Abstract of the genuine legal fentence pro- A That it appears, by the confeffions of the major part of the faid criminals, and by many witnesses, That the Duke d'Aveiro * had conceived an implacable hatred to the King, on account of his Majefty's defeating his fchemes to arrogate to himself, in the government of the kingdom, all the influence, which, by means of his uncle F. Gafpar da Incarnaçao, he had had during the latter years of the last reign, and to caufe the commendams, held as grants for life by the houfe of Aveiro, to be adjudged inherent to the crown-lands and patrimonial eftate of the said houfe, and in which commendams (as being fubject to the fame regulations as all ecclefiaftical be. nefices) he could claim no right with out founding it on a perfonal title he ab. folutely had not; and on account of the King's having put a stop to the marriage he had adjufted between his eldeft fon, and the Duke of Cadaval's fifter, in order to blend with his own house, as an occafional augmentation thereof, the 4 [Don Jofeph Mafcarenhas and Lencastre (or Lancaster), Duke of Aveiro, Marquis of Torres Novas and of Gouvea, and Earl of Santa Cruz, hereditary Lord Steward of the King's household, which is the higheft office in the palace, and Prefident of the Palace-court, or last tribunal of appeal in the kingdom, which is the fecond ftate-officer of the realm; was related himself to the Tavoras, and married to a fifter of the elder Marquis of that title. He was in the 51st year of his age; of the loweft middle fize, well made in his perfon, of an agreeable countenance and lively difpofition.] houfe of Cadaval; the actual lord of which, being actually a minor, ftill lia. ble to the fmall-pox, (fo fatal to his family), and moreover unmarried, d' Aveiro endeavoured, at the fame time, to hinder from marrying, by fomenting law fuits and executions against him. It farther appears, that the faid Duke endeavoured to gain over all difcontented and difaffected perfons, affecting to fay that it was the fame thing to him, to be ordered to go to court, as to have his legs cut off; and flattered himself, and confented to be told by others, that he could rife no higher, but by afcending the throne, and becoming King him. felf. In pursuance of this infernal hatred, and notwithstanding the implacable averfion and declared war fubfifting between him and the Jefuits, which, during the miniftry of his uncle F. Galpar da Incarnaçao, caufed fuch a general fcandal throughout the kingdom; and notwithstanding that, even after the death of the faid F. Gafpar, the same implacable averfion ftill fubfifted; yet as foon as the Jefuits were difmiffed from being confeffors to their Majesties and their Royal Highneffes, and forbid all accels to court (on account of the schemes they had laid for alienating certain foreign courts from the friendship and union they had with his Majesty, and of the formal rebellions and open wars they had kindled in Uraguay and Maranhao), the Duke, who was bound by reafon of his office to fhun the fociety of the Jefuits, as men infected with a plague, acted fo very much the reverse, that, by a reconciliation quite fudden, and incompa tible with his inflexible pride, he artfully and induftriously patched up a reunion and intimacy with them, paying them frequent vifits in all their houses; receiving them at his houfe; holding long conferences with them; cautioning his fervants to acquaint him, whenever any Jefuit came to his houfe; and recommending an inviolable fecrecy concerning the vifits which paffed between him and them. The effects of this reconciliation were, that [xvii. 607. xviii. 461.] that all the aforefaid perfons linkeuke in a barrac's perfon; and it was gether, and declared themfelves enemies there agreat, that it would be highly expedient tout an end to his life. Many of the meet for concerting the plot against the King we held at her houfe. She was alfo prefent al meu.. ings at the Duke of Aveiro's; and confederated with the Jefuits, John de Matos, John Alexandre, and others, befides the aforefaid Gabriel Malagrida, her conftant and abfolute director. She even fet up for one of the three ringleaders of the confpiracy; endeavouring, by her authority and artifices, to draw into it all fhe could poffibly decoy; and contributed fixteen moidores to reward the monsters who fired at the King. to his Majefty's perfon and government; and unanimously agreed, at conferences held in the Jefuits two colleges, and at the Duke's houfe, that the only means for changing the government was to put the King to death; all perfifting to make a common caufe of this project, and the Jefuits promifing the Duke indemnity for that infernal parricide, with the reflection, that all things would be quiet, as foon as an end fhould be put to his Majefty's life; and the Jefuits giving it as their opinion, that whoever fhould kill the King, would not fo much as fin, even lightly. The Duke and the Jefuits, in this confederacy, proceeded to draw the Marchioness of Tavora into it: and in fpite of the innate and ancient averfion fubfifting between her and the Duke, as well on account of their oppofite geniufes, as by reafon of their jarring interests, the art of the Jefuits on one hand, and the art of the Duke on the o ther, wrought fo effectually, that they gained their point. of The Marchionefs having entered into the confpiracy, both fhe and the Jefuits fet about perfuading all their acquaintance and friends, that Gabriel Malagrida, a Jefuit, her confeffor, was a man great felf-denial, and a faint: and, in confequence of his counfels, the held a daily affembly at her own houfe for Blanders and calumnies against the King, in order to excite averfion and hatred to his perfon and government. The ordinary converfation at her houfe was one continued cabal of treacheries and plots [Dona Leonor de Tavora, Marchioness of Tavora, in her own right, and wife to the Marquis, was in the 59th year of her age. She was of the lower middle fize, and thin, extremely genteel, and in her youth had been very beautiful. In the duties of life the appeared highly amiable, being an extreme good mother, and demonitrated herfelf as good a wife by accompanying her hufband to India at the age of so, when he was ap. pointed Viceroy of the Portuguefe dominions in that country; of which undertaking, before hers, there had been but a single example. Her deportment in general was courteous and affable, and the was allowed to be a lady of a good under standing.] VOL. XXI. The faid Marchionefs having arrogated to herfelf the defpotic direction of the Marquis Francis-Affizes of Tavora *, her husband, of her fons, her daughter, her fon-in-law, her brothersin-law, and other perfons; decoyed and infnared her faid hufband, children, fonin-law, brothers-in-law, and friends, into the confederacy; ufing for her inftruments, not only the opinion fhe affected to have of the pretended fanctity of the aforenamed Gabriel Malagrida; but alfo the letters he frequently wrote to her, to perfuade all her relations to go and join in fpiritual exercifes with him the faid Malagrida. [Francifco de Affiz and Tavora, (this family being above taking the title of Don), Marquis of Tavora, and Earl of Saint John and of Alvor, General of Horfe, &c. This nobleman was him felf the eldest branch of the Alvor family, the third noble houfe of the Tavoras; and by marrying his kinfwoman, the heiress of the marquifate, became, in her sight, Earl of Saint John and Marquis of Tavora. The family of Tavoras is the most illuftrious of the kingdom, as well for the purity as antiquity of their defcent; deriving their origin from the Kings of Leon, and having ever preferved their dignity, by difdaining to make any other than the most noble alliances; infomuch that it has of late been the prac tice of the chief branches of this family to marry only with one another. They were themselves the conquerors from the Moors, of the lands they poffefs, and on which there is a town, a river, and an ancient caftle of their name; and they e ven pretend to be Lords of Tavora by the grace af God. The Marquis was in the 56th year of his age, of the highest middle stature; a genteel perfon, comely countenance, and grave deportment.] ainst the Porsefe confpirators. Vol. xxi. ged himself in the inany opi racy, was the Marquis Francis-Affizes of Tavora, being urged by the perfuafions of the faid Marchioness his wife, of the Duke of Aveiro his brother-in-law, and of the faid Jefuits. He made his house an infamous office of confpiracies, treach eries, and plots, against the King's life: he was also prefent at the conferences held at the Duke of Aveiro's, and contributed twelve moidores to reward the affaffins. Immediately after the affault, he was declared to be one of the accomplices, as well by the common voice of the public, as from the opinion and certain knowledge of the fervants of both houfes, and of the affociates. It was proved, that he affifted in one of the ambulhes, which were laid, that if the King fhould escape from one, he might fall into another. He was feen by the King that fame night, as he was retiring from the faid ambushes, in the grounds behind the Duke of Aveiro's garden, treating with the other accomplices about the crime, at which all had been aiding and affifting: and he was prefent at the meeting of the relations, which on the day following was held at the Duke of Aveiro's, in the town of Belem; where fome reproached the affaffins for not doing their work effectually; while others bragged, that they fhould have done it, had the King paffed by the ambushes in which they were poft éd. The fecond of the followers, whom the Marchioness, the Duke of Aveiro, and the Jefuits confederated with them, by decoying him with the opinions of the Jefuits aforefaid, and particularly with the fpirituality of Gabriel Mala grida, and with calumnies against his Majefty's perfon and government, was the Marquis Lewis-Bernard of Tavora *; who reforted almost every day to [Luis Bernardo de Tavora, younger Marquis of that title, was the eldest fon of the above-mentioned couple, and in the 36th year of his age. He was married, with a difpenfation obtained for that purpose from the Pope, to his father's youngeft filter Dona Thereza de Tavora, and Lorena (or Lorain), who was twenty days elder than him ielf. This is the lady who is faid to be in the Duke of Aveiro's, or was visited by and offered arms and horses for tu perpetration of the fact. Two days before it was put in execution, he fent to the Duke of Aveiro's stables two horfes ready bridled and faddled, and covered with their faddle-cloths. In the afternoon of the 3d of September, before the affault was made, he remained, contrary to his ufual cuftom, shut up with the Marquis his father, with Jofeph-Maria of Tavora his brother, and with others, confulting about it: he af fifted at the ambushes, and at the meeting of the confpirators next day. The third of the followers was Don Jerome of Ataide, Count of Atouguia fon-in-law to the aforefaid Marquis and Marchionefs. He, with his Countefs, almost every night affifted at the feditious cabals held at the Marquis's, he ing perverted by his mother-in-law to follow in all things her abominable maxims, and the deteftable doctrines of the Jefuits, fuggefted by Gabriel Malagrida, John de Matos, and John Alexandre. He contributed eight moidores to reward the affaffins, and was an affociate in the waylayings. The Countess, his wife, affifted at the family-meeting held on the morrow. nunnery of Santos. She is a middle-fized lady, comely in her perfon, and extremely elegant in her deportment. The Marquis, her husband, was a little man, and thin, well enough made, derable refemblance of his mother. He was neibut not of a pleasing afpect, though with a confi ther deficient in wit or humour, but not amiable in his conduct, nor extremely correct in his morals. This couple have a daughter living, in the twelfth year of her age, Dona Joanna de Tavora, who is exceeding beautiful: but who, without being an accomplice in their guilt, is, by the fentence of her father, grandfather, and grandmother, deprived of the very name, of which the would otherwife have become chief; and is, moreover, decreed infamous.] [Don Jeronymo de Ataide, Earl of Atouguia, one of the oldeft, if not the most ancient title of the kingdom. This nobleman was in the thirty-eighth year of his age, related himself to the Tavoras, and married to the eldest daughter of the elder Marquis and Marchionefs of Tavora, and fifter to the young Marquis and Jofeph Maria of that name. He was of middle ftature, clumfy in his make, of a heavy afpect, ungraceful demeanor, and of flow parts, but in his general conduct an inoffensive man.] The ॰』 The fourth follower, whom the a- Duke in a barrack behind the garden of forementioned three ringleaders, or his houfe at Belem, where the Duke heads, intangled in this confpiracy, by communicated to him, in great fecrecy, the methods already related, was Jo- the order for waylaying the carriage feph-Maria of Tavora, adjutant of the which conveyed his Majefty from the military orders of the Marquis of Tavo- country-houfe called de Meyo (or the ra, his father. This youth, who is an mid one) to that called de Cima, (or the officer, being perverted by his mother, upper one), where his royal palace not only entered into the confederacy, ftands; and for firing upon it with two holding himself wronged by his Majefty, fhort pieces of fire-arms, in company of but allo was prefent at the ambushes the faid Duke; afterwards changing laid, and concurred with the rest of their minds, they agreed, that he (Anthe affociates at the meeting held the tony-Alvares) fhould fpeak to the faid fame night, when they affembled in the Jofeph Policarp, who was his brotherground on the north of the Duke of A- in-law, that he might become an affoveiro's garden, close to the pent-houfe ciate. They both went on treating which leads to his buildings; and was with the Duke concerning the difpofilikewife prefent at the meeting held the tions towards the perpetration of the day following, being the perfon who, crime; and went feveral times on foot alluding to his Majefty's efcape, faid, and on horfeback, in the company of Alas! the man ought not to have escaped. the Duke, in order to become acquainted The fifth follower was Blaife-Jofeph with the King's carriage. The Duke orRomeiro, a corporal in the company, dered them to buy two horses not known; steward of the household, and the grand which Antony-Alvares did buy accorfavourite of the Marquis Lewis-Bernard dingly; one of Lewis da Horta in Socof Tavora, who, with the Marquis his corro yard, for four moidores; another father, gave him the charge, under tie from Emanuel Soares, a gipley, at Marof fecrecy, to lead the three horfes, villa, for four moidores and a half. The which, in the night of the affault, they Duke alfo ordered them to buy arms ordered to be faddled, armed, and for- that could not be known; but Antony warded to the grounds where the fact Alvares did not buy them; he, with his was committed he was prefent at the faid brother-in-law, making ufe of one ambushes, and was the very affociate, blunderbufs of his own, of another which who accompanied the Marquis Francis was borrowed, and of two piftols, which Affizes of Tavora: he was alfo prefent he had borrowed (under pretext of tryat the meeting in the ground on the ing them) of a foreigner at the Count of north of the Duke of Aveiro's garden. Uniao's; and immediately after the atThe fixth and feventh followers, tack, he returned them. These were whom the head of this confpiracy, the the arms which Antony Alvares, and Duke of Aveiro, engaged in it, were Jofeph Policarp, fired off against his MaAntony-Alvares Ferreira, formerly his jefty's carriage. The reward they revalet de chambre, and Jofeph Policarp ceived for it from the Duke who gave de Azevedo, brother in-law to the faid them their orders, was forty moidores, Antony Alvares. The Duke charged fixteen at one time, four at another, and Emanuel Alvares, his actual valet de twenty at another. Immediately after chambre, to fend for his faid brother difcharging the faid arms on the back of Antony; who came and spoke with the the carriage, he the faid Antony, and his faid brother-in-law, fled through the grounds till they got into the lane, on the outfide of the garden de Meyo; from whence they retreated, through the cross street of the chief commiflary of health, directly to Lisbon. Two days afterwards, Antony Alvares being feit Jofeph Maria de Tavora, fecond and young eft fon of the elder Marquis and Marchioness of Tavora, in the twenty-third year of his age; of a middle fize, most beautiful face, genteel perfon, agreeable deportment, and amiable difpofition. This young nobleman, had he lived, would probably have been married to his niece, the heiress of the family; and their offspring enjoyed the marquifate of Tavora.] D 2 for for to the Duke's house, the Duke reproached him greatly, faying, That those shot had been of no fervice; and uttering (with his finger on his mouth, and great ferenity) the following words, Hub! for the devil himself can know no thing of the matter, if you don't tell him; and charging him not to fell the horfes direally, that he might not be fufpected. The eighth follower, whom the Duke drew in, was Emanuel-Alvares Ferreira. He feveral times fent for, and went to fetch the affaffin Antony-Alvares Ferreira, his brother: he brought the Duke the cloaks and the wigs, with which he difguiled himself the night of the affault. Till the time of his being taken, he kept a profound fecret the information his faid brother Antony had given him, three or four days after the affault, of the order he had had from the Duke concerning it. He was the perfon, that, at the country-honfe of Azeitao, made refiftance, by fnatching the fword from the fide of the notary Lewis-Antony de Leiro, when he stopped the Duke as he was attempting to escape. The ninth follower, who was drawn in, was John Michael, a page, and the grand confident of the Duke d' Aveiro, His mafter declared he was with him under the arch, from whence he the Duke fired upon the poftilion, and miffed his fire. The Duke and the Marchioness having made up the paltry sum of 192 milreis, which was the reward given to the affaffins; Lewis-Bernard of Tavora, having, two days before the affault, fent to the Duke of Aveiro's ftables two horfes ready bridled, faddled, and armed, for his own fervice in the bufinefs; Francis-Affizes of Tavora, having alfo fent to the fame ftables the other three horfes, which were led thither the night of the affault, by Corporal Blaife-Jofeph Romeiro, and by the poftilion AntonyJofeph; the Duke d'Aveiro having, the fame night, ordered two other horfes for his own riding, with two nags, to be alfo got ready, and pofted in the grounds behind the barrack of his fecretary Antony-Jofeph de-Mattos; and with these nine horses, and the two of the affaffins, having completed the num ber of eleven horfes, for as many affociates, who were mounted thereon; they all pofted themfelves in different parties, in the little tract of ground that lies between the northern extremity of the houfes belonging to the garden called de Meyo, and the oppofite fouthern extremity of the garden called de Cima, through which the King ufually returned, when he had been abroad in a pri vate manner, as was the cafe the night of the affault; that if his Majefty efcaped from the firft waylayings, he might not fail of being cut off by fome of the others. The King having turned the corner of the faid northern extremity of the above-mentioned houfes belonging to the garden de Meyo, the Duke d'Aveiro came forth immediately from the arch in that place, and (accompanied by John Michael, and the other alfaffin) let off against the coachman who drove his Majefty, a blunderbufs or demi-culverin; which, miffing fire, and warning the coachman by the report it gave, and the flash from the pan, he, the coach, man, without acquainting his Majefty with what he had feen and heard, pushed on the mules, that he might avoid a fecond discharge, as he faw the first was aimed at him. This was the first special interpofition of Omnipotence in the King's favour that night. His Majefty could not poffibly have efcaped, if, the coachman being killed, his Majesty had remained in the hands of thofe who flood armed in fo many ambushes against his life. The fpeed which the coachman made two affatfins Antony-Alvares and Jofeph, to get out of the way, hindered the Policarp, who were pofted in the ambufh immediately following, clofe to the cavity of the new wall lately raised there, from difcharging their pieces with all the facility they wanted at the King's carriage, fo as to take a steady aim. Where fore galloping after it, they fired as they could upon the back of it. only grazed upon the outward part of his Majefty's right shoulder and arm, and the other grazed along between the faid arm and the right fide of the body, of One fhot fending |