devoted to the King of _Spain_, during whose Reign in _Portugal_ he had
had a great share in the Ministry. He now plainly saw, that he must
never hope for any Preferment, unless the _Spanish_ Government could be
again introduc'd into that Kingdom; besides, he fear'd that the new
King, who out of a tender regard to his Character, had not had him put
into Prison with the other _Spaniards_, might alter his Mind, and seeing
his Authority once confirm'd, and dreading no longer the Danger of
incensing the People, or provoking the Inquisition, might make him share
the Fate of those, whose Courage or Politicks 'twas thought might prove
prejudicial to the new King's Government, and who had all been depriv'd
of their Liberty. But the chief Motive which induc'd him to undertake
something for their Cause, was his Affection to the late Vice-Queen:
with impatience he beheld that Princess under Confinement, especially in
a Place where he thought it was her Right to rule; and his Rage was
violently increas'd by the Orders which were given her Guards to admit
neither the Prelate, nor any other Person of Quality, the King having
been inform'd that she endeavour'd to infuse Sentiments of Rebellion
into all those _Portuguese_ who went to visit her; and therefore thought
fit to deprive her of that Liberty, which she so palpably abus'd. As
just and as necessary as this Proceeding was, the Archbishop call'd it
cruel and tyrannick; and as he had some Notions of Gratitude, believ'd
himself under an Obligation of doing something for the Liberty of a
Princess, who had done so much for him. The remembrance of her past
Kindness enflam'd his Soul with Anger, and made him resolve to embrace
any Opportunity whatsoever of revenging himself on her Enemies, and
delivering her out of their hands. But as he plainly saw it would be
impossible either to surprize or corrupt her Guards, he could not think
of any surer way than going directly to the Fountain-head, and by the
Death of the King to restore her Liberty and Authority both at once.
Being fully confirm'd in this Resolution, he began to think of the
speediest Means of putting it in execution, well knowing that he should
not long enjoy the Place of President of the Palace, which was not as
yet taken from him. He plainly saw that it was in vain to follow the
King's Measures, by endeavouring to win the People, and make them join
with him; their Hatred to the _Spaniards_ being too deeply rooted in
their Hearts. The Nobility, he was assur'd, wou'd not assist him, since
by their means the Crown was placed upon the Duke of _Braganza_'s Head:
he could therefore only depend upon the Grandees, who with envy beheld
one that had been their Equal, upon the Throne. The first thing he did,
was to assure himself of _Olivarez_'s Protection and Assistance: after
which, he began to work upon the Marquiss of _Villareal_; to whom he
represented, that the new King was timorous and diffident, for which
reason he sought all opportunities of ruining his Family, lest he should
leave a Subject who was capable of disputing the Crown with his
Successor: That he and the Duke _d'Aveiro_, who were both of the Royal
Blood, were not thought worthy of any Office or Employment; whilst all
Places of Trust were fill'd by a company of factious and seditious
People: That with indignation the People saw how little he was valued,
and were very much troubled to think that a Person of his Quality and
Capacity must spend his time at a Country-Seat, and in an inglorious
Ease: That one of his Birth and Estate was too great to be the Subject
of so petty a Prince as the King of _Portugal_: That he had lost a
Master in the King of _Spain_, who only was capable of bestowing such
Employments on him as he deserv'd, by reason of the many Kingdoms of
which he was Sovereign, and over which he must establish Governours.
Seeing that this Discourse made an impression on the Mind of the
Marquiss, he went so far as to assure him, that he had Orders from the
King of _Spain_ to promise him the Viceroyalty of _Portugal_, as a
Reward of his Loyalty, in case he would assist him in his Design of
recovering that Kingdom.
Notwithstanding what the Archbishop promis'd, the thing was very far
from his Heart; his chief Aim being to restore the Dutchess of _Mantua_
to her Liberty and former Authority: for the compassing of which, he
thought it very lawful to promise what he never intended to perform; and
he knew that ambitious Motives were the likeliest to engage the Marquiss
_de Villareal_, upon whom his fair Speeches had at last such an effect,
that he yielded to his Persuasions, and promis'd that he, with his Son
the Duke of _Camino_, would be at the head of the Enterprize.
This Prelate being thus assur'd of these two Princes, made it his next
business to engage the Grand Inquisitor, who was his intimate Friend,
and than whom no one could be more necessary in carrying on their great
Design; seeing that by his means he should also prevail upon all the
Officers belonging to the Inquisition, a People more to be dreaded by
honest Men than Rogues, and who bear a great sway amongst the
_Portuguese_. He endeavour'd at first to alarm his Conscience, by
reminding him of the Oath of Allegiance which he had taken to the King
of _Spain_, and which he ought not to break in favour of an usurping
Tyrant; but finding the Inquisitor a true Churchman, over whom Interest
had a greater sway than Conscience, he told him that he must join in the
Plot, if he hoped to keep his Place much longer, for that the new King
made it his business to give all the Employments to Persons whose
Fidelity he could depend upon.
After this, he spent several Months in encreasing the Number of
Conspirators, the chief of which were the Commissary _de la Crusada_;
the Count _d'Armamar_, Nephew to the Archbishop; the Count _de
Ballerais_; Don _Augustin Emanuel_; _Antonio Correa_, that Clerk of
_Vasconcellos_, to whom _Menezes_ had given divers Stabs on the first
Day of the Revolution; _Laurento Pidez Carvable_, Keeper of the Royal
Treasury; with several others, who were the Creatures of the _Spanish_
Ministers, to whom they ow'd their Fortunes and their Places, and which
they could not hope to keep long, unless by once more introducing the
_Spanish_ Government.
There were also a vast number of _Jews_ who were concern'd in the Plot,
and who had long liv'd at _Lisbon_ in an outward Profession of the
Christian Faith. These had lately offer'd the King a vast Sum of Money,
if he would free them from the Persecution of the Inquisitors, and let
them have their Synagogues at _Lisbon_; but the Prince rejected their
Offer, and deny'd their Petition. This had thrown the chief of them into
a great Consternation, for appearing at the head of the Petitioners,
they had made themselves known, and thereby expos'd themselves to all
the Torments which the Inquisition could invent.
With these the Archbishop took care to get acquainted, and taking
advantage of the Confusion they were in, promis'd them his Protection,
which was not to be despis'd, since he had such an Influence over the
Grand Inquisitor; but insinuated at the same time, that they were in
danger of being banish'd _Portugal_ by the King, who affected very much
to be thought a true and pious Catholick: and at the same time promis'd
in the Name of the King of _Spain_, that if they would be instrumental
to his Restoration, they should have Liberty of Conscience, and Leave
openly to profess their Religion.
So violent was the Passion of the Archbishop, that he was not asham'd to
make use of the profess'd Enemies of _Jesus Christ_, to drive a
_Christian_ Prince from a Throne, which rightfully belong'd to him; and
this was perhaps the first time that ever the Inquisition and Synagogue
went hand in hand together.
Several Schemes were propos'd, but at last this, which was drawn by the
Archbishop, and approv'd of by the first Minister of _Spain_, was agreed
upon; That the _Jews_ should set fire to the four Corners of the Palace
on the 5th of _August_, and at the same time to several Houses both in
the City and Suburbs, that the People might every where be employ'd in
extinguishing the Fire; that the Conspirators should all fly to the
Palace under pretence of assisting, and that amidst the Horrour and
Confusion which this vast Conflagration would cause, some of them should
assassinate the King; that the Duke _de Camino_ should seize the Queen
and her Children, who might be as serviceable to them in regaining the
Citadel, as the Dutchess of _Mantua_ had been to their Enemies; that at
the same time there should be Fireworks ready to be play'd off, to set
the _Portuguese_ Fleet on fire; that the Archbishop, with the Grand
Inquisitor and all his Officers, should march thro the Town, to keep the
People in awe, and prevent their coming to the Assistance of the King,
so much do they dread the Power of the Inquisition; and that the
Marquiss _de Villareal_ should take the Administration upon him, till
they had receiv'd Orders from the Court of _Spain_.
But as they had not the least reason to hope that the People would
second them, they thought it necessary to make sure of some Troops, and
to that end wrote to _Olivarez_ to send a Fleet towards the Coasts of
_Portugal_, which should be ready to enter the Port of _Lisbon_ at the
time when the Conspiracy should break out; and that there should be some
Forces on foot on the Frontiers of the Kingdom, which should be in a
readiness to act against any Place, which would not willingly surrender
to the King of _Spain_.
But the most difficult part of their Labour was to keep an exact
Correspondence with the _Spanish_ Minister: for since the King had been
inform'd that the Dutchess of _Mantua_ had sent Letters to _Madrid_,
there was such a strict Guard kept upon the Frontiers of the Kingdom,
that no one could go into _Castile_ without the King's own Passport; nor
did they dare attempt to corrupt the Guards, lest they should reveal
what had been offer'd them.
But at last, seeing themselves under an absolute Necessity of
acquainting the _Spanish_ Minister with their Design, without which all
their Measures would infallibly be broken; they cast their Eyes upon a
rich Merchant of _Lisbon_, who was Treasurer of the Custom-House, and
who, by reason of his great Trade, had the King's immediate leave to
send Letters into _Castile_ at any time. This Man's Name was _Baeze_; he
outwardly profess'd the Christian Religion, but was suppos'd to be a
conceal'd Observer of the _Jewish_ Law. To him they offer'd vast Sums of
Money for his Assistance; which, together with the Persuasions of the
_Jews_ who were engag'd in the Conspiracy, prevail'd upon him so far,
that he promis'd to take care that their Letters should be deliver'd to
the Duke _d'Olivarez_.
To this end he enclos'd the Pacquet directed to the Marquiss
_Daiamonti_, Governour of the first Town on the Frontiers of _Spain_,
believing his Letters safe, when once out of the Dominions of
_Portugal_.
The Marquiss, who was nearly related to the Queen, and was at that time
negotiating a Business for the King of _Portugal_, was very much
surpriz'd to see Letters seal'd with the Great Seal of the Inquisition,
and directed to the first Minister of _Spain_; and beginning to fear
that his own Business was discover'd, and notice of it hereby given to
_Olivarez_, he open'd them, and found that they contain'd the Scheme of
a Conspiracy against the Royal Family, and which was speedily to be put
in execution.
Startled at the Contents, he dispatch'd a Courier to the Court of
_Portugal_ with the intercepted Letters. It is impossible to express the
Surprize of the King, when he saw that three Princes, who were so nearly
related to him, with the Archbishop, and several Grandees of the
Kingdom, were contriving how to take away his Life, and give his Crown
to a Stranger.
He immediately communicated their intended Treason to his Privy-Council,
who after a small Deliberation came to a Resolution, which some few days
afterwards was executed. The fifth of _October_ was the Day appointed by
the Conspirators, and the Time Eleven at Night. That very Morning, about
Ten of the Clock, all the Soldiers who were quarter'd in the
neighbouring Villages, march'd into _Lisbon_, it having been given out
that they were then to be review'd in the Court of the Palace. The King
at the same time gave Notes with his own hand to several Officers and
others of his Court, which were seal'd up, with positive Orders not to
open them till Twelve, and then punctually to execute the Contents.
A little before Noon the Archbishop and the Marquiss _de Villareal_ were
sent for to the Palace about some Business, and coming into the King's
Apartment, were arrested without the least noise, or any body's knowing
it; and at the same time one of the Captains of the Guard made the Duke
_de Camino_ a Prisoner. Those who had receiv'd the seal'd Notes having
open'd them, found Orders to arrest such a Man, whom they should convey
to such a Prison, and not lose sight of him till farther Orders. In
short, Matters were manag'd so prudently, that in less than an hour's
time the Forty-seven Conspirators were seiz'd, without so much as giving
any one of them time enough to escape, or even the least suspicion that
their Plot was discover'd.
The News of their intended Barbarity reaching the ears of the People,
they came flocking towards the Palace, and in a tumultuous manner
demanded the Prisoners, that they might tear them piece-meal.
Tho the King was well pleas'd with the Affection and Loyalty of his
Subjects, yet was he a little troubled to see how easily they could be
gather'd together, and what mischief they were at such a time able to
do. Wherefore having thank'd them for the care which they took of him,
and having promis'd that the Traitors should be punish'd according to
Law, he order'd the Magistrates to disperse them.
But as he knew that the most violent Passions of an incens'd People will
soon grow cool, and perhaps dwindle into Compassion, when they no longer
should consider the Criminals as the worst of Villains, who would have
destroy'd their King and Country, but as unhappy Wretches, who must
shortly suffer an ignominious Death; he took care to publish, that the
Conspirators Intent was to assassinate him and all the Royal Family, to
set the whole Town on fire, and those who escaped the raging Flames,
should have fallen by the Sword of the Rebels: That _Spain_ being
resolv'd to have nothing more to fear from the _Portuguese_, would have
sent all their Citizens into _America_, to toil like Slaves, and be
bury'd alive in those Mines, where so many had already perish'd, and to
people the City of _Lisbon_ with a Colony of _Castilians_.
After this the King order'd the Traitors to be brought to their Tryal,
and to this end he appointed Judges, which he took out of the supreme
Court of Judicature, and to whom he added two Grandees of the Kingdom,
upon account of the Archbishop of _Braga_, the Marquiss _de Villareal_,
and the Duke _de Camino_.
The King put their Letters, which they had sent to _Olivarez_, into the
hands of those who were appointed to prosecute them; but with Orders not
to make use of them, if they could by any other means prove them guilty
of High Treason, lest the Court of _Spain_ should thereby discover the
Correspondence which he held with the Marquiss _Daiamonti_: but there
was no necessity of producing them to discover the Truth; for _Baeze_,
who was the first that was brought to the Bar, contradicted himself in
almost every Question which was ask'd him, and being put to the Torture,
his Courage fail'd him, he confess'd his Crime, and discover'd the whole
Plan of the Conspiracy. He own'd that their Design was to kill the King,
that the Office of the Inquisition was now full of Arms, and that they
waited only for _Olivarez_'s Answer to execute their Design.
Most of the other Conspirators were put to the Torture, and their
Deposition entirely agreed with _Baeze_'s. The Archbishop, the Grand
Inquisitor, the Marquiss _de Villareal_, and the Duke _de Camino_, being
unwilling to suffer the Torments of the Question, confess'd their Crime.
These two last were condemn'd to be beheaded, the rest of the
Lay-Traitors to be hang'd, drawn and quarter'd, and the Sentence of the
Ecclesiasticks was refer'd to the King himself. Upon this the King
immediately assembled his Council, and told them, that the consequence
of putting so many Persons of Quality to death, altho they were
criminal, might be fatal: That the chief Conspirators were of the first
Families of the Kingdom, whose Relations would be for ever his conceal'd
Enemies, and that the Desire of revenging their Death would be the
unhappy Source of new Plots: That the Consequence of the Death of Count
_d'Egmont_ in _Flanders_, and of the _Guises_ in _France_, had prov'd
fatal: That if he pardon'd some of them, and chang'd the Sentence of the
others into a Punishment less severe than Death, he should for ever win
theirs, their Friends, and their Kindreds Hearts, and bind them to his
Service by the Ties of Gratitude: but yet, That notwithstanding he
himself was inclin'd to Mercy, he had assembled his Council to know
their Opinions, and to follow that which should seem the most
reasonable, and the most just.
The Marquiss _de Ferreira_ was the first who spoke, and was for having
them executed without delay: he represented, That in such cases as these
Justice only ought to be consulted, and that Mercy was most dangerous:
That Pardon would seem not so much the Effect of the Goodness, as
Weakness of the Prince, or the Fear of their threatning powerful
Friends: That if these should go unpunish'd, it would bring the
Government into Contempt, and encourage their Relations to deliver them
out of Prison, or perhaps to carry Matters farther: That now, at his
Accession to the Crown, he ought, by an Example of Severity, to deter
others from ever attempting the like. He urg'd farther, That they were
Traitors not only to the King, but also to the State, whose present
Constitution they had endeavour'd to subvert: That he ought rather to
hearken to the Justice which he ow'd his People, and punish these
Criminals, than to his own Inclination of forgiving them, especially at
a time when his Preservation and the publick Safety were inseparable.
The whole Council being of the same opinion, the King yielded, and the
next day Sentence was executed. The Archbishop of of _Lisbon_ being
willing to save one of his Friends, came to the Queen, and sollicited
her for a Pardon, with all the Assurance of a Man, who thought that
nothing could be deny'd him, and that his former Services might claim a
much greater Favour. But the Queen, who was convinc'd of the Justice and
absolute Necessity of their suffering the Law, and how much a
Distinction of this nature would incense the Friends and Relations of
the rest, answer'd the Archbishop in few words, but with such a Tone, as
made him see it would be in vain to urge his Request any farther; "My
Lord, the only Favour I can now grant you, is to forget that you ever
ask'd me this."
The King, unwilling to disoblige the Clergy, and especially the Court of
_Rome_, who had not as yet acknowledg'd him King, or receiv'd his
Ambassadors, would not suffer the Archbishop of _Braga_, or the Grand
Inquisitor, to be executed, but condemn'd them to a perpetual
Imprisonment; where the Archbishop shortly after died of a violent
Fever, a Disease often fatal to State-Prisoners, who for some politick
Reason must not be led to open Execution.
Nothing could be equal to the Surprize of _Olivarez_, when this News was
brought him; he could not imagine by what means the King of _Portugal_
had discover'd their Design, nor would it ever have been known, had not
an Accident happen'd, which made him see that it was the Marquiss
_Daiamonti_, who had unravel'd the dark Design, and acquainted the King
with it.
This Prince still kept a very good Correspondence with the Enemies of
_Spain_, his Ports were open to the Fleets of _France_ and _Holland_; he
had a Resident at _Barcelona_, and encourag'd the revolting
_Catalonians_: in short, he did all he could to weaken _Spain_, not only
by increasing the Rage of its Foes, but also by endeavouring to raise up
new ones. To this end, he had already inclin'd the Duke _de Medina
Sidonia_, his Brother-in-law, to rebel; whom the Marquiss _Daiamonti_, a
_Castilian_, and their mutual Confidant, at length entirely seduced.
This Nobleman was, as has been before observ'd, nearly related to the
Queen of _Portugal_, and the Duke of _Medina_: He was Governour of a
Place at the Mouth of the _Guadiano_, and just on the Frontiers of
_Portugal_, which made it easy for him to keep a good Correspondence
with that Court; nor did he question, but that by being serviceable to
two such powerful Families, he should easily make his own Fortune. He
was valiant, enterprizing, hated the first Minister, and at the same
time did not in the least value his Life; a Quality so very necessary
to those who embark themselves in any dangerous Design.
He wrote privately to the Duke, to congratulate him upon the Discovery
of the Archbishop's Plot, and the Preservation of the Life of the Queen
his Sister, and all the Royal Family; he at the same time observ'd how
grateful it must be to him to see the Crown of _Portugal_ one day adorn
the Head of his Nephews, which made that Kingdom a sure Refuge for him
in time of Distress: which perhaps might be too near at hand, since he
could never reckon himself safe while _Olivarez_ was at the head of
Affairs, whose only aim was to ruin all the Grandees; nor was it to be
suppos'd that the crafty Statesman would long leave him Governour of so
large a Province, and in the Neighbourhood of _Portugal_: That he would
advise him seriously to reflect on all these things, and let him know
his Resolutions; to which end he should send him a Person in whom he
could confide, and to whom they both might safely trust their Secret.
The Duke was naturally proud and ambitious, and with Envy had beheld his
Brother-in-law raising himself to the Throne; nor would he, on his side,
willingly neglect any Opportunity of doing the like. Believing by what
the Marquiss said, that he had some very advantageous Proposal of this
kind to make him, he sent _Lewis de Castile_, his Confidant, to
_Daiamonti_, who seeing his Credentials, at once open'd his Mind, and
bid him remember with what ease the Duke of _Braganza_ had made himself
Master of the Crown of Portugal; nor could there ever be a more
favourable time for the Duke of _Medina Sidonia_ to do the like, and
make himself independent of the Crown of _Spain_.
After this he represented the Weakness of that Kingdom, which was
exhausted by the Wars which the _French_ and _Dutch_ had continually
waged against them: That _Catalonia_ now employ'd all its Forces, nor
would the King know how to help himself, should _Andalusia_ rise in Arms
against him, and the War be thus carry'd into the very Heart of the
Kingdom: That the People would certainly side with him, being always
fond of a new Government; besides which, they had reason enough to
complain of the old one, which had so oppress'd them with Taxes, and
extorted such vast Sums from them: That the Duke of _Medina_ was as well
beloved by the _Andalusians_, as the Duke of _Braganza_ was at the time
of the Revolution by the _Portuguese_: That the only thing which now
remain'd to be done, was to gain all those, who, under him, were
Governours of Towns and Forts, without entrusting them with the Secret,
which might be done; and to fill all Places of Trust with his surest
Friends: That as soon as the Galloons, which were expected from the
_Indies_, arriv'd, he should seize them, and the Riches which were on
board would defray the Expences of this Enterprize: That the King of
_Portugal_, with his Allies, should have a Fleet ready to enter _Cadiz_,
and there land a sufficient Number of Forces, to subdue those who would
unseasonably shew their Loyalty to _Spain_.