_Pinto_ took care to make his Friends observe the unnecessary Caution which his Master us'd, and that therefore they ought not to neglect this Opportunity, which his Stay at _Almada_ afforded them, to wait upon that Prince, and to persuade, nay, as tho it were to force him to accept the Crown. The Conspirators thought the Counsel good, and deputed him to the Duke to obtain an Audience. He granted them one, but upon condition there should come three of the Conspirators only, not thinking it safe to explain himself before a greater Number. _Miguel d'Almeida_, _Antonio d'Almada_, and _Pedro Mendoza_, were the three Persons pitched upon; who coming by night to the Prince's, and being introduc'd into his Chamber, _d'Almada_, who was their Spokesman, represented in few words the present unhappy State of _Portugal_, whose Natives, of what Quality or Condition soever, had suffer'd so much from the unjust and cruel _Castilians_: That the Duke himself was as much, if not more expos'd than any other to their Treachery; that he was too discerning not to perceive that _d'Olivarez_'s Aim was his Ruin, and that there was no other Place of Refuge but the Throne; for the restoring him to which, he had Orders to offer him the Services of a considerable Number of People of the first Quality, who would willingly expose their Lives, and sacrifice their Fortunes for his sake, and to revenge themselves upon the oppressing _Spaniards_. He afterwards told them, that the Times of _Charles_ V. and _Philip_ II. were no more, when _Spain_ held the Ballance of _Europe_ in her hand, and gave the neighbouring Nations Laws: That this Monarchy, which had been once so formidable, could scarce now preserve its antient Territories; that the _French_ and _Dutch_ not only wag'd War against them, but often overcame 'em; that _Catalonia_ itself employ'd the greatest part of their Forces; that they scarce had an Army on foot, the Treasury was exhausted, and that the Kingdom was governed by a weak Prince, who was himself sway'd by a Minister, abhor'd by the whole Nation. He then observ'd what foreign Protection and Alliances they might depend on, and be assur'd of; most of the Princes of _Europe_ were profess'd Enemies to the House of _Austria_; the Encouragement _Holland_ and _Catalonia_ had met with, sufficiently shew'd what might be expected from that able[B] Statesman, whose mighty Genius seem'd wholly bent upon the Destruction of the _Spanish_ King; that the Sea was now open, and he might have free Communication with whom he pleas'd; that there were scarce any _Spanish_ Garisons left in _Portugal_, they having been drawn out to serve in _Catalonia_; that there could never be a more favourable Opportunity of asserting his Right and Title to the Crown, of securing his Life, his Fortune, and his Liberty, which were at stake, and of delivering his Country from Slavery and Oppression.