Leases of Abbie-lands may remain taxed for ever and no higher for they may not bee raised nor abated at anie time since such was the pleasure of the most Illustrious Queen Donia Isabel our Ladie and Sovereign as appear's by her last Will and Testament And it is better for the augment of the Roial Revenue as well as the good of the kingdom for there was more gold and silver brought to his Majestie 's Exchequer by the simple Penie-rents then by these racking enhancements considering the breaches and failings which have been and are amongst those that farm the Subsidies neither is that burthensom to the kingdom Item That the people may take in the said perpetual Tax the said Customs and Thirds and be obliged to rent the Situados that there was upon the said Customs and Thirds restoring to their Majesties the over-plus having paid the Situados and rights at the accustomed places and summons By this means their Majestie 's servants and retainers would bee duly paied and all those bribes and selling of Librancas would bee saved neither would there be any need of so many Officers their Majesties might spare great sums of monie much wages and a multitude of discharges or bills of receipt which were given to Officers more then needed Item That the Queen and King our Sovereigns and their Successors in these kingdoms bee contented for ever to have and rais their Customs by and according to the fore-mentioned imposition and no otherwise in regard so they are certain and not variable neither will there bee anie thing diminished of the Revenue there still accruing to the Crown other profitable rights as Fines Confiscations of goods the Salt-pit-rents the Mountain-Tributes Subsidies Customerships and Puertos secos besides currant monie taxes and ordinarie paiments of the kingdom with the rents of Maestrazgos And that which com's from the Indies Isles and Firm-land amount's to so great a sum that thereby his Majestie may sufficiently maintein his state without pressing the Kingdom in Parlament and out of Parlament to grant any other extraordinarie Subsidies whereby the people is much aggrieved and tâ—eir Roial Consciences can bee no less burthened with the oppression and great dammages of these kingdoms Item That all the Inhabitants of the Cities Towns Villages Burroughs and Lordships may enjoie the said perpetual taxes in general that none amongst them may rent or farm any particular part thereof at a higher rate then the said taxes nor â—hat anie more sesments bee made amongst the Inhabitants of the said places then what shall bee necessarie for the recovering and gathering of the said taxes Item that everie Citie or Town that is chief of the Countie do caus a Chest to bee set in som secure place wherein they may put or gather the Roial Revenue and that they see to and provide that which shall bee necessarie for the estate of the Kingdom And chiefly to have a care that the Queen our Soveâ—eign â—adie's familie bee maintained and furnished with all things suitable to the Dignitie of her Royal Person and the honor of the Kingdoms next to paie the Searchers Counsels and Chanceries with other ordinarie offices of the Kingdom and beeing payed that it remain stated in the offices of the Puertos Secos mountain-Tributes and Customerships and in case any bee wanting in the hous of the Contratacion of Sevilla And the remainder of the Revenue and Royal Patrimonie to bee kept in the treasure and delivered to his Majestie when it shall pleas God that hee return into this Kingdom or to supplie his necessities and those of the Kingdom if any real and urgent occasion doth require it Item That the residue or any thing that is unpaied of the Revenue after ten years may not bee farmed or recovered For by recovering debts of so long standing may arise great extorsions and grievances on the Natives of the Kingdom or their sureties children and heirs who after so many years can not perchance produce the discharges and acquittances that had been given Concerning Commissioners or Burgesses of Parlament Subsidies THat the Subsidie granted to his Majestie by some Commissioners at the Parlament in the Citie of the Groyn bee neither demanded nor received nor any other imposed hereafter Nor that any other impositions or tributes extraordinarie bee layed upon the Kingdom by their Majesties or any of their Successors Item That when any Burgesses or Commissioners are to bee sent to Parlament the Custom of each Citie is to bee observed in the state of the Regimiento moreover one is to bee sent from the Chapter or Clergie another from the state of the Gentrie a third from the State of the Commonaltie and every State to elect and nominate their Commissioner severally in a distinct assembly Which Commissioners are to bee payed by their own Citie or Town except the Commissioner of the Clergie who is to bee maintained by the Chapter Item When any Parlament is called and the Cities and Towns which have Vote bee summoned to send their Commissioners That their Majesties or any their Successors in these Kingdoms send not to the said Commissioners any Power Instruction or Command in what manner and form their Powers are to bee granted nor appoint or nominate any particular persons to bee Commissioners But that such Citie or Towns may have free libertie to grant Powers according to their own sence and to such persons as they shall think most convenient for the good of their Republick Item Wheresoëver the Parlament bee assembled That the Commissioners may have the freedom to meet confer and discours with one another as often as they shall think good and that no President bee ordered to com amongst them for that would hinder them from attending to those things which particularly concern the Cities and the good of the Republick which they represent Item that during the time of the Commissioners beeing at Parlament nor before or after their return to their houâ—es as having been or beeing Commissioners in the said Parlament they may not receiv directly or indirectly under what colour or pretence soêver any present or gratuitie from their Majesties or their Successors in these kingdoms of what value or qualitie soëver neither for themselvs their wives children or kindred under pain of death and confiscation of goods which goods may bee emploied for the publick reparations of the Citie or Town whereof any such Delinquent was Commissioner For they beeing free from Covetousness and without hopes of receiving anie bribes in that nature will bee more attentive and zealous for the service of God the King and the publick and more careful to perform what was encharged them by their Towns and Cities Item that the Commissioners may onely have the bare stipend which shall bee allowed them by their Cities or Towns and that the said stipend or Salarie bee competent according to the condition and qualitie of the person and the place from whence hee is emploied as Commissioner And that
or Mandamus from their Majesties to the end they may not defend in the Council any Writs which they had so signed whereby the parties might bee aggrieved Item that the said Secretaries appointed for the Chamber may not receiv any thing besides the Salarie which his Majestie is pleased to allow them it beeing competent For by experience it hath been seen they have demanded and adjudged divers unjust things concerning the taxes and impositions of the Kingdom And they keep intelligencers through the whole Kingdom to give them notice of what is vacant and how they may charge new taxes and impositions And this Office beeing in their own hands they may ask what they list and it is granted them But in case the said Secretaries or any of them should demand any thing for themselvs their children or friends that for so doing they may lose their Offices and not onely bee disabled to execute the said Offices but all others whatsoëver Item that the diffinitive sentences pronounced by the Alcaldes de casa e Corte and Chanceries in case of death or mutilation of members may have the libertie of appeal to those of the Council and Judges of the Courts Roial And that tâ—e said Alcaldes may bee obliged to grant the said appeals and supplications according to Law Item that the said Alcaldes de casa e Corte and Chancerie or their Notaries may not exact or receiv either more or less duties or fees then the ordinarie Alcaldes of the Corregidores of Cities and Towns in this Kingdom where there is Counsel and Chancerie Item that the Alcaldes and other Officers of the Court called the Hermandad which is properly for High-way-men may have a constant place of Residence when they leav their Office which those that succeed them may enjoie and that these may have power to question and execute their sentence against the said Judges and Officers their Predecessors Item that the Corregidores Alcaldes Officers of Cities Towns Villages Burroughs and other places of Justice in these Kingdoms may not bee continued in the said Offices above the space of one year after their donomination although the Cities Towns and Commonalties should desire it for the said Offices having been continued for longer time hath occasioned many inconveniencies and defects of Justice to such Cities and Towns Item that henceforwards no Corregidores may bee provided or appointed for any Cities or Towns of these Kingdoms but when the said Cities or Towns shall require it in regard it is so ordained by the Laws of the Land And that the said Cities and Towns may place and provide their ordinarie Alcaldes beeing men of abilities that so the Salaries of Corregidores their Lievtenants and other Officers may bee saved That the Cities and Towns may appoint and allow moderate and reasonable Salaries to the said ordinarie Alcaldes out of the publick stock And that the said stipendarie Judges may bee tied to serv onely that Town or Citie which giveth them the Salarie Item that in cases wherein a Judg Inquisitor is required those that are appointed for Judges Inquisitors may go with the limited Salarie at the charge of the King's Exchequer and not at the charge of the Delinquents for to recover their Salaries they make Innocent men Delinquents and after that the said Salaries and charges bee recovered of those who were condemned and declared guiltie by those of the Council or other Judges the said Examinations may bee reviewed by waie of Appeal Commission or otherwise Item that henceforwards no Corregidor or other Judg of what qualitie soëver may bee allowed to receiv his Salarie or any part thereof or by waie of Ayuda de costa which is to help bear his charge out of anie fines or forfeitures adjudged by them but may return them to the Exchequer to the end hee may not bee thought to have pronounced an unjust sentence out of covetousness thereof And that whosoëver shall receiv anie monie in that kinde may bee condemned to paie four times as much into his Majestie 's Exchequer and bee made incapable of any Office ever after Concerning Encomiendas or promotions to Dignities and Council of the Orders THat those of the Council of the Orders as Presidents Judges and other Officers bee visited in the same manner as is ordered for the Council Roial Item that the Treasurers and Officers of the Orders and Maestrazgos or Masterships make their Visitations from three to three years that it may appear how they behave themselvs in their Offices and those that shall bee found guiltie may suffer punishment Item that the Encomiendas of the Militarie Orders of Santjago Calatrava Alcantara may not bee given or conferred upon any Strangers although they bee naturalized But that herein may bee observed the same rule as in Ecclesiastical Offices Dignities and Benefices whereby they may bee provided according as is constituted and ordeined in the Statutes of the Order Concerning Bulls Cruzadas and Compositiones THat no Bulls Cruzadas or Compositions of what qualitie soëver bee suffered to bee preached in these Kingdoms unless upon som real and urgent occasion debated and approved in Parlament That the monie which shall bee raiâ—ed tâ—ereby may bee deposited in the Collegial or Cathedral Church of the Bishoprick and not to bee taken out thence spent or emploied otherwise then in the same urgent occasion for which the Bull was granted Item That in case there bee such necessitie of preaching the Bulls Cruzadas and Compositiones as above said this manner and order may bee observed That there bee care had to choos honest men of good consciences and learned that they may know and understand what they preach That they exceed not in their preaching the cases and things contained in the Bulls That they preach in none but the Collegial or Cathedral Churches That in places where there are no Collegial or Cathedral Churches the Bulls may bee sent to the Curates or their Vicars to the end they may divulge and publish them to their Parishioners That they advise and â—dmonish the people but impose no Penaltie if they take them not and that they might receiv them if they would That there may bee no such exorbitance as was usual heretofore injoyning the people to com and detaining them perforce in their Sermons not suffering them to follow their callings and occupations unless they took their Bulls and other such ill demeanors Item That whatsoëver was to bee recovered and gathered by virtue of the Bulls thus received may not bee recovered by waie of excommunication or interdict but by demanding it before the secular Justice of the Citie Town or Village where the Bull had been received That the Alcaldes of the Villages may have power herein for the contrarie having been done hath much indangered the Souls of laboring-men Priests and other persons and the people suffer very many and great oppressions in this manner of recovering it Item That henceforwards for ever the Commissaries of the Cruzadas and Compositiones may not
Saragosa both his Unckles to call a Parlament in his name ordering that the monie which should bee granted him therein by waie of Subsedie should bee all distributed amongst the aggrieved and needie of the Kingdom Don Alonsa de Cordona Admiral of Aragon and the Duke of Gandia with several other persons of account gave their Votes to acknowledg and swear his Majestie their King But the rest told the Cardinal Adriano and wrote besides to the Emperor that they would lose their wives Children and Estates rather then the Liberties and Privileges of their Countrie whereat the Cardinal much displeased returned to Court leaving the Citie of Valencia in great distraction the out-rages and disorders whereof shall bee hereafter more at large related SECT X. IT was agreed and his Majestie toke Oath in the Parlament at Valladolid That no Offices should bee given to strangers nor the kingdom surcharged with new Impositions but should continue in the same manner as was ordered by the Catholick King at a Parlament which hee called in Burgos Yet there was nothing less observed or wors kept then these Articles for the treasure of the kingdom was publickly exhausted and Offices were daily given to the Flemings who sold them to those that would give most monie and likewise divers spiritual livings were so bestowed which the Castillians seeing and taking notice how small account was made of the Grandees and Nobles Natives of that Countrie they began to bee distasted and muttered out manie things in a discontented manner which ought not to bee rehearsed These murmurings began from the time of his Majestie 's departure from Valladolid to Aragon which was in March 1518. And beeing in Barcelona som troubles arose about Segovia and Avila by reason of certain persons that had farmed the Customs and Roial Revenues which enhaunced the charges of the Countrie whereat those Cities much aggrieved the contrarie having been promised by the Emperor Elect in Parlament They acquainted the Citie of Toledo with their grievances and desired that all the Cities of the kingdom should make a joint-complaint thereof to his Majestie and appoint their Commissioners to importune him for a redress desiring him to stand to the Ordinances of Parlament made in Valladolid and to grant what hee then refused moreover that hee would visit the whole Kingdom before his departure into Germanie Whereunto the Lord Chancellor in his Majestie 's name made answer That hee would very speedily send an Express to give the Citie of Toledo thanks for their expressions of fidelitie to him and satisfie them more fully But the Empire beeing without Head hee could not defer his going thither to receiv the Crown and settle the Government which don hee would make all convenient haste back again into that Kingdom of Castillia whose good hee tendered in a very particular manner The Commissioners beeing answered the Chapter of Toledo as beeing the Chief of the Kingdom presented their grievances to his Majestie concerning the Tenth which the Pope had granted to him through all the Churches of the Kingdom complaining that it was a new heavie and intolerable tax and not onely grievous to the Ecclesiasticks but prejudicial to all his kingdoms That in former times when the said Kingdoms were over-run by Moors and Infidels although there were manie and bloudie wars which continued until the blessed reigns of the Catholick King Don Fernando and Donnia Isabel of glorious memorie his Grâ—ndfather and Grandmother who conquered the Kingdom of Granada and extirpated the Moorish race which wars were very necessarie and of extraordinarie expence yet there were no Tenths raised nor demanded It beeing an unheard of thing and a request as unjust as insupportable much less reason had his Majestie to require anie such thing of the Clergie his case beeing far different and his wars nothing so important That hee should rather encourage the Clergie to praie for his good success then diminish anie thing from their subsistence Praiers beeing of more avail then anie Martial Discipline as appears by the holie Scriptures wherein it is read that the victorie is more certainly obteined by the praiers of devout Priests then by the force of Horsmen and Arms. But if his Majestie 's temporal Revenue was not sufficient to maintein a just war in such case hee might demand assistance of the Church-men as far forth as the present necessitie did require wherein they would willingly supplie his Majestie making Levies amongst themselvs and rather abate their own subsistence then suffer him to bee disfurnished which they should not bee able to do if his Majestie in the verie beginning would exact a Tenth from them Divers other reasons they alleged in their Petition to his Majestie whereunto there was no time to give answer SECT XI MEan time the Emperor Maxmilian beeing dead and Charls the Fift beeing long before hee went thither to to take possession the People of Austria having lost all fear and respect of autoritie fell into the greatest disorder and mutinie that had been within compass of the memorie of man turning out and discarding all antient Officers of Justice and constituting others of their own combination the like they did with Ecclesiastical benefices The Loial Partie which was the fewer in number durst not open their mouths fearing the furie of the seditious vulgar who had possessed themselvs of all the Arch-Duke's Revenues and were grown to such a height of arrogancie that they sent to the Emperor beeing at Barcelona to ratifie and confirm what they had don for the publick Weal and good Government as they termed it of that Countrie and to allow the new Officers of Iustice whom they had constituted But the Emperor returned them such an answer as made them understand that hee knew himself to bee Arch-Duke of Austria and not they These distractions and perturbations continued in that Countrie almost two years after which his Majestie returning into Germanie pacified all those dissentions and factious spirits setled the Government and received the Imperial Crown as shall bee expressed hereafter Finis Libri Primi THE SECOND BOOK SECT I. IN this and the following Books I am to relate the the Insurrections or rising of the People commonly called Communidades or Communalties which continued in Spain from the year 1519 to 1522. A Subject truly very sad and unpleasant and which I would willingly pass under silence becaus som Illustrious Families Noble Cities and principal Towns of the Kingdom were interessed therein which never had been disobedient to their Kings but alwaies esteemed for their loialtie Neither do I conceiv that they thought anie waie to disserv his Majestie but rather to releas him out of that oppression as I may term it in which his Favorites held him And it is manifest in that they so earnestly importuned and petitioned that their King would not go out of the Kingdom that they desired and delighted to see and enjoie his Roial presence which was no sign that they intended to
no ground for this tumult it was presently appeased and the people were ashamed and sorrie for the irreverence and disrespect they had shewn the Emperor The Officers of Justice of Valladolid began to make diligent inquirie who had rung the Bell or who gave order for the ringing of it But the Portuguez could not bee found so others paied for him Som had their feet cut off Som were whipped Som banished and their goods confiscate Som others had their houses pluck't down There was whip't amongst others a Goldsmith a man of good account a Citizen of the Town becaus it was proved that hee had received som Letters from the said Portuguez som other Goldsmiths and som officers of the Town beeing also taken were very much afraid that they should bee brought to the like publick shame and punishment But the Emperor beeing informed of the good intention of that Citie towards him and that what they had don was not out of malice or anie premeditated design to do him anie injurie hee sent an Order for releasment of the prisoners and commanded that there should bee no more said of it The Dean having apprehended and clap't in prison three Priests of St Michael's Church the Judges of the Court in the Emperor's name required him to deliver them the said Priests in regard they were accused to have given their consents to the ringing of the Bell. They were accordingly delivered and carried upon three great Mules with Irons upon their legs through the chief streets of the Citie until they came to Fuen-Saldania's Fort which then stood for the King and was kept by the sons of Don Iohn de Vivero Viscount of Altamira becaus hee had unworthily made away his wife and there they remained manie daies until the Emperor was satisfied of the truth SECT XIV THe Emperor came to Tordesillas soundly wet and durtie and no bodie with him but Xeures the rest could not keep pace with him and having refreshed himself there one daie hee continued on his journie to Villalpando where hee had appointed the Commissioners of Toledo to attend him They beeing com thither before met with the Commissioners of Salamanca who were Don Pedro Maldonado who was afterwards beheaded and Antonio Fernandez Regidores of that Citie with them were their Messingers also viz. Iohn Alvarez Maldonado and Antonio Enriquez who were chiâ—fly sent to underfeel what instructions those of Toledo had in all particulars and had order to conform themselvs in all points to the Messengers of that Citie At Villalpando a Town belonging to the Lord High Constable did these Commissioners and others exspect his Majestie 's coming Upon Sundaie after they had been at Church they went to the Palace to the end the Emperor should give them audience while they were attending his Majestie 's pleasure in the Hall came to them Don Garzia de Padilla and MoÌ„ta Bishop of Palencia who wished them in the Emperor's name but they thought it was from Xeures to tell them the message they had from their Citie Don Pedro Lasso and Don Alonso answered That their Citie had commanded them to speak to his Majestie and though they importuned them never so much they would not declare unto them their business Thereupon the Bishop and Don Garzia returned into the King's Chamber but after a little time came out again and told these Commissioners that if they would not give them an account wherefore they were com before they kissed his Majestie 's hand they should not have audience The Commissioners seeing there was no remedie conâ—ented to impart the substance of their Message to them which done it was agreed that at two a clock in the afternoon if they returned to the Palace they should have audience They suspected that this diligence and earnestness of the Bishop's and Don Garzia'â— to know their business was becaus the Emperor at that time beeing very young and not much versed in State-affairs Xeures who was verie discreet and politick had put them on to urge it before they were admitted to the end hee might prepare the Emperor to give them an answer The Commissioners returned at the hour and delivered their message to the King but would not consent that anie others should bee present onely the Bishop and Don Garzia the substance of their discours was as â— have said They insisted chiefly that his Majestie ought not to go out of the Kingdom and conluded with this Article saying however if hee did resolv upon his departure that hee would command such order to bee left for the Government that the Cities of the Kingdom might have their share therein And likewise that hee would bee pleased to demand no Subsidies at all and other things reasonable enough as wee shâ—ll see hereafter Which indeed were so just that a Dore-keeper nam'd Duranges wep't to hear them considering the great reason the Castillians had to complain But it availed them little at that time for they were then discountenanced and not treated according as their's and their Ancestor's good service had deserved The Emperor told them onely that hee had heard them and would give order for their answer The same hee said to those of Salamanca who spake to him afterwards and in effect desired the same things as the Toledians had telling him moreover that they had order from their Citie to conform themselvs in everie thing with the Commissioners of Toledo To whom the Emperor sent word by the Bishop Mota and Don Garzia de Padilla That in regard his Council was at Venavente whither hee was to go within two daies they should not fail to meet him there to receiv their answer which they did accordingly The Emperor beeing arrived at Venavente Don Pedro Lasso and his Companion presented themselvs for their answer Whereupon the Emperor commanded his Council of Iustice and of State to assemble who having considered the circumstances and manner of those Commissioners jointly gave their opinion that they deserved rather to bee punished then to receiv anie good answer or satisfaction to their demands wherefore the Emperor sent for them into his chamber and with a severely frowning Countenance as Don Pedro Lasso afterwards declared told them that hee was not pleased with what they did and that if hee did not consider from what Parents they were descended hee would have them punished according to their deserts for medling with what they had undertaken and that they should go to the President of his Council who would tell them further what they were to do They began to excuse themselvs but the Emperor not willing to hear them retired himself Then Don Garzia de Padilla taking them aside gave them a notable schooling and reproved them sharply for what they had done telling them that their boldness in insisting so much to the hinderance of a journie which so deeply concerned not onely the honor and reputation of the Emperor but also the securitie and preservation of his Estate was beyond the thought
bee no lodging allowed for those of the Council Judges nor anie such like Officers That the King should not give general or particular billets for the lodging of anie That the taxes and impositions should bee reduced to a certain number and the Pole-monie set at a just and moderate rate whereby the People might perceiv the grace and favor his Majestie did them That the subsidies granted by the Commissioners at the Groyn should not bee received nor demanded neither should there bee anie â—ew taxes or extraordinary tribute imposed upon the Kingdome without som evident necessitie and that it were thought requisite for the good of the Kingdom and his Majestie 's service That the King should not â—end any instructions to the Cities or form of granting Powers nor nominate any particular men for Officers but that the Cities and towns should have the freedom and libertie to bestow and confer their Powers upon such men as they should finde zealous for the good of their Republicks That the Commissioners in Parlament should have the libertie to meet when and where they pleased and to discours and confer freely with one another That such Commissioners during their emploiment should not receiv of the King anie Office favor or gift whatsoever for themselvs their Wives Children or kindred under pain of death and confiscation of goods and that those goods should bee employed for the publick reparations of the Citie or Town whereof they were Commissioners to the end that they should bee the more careful to do onely that which was most expedient for the glory of God the service of his Majestie and good of the Kingdom That everie Commissioner or Burgess should have a competent allowance from the place whose persons they represented That the Parlament beeing ended the several Commissioners should return within forty dayes to give account of what they had done under pain of losing their wages and emploiment That no gold or Silver coyned or to bee coyned should bee transported out of the Kingdom under pain of death In regard the contrary having been done the Kingdomes were impoverished and destroied That there should bee monie coyned differing as well in value as stamp from that of the neighboring Countries and that it should bee of a base alloy two Carats under the rate of the finest gold That in Weight and value it should bee answerable to the Crowns of Gold which are coyned in France Becaus that would bee a means that it should not bee transported Manie other artickles were given in touching gold and silver the particular favors and rewards of the King and other matters of justice But that which they insisted most upon was that the Councils should bee strictly looked to That the Chancery and other Courts in the Kingdom should bee visited or reviewed from six to six years and that all suits should bee dispatched in order and determined whithin a certain time without any delay That there should bee no appealing from Court to Court but that each case should bee decided at it's own Tribunal That no Counsellor or other whosoever should enjoie two offices but should apply himself to one onely These and manie other things the Nobles and Commissioners of the Kingdom desired but they fell into the hands of Strangers the King beeing young and full of thoughts of his Voiage and possession of his Empire So they remained And in regard these and other such like propositions were slighted and layd aside though presented with much zeal and affection the whole Kingdom burst out and slipping in one they fell into the Precipice of manie inconveniences as it is commonly seen They desired one thing verie Holie in the Chapter concerning Ecclesiastical dignities and pensions That they should not bee conferred upon strangers and that the acts of Naturalization which had been made should bee revoked That in the Ecclesiastical Courts there should bee no more duties payed then in the secular and that they should observ the same Statute Which I would it were well seen unto in these times There were likewise som complaints and Petitions given in against Pedrarias de Avila a gentleman of good note and quality brother to the Earl of Punio en Rostro and who had done great services yet hee was accused by som of his enemies and charged for having put manie to death unjustly at the discoverie of the Indies and committed divers Robberies and Tyrannies There were seaven consultations hereupon and Pedrarias was quitted by them all and the Emperor himself taking particular notice of the services which hee had done at Oran in Africa and the taking of Buxia besides other places in the Indies freed him notwithstanding these fals and passionate accusations and confirmed him in the government and charge which formerly had been conferred upon him and gave him som rewards besides But all this was not sufficient to stop the mouths of his enemies who gave occasion to strangers not onely of speaking ill but also of writing against this gentleman who was valiant in his own person and of antient extraction in this Kingdom And others not knowing to the contrary have followed them in the prejudicial censure of this nation and the Nobilitie thereof SECT XXXII TO the grief of those gentlemen who took ill Cardinal Adriano's beeing Governor by a general consent of the Council and Don Antonio de Rojas Arch-Bishop of Granada then President Hee was confirmed Governor of Castilla and Navarra jointly with those of his Council who were Don Alonso Tellez Lord of la-Puebla de Montalvan Hernando de Vega Chancellor of the order in Castilla Don Iohn de Fonseca Bishop of Burgos Don Antonio de Rojas Arch-Bishop of Granada and President of his Majestie 's Council of Justice and Francisco de Vargas Treasurer general these were to reside at Valladolid Antonio de Fonseca Lord of Coca was appointed Captain General of the kingdom and Don Iohn Brother to the Bishop of Burgos his Treasurer Don Iohn de la Nuza was Governor of Aragon Don Diego de Mendoza brother to the Marquis of Zenete Vice-Roy of Valencia All being thus ordered for the Government of the kingdom and the winde coming faire upon Saturday the 19.th of May at Sun-set The Emperor commanded to bee Proclaimed That all the mariners and his retinue should goe on board that night for the next day in the morning hee would set saile Sunday the 20.th of May before day hee did his devotion and received the Sacrament after which hee tooke ship Don Alonso de Fonseca Arch-Bishop of Santjago Don Iuan de Fonseca Bishop of Burgos Don Inigo de Velasco Constable of Castilla and Leon Don Diego Lopez Pacheco Marquis of Villena Don Alonso Pimentel Earl of Benavente Don Iohn Osorio Marquis of Astorga and divers other persons of quality waited on him to the Sea-side Those that imbarked with him were Don Fadrique de Toledo Duke of Alva the Marquis of Villa Franca and his son Don Hernando de
Andrade Earl of Andrade Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoza who did great services to the Emperor and Monsieur de Xeures with the rest of the Flemings So with a most harmonious noise of Minstrels and Trumpets they weighed ancker and set saile with great acclamations of joy leaving sad Spaine over-charged with sorrow and misfortunes They shaped their course directly for England and the sixth day the whole Fleet arrived at the Downs The same day being whitsunday The Emperor landed with all his nobility and servants where hee was received by the Cardinal of England favorite to King Henry the Eight and by whom hee was much governed The same night the King of England came by post thither the expressions of affection and the great contentment which the King of England seemed to take in his Majestie 's company were beyond relation The next day the two King 's went to visite St Tho of Canterburie's tomb where Queen Katherine wife to King Henry and Aunt to the Emperor attended them in a sumptuously adorned Palace wherein they spent the three dayes of whitsuntide with great Jollity and feasting The holy-daies being past and the Princes having treated sufficiently of what concerned them and confirmed a Peace with great testimonies of affection on both sides the Emperor took leave of his Aunt and the King and went to Deal a harbour in the same Island And so imbarked again and sailed to Flushing His arrivall was incredibly welcom to the Inhabitants of all those Provinces the same expressions of joy were all Germany over assoon as they knew of his landing where hee was infinitely desired Hee went from Holland into Flanders without anie stay but in all places where hee did pass hee was most Splendidly entertained especially at Gant where Margarita his Aunt and the Infante Don Fernando his brother who was Arch-Duke of Austria exspected his coming Thence hee went towards Calis to visit again the King and Queen of England who mean time the Emperor was at Sea met the King of France there who endeavoured all hee could to possess the King of England with a disaffection of the Emperor whose power and greatnesse hee envied and repined at Having made this second visit the Emperor returned to Gant where hee put himself in fit equipage to receiv the Crown at Aquisgran Where we will leave him for the present and return to relate the the miseries and troubles of Spain SECT XXXIII THe Emperor's departure was diversly resented in Spain Those that were honestly minded and of sober and quiet dispositions approved of it esteeming it just and requisite but feared much what after did ensue But the factious and Seditious Party were otherwise affected They rejoiced at it and hugged themselvs in the fancie and vain hope of increasing their estates and reputation with these dissensions and alterations delighting as the Proverb saith to fish in troubled water The Emperor being gone from the Groyn all the Nobilitie and Gentrie which stayed behinde returned to their owne houses and the Commissioners or Burgesses of Parlament repayred to their respective Cities and towns with feare enough of their Republicks The Cardinal and those of his Council tooke their way towards Valladolid and before they arrived there newes was brought them of the Commotions of the Cities of Castilla The Emperor was very ill advised in not leaving the government of those Kingdoms to some Nobleman of that Countrie as was desired of him in Parlament whom as a Grandee of note and power they might feare and love honor and respect him as their Countryman Or if they had done as when necessitie constrained them they did afterwards all had been well The fault being laid upon Xeures hee sayed That it was not so ordered that his Majestie thought there were no Noblemen in Castilla worthy of that honor but because of the factions and partialities amongst them the conferring it upon one should not disgust the others SECT XXXIIII THe Cardinal and his Council being arrived at Venavente an express from Don Iohn de Acunia Governor of Segovia came to them purposely to inform them of a notoriously haynous accident befallen in that Citie which was thus One of the Commissioners or Burgesses that was sent thence to the Parlament at Santjago named Iohn or Antony de Tordesillas Regidor and native of that Citie gave his consent to the granting the Subsidies his Majestie demanded Hee brought for the Citie the Pole-money to bee payed by way of excise and a gratuity of one hundred thousand Maravediz for reparation of the walls and for himself hee had procured a very good governement and received an office which the Mint or coyning house had given for lost It is a custome in Segovia every Tuesday in whitsonweek that the Collectors meet to treat concerning the Revenue of Corpus Christi Church It hapned that being all together one of them inconsiderately sayed Gentlemen you know that Don Iohn de Acunia is Governor of this Citie and that hee never set foot in it and yet not satisfied to under value us hee maintein's here certain Officers to robb us rather then to administer Iustice. And I vow to God if the former stole away our Cloaks these strip us to the very Skins Moreover know that the Governor hath put in here a Deputy more fool then valiant Hee is not satisfied with the injuries hee doth us by day but hee leads a dog to catch men in the night And my opinion is That if any one hath done what hee ought not to doe Hee should apprehend him in his house like a Christian and not hunt him with doggs in the Mountains like a Moore For a man of any credit is more troubled at his being apprehended in the open street then at his Imprisonment A certain old man called Melon chanced to bee present at these words who had for many years executed the office of a Sergeant or Catch-pole as they call them and therefore was hated and abhorred by all the people This poore man having heard the other out and every body else holding their peaces stood up and spake these words in favor of the Justice Indeed Gentlemen that which this man hath sayed seemeth to me not well and mee thinks it is wors that men of such honor and credit as here are should give eare to such a man for hee that will speak in publick of the Ministers of Iustice ought to have some respect and moderation in his tongue and in an officer of the King 's hee ought not to look onely at his person but to consider what his staff represent's As touching the dog hee speak's of that my Master carrie's with him I sweare by this cross that being a yong man hee takes him with him more for his pleasure in the day time then to catch men in the night and if it had been so you doe not I hope take me to be so base but that I should haue made it known to the
lose the credite of being feared In summ of all that I have spoken I say that my determinate will and opinion is that an Alcalde de Corte who is in nâ—ture of a Iudge of Oyer and Terminer here in England should goe to Segovia and what hee ought to doe in this although I know it my Sacred Orders doe not give me leav to express I onely say thus much that the Iudge ought to do wors to them by Iustice then they did to Tordesillas without Iustice. Let all that I have said in this consultation bee under your most Reverend Lordship's correction and if these Lords bee of any other opinion I shall bee content to conform my self to them for in matters of weight and moment a man is not to defend his own opinion but to follow that which is most expedient for the publick good SECT XXXVII THe second that was remarkeable in this Consultation was Don Alonso Tellez Giron who in those times was esteemed a man of a good Conscience a vertuous life of a generous ofspring and chiefly in the opinion which hee delivered very circumspect for hee would never give any counsel unless hee had considered the matter throughly before hand Don Antonio de Rojas having ended his speech Don Alonso Tellez began Saying The discreet Opinion of Don Alonso Tellez Giron IT chanceth often-times amongst the most expert Captains that being upon the point of giving battle they differ in the manner and order of their Combate and if such men take oath of their dissenting opinions I say that kind of discord proceedeth not from any particular difference betwixt them but that each one of them thinkes that what hee sayes is the best and most secure way to gain the Victorie that day This I say most Reverend Lord Cardinal in order to my Lord Arch-Bishop and President his Speech which was very good and beseeming a Prelate that is desirous of the publick good But if hee and I doe differ in the meanes which is to bee used for the remedying of so great a scandal wee shall not I am confident in our intentions be dissenting I swear by the faith of a Christian and a Gentleman and by this Holy habit of Santjago which I wear that my soul desireth nothing at this present more then that wee may hit upon the right way of rectifying and providing for Segovia For my mind giv's me that if wee miss our aim in this first enterprise we shall not bee powerful enough hereafter to execute Justice Hee that is to give his sens in such occurrences ought not only to see to the remedying of mischiefs but to bee circumspect and warie lest the fulfilling of his Vote should bee the occasion of a greater Inconvenience For it may bee already which God forbid thinking to tile Segovia wee have untiled it and so bewetted all Spain Vndoubtedly those of Segovia offended God in destroying his creature and the King in murthering him for his cause They scandalized the Republick by hanging him in that manner And accordingly if it were of no further consequence nothing could bee more just then that the more cruel and barbarous they have shewd themselvs in that murther the less pitie wee should shew in chastising them I would say in this case that wee are able to punish Segovia or we are not able and so likewise Toledo of their rebellion and to speak the truth to my best sens to chastise Segovia or correct Toledo is yet too soon For being as we are but newly come to the government we should grant som privileges and libertie to the People at first to win their obedience and afterwards chastise them that we may bee feared Put case wee are not powerful enough as I believ we are not to quell that high couraged stubborn People if my Iudgment fail me not I hold for most certain that if Segovia lose their respect to us the like we shall find through all the Cities of Spain Moreover you know my Lords that it hath been averred to us that there was never a Gentleman nor Citizen at the murther of Tordesillas and that those Teazers which had committed the fact were fled already The Judge whom wee shall send thither to seem that hee doth somthing must rob the Poor chastise the Innocent disquiet the Rich defame the Noble and chiefly scandalize the bordering People so that the untimely punishing of one man's death may bee an occasion of destroying all Item you know My Lords that the King our Lord had the ill will of all his Subjects for the ill Government of his Tutors and certainly those of this Kingdom desire to express their discontents Me think's we should rather provide for and hinder the manifestation of the ill intentions of Castilla then to stand so much upon the rigorous chastising of the Carders of Segovia for it is the part of wise men to dissemble and defer the punishment of faults already past and forthwith apply a remedie to a present evil Item Segovia cryeth out and desire's that if Fifty or a Hundred weavers committed that outrage the whole Citie should not lose its Innocence And in my Judgment we should bee very injurious and unjust if we should declare a whole Citie Traytors when but few are guiltie and I know the King hath manie faithful servants in Segovia therefore wee should commit a great offence therein Besides it is as much the Propertie of Clement Princes to pardon many wicked men for the respect of som few good as it is the Practise of cruel Tyrants to condemn many good for a few evil Item it is sufficiently known that Toledo is in Rebellion and beeing as it is so powerful a Citie wee cannot exercise Justice upon it Now if wee doe chastise Segovia wee cannot do it so much dammage as wee shall do favor to Toledo thereby For all those whom wee take now for enemies wee make friends to Toledo And by this means there will bee manie favorers of their Tyranie and but few to assist our Justice Item it is to be considered that the Citie of Segovia and the Town of Medina del Campo by reason of the Cloaths of the one and the fairs of the other Those two People used alwaies to bee like Brothers My end in saying this is becaus the best Artillerie the King hath in Castilla is at Medina and if the business were come to that They would sooner give it Segovia for their defence then to us to punish them And by this means Segovia will get the Artillerie and wee shall lose Medina Item Segovia hath not taken the Fort as yet nor disobeyed the Justice nor shut the Gates nor taken up Armes And if a Judge go thither to chastise them perchance wee shall the Guiltie beeing fled away for fear of punishment give occasion of fear to those that are Innocent and they put themselvs into a defensive posture thereupon And this will bee the way to make those whom wee have as yet
through all the streets and walls to the great hinderance of Commerce and destruction of the Citie In the same manner rose Siguenca Guadalaxara Salamanca Murcia and manie other places of importance where were divers things committed not unlike those which I have already declared which would bee an endless business for mee to describe particularly The seventh of Iune in this present year 1520 the Citie of Leon was verie quiet and stood much for the King's service for it seemed that Valladolid had written to them to know whether they had received anie Letter from Toledo concerning their business or not Whereto Leon made Answer That as yet they had received nothing in particular from Toledo touching that matter and that the Citie of Leon was fully determined not to do or consent to anie thing for the whole world that might bee anie disservice to his Cesarean Majestie or contrarie to the fidelitie they owed him especially the most Reverend Cardinal remaining Governor with the Lord President and the rest of the Council to whom that Citie was so much obliged â—t had been well for that Citie if they had continued in that minde SECT XLII THe 24 of Iune 1520 the Emperor beeing at Bruxels received information of all the passages in Toledo and other places and of the Letter which Toledo sent to Valladolid and their Answer Whereupon hee wrote to Valladolid giving them a full relation of his Voiage by Sea how hee was entertained by his Uncle and Aunt in England and that they had confirmed a most sure League of Peace and Amitie together That thence hee intended about the middle of September to bee at Aquisgran to receiv his Imperial Crown with manie other circumstances and at last That he resolved God willing to return into that Kingdom much sooner then hee had promised at the Parlament mean time hee incharged them Peace quietness and obedience to the Commands of the Cardinal his Governor President and Council c. and if there should arise anie mutinies or Commotion in anie other Towns that they out of their antient and well approved fidelitie would indeavor to pacifie and suppress them for they knew the love and affection which hee bore that Citie which might sufficiently appear by the favors hee had granted them in former Parlaments according to the Copie which hee sent with that Letter There was also a General Letter to all the Cities and Towns of that Kingdom who had Votes in Parlament but passion had gained such a transscendence over the hearts of the major part that they would not believ those Letters to bee from the Emperor but said openly that they were counterfeited neither did they anie waie abate their resentment of his so sudden departure out of that Kingdom leaving them by the counsel of his Favorites involved in so great a fire and with so much povertie and pain SECT XLIII AFter this came news to the Cardinal how the Citie of Guadalaxara was revolted in the same manner and taking up Arms like the other Cities of the Kingdom They chose for their Captain the Earl of Saldania eldest son to Don Diego de Vega y Mendoça Duke del Infantado and making use of his horses they pursued Diego de Guzman and Luis de Guzman their Commissioners in the late Parlament who for fear of their lives were fled from the Citie but not being able to overtake them they went to their houses which they razed and having plowed up the ground they sowed it with Salt saying That in regard they were Traitor's houses they must bee salted lest they should infect the rest with their infidelitie Thence they went to the Duke beseeching him to favor and assist them if not they would have him to know that no Grandee must staie within that Citie which hee and his son were enforced to grant to satisfie them but the Duke seeing the Citie in so great disorder and the Kingdoms all over inflamed with such Combustions sent an Express to the Cardinal desiring him since God and the King had constituted him in that Office to use all possible diligence and care to stop the current of those exorbitances and that without passion or affection hee would grant a general pardon for if hee suffered the sore to fester hee would not bee able to cure it when hee pleased That hee would take off the Subsidie That all Tallages and Impositions should bee reduced to the same estate as they were twentie five years past That Offices and benefices should be taken from strangers and conferred upon the Natives of the Countrie And that all this should suddenly bee performed The Cardinal was well contented with his Letter but durst not do otherwise then was ordered by the Council until hee received further Commission from the Emperor SECT XLIV THe Order from the Council was that Ronquillo a famous Judg in those times should presently march to Segovia with all the men hee could make and punish the Delinquents They sent with him a thousand Hors-men most of which were of the Guards under the Command of Don Luis de la Cueua and Ruy Diaz de Rojas who had Orders in case the Judg was not received into the Citie to batter and beat it down But when his coming was known in Segovia those that were quiet and peaceable before jealousies and fears distracting their ill-tempered mindes rose and associated themselvs with the others and in particular one principal Gentleman of the Citie called Don Hernando who had written to the Cardinal that hee kept the Citie the Fort and the great Church for the King and that hee had driven the Commonaltie into the Suburbs and moreover that there was great partialitie and difference amongst them upon whose advice and intimation the Judg was sent directly thither but when they heard in what manner hee came Don Fernando the Common-people agreed so together that the Gates were shut against him and the towns-men all up in Arms. Ronquillo perceiving their strength and resistance to bee great retired himself to the Town of Arevalo and the Cardinal sent to him to return to Valladolid until the Council should take further order therein But the Judg did otherwise and from thence went to Santa Maria de Nieva five Leagues from Segovia where hee made his Requests and Protests to those of the Citie began by Criers to publish Acts and Writs against them requiring them to submit to Justice or to appear and give a reason why they would not Whereunto those of Segovia 'mongst whom at first there was no person of credit or respect but onely a furious and indiscreet Rabble not onely not obeied nor answered but after som daies spent in parâ—ying and treating without fear or wit they sallied out to the number of four thousand men almost all on foot on purpose to meet Ronquillo and fight with him and in this manner they marched towards the place where hee was quartered Hee with his Captains came presently
to incounter them and it is affirmed that hee might easily have routed them for although they were more in number they were but ordinarie people and as disorderly as unskilful But he was unwilling thereunto out of respect that manie men's lives might have been lost in the Conflict or perchance being doubtful of the Success So there were onely som light skermishes wherein Ronquillo took som of their baggage and divers of them prisoners whereof som he hang'd others he punished otherwise So that the Segovians retreated with no sâ—al loss and thenceforwards hee advanced his Siege and cut of their Commerce and Provisions so that nothing could pass into or out of the Citie yet hee used no extremitie towards them becaus hee had still hopes of som accommodation Hereupon Segovia mustered up their forces which amounted to twelv thousand men besides women and children who with an unspeakable courage took up Arms to defend the Citie against Ronquillo They made strong Pallisadoes deep Ditches and chained all their streets The Citie of Avila assisted them as if it had been their own Interest and both these Cities made a Joint-supplication to the Cardinal that hee would not proceed against them with so much rigor but receiving no satisfactorie answer they said Since it must bee so wee will remedie our selvs At length Segovia finding themselvs streightned by the Siege wrote to the Citie of Toledo declaring the occasion of their Revolt excusing themselvs of the death of Tordesillas and imputing it to the indiscreet furie of som Carders and Teazers exclaiming against the rigor of the Cardinal and Council for sending Ronquillo not as an equitable Judg to do them Justice but as a cruel Tyrant to wage War against them and at last conjuring and imploring their succor and assistance to rais the Siege alleging that the punishment the Cardinal and Council intended to inflict upon Segovia was but the Precursor of the destruction of Toledo in regard they were in the same Predicament and declared by the Council for disobedient as well as those of Segovia were condemned for Traitors In the Close of all they desired that Citie to give credit to the Relation of Rodrigo de Cieca and Albara de Guadarrama the bearers of their Letter who had Instructions and Orders to impart matters of higher consequence unto them which they durst not commit to paper Other Letters to the same effect they sent to the other Cities of Castilla who all returned them great promisses and encouragement and in effect they sent to the Cardinal and Council desiring a pardon for Segovia all but Toledo who beeing less scrupulous in stead of fair words sent them men of Arms to succor the Citie as shall appear hereafter SECT XLV TOledo upon receit of this Letter sent to reliev Segovia four hundred Musketiers as manie Halberdiers and three hundred Hors well Armed which were joifully received and gave them courage to sallie out again upon Ronquillo But first they sent to him requiring that hee would let them alone depart from Santa Maria de Nieva where hee laie and that hee would meddle no more with the affairs of Segovia otherwise they would make him go away with a Vengeance But Ronquillo thought to do what hee came for that was to enter into Segovia and punish severely the Delinquents to which effect hee assembled the whole Countrie thereabouts yet could not accomplish his Design for all the Cities and Towns that then were up were wedded so unanimously to that same Interest that there was much to bee feared Ronquillo went from place to place one night hee laie in one Town the next night in another setting out Spies somtimes catching those that came out of Segovia and seeking all means possible to get into it In the Market-place of Santa Maria de la Nieva hee made publick Acts Proclamations and Out-laws against the Segovians but they scorned and laughed at them and 't is reported that the Common People set up a great high Gallows which they swept and watered everie daie saying That was to hang Ronquillo upon making shew of as much courage and resolution as if they had had the whole world on their side this was when they saw how forward and ready Toledo was to back them and had furnished them with both men and monie SECT XLVI THe Cardinal seeing the ill success of this business sent about three hundred and fiftie Lanciers and som Foot Souldiers of those which were Garrisoned in Navarra to Ronquillo with whom hee scoured the Confines of Segovia One daie hee went to Zamarramala where hee caused to bee set up certain papers against the Segovians proclaiming them Traitors and Rebels and summoning them to appear before him within a certain time thence hee returned to Nieva where hee commanded a high Scaffold to bee built whereon hee caused to bee set other Acts and Writings to the same effect then gave order to bee proclaimed in all the adjacent Towns and Villages that no bodie should dare to carrie anie provisions whatsoëver to Segovia under pain of death Segovia seeing Ronquillo use them so hardly keeping all provisions from them three thousand five hundred of them very well provided with Corslets Lances Halberds and Swords made another sallie one of the principal Citizens named Peralta was their Commander in Chief so with great nois and little order as Common-people use to do they marched directly towards Santa Maria de Nieva but at two Leagues distance from Segovia they met Ronquillo with his men who were better disciplined then they made som shots at them whereupon they soberly retreated towards their quarters The Segovians seeing that and thinking that they ran away pursued with great eagerness and in such disorder that the others turning upon them killed som of them and took Don Diego Peralta their Captain Prisoner and they took an Officer and som of Ronquillo's men At last the Combat grew so hot that Ronquillo quitted his quarters and left the Segovians beeing far more in number masters of the place who presently set fire to the Scaffold and burned all the Acts and proclamations hee had set up against them Upon this came a new supplie of three thousand men to them which gave them fresh courage and seeing themselvs so strong they followed Ronquillo and made two great shots at him which killed him two Hors-men and they took the Paie-master of his Forces with two millions of Maravediz whereof thirtie four make six-pence sterl which hee carried to paie his men this Prize with other prisoners they sent to Segovia Ronquillo still retreated in good order and som of his Hors perceiving a Partie of about fortie men of the Segovians scattered in a smal Village near Nieva charged them and having took som they brought them to Ronquillo whereof he presently hanged two the rest he carried to Coca where he went to lodg And the Segovians having rescued their Captain returned joifully to their Citie SECT XLVII THe distempers
which was thus hee privately commanded certain fire-bals of pitch to bee made and flung into St Francis street thinking that the people would presently run all thither to quench the fire and quit the gates by which meanes hee might enter and seize upon the Artillerie but it succeeded not according to his exspectation for the fire began to rage exceedingly in so much that St Francis street and the linnen draperie was quite through of a flame yet the inhabitants shewed so much courage that although their houses goods and children were burning before their eyes they would not depart from the Artillerie fighting with Antonio de Fonseca and his men until they had driven them quite from the Town Fonseca was very angrie and ashamed that hee could not effect his intention and no less grieved for the great harm and damage the fire had done which hee intended not The Monasterie of St Francis was burnt to the ground with all the rich ornaments and librarie besides great store of Monie Cloath Silks Clothes of Gold and Silver and other rich commodities which divers Genua and Segovia Merchants had layed up there all consumed to ashes And nine hundred houses more in whâ—ch not so much as one bed was preserved It was a lamentable thing to see how the poor people women and children went crying and groaning up and down the streets having no hous left to go into nor any thing to cover theiâ— nakedness calling upon God for justice against Fonseca In this sad condition remained Medina more inflamed with the fire of wrath in their hearts then their houses were with the bals of pitch The Corregidor durst not stay becaus hee had been with Fonseca Whereupon the people began to call an Assemblie of the Commonaltie and took the same form of government as the other Cities did They wrote forthwith to Iohn de Padilla and the other Captains declaring their miseries and imploring their assistance to revenge their losses upon those that had sided with Fonseca against them and their chiefest spleen was against the Town of Arevalo becaus Fonseca had carried his men thence Arevalo feared as much from those of Segovia and in it self there were partialities and sidings thereupon som taking the Commoners part others the Contrarie Medina wrote likewise to the other Cities imparting to them their calamities Segovia answered their Letters expressing manie thanks for their defending so couragiously the Artillerie and exceeding sorrow for the great losses they had susteined SECT LIII ADriano the Cardinal of Tortosa beeing a holie man was grieved to the soul at the disaster of Medina and in excuse of himself hee wrote a Letter to them expressing his sorrow in good and Saint-like tearms Whereunto they returned an answer giving his Eminence thanks for his resentment of their miseries and making a large relation of the cruelties of Fonseca and his Souldiers besides the great losses they had susteined by fire which they esteemed to bee of so high value that they doubted the King's whole Revenue for som years would not bee enough to make them reparation And at last they desired his Eminence would bee pleased to condemned and declare for Traitors and disturbers of the Kingdom Antonio de Fonseca Gutiere Quijada and that bloodie robber as they called him Iohn de Avila and disband their men with Command that everie one should repair to their own home and not burn the houses of his Majestie 's faithful Subjects for under colour of serving the King they did him great disservice therein Finis Libri Secundi THE CIVIL WARS OF SPAIN THE THIRD BOOK SECT I. ANger supported on the shouldiers of Autoritie is like lightning from heaven Antonio de Fonseca Captain General of the Kingdom was inraged beyond the measure of discretion against Medina Hee burned like a flash of lightning their houses and their goods but hee incensed their hearts and wills much more like men in despair to commit a thousand absurdities And to revenge the furie of his passion all the people of the Town took Arms dispersed Letters of their grievances through the whole Kingdom desiring vengeance and hee that could do most mischief was held the bravest fellow Amongst these broils and mischiefs there was one particularly noted for his courage and boldness a Cloth-worker by trade his name was Bobadilla a mean fellow dull but cruel of disposition hee was followed as their Captain by divers that were undone and therefore grown furiously passionate First hee fell upon Gil Nieto who had been his Master cutting and slashing till hee had killed him then hee killed a Book-seller called Tellez next a Regidor of the Town called Lope de Vera. And so hee and his Associats served all those whom they knew or did but imagine had anie hand in Fonseca's coming to demand the Artillerie or had consented to the delivering of it They pluckt down the houses which Don Rodrigo Mexia had there and committed divers other cruâ—lties and outrages This active audaciousness of Bobadilla got him very much credit and esteem amongst the people and hee Lorded it and took so much upon him that from that time forwards nothing was done but what hâ—e would so hee commanded and governed as Head of the people Hee presently took a great hous set Porters at his Gates and gave himself the style of Lord. Such Heads as this Cloth-worker was had the Commonalties in other places as Villoria a skinner in Salamanca and Antonio Casado in Segovia and others such like who beeing bold and without honor or shame were followed and esteemed by the common and meaner sort And indeed divers Gentlemen were to blame herein who did very much harm som by kindling and fomenting the fire secretly others publickly not with design to do the King anie disservice but by reason of parties and factions amongst themselvs som siding with the Commonaltie purposely to destroie others so that it was more their particular factions and seditions then their disobedience to his Majestie that occasioned all these disorders Medina soon after this disaster sent Letters to Valladolid conteining a most pitiful relation of their unfortunate and deplorable condition with high exclamations against the crueltie of Antonio de Fonseca and Ronquillo SECT II. THe Emperor wrote to Valladolid giving them thanks that they had preserved Peace and quietness in that Citie and for the good entertainment they had given in his absence to the Cardinal his Governor and those of his Council Whereunto they returned an Answer the 8th Iulie 1520 with manie acknowledgments of his favor praising God that hee had given them such a Prince and Emperor who they hoped should conquer the Holie Land and bee a great Defendor of the Church as the Emperors and Kings his forefathers had been And moreover they beseeched with all humilitie his Sacred Majestie forasmuch as that Citie had not onely shewed their Loialtie in serving with their Arms the Kings his Ancestors as Don Alonso the Eleventh Don
Agreement and Cessation of Arms whereby they might live quietly and not to do anie act of Hostilitie to each other Don Gonzalo Chachon having informed the Cardinal Governor of this Treatie by his consent it was concluded and Articles on both sides were drawn in form signed and delivered in presence of the publick Notaries of the Citie So those of the Fort lived quietly leaving the Towns-men to the confusion of their Commonaltie The nobleness of the Gentrie in imitation of their Ancestors desirous to serv the King beeing as a firm Bulwark and secure Guard against their indiscreet furie This made Avila gain the renown of Loial SECT VIII NOt onely the fore-named Cities were infected with this spirit of Sedition but divers other small Towns and Villages were tainted with the same Contagion where the diseas raged with such unnatural furie that there was neither Law nor respect betwixt Fathers and the Children som being of one opinion the others contrarie In a certain Village called Medinâ— near the Palomera de Avila lived a Byscainer Priest half a fool who was so affectionated to Iohn de Padilla that everie Holie daie in the Church hee used to saie I recommend unto your praiers Brethren The most holie Commonaltie desiring God to preserv and support it that it may never fall I recommend unto you likewise his Majestie the King Don John de Padilla that God may prosper him as also her Highness the Queen our Ladie Donia Maria Pacheco that God may powr down his blessings upon her for verily these are the true Kings the rest are all but Tyrants These praiers continued for three weeks together after which Iohn de Padilla with his Souldiers passing that waie som of them were quartered in this Priest's hous who drank him up a little barrel of wine killed his Hens and took away a young wench that he kept with them The Sundaie following beeing in the Church hee said to his parishioners You know Brethren how John de Padilla passing here his souldiers quartered in my hous truly Beloved they have not left mee one Hen they have eaten up all my Bacon they have drunk mee a whole Barrel of Wine and have taken my Katherine away with them therefore I charge you henceforwards not to praie God for him but for our Sovereign Lord Don Carlos and the Queen Donia Juana for They are our true Kings I do relate som of these fopperies that you may see how foolish and blinde men were at that time and indeed no better could then bee exspected for certainly som malign star had predominance for two years over those parts which made men fall into such unheard of extravagancies SECT IX THe Citie of Soria was ingaged in no less mischief then the other Cities by the rising of the Common People If I should undertake to particularize the riotous disorders of evâ—rie several place my work would never be at an end In short none of those that treated of Commonalties made anie bones of killing their neighbors plucking down their houses and committing a thousand exorbâ—tances like rash unadvised men without sens or judgment as to discompose the form of Government displace the Officers of Justice taking their staves from them and naming other Judges without considering or reflecting upon the end that followeth such like disorders nor how to bee preserved in them The Citie of Toro and Ciudad Rodrigo took likewise the Engagement of the Commonaltie They turned out the Officers of Justice established by the King and put others in their places And those Gentlemen that had most power drove their Antagonists out of the Citie Which factious bandyings one against another in revenge of particuler grudges and quarrels were the chiefest occasion of kindling the people's furie and it might justly bee said that they were private seditions and tumults not Rebellion against their King for there was no such word amongst the Gentrie nor the Common people SECT X. LEon had done wisely if they had continued in the same good resolution wherewith they answered Valladolid concerning the Treatie of an Assemblie which Toledo desired But as I have often said the factions and parcialities that were in everie Citie did more harm then anie thing els in these Commotions The Guzmanes were so highly distasted at their beeing put out of Don Fernando the Infante his service that a little thing would have made them raise a Commotion in that Citie where they were very powerfull beeing of an Ancient and Noble extraction They had some difference and spleen against the Earl of Luna who was sent Commissioner from that Citie to the Parlament that was held at the Groyne who having consented to the Subsidie was not well received at his return and it is reported that Ramiro Nunnâ—z de Guzman spoke thus to him They saie you have granted the Subsidie and gon beyond your Commission if that bee true you deserve to bee severely punished The Earl hereupon answered Ramiro Nunnez I have done what I ought and what I was Commanded to do neither have I exceeded my Commission one title So from one thing to another at last they fell into a great passion and Ramiro Nunnez said to the Earl I will make you know with this my Sword against yours how you are a Traytor and have Committed Treason against this Citie Thereupon they both drew and this unfortunate controversie divided the Citie into two factions For these two families beeing the chief and most Ancient of the Citie had each of them manie friends kindred and abbettours but in regard the Earl was out of favour with the people and Ramiro Nunnez much beloved and followed by a great multitude they fell upon the Earl and his partie with such furie that they killed thirteen of his men there were manie on both sides wounded The Earl was beholding to the swiftness of his hors or else hee had born his dead followers companie This news was brought to Valladolid and the Cardinall highly resented it but knew not how to remedie it seeing the fire so generally kindled throughout the kingdom that of the eighteen Towns of Castilla which had Votes in Parlament fifteen were risen for the Commonaltie and had chosen Commissioners or Burgesses to goe to the Iunta or Assemblie then held in Avila The Cardinall derived the fault of all this mischief upon Monsieur de Xeures for giving the Emperor so ill counsel as to demand that Subsidie and the worst of all was that hee never received it The Cardinal was out of heart and perplext with continual fears not thinking himself secure in Valladolid by reason of these troubles and heart-burnings of the people which no fault of the King 's but the covetousness of his insatiable Counsellers had occasioned I have alreadie told you that one Subsidie they desired was three hundred millions and another time six hundred millions in all nine hundred millions of Maravediz therefore let no man marvel at the great difference of
these sums for in effect no bodie could rightly understand what they would have had yet they saie the Emperor desired no more then the ordinarie Subsidie that his Predecessors the Catholick Kings had which was two hundred millions everie year and that the over-plus they stole from him and the Kingdom contrarie to his will or knowledg SECT XI THe affairs of Spain were so imbroiled and men so inconsiderately raving that it seemed as it were a scourge from Heaven which threatned no less destruction to that Countrie then that during the reign of Don Rodrigo They trusted in Southsaier's Prognostical judgments of the succeeding mischiefs Som Divels invented I know not what Prophecies which they father'd upon Saint Isidorus Arch-Bishop of Sevilia others upon Frier Iohn de Roccacelsa and one Merlin besides others which they said were of Saint Iohn Damascenus and other Doctors that of Saint Isidorus was his complaints or lamentations over Spain I have read all those ill presâ—ges of calamitie and destruction to Spain which so much affrighted and dismaied the people and I find them onely idle things which deserv not the setting down here unless it were to make us wonder at the facilitie and weakness of men in those times to give credit to anie such like fopperies The ignorant people were particularly besotted with one which pourported That there should reign over Spain a Prince called Charles who should destroie the Kingdom and make the Cities desolate but hee should bee overcom and driven out of the Kingdom by an Infante of Portingal and that the said Infante should reign over all Spain and mee think's wee see the contrarie Such follies doth blinde passion work in thoughts of ignorant and indiscreet people SECT XII TOledo wrote to the other Cities the last year 1519 inviting them to assemble and consult of what was most meet and expedient for them to supplicate the Emperor before his departure out of the Kingdom And in regard that Assemblie went not forwards and that now things were in such disorder that the breaking out was universal through the whole Kingdom yet they did not well understand nor trust one another so for the begetting a better intelligence amongst them and to the end they might the more firmly establish the Commonaltie which thâ—y called Holie Toledo sent other Letters to all the Cities of Castillia pressing them with manie powerful arguments to send without delaie their Commissioners to the Holie Assemblie at Avila and not to return them anie such excuse as formerly becaus such kinde of Congregations and Assemblies were condemned by strangers for in that Holie Assemblie nothing was to bee debated but what concerned the Service of GOD. And that they might studie or invent Remedies against the Seven sins of Spain treating first Of their fidelitie to the King their Lord. Secondly the Peace of the Kingdom Thirdly the Remedie or settling of the Roial Patrimonie Fourthly the grievances of the Natives Fifthly the Injustice done by Strangers Sixtly the Tyrannies w th som of their own Countrie-men had invented Seventhly the intolerable Impositions taxes which that Kingdom suffered Urging moreover that they should not value what censure passed upon them amongst their enemies for so doing in regard wicked persons are alwaies ready to blast with opprobrious tongues all good and religious actions which presupposed although things should fall out contrarie to their exspectations or desires and that they should bee in danger of their persons theiâ— houses should be plucktdown their goods taken away and at last should lose their lives In such case they were to esteem disgrace a favor danger securitie povertie riches banishment a glorie loss profit persecution a crown death life for nothing is so glorious for a man as to spend his life in the defence of the Republick After all these and divers other persuasive arguments they desired each Citie to give ful credence to their Messenger who had instructions to treat further with them SECT XIII THe fifth of Iulie 1520 the Lord Deputie of Murcia made a complaint to the Cardinal and Council how the Citie beeing risen had killed their Governor a Judg and one of the Sheriffs besides several other persons and that the people were all in Arms and so disorderly that becaus hee went about to pacifie and allaie their furie gently and in a peaceable manner representing to them the foulness and enormitie of what they had don they drove him out of the Citie and placed Guards and Rounds which committed very great disorders Hereupon it was ordered by the Council that Leguizama a Judg of Oyer and Terminer should go thither with large powers taking Officers along with him and that the neighboring towns should furnish him with men sufficient to bring them to reason Leguizama the Judg beeing arrived at Murcia entred peaceably into the Citie Hee intimated his orders to the Chief Justice Gentlemen Council and Assemblie of the Citie requiring their favor and assistance Which at first they did obey and the Judg began to make his privie search and examination whereby hee found som guiltie which hee gave order to apprehend This pleased not the People who began to think of turning him out of the Citie Hee sentenced a Shoomaker to bee whipp'd who beeing brought through the streets the Beadles still whipping him the people mutinied and manie beeing armed they rescued the prisoner with great nois and hubbub which done they went into a hous to consult what they were to do The Judg perceiving that presently betook him to his heels and fled into the Marquess of Velez his hous who then was in the Citie The Marquess hearing that the Judg was gone to his hous hee would not staie with him but presently took hors and rode out of the Town as fast as hee could to Mula a Citie ten leagues from Murcia The Judg made all haste possible after the Marquess and overtook him in the field a good waie from Murcia where hee shewed him his Orders charging him in the King's name under pain of Death and Confiscation of all his Estate to go back again with him into the Citie and to aid and assist him to do Justice The Marquess answered him very angerly for hee had desired him before to bee very careful how hee proceeded to consider the times and not to be too rigorous but he would not follow his counsel saying Iudg Go make these Requests to such men as your self is not to mee for in respect I am very much a servant to his Majestie I give you this answer and no other But to obey and shew the reverence I bear to the Roial Crown in whose name you require mee to return with you let your Notarie publick com after mee and I will give him an answer to what you demand of mee With that hee turned the reins of his Hors and rode on towards Mula The Judg went back to Murcia and set up his Hors in the same
lodging hee was at before By this time the Commonaltie was monstrousty distempered and a multitude not onely of the Towns-people but also of the neighboring Farms and Cottages ran thither with clamorous outcries and a full resolution to burn him and all that were in the hous and they had executed their purpose but for Diego de Vera who happily was then at Murcia with his souldiers and hearing they had such an intention hee rode presently to the Judge's lodging which hee found encompassed with a number of people crying out Let him die let him die Yet at the instance and earnest request of Captain Diego de Vera they forbore who desired them not to commit anie such violence but leave it to him and hee would take such order that the Judg should go out of the Citie and meddle no more in that business Hee obteined at length with much trouble and importunitie a promise from them to do whatsoëver hee commanded upon condition that the Processes made against anie of the Inhabitants of that Citie should be delivered to them and that the Judg should depart the Citie within one hour Diego de Vera having promised their desires should bee performed went into the Judge's lodging who presently delivered him the said Processes which hee gave to the people making them promise him that they would not in anie kinde molest the Judg nor anie of his servants but would let him go quietly and safely away so hee departed without making anie longer staie in those parts which was no small matter to obtein of such Mutiniers the autoritie and grey-hairs of Diego de Vera besides the repute hee had of beeing a gallant Souldier was very useful at that time Having pacified the people and persuaded them to return to their own homes he conducted the Judg with his servants out of the Citie and a league beyond where they parted and the Judg went in a great chafe fume to Mula There hee demanded men to return with him to Murcia which coming to the people's ear they rose also against him and having sounded an Alarm with much furie they presently gaue notice thereof to Lorca and so from Village to Village to Murcia and in very short time they were together in Arms about eight thousand men with those of Murcia who marched a Judgcatching directly to Mula But hee was too wise to wait for their coming and flying night and daie hee never staied until hee got to Valladolid Where hee remained but two daies and on Sundaie night he went to Aldea Mayor three leagues thence for hee durst not staie in Valladolid knowing they did not greatly love him for som things past and there was but a kinde of counterfeited â—eace in that Citie hee was affraid they would kill him SECT XIV THe Citie of Sevilla or Sevil that all this while stood as it were looking on the rest had likewise its disturber who indeavoured to plunge it as deep as the other Cities in these unhappie Commotions The beginning was thus Don Iohn de Figueroa brother to Don Rodrigo Ponze de Leon Duke of Arcos the Duke beeing at his Town of Marchena set himself to rais the people of the Citie in favor of the Commonaltie with intent to bee Captain and Governor himself To vvhich effect having already moulded and vvorked them to his mind and beeing agreed vvith those that vvere his complotters and confederates in this design on Sundaie 17 of September 1520 after dinner time hee and som Gentlemen kinsmen and followers of the Duke his brother went to the Duke's hous in Sevilla where they assembled and gathered together above seven hundred men with Arms which done hee and the rest of the Gentlemen beeing on hors-back and the people on foot they took four pieces of Ordnance out of the Duke's hous with them and so marched into the streets crying out God bless the King and Commonaltie Thus they went as far as St Francis place and no bodie els stirred nor offred to join with them but onely looked on as they passed By the waie Don Iohn caused the staves to bee taken away from the King's Officers of Justice and gave them to others in behalf half of the Commonaltie In this time the Duke of Medina Sidonia Don Alonzo Perez de Guzman beeing very young was yet under the Guardianship Tuterage of Donia Leonor de Suniga his mother Who being a Ladie of an high Spirit and courage and seeing so dangerous a fire kindled in Sevilla assembled all their domesticks with all the friends and welwishers to her Son's Partie that shee could so suddenly get together and sent them under the Conduct of Don Valencia de Venavides a valiant Gentleman who had married the Duke's sister against Don Iohn de Figueroa But beeing approached near each other and ready to fight som Gentlemen of note mediating betwixt them composed their quarrel insomuch that the Duke of Medina's men returned home again and Don Iohn advanced to the gate of the Fort Roial which finding shut hee battered it down with his Ordnance and beeing entred with all his men hee took the Commander of it Don Iorge de Portugal Earl of Gelves which done becaus it was grown late hee quarter'd there all night thinking that all the people of Sevilla would presently flock to him applauding this exploit and back him in his enterprise but they were so far from countenancing his design that the greatest part of those that followed him that daie forsook him in the night and returned to their own houses The next daie very early in the morning the Officers of Justice and the Veynte y Quatros by whom that Citie is governed beeing assembled they ordered that immediately the King's Standard should bee brought forth and that by command of the Citie the people should all go in Arms and assault the Fort which beeing re-taken should forthwith bee delivered unto the Charge of him who before commanded it for the King Don Fernando de Zuniga Earl of Venalcazar and divers other Gentlemen fitted themselvs to assist the people in this enterprise But before they were in a posture to put this design in execution Don Valencia de Venavides by order and command express from the Dutchesses Donia Leonor de Zuniga and Donia Anna de Aragon and the Duke of Medina who was sick in bed having rallied and re-assembled the men that followed him the daie before with great courage and resolution marched to the Fort of which after three hours hot dispute hee became Master took Don Iohn de Figueroa prisoner who was wounded in two places and re-delivered the Fort to Don Iorge de Portugal So in less then 24 hours this cloud was quite blown over which threatned so furious a tempest SECT XV. THe Citie of Segovia sent to Salamanca desiring Hors for their defens against Ronquillo The Common people and soâ— Gentlemen gave their Votes to send them succor but the greatest part of the
Gentrie opposed it saying it was a great dissâ—rvice to the King and contrarie to Justice Manie distastfull words passed amongst them but at last the Commons prevailed and turned all those Gentlemen out of Salamanca One stately hous that belonged to the Archbishop of Santjago's Steward they burned down to the ground Neither did those Gentlemen hold themselvs secure until they were got into Valladolid where they gave a full account of all these passages This was the beginning of the rising publickly in Salamanca After which they kept their Rounds and Guards in the Citie and sent Hors to the relief of Segovia but before they departed Salamanca with other Cities sent two men to the Cardinal and Council beseeching them to forbear from chastising Segovia for if they did not the Citie of Salamanca could not refrain from sending them succor Their chief Captain in this uproar was Don Pedro Maldonado Nephew to the Doctor Talavera who drove the rest of the Gentlemen that were not of his faction out of the Citie and made the Corregidor go away also leaving the administration of Justice more out of fear then otherwise which done the Citie ordered the Justice and did what you shall see hereafter SECT XVI THe Cardinal Governor seeing these troubles and disorders increas daily without anie hope of remedie notwithstanding all the endeavors and gentle means hee and those of the Council had used to procure it The President and the rest agreed to give his Majestie an exact account of all the Commotions and particular exigencies of the Kingdom of Castillia and in what danger they themselvs were by reason of the people's furie desiring his Majestie to take som speedie order for the rectifying of so great disorders SECT XVII THe Emperor had already received som intelligence of these troubles in Spain by means of Flemish Merchants and other particular letters But when those from the Cardinal and Council came to his hands at Lovain Hee was seized with unexpressible sadness The necessitie of his going to bee crowned in Germanie was very urgent and his returning into Spain seemed yet of more importance The Letter 's sad Contents brâ—d divers discontents and no less different opinions as the custom is amongst the Courtiers of the nearest relation about the Emperor The Flemings condemned the Spaniards for raising these tumults ond commotions in their King's absence The Spaniards retorted the blame upon the Flemings saying That their ill Government had been the occasion of the ruine and loss of Spain and that they had robbed it and indeed to saie the truth They were both in fault for the Flemings were as short of discretion and prudence to Govern as they abounded with a too insatiable Covetousness And the Spaniards although they had som reason to complain could not bee excused for rising up in Arms. Monsieur de Xeures grew much discontented and ashamed upon the report of this breaking out of Spain partly becaus hee knew what opinion went of him in the Court but chiefly becaus hee thought as justly hee might the Emperor would derive the fault upon him who whil'st hee was in Spain commanded with so absolute a power that it was commonly said The Emperor Don Carlos is King by right and Monsieur de Xeures in effect The Emperor beeing thus disquieted called a Council and desiring to have their advices hee propounded That they would consider what means was to bee vsed that Hee might go into Germanie and receiv that Crown which Hee so much desired and provide som remedie to settle the disturbances of Spain which was of no less importance to him for his Coronation could bee no longer suspended and the remedying of Spain ought not to bee differred Hee had of his Council in this occurrence Germanes Flemings Italians Aragoneses and Castillans and their opinions were as different as their Nations For the Germanes urged that it was repuisite his Majestie should continue his journie into Germanie The Italians said it was necessarie that hee should makeâ— a progress into Italie The Flemings were very importunate for him to staie in their Countrie The Aragoneses pleaded that Valencia was also risen up in Arms. And the Castillans used all means possible to persuade him to reâ—urn into Castillâ— The case beeing so general and nearly concerning so manie Kingdoms the Emperor did wisely to take the advice of manie But at last the resolution of the business was given by few as great Princes use to do in like occurrences The result of this Consultation was That the Emperor should continue his journie into Germanie and having received the Imperial Crown there to remain until hee had fully settled the affairs of that Countrie not being everie daie to return thither It was likewise resolved That his Majestie should send amiable and gracious Letters to all the Cities and Towns of Castilla requiring som of them to return unto themselvs and his service and expressing his thankfulness to others for their good intentions towards him That hee should desire and encharge the Nobles and Gentrie to favor and assist those of his Roial Council promising to all upon the faith of his Roial word that with all possible expedition hee would return into Castilla for the thought of the Emperor 's never returning into Spain bred in the Common people the boldness to commit such outrages and exorbitances Moreover it was determined That the Emperor should write unto the President and Council condoling their troubles and persecution commanding them withall that in one place or other six of them should alwaies bee about the Cardinal and hold Council To the end they might serv as a Refuge for the good people to appeal unto and bee a terror to the evil for if the Council omitted the doing of Justice the Roial Autoritie must needs fall And also That the Emperor should appoint two other Governors to bee joined in Commission with the Cardinal and those to bee men of noble extractions well experienced and advanced in years of generous dispositions powerful in estates but chiefly Natives of that Kingdom This advice seemed very sound and pertinent to the Emperor whereupon hee gave order it should bee put in execution accordingly and those whom they Voted to bee joined in Commission with the Cardinal were Don Fadrique Enriquez Lord High Admiral of Castilla and Don Inigo de Velasco Lord High Constable who were both antient Gentlemen of great generositie and gallantrie Which Election gave no small satisfaction to the Castillan partie for they had shewen themselvs in their commands not onely wise but valiant and were alwaies fortunate in their undertakings These Noblemen governed with such valour and prudence that the Emperor in his Letters to the Lord High Constable give 's him thanks for his services acknowledging that by his means hee was King of Castilla And indeed the Emperor said but what was true Besides all this his Majestie sent an especial Command That the subsidie which was granted him at the
Groyn should not bee exacted from those Cities which continued in their obedience to him nor from those which were willing to submit and bee reduced for it was his will and pleasure graciously to forgive it them This grace hee did likewise to the whole Kingdom That the Roial Revenue should bee allowed for the Taxes as during the Reigns of other Catholick Kings his Ancestors Hee resolved also to abrogate the sale farming and enhauncement of all Taxes and Impositions which indeed were very great and besides hee sent to offer and certifie That no Office in that Kingdom should bee conferred upon anie whomsoëver unless hee were a Native which if hee had granted when hee was desired these Commotions had never happened Of all this were ingrossed his Majestie 's Patents and Commissions of sufficient power Yet notwithstanding these three things were the principal grievances and most important reasons that Toledo and the other Cities alleged for excuse of their tumultuous risings The granting all these demands was not available enough to quiet their Commotions and reduce them to obedience for the Contrivers and Ring-leaders who had seduced the people into those mischievous practices finding profit in fishing in that troubled water hindered all they could that these graces of his Majestie might not com unto the people's knowledg and when they were known they gave out that they were vain promises and onely fained or framed by the Council becaus they were not able to do any thing els untill they had divided the people and then that they would fall upon them SECT XVIII ABout this time Letters were brought to Toledo from all the Cities concerning their Iunta or Assemblie and they all agreed it should bee as Toledo desired Don Pedro Lasso whom Toledo honored so much since his return from the Groyn where hee shewed such obstinacie in his resolution that they received him with great Solemnitie giving him the stile of the Deliverer of that Countrie Was appointed for the chief Commissioner of that Citie with him they sent Don Pedro de Ayala and two Iurates besides other Deputies of the Common-People Who resolved to take their Iournie the same daie Iohn de Padilla went to the succor of Segovia The Citie of Avila was pitched upon for this Assemblie more particularly becaus it was situate in the middle of old Castilla and the Kingdom of Toledo The Cities which made this Assemblie were Toledo Madrid Guadalaxara Soria Murciâ— Cuenca Segovia Avila Salamanca Toro Zamora Leon Valladolid Burgos Cuidad Rodrigo The Commissioners of all these Places beeing assembled they chose their Secretaries and other Officers correspondent The Assemblie was held in the Chapter of the Cathedral Church Don Pedro Lasso Commissioneâ— from Toledo and the Dean of Avila who was a native of Segovia were chosen Presidents Upon a table in the Chapter laie a Cross and the Evangelists whereon they made oath everie one to live and die in the King's Service and in favor of the Commonaltie And those that refused to do this in Avila were not onely ill treated in words but had their houses pulled down But this fortune onely befell one Gentleman named Don Antonio Ponze Knight of the order of Sant jago and son to the Prince Don Iohn his nurs The rest fearing the Peoples furie condescended and collogued with them to save their lives which were in no small danger In the middle of the Commissioners of this Assemblie was placed a little form whereon did sit a certain Cloath-worker named Pinilles with a wand in his hand and no Gentleman Commissioner or Ecclesiastick durst offer to speak one word untill this Cloath-worker had given him the sign by pointing to him with his wand So that those who took upon them to remedie the Kingdom were commanded by a mean inferior fellow a Cloath-worker Such was the violence and blindness of the Common People's passion The first thing they Ordered was to take awaie the staff from the Corregidor of Avila next they sent Letters to the Alcalde Ronquillo charging him not to set foot in the land of Segovia and condemning him to great penalties if hee did the contrarie SECT XIX HAving alreadie related the manner of the Commotions of the Cities and principall Towns of the Kingdom with their general Assemblie at Avila I will now tell you the successes of those unadvised and indiscreetly raised Tumults And in regard one of the most notorious Actors in these tragicall disorders was Don Antonio de Acunna Bishop of Zamora who is famous to this very daie for the strangeness of his disposition and manner of the death hee suffred which was not suitable to the dignitie of a Prelate but very answerable to his Actions since it was done with very great justification of the Emperor and by the Autoritie of Pope Clement the 7th as appear's upon Record in the Arches of Simancas which I have seen you shall briefly hear who this Bishop was and what his conditions During the time of Don Iohn the second his raign in Castilla lived in that Kingdom Don Luis Osorio de Acunia a Gentleman of eminent note and account father to Don Diego Osorio and this Don Antonio de Acunia to whom his father dying left the Arch-Deakonship of Valpuesta besides other meanes In these times hee beeing in service to their Catholick Majestie 's was sent by them Embassador into France after which the Bishoprick of Zamora was conferred upon him The King was not very well pleased with him becaus hee was of a turbulent Spirit a lover of broils impatient adventurously bold and one that did take more upon him then his profession and degree required Hee was naturally inclined to Arms his ambition was to make himself Lord and Master of Zamora where the Earl of Alva de Lista then lived son in law to the Duke of Alva a stout gallant Gentleman and a great lover of honor The Bishop and the Earl meeting about certain affairs betwixt them they grew to such odds that very good Mediators were not able to pacifie them Zamora beeing in Rebellion and paying no obedience but to the Junta or Assemblie the Bishop on one side and the Earl on the other used all means possible to draw the people to thâ—ir factions The Earl was better beloved and bore the greater sway in the Citie so that the Bishop was forced to leav it It made him half madd to lose his hous and so desperate seeing his Enemie prevail so far against him That hee presently went to Tordesillas where the Commissioners of the Iunta were then assembled with whom hee joyned in confederacie desiring them to assist him and furnish him with forces to beat the Earl of Alva out of Zamora They all received him with great respect and contentment thinking it an honor to their caus to have so eminent a Prelate amongst them they gave him men and Artillerie wherewith hee marched back towards Zamora The â—arl beeing informed of the manner of his
enemie's advance thought not fit to stay for him but quitting the Fort went and associated himself with the Cavaliers of the Loyal Partie as you shall hear Thence forwards the Bishop stuck close to the Iunta and the Farl as eagerly followed the King's counsel each of them so much favoring their Partie that there were not anie two more remarkable then they The Bishop was threescore years of age but as vigorous and lively as if hee had been but five and and twentie I was acquainted with one that knew him and received orders from him who told me that hee was excellent at handling his arms That hee had more then foure hundred Priests under his command all well armed and valiant men and that hee still charged at the head of them himself Saying Here my Priests The rest hereafter SECT XX. I Have told you in what manner Segovia was fortified the resolution of the Inhabitants the relief which they received from manie places notwithstanding Ronquillo's endeavors to hinder it how Toledo incouraged them with promises both of men and monie Madrid Guadalaxara and Salamanca did the like making their case their own Medina del Campo secured them their trading offering to bear what loss soëver they should sustein either of persons or goods At last the Citie of Avila seeing what Ronquillo did against Segovia and the adjacent Towns that hee entred into the Villages belonging to Avila taking killing and executing Justice in a severe manner and that by order of the Cardinal and the Council hee had taken from Segovia all the Places and Towns under its jurisdiction commanding them not to obey or bee anie waie subject to that Citie neither to furnish them with provisions anie more then if they were their enemies under pain of death and confiscation of goods giving them power and Autoritie to keep Justice amongst themselvs as beeing a distinct jurisdiction and other priviledges to the distruction of that Citie They assembled in Council and agreed to send a Petition in the name and with the subscriptions of the Officers of Justice the Regidores Gentrie Religious Persons and of all the Commonaltie humbly beseeching the Cardinal that hee would bee pleased to set a remedie to those disorders and not proceed with so much rigor against Segovia for that Citie would bee reduced sooner by fair means then by such severitie That hee would command Ronquillo to rais his Siege and that hee should not molest nor use such crueltie against Segovia The Cardinal and those of the Council did not weigh much this Petition of Avila which so incensed that Citie that thereupon they sent them word peremptorily that since they would not rectifie those disorders they were resolved to seek their own remedie Mean time Ronquillo was at Santa Maria de Nieva making what preparations hee could against Segovia making incursions into their territories and laying Ambuscado's for those that came out of the Citie It happened that two young men coming out of Segovia fell into the hands of Ronquillo's Guards who asking them whence they were and whither they went They answered That they were of Salamanca that they came from Segovia and were returning to their own homes At first the Guards were in the minde to let them go becaus they seemed to bee but poor fellows yet afterwards they laid hands on them and brought them before Ronquillo who asking them who they were whither they went and whence they came They said they were Carders who seeing Segovia streightned and trading dead they were upon their return to their ovvn houses Hee examined them severally concerning the manner of Tordesillas his death and they agreed not in their relation Ronquillo thereupon began to press them further demanding more and more more questions till at last one of them confessed he fetched the rope vvherevvith they dragged Tordesillas along the streets and the other that hee plucked him by the hair Upon this confession hee condemned them both to death one to bee dravvn and quartered the other vvho said hee pluck't him by the hair had first his hand cut off and then vvas hanged It seemed a dirâ—ct Judgment of heaven to put those men into the hands of the Justice and that they should confess vvithout torture SECT XXI AFter this Ronquillo met vvith one Francisco Peralta a sufficient man and vvell beloved in Segovia but not thinking fit to execute Justice upon him presently sent him prisoner upon on an Ass to a Castle belonging to the Bishop of Palencia But meeting by the waie a man that was very zâ—alous for the caus of the Commonaltie and satisfying his curiositie by telling him the occasion of his imprisonment through his means hee was rescued by the Common People of Duenias and taken away from the Alguazil that had charge of him who had so much a doe to escape with his life and Peralta after courteous entertainment in the Town had a hors given him vvheâ—evvith hee went to Burgos which then was declared for the Commonaltie Iohn de Padilla you have heard marched out of Toledo at the head of two thousand men well armed and having passed the Port de la Tablada hee came within sight of Segovia where in a Plain not far distant hee pitch't his camp the next daie hee sent a Trumpetter to Ronquillo with a peremptorie message to bid him get him gon if not that hee would forth with put in execution what the Citie of Toledo had Commanded him Hereupon Ronquillo retreated to Antonio de Fonseca at Arevalo and so they fled both together not beeing able to withstand Iohn de Padilla's Forces SECT XXII THe Cardinal President and those of the Council labored all they could to persuade the Queen Mother to signe certain orders which they would send throughout the Kingdom against the disturbers of it becaus the greatest Autoritie which those of the Junta pretended to have was to saie that whatsoever they did was for the Queen's service whose that Kingdom was and other things to that purpose The President therefore and some of the Council went to Tordesillas and spake publickly with the Queen who was very merrie with them but complained saying that for fifteen years past shee could never know the truth of anie thing then turning towards the Marquis of Denia shee said this Marquis told mee the first lye At which words hee fell upon his knees and with tears in his eyes hee said it is true Madam I did tell you a lye but it was to moderate the violence of your passions and now I give you to understand that the King your father is dead and I did bury him Shee answered Bishop believ mee All that I see or hear mee thinks is but a dreame The President answered Madam in your hands under God lyeth the remedie of this Kingdom and your Highness will do a greater miracle in Signing what wee demand then ever did San Francisco Shee bid them go to bed and come againe next daie The daie following
that everie Deputie of a Ward should take four or five of the said names in writing and go with a Notarie publick to their respectivâ— houses or lodgings requiring them to meet the next daie in the cardinalâ—s hous where hee should tell them what further they were to do Which beeing done accordingly those of the Council that could not escape â—as divers did failed not to com to the Cardinal's Pallace where the Fâ—ier with his Captains about him notified and commanded them in the name of the Iunta to go with them to Tordesillas and to execute no more the offiâ—e of Counsellors that beeing there they should know further what they were to do and that there was no fear of their lives but their goods and estates he could not promise to secure Whereunto they made answer That they held their Offices and Charge from his Mâ—jestie's own hands whom they had served and did serv and that although they were taken they would not go with them unless they were carried away by force This was the best answer the Frier could get at that time so hee returned to Tordesillas but was not long before hee came back again to Valladolid with other Letters and Orders as shall bee seen hereafter SECT XXV IN this coniuncture arrived an express from Flanders vvitâ— dispatches from the Emperor Letters for the Cities of the Kingdom and his Majestie 's Commissions and Orders to Don Inigo de Velasco Lord high Constable of Castilla and Leon and Don Fadrique Enriquez Lord Admiral of Castilla autoâ—ising and Commanding them joyntly vvith the Cardinal Adriano to undertake the charge and care of governing and managing the affaires of that Kingdom untill his returne In his Letters the Emperor declared his exceeding sorrovv and discontent for the troubles and insurrections in that Kingdom notvvithstanding the great affection hee alvvaies expressed tovvards them That his good vvill vvas so ill requited and his favors no better accepted That they had failed in that fidelitie vvherevvith like good and Loyall Subjects they had alvvaies served the Kings his Predecessors Yet hee could not bee persuaded but some particular persons for their private â—nterests had been the occasion of all those disorders And That in regard one of the principal things at which the Kingdom was aggreived had been his conferring of the government upon a stranger although the prudence and uprightness of the most reverend Cardinal of Tortosa could not in all reason but give them satisfaction to stop the current of those disorders which increased daily in that Kingdom and to provide for the good government thereof and the Peace of his Subjects with great deliberation and advice during his absence which should not bee long hee had ordered and appointed to rule joyntly with the Cardinal as Vice-Kings and Governors of that Kingdom the Lord Admiral and Lord high Constable of Castilla beeing both persons indued with wisdom and other parts requisite for so high a charge and that they should take upon them all the care trouble c. And that he had given them particular charge if the Kingdom was anie waie aggriev'd to send for the Commissioners or Burgesses of the Cities that they might demand redress before the Governors And withall hee Commanded the Cities to bee obedient unto them The Emperor wrote also to the Lord high Constable endeering him by the acknowledgment of his former services to undertake and execute with like fidelitie resolution and cheerfulness the joynt charge with the Cardinal and the Lord Admirall of pacifying the present tumults and insurrections reducing his Subjects to their former obedience and the governing and managing the affairs of that Kingdom until his return Dated in Bruxels the 9th of September 1520. SECT XXVI IF these Noble-men had been made governors before the Emperor's departure out of Spain questionless the Commotions had never come to that height But they were now too far gon beyond their recoverie for although some were very well pleased with this Election others were not The Lord high Constable as wee shall see was not very well beloved in Burgos The Cardinal with the President and Council were not onely not beloved but extreamely hated and abhorred in manie Cities Onely in Valladolid the Cardinal was much respected and honored neither would they consent to his departure out of the Citie although hee often desired it but they offered themselvs all to bee at his service esteeming him as it were a Saint and they kept guards at the Gates of the Citie lest the Cardinal or anie of the Council or Judges should goe away Yet for all their guards El Licenciado Zapata made his escape in a Benedictan Munk's habit having shaved his crown and his beard and divers others of the Council likewise who durst not attend the determination of the Junta perhaps their own ill consciences did accuse them and filled their hearts with the apprehension of danger which onely make the sinners flie though no bodie doth pursue them And indeed in offices and charges of that nature some men are monstruously insufferable SECT XXVII FEw daies after the Dominican Frier was returned to the Junta and had given an account of his indeavors at Valladolid concerning the suspending of the Council Roial and the apprehending of the Counsellors They sent another Frier Alonso de Medina Professor of Divinitie of the Order of St Francis with second Orders from the Junta to Valladolid Where beeing arrived hee caused the Commonaltie and Officers of the Citie to assemble at the Monastrie of St Francis which beeing done accordingly the Frier went up into the Pulpit and shewed the Letters of Credence which hee brought from the Iunta in whose name hee told them they were againe required to send those of the Council-Royall Prisoners to Tordesillas and that those of the Council of Warre who were fled and absented themselvs should thenceforwards bee payed no Salarie nor enjoy any of their Revenues But that they should all bee punished according to their severall deserts And that her Highness the Queen's pleasure and absolute Command was it should bee â—o in regard it was found expedient for the good of the Kingdom Otherwise the offenders and wicked Counsellors the Perpetrators of so manie evils in the Kingdom should escape unpunished and the poor oppressed People remain without Justice Many other reasons hee aleadged which were not unpleasing to the People who were filled with a desire of seeing the punishment hee mentioned inflicted And having ended his discours hee produced and read aloud to them a copie signed by three publick Notaries of what passed between the Queen and the Commissioners of all the Cities and Towns in the Kingdom that had Votes in Parlament Who beeing altogether in her presence gave her to understand by the mouth of the Doctor Zuniga of Salamanca the grievances of the Kingdom having been pilled and polled by strangers since her â—ather's death and out of the sens of their opression
Guards went away the daie before by two and two After which time hee sent to entreat the Citie to suffer his goods to bee brought unto him assuring them that his going away should bee no waie prejudicial to them that hee was in a manner enforced so to absent himself from them both for respect of his Majestie 's service and that hee had not left him wherewithal to defraie his charges in the Citie but wheresoëver hee was they might bee confident hee would do all that might be for theirâ— and the whole Kingdom 's good Valladolid with much complement and civil expressions sent him all his Linnens and other houshold-stuff to the Town of Rioseco whither hee was gone in exspectation of the Lord Admiral About this time there were great differences betwixt those of the Commonaltie and their Captain the Infante of Granada They would have killed him manie of them coming violently against him with their Arms and giving him very reproachful and abusive language As hee advanced into the market place with above six hundred Lances to apprehend Alonso de Vera they saie it was a Bridle-maker and som such like audacious fellows that were the occasion of stirring the people to this insolent attempt The Iunta beeing much displeased â— ereat ordered that the Infante of Granada should leav the Office of Captain becaus it was too great a charge to allow him everie month 30000 Maradiz alleging moreover that none but a native of the Citie ought to execute that Command But the Infante giving notice of his discontent by command of the Iunta this matter was put to Votes and hee having the major part on his side it was ordered that hee should bee confirmed in his Office but withal that hee should pardon Alonso de Vera with the rest that had offended him and strict command was given that the people should make no more meetings nor demand any thing from thenceforward with Arms in their hands but by waie of Justice and Reason That presently under pain of one hundred lashes all those Vagabands and fellows that had no professions should avoid the Citie This was proclaimed in Valladolid on St Luke's daie SECT XXXII WHil'st the Commonaltie of Valladolid was in consultation whether the Infante should continue in his Charge or not arrived a Commissioner from the Junta desiring that Citie in their names to agree and bee all as one and not to give waie to their particular passions which might breed division among them to the great weakning and disenabling of that Citie for they were now to consider that they had manie enemies who had already begun one of the highest and greatest attempts in the world That if their hearts were not united stirred up therewith they with their wives and children should bee reduced to most wretched slaverie That with couragious mindes and upright desires they ought to prosecute this matter and bee assistant to those Gentlemen who were already engaged therein and boüy them up out of that gulf of miserie whereinto they were plunged For the Lords of the Iunta considering that Valladolid was the most noble principal Citie of all Spain and that it had been the principal autor of their good as in former times exposing and hazarding their lives and fortunes to many eminent dangers They thought it great reaâ—on to give them an account of what they had done in the Iunta To whiâ—h effect they had sent to let them know how that neither night nor daie they ceased laboring in the advancement of the service of God and the King and the publick good of the Nation neither eating nor drinking in quiet but still watching with much care and studie how God and the King might have their due respect and honor and the Kingdom bee preserved in libertie Renouncing all private affairs leaving houses goods wives and children at random to attend and applie themselvs with more fervencie to procure the people's good without Interest That before the Iunta sate at Tordesillas they all took a solemn oath that no man should procure for himself wife children friends or kindred anie Lands Offices or benefits whatsoëver to the end that they might loiâ—lly and without Interests serv the publick That every one of the Iunta was a Gentleman and as free as the King himself from all the tributes taxes that were imposed upon the meaner subjects that neither for respect of what they might hope to gain or to free themselvs of that which others did paie they had exposed themselvs to so great hazard beeing no more then fiftie that did help or any waie advance this business which so nearly concerned all That without them the Iunta could do little the case bâ—eing weightie and dangerous That they trusted in God within eight daies the Iunta would have taken such a cours that Castilla should enjoie as much peace quietness and plentie as formerly for they wanted nothing but the Articles of the several Cities of the Kingdom to extract the best out of them which should bee printed and and sent through the whole Kingdom that every one might see the good which proceeded from the Iunta The Articles which were purged in the Iunta whereby they thought as they saie here to remedie and restore Castilla to its former condition shal bee punctually set down in the following Book In Valladolid they much rejoiced at this discours and were highly taken with the promises made them by the Iunta which filled them with a thousand good hopes but within seven months they found them all fruitless They offered willingly their estates and goods and to expose their lives in the defens of the Holie Iunta as they called it SECT XXXIII THe Cardinal and those of the Council prudently desired first to proceed with mildness and endeavor by fair persuasions to quench or at least mitigate the furie of that unnatural â—ire to that effect they sent to entreat the Iunta to assemble rather in Valladolid where the Council then was that there things should bee remedied to their liking and content Those of the Iunta having intelligence of this message sent one to meet him that brought it before hee could reach to Avila with command to charge him in their names under pain of death not to com into the Citie The Council seeing that they could prevail nothing by fair means sent to command and require the Junta not to assemble at all in regard it was a thing forbidden by the King and the Laws of the Kingdom without their Sovereign's leav That if they had anie thing to desire they should repair to the Council at Valladolid and they would join with them in Petition to the Emperor for the obteining and fulfilling their demands This also they refused to hear and sent the like message back to the Council by the Commendador Hinestrosa to whom they denied both audience and entrance into the Citie From that time forwards the Junta called them of Council Tyrants
the same trade as the former his name was Sorolla a pestilent audacious villain who amongst other wicked facts went to the Citie Hall when they were consulting about the Election of Iurates and with a confident impudence told those of the Regimiento in the name of his Confederacie that if they did not admit them to bee of the Regimiento those stones should flow with blood And his threats were accomplished for they made their Election according to the rights and custom of the Citie Whereat the people were so enraged that they committed those outrages which shall bee set down hereafter In this distemper and extravagant hare-brainedness Don Diego de Mendosa found the mindes of the people in Valencia when hee came to bee their Governor Sorolla Vicente Periz one Iohn Caro and other leading men of the Confederacie understanding that the Vice-Roy had been fully informed of their demeanors and of the state of things but yet dissembled the knowledg thereof out of fear considering what power and credite their Confederacie had with the people they complotted that Sorolla should hide himself in his own hous and that the rest should go up and down the Citie and acquaint all his friends and allies that the Vice-Roy had sent for Sorolla and that as they were informed hee either had already hanged him or was then about it and that for manie respects they ought not to let such a man suffer who was the defendor and mainteiner of the publick good This report beeing thus cunningly spread through the whole Citie so incensed the people's mindes that in an instant all was up in Arms Drums beating and Colours flying and in this manner they marched to the Vice-Roy's hous crying out Let the Vice-Roy die if hee deliver us not Sorolla The Vice-Roy and som Gentlemen that were in the hous at that time with him besides his servants defended the windows and doors where the assault was hottest all daie long and night beeing com as God would have it a good woman one of Sorolla's neighbors who having seen him in his hous and hearing that the people were storming the Vice-Roy's â—alace for hanging Sorolla shee went to the Bishop of Segorbe who lived close by and told him that shee had seen Sorolla safe and sound in his own hous but a little before Hereupon the Bishop went presently to Sorolla's hous which hee caused to bee broken open and finding where hee had hidden himself hee chid him throughly for his mischievous villanie but hee excusing himself said hee durst not go out of his doors The Bishop immediately gave order to saddle his mules and riding upon one himself and Sorolla on the other with manie Halbards attending him hee carried him quite through the Citie to the Vice-Roy's hous to the end the people might see Sorolla was neither dead nor a prisoner in the Vice-Roy's hous The Confederates seeing him alive with much joie they raised their siege which had continued all daie and almost all night After this they rescued a man likewise condemned to death for hainous crimes whom in regard hee had manie friends and kindred in the Cite the Vice-Roy had commanded to bee hanged assoon as he had confessed lest his friends should petition for him before hee was dead The thirteen Sindicos and Sorolla gave out that this man was condemned and to bee executed wrongfully which the people hearing went preâ—ently all armed to the prison and released him Tâ—en beeing possessed that the Vice Roy was about raising men to subdue them they environed his hous and put him to his shifts that hee was forced to send his Ladie out of the Citie and hee not daring to staie long after her with much ado escaped riding behinde another Gentleman upon a mule Hee having left the Citie in this manner all the Nobles and Gentrie followed him with their wives and Children retiring every one to their own houses The Vice-Roy beeing of kin to the Earl of Cozentayna carried the Vice-Queen to his hous The other Gentlemen having left their wives and children in secure places with what arms horses and men they could get togetâ—er repaired som to the Vice-Roy others to the Infante Don Enrique and to the Duke of Segorbe Don Alonso agreeing all unanimously to adhere to the Emperor's service against the Rebels All these Gentlemen's houses within the Citie the people plucked down or burned and plundered their goods a thousand more abominable mischiefs they did which I am ashamed to relate so cruel and unruly is that Beast the Common People when it hath broke the bridle They armed all the slaves and received manie Moriscos for souldiers From Cozentayna the Vice-Roy went to Xativa the Inhabitants of that Citie desired him to give them leav to muster upon St Bartholomew's daie which hee denying they marched out of the Citie in despight and contempt of him and mustered before his face The Vice-Roy hereupon fearing a second trick of Valencia retired into the Fort which those of Xativa perceiving they proclaimed that no bodie under pain of death should furnish him with victuals or anie provision whatsoëver Hereupon hee went from thence to Denia becaus if hee was pursued by land hee might escape thence by sea Those of Valencia hearing that the Vice-Roy was fled to Denia after that Xativa had rebelled against him resolved to seiz upon all the King's Revenues and Customs which to effect they went to the Custom houses and broke the Records took away the Books and spoke words which were wors then their deeds Those of Valencia seeing themselvs masters of the Citie the Vice-Roy and all the Gentrie beeing gone they ordered the Government thereof They appointed thirteen persons to govern and defend it whom they call'd the Thirteen of the Confederacie These Thirteen chose for the General of their Armie Iohn Caro who was a Sugar-baker and held intelligence with the whole Kingdom Insomuch that assoon as the news was heard of the Rebellion of Valencia and Xativa and that the Vice-Roy was fled presently the Citie of Oribuela the Marquisat of Helche did the like and at length there was no Citie or Town but rebelled also in imitation of Valencia treating the Gentrie and nobler Citizens with the like dis-respect and tyrannie And the Gentrie with their servants arms goods and all they could get joined together in their King's service So that which is a thing worthie of note and esteem there was not one Gentleman nor person of any birth or qualitie through that whole Kingdom that sided with that vile Commonaltie but valiantly and unanimously ventured their lives and fortunes in their Prince's service although hee was out of the Kingdom they suffered patiently their houses to bee pulled down their goods to bee burned their towns destroied and all to shew their fidelitie to their King The Citie of Oribuela chose for their Captain one Palomares who made himself so absolute Lord of those people beeing but a poor Serving-man that oftentimes hee
drew out five thousand men into the field to fight though hee paied dearly for it afterwards The Confederates having lost their respect to the Vice-Roy agreed to lose likewise the fear of God They made a Conspiracie amongst them the result whereof was to rob and take away all the riches of the Monasteries and Churches Which beeing discovered the loial Partie desired Don Rodrigo de Mendosa Marquess of Cenete to take upon him the Autoritie of the Justice for the King which hee did and like a good resolute Gentleman hee hung up three or four of the chief Conspirators and so the robberie which they intended was prevented and the Citie quieted for certain daies But soon after the Confederates marched into the field towards Denia to drive the Vice-Roy out of the Kingdom Ten thousand men in Arms Valencia furnished to that effect The Clergie with their Hoods upon their heads and Crosses in their hands stood all at the gate of San Vicente and as the Confederates passed by them the Priests and Friers said to them Sirs Misericordia Misericordia and they answered swearing Cuerpo de Dios Iusticia Iusticia And indeed God's Justice did abundantly fall upon their heads for the greatest part of those that answered so were either killed in battle or executed by Justice afterwards Iohn Caro and Sorolla were Captains of this Armie The Confederates having the sole power and command of Valencia Iohn Caro was sent with a sufficient force to besiege the Castle of Corbera six leagues from Valencia which while hee was battering with some peeces of Artillerie Don Geronimo Vique who at that time was at a Monasterie of Friers of the order of San Geronimo half a league from the Castle desired to speak with him who overcom with his persuasions and powerful reasons raised his siege Which the Thirteen of the Confederacie hearing took tâ—e Office of Captain General from Iohn Caro and conferred it upon Sorolla By this time the Vice-Roy with some forces which hee had raised was came to Gandia to succor the Castle of Corbera And Sorolla with his Armie went seeking the Vice-Roy as hee passed hee ruined and spoyled all the places that belonged to Don Geronimo Vique becaus hee had persuaded Iohn Caro to leave the Castle At last coming to Gandia hee met with the Vice-Roy's Armie and gave them battle wherein manie were killed on both sides but at length the Confederates won the daie and the Vice-Roy with the Earl of Oliva and divers other Lords and Gentlemen that remained alive were inforced to retreat to Denia whither Sorolla with his men still puâ—sued them And beeing arrived at a town called Vergel one league short of Denia Mossen Baltazar Vives Lord of that place refreshed them and afterwards conveied them safe to Denia where hee imbarked for Peniscola whence they wâ—nt to the town of Morella where they raised more men Sorolla returned to Valencia where hee entered with his Armie very joiful and content with his conquest By this time the Duke of Segorbe Don Alonso de Aragon was com into the field with above four thousand Foot and divers gentlemen with their servants and others on hors-back to the number of one hundred and sixtie whereof was Captain Don Jayme Ferrer son to Don Luis Ferrer who was Lord Steward to the Queen Donia Iuana at Tordesillas And beeing quartered at Almenara a league and half from Monviedro with intent to besiege it which was the strongest and most considerable Fort the Confederates had but four leagues from Valencia notice was given him that the enemie appeared with no less then eight thousand Foot and some Hors fleshed with their Victorie over the Vice-Roy and recruited with many fresh men from Valencia Whereupon the Duke sent Don Iayme with the Hors to discover and according to his advice hee would follow as speedily as might bee with the Foot This was carried with so much discretion and valor that the Duke gave them an absolute rout leaving above five thousand men dead upon the place for which it is called to this daie The field of slaughter This Victorie restored the Kingdom which if it had otherwise succeeded the Common People had become absolute Masters without any contradiction Things beeing in this condition the Vice-Roy returned with a fresh supplie and incamped his Armie about Alcira and Xativa The People were somwhat amazed and startled at the rout the Duke had given them Yet those of Alcira and Xativa marched out very strong to meet with the Vice-Roy and finding him a league from the Citie they gave him battle the conflict was so hot and so well maintained on both sides that it was hard to saie which had the advantage the combate continued all daie and at night both Armies beeing very wearie and great store of men hurt they were both glad to retreat seeking refreshment and medicaments to dress their wounded men About this time the Cities of Oribuela and Alicante with all the Towns and Places under their jurisdiction associated themselvs with the People of Valencia But all the Gentrie and persons of qualitie followed their Governor Don Pedro Masa who was inforced to quit those two Cities and the Castle of Oribuela whereof hee was Governor But Don Iayme de Puyg a valorous Gentleman who was Lievtenant of the Castle under the Governor with fifteen or sixteen men defended himself gallantly against the furie of the Common people when in their violentest heat they killed burned and sacked the Gentlemen's houses The Marquis de los Velez Don Pedro Faxardo Adelantado Mayor that is Lord Deputie or Lord Lievtenant of the Kingdom of Murcia having notice of the rising of Oribuela levied what force hee could and marched to reliev the distressed Gentrie having order from the Emperor to assist the Governor of Oribuela upon all occasions Don Pedro Maca with his hors beeing joyned with the Marquis de los Velez the Common People of Oribuela and the jurisdiction thereof who were above eight thousand marched in pursuit of them to the top of a mountain called Rajolar with intent to give them battle their intilligence assuring them that they were far the greater number The Governor advised with the Marquis about relieving the Castle of Oribuela which was in great necessitie every one of his Troopers carrying in a sack of provision behinde him whilest the Marquess amused the enemie with skirmishes for hee doubted not to bee back with him time enough to discomfit them This was don accordingly and beeing drawn up in Batalia the Marquis secured the waie to the Castle that the Governor might go thither with his Hors and having put in his provisions return to the battle which was dexterously and successively effected with the slaughter of above four thousand of the Rebells So the Marquis cleared all the Countrie about Oribuâ—la But seeing how infected the whole Kingdom was and what multitudes of people were com in to the Commoners encouraged by their Victorie for it is
the Gentlemen with him in the Camp desired the Marquis to venter himself and indeavor by going into the Citie and reasoning with the people to defer the execution of this horrid treason Although it seemed an act of great timeritie as indeed it was for him to expose himâ—elf to the furie of a â—eople so mutinous and bent upon mischief yet the Marquis valorously did as hee was required And it was miraculous how his presence and fair deportment pacified the inhabitants minds and brought them to submit to reason The Adversaries beeing mad at the good success the Marquis had wrought within Xativa conspired how Vicente Periz their Captain might secretly convey himself into the Citie and gathering as manie of the people as hee could together apprehend the Marquis This was effected and Vicente Periz with a multitude of well armed men went to assault the Marquis who beeing but slenderly provided and weakly attended and seeing a squadron of these thievs advance towards him dissembled and made as if hee knew them not asking them thus Are you our friends do you com to serv the King To which they answered neither yea nor no but seemed to bee daunted at the very sight of the Marquis Hereupon with much seeming affection hee spake aloud Nay then my boies Viva el Rey viva el Rey which said hee fell upon them and took away their Arms. Presently upon this the rest of the enemies discovered themselvs and began to fight discharging their Cross-bows and Musket-shots as thick as hail against the Marquis and his men which the Marquis seeing hee cried with a loud voice O you Traitors now force is requisite and flinging down his staff hee took a pike and saying God preserv the King and let the Traitors die hee fell in amongst them fighting so desperately that before his men could com to second him hee had made them turn their backs but at last being over-powered and wounded in the left arm hee was taken prisoner and carried by the people into the Castle where at that time the Duke of Calabria was also prisoner who received the Marquis with much honor The Marquis was afterwards put into a Dungeon under St George's tower where they kept him close prisoner som time thinking thereby to make the Vice-Roy his brother condescend to what they listed But at last hee was released and perceiving the Countrie to bee infected beyond hope of remedie hee retired to his own hous Those of Valencia found a great miss of him and seeing most of the people of the Citie becom of the Confederacie Vicente Periz having possessed himself of la Huerta and other places thereabouts the Iurates and Chapter of the Church called el Asseu sent to beseech him that hee would bee pleased to condole the miserie of that Citie and bee tender of the King's service The Marquis was at Ayora a town of his upon receipt of this message hee took his waie towards Valencia Thursdaie 27 Februarie 1522 the Tyrant Vicente Perez trusting to the multitude of his partie within the Citie took the boldness to enter into Valencia with intention to plunder it and kill all that should resist him and having intrenched and fortified himself within the walls to that effect it struck great terrour into the loial partie But the Marquis well Armed came to a large place called la Placa del Asseu and caused to bee rung that bell which they used to ring in Uproars to the end all those of the loial partie might repair thither to him where hee staied until noon having used all fair means possible to pacifie without blood-shed the advers partie but seeing nothing could avail hee took a view of his men and what Arms they had and finding his no competent force to encounter Vicente Periz who had made himself very strong hee betook himself to his invention and policie which succeeded so advantagiously that Vicente Periz came short of his design all his men beeing dis-banded and returned to their own dwellings This was a happie daie for Valencia for if Periz his plot had taken hee had been absolute master of the whole Citie and ever after that daie was called the Thursdaie of Vicente Periz Yet staying within the Citie hee rallied again and what with those of Valencia what with the fresh supplies which were sent him from Xativa and Algezira by the disguised Prince Don Iuan or Iuan de Vilvao who went thither to that purpose Hee was so strongly recruited that hee gave the Marquis Battle in the streets of Valencia and had won the daie undoubtedly if the Marquis had not shewed as much policie as resolution In the Combate the Marquis pursuing Vicente Periz who was glad to take his heels was knocked down by a great pot full of earth which a woman flung from the top of a hous upon his head which though it killed him not out-right did stun and bruis him very sore Hee was presently taken up again by his servants but his partie supposing him to bee dead lost courage and withal the advantage they had gained of the enemâ—e which hee perceiving assoon as hee was com again to himself ran amongst them saying If the Marquis bee dead the King is alive These words put new vigor into the hearts of his despairing men who following the Marquis gave a fresh charge to the Confederates so hot that they were glad to hous themselvs which proved no Sanctuarie for there they were killed and taken not beeing able to make resistance Vicente Periz had his head presently struck off This Victorie quieted the Citie of Valencia vvhich vvas so infected vvith the poison of Rebellion that in the very Cloisters and Monasteries there was as much division and passion as elswhere insomuch that one part praied God to favor the Confederates the other to give the Cavaliers the Victorie The disguised Prince exspected a quite contrarie success hoping by the death of the Marquis and the routing of his partie to reign victoriously in Valencia but God who had otherwise decreed the Event made him likewise fall into the hands of the Marquis the 19th of Maie 1522 who commanded him to bee hanged drawn and quartered and his head to bee set upon the point of Lance. And thus that villanous head was crowned who of an infamous Jew and abominable Sorcerer would have made himself King of Spain After this grew several other Commotions in that Kingdom but nothing near so dangerous which I shall omit now to particularize in regard I am called away by those of Castilla SECT XXXVI THe Earl of Salvatierra and other Mountaniers infected the people of the Mountains of Burgos as far as Alava and Vitoria with other places of la Rioxa and Burgos was very near revolting also All which was opposed by the Lord High Constable not becaus the Emperor commanded him so to do for hee received no orders from his Majestie to that effect till afterwards but moved with the magnanimitie of his own
generous spirit and the sens of Loialtie which was Hereditarie to that noble familie I do not finde that any of the Grandees of Castilla were very forward to break the ice in this undertaking though afterwards like honest men they all set their helping hands The Lord High Constable at first prudently feared the Event and was loth to engage himself in so perillous an enterprise hazarding no less then his life and whole estate in endeavouring to oppose so manie especially without arms monie or order from the Emperor For the enemies were very manie and powerful no less then thirteen of the most considerable Cities of Castilla with divers other Towns and Villages beeing declared for the Commonaltie besides that many Gentlemen of qualitie great estates much animated against the Emperor and his Ministers had involved themselvs in the same Interest It vvas an attempt of so much consideration and danger that the other Grandees thought it the best vvay seeing they vvere not able to do otherwise to sit still and look on and manie of them advised the Lord High Constable to do the like But his Ladie Donia Maria de Tovar onely daughter and heir to Don Luis de Tovar Marquis of Berlanga beeing one of the discreetest and most magnanimous Ladies in all Spain of her time was not of the opinion of those that gave her husband that Counsel but she never ceased representing to him the advancement of his Majestie 's service and that for the good of the Kingdom hee ought to resist and suppress the exorbitances of the insulting Commoners although hee put himself to the hazard of losing both life and fortune in regard hee bare the Office of Lord High Constable Captain General and the second person of the Kingdom next his Majestie The Dutchess beeing at her own hous at Haro wrote to the Lord High Constable her husband this ensuing Letter which is worthie to bee Chronicled The Dutchesse's letter to the Lord high Constable YOur Letter I received by Pedro de Velasco And my opinion is since his Majestie from the place where hee is doth what hee can to give you his power and Revenue here That you determine to preserv it For if hee lose his right no wonder if you and all those that have done what they were obliged to do bee dispossest of your's But if you maintain his interest you and his other Servants will bee all secured That which in my judgment your Lordship and the Lord Admiral are now to do is to raise men and monie with all possible expedition and trie your fortunes I write to Pedro de Melgosa to use all means and shifts that may bee to procure you monie The greater the danger more glorious is the attempt Trust in our Lord God for since herein you doe both him and the King service bee confident hee will bee favourable and give a blessing to your indeavors So becaus I intend to write more at large to you by the Treasurer I rest praying God to preserv your Lordship's most Illustrious person with more tenderness then I wish to my self From Haro this 19th of June 1520. Finis Libri Tertii THE CIVIL WARS OF SPAIN THE FOURTH BOOK SECT I. THere is no Republick or Change of Government whatsoëver so barbarous as to bee ignorant how important and necessarie a Cement Concord is to make it long subsist Wherefore those of the Iunta dreading and not without caus the dangeâ— wherein they stood desired the Citie of Valladolid to agree and bee all of one heart for the high consequence of the matter wherein they were ingaged did require it promising them that within fevv daies they should see the Ordinances which with incessant labor and watching the Holie Iunta had agreed to publish and dispers through the whole Kingdom whereby they hoped to make that Republick flourish as one of the most happie and best governed in the whole world The people were big with glorious hopes of injoying a second golden Age and those of the Iunta were so well pleased with the thanks and applaus of the People that their Ordinances beeing finished they resolved to send them to the Emperor by two Gentlemen and a Frier not doubting but therefore his Majestie would confer som honorable dignities upon them But what these were I will not mention onely I may say that hee was so incensed at their message that they held it a great mercie they escaped with their lives They wrote moreover a kinde of requisitorie letter for the Cities and Towns where their Embassadors were to pass and therein they inclosed their Letters to the Emperor with the Articles and Ordinances which in the name of the Kingdom they desired his Majestie to confirm and though already I have declared the substance thereof I will set them down in the same form they sent them that the curious and patient may read and see the pretensions of the Commonalties and what the Kingdom demanded Let every one judg what reason they had for my own part I will neither excuse nor condemn them but onely relate faithfully the truth which is as much as can bee required of mee considering my office In their Letters to the Emperor they give his Majâ—stie an account of all the troubles and insurrections of the Kingdom which they told him proceeded from the evil Counsel which his Majestie entertained about his Roial Person who for their disordinate Covetousness private passions and interests besides other sinister ends they said might more properly bee styled the Deceivers Cheaters and Enemies of his Majestie 's Kingdoms and the publick good thereof then Counsellors such as they ought to bee For they were the occasion that the Kingdom of Castilla which abounded in riches and all other things that could bee required of the most opulent and flourishing Kingdoms of the World was now beecom the poorest and most miserable of all the neighboring Kingdoms Which did not onely concern the publick but was also particularly prejudicial to his Majestie 's Roial Patrimonie and which was insufferable That the desolation of his Majestie 's Kingdoms and the exhausting of his treasure to his own exceeding inconvenience and the ruine of his subjects was to no other purpose then to enrich his evil Counsellors and divers other persons strangers who bare no affection to his Majestie nor had any zeal to advance his service or the publick good but to build their own fortunes Next they complained that the Commissioners of several Cities who desired his Majestie in the name of the Kingdom at Santjago and the Groyn not to demand any Subsidies were by his Counsel sentenced rather worthie of punishment then audience and order given that they should not bee admitted to sit in Parlament but bee confined and banished som of them to the remotest parts of the Kingdom That since his Majestie 's departure out of the Kingdom the Cardinal with the President and rest of the Council had given Commissions to Antonio de Fonseca
and the Alcalde Ronquillo to sack and make desolate the Citie of Segovia notwithstanding they sent to excuse and submit themselvs to the Council and that becaus of their so rigorous proceeding they sent to Toledo and other Cities for assistance who before they raised any forces to succour them desired the Cardinal and Council by waie of Petition to deal more favorably with those of Segovia but receiving no satisfactorie answer they sent an Armie into the field They aggravated the crueltie of Antonio de Fonseca in burning Medina whereby the Town was endammaged above two millions of Ducates and which occasioned the rising of divers other places They declared how the Queen had commanded the Iunta to remove from Avila to Tordesillas That they had undertaken the care of the Queen's person and put the Marquis of Denia and his Ladie from her holding them destructive to the advancement of the publick good They alleged reasons for dissolving the Council which his Majestie had settled before his departure And why they paied their Armie out of his Majestieâ—s Revenues At last they desired his Majestie would bee pleased to grant and confirm all those Articles which their Embassadors should present him from the Kingdom the intent and scope of them beeing meerly for his good and the peaceable Government by regulating and repairing the miseries and great dammages that had been occasioned through the evil Counsel of those which thitherto had abused and mis-led his Majestâ—e urging moreover that for the benefit of the Publick and the improving of his Roial Patrimonie it was necessarie and expedient that until such time as his Majestie should appoint other persons of better temper and uprighter intentions to reside in his High Council then the former were his Majestie should give power to those Cities and Towns which had Vote in Parlament to provide and see to the Administration of Justice and other things wherein those of his Council ought to have been more circumspect and moderate And also that hee would revoke the Commissions and Autoritie which hee had sent to the then ruling Governors becaus they were men whom the Kingdom could not endure Besides this letter to the Emperor they sent another to those of the Citie where hee then was desiring them to join with them in supplication to his Majestie and procure his consent and approbation of all the Kingdom 's desires in regard they tended to his Majestie 's service the publick good of the Kingdom the increasing of his Roial Patrimonie and were exceedingly conducing to a peaceable and quiet government Dated from Tordesillas the 20th of October 1520. Under the the Letter was written I Lope de Pallares Secretarie of the Parlament and Iunta of the Kingdom caused this to bee written by their Command SECT II. ARTICLES Of The KINGDOM DON CARLOS and DONIA IUANA c. To our Infantes well-beloved Children Brothers and Dukes Greeting Know yee that for the remedying and repairing the great dammages and exorbitancies which have been and are in our Kingdoms of Castilla and Leon by reason of the former evil Counsel and Government of our said Kingdoms The Commissioners or Procuradores of those Cities and Towns that have Vote in Parlament are assembled as becometh our Loial Subjects and Servants with zeal to our servicâ— and the publick good of our Kingdoms fulfilling that which the Laws of our Kingdoms oblige them to do And by special Command from us the Queen are com to Tordesillas to take care and provide for the reparation and remedie of the said dammages and exorbitancies To which effect they have made and ordeined certain Articles which are conducing and expedient for our service the good Government of the Kingdom and the increasing of the Revenue and Partrimonie Roial The Tenor whereof is as followeth MOST HIGH AND MIGHTIE CATHOLICK PRINCES QUEEN AND KING OUR SOVEREIGNS That which the Cities Towns Villages Commonalties and Natives of your Kingdom of Castilla and Leon do desires your Majesties will bee pleased to grant for a perpetual Law is here ensuing That which concern's his MAIESTIES ROIAL PERSON FIrst These Kingdoms humblie supplicate your Majestie will bee pleased speedily to return into these Kingdoms and beeing com to remain ruling and governing them For staying here your Majestie may give Laws and Command over the whole World as your Predecessors have done And nothing of all that which they desire of your Majestie will bee so pleasing to these Kingdoms although you should grant them much more for they hope your Majestie will condescend to all these things then your speedie coming to them For it is not the custom of Castilla to bee without their King neither can they bâ—e governed by others in peace and quiet which is very necessarie for your Royal service Item These Kingdoms humbly beseech your Majestie at your return to bee pleased to marrie it beeing necessarie for the universal good of these Kingdoms that there should bee some issue to succeed your Royal Person as they desire your Majestie 's age now requiring it And that you would bee pleased to take a wife according to the Vote and good lâ—king of these your Kingdoms for so shee shall bee of some Countrie in amitie with them as is most convenient for your service and the contentment of your Royal Person That which concern's the Royal Familie THat our Ladie and Sovereign the Queen's Royal hous bee put in such order and estate as is becoming her Royal Person and the honor of these Kingdoms That the Officers about her bee persons of qualitie That her hous bee sufficiently provided of all thing befitting her dignitie for so her Highnâ—ss will bee well pleased with these Kingdoms and they obliged Item That his Majestie would bee pleased at his return into these Kingdoms to bring neither Flemings French nor other strangers whatsoëver to bear any Office in his Royal Familie But that hee would confer all such Offices upon Natives of these Kingdoms there beeing multitudes of able and sufficient persons who will serv his Majestie with much affection and loyaltie and that his heirs and successors for ever should continue the like order Item That neither his Majestie nor his successors bring in or entertain any forreign souldiers for the guard of their Persons or defens of their Kingdoms in regard there are war-like and courageous men enough amongst the Natives not onely to defend their own Countrie but to conquer others as they had done heretofore Item That his Majestie beeing in these Kingdoms and having none but Natives about him would bee pleased to order his Familie in all respects as Don Fernando his grandfather and Donia Isabel his Queen and the rest of the Catholick King 's his Progenitors of glorious memorie had done before him For in so doing hee would save a number of unnecessarie expences which were made in his table and houshold and this would palpably appear for his Majestie will find that in the dishes for his own table and
those that are made for the fâ—vorites and great persons of his familie is daiely spent one hundred and fiftie thousand Maravediz and that the table-expences of Don Fernando the King and Donia Isabel who were excellent and powerfull Princes besides the Prince Don Iohn whom God receiv in his glorie and the Infantes with a multitude of attendants amounted to no more then twelv or fifteen thousand Maravediz per diem And hence proceed's his Majestie 's wants and the impoverishing of the People and Commonalties by â—ubsidies and other taxes imposed upon them Item In regard it hath been and is a very excessive charge to allow wages to such as are not domestick's That hence-foâ—wards there bee no Salaries given to any Courtier 's wives or children or any other persons whatsoëver noâ— in immediate service or shortly to bee entertained and admitted But if any man should die in his Majestie 's service in satisfaction or equivalence thereof hee might allow a pension or stipend to the wife or children of the deceased although they bee not of age to serv. Item In regard after the most â—llustrious Queen our Ladie Donia Isabel his Majestie 's Grandmother was taken with the sickness whereof shee died divers superfluous offices were crept into the Royal Familie which never were before That whosoëver injoyed any such office or offices might forthwith bee discarded and bee allowed no Salarie And all such superfluous expences bee imployed for necessarie uses more conducing to his Majestie 's service Item That in his Majestie 's houshold no Grandee might have any office concerning the Revenue or Royal Patrimonie and if any enjoy any such office at present that it maie bee taken from them For this is very inconvenient and maie greatly impaire the said Patrimonie and Royal Revenue Item That during his Majestie 's absence from these Kingdoms his houshold officers and other persons who have relation or attendance upon his Majestie bee payed out of the Royal Revenue Concerning GOVERNORS THat In regard in his Majestie 's absence it is requisite to have one or more Governors in the Kingdom such Governor or Governors might bee Natives of the Kingdoms of Castilla and Leon appointed and chosen with consent of the Kingdoms and that with their beeing Natives may concur the other qualities which by the Law established by the King Don Alonso called Ley de La Partida is required That the said Law may bee observed and fulfilled to perpetuitie As also the Order of Election and Provision with the Conditions which dispose in what case a Governor or Governors are to bee chosen as in respect of minoritie absence or whatsoëver other occasion Item that the Provisions Orders or Commissions which his Majestie had given in those Kingdoms contrarie to the above specified form might be declared void and that hee would command those and every of those Governors whom hee had autorized to forbear the execution of that office Item that the Governor or Governors beeing constituted in the abovesaid manner and form may bee invested with power to confer dignities offices administration of Justice and to redress grievances And this not onely in the Kingdoms of Castilla but also in the Isles and firm land alreadie discovered or to bee discovered and that they provide them within ten daies That they may present Dignities and places Vacant and do as much therein as the King himself in person but not give any gâ—ft or gratuitie out of the Royal Patrimonie nor any tâ—ing thereunto belonging Concerning BILLETS THe lodging by Billets which is practised no where neither amongst Infidels nor Christians but in this Kingdom beeing a thing most exorbitant and whence have proceeded and do proceed inconveniences and dammages so excessive that a small volume cannot contain them and his Majestie 's subjects suffer thereby not a little aswell in their honors and lives as in their estates That for ever henceforth they may bee freed from so abominable and prejudicial a servitude And that in these Kingdoms no such Billets bee given in any kinde neither by the King 's themselvs nor any Lords Noblemen or Prelates whatsoëver and in case any should bee given That the People may not bee obliged to accept of them unless with their own conâ—ents they paying for their lodgings as shall bee agreed upon with the owners or inhabitants of the houses whither such Billets shall bee brought or directed But in his Majestie 's progresses That lodging and linnen should bee allowed Gratìs for those of his houshold and Court so that hee exceed not the term of six daies in one place which expired they should paie for their lodging according to the ordinarie rate and custom Likewise That the Souldiers of the Guard should have free quarter after the usuall manner Item That their Majestie 's the King's Princes and Infantes his predecessors had given and allotted convenient lodgings for their Royal Persons and Familie and to the number of seventie but no more for the officers which were of necessitie to bee neer the Palace were appointed in the same Citie or Town where the Court was and in such houses as the Council Iustice and Regidores of the said place should finde convenient and suitable to the conditions and qualitie of the persons to bee lodged and the said seventie lodgings to bee paid according as the said Council Iustice and Regidores should rate or tax them And that for paiment hereof all the Cities Towns Villages or Burrougsh should contribute without exâ—mption according to the cessment made by the said Council Iustice and Regidores without troubling or asking leav of his Majestie insomuch that under colour thereof there should bee no more cessed or gathered then what the rent of the said lodgings would amount to under penaltie of the Law Item That these lodgings which are allowed for his Majestie 's familie are not intended for those of the Council for the Alcaldes of his hous and Court nor the Alguaziles or other Judges or Officers whatsoëver nor the High Treasurers or any such like for these are to paie for their lodgings by the order and form before mentioned Item That his Majestie or the Kings or Princes his Successors might not give anie Billets in general or particular or other Command whatsoëver that the Inhabitants of such Cities Towns or Villages should furnish lodgings contrarie to their own wills and consents And that in case any such Billet general or particular by waie of intreatie or command should bee given it might bee received with respect but not fulfilled neither the Owners or Inhabitants of the said houses bee obliged to accommodate the bearers thereof Coâ—cerning Customs Taxes the Revenues Roial Pole-monie and Fee farms THat the Customs and Thirds which belong to the Crown may bee reduced to the same number and quantitie as they were instituted by the Catholick King Don Fernando and Donia Isabel Anno 1494. That at the same rates and value all the Cities Towns Villages with their several Lordships and
this Salarie bee paied out of the proper Inhabitants Revenue of each Town or Citie that doth send the said Commissioner according as they shall bee taxed by the Council Iustice and Regidores of the said place Item that the said Commissioners may choos and entertain one or more Lawyers beeing at Parlament as they see occasion to whom the Cities or Towns are to paie a competent Salarie but may change them as often as they pleas And that the said Lawyer may not demand or receiv any gratuitie from their Majesties or other person in their names as is above instructed and ordered for the Commissioners neither may any Lawyer at all bee entertained by the Commissioners but with the good liking and consent of the Kingdom Item that their Majesties would revoke and declare to bee void all gratuities of what qualitie soâ—ver which were given to the Commissioners of the last Parlament held in the Kingdom of Galicia and that neither they nor their wives children heirs or Successors may injoie any part or parcel thereof under penaltie of losing their goods for the publick reparations of the Citie or Town whereof they were Commissioners Item that thenceforwards to perpetuitie the Cities and Towns that have Vote in Parlament may meet and assemble every three years by their Commissioners who are to bee chosen out of the three States as is aforesaid And that it may bee done in the absence and without licence from their Majesties or the succeeding Kings to the end that beeing so assembled they may procure and see that the Contents of these Articles bee punctually observed and that they may discours of and provide other things which may bee expedient for the service of the Roial Crown and the publick good of the Kingdoms Item that the said Parlament beeing ended the said Commissioners may bee obliged within fourtie daies to return to their Cities or Towns and give an account of what they had done in the said Parlament under pain of losing their Salarie and beeing deprived of their Office which their Majesties might dispose as vacant Concerning Coin THat no monie bee transported out of these Kingdoms either Gold or â—ilver coined or to bee coined Since it is forbidden by the Laws of the Kingdom under pain of death confiscation of goods and other Penalties For the contrarie having been done especially since his Majestie 's coming into these Kingdoms the Countrie is impoverished and destroyed Item That forthwith monie bee coined in these Kingdoms of a different rate and value then that of the neighboring Countries and that it bee of a base alloy two Caratts under the rate of the finest Gold which may countervail in weight and value the Crowns of Gold that are made in France By which means it will not bee carried out of the Kingdom Alwaies provided that whosoëver should bee indebted any quantitie of Maravediz before the time of publication of the new coined monie might bee obliged to make paiment in the coin which was then currant or to make up the value thereof in monie of the later stamp Silver Coined THat a mark of Silver out of the Mint may bee of the just value of two thousand two hundred and fiftie Maravediz and no more Copper Monie THat new copper monie may bee coined and in regard too much Silver mixed with it is but lost into everie Mark should bee cast onely the quantitie of one of the new Ryals Item That the monie of Silver mixt and Copper which is made in other Countries is much less worth then it passeth for in this Kingdom and the profit and gain thereof remaineth in forreign Nations who carrie away our Gold for their base monie That six months beeing expired after the coining of the said new monie publick proclamation might bee made to prohibit the taking or receiving any of the said foreign mixt Sâ—lver and Copper monie Item That the old monie which is now currant in no wise may bee made away given or sold out of the Mint-hous directly or indirectly at any higher rate then now it goe's under penaltie that whosoëver shall bee defective herein may lose his monie and third part of his estate to the end that it may bee all coined to make new monie Item In regard before the new monie bee all coined and especially in the beginning those who make a trade of transporting monie out of the Kingdom may indeavor and bee apt to convey much away That new searchers may bee placed in all Ports by Sea and Land and such as may applie their whole care and diligence to the well executing of this particular and nothing els provided they bee persons of trust And that whosoêver shall bee found guiltie of this fact may bee punished and condemned to death if convinced without any further process That there may bee no reclaiming or remission of this penaltie and punishment but if those who are incharged therewith bee slack or negligent in the execution of their office that they may suffer the same punishment And to the end this may bee the better effected that whosoâ—ver shall declare or discover it may have the one half or moitie of the monie so seized Transportation of Corn Leather Sheep and Woolls THat no Corn or the Leather of Sevilla may bee transported out of the Kingdom That the Mercedes or gratuities and taxes which were given and imposed in some parts of these Kingdoms of levying certain duties for giving licence to transport Corn out of the said Kingdoms and Leather from the Citie of Sevilla may bee revoked and declared to bee void For besides that the said taxes bee unlawful they are very hurtful and prejudicial to these Kingdoms and the Citie of Sevilla And that their Majesties may never hereafter give the said licence for monie or for any imposition Item That henceforwards no sheep or hogs alive or dead or any other cattle may bee transported out of the Kingdoms For this hath been the caus that flesh leather and tallow are raised to above double the price of what they were wont to yield and if the said cattle bee not carried a way these commodities will return to the same rate they were at formerly which will bee a great benefit to the Kingdoms And if any bee found a delinquent herein That the one half of his goods and estate may bee confiscate to their Majesties one fourth part given to the accuser and the other fourth part imployed for reparations and publick uses of the Citie or Town whereof hee was Inhabitant Item That the Merchants Clothiers and other trades of the Kingdoms may take to work and spend therein one half of all woolls bought by Natives or Strangers to send out of the Kingdoms paying the same price as they had done for them if they had given readie monie And if they had taken them upon trust giving securitie to paie at a certain daie that the Merchants and others might have them upon the same conditions giving the like securitie
levie or recover any thing of that which some Cities Towns Villages and Corporations have expended in their own houses in feasting Bull-baitings or acts of Charitie although they do it from an ancient custom by vow or what other waie soëver they can pretend Item That the monies levyed by the Cruzadas and Compositiones which were granted for the war against the Moores costs and charges of the Armies which had been or are to bee raised against the enemies of our Catholick faith and to releiv the Kingdoms and Cities of Africa may bee expâ—nded and imployed to the same end for which they were granted and that they may not bee granted hereafter upon any other pretence whatsoëver nor the said monie or any part thereof may bee given or bestowed as a Merced or gratuitie upon any bodie becaus besides the publick dammage men's Souls are indangered by the not imploying it to the use for which it was granted Which if it were applyed to the proper and right intent the Royal Revenues would remain free for the service and augmentation of the Royal estate Item That the Mercedes and Librancas of any monie of those said Bulls Cruzadas and Compositiones which have been given to any particular persons as well natives as strangers may bee revoked and made void Concerning the Indies Isles and Continent THat henceforwards for ever no Mercedes may bee made of Indians whereby the Gold or any other Commodities may bee taken thence to anie person or persons of what qualitie soëver That these which hitherto have been may bee revoked for by that means their Majestie 's Roial Patrimonie hath been and will bee much damnified in stead of beeing advantaged by reason of the great quantitie of Gold exhausted thence Besides that they are used more like Infidels and slaves then Christians as they are Item that the hous of Contratacion at Sevilla for the Isles and Continent of the Indies may remain for ever in the said Citie and not bee removed to anie other Citie or place within this Kingdom or without In regard the said Citie of Sevilla is so famous and fit a place for it and it would bee a great hinderance to these Kingdoms and a disservice to their Majesties if it should bee altered Concerning Mercedes THat their Majesties or the succeeding Kings may not make anie Merced of goods confiscated or to bee confiscated or of anie part or parcel thereof to anie Judg or Judges who have given or are to give Sentence in the said Causes That the said Judges or anie of them may not receiv anie such Mercedes either in paiment or lieu of their Salaries or for Ayuda de Costa or in anie other kinde whatsoëver directly or indirectly either for themselvs or their wives children friends or kindred for by this means they beeing free from all covetousness and interests may with more equitie and Justice proceed and give their Sentence That whosoëver shall do the contrarie may bee obliged to restore four times as much into his Majesties Exchequer and that they may for ever remain incapable of enjoying the same or anie other publick Offices Item that their Majesties or their Successors may not give or make anie Mercedes or Librancas of goods and monie which hath not been brought into their Exchequer or in their own hands for by this means they will know what they give and how they endammage themselvs which not knowing they easily grant the said Librancas and Mercedes as their Majesties had given away in that nature great quantities of pearls and monie which if preserved had been sufficient to have mainteined their Roial Houshold without making such shifts as they were driven to by taking up monie at Interest or demanding Subsidies of the Subjects and Natives of their Kingdoms Item that their Majesties or their Successors may not give or grant anie Merced of goods demanded in their Majesties names or of the Roial Crown of these Kingdoms concerning which there is anie Suit depending unless sentence bee first pronounced against the possessors thereof and that they bee absolutely condemned That whatsoëver hath been done to the contrarie heretofore may bee revoked Otherwise it would hinder the free Administration of Justice according to right and equitie And that whosoëver should receiv or procure anie such Mercedes may for ever bee held incapable and unworthie of receiving for themselvs or others anie Merced from their Majesties or their Successors in these Kingdoms Item that their Majesties may pleas to revoke all Mercedes whatsoever which had been made or granted since the death of the Catholick Queen Donia Isabel as well by the Kings Don Fernando and Don Felipe as by Don Carlos our present Sovereign And whatsoever Confirmations have been made of anie Towns Villages Vassals Jurisdictions Salt-pits Mines of Gold and Silver Copper Lead Tin or Allum In regard besides that they are contrarie to the Laws of the Land the most illustrious and Catholick Queen Donia Isabel our Ladie did absolutely prohibit and forbid them when by her last Will and Testament shee left the government and rule of these Kingdoms to the charge and care of the Catholick King Don Fernando And that all this may bee applied to the proper use and benefit of the Roial Crown of these Kingdoms and that those persons who have obteined anie such Mercedes may make no further use of them hereafter Item forasmuch as since the deceas of the Queen Donia Isabel have been made divers Mercedes and manie Patents and Privileges of Gentilitie given for monie to several persons without anie just caus or consideration of services done to their Majesties that might deserv the said favour whereby the Towns Commonalties and those which paie the taxes have been much damnified and injured That their Majesties may revoke all such Patents Mercedes and Privileges whatsoever and those to whom they were given may not anie waies enjoie them And that henceforward no such Mercedes Patents or Privileges may evâ—r bee granted or bee in force to benefit those to whom they were given And that this may never bee derogated or abrogated with anie claus general or particular or by anie ordinarie or absolute Power Item forasmuch as contrarie to equitie and the tenour and foâ—m of the Laws of these Kingdoms have been granted and made divers Mercedes of the Reversion of Offices Benefices Dignities and other things in the hands of men yet living That their Majesties may revoke all of them without exception that hitherto have been made or granted either by their Majesties or their Predecessors That nothing in this nature bee ever granted hereafter and if anie should bee granted that they may not bee fulfilled nor take effect notwithstâ—â—ding any derogatorie clauses with penalties and confirmations whatsoever but to the end they may bee resisted and bee of no value that they may bear no penalâ—ies at all And that whosoever shall procure anie such Merced may bee made incapable of anie place in Court or
anie other publick Office Item that his Majestie discard and put away the Officers of his Roial Familie and Kingdom as Treasurers and their substitutes and all others whosoëver have behaved themselvs amiss in their offices to his Majesties great disservice the universal dammage of these Kingdoms who having as when they first entred into their Offices little or nothing of their own patrimonies and their profits much exceeding their expences have raised themselvs vaste Estates to the prejudice aswel of the publick good of the Kingdoms and the Natives thereof as the impairing and diminishing of the Roial Patrimonie Item That the offices of his Majestie 's Royal familie and the Kingdom those of the Royal Courts and the Alcaldes Fiscales or Attournies thereof Corregimientos Assistencias Alguazilagos Regimientos Veyntiquatrias Escrivanias of the Audiencias and Council and whatsoever other offices of the Cities Towns and Places of the Kingdoms which are at their Majesties and their successors disposal now and from this time forwards may never bee fold or given for monie or bestowed as Mercedes upon any who beeing unfit to execute the said offices may make sale of them in regard the sale of them is very detestable and forbidden by the Common Laws and rights of the Kingdoms for the great dammages and prejudices which have accrewed thereby to the good of the Publick And that the said offiâ—es may bee freely given and bestowed upon persons of sufficient parts and abilities to perform and execute them Item Tâ—at if the said offices or any of them bee provided otherwise or bestowed contrarie to the tenour and form mentioned in the precedent Article That they may bee held as vacant and whosoever is so placed in them may bee discarded And their Majestâ—e's and successors provide and bestow them as above said Item That the officers which are to serv in the Court or in any the Cities or Towns of these Kingdoms aswell of the Iuzgados as of the Veintequarto Escrivanias and other such like offices may not possess more then one office And if they bee such as may bee supplied by Substitutes or â—ievtenants that these may bee paied by the principal officers And that their Majesties or successors grant no stipend or Salarie to the said Substitutes nor the Principals consent thereunto under pain of losing their offices and others to bee put into their places Item as touching the Confirmations of the priviledges of the Right or Custom called Maravediz de Iuro That no confirmation of the said Priviledges may bee required and that their Majesties give Command to the officers who have raised great summs thereby to restore the said monie to the persons of whom they received it and that speedily and freely without any trouble or suit Item that those of the Offices Roial as well High Treasurers as those of the Cruzadas Compositions or the Islands and Continent of the Indieâ— may bee obliged to certifie and declare unto their Majesties and their Successors whatsoever debts remain conceâ—led and forgotten and all other things in the said Offices appertaining to the Roial Patrimonie but that they give no intelligence thereof to anie particular or private persons lest they should beg them under pain of paying twice as much into the Exchequer or Roial Patrimonie and of beeing deprived of the said Offices and made incapable not onely of them but all others Item that those who have had or have anie Office Roial or charge of the Registers of the Roial Revenues may not have the said Remainders of the farming thereof and in case anie have made use of them that hee or they bee obliged to paie the double of what hee hath received thereof into their Majesties â—xchequer and lose their Offices with the Salaries and benefits thereunto belonging Item that all those who have bought anie Offices since the deceas of the Catholick King Don Fernando which could not bee sold according to tâ—e Laws of the Land and the Contents of the preceding Articles may not execute the said Offices under pain of death and loss of good and their Majesties may provide and dispose them to other able and sufficient persons Concerning Residencia's THat all those Officers who had charge of his Majesties Estate in the time of the Catholick King Don Fernando his Grandfather may bee brought to an account for what they did in their Offices and Charges concerning his Majesties Estate aâ—d the Roial patrimonie which passed through their hands and that they produce these accounts before such persons as shall bee nominated and appointed by his Majestie and the Kingdom That his Majestie appoint and nominate these said persons within thirtie daies after these Articles and Laws bee granted by their Majesties and in case his Majestie doth not nominate anie within the said term of thirtie daies that then those Accounts may bee produced before such persons as the Kingdoms shall appoint who may receiv them for their Majesties Exchequer and condemn and laie penalties upon those whom they finde guiltie according to equitie and the Laws of the Kingdoms Item that the like Account bee also given by the Treasurers and other Officers whosoever have been encharged heretofore with the Cruzadas Bulls and Compositions or with the Gold and Pearls brought from the â—slands and Continent of the Indies and the same order to bee observed therein as is above-specified Item that those of the Council and the Officers of his Majesties Familie and Court who have been or are to bee dismissed may make their Residencia or render their accounts before the Persons mentioned in the preceding Arcicles Item that the said Officers bee thus called to account becaus they have given advise and notice of manie things which have been begged and given as Mercedes to the great Prejudice of the Roial Patrimonie which advices and informations they gave either to enjoie a share thereof themselvs or to purchase them wholly or to procure others to buie or farm them by which means for very small matters they have gained vaste sums of monie Therefore in regard this hath been a great dammage and prejudice to the Roial Patrimonie their Majesties may ratifie and allow the above mentioned persons to take the said Accounts and Residencia's And whatsoever shall bee thus discovered by them that it may all accrew to their Majesties Exchequer for if they had rightly and truly performed their Offices they ought to have given their Majesties those Informations and not to private persons Concerning Prelates and other Particulars THat the Bishopricks Archbishopricks Dignities Canonicates other Ecclesiastical preferments whatsoever or the pensions thereof may not bee conferred upon anie â—trangers but upon the Natives and Inhabitants of these Kingdoms That if anie were disposed of contrarie to the tenour hereof his Majestie may bee pleased by Apostolical Autoritie to order that they may bee resigned and conferred upon Natives of these Kingdoms satisfaction beeing given to those that are dispossessed of them to their full value in
other rents in their own Countries Item in regard his Majestie had given away the Archbishoprick of Toledo before hee was received and sworn King in the Parlament at Valladolid That his Majestie may make a new presentation of the said Archbishoprick and confer it upon a Native and Inhabitant of the Kingdom of Castilla who may deserv it beeing a person of learning and conscience answerable a Divine or Civil Lawyer for the bestowing it on the Nephew of Monsieur de Xeures contrarie to the Laws of the Kingdom hath been and is very prejudicial to the Kingdom and the said Dignitie hee beeing under age and absent and although hee were a Native of the Kingdom it was not fit nor just to give it him That the Revenue of the said Dignitie was transported out of the kingdom wherewith if hee were a Native and resident in the said dignitie hee might entertain manie Nobles and Gentlemen in his hous as hath been the custom formerly And if his Maâ—estie would bee pleased to graâ—ifie the said Nephew of Monsieur de Xeures with som other lands in his own Countrie It might very well bee done Item that all Letters of Naturalization whatsoever that have formerly been given may bee revoked and never anie granted hereafter And if anie should bee granted although with derogatorie clauses and by an absolute power that they may bee respectively received but not fulfilled That there may bee no penaltie for the non-performance of anie such supplication and whosoever should bee strict therein may bee apprehended and severely punished by the Justices of the kingdom where hee was taken Item that the Judges Notaries and other Officers of the Ecclesiastical Courts may not have or demand more fees then those of the Secular Courts according to the â—tatutes of the kingdoms And if in anie case the Apostolical Autoritie bee requisite their Majesties may bee pleased to send to their Embâ—ssador to procure it from his Holiness and send it Item that the Archbishops Bâ—shops and Prelates of the kingdoms may reside in their own Diocess the greatest part of tâ—e year whereoâ— if they fail that they may lose proportionably a paâ—t of their fruits to bee emploied for the building or repairing of their Churches for by reason of their beeing absent the Divine Service is not performed as it ought to bee That his Maâ—estie send for a Bull to this effâ—ct from his Holiness within the space of one year And if his Majestie did not send for it within the said term that the kingdom might have power to demand it and take by his Autoritie out of the fruits of the said dignities as much as would diffraie the charges of the Journie and sollicitation to procure it Item forasmuch as his Holiness at his Majesties râ—quest had sent a Licence to the Archbishop of Granada purposing that whosoever should have his said power although secular persons might judg and give sentence in som cases against Priests in criminal matters That his Majestie would bee pleased to caus the said Licence to bee enrolled within six months and send a Copie thereof into these kingdom to excuse and avoid the scandals which arise thereby Concerning Regidores THat henceforwards their Majesties or their Successors never give or grant anie Licence to the Regidores Veyntiquatros Iurados and other Officers of the Council of Cities Towns or Villages of these kingdoms to live with or have anie dependance upon Noble-men That all Licences to this effect whatsoever granted in former times may bee revoked That the Laws of the Kingdoms may bee herein observed and executed That whosoever shall procure or make use of anie such Licence may bee deprived of his office And that their Majesties dispose thereof as beeing vacant but that hee or his children may never re-injoy it Item That the Regidores of the Cities and Towns of these Kingdoms who are Lawyers may not execute the office of Advocates nor plead in the said Cities or Towns but for them and their Commonalties Alienation of Goods or Lands from the Royal Crown THat his Majestie command effectually to restore the Towns Villages Forts Jurisdictions Revenues and all other Rights whatsoever to the Cities and Towns of his Royal Crown which they had formerly in their possession and which the most illustrious Queen Donia â—sabel our Ladie commanded in her will to bee restored And to the end this may bee effected and the wills of the Catholick King Don Fernando and his Queen Donia Isabel may bee fulfilled That executors may bee appointed with sufficient power to perform the same within six months without further delaie Item to the end this may remedied henceforwards That their Majesties or Successors for no reason or caus neither in paiment or satisfaction of services or anie other waies whatsoever may alienate anie thing from the Royal Crown or Patrimonie and in case anie alienation bee made that it may bee restored Concerning Forts and Alcaydias or Governments THat the Forts and Alcaydias of the strong holds of these Kingdoms may not bee given to anie forreiners but intrusted to the Natives and Inhabitants of these Kingdoms although they may produce letters of naturalization And that the same order bee observed herein as in the Dignities and Ecclesiastical preferments Item That his Majestie take away all command or governments whatsoever of Castles and Forts possessed by strangers or transferred by them for monie to anie natives of these Kingdoms Item that Antonio de Fonseca may bee dispossessed of the offices and command hee hath in these Kingdoms in regard of the great mischiefs and scandals which they suffer by his occasion Item that the Forts and Alcaydias may not bee given to anie Noble-men or persons of high birth and qualitie And that the Alcaydes or Commanders thereof may take the oath of fealtie to his Majestie and give securitie to the Cities and Towns where they are that by or from the said Forts they shall receiv no dammage or prejudice Item that his Majestie give order forthwith and every two years from this time forwards to visite and repair as occasion doth require the Forts and places of strength upon the frontiers of these Kingdoms Concerning Cloath THat the Cloath that is imported from other Countries may bee of the same size and goodness as those which are wrought in these Kingdoms according as it is ordered by the Statutes and Act of Parlament That the said Act may bee executed aswell upon forreign Clothes as those which are made in these Kingdoms That what deferring of the time of the Act or Licences soëver have been granted to sell and disperse them in these Kingdoms may bee revoked and declared void That hereafter no such Licences bee granted but in case there bee that they may not bee fulfilled And that without stopping or arresting them the Justices may proceed according to the Act under pain of losing their offices and paying one hundred thousand Maravediz towards the reparations and charitable uses of the Citie
Town or Village where their Residence is Contribution IN regard it is ordeined by the Laws of the Land that certain Towns and Villages which now are under the possession of som Noblemen should proportionably as the rest of their neighboring Cities and Towns bear a share in the Tributes and Contributions and Taxes for Hedges Bridges Fountains Watchmen Suits in Law Defences and enlargement of Territories yet by the favor of Noblemen and persons of great qualitie to whom they belong they do not observ or fulfil his Majesties Commands herein That henceforwards they may bee obliged to perform them and in case of default to lose their Offices and all the Salarie thereof and that the Lords of the said places may not oppose or do any thing to the contrarie under pain of losing the Lordship and proprietie of the said places or Towns which afterwards shall bee as Crown-Lands never to bee alienated from the Royal Patrimonie GENERALS FOrasmuch as his Majestie in the Parlaments which hee called at Valladolid and the Groyn did grant som things which for the profit and publick good of the Kingdoms ought to bee effected That his Majestie command all provisions and power necessarie for the performance thereof to bee given to the Cities Towns and other places of the Kingdoms Item that his Majestie give order to proceed rigorously against Antonio de Fonseca Alcalde Ronquillo Gutiere Quixada El Licenciado Iuanes and the rest that had any hand in the burâ—ing and destroying of the Town of Medina del Campo And that his Majestie approve and allow of what the Kingdom shall do concerning the confiscation of their or any of thâ—â—â— estates and goods Item that their Majesties approve the Assemblie which the Cities and Towns of the Kingdoms have made and do make to the end they may repair and remedie the exorbitancies and grievances of the Publick to make and ordain these Articles and all which they have done in order to the suspending of those of the Council and Officers of their Majesties Familie and Court placing and displacing Officers of Justice taking and demolishing of Forts pulling down of houses killing of men tumults and uproars and judging and sentencing other matters of the Kingdoms their endeavors in taking away all that might stop or hinder their proceedings herein and any other excess whatsoever as in the order and form of the premisses is conteined The assembling the people raising of Arms and the punishment which certain Cities and Commonalties have inflicted upon the persons houses and goods of â—om men whom they esteemed enemies to the publick good of the Kingdoms And that their Majesties acknowledg to bee well emploied all and every the sums of monie which they have taken out of the Roial Revenue and other things and disbursed in paiment of the said men and Armies or otherwaies in prosecution of the above-said premisses And whatsoever taxes they had imposed and recovered to that effect or expended in any kinde That their Majesties would command all to bee remitted and absolutely pardoned as also not onely their Assemblies and Councils of the Cities and Towns of the Kingdoms but likewise that every particular person or persons that had been active therein might bee free from anie trouble or question therefore in anie Courts civil or criminal That their Majesties would revoke and declare void all and everie information or informations commands sentences and provisions which those of the Council or the Alcalde Ronquillo or any other Judg whatsoever had made or given against any of the Cities or Towns of the Kingdoms or against any particular persons and that for this caus they nor any of them might bee deprived of their privileges or offices but might remain free and indemnified In regard they were moved thereunto out of their respects to their Majesties service and the publick good of the Kingdoms and for the encreasing preserving of the revenues and Patrimonie Roial in order to the obligations and duties which they owed to their natural Sovereigns according as the Laws of the Kingdoms have ordeined And that his Majestie would grant autorize and confirm the said Articles as a perpetual and inviolable Law for ever and that he would promise swear by God and his holie Evangelists never to revoke or consent to the revoking or altering of them or do or suffer to bee done any thing contrarie to their true intent and meaning in Parlament or out of Parlament And that hee would not demand of the Pope or other Prelate whatsoever any dispensation or absolution for the said oath and promise SECT III. THese Articles were sent to Flanders by those of the Iunta to bee delivered to the Emperor Antonio Vazquez de Avila carried one Copie of them and Maestro Fray Pablo a man of an exemplarie life and holie intentions onely blinded with a zeal for his Countrie seeing the Kingdom ruined another They went several waies but neither of them durst appear before the Emperor and som saie they never came into Flanders Antonio Vazquez de Avila arrived at length at Worms in Germanie which the Emperor hearing commanded him to bee apprehended and imprisoned in a Fort but after som time beeing better informed hee gave order to releas him Fray Pablo and Sancho Zimbron who went together hearing before they came to the Emperor how Antonio Vazquez had been welcomed went no further then Bruxels These Articles were applauded and held for holie things amongst the Commonaltie they said The Emperor must bee verie cruel if hee did not confirm them That those of the Iunta deserved an immortal Crown and a never-dying fame for their pains and care in making such excellent and holie Ordinances whereby their Kingdoms should bee made the happiest and most opulent in the world SECT IV. THe Lord Admiral beeing desirous to compose these differences and disorders of the Kingdoms before they broke out anie further resolved to go and convers with those of the Iunta at Tordesillas and beeing at Torrelobaton hee sent to them desiring that they would give him the libertie and safe conduct to go to them Those of the Iunta answered That they knew very well that his Lordship came to speak with them concerning the Commonalties of the Kingdoms but they desired him not to put himself to the trouble of coming thither until he had dismissed those Gentlemen with their souâ—diers out of Medina and his own lands those of the Council likewise in regard they disserved his Majestie and hindred the good of the Kingdom which don they should be very glad to serv him and shew him all the respects due to his person The Admiral replied that hee was well contented to discharge all those souldiers and send away all those of the Council except the Cardinal and the Lord High Constable of Castilla who were the Governors and principal men of the Kingdoms Those of the Iunta would not bee satisfied unless they were all sent away Whereupon they sent two Heralds
with a Notarie publick to require him with great protestations that hee should not permit the mischiefs and dammages which might bee occasioned by the Iunta and the Armies of the Advers Partie They sent others also with trumpets to require the Lord High Constable and the Earl of Alva not to levie anie Souldiers becaus that would bee prejudicial to the Roial Crown and hurtful to the Kingdoms The Lord High Constable received those that brought him this message very courteously and commanded a dinner to bee prepared for them After which hee sent them to the Earl of Alva with twelv of his own men on hors-back The Earl apprehended the chief man of them commanding him to bee clapt in prison and afterwards they saie hee caused him to bee strangled and gave no other Answer to the Iunta whereat they were very much displeas'd others said The Earl did like a worthie Gentleman for no Law or Word is to be observ'd or kept with Traitors The unfortunate man whom the Earl thus put to death had been not long before preferred by those of the Commonaltie to the Office of Chamberlain to the Queen Donia Iuana In revenge of which crueltie as they termed it those of the Iunta commanded the Lord Constable and the Earl of Alva to bee proclaimed in manie Cities and places of Castilla Traitors and capital enemies of the Kingdom alledging That they raised forces against the Roial Crown and to the prejudice of the Kingdom That they had made a new Broad-Seal contrarie to the Laws of the Kingdom wherewith they did seal Orders against his Majesties Subjects and contrarie to all right and Justice That they did favor and uphold those of the evil Counsel and that they had apprehended her Majesties Chamberlain all which was in dis-respect or contempt of her Majestie and to the prejudice of the publick good And therefore those of the Iunta in order to the service of God and the Kingdom did finde themselvs obliged to declare them Capital Enemies and accordingly that their Estates and Land should bee seized and forfeited to the Roial Crown SECT V. THose of the Iunta beeing possessed of Tordesillas and having the Queen with her familie and the whole Kingdom in their own hands manie people believed that shee was recovered and that shee was well-pleased with the proceedings of those of the Iunta The increasing of this opinion and their credit with the people raised their thoughts to things of higher consequence and the novelties which everie daie did produce were already swoln to so great a number and spred into so manie parts that it is impossible to relate them so cleerly fully and distinctly as I would The pretence of the Iunta was so plausible bearing the sugared name which they gave it of Libertie and exemption from unjust taxes and evil government that divers other places were likewise in Arms for them And it was a miracle that anie place stood out For they favored and countenanced them that followed their faction and those of the contrarie Partie were perpetually under the lash of their persecution In Palencia the people mutinied and would have killed the brother to their Bishop Mota with divers Canons and other Priests of the Citie becaus they had given possession of the Bishoprick to the said Mota whom they extreamly hated In Alcala de Henares they turned the Governor and the Vicar-General to the Arch-Bishop out of the Citie becaus they hated the Arch-Bishop for beeing a kinsman to Xeures and a stranger Medina prepared to make open War against Coca and Alaejos in revenge of the mischiefs and losses which they had susteined by Antonio de Fonseca It would bee an endless task to undertake to give a particular relation of their outrages what persecutions robberies and murthers were committed in each place Those of Segovia did not lie still either but were perpetually making new attempts against the Earl of Chinchon and the Town of Espinar which they assaulted and sacked as if they had been Infidels carrying away their wives and daughters some of whose husbands following after the Segovians said That if their wives went with them beyond a certain limit they should keep them for ever SECT VI. I Mentioned in the rising of Burgos the prudence and courage which the Lord high Counstable to detain and suppress the furie of that disorderly people had shewed in taking upon himself the Autoritie and care of administring Justice to the great contentment and rejoicing of the Citizens But the inconstant Vulgar upon no occasion lost the respect which was due to so honorable a person never considering how advantageous it would have been for them to have suffâ—red themselvs to bee governed by him in such troublesom times That which they pretended to bee the caus of their respectless audacitie was That when Medina del Campo did besiege Alaejos Segovia Salamanca Avila and other Cities having assisted them with men to destroie that Town out of the exceeding hatred which they bore Antonio de Fonseca Burgos would do the like out of revenge of the Merchandise which they lost in Medina by Fonseca's burning it But the Lord High Constable satisfied them otherwise And becaus his son offered himself to bee their Captain which the people imagined hee did onely out of subtiltie and cunning to amuse them or for som other by-respect they began to bee jealous of him this suspicion ingendred a mortal hatred insomuch that their furie grew beyond the bounds of moderation and obedience The Lord high Counstable had privately conveyed into his hous four hundred Lances Which beeing known in the Citie the Regidores and Gentlemen assembled and sent two of their companie to summon him Hee excused himself saying hee was very ill and could not go to them But they told him that they could not bee satisfied with that answer hee must rise and go with them At last hee went and was civilly received beeing com amongst them two of the Assemblie in the names of all the rest rose up and thus bespake him Wee are very sorrie and grieved that the honor and affection wherewith this Citie hath alwaies served your Lordship and your Ancestors beeing Persons of so great qualitie natives and in a maner Lords of all this Citie which is the chief of Castilla should bee so ill requited as that you should keep secretly in your hous four hundred Lances to destroie the people wee require you forthwith to dismiss them and reserv onely twentie servants about you if not the Citie will take their remedie This was not very pleasing to the Lord Constable but it behoved him to satisfie their desires Yet notwithstanding hee condescended to their wills the suspicions ceased not neither were the people pacified Upon our Ladie 's daie of September their furie broke out and all the Commonaltie rose up in Arms against him in such a raging manner that they had killed him if hee had not retired to his hous where almost
two whole daies they kept him besieged and Don Diego Sarmiento the Earl of Salinas with the Dutchess and the Countess their wives After this seeing himself the object of the people's malice and every hour in danger to lose his life hee conditioned with the people to let him go freely with all his familie out of the Citie Which beeing granted hee went to a Town of his called Briviesca This example of the People of Burgos made other places commit the like audacities against their Lords as Haro against the Earl of Haro Son to the Lord high Constable Duenias against the Earl of Buendia and also Naxara against the Duke although that Citie doth allege and prove that they rose not for the Commonaltie but for the King whose subjects and tenants they saie they are The Lord high Constable beeing at Briviesca very full of care and sorrow to see the Kingdom in so great distempers and so little probabilitie of any remedie about the middle of September arrived Lope Hurtado de Mendoça with dispatches and orders from the Emperor importing that hee should bee Governor of Castilla and Navarra joyntly with the Cardinal and the Admiral of Castilla Which having read hee presently accepted the Government of the Kingdoms But becaus the Commission was for them all three hee could not so suddenly execute the Command For the Cardinal was as yet at Valladolid and the Admiral in Catalunia in the Countie of Cabra whither the dispatches were sent to him who was of opinion to defer the acceptance of that Charge until his return into Castilla and to use som means in the interim to agree and accommodate the differences of the Commonalties as you have already heard Which difficultie beeing related to the Emperor beeing on the waie to Aquisgran where hee was Crowned hee sent other Letters dated the 17 October following with special command to the Lord High Constable that having assembled som of the Council hee should alone with them execute the charge of Governor of the Kingdoms provide for the remedying of the present disorders until such time as the Cardinal and the Admiral could com to join with him which hee did as shall appear hereafter SECT VII THe Lord High Constable seeing the remedie of the Kingdoms to lie upon his account although hee was much offended with those of Burgos without seeking any reparation of honor prudently endeavored by fair means and treatments full of courtesie to appeas that people and reduce them into the Roial waie of doing their Prince service for it was of no small importance for him at the beginning of his Government to gain that Citie and settle himself in it beeing the chief of Castilla and a place of such greatness and esteem Hee kept intelligence with som principal Gentlemen of Burgos by whose industrie the Citie was so well disposed and ordered that within a short time after hee became master of it This was the first symptom of the Countrie 's health and an Antidote against the desperate poison which had so infected the whole Kingdom The Lord High Constable together with the Citie committed to the Charge of Don Diego Lopez de Castro the government of the Castle of Lara with the territories thereof hee having first taken the Oath of Fealtie as hee was a Gentleman according to the order and manner of Castilla to keep it for the Emperor From this time forwards Burgos began to have an ill conceit of the Iunta disliking more and more their proceedings especially their ill treating of the Cardinal and those of the Council and sent to their Commissioners to com away from Tordesillas After which they wrote to Valladolid in testimonie of their Loialtie encouraging and persuading those of that Citie to do the like in order to their due obedience to his Majestie and the pacification of the Kingdoms SECT VIII THose of Valladolid beeing ill satisfied with the letters which they received from Burgos returned them no answer esteeming them people of small resolution or constancie and not fit to bee trusted Those of Burgos sent letters likewise to those of the Junta telling them manie things by way of exhortation and advice amongst the rest That they should leav the Queen in her free libertie to do what shee pleased and to let things remain in the same condition the Emperor had left them with other circumstances which were contradictoâ—ie to what formerly they seemed to desire Whereby it appeared that they declined the Interest of the Junta and favored the Lord High Constable's Partie Som other places of the Kingdom also began to bee more moderate by the Letters and promises which they received from the Cardinal and other Gentlemen of note SECT IX IN the Citie of Valladolid the people were still divided by several factions some transported with a blind zeal presâ—ed for obedience to those of the Iunta thinking whatsoever they ordained was good and holie others desired with no less earnestness that the Lord high Constable with those of the Council might bee re-admitted into the Citie deeming whatsoever was enacted without them to bee wicked and unjust And hereupon they spoiled and murthered one another like people without sense or reason Whereupon they wrote to the Lord Admiral who was their Countrie-man and neer neighbor giving him account of the troubles of the Kingdom and especially of the mischiefs which they feared would befall that Citie in particular Whereunto hee sent an answer with an extraordinarie sens of sorrow to see the danger whereunto the whole Kingdom was brought counselling and admonishing them to have a care left they lost themselvs Moreover in regard that Citie had been noted particularly for their Loyaltie to their King and for the relation hee had to it by his birth it grieved him to the soul to see it in such extream distraction which hee feared would not bee so easily remedied with several other expressions of affection and tenderness for their welfare But Valladolid did not set much by his admonitions at that time But afterwards though late they were better advised and they found in the Admiral the mercie which they did expect as shall bee set down hereafter SECT X. THe Letters from Burgos with the sedulous and prudent endeavors of the Lord high Constable made those of Valladolid to bethink themselvs a little and with a kinde of remors for what was past to begin to understand reason although the greatest part but not the best stickled hard to keep the Citie in obedience to the Iunta to the end they might compass their own ill designes After this the Lord high Constable sent to notifie his Commission to bee Vice-Roy and Governor together with the Cardinal and Lord Admiral to all the Cities of the Kingdom where it might conveniently bee done which beeing proclaimed in most places was obeyed Whereupon hee sent to all his kindred and friends ordering them to rais what forces they could possibly and dispatched messengers to all the Grandees
his promise in letting them have the said men to send to Tordesillas in the Iunta's service and upon that condition they should carrie the Colours and Arms of Valladolid These Letters were dispatched in the name of the Citie by the Prior of the great Church who was a grand Commoner These answers beeing sent to the two Noble-men the Citie gave order for the raising of more men to send to the Iunta becaus there were many wanting of the thousand which they had sent Moreover Command was given for the gathering of one hundred Duckets out of every Ward which amounted to one thousand four hundred Duckets Which was forthwith done and the thousand men compleated After this they caused a Proclamation to bee made throughout the Citie commanding all and everie of the Commonaltie to appear under pain of beeing accused for Malignants or Ill-affected to the Iunta Who beeing all assembled they made them swear by the Holie Evangelists and upon the Cross in forma that under pain of beeing infamous perjurers and faith-breakers they should bee readie to serv favor and assist in whatsoever those of the Iunta should do in order to the service of God the King Queen and Commonaltie of the Citie of Valladolid and that they should not do or saie directly or indirectly any thing to the contrarie or suffer anie thing to bee said or done by their children servants or housholds And if they should know or hear any thing said or done to the contrarie that they should forthwith inform the Assemblie of the Citie of Valladolid thereof to the end the offenders might receiv condigne punishment The Oath beeing thus pronounced they all cried with one voice This wee swear SECT XVII I Have already declared how the Citie of Segovia was divided by several factions insomuch that they seemed to bee in Civil War amongst themselvs The Earl of Chinchon defended the Forts Within the Citie there were several houses of strength wherein som of the Roial partie fortified themselvs others did the like in the Cathedral Church The Fort beeing but slenderly mann'd the Earl of Chinchon went to Burgos to desire succour from the Lord High Constable who sent ten Musketiers valiant and resolute men with order to get into the Fort â—s they could They arrived at Pedraça on Fridaie morning 23 of November where they took abouâ— one hundred weight of powder and kept themselvs private until the Evening Night beeing com they marched with a guide who led them by-waies to Parral where hee left them and the Moon beeing down they went into the Fort without any one's taking notice of them which was the better effected becaus that very daie those of Segovia had assaulted the Church and were wearie having found strong resistance The next daie it beeing noised in the Citie that the Fort had received succour in the night they were much scandalized and troubled at it thinking it more considerable then it was and feared that they were sold by som within the Citie Things beeing in the condition before-mentioned disposed for an absolute breach the Cities of the League prepared arms and men with all expedition and those of the Iunta sent certain instructions which their Captains and Souldiers were to observ to Valladolid where Don Pedro Giron whom they all looked upon as Captain General remained to make and order the Armie as shall bee more at large declared in the following Book Finis Libri Quarti THE CIVIL WARS OF SPAIN THE FIFTH BOOK SECT I. THe Passions of the people in Castilla grew to such mortal animosities that pens and tongues beeing wearied they fell to preparing arms and munition of war as when an Impostume fester's no cure can bee exspected but by the applying of hot burning Iron Those Gentlemen who were the chief sticklers for the Commonalties beeing lanch'd forth into the deepest of the sea of passion knowing how ill a name they had acquired which exceedingly offended their presumption were already grown so desperate that they cared not to lose their Countries Estates Wives Children or their own Lives desiring to hazard all in the Lotterie of Arms and make or destroie their fortunes in one Battle wherein if their designs had been crowned with success doubtless they would have changed their styles and beeing victorious remained with the glorious attribute of Redeemers and Defenders of their Countrie for humane judgments determine by the Event not by the middle or beginning of any Enterprise Though it hath been the ordinarie defect of other Commonalties to have but slender forces this was so powerful that had there been the least good Conduct â—mongst them and som experienced Captains Don Carlos hardly ever would have recovered the Crown of Spain The Common people were to blame and the Gentrie not to bee excused for opposing and rising against their Sovereign's Ministers yet wee must of necessitie confess that they were valiant That there were divers exorbitancies outrages and insolencies committed What wonder is it amongst the respectless and libertine People and that the Gentlemen depended more upon them then they upon the Nobles who assisted them If wee see an Armie well disciplined the Souldiers subject and obedient to their Captains shall wee saie absolutely all those in that Armie are Traitors for my part I would not neither is it any such great marvel that children rise up against their own fathers for if wee look back to som passages of our Countrie of Spain what shall wee see but the like unnatural actions the factions of Princes the sidings of Grandees and private Gentlemen who were so audacious as to rise in arms against their lawful Kings and yet they are not so spotted and foul as som would make those of the latter times appear to bee I do not saie this in justification of these Commonalties but onely to excuse in what I may my own Nation and the Gentrie thereof But to return to the purpose Nothing was left unattempted on either side that might conduce to the increasing or securitie of their Partie You have seen in the precedent Book that the Iunta sent their Instructions to Valladolid where Don Pedro Giron and other Captains of the Commonaltie were assembled The time beeing com although the season was very sharp and unfit for an Armie to keep the field beeing almost in the depth of Winter they all put themselvs in a readiness and in the name of the Iunta they wrote fresh Letters to the Cities and Towns of their Combination to send immediately all the forces they could possibly rais which they did Those of the Iunta according to agreement Voted Don Pedro Giron Captain General of their Forces and sent him a Commission from the Queen and the Kingdom Thinking that hee beeing a person of so noble extraction and allied to so many Grandees of Castilla would gain a great reputation to their Partie And most men were of opinion that Don Pedro Giron accepted thereof and wedded the Interest
of the Commonaltie meerly for his own ends and that by means of these troubles and commotions hee might get possession of the Dukedom of Mâ—dina Sidonia which as hath been already said hee pretended was his right This Election did not digest well in Padilla's stomach who till then had executed the office of Captain General and presumed it should bee confirmed upon him and for his sake neither the Commissioners of Toledo nor of Madrid would give their Votes for Don Pedro. Iohn de Padilla beeing informed of all these passages before that Don Pedro Giron came to take his staff pretending I know not what occasion rode poste to Toledo and his men seeing their Captain gone would staie no longer in the Armie but the next daie took the same waie after him Notwithstanding all this Don Pedro Giron accepted the Charge and came to Tordesillas with fourscore Lances of his own appointed a Randevous for his Armie wherein hee was much assisted by the industrie and diligence of the Bishop of Zamora who brought to the service of the Iunta near five hundred men with arms of the antient Guards of the Kingdom for the rest were gone to the Lord High Constable hee brought moreover seventie Lances of his own and almost a thousand Foot four hundred whereof were Priests of his own Bishoprick besides the people of Zamora whom hee had at his devotion for by favor of the Junta hee had driven the Earl of Alva out of Zamora and made himself Master thereof Every daie came fresh supplies from the other Cities both of Hors and Foot all well armed and with them som Gentlemen and Commanders From Salamanca came Don Pedro Maldonado with about a thousand Foot Other Cities appointed those who were their Commissioners in the Junta to bee their Captains As Leon chose Gonsalo de Guzman son to Ramiro NunÌ„ez and the Citie of Toro Don Hernando de Ulloa who were their Commissioners and so likewise did other places Thus those of the Junta grew from daie to daie more powerful beeing resolved to end the business by force of Arms. Their mouths were all filled with reproachful and threatning language especially the Common-people's who called the Grandees and Gentrie of the Countrie Traitors enemies of the Kingdom saying they had destroied taken away their estates which availed them nothing but who can restrein a multitude Amongst other impertinencies they said That the Queen should do well to marrie the Duke of Calabria Don Hernando de Aragon son to Frederick last K. of Naples who since the time of the Catholick King had been kept prisoner in Xativa in the Kingdom of Valencia I believ this was onely put upon those of the Junta and that they neither did nor thought any such thing But the truth is their passion was grown to such an height that they never so much as named the Emperor in their Proclamations though they had sworn Allegiance to him as their King but all passed in the names of the Queen and Kingdom Insomuch that the hatred and enmitie betwixt the two parties became implacable and both made all preparations possible for a war In short time those of the Junta had put their forces in a readiness and equipage to march unto the field as was determined SECT II. 'MOngst these occurrences arrived the Lord Admiral at Medina de Rioseco where hee was met and received by all the Noble-men and Gentle-men who were com thither to the Cardinal with their Souldiers all armed and drawn up in Battle-Array Hee expressed much gladness to see so many gallant men and persons of such eminent qualitie Yâ—t hee had no intention to wade through blood to the accomplishment of his desires but rather by fair means if possible to settle the disturbed State of the Kingdoms which to effect hee left no stone unturn'd and at last hee obtained that three or four of the Commissioners of the Iunta should give him a meeting at Torrelobaton where they consumed five or six daies in treating but all his reasons persuasions and fair promisses could bring them to no reason Before they would harken to any proposition of his they demanded that the Lord high Constable should renounce and leav off the exercise of Vice-Roy and Governor which hee had begun to execute And whilest the Lord Admiral was thus treating with them the Iunta commanded a Proclamation to bee made against the Lord high Constable and the Earl of Alva de Lista as is before mentioned and other Noble-men And Don Pedro Giron with the Bishop of Zamora had orders to draw their Armie into the field which was seaventeen thousand Foot besides good store of hors and much Artillerie which had been brought from Medina del Campo Whereupon the Lord Admiral despairing of any Peace protested against them and returned to Rioseco beeing resolved to accept the Government joyntly with the Cardinal and the Lord high Constable in regard those fair conditions of agreement which hee offred were slighted and rejected Don Pedro Giron Captain-General for the Iunta and the Bishop of Zamoraâ— with his Souldiers and band of Priests marched out the 2â—th daie of November 1520 and quartered their Armie that night in Villabraxima Tordehumos Villagarzia and other places about Rioseco with intent to starve or drive the Cavaliers thence And indeed if the Commoners had been men at that time they might have done it From their head-quarters at Villabraxima they wrote to the Citie of Valladolid giving them an account of their advance and that before they fell upon Rioseco they would send a King at Arms to require the Lord Admiral and those of the Town of Rioseco to cast out those thievs and destroyers of the Kingdom as they called the Cavaliers if not that they would use means to take them and hinder the Cardinal's Government it beeing a thing contrarie to the Laws and Rights of the Kingdom SECT III. AFter this the Armie of the Iunta by waie of justification sent their Heralds or King 's at Arms to the Lord Admiral with the other Noble-men and Gentlemen then beeing in Rioseco requiring them not onely to leav that place but to go out of the Countrie and desiring those of the said Town to confirm themselvs to those of the Commonaltie in favor of his Majestie but this message was so ill resented that the Heralds found but sorrie entertainment being apprehended and disarmed by order from the Earls of Venavente and of Alva de Lista which beeing known by the Iunta's forces they presently advanced towards Rioseco The Bishop of Zamora marched in the Van with five thousand men fully resolved to do all the mischief hee could to the Cavaliers Hee was no sooner com to Villabraxima but the two hundred lances which the Marquis of Astorga had placed there took their heels flying with such disorder and haste that some of them lost their Arms before they could reach Rioseco and left the Place cleer for the Bishop who entering said Let
his men too late for the expedition of Tordesillas attended upon the Cardinal thither where his Eminence beeing arrived the Lord Admiral solemnly accepted the Joint-government of the Kingdoms with the Cardinal and the Lord High Constable having first tried all means possible to reduce the people fairly to the obedience of his Majestie for after the taking of Tordesillas hee sent Gomez de Avila who was there made prisoner making him first swear to return to treat with Don Pedro Giron and the rest of the Iunta offering them very honorable Conditions if they would laie down their Arms and com in But Gomez beeing returned without concluding any thing there was no apparent hope of any accommodation besides seeing that the Iunta and the forces of the Commoners were retired to Valladolid which was but five leagues from Tordesillas and that it was no time of year to keep the field or besiege any other Citie leaving the enemies to themselvs the Governors with consent of the rest of the Nobles put all their Souldiers in Garrison in the adjacent Towns For divers of their men were gon away having enriched themselvs with the plunder which they took at Tordesillas The Earl of Haro with som chois companies remained in Tordesillas for the Guard of her Majestie 's person and defence of the Town Don Pedro Velez Earl of OnÌ„ate with som Hors and Foot Companies was placed in Simancas though the Government thereof belonged to Don Hernando de Vega but hee beeing of the Emperor's Council of State it was thought more convenient hee should reside at Tordesillas yet hee went thither somtimes himself as occasion served In Portillo a place of strength belonging to the Earl of Venavente was put another Garrison under the Command of Don InÌ„igo de Padilla cosen-german to the Earl of Venavente To Torrelobaton a Town of the Lord Admiral 's betwixt Tordesillas and Rioseco by which all their provisions were to pass were sent other companies of souldiers besides those which Don Hernando Enriquez the Lord Admiral 's brother had there in regard that was the waie to Burgos where the Lord High Constable was with the Council with whom they were to keep continual correspondence Betwixt the Towns which were for the Commoners and those wherein were Garrisons for his Majestie was such killing robbing and spoiling as if they had been the most mortal enemies in the world as shall bee declared hereafter Artificers could get no emploiment Husbandmen could not till their grounds Merchants had no traffick Cities lost their correspondence with each other becaus the waies were unsecure Justice was quite out of date Excise Tributes Levies Impositions increased daily by reason of the excessive charges of the Armie the Revenue of the Roial Crown which they had usurped not beeing sufficient to defraie them These and such like were the fruits and profit which Castilla reaped by their disobedience And yet for all their miserable condition they did not humble nor submit themselvs neither would they accept of the honorable and advantageous Conditions which were offered them But everie daie they were sending fresh men to maintein and foment the War from Valladolid where those who cast the Kingdom into this precipice had taken up their seat Although they were so jealous and displeased at their Captain General DON PEDRO GIRON especially the Common people that they did neither obey nor respect him neither did hee hold himself secure amongst them and therefore hee left them soon after as you shall see SECT IX THe Bishop of Zamora and Don Pedro Giron thinking themselvs not secure in Zaratan which was but a smal open Village marched with their Armie to Valladolid although their coming was not very acceptable to most of the Citie Beeing there they quartered themselvs in the houses of those that were affected to the King's Partie making abominable havock and spoil their souldiers pulled down tâ—e houses of Francisco de la Serna and Don Alonso NinÌ„o de Castro they plundered the hous of the Comendador Santistevan robb'd and spoiled all they could laie hands on in the Earl of Miranda's hous and divers other mischiefs they did within the Citie whereof the Bishop beeing informed hee caused many things to bee restored and som souldiers to bee punished whereby hee gained much good opinion and affection Two daies after their coming thither they marched both Hors and Foot in goodly order out of the Citie with intent to go to break down the Bridg of Simancas but hearing by the waie that the Earl OnÌ„ate and those of the Town had saved them that labor for the Earl had intelligence that they intended to surprise him there and pass thence to Tordesillas they wheeled about to take the Fort of FuensaldanÌ„a which they entred without any contradiction and having left som souldiers with a Commander in it they returned to Valladolid the same night giving orders to their men to bee ready the next morning before daie which was obeied and they gave out they would gain the pass at Simancas proclaiming war with fire and sword against the Cavaliers at Tordesillas But Simancas beeing scituate upon the descent of an hill the river on one side and a strong Fort on the other which the Earl of OnÌ„ate had been very careful and vigilant in poviding with all necessaries they feared no attempts from those of Valladolid Most of those that marched out of Valladolid that time were from Salamanca Toro and Zamora many of them sillie ignorant fellows and their Captains not much more knowing in Martial affairs they were so long fitting themselvs that they made it three a clock in the Afternoon before they were all out of Valladolid which was ten hours after the time appointed so that they were forced to quarter that night at Laguna one league from the Citie som in the Monasterie of Abrojo others in the field with the Artillerie There fell such a difference betwixt Don Pedro Giron and the Bishop of Zamora that Don Pedro with his Lanciers marched to Tudela but there hee was refused quarters so hee was enforced to go on to VillavanÌ„ez Next 〈◊〉 the Bishop gave orders to march to Simancas but som told him that 't was better to return to Valladolid and there take further advice The people of Toro Zamora and Valladolid had likewise som bickerings amongst themselvs insomuch that every one would carrie their Artillerie home to their own Cities but those of Valladolid beeing the strongest partie carried it to their Citie without any more ado which bred much discontent and heart-burning and all exclaimed against Don Pedro Giron saying all the ill their discontented mindes could imagine of him for leaving them in that manner which confirmed all the jealousies and suspicions which they had formerly conceived of him One daie twelv Foot souldiers of Valladolid went out upon a partie towards Simancas and about one league from Valladolid they met with fourscore Hors of that Garrison which made them flie to secure themselvs
into a little Tower amongst the Vineyards where they defended themselvs until the Alarm was given in Valladolid and the Bishop of Zamora came out with a partie of Hors and rescued them two of those of Simancas were killed and the rest seeing more men com from Valladolid fled all away so the Bishop returned with som hurt men but lost not one Beeing night the Citie much satisfied with his courage in this exploit sent out many torches to receiv him The next daie becaus a brother of Serna's had murmured somthing against the Bishop they commanded his hous to bee pull'd down and in regard the people thronged thither out of greediness to carrie away the timber they heedlessly cut down the pillars and posts that supported it whereby the four quarters of the hous fell amongst the people killed fourteen or fifteen men and hurt divers others SECT X. THe Commissioners who fled at the taking of Tordesillas to Medina del Campo came afterwards to Valladolid where they held their Iunta general concerning the affairs of the Kingdom The Lord Admiral seeing his Towns destroied his tenants plundered of all their goods and cattle since the â—â—rdinal's departure from Rioseco sent them a Letter to Valladolid pourporting That since it had been God's pleasure to laie his Judgments upon the Kingdom and afflict them with the â—pirit of dissention hee desired to the end there might bee no more spoiling nor murthering one another That there might bee a Ceâ—sation of Arms but upon this condition That whatsoever dammage and prejudice hee and the Earl of Venavente had sustained in their Lands by the robbing and violence of those of Valladolid should bee repaired otherwise That those Arms which they had taken to offend them they should take to defend themselvs This Letter beeing read in the Iunta it was Voted that no answer should bee returned nor any other Letter received thenceforwards from any of the Grandees Christmas beeing com they made great preparations to go against Tordesillas Iohn de Padilla beeing arrived with the men of Toledo at Medina del Campo it was moved that hee should besiege it on one side and the Bishop on the other hereupon were every daie consultations amongst the Commissioners but they could not determine any thing At last it was resolved that Iohn de Padilla should bee sent for to Valladolid that they might take his advice The Commoners were far more in number then the Cavaliers but these were the better and more experienced men in matters of Arms Tordesillas they fortified daily and furnished with all sorts of provisions Simancas likewise was in so good condition that the hors of that garrison plagued those of Valladolid in such manner that no bodie could Travel nor keep any Cattle in the fields or any thing els but they would bee sure to snap it By order of the Iunta it was Proclaimed in Valladolid with sound of Trumpets and Minstrels that no Souldiers or others should rob under pain of death albeit they should meet with people coming from the enemies quarters unless they bore Arms on the other side and in such case they might do what they could to the end that People might pass to and fro securely and trade not absolutely bee destroied The like was proclaimed in Tordesillas and Simancas By this means the waies began to bee somwhat secure but not altogether and the People desired there might bee one good battle for either side falling the dispute would bee ended The spirit and Courage of the Bishop was remarkable One night hee sallied out of Valladolid and went to Palencia took the Corregidor the Alcaldes and other officers of Justice and placed others in their steads hee had an intent to apprehend Don Diego de Castilla also but hee fled With the favor and assistance of the major part of the Citie hee called himself Bishop of Palencia for which Bishoprick hee was presently offâ—ed sixteen thousand Duckets Thence hee went to Carrion and Torquemadâ— in each of which Towns as in Palencia hee left two thousand men to guard them which the Commonaltie had given him hee gave them strict orders to bee very watchful and Vigilant but to offer violence to none except the the people of Burgos and other places belonging to the Cavaliers and from such hee bid them take what they could and paie themselvs with the plunder and tell the people that if they came a second time they might thank God if they took not their lives away as for their goods or Cattle they must exspect to have none left This done hee returned to Valladâ—lid having made himself a King and Pope SECT XI IOhn de Padilla marched out of Medina del Campo towards Valladolid with â— great number of Foot paid for a long time but onely threescore hors And beeing arrived at the bridg of Duero hee commanded his Artillerie to bee carried up the River to Simancas At about half a league distance hee caused four peeces of Ordnance to bee shot at the Town whereupon the Earl of OnÌ„ate sallied forth with fourscore Lances with which hee laie in ambush thinking to cut off Iohn de Padilla's train but beeing discovered Iohn de Padilla let flie four Falconets at them which made them soon turn their bâ—cks and hee pursued them to the very Gates of Simancas Thence hee went to Valladolid where hee was solemnly received with the applaus and content of the whole Citie making as if hee were the father of them all in whom they reposed all their trust and confidence And there hee was made Captain-General although those of the Iunta would have given that Command to Don Pedro Lasso de la Vega but the great credit and esteem which Iohn de Padilla had gotten amongst the Souldierie made them decline that resolution The Earl of Haro having intelligence of Iohn de Padilla's march to Valladolid had an intent to stop his waie to which effect hee sent for Don Geronimo de Padilla to Simancas with those men hee had at Portillo but beeing upon his departure informed for certain that some of Tordesillas had given Iohn de Padilla notice of his design and that they had agreed assoon as the Earl was gon with his men one waie Iohn de Padilla shouâ—d com another and fall upon Tordesillas where most of the Inhabitants were for the Commonaltie and desired nothing more then the effecting of this ploâ— Hee câ—anged his former determination and staied to secure Tordesillas After this they had intelligence that in a place called Rodilana betwixt Medina del Campo and Valladolid were quartered five hundred Souldiers of Salamanca who beeing so neer Medina thought themselvs secure and kept no guards hereupon the Lord Admiral and the â—arl consulted how to beat up their quarters and destroie them Don Pedro de la Cueva brother to the Duke of Alburquerque a valiant Gentlemen undertook the execution of this design and with few more then what the enemie was spoken to bee
High Constable out of the Citie But hee seeing fair words and gentleness prevailed nothing at all with them determined to carrie it with an high hand and make them to submit per force having taken the Command of the Fort from them To bring this resolution to effect one daie hee drew up his souldiers and servants all in Arms in a broad place before his own hous thither repaired to him forthvvith Don Iohn de la Cerda Duke of Medina Cely Don Luis de la Cerda Marquis of Cogolludo his son Don Alonso de Arellano Earl of Aguilar Don Antonio de Velasco Earl of Nieva with his two sons Don Hernando de Bobadilla Earl of Chinchon Don Bernardino de Cardenas Marquis of Elche eldest son to the Duke of Maqueda and son in Law to the Lord High Constable besides divers other persons of honor with their kindred and servants who were all resolved to venture their lives with him in this design which the people perceiving they all assembled likewise intending to fight with these Noblemen and they were so near engaging that som Arrows were interchanged from each partie and the bullets began to flie also but the chief of the Citie seeing the advantage the Nobles had over the People they speedily sent to require and command the Commoners to bee quiet and peaceably laying down their Arms to obey the Commands of the Lord High Constable as their Vice-King and Governor which they did without much contestation and followed very submissively and quietly the Lord High Constable who went directly to the Fort requiring the Governor to deliver it him presently otherwise hee protested hee would enter it by force and execute Justice upon him and all the rest with him Som disputes and controversie there was thereupon but before night it was surrendered and the Lord High Constable put in another Governor for his Majestie placed a Corregidor in the Citie and re-established the government in the same manner it had been formerly Thus Burgos not beeing able to resist was pacified and reduced to the obedience of his Majestie wherein that Citie continued ever after SECT XVI THis done the Lord High Constable sent Don Iuan Manrique the Duke of Naxara's eldest son to suppress those of the Merindades and by reason hee was very young Martin Ruiz de AvendanÌ„â— and Gomez de Butron Gentlemen of great account in those parts and in Biscaya were appointed to go along with him beeing arrived there those Gentlemen carried the business so discreetly that there was a peace concluded betwixt the Lord High Constable and those of the Merindades But it lasted not long for Gonsalo de Barabona the Abbat of Rueda Garcia de Arce but chiefly Don Pedro de Ayala Earl of Salvatierra infringed it who was grown very powerful in those mountainous parts and so besotted with that inconsiderate passion that by his obstinacie hee brought himself to a miserable end to the utter ruine and destruction of one of the most honorable and most antient families of Castilla and the Mountains SECT XVII AT the time that most of the Cities of Castilla declared for the Commonaltie in the province of Alava and Citie of Vitoria that opinion was not generally received nor allowed although som did take the libertie to speak over lavishly especially against those of the Council In this season was brought to the said province and Citie of Vitoria a Letter from Burgos wherein that Citie as the chief of Castilla desired those of that province to send two persons whom they pleased to confer with them at Burgos At the same time were brought other Letters from the province of Guipuzcoa and the Countie of Biscaya desiring that they might all unite together The Citie of Naxara and Town of Haro desired that they would assist them against the Lord high Constable and the Duke of Naxara who they said did tyrannize too much over them Vitoria returned civil answers to all Burgos onely excepted to whom they would not write becaus they made themselvs their Superiors in styling that the Metropolitan Citie of Castilla for the Citie of Vitoria did presume that they and their province of Alava were absolute of themselvs without any dependencie or relation to Burgos as their Head But they sent Iohn de Alava who at that time was Merino Mayor that is Chief Judg of Vitoria to let their Embassadors understand by word of mouth the preheminence of that Countrie and that they could not condescend to the Union which they desired for they understood that Burgos had shaken hands with their obedience to his Majestie and they would not bee participant of their disloialtie This answer was no less unexpected then unwelcom to those of Burgos About the same time some Towns of the Province of Guipuâ—coa infected with the Common Contagion fell foul upon the Citie of San Sebastian becaus they would not approve of their extravagant opinions cutting down and spoiling their Orchards for they have no Vineyards and doing them divers other mischiefs But prevailing not there they wrote and held correspondence with divers other places by means of Pedro Ochoa de Santa Maria de Mondragon a subtil fellow who was their Mercurie At length Vitoria tainted with the same diseas had joyned in confederacie with them but that Diego Martinez de Alava Deputie-General of that province with others his allies and kinsmen endeavored to restrain them from a design so wicked and prejudicial to his Majestie SECT XVIII THe Earl of Salvatierra beeing at difference with Madama Margarita his Ladie insomuch that hee would not live with her shee addressed her complaints to his Majestie of her grievances and of the indignities which through his cross and unworthie disposition shee was enforced to suffer Whereupon it was ordered by his Majestie that the said Countess with her Children should remain in Vitoria and that the Earl should allow them maintenance according to their qualities and an exprâ—ss Command from his Majestie was sent to Diego Martinez de Alava Deputie general of that Province to see the said order punctually observed who desiring to execute this Command by the Autoritie and means of the Council the Earl thought to counterpois that power by making the Commonaltie of his side who did him little good in this particular although those of the Iunta sent to that Province and to the Citie of Vitoria a Judg called Antonio Gomez de Ayala who afterwards was executed for a notorious Commoner at Valladolid with orders and power to give sentence in favor or against any that should bee brought before him his addresses were particularly to the Earl of Salvatierra to the end that hee might assist and support him The Eaâ—l gave him fiftie men who attended on him at his coming into Vitoria which the Deputie Diego Martinez de Alava and Pedro Martinez his brother with others of their kindred seeing and knowing that hee brought particular orders against them from the Iunta at Tordesillas
away that which the Catholick Kings had in store at Fuente Ravia Don Sancho de Velasco was presently dispatched thither with Commission to bring the Munition over land and the Artillerie by sea to Bilbao thence to Vitoria and so to Burgos The Iunta then at Tordesillas having intelligence hereof presently sent to advertise the Earl of Salvatierra that hee might prepare forces and intercept the Artillerie Who used such diligence that in short time hee had raised amongst his friends and tenants above ten thousand men And a Gentleman named Gonçalo de Varahona Captain of the said Earl's forces went to the Merindades and of those men which Don Pedro Xuarez de Velasco had routed and dissipated hee rallied so many as made up the number of almost fourteen thousand the like Armie was never known to bee raised in those parts in so short a time with these men hee took the Munition that came by land and hearing that the Artillerie which was seven great pieces of Ordnance was coming from Bilbao to Vitoria convoied by seventeen hundred men whereof many were Gentlemen of note of Biscaya besides the Alcalde Leguizama and the Corregidor of Vitoria the third of March hee marched with his whole Armie nine leagues that daie and night the next morning by break of daie hee came into the Vallie of Arretia where the Artillerie was Don Sancho de Velasco and his men giving all for lost dis-mounted their Cannon and taking away the Carriages and their Mules shifted for themselvs The Earl seized on the Artillerie but not beeing able to carrie it away hee caused it to bee broke in pieces This done the Earl returned with his Armie to the Vallie of Ayala having som intelligence and encouragement from som of his friends within the Citie to fall upon Vitoria which was very pleasing to his Captain Gonçalo de Varahona and other Officers The report flying about that hee intended to sack Vitoria made a number of rabbling people join which swelled his Armie to fifteen or sixteen thousand but most of them were ill armed and wors disciplined Hee pitched his camp in the plain of Arriaga one quarter of a league from Vitoria SECT XXII THe Abbat of Santa Pia and Fray Diego de Arna a Dominican Frier beeing persons whom the Earl particularly esteemed and effected went to him in his Camp desiring and conjuring him not to enter into the Citie So falling upon a Treatie of agreement hee demanded that they should denie their obedience to the Lord High Constable and that they would deliver unto him the Deputie Diego Martinez de Alava with his brother and certain others of his kindred The Citâ—zens believing that if those Gentlemen were out of the Citie the Earl's furie might bee the better appeased earnestly desired them to absent themselvs which they did and carried their wives and families with them to TrevinÌ„o a Town belonging to the Duke of Naxara where they exspected Don Manrique his son with som forces from Navarra The Citie beeing in this perplexitie som who had relation to Don Alvaro de Mendoça Lord of Mendoça de Arriva who was an intimate friend with the Earl of Salvatierra beseeched him for Alvaro's sake not to use any violence to that Citie But hee briskly answered That they had not performed their promises to him At last to satisfie him they concluded That hee should enter with his colors flying at the gate of Arriaga and march out again at the gate of Santa Clara. Whil'st this was arguing com's El Licenciado Aguirre who was one of the Council saying That they ought not to open the gates to the Earl of Salvatierra and that whosoever should do it were Traitors Those that were present gave him a very rude answer and had laien violent hands on him if Lope de Xuaço and som others had not suddenly conveied him out of the Citie from whence hee went to staie with Diego Martinez de Alava and the rest at TrevinÌ„o The Earl came not into Vitoria himself but sent his Captain Gonçalo de Varahona mean time hee went to a place called Ondagoya in the Vallie of Quartango Those of the Iunta sent the Earl of Salvatierra thanks for the favor hee had done them in taking that Artillerie which the Lord High Constable they said intended to carrie against â—alencia and afterwards join with the rest of the Cavaliers SECT XXIII THis Earl of Salvatierra who was also Earl of the Vallies of Ayala Quartango and San Milan was a man of a monstrous hautie and terrible disposition It happened when those of the Iunta sent to him desiring him to wage War with the Lord high Constable and intercept his Artillerie that hee then was with his Armie before Briviesca and without returning any answer to their Letters hee presently raised his siege The Messengers of the Iunta thought thereby that hee had no intent to act according to the contents of the Letters which they delivered him and were very angrie saying That hee did onely make a shew of favor and friendship to them for now the Commonâ—ltie having need of him hee would do nothing for them These words were brought to his ears whereupon hee wrote to the Iunta and to Valladolid expressing much distaste and anger that they should harbor any such thought of him saying that hee came not of the race of any pedling mercenarie fellows nor of Traitors but lineally was descended from the stoâ—k of the Loyall Nobilitie of the Gottish King 's of Spain This murmuring against him by those of the Iunta did so distemper him that the blood gushed out at his nose and mouth for meer anger and cast him into a sickness which had like to have cost him his life After this hee sent to the Iunta and Valladolid desiring them to have a care that his Town and Castle of Empudia should not bee destroied nor spoiled in the re-taking although hee knew the King would not suffer him to enjoy it SECT XXIV THe Gentlemen of Vitoria who were retired at TrevinÌ„o sent to the Lord high Constable and Duke of Naxara for succor The Lord high Constable sent them four hundred Foot Souldiers and one hundred hors The same night they arrived at la Puebla de Argançon the Deputie Diego Martinez went with them to suppress the Earl of Salvatierra at Andagoya but hee having notice of their design shewed them a pair of nimble heels Beeing entred into the Town they went presently to his hous which having throughly ransacked they burned to the ground which done they returned to la Puebla The next daie arrived at TrevinÌ„o Don Manrique de Lara the Duke of Naxara's eldest son with two thousand Foot and fourtie hors Hee and the Deputie with the rest of the Gentlemen there resolved to go to Vitoria and inflict condigne punishment upon some of the factious and encourage those of the Loyal Partie The Inhabitants of Vitoria beeing unwilling to receiv so many souldiers into
the Citie sent messengers to TrevinÌ„o desiring Don Manrique not to bring his souldiers thither but they could not prevail So those men which Don Manrique brought and the Lord high Constable's entred all into Vitoria as also the Deputie with all his kindred The next daie beeing Fridaie Don Manrique marched to the Town of Salvatierra which was the Earl's and took it with the Castle also both which hee gave the Deputie Diego Martinez charge to keep for his Majestie leaving him two hundred souldiers with the which Diego Martinez marched from Salvatierra to a place called Gauna where the â—arl had another strong hous which having burnt hee returned to Salvatierra and Don Manrique the Sundaie following went back to Vitoria The Earl seeing they had taken his Town of Salvatierra and burnt his other houses went to the Valley of Quartango and raised four thousand eight hundred men with his servants Hurtado Diez de Mendoça hearing this came to Vitoria and advertised Don Manrique of all particulars Whereupon hee presently marched with his men to Quartango The Earl staied not to make him welcom but fled with all his men to the mountains So Don Manrique's men pillaged all the Valley burned down the Towers of Andagoya and Morillas Thence hee marched towards the Merindades where hee did no great harm the people submitting themselvs to him onely hee burned some houses of Gonçalo Varahona's thence hee went to Burgos where hee joyned his forces with the Lord high Constable who was then preparing for the battle of Villalar Gonçalo Varahona and one Captain Brizuela after Don Manrique's departure out of the Merindades did a world of mischief in the houses of those that had agreed and made their peace with the Lord high Constable at the Town of Valpuesta hee killed one Salazar a Batchellor at Law and burnt his hous from thence hee went to the Valley of Ayala where the Earl of Salvatierra was Where they remained until April next following raising men as fast as they could to go against Vitoria and Salvatierra Whereof the Citie beeing advertised they put themselvs in a posture to resist him got munition from the Sea-side made readie their ordnance mustred their â—en which were but six hundred fit to bear Arms besides two hundred Souldiers The Lord high Constable sent them from his Towns of Haro la Puebla and San Vicente two hundred and fiftie men more besides two troops of light hors-men Hee sent moreover Commissions of Captains General of the Mountains and those parts to Martyn Ruyz de AvendanÌ„o y de Gamboa and to Gomez Gonçalez de Butron y de Mugica Upon receipt whereof Martyn Ruyz de AvendanÌ„o came to Vitoria and with the men of the Citie and those that came from other places resolved to give the Earl battle Hereupon the Deputie Diego Martinez de Alava repaired speedily to Salvatierra to defend that in case the Earl should make any attempt upon it Beeing arrived there hee would have sent his Son to the Castle of Bernedo whereof hee was Governor but the Towns-men would not suffer him and offred to apprehend him whereupon there arose great disorder and hee was enforced to retire into the Fort. Divers of the Towns-men having relation to the Earl were very desirous that hee should repossess it and therefore sent him intelligence privately that Diego Martinez and his Sons were in a manner prisoners and that now was the onely time for him to fall upon the Town Whereof hee beeing very well pleased made all the haste he could from Quartango to Salvatierra but was met in the waie by the hors of Vitoria who took some of his men prisoners however hee marched on and Gonçalo Varahona staied behïnde The next daie about midnight â—ee arrived at one of the Gates of Salvatierra called San Iuan and his men cried Ayala Ayala Which the Deputie's men who were upon the guard hearing put themselvs in a posture of defence and discharged some of their Ordnance which killed and hurt some of his Souldiers The Earl himself beeing very neer the Gate they flung down a great squar'd stone which raked his shoulders as it fell and quite spoiled his hors that made him retreat further off till daie-break by which time Gonçalo Varahona had brought the rest of his men so they marched all in a bodie to a place called VicunÌ„a where they burned five houses belonging to Diego Martinez de Alava And the Earl having intelligence that the Town of Salvatierra and the Deputie were reconciled and stood upon the defensive having no Artillerie with him nor finding any refreshment for his men the people beeing all fled to the Mountains hee relinquished his design But upon his retreat a Partie of hors with some Foot sallied out of Vitoria and took divers of his men at Alegria with whom returning to the Citie and giving notice of the order or rather disorder of the Earl's Armie they concluded to fight them To which purpose all the hors and Foot marched out and Captain Ochoa de Asua was sent before to hinder him from passing the bridg of Durana But his hors beeing already passed they made it good till the Foot was all over by which time the whole bodie of the Vitorians was come up The Earl at first made as if hee would fight but they plaied so hot upon him with their muskets that seeing his men drop so fast hee rod awaie with onely one Page which seeing his men began to follow him Gonçalo Varahona valiantly staied behind crying to his men to stand Captain Valenzuela encountred him and took him prisoner who with six hundred of his men much pillage and divers Colours were all carried to Vitoria Martin Ruyz de AvendanÌ„â— who was present at the sight committed Gonçalo Varahona to Pedro de Alava's hous for the present and few daies after hee was beheaded in the great market place whereof an express was sent to give the Lord high Constable notice who was then upon going to Villalar where a short time after the battle was given which was the ruine and break-neck of the Commoners SECT XXV TO relate all the troubles which the Lord High Constable had with those of Burgos and the Earl of Salvatierra would fill whole Volumes I shall now onely cursarily mention what was done in order to the conclusion of the Treatie and Articles which the Bishop of Laodicea brought concerning the reducing of Don Pedro Lasso Four daies Ortiz remained in Tordesillas exspecting until the Lord Admiral had consulted of those Articles with the Cardinal and given him the result of their determination But in daie time hee durst not go abroad so that his negotiation was onely in the night for there is no War so dangerous as that betwixt kindred and people of the same Nation and Language At last hee was dispatch't but hee was fain to carrie their Answer in his memorie not daring to have any writing about him â—o hee went coasting and crossing the Countrie
the several Cities with the Bishop of Zamora and Iohn de Padilla agreed to draw all their forces into the field to stop all correspondence betwixt Valladolid and Tordesillas that the Treatie might not go forwards and to destroie and spoil all the Towns or houses they could thâ—t belonged to any of the Gentrie in Tordesillas With this resolution the Bishop of Zamora Iohn de Padilla with his Toledians Iohn Zapata with those from Madrid Iohn Bravo Captain of the Segovians and Francisco Maldonado who commanded the men of Avila and Salamanca went to the Iunta desiring that they would appoint a Captain General over them all and it is reported out of craft thereby to render him more odious to the Common People that they press'd to have that office conferred upon Don Pedro Lasso which plot was imputed to Iohn de Padilla who never was Don Pedro's friend The Iunta to satisfie them did name Don Pedro but hee desired som time to think upon it before hee would accept it and those that bare him no good will began to divulge his beeing made General in a disparaging manner saying It was more honor then hee deserved in regard hee had given them so much reason to suspect his fidilitie for holding correspondence with the Governors to sell them and that Iohn de Padilla was much more fit for that Command This was so much buzz'd amongst the people that they began to murmur highly against Don Pedro. The mutinie growing to such an height that Don Pedro and his friends not thinking themselvs secure prepared to make resistance in case they should assault them in their houses as som gave out they would And they saie the very school-boys instructed by their masters so to do ran crying up and down the streets Let Iohn de Padilla bee General and not Don Pedro Lasso The Bishop of Zamora sent him word that his safest waie would bee to absent himself from the Citie or at least to retire into some secret place for the people were very jealous of him and in their furie would bee apt to do him some displeasure but this was onely a plot to entrap him Don Pedro very resolutely returned the Bishop this answer That hee had done nothing that hee was ashamed of or ought to run awaie for and that hee would not stir out of his hous if the people had any thing to saie to him there they should finde him The people's design upon Don Pedro Lasso beeing publickly known some principal persons of the Citie came amongst them and so handled the matter that they all retired to their houses and there was no harm done SECT XXXIV THose of the Junta beeing in consultation about the ordering of their Armie for there was no more thought of peace some said that it was very requisite that they should have a Captain General and although Iohn de Padilla had executed the office ever since Don Pedro Giron had left it yet hee had not his Commission from the Junta neither had the present Armie which the several Cities had raised acknowledged him Som stood for Don Pedro Lasso de la Vega but the major part of the Junta and all the Common people Voted for John de Padilla Hee seeing that they would make him their Captain General out of a feigned modestie refused it earnestly desiring them all to give their Votes rather for Don Pedro Lasso who was more worthie and capable of so high a Charge then hee not that hee declined their service however but hee would content himself with the Command of the two thousand men which hee brought from Toledo with whom and with his own person hee would serv the Commonaltie to the last breath The people hearing that John de Padilla was like to bee outed they came crying in a tumultuous mannertothe Junta and presâ—ing them to make John de Padilla their General for no man els should bee And thinking that Dom Pedro Lasso was the onely man that hindred the election of John de Padilla the multitude ran presently to apprehend him in his hous laying to his charge that hee had used means to reduce them to his Majestie 's service that hee had been caus that the Cavaliers had taken Tordesillas having been in the conspiracie with Don Pedro Giron But the Bishop and John de Padilla followed and staied them in the great market place Assoon as ever the rabble saw the Bishop and him they flocked round about them crying out Let John de Padilla live let the Bishop live long may live John de Padilla who take's away the taxes of Castilla In this manner did the multitude carrie him up and down the market place hooting and shooting as if they had been all mad insomuch that Iohn de Padilla could not speak to them if hee would have said any thing they kept so horrid a nois saying Hee should bee their General and no other Iohn de Padilla and the Bishop seeing this fond madness of the people withdrew themselvs into a hous out of a window whereof Iohn de Padilla spake to them in this manner Sirs You know how I came hither Captain for the Citie of Toledo in favor of the Commonaltieâ— of this Kingdom to serv you you must know likewise that Toledo is not inferior to Valladolid but a fâ—iend to it and all the other Cities of the Kingdom who all agreed to send mee to assist you and with the same affection and willingness I have performed my part and whil'st I have breath I will omit nothing wherein I may serv you and I thank you for your good wills to mee But the Lords of the Iunta have determined to choos a Captain General for thir Expedition Believ mee sirs it is most fit that place should go by Election and I assure you that I was the first man that made that motion for that is the best and safest waie moreover those Gentlemen know very well what they do Hee scars had uttered these words but they all cried out Wee will have none but John de Padilla and the Bishop Thus they continued for the space of a long hour and more Iohn de Padilla entreating them to give their consents that Don Pedro Lasso might execute that office for nevertheless hee should bee readie to spend his father's and his own estate besides the ventring of his life in that Holie Caus for the service of the Commonaltie But no reason would stop their mouths they still continued crying hee and non els should bee their Captain Which obstinacie of the people beeing reported to those of the Iunta they Voted Iohn de Padilla Captain General of â—ll their forces From that daie forwards Don Pedro Lasso began to relinquish the Commonaltie and divers of his friends did the like seeing how blind and void of reason the people were and how much prejudice they did themselvs in following a people so overswaied with passion and the greatest part of them too but men of mean
desire was very requisite if your Actions had been answerable to your Verbal expressions but that was not granted you becaus it was demanded onely to amuse us and to gain time to your selvs and if it were not so neither is it just nor reasonable that the Kingdom should disâ—band tâ—eir forces which have cost so much trouble and charge the raising for the experience of former passages hath taught us that your intent is to cosen and overcom us with such formal pretenses But wee supplicate and require you to give the Kingdom leav to seek and finde the good which they pretend and not to set your selvs in opposition and contradiction of our intentions for our drift and purpose is no other then to advance our holie enterprise and repel all those that shall withstand us of whom our trust in God is that â—re long wee shall obtein Victorie To whom wee make our heartie praiers that hee will bee pleased to enlighten your illustrious understandings with the true knowledg of our Caus. SECT XXXVI ALthough the Cavaliers did treat of an Accommodation yet they ceased not to get what arms and assemble what forces they could The general Letters signed by the Cardinal Lord Admiral and Earl of Haro at Tordesillas with the date in blank I have seen in the Lord High Constable's hands with divers other originals They demanded of Avila eighteen hundred Foot of Cordova one thousand of the Citie of Jaen three hundred of Trugillo one hundred and fiftie Lances and two hundred Foot of Badajos one hundred Foot of Baeca two hundred Foot of Ecija three hundred Foot of Ubeda two hundred Foot of Xerez one hundred and fiftie lances of Caceres two hundred Foot of Anduxar one thousand Foot of Ciudad-Real one hundred and twentie Foot of Carmona one hundred and fiftie Foot of the Duke of Arcos sixtie lances of the Earl of VruenÌ„a sixtie cross-bow-men on hors-back of Don Fernando Enriquez twentie lances of the Earl of Palma twentie lances of Don Rodrigo Mexia twentie lances of the Marquis of Tarifa fourscore lances of the Marquis of Comares thirtie lances of the Earl of Ayamonte thirtie lances of the Marquis of Villanueva twentie lances of the Earl of Cabra fiftie lances of the Duke of Medina Sidonia one hundred lances All these men they desired and all paied for three months promising to repaie the Souldiers and charges of levying and arming them out of his Majestie 's Revenue At the same time the Lord high Constable used the like diligence to rais men in the Mountains saying hiâ— design was to resist the Bishop of Zamora and the other Traitors with him also hee used means to intercept the Arms which were coming from Guipuzcoa to the Commoners SECT XXXVII THe Commonalties especially Valladolid were much displeased that those of the Iunta and the Commanders of the Armie did so prolong the War for alreadie they were so exhausted that they found themselvs not able to sustain it And Valladolid who had so vast a charge of souldiers to maintain and suffered exceedingly by the continual assaults and incursions which those of Simancas made into their Territories was more sensible of the smart then any of the other Cities and never left praying and threatning in publick and in private until they had persuaded or forced the Captains to march out with their Armie and to end the dispute with the Cavaliers in on battle Upon Saturdaie night of the first week in Lent the 17 of February 1521. Iohn de Padilla with the greatest privacie that might bee leâ—t his design should bee discovered marched with his men out of Valladolid to Zaratan a Village within a league of the Citie where hee quartered that night From whence hee went the same night with fourtie hors directly to Simancas Beeing arrived at the Watch-Tower which was upon a hill a little above the Town Iohn de Padilla asked the fellow which kept it if hee had perceived any thing of the enemie The man thinking hee had been som of their Garrison said Yes I saw a great number of men march from Valladolid to Zaratan which make's my heartake for wee have but a few left in Simancas Iohn de Padilla presently laied hands on him and carried him to his Quarters where having secured him hee returned towâ—rds Simancas by the waie hee lighted upon a partie of their hors that had been scouring the Countrie those hee charged and chased into the very Town after which hee returned to Zaratan with a great prise of sheep which hee took from them Three daies after this came more men out of Valladolid with the Artilerie of Medina Next daie after them marched out those that came from los Gelves who were quartered in Zaratan Arroyo and other places about Simancas with them came the Bishop of Zamora who although sick would not staie behind the Armie saying That in defence of the liberties of the Kingdom dead or alive sick or in health however hee would follow the Camp such was the courage and animositie of a Prelate threescore years old at least Besides all these came to joyn with him likewise Iohn Bravo and Francisco Maldonado with all their forces and divers hors-men Some daies they remained in Zaratan pillaging and taking what they could from those of Simancas and Torrelobaton Some daies they took from the Inhabitants of the enemie's Quarters 1500 sheep per diem and though it was Lent their Bishop gave them leav to eat flesh so they wanted for no good cheer Another time Iohn de Padilla marched out of his Quarters with a great partie of hors and met with some of Simancas and Torrelobaton's Garrisons and after an hot skirmish wherein som on both sides were killed Iohn de Padilla took fiftie Cavaliers horses and arms for which hee might have had great sums of monie if hee would have ransomed them but hee refused it SECT XXXVIII IT beeing a holie time in Lent and the War dangerous and prejudicial divers good Religious men interceded for an Accomodation of these differences and to procure an absolute Peace if possible At Aniago a Monasterie of the Carthusians upon the River Duero three leagues from Valladolid was the meeting place to Treat Those of the Commonaltie had very fair and advantagious conditions offered them but their heads beeing possessed with prejudice and their hearts infected with the poisonous vice of War having the libertie to pillage and spoil as they listed they would not hearken to any reason Indeed the Lord High Constable and the Lord Admiral are both worthie of immortal prais for out of a most Christian zeal and affection to their Countrie they desired this peace offering the Commonalties all favorable and reasonable terms possible and indented with the Emperor in a manner that hee should grant and confirm whatsoever they agreed upon with them and that hee should remit and pardon all the injuries they had done to his Roial Crown Protesting moreover that it
Whilest they were in a treatie during the eight daies of Truce two things hapned which destroyed all the Impostume or poison wherewith their hearts were swoln bursting out into the disorders which in this Book shall bee related and shall conclude this deplorable Historie Insomuch that the clouds which hung over Castilla threatning a cruel storm were all dissipated in one short and not bloodie battle betwixt the Cavaliers and the Commoners in the plain of Villalar the success whereof struck such remors of Conscience into the people's hearts and the Cities acknowledging their errors returned to their obedience unto him whom God had given them for their King serving and loving him as shall bee â—een hereafter During the fore-mentioned occurrences Francisco de Mercado Corregidor of Medina del Campo with twentie hors which in those daies were called Esquiers and other persons who by command of the Iunta were coming to Valladolid at the pass over the River Duero which is two leagues from Valladolid and one from Simancas they were encountred by a partie of one hundred and fiftie light-hors of the Earl of OnÌ„ate's who were going to seek adventures Four of those of Medina were killed upon the place Francisco de Mercado the Master of the Ordnance and two more were taken prisoners and carried to Simancas Notice hereof beeing given at Valladolid they sent out a strong partie to rescue them but it was too late and the Corregidor of Medina who was immediatly released again hindred them somwhat for meeting with them hee told them They might go back again for the business was nothing But afterwards knowing the truth of the storie they apprehended the Corregidor of Medina for a suspicious person laying to his charge the loss of those men and would have executed him presently but upon more serious consideration they held it best to dissemble and forbear a while lest they should thereby indanger the lives of those that were prisoners at Simancas So they sent first to demand them making great complaints that during the Truce they should commit such acts of hostilitie and break their words with them But they found no amends SECT II. THat which chiefly incensed the mindes of all the Commonaltie was that before the time of the Truce was exspired there was set up they knew not by whom in the market place of Valladolid a Proclamation made and signed by the Governors of the Kingdom wherein they named divers Citizens of Valladolid Toledo Salamanca Madrid Guadalaxara Murcia Segovia Toro Zamora and all the rest of the Commonalties to the number of five hundred persons and som Gentlemen declaring them Traitors Violaters of their faith to God and their King and calling the Bishop and Iohn de Padilla and other Officers of the Commonaltie treacherous enemies to his Majestie This was dispatched in Burgos and proclaimed with great solemnitie before Anton Gallo Chancellor and Secretarie of his Majestie 's Council then at Burgos and divers other persons of note The names of the parties mentioned beeing very many and that importing little or nothing to the substance of the Historie I shall not trouble the Reader therewith SECT III. VAlladolid in revenge of this Proclamation set up against them and the rest of the Commonalties the next daie after it was found in the market place they pasted upon the door of Santa Maria Church which is now the Cathedral a Paper with a direction to the Citie of Valladolid animating them to persevere in their holie purpose and not to bee intimidated for any practices of the Enemies or bee troubled at their reviling them with such opprobrious terms and encouraging all those of the Commonaltie to make all forces possible and march speedily into the field with so numerous an Armie that the sight of them onely should serv to overcom their enemies without fighting by which means they should save the lives of many men which would bee lost if their Armies met with equal strength besides the hazard to which they should expose their Caus. And if they were successful the War would bee at an end peace and plentie vvould encreas the libertie and publick good of the Kingdom ensue and the name of Traitors remain upon the Conquerred vvho never vvould dare to face them again This vvith som other things to the same effect vvas the substance of that Paper vvhich the Common people read vvith great content and applaus crying it up exceedingly and sending copies of it through the vvhole Kingdom SECT IV. Padilla's staying so long at Torrelobaton was very prejudicial to the Commonalties for besides that hee lost many men hee gave the Cavaliers time to recruit and strengthen themselvs notably whereas questionless if hee had fallen upon Tordesillas assoon as hee had taken in Torrelobaton hee had driven them to extraordinarie straits But he remained there hugging himself with that small victorie and the applaus of the people which hee had thereby procured Hee fell to repairing the walls which hee had battered down as if hee intended to make that the seat and residence of his Armie which lasted not long after The Cities of Toro and Zamora sent him som fresh supplies whereof the Cavaliers having notice they sent out a Partie of seven hundred Lances to cut off their waie and their lives too if they could near Pedrosa they met and after a prettie hot skirmish the Cavaliers forced them into the Town where they besieged them close but Iohn de Padilla having notice of his men's distress soon came to reliev them with three thousand Foot and five hundred Hors leaving a sufficient Guard in Torrelobaton whom when the Cavaliers saw with so great force they made their retreat good to Tordesillas And Iohn de Padilla marched with his men to Castromonte another Town of the Lord Admiral 's and having taken it left a Garrison in it and thence returned to Torrelobaton intending to exspect the succor for which hee had sent to the Cities of his Combination in the mean time hee repaired and fortified the Town as I said before lest the Cavaliers of Tordesillas should fall upon him before the forces hee exspected were com to him There hee began to be sensible of his own ill government and of the dammage which hee received by his too great confidence which soon after hee more plainly saw to the loss of his libertie and life For it is a blindeness and imperfection of a man's intellect to thrust himself upon imploiments beyond the reach of his capacitie and having undertaken them to bee râ—miss in the execution of them To bee the occasion of any troubles or disturbance in a Common-wealth is not Justifiable but beeing once ingaged it is an act of prudence for a man to bee vigilant and active in the atchievment of his design SECT V. IT were unjust that the great zeal wherewith the Lord high Admiral of Castilla was moved to reduce the people of that Kingdom which were up in Arms by fair means and
from Burgos with his forces they should all joyn in one bodie and make up an Armie sufficient to encounter Iohn de Padilla in case hee should take the field the succors which hee exspected beeing arrived or to besiege him where hee was for beeing divided they could not attempt either of those enterprises without danger and a doubtfulness of the success neither indeed had they strength enough to perform either design considering they must leav a competent Garrison in Tordesillas According to this resolution the Lord High Constable other Noblemen with the forces they brought w th them to Burgos prepared themselvs for the journie The Duke of Naxara then Vice-roy of Navarra sent him a thousand old souldiers and som Artillerie which with his own men and those other Noblemen's with him made three thousand choice Foot and five hundred gallant Hors well Armed besides som Gentlemen and Light Horsmen and besides those which hee sent before with Don Diego de Sarmiento Earl of Salinas and those which his Nephew Don Pedro Xuarez de Velasco carried to subdue the Merindades With these forces marched the Lord High Constable from Burgos leaving the Citie under the government and guard of Don Antonio de Velasco Earl of Nieva with a competent number of men to that purpose Iohn de Padilla and the other Captains of the Commonaltie having notice hereof sent presently to the town of Vezerril which is in Campos where he was to pass advertising and requiring Don Iohn de Figueroa brother to the Duke of Arcos who still followed the Commonaltie with som Cuirassiers and Light Horsmen then beeing at Vezerril to defend the pass and do the Lord High Constable what disturbance and mischief hee could but hee beeing arrived commanded his men to storm the Town which was done and hee entred without any great difficultie it beeing a place of no considerable strength Don Iohn de Figueroa and another Gentleman with him called Don Iohn de Luna were sent prisoners to the Castle of Burgos which done the Lord High Constable continued on his march to Rioseco where hee arrived with four thousand Foot six hundred Hors three or four great Pieces of Ordnance about five hundred Gascones and six hundred Moors of the Kingdom of Aragon Vassals to the Earl of Almenara wherewith hee served the Cavaliers SECT VIII THe Cavaliers had so plaied their Cards in the Kingdom of Aragon that two thousand souldiers were raised in the Citie of Saragosa and paied at the Kingdom 's charge who beeing mustered and ready to depart the Common people of the Citie hearing that they were levyed in favor of the Cavaliers against the Commonalties of Castilla There was such a hubbub and uproar of a sudden in the Citie that all the people fell unawars upon those souldiers disarmed and routed them quite saying that Aragon had nothing to do to meddle or contradict any thing concerning the liberties of Castilla Don Pedro Giron who was retired to a Town of his named PenÌ„afiel gave intelligence of the raising of these men to those of the Commonaltie and that a great part of them after they were disarmed marched to the Lord high Constable at Burgos whom upon this notice they saie the Earl of Salvatierra did cut off by the waie which was a thing of no great difficultie considering in what ill equipage and condition they then were Don Pedro said moreover that hee sent them this advertisement meerly out of a desire to express his readiness to serv the Commonalties and the Citie of Valladolid telling them that it would not bee amiss to send their acknowledgments and thanks to Saragosa for doing them so great a favor without beeing desired Hee wrote another letter to Valladolid immediately after hee had deserted them and relinquished the office of Captain General vindicating himself of the suspitions and fault wherewith they charged him offering to return unto his Command and desiring them to bee favorable in their censure until they knew further Whereupon som gave their Votes for his returning to his Charge alleging that although hee had committed an error and in probabilitie not unwillingly in marching to Villapando and leaving the waie clear for the Cavaliers to go from Rioseco to Tordesillas the fault was chiefly to bee derived upon Don Pedro Lasso But Iohn de Padilla had gained so much repute amongst them and the Common People that most of the Iunta disliked that proposition And it was better for Don Pedro Giron they did so for it was a stain to the greatness of his birth to bee Captain of such people SECT IX BEfore I com to relate the end which befell Iohn de Padilla and the Iunta's Armie the several passages and exploits of the Bishop of Zamora present themselvs unto my pen. When hee marched from Valladolid by the Iunta's order hee gave out that hee went to take possession of the Arch-Bishoprick of of Toledo then vacant by the death of Guillermo de Crouij nephew to Monsieur de Xeures Hee carried with him an handâ—om Armie of both Foot and Hors with five field-pieces In Toledo hee was very well received and the Citie furnished him with more men and Artillerie from Alcala de Henares hee took six Pieces more so that hee had in all fifteen Pieces of Ordnance Don Antonio de ZunÌ„iga his adversarie was likewise very strong having at least six thousand Foot and proportionable number of Hors besides divers Gentlemen that were com to assist him Amongst whom Don Pedro de Guzman a valiant young Gentleman whom his Majestie made the first Earl of Olivares was chiefly taken notice of for his good service I have already mentioned how the Dutchess of Medina Sidonia DonÌ„a Leonora de ZunÌ„iga by her masculine courage and resolution appeased the disorders and insurrection which Don Iohn de Figueroa attempted to rais in Sevilla since which hearing of the Commotions in the Kingdom of Toledo and that her brother Don Antonio de ZunÌ„iga Prior of San Iuan was engaged in the suppressing of them shee pick'd out a thousand of her choicest Foot and an hundred Hors with six field-pieces all at the Duke her eldest son's charges and sent Don Pedro de Guzman her third son with them to the end in Don Antonio de Zuniga his unkle's companie hee should give testimonie of his valor and fidelitie to the Emperor against those revolters Don Diego de Caravajal Lord of Todar and his brother Don Alonso came likewise to assist Don Antonio in this expedition with a reasonable number of men With all which forces the Prior marched out of Almaguer toward OcanÌ„a thinking to reduce it to his Majesties subjection either by force or composition The Bishop of Zamora who had no less forces with him put his Armie in a posture to encounter him and both came into the field with a full determination to fight which som devout religious men grieving for the loss that both parties were like to sustein endeavored by
many pious remonstrances and persuasions to divert but all they could obtein was a Truce for three daies The event of these Armies is diversly related by two several Autors whom I chiefly follow in this narration the one saith That the Bshop having put the Prior to flight and routed his Armie remained master of the field but was sorely wounded in two places The other Pero Mexia reporteth That during the Treatie som scattering souldiers of Antonio's Armie beeing engaged with som of the Bishop's one of Antonio's Foot-Captains seeing his men over-match't without any order from the Prior charged the Bishop's men with his whole Companie so both Parties seeking to favor and rescue their own men at last the whole Armies were both engaged and had a furious battle wherein divers were wounded and kill'd on both sides at last the Bishop's men being worsted began to shew their heels and the execution had been much greater if the night had not separated them leaving the victorie and glorie of the daie to Antonio's men The darknes of the night befriended the Bishop very much in his escape and divers of his men who fled to Ocania But hee made no long staie there beeing informed that hee was pursued by Don Antonio and that the Town was upon terms of yielding to him So the Bishop beeing gon to Toledo within three daies Ocania was surrendred to Don Antonio for the Emperor upon conditions of pardon for their former disobedience and they received him with great solemnitie and acts of submission After which Don Antonio's Armie increased daily with fresh supplies which hee quartered in all the frontiers and Towns adjacent to Toledo continuing the War against the Toledians Don Iohn de Ribera did the like on the other side of the River Tagus SECT X. AMongst other transactions in this War the expedition of the Town of Mora was the most remarkable and the most desastrous that yet hath been related It was thus The Inhabitants of that Town beeing inclined to the interest of the Commonaltie rose up in Arms and so continued a certain time But seeing the Power and Victorious proceedings of Don Antonio they capitulated with him and promised obedience to his Majestie yet so little constancie there is amongst the Vulgar after their agreement they revolted again declaring for the Commonaltie as before and not contented with this seeing one of Antonio's Captains pass by the Town with som sheep and other cattle which hee had taken in the confines of Toledo they sallied out to the number of three hundred men and rescued the Prize forcing him to flie whereupon the next daie Don Diego de Caravajal who was quartered two leagues thence at Almonacid marching out with his Hors joined with Don Hernando de Robledo who had the Command of som Foot companies whom Don Antonio at the instance and persuasion of Diego Lopez de Avalos Commendador of Mora had sent to keep them in aw and make them stand to their conditions who advancing togeâ—her to the very walls of the Town which the Inhabitants had made as strong as they could summoned them to deliver it for his Majestie and give them a peaceable entrance But they sturdily refused calling them Traitors and reviling them in base injurious terms accompanied with many musket shots and arrows Don Hernando de Robledo and those with him enraged at this uncivil treatment entred the Town by storm and forced the Inhabitants to retreat to the great Church wherein they had put all their wives and children having fortified it as they could and dammed up all the doors but one which though open was barrocadoed lustily and in it they had planted two Fawkenets with som barrels of powder for their defens Don Hernando beeing com thither with his men required those that made good the Church to submit whereunto they answered with a shot from one of their Guns which killed a Corporal of hâ—s whereat his souldiers growing desperate without any order or command presently fetched a great quantitie of sprey or bavins which they heaped against the other doors and set fire to them thinking when the doors were burned down to enter into the Church But the fire coming to the barrels and the tubs wherewith the doors were barrocadoed on the inside made such a blaze that the timber of the Church taking fire therewith all was immediately of a flame and the poor people's having no waie out but through the fire nor any breathing place within the Church were well-nigh all consumed At least three thousand persons lost their lives in that miserable manner which was very much lamented all the Kingdom over SECT XI THe Bishop of Zamora was not idle all this while hee had as great a fire in a manner as this within himself Hee went to Toledo disguised and alone having left his men two or three leagues off the Citie but beeing arrived hee made himself known whereupon the people presently flocked to see him with great eagerness by reason of the high value and esteem which hee had acquired amongst the Commonalties The Citie made exceeding demonstrations of joie for his coming thither and forthwith granted him the administration of the Arch-Bishoprick according to his desire as if they had been Popes In accomplishment whereof they carried him with great solemnitie to tâ—e Cathedral Church and placed him in the Arch-bishop's seat Which act and form of taking possession beeing past they gave him monie and a good quantitie of Church-plate wherewith to paie his souldiers This made him return merrily to his Armie and soon after hee went to reliev Avila which was besieged by Don Iohn de Ribera before mentioned Which hee did with the loss of manie men on both sides That done hee used all means possible to mischief and endammage Don Antonio's Armie but hee could do him no great harm hee beeing grown very powerfull by reason of fresh supplies that daily came in to his assistance especially by the recruit which his Nephew Don Pedro de Guzman brother to the Duke of Medina Sidonia brought him SECT XII AT the same time that the Bishop departed from Valladolid to the Kingdom of Toledo Don Iohn de Mendoça with seven hundred men raised and paid by the Citie of Valladolid marched to succor DuenÌ„as against the Lord high Constable whom they feared would laie siege to that Town But seeing there was no great need of him there hee went to Villacis which is a wall'd Town and indifferent strong one league from Carrion which hee entred by storm and sacked Thus the confusion and ruine of the Kingdom grew daily greater and greater which much perplexed the Governors and grieved all those that were truly zealous for the publick good Yet there was no waie left unattempted to procure a peace but nothing concluded The more the Cities of the Kingdom suffred the more their hearts were hardned peremptorily resolving to stand to the rigorous arbitrement of War for the ending of their differences And
to the great Church where the Deputies with the Captains of the Citie were assembled with loud voices and lamentable cries beseeching them to seek som remedie for their miserie was insupportable desiring them moreover to let them know the reason why the war was so procrastinated and urging that fiftie daies were past without any action of war neither could their imaginations reach to what they intended The Officers answered them That the occasion of those demurres was the often going to and coming from Tordesillas about the Treatie of Peace with the Cavaliers bidding them return quietly to their houses and before night they should know particularly all the circumstances and passages of the business Whereupon the people praied them to consider well what they did and not to let them suffer any further detriment or bee burthened vvith any more expences for vvithin less then seven months they had dis-bursed above one hundred thousand and five hundred Duckets besides other charges and losses which they had sustained beyond number yet they did grudg none of all this if they could close up their miseries with peace or revenge themselvs by war and that they might bee permitted to fall upon Simancas and Tordesillas for nothing grieved them so much as that they could not have their wills on them Towards the Evening the people of every Ward beeing called together they were shewed certain Articles which two Commissioners of the Iunta had concluded with the Governors and brought from Tordesillas the substance of them beeing according to the contents of the General Articles of the Kingdom specified at large already I shall spare to trouble the Reader with a second relation SECT XV. THe people having perused these Articles would by no means approve of them nor consent to any agreement alleging that what the Cavalier promised therein was not sufficient neither was it certain to bee performed for they had no warrant from his Majestie so especial as a business of that consequence did require besides they refused to give any pledges or deliver any strong holds into the Commonaltie's possession for their securitie And since the conditions they offered them were neither good nor sure they would have no Peace but War with them in regard they found no securitie of their persons or lives without it The Commissioners and Captains seeing all the people fully determined and bent to give the Cavaliers battle and either live with libertie or end their miseries with death most of them beeing of the same opinion deeming that to bee their onely safe way cherish'd them in that resolution presently giving order to all the people of Valladolid to bee in a readiness all the Artillerie to bee prepared and fitted to carrie into the field the like was done through all the Cities and Towns of the Commonaltie every Commissioner repairing to his own Citie and Town to that purpose Thus they intended in one daie to end all their troubles and that this last bout should paie for all their delaies and triflings whereby they had ruined themselvs and given the Cavaliers time to recruit and strengthen their Partie SECT XVI ONe night whilest these things were thus in agitation Iohn de Padilla by order of those of the Iunta came privately to Valladolid and after they had consulted with him concerning things necessarie for the present expedition hee returned immediately to Torrelobaton to secure the Artillerie which was there having intelligence that the Cavaliers in Tordesillas had a design to surprise it Order was given to rais him two thousand Foot well armed with two hundred Lances in Valladolid and two pieces of Ordnance for two purposes the one to demolâ—sh Torrelobaton which hee did afterwards the other to give the Lord High Constable battle before hee could join his forces with the rest For those from Valladolid with the two thousand which hee had in Torrelobaton and those which hee exspected hourly from Salamanca Toro and Zamora who were six thousand Foot and two hundred lances besides two thousand five hundred from Palencia fifteen hundred from DuenÌ„as four hundred from Palacios and others from the Beherrias and Merindades would make him an Armie of fourteen thousand But those of Valladolid were so long before they could bee in fit equipage to march and the other Tovvns and Cities not sending in their supplies time enough Iohn de Padilla could not execute his design against the Lord high Constable vvho as you have heard took Vezerril and marched into Rioseco vvith four thousand Foot six hundred lances three or four pieces of Artillerie c. So that through the vveakness and vvant of care of the Commoners Captains hee soon after set a period to that so miserably contentious and destructive War The Cavaliers on the one partie and the Cities for the Commonaltie on the other raised all the force they could possibly for this expedition The Citie of Palencia sent six hundred men and tvvo pieces of Ordnance DuenÌ„as four hundred men and tvvo pieces of Ordnance Baltanas de Cerrato two hundred Those of Segovia Avila and Leon came not Salamanca made good the number before mentioned All these were without any discipline or experience in Martial affairs and amongst their Officers there was such emulations every one standing so upon their punctillio's of honor each Captain would bee chief scorning to receiv orders from any other In a word they were ill bred people possessed with no less ignorance then unadvisedness The Merchants and other Citizens of Valladolid seeing the â—â—siness brought to the push and the people resolved to decide â—â—eir difference with the sword fearing or doubting the event caâ—â—ied all their goods and Merchandises into Monasteries having shut up all their ware-houses and shops and laid all other trading aside onely for matter of arms every one providing himself the best hee could The poorer sort of people beeing ready to starv made lamentable complaints in the streets crying out to God for mercie and to releas them out of those calamities though it were with the loss of their lives They feared the power of the Cavaliers who had an Armie of two thousand Lances and seven thousand Foot of the choicest men in the Kingdom all well armed and in good order with stout and experienced Officers under the Command of the Earl of Haro who with great Vigilancie answerable to his Courage executed the place of Captain General SECT XVII THe Lord High Constable marched out of Rioseco towards Tordesillas the 19th of April 1521 to join with the rest of the Cavaliers where hee was exceedingly desired Beeing com to PenÌ„aflor near Torrelobaton hee there took up quarters for his forces wence hee went to Tordesillas where hee was received with extraordinarie expressions of joie Iohn de Padilla was yet in Torrelobaton with eight thousand Foot five hundred Lances and the Artilleâ—ie of Medina del Campo exspecting more supplies from the other Cities which by their ill management and slackness were not com to him And
forces beeing all discomfited as wee have seen and their three principal Captains executed those of the Iunta who were in Valladolid fled away and all was of a sudden blown up like smoke in the aër Within three daies after the Cavalier's whole Armie marched to Simancas and quartered in Towns all about Valladolid intending to fall upon that Citie and treat them as such open enemies did deserv But first beeing numerous enough they possessed all the Towns and Villages thereabouts and stopt up all the Avenues suffering no provisions to bee carried in to them Whereupon the most valiant and violent of all the people began to bee crest-fallen Others that had as much as they durst opposed those past Commotions seeing the Governors victorious and powerful declared themselvs There was no Captain nor Commander left in the Citie Whereupon to make short and prevent a Summons they thought their onely way was to yield themselvs upon good conditions which they hoped the Lord Admiral though much offended out of compassion and affection to that Citie would grant them In which resolution they sent som religious men and persons of respect with much submission and humble acknowledgment of their faults to desire mercie and pardon of the Lord Admiral Who at first shewed himself very much displeased and unwilling to hearken to their desires saying Hee ought and would make an example aswel of the principal offendors as of the Common people The Souldiers who exspected notable plunder their fingers itching to measure out the silks and velvets with their Pikes as they bragg'd they would were mad becaus the word of command To fall on and enter the Citie was so long a giving out which the Inhabitants knowing every one secured their commodities the best they could But by God's help and the indulgence of the Governors a Peace and pardon was concluded and proclaimed in the market places and streets of Valladolid with great acclamations of joie and sound of Trumpets Drums and other musical instruments All the Inhabitans beeing exempted from personal punishment confiscation or loss of offices excepting twelv whom the Lord Admiral should nominate appoint to bee left out of the Articles to bee disposed of as the Governors should think fitting that they might all take notice that they had a King and Lord to whom they ovved obedience and service and such a King as did not seek after vengeance or desire the destruction of his Subjects but to pardon them with clemencie and chastise them with mercie SECT XXII THe Citie of Valladolid which had shewn so much stubbornness and obstinacie not long before proclaimed the Pardon with great contentment and thought they had obteined no smal favor to preserv their Town from beeing sacked the Souldiers beeing so ready to make the on-set The â—arl of Venavente and the Bishop of Osma were great instruments of hindring the destruction of that Citie and the Lord High Constable with all the rest of the Grandees were very glad of it esteeming that the pacification of the whole Kingdom depended upon the surrendering of Valladolid The same daie April 27 all the Cavaliers entred in great state with their Squadrons in Martial order the Hors all in Armor covered with rich scarlet coats the first that marched in were the Earl of Venavente and Earl of Haro Captain General the Earl of Castro the Earl of OnÌ„ate with their Troops their Armor was covered with scarlet embroidered with gold After them followed the Lord Admiral with the Adelantado his brother and the Earl of Osorno all in green with their troops in Armor covered with the same Liverie Next them marched the Captains and Camp masters of the Armie with their Colors flying and the Gentlemen all clad in cloth of silver and gold Then came the Bishop of Osma with those of the Council Roial the Alcaldes and Alguaziles And last of all the Lord High Constable with the Earl of Alva de Lista the Earl of Salinas the Earl of Aguilar and the Marquis of Astorga with all their men splendidly accoutred besides divers Gentlemen and Foot souldiers all in such stately manner that Valladolid was worth the seeing that daie yet it was observed that the people were so stomackful that neither man nor woman did so much as look ouâ— or open a window as if they disdained or abhorred to see them who four daies before were their moâ—tal enemies Such are the Comedies and Tragedies of this life How often did the Cavaliers desire Valladolid to make a â—eace what advantageous conditions they offered them how often did they slight their favors how many scornful answers did they return them and at last it came to this that they were constreined though with heavie hearts and hanging down their hâ—ads to receiv and treat in their houses thosâ— whom they so ill affected And those of Valladolid must aâ—knowledg a particular obligation to the Nobilitie of Castilla whom they alwaies found ready to receiv them with open arms and do them all the good offices and favor possible aswel for this daie's favor as others which by their mediation the Kings of Spain have granted them notwithstanding so great uproars and disorders as have been committed in that Citie All the rigor that was don at this time in Valladolid was the executing of an Alcalde and an Alquazil of the Iunta whom the Governors commanded to bee hanged the rest fled though no bodie prosecuted them SECT XXIII THe rout of the Junta's Armie at Villalor and the Justice â—hat was executed upon the Gentlemen there with the surrendring of Valladolid and the favor which the Governors shewed them beeing noised through the Kingdom the other Cities began to bee more submissive who before carried their heads so high DuenÌ„as courted their Earl again whom they had forced to leav the town rising up in Arms against him Palencia opened their gates to the Lord High Constable Medina del Campo did the same But Mota stood out a while upon the defensive yet at last they were glad to make their peace But the Lord High Constable and the Lord Admiral were such worthie Noblemen that they used no acts of rigor in any place and all those whom they reduced found themselvs so well with their present condition that they held themselvs as redeemed out of thraldom and oppression Onely those of Toledo continued in their willfullness The Common People murthered two brothers Biscayners named Aguirres onely upon vain surmises and suspitions which they conceived of them yet they had both been Captains under Iohâ— de Padilla Notwithstanding that the Prior of St Iuan Don Antonio de ZunÌ„iga was with his Armie in the confines of that Citie the Commoners with a great bodie and some pieces of Ordnance marched to a Castle called Almonacid and continued battring it for two daies the Governor valorously defending it which the Prior hearing presently gave command to draw all his forces into the field intending to give them battle But
notable experience of his clemencie and valour and thenceforwards the Peace and quietness grew daily more and more in the Kingdom Those of Valencia hearing what his Majestie had done at Valladolid for the Kingdom of Castilla presently sent their Commissioners humbly craving the same grace and favor from the Emperor and in particular they desired his Majestie would bee pleased to remove thence their Vice-Roy Don Diego de Mendoça whom they abhorred exceedingly deriving upon him all the fault of their past Commotions by reason of the many Tyrannies and oppressions wherewith hee had overburthened the people But those Commissioners not coming in the name and with a general power from the whole Kingdom their desires were not granted at that time Whereupon the 12 of November Anno 1522 four other Commissioners were sent with full power from the Kingdom of Valencia to tender without reserv into his Majestie 's hands all their honors lives and fortunes that hee might dispose of them at his will and pleasure absolutely resigning themselvs to his clemencie and desiring onely that hee would give them another Vice-Roy for they could not endure Don Diego de Mendoça and that hee would change som other Officers Which the Emperor to satisfie them did placing in Diego's stead the Queen Germana and making Don Iohn Marquis of Brandeburg her husband Captain General of the whole Kingdom who died in the same year After which the Emperor considering the fidelitie and Roial descent of Don Hernando de Aragon Duke of Calatria who beeing a prisoner in the Castle of Xativa in the time of Troubles the People would have set him at libertie and made him their Captain General and married him to the Queen but hee discreetly refused their offer saying That hee would not go out of prison without the Emperor's consent sent for him to Valladolid where hee did him great honor and respect and having married him to the Queen Germana who was second wife to the Catholick King Don Fernando invested them in the Government of the Kingdom of Valencia SECT XXXII WHilest the Governors of Castilla after this Victorie at Villalar were reducing and settling Segovia and the other Cities of that Kingdom with intent to pass with their Armie to suppress and quiet the disorders of the Toledians The Duke of Naxara came to them at Segovia informing them that a powerful Armie of French under the command of Monsieur de Asparros brother to Monsieur de Lautrech Vice-Roy of Milan was entred into Navarra had taken Pamplona Stilla and divers other places and not content to have run all that Countrie over to which they seemed at first onely to laie claim and that not in King Francis his name but for Don Enrique de la Brit who pretended to bee right owner of the Kingdom of Navarra At last they declared themselvs what reallie they were open enemies and marched with all their forces to assault the Citie of LogronÌ„o their word was Vivat the King and flower de Luce of France and the Commonaltie of Castilla which was a great argument that some of them held correspondence with the King of France and gave him encouragement to send his Armie thither But the valour and policie of those of LogronÌ„o was such that the French were enforc't to rais their siege and go away from thence with no inconsiderable loss and the Governors beeing com to succor LogronÌ„o pursued them and after divers skirmishes they joyned battle in the Pyrenean mountain wherein the French beeing absolutely routed and their General taken prisoner the whole Kingdom of Navarra was presently reduced under the Emperors subjection Who perceiving the animositie of the French King and the means hee used to endammage him in several parts as well in Flanders as in Spain notwithstanding the conditions of peace made betwixt the two Crowns at Noyon resolved at last to paie him in the same coin and take his full revenge of him in Italie To which effect hee first sent Embassadors to Pope Leon desiring his friendship and assistance to drive the French out of Lombardy dispossess them of Milan and restore it to Francisco Sforza Son to Lewis brother to Maximilian from whom the King of France had taken that Countrie and to retake likewise Parma and Placentia which belonged to the Church Hereupon a yearly pension of ten thousand Duckets out of the Arch-Bishoprick of Toledo and as much in lands in the Kingdom of Naples was promised to the Cardinal Iulo de Medicis for Alexander de Medicis base son to Laurencio Son to Pedro de Medicis who was Duke of Vibino The Pope was so far from disliking the motion that hee prepared monie and men to assist the Emperor making the Marquis of Pescara Marquis of Mantua his General who joyning with Prospero Colona Captain General of the Imperial forces they laid siege to the Citie of Parma which after som daies resistance they stormed and sacked The Citie and Castle of Milan they took also after which the Citie of Pavia and all the rest of the Cities and Towns belonging to the State of Milan presently surrendered themselvs This done the Imperialists notwithstanding their Armie was much lessened monie growing short by reason of the Pope's sudden death besieged and took the Cities of Como and Alexandria upon the River Ada in Lombardie About the same time the King of France advanced into Flanders with a very powerful Armie to succor the Citie of Tornay which then was besieged by the Emperors forces but beeing repulsed by Henrie Earl of Nassau and Don Hugo de Moncada hee retreated and the Citie for want of relief was surrendred to the â—mperialists In mean time Francis the first of France nothing dismaied at the crosness of his fortune sent another numerous Armie against Spain building much upon the absence of the Emperor and the distractions in that Kingdom which entring into Navarra by Puerto de Ronces Valles took the Forts of PenÌ„ol and Maya and encamp'd before Fuente Ravia a strong place in the Countrie of Guipuzcoa four leagues from Bayona which after ten or twelv daies siege despairing of any succor Diego de Vera the Governor delivered upon condition that the souldiers should all march freely out with bag and baggage the Inhabitants not to bee plundred and have libertie to staie or go out of the Town as they pleased for which hee was afterwards questioned in Castilla SECT XXXIII HEnrie the eighth King of England whom the Emperor and King of France made Arbitrator of their differences having concluded that the French King was the Peace-Breaker sent the Duke of Suffolk who had married Marie sister to Henrie the 8th and Widow to Lewis King of France with a considerable force to join with the Imperialists under the Command of Florencio Egmondio Earl of Bura at the Siege of Hesdin in the frontiers of Flanders which after two moneths time they were compelled to rais by sickness and