There were, besides these two, at this first Meeting, Don _Antonio d'Almada_, an intimate Friend of the Archbishop's, with Don _Lewis_, his Son; Don _Lewis d'Acugna_, Nephew to that Prelate, and who had married Don _Antonio d'Almada_'s Daughter; _Mello_ Lord _Ranger_, Don _George_ his Brother; _Pedro Mendoza_; Don _Rodrigo de Saa_, Lord-Chamberlain: with several other Officers of the Houshold, whose Places were nothing now but empty Titles, since _Portugal_ had lost her own natural Kings. [Sidenote: Conostagio.] The Archbishop, who was naturally a good Rhetorician, broke the Ice in this Assembly; he made an eloquent Speech, in which he set forth the many Grievances _Portugal_ had labour'd under since it had been subject to the Domination of _Spain_. He reminded them of the Number of Nobility which _Philip_ II. had butchered to secure his Conquest; nor had he been more favourable to the Church, witness the famous Brief of Absolution, which he had obtain'd from the Pope for the Murder of Two Thousand Priests, or others of Religious Orders, whom he had barbarously put to death, on no other account but to secure his Usurpation: And since that unhappy time the _Spaniards_ had not chang'd their inhuman Policy; how many had fallen for no other Crime but their unshaken Love to their Country! That none of those who were there present, could call their Lives or their Estates their own: That the Nobility were slighted and remov'd from all Places of Trust, Profit, or Power: That the Church was fill'd with a scandalous Clergy, since _Vasconcellos_ had dispos'd of all the Livings, and to which he had prefer'd his own Creatures only: That the People were oppress'd with excessive Taxes, whilst the Earth remain'd untill'd for want of hands, their Labourers being all sent away by force, for Soldiers to _Catalonia_: That this last Summons for the Nobility to attend the King, was only a specious Pretence to force them out of their own Country, lest their Presence might prove an Obstacle to some cruel Design, which was doubtless on foot: That the mildest Fate they could hope for, was a tedious, if not a perpetual Banishment; and that whilst they were ill-treated by the _Castilians_ abroad, Strangers should enjoy their Estates, and new Colonies take possession of their Habitations. He concluded by assuring them, that so great were the Miseries of his Country, that he would rather chuse to die ten thousand Deaths, than be obliged to see the Encrease of them; nor would he now entertain one thought of Life, did he not hope that so many Persons of Quality were not met together in vain.