayes of making himself considerable and some innovation to occasion them became one of those dispersers of news that write to all manner of people to procure answers which sometimes they make themselves and read in all Companies after having digested them into Order and by this means are welcome to the Ministers of Princes and such others as are Curious of whom they obtain Gratifications He spent his idle hours at Rippa where the Feluccaes of Naples and Sicilie and all others from Sea come a shore where he made much of the Mariners and gave them Wine pumping from them what he could to make his Court to the Marquis of Fontenai And understanding that I endeavored to have a share in those disorders he came every night to inform me what he had learned holding this corresponce with me as he said without the others Knowledge finding me very ambitious to do something high and considerable for the service of France he imagined he should draw great recompences from me and so by me or Monsieur de Fontenai make his fortune He writ very solicitously to all parts that he might be the better instructed and gain credit with more ground and appearance and at last by his address becâ—me necessarie to the Agent of the people of Naples to the Ambassadour and my self He gave me hopes of obtaining for me the command of the Army and I on my part assured him of my acknowledgements and to make his brother in law Captain of my Guards the more to win those of the Country by entirely putting my self into their hands entrusting my Person to a Neapolitan and taking off the Suspition of my employing French men in the most considerable charges of my Family this was absolutely necessary for getting footing amongst them till authorised by my actions I might afterwards alter it and take such course as I judged most honorable and most safe I gave not yet so great trust to him that I neglected oâ—her correspondences or whatever else might contribute to the design I had proposed I dispatched Captain Augustine to Naples at his return from whence he made me a report of its condition either true or fabulous It is very certain that the little address of those that commanded their too great confidence ill grounded the incapacitie as well as malice of several of them in a short time changed the face of affairs ruined the foundations I had laid and lost all hopes of farther advantages to the people by depriving them of those they had already in their hands which having been well managed nothing could have been more easie than to drive away the Spaniards take the Citadels of the Town and generally all the fortresses of the Kingdom without one stroke striking or shedding one drop of bloud they being unprovided of all things necessary to defence Very evil Council was followed during the Cessation of Arms to supply all places with Victuals Powder and other Ammunition supposing by it to testifie their respect to the King of Spain and oblige him to ratifie the Conditions agreed on with the Viceroy which were too much to their advantage to be confirmed this yet they were perswaded to by some of their Chiefs gained by the Spaniards they to their cost not in the least suspecting them Vincenzo Andrea of whom I shall often speak who ever played the Traytor with great address having maliciously the sooner to consume the Corn which remained sufficient for four or five Moneths Provision caused Bread to be made weighing fourty five ounces and sold for the same price as that had been which weighed but 25 and also wasted the stock ordained for supplying that which should be drawn from the Publique Granaries worth a hundred thousand Crowns in Liberalities he distributed amongst the Soldiers and Officers of greatest Authority he having the charge of Commissary-General of the Provisions in such manner that at my arrival I found but very little and no money at all to buy more Captain Augustin gave me account that at the last Muster there appeared one hundred and seventy thousand men in Arms active resolute and ready for all Enterprises how dangerous soever and that the five or six hundred horse already raised by making use of those that belonged to Coaches in less than eight days might be made up five or six thousand That reckoning what had been preserved of the Plunder Jewels Plate and ready Money in the Banks belonging to Persons either declared or suspected Enemies there might easily be amassed three or four millions of Gold That there was great quantity of Powder besides that three hundred workmen daily wrought in making more That they had Magazins of Match Bullets and Salt-peter that they had secured all the Copper and such other Mettal that could be found in the Town for casting Artillery besides fourty Pieces mounted in the Carmelites Tower and at the entrance of all Streets and other avenews by which the Enemy might attempt That the whole Kingdom was in Arms as well as the City and besides Corn for six Moneths Provision in the Granaries they might have from the Countrey which was of their Partie what they pleased and in such abundance as could never fail them That the enemy had not Forces sufficient to block the Passages or hinder its transport That they had no need of Strangers which would give a jealousie to the
passages being obstructed on every side and all the Countrey Enemie except some neighbouring Towns and Villages that seemed yet inclinable to them but the fame of my arrival would alter all And that they doubted not but at the appearance of a Chief of birth and reputation all would take Courage and wearied by so cruel and insupportable Tyrannies after their Example use all possible endeavours towards Liberty That they were unprovided of Corne for more than six weeks or two moneths with small hopes of any from the Countrey unless by my Valor a passage might be open'd to that purpose That although many particular persons had well profited by Plunder yet every one concealing his Treasure they had not wherewithal to help themselves That the Banke could not be touch'd without raising a dangerous Sedition all parties as well enemies as friends being concerned in the preservation of that which had ever been Sacred and Inviolable that to make use of the Churches Plate was to draw on their heads the Vengeance of Heaven and indignation of Rome That the Nobility and the rest of their most invenom'd and formidable Enemies Armed and got a Horseback through the whole Realme that they might contribute to their Oppression and revenge themselves for the Affronts and Outrages done to the most considerable of that Body by pillaging their Houses and cruelly Massacring the Prince of Massa Don Pepe Caraffa and some others That they stood in need of Powder as well as of wherewithal to make it for want of Saltpeter being obliged to consume a great quantity continually in Attacques and Defences of the several Postes and the frequent Skirmishes made night and day That the People as a testimony of zeal and fidelity to their King seduced by some corrupted persons had in time of the Truce furnish'd the Castles with Victuals and Ammunition That the same fault had been committed through the whole Kindom by supplying the Fortresses that were before unprovided of all things hoping by it the more easily to obtain Ratification of the Articles concluded with the Duke of Arcos and so having disfurnished themselves of those things they formerly had in abundance they were reduced to the present necessity That the Spanish Ships and Gallies cut them off from the Sea by which they heretofore received their subsistance That they had Multitudes of Men who if well Commanded and Disciplin'd being zealous and brave might undertake great things That at the last Muster there were found above one hundred and seventy thousand Armed men well resolved to die for their Countrey That by this Discourse I could better than they judge what was necessary for them and lastly that the courage of all the Inhabitants began to fall and could not be raised but by my presence That they therefore besought me to hasten my Voyage all I possibly could and press their supplies without which they could not evade the desolation of the Town and consequently of the whole Kingdome This true relation caused me to make some reflexion on the dangers into which I went about to precipitate my self But not valuing my life and resolving to sacrifice it for the interests of the Crown addressing my self to the Kings Ministers I let them understand that I was not at all discouraged by news so surprizing and contrary to all that had till then been reported That it concerned them to consider whether the King would engage his Forces in an enterprise of so much difficulty that in case he would I undertook to run the hazard But that they as well as I might foresee that to abandon was to expose me to eternal infamy and inevitable ruine and that it was neither just nor reasonable to engage me too lightly where the reputation of France was so farre concerned With one Voice they answered that I ought to doubt nothing That the Supplies should be so sudden and considerable that in the Execution of so glorious a design I should neither meet the difficulties nor dangers I imagined And going about to convince me of this by many reasons I replyed It was to no purpose to alledge them That I was not a person could vainly flatter my self That I perceived well what was to be feared but that difficulties and dangers in stead of discouraging animated me more that my Confidence in their promises and that which I had in the protection of Cardinal Mazzarin joyned to my Passion with loss of my life to contribute to the advantages of France would make me affront death and all manner of difficulties and that I required them to be witnesses of the fidelity and zeal wherewith I contemned not onely my safety but also my honour when it might be useful to such a purpose That they must needs concur with me that I was peradventure the onely man in the World capable of undertaking so dangerous a Commission the very apprehension whereof might make the most hardy and resolute tremble They seemed convinced of this and to advance and settle so great an affair assured me That I needed onely demand what I desired that they had Commission and power to grant it that on this I might depend the Kings Promises being secure and inviolable I demanded the Fleet to wait on my Orders as strong in Ships and Gallies as possible might be two hundered thousand Crowns ready Money in expectation of a larger supply four thousand foot ready to land at my first demand fifteen hundered horsemen with Saddles Bridles and Pistols to be mounted at Naples the like furniture for two thousand horsemen I intended to raise there Pikes and Muskets for twelve thousand foot twelve Pieces of Canon 60000 weight of Powder with Match and Bullet proprotionable and at the least four Ships laden with Corn that thus provided I would be responsible for the success of this great design and for depriving the King of Spain of the Crown of Naples in a very short time All of them in the Kings name gave me positive assurance Afterwards I gave Letters to Nicolo Maria Mannara as did also Monsieur de Fontenay that he might render account to the Republique of the happy success of his Negotiation I charged him also to let them know that I prepared for my Voyage to go and serve them and that as soon as the Fleet should be arrived at Protolongone I would embarque without loss of time to carry with me all supplies that should be necessary for them In the mean time Tonti to let Monsieur de Fontenay see he had no dependance on me but on France and him alone hoping so either to credit himself the more or that this minister would procure him some considerable Pension from the Court and a summe of ready Money for himself and friends with whom he held correspondence as he pretended at a great expence Or to discover as he endeavoured to perswade me whether his pretences to me were sincere and veritable propounded to him to move that some person of quality
are not easily encouraged That my presence alone could have so great effects and that during the joy conceived thereupon it would be easie to make the people of Naples nay even the women take arms in order to the most desperate attempts That their hatred to Spain might cool but never be extinguished and that there was none that would not under my command expose himself to death and shed the last drop of his bloud for the safety and liberty of his Country We resolved to dispatch at that very instant an express to hasten the coming of the Fleet and I offered to go the next morning to Portolongone to attend it and embarque as soon as it should appear gaining so three or four days time that would have been spent in giving me notice of its arrival and my Journey after receipt of the advice And that if there were any other possibility of my getting to Naples I would make no difficulty of any hazard thereby to re-incourage them wishing rather to die than see the loss of so favourable a conjuncture which could never afterwards be recovered for rendering to France so important and extraordinary service Mannara answered that if I would take so brave a resolution it was easie for me to enter Naples in spight of any hinderance from the Ships and Gallies of the Spanish Fleet that there were small Feluccas so light and nimble that neither Gallies nor Brigantines could overtake them of which there was already experience not one of those which had been sent since the arrival of the enemies fleet being lost either going or coming That if I would make use of them he would send that very night for a number sufficient to take me in with all my train and that they should arrive within three dayes The Cardinals began to look one upon another uncertain what resolution I would take too clearly discerning the danger it being very hazardous though I escaped the enemy to expose my self to the fury of that Sea the Navigation whereof is more to be apprehended than of any other Coast of the Mediterranean especially in the Moneth of November the time in which there arise in the Baies wherewith it abounds most furious tempests Monsieur de Fontenay seeing the necessity of my passing and not venturing to counsel me directly to it said that in effect these Feluccas were so happy and their Mariners of such experience that there was little peril in trusting to them and that the passage was so short that taking a seasonable time which they well understood there was scarcely any thing left to fortune I smiled and looking upon him told him that if he desired to have me attempt this passage he had no more to do but to tell me that it was useful to the Kings service and that I could not do any thing more agreeable profitable or advantageous to France If so never any man exposed himself to greater and more evident danger than I was ready to undertake that instant because I gloried in understanding the peril and contemning it and that the facility of enterprises deprived them of their rellish I told him finally that to serve the King I feared nothing but would venture all with joy and presently ordered Nicolo Maria Mannara to send for Feluccas and to let the people of Naples know they should suddenly see me amongst them armed for their defence or I would die on the way He then fell on his knees to give me thanks in the name of the people to whose protection I was going and particularly of Gennaro whose life I saved it being impossible for him to preserve it above a very few days unless my presence freed him from the danger he was exposed to and which was decreed against him in case the Fleet appeared not in fourteen days or if my arrival were delayed The Ambassadour thanked me in the Kings name for the zeal and passion that obliged me to so frank a hazarding my self for the interests of his Crown and assured me to recommend my resolution according to its merits it being indeed very extraordinary The Cardinals as surprized made the most obliging expressions and flattering me on the action I undertook so generously assured me that by it I surpassed all the Hero's of Antiquity and transcended those of ancient Rome I was told afterwards by the same deputy that they wanted Powder in Naples and therefore resolved to take with me all I possibly could and he assured me that with my presence and this present supply those of France with the arrival of its Fleet would be expected patiently I pressed an immediate dispatch of the post they had resolved to send to hasten it it being but reasonable that my so resolute embarking my self on the Feluccas should rather advance than retard its dispatch so to leave me the less time in that danger into which I so voluntarily cast my self Whilest Mannara went to write to Naples the Kings Ministers and I fell into discourse and they not forbearing to commend me I told them that if what I went about were an action so worthy it could not fail of acquiring me great credit and authority in the opinion of the Neapolitans and that when I should be established by other as important services which I hoped very shortly to render them I should be in a condition to perswade them to any thing and they of contradicting nothing of my Proposals that then I might negotiate their resigning themselves to the King and that I would cause so sudden a performance of such a resolution that the Pope and the rest of the Princes of Italy what jealousie soever they conceived should want time to oppose it They answered me as they had done before at our other Conferences that the King was so farre from any such thought that he would not be so much as believed capable of it that there was too little to be got and too much to be hazarded by such a proposal That the choice of a master was to be left to the Kingdom of Naples and to fortune That all the Spaniard excepted were alike to France that nothing more was to be thought on than the driving out him as they had formerly said and the rest to be left to time and hazard I proposed afterwards to contrive the Election either of the Kings brother or of the since deceased Duke of Orleance They told me the last was old incommoded by the Gout and of little activity that he loved repose and would never quit France to raign in a Kingdom where the Crown was ill setled and where he must be forced to be continually with his sword drawn to support it That for the Kings brother his infancy would hinder the people from fixing their thoughts on him since many years must pass before he could be in a condition to protect or govern them I answered that his few years were in my opinion to his advantage that by being bred up in the
distrust applies it self to prevent those it takes to be in a condition to do hurt if they have a mind That I was sorry to see all the Nobility in this danger and him as most powerful and considerable more than any other That he was to understand he should make himself criminal by great and generous actions and that his ruine as well as that of all his Companions was inevitable because they should either be miserably involved in that of the Spaniards or most certainly destroy themselves in settling the others affairs and re-establishing their authority nothing being able to secure them against their distrust and severity That no faults were venial with them that whatsoever gives them jealousie often raised on no foundation they call design and treason that they should be looked on as more guilty than the revolted people by opposing their insolencies and endeavouring as they did to settle the general disorders of the Kingdom prevent its total subversion That the Spaniards dissimulation was too well understood to be confided in and that after many fair words and specious appearances the time would come when they should feel the effects of their cruel Maximes without knowing how to avoid them He relished all my Arguments and could do no less then yield to them answering that he had very well considered all I had so judiciously represented but that he would continue as he had begun and even to death comply with his obligations the greatest you have said I is the preservation of your Country and protecting it from final ruine and the whole Nobility and your own particular Family from perishing miserably and you will be blameable to eternity if having it in your power to prevent so many mischiefs as threaten you you obstinately draw on your head Famine War Murthers Conflagrations and Plunderings and so become the destroyer of your Country when you may make your self the restorer You began not the insurrection but not being able to allay it you ought to make use of it for procuring repose and liberty The Spaniards alone will be blamed for this Revolution their injust and violent conduct having acquired the general hatred of the People and their negligence and weakness depriving them of the meanes to secure themselves from their resentments so that you abandon them not till they had first abandoned themselves and you to the violence and brutality of a despairing multitude Are you obliged to impossibilities in the behalf of those who have suffered themselves to be over-powered for want of foresight and precaution against a mischief one may say they wilfully pulled on their own heads since after so many reiterated advices they would not change their conduct Can you alwayes maintain at your own charge the Troops you have raised in a War that probably may last long You will soon be exhausted receiving no rents from your Lands which I shall not alwayes have a power to secure from spoiling nor your houses from demolishing when obstinate against all reason and contrary to your own Interests you shall continue in Armes against me and when necessity shall compel you to lay them down you will be undone and become inconsiderable to each party being neither in a condition to assist nor prejudice Prevent by prudence this inevitable inconvenience by which you will lose your reputation and credit I demand not your joyning with me it would not become you to do it so lightly nor me to propose it since I have a particular care of your honour I would have you first see performed what I have promised you will therefore do well to go every one home for preservation of your Estates and gain time to contemplate the course of Affaires and make use oâ— them to your advantage I shall have great cause of satisfaction in you and the Spaniards none of Complaint when you let them know you have done all that was possible for them that you have raised and maintained Forces at your own charge which for want of Money you can no longer keep together That you go home to endeavour to raise more and seek to preserve that little of your Fortunes that remains having spent the rest in their Service I will not only give you safeguards but the Command of your Towns to such as you shall nominate since under the Constellation that now predominates the smallest Village must have a Captain and make War I will prevent all talke of a Republick till such time as you shall be in a capacity of entering upon that part of the Government that belongs to you and of giving your opinion for the manner of establishing it My opinion said he and all the Nobilities is that a Republique being no wayes suitable to us we neither can nor ought to hearken to it we will never suffer the People to share the Authority with us and we are naturally of an humour so turbulent and vain-glorious that it is impossible for us to look one upon another in an equality of power There will infallibly arise Divisions Jealousies and hatreds to the ruine of the Country We are born under Monarchy and cannot subsist without a King A Soveraign Authority must be Guardian of our repose and quiet pacifie our Dissentions and reconcile our Enmities to this Nature and Education incline us which supposed we must of necessity resolve to lose our lives and fortunes for continuing us under our Kings Authority how violent soever we are habituated to it and believe that of France would not be more moderate and that we should not gain but might possibly lose by the Exchange We shall still see our Countrey at the feet of strangers our Employments Offices and the Government of our Towns and Provinces in their hands our VVealth will as formerly be transported into another Countrey which will be enriched by our Impoverishment and we shall still be enforced to Court and kneel to a Vice-roy of no greater birth than our selves By this you may perceive we shall no wayes better our condition besides that the Spanish humor suites more with ours the French being too airy for People serious and jealous as we naturally are I replyed That he had no reason to distrust France who contributed her assistance and power to give the Kingdom of Naples liberty without other interest then the Glory of succoring the oppressed as she had done to the Princes of Germany that had recourse to her Protection and deprive her Enemies of a Crown from whence they derived the best of those Forces that resisted her Victorious Armes That the King two well understood his Interests to pretend to be their Master by which he might possibly incurr their hatred but most certainly the jealousie of all the Princes of Italy who would on that account enter into a League against him so as he should by it draw great inconveniences on himself without any advantage That doing the contrary he should win the hearts of all as well Nobility as
Town where all passed after the same manner and in a fashion yet more obliging The great round I was fain to make caused me to come very late to the Convent of Saint Lawrence where all deliberations are made that concern the Affaires of the Kingdome I caused the Bell to be immediately Rung to Assemble the Magistrates the Military and City Captains and the Council When they were come together I told them I had sent for them not to seek of them the Authority and absolute Command the People with one Voice had already conferred upon me but to advertise them that having accepted it they should publish it to all men forbidding them on pain of their lives to receive or acknowledge any other Orders then mine That I would like a good Father Protect all such as should comply with their duty and faithfully obey me As on the other side I should not fail to punish all those that for the future failed of the respect they owed me After this I dismissed them and was told that Gennaro made a great Commotion amongst the inferior sort of People perswading them that I took upon me the Command at the arrival of the Fleet on purpose to put the Town into the hands of France and that under pretence of gaining them Liberty I only went about to change their Fetters and impose heavier then the Spaniards had hitherto detained them in Night being too farr advanced to go to appease this Tumult accompanied as usually with insolence and disorder I deferred it till the morning and in the mean time sent to Gennaro to consider well what he did that at Ten a Clock I would go to Mass at the Carmelites and if by that time he resigned not his Authority into my hands I would have his head cut off and set on a Poste in the Market-place and would hang his Body by one foot on the Gallows that is in the middle of it then going to bed I with extraordinary impatience expected day to finish what I had so happily begun In the mean while there was great running to and fro and many Cabals were made which I nevertheless dissipated with much facility I arose very early and many Gentlemen of the most considerable of Naples came to wait on me amongst others Mazillo Caracciolo Marco Antonio Brancaccio and Bartholomeo Griffo whom I intended to make Colonel of my Guards because he was a person of Quality and an old Soldier of great merit and experience and Mazillo Cracciolo Camp-master-General who was very well born and of great ability that had carried Armes all his life with much honor and an irreconcileable enemy of the Spaniards by whom he had been very ill used but the People having a dislike of them this intention had no effect I thinking fit to have some respect for their aversion But I kept still near me old Marco Antonio Brancaccio whose Counsels I followed on all important occasions which ever succeeded well deriving many advantages from my confidence in him About eight a Clock I went to Mass after which I spoke to the People who heard me favourably and by their Answers Cries and Acclamations appeared yet more affected to and more resolved to make me their King then over-night I with the same reasons disswaded them telâ—ing them I was resolved to retire and abandon them if they persisted in that thought I got on horseback to go to St. Austins followed by above twenty thousand People where I heard the Magistrates of the City and the Council were assembled that being the usual place where they are wont to deliberate and making a stand under the windows of the room where they were at Council I sent the Captain of my Guards to enquire what they were doing and let them know that having acquainted them with my intentions it was to very little purpose for them to imagine they had any thing to determine on That all the people had owned me by whose general acclamations they might easily understand their pleasure That if they went about to cast in any difficulty or qualification I had no more to do but loosen the reigns to the people whom I had much ado to restrain from throwing them all out at the Windows They demanded a little patience by which I should be satisfied of their obedience and zeal and immediately after they brought me the result of their Consultations signed by all that were present by which they declared me Duke of their Republick for five years with an absolute and sovereign power which was approved by the consent and applause of all the people After this I went into the Market-place where I found five or six thousand Mutineers in Arms with a strange tumult I rid up to them and demanded what obliged them to such a disorder they answered that Gennaro had told them I undertook the authority to no other end but to resign it to France and that I took possession of the Kingdom in the name of the King intending to land all the troops that were aboard the Fleet to deliver the Town to them to which they would never give their consent being desirous of an entire Liberty and to see their Country without dependance on any other that they would not suffer themselves to become subject to another Nation the chief occasion of their taking Arms having been to drive away the Spaniards that they might be free which could not be by their subjection to the French whose dominion would be equally rough and insupportable that they sought protection and succours but not subjection and when they desired assistance they thought it should have been given them without any other interest then the enfeeblishment and ruine of their enemies I endeavoured to disabuse them and rectifie this mistake which had no foundation telling them that France had no such intention that of this I was sufficiently assured having received Orders to engage the contrary as I had already done and that Commissions were not given to persons of my Quality to be afterwards disavowed by giving the lie to such things as they had been commanded to declare in behalf of a Crown so exact in executing whatsoever it positively promises and so religious in observing its faith That I was a pledge they ought entirely to trust to and that I would never have accepted the title of Protectour of their Liberty to become instrumental to the loss of it Answer was made that they should have no suspition nor distrust of me were I not born a Frenchman but that they had reason to apprehend all fâ—om a person that must preferre the interests of his Country above all other concernments I answered them that what they doubted was not the interest of my Country but however that I embraced none but theirs the Oath I so solemnly made at my acceptance of the command of their Armies having discharged me from all others making me cease to be any longer a Frenchman and become a Neapolitan of
none to be found of Experience sufficient for supplying his place they could do little or no service That the French Fleet would quickly return its Officers with so positive Orders that they would not fail of their duty nor any more as they had done let slip an occasion of destroying the Fleet of Spain which would easily be recovered since at their return they would find it more weak and less provided than before That I had sent a Gentleman into France to give account of all that had passed of which they had but confused notions That I was assured of all manner of supplies that the Fleet went away only to water and joyn with a considerable number of ships that were arming in Provence and that it would suddenly return by the one half stronger than before That it conveyed me many Ships laden with Corn Ammunition and Souldiers to be landed and that before three Weeks were passed I should have a considerable body of French and the best Officers of our Kingdom to land when I should command them and in such part as I should judge convenient That the Court was too well satisfied in my zeal and fidelity for the Crown to distrust me and that I acted not but according to the instructions I received That the King had no thought of invading the Kingdom of Naples but would give its people all manner of assistance without other interest than that of protecting such as apply themselves to him as he had most gloriously made appear in so many parts of Europe that he would satisfie himself in driving the Spaniards out of a Kingdom they had so long a time tyrannised and leave to the choice of those of the Countrey what Government they would erect and what Master submit to if they judged it necessary to have one and would own and support with all his power whomsoever they should raise to their Throne that he would give no jealousie to Italy his designs tending only to its repose and liberty That the suppression of his enemies sufficiently elevated his power and he would gain enough by an alliance with all those Sea and Land Forces they should lose with the Kingdom of Naples which were the most considerable that had opposed the course of his Victories That his Gallies would find little resistance from those of Spain now they had lost so considerable an Admiral as the Duke of Tursi and that for what concerned my self who was more obedient than in former times the Bashaws of Turkie he doubted not of my bringing him my head with the account of my actions at fight of the first Order he should send me That the ill Conduct of the Abbot Baschi was not to be imputed to the Court no more than the Conspiracy he made against my life That our Nation never contrived so horrid designs which its generosity could not put in practice That he much better than my self understood what Genius inspired that Gallant because he was a Pentioner of Spain that this truth should suddenly be made very apparent and I blamed to have let him go unpunished which he should not have done but for my respect to his Character That the power of the Spanish Monarchy was no longer to be apprehended as formerly that it was exhausted both of Men and Money and could onely make a feeble defensive War in Flanders Catalonia and the Dutchie of Milan That he should quickly hear of the Siege of Cremona by the Duke of Modena's declaring for us and that he attacquing them as vigorously there as I did in this Country they would be in no condition to make resistance That I was already Master of the Field through the whole Kingdom and that I would suddenly be so of the City and its Castles That I had so many Forces dispersed in several Quarters that whensoever I pleased to give them a rendezvous I could draw together above twenty five thousand men That the enemies no longer daring to appear were blocked up in their fortifications which must of necessity fall shortly into my hands because unprovided of all things and without men enow to defend them That the people of Naples were no longer cruel nor turbulent that I had brought them to my lure That my care had reduced them to so good order and discipline that in stead of insolencies and tumults nothing appeared but respect and obedience That I was so farr from fearing them that they feared me and the considerable services I had rendered them had so highly recommended me that my power was established upon the universal affection and esteem That my authoritie was questioned by none and that nothing was disputed in Naples neither were there any Contestations amongst the people but who should testifie most respect to my person and greatest submission to my Orders That the rabble had forgot their outrages and plunderings and the better sort acknowledged themselves indebted to me for preservation of their fortunes and the honor of their families and had a greater zeal respect and affection for me than the Lazares themselves and for the Nobility he had not perhaps penetrated to the bottom of their thoughts nor discovered what was in their hearts and that I well perceived he was ignorant of my intrigues secret negotiations and the measures I had taken with them That they could not much longer keep Aversa whose loss would be followed by the disbanding of their Troops and then the greatest part of those Gentlemen would go to their houses which would very much alarm the distrustful humour of the Spaniards After all this I left him to judge by my whole discourse whether I ought to hope or fear That for a Throne I had never aspired to it and for a Scaffold I was secure enough from it and in a condition to make whomsoever I pleased ascend it He seemed much surprised at what I had told him and returning to his first subject asked how I would dispose of him Keep you safe said I and entertain you with all civility imaginable But in what replied he can a man of fourscore years old be useful to you Considering the necessity you are in a ransom would be of more advantage of which if you will treat you shall be punctually paid in Genoua the summ we shall agree on None can be high enough said I to get out of my hands a person of your Consideration and I can make so great advantages by you that what necessity soever I have for Money it is to no purpose to propose it since I less value a Million than the having you in my power He conjured me at least to take Compassion of the youth of his grand-child the sole hope of his Family and his only Heir You are a man said I of a Romane Constancy I can discover nothing weak about you but in this particular of which I must make use and he being so considerable and sacred a pledge I will not part with him since
Cappo de Chino as farre as which I was advanced a thing very extraordinary happened which was seen by three thousand persons with me At four in the afternoon a Star appeared on my left hand as great as one of the most prodigious Comets and seemed no higher elevated than they are usually it stood a quarter of an hour without motion and then falling with extraordinary swiftness and traversing towards my right hand stopped in the middle of the way just over my horses head and then separating into three great flames rejoyned about thirty foot from ground and falling vanished This Prodigie was the subject of much discourse but very few explained what it might signifie I with much displeasure understood that the Baron of Modene by advice of the persons already named and a too passionate zeal had turned out of Aversa five and thirty Families suspected to hold correspondence with the enemy the greatest part of them of the Gentry and this by importunity of the people to whom he thought it necessary to give satisfaction and withal sequestred their Estates I had compassion on their misfortune they casting themselves at my feet and ordered their re-admission which I gave them in writing signed by my hand forbidding the Baron of Modene under pain of my displeasure to do any more the like without my participation and particular order commanding him to send the heads of their accusation with the informers that I might take time for examination of this business which seemed of high concernment They returned very well satisfied with me and especially with an order I added to all such as had in their hands any thing of theirs to return it within four and twenty hours on pain of their lives and told them that upon notice of the least delay I would go my self to see justice done them and give exemplary punishment The same Marchioness of Attaviana of whom I have already spoken sent to complain to me that her house had been plundered with the particulars of what had been taken away I gave in her behalf the same Orders and under the same penalties that she might be righted But neither she nor the Exiles found the dispatch I desired and being impatient of delay the Baron of Modene acting slackly in it by reason of his interest in his Officers exactions who being powerful in our Troops he thought he ought not to displease them I writ him a thundering letter by which I let him understand that if my Orders were not obeyed that very day I would send Aniello Porcio whom I had made Auditor General in place of Bernardo Spirito whom I neither found vigorous nor resolute enough to undertake this business and give me information of all that had passed and that two days after I would go in person to make examples of such as should be convicted without exemption or consideration of any That which had been omitted on my first Order was now immediately performed out of apprehension and respect of my humour naturally imperious and impatient of neglect of my Commands And as I had little satisfaction in their manner of proceeding I suppose they had not much in mine and that they could hardly forbear murmuring in private because they obeyed me without pretending to justifie themselves or alledging Reasons A little after this I gave the Government of Nola to Sieur Antonio Tonti a Gentleman of Rome near which place there happened a Skirmish between the Nobility and some of our Troops which I had caused to be strengthened with the militia's of the neighbouring Towns where Don Ferrante Caraciolo Duke of Castello de Sangre a Person of great power and highly incensed against the People whom he ever treated with much rigour was slain with a son of the Earl of Conversano and another of the Prince of Ottaino of the Family of Medici which caused their men to retreat and afterwards disband In five or six days time we received from Aversa above a thousand Load of Wheat which as much astonished the Spaniards as the ill news that came to them from all parts They no longer received any Provisions from the Countrey and a Tempest some days hindering the Navigation of their Gallies casting away one with three smaller Vessels laden with Provisions had reduced them to what would supply them onely four and twenty hours They looked on themselves as lost when a Gally laden with Meal arriving as by miracle freed them from this Extremity to which they were afterwards twice reduced These good successes much rejoyced the people and gave them hope of a speedy liberty Gennaro that lost no occasion of endeavouring my ruine having notice of all that had passed between me and the Baron of Modene and that he was very sensibly concerned hoping to make some advantage by his discontent sent a Priest called Don Carmine Castelli in whom he had an intire confidence to offer him his service and propose to him that if he would engage with him he should under him command all the Forces of the Kingdom being resolved to send me into France and again take the authority upon himself which he could easily do at the return of the Fleet if he could but be assured of our Troops having in order to it a very good understanding with the Kings Ministers that were at Rome The Baron of Modene would not hear of this but answered that when he knew I was no longer satisfied in his comportment he would go home and give me advice of it by Pepe Caetano his Secretary Gennaro finding he could not engage him in his concernments endeavoured to give me a jealousie of him with false information that they were agreed and held secret conferences which was maliciously seconded by Augustino Lieto who thought the other being removed from me he should afterwards enjoy a greater share in my trust Not discovering this contrivance I had some diffidence of him which Aniello Porcio Auditor General endeavoured all that he could to fortifie making it his business to give me jealousie of all Frenchmen being himself a creature and Pentioner of Spain as he published after my imprisonment and for which he was well rewarded A great deal of Corn came every day from Aversa and thinking it necessary to supply the charge of the peoples Elect long vacant by Cicio of Arpaia's absenting himself choice was made of Antonio Macella an understanding and rich man born in Procita who joyning with Vincenzo Andrea and Gennaro and holding secret Correspondence with the enemy gave me encumbrances I had much ado to overcome as in its time I shall make appear After this I caused Papers to be scattered amongst the enemies in order to debauching their men promising a Pistol to every Soldier that forsook them employment to such as would serve and Passes to those that were willing to retire Two hundered came to us in eight days time They made report of the extremity of their sufferings and shew'd me a piece of their
give thanks to his friend in my name and assure him I would never enquire after him The Town the mean while was divided into six factions which obliged me to be extraordinarily scrupulous in my conduct lest whil'st I inclin'd to one the rest might joyn with our enemies which would have infallibly ruined me but I had influence over all those separated interests without discovering my own thoughts and kept so good correspondence with them all that I obliged them to concur to the execution of my enterprise which was not difficult The first of these factions was that of Gennaro and the rabble which ever since their hatred of the Spaniards had been so habituated to the plundering of Houses and all manner of insolencies that they could not now forbear them These people were enraged against me because by my punishing such actions they were forced to observe the prohibitions I made but they hoped for some disorder and revolution little caring from whence it came nor who had the advantage of it provided they might rob and murther with impunity being so accustomed to bloud that they preferred the pleasure of shedding it above all other advantages They continued an irreconcileable hatred against the Nobility and civilized people whom they feared because they had so often and highly affronted them they could expect no pardon I kept this sort of people low and was their capital enemy believing that if I permitted disorders I could not subsist long I yet indulged them by the care I had to supply them with all things necessary to life at easie rates The second was that which desired to submit to France made up for the greatest part of Artificers who hoping to make their fortunes by our Nation and enrich themselves by our expence in Clothes and all such other things with which we are wont to furnish our selves more than other Nations and pretending to no Offices nor Imployments apprehended not subjection to foreign Dominion desiring that rather than any other because by it they expected more profit I humored all that were of it seeming to have no other thought nor to labour to any other purpose but as I desired to continue in their good opinion I was also to be careful to keep secret that pretence that I might not reunite all other parties to joyn with our enemies which must first be driven away after which it would be easie to attain our ends The third was composed of Monks and Priests and others of the devouter sort who desired the reuniting the Crown of Naples to the Papacy this I let them understand was my principal end that I was of a Family highly Catholick very much devoted to the Pope with whom I had taken secret Measures and made so near a Conjunction that he was well satisfied of my intentions That they ought to concur with me to drive away the Spaniards and keep their thoughts very secret lest we might meet obstacles by the confederacy of those which desired the contrary and I promised that as soon as we had overcome our enemies we would submit our selves to the authority of the Church The fourth was more easily managed than the rest for desirous of a King and signifying that they had made choice of my person they were sensible of the necessity of Secrecy and the friendship they had for me securing them of my acknowledgements they were altogether guided by my Directions and acted nothing but by my Orders This Partie consisted of such as aspired to the honours and grandeurs of the Kingdom every one according to his Quality who resolving never to become subject to a forein Dominion desired no money might go out of their Countrey imagining this the only way to enrich themselves and re-establish traffique and that a King whom they had chosen for his own interest and preservation would have no other Countrey but his Kingdom nor any confidence love or inclination but for his Subjects The fifth Faction was of those that desired a Republick of whom the greatest part understood not what they sought mightily taken with the word which they scarce knew how to pronounce imagining they should be subject to no body and that the meanest of the common people should have credit and power equal with the richest and best qualified I perswaded them that such an establishment was my prevailing passion that I looked on such a structure with affection and delight as the workmanship of my hands since I had been the first proposer of it and that the Dignity of Duke to which they had raised me gave me the first place the principal authority and all the Honours of a Sovereign I moved them to consider how much it concerned us to conceal this design that we might not incite against us all that were contrary and that as soon as ever the Spaniards were driven away towards which we must with hazard of our lives use our utmost endeavour This form of Government would in a manner establish it self none being excluded and every man in a possibility of finding advantages and security and making his fortune by it of what quality or profession soever he might be In this manner every one of the five factions took me to be of their partie and changing like a Camelion according as I spoke to one or the other of them concealing my own thoughts I discovered theirs to get light and take unerring measures The last was of such as were addicted to the Spanish interests by reason of those themselves had on the Gabels where lay the best part of their Estates I gave them hopes of preserving them in case of a subversion of the Government and minded them that a greater jealousie being had of them than of others they ought to be more careful of their conduct since the least of their motions would be made criminal These were obliged to me for preserving their fortunes and the honour of every one of their Families whereof I assured them to take a particular care provided they did nothing to deprive me of the means of protecting them I commended their zeal and fidelity and told them I affected and esteemed them more than the rest because they were persons of more honour These were very sollicitous for my safety which they thought necessary to their own and their ruine being infallible on the least revolution being hated by the common people and the Spaniards having no jealousie of them they gave me notice of all conspiracies against me and all other enterprises fearing my fall and their own with me if the success were dubious These were the men that served me to most advantage and which I insensibly united to the fourth faction because they resolved if they must lose their old Master to have no other but me Thus I made advantage of the variety of mens inclinations governing all these Cabals every one in a particular manner and with such address that none of the rest had the least suspition of it
the Spaniards that they abandoned all the Posts they held on that side he advancing to the Court of Guard of the Vice-Roys Pallace which I could not have believed had not the Spaniards themselves acknowledged it to me in the time of my imprisonment I saw then the return of two persons that were very dear to me and to whom I was obliged for their valour and zeal to my service I failed not by caressing them to signifie the esteem I held them in and my joy that Heaven had preserved them to me I was very glad that Bread though dear was plentiful but Vincenzo Andrea would have deprived me of this satisfaction by making it useless to me and did his best that the money I had coined by his advice might be no longer currant a great deal of it having already passed and being in the hands of poor people in a starving condition But this was easily remedied by a Proclamation that none should refuse it on pain of death I was so absolute and so much feared that none durst disobey my Orders they which did so being without remission immediately punished Thus his ill designes came short of effect and the mischief was prevented almost before it appeared There were no more disorders heard of in the Town no robberies burnings of Houses nor any other violences but I satisfied not my self with that which seemed so little to me though any body else would have believed they had effected impossibilities and I resolved to re-establish Justice and make appear that I knew how to erect her Throne in the midst of a Civil War and the Noise of Arms. I assembled such as had formerly been Judges or were persons capable of it and in two dayes settled the Exchequer where I made John Camillo Caracciolâ— President a man of great experience and the fittest of all others for that Employment and Francisco de Pati to assist him in recompence of the advice he had given me of the designs of the Abbot Basqui and appointed all other Officers necessary for that Court I restored the Council of St. Clare formed the Civil and Criminal Vicary ordered the Judges to wear their Robes and not fail daily to assemble at the Tribunals and all businesses of this nature were so carefully managed that more Law-Suits were decided and terminated in two moneths than had been formerly dispatched in ten years and with so great equity and punctuality that all Sentences and Decrees made during my Authority were valid afterwards without any pretence and less reason of appeal from them which gained me so much esteem that as long as Naples stands my memory will be honourable The same of this went through all Italy causing admiration that in a time of so great difficulty and a place of so much confusion and disorder I could in such a manner regulate affairs of whose effects I quickly became sensible But that which obliged the Judges to be so exact in their duty was that every Wednesday and Saturday I took an accompt of all their determinations and finding a Sentence defective or disputable I caused a rehearing in my presence and none was put in execution till I had considered and approved it Twice I altered what they had done and gave Sentence my self with Soveraign Authority which appeared to be so just and reasonable that none could object against what I had declared which was put in execution after my imprisonment That I might get greater light of all the Enemies practices I ordered Augustino Mollo and two or three of his friends whom I could trust to send to desire the Viceroys leave to accept the Charges I had given them by this means augmenting the Enemies confidence in them to enable them the more easily to give me good and certain intelligence and in like manner by my Order they sometimes acquainted him with my secret intentions when they were such as I thought it an advantage to me to discover them to him This proved very useful but caused the said Mollo to be suspected of Correspondence and made the People jealous of him but I must needs give this Testimony of him that no man in Naples served me more faithfully having discovered two or three Conspiracies against my life and secured me from many dangers that without his counsel which was ever successful to me I could not have avoided The Nineteenth of February the Spaniards received great mortification and my self and People extraordinary joy by the arrival of Don John of St. Severine Earl of La Saponara and afterwards Prince of Besignano chief of the ancientest and noblest Family of the Kingdom and whose grandeur could not be supprest by the persecution of many Kings and particularly of Ladislaus who caused two and twenty of it at once to be slain in the Castle of Laina whither they came on his Parole incensed by their having drawn into the Field in eight dayes Eighteen thousand Foot all of their Tenants and in four and twenty hours Seven thousand Horse by them to have secured themselves against his oppression As he passed over the Market-place the People ran to kiss his feet and I received him with open arms he brought me the best News imaginable which was the general dissatisfaction of all the Nobility who expected only the example of some of the chief of their Order to follow it and very few or none at all being comparable to him in the advantages either of Birth or Riches he was desirous to be the first in demonstrating his affection to his Countrey by hazarding his life to second my good intentions and contribute to its repose and liberty He told me he came to receive my Orders and obey them with as much submission as fidelity that his Family had been the last that followed the fortune of that of Anjou from which being well informed that I descended he came to reverence in my Person the Blood of his ancient Kings since whose time the Countrey had been so cruelly oppressed by Tyrants whom he resolved to suffer no longer that persons of his quality ought never to lose occasions of breaking their Fetters when Heaven and Fortune gives them means to do it that the Spaniards had done all that tended to the Kingdoms destruction that he abandoned them not till they had abandoned themselves and that neither reason nor honour obliged the Nobility to suffer themselves to be involved in their ruin since all things well considered they were rather Usurpers than lawful Masters that being well informed of the condition of their affairs he perceived their ruin to be infallible being in a general want of all things and no succors to be from any part expected that nothing was needful towards compleating so great an enterprise as mine which I had carried on with such resolution and good conduct but besides the return of the French Fleet the possessing my self of one of the Castles of Naples and then the First of May when the Nobility should be
in the Church with Blunderbusses posted round about the Seat provided for me and that the less notice might be taken of them they were all at once to fire upon me at the time of the Elevatton of the Hoste when all mens eyes would be fixed on the Priest and the sound of the Bell was to be the signal for discharging Cicio de Regina and the rest that were to be nearest me had each of them a letter which he that could first approach my body was to make a shew of taking out of my pocket and amuse the people by reading it to them whilest his Confederates made their escape I caused him to be condemned and keeping the informations by me sent for Marco Antonio Brancaccio Uncle of the Marquis of Monte Silvano Seignour Joseph Brancaccio and another of the same name with Seignora Cicia Piussa his Mother and all the rest of the Nobility whom this Traitor accused and reading his depositions told them that looking on the Neapolitan Nobility as incapable of so black an attempt I would not have them so much as suspected but though they had been concerned in it I too much affected them to dip my hands in their blood and in their presence burnt the informations I sent presently to set at liberty two Servants of the Marquis of Monte Silvano and concealed all the Blunderbusses that belonged to him on the most of which his arms were engraven so to stifle all jealousies that might be had of him and desired his Mother and Uncle to bring him to me at night which they did I told him that though I had a pretence of accusing him of ingratitude on account of having preserved his life and liberty of which Gennaro would have deprived him the day after my entering the Town I should satisfie my self in this little reproach knowing that shame and remorse of conscience are the greatest punishments a person of honor like himself can possibly undergo That I forgot what he had done and pardoned his contributing by his Arms and Servants to the assassination of a Prince that loved him and was his benefactor That I imputed this to excess of zeal for his Kings service which yet he ought to have regulated better and moderated more in what concerned me but that I would lay no punishment on him but instead thereof give him all testimonies of affection and confidence That I begged his friendship with assurance that when he had promised it I might more safely depend on it than on that of any other of the Nobility This generosity moved him and casting himself at my feet he promised never to lose the memory of so great and extraordinary an obligation and that he would employ his life in seeking occasions of sacrificing it in testimony of his gratitude I affectionately embraced him and told him that what had passed should never be any more mentioned since from it I derived the advantage of acquiring a person of his courage birth and merit I offered in case he would stay with me to look on him as the best of my friends and give him any imployment he should pretend to and that if fortune ever put into my hands the disposal of the great Charges and Governments of the Kingdom he was only to intimate which of them would best accommodate him which I assured him on my word I would possess him of with a very good will This manner of proceeding so contrary to the Maxims of the Spanish Policy increased the Nobilities affection and esteem for me and so sensibly moved him that he embraced my knees and made his acknowledgments in terms so respective and passionate that I perceived there was no dissimulation in them and that I had intirely gained him but he represented to me that the Peoples animosities would be a continual danger to him whilest he stayed in the Town and therefore besought me to suffer him to leave it swearing never more to draw his sword against me and that as soon as persons of quality took horse to follow my fortune he would not only himself be one of the first but endeavor to engage his friends and relations I then sent four of my Guards with an Officer to conduct him safely to one of our advanced Posts that he might from thence pass to the Enemy His Mother and Kinsmen made so passionate and grateful acknowledgments that I want words to express them and I doubt not but as long as he lives and in what part of the World soever he reside he will reserve in his heart on my behalf a great deal of affection esteem and gratitude For Ottaviello Brancaccio a person whom poisons and assassinations in which he had been concerned through the whole course of his life had rendered odious to all his relations he being the dishonour of his Family as well as to the People I used all endeavours to get him into my hands being a most fit person to be made an example of with universal applause But all the care I took to this purpose proved in vain he escaping with the rest of his Confederates The next day which was the Twenty sixth of March Cicio de Regina was sacrificed in expiation of his detestable Crime He was drawn on a Sledge to the Market-place attended by my Guards to prevent his being torn in pieces by the way and his body hanged by one foot after his head had been cut off and set upon the Post in the Market-place The rage of the multitude even of Women was so great that they tore him with their teeth and the Children sucked his blood After this I shewed my self to the Town acclamations and benedictions being redoubled on my account as well as imprecations against the Spaniards Their condition at this time seemed altogether desperate having neither Victuals nor Credit nor scarely any Troops which decreased daily but a ship which unexpectedly came to them from Malaga brought them Four hundred men commanded By Colonel Don Alonzo de Monroy I on my side heard good News every day All the Towns of Sicilia particularly Messina and Palermo sent me assurance that they resolved to follow the example and fortune of the Kingdom of Naples and I received a Letter from the King by which he congratulated my advantages and the Peoples Election of me to be Duke of their Republick I was promised the return of the Fleet which I might expect daily with Gallies accompanying the Ships so that I could discern nothing to be feared and much to be hoped and was more confirmed by Cardinal Filomarini who visiting me on the Eight and twentieth of March as soon as we were alone in my Chamber made me a long discourse of the miseries of a Civil War not yet near an end of the dangers I had already escaped and was yet to undergo of the jealousies France had of my exaltation the uncertainty of her succors and of the arrival of her Fleet though she gave me daily hope of it
and of the House of Caraffa was appointed to confer with me I dined alone that day he excusing himself by reason of the many affairs that pressed him and the Orders he was to give after so great a change of fortune Having reposed a while after dinner some of the Nobility came to entertain me and falling into discourse of what had passed and of their interests and mine we engaged so far that we entered upon a very considerable Negotiation from which I might assuredly have drawn great advantages when a Spaniard came in whom I saw not my back being to the door but one of those Gentlemen pressing my foot I instantly changed discourse which yet I could not do so handsomly as altogether to prevent suspicion going out he immediately writ to the Earl of Ognate that after I had so long maintained the People in rebellion I sought to debauche the Nobility in which if some speedy prevention were not used it was to be feared I might have success In the evening the Prince of Avellina came to see me and return me thanks for the care I had taken in preserving the plunder of his Castle and for punishing Paul of Naples who born his subject had committed all imaginable insolencies against him I told him I was sorry I could not render him services more considerable but that in my present condition all I could do for his interests was to advise him to make haste to Naples to save his Moveables which I had carefully gathered together but being laid up in my Pallace the Spaniards would infallibly plunder it on which account I very much lamented that my intentions for preserving what belonged to him gave occasion for its being more exposed to hazard He thanked me and taking my counsel went away immediately to give order in his concernments After this the Prince of la Rocca Romana came to see me whose company was very disagreeable for he was a great talker and all his discourse consisted of protestations of fidelity for Spain with recital of his services to that Crown and his joy to see heaven declared in favour of it After a very slender complement relating to my misfortune he took his leave The Spaniards in the mean time assembled to deliberate what resolution was to be taken in my behalf Opinions differed All the Members Of the Collateral Council voted my death alledging this reason that I had acquired so great credit and so general an esteem as well amongst the Nobility as People that it was to be feared that as long as I lived the Kingdom could never be well settled and that the recovery of my liberty would again embroil all that malecontents would alwayes keep alive in their hearts a secret hope which fomenting the seeds of rebellion that remained would produce effects on the first occasion that understanding the natural clemency of their King they could do him no better service than to deprive him of the means of making use of it towards a Person so dangerous and where its consequences might be so fatal that by this they should free him from the importunities of all the Princes and Potentates of Europe to whom I appertained by Blood Alliance or Friendship who would certainly intercede for my life and liberty that I had ascended so near a Throne that my ambition could not be satisfied with any establishment below it and that Naples had come too near my heart to be ever forgotten by me that as long as I lived I would aspire to the possession of a Crown I thought I had lost only by the effects of hazard and misfortune and that I had looked upon as mine own that the proceeding of the Marquiss of St. Cruce in the Case of the Mareshal of Strozzi in the Terceras was to be followed that this execution was not to be delayed least France should render it impossible by avowing my actions and laying claim to me as a person sent by her and that had acted only by her Power and Order that they ought to mike no difficulty of following the example Charles of Anjou made of Conradin and that by the counsel of Pope Clement the Fourth that if such a proceeding seemed cruel yet it would be very safe and that when the establishment of a Kingdom comes into consideration the most violent resolutions are best that besides all this my death would serve as a great example to deterre and prevent ambitious persons from concerning themselves in the insurrections of Provinces to which the Spanish Monarchy might be more liable than any other having so many different Nations under its Government and its Dominions so extended divided and at so great a distance from each other Zeal for their Countrey inclined them not so much to this as their shame of having had recourse to me for preservation of their Estates and Charges and their having held Correspondencies with me they thought could not alwayes be kept secret unless by my death and the removal of an irreproachable witness of their infidelity and treason On the other side the Duke of Tursi that owed me his life thought himself bound in honour to requite me by saving mine and to that purpose alledged all the reasons that Policy or Morality could suggest They were seconded by Don Melchior de Borgia who being my Kinsman he by the Duke of Candie descending from Pope Alexander and â— by Lucretia de Borgia his Daughter married into the House of Ferrara thought himself on that account engaged in honour to preserve me he therefore omitted nothing to that purpose embracing my interests with all imaginable zeal in it complying with his natural inclination which is sweet and obliging These were persons of another manner of consideration and credit than those of the Collateral Council both of them of the Council of State of Spain and deputed by the Catholick King as Councellors to assist Don John by whose advice he was to regulate himself and to do nothing without their Participation they added that if they were to be tied up by examples the most honourable and such as had the best and most general reception in the world were to be followed that the Marquiss of St. Cruce was much blamed and that his violence and precipitation might have cost Spain very dear had not troubles arose in France which secured it from her resentments that the cruelty of Charles of Anjou had been very much condemned and blasted the high reputation his Valour had acquired him of which he repented at leisure by the bloody war that action drew upon him which he was ready to sink under that in the end he lost all Sicilia and the head of his own Son without a miraculous escape had payed for that of Conradin that the authority of Pope Clement's counsel cannot justifie it he having been a declared enemy to Conradin whose resentments and power he apprehended and whom over-living but a very few dayes his death seemed an extraordinary punishment of