Pinto, and returned to Villa Vicosa oppressed by feelings he had never
before experienced, and which prevented the enjoyment of those pleasures
he had formerly tasted in his retired situation. His first care on
arriving at home, was to communicate all which had occurred to his wife.
This princess, who was a Spaniard, and the sister of the duke de Medina
Sidonia, a grandee of Spain, and governor of Andalusia, discovered from
her cradle the most elevated sentiments, which by degrees became an
immoderate passion for every thing noble and glorious. Her father,
having early perceived that her understanding was equal to her courage,
neglected nothing which could possibly contribute to the cultivation of
such striking qualities. Her education was superintended by persons of
the first abilities, who did not fail to inspire her with those
sentiments of ambition which are esteemed by the world the index of a
noble mind, and as such judged the first of qualities in a prince[14].
She had applied herself from her earliest youth to the discrimination of
characters, and could discover by the most ingenious and delicate means,
the secret sentiments of those with whom she conversed: she was indeed
become so skilful and penetrating, that even the designs of the most
artful courtier could not escape her observation. In short, she was not
only possessed of sufficient courage to undertake the most difficult
enterprise, if it appeared to her great and glorious, but endowed with
abilities to ensure its success. Her manners were dignified, yet easy,
and her sweetness joined with majesty, inspired all who beheld her with
love and respect. She easily acquired the manners of the Portugueze, and
might very well have been mistaken for a native of Lisbon. Her first
care on her marriage was to obtain the esteem and confidence of her
husband, and she succeeded perfectly in her design, by her exemplary
conduct, solid piety, and obliging compliance with his favourite
pursuits. Indifferent to all the pleasures natural to her age and
quality, she passed every leisure hour in cultivating her understanding,
and adding fresh force to the natural strength and justness of her
judgment. The duke of Braganza felt himself happy in the possession of
so truly accomplished and amiable a woman; his esteem for her qualities,
and confidence in her judgment, were unbounded; and he never could have
been prevailed upon to take any decisive steps in so momentous an affair
as the one in question, without her knowledge and advice. He therefore
informed her of every particular relative to the conspiracy, the names
of the conspirators, their ardour in the cause, and every thing which
had passed, both at Lisbon and at the conference at Almada; adding,
that immediately on the news of the Catalonian expedition he had
foreseen that the nobles were resolved to rebel sooner than quit the
kingdom, and that should he refuse the proffered dignity, it was to be
feared they would chuse another chief; yet still he could not help
owning that the greatness of the danger filled him with apprehensions.
The idea of ascending the throne of his ancestors, when viewed at a
distance, had indeed dazzled, and agreeably flattered his imagination,
but now, when the moment was arrived for trying his fortune, and risking
so perilous an undertaking, he could not look forward without fear to an
event which might terminate in the destruction of himself and family:
that very little dependance could be placed on the temper of an
inconstant people, whom the smallest difficulty discourages, and that it
was not sufficient to have the nobles of his party, unless they were
supported by the grandees of the kingdom; but so far from flattering
himself with their interest in his favour, he had every reason to
believe they would prove his most cruel enemies, since the jealousy
natural to mankind would never allow them to submit to the authority of
one who had hitherto been their equal.
These considerations, joined to the great power of the king of Spain,
and the very little confidence to be placed in the assistance of foreign
princes, nearly overbalanced in the mind of the duke the desire of
royalty; but the duchess, possessed of more firmness, and fired with
ambition, entered immediately into the whole design of the conspiracy.
The prospect of so great an enterprise excited the natural courage of
her character, and awakened every aspiring sentiment in her bosom. She
asked Braganza[15] in what manner he would act, in case his refusal of
the crown should end in Portugal's becoming a republic, and how he would
conduct himself between that new form of government and the king of
Spain? to which the duke replied, that he should ever remain inviolably
attached to the interests of his country. Your resolution then, returned
the duchess, dictates to me the answer I ought to make, and the one you
yourself should give to the deputies; and since you are thus willing to
expose yourself to the greatest dangers as a subject of the republic,
surely it will be much more advantageous and glorious to take up arms in
defence of a crown, which is your lawful right, and which the people and
nobles burn with impatience to place on your head. She next proceeded to
represent in the most forcible manner his incontestable claims to the
throne of Portugal, remarking, that in the miserable situation to which
that country was reduced by the Castillians, it was criminal in a man of
his power and rank to remain inactive, and that his children and latest
posterity would have cause to reproach his memory, for having thus,
through weakness and timidity, neglected so favourable an opportunity.
She dwelt particularly on the charms of royalty, and the delight of
reigning over a country where now he was a mere subject, continually
exposed to danger; that nothing could be more easy than possessing
himself of the crown, and even without foreign assistance; since he was
sufficiently powerful in Portugal to drive out the Spaniards, especially
at the present fortunate juncture of the rebellion in Catalonia. She, in
short, held up such brilliant prospects to his view, that he was
determined to be guided by her advice, and decided upon joining the
party: but the duchess, equally with himself, was of opinion it was more
prudent to wait till the number of conspirators should be increased,
before he made a positive declaration of his sentiments; and that he
should not appear openly in the affair, till the plot was ripe for
execution.
The court, in the mean time, was not a little alarmed by the joy
expressed by the Lisbonians at the presence of Braganza, and which had
made no small impression on the mind of the minister, who began to
suspect the holding of private meetings in that city; certain reports
also, which generally are whispered about on the eve of great events,
considerably increased his apprehensions.
The king called several councils on the occasion, and resolved on
crushing all hopes of a revolution in Portugal, by immediately summoning
the duke of Braganza to Madrid, as the only chief of a party to be
dreaded in that country. The count-duke, therefore, sent off a courier
to that prince, informing him that his majesty required his presence,
being desirous of learning from his own mouth the precise state of the
troops and fortresses in Portugal; adding, that his friends were
anxious to see him at court, where he might be assured he would be
received with every distinction due to his birth and merit.
A thunder-bolt could not have more dreadfully dismayed the duke than
this intelligence. The earnest intreaties and different pretences which
had hitherto been employed to entice him from his native country,
confirmed him in the idea that he was obnoxious to the government, and
his destruction certain. But now the case was still more desperate;
proffered employments, and feigned caresses were now changed to absolute
orders, which, if disobeyed, would be enforced by violence.
Apprehensions of his designs having been betrayed took possession of his
mind; and as all those who form great projects believe the whole world
employed in watching their motions, and diving into the secret recesses
of their hearts, this able, though in some respects timid and suspicious
prince, believed himself involved in the greatest of all possible
calamities. He, however, wishing to gain time, dispatched, by the advice
of the duchess, an intelligent and faithful gentleman belonging to his
household, to assure the prime minister of his immediate attendance on
his majesty, giving him at the same time secret orders to endeavour as
much as possible to invent different excuses for the arrival of his
master being so long delayed; the duke hoping by these means to avert
the storm hanging over his head, and to accelerate the success of the
conspiracy. Immediately on the gentleman's reaching Madrid, he
acquainted the king and prime minister that he only preceded his master,
who would instantly follow him; and hiring a large hotel, he furnished
it magnificently, engaged a great train of domestics, whose liveries he
had already provided, lived at a considerable expence, in short,
neglected nothing to prove that the duke's arrival was hourly expected,
and that he intended appearing at court with a splendour suitable to the
dignity of his birth.
In a few days afterwards, this gentleman pretended to have received an
account of the duke's being seriously indisposed; but this excuse being
soon worn out, he next presented a memorial to the prime minister,
requesting, in the name of his master, that his majesty would be pleased
to regulate the rank he was to hold in the court of Spain; and he
flattered himself this affair might take some time in deciding, from the
opposition it was natural to suppose would be made by the grandees in
support of their claims; but the prime minister, who suspected such
frequent delays, and who burned with impatience to see him at Madrid,
quickly surmounted all these difficulties, by engaging his majesty to
decide in favour of the duke, and that in the most honourable and
distinguished manner.
No sooner had the conspirators learned the orders received by the duke,
than, fearing he might take alarm too suddenly, they dispatched Mendoça
to revive his drooping spirits, and to determine him at once on nobly
and courageously joining their party. The choice fell preferably on this
nobleman, as being governor of a fort near Villa Vicosa, which would
prevent the Spaniards from suspecting the secret purpose of his journey.
The duke being engaged in the pleasures of the chace, was joined by
Mendoça, and taking an opportunity of riding together into the thickest
part of a wood, the latter represented the perils he would inevitably
encounter should he venture to the court of Spain; that by thus putting
himself into the hands of his enemies, he would for ever blast the hopes
of the nobility and people; that considerable numbers of the first
gentry were decided to sacrifice their lives and fortunes in his cause,
and only waited for the avowal of his sentiments, to shew themselves;
that the moment was at length arrived, when he had no choice left him
but death, or a crown; that all farther delays were dangerous, and that
he must be aware an affair of such importance, confided to such a
variety of people, could not long be kept secret from the Spaniards. The
duke no longer hesitated, but agreed in the sentiments of Mendoça, and
commissioned him to declare to his friends, that it was his fixed
resolution to place himself at their head.
Mendoça returned immediately home, to prevent any suspicions of the
cause of his journey on the minds of those who might probably have seen
him with the duke; and merely wrote to the conspirators that he had been
on a hunting party, and had found the game for a long time very shy, but
that at last he had had good sport. In a few days afterwards he returned
to Lisbon, where he acquainted his friends with all that had passed; and
the duke wishing to see Pinto, he set off immediately, having first
received the necessary instructions for informing his master of the
nature of their plan, and the means of putting it into execution. Pinto
also acquainted him with the divisions which had taken place at the
court of Lisbon, where the vice-queen complained in the bitterest terms
of the pride and insolence of Vasconcellos; declaring that she could no
longer permit the dispatches from the court of Spain being first
addressed to him, whilst dignified by a vague title, she remained wholly
powerless. Her complaints indeed were the more justly founded, as being
a princess of superior merit, she was in every way capable of exercising
the authority committed to her charge. This she perfectly knew, but she
did not so easily perceive that the distinguished qualities of her head
and heart were the principal reasons of her being allowed so small a
share in the government. Pinto did not fail to remark on this occasion,
that nothing could be more favourable to his master's designs than this
misunderstanding, since the disputes in the palace would take up the
attention of the Spanish ministers, and not allow them time to attend to
his proceedings.
The duke of Braganza, on the departure of Mendoça, sunk once more into
his usual indecision; the more the plot advanced towards its execution,
the more his uncertainty increased. Pinto used every possible endeavour
to prevent his wavering, and even added threats to argument and
entreaty, declaring he should be proclaimed king in spite of himself,
and that the consequences of his irresolution would be risking greater
perils, and suffering still more considerable losses. The duchess joined
with this faithful domestic in reproaching him with the mean cowardice
of preferring the security of a frail existence to regal dignity; till
at last the duke, blushing at being surpassed in courage by a woman,
yielded to her arguments. He was, indeed, pressed by continual letters
from his agent at Madrid, who declared, that he could no longer invent
excuses for his absence, nor would the prime minister any longer accept
them. Perceiving, therefore, no time was to be lost, he determined on
commencing his operations without delay. He, however, sent an answer to
Madrid, desiring his gentleman to try to gain time, by representing to
the count-duke d'Olivarez, that he should already have been in Spain,
had he not wanted money for the journey, and for appearing with the
splendour suitable to his rank in the country; but that the moment he
should be able to procure a sufficient sum for such purposes, he would
set off immediately for court. His next care was to consult with the
duchess and his faithful Pinto, on the properest methods to be taken for
securing the success of his enterprise; and the duke at last decided
that his first attack should be on Lisbon, which being the capital,
would, when once secured in his interest, naturally influence the rest
of the kingdom, and that the moment Lisbon declared in his favour, he
should cause himself to be proclaimed king in all towns within its
jurisdiction; that those of his friends who were governors of forts and
strong places should do the same; and that the conspirators should stir
up the people of the small towns and villages in their different
lordships, so that in so general and sudden a commotion, the few
Spaniards remaining would be at a loss on which side to turn their arms;
that he would send his own regiment into Elvas, the governor of which
was wholly in his interest; but that he was as yet uncertain in what
manner he should possess himself of Lisbon, a great deal depending on
the opportunities which might offer themselves when he should commence
his attack; he was, however, of opinion, that their first attempt should
be on the palace, in order to secure the person of the vice-queen,
together with the whole of the Spaniards, who might serve as hostages to
enforce the surrender of the citadel, which might otherwise greatly
annoy the city, when once in their possession. The duke then gave Pinto
credential letters for Almeida and Mendoça, in which he informed them
that the bearer being perfectly well acquainted with his intentions, he
merely wrote to express his hopes that they would remain faithful to
their promise, and be firm and vigorous in the moment of its execution.
This done, the duke immediately dispatched Pinto to Lisbon, after having
bestowed upon him such marks of confidence and esteem, as gave him no
room to doubt, that whatever might be the future grandeur of his master,
he should always preserve the same place in his favour.
On arriving at Lisbon, his first care was to present his letters to
Almeida and Mendoça; he also sent for Lemos and Correa, whom he had long
secured in the interest of his master. These were rich citizens, who had
served all the principal offices of the city, employed a considerable
number of artificers, and were highly esteemed by the people. They had
busied themselves for some time past in keeping up the resentment of
the citizens towards the Spaniards, by secret reports of new taxes to be
laid on in the beginning of the following year: they even purposely
discharged several of their workmen, particularly the most discontented
amongst them, on pretence, that trade being ruined, they were no longer
able to maintain them, and this with a view that poverty, and its
attendant, hunger, might induce them to an insurrection; relieving them,
however, from time to time, in order to secure them more firmly in their
interest. They also kept up a secret correspondence with the principal
persons in each quarter of the town, which enabled them to assure the
conspirators, that provided they were made acquainted with their plan
the evening before it was to be put into execution, they would engage to
stir up the greater part of the people, and that at the hour they should
judge most convenient for this purpose.
Pinto having thus secured the artificers in his cause, neglected nothing
to keep the other conspirators firm to their purpose; exhorting every
one separately to hold himself in readiness against the signal of
attack; begging them at the same time to engage the assistance of their
own particular friends, on pretence of some private quarrel, without
letting them into the true state of the business; judging, truly, that
there are many people endowed with great courage sword in hand, who, in
cold blood, are very unfit to be trusted with a great and important
secret.
Pinto having reason to be satisfied with the firmness and courage of
those to whom he addressed himself, every one of whom breathed forth the
most ardent wishes, and the greatest impatience to be revenged of the
Spaniards; he held a conference with Almeida, Mendoça, Almada, and
Mello, and nothing appearing wanting for the execution of their design,
they unanimously fixed on Saturday the first of December to commence
their operations. Notice was immediately sent to the duke of Braganza,
in order that he might cause himself to be proclaimed king on the same
day throughout the province of Alentejo, the whole of which was
immediately under his dependance. It was then resolved they should
assemble once more, to take the final measures for ensuring the success
of their enterprise.
This last meeting took place on the 25th of November, in the Braganza
palace, when they found their party consisted of nearly a hundred and
fifty gentlemen, most of whom were the heads of families, with the whole
of their domestics, and about two hundred citizens and artificers, all
active trusty men, so greatly esteemed in the city, that they could not
fail of engaging the generality of the people in their cause.
The death of Vasconcellos was unanimously decided upon, as a victim
offered up to the resentment of the whole kingdom of Portugal; some
amongst them proposed the archbishop of Braga's sharing the same fate,
representing that his superior genius rendered him a most formidable
enemy; and that it could not be supposed he would view their attempt
with indifference, or without putting himself at the head of the
Spaniards, and any other of his creatures resident in the city. That
whilst they were endeavouring to possess themselves of the palace, he
might either throw himself into the citadel, or come to the relief of
the vice-queen, to whose interest he was particularly devoted; that in
an affair of such importance it was the height of imprudence to spare an
enemy who would most probably give them cause to repent their false
pity, and ill-timed compassion.
These reasons had great weight with most of the assembly, and the
prelate would certainly have perished with Vasconcellos, had not don
Michel d'Almeida[16] spoke in his defence, and represented to the
conspirators, that the death of a man of the archbishop's character and
dignified situation, would draw upon them universal indignation; that
the clergy and inquisition, ever to be dreaded by the most powerful
princes, would be highly incensed against the duke of Braganza, whom
they would regard not only as a rebel and usurper, but as being
excommunicated and shut out from the communion of the faithful; and that
the prince himself would be deeply hurt that his accession to the crown
should be stained by so inhuman an action. He then offered to keep so
strict a watch over every action of the prelate on the day appointed for
the execution of their purpose, that it would be impossible for him to
undertake any thing contrary to the public good. In short, he pleaded so
forcibly in his favour, that his friends, unable to refuse a man of such
superior merit, agreed to spare his life.
Nothing more now remained to be done than to arrange the order of
attack; and it was resolved to form themselves into four bands, that by
entering into the palace by four different avenues, the passages would
be too effectually stopped for the Spaniards to be able to communicate
together, or afford each other any relief. Don Michel d'Almeida was
appointed to attack the German guards at the entrance of the palace,
whilst his brother Mello, (grand huntsman,) and don Estevan d'Acugna
should surprise a Spanish company, which constantly mounted guard at a
part of the castle called the fort. Mello de Menezes, the grand
chamberlain, Emmanuel de Sáa, and Pinto were to force into the apartment
of Vasconcellos, and dispatch him; whilst don Antonio d'Almada, Mendoça,
don Carlos de Norogna, and Antonio de Saldanha, should possess
themselves of the person of the vice-queen, together with those of all
the Spaniards at that time in the palace, to serve as hostages in case
of necessity. Whilst they were thus employed in taking these different
posts, some officers were to be dispatched, attended by the principal
citizens, to proclaim don John, duke of Braganza, king of Portugal,
throughout the city; and that the people thus assembled in the streets
should be employed as auxiliaries, in case of resistance. The conference
then broke up, after having decided on meeting on Saturday the first of
December, at the respective houses of don Michel d'Almeida, Almada, and
Mendoça, where the conspirators were to arm for the occasion.
Whilst the friends of Braganza were thus warmly promoting his interest
at Lisbon, and he himself was employed in gaining partisans in the
country, the prime minister, all anxiety at such repeated delays,
dispatched a courier with positive orders for his immediate appearance
at court; and that the duke might no longer plead want of money as an
excuse for his absence, he at the same time sent him an order on the
royal treasury for ten thousand ducats.
His message was so clear, and so absolute, that the duke could no longer
defer his departure without giving rise to the justest suspicions. No
possible reason could now exist for his disobedience, which it was to be
apprehended would be punished in such a manner as must inevitably crush
all his ambitious prospects, and render his plan abortive; he therefore
immediately sent off the greatest part of his household, with orders to
take the road to Madrid; and in the presence of the courier appeared
busied in arranging every thing relative to his government, as if on the
point of taking a long journey. He also dispatched a gentleman to the
vice-queen, to inform her of his departure; and wrote to the prime
minister, that he might depend on his arrival at Madrid not being
delayed beyond eight days. He next presented the courier with a handsome
sum of money, on pretence of defraying the expences of his journey, and
as a gratuity for bringing him the commands of his sovereign; but in
reality to court his favour, and induce him to speak confidently of his
intended departure. In the mean time he took care to inform the
conspirators of all that had happened, representing the strong necessity
of executing their design on the appointed day, lest measures should be
taken by the Spaniards to prevent its success. They, however, were at
that moment in such a state of perplexity, as gave them but little hopes
of so shortly commencing their intended operations.