constraint and negotiating without obstacle and gain me the esteem of the Neapolitans seeing me in a posture to serve them by the Kings consent and permission and that consequently to me would be directed Commissions for what ever was to be treated with them which might no longer pass through other hands neither could they have thoughts of employing any other in that Command I by this meanes having all at my disposal This being well consider'd will pass for address no wayes blameable For the second Objection It is yet easier to demonstrate the Reasons that obliged me to the conduct I follow'd and make appear that I was decried without ground and that my Enemies maliciously endeavoured to make use of it that I might be abandoned and responsible for the ill success of an enterprise in which I have so comported my self that my actions being attentively examin'd and my memorials perused without preejudice it must needs be granted that humanly speaking more than I did could not have been done and that it was never known before that one Man alone could without astonishment so long support the burthen of Affairs so embroiled resist the whole power of Spain and that of the United Nobility of a great Kingdom redress so many Disorders without any supplies those I justly expected being not only refused but vaunted and made appear onely in order to dishonour and ruine me and had no other effects but to destroy that for which I had laboured retard all that my address and diligence had set forward and manag'd to the best advantage and to encourage my Enemies and Traytors by all wayes to attempt against my life It is certainly admirable and without example in History that in the midst of Assassinations and Tumults without any in whom I could put confidence not excepting my own Domestiques who for the most part served me not according to my intentions nor those that had engaged themselves to follow my Fortune who failed of their duty and as little the Ministers of a great Kingdom for whose Service I Acted who contributed the most to my ruine or the Court whose Orders were detained from me and which was prepossessed by reports as malicious as false Or a People Vain Cruel and Seditious I made War without Powder Ammunition or Money with new-raised and ill-armed Forces without Canon or Baggage and yet caused a City to subsist five compleat Moneths the eminences of which were fortified and in the hands of the Enemy Block'd by Sea with a powerful Fleet and Beleaguer'd by Land with an Army strong both in Horse and Foot Provisions cut off on every side all Elements contrary continually batter'd by three Castles notwithstanding all which I maintained a famished People in Respect and Obedience put an end to their Disorders Murthers and Plunderings re-established Government and Justice and at last repose and tranquillity in a place where before my arrival innocent blood incessantly flowed about the Streets Violence was Authorized Burning and Pillaging Houses not only tollerated but commanded with such fatal and Tragical events as could not be beheld without compassion horror and astonishment Did not consideration of the safety of many heads that are dear to me oblige me to suppress the greatest part of my most secret negotiations I could discover That would convince my Enemies and those that envy me and make me appear to the eyes of all Europe not onely innocent but glorious in having by Miracle as new as surprising raised force out of weakness and persecuted by all the World and destitute of all assistance my self alone brought so difficult an enterprise to such perfection that the Conquest of the Kingdom of Naples and consequently the destruction of the Spanish Monarchy of which it is the most solid foundation failed on no other account but that I was envied the glory of it and could never obtain so much as was necessary for taking in the least fortified place which might I have had it would have sufficed to have compleated so extraordinary and glorious a worke which I undertook without any other interest than to injoy the honour of it after which I could have died joyfully in assurance that through all Posterity my memory should be glorious But my ambition giving place to my friendship I will not to defend my self bring them into the least danger and resolve by publishing nothing but what I may declare without their hazard to suffer my proceedings to be condemn'd by such as never weighing the labor and conduct made use of Judge of things by their success and have neither esteem nor contempt for any but according to their good or evil Fortune I hope I may be easily pardoned this digression which I could not possibly omit and on which perhaps the displeasure to see my self blamed without cause hath too long detained and transported me to too great heat and resentment To returne then to that which I promised to make understood I must say that having at that time no other favour to pretend but leave to accept the offer was made me to Negotiate with the Neapolitans and devote my self to their service and sacrifice my self to their interests and recovery of their Liberty I demanded nothing but Money because it was then the only thing necessary to render me considerable amongst them and put me in a condition to be useful to their assistance Besides that they had informed me that they wanted only a Head to establish Order amongst them that they might advantageously make use of all those things which to invite me they pretended they had in abundance that they apprehended all Forrain Powers and that I should have given them distrust in providing my self of that which they demanded not of me and that if I had refused to go to them without Forces that should not have depended on their Authority or the support of a powerful Army I should probably have given them jealousie that under pretence of defending them I intended to subdue them to France That it was necessary to be Master of their Armes before any farther Declaration and having to do with irresolute People engage them to advance some steps before they themselves perceiv'd it That having a forme of Peace with Spain it was they that must renew the War That it would have seemed that France had sollicited them to a new Insurrection which I perceiving must infallibly follow thought it was best to stay for it that necessity and apprehension of ruine opening their eyes might force them to have recourse to the only protection that could be present and useful to them that so upon their applications the King might have opportunity of making such Conditions as he best liked that it was necessary they should apply themselves to me to mediate for them and that I should have lost their good opinion if I had done it of my self without their instruction and lastly that my business being to satisfie a multitude every particular of which
Prince Thomas in the enterprise that was managed during the siege of Orbitelloy That it was indifferent to him who should profit by those revolutions and that whosoever fortune favored should have his support alliance and protection and that in this manner without giving envie or enmitie to any he should reap greater advantages by the Neapolitans than if they became his subjects That he had formerly refused to verifie in Parliament the uniting Catalonia to his crown that he might not eternize the war and deprive himself of the means of giving Peace to Christendom when he should think fit That therefore they had neither Orders nor Instructions to give me that I might according to time and its conjunctures act as I conceived most to the purpose that I could not render a more important service than the setting Naples at liberty and depriving the Spaniards of that crown After this the Cardinal of St Cicilia withdrawing with me to a Window to speak privately told me that I was not to have any Confidence in Master de Fontenay who was neither his friend nor mine that he had no part in the secrets of the Cardinal his brother of whose friendship and protection he assured me in order to the great Obligation he had to me That I should confidently undertake my Voyage in which I should want nothing That I should be assisted with Men Money Ammunition and Victuals with a powerful Fleet composed of many good Ships and Gallies and to conclude that France would abandon all other designs to support me with her whole Forces We parted after many embraces equally satisfied with each other he to write his Letters of which he expected a success as favourable as I thought I ought to attend from mine When I came home I sent for the Sieur de Tilli my Secretarie to give him my Instructions and Orders to draw up the Letters of Attorney and other Commissions necessary for negotiating at Court and with my Relations according to the resolutions I had taken and ordering him to cause to be sent me what Money he could raise as the use fullest supply for preservation of my life and execution of my designs I yet detained him some days that he might take with him advice of the Bills of Exchange I was to draw on Paris and carry certain news as well of the condition of my affairs as of the prefixed time for my departure being withal desirous that the dispatches of the Cardinal of St Cicilia might first arrive that so at his coming to Court he might find things prepared to give him opportunity of a more useful serving me The matters I encharged him with being too nice to be trusted to writing I gave him Letters of Credence which I will here insert though perhaps not very necessary onely to shew that I am punctual and that I was confident to have found in Naples greater Forces than could be made appear when I was upon the place Letter for the Dutchess of Guise Madam THe esteem the People and Kingdom of Naples have testified of my Person by making choice of me to free them from the tyranny of the Spaniards and command their Armies with the same authority the Prince of Orange does those of the United Provinces obliging me to be in a readiness to embarque my self on the Royal Fleet and put my self at the head of a hundred and seventy thousand men that expect me I thought Madam it would not be disagreeable to you to receive account of the honour done me and that I could not hope for success in so glorious an imployment without the happiness of your blessing I therefore most earnestly beg it of you beseeching you not to forsake me on this occasion where I may acquire so much honour and establish so great a fortune Your goodness encourages me to hope your assistance which is extremely necessary especially if you please to consider that if any advantage accrue it is not onely to all our Family but more particularly to your self since I am with all imaginable respects Madam Your most humble most obedient and most obliged Son and Servant The Duke of Guise From Rome this 9 Nov. 1647. I beseech you to give entire credit to what this Bearer shall in my name acquaint you with it being of too great importance to be entrusted to writing Believing that the presence of my Brother the Knight of Malta would not be unuseful to me his interest obliging me to a greater confidence in him than in any other of our Family in an affair in which he was to have his share I writ him the following Letter which though not regular enough to appear to the view of the World shall not yet be omitted supposing Liberty of correspondence between so near Relations being easily excused it will make appear that I neither neglected nor contemned any means of putting my self in a condition to want nothing necessary and that I made use as farr as possibly I could of all ways of imploying my fortune as well as life towards the success of the enterprise I had undertaken likely to prove so profitable and advantageous to the crown My Letter to him THis dispatch dearest brother will prevent my appearing either ridiculous or chimerical and make me looked on as a Prophet or a Person as well inlightened because it makes appear already effected all whereof I writ six Moneths since by the Express I sent you In short you will learn by the Letters sent by Tillie and that which he will tell you that it hath not been without difficulty that my Negotiation hath attained the height you will hereafter understand it arrived at and that the deputation the People and Kingdom of Naples have made to me is not a little glorious and the interests of France meeting so great advantages in the posture into which I have reduced matters I doubt not to render her so effectual services as shall procure me her powerfullest assistance your self and brother are to apply your selves to the Cardinal and considering the extreme necessity I have for Money use all diligences possible to furnish me All my Relations ought in like manner to contribute to my advantages which are also theirs and let them send me all they can whether Money or Jewels Rifle them all on so good an occasion I have no time to write to our Brothers nor Sisters present them my service and excuses let this Letter serve for you all I direct it to you because all the rest are to continue in France for establishing our Family I expect that you shall come to assist me here I shall send for you when it shall be time in the interim take care that none come to me without order because I desire some days settlement before the arrival of many French though I intend very suddenly to send for my Family and equipage I stay onely for the Fleet to embarque my self and pass to Naples where I am expected with
have been so glorious to him but besides that he had already fired both his Pistols his unwillingness to engage me by reason of the approach of his Troops whom he could not restrain and the Cowardice of mine who in stead of sustaining the shock would undoubtedly have fled and abandoned me as he had seen them do before forced him to refuse the honour I proprounded by which I so highly obliged him that he should never loose the memorie but remain my servant all the days of his life I received this Complement with such acknowledgements as its gallantry merited and besought him to tell him in my name that he very much obliged me and that I thought I had escaped a very great danger it being in my opinion extremely hazardous to encounter a person of his Valour Don Fabritio Spinelli saw amongst my Horses a gray Courser he very much esteemed and that had been taken out of one of his Houses by some Troops that served the People I offered to restore him which he would not accept seeming very well satisfied that he was in my hands And the Duke of Andria told me that the Spaniards being naturally distrustful would have been jealous of his receiving such a courtesie from me He looked on a bay Horse of mine as very suitable to a Set of Coach-horses he had of the same height and colour which I offered and he refused for the same reason his Camerade had done the other and I commending a dapeled gray of his breed on which he came he very much pressed me to accept him I thanked him but would not propound a truck with mine to which he would have been willing because it came in my head to send it to him the next Morning which I did by a Trumpet with the other to Don Fabritio Spinelli who returned them with this Message that I did not treat them as my Friends and Servants because there was as much malice as generosity in the present I went about to make them and it looked as if I intended to raise a jealousie of them so to compel them out of apprehension of the danger to which I exposed them to seek their safety with me Many obliging Discourses were made on each side after which the night approaching caused us to separate I perceived that by this interview I had gained much on their inclination and friendship which might in time produce good effects And though the principal cause of it was to settle quarter betwixt our Forces I purposely forbore speaking one word of it to give the Spaniards the greater jealousie of so long and secret a conference where nothing was mentioned of the subject that caused it to be demanded this punctually succeeded as I imagined and those Gentlemen returned so well satisfied with me that they expressed it to all the rest of the Nobility in terms so obliging and affectionate that it was out of question that I had won their hearts At my return I heard the joyful news of the arrival of the French Fleet the more acceptable in that it had been reported that the same tempest which I saw before my eyes the day before my departure breake in pieces two Spanish vessels in the road of Naples had scattered and destroyed several of our Ships The people were overjoyed at its appearance and the Spaniards as much surprised who expected it not taking it at first for supplies sent to them and which they every day looked for The Spanish Fleet was at anchor their 〈◊〉 unmasted and no men aboard so that 〈◊〉 which came on with a fresh gale might without any hazard have taken and burnt it 〈…〉 all so that few ships should have escaped 〈◊〉 those useless not daring to keep tâ—◠〈…〉 a puissant and victorious 〈…〉 been I cannot imagine 〈…〉 so important and easie attempt was not made which the Spaniards could never have recovered but this I can say that in the time of my imprisonment they acknowledged they never were so near ruine which they could not have avoided if ours had come on all that were aboard our Fleet grant this yet none can alledge a reason or excuse for this fault nor can tell to what to attribute it The next Morning at my rising the Abbot Basqui came to me and having delivered all the dispatches he had for me which assured me of the satisfaction the news of my passage had given the Court and that in Confirmation of the Promises I had made to the people of Naples of the protection and powerful assistance of France the Fleet was sent to supply us with whatsoever we should desire and land whatever we should have occasion for whither Men or Ammunition he at last proffered me the account of what he brought along and coming to particulars I asked him with what Money we should be supplied and desired that some body might be landed to take charge of it in the Kings name and distribute it according to my Orders assuring him that it should be managed with all care and that I would not suffer any unprofitable expence to be made He told me there were five hundered thousand Livers but that not being able to touch at Genoua to receive it they had onely the Bills of Exchange so that I was to take it upon my credit in Naples and that it should be punctually reimbursed at Genoua on sight I answered that what he propounded was useless because in a Citie where disorder had so long continued all men had concealed and hid their Money and that had it been possible to have discovered any I should have made an advantageous use of it and the Fleet have found me in a much better condition that we must therefore immediately dispatch away some ships to fetch it because it was the thing the most necessary and of which we had greatest want Then I asked if they had brought any Corn he told me no but that order was left to lade some Vessels in Provence which would suddenly arrive and in such manner that we should have enough I asked what foot they could land us and he told me as many as I should desire I demanded six thousand men he thought it too many I reduced my self to four afterwards to three then to two thousand five hundered and two thousand at last I fell to eighteen hundred on which number we agreed and which he said might be landed without disfurnishing the Fleet. I expected a good number of horsemen to mount in Naples but I was fain to content my self with the company of the Queens Guards which had formerly belonged to the Duke of Breze and that of Monsieur de Manicamp there being no other persons fit to be employed on horseback I had demanded fourscore thousand weight of Powder but was fain to be content with fourty which were promised me with Match and Bullet proportionable I had also demanded Pikes and Muskets for Foot Sadles Bridles and Pistols for two thousand horse but
abandoned them that they neither had hope nor confidence in any else that they desired not that I should take advice of any body standing in no need of it and to conclude that they would obey none but me and that I should command as Sovereign since they owned me for their Master I pacified all by complying with the pleasure of so many people and the better to discover their thoughts appointed all to assemble the next Morning in their several Quarters where I intended to go to learn them The Abbot Basqui after his leaving my lodging had conference with the Conspirators who being enraged to have failed of their design and to see with what address I had avoided so dangerous a snare as they had layed for me and that my authority was the more confirmed and themselves entirely excluded from the part they pretended in the Government met in a Church to resolve of poniarding me but not coming to a result either of the time or place for executing their enterprise they referred their conference to the night following And in the Morning the Abbot Basqui coming to take his leave of me that he might return to the Fleet there to expect the success of his Conspiracie not thinking himself safe in Naples where my power would not be able to prevent his being torn in pieces by the people his design failing and he discovered to be the author but I detained him to be a witness of all that should pass in the Town I went through all the Quarters where having openly declared what had passed overnight and desiring the sense of the people he was very much surprised to hear them with one voice declare that it was their will I should be absolute Master and that I should act with Sovereign power demanding my permission to take and drag through the Streets all such as pretended to oppose This was followed by a general exclamation that they would never own other authority than mine that to make me Duke of their Republick was too farre below my deserts that they would therefore have me their King This I opposed as I had twice done before and on the same account threatened to leave them and ship my self on the Fleet if they continued obstinate in that which was so unreasonable and out of season Then calling me their Father Defender and Protectour of their Estates Lives and Families they with excessive Testimonies of respect and affection protested to live and die with me and that they would neither be sparing of their own bloud nor that of their wives and children in order to serve me or advance the least of my Interests The Abbot Basqui was amazed at the great esteem I had acquired in so short a time and to see all the houses in a moment hung with Tapistry for my Passage Flowers Sweet waters and Comfits cast from the Windows Cloaks and Tapistry spred under my Horses feet Perfumes and Incense burned before me Men Women and Children giving me thousands of Benedictions and such Testimonies as were easily discerned to be cordial and to have nothing of flattery or dissimulation He said he could never have believed what he had seen I desired him to give a faithful account of it and to let me understand the intentions of the Court telling him that I managed the inclinations of the people at my pleasure and that in a short time by my address and diligence I hoped to be able to put the Crown of Naples on the Kings Head or he not accepting it on his Brothers or Uncles and I conjured him to speak freely to me to so important an affair since I neither had nor ever should have any other design than to make those of France effectual whatsoever they might be He assured me he had no instruction relating to this particular and that all that he knew was that the King pretended nothing more than to see the Spaniards driven out of Naples they loosing the Kingdom it was indifferent to him into what hands it fell because he should from that derive a sufficient advantage I know not whether he was no better informed of the designs of France or whether he would open himself no farther to me that he might have still pretence to complain of my conduct but this is a great truth that I could neither from him nor any of the Kings Ministers residing at Rome ever learn in what manner they desired I should comport my self So that they neither can nor ought with justice to blame my actions which they would never regulate His fear that I might comply with the Officers of the Fleet and give them particular informations of all obliged him with all possible care to prevent the landing of the Gentleman the Duke of Richelieu sent to complement me to which purpose he caused him to be most sollicitously detained aboard another ship that he might not return to the Admiral till the Fleet was ready to set sail which evinces that it was not my fault that I had no correspondence with the officers which I earnestly desired They sent me word that for want of water they should be forced to set sail if I provided them not wherefore I presently sent them eight Felucca's to fetch it but this number being thought insufficient they took so slight a pretence to go for Portolongone having done no other thing but exposed me to a thousand dangers from which I may safely say I escaped not without a Miracle and had I not before established an extraordinary confidence in the people I should have been torn in an hundred pieces when they found themselves frustrated of all the succors I had given them cause to hope with so great probability for which I was security yet there remained now no more but my person alone to assist them This powerful Fleet would not contribute to the destruction of Spain which had been infallible by taking or burning all its ships which at its arrival were found at anchor unarmed and unmasted consumed half my Provisions uselessly and if I may be aâ—lowed to say it maliciously took two ships laden with Corn in my sight and sent them to Portolongone refused me the little Money I demanded for causing those troops to subsist whose landing I pressed with so much importunity furnished me with no more but six Barrels of Powder and gave me no manner of assistance but by the arrival of the Knight de Fourbin the Baron de la Garde the Knight of Gent Souillac de Glandeveze Baron Durand Saint Maximin afterwards Quartermaster of my Guards and Beauregard an Officer belonging to the Artillery and used all possible endeavours to prevent the coming of these to me I leave it to be judged if an other man seeing himself so wretchedly abandoned would not have lost all courage as well as all hope And whether I stood not in need of an extraordinary resolution to resist so spightful a fortune and of as great address to secure my self
your years considered you may suddenly die and then your imprisonment will be useless to me He besought me to let them both go on their Parole which I was very farr from consenting to their presence being necessary to me for many reasons particularly on consideration that I expected my brother the Knight of Malta who should he unfortunately light into the hands of the enemie in his passage I should be very glad to have an exchange ready to redeem him What means is there then said he sighing and with tears in his eyes to get Liberty for my self and grandchild There is but one said I which I will not advise you to nor durst propound to you if there were not an example for it in your own family and that of one of the greatest men of his time That you do as did Andrew Doria who in the sight of Naples left the service of France with all his Gallies and turned to Spain do you the same he thought himself neglected of which you may with greater reason complain who have been so slightly exposed for the interests of their Crown Ah! he cried out you know me not I will suffer a thousand deaths rather than be guilty of such a weakness and though I most tenderly love my Grand-child I would with my own hand cut his throat did I believe him capable of such a thought and I at this instant lay my curse upon him if in his whole life for what cause soever he separate himself from the service of the King my Master You compelled me said I to give you this affliction but I freely tell you there can be no other price of the liberty of two persons so considerable Upon this I stood up and supposing he might have need of rest would have left my appartment to him which he would not accept how much soever I pressed him to it but he besought me that he might lodge in some other Cloyster where he might be more in repose and free from the disturbance of the People and Souldiers that had continual recourse to me I sent presently to have the Generals lodgings made ready for him in the Covent of Saint Laurence and sending for a Coach he was very glad to retire I sent him Linen by two of my Chamberlains with order to stay and attend him I drew out fifteen of my Guards with an Officer to secure him and commanded a Polonian Gentleman that belonged to me and spoke very good Italian and Spanish to continue near him and having a continual eye over his actions prevent his having communication with any and to suffer none to speak with him without my Order The Officer of my Guard was punctually to observe all such Orders as the Polonian Gentleman should give him in my name For Don Prospero Suardo I sent him to the Vicairie to be shut up and treated as the other Prisoners because that very night he attempted to negotiate with some persons he met The Duke of Tursi would by no means suffer his Grand-child to be separated from him and therefore caused him to lie in his own Chamber though I had ordered another to be prepared for him My Officers immediately carried them a Supper but the good old Mans heart was so oppressed that he eat nothing but a little fruit and a few sweet-meats and drank a Glass of water cooled with ice Neither would he pull off his Clothes to go into the Bed but casting himself upon it passed the night without sleep in great disquiet In the Morning I sent to visit him and enquire of his health by the Knight de Fourbin and to know if he would hear Mass if so to accompany him and tell him that if he would take the air in the afternoon I would bring my Coach and endeavour to divert the displeasure of his imprisonment After this Complement he presented him from me twelve Basons of fruits and preserves some fowl a wild Boar and other Venison that had been sent me out of the Country I also ordered him to be told that if he desired to cause any of his servants to come and attend him he might do it and write about his particular affairs and because he was my Prisoner I returned into his possession all such revenues as he had in the Kingdom which I had caused to be sequestred whilest he was in Arms against me He writ some Letters to Genoua to his Relations and one to his Steward to send him a Chamberlain and a Cook which I sent away as soon as I had perused them He went to Mass at his return from whence seeing a great many people gathered together he began to make them an exhortation of the fidelity they owed to Spain but was quickly interrupted by those that attended him on my behalf who immediately brought him back into his apartment and sent me accompt of what had passed As I went to visit him after Dinner some of the people very much scandalized at his proceeding asking to what end I went to him he not meriting that honor nor to give me so much pains I sent the Knight De Fourbin to tell him that by his indiscreet zeal he had deprived me of the liberty of waiting on him and since he abused that which I had with so great civility allowed him if he were not afterwards more discreet he would force me to put an end to it and cause him to be shut up And indeed such as loved me not and sought occasions to do me hurt maliciously spred about the Town that his imprisonment was an artifice of the Spaniards to give me an opportunity of negotiating with them without distrust for this cause I never saw him any more all the time he remained my Prisoner Gennaro and Vincenzo Andrea seeking nothing more than to cause disturbances raised a commotion on occasion of the rumors which as I have said were spred abroad and of which they were the authors A great many people gathered together to go to Saint Lawrences Convent and cut off the Duke of Tursi's head I made haste and my presence quickly dispersed them being returned to the Carmelites Gennaro came to make me a most honorable Proposition that to satisfie the people in their jealousie of the imprisonment of the Duke of Tursi which he thought was by consent I should sacrifice him to that distrust and with him the Prince of Avella and Dom Prospero Suardo causing their heads to be publickly cut off in the Market-place That such a Spectacle would be more agreeable to him and give him greater joy then the return of the French Fleet and landing all succors they stood in need of I was surprised at his brutality and answered him that did not his ignorance excuse him I would cause him to be punished for daring to propose to me so infamous an action That if hereafter he were not more discreet than to mention such a thing to me I would not pardon him but make him understand
forced away her Daughter who was still at his Quarter but that no violence had as yet been used toward her having deferred it till his return from my Pallace At the appearance of the two Deputies of Nola he acknowledged he had not observed their Capitulations and had plundered their Town His Cosin being found to have a share in all his mischiefs and confessing them in like manner with him they were both condemned to die and delivered to two Confessors after which expecting Execution they were surprised to see themselves exposed to the Torture ordinary and extraordinary which I caused to be given them Amongst the Torments they confessed that they came to Naples only to plunder it and not to storm the Enemies Posts not desirous to see so sudden an end of the Kingdoms disorders that when they threatned to cut off my Head and carry it to Don John they really intended it in case I went about to hinder them from plundering expecting a very considerable reward from the Spaniards for such a Present that they thought by such a menace to have terrified me in such a manner that I should have refused none of their Demands that the Authority of Vicar General to which he had pretended would have given him opportunity to have securely drawn to himself the money of all the Provinces and the sack of all the Kingdom after which my Head should at his pleasure have purchased his Pardon of the Spaniards or else he would have retired with what he had gotten to such part of the World as seemed securest for him that distrust of my securing his Person prevented his sending his men out of the Town as I had ordered that he detained them expresly to terrifie me and made himself Master of my Pallace to compel me to such Condescensions as he knew I would never willingly yield to that in case of refusal he had resolved to have stabbed me of which he had agreed before he came to me with Gennaro and Vincenzo Andrea that before the attacque of the Posts he had sent an Old Woman to Don John of Austria to know what he would give for my Head He afterwards confessed Crimes Sacriledges and Abominations so horrible that the reading his Depositions amazed me I caused him to be questioned about his plundering the Castle of Avellina caused an Inventory to be made of all he had taken thence and the names of the places to which he had transported it and where he had bestowed that which in the Morning he had taken out of the Pallace of the Prince Montesarchio and other adjoyning Houses which he confessed was at his Quarter to be packed up and carried away next Morning with all else that was good in the Town which he owned he intended to have plundered before his departure The Auditor General perceiving no more could be drawn from him caused him to die with his Cosin and presently sent me word of it In the mean time the Baron of Modene having asked my leave to return to the Army I bid him have a little patience and I would dispatch him at Night And Antonio de Calco Marco Pisano and Andrea Rama having been deputed by the Garrison of Aversa to desire me to send them back their Camp-Master General in whose place no other would be pleasing to them the Sieur de Mallet commanding during his absence I told them I would do reason to their demand but that they should expect a while that I had extraordinary News to acquaint them with which was that I had secured Paul of Naples and afterwards cut off his Head demanding their Opinions and whether they did not believe I had done well They answered yes but looking upon one another seemed very much surprised Causing a Servant to take two Lights I went into the Hall demanding of all I found there what their business was so late They told me they waited for their General I told them that must be whomsever I should set over them because I had cut off the Head of Paul of Naples for the many Crimes he had committed and they not being much better ought to apprehend the like punishment but that if they would promise me to change their manner of life and become better I would willingly pardon them and cherish them as a good Father does his Children They fell all on their Knees and besought my pardon after which I commanded them to retire and let their Companions know that not one of them should be in the Town next Morning at Eight a Clock on peril of their lives and that they took care they carried not the least plunder away with them All this was so punctually observed that they left behind them all that they had taken which I caused to be rendered to the Owners after it appeared to whom every thing belonged I sent then two of my Guards to reconduct the Maid that had been forced away to her Mother no violence having been acted against her The Captain of my Guards had caused a great many Sedans to be brought to my Stair-head as I had ordered and going into my Cabinet I told the Baron of Modene and those that accompanied him that it was too late to dispatch them that they should therefore return in the Morning that I had done enough that day to oblige me to go to rest As he passed through my Hall he was arrested by the Lieutenant of my Guards and Antonio de Calco Marco Pisano Andrea Rama Cavalier Michellini the Sieur Desinare and his Secretary by other of my Officers and carried all Prisoners to the Vicary I writ a Note to Cardinal Filomarini to acquaint him that having caused my Confessor Father Capece a man turbulent and seditious to be arrested I sent him to his Prison that I might in nothing encroach upon Ecclesiastical Justice desiring he might be kept close prisoner without conversing with any Finding the Confessor in my Chamber I made him a relation of all that had passed He was very much surprised when he heard the Baron of Modene was Prisoner told him he needed not think it so strange since himself was partly the cause He went about to justifie himself by plausible discourses which I interrupted and reserved to the next day having great desire as well as great need to go to bed As he went out of my Hall at the Stair-head the Captain of my Guards secured him at which he was much surprised and putting him into a Sedan sent him to the Prison of the Archbishoprick accompanied by the Ensigne of my Guards with the Note I had written to Cardinal Filomarini Thus ended the day of the attacque of the Posts which I may say was very great and very extraordinary not so much for what happened on it as what followed my escaping by my resolution and address so many different dangers and my so boldly and subtilly making my self Master of a man that thought my fortune and life in his hands Next
the Crown and believing he lost his life on that account and that I sacrificed him to my ambition would have taken occasion to have done me bad offices hinder the return of the Fleet and succors The other that I had not confidence enough in the courage of my Guards for a hundred and twenty Banditi appearing and he perhaps having more which I had not discovered the hazard would have been too great believing it might bee done more privately and that his death would be infallible at his return After two hours discourse which as much as possible he could he sought to abbreviate and I to prolong that such as I had sent to way-lay him might certainly be arrived we parted he took horse very glad to be out of my hands and resolved as he afterwards made apparent never to trust himself in them again Being very unresolved what way to pass at last riding round about a great Marsh he reentred Naples by the Gate of Nola. After my discovery of this I had not time enough to send to overtake him and in this manner both he and I missed of our design Sending before to discover whether any ambuscade were in my way I returned home by the Bridge of la Magdalena where I found Pissacani and Longobardo mad to have lost so handsome an occasion which we must with incertainty wait for another time Vincenzo Andrea came to me in the Evening to tell me that their time being expired a new election was to be made of Captains of the Quarters and that it was of very great importance to make a good choice I answered him That by the Capitulations made with the Duke of Arcos the nomination belonged to the People and resolved not to infringe any of their Priviledges I reserved to my self only the right of excluding such as I had cause to suspect He replied that it belonged to me alone to make the choice and that in the morning he would bring me three Breviates of the Duke of Arcos by which I might evince he had done the like after he had signed the Articles that left this to the People I appointed all those I confided in to bring me the Names of all the Pretenders that we might carefully examine who were most proper for us He failed not to present me in the morning the three Breviates he had promised and employed all the rest of the day in making Cabals and incensing all men against me by representing to them that I played the Tyrant and usurping an absolute Authority acted as a Soveraign without any consideration of the Peoples advantages depriving them even of those the Spaniards had allowed them he hoped by this means to have caused me to have been slain in a Commotion not doubting but the Breviates he had delivered me would have incited me to a Contestation that my Authority ought not to be less than that of a Viceroy In the Evening having caused a great many People to draw together in the Piazza before my Pallace he came to me at the head of the Magistrates having cast off his disguise to declare himself but I had luckily such friends about me as were not suspected who having greater credit than he did me good service on this occasion He told me that the People very much admired that I made Captains of the Quarters on my own Authority the Election belonging to them that nothing could more highly offend them than to deprive them of a Priviledge for whose preservation they had taken Arms that I ought to consider well that this destroyed the Cities liberty instead of restoring it making me appear rather its Tyrant than Protector I immediately discovered his design because if I fell from what I had pretended the thanks would have been his and persisting he hoped to have caused me to have been slain by the People I answered him calmly that I could not have imagined his malice so black nor his impudence so great that he ought to recollect that when he spoke to me of this affair I told him I would meddle no farther in it but to exclude such as we confided not in and that instead of lessening the Peoples Priviledges I pretended to augment them daily hazarding my life for the advantage and liberty of Naples so far I was from thought of oppressing it that he should recollect that he had told me of how great importance it was that I made the Choice of the Captains of the Quarters to avoid the disorder and misfortune that might follow if any amongst them should be ill affected or hold Correspondence with the Enemy and that to let me see that none could justly take offence at my making the Nomination after the example of the Duke of Arcos whose power was not equal to mine he himself had brought me three Breviates which taking out of a Book where I expresly kept them in readiness I shewed to all the World which was by it sufficiently convinced as well of his malice as my innocence All that were affected to me began to cry out That it was very hard that I should be suspected and calumniated without cause that the People ought to look upon me as their Father being so tenderly affected towards them and daily exposing my self to so many dangers on their behalf to procure them liberty and quiet that they could not therefore have too great respect or compliance for me to this there was the general assent of all that were present Vincenzo Andrea perceiving matters went not according to his expectation craftily dissembling told me He had delivered the words he had been encharged with but that never having had the least distrust of my proceedings he intended to have published my Conduct to the People and their Obligation to me for leaving that to them which I might with so much reason have pretended to by the example of the Duke of Arcos his Breviates which he himself had brought to me I replied That I was most â—ensibly obliged to him on two accounts the first for having given me opportunity to satisfie the publick of the sincerity of my proceedings the second that he had discovered his subtilties which I freely pardoned but that I assured him I would another time stand better on my Guard and use greater precaution when he propounded any thing to me or when I had any affair to treat with him about In the mean time I besought those that were assembled since they were a number capable of proceeding to the Election to do it in my presence that I might at least give my sense for the exclusion of such persons as I should either suspect or dislike They all made protestation that they presented me their Votes and besought me to nominate such as best pleased me with assurance that they would all submit to it I thought good to make a civil use of their respect and taking a List of the Pretenders read all the Names and the Friends I had before-hand prepared