all possible Magnificence The Duke d'Aveiro the Marquess d' Villareal the Duke de Camino his Son the Count de Monsano and the rest of the Great Men of the Kingdom assisted at the Solemnity The Archbishop of Lisbon at the Head of his Clergy accompanied by several Bishops received him at the Gate of the Cathedral and he was solemnly acknowledged as King of Portugal by all the States of the Kingdom who took the Oath of Fidelity to him A few Days after the Queen arrived with a numerous Train The whole Court went a great way out of Town to meet her The Officers who were appointed to compose her Houshold were gone before and the King himself went out of Lisbon to receive her This Prince omitted no Magnificence which might become his new Dignity or might give the World a Mark how much he thought she contributed to place the Crown on his Head It was remarkable that in so great a Change she was not in the least embarass'd but supported her new Character with so much Grace and Majesty that she seemed born in a Throne Thus was that great Enterprize happily finished which may be accounted a Miracle considering the vast number and different Characters of Persons entrusted with the Secret No Cement could ever have made so firm an Union but that Hatred to the Spanish Government an Antipathy as ancient as the Monarchy it self arising from the perpetual Wars frequent between Neighbouring States and after fomented by the Concurrence of both Nations in discovering the Indies and their Difference in matters of Trade The News of the Revolt was soon brought to the Court of Spain The Minister was enraged to find all his Measures broken and so fair a Kingdom lost beyond all hopes of retrieving The King his Master had no occasion for new Business He found Difficulties enough to defend himself against the united Arms of France and Holland but above all the Revolt in Catalonia was of dangerous Consequence and created in his Mind a thousand anxious Cares All the Court knew how Things went and the King was the only Man who remained ignorant and no one dared inform him dreading the Displeasure of the Minister who would never have pardoned an Offence of this Nature At last this Affair making too much noise to be concealed any longer the Conde Duke fearing some of his Enemies should attempt to relate the Matter to his Disadvantage resolved to disclose it to the King But knowing the Temper of that Prince he thought to give this such a Turn that he should not know the extent of his Loss and for this end coming to him with a seeming Openness and Assurance Sir says he I bring your Majesty a piece of good News Your Majesty is just now become Master of a fair Dutchy and a large Estate How so replied the King all surprized I shall explain my self says the Minister the Duke of Braganza has been lately Giddy and suffered himself to be seduced by the Populace and proclaimed King of Portugal By this Act all his Estate is Confiscated and Your Majesty may reunite it to Your Revenue and by the Extinction of that Family enjoy that Kingdom without fearing any Disturbance for the future Notwithstanding this Prince was a very weak Man he was not so dazled with these magnificent Hopes but he saw this was no easie matter But not daring to see with other Eyes than those of his Minister he only replied coldly That he hoped he would use all Diligence to suppress this Rebellion which if let alone might have dangerous Consequences The King of Portugal neglected nothing which might establish his new Greatness Immediately after his arrival at Lisbon he named for Governours of the Frontier Places Men of the most approved Valour Fidelity and Experience all which had Orders to depart strait with all the Soldiers they could get together and to use all possible Diligence to put their several Forts in a Posture of Defence He delivered out Commissions for raising Men and immediately after his Cororonation called a Convention of the States of the Kingdom In this Assembly to prevent all Doubts he caused his Title to be examined and by a solemn Act was acknowledged to be the True and Rightful King of Portugal as descended by the Princess his Mother from the Infant Edward Son to King Emanuel to the Exclusion of the King of Spain who was descended from the same King by a Daughter who farther was by the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom disabled by being married to a Foreign Prince He declared to this General Assembly of the States that he would content himself with his Patrimonial Estate for the support of his Houshold and would reserve the Royal Revenue for the Necessities of the Kingdom and to make the People relish the sweetness of his Government he abolished all Imposts which the Spaniards had laid on them He filled all the most considerable Posts and Employs in the State with those Conspirators which had shewn the greatest Ardour in this Revolution Pinto had no share in this Promotion the Prince not thinking his Authority well enough settled to place one of his Domesticks of a mean Extraction in any principal Place Notwithstanding this his Power with the King and People was not less and without the Title of a Minister or Secretary of State he performed the Office by the great Confidence the King had in him Having thus given all the good Orders imaginable within the Kingdom he bent his Thoughts next to Foreign Princes He dispatched able Embassadors to procure himself to be owned to make Alliances and raise new Enemies to the House of Austria He made a League Offensive and Defensive with the Hollanders and Catalonians and obtained assurance of the Protection of France The King of Spain discovered his Weakness by attempting nothing considerable on the Frontiers of Portugal all the Campaign probably because the Revolt in Catalonia employed all his Strength All his Attempts were unsuccessful and his Troops still came off with disadvantage Some time after News came that Goa and other Places under the Dominion of the Portuguese in the Indies Africk and Peru had followed the general Revolution of the Kingdom every thing seemed to promise the King of Portugal a Series of Success and a Kingdom quiet at Home and Victorious abroad But observe the uncertainty of Human Greatness how this Prince in the midst of his Prosperities and the caresses of Fortune was upon the Point of perishing and losing at once his Life and Crown by a horrid Conspiracy silently formed in Lisbon within the Walls of his own Court The Archbishop of Braga was as I related before wholly devoted to the Court of Spain and one of their Ministers in Portugal He plainly saw he could never hope to be restored till the Spanish Government should be re-established besides he was afraid the King who seemed at first to have some respect to his Character in forbearing to seize him with
Head and that to engage him in an Affair of this nature they must offer him the Crown whose Right was indubitable as being the first Prince of the Blood From thence he pass'd to his good Qualities extolling his Prudence Wisdom and especially the sweetness of his Temper and his obliging Behaviour In short he gave so happy a Turn to this Matter they all declar'd for him as their King and agreed That nothing should be wanting that could engage him in this Design Thus the Company broke up having first agreed on the Time and Place where they should meet again to consider of the best Means to bring the Matter to a speedy and successful Issue Pinto seeing them thus dispos'd in Favour of his Master writ privately to him to come into the Neighbourhood of Lisbon for the encouraging the Conspirators by his Presence and taking precise Measures with them for the Execution of that Design This crafty Man put in Motion all the Wheels in that Affair without appearing to be any farther concern'd than a private Person acted by a Zeal for the Publick Service He seem'd to doubt whether his Master would enter into it upon the Account of his Natural Aversion to all Hazardous Undertakings which require Application and Attendance He started some Difficulties which serv'd only to remove all Suspicion of any Understanding between him and his Master and yet were such as tended rather to excite their Ardour than discourage them Upon the Advice which Pinto gave the Duke some Days after left Villa-viciosa and came to Almada a Castle near Lisbon under Colour of Visiting the Forts of that Kingdom His Equipage was very Magnificent and he had a vast Train compos'd of Men of Quality and Officers of the Army which more resembl'd a King taking Possession of his Kingdom than of a Governour of a Province visiting the Places under his Care and Inspection Being near Lisbon he could not dispense with paying his Duty to the Vice-Queen When he enter'd the Great Court of the Palace all the Avenues were fill'd with an infinite number of People who crowded to see him pass along and most of the Nobility came to his House to wait on him It was a general Holy-day throughout the Town and all People were overjoy'd to see him there seem'd only to want a Herald to proclaim him King or Resolution enough in himself to put the Crown on his Head But this Prince was too wise and had too much Experience to trust so important a Concern to the Sallies of a fickle and inconstant Multitude He very well understood the vast difference between those vain Shouts which the People soon quit and those steddy Motions which are necessary to support an Enterprize of that nature Thus after he had taken his Leave of the Vice-Queen he retir'd to Almada without going to Braganza-House or passing through the City to prevent making the Spaniards uneasy who were already too much alarm'd at the Transports of the People Pinto did not fail to observe to his Friends the Fear and Caution which his Master us'd urging That they ought to improve the opportunity of his stay at Almada to break the Matter to him and use some sort of Violence to engage him to accept of the Crown which was at this time absolutely necessary for the publick Good The Conspirators approving this Advice appointed him to obtain of his Master some favourable Occasion for making this Proposition He accepted this Commission without much difficulty and the Duke of Braganza agreed to an Interview on condition that only Three of the Conspirators should meet him not judging it proper to explain himself to more So Miguel d' Almeida Antonio d' Almada and Mendoza came to him that Night and being introduc'd privately into his Closet d' Almada who spoke for the rest made a lively Representation of the unhappy State of that Kingdom where persons of all Conditions were expos'd to the Injustice and Cruelty of the Castillians adding That himself with all his Greatness was not secure from their Attempts That He was too discerning a person not to observe the Industry which the prime Minister us'd to destroy him That there was no other Refuge to escape his ill designs except the Throne That in order to put him into that he had Commission to offer him the Services of a considerable Number of Persons of Rank who would sacrifice their Lives and Fortunes with pleasure for his Interests and to deliver their Country from its insolent Masters In the next place he told him The Time of Charles the Fifth and Philip the Second were past when the Spaniards were the Terror of Europe and gave Laws to their Neighbours That this Monarchy which had formerly conceiv'd such vast Designs could now scarce preserve her ancient Territory was attack'd and often beat by the French and Hollanders That Catalonia alone employ'd her utmost Strength That she was destitute of Troops and Money and govern'd by a weak Prince who himself was govern'd by a Minister hateful to the Kingdom He wish'd him to consider the Alliance and Protection which he might expect from those Princes in Europe who were Eternal Enemies to the House of Austria That Holland and Catalonia shew'd what Assistance he might expect from a great Minister * The Cardinal Richelieu whose mighty Genius seem'd bent to ruin that House That the Sea open'd a way for receiving all necessary Supplies In short That the Kingdom being empried of the Castillian Garisons which the King had been forc'd to draw out of Portugal to encrease his Army in Catalonia he could never hope for a more fovourable Juncture to assert his Right and free his Country from Tyranny and Slavery It may easily be thought this Discourse was very well relish'd by the Duke of Braganza but he with that Coldness which was natural to him so order'd the Expressions of his Reply to the Deputies that he seem'd neither to lessen or encrease their Hopes He told them That he was of their Opinion That the Spaniards had reduc'd the Kingdom to a Deplorable State That Himself was not exempt from Danger That he could never enough commend their Zeal for their Country And that he was in particular very much oblig'd to them for the favourable Regard they had to his Interest but after all he doubted if the Time was yet come to think of such violent Remedies as they propos'd which always had very bad consequences if the Event did not fall out as was projected To this Answer for a more positive one he would not give he added so many Caresses and obliging Thanks to each Man in particular that they went away satisfy'd their Message was well Receiv'd but that they must expect the Prince would make no more Advances in the Matter than by giving his Consent when Things should be in a Condition to put the Success out of doubt After the Deputies were gone he agreed with Pinto what new Measures were best to be
taken and so went back to Villa-viciosa and now he began to feel a Disquiet of Mind which hinder'd him from relishing the Pleasures of a private Life As soon as he was return'd he communicated to the Duchess his Wife the Propositions which had been made to him This Princess was of Spanish Extraction and Sister to the Duke of Medina Sidonia a Grandee of Spain and Governor of Andalusia She had by Nature a strong inclination to whatever was great and noble which in time was grown up to a boundless Passion for Glory The Old Duke finding mighty things were to be expected from her Wit and Courage had taken care to improve the Gifts of Nature by a suitable Education He plac'd about her the fittest Persons to inspire Ambition into her Breast which the World regards as something noble and the chief Virtue of a Prince She learnt several Tongues with a great deal of ease but nothing could come near that wondrous Sweetness with which she express'd her self in her natural Language In the Sound of her Voice and in every word she spoke was a secret Charm which ravish'd all who heard her Her Air was noble great and free full of a majestick Sweetness which at the same time inspir'd Love and Respect into those who were about her She took the Portuguese Air with so much ease she seem'd Born at Lisbon In the first place she was careful to win the Esteem of her Husband which she perfectly well did by the Austerity of her Life by a solid Devotion and a perfect Complaisance to his Relish She wav'd those Pleasures which are the ordinary Amusement of Persons of her Quality and Age and seem'd to employ her leisure Hours in those things which might embellish her Mind or improve her Judgment The Duke of Braganza was transported with the Happiness of enjoying so finish'd a Woman He had an infinite Esteem for her and an entire Confidence in her He never undertook any thing without consulting with her and therefore had a care not to engage in an Affair of this kind without her Advice and Opinion He discover'd to her the Plan of the Conspiracy the Names of the Persons privy to it their Zeal and Warmth and every Particular that had pass'd at Lisbon and the Conference at Almada He added That on the News of the Expedition into Catalonia he plainly saw the Nobility would revolt rather than be compell'd to leave their Country That it was to be fear'd upon his Refusal they would look out for another Head That notwithstanding he could not forbear confessing that the Danger of the Enterprize startled him That as often as he had thought of this Design at a distance the flattering Idea of Greatness had made an agreeable impression on his Mind but now he was upon the point of putting this in execution and running all the Risks of so hazardous an Undertaking he could not look without Dread on the Danger which he and his whole Family was about to throw himself into That the fickle Humour of the Multitude was not much to be rely'd on the Edge of whose Courage is taken off by the least Difficulty and they easily dispers'd by every Blast of Wind. That it was not sufficient for him to have the Nobility on his side unless they were supported by the Great Men of the Kingdom but very far from hoping they would come over to his Interest He could not but foresee they would be the most cruel of his Enemies the natural Pride of Mankind never suffering them to make a Master of one who has once been their Equal These Considerations with several other as the Power of Spain the small Assurance of Foreign Assistance ballanc'd his Passion for Government But the Duchess who had a greater Firmness of Mind and a more lively Ambition clos'd wholly with the Conspiracy The View of so great an Undertaking serv'd only to excite her Courage and rowse up her Ardent Thirst after Greatness She represented to her Husband with a great deal of Vehemence the undoubted Rights which he had to the Crown That in the deplorable State to which the Castillians had reduc'd Portugal a Man of his Rank and Quality could not dispense with remaining any longer indifferent That his Children and Posterity would reproach his Memory with a Pusillanimity beneath his Blood if he should lose so favourable an Opportunity After this she exaggerated to that Prince the sweetness of Reigning in a Country where he could not Obey without Fear the Charms of a Crown and the Facility of seizing it That in case he should miss of that Foreign Aid which had been offer'd to him he was Potent enough to expel the Spaniards especially at this Juncture when there was a Revolt in Catalonia In fine she so Skilfully shew'd him the Crown on its most glittering side that she determin'd him But in this she agreed with him to let the Number of the Conspirators encrease before he declar'd himself more positively and not to appear publickly in this Matter till the Moment of its Execution All this while the Court was not without some Disquiet The extraordinary Marks of Joy which the People of Lisbon had shewn on the Duke of Braganza's appearing amongst them had made a great Impression on the Minister He began to suspect private Clubs were held in that City and some Rumours which commonly precede great Events exceedingly encreas'd his uneasiness The King held several Councils on this Occasion in which it was resolv'd That for the effectual defeating the Portuguese Hopes of a Revolt the Duke of Braganza the only Person whom they had occasion to fear should forthwith be sent for to Madrid For this purpose the Conde Duke sent a Courier to him with this Message That the King had a Mind to be inform'd from himself and confer with him concerning the State of the Troops and Garisons in Portugal That he was mightily wish'd for at Court by his Friends and that he could not doubt he should be receiv'd in a manner suitable to his Birth and Merit No Clap of Thunder could have surpriz'd him more than this News The Earnestness and different Pretences they made use of to draw him out of Portugal confirm'd his suspicion they had a Design on his Person and were resolv'd to take him off They had left pretended Employs and false Caresses and were now come to positive Orders which would soon be follow'd by Force and Violence in case of Disobedience This put him into a Panick Fear imagining he was betray'd the usual Fate of those who have great Projects in their Head who still believe the World is busy in observing their Steps and guesses at the Secret of them Thus did that diffident Prince perplex himself thinking he was now plung'd in an Ocean of Trouble However to gain Time and have leisure to give the Conspirators notice of his Danger by the Advice of his Wife he sent a Gentleman of his House a Person of
great Address and Fidelity to Madrid to assure the Minister he would suddenly attend the King To this Man he gave secret Instructions to invent from Time to Time different Pretences to excuse his Delay hoping to prevent the Storm by bringing the Conspiracy to ripeness As soon as this Gentleman was at Madrid he assur'd the King and First Minister that his Master follow'd him He took a great House which he furnish'd very richly and retain'd a great Number of Servants giving them Liveries by way of Advance laying out very considerable Sums of Money every day In short he omitted nothing to make them believe the Prince would come immediately and appear at Court in all the Splendor becoming a Person of his Rank Some few Days after he feign'd to have receiv'd Advice That he was very ill At last finding this would not hold longer he presented a Memorial to the First Minister praying in the Name of the Duke his Master the King would assign his Precedence in the Court. He thought this would take up some time to adjust and meet with Opposition from the Great Men who would intervene to maintain their Rights But the Minister who began to suspect these Delays soon remov'd all Difficulties and engag'd the King to declare in his Favour in every point for his Honour so desirous he was to draw him out of Portugal and see him at Madrid The Conspirators no sooner understood the Orders which the Duke had receiv'd from the Court but fearing he should obey them they sent Mendoza to confirm him and engage him more strictly to their Party They made choice of this Gentleman because being Governor of a Place near Villa-viciosa the pretence of going to his Government covered the secret Intention of this Journey from the Spaniards He took an opportunity of meeting that Prince a Hunting They struck into the Wood and stopping in a private place Mendoza laid before him the Danger which he expos'd himself to by going to Court That he would absolutely ruin the Hopes of the Nobility and People by putting himself with too rash a confidence into the Hands of his Enemies That there were a great Number of well-qualified Gentlemen who were resolv'd to sacrifice their Lives and Fortunes for his Service That they only expected notice from him when they should appear That the Critical minute was now come when he must chuse either to dye or wear a Crown That it was Hazardous to make any further Delays and he must not doubt an Affair of so great Importance which was entrusted in so many Hands must needs at length come to the Knowledge of the Spaniards The Duke reply'd That he was of his mind and that he might assure his Friends that he was resolv'd to put himself at their Head Mendoza return'd Post to Lisbon acquainted his Friends with the Success of his Voyage and that the Prince desir'd Pinto might come to him Him they sent away instantly with necessary Instructions to inform the Duke of the Scheme and Ways by which they intended to put their Project in Execution When Pinto came he acquainted him in what Confusion the Court at Lisbon was the Vice-Queen made high Complaints of the Insolence and Pride of Vasconcellos That she could not any longer endure that all the Dispatches from Spain should be Address'd to him while she being invested with a glittering Title had no real Authority This Complaint was the more to be regarded because That Princess was a Person of great Merit and every way capable of Discharging the Extent of her Trust but indeed the Greatness of her Genius and her other good Qualities were the principal Reason why she had so inconsiderable a share in the Government allow'd her Pinto observ'd to his Master how much this misunderstanding favour'd his Designs and that he could not lay hold of a fairer occasion than these Divisions at Court which would not give the Spanish Ministers leave to observe the Steps he should take The Duke who perceiv'd the Strength of his Reasons found himself likewise press'd by that Gentleman whom he sent to Madrid He receiv'd Letters from him every Day assuring him That he could not find new Colours for his Absence or delude the Minister who would not any longer hear his Excuses Thus seeing he had no Time to lose he resolv'd to rise without delay And now to gain Time for the disposing his Affairs he commanded his Agent to represent to the Conde Duke d'Olivarez That he should have been at Madrid before that time if he had had Money enough to bear the Expences of his Journey and enable him to make a Figure suitable to his Quality and Character and that as soon as he could raise the necessary Funds he would instantly come away for the Court. When he had sent the Dispatch he took Pinto with him into the Duchesses Apartment to consider of the most proper means to put their Design in execution And after some Debate the Duke resolv'd on this That it was necessary to secure Lisbon which being the Capital was the Spring which mov'd the whole Kingdom That on the same Day that City should declare for him he would cause himself to be proclaim'd King of Portugal in all the Cities of his Dependance That those of his Friends who were Governors of Forts should do the same in all Places where they Commanded and the Conspirators should raise the People in all the Towns and Villages which belong'd to them that so this General Insurrection diffusing it self like a Conflagration through every part of the Kingdom the Spaniards might not know whither to bend their Arms That he would fling his own Regiment into the Town of Elvas the Governor of which was at his Devotion That as for the manner of seizing Lisbon he could not prescribe any thing that Action depending wholly on the Time and other Circumstances when they should attempt it That however he was of the Opinion they ought to make their first Attacks on the Palace and secure the Person of the Vice-Queen and the rest of the Spaniards who might serve as Hostages for the Surrender of the Citadel which otherwise might very much incommode the Town after they were Masters of it He gave two Letters of Credence one to d'Almeida and the other to Mendoza in which he signify'd to them That he had entrusted the Bearer with his Intentions He only added That he hop'd they would be Faithful to the Assurances they had given him and act with Courage and Vigour in the Work they were about to undertake After this the Duke sent Pinto to Lisbon having first given him the highest Marks of Confidence he should enjoy the same Place in his Affection after a Revolution that he now had As soon as he came to Lisbon he deliver'd his Letters to d' Almeida and Mendoza who sent immediately to Le Mos and Coreé whom Pinto had formerly brought over to his Master's Interest These were two Rich Citizens
who had a mighty Authority with the People they had pass'd through most of the Offices of the City and had a great Number of Workmen who depended on them These Men had taken a great deal of Pains to foment and cherish in the Minds of the Townsmen an Aversion to the Spaniards by Rumors they daily spread of Taxes intended to be rais'd the beginning of the next Year They had discharg'd several of their Workmen especially the most Mutinous pretending the Badness of Trade would not suffer them to employ them they could not keep them any longer while their Real Intent was by Necessity and Starving to prepare them for an Insurrection And the better to accomplish their Ends they supply'd these starving Wretches from Time to Time keeping them at their Devotion Besides this these Men held a private Correspondence with the principal Persons in all Parts of the Town by the help of which they assur'd the Conspirators That upon notice given the Night before the Execution they would engage to raise the People at any Hour they should assign Pinto being thus assur'd of the Inferior People began to look to the other Conspirators whom he urg'd to be ready upon the first Alarm desiring they would secure their Friends under pretence of some private Quarrel without making them privy to the design in which they should be employ'd In this Conduct he gave proof of an Extraordinary Prudence there being abundance of People who have Courage and Resolution when the Sword is in their hands who are not able in cold Blood to bear the weight of so important a Secret Thus finding every one firm undaunted and impatient to be reveng'd on the Spaniards he conferr'd with d' Almeida Mendoza d' Almada and Mello who finding all things in such a condition as they wish'd agreed on Saturday * 1st Decemb. 1640. the First of December for the Execution They gave notice to the Duke of Braganza of this Resolve that so he might cause himself to be proclaim'd King in the Province of Alenteio which almost entirely depended on him and agreed before the Company broke up to have another Meeting * 25th of November to take the last Measures for the Action The 25th of November at night they met at Braganza House as they had agreed They found they could account on a hundred and fifty Gentlemen the most part of which were the Heads of their Families with all their Domesticks and about Two hundred Citizens and Tradesmen and they concluded by the Interest of these they should bring the greatest Part of the People over to them The Death of Vasconcellos was resolv'd on as a Victim due to the Resentment of the Portuguese and some propos'd to treat the Archbishop of Braga after the same manner They represented him as a Man whose great Abilities render'd him formidable That it was not to be thought he could stand as an unconcern'd Spectator in this publick Confusion That possibly he might put himself at the Head of the Spaniards and their Creatures and whilst they were busy in making themselves Masters of the Palace he might throw himself into the Citadel or come to the Assistance of the Vice-Queen to whom all the World knew he was devoted That in an Affair of this Nature it was a great Imprudence to leave Enemies behind them That such a Conduct might possibly give them occasion to repent severely of their ill-tim'd and mistaken Pity These Reasons drew the greatest part of the Company to consent to his Death and this Prelate had suffer'd the same Fate as Vasconcelles if Dom Miguel d' Almeida had not taken his part He remonstrated to the Conspirators That the Death of a Man of his Character and in so high a Dignity would render them odious to all the World That such an Action would draw on the Duke of Braganza the Hatred of the Clergy and Inquisition a Race of Men formidable to the greatest Princes and add the Reproach of an Excommunicated Person to that of Rebel and Usurper That the Prince himself would be deeply affected to see his Accession to the Throne blemish'd by so bloody an Action That Himself would have an Eye over him and take effectual care to prevent his undertaking any thing to the prejudice of the publick Interest In short he spoke so much in his Favour that he obtain'd the Life of that Prelate of his Friends who could not refuse any thing to a Man of his Worth Nothing farther remain'd to be adjusted but the Order they should march in and the Manner of making the first Attack At last it was resolv'd to throw themselves in four different Parties into so many several Parts of the Palace and make themselves Masters of the several Avenues to cut off all Communication and prevent the Spaniards from bringing any Assistance That Dom Miguel d' Almeida should attack the German Guard before the Palace-Gates That the Great Master of the Horse Mello his Brother and Dom Estean d' Acugna at the Head of the Townsmen should surprize a Spanish Company which kept Guard every Day before the Fort That Feillo de Menezes Emanuel Saa the Great Chamberlain should make themselves Masters of Vasconcello's Apartment whom they should forthwith dispatch That Dom Antonio d' Almada Mendoza Dom Carlos Norogna and Antonio de Salsania should secure the Person of the Vice-Queen and all the Spaniards in the Palace to serve as Hostages if there should be occasion That whilst each one was busy in making themselves Masters of the Posts assign'd them some few Horse should be detach'd away who with some principal Citizens should proclaim Dom John Duke of Braganza King of Portugal That when the Multitude was drawn into the Streets they should throw themselves where any Opposition should happen to be made Thus they broke up with a Resolution to meet on Saturday the First of December some at Dom Miguel d' Almeida's and others at d' Almada's and Mendoza's Houses where the Conspirators were to Arm themselves While the Friends of the Duke of Braganza were thus busy at Lisbon in advancing his Affairs he himself was employ'd in securing the Provinces the First Minister alarm'd by these Delays dispatch'd away a Courier with express Orders for him to come immediately to Court and to prevent his making any pretence of Want of Money he sent with him an Order for Ten Thousand Ducats on the Royal Treasury This was plain and intelligible Language The Duke could not defer his Journey without justly rendring himself suspected He could not with any Colour of Reason dispense with obeying the King's Message and had Grounds to conclude That all farther Delays would soon bring some unwelcome Orders from Madrid which would break all his Measures and ruin his Enterprize And therefore to make an Appearance of complying with the King 's pressing Commands he order'd the greatest part of his Household to set forward for Madrid He gave all necessary Orders during his Absence
Gentleman thought that the Minute of the Plot breaking out being now at hand his Relation who had for a long time been his intimate Friend might justly reproach him if he should conceal a matter of that Importance from him in which the other was equally concern'd with himself for the Common Good of his Country That he could easily engage him in the Conspiracy and bring him with him to the Rendezvouz Upon this Consideration as soon as he was return'd to his Lodging he goes up to his Kinsman's Chamber and taking him into his Closet communicates the Enterprize to him urging him to join with so many Worthy Persons and to behave himself like a Man of Honour and a true Portuguese The Other was surpriz'd with so strange a Piece of News however he strove to shew a sort of Joy to find his Country was upon the Point of Recovering its Liberty He thank'd Mello for the Confidence he had honour'd him with and assur'd him he should esteem it a Happiness to expose his Life and be admitted to have a share of Danger with so many brave Men in so Just and Glorious a Cause After this they parted to take a Repose of some few Hours Mello was scarcely in his Chamber before he began to Repent of his Excessive Confidence and to blame himself for having put the Fate of so many Worthy Men into the Hands of a Person he was not entirely assur'd of He thought he discover'd in his Eyes and Countenance a secret Uneasiness and the Marks of Surprize and Apprehension at the Prospect of so Dangerous an Enterprize In short he was afraid the Fear of Punishment and the Hopes of a Certain Reward might prevail with him to make a Discovery Full of these Tormenting Reflections he walk'd about his Chamber when hearing a sort of muttering Noise and several Persons talking low he opened his Window to hear what they said And by the Help of a Dim-light he discover'd his Kinsman at the Door ready to mount on Horseback At this being fired with Rage he soon came down and running with his drawn Sword at him demanded What made him out of Doors at that time of Night What his Business was and whither he was going The other being exceedingly surpriz'd endeavour'd to give several indifferent Reasons but Mello threatning to kill him constrain'd him to return again into his Chamber and took the Keys along with him and kept him under his Eye till the Time of Action and then brought him with him to meet the other Conspirators At length the Day was come when the Event was to determine whether the Duke of Braganza deserv'd the Title of King and Deliverer of his Country or that of Rebel and Enemy of the State The Conspirators came early to the House of Dom Miguel d' Almeida and the other Gentlemen where they were to Arm themselves They all appear'd there with so much Resolution and Confidence they seem'd to go to a certain Victory It was remarkable that in so great a Number of Clergymen Citizens and Gentlemen all acted by different Interests not one Man out of the whole Number fail'd in his Word and Honour Every one was as impatient for the Moment of Execution as if he had been Chief and Author of the Enterprize and expected the Crown for the Recompence of the Dangers which he expos'd himself to Divers Ladies coveted a share in this Glorious Exploit and History has preserv'd the Memory of Dona Philippa de Villenas who Arm'd both her Sons with her own Hands and after she had put on their Cuirasses Go my Children says she put an End to Tyranny and Revenge your selves of your Enemies and be assured that if your Attempt fail of Success your Mother will not survive one Moment the Misfortune of so many brave Men. All being thus Armed made their way to the Palace and divers of them went in Chairs to conceal their Number and Arms. They divided themselves into four Bodies as was agreed waiting with a great deal of Impatience till the Clock struck Eight which was the precise Moment of Execution Never did Time seem so long the fear of having their Number observed or that the early Hour they appeared before the Palace might give the Secretary any Suspicion made them very uneasie At length it struck Eight a Clock and Pinto having fired a Pistol they all took the Signal Each Man charged briskly in the Post assigned him Dom Miguel d' Almeida with his Party fell on the German Guard who being unprovided and destitute of Arms were soon defeated and that almost without making any Resistance The Master of the Horse Mello his Brother and Dom Estevan d' Acugna attacked the Spanish Company which lay before that part of the Palace which is called the Fort. In this he was sustained by those Townsmen who were concerned with him These Men with their Swords in their Hands forced the Corps de Garde where the Spaniards were retrenched But none made a more considerable Figure than a Priest of the Town who marched at the Head of the Conspirators with a Crucifix in one Hand and a Sword in the other exhorting the People to cut their Enemies in Pieces and charging the Spaniards himself with the utmost Fury All fled before him for appearing Arm'd with an Object that Religion teaches us to revere no Person dar'd to hurt him Thus after a slight Resistance the Spanish Officer and his Soldiers were forced to submit and save their Lives by crying as the rest did God save the Duke of Braganza King of Portugal Pinto having thus made his way to the Palace put himself at the Head of those who attacked the Apartment of Vasconcellos He marched with so much Assurance and Resolution that happening to meet one of his Friends who asked him trembling where he was going with that number of Armed Men and what he was about to do Nothing replied he smiling but to dethrone a Tyrant and restore a lawful Prince In entring the Secretaries Apartment they met Francisco Soarez d' Albergeria the Civil Lieutenant * Corrigidor de Civil who was just going out of his Lodgings This Magistrate thinking the Tumult only proceeded from a quarrel offer'd to interpose his Authority to end the Fray But hearing them cry on all sides God save the Duke of Braganza he thought the Honour and Duty of his Place obliged him to cry God save the King of Spain and Portugal which cost him his Life one of the Conspirators shooting him instantly dead proud to have this occasion to punish his ill-timed Loyalty Antonio Correa first Commissioner of the Secretary ran out upon the first Noise This Man was the common Instrument of his Cruelties and after the Example of his Master treated the Nobility with great Contempt Dom Antonio de Menezes plunged his Dagger in his Breast This Blow could not make the Wretch sensible his Power was at an End but imagining in this Assault they had mistaken him
for another he turned in a Rage to Menezes crying Dogs How dare you strike at me The other without replying redoubled his Thrusts and laid him on the Ground weltring in his Blood However these Wounds did not prove Mortal and he escaped at that time to lose his Life after with more Ignominy by the Hands of the common Executioner The Conspirators having thus treated the Commissary who had stopt them for a small while on the Stairs forced into the Secretaries Chamber He had then with him Diego Garcez Palleia a Captain of Foot who seeing such a multitude of People enter Armed and enraged mistrusted a design on the Life of Vasconcellos Tho' he had no obligation to that Minister the generosity of his Temper made him throw himself out of the Door with his Sword in his Hand to dispute the Entry of the Conspirators and give the Secretary time to make his Escape but receiving a Hurt in his Arm and being disabled from holding his Sword and opprest by the Multitude he threw himself out of a Window and had the good Luck to escape with Life Immediately the Conspirators rushed in a Crowd into the Secretaries Lodgings they searched for him every where overturned the Beds opened the Coffers and every one was eager to have the Honour of the first Blow However all this while he was no where to be found and the Conspirators were reduced to Despair and enraged to think he should thus escape their Vengeance till an Old Woman Servant being threatned with Death pointed to a Wall in which several Arms were hid and here they found him buried in Papers The Consternation he was in at the apprehension of immediate Death which he saw before him would not suffer him to speak the least Word Dom Rodrigo de Saa gave him the first shot with a Pistol after which the rest of the Conspirators stabbed him and threw his Body out of the Window crying The Tyrant is dispatched God preserve our Liberty and Dom John King of Portugal The Crowd about the Palace seeing them throw out the Body received it with great Shouts and Acclamations Every one offer'd some Indignity to the lifeless Trunk as if by this means they hoped to revenge the Oppression of their Country and give a Blow to Tyranny This was the Fate of Michael Vasconcellos a Portugueze by Birth but an Enemy to his Country and a Spaniard by his Inclination He had by Nature an admirable Genius for Business was a Man of great Ability and Application of a marvellous Industry fruitful in Inventing new Methods of drawing Money from the People and by consequence void of all Pity Inflexible and Rigorous even to Cruelty He had no regard to Kindred Friends or other Considerations No Man had any Ascendant over him he was insensible to all Pleasures and incapable of being touched with any Remorse of Conscience He had heaped together immense Wealth by his Place part of which was plunder'd in the Heat of the Sedition the People pretending to do themselves Right for the Damages they sustained during his Ministery Pinto without losing Time marched to join the other Confederates who were order'd to make themselves Masters of the Palace and seize the Person of the Vice-Queen He found this was done already and that all Parts of their Design had been crown'd with equal Success In short those who were appointed to attack the Apartment of the Princess presenting themselves before the Gates and the furious Multitude threatning to set fire to them if they did not forthwith open them the Vice-Queen attended with her Maids of Honour and the Archbishop of Braga presented her self at her Chamber-Door flattering her self that her Presence would appease the Nobility and oblige the People to withdraw Gentlemen said she advancing towards the principal of the Conspirators the Secretary has justly drawn on himself the Odium of the People and your Indignation by his haughty and insolent Carriage and now his Death has deliver'd you from so hateful a Minister methinks your Resentment ought to be satisfied Consider Gentlemen these Disorders may as hitherto be imputed to your Hatred against the Secretary but if you persist any longer in this Tumultuous manner you will be guilty of Rebellion and render me unable to make any Defence for you to the King Dom Antonio de Menezes replied That it was a Folly to think that so many People of Rank had appeared in Arms to take away the Life of a Wretch who ought to have lost it by the Hands of the common Hangman That they were met together to restore the Duke of Braganza to a Crown that rightfully belonged to him and had been usurped by Strangers and they would sacrifice their Lives with Pleasure to replace him on the Throne She was about to reply and interpose the King's Authority but d' Almeida fearing that any longer Parley might abate the Heat of the Conspirators interrupted her telling her in short Portugal owned no other King than the Duke of Braganza and the Conspirators immediately gave a shout each striving to outvie the other God save Don John King of Portugal The Vice-Queen seeing the Torrent had broke all bounds thought she should find more Obedience in the City and that her Presence would have more Influence on the People and Townsmen when the Conspirators were not there to encourage them But as she offered to go down Don Carlos Norogna intreated her to keep in her Chamber assuring her she should be served with the same Respect as if she had still the Command of the Kingdom telling her He did not judge it by any means convenient to expose the Person of so great a Princess to the Insults of the Multitude who were all in Tumult and full of Zeal for their Liberty She soon understood she was his Prisoner and vext demanded in a disdainful manner And what can the Mobb do to me To which Norogna replied in a very great Passion Nothing Madam but throw your Highness out of the Windows The Archbishop of Braga was incensed at these words of Norogna and snatching a Sword from a Soldier near him attempted in an outragious manner to throw himself thro' the Conspirators to kill him and revenge the Affront done to the Vice-Queen but Dom Miguel d' Almeida embracing him conjured him to consider the danger to which he exposed himself and taking him aside by force told him his Life had not cost nothing That he had had a great deal of difficulty in obtaining it from the Conspirators to whom his Person was odious enough that he had no farther need to exasperate them by a Piece of Bravery so ill-timed and so little agreeable to a Person of his Character By this means he was perswaded to withdraw and dissemble his Passion hoping Time would give him a more favourable occasion of shewing his Resentment and his Devotion to the Interest of Spain The rest of the Conspirators secured the Spaniards who were in the Palace