Michael Molina to be hanged on a gallowes and his goods to be confiscated to the Kings use the execution whereof they leave to the Lord Judge D. John de Quinnoues and this is their will and pleasure This sentence was made known to the prisoner upon the first of August and execution done accordingly in the Plaça Major of Madrid the third day following at which time and place the Proclamation usually made at the execution was thus THis is the Justice which the King our Soveraigne Lord commandeth to be done upon this man for having committed high treason and published falsities forgeries and horrible cheats on the affaires and grave ministers of state for which he commands that he be hanged by the neck till he die to the end that it may be to him for a punishment and to others an example then concludes Quien tal haze tal pague He that thus doeth let him thus pay for the same As he stood upon the ladder ready to be turned off he delivered in writing to father Andrew Emanuel of the Society of Jesus a declaration the contents whereof ensueth word for word LOyall subjects of our soveraigne Lord the King I am Michael de Molina born at Cuenca the grievousnes of my crimes is so great that a punishment can hardly be invented to equalize mine offences against God against our soveraigne Lord the King whom God preserve against the Emperour against my native country against the Lord Duke de Olivarez and Sant Lucar against the most grave faithfull and loyall Ministers of state whom I have discredited with my forgeries and lies The clemency of the King our soveraigne whom God preserve hath been very eminent in sentencing me so mercifully God grant to whom I now goe to render a strict account that there be found mercy for me in the life to come and that I then pay not for the clemency shewed me here I do here declare and confesse upon mine own free will that not having the feare of God nor man before mine eyes I have been the cause of the gretest part of the mischiefes that this Monarchy suffereth and of those calamities and miseryes which you faithfull people yet suffer for which I humbly beg pardon of all those that are absent as well as of you here present For I am the man that feigned that the King our soveraigne Lord whom God preserve and the Emperour instigated thereunto by the Lord Duke of Saint Lucar and fomented by him did plot the death of our most holy father Urban the 8 th Pope head of the Church and vicar of Christ for which purpose I invented and contrived orders of the King our soveraign and of the Emperour letters from the Duke Orders instructions and judgments of the Counsellours of State with letters from Vice Royes and Embassadours with purpose to abuse and deceive the Nuntio and the Embassadours of severall Princes and thereby to get money from them not caring for the dammage might arise and accrue from thence to the world and to this Monarchy and not contented here with I invented that in case the said death could not be effected that then endeavour should be to call a Councell and to depose the Pope or make a schisme in the Church I invented and forged that the Lord Duke did by order from the King the Emperour and the Counsell of state endevour to kill the Cardinal Richelieu Favorit to the most Christian King of France for which purpose and for the death of the Pope I feigned persons that were to have been instruments of the same I gave notice to the Ambassadours hereof shewing them letters and Orders which I feigned as I judged meet I made them believe that I was an Officer of the Counsell of state and that by that means I came to the knowledg of these plots and conspiracies whereby I have disturbed the world caused jealousyes and suspitions amongst all the Princes of Europe and the mischiefs that this Monarchy now suffereth I also advertised the Embassadours and the enemies of this state of letters consults orders and decrees made by the King and Counsell for driving the French out of Piemont the Correspondencies of the Cardinal of Savoy with the subjects of that state for effectuating the same the coming of Prince Thomas from Flanders to Savoy for the same purpose and to lay siege to Casal of an Army to be raysed and maintayned in Alsatia of an intention to kill Duke Bernard de Weimar General of the Swedes the intentions of the King our Soveraign with the states of Venice and Genoa concerning Piemont and Casal the purpose of supplies which both states of Venice and Genoa would send to France and Holland and the intentions of the Pope to assist France against Spain the intent of England to â—â—gue with Spain the purpose that the French and Hollanders had to joyn their fleets to hinder all succours of Flanders and to surprise the plate fleet and infect the coasts of Spain the design that the Hollander had upon Antwerp in the year 1638. the successe of Fontarabie whereupon I feigned letters from the Prince of Conde and from the Duchesse de Cheverâ—use also concerning the imprisonment of Don Gualterio Peni Secretary and Resident for France in this Court with whom I had intimate friendship which was the ground of all these disasters of the secret compliance between the Cardinall Infante and the Prince of Orenge of the conspirarcy by the Prince of Orenge to kill the Cardinal Richelieu the design of Holland that the States of Flanders should be independent of Spain and our King should renounce his right to the Cardinall Infanta to the end the Hollanders should receive him and subject themselves to him of the capitulations and agreement twixt the King our Sov and the Duke of Modena whereby I feigned that the said Duke was to assist with six thousand men at his own charge against France and that the King was to give him the charge of Viceroy of Catalonia and twenty thousand souldiers to enter into France by Catalonia which was the first ground of the warr at Salsas and Perpignian the key of Catalonia of the general resolutions of the year 1639. in order to the affayres of Germany Flanders and Italy of the purpose to take away the Nuntio's Court in these kingdomes for the disorders and excesses of the same of the great resentments of the King our soveraign against the King of France for his leagueing with the Swedes his confederation with the Turks and Protestant Princes of Germany for his protection and league with Holland for his commerce with Venice and Genoa to the great discommodity of Spain for the disunion which he endeavoured to make between Spain and England of the resentment that the King our Soverain had against the Pope for his amity and assisting of France and not his endeavouring rather as a father of the whole Church to pacify the warres by all meanes possible of the
he went to visit his Majesty he would go to receive the Duke as farr as the middle of the chamber Besides the Princes of this Family had always a guard of their own to wait upon them even in the Kings Court. This then was the reward of that unfortunate prince for having left his Countrey Kindred Friends Interest fot having served the Emperour eight yeares at his own proper charges for having ventured his life upon all occasions with the formost expecting no other pay then thanks and no other recompence then honor Yet there wanted not some to defend the Emperour in this action alledging that it was no new thing for that Charls Duke of Burgundy had in the same manner delivered up the Count de St. Paul to the King of France who put him to death whereunto it was answered That all the misfortune of that Prince is by Philip de Comines and others attributed to that foul fact Ex isto tempore saith one nihil Carolo prospere successit sed calamitati accessit calamitas donec victus ab Helvetiis ad Nanecium miserrime trucidatus est When D. John the present King of Portugal had been fully informed how his brother was treated he was resolved to revenge himselfe by Arms but the Castilians beginning to make incursions upon all the borders of Porougal diverting his thoughts made him look neerer home to put the kingdome into a posture of Defence to fortifie his chiefe Townes and to train up all the people to the use of Arms. The Castilians in the inroads that they made into Portugal laid all waste before them spared neither sex nor age upon the taking of any place which so inraged the Portugals that to revenge themselves they did the like in an incursion into Galitia During these extremities of Barbarisme upon the confines of the kingdome there was wonderful tranquillity and unanimity at home onely some few thought themselves so farre obliged to the Catholick King as to re-establish him in his Throne amongst whom D. Sebastian de Matos Archbishop of Braga a creature of the Count de Olivarez was the principal who at the beginning of the revolt opposed himself so much that divers Gentlemen were once resolved to send him after Vazconzellos This Prelat having imparted his designe to D. Lewis de Meneses Marquess de Villa Real an ambitious man and to his sonne the Duke de Camigna both discontented becaus they thought themselvs not preferred according to their merits perswaded them that it was a most unworthy thing to suffer themselves to be subject to a fellow-subject but rather return to the obedience and loyalty of their ancient Soveraign who is able to bestow upon a deserving man more in one day then the Duke of Braganza in an hundred years c. Insomuch that they were soon gained Next the Archbishop draws in D. Augustine Manuele a man of noble blood excellent parts necessitous and never yet employed in any business all notable motives to make a man embrace desperate designes After him was assaulted Pietro de Baeza an upstart Christian as they call those Christians whose ancestors were once Jewes this Gentleman famous for his vast riches and his great intimacy with that eminent Favourite the Count Olivarez was wont to say That Olivarez favour would one day advance him either to high honor or else to a high gallows which proved precisely true as will appear anon These with some few other Conspirators oft assembled themselves privatly to consider how their designs might be speedily put in execution for which purpose some were of opinion that many more were to be drawn into the plot But then it was feared on the one side that thereby the design might be discovered on the other side that there was a necessity thereof for that without communicating to others the business rested onely in the Idaea Others advised that the assistance of the King of Spain was to be got in readiness but that then the King of Portugal would make as great preparations and so render that way difficult yet some replied that thereby the Spaniard by way of intelligence might be the more easily let in but that seemed as difficult because the whole Militia was in the hands of persons most trusty to the King Another time they had thoughts of taking the King out of the way by some sudden violent death which by some more moderate was opposed and that rather some way was to be invented to cause his Majesty to renounce his title to the Crown and to retire himself out of the danger represented unto him In this wavering condition most of them inclined to a mediocrity although the same in all eminent attempts is the very stepmother of good success Moderate resolutions are the most of all pernitions where a designe is to begin with execution Yet some more valorous and less wary then the rest were of opinion that they should presently set upon the the work and leave the successe to the disposition of Fortune insomuch that of many Irons that were in the fire none was yet hot Amongst the conspirators divers of them notwithstanding his Majesties express prohibition kept secret correspondence with the Court at Madrid by the means of divers persons much suspected The King of Portugal who had alwayes an eye upon the Archbishop of Braga and the Marquess de Villa Real knowing their disaffection from the beginning at length intercepts some of their Letters wherein was discovered the names of the conspirators and the whole treaty wherefore his Majesty desiring to secure all their persons at once without any noyse gave order that by sound of Trumpet and Drum as the custome is it should be proclaimed That his Majesty intended to goe abroad forth of the Citie whereupon all the Nobility out of their great affection to his Majesty were soon assembled to wait upon him When the King saw them all ready he commanded first to call a Councell of State where some of the conspirators assisted being there sate he caused them all to be arrested one by one without the least disturbance which certainly could otherwise have been hardly prevented for if the conspiracy had been known before the persons were in custody there would not have been so much danger of their escape as to have been immediatly without expecting the course of justice torn in pieces by the people Besides the wisdome of his Majesty would that by the usual forms of Justice their crime might be as manifest to the world as their punishment So so on as these were safe in prison his Majesty proclaimed a pardon to all complices of this conspiracy that should come in within four days and confess their fault but the diligence of the King had been so exquisite that there was not one man left to take the benefit of that grace Not many days after they were all solemnly arraigned found guilty of high Treason condemned and executed in manner following Upon the last of August 1641.
race of the Portugals who have made us Kings by their own valour without forreign assistance by their own valour and with the effusion of their own blood This law was put in execution after the death of D. Fernando the 9 King of that race whose daughter Donna Beatrice being married out of Portugal to the King of Castile D. John the first was excluded from succession and a new election made from which new election that we may hasten to our purpose lineally descended D. Emanuel the fourteenth King of Portugal who had six sonns and two daughters in this following order 1 The Prince D. John 2 The Infanta Dona Beatrice married to the Emperour Charles the fift by whom she had Philip the second 3 The Infanta Dona Beatrice married to Emanuel Duke of Savoy by whom she had Philip Duke of Savoy 4 The Infanta D. Lewis who left only Don Antonio illegitimate 5 The Infante Don fernando died without issue 6 The Infante D. Alfonso Cardinal Archbishop of Lisbon and Abbot of Alcobaza never married 7 The Infante D. Henry Cardinal and Arch bishop of Braga 8 The Infante D. Edward who left two daughters the eldest was Mary married out of the Kingdom to Alexander Farnese Duke of Parma the yonger was Catherine married in the Kingdome to John Duke of Braganza After the death of King Emanuel succeeded his eldest sonne Don John called King John the third whose only sonne that had issue called Prince John dieing before his father left D. Sebastian who succeeding his Grandfather was slain before he was married in that Signal battell in Africa famous for the deaths of three Kings anno 1578. where were unfortunatly lost with their King most of the Nobility and Flower of Portugal Upon the death of King Sebastian the crown returned to the eldest survivour of his Granfathers brothers which was D. Henry the Cardinal whose function for he was a priest rendred him as uncapable of marrying as his age for he was 67. years old rendred him unable for generation so that during his raigne which lasted not two years the chief discourses and debates not only of Portugal but of all Christendome was who rightfully and who probably should succeed King Henry There were some pretended right but wanted power others had power but wanted right and there were some pretenders that had neither right nor power First The People claymed jure Regni to have the right to elect their own King Secondly the Pope challenged jure Divino to be the arbitratour if not donour in all controversies for Crownes and that Alfonso the first King to obtain the title of King became Tributary to the sea of Rome Thirdly Don Antonio illegitimate sonn to the Infant D. Lewis pretended that his mother was lawfully wedded as well as bedded with his father Fourthly Catherine de Medicis widow of Henry the 2. King of France as descended from the King of Portugal D. Alfonso the 3. and for that all since that King have raigned unjustly Fiftly Philbert Duke of Savoy sonne to Beatrice younger daughter to Emanuel would not lose a Crown for want of laying claym thereto knowing that of all the pretenders that were not natives he was looked on as the fittest to resist King Philip not only for his personal valour but also for his dominions bordering on the Dutchy of Milan which in case of need he might invade by the assistance of the French his neighbours upon the other side 7 Reinuce the yong Prince of Parma laid claim to this Crown in right of his Mother Mary lately deceased alleadging that jure primogeniturae the male line was to be served before the female so that untill the line of his Grandfather the Infante D. Edward were wholy extinct neither Philip the 2. nor the Duke of Savoy could have any right Seventhly Catherine Dutches of Braganza pleaded that in all successions there are to be considered these four qualityes in the persons pretending viz thâ— line the degree the sexe and the Age that the better line is first to take place although others should have advantage in the other three qualities That in succession of Crowâ—es the last possessour is to be succeeded jure hered latis which allowâ—s the benefit of representation that she representing the Infante D. Edward the better line did by her representation precede Rainuce for the law allows not a Grandchild that benefit and by her better line exclude King Philip who descended from a daughter lastly by the fundamental Lawes of the Kingdom she was to be preferred before all other the pretenders for that she was both born and married within the Kingdome Eighthly Philip the 2. after all resolved that so faire a Crown lyeing so conveniently for him should not escape him yet because force is of harder digestion first to make triall of the most gentle meanes to effect his proposed ends to this purpose he employes the best wits of all the Vniversityes in Christendom to prove his and disprove all other claymes After much bickering it was alledged in favour of King Philip first against the Prince of Parma and the Dutchess of Braganza that successions of Crowns were to be decided by the Law of Nations not of the Empire upon which onely her jus representandi patrem was grounded that the neerest male in degree to the last possessour ought to succeed that the Infante D. Édw. being deceased before his brother Henry was King could have no right in himself therefore could derive none to his posterity for nemo dat quod in se non habet That it was very unreasonable that Catherine should be lesse prejudiced in her self for her sex then King Philip should be in his Mother Next it was alledged against the Queen of France that prescription of above 300 years whereas Lawyers allow 100 years a sufficient Title for any Kingdome lay most evidently against her Against the people it was answered That untill the Royall Line of a Kingdome be quite extinct there can be no right of election in them But the main Argument whereby King Philip confuted these and all other pretenders was his sword wherewith like another Alexander he cut that Gordian knot wherefore not to lose time nor opportunity whilst the University invented the most powerful Arguments he made all preparations possible for a powerful Army to be ready in the mean time wrought so effectually with Father Leon Henriques a Jesuit and Confessor to King Henry and Frier Ferdinando Castillo a Dominican that all intentions prejudicial to King Philips designes were craftily diverted as from declaring the Dutchess of Braganza next heir whereunto King Henry was most inclinable also from marrying in hopes of issue whereto he was once so farre perswaded as to endeavour a dispensation from Rome but his hopes and intentions were soon after cut off by death the newes whereof arriving to King Philip he marched away immediatly with an Army of above twenty thousand old Souldiers towards Lisbon where he found no
design of changeing the commanders in cheife of all the Emperours armies and the Spanish thereby to make the people desperate because of the failing of faith and credit of the recruiting and arming the Gallies of Spain Sicily and Naples for the maintaining commerce secret intelligence in Toulon and Marseilles of the capitulation of the Venetian with the grand Turke and the meanes whereby they drew the Turke to assent to their demands and the little security the Turke had from them all which I invented feigned and contrived together with many more letters Cyphers Papers c. without any intelligence correspondence or amity with any officer or Minister of state of this kingdome but that I alone without the helpe or assistance of any other have feigned and invented all the foresaid designs whereof I gave information to the Nuntio and his secretary to the said Ambassadours and to Monsiuer de Peny with whom I have kept correspondence in France since the breaking forth of the warre the which as a truth I sweare before God and declare it for discharging my conscience I aske of God forgivenes also of the King our soveraign whom God preserve of the Emperour of the Lord Duke against whom I directed most of those forgeries of the Duke of Medina las Torres of the Marques of Leganés of the Duke of Villahernosa of the Count of Oniate of the Marques of Villa Franca of the Marques of Mirabel of the most illustrious Lord Inquisitour Generall the father Confessour of the most Eminent Cardinals the Cardinal Borgia and Cardinal Spinola and Cardinal of Sandoval of the Lord Don Geronimo of Villanueva Pronotary of Arragon and secretary of state of Don Andrew de Rojas secretary of state of the Ambassadour of Genoa and of all the rest whom I have falsely defamed by these forgeries and Impostures and also I aske pardon of all the faithfull and loyall subjects of these kingdomes charging them to take example by me And to the end that it may be manifested to all times I thus make declaration that God may pardon me and for the satisfaction of this and all other Nations which I have disturbed with the wickednes of my inventions In witnes whereof I have hereunto set my name Dated in the Plaça Mayor and place of Execution in Madrid the 3 of August 1641. Thus ended Michael de Molina in whom the Refran or Spanish proverbe was verified Quien en un ano quiere ser rico al medio le ahorcan He that will be rich in one year shall be hanged at halfe yeares end FINIS THE RIGHT TITLE OF The present KING OF PORTUGAL Don John the Fourth With the most Memorable Passages of his Reigne LONDON Printed for Tho. Heath 1653. THE RIGHT TITLE OF The present King OF PORTUGALL Don John the fourth With the most memorable Passages of his raigne FOr the more cleare discovery of the Title whereby the present King of Portugal holds that Crown it will be necessary to know the fundamental constitutions of that Kingdom as well as the peâ—igree of that King In the year of our Redemption 1139. an Army of four hundred thousand Moors under the conduct of five Kings threatning as a vast deluge to overflow at once all the Country of Portugal were totally discomsited by a small handfull of Christians in the plains of Ourique where immediatly before the battel the people chose their Generall Don Alfonso for their King for before they were under the protection of the King of Castile Leon who after the fight called an Assembly of the three Estates in the City of Lamego where was solemnely enacted as followeth In the name of the most holy Trinity Father Son and holy Ghost Amen I Alphonso sonn of Count Henry c. by the grace of God lately advanced to the Royall Throne have called together the Bishops Nobles and Deputies of Cities in the Church of Saint Mary Almacave in Lamego where sitting upon my Royal Throne without any ensignes of Royalty my Deputy Lorenzo Venegas stood up anâ— spake thus You are assembled by the Authority of King Alfonso to see the Popes letters and resolve to confirm him for your King whereat all with one voice cried We will that he be our King The Deputy demanded shall he only be King and not his sonns after him They answered he so long as he lives and his sonns after his death then said the Deputy give him the Royall ensignes we give them answered they in the name of God So the Archbishop of Braga placed the Crown upon the Kings head who drawing his sword said Blessed be God that hath been my helper with this sword have I delivered you and overcome our enemies and now that you have made me your King let us make lawes for the government of the Kingdome they answered so will wee dread soveraigne we wil make such lawes as shall seem good to you and wee and all our children and posterity are wholy at your command we will first make lawes for the succession of the Crown as followeth 1 God save King Alfonso let him be master of the Kingdome and after him that there may be no trouble of choosing a King let his sonn raigne after him his grand child and so from father to sonn in secula seculorum 2 If during the fathers life the eldest sonn die the next brother shall be King and so forward 3 If the King die without sonns having a brother he shall succeed but not his sonn after him unlesse the Parliament will have it so Then Lorenzo Venegas the Kings Deputy desired the States to aske the King if the daughters should enter into the Succession of the Kingdome after some debate thereon it was resolved Because the daughters are of the Royall stock as well as the Sonns they should succeed on this manner 4 If the King have only Daughters the eldest shall be Queen after her father upon condition that she be married to a native of the Kingdome and that he be a Nobleman who shall not take upon him the name of King untill he hath a sonn born nor wear a crown on his head nor take the right 〈◊〉 of his wife 5 Lastly which most concernes the ensuing discourse it was thus enacted Sit i st a Lex in sempiternum quod prima filia Regis accipiat maritum de Portugale ut non veniat Regnum ad extraneos si casaverit cum principe extraneo non sit Regina quia nunquam volumus nostrum Regnum ire for de Portugalensibus qui nos sua fortitudine Reges fecerunt sine adjutorio alieno per suam fortitudinem cum sangine suo That is Let it be a law for ever that the Kings eldest daughter marry a native of Portugal that so the Crown may never descend to strangers and in case she should marry to a Prince that is a stranger let her not be Queen for wee will never have our Kingdom goe out of the
returned his Majesty rode forward with incredible acclamations and applause the Ladies out of the Windowes throwing down Flowers and sweet Waters upon their heads with a thousand benedictions c. In this pomp his Majesty was received at the Cathedral Church by the Archbishop in his Pontificalibus whence his devotions being ended he returned to his Palace with the like solemn magnificence The kingdome of Portugall being thus established care was taken to give timely notice hereof to all places under their subjection in all parts of the world so that not long after the King was with unexpressible joy proclaimed in the Island Madera in Porto Santo in Mazagan and Aer upon the coast of Africa in the Island of St Michael in the kingdome of Angola in the Tercera Islands although the Governor there made some resistance at first in Brasile in all the East Indies and as far as China On the 8 of January following with the like pompous solemnity the three Estates took an oath to the Prince in these words We acknowledge and receive for our true and Naturall Prince the high and excellent Prince D. Theodosio Son Heir and successor of our soveraign Lord the King and as his true and naturall subjects and vassals we doe him homage in the hands of the King and after the death of our soveraign Lord the King we will acknowledge and receive him for our true and naturall King and Soveraign of those kingdomes of Portugal and Algarbe and beyond sea in Africa Lord of Guine of the Conquests Navigations and Commerce in Ethiopia Arabia Persia India c. we will obey his Commands and Decrees in all and through all both high and low we will make war and maintain peace with all those that his Highness shal command us And all this we swear to God upon the holy Crosse and the holy Gospel Next day the King being placed on his Royal Throne there was an Assembly of the three estates in their rich Robes where D. Emanuel de Acugna Bishop of Elvas made a most eloquent speech the substance whereof was That one of the first Laws of Nature was the uniting of men together from whence Cities and kingdomes had their original and by which they after defended themselves in warres and maintained themselves in peace that for this cause his Majesty had called this Assembly to consult for the better service of God defence in warre and government in peace that there could be no service of God without union in Religion no defence without union amongst Men no Regular government without union of Councels That his Majesty did expect to be informed by his loyal subjects what was for the good of the State That they were to render thankes to the Almighty who had given them a King that would govern by the known Laws That his Majesty did not esteem those Tributes lawful that were paid with tears and therefore did from this present take off from his subjects all tribute that ever have been imposed by the kings of Castile because his Majesty will not reign over our goods nor over our heads nor over our priviledges but over our hearts hoping that you will find out a more sweet expedient to defend your Countrey against your potent enemy who threatneth to make us all slaves and to destroy and annihilate our Nation Let us therefore considering his Majesties goodnesse and our own honour manifest at once unto the whole world that as never subjects had such a gracious king so never king had such loyal subjects Then standing up the most ancient officer of the Chamber of Lisbon in the name of the three Estates who all stood up likewise returned humble thanks to his Majesty for his gracious bounty professing withall that they did not onely offer up their goods but consecrate their lives to his Majesties service that his Majesty might freely dispose of the one and the other to his service according to his pleasure c. In pursuance whereof they voted that two millions should be presently levyed by the kingdome but his Majesty not being willing that any money should be imposed upon the subject as a tax all men strove who should advance most freely so that in few dayes there were brought in 4 millions of gold not to pay souldiers for all offered their service to pursue the war gratis at their own charges but to maintain the splendor of the King and Kingdom The next resolution of this Assembly was to dispatch Ambassadors to all States of Christendom to enter into confederations for the better establishment of the Kingdom and reputation of the King In the first place his Majesty considering how much it did import to correspond with Catalonia that so they might joyntly not only defend themselves but also molest Castile which being as it were between the two arms of Portugal and Catalonia must needs be easily incommodated by them both at Sea and Land thither was sent Ambassador Father Ignatius Mascarenas a Jesuit with another Father of the same Order to offer them all assistance and supplies for their maintenance and defence against the Catholick King which Ambassy did so incredibly rejoyce and encourage the Catalonians that the very next day they obtained a most signal victory by couragiously defending themselves against the Spanish Army of 25000. men under the conduct of the Marquiss de los Veles The next was a most solemn Ambassage to the most Christian King Lewis 13. for which high employment were chosen two personages of great worth D. Francisco de Mello and D. Antonio Coello de Caravallio the one for his exquisite judgment and experience in State affairs and the other for his noble spirit and eminent knowledg in the Civil Law most fit to undertake so important a charge These two personages attended with a magnificent train landed at Rochel and upon the 15 of March made a most solemn entrance into Paris being met and conducted by 134. Coaches besides much Nobility on Horseback unto the Palace appointed for Extraordinary Ambassadors where they were entertained in a sumptuous manner at the Kings charges from thence were they carried by the Duke of Cheureuse and the Count of Brulon in the Kings Coaches unto his Majesty then at St Germains to receive their first Audience which was performed with extraordinary respect for upon the Ambassadors entrance into the presence chamber his Majesty rose out of his Chair and came forward three steps to receive them nor would the King suffer them to deliver their Ambassy vncovered or to kiss his hand at their departure but insteed thereof embraced them in his arms with a chearfull countenance promising them all the assistance that lay in his power From the Kings presence they were conducted to a Dinner provided for them and after that to the Lodgings of the Queen who sitting in a chair without armes rose up and coming forward two or three steps received them most courteously not permitting them to speak untill they
were covered Amongst other discourse D. Francisco de Mello told her Majesty that he feared his Embassy would not be acceptable for that his Master had deprived her brother of one of his Kingdoms whereto her Majesty replyd that although she was sister to the King of Spain yet she was wife to the King of France and thereupon began to speak Spanish which the Ambassador observing demanded wherefore her Majesty had not vouchsafed them that favour sooner it being a language better understood by them the Queen answered for fear they should be daunted to hear her speak Spanish the Ambassador to improve the jest replyd Como a tam grande Senora si pero como a Castillana no. It was true considering her greatness but not her Countrey whereat her Majesty smiling went on promising them all favour and wishing many happy dayes to King John and the Prince his son thus having delivered to her Majesty a Letter from the Queen of Portugal they took leave to go visit the most Eminent Cardinal Richelieu who being advertised of their coming came forward to the third chamber to meet them and there received them with expressions of great affection after which he conducted them into his own Chamber where all three being sate his Eminence a personage for his most admirable abilities worthy to live many ages discovered divers affairs of importance to the Ambassadors and they oâ— the other side made his Eminence understand how highly it imported that the two Crowns of France and Portugal should be united by an indissoluble league and amity considering that the primary and principal aim of the house of Austria whose branches were spread over Europe was not only to be the greatest but the only Monarch of Christendom for which end it never made scruple to usurp Kingdoms and States upon the weakest pretences imaginable as have appeared in the Kingdoms of Naples Sicily and Navarre the Dutchy of Milan and several other States more lately in Germany the seizing upon the Valtelline that so being Master of that passage he may upon any opportunity lead an Army of high Germans into Italy Moreover considering the vast power and interest this Family hath not only in all the other States of Italy and Germany and in the Low Countries but also in almost all America it must be confessed that they have a large foundation of their imaginary universal Monarchy yet no one thing gave them so great hopes as the possession of Portugal First because by the addition of that Kingdom they became absolute Masters not only of all Spain but of all the East Indies of all the Eastern Trade of Ethiopia Persia Arabia China Iapan and all that incredible wealth that was raised out of the Portugal Traffique whereby the Austrian greatness if not their Monarchy was principally sustained therefore that it much concerned all States to endeavour not only to put a stop to the growth of that monstrous tree but to cut off some arms thereof that it may the less damnify and annoy the lesser trees that grow by it that to do this none was more concerned or more able then the Kingdom of France united with the Kingdom of Portugal which having bin reputed the right arm as Catalonia was the left of that huge Austrian Colossus and now separated from it and joyned with France will be able to do as great service against it as ever it hath been forced to do for it not only by assaulting the Spaniard at home in his own house but by intercepting the Plate-Fleet which coming from the West Indies must necessarily pass by the gates of their Enemies the Tereera Islands and so run a hazard to be lost or else be at the charges of an extraordinary Convoy Having thus discoursed with his Eminence of those and other weighty affairs he was pleased to offer not only all the assistance of the most Christian King but that he would disburse of his own for the Service of Portugal that he would presently send thither a Fleet of twenty Sail with his Nephews Admiral and Ambassador extraordinary whereupon the Ambassadors taking leave they were accompanied by his Eminence as far as the stairs which the Ambassadors endeavouring to hinder the Cardinal told them that the Ambassadors of Portugal were to be treated with no less respect then those of the Emperor or Pope Some few days after in the house of the Grand Chancellour there was appointed a Junta of the Ambassadors with his Majesties Commissioners together with the Secretary Chavigny where was soon concluded a peace and league between the Crown of France and Portugal and the Ambassadors with much courtesie and satisfaction dismissed It very much concerned the kingdome of Portugall to maintain amity and peace with the Crown of England not only for the Navigation and Commerce of both States but also for other particular ends in the present conjuncture of affairs principally to break the good correspondency that was at present maintained between the Crowns of Spain and England For this purpose in March 1641. were dispatcht for England Don Antonio de Almada and D r Francisco de Andrada Leiton personages of great abilities who arriving safe in spite of the Dunkerkers that chased them in England were received with demonstrations of great courtesie notwithstanding the earnest labouring of the Spanish Resident to the contrary It is true that his Majesty of England was so tender of his honour and conscience that he answered D r Antonio de Sosa Secretary to the Ambassadors sent before to make way that he would be first satisfied by what right and title his Master was made King of Portugal before he would accept of the Ambassage Whereupon the Secretary being one of the most exquisite wits of this age in the space of twenty four hours drew up and presented to his Majesty a writing which declared at large what here in substance ensueth Upon the death of King Henry the Cardinall without issue many pretended together with the Infanta Donna Catherine Dutchess of Braganza and Grandmother to this present King to the Crown of Portugal but all their pretences wanting foundation soon fell except that of Philip the second King of Spain who propt up his with force King Henry was Uncle equally neer to both but with this difference Catherine was the daughter of a son named Edward and Philip was sonne of a daughter named Isabella brother and sister to King Henry King Philip pleaded that he being in equall degree with Catherine was to be preferred for his sex Catherine replyed That the constitution of that kingdom allowing females to succeed and withall the benefit of representation in all Inheritances she representing Edward must exclude Philip by the very same right that her Father if he were living would exclude Philips mother This conclusion is infallible in jure whereto Philip answered That succession of kingdoms descending jure sanguinis there was allowed no representation Catherine destroyed that foundation alledging That the succession
by the death of the last King was derived jure haereditario non sanguinis because the succession of Kingdomes was to be regulated by that ancient way whereby all things descended by inheritance The other way of succession being not known until later Ages nor ever practised either in Spain or Portugal in such cases Briefly in behalf of Catherine it was urged which by the Castilians can never be denied or answered that she was no stranger but a Native of the kingdom to whom alone according to the Laws of Lamego the Crown of Portugal can appertain This is the simple Title of the House of Braganza against which the Castilians have forged a thousand Titles for the House of Austria as being the tenth or twentieth Grandchild of such a King or such a Prince c. which if sufficient Title against the next allies certainly the King of Castile is not onely King of Portugal but all Europe for there is scarce a Prince from whom he is not descended and happily this is the ground whereon he builds his hopes to be universal Monarch unless perchance he may esteem himselfe so by Will from Adam as some have imagined When the King had received and deliberated upon the writing he gave order that they should be conducted to London with all solemnity convenient disposed of in a Palace ready prepared for them after which with great ceremony they received audience of his Majesty in a most stately fair Hall where his Majesty was placed on a Throne raised two steps on each side Latices within which stood his Nobles at the Ambassadors entrance as they made their reverence the King uncovered himself and would not be covered untill the Ambassadors were so too To the Proposals made by Don Antonio de Almlda the King answered he should be very glad to find out a way to be friend to the King of Portugal and to renew the anâ—ient amity of the two Crowns without 〈◊〉 with Spain Some days following the Ambassadors went to visit the Queen who being placed under a cloath of State upon the entrance of the Ambassadors rose up and came forward down as farr as the Carpet extended making a low reverence at all three times that the Ambassadors bowed and being come neerer her Majesty made them be covered then uncovering themselves again they spake with their hats in their hands which ended the Queen told them that she much desired to keep strait amity with her Majesty the Queen of Portugall c. Don Alon so de Cardenas Ambassador Ordinary in the Court of England for the King of Spain laboured still by friends by moneys by promises even to to the restitution of the Palatinate so that the peace might not be made with Portugal but in vain for upon the 13 of June 1641 the peace was concluded The Commerce and correspondence that have always been between the kingdom of Portugal and Denmark induced King John to send Ambassadors thither but the greater correspondence with the House of Austria and some dependence upon the Emperour hindred the reception of that Ambassage yet the King and all the principal of the kingdom desiring not to break with Portugal gave all other satisfaction possible by extraordinary courtesies and respect to the Ambassadors who from thence went into Swethland where they were received with much solemnity and rejoycing by the whole kingdome Their reception at the young Queens Court at Stockholm was very magnificent where a league was soon concluded and the Ambassadors dismissed as the manner is there with chains of Gold and her Majesties portrait in a Medall of Gold With the like readiness did the States of the Low-Countries receive the Ambassage brought thither by that worthy personage Tristano de Mendoza Hurtada and a Truce of ten years made with Portugal not a peace because the Hollander having conquered many places in Brasil Angola c. whilst those countries were under the King of Spain that neither side might be prejudiced the King of Portugal would not approve of the conquests because they were places depending on the Crown of Portugal nor could the States promise restitution because they now belonged to their West Indy Company who since have often violated the Articles of this Truce to the great dishonor of the States to whom so long as they neglect to punish the transgressors of their own Capitulations no State will treat or trust for the future seeing them so shamefully break their word without the least occasion given It was long debated in the Court of Portugal whether an Ambassage should be sent to his Holiness at Rome or else a more opportune conjuncture of time expected Some were of opinion that an Ambassage was to be sent thither without further delay because thereby they clearly testifying their duty and respect to his Holiness as he was Head of the Catholick Church Portugal should gain his good favour and an acknowledgement that his Majesty Don John was rightfull King of Portugall which would be of very much importance to the affairs of the Kingdom But these considerations seemed to others rather things desirable then feasable First because the King of Spain was at present powerful at Rome to oppose the reception of their Ambassador Secondly because the Pope although he was never in heart a Spaniard yet he would never yeeld to shew himselfe an enemy to the Catholick King Moreover the Spaniard cunningly fomenting the opinion which all the world had entertained That his Holiness did in all things incline to the French interest would from such a reception draw as much as they could ever ask or desire for this cause the Pope that he might not seem their enemy alwayes granted them what ever they demanded Therefore it was alledged That it would be better first to sound the mind and inclinations of his Holiness then to run the hazard of some disgrace and afront to his Majesty and the whole Nation And in case the Pope should resolve not to receive the Ambassage to whom could they appeal for the injury done to the Crown We see many Popes so bewitched with the interest of their own families as to give occasion to the world to believe that their aim is not what is absolutly the best but what is best for themselves An example hereof we have in Pope Gregory the thirteenth so affectionate to the kingdom of Portugal at first that he imployed the utmost of his power to hinder King Philip the second from usurping it yet shortly after for the interest of his own family approved all that was done by the same King Who hath more to give or at least to promise then the Catholick King Therefore in any business of competition he must necessarily have the advantage against all others Nevertheless the French promising their assistance at Rome and their intercession with his holiness it was at length resolved by the major part that an Ambassage should be speedily sent to Rome His Majesty hereupon made