Legates with Consular Power as began then to be us'd in other Provinces Besides the Provinces of the Empire were divided betwixt Augustus and the Senate so that in Spain only Betica or Andaluzia fell to the Senate Hereupon Hispania Vlterior had two Governous one over Betica appointed by the Senate the other over Lusitania chosen by Augustus Thus the greatest part of Spain being in Peace many Roman Colonies were founded which gave occasion to the Natives to change their Manners and Language for those of the Romans as Strabo Witnesseth In the heighth of this Prosperity when Spain Flourish'd with Riches and Plenty there broke out a New War which proved more Fierce and Bloody than was imagin'd This War was begun by the Cantabri a fierce People till then not intirely subduced by the Romans as being the stubbornest Nation of Spain and protected by the harshness of the Country they Inhabited Ptolemy says the Cantab. i border'd on the East upon the Antigones on the West upon the Lungones on the South they were bounded by the River Ebro and on the North by the Cantabrian-Sea or Bay of Biscay Their principal Towns were Juliobriga and Vellica Others and with reason extend the bounds of Cantabria as far as the Pyrenean Mountains At that time the Cantabri were a rude and fierce People and had no use of Gold or Silver The Women as well as the Men were of large Stature on their heads they wore a dress like a Turbant and not unlike to what the Women of Biscay now use The Women Tilled the Land and when they were Deliver'd of their Children the Men lay in and they tended them as is used now in Brasil In their Dances they made a Noise with their Fingers and Castanets The Men brought the Portion when they Married They had always poison prepared to kill themselves rather than suffer any Violence In order to Commence the War they stirr'd up the People of Asturias and Gallicia to take up Arms and that done made incursions into the Neighbouring Country that was subject to the Romans This did not only strike a Terror into the Natives but perplex'd the Emperor Augustus fearing it might be the beginning of a more dangerous War than others expected Augustus being come into Spain forces resorted to him from all parts so that he gather'd a formidable Army They march'd towards Biscay and incamp'd near Segisama suppos'd to be that now call'd Brisama in Guipuscoa betwixt Aspeitia and Tolosa Then being divided into three parts they soon subdu'd all the Neighbouring Country The Cantabri not trusting to their own strength to avoid coming to a Battle withdrew with their Goods and Families unto the Mountains which prolong'd the War and made it be feared it would last long Augustus what with vexation and what with the unwholesomeness of the Air fell Sick and was carry'd away to Tarragona Caius Antistius and Pub. Firmius were left to prosecute the War in Galicia Pub. Carisius in Asturias M. Agrippa was left with the Supreme Command He was then the Emperor's Favourite and afterwards marry'd his Daughter Julia. Agrippa gathered a Fleet from Britain to furnish him with Provisions and at the same time to straiten the Cantabri by Sea Hunger pressing the Cantabri they resolv'd to try the Fortune of a Battle but being a rude People under no Command and without Sense of Honour they were easily put to the rout Upon the Coast of the Ocean near to Segisama rises the Mountain Hirmius by the Latins called Vinius of difficult ascent where many of them that fled sav'd themselves The Romans to avoid encountring with the strength of the place and with Men that were desperate drew a Trench quite round and fortify'd it So those miserable People were reduc'd to such extremity they being obstinate not to surrender and the Romans not to quit them that the greatest part Perished A Town near Brisama then called Aracil now Arraxil after a long siege was taken and destroyed by the Romans Mean while Antistius and Firmius were not idle in Gallicia but drew a Trench about the Mountain Midulia 15 Leagues in Compass where a great number of those People were retir'd and after suffering the utmost extremities like the Cantabri part of them slew themselves with their Swords and others Drank the poisonous juice of a Tree that grows there In Asturias the War was carry'd on with the like success for those People thinking to surprize Carisius who had divided his Army into three parts their design being discover'd by the Tregeceni their Confederates were themselves oppress'd by Carisius who came upon them when they least expected it Such as escaped fled to the City Lancia now Oviedo where they Fortified themselves and held out a long Siege but were at last forc'd to surrender and submit to the Conqueror Thus Galicia Asturias and Cantabria were reduc'd into the form of a Province Augustus the War being ended returned into Cantabria where he pardoned the Multitude but lest the roughness of the Mountains might again encourage them to Rebel he caused them to come down and live in the plain Country and also to give a certain number of Hostages Many of the most obstinate were sold as Slaves Great was the Joy at Rome at the News of this Success It was decreed that Augustus should Triumph for having intirely subdu'd Spain in the 198th Year after their first entrance into it under the command of Gneius Cepius Calvus which was a longer time than they spent in conquering any other Province Augustus would not accept of the Triumph but Sports were Celebrated in the Camp and the Temple of Janus at Rome was now the fourth time shut The Soldiers that had serv'd their appointed time according to the Roman Laws were discharg'd and Lands given them in that Country we now call Estremadura then a part of Lusitania where on the Banks of Guadiana they founded a Colony for that reason call'd Emerita Augusta now Merida in its time one of the principal Cities of Spain Rasis the Arab relates things almost incredible of its Grandeur and farther says it was destroyed by the Moors at their first coming into Spain On the Banks of the River Ebro where before stood a Town called Salduba was founded a Colony nam'd Caesar Augusta now Zaragoça the Capital of the Kingdom of Aragon Another City was built on the Borders of Portugal and called Pax Augusta now corruptly Badajoz Braga before known by the name of Bracara had that of Augusta given it At the same time another City was founded among the Celtiberi by the name of Augustobriga where now is a Village called Muro a League from Agreda Another of the same name not far from Guadalupe where is now Villar Pedroso and many Monuments of Antiquity Augustus returned to Tarragona where he was the eighth and ninth time appointed Consul there he received Embassadors from India and Scythia so far was the fame of
to their Party but not being able to prevail banish'd him to the inward part of France and set the Abbot Remigius in his place All things were carry'd on violently and without regard to Equity or Justice so they call'd out of France to their assistance the Jews who had before been Banish'd the Dominions of the Goths Paul being a Man of great Wisdom and Experience was appointed General to quell this Rebellion with such Forces as were thought sufficient to oppose the Revolters All fell out contrary to expectation for Paul being false in his heart march'd slowly and gave the Rebels time to grow strong and at the same time he contriv'd how the chief of the Goths might fall off from the King By the way he agreed with Ranosindus Duke of Tarragona and Hildigisus Gardingus which was a dignity like to a Lord Lieutenant of a County Both of them were Men of note and by their means he possess'd himself of Barcelona Girona and Vique Cities in Catalonia Their Forces being thus increas'd they resolv'd to march into France and join Hilpericus not doubting they should be then in a condition to make head against the King Argebaudus Archbishop of Narbonne thought to have kept the Rebels out of that City but they were so quick upon him that he was forc'd to temporize and seemingly join with them rather through fear than affection Paul having enter'd the City call'd together the Citizens and Souldiers and after reproving the Archbishop for having offer'd to keep him out Condemn'd the Election of Wamba as illegal and advis'd to proceed to a new one Ranosindus with a loud Voice cry'd out he knew none so fit and deserving to be a King as Paul himself This was only executing in publick what they in private had before contriv'd All that were of his Party being mix'd with the Croud approv'd of what had been said with great Acclamations whilst the wiser sort were silent not daring to gainsay Thus Paul was declar'd King and a Crown which King Recaredus had offer'd to St. Felix put upon his Head So far had the Spirit of Rebellion transported them that they seiz'd not only the Riches of the publick but laid their Sacrilegious hands upon the Treasures of the Church Hilperick Earl of Nismes the first that rais'd this Rebellion consented with the others and so all the Cities of Gallia Gothica besides a great part of the Province Tarraconensis which follow'd the Example of their Duke Ranosindus Paul grown Proud with this Success sent a Challenge to the King full of bitter Invectives and Reproaches upon which I believe that vulgar error was grounded which makes Wamba of base Parentage as if he had been rais'd to the Throne from the Plough which is certainly a great mistake for he was of the Chief Nobility of the Goths and one of the greatest Favourites in the Courts of those Kings Wamba understanding what Paul had done called a Council of his Nobles to consult whether it were better immediately to advance with what force he had or return to Toledo to increase his Power The more resolute were for losing no time but oppressing the Enemy before they were grown stronger the more Cautious advised to gather new Forces and leave all things setled in Spain The King having weighed the Arguments on both sides resolved to make up by Celerity what he wanted in number of Men and having exhorted his Nobles to stand by him and relieve their Friends in distress his words were so Efficacious that all Men taking New Courage the War of Navarre was concluded in seven days which was a good Omen of future Success The Army was impatient to meet their Enemies so they Marched towards Calahorra and Huesca and came upon the Frontiers of Catalonia with incredible speed Here the Army was divided into three parts one Marched to Castrolibya the chief Town of Cerdania the second to Vique and the Third to the Sea-Coast to wast that Country The King himself followed with the flower of the Army He punished many Soldiers for Offering Violence to the Country People and forcing of Women for which Crimes he caused them to be Circumcised as a punishment to them and example to others Being come to Barcelona the Metropolis of Catalonia he easily made himself Master of it and secured the heads of the Rebels to be punished according to their Crimes Thence he Marched to Girona which was delivered to him by the Bishop called Amador whom not long before Paul thought to have secured to his interest by a Letter in which he directed him to deliver the City to the first that came Here the Army rested two days and passed the Pyrenean Mountains without meeting any Opposition Beyond the Mounts they took and plundered Three Towns Caucoliberis that is Colivre Vultuaria and Castrolibya beside another shutup betwixt the Hills and therefore called Clausura in this they took Ranosindus and Hildigisus two heads of the Rebels Witimirus was with a Garrison in a Town called Sosdonia but not thinking himself safe fled to Narbonne where Paul still lay contriving how to hinder the King from passing the Mountains Finding his Forces too weak he left that City to Witimirus and retired to Nismes where he expected Succours from France and Germany Wamba having passed the Mountains and incamped in the plain stayed there two Days till his other Forces that were dispersed several ways came up and thence sent Four Officers with a considerable Body of Men to take Narbonne a Noble City on the Frontiers of France These Forces being come before the City sent in to Summon it they within answered with scorn which so provoked the Soldiers that they gave a furious Assault that lasted three hours at the end of which having drove the defendants off the Walls they fired the Gates apply'd scaling Ladders and so entred the City Witimirus took Sanctuary in a Church but was nevertheless drawn from our Ladies Altar and secured Argebaudus the Archibishop and Galtricia the Dean were also taken and wounded by the Soldiers in their Fury After the taking of Narbonne the Rebels began to go down the wind and the Loyal party to increase The Loyalists pursued their success and with the same ease took the Cities Magalona Agatha and Beziers where many chief of Rebels were taken and among them Remigius Bishop of Nismes Gumildus the Bishop Magalona fled to Paul at Nismes a City in those days for the Number of the Inhabitants beauty of Buildings and strength of Walls inferior to none in Gallia Narbonensis Against this City the King sent Four Resolute Generals but they wanted Conduct and Engines for Battering the Walls With them went 30000 Men. Being come in sight of the Town they furiously charged the Enemy that came out to meet them The fight was Bloody and lasted all Day till Night parted them each side boasting of the Victory but the King's Men were the first that sounded the Retreat It
assembled such as he thought fit with whom he expostulated the Madness of the Mutiniers shewing how absolute Necessity and not Affection had obliged him to Capitulate with the Enemy when no other way was left to save the City from perishing by Sword and Famine His Words made them calm and the People were pacified Many times Seditions are as easily suppressed as raised What became of the Moor who caused the Mutiny is not known it may be imagined he fled King Boabdil warned by the Danger past and fearing that before the expiration of the Days agreed upon for delivering up the City new Troubles and Tumults might arise he immediately sent a Letter to King Ferdinand with a Present of two choice Horses a Cymiter and some Furniture He advertised him of what had hapned in the City and how the People had Mutinied therefore inviting him to come and take possession speedily lest Delay might produce some Alteration In short he told him since God had so ordained it he would the next day deliver up the Alhambra and Kingdom to him as Conqueror This Letter was brought to the Camp upon New-Year's Day It is easie to imagin how great Satisfaction it gave to King Ferdinand He ordered all things to be in a readiness the Day following for his Entrance and that Day is still kept a Festival at Granada in Memory of the Taking of that City Having laid aside the Mourning he wore for his Son-in-Law Prince Alonso of Portugal and put on his Royal Robes he set out towards the Castle with his Army in the same Order as if going to engage the Enemy After him followed the Queen and her Children then the Nobility clad in Cloth of Gold and rich Silks When the King came in this pompous manner near to the Alhambra Boabdil the Little King came out to meet him with 50 Horse He offered to alight and kiss the Victor's Hand but King Ferdinand would not permit it Then fixing his Eyes upon the Ground with a sorrowful Countenance he said We are your Slaves Invincible King we deliver up this City and Kingdom to you not doubting you will use us with Clemency and Moderation This done he put into his hands the Keys of the Castle King Ferdinand gave them to the Queen she to the Prince her Son and he to D. In̄igo de Mendoça Earl of Tendilla whom the King appointed Governor of that City and Captain General of that Kingdom D. Peter de Granada was made head Alguazil of the City and D. Alonso his Son Admiral of that Sea The King entred the City with a good Party of Horse A great Number of Noblemen and Prelates followed among them the Chief were the Prelates of Toledo and Sevil the Master of Santiago the Marquess of Cadiz and F. Ferdinand de Talavera who of Bishop of Avila was now Elect Archbishop of Granada He having offered up his Prayers as is usual set up the Banner carried before the Cardinal of Toledo upon the highest Tower and on the sides of it the King 's and the Standard of Santiago This Action was followed by the Acclamations of the whole Army Then the King kneeling returned Thanks to Almighty God for that the Empire of the Infidels was extirpated in Spain and the Holy Banner of the Cross set up in that City where the Mahometan Superstition had so long prevailed and prayed that his Mercies might be continued unto him After the Prayer all the great Men came to congratulate his Success and kneeling kissed his Hand The same they all did to the Queen and Prince This Ceremony being ended they returned in the same Order after Dinner to the Camp To the Little King was given the Valley of Purchena not long before taken from the Moors in the Kingdom of Murcia with a sufficient Revenue but he soon after went over into Africk For they who have once been Kings cannot ever patiently submit to lead a private Life 500 Christian Captives were according as had been capitulated set free without Ransom They the next day after hearing Mass came in Procession to prostrate themselves before the King They thanked the Soldiers by whose means they obtained Liberty and commending their Bravery called them Fathers of their Country Before the King entred the City the Army took possession of the Gates Towers and Castles That done upon the 4th day they entred in the same manner as they had done before All the Army sang Hymns of Praise and Thanksgiving to Almighty God for their great Success King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth being richly clothed in the prime of their Age and having conquered that Kingdom seemed to appear more Majestick than before They shined above all others and were equal as to themselves Every one looked upon them as more than Human and sent from Heaven for the Glory of Spain It was they that restored Justice which before them was corrupted enacting excellent Laws for the publick Benefit They settled Religion restored Peace and enlarged their Territories not only in Spain but at the same time in the utmost Bounds of the World What is most to be commended they bestowed Honours and Preferments not according to Birth or for Favour but proportionably to the Merits of every one which stirred up their Subjects to Virtue and Learning Both the King and Queen were of a middle Stature their Limbs well proportioned their Countenances graceful pleasing and yet grave their Mien majestick but their Complexion somewhat swarthy especially the King 's was tanned with being always in the Field his Hair Chesnut-colour and long his Beard trimmed after the manner of that Age his Eye-brows large his Head bald his Mouth small his Lips red his Teeth little and thin his Back broad his Neck streight his Voice sharp quick of Speech of a sharp Wit of a sound Judgment of a courteous Disposition and easie of Access In Martial Affairs he was expert in Matters of Government not to be parallel'd so great a Lover of Business that it seemed to be his Delight and Diversion His Body was not pampered with Pleasures but inured to Labour His Diet was temperate and his Garb modest He was an excellent Horseman When young he was addicted to Cards and Dice grown more stayed his chief Sport was Hawking The Queen had a good Face fair Hair dark Eyes she used no Paints or Washes and had a singular Modesty and Gravity in her Looks She was very Devout and a Lover of Learning bore her Husband Affection but mixed with Jealousie She had some knowledge of the Latin Tongue which her Husband wanted having no Learning given him in his Youth yet he loved to read History and converse with Learned Men. The same Day that King Ferdinand was born as some relate a certain Carmelite Friar of Naples esteemed a Holy Man said to King Alonso Unkle to King Ferdinand This Day in the Kingdom of Aragon is born a Prince of your Family Heaven promises him a large Empire great
himself Propretor but promised to send Corn and Cloaths for the Soldiers Claudius Nero was appointed as soon as the War of Capua was concluded to go over into Spain with 11000 Foot and 1100 Horse Nero landed near Tarragona and having joyned Marcius and Fonteius marched with speed towards Andaluzia in quest of Asdrubal who was incamped at a Wood between Illiturgum and Mentisa supposed to be Montizon or Cazorla where he possest himself of the Passes thro' which of necessity the Enemy was to retire Asdrubal had recourse to Policy and feigning he would take Conditions gained so much time that his Army by Night stole away over the Mountains and the Roman General too late discovering the cheat that had been put upon him offered the Carthaginians Battle which they cautiously avoided At the same time in Rome Publius Cornelius Scipio a Youth of 24 Years of Age but of great hopes was chosen to go Proconsul into Spain with 10000 Foot and 1000 Horse Sillanus was appointed Propretor in the place of Nero and Scipio chose his Brother Lucius and Caius Lelius for his Legats or Lieutenants This is that Lelius who was thought to govern all the Actions of Scipio and of whom it was commonly said that he composed the Play and Scipio acted it He landed in Spain about the end of the Year he commended the Soldiers for what they had done honoured Marcius as he deserv'd and ever after made great account of him At the beginning of the Spring in the Year of Rome 544. Scipio took the Field with his own and the Forces of his Confederates resolving to pass the River Ebro and possess himself of Carthagena a City opposite to Africk the strongest the Enemy held and where they kept the Spanish Hostages and laid up their Magazines His design was well grounded for that there was but a small Garrison in the Town and the Carthaginian Generals were at a distance Mago near Cadiz Asdrubal the Son of Gisgo at the mouth of Guadiana and the other Asdrubal in Carpetania or the Kingdom of Toledo To Lelius was given the command of the Fleet with Orders that he should steep near to the Land Army which in all consisted of 25000 Foot 2500 Horse In seven Days Scipio came before Carthagena and resolv'd to Attack it the next day by Sea and Land Mago who commanded in the Town was not idle but provided all things for his defence This City is seated on a rising Ground over the Harbour opposite to which is an Island which secures it against all Winds it is encompassed by the Sea on three sides and that which is on the Land side looking towards the North is of difficult ascent and was fortified with a good Wall Scipio's Men attempted to scale this Wall but the Spaniards that defended it did not only make good their Post but sallying obliged them to retire in disorder till fresh Supplies coming to their relief the Spaniards were forced to take to the shelter of the Wall This caused so great a Consternation in the Town that many quitted their Posts and the Besiegers laying hold of the opportunity laid their Ladders to the Wall by Sea and Land The Besieged perceiving the danger that threatned them took heart again and throwing showers of Stones and all other Weapons again repulsed the Enemy On the West side of the Town was a shallow which the Fisher-men said a Man might walk over at low Water Tho' the Soldiers had taken no rest after the other Attacks Scipio orders them to assault the Wall in two places to the end that the Townsmen being all bent upon the defence of those parts his Men might enter at that third which by reason of the Water was weaker and unregarded His Orders were punctually obeyed and all things succeeded according to his wishes for the Soldiers entering on that side open'd a Gate and let in their Companions Thus the Romans in a moment were possess'd of the City and Mago having no hopes of maintaining himself delivered the Citadel The Booty was great many Engines of War 74 Colours 63 great Ships that were in the Harbour laden with Provision and Ammunition and 10000 Prisoners besides Slaves were taken All the Citizens of Carthagena were set at liberty and the more to oblige them their Goods restored Part of the Hostages were deliver'd to the Embassadors of their Cities the rest honourably entertain'd and among them the Wife of Mandonius and the Children of Indibilis Moreover a beautiful young Maid being brought to Scipio by the Soldiers he would scarce see her to avoid Temptation and Suspicion but commanded her to be taken care of and restor'd to Luceyus a Noble Celtiberian to whom she was Betroth'd giving her in Dower the Gold her Parents offer'd for her Ransom This goodness and liberality so highly oblig'd that Youth that soon after he return'd to serve the Romans with 1400 Horse and continu'd in the service with great Zeal and Affection The Soldiers that first entred the Town were rewarded according to their Merits and because there arose a dispute betwixt Sextus Digitius and Quintus Trebellius about the Mural Crown each pretending he was the first that mounted the Wall and the Army was divided about it the General decreed that both should have it which gave full satisfaction to all Men. To Lelius was given a Crown of Gold and 30 Oxen for Sacrifice and he was sent to carry the news to Rome in a Galley of five Slaves to an Oar and with him Mago and five Senators of Carthage Next the Walls of the City that had been damag'd were repair'd all which being perfected Scipio at the end of the Year returned with great Honour and Reputation to Tarragona where he had appointed an Assembly of the Confederate Spaniards Lelius being come to Rome laid before the Senate the great advantage that had accru'd to them by the taking of Carthagena But their satisfaction was much abated by the news brought them that 5000 Numidian Horse and other African Forces were ready to be sent from Carthage into Spain besides great Recruits that Asdrubal Barchinus was bringing into Italy to reinforce Hannibal who had lately in the Territory of the Samnites now part of Abruzzo routed the Roman Army killing the Pretor Genius Fulvius and twelve Tribunes with 13000 Men as some will have it or 7000 according to others CHAP. VII Publius Scipio Routs Asdrubal and drives the Carthaginians quite out of Spain other notable Actions of his there Cornelius Lentulus and Lucius Manlius succeed him and Overthrow the Spaniards that had Revolted THE taking of Carthagena changed the face of Affairs in Spain and many inclined to the Roman Interest for most Men follow the greater Power Among the rest Edeseus a Man of great note came over to the Romans because they had restored his Wife and Children that were among the Hostages Mandonius and Indibilis Princes of the Celtiberi obtain'd Pardon for the late Miscarriages and were
the foot of the Alps the two Armies met the Battle was bloody and obstinately fought On a sudden there arose a Storm of Wind Rain Thunder and Lightning which drove so upon the Rebels that they could not weild their Weapons as Claudian a famous Poet of those times relates it 20000 Goths who served under the Emperor's pay since the death of Athanaricus did great service and thus at length Theodosius having made a great slaughter became Master of the Field Eugenius after the Fight was killed by his own Men and Arbogestes made away with himself This Battle was fought on the 17th of September 394. The same Year Theodosius named his Younger Son Honorius his Companion in the Empire and soon after dy'd of a Dropsie at Milan on the 17th of January in the following Year at the Age of 50 having Reigned 16 Years and 2 Days He was twice Married by Placilla his first Wife he left the two Emperors Arcadius and Honorius by Galla the Daughter of Valentinian and Justina he had only one Daughter named Galla Placidia St. Ambrose and St. Hierom in particular Sermons to that purpose spoke the Praises of this excellent Prince Aurelius Victor says he well deserved the Name Theodosius which signifies Given by God for his great Actions and Virtues tho' it had not been given him by his Father It was a sufficient demonstration of his Zeal for Religion that he caused the Pagan Temples which Constantine had shut up to be utterly demolished After the Death of the Great Theodosius his Sons took upon them the Administration of the Government Arcadius had the East and Honorius the West They were more Religious and Virtuous than Fortunate for in their time the Majesty of the Roman Empire which from a small beginning was raised to such a height that it laboured under its own weight began to fall and never more recovered it self By the Death of Pope Siricius Anastasius was promoted to the Government of the Church in whose time the first Council of Toledo was held in Spain and commenced on the first of September in the Year 400. This Synod condemned the Heresie of Priscillian and reconciled to the Church the two Bps. Simphosius and Dutinius and a Priest called Comasius who all Abjured it The Government of the Empire was divided in this manner Gildus commanded in Africk Rufinus in the East and Stilico in the West This last was a Person of greater Authority than the other two as being Allied to the Emperors for Serena his Wife was Daughter to Honorius the Brother of Theodosius the Great and he was Father-in-Law to Honorius the Emperor Theodosius had thus ordered that these three might be in the nature of Tutors to his Sons and ease them of the burden of the Government but they giving way to Ambition and forgetting their duty attempted to usurp the power and so destroy the Empire Gildus was the first that rebelled in Africk His own Brother Mazecel was sent to suppress him who vanquished and slew him and then himself usurped the name of Emperor and came to the same end Rufinus by birth a Britain or French-man stirred up the Goths and other barbarous Nations but the Treason being discovered lost his Head These Examples were not of force enough to deterr Traytors for Stilico intending to make his own Son Eucherius Emperor and destroy the Children of Theodosius the Great invited several Nations to invade the Empire and particularly made a private agreement with the Alans a fierce People and the Vandals of whose Country he was The Goths were the first that appeared in Arms offended that their pay was kept from them which was done designedly After over-running all Thracia and the Neighbouring Countries they broke into Italy in two Bodies Radagasius one of their chiefs without any opposition pierced as far as Tuscany and there near Florence was slain with all his Men by Stilico He might have destroyed Alaricus who commanded the other party but would not to keep the Emperor still in awe but worsted him and then assigned his Men places to inhabit in the farthest part of France Stilico was unwilling they should leave Italy and therefore sent one Saul a Jew to fall upon them who was killed and his forces routed and the Goths provoked by this injury returned into Italy where they stayed some Years The treachery of Stilico was not suspected at first but being discovered soon after his head was cut off in the Year 408. His Wife Serena and Son Eucherius were also executed and Honorius put away his Wife in hatred to her Father Stilico Great was the mischief the Goths did throughout all Italy and never ceased till they sate down before Rome the head of World which after a long siege they entred putting all within to Fire and Sword Rome was taken in the Year 410 according to the best computations Placidia Sister to the two Emperors was there taken and marryed to Ataulfus Brother-in-Law to Alaricus and soon succeeded in the Kingdom he dying at Cosencia a City of the Brutij now Calabria By means of Placidia Ataulfus and Honorius agreed and the Goths went to inhabit those parts of France and Spain which lie next the Pyrenean Mountains Hence they took occasion to make themselves Masters of all Spain and a good part of France as will appear in the following Book THE History of SPAIN The Fifth BOOK CHAP. I. The coming of several Barbarous Nations into Spain as the Vandals Alans Suevians Silingians and Goths Their Original and where they settled WE shall now Treat of a mighty power of sundry fierce and barbarous Nations which like an inundation spread themselves through all parts of Spain these were the Vandals Alans Suevians and Silingians But above all the Goths who having quitted their Ancient Seats and Habitations after filling all from East to West with the terror of their Name and Actions and over-running all Italy at last settled in Spain and there having partly expell'd and partly subdued the other Nations for above 300 years maintained their Sovereignty There is no doubt but all these People and others like them at several times came from the North and entred the Provinces of the Roman Empire their own Native Countries being overstocked with Multitudes of People and the barrenness of its soil obliging them to seek more plentiful and pleasant Seats As this in general is certain so is it no less doubtful from what particular parts or provinces each of these Nations came there is great variety of Opinions and the ignorance of those times gives us but little light to discover the Truth Pliny places the Vandals in that part of Germany about Pomerania tho' Dio says the springs of the River Albis or Elbe are in the Mountains of Vandalia The Burgundians are to be reckoned among the Vandals taking their name from Burgs signifying Villages in which they lived dispersed and after settling among the Hedui
to Death many Men of note some on just causes others upon false informations and enriched the Crown with their Estates His chief aim was so to weaken all other Families that none might aspire to the Crown Many not only of the Commonalty but even the Nobility Terrified with these proceedings submitted themselves to the King's Will and embraced the Arian Heresie Among others Vincencius Bishop of Zaragoca turning Arian by his ill Example drew many into the same ruin Severus Bishop of Malaga and Licinianus of Carthagena his Contemporaries writ against him The Kingdom of the Goths which by these practices seemed to increase in Power was at the same time Augmented by the additions of the Dominions of the Suevians in Spain which hap'ned in this manner King Eboricus the Son of Myrus was outed that Kingdom by Andeca a Noble Man who was Marryed to Sisegunda Eboricus his Mother-in-Law Not content with usurping the Crown he forced him to enter into a Monastery and change the Royal Robes of a Religious Habit. Eboricus was a Friend and Confederate of the Goths for which reason Leuvigildus appear'd in Arms against the Tyrant Him he overthrew in Battle took Prisoner and having stript him of the Regalia shaved his Head which according to the Custom of those times was degrading and making him incapable of being a King and after all banished him to Beja a City in Portugal These disorders gave Opportunity to one Malaricus to Rebel and being assisted by the People to take upon him the Title of King Leuvigildus soon quieted this Rebellion and made himself Master of all Galicia Eboricus 't is supposed continued as a private Man in the Monastery and the Goth had no inclination to restore him Thus the Kingdom of the Suevians that had long flourished and possessed a considerable part of Spain for the space of 174 Years was totally extinct in the Year 586. This same year Leuvigildus dyed at Toledo in the 18th Year after he began to Reign with his Brother Many Authors testify that before he dyed during his last Sickness he abjured the Arian Heresie and recommended the Catholick Religion to his Son Recaredus Our Historians relate that tho' Leuvigildus in his Heart was a Catholick yet he did not publickly abjure Arianism but temporized for fear of his Subjects Maximus says he was present at the King's Death and saw signs of his Repentance and Tears He places his decease on the second of April in the Year 587. Leuvigildus his Conversion is related to have been forwarded by several Miracles Among others it is said that in the War against his Son the Soldiers plundering a Monastery of the invocation of St. Martin near Carthagena the Monks fled into an Island and one of the Soldiers pursuing the Abbot fell down dead whereupon the King caused all that had been taken from the Monastery to be restored Another time in a dispute that was held about Religion the Catholick in testimony of the Truth he maintained took a burning Ring out of the Fire with his bare hand and received no harm which the Arian durst not do These and other Miracles caused the King to waver in his Mind He asked of an Arian Bishop why they did not work such wonders in defence of Faith He replyed he had often given sight to the blind and restored their hearing to the deaf but did it not publickly to shun Ostentation yet since it was requisite he would do it in sight of the World Soon after the King and Bishop being together an Arian who at his Instigation had feigned himself blind called upon him earnestly to restore him his sight All Men expected to see the Miracle which hap'ned contrary to what they thought for no sooner did the Bishop touch his Eyes but he was struck blind which that wretch being sensible of he openly Confessed the whole contrivance These things caused the Arian Heresie to be much slighted and the more for that during four Years continually all Spain but especially the Kingdom of Toledo was wasted by Locusts which the Commonalty said was a judgment of God for the Death of Ermenegildus and for Persecuting the Catholicks By the testimony of St. Isidorus this commendation may be given to Leuvigildus that he Corrected the Laws of the Goths at that time much corrupted abolishing some and enacting others Paul Deacon of Merida who then lived writes that Nunctus an Abbot of great Sanctity coming out of Africk to Merida to visit the Sepulcher of St. Olalia went soon after into the desart to shun the sight of Women where he was maintained by the King till the Country people of the Neighbourhood killed him upon what account is not known The King did not punish this Crime but God Almighty did for all the Murderers were possessed with Devils To conclude with Luevigildus he was the first King of the Goths that wore Garments different from the rest of the People the first that took upon him the Grandeur of a King and made use of a Crown and Scepter CHAP. X. The Reign of Recaredus his and his Peoples Conversion Conspiracies against him detected and punished He overthrows the Franks The third Council of Toledo THE Funeral Rites being performed to Leuvigildus with that State and Magnificence that was requisite Recaredus bent his Thoughts upon the setling his Court and the Government of his Kingdom His first care was to appease the Kings of France and in Order to it his first Wife Bada being Dead he indeavoured to contract an Alliance with Childebert King of Lorrain by Marrying his other Sister Clodosinda The better to effect this he sent to excuse himself of having had any hand in the Death of Ermenegildus but that on the contrary it had grieved him to the Heart The time of concluding so important an affair was not yet come but it was near at hand By the advice of the two Brothers Leander and Fulgentius he being already a Catholick in his Heart began to think of establishing the true Religion in Spain yet for the present was forced to dissemble rather than mistime such an undertaking He weighed the humour of the Commonalty which in matters of Religion is better managed by art than force Therefore he resolved to use his utmost industry cherishing some bearing with others and bestowing great Favours upon others to gain the affections of all Men. All things succeeded as he desired for the King's Will being made known as well the Nobility as Commonalty consented to it and what at first appeared so difficult was performed with more ease than could have been imagined Thus all the Goths and such of the Suevians as had till then persisted in their former Errors by a general consent embraced the Catholick Religion and at the same time hoped to gain the Favour of their Sovereign who besides the good endowments of his mind was of a Graceful Countenance and Stature which
the fourth from the false Prophet Mahomet in a great Battle overthrew Gregory the Roman General and Governour of Africk for the Romans and by that means possest himself of all that vast Province The Goths of old were Masters of Mauritania Tingitana and particularly of Ceuta and the Country about it All the rest except this part fell into the hands of the Mahometans who proud with success from that time founded a new Empire in Africk whose Kings in whom according to the Custom of those People was the Spiritual as well as Temporal Power were called Miramamolines which signifies Princes of the Faithful As those of the same People in Asia stiled themselves Caliphs Spain is divided from Africk only by the narrow streight of Gibraltar Many were of Opinion this rise of those People threatned Spain and their fear was much increased by an extraordinary Eclipse of the Sun which hap'ned in the Reign of Recesuinthus so great that the day was totally darkned as the Archbishop D. Rodrigo affirms which they interpreted as an Omen of great mischiefs to ensue Recesuinthus quelled the People of Navarre who were in Arms and made incursions wasting the Country about them Besides he corrected the Laws of the Goths abolishing some and instituting many new ones the Number whereof as appears by the Book called Fuero jusgo is no less than that of all the others published by the Kings his Predecessors By these Actions the King was advanced to the highest pitch of Honour respected by his People and well esteemed abroad when Death took him away on the first of September in the Morning and in the Year of our Lord 672. having Reigned from the time his Father declared him his Companion in the Throne 23 Years 6 Months and 11 Days after the Death of his Father 21 Years and 11 Months Two Leagues from Valladolid formerly as some think called Pincia is a Town named Wamba before called Gerticos here the King dyed having been removed from Toledo to try it the change of Air would do him good His Body was buryed in the Church of that Town where his Tomb is still to be seen but the Bones were removed by King Alonso the Wise to Toledo and lay'd in the Church of St. Leocadia according to a received Tradition in that City near the high Altar on the right side Philip the Second of Spain in the Year 1575. caused the said Tomb to be opened in his Presence as also another on the left side of the Altar no Inscription was found within only the Bones wrapped in Cotton and laid in Wooden Chests but Learned Men that were present believed that on the right hand to be the Tomb of Recesuinthus as being the Ancientest and the other that of King Wamba which was also Translated to Toledo by the same King Alonso Near Duen̄as which is beyond Valladolid on the Banks of the River Pisuerga is an Ancient Church dedicated to St. John Baptist the workmanship Gothick adorned with Marble and Jasper-stone In it is an Inscription in six lines which declares it was built by King Recesuinthus and finished in the Year 661. whence some Learned Men infer the Patrimonial Estate of those two Kings was near about that place In the time of Recesuinthus Constantine was Emperour of the East and Adeodatus govern'd the Church of Rome Upon the Kings Death there ensu'd a new and bloody War in that part of the Dominion of the Goths that lay in Gallia Narbonnensis Ambition was the cause of this evil which bred great distractions in the Gothish Kingdom when they were in fullness of Peace after having vanquish'd all Foreign Enemies King Recesuinthus leaving no Issue to succeed him his Brothers either for their Age or some other reasons were not thought fit to inherit Hereupon the Nobles met and by common consent made choice of Wamba a Man of Quality who had been the Chief Favourite to the late Kings besides he was a good Soldier very discreet and so modest that he refus'd to accept of that mighty honour excusing himself on account of his great Age and begging they would not lay so heavy a burden upon him He persisting firm in refusing an Officer of note with his drawn Sword threatn'd to kill him unless he accepted of the Crown Wamba submitted to these threats but so that he should not be Anointed as the Custom was before he came to Toledo reserving this honour for that City and by that means gaining time that those who were for him might alter their resolution or at least such as oppos'd him be brought over and so no dissention might ensue He set out for Toledo where he was Anointed on the 29th of September in the Church of St. Peter and Paul near the Royal Palace In express terms he swore to observe the Laws of the Kingdom and procure the wellfare of the People Quiricus Archbishop of Toledo Successor to St. Ildefonsus perform'd the Ceremony Julian Archbishop of Toledo writes that when King Wamba was Crown'd there rose from his Head a Cloud in the form of a Pillar and a Bee was also seen to Mount on high from his Head It may be said that the People often fancy or imagine such things but the Authority of the Author is of great force All the Nobles did their Homage to the new King and among them Paul a Kinsman as some imagine to the late Kings but the name of Paul not used among the Goths and his Disloyalty make the Opinion of others more likely who say he was a Grecian Wamba was born in that part of Lusitania formerly called Igeditania where is now a Town known by the name of Idania la Vieja or Old Idania and near it a Farm with a Fountain which retains the name of Wamba The People of those parts are perswaded as having receiv'd it from their Forefathers that this same Farm was part of Wamba's Estate before he came to the Crown CHAP. V. The War with the Rebels in Gallia Gothica Paul Wamba 's General joins with them The King marches against them and reduces all the Country to his Obedience THE beginning of Wamba's Reign was full of Commotions and Troubles the Subjects growing insolent as believing him not well establish'd in the Throne The People of Navarre being of an unsetled temper revolted Wamba raised Men in Cantabria or Biscay to be the nearer to oppress those Rebels when at the same time news was brought him of more dangerous tumults in Gallia Gothica Many of that Country were dissatisfied at his being Elected and refus'd to acknowledge him as their King They conspir'd together and resolv'd to have recourse to Arms. Hilperick Earl of Nismes in France was the first that declar'd himself confiding in the great distance he was at from the King and his own extraordinary Power Gumildus Bishop of Magalona and an Abbot whose name was Remigius join'd with him They labour'd to bring Aregius Bishop of Nismes
to King Alonso He Reigned about 2 Years alone according to Garibay his Account for F. Mariana is not intelligible in this Place and had two Sons D. Ramiro and D. Garcia by his Wife Ninilon or Vrsenda to whom he was unlawfully Married tho' afterwards he left her and lived Chast the rest of his Life In other respects he was Modest and Temperate a Lover of his ease and averse to Business yet did one thing very pleasing and commendable which was declaring of D. Alonso who had been depos'd by Mauregatus his Companion in the Throne which according to Isidorus Pacensis who then liv'd was in the Year 791. After this Bermudo reign'd Four Years and Six Months This Prince was very remarkable for his continual Prosperity good Conduct Liberality Piety the Love of his People and Terror of his Enemies By his Valour the affairs of the Christians almost sunk were re-established for in the third Year of his Reign Alonso his Companion vanquish'd Mugayo General of the Moors who had broke into Asturias upon the Account that the King refus'd to pay the Tribute of the young Maids The Battle was fought near a Town call'd Ledas the Victory one of the greatest obtain'd in Spain for 70000. Infidels were kill'd by which the Christians were deliver'd from a great Oppression and the Moors diverted with other Wars could not revenge this loss About the same time many Towns about the Pyrenean Mountains were taken from the Moors by the Kings of Navarre and Charlemaigne the Famous King of France and Emperour Here again I am forced to follow the authority of Garibay my Author being ill Printed the fate of many Books Printed in Spain Issem King of Cordova sent a good Army under the Command of his General Abdelmelich to put a stop to these Proceedings who retook Girona in Catalonia and Narbonne on the Borders of France From hence the Bishop D. Roderick says the Moors caus'd Christians to bring Earth on their Shoulders which I suppose was Sand to bind their Mortar for to finish the great Mosque at Cordova This King also built another Bridge at Cordova near the Pallace and was the first of the Moorish Kings that took a Guard of Strangers which were 3000. Renegado Christians besides he entertain'd 2000. Eunuchs as his Menial Servants He dy'd in the Year 795. having Reign'd 26 Years 10 Months and 15 days and leaving behind the name of a Wise Just and Bountiful Prince and his Son Alhaca to succeed him CHAP. V. The Reign of D. Alonso the Chast The Nestorian Heresy reviv'd The King's Sister debauch'd he takes Lisbon Wars among the Moors Invention of the Body of St. James the Apostle and Defeat of Charlemaigne DUring these last Reigns Felix Bishop of Vrgel and his Disciple Elipandus Archbishop of Toledo reviv'd the false Doctrine of Nestorius Condemn'd at the Council of Ephesus They affirm'd that Christ our Lord as Man was only the adoptive Son of the Father and endeavour'd to spread these their Opinions but were Condemn'd by Councils held at Reginum of Bavaria now Ratisbon and at Francfort Felix dy'd obstinate at Lions in France What became of Elipandus is not known Some Years after Claudius a Spaniard Disciple of Felix and Bishop of Turin who lived in the Emperour Ludovicus Pius his Court with great Opinion of Learning among other things to the Opinions of the others added a new extravagancy saying that holy Images ought to be cast out of the Churches Jonas Aurelianensis his Contemporary wrote Learnedly against him King Bermudo was Bury'd at Oviedo where formerly his and his Wives Tombs were to be seen Thus D. Alonso was left to govern by himself It is a receiv'd Opinion that he aiming at a greater Purity of Life never had Carnal Knowledge of his Wife Berta He is said to have built the Cathedral of Oviedo but others write it was D. Bermudo who began it and the Inscription at the entrance as was said above attribute it to King Sylon Perhaps all three had a hand in the work and he who finish'd had all the honour of it Certain it is King Alonso enrich'd it with many Gifts and particularly with a curious gold Cross set with Stones made by the hands of Angels as the People imagin'd because after it was done they were never seen more The glorious beginnings of this Princes Reign were somewhat Eclyps'd by a Misfortune that hapned in the Royal Family which was that Da. Ximena the Kings Sister was privately Marry'd according to our Author but that had been no such mighty disaster and all other Historians write she was debauch'd by Sandia or Sancho Earl of Saldan̄a and by him had Bernard call'd Carpensis or del Carpio much fam'd for his Exploits in Spanish History The Earl being Convicted had his Eyes put out and was Condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment which he accordingly suffer'd in the Castle of Luna Da. Ximena was shut up in a Monastery of Nuns and yet care was taken to have the Child bred up in Asturias as if he had been the King 's own The Moors at this time were not idle for Zulema and Abdalla the new King's Unkles who till then had liv'd in Africk came over into Spain Abdalla who was the boldest came first and possess'd himself of the City Valencia deliver'd to him by the Inhabitants Zulema who was ready at the first call pass'd over to his Brothers assistance and both together after wasting all the Country adventur'd to give King Alhaca Battle It was fought obstinately on both sides and much Blood spilt but at last Zulema and many more being kill'd Abdalla fled to Valencia where he came to accommodation with the King and had a Revenue assign'd him to live upon according to his Quality delivering up his Sons as Hostages whom the Moorish King treated as became his Cousin-Germans and Marry'd his own Sister to one of them This discord among the Moors was advantagious to King Alonso for he took the City of Lisbon as many Foreign Authors write tho' ours make no mention of it and sent a solemn Embassy to Charlemaigne to whom Fruella and Basilicus the Principal Embassadors of the Booty taken in that City carried a rich Present from the King of Arms Horses and Captives besides a Moorish Tent of wonderful Greatness and Workmanship After this there ensu'd so great a Rebellion in his Kingdom that he was forc'd to retire for safety to the Monastery Abeliense situate in the most uncouth part of Galicia Thence by the help of Theudius a Man of great Power he recover'd all his Dominions with more honour than if that Misfortune had not befallen him But in my Opinion nothing was more honourable in the Reign of this King than the invention of the Body of the Holy Apostle St. James Which as is generally related happen'd in this manner Theodomirus Bishop of Iria Flavia hearing great Lights were seen in a wild part of a Mountain went
Favour seizes upon a Town call'd St. Christina two Leagues from Lugo King Alonso was immediately upon him and coming to a Battle slew him and 50000 of his Men. In the mean while dy'd Alhaca King of Cordova in the Year of our Lord 821 of the Arabs 206 of his Reign 27. He left 19 Sons and 21 Daughters His Son Abderhaman succeeded him being 41 Years of Age and Reigned 31. About this time says Zonaras the Moors of Spain pass'd into Candia and Planted there Much is now spoke of the Prowess of Bernard del Carpio and his Rebellion but these are things more like Romance than History and therefore I pass them by The King being very old and upon his Death-bed appointed D Ramiro the Son of D. Bermudo to succeed him and dy'd Aged 85. years having Reign'd 52 Years five Months and thirteen Days and in the Year of our Lord 843. according to the Chronicle of King Alonso the Great and the most ancient Records He deceas'd at Oviedo and was Buried in the Church of St. Mary in that City The Reign of King Ramiro as to time was short but glorious and full of honourable Exploits For to him under God is due the honour of restoring the Spanish Monarchy to its former lustre His Government in all respects was excellent but above all in Martial Exploits Wizards and Conjurers he caus'd to be burnt and Robbers that then were in great numbers to have their Eyes put out At the time of King Alonso his Death D. Ramiro was among the Varduli a part of Old Castile or Biscay His absence gave an opportunity to Count Nepotianus to possess himself of Asturias and assume the Title of King All mutinous and turbulent Persons follow'd him and he rais'd a considerable Army King Ramiro was not idle but met him with an equal force the Battle was fought in Galicia near the River Narceya where Nepotianus being forsaken by his Army was forc'd to fly but in the flight taken by two of his own Chief Officers called Somna and Scipio and deliver'd up to the King After these civil dissentions ensu'd the War with the Moors at first terrible but in the conclusion most fortunate to the Christians Abderhaman was King of the Moors a Prince fierce by nature and haughty with his continual success for he had not only expell'd his Uncle Abdalla who endeavour'd to recover the Kingdom but had taken the City Barcelona This done he resolv'd upon the War against King Ramiro and upon this account sent to demand of him the Tribute of 100 young Maids Mauregatus had formerly consented to pay His Embassadors were dismissed with scorn and protected only by the Law of Nations from suffering for their presumption Next all that were of Age in the Kingdom except some few left to till the ground for fear of a Famine were listed the very Bishops and Persons Consecrated to God follow'd the Christian Camp To gain a reputation and be thought the Aggressors they broke into the Territory of Rioja then possess'd by the Moors Abderhaman on the other side having made mighty preparations of all things necessary advanc'd towards the Christians The two Armies met near Alvelda or Albayda a Town then of strength now almost unpeopled but famous once for a Monastery built there by Sancho King of Navarre of the Invocation of S. Martin the Revenue and Library whereof was afterwards translated to the Church of St. Mary the Round in the City Logron̄o two Leagues distant from Alvelda In that place the Battle was fought and prov'd one of the bloodyest of that Age. Our Army being compos'd of Men gather'd in hast was no way to compare to the Enemy for Discipline All must have been lost had not the Commanders still appear'd where the danger call'd encouraging the Men not only with words but their Example Night put an end to the Battle The smallest Accidents in War often prove of the greatest Consequence so now the approach of the Night saved the Christians from utter Destruction The King retired to a rising ground that was near with his broken Forces fortified himself the best the time would permit and caused the wounded to be taken care of whilst all the Army almost despairing of their safety offered their Vows and Tears to Heaven Sorrow and Care so oppressed King Ramiro his Thoughts that he fell into a slumber in which he thought he saw the Apostle St. James bidding him be of good Heart and assuring him of the Victory This vision or dream so revived him that he started up and calling into his Presence all the Prelates and Chief Men of the Army related at large what he had seen and exhorted them to put their Confidence in God and not doubt of the Victory This done he Ordered his Battle and gave the Signal to fall on Our Men Encouraged with what they had heard attack the Enemy furiously calling upon S. James whence sprang the Custom to this Day in use among Spaniards of invoking that Saint when they Charge The Infidels surprized at the boldness of our Men whom they thought vanquished and struck with terror from Heaven could not bear the brunt of that Charge but fled and were so sharply pursued that 60000 of them were killed It was said the Apostle St. James was seen in the heat of the Fight leading our Men upon a White Horse in his hand a White Banner with a Red Cross in the middle After this Victory the Christians regained many Towns among them Clavijo from which this Battle took Name Alvelda and Calahorra This Memorable Battle was fought in the Year 844. being the second of the Reign of King Ramiro Having returned Thanks to Almightly God the Victorious Army by vow obliged all Spain tho' the greatest part was subject then to the Moors to pay for ever yearly a certain Measure of Wine or Corn for every Akre of Land as also that whensoever any Booty was divided St. James should have his share as a Horse Man Of the spoils taken this War the King caused a Stately Church to be Built in honour of our Blessed Lady which is to be seen to this day half a League from Oviedo on the side of Mount Naurancius and near it was Built another Dedicated to St. Michael The Queen whom some call Vrraca others Paterna Mother to D. Ordon̄o and D. Garcia furnished those Churches with all things necessary for she used to spare all that was possible of her own Expence and lay it out upon Churches especially that of the Apostle St. James The joy and advantage of this great Victory was not lasting or considerable as might have been expected by reason of another War that ensued Our Nation had scarce began to shake off the Yoke laid upon them by the Moors who came from the South when it Laboured under another Plague sent from the North. Such were the Normans who drove by necessity or rather the desire
came in sight of each other near a Town call'd Atapuerca about four Leagues from Burgos there Incamp'd Intrench'd first and then drew out in order of Battle These two Brothers differ'd much in conditions D. Ferdinand was affable courteous meek and withal the best Souldier of his time D. Garcia was fierce hasty and talkative which made him odious to his Souldiers besides that he had wrongfully depriv'd many of their Estates of which before the Battle he was desir'd to make restitution but he refus'd to give Ear to so reasonable a request Many fear'd God would punish him for this Unjustice and chiefly an antient Man whose name is not known but that he had been his Tutor he made some overtures for an accommodation D. Ferdinand was willing but D. Garcia could not be mov'd by any perswasions or intreaties his Sins making him Deaf to all wholesome advice In fine the Signal being given both Armies met with great fury D. Garcia his Tutor seeing his Party bore down rush'd into the midst of the Enemy and was there kill'd The Navarrois could not withstand the fury of D. Ferdinand's Charge and two Souldiers that had feign'd to desert to them breaking through the Guards kill'd the King with their Spears who being down his Men soon fled King Ferdinand being no less troubled for the Death of his Brother than he was joyful for the Victory order'd the Christians that remain'd to be spared which was perform'd and in the pursuit only the Moors were put to the Sword and made Prisoners The Body of D. Garcia with the consent of the Victor was carry'd by his Souldiers to Najara and there buryed in the Church of S. Mary which he had built from the ground By his Wife D. Stephania a French-Woman he left four Sons and as many Daughters which were D. Sancho who succeeded in the Crown D. Ramiro to whom he gave Calahorra taken from the Moors D. Ferdinand and D. Ramon The Daughters were D. Ximena D. Erriesinda D. Mayor and D. Vrraca this last Marry'd to the Earl D. Garcia of whom we shall have occasion to speak hereafter The King being thus kill'd his Dominions were wasted and divided among them by his Brothers King Ferdinand without any opposition took to himself those places the dispute had been about which were Briviesca Montes Doca and part of Rioja through which runs the River Oja that gives its name to the Country This River has its Springs in the Mountains of Santo Domingo de la Calçada and falls into Ebro near the Town of Haro The other part of Rioja Navarre the Dukedom of Biscay Najara Logron̄o and other places remain'd to D. Sancho the Son of D. Garcia D. Ramiro laying hold of this Opportunity recovered Aragon and was in hopes to make himself Master of Navarre his deceased Brothers Kingdom for it appears by Ancient Records that at this time he called himself King of Aragon Sobrarve Ribagorça and Pamplona Besides he recovered from the Moors who had entred Ribagorça a Town called Benavario At length after much bickering D. Sancho and D. Ramiro concluded a Peace each giving and receiving certain Castles for their security D. Sancho had Ruesta and Pitilla D. Ramiro Sanguessa Lerda and Ondusio Both Unkle and Nephew were jealous of King Ferdinand and feared he might make his advantage of their discord therefore they concluded a League defensive and offensive among themselves CHAP. IV. The manner how Spain became exempted from the Roman Empire The Famous Roderick Diaz de Bivar commonly called Cid His Extraction and first Actions Three Synods held in Spain AT the time that Spain wasted it self with Intestine Wars Henry the Second who translated the Empire out of France into Germany was Emperor The Church was governed by Leo IX and after him by Victor II. This last desiring to reform the Clergy grown very dissolute called a Council to Florence in the Year 1055. Thence he sent Hildebrand a Monk of Cluni who for his Learning and Ability had been created Cardinal to move the Emperor to reduce the Clergy to their Primitive Purity of Life as also to suppress the Heresie of Berengarius then breaking out at Tours in France Our Historians add that at his Councel there were Embassadors from the same Emperor who among other things complained to the Pope and Fathers that Ferdinand King of Castile had not only disowned the Emperors Authority but proceeded so far in his Arrogancy and Pride as to Usurp the Stile and Title of Emperor Whereupon they exhorted the Council to stand up for the honour of the Empire and in return the Emperor would Espouse the cause of the Church otherwise if they refused he should be obliged to take up Arms in defence of the Imperial Honour and Authority The Fathers Answered they would indeavour to give the Emperor content and declared themselves for him asserting the justice of his demands Embassadors were sent to King Ferdinand to warn him in the Name of the Council to submit himself to the Empire and not presume for the future to stile himself Emperor They had Orders in case he refused to Excommunicate him The King having heard their Embassy was perplexed and knew not what Answer to return and therefore resolved to convene his States or Parliament that it might be there debated what was best to be done Opinions there varyed the most Consciencious were for obeying the Pope the bolder were positively against submitting to that heavy Yoke At that time Roderick de Bivar afterwards called Cid was in the Prime of his Years being not above 30 in high Esteem for his great Valour Wisdom and Conduct Not long before he had fought D. Gomez Earl of Gormaz and killed him whereupon he Marryed D. Ximena Daughter and Heiress to the said Earl at her request she having moved it to the King that he should either Marry her or suffer according to Law By the addition of her Estate to that he had as his own he became so rich and powerful that he adventured with his own Forces to make excursions into the Territories of the Infidels and in Battle overthrew Five Moorish Kings who having passed the Mountain Doca infested the Lands of Rioja He recovered the Booty and took them Prisoners but released them upon Condition they should pay him a Yearly Tribute At this time King Ferdinand was busie in rebuilding the City Zamora which had not been repaired since the Moors destroyed it in the Reign of King Ramiro He granted that such as would inhabit there should be governed according to the Ancient Laws of that City which were those of the Goths It hap'ned whilst the King was there the Moors came to pay the Tribute they had agreed upon to Roderick Diaz and called him Cid which in Arabick signifies Lord. All this was done in the presence of the King and his Courtiers whence many took an occasion to envy and hate him Yet the King admiring his
the Synod broke up Having setled the Affairs of the City the King went away to Leon leaving Queen Constance and the Archbishop there with a good Garrison There was but a small number of Christians in regard of the Moors yet all things seemed to be well secured However the rashness of the new Prelate put the City in danger of being lost Our Ladies Church which as curious Persons have observ'd is now a Monastery of Carmelites was then the Cathedral the great Church being in the Hands of the Moors It seemed not decent that in a City taken from the Moors they should possess the best Church this might in time have been regulated but the Archbishops hast had like to have ruined all He agreed with the Queen to take it forcibly from them by Night and accordingly breaking open the Doors cast out all that belonged to the Mahometans erected Altars and hanging a Bell in the Steeple called together the Christians to assist at Divine Service This Alarm'd the Infidels so that they could scarce refrain from revenging themselves and only forbore in hopes the King would do them Justice When the News of what had been done was brought to the King he was greatly inraged and Posted away to Toledo with full resolution to punish this breach of Articles with the utmost severity All the principal Inhabitants of Toledo knowing his design went out in Mourning to meet him and the Clergy in Procession and being come to his presence Prostrate on the ground begged Pardon Their intreaties were of no force for he persisted inflexible God Almighty in an unexpected manner put a stop to the evil that was feared for the chief of the Moors their Passion being over considered if the King used any severity on their account it might after his days turn to their Ruin went out of the City and meeting the King begged he would forgive the Queen and Archbishop so they might for the future be secured in their Possessions This request made by the Infidels was so surprizing that he not only pardoned those they begged for but promised that he would ever remember that day and be favourable to them for the Love they had shown him All the City rejoiced and it was ordained that the Memory of this day being the 24 of January should be for ever preserved making it a Festival under the Name of Our Lady of Peace It was said above that Richard Abbot of Marseilles was sent by Pope Gregory VII as his Legate into Spain and that in a Synod held at Burgos he had Established the Roman Ceremonies and form of Prayer This Legate abused his Power committing many insolencies without regard to any thing but gain which scandaliz'd the People so that they railed not only at him but at the Pope himself Bernard the Archbishop was troubled at these miscarriages but had not the Power to Redress them It was then the Custom of Spain in pursuance of a Decree of the Eighth General Council which was the last of Constantinople that no Metropolitans should be Consecrated or exercise their Function till their Election was confirmed by the Pope and he had sent them the Pall. This process of time was extended to Bishops Upon these two Motives the Archbishop resolved to go to Rome but before his departure with the King's Approbation he gathered a Synod of Bishops and Consecrated the Cathedral of Toledo under the Invocation of St. Mary St. Peter St. Paul St. Stephen and the Holy-Cross Vrban II. being Pope in the Year 1088. Bernard the Archbishop being at Rome obtained all he desired to wit the recalling of the Legate and the confirming of himself Primate of all Spain and that part of France called Gallia Gothica By this Authority being returned from Rome he called a Synod of the neighbouring Bishops to Toulouze where he prevailed to be received as their Metropolitan Before the return of the Archbishops to Toledo the Legate had attempted to Abrogate the Gotbick Missal and Breviary and introduce the Roman This had been often endeavoured but the People Tenacious of Old Customs still opposed it Now the Queen the Primate and the Legate used such means that at length they prevailed yet so that in the Ancient Churches the Ancient form should still be continued Which is observed to this day And that Service is still used on certain Festivals in those Churches Besides in the Cathedral there is a Chapel to which belongs a number of Chaplains called Mocarabes or more properly Mixtiar abes who still use that Massal and Breviary This name of Mixtiarabes corruptly Moçarabes was given to the Christians that in the time of the Moors lived under their Government and mixed with the Infidels All the new Churches in Toledo were ordered to say Mass according to the Roman Liturgy This debate being ended the City began to flourish beautiful new Buildings were erected many of the Moors went away and their places were filled by Christian inhabitants to whom were granted Priviledges and Immunities as appears by the Royal Charters still preserved among the Records of Toledo In the Year 1091. Bernard the Primate who studyed nothing but the publick good gathered a Synod at Leon at which was present Cardinal Raynerius the Pope's Legate who succeeded Richard the Cardinal Many Decrees were here made for Reformation of the Clergy at that time grownivery corrupt It was also ordained that for the future in all publick Writings the Gothick Character should be no longer used but instead of it the French It will not be amiss in this place briefly to show how the Archbishops of Toledo came first to be Primates and Metropolitants of all Spain Some will deduce it from the time of the Apostles and pretend that S. Eugenius the Martyr came to Spain and was the first Archbishop of Toledo but we have only the Authority of Modern Authors for it By the Ancient Councils it appears that their Authority is not so long a standing since they sign not to any of them in the first place There were formerly in Spain 5 Archbishopricks viz. Tarragona Braga Merida Sevil and Toledo and none of these acknowledged any Superior but the Pope and each took place in Councils according to the Seniority of his Consecration Now the Goths who at first possessed themselves of the Kingdom of Toledo having subdued all other Barbarons Nations in Spain and made themselves Masters of the whole Country hence this City being the Court of those Kings began to assume a Superiority over all the rest This Authority took its first force in the Seventh Council of Toledo which ordained that all the Neighbouring Bishops should in their turns being called by him their Primate repair to that City and there attend on the King and Archbishop for the space of a Month. The Archbishops Superiority being thus far established was much advanced in the twelfth Council of that City which decreed that the Election of
Estella in Navarre signalized himself at the taking of this City he was Father to Peter de Açagra the first Lord of Albarazin of that Family S. Isidorus is said to have appeared to King Alonso before the fight and assured him of success Almeria Anciently called Abadera a City seated on the Coast of the Mediterranean between the borders of Andaluzia and Murcia was then a place of great strength and a receptable of Pyrats Thither the Christian Army marched and encamped before it at such time as the Fleets of Barcelona and Genoa according to what had been agreed having Coasted along lay in sight of the Port. The City was attacked by Sea and Land and having made a Breach and possessed themselves of certain Towers it was at last taken by storm on the 17th of October in the Year 1147. 20000 Moors who had retired into the Castle were forced to buy their Lives for a sum of Money Thus was that Nest of Pyrats that infested the Coasts of Spain France and Italy taken away The plunder was given to the Soldiers To the Genoeses was given a dish made of an Emraud which they valued above all the Booty and preserve to this day in their Treasury Others say that Jewel was found at the taking of Cesarea in Siria Winter drawing on the Army returned home loaded with Riches Raymund Earl of Barcelona not to let slip this opportunity of the Genoese Fleet agreed with them to assist him in the expelling the Moors from part of Aragon and the Islands of Majorea and Minorca In return they were to have the third part of all that was taken in that War In all Towns recovered from the Moors they should have a Church and a Tribunal of of their own and that all their Merchants should be free from Customs and Taxes These conditions being accepted of they stood along the Coast of Catalonia and with their united Forces took the City Tortosa seated at the Mouth of Ebro and therefore a proper place for Traffick This was done in the Year 1148. The following Year Lerida and Fraga two Towns of note were taken by the Christians Lerida was given to the Earl of Vrgel in reward of his great Services during that War William Peroz Bishop of Roda was appointed to the See of Lerida still retaining the Cities of Roda and Barbastro to be included in that Diocess and some Bishops of Lerida long after this time continued to stile themselves Bishops of Roda and Barbastro The affairs of the Moors in Spain went very much down the wind and the Christians grew daily stronger Many Castles Towns and Cities were taken from the Infidels Almost in the middle of Portugal on the Coast of the Ocean the River Tagus forms a Capacious Harbour the entrance or bar is somewhat dangerous but the Port within large and secure On the Northern shore of this Port is seated the City Lisbon the noblest and richest in Portugal At the back of it are certain Hills of easie ascent and the Tops of them covered with buildings The breadth of the City is not so much as the length the Ancient Circumference of the Walls is not very great but the Suburbs are large and still increase Most of the Streets are narrow and crooked and in some places very steep but what is new built much surpasses the old in Beauty About it are many Villages and good Country Houses and a soil beautified with Vineyards and Orchard of Orange and Lemmon Trees D. Alonso ardently desired to make himself Master of this important place which served as a Bulwark to all that the Moors held in those parts His own Force was not sufficient for such an undertaking and the Kings of Spain had their hands full in other places for which reason as soon as he had taken Sintra he made advantagious Proposals to the English Flemings and French to induce them to assist him with their Fleets These Fleets kept the Mouth of the Harbour that no Relief might come to the City by Sea The Forces of the Natives encamp'd where now is the Monastery of S. Vincent the Foreigners in the place where that of S. Francis was since built both places are now within the City They batter'd the Walls for many days and on the day of S. Crispin and Crispinian gave a general Assault the King himself standing by and encouraging his Men. Here the Service was desperate the Christians striving to gain the Breaches and the Moors powring showers of Weapons and Stones upon them in such manner that scarce any fell without doing execution our Men thronging upon one another At length having broke open the Gate call'd of Alfama the City was entred much Blood spilt and all that submitted made Slaves All the Plunder was given to the Soldiers and prov'd greater than had been imagin'd Gilbert a Person of great Learning and Vertue was chosen Bishop tho' a Stranger and Consecrated the principal Mosque In the very place where the King had encamp'd he built a Monastery of the Invocation of S. Vincent and plac'd therein Canons Regulars Many of the Foreigners being taken with the pleasantness of the Country resolv'd to stay and inhabit there and are said to have built Almada Villaverde Arruda Zambruia Castan̄eda and other Towns in that Neighbourhood After this the King following his good Fortune with wonderful Success took from the Moors Alanquer Obidos Ebora Yelves Mura Serpa Beja and many other Towns and Castles in that part of the Country All things submitting to his great Valour and Conduct True it is the greatest part of these Actions fell some Years later Let us return to the Course of our History At this time Eugenius III. govern'd the Church of Rome The Affairs of the Christians in the Holy-Land went to decay To remedy this misfortune the Pope went into France thence to excite all Christian Princes to the Relief of those Holy-Places and to this purpose he held a General Council at Rheimes in the Year of our Lord 1148. Raymund Archbishop of Toledo going to this Council is said by the way to have visited the Church of S. Denis two Leagues from Paris where on a Stone he found this Inscription Here lies Eugenius Martyr first Archbishop of Toledo At his return home he endeavour'd to have the Relicks of that Saint translated to Toledo but this design was prevented by his own and Queen Berengaria's Death which hap'ned near about the same time The Queen dy'd in the Year 1149. and was bury'd in the Church of S. James the Apostle This Year was very remarkable for that it Rain'd Blood in part of Portugal and the Dominions of the Moors The following Year 1150. dy'd Raymund the Archbishop John Bishop of Segovia a Man of singular Piety succeeded him This in Castile On the other part Pope Eugenius confirm'd the Title of King of Portugal to D. Alonso afterwards Alexander III. did the same For this
Learning gained him renown This moved the Electoral Princes of Germany after the Death of the Emperor William to choose him his Successor But they did not all consent for the Archbishops of Cologne and Mentz and the Count Palatine Elected Richard Duke of Cornwal Brother to Henry King of England This Election was made on the 6th of January in the Year 1256 some say two Years later The Archbishop of Treves and Duke of Saxony looking upon the other as invallid on the last day of March following made choice of King Alonso Embassadors were sent to them both and both took the Title of Emperors but Richard had so much the advantage that he immediately went over into Germany and was Crowned the first time at Aquisgran by the Archbishop of Cologne King Alonso was hindred by his Domestick troubles and forced to put off his departure This delay gave time to his party to cool in their Affections and the other to strengthen it self Richard seemed to have the better Title being chosen within the Year after the Death of his Predecessor and on the day appointed for the Election and also for that within the space of another Year he was Crowned at Aquisgran by the Archbishop of Cologne and seated in the Chair of Charlemaigne in token of possession Besides the Princes and Governours did him Homage All these Circumstances pleaded for Richard's right whereas King Alonso had performed none of the usual Ceremonies Both the Elector Palatine and King of Bohemia who are the Umpires when there is any thing depending had declared for Richard On the other side King Alonso pleaded that he was Elected according to Custom within the City Walls That the Archbishop of Cologne and the Palatine came with great Military Power as it were to force the others and had made a Separate Election without the Town That the Princes in the City had waited so long to reduce them to observe Order and at length the Archbishop of Treves with the Duke of Saxony who had also the Marques of Bradenburgh's Voice had Elected King Alonso the King of Bohemia's Embassador joining with them Besides these formal reasons they exprobrated Crimes to each other one side said The Archbishop of Treves was Excommunicated for oppressing his Subjects with Taxes The other objected he of Cologne had Wounded the Pope's Legate and stricken a Bishop and that the Elector Palatine abused the Churchmen and in the late Confusions had joyned with the Emperor against the Pope King Alonso being far off was detained by many troubles at home besides that he was naturally unconstant and hoped by some Artifice to put an end to that debate Richard was hindred by the Wars at that time betwixt England and France and dy'd the 6th Year after he took the Title of Emperor The end of this contest shall be told in its place CHAP. VI. Aragon and Castile at variance and reconcil'd Sancho King of Portugal dies in Exile Death of the Queen and Prince of Aragon Portugal under an Interdict Marriages of the King of Navarre and Prince of Aragon KING Alonso was naturally Mild had a great Spirit sought Glory rather than Pleasure addicted himself to Learning yet was very inconstant and covetous which drew upon him the hatred of the People and he neglected to gain the Love of the Nobility To shun idleness the ground of all intestine troubles he invaded Andaluzia his Army divided into several Bodies the better to recover divers places the Moors still possessed He in Person took Xeres his Brother Henry Arcos and Nebrixa a Town near the mouth of the River Guadalquivir D. Nun̄o de Lara was appointed Governour of Xerez Now might the Moors have been expell'd all that Country had not another War called away the King Theobald the second King of Navarre being come to Age with the assistance of the King of Aragon with whom he had renewed the League before made resolved to invade Castile pretending that Guipuscoa Alava Rioja and Briviesca belonged to his Crown and had been wrongfully taken from his Predecessors Many Nobles of Castile went over to Aragon and Navarre having first by a publick instrument renounced their Country which was the Custom used then not to be thought Traytors These stirred up and incensed that Young Prince Among them the chief was James de Haro who soon dy'd at Ban̄ares whether he went to be Cur'd Yet his Son Lope de Haro with a great retinue went to Estela where the King of Aragon then was The same did Prince Henry being much disgusted with his Brother These Princes made a League among themselves The People of Castile tho' they had not declared were of the same Opinion They were offended at the baseness of the Coin which caused all things to grow dear and the King having set rates upon all things there ensued a great scarcity because those who had stocks would not sell at that rate King Alonso understanding his danger began to Treat of some Accommodation with the King of Aragon who was not averse to it being again tho' old entangled in the Love of D. Teresa Vidaura to such a degree that he seemed infatuated At Soria the two Kings met and concluded a Peace in the Year 1256. At the same time Marguerite Mother of Theobald King of Navarre dy'd in Champagne whether she went to settle the affairs of that Earldom She was buryed in the Monastery of Claravelle then Famous for the Sanctity of its Monks The following Year dy'd at Toledo Sancho Capelo King of Portugal as Garibay in his History relates but Duarte Nun̄ez will have his Death to have happen'd in the Year 1246. His Brother Alonso who had Governed the Kingdom Thirteen Years only as Regent now took the Title of King He had by Beatrix Daughter to the King of Castile Denis his eldest Son Alonso Earl of Portalegre Blanch who lies bury'd at Huelgas where she was long Abbess and Constance who dy'd Young At this time Henry the King's Brother stirred up both the Moors and Christians at Nebrixa whether he was withdrawn to Rebellion D. Nun̄o de Lara having notice of it repaired thither from Sevil and Prince Henry not being able to oppose him fled by Sea to Valencia The King of Aragon at first received him favourably but for fear of infringing the Treaty concluded with his Brother obliged him to take his flight into Africk Thence after four Years spent at Tun̄ez he went over poor and miserable into France and so into Italy desiring to make War on his Brother if any Prince would support him The King of Aragon having setled Valencia passed over to Mompellier designing to meet the King of France On the 11th of May in the Year 1258. they met at Carbolio and were perfectly reconciled both parties freely resigning what had been before taken on either side Catalonia and Barcelona were also declared wholly independent of the Crown of France for till that
about this time at Exerica whither the King retir'd for fear of the Plague The King having overcome the Rebels of Valencia made severe Examples of them to terrify others The Knights of Calatrava of Castile and Aragon were at Variance and had chosen Two Masters one at Calatrava the other at Alcanizes Garci Lopez who was Master of the Order 20 Years before this time being accus'd of nations Crimes and summon'd to appear before the King of Castile to answer for himself fled to Aragon and Garci Lopez protected by the King of Aragon resided at Alcanices a Town belonging to the Order and there supported his Authority tho condemn'd as a Rebel by the King of Castile and depos'd from his Mastership yet he exercis'd that Power John NunÌ„ez de Prado who was reported to be Bastard Son to the Lady Blanch Aunt to the King of Portugal and Abbess of the Monastrey of Huelgas was chosen in his place The â—â—stercian Abbots confirm'd this Election yet the Aragonians would not admit of it but Garci Lopez dying made choice of Alonso Perez de Toro and he was confirm'd by Arnoldus Abbot of Morimonte in France It was often indeavour'd to reconcile the â—â—ights but could never be effected till now Alonso Perez dying they of Alcanizes Elected John Rodrigues Before this last Election was confirm'd the Kings of Castile and Aragon caus'd the Two Masters of the Order to meet at Zaragoâ—a where their Case being refer'd to the King of Aragon he gave Uudgment in favour of Castile and John Rodriguez was depos'd but had the chief Commendâ—â—â— of Alcanicez given him with Jurisdiction over all the Knights of that Kingdom during by Life At this time Luis Earl of Clermont Son to D. Alonso de la Cerda call'd the Disinherited was fitting out a Fleet in Catalonia the Pope having two Years before given him the Conquest of the Canary or Fortunate Islands with the Title of King of them upon condition he should cause the Gospel to be preached to the Barbarous Inhabitants These Islands lie in the great Atlantick Ocean westward of Africk They are 7 in Number and in the Latitude of 27 Degrees North. The 〈…〉 called Ganaria whence the others take Name They are very fruitful but were once almost destroy'd by Rabbits which carry'd from the Continent increas'd beyond measure The Island call'd Hierro has no other Water than what Distils from the Leaves of one Tree D. Luis by reason of the Wars in France and the loss of the Battle oâ— Cressy in which Philip of France was defeated by the English never went forward with this Conquest About 50 Years after this time the Biscainers and Andaluzians set out a Fleet to plunder these Islands and having brought a great Booty from that call'd Lançarote the Kings of Spain had a desire to conquer them but were diverted by other things Some Years after John Betancour a French-man with permission of Henry the IIId of Castile undertook the Conquest upon Condition he should hold them off the Crown of Castile He subdu'd the 5 lesser Islands but could not conquer the two greater A Bishop call'd Mendo was sent thither â— Menautâ— Heir to Betancouâ— and this Bishop were at Daggers draw the former regarding nothing but his Interest and the latter not enduring to see the Poor Islanders oppress'd The King of Castile hearing of these Disorders sent one Peter Baâ—â—â— who possess'd himself of the Islands and sold them to a Gentleman call'd Porâ—ca from 〈◊〉 one 〈◊〉 had them and stil'd himself King of Canaria But not being able to conquer Grand Canaria he sold four of the Islands to the Catholick King Ferdinand and retained Gomera stiling himself Earl of it King Ferdinand conquer'd and annex'd all those Islands to the Crown of Castile Let us return to Spain In the Year 1349 the Lady Ellâ—nor eldest Sister â—o Luâ—â— King 〈…〉 was marry'd to the King of Aragon with great Pomp at Valencia CHAP. VII The Siege of Gibraltar the King dies and the Siege is raised King Peter succeeds him The â—â—dy Ellâ—nor de Guzman kill'd Some Nobles rebel and are subdu'd Biscay annex'd to the Crown of Castile Interviews of Kings GReat Confusions arose in Africk about this time for Abohacen the Son of Albohacen rebell'd against his Father and possess'd himself of the Kingdom of Fez in Africk and of Gibraltar Ronda and all other places subject to the African Crown in Spain He blam'd his Father for all the losses sustain'd in Spain promis'd to reestablish the Honour of the People and the giddy Multitude easily gave â—ar to these Speeches and adher'd to him These Broâ—â—s among the 〈◊〉 seem'd â—o offer the Christians an Opportunity of making their Advantage but th◠〈…〉 they â—â—d made for Ten Years obstructed it Yet some pleaded that â—â—ey were abâ—◠〈◊〉 from that Oath because he was dead to whom they made it Interest is always more powerful than Conscience Mony was wanting The Cortes or Parliament were summon'd to Alcalà de Henares and many Towns were now allow'd to send their Representatives that had never that Priviledge before Andalâ—zia and the Kingdom of Toledo us'd â—o be free from Taxes because they were at great Expence in making Good the Frontiers against the Moors it was now labour'd they should pay the Duty that Castile and Lâ—on did for all Things that were sold In this Assembly there rose a Contest betwixt the Representatives of Toledo and Burgos about Precedency Many Arguments were brought on both sides and the Nobility were divided yet at last it was agreed that Burgos should have the upper Seat and Rote first but that Toledo should have a Seat apart from the rest directly opposite to the King and be first nam'd by the King after this manner I speak for Toledo which will do whatsoever I shall order let Burgos speak first Thus that difference was compos'd and the same Method is us'd to this Day Eighteen Towns and Cities have ancient Priviledge to send their Representatives to the Cortes Burgos Soria Segovia Aâ—â—la and Valladolid in old Castile Leon Salamanca Zâ—mora and Toro in the Kingdom of Leon. Toledo Cuenca Guadalajara and Madrid in the Kingdom of Toledo Sevil Granada Murcia Cordova and Jaen in Andaluzia Among these Burgos Lâ—â—n Granada Sevil Cordova Murcia and Jaen have precedence according to this Order â—s being the Heads of Kingdoms Toledo is apart as has been said above All other Towns and Cities sit promiscuously as they come At these Cortes of Alcala many other places had their Representatives the King bestowing that Honour 〈◊〉 many to oblige the People Here the King demanded the Alcavala or Duty upon all Things sold which tho with difficulty was granted and the War with the Moors Voted Accordingly preparations were instantly made throughout the Kingdom The Army being assembl'd march'd into Andaluzia and laid Siege â—â— Gibraltar casting up great Works about the Town and applying their Engines The
the King of Castile D. Gutierre de Toledo Master of Calatrava leading a Convoy to Monviedro was defeated and kill'd by the Aragonians Martin Lopez de Cordova succeeded him The King of Castile thought to make himself Master of Orihuela but the Aragonian offering him Battel and he refusing the place was relieved and the Aragonian return'd home At the beginning of the Year 1365 the King of Aragon besieg'd Monviedro and had it surrender'd to him On the other side the Castilians after a long Siege took Orihuela D. Gomez de Porras Prior of St. John either because he fear'd King Peter for loosing Monviedro or to curry favour with Count Henry deserted to the Aragonians with 600 Horse that were in that Town From this time the Forces of Castile began to decrease and there being Peace betwixt France and England many French came to serve the King of Aragon These were no better than common Robbers to whom the Pope and King of France gave great Summs of Mony to purchase their absence They were invited into Spain by Count Henry This Body was made up of English and Germans as well as French to the Number of 12000 Frossarte a French Historion says 30000. Bertran Claquin and Hugo Carbolaye were their chief Commanders On the First of January 1366 their advanc'd Parties came to Barcelona the rest of them soon after The King of Aragon receiv'd them joyfully distributed a Summ of Mony among them and promised much more Bertran Claquin he made Earl of Borgia The King of Castile held his Cortes or Parliament at Burgos and demanded supplies of Mony Monsieur de la Brie who came out of France to serve him advis'd to buy off the Strangers that follow'd Count Henry and undertook to manage that affair but King Peter being a Man without fear gave no attention to his Counsel Count Henry and the King of Aragon met at Zaragoça where the foreign Forces were There the League betwixt them was renew'd the limits of their Dominions in case they succeeded determin'd and it was agreed that D. John the Count's Son should marry Ellenor the King's Daughter This done the King stay'd at Zaragoça and Count Henry having assembled all his Army enter'd Castile by the way of Alfaro Ynigo Lopez de Horosco was Governour of that Town which was very strong therefore the Army stay'd not to besiege it but march'd towards Calahorra the chief City in those parts seated on the River Ebro Ferdinand Bishop of that place and Fernan Sanches de Tovar the Governour open'd the Gates to the Count on the 16th of March. Here a Councel was held to consider how to proceed Some were for marching directly to Burgos the chief City of Castile Others advis'd Count Henry to take the title of King that so there might remain no hope of reconciliation with King Peter of Castile Bertran Claquin spoke much to this purpose and all the chief Officers of the Army siding with him they easily perswaded him to accept of the Title and immediately proclaim'd him about the Streets The new-made King was bountiful of what was not his own giving Towns and Cities to all present To Bertran Claquin he gave Trastamara and to Hugo Carbolaye Carrion with the Title of Earls To his Brother D. Tello he restor'd Biscay to D. Sancho he gave Albuquerque the Master-Ship of Santiago to Gonçalo Mexia that of Calatrava to Peter Muniz to D. Alonso de Aragon that King's Uncle the Marquisate of Villena and all that belonged to D. John Manuel and as much more to many others Thus Castile was divided betwixt two Kings striving for the Crown Nothing kept the people in their Obedience to King Peter but fear tho his was the undoubted Right the other being a Bastard Henry advanc'd towards Burgos leaving LogronÌ„o as believing it in vain to attempt it Navarrete and Bribiesca surrendred King Peter was at Burgos doubtful that course to take as confiding but little in his People At length he resolv'd to go to Sevil for there were his Children and Treasure The People of Burgos offer'd to stand by him he thank'd them but would not then make use of their Zeal and absolv'd them from their Oath of Fidelity that if they were put to Streights they might receive Count Henry without being look'd upon as Rebels Before his departure he put to death John Fernandez de Tovar Brother to him that deliver'd up Calahorra On the 28th of March he set out from Burgos sending Orders by the way to the Commanders of the conquer'd places in Aragon to burn them and with all Speed march to meet him at Toledo Thus all he gain'd in some Years was lost in one Day He stay'd some time at Toledo to secure that City and left D. Garci Alvarez de Toledo Master of Santiago to command there No sooner was King Peter gone from Burgos but the Citizens sent to invite Count Henry thither They stil'd him Count but offer'd him the Crown if he would take it in that City according to ancient Custom He accepted their Offer march'd thither and was Crown'd in the Monastery of Huelgas After the Example of Burgos most Cities in that Kingdom within 25 Days submitted to him Thus his Power became equal to his Adversary the Nobility and Commonalty striving to gain the Favour of the new King The Affairs of Castile and Leon being setled he remov'd to Toledo where he was receiv'd with joy Garci Alvarez de Toledo resign'd the Mastership of Santiago in lieu thereof and for deserting his Master had Oropisa and Valdecorneja given him Count Henry being posses'd of Toledo all the rest was easy so that King Peter durst not stay longer in the Kingdom but imbarqâ—ing his Children and Treasure aboard a Galley fled to Portugal The King of Portugal would not receive him Ferdinand his Son favour'd Count Henry and kept correspondence with him Yet King Peter had no Wrong offer'd him but was suffer'd to pass quietly through that Kingdom into Galicia where he design'd to gather a Fleet in order to sail to Bayonne At Compostella he caus'd D. Suero Arch-Bishop of that See and the Dean to be put to death Having got together Twenty two Ships and some smaller Vessels he set Sail for France carrying with him his Son D. John and two Daughters for Beatrix the eldest was dead tho Polydore writes she dy'd at Bayonne There he arriv'd safe that place being then in the Hands of the English with a considerable part of his Treasure for the rest which his Treasurer Martin Yanez had in a Galley was taken by the People of Sevil to please Count Henry who after the surrender of Cordova was expected at Sevil. The new made King Henry being come to Sevil concluded Peace with the Kings of Portugal and Granada That done as if nothing more remain'd to do he disbanded his Army retaining only 15000 Lances of the Foreignes under the command of Bertran Claquin and Bernal
of great Beauty which made him prefer her before Joanna Queen of Naples who was offer'd to him By this Lady he had two Sons who dy'd young and a Daughter call'd Elizabeth afterwards marry'd to the Earl of Vrgel CHAP. II. King John succeeds his Father in the Throne of Castile Charles King of France dies Charles the VIth succeeds him Pope Clement own'd in Spain through the French Interest KING John having bury'd his Father was Crown'd together with his Wife Queen Ellener in the Monastery of Huelgas at Burgos He Knighted 100 young Gentlemen according to the manner of those Times and gave the Town of Pancorvo to that City in Payment of the Expence it had been at and to reward its Loyalty The Cortes or Parliament was held in that City where several Laws were enacted One was that a Man who had receiv'd the lesser Orders if he marry'd should pay Taxes but if he liv'd Single was shorn and were the Habit of a Clergy Man he should be priviledg'd as a Church Man Great rejoycing was throughout the whole Kingdom for the King's Coronation The Joy was the greater for that it was hop'd he would prove an excellent Prince being Generous sharp Witted Mild Religious and not Conceited but always inclinable to be advis'd Of Stature he was low yet with Majesty The first thing he did after his Accession to the Crown was to express his Affection to the French and therefore immediately fitted out a Fleet and sent it against John de Montfort Duke of Britany whom because he sided with the English the King and Counsel of France had declar'd an Enemy to the Crown and confiscated his Estate The Fleet scower'd the Coast of Britany and took there the Fort they call'd Gaye The King spent the Summer at Burgos Two things concurred the one to increase the other to lessen the publick Joy The first was that one Joseph Pico a rich and famous Jew was kill'd by his own People He was Receiver General of the Revenue which rais'd him to a great height Some Jews of Note bore him ill will the reason of it is not known and they contriv'd to make him away To this purpose they deceitfully obtain'd an Order of the King for putting of him immediatly to Death and finding out the Executioner prevail'd with him to kill the Jew without delay The Fraud being discover'd the Contrivers of it were punish'd and that People were debarr'd the Power they had before of Judging their own Members a Liberty till then allow'd by the Kings forc'd by their wants because the Jews have extraordinary Methods of raising Mony The Subject of Joy was that on the 4th of October the Queen was deliver'd at Burgos of a Son call'd Henry in Honour of his Grandfather this Child came afterwards to inherit the Crown About the end of this Year and beginning of the next which was 1380 the Rains were so great and continu'd so long that all the Rivers overflow'd and all the low Lands were under Water Particularly the River Ebro near Zaragoća broke down it's Banks and ran a new way so that it cost much Mony and Labour to bring it back into it's own Channel From Burgos King John went to Toledo where he again repeated his Father's Exequies and plac'd his Body in the Tomb built for him Then he set out for Andaluzia resolving to aid the French against the English At Sevil he fitted out 20 Galleys with which Fernan Sanchez de Tovar having coasted along Spain and France came to the English Shore and ran up the River Thames destroying all the Country and burning the Villages The Difference about the two Popes was now hotter than ever and each of them had powerful Supporters Pope Vrban meditated Revenge against the Queen of Naples the chief causer of the Schism whom her wicked Life had rendred Infamous He invited Charles Duke of Durazzo descended of the Kings of Naples into Italy intimating he would conferr that Crown upon him On the other sid'e the Queen having no Children adopted Luys Duke of Anjou giving him the Title of Duke of Calabria appertaining to the Heirs of that Crown not doubting by that means to be supported by the Arms of France This is all the Title the Dukes of Anjou have to that Crown which was the occasion of tedious and bloody Wars betwixt them and Spain tho at this time the Design was only to support the Queen and Pope Clement On the 13th of July dy'd the Famous Bertran Claquin at the Siege of Chasteauneuf in Britany and on the 16th of September following Charles King of France departed this Life at Bois de Vincennes His Son Charles the VIth succeeded him The King of Portugal was concern'd about the Succession be being old and having never a Son Beatrix his Daughter by the Queen whose Birth was afterwards call'd in Question was contracted to Frederick Duke of Benavente and Bastard Son to King Henry After the Death of Henry the Portuguese would not stand to that Match but sent Embassadors to the new King to offer her to his Son Prince Henry then a Child but a few Months old King John hoping to joyn the Kingdom of Portugal to Castile admitted of the Proposal The Articles of Marriage were agreed upon at Soria where the Cortes met but at last they came to nothing Peter Manrique Leiutenant of Castile was apprehended being accus'd of holding a treasonable Correspondence with D. Alonso de Aragon Earl of Denia He dy'd in Prison without leaving any Children James Manrique his Brother inherited his Estate and Honours as he well deserv'd for his good Service in Navarre Luis Duke of Anjou govern'd France for King Charles who was under Age. The King of Aragon fear'd lest he should lay hold of that Opportunity to conquer the Kingdom of Majorca to which he pretended a right as has been said but he had bent his Thought upon securing the Crown of Naples to himself and his Heirs However King John of Castile sent Embassadors into France to accommodate that Affair and it was agree'd he should sell the Title he had bought King John advanc'd a good Summ out of kindness to his Father-in Law and to secure the Peace of Spain He also sent Embassadors to the Soldan of Egypt to sollicite for the Liberty of Leo King of Armenia whose Wife and Daughter had dy'd in Prison The barbarous King granted his Request and releas'd the Prisoner sending him into Spain with Letters full of Pride and Arogancy in relation to himself but honourably writ in regard to King John whose Power and Valour he extoll'd desiring his Friendship Three Years after that unfortunate King came into France and thence into Spain where the King entertain'd him honourably and gave him the Towns of Madrid and Andujan with a competent Revenue for his Maintenance He stay'd not long in Spain but return'd into France designing thence to go into England to perswade those Kings to
end to the Treaty of Peace and the Queen of Castile return'd to Arevalo where she was before War broke out in several Places at the same time The Chief Heads of the Rebellion were Prince Henry of Aragon the Admiral and the Earl of Benavente D. Alvaro de Luna and his Brother the Archbishop of Toledo bravely made head against the Rebels In̄igo Lopez de Mendoça escap'd being kill'd very narrowly with a very few of his Men all the rest being cut off by John Carrillo Lieutenant of Caçorla who lay'd an Ambush for him At the same time another Party of the Malecontents was defeated by the Forces of D. Alvaro near a Town call'd Gresmonda In this Action was kill'd Laurence Davalos Son to the Constable D. Ruy Lopez Davalos John de Mena a famous Poet in those Days lamented his Death in Elegiack Verse At the same time the King of Navarre came into New Castile with a good Body of Men in favour of the Rebels because the Royalists were too hard for them and being dispersed about the Country plunder'd it and ravish'd the Women In Old Castile the King took Medina del Campo and Arevalo from the King of Navarre At a Village call'd Naharro in that Neighbourhood he had a Conference with Ellenor Queen Dowager of Portugal Nothing was concluded touching the Rebels but the King sent Embassadors to advise Peter Duke of Coimbra to do the Queen right The King of Aragon also sent an Embassy from Italy to Portugal to the same effect but nothing was done for that Prince would not quit the Government and the Kings were not at Leasure to use Force So that Queen Ellenor ended her days in Castile The Princes of Aragon hasted out of the Kingdom of Toledo to Old Castile to secure their Interest there Arevalo open'd the Gates to receive them and thence they went to Medina del Campo and sat down before it Some Skirmish happen'd but the Siege lasted not long for some of the Townsmen by Night gave entrance to the Rebels The King had dispos'd his Forces about the Streets and publick Places The Townsmen kept close in their Houses D. Alvaro de Luna his Brother the Archbishop of Toledo and the Master of Alcantara in Disguize escap'd through the midst of their Enemies being advis'd so to do by the King knowing their Lives were in Danger if taken by the Rebels They came and kissed the King's Hand conducting him to the Palace with feign'd Respect The Queens and Prince Henry hearing what had happen'd came thither and after a long Consultation in hatred to D. Alvaro all the Officers of the King's Houshold were remov'd Others that had adher'd to the King were turn'd out of the City It was propos'd to compose Differences the King being then a Prisoner and Judges were appointed to decide all Controversies D. Alvaro was commanded not to depart out of such Towns of his own as should be assign'd during the term of 6 Years and that he should not write to the King unless the Letters were first perus'd by the Queen and Prince Henry Moreover that he should not make any new Alliances or maintain Soldiers and for Security that he would perform all this he should deliver his Son D. John as Hostage and nine Castles within 30 Days These things much afflicted D. Alvaro who yet ceas'd not to study new ways to rise But all Men shun him that is falling and the Rebels strengthned their Party by fresh Allyances Joanna Daughter to the Admiral was contracted to the King of Navarre Beatrix Daughter to the Earl of Benavente to Prince Henry of Aragon These Matches were contriv'd by James Gomez de Sandoval Earl of Castro who sought by that means to unite the Malecontents and ruin D. Alvaro de Luna CHAP. X. The Progress of the Aragonians in Naples That City taken by them New Disorders in Spain The Archbishop of Toledo Dyes Of some Men famous for Learning THe Civil War in Spain seem'd to be at an end but Italy was all over in a Flame with the War of Naples The Forces of Renee wasted with delay and his Wife and Children being sent to Marseilles seem'd to denote there remain'd but small hopes Besides James Caldora the great Prop of that Party dy'd suddenly as he was going to Plunder Circaslo a Town of the Pope's Jurisdiction and the rest of his Family after his Death joyn'd with the Aragonians whose interest daily advanc'd They took the City Aversa subdu'd all Calabria and defeated the Forces of Francis Sforcia in Apulia Pope Eugenius made a League with the Venetians Florentines and Genoeses to expel the Aragonians out of Italy To this purpose the Cardinal of Trent entred the Kingdom of Naples with 10000 Men but they being Raw Soldiers did no great matter The Army of Aragon march'd directly to Naples and sate down before it Renoe not daring to come into the Field Some Provisions and Recruits were brought to the Besieg'd by the Genoeses These were small Helps for the Multitude within was great and began to suffer much Want Corn being excessive dear Some advis'd to Surrender upon any Terms but that not succeeding one Anello and his Brother both Bricklayers fled to the Camp and offer'd to shew how the City might be taken without much danger so they were well rewarded Their design was to convey Men into the Town through an Aqueduct that carries the Water into the City 200 Men were chosen for this purpose and order'd to obey the two Brothers The Way was so difficult that most of them were left behind and only 40 went through and came to the Wall of a Private House where a Woman Cry'd out and had betray'd them had they not soon stopp'd her Mouth Much time was spent in getting through the Sun was up and no Sign made to give notice they were within It was fear'd they were all Cut off and yet the Forces appointed to give the Assault apply'd the Scaling Ladders but faintly hearing no Noise within The 40 Soldiers hearing the Noise seiz'd a Tower upon the Walls call'd Sophia Thither the King of Aragon made to Relieve them and Renee to drive them out and there follow'd a hot Dispute but at length the Aragonians having forc'd some of the Gates enter'd the City Renee after having done all that became a good Commander and brave Soldier retir'd to the Castle Some Houses were Plunder'd but no body Kill'd Thus the Aragonians made themselves Masters of Naples upon Saturday the 2d of June 1442. The Soldiers were publickly commended and rewarded according to the Merit of every Man and particularly Peter Martinez Commander of those who came through the Aqueduct The Two Bricklayers receiv'd more than could be expected by such mean persons Some curious Men observ'd that Belisarius took that City from the Goths by the same Stratagem Renee having no hopes left capitulated to deliver up all Places that held out for him upon liberty to depart freely
Ambassador to the Soldan to appease him He also before he enter'd upon the War again sent his Reasons for so doing to the King of Naples The Guardian both in regard of his Character as Ambassador and the Opinion of his Sanctity was nobly Treated and dismissed with rich Presents King Ferdinand offered the Citizens of Granada if they would submit they should be treated in the same manner as the others that had done so before This moved both the Factions in that City to join in order to oppose the Common Enemy for the Moorish King was convinced that King Ferdinand tho' he pretended to be his Friend would never desist till he was Master of that City The Alfaquies and others held in the Opinion of Sanctity ceased not to advise that either for obtaining Peace or supporting the War it was requisite they should be united Thus the Moors were brought to agree among themselves King Ferdinand leaving the Queen at Moclin wasted all the Plain of Granada destroying all the Corn to the great Grief of the Infidels who feared lest they should be reduced by Famine Prince John bore his Father Company in this Expedition being newly Knighted by him They returned to Cordova with the Booty The Command of the Frontiers was given to the Marquess de Villena in Requital for a Brother he lost in the War and that his own right Arm was lame of a Wound he received rescuing one of his Men Scarce were the Christians departed when King Boabdil took the Castle Alhendin where we had a Garrison and razed it The King revenged this in September when he spent 15 days in destroying all the latter Corn on which the Moors hoped to feed the following year The Moors at Guadix mutinied and thought to have destroyed the Garrison in the Castle but failed and the Marquis de Villena coming with a good Body of Horse and Foot turned them out of the City which prevented any Disorders for the future K. Ferdinand at the end of the year again ravaged all the Territory of Granada Boabdil besieged Salobreria which Francis Ramirez defended with much Bravery The Moors believing King Ferdinand would relieve the Place raised the Siege and returned to Granada Because the Subjects of Abohardil mutinied and would not obey him King Ferdinand according to what had been Capitulated permitted him to go over into Africk with great Riches he gave him in lieu of what he left behind CHAP. IX The War with the Moors now effectually renewed The Description of the City Granada King Ferdinand lays Siege to it and builds a Town for his Army to Quarter in during the Siege to shew his Resolution not to depart without being Master of that City THE King and Queen spent the Winter at Sevil and in the Spring renewed the War The Queen stayed behind at Alcala Reall with her Children to furnish all things necessary and soon after to follow and take part of the Honour and Danger of that Enterprize All the Nobility came in Person and the Cities sent Troops upon their own cost with which and the other Forces King Ferdinand in three days appeared in sight of Granada upon Saturday the 23d of April 1491. He encamped at Guetar a Village a League and a half from Granada Thence he sent the Marquess de Villena with 3000 Horse to scour the neighbouring Mountains promising to follow him with the whole Army to relieve him in case the Mountain-Moors who are bold and daring should fall upon him or those of the City offer to cut off his Retreat Accordingly he advanced to Padul and repulsed the Moors of the City who thought to fall upon the Marquess's Rear By this means the Marquess was left at liberty to execute his Orders burnt 9 Villages of the Infidels and returned to the King loaded with Plunder This beginning was looked upon as a good Omen of future success They advanced together to ravage the remoter Parts of the Mountain which they did successfully plundering and burning 15 other Villages Besides they defeated a Body of Moorish Horse and Foot who had secured the Passes against our Army The Booty was very considerable that Country being very rich because untouched till that time being naturally strong and well guarded as was requisite the City being supplied there with Provisions All this being performed without any loss or bloodshed the Army returned to its first Quarters there they fortified themselves for the present They mustered 10000 Horse and 40000 Foot the very Flower of the Spanish Soldiery being all Men of tried Valour and expert Soldiers In the City was also a great number of Horse and Foot and all of them good Soldiers being the Remains of all the late Wars The multitude of Citizens was not of any moment they being a sort of People always lavish of their Tongues but Cowards when they came to Action The City of Granada by reason of its Situation Largness Forts Walls and Bulwarks seemed impregnable On the West-side of it is a large Plain about 15 Leagues in compass pleasant and fruitful as well of its own Nature as by reason of the Blood that had been there shed for many Years which made it fat Besides that 36 Springs running down from the Mountains do render it more beautiful and rich than can easily be imagined On the East of it is the Mountain Elvira where formerly stood the City Iliberis as appears by the Name Elvira The snowy Mountain called Sierra Nevada lies on the South-side of it and runs down as far as the Mediterranean Sea The sides of it are not steep or craggy and are therefore cultivated and well peopled The City it self is seated partly upon the Plain and partly upon two Hills betwixt them runs the River Darro which as soon as out of the City mixes with and loses its Name in the River Xenil that runs quite a cross the Plain in length The Walls are very strong there being upon them 1030 Towers at distances very beautiful for their Number and good Structure Formerly it had 7 Gates now 12. It cannot well be enclosed all round because of its great extent and the unevenness of the Ground Towards the Plain where the access is easiest it is fortified with Towers and Bulwarks In that part stands the Cathedral then a Moorish Mosque nothing curious now beautiful It is held in great Veneration by all the neighbouring People and famous not so much for its Riches as the Number and Piety of Clergy belonging to it Near this Church is the great Market-place called Bavarambla 200 Foot in breadth and three times as long The Buildings about it stand in a streight Line the Shops and Streets about it beautiful Of two Castles that belong to the City the chiefest lies betwixt the East and West encompassed with a Wall of its own and standing above the other Buildings It is called Alhambra that is Red of the colour of the Earth about it and is so big it
flourishing Kingdom His Son Alonso succeeded him and was no way more acceptable to the People than his Father had been Cardinal John de Borgia sent on purpose by the Pope his Unckle as Legate to Naples Crowned him This Year also the Pope by his Bull granted to the Kings of Castile for ever the 3d part of the Tithes of Castile Leon and Granada conditionally that the profit thereof should be spent in the War with the Moors At Tordesillas on the 7th of June was agreed the Difference betwixt Castile and Portugal touching their Discoveries in the Indies The Conquests of Castile were to begin 36 Degrees West from the Meridian of Lisbon all thence Eastward as far as half the Circumference of the Globe to appertain to the Portugueses The matter also of the Conquests in Africk was adjusted so that all within the Kingdom of Fez should belong to Portugal the Kingdom of Tremecen to Castile but no Line was fixed to distinguish their Limits which afterwards caused new disputes CHAP. IV. The French Invade the Kingdom of Naples An account of Luis Sforcia Duke of Milan The French King at Rome Alonso King of Naples Abdicates The French Possess themselves of the Kingdom of Naples THE King of France being resolved to Invade Italy in Person gathered all his Forces the Randezvouz of his Army was at Lyons Thither came from Ostia whither he fled for fear of the Pope the Cardinal of St. Peter to forward that undertaking On the other side D. Alonso de Silva according to his Instructions in his King's behalf protested against those proceedings Nevertheless the King of France committing the Government of his Kingdom to Peter Duke of Bourbon his Brother-in-Law set out from that City upon Tuesday the 22th of July with him went most of the Nobility of France His Army consisted of about 20000 Foot and 5000 Horse To pay these Forces he borrowed Money of the Nobility besides 150000 Florms taken up of a Genoese Banker a small Sum for so great an undertaking King Alonso sent a great Fleet under the Command of his Brother Frederick to Infest the State of Genoa By Land he sent his Son the Duke of Calabria to Invade the Territories of Milan All things fell out unfortunately for Frederick did nothing worth naming and the Duke of Calabria was stopped by the Forces of France and Milan from passing out of Romania The King of France passed the Alpes and on the 9th of September came to Aste the Bounds of the Dukedom of Milan and then possessed by the Duke of Orleans who was in that Expedition and pretended a Right to the whole Dukedom D. Alonso the Spanish Ambassador was very little looked upon at Court insomuch that he was ordered to be dismissed but he winked at all being a Person of great Prudence and Sagacity At the City Aste they flighted him so far as to assign him no Quarters whereupon he was forced to go away to Genoa There he began to treat with Luis Sforcia who repented of what he had done about joining in League with the Catholick King giving him a hint that one of the Princesses should be Married to his Eldest Son for they could not Marry with any other Prince by reason of the agreement made with France This took so much with Luis Sforcia that he resolved to change Parties tho' at the same time he repaired to Aste to receive the French King and gave him a Sum of Money to pay his Army The King leaving the Duke of Orleans who designed to lay hold of that oportunity to possess himself of the State of Milan at Aste Marched with his Army to Pavia where he visitted the Duke John Galeazzo who was then at the point of death and was his Cousin-german both their Mothers being Sisters and Daughters to the Duke of Savoy The Duke died on the 21th of October and it appeared plainly he had been poisoned which increased the Hatred conceived towards his Unckle The same day the King of France entred Plasencia and with him Lewis Sforcia who understanding the death of his Nephew immediatly returned to Milan and there publickly took upon him the Title of Duke notwithstanding his Nephew left a Son five Years of Age as also two Daughters and his Wife big with Child So far did his Ambition blind him that the same day he wrote to King Alonso giving an account of his Nephews death and telling him the Nobility and People of Milan had obliged him to take the Title of Duke and that he believed this would be no way displeasing to him knowing how well affected he was towards him and his Kingdom From Plasencia the King entred into Tuscany Ambassadors came to him from all parts and particulaly from the Venetians offering their Friendship The Pope sent the Cardinal of Siena his Legate who came as far as Pisa but the King would not see him The Florentines sent Peter de Medicis on the same account He contrary to his Commission and Instructions was agreeing to deliver up to the French Saraçana Saraçanella and Piedrasanta strong Holds belonging to the Republick on Mount Apennine as also the Castles of Pesa and Leghorn and some other things to this purpose Hereat the People were so inraged that they Banished him and his Brothers the Cardinal de Medicis and Julian plundered their Houses and confiscated all their Estates which were very great Being come to Pisa the King restored that City to its Liberty delivering it from the subjection it was under to the Florentines He entred Florence the same day that Picus Mirandula died there at the Age of 34 Years a Man of such an excellent Wit that he was called the Phaenix He agreed with the Florentines to restore their Forts after the War was ended that they for his sake should pardon Peter de Medicis and his Brothers and pay 120000 Florins towards the Charge of the War Rome was in an uproar because the Cardinals could not agree and the Nobility was divided for Prosper and Fabricius Colonna favoured the French and Virginius Ursinus the Neapolitans The Colonneses with Cardinal Ascanius Sforcia had seized the City Ostia by which means Rome suffered great want no Provisions coming to it by Sea It was genarally believed the Pope would agree with the King of France or else depart Rome Hereupon the People began to mutiny and the Pope was obliged to satisfie the Cardinals and Roman Gentry assuring them he would stand by the juster Cause and if the King of France attempted to enter Rome with his Army he would make head against him and hazard his own Life in the Quarrel All he could say was of little force to encourage the People who were terrified with the News daily brought of the approach of the French and their securing the Towns belonging to the Church The Pope himself perceiving that neither his own nor the Forces of Naples with a good part whereof the Duke of Calabria then lay at
those Times At the beginning of this Year Lucrecia de Borgia was married to the Heir of the Duke of Ferrara her Portion was 100000 Ducats The Archduke and his Wife by the way of Burgos Valladolid Medina and Segovia came to Madrid The Catholick King and Queen came from Andaluzia to Guadalupe There to oblige Duke Valentine and in him the Pope they gave him the City Andria and other Lands in Naples with the Title of Prince It was also proposed that the Kings of Spain and France should settle an Estate upon King Frederick and his Children The King and Queen came to Toledo upon the 22d of April as did the Princes on the 7th of May having been stayed some days at Olias by reason of the Archduke's Indisposition At Toledo on the 22d of May they were sworn Heirs of the Kingdoms of Castile and Leon in a great Assembly of Prelates and Noblemen They were tied in case they Inherited those Kingdoms to Govern them according to their ancient and known Laws At the same time that Spain rejoiced at the coming of these Princes England lamented the Death of Prince Arthur The Princess his Wife was supposed to be lest a Maid tho' they lived together as Man and Wife for 5 Months But the Prince was only 14 Years of Age and of so weak a Constitution that it gave sufficient Grounds to believe this might be true Ferdinand Duke d' Estrada was sent by the Catholick King to Condole with King Henry and to propose that the Princess might be married to his Second Son But he neither restored her Portion nor could for some time be brought to conclude that Match which afterwards proved so unfortunate Soon after the News was brought of that Prince's Death Mary Queen of Portugal was delivered at Lisbon of a Son whom they named John He afterwards Inherited his Father's Kingdom and was a most Renowned Prince CHAP. VI. Further Actions of the Great Captain at Naples The Duke of Calabria contrary to Articles sent into Spain The French and Spanish Generals Consult their Kings and have a Conference to Adjust Differences in the Division of Naples The beginning of the War betwixt them THE Great Captain as has been said laid Siege to Taranto some months before this time In that Town was the Duke of Calabria well provided to hold out Nevertheless the first day the Town was invested a Treaty was begun and at length the Duke by the means of Octavian de Santis concluded a Truce for Two months that he might have time to consult his Father both sides giving Hostages that nothing should be done to the prejudice of the other in the mean while Afterwards because the Messengers sent to King Frederick were not come back the Truce was prolonged till the end of the year upon the same Articles as before This Term also expiring without any Answer the Truce was still continued for Two months longer and the City put into the keeping of Bindo de Ptoiomeis a Subject of the Catholick King in whom the Great Captain reposed great Trust upon Condition that after that time the City should be surrendred without any farther delay but that the Duke with all his Treasure and Family should be free At the same time the Castle of Gerachi a Place of great importance 3 Leagues from the Sea was surrendred and the Prince of Salerno came to Treat with the Great Captain about coming over to his Party provided he and the Prince of Bisignano might be restored to their Estates He also demanded the Earldom of Lauria and 5000 Duccats Pension which his Predecessors used to be allowed by the Kings of Naples All these were extravagant Demands and denoted he had but a small Inclination to submit Many of the Barons who had withdrawn with King Frederick to Ischia came over now to the Great Captain Of them he admitted such as he thought were most important for his King's Service and among them Prosper and Fabricius Colona being informed the Venetians endeavoured to draw them into their Service D. James de Mendoça and In̄igo de Ayala took the City and Castle of Manfredonia by Intelligence they held with the Governour that was to keep that place for King Frederick notwithstanding the Lord of Alegre was marching at the same time to Relieve the Besieged At last the City Taranto according to Articles was delivered with its Castles to the great Captain And because one of the Articles of Surrender was That the Duke might have liberty to depart whither he pleased for the present he went to Bari which still held out for his Father tho the City was weak and the Castle but a plain House resolving to stay there for his Orders without which he would not do any thing The Great Captain earnestly desired to reconcile him to the Catholick King that be might not go to France which might cause some Troubles Proposals were made and he offered him 30000 Duccats a year for ever part in the Kingdom of Naples and part in Spain which was all he asked or could expect in that Condition The Duke liked the Offer but would conclude nothing without his Father's Consent Soon after the Dutchess Dowager of Milan his Cousin rather than to go to Sicily whither she was invited with the Queen of Hungary her Aunt retired to that City This Lady prevailed with the Duke to write a Letter to the great Captain praying him that notwithstanding the Capitulation by which he was at liberty to dispose of himself he would send him over to the Catholick King because he found his Father's Designs were not for his Advantage and yet he was not willing to act any thing publickly in opposition to him It is to be believed the Duke did not continue long in this mind for his Father by Letter pressed the Great Captain according to what had been Capitulated to give his Son his full Liberty urging that it was not like a Gentleman to break his Word and that he ought to remember how much he had been his Friend in the time of his Prosperity The Great Captain who kept a Guard upon him that he might not escape to the end to bring him to his Will besides the Revenue he had offered before now promised in the Name of the Catholick King to Marry him either to the Queen of Naples his Neece or with the Princess of Wales both very advantageous Proposals It was suspected that the Earl of Ponteza D. John de Guevera who always stuck by the Duke led him which way he pleased The Duke tho he went about Apulia in appearance free yet was so guarded that he could not get away nor scarce go a Hunting In fine this Business was so contrived that at Duke was brought back to Toranto and thence John de Conchillos had Orders to carry him in a Gally to Sicily and so to Spain it being believed Matters would be the better adjusted betwixt the Parties themselves and that the Duke
had joined the Turks with 34 Sail. These small Vessels sailing under the Shore the Portugueses descryed only 5 Ships which they thought to belong to Alonso de Albuquerque whom they expected Part of the Enemies Fleet entred the Harbour and that day was spent in Cannonading one another Next day Laurence de Almeyda Attacks Mir Hozem's Admiral Gally but could not grapple by reason it was Ebb and the Enemy lay in shoal Water He sustained much loss because the Enemies Vessel was higher Decked and was himself wounded with Two Darts Pelayo de Sousa and James Perez took each of them one of the Enemies Gallies and thus that day ended The day following Melique came into the Port with his Vessels whereupon the Portugueses at midnight resolved to put out to Sea But the Enemy perceiving them move fell upon them and so pierced the Admiral which was the last that she made much Water and what was worse ran a Ground and the Water Ebbing none of the others could come in to assist her The Enemy Cannonaded her till such time as Laurence de Almeyda being killed with a Cannon-shot and 80 of 100 Men he had the other 20 with the Ship were taken The rest put to Sea and recovered the Port of Cananor whence they sent advice of what had hapned to the Governor This Battle was fought towards the end of the Year Almeyda and Albuquerque came both to Cananor and Albuquerque contending to take upon him the Government according to the King's Order Almeyda sent him Prisoner to Cochin This done he gathered the greatest Fleet he could at Onor burnt several Ships of Calicut destroyed the City Dabul and many Vessels there and on the 5th of January 1509 sailed towards Diu a Port of Cambaya where the Enemy lay Mir Hozem placed himself in shoal-water under the Cannon of the City He had at this time 3 Caracs 3 Galleons 6 Gallies and 4 Ships of Cambaya besides Melique's small Vessels Almeyda had in all 19 Sail and in them 1300 Portugueses and 400 Malabars The Two Fleets Cannonaded one another but could not draw near because the Weather was calm Next day they engaged and after a very bloody Dispute the Portugueses obtained the Victory Of the Enemy 4000 were slain of which number were all the 800 Mamalucs except only 22. Three of their great Ships were sunk besides many small Vessels Two Galleons Two Gallies and Four great Ships were taken The Commanders Mir Hozem and Melique escaped On our side 32 were killed and 300 wounded This done Almeyda returned to Cochin where there was much contention about the Government which was ended by Ferdinand Coutinho who this Year sailed from Lisbon with 15 Ships and Orders to put Alonso de Albequerque in Possession of the Government as was accordingly done From Valladolid the Catholick King went to Arcos where he found the Queen his Daughter so ill Lodged that the last Winter she fell sick through the coldness of the Room she lay in In February he removed her to Tordesillas and with her the Body of her Husband which was afterwards by her Son the Emperor Charles the V buried in the Royal Chapel at Granada The Queen lived out the rest of her days in that Town Queen Joanna's Condition was such she might better be counted among the Dead than the Living Her two Sisters ran different Fortunes The Queen of Portugal lived happy abounding in Riches and having a numerous Issue and this very Year she was delivered of a Son called Alonso who was afterwards a Gardinal but died young The Princess of Wales in England neither Widow nor Wife was hardly used by her Father-in-Law who hoped that way to induce her Father to give him in Marriage his other Daughter Joanna Queen of Castile The King's death which hapned upon the 21st of April for the present put an end to those Discontents Soon after the Match before agreed upon betwixt this Lady and the Prince of Wales after his Father's Death King Henry VIII was consummated That Princess had no Inclination to this Match but it was for the Conveniency of both Kings King Henry was of a graceful Presence but very Lewd especially towards his latter days insomuch that to gratifie his Lust he cast off all Obedience to the Church and made way for all the Confusion that afterwards hapned in that Kingdom Whilst Queen Catherine was yet living tho' he had by her a Daughter called Mary upon pretence she had been married to his Brother and that the Pope could not dispence to marry her he put her away and publickly married Anne of Bullen whom afterwards he convicted of Adultery and executed By her he had Elizabeth afterwards Queen Next he married Jane Seymour who died in Childbed but her Son lived and was called Edward VI. His Fourth Wife was Anne of Cleves from whom he was Divorced and to that purpose made a Law which allowed of Divorces His Fifth Wife was Anne Howard who was put to death for Adultery The last was the Lady Catherine Parr from whom he was not divorced nor had any Children by her death putting an end to his wicked Courses King Ferdinand made publick rejoycing at Valladolid upon the News of the Marriage of his Daughter on Midsummer-day He also agreed that Prince Charles should marry that King's Sister and ordered Gutierre Gomez his Ambassador to Compliment her upon the same At Valladolid Queen Germana was delivered of a Son on the 3d of May he was called John Prince of Aragon but died within a few Hours His Body was deposited in the Monastery of S. Paul in that City and thence translated to Poblete the ancient Burial-place of the Kings of Aragon The Catholick King prepared to make War upon the Venetians and grounded the Justice of his Proceedings principally upon Two Points The first That those Cities the Venetians were possessed of in Apulia were mortagaged to them by Ferdinand II. King of Naples and that they neither performed the Conditions of the Mortgage nor would restore those Places when the Money was tendred to them The second was That the Catholick King had been at a greater Expence either in gaining Cephalonia for that Republick or in the War made upon France on their account and upon promise that they would allow him 50000 Ducats a Year towards the Charge of that War which Debt tho' it had been demanded of them they would never pay nor so much as acknowledge CHAP. VII The Cardinal of Spain takes Oran in Africk The War against the Venetians and their Losses They recover Padua and other Places GReat Preparations were made throughout all Spain for the Conquest of Africk and the Cardinal of Spain did not only furnish Money towards it but designed to go over in Person The Rendezvous of the Forces was at Carthagena Stores of Ammunition and Provisions were made there and at Malaga About 14000 Men were gathered as well Horse as Foot The Principal Commanders were James de
oppose our Army Their Force was 800 Men at Arms and 8000 Foot The Dauphin lay at Garriz with another great Body ready to second them This only waited the coming of King John with his Forces to march into Navarre In hopes of their coming the People of the Valley of Salazar and Roncales revolted from King Ferdinand The Mareschal of Navarre also who till then had stood neuter declared for France and went away thither from Tudela whither King Ferdinand went to meet the Queen after she had broke up the Cortes of Aragon at Monçon This caused King John to hasten his march There are two Passes through the Mountains betwixt Navarre and France one is called Valderroncal the other Valderronças At the entrance of Valderronças is S. John de Pied de Porte where the Duke of Alva then was Through the other Pass the King led his Army about the middle of October With him went the Sieur de la Palisse The Spaniards were no where strong enough to give them Battel yet several Commanders posted themselves in the Straights of the Mountains Among the rest Ferdinand Valdez took his Post at Burgi which place was very weak The Enemy coming on assaulted that place and tho' they lost 400 Men carried it killing many of the Defendants and among them Ferdinand de Valdez It is reported he exposed himself to that Danger out of Despair because when he returned after the Battel of Ravenna the King said The Good Men are left there The Duke of Alva considering the danger Pamplona was in left James de Vera at S. John de Pied de Porte with 800 Foot 200 Horse and 20 Pieces of Cannon and resolved himself with the rest to repass the Mountains into Navarre They Enemy might have prevented him but they were overseen as well in that as in not marching directly to Pamplona which they might easily have taken This delay gave the Duke leisure to march thither and the Archbishop of Zaragoça to join him with 600 Men. Several Castles that had revolted were reduced Having taken Torla and falling to plunder it the People of the Valley joining with the Townsmen fell upon the Forces killing above 2000 and taking all their Baggage with some Field-Pieces King John encamped at Utroz within two Leagues of Pamplona hoping the City would declare for him but our Army had prevented it by expelling 200 Citizens besides at Puente de la Reyna which is hard by a great Body assembled to relieve the place if it were requisite 1500 Men came from Trasmiera and Campos and 900 from Bugia which were landed at Barcelona Soon after the Forces of Aragon came thither The Duke of Najara was chosen General of this Army The French still expected more Forces from the Dauphin and the Sieur de la Palisse was dissatisfied for that nothing succeeded to his Mind The French encamped so as to cut off the Provisions of the City Another Body left beyond the Mountains to divert the Forces of King Ferdinand entred Guipuscoa They passed by Fuenterabia and sate down before S. Sebastian Monsieur de Lautrec Commanded that Army and resolved to attack that Town D. John d' Aragon Son to the Archbishop of Zaragoça was in the place who so encouraged the Garrison tho' small that the French retired into Guienne The Duke of Calabria upon promise of being restored to the Kingdom of Naples designed to fly to the French but was taken with Four others that managed his Intelligence He was kept many years a Prisoner in the Castle of Xativa and his Accomplices executed The Season was unfit to lie in the Field wherefore the French resolved to be the most expedite they could They sacked two Monasteries of Nuns that are without the Walls A German Captain opening the Tabernacle to scale the Custodium threw out the Blessed Sacrament upon the Altar The Nun that was Sacristan said How dare you commit such a Sacrilege He answered This is not the God of the Germans but of the Spaniards He is said soon after like Judas to have burst asunder They planted their Cannon and gave two Assaults but still the Defendants held out The Duke of Najara with 600 Foot besides the Horse appeared on the top of the Mountain designing either to fight or else to cut off the Enemy's Provisions On the last Day of November the French raised the Siege and returned towards France The Constable of Navarre pursued them and killing some took 13 Pieces of Cannon And thus ended that War All the Agramonteses submitted themselves and the City Pamplona was repaired and a place marked out to build a Castle D. Raymund de Moncada having fortunately settled the Affairs of Florence marched towards Lombardy At Modena he held a Council of War to consult what was best to be done The City Bressa was besieged by the Venetians who hoped to possess themselves of it The Empeperor pretended to it and the Swisse would have it given to Duke Maximilian Sforcia whose Quarrel they had espoused To end this Quarrel it was agreed the Viceroy should hold it for the League till it could be decided who it belonged to D. Peter d' Urrea and Andrew de Burgo went to Rome to know the Pope's Pleasure and sollicit the Payment of some Months Arrears He pleaded that Obligation had ceased after the Battel of Ravenna yet promised some Money if the Viceroy would quit Lombardy and return to Ferrara which above all things he desired to possess himself of To this purpose the Duke of Urbin was encamped with 2000 Swiss a small Force and even that deserted for want of Pay D. Peter d' Urrea and his Companion fed the Pope with good Words He resolved to send Bernard de Bibiena who was afterwards a Cardinal to acquaint the Viceroy with his Will At this time the Marquess de Pescara being ransomed from the French came to Milan and had the Command of the Company of the Men at Arms that had belonged to Gaspar de Pomar killed in that City given him On the first of October the Viceroy passed the Po with 9000 Foot Prosper Colona was marching with above 400 Men at Arms and 1000 Foot to join the Viceroy The Pope endeavoured to hinder him but could not He also laboured with the Cardinal of Sion that the Swiss should not admit the Spaniards into Lombardy At Verona Rocandulpho a Commander of the Emperor's joined the Viceroy with 2000 Germans 400 Horse and 27 Pieces of Cannon M. d' Aubigni before distressed by the Venetians seeing this new Supply set up the Emperour's Colours Bernard de Bibiena now coming to the Camp the Viceroy answered He was too forward advanced to go back but as soon as he had put an end to that Undertaking he would obey the Commands of the Pope Monsieur d' Aubigni had leave to march out with his Garrison Arms Baggage and Horses to what part he pleased provided it were not to the Castle of Milan or any other