A NARRATION of the late accident in the NEW-EXCHANGE, On the 21. and 22. of November, 1653. Stylo Vet.  
Written by the most Noble and Illustrious Lord, DON PANTALEON SA, Brother to His Excellency of Portugal, Extraordinary Legate in England, to his much esteemed Nobility of England, AND To all of the beloved and famous City of London, from Newgates' Prison.  
LONDON, Printed in the year, 1653.   

A NARRATION, etc.  
MANY will wonder, what feelings I have to be detained in a place so unsuitable to my Condition, whilst few vouchsafe me their Commiseration, all deem me worthy of reproof. Truly I do acquiesce in this to me harsh tenor of English Justice, and obey it without resistance, to this universal and undeserved hatred towards me and ours. Notwithstanding because I am conscious of my own intentions herein, I cannot but grieve to see the whole envy and malice of this affair pursue only my part, not having given (neither the first nor the 2. time) any occasion for it, without permitting that we remote strangers from our native country enjoy any pity at all. Much I am afflicted that few cherish my cause, most withstand it, and as it were none interpose themselves to ascribe this unhappy accident (as really it ought) to chance, rather than to malice, to the ignorance of some particulars, than to the pertinacy of all, to the reciprocal hurly-burly, than to the pretended violence of one only side. This I only say, to that end that I may lay open the business, and intentions herein so to be made apparent to the most beloved Gentry and People of England, that all may more easily compassionate my Person and condition, and restore to me and ours again their love and favour, which truly in these circumstances I equally value with my life.  
It not wise can be conceived how deeply I am struck, when I reflect that I am come to that point, that neither I in my proper Cause, nor others can be heard for me, many imagining their aim and honour to withstand me as much as is possible; yea, and that those who assist me herein therefore are deemed principals in the act. Whence to you all who read these I leave it to be judged, what an unspeakable grief I must needs inwardly feel, when I hear such strange speeches against me every where in this City, and that only for my sake my Country men all and Nation displease them. Truly if it were as at first it is now bruited, I might justly seem a madman towards my Brother, most uncivil to all the English Gentry, and ingrateful to all this City wherein I have so long been & so well known: But these forerunning discourses at first discredit themselves by their variety, and afterwards totally become groundless.  
1. Should I, as it is said, oppress the English, or withstand them from whom my Brother sent hither particularly by my King demands peace and amity, and under whose protection we all are? should I commit by such a levity everlasting by me to be repent, that I should not also seem to intent what my Brother with so much pains hitherto endeavoured to effect? I would not have been so great an enemy to myself, both in the opinion of my Brother, and in the esteem of my King, in whose hands it lies to dispose of my whole life, honour, and fortune; which since it is so, I confide none will exaggerate my Cause, or accuse me beyond Reason.  
2. Should I hate the English Gentry? alas, I am a Gentleman myself, and indeed I much ever desired to deserve their love & esteem: I never would have dreamed such a folly, unless I had first forgot my own birth, in which so far I am from doing wrong, that I endeavoured to show myself, as I was able, a true follower of my Brother, whom I still perceived and noted hearty desirous to oblige all Gentlemen, by whatsoever manner of civility and kindness he could afford them.  
3. Should I lastly on set purpose bring, I know not what Arms to besiege the Exchange? I witness heaven, and beg pardon first of all this Commonwealth, to which I totally submit myself, than again of my dear Brother, if either of them harbour such an opinion of my deportments: nay, if by chance I had indiscreetly offended in this kind, it might have been ascribed to my unexperienced youth and pardonable, but every indifferent Judge will find me to have only sought to defend myself and honour, and not in the least to offend others. And I swear to Heaven, I knew nothing of what is spoke of powder which was found in a Hackney Coach.  
Some will object, why would I go and meet the threats I might have before heard of? first, I believed no such threats, which I conjectured could not proceed but from a very few, especially when I reflected of the great civilities and kindnesses which for this year and more had been betwixt the English and Portugal Gentry, and that all differences might be decided by some other handsome mean & not by the like threats. Again, how could I imagine any hindrance to go to so public a place, which I see open to all Nations, even to the basest sort of people? if I had been forbidden any private house, by its owner, or by a Decree of Parliament from any public place, I had kept home and not stirred, to manifest with joy and promptness my obedience therein to this Commonwealth. And thus I feared none, nor suspected in the least, that any would assault me when they saw me unarmed, neither did I think that a public place could defend me, when my Brother's house is patent to all. Notwithstanding being danger of life and honour must be provided against, I would not go totally unprepared, in case any where I should be offended.  
Coming therefore to the Exchange as I was wont to do, on the 21. of November 1653. so to gain and increase love and acquaintance with the English Gentlemen, I walked with a certain English man new arrived from Portugal, who assured me of the civilities he enjoyed among my Countrymen there: As we two thus hand in hand discoursed, behold, on a sudden, an English Gentleman obtrudes himself betwixt us with great violence: I regarded not this until I heard that party & my companion at variance. At this though I understood little, yet I very much resented it, because I earnestly wished nothing of scandal attempted where I might have any thing to do This was my mind then, as they will easily believe who behold me with an impartial eye. But what? out of hand the Gentleman casteth at me most contumelious words, repeating them twice or thrice in the French tongue, against me alone who had not offended him, calling me Jean Foutre, Brugher, and Coquin: I pray what flesh alive in these conjunctures could have contained himself from taking a just revenge? Let any speak whether he could have patiently took the like injurious words from me: if not, why should it be my charge and only blame, not to have been then so patiented as to hold my hands without repelling him, making at me in so scurvy a manner? 'tis true, I then rushed upon him, yet naked as I was without either sword, or any weapon that could do him the harm he in that mutiny received. Here quickly a world of English crowded about me, by whom I was unkindly, yea harshly abused, and by naked swords drawn against my life, compelled to withdraw myself thence as I could, especially perceiving none there so favourable as would either speak or stand in my behalf.  
Upon this I was no little afflicted, and tenderly felt what was acted against me a Gentleman, a stranger, and innocent, if I had been rightly understood, against whom none in my own Country durst have attempted so much, if not for the honour of my deportment, at least for the respect and duty of my Birth. I say no more but leave it to your commiseration to reflect how deeply I resented this. I know you are well instructed all in those wholesome Counsels of holy Writ, and therefore with greater confidence I now and ever did cast myself into your arms fearing nothing, Levit, 19 v. 33. And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your Land, ye shall not vex him. Exod. 22. v. 21. Thou shalt neither vex a stranger nor oppress him, for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Exod. 23. v. 9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger, for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the Land of Egypt. I am sorry that the Gentleman cause of all this should have been wounded, and if any of my followers did it, I am the more sorry, although 'twere done in my defence. But I call God to witness I had not so much as a pin in my hand then by which I could in the least harm him.  
With these unhandsome injuries I thought to have rested, hoping the party that had affronted me would have been sensible of what he had done, and so I would have deemed myself sufficiently satisfied. But what? There were several who abused divers Portugal Gentlemen then casually walking, with blows and words. Nay, the Gentleman of whose wound was complained so much, assisted by many others meeting a Portugal Gentleman ignorant of what had passed, rushed upon him, & with a blow in the face, wanted but a little to put out one of his eyes.  
I was an am sure all this did proceed but from some few ill affected persons, and therefore the day following, I esteemed it superfluous to look to myself more than usually.  
I slighted those who then publicly bragged that no Portugals should dare to return and expatiate there again: for I should much have admired, if from the plurality of this Nation so dear to us all such hard speeches and prohibitions had proceeded, especially remembering how all English, and particularly Gentlemen, are, and have always been loved and honoured in my Country, where Portugal against Portugal would have boldly and laudably stood for any stranger in such a rancounter, according to that Polyanthea, Verbo hospitalitatis redeo: Do no harm nor affront a Guest and stranger, do not so much as endanger his safety, etc.  
Upon these considerations I came the next night to the Exchange, but with 〈◊〉 fare other intent than I am accused of; I myself brought no arms at all, nor any of those that then entered with me, so great was my confidence in the affection I hoped from the greatest part of whomsoever I should find there sought for always & deserved by my Brother and myself. This I did on purpose persuading myself with sweet and civil language, and with my unarmed habit of both mind and body, to appease and moderate those that by chance might be there unsatisfied by reason of the mistake happening the night before. I call God to witness who searcheth the secrets of hearts, and I appeal also to all the English Gentlemen, there to argue me, if hitherto I flinch from the truth.  
For myself I stood not at all in awe of those threats which I was informed of, but some of our domestics followed me of their own accord, apprehending some danger in my behalf, so to assist me if need were, but only in a defensive way, wheresoever it were requisite. 'Tis true, all are prone to love and respect me, to whom I will not give any thanks upon this occasion, but only resent and grieve that they should follow me in so great a number, whose duty I assure them shall be less acceptable, because it was not expected; for I do protest I dreamed not of half so many as that night came after me. Although among these some had too many arms, as I said before, yet would not attempt any thing, if I should enjoy quietly the liberty of my accustomed walk. I confide nothing can be laid to their charge as done otherwise then I relate; yet if any thing were untowardly and foolishly committed by any one of them, I beseech it may not be or seem my fault, who was seriously ignorant of it; and I would rigorously punish them, if my Brother but granted me leave; nay, I would importune his Excellency, and my King also with bowed knees for such a power, so excessive is my sorrow for this most unhappy accident, in which I hear we have displeased so many of this City, and singularly of the Exchange-Merchants, who have asserted many things wholly unknown to me against me and ours.  
It is hard to take away the first impressions so deeply grounded, yet I humbly beg of them all, that without any partial love or aversion each one would say no more than his conscience dictates, and he assuredly knows. I doubt not this I demand, for none can but pity us, seeing we are so small a company, so remote from our Country, and to that condition brought, that most are prone to censure and condemn us by the very name of Portugals, especially because the total envy of all this business by most is only ascribed to us. Let none I pray be so much our enemy as to exaggerate our crime above truth, but let all favour us for our former affection, rather than hate us for this present event.  
For you, Noble English Gentlemen, Pardon me, if I were so touched with too quick a spur of Honour, that nothing could retard me from coming to the second, yet by me unexpected broil. I never imagined what so unluckily fell out, but put a greater confidence in the civil Character I framed of each one (nor was I deceived in most) of a more kind and gallant disposition then to give an origine or provocation to all this which presseth me alone. You know and experience, how ardent the thought of glory is in generous souls, whence I grant that I do not contemn my life, but I far more value my honour: although I protest if I could have foreseen what befell, for all those threats I had not come to the Exchange, but would have waved my honour a little blemished by the indiscreet Counsels and threats of some few: I would not, I say, have ventured so before I had made my way by my civility to you all, and procured a better understanding reciprocally 'twixt both parties. But believe me I did not think it my duty either to fear or fly, or to be reconciled to any that justly would meet me there upon any unhandsome terms, for indeed I was conscious that I had peradventure received, but given no offence to any that would a right reflect and understand me.  
Let here that English Gentleman speak, if he will honour and befriend me so far in these my straits, for he must needs call to mind how I then carried myself: He first expostulated quietly with me for what befell the night before, to whom I replied in all meekness & civility, that I was ready if need were to satisfy both him and all the English Gentry, as was fit for me to do and them to demand. This also I added and desired, that none should so mistake me as to esteem it any injury, contempt, or quarrel to them at all: for indeed the Portugal Gentry can neither presume, nor wish to contest with the English, from whom they seek and desire a firm and stable peace and union.  
While thus things were carried, behold, all the Exchange men with great noise shut up their shops, which I will not interpret to any ill intention against my person, for both I in French as I could, and divers English Gentlemen cried out aloud, what's the business? what needs all this? to what purpose so great a change? Nevertheless no Portugal did hitherto endeavour any hostility at all, until such time as a Pistol was discharged upon the very ascent of the lower walk to the higher; here began the unhappy mutiny wherein so much ill followed, which I grieve as much as any English man whatever. Unhappy man! whose shot that was, a most rash action and cause of all this, whether English or Portugal, if taken he deserves no light punishment. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart, that my people should so love me, as for the fear they conceived of me to have made way through that throng to seek me. I am sorry, I say, because on both parts blood was shed in that confusion.  
For all this tell me I pray why that which so unhappily fell out, should only produce malice against me and ours? is it because that powder was found in a Coach? I do protest before Almighty God, I knew nothing of that; nay, I hope that my Brother will not leave him unpunished who committed so undiscreet an action, not only thereby to give satisfaction to this deserving Gentry and loving people, but to myself also, seeing for that and such other inconsiderate and tumultuous actions I suffer these no ordinary things, and very disproportionable to my person.  
This I writ to show my inclinations impartially for Portugals and English, both whom I desire to be dear, yea, & to give the truest relation I could of all this business, with my intentions therein. I doubt not but my Brother, as the greatness of this affair required, hath made his addresses to the most Excellent Counsel, to whose prudence and safeguard I commit myself: nay, I trust and rely more to the piety of this Nation towards strangers, and people remote from their Country, then to this Narration of mine which hath no other defence for me but naked truth, which I lay before the eyes of all this City, that none have a partial aversion for me and ours, though otherwise this business hitherto as I hear in News Books related, might justly deserve.  
I ask lastly in all humility of all the English Gentry, that they will not esteem any wrong done them by me, since even what is effected was not, nor shall the like be ever intended by me or ours. Ascribe I pray you, this whole accident to chance rather than to deliberate envy, and pardon it for the Love our Nation hath ever borne to yours. So I demand mine from you Gentlemen, as my Brother for his King, peace and amity from all your Commonwealth. Unless I were too long, I would compassionate many who have suffered most in this unfortunate chance, but such person or persons I will endeavour to comfort and satisfy when I shall be delivered from this prison, as much inferior to my Native quality, as I hope above my misdemeanour. In the mean time I lament equally and more this sad conjuncture than the humble and abject condition wherein I am, and so friendly subscribe myself,  
To all the English Gentry, and whole City of London, in all duty a devoted Servant, PANTALEON, SA. Newgate, Decemb. 8. 1653.