THE HISTORY OF THE Revolution in Portugal In the Year 1640. Or An Account of their Revolt from Spain And setting the Crown on the Head of Don John of Braganza Father to Don Pedro the Present King and Catharine Queen Dowager of England Written in French by the excellent Pen of the Abbot Vertat Author of the History of the Revolution in Sweden And done into English LONDON Printed for Mat. Gilliflower Tim. Goodwin Mat. Wotton Rich. Parker and Benj. Tooke 1700. The Introduction AMong the Principal Events of this last Age none deserves our Attention more than the Revolt of Portugal in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred and Forty The Unanimity Zeal and Secrecy with which this Conspiracy was carried on for a long time between Persons of different Ages Sexes and Qualities the Ardour for recovering their Liberties which animated them to encounter Difficulties in appearance insuperable and lastly the compleat Success and the little Blood lost in the execution of this mighty Enterprize makes it truly admirable and surprising This small Fragment as it were torn from the general History of the Times was written in French not very long since as an Essay by the Abbot Vertat since Author of the History of the Revolutions of Sweden both which Pieces have been received with the Applause of the Publick The Materials out of which he has compiled this small Volume are for the most part * Portugal restaurado de Menezes Caet Passarel Lusitania reparata de Macedo Mercure Francois de Renandot Siry et Recueil de Relations extraordinaires Printed Accounts Journals Gazettes and the Relations of Persons who were at Lisbon when this Drama was acted Most of these are indeed ill enough writ but have receiv'd a new Life and Lustre since they have been touch'd by his Incomparable Pen. I might in this place commend the Vivacity Politeness and Fidelity with which this little Piece is writ but I shall rather chuse to give the Reader a view of the State of Affairs which lead to that Revolution which is the Subject of it Portugal was first erected in the Year 1139. into a Kingdom by Alphonso I. who after he had defeated the Moors refused to pay that Homage to Spain which his Father had done After him Alphonso III his Great Grandson had Algarva given him in Dowry with the Princess Beatrix Daughter to Alphonso the Tenth King of Castile which still gives a Title to the Heir Apparent of the Crown Thus Portugal continued an Independant Kingdom Governed by its own Princes till the Brave Sebastian unfortunately perished in the Battel of Alcazar Aug. 4. 1578. without leaving any Issue behind him The Cardinal Dom Henry his Great Uncle succeeded to the Throne whose Reign lasted but sixteen Months After his Death divers Princes and Princesses pretended to the Crown Catharine Dutchess of Braganza Philip the Second King of Spain the Duke of Parma the Duke of Savoy and Dom Antonio Grand Prior of Crete were all descended from Dom Emanuel Father of the Cardinal King but in different Degrees There was only the Dutchess of Braganza and the K. of Spain in the same Degree and nearest the Crown Catharine was Daughter to the Infant Edward and Philip was Son to the Empress Elizabeth both Children to Dom Emanuel The Grand Prior was only Natural Son to the Infant Dom Lewis Second Son of Dom Emanuel but his Party gave out there was a secret Marriage between that Prince and his Mother Catharine de Medicis Queen of France sent a Deputation to the States to represent her Title as descended from Alphonso III. King of Portugal and Maud Countess of Bolonia The Pope too put in and drew an Advantage from King Henry's dying a Cardinal but all these Pretensions were little considered All were agreed and the most able Lawyers had determined that the apparent Right was in the Dutchess of Braganza not only because the Laws of the Kingdom exclude Foreigners from succeeding to the Crown but likewise by the Right of Lineal Descent as Daughter of the Infant Edward whose Title could not be disputed by the Empress Elizabeth his Sister Mother to the King of Spain And doubtless this Dutchess would have been acknowledged as Queen of Portugal had she had the Power necessary to assert her Rightful Pretensions THE HISTORY OF THE Revolution IN PORTUGAL In the Year 1640. THE Spaniards had been near * Since the Year 1581. Threescore Years in Possession of the Crown of Portugal Philip the Second King of Spain after the Death of Henry Cardinal-King had forced it from the House of Braganza by the help of a Formidable Army the best Argument to support a bad Title This Kingdom was by degrees become a Province of Spain and the Portuguese seem'd for ever to despair of shaking off their Chains The Great Men did not dare to appear in a Splendor suitable to their Rank or demand a due Respect for fear of raising Jealousies in the Spanish Ministers at a time when the Consideration of a man's Wealth Family or Merit were enough to render him suspected and expose him to ill Usage The Gentry were banish'd to their Country Seats and the People oppress'd with Excessive Taxes It was a Maxim with the Conde Duke d' Olivarez First Minister to Philip the Fourth King of Spain That New Conquests ought to be exhausted He knew very well the Ancient and Natural Antipathy of these Neighbouring Nations must needs render the Spanish Government hateful to the Portuguese and that Nation could never tamely see all Places in the State fill'd with Strangers or Fellows of mean Extraction whose only Merit was their entire Devotion to the Court. For this Reason he thought the best way to establish his Master's Power was To exclude the Nobility and Gentry from all Employs and Publick Trust and by insensibly impoverishing the People to leave them incapable of attempting any Alteration in the State Besides this He judged it necessary to drain the Kingdom of the Flower of their Youth and the best who could bear Arms and to employ them in Foreign Wars to prevent such Dangerous People from disturbing the Repose of the Government This Conduct which possibly might have succeeded if it had been carried to a certain pitch being strained too high had a quite contrary effect which proceeded partly from the Distress in which the Court was at that time and partly from the Temper then of the First Minister naturally stiff and inflexible They began now to disregard all Measures with Portugal disdaining to use the ordinary Pretences for raising Money on a People In short they seem'd more to exact a Contribution in an Enemy's Country than a just Imposition on Subjects The Portuguese having nothing more to lose and despairing to see an end or mitigation of their Misery as long as they continued in their present condition began now to think of freeing themselves from the Severity of their cruel Masters which they had ever esteem'd Usurpers
Manner of Living Here he would complain of that Idle Life in which he seem'd to be buried expressing his great Regret that the only Person who was able to remedy their Grievances should shew so little Affection to his Country or Concern for his Honours and observing these Discourses to make an impression on them he push'd Matters so far as to flatter some with the Glorious Title of the Asserters of the Liberty of their Country raising their indignation at the ill treatment of the Spaniard and to give other Hopes of advancing their Fortunes by a Revolution In short he manag'd the Temper of the People with so great Skill that being well assur'd of Divers privately he procur'd a Meeting of the Nobility with the Archbishop of Lisbon at their Head This Prelate was descended of one of the best Houses * D' Acugna in that Kingdom was a Man of Learning an able Statesman and belov'd by the People but hated by the Spaniards whom he hated no less because they had preferr'd the Archbishop of Braga * Dom Sebastian de Mattos de Noroguia a Creature of the Vice-queen whom they had made President of the Chamber of Opaco and given a share in the Administration of Affairs Dom Miguel d' Almeida was one of the most cOnsiderable Members of this Company This was a venerable Old Gentleman who had gain'd a mighty Esteem by his Worth He plac'd his Glory in preferring the Interest of his Country to his Fortunes and could not without Indignation see it enslav'd by Usurpers He persisted in this sense his whole Life with great Bravery and Resolution and neither the Advice of his Friends or the Intreaties of his Relations could ever induce him to go to the Palace or make his Court to the Spanish Ministers This Steddiness in his Conduct had created some Jealousy of him and determin'd Pinto to pitch on him to make his Declaration to being well assur'd he should not hazard any thing in making a Confidence with a Man of such a Character and one who was able to bring so great a Number of the Nobility over to his Party Dom Antonio d' Almada an intimate Friend to the Archbishop was there and Dom Lewis his Son Dom Lewis d' Acugna Nephew to that Prelate and married to the Daughter of Dom Antonio d' Almada the Master of the Horse Mello Dom George his Brother Pedro Mendoza Dom Rodrigo de Saa High Chamberlain and divers Officers of the Royal Family whose Place were become empty Title since Portugal had lost her Natural Kings At this Meeting the Archbishop who was naturally Eloquent display'd the calamitous State of that Kingdom He represented to them How Philip the Second to secure his Conquest had destroy'd an infinite Number of the Nobility That He had not spared the Church witness the Famous Brief of Absolution * Câ—nestagio which he had obtain'd of the Pope for the Murther of Two thousand Priests and Religious persons whom he had put to Death to secure his Usurpation That since those Dismal Times the Spaniards had not changed their Measures That they had taken off a great many Worthy persons for no other Crime but their Love to their Country That no Man present had his Life or Estate secure to him That the Great Men were excluded from the Government destitute of Employ and neglected That the Church had been fill'd with a scandalous Clergy since Vasconcellos had bestow'd Benefices as Rewards on his Creatures That the People were oppress'd with Taxes the Country wanted Hands to Till it and the Cities were desolate being exhausted by those Forces which were sent into Catalonia That these Orders to Summon the Nobility under a Pretence of attending the King was the last shift the Minister could use to take off the Remains of those Gentlemen whom he conceiv'd might be an Obstacle to his pernicious Designs That the least Misfortune which could befal them must be a tedious Banishment and they must wear away their Lives in the Heart of Castile while new Colonies were possess'd of their Estates at Home That for his part in this deplorable state of Things he should chuse to dye rather than see the entire Ruin and Destruction of his Country if he had not some Hopes of so many Worthy Persons were not met together to no purpose This Speech reviv'd in the Company the uneasy Memory of those Grievances they had so long labour'd under Every one was earnest to give some Instances of the Cruelties of Vasconcellos Some had lost their Estates by his Injustice others had been turn'd out of their Hereditary Places and Governments to make room for his Creatures divers of them had for a long time groan'd in Prison to satisfy the Jealousy of the Spanish Ministers some were concern'd for the Loss for their Fathers Brothers Friends detain'd at Madrid or sent into Catalonia as Hostages for the Fidelity of their Countrymen In short there was no one in this publick Cause who had not some private Injury to revenge The Expedition into Catalonia incens'd them and rais'd their Indignation to the last degree They saw plainly this did not proceed from any Necessity which constrain'd the Spaniards to make use of their Assistance but a design of that Court to ruin them by so long a March These Considerations joyn'd with the Hopes of Revenging so many Affronts as they had receiv'd determin'd them and made them resolve to take all proper Measures to throw off a Yoke which they sound too heavy to bear and being depriv'd of all Hopes of mitigating their unhappy Condition they reproach'd their Patience as a Baseness and Meanness of Spirit and unanimously agreed there was a necessity of driving out the Spaniard but were divided what Form of Government they ought to prefer One part of the Company were for a Republick like that of Holland another part were inclin'd to have a King and of this Number some propos'd the Duke of Braganza others the Marquess de Villareal and others the Duke d' Aveiro all three Princes of the Royal Blood of Portugal each delivering his Mind as his Fancy or Interest led him But the Archbishop who was devoted to the House of Braganza dextrously using the Authority of his Character made a Remonstrance not without some Vehemence alledging That the Choice of Government was not Arbitrary That they could not in Conscience break that Oath of Fidelity which they had taken to Spain except it were to do Justice to the Rightful Heir of that Crown which all the World knew was the Duke of Braganza and therefore they must resolve to acknowledge him as their King or for ever remain under the Dominion of Spain In the next place he desir'd them to reflect on the Power the great Wealth and the vast Number of Vassals of that Prince on whom one Third of that Kingdom depended urging They could never hope to drive out the Spaniards unless they had him at their
or the City They seized on the Marquess de la Pueiba Major domo to the Vice-Queen and eldest Brother to the Marquess de Leganez Dom Didaco Cardevas Major-General Dom Fernant de Castro Intendant of the Marine the Marquess de Bainetto Gentleman Usher to the Vice-Queen and several Sea-Officers who were in the Port. All this was done with as little Disturbance as if they had been apprehended by Orders from the King of Spain No Man stirred to assist them and themselves were not in a Condition to resist being for the most part taken in their Beds In the next place Antonio de Saldania at the Head of his Friends with a vast Crowd following him went up to the sovereign Chamber of Justice He made a short Speech to the Company displaying the Happiness of Portugal that now had regained her Natural Lord telling them That Tyranny was now at an End That the Laws would be re-established and Justice have its ancient Course under the Government of so Wise and Just a Prince This Speech was received with a general Applause and answered by loud Acclamations and all Decrees made in the King of Spain's Name were changed and stiled By the Authority and in the Name of Dom Juan King of Portugal Whilst this Gentleman obliged the Chamber of Justice to own the Duke of Braganza for their King Dom Gaston Contingno set free those whom the Severity of the Spanish Ministers had confined These poor Men passing in one Moment from a gloomy Dungeon and the continual fear of Death to the delightful view of the Liberty of their Country transported with Gratitude and dreading the return of their Chains made up a new Company who did not shew less Ardour to establish the Throne of the Duke of Braganza than the Body of the Nobility who formed the first Design In the midst of this general Gladness which the Success of the Enterprize gave the Conspirators Pinto and several of the Chief were extreamly uneasie The Spaniards were still in the Citadel from whence they could batter the Town and soon give them occasion to repent of their hasty Joy Besides this was a Port where the King of Spain could re-enter the City at pleasure therefore thinking they had done nothing till they were Masters of the Place they went to the Vice-Queen and demanded an Order from her for the Governour to put that into their Hands She rejected the Proposition with Scorn reproaching them with their Rebellion and asking them disdainfully if they intended to make her an Accomplice D' Almeida mad at her Refusal all on Fire and his Eyes sparkling with Rage swore that if she did not sign this Order without farther delay he would instantly stab all the Spaniards they had in Custody The Princess surpris'd at the Passion of the Man and fearing so many People of Quality might lose their Lives thought the Governour knew his Duty too well to pay Obedience to an Order which he must needs see was extorted by Force and upon this Consideration she Signed it but this had a very different Effect from what she imagined The Spanish Governour Dom Louis del Campo a Man of small Resolution seeing so many of the Conspirators in Arms and follow'd by a vast Crowd of People who threatned to tear him and the whole Garrison in pieces if he did not instantly Surrender was glad to come off so cheaply and have so good a pretence to cover his Cowardice surrendred the Citadel and tamely delivered it into their Hands The Conspirators having thus secured all sides dispatched away Mendoza and the Master of the Horse to the Duke of Braganza to carry him the News and to assure him from the City that there was nothing wanting to compleat their Joy but the Presence of their King However this was not equally desired by all Persons The Great Men of the Kingdom could not see his Elevation without a secret Envy and most of the Nobility who had no share in the Conspiracy were silent waiting for the Issue before they would declare their Sentiments Nay some proceeded so far as to question whether that Prince would own an Action which would infallibly have such terrible Consequences Above all the rest the Creatures of Spain were in a strange Consternation not a Man of them daring to stir for fear of irritating the People furious with their new Liberty and every one kept himself close at Home till Time should shew what they had to Fear or Hope from the Designs of the Duke of Braganza But his Friends who were well informed of his Intentions pursued their way They met at the Palace to give Orders till their New Master should arrive and unanimously declared the Archbishop of Lisbon President of the Council and Lieutenant-General for the King He excused himself at first representing to them that the present State of the Kingdom required a General rather than a Man of his Character in such a Post But at length pretending to comply with the Importunity of his Friends he consented to take upon him the signing the Orders provided the Archbishop of Braga were appointed for his Colleague in the management of Business and all Dispatches till the King's Arrival By this Device that crafty and politick Prelate hoped under Colour of sharing an Authority with him to render the other an Accomplice and Criminal in the Eyes of the Spaniards if he accepted the Offer or in case he refused to ruin him with the King and render him Odious to the People and all Portugal as a declared Enemy of that Kingdom The Archbishop of Braga perceived the Snare laid for him but being wholly devoted to the Spaniards and in the Interests of the Vice-Queen he refused peremptorily to have any share in the Government So the Archbishop of Lisbon had it alone and Dom Miguel d' Almeida Pedro Mendoza and Dom Antonio d' Almada were appointed as Counsellors of State to assist him One of the first Cares of this Governour was to seize the three great Spanish Galleons in the Port of Lisbon For this purpose several Barks were fitted out into which the Youth of the City threw themselves They discover'd an eager desire to gain Honour in this Exploit but little Opposition was made the Officers and greatest part of the Soldiers being seized in the City at the Time when the Conspiracy broke out The same Evening he dispatched Couriers to exhort the People to give Thanks to God for the Recovery of their Liberty with Orders to the Magistrates of each City to proclaim the Duke of Braganza King of Portugal and secure all the Spaniards they could find In short he made all Preparations at Lisbon for the magnificent reception of their new Master The Archbishop gave notice to the Vice-Queen that it would be convenient she should leave the Palace and make room for the King and his Houshold and ordered an Apartment to be prepared for her in the Royal House of Xabregas at one end of
the Town The Princess left the Palace as soon as she received this Message but with a haughty Air not speaking one word and past thro' the City thither And now far from a Crowd of Courtiers attending her she had scarce any of her Domestick Servants with her only the Archbishop of Braga steady to her Interests gave her publick Marks of it on this Occasion at a time when he could not do it without an apparent hazard of his Life In the mean time the Duke of Braganza endured great Convulsions of Mind reflecting on his uncertain Destiny and at once his Breast was fill'd with all the various Images with which Hope can flatter or Fear torment a doubtful Mind The distance of Villa Viciosa which is thirty Leagues from Lisbon prevented his being informed of what passed so soon as he earnestly wished All he knew was that his Life and Fortune lay at Stake and that Critical Minute must decide his Fate He had resolved at first as was noted above to raise all the Cities under his Dependencies but after he judged it better to expect News from Lisbon and act his Part conformably to what should pass there There only remained the Kingdom of Algarba and the City and Citadel of Elvas which he could retire to if Success fail'd in the Capital City and if the Plot should miscarry he thought he should easily excuse himself from having a share in it at a Time when the Spaniards would be glad to have him Innocent He had planted several Couriers on the Road to Lisbon and tho' he expected News every Hour he had past the whole Day and a great part of the Night in disturbance till at length Mendoza and Mello with extream diligence arrived at Villa Viciosa They threw themselves instantly at the Prince's Feet and by this respectuous Action and the Joy which shone in their Face they discover'd to him sooner than they could by any Expressions that he was King of Portugal They would have given him an exact Account of the Success of their Enterprize but the Prince without giving them Time to enter into the particulars of this Affair conducted them with some Impatience into the Dutchesses Apartment These two Lords complimented her in the same manner as if she had already been upon the Throne and assured her of the Hearty Wishes of her Subjects and as a Mark they own'd her for their Sovereign they treated her with the Title of Her Majesty which was the more agreeable since the Kings of Portugal before that Time had only taken that of Highness It is easie to judge how mighty was the Joy of the Prince and Princess if we reflect on the great uneasiness they were freed from and the high Station they were raised to The Castle resounded with Acclamations and the News spread it self every where in a Moment And the same Day he was proclaimed King of Portugal in all the Cities of his Dependances Alphonso de Mello did as much in the City of Elvas whole Crowds came in to pay their Duty to their new King and probably these first Homages tho' paid in a confused and disorderly manner did not less please that Prince than those after on a Publick Day of Ceremony The King set forward for Lisbon with the same Equipage which seem'd design'd for the Court of Spain He was accompanied by the Marquess de Ferrara his Kinsman the Count de Vimiosa and a great number of Persons of Quality which met him there He left the Queen his Wife at Villa Viciosa to keep the Province firm to his Obedience He found the Ways lined on both sides with an infinite number of People which flocked to see him and had the pleasure to hear the Shouts of the People wishing his Prosperity and loading the Spaniards with all the Curses they could invent The whole Body of the Nobility the Great Officers of the Crown and the first Magistrates went out in several Bodies to receive him at a great distance from Lisbon and he enter'd the City amidst the Acclamations and Applause of the People follow'd by a numerous and magnificent Court fill'd with Joy At Night were several Fire-works in divers publick Places of the Town Each Citizen had one before his Door and the Windows shone with an infinity of Candles and Flambeaux that the whole City seemed one Flame which made a Spaniard say That Prince was very Fortunate to gain so fair a Kingdom for a Bonefire The Insurrection at Lisbon was instantly followed by the General Revolt of the whole Kingdom and the Revolution was so speedy and general that each City seemed to have a Plot ripe for Execution after the Example of their Capital Couriers arrived hourly with Advice that Cities and entire Provinces had expelled the Spaniards and submitted to the King The Governours of the other Places had not more Resolution than him of Lisbon and either for want of Troops or other Warlike Provisions or for want of Courage they went off shamefully and for the most part without once Firing Every one feared the Fate of Vasconcellos and nothing appeared so terrible as an enraged Multitude In short they fled like so many Criminals escaped out of Prison and not one Spaniard was to be seen in the whole Kingdom except those who were detained and all this in less than a Fortnight's Time Dom Fernand de la Cueva Governor of the Citadel of Sir Juan at the Mouth of the Tago was the only Person who made some resistance and pretended to keep the Place for the King his Master This Garrison composed only of Spaniards and commanded by brave Officers made a vigorous Opposition upon the first Approaches of the Portugueses To reduce this Place they thought it necessary to Besiege it in Form and for this purpose brought their Canon down from Lisbon the Trenches were opened and they made their Advances as far as the Counterscarp notwithstanding the continual Fire and frequent Sallies of the Besieged but a Treaty being the safest and shortest way to gain the Place the King in fine made the Governour such advantageous Offers that he had not Power to stand out any longer He was dazled with the great Summs offered and having a Commend of the Order of Christ which the King promised to conferr on him In short the Articles were agreed on and the Place Surrendred notwithstanding the endeavours of the Officers to the contrary who refused to Sign the Capitulation Of this number was Dom Rodrigo de Cha lon a young Gentleman of Andalusia of great Valour who commanded a Spanish Terce in that Place and offered to hold out three Weeks longer till they should receive Aid from Spain which they had Intelligence were put to Sea under the Command of the Duke of Maqueda The King thought it best not to deferr his Coronation any longer to confirm his Authority and render his Person more August to the People The Ceremony was observed on the 15th of December with
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
the rest of the Spanish Ministers might nevertheless do it when his Authority was better settled But the most potent Motive that put him upon any considerable Action was his Zeal for the Vice-Queen He could not endure to see that Princess in Prison in a place where he thought She had a Right to Reign but above all he was exasperated to be refused admittance to her which was denied him and divers other Persons of Quality when it was found She only made use of this Liberty to inspire Rebellion into those who resorted to her This Proceeding seemed to him Tyrannical and an intolerable Hardship and he could not but represent to himself that Princess every Moment demanding her Liberty from him as a just Return for those Favours he had received from her These Reflections kindled a Rage in the Breast of this Prelate and made him resolve to employ all means to express his Gratitude and Revenge her on her Enemies And considering it would be difficult to surprize or corrupt the Guards set over her he resolved to go directly to the Spring and by killing the King to restore at once that Princess her Liberty and her former Authority Having concluded on this Design he applied himself to find means to put his Project in execution as soon as possible fearing he should not long continue in his Place of President of the Palace and be oblig'd to retire to Braga He concluded strait he must take a different Step from that which the King had taken He never hoped to gain the People by reason of their natural Hatred to the Spaniards on the other side the restoring of the King being the Work of the Nobility it was certain they would never engage in a Conspiracy of this kind he plainly found he could only apply himself to the Great Men who were not concerned in this Revolution and uneasie at the Duke of Braganza's Fortunes And therefore having first secured Protection of the Minister of Spain he cast his Eyes on the Marquess of Villareal He represented to that Prince That the New King being of a timorous and diffident Temper would lay hold of all Opportunities to ruin or at least diminish the Greatness of his Family to secure the Crown to his own Posterity That He and the Duke d' Aveiro both of the Blood Royal of Portugal had no Employs conferr'd on them whilst all Places of Profit and Trust in the Kingdom were given as a Recompence to a parcel of Seditious Fellows That all Men of Honour were concerned to see him thus contemptuously used That he must consume his Life in a mean inactivity and be buried in the Solitude of his Country-Seat That He ought to consider his High Birth and Fortunes rendred him too Great to be a Subject to so petty a King That He had lost in the King of Spain a Master who had several Kingdoms and Governments in his disposal and was able to give him an Employment suitable to the Greatness of his Condition Seeing this Discourse made an Impression on the Mind of that Prince He added That he had Order from the Court of Spain to promise him the Vice-Royalty of Portugal as the Reward of his Fidelity However this was not in any manner the Intention of that Prelate who aimed at nothing more than the Liberty and Restoration of the Dutchess of Mantua But more powerful Motives were necessary to engage the Marquess de Villareal The Considerations which the Archbishop laid before him prevailed with him to be the Head of the Conspiracy with the Duke of Camino his Son The Archbishop being well assured of these two Princes engaged the Grand Inquisitor his intimate Friend This Man was of great Consequence to the Archbishop's Design because with him he brought in all the Officers of the Inquisition a Race of Men which have ever been more formidable to Honest Men than Rascals and bear a great sway amongst the Portuguese He labour'd to convince him it was his Duty reminding him of his Oath of Fidelity to the King of Spain which he pretended he ought not to break in favour of a Rebel Farther he urged it could not be his Interest to adhere to the New King since neither of them could hope long to enjoy their Places under a Prince who conferr'd all Employs on his own Creatures He spent some more Months in gaining over more Conspirators The principal of which were the Commissary La Crusada the Count d' Armamar Nephew to the Archbishop the Count de Ballerais Dom Augustin Emanuel Antonio Correa the same Commissary of Vasconcellos whom Menezes had given divers Stabs on the breaking out of the Plot Lorenzo Pidez Carrable Keeper of the Royal Treasury all Creatures of the Spaniards to whom they owed their Places and Fortunes which they could not hope to retain long without the return of the Spanish Government The Jews who are very numerous at Lisbon and live there by making an outward shew of the Christian Religion had a share in this Conspiracy The King had lately refused very considerable Sums which they had offer'd him to put a stop to the Proceedings of the Inquisition and to obtain a Permission for the publick Profession of their Religion The Archbishop craftily made use of their Resentment to engage them in this Enterprize He had private Conferences with several of the Chiefs of the Party who dreaded to think they had thus unseasonably declared themselves and by this means exposed themselves to the Severities of the Inquisition This Crafty Prelate improv'd the Confusion they were in to his Advantage and immediately assur'd them of his Protection with the Grand Inquisitor whom they all knew to be at his Devotion In the next place he endeavour'd to raise a Jealousie insinuating That a Prince who affected Bigotry would certainly drive them out of Portugal and promised them Liberty of Conscience and a Synagogue in the Kingdom if they would contribute to the Restoration of the late Government So violent was the Passion of the Archbishop he did not blush to use the assistance of the Enemies of JESUS CHRIST to dethrone his rightful Prince and perhaps this was the first time the inquisition ever acted in concert with the Synagogue The Conspirators after various Projects at last resolved on this which was the sense of the Archbishop and had been agreed between him and the Prime Minister of Spain That in the dead of the Night of the Fifth of August the Jews should set Fire to the four Corners of the Palace and at the same time to several Houses in different Parts of the City to keep the People employ'd in quenching those next their own Dwellings That the Conspirators should throw themselves into the Palace under Colour of assisting to extinguish the Fire and in the midst of that Hurry and Confusion which attends Accidents of this kind they should thrust in near the King's Person and so stab him That the Duke of Camino should in the mean
Duke of Camino confessed their Guilt to avoid the Torture The Judges condemned the two last to be Beheaded and the rest to be Hang'd and Quarter'd and reserved the Sentence of the Church-men for the King The King summoned a Council immediately and told his Ministers he feared the Punishment of so many Persons of Rank tho' they were Guilty might have bad Consequences That the chief Conspirators being of several of the first Houses of the Kingdom their Kindred would be so many secret Enemies of the Government and the desire to revenge their Death would be the unhappy source of perpetual Plots That the Death of Count Egmont in Flanders and of the Guises in France had both fatal Consequences that to Pardon some and inflict a less severe Punishment than Death would win the Hearts of all Persons and oblige them their Relations and Friends to act by motives of Gratitude That however his private Opinion was for Mildness he had assembled them to have their sense and resolved to proceed as they judged best The Marquis de Ferrara was for having them Executed without delay He asserted with vehemence that a Prince on these Occasions ought to hear nothing but Justice that Mildness was dangerous and to pardon Criminals of this kind would be thought a Weakness in a Prince proceeding more from a Fear of their powerful Friends than a natural Goodness That Impunity would bring the present Government into Contempt and encourage their Friends to deliver them out of Prison and possibly to push Matters further That an Example of Severity was necessary upon his Accession to the Crown to deterr others from the like Attempt That this Offence was not only against the King's Person but against the State and a design to subvert the Government That he ought to consider more the Justice he owed his People than his Inclination to Clemency at a Time when the Preservation of his Person and the Publick Safety were inseparable All the Council being of the same Opinion the King yielded and the Sentence was executed the next Day The Archbishop of Lisbon interceeded for the Life of one of his Friends and sollicited the Queen with all the Assurance of a Man who thought nothing could be refused to his Services But the Queen who understood very well the necessity of impartial Justice how much a distinction of this Nature would exasperate the Friends of the rest only replied with a Tone which shewed her inflexible Resolution My Lord the greatest Favour I can grant you is to forget that you ever spoke to me of this Matter The King fearing to draw the Court of Rome on him and being willing to make use of the good Graces of the Holy Father that he might own him as King changed the Punishment of the Archbishop of Braga and the Grand Inquisitor into a perpetual Prison The Archbishop died of Grief because his design had miscarried The Vice-Queen was delivered to the Spaniards and the first Minister of Spain seeing clandestine ways unable to destroy the King of Portugal was resolved to attack him by open force But this too was still unsuccessful This Prince kept a considerable number of Troops on his Frontier commanded by the best Generals and composed of a great number of Foreign Officers and Voluntiers whom his Bounty had drawn into his Service Besides this he had the dexterity to make Pensioners in the very Council of Spain who served him effectually and disposed Matters so that those Generals who were ordered to attack Portugal were never in a Condition to attempt any thing considerable to its prejudice Thus he reigned seventeen Years the Delight of his Subjects and the Terror of Spain After his Death the Queen a Princess of Courage and great Skill in the Affairs of Government gloriously kept the Crown and Fortune for her Children She shone with full Splendor on the Throne during the whole time of her Regency and shewed all those Qualities in their brightest Lustre which made her one of the most Illustrious Princesses that ever reigned The Conduct and the Art of Government were her chiefest Care and her constant Study She applied her self with great assiduity to unmask the several Characters and guess by the most nice and fine outsides the most conceal'd Intentions and if at any time she happen'd to be deceiv'd she would trace the several Steps to find the Original Mistake By her extraordinary Diligence she had attain'd to great Skill and Judgment the Spanish * Ad haec politicas artes bonos malos Regiminis dolos dominationis arcana humani latibula ingenii non modo intelligere Mulier sed pertractare quoque provehere tam Naturâ quam Disciplinâ mirifice instructa fuit Caetan Passar de Bello Lusitan Historians as well as the Portugueze do her the Justice to own she could see the naked Hearts of her Courtiers tho' veiled with the most artful Dissimulation In short where there appear'd any thing Great or Glorious to attempt she wanted neither Courage to conquer all Difficulties or Wit to find means to obtain what she desired and there was nothing farther to be wished for in this matchless Woman except a more true Notion of real Greatness or higher Motives than Fame and Glory The Court of Spain thinking the Regency the most favourable opportunity to regain their lost Power in Portugal bent the force of their Arms on that Kingdom The Pensioners of the late King in the Councils of Madrid who had hitherto diverted the Storm were dead and the Regent had no way left but to prepare for War She obtain'd of the Princes her Allies the best Generals and the most experienced Officers The weight of Affairs did not make any Impression on her Her Capacity Wit and steady Courage were proof against all Adventures Nothing but the Throne she fill'd could have ever shewn the great Genius of this Princess wise in her Counsels impenetrable in her Designs rigid and inflexible in maintaining every Point of her just Authority The People had a great Affection to her Government Fear and Respect kept the Great Men of the Kingdom in a perfect Submission Never Troops were in better Condition or better Disciplin'd Her Orders were executed as punctually as if she had been at the Head of her Army in Person Every one knew Offences to the prejudice of the Queen's Affairs were never pardon'd All Men were diligent in doing their Duty She would know every thing read all Dispatches and nothing escaped her Care and Providence To conclude She put every thing in so good Order in the time of her Regency that King Alphonso her Son upon his entring into the Government found the Kingdom in a Condition to maintain a War against Spain with Advantage his Generals won great Battels and ever beat their Enemies so that some time after the Abdication of that Prince Spain wearied with so fruitless and expensive War was constrained to desire a Peace of Dom Pedro his Brother now reigning and own him Rightful King of Portugal and that Crown independant FINIS ERRATA PAge 4. line pen. dele then p. 6. for Moguel r. Miguel p. 11. after the Crown insert were not Criminal p. 16. for Ozono 1. Ozorio MEmoirs of the most Material Transactions in England for the last Hundred Years preceding the Revolution in 1688. By James Wellwood M. D. Physician in Ordinary to His Majesty and Fellow of the College of Physicians London Printed for Tim. Goodwin at the Queen's-Head against St. Dunstan's-Church in Fleet-street
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
be upon pretence of being driven in by Stress of Weather and then to invite him to some Entertainment and when he was Aboard to bring him into Spain But Fate order'd Matters quite otherwise and the Spanish Admiral being surpriz'd with a Tempest lost several of his Ships and the rest were so dispers'd that he could not Land with them in Portugal The ill Success of this Project did not dismay the Conde Duke he imputed the Duke of Braganza's Escape wholly to Chance and Fortune concluding That all things must necessarily have answer'd his Desires if Dom Lopez had arriv'd in the Ports of that Kingdom according to his Instructions And therefore he invents a new Trick and writes to that Prince in the most obliging manner he could imagine filling his Letter with the highest Expressions of Confidence as if he had been a Partner with himself in the Ministry and Government In this Letter he complains of the Misfortune of the Fleet and how sensible he was of the Loss they had sustain'd at a Time when the Enemies were so Formidable at Sea That being unhappily depriv'd of the Naval Strength which should have guarded their Coasts the King wish'd he would take an exact Review of all the Forts and Harbours of that Kingdom which might he expos'd to the Insults of the French And with this he sent an Order for Forty Thousand Ducats for the defraying his Expences and raising more Forces in case it should be needful At the same time the Governours of the Citadels most of which were Spaniards had secret Orders sent to secure his Person when a favourable Occasion should present and send him into Spain The Duke of Braganza reflecting on these high Marks of Confidence and how little agreeable this was to the usual Conduct of that Minister began to suspect the Sincerity of his Intentions which in the end caus'd the Author to fall into that Snare which he laid for another The Prince therefore writes back to assure him That He accepted with abundance of Joy the Command which the King had given him That He hoped by his Application and Zeal for his Service he should justify his Choice and shew himself worthy of the Favour he had so graciously conferr'd on him And now having a nearer Prospect than before of remounting the Throne of his Ancestors he made use of all the Power he was invested with to put his Friends into all Posts and Employs where they might one day be useful to him He expended the Spanish Moneys in making of New Creatures and when he visited the Forts it was always with a great Attendance which made them despair of seizing his Person The whole Court of Spain began to murmur that a Trust of so high a nature should be lodg'd in him the King only being privy to the Reasons of this Conduct Every one began to rail at the Conde Duke as Allied to the House of Braganza urging That it was the last Imprudence to make a Person General of the Forces in Portugal who had so great Pretensions to the Crown of that Kingdom That this was in effect to put him in a condition to assert his Title and turn his Arms against his Lawful Soveraign This serv'd only to confirm the King in his Resolution who approv'd the Design better when he found the People did not discern the Secret of it In the mean time the Duke of Braganza by virtue of his new Employment travers'd all Parts of Portugal in which Progress he laid the Foundations of his Restoration His Equipage was Magnificent and drew the Eyes of the People where-ever he came He heard all who came to him with great Mildness and Sweetness of Temper He kept the Soldiers from committing the least Disorder frequently extoll'd the Officers winning them by all the Recompences which were in his Power to bestow His free Deportment charm'd the Nobility all whom he receiv'd with obliging Distinctions according to their Merit and Quality In short he dispensed his Favours where-ever he came and won more by Hopes of future Benefits than present and all who were about him began to esteem it the greatest Happiness could befal them that so noble a Prince should be restor'd to the Throne The Party who adhered to his Interest omitted nothing which might conduce to establish his Reputation Among these none labour'd more effectually than Pinto Ribeuro Comptroller of his Houshold to set all Machines on work and form a Scheme for the Advancement of his Master This Man had all the Qualities proper for a Business of this nature He was Active Vigilant had great Experience in Business and a violent Passion for the Restoration of the Duke doubtless flattering himself with the Hopes of having a large share in the Ministry whenever he should bring this to pass The Prince had in private assur'd him That he would lay hold of any Fair occasion to place himself in the Throne but was resolv'd not to hazard this at all Adventures as a Man who had nothing to lose that he might manage the People and Gain as many Creatures as he could provided himself did not appear to have any share in what he did Pinto had for a long time labour'd with great Industry to observe who were disaffected and to encrease the Number For this purpose he privately rais'd Murmurs against the present Government sometimes railing against the Government with a great deal of Warmth at other times with more Reserve according to the Character or Humour of the Persons he was with He would frequently remind People of Quality of the Honourable Posts their Families had formerly enjoy'd when Portugal was govern'd by its Natural Princes But nothing exasperated the Nobility more than the Summons which the King had sent them to attend him into Catalonia Pinto inveighed against this Expedition representing it as a sort of Banishment urging That they must not hope to return without great difficulties That besides a vast Expence they must endure the hateful Insolence of the Spaniards That The Court of Spain had a private Interest to destroy the Bravest Men or expose them in all Places where there was most Danger and least Glory to be obtain'd If he happened to be among Citizens or Merchants he exclaim'd against the Injustice of the Spaniards who had ruin'd Lisbon and the whole Country of Portugal by transferring the Trade of the Indies to Cadiz he entertain'd them with nothing else but Discourses of the extreme Misery they were reduc'd to by so Tyrannical a Government extolling the Hollanders and Catalonians who had nobly deliver'd themselves In the last place he suggested to the Clergy how they had violated the Privileges and Immunities of the Church That the most considerable Dignities and Benefices which ought to be a Recompence to the Merit and Capacity af the Portuguese were bcome a Prey to Foreigners In Company of those whom he knew to be disaffected he would ever turn his Discourse to his Master's Humour and
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
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