affection enforced her to discover to his Majesty what perhaps many others durst not for human respects The King giving her leave to speak freely she represented unto him the generall affliction of his people the calamity of his Kingdoms the abuses committed in his Revenues the many losses on every side and the sad condition of the whole Monarchy of Spain shewing him that these evils were the judgments of God upon him for suffering the government of his Kingdoms which God had appointed for him onely to continue in the hands of another that now it was high time that his Majesty should be out of his minority and that he should not incense the wrath of God against him by suffering his poor subjects to be abused at least that he would have compassion on the Prince his Son who ran an hazard to be simple King of Castile or lesse concluding that if she had offended his Majesty by her liberty of speech she was ready to receive punishment being well content having given her milk for the good of her King to sacrifice her blood for the good of the Realms of her Prince The King having hearkned unto her with much attention answered Haveis hablado verdades You have told me the truth After this appears upon the Stage for perfecting the Catastrophe of the Dukes Tragedy the Infanta Margarite de Savoy Dutchess of Savoy who had been so roughly handled by the Duke both before after her leaving Portugall being secretly come from Ocania where she had been in a manner confined and arrived at Court the Duke did his utmost to debar her audience with the King and to discredit her in the Councell of State and would not vouchsafe to visit her Neverthelesse the Queen invited her to come to her Lodgeings and took order that she should have opportuity to speak with the King for two hours space The Infanta gave God thanks for her safe deliverance out of the hands of the Portugals that after so great sufferings she might once more appear in the presence of his Majesty to make known her innocence and the failings and errors of others made a brief Relation of all things past in Portugall making it appear that she was innocent and that the losse of Portugall was to be attributed to the carelesnesse and negligence if not to the intention of the Duke The Queen in the mean time failed not to help out the Infanta in all her discourse which left so deep an impression in the heart of the King that it may truly be said That the mortall wound was given that very day to the favour of the Duke To dispatch him the sooner it was represented to the King what little respect the Grandees bare now to his Majesty not waiting upon him as they were wont but all retiring themselves The King asked the Marquess of Carpio what was the reason hereof Who replied That being little accounted of by the Duke they judged it more meet to forbear the services they owed to his Majesty then to lie under the suspition of the Duke and to give him occasion by their residence at Court to make them feel the effects of his jealousie To help forward there happened a memorable accident in Segovia where six men masked entring by force into the Governors house who imagining them to be Robbers offered them money and all that he had so they would not defile his wife and defloure his daughters One of them answered That they were not come to rob him but to serve the King and delivering a paper into his hands told him that if he would save his life t he should go immediatly to Madrid and present this Writing not to the Duke but to the King himself that it contained affairs very secret and of great importance to the State and to the service of his Majesty and would not depart till they saw him upon his way to Madrid threatning to kill him if he performed not that whereto he was obliged as a subject and as a Minister of the Kings Being arrived he had audience of the King and so was sent back to his Government It was judged by the circumstances that the contents of the Writing was very prejudiciall to the Duke Hereunto may be added one thing more that might probably have a strong influence upon the spirit of the King for the removall of his Favourite The Marquess of Grana Ambassador in Madrid for the Emperour bringing with him the hereditary valour of the House of Caretti the courage prudence and conduct of Affairs whereof he hath given sufficient testimonies in the military imployments which he hath had many years in Italy in Flanders and in Germany together with his great gift of five Languages which he speaks as if they were all naturall hath gained him a great esteem with all men And the liberty which he used in speaking of the affairs of the State although it proceeded from the natural ingenuity and zeal towards the interest of the House of Austria rendring him odious to the Duke whose ears had been accustomed to hear onely applauses full of flattery and not the plain sincere truth having now an opportunity to revenge himself with Justice did it to the purpose For having received a letter from the Emperour to the King that the affairs of the House of Austria grew worse and worse every day so that if speedy order were not taken all would be ruined that his Majesty ought to consider wel the quality of the person that had made him lose Portugall Catalonia and so many other Dominions c. He presently communicates the same to the Queen together with his instructions that he had a part of what he should doe therein for the Letter was open and so had audience of the King where it may well be imagined with what violence and ardor he prest the affair against his enemy To all these assaults that came upon the neck one of another this was none of the least that the Prince Don Balthazar Carlos the only son of the King was now going into the fourteenth year of his Age yet to the great astonishment of all the world he continued under the tuition of Women without any Officers and servants given him after the manner of Princes whereas at the same time one of the Kings base sons of the same age had a Court formed him was declared Generalissimo of Portugall Prince of the Sea and Grand Prior of Castile for the order of Malta and named Don John de Austria and had the Marquess of Castanieda given him for his Governor whereat the people murmured greatly For this Don John was begotten upon a Woman of base Extraction called la Calderona a Comedian not handsome but of extraordinary pleasantness who is since made a Nunne The Youth being of excellent parts and like to make a gallant Man was much affected by the King though he be quite of another complexion The King having before been earnest to have
Michael Molina to be hanged on a gallowes and his goods to be confiscated to the Kings use the execution whereof they leave to the Lord Judge D. John de Quinnoues and this is their will and pleasure This sentence was made known to the prisoner upon the first of August and execution done accordingly in the Plaça Major of Madrid the third day following at which time and place the Proclamation usually made at the execution was thus THis is the Justice which the King our Soveraigne Lord commandeth to be done upon this man for having committed high treason and published falsities forgeries and horrible cheats on the affaires and grave ministers of state for which he commands that he be hanged by the neck till he die to the end that it may be to him for a punishment and to others an example then concludes Quien tal haze tal pague He that thus doeth let him thus pay for the same As he stood upon the ladder ready to be turned off he delivered in writing to father Andrew Emanuel of the Society of Jesus a declaration the contents whereof ensueth word for word LOyall subjects of our soveraigne Lord the King I am Michael de Molina born at Cuenca the grievousnes of my crimes is so great that a punishment can hardly be invented to equalize mine offences against God against our soveraigne Lord the King whom God preserve against the Emperour against my native country against the Lord Duke de Olivarez and Sant Lucar against the most grave faithfull and loyall Ministers of state whom I have discredited with my forgeries and lies The clemency of the King our soveraigne whom God preserve hath been very eminent in sentencing me so mercifully God grant to whom I now goe to render a strict account that there be found mercy for me in the life to come and that I then pay not for the clemency shewed me here I do here declare and confesse upon mine own free will that not having the feare of God nor man before mine eyes I have been the cause of the gretest part of the mischiefes that this Monarchy suffereth and of those calamities and miseryes which you faithfull people yet suffer for which I humbly beg pardon of all those that are absent as well as of you here present For I am the man that feigned that the King our soveraigne Lord whom God preserve and the Emperour instigated thereunto by the Lord Duke of Saint Lucar and fomented by him did plot the death of our most holy father Urban the 8 th Pope head of the Church and vicar of Christ for which purpose I invented and contrived orders of the King our soveraign and of the Emperour letters from the Duke Orders instructions and judgments of the Counsellours of State with letters from Vice Royes and Embassadours with purpose to abuse and deceive the Nuntio and the Embassadours of severall Princes and thereby to get money from them not caring for the dammage might arise and accrue from thence to the world and to this Monarchy and not contented here with I invented that in case the said death could not be effected that then endeavour should be to call a Councell and to depose the Pope or make a schisme in the Church I invented and forged that the Lord Duke did by order from the King the Emperour and the Counsell of state endevour to kill the Cardinal Richelieu Favorit to the most Christian King of France for which purpose and for the death of the Pope I feigned persons that were to have been instruments of the same I gave notice to the Ambassadours hereof shewing them letters and Orders which I feigned as I judged meet I made them believe that I was an Officer of the Counsell of state and that by that means I came to the knowledg of these plots and conspiracies whereby I have disturbed the world caused jealousyes and suspitions amongst all the Princes of Europe and the mischiefs that this Monarchy now suffereth I also advertised the Embassadours and the enemies of this state of letters consults orders and decrees made by the King and Counsell for driving the French out of Piemont the Correspondencies of the Cardinal of Savoy with the subjects of that state for effectuating the same the coming of Prince Thomas from Flanders to Savoy for the same purpose and to lay siege to Casal of an Army to be raysed and maintayned in Alsatia of an intention to kill Duke Bernard de Weimar General of the Swedes the intentions of the King our Soveraign with the states of Venice and Genoa concerning Piemont and Casal the purpose of supplies which both states of Venice and Genoa would send to France and Holland and the intentions of the Pope to assist France against Spain the intent of England to â—â—gue with Spain the purpose that the French and Hollanders had to joyn their fleets to hinder all succours of Flanders and to surprise the plate fleet and infect the coasts of Spain the design that the Hollander had upon Antwerp in the year 1638. the successe of Fontarabie whereupon I feigned letters from the Prince of Conde and from the Duchesse de Cheverâ—use also concerning the imprisonment of Don Gualterio Peni Secretary and Resident for France in this Court with whom I had intimate friendship which was the ground of all these disasters of the secret compliance between the Cardinall Infante and the Prince of Orenge of the conspirarcy by the Prince of Orenge to kill the Cardinal Richelieu the design of Holland that the States of Flanders should be independent of Spain and our King should renounce his right to the Cardinall Infanta to the end the Hollanders should receive him and subject themselves to him of the capitulations and agreement twixt the King our Sov and the Duke of Modena whereby I feigned that the said Duke was to assist with six thousand men at his own charge against France and that the King was to give him the charge of Viceroy of Catalonia and twenty thousand souldiers to enter into France by Catalonia which was the first ground of the warr at Salsas and Perpignian the key of Catalonia of the general resolutions of the year 1639. in order to the affayres of Germany Flanders and Italy of the purpose to take away the Nuntio's Court in these kingdomes for the disorders and excesses of the same of the great resentments of the King our soveraign against the King of France for his leagueing with the Swedes his confederation with the Turks and Protestant Princes of Germany for his protection and league with Holland for his commerce with Venice and Genoa to the great discommodity of Spain for the disunion which he endeavoured to make between Spain and England of the resentment that the King our Soverain had against the Pope for his amity and assisting of France and not his endeavouring rather as a father of the whole Church to pacify the warres by all meanes possible of the
de Olivarez Duke of Saint Lucar that the best way to continue that Nation in subjection and peace was to abolish all their priviledges which were but so many encouragements to oppose the Kings designes in pursuance whereof the Dutchess of Mantua was made Governor of Portugal although she was neither Daughter Sister Aunt or Neece to the King the great Offices were bestowed upon Castilians Italians and other Forreigners pensions out of the Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical promotions were also given to strangers the governments of Castles and Towns were put into the hands of Castilians new Impositions were laid upon the people the Revenues of the kingdome were imployed for the use of the Court at Madrid c. And that this design of Olivarez might be no way hindred the Nobility and ablest men of the Kingdome were drawn forth some to Court some to employments in Warre and some to prisons where they were destined to slaughter as appeared by a Letter written from Madrid to Vasconzellos his Agent at Lisbon where he saith por los cuernos de los Fidalgos que ya stan aqui bien puede V. M. rezar un pater noster por sus almas mus por aquellos que no han querido venir me recomendo As for those rascally Gentlemen of Portugal which are here already you may bid God have mercy on their souls but commend me to those that would not come But this hard dealing with the Nobility already called forth of forth of the kingdome and the calling for more gave the first occasion to some of the Noblemen to assemble together where they resolve Not only to stay at home but to have a King at home whereupon the Duke of Braganza Grandchild of the fore-mentioned Katherine by the name of Don John the Fourth now raigning was advanced to the Crown as is at large related in the life of Olivarez and therefore needs not here to be repeated Only hereunto shall be annexed the most memorable passages that have happened since hee came to the Crown The Kingdome of Portugall having been possessed by three Kings of Spaine successively from the yeare 1580. untill the year 1640. not full sixty years according to the prophecy of St Bernard for before Philip the second was received and sworn their King it was April 1581. whereas the present king of Portugall Don John the fourth was proclaimed on the first of December 1640. being then at Villaviciosa his Country-house upon the fifth of the same Month without any pomp or guard he entred into Lisbon yet with so great security as if he had been guarded with a most invincible Army whereupon he said That to be King and Soveraign of the Portugall Nation there was no neeed off any other Guard or Armes then the hearts of the people So soon as it was known in Lisbon that the King was arrived the concourse of People was so great before the Palace and the joy so extreme that for a time they seemed to be transported out of themselves some leaping others dancing some kissing the Kings hand others throwing themselves down at his Foot all shouting and crying Viva viva el Rey Dom Joam el quarto nosso Senhor God save the king D. John the fourth our Soveraigne Lord. That Evening all the Cannons were discharged and so many Fireworks and Lights that the Night was turned into Day whereat a Spanish Gentleman said Es possible que se quita un Reyno a el Rey D Felipe con solas Luminarias y vivas sin mas exercito in poder Gran senal y efeto sin duda del brazo de Dios todo poderoso Is it possible that king Philip should be deprived of a whole kingdome with only Lights and Fire-works without a powerfull Army Certainly this is an evident token of the Almighties power Upon the fifteenth following was the King solemnly crowned in the great place before his Palace upon a Theater wheron was raised a great Scaffold and upon that a lesser whereon was placed three steps higher a Chaire of State under a Canopy all covered over with cloth of Gold about Midday came forth his Majesty in a Suit of Chesnut-coloured Velvet embroidered with Gold and Buttons of Diamonds about his Neck a Collar of great value whereunto hung the habit of the chief order of Knighthood called El Orden de Christo He was girded with a gilt Sword his Robe was cloth of Gold lined with White wrought with Gold flowers his Train was born up by the Lord Chamberlain D. John Roderiguez before his Majesty was the Sword borne by D. Francis de Mello Marquis of Ferreira high Constable of the kingdome and before him the kings Banner displayed by Fernando Telles de Meneses as knight Marshall and before him the Marquis of Govea D. Manrique de Sylva Steward of the kings House with all the Grandees Nobility and Gentry before all went Portugall king at Arms with the Heralds Pursevants c. His Majesty being sate in his Chaire with a Crystall Scepter in his right Hand whereon stood the high Constable and behind the Chair the Lord Chamberlain There was placed before him a Table covered with cloth of Gold with a Cushion thereon and upon the cushion a Cross of Gold with a Missall then the Archbishops of Lisbon and Braga with the Inquisitor-Generall kneeling down upon a Cushion made his Oath to the kingdome as followeth WE swear and promise by the grace of God to Rule and Govern you well and justly and to administer unto you Justice as far as Humane frailty will permit to maintain unto you your Customes Priviledges and Liberties granted unto you by the Kings our Predecessors So God help Us and this his holy Gospel After this taken by the King the three Estates Clergy Nobility and Commons swore Allegiance to his Majesty in these words One for every Estate said I Swear by this holy Gospell of God toucht corporally with my Hand that I receive for our King and lawfull Soveraign the High and Mighty King Don John the Fourth our Soveraigne and doe Homage unto him according to the use and custome of his Kingdome This Ceremony being past Francis de Lucena Secretary of State standing in the middle of the Scaffold with a lowd voyce declared That his Majesty accepted the Oath and Homage which they had made Then the King at Arms having cried O yez thrice Ferdinando Telles de Meneses knight Marshal with a lowd voyce said Royal Royal Royal for the high and mighty Lord King John the fourth our Soveraigne and the Heralds with all the people ecchoed Royal Royal Royal Then all the Drummes Trumpets and Fifes sounding his Majesty came off the Theater and mounting on Horseback rode under a most rich Cloth of State towards the great Church with all his Grandees and Nobles before him bare headed on foot By the way in a great open place were presented unto the King together with an eloquent Harangue the keyes of the Citie which being
returned his Majesty rode forward with incredible acclamations and applause the Ladies out of the Windowes throwing down Flowers and sweet Waters upon their heads with a thousand benedictions c. In this pomp his Majesty was received at the Cathedral Church by the Archbishop in his Pontificalibus whence his devotions being ended he returned to his Palace with the like solemn magnificence The kingdome of Portugall being thus established care was taken to give timely notice hereof to all places under their subjection in all parts of the world so that not long after the King was with unexpressible joy proclaimed in the Island Madera in Porto Santo in Mazagan and Aer upon the coast of Africa in the Island of St Michael in the kingdome of Angola in the Tercera Islands although the Governor there made some resistance at first in Brasile in all the East Indies and as far as China On the 8 of January following with the like pompous solemnity the three Estates took an oath to the Prince in these words We acknowledge and receive for our true and Naturall Prince the high and excellent Prince D. Theodosio Son Heir and successor of our soveraign Lord the King and as his true and naturall subjects and vassals we doe him homage in the hands of the King and after the death of our soveraign Lord the King we will acknowledge and receive him for our true and naturall King and Soveraign of those kingdomes of Portugal and Algarbe and beyond sea in Africa Lord of Guine of the Conquests Navigations and Commerce in Ethiopia Arabia Persia India c. we will obey his Commands and Decrees in all and through all both high and low we will make war and maintain peace with all those that his Highness shal command us And all this we swear to God upon the holy Crosse and the holy Gospel Next day the King being placed on his Royal Throne there was an Assembly of the three estates in their rich Robes where D. Emanuel de Acugna Bishop of Elvas made a most eloquent speech the substance whereof was That one of the first Laws of Nature was the uniting of men together from whence Cities and kingdomes had their original and by which they after defended themselves in warres and maintained themselves in peace that for this cause his Majesty had called this Assembly to consult for the better service of God defence in warre and government in peace that there could be no service of God without union in Religion no defence without union amongst Men no Regular government without union of Councels That his Majesty did expect to be informed by his loyal subjects what was for the good of the State That they were to render thankes to the Almighty who had given them a King that would govern by the known Laws That his Majesty did not esteem those Tributes lawful that were paid with tears and therefore did from this present take off from his subjects all tribute that ever have been imposed by the kings of Castile because his Majesty will not reign over our goods nor over our heads nor over our priviledges but over our hearts hoping that you will find out a more sweet expedient to defend your Countrey against your potent enemy who threatneth to make us all slaves and to destroy and annihilate our Nation Let us therefore considering his Majesties goodnesse and our own honour manifest at once unto the whole world that as never subjects had such a gracious king so never king had such loyal subjects Then standing up the most ancient officer of the Chamber of Lisbon in the name of the three Estates who all stood up likewise returned humble thanks to his Majesty for his gracious bounty professing withall that they did not onely offer up their goods but consecrate their lives to his Majesties service that his Majesty might freely dispose of the one and the other to his service according to his pleasure c. In pursuance whereof they voted that two millions should be presently levyed by the kingdome but his Majesty not being willing that any money should be imposed upon the subject as a tax all men strove who should advance most freely so that in few dayes there were brought in 4 millions of gold not to pay souldiers for all offered their service to pursue the war gratis at their own charges but to maintain the splendor of the King and Kingdom The next resolution of this Assembly was to dispatch Ambassadors to all States of Christendom to enter into confederations for the better establishment of the Kingdom and reputation of the King In the first place his Majesty considering how much it did import to correspond with Catalonia that so they might joyntly not only defend themselves but also molest Castile which being as it were between the two arms of Portugal and Catalonia must needs be easily incommodated by them both at Sea and Land thither was sent Ambassador Father Ignatius Mascarenas a Jesuit with another Father of the same Order to offer them all assistance and supplies for their maintenance and defence against the Catholick King which Ambassy did so incredibly rejoyce and encourage the Catalonians that the very next day they obtained a most signal victory by couragiously defending themselves against the Spanish Army of 25000. men under the conduct of the Marquiss de los Veles The next was a most solemn Ambassage to the most Christian King Lewis 13. for which high employment were chosen two personages of great worth D. Francisco de Mello and D. Antonio Coello de Caravallio the one for his exquisite judgment and experience in State affairs and the other for his noble spirit and eminent knowledg in the Civil Law most fit to undertake so important a charge These two personages attended with a magnificent train landed at Rochel and upon the 15 of March made a most solemn entrance into Paris being met and conducted by 134. Coaches besides much Nobility on Horseback unto the Palace appointed for Extraordinary Ambassadors where they were entertained in a sumptuous manner at the Kings charges from thence were they carried by the Duke of Cheureuse and the Count of Brulon in the Kings Coaches unto his Majesty then at St Germains to receive their first Audience which was performed with extraordinary respect for upon the Ambassadors entrance into the presence chamber his Majesty rose out of his Chair and came forward three steps to receive them nor would the King suffer them to deliver their Ambassy vncovered or to kiss his hand at their departure but insteed thereof embraced them in his arms with a chearfull countenance promising them all the assistance that lay in his power From the Kings presence they were conducted to a Dinner provided for them and after that to the Lodgings of the Queen who sitting in a chair without armes rose up and coming forward two or three steps received them most courteously not permitting them to speak untill they
by the death of the last King was derived jure haereditario non sanguinis because the succession of Kingdomes was to be regulated by that ancient way whereby all things descended by inheritance The other way of succession being not known until later Ages nor ever practised either in Spain or Portugal in such cases Briefly in behalf of Catherine it was urged which by the Castilians can never be denied or answered that she was no stranger but a Native of the kingdom to whom alone according to the Laws of Lamego the Crown of Portugal can appertain This is the simple Title of the House of Braganza against which the Castilians have forged a thousand Titles for the House of Austria as being the tenth or twentieth Grandchild of such a King or such a Prince c. which if sufficient Title against the next allies certainly the King of Castile is not onely King of Portugal but all Europe for there is scarce a Prince from whom he is not descended and happily this is the ground whereon he builds his hopes to be universal Monarch unless perchance he may esteem himselfe so by Will from Adam as some have imagined When the King had received and deliberated upon the writing he gave order that they should be conducted to London with all solemnity convenient disposed of in a Palace ready prepared for them after which with great ceremony they received audience of his Majesty in a most stately fair Hall where his Majesty was placed on a Throne raised two steps on each side Latices within which stood his Nobles at the Ambassadors entrance as they made their reverence the King uncovered himself and would not be covered untill the Ambassadors were so too To the Proposals made by Don Antonio de Almlda the King answered he should be very glad to find out a way to be friend to the King of Portugal and to renew the anâ—ient amity of the two Crowns without 〈◊〉 with Spain Some days following the Ambassadors went to visit the Queen who being placed under a cloath of State upon the entrance of the Ambassadors rose up and came forward down as farr as the Carpet extended making a low reverence at all three times that the Ambassadors bowed and being come neerer her Majesty made them be covered then uncovering themselves again they spake with their hats in their hands which ended the Queen told them that she much desired to keep strait amity with her Majesty the Queen of Portugall c. Don Alon so de Cardenas Ambassador Ordinary in the Court of England for the King of Spain laboured still by friends by moneys by promises even to to the restitution of the Palatinate so that the peace might not be made with Portugal but in vain for upon the 13 of June 1641 the peace was concluded The Commerce and correspondence that have always been between the kingdom of Portugal and Denmark induced King John to send Ambassadors thither but the greater correspondence with the House of Austria and some dependence upon the Emperour hindred the reception of that Ambassage yet the King and all the principal of the kingdom desiring not to break with Portugal gave all other satisfaction possible by extraordinary courtesies and respect to the Ambassadors who from thence went into Swethland where they were received with much solemnity and rejoycing by the whole kingdome Their reception at the young Queens Court at Stockholm was very magnificent where a league was soon concluded and the Ambassadors dismissed as the manner is there with chains of Gold and her Majesties portrait in a Medall of Gold With the like readiness did the States of the Low-Countries receive the Ambassage brought thither by that worthy personage Tristano de Mendoza Hurtada and a Truce of ten years made with Portugal not a peace because the Hollander having conquered many places in Brasil Angola c. whilst those countries were under the King of Spain that neither side might be prejudiced the King of Portugal would not approve of the conquests because they were places depending on the Crown of Portugal nor could the States promise restitution because they now belonged to their West Indy Company who since have often violated the Articles of this Truce to the great dishonor of the States to whom so long as they neglect to punish the transgressors of their own Capitulations no State will treat or trust for the future seeing them so shamefully break their word without the least occasion given It was long debated in the Court of Portugal whether an Ambassage should be sent to his Holiness at Rome or else a more opportune conjuncture of time expected Some were of opinion that an Ambassage was to be sent thither without further delay because thereby they clearly testifying their duty and respect to his Holiness as he was Head of the Catholick Church Portugal should gain his good favour and an acknowledgement that his Majesty Don John was rightfull King of Portugall which would be of very much importance to the affairs of the Kingdom But these considerations seemed to others rather things desirable then feasable First because the King of Spain was at present powerful at Rome to oppose the reception of their Ambassador Secondly because the Pope although he was never in heart a Spaniard yet he would never yeeld to shew himselfe an enemy to the Catholick King Moreover the Spaniard cunningly fomenting the opinion which all the world had entertained That his Holiness did in all things incline to the French interest would from such a reception draw as much as they could ever ask or desire for this cause the Pope that he might not seem their enemy alwayes granted them what ever they demanded Therefore it was alledged That it would be better first to sound the mind and inclinations of his Holiness then to run the hazard of some disgrace and afront to his Majesty and the whole Nation And in case the Pope should resolve not to receive the Ambassage to whom could they appeal for the injury done to the Crown We see many Popes so bewitched with the interest of their own families as to give occasion to the world to believe that their aim is not what is absolutly the best but what is best for themselves An example hereof we have in Pope Gregory the thirteenth so affectionate to the kingdom of Portugal at first that he imployed the utmost of his power to hinder King Philip the second from usurping it yet shortly after for the interest of his own family approved all that was done by the same King Who hath more to give or at least to promise then the Catholick King Therefore in any business of competition he must necessarily have the advantage against all others Nevertheless the French promising their assistance at Rome and their intercession with his holiness it was at length resolved by the major part that an Ambassage should be speedily sent to Rome His Majesty hereupon made
he went to visit his Majesty he would go to receive the Duke as farr as the middle of the chamber Besides the Princes of this Family had always a guard of their own to wait upon them even in the Kings Court. This then was the reward of that unfortunate prince for having left his Countrey Kindred Friends Interest fot having served the Emperour eight yeares at his own proper charges for having ventured his life upon all occasions with the formost expecting no other pay then thanks and no other recompence then honor Yet there wanted not some to defend the Emperour in this action alledging that it was no new thing for that Charls Duke of Burgundy had in the same manner delivered up the Count de St. Paul to the King of France who put him to death whereunto it was answered That all the misfortune of that Prince is by Philip de Comines and others attributed to that foul fact Ex isto tempore saith one nihil Carolo prospere successit sed calamitati accessit calamitas donec victus ab Helvetiis ad Nanecium miserrime trucidatus est When D. John the present King of Portugal had been fully informed how his brother was treated he was resolved to revenge himselfe by Arms but the Castilians beginning to make incursions upon all the borders of Porougal diverting his thoughts made him look neerer home to put the kingdome into a posture of Defence to fortifie his chiefe Townes and to train up all the people to the use of Arms. The Castilians in the inroads that they made into Portugal laid all waste before them spared neither sex nor age upon the taking of any place which so inraged the Portugals that to revenge themselves they did the like in an incursion into Galitia During these extremities of Barbarisme upon the confines of the kingdome there was wonderful tranquillity and unanimity at home onely some few thought themselves so farre obliged to the Catholick King as to re-establish him in his Throne amongst whom D. Sebastian de Matos Archbishop of Braga a creature of the Count de Olivarez was the principal who at the beginning of the revolt opposed himself so much that divers Gentlemen were once resolved to send him after Vazconzellos This Prelat having imparted his designe to D. Lewis de Meneses Marquess de Villa Real an ambitious man and to his sonne the Duke de Camigna both discontented becaus they thought themselvs not preferred according to their merits perswaded them that it was a most unworthy thing to suffer themselves to be subject to a fellow-subject but rather return to the obedience and loyalty of their ancient Soveraign who is able to bestow upon a deserving man more in one day then the Duke of Braganza in an hundred years c. Insomuch that they were soon gained Next the Archbishop draws in D. Augustine Manuele a man of noble blood excellent parts necessitous and never yet employed in any business all notable motives to make a man embrace desperate designes After him was assaulted Pietro de Baeza an upstart Christian as they call those Christians whose ancestors were once Jewes this Gentleman famous for his vast riches and his great intimacy with that eminent Favourite the Count Olivarez was wont to say That Olivarez favour would one day advance him either to high honor or else to a high gallows which proved precisely true as will appear anon These with some few other Conspirators oft assembled themselves privatly to consider how their designs might be speedily put in execution for which purpose some were of opinion that many more were to be drawn into the plot But then it was feared on the one side that thereby the design might be discovered on the other side that there was a necessity thereof for that without communicating to others the business rested onely in the Idaea Others advised that the assistance of the King of Spain was to be got in readiness but that then the King of Portugal would make as great preparations and so render that way difficult yet some replied that thereby the Spaniard by way of intelligence might be the more easily let in but that seemed as difficult because the whole Militia was in the hands of persons most trusty to the King Another time they had thoughts of taking the King out of the way by some sudden violent death which by some more moderate was opposed and that rather some way was to be invented to cause his Majesty to renounce his title to the Crown and to retire himself out of the danger represented unto him In this wavering condition most of them inclined to a mediocrity although the same in all eminent attempts is the very stepmother of good success Moderate resolutions are the most of all pernitions where a designe is to begin with execution Yet some more valorous and less wary then the rest were of opinion that they should presently set upon the the work and leave the successe to the disposition of Fortune insomuch that of many Irons that were in the fire none was yet hot Amongst the conspirators divers of them notwithstanding his Majesties express prohibition kept secret correspondence with the Court at Madrid by the means of divers persons much suspected The King of Portugal who had alwayes an eye upon the Archbishop of Braga and the Marquess de Villa Real knowing their disaffection from the beginning at length intercepts some of their Letters wherein was discovered the names of the conspirators and the whole treaty wherefore his Majesty desiring to secure all their persons at once without any noyse gave order that by sound of Trumpet and Drum as the custome is it should be proclaimed That his Majesty intended to goe abroad forth of the Citie whereupon all the Nobility out of their great affection to his Majesty were soon assembled to wait upon him When the King saw them all ready he commanded first to call a Councell of State where some of the conspirators assisted being there sate he caused them all to be arrested one by one without the least disturbance which certainly could otherwise have been hardly prevented for if the conspiracy had been known before the persons were in custody there would not have been so much danger of their escape as to have been immediatly without expecting the course of justice torn in pieces by the people Besides the wisdome of his Majesty would that by the usual forms of Justice their crime might be as manifest to the world as their punishment So so on as these were safe in prison his Majesty proclaimed a pardon to all complices of this conspiracy that should come in within four days and confess their fault but the diligence of the King had been so exquisite that there was not one man left to take the benefit of that grace Not many days after they were all solemnly arraigned found guilty of high Treason condemned and executed in manner following Upon the last of August 1641.
Majesty better service by staying at home when all the rest of the Nobility were gone forth This answer much augmented the former suspitions of the Conde Duke wherefore he resolved to make use of the most exquisite dissimulation that ever he had done in all his life and because it was a most ticklish affair an extraordinary caution and subtilty was necessary First then the Conde Duke by Letters assures the Duke of Braganza he was well satified with his reasons and of his good inclination to his Majesties service Secondly to make a shew of true amity seemed to be very compassionate of what regarded the Dukes Interest Thirdly he assured him that the King was very well content that he should continue there to restifie unto him the confidence and trust was reposd in him made him General of all the Militia of Portugall leaving it to his choice to reside in what place he pleased neer Lisbon and to supply his present necessity sent him 60000 Crowns This Intrigue of the Conde Dukes appeared to those that saw onely the outside of the business so strange and so prejudiciall to the Kings interest that they cryed out This was the very way to lose all the rather because by calling back the Duke from his retired life at his Countrey House he was now exposed to the view of the Lisbonians in whose thoughts the House of Braganza hath ever been represented as right heir to that Crown that his presence must needs augment the hopes of the Portugals and new kindle their desires to have a King of their own Lastly That the Militia of Portugall was put into those very hands that aspired to the Scepter but this kind of dealing was the Conde Dukes ordinary course who was oft heard to brag that he gained much more by such counterfeit Caresses then with downright threats It was never Olivarez intention to trust the Duke but to carry the business so that the Duke might trust him And indeed what greater testimony of confidence could have been imagined then to send the Duke neer Lisbon give him the command of all the Forces and supply him with moneys All these crafts and subtilties no doubt would had bin enough to have charmed the Dukes spirit and to have made him to confide in Olivarez but that the particular acquaintance hee had with his dealings had instructed him to stand upon his guard In the mean time the Infanta Margarita upon whole shoulders all the good and bad events of Portugall was like to fall amazed at these manifest opportunities of Revolt were offered to the Duke advertised the King thereof by divers Letters whereunto she received cold answers full of Riddles and darkness the obscurity whereof a little after seemed much greater For without giving her any notice all the Spaniards that kept Garison in Saint Johns Castle which commanded Lisbon were drawn forth at a time when the safety and security of the whole Kingdom depended upon that Castles strength and that strength upon the fidelity of those Spanish souldiers but it was a stratageme wherein consisted the last attempt of Olivarez to secure the Duke and that his cunning might not be discovered but lie hid for a time staid till Summer 1640. before he would invite afresh the Duke to come to Court which he did at length by a large Letter wherein after ample testimonies of affection he much commended the Loyalty of the Duke his vigilance and diligence in his Office of Generall and the happy effects of his authority over the Portugals then represented unto him the sad condition of the Monarchy by reason of the disorders of Flanders disasters of Italy and the great preparations of the Turk but chiefly because of the most powerfull Enemies the French already entred into Spain by the assistance of the Catalonians that the onely way to save the Kingdome was to chase away these last but that this could not be well effected but by a vigorous assistance of all the Grandees of Spain of which he was the chief He might by his presence and with a good number of his Tenants give example to others and that to this end his Majesty expected him every moment with design to Honour him and conferr upon him priviledges and dignities of high concernment Now although the Duke was reputed a man not very well versed in the world yet he carried himself with so much wisdom and discretion that after he had supplied the King with a considerable number of his Tenants and Friends he refused to goe in person but using craft against craft retired himself to his Countrey house that so he might take off all suspition of jealousie that he plotted any thing against the State The Conde Duke in all this used all fair means because he saw there was no hope of prevailing otherwise insomuch that by reciprocal dissimulation each of them laboured to give testimonie of singular affection and perfect confidence The Infanta vigilant upon all ocasions observing these proceedings and foreseeing what would be the issue wrote to the King and to Olivarez very urgent letters protesting that if speedy remedy were not taken the Kingdome must needs be lost The King hereunto gave no answer but Olivarez in his Letters useth her like a silly woman fitter to govern a Family then a Kingdom bidding her that if she comprehended not the mysteries of State at least she should not discover them In the mean time Olivarez sent secret Instructions to Don Lopez de Ossis and Don Antonio de Oquendo after they had relieved Flanders with men and money to put in with his whole Fleet upon the Coast of Portugall and so soon as the Duke of Braganza should come aboard the ships according to the duty of his place and new office they should set sail and bring him away to Cales but that great Fleet was ruined by the Hollander upon the Downs in the year 1639. Hereupon it being thought necessary to weaken the Portugals by draining the Kingdom of superfluous humours a great number of Souldiers were drawn forth which inflamed more those ill humors that had been much stirred by the divers discontents and distaste which generally was taken against Vasconzellos chief Secretary of State who taking upon him the manage of all affairs leaving to the Infanta onely the bare Title of Vice-Queen governed absolutely according to his own will and pleasure being a man of unsufferable petulancy and set as controller of his Mistress actions and in Madrid the Principall affairs of Portugall were menaged by Don Diego Suarez father in law to Vasconzellos These with some other miscarriages were the true occasions of that generall revolt which was contrived in few days and executed in fewer hours For as soon as some of the chiefe Nobility privatly met together began the discourse of the many grievances intollerable taxations pride and arrogancy of the Castillians that were Officers of State in particular of the tyranny of Vasconzellos their Liberties violated
design of changeing the commanders in cheife of all the Emperours armies and the Spanish thereby to make the people desperate because of the failing of faith and credit of the recruiting and arming the Gallies of Spain Sicily and Naples for the maintaining commerce secret intelligence in Toulon and Marseilles of the capitulation of the Venetian with the grand Turke and the meanes whereby they drew the Turke to assent to their demands and the little security the Turke had from them all which I invented feigned and contrived together with many more letters Cyphers Papers c. without any intelligence correspondence or amity with any officer or Minister of state of this kingdome but that I alone without the helpe or assistance of any other have feigned and invented all the foresaid designs whereof I gave information to the Nuntio and his secretary to the said Ambassadours and to Monsiuer de Peny with whom I have kept correspondence in France since the breaking forth of the warre the which as a truth I sweare before God and declare it for discharging my conscience I aske of God forgivenes also of the King our soveraign whom God preserve of the Emperour of the Lord Duke against whom I directed most of those forgeries of the Duke of Medina las Torres of the Marques of Leganés of the Duke of Villahernosa of the Count of Oniate of the Marques of Villa Franca of the Marques of Mirabel of the most illustrious Lord Inquisitour Generall the father Confessour of the most Eminent Cardinals the Cardinal Borgia and Cardinal Spinola and Cardinal of Sandoval of the Lord Don Geronimo of Villanueva Pronotary of Arragon and secretary of state of Don Andrew de Rojas secretary of state of the Ambassadour of Genoa and of all the rest whom I have falsely defamed by these forgeries and Impostures and also I aske pardon of all the faithfull and loyall subjects of these kingdomes charging them to take example by me And to the end that it may be manifested to all times I thus make declaration that God may pardon me and for the satisfaction of this and all other Nations which I have disturbed with the wickednes of my inventions In witnes whereof I have hereunto set my name Dated in the Plaça Mayor and place of Execution in Madrid the 3 of August 1641. Thus ended Michael de Molina in whom the Refran or Spanish proverbe was verified Quien en un ano quiere ser rico al medio le ahorcan He that will be rich in one year shall be hanged at halfe yeares end FINIS THE RIGHT TITLE OF The present KING OF PORTUGAL Don John the Fourth With the most Memorable Passages of his Reigne LONDON Printed for Tho. Heath 1653. THE RIGHT TITLE OF The present King OF PORTUGALL Don John the fourth With the most memorable Passages of his raigne FOr the more cleare discovery of the Title whereby the present King of Portugal holds that Crown it will be necessary to know the fundamental constitutions of that Kingdom as well as the peâ—igree of that King In the year of our Redemption 1139. an Army of four hundred thousand Moors under the conduct of five Kings threatning as a vast deluge to overflow at once all the Country of Portugal were totally discomsited by a small handfull of Christians in the plains of Ourique where immediatly before the battel the people chose their Generall Don Alfonso for their King for before they were under the protection of the King of Castile Leon who after the fight called an Assembly of the three Estates in the City of Lamego where was solemnely enacted as followeth In the name of the most holy Trinity Father Son and holy Ghost Amen I Alphonso sonn of Count Henry c. by the grace of God lately advanced to the Royall Throne have called together the Bishops Nobles and Deputies of Cities in the Church of Saint Mary Almacave in Lamego where sitting upon my Royal Throne without any ensignes of Royalty my Deputy Lorenzo Venegas stood up anâ— spake thus You are assembled by the Authority of King Alfonso to see the Popes letters and resolve to confirm him for your King whereat all with one voice cried We will that he be our King The Deputy demanded shall he only be King and not his sonns after him They answered he so long as he lives and his sonns after his death then said the Deputy give him the Royall ensignes we give them answered they in the name of God So the Archbishop of Braga placed the Crown upon the Kings head who drawing his sword said Blessed be God that hath been my helper with this sword have I delivered you and overcome our enemies and now that you have made me your King let us make lawes for the government of the Kingdome they answered so will wee dread soveraigne we wil make such lawes as shall seem good to you and wee and all our children and posterity are wholy at your command we will first make lawes for the succession of the Crown as followeth 1 God save King Alfonso let him be master of the Kingdome and after him that there may be no trouble of choosing a King let his sonn raigne after him his grand child and so from father to sonn in secula seculorum 2 If during the fathers life the eldest sonn die the next brother shall be King and so forward 3 If the King die without sonns having a brother he shall succeed but not his sonn after him unlesse the Parliament will have it so Then Lorenzo Venegas the Kings Deputy desired the States to aske the King if the daughters should enter into the Succession of the Kingdome after some debate thereon it was resolved Because the daughters are of the Royall stock as well as the Sonns they should succeed on this manner 4 If the King have only Daughters the eldest shall be Queen after her father upon condition that she be married to a native of the Kingdome and that he be a Nobleman who shall not take upon him the name of King untill he hath a sonn born nor wear a crown on his head nor take the right 〈◊〉 of his wife 5 Lastly which most concernes the ensuing discourse it was thus enacted Sit i st a Lex in sempiternum quod prima filia Regis accipiat maritum de Portugale ut non veniat Regnum ad extraneos si casaverit cum principe extraneo non sit Regina quia nunquam volumus nostrum Regnum ire for de Portugalensibus qui nos sua fortitudine Reges fecerunt sine adjutorio alieno per suam fortitudinem cum sangine suo That is Let it be a law for ever that the Kings eldest daughter marry a native of Portugal that so the Crown may never descend to strangers and in case she should marry to a Prince that is a stranger let her not be Queen for wee will never have our Kingdom goe out of the
were covered Amongst other discourse D. Francisco de Mello told her Majesty that he feared his Embassy would not be acceptable for that his Master had deprived her brother of one of his Kingdoms whereto her Majesty replyd that although she was sister to the King of Spain yet she was wife to the King of France and thereupon began to speak Spanish which the Ambassador observing demanded wherefore her Majesty had not vouchsafed them that favour sooner it being a language better understood by them the Queen answered for fear they should be daunted to hear her speak Spanish the Ambassador to improve the jest replyd Como a tam grande Senora si pero como a Castillana no. It was true considering her greatness but not her Countrey whereat her Majesty smiling went on promising them all favour and wishing many happy dayes to King John and the Prince his son thus having delivered to her Majesty a Letter from the Queen of Portugal they took leave to go visit the most Eminent Cardinal Richelieu who being advertised of their coming came forward to the third chamber to meet them and there received them with expressions of great affection after which he conducted them into his own Chamber where all three being sate his Eminence a personage for his most admirable abilities worthy to live many ages discovered divers affairs of importance to the Ambassadors and they oâ— the other side made his Eminence understand how highly it imported that the two Crowns of France and Portugal should be united by an indissoluble league and amity considering that the primary and principal aim of the house of Austria whose branches were spread over Europe was not only to be the greatest but the only Monarch of Christendom for which end it never made scruple to usurp Kingdoms and States upon the weakest pretences imaginable as have appeared in the Kingdoms of Naples Sicily and Navarre the Dutchy of Milan and several other States more lately in Germany the seizing upon the Valtelline that so being Master of that passage he may upon any opportunity lead an Army of high Germans into Italy Moreover considering the vast power and interest this Family hath not only in all the other States of Italy and Germany and in the Low Countries but also in almost all America it must be confessed that they have a large foundation of their imaginary universal Monarchy yet no one thing gave them so great hopes as the possession of Portugal First because by the addition of that Kingdom they became absolute Masters not only of all Spain but of all the East Indies of all the Eastern Trade of Ethiopia Persia Arabia China Iapan and all that incredible wealth that was raised out of the Portugal Traffique whereby the Austrian greatness if not their Monarchy was principally sustained therefore that it much concerned all States to endeavour not only to put a stop to the growth of that monstrous tree but to cut off some arms thereof that it may the less damnify and annoy the lesser trees that grow by it that to do this none was more concerned or more able then the Kingdom of France united with the Kingdom of Portugal which having bin reputed the right arm as Catalonia was the left of that huge Austrian Colossus and now separated from it and joyned with France will be able to do as great service against it as ever it hath been forced to do for it not only by assaulting the Spaniard at home in his own house but by intercepting the Plate-Fleet which coming from the West Indies must necessarily pass by the gates of their Enemies the Tereera Islands and so run a hazard to be lost or else be at the charges of an extraordinary Convoy Having thus discoursed with his Eminence of those and other weighty affairs he was pleased to offer not only all the assistance of the most Christian King but that he would disburse of his own for the Service of Portugal that he would presently send thither a Fleet of twenty Sail with his Nephews Admiral and Ambassador extraordinary whereupon the Ambassadors taking leave they were accompanied by his Eminence as far as the stairs which the Ambassadors endeavouring to hinder the Cardinal told them that the Ambassadors of Portugal were to be treated with no less respect then those of the Emperor or Pope Some few days after in the house of the Grand Chancellour there was appointed a Junta of the Ambassadors with his Majesties Commissioners together with the Secretary Chavigny where was soon concluded a peace and league between the Crown of France and Portugal and the Ambassadors with much courtesie and satisfaction dismissed It very much concerned the kingdome of Portugall to maintain amity and peace with the Crown of England not only for the Navigation and Commerce of both States but also for other particular ends in the present conjuncture of affairs principally to break the good correspondency that was at present maintained between the Crowns of Spain and England For this purpose in March 1641. were dispatcht for England Don Antonio de Almada and D r Francisco de Andrada Leiton personages of great abilities who arriving safe in spite of the Dunkerkers that chased them in England were received with demonstrations of great courtesie notwithstanding the earnest labouring of the Spanish Resident to the contrary It is true that his Majesty of England was so tender of his honour and conscience that he answered D r Antonio de Sosa Secretary to the Ambassadors sent before to make way that he would be first satisfied by what right and title his Master was made King of Portugal before he would accept of the Ambassage Whereupon the Secretary being one of the most exquisite wits of this age in the space of twenty four hours drew up and presented to his Majesty a writing which declared at large what here in substance ensueth Upon the death of King Henry the Cardinall without issue many pretended together with the Infanta Donna Catherine Dutchess of Braganza and Grandmother to this present King to the Crown of Portugal but all their pretences wanting foundation soon fell except that of Philip the second King of Spain who propt up his with force King Henry was Uncle equally neer to both but with this difference Catherine was the daughter of a son named Edward and Philip was sonne of a daughter named Isabella brother and sister to King Henry King Philip pleaded that he being in equall degree with Catherine was to be preferred for his sex Catherine replyed That the constitution of that kingdom allowing females to succeed and withall the benefit of representation in all Inheritances she representing Edward must exclude Philip by the very same right that her Father if he were living would exclude Philips mother This conclusion is infallible in jure whereto Philip answered That succession of kingdoms descending jure sanguinis there was allowed no representation Catherine destroyed that foundation alledging That the succession
the Marquis de Villa real the Duke de Camigna his son the Count de Armamac and D. Augustin Manuele were led along a Gallery made of purpose to the Scaffold whereupon were built two stories one above another upon the uppermost there were placed two chairs upon the second story one chair and upon the Skaffold it self another First was led forth the Marquiss in a long black baies cloak and his servants in mourning who after he had prayed for a good space upon his knees rose up and having made a long speech demanded if there were no hopes of pardon upon which all the people cryed out let him die let him die for a Traytor then the Executioner according to the manner with a loud voice proclaimed This is the Justice that the King our Soveraign Lord commands to be executed upon the person of Don Lewes de Meneses sometime Marquiss of Villa Real that his throat be cut as a Traytor to his Majesty Nobility and people of this Kingdom that for his crime his goods be confiscated and his memory banished out of the world Whereat all the people cryed Justice which the Marquiss hearing with much gravity demanded pardon of all the spectators desiring them to assist him with their prayers to God for a pardon of this and all his other sins then turning to a father Jesuit his Confessor prayed him that in his behalf he would present himself at his Majesties feet and beseech him out of his goodness that he would vouchsafe to forgive him this hainous offence committed against him and the whole Kingdom after which sitting down in the chair his arms and legs were tied to the arms and legs of the chair then leaning his head over the back of the chair the Executioner with a knife cut his throat after covering him with a black silk In the same manner upon the same Skaffold appeared his son the Duke of Camigna attended with all his servants in mourning passing by his fathers corps he kneeled down and several times kissed his feet begging of the people the suffrage of one Pater noster for his fathers soul then sitting down in the other chair after the proclamation of the Executioner received the same punishment The Judges would have had both their necks to be cut behind but his Majesty would not give way thereunto being a punishment too ignominious in Portugal for persons of their quality After these appeared the Count of Armamac attended with one only servant who in the chair placed in the lower story received the same punishment as also D. Augustin Manuele upon the skaffold below The same day Pietro de Baeza and one Melchior Correa de Franca being drawn at an horse tail to the place of execution were hanged upon a gallowes extraordinary high Upon a lower gallowes in the same place were hanged Diego de Brito Nabo and Antonio Valente the quarters of these four last mentioned were hung up at the gates of the City and their heads set up near the frontiers of the Kingdom In September following for the same crime were likewise executed Antonio Cogamigno and Antonio Correa the later of which all the time of his imprisonment was an example of penitence feeding only upon bread and water and whipping himself every day with continual prayers to God for pardon of that and his other sins The Archbishop of Braga the Bishop of Martiria and the Bishop of Malacca and Fryer Emanuel de Macedo although they were complices in the same conspiracy yet because they were Ecclesiastical persons were not put to death as they deserved but reserved in prison untill the Popes pleasure were known concerning them The Archbishop during his imprisonment did oft acknowledg his offence by Letters to his Majesty desiring that himself might suffer so that the others might be spared in regard that what they had done was rather in obedience to him then ill will to his Majesty Upon his death-bed in prison which happened about three years after the fact committed he gave order that so soon as he was dead his last Will and Testament should be carried to the King wherein he besought his Majesty that he would vouchsafe of his goodness to pardon him the Treason committed by him against his Majesty and his native Country and that he would let his body be buried without the Church of any parish of Lisbon without any inscription or tombe stone that so there might remain no memory of a man that had been a Traytor to his King and to his Country A good example of Christian humility and of admonition to others not to meddle with the like affairs for attempts of this nature are like hot irons which insteed of heating scorch the hands of those that handle them This so exemplary punishment and rigorous justice inflicted upon the forenamed delinquents did not only establish the Kingdom and secure the Family and Person of the King but also strook a terror into all the Kings Enemies if there were any left and excited the Kings friends to love him and watch over him the more diligently The mutual incursions upon the frontiers between the Castillians and Portugals still continued with great animosity and violence About this time although there was a truce concluded between Portugal and Holland as afore expressed and a great Navy sent from Holland to assist the Portugal against the Spaniard yet there passed high acts of hostility between the two Nations in Africa and America beyond the Line for the Hollanders seeing the disunion of Portugal from Castile made all possible haste to finish the conquest of those parts before a perfect peace should be concluded with Portugal that so in the Treaty they might pretend reason that all things should continue in the state they were then found to this end during all quiet and peaceable commerce between the two Nations in the Kingdom of Angola the Hollander surprised the Portugals that were Governors of the place killing divers and robbing all of the great wealth there found of which perfidiousnesse and of the barbarous usage towards the prisoners there taken complaint was made to the States at the Hague but without any satisfaction In the mean time the Catholick King was very sollicitous for the recovery of Portugal for the effecting whereof he did not consult only with his greatest Statists at home but also with those abroad from one of whom he received this ensuing Letter By the Letter which your Majesty was pleased to write unto me on the 6 of March past I am commanded to deliver my advice touching the best expedient for the recovery of Portugal Sir the Clemency used by King Philip the second your Majesties Grandfather towards the Kingdom of Portugal was a fatal presage of the present calamities and future destruct on not only of Spain but the whole Spanish Monarchy because that Kingdom was only in name but never really Conquered remaining rich and aboundant with the same if not greater priviledges then