to Peace unless the Arauci Beli and Tithii who had began those Commotions entred into the Treaty Those People were willing to make Peace provided it were upon the same Articles they had made with Gracchus Marcellus would comply but the Roman Allies withstood it saying It was not reasonable those who had done so much harm should be admitted to the same Articles they had made before the Offence committed Hereupon the Consul being doubtful what course to take agreed both Parties should send Embassadors to Rome to treat of their Affairs and the mean while granted a Truce Fulvius Nobilior being then at Rome opposed the Embassadors of those that had revolted exaggerating their Perfidiousness and the harm they had done to the Romans So they were sent back without concluding any thing and were again referred to Marcellus for an Answer which cut off all hopes of any Accommodation About the same time Marcus Atilius in Hispania Vlterior subdu'd the Lusitani and had many Towns surrendred to him The following Year Sergius Galba was sent to succeed Atilins and the Consul L. Licinius Lucullus in stead of Marcellus with him came as Legate or Lieutenant Pub. Corn. Scipio called the Lesser who afterwards destroyed Carthage Before Lucullus's arrival Marcellus ambitious of the Honour of ending that War drew his Men out of their Winter-quarters Nertobriga to provide against this Storm took 5000 Arevaci within the Walls Numantia made no less preparation against which as the head of the War Marcellus being bent he march'd and encamp'd within five Miles of it Nevertheless at the instance of Lintheus the Peace was concluded upon condition the Numantians should forsake the Beli the Tithii and Arevaci The design of the Consul was that those People being thus forsaken should be obliged to submit which accordingly fell out and they were all received into Grace giving Hostages and paying 600 Talents as Strabo tells us Lucullus came into his Province with a desire and resolution of making Spoil but finding the War of Celtiberia was at an end he marched towards the Carpetani thence he passed Tagus and came to the Vacei now part of Old Castile where he designed to Attack the City Caucia now Coca To justifie this War he pretended it was upon Account of Wrongs done to the Celtiberi by those People but in truth it was Avarice that mov'd him being a Man of a small Fortune The Inhabitants of Coca met him in open Field but were overcome and drove into the Town hereupon they surrendred delivered Hostages were obliged to furnish a certain number of Horse and to pay 100 Talents of Silver Upon these Conditions they admitted the Garrison that was appointed by the Consul to enter the City which was no sooner within but the Signal being given with a Trumpet all the Inhabitants were put to the Sword without sparing Sex or Age. An inhumane Barbarity which mov'd all the neighbouring People no longer relying on the strength of their Walls or the Roman Faith to fly with their Families and Goods into the Woods and Mountains burning all they could not carry with them Lucullus whom Poverty made Covetous and Avarice Cruel despairing of having any share in those Treasures marched to Besiege the City Intercasia which was formerly about the midway betwixt Valladolid and Astorga First he summoned the Town but they answered in case they should surrender he would keep his Word with them as he had done at Coca Then he drew out his Army to provoke them to a Battle which they refused resolving to make good their Works Some few Sallies they made but nothing of note hap'ned only that Scipio overcame a mighty Spaniard that challenged all the Romans when no other durst encounter him In the Army there was great scarcity of provisions so that the Soldiers fed upon boil'd Wheat and Barly which together with the thinness of the Water caused many to fall Sick of the Flux Yet still the hope of taking the Town made 'em hold out Having cut Wood and made Engines they cast down a great part of the Wall and adventuring to give an Assault in which Scipio first mounted the Breach and gain'd a Mural Crown they were repuls'd and fled in such Confusion that many were drown'd in a Lake that was hard by At Night the Besieg'd repair'd the breach and the Consul had been forc'd to raise the Siege but that hunger oblig'd the Townsmen to Surrender The conditions were tolerable that the Besieg'd should furnish 1000 Coats a number of Beasts for Carriage and give Hostages No Money was demanded because they had none as being a Mountain People that only minded Tillage and Cattle Hence the Consul marched to Palencia but could not enter it Some Authors say that from old Castile he traversed all Andaluzia as far as Cadiz where was presented to him a monstrous head of a Fish Sergius Galba who as was said commanded in Hispania Vlterior was not idle but oppos'd the Lusitani who made Inroads into Andaluzia and infested the Confederates of the Romans He adventuring to fight the Enemy when his Men were tir'd was put to the Rout lost 7000 Men and was forc'd with the rest to fly to Carmena as Appianus calls it I rather believe it to be Carmona then the strongest Town in those parts Here he Winter'd using all possible diligence to recruit his Forces and raise new Supplies In the Spring being desirous of Revenge he broke into Lusitania Plundering burning and destroying all that came in his way The People mov'd by these losses sent Embassadors to him he excused what they had done saying it was the barrenness of their Country oblig'd them to intrude upon their Neighbours in consideration whereof he would assign them better Lands to inhabit He appointed them a day to come to him in three Bodies which they suspecting no Falshood or Treachery readily obeyed But the Pretor was so far from keeping his word that he put them all to the Sword a Cruel Butchery and barbarous deceit Part of the Booty was given to the Souldiers the rest the General kept to himself by which means it is believed he became the richest Citizen in Rome CHAP. II. Viriatus his Original and actions against the Romans The Government of several Roman Generals and among them of Metellus and Pompey and Death of Viriatus THIS cruelty of Galba instead of Terrifying so far incensed the People against the Romans that it occasion'd the War of Viriatus which lasted Fourteen Years during which time the Romans sustain'd many and very great losses Viriatus was a Native Lusitania of mean Parentage as being in his youth a Shepheard Leaving that course of Life he fell to Robbing and having by degrees got together a good number of Men made excursions into the Neighbouring Country Subject to the Romans about the mouth of the River Guadiana Marcus Vitellius succeeded Galba in his Command the Year of Rome 604. His first care was in time to
Foreign Enemies remov'd there hap'ned no War at least none of note The good Government of the King and Authority of the Bishops kept the Subjects from offering at any Revolt Chintila dy'd in the Year of our Lord 639. when he had Reign'd three Years eight Months and nine Days CHAP. IV. The Reigns of the Kings Tulga Chindasuinthus and Recesuinthus Several Synods of Toledo Increase of the Mahometan Power The Election and Coronation of King Wamba INstead of Chintila by the unanimous consent of the Nobility was chosen Tulga young in Years but old in Virtue particularly Justice Zeal for Religion Prudence Military Experience and Bounty towards the Needy a quality most requisite in Kings who ought to think they were intrusted with the Treasures of Kingdoms to relieve the wants of such as are in distress His Perfections seem'd still to be in their increase when Death cut him off at Toledo in the Year 641. when he had Reign'd only two Years and four Months Sigibertus Gemblacensis says Tulga was a debauch'd Youth and on that score Deposed by his own People but it is more reasonable to believe St. Ildefonsus who writes as an Eye Witness than a Stranger that either writ maliciously or was imposed upon After the Death of Tulga Flavius Chindasuinthus who being General of the Army was before in Rebellion against the King with the assistance of the Soldiery mounted the Throne none of the Nobility daring to oppose him that had all the standing Forces of the Kingdom on his side It must be granted that tho' he Usurp'd the Crown Tyrannically yet afterwards he Governed with great Moderation as if he design'd that way to make good his bad Title to it The first thing he did was to settle the Common-wealth by Establishing wholsome Laws and Ordinances for the better Administration of Justice and the publick Good In the 6th Year of his Reign he called together to Toledo all the Bishops in his Kingdom whereof 30 met on the 28th of October and this is counted the 7th Council of Toledo Before this time the King had Banish'd Theodiselus Archbishop of Sevil for that he sow'd scandalous Doctrines and to gain himself the greater Authority had corrupted the Works of his Predecessor St. Isidorus Theodiselus went over into Africk and there turn'd Mahometan so blind is Man when once he strays from the right way Those Authors that write in favour of the See of Toledo and particularly the Archbishop D. Rodrigo will have it that upon this occasion King Chindasuinthus made Toledo the Metropolitan See of all Spain whereas before Sevil had enjoy'd that preheminence but they have not the Testimony of any ancient Writers to confirm their Opinion and therefore we shall not lay much stress upon it About these times Theodorus and his Successor Martin I. Govern'd the Catholick Church Chindasuinthus being desirous to enrich Spain with good Books and Learning sent Tajus Bishop of Zaragoça to Rome to obtain of Theodorus then Pope St. Gregory's Books upon Job which are full of Allegories and excellent Morality and to bring them into Spain The King thought those Books would be useful to Propagate and Confirm the Catholick Religion and be a great Addition to the Ecclesiastical Library as believing now he had Peace on all sides nothing could add more to the Glory of his Kingdom than the increase of Religion and Learning Tajus having delivered his Embassy the Pope was very willing to oblige the King But those Books thro' the Ignorance and Negligence of the times were so hid among other Papers that it was hard to find them Much time was spent in searching and the Bishop seeing little hope of Success had recourse to God and spent the Night in Prayer begging of God not to suffer the good Intentions of the King to be frustrated He fail'd not of Success for that Night God revealed or as he says in a Letter St. Gregory appear'd to him and discover'd where those Books were Now it was that Fructuosus began to be famous in Spain he being of the Royal Blood of the Goths left the World to go live in a Desart and in time at his own Expence near Coplutica at the Foot of the Mountain Irago in the place now call'd Vierço built a Monastery of Monks of the Invocation of the Martyrs Justus and Pastor The King was assisting to him in building of this Monastery and afterwards the number of Monks being too great not far off in a rough and uncouth place Founded another Dedicated to St. Peter Fructuosus Founded a third Convent in the Island of Cadiz and a fourth on the Continent nine Leagues from the Coast besides many others as well of Men as Women This was the Posture of Affairs in Spain in the latter Years of Chindasuinthus at which time he to secure the Succession of the Crown he had obtained by force in his Family chose his Son Flavius Recesuinthus his Companion in the Throne in the Year of our Lord 648. after he had Reigned alone 6 Years 8 Months and 20 Days It is true he lived three Years after but that time is allotted to the Reign of his Son because by reason of his great Age he left the whole charge of the Government to him Chindasuinthus dyed at Toledo according to some of Sickness but as others will have it was poisoned His Body and that of his Wife Riciberga were buryed in the Monastery of S. Romanus now called de Hormisda betwixt Toro and Tordesillas on the Banks of the River Duero founded by himself for his place of Burial as was accordingly performed In the Reign of Recesuinthus Eugenius the Third was Archbishop of Toledo a Person of great Learning as appears by many of his works still extant and by some reckoned among the Number of Saints In his time and by his procurement 52 Bishops met at Toledo which is counted the eighth Council held in that City This was rather a Parliament than Synod all the Nobility of the Kingdom being present at it and signing to all the Decrees which rather respected the Temporal than Spiritual Power Two Years after by the King's Order there met 16 Bishops who Celebrated the 9th Council and published 17 Acts upon several Articles The following Year 656. 20 Bishops met again in the same City and this is reckoned the tenth Council of Toledo The Acts of all these Councils as also the Lives of St. Isidorus and St. Ildefonsus whereof F. Mariana here Treats at large I thought would not be so acceptable to most Readers nor so pertinent in this as the Ecclesiastical History which I do not pretend to write and have therefore purposely omitted them In the Year 660 Twelve Bishops of Portugal held a Synod at Merida and published 23 Decrees most relating to the Celebration of Divine Service At the same time the power of the Mahometans grew formidable in Africk for Abdalla Duke of Moabia
Ecclesiastical Persons to Marry Another Law was also Established disowning the Pope To give the greater force to these Laws a Council of Bishops met at Toledo but the Decrees of it are not placed among those of the other Councils as being contrary to the Canons of the Church From this time all things began to fall into confusion for tho' many were pleased with Libertinism yet some were Zealous for the Observation of the Laws and ancient Customs and began to think of restoring the Family of King Chindasuinthus as the only Remedy against so many evils Witiza was not ignorant of it and from it took occasion to prosecute what he had began in his Father's days which was to embrue his Hands in the Blood of that Family There were living two Sons of Chindasuinthus Brothers to K. Recesuinthus the one called Theodofredus the other Favila Thedofredus was Duke of Cordova where he built a Palace then and long after very famous He had resolved not to go to Court as being jealous of the King Favila was Duke of Cantabria or Biscay and whilst Witiza in his Father's time resided in Galicia had bore him Company with the charge of Captain of his Guards which the Goths then called Protospatarius Witiza slew him with a stroke of a Club as some think on account of his Wife These were the first Works of his Cruelty and Hatred to that Noble Family before he came to the Crown Favila left a Son called Pelayus or Pelagius who afterwards began to restore Spain after its general Desolation and at that time was Lieutenant to his Father but upon his Death retired to his Estate in Cantabria and Count Julian Marry'd to Witiza's Sister had the charge of Protospatarius Witiza being come to the Crown turned his Rage against Pelagius and his Uncle Theodofredus The latter he caused to have his Eyes put out Pelagius escaped out of his reach as did Roderick Son to Theodofredus who was afterwards King It is said Pelagius went in Pilgrimage to Jerusalem as a Testimony whereof the Staves used by him and his Companion were shown long after at Arraria a Town in Biscay These Cruelties and his other Vices made Witiza odious to his People he despairing of gaining their Affections resolved to keep them under by Terror and to this end caused the Walls of almost all the Cities in Spain to be Demolished I say almost all because some were exempted as Toledo Leon and Astorga Besides he destroy'd all the Arms of the Kingdom pretending it was to secure the Peace He Persecuted Gundericus the Archbishop of Toledo and some Priests that still preserved their Innocence and would not approve of his Enormities Sinderedus Successor to Gundericus overcome by Witiza's cruelty comply'd with him and consented that Oppas his Brother or as some will have it his Son should be Translated from the Archbishoprick of Sevil to that of Toledo The Death of Witiza was suitable to his Life yet Authors differ in the manner of it D. Roderick the Archbishop says He was killed by the contrivance of Roderick whose Father ended his Days at Cordova in perpetual Imprisonment and Darkness Other good Authors affirm Witiza dy'd a natural Death at Toledo in the 12th Year of his Reign which was of Christ 711. He left two Sons whose Names were Eba and Sisebutus Some People favouring these two Youths and others their Adversary there arose great Contests and Confusions which ended in a greater Destruction than could have been imagined Since the Division of the Goths about these two Families brought on their total Desolation it will not be amiss to declare the Descent of them both Chindasuinthus by his Wife Riesberga left Recesuinthus who succeeded him in the Crown Theodofredus Favila and one Daughter whose Name is not known Recesuinthus dy'd without Issue therefore the Nobles chose Wamba to succeed him Chindasuinthus's Daughter was Marry'd to Ardebastus who tho' a Greek for his Valour and Birth merited the King's Daughter and had by her Ervigius he that was the Beginner of all those Calamities Usurping the Kingdom and Deposing Wamba by wicked means Ervigius by his Wife Liubigotona had a Daughter called Cixilona Marry'd to King Egica a Kinsman of Wamba this Marriage being designed to cut off all Animosities by uniting these two Houses Of this Marriage were born Witiza that was King Oppas Bishop of Sevil and a Daughter as grave Authors say Marry'd to Count Julian Witiza as was said above had two Sons Eba and Sisebutus Theodofredus the second Son of Chindasuinthus by his Wife Ricilona a noble Lady had Roderick the Plague and Ruin of Spain Favila the third Son of Chindasuinthus had Pelayus no way like his Cousin for by his Valour the Christians in Spain began to make Head after they had been cast down and oppress'd thro' the madness of Roderick Spain being in this condition Roderick excluding the Sons of Witiza ascended the Throne of the Goths by choice as is believed of the Nobles The Kingdom was full of Distractions by reason of the several Interests the People were grown Effeminate giving themselves up to Feasting Drink and Lewdness the Military Discipline was quite lost and the Kingdom of the Goths was now running headlong to Destruction The new King had good natural Parts and seemed to be well inclined He was hardy resolute bountiful and had excellent ways of gaining of Men. Such he was before his Accession to the Crown but no sooner put into possession of it than he sullied all these Vertues with no less Vices Above all he was implacable when offended wholly given up to Lust and had no Discretion in his Undertakings and in fine was more like to Witiza than to his Father or Grandfather There are Pieces of Money of his to be seen with his Name and Effigies armed and with a stern Countenance on the reverse these Words Igeditania Pius a Motto he merited not but was given to Flatter him King Roderick enlarged and beautified the Palace built by his Father near Cordova which the Moors afterwards called Roderick's Palace He called home his Cousin Pelayus and made him Captain of the Guards the greatest Trust at Court Witiza's sons he treated so ill that they for fear of worse Consequences fled into that part of Barbary that was subject to the Goths called Mauritania Tingitana At that time Count Requila Governed that Province as Lieutenant I believe to Count Julian a Man in such Power that besides it he had the Government of that part of Spain about the Streight of Gibraltar whence is a short cut into Africk Besides all this he held a great Estate of his own about Consuegra inferior to none in the Kingdom Hence sprung all the Mischiefs that ensued for Witiza's Sons before they went over into Africk had sowed the Seeds of a Rebellion and were assisted by Oppas the Bishop who was of the Blood Royal and very Powerful These Beginnings which ought to have been
should be Marry'd to D. John de Lara's Son Her Portion was the Lordship of Molina her Father having no Issue-male The Marriage was solemniz'd at Cuenca thence the King Queen and D. John went to Toledo the latter took up his Lodging in the Monastery of S. Paul of Dominicans without the City on the Banks of Tagus Being at Dice late at Night with a rich Jew on a sudden a Servant of his call'd Nun̄o Churuchao advis'd him to make his Escape for there was a Design to kill him and in order to it Arms had been carry'd into the Court He credited the Intelligence but could not get away for that the City Gates were shut and his Servants and Horses within He spent the Night in Fear and having call'd his Servants at break of Day they perswaded him not to stir for that there was not the least ground for any Suspicion The King was much concerned that he should be Suspected and the more he endeavour'd to satisfy D. John the more Jealous he was At this time the League with the King of Granada was renew'd upon Condition he should pay the usual Tribute for that King was before wavering Hernan Ponce de Leon who commanded upon the Frontiers was the chief Instrument of continuing this good Understanding betwixt the two Kings From Toledo the King and Queen went to Burgos and thence to Palencia where was held a general Chapter of the Order of S. Dominick D. John de Lara could not be oblig'd by any Favours but endeavour'd to stir up the Nobles to revolt To oppose him Prince John the King's Brother who was belov'd by all Men was taken out of Prison and took the Oath of Fidelity to the King and his Son Ferdinand as Heir apparent kissing his Hand according to the Custom of Castile By his means many were reduc'd to the King's Service The King also going to Santiago of Galicia under colour of Devotion perswaded D. John Alonso de Albuquerque a Man of great Power who at the Instigation of D. John de Lara had revolted to lay down his Arms. These Things happen'd in Castile in the Year of our Lord 1291 when in the Month of February the Pope's Legates in France at Tarascon compos'd the Differences betwixt the Kings of France and Aragon Charles King of Naples was present with the Embassadors of the other two Kings Peace was concluded upon the following Conditions That the King of Aragon send Embassadors to Rome humbly to beg Pardon of his past Contumacy and Disobedience That he pay the yearly Tribute of 70 Ounces of Gold to the Church as was promis'd by his Grandfather That he go with a powerful Fleet to the Service of the Holy Land That at his return he advise his Mother and Brother to quit Sicily That he publish an Edict commanding all Aragonians under severe Penalties to depart that Island That Charles of Valois resign his Claim to the Crown of Aragon on Account of the Gift of the Pope That his Holiness shall receive the Aragonian into Favour and send a Prelate to take off the Interdict from his Kingdom to whom the King shall deliver the Hostages he has from the King of Naplas At the concluding of these Articles the Embassadors of Sicily were not present by the Contrivance of the King of Aragon knowing they would break all these Measures at which King Jayme and all the Sicilians were highly offended They complain'd he who ought to have Protected had deceiv'd and forsaken them yet resolv'd rather to dye than return under the Dominion of the French and they obtain'd their Ends. The French were disappointed of recovering Sicily and the King of Aragon's Voyage to the Holy Land was prevented the City Ptolemays the last that remain'd in the Hands of the Christians being taken and utterly subverted by the Infidels The Kings of Aragon and Naples met a second time at Junquera in order to establish a lasting Peace both of them being weary of the War Therefore as soon as they parted King Charles marry'd his Eldest Daughter Clemencia to Charles of Valois giving her in Dower the Earldom of Anjou and Province of Main upon Condition he should quit all Pretensions to the Crown of Aragon The King of Aragon was resolv'd to fullfil all that had been agreed upon when Death cut him off at Barcelona in the midst of his Preparations to receive the Princess Ellenor his Bride He dy'd in the Flower of his Youth being but 27 Years of Age and on the 18th Day of June His Body was bury'd in the Monastery of S. Francis in that City with the Habit of that Order Upon the News of the King of Aragon's Death his Brother Jayme presently came over from Sicily to take Possession of that Crown which appertain'd to him as next of Blood his Brother dying without Issue and having in his Will appointed him his Successor He was receiv'd without any Opposition and Crown'd at Zaragoça with the usual Solemnity on the 24th of September He would not allow of that Clause in his Brother's Will which appointed Prince Frederick his younger Brother King of Sicily but resolv'd to keep and maintain that Kingdom Alonso de la Cerda who had only the Title and Right to the Crown of Castile and was then present and King Sancho who was in Possession of the Kingdom both strove for his Friendship The Aragonian was more inclinable to the Fortune of King Sancho than the Justice of D. Alonso whose Strength decay'd especially since the Queen politickly drew away D. John Nun̄ez de Lara from his Party Besides King Sancho to strengthen himself had made a League with the King of Portugal and concluded a Match betwxit his Son and Heir Prince Ferdinand and Constance that King's Daughter giving some Towns in Castile to secure the Performance The Kings of Castile and Aragon at length concluded a Peace and for the Ratification of it agreed to meet at Montagudo a Town on the Borders of the two Kingdoms There on the 20th of November they made a League Defensive and Offensive and articled that neither should protect the others Rebels but deliver them up Moreover for that the King of Morocco notwithstanding the Truce had lay'd Siege to Beja the Aragonian oblig'd himself if it were requir'd to send 20 Galleys to relieve it To make this Agreement the sirmer it was resolv'd the Aragonian should marry Elizabeth the Daughter of the King of Castile tho' but 9 Years of Age hoping the Pope would dispense with the Consanguinity and accordingly they were Contracted at Soria on the first of December The Child was deliver'd to her Husband and then the two Kings went to Calatayud where there were great Entertainments of all sorts The Nobility of Aragon for some Years had been very Mutinous and in the Reign of King Alonso they endeavour'd to Retrench the King's Houshold and still labour'd to alter the Laws and erect a new Form of Government
of October 1306. They were all put to the Rack where some through excess of Pain said any thing they would have them yet many dy'd with Resolution The Great Master of the Order James de Mola as he was led to be Burnt being proms'd his Life if he would confess openly protested the Innocency of his Order declaring he had falsly charged them with those Crimes at the instigation of the Pope and King of France for which he beg'd Forgiveness of God Many others did the like The following Year Pope Clement by his Bulls appointed the Arch-Bishop of Toledo and Santiago with other Prelates Judges over the Knights Templers in Castile the Bishops of Valencia and Zaragoça for Aragon and so in all other parts of Spain and throughout Christendom They had all Orders after examining the Case to give Sentence in the Provincal Synods In Aragon those Knights stood upon their Defence in several strong Places but particularly at Monçon yet the King's Forces coming upon them they were all taken In Castile the King summon'd them to appear before the Arch-Bishop of Toledo and at the same time caus'd them to be apprehended and their Estates to be put into the Hands of the Bishops till such time as they were try'd A Synod met at Salamanca where after a full Hearing the Templers were acquitted Yet the final Determination was referred to the Pope whose Decree superseded the Opinions of all those Prelates and the whole Order was abolish'd By virtue of this Decree King Ferdinand seiz'd upon all they possess'd as well in Lands as Goods In Galicia they had the Towns of Ponferrada and Faro In Lean Balduerna Tavara Almansa Alcanizes In Estremadura Valencia Alconita Xeres de Badajoz Fregenal Nertobriga Capilla and Caracuel In Andaluzia Palma In old Castile Villalpando In the Territory of Murcia Caravaca and Alconchel In the Kingdom of Toledo Montalvan Besides S. Pedro de la Zarça Burguillos and many other Towns and Houses too tedious to repeat They are said to have had Twelve Monasteries in Spain They were summon'd before the Arch-Bishop of Toledo in the Year 1310. In a Synod held at Munster in Germany the Templers were declared innocent At last the Council of Vienne was open'd upon the 16th of October 1311. Here it was decreed that Pope Boniface should not be condemn'd Some Discourse there was about renewing the War in the Holy Land but to no effect As to the Knights Templers it was ordain'd their Order should be totally abolish'd their Goods to be given to the Knights of S. John who had then taken the Island of Rhodes Only Spain allow'd not of that Decree by reason of the War with the Moors which it was thought would prove dangerous All the World was astonish'd at the Ruin of the Templers Castile was full of Joy for the Birth of Prince Alonso of whom the Queen was delivered on the 3d of August and he soon after succeeded his Father Ferdinand The Joy was the greater because the Queen had never before been with Child and was thought to be Barren A Match was agreed betwixt Prince Peter King Ferdinand's Brother and Mary Daughter to the King of Aragon The two Kings met at Calatayud with a great Court and there the Marriage was celebrated with extraordinary Pomp. Ellenor the Sister of King Ferdinand before contracted to Prince Jayme the King of Aragon's Son was now marry'd and deliver'd to her Father in Law Some Discourse there was about carrying on the War against the Moors in the Spring There was a Difference betwixt the Kings of Castile and Portugal about the Towns of Mora and Serpa near Cape S. Vincent which had been deliver'd to the Portugues contrary to Equity during King Ferdinand's Minority The King of Aragon was chosen Umpire in this Difference This done Prince John the King of Aragon's Brother was sent into Portugal about that Affair King Ferdinand went to Valladolid where he assembl'd the Cortes or Parliament and demanded Mony for carrying on the War which was readily granted in hopes of driving the Infidels quite out of Spain Prince Peter the King's Brother being made General in the Spring of the Year 1312. march'd and lay'd Siege to Alcaudete which as was before said the Moors had taken The King follow'd to Martos there a very strange Accident happen'd Two Brothers Peter and John Carvajal were apprehended for the Murder of a Gentleman of the Family of Benavides kill'd at Palencia Many had been troubled for this Fact but it could not be prov'd upon any Body Lastly these two Gentlemen were condemn'd for it without being sufficiently Convicted or Confessing They were adjudg'd to be cast headlong off from a Rock and no Intercession could mitigate the King for he was inexorable As they were led to Execution they call'd God to witness their Innocency and appeal'd to his Tribunal before which they summon'd the King to appear within 30 Days These Words at first look'd upon as Vain were afterwards much Reflected on The King little regarding them went away to the Camp before Alcaudete there a violent Sickness forc'd him to return to Jaen not withstanding the Moors were upon surrendring His Disease increas'd so that he could not attend any Business and one day being somewhat Joyful with the News brought him that the Moors had surrendred he retir'd after Dinner to Sleep and was found Dead His Death was upon a Thursday the 7th of September He was taken off in the Flower of his Youth at the Age of 24 Years and 9 Months when he began to know somewhat of Happiness He Reign'd 17 Years 4 Months and 19 Days and was the Fourth of the Name Some said excessive Eating and Drinking caus'd his Death others that it was a Judgment for that he dy'd exactly the 30th Day after he was Summon'd For this reason he was call'd King Ferdinand the Summon'd His Body was deposited at Cordova because by reason of the great Heat of the Weather it could not then be carry'd to Sevil or Toledo the Burial Places of the King It was the more confidently believ'd he dy'd in pursuance of the Summons because the same happen'd at the same time to the Pope and King of France who were also cited by several Knights Templers as they were led to Execution What the King of Aragon decreed as to the Difference betwixt Castile and Portugal is not known but it was visible he favour'd the Portugues and King Ferdinand dying he still kept those Towns which remain to that Kingdom to this Day CHAP. VI. The beginning of the Reign of Alonso the XIth King of Castile The many Confusions in that Kingdom by reason of his Infancy The Moors of Granada expel their King The Turks their Original and Growth GReat Troubles ensu'd upon the Death of King Ferdinand because the new King was but a Year and 26 Days old As soon as the King dy'd Prince Alonso his Son was proclaim'd by the
finish'd the Famous Structure of St. Laurence the Royal which had been Thirty Years in hand since King Philip began to build it near a Village called the Escuriall in the Territory of Segovia It consists of a Monastery of the Order of S. Hierome a Colledge and a Palace for the Kings to divert themselves in Summer The Work is truly Majestick equal to any of the former memorable Structures and may well be accounted the Eighth Wonder Anno 1590. This Year was remarkable for the death of two Popes Sixtus who died the 28th of August and Vrban the Seventh who lived but twelve days after his Exaltation to the Papacy Neither did the Pope's Gregory the Fourteenth and Innocent the Ninth sit above a few Months in S. Peter's Chair till at last Clement the Eighth was elected who held it longer and without reproach Autumn this Year was very sickly Many People perished in Spain but the greatest Mortality was in the Country either for want of Medicines or that there was less to oppose the Infection of the Air. Among the rest Dr. John Calderon a Famous Divine and Canon of Toledo fell sick in a pleasant place whither he retired to pass the heat of the Summer Anno 1591. Antony Perez once the King's Secretary and in great Favour with him after he had bin Prisoner the space of 12 Years fled from the Prison in Madrid in April the foregoing Year He went into Aragon there to deliver himself up to the Great Justice of that Kingdom and answer for the death of Secretary Escobedo whom he caused to be killed one Night as he was going from Court together with other things laid to his Charge The Joy some People conceived at his flight was soon changed into Tears On the 24th of May this Year the Prisoner was remov'd from the Great Justice his Prison to that of the Inquisition The Rabble mutinying and taking up Arms with cries of Liberty assaulted the House of D. In̄igo de Mendoça Marquis of Almenara the Lieutenant They had before conceiv'd Malice against him and now murder'd him With the same Fury they ran next to the Prison of the Inquisition which they broke open and restor'd Antony Perez to the Prison where he was before In pursuance hereof on the 24th of September the People rose again because it was design'd to carry back the Prisoner to the Inquisition and breaking the Prison set him at Liberty In this Tumult some were killed and wounded Antony Perez fled to France where he died some Years after The Rebellious Citizens soon paid for their Rebellion for D. Alonso de Vargas an old Low Country Soldier was sent thither with an Army who reduc'd the City and put to death many of the Mutiniers among whom was D. John de Lamuza the Great Justice for that he appear'd in Arms against the King D. James de Heredia and D. John de Luna two of the chief Incendiaries were beheaded with many more The Duke of Villahermosa and Count de Aranda were taken and sent Prisoners to Castile where they died not long after in Prison but were afterwards acquitted of the Treason In order to settle the Affairs of that Kingdom the Cortes met at Taraçona at which D. Andrew de Bobadilla Archbishop of Zaragoça presided Anno 1592. The King himself by the way of Valladolid Burgos aad Pamplona went thither at the end of this Year With him were the Princess Elizabeth and her Brother Prince Philip who at Pamplona and Taraçona was sworn Heir of those Crowns Thus the Tumults in Aragon were appeas'd almost two Years after they commenc'd many of the Offenders being punish'd and Garisons put into Zaragoça and other places After the Cortes were held at Taraçona all Men submitted themselves being terrified with the Punishment of others and their own Losses For tho the Fury of the Multitude be great the Power of the King is greater and doubtless when Kings are resolute all the vain efforts of a tumultuous People are easy to be quelled and end in their own Destruction Anno 1593. King Henry of Navarre seemed now inclined to embrace the Catholick Religion and desired to be absolv'd of the Ecclesiastical Censures The Duke of Nemours sent by him to Rome to this effect used his utmost Endeavours to obtain it of the Pope who appear'd very rigid and much blamed the Archbishop of Bourges who had absolved him in France fearing his Conversion was only feigned but the contrary appear'd afterwards King Philip by his Agents now labour'd hard in France that the King of Navarre for his Religion might be excluded the Succession and he himself elected in his stead but that failing he proposed Archduke Ernestus the Emperor's Brother or any of the Princes of the House of Lorrain offering his Daughter Elizabeth in Marriage and many great Sums of Money with considerable Forces to support them All this fell to nothing King Henry being converted and by the unanimous Consent of all the States after many Difficulties proclaimed King Anno 1594. At Rome the Pope on the 17th of April Canonized S. Hyacinthus a Polander of the Order of S. Dominick At Madrid on the 22th of November died D. Gaspar de Quiroga Archbishop of Toledo and Cardinal aged 83 Years He was buried in a Monastery of the Order of S. Augustin in a Town of Madrigal where he was born He was an upright Man and of very good Parts but there is none free from some Fault His Revenue being very great and his Expence small he heaped up much Money and having made no Will the Pope order'd it to be equally divided into three Parts the one for pious Uses another for himself and the third for the King Albertus the Archduke and Cardinal succeeded him in the Archbishorick but afterwards having obtain'd the Pope's Dispensation by the King his Unkle's Order he quitted all his Church Preferments and Married This Year Javarin a very strong Town in Hungary was besieged and taken by the Turks Anno 1595. At the beginning of this Year died in Flanders the Archduke Ernestus who governed that Country for the King his Unkle On the third of April Albertus the Archduke his Brother took possession of the Archbishoprick of Toledo He never went to his Church or was consecrated because the King his Unkle gave him the Government of the Netherlands for which he set out from Madrid in August Garcia de Loaysa was left to govern the Bishoprick and three Years after the Archduke resigning it succeeded him in that Dignity The Government of the Low Countries upon the death of Ernestus the Archduke was some time in the Hands of D. Peter Enriquez de Toledo Earl of Fuentes a notable Soldier He on the 3d. of October after a tedious Siege took Cambray from the French who attempted three times to relieve it and were as often repulsed The Pope on the 25th of November made Valladolid a Bishops See and the King
The Siege was carried on with Vigour and all sorts of Engines then in use apply'd against the Works so that the Citizens being streightned began to waver and think of a Surrender Such was the condition of the Town when a treacherous Fellow called Vellido Delphos whether of his own design or by advice of others is not known resolved to Murder the King and by that means put an end to the Siege He got admittance to the King upon pretence of discovering the designs of the Besieged and showing him the weakest part of the Wall Men easily believe what they desire so the King went out with only that Man to view what he promised to show him but when he least thought of it Velledo Dolphos threw a Spear he had in his hand at him which pierced thro' his Body No sooner was this done but the Murderer fled to the City pursued by several of the King's Soldiers who being at some distance could not overtake him the Guards letting him in at the Gate This gave occasion to the Besiegers to believe all or most of the Townsmen had consented to the Murder The Troops of Leon and Galicia who were not well affected to the King immediately quitted the Field and returned home Those of Castile being the ancienter Subjects divided themselves part went to carry his Body to the Monastery of On̄a where it was Bury'd without any Pomp the greater number stay'd to carry on the Siege and revenge his death They threatned to subvert the City and put all the Inhabitants to the Sword as Traitors Particularly James Ordon̄ez of the Family of Lara a Youth of great strength and valour appeared before the City armed at all points and a Horse-back and standing on a high Ground to be the better heard rent the Skies with loud cries threatning Ruin and Destructions The Citizens between fear and shame durst not open their Mouths Only Arias Gonzalo tho' he might well have been excused by his great Age offered himself and his Sons to fight that Gentleman for the Honour of his Country It was the Custom of Castile that whosoever charged a City with Treason was obliged to fight five one after another to make good his charge The three Sons of Arias Gonzalo Peter James and Roderick entered the Lists one after another and were all three killed by D. James Ordon̄ez Yet the last tho' mortally wounded striking at his Enemy wounded his Horse and cut his Reins so that the Horse affrighted carryed D. James out of the Lists which according to the Law of Arms was a token he was beaten The Judges could not determine the case one side Insisting upon the Custom and Law of Arms and the other pleading this was meer accident and thus ended that much celebrated Dispute CHAP. VII King Alonso returns from among the Moors and recovers his Brother's Kingdoms The first part of his Reign Actions of Roderick de Bivar King Sancho of Navarre Murdered by his own Brother D. Vrraca being in care for her Brother D. Alonso sent away a Messenger to him to Toledo acquainting him with the unfortunate death of his Brother and advising him to come away with all speed and take possession of the Crown The Moorish King wanted not Intelligence having Spies in the Christian Army At length the Messenger from the Princess arrived and gave D. Alonso an account of all that had hap'ned Count Peranzules advised him to get away privately without acquainting the Moorish K. for fear he should stop him yet D. Alonso acquainted the King with the news he had received and desired his leave to go take possession of the Kingdom that was fallen to him The Moor was pleased with this sincere dealing assured him the ways were laid in case he had attempted to steal away caused him to renew his Oath to be a Friend to him and his Son Hissem and that done not only lent him Money for present use but accompanied him a considerable space This I look upon to be more likely than what D. Lucas de Tuy writes that he was let down over the Walls and made his escape having Horses provided for that purpose Being come to Zamora he consulted with the Princess what was best to be done and dispatched Expresses to all Parts to give notice of his being there The People of Leon without any difficulty admitted and proclaimed him King Galicia was dubious D Garcia upon this Revolution having broke Prison and endeavouring to recover his Crown D. Alonso sent Persons of note to treat with him and he being fair conditioned and easie was easily prevailed upon so that without any further security asked he came away to his Brother not doubting to obtain what he desir'd But he was deceived being presently seized and sent back to Prison where he continued the rest of his life with good usage if any could be thought such where a Crown and Liberty were lost at once Thus Galicia was brought under The Nobility of Castile being assembled at Burgos agreed to admit D. Alonso for their King if he would first swear he had no hand in the Murder of his Brother D. Alonso hearing of it went thither and every Body fearing to tender him this Oath Roderick Diaz called Cid undertook it The Oath being solemnly taken he was Proclaimed with great Joy For the present he connived at this affront but reserved a grudge in his Heart against Roderick Diaz D. Alonso was 37 Years of Age when he returned to his Crown and for his Military Exploits was called the Brave Besides he was Prudent Temperate Modest and Bountiful The death of D. Sancho and Restauration of D. Alonso hap'ned in the Year 1073. At this time Gregory VII was Pope and the same Year dy'd in Spain S. Dominick de Silos a Monk of Cluni famous for sanctity of Life The beginning of D. Alonso's Reign was not free from some troubles which were soon appeased and ended well In the second Year of his Reign which was 1074. the Kings of Cordova and Toledo were at War about the limits of their Kingdoms D. Alonso as being so much obliged to him of Toledo gathered a good Army to assist him King Almenon at first feared this Preparations was against him but being better informed both Kings joyn'd their Forces and in that manner entred the Territory of Cordova where they wasted all the Country and brought away great numbers of Cattle and Prisoners No Battle was fought because the King of Cordova shunned it About this time dy'd the first Wife of D. Alonso her Name was Agnes He Married a French Lady called Constantia by whom he had one only Daughter whose Name was Vrraca and who afterwards inherited all her Father's Dominions as shall be seen in its place At the instance of this Queen as I suppose an Embassy was sent to Rome to desire the Pope to send a Legate into Spain with full Power to Reform the Clergy grown very
afar because the Country about it is barren being Sandy and Stony there is also much scarcity of Springs and it rains but seldom it being very remote from the Sea and the highest Land in Spain Only along the Meadows through which Tagus runs the Land is Fruitful and Pleasant At the same time the Conquest of Toledo was undertaken Roderick Diaz continued the War in Aragon with great success taking several strong holds from the Moors and wanted nothing to perfect his happiness but to be restored to his Prince's favour which he much desired It fell out very opportunely that in the Year 1080. the Moors of Andaluzia fell at variance for that a Man of note among them had seized the Castle of Grados Adofir the rightful Owner had recourse to King Alonso for Assistance to recover his Castle The King finding it advantageous to himself granted the Moors request sent a Body of Troops before and followed with a greater Force in Person but the Enemy being subtle protracted the War so that the King feared Slipping the Season of going to Toledo This moved him to send for Roderick Diaz who was then in Aragon and to whom he gave that Command having received him with great affection and the more to oblige him ordained that for the future no Gentleman should be obliged to go into Banishment under Thirty days warning whereas before they had but Nine The King marched to Toledo and Roderick Diaz put an end to the War in Andaluzia recovering the Castle of Grados and taking the Moor that had seized it whom he sent to the King Thus much in Andaluzia this Year The next which was 1081. D. Garcia the King's Brother departed this Life having caused his Veins to be opened in the Prison where he was kept so highly did he resent the loss of his Kingdom and Liberty His Body was carryed to the City Leon and there honourably buryed in the Church of St. Isidorus his two Sisters many Bishops and Nobles attending the Solemnity He dyed ten Years after he had been a Prisoner and fifteen after his first Accession to the Crown Roderick Diaz having settled Andaluzia returned to the War in Aragon where in Battle he overthrew the Moorish King of Denia and D. Sancho King of Aragon who assisted him This Victory was so considerable that King Alonso sent for him did him much honour and gave to Him and his Heirs the Three Towns of Briviesca Berlanga and Arcejona Alfagio the Moorish King having recruited his Forces after the defeat entred Castile wasting the Country as far as Consuegra Tho' King Alonso was then busy before Toledo he â—â—eedily marched to oppose the Infidel Both Armies met a great number of Moors was slash and their King escaped by flight to a Castle The joy of this Victory was much allayed by the unfortunate Death of James Rodriguez de Bivar Son to Roderick Diaz a Youth of great hopes who began to follow his Father's Footsteps His Body was buryed in the Monastery of St. Peter de CardenÌ„a where his Tomb is still to be seen Alfagio the Moor tho' twice defeated gave not over but still gathering a fresh Army broke into Castile without stopping till he came to Medina del Campo Alvaryanez Minaya a brave Man related to Roderick Diaz met and defeated him the Third time This hap'ned in the Year of our Lord 1082 at which time D. Ramon Earl of Barcelona was basely Murdered near a Town called Percha betwixt Ostalric and Girond His Brother Berenguel was the contriver of his Death and was therefore so hated by the People that he went away to the holy War and at Jerusalem is said to have lost his Speech and there Dyed His Body was buryed in the Cathedral of Girona His Son D. Ramon Arnaldo succeeded him being not full a Year old but famous for the time he enjoy'd that Principality for the greatness of his Actions inferior to none of his Predecessors and for that he enlarged his Dominions not only by the addition of Besalu and Vrgel which for want of Heirs devolved to him as Feifs of the Earldom of Barcelona but also by Marrying D. Aldonça whom others call Dulcis Daughter and Heiress of Gilbert Earl of Provence with whom he had that large Province in Dower By her he had two Sons D. Ramon and D. Berenguel and three Daughters one called D. Berenguela or Berengaria Marry'd to D. Alonso stiled the Emperor The Names of the others are not known but both were Marry'd in France This Prince was long at variance and held War against Alonso Earl of Toulouse and after much contention they agreed among themselves to adopt one another's Families so that whichsoever was first Extinct the other should Inherit But this hap'ned long after the time we are now writing of Let us return to the War of Toledo CHAP. IX The famous City Toledo closely Besieged and Surrendred Many other Places taken King Alonso stiles himself Emperor THE continual waste the Christians made in the Country about Toledo burning plundering and driving all before them had reduc'd the Moors of that City to great streights The Christian Inhabitants ceased not to press King Alonso to sit down before it promising they would soon open the Gates to him That lasting War had exhausted the Subjects yet the King's resolution overcame all difficulties Great Levies were made and all things provided with a full design never to desist till the City were taken It is naturally strong and so seated that there was a necessity of dividing the Army into several Bodies and consequently a greater Force was requisite It is a matter of great consequence to have the good Will of neighbouring Princes as appeared in this War for besides the King 's own Subjects of Castile Leon Biscay Galicia and Asturias Sancho King of Aragon and Navarre brought a good Body of Men to the Siege Supplies also came from Italy and Germany and the French as being nearer came in greater numbers Because the latter served well in this War and upon other occasions great Privileges were granted to such of them as would stay in Spain whence as I suppose such as are free from Taxes are among us called Franc. Of all these Nations was formed a mighty Army which marched without delay towards Toledo full of hopes of speedy success The Moorish King made all the necessary Preparations to endure a Siege but most of all rely'd on the natural Strength of the Place encompassed with high and craggy Rocks thro' which the River Iagus in a wonderful manner breaks his way and runs almost round the City except on the North side where is a steep and difficult ascent defended by two strong Walls one above the other To Besiege this Place the Army was divided into seven Brigades which took up all the Avenues so that no Relief could be carried in The King with the best of the Army Encamp'd and Entrench'd himself
his Sword saying There was no Reason such Men should fall out about that Dog The Arch-Bishop's Head and left Hand were cut off This Disaster was so much the more to be lamented for that the Enemy in that Fight might have been utterly overthrown had the Christians expected till D. Lope de Haro could joyn them for he coming up soon after with only his own Forces oblig'd the Moors to retire but could not totally defeat them because Night came on The Body Head and Hand of the Arch-Bishop being ransom'd at a great rate were bury'd in the Royal Chappel of Toledo where lay Alonso the Emperour and his Son Sancho Ferdinand Abbot of Covarrubias succeeded in the Archbishoprick and he having after six Months resign'd it because the Pope would not confirm his Election the Pope made choice of D. Gonzalo the second of the Name who had been Bishop of Cuenca first and then of Burgos He is said to have been a Cardinal and dyed in the Year 1299. This unhappy Year we now write of was yet more remarkable for the Death of Prince Ferdinand He dyed at Villareal where he had appointed the Rendezvous of all the Forces His Body was bury'd at Huelgas and his Death caus'd no less Grief at present than it afterwards produc'd Troubles his Brother Sancho pretending the Crown of Right appertain'd to him as second Son to King Alonso then Living notwithstanding Prince Ferdinand by his Wife the Lady Blanch left two Sons call'd Alonso and Ferdinand whom at the time of his Death he recommended to D. John de Lara eldest Son to D. NunÌ„o de Lara Prince Sancho being a Youth of good Conduct made Head against the Moors and put a stop to their proceedings He garison'd all strong Places and avoided giving Battle by that means gaining time for the fury of the Infidels to spend it self The Moors of Valencia encouraged by the success of the others and despising King Jayme who was grown old revolted notwithstanding Prince Peter was upon the Borders of Murcia wasting the Lands of Almeria with a good Body of Men. Navarre was no better setled at that time Philip King of France having contracted Joanna the Heiress of Navarre to his Son Philip who succeeded him and was called the Fair made Stephen de Belmarc a French-Man Viceroy of Navarre taking that Imployment from Peter de Montagudo A stranger had not sufficient Authority to quell the Tumults that then were in the Kingdom and Peter de Montagudo offended that he had been removed from that Post joyning with Garcia Almoravides who had always favour'd the Castilians they both headed the Mutineers Within the City Pamplona the Two Factions came to Blows Such was their cruelty that they burnt the Ripe-Corn and dash'd out the Brains of Children but the French had the worst of it Peter de Montagudo inclining afterwards to the French Party either for the sake of Peace or some other Cause was kill'd by his own People A Man unworthy that hard Fate for his many Virtues CHAP. II. Three Popes Dye in one year Prince Sancho of Castile contrives to Vsurp that Crown from his Nephews The Death of Jayme King of Aragon and of Alonso of Portugal Peter succeeds the first and Denis the latter THE following Year 1276 was remarkable for the death of Three Popes which were Gregory the Xth Innocent the Vth and Adrian the Vth. Innocent held it but Five Months and Two Days and Aâ—rian only Thirty Seven Days John the One and Twentieth succeeded him he was born at Lisbon and a great Scholar as appears by his Writings In the Ninth Month of his Pontificate he was kill'd at Viterbo by the fall of the Roof of the Room where he was Nicholas the III. was his Successor At this same time in Castile were sowed the Seeds of a Civil War which prov'd lasting and destructive Prince Sancho us'd all means to gain the affections of the Nobility and People which the King his Father had utterly lost His Journey into France had increas'd their Discontent The People was desirous of Novelties and the Nobles were well dispos'd to Rebel D. Lope de Haro a Man in great power was reconcil'd at Cordova to Prince Sancho A Truce was concluded with the Moors for two Years This done the King of Morocco pass'd over into Africk Prince Sancho with great speed went to Toledo upon pretence of visiting his Father then newly return'd from France His chief Design was to have the Succession settled upon himself with the consent of the King and Nobility D. Lope de Haro undertook to propose this Affair which highly displeas'd King Alonso both for that they urg'd the Succession whilst he was yet living and because he thought it a great wrong to exclude his Grand-children However by the Advice of his Brother Prince Emanuel then a great Friend to Prince Sancho it was resolv'd the Cortes or Parliament should meet at Segovia to determine this Affair Their Judgment was given in behalf of Prince Sancho in which doubtless regard was had to the Peace of the Kingdom which he would otherwise never have ceas'd to disturb In Aragon King Jayme us'd all his Endeavours to quell the Moors by Policy or if that fail'd to apply Force To this purpose he March'd through Valencia and in several Rencounters sometimes the one sometimes the other Party had the better Whilst the King was at Xativa his Forces were so intirely cut off at Luxen that from that Day which was Tuesday the People began to account Tuesday an unlucky Day Garci Ruiz de Açagra Son to Peter de Açagra Lord of Albarazin was slain in that Fight and the Head-Commendary of the Knights Templers taken The King griev'd at this loss and being very much broken with continual Labour left the Charge of the War to his Son Prince Poter and was carry'd away sick to Algezira a Town in Valencia There being given over by the Physicians he resign'd up the Kingdom to his Son giving him much wholesome Advice Then he put on the Habit of S. Bernard intending to spend what remain'd of Life in the Monastery of Poplete where he would also be buryed His Sickness gave him not so much Leisure he dy'd at Valenica on the 27th of July His Fame will be immortal not only for his great war-like Exploits but also for his Piety since Authors assirm that he built 1000 Churches I suppose he caus'd most of them to be Consecrated having taken them from the Moors For Martial Affairs he may be compar'd to the most renowned antient Commanders having fought Thirty pitched Battles with the Moors and been Victorious in them all whereby he obtained the Name of Conquerour He reigned Sixty Three Years and somewhat blemish'd his Good Name by his Incontinency By Queen Violante he had Peter Jayme Sancho the Arch-Bishop Elizabeth Queen of France Violante Queen of Castile Constance marryed to Prince Emanuel and Mary and Elenor who dyed
at Paris where were found two Letters one for the King of France giving him an account of his design In the other he advised his Son immediately to cause himself to be Crowned King His Son having read this Letter was Crowned on the 11th of November only Five days before the arrival of his Father at Cascaes For the King of France had immediately sent some Persons after him who forced him to come back He advis'd him to return to his Country which he accordingly did The King came to Portugal very sad and lean His Son went out with joy to receive him and restored him his Crown and Dignity This was the event of the King of Portugals Voyage and Attempts which at first were hot but in the Conclusion fell to the Ground The following Year 1478 was unfortunate and remarkable because on the 23th of January was Born in Flanders of the Lady Mary Heiress to Charles the Bold Duke of Burgundy and Maximilian Duke of Austria Philip who was afterwards happy in the great Dominions he acquired and the Successor he left tho his prosperity was not lasting Death snatching him away in the prime of his youth In the Month of April in the City of Florence certain Citizens conspiring against the Brothers of the House of Medicis who they suspected design'd to Usurp the Sovereignty of that City till then Free Murder'd Julian in the Church of St. Librada the other called Lawrence de Medicis saved himself in the Sacristy of the said Church Hereupon the other Citizens ran to Arms and apprehended Salviato Archbishop of Pisa one of the Conspirators in the Pallace of the Seigneury whither he went to exhort the People to defend their Liberty Without farther Process he hanged him out of the Window The Cardinal of St. George who was said to favour the Conspirators was in great danger Florence was Excommunicated for the Murder of the Archbishop but the King of France interposing the City was absolv'd rather through fear than for any good-will The Pope and King of Naples had also made War upon the Florentines but now also a Peace was Concluded and they were left at Liberty as they were before CHAP. VII Sardinia entirely reduced The Birth of John Prince of Castile The Inquisition first settled in Spain Peace Concluded betwixt France and Castile the death of King John of Aragon IN Sardinia the War continu'd hot and both parties looked for supplies from abroad The Genoeses who ought to have assisted the Marquess de Oristan as their ancient Allie forbore because they had lately concluded a Truce at Naples with the House of Aragon Fresh succours came daily to the Royallists from Aragon and Sicily and at last the Earl of Cardona Viceroy of Sicily went over in Person After several skirmishes the two Armies met near a Castle called Machomera There the Battle was given in which the Marquess was killed and his Army routed Artal his Son endeavouring to make his escape in a Boat was taken by Two Aragonian Gallies and carried Prisoner into Spain by Villamarin the Admiral He was Confined to the Castle of Xativa and all his Estate which was considerable as well in Sardinta as the Continent Confiscate Particularly the Marquisates of Oristan and Gociano were for ever annexed to the Crown and added to the other regal Titles This Battle was fought on the 19th of May. Thus that Island which had been so long contended for was at last wholly subdued by the Aragonians King Ferdinand of Castile tho the Affairs of Andaluzia were not altogether settled and his Queen was with Child returned to the Kingdom of Aragon for two reasons The first to reduce the Archbishop of Toledo and perswade him not to call in the King of Portugal again The other to revive the Association of the Towns against Robbers and Outlaws which decayed much by reason of the great charge of keeping Soldidiers in Pay To this effect the Cortes were held at Madrid where the Association was continued for Three Years longer Nothing could be concluded with the Archbishop tho endeavours were used to satisfie him there had been no design of killing him After the Cortes broke up King Ferdinand returned to Sevil the Queen earnestly desiring it because she was near her time Thither came Ambassadors from the King of Granada to desire the Truce might be renewed which was refused unless besides doing Homage he would pay the Tribute used formerly The King sent Ambassadors to Granada to treat of it and the Moore answered That the Kings who used to pay that Tribute were dead many Years before and that at present in the Mint of Granada no Gold or Silver was Coined but instead of it they made Spears Darts and Cimiters King Ferdinand tho' offended at this Answer necessity obliging him to it renewed the Truce On the 28th of June the Queen fell in labour and was delivered of a Son called Prince John who was unfortunately cut off in the Flower of his Age as we shall relate in its Place The King of Aragon tho tired with Age demanded this Child should be sent to him to be bred up after the manner of Aragon At this time the King of Aragon contended for the Archbishoprick of Zaragoça His aim was to confer it upon D. Alonso Bastard Son to King Ferdinand The Pope was willing to dispence with his Illegitimacy but not with his Age for he was but Six Years old and therefore desired to bestow that See upon the Cardinal Ausias Despuch believing the King would allow it by reason of the great services done by his Brother the Master of the Order of Montesa It proved otherwise for the King in a passion seized the Cardinals Estate and affronted his kindred The King of Naples interposing who was great with the Pope the King of Aragon obtained his desire and that Dignity was given to D. Alonso as perpetual Administrator This was the foundation of a Custom prejudicial to the Church ever since in use and meerly extorted from the Pope at that time It was then the Custom in Spain that all Bishops had their nomination from the King whence ensued another dispute about the See of Taraçoza for the Cardinal Andrew Ferrer dying the Pope bestowed it upon Andrew Martinez King Ferdinand opposed it designing that Church for the Cardinal of Spain who at last carried it Such another debate hapned about the See of Cuenca in which the King also prevailed A Bull was also granted by which the whole power of nominating their Bishops was granted to the Kings of Castile for ever Four years before another Bull had been obtained which excluded for the future all Strangers from reversions of Bishopricks James Saldan̄a Ambassador from King Henry at Rome procured it He went to Portugal with the Princess Joanna and from him is descended a noble Family there of his Name F. Alonso de Burgos Bishop of Palencia Built at Valladolid the famous Monastery of St. Paul of his
great Virtue and Ability and had this Dignity conferred on him as a Reward for his good Services D. Ynigo Manrique Bishop of Jaen was translated in his stead to the Archbishoprick of Sevil. In Navarre a great Joy was allayed by a greater Sorrow King Francis who during the Troubles of Navarre had resided in France at last as had been agreed came to Pamplona with his Mother Uncles and a great Retinue of Nobility of France and Navarre He was received with great Pomp and a general Applause Crowned in the Cathedral and Proclaimed King on the 3d of October He was then in the flower of his Youth being 15 years of Age wonderful Beautiful and well inclined The first thing he did was to forbid upon Pain of Death any Persons whatsoever calling themselves Biamonteses or Agramonteses the hateful Names of those Factions which had so long distracted that Kingdom He made Luis Earl of Lerin Constable and gave him Larraga and other Towns to oblige him because he was powerful This done he took a Progress through the Kingdom punished Malefactors and secured the Authority of Magistrates It was proposed to Marry him to secure the Succession King Ferdinand offered his Daughter the Princess Joanna The King of France advised him to take to Wife the other Princess Joanna Daughter to King Henry then a professed Nun in Portugal thinking by this means to have an opportunity of subduing Castile Magdalen the young King's Mother an Ambitious Woman was more inclinable to this Match and therefore lest any Violence should be offered her Son persuaded him to repass the Mountains where he had large Dominions He was no sooner come to the City Pau or S. Paul in Bearne but he fell sick and died on the 30th of January 1483. His Body was buried in Lescar a City in Bearn His Sister Catherine succeeded him in the Throne as was her due By her Marriage soon after that Kingdom fell under the Dominion of the French who enjoyed it not long In Portugal King John punished some of the Nobility who had conspired to Murder him and with their Blood revenged their wicked Designs against his Person These Nobles were offended at the King 's Austere Temper his Severity in punishing Offenders and for his great freedom in declaring his Mind But above all they resented that contrary to ancient Custom the King's Alguaziles or Officers by his special Command apprehended and punished Malefactors upon their Estates They consulted together and expecting no Redress by fair Means resolved to use Force The Heads of this Conspiracy were the Dukes Ferdinand of Bragança and James of Viseo the most Powerful Men in the Kingdom and of the Blood Royal. Many others joined with them as the Marquess de Montemor the Earl of Haro the Duke of Braganca's Brothers D. Garcia de Meneses Bishop of Ebora his Brother Ferdinand and D. Lope du Albuquerque Earl of Penamacor This Conspiracy was discovered after this manner The Cortes sate at Ebora Some good Laws were Established and among other things it was provided that the Nobility should not have the Power of Oppressing the People This the Duke of Bragança complained was a Breach of the ancient Priviledges of the Nobility and offered to produce the Grants of Kings to his Predecessors Lope de Figueredo his Comptroller searching for these Papers found among them others which made out that the Duke held Correspondence with the King of Castile to the prejudice of the Crown of Portugal He carried them privately to the King who having viewed them ordered him to Copy them and return the Originals to the place where he found them It hapned the Queen in the Spring of the year 1483 was sick at Almarin after Lying in Her Brother the Duke of Viseo and her Brother in Law the Duke of Bragança came to visit her The King Entertained them kindly desiring to put a stop to that Mischief without hazarding a War At length one morning after hearing Mass he took the Duke of Bragança aside there he told him how he was informed of all his Designs and Treasonable Correspondence with Castile that he was with much difficulty induced to believe it and yet being convinced of the truth was willing to Pardon and bury it in oblivion advising him to consider none could be more his Friend than he that was so near a Kinsman and that if any thing had been amiss he ought to have advised him better or winked at any Error in the Government This Discourse of the King 's surprized the Duke He begged the King would not give Credit to Informers who strive to rise upon the Ruins of others assuring him he would not lay the stain of Disloyalty upon his Family and affirming with great Imprecations upon himself that all he said was true The King went away to Santarem the Dukes to their Estates no way departing from their Designs Mean while F. Ferdinand de Talavera Prior of Prado a Monastery of the Order of S. Hierome near Valladolid and the King's Confessor was sent to Portugal to Ratifie the late Peace and Propose that the Prince and Princess given as Hostages might be restored to their Parents which was accordingly done Only this Alteration was made in the former Articles that Prince Alonso should Marry the Princess Joanna the youngest Daughter of King Ferdinand because they were both of an Age. In May the Princess Elizabeth returned to Castile and Prince Alonso to his Father the Duke of Bragança accompanying him to Ebora where the Court was There he was apprehended upon Intelligence given by Gaspar Jusarte that he still held Correspondece with King Ferdinand by the means of Peter Jusarte Both Brothers were Rewarded for the Discovery The Duke was impeached of High Treason Tried and Condemned to Death His Execution was on the 22th of June With him suffered 6 other Fidalgos or Noblemen found guilty of the same Crime The Constable of Portugal the Dukes Brothers and others fled The Dutchess as soon as she received the News of her Husband's Death sent her 3 Sons Philip James and Denis to Castile Philip died there a Batchelor James was Pardoned and returned to Portugal Denis Married the Heiress of the Earl of Lemos in Castile His youth saved the Duke of Viseo the King only giving him a Reprimand the day after the Execution of the other Neither the Punishment of the one nor the Mercy extended to the other Duke had influence enough to prevail with the other Conspirators to desist They complained that no Man was safe and that the Duke of Bragança had been wrongfully put to death Therefore it was resolved the King should be murdered and the Duke of Viseo set up in his place They only waited an opportunity to give the Stroke but before it could be performed all the Conspiracy was detected after this manner James Tinoco had a Sister who was Mistress to the Archbishop of Ebora She having found out what was contrived discovered