did not only fix himself in his new Kingdom of Asturias but descended into the plain wasting all that belonged to the Moors His Forces dayly increased with the Fame of his Actions so that he took the City Leon at the Foot of the Mountains that part Galicia and Asturias in the Year of our Lord 722. Some will have it that from this time Pelayus stiled himself King of Leon but it appears none of his Successors called themselves by any other Title than Kings of Oviedo till the time of Ordonius the second who first called himself King of Leon yet it is to be believed that upon the taking of that City the Ancient Arms of the Gothish Kings were changed into Argent a Lion Rampant Gules which continues to this day And the reason of it doubtless was because the word Leon in Spanish is the name of that City and signifies a Lion The Valour of D. Alonso he who when King was called the Catholick contributed much towards advancing the Affairs of the Christians He was Son to Peter Duke of Biscay descended of the Royal Family of King Recaredus In his Youth he bore great Commands under the Kings Egica and Witiza and now desiring to promote the Common good left his Country and Parents A good number of Biscainers followed him which much encouraged the Asturians and was a great addition to their strength To bind him the faster he was Marryed to Ormisinda the Daughter of Pelayus From these Princes the succeeding Kings of Spain are descended With the Assistance of D. Alonso Gijon Astorga Mansilla Tineo and other Towns in Galicia and Asturias were taken from the Moors It was easie to expel the Moors out of these Towns by reason the Inhabitants being Christians killed their Garrisons and submitted themselves to Pelayus Besides that the Infidels were diverted by Wars that broke out one upon the Neck of another in several parts of Spain Zuleyman the Miramamolin dying left his two Nephews Homar and Izit the Sons of Vlit his Successors in that Empire Homar dy'd in the first Year of his Reign and thus Izit remained sole Lord of all He gave the Government of Spain to Zama a Wise Man and a good Soldier but no less covetous than the others for he imposed new Taxes upon all that were under his Command He put a Garrison into Narbonne and laid Siege to Toulouse Eudo Duke of Aquitain coming to the relief of the besieged overthrew and slew the Barbarian with most of his Army Those who escaped the Slaughter made choice of Abderhaman to Govern till another were sent out of Africk The news of this defeat being carryed into Africk Izit sent Aza whom some call Adham to the Government of Spain This Man reduced the Province already wasted with so many Calamities into a worse Condition imposing new Taxes obliging the Towns that had been taken by Force to pay the 5th part of their income and those that had surrendred the Tenth On these Terms the Christians enjoy'd their Lands rather as Farmers than Proprietors The Moor Rasis says he obliged the Moors to pay the 5th part of what they were worth on pretence of relieving the Poor but indeed to keep them under that they might not have Courage to mutiny He caused the Bridge of Cordova over Guadalquivir to be Built and took some Cities that held out at the Foot of the Mountain Moncayo and among them Taraçona which was laid Level with the Ground Having performed these great Actions in two Years and a half that his Government lasted he was Murdered by his own People at Tortosa His Successors were Ambiza Odra and Jahea according to D. Roderick the ArchBishop I judge the Government was divided into three parts or else each of them held it but a few Months In Asia the Emperor Izit dying left the Crown to his Brother Ischam upon Condition he should adopt his Son Alulit which he performed Ischam began his Reign in the Year 724. and held it 19 Years In his time Spain was governed by Odayfa Himen Autuma Alhaytan and Mahomet each of these held it not a Year entire especially the last continued but two Months For we find that in the Year 731 Abderhaman doubtless the same we mentioned above had the Government of Spain The Actions of this Governour were remarkable and the end of them Fortunate to the Christians therefore it will be Convenient to speak of them in particular The Severity and Rigor Abderhaman used towards the Moors made him odious Upon this Muniz a Powerful Man who governed Gallia Gothica revolted and the Province of Cerdania in Spain joyned with him Besides Eudo Duke of Aquitain made a League and gave him his own Daughter in Marriage Abderhaman having advice of what was doing Marched with his Army to the Frontiers of Spain and besieged the City Cerdania Muniz having lost all hopes of holding out escaping or obtaining Pardon threw himself down a Precipice His Wife and Head were sent into Africk to the Emperor of the Moors Abderhaman proud with this success broke into France marched along the Coast of the Mediterrean without Opposition as far as the River Rhosne and besieged the City Arles Eudo coming to the relief of it was vanquished and so great a Slaughter made of his Army as had not been seen that Age. Hence the Conqueror turned towards the left Hand and Traversing a great part of France fell into Aquitain passed the River Garonne destroyed the Noble City Bourdeaux and Ravaged all the Country Here Eudo again trying the Fortune of Battle had the same Fate as before Angoulesme Perigeux Xantonge and Poictiers soft the fury of this War Charles Martel at that time great Seneschal of France moved by the Publick Calamities and general danger raised a mighty Army and advanced with it as far as Tours He intrenched himself on the farther side of the River Loire on which that City is built that the Enemy with their Multitude might not surround him Here Eudo laying aside former Animosities joyned him with the Forces he could gather The Infidels advanced with great boldness as to a certain Victory and were received with no less Resolution whereupon ensued one of the Bloodiest and most Obstinate Fights that has been seen in the World Of the Moors there were 400000 with their Wives and Children as designing to Plant in France the number of the Christians was much less but they were Superior in Valour Discipline and the Justice of their Cause It was a long time before the Victory seemed to incline to either side but at length true Valour prevailed against the Multitude The Slaughter was incredible 370000 Moors were killed and among them Abderhaman Of the Christians only 1500 were missing but many of them of Note By the Confession of Martel Eudo Signalized himself particularly in this Battle for in the heat of it as had been before agreed he took a
King when he was kill'd restored to him It was agreed to stand to Judgment and the Result was that such places as he held as the King's Lieutenant should remain to the King but what was his own by Inheritance should be restored to the Bishop Thus call Animosities seem'd to cease but that the Family of Cabrera was not yet quell'd Aurembiasse the Daughter of Armengaud Earl of Vrgel demanded to be restored to her Father's Dominions according to sentence of Law Those Gentlemen being in possession made no account of that Lady but the King who protected her by force of Arms recover'd many Towns and among them Balaguer the head of that Earldom This done he Married that Lady to Prince Peter of Portugal his Father 's Cousin-German who at that time was in Aragon having fled from his own Country Gerard Cabrera who lost the Earldom took the Habit of the Templers Some years after his Son Ponce recovered the Earldom of Vrgel the Lady Aurembiasse dying without Issue Both Castile and Aragon at one time made War upon the Moors The Aragonians advanced their Affairs much but the Castilians at present made no great progress Abenhut the new King of the Moors being possess'd of the Noble City of Granada was an Eye-sore to King Ferdinand who marched with his Army up to the Walls of that City and even as far as Almeria Yet nothing of moment was done for the Moors would not hazard a Battle Thus this and the following Year 1229. were spent At this time the Knights of the Toutonick Order who had served well in the Holy-Land having lost Ptolemais return'd into Germany and setled in Prussia where they grew so strong as to Conquer Livonia where they maintain'd themselves many years Let us return to Aragon where the King having appeased all Tumults now bent his thoughts upon carrying on the War against the Infidels It hap'ned one Peter Martelle invited the King to Dinner The Windows of his House look'd upon the Sea and thence the Island of Majorca was in sight This gave occasion to discourse of that and the adjacent Islands and Peter Martelle much commended their Fruitfulness and magnified the damage done from thence on the Coasts of Catalonia But a few days before those Moors had taken some Vessels of the Catalonians and Retabohihes the Moor that took them when Restitution was demanded in the Name of Jayme King of Aragon proudly answer'd What King is that you speak of The Embassador reply'd He is Son to that King of A ragon who at Nabas de Tolosa overthrew a mighty Army of your Nation These Words so incens'd the Moor that he scarce forbore offering Violence to the Embassador yet caused him immediately to depart the Island This mov'd the King to undertake that War and in order to it held the Cortes or Parliament at Barcelona where his design met with such Approbation that they again gave him the Tax called Bovaticum which used to be given but once in a Reign He sent out his Orders for all the Forces to Rendezvous by the middle of May at Salu near Tarragona where the Fleet was fitting and all Provision making to pass over to Majorca At this time John Cardinalof S. Sabina came as the Pope's Legate to Aragon the King went to meet him at Calatayud Thither resorted Zeit King of Valencia expelled his Kingdom by a Moor called Zaen His love to the Christians and a report that he design'd to be Converted brought this disaster upon him for which reasons the King resolv'd to protect and restore him which he afterwards perform'd The Legate's Business was to examine whether the Marriage of the King were valid tho' he had then a Son by the Queen it was declared null by reason of Consanguinity ye so that the Son should inherit the Crown The Queen went away to her Sister Berengaria yet her Jointure was not taken away and she carry'd with her many Jewels and other Riches After this the King went to Tarragona where he spent the Summer preparing all things for the Enterprize in hand All Necessaries being in a readiness he set Sail in September His Fleet consisted of 135 Vessels whereof 25 great Ships 12 Galleys the rest Brigantines and small Vessels to carry Horses The Land Forces were 15000 Foot and 1500 Horse In sight of Majorca a sudden Storm put the whole Fleet in great danger but that ceasing they arrived all in safety Majorca is square the four Angles pointing to the four parts of the World In the West side is the Port Palumbaria and opposite to it the Island Dragonera Cape Salinas looks towards the South and in the mid-way betwixt it and the Port is seated the principal City called as well as the Island Majorca The Capes Piedra and S. Vincent point to the East and North. Near Cape Piedra is a small Town but safe Harbour called Palencia formerly a Roman Colony The King would have entred this Port but the contrary Winds forc'd him to Palumbaria 30 Miles distant from that City The Admiral Galley in which the King was entred the Port first and after it all the Fleet not one Vessel being lost A Multitude of Moors opposed their landing which oblig'd them to pass on to the Port S. Poncia where notwithstanding all resistance they gain'd the Shore Some Skirmishes hap'ned in which the Christians had always the better and therefore they marched towards the City which being once taken the rest of the Island would soon be reduc'd The Moorish King encamp'd on Mount Portopi in sight of the City with a great Body of Men and laid an Ambush among the Rocks and Woods His design took effect the Christians marching as if no Enemy had been near and the Moors seeing them in disorder charg'd furiously Among many others William de Moncada Viscount of Bearn and Raymund de Moncada two Men of great Note were kill'd being in the Van. Great numbers of Moors came down from the Hill to second their Companions and the Christians were in great danger but the King's Valour and Fortune overcame all difficulties His Men encouraged by his example put the Infidels to flight and forc'd their Camp yet pursu'd no farther because the City was near They Encamp'd in sight of it and immediately fell to work fixing their Engines and making their approaches The Ditch tho' very deep and wide was soon fill'd Many Sallies were made by the Moors but for the most part they return'd with loss At length the Christians lodg'd themselves under the Wall and undermin'd four Towers which they propped with Timber then setting Fire to it all those Towers fell and left a wide Breach This mov'd the Inhabitants to treat of a Surrender upon condition to be transported into Africk with their Goods Some were for admitting this offer others cry'd out for Revenge of so many Gentlemen as had been lost Dispair made the Infidels furious insomuch that many on our side repented
Exactions The Death of the King of Naples was equally pleasing to the King of Aragon and grievous to him of France To divert his Melancholy by offending his Enemies he made great Levies His Land Army amounted to 20000 Horse and 80000 Foot and at the same time he provided a Fleet of 120 Sail between great Ships Galleys and other smaller Vessels He resolv'd to go in Person to this Expedition and with him Philip and Charles his Sons and Jayme King of Majorca who follow'd the French being highly offended at the Aragonian his Brother With them also was Cardinal Gervasius sent by Pope Martin the 4th as his Legate That Pope dying at Perosa on the 29th of March Honorius the IVth a Citizen of Rome of the Family Sabela was chosen in his Place and took the Part of the French no less than his Predecessor had done The Army Rendevouz'd at Narbonne and thence march'd towards Perpignan This Town was surrendred to King Jayme and admitted the French The Example was followed by all the Towns of Russillon and that Neighbourhood except one call'd Genova which in hatred to King Jayme and hoping to be speedily reliev'd held out They were deceiv'd in their Expectation for the Town was taken by Assault and all the Inhabitants put to the Sword without sparing the very Buildings which were all Burnt and Destroy'd The Bastard of Russillon a Man of great Courage who was in the Town got into the Tower of the Church where King Jayme's Intercession sav'd his Life rather than the Strength or Holiness of that Place Yet he show'd his Gratitude to the French for the King of Aragon being possessed of all the Passes on the Pyrenean Mountains so that there was no hopes of getting by he conducted them through By-paths known to him till they reach'd the Tops of those Hills and Encamp'd above the Aragonians Thus the two Kings advanc'd as far as the Territory of Ampurias There they easily took several Towns particularly Peralada and Figueras without meeting any Opposition till they sat down before Girona a great and noble City â—â—sting the People formerly called Ausetani It is Seated on the side of a Hill at the Foot whereof runs the River antiently called Thici now Tera which has so wash'd away the Banks next the City that they and considerably to its Strength The Walls are well built the Towers of Stone and strong in the highest part of the City stands the Cathedral and Bishop's House a large and beautiful Fabrick Above the Cathedral is a large Tower call'd Gironela Raymund 〈◊〉 Cardona 〈◊〉 Governour of that City had added new Works and throw down all the Suburbs only 〈◊〉 the Church of S. Felix for the great Devotion of the Place and it's Antiquity His Valour and Industry was great so that he several times but 〈…〉 of the French 〈…〉 mind their Works The King of Aragon was not far off but being too weak to give the Enemy Battel sought some Opportunity of gaining an Advantage and putting Relief into the Town It had been three Months Besieg'd when Sancho King of Castile sent Martin Bishop of Calahorra and Gonuz Garçia de Toledo Abbot of Valladolia his Embassadors to compose these Differences They were sent back with many Reproaches having scares seen the King of France It was reported King Sancho wanted not Good Will to assist the Aragonians but that he was taken up with the War in Andaluzia where 〈◊〉 Moors as was said before had â—â—y'd Siege to Xerez de la Frontera King Sancho was my of putting all to the hazard of a 〈◊〉 and therefore only pass'd between Sevil and Nebrixa always in a Readiness to cut off the Parties of Moors that made Incursions into the Country Thus after a Siege of 6 Months the Moors raised their Camp from before Xerez being iâ—â—ent of all Necessaries and fearing lest King Sancho should offer them Battel After they had pass'd the River Guadalete rather in the nature of Flight than a Retreat one ask'd of the Moorish King the Reason why he show'd so much 〈◊〉 and he answer'd I am the first that rais'd the Family of Bar-ameda to the Regal Dignity my Enemy is descended from above 40 Kings which in Battle would have been a great Terror to me and a mighty Incouragement to him This seem'd to be a good Opportunity to pursue the Infidels but King Sancho was for the safest rather than dangerous Counsels Therefore having repair'd and revictuall'd Xerez he return'd 〈◊〉 notwithstanding the Souldiers muttered they lost a great Opportunity of destroying â—â— Enemy Embassadors pass'd betwixt the two Kings and at last they had a Meeting of the Banks of Guadalquivir others say at Râ—â—aserrada There it was agreed the King of Morocco should thy 1000000 of Maravedies a 〈…〉 that had not always the same Value towards the Charges of the War and thus it ended Many Persons of Note were disgusted at this Peace particularly Prince John the Kings Brother and D. Lope Diaz de Haro who both withdrew out of Sevil and went away to their own Lordships Not long after dy'd the King of Morocco and left his Son Joseph to succeed him Let us return to the Siege of Girona The King of Aragon desiring to cut off the Provisions that were brought to the French Army from the Port of Roses resolv'd to lay an Ambush in a convenient Place by the Way This design being discover'd by Spies Rodulphus 〈…〉 France and John Marshal de Harcourt with the Earl of Marche went to the Place where the Ambush was lay'd with only 300 Horse On the 15th of August the Parties met and there ensu'd a desperate Fight The Aragonians were the greater Number but the French made the 〈…〉 Bravery and Dexterity The King did all that could be expected of a wise Commandeâ— and resolute Souldier He was hurt in the Head and endeavouring then to get off a 〈◊〉 Man seized his Horses Reins and had taken him had he not with his Sword cut the Râ—ins and fled This writes Villancus who gave occasion to others to commit the same Error For all the 〈◊〉 of Aragon affirm the King came off without hurt that the Number of the Stain was 〈◊〉 both Sides tho' the French were Masters of the Field Thus 〈…〉 Authors to vary The Season being very hot brought the Plague into the 〈…〉 Camp and yet the Besieg'd hearing of this Defeat and having no hopes of Relief 〈…〉 Condition they should be suffer'd to depart whither they pleas'd and to take 〈…〉 as much of their Goods as they were able to carry Much Cruelty was us'd 〈◊〉 them that Surrendred and even the Churches were Profan'd The Sepulcher of S. Narcissus who is Patrâ—â— of that City and theâ— reverenc'd with singular Devotion was spoil'd of all the Riches belonging to it which were very considerable and carry'd away The Plague increas'd which was look'd upon as a Judgment for that Sacriledge and 〈◊〉 the French resolving
their Territories by the way of Murcia They lay'd Siege to Vera but could not carry it being unprovided of all Necessaries for such an Undertaking besides that a great Body of Moors was marching to the Relief of the Place Therefore raising the Siege they advanc'd to meet the Infidels and 〈◊〉 Xuxena engag'd and overthrew them The Slaughter was not great because they had a â—etreat near at Hand Yet they took and plunder'd the Town but the Moor 〈…〉 This Success made so great a Noise that the Cortes hoping it was a good Omen of future Advantages granted the Supplies that were requir'd of them by the Queen and Prince They also as was but Reason appointed Prince Ferdinand General betwixt whom and the Queen there began to be some misunderstandings Malicious Persons such as are always encourag'd in Courts heighten'd those Discontents and said one day Prince Ferdinand would perplex the Queen and her Children Many lay'd the blame on a Woman call'd Ellenon Lopez for that she bred ill Blood betwixt them and was greater with the Queen than became her Majesty or was for the good of the Kingdom These Differences increasing it was contriv'd the Government should be divided so that the Queen should have Old Castile and the Prince the New with some Towns of the Old This â—one the Prince sent his Wife and Children to Medina del Campo and set out himself from Sagovia for Villareal designing that the general Randezvouz of the Forces Mean while the Commanders on the Frontiers ceas'd not to make Incursions into the Country of the Moors wasting their Lands and driving great Booties of Cattle and Captives yet sometimes they came off with 〈◊〉 Worst A Moor inclin'd to Christianity came over from them and being carry'd before Laurence Suarez de Figueroa Master of Santiago who commanded on the Frontiers and was then at Ezija said to him I am not ignorant how odious the Name of â—â— Deserter is to all Men yet I resolv'd to come over to you being mov'd to it from Heavenâ—◠〈◊〉 my 〈…〉 testify the Sincerity of 〈◊〉 Words First let me be Buptiz'd and I will give you Instances of my real Fidelity Being 〈◊〉 he inform'd them he would shew them a way â—o surprize Pruna a considerable Town of the Moors They gave credit to his Words and the chief Commendary of Santiago went with him The Moor perform'd his Promise and the Town was taken on the 4th of June Thus the Moors lost that Nest whence they continually infested the Christian Territories Prince Ferdinand went to Cordova and thence to Sevil 〈…〉 fell sick at such time as there came to that City the Earl of Marche Son in Law to the King of Navarre of the best Blood of France of a graceful Presence and so Courteous that he gain'd the Affections of all Men. He brought with him 80 Horse to serve in that War which was expected would prove long and dangerous The Moors were not idle but first assaulted Lucena a great Town and finding they could not carry it they march'd away â—o Baeça Their Numbers were great for it is lay'd they amounted to 7000 Horse and 100000 Foot an incredible Multitude but such it was as put the whole Kingdom into a Consternation Nevertheless they could not take the City for it was bravely defended but they burnt the Subarbs All the Christians far and near took the Alarm and gather'd to relieve that important Place which the Moors understanding rais'd the Siege and departed loaded with Booty and with many Captives taken in that Country On the other Hand Alonso Enriquez the Admiral obtain'd a considerable Victorâ— over the Infidels on the Sea near Cadiz The Kings of Tunez and Tremezen had fitted out 23 Galleys to scour the Coast of Andaluzia at the Request of their Confederate the King of Granada The Admiral when he discover'd them had but 13 Galleys yet attacked them with such Fury that he 〈◊〉 eight sunk some and put the rest to flight Mean while Prince Ferdinand recover'd to the Sickness and being joyful for this Success march'd from Sevil on the 7th of September He had not fix'd what enterprize to take in Hand therefore a Council of War being call'd it was resolv'd to enter the Territory of Ronda and lay Siege to Zahara a Town of Note in that Country This was put in Execution and they began to batter it with 3 great pieces of Cannon day and night yet the harm they did was inconsiderable because the Gunners in those days were not expert at playing and levelling their Pieces For this Reason the Siege might have prov'd difficult if the besieg'd beginning to feel want and fearing they should have no Quarter had not made hast to surrender capitulating only for their Persons and Estates and delivering up their Arms. Other small Towns follow'd the Example of Zahara and submitted Septenil a Town strong and well Garrison'd refus'd to submit it was therefore besieg'd and batter'd at such time as Peter de Zuniga recover'd Ayamonte from the Moors as had been given him in charge by Prince Ferdinand The Moorish King was unwilling to hazard a Battle and therefore govern'd himself by Policy endeavouring to live his Enemy some considerable Diversion He gather'd his Forces which are said to have amounted to 6000 Horse and 80000 Foot but they were a meer Rable without Discipline or Sense of Honour With this Army he sat down before Jaen but sailed it for our Army march'd thither with speed and oblig'd him to retire with shame Some harm he did in the Country but that was retaliated by wasting all his Territories 〈…〉 Besides several Parties spread themselves over all the Dominions of the Moors so that they had no Place of safety It was some Disappointment that 〈◊〉 was not taken Autumn was advanc'd and the usual great Rains began to fall Therefore Prince Ferdinand rais'd the Siege on the 25th of October and returning to Sevil restor'd to its Place the Sword with which the Holy King Ferdinand took that City which is there kept to this Day and us'd then to be taken out by Generals when they went upon any considerable Enterprize This done he put his Forces into Quarters in Sevil Cordova and other Places and went away himself to Toledo to raise more Men and make other Provision â—â— continue the War CHAP. VIII The Murder of the Duke of Orleans by him of Burgundy The War carry'd on with the Moors 〈…〉 concluded Original of D. Alvaro de Luna Continuation of 〈…〉 Schism 〈…〉 time dy'd at Calahorra Peter 〈◊〉 Ayala Chancellor of Castile a Man 〈…〉 for many things and particularly for the Chronicle he wrote of the Kings Peter Henry the IId and Joâ—â— the I st tho it is generally believ'd he wrong'd King Peter magnifying his Vices and said more than was true in Commendation of King Henry France was in Confusion for that John Duke of 〈◊〉 had caus'd Luis Duke of Orleans to be murder'd in
Naples In May the King of Castile came to Cordova and from thence sent D. Alvaro de Luna before him with a good Body of Men who wasted all the Country and destroy'd the very Orchards in sight of Granada without sparing a beautiful Palace that King had there Yet neither this Damage nor the Challenges sent by D. Alvaro could draw the Moors out to fight A Council of War being held at Cordova some advis'd only to pillage and wast the Country others to undertake some considerable Siege At length it was resolv'd to march to Granada and try the Fortune of a compleat Battle as one Gilairo advis'd who having been taken by the Moors young had renounc'd the Faith but not from his Heart and was therefore now return'd to Cordova He assur'd that as soon as they should appear before the City Joseph Benelmao the Grandson of Mahomet the Red who was kill'd at Sevil would come over with a good Body of Men. This being resolv'd the Queen who till then accompany'd the King departed for Carmona and the Army march'd on The King halted at Alvendin till all the Forces were joyn'd 80000 Men randezvouzed there and among them many of Note James Ribera and John de Guzman had the 〈◊〉 of Major Generals which before was executed by the Marshals Advancing thence of the 2d day they came into the Country of the Moors marching in order as if the Enemy were in sight D. Alvaro de Luna led the Van in which were 2500 Men at Arms. In the main Body was the King with many Nobles In the Rear came the Courtiers and a great Number of Church-men The Flanks were secur'd by several great Men. The two Major Generals march'd before with a Forlorn of 1500 light Horse These began the Battle which was fought on the 29th of June in this manner The Moors march'd out of Granada with mighty shouts but the Christians were the first that gain'd a rising Ground which began the fight Great was the Number of the Infidels who were still relieved by fresh of â—oops from the City Our Forces also advanc'd Peter Velasco gave such a Charge as made the Moors give way Yet they retir'd orderly to the City so that for that day none turn'd his Back The Moors being retir'd the King encamp'd and intrench'd himself at the foot of the Mount Elvira Of the Moors there were 5000 Horse and about 200000 Foot part quarter'd in the Town the rest under the Walls On Sunday following the Infidels drew out to fight The Master of Calatrava was with a Number of Pioniers levelling the Ground which was all enclos'd Upon him and his Pioniers fell the first fury of the Moors Henry Earl of Niebla and James de ZunÌ„iga who were nearest came to his Relief The heat of the fight and on the Day increas'd for it was now about Noon The King in a Passion because he design'd not to have fought that day sent D. Alvaro de Luna to command the Men to retire but they were so far ingag'd it was impossible This being told the King he drew out all his Army and having encourag'd them gave the sign to fall on They were vigorously receiv'd by the Moor â—â— and great cries rais'd on both sides For some time the Battle stood firm so that no Advantage appear'd on either side The King was among the foremost Ranks which greatly encourag'd his Men and made them charge with fresh fury Then the Moors gave way some retur'd to the City others fled to the Mountains our Men pursuing till the darkness of the Night parted them It is not exactly known what Number was kill'd but it was suppos'd to be about 10000. D. John de Cereçuela Bishop of Osma gain'd the Enemy's Camp which was among the Vineyards and Olive Gardens the other Church-men went out with their Crosses to meet the King as he return'd to the Camp There the Army continu'd ten Days No proposals of Peace were made by the Moors tho they durst not so much as come out to their Vineyards All the Country about was wasted without any Opposition This done the King return'd The command of the Frontiers was given to the Master of Calatrava and the Lieutenant James de Ribera Benalmao was left with them and had the Title of King given him that if his Party prevail'd it might be a means to take Granada This was the Success of this Expedition and of the famous Battle called De la Higuera or of the Fig Tree because one stood in the Place where they fought Few Christians were kill'd in this Expedition and of those none of Note which made the Joy of the Victory the more compleat D. Nuno Alvarez Pereyra Constable of Portugal and Earl of Barcelos and Oren who had long liv'd retir'd in the Monastery of Carmelites built by himself in Lisbon dy'd now in the 71 year of his Age and 46 of his Constableship He also founded two other Monasteries one of St. George at Aljubarrota and another of St. Mary at Villaviciosa The King honour'd his Funeral with his Presence at the said Church of the Carmelites He left one only Daughter called Beatrix who was marry'd to D. Alonso Duke of Bragança Bastard Son to the King of Portugal All his Estate he divided among his Grandchildren born before his Death The King of Portugal warn'd by the Death of his Friend who was of the same Age with him that he had not long to live resolv'd to use all his endeavours to conclude a Peace with Castile King John had departed out of the Kingdom of Granada very hastily whereby many said a good Opportunity of gaining some Advantage was lost It was reported that D. Alvaro was brib'd to give this Advice by a great sum of Gold sent him in a Present of dry Figs and this was the more easily credited because all things were done by his Advice From Cordova they went to Toledo and thence to Medina del Campo whither the Cortes were summon'd In them nothing remarkable was done except the changing the Truce with Portugal into a perpetual Peace which was proclaim'd on the 30th of October at Medina and Lisbon The Earl of Castro was attainted of high Treason The Towns belonging to the Master of Alcantara were confiscated and garrison'd by the King Peter Fernandez de Velasco Earl of Haro Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo and D. Gutierre de Toledo Bishop of Palencia were apprehended their Charge was favouring the Princes of Aragon and contriving to kill D. Alvaro These things much incensed the Nobility some of whom resolv'd to take up Arms. Particularly YnÌ„igo Lopez de Mendoça fortify'd and garrison'd the Town of Hita Mony was rais'd for carrying on the War against the Moors which was now well advanc'd the Lieutenant and Master of Calatrava having taken Meros Ronda Cambil Illoro Archidona Setenil and other Places of less Note and also the City Loxa tho very strong was gain'd Our Forces besieged the
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
chosen in his stead Also Pope Sixtus gave the Archbishoprick of Sevil to Cardinal Roderick Borgia but the King opposed him and it was given to James de Mendoça then Bishop of Palencia Thus the Kings of Spain began to claim the Right of nominating their Bishops The Neapolitans and Venetians were now at War about Hercules Duke of Ferrara whom the former Protected because he was Married to their King's Daughter On the 12th of August died Pope Sixtus His Successor was Cardinal John Baptista Cibo who took the Name of Innocent the 8th At the same time died In̄igo Davalos Son to the Constable Ruy Lopez Davalos He was in high favour with the Kings of Naples and left several Children of whom some Princes in Italy are descended and particularly the famous Ferdinand Marquess of Pescara who filled not only Italy but all the World with the same of his Exploits Inigo Davalo was Father to D. Alonso Marquess del Gasto who was also renowned for his Valour and his Cousin dying without Children he Inherited his Estate which he left to his Heirs upon Condition one of them should be called Marquess de Pescara and the next Marquess del Gasto alternatively as is practised till this day CHAP. IV. Alora and other Places taken from the Moores Albohardil usurps the Crown of Granada and defeats the Earl of Cabra The Rebellion in Naples Birth of the Princess Catherine of Castile afterwards Wife to Henry VIII King of England IN Andaluzia our Forces never ceas'd to harass the Enemies Country At Cordoua a Council was held to agree about undertaking some Enterprize and tho the Master of Santiago was of another Opinion the Marquess of Cadiz his Advice prevailed which was to attack Alora a Town almost in the mid-way between Antequera and Malaga It is stronger by Nature than any addition of Art The Army was ready to march when King Ferdinand came and approved of the Enterprize The better to amuze the Enemy he gave out he was going to put new Forces into Alhama but being come to Antequera turned short and set down before Alora unexpected Our Cannon soon beat down part of the Walls which so terrified the Moores that they surrendred on the 21th of June upon Condition to carry their Goods with them We lost not one Man in this Siege Several other Places were attacked and at one called Caçarabonela where there was a Skirmish with a Body of the Enemy D. Gutierre de Sotomayor Earl of Benalcaçar being too eager was killed in the prime of his Age. After this 300 Knights of Calatrava were put into Alhama under the Command of Garzi Lopez de Padilla chosen Master of that Order in the place of Roderick Tellez Giron deceased The King marched on and incamped in sight of Granada His Army consisted of 6000 Horse and scarce 10000 Foot In the City there were reported to be 70000 Combatants a number scarce to be believed However King Ferdinand ravaged all that place and having spent 50 days in this Expedition returned with his Army entire and loaded with Plunder to the Christian Territories The Command of Alora he gave to Luis Fernandez Portocarrero D. Alvaro de Mendoça Earl of Castro was made Admiral that he being a Man of singular Conduct might hinder any Succours from passing out of Africk After the heat of the Summer was over the Christians again took the Field They battered a Castle near Malaga called Septenil which the Besieged terrified with the Cannon surrendred being payed for the Provisions they left behind them Thence our Army marched towards Ronda a strong and almost inaccessible City being seated betwixt craggy Mountains the greatest part of it encompassed by a River the rest covered with Rocks The Inhabitants of this place were Resolute and Warlike and well provided with all Necessaries for their Defence Our Forces being come in sight of the Walls destroyed all the Orchards and Olive-Trees thereabouts but Money growing short to pay the Soldiers they made but a short stay there The Army being put into Winter-quarters the King and Queen went away to Sevil and came to that City upon the 2d of October In the month of January 1485 the King took the Field thinking to surprize the City Loxa but desisted by reason of the Rains and bad Weather as also because a Soldier of Note called John de Ortega said that design was impracticable The Nobility came in daily with their Troops so that in a little time the Army amounted to 9000 Horse and 20000 Foot With this Force it was decreed to prosecute the War At the same time the Citizens of Almeria as if their King Boabdil were the Cause of all their Misfortunes assaulted his Palace killed his Brother and secured his Mother who had been the chief Incendiary betwixt the Father and Son King Boabdil himself being then out of the Town as soon as he received the News of that Misfortune fled with a few Followers to Cordoua The Inhabitants of Ronda whose numbers were much decreased were in a great Consternation A Moore called Joseph Xerife gave notice of it to the Marquess of Cadiz and it was decreed to undertake that Enterprize First they attacked a Town called Cohine near Alora which they took by Assault and razed because it was too large to be defended Another Town called Cartama of which all the Valley takes Name was also taken The Master of Santiago was made Governor of it at his own Request This done they marched to Malaga where Albohardil the Moorish King's Brother resided in whose Valour the Moores chiefly confided for the Reputation he gained in the Slaughter of the Christians on the Mountains of Malaga Little was done there and the Army returned the way it came to Ronda The Forces were divided into 5 parts that they might encompass the Town on all sides The King with the greatest Body encamped before the Castle All the Avenues were secured that no Succours might get into the Town which was then much weakned a great number of the Inhabitants being abroad upon Parties to plunder in Andalusia For these Reasons and because the Christians advanced their Works with great Industry the Besieged surrendred upon Articles the 23d of May. Among the other Conditions it was agreed that some of the Principal Inhabitants should have Revenues assigned them at Sevil out of the Estates of Gonçalo Picon and others condemned by the Inquisition A good Garrison was put into that City Several other Towns along the Mountain surrendred the chief whereof were Caçarabonela and Marbella which lies near the Sea The Moores were in a great Consternation and had little help in their Kings the one being fled the other ancient sickly and almost blind This moved them to choose for their King Muley Albohardil who resided at Malaga and was a Man of great Courage and Conduct He immediately accepted of the Crown they offered him went away to Granada and entred that City in Triumphant manner being proud
Governor having consulted his King who was at Guadix tho' he might have held out much longer surrendred the City when least the Christians expected it On the 4th of December the Capitulation was Signed and the day following the King and Queen entred the City in triumphant manner James de Mendoza Lieutenant of Caçorla and Brother to the Cardinal of Spain was made Governor This struck such a Terror into the Moores that many Towns surrendred gave Hostages and furnished Corn and all other necessaries Among these the chiefest were Taverna and Seron What is more wonderful the Cities Guadix and Almeria either of which might have endured a long Siege submitted of their own accord King Albohardil himself consented to it and came out of Almeria to meet King Ferdinand in the Camp by whom he was splendidly entertained Besides Two strong Castles upon the Sea Coast were taken the one called Almun̄ecar in which the Treasures of the Moorish Kings used to be kept The other was Solobren̄a where the Brothers and Sons of the Kings used to be kept in the nature or Prisoners Francis Ramirez General of the Artillery who had behaved himself bravely upon several occasions was appointed Governor of that Castle After performing such great Actions a Review of the Army was taken on the last day of December preceding the Year 1490 and it appeared by the Muster Rolls 20000 Men were lost 3000 of them killed by the Moores the rest consumed by Sickness Many of the meaner sort were frozen to death King Ferdinand let slip no Opportunity of pulling down the tottering Kingdom of the Moors Gutierre de Cardenas Chief Commendary of Leon who did great Service during this War concluded the Treaty with the unfortunate Moorish King By Virtue of this Capitulation he had the Town of Fandaraa on the Mountains of Granada with all its Dependencies amounting to the Yearly Value of 10000 Ducats allowed him for his Maintenance A small Recompence for a Kingdom but good enough for him who began his Reign with the Murder of his Brother The new conquered Moors were allowed to keep their Lands and Possessions but not to live within Cities lest they should have the Power of Fortifying themselves and Rebelling for which cause they were all disarmed These Conditions were proclaimed at Guadix This done the King and Queen went away to Ecija and thence to Sevil. All Places by the way received them as if they had dropped from Heaven Foreign Princes moved by the Fame of these great Actions sent to Congratulate with them and seek their Friendship The King of Portugal in Prosecution of what had been before Treated desired to Marry his Son Alonso to the Princess Elizabeth as a sure Bond of Friendship between the two Crowns He sent Ambassadors to this purpose and the Match was agreed upon at Sevil on the 18th of April There was great Rejoicing on this account in both Kingdoms but less in Portugal because the following Month the Princess Joanna Sister to that King died at Aveiro unmarried Neither was the Joy of Castile lasting tho' the Princess from Constantina set out for Portugal upon the 11th of November A great number of Nobility bore her Company and she was delivered up on the Banks of the River Caya which runs between Badajoz and Elvas The Chief of the Portugueses that came to receive her was Duke Emanuel who afterwards married that Princess and inherited the Crown The King of Portugal and his Son came to Estremez and the more to honour the Bride seated her between them the King being on the left hand There they were married on the 24th of November by the Archbishop of Braga Primate of all Portugal The Rejoicing continued for half a year at Ebora and Santarem whither the Prince and Princess went All this Joy was turned into Sorrow by an unthought-of Accident The King going out to take the Air on the Banks of the River Tagus Prince Alonso who was with him had a mind to run a Race with John de Meneses In the Course the Horse stumbled and falling so bruised the Prince that he soon died It is needless to represent the greatness of his Parents and Wife's Grief His Body was buried with the usual Pomp among his Ancestors The Princess Elizabeth no sooner a Wife than a Widow returned to Castile in a Mourning Litter Grief cast the King of Portugal into a lingring Disease of which he died 4 years after He founded the Royal Hospital at Lisbon and laid the first Stone of it He left no Issue Male lawfully begotten only D. George whom he had by the Lady Ann de Mendoça and whom tho' but a Child he left Master of Avis and Santiago in Portugal After his Death a new Line of Kings began Emanuel Cousin German to the deceased King and Son to Ferdinand Duke of Viseo inherited the Crown John III. was Son to this King and Prince John his Grandson who dying young inherited not the Crown Therefore King Sebastian Son to the Prince succeeded He being killed by the Moors in Africk left the Kingdom of Portugal first to Cardinal Henry his Great Uncle and after him to Philip II. King of Castile who was also Nephew to the Cardinal and Grandson to King Emanuel by his Mother Elizabeth the Empress Let us leave this and return to the War of Granada King Ferdinand earnestly desired to put an end to the War with the Moors which was so well advanced Besides the Strength of the City Granada and that it was abundantly furnished with all Necessaries another greater Difficulty perplexed the King which was That his Word was engaged to King Boabdil that neither he nor his should be prejudiced by him An Opportunity offered it self of subduing that City without breach of Faith The Citizens without regarding the Danger that threatned them from abroad besieged their King in the Castle of Albaycin and pressed him so hard that scarce any hope was left of saving himself The furious Multitude threatned never to desist till they had his Life It was not reasonable to forsake that unhappy Prince when he begged Relief At the same time the Soldan of Egypt threatned That if King Ferdinand did not give over persecuting the Moors he would put to Death all the Christians in Egypt and Syria F. Anthony Millan Guardian of the Franciscan Convent at Jerusalem sent by the Soldan with this Message by the way visited the King of Naples and coming thence into Spain delivered his Embassy bringing also a Letter from the King of Naples who was supposed to be a greater Friend to the Moors than became a Christian Prince He advised King Ferdinand since the Moors had done him no Wrong not to oppress them only upon account of Religion which might occasion greater Harms King Ferdinand was no way discouraged at the Threats of the Soldan nor approved of the King of Naples his Advice Yet after the War was ended he sent Peter Martyr his
Castile dies 1158. Infidels twice defeated Faction of the two great Houses of Castro and Lara Ferdinand of Leon enters Castile Alonso the young K. of Castile secured by some Nobles Raymund Prince of Aragon successful against the French and Moors 1162. His Death Alonso succeeds Raymund his Father in the Dominion of Aragon 1163. 1166. Alonso received as King of Castile 1168. Toledo declares for him He is overthrown by the Rebels Siege of the Castle Zurita Just Reward of of Treachery Earthquake and Floods Cuidad Rodrigo built 1170. K Alonso assembles the Cortes or Parliament Meets the King of Aragon Concludes a League with him Marries Ellenor Daughter of Henry II. King of England Aragonians success against the Moors League against Peter Ruiz de Azagra Two Archbishops Murder'd 1171. 1172. War betwixt Aragon and Navarre 1173. 1174. The Order of Knighthood of Santiago or St. James the Apostle 1175. 1176. Alonso of Castile invades Leon. The Conquest of Cuenca resolv'd upon It s description The Siege The Town taken 1177. Increase of the Knights of Santiago 1178. 1179. Several Towns of Navarre taken by the Castillians The Kingdom of Leon Rebels Sancho Son to Alonso King of Portugal sent to Besiege Cuidad Rodrigo defeated Alonso King of 1180. Victoria City built Synod at Tarragona 1181. Alonso of Portugal Besieged by the Moors and delivered by the King of Leon. 1181. A Legate makes Peace among Christians 1183. Alonso King of Portugal vanquisheth the Moors 1184. Armengaud Earl of Vrgel slain King of Navarre breaks into Castile 1185. Alonso the first King of Portugal dies 1186. 1187. Jerusalem lost 1188. Sancho the first succeeds to the Crown of Portugal Alonso 9th to that of Leon. 1189. A League against Castile 1188. 1190. 1191. 1192. Castile Commences War with the Moors 1194. Sancho the Wise King of Navarre dies A vast Multitude of Infidels come into Spain King Alonso overthrown by the Infidels 1195. 1196. King Alonso of Aragon dies his Son Peter II. succeeds him Famine Plague 1197. 1198. A Truce with the Moors 1199. Plague Famine in Portugal 1200. King of Leon divorced Navarre over-run by them Alonso K. of Castile's two Daughters Marry'd to the Kings of France and Leon. 1201. Marriages 1206. A great Eclipse of the Sun Floods 1208. Four Kings of Spain meet and conclude a Peace 1209. Several Exploits against the Moors 1210. Prince Ferdinand of Castile's Death A vast Army of Foreigners comes into Spain to the assistance of the Christians 1212. Sancho K. of Portugal dies his Son Alonso II. succeeds him A mighty Army of Christians in Castile The Christian Army advances against the Infidels A great Victory obtain'd by the Christians 200000 Infidels said to be kill'd in this Battle Arms of Navarre Further actions of the Christian Army This called the Battle of Navas de Tolosa and why 1213. Cause of the War betwixt France Aragon Heresie of the Albigenses its Original Description of the City Albis Disorders raised by the Hereticks in the City of Leon. Fryars Preachers others oppose the Hereticks A Deacon Zealous in this affair Great Faith Hereticks expell'd Favourers of the Albigenses S. Dominick Preaches against the Hereticks Proceedings of the Catholicks against the Albigenses Simon Earl of Montfort General of the Catholicks 1213. A wonderful defeat of Hereticks the King of Aragon slain Jayme or James succeeds to the Crown of Aragon A great Famine and Plague Archbishops of Toledo Chancellors of Castile War with the Moors Original of the Knights of Alcantara Alonso II. King of Portugal at War with his Sisters Alonso the VIII K. of Castile dies 1214. Also Ellenor his Queen others Troubles in Castile and Aragon upon the Accession of two Children Henry and Jayme or James to those Crowns Two Uncles strive to usurp the Crown of Aragon Jayme the young K. comes into Spain Sancho K. of Navarre decrepid 1215. Henry I. King of Castile 11 years of age The House of Lara conspires against the young K. of Castile Lateran General Council Honours done the Archbishop of Toledo Simon of Montfort killed The Family of Lara seizes the Government of Castile into their hands Oath the Archbishop obliges 'em to take Alvaro the elder Brother ex-communicated He seizes upon the Queens Lands and Banishes her Young K. Henry Married Is parted from his Wife on account of Consanguinity 1216. The King of Aragon escapes from his Keepers 1217. Troubles of Castile They break out into open War 1217. Henry I. the young King of Castile's Death 60000 Moors killed Blanch and Berengaria Sisters to K. Henry of Castile Berengaria Heiress to the Crown of Castile resigns her Right to her Son Ferdinand Ferdinand King of Castile The King of Leon makes war upon his Son the K. of Castile D. Alvaro de Lara taken by the King and set at liberty D. Alvaro D. Ferdinand de Lara their Death 1218. The Order of S. Dominick and la Marced for Redemption of Captives instituted S. Francis of Assis 1219. Civil Broils in Aragon 1220. Ferdinand of Castile Marries Beatrix Daughter to the Emperor Philip. His Issue Jaime K. of Aragon Marries Ellenor of Castile 1221. Earthquakes Floods and Storms Commotions in Castile Two several Rebellons quel'd 1222. Cathedral of Burgos built by an Englishman Other structures Affairs of Aragon 1223. Death of the Kings of France and Portugal Ferdinand of Castile makes War upon the Moors A Prosperous Expedition 1224. A Conspiracy against Jaime K. of Aragon The King seized 1225. Success of the Castilians The King of Aragon escapes and invades Valencia Kills the Rebel Peter Ahones 1226. Towns taken by the Castilians Defeat of the Moors 1227. D. Lucas Bishop of Tuy a famous Writer War renew'd with the Moors by King Ferdinand of Castile Raymund Eael of Toulouze a Hetick reduced Pacification in Aragon 1229. The Conquest Majorca resolved upon by the King of Aragon Insolency of a Moor. Pope's Legate in Aragon Majorca described King Jayme lands on it The Aragonians rout the Majorcans Majorca taken by Storm 1230. Alonso King of Leon overthrows the Moors and takes Merida and Badajoz The death of Alonso I. King of Leon. Union of the Crowns of Castile and Leon. Rebellion in Navarre Interview of the Kings of Aragon and Navarre Roderick the Archbishop invades the Moors John King of Jerusalem comes into Spain 1232. The Islands Minorca and Yuisa conquered 1234. Sancho King of Navarre dies Theobald I. King of Navarre King of Castile and Arragon meet Castilians and Aragonians make War upon the Moors Division among the Moors Many places taken by the Christians Part of the City Cordova taken by a handful of Men. 1235. King Ferdinand hasts to secure the Conquest of Cordova Description of Cordova The Siege 1236. City surrendred A Moorish King Baptised Siege of Valencia resolved 1237. The King of Aragon in Danger Description of Valencia Valencia Besieged The King Wounded at the Siege 1238. Valencia deliver'd up to the Christians Theobald King
Boodes was sent in his place and after him Maherbal but no Account can be had of any Actions of theirs or what Governour followed It is agreed by all as certain that the Inhabitants of Marseilles in France being grown too numerous in the Year of Rome 419. sent a Colony into Spain and Inhabited that part of the City Empurias which was next the Sea at the Foot of the Pyreneans opposite to Roses in Latin called Emporia Tho' small it was divided from the rest of the City by a Wall whence in Greek it was formerly call'd Palaeopolis that is Old Town signifying the oldest part of it and also Diospolis that is two Towns Another part of the Fleet from Marseilles passed Cape Denia and built a Town near the Temple of Diana Three remarkable things were made known in Spain by the coming of this Fleet the first the great Power of the Romans and how Religiously they Assisted and Supported their Allies the second that the Syracusans after recovering their Liberty contriv'd to expel the Carthaginians out of Sicily and the third that Alexander of Macedon Sirnam'd the Great had Vanquished Darius Conquered the Empire of the Persians and Subdu'd more Countries than another Man in that time could have Travelled through This mov'd the Spaniards Inhabiting along the Coast of the Mediterranean to send an Embassy to him to desire his Protection against the Carthaginians who aim'd at the enslaving of all that Province Paulus Orosius says Maurinus was Chief of this Embassy who joyning by the way with the Embassadors of France went in their Company to Babylon where they found those of all other Provinces that were there by Alexander's appointment expecting his coming Alexander being come to Babylon they gave him an ample Account of their Commission received a favourable Answer with promise of his Protection and having been richly presented returned Home well satisfi'd No doubt but this Embassy was very displeasing to the Carthaginians but it was no time to take notice of it they being then employed in the War in Sicily whence they were totally Expell'd by Agathocles Not long after ensu'd the first War betwixt Rome and Carthage and at the same time our Authors say Spain suffered by Civil War without naming the Parties or Places only express that it was carried on with the greatest Cruelty Killing Plundering and Burning on all Hands without Mercy Much about this time which was the Year of Rome 502. the Mallorquines Revolted from the Carthaginians and having put their Garrisons to the Sword oblig'd the Fleet that lay in the Harbour with Showers of Stones to put to Sea and at last there being no hopes of appeasing those People to return to Carthage To retrieve this loss the Senate sent Hamilcar Barchinus who with great Prudence by Courtesie and Address reduc'd those Islanders to Obedience without using any Force or Violence The Year 507 of Rome and last of the first Punick War was fatal to Spain for a great Drought and violent Earthquakes by which part of the Island of Cadiz was broken off and sunk in the Sea CHAP. II. The second coming of Hamilcar Asdrubal succeeds him His Preparations for the Roman War and Death NO sooner did the Carthaginians begin to breath after their unfortunate War with Rome and other Disasters which followed it but they cast their Eyes upon Spain as the most proper place to make up their Losses Hamilcar was appointed to Command there with an absolute Power He at his setting out from Carthage according to Custom Sacrific'd and Offered up his Vows His Son Hannibal then but nine Years of Age being present he caused him to touch the Altar and Swear that when he was of Age he would revenge his Country against the Romans Besides him Hamilcar had three younger Sons Asdrubal Mago and Hanno Being arriv'd at Cadiz he receiv'd Embassadors from the Turdetani who had always continued in Amity with Carthage offering their Forces if he had occasion for their service With their assistance Hamilcar not only recover'd that part which had been lost but possest himself of all the Province of Betica either by Force or the Submission of the Natives and this was the Year of Rome 516. Strabo says the Spaniards at that time were so Rich that their Mangers and Water Troughs were made of Silver Hamilcar Coasting along the Mediterranean ran up the River Ebro where he built a Town formerly call'd Old Carthage supposed to be now Cantavecha distant ten Leagues from Tortosa to the North-West among the People then called Ilercaones The following Year he subdu'd the Coasts of the Bastetani and Contestani where now are the Cities Baça and Murcia and not far from where Saguntum once stood and whence Embassadors came to Hamilcar bringing Presents and Congratulating his Success but not with any intention of submitting themselves to him Hamilcar receiv'd and dismiss'd them with Kindness yet he earnestly desir'd to be Master of that City It was requisite to have some Colour or Pretence for that Undertaking in order to it he persuaded the Turdetani to build a Town upon the Lands of the Saguntins which was call'd Turdetuni and some will have it to be Terud 20 Leagues distant from Saguntum This bred a Difference betwixt those two Cities which was it Hamilcar aim'd at and they understanding his Design resolv'd not to move or take up Arms against the Turdetani At the Mouth of the River Ebro the Carthaginians celebrated Feasts for the Victories they had obtain'd as also for the Marriage of Himilce Daughter of Hamilcar with his Kinsman Asdrubal this was the Year of Rome 521. While these Feasts were kept Hamilcar was not Idle but sent Embassadors into France to gain the good Will of the Principal Men there believing their Friendship might be advantageous towards carrying on the War he design'd against Rome when he had once subdu'd Spain He won them with Gold of which they were Covetous and Spain yielded Plenty The Year following he advanced to the Pyreneans Conquering all from Tortosa to the River Lobregat then call'd Rubricatus Now it was that he built the famous City Barcelona Capital of Catalonia and gave it that Name from that of his Family to wit the Barzini His Designs were laid against Roses and Empurias which he thought obstructed him as being Confederates with Saguntum when Death surprized him among the Edetani whither he was returned in order to pacifie some Disturbances in the Province of Betica He was Slain in a Battle against the Natives about the ninth Year after this his second coming into Spain This Fight was so Bloody that of above 40000 Men he had in his Army two thirds were Slaughtered the rest of them under the favour of the Night escaped to the neighbouring Towns that held for them Livy says this Battle was fought near a place called Castrum Altum After this signal Defeat the Carthaginian Forces were turned against
except the Town of Athanagia which he fin'd and obliged to increase the number of their Hostages Thence he mov'd towards the Accitani inhabiting near the River Ebro who still continued firm to the Carthaginians Others say they were the Ausetani where now Vique and Girona stand Certain it is that having besig'd Acete the Capital of that Country the Lacetani where now Jaca stands coming by Night to the relief of the besieged and hoping to get into the Town they fell into an Ambush that was laid for them where 12000 were slain and the rest put to flight The besieged being destitute of all hopes especially for that Amusitus their chief stole away to Asdrubal after they had held out thirty days surrendred The Town was fined 20 Talents of Silver and then the Romans took up their Winter quarters at Tarragona sending the Spaniards that serv'd under them to their own homes Great Prodigies are said to have been now seen in the Skyes in Italy Africk and Spain for which reason extraordinary Sacrifices were used to appease the wrath of Heaven Especially at Carthage they returned to the old Custom of the Phenicians of offering the Sons of the Principal Men among which it is reported the Senate appointed Aspar the Son of Hannibal should die But this sounds more like an invention of our Historians than a true Relation Winter being pass'd Hannibal after recruiting his Army in the Country about Genoa March'd over the Appennine with better success than he had done before Yet in his passage over the Lakes made by the swelling of the River Arnus he lost one of his Eyes through the excessive cold and Moistness Besides many Men and Beasts dy'd and almost all his Elephants Notwithstanding all these difficulties he advanc'd and near the Lake Thrasimenus which is in Tuscany near the City Perousa of which now it takes name defeated the Consul Flaminius killing 5000 of his Men and this done never ceased spoiling and ravaging all the Country about till a stop was put to him by the Dictator Q. Fabius Maximus In Spain Asdrubal sent Himilco with a good Fleet to scour the Coast and at the same time March'd forward himself with an Army of 20000 Men. Scipio being in no Condition to oppose both these Powers at once resolv'd to preserve the Sovereignty of the Sea and fitting out 30 Ships at Tarragona surprized the Carthaginian Fleet which lay at the Mouth of the River Ebro took 25 Sail in the Face of their Commander the rest were either sunk or stranded most of the Men being ashore as little thinking of any such accident To make this success the Compleater they took 14 great Ships at Sea entred and plundered the City Honosca Pillaged the Country about Carthagena and burnt the Suburbs Asdrubal followed the track of the Romans as far as Cadiz rather as a witness than revenger of the harm they did After these fortunate Atchievements the Romans attempted the Island Iviça and above 120 Towns in Spain submitted to them among which were the Celtiberi a Powerful and great People in whose Territories were the Towns now called Segorve Calatayud and Medina Celi as also Veles Cuenca Huete Agreda and the Ancient Numantia as far as the tops of the Mountain Moncayo This addition of strength rendered the Roman General much more formidable who gathering a great Army Marched as far as the Woods of Castulon but was forced to return and repass the River Ebro without having perform'd any Memorable Action being inform'd that Mandonius a great Man rais'd Commotions among the Ilergetes which occasioned a lasting War Asdrubal was sent for by the Mutiniers to oppose a body of the Romans that coming to appease had put many of them to the Sword At the same time the Celtiberi mov'd thereto by Scipio took three Cities belonging to the Carthaginians which oblig'd Asdrubal to leave the Ilergetes to be able to stop that growing evil The Armies met and the Celtiberi in two Battles slew 15000 of the Carthaginians towards the end of Autumn This same Year was very remarkable in Spain for the great abundance of Corn and all sorts of Provisions The Affairs of Spain being in this posture Gneius Scipio writ to the Senate for Recruits of Men and supplies of Provision and other Necessaries P. Cornelius Scipio was sent by the Senate to the Assistance of his Brother He landed near Tarragona the beginning of the Year following which was 538. from the building of Rome His Fleet consisted of 30 Galleys his Army 8000 Men with great store of Provision and Power equal with his Brother The Brothers being joyn'd at the request of the Saguntines that were dispersed and banish'd and desir'd to return to their Country and revenge the injuries done them they sate down with their Armies before Saguntum Bostar the Governour kept in this City the Spanish Hostages with but a small Garrison and this hindred many Cities from joining with the Romans least their revolt should cost them their Lives Acedux a Noble Man among the Saguntines and a Friend to the Romans desir'd to gain their good will by some signal Service to this effect he spoke in private to Bostar and perswaded him it would oblige the Spaniards if he restor'd their Hostages and rely'd on their Fidelity to him Bostar suspecting no fraud was easily perswaded and Acedux undertook to conduct and deliver the Hostages He gave an Account of his design to the Romans and setting out at Mid-night carry'd them to their Camp Thus the Romans restoring the Hostages gain'd the affections of all the Natives The joy of all these Prosperities was much abated by the News of the Fatal Battle at Canna in which were slain 42000 Foot and 3000 Horse as also the Consul Aemilius and 12000 taken Prisoners This loss was so great that had Hannibal pursu'd his Victory the Roman Empire had then been Extirpated the principal Romans being about to fly out of Italy all the Cities thereabout submitting to the Victor and many in Spain that were well inclin'd deferred declaring themselves However through the care and vigilance of the Scipio's no disturbance ensu'd but on the contrary at the same time they beautify'd the City Tarragona rebuilt and enlarg'd its Walls and made it a Roman Colony At Carthage notwithstanding the instances of Hanno who advis'd to make Peace with the Romans now they had a good Opportunity least their joy should be turned into sorrow the Senate resolv'd to send Succours to Hannibal and Asdrubal of Men Money and Ships 40000 Africans and Arabs were rais'd of these 5000 Foot and 1000 Horse were first sent to Asdrubal where the danger was most pressing Mago who Commanded these Succours had orders to raise both Horse and Foot in Spain to maintain and enlarge that Province CHAP. V. Asdrubal designing to March through France into Italy is defeated by the two Scipio 's who after that overthrow Mago and rout the Carthaginians a third time
their Riches The Number of the Citizens was small not exceeding 4000 Men fit to bear Arms others double this number Their manner of life being constantly inured to labour made them hardy and bold they were couragious in undertaking a War and prudent in managing of it Sempronius Gracchus when he Govern'd Spain made Peace with the Numantians and other neighbouring People upon these Articles That they should neither found nor fortifie only Towns or erect Forts without Consent of the People of Rome that they should pay their Tribute at such time and place as should be appointed and that they should repair to the Roman Standard whensoever call'd upon Among the Arevaci was also another City call'd Segeda 40 Furlongs in compass Appianus places it in the extremity of Celtiberia among the Beli perhaps where is now the City Osma This City and the neighbouring Places privately made a League and began to fortifie and provide themselves for War Having received Commands from the Roman Senate to desist from those Preparations to pay their Tribute and repair to the Roman Camp they still delay'd time upon several pretences and framing excuses Hence sprang that War in which Numantia as being near and Allied to them was also involved and the Romans fearing unless speedily remedy'd that evil might grow to a greater head had immediately recourse to Arms. At the same time the War was carried on against the Romans in Lusitania by Cesaro who by the consent of the People had taken upon him to restore them to their Liberty and was Successor to another Commander called Africanus that was killed with a Stone at the Siege of a Town These Commotions were looked upon at Rome to be of such dangerous Consequence that after Lucius Mummius had been appointed Pretor of Hispania Vlterior it was thought fit to send one of the Consuls with a Consular Army to the War against the Celtiberi And whereas the Consuls used to be chosen in December and enter upon their Command in March it was now anticipated and they commenced from the first of January which was afterwards continued Into Spain was sent the Consul Q. Fulvius Nobilior with considerable Forces The Segedani knowing all these Preparations tended to their ruin sent their Wives and Children to the Arevaci and chose for their Commander one Carus a Man of great Experience in warlike Affairs This Man thinking to perform some remarkable Act whereby he might at first gain Reputation laid an Ambush for the Consul who was marching with 30000 Men. His design succeeded so far that he slew 6000 of the Enemy and put the rest to flight but pursuing his Victory too far the Roman Horse who were in the Rear came up killed him and made great havock among his Men. This Battle was fought on the 29th of August on the day the Romans celebrate the Feast of Vulcan called Vulcanalia So great was the dread conceived on both sides that for several Days they avoided meeting one another On the same Night the Arevaci met at Numantia which was near the Field of Battle and there instead of Carus chose Haraco and Leucon for their Leaders the Numantians named one Lintheus to command them Three days after the Fight the Consul encamped within four Miles of Numantia In his Army besides the other Forces were 10 Elephants and 500 Numidian Horse sent not long before by Massinissa out of Africk He provok'd the Enemy and they again resolved to try their fortune in the heat of the Battle the Romans opening their Ranks the Elephants advanced thro' which struck such Terror into the Celtiberi and their Horses that they fled into the City The Romans pursuing close thought to have entred with them and had done it but that an Elephant being wounded on the Head with a Stone grew enraged and turned back upon his own Men which the other Elephants seeing did the like disordering the Roman Battle and killing all that stood in their way At the same time the Numantians laying hold of this opportunity rallied and drove the Romans into their Camp Of the latter 4000 were killed in two Engagements of the former 2000. Not far off was a City called Axenia a place much frequented by Merchants After the Battle the Consul thought to have possessed himself of that City but was Repulsed with great loss and shame Upon the news of these Defeats the City Ocile where the Romans laid up Magazines and left their Baggage Revolted to the Celtiberi The Consul terrified hereat and fearing left other Places might follow the Example Fortifi'd his Camp near Numantia and Wintered there with great loss of Men thro' the violent Cold and want of Provisions This was what happened in Hispania Citerior In the Vlterior at the same time Mummius waged War with the Lusitani at first with various Event but in the conclusion with Success In the first Fight the Romans pursuing the Enemy too violently gave an opportunity to Cesaro to rally and wrest the Victory out of their hands Of the Romans 10000 were slain their Camp taken and the Lusitanians shewed their Booty in all parts as Trophies of their Valour Success made them negligent and Mummius who was retired with about 5000 Men taking the advantage fell upon them as they were celebrating Feasts for Joy of their Victory easily put them to the Rout and recovered several Colours he had lost before Cesaro it seems died in this Rencounter for in his stead was chose Cantheneus who took Cunistorgis a City belonging to the Romans among the Cunii in that part of Andaluzia where now Niebla stands thence he marched to Cadiz and so with part of the Army over into Africk That part which remained was in several Battles weakned by Mummius and at last a Body of them cut off so entirely there was not one left to carry home the News Thus the Lusitani were subdu'd and brought under command for which the Year following 602. Mummius obtain'd a Triumph at Rome M. Claudius Marcellus was sent with 8000 Foot and 500 Horse to succeed Fulvius The Government of Hispania Vlterior was given to Marcus Atilius The first thing Marcellus undertook was to reduce the City Ocile which having compassed tho' their Crime was great he would not destroy it but caused them to give Hostages and pay 30 Talents for the charge of the War Not far from thence was Nertobriga as may be guesed by Ptolemy little distant from Tarragona and Calatayud Embassadors came fromt hence offering up the Town to the Consul he ordered them to send him 100 Horse Afterwards because some few of them fell upon the Baggage in the Rear of his Army he would admit of no Excuse but sold their Horse-men destroyed the Country and laid Siege to the City They again sent Embassadors excusing themselves shewing they had been sufficiently punished and praying they might not be forced to desperate courses Still the Consul persited he would not hearken
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
against the Moors and took Exea a Town of note in Navarre in the Year 1110. Near Valterra he overthrew Abuhafalem King of Zaragoça in Battle After this he assumed the Title of Emperor of Spain as his Father-in-law had done before him Having at length setled the Affairs of Aragon he came to Castile in the Year 1111. His principal Study was to gain the Affections of the People and to that end he Honoured the Nobility Relieved the Distress'd Protected the Weak and was Affable to all People insomuch that he got the good will of all Men. Only the Queen 's hard Heart was inflexible He ordered Villorado Berlanga Soria and Almaçan Towns ruined by the Wars to be Peopled and then returned to Aragon resolving to carry on the War against the Moors King Alonso was third Cousin to the Queen his Wife for D. Sancho the Greater was Great-Grandfather to them both It was not then usual for the Pope to dispence in those Cases and therefore many Princes had been Divorced For this reason I suppose King Alonso is not reckoned among the Kings of Castile Besides the Queen for her dissolute Life was Imprisoned in the Castle called Castellar whence she made her escape into Castile She found not the Reception she expected for the Nobility sent her back to her Husband who again put her in Prison Mean while the Nobles of Galicia where D. Alonso and D. Vrraca's Son was bred held Consultation to oppose the Designs of the Argonians They were glad they had found a flaw in that Match which they had so much opposed and therefore gave out that the People were not obliged to own him that was not their lawful King Hereupon they sent an Embassy to Pope Pasqualis II. who committed the Examination of that Affair to James Gelmirek Bishop of Santiago What he determined is not known but it is certain that from that time forwards King Alonso began to bear the Bishops ill will Those of Burgos and Leon were Expelled their Diocesses he of Palencia imprisoned the Abbot of Sahagun was deposed and D. Ramiro the King's Brother put in his place Bernard the Archbishop of Toledo was two Years Banished his Diocess notwithstanding his Legantine Power and his being Primate of all Spain During this time he held a Synod at Palencia the Acts whereof are extant to this day Another Synod he held at Leon at which besides many Bishops and Nobles James Gelmires of Santiago was present Their chief care was to establish Peace for the Forces of Aragon and Navarre marched against Galicia and had taken the Castle of Monteroso by Storm Yet the King of Aragon at the instance of some Holy Men who interpos'd desisted All things were done disorderly without regard to Justice and both Parties sought to strengthen themselves for carrying on of their designs It seemed hard to the Castilians and Galicians to be governed by the Aragonians the King of Aragon right or wrong would keep the Kngdom he was possessed of Such as opposed him were displaced and their Estates taken from them The Galicians being delivered of their first fear made a League with Henry Earl of Portugal This gave them Courage to Proclaim Prince Alonso King tho' very Young He was anointed in the Cathedral of Compostella by James Gelmirez Bishop of that See a Coremony not used till then in Spain but brought up to Authorize that Act the more Peter Earl of Trava Tutor to the Prince was the chief contriver of all these proceedings This Action offended the King of Aragon he was divorced from the Queen and set her at Liberty she having been Prisoner in the Castle of Soria Nevertheless he would not quit the Kingdom that was her Dower The Governours of places tho' not absolved from the Oath they had taken to him revolted to the Queen and Swore Allegiance to her Perancules a Man of unblemished reputation did the same yet having a scruple for that he had Sworn fidelity to the King of Aragon he surrendred himself up to him with a Halter about his Neck that he might punish his breach of Faith At first the King was surprized but being perswaded that the Gentleman had in all things Acted honourably and that his Loyalty ought not to be hurtful to him he forgave and Treated him very Courteously All the Nobility of Castile joyned to preserve the Liberty of their Country resolving to undergo all hazards rather than submit to the Government of the Aragonians D. Gomez Earl of Candespina who before had aimed at Marrying the Queen and being then in the flower of his Youth was greater with her than became the Regal Dignity and the Modesty of a Woman seem'd the most zealous in defence of the Country and for making War upon the Aragonians D. Peter Earl of Lara and his Rival with the Queen held the next place in Power and Authority Commanders being divided among themselves neither could Peace be setled nor the War carryed on as it should be D. Alonso King of Aragon with a Powerful Army entred Castile by the way of Soria and Osma The Nobles with the Army of Castile marched to oppose him Both Armies encamped near Sepulveda and there formed their Battles Peter Earl of Lara led the Van of the Castilians Earl Gomez the rear the main Body was Commanded by other Nobles The King of Aragon drew up all his Army into one square Body The Signal being given they fell on in the Field called de la Espina this was one of the most Famous Battles of that Age. Peter Earl of Lara not able to stand the first charge fled to Burgos where the Queen was in care for the event of that Action D. Gomez stood his Ground better till his Forces being vanquished he dy'd honourably without turning his back His Standard-Bearer a Gentleman of the House of Olea was not inferior to him for his Horse being killed and both his hands cut off he fell down dead embracing the Standard with his Arms and often repeating Olea Henry Earl of Portugal made the Victory easier to the Aragonians by going over to them rather in hatred to the lewdness of the Queen than any kindness he had for King Alonso This success so encouraged the Aragonians that passing the River Duero they advanced as far as the City Leon wasting all the Country The Nobility of Galicia having recruited their Army try'd their Fortune again and had the same success being defeated by the Aragonians between Leon and Astorga In this Battle was taken Peter Earl of Trava a powerful Man who was Marry'd to D. Mayor Daughter to Armengaud Earl of Vrgel Young King Alonso was not in the fight after it he went to the Castle of Orsilon where his Mother was No Battle in that Age was so fatal to Castile as this The Cities of Najara Burgos Palencia and Leon submitted to the Conqueror He wanting Money to pay his Army laid hold of the Treasures of Churches
Conditions That all the Country betwixt Villorado and Calahorra should remain to the Crown of Aragon that King pleading a Right to it as a Dependance of the Kingdom of Navarre That in Biscay the King of Aragon should possess Guipuscoa and Alava Provinces not long before taken by King Alonso VI. from the Crown of Navarre That the King of Aragon should withdraw his Garisons from all other Cities and Castles belonging to Castile and particularly from Toledo I know not which of these Princes deserves the greatest Commendation both of them gave a great example of Moderation He of Aragon in parting with what he had in possession and he of Castile in quitting his Title to part that he might obtain the so much desired Peace After this Agreement which was in the Year 1122 some Authors say later these two Kings continued in real Amity as if they had been Brothers or Father and Son All things being thus setled between the Christians they bent their Force against the Moors The King of Aragon broke in upon that side which is encompassed by the Rivers Cinga and Segre where the Town of Alcolea which had been taken by the Moors was Recovered Thence he advanced into the Kingdom of Valencia and passing the River Xucar entred the Territory of Murcia where he attempted the City Alcaraz but was repulsed Rising thence he turned into Andaluzia where all places submitted to pay Tribute provided the Country might not be wasted Near a Town called Arenzon he came to a Battle with the King of Cordova and ten other great Men of the Moors and overthrew them in the Year of our Lord 1123. The following Year he took Medina Celi a Town seated on a Hill betwixt the Confines of the Celtiberi and Carpetani In this manner succeeded the Affairs of Aragon On the other side the King of Castile entred the Province of Estremadura There he recovered the City Coria which had been lost after the death of King Alonso Grandfather of him then Reigning Thence the Army over-ran all the Country that lies between the Rivers Guadiana and Tagus carrying away great numbers of Men and Cattle and then they returned home loaden with Booty These beginnings gained the King much Reputation and gave proof of his Vertues He bore great Affection to S. Bernard then Abbot of Claravalle by whose Advice he erected many Monasteries of Cistercians most of which still flourish in that part of Spain and enjoy great Revenues At first these Religious Men professing the Contempt of the World were satisfied with little Soon after many bountifully heaping Charity upon them they grew Rich. Besides these Foundations the King very liberally encreased the Revenues of several Churches and Monasteries He obtain'd of his Uncle the Pope the erecting of the City Zamora into a Bishoprick At the same time and at the King's instance the Church of S. James the Apostle was made an Archiepiscopal See the Privileges of the City of Merida then in the hands of the Moors being translated thither Twelve Bishopricks were assigned to the Province of this new Metropolitan which were Salamanca Avila Zamora Cuidad Rodrigo Coria Badajoz Lugo Astorga Orense MondonÌ„edo Tuy and Placencia some time after This was about the Year of our Lord 1124. That same Year dy'd Pope Calixtus and Honorious II. succeeded him The following Year Alonso Earl of Toulouze and the Earl of Barcelona made War upon each other in France the former pretending a Title to the Earldom of Provence possessed by the latter in Right of his Wife After much strife it was agreed between them that Argence and Belicadre two Towns about which the chief dispute lay with that part of Provenee which lies between the Rivers Durence and Liserre should remain to the Earl of Toulouse all the other part and Avignon a City on the River Rhosne was adjudged to the Earl of Barcelona Moreover they reciprocally Adopted one another that if either dy'd without Issue the other might be his Heir A new Kingdom began at this time to be erected in that part of Spain â—ow called Portugal small in extent as to time the last that took that Title in Spain yet in great Exploits fortunate and renowned for Valour since they not only drove the Moors out of all that Country but in process of time with extraordinary bravery discovered ways to the unknown parts of the World and conquered many Kingdoms and Provinces in Asia and Africk This Province of Portugal lies along the Western Ocean from North to South between the Rivers Guadiana and MinÌ„o above 100 Leagues in length the breadth where most is about 30 Leagues the least 20. It is divided into three parts on this side and beyond Tagus or Cistagana and Transtagana and that between the Rivers Duero and MinÌ„o or Interamnensis which is the most Fruitful and where stands the City Braga On the one side of Tagus is Lisbon and on the other Ebora all three Archiepiscopal Sees For the most part the Country is dry and barren the People ambitious of Honour and Brave A small part of this Province which the Kings of Castile had taken from the Moors was given to Henry of Lorrain in Dower with his Wife Teresa Bastard Daughter to Alonso VI. By her he had D. Alonso D. Elvira and D. Sancha Henry after he had these Children went to the Holy-Land to assist Baldwin King of Jerusalem but returned without doing any thing of note At his return he treated with Bernard Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of all Spain about restoring the Cities of Braga Viseo Coimbra Lamego and Porto to their ancient Authority and placing Bishops in them Henry dy'd at Astorga a City of Galicia whither he went to compose the Differences betwixt Castile and Aragon His Body was bury'd at Braga in a small Chappel for the Grandeur or rather Madness of erecting costly Tombs now in use was not then brought up After his Death D. Teresa his Wife had no more regard to her Reputation than her Sister D. Vrraca She Marry'd Fernan Paez Earl of Trastamard a Match much below her if not altogether Unlawful as being Clandestine She is said besides to have had too much Familiarity with D. Bermudo Brother to the Earl and that nevertheless she Marry'd him to her Daughter D. Elvira Her other Daughter D. Sancha was Wife to Ferdinand de Meneses Perhaps some of these things might be maliciously imputed to this Princess Yet certain it is that Ferdinand Paez was very intimate with the Countess and governed all things absolutly according to his own will He made War and Ruled in time of Peace without taking any notice of his Son-in-law In his tender Years D. Alonso was forced to bear with this Affront and wink at the disgrace of his Family but afterwards many in hatred of his Mother's vicious Life adhering to him he resolved to take up Arms. His Father-in-law was not backward Both levied Forces and
Albis a Town call'd Vaure near Toulouze and many other places This done he laid Siege to Toulouze but could not enter it by reason the Earls of Toulouze Faux and Cominges were within and defended it with great resolution Therefore raising the Siege he bent his Force against the Earldom of Faux The King of Aragon was in care for those his Friends and Allies and fear'd lest Simon of Montfort under the specious pretence of Religion should endeavour to enlarge his own Dominions Therefore immediately after the famous Battle of Navas de Tolosa he imploy'd his thoughts on the Affairs of France with so much application that it appears he was at Toulouze in the Month of January in the Year 1213. In May following he raised Men at Lerida and other places to carry on that War Being returned to France all those Princes joyn'd him with their Forces which together are said to have composed an Army of 100000 Men a number scarce credible Simon of Montfort provided to oppose so powerful an Enemy and in order to it fortified the Castle Murelle on the Banks of the River Garonne The Confederates marched to Besiege it and Montfort with a small number but chosen Men to defend it With him were seven Bishops S. Dominick and three Abbots These endeavour'd to disswade the King from supporting the Hereticks but he was deaf to their advice The Catholicks were not above 800 Horse and 1000 Foot a small number to the multitude of the Enemies However relying on the Justice of their Cause they engaged and it was resolutely fought on both sides At length thro' the special Providence of God and Valour of the Catholicks the Enemy was put to flight the Earls escap'd but the King was kill'd upon the place with several Argonians of note yet the number of the Dead was not great Every Body said the King had deserved that end for favouring of Hereticks tho' in other respects he was so true a Son of the Church that he got the name of Peter the Catholick and also for his Lewdness which transported him so far as to put away his Queen a Woman of singular Virtue upon pretence of Consanguinity and that she had been Marry'd to the Earl of Cominges tho' that Marriage had been declared invalid This Lady was now at Rome and daily expected Judgment should be given for her when the news of the King's Death was brought His Body was buried by the Knights of S. John in the Monastery of Ximena where Queen Sancha his Mother lies He left only one Son called Jayme or James but four Years of Age. There were yet living Ferdinand Brother to the Deceased and Abbot of Montaragon and consequently a professed Monk and Sancho Earl of Roussillon his Uncle of a great age as being Uncle to the late King These two notwithstanding the Profession of the one and the Age of the other had thoughts of Usurping the Crown To this purpose they endeavoured to gain the Nobility and People giving out that D. Jayme was a Bastard and they consequently next Heirs This design was no way pleasing to the Prelates and Nobles Especially Peter Fernandez de Açagra Lord of Albarazin was concerned there should be any talk of Excluding the Child and that he should be then as a Prisoner in the hands of Simon of Montfort Having therefore consulted the other Nobles they sent an Embassador to Pope Innocent desiring he would command Montfort to deliver up the Child whom all acknowledged as their King The Pope readily condescended and sent Orders to his Legate the Cardinal of Benavente then in the War against the Hereticks to give all satisfaction to the Argonians if what they demanded were just Mean while Montfort had taken Toulouze the Nest and chief Recepticle of the Hereticks The Legate gathered a Synod at Montpelier where it was unanimously agreed to give all that had been taken in War to Simon of Montfort as a Reward for his good service The Bishop of Embrun was sent to the Pope to obtain a Confirmation of this their Decree This was the posture of Affairs in France In Spain a violent Famine rag'd by reason of the Drought After the Famine as is usual follow'd the Plague caused by the unusual things eaten for want Many Towns were quite Unpeopled especially in the Kingdom of Toledo where this Calamity was most destructive as being the highest part of all Spain Roderick Archbishop of Toledo was a great help to the Poor giving extraordinary Alms and stirring up others to do the like Whereupon King Alonso afterwards at Burgos gave him 20 Villages and the Chancellorship of Castile the highest Dignity next the King to him and his Successors the Archbishops for ever This Office the Archbishops exercised by themselves or their Deputies till the time of the Archbishop Giles de Albornoz when by reason of his absence and the confusion of the times it was given to others and now those Prelates retain nothing but the bare Title King Alonso being at Burgos desired to be reconciled to the King of Leon with whom he had been offended ever since he put away his Daughter Berengaria Both Kings met at Valladolid where all differences were composed and particularly they agreed that Carpio and Monterey should be demolished because there arose Debates about them This done the King of Leon returned to his Country taking along with him by the consent of the King of Castile James Lopez de Haro to employ him in his Wars against the Moors James de Haro was then in great Repute so besides his Son a good number of Men follow'd him desiring to serve under so experienced a General The King of Castile tho' old would not slip the opportunity of making his advantage of the Moors under a consternation for their late losses The King of Leon began the War in that part of old Lusitania now called Estremadura where having plundred and wasted all the Country he took from the Moors a Town of Alcantara seated on the Banks of Tagus which he gave to the Knights of Calatrava This was the Original of the Knights of Alcantara at first subject to the Order of Calatrava now independant of them having obtained a Bull from Pope Julius II. to that effect The Habit of Calatrava formerly was a Scapular with a Hood over their Cloths like the Fryers since Pope Benedict XIII changed it and instead of the Hood they wear a red Cross Fleury Those of Alantara wear the same form of Cross but green on a white Cloak Both observe the Rule of S. Bernard and are subject to the Order of Cistercians Alonso King of Castile advanced with his Forces as far as Baeça which the Moors had again recovered and laid Siege to that City after ravaging all the open Country Jame Lopez de Haro the War of Estremadura being ended came thither Tho' they made their utmost Efforts yet could they not take that City for want of
that they might have no shelter there He dy'd in November following at Montpelier The Dominion of the Moors in Spain was now going to decay and King Ferdinand being sensible of it resolved to push on its ruin Therefore he invaded their Teritories took some small places and Besieged Jaen but could not take it because besides a strong Garison of Infidels Alvaro Perez de Castro having renounced his Country and Allegiance was within with 160 perfidious Christians that followed him This Alvaro was Son to Ferdinand de Castro who dy'd at Morocco Thence the King removed to Priego a Town so strong that the Moors had carried all their Goods thither for security Yet it was taken by Assault and all within put to the Sword except a few who retired to the Castle and Capitulated to march away Next he sate down before Loxa which was also taken by Storm as was the Castle all the Inhabitants slain and the Walls demolished for a terror to other places This had so good effect that the People of Alhambra a strong place not far from Granada abandoned it and fled to that City leaving much Provision and part of their Goods behind ' em These People were assigned the upper part of the City to inhabit and from them it was called Alhambra or as some will have it from the red Earth so named in Arabick Our Forces pursued then to the City destroying all the Gardens and Orchards about it This boldness so terrified the Town that they sent to sue for Peace which was granted them they setting at liberty 1300 Christian Captives D. Alvaro de Castro who was one of their Embassadors was here reconciled to the King This done the King took and raz'd Montejo as not Tenable being too remote We also find Capilla a Town in Estremadura was now taken but it soon after fell again into the hands of the Moors Summer being spent the King returned to Toledo leaving the guard of the Frontiers to the Master of Calatrava and Alvaro Perez de Castro Those Soldiers that remain'd in the Garisons of Andaluzia plundred and burnt all that Country even to the Walls of Sevil. Abuli King of that City marched out with a great Force to oppose them but was routed and 20000 of his Men killed Nevertheless the Moors took the Castle of Garces When King Ferdinand after the Winter was over marched again into Andaluzia the King of Baeça met him with 3000 Horse and a great Body of Foot offering his Service He granted that Christian Garisons should be put into Salvatierra Capilla and Burgalhemar and delivered up the Castle of Baeça to be held by the Master of Calatrava Capilla being a strong Town the Inhabitants would not receive the Garison and therefore King Ferdinand laid Siege to it He had but a small Army and therefore leaving it there went himself to raise more Forces Being in doubt whether to carry on the War in Andaluzia or march into France to the Relief of his Aunt Queen Blanch who was slighted by the Nobility because the King her Son was very young two things happen'd that made him lay aside all thoughts of moving towards France One That his Army had taken Capilla and it was requisite to secure it The other That his own People killed the King of Baeça because he was so great a Friend to the Christians and thereby the Garison in that Castle was in danger All these things were acting in the Year 1227. in which the Foundation of the Cathedral of Toledo was also laid Other Churches may exceed this in Grandeur of Building but none in Christendom can equal it in costly Ornaments and greatness of Revenue On the 18th of July dy'd Pope Honorius III. Gregory IX succeeded him At this time flourished D. Lucas Bishop of Tuy famous for Virtue and Learning He writ a History of Spain the Life of S. Isidorus and a great Book of Miracles in which he also confutes the Errors of the Albigenses He composed these Books as he himself testifies by order of Queen Berengaria a very devout Lady and great favourer of Virtuous and Learned Men. Thus it appears those Hereticks had at that time crept into Spain CHAP. VIII The War with the Moors renewed The Island of Majorca Conquered by the Aragonians The Pope's Legate disanuls the Marriage of King Jayme on account of Consanguinity Raymund Earl of Toulouze a Heretick reduc'd THE Citizens of Baeça Besieged the Castle which as has been said was in the hands of the Christians They tho' few in number being furnished with Provisions held out till King Ferdinand coming with a great Army the Moors not only raised the Siege but abandoning the City retired further into Andaluzia D. Lope de Haro for his good Service was appointed Governour of that City Martos was given in charge to Alvaro Perez de Castro and Tello de Meneses Nothing more of note was done this Campaign After the King's return to Toledo D. Tello with the Forces under his Command made an Incursion as far as Sevil To divert him and at the Sollicitation of the Moors that abandoned Baeça the King of Sevil advanced as far as that City but finding he had not a Force to make head against the Christians he concluded a Peace promising to pay 300000 Maravedis yearly The Moors of Murcia proclaimed one Abenhut of the Blood Royal of Zaragoça and an utter Enemy to the Almohades their King A vast number of People resorted to him he palliating his Ambition with Religion and giving out that all the losses sustained were a punishment for the new Opinions introduc'd by the Almohades This was the posture of Affairs in Spain in the Year 1228. In France this same Year Raymund Earl of Toulouze being hard pressed by King Luis was reconciled to the Church and obtained Peace upon those conditions That he should labour to extirpate the Heresie of the Albigenses That his Daughter should Marry one of the King's Brothers That if he dy'd without Issue the Earldom of Toulouze should be annex'd to the Crown of France That he should maintain at his cost a College for Instruction of his People and that he should serve five years in the Holy-Land For security of performance he deliver'd up to the King five Castles and his Daughter Now dy'd in Spain among other Persons of note D. Ramiro Bishop of Pamplona of the Blood Royal of Navarre Peter Ramirez succeeded him in whose time Pope Gregory IX took that Church and its Prelates under his Protection which was the same as exempting 'em from the Jurisdiction of the Spanish Metropolitans In Aragon the King by Policy reduc'd the factious Nobility His Uncle Ferdinand he again took into favour upon condition he should promise that the Conspirators would quit the Engagements they had made to one another D. Sancho Bishop of Zaragoça press'd to have those Towns that belong'd to his Brother Peter de Ahones and had been seized by the
tho he had an Obligation laid upon him to continue Loyal favour'd the Enemy Prince Henry grown Peevish by his long Imprisonment and us'd to Evil Practices studied how to get the Government into his Hands and look'd upon it as an Affront that the late King had made no mention of him in his Will He first held Private Cabals at Berlanga then beginning to act more openly many Towns declar'd for him and particularly the Royal City Burgos The Cortes or Parliament Assembled at Valladolid where the Nobility declar'd so much in Favour of Prince Henry that tho' the King and Queen 〈◊〉 thither they would not admit them into the City till it was late and they had left their Retinue behind Here it was resolv'd that Prince Henry should govern the Kingdom and the Queen have the Education of the King to whom nevertheless they all again took the Oath of Allegiance King Sancho by his Will left the Lordship of Biscay as gain'd in War to his Son Prince Henry James Lopez de Haro broke into that Province by the way of Navarre and made himself Master of all Places except Balmaseda and Ordun̄a The Two Brothers of the House of Lara laying aside their Enmity with the House of Haro joyn'd with him in Hatred to Prince Henry who they could not endure should Govern the Kingdom contrary to the King's Will which nam'd one of them Prince John the King's Uncle who had stay'd till then in Africk came into the Kingdom of Granada aiming at the 〈◊〉 of Castile thinking he had a better Title than his Brother King Sancho for that the present King Ferdinand was not Born in lawful Wedlock It was wonderful to see how many Revolted upon this account which gave him an opportunity of seizing Alcantara and other Places on the Borders of Portugal King Denis of Portugal was so earnest for him that at the time the Cortes were held at Valladolid he sent to declare against Castile A great Storm threatned on that side but no less was on the other for at Bordalva in the Territory of Hariza the King of Aragon and D. Alonso de Cerda who stiled himself King of Castile and Leon met There on the 21th of January 1296 they agreed upon the following Articles That they joyn their Forces in order to restore D. Alonso to his Grandfathers Kingdom That the Kingdom of Murcia be given to the King of Aragon The Kingdom of Leon Galicia and Sevil to Prince John Cuenca Alarcon Moya and Can̄ete to Prince Peter of Aragon for his Service as General of that Expedition In this League were included Queen Violante Grandmother to D. Alonso the King of France Portugal and Granada and soon after D. John de Lara in hopes of recovering 〈…〉 On the other side through the Queens Industry D. James de Haro was reconcil'd the King and all the Estate of D. John de Lara who was gone to the Aragonians added his Lordship of Biscay By these means other Great Men were gain'd particularly D. John Alonso de Haro giving him Cameros which he had a Right to The Army of Aragon under the Command of D. Alonso de la Cerda and Prince Peter of Aragon entred Castile in April at Baltanas Prince John and D. John Nun̄z de Lara joyn'd them They march'd without any lett as far as the City Leon formerly great and rich then poor and unprovided and therefore was easily surrendred the sooner for that some Citizens held Correspondence with the Enemy There Prince John was proclaim'd King of Leon Galicia and Sevil. Soon after D. Alonso de la Cerda was in the same manner proclaim'd King of Castile at Sahagun Thence they march'd and laid Siege to Mayorga which is Five Leagues from Sadagun the Town being Strong and well Garrison'd defended it self bravely and the Siege lasted till August Mean while the Cortes or Parliament was summoned to meet at Valladolid The first that appear'd was Prince Henry who as soon as he alighted without changing his Riding Apparel went to the Queen then at Mass in the Castle After the usual Reverence with a feign'd Sorrow he laid before her the Danger of the Kingdom and urg'd how little Defence there was in a Woman a Child and an Old Man Then advis'd her to Marry the Prince of Aragon by whom she might be Protected and the Crown defended The Queen put him away with signs of Displeasure affirming She would rely on God and not use any dishonourable Means for her Preservation Thus Prince Henry's Design fell to the Ground About 4000 Horse were levy'd but Prince Henry could not be prevail'd upon to March with them and raise the Siege of Mayorga excusing himself with the War in Andaluzia Yet they March'd to Zamora to settle that Place then wavering in it's Duty to the King The length of the Siege allay'd the Fury of the Besiegers and the Heat of the Weather together with the Want of all Necessaries caus'd much Sickness among them These things and the Death of their General Prince Peter of Aragon oblig'd them to return home much weaker than they set out At their first entring Castile they consisted of 1000 Men at Arms and 50000 Souldiers The King of Aragon at the same time had better Success in Murcia for he took the City of that Name and all other Places about it except the Towns of Lorca Alcala and Mula which held out for King Ferdinand In all these Dangers and Troubles Prince Henry who govern'd Castile acted nothing for either side but seem'd to stand Neuter so that he oblig'd not the Enemy and drew on himself the Hatred of all Men who laid the Blame of all the Loss sustain'd to his Charge The Queen wink'd at these Practices of the Prince but some Men of Note did not spare to upbraid him therewith The Chief of these was Alonso Perez de Gusman who bravely defended the Frontiers of Andaluzia and more than any oppos'd the Designs of Prince Henry With a Body of Men he gather'd the Prince march'd to Andaluzia lest he should be thought altogether Idle and in a Skirmish he had with the Moors near Arjona was defeated and in great danger of being taken his Reins being Cut so that he could not guide his Horse Alonso Perez de Gusman in that danger furnish'd him with another Horse on which he escap'd After this Rencounter a Treaty of Peace was propos'd to the Moors The King of Granada demanded Tarifa offering in lieu of it 22 Castles 20000 Crowns in ready mony and to advance the usual Tribute of Four Years Prince Henry approv'd of these Conditions because of the present Necessities and want of Mony Alonso Perez de Gusman violently oppos'd it This difference was heighten'd to such a degree that the Moors being joyn'd by some Christians laid Siege to that City Alonso de Gusman had not a sufficient Force his Men deserted and those were his Enemies who ought to have protected him In
this Condition he resolv'd to have recourse to Foreigners The King of Portugal was a declar'd Enemy of Castile therefore he resolv'd to try whether the King of Aragon would relieve him To this purpose he wrote to him begging his Assistance and pondering how great a Service it was to Christendom and how much Honour would redound to him by so Noble an Action The King of Aragon answer'd extolling his Loyalty but as to Relief said he could send none for that he had but just before concluded a Peace with the Moors and could not in Honour break his word Another War broke out at the same time from Portugal That King march'd with his Army as far as Salamanca Prince John King Ferdinand's Uncle and D. John NunÌ„ez de Lara joyn'd him after the Aragonian Army return'd home Having consulted what was best to be done it was thought expedient to Besiege Valladolid where King Ferdinand was With this Resolution they advanc'd to Simancas within Two Leagues of that City There many Gentlemen deserted the Portuguese Camp looking upon it as a shameful thing that a King should be Besieg'd by his Subjects The King of Portugal fearing lest the rest should do the same and securing the Passes he might find it difficult to return home besides Winter drawing on march'd hastily to Medina del Campo and thence to Portugal dismissing his Army The Forces the Queen had prepared for this War went by her Order to Besiege the Town of Paredes Nothing was done there for that Prince Henry with the Forces he had gather'd in Castile and the Kingdom of Toledo prevented their Design He pretended it was not proper to disturb the Cortes or Parliament then Sitting by bringing the War so near to them but in truth he was disgusted with the King and favour'd his Enemies The Queen dissembled and endeavour'd to gain him by Favours giving him at that same time the Towns of Santislevaâ— de Gormaz and 〈…〉 By the same means she drew to her D. John NunÌ„ez de Lara tho' no Confidence â—ould be reposed in him for he would have gone over to the Aragonians had they given him the Town of Albarazin The Cortes were held at Valladolid in the beginning of the year 1297. and there being great scarcity of Mony all Places promis'd to furnish a great Sum which they afterwards perform'd At the same time by the Valour of John Alonso de Haro the Navarrois were put to Flight who had surpriz'd part of the Town of Najara designing to recover those Parts they had old Pretensions to and particularly the Territory of Rioja D. Jayme King of Aragon at Rome whither he was call'd by the Pope was Proclaim'd King of Sardinia and Corsica Thither went from Sicily Constance his Mother Violante his Sister Roger Lauria the Admiral and John Prochita A Match was concluded betwixt the Lady Violante and Robert Duke of Calabria Heir to the Kingdom of Naples The Nuptials were perform'd with great State Pope Boniface himself officiating King Frederick prepar'd to defend the Kingdom which had been given him by so general a Consent of the People War was declar'd against him as the disturber of the Peace of Christendom and his Brother the King of Aragon appointed Generalissimo All things being thus order'd the King of Aragon return'd home to prepare for the War Rogor Lauria was sent to Naples to serve that King Queen Constance and John Prochita weary of so many Troubles and pitying the unfortunate State of Sicily stay'd at Rome Some say they both dy'd there but most Authors agree she ended her days Five Years after at Barcelona and was buried in the Monastery of St. Francis where there is a Tomb to this day with an Inscription and her Name CHAP. II. Peace betwixt Castile and Portugal setled by the means of double Allyances betwixt those Princes The Progress of the Wars in Sicily The Jubilee first instituted Bilbao Built and Prince John reconcil'd to the King THE King of Aragon being return'd home the Towns of Lerida Vlia Filera and Salvatierra were restored to the Crown of Navarre in pursuance of the Articles made at Agnani not fulfill'd till then Alonso Ronco a Frenchman was Viceroy of Navarre in the year 1298. The City Albarazin was taken from the King of Aragon's Bastard Brother and restor'd to D. John de Lara on pretence of doing him Justice but indeed to draw over that powerful Man D. John took the Oath of Fidelity to the King at Valencia on the 7th day of April This the King of Aragon did to strengthen himself to invade at once Castile and Sicily Attempts too great for his Power The King of Sicily forsaken on all sides was most exposed to Ruin He of Castile was reconcil'd to the King of Portugal by the means of two Matches that were concluded The one was betwixt King Ferdinand and Constance the Daughter of King Denis tho' she was under Age. They were Contracted with great Solemnity at Alcaniz a Town on the Borders of Portugal and the Publick Joy was the greater for that Blanch King Ferdinand's Sister was Marry'd to Prince Alonso Son and Heir to King Denis tho' but eight years Old which was the other Match The Bride was deliver'd to her Father-in-Law and carry'd to Portugal So eager were the Castilians upon securing of Peace that tho' nothing was given in Dower by the Portuguesse with his Daughter King Ferdinand with his Sister gave the Towns of Olivença Conguela and Campo de Moya which was no small disgrace to Castile but the necessity of the Times excus'd it All the King of Portugal did was to send 300 chosen Horse under the Command of D. John de Albuquerque to serve the King of Castile against Prince John his Uncle who stil'd himself King of Leon but all this came to nothing and those Horse return'd to Portugal as they came D. Alonso de la Cerda on the other side had taken Almazan and other Towns upon the Frontiers of Aragon and Garrison'd them Siguença was Attack'd by D. John de Lura but defended by the Valour of the Citizens The Conspirators wanted Mony and therefore lest Provisions and the Souldiers Pay should fail they Coin'd Some but of base Allay Denis King of Portugal at the Request of his Son-in-law brought a good Body of Men to his Assistance by the way of Cuidad Rodrigo but being more inclinable to Peace than that Time would bear he return'd to Portugal dissatisfy'd The reason of his disgust was that he would have the Province of Galicia given to Prince John who call'd himself King and to his Heirs and that he should keep the City Leon during his Life The Queen and Nobility of Castile would not consent to those Conditions as dishonourable and prejudicial Upon the King of Portugal's Return some Nobles of Castile whom Fear before aw'd began to Revolt But the great Wisdom of the Queen pacify'd them giving every one as much as
stay to besiege it resolving to advance towards his Enemy who was incamp'd at Santaren The King of Portugal being too weak for his Enemy kept himself within the Walls and King Henry march'd away to Lisbon At his first coming he enter'd and burnt the Suburbs but the City being strong and well defended could not be taken However some Ships were burnt in the River and others taken by the Fleet of Castile a great Number of Prisoners and a rich Booty was carry'd away Mean while the Legate ceas'd not to labour for Peace and at last brought the two Kings together into a Boat upon the River Tagus on the 28th of March and they agreed to these Conditions That the King of Portugal by a certain Day should banish his Kingdom the Gentlemen that fled from Castile who were about 500 in Number That all Places taken during that War should be restor'd on both Sides That Beatrix Sister to the King of Portugal should be marry'd to D. Sancho Brother to King Henry and Earl of Albuquerque and Elizabeth Bastard Daughter to the King of Portugal to Alonso the Bastard of King Henry King Ferdinand gave Hostages for Security of Performance D. Sancho and the Lady Beatrix were presently marry'd at Santaren The Lady Elizabeth being but 8 Years of Age was delivered to King Henry and then the two Kings parted King Henry march'd directly against Navarre but the Pope's Legate reconcil'd those two Kings also The Navarrois restor'd the Towns of Victoria and Logron̄o Charles his Son was contracted to Ellenor Daughter to the King of Castile her Portion 120000 Crowns of Gold The Kings met at Briones a Town on the Frontiers where the Princes were marry'd and the King of Navarre gave his younger Son Peter to him of Castile as a Hostage When the King of Navarre return'd out of France he found that Bernard Bishop of Pamplona and Cruzate Dean of Tudela whom he had joyn'd in Commission with the Queen had not discharg'd their Trust faithfully They understanding the King's Displeasure fled the Bishop got to Avignon but the Dean was kill'd by the way as was suspected by the King's order The Bishop went on to Rome where he dy'd CHAP. X. Peace concluded betwixt Castile and Aragon Several Matches of Princes French and Spaniards besiege Bayonne in vain The Papal Chair restor'd to Rome Death of Frederick King of Sicily FRom Briones the King of Castile return'd to the Kingdom of Toledo he of Navarre to his Court whence he sent the Queen into France to appease that King who was highly offended suspecting the Navarrois had employ'd People to Poison him Then the King of Navarre went in Person to Madrid to perswade King Henry to forsake the French and side with the English Offering if he would pay the Arrears due to the Prince of Wales and his Army from King Peter that the English would quit their Claim to the Crown of Castile and lay down all other Animosities King Henry answer'd he would never depart from the Interest of France where he had found Relief in his Distress but that if the English would make Peace with France he would join in it and pay them as much as should be adjudg'd by impartial Judges Thus nothing was concluded and the Navarrois return'd to Pamplona the Castilian to Andaluzia The Lady Mary Daughter to D. Ferdinand de la Cerda marry'd in France to the Earl of Alençon sent to demand of King Henry the Lordships of Biscay and Lara as of right appertaining to her He reply'd if she would send two of her Sons to reside at his Court they should be put into Possession but having better Estates in France they never came In October Balthasar Spinola a Genoese came into Aragon as Embassador from the English to conclude a League against Castile They offer'd him if the Kingdom were conquer'd the Cities of Murcia Cuenca and Soria with all their Dependencies but the King of Aragon could not be prevail'd upon In February happen'd a great Earthquake in the Earldom of Ribagorça in which many Towns were wholly swallow'd up Luis Duke of Anjou came to Carcassonne to endeavour to settle a Peace betwixt Castile and Aragon fearing lest the English the mortal Enemies of France should become Masters of Castile After much debating it was resolv'd to referr the Dicision of their Differences to Guido Cardinal of Bolonia the Pope's Legate On the 15th of October Pope Gregory the XIth confirm'd the Order of the Fryers of S. Hierome first invented by certain Italian Hermits near the City Toledo Some Years after the Order of the Isidorians was taken from this same In December tho Peace could not be concluded a Truce was agreed upon till the Feast of Pentecost In the Year 1374 John Duke of Lancaster landed with an Army at Calis and being join'd by the Duke of Britany march'd across the Country to Bourdeaux with a Design to conquer Castile He sent Embassadors to the Kings of Aragon and Navarre to ask Supplies but they thought it safest to look on as Neuters King Henry fearing this Storm went to Burgos where he made all possible Preparations to withstand it D. Sancho his Brother endeavouring to appease a Sedition among the Souldiers was wounded in the Face with a Spear and dy'd The Lady Beatrix his Wife left with Child was deliver'd of a Daughter called Ellenor who was marry'd to Prince Ferdinand afterwards King of Aragon King Henry near Ban̄ares made a review of his Forces and found 1200 Horse and 5000 Foot a small Number but good Men. The English Forces consum'd by their long March when they came to Bourdeaux were not above 6000 strong and therefore had lay'd aside the Design of entring Spain Luis Duke of Anjou thinking this a good Opportunity to expel them France advis'd King Henry to joyn his Forces with him and besiege Bayonne King Henry took his Advice and besieg'd the Place but was forc'd by the Rains and want of Provisions to quit it Beltran de Guevara Lord of On̄ate did good Service in this Expedition for which the King at his return gave him the Valley of Leniz In August the Prince of Majorca enter'd the Country of Russillon with a powerful Army yet did nothing considerable On the other side the Lord of Bearne and Godfrey Recco a Breton made an Incursion into the Territory of Borgia and destroy'd all they came near The King of Aragon sent Francis de Perellas Viscount Roda to conclude a League with the Duke of Lancaster A violent Storm cast him upon the Coast of Granada where he was made Prisoner by that King in revenge for certain Vessels of his taken by the Aragonians and to please the King of Castile A new Embassy was sent by King Henry to Barcelona to establish Peace with the Aragonian On the 3d of November dy'd in Normandy Joanna Queen of Navarre at whose Request her Brother the King of France often pardon'd her Husband
6 Months On the 15th of October dy'd at Rome Pope Vrban the VIth In his place the Cardinals of that Faction soon chose the Cardinal Peter Tomaçello of Naples who was call'd Boniface the IX No sooner was the Term of the Truce expir'd but the Portugues sat before Tuy a City in Galicia plundering all the Country about it The King of Castile was afraid to hazard a Battel but sent the Arch-bishop of Toledo and Master of Alcantara to carry Relief to the besieg'd They came when the City was taken but lost not their Labour for they concluded a Truce for 6 Years upon Condition Tuy and all other Towns taken during the War should be restor'd on both sides The Year 1390 was very remarkable in Castile for the Cortes then assembl'd and the important Affairs in them debated First the King offer'd to resign the Crown to his Son the Prince hoping that done the Portugueses would easily admit of his Wife's Title Neither the Nobility nor Commons would upon any account consent to it because the Prince was under Age. Next it was consider'd what should be done with those who during the War had deserted the King A general Pardon was decreed for all excepting only the Earl of Gijon who had often relaps'd and was still a Prisoner and doubtless the K. if he durst would have made an end of them It was enacted that the Kingdom should furnish a sufficient Sum of Mony to pay the standing Forces which then us'd to live upon Discretion and ruin the Farmers To this purpose a Reform of the Troops was made so that only 4000 Men at Arms 1500 light Horse and 1000 Archers were left on Foot who were to be ready upon all Occasions and live upon their Pay All Subjects were forbid serving any foreign Prince which was afterwards strictly observ'd The Popes us'd to give Benefices in Spain to Foreigners whence it follow'd that those Benefices were not serv'd and the Natives wholly neglected Learning It was therefore made a Request to Pope Clement that he would remedy that Abuse Besides the great Men in the Times of Confusion had seiz'd the Church-Livings and put in such Priests as they pleas'd allowing them small Stipends and kept to themselves all the rest of the Profits The Bishops of Burgos and Calahorra who were most concern'd sought for Redress and the King favour'd them but seeing those great Men concern'd oppos'd it he would proceed no farther fearing to disoblige them more than he had done by a Decree which allow'd all Vassals of Lords to appeal from their Courts to the King 's King Henry by his last Will had recall'd many Grants made during his Life and now the Nobles strugl'd to have them put in Force again the King in outward appearance seem'd willing but he had other Thoughts in his Heart as appear'd by his Actions At this same time Embassadors came to that City from the Kings of Granada and Navarre Those of Navarre demanded that since Queen Ellenor left in Castile for recovery of her Health was now perfectly well she should return to her Husband The King thought this a just Request and therefore order'd his Sister to prepare for her Journy She excus'd her self alledging the hatred that People bore her who had endeavour'd to Poison her by the Hand of a Jabish Physician The King would not force his Sister yet oblig'd her to restore her Daughter Joanna to her Father since they had no Issue-male Thus the King of Navarre being forsaken by his Wife was Crown'd by himself with much Pomp in the Cathedral of Pamplona He was Anointed lifted upon Mens Shoulders and all there present saluted him King From the Moorish King came the Governour of Malaga Embassador to Castile to renew the Truce then ready to expire which was granted him he bringing great Presents of Horses Furniture and rich Cloth This Truce was sign'd by the Kings and their eldest Sons D. Peter Tenorio Archbishop of Toledo at his own Cost built a beautiful Bridge over the River Tagus at that City which to this Day is call'd the Archbishop's Bridge Near the Bridge were some few Houses or Cottages and the King pleas'd with that Seat to encourage People to live there granted a Charter of Priviledges and call'd it Villa-franca To Prince Ferdinand his younger Son besides the Lordship of Lara which was his already he gave the Town of Fen̄afiel with the Title of Duke In token of this Dignity a plain Crown was put upon his Head without Flowers to distinguish it from the Regal His Arms were those of Castile and Aragon quarter'd by way of Distinction from the Prince and because he was descended from both those Houses The Cortes held at Guadalajara broke up when the Summer was well advanc'd In June the Truce with Portugal for 6 Years was concluded The Power of Portugal daily increas'd and they adher'd firmly to the Popes of Rome Therefore Boniface the IXth who as has been said succeeded Vrban made Lisbon a Metropolitan See Segovia is a City seated on the Mountains that part Old and New Castile its chief support is the Woollen-Manufacture Winter there is very sharp by reason of the Mountains the Summer temperate the Hills being always cover'd with Snow There the King resolv'd to spend the Summer and by the way to see the Monastery of Paular which he was building at Rascasria not far from that City and is the beautifullest the Carthusians this day possess in Spain At Valladolid he gave to the Benedictine Monks the Old-Palace to convert it into a Convent where they now hold their General Chapters Besides he had before given the Church of Guadalupe then possess'd by secular Priests to the Hieronimites These are three Monuments of this King's Piety besides certain Religious Laws which he establish'd Particularly at the Cortes at Briviesca three Years before this he forbid bringing out the Cross at the Reception of Kings and weaving it on Carpets or other things where it might be trod upon Summer expiring he sent the Prince and Princess to Talavera he himself went to Alcala designing for Andaluzia to regulate some Disorders there 50 Christian Souldiers who had serv'd the King of Morocco and were call'd Farfanes came to Alcala These were expert in the Moorish manner of Exercise which those People perform dexterously on Horseback The King upon Sunday the 9th of October went out to see these Men exercise He was mounted on a Mettlesom Horse and having a mind to Gallop some way clapt Spurs to him he ran into the Plow'd Lands and stumbling in the Furrows came down with such Violence that he kill'd the King He liv'd only 33 Years and reign'd 11 Years 3 Months and 20 Days To stir up his Subjects to honourable Emulation he invented an Order or Brotherhood who were to wear a Collar of Gold with a Pidgeon hanging at it and instituted Rules for this Order but Death put an end to this and all
the Nobility of Castile should have a Conference and chiefly that the Prince of Castile should joyn with the Malecontents This they durst attempt because Prince Hemy had then possessed himself of Toledo in opposition to his Father Those who had raised the Tumult were for submitting to the King they were apprehended in the Cathedral where they took Sanctuary The two mutinous Canons were sent to the close Prison at Santor caz their Lives being spared in regard they were Churchmen Mark Garcia and Ferdinand de Avila were dragged about the Streets and after much ill usage as they deserved put to Death Mean while the Moors there being no body to oppose them ravaged all the Frontiers of Andaluzia on that side next to them They took much Booty and came up to the very Walls of Jaen and Sevil. So great was the Confidence of the Moorish King that he assured him of Navarre that he would not doubt of taking Cordova provided he would make a Diversion on the side of Aragon The King of Navarre returned thanks for that offer but the putting it in Execution was delay'd for some time On the 26th of July many Nobles of Castile met at Corun̄a near Soria Some will have it that Henry Prince of Castile was in this Assembly They complained of D. Alvaro de Luna who was the cause that many Noblemen lived in Banishment and others in Prison and therefore encouraged one another to stand together It was resolved that every one should gather the greatest Force he could till the middle of August and joyn Prince Henry Yet tho they met at the time appointed near Pen̄afiel in Old Castile many Noblemen slunk away without regard to their Ingagements Every one suspected the other but above all they were jealous of Prince Henry because he was very uncertain in his Humour and no less of the King of Navarre who had much Business to mind of his own at home and in France This King had a Castle in Guienne called Maulisson delivered to him by the English and had given Charge of it to his Constable This Castle the Earl of Faux besieged with 12000 Foot and 3000 Horse entrenching his Army and battering the Walls The King of Navarre repaired thither with what Forces he could gather in haste and encamping near the Enemy they had an Interview in which nothing was concluded the Earl affirming he could not depart without taking the Castle having promised it to the King of France Hereupon the King of Navarre returning to Spain the besieged were obliged to surrender only upon Liberty for the Garrison to march whither they pleased The delay of the King of Navarre and slowness of the Nobility gave time to reconcile Prince Henry to his Father The Agreement being well advanced both dismissed their Forces the King stayed in Old Castile and the Prince returned to Toledo where he was received with all manner of Expressions of Joy There at length Peter Sarmiento designing to deliver up the City to the King and putting no end to his Robberies and Extortions was deprived of the Government of the City and Castle at the beginning of the Year 1450. He complained and put the Prince in mind of his Promise nevertheless he was forced to depart the City carrying with him 200 Horses and Mules loaden with Riches he had plundered The People was not permitted to take any thing from him he having the Prince's Pass Yet he was robbed of part by the way and the rest when he came to Gumiel was seized by the King's Order Sarmiento himself fled to Navarre and having obtained Pardon of his Crimes lived Miserably the rest of his Days at Bastida a Town in the Territory of Rioja that place alone being left him of all his Possessions His Confederates were more severely punished They were taken in several Places and put to Death with exquisite Torments The Punishment seemed cruel but it was designed to terrify others from committing the like Violence and Extravagances for the future and to warn those that were in Power not to make use of it to the Destruction of those committed to their Charge CHAP. V. The mutiny of Segovia The Affairs of the Crown of Aragon The Civil War in Navarre The Factions of the Agramonteses and Biamonteses there The Emperor Frederick marries Ellenor Sister to the King of Portugal The Moors twice defeated by the Christians SCarce was the Mutiny at Toledo quelled when another broke out at Segovia whither the Prince was gone Peter Portocarrero who began to be great with the Prince accused John Pacheco Marques of Villena of a Crime for which he ought to be apprehended The Bishop of Cuenca John de Silva the King's Standard-bearer and the Marshal Pelayo de Ribera attested the same thing They all advised the Prince to make him an Example and it was resolved to secure him It was not easy to do it by reason of his great Power and also that he having notice of the Prince's Displeasure made himself strong in a quarter of the City Lest much Blood should be shed in forcing him he was permitted to go away to Turuegano a Town of his own There to gain Peter Portocarrero he gave him to Wife Beatrix his Bastard Daughter and with her the Town of Medellin in Estremadura near Guadiana Thus his Enemies were weakened and the Prince began to be appeased The War with the Aragonians continu'd but not very hot Bordalva a Castle on the Frontiers of Aragon was taken and lost again The King of Aragon was worse looked upon as being the chief contriver of all the Troubles and an Opportunity was now offered of being revenged on him Many advised the Prince of Viana to take upon him the Crown and Government since his Father had no Right to it and this was the beginning of great Disorders The King of Navarre was at Zar agoca where the Coxtes of Aragon met in Summer They limited the Power of the Deputy Justices of Aragon and decreed that all Goods upon which there depended any Law-suit should be deposited in the Hands of an Officer appointed for that purpose that the Judges having such Goods in their Power might not delay deciding of Causes The King of Aragon sent Embassadors to exhort the Princes of Spain to Peace resolving if there were War to stand by his Brother and Subjects In all other respects he seemed to have forgot Spain taken up with the Pleasures of Italy having gained much Reputation and enjoying Peace the Fruit of his great Labours The Grecian Emperor oppressed by the Turks sent Embassadors to him to desire his assistance against them The same did Demetrius Paleologus Prince of Attica and Peloponnesus or Morea Brother to the Emperor Constantine offering him great Territories when the War was ended Aranitus Earl of Epirus or Albania did the like But above all we must not omit the Embassy sent by George Castriot commonly called Scanderbeg the Turks having given him
Offenders according to their Crimes Certain wicked Murderers under colour of standing up for their Liberties attempted to Murder him in his Bed but not being able to force the Iron Bars of his Window they Stabbed him in the Church before the High Altar as he was at Mattins on the 14th of September He died not till the night following which time he spent in Singing Praises to Almighty God His Body was buried in the same place where they Murdered him and soon after a Lamp was hung over his Grave an Honour never allowed to any but Canonized Saints Charles V. the Emperor obtained of Pope Paul III. that his Feast might be Celebrated on the 15th of September as is duely now observed All his Murderers died unfortunately within a year After this for the safety of the Inquisitors they were lodged in the Castle called Del Aljaferia This in Aragon In Catalonia and particularly the Territory of Ampurias those Vassals who are vulgarly called Pageses were oppressed by their Landlords and Treated like Slaves Those Lords obliged them to pay the heavy Impositions laid on them by the Moores pleading Prescription to justifie this Proceeding The Histories of Catalonia do not mention what Impositions these were they only say they were very heavy and that none was exempt from them but such as Ransomed themselves like Slaves This moved the People often to take up Arms to deliver themselves from that Tyranny but the Efforts of the Multitude for the most part are weak They had recourse to their Kings for Redress and several of them ordered those Impositions to be moderated yet the Nobility would not part with any thing of what had been left them by their Ancestors King Ferdinand at last with his usual Success and good Conduct put an end to all those Debates From Alcala de Henarez the King and Queen went to Segovia and thence to Medina del Campo By the way they visited D. Garzia de Toledo created by the King Duke of Alva who now lived retired by reason of his great Age having left his Son Frederick to serve in his place This the King did not only to Honour him but to Reconcile him to the Constable Peter Fernandez de Velasco to whom with D. Alonso de Fonseca Archbishop of Sevil he intended to leave the Government of Castile whilst he prosecuted the War in Granada In order to it he went to Guadalupe where on the 28th of April he decided the Affair of the Pageses ordaining that in lieu of the old Imposition every one of those Vassals should pay to his Lord 70 Sueldos or Shillings of Barcelona yearly which tho a heavy Burden was joyfully accepted by those People and the more for that they were allowed to buy it off at 20 years purchase Thus after long Disputes that part of Spain was pacified In Portugal all was quiet since the death of those Nobles we have spoken of and the King laboured to make his Kingdom renowned Azamor a City in Mauritania Tingitana on the Ocean having formerly been Tributary to the King of Portugal now took an Oath of Fidelity to him and in acknowledgment of subjection obliged it self to give yearly 10000 Alosas which is a sort of Fish that abounds there It was a greater Honour to that Nation and its Princes that they had not only formerly maintained their Liberty and Erected a Kingdom to which they had no good Title but did now subdue remote Cities and Provinces to their great glory and advantage The Kingdom of the Moores decayed apace Civil Discord consumed them no less than the Enemy abroad In the City of Granada Boabdil being called in by his Party possessed himself of a Castle called Albaycin and the Citizens sought and killed one another in the Streets Yet they joined to oppose the Christians and the danger being over to War among themselves again An Alsaqui which is in the Nature of a Priest esteemed a Holy Man went about the Streets proclaiming their Madness and threatning speedy ruin unless they grew wiser in time His Words moved the People and therefore through his Mediation and of others of his Profession the Two Kings came to an Agreement upon these Terms That the Uncle should still keep Granada Almeria and Malaga all the rest should belong to his Nephew Boabdil who I guess resided in the Albaycin before-mentioned tho our Historians do not mention it Their chief design was that Boabdil should have all those Places which they imagined the Christians would first attack because he was in League with King Ferdinand The Christians were not ignorant of their Policy therefore having assembled their Forces they resolved to attempt Loxa Boabdil advanced with 500 Horse to stop the passage of our Men who were to march through uncouth and difficult ways Nevertheless they came to the Suburbs of the City where they had a Skirmish with the Moores whom they forced back into the Walls The Army was divided into 3 parts the better to compass the Town and the Bridge that led to it broken down But the Christians built two others to secure the Communication for themselves A breach being made by the Cannon and all things in readiness to assault it the City surrendred the 9th day of the Siege capitulating for liberty to depart with as much of their Goods as they could carry Boabdil coming to the Camp fell down on his Knees protesting it was against his Will he had broke his Faith and that he was forced to it His Excuses were allowed and he pardoned because it was convenient to wink at his Faults to keep up the Division that was among the Moores King Ferdinand fortified the City and gave the Command of it to Alvaro de Luna Lord of Fuentiduen̄a and Grandson to the Constable D. Alvaro de Luna This done he marched to reduce other Places Some few made resistance but in vain the most surrendred Among others Illora was taken on the 28th of June and after it Ban̄os Zagra and Moclin Some of these Places were very strong and might have held out long being near Granada whence they could be relieved The Command of Illora was given to Gonçalo Fernandez de Cordova afterwards the famous General in Italy The Citizens of Granada used to call Illora the Right Eye and Moclin the Buckler of that City for which reason they began to despair of maintaining themselves besides that the Christians destroyed all the Country about them Nevertheless Albohardil sent part of his Horse to the Bridge called De los Pinos a Place well known for the Slaughter of our Men made there formerly These were to hinder the Christians passing the River Xenil He himself stayed in the City to prevent Disorders The Moores could not hinder the Christians passing the River but charged the Left Squadron that passed which was commanded by D. In̄igo de Mendoça Duke del Infant ado Our Men were hard put to it being beset by 1000 Horse and 10000 Foot but
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
them at Naples To prevent further Disorder he took the Spanish Foot with him sending the Men at Arms Light-Horse and Germans to Sessa assuring them he would soon be with them On the 16th of May he entred Naples with as great Pomp as if it had been the King himself Before him marched the Spanish Foot The Gentry came out to meet him and the Multitude covered the Fields admiring that General who had so often Overthrown his Enemies He was conducted through the Streets richly hung strewed with Flowers and full of sweet Perfumes in the same manner as when their Kings went to be Crowned Nothing but Joy appeared they that were most inclined to the French expressed most Satisfaction to disguise their own Faults The City Naples from whence the whole Kingdom takes its Name is one of the fairest richest and most Populous in all Italy It is seated on the Coast of the Mediterranean at the side of a Hill that rises betwixt the West and the North. The Streets are long and strait full of stately Buildings because the Nobility who are very numerous live there most of the Year and vie amongst themselves in Erecting stately Houses The most Famous are those of the Prince of Salerno and Duke of Gravina They encline to live there by reason of the Temperature of the Air the Fruitfulness of the Soil and the beautiful Gardens that surround the City So that there is scarce any City where so many Great Men reside It is divided into Five Sejo's which are so many Council-Houses where the Nobility and Gentry of each Quarter meet to consult about the Affairs of the City The Churches Monasteries and Hospitals are Numerous and Magnificent particularly the Hospital de la Annunciata which spends yearly above 50000 Ducats gathered by the Charity of the People upon pious Uses The Walls are strong adorned with Towers and Four strong Castles Of these the First is Castelnovo large and to appearance impregnable seated on the Shoar near the Mole which makes the Harbour The Second the Gate of Capua on the North formerly a famous Place of Strength now the Place for holding the Courts of Judicature The Third the Castle del Ovo in the Sea on a small Rock but inaccessible The Fourth that of Santelmo in the highest part of the City commands it all and is of late strongly fortified Two of these Forts to wit Castelnovo and Castel del Ovo were now in the hands of the French As soon as ever the Great Captain alighted he went to give Orders for besieging those Castles Castelnovo was furiously battered and they began to undermine it but the Besieged made a vigorous Defence Villamarin with the Fleet came to an Anchor at Nostra Signora de Pie de Gruta seven days after the Great Captain entred the City On the last day of May the Pope created Nine Cardinals Five of them Natives of Valencia On the 12th of June after a vigorous Resistance Castelnovo was taken by Storm John Pelaez de Berrio Servant to the Great Captain was the first that entred The Captains Peter Navarro an able Man at Mining and Nun̄o d' Ocampo signalized themselves the last had the Command of the Fort given him Among other Prisoners taken there was Hugh Roger Earl of Pallas who had been above 40 Years in Rebellion against the Catholick King and his Father King John He was sent to the Castle of Xativa where he ended his Days Some French and Genoese Ships came from Gaeta too late to relieve the Besieged The French Fleet consisting of 6 Carracs other Great Ships and 5 Galleys besides small Vessels came at last and Villamarin being too weak to oppose them retired to the Port of Ischia which being beset by our Fleet defended it self so well that small harm was done to it The Marquess del Gasto took care to defend the Fleet and Island The Great Captain could not stay to take the Castle del Ovo but left that in charge to Peter Navarro and Nun̄o d' Ocampo They in Boats covered with Hides approached to undermine the Rock on the side of Picifalcon Our Batteries killed most of the Defendants so that only 20 remaining they surrendered articling only for their Lives At the same time Fabricius Colona with 800 Men sent from Rome took the City of Aquila the Chief of Abruzzo and all that Province submitted Fracaso de S. Severino and Hierome Gallofo the Chief of the French Faction in that City made their escape to the Lands of the Church The End of the 27th BOOK The History of SPAIN BOOK XXVIII CHAP. 1. The Siege of Gaeta The Death of Pope Alexander VI. Pius III. Chosen Practices of the Spaniards The French Invade Roussillon ON the 18th of June the Great Captain set forwards from Naples towards S. German in order to oppose the French who lay incamped on the other side the River Garellano formerly called Lyris and to reduce some Towns thereabouts that still held for the French He passed through Aversa and Capua those Cities desiring to see him and express their Affection to Spain Whilst he was thus stayed James Garzia de Paredes and Christopher Zamudio advanced with 1500 Men to attack S. German That City and its Castle soon surrendred notwithstanding that Peter de Medicis lay with some French Forces near hand at Montecasino He despairing of holding out there went away leaving 200 Men in the Monastery who surrendred the Place The Great Captain took Roca Guillerma a strong Place also Targeto upon the River Garellano and other Places Castellon and Mala which lie near Gaeta submitted This done the Great Captain on the first of July incamped near the Suburb of Gaeta That City is very strong being for the most part encompassed with the Sea only towards the Land is a narrow and uncouth way to it and over the City Mount Orlando of difficult access where the French had planted many Pieces of Cannon so that there was no coming near to it In the Place were 4500 Men 1500 of them Horse What was worst of all they were Masters of the Sea being much stronger than the Spaniards and consequently there was no hindring the recourse of Provisions or other Supplies to them tho Villamarin came thither with his Galleys The Great Captain caused his Cannon to be brought from Naples to batter the Mount whence his Men were much annoyed lying within Shot Many of his Men were killed and among them D. Hugh de Cardona a Man of great Worth The Besieged suffered for want of Provisions but chiefly of Meal not having wherewith to grind their Corn. On the 6th of August they received Supplies of Provisions and 1500 Men in two Carracs 4 Galleons and some Galleys which carried the Marquess de Saluzes who was to succeed the Duke of Nemours as Viceroy The same day this Supply came to them Rabastein Colonel of the Germans that served in the Spanish Army was killed by a Cannon Shot This
Vera who had charge of the Artillery D. Alonso de Granada Vanegas Lord of Campo Tejar who Commanded the Forces of Andaluzia and Colonel Hierome Vianelo accounted an able Seaman Count Peter Navarro was General and there was a great Number of Gentlemen Volunteers The Fleet consisting of 10 Galleys and 80 other Vessels met at Carthagena the last Month. Before they set sail some Disputes arose betwixt the Cardinal and the Earl on account that the former bestowed some Commands on his Servants which the other had before promised to others Some Persons interposing the Count swore to obey the Cardinal in all things On the 16th of May they set Sail from Carthagena and the next day being the Feast of the Ascension entred the Port of Mazalquivir It was declared their Design was upon Oran a famous City in the Kingdom of Tremecen containing about 6000 Inhabitants seated near the Sea partly in a Valley and partly on the side of a Hill encompassed with a strong Wall the Streets all contrived after the rude manner of the Moors distant from the City of Tremecen 140 Miles and opposite to Carthagena It was once one of the most Principal Marts on that Coast by reason of the great resort of Genoese and Catalonian Merchants and was so rich as to maintain a small Fleet which infested the Coast of Andaluzia Our Fleet entred the Harbour at Night and the next Morning began to land the Men. They drew them up in Four Bodies each containing 2500 Men with the Horse upon the Flanks Mean while the Cardinal was in the Church of Mazalquivir but when they were ready to join Battel with the Moors that came to hinder their Approach to the City he came out mounted upon a Mule the Clergy and Religious attending him One F. Ferdinand of the Order of S. Francis carried the Cross with a Sword girt upon his Habit as had all the others by the Cardinal's Order He encouraged the Men offering to lead them into the midst of the Enemy but the Commanders begged of him to offer up his Prayers to God for them whilst they fought He complied and returning to Mazalquivir continued at Prayers in the Chapel of S. Michael all the time of the Battel It was Three in the Afternoon and the Earl being doubtful whether it were not better to delay the Fight till next day advised with the Cardinal who was of Opinion not to suffer the Soldiers to cool The Signal being given they began to march up the Hill and tho' the Moors to the Number of 12000 besides the Recruits that constantly came to them cast down all sorts of Weapons upon them they gained Ground Some Soldiers of Guadalajara advanced contrary to Order one of whom was killed and the rest forced to retire That Man's Head being cut off was carried to the City and there rolled about the Streets the Rabble crying the Alfaquin so they called the Cardinal was killed till a Christian Slave who knew the Cardinal by sight undeceived them Our Horse began to Skirmish with the Enemy among whom our Cannon did some execution and then the Foot came on driving them tho' the Hill was uncouth till they came to certain Conducts of Water There they halted a while and removing their Cannon to the highest part of the Hill with that and their Swords put the Moors to flight pursuing them beyond the City because the Gates were shut against them A great number of Moors sallied out under the Leading of the Mezuar or Governour of Oran and whilst these were hotly engaged some of our Men attempted to scale the Walls the Inhabitants opposing them They that were in the Galleys attacking the side next the Sea had leisure to make themselves Masters of certain Towers and all the Alcaçava Thus the City was entred by the Christians and plundered Those Moors that fought in the Field seeing the Spanish Colours upon the Walls thought to have got into the Town but some of our Men sallying they were taken in the middle and a great Slaughter made 4000 of them were killed and about 5000 taken This Victory was looked upon as miraculous because of the Disorder of our Men but much more because immediately after the Mezuar of Tremecen came with such a Multitude that it would have been impossible to have taken the City had he come sooner This Success was attributed to the Prayers of the Cardinal who entred the City with Joy and Consecrated the Great Mosque by the Name of S. Mary of Victory After which he returned the next day with his Galleys to Carthagena He left the Command of that City to Peter Navarro till the King's Pleasure were known From Carthagena he sent the King an account of the Victory and went himself to his Town of Alcala where he entred more like a Religious Man than a Conqueror nor permitting any manner of Publick Reception to be made for him By the League concluded at Cambray it was agreed that each of the Confederate Princes should begin to War upon the Venetians on his side by the First of April at farthest King Ferdinand sent Colonel Zamudio with 2000 chosen Foot to compleat those at Naples to 5000. All things proceeded very slowly because the Earl of Ribagorça was looked upon as a Person unfit for that Undertaking or for the Government as also because it was discovered that the Barons of that Kingdom conspired to shake off the Spanish Government Fabricius Colona also advised not to attempt any thing upon the Towns of the Venetians in Apulia till there was a Fleet ready to hinder them from Relief by Sea which was looked upon as Treacherous or at least very weak Counsel The King of France sent la Trimouille with Forces over the Alpes as soon as the Season would permit and himself on the First of May made his Entry into Milan Having gathered his Army consisting of 40000 Men he entred the Territories of the Venetians and took several Towns The Venetians had raised 50000 Men under the Command of the Earl of Petillano and Bartholomew d' Albiano Two Great Generals of the Family of the Ursini and Subjects to the King of Spain for their Estates in Naples Near Rivolta the Two Armies met and engaged The Fight was long doubtful till the Venetian Foot being broke by the French Artillery and then charged by the Horse they were forced to fly A great Number was killed Count Petillano with a few escaped Bartholomew d' Albiano and many more were taken This Victory called of Giaradada was very Famous and in Memory of it the King caused a Chapel to be built in that Place calling it S. Mary of Victory Immediately upon it the Cities of Crema Cremona Bergamo and Bressa were surrendered to the French which was all they pretended to according to the Articles of the League The Pope's Forces took Solarolo Frença Arimino Ravena and Servia which was all that belonged to him The Earl of Ribagorça had gathered his
the Kingdom of Asturias but the King said it had never allowed any Prince and therefore consented to allow him 30000 Ducats a year and to add to that Sum whensoever he was married The Emperour also demanded for himself 100000 Ducats of which 50000 were allowed him to be paid by the Florentines on account of the delivery of Pisa to them King Ferdinand also offered to assist the Emperour against the Venetians with 300 Men at Arms to whom he would give 4 or 5 Months Pay It was also agreed that whensoever Prince Charles would go into Spain a Fleet should be sent for him and Prince Ferdinand should go to Flanders as soon as the other was landed in Spain Upon these Conditions they joined in League and all Differences were reconciled Because the King of France and Cardinal d' Amboise had been chosen Arbitrators these Articles were sent to them to peruse and they approved of the same on the 12th of December This done all their Estates were restored to those who had been of the Emperour 's and Prince's Party and D. Peter de Guevara was set at liberty according to Capitulation Upon which some Gentlemen departed the Kingdom pretending to go serve the Prince Among these D. Alonso Manrique Bishop of Badajoz was most remarkable At this time the Earl of Pitillano the Venetian General died at Lonigo in the Territory of Vincenza King Ferdinand ordered the Earl of Lemos who still held Intelligence in Portugal and Flanders to deliver up the Forts of Sarria and Monforte to the Lord of Poça then Governour of Galicia D. Raymund de Cardona Viceroy of Sicily was appointed to succeed the Earl of Ribagorça at Naples and D. Hugo de Moncada to be Viceroy of Sicily Various Reports were spread abroad concerning this Change of Viceroy at Naples Most Men said the Earl of Ribagorça was not capable of that Command Others believed the Ursini were the cause of his removal But who can stop the Mouths of the Multitude or fathom the Designs of Princes King Ferdinand being desirous to employ his Forces against the Infidels was always for concluding a Peace with the Venetians and joining in League with them after each of the Confederates had recovered what he pretended a right to Thus he proposed with the joint Forces of them all to make War upon the Turks the common Enemy of Christendom It was hard to reconcile such different Interests He proposed to join his Forces with those of the other Princes and to go himself in Person to the Levant This his Design he made known to the Pope who approved of it and offered to forward it The Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily lay opportunely for this Enterprize Those who well weighed the Circumstances of Things thought it not fit for the King at his Age and in the present posture of Affairs in Castile to absent himself so far off It was thought more expedient to continue the Conquest of Africk so fortunately begun Count Peter Navarro had 13 Ships well equipped in the Port of Mazalquivir He sailed thence with some chosen Troops to the Island Yviça where Hierome Vianelo expected him with another part of the Fleet. There they staid some days it being the dead of Winter It was declared the Fleet was designed for Bugia They sailed from Yviça on the first of January 1510. The Forces consisted of about 5000 Men well provided with Cannon Bugia is seated on the Coast of Numidia not far from the Borders of Mauritania Caesariensis First it belonged to the Kings of Tunez then to those of Tremecen who possessed it till recovered by Abuferriz King of Tunez He left it to his Son Abdulhazis with the Title of a New Kingdom From him was descended Abdurrahamel the present Possessor who usurped it from Muley Abdalla his Brother's Son and the Rightful King It is seated on the side of a high Mountain with a good Castle at the upper part all of it encompassed with an old but strong Wall It used to contain 8000 Inhabitants and was the chief University for Philosophy in Africk The Country about it is fitter for Gardens and Orchards than to bear Corn Our Fleet came before it on the Eve of the Epiphany but the Men could not land because the Wind was contrary On the top of the Mountain appeared the Moorish King with 10000 Foot and some Squadrons of Horse They began to come down to the Shoar to hinder our Men landing but the Cannon of the Fleet made them draw back and clear the Landing-place The Earl drew up his Men in Four Bodies and began to ascend the Hill in order to fight the Moors but they retired into the City Our Men some through an Ascent in the Old City which was abandoned and others from the top of the Mountain soon scaled the Walls Within they found no resistance for as they entred on the one side the King and his Men fled out at the other This Success terrified all Africk and the more for that Muley Abdalla the Lawful King escaping out of Prison fled to the Earl He after taking the City attacked Abdarrahamel in his Camp 8 Leagues thence and put him to flight upon which many Towns along that Coast submitted themselves The first of these was Argier afterwards the Terror of Spain and grown Rich with our Spoils After Argier the King of Tunez and City Tedeliz did the same Even the King of Tremecen and Moors of Mostagan subjected themselves to the King Articles were concluded with them all by which they were obliged to set free all Christians and pay a yearly Tribute This took up the Earl some time yet he omitted nothing that might tend to advance the Conquest At this time Alonso d' Albuquerque in India made himself Master of the City Goa the Metropolis of the Portugues Empire in those Parts This City stands in an Island made by a River falling into the Sea It is about 5 Leagues in length was subject to Zabaim Hidalcan and at that time ill provided he having drawn away the Garrison to serve in his other Wars Timoja a Pirate who robbed along those Seas with 14 Vessels gave notice of it to the Governour and he found all his Intelligence to be true On the 16th of February he entred that Port and easily made himself Master of the City Francis d' Almeyda his Predecessor in his return to Portugal having put in to Water at the Cape of Good Hope was killed in a Skirmish with the Cafres so the Natives of that Country are called The Catholick King had made choice of D. Garcia de Toledo Eldest Son to the Duke of Alva to be General in Africk designing to make use of Count Peter Navarro in his Wars in Italy D. Garcia made some considerable stay before he departed Spain The Earl not to lose time as also because the Plague began to spread in Bugia on the 7th of June set out with 8000 Men towards Favignana a
these as hard Conditions and being of a haughty Spirit would have no Body Capitulate with him but submit to his Will The Catholick King seeing there was no Expedient to prevent that mighty Breach resolved to declare for the Pope In order to it he altered his Design of going over himself into Africk and sent home 1000 English Archers the King of England had furnished for that Expedition They arrived at Cadiz in June where he Rewarded and Dismissed them well satisfied Moreover he articled with that King that in case the King of France would not Restore Bolonia to the Pope and desist from calling a general Council then the Catholick King should assist the Pope and the King of England should make War in Guiene to prevent the French invading the Frontiers of Spain This done King Ferdinand went away from Sevil to Burgos From Guadalupe he sent Orders to Count Peter Navarro to go with the Forces he had to Naples where D. Raimund de Cardona the Viceroy under pretence of the War in Africk had all the Horse in the Kingdom in a readiness It was ordered that Tripoli should be annexed to the Crown of Sicily that the Viceroys might thence Relieve and Defend it D. Jayme de Requesens was sent Governour thither with a good Fleet. This was done because the King designed James de Vera the former Governor to be General of his Artillery D. Jayme enjoyed that Command but a short time for a mutiny happening among the Soldiers of that Garrison the Viceroy of Sicily Removed them and their Governor and sent his own Brother William de Moncada to succeed him in that Post The Catholick King laboured by all means to withdraw the Emperor from his Ingagements with the King of France To this purpose he sent Peter de Urrea to him who was to succeed D. Jayme de Conchillos Bishop of the Canaries as Ambassador at that Court The Emperor being a Man of a various Temper could be brought to no Resolution At last he agreed to send an Ambassador to the Pope and D. Peter de Urrea to Venice that they might conclude some Accord The Pope in the Name of that Republick offered that the Emperor should retain Verona and Vincenza and the Venetians all other Places that he pretended to yet so that they should pay down 250000 Ducats for the Investiture and a Pension of 30000 yearly All other Differences he would have referred to himself and the Catholick King to be by them Terminated These were advantageous proposals yet rejected by the Emperor Nor did Peter de Urreas journey produce any good Effect for the Venetians perceived by what was working that all Italy would soon be in confusion which would give them a time to Breath and perhaps to recover their Losses The Emperor and Princess Margaret made application to the Catholick King for Supplies either of Men or Money against the Duke of Guelders who countenanced by the French Infested Flanders and took some Towns there being no body to oppose him But the Catholick King was so intent upon Italy that he regarded nothing else and the Emperor himself thought fit to connive at it rather than break with France The End of the 29th BOOK The History of SPAIN BOOK XXX CHAP. I. Affairs of India The Pope Summons a Council to meet at S. John Lateran The League betwixt the Pope King of Aragon and the Venetians The War in Italy THIS Summer the Affairs of the Portugueses advanced gloriously in India throug the Valour and Conduct of Alonso de Albuquerque King Emanuel of Portugal understanding some Years before that beyond Goa and Calicut was the famous City Malaca a place of great Trade he ordered James Lopez de Sequeira who sailed from Lisbon 3 Years before this with 5 Ships to discover that Place With him went Garcia de Sousa and Ferdinand de Magallanes He first discovered the Island Sumatra opposite to Malaca under the Equinoctial It is very large and fruitful divided into many Kingdoms and Inhabited by Moors and Gentiles He Traded with those People and then sailed to Malaca a large and rich City having a mighty Trade Formerly it was subject to the King of Siam at this time had a King of its own called Mahomet With this King Sequeira Treated and they settled an Alliance Sequeira sent Roderick Aroas ashore with certain Portugueses to settle a Factory The Moors being jealous of the Portugueses attempted to seize the Ships and being disappointed seized the Men that were in the City Those at Sea were not strong enough to revenge that wrong they hoised Sail and having touched at Cochin Returned to Portugal with what Loading they could get Alonso de Albuquerque then Governor of India resolved to revenge this Injury He gathered a Fleet and sailed to Sumatra and thence to Malaca By the way he took a Ship which his Men having entred there arose such a Flame they were forced to quit her afterwards it appeared that Flame was Artificial and did no harm Soon after they discovered another Sail which after a vigorous resistance they also made themselves Masters of It was observed that the Captain of her called Nahodabeguia tho' he had many large wounds did not bleed He being stripped and a Gold Bracelet taken from him the blood presently gushed out It was found that in the Bracelet was set a Stone which in the Kingdom of Siam is taken out of certain Creatures called Cabrissas and has wonderful Virtue to stanch Blood The Fleet arrived at Malaca on the first of July After a vigorous Resistance made by the Inhabitants the City submitted to the King of Portugal Thus Christianity was disfused into the utmost limits of the Earth In Italy the Authority of the See Apostolick was much impaired by reason of the Schism that was like to be The Pope leaving the War Returned to Rome and there to oppose the Designs of the Schismatick Cardinals summoned a General Council to meet in the Church of S. John Lateran on the 19th of April of the following Year In that Council among other things he proposed to declare that the present Queen of France was not lawful Wife to that King and that the Provinces of Normandy and Guiene belonged to the King of England the People thereof being consequently absolved of their Oath of Allegiance taken to the French King This was in order to strike a Terror into that King He hereupon began to give Ear to a Peace with the Venetians but at last thought better to stick to the Council of Pisa which the Emperor desired should be removed to Verona or Trent The French King who influenced this Affair would not consent but hastened the Cardinals to open the Council at Pisa but they delayed and proposed to be reconciled to the Pope At Rome the Pope deprived the four Cardinals Carvajal Cosenza S. Malo and Bayzeux of all their Dignities tho' at first the College opposed it and some excused them affirming the
who delivered the City to the Venetians being a Native of it and having great Power in it was not only taken but condemned and executed as a Traytor After this Success the Duke of Nemours soon recovered Bergamo without any Difficulty He left the Lord of Aubigni with a sufficient Force to secure Bressa the rest of his Army he dispersed in the Territory of Verona and went away himself to keep the Carnaval at Milan and there to rejoice at his Victory The King of France was much offended at his Departure at such a Juncture of time and ordered him immediately to march with all his Forces and observe the Confederate Army then much weakned and in Distress Hereupon the Council at Pisa took the boldness to appoint the Cardinals of Bolonia and Avignon their Legates and the Venetians refused to agree with the Emperor tho the Pope urged they should accept of the Conditions so often proposed as did the Emperor to join with the Confederates Yet soon after as has been said the Republick concluded a Truce with the Emperor upon Condition to pay him down a certain Sum of Mony The King of France fortified the Frontiers of Normandy first and then those of Guienne for fear of the English At the same time he laboured to secure the King of Navarre to his Interest tho' under-hand he gave great Assurances to the Duke of Nemours of putting him in Possession of that Kingdom assoon as the War in Italy were ended This strict Alliance of the King of Navarre with France was the cause of his Ruin which was contrived and carried on in this manner The Pope understanding how that King favoured and assisted the Enemies of the Church and sided with the French and the Council of Pisa resolved with the Advice of the Colledge of Cardinals to take such course against him as was usual against schismatick Princes On the 18th of February he pronounced Sentence of Excommunication against the King and Queen of Navarre depriving them of the Regal Stile and Dignity and giving their Dominions to any that would take possession of them It was supposed that King Ferdinand procured this Judgment to be given against them certain it is he Kept it for sometime private hoping some other way to make sure of that King and Queen To this purpose about the end of March he sent Peter de Hontanon from Burgos where he then resided in his Name to declare to those Princes how much they deviated from their true Interest and to engage them not to give any Aid to France upon that Conjuncture nor to allow passage through their Dominions to his and the Churches Enemies He also required them to deliver up to him their Son the Prince of Viana promising to marry him to one of his Grand-daughters that is either the Princess Elizabeth or Princess Catherine They refused to comply with any of these Demands treated the Catholick King 's Friends in ill manner and continued to raise Men and make other Warlike Preparations D. John de Silva who was General for Castile on the Frontiers of Navarre omitted not to require them to forbear those extraordinary Motions but they made no account of his Messages They were much encouraged by the News brought from Italy of the great Power of the French and Distress of the Confederate Army The Viceroy remained still in the Earldom of Bolonia not daring to retire for fear of losing Reputation and being too weak to advance and take any Enterprize in hand altho the Pope pressed him to break into the Territory of Milan The Viceroy feared to be cut off his Provisions which were sent him from Ravenna He had lost many of his Men that hard Weather some were dead and others deserted What was worst of all at such time as the Enemy was very near the Duke of Urbin's Lieutenant with the 600 Lances belonging to the Pope withdrew from the way pretending they were not payed and that they were jealous of some Spaniards The truth was the Duke held Intelligence with the King of France and had Bills of his payable at Florence to raise Men for his Service Our Army was so reduced that the Viceroy and Legate resolved to take into Pay 4000 Italians to reinforce it The Pope would have had 8000 and paid down Mony to raise them He was for fighting the French immediately his great Spirit being void of all Apprehension The Catholick King would have them protract time till the Forces of Venice joined them they being now at leisure by reason of the Truce concluded with the Emperor He also ordered a Body of Swiss or Germans to be hired and sent Ferdinand de Valdez Captain of his Guards to propose this to the Pope and then to go to the Army to acquaint the General with his Will He did as ordered and came to the Viceroy's Camp on the 〈◊〉 of March as such time as the two 〈…〉 in sight of one another in such manner that without great hazard and loss of Reputation there was no avoiding a Battel CHAP. III. The famous Battel of Ravenna That City surrendred to the French Scandalous Proceedings of the mutinous Cardinals and opening of the Lateran Council THE Confederate Army still lay about the Castile of S. Peter Butri Cento and Pieve Towns in the Earldom of Bolonia where the Viceroy resolved to fight the French because the Ground was advantageous and his Men in good heart The French Army and Forces of the Duke of Ferrana all good Men advanced towards them The Viceroy was willing to obey the Orders brought him by Ferdinand de Valdez There the French lay till the last Day of March when they marched away towards Ravenna which City they desired to possess themselves of because thence our Army was supplied with Provisions For the Defence of that Place the Viceroy had sent thither Peter de Castro with 100 light Horse and Luis Dentichi a Neapolitan with 1000 Italians That Place was of such consequence that he resolved to follow the Enemy and the two Armies marched at only 3 miles distance from one another He sent before Marc Antony Colona with 100 Lances and 500 Spaniards to get into the City by night Ravenna is seated on the shoar of the Gulph of Venice betwixt two Rivers both fordable One of them is called Roneo and the other Monton They run close by the Walls Monton on the left and Ronco on the right Upon Maunday Thursday the French encamped before the City between the Rivers and the next day gave a furious Assault which was bravely sustained by the Defendants and particularly Luis Dentichi who had a Brother killed and was himself mortally wounded The Viceroy marched close by the City down the River Ronco which divided the two Armies Upon Holy Saturday he encamped and entrenched himself at a Place called Molinazzo two miles from the Enemy There was variety of Opinions about what ought to be done Fabricius was for staying there
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
Months were spent in agreeing the point at length the Senate overcome by the modesty of the Army named Claudius Tacitus a Man of great Ability but 68 Years of Age. So his Command prov'd but short lived for he Governed only 6 Months and 20 Days and dy'd at Tharsus in Cilicia Florianus his Brother who was there present caused himself to be Proclaimed Emperor but repenting ordered his Veins to be open'd 3 Months after and bled to Death The reason was he thought he had not Force enough to withstand the Legions of the East which had nam'd M. Aurelius Probus Emperor He tho' by Birth a Sclavonian was a Person so well versed in Civil as well as Martial Affairs and of such known Vertue that had not the Name Probus belong'd to him by his Family he had deserv'd it for his good Life and Behaviour His Reign lasted but 5 Years and 4 Months at the end of which he was killed by his own Soldiers who in his place chose M. Aurelius Carus in the Year of Grace 282. And he Named his two Sons Carinus and Numerianus his Companions in the Empire Carus was killed by a Thunder-bolt or flash of Lightning near the River Tigris in the second Year of his Reign and Numerianus murdered in a Litter in which he was carried because of his sore Eyes by his Father-in-law Aper in hopes of making himself Emperor Hereupon the Army chose Dioclesian who overthrew and killed Carinus that pretended to the whole Empire by Right of Succession At this time a Prefect called M. Aurelius Governed Hispania citerior as appears by certain Inscriptions upon Stones still preserv'd in Spain by which it also appears that the Emperors besides all their other Titles used the Name of Proconsul as may be seen upon a Stone preserved to this Day in the Market-place of Monviedro Dioclesian was a Native of Sclavonia Descended from Slaves and nevertheless was made Emperor of Rome in the Year of Christ 284. He was not inferior to the greatest Princes for Warlike Exploits but blemished all the Actions of his Life with an insatiable thirst of Christian blood In the second Year of his Reign he declared Maximianus Herculeus his Companion in the Empire and soon after gave the Title of Caesars to Galerius Maximinus and Constantius Clorus Galerius was married to Valeria Dioclesian's Daughter Constantius by his cammand was Devorced from Helena the Daughter of a King of Britain and Mother of Constantine the Great and Married to Theodora the Daughter-in-law of Maximian During the whole Reign of these two Emperors the Persecution against the Christians was so violent and bloody as it never had been before or was after in any part of the World Many suffered in Spain but especially after the coming of the President Dacianus no corner of it was free from the Blood of Martyrs Dioclesian grown weary of the Govenment and despairing of ever being able utterly to Extirpate the Christian Religion as he had designed renounced the Empire at Milan after he had held it 20 Years and retired to a private Life Maximian by his perswasion did the same at Nicomedia an example rarely to be seen By this means Constantius and Galerius were left absolute in the Year of Christ 304. Constantius for his part chose France Spain and Britain He was a Prince of that Moderation that the Service of his Table was Earthen Ware a great Friend to the Christians as appeared upon several occasions The other Provinces of the Empire fell to Galerius who the more to strengthen himself declared his two Nephews Severus and Maximinus Caesars To Maximinus he gave charge of the East to Severus of Italy and Africk he himself took care of Sclavonia and Greece Death put an end to the Actions of Constantius for he dy'd at York in the Year 306. having Reigned only 1 Year 10 Months and 8 Days About this time lived Prudentius Bishop of Tarraçona Born at Arnencia a Town in Biscay formerly an Episcopal See now only a scattered Village since the Collegiate Church was removed from thence to Vitoria by the Bull of Pope Alexander VI. In these Days also flourished Rufus Festus the famous Writer of the Roman History and a noted Poet. The Year after Constantius dy'd Maxentius Son to Maximian possessed himself of Rome and assumed the Title of Emperor Severus marched against him but was Defeated and Slain by the Tyrant Maximian hearing hereof repaired to Rome either to be assisting to his Son or in hopes to recover the Empire Ambition observes no respect of Persons his Son turn'd him out of Rome and he fled to the Protection of Constantine then residing in France who understanding that Maximian without regard to their Kindred or the Rites of Hospitality contrived his Death ordered him to be killed at Marseilles where he then was Galerius having constituted Licinius Caesar in stead of Severus marched himself into Italy to suppress the Tyrant but fearing his Army would Mutiny returned into Sclavonia without effecting any thing There he began to vent his Rage upon the Christians but Death put an end to his Designs for he dy'd of an Imposthume in the Groin 5 Years after he was raised to the Empire At that time Melchiades was Pope who in an Epistle to Marinus Leontius Benedictus and the other Bishops of Spain aduises them to take warning from the shortness of Humane Life to Govern their Flocks with Moderation That among the Apostles tho' equal in the Vocation there-was a difference in the Power which St. Peter had above the rest He also treats of the Sacrament of Confirmation This Epistle is dated in the Consulship of Rubrius and Volusianus which is in the Year of our Lord 314. CHAP. VI. The Reign of the Glorious Constantine the Great the first Christian Emperor The Arian Heresie And first General Council of Nice THE Romans weary of the Tyranny of Maxentius and reposing no confidence in the Caesars Maximinus and Licinius sent for Aid to Constantine then residing in France He readily condescended to their request and marched with his Army to Milan where to secure Licinius he gave him in Marriage his Sister Constantia That done he advanc'd towards the Tyrant Being near Rome his Thoughts fully bent upon the business in hand in a bright Sunshine day he saw the sign of the Cross in the Sky with this Inscription In hoc signo Vinces Highly encourouraged by this Miracle he ordered that the Imperial Standard call'd Labarum should be made in the figure of a Cross in the manner as represented in the Margent Hence some are of Opinion sprang the Custom in Spain of wâ—â—ting the Name of Christ with X. P. which was the form of the Labarum This is proved by a Stone found at Oreto near Almago of the time of the Emperor Valentinian II. where it appears the Name of Christ was then writ in that manner Constantine advanc'd and in Vertue
of the Cross in sight of Rome vanquished his Enemy who flying over a Bridge of Boats he had made upon the River Tiber fell in and was Drowned Thus Rome was delivered from Tyranny and Constantine entred the City in Triumph that way where now stands the most beautiful Triumphal Arch erected in memory of this Victory At the same time ceased the cruel Persecution raised against the Christians by the Tyrant It was then also that Maximin in the East profusely spilt the Blood of Christians and so great was his desire of extirpating Christianity that he ordered throughout all the Provinces under his command Children should be taught to read in and get by heart a Book in which what passed betwixt Christ and Pontius Pilate was falsely and scandalously represented on purpose to make the sacred Name of our Saviour odious and contemptible It is true not long before his Death he Repealed all those Edicts not so much of his own Inclination as for fear of Constantine whose Power daily encreased also of Licinius by whom he had been lately overthrown in Battle Licinius soon changing his mind began to declare against the Christian Religion which drew Constantine upon him They came to a Battle first in Hungary where Licinius was vanquished but pardoned at the intercession of his Wife Constantia then again in Bithynia and being again defeated Constantine spared his Life yet reduced him to live as a private Person but because afterwards he endeavoured to Revolt caused him at last to be killed He was of such an extravagant Humour that he used to say Learning was the Poison of the Common-wealth and no wonder since he was so ignorant himself he could not write his Name Thus all Commotions and Broils being appeased as well at home as Abroad all the Empire was brought under one Head who so far favoured Christianity that it daily encreased and still flourished more and more The Emperor Constantine was Baptized in Rome and by vertue of the Baptism delivered of a Leprosie he languished under as some Authors will have it but the most received Opinion is that this must be understood of the Spiritual Leprosie of Paganism A beautiful Font in the Church of St. John Lateran of curious Workmanship and adorned with large Columns of Porphyry Stone is a Testimony of his being Baptized at Rome As soon as Baptized he began to Cultivate the Religion he had embraced building Churches in several places Enacting many Holy Laws and stirring up all People with his good example Great was the prosperity of the Christian Church But all this Glory suffered some Eclipse by the obstinacy of Arius of Alexandria who taught and maintained That Christ the Son of God and the eternal Word was not of the same Substance with his Father This was the Founder of the famous Sect and Heresie of the Arians The holy Martyr St. Lucianus was Master to Arius but not in this madness his fellow Disciples Friends and Assertors were the two Eusebii of Nicomedia and Caesarea Ambition was the principal Motive of his Fall being offended that after the Death of St. Peter Bishop of Alexandria Alexander was promoted to that See without any regard had of him From hence sprang that Division betwixt Christians which spread over almost all the World and seemed to threaten Destruction For many Men of Note as well of the Clergy as Laity followed the new Opinion without giving ear to the Advice and Persuasions of those that continued firm in the true Faith The Emperor was highly concerned at this Schism and sent Hosius Bishop of Cordova to Alexandria to compose those Differences as being the most famous Man of that Age for Learning Prudence and Authority He handled that Affair with much Circumspection and for the better reconciling the Matters in Dispute is said to have been the first that invented the words Ousia which signifies Essence or Being and Hypostasis which is the Suppositum or Person Nothing was of force to convince the obstinate Arius whereupon he was Banished Alexandria and afterwards being Summoned to appear at Constantinople he there going to ease himself voided his Entrails and so made a miserable end as St. Athanasius who lived at that time testifies The evil still encreasing and taking root the Emperor resolved to have recourse to the last Remedy which was to call a General Council Nicea a City in Bithynia was the place appointed by Constantine for the Bishops to meet and thither by his order repaired 318 from all Parts In this Council Arius and his Doctrine were Condemned Meletius was also deprived of his Bishoprick because he too hotly reproved the easiness of Peter Bishop of Alexandria in reconciling and admitting to the Church such as had fallen from the Faith and by this his Zealotry had bred Divisions in the Churches of Egypt There were great Disputes about the time of Celebrating the Feast of Easter that also was settled and ordered to be kept at one and the same time throughout the World The Eastern Clergy were grown very Loose and Disorderly in their Lives particularly in what related to living Chastly and it being thought hard to reduce them to the Rules observed before therefore by the Advice of Paphnucius the Fathers condescended to allow them to keep their Wives All Persons were forbid keeping the Books of Arius upon pain of Death the said Books were all ordered to be burnt Some say the manner of reckoning by Indictions was first brought up in this Council and that it commenced in the Year of Grace 313. because in that Year the Emperor Constantine saw the sign of the Cross in the Sky The Great Hosius was present at this Council and some will have it that he Presided in it for Pope Silvester together with the two Priests Vitus and Vincentius sent from Rome to that purpose At the same time or soon after was held in Spain the Council called Iliberitanum of the City Iliberis which stood in that part of the Province Betica where now is Granada as appears by a Gate of that City still called Elvira and a Hill near it of the same name They mistake who hold that this Council was held near the Pyreneans at Colibre then called Eliberis because the difference betwixt the Names of those two Cities still continues and no Bishop of France or the adjacent Country was present at this Synod except Valerius Bishop of Zaragoça This is one of the ancientest Synods and in which several weighty Matters were handled In it mention is made of Virgins consecrated to God The Bishops here dispensed with the Fasts of the Months of July and August a Custom before received in France tho' not in Spain where there was more need of it because of the great heat They forbid Married Women writing and receiving Letters without the knowledge of their Husbands and also the painting of Saints on the Walls of Churches that they might not be defaced by the decay of the
wrote his History positively asserts his being poisoned by the Marquess of Villena But I cannot find to what purpose that Nobleman should undertake such a hainous Crime CHAP. VI. John Duke of Lorrain Supports and Heads the Rebels in Catalonia for his Father Ferdinand Prince of Aragon declared King of Sicily The Crown of Castile offered to the Princess Elizabeth she refuses it Peace betwixt the King and Nobels REnce Duke of Anjou having accepted of the offer made him by the Catalonians because he was himself too Old to undertake that Expedition sent his Son John Duke of Lorrain who we said before was by the Aragonians drove out of Italy The King of France not regarding his League with Aragon sent him Supplies as soon as he had ended the Civil War with his Brother the Duke of Berri and Charles Duke of Burgundy John Earl of Armagnac between whom and the Duke of Lorrain there was a professed friendship brought him some Supplies with these Forces he began the War fortunately but the end was not suitable Barcelona received him with joy and it was resolved to carry the War to Ampurias The King of Aragon tho' Old and Blind repaired thither near Roses a Party of Aragonians was defeated The Body of the French Army marched towards Girona resolving if the Commandant Peter de Rocaberty came out to fight him if he kept close to Besiege the Place The Aragonians Marched out and in several Rencounters worsted the Enemy Prince Ferdinand came and put his Forces into the City whereupon the Siege was raised Soon after the Prince going out with a Party was defeated by the French and many of his Men killed Roderick Rebolledo who had behaved himself bravely in defence of the Prince was taken It was resolved to wear out the heat of the French therefore all the Frontiers were Garrisoned and Duke Alonso de Aragon left to Command there and observe the Enemy Prince Ferdinand returned to Zarogoza where the Cortes sate and was present when his Mother died as has been said above His Mother being dead and his Father 70 years of Age all the weight of the Government fell upon him therefore to give him the more Authority he was declared King of Sicily This was about the time that Prince Alonso of Castile departed this Life as we have declared The death of Prince Alonso being known at Zaragoça immediately Peter Peralta was sent to the Factious Lords of Castile to ask the Princess Elizabeth in Marriage for Prince Ferdinand His Father stayed at Zaragoça and he went away to carry on the War in Catalonia The Duke of Lorrain desiring to possess himself of Girona raised 15000 Men in Russillon and Cerdagne which with the Forces he had before was a Power too great for the Aragonians to cope with so that they could put no Relief into the Town which was closely besieged Nevertheless through the Valour of the Bishop of D. John Meliguerite and other Commanders it held out Mean while Prince Ferdinand had a Town called Verga delivered to him on the 17th of September From this time the Affairs of the Aragonians began to look with a better Aspect and the more for that the King recovered his Sight a thing then thought miraculous A Jew of Lerida undertook the Cure and couched a Cataract in the Right Eye on the 11th of September when he refused to proceed to the other saying There was no favourable Aspect of the Heavens but being pressed by the King on the 11th of October he perfected the Cure upon the Left Eye To add to this Publick Joy the Weather and want of Necessaries obliged the Enemy to raise the Siege of Girona In Portugal Prince John married his Cousin Eleanor not regarding the Promise he made to marry Joanna Princess of Castile Her Mother 's loose Life made her Birth suspected Ferdinand Duke of Viseo Father to the Lady Eleanor passed over into Africk obtained there some Victories over the Moors and returning home by his Wife Beatrix the Daughter of D. John Master of Santiago in Portugal had a Son called Emanuel who came in time to be King of Portugal The Portugueses talk of strange Prodigies seen at the Birth of that Child denoting his future Grandeur Upon the death of Prince Alonso many submitted to King Henry but the Peace was not lasting and the War that ensued wasted the Power of Spain Burgos returned to its Duty and at Madrid the Archbishop of Sevill the Earl of Benavente and other Noblemen did Homage to the King The Rebels having lost Prince Alonso resolved to offer the Crown to the Princess Elizabeth as they did at Avila the Archbishop of Toledo making an Harangue to persuade her and railing at the King She thanked them for their Offer and wishing long Life to the King her Brother intreated them to pay to him that Duty they offered to her Her Modesty surprized them all and she was thought the worthier to Reign They bent their Thoughts upon Peace and the more because the King had sent Commissioners to offer them all his Free Pardon At length Peace was concluded at Avila by the Archbishop of Sevill and Andrew de Cabrera Lord Steward of the Houshold upon these Articles That the Princess Elizabeth be sworn Heiress to the Crown That the Cities and Towns of Avila Ubeda Medina del Campo Olmedo and Escalona be given to her but upon Condition she shall not Marry without the King's Consent That the King be divorced from the Queen the Pope consenting to it That she and her Daughter be sent to Portugal That all the revolted Nobility be pardoned and restored to their Estates and Preferments taken from them during the Troubles Four Months were allowed for the Performance of these Articles These Conditions pleased not the Marquss de Santillana and his Brothers who thought it more for their Interest to have the keeping of the Princess Joanna The Queen with the Assistance of Luys de Mendoça was gone away by Night from the Castle where she was kept to her Daughter at Buytrago This much troubled the Archbishop of Sevil who had the Charge of keeping her During her Confinement she was delivered of Two Sons Ferdinand and Apostol who it is affirmed were bred in the Monastery of S. Dominick the Royal of Nuns in Toledo The Monastery of Guisando in the mid-way betwixt Madrid and Avila was appointed for the King and the Lords to meet There many Conditions were agreed to and much granted to the Nobles none of them doubting but the King and his Sister being weary of those Confusions would refuse them nothing they could ask It is said the King and Marquess de Villena had a private Conference the Substance whereof is not known but by what followed it was supposed it only tended to the securing the Marquess and advancing his Family On the 19th of September the Nobility did their Homage to King Henry and swore the Princess Elizabeth Heiress to the Crown
Immediately upon the Submission of all the Cities to the King he took the Government of the City and Castle of Segovia from the Two Brothers of the House of Arias and gave it to Andrew de Cabrera who afterwards obtained great Preferments and Riches About this time near a Town called Peromoro in the Territory of Toledo great store of Blood ran from the Sheaves of Corn newly mowed which then surprized all Men and afterwards was found to denote the great Calamity that ensued in Spain The Marquiss de Villena being restored to his former Favour grew absolute to the great Dissatisfaction of the Nobility He persuaded the King and Princess Elizabeth to remove to Ocan̄a at the beginning of the Year 1469. His design was to marry the Princess to the King of Portugal and to that purpose D. Alonso de Noguera Archbishop of Lisbon with other Men of Note came Ambassador from thence The Archbishop of Toledo was for Matching her with Ferdinand King of Sicily and spoke of it openly after the departure of Peter Peralta the Aragonian Ambassador This Match pleased her best and she had declared she would not marry in Portugal The Marquess advised to marry her by force King Henry was dubious but at last resolved to dismiss the Portuguese Ambassador telling him it was not yet time to treat of that Affair The Cardinal of Arras came Ambassador from Luis XI King of France to demand the Princess Elizabeth in Marriage for his Brother Charles Duke of Berri which caused more Divisions among the Nobles Andaluzia was not yet perfectly reduced John Duke of Medina Sidonia dying Henry his Bastard Son inherited his greate Estate and rebellious Spirit D. Alonso de Aguilar and the Earl of Arcos sided with him and disturbed the Peace of that Country in the Name of the Princess Elizabeth It was thought fit the King should go in Person to quell those Troubles The Marquess de Villena at the same time resigned and made over that Marquisate to his Son James Lopez Pacheco hoping to obtain the Confirmation of the Mastership of Santiago from the King and Pope The Princess was left at Ocan̄a being again obliged to swear she would not marry or treat about it without the King her Brother's Consent or Privity The Earl of Benavente and Peter Hernandez de Velasco went to Valladolid to Govern the Kingdom during the King's absence CHAP. VII The Marriage of Ferdinand King of Sicily with the Princess Elizabeth of Castile and of the Duke of Guienne with the Princess Joanna who is sworn Heiress of Castile Differences betwixt the Knights of Alcantara and their Master and Troubles in Biscay The Portugueses take Arzila and Tangier in Africk KIng Henry going into Andaluzia was nobly entertained at Jaen by his Constable Irançu Soon after he reduced the City Cordova delivered to him upon Articles by D. Alonso de Aguilar and quelled the Tumults raised by that Gentleman and D. Peter de Cordova Earl of Cabra In the Summer he went to Sevil and did the same there The Moors did not infest our Borders being closely observed by those that Commanded on the Frontiers and divided among themselves Alquirçote Governor of Malaga an able Soldier finding himself Master of that City rebelled against his King Albohaçen many siding with him who were disgusted by the King or out of their natural Inconstancy They came to a Battel and Alquirçote being the weaker was overthrown He proposed a League with King Henry and came to meet him at Archidona on the Borders of the Kingdom of Granada bringing great Presents and was dismissed with a Promise of Succour Hereupon Albohaçen made several Incursions into the Christian Territories carried away great Numbers of Captives and Cattel and burnt all the Country He did much more Mischief than had been usually done of late upon the like Occasions yet took never a Town of Note Many Parties of Moors over-ran Andaluzia and Murcia but rather in the nature of Robbers than in warlike manner Let us return to the Princess Elizabeth whom many great Princes courted She was a Woman excellently Qualified and Virtuous but above all her Dower which was no less than a Kingdom drew so many to pretend to her At last Ferdinand King of Sicily took place of the Portuguese who was a Widower and the Duke of Berry being too much a Stranger His Father the King of Aragon left no means unessayed but gave rich Presents and made large Promises Gutierre de Cardena was her great Favourite and Gonzalo Chacon his Uncle govern'd him To the last was promised the Town of Casarrubios and that of Arroyo Molinos to the other the Town of Maqueda besides rich Gifts in hand and Assurances of Favours to come By their means with the Assistance of the Archbishop of Toledo the Match was made up and Articles agreed upon which chiefly tended to the giving all due Respect to King Henry as long as he lived and after his death that the whole Government should be in the Power of the Princess so that the King should bestow no Preferments on Strangers nor on others without her Consent That Match was privately concluded The War in Catalonia detained King Ferdinand for Girona was again besieged by the Enemy and at last forced to surrender Besides another Storm was raised in Navarre Nicholas Bishop of Pamplona going to Tafalla to meet the Princess Eleanor was murdered by the Procurement of Peter Peralta Messengers were sent to the King of Aragon to demand Justice they also complained the Murderer had possessed himself of Tudela and that the King was too free in giving Charters to several Towns They also prayed he would recover Estela and its Territory still held by the Castillians The Earl of Faux was dissacisfied and seemed to threaten War for which reason he was no less hateful to the King his Father-in-Law than Prince Charles had been The King gave these Deputies good Words but Peralta was not punished for that heinous Crime The Princess Elizabeth being uneasie fled from Ocan̄a towards Old Castile and being denied admittance at Olmedo went to Madrigal where her Mother was It was contrived by the Master of Santiago and Archbishop of Sevil to seize her but they were disappointed by the Archbishop of Toledo and the Admiral who with a Party of Horse carried her to Valladolid King Ferdinand fearing to be disappointed leaving the War in Catalonia went away to Valencia to raise the Money he had promised his Bride to keep House Thence he returned to Zaragoça and so in a Disguize with only four Persons attending him came into Castile At Osma he met the Earl of Trevin̄o who was privy to the Match and with him and 200 Horse removed to Duen̄as a Town belonging to the Earl of Buendia Brother to the Archbishop of Toledo There he saluted his Bride and on the 18th of October they were married at Valladolid the Archbishop of Toledo pretending he had a Dispensation