one of the Hegira or Moorish Computation of Years from Mahomet one about the Change of Coins and one in defence of the Vulgate Edition of the Bible But that which has made most noise in the World and particularly in England is his Book de Rege Regis Institutione for some Years since there was scarce a Cobler tho' he knew not so much as the Title of the Work but quoted Mariana 's Treasonable Doctrines to Authorize Otes 's Narrative insomuch that had it not been for the former the Reputation of the latter had been in some danger However this Book tho' so much talk'd of is known but to few being very scarce and one Reason of it may be that as it contains many Treasonable Propositions most Monarchical Governments have doubtless endeavour'd to suppress it because destructive to Kings And yet tho' so much rail'd at once even by those who never saw or were capable of understanding it of late it finds good Approbation among many who keep and read it with Satisfaction but such it is as well deserves the Sentence past and executed upon it at its first coming into the World for both at Rome and at Paris it was publickly burnt by the hand of the Common Hangman a sufficient Testimony of the Abhorrence these Places had of the Opinions it teaches And perhaps had the Author been at either of them at that time he had not found much better Quarter then his Book did but he came not off Scotfree for by express Command from Rome he was kept a close Prisoner for above 20 Years and only releas'd by Death I have made so much mention of this Book because that Imprisonment which was the Consequence of it was improv'd by Mariana for Composing of this present History which now I present the World with in English In that Consinement as Sir Walter Rauleigh is said to have Compos'd his History of the World in the Tower did Mariana Compile his History of Spain He writ it first in Latin and then as he says himself fearing lest some unskilful Pen Translating it into Spanish should fully its Reputation he undertook the work himself not as a Translator but as he says with the liberty of an Author altering and adding as he found convenient upon further search into Records and Ancient Authors Yet neither the Latin nor the Spanish came lower than the end of the Reign of King Ferdinand Grandfather to the Emperor Charles V. where Mariana concluded his 30 Books being affraid to come down nearer to his own time and this because he could not speak with that Freedom and Impartiality which he had us'd throughout this Work by reason that either the Persons themselves or else the Children of those who had acted in those latter Reigns being living it took away that liberty of laying-open ill Actions and exposing the Crimes of those who in themselves or their Off-spring were still in being This made him rather chose to give over at that distance that by proceeding to oblige himself to swerve from that Ingenuity he had us'd till â—â—en and deviate from Truth However at the Instigation of Friend lest his History should seem an imperfect Work he writ a Supplement to it short for fear of offending but bringing it down to the Year 1621. when King Philip III. dy'd and Philip IV. came to the Crown Thus far went F. Mariana after whose Death F. Ferdinand Camargo y Salcedo of the Order of St. Augustin carry'd on another Supplement from the Year 1621. where Mariana left off till 1649. inclusive where F. Basil Varen de Soto of the Regular Clergy took it up and went on till the Year 1669. being the 5th of the Reign of this present King of Spain Charles II. Having said as much as I think requisite in relation to the Author and his Work it only remains now that I add a few words as to the Translation wherein I will be as brief as possible because I don't affect swelling a Volume with my own Notions and this being my own Labour as no Man will imagine I can say any thing to lessen it so neither am I so vain as to commend it If bad the World is not so Charitable as to connive at my faults and if it has any thing good it will recommend it self There are in the Original many Fictions which Mariana mentions after other Authors and these being allow'd of by him as Fables I have inserted with as much Brevity as I could thinking it needless to insist much upon those things which no Reader could be pleas'd with as being rather Romantick than Historical as he that writes them sufficiently proves In the next place as there is no Spanish History but swarms with Lives of Saints and Miracles so this could not but have its share of them among the rest Now this sort of Legend tho' very acceptable to Spaniards is not at all taking among us nor to say the truth any way pertinent in Profane History therefore these things I have much retrench'd not that I have wholly omitted them for that I would not do for fear of being thought Vnfaithful but I have reduc'd them into a narrow compass that the Reader may have a taste of and not be cloy'd with them This and the irregular Method of Mariana in his Chapters has forc'd me not to make so great a number of them as he has done but I have put two or three into one as I found most convenient yet so as the Reader who shall have a mind to compare the Translation with the Original may easily do it because every Break in the English is a Chapter in the Spanish by which they are easily to be found The reason of Translating it from the Spanish rather than from the Latin is because the former as was hinted above is the perfecter Work being compos'd after the other by Author and much improv'd The Names of Persons I have kept as they are in the Spanish where they are such as can't be found in English such as OrdonÌ„o NunÌ„o Sancho and the like These I say we have not in English and therefore I would not alter them at all as some have done turning them into Latin which is as odd to us as the Spanish and calling them Ordonius Nunius Sanctius and so forth Others there are which the Spaniards have corrupted being Names us'd in other Nations tho' perhaps not among us these generally I write after the manner of Spain but upon the first coming to mention them do explain and setthem down as they are call'd where they are in use an instance of these are Ramon in English Raymund Brunechilda whom the French call Brunchault Pelayo in Latin Pelagius Bermudo more properly Veremundo or Veremundus Those Names which are commonly in use with us I generally call as we do tho' I have seen the contrary practis'd yet I know no reason why since the History speaks English the Names of those it treats
upon and endeavoured to Rally them He himself being distinguishable by his Horse and Armour fought among the foremost and appeared where the greatest danger was Exhortations and Examples were of no force his Men all fled he remained among the last and seing no hopes left try'd to make his escape when Clodoveus or Clouis who charged at the head of his Men bore him down with a shock of his Lance. Alaricus striving to rise was killed by a French Foot Soldier Two Noble Goths thinking to revenge their King ran at Clouis who was saved by the goodness of his Armour and by the assistance of a Youth called Clodoricus that came in to his Rescue Alaricus being dead the Goths dispersed themselves into all the neighbouring Towns in such manner that no considerable Body remained together to oppose the Franks whereupon they presently possessed themselves of the City Angouleme But those Goths who had not been in this Battle assembling themselves had the courage to try their Fortune near Bourdeaux They proved no more successful than the others and the slaughter of them was so great that from that Day the Country they fought in changed its name and was called the Arian Fields from the Religion of the Goths After these two mighty Victories many Places submitted to the Franks as Bourdeaux the Vesates Cahors Rhodes and those of Albernia Even the City of Toulouse where the Goths kept their Court was taken and nothing considerable left them in France Among the Treasures of the Gothish Kings were found the Vessels and Instruments belonging to the Sacrifices at the Temple of Jerusalem which had been taken by Alaricus the first King of those People when he Sack'd Rome left by him to his Successors and now fell into the Hands of Clouis Alaricus dy'd in the Year 506. His Reign which lasted 23 Years he supported by Falshood and Cruelty which made his end the less pity'd all People saying He had well deserved it Yet he was the first King of the Goths that made use of written Laws and publish'd those of Theodosius the same Year he was slain Before his time the Goths like other barbarous Nations were Governed by the ancient Customs of their Forefathers To these Laws of Alaricus succeeding Kings added many others of all which together was composed that Volume the Spaniards call Fuero jusgo whereof we shall speak in a more proper place CHAP. V. The Reign of the Kings Gesaleycus Theodorick and Amalaricus Several Spanish Synods Defeat of the Franks And Tryal by Ordeal ALaricus left two Sons one by his Wife Theudicoda call'd Amalaricus and one by another Woman nam'd Gesaleycus The principal Men among the Goths chose the latter for their King by reason the other was but five Years of Age. This offended the King of the Ostrogoths who sent 80000 Men under the command of Ilba as well to suppress the Franks and restore the Kingdom of the Visogoths then at the point of destruction as to Re-inthrone his Grandson Amalaricus Gesaleycus fearing so great a Power as also because the King of the Burgundians had taken Narbonne not thinking himself secure in any part of France retired to Barcelona He was naturally a Coward and consequently Cruel which moved him with his own Hands and in his Palace in that City to kill Goericus a Man of Note Ilba in France assisted by the Visogoths overthrew the Franks with the slaughter of 20000 of them By this means the Visogoths recovered Guienne the Ostrogoths possessed themselves of Provence took Narbonne from the Burgundians and were about passing the Pyrenean Mountains Hereupon Gesaleycus not trusting to his own People knowing the hatred they bore him for his Cowardize and Cruelty went over into Africk Thrasimundus King of the Vandals tho' Marry'd to the Sister of Theodorick received him Friendly and relieved him with Money Having received this Aid he returned into France and after lying hid a Year raised an Army with which he durst venture to give a Battle near Barcelona but was Vanquished by Ilba and flying into France soon after dy'd with Grief in the Year of Christ 510. when he had Reigned 4 Years Authors do not agree who succeeded Gesaleycus most of them affirm that Theodorick the Ostrogoth from thence forward called himself King of the Visogoths This Opinion is confirmed by the Synods then held in Spain in which is seen the Name of Theodorick and Year of his Reign Others say Amalaricus succeeded and Theodorick only Acted as his Tutor I can no way give Credit to what Spanish Authors write viz. That Theodorick came into Spain Married a Wife of the old Spanish Race at Toledo and at her request restored them to their ancient Liberty since no Foreign Writer makes mention of any such Journey of his especially Cassiodorus and others who writ his Actions very particularly Certain it is that Theudius or Theudis who had served Theodorick as his Esquire at Arms was by his Favour appointed to Govern during the Minority of the young King which was the first step by which afterwards he ascended to the Throne In the Year 516. a Council of Bishops was held at Tarragona here we find the first mention of any Monks in Spain Here it was Ordain'd that after the manner of the Jews Sabbath Sunday should begin to be observed on Saturday Evening whence remains still the Custom among Spaniards of keeping Holyday and rejoycing on the Saturday Night Another Council was held at Girona the following Year 517. Pope Hormisda about the same time writ a Letter to John Bishop of Tarragona commanding him Yearly to hold Synods of Bishops a thing used in those Days for Reformation of Manners After the death of Hormisda in the time of his Successor John I. who was Elected in the Year 523 two other Synods were celebrated one at Lerida the other at Valencia Theodorick the Ostrogoth dying in Italy Amalaricus began to take upon him the Government of the Visogoths in Spain from which time some begin to reckon the Years of his Reign As soon as Amalaricus commenced his Reign he made Peace with the Franks and to bind it the faster Marry'd Crotilda their King's Sister and Daughter to Clouis In Dower with her the Country of Toulouse was restored to the Goths Crotilda was a Person of singular Piety and had been Religiously Educated in the true Faith by her Mother who was of the same Name This highly offended her Husband who was an Arian When she went to Church the Rabble did not only Revile but would often throw Dirt at her Her Husband did not only wink at it but when she came home frown'd gave her ill Language and at last proceeded to blows insomuch that several times he made the Blood gush from her Long she endured hoping with Patience and Meekness to soften his cruel Heart but finding there was no hopes of mollifying him at last she writ to her Brother Childebert
Foreign Enemies remov'd there hap'ned no War at least none of note The good Government of the King and Authority of the Bishops kept the Subjects from offering at any Revolt Chintila dy'd in the Year of our Lord 639. when he had Reign'd three Years eight Months and nine Days CHAP. IV. The Reigns of the Kings Tulga Chindasuinthus and Recesuinthus Several Synods of Toledo Increase of the Mahometan Power The Election and Coronation of King Wamba INstead of Chintila by the unanimous consent of the Nobility was chosen Tulga young in Years but old in Virtue particularly Justice Zeal for Religion Prudence Military Experience and Bounty towards the Needy a quality most requisite in Kings who ought to think they were intrusted with the Treasures of Kingdoms to relieve the wants of such as are in distress His Perfections seem'd still to be in their increase when Death cut him off at Toledo in the Year 641. when he had Reign'd only two Years and four Months Sigibertus Gemblacensis says Tulga was a debauch'd Youth and on that score Deposed by his own People but it is more reasonable to believe St. Ildefonsus who writes as an Eye Witness than a Stranger that either writ maliciously or was imposed upon After the Death of Tulga Flavius Chindasuinthus who being General of the Army was before in Rebellion against the King with the assistance of the Soldiery mounted the Throne none of the Nobility daring to oppose him that had all the standing Forces of the Kingdom on his side It must be granted that tho' he Usurp'd the Crown Tyrannically yet afterwards he Governed with great Moderation as if he design'd that way to make good his bad Title to it The first thing he did was to settle the Common-wealth by Establishing wholsome Laws and Ordinances for the better Administration of Justice and the publick Good In the 6th Year of his Reign he called together to Toledo all the Bishops in his Kingdom whereof 30 met on the 28th of October and this is counted the 7th Council of Toledo Before this time the King had Banish'd Theodiselus Archbishop of Sevil for that he sow'd scandalous Doctrines and to gain himself the greater Authority had corrupted the Works of his Predecessor St. Isidorus Theodiselus went over into Africk and there turn'd Mahometan so blind is Man when once he strays from the right way Those Authors that write in favour of the See of Toledo and particularly the Archbishop D. Rodrigo will have it that upon this occasion King Chindasuinthus made Toledo the Metropolitan See of all Spain whereas before Sevil had enjoy'd that preheminence but they have not the Testimony of any ancient Writers to confirm their Opinion and therefore we shall not lay much stress upon it About these times Theodorus and his Successor Martin I. Govern'd the Catholick Church Chindasuinthus being desirous to enrich Spain with good Books and Learning sent Tajus Bishop of Zaragoça to Rome to obtain of Theodorus then Pope St. Gregory's Books upon Job which are full of Allegories and excellent Morality and to bring them into Spain The King thought those Books would be useful to Propagate and Confirm the Catholick Religion and be a great Addition to the Ecclesiastical Library as believing now he had Peace on all sides nothing could add more to the Glory of his Kingdom than the increase of Religion and Learning Tajus having delivered his Embassy the Pope was very willing to oblige the King But those Books thro' the Ignorance and Negligence of the times were so hid among other Papers that it was hard to find them Much time was spent in searching and the Bishop seeing little hope of Success had recourse to God and spent the Night in Prayer begging of God not to suffer the good Intentions of the King to be frustrated He fail'd not of Success for that Night God revealed or as he says in a Letter St. Gregory appear'd to him and discover'd where those Books were Now it was that Fructuosus began to be famous in Spain he being of the Royal Blood of the Goths left the World to go live in a Desart and in time at his own Expence near Coplutica at the Foot of the Mountain Irago in the place now call'd Vierço built a Monastery of Monks of the Invocation of the Martyrs Justus and Pastor The King was assisting to him in building of this Monastery and afterwards the number of Monks being too great not far off in a rough and uncouth place Founded another Dedicated to St. Peter Fructuosus Founded a third Convent in the Island of Cadiz and a fourth on the Continent nine Leagues from the Coast besides many others as well of Men as Women This was the Posture of Affairs in Spain in the latter Years of Chindasuinthus at which time he to secure the Succession of the Crown he had obtained by force in his Family chose his Son Flavius Recesuinthus his Companion in the Throne in the Year of our Lord 648. after he had Reigned alone 6 Years 8 Months and 20 Days It is true he lived three Years after but that time is allotted to the Reign of his Son because by reason of his great Age he left the whole charge of the Government to him Chindasuinthus dyed at Toledo according to some of Sickness but as others will have it was poisoned His Body and that of his Wife Riciberga were buryed in the Monastery of S. Romanus now called de Hormisda betwixt Toro and Tordesillas on the Banks of the River Duero founded by himself for his place of Burial as was accordingly performed In the Reign of Recesuinthus Eugenius the Third was Archbishop of Toledo a Person of great Learning as appears by many of his works still extant and by some reckoned among the Number of Saints In his time and by his procurement 52 Bishops met at Toledo which is counted the eighth Council held in that City This was rather a Parliament than Synod all the Nobility of the Kingdom being present at it and signing to all the Decrees which rather respected the Temporal than Spiritual Power Two Years after by the King's Order there met 16 Bishops who Celebrated the 9th Council and published 17 Acts upon several Articles The following Year 656. 20 Bishops met again in the same City and this is reckoned the tenth Council of Toledo The Acts of all these Councils as also the Lives of St. Isidorus and St. Ildefonsus whereof F. Mariana here Treats at large I thought would not be so acceptable to most Readers nor so pertinent in this as the Ecclesiastical History which I do not pretend to write and have therefore purposely omitted them In the Year 660 Twelve Bishops of Portugal held a Synod at Merida and published 23 Decrees most relating to the Celebration of Divine Service At the same time the power of the Mahometans grew formidable in Africk for Abdalla Duke of Moabia
his Sword saying There was no Reason such Men should fall out about that Dog The Arch-Bishop's Head and left Hand were cut off This Disaster was so much the more to be lamented for that the Enemy in that Fight might have been utterly overthrown had the Christians expected till D. Lope de Haro could joyn them for he coming up soon after with only his own Forces oblig'd the Moors to retire but could not totally defeat them because Night came on The Body Head and Hand of the Arch-Bishop being ransom'd at a great rate were bury'd in the Royal Chappel of Toledo where lay Alonso the Emperour and his Son Sancho Ferdinand Abbot of Covarrubias succeeded in the Archbishoprick and he having after six Months resign'd it because the Pope would not confirm his Election the Pope made choice of D. Gonzalo the second of the Name who had been Bishop of Cuenca first and then of Burgos He is said to have been a Cardinal and dyed in the Year 1299. This unhappy Year we now write of was yet more remarkable for the Death of Prince Ferdinand He dyed at Villareal where he had appointed the Rendezvous of all the Forces His Body was bury'd at Huelgas and his Death caus'd no less Grief at present than it afterwards produc'd Troubles his Brother Sancho pretending the Crown of Right appertain'd to him as second Son to King Alonso then Living notwithstanding Prince Ferdinand by his Wife the Lady Blanch left two Sons call'd Alonso and Ferdinand whom at the time of his Death he recommended to D. John de Lara eldest Son to D. NunÌ„o de Lara Prince Sancho being a Youth of good Conduct made Head against the Moors and put a stop to their proceedings He garison'd all strong Places and avoided giving Battle by that means gaining time for the fury of the Infidels to spend it self The Moors of Valencia encouraged by the success of the others and despising King Jayme who was grown old revolted notwithstanding Prince Peter was upon the Borders of Murcia wasting the Lands of Almeria with a good Body of Men. Navarre was no better setled at that time Philip King of France having contracted Joanna the Heiress of Navarre to his Son Philip who succeeded him and was called the Fair made Stephen de Belmarc a French-Man Viceroy of Navarre taking that Imployment from Peter de Montagudo A stranger had not sufficient Authority to quell the Tumults that then were in the Kingdom and Peter de Montagudo offended that he had been removed from that Post joyning with Garcia Almoravides who had always favour'd the Castilians they both headed the Mutineers Within the City Pamplona the Two Factions came to Blows Such was their cruelty that they burnt the Ripe-Corn and dash'd out the Brains of Children but the French had the worst of it Peter de Montagudo inclining afterwards to the French Party either for the sake of Peace or some other Cause was kill'd by his own People A Man unworthy that hard Fate for his many Virtues CHAP. II. Three Popes Dye in one year Prince Sancho of Castile contrives to Vsurp that Crown from his Nephews The Death of Jayme King of Aragon and of Alonso of Portugal Peter succeeds the first and Denis the latter THE following Year 1276 was remarkable for the death of Three Popes which were Gregory the Xth Innocent the Vth and Adrian the Vth. Innocent held it but Five Months and Two Days and Aâ—rian only Thirty Seven Days John the One and Twentieth succeeded him he was born at Lisbon and a great Scholar as appears by his Writings In the Ninth Month of his Pontificate he was kill'd at Viterbo by the fall of the Roof of the Room where he was Nicholas the III. was his Successor At this same time in Castile were sowed the Seeds of a Civil War which prov'd lasting and destructive Prince Sancho us'd all means to gain the affections of the Nobility and People which the King his Father had utterly lost His Journey into France had increas'd their Discontent The People was desirous of Novelties and the Nobles were well dispos'd to Rebel D. Lope de Haro a Man in great power was reconcil'd at Cordova to Prince Sancho A Truce was concluded with the Moors for two Years This done the King of Morocco pass'd over into Africk Prince Sancho with great speed went to Toledo upon pretence of visiting his Father then newly return'd from France His chief Design was to have the Succession settled upon himself with the consent of the King and Nobility D. Lope de Haro undertook to propose this Affair which highly displeas'd King Alonso both for that they urg'd the Succession whilst he was yet living and because he thought it a great wrong to exclude his Grand-children However by the Advice of his Brother Prince Emanuel then a great Friend to Prince Sancho it was resolv'd the Cortes or Parliament should meet at Segovia to determine this Affair Their Judgment was given in behalf of Prince Sancho in which doubtless regard was had to the Peace of the Kingdom which he would otherwise never have ceas'd to disturb In Aragon King Jayme us'd all his Endeavours to quell the Moors by Policy or if that fail'd to apply Force To this purpose he March'd through Valencia and in several Rencounters sometimes the one sometimes the other Party had the better Whilst the King was at Xativa his Forces were so intirely cut off at Luxen that from that Day which was Tuesday the People began to account Tuesday an unlucky Day Garci Ruiz de Açagra Son to Peter de Açagra Lord of Albarazin was slain in that Fight and the Head-Commendary of the Knights Templers taken The King griev'd at this loss and being very much broken with continual Labour left the Charge of the War to his Son Prince Poter and was carry'd away sick to Algezira a Town in Valencia There being given over by the Physicians he resign'd up the Kingdom to his Son giving him much wholesome Advice Then he put on the Habit of S. Bernard intending to spend what remain'd of Life in the Monastery of Poplete where he would also be buryed His Sickness gave him not so much Leisure he dy'd at Valenica on the 27th of July His Fame will be immortal not only for his great war-like Exploits but also for his Piety since Authors assirm that he built 1000 Churches I suppose he caus'd most of them to be Consecrated having taken them from the Moors For Martial Affairs he may be compar'd to the most renowned antient Commanders having fought Thirty pitched Battles with the Moors and been Victorious in them all whereby he obtained the Name of Conquerour He reigned Sixty Three Years and somewhat blemish'd his Good Name by his Incontinency By Queen Violante he had Peter Jayme Sancho the Arch-Bishop Elizabeth Queen of France Violante Queen of Castile Constance marryed to Prince Emanuel and Mary and Elenor who dyed
in it a good Body of Horse for fear as he said of the Master of Santiago his Enemy For this Reason as also because Toledo was again in an Uproar the King returned without effecting any thing In Toledo the Earl of Cifuentes possessed himself of the Castle of S. Martin then very strong and secured the Deputy-Governor Scarce were these Tumults in Toledo quelled by the King with the Assistance of the Canons of that Church when News came from Segovia that that City was all in Confusion which perplexed the King and forced him to speed thither his Treasure being there Great was the Misery of those Times as well in Ecclesiastical as Civil Affairs The Money was either Counterfeit or of base Allay Many Petitions were presented to the King for Redress of these Grievances but all in vain Ferdinand del Pulgar a Man famous in those days wrote a Pastoral Dialogue being a Satyr upon the King and Nobles reflecting severely on the Miscarriages and Abuses in the Government The same Year on the 12th of May died Charles Duke of Guienne at Bourdeaux having then concluded a League with the Dukes of Burgundy and Britany against the King of France Bloody Wars followed afterwards between the King of France and Duke of Burgundy which we leave to the French Historians Gaston Earl of Faux has relation to the History of Spain as pretending to the Crown of Navarre in Right of his Wife Ellenor but Death cut him off this Year at Roncesvalles in his way from France to Navarre The Bishop of Siguença aspired with the King's Favour to be made a Cardinal and had good Pretensions to it for his Birth and Services but was so displeased his Promotion was delayed that he would not attend the King in his late Journeys to Portugal or Andaluzia Means were used to pacify him because he was a Man in great Power and had Kindred that were very great The Master of Santiago being now a Widower married the Daughter of the Earl of Haro and the Lady Mary de Mendoça This Match allied him to the Velascos and Mendoças and made them of his Party Particularly the Mendoças forsook the Duke of Medina Sidonia By this means the Master secured himself against the Malice of his Enemies The Bishop of Siguença had fresh Assurances given him of obtaining a Cardinal's Cap as soon as the Cardinal D. Roderick de Borgia who was daily expected arrived as he did then at the City Valencia his own Country on the 20th of June He was there nobly entertained and went thence by Land to Tarragona to meet King Ferdinand who having been with his Father before Barcelona was returning to his Wife There the Cardinal Legate gave him the Dispensation for his Marriage referred by Pope Sixtus to the Archbishop of Toledo Many Reasons were given for this Journey of King Ferdinand The true one was to acquaint his Mother with the Match designed betwixt Henry Duke of Segovia and the Princess Joanna which he endeavoured to break off His Father gave little credit to it besides that he loved his Nephew Henry as being his Brother's Son In fine King Ferdinand hasted back to Valencia and thence to Castile fearing some Revolution there The Cardinal Legate came to the King of Aragon before Barcelona at such time as the Besieged suffered much yet continued obstinate They had been many times summoned but to no purpose Therefore the King wrote a Gracious Letter to them advising not to put him upon a necessity of coming to Extremities but rather to make use of his Mercy and promising to use them as his Children This Letter softned their Hearts and there being no hopes of Relief they appointed Commissioners to Treat and surrendred upon Conditions All the French Garrison with their Commander the Son to the Duke of Lorrain was suffered to depart in safety All Persons that had been in Arms against the King were pardoned except only the Earl of Pallas who from those Places he possest on the Pyrenean Hills with the Assistance of France gave some trouble and held out for a long time after All the Acts or Decrees made by the Citizens for Ten years last past and during the War were confirmed by the King On these Terms the City was Surrendred Two Matches were agreed upon at Naples one of Frederick Son to Ferdinand King of Naples with Joanna Daughter to the King of Aragon which afterwards took no effect The other of the Princess Elenor with Hercules de Este Duke of Ferrara tho' she was before Contracted to Galeaço Maria Sforcia In Navarre the Princess Elenor Resided at Sanguessa and after the death of her Husband delivered up the strong Holds of that Kingdom to the King of France for Security of her Grandchildren whose Unckle that King was This Action much offended the King of Aragon who in Revenge thereof and of the Succours sent against him during the War of Catalonia resolved to Recover Russillon and Cerdagne With this Resolution he set out of Barcelona on the 29th of December preceding the beginning of the year 1473. Elna and Perpignan immediately opened their Gates to receive him and generally the People were well affected towards him wherefore it was not doubted the other Towns would follow their Example The Cardinal Legate set out towards Castile At Madrid he was Received with great Pomp under a Canopy before him went the Lords and Prelates and he went upon the Kings right Hand the greatest Honour according to the Custom of Spain It was proposed in the Popes Name to Raise a Sum of Money upon the Revenues of the Church to be Employed in the War against the Turks Many Objections were made especially the Poverty of the Clergy yet the Legate prevailed with the Assistance of the King The Clergy of Spain were so ignorant that few of them understood Latin and besides they were wholly given up to their Ease and Luxury Their Avarice was such that they thought all too little for them and by reason of their Ambition looked upon Simony as a lawful Purchase In the Synod called by the Legate it was proposed to Remedy these Evils and to that effect they made application to the Pope that in all Cathedrals the Bishop and Chapter should choose Two Canons whereof one should be a Canonist the other a Divine This Request being so reasonable was easily granted by the Pope and he sent his Bull to that effect CHAP. X. The Pope's Legates Practices against King Henry of Castile Massacre of the Jews Signal Loyalty of Peter de Peralta Traiterous Practices of Elizabeth Sister to King Henry of Castile A Synod at Aranda ALL the Labour employed by the Legate to Appease the Tumults in Spain proved ineffectual the Inclinations of the People being Debauched and he naturally favouring King Ferdinand and endeavouring to advance his Interest To this purpose he went to Alcalà where King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth were and with them the Archbishop of
flourishing Kingdom His Son Alonso succeeded him and was no way more acceptable to the People than his Father had been Cardinal John de Borgia sent on purpose by the Pope his Unckle as Legate to Naples Crowned him This Year also the Pope by his Bull granted to the Kings of Castile for ever the 3d part of the Tithes of Castile Leon and Granada conditionally that the profit thereof should be spent in the War with the Moors At Tordesillas on the 7th of June was agreed the Difference betwixt Castile and Portugal touching their Discoveries in the Indies The Conquests of Castile were to begin 36 Degrees West from the Meridian of Lisbon all thence Eastward as far as half the Circumference of the Globe to appertain to the Portugueses The matter also of the Conquests in Africk was adjusted so that all within the Kingdom of Fez should belong to Portugal the Kingdom of Tremecen to Castile but no Line was fixed to distinguish their Limits which afterwards caused new disputes CHAP. IV. The French Invade the Kingdom of Naples An account of Luis Sforcia Duke of Milan The French King at Rome Alonso King of Naples Abdicates The French Possess themselves of the Kingdom of Naples THE King of France being resolved to Invade Italy in Person gathered all his Forces the Randezvouz of his Army was at Lyons Thither came from Ostia whither he fled for fear of the Pope the Cardinal of St. Peter to forward that undertaking On the other side D. Alonso de Silva according to his Instructions in his King's behalf protested against those proceedings Nevertheless the King of France committing the Government of his Kingdom to Peter Duke of Bourbon his Brother-in-Law set out from that City upon Tuesday the 22th of July with him went most of the Nobility of France His Army consisted of about 20000 Foot and 5000 Horse To pay these Forces he borrowed Money of the Nobility besides 150000 Florms taken up of a Genoese Banker a small Sum for so great an undertaking King Alonso sent a great Fleet under the Command of his Brother Frederick to Infest the State of Genoa By Land he sent his Son the Duke of Calabria to Invade the Territories of Milan All things fell out unfortunately for Frederick did nothing worth naming and the Duke of Calabria was stopped by the Forces of France and Milan from passing out of Romania The King of France passed the Alpes and on the 9th of September came to Aste the Bounds of the Dukedom of Milan and then possessed by the Duke of Orleans who was in that Expedition and pretended a Right to the whole Dukedom D. Alonso the Spanish Ambassador was very little looked upon at Court insomuch that he was ordered to be dismissed but he winked at all being a Person of great Prudence and Sagacity At the City Aste they flighted him so far as to assign him no Quarters whereupon he was forced to go away to Genoa There he began to treat with Luis Sforcia who repented of what he had done about joining in League with the Catholick King giving him a hint that one of the Princesses should be Married to his Eldest Son for they could not Marry with any other Prince by reason of the agreement made with France This took so much with Luis Sforcia that he resolved to change Parties tho' at the same time he repaired to Aste to receive the French King and gave him a Sum of Money to pay his Army The King leaving the Duke of Orleans who designed to lay hold of that oportunity to possess himself of the State of Milan at Aste Marched with his Army to Pavia where he visitted the Duke John Galeazzo who was then at the point of death and was his Cousin-german both their Mothers being Sisters and Daughters to the Duke of Savoy The Duke died on the 21th of October and it appeared plainly he had been poisoned which increased the Hatred conceived towards his Unckle The same day the King of France entred Plasencia and with him Lewis Sforcia who understanding the death of his Nephew immediatly returned to Milan and there publickly took upon him the Title of Duke notwithstanding his Nephew left a Son five Years of Age as also two Daughters and his Wife big with Child So far did his Ambition blind him that the same day he wrote to King Alonso giving an account of his Nephews death and telling him the Nobility and People of Milan had obliged him to take the Title of Duke and that he believed this would be no way displeasing to him knowing how well affected he was towards him and his Kingdom From Plasencia the King entred into Tuscany Ambassadors came to him from all parts and particulaly from the Venetians offering their Friendship The Pope sent the Cardinal of Siena his Legate who came as far as Pisa but the King would not see him The Florentines sent Peter de Medicis on the same account He contrary to his Commission and Instructions was agreeing to deliver up to the French Saraçana Saraçanella and Piedrasanta strong Holds belonging to the Republick on Mount Apennine as also the Castles of Pesa and Leghorn and some other things to this purpose Hereat the People were so inraged that they Banished him and his Brothers the Cardinal de Medicis and Julian plundered their Houses and confiscated all their Estates which were very great Being come to Pisa the King restored that City to its Liberty delivering it from the subjection it was under to the Florentines He entred Florence the same day that Picus Mirandula died there at the Age of 34 Years a Man of such an excellent Wit that he was called the Phaenix He agreed with the Florentines to restore their Forts after the War was ended that they for his sake should pardon Peter de Medicis and his Brothers and pay 120000 Florins towards the Charge of the War Rome was in an uproar because the Cardinals could not agree and the Nobility was divided for Prosper and Fabricius Colonna favoured the French and Virginius Ursinus the Neapolitans The Colonneses with Cardinal Ascanius Sforcia had seized the City Ostia by which means Rome suffered great want no Provisions coming to it by Sea It was genarally believed the Pope would agree with the King of France or else depart Rome Hereupon the People began to mutiny and the Pope was obliged to satisfie the Cardinals and Roman Gentry assuring them he would stand by the juster Cause and if the King of France attempted to enter Rome with his Army he would make head against him and hazard his own Life in the Quarrel All he could say was of little force to encourage the People who were terrified with the News daily brought of the approach of the French and their securing the Towns belonging to the Church The Pope himself perceiving that neither his own nor the Forces of Naples with a good part whereof the Duke of Calabria then lay at
too obstinate The Duke of Feria entring Alsace with a powerful Army raised the Siege of Constance recover'd Valdutz took Laufenburg and Rhinfelt and reliev'd Brisac a place of great importance to the House of Austria for securing the Communication between Flanders and Italy He passed the Alps with his Army in December an Action surprising and even astonishing at that Season of the Year All this Year the success of the War continued dubious Victory sometimes inclining to the one side and sometimes to the other Mary of Austria Queen of Hungary was deliver'd of a Prince call'd Ferdinand Francis The Archduke Ferdinand Charles Earl of Tyrol stood Godfather for his Catholick Majesty At Madrid on the 5th of July died the most serene Princess Sister Margaret of the Cross in the Monastery of the Poor Clares where she had lived many Years with singular Piety and Virtue F. John de Parma her Confessor writ her Life Anno 1634. This Year began Unfortunate to the Emperor and Catholick King a presage of their Losses was the death of the Duke de Feria which happen'd the 11th of January at Munich the Court of Bavaria Immediately upon the death of the Duke the command of his Army was given to Count John Cervellon by the most Serene Cardinal Prince of Spain Ferdinand of Austria who then resided at Milan Superintendent and Vicar-General of Italy This Army consisted of 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse most of them Spaniards This Year the Emperor was inform'd by some of his chief Officers that Albertus Wallestein Duke of Fridland his Generalissimo had conspir'd to debauch the Army and rise in Rebellion against him The principal Men that made this Discovery were Count Picolomini Galassius Aldringerius and Coloredius Upon their private Information the Emperor call'd his Cabinet Council where it was resolv'd that Orders should be sent to the most Loyal Commanders in the Army to apprehend the Duke of Fridland or in case they could not to kill him before the design was reveal'd Accordingly he was invited to a Supper and there put to death by the Officers of the Irish Regiments then in the Emperor's Service The two Ferdinands the King of Hungary and the Cardinal joining their Forces laid Siege to Nordlingen and the Enemy under the command of Count Gustavus Horn coming to the relief of that City overthrew them with a great slaughter after an obstinate Fight which lasted six hours At Tortosa March the 6th Mary Ortego Wife to John Xinto both Inhabitants of Almun̄ia in Aragon was deliver'd in the Hospital of a Female Child with two Heads both very beautiful 3 hands and 3 feet and 8 fingers and toes upon one of the hands and feet This Creature lived half an hour and was Baptized Anno. 1635. The most Christian King this Year declar'd War against Spain and the House of Austria publishing his Manifesto containing his Reasons for this Breach His Forces joining with the Hollanders took Tirlemont Besides he possessed himself of several Places among the Grisons to cut off the Communication between Italy and Germany Pignerol also he seized by corrupting the Governour and so open'd to himself a Passage to Susa These and other the like Hostilities oblig'd his Catholick Majesty to declare War upon the 27th of June The Renown'd Marquis of Aytona died in Flanders August the 10th The Dunkirk Privateers took this Year many Prizes of the Hollanders The Emperor 's good Fortune was much forwarded by the Peace he concluded with the Elector of Saxony with exclusion to all other Sects except the Professors of the Ausburg Confession Soon after the Archdutchess Mary-Ann of Austria the Emperor's eldest Daughter was with great Solemnity at Vienna Married to Maximilian Elector of Bavaria her Unkle The most renown'd Spanish Poet Lope Felix de Vega Carpio died at Madrid where he was born upon the 28th day of August He was the greatest Poet of his Time writ more and better than any before him and must be allow'd the Honour of his Country having merited so much Fame abroad Anno 1636. The French King having as was said in the last Year broke the Peace with Spain many learned-Pens writ in Vindication of the Catholick King 's Proceedings referring the Judgment of his Cause to the Pope which Writings were at Paris burnt by the hands of the common Hangman The Emperor made the greatest force he could to join with that of Spain in the Low Countries and both together enter'd into Picardy under the command of the most Serene Prince Cardinal Ferdinand with whom were Prince Thomas Francis of Savoy Charles Duke of Lorrain John Count Nassau and Octavius Picolomini They took la Chapelle Chates Vervins and Noyon obliging the French for the Security of the Country to break down all the Bridges upon the Rivers Oyse and Aysne as far as S. Clou. They had also Corbie deliver'd to them by the Count de Soyecourt This Success of the Spanish Forces obliged the French to call the Prince of Conde the Cardinal de la Valette and Duke of Weymar out of Alsace leaving that Country exposed to the King of Hungary and Count Galassius At the same time the Marquis of Grana so pressed the Landtgrave of Hesse that he was forced to retire to take Protection of the Hollanders Mean while the Forces of Spain by the way of Guipuzcoa broke into the Province of Guienne where they possessed themselves of Andaye Orugne Siboure and S. Jean de Luz as also of the Port and Fortress of Zocoa D. John Alonso Enriquez de Cabrera Admiral of Castile and Captain-General of the Provinces of Old Castile and D. Francis de Irracaval Marquis of Valparaiso and Viceroy of Navarre in his Majesty's Name publish'd a Manifesto containing the Reasons that mov'd him to make these Incursions The Cardinal Richlieu had perswaded the King and People that the Forces of Spain and the Empire were so inconsiderable the War would be kept out of the Kingdom and always upon the Enemies Country Now they found much the contrary being forc'd to quit Milan and the Valley of Valtelina and still retiring every where to leave a great part of their Kingdom exposed to their Enemies Several Princes who were under the Protection of France having had their Countries wasted to prevent their utter Destruction have been forced to declare against that Crown A Report being spread that Count Galassius was entring the Province of Bassigni with 25000 Men and that 14000 were marching from Silesia besides 12000 Polish Horse had-passed the Rhine the Nobility not thinking themselves safe at Paris removed the best of their Goods to Havre de Grace Seeing all things fall out far otherwise than he had expected the Cardinal laid the blame upon the Governours of the Places that had been lost declaring them Traytors and accusing F. Joseph of Paris a Capucin his great confident of feeding him with false Intelligence from the Turks Moores and Protestants The News of the Election
Geryon was Buried near the Mouth of the Streights and after worshipped as a God as appears by the Temple of Osiris Built in Sicily by Hercules and his famous Oracle at Padua which Princes often visited as Suetonius affirms Osiris having thus rescued Spain from the Tyranny of Geryon thought not fit to punish the Crimes of the Father in the Children which were three beautiful Sons to these therefore he gave the Kingdom appointing who should Govern during their Minority and then returned into Egypt These Geryons being come to Age did not only Tyranize over their Subjects but meditating Revenge for the Death of their Father induced Typhon to Murder his Brother Osiris which he performed and seated himself in the Throne of Egypt Orus the Son of Osiris who then Governed Scythia understanding what had passed hasts into Egypt and in revenge of his Fathers Murder slew Typhon then gathering a great Army he passed into Spain and drove the Geryons into the Island of Cadiz where they Fortified themselves Fearing lest so great an Army should suffer want if the War were protracted and desiring to avoid the great Bloodshed that must ensue if they came to a Battle he offered to decide the Quarrel by his own Person and sight the three Brothers They accepted of the Challenge and were all Slain by him Their Bodies were buried in the Island and from thence forward it was called Erithrea of some People that came with Orus or Hercules from the Red Sea who with the Approbation of their General planted there This done Hercules caused vast Stones and other Materials to be cast into the Sea at the mouth of the Streights and raised the two Mounts so famous by the name of Hercules's Pillers that on the West of Spain is called Calpe the other in Africk Abyla All things being settled to his Mind he chose Hispalus one of his Companions of whose good Conduct he was fully satisfied to Govern and Reign in Spain and then went over by Sea to Italy It is agreed on all Hands that Hispalus Reigned in Spain From him Justin affirms it took the Name of Hispania only one Letter being changed Others say he built Sevil in Latin Hispalis St. Isidorus says it was built by Julius Caesar and called Julia Romana perhaps it was then enlarged and beautified Plutarch affirms Spain took its Name from Pan a Follower of the second Hercules and was first called Pania then Spania others say it was from Hispanus the Son of Hispalus These are all bare surmises our Historians write many things of this Hispalus of their own Invention to beautifie their Works but their being no certain Account of such Antiquity it is better to pass it by in Silence than Impose upon the Readers Authors do not agree about the time of the Death of Hispalus but after his Days Hercules returned into Spain where having Governed with Moderation and Built as some will have it the Towns of Julia Lybica Vrgel Barcelona and Tarragona he departed this Life being of a very great Age. The Spaniards Consecrated him a God and payed him Divine Honours raising a Temple where his Body was Buried and placing Priests therein Hispalus and Hercules dying without Issue the latter before his Death appointed Hesperus Brother to Atlas and one of his Compauions to succeed him The Fame of this Hesperus's Valour and Vertue gained him such Credit among the People that of him some Greek and Latin Authors say Spain was afterwards called Hesperia tho' others are of Opinion it was from Hesperus the Evening Star The good Fortune of this King was not lasting for his Brother Atlas offended that he should be preferred before him came over into Spain and having gained the good Will of the Soldiers soon possessed himself of the Kingdom Hesperus thus forsaken fled into Italy where he was Friendly entertained and soon after constituted Tutor to the young King Coritus called by others Janus or Jupiter wherein he behaved himself so well that having gained the Affections of that People he gave his Name to Italy as he had done to Spain and it was called Hesperia Atlas jealous of his Brother's greatness and fearing he might in time recover his Kingdom resolved to prevent him In order hereunto he raised a mighty Army and under colour of Honouring them took the Chief Men of Spain along with him into Italy but his design was to keep them as Hostages lest the People in his Absence should endeavour to cast off a foreign Yoke At Sea a violent Storm scattered his Fleet and instead of Landing in Italy he was forced into Sicily that Island being exceeding Rich and Fruitful he left a considerable Number of Spaniards to Plant there This done he put to Sea again and arrived in Italy where he found his Brother Hesperus was Dead so that there was no difficulty in seizng Coritus King of Tuscany and making himself Master of the Country Atlas had two Daughters one of them called Electra was Married to Coritus and had Issue Jasius and Dardanus of whom more hereafter That his other Daughter called Rome Built the City Rome looks more like a Fiction of our Historians than a true History therefore I will make no further mention of it no more than of Sicorus Sicanus Sicceleus and Lusus whom our modern Writers reckon among the Kings of Spain whereas among the Ancients there is not the least Account of them nor of Morgetes the Son of Atlas giving his Name to the People of Italy called Morgetes for which there is no other Authority but framed likeness of Words Philistius Siracusanus's Authority is sufficient to believe that Siculus the Son of Atlas Governed Spain in his Father's absence and succeeded him in the Kingdom after his Death In his time the two Brothers Jasius and Dardanus being at Variance about the Kingdom of Tuscany by reason of the Death of their Father Coritus Siculus their Uncle went over with an Army to pacifie them and by the way Landing in Sicily is said to have given his Name to that Island till then called Trinacria of the three great Promontories that run out into the Sea Thence passing over into Tuscany he endeavoured to reconcile the Brothers but Dardanus dealing Treacherously Murdered Jasius and Siculus in Revenge drove him out of Italy Dardanus with a great Number of the Aborigines who followed his Fortunes fled into Asia where he Built the famous City of Troy Siculus having settled the Affairs of Italy and Seated the Son of Jasius on the Throne of Tuscany returned into Spain and from this time we find no Account of any other Actions of his unless we should write the Dreams and Ravings of modern Authors who also Forge other Kings of Spain upen as vain grounds as the former One of these is Testa who they say built a Town of his own Name and from him the People of that part of Spain were called Contestani Another is Romus to whom
Walls They likewise mention Metropolitans before called Bishops of the first Chair To return to Constantine he Rebuilt the City Bizantium destroyed by the Emperor Severus and removed the Imperial Court thither calling it of his own Name Constantinople He instituted four Praefecti Pretorii two to command in the East and two in the West one of these over Italy the other over France and Spain the Residence of the latter was in France and under him a Vicar Governed Spain Constantine having settled all things to his mind dy'd in the Year of our Lord 337. having Reigned 30 Years 9 Months and 27 Day His putting to Death his Son Crispus and Wife Fausta gave occasion to some to slander this great Monarch and many other Calumnies have been raised to deface the memory of his glorious Actions But many Learned Pens have writ of him in particular and it belongs not to us to enlarge upon this Subject CHAP. VII The Reigns of the Emperors Constantine Constantius and Constans Julian the Apostate Jovianus Valentinian and Valens COnstantine left three Sons by his second Wife to wit Constantine Constantius and Constans all three at several times during his Life named Caesars and at his Death he divided the Empire among them in this manner To Constantine the eldest he assigned the West beyond the Aples to Constantius the second Son the East and to Constans the youngest Italy Africk and Sclavonia The same he confirmed by his last Will and Testament and ordered moreover that Dalmatius Cousin-germain to the Emperors should have the Title of Caesar in the East Him Constantius caused tobe killed in a Mutiny of the Soldiers in the first year of his Reign Constantine the Eldest of the three Brothers the third year after the Death of his Father was Treacherously slain near Aquileia having marched so far in order to deprive his Brother Constans of the Empire upon pretence it all belonged to him and that he had been wronged in the distribution of the Provinces Some have writ that Constantine was an Arian but the contrary appears in that through his means his Brother Constantius recalled St. Athanasius from banishment The Emperor Constans was a great support to the Catholicks and they soon found a great miss of him for he ended his days on the way to Spain at the City Erna in the county of Roussillon He was killed by Magnentius who was in Rebellion and possessed of France and Spain Constantius resolving to revenge the Death of his Brother before he set out named Gallus his Cousin Caesar Both Armies met near the City Murcia in Sclavonia where they came to a battle which proved very bloody for of the usurpers side 24000 Men were killed and 30000 of Constantius yet he got the day but the forces of the Empire where much weakned by so great a slaughter The Tyrant after the Fight fled to Lions in France there he and his Brother Decentius by him appointed Caesar despairing of making head again killed themselves By this Victory all the Provinces of the Empire were again brought under one Monarch Nevertheless the Germans broke into France doing great harm there The Emperor besides his other faults was jealous of all Men and gave ear to Court-Whisperers the Plague of all Courts whereby he had been prevailed upon some time before in the East to kill his Cousin Gallus Notwithstanding that he might at once oppose the Persians and quiet France he took Gallus his own Brother Julian out of a Monastery and declared him Caesar and to bind him the faster to his interest marryed him to his Sister Helen Julian was sent into France whilst the Emperor prepared for the War against the Persians At this time St. Athanasius for fear of being kill'd absented himself again and lay hid till the death of Constantius which hap'ned in this manner The event of the Persian War was unfortunate and met with several disasters at which the Emperor was highly concerned At the same time the Soldiers in France pleased with the conduct of Julian saluted him Emperor at Paris This was a fresh cause of grief to Constantius who resolved to march against him but was prevented by death which overtook him at Antioch There he was baptized after the manner of the Arians either that he had deferred it till then or that he was rebaptiz'd at they also used His death hap'ned on the 3d of November 361. In Spain about the same time certain Pages bringing Lights at night came in saying Let us Conquer Let us Conquer whence it may be supposed the Custom of saluting one another when lights are brought in had its Original among us A certain Roman that was present imagining this word had carryed some farther meaning drew his Sword and kill'd the Master of the House with all his Family This Ammianus Marcellinus relates without any other Circumstance About this time also Flourished Clemens Prudentius a Soldier and Lawyer in his Youth in his riper years a Poet famous for the verses he writ in praise of the Holy Martyrs Also Juvencus a Spanish Priest writ the like of Christ in Heroick verse and Pacianus Bishop of Barcelona employed his Talent in writning against the Novatians The Emperor Constantius left never a Son and therefore appointed him he would have Persecuted whilst living his Successor at his death that is his Cousin Julian a Man of Learning and good natural endowments that might have been compared to the best of Emperors had he still adhered to the true Religion and not suffered himself to be perverted by his Master Libahus so as to forsake Christianity by which he got the name of Apostate As soon as possest of the Empire to gain the good will of all Men he gave full Liberty to every one to follow the Religion they pleased He revoked the Sentence of banishment that had passed against Catholicks excepting Athanasius whom because after the death of Constantius he returned to his Church he ordered to be apprehended and so forced him again to abscond To the Jews he gave Liberty to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem but such Flames issued out of the foundations they were oblig'd to desist The Gentiles were permitted to open their Temples shut up since the time of Constantine His hatred to the Christians was great yet he thought better to weaken them by Policy than open force and therefore forbid their being admitted to any places of honour or trust or their Childrens to be taught in the Greek Schools which stirred up many Christians to write Learnedly in Verse and Prose particularly the two Apollinarii Father and Son Persons of great Learning This Emperors end was suitable to his beginning He undertook the War against the Persians was at first successful but thereupon advanced so far that all his Army was in danger of perishing and he himself slain with a Dart as some say accidentally thrown by his own Men or
and together with the Letter sent him a Handkerchief dipt in her own Blood She complained of her ill usage and implored his Assistance towards her Relief The Kingdom of the Franks was then divided among the Sons of Clouis Childebert had Paris Clotarius Soissons Clodomirus Orleans and Theodoricus Metz in Lorrain who all called themselves Kings They all inraged against the Visogoth for the wrong he did their Sister Crotilda joyn'd their Forces and with much speed marched towards him Amalaricus was wholly unprovided besides his ill Conscience terrifying him he resolved to fly God who had decreed his Punishment blinded him for whereas he might have escaped he returned to save part of his Treasure into the City supposed to be Barcelona In this Distress he thought to have taken Sanctuary in a Catholick Church but in the way was killed by a Soldier St. Isidorus writes he was killed in a Battle fought near Narbonne But I rather believe Gregory of Tours who lived before him and relates the passage in this manner Ado Viennensis says the Franks overran all Spain destroy'd the City Toledo after a long Siege and took many other Places Procopius says They took from them all that the Goths possess'd in France yet this no other Author speaks of and we find the Dominion of the Goths in the following Reigns extended as far as the River Rhosne Besides it appears that Amalasiuntha after the Death of her Father Theodorick gave Provence to K. Theodorick of Lorrain that he might not be dissatisfied that the Ostrogoths possess'd some part of France the rest she left to the Visogoths contenting her self with the Dominion of Italy Amalaricus dy'd in the Year 531. Having Reigned five Years unless we commence from the Death of Gesaleycus and then it will extend to 20 Years His Wife Crotilda dy'd in her return to France In the 5th Year of his Reign was held the second Council of Toledo Montanus Archbishop of Toledo Presided in this Council of whom St. Ildefonsus writes That being accused of Incontinency to clear his Innocency he held burning Coals of Fire in his Bosome all the time of Mass and yet neither his Linen nor Flesh were damaged thereby tho' they were taken out afterwards light as they were put in Hence it is supposed the Custom afterwards received throughout all Spain of purâ—ing common Offenders to the tryal of red hot Iron or boiling Water took its Original â—ide manner of it was thus The Criminal having confessed his Sins they brought him a red hot Iron or a Cup of boiling Water which being blessed by a Priest after Mass if the Party accused handled the one or drank the other and escaped unhurt he was acquited This Custom was used in many places till Pope Honorius III. forbid this way of Compurgation About this time flourished in Spain four Bishops famous for their Learning these were Justus Vrgelitanus Justinianus Valentinus Nebridius Agathensis and Elpidius besides these Aprigius Bishop of Beja in Portugal Renowned for his Commentaries upon the Revelation CHAP. VI. The Reigns of Theudis and Theudiselus Agila and Athanagildus A great Plague The 5th General Council An Interregnum And the Conversion of the Suevians A Malaricus dying without Issue the whole Line of the Visogoth Kings was Extinct and the Crown devolved upon Theudis by Descent an Ostrogoth He was chosen by the unanimous Consent of the Nobility of the Visogoths for his singular Prudence Experience and Knowledge besides that he had gained their good Will whilst he Governed during the Minority of Amalaricus His Wife who was of the prime Nobility of Spain as a Portion brought him an Estate able to raise 2000 fighting Men. All these Circumstances concurring advanced him to the Throne Theodorick King of the Ostrogoths had endeavoured to draw Theudis into Italy but he still kept off During the Reign of Theudis in the Year 541. ended the Form of Government by Consuls in Rome Basilius Junior without a Colleague being the last Consul In the following Year Childebert King of the Franks and Clotarius his Brother not satisfied with what they had done before again made War upon Spain and after wasting all the Province of Tarragona laid Siege to Zaragoca The Citizens had recourse to their Patron St. Vincent whose Garment they carry'd in Procession about the Walls imploring his Assistance whereof Childebert being informed he took Compassion and desisted from doing 'em any farther harm At his Request the Citizens gave him that Garment which he carry'd to Paris and there built a Church in the Suburb of the Invocation of this Saint now called St. Germain As he was to return into France he was in great danger for Theudis not being able to meet him in open Field had sent Theudiselus to secure the Passes of the Mountains which he did so successfully that the Franks were distressed and forced to purchase their passage with Money After the War followed a Plague for the space of two Years wherein innumerable People dy'd in Spain Theudis passed over into Africk and laid Siege to Ceuta but whilst he kept the Sunday the Besieged sallying put to the Sword all that were in the Trenches The King with part of his Army got aboard the Fleet and returned into Spain This hap'ned at the same time that Belisarius General for Justinian Emperor of the East subdu'd the Vandals in Africk after they had been possess'd of it 100 Years Justinian not only recovered Africk but expelled the Goths out of all Italy killing several of their Kings successively and in great measure restored the Majesty of the Roman Empire It was he also that reduced the Civil Law into Method and Composed that small but most excellent Book well known by the name of The Emperor Justinian 's Institutions Not long after these things had hap'ned follow'd the Death of Theudis in the Year 548. when he had Reign'd 17 Years and 5 Months A certain Man whose Name is not known nor upon what Provocation resolved to kill this King and to that purpose feigned himself Mad. Being permitted to come into his Presence he furiously ran at and struck him thro' the Body with a Sword In this his last Agony the King confessed this was a just Judgment of God for that he had formerly murdered a General under whom he served and to whom he had taken an Oath of Fidelity and so great was his Repentance that he charg'd all there present they should do no harm to his Murderer This is an example of Mercy much to be commended in this Prince as also that being himself an Arian he permitted the Catholick Bishops to hold a Council at Toledo Theudis being dead Theudiselus was by the Nobility chosen King as well in regard of his Valour whereof he had given good proof in the War with the Franks as of his high Birth being Nephew by a Sister to Totila King of the Ostrogoths The great hopes
Encountred casting their Darts and Javelins and that done fell to their Swords The Christians fought resolutely for their Country and Religion and tho' the Battle was obstinately maintained they remained Victorious killing 10000 of the Enemies among them many of note and particularly one Garcia Son-in-law to the Tyrant Muza escaped with difficulty being much wounded whereof I suppose he afterwards dy'd All the Camp of the Moors with a rich Booty fell into the hands of the Christians At the same time Mahomet King of Cordova was making Preparations against the common Enemy and resolved first to attack Toledo as being the first that had Revolted and might be a means to reduce the rest Lupus the Son of Muza held that City for his Father and understanding the Defeat of his Army to prevent farther mischief entred into a League with King Ordono to the end to be supported by his Forces The King sent him a number of Soldiers of Navarre and Asturias under the command of his Brother D. Garçia Mahomet not relying on open Force had recourse to Stratagem He lay Encamp'd near the City and therefore lays an Ambush at Guadacelete a Brook near Villaminaya This done he in Person with a small Party came up to view the City The Besieged seeing that small number rushed out as if they went to a certain Booty not to Fight and so were easily drawn into the Ambush where being charged in Front and Rear many of them were lost the rest fought their way thro' to the Town 12000 Moors and 8000 Christians were slain in that Action Only the natural Strength of the place sav'd it from falling into the Hands of the Victors after such a loss For two Years after the Enemy wasted the Country about Toledo and burnt all the Corn upon the Ground The Townsmen desirous of Revenge marched as far as Talavera but were worsted by the Commander there and drove back with loss At length tired with so many Sufferings they submitted to Mahomet in the Year of our Lord 857. This same Year the Normans with a Fleet of 60 Sail ran round the whole Coast of Spain doing much harm but particularly the Islands of Majorca and Minorca they destroy'd with Fire and Sword in hatred of the Moors for they were better affected towards Christians by being continually among them tho' they were Heathens themselves Thence they sailed over into Africk and did no less harm there In Spain Mahomet made an Incursion into Navarre towards Pamplona and that part of Biscay called Alava but nothing was done worth relating Merida in Estremadura Rebelled against the King of Cordova for which fault by his Order it was Dismantled In the mean while King Ordon̄o enjoying Peace without sparing any cost or trouble Rebuilt several Cities ruined and destroyed by the Wars such were Tuy Astorga Leon and Ainaya The Moors after the late Civil Wars were divided into Factions whereupon many Governours of Towns presumed to Revolt and stile themselves Kings which was of great advantage to the Christians who could not so well have dealt with the Power of the Infidels if united Reith had possessed himself of Coria Mozara of Talamanca or as others say Salamanca both of them were Vanquished by King Ordon̄o their Cities taken the Garrisons put to the Sword and all the Inhabitants sold for Slaves This great Success was check'd by the King's Death which happened in the 11th Year of his Reign some Authors add 6 Years to this number He dy'd at Oviedo of the Gout and was Bury'd in St. Mary's Church then the Burial place for the Kings This King was Successful in all his undertakings except the loss of his Men at Toledo By his Queen Munia a Person of high Birth he left D. Alonso the eldest Son D. Bermudo D. Nun̄o D. Odoario and D. Fruela Some write his Death was on the 27th of May there is no doubt it was in the Year 862. as appears by the Inscription of a beautiful Cross which his Son D. Alonso presented to the Church of Oviedo the Words of it are these May this Gift be acceptable to the honour of God Given by the Prince Alonso Servant of Christ and his Wife Ximena May any that presumes to take away these our Gifts perish by God's lightning By this sign the Religious is defended by this sign the Enemy is overcome This Work was finished and delivered to S. Saviour the Cathedral of Oviedo It was made in the Castle of Guazon in the 17th Year of our Reign and of the AEra of Augustus 916. Thus it appears the Year 878. was the 7th after the Death of King Ordon̄o The same D. Alonso being at Compostella confirmed a Grant made by his Father by a new one which extends the Territory of Santiago to 6 Miles about whereas before it was but three Let us go on to his other Actions CHAP. VIII The Reign of King Alonso the Great He is Expell'd and Restor'd His Brothers Conspire against him and are Punish'd The Church of St. James the Apostle made an Archbishoprick Mahomet the Moorish King dies D. Alonso who for his excellent Natural Parts and the many Victories he obtained over his Enemies was called The Great immediately upon the news of his Father's death for he was then absent repaired to Oviedo to perform the Funeral Rites and take Possession of the Kingdom For good Inclinations he was inferior to none of his Predecessors of Body tall his Countenance pleasing very Affable Merciful Valourous and Meek In Warlike Exploits he was Singular and very Liberal to the Poor spending upon them not only what his Father left him but what he got himself He was Zealous of Religion and beautified Churches but particularly that of St. James the Apostle which had only Mud Walls he built from the Ground of Free-stone with Marble Pillars a thing in those days wonderful as well for the want of curious Workmen as of Money He Reign'd 48 Years according to Sampyrus Asturicensis The beginning of his Reign was somewhat troublesome for D. Fruela Son to King Bermudo Usurped the Title of King in Galicia D. Alonso being as yet wholly unprovided to withstand him thought fit to retire to that part of Biscay called Alava but the Usurper making use of the Power he had to oppress the People was killed by the Citizens of Oviedo Hereupon D. Alonso returns to Asturias is received with the good liking of all the People settles his Affairs and punishes the Guilty That part of Biscay called Alava was subject to the Kings of Oviedo the rest to Zenon the chief of the Family of Eudo late Duke of Aquitain Eylon a Kinsman of Zenon governed Alava for the King He relying upon the Confusion of the times or the Assistance of Zenon Revolted against his Master who came in Person from Leon to appease those Commotions which he did without Bloodshed took Eylon and kept him Prisoner at Oviedo as long
Months His severity and the mutability of those People caused his ruin One Mahomet was put into his place and Reigned one Year four Months and twenty two Days and then was killed by the Citizens The same befell Hiaya the Son of Hali who was of the other Faction and had been before Proclaimed King he was in the same manner slain at Malaga whither as was said he had retired when he had Reigned in Cordova only three Months and twenty Days After this Idric Brother to Hali and Unkle to Hiaya was sent for out of Africk where he was Lord of Ceuta to take the Crown This Man being come into Spain what on account of his Kindred with the other two and what by force of Arms possessed himself of the Kingdom of Granada Sevil Almeria and other Neighbouring Cities The inland continued under Hissem for after the Death of Hiaya the People of Cordova had Reinthroned him unless it was another of the same name those Citizens made Choice of for these affairs are very dark The extravagancies of Ministers commonly turn to the ruin of their Masters as hap'ned to Hissem for his Alhagib or Viceroy being Cruel and Covetous was killed and the King expelled his City In that confusion a Youth of the Family of the Humeyas being assisted by a Company of wild Young Fellows entred the Palace and desired of the Soldiers to Proclaim him King They excused themselves with the disloyalty of the Citizens and advised him to take warning by so many as had perished before him to this he Answered Call me King to Day and kill me to Morrow Such is the inordinate desire of Reigning Nevertheless this Man and Hissem with all the Abenhumeyas as the causers of all these Confusions were turned out of the Town by the Citizens Hissem tired with so many changes of Fortune at last came to Zaragoça where he was well received by Zulema Abenbut King of that City who gave him a Castle called Alçuela where he spent the rest of his Life as a private Man D. Roderick the Archbishop who gives this account of the last Kings of Cordova somewhat more obscure than it is set down here does not mention what became of Idric How is it possible in such Confusion to be plain We can only add that from this time forwards the Kingdom of the Moors which for so many Years had mantained it self in great Power and Splendor in Spain so visibly decayed that it was divided into many Sovereignties for every one that could possess himself of a City called himself King of it Jahuar seized Cordova Albudazin Sevil. Haytan he that at first assisted Hissem and then became his Enemy secured Toledo Some will have the Kingdom of Toledo to be more Ancient because that City often rebelled against the Kings of Cordova Other Kingdoms were erected in other Cities too long and confused to insert here It will suffice to know that these Sovereignties continued till the powerful Family of the Almoravides came into Spain with their King Thesephin which was in the Year of our Lord 1091. Let us turn back now to the affairs of the Christians under the Earl D. Sancho and King Alonso CHAP. IX The last Actions of D. Alonso King of Leon and his Death The Reign of D. Bermudo the Third His Son Sancho Earl of Castile Poisons his Mother His Son Garcia Murdered D. Sancho Earl of Castile desiring to revenge the Death of his Father with the Assistance of the Kingdoms of Navarre and Leon that were his Allies entred the Kingdom of Toledo putting all that stood in his way to Fire and Sword The same havock was made in the Territory of Cordova whither our Forces advanced incouraged with their success In both places a great Booty of Captives and Cattle was taken Tho' the harm was great much more was the Terror this struck into the Infidels who being embroiled in Civil Wars could not oppose the Enemy so that they who not long before kept the Christians in continual fear were now forced to buy a Peace at a dear Sepulveda a Town on the Frontiers also Osma Santistevan de Gormaz and other Towns taken by the Moors in the last War were now recovered From this time some Anthors write the Nobility of Castile were exempted from following the Wars at their own cost only upon the hopes of Booty and it was ordained they should receive pay as was used in all other Countries D. Sancho in a great measure Blemished the Honour gained in this Expedition by the Death he put his Mother to She fell in Love with a Lewd Brawny Moor and durst not Marry him not so much for any Scruple of Conscience as for fear of her Son and therefore resolved to Murder him by that means to make way to her infamous Wedding The Dose was prepared to Poison him but the Earl having intelligence of it forced his Mother by way of respect to Drink first of the Cup she offered him Hence some think sprang the Custom used in some parts of Spain to make the Women Drink before the Men. Other Authors write that a Lady belonging to the Countess having seen her prepare the Dose gave Notice to her Husband whom some call Sancho del Valle de Espinosa and he to the Earl and thereby obtained that Privilege enjoyed to this day by the Family of Monteros de Espinosa of Guarding the King's Person by Night True it is I find no good grounds to believe this Relation but it is so recorded and the People of that Town affirm it as a certain Truth They add that the Earl to atone for this fault and allay the hatred the People had conceived against him built a Monastery for Nuns and in honour of his Mother gave it the Name of On̄a which Monastery Sancho the Greater King of Navarre gave to the Monks of Cluni and in our Days is the chief in that Country D. Sancho by his Wife Da. Vrraca had D. Garcia Da. Nun̄a Da. Teresa and Da. Trigida The two eldest Daughters were marryed to great Men Trigida was Abbess in the Monastery of On̄a About the same time D. Sancho made a New way for Strangers to travel to the Church of St. James the Apostle through Navarre Rioja Briviesca and the Country of Burgos Before this time the Christian Dominions being of a smaller extent the Pilgrims that came out of France used to Travel with much difficulty through Biscay and the Mountains of Asturias where the ways were uncouth and there was a general want of all necessaries King Alonso enjoying a perfect Peace by reason of the Civil Wars among the Moors and the League that was between the Christian Princes gave his Mind wholly to the Civil Government and held an Assembly of the States or Parliament at Oviedo in the Year of our Lord 1020. In this Parliament the Ancient Laws of the Goths were Corrected The King at his own cost and charges rebuilt the City
ground begging a happy death and tho' the disease increased stayed at Matins heard Mass and received The Day following he returned to the Church of S. Isidorus and three days after Dyed This is what the Archbishop D. Roderick and D. Lucas de Tuy write yet others say he dyed at Cabeçon a Town near Valladolid neither do Authors agree in the time of his death King Ferdinand's Life was so holy that his Feast is Celebrated at Leon as a Saint He built many Churches and repaired others Queen Sancha was not inferior to her Husband in Vertue she dyed two Years after him and was buryed by the King in the Church of S. Isidorus Garibay says King Ferdinand dyed in the Year 1067 and quotes many Authors who all vary in the time as they do in the place of his death so that these things are very uncertain King Ferdinand by his last Will divided his Kingdoms among his Three Sons To D. Sancho the Eldest he left Castile extending from the Rivèr Ebro till that of Pisuerga for all that was taken upon the death of D. Garcia was added to Castile The Kingdom of Leon fell to D. Alonso with the Territory of Campos and that part of Asturias that reaches to the River Deva running by Oviedo as also some Towns in Galicia D. Garcia the Youngest had the remaining part of Galicia and as much of Portugal as had been recovered from the Moors All three called themselves Kings Besides King Ferdinand left the City Zamora to his Daughter D. Vrraca and that of Toro to D. Elvira These Cities were then called Infantado which is as much as the Principality signifying thereby the Estate left for support of the Younger Children Spain being divided it was impossible it should enjoy Peace all People were in suspence expecting great revolutions upon the King's death To prevent these misfortunes many of the Nobility had endeavoured to disswade him from this Resolution and the matter had been handled in Parliament Arias Gonzalo an Ancient Wise and Experienced Man had stirred most in this affair but Fatherly Love suffered not his Prudent advice to take place D. Sancho became the Throne as being a Comely and Graceful Youth better versed in War than in State affairs and therefore called the Strong Pelagius Ovetensis says he was very Beautiful and Expert in Martial affairs He was naturally Mild and Affable if not provoked or incensed by false Friends Upon the death of his Father he openly complained of the wrong had been done him by dividing the Kingdom Yet his Mother whilst she lived restrained him from falling upon his Brothers especially for that after the King's death the Crown of Leon devolved upon her as being her own Dower D. Sancho Reigned 6 Years 8 Months and 25 Days At the beginning of his Reign he had War with the Moors and soon after with the King of Aragon King Ramiro of Aragon desiring to enlarge his Territories laboured successfully to expel the remainder of the Moors out of that Kingdom He obliged Almugdadi King of Zaragoça and Almudafar King of Lerida to become tributary and overthrew the King of Huesca Those about Zaragoça having been subdued by King Ferdinand were become tributary to him but now upon the change of Kings and relying on the assistance of D. Ramiro they resolved to fall off King Sancho having speedily gathered an Army marched against them Those of Toledo immediately submitted but the Aragonians stood out Hereupon having wasted all the Country he layed Siege to Zaragoça and press'd it so vigorously it was surrendred to him upon Condition he should be obliged to support the City against all Enemies as well Christians as Moors This Capitulation seem'd directly levell'd against the King of Aragon D. Sancho was offended that the King of Aragon join'd with the Navarrois who often made Inroads upon the Dominions of Castile and besides that he receiv'd Tribute from those Aragonians that were his Subjects The Aragonians had then laid Siege to the Castle of Grados built by the Moors on the Banks of the River Esera to curb the Christians King Sancho in pursuance of his Capitulation with the Moors marched to raise that Siege The Army of Aragon being surpriz'd and attack'd in Front and Rear by the Christians and Insidels was easily routed some fled others were kill'd amongst which number was the King himself This was much about the Year 1067. D. Ramiro of Aragon had Reign'd 31 Years his Body was Bury'd in the Church of St. John de la Pen̄a where many of his Predecessors lay D. Sancho Ramirez his Son succeeded in the Throne at the Age of 18. a Prince not unlike to his Father in Virtue In this Princes time and in the Year of Grace 1068. Guinard Earl of Russillon built the Town of Perpignan on the Borders of France not far from the antient City Russillon the name of Perpignan was taken from one Bernard Perpignan who kept two Inns in that place This King Sancho is said to have abrogated the Laws of the Goths as the Catalonians had done before and established the Imperial Civil Law He was Married to D. Felicia Daughter to Armengaud Earl of Vrgel by whom he had three Sons D. Peter D. Alonso and D. Ramiro who were all successively Kings of Aragon A Bastard Son of his called D. Garcia was afterwards Bishop of Jaca At the same time there Reign'd in Spain three Kings who were Cousin-Germans tho' not equal in power yet all alike in the manner of their Death D. Sancho King of Castile was the greatest he had blemish'd the beginning of his Reign by killing his Uncle King Ramiro and growing fierce with Success was daily driving at greater mischiefs his strength being terrible to the others D. Sancho King of Navarre maintain'd his small Kingdom by making a League with him of Aragon to secure both against Castile He of Castile understanding their design thought to be beforehand with them and broke into Navarre without stoping till he came in sight of Viana There the two Kings met him and they came to a Battle in which the Castilians were defeated and their King having lost many Men return'd into his own Country The Victors resolving to make use of their Success broke into the Territories of Rioja and Briviesca where they recovered all that King Ferdinand had taken Thus were those three Princes destroying one another without reflecting upon what they might expect from the Moors The King of Castile could not at that time take revenge of his Cousins being ingaged in a new War against his Brothers He was ambitious rash and hot and pretended a right to all that had been his Fathers and did not want other grounds to raise a Quarrel upon His Brothers tho' weak could not be perswaded to Unite their Forces against their common Enemy D. Sancho having gathered a powerful Army resolved to carry on his designs On the other side D. Alonso whom that
time they had acknowledged a certain dependance tho' it was only in form To make this Alliance the firmer a match was concluded betwixt Philip the King of France his eldest Son and Elizabeth the King of Aragon's Youngest Daughter he giving her the Towns of Carcassonne and Bezieres for a Portion This Year there hap'ned extraordinary Floods which continued from August till the 26th of December the Rivers swelling beyond their Banks and doing infinite harm Many Bridges were carry'd away and among them that at Toledo called of Alcantara But the following Year it was rebuilt as appears by the Inscription on the first Arch of the Bridge Spain was now somewhat quiet considering how many diffierent Princes ruled it Yet some misfortunes hap'ned D. Violante Queen of Aragon and her Son-in-Law Alonso dy'd The King's extravagancies seem'd to have shortned both thier Lives Prince Alonso was troubled that his Father showed him no affection at present and by dividing his Dominions had lessen'd his Inheritance for the future This was not only grievous to the Prince but to all the Nobility who publickly espous'd his quarrel and the King not long before his Sons Death to pacify them deliver'd up Valencia to him ordaining it should be always annex'd to the Crown of Aragon The Queen was offended that D. Teresa Vidaura after she had been some time laid aside was now again so great with the King that he did nothing without her He was so infatuated that he kept her as well before as after the Queen's Death with all the State due to a Queen She twice Challeng'd the King for promise of Marriage before the Pope By her the King had Peter Lord of Ayerve and Jaime Lord of Exeriça Queen Violante was bury'd at Valbuena in Catalonia Prince Alonso in the Cathedral of Valencia Zurita a Noble Historian of Aragon writes he was interred in the Monastery of Viruela of Cistercians Theobald King of Navarre after the Death of his Mother valiantly maintained the Earldom of Champagne against many Princes of France who sought to make themselves Masters of it This done he Marry'd Elizabeth the Youngest Daughter of Luis King of France The Nuptials were Celebrated at Melun but prov'd not Fortunate in the end by reason of the Queen's Barrenness This King had a Bastard Daughter by D. Marquesa de Rada and marry'd her to Peter the King of Aragon's Bastard Son Maud Countess of Bologne understanding the Death of King Sancho of Portugal went thither by Sea to plead her right of Marriage with Alonso the present King and try whether he could be moved to do her justice She came to Cascaes not far from Lisbon but the King being nothing concern'd at her misfortunes or at a Letter she sent him was forc'd to return without seeing him The King boasted he would Marry again the next Day if he thought it were for the good of his Kingdom Maud went herself to complain of the wrong done her to S. Luis then King of France and sent Embassadors to the Pope That King was too far from Portugal to relieve her The Pope sent to warn King Alonso of the wrong he offered that Lady and how hainous an offence it was to God but he gave no Ear to his advice At length he refusing to obey the Pope excommunicated him and laid an interdict on the whole Kingdom which is said to have lasted 12 Years because that King would not mend nor the succeeding Popes abate any thing of their rigour In other cases King Alonso was of a good Temper and a great Lover of Justice He clear'd the Kingdom of Robbers which were grown Numerous through the ill Government of King Sancho He also establish'd wholesome Laws and carry'd an even hand between the Nobility and Commonalty In War-like Affairs his Government was not inferior to the Civil for he enlarg'd his Dominions taking from the Moors Faro Algezira Albufera and other Towns in the Territory of Silves Castro Estremoz and Portalegre were founded by him and the City Beja ruin'd by the Wars was rebuilt In Lisbon there is a stately Convent of Dominicans built by him and another of poor Clares at Santarem His Liberality towards the poor was such that having exhausted his Treasures he often Pawn'd his Jewels to relieve them At this time the fame of King Alonso of Castile his Learning being spread throughout the World there came to him Embassadors from the Soldan of Aegypt bringing presents of rich Germents Carpets and Tapistry as also several strange Beasts never before seen in Spain This was in the Year 1260. This same Year a Town of Guipuscoa then called Arrasata chang'd its name for that of Mondragon as appears by a Charter of King Alonso the ancientest extant in Spanish for he was the first King of Spain that caused all Publick Acts to be writ in Spanish whereas before they were all in Latin On the 27th of October 1261. dy'd D. Sancho Archbishop of Toledo Pascualis or Pascasius Dean of that Church who had carry'd the Cross before Roderick the Archbishop at the Battle of Nabas de Tolosa succeeded him Doubtless he was very old and dy'd only Elect in June following His Tomb is in the Chapel of St. Lucy in that Cathedral Frederick the Emperor dying his Son Conrade succeeded him who also four Years after ended his days in Sicily either of a natural Death or as some would have it poison'd by his Bastard Brother Manfredus This Manfredus notwithstanding Conrade had appointed a Son then a Child which he left in Germany to succeed in all his Dominions by force of Arms possess'd himself of Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples The Popes whose feof those Countries were admonish'd him to desist but he taking no notice of the Ecclesiastical Censures made War in Tuscany where the Guelphs a Faction that favoured the Pope were very powerful and overthrowing them soon became absolute Master of that Province The Pope us'd all possible means to overturn that new Kingdom Charles Earl of Anjou and Brother to Luis King of France was invited into Italy upon hope given him of being made King of Sicily On the other side Manfredus sought to obtain aid from all parts and therefore had recourse in the first place to Jayme King of Aragon offering his Daughter Constance for Wife to his eldest Son Peter This match was not displeasing to the Aragonians for besides 120000 Ducats that he offer'd down with her she was Heiress to the Kingdom of Sicily Manfredus having no Heirs Male All points being agreed upon he sent F. Raymund de Pen̄afuerte of the Order of S. Dominick Embassador to the Pope to indeavour to compose the differences betwixt him and Manfredus The Pope gave no manner of Ear to F. Raymund but utter'd threatning Speeches against Manfredus accusing him of many Crimes and affirming he would never Treat with him unless he laid down Arms and came submissively to him At the same
Bun̄ol There they met on the Fourteenth of Sept. 1272 and laying aside all former Animosities concluded a League After the conference the King of Aragon went away to Catalonia then in an Uproar caus'd by the Nobility Armengaud de Cabrera Son to Alvaro de Cabrera to whom the King not long before had given the Earldom of Vrgel was the great incendiary The King besieg'd Balaguer the chief City of that Earldom and in it took Armengaud himself and his Uncle Roger Bernard and some other Lords whom he long kept Prisoners especially the Earl of Faux who had Rebell'd several times Thus the Troubles of Catalonia ended Prince Sancho of Castile went to Badajoz whither his Father was gone from Sevil to endeavour to make Peace between his Grandson Denis King of Portugal and Alonso that Kings Brother whom he labour'd by Force to deprive of the Possessions his Father had left him King Alonso of Portugal Father to Denis dyed at Lisbon the beginning of this same year He Liv'd 70 years Reigned 32. and was buried in the Monastery of S. Dominick Built by himself in that City Prince Sancho having seen his Father was sent away to make New Levies throughout the whole Kingdom in order to March against the King of Granada who was then taken up in Building the Palace of that City call'd Alhambra an excellent Structure which cost much Mony that King being no less skill'd in Works of that Nature than in Military Affairs What pretence there was for this War I know not but suppose he was not included in the late Treaty made with the King of Morocco Denis the King of Portugal either that he confided not in his Grandfather or fearing he was more inclinable to his Brother tho he came as far as Yelves which is but Three Leagues from Badajoz on a sudden turn'd back and went away King Alonso in a great Rage to be so disappointed return'd to Sevil. At this time Conrade Lança Admiral of Aragon with a Fleet of Ten Galleys scour'd the Coasts of Africk particularly of Tunez and Tremezen because they refus'd to pay the Tribute agreed upon some years before A certain Author affirms this Expedition was undertaken to restore Mirabusar Expell'd his Kingdom of Tunez by his Brother All agree a great Booty was taken by the Aragonians and that at the Streights of Gibraltar they defeated Ten Galleys of the King of Morocco Taking some and Sinking others The King of Aragon at Valencia where he commonly resided gave a Grant of the Lordship of Segorve to his Bastard Son D. Jayme about the Month of November CHAP. III. The Practices of Prince Sancho He Rebels against his Father The King of Morocco comes to Aid King Alonso Returns home leaving a Thousand Horse to serve under him King Alonso Disinherits and Curses his Son Prince Sancho IN Castile the Affection the People bore Prince Sancho daily increas'd and many believ'd when he was once well rid of his Nephews he would ease his Father of the Burden of the Crown His Father suspected nothing less than such a Design Prince Sancho in the Spring of the Year 1280. March'd with the Army he had rais'd to the Frontiers about Jaen and being there Recruited with Forces sent by his Father from Sevil entred the Territories of Granada where he Burnt all the Country as far as that City and then return'd with a great number of Cattle and Captives to Cordova and thence bore his Father Company to Sevil. This Success endear'd him more to the People which was what he chiefly aim'd at to secure the Succession to the Crown Philip K. of France sent Embassadors to demand that his Nephews should be set at liberty and deliver'd up to him and in case fair means would not prevail to threaten War Nothing being concluded it was agreed the Three Kings upon sufficient Security given should meet and commune together All the Kings set forward but they met not for Prince Sancho cunningly broke off that Interview fearing his Father who was inclinable to his Grandchildren might conclude something that might be prejudicial to him However it was agreed that Charles Prince of Taranto Son to the King of Sicily should carry the messages between the Kings yet all came to nothing Prince Sanoho undermining their Designs The French only ask'd that Prince Alonso should have the City Jaen given him with the Title of King and to hold of the Crown of Castile After this Disappointment the Kings of Aragon and France met about the same Affair and with the same success only the King of France took an Oath he would resign the Lordship of Mompellier to which he had pretended a Right to Jayme King of Majorca Prince Sancho was extreamly pleas'd that he had disappointed all the Designs of those Kings yet fear'd his Fathers Love towards those Children and there wanted not some who incensed King Alonso against his Son Therefore the Prince resolv'd to strengthen himself with Foreign Aids and to that purpose procur'd an Interview between his Father the King of Aragon and himself at a Town call'd Campillo between Agreda and Taraçona on the 27th of March 1281. At this Conference a League offensive and defensive was established between the two Kings upon penalty of 20000 pound weight of Silver to him that first broke it Palaçuela Teresa Xera and Ayola were now given to the King of Aragon and in lieu of them to Prince Emanuel the King's Brother whose those Places were Escalona was given This is what was publickly acted In private they concluded with jont Forces to invade Navarre and agreed what part each was to have when Conquer'd Prince Sancho obtain'd that the young Princes his Nephews should be secur'd in the Castle of Xativa and the more to oblige the King of Aragon he promised after his Fathers Death to yield him up all the Kingdom of Navarre and to give him in Castile the Town of Requena with all its Dependencies which lies on the Borders of Valencia towards Murcia He valu'd not what promises he made to secure his Power D. John Nun̄ez de Lara a powerful Man was then Lord of Albaracin having Marry'd the Daughter and Heiress of D. Alvaro de Açagra the Son of Peter Rodriguez de Açagra both Lords of that City Thence he made inroads into both the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon carrying away much Booty and gave Protection to all those that fled to him on account of any Crimes whatsoever Particularly D. Lope Diaz de Haro a mighty Lord being offended at King Alonso and Prince Sancho for the Death of Prince Frederick and the Lord of Cameros was retir'd thither The King of Aragon and Prince Sancho consulted at Taraçona about taking that City and expelling D. John de Lara King Alonso went to Burgos to Celebrate the Neptials of his two Sons Peter and John Peter marry'd a Daughter of the Lord of Narbonne and John the Daughter of the Earl of
equipp'd to the Assistance of the King of Tremecen his Ally They met 5 Galleys of Castile which took and carry'd them to Sevil there many of them with their Commander Mathew Merzero were put to Death by the King's Order Samuel Levi a Jew was the King's Treasurer and had the diposal of all the Revenue whereby he gather'd great Riches which now prov'd his Ruin He was accus'd of many Frauds and being put to the Wrack dy'd upon it The King seiz'd upon his Estate valu'd at 400000 Ducats others say more besides Moveables and Jewels At the end of this Year Mahomet Lagus was expell'd his Kingdom by his own Subjects Mahomet Aben Alhamar was set up in his Place and from the Colour of his Hair and Beard call'd the Red. They said the Crowa appertain'd to him as being descended of the Antient Kings of Granada Hence ensu'd new Wars for the King of Castile was a Friend to him that was depos'd who fled to Ronda a Town belonging to the King of Morocco The King of Castile resolv'd to stand by his old Friend On the other side the new King to strengthen himself sought the Friendship of the Aragonian which and calling King Abohanen out of Africk cost him his Life At the end of this Year the Lady Constance Daughter to the King of Aragon was sent into Sicily to be marry'd to King Frederick Olfo Prochita Governour of the Island Sardinia commanded the Fleet that carry'd her The Marriage was celebrated on the 11th of April 1361 at Catanea From that time the Affairs of the Island began to be more Successful the Neopolitans being vanquish'd and expell'd the Kingdom Of this Queen was born the Lady Mary who was afterwards Queen of Aragon and had in Dower the Kingdom of Sicily At length by the Industry of the Cardinal Legate Peace was concluded in Castile yet so that none thought it would be lasting The Articles were That all Places taken on both Sides should be restor'd and that the Out-laws of Castile should be expell'd Aragon provided the King pardon'd them On the 18th of May the Peace was Proclaim'd at Deza where the King of Castile was then encamp'd This Peace was forwarded by the fear of the War the King of Granada then made upon Castile For the greater security it was agreed that cautionary Towns on both sides should be put into the Hands of King Charles of Navarre who was then coming out of France into Spain very Joyful for that his Queen had brought him a Son call'd Charles Mean while his Brother Prince Luis Govern'd the Kingdom Peace concluded the King of Aragon went away to Zaragoça and he of Castile to Sevil Count Henry and his Brothers into France hoping to renew the War Many Nobles of Castile were ready to take up Arms upon pretence of protecting Queen Blanch which heightned the King's hatred towards her It was said he caus'd her to be Poison'd in the Prison where he kept her She was doubtless the most unfortunate Queen of Spain There is a report that the King being a Hunting near Medina Sidonia there met him a Shepherd of a terrible Aspect threatning him if he had not Compassion of Queen Blanch and that the King sending presently to see whether it was not some body employ'd by her she was found at Prayers and closely Guarded The Shepherd being releas'd out of Prison was never after seen Doubtless were this a Vision he had never been put into Prison The Lady Elizabeth de Lara Daughter to D. John de Lara was also Poison'd in Prison at Xerez An Historian who stiles himself head Caterer to Queen Ellenor of Castile in certain Commentaries he writ upon what happen'd in his Time says Queen Blanch dy'd at Vren̄a near the City Toro in old Castile This uncertainty as to the Place of her Death makes it appear the manner of it is not so certain tho the Malice of Authors who all humour'd the Success of Henry the Bastard caus'd all Crimes to be laid to his Predecessor Peter because he was Unfortunate The publick Grief for so many Calamities was somewhat asswag'd by the Death of Da. Maria de Padilla who ended her Days at Sevil in July A Woman laying aside her Incontinency in all other Respects worthy to be a Queen Her Funeral-Rites were perform'd throughout the Kingdom with the same Magnificence as if she had been Queen She was bury'd in the Monastery of S. Mary de Estudilla which she built in old Castile The Body of Queen Blanch was deposited in the Cathedral of Tudela by some French Gentlemen who came to the Assistance of Count Henry in order to carry it into France In the Monastery of Dominican Nuns at Toledo there are 3 Tombs one of the Lady Teresa by whom King Peter had a Daughter called Mary who was many Years Prioress in that Monastery and lies in the 2d Tomb. In the 3d are D. Sancho and D. James Sons of King Peter by the Lady Elizabeth At this time the King of Portugal solemnly declar'd in Lisbon that the Children he had by the Lady Agnez de Castro were born in lawful Wedlock and as such capable of inheriting the Crown and as Witnesses of his Marriage he produc'd Giles Bishop of Guardia and Stephen Lovata his Master of the Robes The King and Witnesses made Oath of the Truth of their Assertion in the Presence of all the Nobility and of John Alonso Tello the year before created Earl of Barcelos and was the first that obtain'd that Honour in Portugal Mean while the War of Granada was carry'd on with great Heat The Forces of Castile ravag'd the Territories of the Moors and laid Siege to Antequera formerly call'd Syngilia a strong and well Garrison'd Town whence they were Repuls'd Having wasted the Plain of Granada they return'd Home without performing any memorable Action Soon after 600 Moorish Horse and 2000 Foot broke into the Lieutenancy of Caçorla and took a great Booty of Cattle The Gentry of Jaen and the Neighbouring Places assembling recovered the Prey killing many of the Enemy and putting the rest to Flight A more dangerous War was expected from France which the Cardinal Legate endeavour'd to prevent and to that effect spent the Summer at Pamplona He labour'd to perswade King Peter to pardon the Out-laws of Castile and reverse their Attainder of Treason The King would not hear of it therefore the Cardinal at the Solicitation of the King of Aragon took upon him to declare their Attainder Void This provok'd the King of Castile who resolv'd to take Revenge as soon as he had put an end to the War with the Moors On the 18th of February 1362 the Moors obtain'd a notable Victory over the Christians near Guadix D. James Garcia de Padillu Master of Calatrava and Henry Enriquez Lieutenant of the Frontiers of Jaen with other Gentlemen entred the Moorish Territories with 1000 Horse and 2000 Foot designing to
Months to appoint Arbitrators who were to decide all Controversies This much offended the Lady Magdalen Wife that was to the late Gaston Earl of Faux fearing it was a contrivance to exclude her Children their Fathers Inheritance Berengarius de Sos Dean of Barcelona was sent Ambassador to appease that Lady and advise her not to mistrust the Kings of Castile and Aragon nor join with France She was then at Pau a Town in Bearne and answered she thanked them and would always endeavour rather to promote Peace than War On the 5th of October the Articles of Marriage betwixt Ferdinand King of Naples and Joanna Daughter to the King of Aragon were Sign'd at Tudela The Lady was Contracted at Cervera a Town in Catalonia and from thence forward she was called Queen of Naples Beatrix Daughter to the King of Naples was at the same time Married to Mathias King of Hungary She was a virtuous Lady but Barren and consequently had no Issue by him nor by King Ladislaus his Sucessor whom she afterwards Married Mean while the City Toro in Castile was surprized in the Night by D. Alonso de Fonseca Bishop of Avila and D. Frederic Son to D. Roderick Manrique Earl of Parades A Shepherd called Bartholomew shewed them how it might be scaled on that side which was least regarded by reason of a Morass that lay before it Having entred the Town they Besieged the Castle and Queen Elizabeth hearing the news repaired thither with speed from Segovia where she had been appeasing the late Tumult Mary Wife to John de Ulloa surrendred that Fortress on the 19th of October Her Son in Law the Earl of Marialva who Commanded in those parts quitted another Fort called Villalfonso near Toro and retired into Portugal There remained Castronun̄o from which Place Peter de Mendoza an able Soldier did great harm to the neighbouring Country For this reason the Kings Forces after the taking of Toro laid Siege to that Place and planted their Artillery which was carried thither with much labour Great application was made at the same time to reduce the Marquess de Villena and Archbishop of Toledo The Marquess seemed most inclinable to Submit but demanded the restitution of Villena and above 20 Towns taken from him in that Neighbourhood The Archbishop was more obstinate tho the King of Aragon ceased not to advise to compound with him at any rate But that Business was not yet ripe They began by the Marquess de Villena and promised to restore to him his whole Estate provided he surrendred the Castles of Madrid and Truxillo which still held for him The same offer was made to the Archbishop of Toledo D. Lope de Acun̄a his Nephew delivered up the City Huete which had been given him with the Title of a Duke in the time of his troubles by King Henry At the same time were killed two powerful Princes Charles the Bold Duke of Burgundy and Galeazzo Duke of Milan Murdered in the Church whilst he was at Mass CHAP. VI. King Ferdinand possesses himself of the Mastership of Santiago in Trust which has ever since continued in the King 's of Spain War with the Moores of Andaluzia The King of Portugal after having Abdicated his Crown returns home and is restored by his Son QUeen Elizabeth wisely put an end to a Debate that arose about the Mastership of Santiago D. Roderick Manrique Earl of Paredes who called himself Master of Santiago and was famous for taking the Town of Huescar from the Moores died in November at Vcles His Son George Manrique wrote a learned Elegy upon his death D. Alonso de Cardenas his Competitor being dead resolved to go to Vcles with armed Men and force the Electors to chuse him Many other great Men aimed at that Dignity The King and Queen consulted at Toro what was best to be done in that Case and resolved rather to make use of Cunning than Force The King staied at Toro but the Queen made such haste to Vcles that as Ferdinand del Pulgar writes she came to that Place in three Days from Valladolid She perswaded the Knights to go with her to Ocan̄a which being a bigger Town and strong they might with more Security proceed upon their Election There by the means of D. Alonso de Fonseca Bishop of Avila and her Secretary Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo she prevailed upon them that to avoid Contention they should for some time Create King Ferdinand her Husband Administrator of that Dignity This was it that first weakened the power of that Order and soon after those of Calatrava and Alcantara followed their example Yet it was not long before the King and Queen conserred that Honour upon D. Alonso de Cardenas only obliging him to pay a certain Pension towards carrying on the War with the Moores which highly offended the other Nobles who thought they had as well deserved as he King Ferdinand having settled the affairs of Old Castile and concluded a Truce with the Enemy went away to Ocana at the beginning of the Year 1477. Then he again pardoned and received into his favour the Earl of Uren̄a who now seemed perfectly reconciled From Ocan̄a he went with the Queen to Toledo where in pursuance of a Vow made if they overcame the King of Portugal she ordered to be Built the famous Monastery of Franciscans still to be seen in that City and called St. Juan de los Reyes Thence they removed to Madrid and there received Advice that the Portugueses infested the Country about Badajor and Cuidad Rodrigo D. Gomer de Figueroa Earl of Feria was sent before to oppose them and the Queen followed soon after towards the Frontiers of Portugal King Ferdinand staied at Madrid in hopes to reduce the Archbishop of Toledo but he was so obstinate he would not see the King Therefore on the 24th of March the King set out for Old Castile to endeavour to pacifie Navarre which again laboured under the former Factions the Agramonteses having taken Estela and the Princess Elenor labouring to recover it with her own and the Forces of Castile At the same time the King and Queen were surprized with the News that Albohacen King of Granada notwithstanding the Truce which had lasted several Years had broke into the Kingdom of Murcia with 4000 Horse and 30000 Foot This attempt terrified the Christians who were wholly unprovided and the more for that on the 6th of April he took a little Town called Ciesa by Storm which he burnt and put all the Inhabitants to the Sword Besides he took a great booty of Cattle and returned home without any loss tho Peter Faxardo Lieuteannt of Murcia endeavoured to oppose him The harm done was not so great but that Castile not being yet pacified there was no hopes of taking revenge Cantalapiedra and Castronun̄o two Castles that held for the Portugueses were again besiged and forced to surrender The People were so incensed against Castronun̄o for the harm had been done
Majesty and joining with the Duke of Najara and Marguess de Villena the Heads of the contrary Faction at the Archbishop of Toledo's Lodging they agreed that all Debates arising should be absolutely decided by the Arch-Bishop and 6 others chosen out of both Parties and that their Determination should be binding Thus on the First of October Articles of Agreement were Concluded upon among the Nobles and they all Swore to stand by them and they to continue in Force all the Month of December Among other things it was Decreed that none should presume to levy Forces That none should Infest or Invade the Lands Castles and Towns of another That none should Seize upon the Person of the Queen who was of Burgos or of Prince Ferdinand who was at Simancas Peter Nunez de Guzman his Governor to prevent any surprize had Recourse to the President and Council of Valladolid and they went to Simancas and brought away the Prince Placeing him in Safety in the College of S. Gregory Built by D. Alonso de Burgos Bishop of Palencia and given to the Dominicans The same day the Nobility Concluded their Agreement at Burgos the Catholick King arrived at Genoa His Voyage was tedious contrary Winds forcing him to touch at Palamos and Toulon and then to Coast along by Savona and Genoa Before he came to that City he was met by the Great Captain with the Gallies of Naples The King received him with great Affection being then convinced of his Fidelity notwithstanding all Aspersions cast upon him and spoke very much in his Commendation both before him and in his Absence Most Men but particularly the Italians could hardly be perswaded that so Wise a Man as the Great Captain would put himself into the Power of so jealous a King The City sent the King many Presents tho' he would not Land only advised them to preserve Peace among themselves for he would be always ready to Assist his Brother the King of France This made them quiet for the present tho' soon after they obliged the King of France to come into Italy to pacifie them Putting to Sea again from Genoa contrary Winds forced him into Portoso there on the 5th of October he received the News of the death of King Philip. The Archbishop of Toledo and others of his Party desired him to return with all speeed to Castile as did also D. Alvaro Osirio who was with him with the Character of Ambassador from King Philip. Yet he resolved to prosecute his Voyage He writ to the Prelates and Nobility expressing his Grief for the death of King Philip and Recommending to them to continue Loyal to the Queen promising to be with them as soon as he had settled the Affairs of Naples From Portosi he went on to Gaeta where at Puzol he spent some days to give the Neapolitans time to prepare for his Reception for they had never believed he would come especially after the death of King Philip. From Puzol he went to Castel del Ovo there on the First of November 20 Galleys came out of the Port and the King went aboard the Admiral The Cannon of the Galleys was fired first and then that of the Castles and the Ships in the Harbour This done the Galleys laid along the side of the Mole The King and Queen landed by a wooden Bridge built for that purpose The Great Captain and all the Nobility came out to meet them Being come to the last Arch of the Bridge the Great Captain leading the Queen there the King swore to preserve the Privileges of that City After which they took Horse under a Canopy carried by the Elects of the People Fabricius Colona carried the Royal Standard given him by the King himself with the Honour of Standard-bearer Next him went the Kings at Arms then the Great Captain and on his Right-hand Prosper Colona After them the other Nobility and Ambassadors But the pleasantest Sight of all was the Prisoners then set at Liberty Next behind the Canopy were the Two Cardinals of Borgia and Sorento In this manner they were conducted through the Principal Streets and Lanes of Gentlemen and Ladies richly clad and great Companies of Vocal and Instrumental Musick Being come to the Great Church they were received by the Clergy and Religious Orders in Procession At Castelnovo where the Cavalcade ended they were received by the Two Queens of Naples and the Queen of Hungary Nextday the King rode about the City accompanied by the Barons and to Honour the Great Captain alighted at his House He entred upon Business and went about to restore Ten Barons who had Forfeited their Estates A Parliament was held where they took the Oath of Fidelity to the King to his Daughter Queen Joanna and their Heirs without mentioning Queen Germana contrary to the Agreement made with France The Pretence was that she was indisposed and had already been Sworn Queen of Naples at Valladolid Mean while Castile was full of private Dissention yet nothing broke out in publick The Queen neither would nor could attend the Government only such as would obeyed the Orders of the Council Some would have the Cortes assembled to appoint Governours This was chiefly urged by the Archbishop of Toledo the Constable and the Admiral They could never persuade the Queen to sign the Writs and therefore the Council issued them The Duke of Alva tho' not at Court then opposed it saying only the King could assemble the Cortes For this reason tho' some of the Commons met nothing was done All was in confusion the Nobility at variance but yet the most agreed that King Ferdinand ought to Govern The chief of these were the Archbishop of Toledo the Constable the Admiral and the Dukes of Albuquerque and Bejar Some of these would not allow him to Govern unless he were present others said he might tho' absent Of these was the Archbishop who sollicited the King and Queen to give him as ample Commission as when he Treated with King Philip. The Duke of Najara D. Alonso Tellez Brother to the Marquess of Villena and D. John Manuel were of Opinion that no account ought to be made of the Queen no more than if she were dead by reason of her Weakness and therefore her Son Charles ought to succeed But neither could they agree in this Point for the Duke would have him brought to Spain that such as the Kingdom made choice of might Govern in his Name D. Alonso said the Protectorship belonged to the Emperor as Grandfather by the Father's side This Opinion prevailed above the Duke's and the Emperour was desirous to take upon him the Government proposing to come himself into Spain Some there were that would commit the Government to the King of Portugal and marry Prince Ferdinand to his Daughter Elizabeth proclaiming him King being utterly averse to Strangers Others were for marrying the Daughter of King Philip to the Prince of Viana and so putting the Kingdom under the King
this Year was happy in the Birth of this Prince so it was unfortunate to Portugal and all Spain For King Sebastian carried away by the Heat of Youth and ambitious to extend the Christian Name in Africk took into his Protection King Muley Hamet He gathered Forces out of Germany Italy and Castile to join with his own He fitted out a great Fleet in which he shipped all his Forces and sailing in July arrived at Arzila a City in Africk subject to the Portugueses His first Design was to attack the Castle of Alarache which is at the Mouth of the River Lucus The Portugueses began to march up the Country and Moluco met them with a far greater number of Men. The Battel was fought on the 4th of August and the Portugueses overthrown The Slaughter was great and the number of Prisoners incredible among which were many of note No Battel in many years was so unfortunate for three Kings died there Moluco of Sickness which had long stuck by him he left his Brother Hamet his Heir The King of Portugal was killed in the Battel and Muley drowned in passing a River as he fled D. John of Austria to pacify the Flemmings consented that the Spaniards should be drawn out of those Provinces and Garisons of the Natives put into their Strong-holds which proved fatal For scarce were the Spaniards gone when the Hereticks conspired to seize D. John He having notice of their Design fled to Namur began to assemble Forces recalled the Spaniards who were marching towards Italy and had some Skirmishes with the Enemy from whom he took some places But Death taking him off in October and in the Flower of his Age put a stop to all his Designs He died a natural Death in the Field Alexander Farnesius Prince of Parma succeeded him in the Government of these Provinces The Provinces being dissatisfied with the Archduke Mathias called Francis Duke of Alenson to their assistance against D. John of Austria who having accepted of the Offer and being come to Mons in Hainault they gave him the Title of Protector of Flanders In Portugal died the Princess Mary Daughter to Emanuel by his last Wife Ellenor This Lady when she died was well in years and a Maid for tho several Matches were proposed never any took effect Anno 1579. As soon as the dismal News of the Death of King Sebastian was brought to Lisbon Cardinal Henry his Great Uncle Brother to his Grandfather was proclaimed King tho then very old and unhealthy The Nobility to secure the Succession would have him marry but it being unlikely he should have any Children there were many Pretenders to that Crown King Philip in Right of his Mother Elizabeth the Empress Philibert Duke of Savoy as Son to the Lady Beatrix both which were Daughters to King Emanuel The Prince of Parma in the Right of his Wife the Princess Mary then dead but had left two Sons Ranucius and Edward And the Duke of Bragança in the Right of Catherine his Wife These two Ladies were Grand-children to King Emanuel and Daughters to Prince Edward Mary was the eldest but was dead and Catherine was living Antony Prior of Ocrato put in his Claim as Son to Prince Luis and Grandson to King Emanuel He to cover his being a Bastard pretended his Father had been married to his Mother but no proof appeared Catherine Queen-Mother of France claimed that Kingdom as descended from Matildis Countess of Bologn Wife to Alonso the 3d King of Portugal affirming they had Issue The Portugueses urged that the Countess left no Child either by her first or second Husband and proved that when she died Robert her Nephew Son to her Sister Alicia inherited her Dominions from whom that Queen was descended by the Mother's side None of these Princesses wanted the Pens of Learned Men to vindicate their Titles but King Philip had the Power which never fails to bear down all that the Learned can say in behalf of their Cause In Sicily this Year a vast quantity of Liquid Fire gushed out of Mount Etna which did much harm in the Neighbouring Country Anno 1580. King Philip prepared for the War with Portugal and to that purpose caused several Troops of Italians Germans and Spaniards to march towards the Frontiers of that Kingdom To prevent Disorders King Philip labour'd to prevail with the new King his Unkle to declare him his Heir but at the same time whilst this was in hand King Henry departed this Life at Almeirin on the last of January It appear'd a War must of necessity ensue for that the Portugueses it could not be expected would submit to the Spaniards There wanted a General The Duke of Alva was then Prisoner at Vzeda because he had obliged his Son Frederick to Marry the Daughter of D. Garcia de Toledo Marquis of Villa Franca without regard to another Lady belonging to the Queen to whom the said Frederick had before promised Marriage and the King had commanded him not to dispose of himself till that Affair was decided It was now thought fit to release and send him to Portugal The King himself to be the nearer at hand went first to Merida and then to Badajoz a City on the Frontiers of that Kingdom His Forces were not great being scarce 12000 Foot and 1500 Horse but they were the Flower of the Spanish Army old Soldiers of great Experience With this strength and the good Conduct of the Duke of Alva Antony the Bastard who with the Favour of the People called himself King was overthrown first at Lisbon and soon after near Porto by Sancho Davila Camp-Master-General in that Expedition Thus he being expelled the Country all that Kingdom was brought under Mean while King Philip lay at Burgos so sick that the Physicians had given him over Scarce was he recover'd when the Queen his Wife who was with him died on the 26th of October He had by her four Sons Ferdinand and Charles both dead before James who lived not long after and Philip then a Child and sickly but afterwards grew healthy and lived long He had also a Daughter called Mary that was but short lived About this time died Hierome Osorio a Portugues Bishop of Silves a great Orator but not in his History as appears by the Books he wrote His Contemporary was Andrew Resendius of the same Nation a great Antiquary and imitator of Horace in the Learned Verses he composed Emanuel Duke of Savoy also departed this Life and his Son Charles succeeded him In Flanders after the death of D. John of Austria the War continued hot and most of the Country was in Rebellion Mathias the Archduke left the Country and returned into Germany Those Provinces having once revolted would not return to their duty and tho they all combin'd together yet of themselves they were not strong enough to oppose the King which made them send for Francis Duke of Alençon the French King's