were covered Amongst other discourse D. Francisco de Mello told her Majesty that he feared his Embassy would not be acceptable for that his Master had deprived her brother of one of his Kingdoms whereto her Majesty replyd that although she was sister to the King of Spain yet she was wife to the King of France and thereupon began to speak Spanish which the Ambassador observing demanded wherefore her Majesty had not vouchsafed them that favour sooner it being a language better understood by them the Queen answered for fear they should be daunted to hear her speak Spanish the Ambassador to improve the jest replyd Como a tam grande Senora si pero como a Castillana no. It was true considering her greatness but not her Countrey whereat her Majesty smiling went on promising them all favour and wishing many happy dayes to King John and the Prince his son thus having delivered to her Majesty a Letter from the Queen of Portugal they took leave to go visit the most Eminent Cardinal Richelieu who being advertised of their coming came forward to the third chamber to meet them and there received them with expressions of great affection after which he conducted them into his own Chamber where all three being sate his Eminence a personage for his most admirable abilities worthy to live many ages discovered divers affairs of importance to the Ambassadors and they oâ— the other side made his Eminence understand how highly it imported that the two Crowns of France and Portugal should be united by an indissoluble league and amity considering that the primary and principal aim of the house of Austria whose branches were spread over Europe was not only to be the greatest but the only Monarch of Christendom for which end it never made scruple to usurp Kingdoms and States upon the weakest pretences imaginable as have appeared in the Kingdoms of Naples Sicily and Navarre the Dutchy of Milan and several other States more lately in Germany the seizing upon the Valtelline that so being Master of that passage he may upon any opportunity lead an Army of high Germans into Italy Moreover considering the vast power and interest this Family hath not only in all the other States of Italy and Germany and in the Low Countries but also in almost all America it must be confessed that they have a large foundation of their imaginary universal Monarchy yet no one thing gave them so great hopes as the possession of Portugal First because by the addition of that Kingdom they became absolute Masters not only of all Spain but of all the East Indies of all the Eastern Trade of Ethiopia Persia Arabia China Iapan and all that incredible wealth that was raised out of the Portugal Traffique whereby the Austrian greatness if not their Monarchy was principally sustained therefore that it much concerned all States to endeavour not only to put a stop to the growth of that monstrous tree but to cut off some arms thereof that it may the less damnify and annoy the lesser trees that grow by it that to do this none was more concerned or more able then the Kingdom of France united with the Kingdom of Portugal which having bin reputed the right arm as Catalonia was the left of that huge Austrian Colossus and now separated from it and joyned with France will be able to do as great service against it as ever it hath been forced to do for it not only by assaulting the Spaniard at home in his own house but by intercepting the Plate-Fleet which coming from the West Indies must necessarily pass by the gates of their Enemies the Tereera Islands and so run a hazard to be lost or else be at the charges of an extraordinary Convoy Having thus discoursed with his Eminence of those and other weighty affairs he was pleased to offer not only all the assistance of the most Christian King but that he would disburse of his own for the Service of Portugal that he would presently send thither a Fleet of twenty Sail with his Nephews Admiral and Ambassador extraordinary whereupon the Ambassadors taking leave they were accompanied by his Eminence as far as the stairs which the Ambassadors endeavouring to hinder the Cardinal told them that the Ambassadors of Portugal were to be treated with no less respect then those of the Emperor or Pope Some few days after in the house of the Grand Chancellour there was appointed a Junta of the Ambassadors with his Majesties Commissioners together with the Secretary Chavigny where was soon concluded a peace and league between the Crown of France and Portugal and the Ambassadors with much courtesie and satisfaction dismissed It very much concerned the kingdome of Portugall to maintain amity and peace with the Crown of England not only for the Navigation and Commerce of both States but also for other particular ends in the present conjuncture of affairs principally to break the good correspondency that was at present maintained between the Crowns of Spain and England For this purpose in March 1641. were dispatcht for England Don Antonio de Almada and D r Francisco de Andrada Leiton personages of great abilities who arriving safe in spite of the Dunkerkers that chased them in England were received with demonstrations of great courtesie notwithstanding the earnest labouring of the Spanish Resident to the contrary It is true that his Majesty of England was so tender of his honour and conscience that he answered D r Antonio de Sosa Secretary to the Ambassadors sent before to make way that he would be first satisfied by what right and title his Master was made King of Portugal before he would accept of the Ambassage Whereupon the Secretary being one of the most exquisite wits of this age in the space of twenty four hours drew up and presented to his Majesty a writing which declared at large what here in substance ensueth Upon the death of King Henry the Cardinall without issue many pretended together with the Infanta Donna Catherine Dutchess of Braganza and Grandmother to this present King to the Crown of Portugal but all their pretences wanting foundation soon fell except that of Philip the second King of Spain who propt up his with force King Henry was Uncle equally neer to both but with this difference Catherine was the daughter of a son named Edward and Philip was sonne of a daughter named Isabella brother and sister to King Henry King Philip pleaded that he being in equall degree with Catherine was to be preferred for his sex Catherine replyed That the constitution of that kingdom allowing females to succeed and withall the benefit of representation in all Inheritances she representing Edward must exclude Philip by the very same right that her Father if he were living would exclude Philips mother This conclusion is infallible in jure whereto Philip answered That succession of kingdoms descending jure sanguinis there was allowed no representation Catherine destroyed that foundation alledging That the succession
Orders of Knighthood which were worth to him 40000 Crowns per an' made himself great Master of the Kings Wardrobe Master of the Horse Great Chancellor of the Indies which three Offices were worth him 200000 Crownes per annum but much more considerable were the vast sums received from the Indies for when the Fleet set sail from Sevill and Lisbon he caused to be shipt abundance of Corn Wine and Oyle Custome-free which he sent from his County of Olivarez and selling the same in the Indies at four times their worth in Spain caused the Moneys to be employed in Spices Jewels Indigoes c. which are there at a low price bur of great value in Europe so that without cousening the King hee hath this way gained many Millions which Wise men perswade themselves were never spent in the Kings service As for his zeal to augment his Masters greatness some are of opinion That the excess of so eminent a Vertue was in him a Vice which produced great Mischiefs for he was so passionate in the pursuance of that designe that he feared not to discontent the People the Nobility the Princes the Queen her self so hee might content the King and carry on his design First for the People whose Love is the main foundation and strongest prop of Monarchies This blind passion carryed him away so far as to endevor to abolish in Spain divers priviledges and Liberties to the end hee might render the King more absolute over his Subjects Hee extorted from the Laity and Clergy by the Mediannates an invention of his own which was the Payment of half an years Revenues of all Offices and Benefices that were bestowed also by abasing and raising the value of Coyne an intollerable grievance to the Subject and by many other Impositions raised above Two hundred and sixteen Millions of Gold Such like endeavours were the first ground of the totall revolt of the Catalonians who together with the people of Aragon had so great Priviledges and Liberties that they passed rather for a people recommended then subject to the Kings of Spain whence it hath ever been Arcanum Imperii amongst the Kings of Spain to endeavor to infringe those Priviledges that rendred suspitious the Loyalty of those people Insomuch that in all the Wars with France the Kings of Spain durst not suffer their Armies to march that way Those of Aragon in that notable business of Don Antonio Perez were by Philip the second not without much craft and force brought into absolute subjection but the Catalonians continued stedfast in the maintenance of their Priviledges and very difficult to be reduced to such subjection because being borderers upon France by sea and land they could commodiously receive thence assistance or succour Nevertheless the said zeal of the Conde Duke put him upon that attempt so that at a Parliament holden at Barcellona the chief Citie of Catalonia the jealous Catalonians took no small distaste that the Duke endeavoured to invade their Privileges by not suffering their Commissioners to be covered in his presence which had used to be covered in the Kings presence After this the Duke proceeding in the like attempts to diminish their Priviledges yet to keep them in obedience quartered Souldiers upon them after the fashion of Lombardy but the Catalonians not being able to endure the insolence of the soldiers took Arms killed drave away their soldiers killed also their Vice-Roy the Conde di Coloma put themselves under the protection of the French Thus was lost the most populous part of all Spain a Countrey above 800 miles in compass and the onely Countrey of all Spain wherein is to be found all materials necessary for making and rigging ships The Castles Manors Villages great Towns and Cities stand so thick that they seem rather one continued Citie then a Province To this may be added the inexpressible losse of the Kingdome of Portugall with all the dependencies upon that Crown in the East and West Indies Africa and Tercera Islands by the miscarriage of the Conde Duke in discontenting that Nation which shall be related at large as a most remarkable History There have ever been a certain Antipathy enmity betwixt the Spaniards and Portugals as great as between the Spaniard and French But since they have been subject to the Kings of Spain have been so averse from the Government that the Parish Priests and Preachers at the end of their Mass and Sermons were wont to exhort the people publickly to say two Ave Maries to the end that it would please our Saviour and the blessed Virgin to deliver them from the Tyranny as they termed it of the Castillians expecting always some favourable occasion to make an universall Revolt Notwithstanding in the year 1636. the new Tax called the Fifth part was generally imposed that is Five per Cent. upon all Estates and Merchandise which being judged not only very grievous but also most unjust gave occasion to all the Southern part of Portugall to rise in arms and had no question set the whole Kingdom on fire had it not been quencht by the great care of the Infanta Margarita of Savoy the Kings Aunt then Governess The Court of Spain observing hereupon the inclinations of that people to an universall revolt resolved to use the best means to secure it In the first place to allure forth the great Duke of Briganza who for Riches power number of Tenants affection of the people and kindred was the chief Nobleman not onely of Portugall but of all Spain and which was more then all had an undoubted right to the Crown of Portugall and therefore certainly it was a cruell pity in Philip the second to seiz upon this Kingdom and yet to leave the pretender to the Crown not onely alive but greater and higher then ever he was It being an infallible Maxime That nothing can bee sufficient to secure his Loyalty who hath power enough to justifie disloyalty To make sure of the Duke they first offred him the Government of Milan which he modestly refused resolving not to stirre forth of Portugall Hereupon the Conde Duke was resolved to try all ways imaginable to which the Rebellion of Catalonia seemed to offer a fit opportunity for this design for the Conde Duke politickly gave out that the King was to goe in person against the Catalonians and therefore that all the Nobility in the Kings dominions were to appear within 4 Months at Madrid to wait upon the King in this Expedition But the Duke of Braganza wel knowing the affection of the Portugals and suspition of the Castillians to the end that hee might take off the one and assure the other retires himself to his Countrey house there to follow his hunting excusing himself to the Conde Duke that his affairs at present were in so bad a condition that hee could not appeare abroad with that splendor and dignity that became a person of his Quality and that he was confident he could doe his
design of changeing the commanders in cheife of all the Emperours armies and the Spanish thereby to make the people desperate because of the failing of faith and credit of the recruiting and arming the Gallies of Spain Sicily and Naples for the maintaining commerce secret intelligence in Toulon and Marseilles of the capitulation of the Venetian with the grand Turke and the meanes whereby they drew the Turke to assent to their demands and the little security the Turke had from them all which I invented feigned and contrived together with many more letters Cyphers Papers c. without any intelligence correspondence or amity with any officer or Minister of state of this kingdome but that I alone without the helpe or assistance of any other have feigned and invented all the foresaid designs whereof I gave information to the Nuntio and his secretary to the said Ambassadours and to Monsiuer de Peny with whom I have kept correspondence in France since the breaking forth of the warre the which as a truth I sweare before God and declare it for discharging my conscience I aske of God forgivenes also of the King our soveraign whom God preserve of the Emperour of the Lord Duke against whom I directed most of those forgeries of the Duke of Medina las Torres of the Marques of Leganés of the Duke of Villahernosa of the Count of Oniate of the Marques of Villa Franca of the Marques of Mirabel of the most illustrious Lord Inquisitour Generall the father Confessour of the most Eminent Cardinals the Cardinal Borgia and Cardinal Spinola and Cardinal of Sandoval of the Lord Don Geronimo of Villanueva Pronotary of Arragon and secretary of state of Don Andrew de Rojas secretary of state of the Ambassadour of Genoa and of all the rest whom I have falsely defamed by these forgeries and Impostures and also I aske pardon of all the faithfull and loyall subjects of these kingdomes charging them to take example by me And to the end that it may be manifested to all times I thus make declaration that God may pardon me and for the satisfaction of this and all other Nations which I have disturbed with the wickednes of my inventions In witnes whereof I have hereunto set my name Dated in the Plaça Mayor and place of Execution in Madrid the 3 of August 1641. Thus ended Michael de Molina in whom the Refran or Spanish proverbe was verified Quien en un ano quiere ser rico al medio le ahorcan He that will be rich in one year shall be hanged at halfe yeares end FINIS THE RIGHT TITLE OF The present KING OF PORTUGAL Don John the Fourth With the most Memorable Passages of his Reigne LONDON Printed for Tho. Heath 1653. THE RIGHT TITLE OF The present King OF PORTUGALL Don John the fourth With the most memorable Passages of his raigne FOr the more cleare discovery of the Title whereby the present King of Portugal holds that Crown it will be necessary to know the fundamental constitutions of that Kingdom as well as the peâ—igree of that King In the year of our Redemption 1139. an Army of four hundred thousand Moors under the conduct of five Kings threatning as a vast deluge to overflow at once all the Country of Portugal were totally discomsited by a small handfull of Christians in the plains of Ourique where immediatly before the battel the people chose their Generall Don Alfonso for their King for before they were under the protection of the King of Castile Leon who after the fight called an Assembly of the three Estates in the City of Lamego where was solemnely enacted as followeth In the name of the most holy Trinity Father Son and holy Ghost Amen I Alphonso sonn of Count Henry c. by the grace of God lately advanced to the Royall Throne have called together the Bishops Nobles and Deputies of Cities in the Church of Saint Mary Almacave in Lamego where sitting upon my Royal Throne without any ensignes of Royalty my Deputy Lorenzo Venegas stood up anâ— spake thus You are assembled by the Authority of King Alfonso to see the Popes letters and resolve to confirm him for your King whereat all with one voice cried We will that he be our King The Deputy demanded shall he only be King and not his sonns after him They answered he so long as he lives and his sonns after his death then said the Deputy give him the Royall ensignes we give them answered they in the name of God So the Archbishop of Braga placed the Crown upon the Kings head who drawing his sword said Blessed be God that hath been my helper with this sword have I delivered you and overcome our enemies and now that you have made me your King let us make lawes for the government of the Kingdome they answered so will wee dread soveraigne we wil make such lawes as shall seem good to you and wee and all our children and posterity are wholy at your command we will first make lawes for the succession of the Crown as followeth 1 God save King Alfonso let him be master of the Kingdome and after him that there may be no trouble of choosing a King let his sonn raigne after him his grand child and so from father to sonn in secula seculorum 2 If during the fathers life the eldest sonn die the next brother shall be King and so forward 3 If the King die without sonns having a brother he shall succeed but not his sonn after him unlesse the Parliament will have it so Then Lorenzo Venegas the Kings Deputy desired the States to aske the King if the daughters should enter into the Succession of the Kingdome after some debate thereon it was resolved Because the daughters are of the Royall stock as well as the Sonns they should succeed on this manner 4 If the King have only Daughters the eldest shall be Queen after her father upon condition that she be married to a native of the Kingdome and that he be a Nobleman who shall not take upon him the name of King untill he hath a sonn born nor wear a crown on his head nor take the right 〈◊〉 of his wife 5 Lastly which most concernes the ensuing discourse it was thus enacted Sit i st a Lex in sempiternum quod prima filia Regis accipiat maritum de Portugale ut non veniat Regnum ad extraneos si casaverit cum principe extraneo non sit Regina quia nunquam volumus nostrum Regnum ire for de Portugalensibus qui nos sua fortitudine Reges fecerunt sine adjutorio alieno per suam fortitudinem cum sangine suo That is Let it be a law for ever that the Kings eldest daughter marry a native of Portugal that so the Crown may never descend to strangers and in case she should marry to a Prince that is a stranger let her not be Queen for wee will never have our Kingdom goe out of the
other resistance but Don Antonio one of the forementioned pretenders in the head of a popular tumult rather then a regular Army which being soon discomfited and the suburbs of Lisbon sacked to gratifie the Souldiers he easily made himself Master of the whole kingdome But before this could be brought about Pope Gregory the 13 had sent Cardinal Riario Legat into Spain with order to disswade the Catholique King from raising Arms and so to passe into Portugall there to arbitrate the right between all pretenders Philip to avoid this and yet to approve himselfe as he always profest a most obedient son of the Church he gave secret order in all places where the Legat was to passe that he should be entertained with all respect and magnificence possible and thereby be so dexterously detained that the kingdom might be possessed by him before the Legat could arrive at Gourt which was acted accordingly and the Legat wel satisfied in his entertainment though not in his negotiation When the Nobility and people of Portugall saw themselves thus unawares yoked by the Castilians against whom above all other there was ever a certain antipathy of nature they were exceedingly discontented but seeing there was no hope to withstand so great a Potentate as Philip the second reputed at that time not onely the most prudent or rather crafty subtile man but the most puissant Monarch that later ages have produced they all submitted to the King who the better to win them condescended to meet that submission and be sworn in an Assembly of Estates to these capitulations following 1. That his Majesty should observe all Lawes Liberties Priviledges and Customes granted to the people by former Kings of Portugall 2. That the Vice King or Governor shall always be the Son Brother Uncle or Nephew of the King or else a Native of Portugall 3. That all chiefe Offices of the Church or State shall be bestowed upon the Natives of Portugal and not upon strangers Like wise the Governments of all Townes and Places That all Countries now belonging to Portugall shall so continue to the commodity and benefit of that Nation 5. That the Portugall Nation shall be admitted to all Offices in the Kings House as well as the Castilians 6. That because the King cannot conveniently be always in Portugal he shall send the Prince to be bred up amongst them At the end of these Articles was adjoyned a blessing to those Kings that should observe them and a curse to those that should violate them adding moreover That in case which God forbid that his Majesty which now is or his Successors should not observe this agreement or should procure a dispensation for this Oath the three States of the Kingdom might freely deny subjection and obedience to the King without being guilty either of perjury or treason This clause although it was not printed with the Capitulation made in the first Assembly of Estates yet is rehearsed by divers Authors amongst others by the Author della Legge Regia di Portogallo stampata in Madrid After this accord the Cardinal Albert Archduke of Austria son to the Empeour and nephâ—◠〈◊〉 King Philip was placed as Vice 〈◊〉 of Portugal yet durst not his Majesty leave the Kingdome so soon for he perceived a general discontent to continue amongst them insomuch that the Preachers would ordinarily in their Sermons vent speeches clearly tending to sedition which made the King oft complain that the Portugal Preachers had waged the hardest warre with him but yet that he looked upon them as crack't brain'd adding sometmes with much mildness and patience Pues dexaldos por que usan a los privilegios que han los locos Once Father Lewis Alvarez a Jesuit preaching before the King on St. Philips day about the time that it was argued by some Lawyers that the Dutchess of Braganza in the succession of this Crown did fully represent her Father turned towards his Majesty saying as it runs in the Gospel for that day Philippe qui videt me videt patrem meum making a discourse thereon in favour of the Dutchesse Title whereat the King not seeming to be moved at all keeping his wonted gravity said If the Pope who had Christned this Father another Saint Paul for so he was esteemed had known him better he would have stiled him rather a Spirituall mad man Another time the same Father preaching before the Arch. duke took his Text Surge tolle grabatum tuum ambula turning to the Duke said Sir the meaning hereof is Arise up take up your pack and be gone home Moreover in the Chappel of the Duke of Braganza they were wont to sing the Lamentations of Jeremy wherein the Prophet represents the oppression and scorn which the Israelites suffered while they were without a King of their own applying all to themselves and the Castilians as Aquam nostram pecunia bibimus because of the Excise upon their Drink and most other necessaries imposed by King Philip and Servi dominati sunt in nos And again Cecidit Corona capitis nostri alwayes ending with Recordare Domine quid acciderit nobis Intuere respice opprobrium nostrum Haereditas nostra versa est ad alienos In the mean time some comforted themselves with expectations of a change by the return of D. Sebastian whom they would not yet believe to be dead others believing that he was indeed killed in the battell of Africa yet that he should be restored miraculously Some gave great credit to old Prophesies especially to that of an Hermit to King Alfonso the first that he should overcome the Moors with their five Kings and that in the sixteenth Generation his line should fail for a time but that then God should have compassion on them And to a letter of St. Bernard wrot to the same King Alfonso the originall whereof was by the last King of France given to the Ambassadour of Portugall 1641. the tenor of it was that he rendred thanks for the lands bestowed upon him to build a Monastery that in recompence thereof God bad him declare unto him that there should not fail a native of Portugal to sit upon that Throne unlesse for the greatness of their sins God would chastise them for a time but that this time of chastisement should not last 60 years Other Prophesies there were of one St Gil a Dominican and Simon Gomez both living and reputed for Saints But whilst the people busied their heads with these expectations King Philip proceeded sensim sine sensu to establish and confirm his right and power over the kingdome and to break those shackles of Soveraignty wherewith he was fettered whose footsteps his son King Philip the third followed exactly though not with that craft and dissimulation as his Father had done yet during their reigns it must be acknowledged that of many Articles some were observed but as soon as Philip the fourth at present King of Spain was warm in his Throne it was resolved by the Count
choyce of D. Michael de Portogallo son to Count Vimioso of the blood Royall Bishop of Lamego and Pantableone Rodriguez Bishop of Elvas personages of abilities suitable to so high an employment Upon the newes of their landing in Italy the Spaniards in Rome on the one side provided to oppose their entrance at least hinder their reception the French Portugals and Catalonians on the other side resolved to venture their lives in the Cause His Holines fearing a petty war should be kindled in his own bosome and the dishonor that would accrue to him in case that the person of an Ambassador should be violated as it were in his own house gave order to all his Officers Guards to prevent al intended violences Whereupon the Spaniard openly protested that if his Holiness received the Portugal Ambassador they with their Ambassadors would immediatly leave Rome Notwithstanding all oppositions in Novem. 1641 the two Portugal Ambassadors being met by divers Cardinals Princes and Cavaliers well armed entred into Rome and were conducted to the palace of the French Ambassador who with much courtesie received them at his gate always giving them the precedence Hereupon the Spanish Ambassadors the Marquess de los Velos D. John Chiumazzero scattered abroad their Manifestos wherin they labored to prove that his Holiness ought not to receive the Ambassadors of the Duke of Braganza as they stiled him First because he was a tyrant and usurper of a kingdom that had been in the quiet possession of the Catholick kings the space of sixty years Secondly because the Duke was a Rebell and a perjured person having before sworn allegeance to the Catholick King Thirdly that the reception of these Ambassadors would be very much prejudiciall to the Catholick King by giving encouragement to others to attempt the like Rebellions c. The Ambassadors in the mean time lost no time in endeavouring by themselves and by the French Ambassadour who had expresse order for the same from his master to incline his Holiness to admit their Ambassage but his Holiness who had ever shewed himself very timerous to give any disgust to the Spaniard lest they should take occasion to do his Holiness a displeasure or revenge themselves hereafter upon his Nephews resolved to refuse the Ambassage pretending certain violations of the Church Rites in Portugal and that he was much unsatisfied in their King for his detaining in prison the Archbishop of Braga and other Ecclesiasticall persons although his Majesty had most just cause so to doe as shall hereafter appeare So soon as the Spaniards understood this resolution of his Holiness whilst the Portugals were labouring to prove their cause by Declarations Allegations and Arguments as well Political as Legal they resolved to make a quick dispatch of the business and for that purpose had drawn together above two hundred Banditi with intent o seize upon the Bishop of Lamego and carry him away to Naples as they had done the Prince of Sans who was there put to death but the Marques de loâ— Veles was understood by some of his servants that it would be better taken to give the Portugal Ambassadors some high affront upon some encounter in the streets which being communicated to the rest of the Nation whereof there are alwaye many in Rome some to obtain dispensations of marriage others to get spiritual livings they flocked to the Spanish Ambassadors Palace well provided of Army and that they might not be looked on a Souldiers went under the name of Fooâ— men to the Marquess whereof the Poâ—â— taking speciall notice made it known the Marquess that these proceedings in peaceable Citie were much distasted an at the same time sent a Messenger to assure the Bishop of Lamego that he should not fear any thing for that upon the word of his Holiness he should walk the streets untouch't yet upon the 20 of August 1642 the Bishop going to visit the French Ambassador was followed by a Spy of the Marquess to see whither he went which being observed by some of the Bishops retinue they sent a counter-spy to see what they did at the Marquess House and finding there great preparation of Coaches and Men news thereof was brought to the French Ambassador whereupon the French Portugals and Catalonians were soon assembled with their Pistols and Firelocks to convoy home the Bishop who by the way after Sun set was met by the Marquess guarded with â—bove sixty Footmen and eight Coaches full of Captains and Officers called hither from Naples besides divers others and subjects of that Crown So soon as they spied the Bishops Coach the Spaniards â—ried aloud Si fermassero all Ambasciatore â—i Spagna that they should stop for the Ambassador of Spain whereto the Portugals answered che si fermassero loro that they should stop whereupon all leaped out of their Coaches with their naked swords and making a stand discharged one Gun which was followed by both sides with a most gallant volley of shot There were slain on the Portugal part a Knight of Malta and one Lacky that belonged to the French Ambassador together with one Italian and a Portugal Page besides divers wounded On the Spanish part there were eight slain in the place and about 20 wounded the Marquess leaving his Coach and Horses dead crept forth not by the Boot but behind the Coach between the two wheels and fled into the next shop without his hat without any colour in his face or spirit in his body and from thence was carried to the Palace of the Spanish Cardinal Albornoz his Coach standing upon the place till the next day The Bishop of Lamego went back to the house of the French Ambassador and thence to his own House His Holiness much disquieted at these insolencies commanded a guard of Souldiers to be presently put upon the house both of the Marquiss and the Bishop who not long after was by the King of Portugal called home after he had again pressed and urged the Pope by a large memorial of the reasons wherefore he ought to be received and had been again refused About this time was with much artifice contrived and most shamefully effected the imprisonment of that most gallant Prince the Infante Edward called by the Portugals Don Duarte brother to the King now reigning who for divers years before his brother had any thoughts of a Crown had served the Emperor in his Wars with eminent gallantry and as eminent success Upon the newes of the revolt of Portugal this Prince was in the Emperors service being resolved there to continue untill he was betrayed by Don Francisco de Mello a Portugal then Ambassador in the Emperors Court for the Catholick King who notwithstanding all his obligations to the house of Braganza yet with intent to build his fortunes upon their ruine most earnestly sollicites the Emperor to seize upon his person and deliver him up to the King of Spain alleadging how much it concerned the Interests of the Catholick King
that the person of Don Duarte should be secured and how much it behoved his Imperial Majesty in this particular to shew his affection to the Catholick King his brother and to the whole house of Austria shewing that this Prince was the main prop of the house of Braganza that God had left this only remedy in the hands of the house of Austria whereby Portugal may be reduced to obedience that it would be a great error not to make use of this opportunity that if he should escape out of their hands he might by his great insight in Warlick affairs assist his brother and thereby much infest the Catholick King The Emperor having heard this discourse of Mello was at first so farr from being perswaded that he answered him he abhorred the breach of publick Faith and the violation of Hospitality that this would be against the Liberties of the Empire and against his own honor to imprison a Prince for no fault but on the contrary that had deserved so well of the Empire and to whom his Majesty confessed himself very much obliged The Arch-Duke Leopold brother to the Emperor did so farr detest the motion that he said he washt his hands of so foule and shamefull an act yet Mello not at all discouraged pursues his design corrupting with sums of money the Count of Tratmansdorff and some other pensioners to the Crown of Spain but they at length ashamed of the imployment Mello resolves upon a more subtil invention which was to perswade the Emperor to hearken to one Father Diego de Quiroga who of a Souldier turned Monk and was now Confessor to the Empress this Father being wont to give his opinion of such actions as these according to the rules of Interest of State would perswade the Emperor not only that with good conscience he might secure the person of Don Duarte but that for divirs reasons of State he ought to do it His Imperial Majesty at first very unsatisfied in the business was resolved not to do it but by the importunity of Mello and the ghostly perswasions of Quiroga he was at length induced to alter his resolution and to give order to D. Lewes Gonzaga that he should go to Leipen the Princes quarters and to summon him to Ratisbon in the mean time to prevent the ill impression that this would cause in the minds of all men of honor and honesty it was reported abroad that D. Duarte was fled for some misdemeanor and thereupon proposal was made of sixteen thousand crowns to any man that could bring him alive or dead of which the Prince being ignorant escaped very narrowly the hands of some of those people that went searching for him in hopes of the proposed reward when he was com to Ratisbon he was cast into a vile prison appointed only for persons of mean quality and all his Servants imprisoned D. de Francisco de Mello not content herewith now sollicites the Emperor afresh that he may be delivered into the Spaniards hands and sent prisoner to Milain whereto his Majesty would not hearken but on the contrary sent a message to D. Duarte promising upon his word not to deliver him into the hands of the Spaniard but to procure speedily his liberty But his ill usage increasing D. Duarte made all the means possible to get audience of the Emperor which would never be granted nor was it any wonder for there is no face mere ugly or more terrible to the offender tehn the face offended hereupon the Infante made his protestation calling God and man to witness the wrong and injurie done unto him by the Emperor to whom he was neither subject by any obligation or birth that when his brother was made King of Portugal he was in the Emperors service wholly ignorant of any designe of his brothers that if the King of Spain was offended he might revenge himself upon the person offending that that business no way concerned the Emperor All which particulars were acknowledged by his Imperial Majesty by a messenger sent to Don Duarte in prison assuring him again that he should not be delivered into the hands of his enemies yet that his liberty could not be granted for some reasons of State whereupon D. Francisco de Sosa Coutigno Ambassador extraordinary from Portugal to Swethland in the name of the King his Master represented at large to the Diet at Ratisbon the whole proceeding requiring justice and libirty for the Infante But nothing can prevail against Interest the effects of all Manifesto's Petitions and Intercessions were that the Infante was removed from place to place and sent farther off where he had still harder usage only the Emperor seemed yet immutable in his resolution not to deliver him into the hands of the Spaniard untill the most powerfull means in this world to conquer all difficulties was used which is money for upon promise of forty thousand crowns the Emperor contrary to the immunities of the Empire to the rules of hospitality to the priviledge of free Princes to the Law of Nations and contrary to his word and promise so often reiterated yeilded that the most innocent Prince should be sent whether the Catholick King should think meet so he was hurried away towards the State of Milain to remain prisoner in that Castle by the way as he entred into the Spanish Territories he was received by the Count de Siruela the Governor of that state wherethe Commissary of the Emperor took his leav to return to whom D. Duarte said openly Tell thy Master that I am more sorry that I have served so unworthy a Prince then to see my self a prisoner sold into the hands of my enemies but that the just Judg of the World will one day suffer the like dealing towards his children who are no more privildged for being of the house of Austria then my self that am of the blood royal of Portugal and that posterity will judg of him and of me The Emperor in his instructions to those that convoyed the Infante gave express order that in case their prisoner made any attempt to escape they should kill him upon the place Being arrived at Milain he was clapt up in the prison where all the Rogues and Banditi are to be kept with a guard in the same chamber so rude that he could hardly take any sleep Any man of honor would have been pierced to the very soul with this harsh treaty how much more a Prince of so high blood who knew himself descended from so many glorious Kings and allyed to the greatest Princes of Europe for which cause the Kings ever treated the house of Braganza much different from the Grandees of Spain giving them the respect due to soveraign Princes in so much that Philip the second who desired to a base that Family always received the Duke of Braganza under the same cloth of State within the Royal Curtain in all publick Assemblies allowing him always a chair with a cushion and as oft as