time the People had drawn together in the Market-place to assassine him in case the Senate should acquit him But a Guard being sent to secure the embarking of his Servants and the most valuable of his Moveables he was himself therupon conducted by som obscure way through the Palace on board a Brigantine by which under the protection of a good Convoy he got away The People enraged at his Escape made Effigies both of him and the Duke of Ossuna treating them with the same Indignities they would have done to their Persons had they been in their power Upon the same instant was dispatcht Orders to the General of their Fleet to cause l'Anglade the Captain Jaques Pierre and all the Officers of the Conspiracy which the Captain had on board his Ships to be immediately drown'd but upon expectation that they would be upon their Guard they made choice of a Vessel for this message the most improper they could light on and equipt her so as to hinder all manner of suspicion that she came from thence Ordering her also to steer a Course with so great compass about that she should seem of all others least bound from the Place out of which she sailed Information was afterwards made that the Captain had been in a readiness all the night and that having observed the arrival of that Vessel he retired into the midst of his Squadron as if he had been in some suspicion of the truth and was willing to be in a posture of defence in case he should be betrayed But 't is to be thought that he unwilling to hazard the danger of discovery upon what might prove only a bare panick fear took some time to deliberate if it were fit to declare whilst the General who lost not one moment of time dispatcht two persons on board him the least suspicious he could who appearing without any Arms were admitted to his Cabbin where finding him alone accosted him with an air of much indifference and stabbing him threw him into the Sea without the least noise L'Anglade and 40 of his Officers were served in the same sort with all the expedition imaginable and the like secrecy In the mean time Renault is examined at Venice who replyed he understood not what they demanded they shew him the Letter of Credence to Don Pedro a Pasport in Spanish Bills of Exchange for considerable Sums of Money and 1000 Pistols in ready Gold Upon which he replyed That he neither knew the Ambassador of Spain nor the Governour of Milan so that in case any could be found among his Papers that led them to those Inquiries it must needs be that some body had maliciously put them there They brought him to the Rack and gave him the question ordinary and extraordinary to which he answered nothing that was new only that he was a Poor Honest Gentleman of Quality and Honour and that God would be his Revenge The Rack was several days together presented him with promise of his Life in case he would but confess what he knew but all to no purpose and after having suffered all their ways of torment he was in the end strangled in the Prison and after exposed in publick for a Traytor hanging by one Leg. The Lieutenant of the Count de Nassaw the three Petardiers Bribe Laurence Brulard and the two Officers of the Arsenal were all so strangled after having suffered the question with the same constancy But Brainvil and above 300 Officers were only strangled or secretly drowned In the mean time Jaffier in desperation upon the dismal success of his Compassion loudly complained of the breach of promise of the Duke and Council touching the Preservation of his Companions They had not indeed failed but upon deliberate advice many were of opinion it should be religiously observed others concluded it doubtful in case they had not received any intimation but by Jaffier But the two Dauphinois that also discovered it put the Senate upon the same resolution as if Jaffier had not done any thing therein to which resolution they were the rather led for the greater horror and example to the Publick albeit much might have been urged to the contrary they endeavoured therefore to appease Jaffier by all means possible tendring him both Money and Employment which he refused obstinately persisting in his fruitless demand of the Lives of his Companions and in the end left the City inconsolable for their Sufferings which the Senate coming to understand ordered him to desert their State within the space of three days on pain of death and 4000 Chiquins for whosoever should take him The resentments of his Pitty for his Companions redoubled upon every Reflection that himself was the Author of their Death he considered by the way that the Enterprize of Bressia was yet in a condition of taking effect and the desire of Revenge upon the Senate carried him to that Town where he was hardly arrived when the Ten having discovered by some Papers of the Conspirators Troops were immediately dispatcht to possess the Principal Posts and to put to the Sword such Spaniards as had been Introduced Jaffier was taken Prisoner fighting at the Head of the Party as a Man that sought nothing more than to sell his Life at a greater rate than ordinary who being some few days after sent to Venice was there drown'd the day after his Arrival The Death of this unfortunate Wretch perfected the establishment of tranquillity in that great City The first care of the Senate was to demand another Ambassador from Madrid Don Lewis Bravo was soon nominated for that Employment with Order to depart immediately the Marquis of Bedamar giving him according to custom Instructions which were reducible almost to two Heads The first was That the new Ambassador should lowly and publickly blame the Conduct of his Predecessor and should affect a Method quite different in his own even in matters of the greatest Indifference The other was That in all Affairs that should occur touching the Rights and Preheminences of the Republick he should consult above all things Squittinio della liberta Veneta to which the Marquis of Bedamar refers him upon several Points mentioned in those Instructions and in terms howbeit obscure yet evidencing the Paternal Kindness he had for that Libel And now it was decreed by Proclamation and sound of Trumpet through the whole Venetian State that none should presume on pain of death to impute the least share of the Conspiracy either to his Catholick Majesty or his Subjects Thirty Thousand Ducats were given to the two Dauphinois that had come express from their own Countrey to discover the Conspiracy Don Pedro finding matters now past all hopes dismist quite his Troops and surrendred Verseil the Duke of Ossuna generously provided for the Wife and Children of the Captain setting them at liberty and the Marquis of Bedamar received Orders from Spain to depart and serve as Principal Minister in Flanders and some years after from Rome a Cardinals Hat FINIS
Design of his own and was debauching People into the Service of the Duke of Ossuna The Captain was in great Indignation that the Duke scrupled to have an intire confidence in him howbeit was not at all surprized He only considered that in case Spinosa should continue to Cabal unless they had an understanding together he could infeeble their Party by dividing it and there would be no prudent declaring himself to one that had Commission to be a Spy upon him The Marquis of Bedamar and Renault Judged also that they could not spare much time in providing a remedy to this Inconvenience and after mature Conference upon the point concluded there could be no security for them but in Spinosa's Death He was one that would sell his Life dear in Case of an Attempt to assassin him his Profession keeping him in a continual Posture of defence And the Captain was at last reduced to impeach him to the Council of Ten as a Spy of the Duke of Ossuna's after having essayed in vain all other means for his destruction The French Men with whom he had had Conversation framed their Depositions so Judiciously and Circumstantially that he was apprehended and privatly Strangled the same day all that he could exhibit to the Judges in prejudice of the Captain being invalid as proceeding from his Accuser and not being able to prove any thing he depos'd This Affair exceedingly augmented the Captains Reputation with the Venetians but was a sensible Affliction to the Marquis of Bedamar as being a useful intimation to them to observe more strictly the Conduct of the Strangers entertained in their Service The Duke of Ossuna learnt Spinosa's Death upon Nolot's Arrivalâ—â—t Naples and was not long in guessing at the Author The displeasure he conceived thereat was exprest in his resentment to the Marquis of Bedamar that he had not given him some advice thereupon and the divers Reflections this accident created in his Spirit reduced him to Terms of the greatest uncertainty what to resolve on In the mean time the Troops of Leivestein having mutined anew were by Order of the Senate led to the Lazaretto about two Miles from Venice in the beginning of February The Marquis of Bedamar fearing they might come to an accord with the Republick touching their Pay and that thereupon they should be compelled to depart wrought with some of their Officers that they should refuse the Terms were then offered them to improve the favourable occasion of the vicinity of these Troops Nolot was charged by an Express to represent to the Vice-King that within the Term of that Month they should have near 5000 Men at their Devotion Nolot forgot nothing of his Duty but the Vice-King who had not yet perfectly digested his Choler amused him so long that after six weeks expectation the Officers fearing lest the Soldiers should be reduced by their ill Accommodation to Treat without them came themselves to an Agreement by consent of the Conspirators who could find no Expedient to prevent it Ten days after Nolot arrived with the Dukes Resolution such as they could wish but addrest to Robert Brulard one of the Captain 's Comrades but the Ambassador and the Captain being vigorously intent upon the Issue of their Intrigue exprest not the least Concern at the Affront the Duke did them in that Address He advised That he was now able whensoever they should desire it to supply them with Barks Brigantines other small Vessels adjusted to the Ports and Channels of Venice and in number capable to receive 6000 Men if it were needful Nolot had viewed the Troops and Vessels which were all in a ready Posture and the Captain Ordered the Sounding of the several Depths of Water in the Ports and Channels that were to Conduct them to the Place of St. Mark where they were to Land for he having store of Seamen at his Devotion by reason of his Command they without suspicion had free Passage to and fro through the several Channels as often as they pleased by which means it was very easy to take all necessary Measures most exactly There only now rested how to prevent the departure of Lievesteins Troops which to effect there was no want of Money the rigour also of the Season was a reâ—sonable colour for their delay the greatest pâ—â—â— remained still at the Lazaretto and such as had embarkt before Nolot's Arrival were entertained in several places at hand To relieve Renault and the Captain amidst the Cares of this business which now grew too heavy for them to support it was concluded necessary to take in eighteen more at least Men of Courage and Understanding and such on whom they might intirely rely They composed this number of nine of those with whom Renault had dealt at Friol and of the principal of those that the Captain had invited from Naples they were five Captains of Vessels like himself viz. Vincent Robert of Marseilles Laurence Nolot and Robert Brulard of whom mention hath been made already the two last French Comptoi's also one Laurence Brulard and a Provincal named Authony Jaffier there were also two Brothers Lorrainers Charles and John Boleau and an Italian named John Rizzardo these three were excellent Petardiers together with a French Man called Anglade who had the Repute of one of the ablest Fire-Masters of his time The capacity of this last was so remarkable that he had quickly obtained Liberty to practice in his Profession in the Arsenal and by that means the two Pâ—tardiers his Comrades had free Entry Besidâ— these already mentioned there was one Villa Mezzana and Retrosi who were of those that Renault had gained and that had had imployment in time past These six drew so exact a Plot of the Design that those that had never been upon the place might have discoursed thereupon as Judiciously as those that Framed it These received also much Assistance in their Business from two Officers of the Arsenal that the Captain had drawn in they had appeared to him dissatisfyed with their Imployment were furnisht with Qualities proper for his Design capable of engaging if convinced of their Interest and of complying faithfully with whatsoever they should Promise The Issue applauded the Judgment he had made he so seasoned his Complements to them which he exprest on all occasions with a considerable number of Spanish Pistols which he had by him to distribute that they became charmed in a perfect Obedience to all he could command them L'Anglade and these two had their Quarters in the Arsenal Renault had taken with himself to the Ambassadors of France three of his Friends Bribe Brainville and Laurence Brulard the three Petardiers remained at the Marquis of Bedamars who furnished them with Powder and other Materials and Instruments necessary to employ them in their Profession but without ever having any Communication with them they had already made more Petards and Fire-Works than they should want and the Ambassadors Palace was so filled that it was not
not resolve on the death of one of his best friends upon the bare motive of suspicion that a kind of Resolution might have very many evil Consequences that he was tender of discomposing the minds of the rest and becoming odious to them and considered as one that challenged an Empire over them and pretended a sovereign jurisdiction of life death That it was not to be hoped that they could comprehend so clearly the necessity of killing Jaffier as themselves did and that not being so possest each Conspirator could not but consider with regret his Life exposed upon the least hint or imagination that should occur And that since every Man was now under the most Violent agitations of Spirit the slenderest Accident might occasion a Revolution and that in such a posture of Affairs the least Change was of infinite importance for that they had but the two extream Paths now to tread that in case they should endeavour to conceal the Reason of Jaffier's absence that would beget a worse suspicion that he is discovered and either a Prisoner or their Enemy and what reason or pretext soever they could forge for his absence upon the Evening of the Execution being appointed to so principal a Charge it would not choose but much intimidate the rest and suggest melancholly and doubtful apprehensions Renault was attentively harkning to the Captain 's Discourse when one of their people entred the Room with an Order of the Senate which they had just received for the Embarking on the Morrow all the Officers of the Fleet bringing also with him a Note from the Spanish Ambassador which explained to them the Reason of their Embarking The Duke of Ossuna could not Conceal his Departure so secretly from Naples to joyn with his great Fleet but the Spies of the Republick got the Wind of it But he having left Order that no correspondence by Letter or Courier should be permitted with Venice till such a space of time The Venetians had not till then got any Advice of his Departure The Arch-Duke being newly elected King of Bohemia had demanded Aids of the Duke against the Rebels of that Kingdom which were drawing together about that time and the Vice-King having Proclaimed that he would conduct these Succors by way of the Gulph to some Port of the Arch-Dukes on the Coast of Istria The Venetians had besought him by Mediation of the Prince himself to take some other Course But he who never governed himself by the currant Sentiments of the rest of Mankind so soon as they had Intimation of his Departure did not at all doubt but it had been an Order to the Conducting those Succors in Person by the way he had resolved they were determined not to Dispute his Passage which they might have done because they would avoid all Occasions of a Breach they concluded therefore only to dispatch their Fleet with Order to he upon the Coast of Istria where he was to disembark his Troops to have an Eye upon his Motions and to prevent the Temptation the Prospect of their Maritime Towns in his Passage might suggest The firmest Resolution Man's Nature is capable of springs for the most part from the strongest Imagination of the Danger he is to Incur by Vertue of which Imagination the Soul in the end becomes familiar with the Circumstances of that Danger how srightful soever it might seem at first sight after Duty considered but also this steadiness of Resolution is so united to these Circumstances that in Case any of them should chance to change upon the point of Execution 't is odds but it begets a wavering in our Resolutions also This was what gave Renault and the Captain some apprehensions touching their Companions upon the occasion of their Embarking so unexpectedly upon the Venetian Fleet Which News was very unwelcome in that they conjectured thereupon they should be constrained to alter something of the Method of proceeding as they had adjusted preparatory to the Execution of their Enterprize nor could they prevent it by instantly Engaging The Night being too far advanced and it would be day ere they could give Advice to the little-Fleet to Order their approach to be within Cannon-Shot of the Town in Order to the first Scene of the Tragedy and before they could give Intimation to the Troops at the Lazaretto On the morrow the Venetian Fleet was to Sail and in Case they should Order Elliot to Advance he would certainly be discovered by the Boats that would be all that day holding Correspondence between the Fleet and the Town The Course they were to steer proved the most favourable to the Conspirators they could wish being directly contrary to Elliot's Station and upon mature debate it was concluded best to give them leisure till they were got a convenient distance The difficulty was to Resolve whether the Captain L' Anglade the three Petardiers and the others that had Charge in the Fleet should obey the Instructions of the Senate Their Assistance was indispensably necessary at Venice in Order to the Execution and above all the Captains howbeit his absence from the Fleet appeared the greatest difficulty The Character he had there rendring him more conspicuous than al the other party who having for the most part imployment in the Vessels in his own Squadron he would be able to supply the want of the rest by his single Authority and prevent even the notice of their Absence The Result of this Conference was That the Captain should Embarque with only L' Anglade whose business together with that of the three Petardiers depended immediately on the General howbeit they were resolved to run any hazard rather than permit their departure the General upon the Captains coming aboard demanded where they were who replied he believ'd they had concealed themselves in Venice among the Curtizans together with other Officers of his Vessels which he could not find and was so prest to his departure that he had not leisure to seek them The Orders of the Senate were so peremptory for the Sailing of the Fleet that the General had not leisure at first to consider upon sending to find them out and now could less attend their fearch Upon the Captains Embarking he took Jaffier aside particularly to Conjure him to fill his place near Renault upon the Night of Execution he superadded the assurance they had in his Conduct and Courage without which confidence he had never been drawn to absent himself and that he concluded his second-self remained with his Companions whilst Jaffier was among them during this Discourse the Captain observed him diligently but he charm'd with so many Testimonies of Esteem and Respect they had for him replyed with so much appearance of Zeal Fidelity and Acknowledgment that would have confirmed the most suspicious Man living But this was the last fit of his dying Resolution which expired upon his Friends departure and his absence whose consideration alone could support him now abandoned him wholly to his