Portugal -- History -- Modern, 1580-; Portugal -- History -- Revolution, 1640
The Archbishop of _Braga_ hearing this Answer, grew furious, and
snatching a Sword from one of the Soldiers who stood next him, he flew
towards _Norogna_, resolving to revenge the Vice-Queen, and had
certainly met with Death, the just Reward of his Rashness, had not Don
_Miguel d'Almeida_ laid hold of him, and embracing him, begg'd him to
consider what Danger he expos'd himself to, telling him that he was
already hated enough by the Conspirators; nor had he found it an easy
Task to obtain a Promise of them that they would spare his Life, why
then would he urge them by an Action, which would not only be
unprofitable to his Cause, but which also so highly misbecame his
Character. The Prelate, convinc'd of the Truth of what his Friend said,
was obliged to dissemble his Anger; however, he hoped that he should
meet with some favourable Opportunity of revenging himself on _Norogna_,
and doing something for the service of _Spain_, to whose Interest he was
entirely devoted.
The rest of the _Spaniards_ who were in the Palace, were made Prisoners
by the other Conspirators: Amongst these were the Marquiss of _Puebla_,
Major-Domo to the Vice-Queen, and elder Brother to the Marquiss _de
Leganez_; Don _Didaco Cardenas_, Lieutenant-General of the Cavalry; Don
_Ferdinand de Castro_, Comptroller of the Navy-Office; the Marquiss _de
Baynetto_, an _Italian_, Gentleman-Usher to the Vice-Queen: with some
Sea-Officers, who lay on shore, and whose Ships were in the Harbour. All
this was done as regularly and as quietly, as if they had been taken up
by an Order from the King of _Spain_, nobody stirring to their
Assistance, and they not being able to defend themselves, most of them
having been seiz'd in their Beds.
This done, Don _Antonio de Salsaigni_, follow'd by a Crowd of Friends,
and an innumerable Multitude of People, went up into the Hall, where the
Court of Justice was then sitting, and in an elegant Speech laid before
them the present Happiness of _Portugal_, who had restor'd their own
lawful King; he told them, that Tyranny was now no more, and that the
Laws, which had been long slighted and neglected, should henceforward
take their regular Course. This Speech was applauded by the whole Court,
and they chang'd the Title of their Decrees, which they no longer made
in the Name of the King of _Spain_, but in the Name of Don _John_, King
of _Portugal_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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