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diff --git a/43852-0.txt b/43852-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7d41db --- /dev/null +++ b/43852-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4060 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43852 *** + +[Illustration: _London Printed for W. Chetwood at Cato's head in Russel +Street Covent Garden_] + + + + + THE + + REVOLUTIONS + + OF + + _PORTUGAL_. + + Written in _French_ by the + + Abbot _DE VERTOT_, + Of the ROYAL ACADEMY of + INSCRIPTIONS. + + Done into _English_ from the last _French_ Edition. + + _O think what anxious Moments pass between + The Birth of Plots, and their last fatal Periods! + Oh! 'tis a dreadful Interval of Time, + Fill'd up with Horror all, and big with Death! + Destruction hangs on ev'ry Word we speak, + On ev'ry Thought, till the concluding Stroke + Determines all, and closes our Design._ + + ADDISON'S Cato. + + + _LONDON_, + + Printed for WILLIAM CHETWOOD, at _Cato_'s- + _Head_, in _Russel-Street, Covent-Garden_. M.DCC.XXI. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + To His GRACE + + _PHILIP_ + + Duke of _Wharton_. + + +_May it please your Grace_; + +I am not ignorant of the Censure I lay my-self open to, in offering so +incorrect a Work to a Person of Your Grace's Judgment; and could not +have had Assurance to do it, if I was unacquainted with Your Grace's +Goodness. As this is not the first time of this Excellent Author's +appearing in _English_, my Undertaking must expose me to abundance of +Cavil and Criticism; and I see my-self reduced to the Necessity of +applying to a Patron who is able to protect me. + +Our modern Dedications are meer Daub and Flattery; but 'tis for those +who deserve no better: Your Grace cannot be flatter'd; every body that +knows the Duke of WHARTON, will say there is no praising him, as there +is no loving him more than he deserves. But like other Great Minds, Your +Grace may be blind to your own Merit, and imagine I am complimenting, or +doing something worse, whilst I am only giving your just Character; for +which reason, however fond I am of so noble a Theme, I shall decline +attempting it. Only this I must beg leave to say, Your Grace can't be +enough admir'd for the Universal Learning which you are Master of, for +your Judgment in discerning, your Indulgence in excusing, for the great +Stedfastness of your Soul, for your Contempt of Power and Grandeur, your +Love for your Country, your Passion for Liberty, and (which is the best +Characteristick) your Desire of doing Good to Mankind. I can hardly +leave so agreeable a Subject, but I cannot say more than all the World +knows already. + +Your Grace's illustrious Father has left a Name behind Him as glorious +as any Person of the Age: it is unnecessary to enter into the +Particulars of his Character; to mention his Name, is the greatest +Panegyrick: Immediately to succeed that Great Man, must have been +extremely to the Disadvantage of any other Person, but it is far from +being so to Your Grace; it makes your Virtues but the more conspicuous, +and convinces us the Nation is not without one Man worthy of being his +Successor. + +I have nothing more to trouble Your Grace with, than only to wish you +the Honours you so well deserve, and to beg you would excuse my +presuming to honour my-self with the Title of, + + _May it please your Grace, + Your Grace's most Obedient, + Humble Servant_, + + Gabriel Roussillon. + + + + +[Illustration] + + +PREFACE. + + +_Amongst the Historians of the present Age, none has more justly +deserv'd, neither has any acquir'd a greater Reputation than the Abbot +~de Vertot~; not only by this Piece, but also by the ~Revolutions +of~ Sweden ~and of~ Rome, which he has since publish'd._ + +_This small History he has extracted from the[A] Writings of several +~French~, ~Spanish~, ~Portuguese~, and ~Italian~ Authors, as +well as from the Testimony of many Persons, who were in ~Lisbon~ at +the time of the Revolution. And I believe that it will be no difficult +matter to persuade the Reader, that this little Volume is written with +much more Politeness and Fidelity than any which has been publish'd on +this Subject._ + +_And indeed there could be no Man fitter to undertake the Work than +Monsieur ~de Vertot~; not only as he was Master of an excellent Style, +and had all the Opportunities imaginable of informing himself of the +Truth, but also as he could have no Interest in speaking partially of +either the one or the other Party; and therefore might say much more +justly than ~Salust, de Conjuratione, Quam verissime potero, paucis +absolvam; eoque magis, quod mihi a Spe, Metu, Partibus Reipublicæ Animus +liber est~._ + +_Would I undertake to prove the Impartiality of my Author, I could +easily do it from several little Circumstances of his History. Does he +not tell us, that the Inquisition is oftner a Terror to honest Men than +to Rogues? Does he not paint the Archbishop of ~Braga~ in all the +Colours of a Traitor? And I am fully persuaded, that if a Churchman will +own and discover the Frailties, or rather the Enormities of those of his +own Cloth, he will tell them in any thing else, and is worthy of being +believed._ + +_There are several Passages in the following Sheets, which really +deserve our Attention; we shall see a Nation involv'd in Woe and Ruin, +and all their Miseries proceeding from the Bigotry and Superstition of +their Monarch, whose Zeal hurries him to inevitable Destruction, and +whose Piety makes him sacrifice the Lives of ~13000~ Christians, +without so much as having the Satisfaction of converting one obstinate +Infidel._ + +_Such was the Fate of the rash Don ~Sebastian~, who seem'd born to be +the Blessing of his People, and Terror of his Foes; who would have made +a just, a wise, a truly pious Monarch, had not his Education been +entrusted to a Jesuit. Nor is he the only unfortunate Prince, who, +govern'd by intriguing and insinuating Churchmen, have prov'd the Ruin +of their Kingdom, and in the end lost both their Crown and Life._ + +_We shall see a People, who, no longer able to bear a heavy Yoke, resolve +to shake it off, and venture their Lives and their Fortunes for their +Liberty: A Conspiracy prevail, (if an Intent to revolt from an Usurping +Tyrant may be call'd a Conspiracy) in which so many Persons, whose +Age, Quality and Interest were very different, are engag'd; and by the +Courage and Publick Spirit of a few, a happy and glorious Revolution +brought about._ + +_But scarce is the new King settled upon his Throne, and endeavouring to +confirm his Authority abroad, when a horrid Conspiracy is forming +against him at home; we shall see a Prelate at the head of the Traitors, +who, tho a bigotted Churchman, makes no scruple of borrowing the +Assistance of the most profess'd Enemies of the Church to deliver her +out of Danger, and to assassinate his Lawful King: but the whole Plot is +happily discover'd, and those who were engaged in it meet with the just +Reward of Treason and Rebellion, the Block and Gallows. Nor is it the +first time that our own Nation has seen an Archbishop doing King and +Country all the harm he could._ + +_After the Death of her Husband, we see a Queen of an extraordinary +Genius, and uncommon Courage, taking the Regency upon her; and tho at +first oppress'd with a Load of Misfortunes, rises against them all, and +in the end triumphs over her Enemies._ + +_Under the next Reign we see the Kingdom almost invaded by the antient +Usurper, and sav'd only by the Skill of a Wife and Brave General, who +had much ado to keep the Foes out, whilst the People were divided at +home, and loudly complain'd of the Riots and Debaucheries of their +Monarch, and the Tyrannick Conduct of his Minister. But we find how +impossible a thing it is, that so violent a Government should last long; +his Brother, a Prince whose Virtues were as famous, as the other's Vices +were odious, to preserve the Crown in their Family, is forced to depose +him, and take the Government upon himself: ~Ita Imperium semper ad +optumum quemq; ab minus bono transfertur~._ + + + + +[Illustration] + + + THE + + REVOLUTION + + OF + + _PORTUGAL_. + + +Portugal is part of that vast Tract of Land, known by the Name of +_Iberia_ or _Spain_, most of whose Provinces are call'd Kingdoms. It is +bounded on the West by the Ocean, on the East by _Castile_. Its Length +is about a hundred and ten Leagues, and its Breadth in the very broadest +part does not exceed fifty. The Soil is fruitful, the Air wholesome; and +tho under such a Climate we might expect excessive Heats, yet here we +always find them allay'd with cooling Breezes or refreshing Rains. Its +Crown is Hereditary, the King's Power Despotick, nor is the grand +Inquisition the most useless means of preserving this absolute +Authority. The _Portuguese_ are by Nature proud and haughty, very +zealous, but rather superstitious than religious; the most natural +Events will amongst them pass for Miracles, and they are firmly +persuaded that Heaven is always contriving something or other for their +Good. + +Who the first Inhabitants of this Country were, is not known, their own +Historians indeed tell us that they are sprung from _Tubal_; for my +part, I believe them descended from the _Romans_ and _Carthaginians_, +who long contended for those Provinces, and who were both at sundry +times in actual possession of them. About the beginning of the fifth +Century, the _Swedes_, the _Vandals_, and all those other barbarous +Nations, generally known by the Name of _Goths_, over-run the Empire; +and, amongst other Places, made themselves Masters of the Provinces of +_Spain_. _Portugal_ was then made a Kingdom, and was sometimes govern'd +by its own Prince, at other times it was reckon'd part of the Dominions +of the King of _Castile_. + +[Sidenote: 712.] + +About the beginning of the eighth Century, during the Reign of +_Roderick_, the last King of the _Goths_, the _Moors_, or rather the +_Arabians_, _Valid Almanzor_ being their Caliph, enter'd _Spain_. They +were received and assisted by _Julian_, an _Italian_ Nobleman, who made +the Conquest of those Places easy, which might otherwise have proved +difficult, not out of any Affection to the _Arabians_, but from a +Desire of revenging himself on _Roderick_, who had debauched his +Daughter. + +[Sidenote: 717.] + +The _Arabians_ soon made themselves Masters of all the Country between +the Streights of _Gibraltar_ and the _Pyrenees_, excepting the Mountains +of _Asturia_; where the Christians, commanded by Prince _Pelagus_, fled, +who founded the Kingdom _Oviedo_ or _Leon_. + +_Portugal_, with the rest of _Spain_, became subject to the Infidels. In +each respective Province, Governours were appointed, who after the Death +of _Almanzor_ revolted from his Successor, made themselves independent +of any other Power, and took the Title of Sovereign Princes. + +They were driven out of _Portugal_ about the beginning of the twelfth +Century, by _Henry_ Count of _Burgundy_, Son to _Robert_ King of +_France_. This Prince, full of the same Zeal which excited so many +others to engage in a holy War, went into _Spain_ on purpose to attack +the Infidels; and such Courage, such Conduct did he show, that +_Alphonso_ VI. King of _Castile_ and _Leon_, made him General of his +Army: and afterwards, that he might for ever engage so brave a Soldier, +he married him to one of his Daughters, named _Teresia_, and gave him +all those Places from which he had driven the _Moors_. The Count, by new +Conquests, extended his Dominions, and founded the Kingdom of +_Portugal_, but never gave himself the Royal Title. + +[Sidenote: 1139.] + +_Alphonso_, his Son, did not only inherit his Father's Dominions, but +his Virtues also; and not content with what the Count his Father had +left him, he vigorously carried on the War, and encreas'd his +Territories. Having obtained a signal Victory over the _Arabians_, his +Soldiers unanimously proclaimed him King; which Title his Successors +have ever since borne. + +And now this Family had sway'd the Scepter of _Portugal_ for almost the +space of five hundred Years, when Don _Sebastian_ came to the Crown; he +was the posthumous Son of Don _John_, who died some time before his +Father, Don _John_ III. Son of the renowned King _Emanuel_. + +[Sidenote: 1557.] + +Don _Sebastian_ was not above three Years of Age when the old King died; +his Grandmother _Catherine_, of the House of _Austria_, Daughter to +_Philip_ I. King of _Castile_, and Sister to the Emperor _Charles_ V. +was made Regent of _Portugal_ during his Minority. Don _Alexis de +Menezes_, a Nobleman noted for his singular Piety, was appointed +Governour to the young King, and Don _Lewis de Camara_, a Jesuit, was +named for his Tutor. + +From such Teachers as these, what might not be expected? They filled his +Mind with Sentiments of Honour, and his Soul with Devotion. But, (which +may at first appear strange or impossible) these Notions were too often, +and too strongly inculcated in him. + +_Menezes_ was always telling the young Prince what Victories his +Predecessors had obtain'd over the _Moors_ in the _Indies_, and in +almost every part of _Africa_. On the other hand, the Jesuit was +perpetually teaching him, that the Crown of Kings was the immediate +Gift of _God_, and that therefore the chiefest Duty of a Prince was to +propagate the Holy Gospel, and to have the Word of the _Lord_ preached +to those Nations, who had never heard of the Name of _Christ_. + +These different Ideas of Honour and Religion made a deep impression on +the Heart of Don _Sebastian_, who was naturally pious. Scarce therefore +had he taken the Government of _Portugal_ upon himself, but he thought +of transporting an Army into _Africa_; and to that end he often +conferr'd with his Officers, but oftener with his Missionaries and other +Ecclesiasticks. + +A Civil War breaking out about this time in _Morocco_, seem'd very much +to favour his Design. The Occasion was this: _Muley Mahomet_ had caus'd +himself to be proclaim'd King of _Morocco_ after the Death of _Abdalla_, +his Father; _Muley Moluc_, _Abdalla_'s Brother, opposed him, objecting +that he had ascended the Throne contrary to the Law of the Cherifs, by +which it is ordained, That the Crown shall devolve to the King's +Brethren, if he has any, and his Sons be excluded the Succession. This +occasion'd a bloody War between the Uncle and the Nephew; but _Muley +Moluc_, who was as brave a Soldier as he was a wise Commander, defeated +_Mahomet_'s Army in three pitch'd Battles, and drove him out of +_Africa_. + +The exil'd Prince fled for Refuge to the Court of _Portugal_, and +finding Access to Don _Sebastian_, told him, that notwithstanding his +Misfortunes, there were still a considerable Number of his Subjects, who +were loyal in their Hearts, and wanted only an Opportunity of declaring +themselves in his favour. That besides this, he was very well assured +that _Moluc_ was afflicted with a lingring Disease, which prey'd upon +his Vitals; that _Hamet_, _Moluc_'s Brother, was not belov'd by the +People; that therefore if Don _Sebastian_ would but send him with a +small Army into _Africa_, so many of his Subjects would come over to +him, that he did not in the least question but that he should soon +re-establish himself in his Father's Dominions: which, if he did recover +by these means, the Kingdom should become tributary to the Crown of +_Portugal_; nay, that he would much rather have Don _Sebastian_ himself +fill the Throne of _Morocco_, than see it in possession of the present +Usurper. + +Don _Sebastian_, who was ever entertaining himself with the Ideas of +future Conquests, thought this Opportunity of planting the Christian +Religion in _Morocco_ was not to be neglected; and therefore promis'd +the _Moorish_ King not only his Assistance, but rashly engaged himself +in the Expedition, giving out that he intended to command the Army in +Person. The wisest of his Counsellors in vain endeavour'd to dissuade +him from the dangerous Design. His Zeal, his Courage, an inconsiderate +Rashness, the common Fault of Youth, as well as some Flatterers, the +Bane of Royalty, and Destruction of Princes, all prompted him to +continue fixed in his Resolution, and persuaded him that he needed only +appear in _Africa_ to overcome, and that his Conquests would be both +easy and glorious. To this end he embarked with an Army of Thirteen +Thousand Men, with which he was to drive a powerful Prince out of his +own Dominions. + +_Moluc_ had timely notice given him of the _Portuguese_ Expedition, and +of their landing in _Africa_; he had put himself at the head of Forty +Thousand Horsemen, all disciplin'd Soldiers, and who were not so much to +be dreaded for their Number and Courage, as they were for the Conduct of +their General. His Infantry he did not at all value himself upon, not +having above Ten Thousand Regular Men; there was indeed a vast Number of +the Militia, and others of the People who came pouring down to his +Assistance, but these he justly look'd upon as Men who were rather come +to plunder than to fight, and who would at any time side with the +Conqueror. + +Several Skirmishes were fought, but _Moluc_'s Officers had private +Orders still to fly before the Foe, hoping thereby to make the +_Portuguese_ leave the Shore, where they had intrench'd themselves. This +Stratagem had its desir'd Effect; for Don _Sebastian_ observing that the +_Moors_ still fled before him, order'd his Army to leave their +Intrenchments, and marched against the Foe as to a certain Victory. +_Moluc_ made his Army retire, as if he did not dare to fight a decisive +Battle; nay, sent Messengers to Don _Sebastian_, who pretended they were +order'd to treat of Peace. The King of _Portugal_ immediately concluded, +that his Adversary was doubtful of the Success of the War, and that +'twould be an easier matter to overcome _Moluc_'s Army, than to join +them; he therefore indefatigably pursued them. But the _Moor_ had no +sooner drawn him far enough from the Shore, and made it impossible for +him to retire to his Fleet, but he halted, faced the _Portuguese_, and +put his Army in Battalia; the Horse making a half Circle, with intent, +as soon as they engaged, to surround the Enemy on every side. _Moluc_ +made _Hamet_, his Brother and Successor, Commander in chief of the +Cavalry; but as he doubted his Courage, he came up to him a little +before the Engagement, told him that he must either conquer or die, and +that should he prove Coward enough to turn his back upon the Foe, he +would strangle him with his own hand. + +The reason why _Moluc_ did not command the Army himself, was, that he +was sensible of the Increase of his lingring Disease, and found that in +all probability this Day would be his last, and therefore resolved to +make it the most glorious of his Life. He put his Army, as I said +before, in Battalia himself, and gave all the necessary Orders with as +much Presence of Mind, as if he had enjoy'd the greatest Health. He went +farther than this; for foreseeing what a sudden Damp the News of his +Death might cast upon the Courage of his Soldiers, he order'd the +Officers that were about him, that if during the Heat of the Battle he +should die, they should carefully conceal it, and that even after his +Death, his _Aides de Camp_ should come up to his Litter, as if to +receive fresh Orders. After this he was carried from Rank to Rank, where +he exhorted his Soldiers to fight bravely for the Defence of their +Religion and their Country. + +But now the Combat began, and the great Artillery being discharg'd, the +Armies join'd. The _Portuguese_ Infantry soon routed the _Moorish_ +Foot-Soldiers, who, as was before mention'd, were raw and undisciplin'd; +the Duke _d'Aviedo_ engaged with a Parry of Horse so happily, that they +gave ground, and retir'd to the very Center of the Army, where the King +was. Enraged at so unexpected a Sight, notwithstanding what his Officers +could say or do, he threw himself out of his Litter; Sword in hand he +clear'd himself a Passage, rallied his flying Soldiers, and led them +back himself to the Engagement. But this Action quite exhausting his +remaining Strength and Spirits, he fainted; his Officers put him into +his Litter, where he just recover'd Strength enough to put his Finger +upon his Mouth once more, to enjoin Secrecy, then died before they could +convey him back to his Tent. His Commands were obey'd, and the News of +his Death conceal'd. + +[Sidenote: _Aug. 4. 1578._] + +Hitherto the Christians seem'd to have the Advantage, but the _Moorish_ +Horse advancing at last, hemm'd in _Sebastian_'s whole Army, and +attack'd them on every side. The Cavalry was drove back upon their +Infantry, whom they trampled under foot, and spread every where amongst +their own Soldiers, Disorder, Fear, and Confusion. The Infidels seiz'd +upon this Advantage, and Sword in hand fell upon the conquer'd Troops; a +dreadful Slaughter ensu'd, some on their knees begg'd for quarter, +others thought to save themselves by flight, but being surrounded by +their Foes, met their Fate in another place. The rash Don _Sebastian_ +himself was slain, but whether he fell amidst the Horror and Confusion +of the Battle, not being known by the _Moors_, or whether he was +resolv'd not to survive the Loss of so many of his Subjects, whom he had +led on to a Field of Slaughter, is doubtful. _Muley Mahomet_ got off, +but passing the River _Mucazen_, was drown'd. Thus perish'd, in one +fatal Day, three Heroick Princes. + +The Cardinal, Don Henry, great Uncle to Don _Sebastian_, succeeded him; +he was Brother to _John_ III. the late King's Grandfather, and Son to +_Emanuel_. During his Reign, his pretended Heirs made all the Interest +they could in the Court of _Portugal_, being well assur'd that the +present King, who was weak and sickly, and sixty-seven Years old, could +not be long-liv'd; nor could he marry, and leave Children behind him, +for he was a Cardinal, and in Priest's Orders. The Succession was +claim'd by _Philip_ II. King of _Spain_; _Catherine_ of _Portugal_, +espous'd to Don _James_, Duke of _Braganza_; by the Duke of _Savoy_; the +Duke of _Parma_; and by _Antonio_, Grand Prior of _Crete_: They all +publish'd their respective Manifesto's, in which every one declar'd +their Pretensions to the Crown. + +_Philip_ was Son to the Infanta _Isabella_, eldest Daughter of King +_Emanuel_. The Dutchess of _Braganza_ was Granddaughter to the same King +_Emanuel_, by _Edward_ his second Son. The Duke of _Savoy_'s Mother was +the Princess _Beatrix_, a younger Sister of the Empress _Isabella_. The +Duke of _Parma_ was Son to _Mary_ of _Portugal_, the second Daughter of +Prince _Edward_, and Sister to the Dutchess of _Braganza_. Don _Lewis_, +Duke of _Beja_, was second Son to King _Emanuel_ by _Violenta_, the +finest Lady of that Age, whom he had debauch'd, but whom the Grand Prior +pretended to have been privately married to that Prince. _Catherine de +Medicis_, amongst the rest, made her Claim, as being descended from +_Alphonso_ III. King of _Portugal_, and _Maud_ Countess of _Bolonia_. +The _Pope_ too put in his Claim; he would have it, that after the Reign +of the _Cardinal_, _Portugal_ must be look'd upon as a fat Living in his +Gift, and to which, like many a modern Patron, he would willingly have +presented himself. + +But notwithstanding all their Pretensions, it plainly appear'd that the +Succession belong'd either to _Philip_ King of _Spain_, or to the +Dutchess of _Braganza_, a Lady of an extraordinary Merit, and belov'd by +the whole Nation. The Duke, her Spouse, was descended, tho not in a +direct Line, from the Royal Blood, and she herself was sprung from +Prince _Edward_; whereas the King of _Spain_ was Son to _Edward_'s +Sister: besides, by the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, all Strangers +were excluded the Succession. This _Philip_ own'd, since thereby the +Pretensions of _Savoy_ and _Parma_ vanish'd; but he would by no means +acknowledge himself a Stranger in _Portugal_, which he said had often +been part of the Dominions of the King of _Castile_. Each had their +several Parties at Court, and the _Cardinal_ King was daily press'd to +decide the Difference, but always evaded it; he could not bear to hear +of his Successors, and would willingly have liv'd to have bury'd all his +pretended Heirs: however, his Reign lasted but 17 Months, and by his +Death _Portugal_ became the unhappy Theatre of Civil Wars. + +[Sidenote: 1580.] + +By his last Will he had order'd, that a Juncto, or Assembly of the +States, should be call'd, to settle the Succession; but King _Philip_ +not caring to wait for their Decision, sent a powerful Army into +_Portugal_, commanded by the Duke of _Alba_, which ended the Dispute, +and put _Philip_ in possession of that Kingdom. + +[Sidenote: 1581.] + +We cannot find that the Duke of _Braganza_ us'd any Endeavours to assert +his Right by force of Arms. The Grand Prior indeed did all he could to +oppose the _Castilians_; the Mob had proclaim'd him King, and he took +the Title upon him, as if it had been given by the States of _Portugal_: +and his Friends rais'd some Forces for him, but they were soon cut in +pieces by the Duke of _Alba_, than whom _Spain_ could not have chosen a +better General. As much as the _Portuguese_ hate the _Castilians_, yet +could they not keep them out, being disunited among themselves, and +having no General, nor any Regular Troops on foot. Most of the Towns, +for fear of being plunder'd, capitulated, and made each their several +Treaty; so that in a short time _Philip_ was acknowledg'd their lawful +Sovereign by the whole Nation, as being next Heir Male to his great +Uncle, the late King: of such wondrous use is open Force to support a +bad Cause! + +After him reign'd his Son and Grandson, _Philip_ III. and IV. who us'd +the _Portuguese_ not like Subjects, but like a conquer'd People; and the +Kingdom of _Portugal_ saw itself dwindle into a Province of _Spain_, and +so weaken'd, that there was no hope left of recovering their Liberty: +Their Noblemen durst not appear in an Equipage suitable to their Birth, +for fear of making the _Spanish_ Ministers jealous of their Greatness or +Riches; the Gentry were confin'd to their Country-Seats, and the People +oppress'd with Taxes. + +The Duke of _Olivarez_, who was then first Minister to _Philip_ IV. King +of _Spain_, was firmly persuaded, that all means were to be us'd to +exhaust this new Conquest; he was sensible of the natural Antipathy of +the _Portuguese_ and _Castilians_, and thought that the former could +never calmly behold their chief Posts fill'd with Strangers, or at best +with _Portuguese_ of a _Plebeian_ Extraction, who had nothing else to +recommend 'em but their Zeal for the Service of _Spain_. He thought +therefore, that the surest way of establishing King _Philip_'s Power, +was to remove the Nobility of _Portugal_ from all Places of Trust, and +so to impoverish the People, that they should never be capable of +attempting to shake off the _Spanish_ Yoke. Besides this, he employ'd +the _Portuguese_ Youth in foreign Wars, resolving to drain the Kingdom +of all those who were capable of bearing Arms. + +As politick as this Conduct of _Olivarez_ might appear, yet did he miss +his aim; for carrying his Cruelty to too high a pitch, at a time when +the Court of _Spain_ was in distress, and seeming rather to plunder an +Enemy's Country, than levying Taxes from the _Portuguese_, who daily saw +their Miseries encrease, and be the consequence of their Attempt what it +would, they could never fare worse; unanimously resolv'd to free +themselves from the intolerable Tyranny of Spain. + +[Sidenote: 1640.] + +_Margaret of Savoy_, Dutchess of _Mantua_, was then in _Portugal_, where +she had the Title of Vice-Queen, but was very far from having the Power. +_Miguel Vasconcellos_, a _Portuguese_ by Birth, but attach'd to the +_Spanish_ Interest, had the Name of Secretary of State, but was indeed +an absolute and independent Minister, and dispatch'd, without the +knowledge of the Vice-Queen, all the secret Business; his Orders he +receiv'd directly from _d'Olivarez_, whose Creature he was, and who +found him absolutely necessary for extorting vast Sums of Money from the +_Portuguese_. He was so deeply learn'd in the Art of Intriguing, that he +could perpetually make the Nobility jealous of one another, then would +he foment their Divisions, and encrease their Animosities, whereby the +_Spanish_ Government became every day more absolute; for the Duke was +assur'd, that whilst the Grandees were engag'd in private Quarrels, they +would never think of the Common Cause. + +The Duke of _Braganza_ was the only Man in all _Portugal_, of whom the +_Spaniards_ were now jealous. His Humour was agreeable, and the chief +thing he consulted was his Ease. He was a Man rather of sound Sense, +than quick Wit. He could easily make himself Master of any Business to +which he apply'd his Mind, but then he never car'd much for the Trouble +on't. Don _Theodosius_, Duke of _Braganza_, his Father, was of a fiery +and passionate Temper, and had taken care to infuse in his Son's Mind an +Hereditary Aversion to the _Spaniards_, who had usurp'd a Crown, that of +Right belonged to him; to swell his Mind with the Ambition of +repossessing himself of a Throne, which his Ancestors had been unjustly +depriv'd of; and to fill his Soul with all the Courage that would be +necessary for the carrying on of so great a Design. + +Nor was this Prince's Care wholly lost; Don _John_ had imbib'd as much +of the Sentiments of his Father as were consistent with so mild and easy +a Temper. He abhorr'd the _Spaniards_, yet was not at all uneasy at his +Incapacity of revenging himself. He entertain'd Hopes of ascending the +Throne of _Portugal_, yet did he not shew the least Impatience, as Duke +_Theodosius_, his Father, had done, but contented himself with a distant +Prospect of a Crown; nor would for an Uncertainty venture the Quiet of +his Life, and a Fortune which was already greater than what was well +consistent with the Condition of a Subject. Had he been precisely what +Duke _Theodosius_ wish'd him, he had never been fit for the great +Design; for _d'Olivarez_ had him observ'd so strictly, that had his easy +and pleasant manner of Living proceeded from any other Cause but a +natural Inclination, it had certainly been discover'd, and the Discovery +had prov'd fatal both to his Life and Fortune: at least the Court of +_Spain_ would never have suffer'd him to live in so splendid a manner in +the very Heart of his Country. + +Had he been the most refin'd Politician, he could never have liv'd in a +manner less capable of giving Suspicion. His Birth, his Riches, his +Title to the Crown, were not criminal in themselves, but became so by +the Law of Policy. This he was very sensible of, and therefore chose +this way of Living, prompted to it as well by Nature as by Reason. It +would have been a Crime to be formidable, he must therefore take care +not to appear so: At _Villa-Viciosa_, the Seat of the Dukes of +_Braganza_, nothing was thought of but Hunting-Matches, and other Rural +Diversions; the Brightness of his Parts could not in the least make the +_Spaniards_ apprehend any bold Undertaking, but the Solidity of his +Understanding made the _Portuguese_ promise themselves the Enjoyment of +a mild and easy King, provided they would undertake to raise him to the +Throne. But an Accident soon after happen'd, which very much alarm'd +_Olivarez_. + +Some new Taxes being laid upon the People of _Evora_, which they were +not able to pay, reduc'd 'em to Despair; upon which they rose in a +tumultuous manner, loudly exclaiming against the _Spanish_ Tyranny, and +declaring themselves in favour of the House of _Braganza_. Then, but too +late, the Court of _Spain_ began to be sensible of their Error, in +leaving so rich and powerful a Prince in the Heart of a Kingdom so +lately subdued, and to whose Crown he had such Legal Pretensions. + +This made the Council of _Spain_ immediately determine, that it was +necessary to secure the Duke of _Braganza_, or at best not to let him +make any longer stay in _Portugal_. To this end they nam'd him Governour +of _Milan_, which Government he refus'd, alledging the Weakness of his +Constitution for an Excuse: besides, he said he was wholly unacquainted +with the Affairs of _Italy_, and by consequence not capable of +acquitting himself in so weighty a Post. + + * * * * * + +[Sidenote: 1640.] + +The Duke _d'Olivarez_, seem'd to approve of the Excuse, and therefore +began to think of some new Expedient to draw him to Court. The King's +marching at the head of his Army to the Frontiers of _Arragon_, to +suppress the rebelling _Catalonians_, was a very good Pretence; he wrote +to the Duke of _Braganza_, "to come at the head of the _Portuguese_ +Nobility to serve the King in an Expedition, which could not but be +glorious, since his Majesty commanded it in Person." The Duke, who had +no great relish for any Favour confer'd by the Court of _Spain_, excus'd +himself, upon pretence that "his Birth would oblige him to be at a much +greater Expence than what he was at present able to support." + +This second Refusal alarm'd _d'Olivarez_. Notwithstanding Don _John_'s +easy Temper, he began to be afraid that the _Evorians_ had made an +impression upon his Thoughts, by reminding him of his Right to the +Throne. It was dangerous to leave him any longer in his Country, and +equally dangerous to hurry him out of it by force; so great a Love had +the _Portuguese_ ever bore to the House of _Braganza_, so great a +Respect did they bear to this Duke in particular. He must therefore +treacherously be drawn into _Spain_, nor could any properer means be +thought of, for compassing this end, than by shewing him all the seeming +Tokens of an unfeigned Friendship. + +_France_ and _Spain_ were at that time engag'd in War, and the _French_ +Fleet had been seen off the Coasts of _Portugal_. This gave the +_Spanish_ Minister a fair opportunity of accomplishing his Ends; for it +was necessary to have an Army on foot, under the Command of some brave +General, to hinder the _French_ from making a Descent, or landing any +where in _Portugal_. The Commission was sent to the Duke of _Braganza_, +with an absolute Authority over all the Towns and Garisons, as well as a +Power over the Maritime Forces; in short, so unlimited was the Command +given him, that the Minister seem'd blindly to have deliver'd all +_Portugal_ into his power: but this was only the better to colour his +Design. Don _Lopez Ozorio_, the _Spanish_ Admiral, had private Orders +sent him, that as soon as Don _John_ should visit any of the Ports, he +should put in, as if drove by stress of Weather; then artfully invite +the General aboard, immediately hoist sail, and with all possible +expedition bring him into _Spain_. But propitious Fortune seem'd to have +taken him into her Protection; a violent Storm arose, which dispers'd +the _Spanish_ Fleet, part of which suffer'd shipwreck, and the rest +were so shatter'd, that they could not make _Portugal_. + +This ill Success did not in the least discourage _Olivarez_, or make him +drop his Project; he attributed the Escape of the Duke of _Braganza_ to +meer Chance: he wrote him a Letter, full of Expressions of Friendship, +and as if he had with him shar'd the Government of the whole Kingdom, +wherein he deplor'd the Loss of the Fleet, and told him, that the King +now expected that he would carefully review all the Ports and their +respective Fortifications, seeing that the Fleet, which was to defend +the Coasts of _Portugal_ from the Insults of the _French_, had miserably +perish'd. And that his Villany might not be suspected, he return'd him +Forty Thousand Ducats to defray his Expences, and to raise more Troops, +in case there should be a necessity of them. At the same time he sent +private Orders to all the Governours of Forts and Citadels, (the +greatest part whereof were _Spaniards_) that if they should find a +favourable occasion of securing the Duke of _Braganza_, they should do +it, and forthwith convey him into _Spain_. + +This entire Confidence which was repos'd in him, alarm'd the Duke; he +plainly saw that there was Treachery intended, and therefore thought it +just to return the Treachery. He wrote an Answer to _Olivarez_, wherein +he told him, that with Joy he accepted the Honour which the King had +confer'd upon him, in naming him his General, and promis'd so to +discharge the important Trust, as to deserve the Continuation of his +Majesty's Favour. + +But now the Duke began to have a nearer Prospect of the Throne; nor did +he neglect this opportunity of putting some of his Friends into Places +of Trust, that they might be the more able to serve him upon occasion; +he also employ'd part of the _Spanish_ Money in making new Creatures, +and confirming those in his Interest whom he had already made. And as he +partly mistrusted the _Spaniards_ Design, he never visited any Fort, but +he was surrounded by such a Number of Friends, that it was impossible +for the Governours to execute their Orders. + +Mean while the Court of _Spain_ loudly murmur'd at the Trust which was +repos'd in Don _John_, they were ignorant of the Prime Minister's Aim, +and therefore some did not stick to tell the King, that his near +Alliance to the House of _Braganza_ made him overlook his Master's +Interest; seeing that it was the highest Imprudence to put so absolute +an Authority into the hands of one who had such Pretensions to the +Crown, and to entrust the Army to the Command of one, who in all +probability might make the Soldiers turn their Arms against their lawful +Sovereign. But the more they complain'd, the better was the King +pleas'd, being persuaded that the Plot was artfully laid, since no one +could unravel the dark Design. Thus _Braganza_ not only had the liberty, +but was oblig'd to visit all _Portugal_, and by that means laid the +Foundation of his future Fortune. The Eyes of the Many were every where +drawn by his magnificent Equipage, all that came to him, he mildly, and +with unequal'd Goodness heard; the Soldiers were not suffer'd to commit +the least Disorders, and he laid hold of all Opportunities of praising +the Conduct of the Officers, and by frequent Recompences bestow'd upon +them, won their Hearts. The Nobility were charm'd with his free +Deportment, he receiv'd every one of them in the most obliging manner, +and paid each the Respect due to his Quality. In short, such was his +Carriage, that the People began to think there could be no greater +Happiness for them upon Earth, than the Restoration of the Prince to the +Throne of his Ancestors. + +Mean while his Party omitted nothing that they thought might contribute +to the establishing of his Reputation. Amongst others, _Pinto Ribeiro_, +Comptroller of his Household, particularly distinguish'd himself, and +was the first who form'd an exact Scheme for the Advancement of his +Master. There was no Man more experienc'd in Business, who at the same +time was so careful, diligent, and watchful: he was firm to the Interest +of the Duke, not doubting but that if he could raise him to the Throne, +he should raise himself to some considerable Post. His Master had often +privately assur'd him, that he would willingly lay hold of any fair +Opportunity for his Restoration, yet would not rashly declare himself, +as a Man who had nothing to lose; that notwithstanding he might +endeavour to gain the Minds of the People, and to make new Creatures, +yet he must do it with that Caution, that it might appear his own Work, +and done without the Consent and Knowledge of the Duke. + +_Pinto_ had spar'd no pains in discovering who were, and the Number of +the Disaffected, which he daily endeavoured to encrease; he rail'd +against the present Government sometimes with Heat, at other times with +Caution, always accommodating himself to the Humour of the Company which +he was in: tho indeed so great was the Hatred which the _Portuguese_ +bore the _Spaniards_, that there was no need of Reserve in complaining +of them. He would often remind the Nobility what honourable Employments +their Forefathers had borne, when _Portugal_ was govern'd by its own +Kings. Then would he mention the Summons which had so much exasperated +the Nobility, and by which they were commanded to attend the King in +_Catalonia_. _Pinto_ us'd to complain of this Hardship as of a kind of +Banishment, from which they would scarce find it possible to return; +that the Pride of the _Spaniards_, who would command them, was +insufferable, and the Expence they should be at intolerable; that this +was only a plausible Pretence to drain _Portugal_ of its bravest Men, +that in all their Expeditions they might be assur'd of being expos'd +where the greatest Danger was, but that they must never hope to share +the least part of the Glory. + +When he was amongst the Merchants and other Citizens, he would bewail +the Misery of his Country, which was ruin'd by the Injustice of the +_Spaniard_, who had transfer'd the Trade, which _Portugal_ carried on +with the _Indies_, to _Cadiz_. Then would he remind them of the Felicity +which the _Dutch_ and _Catalonians_ enjoy'd, who had shaken off the +_Spanish_ Yoke. As for the Clergy, he did not in the least question but +that he should engage 'em in his Interest, and exasperate 'em most +irreconcileably against the _Castilians_; he told them, that the +Immunities and Privileges of the Church were violated, their Orders +contemn'd and neglected, and that all the best Preferments and fattest +Livings were possess'd by foreign Incumbents. + +When he was with those, of whose Disaffection he was already convinc'd, +he would take care to turn his Discourse to his Master, and talk of his +manner of Living. He would often complain, that that Prince shew'd too +little Affection for the Good of his Country, and Concern for his own +Interest; and that at a time when it was in his power to assert his +Title to the Crown, he should seem so regardless of his own Right, and +lead so idle a Life. Finding that these Insinuations made an impression +upon the People, he went still farther: To those who were +publick-spirited, he represented what a glorious thing it would be for +them to lay the Foundations of a Revolution, and to deserve the Name of +_Deliverers of their Country_. Those who had been injur'd and +ill-treated by the _Spaniards_, he would excite to the Desire of +Revenge; and the Ambitious he flatter'd with a Prospect of the Grandeurs +and Preferments they might expect from the new King, would they once +raise him to the Throne. In short, he manag'd every thing with so much +Art, that being privately assur'd of the unshaken Affection of many to +his Master, he procur'd a Meeting of a considerable Number of the +Nobility, with the Archbishop of _Lisbon_ at the head of them. + +This Prelate was of the House of _Acugna_, one of the best Families of +all _Portugal_; he was a Man of Learning, and an excellent Politician, +belov'd by the People, but hated by the _Spaniards_, and whom he had +also just cause to hate, since they had made Don _Sebastian Maltos de +Norognia_, Archbishop of Braga, President of the Chamber of _Opaco_, +whom they had all along prefer'd to him, and to whom they had given a +great share in the Administration of Affairs. + +Another of the most considerable Members of this Assembly, was Don +_Miguel d'Almeida_, a venerable old Man, and who deserv'd, and had the +Esteem of every body; he was very publick-spirited, and was not so much +griev'd at his own private Misfortunes, as at those of his Country, +whose Inhabitants were become the Slaves of an usurping Tyrant. In these +Sentiments he had been educated, and to these with undaunted Courage and +Resolution he still adher'd; nor could the Entreaties of his Relations, +nor the repeated Advices of his Friends, ever make him go to Court, or +cringe to the _Spanish_ Ministers. This Carriage of his had made them +jealous of him. This therefore was the Man whom _Pinto_ first cast his +eyes upon, being well assur'd that he might safely entrust him with the +Secret; besides which, no one could be more useful in carrying on their +Design, his Interest with the Nobility being so great, that he could +easily bring over a considerable Number of them to his Party. + +There were, besides these two, at this first Meeting, Don _Antonio +d'Almada_, an intimate Friend of the Archbishop's, with Don _Lewis_, his +Son; Don _Lewis d'Acugna_, Nephew to that Prelate, and who had married +Don _Antonio d'Almada_'s Daughter; _Mello_ Lord _Ranger_, Don _George_ +his Brother; _Pedro Mendoza_; Don _Rodrigo de Saa_, Lord-Chamberlain: +with several other Officers of the Houshold, whose Places were nothing +now but empty Titles, since _Portugal_ had lost her own natural Kings. + +[Sidenote: Conostagio.] + +The Archbishop, who was naturally a good Rhetorician, broke the Ice in +this Assembly; he made an eloquent Speech, in which he set forth the +many Grievances _Portugal_ had labour'd under since it had been subject +to the Domination of _Spain_. He reminded them of the Number of Nobility +which _Philip_ II. had butchered to secure his Conquest; nor had he been +more favourable to the Church, witness the famous Brief of Absolution, +which he had obtain'd from the Pope for the Murder of Two Thousand +Priests, or others of Religious Orders, whom he had barbarously put to +death, on no other account but to secure his Usurpation: And since that +unhappy time the _Spaniards_ had not chang'd their inhuman Policy; how +many had fallen for no other Crime but their unshaken Love to their +Country! That none of those who were there present, could call their +Lives or their Estates their own: That the Nobility were slighted and +remov'd from all Places of Trust, Profit, or Power: That the Church was +fill'd with a scandalous Clergy, since _Vasconcellos_ had dispos'd of +all the Livings, and to which he had prefer'd his own Creatures only: +That the People were oppress'd with excessive Taxes, whilst the Earth +remain'd untill'd for want of hands, their Labourers being all sent away +by force, for Soldiers to _Catalonia_: That this last Summons for the +Nobility to attend the King, was only a specious Pretence to force them +out of their own Country, lest their Presence might prove an Obstacle to +some cruel Design, which was doubtless on foot: That the mildest Fate +they could hope for, was a tedious, if not a perpetual Banishment; and +that whilst they were ill-treated by the _Castilians_ abroad, Strangers +should enjoy their Estates, and new Colonies take possession of their +Habitations. He concluded by assuring them, that so great were the +Miseries of his Country, that he would rather chuse to die ten thousand +Deaths, than be obliged to see the Encrease of them; nor would he now +entertain one thought of Life, did he not hope that so many Persons of +Quality were not met together in vain. + +This Discourse had its desir'd effect, by reminding every one of the +many Evils which they had suffer'd. Each seem'd earnest to give some +instance of _Vasconcellos_'s Cruelty. The Estates of some had been +unjustly confiscated, whilst others had Hereditary Places and +Governments taken from them; some had been long confin'd in Prisons +thro the Jealousy of the _Spanish_ Ministers, and many bewail'd a +Father, a Brother, or a Friend, either detain'd at _Madrid_, or sent +into _Catalonia_ as Hostages of the Fidelity of their unhappy +Countrymen. In short, there was not one of those who were engag'd in +this Publick Cause, but what had some private Quarrel to revenge: but +nothing provoked them more than the _Catalonian_ Expedition; they +plainly saw, that it was not so much the want of their assistance, as +the desire of ruining them, which made the _Spanish_ Minister oblige +them to that tedious and expensive Voyage. These Considerations, join'd +to their own private Animosities, made 'em unanimously resolve to +venture Life and Fortune, rather than any longer to bear the heavy Yoke: +but the Form of Government which they ought to chuse, caus'd a Division +amongst them. Part of the Assembly were for making themselves a +Republick, as _Holland_ had lately done; others were for a Monarchy, but +could not agree upon the choice of a King: some propos'd the Duke of +_Braganza_, some the Marquis de _Villareal_, and others the Duke +_d'Aviedo_, (all three Princes of the Royal Blood of _Portugal_,) +according as their different Inclinations or Interests byass'd them. But +the Archbishop, who was wholly devoted to the House of _Braganza_, +assuming the Authority of his Character, set forth with great strength +of Reason, That the Choice of a Government was not in their power; that +the Oath of Allegiance which they had taken to the King of _Spain_, +could not in conscience be broken, unless it was with a design to +restore their rightful Sovereign to the Throne of his Fathers, which +every one knew to be the Duke of _Braganza_; that they must therefore +resolve to proclaim him King, or for ever to continue under the Tyranny +of the _Spanish_ Usurper. After this, he made 'em consider the Power and +Riches of this Prince, as well as the great number of his Vassals, on +whom depended almost a third part of the Kingdom. He shew'd 'em it was +impossible for 'em to drive the _Spaniards_ out of _Portugal_, unless he +was at their head: that the only way to engage him, would be by making +him an Offer of the Crown, which they would be under a Necessity of +doing, altho he was not the first Prince of the Royal Blood. Then began +he to reckon all those excellent Qualities with which he was endow'd, as +his Wisdom, his Prudence; but above all, his affable Behaviour, and +inimitable Goodness. In short, his Words prevail'd so well upon every +one, that they unanimously declared him their King, and promis'd that +they would spare no Pains, no Endeavours to engage him to enter into +their Measures: after which, having agreed upon the time and place of a +second Meeting, to concert the ways and means of bringing this happy +Revolution about, the Assembly broke up. + +_Pinto_ observing how well the Minds of the People were dispos'd in +favour of his Master, wrote privately to him, to acquaint him with the +Success of the first Meeting, and advis'd him to come, as if by chance, +to _Lisbon_, that by his Presence he might encourage the Conspirators, +and at the same time get some Opportunity of conferring with them. This +Man spent his whole time in negotiating this grand Affair, yet did it so +artfully, that no one could suspect his having any farther Interest in +it, than his Concern for the Publick Welfare. He seemingly doubted +whether his Master would ever enter into their Measures, objecting his +natural Aversion to any Undertaking which was hazardous and requir'd +Application: then would he start some Difficulties, which were of no +other use but to destroy all Suspicion of his having any Understanding +with his Master, and were so far from being weighty enough to discourage +them, that they rather serv'd to excite their Ardour. + +Upon the Advice given by _Pinto_, the Duke left _Villa-viciosa_, and +came to _Almada_, a Castle near _Lisbon_, on pretence of visiting it as +he had done the other Fortifications of that Kingdom. His Equipage was +so magnificent, and he had with him such a number of the Nobility and +Gentry, as well as of Officers, that he looked more like a King going to +take possession of a Kingdom, than like the Governour of a Province, who +was viewing the Places and Forts under his Jurisdiction: he was so near +_Lisbon_, that he was under an obligation of going to pay his Devoirs to +the Vice-Queen. As soon as he enter'd the Palace-yard, he found the +Avenues crowded with infinite numbers of People, who press'd forward to +see him pass along; and all the Nobility came to wait upon him, and to +accompany him to the Vice-Queen's. It was a general Holiday throughout +the City, and so great was the Joy of the People, that there seem'd only +a Herald wanting to proclaim him King, or Resolution enough in himself +to put the Crown upon his Head. + +But the Duke was too prudent to trust to the uncertain Sallies of an +inconstant People. He knew what a vast difference there was between +their vain Shouts, and that Steddiness which is necessary to support so +great an Enterprize. Therefore after having paid his respects to the +Vice-Queen, and taken leave of her, he return'd to _Almada_, without so +much as going to _Braganza-House_, or passing thro the City, lest he +should encrease the Jealousy of the _Spaniards_, who already seem'd very +uneasy at the Affection which the People had so unanimously express'd +for the Duke. + +_Pinto_ took care to make his Friends observe the unnecessary Caution +which his Master us'd, and that therefore they ought not to neglect this +Opportunity, which his Stay at _Almada_ afforded them, to wait upon that +Prince, and to persuade, nay, as tho it were to force him to accept the +Crown. The Conspirators thought the Counsel good, and deputed him to the +Duke to obtain an Audience. He granted them one, but upon condition +there should come three of the Conspirators only, not thinking it safe +to explain himself before a greater Number. + +_Miguel d'Almeida_, _Antonio d'Almada_, and _Pedro Mendoza_, were the +three Persons pitched upon; who coming by night to the Prince's, and +being introduc'd into his Chamber, _d'Almada_, who was their Spokesman, +represented in few words the present unhappy State of _Portugal_, whose +Natives, of what Quality or Condition soever, had suffer'd so much from +the unjust and cruel _Castilians_: That the Duke himself was as much, if +not more expos'd than any other to their Treachery; that he was too +discerning not to perceive that _d'Olivarez_'s Aim was his Ruin, and +that there was no other Place of Refuge but the Throne; for the +restoring him to which, he had Orders to offer him the Services of a +considerable Number of People of the first Quality, who would willingly +expose their Lives, and sacrifice their Fortunes for his sake, and to +revenge themselves upon the oppressing _Spaniards_. + +He afterwards told them, that the Times of _Charles_ V. and _Philip_ II. +were no more, when _Spain_ held the Ballance of _Europe_ in her hand, +and gave the neighbouring Nations Laws: That this Monarchy, which had +been once so formidable, could scarce now preserve its antient +Territories; that the _French_ and _Dutch_ not only wag'd War against +them, but often overcame 'em; that _Catalonia_ itself employ'd the +greatest part of their Forces; that they scarce had an Army on foot, the +Treasury was exhausted, and that the Kingdom was governed by a weak +Prince, who was himself sway'd by a Minister, abhor'd by the whole +Nation. + +He then observ'd what foreign Protection and Alliances they might depend +on, and be assur'd of; most of the Princes of _Europe_ were profess'd +Enemies to the House of _Austria_; the Encouragement _Holland_ and +_Catalonia_ had met with, sufficiently shew'd what might be expected +from that able[B] Statesman, whose mighty Genius seem'd wholly bent upon +the Destruction of the _Spanish_ King; that the Sea was now open, and he +might have free Communication with whom he pleas'd; that there were +scarce any _Spanish_ Garisons left in _Portugal_, they having been drawn +out to serve in _Catalonia_; that there could never be a more favourable +Opportunity of asserting his Right and Title to the Crown, of securing +his Life, his Fortune, and his Liberty, which were at stake, and of +delivering his Country from Slavery and Oppression. + +We may easily imagine, that there was nothing in this Speech which could +displease the Duke of _Braganza_; however, unwilling to let them see his +Heart, he answer'd the Deputies in such a manner, as could neither +lessen, or encrease their Hopes. He told them, that he was but too +sensible of the Miseries to which _Portugal_ was reduc'd by the +_Castilians_, nor could he think himself secure from their Treachery; +that he very much commended the Zeal which they shew'd for the Welfare +of their Country, and was in an especial manner oblig'd to them for the +Affection which they bore him in particular; that notwithstanding what +they had represented, he fear'd that matters were not ripe for so +dangerous an Enterprize, whose Consequence, should they not bring it to +a happy Period, would prove so fatal to them all. + +Having return'd this Answer, (for a more positive one he would not +return) he caress'd the Deputies, and thank'd them in so obliging a +manner, that they left him, well satisfy'd that their Message was +gratefully receiv'd; but at the same time persuaded, that the Prince +would be no farther concerned in their Design, than giving his content +to the Execution of it, as soon as their Plot should be ripe. + +After their Departure, the Duke confer'd with _Pinto_ about the new +Measures which they must take, and then return'd to _Villa-viciosa_; but +not with that inward Satisfaction of Mind which he had hitherto enjoy'd, +but with a Restlessness of Thought, the too common Companion of Princes. + +As soon as he arriv'd, he communicated those Proportions, which had been +made him, to the Dutchess his Wife. She was of a _Castilian_ Family, +Sister to the Duke of _Medina Sidonia_, a Grandee of _Spain_, and +Governor of _Andalusia_. During her Childhood, her Mind was great and +heroick, and as she grew up, became passionately fond of Honour and +Glory. The Duke, her Father, who perceived this natural Inclination of +hers, took care to cultivate it betimes, and gave the Care of her +Education to Persons who would swell her Breast with[C] Ambition, and +represent it as the chiefest Virtue of Princes. She apply'd herself +betimes to the Study of the different Tempers and Inclinations of +Mankind, and would by the Looks of a Person judge of his Heart; so that +the most dissembling Courtier could scarce hide his Thoughts from her +discerning Eye. She neither wanted Courage to undertake, nor Conduct to +carry on the most difficult things, provided their End was glorious and +honourable. Her Actions were free and easy, and at the same time noble +and majestick; her Air at once inspir'd Love, and commanded Respect. She +took the _Portuguese_ Air with so much ease, that it seem'd natural to +her. She made it her chief Study to deserve the Love and Esteem of her +Husband; nor could the Austerity of her Life, a solid Devotion, and a +perfect Complaisance to all his Actions, fail of doing it. She neglected +all those Pleasures, which Persons of her Age and Quality usually +relish; and the greatest part of her time was employ'd in Studies, which +might adorn her Mind, and improve her Understanding. + +The Duke thought himself compleatly happy in the possession of so +accomplish'd a Lady; his Love could scarce be parallel'd, and his +Confidence in her was entire: He never undertook any thing without her +Advice, nor would he engage himself any farther in a matter of such +consequence, without first consulting with her. He therefore shew'd her +the Scheme of the Revolution; the Names of the Conspirators, and +acquainted her with what had pass'd as well in the Assembly held at +_Lisbon_, as in the Conference he had had with them at _Almada_, and the +Warmth which every one had shown upon this occasion. He told her, That +the Expedition of _Catalonia_ had so incens'd the Nobility, that they +were all resolv'd to revolt, rather than to leave their native Country; +he dreaded, that if he should refuse to lead them on, they would forsake +him, and chuse themselves another Leader. Yet he confess'd, that the +Greatness of the Danger made him dread the Event; that whilst he view'd +the Throne at a distance, the flattering Idea of Royalty was most +agreeable to his Mind, but that now having a nearer Prospect of it, and +of the intervening Obstacles, he was startled; nor could he calmly +behold those Dangers into which he must inevitably plunge himself and +his whole Family, in case of a Discovery: That the People, on whom they +must chiefly depend for the Success, were inconstant, and disheartned by +the least Difficulty: That the Number of Nobility and Gentry which he +had on his side, was not sufficient, unless supported by the Grandees of +the Kingdom; who doubtless, jealous of his Fortune, would oppose it, as +not being able to submit to the Government of one, whom they had all +along look'd upon as their Equal. That these Considerations, as well as +the little Dependance he could make on foreign Assistance, overrul'd his +Ambition, and made him forget the hopes of reigning. But the Dutchess, +whose Soul was truly great, and Ambition her ruling Passion, immediately +declar'd herself in favour of the Conspiracy. She ask'd the Duke, +"Whether in case the _Portuguese_, accepting his Denial, should resolve +to make themselves a Republick, he would side with them, or with the +King of _Spain_?" "With his Countrymen undoubtedly, _he reply'd_; for +whose Liberty he would willingly venture his Life." "And why can you not +do for your own sake, _answer'd she_, what you would do as a Member of +the Commonwealth? The Throne belongs to you, and should you perish in +attempting to recover it, your Fate would be glorious, and rather to be +envy'd than pity'd." After this she urg'd "his undoubted Right to the +Crown; that _Portugal_ was reduc'd to such a miserable State by the +_Castilians_, that it was inconsistent with the Honour of a Person of +his Quality to be an idle Looker-on; that his Children would reproach, +and their Posterity curse his Memory, for neglecting so fair an +Opportunity of restoring them what they ought in justice to have had." +Then she represented the difference between a Sovereign and a Subject, +and the pleasure of ruling, instead of obeying in a servile manner. She +made him sensible, that it would be no such difficult matter to +re-possess himself of the Crown; that tho he could not hope for foreign +Assistance, yet were the _Portuguese_ of themselves able to drive the +_Spaniards_ out of their Country, especially at such a favourable +Juncture as this. In short, so great was her persuasive Art, that she +prevailed upon the Duke to accept the Offer made him, but at the same +time confess'd his Prudence, in letting the Number of the Conspirators +encrease before he join'd with them; nor would she advise him to appear +openly in it, till the Plot was ripe. + +Mean while the Court of _Spain_ grew very jealous or him. Those +extraordinary Marks of Joy, which the _Lisbonites_ had shewn at his +coming thither, had very much alarm'd _d'Olivarez_. It was also +whisper'd about, that there were nightly Meetings and secret Assemblies +held at _Lisbon_: So impossible it is, that a Business of such a +consequence should be wholly conceal'd. + +[Sidenote: _Octob. 20. 1640._] + +Upon this several Councils were held at _Madrid_, in which it was +resolv'd, that the only way to prevent the _Portuguese_ from revolting, +was by taking from them their Leader, in favour of whom it was suppos'd +they intended to revolt. Wherefore _d'Olivarez_ immediately dispatch'd a +Courier to the Duke of _Braganza_, to acquaint him, that the King +desir'd to be inform'd, by his own mouth, of the Strength of every Fort +and Citadel, the Condition of the Sea-Ports, and what Garisons were +plac'd in each of them: to this he added, that his Friends at Court were +overjoy'd at the thoughts of seeing him so soon, and that every one of +them were preparing to receive him with the Respect due to his Quality +and Deserts. + +This News thunder-struck the unhappy Prince; he was well assur'd, that +since so many Pretences were made use of to get him into _Spain_, his +Destruction was resolv'd on, and nothing less than his Life could +satisfy them. They had left off Caresses and Invitations, and had now +sent positive Orders, which either must be obey'd, or probably open +Force would be made use of. He concluded, that he was betray'd. Such is +the Fear of those, whose Thoughts are taken up with great Designs, and +who always imagine that the inquisitive World is prying into their +Actions, and observing all their Steps. Thus did the Duke, whose Conduct +had been always greater than his Courage, dread that he had plung'd +himself into inevitable Destruction. + +But to gain time enough to give the Conspirators notice of his Danger, +by the Advice of the Dutchess, he sent a Gentleman, whose Capacity and +Fidelity he was before assur'd of, to the Court of _Madrid_, to assure +the _Spanish_ Minister, that he would suddenly wait on the King; but had +at the same time given him private Orders to find out all the Pretences +imaginable for the delaying his Journey, hoping in the mean time to +bring the Conspiracy to Ripeness, and thereby to shelter himself from +the impending Storm. + +As soon as this Gentleman arriv'd at _Madrid_, he assur'd the King and +the Duke _d'Olivarez_, that his Master follow'd him. To make his Story +the more plausible, he took a large House, which he furnish'd very +sumptuously, then hir'd a considerable Number of Servants, to whom he +before-hand gave Liveries. In short, he spar'd no Cost to persuade the +_Spaniards_ that his Master would be in a very little time at Court, and +that he intended to appear with an Equipage suitable to his Birth. + +Some days after he pretended to have receiv'd Advice that his Master was +fallen sick. When this Pretence was grown stale, he presented a Memorial +to _d'Olivarez_, in which he desir'd that his Master's Precedence in the +Court might be adjusted. He did not in the least question but that this +would gain a considerable time, hoping that the Grandees, by maintaining +their Rights, would oppose his Claims. But these Delays beginning to be +suspected, the first Minister had the thing soon decided, and always in +favour of the Duke of _Braganza_; so earnestly did he desire to see him +once out of _Portugal_, and to have him safe at _Madrid_. + +The Conspirators no sooner heard of the Orders which the Duke had +receiv'd, but fearing that he might obey them, deputed _Mendoza_ to know +what he intended to do, and to engage him firmly, if possible, to their +Party. This Gentleman was chosen preferably to any other, because he was +Governor of a Town near _Villa-viciosa_; so that he could hide the real +Intent of his Journey from the _Spaniards_, under the specious Pretence +of Business. He did not dare to go directly to the Prince's House, but +took an opportunity of meeting him in a Forest one morning as he was +hunting; they retir'd together into the thickest part of the Wood, where +_Mendoza_ shew'd him what Danger he expos'd himself to, by going to a +place where all were his Enemies: That by this inconsiderate Action the +Hopes of the Nobility, as well as of the People, were utterly +destroy'd: That a sufficient Number of Gentlemen, who were as able to +serve him, as they were willing to do it, or to sacrifice their Lives +for his sake, only waited for his Consent to declare themselves in his +favour: That now was the very Crisis of his Fate, and that he must this +instant resolve to be _Cæsar_ or nothing: That the Business would admit +of no longer Delay, lest the Secret being divulg'd, their Designs should +prove abortive. The Duke, convinc'd of the Truth of what was said to +him, told him that he was of his mind, and that he might assure his +Friends, that as soon as their Plot should be ripe, he would put himself +at the head of them. + +This Conference ended, _Mendoza_ immediately return'd home, for fear of +being suspected, and wrote to some of the Conspirators that he had been +hunting; "We had almost, _continued he_, lost our Game in the Pursuit, +but at last the Day prov'd a Day of good Sport." Some few Days after +_Mendoza_ return'd to _Lisbon_, and acquainted _Pinto_ that his Master +wanted him, who set out as soon as they had together drawn out a shorter +Scheme to proceed upon. Coming to _Villa-viciosa_, the first thing he +acquainted the Duke with, was the Difference which had lately happen'd +at the Court of _Lisbon_, the Vice-Queen loudly complaining of the +haughty Pride and Insolence of _Vasconcellos_; nor could she any longer +bear that all Business should be transacted by him, whilst she enjoy'd +an empty Title, without any the least Authority. What made her +Complaints the juster, was, that she was really a deferring Princess, +and capable of discharging the Trust which was committed to her +Secretary. But it was the Greatness of her Genius, and her other +extraordinary Deserts, which made the Court of _Spain_ unwilling to let +her have a greater share in the Government. _Pinto_ observ'd, that this +Difference could never have happen'd in a better time, seeing that the +Ministers of _Spain_ being taken up with this Business, would not be at +leisure to pry into his Actions, or to observe the Steps he should take. + +The Duke of _Braganza_, since _Mendoza_'s Departure, was fallen into his +wonted Irresolution, and the nearer the Business came to a Crisis, the +more he dreaded the Event: _Pinto_ made use of all his Rhetorick to +excite his Master's Courage, and to draw him into his former Resolution. +Nay, to his Persuasions he added Threatnings; he told him, in spite of +himself, the Conspirators would proclaim him King, and what Dangers must +he run then, when the Crown should be fix'd upon his Head, at a time +when, only for want of necessary Preparation, he was not capable of +preserving it. The Dutchess join'd with this faithful Servant, and +convinc'd the Duke of the Baseness of preferring Life to Honour: he, +charm'd with her Courage, yet asham'd to see it greater than his own, +yielded to their Persuasions. + +Mean while, the Gentleman whom he had sent to _Madrid_, wrote daily to +let him know, that he could no longer defer his Journey on any pretence +whatsoever, and that _Olivarez_ refus'd to hear the Excuses which he +would have made. The Duke, to gain a little longer time, order'd the +Gentleman to acquaint the _Spanish_ Minister, that he had long since +been at _Madrid_, had he had Money enough to defray the Expence of his +Journey, and to appear at Court in a manner suitable to his Quality: +That as soon as he could receive a sufficient Sum, he would immediately +set out. + +This Business dispatch'd, he consulted with the Dutchess and _Pinto_ +about the properest Means of executing their Design: several were +propos'd, but at last this was agreed upon, That the Plot must break out +at _Lisbon_, whose Example might have a good effect upon the other Towns +and Cities of the Kingdom: That the same Day wherein he was proclaim'd +King in the Metropolis, he should be also proclaim'd in every Place +which was under his Dependance; nay, in every Borough and Village, of +which any of the Conspirators were the leading Men, they should raise +the People, so that one half of the Kingdom being up, the other of +course would fall into their Measures, and the few remaining _Spaniards_ +would not know on which side to turn their Arms. His own Regiment he +should quarter in _Elvas_, whose Governour was wholly in his Interest. +That as for the manner of their making themselves Masters of _Lisbon_, +Time and Opportunity would be their best Counsellors; however, the +Duke's Opinion was, that they should seize the Palace in the first +place, so that by securing the Vice-Queen, and the _Spaniards_ of Note, +they would be like so many Hostages in their hands, for the Behaviour of +the Governour and Garison of the Citadel, who otherwise might very much +annoy 'em when they were Masters of the Town. After this, the Duke +having assur'd _Pinto_, that notwithstanding any Change of Fortune, he +should still have the same place in his Affection; he sent him to +_Lisbon_ with two Letters of Trust, one for _Almeida_, the other for +_Mendoza_; wherein he conjur'd 'em to continue faithful to their +Promises, and resolutely and courageously to finish what they had begun. + +As soon as he arriv'd at _Lisbon_, he deliver'd his Letters to _Almeida_ +and _Mendoza_, who instantly sent for _Lemos_ and _Coreo_, whom _Pinto_ +had long since engag'd in the Interest of his Master. These were two +rich Citizens, who had gone thro all the Offices of the City, and had +the People of it very much at their command; as they still carry'd on +their Trade, there were a vast Number of poor People daily employ'd by +'em, and whose Hatred to the _Spaniards_ they had still taken care to +encrease, by insinuating that there were new Taxes to be laid upon +several things at the beginning of the next Year. When they observ'd any +one of a fiery Temper, they would take care to discharge him, on +pretence that the _Castilians_ had utterly ruin'd their Trade, and that +they were no longer able to employ them; but their Aim was to reduce +them to Poverty and Want, insomuch that Necessity should oblige them to +revolt: but still would they extend their Charity towards them, that +they might always have them at their service. Besides this, they had +engag'd some of the ablest Merchants and Tradesmen in every part of +_Lisbon_, and promis'd, that if the Conspirators would give 'em warning +over night of the Hour they intended to rise, punctually at that time +they would have half the City up in Arms. + +_Pinto_ being thus sure of the Citizens, turn'd his Thoughts to the +other Conspirators: he advis'd them to be ready for the Execution of +their Plot upon the first notice given them; that mean while he would +have them pretend they had some private Quarrel, and engage their +Friends to assist them, for many, he observ'd, were not fit to be +entrusted with so important a Secret, and others could not in cold Blood +behold the Dangers they must go thro, and yet both be very serviceable +when Matters were ripe, and only their Swords wanted. + +[Sidenote: _Dec. 1. 1640._] + +Finding every body firm in their Resolutions, and impatient to revenge +themselves upon the _Spaniards_, he conferr'd with _Almeida_, _Mendoza_, +_Almada_, and _Mello_, who fix'd upon Saturday, the first of _December_, +for the great, the important Day: Notice was immediately given to the +Duke of _Braganza_, that he might cause himself to be proclaim'd King +the same day in the Province of _Alentejo_, most part of which belong'd +to him. After which they agreed upon meeting once more before the time. + +On the Twenty-fifth of _November_, according to their Agreement, they +met at _Braganza-House_, where mustering their Forces, they found that +they could depend upon about One Hundred and Fifty Gentlemen, (most of +them Heads of Families) with their Servants and Tenants, and about Two +Hundred substantial Citizens, who could bring with them a considerable +Number of inferior Workmen. + +_Vasconcellos_'s Death was unanimously resolv'd on, as a just Victim, +and which would be grateful to the People. Some urg'd, that the +Archbishop of _Braga_ deserv'd the same Fate, especially considering the +Strength of his Genius, and the Greatness of his Courage; for it was not +to be suppos'd that he would be an idle Looker-on, but would probably be +more dangerous than the Secretary himself could be, by raising all the +_Spaniards_ who were in _Lisbon_, with their Creatures; and that whilst +they were busy in making themselves Masters of the Palace, he, at the +head of his People, might fling himself into the Citadel, or come to the +assistance of the Vice-Queen, to whose Service he was entirely devoted; +and that at such a time as this, Pity was unseasonable, and Mercy +dangerous. + +These Considerations made the greatest part of the Assembly consent to +the Prelate's Death; and he had shar'd _Vasconcellos_'s Fate, had not[D] +Don _Miguel d'Almeida_ interpos'd. He represented to the Conspirators, +that the Death of a Man of the Prelate's Character and Station, would +make them odious to the People; that it would infallibly draw the Hatred +of the Clergy, and of the Inquisition in particular, (a People who at +this Juncture were to be dreaded) upon the Duke of _Braganza_, to whom +they would not only give the Names of Tyrant and Usurper, but whom they +would also excommunicate; that the Prince himself would be sorely +griev'd to have the Day stain'd with so cruel an Action; that he himself +would engage to watch him so closely on that Day, that he should not +have an Opportunity of doing any thing which might be prejudicial to the +common Cause. In short, he urg'd so many things in his behalf, that the +Prelate's Life was granted, the Assembly not being able to deny any +thing to so worthy an Advocate. + +Nothing now remain'd but to regulate the Order of the March and Attack, +which was agreed upon in this manner: They should divide into four +Companies, which should enter the Palace by four different Ways; so that +all the Avenues to it being stopt, the _Spaniards_ might have no +Communication with, or be able to assist one another: That Don _Miguel +d'Almeida_, with his, should fall on the _German_ Guard, at the Entrance +of the Palace: That _Mello_ Lord _Ranger_, his Brother, and Don _Estevan +d'Acugna_, should attack the Guard, which was always set at a Place +call'd the _Fort_: That the Lord-Chamberlain _Emanuel Saa_, _Teillo de +Menezes_, and _Pinto_, should enter _Vasconcellos_'s Apartment, whom +they must immediately dispatch: That Don _Antonio d'Almada_, _Mendoza_, +Don _Carlos Norogna_, and _Antonio Salsaigni_, should seize the +Vice-Queen, and the _Spaniards_ which were with her, to serve for +Hostages, in case of need. Mean while, some of the Gentlemen, with a few +of the most reputable Citizens, should proclaim Don _John_, Duke of +_Braganza_, King of _Portugal_ throughout the City; and that the People +being rais'd by their Acclamations, they should make use of them to +assist, wherever they found any Opposition. After this they resolv'd to +meet on the first of _December_ in the morning, some at _Almeida_'s, +some at _Almada_'s, and the rest at _Mendoza_'s House, where every Man +should be furnish'd with necessary Arms. + +While these things were transacting at _Lisbon_, and that the Duke's +Friends were using all their Endeavours for his Re-establishment, he +receiv'd an Express from _Olivarez_, (who grew very jealous of his +Conduct) with positive Orders to come immediately to _Madrid_; and that +he might have nothing to colour his Delay, he remitted him a Bill upon +the Royal Treasury for Ten Thousand Ducats. + +The Commands laid upon him were so plain and positive, that the Duke +could not put off his Journey without justly encreasing his Suspicion. +He plainly foresaw, that if he did not obey those Orders, the Court of +_Madrid_ would take some such Measures as might prove fatal to him, and +wholly destroy their Projection; he would not therefore refuse to obey, +but made part of his Houshold immediately set out, and take the _Madrid_ +Road. In the presence of the Courier he gave several Orders relating to +the Conduct of those he left his Deputy-Governours, and in all respects +behav'd himself like a Man who was going a long Journey. He dispatch'd a +Gentleman to the Vice-Queen, to give her notice of his Departure, and +wrote to _Olivarez_, that he would be at _Madrid_ in eight Days time at +farthest; and that he might engage the Courier to report all these +things, he made him a considerable Present, under pretence of rewarding +him for his expeditious Haste, in bringing him Letters from the King, +and his first Ministers. At the same time he let the Conspirators know +what new Orders he had receiv'd from Court, that they might see the +Danger of deferring the Execution of their Design; but they were scarce +in a Capacity of assisting him, an Accident having happen'd, which had +almost broken all their Measures. + +There was at _Lisbon_ a Nobleman, who on all Occasions had shewn an +immortal Hatred to the _Spanish_ Government; he never call'd them any +thing but Tyrants and Usurpers, and would openly rail at their unjust +Proceedings, but nothing anger'd him more than the Expedition of +_Catalonia_: _d'Almada_ having taken care to fall often into his +Company, thought there was not a truer-hearted _Portuguese_ in the whole +Kingdom, and that no one would more strenuously labour for their +Liberty. But oh Heaven! how great was his Surprize! when having taken +him aside, and discover'd the whole Conspiracy to him, this base, this +cowardly Wretch, whose whole Courage was plac'd in his Tongue, refus'd +to have any hand in the Business, or to engage himself with the +Conspirators, pretending that their Plot had no solid Foundation: Bold +and adventrous where no Danger was, but fearful and daunted as soon as +it appear'd. "Have you, _said he to_ Almada, Forces enough to undertake +so great a thing? Where is your Army to oppose the Troops of _Spain_, +who upon the first News of the Revolt will enter the Kingdom? What +Grandees have you at your head? Can they furnish you with Money +sufficient to defray the Expence of a Civil War? I fear, _continued he_, +that instead of revenging yourselves on the _Spaniards_, and freeing +_Portugal_ from Slavery, you will utterly ruin it, by giving the +_Spaniards_ a specious Pretence for doing what they have been so long +endeavouring at." + +_D'Almada_, who expected nothing less than such an Answer, and being +very much troubled at his having entrusted the Secret to a Man, who in +all probability would betray it, without replying drew his Sword, and +coming up to the other, his Eyes sparkling with Rage; "Base Wretch, +_said he_, by thy deceitful Words thou hast drawn a Secret from me, with +which thou must take my Life, or by the Loss of thine atone for thy +Treachery." The other, who had always thought it safest to avoid the +nearest Danger, at the sight of _d'Almada_'s naked Sword, promis'd to do +any thing. He offer'd to sign the Conspiracy, and found weighty Reasons +to destroy his former Objections; he swore that he would bury the Secret +in his Heart, and endeavour'd all he could to persuade _Almada_, that +it was neither want of Courage, or Hatred to the _Spaniards_, which had +at first made him averse to what he had propos'd. + +Notwithstanding his Oaths and Promises, _d'Almada_ could not be +thoroughly satisfy'd of this Man's Fidelity; he took care, without +losing sight of him, to let the others know what had happen'd. A general +Consternation immediately spread itself amongst them, and they fear'd, +that the Prospect of the Danger which he must share, or the Hope of a +Reward, would make this Wretch betray them. Upon this they resolv'd to +defer the Execution of their Project, and forc'd _Pinto_ to write to his +Master, to put off his being proclaim'd in his Country, till he should +hear further from them. But _Pinto_, who knew how dangerous it was to +defer such a thing, tho but for a Day, at the same time sent him another +Letter, in which he desir'd him to take no notice of his first, seeing +that it was only the Effect of a panick Fear, which had seiz'd the +Conspirators, and which would be over long before the Express arriv'd. + +Nor was this crafty Man at all deceiv'd; for the next Day finding every +thing still and quiet, and the Person who caus'd the Alarm making fresh +Promises of Secrecy, they concluded that either he had arm'd his Mind +with a generous Resolution of assisting them, or was afraid of +impeaching so many Persons of Quality; and therefore they determin'd to +proceed to Execution on the appointed Day. But another Adventure +happen'd, which disquieted 'em as much as the former. + +There were always in the Palace several of the Conspirators, walking up +and down like Courtiers out of Place, whose Business it was to observe +what was done within; but on the Evening of the last of _November_, they +came in a Fright to their Companions, to tell them that _Vasconcellos_ +(by whose Death they were to begin the mighty Work) was just gone on +board a Yacht, and had cross'd the _Tagus_. Who but Conspirators would +have taken notice of so indifferent a thing? For a thousand Reasons, in +which they were not concern'd, might have made him go on the other side +of the Water; but they immediately concluded, that this artful +Statesman, who had always his Spies abroad, had discover'd their Plot, +and was about to bring into _Lisbon_ those Soldiers which were quarter'd +in the Villages on the other side of the River. Death, in its most +ghastly Shape, appear'd to them, and they fancy'd that they already felt +the cruellest Torments which could be inflicted. Some were resolving to +fly into _Africa_, others into _England_; and all of them spent the +first part of the Night in the greatest Disquiet imaginable, between the +Hopes of Life and Fear of Death. But about the middle of the Night their +Apprehensions vanish'd; for some who had been sauntring about the Port, +to endeavour to discover the Secretary's Design, came and brought them +the welcome News, that _Vasconcellos_ had been only diverting himself +upon the Water, and that he was return'd, with the Musick playing before +him. A sudden Joy succeeded to their Grief, and about an hour after, +being inform'd that every thing was quiet in the Palace, and every body +bury'd in a profound Sleep, they return'd home to enjoy a little Rest; +that they might be fitter for the Morning's Work. + +It was very late, or rather very early, when they parted, and within +some few hours of their appointed time, and yet an Accident happen'd +within those few hours, which had almost betray'd them; so dangerous and +uncertain are Enterprizes of this nature, whilst there are Men, whom +Hopes of Gain, or Fear of Punishment, can work upon to betray their +Fellows. Don _George Mello_, Brother to the Lord _Ranger_, lodg'd at a +Relation's House, in the furthest Suburbs of _Lisbon_. This Gentleman +thought, that now the time was come in which the Conspiracy would break +out, and there was no necessity of hiding it any longer from this +Relation, whom he had reason to believe was his Friend, as also one that +might be serviceable to them, and who otherwise would for ever reproach +him with having distrusted him as one not true to the Interest of his +Country. Wherefore as soon as he came home, he went into his Chamber, +and there reveal'd the Secret, desiring him to join in the Enterprize +with so many Persons of Quality, and to behave himself as a _Portuguese_ +ought to do upon such an occasion. The other, surpriz'd at the +Strangeness of this News, affected a seeming Joy for the approaching +Liberty of his Country, thank'd _Mello_ for the Confidence he repos'd in +him, and assur'd him, that he accounted himself happy in having an +opportunity of exposing his Life in so just and glorious a Cause. + +Upon this _Mello_ retir'd to his Chamber, to lay himself down to sleep, +but scarce was he got thither, when he began seriously to reflect upon +what he had been doing, and could not but think himself guilty of a very +inconsiderate Action, in putting the Lives of so many Persons of Quality +in the power of one, of whose Principles he was not overwell assur'd; +then began he to fancy, that he had observ'd something of Fear in the +Countenance of the Person, at the time when he was advising him to share +the Danger of the Undertaking. + +Full of these Reflections, he could not lay him down to rest, but was +walking in great Disorder about his Chamber, when he thought he +over-heard a kind of whispering Noise. Opening his Window softly, to see +if any body was in the Street, he could perceive a Servant holding his +Relation's Horse, and himself ready to mount. Enrag'd at this, he +snatch'd his Sword, and hastening down stairs, seiz'd his Kinsman, and +ask'd him whither he was going at this unseasonable time. The other +would have forg'd an Excuse, and was hammering out a Lye, but _Mello_ +holding his Point to his Breast, threaten'd to kill him, if he did not +immediately go in again; then order'd he the Keys of the House to be +brought him, and having fasten'd all the Doors himself, he retir'd with +his Kinsman, nor would he lose sight of him till it was time to go to +the Rendevouz, to which he carried him. + +But now the Morning dawn'd, that was to decide whether the Duke of +_Braganza_ should be the King and Deliverer of his Country, or be +accounted a Rebel and Traitor. + +Betimes in the Morning the Conspirators met at the appointed Places, +where they were to be furnish'd with Arms. They all appear'd with so +much Resolution and Courage, that they rather seem'd marching to a +certain Victory, than to an uncertain Enterprize. But what is very much +to be admir'd at, is, that amongst such a Number of Nobility, Gentry, +Citizens, nay Priests, not one should falsify his Word, or break his +Promise, tho their Interests in the Event were very different; but they +all seem'd as impatient for the important Moment, as if each there had +been the Contriver of the Scheme, or at the Head of the Enterprize; or +rather, as if the Crown was to have been the Reward of each individual +Man's Labour. Several Ladies also made themselves famous on that Day. +But the noble Behaviour of Donna _Philippa de Villenes_ ought never to +be forgotten, who with her own hands arm'd both her Sons; and giving +them their Swords, "Go, my Children, _said she_, put an end to a +Tyrant's Power, revenge yourselves on your Enemies, free your Country, +and be assur'd, that if Success does not crown your Undertaking, your +Mother never will live to see the cruel Fate of so many brave and +deserving Patriots." + +Every one being arm'd, they made the best of their way towards the +Palace, most of them in Litters, that they might conceal their Number +and their Arms. There they divided into four Companies, and waited with +impatience till the Palace-Clock struck Eight; that, and the firing of a +Pistol, being the appointed Signal. Never did time seem so long; they +fear'd that their being at that Place so early, and in such a Number, +might make the Secretary jealous of their Design: but at last the +long-expected Hour struck, and _Pinto_ firing a Pistol, they rush'd +forward to execute their bold Design. + +Don _Miguel d'Almeida_, with those that accompany'd him, fell upon the +_German_ Guard, who were so far from expecting any Attack, that they +were sitting very carelessly, few of them having their Arms in hand; so +that they were cut to pieces, without scarce making any resistance. + +The Lord _Ranger_, with his Brother _Mello_, and Don _Estevan d'Acugna_, +fell on the _Spaniards_ who kept Guard at a Place before the Palace, +call'd the _Fort_. These Nobles, followed by most of the Citizens who +were engag'd in the Conspiracy, fell upon the _Castilians_ Sword in +hand, and fought most resolutely; but no one behav'd himself more +bravely than one of the City Priests: this Reverend Man, with a Crucifix +in one hand, and a Sword in the other, appear'd at the head of his +Party, and encourag'd the People, both by his Words and his Example, to +cut their Enemies in pieces. The _Spaniards_, aw'd at the sight of so +religious an Object, neither durst offend him, nor defend themselves, +but fled before him. In short, after some small Resistance, the Officer +of the Guard, willing to save his own Life, was forc'd to cry out with +the rest, _Long live the Duke of_ Braganza, _King of_ Portugal! + +_Pinto_ having forced his way into the Palace, march'd at the head of +those, who were to enter _Vasconcellos_'s Apartment, so undauntedly, and +with so little concern, that meeting with an Acquaintance, who, +surpriz'd and frighted, ask'd him, whither he was going with such a +Number of arm'd Men, and what they design'd to do; "Nothing, _said he +smiling_, but change our Master, rid you of a Tyrant, and give +_Portugal_ their rightful King." + +Entring the Secretary's Apartment, the first Person they met with was +the[E] _Civil Corregidor_; who, thinking that the Noise he heard +proceeded from some private Quarrel, would have interpos'd his +Authority, but hearing a Cry of _Long live the Duke of_ Braganza, _&c._ +thought he was in honour oblig'd to cry out _Long live the King of_ +Spain _and_ Portugal: but he lost his Life for his ill-tim'd Loyalty, +one of the Conspirators immediately shooting him thro the Head. + +_Antonio Correa_, first Clerk of the Secretary's Office, ran out to know +the Occasion of this Tumult. This was the Man who was employ'd in +oppressing the People, and who, after the Example of his Master, treated +the Nobility of the Kingdom with Scorn and Contempt; therefore as soon +as he appear'd, Don _Antonio de Menezes_ plung'd his Sword into his +Bosom. But the Blow not ending either his Life or Pride, and thinking +that they had mistaken him, he turn'd towards _Menezes_, his Eyes +sparkling with Rage and Indignation, and, in a passionate manner, cry'd +out, _Villain! darest thou strike me?_ But _Menezes_, without answering, +redoubled his Blows; and the other, having receiv'd four or five Stabs, +fell down: However, none of the Wounds prov'd mortal, and he escap'd at +that time, to lose his Life afterwards in an ignominious manner, by the +hands of the common Hangman. + +This Business had stop'd the Conspirators, but as soon as _Correa_ fell, +they all rush'd forwards towards _Vasconcellos_'s Apartment. There was +with him, at that time, Don _Garcez Palleia_, a Captain of Foot; who +seeing so many arm'd Men, immediately concluded, that their Design was +to butcher the Secretary. And altho' he was under no manner of +Obligation to that Minister, yet he thought himself in honour oblig'd to +lend him what Assistance he could; wherefore standing at the Door, with +his Sword in hand, he barr'd that Passage: but one of the Conspirators +running him thro' the Arm, and several, who were unwilling to give him +fair play, pressing forward, he was glad to make his Escape, by leaping +out of a Window. + +Upon this all the Company, that was with _Pinto_, enter'd the Chamber at +once, and sought _Vasconcellos_; they overturn'd the Bed and Tables, +broke open the Trunks, and every one was desirous of giving him the +first Blow; yet, spite of their Endeavour, they could not find him, and +they began to fear that he had made his Escape: but at last an old +Maid-Servant being threaten'd with Death, unless she would tell where +her Master was; and seeing the uplifted Swords, pointed to a Press which +was made within the Wall, and in which they found the Secretary bury'd +under a heap of Papers. + +So great was his fear of Death, which he saw surrounding him on every +side, that it prevented his Speech. Don _Roderigo de Saa_, Lord +Chamberlain, was the Man who kill'd him, by shooting him through the +Head with a Pistol; after which several of the Conspirators stabb'd him, +then threw him out of the Window, crying, _Liberty! Liberty! The Tyrant +is dead! Long live Don_ John _King of_ Portugal! + +The Noise which all this had made, had drawn a vast number of People to +the Palace-Court, who seeing the Secretary's Body thrown out, shouted in +a most joyful manner; then rushing upon the Carcase, they mangled it, +every one being eager to give him a Stab, thinking that, thro his sides, +they wounded Tyranny. + +Thus perish'd _Miguel Vasconcellos_, a _Portuguese_ by Birth, but by +Inclination a _Spaniard_, and an Enemy to his Country. He had an +excellent Genius for Business, was crafty, politick, nor could any Man +apply himself closer to it than he did. He was always inventing new +ways of extorting Money from the People, was unmerciful, inexorable, and +cruel, without the least regard to Friend or Relation; so fix'd, that +after he had taken a Resolution, no one could byass his Temper; and so +harden'd, that he never knew what the Stings of Conscience were. He had +a Soul that was not capable of relishing any pleasure, but that of +hoarding up Money; so that he left vast Sums behind him, part of which +the People plunder'd, being willing to repay themselves, in some +measure, that which had been extorted from them. + +_Pinto_, without loss of time, march'd directly to join the other +Conspirators, who were to make themselves Masters of the Palace, and to +seize the Vice-Queen; he found that the Business was already done, and +that Success had every where crown'd their Undertakings. Those who were +appointed for that Expedition, came directly up to her Chamber, and the +furious Mob, who follow'd them, threatning to set her Apartment on fire, +if the Door was not immediately open'd; the Vice-Queen thinking by her +Presence to pacify the Nobility, and awe the People, came out, attended +by her Maids of Honour, and the Archbishop of _Braga_; and addressing +herself to the chief Conspirators, "I own, Gentlemen, _said she_, that +the Secretary justly deserv'd your Hatred and Indignation; his Cruelty +and his haughty Insolence were intolerable, nor can his Death be charg'd +upon you as a Crime, since you have only deliver'd yourselves from an +oppressing Minister: But cannot his Blood satisfy you? Or what other +Victim would you sacrifice to your Resentment? Think seriously, that +altho' his illegal Conduct may excuse this Insurrection, yet should you +any longer continue in Arms, Rebellion will be laid at your doors, and +you will put it out of my power to make your Peace with the King." + +Don _Antonio de Menezes_ answer'd, and assur'd her, "That so many +Persons of Quality had not taken up Arms to murder a Wretch, who ought +to have lost his Life by the hands of the common Hangman; but that their +Design was to restore the Crown to the Duke of _Braganza_, to whom it +lawfully belong'd, and which the King of _Spain_ had unjustly usurp'd; +and that they were all ready to sacrifice their Lives in so glorious a +Cause." She was about to reply, and to interpose the King's Authority; +but _d'Almeida_, who fear'd that such a Speech might have a dangerous +effect upon the People, or at least cool their Courages, interrupted +her, saying, "That _Portugal_ acknowledg'd no other King but the Duke of +_Braganza_." Upon which the People shouted again, crying, _Long live +Don_ John, _King of_ Portugal! + +The Vice-Queen believing that her Presence might be of service in the +City, and have a good effect upon the People every where, where the +Conspirators were not present, was going in haste down stairs, but Don +_Carlos Norogna_ stopp'd her, desiring that she would retire to her own +Apartment, assuring her that she should be treated with as much Respect +as if she still had the supreme Command in the Kingdom; but told her +that it would be dangerous for so great a Princess to expose herself to +the Insults of a furious People, who were jealous of their Liberties, +and enflam'd with Thirst of Revenge. The Queen easily understood the +meaning of his words, and found that she was their Prisoner. Enrag'd at +this, "And what can the People do to me?" _cry'd she_. "Nothing, Madam, +_reply'd_ Norogna _in a passion_, but fling your Highness out of the +Window." + +The Archbishop of _Braga_ hearing this Answer, grew furious, and +snatching a Sword from one of the Soldiers who stood next him, he flew +towards _Norogna_, resolving to revenge the Vice-Queen, and had +certainly met with Death, the just Reward of his Rashness, had not Don +_Miguel d'Almeida_ laid hold of him, and embracing him, begg'd him to +consider what Danger he expos'd himself to, telling him that he was +already hated enough by the Conspirators; nor had he found it an easy +Task to obtain a Promise of them that they would spare his Life, why +then would he urge them by an Action, which would not only be +unprofitable to his Cause, but which also so highly misbecame his +Character. The Prelate, convinc'd of the Truth of what his Friend said, +was obliged to dissemble his Anger; however, he hoped that he should +meet with some favourable Opportunity of revenging himself on _Norogna_, +and doing something for the service of _Spain_, to whose Interest he was +entirely devoted. + +The rest of the _Spaniards_ who were in the Palace, were made Prisoners +by the other Conspirators: Amongst these were the Marquiss of _Puebla_, +Major-Domo to the Vice-Queen, and elder Brother to the Marquiss _de +Leganez_; Don _Didaco Cardenas_, Lieutenant-General of the Cavalry; Don +_Ferdinand de Castro_, Comptroller of the Navy-Office; the Marquiss _de +Baynetto_, an _Italian_, Gentleman-Usher to the Vice-Queen: with some +Sea-Officers, who lay on shore, and whose Ships were in the Harbour. All +this was done as regularly and as quietly, as if they had been taken up +by an Order from the King of _Spain_, nobody stirring to their +Assistance, and they not being able to defend themselves, most of them +having been seiz'd in their Beds. + +This done, Don _Antonio de Salsaigni_, follow'd by a Crowd of Friends, +and an innumerable Multitude of People, went up into the Hall, where the +Court of Justice was then sitting, and in an elegant Speech laid before +them the present Happiness of _Portugal_, who had restor'd their own +lawful King; he told them, that Tyranny was now no more, and that the +Laws, which had been long slighted and neglected, should henceforward +take their regular Course. This Speech was applauded by the whole Court, +and they chang'd the Title of their Decrees, which they no longer made +in the Name of the King of _Spain_, but in the Name of Don _John_, King +of _Portugal_. + +Whilst _Salsaigni_ was thus persuading the high Court of Justice to +adhere to the Duke of _Braganza_'s Interest, Don _Gaston Coutingno_ was +taking out of Prison those who had been thrown into it by the Cruelty of +the _Spanish_ Minister. These unhappy Wretches, who had all along been +persuaded, that they should end their Lives in their dismal Dungeons, +unless taken out to be led to a cruel Death; seeing themselves now at +liberty, and their Country in a fair way of being freed, and resolving +to suffer any thing, rather than to return to their dark Prisons, form'd +a Body no less formidable than that of the Conspirators, and who were as +fully resolv'd to set the Duke of _Braganza_ on the Throne. + +But in the midst of this general Joy, _Pinto_, with the rest of the +Leaders, were under great Apprehensions: The _Spaniards_ were yet +Masters of the Citadel, from whence they could easily burn and destroy +the Town; besides which, the Port was open to the _Spanish_ Fleet: +therefore thinking that they had done nothing till they had taken that +Place, they went up to the Vice-Queen, and desir'd her to sign a Warrant +to the Governour, by virtue of which he should be oblig'd to give them +possession of the Citadel. + +She, far from granting what they ask'd, upbraided them as Rebels and +Traitors, and with Indignation ask'd them, Whether they had a mind to +make her an Accomplice? But _d'Almada_, who knew how dangerous it was to +leave the Enemies any longer in that Fort, and being provok'd at the +Vice-Queen's Denial, his Eyes sparkling with Rage, swore violently, that +if she did not sign the Warrant, he would forthwith put every one of the +_Spaniards_ to death, whom they had taken in the Palace. + +The poor Princess, frightened with these Threats, and unwilling to be +the Occasion of the Death of so many Persons of Quality, was obliged to +comply, thinking at the same time that the Governour knew his Duty too +well, to obey an Order, which he might be assur'd was sign'd by +Compulsion; but she was very much mistaken in her Conjecture, for Don +_Lewis del Campo_, the _Spanish_ Governour, was a Man of no Resolution +at all, and seeing the Conspirators coming arm'd towards the Citadel, +and all the People of the Town following them, who threaten'd to cut him +and his Garison in pieces, unless he immediately surrender'd, was glad +to see the Warrant, and have so fair an Excuse for his Cowardice; +wherefore he immediately obey'd the Order, and gave up the Fort. + +Proud of having dispatch'd their Business so happily, the Conspirators +forthwith deputed _Mendoza_ and the Lord _Ranger_ to the Duke of +_Braganza_, to acquaint him with their Success, and assure him, that +nothing was now wanting but the Presence of their King, to compleat the +Happiness of his Subjects. + +Notwithstanding their Message, his Presence was not equally coveted by +every body. The Grandees of the Kingdom could not see him rais'd to the +Throne, without being inwardly jealous of his Fortune; and those of the +Nobility, who were not let into the Secret, refus'd as yet to declare +themselves; nay, some went so far as to assure the People, that the Duke +would never approve of so rash an Action, and whose consequence might be +so fatal to them all. Those who were in the _Spanish_ Interest, were in +a strange Consternation, and did not dare so much as stir abroad, lest +they should be sacrific'd by the People, whose Rage was not yet +appeas'd: In short, every body seem'd at an uncertainty, and waited +impatiently for the Resolutions of the Duke of _Braganza_. + +But his Friends, who were better acquainted with his Intentions, still +pursued what they had so happily began, and assembled in the Palace, to +give the necessary Orders. The Archbishop was unanimously chosen +President of the Council, and Lord-Lieutenant of _Portugal_ till the +King's Arrival. He would at first have refus'd the Office, declaring +that his opinion was, that they had more need of a good General at their +head, than of a Man of his Character. However, being press'd by the +Assembly to accept the Place, he consented to it, on condition that he +might have the Archbishop of _Braga_ for his Collegue; who, he said, was +well acquainted with the Business, and might be very serviceable to him +during the King's Absence. + +This cunning Prelate chose his Brother Archbishop sooner than any other +Man, well knowing that if he did accept it, he made himself an +Accomplice in what he call'd Rebellion, and would be accounted criminal +by the _Spanish_ Minister: Besides which, he would have only had the +Title of one of the Lord-Lieutenants, without any share of the Power. +But if, on the other hand, he refus'd it, he should for ever put him out +of the King's Favour, and make him odious to all the People, who +henceforwards would look on him as an open and profess'd Enemy to his +Country. + +The Archbishop of _Braga_ was very sensible of the Snare which was laid +for him, but as he was wholly devoted to the Vice-Queen, and firm to the +_Spanish_ Interest, he refus'd having any thing to do with the +Administration; so that the whole Burden of the publick Affairs fell +upon the Archbishop of _Lisbon_: to ease him of part of which, they gave +him for Assistants Don _Miguel d'Almeida_, _Pedro Mendoza_, and Don +_Antonio d'Almada_. + +One of the first Orders which the new Governour gave, was to seize upon +the three _Spanish_ Galloons which were then in the Harbour; upon which +they arm'd a few Barks, and in them went most part of the _Lisbon_ +Youth, so desirous were they of shewing their Affection to the King: but +the Galloons were taken without Resistance, the Officers, and the +greatest part of the Ships Crew, having been seiz'd in the Morning +ashore. + +That very Evening Couriers were dispatch'd to every Province, to exhort +the People to give thanks for the Recovery of their Liberties, and the +Restoration of the Duke of _Braganza_; with Orders at the same time to +all Governours of Towns, and other Magistrates, to have him proclaim'd +King of _Portugal_, and to take all the _Spaniards_, in their respective +Districts, into custody. + +And now they began to prepare every thing at _Lisbon_ for the Reception +of the new King, and the Archbishop sent word to the late Vice-Queen, +that she would very much oblige them, in leaving the Palace where she +was, for he thought the King would want her Apartment, and that he had +prepar'd every thing for her Reception at the Palace of _Xabregas_, +which was at the farther end of the Town. This Princess receiv'd the +Order with a scornful Look, and without answering a word, obey'd it. She +went thro the Street, but without the usual Train of Courtiers and Crowd +of People; there was only the Archbishop of _Braga_ with her, who still +gave her manifest Tokens of his Respect, even now when he expos'd his +Life by so doing. + +Mean while the Duke of _Braganza_ continued in the cruel State of +Uncertainty, sometimes flattering himself with the most pleasing Ideas +which a lively Hope can form, and sometimes under the most dismal +Apprehensions which frighten'd Fancy can suggest. The Distance between +_Villa-viciosa_ and _Lisbon_ being thirty Leagues, he could not know +what pass'd in his behalf so soon as he could have wish'd. All that he +knew was, that on this Day his Life and Fortune were at stake. He had at +first resolv'd to have himself proclaim'd at the same time in all the +Towns which were under his Dependance; but his mind chang'd, and he +determin'd to wait for the News of what had pass'd at _Lisbon_, before +he undertook any thing. There still remain'd the Kingdom of _Algarva_, +and the Citadel of _Elvas_, to which he could retire, in case his Party +at _Lisbon_ should fail; nay, he thought he could clear himself of +having any hand in the Conspiracy, especially at a time when the +_Spaniards_ would be glad to believe him innocent. + +He had planted several Couriers on the Road to _Lisbon_, and thereby +expected to have an Account of what had pass'd betimes; but he had +waited with impatience all the Day, and the greatest part of the Night, +without hearing any thing, and the next Morning was already near at +hand, when _Mello_ and _Mendoza_, who had rode post from _Lisbon_, +arriv'd. They threw themselves at the Duke's feet, by which Action, as +well as by the Joy which appear'd in their Faces, the Success of their +Undertaking might be better read, than it was possible for them to +express. + +They were about to give him an exact Account of every thing, but the +Duke, without hearing a word of what they had to tell him, conducted +them to the Dutchess's Apartment. The two Noblemen saluted her with the +same Respect, as if she had actually been upon the Throne; they assur'd +her of the Good-Wishes and Fidelity of her Subjects: and to shew her +that they acknowledg'd her their Queen, they now gave her the Title of +_Majesty_, whereas the Kings and Queens of _Portugal_ had hitherto been +always call'd their _Highnesses_. + +We may easily judge of what pass'd in the Heart of this Royal Pair, if +we consider the Fears and Agitations which they were before in, and to +what Grandeur they were now rais'd. Nothing but Shouts of Joy were heard +throughout the Palace, the happy News soon spread, and the same Morning +the King was proclaim'd in all those Places, where it should have been +done the Day before; _Mello_ and _Alphonso_ also had him proclaim'd at +_Elvas_. The People came in Crouds to pay their Homage to the new King; +which, tho in a confus'd manner, was no less agreeable to him, than what +he afterwards receiv'd in all the formal Pomp of Ceremony. + +The King immediately set out for _Lisbon_, with the same Equipage which +had been prepar'd for his setting out for _Madrid_. He was accompany'd +by the Marquiss _de Ferreira_, a Relation of his; the Count _de +Vimioso_; and several other Persons of Quality, who were come to wait +upon him to the Capital. + +[Sidenote: _Decem. 6._] + +The Queen he left at _Villa-viciosa_, knowing that her Presence was +necessary there, to keep the Provinces in awe. Every where, upon the +Roads to _Lisbon_, they met with infinite Numbers of People, who crouded +forwards to see the King; who had the satisfaction every where of +hearing the People blessing him, and cursing the _Spaniards_. All the +Nobility, with the whole Court, and the Magistrates of the City, met him +at a great distance from _Lisbon_, and he enter'd the Town amidst the +Acclamations of a joyful People. + +That Evening there were Illuminations every where, and Fireworks in +every publick Place; each Citizen in particular had a Bonfire before his +door, which made a _Spaniard_ say, "The Duke of _Braganza_ was a happy +Prince, who had got a whole Kingdom for a Bonfire." Nor was it long +indeed before he was Master of the whole Kingdom, every Town follow'd +the Example of their Capital, and seem'd as if they had a Plot ripe for +Execution. Fresh Couriers every day arriv'd, who brought News of Towns, +and sometimes of whole Provinces, which had driven the _Castilians_ out, +and proclaim'd the Duke of _Braganza_. Nor were many of the _Spanish_ +Governours more resolute than the Commander of the Citadel of _Lisbon_; +and whether they wanted Soldiers, Ammunition, or Courage, is uncertain, +but most of them surrender'd, without so much as giving the _Portuguese_ +the trouble of firing a Gun. In short, they fled the Kingdom like so +many Criminals who had broke out of Prison; each Man dreaded +_Vasconcellos_'s Fate, and trembled at the sight of an incens'd +Multitude: nor was there a _Spaniard_ left in the whole Kingdom, but +those who were taken into Custody, and all this in less than a +Fortnight's time. + +Don _Ferdinand de la Cueva_, Commander of the Citadel of _St. Juan_, at +the Mouth of the _Tagus_, was the only Man who offer'd to make any +resistance, and to preserve the Place for the King his Master. The +Garison was wholly compos'd of _Spaniards_, the Officers brave, and +resolv'd to hold it out to the last; and therefore, as soon as the +_Portuguese_ approach'd them, made a vigorous Defence. They were oblig'd +to besiege it in form; to that end they brought Cannon from _Lisbon_, +and open'd the Trenches before it, which they carry'd as far as the +Counterscarp, spite of the Besieged's continual Fire, and their frequent +Sallies. But the King, who knew that treating with the Commander would +be not only the safest, but the shortest way, made him such advantageous +Proposals, that the Governour could not resist the Temptation; but +dazled with the Prospect of the vast Sum which was offer'd, besides a +Commandry of the _Order of Christ_, and pretending that his Garison was +not strong enough to hold out a Siege, he surrender'd upon Terms, spite +of the chief Officers, who refus'd to sign the Capitulation. + +This done, the King thought it best not to defer his Coronation, that he +might thereby confirm his Royalty, and consecrate his Majesty. The +Ceremony was perform'd on the Fifteenth of _December_ with all the +Magnificence imaginable; the Duke _d'Aveiro_, the Marquiss _de +Villareal_, the Duke _de Carmino_, his Son, the Count _de Monsano_, and +all the other Grandees of the Kingdom, being present. The Archbishop of +_Lisbon_, at the head of all the Clergy of his Diocese, and accompany'd +by several other Bishops, met him at the Door of the Cathedral; there he +was solemnly acknowledg'd by the States of the Kingdom their Rightful +and Lawful King: after which every one of them took the Oath of +Allegiance. + +Some few Days after the Coronation, the Queen arriv'd at _Lisbon_ with a +sumptuous Equipage and numerous Retinue. All the Court went out of Town +to meet her, and she already had with her all the Officers of her +Houshold. The King himself met her at some distance from the Town. This +Prince omitted nothing which might make her Entry appear magnificent, +and convince the People that he believ'd she had very much contributed +to the placing the Crown upon his Head. Every one observ'd, that +notwithstanding her Fortune was alter'd, yet was not the Queen in the +least chang'd, but behav'd herself as majestically, as if she had been +born to, and was educated for the Possession of a Throne. + + * * * * * + +Such was the Success of this great Enterprize, as happily finish'd, as +it was prudently begun; which may be reckon'd a sort of Miracle, +considering the vast Number of Persons, and the different Quality and +Inclinations of those who were let into the Secret: Nor can it be +accounted for, but from the natural Hatred which the _Portuguese_ had to +a _Spanish_ Government; a Hatred! which took its first Rise from the +frequent Wars which these neighbouring Nations waged against one +another, ever since they had been Monarchies; as well as from their +being both concern'd in the Discovery of the _Indies_, and the frequent +Debates which they had concerning their Commerce; these at last grew +into an inveterate Hatred, which was now encreas'd by the Tyranny of +_Spain_. + +The News of the Revolution soon reach'd the Court of _Spain_. +_D'Olivarez_ was almost driven to Despair at the hearing it; he saw his +own Project miscarry, and Ruin threatning his Country, which might have +been easily prevented, but could not now be remedy'd. Nor had _Spain_ +any need of acquiring new Enemies, the _French_ and _Dutch_ Troops +already employ'd their utmost Forces, with much ado they resisted their +combin'd Strength; and the Revolt of _Catalonia_, he fear'd, might +invite other Provinces to do the like. + +There was no one now in the Court of _Madrid_ ignorant of the News, but +the King himself; every one thought that he ought to be inform'd of it, +yet no one dar'd undertake the ungrateful Task, for fear of incurring +the Minister's Displeasure, whose implacable Temper they knew too well, +to hope that he would ever forgive an Offence of this nature. At last +the Duke, seeing that the Story was too well known to be any longer +conceal'd from the King, and fearing that some of his Enemies, either to +ingratiate or revenge themselves, should tell it in such a manner, that +the whole Fault would seem to fall upon him, he resolv'd to be himself +the Messenger, and coming up to the King, with a serene Look, and a Face +on which a dissembled Joy sat confess'd, "I wish your Majesty Joy," _said +he_, "of a noble Dutchy, and a fine Estate, which are lately fallen to +you." "How _Olivarez!" answer'd the King_; "what do you mean?" "Mean!" +_reply'd the Minister_; "why the Duke of _Braganza_ is run mad, the Mob +have proclaimed him King of _Portugal_, and he has accepted the Title; +so that now all he has is confiscated, and you have a good Pretence to +rid yourself of the whole Family: Henceforwards you may reign King of +_Portugal_, nor fear that any one will dispute your Title to that +Kingdom." + +As weak a Prince as _Philip_ was, he easily comprehended the meaning of +these words; but as he could no longer see but thro his Minister's Eyes, +he only told him, That he must take care betimes to put an end to a +Rebellion, whose Consequence might otherwise prove dangerous. + +[Sidenote: _Jan. 28. 1644._] + +Mean while the King of _Portugal_ took all the necessary Measures to +confirm his new Authority. As soon as he came to _Lisbon_, he nam'd +Governours for every Town of _Portugal_, as much distinguish'd for +their Fidelity to him, as for their Experience and approv'd Valour; who +immediately, with what Soldiers they could get together, went to take +possession of their Command, and to put the Place in a posture of +Defence. At the same time recruiting Commissions were given out; and the +Solemnity of his Coronation being over, he call'd together the States of +the Kingdom: in which, to prevent all the Doubts and Scruples which +might rise in the Minds of the People, his Pretensions to the Crown were +examin'd, and by a solemn Decree of the States he was acknowledg'd +Rightful and Lawful King, as being descended from Prince _Edward_, Son +to King _Emanuel_; whereas the King of _Spain_ was only descended from a +Daughter of the same King _Emanuel_, who also by the Fundamental Laws of +_Portugal_ was excluded the Succession, having espous'd a foreign +Prince. + +In this Assembly the King declar'd, that he would content himself with +his own Estate, and that the usual Royal Revenue should be apply'd to +the defraying of the extraordinary Expences, and paying the Debts of the +Kingdom. And the better to ingratiate himself with the People, he took +off all the Taxes which the oppressing _Spaniards_ had laid upon them. + +To all the considerable Offices and Employments he promoted those of the +Conspirators, whose Birth and Capacity might give them just Pretensions +to it, and who had shewn the greatest Desire of raising him to the +Throne. In this Promotion no notice was taken of _Pinto_; the King did +not think his Royalty sufficiently confirm'd, to venture at raising one +of his Servants, and whose Extraction was but mean. However, the Prince +was not in the least unmindful of his Service, and without having the +Title of a Minister of State, he had the Authority of one; so great was +his Influence over his Master, and such entire Confidence did he repose +in him. + +Having given all the necessary Orders within the Kingdom, he resolv'd to +assure himself of some foreign Assistance in case of necessity, as well +by making strict Alliances with all the Enemies of _Spain_, as by +raising them new ones. To this end he endeavour'd to persuade the Duke +of _Medina Sidonia_, Governour of _Andalusia_, and his Brother-in-law, +to follow his Example, shake off the _Spanish_ Yoke, and make himself an +independent Prince. The Marquiss _Daiamonti_, a _Spanish_ Nobleman, and +related to the Queen of _Portugal_, was to negotiate this Business, the +Success of which will be seen in the Sequel of this History. + +The King of _Portugal_ made a League offensive and defensive with the +_Dutch_; _France_ promis'd him its Protection, and he sent Ambassadors +to all the Courts of _Europe_, that his Title might be acknowledg'd by +their Princes. But the King of _Spain_ was so destitute of Men, +_Catalonia_ employing all his Forces, that he did very little all that +Campaign for the Recovery of _Portugal_, and even what he did undertake +met with no Success. + +Some little time after this, News was brought that _Goa_, and all those +other Places which belong'd to _Portugal_, whether in the _Indies_, +_Africa_, or in _Peru_, had follow'd the Example of their _European_ +Masters, and revolted from the _Spaniards_. Thus was the King flatter'd +with the Prospect of a happy Reign, and rejoic'd to see Peace and +Tranquillity preserv'd within his Kingdom, whilst his Arms met with +Success abroad; little suspecting the Danger which threaten'd his Life +and Crown, both which he had almost lost by a cursed Conspiracy, which +was form'd even in the midst of that Prince's Court. + +The Archbishop of _Braga_, as has before been observ'd, was wholly +devoted to the King of _Spain_, during whose Reign in _Portugal_ he had +had a great share in the Ministry. He now plainly saw, that he must +never hope for any Preferment, unless the _Spanish_ Government could be +again introduc'd into that Kingdom; besides, he fear'd that the new +King, who out of a tender regard to his Character, had not had him put +into Prison with the other _Spaniards_, might alter his Mind, and seeing +his Authority once confirm'd, and dreading no longer the Danger of +incensing the People, or provoking the Inquisition, might make him share +the Fate of those, whose Courage or Politicks 'twas thought might prove +prejudicial to the new King's Government, and who had all been depriv'd +of their Liberty. But the chief Motive which induc'd him to undertake +something for their Cause, was his Affection to the late Vice-Queen: +with impatience he beheld that Princess under Confinement, especially in +a Place where he thought it was her Right to rule; and his Rage was +violently increas'd by the Orders which were given her Guards to admit +neither the Prelate, nor any other Person of Quality, the King having +been inform'd that she endeavour'd to infuse Sentiments of Rebellion +into all those _Portuguese_ who went to visit her; and therefore thought +fit to deprive her of that Liberty, which she so palpably abus'd. As +just and as necessary as this Proceeding was, the Archbishop call'd it +cruel and tyrannick; and as he had some Notions of Gratitude, believ'd +himself under an Obligation of doing something for the Liberty of a +Princess, who had done so much for him. The remembrance of her past +Kindness enflam'd his Soul with Anger, and made him resolve to embrace +any Opportunity whatsoever of revenging himself on her Enemies, and +delivering her out of their hands. But as he plainly saw it would be +impossible either to surprize or corrupt her Guards, he could not think +of any surer way than going directly to the Fountain-head, and by the +Death of the King to restore her Liberty and Authority both at once. + +Being fully confirm'd in this Resolution, he began to think of the +speediest Means of putting it in execution, well knowing that he should +not long enjoy the Place of President of the Palace, which was not as +yet taken from him. He plainly saw that it was in vain to follow the +King's Measures, by endeavouring to win the People, and make them join +with him; their Hatred to the _Spaniards_ being too deeply rooted in +their Hearts. The Nobility, he was assur'd, wou'd not assist him, since +by their means the Crown was placed upon the Duke of _Braganza_'s Head: +he could therefore only depend upon the Grandees, who with envy beheld +one that had been their Equal, upon the Throne. The first thing he did, +was to assure himself of _Olivarez_'s Protection and Assistance: after +which, he began to work upon the Marquiss of _Villareal_; to whom he +represented, that the new King was timorous and diffident, for which +reason he sought all opportunities of ruining his Family, lest he should +leave a Subject who was capable of disputing the Crown with his +Successor: That he and the Duke _d'Aveiro_, who were both of the Royal +Blood, were not thought worthy of any Office or Employment; whilst all +Places of Trust were fill'd by a company of factious and seditious +People: That with indignation the People saw how little he was valued, +and were very much troubled to think that a Person of his Quality and +Capacity must spend his time at a Country-Seat, and in an inglorious +Ease: That one of his Birth and Estate was too great to be the Subject +of so petty a Prince as the King of _Portugal_: That he had lost a +Master in the King of _Spain_, who only was capable of bestowing such +Employments on him as he deserv'd, by reason of the many Kingdoms of +which he was Sovereign, and over which he must establish Governours. + +Seeing that this Discourse made an impression on the Mind of the +Marquiss, he went so far as to assure him, that he had Orders from the +King of _Spain_ to promise him the Viceroyalty of _Portugal_, as a +Reward of his Loyalty, in case he would assist him in his Design of +recovering that Kingdom. + +Notwithstanding what the Archbishop promis'd, the thing was very far +from his Heart; his chief Aim being to restore the Dutchess of _Mantua_ +to her Liberty and former Authority: for the compassing of which, he +thought it very lawful to promise what he never intended to perform; and +he knew that ambitious Motives were the likeliest to engage the Marquiss +_de Villareal_, upon whom his fair Speeches had at last such an effect, +that he yielded to his Persuasions, and promis'd that he, with his Son +the Duke of _Camino_, would be at the head of the Enterprize. + +This Prelate being thus assur'd of these two Princes, made it his next +business to engage the Grand Inquisitor, who was his intimate Friend, +and than whom no one could be more necessary in carrying on their great +Design; seeing that by his means he should also prevail upon all the +Officers belonging to the Inquisition, a People more to be dreaded by +honest Men than Rogues, and who bear a great sway amongst the +_Portuguese_. He endeavour'd at first to alarm his Conscience, by +reminding him of the Oath of Allegiance which he had taken to the King +of _Spain_, and which he ought not to break in favour of an usurping +Tyrant; but finding the Inquisitor a true Churchman, over whom Interest +had a greater sway than Conscience, he told him that he must join in the +Plot, if he hoped to keep his Place much longer, for that the new King +made it his business to give all the Employments to Persons whose +Fidelity he could depend upon. + +After this, he spent several Months in encreasing the Number of +Conspirators, the chief of which were the Commissary _de la Crusada_; +the Count _d'Armamar_, Nephew to the Archbishop; the Count _de +Ballerais_; Don _Augustin Emanuel_; _Antonio Correa_, that Clerk of +_Vasconcellos_, to whom _Menezes_ had given divers Stabs on the first +Day of the Revolution; _Laurento Pidez Carvable_, Keeper of the Royal +Treasury; with several others, who were the Creatures of the _Spanish_ +Ministers, to whom they ow'd their Fortunes and their Places, and which +they could not hope to keep long, unless by once more introducing the +_Spanish_ Government. + +There were also a vast number of _Jews_ who were concern'd in the Plot, +and who had long liv'd at _Lisbon_ in an outward Profession of the +Christian Faith. These had lately offer'd the King a vast Sum of Money, +if he would free them from the Persecution of the Inquisitors, and let +them have their Synagogues at _Lisbon_; but the Prince rejected their +Offer, and deny'd their Petition. This had thrown the chief of them into +a great Consternation, for appearing at the head of the Petitioners, +they had made themselves known, and thereby expos'd themselves to all +the Torments which the Inquisition could invent. + +With these the Archbishop took care to get acquainted, and taking +advantage of the Confusion they were in, promis'd them his Protection, +which was not to be despis'd, since he had such an Influence over the +Grand Inquisitor; but insinuated at the same time, that they were in +danger of being banish'd _Portugal_ by the King, who affected very much +to be thought a true and pious Catholick: and at the same time promis'd +in the Name of the King of _Spain_, that if they would be instrumental +to his Restoration, they should have Liberty of Conscience, and Leave +openly to profess their Religion. + +So violent was the Passion of the Archbishop, that he was not asham'd to +make use of the profess'd Enemies of _Jesus Christ_, to drive a +_Christian_ Prince from a Throne, which rightfully belong'd to him; and +this was perhaps the first time that ever the Inquisition and Synagogue +went hand in hand together. + +Several Schemes were propos'd, but at last this, which was drawn by the +Archbishop, and approv'd of by the first Minister of _Spain_, was agreed +upon; That the _Jews_ should set fire to the four Corners of the Palace +on the 5th of _August_, and at the same time to several Houses both in +the City and Suburbs, that the People might every where be employ'd in +extinguishing the Fire; that the Conspirators should all fly to the +Palace under pretence of assisting, and that amidst the Horrour and +Confusion which this vast Conflagration would cause, some of them should +assassinate the King; that the Duke _de Camino_ should seize the Queen +and her Children, who might be as serviceable to them in regaining the +Citadel, as the Dutchess of _Mantua_ had been to their Enemies; that at +the same time there should be Fireworks ready to be play'd off, to set +the _Portuguese_ Fleet on fire; that the Archbishop, with the Grand +Inquisitor and all his Officers, should march thro the Town, to keep the +People in awe, and prevent their coming to the Assistance of the King, +so much do they dread the Power of the Inquisition; and that the +Marquiss _de Villareal_ should take the Administration upon him, till +they had receiv'd Orders from the Court of _Spain_. + +But as they had not the least reason to hope that the People would +second them, they thought it necessary to make sure of some Troops, and +to that end wrote to _Olivarez_ to send a Fleet towards the Coasts of +_Portugal_, which should be ready to enter the Port of _Lisbon_ at the +time when the Conspiracy should break out; and that there should be some +Forces on foot on the Frontiers of the Kingdom, which should be in a +readiness to act against any Place, which would not willingly surrender +to the King of _Spain_. + +But the most difficult part of their Labour was to keep an exact +Correspondence with the _Spanish_ Minister: for since the King had been +inform'd that the Dutchess of _Mantua_ had sent Letters to _Madrid_, +there was such a strict Guard kept upon the Frontiers of the Kingdom, +that no one could go into _Castile_ without the King's own Passport; nor +did they dare attempt to corrupt the Guards, lest they should reveal +what had been offer'd them. + +But at last, seeing themselves under an absolute Necessity of +acquainting the _Spanish_ Minister with their Design, without which all +their Measures would infallibly be broken; they cast their Eyes upon a +rich Merchant of _Lisbon_, who was Treasurer of the Custom-House, and +who, by reason of his great Trade, had the King's immediate leave to +send Letters into _Castile_ at any time. This Man's Name was _Baeze_; he +outwardly profess'd the Christian Religion, but was suppos'd to be a +conceal'd Observer of the _Jewish_ Law. To him they offer'd vast Sums of +Money for his Assistance; which, together with the Persuasions of the +_Jews_ who were engag'd in the Conspiracy, prevail'd upon him so far, +that he promis'd to take care that their Letters should be deliver'd to +the Duke _d'Olivarez_. + +To this end he enclos'd the Pacquet directed to the Marquiss +_Daiamonti_, Governour of the first Town on the Frontiers of _Spain_, +believing his Letters safe, when once out of the Dominions of +_Portugal_. + +The Marquiss, who was nearly related to the Queen, and was at that time +negotiating a Business for the King of _Portugal_, was very much +surpriz'd to see Letters seal'd with the Great Seal of the Inquisition, +and directed to the first Minister of _Spain_; and beginning to fear +that his own Business was discover'd, and notice of it hereby given to +_Olivarez_, he open'd them, and found that they contain'd the Scheme of +a Conspiracy against the Royal Family, and which was speedily to be put +in execution. + +Startled at the Contents, he dispatch'd a Courier to the Court of +_Portugal_ with the intercepted Letters. It is impossible to express the +Surprize of the King, when he saw that three Princes, who were so nearly +related to him, with the Archbishop, and several Grandees of the +Kingdom, were contriving how to take away his Life, and give his Crown +to a Stranger. + +He immediately communicated their intended Treason to his Privy-Council, +who after a small Deliberation came to a Resolution, which some few days +afterwards was executed. The fifth of _October_ was the Day appointed by +the Conspirators, and the Time Eleven at Night. That very Morning, about +Ten of the Clock, all the Soldiers who were quarter'd in the +neighbouring Villages, march'd into _Lisbon_, it having been given out +that they were then to be review'd in the Court of the Palace. The King +at the same time gave Notes with his own hand to several Officers and +others of his Court, which were seal'd up, with positive Orders not to +open them till Twelve, and then punctually to execute the Contents. + +A little before Noon the Archbishop and the Marquiss _de Villareal_ were +sent for to the Palace about some Business, and coming into the King's +Apartment, were arrested without the least noise, or any body's knowing +it; and at the same time one of the Captains of the Guard made the Duke +_de Camino_ a Prisoner. Those who had receiv'd the seal'd Notes having +open'd them, found Orders to arrest such a Man, whom they should convey +to such a Prison, and not lose sight of him till farther Orders. In +short, Matters were manag'd so prudently, that in less than an hour's +time the Forty-seven Conspirators were seiz'd, without so much as giving +any one of them time enough to escape, or even the least suspicion that +their Plot was discover'd. + +The News of their intended Barbarity reaching the ears of the People, +they came flocking towards the Palace, and in a tumultuous manner +demanded the Prisoners, that they might tear them piece-meal. + +Tho the King was well pleas'd with the Affection and Loyalty of his +Subjects, yet was he a little troubled to see how easily they could be +gather'd together, and what mischief they were at such a time able to +do. Wherefore having thank'd them for the care which they took of him, +and having promis'd that the Traitors should be punish'd according to +Law, he order'd the Magistrates to disperse them. + +But as he knew that the most violent Passions of an incens'd People will +soon grow cool, and perhaps dwindle into Compassion, when they no longer +should consider the Criminals as the worst of Villains, who would have +destroy'd their King and Country, but as unhappy Wretches, who must +shortly suffer an ignominious Death; he took care to publish, that the +Conspirators Intent was to assassinate him and all the Royal Family, to +set the whole Town on fire, and those who escaped the raging Flames, +should have fallen by the Sword of the Rebels: That _Spain_ being +resolv'd to have nothing more to fear from the _Portuguese_, would have +sent all their Citizens into _America_, to toil like Slaves, and be +bury'd alive in those Mines, where so many had already perish'd, and to +people the City of _Lisbon_ with a Colony of _Castilians_. + +After this the King order'd the Traitors to be brought to their Tryal, +and to this end he appointed Judges, which he took out of the supreme +Court of Judicature, and to whom he added two Grandees of the Kingdom, +upon account of the Archbishop of _Braga_, the Marquiss _de Villareal_, +and the Duke _de Camino_. + +The King put their Letters, which they had sent to _Olivarez_, into the +hands of those who were appointed to prosecute them; but with Orders not +to make use of them, if they could by any other means prove them guilty +of High Treason, lest the Court of _Spain_ should thereby discover the +Correspondence which he held with the Marquiss _Daiamonti_: but there +was no necessity of producing them to discover the Truth; for _Baeze_, +who was the first that was brought to the Bar, contradicted himself in +almost every Question which was ask'd him, and being put to the Torture, +his Courage fail'd him, he confess'd his Crime, and discover'd the whole +Plan of the Conspiracy. He own'd that their Design was to kill the King, +that the Office of the Inquisition was now full of Arms, and that they +waited only for _Olivarez_'s Answer to execute their Design. + +Most of the other Conspirators were put to the Torture, and their +Deposition entirely agreed with _Baeze_'s. The Archbishop, the Grand +Inquisitor, the Marquiss _de Villareal_, and the Duke _de Camino_, being +unwilling to suffer the Torments of the Question, confess'd their Crime. +These two last were condemn'd to be beheaded, the rest of the +Lay-Traitors to be hang'd, drawn and quarter'd, and the Sentence of the +Ecclesiasticks was refer'd to the King himself. Upon this the King +immediately assembled his Council, and told them, that the consequence +of putting so many Persons of Quality to death, altho they were +criminal, might be fatal: That the chief Conspirators were of the first +Families of the Kingdom, whose Relations would be for ever his conceal'd +Enemies, and that the Desire of revenging their Death would be the +unhappy Source of new Plots: That the Consequence of the Death of Count +_d'Egmont_ in _Flanders_, and of the _Guises_ in _France_, had prov'd +fatal: That if he pardon'd some of them, and chang'd the Sentence of the +others into a Punishment less severe than Death, he should for ever win +theirs, their Friends, and their Kindreds Hearts, and bind them to his +Service by the Ties of Gratitude: but yet, That notwithstanding he +himself was inclin'd to Mercy, he had assembled his Council to know +their Opinions, and to follow that which should seem the most +reasonable, and the most just. + +The Marquiss _de Ferreira_ was the first who spoke, and was for having +them executed without delay: he represented, That in such cases as these +Justice only ought to be consulted, and that Mercy was most dangerous: +That Pardon would seem not so much the Effect of the Goodness, as +Weakness of the Prince, or the Fear of their threatning powerful +Friends: That if these should go unpunish'd, it would bring the +Government into Contempt, and encourage their Relations to deliver them +out of Prison, or perhaps to carry Matters farther: That now, at his +Accession to the Crown, he ought, by an Example of Severity, to deter +others from ever attempting the like. He urg'd farther, That they were +Traitors not only to the King, but also to the State, whose present +Constitution they had endeavour'd to subvert: That he ought rather to +hearken to the Justice which he ow'd his People, and punish these +Criminals, than to his own Inclination of forgiving them, especially at +a time when his Preservation and the publick Safety were inseparable. + +The whole Council being of the same opinion, the King yielded, and the +next day Sentence was executed. The Archbishop of of _Lisbon_ being +willing to save one of his Friends, came to the Queen, and sollicited +her for a Pardon, with all the Assurance of a Man, who thought that +nothing could be deny'd him, and that his former Services might claim a +much greater Favour. But the Queen, who was convinc'd of the Justice and +absolute Necessity of their suffering the Law, and how much a +Distinction of this nature would incense the Friends and Relations of +the rest, answer'd the Archbishop in few words, but with such a Tone, as +made him see it would be in vain to urge his Request any farther; "My +Lord, the only Favour I can now grant you, is to forget that you ever +ask'd me this." + +The King, unwilling to disoblige the Clergy, and especially the Court of +_Rome_, who had not as yet acknowledg'd him King, or receiv'd his +Ambassadors, would not suffer the Archbishop of _Braga_, or the Grand +Inquisitor, to be executed, but condemn'd them to a perpetual +Imprisonment; where the Archbishop shortly after died of a violent +Fever, a Disease often fatal to State-Prisoners, who for some politick +Reason must not be led to open Execution. + +Nothing could be equal to the Surprize of _Olivarez_, when this News was +brought him; he could not imagine by what means the King of _Portugal_ +had discover'd their Design, nor would it ever have been known, had not +an Accident happen'd, which made him see that it was the Marquiss +_Daiamonti_, who had unravel'd the dark Design, and acquainted the King +with it. + +This Prince still kept a very good Correspondence with the Enemies of +_Spain_, his Ports were open to the Fleets of _France_ and _Holland_; he +had a Resident at _Barcelona_, and encourag'd the revolting +_Catalonians_: in short, he did all he could to weaken _Spain_, not only +by increasing the Rage of its Foes, but also by endeavouring to raise up +new ones. To this end, he had already inclin'd the Duke _de Medina +Sidonia_, his Brother-in-law, to rebel; whom the Marquiss _Daiamonti_, a +_Castilian_, and their mutual Confidant, at length entirely seduced. +This Nobleman was, as has been before observ'd, nearly related to the +Queen of _Portugal_, and the Duke of _Medina_: He was Governour of a +Place at the Mouth of the _Guadiano_, and just on the Frontiers of +_Portugal_, which made it easy for him to keep a good Correspondence +with that Court; nor did he question, but that by being serviceable to +two such powerful Families, he should easily make his own Fortune. He +was valiant, enterprizing, hated the first Minister, and at the same +time did not in the least value his Life; a Quality so very necessary +to those who embark themselves in any dangerous Design. + +He wrote privately to the Duke, to congratulate him upon the Discovery +of the Archbishop's Plot, and the Preservation of the Life of the Queen +his Sister, and all the Royal Family; he at the same time observ'd how +grateful it must be to him to see the Crown of _Portugal_ one day adorn +the Head of his Nephews, which made that Kingdom a sure Refuge for him +in time of Distress: which perhaps might be too near at hand, since he +could never reckon himself safe while _Olivarez_ was at the head of +Affairs, whose only aim was to ruin all the Grandees; nor was it to be +suppos'd that the crafty Statesman would long leave him Governour of so +large a Province, and in the Neighbourhood of _Portugal_: That he would +advise him seriously to reflect on all these things, and let him know +his Resolutions; to which end he should send him a Person in whom he +could confide, and to whom they both might safely trust their Secret. + +The Duke was naturally proud and ambitious, and with Envy had beheld his +Brother-in-law raising himself to the Throne; nor would he, on his side, +willingly neglect any Opportunity of doing the like. Believing by what +the Marquiss said, that he had some very advantageous Proposal of this +kind to make him, he sent _Lewis de Castile_, his Confidant, to +_Daiamonti_, who seeing his Credentials, at once open'd his Mind, and +bid him remember with what ease the Duke of _Braganza_ had made himself +Master of the Crown of Portugal; nor could there ever be a more +favourable time for the Duke of _Medina Sidonia_ to do the like, and +make himself independent of the Crown of _Spain_. + +After this he represented the Weakness of that Kingdom, which was +exhausted by the Wars which the _French_ and _Dutch_ had continually +waged against them: That _Catalonia_ now employ'd all its Forces, nor +would the King know how to help himself, should _Andalusia_ rise in Arms +against him, and the War be thus carry'd into the very Heart of the +Kingdom: That the People would certainly side with him, being always +fond of a new Government; besides which, they had reason enough to +complain of the old one, which had so oppress'd them with Taxes, and +extorted such vast Sums from them: That the Duke of _Medina_ was as well +beloved by the _Andalusians_, as the Duke of _Braganza_ was at the time +of the Revolution by the _Portuguese_: That the only thing which now +remain'd to be done, was to gain all those, who, under him, were +Governours of Towns and Forts, without entrusting them with the Secret, +which might be done; and to fill all Places of Trust with his surest +Friends: That as soon as the Galloons, which were expected from the +_Indies_, arriv'd, he should seize them, and the Riches which were on +board would defray the Expences of this Enterprize: That the King of +_Portugal_, with his Allies, should have a Fleet ready to enter _Cadiz_, +and there land a sufficient Number of Forces, to subdue those who would +unseasonably shew their Loyalty to _Spain_. + +_Lewis de Castile_ being return'd to his Master, gave him a faithful +Account of all that had pass'd between him and the Marquiss. The Duke, +dazled with the Prospect of a Crown, resolv'd to hazard every thing, +rather than fail of obtaining one. He was chief Commander there both by +Sea and Land, as Captain-General of the Ocean, and Governour of the +Province, in which he also had a very large Estate, and several Towns +under his own immediate Jurisdiction. This seem'd very much to +facilitate his Design, and made him believe, that it was in his power to +put a Crown upon his Head whenever he pleas'd. + +Upon this he sent _Lewis de Castile_ back to the Marquiss, that they +might together agree upon the properest Measures of accomplishing their +Project, and especially of engaging the Crown of _Portugal_ to lend them +all the Assistance it possibly could. Mean while, he himself was +disposing every thing for the intended Revolution; he put his own +Creatures in all those Places where their Assistance would be most +serviceable to him; he frequently would pity the Soldiers, who were not +paid as they ought to be, and the People, who were over-burden'd with +excessive Taxes. + +The Marquiss _Daiamonti_ was well pleas'd to see the Duke in that +Disposition he had long wish'd to see him in; he wanted to acquaint the +King of _Portugal_ with it, but was unwilling to trust to Letters, and +fear'd he could not send a Messenger so privately, but that the Court of +_Spain_ might discover it, and have just cause to mistrust his Fidelity: +However, at last he cast his eyes upon a crafty and intriguing Monk, who +for love of Money, or hope of Preferment, would undertake any thing; he +was call'd Father _Nicholas de Valasco_, of the Order of _St. Francis_. +No one could be fitter for his purpose, since in the Countries where the +Inquisition is, this Habit is so much respected, that no one would dare +to pry into his Actions, and observe his Steps. + +As soon as he had receiv'd his Instructions, he came to _Castro-Marino_, +the first Town on the Frontiers of _Portugal_, pretending to ransom some +_Castilian_ Prisoners which were detain'd in _Portugal_. The King, who +had notice given him of it, by a Letter from the Marquiss _Daiamonti_, +was desir'd to seize him, and bring him to Court: This was accordingly +done; he was arrested as a Spy, loaded with Chains, and brought to +_Lisbon_ as a State-Criminal, whom the Ministry themselves would +examine; where he was immediately cast into Prison, and seemingly +watch'd very strictly: some time after he was set at liberty, since upon +Examination it appear'd, that his only Intent was to ransom some +_Castilian_ Prisoners; and partly, to make him amends for his former ill +Usage, he was permitted to come to Court, to treat with the proper +Officer about it. + +The King saw him himself several times, and promis'd him, that as a +Reward of his Industry and faithful Service, he would give him a +Bishoprick. The Monk, flatter'd with the hopes of the Mitre, would never +stir from the Palace; he made his court to the Queen, and was always +waiting upon the Ministers: He wanted to be let into all the +State-Intrigues, and did all he could to shew what Credit he had at +Court; and thus, without directly revealing his Secret, he betray'd it +by his Pride and Inconsiderateness. It plainly appear'd, that the +Severity of his Prison was only a blind, and the Examination of the +Ministry a pretence to introduce him into Court. Many and various were +the Conjectures which were made about his real Business there; but at +last a _Castilian_, who was Prisoner at _Lisbon_, discover'd the whole +Intrigue. + +This _Castilian_, nam'd _Sancho_, was a Creature of the Duke of _Medina +Sidonia_'s, and, before the late Revolution, Pay-Master of the _Spanish_ +Army in _Portugal_. He, with the rest of his Countrymen who were taken +up at that time, groan'd in Confinement, nor had they any prospect of +Liberty; but hearing of this Monk, and being inform'd of his Country, +his extravagant Conduct, his Credit at Court, and several other +Circumstances, which made it plain that he was there employ'd in some +secret Business; he thought he had now an opportunity of obtaining his +Liberty, and with this hope he wrote the Monk a long Letter, full of +Expressions fit to sooth his Vanity; in it he complain'd, that the King +of _Portugal_ detain'd him in Prison, (with the other _Castilians_) who +was a Servant and Creature of the Duke his Brother-in-law: and to +confirm it, he sent him several Letters, wrote to him by that Prince +himself some little time before the Revolution, in which he treated him +as one in whom he repos'd an entire Confidence. + +The _Franciscan_ answer'd _Sancho_'s Letter, and assur'd him, that +nothing could recommend him more to him, than his belonging to the Duke +of _Medina_; that he would use all his endeavour to procure him his +Liberty, but in the mean time he must take care not so much as to open +his mouth about it. The _Spaniard_ waited some days for the Effect of +his Promise, and at last sent him a second Epistle, in which he +represented, that seven Months were expir'd since he was cast into +Prison; that the _Spanish_ Minister seem'd to have quite forgotten him, +since he neither talk'd of ransoming or exchanging him; and that +therefore he had no hopes of Liberty left, but what were built upon the +Charity and Interest of the Reverend Father. + +The Monk, who thought he should very much oblige the Duke of _Medina_, +by procuring _Sancho_ his Freedom, begg'd it of the King, and obtain'd +it. He went to the Prison himself, to fetch him out of it, and offer'd +to have him included in a Passport, which was to be given to some of the +Dutchess of _Mantua_'s Servants, who were then returning to _Madrid_. +But the crafty _Castilian_ answer'd him, that _Madrid_ was a Place to +which he could never more return; that he must not pretend to appear at +Court, unless he desir'd to be thrown into Prison again, seeing that +_Olivarez_ was so severe and unjust, that he would expect his Accounts +to be made up, altho in the late Revolution he had been stript not only +of his Money, but had had his Books also taken from him: To this he +added, that he desir'd nothing more than to be near the Duke of +_Medina_, his Patron, who was both able and willing, he did not +question, to advance him. + +The _Franciscan_ wanting somebody whom he could trust his Secret to, and +by whom he might give the Marquiss _Daiamonti_ a strict Account of his +Negotiation, cast his eyes upon the _Castilian_, who seem'd very much +attach'd to the Interest of the Duke of _Medina_. To this end he +detain'd the _Spaniard_ some time, pretending that he could not as yet +procure him a Passport, tho his Intent was to observe him, and see +whether or not he was a Person fit to be entrusted. Their being +frequently together begat an intimate Acquaintance, which they both +mutually desir'd; the Monk, that he might engage the _Spaniard_ to serve +him; and the _Spaniard_, that he might make himself Master of the Monk's +Secret. + +This holy Man, like the rest of his Brethren, puff'd up with Vanity, +could not forbear one day telling his Friend, that he would not long see +him in that Garb in which he was, that he had a Bishoprick promis'd +him, and that he did not despair of obtaining the _Roman_ Purple. +_Sancho_, to make him prattle the faster, pretended that he did not +believe a word of what he said. The Fryar laugh'd at his Incredulity: +"And I suppose, _continued he_, you would not believe me neither, if I +should tell you, that the Duke of _Medina_ will shortly be a King." The +other, to get the Secret quite out of him, urg'd the Impossibility of +it; upon which the Monk told him the whole Story: That _Andalusia_ must +in a little time acknowledge the Duke for their Sovereign: That the +Marquiss _Daiamonti_, who had also discover'd the _Spanish_ Plot to the +King of _Portugal_, was the chief Negotiator and Instrument of this +intended Revolution: That he should shortly see strange Alterations in +_Spain_, and that he had now an opportunity of making his Fortune only +by being secret, and taking care to deliver some Letters from him to the +Duke and Marquiss. + +_Sancho_, well pleas'd at the Discovery of this Secret, which he had +long labour'd to get out of him, renew'd his Protestations of Fidelity +and Secrecy, and his Offers of Service; and having taken _Velasco_'s +Letters, told him, that he should be proud of the Opportunity of serving +the Prince, and hoped that he should be thought worthy of the Honour of +bringing him an Answer. Upon this the _Castilian_ set out for +_Andalusia_, but was no sooner got into the _Spanish_ Territories, than +he took the _Madrid_ Road; and as soon as he arriv'd, went strait to +the Minister's House, and sent him word that _Sancho_, Pay-Master of the +Army in _Portugal_, was just escaped out of Prison, where he had been +confin'd by the Usurper, and had some important Business to communicate +to him. + +It was a very hard matter to gain Access to _Olivarez_, who had his set +Hours of granting Audience, and at which time he sent word the +Pay-Master must return. Enrag'd at this Refusal, _Sancho_ cry'd he must, +he would speak to him; that his Business was no Trifle, but the Safety +of the Kingdom depended on its being immediately reveal'd. + +This being told _Olivarez_, he order'd him to be admitted: _Sancho_ +enter'd the Room, and threw himself at his feet, crying the Kingdom was +sav'd from the Ruin which threaten'd it, since he had gain'd Admittance +to one, in whose power it was to prevent it; then told the whole Story +of the Duke of _Medina_'s Intent, encourag'd in it by the King of +_Portugal_, and persuaded to it by the Marquiss _Daiamonti_, his Design +of seizing upon the Galloons, and of making the Soldiers of _Andalusia_ +turn their Arms against their King: to justify all which, he deliver'd +those Letters given him by the _Franciscan_ for the Duke and Marquiss, +and which contain'd the Scheme of the Conspiracy. + +_Olivarez_, was so surpriz'd at the Strangeness of this News, that he +could not for some time utter a word, but at last recovering himself, he +prais'd _Sancho_ for his Loyalty, and told him that he deserv'd a +double Reward, not only as he had reveal'd the Plot, but also as he had +not been afraid to discover it even to the nearest Relation of the chief +Conspirator. Then order'd he the _Spaniard_ to be conducted into a +private Apartment, and be debarr'd the liberty of speaking to any one. + +Mean while the Minister went into the King's Apartment, and told him all +that _Sancho_ had related, and shew'd him the Letters which he had +deliver'd him. + +Never was Prince in a greater Consternation than _Philip_ was, long had +he observ'd and dreaded the haughty Carriage of the _Gusmans_; and as +the Loss of _Portugal_, which he thought was owing to the Dutchess of +_Braganza_, was still fresh in his Memory, he could not forbear telling +_Olivarez_, in a reproachful manner, that all the Misfortunes which the +_Spaniards_ had lately suffer'd, they were beholden to his Family for. +This Prince wanted neither Wit or Judgment, but he was so addicted to +Pleasure, that he would never apply himself to any thing that carry'd +the face of Business, but would rather have lost half his Dominions, +than be oblig'd to quit his indolent and effeminate manner of Living: +Wherefore having vented his Passion in this Reproach, he gave the +_Franciscan_'s Letters back to _Olivarez_, without so much as opening +them; ordering him to have them examin'd by a Committee, compos'd of +three Members of his Privy-Council, who should make their Report to +him. + +This was all that _Olivarez_ desir'd, for now he could give the Business +what Turn he pleas'd. He chose three of his own Creatures for the +Commissioners, into whose hands the Letters were put, and by whom +_Sancho_ was examin'd several times; all their Aim was to acquit the +Duke of _Medina_, to which end _Olivarez_, himself came to _Sancho_, and +affecting an affable Behaviour, and an extraordinary Kindness for the +Man; "How, my dear _Sancho, said_ he, shall we contrive to acquit the +Duke of _Medina_ of a Crime, which is testify'd only by the Letters of +an unknown Monk, and who probably was bribed by the Duke's Enemies to +lay this to his charge; for certain it is, that never Governour of +_Andalusia_ discharg'd his Duty better, both towards the King and his +Province." + +_Sancho_, who was fully persuaded of the Truth of his Deposition, and +fear'd that any of the Criminals should be acquitted, lest he should +lose his hoped-for Reward, still maintain'd, that he was well assur'd +that there was an horrid Conspiracy form'd against the Government in +favour of the Duke, who was also at the head of it; that the Marquiss +_Daiamonti_ was the Contriver of the Plot; and that he himself had read +several of their Letters, which were shewn him by the _Franciscan_, and +was certain, that if _Olivarez_ did not prevent it in time, all +_Andalusia_ would be up in Arms, to make their Governour their Monarch. + +_Olivarez_, very unwilling that this Business should be too narrowly +search'd into, took an opportunity of telling the King, that the Monk's +Letters had been decypher'd and examin'd, and that he really believ'd +him to be some Wretch who had been bribed to calumniate the Duke; for +there was no Letter of his produc'd, nor did _Sancho_ make any formal +Deposition against him. However, as it was impossible to be too cautious +in such a case as this, his Opinion was, that the Duke must be artfully +drawn to Court, for if he had any such Design on foot, it was not safe +to arrest him in _Andalusia_; that some Forces must be sent to _Cadiz_, +under a new Governour; that the Marquiss _Daiamonti_ must be taken up at +the same time, and if they were found guilty, his Majesty might deliver +them over to the Severity of the Law. + +This haughty Minister's Will was not only generally a Law to the +Subjects of _Spain_, but was always one to the King; who told him, that +he should manage this Business as he thought fit, for he left it +entirely to him. Upon this _Olivarez_ sent his Nephew, Don _Lewis +d'Haro_, to the Duke of _Medina_, to tell him what had been depos'd +against him, and with Orders, that guilty or not guilty, he should +immediately come to Court, which if he did, his Pardon should be +granted; but that if he defer'd his Journey, it would no longer be in +his power to procure it. + +This Message thunder-struck the Duke of _Medina_, and he saw himself +under a necessity of obeying, or immediately flying into _Portugal_: but +then considering how ignominious it was to spend his days in Indolence, +and live a banish'd Man, especially in a Country where there was no +Employment worthy of him, and at the same time knowing how great +_Olivarez_'s Power was; he resolv'd to trust him: and set out for +_Madrid_, and with such diligence did he pursue his Journey, that the +King was immediately inclin'd to believe him innocent, or to forgive +him, should he be found guilty. + +Whilst Don _Lewis d'Haro_ was employ'd in this Business, a Messenger was +sent to take up the Marquiss _Daiamonti_; and the Duke of _Ciudad-real_ +march'd into _Cadiz_ at the head of 5000 Men. + +As soon as the Duke of _Medina_ arriv'd at _Madrid_, he went and +alighted at _Olivarez_'s House, to whom he confess'd the Conspiracy, +shew'd him the Scheme by which they were to proceed, but cast all the +Odium of it upon the Marquiss. _Olivarez_ that instant introduc'd him +into the King's Closet, where he threw himself at his Majesty's feet, +and with Tears confess'd his Crime, and begg'd his pardon. _Philip_, who +was of a soft and compassionate nature, mix'd his Tears with the Duke's, +and easily forgave him. But as it would have been very imprudent to have +expos'd him to the same Temptation a second time, he was order'd to stay +at Court; part of his Estate was also confiscated, the King being +sensible, that had he not been too rich, and too powerful, he would +never have made an Attempt of this kind: and a Governour and a Garison +were plac'd in _Saint Lucar de Barameda_, the Town in which the Dukes of +_Medina Sidonia_ generally resided. + +_Olivarez_, to persuade the King that his Relation's Repentance was +sincere, advis'd him to send a formal Challenge to the Duke of +_Braganza_; which he refus'd at first, objecting that both Divine and +Human Laws forbad Duels. But _Olivarez_ persisting in his Resolution of +having one sent, _Medina_ reply'd, that he could not in Conscience come +to this Extremity with his Brother-in-law, unless the King would obtain +a Bull from the Pope, which should secure him from the Censure of the +Church, which always excommunicated Duelists. + +_Olivarez_ answer'd him, that this was not a time for Scruples of +Conscience, but that he must now think of satisfying both the King and +People of the Sincerity of his Repentance; that in short it was no +matter whether he would fight or not, provided he would not disown a +Challenge, which he would publish in his Name. The Duke, who now plainly +saw that _Olivarez_'s Intent was only to amuse the People, consented to +it, and the Minister drew up one himself. Several of them were sent into +_Portugal_, as well as into most Courts of _Europe_. A Copy of it may +probably not be displeasing to the Reader, who will be surpriz'd to see +a Challenge, which by its Length, Formality, and Stile, would better +have became a Knight-Errant of old, than such a Prince as the Duke of +_Medina Sidonia_ was. + +[Illustration] + + + + + Don _GASPAR ALONCO Perez de Gusman_, Duke of _Medina Sidonia_, + Marquiss, Earl, and Baron of _Saint Lucar de Barameda_, Captain + General of the Ocean, of the Coasts of _Andalusia_, and of the + Armies of _Portugal_, Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to his Catholick + Majesty; + + Whom God Preserve. + + +_Whereas nothing has been more conspicuous to the whole World, than the +treasonable Practices of ~John~ late Duke of ~Braganza~; Be also_ +_his damnable Intentions known, of seducing and tainting with Disloyalty +the faithful Family of the ~Gusmans~, which ever has been, and for the +future ever shall be most true and loyal to the King their Master, in +whose Service so many of them have shed their Blood. This Usurper has +endeavour'd to insinuate into the Minds of Foreign Princes, as well as +of his own Rebel ~Portuguese~, that I would aid and assist him, and +enter into his Measures; hoping thereby to keep up the Spirits of those +who have join'd with him, and to put me out of favour with the King my +Master, (whom God preserve) thinking that by these means he should +alienate my Duty and Affection from my Master, and then I should consent +to his cursed Designs, without that Repugnance_ _which he has found in +me. And the better to accomplish his Design, he has made use of a Monk, +who was sent by the Town of ~Daiamonti~ to ~Castro-Marino~ in +~Portugal~, to treat about the Ransom of a prisoner: which Monk being +carried to ~Lisbon~, was suborn'd, and persuaded to give out that I +was engag'd in the Conspiracy, and that I would permit any Foreign Army +to land in ~Andalusia~, to favour their Designs: and to give the +better colour to his Story, he shew'd some forg'd Letters, and which he +pretended to have receiv'd from me._ + +_All this was done with a Design to persuade several Princes to send him +some Forces, and would to God they had, that I might have shewn my +Loyalty, by destroying them and their_ _Ships; which will easily appear +to have been my Intent, by the Orders which I left on all the Coasts._ + +_These things have been a sore Affliction to me; but what grieves me +still more, is, that his Wife should be my Sister, whose Blood I would +gladly shed, since by Rebellion tainted and corrupted, that I might give +an evident Proof of my Loyalty to my King, and efface all those +Suspicions, which these Rumours may have imprinted in the Minds of the +People._ + +[Sidenote: 1641.] + +_For these Reasons therefore I challenge the said ~John~ late Duke of +~Braganza~, as being a Traitor both to God and his King, and invite +him to meet me in Person, and in single Combat try our Fortune, with or +without Seconds, and arm'd in_ _what manner he please; the Place shall +be near ~Valentia d'Alcantra~, which is on the Frontiers both of +~Castile~ and ~Portugal~, and where I will wait for him four-score +Days, from the first of ~October~ to the nineteenth of ~December~ of +this present Year. The twenty last Days I will wait for him in Person, +and on the time which he shall appoint I will enter the Lists; which +time, though it be long, I give him, not only that he the said Tyrant, +but also that all ~Europe~, nay, that the whole World may know it. To +this end, I will send Ten Chevaliers a League within ~Portugal~; as +also, he shall send Ten a League within ~Castile~, as Hostages, and on +that day I will shew him the Heinousness and Baseness of his Crime._ + +_But if he the said ~John~ late Duke of ~Braganza~, should fail +meeting me, to give me Gentleman-like Satisfaction, and thereby deprive +me of the Opportunity of shewing my Loyalty to the King my Master, and +the natural Hatred which our Family has to Traitors; I offer (with +Submission to his Catholick Majesty, whom God preserve) my good Town of +~St. Lucar de Barameda~, which always has been the Seat of the Dukes +of ~Medina Sidonia~, to any Man who shall kill him. To which end, I +beg of his Catholick Majesty, that I may not have any longer the Command +of the Army which is to march against him, being so transported with +Rage, that I should not be Master of that Sedateness and Conduct, which +are so necessary to_ _a General; but that his Majesty would give me +leave to be only at the head of a Thousand of my own People, on whose +Courage, as well as my own, I may rely, that in case the said Usurper +should not accept my Challenge, we may bring him dead or alive to his +said Majesty. And that I may not be thought to be wanting in my Duty to +my King, I offer one of my best Towns to the first Governour, or other +Officer, belonging to the Usurper, who will surrender any Place to the +King my Master; never thinking that I can do enough for his Service, +since to him, and to his glorious Ancestors, I owe all that I enjoy._ + + Given at _Toledo_ the 29th of _September_, 1641. + + + + + +[Illustration] + + +According to his Promise, the Duke of _Medina_ appear'd in the Lists, +follow'd by Don _John de Garray_, Lieutenant-General of the _Spanish_ +Cavalry; there the Duke of _Braganza_ was summon'd in a formal manner: +But that Prince was too prudent to play a part in this Farce; or had the +thing been of a more serious nature, a Sovereign Prince was not to +venture his Life against a Subject of his Enemy. + +Whilst _Olivarez_ amus'd the People in this manner, he was also taking +care to turn the Resentment of the King and People upon the Marquiss +_Daiamonti_, whom he intended to prove the only guilty Person: to this +end he flatter'd him with the Hopes of a Pardon, and that, as well as +the Duke of _Medina_, he should taste the Bounties of a merciful Prince, +provided he would be open in his Confession; but that Kings, like God, +whose Images they were, never forgave any, but those who heartily and +sincerely repented them of their Crimes. + +The Marquiss trusting to this Promise, which the Duke of _Medina_'s +Example gave him no room to doubt of, sign'd a Paper which _d'Olivarez_ +brought him, and which he immediately put into the hands of those who +were to try him. Upon this Confession of his he was indicted, and +condemn'd to be beheaded. When the Judge pass'd Sentence, he heard it +without the least Concern, or so much as murmuring at _Olivarez_ or the +Duke. That same Night he supp'd as heartily as usual, and when they came +to lead him to Execution the next Morning, he was still asleep. He +ascended the Block without speaking one word, whilst a Contempt of Death +might be read in his Looks, and died with a Courage and Resolution +worthy of a better Cause. Such was the end of a Conspiracy, from which +the King of _Spain_ escaped meerly by Accident, or rather by a Decree of +Providence, which cannot connive at Crimes of this nature, and will +seldom suffer Treachery to prevail. + +The King of _Portugal_ seeing this Project miscarry, resolv'd to +maintain himself on the Throne no longer by such clandestine Means, but +by open Force, and the Assistance of his Allies. _France_ seem'd +particularly to take the House of _Braganza_ under its Protection, as +being the most antient Branch of their own Royal Family. + +The foreign War so employ'd the _Spanish_ Forces, that the _Portuguese_ +had always the advantage over them, and they drove them still farther +from their Frontiers. The King might easily at that time have enter'd +into the very Center of _Castile_, had he had a good General, and +disciplin'd Soldiers; but his Army was chiefly compos'd of Militia, +fitter to make sudden Incursions into the Enemy's Country, than to bear +the Fatigue of a regular Campaign. Another thing that hinder'd his +making a greater Progress with his Army, was, that he had not Money +enough to pay them, and consequently not Forces enough on foot; for as +at his coming to the Crown, he had taken off all Taxes from the People, +that they might the better relish his Government, and had only his own +Estate to defray the Expences of the War; nor would he ever venture to +lay new Taxes upon them. But this Want of his was partly recompens'd by +the Necessity of _Spain_, who at that time had no better Generals than +the _Portuguese_, and whose Treasures, towards the latter end of +_Philip_ the Fourth's Reign, were exhausted. + +On the sixth of _November_, 1656. died this Prince: in all the Encomiums +and Panegyricks made upon him by the _Portuguese_, he is celebrated for +his Piety and Moderation. Foreign Historians upbraid him with Cowardice, +and report, that he always distrusted both himself and others; that it +was a difficult point, especially for the Grandees, to get Access to +him; and that he was free with no one but his ancient domestick +Servants, especially with one that was always in company with his +Confessor. In short, from what we can gather of his Life, he was a +peaceable and religious Prince, and endow'd with Qualities which would +better have became a private Gentleman than a Monarch; so that we can +attribute his being rais'd to the Throne only to the inveterate Hate +which the _Portuguese_ bore the _Castilians_, and to the Ambition, +Courage, and Counsels of his Queen, whom by his last Will he nam'd +Regent of the Kingdom during his Son's Minority; not doubting but that +one who could raise herself to a Throne, would not want Courage to +preserve it for her Children. He left behind him two Sons and a +Daughter; the elder of the Sons was Don _Alphonso_, of a peevish and +melancholy Temper, who had quite lost the Use of one Side, and was at +the time of his Father's Death near thirteen Years old: Don _Pedro_, the +younger, was but eight: Donna _Catharina_ their Sister, was older than +either of them, and was born before the Revolution. + +Don _Alphonso_ was immediately shewn to the People, and proclaim'd King, +and the Queen took the Regency upon her. This Princess would willingly +have signaliz'd herself by some glorious Action, but the Commanders of +the _Portuguese_ Army were fitter for Soldiers than Generals, and there +was not an Officer amongst them, who was Engineer enough to know how to +fortify a Place, or besiege a Town. Nor was there a Man in the +Privy-Council, who could be look'd upon as a Statesman; most of them +could indeed make fine Speeches and elaborate Discourses upon the +Necessities of the State, and the Misfortunes in which it would probably +fall, but never a one of them knew how to prevent or remedy them. + + * * * * * + +[Sidenote: 1657.] + +To these Evils we must attribute the ill Success of her Arms before +_Olivenza_ and _Badajos_, where the _Spaniards_ obliged them to raise +the Siege. Besides this, they had fallen out with the _Dutch_ about the +Trade to the _Indies_; and the _French_, after the _Pyrenean_ Treaty, +seem'd to have forgotten them. + +The Queen finding herself without any regular Troops, without able +Officers or good Counsellors, and without foreign Alliances, was obliged +by her Courage, Capacity, and Application, to supply the want of all +these; she herself discharg'd the Duty of a Secretary of State, and took +care to keep a good Correspondence with all the Courts of _Europe_, +which might be serviceable to her: In short, had she never encounter'd +all these Difficulties, she could not have reveal'd all those _hidden +Vertues, which shun the Day, and lie conceal'd in the smooth Seasons, +and the Calms of Life_. + +By such Care and Diligence for a long time she sav'd _Portugal_ from +that Ruin which threaten'd it; but _Spain_ now pouring all its Forces in +upon her, she found herself unable to resist them, unless she could +procure better Officers. To this end she cast her Eyes upon _Frederick_ +Count of _Schomberg_, whose Name and Valour were already sufficiently +known. She would willingly have given him the chief Command of the Army, +but was afraid at this juncture of disobliging her Generalissimo; +wherefore she order'd the Count _de Soure_, her Ambassador in _France_, +to treat with the Count _de Schomberg_ about his coming into _Portugal_, +where he should have only the Title of Lieutenant-General; but in case +of the Death or Resignation of the present Commander, he should be made +Generalissimo of all her Forces. + +The Count set out for _Lisbon_ with four-score Officers, and above four +hundred Horsemen, all Veterans, who perfectly understood the Discipline +of an Army, and would upon occasion make good Leaders. + +Before the Count went into _Portugal_, he made a Voyage into _England_, +where he saw King _Charles_ the Second, who was lately restor'd: He had +private Orders from the Regent, to endeavour to discover whether King +_Charles_ might be brought to marry the Infanta of _Portugal_. The Count +negotiated this Business with so much Address, that he made both the +King and Chancellor _Hyde_ desirous of this Alliance. The Queen, +extremely satisfy'd with what he had done, desir'd him to hasten into +_Portugal_, and sent the Marquiss _de Sande_ to conclude the Business. + +[Sidenote: _May 31. 1662._] + +But the King of _Spain_, foreseeing what might be the consequence of +this Match, did all he could to prevent it; he offer'd to give any +Protestant Princess Three Millions for her Portion, provided the King +would marry her; and by his Ambassador propos'd the Princesses of +_Denmark_, _Saxony_, or _Orange_. But the Chancellor represented to the +King how nearly it concern'd him to maintain the House of _Braganza_ on +the Throne, and not let _Philip_ become Master of all _Spain_ and the +_Indies_. His Speech produc'd the desir'd Effect, and King _Charles_ +married the Infanta. Thus did a Protestant Statesman persuade his +Sovereign to marry a Catholick Princess, whilst a Prince of the _Roman_ +Communion, who valued himself in a particular manner upon the Title of +the most Catholick King, offer'd him vast Sums of Money, to engage him +to wed a Protestant. + +Shortly after King _Charles_, by his Mediation, establish'd a Treaty of +Commerce between the States of _Holland_ and the Crown of _Portugal_; +after which he sent a considerable Number of Troops into that Kingdom, +commanded by the Earl of _Inchequin_: but having recall'd him, he +order'd that the Forces should stay under the Command of _Schomberg_; so +that the Count shortly saw himself at the head of the chosen Forces of +three Kingdoms. Not but that there was a _Portuguese_ Generalissimo, or +at least one who had the Title, but the Count had all the Authority, +which he made use of to establish an exact and regular Discipline +amongst the _Portuguese_: He taught them the Order of marching, +encamping, besieging, and regularly fortifying a Town; so that all those +Places on the Frontiers of the Kingdom, which were before naked and +defenceless, soon became capable of making a vigorous Defence. + +The Regent Queen, proud of having met with such a General, carry'd the +War vigorously on, and her Arms were almost every where crown'd with +Success; never were the _Portuguese_ Forces better disciplin'd, the +People bless'd her Government, the Grandees continu'd in perfect +Submission to it through Fear and Respect: but though Fortune favour'd +her abroad, she met with domestick Cares and Troubles, which chang'd the +face of every thing. + +Whilst the Regent was taking care to place the Crown with Surety on her +Son's Head, he, on the other hand, endeavour'd to make himself unworthy +of it, by his irregular Manner of Living; he was mean-spirited, +melancholy, and cruel, could not bear the Authority of his Mother, and +despis'd the Advices of his Governours and Ministers; he always refus'd +the Company of the Lords of his Houshold, and would divert himself with +none but Negroes, Mulattoes, and all the Scum of the _Lisbonite_ Youth: +and spite of the Care of his Governours, he had got a little Court +compos'd of such like People, whom he call'd his Bravoes, with whom he +us'd to scour the Streets at Night, and insult all those who +unfortunately fell into his way. + +This Disorder of Mind had been first caus'd by a Palsy, which had +afflicted him when about four Years of Age, and which had made fatal +Impressions not only on his Limbs, but also on his Brain. Whilst he was +young, his Faults had been wink'd at by his Tutors, who thought that so +infirm a Child could never bear the Fatigues of a severe Education, and +hoped that Time would both strengthen his Body, and sweeten his Temper: +but this Indulgence ruin'd him. 'Tis true, that by the assistance of +Remedies, and help of Time, his Constitution grew stronger, he could +fence, ride, and bear any Fatigue; but his Temper never became better. +His Passions encreasing with his Age, they soon prevail'd over his +Reason, which was but weak, and he gave a loose to Licentiousness and +Debauchery. He would bring common Prostitutes into the Palace, fetch +them himself from the Stews, and very often spend whole Nights amongst +them there. + +The Queen, overwhelm'd with Grief, and fearing that the Irregularity of +her Son would at once destroy the Labours of her whole Life, resolv'd +several times within herself to have him confin'd, and make his Brother +reign in his stead; but dreading to excite a Civil War, which would have +favour'd the _Spanish_ Arms, she dropp'd the bold Design: sometimes she +hoped the King might yet be reclaim'd, especially if he was depriv'd of +the Company of _Conti_, a Merchant's Son, his first Favourite, and +Companion of all his Debaucheries. To this end she had _Conti_ privately +seiz'd, and carry'd on board a Ship which was bound for _Brazil_, with +Orders that he should never return to _Portugal_ on pain of Death. + +The King at first seem'd very much griev'd at the Loss of his Favourite, +but comforting himself by little and little, he was at last pacify'd, +and seem'd very much alter'd for the better, would hearken to Advice, +and paid the Queen an unusual Respect, who was congratulated by the +Ministry and the whole Court, upon the extraordinary Success of her +Enterprize. + +But this apparent Tranquillity and Alteration of the King's, was only a +Veil to cover a deep Design, and of which his Mother never thought him +capable; so that this Princess, who could read in the very Hearts of the +most dissembling Courtiers, was overreach'd by a half-witted Youth. + +The King had complain'd of _Conti_'s Banishment to the Count _de +Castel-Melhor_, a _Portuguese_ Nobleman, of an illustrious Birth, subtle +and insinuating, but fitter to manage a Court-Intrigue, than a Business +of Importance. The Count thought that a fair Opportunity offer'd of +supplying _Conti_'s Place in the King's Favour; wherefore to ingratiate +himself, he deplor'd the Exile's Misfortune, and promis'd to use his +utmost Endeavours to have him recall'd. He told the Prince at the same +time, that it was in his own power to remedy this, or any Grievance of +the like nature; that he was of Age, and had been so a great while; that +he might as soon as he pleased take the Supreme Command upon himself, +then recall _Conti_, and let him triumph over the Queen, and all his +other Enemies. + +The King was pleas'd with this Advice, and determin'd to follow it; the +Count was his sole Confidant and Favourite: however, he desir'd the King +that their Intimacy should still be a Secret, that the Queen might not +suspect him: but it could not be long conceal'd from this Princess, who +meeting him one day in the King's Train, caught him by the Arm, and +staring him in the face with that Majestick Air, which made every one +tremble; "I am inform'd, Count, _said she_, that the King is wholly +govern'd by your Counsels; take therefore good care of him, for if he +does any thing to thwart me, your Life shall answer it." + +The Count, without answering, made a submissive Bow, and follow'd the +King, who call'd him. As soon as he was alone with him, he gave him an +account of what the Queen had said: "I suppose, _continued he_, that I +shall shorty share _Conti_'s Fate, but yet with Joy should I go to +Banishment, could I at the same time see my King shake off the Authority +of an imperious Mother, who will let him enjoy the Title, but never the +Power of a Sovereign." + +This artful Discourse threw the Prince into a violent Passion, and he +would go immediately and take the Royal Authority from the Queen, by +taking the Great Seal, which is the Mark of it; but the Count, who knew +too well what the consequence of this would be, advis'd him to retire to +_Alcantra_, and from thence to send Couriers to the Magistrates of +_Lisbon_, and to all the Governours of Provinces, to let them know that +he was of Age, and had taken the Government upon himself. + +The King approv'd the Counsel, and having that Evening disguis'd +himself, he left the Palace, follow'd only by the Count and a few +Friends. That Night they arriv'd at _Alcantra_, from whence he sent +Orders to the Secretaries of State, and to the _German_ Guard, to come +to him; and at the same time dispatch'd Couriers to every Town of +_Portugal_, to let them know that he was of Age, and by consequence the +Regency of the Queen at an end. + +Most of the Court set out for _Alcantra_, and the Queen saw herself in a +manner forsaken; notwithstanding which, she resolv'd to lay down her +Authority as became her: wherefore she wrote to the King, to ask him the +reason why he took possession of the Throne like an Usurper, that had no +Right to it; and added, that if he would return to _Lisbon_, she would +lay down her Authority in presence of the Grandees and the Magistrates. +The King accordingly return'd, and the Queen having summon'd the +Grandees, Magistrates, and others of the Nobility, to attend her, in +presence of the Assembly took the Seals out of the Great Purse, and +putting them into her Son's Hand, "Here are, _said she_, the Seals, +which, together with the Regency, were entrusted to my Care by the Will +of my late Sovereign Lord: I return them to your Majesty with all the +Authority, which they are the Emblems of; I heartily pray God that you +may make a good use of them, and that your Reign may be as prosperous as +I can wish it." The King took the Seals, and gave them to the first +Secretary of State; after which the Prince, and all the Grandees, kiss'd +his Hand, and acknowledg'd him their Sovereign. + +The Queen Dowager had given out, that she intended in six Months time to +retire into a Convent, but that six Months she would spend at Court, to +see what Measures the young King would take. But the Favourite Count, +who still dreaded that Princess, who knew her tow'ring Genius, and was +sensible of the natural Sway which a Mother has over the Mind of her +Son, persuaded the King to treat her most inhumanly, that by frequent +Affronts he might oblige her to leave the Court much sooner than she +intended. The Queen, who was of a haughty Temper, could not bear to be +thus us'd, but immediately threw herself into a Convent; where, being +fully satisfy'd of the Vanities of human Greatness, she spent the +Remainder of her Time, which was scarce a Year, in preparing herself for +another World, and died on the eighteenth of _February_, 1666. lamented +by the whole Nation: for never was there a Princess of a more +extraordinary Genius, or more amply endow'd with all the Vertues +requisite to either the one or the other Sex. Whilst on the Throne, she +shew'd a truly great and heroick Soul; when she quitted it for a +religious Life, she seem'd entirely to have forgotten what Pomp and +Grandeur were, and all her Ambition then was to deserve Heaven. + +The King, who now saw himself fully at liberty, and no longer fear'd the +prudent Queen's just Reproofs, gave a loose to his Passions, and +indulg'd his pernicious Inclinations. He would scour the Streets at +Night with his Bravoes, and abuse every one he met with; nor did the +Watch fare better than their Neighbours. Never a Night did he ramble, +but the next Morning tragical Histories were publish'd, of several who +had been wounded or murder'd in the Streets; and People fled before him +with greater Fear than they would before a hungry Lion, just broke loose +from his Den. + +The Count _de Castel-Melhor_ was his first Minister; he was an +intriguing, insinuating Courtier, but far from being an able Statesman: +haughty in Prosperity, fawning and timorous in Adversity. In his hands +were the Reins of the Government, the King reserving no Authority to +himself, but that of doing what mischief he pleas'd unpunish'd; nor did +the Count ever make it his business to reclaim him, well knowing that +the King's Follies and his Authority were inseparable. + +The _Spaniards_ flatter'd themselves with the Hopes of easily reducing +_Portugal_, whilst it had such a Monarch as Don _Alphonso_. To this end +they sent a strong Army against it, under the Command of Don _John_ of +_Austria_, natural Son to _Philip_ IV. The King of _Portugal_ sent +_Schomberg_ to oppose him, notwithstanding the Count _de Villa-Flor_ had +the Title of Generalissimo. And to the Count of _Schomberg_'s Courage +and Conduct it was that Don _Alphonso_ ow'd the Preservation of his +Crown: He beat the _Spaniards_ several times, notwithstanding what +_Villa-Flor_ did; who, jealous of his Glory, endeavour'd all he could +to cross his Measures, and had effectually done it, had not +_Schomberg_'s Interest been greater both at Court and in the Army, which +joyfully obey'd the Commands of their brave Leader, who always led them +to a certain Victory. + +_Castel-Melhor_ did all he could to persuade the People, that this happy +Success was owing to him; though if the Truth had been search'd into, it +would have appear'd that all he could justly boast of, was his being the +first Man to whom the News was sent. By these means the Minister's +Credit encreas'd, and he actually enjoy'd the Sovereign Authority. The +King was nothing but a piece of Clock-work, whose Springs he could wind +up, and put into what Motion he pleas'd. The Barbarity of his Temper he +made use of, to ruin and destroy all those of whom he was jealous; +amongst these were the greatest part of the late Queen's Ministry: so +that there was a strange Alteration at Court, all Places were fill'd +with the Count's Creatures; nor could any one hope for Favour, but those +who took care to please the Favourite. _Melhor_ went farther than this, +for _Conti_ being recall'd, he got him banish'd a second time; for no +sooner was he landed, but the King sent him an Express, to congratulate +him upon his safe Arrival, and _Melhor_, by the same Express, sent him +Orders not to come near the Court: such a Sway had this Minister over +his Sovereign, that he durst not contradict his Orders, but for fear of +dipleasing him, was obliged to see _Conti_ in private. The Count had +notice of it, and fearing that should their antient Intimacy be renew'd, +there would be no place left for him in the King's Favour, had him +accus'd of a Design upon the Prince's Life; and tho there were no +Witnesses found, no Proofs, no Probabilities of his Guilt, yet Sentence +of Banishment was pass'd upon him. + +The Count, no longer apprehensive of _Conti_, began to consider how he +should secure his Interest at Court, in case of any Accident. To this +end he endeavour'd to ingratiate himself with Don _Pedro_, the King's +Brother, but a Prince of a quite different Character: His Soul was truly +great, and his Inclinations noble; his Actions princely, and his manner +of Living regular: the _Portuguese_ admir'd, or rather ador'd him, for +he had not his own Vertues only, but his Brother's Vices also, to set +him off. + +To this end, _Melhor_ plac'd a Brother of his in the Prince's Houshold, +and bad him do all he could to insinuate himself into his Master's +Favour, as he had into the King's; hoping by these means to govern both +the Princes. + +Don _Pedro_ us'd him with all the Civility imaginable, and shew'd him +more than common Respect; but as for giving him any place in his Favour, +or Confidance, he could not; the whole was taken up. The late Queen +having always look'd upon her younger Son as the Hopes and Support of +her Family, she had taken care to put about him none but those, whose +Wisdom, Learning, and Integrity might entitle them to a share of the +Prince's Love; such were his Governours, and of such chiefly was his +Houshold compos'd. These had taken care to let the Prince know, that he +need not despair of one day wearing the Crown of _Portugal_, for that +there was no great likelihood of his Brother's ever having any Children; +but at the same time they told him, that there was nothing but _Melhor_ +was capable of doing, to keep him from inheriting the Crown, since he +was well assur'd that he must never hope for any share in the Ministry, +when Don _Pedro_ should ascend the Throne. + +By degrees these different Views and Interests divided the Court into +two Cabals; the Count indeed had the greatest Number on his side, there +being more who love to swim with the Stream, than against it. But the +ablest Statesmen, who plainly saw that so violent and arbitrary a +Government could not last long, with all the Grandees, and the best of +the Nobility, who would not cringe to such a Favourite as the King's +was, were always about the Prince, to whom they paid their Respects as +to the Heir apparent. + +The Count being sensible that the Hope of the adverse Faction was +founded upon the Infirmity of the King, determin'd to destroy it at +once, by marrying him; and by his Advice a Match was propos'd and +concluded between the King and _Mary-Elizabeth-Frances_ of _Savoy_, +Daughter to _Charles_ Duke of _Nemours_, and _Elizabeth de Vendome_. +_Cæsar d'Estrées_, a Relation of hers, Bishop and Duke of _Laon_, and +known all over _Europe_ by the Name of the illustrious Cardinal +_d'Estrées_, conducted her into _Portugal_, accompany'd with the +Marquiss _de Ruvigni_, the _French_ Ambassador, and several other +Persons of Quality. + +This Marriage was celebrated with all the Pomp and Magnificence +imaginable. The whole Court admir'd the young Queen's extraordinary +Beauty, but no one was more sensibly affected with it than the Prince. +The King was the only Person who seem'd regardless of her Charms, and +who by his Indifference soon convinc'd the whole Nation, that he had +taken the Name of a Husband, but was not capable of discharging the Duty +of one. + +Count _Melhor_ had at first flatter'd himself with the Hopes of +governing the Queen as well as the King, but soon found that she had too +great a Spirit for such a Submission. Enrag'd at this, he resolv'd to +lose no Opportunity of revenging himself, all publick Business was +carefully hid from her, all her Desires were cross'd; her Recommendation +certainly excluded any Person from the Place to which she recommended +him. Shortly after, neither the Expences of her Houshold, nor her own +Pensions were paid, under pretence that the War and other Necessities of +the State had exhausted the Royal Treasury. And so insolent was this +haughty Minister to every body, to the Prince himself, but especially to +the Queen, that she has been often seen coming out of the King's +Apartment bath'd in Tears. + +Her Beauty, her Merits, her Misfortunes, and the Complaints of all the +Ladies of the Court, and the Officers of the Queen's Houshold, whose +Salaries were stopp'd, touch'd the Hearts of all those who had not an +immediate Dependence on the Minister; and these form'd a third Party at +Court, where nothing now was talk'd of but the Improbability of the +Queen's having any Children, tho she had not yet been married a Year. + +What encreas'd every one's Suspicion, was the Report which was spread of +a private Door, which by the King's Order was made in the Queen's +Chamber, and open'd just against her Bed-side, and of which he himself +kept the Key. The Queen was alarm'd at the Novelty of the thing, and the +Danger to which she saw her Honour expos'd. And many concluded, that +this was an Artifice of _Melhor_'s, who, notwithstanding the Infirmity +of the King, was nevertheless resolv'd that the Queen should have +Children. + +The poor unfortunate Princess discover'd her Apprehensions to her +Confessor, with Orders to impart them to the Prince's. These two +Religious Men advis'd them to unite their Cabals, and go hand in hand +together in a Matter so much the Concern of them both. The Count of +_Schomberg_ was easily drawn into this Party, and the Prince took care +to make himself beloved by the Magistrates of the City, and all those +who had any influence over the People. + +It would have been a very easy matter to have push'd the King from out +his Throne, had he not had a Minister to support him, who was ambitious, +could govern the King as he pleas'd, make him do any thing, and who +would spare no pains to preserve himself at the head of Affairs; the +only way therefore of compassing their Ends, was to remove this Man, +which was at last brought about in this manner. One of his Friends was +bribed to tell him, that the Prince had swore he would sacrifice him, if +he continued any longer at Court. The Count upon this Information +doubled the Guards, arm'd all the Officers of the Household, and would +have had the King go at the head of them, and seize the Prince. But as +furious as the King was in his Midnight-Revels and Debauches, he had not +Courage enough to attempt any thing of this nature, justly fearing that +he should meet with no small Resistance. Wherefore he only wrote a +Letter to the Prince, to order him to come to the Palace. He excus'd +himself, objecting that he could not come whilst the Count was at Court, +who had spread so many Stories to his disadvantage, and endeavour'd all +he could to blast his Reputation; besides which, the Count was Master of +the Palace, and that therefore he fear'd he could not be in safety +there. Several Letters pass'd between the King and Prince; the former +offer'd, that _Melhor_ should come, and on his Knees beg his pardon. +But this was not what the Prince wanted, and he openly refus'd to come +to Court till _Melhor_ was banish'd from it. + +The News of this had put _Lisbon_ into a strange Confusion, and a Civil +War was just breaking out; but _Melhor_ with grief perceiv'd that +_Schomberg_ favour'd the other Party, and that the Grandees of the +Kingdom had all unanimously declar'd themselves in favour of the Prince; +who, assisted also by the Queen's Friends, grew too powerful for him. +Nay, _Melhor_'s very Relations, and those whom he had rais'd, forsook +him, and told him, that if he must sink, he should sink alone. Wherefore +disguising himself, he by Night escaped from the Palace, and retired to +a Monastery seven Leagues from _Lisbon_; which he soon after left, to +seek a sure Refuge in the Court of _Turin_. + +Upon this the Prince immediately came to the Palace, to pay his Devoirs +to the King; every thing fell under his Management, and he soon +dispersed all the late Favourite's Creatures. The King, destitute of +Counsel, lay at the Prince's mercy, who had a Design upon, but durst not +as yet touch his Crown, for fear of being thought an Usurper; but waited +with patience till it should be given him by Lawful Authority, that is, +by a Decree of the States of the Kingdom. + +But then it was in the King's power only to call together this Assembly +of the States, which he was often advis'd to do, there being an +absolute Necessity of their Meeting, to remedy the present Grievances of +the Nation. + +The King was not so weak, but he plainly perceiv'd that this Advice was +given him, with a design to transfer the Royalty from himself to his +Brother; wherefore he long refus'd it, but was at last so press'd to it +both by his Council, and by different Petitions from several Parts of +the Kingdom, that he call'd them together, and they were order'd to meet +on the first of _January_, 1688. + +The Prince having obtain'd this, which he look'd upon as a sure step to +the Throne, gave the Queen notice, that it was time for her now to +appear, and play her part. Upon which she immediately retired into a +Convent, and wrote a Letter to the King, to tell him, that she thought +herself in Conscience obliged to quit the Palace, since he was not +capable of being her Husband; that he was very sensible that their +Marriage was never consummated, and that therefore she begg'd that he +would repay her her Portion, and give her leave to return to her +Country, and amongst her own Relations. + +Upon the Receipt of this Letter, the King in a great Rage flew towards +the Convent, to fetch the Queen back to the Palace by force; but the +Prince, who foresaw the Effect of her Message, took care to be at the +Convent-Door, with all the Nobility, and told his Brother this was a +Place too sacred to have any Violence us'd in it, and persuaded, or +rather forc'd the King to return to the Palace, who all the way +complain'd of being calumniated, and was for bringing half the +Prostitutes of _Lisbon_ to prove his Virility, and swore that he would +be reveng'd both on the Queen and the Prince. + +[Sidenote: _Nov. 23. 1667._] + +But Don _Pedro_ was not in the least frightned at his Menaces, knowing +that the whole Power of the Kingdom was in his own hands; and the next +Morning (thinking it unsafe to delay the mighty Work any longer) order'd +the Council to assemble, and follow'd by the Nobility, the Magistracy, +and a whole Crowd of People, who wanted to see the Event of this +Business, he went into the Palace to them; and after a short Debate, an +Order was sent by the Prince to arrest the King, who shortly after this +sign'd his own Abdication. + +Notwithstanding this, the Prince would not take any other Title, but +that of Regent; under which Name the States of the Kingdom took the Oath +of Allegiance to him. + +[Sidenote: _Febr. 13. 1668._] + +The next thing he did, was to secure a Peace with _Spain_; the King of +_England_ made himself their Mediator, and _Spain_, by a solemn Treaty, +acknowledg'd the Crown of _Portugal_ independent of the Crown of +_Spain_. + +[Sidenote: _Nov. 22. 1667._] + +[Sidenote: _Mar. 24. 1668._] + +But one thing was still wanting to compleat the Regent's Happiness: he +loved his Sister-in-law; who, as soon as she was got into the Convent, +had presented a Petition to the Chapter of the Cathedral of _Lisbon_, +to desire them, during the Vacancy of the Holy See, to declare her +Marriage void; since, notwithstanding fifteen Months Cohabitation with +her Husband, it had not been consummated. The Chapter, without waiting +for any farther Proof, immediately declar'd the Marriage void. + +[Sidenote: _March 2. 1668._] + +[Sidenote: _Dec. 10. 1668._] + +By these means the Regent saw himself at liberty to marry his +Sister-in-law; however, he was advis'd, for fear of scandalizing any +one, to get a Dispensation from the See of _Rome_. Just at this time the +Cardinal _de Vendome_, Legate _à Latere_, was order'd by the See to put +on the Papal Dignity, that he might assist as Pope at the Christening of +the Dauphin of _France_; from him was the Dispensation obtain'd, which +Mr. _Verjus_ arriv'd with in _Portugal_ about the time that the Chapter +pronounced their Sentence. All which Accidents falling out together, +made some People imagine that they were premeditated. The Bishop of +_Targa_, Coadjutor to the Archbishop of Lisbon, married them in virtue +of this Brief, which was afterwards confirm'd by Pope _Innocent_ IX. + +Don _Alphonso_ was banish'd to the Isle of _Tercera_, which belongs to +the _Portuguese_. This something displeas'd the People, who generally +pity the Unfortunate, and who now cry'd out, that it was enough to rob +him of his Wife and Crown, without driving him from his Country; but +however, no one dar'd speak to the Regent about it. He continued in this +Exile till the Year 1675, at which time the Regent recall'd him, being +inform'd that there were some discontented People contriving how to +fetch him from _Tercera_, and reinstate him in the Throne. He died not +far from _Lisbon_, 1683, and at his Death Don _Pedro_ was proclaim'd +King; a Title he would not, during his Brother's Life, accept, and the +only thing of which he had not depriv'd that unfortunate Prince. + + + _=FINIS=._ + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + +INDEX. + + + A. + + Abdalla, _King of ~Morocco~_, 5. + + Acugna, _Archbishop of ~Lisbon~, his Character_, 24. + _His Speech to the Confederate Nobility_, 25. + _Is made Lord-Lieutenant of ~Portugal~ after the Revolution_, 65. + + Aiamonti, _a ~Castilian~ Nobleman, related to the Queen of + ~Portugal~_, 76. + _Negotiates a Business between the King of ~Portugal~ and the + Governour of ~Andalusia~_, ibid. + _Discovers the ~Spanish~ Plot_, 85. + _His Character_, 91. + _Writes to the Duke of ~Medina Sidonia~, to persuade him to + revolt_, 92. + _Is seiz'd as a Traitor_, 104. + _Deceiv'd by ~Olivarez~_, 114. + _His Courage when led to Execution_, 115. + + Alba, _the Duke of, General to ~Philip II.~ King of ~Spain~, + conquers ~Portugal~_, 12 + + Almada, _a Castle near ~Lisbon~_, 29 + + Almada, _~Antonio~ and ~Lewis~, two of the Conspirators_, 25 + + Almanzor, _the Caliph, conquers ~Spain~_, 2 + + Almeida, _one of the chief Conspirators, his Character_, 24. + _Is deputed with two more to confer with the Duke of + ~Braganza~_, 30 + + Alphonso VI. _King of ~Castile~ and ~Leon~, gives ~Portugal~ + in Dowry with his Daughter to ~Henry~ Count of ~Burgundy~_, 3 + + Alphonso, _Son to the former, first King of ~Portugal~_, 4 + + Alphonso VI. _King of ~Portugal~, is but thirteen Years old when + his Father dies_, 117. + _His Character_, 121. + _Debaucheries_, 122. + _Retires to ~Alcantra~_, 124. + _Takes the Government upon himself_, 125. + _Marries ~Mary-Elizabeth-Frances~ of ~Savoy~, Princess of + ~Nemours~_, 130. + _Signs his Abdication_, 136. + _Is banish'd to ~Tercera~_, 137. + _Recall'd, and dies near ~Lisbon~_, 138 + + Antonio, _Grand-Prior of ~Crato~, pretends to the Crown of + ~Portugal~_, 10. + _Is proclaim'd King by the People, and defeated by the Duke of + ~Alba~_, 12 + + Aviedo, _the Duke of, an Officer in ~Africa~ under ~Don + Sebastian~_, 9 + + + B. + + Baeze, _a rich ~Jew~ of ~Lisbon~, drawn into the Conspiracy against + the King of ~Portugal~_, 84. + _Sends Letters for the other Conspirators_ + _into Castile_, ibid. + _Is examin'd, and confesses_, 88 + + Baynetto, _an ~Italian~ Nobleman, arrested at ~Lisbon~_, 62 + + Braganza, _Don ~James~ Duke of, claims the Crown of ~Portugal~ at + the Death of the Cardinal King_, 10. + _But does not assert his Right by Force of Arms_, 12 + + Braganza, _~Theodossus~, Son to the former, his Character_, 15 + + Braganza, _Don ~John~, Grandson to Don ~James~, his Character_, 15. + _Stratagems us'd to draw him out of ~Portugal~_, 17. + _Is made Governour of that Kingdom, and General of the ~Spanish~ + Forces in it_, 18. + _~Olivarez~'s Design to arrest him when on board the Admiral's + Ship_, ibid. + _All Governours of Forts and strong Places order'd to seize him_, 19. + _He disappoints them_, 20. + _Comes to ~Lisbon~_, 29. + _His Answer to the Confederate Nobility_, 32. + _Is proclaim'd King_, 56. + _Endeavours to make the Governour of ~Andalusia~ rebel against the + King of ~Spain~_, 76. + _His Death and Character_, 116 + + Braganza, _~Louisa de Gusman~, married to Don ~John~, her + Character_, 33. + _Her Answers to the Duke when he talk'd about his Restoration_, 36. + _Her Answer to the Archbishop of ~Lisbon~, when he begg'd the Life + of a Traitor_, 90. + _Is made Regent_, 117. + _Engages the Earl of ~Schomberg~ to come and command her Forces_, + 118. + _Marries her Daughter to King ~Charles II.~ of England_, 119. + _Her Speech to the Count ~de Castel-Melhor~_, 124. + _To her Son when she resign'd the Regency_, 125. + _Retires into a Convent, and dies_, 126 + + + C. + + Camino, _the Duke of, assists at the King's Coronation_, 72. + _Conspires against him_, 80. + _Is arrested_, 86. + _Executed_, 90 + + Cardenas, _Don ~Didaco~, Lieutenant-General of the ~Spanish~ + Cavalry, is arrested at ~Lisbon~ at the time of the + Revolution_, 62 + + Castel-Melhor, _Favourite and first Minister of State to ~Alphonsus + VI.~ King of ~Portugal~, his Character_, 123. + _Persuades the King to take the Government upon himself_, ibid. + _To affront the Queen his Mother, that she might retire from + Court_, 126. + _Places his Brother near the Prince_, 129. + _Marries the King_, 130. + _Yet cannot agree with the Queen_, 131. + _Persuades the King to go himself and arrest the Prince_, 133. + _Is forc'd to leave the Court, and fly to ~Turin~_, 134 + + Catherine _of ~Austria~, Regent of ~Portugal~ during the Minority + of Don ~Sebastian~_, 4 + + Catherine de Medicis _pretends to the Crown of ~Portugal~_, 11 + + Catherine, _Daughter to King ~John IV.~ of ~Portugal~, married to + King ~Charles II.~_, 119 + + Castro-Marino, _a Town in ~Portugal~_, 95 + + Challenge _sent to the King of ~Portugal~_, 107 + + Cherifs, _a Law of theirs_, 5 + + Ciudad-real, _the Duke of, enters ~Cadiz~ with ten thousand Men_, 104. + + Conti, _the Son of a Merchant of ~Lisbon~, ~Alphonsus~'s first + Favourite_, 122. + _Is banish'd by the Regent Queen into ~Brazil~_, ibid. + _Recall'd by the King, but banish'd again by ~Castel-Melhor~_, 128 + + Correa, _a Clerk of ~Vasconcellos~'s, runs out as the Conspirators + are coming up to the Secretary's Apartment_, 56. + _And receives several Stabs, but does not die_, 57. + _Conspires against the King of ~Portugal~_, 81. + _And is executed with the other Traitors_, 90 + + Coreo, _a Citizen of ~Lisbon~, an Instrument of the Revolution_, 43 + + Coutingno, _Don ~Gaston~, during the time of the Revolution delivers + the Prisoners_, 63 + + + D. + + Del Campo, _Governor of the Citadel of ~Lisbon~, surrenders to the + Confederate Nobility_, 64 + + Diego Garcez Palleia, _a Captain of Foot, defends ~Vasconcellos~ for + some time_, 57 + + Daiamonti, _vid. ~Aiamonti~_. + + + E. + + Estrees _related to the young Queen of ~Portugal~, Bishop and Duke + of ~Laon~, and known by the Name of the Cardinal ~d'Estrees~_, 130 + + Evora, _the People of, rise in a tumultuous manner, and declare + themselves for the House of ~Braganza~_, 16 + + + F. + + Ferdinand de Castro, _Comptroller of the Navy-Office, arrested at + ~Lisbon~ at the time of the Revolution_, 62 + + Ferdinand de la Cueva, _Governour of the Citadel of ~St. John~'s, + surrenders upon Terms_, 71 + + Ferreira, _the Marquiss of, is of opinion that all the Traitors ought + to be executed_, 89 + + + G. + + Goa, _and all the other Places in ~India~ and ~Africa~, which + formerly belong'd to ~Portugal~, revolt from the King of + ~Spain~, and acknowledge the Duke of ~Braganza~_, 77 + + Garray, _Don ~John~, Lieutenant-General of the ~Spanish~ Forces, + Second to the Duke of ~Medina~_, 114 + + George, _Brother to the Lord ~Ranger~, a Conspirator_, 25. + _Reveals the Conspiracy to a Relation_, 52 + + + H. + + Hamet, _Brother to ~Muley-Moluc~, King of ~Morocco~, commands the + Army_, 8 + + D'Haro, _Don ~Lewis~, Nephew to ~Olivarez~_, 103 + + Henry, _Count of ~Burgundy~, Son to ~Robert~ King of ~France~, + drives the ~Moors~ from ~Portugal~_, 3 + + Henry, _Cardinal and Archbishop of ~Evora~, succeeds Don + ~Sebastian~_, 10. + _Refuses to name his Successor_, 12 + + Hyde, _Chancellor of ~England~, persuades King ~Charles II.~ to + marry the Infanta of ~Portugal~_, 119 + + + I. + + Jews _conspire against the King of ~Portugal~_, 82 + + Inchequin, _General of the ~English~ Forces in ~Portugal~_, 120 + + Inquisitor, _the ~Grand~, conspires against the King_, 81. + _Is arrested_, 86. + _And condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment_, 90 + + John, _Don, Prince of ~Portugal~, Son to King ~John III.~ dies + before his Father_, 4 + + John, _Don, of ~Austria~, natural Son to ~Philip IV.~ King of + ~Spain~, and General of the Troops sent against ~Portugal~_, 127 + + Julian, _an ~Italian~ Nobleman, invites the ~Moors~ into + ~Spain~_, 2 + + + L. + + Lemos, _a Merchant of ~Lisbon~, and an Instrument of the + Revolution_, 43 + + Lewis de Camara, _a Jesuit, Tutor to Don ~Sebastian~_, 4 + + Lewis de Castile, _is sent by the Duke of ~Medina~ to the Marquis + ~Daiamonti~_, 92. + _Returns back to the Duke_, 94 + + + M. + + Margaret _of ~Savoy~, Dutchess of ~Mantua~, Vice-Queen of + ~Portugal~_, 14. + _Complains of ~Vasconcellos~'s Conduct_, 40. + _Endeavours to appease the Confederate Nobility_, 59. + _Is confin'd_, 61. + _Removes to ~Xabregas~-House_, 67 + + Mattos, _Don ~Sebastian de Norogna~, Archbishop of ~Braga~, and + President of the Chamber of ~Opaco~_, 24. + _Conspires against the King of ~Portugal~_, 78. + _Confesses his Crime_, 88. + _Dies in Prison_, 90 + + Mello, _Lord ~Ranger~, one of the Conspirators_, 25. + _Cuts the ~Spanish~ Guard to pieces_, 55. + _Acquaints the Duke and Dutchess of ~Braganza~ with the Success + of their Enterprize_, 69 + + Mendoza, _another of the chief Conspirators_, 25. + _Meets the Duke of ~Braganza~ in a Forest, and confers with him_, 39. + _Goes with ~Mello~ to ~Villa-viciosa~_, 69 + + Menezes, _~Alexis~, Governour to Don ~Sebastian~_, 4 + + Menezes, _~Antonio~, his Answer to the Vice-Queen_, 60 + + Medina Sidonia, _~Gaspar Perez de Gusman~, Duke of, Brother-in-law to + the King of ~Portugal~, resolves to have himself crown'd King + of ~Andalusia~_, 92. + _Sends his Confidant to the Marquiss ~Daiamonti~_, 94. + _His Intent discover'd_, 100. + _Is sent for to the Court of ~Spain~_, 103. + _And pardon'd_, 104. + _He challenges the King of ~Portugal~_, 107 + + Monsano, _the Count ~de~_, 72 + + Muley Mahomet, _flies to the Court of ~Portugal~ for Refuge_, 5. + _Goes into ~Africa~ with Don ~Sebastian~_, 7. + _Is drown'd in the River ~Mucazen~_, 10 + + Muley Moluc, _takes possession of the Kingdom of ~Morocco~_, 5. + _Gives the Command of the Army to his Brother ~Hamet~_, 8. + _Dies during the Battle_, 9 + + + N. + + Norogna, _one of the Confederate Nobility, his passionate Answer to + the Vice-Queen_, 61 + + + O. + + Olivarez, _the Duke of, of the House of the ~Gusmans~, first + Minister to ~Philip IV.~ King of ~Spain~_, 13. + _His Policy_, ibid. + _Orders the Duke of ~Braganza~ to come immediately into + ~Spain~_, 47. + _His artful way of acquainting the King with the Revolution_, 74. + _Obtains the Duke of ~Medina~'s Pardon_, 104. + _And then makes him challenge the King of ~Portugal~_, 105 + + Ozorio, _Don ~Lopez~, the ~Spanish~ Admiral, has private Orders + to seize the Duke of ~Braganza~, and bring him into + ~Spain~_, 18 + + + P. + + Parma, _the Duke of, pretends to the Crown of ~Portugal~_, 10 + + Pelagus, _founds the Kingdom of ~Leon~_, 3 + + Pedro, _Don, Prince of ~Portugal~, his Character_, 129. + _Is misused by Count ~Castel-Melhor~_, ibid. + _Arrests the King_, 136. + _Is declared Regent_, ibid. + _Marries the young Queen_, 137. + _After his Brother's Death is proclaim'd King_, 138 + + Philip II. _King of ~Spain~, claims the Crown of ~Portugal~_, 10. + _Takes possession of it by force of Arms_, 12 + + Philip IV. _King of ~Spain~, his Character_, 101. + _Offers King ~Charles~ three Millions to marry a Protestant + Princess_, 119 + + Pinto Ribeiro, _Comptroller of the Duke of ~Braganza~'s Houshold, + his Policy_, 22. + _His Answer to a Friend_, 56. + _Is not promoted by the King_, 76 + + Portugal, _its Description_, 1. + _Acknowledg'd to be a Kingdom independent of the Crown of + ~Spain~_, 136 + + Portuguese, _their Character_, 2 + + Puebla, _the Marquiss of, Major-Domo to the Vice-Queen, is arrested + at the time of the Revolution_, 62 + + + R. + + Richelieu, _the Cardinal of_, 32 + + Roderick, _the last King of the ~Goths~ who reign'd in + ~Portugal~_, 2 + + Ruvigni, _the Marquiss of, the ~French~ Ambassador, accompanies the + Princess of ~Nemours~ into ~Portugal~_, 131 + + + S. + + Saa, _Lord-Chamberlain, one of the Conspirators_, 25. + _Shoots ~Vasconcellos~ thro the Head_, 58 + + Saldaigni, _another of the Conspirators_, 62 + + Sancho, _Paymaster of the ~Spanish~ Troops in ~Portugal~, is + detain'd Prisoner there_, 96. + _Discovers to ~Olivarez~ the Duke of ~Medina~'s Intent to + revolt_, 100 + + Sande, _the Marquiss of, sent into ~England~ by the Regent of + ~Portugal~ to conclude the Match between the Infanta and King + ~Charles II.~_, 119 + + Savoy, _~Philibert-Emanuel~, Duke of, pretends to the Crown of + ~Portugal~_, 10 + + Schomberg, _~Frederick~, Count of, is invited by the Queen of + ~Portugal~ to be her General_, 118. + _Takes his way thro ~England~, and treats of a Marriage between + the Infanta and King ~Charles~_, 119. + _Beats the ~Spaniards~ during the Regent's time_, 120. + _As also under the Reign of ~Alphonso~_, 127 + + Soarez d'Albergaria, _the Corregidor, is kill'd at the time of the + Revolution_, 56 + + Soure, _the Portuguese Ambassador in ~France~, treats with + ~Schomberg~_, 118 + + + T. + + Tubal, _the ~Portuguese~ pretend to be descended from him_, 2 + + + V. + + Vasconcellos, _Secretary to the ~Spanish~ Regency in + ~Portugal~_, 14. + _His Haughtiness and Cruelty_, 26, 27. + _Is killed in the Revolution_, 58. + _His Character_, 59 + + Velasco, Nicholas de, _of the Order of ~St. Francis~, is sent by the + Marquiss ~Daiamonti~ into ~Portugal~_, 95. + _His Pride and Inconsiderateness_, 96. + _Discovers his Business to ~Sancho~, who betrays him_, 99 + + Villa-Flor, _the ~Portuguese~ Generalissimo_, 127 + + Villa-Viciosa, _the Seat of the Dukes of ~Braganza~_, 16 + + Villareal, _the Marquiss of, assists at the King of ~Portugal~'s + Coronation_, 72. + _Conspires against him_, 80. + _Is arrested_, 86. + _And executed_, 90 + + Villenes, _her Behaviour and Speech to her Sons_, 54. + + + X. + + Xabregas, _a Palace of ~Lisbon~_, 67 + + + _The End of the Index._ + + + + + _BOOKS Printed, and Sold, by ~W. 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The Plague of Impertinence, or a Barber a Fury. + +9. _Socrates_ and _Timandra_, or Love the best Philosopher: With several +Poems and Songs. These 6 last written by Mr. _D'Urfey_. + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote A: Jo. Marianæ Histor. Hispania illustrata. Hist. de Turquet. +Reusendius de Antiq. Monarchia Lusitana. Connestag. Philippus Rex +Lusitaniæ. Histoire de Portugal, par Monsieur de la Neufvil. Lusitan. +Vindic. Caëtan Passar de Bello Lusita. Portugal Restaurado de Menezes. +Siry Mem. Recond. Mercure François. Troubles de Portugal. Mem. d'Ablan.] + +[Footnote B: _Cardinal_ Richelieu.] + +[Footnote C: Ad hæc politicas Artes, bonos & malos Regiminis Dolos, +Dominationis Arcana, humani Latibula ingenii, non modo intelligere +Mulier, sed & pertractare quoque ac provehere, tam Naturâ quam +Disciplinâ mirificè instructa fuit. Caëtan. Passar. de Bello Lusitan._] + +[Footnote D: Macedo _tells us, that it was Don_ Antonio d'Almada.] + +[Footnote E: _The Judge in Capital Cases._] + + + + +Transcriber's notes: + +gesspert is indicated with = + +antiqua font is indicated with ~ + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Revolutions of Portugal, by Abbot De Vertot + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43852 *** |