souldiers found smal resistance in this latter roade Seditions betwixt the father and sonne in regard the Mores were greatly diuided among themselues by meanes whereof King Muley Alboacen was dispossessed and driuen away for hee was much feared and hated because of his tyrannies which extended chiefly to the Nobilitie and he had namely euill intreated the family of Abencaraxes one of the most illustrious houses among the Granadins These men with their complices and allyes constrayned Muley Alboacen to giue place and they deliuered the cittie with the Alhambra or fort thereof to his sonne Mahomet Boabdellin surnamed the Little who was fled to Guadix for feare of beeing slaine by his father who was carried away with vnreasonable amorous passions and false suggestions of a second wife a renied Christian whom hee had married for her rare and excellent beautie in regard whereof she was called Zoraya which signifieth Morning-starre This woman beeing desirous to aduance her children which shee had by the King did indeauour by all meanes to roote out those which hee had begotten on the Queene Aixa his wife a Ladie of a great and illustrious house and his neere kinswoman who because she would not see her eldest sonne murthered which was this Boabdellin she caused him on a night to be let downe out of the window of the castle with the helpe of her woman by a rope made of their vailes and night tyres and thereby gaue him meanes to saue himselfe in the cittie of Guadix where the Abenceraxes his kinsmen who were of great power there did kindly receiue him and dealt in such sort with their friends of the citty of Granado as they acknowledged him for their king The father hauing retired himselfe somewhere else made fierce and sharpe warre vpon his sonne which caused the losse of their Crowne and totall ruine to the raigne of the Moores in Spaine Albeit that those barbarous people were at such dissention among themselues The Moores take Cagnette yet when there was any cause they wold agree together to annoy the Christians so as they tooke the towne of Cagnette spoyled it and carried away all the inhabitants and souldiers for slaues and afterwards razed it downe to the ground These things were done in the yeare 1482. wherein is to be noted that foure seuerall Christian armies entred in a few moneths space into the kingdome of Granado An. 1482. King Fernand and Queene Izabella appointed Captaines for the frontiers namely for Iaen Don Pedro Manrique Earle of Treuigno who was newly made Duke of Nagera the Master of Saint Iames for Eccia and Don Iohn de Silua Earle of Cifuentes for Siuill the assistant Diego Merlo beeing lately dead â—onna Mary borne Towards the end of the yeare the Queene in the cittie of Cordoua was deliuered of a daughter called the Infanta Maria who was afterward Queene of Portugall and after she was churched the Court remooued to Madrid The beginning of the yeare 1483. was sorrowfull to the Nauarrois Nauarre by reason of the death of their king Francis Phoebus whome the Princesse his mother had carried backe into France to auoyde the importunate solliciting of marriages which they would haue procured in Spaine both for him and his sister Donna Catherina wherewith King Lewis the eleuenth was not contented hee dyed not without suspition of poyson for without any apparance at all of sicknesse Francis Phoebus poysoned he felt himselfe to be stricken with a deadly pricking as he was playing vppon a flute which was presented vnto him in which and all other instruments of musicke he did greatly delight Beeing neere to his end hee repeated these words taken out of the Gospell My kingdome is not of this world therefore I leaue the world trouble not your selues for I go to the Father He dyed in Bearne in the castle of Paâ— the fourth yeare of his raigne if we reckon from his grand-mothers death Queene Leonora being but fifteene yeares of age fully compleat hee lyes buried at Lescar in the Cathedrall Church of S. Mary King Fernand and Queene Izabella receiued newes of his death at Madrid Castile where they had called a Parlament and because the Crowne of Nauarre descended to the Infanta Donna Catherine sister to the deceased king they sent the Licenciate Rodrigo Maldonado of Talauera one of their Councell Ambassador into Bearne to the Princesse Magdalen her mother to demaund the Infanta in marriage for the Prince Don Iohn their sonne The mother Princesse notwithstanding that shee would willingly haue condescended thereunto made answer that shee could not bestow her without the consent of his brother the French king Vppon this answer the Catholike kings sent Iohn de Ribera with troupes of men at armes towards the frontiers of Nauarre to haue intelligence with the Earle of Lerin who had married King Fernandes bastard sister to the end to hinder the French-men from enterprising any thing and from entring into that kingdome The Estates assembled at Madrid granted a subsidie to the King towards the warre of Granado and besides that the Pope permitted them to leauie one hundred thousand Crownes vpon the Clergie of Spayne and sent them a Croizado to gather contributions and gifts for the same purpose and in this Parlament the power authoritie and iurisdiction of the Hermandades and vnions of the Communalties was ordered and reformed Afterwards the Kings diuided the affaires betwixt them that they might the better prouide for all matters shee remayned in Castile and he prepared himselfe to returne into Andalusia but the troubles which were raised in Gallicia by the meanes of D. Pero Aluares Osorio Earle of Lemos did call him into those parts The Earle dyed there before the Kings arriuall Sedition in Gallicia and by that meanes saued the King a labour who otherwise would haue had him arraigned by order of lawe Another contention arose betwixt a bastard sonne of the late Earles called Rodrigo Osorio whome his father had appointed heire in the Earledome of Lemos to the preiudice of his lawfull daughter who was married to the Earle of Benauents sonne she sayd that in regard Rodrigo was a bastard he was incapable to inherite he on the contrarie alleaged his legitimation by the Pope the king imposed silence and peace to both parties and referred the cause to his Councell to bee ordered according to iustice and in the meane time did commit the towne of Ponferrada and the Lordship thereof beeing a parcell of the litigious inheritance to the keeping of his Vncle Don Henry Henriques great Master excepting one strong hold of the same Lordshippe which he gaue in keeping to Don George d'Abendagno his countri-man and a Knight of the Kings house These matters thus ordered the king returned to Madrid from whence he dispatched Ambassadours to procure the peace of Italy which flamed with intestine warres the Pope and the Venetians hauing ioyned to the preiudice of King Fernand of Naples and the Florentines
requited him with reliques with a linke of the chaine wherewith Saint Peter had beene bound by the necke Reliques when he suffered martyredome of the wood of the verie crosse of Saint Iohn Baptists haire and such other singularities with an Archbishops cloke for Leandre bishop of Seuille These were the exercises of pietie which were then too much vsed among Christians At that time there was another Councell held at Seuille of eight bishops Councell at Seuille whereas Leandre their pastor did preside In Spaine there did flourish in those times Learned and religious bishops besides the aboue-named bishops Iohn abbot of Vaâ—claire who was afterwards bishop of Girone a Goth by race but borne at Scalabis in Lusitania who hath written a Chronicle vnto the yeare fiue hundred and ninetie Fulgentius bishop of Astigi then of Carthage brother to Leandre a man well seene in the Greeke Latine Arabike and Syriack tongues and hath written many bookes Seuerus bishop of Carthage Licinian of Malaca and others Florentine the sister of Leandre was Prioresse of fortie Nunnes in the towne of Astigi Queene Badda who was daughter to king Arthure of great Britaine dyed after which Ricared maried Clotosinde sister to king Childebert of Mets by meanes of which mariage a peace was concluded betwixt the Gothes and the French Pope Gregorie would not haue the name of Primat yet in the meane time he did exercise a jurisdiction in Spaine for Ianuarius being deposed from his bishopricke of Malaca by the practises of some of his enemies he sent one called Iohn to take knowledge of the cause who with Apostolike authoritie restored him to his bishopricke and punished his aduersaries Ricared hauing held the kingdome of the Gothes in Spaine and in Gaule fifteene yeares The death of Ricared and his vertues dyed at Toledo much lamented of all men for he had raigned verie mildly so as they called him Father of the people He reduced the Gothike lawes into order enlarged his dominions hauing beene alwayes in armes against the Romanes and their partisans which remained in Spaine he was verie deuout and bountifull to the Clergie so as hee was commended for a verie religious prince especially for that he had giuen vnto the church of S. Felix at Gironne the crowne of gold which he ware vpon his head but that which is of more esteeme he purged Spaine of all heresies 16. Luiba 2 and Victerix 17. 27 TO Ricared succeeded his son Luiba Anno 601. or Liuua Maurice raigning then at Constantinople Some Spaniards say That he was a bastard others denie it and giue him two brethren Suinthila and Geila Victeric seized vpon the Gothes kingdome and taking this yong prince who was but sixteene yeares old he cut off his right hand and in the end slew him the second yeare of his raigne Then dyed Leandre Crueltie of Victeric to yong Luiba to whom succeeded Isidore his brother at Seuille 28 Victeric was an vnfortunate king for in many encounters which he had with the Romanes and those that held their partie in Spaine he was still beaten Moreouer hee striued to aduance the Arrian heresie againe and in these miserable designes raigned seuen years He maried his daughter Hermenberge to Theodoric king of Mets who could neuer know her wherefore he sent her back to her father a virgine vncorrupted and they say that Brunichilde Theodorics grandmother had bewitched him and made him vnable to vse his wife whom she hated Theodoric being otherwise verie licentious and had made good proofe with other women We read A discourse of Mahumet not very credible that during the raigne of Victeric in the yeare six hundred and fiue Mahumet came into Spaine to preach his doctrine at Cordoua and that being discouered as they went to seize on him he fled away so secretly as no man knew what became of him But we know that Mahumet proceeded to the publication of his doctrine after a more violent meanes hauing by money and persuasions corrupted the Arabian theeues whose armes he imployed to propagate his errours among other nations vnder the empire of Heraclius yet it is not impossible that Mahumet being then about fiue and twentie yeares old seruing a rich marchant of Arabia whose widow he after maried should come into Spaine for his masters affaires and to haue giuen some knowledge of the poyson which lay in his breast King Victeric whom others call Deteric and some Bertric as he had put the innocent prince Liuba miserably to death The miserable end of the tyrant Victerie was by a just reuenge miserably slaine by his owne people as he sat at the table a base king who did nothing aduance the kingdome of the Gothes but in taking the towne of Siguensa from the Romans 18. Gundamir 29 THe Gothes after the death of Victeric Anno 610. created Gundamir king who came to the crowne about the sixt yeare of the empire of Phocas in the yeare 610 his wife was called Hilduare This king at his comming made the churches sanctuaries Liberties of Churches forbidding to take or force any criminall person that had fled thither the which was done at the pursute of a Councell then held at Toledo of foureteene bishops and other Clergie men Aurasius being bishop there in the which the Archbishop of Toledo was declared Primat of Spaine All writers make not mention of this Councell but onely as the Spaniards say there are memorials found thereof at Toledo and it is written That the rights of this Metropolitane were debated there where he had his Suffraganes assigned him in all the prouince of Carpetania which did comprehend Carthagene so as in this regard the Metropolitane of Toledo had then a greater jurisdiction than at this day Isidore of Seuille Innocent of Merida Eusebius of Tarracone and Beniamin of Dumes among others assisted at this Councell Hee had warre against the Vascons or Nauarrois and against the Romanes or their partisans with happie successe He raigned two yeares and dyed at Toledo of his naturall death 19. Sisebuth 30 SIsebuth succeeded Gundamir Anno 612. a wise and valiant prince learned and eloquent as the Spaniards say He chased away the Iewes which would not bee baptized wherewith France was soone filled but they were againe forced to flie Dagobert the French king hauing made an edict by the which they were injoyned to conforme themselues to the Christian religion vpon paine of death Sisebuth imployed his time to conquer the townes castles forts stâ—aits and passages of the mountaines which were yet held by the Romane garrisons and did in a manner make himselfe master of all Spaine Caesarius commaunding there for the Romanes The zeale of religion was great in many at that time in Spaine but most of them wanted the true knowledge The Church of Toledo was gouerned by Heladius who of a Courtier became a Monke and from thence had beene taken and aduanced in his age to the Archiepiscopall dignitie
although with great difficulties and troubles The heat and furie of these Arabian Almorauides was cooled and staied by some other good successe of the Nauarrois Arragonois and Cattelans against the Moores their neighbours which gaue the Castillans some time to breath and to recouer new forces D. Pedro King of Nauarre after the taking of Huesca had made continuall warres against the Infidels which lay neere vnto him Nauarre and had taken Pertusa from them After which he went to beseege the city of Barbastro An. 1101. which after a long contestation of either side was yeelded with the castle of Vililla and other forts of that country in the yeere 1101. He presently restored the Episcopal Sea to that city as it had beene wherof D. Ponce was Bishop who was of Rode On the other side the Earle of Barcelone Barcelone growne both in courage and possessions hauing with him the Earle of Vrgel his cousin made an enterprise vpon the Island of Majorca which was held by the Moores Being assisted by some gallies of Pisa and Genoua they past their army into the Island and beganne to batter the forts and to affault the Moores which inhabited it Maâ—orca taken by the cattelans D. Armingol Earle of Vrgel was â—laine there in a sally leauing a son of his owne name to be his successor yet Cid Raymond did batter and assault the city of Majorca with such fury as it was taken in the yeere 1102. and for that hee had newes that the Moores to diuert the conquest of those Islands were come to beseege Barcelone hee returned into Cattelogne leauing the Island to the Geneuois to reduce the rest vnder the power of the Christians Infamous câ—netâ—â—snesse of the Geneuois but mooued as the Cattelans say with a trecherous villanous couetousnesse they sold both the town and the whole Island to the Moores for a sum of money wheerof they say grew the irreconciliable harred betwixt the Cattelans and Geneuois The Moores which had beseeged Barcelona wère force did abandon it with shame and great losse of their men Some authors of the Spanish History write that this Earle D. Raymond Arnonld went into Germany in a disguised habit â—rouence giuen to the house of Barceâ— loâ—e by the Emperor or Henry the fifth and did fight a combat for the Empresse Mathilds wife to Henry accused of adultery and that hauing vanquished her accuser and deliuered the Lady hee returned to Barcelona without discouering himselfe yet this fact beeing knowne and verified the Emperor rewarded him with the county of Prouence which did then belong to the Empire About that time which was in the yeere 1102. died in Castille the wife of Cid Rui◠〈◊〉 Castille daughterm D. Gomes Earle of Gormas who was buried with her husband at Saint Peter of Cardegna neere vnto Burgos The King of Castille in the meane time made head against the Moores without hazarding of much so as after great spoiles of either side that realme had some rest The affaires standing vpon these termes Portugal D. Henry Earle of Portugal son in law to the King D. Alphonso had a desire to goâ— into the Leuant to see the Land where our Sauiour and so many Holy Prophets and Apostels had liued and thrust on also with an emulation of the fame of his â—ousin or vncle D. Raymond of Tolouse and Saint Gyles and of somany Noble men and Barons of France and Germany which had run to that warre He parted in the yeere 1103. hauing with the helpe and aduice of D. Bernard Archbishop of Toledo restored the cities of Coimbra Braga Viseo Lamego and Porto to their Episcopal Seas of which townes Coimbra was the chiefe for the temporal and for the spirituall Braga was made Metropolitaine as it had beene in the Gothes time His way was by German and Hongary with many other Noblemen of France and Germany whose voyage was long and painful There is nothing spoken of him but that he returned with many relikes and among others an arme of Saint Lâ—ke the Euangilist as they did beleeue whereof Alexis Comnen Emperor of Constantinople a secret enemy to the Westerne Princes and to all their enterprises who mocked at all their deuotions made him a worthy present which relike Cont Henry carried into Portugal and placed it with great reuerence in the chiefe church at Braga It was at such time as the Knights of the Temple of Ierusalem were first instituted Knigh's of the Tempâ—â— at Ierusalem by one Hugues de Paganis and Ieoffrey of Saint Adelman hauing vowed to keepe the waies safe from the port of laffa in old time called Ioppa vnto the Temple to whom and to their companions which soone increased to a good number was a place assigned for their dwelling nere the Temple whereof they tooke the name of Templers afterwards mingling Knight-hood with Monacal rules they instituted an order the which which confirmed by the Pope they tooke vpon them a white habit with a red crosse and in succession of time got so great possessions throughout all Christendome as Kings and Popes themselues did enuy them so as vnder the collour of many crimes whether true or false Templeâ—t the beginning 〈◊〉 el the M. 〈◊〉 orders in christandom they were condemned and to rooted out at the councell of Vienne by Pope Clement the fifth their order hauing continued 200. yeeres Whose spoiles were diuided betwixt the Pope King Philip of France the Hospitaliers of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem and others These Templers were the beginning of al the millitary orders which haue beene since made in Christendome Returning to D. Alphonso King of Castille his subjects seeing Castille him without any heires male by the death of D. Sancho that he was now old and broken they tooke councell to perswad him to marry the Countesse D. Vrraca widow to Raymond Earle of Bourgonge to D. Gomes Earle of Campdespina the greatest Nobleman next vnto the King in Castille for the effecting whereof the Noblemen of Castille assembled at Magan a Bourough of Toledo or according vnto others at Masquereque the difficulty was that knowing the King to bee of a high and great spirit there was not any one that durst presume to deliuer the message wherefore they resolued to giue this charge to a physition which was a Iewe called Cidello who was very familiar with the King the which beeing a rash man hee accepted to his owne ruine for hauing found a fit opportunitie as hee thought A iust punishment of a râ—sh men to speake vnto the King of this marriage hee had no sooner touched that subiect but he was repulsed with bitter words and chased out of the Court with charge neuer to returne againe vpon paine of death yet this made the King to thinke that it was fit to marry his daughter and therefore hee made choise of D. Alphonso Infant of Nauarre and Arragon brother to the King D. Pedro for his
a Parlament which was called at Vailledolit and in the meane time he sought vnderhand to corrupt the Deputies of townes and commonalties and of the other orders of the countrie to the preiudice of Don Fernand. The Queene D. Maria preuented all these disorders which were not hidden from her but with great paine seeking to content Don Henry During these garboiles they had newes that the Nauarrois breaking the truce had seazed vppon the Iuifuerie of the cittie of Nagera a place strong by nature the which they fortified saying that they held it in the name of the Infant Don Alphonso de la Cerde whome they called king of Castile Alphonso de Ronay Gouernor of Nauer and as they would haue gone on along the riuer of Oja they were repulsed by Don Iohn Alphonso de Haro who beseeged them in the Iuifuerie and prest them in such sort An. 1297. as they were forced to leaue it and to yeeld this was in the yeare 1297. when as the kindgome of Nauar as gouerned in the name of the King and Queene of France by Alphonso de Ronay At which time Don Iames king of Arragon was in Italy Arragon where the peace made in the yeare 1295. betwixt him the king of Naples and the French king was renewed and confirmed in the towne of Anania in the presence of Pope Boniface and the better to confirme the friendship betwixt these Princes the king of Nauarre yeelded vp the townes of Lerda Vlfirera and Sauueterre vnto the king Don Iames beeing taken from the Crowne of Arragon so as for this cause the peace and amity betwixt Nauarre and Arragon was firme and vnited against Castile By these treaties the fort of Albarazin was yeelded vppe to D. Iohn de Lara to entertaine him and was taken from D. Fernand bastard brother to the king Don Iames as if it had beene vniustly taken from the father of Don Iohn who did homage to the king of Arragon The widow Queene of Castile seeking by all meanes to preserue her sonnes Realme Castille from so many imminent dangers renewed againe the treatie of mariage betwixt him and the Infanta D. Constance of Portugal in the towne of Alcaniz whether the Infanta was brought by the king her father and accorded for a future spouse vnto the young king D. Fernand and to make a more strict League of friendship Accord betwixt Castile and Portugall by marriages the King D. Denis concluded a marriage betwixt D. Beatrix Infanta of Castile and his eldest sonne D. Alphonso who was then but eight yeares old These marriages were made with great disaduantage for the king of Castile for the conuentions made in consideration thereof were these That the king of Portugal should hold in pawne Oliuencia Conguela Campo Moya and S. Felix de los Gallegos places belonging to the Crowne of Castile Then did the king D. Denis renounce the league which he had with the Infant Don Iohn who raigned in Leon and gaue vnto the widow-Queene three hundred horse to go against him but they returned soone after hauing not done any thing The Infant Don Alphonso de la Cerde on the other side seazed on the towne of Almaçan and the troupes of Don Iohn Nugnes and of the Infant Don Iohn had almost surprized Siguença who finding themselues in great want of siluer coyned great store of false money vnder the stampe of the king Don Fernand and did many other acts which were not commendable the which necessitie and ambitious obstinacy do force men vnto so as D. Denis king of Portugal at the instance of the widow and the young King entred into Castile by Cite Roderigo in shew to make warre against the Rebels but it was all counterfeit for the effects did shew he came more to fauour them then otherwise whatsoeuer it were hee did no act of an enemy against them but propounded some conditions of peace fauourable for them beeing of opinion that to retire the Infant Don Iohn from his pursute and to draw him to the king Don Fernands seruice they should grant the Realme of Gallicia to him and his for euer and that of Leon for his life time the which beeing disliked by the Councell of Castile the king of Portugal grew thereat discontent and so returned into his countrie after which the Rebels tooke heart and it was the cause of a new reuolt of many knights and townes and protestations of others to do the like if they did not what they demanded wherefore the Queene D. Maria and her Councell were forced to yeeld to many vnworthy things and was rather gouerned with her sonne and her Councell by her subiects then she did gouerne them To this was added a new care which came from Nauarre Nauarre where as Alphonso de Roleed was Gouernor in the yeare 1300. An. 1300. who sent an Ambassador into Castile in the name of king Philip the Faire and D. Ieanne his wife Queene proprietarie of Nauarre to demand the lands and ancient patrimonie of the Crowne of Nauarre vsurped by the precedent kings of Castile extending from the limits which were then betwixt he two kingdoms vnto Atapuerca and places neere vnto the cittie of Burgos which Ambassadour beeing a knight of Nauarre was sent backe to the Queene D Maria and her Councell with the best words they could giue him The French king was then much troubled with the Flemings of Bruges and others by whom he had receiued a notable route with the death of many Noblemen among the which were Robert Earle of Artois Renald of Nesle Constable of France and aboue two hundred men of esteeme The Ambassador beeing returned the Gouernour held a Councell with the Infant D. Alphonso de la Cerde D. Iohn Nugnes de Lara and other enemies to the king of Castile at a place called Duegnas where they resolued to send D. Iohn Nugnes vnto King Philip with other Ambassadors to the end he should authorize the promises made in this assembly to ayde one another to conquer the lands of the riuer of Oja for the Crowne of Nauarre and the Realme of Castile for the Infant D. Alphonso de la Cerde These Ambassadors were well receiued in the Court of France and present dispatches were made with approbation of all that had beene done the king writing vnto the gouernor that he shold giue all ayde and assistance to them that were fled out of Castile against the King D. Fernand. 17 At that time we find Castile that the towne of Bilbao was built by Don Diego Lapes de Haro who had made his peace with the young King Don Fernand and did enioy Biscay This place is built vpon a riuer called in the country language Ybay Çabal Foundation of Bilbao which signifieth Great-riuer for it is the greatest in all those quarters and some affirme that it is the riuer which was anciently called Neruium very nauigable the which falls into the sea at Portugalette two leagues
the king gaue him many bitter and threatning words Mahumet either for feare or disdaine to haue beene threatened with iniurious words layed a plot with Ozmin who was already much discontented for the death of his sonne whome they had so little spared at the assault of the rocke of Martos and resolued together to kill king Ismael and to place in the royall Seate of Granado a Moore called Mahumet Aben Alhamar or the Vermell who descended from i the first king of Granado and carried the same name saying that the Crowne belonged more rightly to him then to Ismael who was allyed to these kings onely by the Mothers side This king was called to this Councell and they made a new confederacie with Ozmin who should bee readie in Armes with his friends and seruants whilest that Mahumet sonne to the Gouernour of Algezire with his father and another brother should execute the murther vpon the person of king Ismael These things beeing concluded the Conspirators entred into Alhambra of Granado and addressing themselues vnto the king they told him that they had some matters of great importance to impart vnto him desiring him to giue them audience in some retired place the which the king willingly graunted who beeing entred into a gallerie the father and the sonne marching before the king and his brother after with the great Prouost or Constable of Granado whom they called Alguazil Maior the two foremost turned suddenly vppon the king and gaue him two wouds vpon the head The Alguazil seeing this disloyaltie drew his sword to defend his king and fought so valiantly against these two traytors father and sonne as hee made them giue backe vnto the end of the gallerie and to enter into a chamber into the which hee shut them notwithstanding that the brother who was the third murtherer had wounded him behind in foure places who returning afterwards against the king gaue him a mortall wound in the shoulder The Alguazil hauing shut vp the two first came against the third and forced him to enter into an old cabinet into the which he also shut him Ismael king of Granado 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 Beeing thus freed of the traytors this faithfull seruant came vnto the king whom he found grieuously wounded and almost fainting hauing taken him in his armes and carried him into a chamber in the which were his mother widow to Ferrachen and his wiues where leauing the cure and care of him to them hee went into the pallace Court of Alhambra where as he found many as well of the conspirators as of others which might haue heard the noyse and vnderstood something of the fact to whome hee sayd there was no great danger and that the kings wounds were light and hauing called some vnto him whom he knew faithfull vnto the king he entred with them into those places where as the traytors were shut and cut off their heads then he returned into the chamber where as the king was in the Phisitions and Surgeons hands but there was no more hope of life wherefore going out of Alhambra he met with Ozmin who came running at this noyse well accompanied and asked him of the kings life The Alguazil dissembling the truth answered that all was well intreating him to accompany him to seaze vpon those that were suspected to be of this conspiracie the which Ozmin durst not refuse thus of a traytor he became faithfull by constraint and running through the city of Granado they seazed vpon all the friends and seruants of the murtherer Mahumet and brought them into Alhambra where in the heate they were put to death In the meane time king Ismael breathed his last hauing raigned by force about nine yeares this was in the yeare 1322. and the 705. of the Arabians Mahumet the sixt K. of Granado TO him succeeded his sonne Mahomet the sixt by the meanes and dexteritie of the Prouost or Alquazil who hauing seene the kings death and keeping it as secret as he could he gaue the Noblemen and Knights Granadins to vnderstand that they should shew themselues in armes before the castell to receiue the Kings commandements and namely Ozmin who was not well assured in his conscience but studied what hee should do yet he came well followed The Nobility being assembled the Alguazil being faithfull to the king euen after his death taking the eldest to three sons which he had left in his armes he went out of Alhambra and declared the truth vnto the assembly how the king had benne slaine by the treason of Mahumet and what had followed and presenting the child who was but twelue yeares old vnto the knights hee recommended him vnto them and perswaded them to acknowledge him for their lawfull king Ozmin who was of greatest authority among them was wonderfully perpelxt and wauering in his discourses yet thinking that he should rule this Infant better then any other he was the first that gaue his consent saying Mahumet is our king His voyce was allowed by all that were present and the brute both of Ismaels death and of the election of Mahumet his sonne was dispersed through the town and soone after the new king was led through the streets and shewed vnto the Granadins who were discontended at this sudden change as wel by reason of the King murthered as of the hasty election of his sonne beeing so young yet it held good but notwithstanding that this young Mahumet obtained the Realme by a law full meanes yet his end was miserable being a familiar thing among the Arabians one to spoyle and dispossesse an other by wicked and cruell treasons as a people alwaies void of all good gouernement Such of the conspirators as were not taken fled among the which was Mahumet Aben-Athamar who in time returned to Granado and raigned as we shall hereafter shew What past in Nauarre during the raigne of Philip the Long Nauarre who dyed about the time of these reuolutions in Granado we find not any thing worth the relating only mention is made of a Gouernor for the king in that Realme called Ponce of Morentain whome some terme Lord of Rossillon othes Vicont of Anay of Arnaud of Barbastan Bishop of Pampleona D. Martin of Ayuar Standard-bearer of the Realme D. Iuigo Peres de Rada a Knight D. Iohn Arnaud of Espeleta of the Abbot of Lerin of D. Martin Iuanes of Vrris D. Pedro Ximenes of Mirafuentes D. Garcia Martines of Ollaoqui Diego Martines of Vrris and Martines of Arletta knights who made the Councell of state of that Realme The end of the thirteenth Booke SEMPER EADEM THE FOVRTEENTH BOOKE of the Historie of Spaine The Contents 1 CHarles the Faire first of that name the 28. king of Nauarre troubles in the Realm vnder the Gouernors his marriages 2 Excesse massacres and spoyling of the Iewes in Nauarre 3 Ieanne daughter to Lewis Hutin Queene of Nauarre and in her right Philip of Eureux accounted for the 29. King of Nauarre and the third of that name Articles
Leader not without great dishonor and losse to the King of the Moores who at the same time was stript fo the victuals ofhis army which he caused to bee conducted to Priegos by the Gouernor D. Gonzale Martines who carried the prey to Alcaudette The gallies of Castille being ioyned to them of Arragon held King Abomelic as it were beseeged in Algezire lying in the straight taking from him all hope of succours either of men or victuals from Affrike wherevpon the Moores beeing aduertised that in Lebrixa was one of the store-houses for he Christian army thought they might well surprise it wherevpon they sent about one thousand fiue hundred horse among the Oliue trees of Xeres where they tooke a great booty but they foūd that D. Fernand Puerto Carrero gouernor of Tariffe was entred a little before with a good number of souldiars wherefore their defeigne beeing disapointed they turned towards Arcos where they spoiled and carried away great store of cattaile whereof the Inhabitants within Seuile being aduertised they went with their city standard to field and beeing ioyned to the Maister of Alcantara to D. Aluar Perez of Guzman to D. Pero Ponce of Leon who went out of Arcos and others they came and incountred these forragers vnlooked for whom they charged so furiously as they put them to rout and recouered all the prey King Abomelic continuing the spoile about Xeres marcht with three thousand and fiue hundred horse which he had reserued and a great number of foot towards Alcala de los Ganzules and beseeged it beeing ignorant of the defeat of his men The victorious Christians hauing ioyned with Fernand Gonçales d' Aguilar who had some horse and being also fortefied by them of Eccia marcht that way and charged this army of Moores with such fury Moores defeated as they put them to flight and chasing and killing them they pursued them far his campe remayning in great confusion and disorder King Abomelic being hastely pursued had no meanes to get to horse but fell amongst the footmen who fled and were hardly followed so as in the end not to be knowne hee cast himselfe amongst those which lay vpon the ground slaine or wounded where a Christian souldiar passing by and not knowing him thrust him through with his sword Abomelic a Moorish King slaine whereof hee died soone after The Christians as some write were not aboue 2000. horse and two thousand fiue hundred foote who without any great losse slue ten thousand Moores in this surprize and pursute they spoiled theri campe and tooke their baggage which was great and so returned ioyfully to Xeres The Kings body was afterwards found neere vnto a brooke whether he had crept as it was likely to quench the burning thirst which doth commonly afflict such as are wounded hauing lost much bloud King Albohacen his father being aduertised of this pittifull accident was inflamed with wrath and desire of reueng makeing al possible speed to passe into Spaine Whilest that hee prepares himselfe Castile there fell out a great disorder in Andalusia by the meanes of D. Leonora of Guzman This woman who gouerned the King made reports accused D. Gonzal Nugnes Maister of Alcantara of certaine matters the which did much incense the King Troubles by the report of a woman wherefore being come to Madrid hee sent to the Maister to come presently vnto him D. Gonzal who was fully aduertised why hee was sent for and knowing how dangerous the King was to them hee did not like obeyed not but thrust on by distrust hee left his seruice and debauching many of his knights hee acquainted himselfe with the Moores and beganne to make practises in Granado The King beeing aduertised of his reuolt returned sodainely and had meanes before hee could dislodge to beseege him in a towne called Valence belonging to the Order of Alcantara whereas D. Gonçale defended himselfe vnto the end and would neuer harken to any words or promises whatsoeuer In the end not able to hold it any longer hee offred to yeeld vnto the Kings mercy but it was too late for the place was forced and he taken and put to death and his body condemned and burnt as a Traitor by the Kings sentence Such as had followed his party and held other places yeelded A man in truth worthy of a more honorable death who besides many generous acts and worthy seruices done vnto the crowne of Castille had beene in the two aboue mentioned victories and adorned the Temples of the towne where he was forced with the standards and ensignes hee had taken from the Moores D. Nugno Chamiço was chosen in his place Ieoffery Giralbert Admiral of Arragon Moores who kept the Sraight with the gallies of Arragon being landed vpon the shoare nere to Algezire had an incounter with the Moores by whom he was vanquished and slaine with an arrow wherevpon the army returned into Arragon that of Castile remayning at the passage the which consisted onely of three and thirtie gallies and some few ships to weake a force to stoppe the Moores passage out of Affrike so as about three thousand Genets past presently into Algezire without any let and beganne to ouerrunne the country about Arcos Xeres and Medina Sidonia gathering together a gret prey but thinking to put it into Algenire they were forced to leaue it by the way being charged by the horsemen which went out of Xeres who slue many vpon the place amongst which was Boutui a famous captaine of the Moores King Alhohaçen had caused a great number of vessels of al sorts to be made ready both in the ports of Spaine and Affrike meaning to carry into Spaine one of the greatest armies that euer went out of Affrike to stop whose passage King Alphonso was il prouided and as he was distrustfull and of a strange humour and many times vniust vnto his best seruants hee compaline of Don Alphonso Ieoffrey Tenorio his Admiral saying that hee slept and suffred the Moores to passe and repasse at their pleasure Loyalty ill rewarded makes a good seruant despaire the which was not true for the Admirall did his duety with those few Gallies hee had and did often take foists and other vessels which did houer about those coastes and ships laden with victuals which came out of Affrike into Spaine namely from Centa to Algezire the which notwithstanding did not satisfie the King who would exact some great effect of necessity wherefore hee thrust the Admirall unto despaire the which was verie preiudiciall to that warre King Albohaçen beeing come to Ceuta in the beginning of the yeere of our Lord 1340. An. 1340. and hauing there gathered together to the number of three score and ten Gallies and other vessels to passe his horsemen victuals armes engines and other equipage of warre neere to a hundred and foure score sailes as wel of his owne as of the Kings of Granado hee went with this mighty army towards Spaine where it was
into the Cittie riding vppon a white Courser by Saint Anthonies gate of the same cittie which hee sound vnprouided of all manner of victuals wherewith he caused them presently to bee furnished so as without the aboue-named defeate necessity would haue enforced them to haue yeelded By this peace which happened so opportunely the miseries of Cattalonia were ended which had troubled the whole State of Arragon for the space of tenne yeares He which shewed most prowesse and performed the notablest exploites in this warre was Don Alphonso of Arragon Duke of Villa hermosa a Prince worthie of great prayse and high commendation who dyed afterwards in the seruice of his brother King Fernand raigning in Castile D. Alphonso of Arragon his posteritie at a place called Linares leauing his sonne Don Alphonso of Arragon heire to his Dutchie of Villa hermosa who was Knight of the Order of Saint Iames and a Daughter called Donna Maria of Arragon who was maaried to the Prince of Salerne Hee had out of wedlocke Don Iohn of Arragon Earle of Luna Captaine of the Castle of Amposta Don Alphonso of Arragon who was Bishop of Tortosa and afterward Arch-bishoppe of Tarragone Don Fernand of Arragon Prior of Saint Iohns of Cattalonia together with Donna Leonora of Arragon wife to the Earle of Albayda This peace was no sooner concluded but the King had newes of a new rumult raised in Nauarre Nauarre whereinto the Princesse his daughter voluntarily had runne herselfe with great danger and many of her seruants lost their liues It happened after this manner Iohn d' Athondo the Kings Auditour of his accounts and Cittizen of Pampelona with Michaell Ollacarizqueta and others of the same cittie seruants to the King and the Princesse and of the Faction of Grammont did vndertake in hatred and disgrace of the contrarie partie of Beaumont who possessed the Cittie of Pampelona to bring the Princesse Donna Leonora into the same Practises of D. Leonora Couatesse of Foix. with troupes of souldiers and to make her peaceable and absolute Ladie thereof they hauing then communicated together about their plot it was thought fit that the Princesse should come in a morning before day to the Iewes gate otherwise called the Tower of the royall gate and the Marshall Don Pedro of Nauarre should make himselfe Master of the two next towers The appoynted time beeing come the Princesse with her attendants found the gate opened by those of Grammont Rashnesse of D. Leonora through the which beeing brought in the Marshall possessed the two Towers with three-score and tenne Gentlemen and on a suddaine they beganne to crie God saue the Princesse God sane the Princesse at this rumour those of Beaumont albeit they were amazed at so vnlooked-for an accident happening in the night ranne to armes and behaued themselues in such sort as they not onely hindred their enemies from further entring into the cittie but enforced the Princesse and her people to get them thence in great hast for the most part of the souldiers which should haue followed her were not yet arriued Hauing recouered the gate they beseeged the Marshall Don Pedro and his souldiers which were in the two towers who at the first would not yeeld but in the end when they sawe the Cannon was readie to play vppon them they were content to parley The Princesse fearing least some euill might happen to the Marshall and those that were beseeged with him sent word to the Cittizens that what was done was by her speciall commaundement and therefore intreated them to do them no hurt At the last they yeelded vppon promise made that they should all depart with their Armes without any harme either in word or deed which notwithstanding they were all taken and shut vp in the Kings prisons of the cittie The Marshall with his followers slayne where soone after they were cruelly and perfidiously stabd to death with daggers and it is reported that the Marshall was slaine by the hands of Philip of Beaumont brother to the Earle of Lerin This act did very much displease the Princesse who commaunded that the same gate should euer after be called the gate of treason or the traytors gate and in some sort to reuenge that wrong they proceeded against the Earle of Lerin and against Don Iohn of Beaumont Prior of Saint Iohns and Chancellor of the Kingdome and against Don Philip and their breethren and Don Iohn Earle of Luza Charles of Artieda and his children Arnold d' Otza the Prouosts and Iurates of Pampelona with others their allyes and complices who by the iudgement and authoritie of the King and his Councell were condemned to death depriuation of honours defamation of their houses and confiscation of their goods as guiltie of high treason The Records of those times taxe the Earle of Lerin saying that hee to the end hee might the better enioy the cittie had driuen thence the Kings and Princesses seruants and had established therein Officers and souldiers such as were at his deuotion contrary to their authoritie whose iurisdiction hee did vsurpe vexing and tyrannizing the Kingdome That by the fauour and ayde of the Earle the Guipuscoans had ouerthrowne the forts of Larraun Lecunberry Leyça and Gorriti and that hee beeing sundrie times sent for by the Princesse to come to the Parliament and Assembly of the Estates of the Kingdome would neuer obey her commaundement That the Earle of Foix hauing sent his children Iohn and Peter of Foix both in his owne name and the Princesse to perswade him to returne to his due obedience hee did reiect their admonishments and derided Pope Pauls commandement in that behalfe the which things full of contumacie and contempt had induced the Princesse to make that attempt Others thinke that her owne extreame ambition and desire to beare rule did more mooue her than any of the Earles misdemeanours which were not lightly to bee esteemed On the other side the Earle of Lerin and his Faction did arraigne and condemne others of their aduerse partie and as for the Marshals death hee excused himselfe saying that he came to seeke him and had done his best to surprise the Cittie and to cut the throates of those of Beaumont who were in the same yet for all that this could not excuse his breach of promise The King afterward recompenced Iohn d' Athondo with a perpetuall rent to him and his heires of sixe-score golden Florens by the yere of the coyne of Arragon and besides that did permit him to beare in a quarter of his coate the royall of Armes of Nauarre To Michael Ollacarizqueta was likewise giuen other rewards This sedition happened in Pampelona about the end of the yeare one thousand foure hundred seuenty one Concerning the affaires of Castile Castile about the time that Toledo and other Citties of the Kingdome did reuolt the which wee lately mentioned Donna Maria of Portocarrero wife to Don Iohn de Pacheco Marquis of Villena and Master of Saint
new elected Cardinall to Segobia to take out of the Castle such summes as hee appointed but the Captaine Andrew de Cabrera delayed them many dayes saying that hee would cause the money to bee told out but yet they did it not for indeed hee was seruant to the Princes and wholy contrary to the Kings will as concerning Donna Ioanes marriage and besides that hee would haue nothing to doe with the Maister whom hee deadly hated fearing that all that hee went about tended to no other end but to dispossesse him of his Gouernment In the meane time the Earle of Benauent who was coosin Germaine to to Don Henry perceiuing that chiefly by the practises of the Maister the mariage was delayed and incensed with an old hatred against him about the Maistership of Saint Iames had bitter words with him telling him that hee should better haue considered of matters and not to haue procured the Infant Don Henry to haue come into Spaine in a manner to deride him and vnder colour of lyes to abuse the King the Realme and the great Lords with many other bitter words which the Maister endured with patience The death of Don Alphonso of Fonseca Archbishoppe of Siuill did promote Pero Goncales of Mendoça Bishop of Siguença to that dignity vnto whom almost at the same time that his Bulls were dispatcht from Rome was the Cardinals Hatte presented And the King beeing solicited to prouide for the troubles and miseries of his kingdome hee did the same yeare one thousand foure hundered seuenty and three call the Estates to Saint Mary de Nieua whether came the Deputies of the Communalties and citties of Castile and Regions annexed to the same There were sundry exactions abolished which had beene leuied vppon the poore people by the Kings officers Taxes leuied by vsurpation vpon the poore people abolished and by subalterne Lords following his example as paiments for the Portes bridges taxes watching and warding and other such like impositions leuied without any lawfull cause vpon wayfaring men passengers and the inhabitants of places There was also granted to the King a certaine Subsidie of money At this parlament the Infant Don Henry and his mother Donna Beatrice Pimentell were present And then the Maister of Saint Iames bethinking himselfe of another pollicy by meanes whereof hee might get the citty of Segobia into his hands hee counselled the King to remooue the assembly of the estates to Segobia where more commodiously the affaires of the kingdome might bee managed The Maister of S. Iames his couetousnesse cut short and Donna Ioanes marriage concluded vpon the which assembly should bee there in safety vnder the faith and safeguard of the Marquis of Santillana whom hee perswaded to demand for the same purpose the Keyes of the gates of Saint Iohn and Saint Martin of the same citty of Andrew de Cabrera but Cabrera perceiuing very well wherevnto it tended and beeing resolued couragiouslie to oppose himselfe against the Maister of Saint Iames found many probable excuses and delayed the matter till some other determination was taken wherein hee was supported and fauoured by the new Archbishop of Siuill and Cardinall of Spaine who had secretly vnited himselfe to the Princes and was wholy against Donna Ioane In this manner the Maister was disappointed of his purposes to his great greefe who in like manner sought to surprise the castle of Toledo and raised such a tumult there as the King was faine to goe thither in person to appease it Impunity the nurse of all disorders but hee caused no enquirie to bee made for the ringleaders to that mischiefe to punish them according to their deserts by reason wherof euery man almost committed what mischiefe hee pleased without any feare of the lawes Whilest the king remained at Toledo the Marquis of Villena sonne to the Maister of Saint Iames came to doe him reuerence whom hee receiued with extraordinary kindnesse the Maister beeing then at Pignafiell with his wife the Dutchesse of Escalona And when the King returned to Segobia the Marquis of Villena followed him but he lodged without the city at the Monastery of Parrall because of the quarrels betwixt his father and Andrew de Cabrera the King went often to heare masse at this Monastery and to visit the Marquis As these matters passed the Princesse D. Isabella hauing intelligence with the Inhabitants of Aranda de Duero tooke that place which belonged to the Queene whereat the King merueilously storming Andrew de Cabrera put him in minde of the great tirannies of the Maister of Saint Iames and of his insatiable couetousnesse in getting of townes and cities and how hee had continually without any respect hurried and tired his royall person as hee himselfe very well knew and therefore hee perswaded him to be pleased that the Princesse his sister might safely come to the castle of Segobia where they might see one an other and conferre together which could not choose but bee exceeding profitable for the Kingdome and for all good men The King who was tender hearted and easie to bee carried away was pleased therewith and after that hee had heard the opinion of the Cardinall of Spaine and of the Earle of Benauent hee was more desirous of it and Donna Beatrice of Bouadilla wife to Andrew of Cabrera disguised in the habit of a country-man and riding vpon an asse went her selfe to Aranda to cause the Princesse to come to the castle of Segobia who beeing accompanied with the Archbishop of Toledo Enterview of King Henry and the Princesse Isabella his sister and others came thither and entred the castle in a morning before day where she was courteously entertained Her comming was on the sodaine the King beeing absent at that time from Segobia hunting in the forrest of Balsain who was hastned by Cabrera who did greatly suspect the stay of the Marquis of Villena at the Monastery of Parrall fearing that hee remained there to make some practise vpon him Now as soone as the Marquis of Villena knew that the Princesse was come to the castle of Segobia he dislodged in all hast and neuer left galloping till he was arriued at Aillon fearing to be taken The Earle of Benauent and Cabrera rode forthwith to the forrest to giue the King notice that his sister was come who returned to Segobia and after that hee had dined he came to the castle to see the Princesse to whom he vsed all signes of loue and friendship and sitting downe one neere to an other they talked a long while togither and at last the King tooke his leaue of her with many curteous ceremonies seeming to bee highly pleased The Maister of Saint Iames hauing intelligence of all these matters thought to prouide for his owne safety whatsoeuer should happen and therefore hee went to Cuellar to talke with D. Bertrand de la Cueua Duke of Albuquerque whether at his intreaty came the new Constable Don Pedro de Velasco Earle of Haro his father in
law and there they made a league and confederacy together afterward they began to sollicite the King to put the Princesse his sister forth of Segobia wherevnto being bewitched by the Maister hee consented but his councell therein was diuided The Princesse the better to order her affaires was of opinion to cause the Prince her husband to come to the castle of Segobia thinking by his presence the King would be sooner brought to reason Prince Fernand comes to Segobia and all matters concluded with more facility The Prince beeing come the King saw him and receiued him with a cheerefull countenance and they rode togither on horse-backe thorough the city to the great contentment of the people and likewise of the Courtiers though not of all The great Maister Andrew de Cabrera made them a Royall banquet in the Bishops house Priuiledge of the Earles of Ribadeo at which the Earle of Ribadeo by priuiledge from his ancestors did eate at the King and the Princes table The feast being ended with store of musike and other delights the King grew sicke and complained of his side and was carried into his lodging where after a while hee recouered but not without hauing certaine relicks of rheume fluxes of bloud by vrine with vomitings and other such like mortall accidents The Princes did hourely visit him and caused others to solicite him to declare the Princesse his sister heire to the Kingdomes wherevpon there passed diuerse strang and bitter words betwixt those which mannaged this businesse on either side but nothing being concluded the Princesse resolued not to leaue Segobia The Maister of Saint Iames was aduertized of all that passed by the King himselfe who went about on a night to put certaine companies of souldiars into the city who should seize vpon certaine Towres Churches and Houses to the end to giue entrance to him and other greater troupes with which forces he would take the Princes and Andrew de Cabrera prisoners The Maister had as bad successe in this plot as in the former for God who had predestinated the Princes Fernand and Isabella to reigne in Spaine suffered this practize to be discouered by meanes whereof the daunger was preuented the Princesse stood vpon her gard and the Prince retired himself in time and went into Arragon whether he was called by warres and troubles which there happened King Iohn of Arragon his father was in his old age oppressed with crosses as well in Nauarre Nauarre and Arragon by the seditions of his subiects as on the frontiers of France and County of Rossillon In Nauarre soone after that the Princesse Donna Leonora failed in her enterprise of taking Pampelona Death of Gaston de Foix. her husband the Earle Gaston of Foix returning out of France into Nauarre fell sicke and died at a place called Roncevaux in the yeere 1472. leauing heire of his Lands and Lordships of Bearn and Foix his sonnes sonne Francis Phaebus a child of the age of fiue yeeres who remayning vnder the gouernment of his mother Donna Magdalen of France and of the Princesse Donna Leonora his grand-mother was likewise after her death heire to the Kingdome of Nauarre Donna Leonoraes titles were then Titles of D. Leonor of Nauar Princesse heire of Nauarre Infanta of Arragon and Sicill and Lieutenant Generall for the King her Lord and father in the said Kingdome of Nauarre After the decease of Gaston Earle of Foix this Princesse making her aboade in the city of Tafalla called there a Parliament to the which the great Lords came and especially the chiefe of the faction of Grammont and Beaumont who inflamed with enuy were still desirous to ruine one an other It happened as it is easie amongst those that are of troblesome and enuious dispositions that diuerse bitter speeches passed betwixt the Earle of Lerin and the Constable of Nauarre Pedro de Peralta which caused great contention into the which quarrell Nicholas de Echauarri Bishop of Pampelona did so farre enter as the Constable thinking himselfe greatly iniured by him threatned him that it should cost him his life This Bishop was suspected to bee more familliar with the Princesse Donna Leonora then honesty required Suspition of loue betwixt the Princesse D. Leonora and the Bishop of Pampelâ—na which caused him to be hated of diuerse men who were iealous of their Princesse honour taking it more heinously at his hands who was a prelat and ought to giue good example then if it had beene any other The Bishop after this threatning beeing fearefull would by no meanes come forth of his house The Princesse either desirous to pacifie this quarrell or else not able to endure him long out of her sight sent diuerse messengers to him to bring him vnto her to the Monastery of Saint Sebastian of the Order of Saint Francis at Tafalla where shee accomplished a nine daies vowes which shee had made for shee vsed great deuotion to those fathers and bestowed many benifits vpon them but the Bishop still fearing to bee met with by the way prayed her for to excuse him At the last shee sent vnto him one of her familliar friends called Fernand de Baquedan with an other Knight named Sir Hughe The Bishop of Pampelonâ— slaine by the Constable who promised to conduct him safely thether wherevpon hee mounted on his Mule and rode in their company towards Tafalla whereof the Constable beeing aduertized hee was so farre transported with rage as leaping on horse-backe hee met with the Bishop on the way and slew him hard by the gates of Tafalla not respecting or regarding the Princesses word nor yet his Episcopall dignity for the which inhumane fact he remained diuerse monthes together excommunicate This mans death did greatly offend diuerse both in Nauarre and in King Iohn of Arragons Court but especially the Princesse Don Alphonso Carillo a Spaniard was promoted to that dignity in his sted being in number the fortith Bishop of that Sea On the other side King Iohn beeing then threescore and tenne yeeres of age was ingaged in a tedious quarrell with the French vpon this occasion The Earledome of Rossillan was ingaged vnto King Lewis the eleuenth for the summe of three hundred thousand crownes who kept therein Gouernors and Officers which did oppresse the people and committed diuerse insupportable outrages where the inhabitants daily complained The Earledome of Rossillou originaâ—l of all the wars betwixt France and Spaine in our daies requesting their King to protect them wherewith the Frenchmen were displeased in regard whereof King Lewis sent Ambassadors to King Iohn who sommoned him to make paiment of the three hundred thousand crownes and to receiue his Earledome or else to appropriat it vnto him for the same summe or if hee were not pleased with these two motions that then hee should giue him suerties in France for the payment of the money at a certaine time This did greatly trouble King Iohn neuerthelesse with great modesty hee made answere
yeeld to their mercy Those of the towne hauing vnderstood the Kings resolution by their deputies did say that in regarde they went about to take away the liberty of their persons they were resolued to hang fiue hundred Christian prisoners on the walls and then to come forth euery man with his sword in hand and to dye fighting the King sent them word that if they did put one Christian to death hee would without any mercy put them all to the edge of the sword Those of Malaga once againe sent foureteene Moores of euery quarter of their Citty to the Campe who brought with them a writing which they shewed for an example of the deceased Kings of Castiles clemencie vsed to the subiugated Moores and with great humillity they begged for mercy Diuers of the Lords and Captaines were of opinion to put all that raskally obstinate nation to death who were enemies to the name of a Christian but the Queenes more iust and Christian-like opinion was followed which was to saue all their liues Then the King wrote back to them that their liues were onely granted and no more whereat the Moores being much astonied were at strife amongst themselues some beeing of opinion to make a desperate sally vpon the Christians with their weapons and to set fire on the Citty and all the wealth thereof following the examples of certaine townes of Spaine in antient times but they who thought it better to become slaues did preuaile Thus was the Citty of Malaga yeelded The Citty of Malaga yeelded the great Commander of Leon entring first into it with his troopes in armes by meanes of hostages who seazed vpon the Citty towers and Fortes thereof and hauing disarmed the Moores of all their weapons and munition all people of both sexes and of all ages were assembled in the two base Courts of the Castle of Alcaçauo where most lamentable cryes of Morish men and women were heard lamenting their liberty and goodly Citty lost with their Fortes Towers and Castles which could not defend her Cittizens liues nor giue them buriall after their death Among the multitude twelue renegades Christians were found who serued as spyes for the Moores who were stricken thorow with Darts and so slaine the Christian prisoners were deliuered and sent home to their houses fauoured and rewarded by the Kings Two other Sea townes neere to Malaga were likewise taken and the Moores made slaues by Pedro de Vera whom the King had sent thither After that all things were surely possessed by the Christians in Malaga the Bishops and Clergie made their entrance who performed the accustomed ceremonies purifications dedications with such other solemnities as wee haue heretofore written and the Kings hauing at the same time receiued a Bull from Pope Innocent by the which hee granted them and their successors authority to name and appoint Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall dâ—gnities needfull in the Realme of Granado it was thought fit to restore the Bishops Sea to the Citty of Malaga Don Pedro de Toleno Bishop of Malaga as it had beene in times past and Don Pedro de Toledo was chosen Bishop of the same who was a Channon of Siuill a man of great learning and merit who was confirmed therein by the Pope vnto whom the Kings sent a hundred Moores Gomeres of Affrick for a present and to Queene Ioane of Naples the Kings sister fifty Morish maides and thirty to the Queene of Portugall of all the other slaues the third part of them was diuided among the Lords Knights Gentlemen and Captaines of the Campe an other third part was imployed for the redemption and exchange of Christian Captines and an other third part remained to the Kings towards their great costs and charges sustained in that siege the which lasted three moneths and one day which was the eighteene of August this yeare 1487. The order and gouernement of the Cittie beeing disposed the commaund thereof was giuen to Don Garcia Fernandes Manrique who had beene Corrigidor of Cordoua The Iudges Rectors and Iurates with other Officers of iustice beeing established the goods were distributed to such as were receiued for new inhabitants who were prouided of good and wholesome lawes though fit and necessarie for those times These matters with others beeing dispatched the King and Queene returned victorious and triumphant to Cordoua where they were no sooner arriued but they began to thinke vppon necessarie prouisions for the next yeares warre for seeing they had had so happie successe alreadie they were very loth to giue it ouer by any interruption whatsoeuer In the interim of these great businesses the strifes of diuers Arragonois did still trouble the Kings eares for that in regard of his long absence all appeales comming before the Magistrate whom they call Iustice of Arragon all euident wrongs excesses and outrages committed by the great ones were with partialitie drawne out in length The Kings left Cordoua and came to Sarragossa where they assembled the Estates to redresse those insolencies which were complayned of The Estates beeing perswaded by the Vice-chancellor of the Kingdome whom the King had appoynted to speake vnto them did relinquish diuers poynts of their pretended rights and liberties and did suffer many things to be reformed and namely they were content to establish the Courts of iustice of the Hermandades or brotherhoods Hermandades in Arragon after the manner of Castile a most profitable and necessarie matter for the whole countrie and did besides that obtaine great subsidies of money for the King towards the wars of Granado Inquisition in Arragon And because the Inquisition brought great profite to the Kings coffers in Castile of the goods of the Iewes and Moores which were reuolted to their foolish superstitions it was decreed that like proceeding should be vsed against them in Arragon and Iudges appointed to make their definitiue sentence One of the sayd Commissioners had like to haue beene slayne by those manner of people on a morning in the Church of Sarragossa which gaue them occasion to enquire more diligently of such as were faulty wherein choller greedinesse of gaine and desire to fill the kings coffers made them greatly to exceed the which the practise of their successours at this day can very well witnesse the obstinate were burned and those which did reconcile themselues or were in any fault at all were fleeced to the very quicke The Kings passing into the Realme of Valencia which was troubled with the same diseases did call the Estates to Orihuela where they made diuers goodly Edicts Whilest the Court lay at Valencia there entred into Cattalonia an Ambassador from the French king Charles the eighth sent to King Fernand who sent to meete him and to let him vnderstand that vnlesse he brought with him the restitution of the Earledome of Rossillon he might returne from whence hee came King Fernand refuseth to heare or see the French Ambassadour and for ought that the Ambassadour could say or do he
in Iulie some say he was poisoned Death of the Prince of Spain others write that he was strangled by foure slaues He was buried in the Monasterie of S. Dominike the royall at Madrid whereas the king D. Pedro the cruel had beene interred Peter Mathew in his French Historie writing of the life and death of king Philip the second he sets downe a formall proceeding of the father against his Sonne in this action the which for that this subiect is so rare and memorable I haue thoght good also to insert After the Princes restra int◠Mathews vpon the death of Prince Charles as wee haue saied the king saith hee propounded to his Councel of conscience what punishment a kings son deserued that had made leagues against his estates and conspired against his fathers life and whether hee might be called in question His Councell laied two remedies before him both iust and possible the one of grace and the other of Iustice and punishment shewing him the difference betwixt the mercie of a father and the sinceritie of a king saying that if by his clemencie he did pardon them which loued him not hee must of force pardon that creature which should be most deare vnto him They desired him to imitate the emperour Charlemaigne who imputed the first conspiracie of his Sonne Pepin against him to the follies of youth for the second he confined him into a Monasterie protesting that he was a father not a king nor a iudge against his Sonne The king answered that by the law of nature he loued his Son better than himselfe but by the law of God the good and safetie of his subiects was to be preferred Moreouer hee demanded if knowing the miseries which the impunitie of his Sonnes offences would breed whether he might with a safe conscience pardon him and not be guiltie of these miseries Whereat his Diuines shrunke in their shoulders and with teares in their eies said that the safetie and health of his subiects ought to be dearer vnto him than his sonnes and that hee ought to pardon offences but such crimes should bee supprest as abhominable monsters Hereupon the king committed his Sonne to the censure of the Inquisitors commending them not to respect his authoritie no more than the meanest within his kingdome and to regard the qualitie of his Sonne as if he were borne a king making no distinction thereof with the partie accused vntill they found that the excesse of his offence would no more admit of this consideration remembring that they carried in their soules a liuelie image of the king which had iudged Angels and should without distinction iudge kings and the Sonnes of kings like vnto other men referring al vnto their consciences and discharging his owne The Inquisitors Iudgement of the inquisitors against the Prince of Spain for that he was charged to haue practised with Castillion Admirall of France the prince of Orange and other enemies of the Romish◠Religion declared him an heretike and for that hee had conspired against his fathers life they condemned him to die The king was his accuser and the Inquisitors his iudges but the sentence was signed by the king which done they presented many kinds of death in picture vnto the prince to make choise of the easiest In the end he demanded if there were no pitie in his father to pardon him no fauour in his Councell for a Prince of Spaine nor any wisdome to excuse the follies of his youth when as they told him that his death was determined could not be reuoked and that all the fauour was in the choise of the easiest death hee said that they might put him to what death they pleased that there was no choise of any death seeing that they could not giue him that which Caesar held to be the best These words deliuered with passion were followed with a thousand imprecations against his fortune against the inhumanity of his father and the crueltie of the Inquisition repeating these words often O miserable Sonne of a more miserable father He had some daies giuen him to prepare himselfe for death 1568 One morning foure slaues entred into his chamber who awaking him put him in mind of his last houre and gaue him some time to prepare himselfe vnto God He start vp suddenly and fled to the bed post but two of them held his armes and the third his feet and the fourth strangled him with a cord of silk Many hold that he died of letting blod his feet being put in warm water But Campana in the life of Philip 2 writes that being in prison he fel verie sick by reason of his disordred diet and drinking too much cold water wherewith his stomack grew so weake as he could not digest any meat which the Phisitions could not helpe so as hee died as he affirms of this sicknes verie religiously and penitenly to the great griefe of the king the whol state moreouer he writes that the king being much perplexed for this great losse retired himselfe into his chamber with two seruants wold not giue any audience then for many daies into the monasterie of S. Ierosme a mile without the town sequestring himself of al affairs writing only to princes potentates causing his secretaries to write vnto all his realms states of the death of his deare only son Thus writers discourse diuersly of the death of this Prince the which I leaue to the iuditious Reader to beleeue what he shall thinke most probable Within foure months after the death of the Prince D. Carlo Death of the queen of Spain the Queene D. Isabella his mother in law died also being broght in bed of her third child before her time the Phisitiōs hauing ignorātly caused her to take too much Phisick fering some other infirmitie this was the brute of the court of Spain But in France they had reason to think that the life of this princesse was shortned like vnto that of D. Charles by some notable malice by the same instruments For they to whom D. Isabella did belong in bloud had been verie carefull to auer the causes maner of her death but not so resolute to call it in question as Clouis sons were to reuenge the iniurie done vnto their Sister in Spaine where she also had beene maried As for the Prince Turkett it was verie cōmon in Spain that the great hatred the king bate him grew rather from the suggestions and reports of others than from his own misdeeds for by nature he was neither giuen to any odious vices Disposition of the prince D. Charles neither was he of so harsh and sower a disposition as commonly great men of that coūtrie be It is true that D. Charles kept his grauitie to courtiers that he shewed himselfe verie ambitious too desirous to mannage affaires and to be imploied and was giuen to some kindes of pleasures Such as would excuse him said
150 leagues from Panama the shippe was called by the Spaniards Cacafuego which name after the taking thereof by Sir Francis was wittily changed by a Spanish ship-boy and tearmed Cacaplata for that it yeelded him so much siluer They found in her besides great store of iewels and pretious stones thirteene chests full of ryals of siluer foure score pound weight of gold and 26 tunne of siluer Hauing done diuers exploits and sackt some townes vpon the coast of Peru and Noua Hispania being now full fraught with treasure and sufficiently reuenged as he thought of the Spaniard hee resolued to goe to the Islands of the Molucos 1588 and so returne to England by Cape Bona Esperance the which he performed happily in Nouember beeing the third yeare of his voyage By the report of Nugno de Silua a pylot whom he had taken in the beginning of his voyage at the Islands of Cape-Verd others Treasure Sir Fr. Drake brought out of the South sea Sir F. Drake carried froÌ„ the coast of Peru 866 kintals of siluer euer kintal being worth 1200 ducats of Spain all which amounteth to a million thirtie nine thousand and two hundred ducats He had besides tenne kintals of gold euery kintall beeing valued at ten thousand and fiue hundred Spanish ducats which last some amounteth to a hundred and fiftie thousand ducats besides other treasure in that shippe which had not beene customed the value whereof was vnknowne as pearles pretious stones ryals of plsate and other rich commodities These exploits of his in the South sea where they had neuer seene any enemie did much trouble the Viceroy of Peru who sent forth Pedro Sarmiento a good nauigator with two shippes to meet with Captaine Drake if hee could or to fortifie in the Strait of Magellan against such as should hereafter seeke to passe it D. Pedro passed through the Straite with one of his shippes and so went into Spaine where he informed the king of the nature of the Strait and of the meanes to buid a fort there the countrey beeing rich and abounding with all necessaries Whereupon the king beeing aduertised that there were more shippes making ready in England sent Diego Flores de Baldes with twentie three shippes and three thousand and fiue hundred men and a new gouernour to Chili with fiue hundred old souldiers come out of Flaunders but before they were free from the coast of Spaine Ships of Spaine cast away they were surprized with a storme and eight of the Fleet cast away with aboue eight hundred men the rest put into Cadiz D. Iohn d' Austria hauing drawne a world of miseries vpon those Prouinces which which were vnder his gouernment 1578 died in the Campe Death of D. Iohn of Austria neere vnto Nemours this yeare 1578 of a pestilent feuer a prince who conceiued high and great enterprises in his mind but aboue all hee was much incensed against the Lowe Countries and their generall Estates his death was happie for them hauing thereby some ease of their miseries and calamities Men made diuers censures of his death and of Escouedo his Secretaries who in a manner at the same time was slaine in Spaine as some said by the kings commandement for the which Antonio de Peres was afterwards called in question as you shall heare Alexander Farneze prince of Parma who was D. Iohns lieutenant had commaundement of the armie and was afterwards gouernour in his place hee was more temperate and modest in his gouernment than the Spaniards that went before him This prince was allied to the king of Spain he hauing maried in the yere 1565 D. Maria of Bragance daughter to D. Edward of Portugal who was brother to the Empresse D. Isabella so as they were cousin germans which mariage might purchase to the house of Farnezes some right to the crowne of Portugal where soone after there happened a lamentable change for that this realme which had maintained it selfe with honour and reputation in all the parts of the habitable earth for so many ages was reduced vnto a Prouince vnder him Castille as you shall heare 4 We must now enter into the mournfull Tragedie of the death of D. Sebastian king of Portugal 1577 who thrust on by his ambitious desire of glorie Moores gouerned by ill counsell and among other affections by zeale of religion wherein the Iesuits had instructed him would contrary to the graue aduice of the Catholike king and without any reason Xeriffes kings of Marocco their beginning bee an actor in the quarrels of the Xeriffes princes of Afrike contending for the empire of Marocco and Fez from whence the race of the kings Merins of whom wee haue often made mention in this worke had beene expelled by their fathers It will be fit to giue more light vnto our historie and more tast of the fruit which may be reapt to relate briefly the beginning of these Xeriffes and the policie of their suddaine and admirable aduancement to the large dominions so neere vnto Spaine there beeing but a small cut of sea betwixt them or as a man would say a puffe of wind Mahomet Ben Hamet called Xeriffe Mahomet Ben Hamet Xeriffes the 〈◊〉 which signifies famous and sacred the which among the Mahometans they giue vnto them that are of the line of their Prophet Mahomet from whom he said hee was descended liued in the times of our fathers in the towne of Tigumedeâ— in the countrie of Dara in Numidia He was a politicke man and a great hypocrite who had by a fained sanctitie purchased the reputation of very religious and wise He was learned in their law in Astrologie and in art Magike He had three sonnes whom hee instructed in the same manners arts and disciplines and were esteemed as the father especially after that they had beene at Mecque and at Medina Tal Nabi in Arabia which is a voyage held among them of great merit for at Medina is the supulchre of their prophet Mahomet Three brethren Xeriffes Their names were Abdelquibir Hamet and Mahomet the youngest who past the rest in policie and valour Hamet and Mahomet beeing come to Fez a great and well peopled citie in Afrike and the chiefe of the reale of Mauritania Tingitana to make themselues knowne there they were much made of by men that were curious of Sciences and in a short time one of them obtained a publike Lecture in the Colledge of Modarasa and the other had the charge to instruct and bring vp the children of Muley Mahomet and Oataz who was the last king of Fez saue one of the race of Benimerins The Xeriffe their father hearing that his sonnes prospered â—arning and Armes vnited makes a man compleat hee aduised them to ioyne the art of warre with knowledge and learning for those two faculties vnited make a ready way to greatnesse the which they could practise in such sort that as they had beene esteemed for their learning so they got
that estate least that his recouerie should alter that good happy disposition The continuall feuer whereof he had languished three yeres and the violent torments of the gout had prepared him for death long before he was ready to take him He gaue no eare to any discourse but touching his departure A gentleman of his chamber seeing him to haue some intermission of his pains aduised him to remoue into some other chamber that was more chearefull the Physitians warranting that hee might liue two yeares longer Giue said hee this picture of our Ladie to the Infanta it was the Empresse my Mothers and I haue worne it fifty yeares He spake of his departure as of a royall entrie into goodliest Cities vnder his obedience and of his funeral as of a Coronation I will said hee haue this Crucifix hung at my neck and resting vpon my breast I will haue that in my hand with the which my father dyed Hold a candle of Mont Sarrat readie and giue it me when I am in the Agonie Goe said hee to two Religious men and measure my fathers Herse obserue how hee is laid I will be so and with no more ceremonie than the poorest Monke in this Monasterie They that were about him spake of his constancie as Saint Augustin did of the admirable resolution of a holy Spaniard The violence of his paine was great but the force of his courage was greater the one suffered and the other sung the flesh suffered and the spirit spake Nothing liued more in him than a feeling of his sinnes the which toucht him so neere as after that they had made an incision in his knee and the Prince his Sonne asking him if he felt not the paine of his greene wound I feele said the king the wounds of my sinnes much more Approaching towards his end hee commaunded that the Marquesse of Mondejar should bee set at libertie but restrained from comming to court and that the wife of Anthony Perez sometimes his Secretarie should bee set at libertie vpon condition that hee should retire himselfe into some Monasterie Hee receiued the extreme vnctions from the Archbishop of Toledo after that hee had demaunded the manner of the administration thereof for that hee had neuer seene it giuen Hee had resolued to send the Prince and the Infanta â—o Madrid for that they should not bee present at the pitifull spectacle of the ruine of his bodie but hee changed his opinion and would haue the Prince present when they gaue him the extreme vnction after which hee commanded them to leaue him alone with his Sonne King Philips last speech vnto his Sonne to whome hee spake these words I was desirous my son you shold assist at this last actioÌ„ to the end you shold not liue in ignorance as I haue done how this holy Sacrament is administred that you might see the end of kings and whereunto their Crownes and Scepters are reduced Death is readie to snatch the Crowne from my head and to set it vpon yours Therein I recommend two things vnto you the one is that you remaine alwaies obedient vnto the Church the other that you doe justice to your subiects The time will come when this Crowne shall fall from your head as it doth now from mine you are young I haue beene so my daies are numbred and are ended God keepes the accompt of yours and they shall likewise end They say that hee did enioyne him with passion to make warre against Heretikes and to entertaine peace with France The Prince thinking that his end approached demaunded the golden key of the Cabinet from D. Christopher de Mora meaning to grace the Marquesse of Denia his fauourite therewith but hee desired the Prince to pardon him saying that hee might not leaue it whilest the king was liuing but by his expresse commandement whereat the Prince was offended D. Christopher complained hereof vnto the king who neither commended the demaund being too sudden nor allowed of his refusall commanding D. Christopher to carrie it vnto the Prince and to craue his pardon who returning to visit his father D. Christopher de Mora kneeling downe 〈◊〉 the key and deliuered it vnto him the which the Prince tooke and gaue to the Marquesse of Denia And as the prince and the Infanta stood before his bed hee said vnto them I recommend vnto you D. Christopher de Mora the best seruant I euer had with all my other seruants And so giuing them his last farewell and imbracing them his speech fayled him continuing two daies in that estate vntill hee died being seuenty and one yeares old and hauing raigned fifty He was borne at Vailledolit the fiue and twentieth of Aprill Birth and â—â—ature of the king of Spaine in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred twenty and six and dyed the thirteenth of September 1598. He was but little of stature yet of a pleasing aspect but no goodlie man by reason of his great nether lip which is hereditarie in the house of Austria otherwise he was faire of complexion rather resembling a Fleming than a Spaniard of so found a constitution of body as he was sildome or neuer sicke He was sometimes troubled with faintings and did neuer eat any fish he was of a constant resolution and of a great spirit apprehending presently the ends of things and foreseeing them with an admirable wisdome and iudgement Pope Clement the eight hearing newes of his death assembled the Consistorie where after audience giuen vnto the Cardinalls hee told them in a graue speech full of passion Popes iudgment vpon the death of king Philip. That if euer the holy Sea had cause of greefe and affliction it was for the death of that Prince the Church hauing lost a great Protector and her persecutors a mightie enemie That his whole life had beene nothing but a warfaâ—e against infidelities heresies and errors That two things did comfort them in this losse the one that being dead with an admirable conformitie in the will of God an incredible patience in his paines and an vnchangeable constancie in his Religion he held him rewarded in heauen with immortall glorie the other that hee had left a Sonne which made them hope that it was rather a resurrection of the father than a succession of the Sonne In the end hee recommended them both to their praiers paying thereby for what the one had done and what the other offered to doe by his letters for the good of the Church To speake of his vertues Vertues of king Philip. it is said that all good Princes may bee written in a ring Philip had great vertues it were a rare thing to haue all The seedes of such princes as haue no defects are in heauen Hee was great in pietie Religion justice liberalitie and constancy His pietie As for his pietie and religion hee hath beene heard to say that if the prince his Sonne became an Hereâ—ike or a Schismaticke hee would bring fagots himselfe to
he did owe the Genouois to 12. His liberalitie hath appeared in recompensing the merits of many of his seruants His liberalitie He made his Schoolemaster Primat of the Church of Spaine as his father had aduanced his vnto the Popedom There are few such princes now that vse such requitals There are no more Alexanders That is 480000 crownes who gaue eight hundred talents to his Schoolemaster Arislotle Kings haue long hands but few haue them so large after this proportion The king of Spaine did neuer leaue any goodlie action either of learning justice or warre without reward Hee did not onely doe good vnto the good to make them better but also to the bad least they should grow worse But he did neuer aduance them hee loued to fauours disproportionable to their condition He did much for Ruy Gomes for the loue of his wife the princesse of Eboly Yet this liberalitie did neuer make a passage for him to great affaires He was verie circumspect in the distinction of great charges especially of such as concerned the administration of justice whereon as Plato said depends the safetie and ruine of an Estate And although that the earle of Chinchon being bred vp with him in his youth should haue expected more than any other yet he obtained nothing but what he held fit for his qualitie Honours ruine them that deserue them not He was woont to say That all stomackes were not fit to disgest great fortunes and that ill meat did not corrupt sooner and turne to bad humors than honour in a soule without merit As for his constancie against afflictions 〈…〉 for tune could neuer shake him In two diuers accidents happening at two diuers times he shewed the constancie of his mind and the equalitie of his affections neither puffing him vp insolently in prosperitie nor deiecting himselfe basely in aduersitie When the post brought him newes of the victorie of Lepanto His great moderation in prosperitie he thought to see him much transported with joy but hee made no shew of any alteration and hauing vnderstood the order and successe of the battell hee spake these words coldly D. Iohn hath hazarded much Now when another post did bring him newes of the losse of that great nauie at sea thinking it would haue plunged him into a gulph of cares and perturbations at the report of so fatall an accident hee was not a whit mooued His constancie in aduersitie saying onely That hee had sent it against men and not against the windes and waues Vulgar spirits are transported with choler at euerie crosse accident this vnmatchable losse doth not trouble this prince who continued his deuotion in his Oratorie Some other would haue torne his haire and haue whipt the Ocean as Xerxes did The duke of Medina Sidonia Generall of this armie sending to know his pleasure if hee would haue him come and giue an account of his charge he answered That hee should first goe home to his house to refresh and rest himselfe before he came to Court It were fit we should see the backside of this Medaile Vices of the K. of Spaine and speake something of the errours and vices of this prince as well as of his vertues seeing it is fit to speake all for examples sake yet it is not good to trouble the rest of the dead Nicons image ouerthrew him that strooke it with a staffe A dead stone did reuenge the injurie that was done vnto a dead man It is sufficient to say That as this prince was commended for many great vertues so hee was blamed in his youth of great dissolution to voluptuousnesse and a violent propension to crueltie These two vices doe seldome abandon one another Euerie voluptuous prince is cruell if necessitie constraine him This plague doth infect and blemish the glorie of vertues how bright soeuer they be in the life of a prince Victorinus might haue beene compared to the best Emperours yea hee should surpasse Traian in bountie Antonine in clemencie Nerua in grauitie Vespasian in sparing of his treasure Pertinax and Seuerus in the integritie of his life and in the seueritie of militarie discipline but all these vertues were so quencht by voluptuousnesse as no man durst speake vnto him The king of Spaine hath put many to death in the excesse and first fits of his choler King of Spaine 〈◊〉 and distrustfull He was as suspitious distrustfull and cruell as euer any was He did not allow the prince his sonne to speake with the Infanta his daughter but by permission and in the presence of their gouernors The jealousie of Soueraigne power makes no distinction of person nor spareth not his owne bloud as appeared by his owne sonne and Sultan Solyman caused his sonne Mustafa to bee strangled for that the Ianizaries made great acclamations of joy at his returne from the warres of Persia. Some write of him That besides the aboue named vices he was fearefull doubtfull close and a dissembler ambitious and proud beyond the condition of man and nothing religious of his word in matters of Estate the duke of Vilhermosa and the marquesse of Fuentes are good witnesses he put them to death after that he had pardoned them the reuolt of Arragon And those words which he spake in his last instruction to his sonne speaking of the Low Countries doe verifie it It is true said hee I haue giuen them to your sister but it imports not you haue an hundred â—â—asions which you may vse in time His ambition appeared in that he affected the Empire by all possible meanes which not able to obtaine he sought the title of Emperour of Spaine yea some write That he was resolued to goe vnto the Indies to take vpon him the title of Emperour of America After all his ambitious proiects against Africke his attempts against England and Ireland and his intelligences with the Turkes Barbarians and Persians whom hee hath sought to diuide and to make vse of euen against Christian princes yet in the end he was forced to confesse That all the power and pompe of this world was meere vanitie He had foure wiues but he was vnfortunat in the first the which was Marie princesse of Portugall His wiues and children who bare him one sonne whose name was Charles but his life was short and vnfortunat and his end violent being charged by the Inquisition to haue thought ill of the Faith and to haue had intelligence with Chastillion Admirall of France and with the prince of Orange touching the Low Countries His second wife was Marie queene of England by whom hee had no issue His third was Elizabeth of France surnamed by the Spaniards the Queene of Peace who brought him two daughters the Infanta D. Isabella Clara Eugenia now Archduchesse of Austria and Ladie of the Low Countries and the Infanta D. Catherina Michelle who was duchesse of Sauoy His fourth wife was Anne of Austria daughter to the Emperour Maximilian and his owne neece