Duke of Camino confessed their Guilt to avoid the Torture The Judges condemned the two last to be Beheaded and the rest to be Hang'd and Quarter'd and reserved the Sentence of the Church-men for the King The King summoned a Council immediately and told his Ministers he feared the Punishment of so many Persons of Rank tho' they were Guilty might have bad Consequences That the chief Conspirators being of several of the first Houses of the Kingdom their Kindred would be so many secret Enemies of the Government and the desire to revenge their Death would be the unhappy source of perpetual Plots That the Death of Count Egmont in Flanders and of the Guises in France had both fatal Consequences that to Pardon some and inflict a less severe Punishment than Death would win the Hearts of all Persons and oblige them their Relations and Friends to act by motives of Gratitude That however his private Opinion was for Mildness he had assembled them to have their sense and resolved to proceed as they judged best The Marquis de Ferrara was for having them Executed without delay He asserted with vehemence that a Prince on these Occasions ought to hear nothing but Justice that Mildness was dangerous and to pardon Criminals of this kind would be thought a Weakness in a Prince proceeding more from a Fear of their powerful Friends than a natural Goodness That Impunity would bring the present Government into Contempt and encourage their Friends to deliver them out of Prison and possibly to push Matters further That an Example of Severity was necessary upon his Accession to the Crown to deterr others from the like Attempt That this Offence was not only against the King's Person but against the State and a design to subvert the Government That he ought to consider more the Justice he owed his People than his Inclination to Clemency at a Time when the Preservation of his Person and the Publick Safety were inseparable All the Council being of the same Opinion the King yielded and the Sentence was executed the next Day The Archbishop of Lisbon interceeded for the Life of one of his Friends and sollicited the Queen with all the Assurance of a Man who thought nothing could be refused to his Services But the Queen who understood very well the necessity of impartial Justice how much a distinction of this Nature would exasperate the Friends of the rest only replied with a Tone which shewed her inflexible Resolution My Lord the greatest Favour I can grant you is to forget that you ever spoke to me of this Matter The King fearing to draw the Court of Rome on him and being willing to make use of the good Graces of the Holy Father that he might own him as King changed the Punishment of the Archbishop of Braga and the Grand Inquisitor into a perpetual Prison The Archbishop died of Grief because his design had miscarried The Vice-Queen was delivered to the Spaniards and the first Minister of Spain seeing clandestine ways unable to destroy the King of Portugal was resolved to attack him by open force But this too was still unsuccessful This Prince kept a considerable number of Troops on his Frontier commanded by the best Generals and composed of a great number of Foreign Officers and Voluntiers whom his Bounty had drawn into his Service Besides this he had the dexterity to make Pensioners in the very Council of Spain who served him effectually and disposed Matters so that those Generals who were ordered to attack Portugal were never in a Condition to attempt any thing considerable to its prejudice Thus he reigned seventeen Years the Delight of his Subjects and the Terror of Spain After his Death the Queen a Princess of Courage and great Skill in the Affairs of Government gloriously kept the Crown and Fortune for her Children She shone with full Splendor on the Throne during the whole time of her Regency and shewed all those Qualities in their brightest Lustre which made her one of the most Illustrious Princesses that ever reigned The Conduct and the Art of Government were her chiefest Care and her constant Study She applied her self with great assiduity to unmask the several Characters and guess by the most nice and fine outsides the most conceal'd Intentions and if at any time she happen'd to be deceiv'd she would trace the several Steps to find the Original Mistake By her extraordinary Diligence she had attain'd to great Skill and Judgment the Spanish * Ad haec politicas artes bonos malos Regiminis dolos dominationis arcana humani latibula ingenii non modo intelligere Mulier sed pertractare quoque provehere tam Naturâ quam Disciplinâ mirifice instructa fuit Caetan Passar de Bello Lusitan Historians as well as the Portugueze do her the Justice to own she could see the naked Hearts of her Courtiers tho' veiled with the most artful Dissimulation In short where there appear'd any thing Great or Glorious to attempt she wanted neither Courage to conquer all Difficulties or Wit to find means to obtain what she desired and there was nothing farther to be wished for in this matchless Woman except a more true Notion of real Greatness or higher Motives than Fame and Glory The Court of Spain thinking the Regency the most favourable opportunity to regain their lost Power in Portugal bent the force of their Arms on that Kingdom The Pensioners of the late King in the Councils of Madrid who had hitherto diverted the Storm were dead and the Regent had no way left but to prepare for War She obtain'd of the Princes her Allies the best Generals and the most experienced Officers The weight of Affairs did not make any Impression on her Her Capacity Wit and steady Courage were proof against all Adventures Nothing but the Throne she fill'd could have ever shewn the great Genius of this Princess wise in her Counsels impenetrable in her Designs rigid and inflexible in maintaining every Point of her just Authority The People had a great Affection to her Government Fear and Respect kept the Great Men of the Kingdom in a perfect Submission Never Troops were in better Condition or better Disciplin'd Her Orders were executed as punctually as if she had been at the Head of her Army in Person Every one knew Offences to the prejudice of the Queen's Affairs were never pardon'd All Men were diligent in doing their Duty She would know every thing read all Dispatches and nothing escaped her Care and Providence To conclude She put every thing in so good Order in the time of her Regency that King Alphonso her Son upon his entring into the Government found the Kingdom in a Condition to maintain a War against Spain with Advantage his Generals won great Battels and ever beat their Enemies so that some time after the Abdication of that Prince Spain wearied with so fruitless and expensive War was constrained to desire a Peace of Dom Pedro his Brother now reigning and own him Rightful King of Portugal and that Crown independant FINIS ERRATA PAge 4. line pen. dele then p. 6. for Moguel r. Miguel p. 11. after the Crown insert were not Criminal p. 16. for Ozono 1. Ozorio MEmoirs of the most Material Transactions in England for the last Hundred Years preceding the Revolution in 1688. By James Wellwood M. D. Physician in Ordinary to His Majesty and Fellow of the College of Physicians London Printed for Tim. Goodwin at the Queen's-Head against St. Dunstan's-Church in Fleet-street
THE HISTORY OF THE Revolution in Portugal In the Year 1640. Or An Account of their Revolt from Spain And setting the Crown on the Head of Don John of Braganza Father to Don Pedro the Present King and Catharine Queen Dowager of England Written in French by the excellent Pen of the Abbot Vertat Author of the History of the Revolution in Sweden And done into English LONDON Printed for Mat. Gilliflower Tim. Goodwin Mat. Wotton Rich. Parker and Benj. Tooke 1700. The Introduction AMong the Principal Events of this last Age none deserves our Attention more than the Revolt of Portugal in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred and Forty The Unanimity Zeal and Secrecy with which this Conspiracy was carried on for a long time between Persons of different Ages Sexes and Qualities the Ardour for recovering their Liberties which animated them to encounter Difficulties in appearance insuperable and lastly the compleat Success and the little Blood lost in the execution of this mighty Enterprize makes it truly admirable and surprising This small Fragment as it were torn from the general History of the Times was written in French not very long since as an Essay by the Abbot Vertat since Author of the History of the Revolutions of Sweden both which Pieces have been received with the Applause of the Publick The Materials out of which he has compiled this small Volume are for the most part * Portugal restaurado de Menezes Caet Passarel Lusitania reparata de Macedo Mercure Francois de Renandot Siry et Recueil de Relations extraordinaires Printed Accounts Journals Gazettes and the Relations of Persons who were at Lisbon when this Drama was acted Most of these are indeed ill enough writ but have receiv'd a new Life and Lustre since they have been touch'd by his Incomparable Pen. I might in this place commend the Vivacity Politeness and Fidelity with which this little Piece is writ but I shall rather chuse to give the Reader a view of the State of Affairs which lead to that Revolution which is the Subject of it Portugal was first erected in the Year 1139. into a Kingdom by Alphonso I. who after he had defeated the Moors refused to pay that Homage to Spain which his Father had done After him Alphonso III his Great Grandson had Algarva given him in Dowry with the Princess Beatrix Daughter to Alphonso the Tenth King of Castile which still gives a Title to the Heir Apparent of the Crown Thus Portugal continued an Independant Kingdom Governed by its own Princes till the Brave Sebastian unfortunately perished in the Battel of Alcazar Aug. 4. 1578. without leaving any Issue behind him The Cardinal Dom Henry his Great Uncle succeeded to the Throne whose Reign lasted but sixteen Months After his Death divers Princes and Princesses pretended to the Crown Catharine Dutchess of Braganza Philip the Second King of Spain the Duke of Parma the Duke of Savoy and Dom Antonio Grand Prior of Crete were all descended from Dom Emanuel Father of the Cardinal King but in different Degrees There was only the Dutchess of Braganza and the K. of Spain in the same Degree and nearest the Crown Catharine was Daughter to the Infant Edward and Philip was Son to the Empress Elizabeth both Children to Dom Emanuel The Grand Prior was only Natural Son to the Infant Dom Lewis Second Son of Dom Emanuel but his Party gave out there was a secret Marriage between that Prince and his Mother Catharine de Medicis Queen of France sent a Deputation to the States to represent her Title as descended from Alphonso III. King of Portugal and Maud Countess of Bolonia The Pope too put in and drew an Advantage from King Henry's dying a Cardinal but all these Pretensions were little considered All were agreed and the most able Lawyers had determined that the apparent Right was in the Dutchess of Braganza not only because the Laws of the Kingdom exclude Foreigners from succeeding to the Crown but likewise by the Right of Lineal Descent as Daughter of the Infant Edward whose Title could not be disputed by the Empress Elizabeth his Sister Mother to the King of Spain And doubtless this Dutchess would have been acknowledged as Queen of Portugal had she had the Power necessary to assert her Rightful Pretensions THE HISTORY OF THE Revolution IN PORTUGAL In the Year 1640. THE Spaniards had been near * Since the Year 1581. Threescore Years in Possession of the Crown of Portugal Philip the Second King of Spain after the Death of Henry Cardinal-King had forced it from the House of Braganza by the help of a Formidable Army the best Argument to support a bad Title This Kingdom was by degrees become a Province of Spain and the Portuguese seem'd for ever to despair of shaking off their Chains The Great Men did not dare to appear in a Splendor suitable to their Rank or demand a due Respect for fear of raising Jealousies in the Spanish Ministers at a time when the Consideration of a man's Wealth Family or Merit were enough to render him suspected and expose him to ill Usage The Gentry were banish'd to their Country Seats and the People oppress'd with Excessive Taxes It was a Maxim with the Conde Duke d' Olivarez First Minister to Philip the Fourth King of Spain That New Conquests ought to be exhausted He knew very well the Ancient and Natural Antipathy of these Neighbouring Nations must needs render the Spanish Government hateful to the Portuguese and that Nation could never tamely see all Places in the State fill'd with Strangers or Fellows of mean Extraction whose only Merit was their entire Devotion to the Court. For this Reason he thought the best way to establish his Master's Power was To exclude the Nobility and Gentry from all Employs and Publick Trust and by insensibly impoverishing the People to leave them incapable of attempting any Alteration in the State Besides this He judged it necessary to drain the Kingdom of the Flower of their Youth and the best who could bear Arms and to employ them in Foreign Wars to prevent such Dangerous People from disturbing the Repose of the Government This Conduct which possibly might have succeeded if it had been carried to a certain pitch being strained too high had a quite contrary effect which proceeded partly from the Distress in which the Court was at that time and partly from the Temper then of the First Minister naturally stiff and inflexible They began now to disregard all Measures with Portugal disdaining to use the ordinary Pretences for raising Money on a People In short they seem'd more to exact a Contribution in an Enemy's Country than a just Imposition on Subjects The Portuguese having nothing more to lose and despairing to see an end or mitigation of their Misery as long as they continued in their present condition began now to think of freeing themselves from the Severity of their cruel Masters which they had ever esteem'd Usurpers
all possible Magnificence The Duke d'Aveiro the Marquess d' Villareal the Duke de Camino his Son the Count de Monsano and the rest of the Great Men of the Kingdom assisted at the Solemnity The Archbishop of Lisbon at the Head of his Clergy accompanied by several Bishops received him at the Gate of the Cathedral and he was solemnly acknowledged as King of Portugal by all the States of the Kingdom who took the Oath of Fidelity to him A few Days after the Queen arrived with a numerous Train The whole Court went a great way out of Town to meet her The Officers who were appointed to compose her Houshold were gone before and the King himself went out of Lisbon to receive her This Prince omitted no Magnificence which might become his new Dignity or might give the World a Mark how much he thought she contributed to place the Crown on his Head It was remarkable that in so great a Change she was not in the least embarass'd but supported her new Character with so much Grace and Majesty that she seemed born in a Throne Thus was that great Enterprize happily finished which may be accounted a Miracle considering the vast number and different Characters of Persons entrusted with the Secret No Cement could ever have made so firm an Union but that Hatred to the Spanish Government an Antipathy as ancient as the Monarchy it self arising from the perpetual Wars frequent between Neighbouring States and after fomented by the Concurrence of both Nations in discovering the Indies and their Difference in matters of Trade The News of the Revolt was soon brought to the Court of Spain The Minister was enraged to find all his Measures broken and so fair a Kingdom lost beyond all hopes of retrieving The King his Master had no occasion for new Business He found Difficulties enough to defend himself against the united Arms of France and Holland but above all the Revolt in Catalonia was of dangerous Consequence and created in his Mind a thousand anxious Cares All the Court knew how Things went and the King was the only Man who remained ignorant and no one dared inform him dreading the Displeasure of the Minister who would never have pardoned an Offence of this Nature At last this Affair making too much noise to be concealed any longer the Conde Duke fearing some of his Enemies should attempt to relate the Matter to his Disadvantage resolved to disclose it to the King But knowing the Temper of that Prince he thought to give this such a Turn that he should not know the extent of his Loss and for this end coming to him with a seeming Openness and Assurance Sir says he I bring your Majesty a piece of good News Your Majesty is just now become Master of a fair Dutchy and a large Estate How so replied the King all surprized I shall explain my self says the Minister the Duke of Braganza has been lately Giddy and suffered himself to be seduced by the Populace and proclaimed King of Portugal By this Act all his Estate is Confiscated and Your Majesty may reunite it to Your Revenue and by the Extinction of that Family enjoy that Kingdom without fearing any Disturbance for the future Notwithstanding this Prince was a very weak Man he was not so dazled with these magnificent Hopes but he saw this was no easie matter But not daring to see with other Eyes than those of his Minister he only replied coldly That he hoped he would use all Diligence to suppress this Rebellion which if let alone might have dangerous Consequences The King of Portugal neglected nothing which might establish his new Greatness Immediately after his arrival at Lisbon he named for Governours of the Frontier Places Men of the most approved Valour Fidelity and Experience all which had Orders to depart strait with all the Soldiers they could get together and to use all possible Diligence to put their several Forts in a Posture of Defence He delivered out Commissions for raising Men and immediately after his Cororonation called a Convention of the States of the Kingdom In this Assembly to prevent all Doubts he caused his Title to be examined and by a solemn Act was acknowledged to be the True and Rightful King of Portugal as descended by the Princess his Mother from the Infant Edward Son to King Emanuel to the Exclusion of the King of Spain who was descended from the same King by a Daughter who farther was by the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom disabled by being married to a Foreign Prince He declared to this General Assembly of the States that he would content himself with his Patrimonial Estate for the support of his Houshold and would reserve the Royal Revenue for the Necessities of the Kingdom and to make the People relish the sweetness of his Government he abolished all Imposts which the Spaniards had laid on them He filled all the most considerable Posts and Employs in the State with those Conspirators which had shewn the greatest Ardour in this Revolution Pinto had no share in this Promotion the Prince not thinking his Authority well enough settled to place one of his Domesticks of a mean Extraction in any principal Place Notwithstanding this his Power with the King and People was not less and without the Title of a Minister or Secretary of State he performed the Office by the great Confidence the King had in him Having thus given all the good Orders imaginable within the Kingdom he bent his Thoughts next to Foreign Princes He dispatched able Embassadors to procure himself to be owned to make Alliances and raise new Enemies to the House of Austria He made a League Offensive and Defensive with the Hollanders and Catalonians and obtained assurance of the Protection of France The King of Spain discovered his Weakness by attempting nothing considerable on the Frontiers of Portugal all the Campaign probably because the Revolt in Catalonia employed all his Strength All his Attempts were unsuccessful and his Troops still came off with disadvantage Some time after News came that Goa and other Places under the Dominion of the Portuguese in the Indies Africk and Peru had followed the general Revolution of the Kingdom every thing seemed to promise the King of Portugal a Series of Success and a Kingdom quiet at Home and Victorious abroad But observe the uncertainty of Human Greatness how this Prince in the midst of his Prosperities and the caresses of Fortune was upon the Point of perishing and losing at once his Life and Crown by a horrid Conspiracy silently formed in Lisbon within the Walls of his own Court The Archbishop of Braga was as I related before wholly devoted to the Court of Spain and one of their Ministers in Portugal He plainly saw he could never hope to be restored till the Spanish Government should be re-established besides he was afraid the King who seemed at first to have some respect to his Character in forbearing to seize him with
be upon pretence of being driven in by Stress of Weather and then to invite him to some Entertainment and when he was Aboard to bring him into Spain But Fate order'd Matters quite otherwise and the Spanish Admiral being surpriz'd with a Tempest lost several of his Ships and the rest were so dispers'd that he could not Land with them in Portugal The ill Success of this Project did not dismay the Conde Duke he imputed the Duke of Braganza's Escape wholly to Chance and Fortune concluding That all things must necessarily have answer'd his Desires if Dom Lopez had arriv'd in the Ports of that Kingdom according to his Instructions And therefore he invents a new Trick and writes to that Prince in the most obliging manner he could imagine filling his Letter with the highest Expressions of Confidence as if he had been a Partner with himself in the Ministry and Government In this Letter he complains of the Misfortune of the Fleet and how sensible he was of the Loss they had sustain'd at a Time when the Enemies were so Formidable at Sea That being unhappily depriv'd of the Naval Strength which should have guarded their Coasts the King wish'd he would take an exact Review of all the Forts and Harbours of that Kingdom which might he expos'd to the Insults of the French And with this he sent an Order for Forty Thousand Ducats for the defraying his Expences and raising more Forces in case it should be needful At the same time the Governours of the Citadels most of which were Spaniards had secret Orders sent to secure his Person when a favourable Occasion should present and send him into Spain The Duke of Braganza reflecting on these high Marks of Confidence and how little agreeable this was to the usual Conduct of that Minister began to suspect the Sincerity of his Intentions which in the end caus'd the Author to fall into that Snare which he laid for another The Prince therefore writes back to assure him That He accepted with abundance of Joy the Command which the King had given him That He hoped by his Application and Zeal for his Service he should justify his Choice and shew himself worthy of the Favour he had so graciously conferr'd on him And now having a nearer Prospect than before of remounting the Throne of his Ancestors he made use of all the Power he was invested with to put his Friends into all Posts and Employs where they might one day be useful to him He expended the Spanish Moneys in making of New Creatures and when he visited the Forts it was always with a great Attendance which made them despair of seizing his Person The whole Court of Spain began to murmur that a Trust of so high a nature should be lodg'd in him the King only being privy to the Reasons of this Conduct Every one began to rail at the Conde Duke as Allied to the House of Braganza urging That it was the last Imprudence to make a Person General of the Forces in Portugal who had so great Pretensions to the Crown of that Kingdom That this was in effect to put him in a condition to assert his Title and turn his Arms against his Lawful Soveraign This serv'd only to confirm the King in his Resolution who approv'd the Design better when he found the People did not discern the Secret of it In the mean time the Duke of Braganza by virtue of his new Employment travers'd all Parts of Portugal in which Progress he laid the Foundations of his Restoration His Equipage was Magnificent and drew the Eyes of the People where-ever he came He heard all who came to him with great Mildness and Sweetness of Temper He kept the Soldiers from committing the least Disorder frequently extoll'd the Officers winning them by all the Recompences which were in his Power to bestow His free Deportment charm'd the Nobility all whom he receiv'd with obliging Distinctions according to their Merit and Quality In short he dispensed his Favours where-ever he came and won more by Hopes of future Benefits than present and all who were about him began to esteem it the greatest Happiness could befal them that so noble a Prince should be restor'd to the Throne The Party who adhered to his Interest omitted nothing which might conduce to establish his Reputation Among these none labour'd more effectually than Pinto Ribeuro Comptroller of his Houshold to set all Machines on work and form a Scheme for the Advancement of his Master This Man had all the Qualities proper for a Business of this nature He was Active Vigilant had great Experience in Business and a violent Passion for the Restoration of the Duke doubtless flattering himself with the Hopes of having a large share in the Ministry whenever he should bring this to pass The Prince had in private assur'd him That he would lay hold of any Fair occasion to place himself in the Throne but was resolv'd not to hazard this at all Adventures as a Man who had nothing to lose that he might manage the People and Gain as many Creatures as he could provided himself did not appear to have any share in what he did Pinto had for a long time labour'd with great Industry to observe who were disaffected and to encrease the Number For this purpose he privately rais'd Murmurs against the present Government sometimes railing against the Government with a great deal of Warmth at other times with more Reserve according to the Character or Humour of the Persons he was with He would frequently remind People of Quality of the Honourable Posts their Families had formerly enjoy'd when Portugal was govern'd by its Natural Princes But nothing exasperated the Nobility more than the Summons which the King had sent them to attend him into Catalonia Pinto inveighed against this Expedition representing it as a sort of Banishment urging That they must not hope to return without great difficulties That besides a vast Expence they must endure the hateful Insolence of the Spaniards That The Court of Spain had a private Interest to destroy the Bravest Men or expose them in all Places where there was most Danger and least Glory to be obtain'd If he happened to be among Citizens or Merchants he exclaim'd against the Injustice of the Spaniards who had ruin'd Lisbon and the whole Country of Portugal by transferring the Trade of the Indies to Cadiz he entertain'd them with nothing else but Discourses of the extreme Misery they were reduc'd to by so Tyrannical a Government extolling the Hollanders and Catalonians who had nobly deliver'd themselves In the last place he suggested to the Clergy how they had violated the Privileges and Immunities of the Church That the most considerable Dignities and Benefices which ought to be a Recompence to the Merit and Capacity af the Portuguese were bcome a Prey to Foreigners In Company of those whom he knew to be disaffected he would ever turn his Discourse to his Master's Humour and
Head and that to engage him in an Affair of this nature they must offer him the Crown whose Right was indubitable as being the first Prince of the Blood From thence he pass'd to his good Qualities extolling his Prudence Wisdom and especially the sweetness of his Temper and his obliging Behaviour In short he gave so happy a Turn to this Matter they all declar'd for him as their King and agreed That nothing should be wanting that could engage him in this Design Thus the Company broke up having first agreed on the Time and Place where they should meet again to consider of the best Means to bring the Matter to a speedy and successful Issue Pinto seeing them thus dispos'd in Favour of his Master writ privately to him to come into the Neighbourhood of Lisbon for the encouraging the Conspirators by his Presence and taking precise Measures with them for the Execution of that Design This crafty Man put in Motion all the Wheels in that Affair without appearing to be any farther concern'd than a private Person acted by a Zeal for the Publick Service He seem'd to doubt whether his Master would enter into it upon the Account of his Natural Aversion to all Hazardous Undertakings which require Application and Attendance He started some Difficulties which serv'd only to remove all Suspicion of any Understanding between him and his Master and yet were such as tended rather to excite their Ardour than discourage them Upon the Advice which Pinto gave the Duke some Days after left Villa-viciosa and came to Almada a Castle near Lisbon under Colour of Visiting the Forts of that Kingdom His Equipage was very Magnificent and he had a vast Train compos'd of Men of Quality and Officers of the Army which more resembl'd a King taking Possession of his Kingdom than of a Governour of a Province visiting the Places under his Care and Inspection Being near Lisbon he could not dispense with paying his Duty to the Vice-Queen When he enter'd the Great Court of the Palace all the Avenues were fill'd with an infinite number of People who crowded to see him pass along and most of the Nobility came to his House to wait on him It was a general Holy-day throughout the Town and all People were overjoy'd to see him there seem'd only to want a Herald to proclaim him King or Resolution enough in himself to put the Crown on his Head But this Prince was too wise and had too much Experience to trust so important a Concern to the Sallies of a fickle and inconstant Multitude He very well understood the vast difference between those vain Shouts which the People soon quit and those steddy Motions which are necessary to support an Enterprize of that nature Thus after he had taken his Leave of the Vice-Queen he retir'd to Almada without going to Braganza-House or passing through the City to prevent making the Spaniards uneasy who were already too much alarm'd at the Transports of the People Pinto did not fail to observe to his Friends the Fear and Caution which his Master us'd urging That they ought to improve the opportunity of his stay at Almada to break the Matter to him and use some sort of Violence to engage him to accept of the Crown which was at this time absolutely necessary for the publick Good The Conspirators approving this Advice appointed him to obtain of his Master some favourable Occasion for making this Proposition He accepted this Commission without much difficulty and the Duke of Braganza agreed to an Interview on condition that only Three of the Conspirators should meet him not judging it proper to explain himself to more So Miguel d' Almeida Antonio d' Almada and Mendoza came to him that Night and being introduc'd privately into his Closet d' Almada who spoke for the rest made a lively Representation of the unhappy State of that Kingdom where persons of all Conditions were expos'd to the Injustice and Cruelty of the Castillians adding That himself with all his Greatness was not secure from their Attempts That He was too discerning a person not to observe the Industry which the prime Minister us'd to destroy him That there was no other Refuge to escape his ill designs except the Throne That in order to put him into that he had Commission to offer him the Services of a considerable Number of Persons of Rank who would sacrifice their Lives and Fortunes with pleasure for his Interests and to deliver their Country from its insolent Masters In the next place he told him The Time of Charles the Fifth and Philip the Second were past when the Spaniards were the Terror of Europe and gave Laws to their Neighbours That this Monarchy which had formerly conceiv'd such vast Designs could now scarce preserve her ancient Territory was attack'd and often beat by the French and Hollanders That Catalonia alone employ'd her utmost Strength That she was destitute of Troops and Money and govern'd by a weak Prince who himself was govern'd by a Minister hateful to the Kingdom He wish'd him to consider the Alliance and Protection which he might expect from those Princes in Europe who were Eternal Enemies to the House of Austria That Holland and Catalonia shew'd what Assistance he might expect from a great Minister * The Cardinal Richelieu whose mighty Genius seem'd bent to ruin that House That the Sea open'd a way for receiving all necessary Supplies In short That the Kingdom being empried of the Castillian Garisons which the King had been forc'd to draw out of Portugal to encrease his Army in Catalonia he could never hope for a more fovourable Juncture to assert his Right and free his Country from Tyranny and Slavery It may easily be thought this Discourse was very well relish'd by the Duke of Braganza but he with that Coldness which was natural to him so order'd the Expressions of his Reply to the Deputies that he seem'd neither to lessen or encrease their Hopes He told them That he was of their Opinion That the Spaniards had reduc'd the Kingdom to a Deplorable State That Himself was not exempt from Danger That he could never enough commend their Zeal for their Country And that he was in particular very much oblig'd to them for the favourable Regard they had to his Interest but after all he doubted if the Time was yet come to think of such violent Remedies as they propos'd which always had very bad consequences if the Event did not fall out as was projected To this Answer for a more positive one he would not give he added so many Caresses and obliging Thanks to each Man in particular that they went away satisfy'd their Message was well Receiv'd but that they must expect the Prince would make no more Advances in the Matter than by giving his Consent when Things should be in a Condition to put the Success out of doubt After the Deputies were gone he agreed with Pinto what new Measures were best to be
great Address and Fidelity to Madrid to assure the Minister he would suddenly attend the King To this Man he gave secret Instructions to invent from Time to Time different Pretences to excuse his Delay hoping to prevent the Storm by bringing the Conspiracy to ripeness As soon as this Gentleman was at Madrid he assur'd the King and First Minister that his Master follow'd him He took a great House which he furnish'd very richly and retain'd a great Number of Servants giving them Liveries by way of Advance laying out very considerable Sums of Money every day In short he omitted nothing to make them believe the Prince would come immediately and appear at Court in all the Splendor becoming a Person of his Rank Some few Days after he feign'd to have receiv'd Advice That he was very ill At last finding this would not hold longer he presented a Memorial to the First Minister praying in the Name of the Duke his Master the King would assign his Precedence in the Court. He thought this would take up some time to adjust and meet with Opposition from the Great Men who would intervene to maintain their Rights But the Minister who began to suspect these Delays soon remov'd all Difficulties and engag'd the King to declare in his Favour in every point for his Honour so desirous he was to draw him out of Portugal and see him at Madrid The Conspirators no sooner understood the Orders which the Duke had receiv'd from the Court but fearing he should obey them they sent Mendoza to confirm him and engage him more strictly to their Party They made choice of this Gentleman because being Governor of a Place near Villa-viciosa the pretence of going to his Government covered the secret Intention of this Journey from the Spaniards He took an opportunity of meeting that Prince a Hunting They struck into the Wood and stopping in a private place Mendoza laid before him the Danger which he expos'd himself to by going to Court That he would absolutely ruin the Hopes of the Nobility and People by putting himself with too rash a confidence into the Hands of his Enemies That there were a great Number of well-qualified Gentlemen who were resolv'd to sacrifice their Lives and Fortunes for his Service That they only expected notice from him when they should appear That the Critical minute was now come when he must chuse either to dye or wear a Crown That it was Hazardous to make any further Delays and he must not doubt an Affair of so great Importance which was entrusted in so many Hands must needs at length come to the Knowledge of the Spaniards The Duke reply'd That he was of his mind and that he might assure his Friends that he was resolv'd to put himself at their Head Mendoza return'd Post to Lisbon acquainted his Friends with the Success of his Voyage and that the Prince desir'd Pinto might come to him Him they sent away instantly with necessary Instructions to inform the Duke of the Scheme and Ways by which they intended to put their Project in Execution When Pinto came he acquainted him in what Confusion the Court at Lisbon was the Vice-Queen made high Complaints of the Insolence and Pride of Vasconcellos That she could not any longer endure that all the Dispatches from Spain should be Address'd to him while she being invested with a glittering Title had no real Authority This Complaint was the more to be regarded because That Princess was a Person of great Merit and every way capable of Discharging the Extent of her Trust but indeed the Greatness of her Genius and her other good Qualities were the principal Reason why she had so inconsiderable a share in the Government allow'd her Pinto observ'd to his Master how much this misunderstanding favour'd his Designs and that he could not lay hold of a fairer occasion than these Divisions at Court which would not give the Spanish Ministers leave to observe the Steps he should take The Duke who perceiv'd the Strength of his Reasons found himself likewise press'd by that Gentleman whom he sent to Madrid He receiv'd Letters from him every Day assuring him That he could not find new Colours for his Absence or delude the Minister who would not any longer hear his Excuses Thus seeing he had no Time to lose he resolv'd to rise without delay And now to gain Time for the disposing his Affairs he commanded his Agent to represent to the Conde Duke d'Olivarez That he should have been at Madrid before that time if he had had Money enough to bear the Expences of his Journey and enable him to make a Figure suitable to his Quality and Character and that as soon as he could raise the necessary Funds he would instantly come away for the Court. When he had sent the Dispatch he took Pinto with him into the Duchesses Apartment to consider of the most proper means to put their Design in execution And after some Debate the Duke resolv'd on this That it was necessary to secure Lisbon which being the Capital was the Spring which mov'd the whole Kingdom That on the same Day that City should declare for him he would cause himself to be proclaim'd King of Portugal in all the Cities of his Dependance That those of his Friends who were Governors of Forts should do the same in all Places where they Commanded and the Conspirators should raise the People in all the Towns and Villages which belong'd to them that so this General Insurrection diffusing it self like a Conflagration through every part of the Kingdom the Spaniards might not know whither to bend their Arms That he would fling his own Regiment into the Town of Elvas the Governor of which was at his Devotion That as for the manner of seizing Lisbon he could not prescribe any thing that Action depending wholly on the Time and other Circumstances when they should attempt it That however he was of the Opinion they ought to make their first Attacks on the Palace and secure the Person of the Vice-Queen and the rest of the Spaniards who might serve as Hostages for the Surrender of the Citadel which otherwise might very much incommode the Town after they were Masters of it He gave two Letters of Credence one to d'Almeida and the other to Mendoza in which he signify'd to them That he had entrusted the Bearer with his Intentions He only added That he hop'd they would be Faithful to the Assurances they had given him and act with Courage and Vigour in the Work they were about to undertake After this the Duke sent Pinto to Lisbon having first given him the highest Marks of Confidence he should enjoy the same Place in his Affection after a Revolution that he now had As soon as he came to Lisbon he deliver'd his Letters to d' Almeida and Mendoza who sent immediately to Le Mos and Coreé whom Pinto had formerly brought over to his Master's Interest These were two Rich Citizens
the Town The Princess left the Palace as soon as she received this Message but with a haughty Air not speaking one word and past thro' the City thither And now far from a Crowd of Courtiers attending her she had scarce any of her Domestick Servants with her only the Archbishop of Braga steady to her Interests gave her publick Marks of it on this Occasion at a time when he could not do it without an apparent hazard of his Life In the mean time the Duke of Braganza endured great Convulsions of Mind reflecting on his uncertain Destiny and at once his Breast was fill'd with all the various Images with which Hope can flatter or Fear torment a doubtful Mind The distance of Villa Viciosa which is thirty Leagues from Lisbon prevented his being informed of what passed so soon as he earnestly wished All he knew was that his Life and Fortune lay at Stake and that Critical Minute must decide his Fate He had resolved at first as was noted above to raise all the Cities under his Dependencies but after he judged it better to expect News from Lisbon and act his Part conformably to what should pass there There only remained the Kingdom of Algarba and the City and Citadel of Elvas which he could retire to if Success fail'd in the Capital City and if the Plot should miscarry he thought he should easily excuse himself from having a share in it at a Time when the Spaniards would be glad to have him Innocent He had planted several Couriers on the Road to Lisbon and tho' he expected News every Hour he had past the whole Day and a great part of the Night in disturbance till at length Mendoza and Mello with extream diligence arrived at Villa Viciosa They threw themselves instantly at the Prince's Feet and by this respectuous Action and the Joy which shone in their Face they discover'd to him sooner than they could by any Expressions that he was King of Portugal They would have given him an exact Account of the Success of their Enterprize but the Prince without giving them Time to enter into the particulars of this Affair conducted them with some Impatience into the Dutchesses Apartment These two Lords complimented her in the same manner as if she had already been upon the Throne and assured her of the Hearty Wishes of her Subjects and as a Mark they own'd her for their Sovereign they treated her with the Title of Her Majesty which was the more agreeable since the Kings of Portugal before that Time had only taken that of Highness It is easie to judge how mighty was the Joy of the Prince and Princess if we reflect on the great uneasiness they were freed from and the high Station they were raised to The Castle resounded with Acclamations and the News spread it self every where in a Moment And the same Day he was proclaimed King of Portugal in all the Cities of his Dependances Alphonso de Mello did as much in the City of Elvas whole Crowds came in to pay their Duty to their new King and probably these first Homages tho' paid in a confused and disorderly manner did not less please that Prince than those after on a Publick Day of Ceremony The King set forward for Lisbon with the same Equipage which seem'd design'd for the Court of Spain He was accompanied by the Marquess de Ferrara his Kinsman the Count de Vimiosa and a great number of Persons of Quality which met him there He left the Queen his Wife at Villa Viciosa to keep the Province firm to his Obedience He found the Ways lined on both sides with an infinite number of People which flocked to see him and had the pleasure to hear the Shouts of the People wishing his Prosperity and loading the Spaniards with all the Curses they could invent The whole Body of the Nobility the Great Officers of the Crown and the first Magistrates went out in several Bodies to receive him at a great distance from Lisbon and he enter'd the City amidst the Acclamations and Applause of the People follow'd by a numerous and magnificent Court fill'd with Joy At Night were several Fire-works in divers publick Places of the Town Each Citizen had one before his Door and the Windows shone with an infinity of Candles and Flambeaux that the whole City seemed one Flame which made a Spaniard say That Prince was very Fortunate to gain so fair a Kingdom for a Bonefire The Insurrection at Lisbon was instantly followed by the General Revolt of the whole Kingdom and the Revolution was so speedy and general that each City seemed to have a Plot ripe for Execution after the Example of their Capital Couriers arrived hourly with Advice that Cities and entire Provinces had expelled the Spaniards and submitted to the King The Governours of the other Places had not more Resolution than him of Lisbon and either for want of Troops or other Warlike Provisions or for want of Courage they went off shamefully and for the most part without once Firing Every one feared the Fate of Vasconcellos and nothing appeared so terrible as an enraged Multitude In short they fled like so many Criminals escaped out of Prison and not one Spaniard was to be seen in the whole Kingdom except those who were detained and all this in less than a Fortnight's Time Dom Fernand de la Cueva Governor of the Citadel of Sir Juan at the Mouth of the Tago was the only Person who made some resistance and pretended to keep the Place for the King his Master This Garrison composed only of Spaniards and commanded by brave Officers made a vigorous Opposition upon the first Approaches of the Portugueses To reduce this Place they thought it necessary to Besiege it in Form and for this purpose brought their Canon down from Lisbon the Trenches were opened and they made their Advances as far as the Counterscarp notwithstanding the continual Fire and frequent Sallies of the Besieged but a Treaty being the safest and shortest way to gain the Place the King in fine made the Governour such advantageous Offers that he had not Power to stand out any longer He was dazled with the great Summs offered and having a Commend of the Order of Christ which the King promised to conferr on him In short the Articles were agreed on and the Place Surrendred notwithstanding the endeavours of the Officers to the contrary who refused to Sign the Capitulation Of this number was Dom Rodrigo de Cha lon a young Gentleman of Andalusia of great Valour who commanded a Spanish Terce in that Place and offered to hold out three Weeks longer till they should receive Aid from Spain which they had Intelligence were put to Sea under the Command of the Duke of Maqueda The King thought it best not to deferr his Coronation any longer to confirm his Authority and render his Person more August to the People The Ceremony was observed on the 15th of December with
time secure the Queen and the young Princes just as the Princess of Mantua had before been as Hostages for the Surrender of the Citadel That Preparations should be made to fire those Vessels which were in Harbour That the Archbishop and the Grand Inquisitor with all his Officers should march thro' the City to appease the People and prevent any Commotion by the dread of the Inquisition And that the Marquess de Villareal should take upon him the Government till farther Orders should arrive from Spain But having no Assurance the People would declare for them they needed Troops to support this Action To this end it was agreed to sollicit the Conde Duke to send a considerable Fleet on the Coasts to be ready to enter the Harbour at the Moment the Conspiracy should be put in Action That upon the first notice of the Success he should give Orders to all the Troops on the Frontiers to march directly to Lisbon to make Head against all Opposition But the Conspirators found great difficulty in settling this necessary Correspondence with the Prime Minister Assoon as the King was informed the Vice-Queen had writ to Madrid he had placed so strict a Guard on the Frontiers that no Person could go out of the Kingdom without his express Leave and it was not judged safe to corrupt the Guards for fear they should prove Treacherous and deliver the Letters up or disclose the Practices used to corrupt them At length being prest with the necessity of acquainting the Spanish Minister with their Intentions without which all the Measures they should take would be vain and doubtful what way to effect this they cast their Eyes on a Rich Merchant of Lisbon who was Treasurer of the Douane who upon the Account of his great Dealings in several Parts of Europe had a Permission to write into Castile This Man named Baeze made a Publick Profession of the Christian Religion but was one of those whom the Portuguese call New Christians who are suspected to observe in Private the Jewish Rites They offer'd him a very great Sum of Money to engage in this Affair This joyn'd with the Importunity of the Jews who were in the secret of this Conspiracy determined him he accepted their Offers and undertook to have their Letters deliver'd to the Conde Duke d' Olivarez He addressed his Packet to the Marquess d' Aiamonte Governor of the first Frontier Place in Spain not doubting they were safe as soon as out of the Dominion of Portugal This Marquess who had a private Interest in the Affairs of Portugal being nearly Allied to the Queen surprized to find Letters with the great Seal of the Inquisition affixed to them and addressed to the First Minister of Spain instantly open'd them fearing they might contain some Particulars of his Private Correspondence with the King and Queen of Portugal notwithstanding the late Revolution but found in them to his no small Amazement the Project and Plan of a Conspiracy which was ripe for Execution and aimed to destroy him and the whole Royal Family He sent the Packet back to the King of Portugal His surprize was unspeakable to find upon opening the Letters that Princes nearly Allied to him an Archbishop and several of the Chief Men in his Court who shewed the greatest Joy at his Elevation should so soon Conspire to deprive him at once of his Life and Crown He summoned a Council privately and some Days after acted according to the Resolutions then taken The Fifth of August was the Day when the Plot was to be put in execution about Eleven a Clock at Night the Particulars of which were set down in the intercepted Papers The same Day the King ordered all the Troops quarter'd in the Neighbouring Villages to march into Lisbon under a Pretence of a General Review in the great Court of the Palace He gave privately with his own Hand several Billets sealed to those about him in whom he most confided with strict Orders not to open them till Noon and then to execute punctually the Orders contained in them In the next place taking the Archbishop and the Marquis de Villareal into his Closet under pretence of Communicating some Business to them he secured them without noise about Noon and a Captain of the Guards seized on the Duke of Camino in the Great Square Those who received the Billets opening them found Orders to seize some of the Conspirators and commit them to such and such Prisons and to set a Guard on them till farther Orders These Measures were so well taken and so punctually executed that in less than an Hours time the whole Forty seven were seized no one having Notice to make his escape The noise of this Plot being spread thro' the Town the People flocked to the Palace in great Crowds demanding the Traytors to be delivered to them Tho' the King was pleased to see the Affection of his New Subjects yet this unusual Concourse made him a little uneasie He feared these popular Tumults might grow frequent which he look'd on as no better than Seditious Assemblies So having thanked the People for their Concern for his Person and assured them Justice should be done he ordered the Magistrates to disperse them However lest the Heat of the People should abate who easily pass from the most violent Fury and Rage to Sentiments of Pity and Compassion this Prince gave out the Conspirators had a Design to Assassinate him and the whole Royal Family to set the City on Fire and seize what escaped the Flames as their Plunder And to prevent all Conspiracies for the future and to discharge their Vengeance they had resolved to People the Town with a Colony of Spaniards and to send the Citizens to the Mines in America and bury them alive in that Abyss which had swallowed a World of People In the next place he appointed Judges out of the Supreme Court of Judicature for the Tryal of the Conspirators to these he added two of the Grandees of the Kingdom upon the Account of the Archbishop of Braga the Marquess of Villareal and the Duke of Camino The King ordered the Commissioners not to make use of the Letters which he put into their Hands if they could Convict the Plotters without them for fear the Court of Spain should come to know by what means they came to fall into his Hands But there was no need to employ them to discover the Truth Baeze contradicted himself in almost all the Questions which were put to him and this Wretch on the first Torture confess'd his Guilt and disclosed the whole Plan of the Conspiracy He owned they had a Design to kill the King that the Office of the Inquisition was full of Arms and they only waited the Conde Duke's Answer for the Execution of their Designs Most part of the other Plotters being put to the Question their Depositions were agreeable to those of the Jew The Archbishop the Grand Inquisitor the Marquis de Villareal and the