NAP 
life not being exempted. In 164.7, a new tax was l a ‘d on 
fruit; which the people looked upon as the mod grievous 
oppreffion, the chief part of their fubiidence, during the 
fummer-months, being fruit, which in the kingdom of 
Naples is very plentiful and delicious. The edibt tor col¬ 
lating the new duty was no fooner publidied, than the 
people began to murmur in a tumultuous manner; and, 
when the viceroy came abroad, they furrounded his coach, 
bawling out to have their grievances redreffed. They 
were encouraged in their fedition, by the news that the 
citizens of Palermo had actually revolted on account of 
the impofition of new duties. The viceroy, therefore, 
apprehenfive of greater diforders, began to think of tak¬ 
ing od' the tax; but, thofe who farmed the tax having 
bribed fome of his favourites, he was by their means per- 
fuaded not to abolidi it. The indignation of the people, 
who had fufpeted his intention, was now greatly in- 
creafed, efpecially as they were privately excited by fe- 
veral malcontents. The farmers of the revenue, and all 
thofe concerned in railing the taxes, had incurred the 
hatred and deteftation of the people, particularly of 
Tommafo Aniello, commonly called Maffaniello.of Amalfi, 
a fifhermen, whole wife, having been ditcovered in fmug- 
gling a finall quantity of meal, was imprifoned, and con¬ 
demned to pay a fine of 100 ducats. 
MaiTaniello, a few years before, had come to Naples 
from Amalfi, where his father had been a filherman. At 
this time he was about twenty-four years of age, and the 
father of four childVen. He was of a middle ftature and 
an agreeable afpebt ; was diftinguifhed for his boldnefs, 
activity, and integrity : and had a great influence with 
his companions, by whom he w'as beloved and efieemed. 
As he was obliged even to fell his furniture to pay his 
wife’s fine, he had conceived an implacable hatred againft 
the farmers of the taxes, and was alfo moved with com¬ 
panion for the miferable ftate of the city and kingdom. 
He therefore formed a defign, with fome of his com¬ 
panions, to raile a tumult in the market-place on the 
feftival-day of the Carmelites, ufually celebrated about 
the middle of July, when between five or fix hundred 
youths entertain the people by a mock fight; one-half of 
them, in the character of Turks, defending a wooden 
caftle, which is attacked and ftormed by the other half in 
the character of Chriftjans. Mafianiello being appointed 
captain of one of thefe parties, and one Pione, who was 
privy to his defign, commanding the other, for feveral 
weeks before the feftival they were very diligent in re¬ 
viewing and training their followers, who were armed 
with Hicks and reeds; but a fmall and unforefeen accident 
tempted them to begin their enterprife without waiting 
for the feftival. 
On the 7th of July a difpute happening in the market¬ 
place betwixt the tax-gatherers and fome gardeners of 
Pozzuolo who had brought fome figs into the city, whe¬ 
ther the buyer or feller fltould pay the duty; after the 
tumult had continued feveral hours, Mafianiello, who 
was prefent with his company, excited the mob to pillage 
the office built in the market for receiving the duty, and 
to drive away the officers with ftones. The eledt of the 
people, who, by deciding againfl: the gardeners, had in- 
creafed the tumult, ran to the palace, and informed the 
viceroy, who moft imprudently neglefted all means of 
putting a flop to the commotion. Mafianiello, in the 
mean time, being joined by great numbers of people, 
ordered his young troop to fet fire to all the offices for 
the taxes through the city; which command being 
executed with difpatch, he then conduced them diretly 
to the palace, where the viceroy, inftead of ordering his 
Spaniffiand German guards to difperfe them, encouraged 
their infolence by timidly granting their demands. As 
they ruffled into the palace in a furious manner, he 
efcaped by a private door, and endeavoured to lave liint- 
felf in Caftel del Ovo; but, being overtaken by the rioters 
in the ftreets, he was trampled upon by them, and pulled 
$>y the hair and whilkers. Hoyever, by throwing fome. 
L E S. 539' 
handfuls of gold among them, he again efcaped, and took; 
fanctuary in a convent of Minims, where, being joined by 
the archbifhop of Naples, cardinal Filomarini, and leveral 
nobles, by their advice he figned a billet, by which he 
abolifhed all taxes upon provifions. As a means to quell 
the tumult, he likewife delired the cardinal to offer 
Mafianiello a penfion of 2400 crowns, wdio generoufly 
rejected the bribe; and declared, that, if the viceroy 
wmuld keep his word, he would find them obedient 
fubjets. 
It was now expedited that the tumult would ceafe ; but 
Mafianiello, upon his return to the market-place, being 
joined by feveral malcontents, among whom were Genuine 
and one Peronne, who had formerly been a captain of 
the Sbirri, lie was advifed by them to order the houfes of 
thofe concerned in railing the tax to be burned; which 
were accordingly in a few days reduced to affies, with all 
their rich furniture. Mafianiello being now abfolute 
mailer of the whole city, and being joined by great num¬ 
bers of people of defperate fortunes, he required the 
viceroy, who had retired to the Caftel Nuovo, to a lolifit 
all the taxes, and to deliver up the writ of exemption 
granted by Charles V. This new demand greatly em- 
barrafled the viceroy; but to appeafe the people, he drew 
up a fal'fe deed in letters of gold, and lent it to them by 
their favourite the duke of Matalone, who had before 
been in confinement. The fraud, however, being dif- 
covered, the duke was pulled from his horfe and mal-- 
treated by the mob, and at length committed as a pri- 
foner to Peronne. This accident, to the great joy of the 
viceroy, enraged the people againfl: the nobility, feveral. 
of whom they killed, burnt the houfes of others, and. 
threatened to extirpate them all. Mafianiello, in the 
mean time, tattered and half-naked, commanded his fol¬ 
lowers, who were now well armed, and reckoned about 
100,000 men, with a moft abfolute fway. He ate and 
flept little, gave his orders with great precifion and 
judgment, appeared full of moderation, without ambi¬ 
tion or interefted views. But, the duke of Matalone 
having procured his liberty by bribing Peronne, the 
viceroy imitated his example, and .fecretly corrupted 
Genuino to betray bis chief. A confpiracy was accord¬ 
ingly formed againft Mafianiello by Matalone and Pe¬ 
ronne; the duke, who was equally exafperated againft 
the viceroy, propofing that after his death his brother 
Don Joleph ihould head the rebels. 
Mafianiello, in the mean time, by means of thecardinai 
archbifhop, was negotiating a general peace and accom¬ 
modation ; but, while both parties were aflembling in the 
convent of the Carmelites, the banditti hired by Mata- 
Lone made an unfuccefsfuf. attempt upon Mafianiello’s 
life. His followers immediately killed 150 of them.. 
Peronne and D. Jofeph, being dilcovered to be concerned 
in the confpiracy, were likewile put to death, and the 
duke with great difficulty efcaped. Mafianiello by this 
confpiracy was rendered more fufpicious and fevere. He 
began to abule his power by putting feveral perfons to- 
death upon flight pretences; and, to force the viceroy to 
an accommodation, he cut off all communication with 
the caltles, which were unprovided with provilions and 
ammunition. The viceroy likewife, being afraid ieft the. 
French Ihould take advantage of the commotion, earneftly 
defired to agree to a treaty; which was accordingly con¬ 
cluded on the fifth day of the infurretion, by the me¬ 
diation of the archbilhop. By the treaty it was ftipu- 
lated, that all duties impofed fince the time of Charles V. 
Ihould be abolifhed ; that the writ of exemption granted 
by that emperor fltould be delivered to the people; that 
for the future no new taxes fltould be impoled ; that the 
vote of the eleft of the people fltould be equal to the. 
votes of the nobility; that an act of oblivion Ihould be 
granted for all that was paft; and that the people fhould 
continue in arms under Mafianiello till the ratification of 
the treaty by the king. 
By this treaty, no lefs than 10,000 perfons who fattened. 
upon. 
