Possession of the New World for the Kings of Spain Octob. 11. 1492. Afterwards he discovered and took Possession of Hispaniola and with much Treasure and Content returned to Spain and was preferred by the King for this good Service first to be Admiral of the Indies and in conclusion to the Title of the Duke De la Vega in the Island of Jamaica The next year he was furnished with 18 Ships for further Discovery in this second Voyage he discovered the Islands of Cuba and Jamaica and built the Town of Isabella after called Domingo in Hispaniola from whence for some severities used against the mutinous Spaniards he was sent Prisoner to Castile but very honourably entertained and cleared from all Crimes imputed to him In 1497. he began his Third Voyage in which he discovered the Countries of Paria and Cumana on the firm Land with the Islands of Cubagna and Margarita and many other Islands Capes and Provinces In 1500 he began his fourth and last Voyage in the course whereof coming to Hispaniola he was unworthily denied entrance into the City of Domingo after which scowring the Sea-Coasts he returned back to Cuba and Jamaica and from thence to Spain where six years after he died and was buried Honourably at Sevil where to this day an Epitaph remaineth on his Tomb far short of his merit which is to this purpose Christophorus genuit quem Genoa clara Columbus c. I Christopher Columbus whom the Land Of Genoa first brought forth first took in hand I know not by what Deity incited To scour the western Seas and was delighted To seek for Countreys never known before Crown'd with success I first descry'd the shore Of the New World then destin'd to sustain The future yoak of Philip Lord of Spain And yet I greater matters left behind For men of more means and a braver mind Columbus dying left two Sons behind him of which the youngest called Ferdinand died unmarried the the eldest named Diego succeeded his Father in the Admiralty of the Indies and the Dukedom of Vega and married the Duke of Alva's Daughter but having no issue by her he spent the greatest part of his Estate in Founding a famous Library in Sevil which he furnished with Twelve thousand Volumes and endowed with a liberal Revenue to maintain the same But though his Family be extinct yet his Fame shall live renowned to all Posterities as the first Discoverer of this New World and consequently the greatest and most Fortunate Advancer of the Spanish Monarchy though in his life-time so envied and maligned by most of the Spaniards that Bobadilla being sent into those parts for redress of Greivances loaded him with Irons and returned him Prisoner into Spain Nor did they only endeavour to deprive him of the honour of this Discovery after his Death by pretending that he had seen the Charts and Descriptions of some unknown Spaniard but in his Life-time they would often say That it was a matter of no such difficulty to have found these Countreys and that if he had not done it then some body else would have done it for him But he confuted their peevishness by this modest Artifice desiring some of them who had insolently enough contended with him about this Discovery to make an Egg stand firmly upon one of its ends which when after many Trials they could not do he gently bruising one end of it made it stand upright letting them see thereby without any further reprehension how easie it is to do that thing which we see another do before us Heylin's Cosmography Lib. 4. II. Columbus having thus led the way was seconded by Americus Vespusuis an adventurous Florentine employed therein by Emanuel King of Portugal in 1501 on a design to find out a nearer way to the Molucca's than by the Cape of Good Hope who though he passed no further than the Cape without having so much as a sight of the great River De la Plata which washeth the South parts of that Countrey yet from him to the Great Injury and neglect of the first Discoverer the Continent or Main Land of this Countrey hath the name of America by which it is still known and commonly called To him succeeded John Cabot a Venetian in the behalf of King Henry the seventh of England who discovered all the North-East Coasts thereof from the Cape of Florida in the South to New-foundland in the North causing the American Royale's or little Kings to turn Homagers to the King and Crown of England After whom there followed divers private Adventurers and Undertakers out of all parts of Europe bordering on the Ocean Ferdinando Magellanus was the first that compassed the whole World and found the South Passage called Fretum Magellanicum or the Magellan Streights to this day Heylin's Cosmog Lib. 4. III. But the most famous of all the Spaniards as I suppose saith P. Jovius for the Discovery of New Lands and People was Ferdinando Cortesius or Corter to whom the Spaniards stand indebted for the Kingdom of Mexico He was born in Medeline a Town of Estremadura in Spain 1485 and in the 19 year of his Age employed himself in the Trade and business of America for the improvement of his Fortune In 1511 he went as Clerk to the Treasurer for the Isle of Cuba where he so well husbanded his Affairs by carrying over Kine Sheep and Mares and bringing Gold for them in Exchange that in short time he very much improved his stock and now resolving to venture all his Credit both in Friends and Money he furnished himself with eleven Ships and with 550 Men set sail from Spain and arrived at the Island of Santa Cruce and sailing up the River Tabasco sacked the Town of Pontoncon the Inhabitants refusing to sell him Victuals After this by the help of his Horse and Ordinance he discomfited forty Thousand of the naked Indians who were gathered together to revenge themselves for the plundering their Town he then received the King thereof in Vassallage to the Crown of Spain Being told that Westward he should meet with some Mines of Gold he turned his Course for the Haven of St. John de Vlloa where landing he was entertained by the Governor of Montezuma King of Mexico who understanding of his coming and that he was a Servant of so Great an Emperor as Charles the fifth he sent him many rich Presents both of Gold and Silver Cortez inflamed at the sight thereof resolved to go unto the place where such Treasures were and took Possession of the Countrey in the Name of Charles the fifth King of Spain and Emperor of Germany and building there the Town De la Crux he left 150 of his men therein and attended with only 400 Foot 15 Horsemen and 6 pieces of Ordinance he pursued his Enterprize and having cunningly gained to his assistance those of Zempoallan Tlascala who were ill affected to Montezuma he marched on toward Mexico plundring in his way the Town of Chololla
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
Almagro that after they had wasted this rich Countrey of Peru and divided the Spoil among them yet they destroyed one another for Pizarro envying Almagro for being Governour of Cusco and not himself sent his Brother Ferdinand to Challenge him who was so fortunate as to take Almagro Prisoner and delivered him bound to Francis his Brother who cused him to be strangled privately in Prison and afterward publickly beheaded Ferdinand was after sent to Spain with a great Mass of Gold to clear himself of the death of Almagro yet could not so well justifie himself but that all his Treasure was seized and himself secretly made away in Prison Soon after this the kindred and Friends of Almagro whose Estate Pizarro had seized consulted with Don Diego Almagro his Son to revenge the death of his Father Twelve of them undertook the Business who coming into Francis Pizarro's house at Lima he being then Marquess and Governour of Peru they suddenbroke into it and immediately killed a Captain who guarded the entrance of the Hall and Martin of Alcantara so that he fell dead at his brother the Marquess his Feet who though he saw his men thus slain before his eyes and himself left alone in the midst of his Enemies yet he still made a stout defence till all falling upon him at once he was stabbed into the Throat and died Lastly Gonsal had his head cut off by the Emperours Command and thus finished they their wretched dayes answerable to their cruel Deserts Thus have we seen the deplorable Ends of Two of the most mighty and glorious Monarchs of this New World and peradventure of all our Western parts who were Kings over so many Kingdoms And these are the cursed Fruits of Covetousness and Ambition for which so many goodly Cities were ruined and destroyed so many Nations made desolate such infinite Millions of harmless innocent People of all Conditions Sexes and Ages wofully Massacred and Murdered and the richest fairest and best part of the World turned to a Field of Bloud And though we have the Vanity to call those Nations Barbarous who are not so wickedly knowing as our selves yet the ingenious discourse and Replies of these naked Americans shew that their Honesty Truth and Integrity have been the chief occasions of exposing them to the Slavery and Barbarity of these wicked Treacherous and Idolatrous Spanish Christians of which it may not be amiss to give the following Instance Certain Spaniards coasting along the Sea in search of Mines happened to Land in a very Fruitful Pleasant and well peopled Countrey who declaring to the Inhabitants That they were quiet and well meaning People coming from far Countreys being sent from the King of Castile the greatest King on the Habitable Earth unto whom the Pope representing God on Earth had given the Kingdoms and Dominions of all the Indies and that if they would become Tributary to him they should be kindly used and courteously dealt withal They likewise desired them to give them some Victuals to eat and some Gold wherewith to make certain Physical Experiments They also declared to them That they ought to believe in one God and to embrace the Catholick Religion adding withall some Threats thereunto The Indians having patiently heard them one of them returned this Ingenious answer That possibly they might be quiet and well meaning People though their Countenances shewed them to be otherwise And as for their King since he seemed to beg he appeared to be poor and needy And for the Pope who had made that distribution he seemed to be a man who loved mischief and dissention in going about to give that to a third man which was none of his own and so to make it questionable and raise quarrels among the ancient Possessors thereof As for Victuals they should have part of their store and for Gold they had but little and that it was a thing they very little valued as being utterly unprofitable for the service of their lives whereas all their care was to pass their time happily and pleasantly and therefore what quantity soever they should find of it except what was employed in the service of their Gods they should freely take it As touching one only God the discourse of him had very well pleased them but they were resolved by no means to change their Religion in which they had so long time lived so happily neither indeed did they use to take advice or Counsel but from their Freinds and Acquaintance As concerning their high words it was a sign of great want of Judgment to threaten those whose nature condition strength and power was utterly unknown to them And that therefore they should with all speed hasten out of their Countrey and Dominions since they were used to take in good part the kindnesses and discourses of Strangers but if they did not suddenly depart they would deal with them as they had done with some others shewing them the Heads of divers Persons lately executed sticking upon Stakes about their City Montaign's Essays Lib. 3. V. John Cabot succeeded Columbus in this Countrey who on the behalf of King Henry the seventh of England discovered all the North-East Coasts of America from the Cape of Florida in the South to New-found-land in the North causing the American Royolets or petty Kings to turn Homagers and swear Allegiance to the King and Crown of England In 1496 Sebastian Cabot his Son rigged up two Ships at the charge of the same King Henry who intended to go to the Land of Cathay and from thence to turn towards India to this purpose he aimed at a passage by the Northwest but after certain dayes he found the Land ran toward the North He followed the Continent to the 56 Degree under our Pole and there finding the Coast to turn toward the East and the Sea covered with Ice he turned back again Sailing down by the Coast of that Land towards the Equinoctial which he called Batalaos from the number of Fishes found in that Sea like Tunnies which the Inhabitants call Bacalaos Afterward he Sailed along the Coasts to 38 Degrees and Provisions failing he returned into England and was made Grand Pilot of England by King Edward the sixth with the allowance of a large Pension of 166 pound 13 shillings four pence a year Hackluits Voyages Vol. 3. VI. Sir Francis Drake was born nigh South Tavestock in Devonshire and brought up in Kent being the Son of a Minister who fled into Kent for fear of the six Bloudy Articles in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth and bound his Son to the Master of a small Bark which Traded into France and Zealand his Master dying unmarried bequeathed his Bark to him which he sold and put himself into farther Employment at first with Sir John Hawkins and afterward upon his own Account In the year 1577 Dec. 13. He with a Fleet of five Ships and Barks and 174 Men Gentlemen and Saylors began that Famous Navigation of his wherein he
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
fettered till he was brought to his Trial which was presently after the Tumult was over He was first put to the Rack where he confessed That by the Instigation of the Duke of Mataloni he had sent for those Banditi that Massanello should have been slain That Mines were already made and stored with Gunpowder to blow up many of the People c. After which Confession his head and his brothers were cut off and pitched upon Poles in the Market-place One of the Banditi that was taken promised That if his life might be spared he would make further Discoveries which being granted provided his discoveries proved True He confessed That if the Banditi had succeeded in their design more Troops of Horse would have followed and that they were to have set Fire to some Mines under the Great Market-place at such time as there was the greatest Confluence of People for which end a great quantity of powder was spread up and down in several places under ground by which means beside the destruction of Churches and Houses there would have been at least an hundred and fifty Thousand Persons blown up into the Air and when this was effected the Banditi joining with others of the Gentry should have fallen upon the rest of the People in several places and put them all to the Sword Massanello upon this discovery caused present search to be made and the Vaults and Powder being accordingly found he spared the Mans life but banished him the City and Kingdom for ever and the Powder served the People for their use It was discovered also by another of the Banditi put upon the Rack That by the Contrivance of the Duty of Mataloni and his brother Peronne the Pipes and Aquoe-ducts which brought water to the City were poisoned as also the Corn which being found to be true especially the Cisterns of Rain-Water Notice was given by sound of Trumpet and Bills fixed in all Quarters of the City that none should drink of them Massanello likewise sent Souldiers through all the City to sieze the rest of the Banditi who had taken Sanctuary in divers Churches and Monasteries who being dragged out their heads were chopped off and set upon Poles up and down the Streets They search'd for the Duke of Mataloni but he escaped to Benevento yet whosoever of his Servants Pages or Lacqueys fell into their hands they presently Murdered them And next they vented their Rage against Guiseppe Caraffa and Gregory Brothers to the Duke who were hidden in the Monastery of St. Maries Gregory foresaw the danger and escaped betimes and would have perswaded his Brother to have done the like but he refused and being taken by some of the Rabble he offered them twelve Thousand pound in Gold to let him escape but a Butchers Son with a great Knife cut his Throat and chopped off his head which was fixed upon a Pike with this Inscription This is Don Caraffa 's head a Rebel to his Countrey and a Traytor to the most Faithful People They used his Body also very despitefully as also of four others his Companions whom they murthered with him The head being carried to Massanello he plucked him often by the Whiskers using many opprobrious words against him and made a Speech to the People wherein He told them of the Justice of God which comes surely though slowly to punish the Guilty c. The People still cried out Let Traitors die Let Traitors die and nothing was heard up and down the Streets but shreiking and howlings with horrible Curses which made a hideous noise in the Air. At this Spectacle of Caraffa the Cavaliers were much troubled fearing least the People would destroy them all who were now increased to the Number of one hundred and Forty Thousand Fighting men Massanello supposing that the Vice-Roy had a hand in bringing in the Banditi cut off all Provisions and water from the Castle whereby he his Dutchess his Council and Nobles c. began to find themselves to be in an ill condition whereupon the Vice-Roy sent a Letter to the Archbishop desiring him to make known to the People his sincere Intentions toward them and that he was not only a stranger but an Enemy to the Practices of the Banditi and that if he could catch any of them he would deliver them to the People This the Arch-Bishop did which somewhat allayed the Fury of the People yet Massanello suspecting that there was a Plot to bring in more Banditi to join with the Souldiers for surprising the City he caused Barricadoes to be made at the end of every Street that one only might pass by them at a time which was done with wonderful speed He commanded also That all Houses Palaces Monasteries c. should in the night hang out Lights in their Windows and make Fires in the Streets that they might the more easily discern if any of the Banditi entred and all this to be done upon pain of burning down their Houses which terrified all men to obey And now Massanello had an hundred and fifty Thousand armed men at his beck so that he did no sooner signifie his pleasure but it was done in a Minute If he said Bring me the head of such a man or let such a Palace he burnt or the House of such a Prince be plundered c. It was instantly done without delay or contradiction a Glory that no King or Emperor ever yet attained to He also by sound of Trumpet Proclaimed That the Duke of Mataloni was a Rebel to his King and Countrey and that whoever should bring him in should have thirty Thousand Crowns in Gold and that his head should be a Ransom for one hundred and fifty Banditi c. and thus ended the Fourth day being Wednesday Thursday July 11. Massanello went on with his Imperious commands and truly it is a wonder and will scarcely be believed in after Ages that a poor bare-legged Fisher-boy should have at his Command such a vast number of People as he had the very first day and the second day he was attended by the Civiller and discreeter sort of Men. The third day he made himself Generalissimo over all who willingly obeyed his Commands The fourth and fifth he won Admiration by his prudent and discreet Orders ready dispatches and quick Contrivances and especially by his sprightfulness and Capacity in Negotiating businesses of so great importance The Archbishop who often treated with him wondring at the same seeing him behave himself not like an abject Fellow but some Great Commander having Threats in his Looks Terror in his Gestures and Revenge in his Countenance whereby he subdued all Naples which had in her six hundred Thousand Souls of all sorts He made Trenches set Sentinels laid spies gave signs chastized the Banditi condemned the guilty viewed the Squadrons ranked their Files comforted the fearful confirmed the stout encouraged the bold promised rewards threatned the suspected reproached the cowards applauded the valiant and wonderfully incited the minds of men
sent two of his best Horses with rich Furniture for Massanello and his Brother who mounting upon them went towards the Castle Massanello carrying in one hand a naked sword and in the other the Charter of Charles 5. Emperor His Brother carryed the Capitulations made with the Vice-Roy and being accompanied with a huge number of people they arrived at the Castle and being Conducted into the Pallace they entertain themselves a while with the Vice-Roy And then all returned into the City with the Vice-Roy and all his Councellors The streets were clean swept by Massanello's Command and the Houses adorned with the Richest Hangings and thus they went to the Archbishops Palace the People crying all the way as they went Let the King of Spain live but without Gabels At the Arch-Bishops Palace they all alighted and were met by him and his Chaplains in their Robes and so going into the Church and kneeling at the High Altar the Secretary of the Kingdom read the Articles with a loud voice Massanello standing by and to the wonderment of all added altered corrected and interpreted them at his pleasure no man presuming to contradict him After which the Vice-Roy with all the Officers of State swore to observe and keep the said Capitulations to perpetuity and to get them confirmed by Oath of his Catholick Majesty After which followed Musick and Te Deum was sung for this good agreement When all was ended Massanello told them That in the last sixteen years the King of Spain had had of them above an Hundred Millions but that the greatest part of it was consumed by his Officers who enriched themselves by the Kings and Peoples losses which he was resolved to redress for the time to come and thereby prove himself a faithful Subject and Friend to the King Which he spoke with such earnestness that all the multitude gave him a loud applause Thus businesses being finished he attended the Vice-Roy and his train back to the Castle where all the Ordnance was discharged and Massanello told them That having now brought his honest intents to pass he would return to be a Fisherman and so tearing off his garments of Silver he returned with all the People to the Market place who wonderfully rejoyced for having thus attained their desires This day being Sunday July 14. the Papers of the agreement were fixed up and down in all parts of Naples which caused not only great joy in the hearts of the people but every one extolled Massanello as the Instrument and next to him the Archbishop as the Mediator of that accord And it was no small astonishment in the minds of many to consider that such great things were effected not by the power of a Mighty Emperour and Conquerour but by the conduct of a poor bare legged Fisher-boy Now though peace seemed to be setled yet it was not judged fit presently to dismiss the Souldiery therefore Massanello commanded them to stand firm to their Guard and withal made Proclamation That every one upon pain of death should discover if any goods were deposited in their hands of those whose houses had been burnt Whereupon much wealth was brought out of Churches Monasteries Hospitals and Nunneries and being informed that four Banditi had taken Sanctuary among the Jesuits he sent some to fetch them thence who having forced open the doors found them and chopped off their heads and a Jesuit zealous of the Churches Priviledges making some resistance they so wounded him that he presently after dyed Notice being likewise given of much Goods hid in a Nunnery he sent some Captains to fetch it into the Market place to be burnt the Captains being denyed entrance forced the doors and so behaved themselves that one of the Nuns almost dyed through fear which the Arch-Bishop complaining of to Massanello he sent for the Captains and after Examination beheaded them The same Morning he published a Proclamation That none should go out of the City without his License whereupon the Archbishop of St. Severine being to go into his Diocess went without a Cloke according to former Order to Massanello for a Pass Massanello when he saw him said What wilt thou have my fine Lord I desire with your good leave saith the Archbishop that I may safely pass to my Church Go saith he and let four hundred of my men go to guard you thither It needs not said the Archbishop for I go by Sea Then said he Let forty Barges be provided to attend you I have said the Archbishop four already for my Family which is sufficient Well said Massanello you may do your pleasure yet you shall not refuse this bag of double Pistoles to bear your charges The Archbishop would have refused them but he forced five hundred upon him which he durst not but accept for fear of angering him The same morning also he caused a Bakers house to be burnt for making bread too light and chopped off the head of an Abbot and some others as being Dependants upon the Duke of Matalone He sent to the Jesuites and other Religious Orders for a great sum of Money for the Service of the People He sent to many Rich Men and caused them to bind themselves to pay great Sums that he might make good his Promise to the King of Spain of a Donative of six Millions of Gold This Morning a Kinsman of Massanello's in whom he much confided went to the Palace complaining openly That Massanello began to dote and a Chaplain of the Archbishop came to him from his Lord desiring him now things were at peace to disband his Souldiers and to retire himself a while into a pleasant Island whither they used to go for Recreation to refresh himself This pleased him well and several Companies of superfluous Souldiers were disbanded no man grumbling at any thing he did which made him grow proud and multiplicity of Businesses and want of sleep distempering his Brain he gave forth many cruel Edicts for burning of Palaces chopping off heads c. whereupon some of his Captains complained to the Archbishop that he grew intolerable imprisoning and commanding their Heads to be cut off to please his Humor The Arch-Bishop laboured to moderate and mollifie him at least to procure his deferring the Execution for that holy day which he obtained That afternoon Massanello went with a multitude of People following him to the Castle in an odd habit desiring the Vice-Roy to go with him to that Island to take the fresh Air but he excused it by reason of a pain in his head yet commanded his Gondola to be made ready to wait upon Seignior Massanello into which he embarqued himself with divers Mariners and had forty Barges of Musicians to make him Merry and as he sailed along he threw peices of Gold into the Sea which the Mariners dived to fetch up again for his Pastime and all the afternoon he spent in Mirth Eating and Drinking too freely of the Wine called Lachrymae Christi and when he
saved and had not been discharged which his Master brought to him to teach him the use of it which for fear of his Masters displeasure and their inhumanity he endeavoured to do but they still professing their Ignorance he was forced to shoot it off But the Negroes who expected some delightful thing being frustrated and at the sudden noise and flash of fire which they very much dread fled from him greatly affrighted yet soon after hearing no more of that noise they came up to him again commanding him to do the like He told them he had not Powder which was the cause of the noise but this would not satisfie these Barbarians and therefore thinking it wilfulness they would have murthered him had not his Master rescued him After this in discourse with his Master he told him That naturally the people were civil and simply honest but if provoked full of revenge and that this their barbarous dealing was occasioned by some unhandsome action of carrying a Native away from thence without their leave about a year before they resolving if any came on shore they should never go off alive About 7 weeks after Wats had been in the Country his Master presented him to his King named Efnme King of the Buckamores who immediately gave him to his Daughter called Onijah when the King went abroad he attended him as his Page throughout the whole Circuit of his Dominions which was not above 12 Miles yet he boasted extreamly of his Power and Strength glorying exceedingly that he had a White Man to attend him whom he imployed to carry his Bow and Arrows In several places far from the Seaside the people would run away from him for fear others would fall down and seem to worship him using those Actions as they do to their Gods Their progress was never so long but they could return home at night but never without a handsome load of a cup of the Creature for he seldom or never went abroad and came home sober Their drink is of the best Palm Wine and another sort of strong Liquor called Penrore Wats knew quickly how to humour this profound Prince and if any of the Natives abused him upon his complaint he had Redress as once by striving with a Negro his Arm was broke which by Providence more than skill was set again After some Months the King of Calamanch whose name was Esn mancha hearing of this beautiful White Courted his Neighbour Prince to sell him to him at length they struck a bargain and Wats was sold for a Cow and a Goat This King was a very sober and moderate person free from the treacheries and mischiefs that the other was subject to He would often discourse Wats and ask him of his King and Country whether his Kingdoms and Dominions were as big as his which were not above 25 Miles in length and 15 in breadth Wats told him as much as his understanding and years made him capable of keeping still within the bounds of modesty and yet relating as much as possible to the Honour and Dignity of his Soveraign First informing him of the greatness of one of his Kingdomes the several Shires and Counties it contained with the number of its Cities Towns and Castles the strength of each the infinite Inhabitants and valour of his Subjects One of these Kingdoms was enough sufficiently to amaze this Petty Governour that he had no need to mention any more of His Majesties Glory and Dignity It put him into such a profound Consternation that he resolved to find out some way to shew his respects to this Mighty Prince and told John Wats that if he could find but a Passage he would let him go to England to tell his Maiesty of the great favour and respect he had for him Which did not a little rejoyce our Englishman withal the King told him He would send him a present which should be two Cabareets or Goats which they value very highly the King himself having not above 16 or 18 of them Wats tells the King that the King of England had many Thousands of his Subjects who were under the degree of Gentlemen that had a Thousand Sheep apeice the Flesh whereof they valued at a very much higher rate than Goats Though our Englishman lived very handsomely with this King yet his desires and hopes were for his Native Countrey and at length he obtained a Promise from his King That the first English Ship which came into the Road should have liberty to release or purchase him This very much rejoyced his heart and now he thought every day a year till he could hear of or see some English Ship arrive and oft did he walk to the Sea side to receive some comfort which at length was observed by Jaga a Wizard and the chiefest in 3 or 4 Kingdoms thereabout They are persons that the Natives give very much credit to and on any difficult occasion run to them for satisfaction And though they have vast numbers of them in every place yet this Jaga was the most renowned amongst them One day he comes to Wats and asked him very civilly why he so often frequented that place who told him It was to see if he could discover any English Ship to come in there But Wats being unacquainted with his great fame asked him when he did believe there would one come in Not that he was willing to give credit to any of their Divinations but supposing hereby to please him and answer his expectation Jaga immediately told him That 15 days after an English Ship should come into that Road He then askt him whether that Ship should carry him away To which he answered very doubtfully but told him He should be offered to the Master of the Ship and if they did not agree so that he were brought to shore again he should not be sold but would dye for grief These 15 days seemed very tedious to Wats who cast many a look on the Sea with an aking heart The 14th day he went to the highest Hill thereabout but could discover no Ship the next morning he went again 2 or 3 times but saw none About 2 or 3 hours after some Moors came running and told the King there was a Canoe coming for so they called our Ships At which our Englishman rejoyced heartily in hope of release yet durst not shew it for fear of Punishment or Death for though he lived better now than with his first Master yet his service was far worse than the slaves in Turkey and their Diet worse than Dogs meat he had therefore cause enough of inward joy The Ship came immediately in and Wats goes presently to Jaga to know if it were an English Ship who assured him it was It happened to be the St. Malo's Merchant Captain Royden Commander who hastned to dispatch his business took in his Negroes and was ready to sail and our Englishman heard not a word what should become of him the King never offering
those two who endeavoured to defend him being slain with two Musket-shot He seeing it in vain to defend himself there longer leapt desperately out of the Window rather to seek his death than out of any hopes to save his life for no sooner was he down but numberless swords were imbrued in his blood the very Women and Children running to tear in pieces his dead Body with the same alacrity and chearfulness that he used to torment them when alive In the mean time the Marquess of Ferriera was gone to secure the Vice-Queen whom having committed to the Guard of 200 Musquetiers he calls a Councel and in a short discourse sets forth the miseries the Kingdom had endured whilst subject to the Spanish Government who sought nothing but their utter destruction then reminding them of the valour and merits of their Nation he exhorts them to condescend to the Election of a new King nominating to them the Duke of Braganza as the most worthy of the Crown not so much for his Power Riches or the greatness of his House as because the Kingdom was his undoubted Right he being the only person left of that Line which for so many years had gloriously governed Portugal A long discourse was superfluous to those who were before perswaded A publick shout interrupted the Marquesses Speech all of them crying with a loud voice That they would have John Duke of Braganza for their King In the whole multitude there was not a face much less a voice that did gainsay this general Vote either because they did all really rejoyce that they should again have a King of their own Nation or that none could without danger oppose themselves against the Torrent of so publick a will The Duke of Braganza was at this time at his Countrey House at Villa Viciosa either by Accident or because he would always have had occasion to excuse himself if the business had not succeeded but by reason of his absence they thought fit to make choice of two Governors whom to avoid the pretences of others they nominated to be the Archbishops of Lisbon and Braganza These began immediately to Exercise their Command and were obeyed with so much quietness that in all that great and Populous City of Lisbon there was none slain but only those aforementioned The Prisons were opened neither did any suffer wrong in their Goods or Life All the Shops were opened as if there had not happened any change of Government Only the House of Vasconsellos was plundred with so much Anger and Rage that they did not Pardon the very Doors and Windows nay such was the fury of the People that had they not been hindred by the Souldiers of the Guard they had levelled it with the Ground As for his Carcase it suffered all those Indignities which a People wronged both in their Liberties and Estates could inflict They ran like Madmen to express Living Sentiments of Revenge upon his dead and senseless Corps vaunting who could invent the newest wayes of disgrace and scorn till at length almost wearied with their inhumane sport they left it in the Street so mangled that it did not seem to have the least resemblance of a Man from whence it was the next day carried by the Fraternity Della Misericordia Of Mercy and thrown into the burying-place of the Moors and Infidels The Marquess of Alemquaâ— after he had by Command from the Governors assured the strongest places in the City sent several Souldiers into the Streets crying Long live King John the Fourth Which the People hearing being distracted as it were with very Joy leaving their Trades they ran up and down proclaiming him with Voices of Jubilee the greatest part through excess of passion not being able to refrain from Tears The Messengers did not run but fly to the Duke of Braganza to give notice of his promotion to the Crown The first arrived on Sunday morning before day The Duke pretended a great Alteration at the News whereupon some have presumed to say That he had not any knowledg of the Design He seemed at first not to believe it but told the Messengers That though he might have Desert and a Spirit fit for the Crown of Portugal yet he had neither Will nor Ambition to desire it That his Enemies wronged him by tempting him with such stratagems which were as far from his Genius and Humour as from his Faith But at the Arrival of the Count of Monte Santo who came to accompany him to Lisbon he seemed of another Mind and having been with him in private discourse for about two hours without any delay he departed with the Count attended with about 500 Persons Yet others affirm that he was not only acquainted with the Design of the Revolt but of Council about it And that some time before the Nobility having had a private Meeting at Lisbon it was at first propounded That they should reduce the Kingdom into the Form of a Common-wealth But that not being approved of by the Major part the Arch-bishop of Lisbon stood up and in an eloquent Speech having laid before them the Miseries they had endured under the Spanish Yoke recommended to them John D. of Braganza as the undoubted Heir of the Crown and their Lawful Soveraign This Motion they all most willingly assented to and concluded to send Gaston Cotigno a man of a fluent Tongue to acquaint the D. with their Intentions and to perswade him to accept the Crown and deliver his Countrey Gaston being arrived with many well couched words acquaints him That there was now a pregnant opportunity offered to recover the indubitable Right of his Ancestors to the Crown of Portugal That the Nobility and Clergy were wholy inclined to redeem themselves from the Tyranny of the Spaniards by securing the Crown upon his head That the Vniversal Odium and hatred of the whole People to the Spanish Government the present low Condition of the House of Austria distracted on every side with War The assured Assistance that France and other Nations emulating the greatness of Spain would lend were as so many motives to perswade them not to let slip so fair an opportunity to regain their Liberty That if he by refusal should be the sole Enemy to his Countreys Freedom they would effect it themselves and reduce it to a Commonwealth These and many other Arguments he used which his Love to the House of Braganza his hatred to the Castilians or his own ingenuity prompted him to The Dukes amazement permitted him not to return a sudden answer but after a little Pause he replied That he was highly obliged both to him and all the Nobility for their Affections to him but that this was a business required great deliberation that there was no Medium between a Throne and a Chair of Execution That therefore he should first advise with himself and not rashly attempt so hazardous a business He therefore communicates the whole Affair to his Dutchess Donna Lucia Sister to the
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
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
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.