D. of Medina Sidonia a Woman of a Noble Heroick and Masculine Spirit with her he consults whether he were best accept of the Propositions of the Nobility or to prevent all hazards go to Madrid and being anxious what course to take his Wife generously told him My Friend said she if thou goest to Madrid thou dost incur the danger of losing thy life and if thou acceptest the Crown thou dost no more consider then whether it be not better to dye nobly at home than basely abroad These words of his Lady say some animated him with a Resolution to accept the Crown so he returned Gaston an answer That he would conform himself to the Counsels of the Nobility resolving to live and run all hazards whatever with them for the regaining his Countreys Liberty In the mean time the Marquess of Ferreira reduced all those Castles which held out for the K. of Spain and then in the name of the K. of Portugal gave the Sacrament of Fidelity or an Oath of Allegiance to all the Orders that is to the Clergy Nobility and Commons which was received with so much readiness that had not the Marquess seen the necessary Orders observed the People had run into certain inconveniencies so much they strived to prevent each other in willingness to perform this duty Upon Thursday Feb. 6 His Majesty made his entrance into Lisbon with all those Applauses that a Beloved King can expect from his most Loving Subjects the Rich Liveries given by the Nobles the Triumphal Arches the Streets hung with Tapestry the multitudes of People flocking to see him and the Excellent Fire-works which were so many that a Spaniard cried out Es possible quâ— c. Is it possible that K. Philip should be deprived of a Kingdom only with Lights and Fireworks without a powerful Army Certainly this is an evident Token that 't is the Almighty hand of God Yet these I say were but the least demonstrations of that Cities Love and Joy For so great was the Concourse of those that crouded to see their New King that though His Majesty entred into Lisbon by noon he could not through the throng arrive at his Palace till two hours after Sun-set Curiosity and Love which usually have the Force to stir up all Affections made this People Flock so fast to the sight of their Prince and even those who hated the House of Braganza did accommodate themselves to the General Joy His Majesty being arrived at the Pallace in stead of reposing himself fell presently to consultation for preserving the Kingdom he had thus suddenly gotten and the several Governours were commanded to their Countreys to Levy Forces who listed the Inhabitants from the Age of eighteen to sixty in whom they found such a ready willingness that many offered their Estates and their Lives and would follow the Colours though they had Liberty to depart On the 25 of the same Month followed the Coronation of His Majesty which was accompanied with all those Applauses and Demonstrations of Joy that could proceed from a People of infinite Riches who weary of the Command of Strangers were consequently ambitious of a King of their own Nation It was performed with all manner of Grandeur and Magnificence the following Oath being administred to the King by the Archbishops of Lisbon and Braga We swear and promise by the Grace of God to Rule and Govern you well and justly and to administer Justice as far as humane frailty will permit to maintain unto you your Customs Priviledges and Liberties granted unto you by the King 's own Predecessors So help us God and this his Holy Gospel This Oath being administred the 3 Estates of the Clergy Nobility and Commons took the following Oath of Allegiance to His Majesty one for every one of the Estates pronouncing these words I swear by this Holy Gospel of God touching corporally with my hand That I recieve for our King and Lawful Soveraign the High and Mighty King Don John the Fourth our Soveraign and do homage to him according to the use and customs of his Kingdoms These and the other Ceremonies being ended the King accompanied with all his Nobles returned from the Theatre where the Coronation was performed to the Pallace where notwithstanding it was a very great rain all the Grandees went bareheaded There was a sumptuous banquet prepared but his Majesty gave himself wholly to consult of preparations for the War and to shew the magnanimity of his mind he only displaced two Officers That of the Proveditore of the Custom-House because he was Brother in Law to the Secretary Vasconsellos lately deservedly slain and that of the Count of Castanlie who was President of the Tribunal or Court of Conscience because he was too much interested with the King of Spain As for the Infanta Margarita late Vice-Queen and the Marquess Della Puella Kinsman to Olivarez the Castle called Pasos de Angiobregas was assigned them with Fourteen Thousand Crowns a year for maintenance in that honourable Prison Shortly after Lucia now Queen of Portugal with her Son Prince Theodosio arrived at Lisbon who were recieved with all imaginable expressions of Joy the Q. being soon after solemnly Crowned and the Prince installed But let us a little recollect how these Actions were resented in the Spanish Court Most mens minds there were struck with Consternation but Count Olivarez came smiling to the King saving Sir I pray give me las Albricias or a Reward to handsel the good News for now you are more absolute King of Portugal than ever for the people have forfeited all their priviledges by this Rebellion besides the Estate of the Duke of Braganza with all his Complices are yours by right of Confiscation so that you have enough to distribute among your Loyal Subjects by way of reward But however Olivarez seemed to dissemble his Passion it was believed than this News struck deeper into him than any The King of Spain upon the first News of the Proclamation of K. John sent a Letter to him to this purpose Cozen and Duke Some odd News are brought me lately which I esteem but folly considering the proof I have had of the fidelity of your House give me Advertisement accordingly because I ought to expect it from you and hazard not the esteem I make of your self to the fury of a mutinous rabble but let your wisdom comport you so that your Person may escape the danger My Council will advise you further So God guard you Your Cozen and King To this Letter His Majesty of Portugal returned Answer My Cozen My Kingdom desiring its Natural King and my Subjects being oppressed with Taxes and New Impositions have executed without Opposition that which they had often designed by giving me possession of a Kingdom which appertains to me wherefore if any will go about to take it from me I will seek Justice in my Arms God preserve your Majesty Don John the 4th King of Portugal And now King John to shew
Affairs with what speed you may for it is impossible you should long live in this world why so said Galleacius Because replyed the other the Stars whose sight and Position on your Birth-day I have well observed do threaten you and that not obscurely with death before such time as you shall attain to maturity Well said Galleacius you who believe in the Positions of the Birth-day Stars as if they were so many Gods How long are you to live through the bounty of the Fates The Astrologer answered I have a sufficient Tract of time allotted for my life But said Galleacius that for the future out of a foolish belief of the bounty and Clemency of the Fates thou mayst not presume farther upon the continuance of life than perhaps it is fit thou shalt dye presently contrary to thy own opinion nor shall the combined force of all the Stars in Heaven be able to save the from destruction who presumest in this manner to dally with the Destiny of Illustrious Persons and thereupon commanded him to be carried to Prison and Strangled whereby the poor Astrologer appeared to be fatally mistaken in his pretended Infallible Predictions Wieri Opera Lib. de Ira. pag. 148. LXII The Emperour Probus a great and excellent Prince having well nigh brought the Empire into a quiet and peaceable from a troublesome and Turbulent posture was heard to say That he would speedily take such a Course that there should be no more need of Men of War This speech was so distasted by the Souldiers that they conspired against him and procured his death To the same purpose is the Relation of some Persons of Syracuse in Sicily who discoursing in a Barbers shop concerning the Tyrant Dionysius they said his Tyranny was Adamantine and that he could not be destroyed What said the Barber do we speak thus of Dionysius under whose Throat I ever and anon hold a Razor As soon as Dionysius was informed of this he caused his Barber to be Crucified and so he paid for his foolish words with the price of his Life Plutarch de Loquacitate pag. 200. LXIII The same Author relates a Passage of another Barber though not of such dangerous Consequence A Barber who kept shop at the end of the Suburbs called Pyreum in Athens had no sooner heard of the great discomfiture of the Athenians in Sicily from a certain slave fled from thence out of the field but leaving his Shop at six and sevens he ran directly into the City to carry the Tydings fresh and new For fear some other might the honour win And he too late or second should come in Now upon reporting of these unwelcome tydings there was a great stir within the City the people Assembled to the Market place search was made for the Author of this rumor hereupon the Barber was haled before the body of the People and being examined hereof he knew not so much as the name of the Party from whom he had heard the News Upon which the whole Assembly were so moved to anger that they cryed out Away with the Villain set the Rascal upon the Rack have him to the Wheel who hath devised this Story of his own fingers ends The Wheel of Torture was brought and the Barber was tormented upon it In the mean while there came certain News of that defeat and thereupon the Assembly broke up leaving the Barber racked out at length upon the Wheel till it was late in the Evening at which time he was let loose yet was no sooner at liberty but he must inquire News of the Executioner what he had heard abroad of the General Nicias and in what manner he was slain Plutarch's Morals Pag. 200. LXIV Candaules King of Lydia doted so much upon the Beauty of his own Wife that he could not be content to enjoy her but would needs inforce one Gyges to behold her Naked Body and placed the unwilling man secretly in her Chamber where he might see her preparing to Bedward This was not so closely carryed but that the Queen perceived Gyges at his going forth and understanding the matter took it in such high disdain that the forced him the next day to requite the Kings folly with Treason So that Gyges being brought again into the same Chamber by the Queen slew King Candaules and was rewarded not only with his Wife but the Kingdom of Lydia wherein he Reigned Thirty Eight Years Justin Hist Lib. 1. LXV Fulvius one of the Favourites and Minions of Augustus Caesar Emperour of Rome having heard him toward his latter dayes lamenting and bewailing the desolate estate of his House because he had no Children of his body begotten and that of his three Nephews or Sisters Children two were dead and Posthumius who only remained alive upon an Accusation against him was sent away and lived in banishment whereupon he was inforced to bring in his Wives Son and declare him his Successor in the Empire Notwithstanding upon a tender compassion he was sometime in deliberation with himself and minded to call Posthumius from Banishment Fulvius I say being privy to these means and designs of his went home and told his Wife all that he had heard She could not hold but went presently to the Empress Livia Wife to Augustus and reported what her Husband Fulvius had told her Whereupon Livia in great Indignation did sharply expostulate with Caesar in these Terms Seeing said she you had so long projected such a thing as to call home your Nephew why did you not send for him at first but have exposed me to the hatred and enmity of Posthumius who shall be Emperour after your Decease The next morning betimes when Fulvius came as his manner was to salute Caesar and bid him good morrow after he had said God save you Caesar Augustus resaluted him with this God make you wise Fulvius Fulvius soon found him and conceived presently what he meant thereby He retired then to his house with all speed and having called his wife Caesar said he is come to the knowledge that I have not concealed this secret and therefore I am resolved to make away my self with my own hands And well worthy quoth she for justly have you deserved death who having lived so long with me knew not all this while the incontinency of my Tongue nor would beware of it yet suffer me first to dye upon your Sword And she accordingly killed her self her Husband likewise following her in the same bloody fate and thus we may see what mischief has befallen persons by their loquacity and too much inconsiderateness in their words Plutarch's Morals Pag. 199. LXVI Strange was the destiny or rather the Divine Vengeance which fell on the Duke of Guise a cruel Persecutor of the poor French Protestants and a bloody instrument in the Massacre of Paris For Advertisements came from all parts both within and without the Realm from Spain Rome Lorrain and Savoy to give notice to this Henry of Lorrain
represented to him the present declining condition of the Spanish Monarchy not only by reason of the disorders in Flanders and Italy and the preparations of the Turks but more especially because their most Potent Enemies the French were now in Assistance of the revolted Catalonians entred Spain That it highly concerned His Catholick Majesty to drive them out of his Territories which could not be done without a very powerful Force That he being one of the Prime Grandees of the Kingdom might by his presence in the head of a good number of his Tenants encourage others to a suitable Assistance That to this purpose His Catholick Majesty expected him every moment having designed for him great Honours Priviledges and Dignities suitable to his merit But as cunning an Angler as Olivarez was yet he failed of his Mark this bait would not hook in the Fish For though the Duke of Braganza was accounted no great Polititian yet his own safety taught him to know that all these great Offices and fair Promises were but guilded allurements to draw him to his destruction Having therefore supplyed the King with a considerable number of his Tenants and Friends he found excuses for his own not going in Person And to prevent all suspition he retired again to his Country-house Thus these 2 great Personages endeavoured by Craft and Dissimulation to supplant each other only one strove the others destruction the other only studied his own safety and preservation During all these passages the Vice-Queen Margarita was very Vigilant in her Government and foreseeing in reason what might be the issue of those proceedings writ very importunately to the King assuring him that if it were not suddenly prevented the Kingdom would be infallibly lost To which she recieved no answer only Olivarez slighting her Judgment as fitter to govern a private House than a Kingdom sent her word That if her capacity would not reach to the height and drift of those mysteries of State yet that her wisdom would keep her from discovering them But without doubt Olivarez was inwardly perplexed to see all his Plots thus fail and foul means he durst not openly attempt such was both the Dukes Power and the great Love the people bore him he therefore at last had recourse to treachery and gives secret order to Don Lopez de Ossis and Don Ant. Oquendo that when they had relieved Flanders with Men and Money they should with their whole Fleet put into Portugal and that as soon as the Duke should according to the duty of his new Place and Office come aboard they should immediately set sail and bring him away to Cales But this Plot was by a strange Divine Providence prevented for that Fleet was totally ruined by the Hollanders upon the Coast of England in 1639. And now was the time come wherein according to St. Bernards Prophesie the Kingdom of Portugal was to be released from the Tyranny of Strangers and restored again to the Government of a Native King to which all things seemed so well to concur that it cannot be imagined to have less than a Divine hand in it for though all Plots failing against the Duke of Braganza the Spaniards being fearful of somewhat drew as many Portugal Souldiers out of the Kingdom as conveniently they could thinking to lessen the ill humours which began now to appear yet thereby they did but the more inflame those discontents which were taken at Vasconsello's managing all Affairs of State For though Margarita of Mantoua was a Princess of great Judgment and Knowledge in State Affairs yet she was too much over-ruled by Vasconsellos's Secretary of State whose Government was insufferable to the Portuguez who hated as much his obscure birth as his evil customs being a man Composed of Pride Cruelty and Covetousness knowing no moderation but in excesses Small faults were by him made Capital Crimes using all severity to those whom he did but suspect to be dissatisfied with his Government and exercising with all rigour the Spanish Inquisition punished not only the actions but the very thoughts of men The infringing the greatest priviledges of the Portugal Nation seeming to him but a Trifle which continued oppressions in the end so exasperated the whole people that incouraged by the knowledge of their own strength by the many distractions of the Spanish Nation by the late example of the Catalonians and stirred up by the absolute ruin which they saw hung over their heads there being six Thousand Portugals listed every year and forced to serve the Spaniard in his Forreign Wars From all these considerations they resolved to loose the yoak from off their Necks and to disclaim all obedience to him by the Election of a King of their own Some thought that this conspiracy was of at least 10 years standing and agreed to by most of the Grandees of Portugal but it being a State Mystery is hard to be decided I will therefore recount only what was publickly acted Upon Saturday Feb. 1. 1640. and Saturdays have been often observed to be favourable to the Portuguess Nation all the Nobility of that Kingdom led on by the Marquesses of Ferriera and the Earl of Vimioso took Arms and assisted with a great multitude of the Inhabitants of Lisbon and some Portuguez Souldiers came to the Castle scituate in the midst of Lisbon which was the Residence of the Vice-Queen and serves both for a Palace and a Castle to which place all the Magistrates for Governing the Kingdom were Assembled The Guards were 2 Companies of Spaniards and 2 of High Dutch who being either gained before by secret Intelligence or affrighted with the great numbers of the Portugals or else from a desire of Novelty or perhaps unwilling to make resistance against those to whom most of them were joyned by Friendship or Marriage but however they forsook their Guard without the least opposition and gave them free admittance into the Castle At this time Vasconsellos was in the Chambers of his Office upon some reasons he had to suspect an Insurrection because of the discontents of the People and was at that instant writing into Spain of the Alienation of the minds of the Portuguez Nobility from the Spanish Government and earnestly pressing that some rigorous resolution might be taken to prevent it which Letters being afterward seized did sufficiently demonstrate his ill will to the Portuguez Nation whilst he was thus busied the confused noise of the Souldiers pierced his ears and wondring at the cause thereof he came forth accompanied only with one Dutchman and one of the Guard he would have gone down but was hindred by the Portugals who came running up crying kill the Traytor kill the enemy of our blood Whereupon not knowing where to save himself he fled with those accompanying him into an inner Chamber and there with his sword in his hand assisted by those with him disposed himself to sell his Life at the dearest rate he could but his valour stood him in no stead for
Queens and numerous Wives Some few Courtiers who among so many Traytors remained faithful to him attended with a doleful silence upon the Emperour and Empress who could neither speak a word nor shed a tear sorrow had taken such entire possession of their hearts Zunchin was a young Prince endowed with all the qualities that might render him amiable to his People His Royal Spouse the Empress loved him with so tender an affection that to testifie the sincerity of her Passion to him she resolved to dye either with or before him The Prince being very pensive and sollicitous how to prevent greater disgraces went together with those who accompanied him towards a little Grove at the entrance of which he stopped and then the Empress guessing at his design approached to him and giving him her last embraces she parted from that person which was the dearest to her of all things upon Earth with all the grief and sorrow that Humane Nature is capable of and then she entred all alone into the Grove and with a Cord hanged her self upon one of the Trees A dreadful spectacle which might make even those who were more sensless than the Trees lament so direful a death of so great an Empress Presently after the Emperour went and placed himself near his Wife whom he saw hanging upon a Tree having finished her Life by a death as violent as that which he had inflicted upon his Daughter Then poor Prince he asked a little Wine of one of the Lords which attended him not that he was a lover of Wine but on the contrary was the most sober and moderate in his pleasures of all the Princes which ever governed the Empire And was so chast toward women that he never frequented his Seraglio which made his Subjects call him the Chast Prince It was not therefore for the love of Wine but a little to revive and refresh his Spirits And doubtless he had need of great courage to put in Execution what he designed When the Wine was presented to him he sipped a little of it and then biting with violence one of his Fingers and squeezing out his blood he writ therewith these following words The Mandorins or Eunuchs are all Villains they have perfidiously betrayed their Prince they all deserve to be hanged and it will be a laudable Act of Justice to execute this Sentence upon them It is fit they should all suffer death that thereby they might instruct those who succeed them to serve their Prince more Loyally As for the People they are not Criminal and deserve not to be punished and therefore to use them ill will be injustice I have lost my Kingdoms which I recieved in inheritance from my Ancestors In me is finished the Royal Line which so many Kings my Progenitors continued down to me with all the Grandeur and Fame suitable to their Majestick Dignity I will therefore for ever close my eyes that I may not see this Empire descended to me thus ruined and ruled by a Tyrant I will go and deprive my self of that Life for which I can never suffer my self to be indebted to the basest and vilest of my Subjects I have not the confidence to appear before them who being born Subjects are become my Enemies and Traytors It is fit the Prince should dye since his whole State is now expiring And how can I endure to live having seen the loss and destruction of that which was dearer to me than Life The Prince after he had thus writ what his just grief dictated to him he untied his Hair and covering his face presently with his own hands he hanged himself upon a Tree near to that on which the Empress remained strangled This was the Tragical Catastrophe of this unfortunate Monarch The Emperour of China remained thus hanging on a Tree the Prince who was the Idol of his people at the very name of whom Millions of men trembled The Soveraign of above an 100 Millions of Subjects the Monarch of a Kingdom as spacious as all Europe He who counted his Souldiers by Millions and his Taxes and Tributes by hundreds of Millions Finally the Potent Emperour of the great Empire of China is hanged upon a tree and his Royal Consort the Empress upon another near him What a weighty load did the trunks of these trees support But of what weight had it need be to make the great men upon earth duly weigh what all their terrible and ambitious Grandeur is which in so few moments passes from the height of the felicities of this Life to an Abyss of misery This unhappy Monarch finished his Reign at the Age of 32 years He dyed very soon but it was his misfortune he dyed no sooner For whatever King or Emperour he be who reckons his years which have been exposed to such direful Tragedies cannot be said to have lived such a number of years but to have undergone a far greater number of miseries and calamities The Report of the Emperours death being soon spread over the City those Loyal Subjects who had hitherto resisted abandoned their resolution So that Ly presently became Master both of the City and Court taking up his quarters in the Imperial Pallace where he saw himself possessed of all the prodigious treasures of that vast State and was soon after Crowned in the Court at Pequin and Proclaimed Soveraign Emperour of China yet he enjoyed his trayterous usurpation a very short time for the Tartars reckoning all Obligations of the former League of peace made void by the death of Zunchin and all the Royal Family Soon after invaded the Empire of China and made an absolute conquest thereof forcing the Tyrant Ly to fly and hide himself in the Northern parts of the Kingdom who has not since been heard of Neither did the treacherous Eunuchs escape vengeance for they were in a little while most of them destroyed and cut off by the Tartars History of China c. FINIS Advertisements There are lately published by R. Burton four very useful pleasant and necessary books which are all sold by N. Crouch at the Bell next Kemp's Coffee-house in Exchange Ally over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil I. ADmirable Curiosities Rarities and Wonders in England Scotland and Ireland or an account of many remarkable persons and places and likewise of the battels sieges prodigious Earthquakes tempests inundations thunders lightnings fires murders and other considerable occurrences and accidents for many hundred years past and among others The Preaching of K. Hen. 3. to the Monks at Winchester The Quo Warranto sent over Eng. by K. Edw. 1. The manner of the horrid murther of K. Edw. 2. The conspiracy at Oxford and Shrewsbury against K. Hen. 4. discovered by the D. of York and the Articles charged against the K. The battle of Bosworth and the miserable death of Crook-backt Richard The beheading of the L. Cromwel and the E. of Essex with their last Speeches The Rebellion of the Papists in Cornwal c.
Trusty and well known Inhabitant of the same City to the Wife of the Inn-keeper with Order he should say Your Husband desires you would send him such a Bag of money for he has special occasion for it and by this token that this is his Hat The Woman delivers it without scruple and he returns with it to the Emperor who then calling the Merchant shews him the Bag and asks if he knew it The man owns it with Joy The Emperor then calls in the Host and says thus This man complains of you and accuses you of perfidiousness and falshood what say you to it The Inn-keeper replyed That the Merchant told him lies or else was mad and that he neither hath nor ever had any thing to do with him The Emperour upon this immediately produceth the Bag at the sight of which the Host is confounded his confidence and Tongue fail him and thereupon he confessed the whole matter The Merchant received his Money and the Inn-keeper besides the shame and disgrace was fined by the Emperor in a good Sum of Money Rodolphus extolled for his Wisdom the same of this Action spreading it self through all Germany Lipsius Monit l. 2. LXXXIII Of the like nature is the following History related by N. Causin A Roman Lady left Widow by the death of her Husband had a Son born of this Marriage secretly stoln from her and bred up in Slavery in another Province where being grown up to a young man he had notice that he was the Son of such a Lady in Rome which caused him to take a Voyage to Rome with a purpose to make himself known to her which he did by evident Tokens so that the Mother received him into her house with Joy and Tears for the recovery of her loss She was at this time betrothed to a man who had often promised her Marriage yet never accomplished it and this Lover was then absent detained by urgent Affairs far from Rome At the end of thirty days he returned and finding this New-Guest in her house â—emanded who he was She freely answered He was her son But he plainly told her That if she sent not away this found Child from her Lodging she should never have any share in his Affection The unhappy Creature surprized with Love to serve his Passion renounceth her own Bowels and banished her own Child from his Mothers House The young man being in great necessity hastens to require Justice of King Theodorick He sends for the Lady who stoutly denied all the pretensions of this young man saying That he was an ingrateful Impostor who not content to have received the Charities and Benevolence of a poor Creature in her house would needs challenge the Inheritance of Children denying that she had any Motherly relation to him The Son on the other side wept bitterly and gave assurance that she had acknowledged him as her own very lively representing all the proofs which passion and Interest put into his mind The King tryed all means to discover the design of this Lady and asked her Whether she were not resolved to marry again She answered That if she met with a man suitable to her she would do what God should inspire her The King replyed Behold this young man whom since you have lodged as a Guest thirty days in your house and have been so kind to him what cause is there why you may not marry him she answered That he had no Estate and she was worth a Thousand Crowns which was a great Fortune in those daies Well said Theodorick I will give the young man as much for his Marriage on this condition that you shall marry him She much amazed began to wax pale blush and tremble seeking to excuse her self but faltering in her speech the King to affright her more protested deeply She should marry him presently or tell the lawful Cause of the Impediment The poor Woman condemned by the Voice of Nature which cryed in her heart and having horror of the Crime proposed to her cast her self at the Kings Feet with Tears confessing her Loves Dissimulation and Mishap Then this Great Prince taking the words from her spake thus Are not you a miserable woman said he to renounce your own Flesh and bloud for a Villain who hath so often deceived you Get you to your house forsake those fond Affections and live in the condition of a good Widow taking unto you such support and assistance from your Son as he by nature ought to afford you Causins Holy Court Tom. 1. LXXXIV Josephus relates There was a young Jew bred at Sydon with the freed man of a Roman Citizen who having some resemblance of Alexander the son of Herod whom his Father had cruelly put to death pretended he was the same Alexander affirming That those to whom Herod had recommended this barbarous Execution conceived such horror at it that they resolved to save him and to conceal him till after the death of his Father in which time he remained at Sydon and now was come as from the Gates of Death to demand his Right as being the undoubted and lawful Heir of the Kingdom This Impostor had gained a subtle Fellow a Servant of Herods Houshold who taught him all the Affairs of the Court the People imbraced this Alexander as a man returned from the other World when he saw himself strong in Credit and Coin he was so confident as to go to Rome to question the Right of the Crown against Herods other Sons He presented himself before Augustus Caesar the distributer of Crowns beseeching him to pity the Fortune of so wretched and poor a King who threw himself at his Feet as the Sanctuary of Justice and Mercy Every one seemed already to favour him as a Person much wronged but Augustus a Monarch very penetrating perceived this man tasted not of a Prince for taking him by the hand he found his skin rough as having exercised servile Labours Hereupon the Emperor drew him aside Saying Content thy self to have hitherto abused all the world but know thou art now before Augustus I will pardon thee upon Condition thou discover the Truth of this matter but if thou liest in any point thou art utterly lost The Man was so amazed at the Lustre of such Majesty that throwing himself at his feet he began to confess all the Contrivance which done the Emperor perceiving him to be none of the most impudent daring impostors saved his life but condemned him to the Gallies The Tutor of this Counterfeit being observed by the Emperor to be of a Spirit more crafty and accustomed to evil Practices was ordered speedily to be put to death Josephus Antiquit. lib. 17. LXXXV Praxiteles the famous Artist in the making of Statues had promised Phryne a beautiful Curtisan the best and choice of all the pieces in his Shop to take from thence one single Statue as should be most pleasing to her but she not knowing which was most valuable devised this
that the good of his Subjects was his only care called an Assembly of the 3 Estates of the Kingdom who being convened and the King seated in his Royal Throne the Bishop of Elvas made a Speech to them to the following purpose That one of the first Laws of Nature was the uniting men together from whence Cities and Kingdoms had their Original and by which they after defended themselves in War and maintained themselves in Peace That for this cause His Majesty had called this Assembly to consult for the better service of God defence in War and Government in Peace That there could be no service of God without Vnion in Religion no defence without Vnion amongst men no regular Government without Vnion of Councils That His Majesty did expect to be informed by his Loyal Subjects what was for the good of the State That they were to render thanks to the Almighty who had given them a King that would govern them by known Laws That His Majesty did not esteem those Tributes lawful which were paid with Tears and therefore did from that present take off from his Subjects all Taxes that had been imposed by the Kings of Spain because His Majesty was not willing to Reign over their goods nor over their heads nor over their Priviledges but over their hearts hoping that they would find out a sweet expedient to defend their Country against their Potent Enemy who threatned to make them all slaves and to destroy and annihilate their Nation That they would therefore considering his Majesties goodness and their own Honour manifest at once to the world that as never Subjects had such a gracious King so never King had such Loyal Subjects The Bishop having ended his Speech the most ancient Officer of the Chamber of Lisbon stood up and in the name of all the 3 Estates who stood up likewise returned humble thanks to His Majesty for this gracious bounty heartily professing That they did not only offer up their Goods but their Lives to His Majesties service earnestly intreating him to dispose of both as he pleased And to manifest that their Hearts and Mouths agreed in this free offer of themselves to His Majesty they presently voted that two Millions should be immediately raised by this Kingdom But the King wisely and politickly declined the imposing a Tax on his Subjects choosing rather to accept of their Benevolence which made every one strive who should offer most so that instead of the Two Millions there was in short time brought into the Treasury Four Millions of Gold Nor was this Money intended by them nor imployed to any other use then to maintain the Grandeza and Splendor of the K. and Kingdom there being no need of Money for the payment of Souldiers every one offering to serve freely and at their own charge against their vowed enemies the Spaniards Thus was this Kingdom utterly lost to the Spanish Monarchy King Alphonso the 6th lately removed from the Government and his Brother Don Pedro now Reigning and likewise Her Majesty of England Q. Katherine being the Sons and Daughter of this K. John in which Family the Government is like still to continue and never to revert back to the Spaniard who lost at this time not only Portugal but with it all they enjoyed by that Kingdom in the East-Indies the Terceâ—a Islands and other Islands in the Atlantick Sea the Kingdom of Algarve Brazile with all they had in Africa except the Town of Ceuta which was the whole that remained to the Spanish Nation of all those great Dominions Hist Portugal Pag. 61. 104. The remarkable revolutions in the Empire of China and the entire Conquest thereof by the Tartars happened in the same year 1640 As if some fatal influence had inclined most Nations to changes and distractions at that time It cannot therefore be unpleasant to give a brief account thereof The Inhabitants of China enjoyed all the pleasures of peace under the Government of their last Emperour who was the most absolute Monarch that ever ruled those vast Territories when in the year 1640 a year fatal to several States those Clouds began to gather which shortly after produced such a storm as ruined the whole Empire The name of the present Emperour was Zunchin a deceitful and unfortunate name for in the Chinese Language it signifies successful omen or Soveraign Dominion but how false a prognostick this was appeared quickly This Emperor was of a most courteous and good disposition and certainly his Subjects who enjoy'd great Plenty and all the advantages of Peace lived truly happy under so Excellent a Prince But it is not sufficient for a Prince to be Good and to govern mildly and peaceably unless he likewise takes care not to have ill Officers who make use of their Credit under him to gratifie their Private Passions and to extend their Ambition beyond all Bounds and Limits yet some Authors have branded him for Covetousness and that after a great Famine which happened in the Northern Provinces occasioned by an unheard of number of Locusts he imposed upon his Subjects as high Taxes as they paid formerly in fruitful flourishing times the former Money being all mispent and the Souldiers not paid Whereupon the number of the Mutineers daily increased who enriched themselves by Plunder and Rapine For as Semedo in his History of China intimates Rebellion is the usual Effect of Extortion and Tyranny especially where the Prince would have more from the People than they are able to give And therefore Theopompus saith he King of the Lacedemonians when his wife told him that because he had eased the People of many Taxes he would leave his Son a poorer Kingdom than he received from his Father answered Relinquo sed Diuturnius that is I shall leave him a more lasting Kingdom Happy had it been for Zunchin Emperor of China had he been of Theopompus his Mind But saith my Author though I find him charged with Covetousness yet I am not very apt to suspect him so guilty of that Vice as of another usually more fatal to Princes which is a facile Nature easie to be wrought upon by others and too inclinable to favour and indulge themselves and not willing to undergo the weight of Affairs From whence it was that though under the Reign of his Brother Thienking who preceded him in the Imperial Throne Zunchin so opposed his Darling Favourite the Eunuch Guei and all the Eunuchs his Partisans that at last he prevailed with his brother to banish them all his Court to the great Satisfaction of the whole Empire and when his Brother dying without Issue the Imperial Crown fell to him at his first taking possession thereof he so persecuted the Eunuchs who by abuse of their Authority under his Brother had made themselves abhorred by the whole Nation that Guei in despair poysoned himself yet at last this very Emperor suffered himself by the crafty insinuation of some about him contrary to his own Judgment to be
to sell him This made him resolve on an escape to which end he had prepared a piece of Timber near the waterside on which he intended to paddle to the Ship which then lay about a League from the Shore Just as he was about to lanch his little floating board he espied a great Aligator which will devour a man at a mouthful This made him alter his resolution and resolve rather to live with inhumane Infidels than to throw himself into so imminent a danger The next day God Almighty opened the heart of the King to let the poor Englishman go He sent him in a Canoe placed betwixt a Negro's Legs with some others to guide this small Vessel for fear he should leap overboard and swim to the Ship At a distance from the Ship he haled her in the English Tongue which made those aboard much admire The Negroes gave him leave to stand up and shew himself to the Captain to whom he gave an account how four were left there and he only preserved It was some time before they could bargain though the Captain was resolved not to leave him behind Several times the Negroes padled away with their Canoe resolving not to part with him but with promises and intreaties he perswaded them back to the Ship again and they delivered him on board for 45 Copper and Iron Bars the Copper being as big as a Youths little Finger and the Iron somewhat bigger now were his Joys compleated he could hardly perswade himself but it was a Dream or Vision and that he did not really see English faces again nor imbrace English Bodies It was some time before he could throw himself at the Captains feet to acknowledge his infinite obligations to him When he came on board his Hair was very long and his Skin tawny having gone naked all the time he was there and frequently anointing himself with Palm Oyl he looked like a Tawny Moor But the Seamen aboard with Christian Hearts soon apparelled him The Master hoisted Sail for the Barbadoes where he was to stay some time but Wats earnestly desiring to see his Native Countrey got passage in the Katherine of London and by the Assistance of Heaven in a few Weeks safely arrived in the Downes and was entertained by his Uncle Mr. Richard Wats of Deal with great joy who took this Relation from his own mouth Sea Deliverances Pag. 73. 103. The unparalleld revolution in Portugal in the year 1641 is very worthy to be remembred whereby Philip the Second King of Spain lost that whole Kingdom as it were in one day with almost all the Islands Forts and Provinces thereunto belonging To give a particular account of this great Transaction it will be necessary to look a little back upon the Original causes and occasion thereof In the Year 1573. Sebastian Grandchild of King John the 3d. and Sixteenth King of Portugal Reigned in that Kingdom being about 23 years old Scarce was he well setled in his Throne having Reigned not above a year an half but Ambassadors from Muly Mahamet then turned out of his Kingdoms of Fesse and Morocco by his Uncle Abdemelech implored his Aid in the recovery of his Kingdom with promise That if he would assist him to drive out Abdemelech he would freely resign to Sebastian the Kingdom of Morocco and content himself with that of Fesse Ambition of Glory and Dominion makes Sebastian readily undertake the Enterprize sending to Philip of Spain for Assistance who promises him Ten Thousand men but sailed yet with the Forces that himself had levied he resolves couragiously to proceed To which by accident just as he was going he got some addition For Stukely an Englishman as he was going with a small Fleet of Ships and about Six Thousand Italian Souldiers to assist the Irish Rebels against Queen Elizabeth was by Tempest driven into Lisbon Whom King Sebastian with much intreaty perswades to desist from his intended design and accompany him into Barbary Thus set forth he arrives at Tangier with an Army of about Thirty Thousand men where he meets Muly Mahamet with a very small addition of Forces and much less than he expected yet he marches forward toward Abdemelech who by Letters in vain advised him to return in Peace The 2 Armies meet in the Plains of Alcazar where King Sebastian is utterly defeated himself Muly Mahamet Stukely and several persons of quality slain Three Kings fell in this field for Abdemelech was slain in the hottest of the fight This Battel was fought in August 1578 yet some have affirmed that Sebastian was not slain in this Battel but that for shame and sorrow he returned not home but wandring from one place to another was at last discovered at Venice and from thence by command of the King of Spain was carryed to Naples where he was kept three dayes in a dark and dismal Dungeon without any sustenance but a Knife and an Halter where he miserably dyed Whether this were the true Sebastian or not was not certainly known but he was so like him that the Spaniards used to say if it were not he it was the Devil in his likeness But however he being thus lost to the Portugals Henry the Cardinal third Son to Emanual the first who was Grandfather to Sebastian succeeded in the Kingdom but he being both by reason of his Age which was 67 years and his Function being a Churchman deprived of all means to give the people any hope of Issue it was the whole discourse not only of Portugal but all Christendom during the short time of his Reign who of right ought and who probably might succeed King Henry in the Kingdom There were several pretenders thereunto but Catherine Dutchess of Braganza and youngest Daughter to Don Edward sixth Son of Emanual aforementioned had the certain and undoubted Right yet Philip 2. King of Spain likewise made his claim though contrary to the Fundamental Laws of the Nation which Philip knew very well but having Power and Might on his side he little regarded Rights and Titles thinking them not strong enough against the infallible Arguments of Souldiers Arms and Money and therefore no sooner did the News of the death of King Henry arrive at the Spanish Court but the Duke of Alva was commanded with an Army of Twenty Thousand men to march to Lisbon and in the name and right of his Catholick Majesty to make conquest of that Kingdom if he found opposition But little resistance was made only Don Antonio the Bastard son of Lewes the Infante having got into Lisbon in the head of a Tumultuary Rabble rather than a well formed Army endeavoured at first to make some defence but was soon defeated and the Suburbs of Lisbon being plundered to satisfie the Souldiers the City was surrendred to him Whither soon after King Philip came and so by a mixt Title of Descent and Arms took possession of the Kingdom in 1580. Katherine Dutchess of Braganza being inforced to surrender to him all her
Interest and Pretensions to that Crown The Nobility and People of Portugal were without doubt extreamly amazed to see themselves so suddenly surprized and made subject to a Forreign Prince and especially to a Prince of that Nation against whom they had a natural hatred and antipathy but finding themselves in a condition not able to make resistance they thought they should gain more by freely submitting to the King than to be forced to it They therefore made their humble submission which King Philip met as it were half way and condescended in the Parliament or General Assembly of Estates of that Kingdom to be sworn to these Articles or Capitulations following 1. That the said Philip King of Spain c. Should observe all the Laws Liberties Priviledges and Customs granted to the People by the former Kings of Portugal 2. That the Vice King or Governour should be always the Son Brother Vncle or Nephew of the King or else a Native of Portugal 3. That all the Chief Officers in Church or State should be bestowed upon the Natives of Portugal and not upon strangers Likewise the Governments of all Towns and Places 4. That all Countreys now belonging to the Portugals should so continue to the Commodity and benefit of the Nation 5. That the Portugal Nation should be admitted to all Offices in the Kings House as well as the Spaniards 6. That because the King could not conveniently be always in Portugal he should send the Prince to be bred up amongst them These Articles were shut up or concluded with a Blessing upon such Kings as should observe and keep them and a curse on those who should break or violate them And some Authors likewise affirm that there was another clause added to them signifying That in case which God forbid the King which then was or his Successors should not observe this Agreement or should procure a Dispensation for this Oath the Three Estates of the Kingdom might freely deny subjection and obedience to the King without being Guilty either of Perjury or Treason Though these Articles were thus sworn to and the Cardinal Albertus Archduke of Austria Son to the Emperor and Nephew to the King of Spain appointed Vice-King of Portugal King Philip durst not yet in Person leave the Kingdom for he perceived by their Murmurs and visible discontents that their submission to him proceeded more out of Fear than Love and that as he had in a moment gained that Kingdom so he should as soon lose it if he gave them but the least opportunity For that the People were highly discontented it did easily appear by their Attentive listening after Old Prophecies among which was one of an Old Hermit who told Alphonso the First King of Portugal of the great Victory he should obtain over the five Kings of the Moors and That his Posterity should reign happily Kings of Portugal but that in the sixteenth Generation his Line should fail but that God at length should have mercy again upon them and restore them Others had regard to a Letter written by St. Bernard to the same King Alphonso the Original of which is reported to have been given to the Portugal Ambassador by Lewis 13 King of France in 1641 the substance whereof was That he rendred Thanks to him for the Lands bestowed upon him and that in recompence thereof God had declared unto him that there should not fail a Native of Portugal to sit upon the Throne unless for the greatness of their Sins God would chastise them for a time but that this time of Chastisement should not last above threescore years Other Prophesies there were of this Nature and to this Effect which put the People in hope of a Deliverance and many flattered themselves that Don Sebastian was yet alive and would come and deliver them nay so foolish were some of them that though they believed him slain at the Battle of Alcazer in Barbary yet they thought he should live again and miraculously come to Redeem them But that which most of all exprest the Peoples discontents was what was publickly spoken by the Mouths of their Orators the Priests in their Pulpits who would ordinarily in their Sermons utter Speeches much to the prejudice of the Spaniards Title and in Favour of the Dutchess of Braganza nor did they spare to do so even in the presence of King Philip himself who would therefore often say That the Portuguez Clergy had made the sharpest War with him Father Lewes Alvarez a Jesuit preaching one day before the Spanish Vice-Roy took his Text Surge attolle Grabatum tuum ambula Take up thy Bed and walk and turning himself to the Vice-Roy Sir said he the meaning of this is Arise take up your pack and be gone home But above all the discontents might be observed in the Noblemens Chappels especially in the Duke of Braganza's where they were used to sing the Lamentations of Jeremiah applying all the scorn and reproach of the Israelites to themselves as Aquam nostram pecunia bibimus We have drunken our water for money c. because of the Excise laid upon Wine and other necessaries by the Spaniards And that other Servi Dominati c. Servants have ruled over us c. And The Crown is fallen from our Heads Most commonly ending with this Prayer and Invocation Recordare Domine c. Remember O Lord what is come upon us consider and behold our Reproach Our Inheritance is turned to Strangers and our Houses to Aliens c. Yet did King Philip bear all these Affronts with an incomparable Patience dissembling with an Admirable Prudence his Passion if he had any for these discontents for he knew the only way to win this Nation to an Obedience and Compliance must be mildness at first whatever he intended to practice afterward and that he had by his exact keeping his Word and Oath won much upon this People appears in that during his whole Reign and that of his Successor King Philip the third who followed his Fathers Footsteps though not with that Craft and Dissimulation they made no Attempts nor were inclinable to revolt only some small bustles with Antonio the Bastard aforementioned and one or two Counterfeit Sebastians not worth mentioning for they as was said keeping their words in most things though they infringed some of their Priviledges had almost brought the People to a willing Slavery But King Philip the fourth committing the whole charge of the Government to his Favourite Count Olivarez who though without doubt an able Statesman yet would seem to have a way in Policy by himself which no body else could understand the reasons of and thereby lost this whole Kingdom and all its Territories For such were the new rigorous ways which he used in the Government of Catalonia and Portugal both People very tender of their Priviledges the least breach of which should have been seconded by a potent Force to have suppressed them in case they should attempt an Insurrection