A short and true Relation, of all what hath happened in Portugal unto the 23. of March 1641. since the Coronation of the illustrious King John the fourth, Duke of Braganza, solemnised the 15. of December, 1641.  
Together with the reason that hath moved the Portugals to cast off the King of Spain, and to free themselves by force of arms from his power.  
Don John by the Grace of God King of Portugal and Algarve, on this & th'other side of the African sea Lord of Guinea, the Conquered navigations & Commerce of Ethiopyia Arabia, Persia & the Indies Crowned the 15 of december: 1641:  
A. Michael de Vaas-Concellor Secretary; B: an Alderman of Albergaria his Compan: C. a, German: D: the King taking his oath E: the Princess Margarita: F: the Marguiz de Fereira G. the King's Coronation H: his rideing to the Chathedrall Church: ay: his rideing to the gate of Pe●eirin to receive the keys.  
IOhn the fourth King of Portugal and Algarve being son to the Duke of Braganza hath married Lovisa a daughter of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, being of the house of the gusmen, and coming from the right offspring of Edward son to Don Emanuel; the Commons had willingly chosen him long ago for their Prince, not only because of the yoke and great over-burdens which the Spaniards had laid upon them, but also because they would rather see in their kingdom a Prince borne there: Seeing the King of Spain now busy both in out-land, and domestic wars, they with a unanimous consent chose this Prince, unto whom God grant, that he may long reign and govern to his own glory, and the good of his subjects, and thereby the children of Don Antonio, will likewise get their own again.  
After that the King of Spain had caused to be published by a great Noble man, the last day of November 1640. a most heavy Decree, which made the Commons to murmur because of the extreme burdens; the chiefest and principal men of the country, which two years ago already minded such a thing to free themselves 〈◊〉 a convenient time from the extreme yoke of the castilians, 〈◊〉 now the Commons so inclinable to it, begun the first of De●●●ber 1640. to prepare themselves to put their intention into exe●●tion, beginning in the same manner as hereafter followeth.  
Upon Saturday being the first of this month, about nine of the clock, the Nobles of this City (having for many days together, as afterwards was plainly seen, resolved and consulted) coming with their men armed from their houses, went into the Court, and first of all into the secretary's Quarter, slew (A) there the Secretary Michael de Vasconsellos, and took presently all things into their possession, together with the High Dutch and Spanish Watch, and her highness' Princess Margarita, and some other of her Nobility; and the same time also, all the counsellors, namely those of the Chamber of Justice, high counsel, the Court and counsel of the King's revenues: And this being done, they came through the streets of this City with the two Standards of the Chamber, proclaiming the Duke of Braganza King, Don John the fourth: which thereupon also without any contradiction, was proclaimed by the Commons of the City, without slaying any man more, but him that's mentioned above, and another (B) counsellor or Alderman of Albergaria, who was then by mere accident in the secretary's Chamber, (C) and another being a German. Whereupon immediately Governors were chosen and elected by the said Nobles, with the two archbishops of Lisbon and Braga, which begun immediately to govern, and thereby the whole city was set in peace and quietness, albeit the tumult was so great as could be, especially there were set at liberty (in the name of the new King) out of two prisons in this city all the prisoners, excepting those, that were cast in prison for extraordinary theft, and albeit the same day no Court of Law was kept, yet no disorder and confusion happened: The aforesaid governors governed very well for five days together. The second day the Castle of the City was taken without making any shot against it, as also the Fort of Bethelem, the Fort of Cabesa Seca came likewise to be taken by a stratagem, and immediately thereupon posts and expresses were dispatched for the City of Ville Vilosa, which brought word of it to the King, and the same Saturday at midnight he had notice of it, and thereupon dispatched Expresses throughout the whole kingdom.  
(D) On Monday being the 3. of this month, the King was sworn in the City of Evora by the Marquis de Fereira: The Nobles and Magistrates of the said city and throughout the whole kingdom of Portugal it was proclaimed in the same form. Whereupon his majesty went by post, and upon Thursday being the 6. of this month about noon he came into this city, whereupon his Majesty immediately and the counsel of State sat at counsel to consult, how to maintain war, ordering and disposing all things requisite to be done, and being the Forts and Castles of S. Julian and Cascais refused to yield, order was given, and forces and Cannons were sent, wherewith they begun to batter the same, and at last being the 12. of the aforesaid month the Fort of S. Julian was surrendered, and Don Antonio Mascarensis was put into it for Governor and all the Forts of Algarve, Sentuvall, Port a Port had yielded already before together with those of Viana, and the Commanders as namely Alcaids were in all haste sent to their Cities to raise forces, and the Marquis de Ferreira and the Count of Vinnoso (which are said to be the chiefest) go as governors every one to his Jurisdiction, and on Saturday being the 15. of the aforesaid month his Majesty was sworn King in this City upon a public G theatre or Scaffold, which was made for that purpose near the palace where the sceptre was delivered unto him, and hath sworn to observe the Ordinances of the kingdom, and immediately thereupon he went on horseback in a habit embroidered with gold, and with a golden sceptre to the Cathedral under a (H) canopy accompanied by all the nobility a foot & bare head, & coming to the gate of Peloirin the keys of the I City were delivered unto him, and at his return from the cathedral he passed through the Rua nova and Calcetaria, and here in this city are expected every day (M) the Queen Dona Luysa and the Prince Don Sebastian, and the Infanta, which stayed behind at Villa Visosa: in Michael de Vasconcellos was seen an Example of the continuation of the fortunes of the world, who was come to such a height, that he commanded all the judgement seats and justices of this kingdom, his will was a law, made and unmade Earls, marquesses and Bishops: (O) He was slain with Bullets and stabs, and thrown out of a window from the place where he was dwelling in the Fort, and fell upon the Terreiro do Passo; where the people stripped him of his clothes, and his dead corpse lay there still all that day long and the next night following till 10. of the clock at Sunday, and then the Misericordia haled him from thence with a pair of the Negroes without a suit or shirt, beard or eyes or shape of a man: The same hour his house was pillaged so long till some stop was made: and the house where his Brother Adayan Bruga dwells, belonging unto him, which he had caused to be built Scaffans of the King being a rare building, (whence he had fled in woman's apparel) was likewise pillaged, and they begun to break down windows and doors, and if the governors had not sent thither a guard of soldiers, they would have totally pulled down the same. The aforesaid Adayan (after that no cloister would take him in) went in a priest's habit towards Lerya, where the Bishop his brother hid him; and it is thought, that he is gone towards Castille: The Government of his Majesty hath altered nothing in the Offices of the Commons, only hath cashiered the providor of the Alsandiga; because he was son in law to Diego soars and the Count of Custenheda, who was President of the Table of consciecne the assistants and contractors remain in their places, as they have been before: What in Castille is done, we know not as yet, because of this news, which is so great, whereof the whole world will speak, ambassadors are sent towards the North, and towards England is gone Don Antonio Almada, and for France the upper Menteiro chief Hunter; & for Holland Don Tristan de Mendosa, and for Rome the Bishop of Lamego, we shall see what good success their Ambassages will have, and so the reasons, which are to be set down and printed, and shall come abroad, and shall be added unto it. Her highness Margarita together with Marquis De la Puebla were imprisoned in the palace of Enxobregas being watched by two companies, they have allowed them yearly 14000. Duck at's for keeping of their table, in their moveables they were not touched the other Spaniards of note are kept in custody in the Castle, and many soldiers, that married there, gave up their names to serve under the Portugals. Hereupon his Majesty begun presently to govern, and all things were done in so good order that all the world cannot sufficiently wonder at it, for after that he had Mastered the Fort of S. Julian and all the Forts of his kingdom he sent for his counsel, and after that they appeared before him the last of December: His Majesty published and caused to be registered a decree which you shall have shortly printed in English.   

LONDON, Printed for Na. Butter. 1641.