the making up our breaches which 1 had begun before dinner and put this Poste in a condition to fear nothing but Treason and indeed after this they never durst attempt it Afterwards I went to rest that I might be ready in the morning to order all things necessary for our defence and the manner in which the Council were to act for putting all in so secure a posture that the enemy might attempt nothing in the time my absence might perswade them they should find all things easie The next morning being the thirteenth of December at Day-break I got on horseback to visit the Postes and Quarters of the Town and leave such orders as should be necessary I gave the Command of the Custom-house to Colonel Melone with a Serjeant-Major and Captains and Souldiers under him All the neighbouring quarters I likewise took under my Authority as the Isle of St. Bartholomew guarded by a Captain De Porto and Visita Pauveri by a Serjeant-Major Colonel Pouca had the Guard of St. Clare and a Serjeant-Major of the lower end of Cedrangulo St. Dominico Soriano was entrusted to Colonel Hannibal Brancaccio Mount Oliveto to a Serjeant-Major The Gate of Albe and St. Sebastians-Cloyster to Colonel Sebastian Landi the Corne-Ditch to Captain Cicio Costa St. Dominico and St. Anielli to two other Captains Saint Gennaroes Gate and the Virgins Suburbs to Colonel Diego Passero The Gate of Nola and its Suburb to Colonel John Dominico that of Capua and St. Anthonies Suburbs to Colonel Gastaldo those of St. Effremo to Colonel Dom Bernardo Castracucco that of Posilippe to a Serjeant-Major of Foragrotto and two or three other little Towns or rather Suburbs to the Command of Serjeant-Major Alexio who after the taking of Chiaia was made Colonel and Governor of it of Cavone to Colonel Lombardi of La Cellaria to Captain Cimino of La Monnoi to Captain Ignatio Spagnuolo of La Vinara to Captain Mathew Damore of the Concieria to Pepe Palombe and in his absence to his Lieutenant of La Sauateria to Captain Pepo Ricco of La Pietra del Peste to Onoffrio Pagano of the Market-place to Gennaro's Captain of his guards under himself Assigning all other quarters of the Town their particular Captains and the guard of the Vicairie to Grassulo de Roza with the custody of the Prisoners and the charge of head-Jaylor giving them all such Orders as were necessary and wherewithal to make punctual payments to their Souldiers out of the Stock I have already sayed I appointed for it All thus regulated for what concerned the Souldiery I sent for the Magistrates and Gennaro being present told them That all my endeavours for preservation of the Town would be useless unless they supplyed the want of Provisions and took care that the People might live quietly and without murmur in expectation of the Plenty I should restore them which I doubted not very suddenly to effect it being the onely cause of my taking the field And for the Council I conjured them to assist Gennaro with their best advice observe narrowly his Conduct and resolve nothing of importance without communicating it to me That this could no wayes retard Affaires since I should not go to any farther distance then such as admitted a mutual correspondence twice a day That I depended on them in my absence That it concern'd us to be unanimous our Interest being one and the same and that the Liberty we all so passionately aspired to must be as much the Work of their Heads as my Hands I principally recommended these things besides such other as belonged to his charge of Commissary general of the Provisions to Vincenzo Andrea Tonno Basso Aniello Porcio Anthonio Scacciavento and Augustino Mollo and recommended to this last in whom I had entire confidence to look after all my Concernments to give me punctual advice of all things and oppose whatsoever might be undertaken to my prejudice which would be easie for him he being a person very active intelligent and dextrous really devoted to me for whom he had an extraordinary zeal and affection All these but necessary precautions having spent more time than I expected night coming on I could do no more than take up my lodging in the Suburbs of S. Anthony to be the readier to be gone next Morning being the fourteenth of December at day break However I first took my leave and the Benedictions of Cardinal Filomarini and visited the holy Reliques of Saint Gennaro I released Cerisantes from his Confinement to his Chamber with permission to follow me into the Field and sending for him in the Evening after a repriment and advice to make a good use of what had happened to him he told me that that which so importunely pressed him to a sudden Provision for his fortune was his apprehension lest the Fleet might bring some one by the Kings order to take his place and the Cyphers from him which would be extremely to his prejudice by the loss of his Credit and Respect in such manner that if his fortune were not made before it would afterwards be very difficult he added that I was in the like hazard being employed only out of pure necessity for want of another that I was not beloved that they were jealous and distrustful of my exaltation and that I ought no less then he to hasten to an establishment since some one might come with the Fleet capable of possessing my place I must acknowledge that the often comparison he made of him and me was as displeasing to me as it was neither just nor respective So that I replyed he had some reason to be troubled because there were a great many persons capable of the employment he had about me and that would accept it without consideration whether he were displeased or satisfied but that my Birth would deterr any from disobliging me lightly that there were few persons in the World qualified to take upon them my imployment which how glorious soever had too many Toiles and hazards That if my being at Naples were disagreeable to the King and my services suspected I should be alwayes ready without any importunity to retire on his least order But without that if any one should have the vanity by intrigues and cabals to go about to dispossess me and make advantage by my spoils as well as by my travel and industry it should not pass unpunished and that whoever they were they ought to consider well before they exposed themselves to such a hazard without bringing me an Order to which my respect and fidelity would prevent any reply being incapable of any other passion then that of serving my Master and obeying his pleasure but that I knew very well how to vindicate my self against such as should outrage me without ground or reason and that I should assuredly be much more apprehended and feared then he could be by such as designed to bereave him of his imployment Let the World judge if this answer contains
for the future any such disturbances happened he was to know of me how he should comport himself and receive my Orders that the business being so well passed over I would once again give Testimonies of my Clemency but they should be the last for at the next disturbance that happened I would make exemplary punishments After he had oftentimes besought my pardon he also begged it for Vincenzo Andrea to which at the request of the Captains of the Quarters I condiscended with security to come and acknowledge his fault and cast himself at my feet He came presently after and falling on his Knees before me at first pretended to justifie himself and make excuses but afterwards acknowledging that his Crime deserved the severest punishment protested that in consideration of his life that I had given him he would afterwards be the most faithful and submissive of all men I told him he was to thank the Magistrates of the Town that had interceded for it for whom I had too great a respect to deny them any thing that his attempt upon my life merited the most cruel punishments that he should take are of his future comportment that no faults of his could be pardonable after so many relapses and that he should be mindful of the testimonies he had received of my goodness and of his own ingratitude and obstinate malice that I would watch him narrowly very well understanding all his designs and intrigues and that the least false step should expose him to be punished as a Disturber of the publick quiet a Traytor to his Country and Correspondent of its Tyrants afterwards beginning to rally with him I advised him never to take Arms since he carried his Sword so unhandsomly that he ought no 〈◊〉 to appear in such a ridiculous posture but content himself with his Pen which he could use better and which better became him I sent to Gennaro to come to me on my Parole and that he should make haste whilest I was in the humor of pardoning He was willing to obey me but fearing the People would tear him in pieces by the way sent to desire my Guards for a Convoy which was no more than necessary the Women railing at him and the Common People every moment ready to fall upon him At his arrival he fell on his Knees before me and kissed my feet weeping and trembling being naturally very timorous I let him continue a good while in this posture unable to say any thing more to me than conjure me for the sake of our Lady of the Carmelites and St. Gennaro to spare his life embracing my Knees with all his strength At last I caused him to arise with assurance that I had forgot all his Crimes and that he needed fear nothing provided he became more faithful and more discreet for the future I reproached him that he could not deny that had not my arrival at Naples prevented it he had been put to death the next day that this was the third sedition I had pardoned him for that he had several times intended to attempt against my life and that I knew the occasion of his coming to seek me at Romero's that I was not ignorant of his Correspondence with the Enemy all particulars whereof I could tell him that I had information of his Negotiations with France to ruin me by which he had hindered me from being assisted and the People supplied that himself should be judge what his ingratitude for me and disloyalty to his Countrey merited He answered onely with tears and falling again on his Knees incessantly cried Mercy Mercy I told him that for the sakes of the Magistrates I granted it him but let him know it was the last time and that for my better security I would place a Garrison in the Carmelites Tower but would not nevertheless take its Command from him where he should continue with his Siâ—score men for his Guard but that I would send one of the Peoples Companies thither which should be relieved every night By this said I we shall be out of fear of the Enemies practices you shall be Master there as long as you remain faithful and if you cease to be so both your Tower and Person shall be in my hands I immediately commanded Mattheo d' Amore to march thither with his Company and Gennaro to send order for his reception for security of which I kept him with me till I should have notice that I was obeyed Thus I drew from this sedition an augmentation of my credit and possest my self of the most important Post of the Town Mattheo d' Amore sending me word that his Company had admittance I dismissed the Magistrates and Gennaro who never afterwards came at me alledging for excuse that he was no longer safe in the Town that the People on occasion of this last Tumult had such a hatred for him they could neither see nor hear him named without horror I sent after Augustine de Lieto that he should make all the haste he possibly could to bring me Money which would secure and soon compleat my enterprise and publish in Rome the good success of this happy day The Auditor General being in the interim returned from Aversa with the informations I caused the Triâ—ls of Colonel Antonio de Calco and the Horse Captain Andrea Rama convicted of design to debauch my men and carry them to the Enemy to be made an end of and they were condemned to die and though they offered Twenty thousand Crowns of which I stood in very great need for their pardons I thought an Example more necessary Marco Pisano who had been shaved as a Clergyman appealed to Ecclesiastical Justice which I would not allow saying I could not look upon him as a Priest being an Officer actually in Arms and at the Head of Troops The Twelfth of March Execution was publickly made in the Market-place with general applause and their Estates being confiscated I used all endeavour to discover the money they had offered me but they had hid it so well I could get no news of it and had nothing belonging to them but a very fair and good Horse which I gave the Knight de Four-bin that was killed under me the day I was taken Prisoner The Spaniards reduced to extreamest want not having Victuals sufficient for their Troops and Garrisons of their Castles desirous to free themselves of all useless mouths permitted all people that lived within their limits to go to us by which means so many arrived in the space of two dayes as made a great discovery of the general inclination We did our selves prejudice by the reception of so many persons who must otherwise have eaten upon the Enemy but after two dayes refusal we not being in so great scarcity I had compassion for so many people perishing by hunger and at the requests of their friends and relations received all that came because being of that Countrey the Spaniards had so great hatred for them that
me but that the consequence would be very ill and directly opposite to my Authority if the People got a Custom of giving Commissions I therefore signed one for him and for that of the People commanded him to carry it back and cancel it before them which he did very much satisfied to have by such address obtained his pretence The Sieur de Cerisantes impatiently suffering another to be possessed of the Charge he had pretended to after some houres of discontent put on another Face and having heard of the Insurrection of part of Calabria which had sent to me for a Chief to Command them he thought he might there find something considerable enough to recompence the other loss and finding me out accosted me with very great Protestations of Respect Zeal and Fidelity telling me that his Fortune was in my hands and first relating a great part of his adventures misfortunes and voyages acquainted me that a Lady of quality was the cause whom he had long loved and was beloved again but that coming too short in birth and Fortune he could not hope the satisfaction and advantage of marrying her That she had allowed him time to try whether his Actions and Merit could raise him so high in Estate and Honour that she might Marry him without prejudice to her Reputation and Family that fortune had been contrary to him on a hundred occasions wherein he had courted her but had at last led him by the hand to my service where if I had a kindness for him it was in my power to make him the happiest of men I hearkned to this Romance with a great deal of pleasure and asking what he had to pretend of me he replied the Government of the two Calabria's with the Title of a Dutchie or Principality of some of the best Towns possessed in those Provinces by some Spaniard or other of the Nobility that was our enemy I replyed I could not spare him till I had some other to entrust with the Cyphers which possibly might happen at the arrival of the Fleet or with the answer of a Letter I had written to Rome to that purpose My reply though very reasonable gave him no satisfaction and going murmuring out of my Chamber Lewis del Ferro coming in opportunely and asking me what was the matter with Cerisantes I thought it not amiss to revenge my self on one Fool by another and told him what had passed in our Conversation Del Ferro presently followed with pretence that if Cerisantes went from me the Court Cypher ought to be left in his hand he being Ambassadour The other whose bloud was already heated calling him Fool and Bedlam refused to part with it in his behalf whereupon Lewis del Ferro briskly replyed he must either deliver it or draw his Sword Cerisantes mad to see such a Fellow in competition with him came back extremely transported to demand satisfaction for being treated with so little respect I answered laughing that it is no affront to challenge a man when the discourse is not accompanied with Violence or Contempt besides that I knew not what respect belonged to him nor what difference to make betwixt them that things well considered the advantage was altogether on Ferro's side because I had order to treat with him as an Ambassadour and had with my own hand delivered him Fontenay's Letters which gave him that title and that himself was recommended to no other end but to keep the Cyphers At this he lost all patience swearing he was Ambassadour and that if I did not right him on account of the affront he had received he knew how to right himself This dis-respective reply obliged me to confine him to his Chamber with order to the Captain of my Guard to set a Sentry at his door and not to suffer him to converse with any till I learned from the Kings Ministers that were at Rome in what quality they had sent him to me if as an Ambassadour that he might receive all honours due to him But on the contrary if not as such I should wrong my self to let him pretend to be so and that the honour of the Crown was too much concerned to suffer at the same time and in the same place two fools to usurp that character His passion being over he sent to begg my pardon and conjure me not to write to Rome of what had passed which would entirely ruine his fortune I pitied and would not undo him but I kept him eight days in apprehension by it to rectifie his judgement and conduct The same night happened an accident of which I heard nothing till I waked next morning but that which seemed very strange in it is that I received two Letters from two several places one over night and the other in the morning to have a care of my Self for endeavours were used to poison me and that Pepe Palombe had promised the Spaniards to do it A young man coming into my Kitchin a little before Supper pressed very earnestly towards the meat which occasioning suspicion he was turned out He afterwards mixt with the Croud that came to see me sup and getting near the cupboard holding something in his hand in a little Paper offered a considerable summe of Money to a Neapolitan servant I had entertained after my arrival to put it into my Glass when I should call for drink One of my guards having accidentally heard something followed him and stopped him at his going out of my appartment and carried him to the Chamber of his Captain giving him notice of it who being told the same thing by my servant would let me know nothing of it till he had made a perfect discovery of the truth After I was in bed they put him on the rack where he confessed all and the poison being found about him it was tried on a Dog who died within a quarter of an hour When he was pressed to declare where he had it he said it was given him by Palombe's Adjutant who was a man very intimate and much entrusted by his Colonel In the Morning they acquainted me what had passed over night I forbad them going so farre another time or precipitating a business of that nature without first acquainting me with it and receiving my Orders I would not cause him he had accused to be arrested and knowing the credit Pepe Palombe had in his quarter thought it better to endeavour to gain than ruine him resolving to deal with him in so obliging a fashion that if he had any honour he should ever acknowledge it and be ever faithful to me He came to wait on me at my rising and drawing him apart I shewed him the Letters of advice I had received of the ill design was pretended he had against me and causing the Captain of my Guards to relate to him what had passed he said he would be responsible for his friend that was accused I seemed perswaded of his innocence and to put an end to
the business and more sensibly oblige him commanded the Prisoner to be set at liberty The report though I endeavoured the contrary was spred through all the Town that I was poisoned and the people crowded in multitudes to the gate of the Carmelites demanding to see me I got on horseback to ride about the Quarters and give them the satisfaction they so earnestly desired and being told that some on the Market-place accused Pepe Palombe of this attempt taking it to be necessary to justifie him and make appear the confidence I had in him that so I might entirely win him I went to the Concheria followed by an incredible multitude of people and finding him at his door told him that coming out fasting I found my self a little ill and therefore desired him to call for a Glass of Wine with a Crust of Bread or some Sweet-meats which when he had brought I drank to him and having eaten of what he presented embracing him whispered in his ear that what I had done was not out of any necessity of my own but to clear him to the people and make them witnesses of the confidence I had in him desiring to continue him in the number of my friends He protested never to fail in his fidelity and to retain an eternal memorie of so extraordinary a favour I employed that day in visiting the Posts and causing such works as were not to my mind to be altered standing by all the while No attacque was made either night or day where I was not immediately present and the Spaniards were amazed to find that not a Musket was fired but I was presently on the place and surprized to meet continually in their way and most commonly to their disadvantage such succours as I brought with me vigorously beating them back in such manner that all the time of my being in Naples I never came to blows without getting the better and recovering some notable advantage from them The people had acquired such affection and esteem for me that they thought themselves invincible when I fought at their head which caused the enemies to make it their onely business to destroy me perswaded that on my person alone depended their final ruine or re-establishment Their poison having failed of the success was expected not onely in that which hath been mentioned but in two or three other attempts they had recourse to other ways of destroying me by endeavouring to give a jealousie of my conduct and procuring my death by some sedition or tumult One Morning the Market-place being full of people where I was to reconcile a difference between two of their Chiefs a little Boy gave me a Letter which he said was of importance and shifting away amongst the Crowd without any possibility of finding him or learning of whom he had received it I opened it and seeing what it contained read it aloud to the people which in stead of causing their suspition animated their friendship for me and their hatred against their enemies It was directed to the Duke of Siane son of the regent Capici Ladro and in form of an answer to this purpose That Don John had with a great deal of joy received the proposal I made him of delivering a Post and procuring his entrance into the Town to give opportunity with Fire and Sword to punish the rebellion of its inhabitants but knowing that the goodness of the King his father would never approve so bloudie a revenge looking upon the people as disobedient children whom yet he tenderly loved and would reclaim by no other wayes but those of demency being resolved to pardon them he gave me thanks for my affection of which he was assured and desired me to continue it for a more favourable occasion since I came not to Naples without his participation nor had undergone so many perils but to do him the better service by taking away all distrust That on his part he assured me that the Money I had demanded was ready and that I should receive it in Genoua or any other place of which I would give intimation That he made use of him to negotiate with me being a person of Quality and my Friend that I might repose the greater confidence in it This dull policy had no other effect than such as I could wish and altogether contrary to their design The people murmured extremely and detesting the malice cried out Long live the Duke of Guise our Protector for whom we will spend our lives and fortunes and sacrifice our wives and children and more to win them by a soft and compliable comportment I granted all Pardons of Criminals that were demanded of me and continued some days to do so not finding in my heart to put any to death But this people accustomed to Bloud and Massacres were desirous of such Spectacles and finding by their discourse and murmurings that it was time to make my self feared it being told me as I passed the Streets that my goodness was too great in that I caused no executions and that without such examples I should never contain within the limits of duty such as were become habituated in murders and robberies seven men having been imprisoned for such actions I caused them to be all hanged together and found that this severe justice was very agreeable and that the peoples respect and kindness for me was fortified and increased by it And afterwards seeming inflexible when I was desirous to pardon I made use of an address which I continued to the last Having notice given me of the time that a Criminal was to be brought to punishment I ordered it so that I met him on the way as if by accident and seeming angry that they that went before had not avoided him but obliged me against my will to see him pass gave him his life at the suit of his Wife and Children saying it was not reasonable he should die since his good fortune had brought him to my presence pardons being naturally inseparable from the eyes of Princes Vincenzo Andrea thinking on nothing but his treason secretly endeavoured to give Gennaro jealousie of the authority I daily acquired to which he was very much disposed of himself by finding a diminution of his respect and Vincenzo daily complained to me of his brutality ignorance sloth and avarice which would ruine all at last if I took not the whole conduct upon me he under-hand encouraging disorders and plunders and omitting nothing to obtain his ends An accident happened that gave him a great deal of joy and hope which yet brought on no disastrous event as he had expected Three Captains of the Regiment of Sebastian Landi with his Serjeant Major who had the Guard of the Gate of Albe the most suspitious and considerable of all we had commanding the easiest and most to be apprehended passage of the town as afterwards appear'd by the application the Spaniards made for buying it of him by which they at last became Masters of all