Queene Isabell her Mother who dyed at the same time at Areualo hauing liued a widdow the space of two and forty yeares troubled with sicknesse both of body and minde whose body beeing then laide in the Monasterie of Saint Francis of Areualo was afterward transported to the Carthusians in the Citty of Burgos called Mirefleur where King Iohn her husband was buried Death of Don Iohn de Gamboa The same yeare dyed in Guipuscoa Don Iohn de Gamboa a personage full of yeares and honour who was Maister of the horse to the Kings of Castile and of their Councell Captaine generall of the frontiers of France and Nauarre and gouernor of Fontaraby This Knight left onely two daughters one of which was married in Guipuscoa in the family of Sarauz and the other into Biscay into that of Arteaga The Infanta Don Ioanes voyage into Fâ—anders the Queene gaue the conduct of the Nauie and of the Infanta Donna Ioane her daughter to Don Frederick Henriques high Admirall of Castile her Vnckle beeing accompanied by Donna Maria de Velasco the Admiralls Mother with other Lords Ladyes and Gentlewomen who beeing shipped the Queene went back to Burgos and from thence into Cattalonia to ayde the King her husband In the meane space the great Captaine continued the warre on the one side and King Ferdinand on the other in the kingdome of Naples who were resisted in Calabria by Eberard Stuard Lord of Aubigni assisted by the faction of Aniow and with a few French forces which were left him and in the territorie of Lauoro by the Lord Guilbert of Montpensier Lieutenant generall to the French King in the same kingdome who was besieged in the Citty of Auersa by King Ferdinand and the great Captaine both together and was brought to such extremitie as hee promised if within thirty dayes hee were not succoured to yeeld vp all that the French men held in the kingdome of Naples excepting Gaieta Venosa and Tarentum which were in the hands of strangers vpon condition that they would furnish him with shippes to carry him and his people into France there fell afterwards great sicknesse among the men of warre on either side and Lord Guilbert of Montpensier dyed at Pozzuolo with other French Lords and there dyed likewise on the enemies part diuerse men of note as namely King Ferdinand who had for successour his Vnckle Don Frederick of Arragon brother to Don Alphonso King Frederick stayed not long ere hee besieged Gaietta during which siege the Lord D Aubigni rendred the places which hee held in Calabria by whose example Gaietta Venosa and Tarentum were yeelded and King Frederick by that meanes recouered all the realme of Naples In this warre all the Potentates of Italy shewed themselues enemies to the French All the Potentates of Italy enemies to the French except the Florentines the Florentines excepted who thought by the meanes of the Frenchmen who held Pisa to bring that Cittie into their subiection And the warre beeing ended Pope Alexander did sharply persecute the Vrsins friends and seruants to the house of France and the chiefe of that family Virginio Vrsino an excellent Captaine of all which matters King Ferdinand and Queene Isabell of Castile were aduertized to their great contentment The beginning of the yeare one thousand foure hundred ninetie and seauen the Kings beeing in the Citty of Burgos 1467. they receiued aduertisement that the Armie of Castile was returned which had conducted the Infanta Donna Ioane wife to Philip of Austria and brought Margueret sister to the said Philip betrothed to Prince Iohn who were married in the same Citty Fryer Francis Ximenes Archbishop of Toledo Frier Francis Ximenes of Cisneros Archbishop of Toledo and Primat of Spaine dooing the ceremony and they had for their God-father Don Frederick the Admirall and Donna Maria de Velasco his mother for their God-mother The feasts and magnificences weré great and pompous whereat dyed Don Alphonso de Cardegna second sonne to Don 〈◊〉 de Cardegna great Commander of Leon. The wedding being ended the Coâ—rt came to Medina del campo where Christopher Colombus arriued as a prisoner by the slanders and accusations of the Spaniards his enemies who were impatient of discipline the most enuious of whom was Frier Buil who came back the same time into Spaine neuerthelesse the Kings thinking it an vnseemly matter that such a personage should yeeld account of his actions in quality of an offender they did absolue him of the greaâ— rigor which hee had executed by iustice on the Spaniards with commandement thence-forward to vse those more gently who did crosse so many seas to doe them seruice and they willed him to returne to the Iudges they being highly contented with the reports which hee made of the great riches and wealth which those countries yeelded whereof hee brought them proofes of golde Brazil mother of Pearle Amber pretious Feathers Indian tapstrie and other strange things They did againe rigge forth eight ships for him furnished with men and victuals two whereof hee sent away before laden with victualls and weapons to his brother Bartholomew Colombus who had begun to builde the Cittie of Saint Domingo vpon the riuer of Oçama in the Island of Hispagunola hee with the other sixe parted from Saint Lucar de Barameda and beeing arriued at Madera vnderstanding that there were French Pirates at sea that watched for him beeing drawne thither by the renowne of the wealth of the Indies hee sent onely three of his shippes directly to the Island of Hispagnuola and hee with the other three sayled towards the Isles of Cape vert tending to the Equinoctiall and after great trauaile of heates and calmes hee arriued at Paria the firme land of those West Indies then coasting three hundred and thirty leagues vnto Cape de Velas hee discouered and tooke note of all that countrey where are Cabo Anegado the point of Salinas Cubagua otherwise called the Isle of Pearles the point of Araja Cumana Chiriuichi the Gulphe of Cariari Curiana Saint Roman Veneçuela Coquibocoa and other places from whence hee passed to the new Citty of Saint Domingo and there was receiued for Gouernour to the great griefe of diuerse This was the third voyage that Colombus made to the Indies and then they had already begun to trade and negociate with the Indians by force of armes Colombus his third voyage to the Indies for the violent vsage of them had made them become strange and enemies to the Spaniards so as they left off tilling of their grounds and sowing of their Maiz to the end to constraine them by hunger to leaue the contrey and at the same time as these shippes arriued great number of Indians beeing gathered together did besiege the Spaniards of the Forte of Saint Thomas du Ciabo who were put to flight by Alphonso de Hoiedo Hauing then gotten the Cachique Coanabo into the Forte keeping him prisoner for the death of diuerse Christians more then fiue
countrey of the Oretanes makes at this day a part of the realme of Toledo it comprehends the fields of Calatraua the passage called the fields of Alcocer and part of the mountaines Marianes at this present Sierra Morena vnto Iaen and to the frontiers of Granado Oreton of the Germanes which some thinke to bee Calatraua Castulo then a great and mightie towne and now a small burrough called Caslona vpon the riuer Guadiana where Himilca the wife of Hannibal was borne issued from the race of Milicus who built it Mentisa which is Iaen according vnto some and Astapa a famous retreat of desperat theeues Nobilia Cusibis and Illusia were of the Oretanes Among the Celtiberians were Ergauica Celtiberians Alce Turiasso that is Tarassone Bilbilis at this present Calataiub whereas the Poet Martiall was borne Saguntia now Siguenza Contrebia and Valeria which is Concha Betwixt the Celtiberians and the riuer Ebro Lobetanes were the Lobetanes and on this side Ebro vnder the Vascons and mount Edulius dwelt the Ilergetes and towards the Pyrenee mountaines and at the foot of them Suessetanes Lacetanes â—usetanes Cerretanes the Suessetanes Lacetanes Authetanes or Ausetanes and Cerretanes being all contained partly in Nauarre and Arragon and part in Catalogne at this present Suessa the chiefe towne of the Suessetanes may be Sanguessa in Nauarre and Iacca at that time was of the auntient Lacetanes The towne of Ilerda which is Lerida gaue the name to the Ilergetes to them there also belonged Osca Huesca at this day and Bergidum which is Vrgel and Anitorgis or Athanasia As for the towne of Iliturgis it is obscurely limited by the auntients Some of the later will haue it among the Ilergetes others place it in the Oretanes countrey and others in the Betique prouinces places farre distant one from another The Authetanes or Ausetanes did possesse Geronda in our time Girone and among the Cerretanes were Ausonia the auntient and Iulia Libica which some hold to be Linca This is all which I haue thought fit to gather of the people inhabiting the firme land of Spaine the which were found there and augmented by the Carthaginians and Romanes when as they contended for the possession thereof whereof some markes appeared at that time and that they had immutable limits the which doe now assure vs of their habitations 11 There is mention made by some authors Islands about Spaine of many islands about Spaine whereof some are no more others are yet famous The Cassiterides fertile in tinne were placed by the Cosmographers neere vnto Cap Finis terrae Cassiterides lost islands but there is no more any mention of them whereby it seemes they haue been swallowed vp in the sea vnlesse they will say they be those of the Axores which are too far from Spaine The islands of the gods in the West Ocean Islands of the gods may be those of Bayone neere vnto Ponteuedra in Gallicia The island of Gades was in old time called Tartesse Erythrea Calis and the antient names or according vnto some Erythie Cotynusia Aphrodisia Gadira Gadir and Gaddir although that Gaddir in the opinion of some is a common name to the island and to other places of Betique Spaine neere vnto it as well as Tartesse and now they haue named it Gadiz or Galis It hath beene the most famous of all others about Spaine and is yet renowned and rich but much more in auntient times For although that in the Romanes time they had scarce any territorie yet was it one of the greatest the richest and best peopled townes in Europe It appeares by the description of Censures at one time That there were fiue hundred heads of families of the order of Knights among the inhabitants thereof One Balbus a Gaditane enlarged the towne almost halfe bigger than it was and called his new worke Neapolis In this island there was a fountaine flowing and ebbing dayly with the sea Ioyning vnto it there were two other small islands whereof the one was called Didima They write That in old time the island of Gadis was much greater than it is now It hath in length from the South to the North some ten or twelue miles and is seperated from the maine land by a narrow channell and distant from the strait of Gibaltar some threescore miles or fiftie leagues In the Iberique Islands Baleares Maiorca Minorca or Mediterranean sea are the two islands Baleares called in these times Majorca and Minorca for that the one is bigger than the other Their first name was Gymnasies for that the inhabitants thereof went all naked Gymnos in Greeke is naked in our language But for that the men of this island were good Archers they were called Baleares vnlesse wee will beleeue that this name was giuen them by one Balee whom Hercules gaue them for their Gouernour as some write In those dayes great Commonweales drew good souldiours from thence who did commonly vse slings and did euer carie three with the one he did bind his head with another he did girt himselfe and the third he held in his hand and with these armes they wrought great effects and did much amaze their enemies Maiarquins expert in slings for they were practised in it from their youth by their mothers who set their breakfast bread vpoÌ„ the top of a post the which they must beat down with their slings or else they fasted These islanders were long before they would vse either gold or siluer remembring the great calamities which Spaine had suffered by reason of these mettals wherfore they held themselues to bee well assured in forbidding the vse of it Gold and siluer forbidden by the antient Maiorquins They did sometimes capitulate with the Carthaginians who often imployed their souldiours in their warres that they should guie them wiues and wine for their pay and no siluer These are two fertile islands hauing this benefit moreouer that they doe not breed any hurtfull beast although the warre which they had with the conies be no fable but they were brought from other places and of one bucke conie and a doe they did multiplie in such great numbers as with the working of their holes and burroes vnder ground they vnrooted trees and vndermined the foundations of houses so as the inhabitants sent embassadors to Rome to demaund helpe and succour of the Senat against these beasts a certaine argument of their simplicitie but afterwards they learned to take them The greatest of these islands is about fifteene leagues long and verie narrow The lesser yeelds nothing to the other in bountie and fruitfulnesse Cabrera and Dragonora Pityuses About them are the little islands of Cabrera and Dragonera Neerer vnto the maine land and more Westerly are the two Pityuses whereof the greater was called Ebusus which hath about twentie miles circuit of hard accesse hauing a port vpon the South side It is now called Yuica the which they say hath no serpents and if they
a ship in the strait by them of Carthage in the which were found his letters and aduertisements to Denis written in Greeke whereupon he was taken and punished and it was decreed at Carthage That no Carthaginian should learne the Greeke tongue but Denis his armie at sea was defeated whereby the Carthaginians affaires prospered in Sicile Denis being dead Truce with the Sicilians and his sonne of the same name succeeding him vnder the gouernment of Dion his kinsman the warre ended by a long truce betwixt the Carthaginians Sicilians and Hanno returned with great treasure which he had gottē of those spoiles He was presently sent to Calis and Bostar to Majorca and to that part of Spaine which is opposit Hanno tyrannizing ouer the people in his gouernment prouoked them to rebell so as to subdue punish them he called the Moores into Spaine who afflicted them cruelly The complaints being come vnto Carthage Hanno was called home and discharged of his gouernment who in disdain thereof attempted to poyson the whole Senat in a banket which he prepared for his daughters marriage Hannos trecheri◠against the Senat of Carthage This trecherie being discouered and dissembled they presently made Sumptuarie law limitting the number of persons and the sorts of meats at such feasts But hauing escaped punishment yet fearing it he sought notwithstanding to trie his force with a multitude of slaues which he his kinsmen and friends had wherewith the people being incensed they besieged him tooke him in his house and then deliuered him to the Iudges by whose decree his eies were put out his lims broken his body torne with whips and then hung vpon a crosse his children and all his kinsfolkes were also put to death that they should haue no desire of reuenge A cruell example but excusable in the Africans for the foulenesse of the offence and the interest of their countrey The Carthaginians continue in the conquest of Spaine The Carthaginians affecting much the conquest of Spaine pursued it without any disturbance sending good Gouernors and wise captains wherein they prospered daily in such sort as they might terme themselues masters therof and so did enjoy it for aboue 350 yeares all the people of Spaine being their subjects or allies vntill that the Romanes began to make some practises The Romanes seeke to get footing in Spaine by emulation seeking to draw the people vnto them and to be assured of them when any occasion should be offered So either of these Commonweales made way for their great designes yet not entring into any ouert action but the Island of Sicile assayled by the Carthaginians and especially the towne of Messina did so engage them as it could not be appeased but with the ruine of the one party Messina the cause of the first Punicke warres For the space of 115 yeares there was either open war preparations for war or a counterfeit peace betwixt the Romans and the Carthaginians They entred into this hostilitie 489 yeres after the foundation of Rome and about 262 yeres before Christ. This first warre was decided in Sicile and in the Mediterranean sea during 24 yeares in which time the people of Spaine did adhere sometimes to one partie sometimes to another as their affaires succeeded the Carthaginians being in the end forced to demaund a peace of the Romans Spain nourisheth the hatred betwixt the Romans and Carthaginians the rest of their hatred and splene continued yet in Spaine for a time for those which had rebelled against the Carthaginians sought to maintaine their liberties by the fauour of the Romanes who encouraged and assisted them vnder hand yet Amilcar surnamed Barca father to Hannibal being appointed Gouernor and Lieutenant generall for the Carthaginians in Spaine subjected vnder their obedience almost all the nations and townes which had beene distracted and did shake the allies of the contrarie faction He was an irreconciliable enemie to the Romanes Priuat passion in Amilcar was the ruine of his countrey and would that his sonne Hannibal should succeed him in the like affection and as we say should sucke it from his mothers breasts binding him thereunto in his youth by othes and religious ceremonies For as he prepared to passe into Spaine with the armie offering the accustomed sacrifices vnto their gods to haue a prosperous voiage he caused his sonne Hannibal being then scarce nine yeares old to approach vnto the altar and hauing commaunded him to lay his hand vpon the sacrifice he made him sweare That as soone as he should be able to beare armes he should employ them to annoy the Romans and declare himselfe their enemie Amicar slaine by the Spaniards Whilest that Amilcar relies too much on his good fortune and pursues the rebels in Spaine inconsideratly he was slaine hauing done great exploits in nine yeares space They attribute the restoring and enlarging of Barcelone vnto him and according vnto some the naming of it Asdrubal his sonne in law succeeded him a wise and a valiant man vnder whom Hannibal learned his first precepts of warre And as the troubles did not onely continue but also encrease in Spaine new rebellions growing daily The Carthaginians tyrannie aduanced the Romans credit in Spaine by reason of the Carthaginians crueltie and tyrannie the Romanes were sollicited by many to take them into their protection whereunto they did willingly giue eare Wherupon these two Commonweales were vpon tearmes to enter into a more cruell warre than euer to auoid the which it was aduised by the Senate of Rome to send Quintus Luctatius into Spaine to treat with the Carthaginians and to settle some good course for the affaires of that countrey So as betwixt Luctatius for the Romans and Asdrubal for the Carthaginians there was a peace renewed and confirmed betwixt those two Estates A new accord betwixt the Romanes and Carthaginians and the friends and allies of either part in Spaine appointing the riuer of Ebro for a limit and barre betwixt them beyond the which they might not lead any armie And for that the towne of Saguntum being then rich and populous held them long in debate either desiring to haue it on his faction in the end not able to agree it was concluded That it should remaine neuter vse her owne lawes and be maintained in her libertie and that neither partie should attempt any thing to the preiudice thereof The Estate of Spaine being thus ordered the peace which was not well assured betwixt the Romanes and Carthaginians continued three and twentie yeres or thereabouts accounting from the day that it was concluded in Sicile Asdrubal gouerned Spaine beyond Ebro eight yeares and aduaunced the affaires of his Commonweale more by mildnesse than by armes whom they make the founder of new Carthage but returning to a rigorous course his crueltie incited a Gaule The great resolution of a seruant louing his master who serued him to murther him reuenging the death of a
Syllanus to gard that which lies on this side Ebro with 3000 foot and 300 horse and he himself past on with the rest of the armie the which consisted of 25000 foot and 2500 horse Some were of opinion that the enemies armies lying farre distant one from another he should goe and fight with the neerest But he thought otherwise for he doubted that whilest he should spend his time to draw the enemie to fight and to seeke his aduantages the others would make hast to come into those parts so all three armies being vnited together he should not be able to make head against them Wherefore he resolued to go and suddenly to besiege new Carthage a towne verie rich of it selfe and abounding with all sorts of prouision Scipio begins his charge with a great enterprise of victuals armes and treasure which the enemies had laid vp there for the warre and in the which the hostages of all the good townes and prouinces of Spaine were kept situated in a commodious place to passe into Africke hauing an ample port and capable of any great fleet Silence required in a great captaine and the best of all that coast of Spaine Yet hee did not acquaint any man liuing with this his resolution but onely C. Lelius who commanded the armie at sea hauing giuen him charge so to direct his course C. Lelius Generall of the gallies as at one instant they should come before the towne with both armies The seuenth day of their departure from the riuer of Ebro Carthage was besieged both by sea and land The campe was planted on the North side and fortified with a palisadoe The situation of Carthage was after this manner The situation of new Carthage In the middest of that coast of Spaine is a gulfe which runnes fiue hundred paces into the land and hath not much lesse in breadth The mouth of this gulfe is couered with a little island which defends it from all winds except that which carries the name of Africke of the place from whence it comes which we may cal Southeast or Libecchio according to the Italians Within this gulfe there riseth a peece of ground almost like an island on the which the towne is built Which peece of ground is enuironed with the sea on the East and South sides hauing towards the West a marish which doth couer some part of the North the which is not verie safe being in some places deeper than in others as the sea doth rise and fall A little hill joynes the towne vnto the firme land being some two hundred and fiftie paces This part was left open by Scipio without any fortification whether hee did it to braue the enemie or leaue this passage open to make continuall courses and attempts vpon the towne and then to haue his retreat easie Hee also planted his gallies within the port seeming as if hee would also besiege the towne by sea giuing charge vnto the captaines to be watchfull and to stand vpon their gards For in the beginning of a siege he that is shut vp doth most commonly make greatest sallies Hauing therefore prouided for all things necessarie for a siege he then resolued to impart his designe vnto his souldiors and to shew them the reasons which had mooued him to begin warre by a siege and to persuade them that it was easie to take it suddenly whilest their forces were farre off Hee shewed them That new Carthage was of such consequence as the taking thereof would conquer all Spaine for the Romanes by reason of the hostages of the princes potentates townes and commonweales of the countrey which were kept there the which being taken the enemie who had not any but mercinarie souldiours which must alwayes haue money would soone bee abandoned by their men for that the money appointed for their pay was within the towne in the which the Carthaginians made their treasurie the magazine for their victuals and for all sorts of munitions and engines All which things said hee the towne being taken will come into our hands and the enemie shall bee left naked of all meanes to make warre We on the other side shall be furnished of all things necessarie but aboue all wee shall get a good towne and commodious port to receiue all things whereof wee shall haue need as well by sea as land yea we shall haue an easie passaage into Africke if it be needfull to go thither He made so liuely an impression of the opportunitie profit and easinesse of the siege and enterprise as they began to crie that he should lead them to the assault the which he did presently Mago commanded within the towne who seeing that they prepared to come vnto an assault gaue order on his side to withstand their furie He assured himselfe of the castle for his retreat putting fiue hundred souldiours into it and as many vpon a high ground within the towne on the East side He appointed two thousand souldiours to make a furioussally vpon the enemie and the rest of the multitude were put in conuenient places to succor where need should require These Carthaginians opening their gates issued out vpon the Romans comming to the assault and staied them wheras the fight was long doubtfull but the Romanes hauing still fresh supplies the Carthaginians were in the end forced to turne their backes in such feare and disorder as if they had beene eagerly pursued they had entred pell mell with them into the towne in the which the tumult and confusion was no lesse than in the fight for many of them left their gards for feare as if the towne had beene taken Scipio obseruing what was done and watching all occasions from an eminent place seeing the walles abandoned in some places hee put all his armie in battaile commaunding them to march towards the towne with their ladders He himselfe being couered with some soldiours that were well armed goes among the troupes to encourage them and to be an eye witnesse of the valor cowardise of euery one The wals were again furnisht with soldiors by the diligence of Mago wherefore the souldiours comming to the assault were entertained with a shower of darts and arrowes which fell vpon them more vpon their flanks than in afront besides the wall towards the firme land was very high Notwithstanding the souldiors animated by their Generals presence and with a desire to vanquish and spoile planted their ladders of all sides and mounted couragiously striuing who should get first to the top of the wal But many of the ladders being ouer-laden with the multitude brake and they fell into the ditch besides most of them were too short They gaue an assault in like manner towards the sea but with more amazement than danger and of euerie side there was more brute than effect so as for this time the Romans were repulst which gaue courage vnto the enemies and hope they should be able to keepe the towne persuading themselues they were out
of scaladoe and that their armies should haue time ynough to come and succour them But Scipio who was resolued to take this towne did not suffer them to continue long in this errour for as soone as he had caused them which had giuen the first assault to retire being wearie and wounded he made other fresh souldiours to aduance against the towne to renew the assault taking the ladders from their companions He had beene aduertised by fishermen of Tarracone which were in his campe and who had waded through the marishes on the West side of the towne That there was no great store of water along the wall when the tyde was spent and that it was easie to goe to the foot of it and withall had obserued that on that side the wall was but low ill rampared and fortified and without gards for that they assured themselues of this stil water Wherfore vpon the ebbe and a strong Northerly wind which draue out the water it was easie to wade through he embraced this occasion and sent some troups thither shewing them the easie accesse saying That the gods did inuite them and assure their passage causing the sea to retire whereby they might take the towne as it fell out For finding no man to resist them whilest that all were busie in other places where as they feared most they entred into the towne and marched directly towards the port where as the combate was hottest where they were sooner felt than heard and the enemies were charged both in front and in flanke before they knew that the towne was taken so as the number increasing still one helping another ouer the wall euerie one sought to saue himselfe and not any one made any more resistance New Carthage taken Wherefore the gate being broken and an entrie made for the armie they entred in battaile into the towne with their commaunders and ensignes and seised vpon the chiefe places Those which had past ouer the walls made a great slaughter of the inhabitants The Carthaginian souldiours retired themselues into two forts the one was to that high peece of ground aboue mentioned on the East part of the towne garded by fiue hundred souldiours and the other was the castle which Mago had reserued The mount being assailed by a part of the Romane armie was presently forced Soone after Mago seeing there was no more hope hauing made some resistance yeelded the fort also and all that was within it Vntill that time the Romanes slew all they met aboue fourteene yeares of age but the castle being yeelded they were commaunded to cease from killing then they began to fall to the spoile The number of the prisoners taken at Carthage which was verie great where they had ten thousand prisoners all men of free condition Those that were naturall citizens were set free and the towne restored vnto them and all that was found belonging vnto them There were also found about two thousand artisans whom Scipio adjudged to the publique of the people of Rome giuing them hope of speedie libertie if they carried themselues like good men and did imploy themselues valiantly in the warres With the rest of the youth which was able and strong he furnished his gallies and encreased his armie at sea with eight gallies taken from the enemie Besides this multitude there was found within the fort the Spanish hostages whom hee treated as honourably as if they had beene allyed to the people of Rome Scipio intreats the Spanish hostages kindly Thus this wise Generall by his mildnesse and humanitie woon the hearts of the people with more honor and much lesse paine and daunger than if he would haue forced them by armes the which notwithstanding he could well employ at need The engines to batter and defend townes and forts were infinit there were threescore and fourteene ensignes taken the gold and siluer was carried to the Generall there were two hundred threescore and sixteen cups of gold euery one weighing a pound and in siluer coined eighteene thousand and three hundred pounds weight with great store of siluer plate All which things were deliuered by weight to C. Flaminius the treasurer Besides there was found 40000 bushels of wheat and 270000 of barley There were taken within the port an hundred and thirteene shippes of burthen whereof many were still laden with armes corne siluer yron cloth stuffe to make ropes and other things for the vse of shippes so as in regard of the spoyle the towne of Carthage was esteemed of least value 14 The heat and furie of the souldiours being past and Scipio in quiet possession of the towne without any contradiction the same day leauing the towne in gard to Caius Lelius with the souldiors of his gallies and mariners he brought backe the Armie and Legions to their campe very much tyred with so many exploits of warre which they had done in one day for they had fought hand to hand in field had giuen an assault and taken the towne with extreame paine and danger and that being taken they had been still forced to fight with great disaduantage against them that held the castle wherefore he suffered them to rest vntill the next day when as he caused the whole armie both of sea and land to assemble thanking first of all the gods Scipio doth first giue thanks to the gods for his victorie who not onely had deliuered into their hands the richest towne of all Spaine but had gathered together in it as it were a spoyle of all that was precious in Spaine and Africke so as their enemies were left naked of all things and they were abundantly furnished with superfluitie Then did he publikely acknowledge the valour of his souldiors commending such as had done their duties He commends the souldiors valour according to euery mans vertue and resolution wherewith they had repulsed the enemies who had sallied out so furiously against them and notwithstanding the height of their wals the dangers of vnknowne passages in the moores and the munition of their forts and citadels they had past all and surmounted all obstacles Wherefore although he knew that all deserued much yet it was expedient to haue an especiall regard to those that had first mounted vp the wals and therefore he commaunded they should shew themselues There were two souldiors which pretended this honour to be due vnto them it was a crowne of gold made with battlements A murall crown which the custome and auncient militarie order of the Romanes did giue vnto him that mounted first vp the enemies walls One of these was Q. Trebellius a Centenier of the first Legion and the other Sextus Digitius a souldior of the sea armie Emulatian for honour who as it happeneth often had put the whole armie into factions either being supported by them of his ranke C. Lelius maintained them of the fleet and M. Sempronius Turditanus the Legionaries which contention had almost bred a mutinie but Scipio gaue them
neere vnto Senegaille with almost all the Spaniards Gaules and Ligurians whereof his army consisted Asdrubal and his armie defeated in Italie a defeat which did recompence that of Canes yet was it not without great effusion of bloud on the Romanes side who lost aboue 8000 men Yet this did assure their estate which vntill that time had beene in great danger and Hannibal vpon the newes of his brothers death began to distrust his owne good successe and his countries Spaine during Asdrubals preparation and a while after his passage into Italie had some rest from warre but they fell soone againe to armes At that time Asdrubal sonne to Gisgo kept about the Island of Gades and in the West marches neere vnto the Ocean The Romanes commaunded all along the Mediterranean sea and held all that part of Spaine which lies towards the East Hanno sent from Caâ—thage into Spain with a new armie In the place of Asdrubal Barcinien they had sent Hanno from Carthage with a new armie who hauing passed the sea joyned with Mago These two had leuied among the Celtiberians which is in the middest of Spaine great troupes of souldiors in a short space Scipio sent M. Syllanus against this armie with 10000 foot and 500 horse who making great marches by difficult and strait passages which are ordinarie in Spaine he approched by the meanes of certaine Celtiberian guides who had changed their partie neere vnto the enemy before they had any newes of him being also aduertised by the same Celtiberians when hee came within two leagues of them that vpon the way hee should encounter two of their campes that of Celtiberians newly leuied on the left hand being some 9000 men and the other of Carthaginians on the right hand As for these they obserued good discipline kept their gards and had their sentinels placed in good order but the others regarded it not but were secure and carelesse like new souldiors who thinking themselues at home apprehended nothing that was to be feared Wherefore Syllanus marched first towards them causing his troupes to goe on the left hand as closely as they could least the Carthaginians in the other lodging should discouer him Then he sent forth some to discouer the enemies countenance and marched speedily after them He was now within lesse than halfe a league before the enemie had any notice of his comming for he went by broken wayes and deepe vallies full of trees where he fed his armie there they returned vnto him whom he had sent forth to discouer who confirmed that which the reuolted Spaniards had deliuered vnto him Then the Romanes leauing their baggage vpon the place put themselues in battaile and marched against the enemies whom they found in great amazement seeing the Romane armie so neere Mago who was in the other campe posted thither vpon the first bruit to put them in defence There were some 4000 good souldiours among the Celtiberians carrying targuets and 200 horse the which were set in the front and the rest to second them were lightly armed and in this manner they came to fight They were scarce come without their rampiers when as the Romanes cast their darts at them but the Spaniards stooped to auoid them M. Syllanus surprizeth and defeats the Carthaginians then rising suddainely againe they cast theirs against the Romanes who standing close and couered with their targuets defended themselues from any harme but approaching neerer they came to the sword The place where they did fight was of great aduantage for the Celtiberians by reason of the vneuennesse whose custome was to skirmish with leapes and jumpes contrarie to the Romanes who fight close and stand firme and therefore this vneuen ground did not much trouble them but that they were sometimes constrained to breake their rankes by reason of the straits and little groues wherewith the countrey is full fighting sometimes one to one and two to two the which did also hinder the enemies from flying and exposed them to the slaughter All those of the fore-ward which carried targuets were in a manner slaine and they continued killing and ouerthrowing those that were lightly armed and the Carthaginians which were come to their succours led by another Hanno who was taken aliue but Mago retyred in the beginning of the battaile with about 3000 foot and all the horse and the tenth day after came vnto Asdrubals campe The Celtiberian souldiours which remained got home into their countrey through the woods and forrests This victorie was very pleasing vnto Scipio who did greatly extoll Syllanus his vertue and was in hope to end the warre if he did speedily set vpon Asdrubal who remained in the remotest part of Spaine in the Betique Prouince which now is Andalousie He hauing intelligence that Scipio marched towards him dislodged from the place where hee encamped Asdrubal breaks vp his army and leaues the field to the Romans and retyred in great disorder towards the Island of Gades then thinking that whilest he had an armie in field they would not cease to pursue him he resolued to breake vp his campe and to put his souldiours into garrison as well for their safetie as the townes and he himselfe went into the Island Scipio being aduertised that the enemie had no armie in field and seeing that he must make warre in diuers parts of the countrey and besiege one towne after another a matter of some difficultie and of more toile than profit he turned head again yet for that he would not wholly abandon that part of Spain to the enemy he left L. Scipio his brother with an army of 10000 foot and 1000 horse to trie if he could take Auringe the chiefe place of the country situated in a fertile soyle vpon the marches of the Mellesians the inhabitants whereof were naturall Spaniards There were certain mynes of siluer found it was Asdrubals retreat from whence he made his courses into the countrey L. Scipio being come neere the towne before he did wholly besiege it he sent some to parle with the inhabitants to know their minds and to persuade them rather to trie the Romans friendship than their armes Preuailing nothing he besieged it and cast a trench about it with a double pallisado diuiding his armie into 3 troupes the which should keepe the towne in continuall alarme The first assault giuen by one of the three troupes was valiantly maintained and their ladders with the souldiors which mounted throwne into the ditch and the assailants were often in danger to be drawne vp with hooks of yron which the besieged cast downe from the wals and towers The Romans besiege Auringe so as the Romans were forced to retire L. Scipio finding that the small number which he had sent to the assault made the partie vnequall hauing therefore caused the first to retire he sent all the rest of his armie to giue a new assault the which did so amaze the besieged being tyred with the first assault as
with the whole armie hauing against the expectation both of his own soldiors and of the enemie set the Romans vpon either wing and the troupes of their allies in the midst Asdrubal moued at the noyse which his horsemen made goes out of his tent and seeing the tumult which was before the trenches and palisadoes of his campe the smal assurance of his soldiors the enemies colours glistering a far off and all the fields couered with their troups he presently sends forth his horsemen against the Roman horse and he himselfe hauing put his footmen in battell goes out of his campe without changing any thing of his former order The horsmens encounter continued long without any aduantage for whē as any one was forced to giue back the which was ordinarie on either side they had a safe retreat to their squadrons of foot but after that the bodies of both armies were neere one vnto another Scipio giuing a signe caused his horse to retire opening the ranks of foot receiued them within the battell then he placed them in two squadrons behind the points of it to reenforce and support his foot and when he saw it was time to charge he commanded the battaillon in the middest which were all Spaniards to march softly he himselfe leading the right point had giuen charge to Syllanus and Martius who had charge on the other side that as they should see him aduance The Romanes and the Carthaginians ioyne in battaile they should doe the like and begin the battaile with the enemy with the most resolute of their horse and foot before the two squadrons in the middest should come to joyne Wherefore stretching forth in this manner both the wings either of them with three companies of foot and as many horse and some forlorne hopes lightly armed went with all speed to affront the enemie whilest the others followed Betwixt both wings there was a void place for that the Spaniards marched more slowly and they had alreadie begun the charge on either side when as the chiefe strength of the enemie which consisted in the Carthaginians and old African souldiors was yet a crosse-bow shot of and durst not turne towards the wings to succour their companions least they should leaue the battaile naked and open to the enemie who came against them The horsemen and Romane souldiours did wonderfully gall the enemies wings vpon the flankes the companies of foot which made the point prest them in front and sought to cut off the wings from the rest of the battaile and euen now the partie was not equall in any part for besides that the points of the Carthaginians armie were furnished with horse-boyes and Spaniards newly leuied Scipioes policie deceiues Asdrubal who had to deale with Romanes and braue Latine souldiors the day being far spent Asdrubals armie grew weake for that they had beene surprised by the alarme in the morning and were forced to put themselues in battaile without feeding the which Scipio had done of purpose and to that end had delayed the fight for many houres beginning it as late as he could It was past noone before the foot companies which were in the wings began to charge and much later before the battaillons in the middest did joyne so as before that all their forces came to fight the heat of the Sunne the toyle being so long on foot laden with armes hunger and thirst had so tyred the Carthaginians and young Africanes as they were forced to support themselues vpon their targuets they were so faint Besides the Elephants terrified with the furious combate which was vpon either wing had run through their middle battaillon Wherefore the Carthaginians tyred in bodie and fainting in courage began to recoyle but without disorder euen as if they had retyred by their Generals commaund But the victorious Romanes charging them with great resolution on all sides when as they found them to shrinke notwithstanding all the persuasions of Asdrubal to keepe their rankes vnto the next hils where they had a safe retreat being not able to withstand the enemies force they all turned their backes and fled feare being of more force than shame Feare is of more force than shame Being come vnto the foot of those hils they would haue stayed their ensignes and rallied themselues to make head against the Romanes who had made a stand to put themselues in order to assayle them but when they saw they were eagrely pursued they fled into the fortification of their campe with great amazement being chased so neere by the Romanes as they had almost entred pell-mell with them There fell so great a shower after the heat of the Sunne as they which pursued were forced to stand still and to retyre with great toyle vnto their campe yea there were some which did superstitiously beleeue That it was not good to proceed any farther that day Although the night and the raine did inuite the Carthaginians who were tyred and wounded to take some rest yet feare and danger made them to fortifie their campe with all expedition which they presumed would be assayled by the enemie at the breake of day and seeing they could not conquer by armes they raysed their rampiers with stones gathered out of the neere vallies Hereupon they did see themselues abandoned by their allies Trecherie of the Spaniards to the Carthaginians their allies wherefore they thought it best to be gone holding flight more safe for them than anyforce The beginning of the Spaniards reuolt was by Atanes Lord of the Turditanes who passed vnto the Romans campe with great troupes of his subjects and soone after two forts of importance were yeelded vnto the Romanes by such as had them in gard Asdrubal fearing this mischiefe would grow greater trussed vp his baggage and dislodged Scipio being aduertised in the morning that the enemie was gone sent his horsemen after them and then marched after with the Legions and the rest of the armie with all speed who if they had followed them the rightway they had soone ouertaken them but they trusted to their guides who assured them of another way which conducted them to the riuer of Betis where they might cut off their passage Asdrubal hearing that way was stopped was once in mind to haue retired towards the Ocean but his souldiours obseruing no kind of discipline marched like men that fled so as they got some ground of the Romane Legions yet the horsemen and souldiors which were lightly armed pursued them still and did not abandon them but charging them sometimes in the rere and sometimes in the flanke did stay them and force them to fight vntill the Legions arriued then was there no more any combat but a slaughter as of sheepe vntill that their Generall the author of their flight saued himselfe with about seuen thousand men most without armes the rest were in a manner all slaine or taken The Carthaginians which escaped with their captaine An absolute defeat of the
lyes mid way betwixt vs and our lodging all that is behind vs is the enemies wherefore there is no better safetie than to trust to our owne vertues He then caused his companies which were gone to skirmish to retyre as if they would haue fled that he might draw forth the enemie as hee did for the Spaniards thinking that the Romanes had retyred for feare left their campe and came out armed filling the place betwixt their trenches and the Romanes armie and there put themselues confusedly and hastily into battaile but the Consull gaue them no leisure but caused certaine troupes of horsemen to aduance who came and charged these Barbarians thus disordered but the Romanes on the right hand were presently repulsed and retyring in hast had almost put the footmen in rout The Consull perceiuing this he presently sent two bands of foot who passing along the enemies right flanke presented themselues behind before the battaillons of foot came to joyne the which did so amaze the enemies as the partie which before was doubtfull for the Romans by reason of the disorder of their horse was now almost equall yet both the horse and foot on the right wing were so troubled as the Consull could hardly make them stand firme yea he was forced to take some by the hands to turne them against the enemie Whilest they did fight with their darts a farre off the encounter was doubtfull yea the Romanes wauering on the right wing could hardly be kept in order On the left wing and in front the Spaniards were sorely prest and besides they feared those companies which came in the rere to charge them but when they were approched and so joyned as no blow fell in vaine and that there remained no hope but in their resolutions and valours being come to the sword and that Cato had refreshed his tyred men with new troupes The Spaniards defeated by Cato which charged the enemie like lightening then were they forced and put to rout so as they did what they could to saue themselues in their campe Then Cato galloping to the second Legion which he had reserued for succours he caused them to aduaunce speedily towards the enemies campe to force it but with such order as if any one aduaunced too fast or went out of his ranke he beat him into his order with a jaueline which he carried commaunding the colonels and captaines to doe the like Now did the Roman armie giue an assault vnto the enemies rampiers palisadoes who defended themselues valiantly repulsing their enemies with stones staues and other arms where a new Legion arriuing the combat was more furious both parties growing more couragious the one through hope the other through despaire The Consull riding about the campe obserued what part was worst manned or weakliest defended and finding that the gate on the left hand was but ill furnished with men he sent some of the formost rankes of the second Legion thither and such as carried long staues who forced the gard which was at this gate and entred into the campe The Spaniards seeing the enemies within their trenches leaue their armes and ensignes flye out of their ports and cast themselues ouer their rampiers euery man seeking to saue himselfe and one hindering another with hast so as there was a great slaughter of them that fled A great slaughter of Spaniards and their baggage was all taken Some hold that there died in this battaile fortie thousand Spaniards There are three commendable things noted in Cato in this action First to take all hope of safetie from his souldiors but by their armes and vertue he had led them far from their campe and ships betwixt the enemies campe and his countrey Secondly that he did send two companies behind the enemies armie whilest that he charged them in front and for the third that he had reserued the second Legion behind the rest and led them in good order to assayle the enemies campe whilest that all the other troupes were disbanded and busie in fight After this great victorie he gaue his souldiors no great rest for being a little refreshed in their campe he led them to spoyle the enemies countrey the which they did ouerrun at their pleasures for that they were all fled This was the cause which made the Spaniards of Empuria to yeeld and many other people thereabouts There were many inhabitants of other Cities and Communalties fled to Empuria whom Cato caused to come before him and courteously entreated them commaunding to giue them meat and drinke and then he sent them home to their houses Soone after he marched with his armie towards Tarracone and in all places where he passed he met with the embassadours of townes which yeelded vnto him so as all Spaine on this side Ebro was reduced vnder the obedience of the people of Rome before he came to Tarracone and from all places there were presented vnto him and freely giuen an infinite number of prisoners Romanes Latines and other allies which had beene taken by diuers accidents The bruite was That hee would lead his armie into Turditane which is the furthest part of Spaine towards the strait and some sayd That he would passe vnto the mountaines and places vnknowne The Spaniards alwaies apt to rebell Vpon this false bruit there were seuen strong places in the countrey of the Bargistanes which rebelled whom hee subdued without any great toyle or memorable combate but soone after the Consull being returned to Tarracone Catos seueritie in the Spaniards relapse they rebelled againe so as hee leading his armie thither againe subdued them but they escaped not so good cheape as at the first for he caused them all to be sold for slaues by the drumme to the end they should trouble the peace no more In the meane time the Pretor P. Manlius hauing receiued the armie from his predecessour Qu. Minutius and being joyned with that which Appius Claudius Nero had in the farther Spaine all old bands he marched into the countrey of Turditania the which is Andalousia and the countrey adjoyning The Turditanians were esteemed the worst warriours among all the people of Spaine yet trusting in their multitudes they came to encounter the Romans when the Romane horsemen disordered them at the first charge then the Legions arriuing they put them wholly to rout But the war was not thus ended for the Turditanians did entertaine in pay ten thousand Celtiberians and continued to make warre with these mercinaries The Consull being incensed at the double rebellion of the Bargistanes vsed his naturall rigor and seueritie against all the Spaniards which dwelt on this side the riuer of Ebro for he disarmed them all thinking that if they were armed they would vpon any occasion fall into rebellion This was taken so disdainefully by these people as many grew furiously mad and slew themselues The Spaniards esteemed not the life which passed without armes A nation in truth fierce and warlike who esteemed not
of these Pretors besides the armies which were in the countrey were appointed a supplie of 3000 foot and 300 horse newly leuied two third parts of them of their allies and the other third part of Romane citizens Paulus did twice defeat the barbarous Spaniards in battaile and slew 30000 hauing taken his aduantage vpon the passage of a riuer He brought vnder the obedience of the Romanes 250 places by their voluntarie yeelding and yet with the honour of all these gallant exploits he returned to Rome The great integritie of P. E. milius in his gouernment P. Emilius tut to rout by the Spaniards hauing not enriched himselfe one dragma during his gouernment the which is a rare thing in a man of commaund His gouernment being then continued for another yeare he did somewhat blemish the glorie of his victories by a notable rout which he had in the Bastitanes countrey whereas he lost 6000 men vpon the place the rest of his army recouered their campe with great difficultie and then was forced with long marches to retyre himselfe into places of more safetie but afterwards attending the comming of L. Bebius who should succeed him he was reuenged of the Lusitanians for his former losse of whom he slew 18000 tooke 330 and woon their campe with their baggage L. Bebius had beene chosen at Rome to succeed him but as he marched by the riuer of the Ligusticke sea he was set vpon by certaine Ligurians who slew most part of his men and himselfe being wounded The vnfortunat encounter of L. Babius hee was forced to saue himselfe in Marseilles with a small number and without vshers whereas the third day after he died These newes being sent to Rome by them of Marseilles the Senat appointed That P. Brutus in the Pretors place should take the gouernment of the further Spaine and leauing the armie and prouince of Tuscane to one of his lieutenants he should speedily depart In the other part of Spaine Ann. Rome 564 neerer vnto Gaule L. Plautius Hipseus was appointed in C. Flaminius place whose gouernment was reasonably quiet M. Valertus Messala and C. Liuius Salinator being made Consuls at Rome the hither part of Spaine was giuen to L. Manlius Acidinus Anno 565. and to C. Catinius the farther who continued in the same charge the yeare following in the which the Lusitanians and Celtiberians troubled the peace went armed to field the which being written to Rome by the Pretors they did chuse L. Quintius Crispinus who had that part of Spaine which lyes beyond the riuer of Ebro and C. Calphurnius Piso for the other part C. Catinlus defeats the Lusitanians Whilest they prepare C. Catinius came to fight with the Lusitanians in the territorie of Asta whom he defeated in battaile woon their campe and slew 6000 vpon the place but as he gaue an assault to the towne of Asta the which was taken without any great resistance he was wounded and died soone after L. Manlius the other Vice-Pretor had an encounter with the Celtiberians in his gouernment yet no man knew who had the victorie He that leaues the field consesseth he is vanquished onely the Celtiberians dislodged the night following confessing thereby that they were vanquished The Romans being masters of the field had leysure to burie their dead and to gather vp their spoyles Within few dayes after the Celtiberians hauing augmented their forces they came and assayled the Romanes neere to Calaguris which now is Calahorra but they were beaten and lost 12000 men vpon the place The Celtiberians defeated 2000 were taken prisoners and they were chased out of their campe and lost their baggage And such was the heat of this victorie that if they had not beene restrained by the comming of the new Pretors the Celtiberians had beene wholly subdued Quintius and Calphurnius as soone as they were within their prouinces lodged their armies to Winter L. Manlius being returned to Rome made his entrie with the ceremonie called Ouatio whither he brought 52 crownes of gold 132 pounds of gold 16300 pounds of siluer and declared in open Senate That besides all that his Treasurer Qu. Fabius brought 10000 pounds of siluer and 80 pounds of gold to be put into the common Treasurie 11 The Spring time being come Beturia now called Estreâ—â— Dura the two Pretors went to field with their armies and joyned together in Beturia marching towards the Carpetanians countrey where the enemies were then in field The beginning of their exploits was not very successfull but in the end they made reparation of their errors The fight began betwixt the forragers on either side neere vnto the townes of Hippo and Tolede to whose succours there came some from either army and in the end all their forces came thither so as the Spaniards seeing themselues in a conuenient place for their manner of fighting the two Romane armies were defeated in this vnexpected skirmish The Romans defeated but the Spaniards cannot pursue the victorie and repulsed with great disorder and amazement within their pallisadoes and rampiers and yet the enemies could not follow their good fortunes The Pretors fearing to be assaulted dislodged in the night and at the breake of day the Spaniards presented themselues before the trenches but seeing no shew of any enemie they entred into the campe whereas they made bootie of that which the Romanes could not carrie away with them This done they stayed there some dayes without attempting any thing The Romans lost in this combat and in the flight about fiue thousand men of their citizens and allies with whose spoyles the Spaniards armed themselues and marched towards the banks of Tayo All the respite the Romane Pretors had they employed it to fill vp their bands with Spanish souldiors of their friends and allies and to assure the rest which had bin beaten Wherefore when as they did see their forces reasonably well repaired and their souldiours hearts reuiued who demaunded nothing more than the enemie to reuenge the disgrace which they had receiued they came and encamped within twelue miles of the riuer of Tayo when as a good part of the night was spent they tooke vp their ensignes and came by the breake of day to the riuers side whereas they put themselues into a square battaile The enemies were on the other side encamped on the side of a hill and the Romans hauing found a foord in two places passed ouer Quintius on the right hand and Calphurnius on the left The Spaniards know not how to embrace the occasion but the enemie moued not who being amazed at their suddaine arriuall spent time in consultation what they should do when they might haue disordered all the Roman armie being troubled at the passage of this riuer In the end all passed both souldiors baggage the which they laid all together for they neither had any conuenient place nor any leisure to make any trenches nor to plant their campe for
the Emperour Valens time for we read That at the Councell of Nice which was vnder Constantine the Great among others there came Theophilus a Bishop of the Gothes wherefore they were alreadie Christians and Orthodoxes although there were some idolatrous princes among them and by consequence part of the people so as when they came vpon the territories of the Empire Valens reigning in the East they had Bishops whereof the most famous was Vulphilas The manner how they became Arrians is reported by Theodorite in the fourth booke of the Ecclesiasticall Historie Gothes made Arrians by the Romanes saying That after the Gothes had passed the riuer of Ister or Danube and that they had made their peace with Valens Eudoxus who was an Arrian persuaded Valens who was also infected with this heresie to draw the Gothes to his opinions for that conformitie in religion would make the peace more firme Wherewith Valens hauing acquainted the princes heads of the Gothike nation they made answer That they could not chaÌ„ge the doctrine of their ancestors Then Eudoxus addressing himselfe to Vulphilas whom he knew to be couetous and ambitious he preuailed so with faire words money as he got him to persuade the Gothes to receiue the Emperors confession of faith the which he did saying That they were but childish contentions Docilitie of the Gothike nation and debates for words and not for doctrine for this Vuâ—philas was in great credit with the Goths and they say that he inuented the Gothike letters and translated the Bible into that tongue Thus were these people gouerned by their Bishops and Prelates they were a free people and couragious and withall tractable and apt to learning and Philosophie the which they learned frequenting with more ciuile nations hardie and valiant and yet familiar and liberall apt to arms tall and of a goodly stature strong and patient to endure all the discommodities of warre This new nation being seated in the territories of the Empire The crueltie auarice and infidâ—litâ—e of Valenâ—s and his lieutenants against the Gothes the Emperor was aduised to make his profit of them and to draw money and other commodities from them for their dwellings and for the vse of the land water and ayre which he graunted them the which he could well put in practise especially his gouernors lieutenants so as this nation found themselues in a short time oppressed with a harder seruitude vnder the Romane Empire than their countreymen were vnder the Hunnes For the Gothes being distressed for victuals Lupicin and Maximus Gouernours of Thrace inuented all the wicked deuices they could to make them poore and to strip them of that they had making them to eat dogs and other beasts for euery one of which they were forced to giue a man to be a slaue Besides Lupicin hauing caused Fritigerne and Alauin captains of the Gothes to come to Martianopolis to conferre with them vpon the complaints which were made of these inhumanities hee incensed them with proud and injurious words so as hauing cunningly escaped out of his hands they afterwards declared themselues enemies to the Romane Empire so as there grew a great and cruell warre betwixt the Gothes and the Romanes by the which the Emperour and his lieutenants were punished for their couetousnesse and impieties Lupicin seeking to suppresse the spoyles which the Goths made was defeated and in the end after many vnfortunat encounters betwixt both parties Defeat of the Emperor Valens armie and his miserable end the Emperour Valens hauing lost a battaile where the best of his men died he also lost his life being burnt by the Gothes in a country house into the which he was retired wounded after the losse of the battaile and without the valour and wisdome of Theodosius whom God raised vp to succeed Valens in the East the Gothes had rooted out the name of the Romanes in that countrey But Theodosius a Spaniard Theodosius a good Prince a wise and vertuous prince did suppresse them and afterwards made a peace with them so as after the death of Fritigerne his successor Athanaric a friend and well affected to the Romane Empire died in Theodosius court after which the Gothes remained 14 yeares quietly vnder the Romane Emperours without any king of their nation Alaric chiefe of the Gothes vntill that Alaric one of their captaines who had serued Theodosius in his warres against Eugenius the tyrant rebelled and put the Gothes in armes Arcadius and Honorius sonnes to Theodosius sitting in the imperiall seat 3 The Gothes disdaining to be any more subject to the Romanes and meaning to chuse a king of their owne there grew a sedition and warre among themselues some desiring Alaric others Radagase but Alaric had the soueraigntie Wherefore Radagase with aboue two hundred thousand of that nation went into Italie whilest that Alaric opprest Hungarie against whom Stilico who gouerned the Westerne Empire vnder Honorius opposed himselfe and finding this armie of Gothes shut vp in the Appenine hils bordering vpon Tuscane it was consumed with hunger and pouertie Radagase slain and his armie of Gothes ruiued their leader Radagase was taken and strangled and those which remained were sold in great troupes for slaues at a small rate This Radagase was an idolatrer and would haue planted idolatrie againe in Italie It was at such a season when as the Romane Empire was in greatest combustion especially in the West for besides the inuasion of the Gothes in Italie The French inuade Gaule the Frenchmen a people of Germanie bordering vpon Gaule sought to make a breach there and entred in great troupes vpon the countrey adjoyning vpon the riuer of Rhene against whom Stilico who was a Henete or Sclauonian borne meaning to fortifie himselfe with barbarous nations called into Gaule the Bourguignons Sueues Alanes and Vandales nations which were chased out of their countries on the one side by the Hunnes and on the other by the Gothes who afterwards raunged and spoyled Gaule themselues and would haue seized thereon for the which they had many encounters with the Emperours Lieutenants with variable successe Great was the vertue and valour then of Constantius Patricius who gouerned Gaule Narbonoise the which wee now call by the name of Prouence and Languedoc by whom the Vandales were repulsed and forced to passe into Spaine where for a time they did ouerrun the countrey and being afterwards followed by the Alanes and Sueues they sought to settle themselues there Gunderic reigned ouer the Vandales Hermeric ouer the Sueues and the Alanes were commaunded by Resplandian or Atace according vnto some These diuided Spaine betwixt them The Barbarians diuide the conquest of Spaine betwixt them so as the Alanes should make warre in the countrey of Carthagene and in part of Portugall or Lusitania as it was then called part of the Vandales called Silinges should conquer Betica called since Andalusia and the other Vandales with the Sueues should settle in Gallicia
woods and desarts leading a solitarie life from whence he retired them Leandre bishop of Seuille was then famous for his learning and holinesse a great friend to S. Gregorie whom he had knowne at Constantinople of which friendship they say that the image of the virgine Marie which is in great yea in superstitious veneration in these dayes at Guadalupe is a witnesse and that S. Gregorie sent it to Leandre As one kind of Antichrist should haue an end so it was necessarie that to exercise the Church of God others should come Wherefore during the raigne of Leouigilde Mahumet the great seducer was borne Birth of Mahumet with whose doctrine the Arabians did a while after infect Spaine and soone after that grew the quarell for the Primacie betwixt the bishops of Constantinople and Rome And as among those which made profession of the Christian religion there were many abuses which had beene receiued and embraced or else dissembled by the most learned and religious the rashnesse of the one and the negligence of the other gaue place to impietie the which hath since preuailed in the world vsing force with the one hand Anno 580. and fraud with the other This was in the yeare 580 which the Spaniards account 618 of their Aera yet others say That it was in the yeare of Christ 591 that this scourge of Gods Church was borne in Arabia of the race of Agar and Ismael His father was called Abdalia or Abedela his mother Emina A little before the death of Leouigilde Amalaric the tyrant would haue made himselfe king of Gallicia but he was taken by the kings lieutenants in those marches Leouigilde hauing raigned eighteene yeares Repentanâ—â— Leouigilde dyed at Toledo who by the report of Saint Gregorie repented himselfe of the rigour and crueltie he had vsed to his sonne Hermengilde being desirous to reforme himselfe to the pure religion and dying recommended his other sonne Ricared to Leandre intreating him to instruct him as he had done his other sonne and he commaunded Ricared to call home the Christian bishops which he had banished He was the first king of the Gothes raigning in Spaine which vsed a robe of purple or other royall ornaments for vntill that time the kings of that nation were apparelled like vnto the other nobles He first of all began to heape vp treasure and filled his cofers with spoils of temples confiscations and other violences vsed to good men whereof many were put to death by him He corrected the lawes made by Euric his predecessor and reduced them into better forme 15. Ricared 26 RIcared being crowned by Leandre An. 585. as Luke Tudensis writes hee was instructed in the true Christian religion the first yere of his raigne and preuailed so with mild words and strong reasons as hee persuaded many of the Arrian bishops to leaue that heresie and to follow the better partie and so consequently the noblemen common people He ordained That the goods which had been taken and confiscated for that cause should be restored and of a destroyer he became a builder of churches He put Sisbert the murtherer of his brother Hermingilde ignominiously to death Ricared of a destroyer becomes a nurse of the churches he discouered supprest the conspiracy of bishop Sunna and of Sugga Arrians who would haue made themselues tyrants The bishop was banished and Suggas hands cut off and then confined into Gallicia There was another conspiracie auerred of bishop Vldila and of queene Gosuintha against Ricared and punished Vldila was banished and Gosuintha died soone after she had beene a perpetuall enemie to the Christians The French being come into Languedoc with a great armie of aboue threescore thousand men vnder a captaine called Desiderius and then vnder Boson being sent by Guntran king of Orleans Ricared sent Claude duke of Lusitania against them who obtained one of the greatest and most memorable victories that euer was An admirable victorie and scarce credible neere vnto Carcassonne For we read that with 300 men or thereabouts he defeated all this great power of the French and tooke all their baggage The fourth yeare of his raigne he caused a Councell to be called at Toledo which was the third 3 Councell of Toledo where the Gothes absured the Arrian heresie at the which there were assembled threescore and two bishops of his realme of either side of the Pyrenee mountaines or threescore and ten according vnto some There he did renounce and abjure the Arrain heresie and Badda his wife with all the noblemen Gothes did the like all confessing the equalitie of the three persons in one diuinitie The Metropolitanes at this Councell were 1 Mausona of Merida 2 Leandre of Seuille whom Luke Tudensis cals Primat and the Popes Legat. 3 Euphemius of Toledo 4 Pantard of Bracara 5 Nigith of Narbona 6 Stephen of Tarracone These were the Archbishops and Metropolitanes by the which the Arrian heresie was condemned with the which the noblemen Gothes had beene abused two hundred and thirteene yeares At this Councell did preside Leandre bishop of Seuille and Eutropius Abbot of the monasterie of Serui afterwards bishop of Valence Among other decrees it was ordained That no Iew should be admitted to any publike charge The acts of this Councell were not onely allowed by the king but also confirmed vnder his hand Since that time the custome is in Spaine that euerie one that presents himselfe vnto the Communion is bound to rehearse the articles of the Apostles Creed after the priest This was in the yeare of our Sauiour fiue hundred eightie nine An. 589. and adding thereunto thirtie eight yeares it makes the 627 of the Spaniards Aera King Ricared being thus in peace and imploying his time about matters of religion in Spain he discouered domestike trecheries which did much trouble him for a chamberlaine of his of the number of his captaines called Argâ—mund attempted against his estate and life Argemund a trailor punished to raigne in his place The enterprise being proued his partisans were executed and he also after that he had beene whipped and led vpon an asse through the citie of Toledo to serue for an example to all subjects not to rebell against their princes for ambition The Iewes did what they could to procure the king to abolish the decree of the Councell made against them and as in a maner all that nation haue euer giuen themselues to the trade of merchandise and are therefore full of money they offered a great summe to haue it effected but the king continued constant and they must haue patience This holy resolution of king Ricared and his nobilitie was ill seconded by the Pope and the Prelats of those times being alreadie accustomed to make superfluous shewes and oftentimes merchandise of externall things which were of small vse for pietie The king sent royall presents to pope Gregorie the first who was called Holy and an Angell vpon earth and he
Arthois had beene sent who with the aduise of a Cardinal the Popes Legat and Mary Princesse of Salerne wife vnto Charles who was prisoner gouerned the realme of Naples They were then vpon termes of a good accord when as these Gouernors hauing sent a great army into Sicile vnder the command of Renaud del Balso Earle of Auellin tooke the towne of Cattanea whereof king D. Alphonso being aduertised he sent backe Roger de Loria Admiral of Sicile to succor and defend his brothers country The Earle of Auellin hauing made this prize hee sent the galleys which had transported his army backe to Naples to bring the rest of his troupes which were yet on land and at the same instant Guy of Montfort Earle of Languillare with the Earles of Boullen and Flanders hauing leauied men in Tuscany were ready to imbarke vpon the bankes of Sienna when as Roger de Loria the Admiral arriued in the Italian seas who hauing descouered the fleet which went to transport the souldiars at Naples hee pursued them and tooke them easily hauing none to make any defence and soone after hee espied about sixty gallies sayling towards Sicile which was the army of those French Noblemen aboue named which had imbarqued in Tuscany whose Admiral was called Arrighin a Geneuois Roger charged them courragiously and put them to rout without any great difficulty for the souldiars in the French fleete could fight better at land then at sea the Commanders were taken all which paied their ransoms except the Earle of Montfort who was detained prisoner and there died These two victories were the recouery of Cattanea the which was yeelded to the Arragonois by the Earle of Auellin who with his compagnions returned with their bag and baggage to Naples By this meanes the treaty of peace which Edward made was broken but he desisted not vntil he had drawne them to those conditions That Charles should be set at liberty paying twenty thousand or as some say thirty thousand markes of siluer for his ransome That he should procure the Pope to inuest King Iames in the realme of Naples Conditions of peace betwixt the King of Arragon and Naples prisoner that he should take away the Interdict and absolue the two brethren of Arragon and that he should be a meanes to make Charles Earle of Valois quit the interest he pretended in Catalogne by vertue of a donation made vnto him by Pope Martin for the execution whereof hee should haue three yeeres time and in case he could not performe them hee should returne againe to prison for assurance whereof hee should giue his three sonnes Lewis Robert and Iohn in hostage with forty gentlemen of the county of Prouence The which Charles hauing promised and the hostages deliuered he was released foure yeeres after his taking He came into France and labored in vaine with Charles of Valois Charles of Valois wil not yeeld vp his right to Cattelogne who would neuer relinguish the title hee had to Cattelogne Pope Nicholas also would not yeeld vnto that which Charles had promised touching the realme of Sicile the which hee sayd was a fee belonging to the church wherefore he past speedily into Italy with good troupes of men led by Emery of Narbone Being in Tuscany he spent some time to fauour the Guelphes party against the Gibilins the which were two frantike factions afflicting Italy since the dissention betwixt the Popes and Emperor Frederic continued among the Italians without subiect or sence with horrible examples of Impiety and inhumanity The French which delt in these quarrels held the Guelphes faction Charles beeing come to Rome Pope Nicholas the fourth crowned him in the yeere of our Lord 1289. King of both Siciles from the which he could not be disswaded An. 1289. wherewith they Arragonois held themselues much wronged and fell to armes more violently then before Suritez affirmes that this yeere King Charles the Limping came and presented himselfe armed betwixt the valley of Ionquera and the hill of Panizaçe making a shew as if he came to yeeld himselfe to the King of Arragon according to the treaty and that hee returned sodainely to Perpignan The Calabrois neighbours to Sicile were daily sollicited to reuolt the which the Inhabitants of the Cathenzan did who gaue themselues to King Iames wherevpon king Charles beeing accompanied by the Earle of Artois led an army thether to succor which place king Iames beeing come with his Admiral and hauing landed his men hee was incountred and defeated by the French and forced to saue himselfe in his galleies yet without any great losse wherefore the Arragonois desiring to diuert this siege they sailed towards Gayete where hauing seized vpon a hill neere vnto it they gaue many assaults but without any effect King Charles and the Earle of Arthois leauing sufficient troupes to entertaine the siege of Cathenzan marched towards Gayete being resolued to giue battaile to the Arragonois but they kept themselues from fighting beeing lodged in a place of aduantage and neere vnto their galleys There was a mediation for a true betwixt the two kings and the realmes of Sicile Truce for fiue yeeres betwixt the French and Arragonoiz and Naples the which king Charles yeelded vnto for fiue yeeres against the aduice of the Earle of Arthois who held the victory in his hand assuring himselfe to force the enemy to fight wherevpon hee grew much discontented and leauing Italy returned into France with his troupes vpon this truce Cathenzan was yeelded This first conquest which the kings of Arragon made out of Spaine was the cause of great broyles warre and ruines in Christendome for which they chiefely smarted whereof the Popes were the subiect as they stood well or ill affected to those Princes of whose miseries and of their ruines they were secure spectators beeing defended from all daunger through the opinion of their holinesse and authority At the death of Pope Martin his successour Honorius the fourth had setled and confirmed D. Iames of Arragon and absolued the King D. Pedro but Pope Nicholas the fourth malitiously and without any feare of the shedding of Christians bloud did kindle a new warre betwixt the French and Arragonois whereas hee would not crowne Charles King of Naples alone but of Naples and Sicile together D. Iames of Arragon holding Sicile at that time at his coronation he tooke the armes which the realme hath since carried which are in Eagle sable in a field argent the which Manfroy was wont to beare and the bends geules in a field Or of Barcelona 8 The King of Castille being sollicited Castille and much troubled to resolue vpon the deliuery of his Nephewes of Cerde detained in Arragon and to recompence them in such sort as his soueraignty might remaine entire and peceable to him and his successours hee sent to that end Ambassadors to Philip the faire King of France beeing at Lions but what they could not then effect by treaties and negotiations
that they did iustly withdraw themselues from his obedience he being the murtherer of his own son an oppressor of his subiects breaker of his faith and promise and one that did violate their rights priuiledges and antient liberties and they sent the acts and formall proceedings thereof to Rome to the Pope then reigning who was called Pius the second a Siennois of the family of Picolomini And by a decree of the three Estates of the country they sent an Ambassage to the King of Castile to the end they might be receiued maintained and defended by him against the power of King Iohn The Ambassador was a Gentleman very learned Castile named Copus who in disguised habit past into Castile and found the King Don Henry at Atiença who came thither to recreate himselfe after the marriage made by him of the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Santillana with his Minion Bertrand de la Cueua Earle of Ledesma and one of his priuy councell The Ambassador spake with the King and declared vnto him the cause of his comming which was to giue him notice of the title which hee had to the principallity of Cattalogna as also to the crowne of Arragon the which was much better then King Iohns because hee was issued from the eldest sonne of Donna Leonora of Arragon Queene of Castile whereas King Iohn and his brother King Alphonso came of the yonger sonne and that he had now a fit occasion offered him for the recouery thereof by the meanes of the Cattelans iustly prouoked by the wrongs and tirannies of the King D. Iohn The King hauing heard these things referred the Ambassador to his councel at Segobia whither he shortly came and propounding there in the open assembly of the great Lords and of his councel that which the Ambassador of Cattalogna had declared vnto him their opinions were diuers In the end the Ambassador was called and being asked wherefore he came hee told them that hee was sent to request two things to weeâ— that it might please the King of Castile to receiue the Cattelans for his subiects and to aide them with certaine number of souldiers to defend them from their enemies shewing the charge and commandment which he had from the three Estates to take the oth of obedience to him in their names The councell perceiuing that these offers did please the King did wholy consent therevnto and two thousand fiue hundred horse were appointed to succour the Cattelans whose captaines were D. Iohn of Beaumont Prior of Saint Iohns of Nauarre and Iohn de Torres a Knight borne in Soria These forces being sent away King Henry fauoring this warre came to Agreda Thither came an Esquier of Nauarre dwelling in Tudela Nauarre who told Don Bertrand de la Cueua Earle of Ledesma that if King Henry would well reward him he would deliuer vp into his hands the city of Tudela promise was made to this Squire of certaine lands neere to Agreda and according to the agreement made at an houre appointed Pedro de Guzman was sent with twenty braue souldiars to seize vpon one of the gates and by the same to let into the towne a certaine number of souldiars which should follow after him Pedro de Guzman and his men were no sooner entred into the city but they were all taken whereat King Henry being greatly mooued sent his troupes to spoile all the contry round about Tuleda with commandement to burne all places and to put the people to the sword but this spoile soone ceassed by reason that they of Tudela deliuered the prisoners The King Don Iohn beeing aduertized of all these things fortified himselfe on euery side and had in readinesse an army sufficient to assaile the rebells with their allies and protectors Don Iohn Archbishop of Tarragon the Earle of Prades Don Mathew de Moncada Don Anthony of Cardona Don Guillen Arnau Ceruillon and many other Cattelan Knights beeing ioyned with him Therevpon hee came and beseeged Lerida which they of Tarraga endeauoring to releeue they were defeated by Don Iohn of Arragon who was sent by the King his father to incounter them who led away diuerse prisoners with him to the campe Neuerthelesse the King raised his seege from before Lerida beeing aduertised that a captaine called Martimon came to the aide thereof with tenne thousand souldiars and that in an other place Iohn de Agullon was in field with forces for the same purpose and that Don Hugo of Cardona held his seege before Miralcampe a strong towne and greatly importing the affaires of Arragon wherefore with all speed hee hasted thitherward but Don Hugo was departed from thence not beeing able by reason of the great heate in those parts to continue his seege then the King ioyned his forces with the troupes of Don Alphonso his sonne who held Iohn d' Agullon beseeged in Casteldas thither also came the Earle of Foix with the French men at armes By these forces the towne and castle of Casteldas were so beaten as Iohn d' Agullon was constrained for all his propounding of diuers conditions to yeeld himself to the Kings mercy who caused him with other captaines to be executed by forme of law at Bellaguer and he committed the towne to the keeping of D. Iohn de Londogno Gaston Earle of Foix had married Donna Leonora the second daâ—ghter to King Iohn by his first wife Queene Blanche of Nauarre Complot betweene King Iohn and his sonne in law Gaston de Foix to the hurt and ruine of Lady Blanch the true heire of Nauarre and because the succession in that Kingdome by the death of Prince Charles did belong to Donna Blanche her eldest sister who was married and diuorced from Henry King of Castile because shee had no children the father in law and the sonne in law practised together how they might keepe this forsaken Queene of Castile from marrying any more that shee might haue no children by meanes whereof the Realme of Nauarre should fall to the Lady Donna Leonora and to the house of Foix wherefore she was deliuered into the hands of Earle Gaston her brother in law who sent her into France to the towne of Lescar vnder the power and keeping of the Countesse Leonora her sister Among the captaines which did serue the King Don Iohn there was a Castillian called Iohn of Sarauia who did greatly annoy the enemy who found a time to surprise him for vpon a day as hee spoiled and ouer-runne the country neere to Ceruera hee was charged by Hugo of Cardona accompanied with about foure thousand men as well horse as foote so as hee was constrained to leaue his booty and to assure himselfe in the castle of Rubinate where hee was furiously beseeged and beaten with store of Artillery and Engins hee fearing to bee forced to yeeld vp the castle found meanes to aduertise the King of his necessity who came thither with all his forces by reason whereof Don Hugo hauing left fiue hundred of his
importance as this was The day following the King attempted the like and finding the like resistance would by force haue taken the passage but those of the guarde of the bridge did valiantly defend it and did kill and hurt diuers Portugois The King of Portugall forsaketh the citty of Zamora wherefore King Alphonso by the Archâ—Bishoppe of Toledoes councell withdrew his forces from the fight and hee with Donna Ioane his bethrothed wife left the Citty about midnight suspecting some treason in regard that the bridge alone made such resistance he being there in person The inhabitants at the same instant brought in Don Aluaro de Mendoza by an other gate who tooke and spoyled the Portugois which were left excepting a few who saued them-selues in the Cathedrall Church who on the morrow after by breake of day yeelded them-selues King Fernand the Admirall the Duke of Alua and other Lords beeing there arriued These soldiers were sent away without paying any ransome and carried their baggage away with them to Toro where their King remayned who to encourage his people sayd that the victory of a warre did not consist in the gayne or losse of a few townes or Citties but in the issue of a battaill the which alone would decide the quarrell about the succession of Castile and Leon for the which purpose hee did write to Prince Iohn his Sonne to make as great a leuy of soldiers in his Kingdome as possibly he could and with all speed to bring them to his aide King Fredinand beeing maister of Zamora beganne to better the Castle and caused the traytors to bee arraigned and condemned confiscating the goods of Iohn de Porras and others Whilest these matters were handled at Zamora Don Alphonso of Arragon Duke of Villahermosa and the other Captaynes who beseeged the Castle of Burgos did continually batter it and gaue it many daungerous and rude assaults but they that were within it wanted no courage to defend them-selues And as the sentinells and those of the garde were reuiling one another an Alcayde or Sheriffe of Burgos called Alphouso de las Cueuas beganne to talke to those of the Castle and vsed such perswasiue reasons and arguments as they were resolued to hearken to some composition especially when they did see a great quarter of their wall beaten downe by meanes whereof they lay open to their enemies assaults therefore beeing sollicited they did capitulate about they yeelding of the castle vppon condition that all faults past should be forgiuen The Castle of Burges yeelded the which was granted by the Queene who for that regard came from Vailliodolit to Burgos and did receiue the Castle her owne selfe whereof shee made Diego de Ribera Gouernour who had beene tutor and bringer vppe of her brother the Prince Don Alphonso and hauing appoynted that which was requisite for the peace and quiet of the Cittie shee returned to Vailliodolit and from thence went to Tordesillas to the end to be neerer to the enemie the better to haue an eye to his enterprises and proceedings Thither Don Pedro of Estuniga eldest sonne to the Duke of Areualo did come to the Queene whose part hee had still taken and had shewed himselfe faithfull vnto her in regard whereof he was vnkindly vsed by his father and by Donna Leonora Pimentel his mother-in-law He besought the Queene to receiue the Duke his father into grace and fauour promising to put all that hee did possesse into her hands making an apologie and excusing the faults which hee had committed by reason of his decrepit age beeing wholly possessed and ruled by his second wife It did greatly displease the Queene to pardon him who had shewed himselfe so mortall and hatefull an enemie to the King her husband neuerthelesse for the sonnes sake shee did pardon the father and the whole family The title of the Dutchie was transposed from Areualo to the Cittie of Plaisance and euer afterward the Lords of the house of Estuniga became affectionate seruants to the King and Queene The warres continuing after this sort in Castile the French King inclining to the demaunds and perswations of the King of Portugall and bearing no great good will to the house of Arragon euer since the warre of Perpignan Alliance betwixt France and Castile sent a great armie into the Prouince of Guipuscoa vnder the conduct and commaund of Aman Lord of Abrit or Albret whose posteritie hath raigned in Nauarre as shall hereafter be declared Diuers Gentlemen and braue souldiers of the countrie of Guipuscoa vppon the report of the comming of this armie did shutte themselues vp in Fontaraby others went to Irun by which place the French-men were of necessitie to passe who did burne Irun and slue certaine men there they went vp and downe for the space of sixe weekes spoyling the countrie not once attempting or offering to beseege Fontarabie which was their chiefe desseigne In the meane time Iohn Lopes de Lascano and Sancho del campo entred the towne being sent from the Court with about fiftie horse at whose comming the souldiers which were within the towne made a salley and came foorth vnto the very limittes of Irun where they found about a thousand French-foote of the fore-ward of their armie with their Captaine Purguet of Bayonne who beeing assayled and set vppon on the sodaine through want of good and prouident watch Purquet a French Captaine defeated and hauing no faithfull discouerers were easily ouerthrowne and put to a disordered flight some of them in this confusion thinking to saue themselues in a Tower of a mannor-house belonging to those of Vrdaniuia they were there beseeged and burnt with Purguet their Captaine the Master of the same house being the first man that set fire thereunto The poore distressed souldiers to auoyde and escape the implacable torments of the mercilesse fire leaped out of the tower windowes in most desperate manner and were with scoffes and mockes receiued vppon the enemies pikes The Spanish Authours say that three hundred were there slayne and pittifully massacred besides diuers others that were captiuated and taken prisoners Soone after Don Diego Lopes de Sarmiento Earle of Salinas Captaine generall for the King and Queene came into the Prouince with certaine troupes of horse bringing letters to the worthie persons and chiefe Magistrates of Queene Izabella's country who with perswasiue admonitions exhorted the Guipuscoans to stand and continue faithfull to their Princes for which they were renowned aboue all other Prouinces of Spaine Now vppon the eighth day of Aprill this yeare one thousand An. 1476. foure hundred seuenty sixe beeing Saint Denis day the towne of Fontarabie was beseeged by the French where no matter of woorth was performed sauing some few light skirmishes with losse of men on either side for the space of fiue dayes onely whilest the seege continued for they easily found that in regard of the strength of the place it was to no purpose for them to tarrie there yet
remaining in the Citty fortifying himselfe in certaine places King Muley vnderstanding of Don Fredericks comming sent to offer him battaile but hee would not accept thereof saying that the Moores feigned to haue quarrels among themselues by that meanes to entrappe him and his soldiours and to enclose them wherefore keeping his forces in good order without stirring hee placed the Moores horsemen ledde by Aben-comix in the Front to sustaine the enemies skirmishes which were furious and bloudy King Muley Boabdelin el Zagal perceiuing that the Christians kept themselues in order and that by no meanes they would come to battaile hee did re-enter the Citty and began to assaile the Albaycin which was couragiously defended in regarde that Don Frederick stayed more then an houre after in order of battaile before the Citty but afterward hee returned into his Fort leauing the Moores to murther one another and because hee knew that vpon Mahomet the littles victory King Ferdinands and Queene Isabels content and profit did depend hee sent him certaine Harquebuziers vnder the conduct of Ferdinand Aluares Gouernour of Colmera by whose valour the Albaycin held out and the assaults and combates continued fifty dayes after King Boabdelins people beeing vexed within by King Mahomet and abroad by the Christians of the next garrisons Whilest these troubles continued in Granado betwixt the two factions Castile King Ferdinand hauing assembled and reuiewed the troopes which from all parts were arriued at Cordoua hee went to field with an Armie of twenty thousand horse as well men at Armes as Genets and of fifty thousand foote the chiefe Commanders were the Maisters of Saint Iames and Alcantara the Duke of Nagera the Marquis of Cales and Villena the Earles of Benauent Vregna Cabra Oropesa Feria Cifuentes Osorno Medellin and Ribadeo Don Alphonso d' Aguilar the Treasurer of Calatraua with the Captaines generall of the Frontiers of Andaluzia and Murcia Those which sent their forces thether were the Cordinall of Spaine Archbishop of Toledo the Archbishop of Siuill the Bishops of Burgos and Cuenca the Dukes of Medina Sidonia Alua Playsance Medina Celi and Albuquerque the maister of Calatraua the Marquis of Astorga and Agullâ—r the Earles of Castro Cragna Saint Steeuens Miranda Nieua Priego Fuensailda Alua de Lista Montagu the Constable the great Commanders of Calatraua and Leon with other Lords and Knights of Castile There came likewise from Arragon diuers great Lords among whom was Don Phillip of Nauarre bastard sonne to the late Prince Charles of Viana whom King Ferdinand his Vncle had newly made maister of the order of Montesa in the Realme of Valentia hauing obtained it of the Pope and deposed Philip Boyll from the same dignity who had beene elected maister thereof conuentually Don Lewis Borgia Duke of Gandia was likewise there with many others of Arragon 1487. Valentia Sicill and Sardinia With these great forces they vndertooke to goe and beseege Malaga Velez Malaga besieged but first of all it was thought fit to remooue all letts and impediments that Velez Malaga might do vnto them the which place was beseeged in Aprill 1487. And the king being desirous to lodge certaine companies of footmen vpon a rising hill which did greatly import the saftie of the armie the Moores making a furious salley foorth of the cittie did beate them from thence and the King was the same time armed with a Cuirasse his sword in his hand exposing himselfe that day to the enemies arrowes and shot which fell round about him as thicke as haile beeing in great danger of his person neuerthelesse his people by his presence were encouraged and forced the Moores to turne their backes and to shut themselues into the towne Albeit that this valour of the kings be prayse-worthie and highly to bee extolled as a singular example yet notwithstanding it may be reproued in regard of the conicquence of a mischiefe which might haue happened therefore they besought him no more to hazard his person in such dangerous attempts The next day they assayled the suburbes where the Moores had barricadoed themselues who defended it for the space of sixe whole houres with such obstinacie as the Christians could not get one foote of ground from them vntill that the Duke of Nagera and the Earle of Benauent came with fresh succours who caused the enemies to leaue the place but to the cost of diuers for Nugno d' Aquila and Don Martin of Acugna were flayne there Don Carlo of Gueuara Garcy Lazo de la Vega Fernando de Vega Iohn de Merlo with diuers other men of note were hurt The Artillerie was not yet come to the campe therefore King Fernand caused diuers forts to be made against the citie wherein he lodged diuers companies of souldiers and being well acquainted with the Mores pollicies he placed in all the wayes that led to the campe in the mountaines and vallies which might any way be an hinderance to the armie diuers watches and sentinels with places for them to retire vnto which were well furnished and defended by valiant souldiers vppon which occasions sundrie profitable things were ordained necessarie for martiall discipline the Moores neuer ceasing from comming downe from the Mountaines and making many enterprises vppon the armie which they kept in continuall alarme King Muley Boabdallin on the other side beeing importuned by the Affricane Captaines and old Moores of Granado to succor Velez Malaga he went to field with great numbers of horse and foote and passing thorough sharpe and narrow places hee sent part of his forces from Bentomnix against the Master of Alcantara who conducted the artillerie but hauing intelligence that king Fernand had sent the great Commaunder of Leon for his conuoy he called backe the Moores and with all his forces he beganne the very same night to come downe from the hilles and presented himselfe in order of battell in the view of the Christian armie making shew as if they would succour the beseeged or else dye in fight this sudden and vnlookt-for arriuall of the enemies made diuers at their wits end and did in a manner terrifie them wherefore it behooued king Fernand to vse his best skill and discretion so to order matters as he might not receiue a disgrace but Don Diego Hurtado of Mendoza brother to the Cardinall of Spaine a braue and resolute knight beeing in the fore-ward with the Cardinals forces did put them out of feare for he gallantly opposed himselfe against the front of the Mores battalions Shamefull retreate of the Moores and made them to stand still They perceiuing the Christians valour and boldnesse did dislodge by breake of day like runawayes in such amazement as many of them flung away their weapons and armor to be the lighter to run This notwithstanding the king would not be ouer confident but caused euery man to stand still in his order the whole day long and the night following vntill he had certaine notice that the Moores flight was not fained but
moors and Arabians and 7000 Turkes Forces of Barberousse in Tunes whereof two thousand serued on horsebacke and Guazzo affirms that he had twelue peeces of ordinance in front others write that by the report of some Christian slaues who had seene him take view of his men two daies before he had 20000 horse and aboue 100000 foot moors and Arabians besides his Turks vpon whome hee did chiefly relie The two armies being in sight one of another and it being generally beleeued by the Christians that they should fight their captains sought to incourage them with good words notwithstanding that they were all verie ready and willing the prince of Saleme made a speech vnto the Italians Alarcon to the Spaniards and Eberstin to the Germanes and to all the nations the emperor himselfe who going among them all promised them a certain victorie and filled them all with an assured hope importunate desire to charge the enemie who stretching themselues out in length thought to terrifie disorder and put the Christians to flight Barberousse had staied within three miles of Tunes who began as soone as euer the imperiall armie approched to discharge his artillerie but without any great effect On the other side D. Fernand Gonzaga who serued that day without any charge but being among the formost charged the enemies and slue a Captaine of the Moores with his lance Battell betwixt the Christians Barberousse in Afrike making such a slaughter of the enemies as hee was that day noted aboue the rest Hee was nobly followed by others and the Spanish Harquebuziers did so gall the Barbarians with their shot as hauing scarce begun to fight they basely fled neither did Barberousse shew any courage that day who had no intent to hazard his life and state vpon a battell but to flie speedily into the Citie There was no great slaughter of the enemy in this action for that they fled presently besides the Christians horsemen could not pursue them being but weake Barberousse flies into Tunes and much lesse might the foot men do it being tyred with their march in the sand and with the extreme heat wherefore the emperour lodged his army that night vpon the place whereas Barberousse had stood in battel fortifying it with the carts of his baggage yet standing alwaies ready in armes being so neere his enemy Barberousse being returned into Tunes full of disdaine for this disgrace being a proud man he consulted what was to be done seeming verie confident to be able to defend the citie and then he entred againe into a resolution to murther the Christian slaues and he was againe dissuaded by his own people God disappointing so wicked a councel to make the Christiās victorie more easie for this pretended crueltie of Barberousse being bruted abroad it did moue two renegados to compassion Giaffer Aga and Meni the first was borne in Cataro and was called Vinsenzo the second a Spaniard Christian slaues seaze vpon the Castle of Tunes whose name was Francisco who was much fauored by Barberousse They opening the prison doores to these wretches who some write were sixe thousand some ten thousand and they hauing broken their chaines wherewith they were bound got staues and such other weapons became masters of the Castle driuing away those few Turkes that were left there in gard and with all they seazed vpon the treasure victuals armes which Barberousse had left there who being aduertised thereof posted presently thither seeking first by good words and then by threats to be let in but it was in vaine they chasing him away with reproches and the hazard of his life if he had staied All this hapned the day after the Battell the emperour preparing to drawe neere the towne when as those slaues sought to make signes vnto him to approach but the distance would not suffer them to be seene and yet the emperour finding that there was some alteration he sent two companies of horse to discouer it In the meane time Barberousse finding himselfe in bad termes and fearing the inconstancie of the Moores hee resolued to leaue the citie by the gate next the mountaine and went towards Bona being followed by seuen thousand Turkes whome hee had preserued to serue him at need The Christian army marching towards Tunes they were met vpon the way by the Embassadors of the citie who offered to yeeld vnto the emperour and to receiue what conditions he should impose so as he would secure them from sacke wherein some write that Muley Hascen intreated the emperor so as at the emperours first entrance into Tunes the souldiers carried themselues mildly But soone after as some affirme at the instigation of Muley Hascen who desired to be reuenged of the inhabitants which did not seeme to fauour him during the siege Retreat of Barberousse from Tunes the Spaniards fell to the spoile vsing all kinde of excesse and acts of hostilitie as if they had beene in a towne taken by force and assault The Germanes also slue many Moores and fell to their feeding being sorrie they found no wine in their sellers for those people drunke not any The sacke continued foure and twentie houres some write three daies together with great slaughter and then it ceased the emperour commanding euerie man vpon greeuous paines to retire vnto his quarter They say that this sacke was not much lesse than that of Rome and that euerie souldier was rich The Marquesse of Guast guided by a slaue found thirty thousand ducats buried in a caue of the castle wherewith acquainting the emperour he gaue him them The emperour lodged within the Castle which was reasonably well built and newly accommodated by Barberousse There were great numbers of slaues found whereof there were eightie and one Frenchmen all which were set at libertie Tunes taken by the emperour apparelled and sent home vpon the retreat of the army There was found in it much ancient armor guilt grauen which some thoght were the spoiles of the French armie which Saint Lewis had sometime led into that countrie where hee dyed and many of his armie of the bloudy-flix The emperour hauing remained some daies within the citie and conferred diuers times with king Muley Hascen touching his future gouernment and agreed vpon conditions according to the which these two princes and their subiects should liue traffike and conuerse together hee returned to the campe making the more hast to depart to the end that such as were fled into the mountaines might retum without feare to their houses The armie was lodged close about a village called Lude two miles from Goulette where there past a little brooke of fresh water whereof the countrie was much destitute which was the greatest discommoditie they had in all this warre from thence they went to the first lodging they had made before the taking of that sort neere vnto a Tower which they called of waters which was the common watering place of the countrie Thither came
of the armie they were so surprised with feare as they had no care but how to saue themselues by flight neither could they which had retained more valor make the retreat without disorder The losse was great for among a hundred that were slaine there were diuers of great worth as Francis de Meneses who led the second squadron Francis of Almeida Lupode Sosa and Edward de Meneses sonne to the earle of Feria who would not be partaker of his companions defect but making a stand to withstand the furie of the Barbarians contemning their horrible cries and fighting valiantly exhorting the rest both by his words example to vanquish with the sword and not by flight he dyed honourably D. Aluaro de Castro mounting vp a wall had a great blow on the hinder part of his head with a stone cast out of a sling the which battering his head peece did hurt him verie sore causing him to fall backeward where hee had beene slaine if Mascaregna had not come presently to succour him carried him into the fort as he did all the rest that were wounded This vnfortunate action which hapned the first of September did much weaken that small garrison yet Mascaregna fainted not but prouided such remedies for his defence as time and meanes would giue his leaue The enemie did so ruine the Bulwarkes and courtines with his mines as planting diuers peeces of artillerie in those mines against the Portugals they did wonderfully annoy them within the fort wherefore the beseeged were forced to labour day and night and to make new defences either fighting or working continually hauing little leasure to eat or rest their number being so small The Viceroy D. Iohn de Castro had beene aduertised of the death of his sonne who suppressing his particuler greefe vsed great diligence to prouide a remedie for the generall good He therefore first of all dispatcht Aluaro de Acugna with order to gather together those few Portugall ships that were in those seas and hauing put souldiers into them to saile presently to Diu the which bee effected comming thether the last of September with fiue ships and so many men as the garrison was encreased to twelue hundred Succour broght to Dieu so as they might with more ease make head against the enemy Soone after hee sent fiue other ships from Goa with foure hundred souldiers and with them many Artificats and some Architects for the vse of building so as they grew daily more confident neither did they feare hauing heard that a certaine kinsman of Zaffers who had beene sent to Caire to leuie men came sailing towards Diu to incounter him with their armie Victorie of the Portugals at sea whome hauing fought with all defeated and taken him with many others prisoners the rest being sunke or dispersed at Sea they returned ioyfull to their Companions They would not saue one of their prisoners aliue but beeing slaine they cast their heads into the current of the riuer to carrie newes vnto the enemie except that of Xaffers kinsman which was set vpon the top of a launce But the Viceroy with all his diligence could not draw such an armie together as hee might hope to raise the siege before the middest of October so as hauing about seuenty ships great and small hee beganne his voyage and hauing surmounted all difficulties being forced by foule weather to stay some daies at Bazain hee came to the coast of Diu D. Iohn Castro the viceroy comes to relieue Diu. the seuenth day of Nouember where hee presently sent for Mascaregna being desirous to vnderstand particularly in what estate they were where they tooke councell how to put souldiers into the fort and to charge the enemies camp which being done Mascaregna returned and prepared to receiue the succours on the side towards the Sea where the enemie least suspected it and hauing planted ordnance in all places where they might annoy them they did it in such sort as it did much aduance their affaires neither did the enemies shew themselues fearefull but they answered them with the like art and courage and foreseeing that they meant to charge the campe at one instant both from their armie at Sea and their fort at land they did fortifie that part towards the riuer with a gard of fifteene thousand Souldiers The Viceroy had fore-seene all this and therefore hee vsed a politike stratagem on the ninth day at night hauing drawne two thousand souldiers out of the ships into the fort hee caused the whole fleet to stand as it were in armes some holding burning toâ—ches some held two launces and some an ower in oare hand and a match light in the other all men of no seruice causing the ships to moue but softly as if they would giue an assault to that part of the riuer where the enemies feared most and to gouerne all these things hee had left some captaines himselfe being gone to land All things being readie the souldiers hauing reconciled themselues vnto God in the morning they went out of the fort the Viceroy hauing caused all the gates to bee set wide open and leauing a gard within the fort commaunded by Anthonio Corigia they did not feare with fiue and twentie hundred souldiers to goe and charge an armie of forty thousand in their owne trenches The enemie was verie watchfull of the landing of the Armie where they most feared the daunger for that they were persuaded there could not come any great numbers from the beseeged wherefore they had placed the best of their forces on that side which made the Portugals victorie the more easie Mascaregna had the fore-ward with foure hundred choise Souldiers who beeing entred into the Barbarians trenches had fought valiantly and they began to retyre when as fresh men arriuing hee had good need of succours and so they did fight often that day with an interchangeable inclination of victorie yet the Portugals aduanced still and hauing wonne one of their forts in the end by their exceeding valour and the fauour of heauen they defeated the Barbarians Victorie gotten by the Portugals at Diu. and put them to flight some escaping by a bridge which they had made ioyning the Island to the firme land all the rest of what age and sexe soeuer were made subiect to the reuenging sword of the Conqueror who incensed with crueltie vsed against them at that seege and with the treacherie of them of Cambaia would not suffer any one to bee taken prisoner except 〈◊〉 a Captaine of Cambaia much esteemed who was in the Viceroies power The souldiers hatred was so great as they not onely slue men women with childe and infants but euen their tame cattell Rumecano the Sonne of Zaffer who had the chiefe charge of the army was found dead with Audecano a Captaine of Cambaia who came the day before vnto the armie with fiue thousand Souldiers and Idâ—lcano a Captaine of strange souldiers They tooke the royall Standard of Cambaia
the hope of credit and commoditie to bee gotten by their merits in the campe for otherwise wee see that being brought with discontentment to the field their deserts proue according Thanks be giuen to God you are soueraigne ouer many great realmes and great estates in which you may raise such martiall troupes without offence as they may not onely bee sufficient to defend but to offend others if you liue in vnion of good correspondencie with your friends and kinsmen of the house of Austria by this agreement you shall settle your owne power and become a comfort and support to those that loue you and a tertor to such as enuie you On the other side assure your selfe that discord among neere allies will blemish your authoritie put heart into your enemies to make designes against your greatnesse and so distemper your friends as they shall not be able to resolue which way to bend their affections Standing thus vnited you shall haue great oportunitie besides the Italian Spanish forces to dispose of the Germanes as your need shall require the which is a martiall and a verie honorable nation I know that this mixture doth oftentimes cause disorders in a campe but yet by one that knoweth how to temper this light discord with a moderate emulation they may be imployed to most excellent and rare effects in respect of the great difficultie and almost impossibilitie that euer they should ioine or agree together in offensiue mutinies distractions and disobedience of any kind I cannot forbeare to report vpon this iust occasion what I haue often aduised you of before that you respect with all due regard your cousin the king of Bohemia to the greatnesse and inestimable value of whose mind the greatest empires are too narrow bounds and doubtlesse vpon euerie fit occasion you shall see effects answerable to this conceit which the world hath of his worthinesse Beleeue this confidently that there is more good to bee expected from the loue which springeth from consanguinitie although that sometimes causes of vnkindnesse may arise than from the fairest shewes and greatest professions of good will that can bee made by any stranger Now for that all offences and vnkindnesses are most bitter growing among persons that are neere in bloud if they be not quenched in due time to preuent a greater inconuenience cut off all iust occasions on your side setting downe this lesson for a rule that it is an art more worthie commendation to yeeld in some sort to those that are allyed to continue their affection than to end quarrels vnkindnesses with other persons by inforcing them to yeeld to our authority But to conclude my councell touching the care which must bee taken of this trained youth is that it may alwaies serue as a Spring to supply the armie for the better pleasing of their humors and winning of their loues it shall be fit to priuiledge them with a libertie to weare weapons especially on those daies that are appointed for their exercises and to make the best shew they are able of their forwardnesse I would also haue them graced with some speciall fauour as occasion serues and exempted from all seruile burthens in Countries Then would I wish you wholy to direct your care to a due consideration of your estate in general and of the countries in particular vnder you Look vpon their condition situation and qualitie consider both of their aboundance and wants and of sufficient meanes to liue as water wood and graine that supplie being made from other places that haue greater store all loue and kindnesse may be entertained among people that are subiect to one Soueraign power Though policie did not prescribe this care yet christianity wold challēge it Cause plots to be drawn of al their greatest riuers moūtains streits passages that by repairing vnto your map vpon any accident that shall happen you may dispose of things with greater certainty Be careful not only to know the dispositions humors of thē which is very necessary for great princes but also their alliances and factions whereby you shall be alwaies able both to bridle their vndutifull affections and to preuent their practises if they breake out into extremities The balance of authority is in your hands all credit comes from your selfe therefore gouern the scales with some moderation so as that side may be heauiest which is best affected to your party Prouide against al dangers serue your tum by all such oportunities as may further your intention If any countrie doth liue in danger of an enemie that doth fronter vpon them secure them in such sort by captains officers garrisons as they may be freed from feare of al wrong To be short I would haue you cast vp an euen reckoning make a iust accōpt of their inclinations their power their wants their store their agreement their diuisions their alliances their habits their customs their affections their dependances their affinity their cōmodities their discōmodities that by easing one charging another you may turn al things to your best content Then wil it be time to turn your eye to the like consideration of their accompt In this point you must resolue with ripe iudgement and great care making fit proportions by comparing sundry circumstances of persons places times natures customes neighbours officers adherents and other accidents as are incident to so strong a knot of ciuill policie These things being vnderstood and wisely pondred by him that hath the helme in hand there is no doubt but he may euer march vpon a firme ground in amy enterprise he takes in hād for in knowing our own our enemies strength in weighing circumstances with an equall hand being able to apply the best aduantages that wisdom experience can find to profitable vses consisteth both the hope hap of victorie I know that diuers courses must be taken according to the diuers qualities of the nation the situation of the countrie Touching the first whether it be peopled or scant of men armed or naked valiant or cowardlie pleased or discontented Touching the second whether it be full of mountaines valleyes plaines woods or riuers whether it abound with victuals and al other commodities that are fit for war or is barren or beggerly Aboue all things be sure you neuer be drawn into quarrels with any mighty potentate for the reliefe of such as rather burthen than ease indanger than helpe your estate which else may turn to your great disaduātage Besides these rules I wold prescribe a nūber more of like effect the which long experince the mother of true wisdom hath imprinted in my heart which other men perhaps which go more by aime than by art make small accompt of War ought alwaies to be vndertaken vpon a iust quarrel and directed to no other end than to a safe honorable peace which cānot be purchased without wars In war he that spendeth most in accompt spendeth least in want doubt
it may bee able to withstand his troupes of horsemen Which in respect they are for the most part vnarmed might bee easily effected It is a point of especiall consideration also to put forth a squadron of choice men to entertaine the Ianisaries in fight from the beginning vnto the end of the battell leauing in like manner conuenient forces to incounter the rest of his armie for whereas the manner of the Turkish discipline is alwayes to reserue the valour of the Ianisaries for the last supplie and recourse to victorie when the rest of the armie shall see that they haue beene charged from the beginning of the fight they will no doubt bee much troubled with this alteration and the Ianisaries themselues amazed and disordered with a stratageme vnlooked for It can not bee obiected that this deuice will serue but once for in trueth it will force them to forsake that course for euer when they shall see their policie preuented by which they haue many times preuayled against the enemie It cannot be denied but by meanes of his prouision Haniball more than once defeated the Romane Legions and the Romanes themselues vsing the like stratageme against the Latines in the verie bowelles of theyr owne estate during the time of their dissentions and warre obtained victorie Aboue all things bend your care to stirre the people to rebellion against their Gouernours by good vsage exemption c. This may bee brought to passe more speedily by remouing campes and erecting forts in the Countrey both for defence and offence than by places inhabited as you may find set out at large in my Memorialles I haue there set downe the meanes to make them speedily and with small charge the true reason by which they may be brought to good effect the way to hemme in to cut off and to subdue securely with good prouisions the forces of any great estate with very few of them as we find that Cesar himselfe dwelt in France by the report of his Commentaries The least beginning of good successe will presently draw downe the Turke to make warre against them where you shall bee best prouided to incounter him for it standeth him in hand to be iealous as hee is of that reputation in armes and opinion of superioritie aboue all princes which hee hath hitherto held for feare of disorders and reuolts which euerie little declining of his fortune might cause in his mightie estate by reason of the discontent wherein the people liue in respect of his tyrannous gouernement You haue likewise to consider of your warres with the crowne of Fraunce the which are of great consequence in respect of the solide and vnited forces of that realme and the coniunction and league which they may easily continue with other Potentates of Christendome and chiefly with the princes and states of Italie for the iealousie wherein they liue of our greatnesse But besides that point whereof I warned you before speaking of the danger that is in leagues and the small effect that comes of them you haue besides this one secure and sound prouision in readinesse at all times for your further comfort in this verie case of France that so often as you shall assault that king within his owne dominions which is not hard to doe considering in what manner his realme is enuironed on euery side you shall be sure to draw him backe and so diuert him both from Italie and from other enterprises Surely the French king warreth in Italie to his great aduantage as well in respect of the peoples disposition to innouations as of the great gaine he sometimes makes by one only attempt in comparison of his small expences we should haue seene the proofe not many yeares since if the French could haue made vse of that aduantage which they held at Cerisoles or at the taking of Cassal after the great ouerthrow which immediately after the reuolt of Siena the Turkish fleere gaue to ours in the Sicilian sea Besides the Italians are so much grieued being curbed by Milan Naples and Sicile as they are glad of any oportunitie to weaken our suspected forces and doe willingly offer themselues to any one that will promise to ease them of their burthen and to set them free not forseeing that the French if they were once masters of the like forts within the body of the state would be as much or more offensiue to their liberties The warre of Piedmont will make the French king wearie in a short time if you indeuour to fight hand to hand as they do for by a custome which they haue long obserued to leaue no enemie behind you shall verie easily bring this to passe if you hold some strong towne well fortified against their force proceeding there from hand to hand as you find occasion If they diminish or abate their armie increase yours so as you may be able to take some place of importance which being weake you may fortifie Thus by the helpe of places and of so great an estate on your backe you may make warre in winter And to these ends if you be prouoked by occasion I had once resolued for their speedie riddance and dispatch to cut off their passage out of France to Turin raising two or three forts betwixt Turin and the Alpes for when they shall be forced to maintaine a mightie garrison and their prouisions on this side the Alpes cut off it would be hard for them to furnish themselues with sufficient store of victuals and munition out of their owne countrey In assaulting the French King at home there are two kindes of warre which promise prosperous successe the one is by the commodity which you haue to draw your forces sooner together and to enter into the heart of his Countrie where you shall find abundance of victualls and other things to maintaine a sufficient army Before the French king come into the field I would haue you seeke to make waie for your selfe and so to aduaunce inlarging your owne course and cutting off your enemies best oportunities by forts built in the Countrey as I aduised you before speaking of your warres against the Turke which course Cesar himselfe obserued when he made warre in that country Sometimes oportunitie may be giuen either by the declining of the aduerse partie vpon some braue attempt of yours or by your good successe and their misfortunes Whereupon you may so preuaile as afterwards you may lay plots to compasse that which is not yet conquered Diuisions may happen in the countrey and a thousand other accidents especially in this age whenas loue and charitie so decay whereby an enterprise begunne with iudgement may be greatly furthered wise men must not disdaine to goe forwards by insensible degrees for so goeth the Sunne about the world for it is impossible that a kingdome of such strength and at vnion within it selfe should bee at one instant swallowed vp by anie foreine enemie But if the least part which is one bee drawne from them and
the rereward and on their flankes they had other troupes of horse And for that they were in some doubt of the French which were at Tiuoli they sent some troupes of horse and foot on the right hand to stay the enemie if they should haue any notice of their enterprise Hee then sent aboue three hundred before with ladders and other instruments to climbe vp and to breake open gates if need were that being brought by some neere way neere vnto Port Maior they might giue a sudden assault and being seconded by some horse which were neere them they might enter the Citie and keepe a port vntill that the rest of the armie arriued The order was that they should present themselues vnto the wall about the seuenth houre of the night but there falling a small continuall raine the waies were so broken as being constrained to take a longer course it was breake of day before they arriued so as being discouered by some of the Countrimen they aduertised them of the citie which made them retyre speedily leauing their ladders against the walles and many cloakes wherewith they had couered themselues from the raine yea and some armes but the slackenesse of the enemie in the pursute was the cause that there were not aboue fiue and twentie or thirtie taken Cardinall Caraffy had intelligence by the Secretary Placidi when he came from the viceroy that the armie began to rise whereupon hee doubted they would assaile Rome or Tiuoli and take the French vnprouided so as hee gaue them warning ouer night and hee himselfe not making it knowne to the Romanes in whom he had no great confidence wachâ— all night with the duke and was in armes doubling the sentinels wheras they most doubted the enemie Ascanio de la Corne who commanded the horse that went to second the 300 foot seeing the lights about the wall and the gards in a readines held the enterprise to be discouered And to confirme this opinion foure light horsemen went forth earelie to get some bootie they thinking by reason of the darkenesse of the night the number to be greater and that they had laied an ambush whereupon they retired The duke of Alba comming neere vnto Rome and seeing his men had not done any thing thought that they stood readie within to receiue them And for that he vnderstood by certaine spies that Strossy had led foure hundred Horse and twelue companies of Gascons the euening before out of Tiuoli it confirmed him in his beleefe that they were entred into Rome Rome in danger to be sackt hauing notice of the Spaniards comming wherupon he caused the armie to retire to Colonna from whence it came without doubt if hee had but attempted it Rome had beene taken and sackt The citie was so ill garded as a lesser armie would haue forced it for that the Romanes were enemies to the Caraffi for the wrongs they thought they had receiued of them and of the souldiers that were within the citie of the which the Gascons did not spare their goods nor honors the Germans enemies to the Pope spoiled the church altars The Pope considering of these things lamenting the miseries of the time being forced to countenance and not to punish those wretches who called themselues defenders in name but in effect were destroiers of that miserable citie beganne to bee fully resolued to peace and the rather for that hee did visibly see the danger wherein hee was being certified that the Citizens of Rome had resolued that if the duke of Alba returned they would send to capitulate with him and open him the gates vpon honest conditions The duke of Guise and Peter Strossy entred into Rome after this tumult who talking with the Pope aduised him to accommodate himselfe vnto the time as wisemen doe commonly They laied before him the vnfortunate losse of the French king whereby there was no hope of any greater succours and that hee should remaine without a Generall for that hee was to returne speedily into Fraunce which would bee no small preiudice vnto him for that his Nephewes who were to gouerne the warre were of small experience neither would they beleeue them that vnderstood more in that art but intreated them ill keeping backe their entertainment so as seeing his holinesse without money and without Captaines they did not thinke the warre could continue long wherefore they counselled him to make the speediest and best accord he could with the king of Spaine The Pope gaue an attentiue eare to the free speeches of these Noblemen and resolued to make an end of the peoples miseries wherefore he called the embassadour of Venice vnto him intreating him to goe and informe that Senate of the estate of things and to exhort them in his name to make some good accord with the imperials After manie treaties in the end a Peace was concluded by the Cardinals of Santafiori and Vitelli and afterwards by Caraffa and the duke of Alba who met together at Caui And so by either of them hauing full authoritie from the Pope and the king of Spaine the following accord was published the 14 day of September 1 That the Pope should receiue from the duke of Alba in the name of the king of Spaine Peace betwixt the Pope and the king of Spaine the submissions that were necessarie to obtaine pardon from his Holinesse but afterwards the Catholike king should send a man expresly to that end And so his Holinesse should receiue the king into fauour as an obedient Sonne admitting him to all the graces of the holy church like vnto other Christian Princes 2 That the Pope should renounce the league contracted with the French king and remaine a Neuter louing them both equally as his Sonnes 3 That his Maiestie should cause the townes and Cities demanteled which had beene taken and held since the beginning of the warre to bee restored if they did in any sort belong vnto the Apostolike sea 4 That the ordnance taken on either part in that warre should be restored 5 That his Holinesse and his Maiestie should forgiue all offences that had beene done them and remit all spiritiuall and temporall punishments graunting them a gerall pardon with restitution of their honors dignities faculties and iurisdictions wherof they had beene depriued in regard of that warre From the which were excepted Marc Antonio Colonna Ascanio de la Corgna and other rebels the Popes vassals who should remaine in the same censure and disgrace during the Popes pleasure 6 That Paliano should bee deliuered into the hands of Iohn Bernardino Carbone sonne to the Popes Cousin but faithfull to both parties deliuering the fort as it was at that time and that the said Carbone should sweare fealtie to the pope and king of Spaine and to obserue the articles concluded betwixt the Cardinall Caraffa and the duke of Alba hee hauing the gard of Paliano with eight hundred foot which should bee paied equally by the Pope and king Besides
haue store of victualls brought from the ships vnto the campe but they that were interessed seemed to haue small care of the publike good There were two thousand foot Italians Spaniards and Dutch appointed for the gard of this fort with fifty horse vnder the Colonel Michel of Baraona There was order giuen to haue the Xec take the oth who should aduance the armes of Spaine And then hee resolued to part with the army in the beginning of May but hee was staied vpon some controuersie growne betwixt the Christians and the Moores vpon a light occasion but it was wisely pacified and some that had most offended punished The fame of the army increasing and the solemnitie performed the fifth of May a mile from the campe in the presence of Monreal the Generals Secretary and some of his gentlemen Xec swears â—bedience and tribute to the King of Spaine the Xec did sweare vpon the Alcaron to bee faithfull to the king of Spaine to pay euery yeere sixe thousand crownes foure Estriges foure Lancrets foure Falcons and one Camell and in like manner the Moores that were with him did sweare vassalage and fealtie vnto him Then order was giuen to imbarke the army wherein they were verie slacke and negligent vntill that there came a message from the Great Master to the Generall assuring him that the Turkes gallies being foure score and fiue had parted from Gozo on the eight day of that month at night with an intent as hee did coniecture to releeue Tripoly and then to seeke out the Christians army hearing that it was vnfurnished of souldiars and out of order Then euery man desired to bee at sea so as the confusion was great and their opinion diuers but most concurred to go presently to sea The Generall went to Iohn Andrew Doria being not well recouered of a great Infirmitie to resolue of all things leauing a charge with Alnaro to haue his men readie so as returning at night he might not stay Doria being resolued to put to sea and hauing giuen order to the ships to follow him he left a gallie called the Contesse for the duke to imbarke in being light and well furnished with slaues that all things being ordered hee might goe and joyne with the armie The Generall would not omit any duetie that night being before the twelfth day but hauing giuen good instructions to the gouernour of the fort he spake with great efficacie to the souldiers which remained assuring them That the armie at sea being in that accident in greater daunger than the fort it was fit he should be where the perill was most apparent entertaining them after this manner vntill the day began to breake when as he with Sandy came vnto the fregate which should carrie them to the gallie that was gouerned by the Commaunder Guimarano But hee made a signe vnto him with his hand that hee should retire to land for that the Turkes armie began to appeare with an intent to charge the Christians After Dorias resolutions to get out of those shelues there arose a contrarie wind which did hinder him so as the Turkes Generall hauing cast anker but sixteene miles from Gerbe the night before hauing sent Cara Mustafa gouernour of Mitelen and Vluccialy to discouer he vnderstood in what confusion the Christians were being readie to depart hee then resolued to set vpon them at the breake of day with which resolution hee came on with a prosperous wind when as Scipion going forth with a squadron of gallies for the gard hee was so suddenly surprised by the Turkes as hee had no time to aduertise the armie so as euerie man being amazed by this sudden accident they had no other care but how to flie but it was done with that confusion which a sudden feare of an ineuitable daunger doth vsually bring Iohn Andrew Doria distrusting his Admirall gallie for that it was old and heauie hee resolued to draw neere to land being forced to recouer the fort in a barke Armie of Christians miserably lost at Gerbe being a mile off the gallie was presently abandoned and left in the slaues hands who being at libertie carried it to the enemie It was a miserable spectacle to see that mightie armie scattered in an instant some one way some another There were seuen gallies which sought to saue themselues in the chanell of Gerbe where most of the men leaping into the water although they were farre from land sought to saue their liues by swimming so as all the shore was full of men The Marshall Sandy ranne thither with a great troupe of shot and pikes to defend them that came to land for that the Moores being treacherous and inconstant had presently changed their minds and slue and spoyled as many as came vnto their hands The Generall to auoyd this other mischiefe sent word vnto the Xec by the king of Caruano and the Infant of Tunis That hee should forbid his Moores to annoy the Christians putting him in mind of his faith formerly giuen But they prepared to flie also fearing the Turkes pretending that they went to gather together some Arabians Mahamidy with the which they would returne and fauour the Christians wishing them not to trust the Moores of the island who were not well affected to them That morning there were nineteene gallies fell into the enemies hands with the Admirall the rest saued themselues in diuers places by flight the which was attributed to the courage and good counsell of the Commaunder Anthonie Maldonato The great Master had called home his gallies to Malta as hath beene sayed to prouide for the daungers of that island but afterwards hee sent backe three vnder the commaund of Maldonato who in this confusion going to sea was followed by many gallies relying vpon the skill of this knight the which succeeded happily The duke and Sandy stayed vpon the shore to defend those poore wretches which came from the gallies from the Moores giuing them clothes and armes which were prepared for them that should defend the fort The same day they held a Councell vnder a tent where were the Generals Iohn Andrew Doria D. Aluaro de Sandy and the Commaunder Guimerano Doria said That it was necessarie for them to depart speedily whilest that the enemie was busie in giuing chase to the gallies which he meant to doe in a fregate carrying them to Malta or into Sicile to gather together the dispersed gallies and to arme others to make head against the Turkes armie if hee should seeke to annoy any place of the kings Sandy did counsell the duke to goe to attend his chiefe charge of Sicile the which was now in great daunger and if he did it not he should faile much of his duetie but for his part he would remaine in Gerbe being thereunto bound both by the duetie of his charge and the seruice he ought vnto his king seeing there remained aboue three thousand besides the appointed garrison some of which escaped from the gallies
the foote of the mountaines being coasted by the Xeriffs army which held the plaines and was much stronger then he in horse Salharrais was a captaine and could imbrace all occasions so as one day hee surprized the Xeriffs reereward Xeriffe Mahomet forced to flie led by Abdalla his sonne and put it to route and made him to abandon his munition and baggage so as the Xeriffe was forced to goe hastily to Fez marching all that day and the night following without any stay and then Salharrais lodged presently vpon the bankes of the riuer Sebu The Inhabitants of Fez haue a preuiledge Preuiledge of the Inhabitants of Fez. that if their King suffers the enemy to approach within halfe a league of the city as being to weake and wanting meanes to resist him they may open him the gates and not bee taxed with treachery and so they cause their Kings to sweare at their comming to the crowne For it is a great folly say they by a vaine weake vnseasonable loyaltie to expose such a city to the spoile in supporting a Prince obstinately who is vnprouided of force and meanes to defend them This priuiledge forced the Xeriffe to goe forth againe to fight with the Turkes army and with his enemy Buaçon and fearing that the captaine of the Turkes which hee had for his gard would abandon him and retire to Salharra he caused his head to bee cut off All the captaines and gouernors of Sus Daâ—a Marroc and the Prouinces of Fez were in his army with their people which shewed to bee foure score thousand horse of the which he sent eight thousand good horse of Sus against the enemy to fight with him at the passage of a riuer and hee with the rest of the army followed after stretching it out vpon the riuer side so as there was nothing but the riuer betwixt the two armies Salharrais finding great difficulty in his passage planted his ordinance vpon the riuers side where there was a ford and caused euery horseman to take a Harguebuzier behind him and the ordinance to play continually vpon the Xeriffs squadrons so as hee past a great number of his shot in despight of them who with admirable celerity cast vp a kinde of rampar to defend them from the horse and shooting incessantly gaue meanes to the rest of the Turkes horse and foote to passe neither could they bee forced to quit the place which they had taken notwithstanding the many charges of the Xeriffs horsemen The Turkes army being past they lodged that night as strongly as they could The next day they marched towards the city whereas the Xeriffs army made great resistance the which was diuided into three battaillons and hauing made a trench vpon the great high way planted with ordinance they could not passe but Salharrais making a shew as if he would goe and beseege the bourrough of Zefere with part of his army whereas the Xeriffs victuals and munition lay hee caused his sonne Abdalla to leaue a little hill called Dardubag which hee had in gard of the which hee himselfe with the other part of the Turkish army seized instantly and then hee feared not the enemies horse the which could not then anoy him the way being rough and full of stones Notwithstanding the Xeriffe charged the Turkes but they of that nation and the renegados which were in his army and of his gard betraied him so as Salharrai Turkes got the aduantage and with their shot disperced their first squadrons Turkes make the Xeriffe retire and put them to flight wherefore the Xeriffe seeing that they of Fez that were with him began to wauer and that most of them retired towards the old city hee resolued also to retire himselfe into new Fez with his souldiars of Marroc and Sus in whom he did most relie and the Turkes marching on in good order came and camped neere vnto the port called Bebelfetoh whereas many of the Inhabitants came vnto them and Arabians that were friends to Buaçon with an intent to haue it opened vnto him Muley Abdalla the Xeriffs sonne who had entred the city by an other port caused two peeces of ordinance to bee planted vpon the portall of Bebelfetoh which made many shot into the Turkes campe and did them much harme but Buaçon and his friends brake open the gate and made way for the army to enter Then there beganne a furious and bloudy conflict in the streets where there died many good men of either side in the end Abdalla who had no confidence in them of Fez abandoned it and retired himselfe into the castle of new Fez passing by the suburbes of Merz where he reported vnto his father how all things had past in the great towne who holding himselfe not safe in new Fez Fez abandoned by the Xeriffe to the Turkes went to field in a manner flying towards Marroc hauing aduised his wiues his daughters and houshold traine to saue themselues as they could abandoning his treasors iewels and mouables whereof hee went alwaies well furnished to them that could lay hold of it Some escaped others were staied and taken and amongst them two of the Xeriffs daughters who had that day a notable losse Aliben Bubcar who was captaine of the fort of new Fez held it vntill he thought that the Xeriffe was in safety and then hee yeelded it to Salharrais by composition his men going forth with their armes and horses and what goods they could carry with them The city of Fez being thus wonne Fez taken by the Turkes some captaines of the Turkes army who hated Buaçon gaue Salharrais to vnderstand that the Inhabitants of Fez did detest him for that hee was affected to the Christians and was proud and of an ill disposition That they murmured already against him and gaue it out that they would neuer receiue him willingly for their King and therefore hee should binde them much vnto him if hee gaue them Muley Bubcar one of the sonnes of Muley Hamet Oataz to whom by right the Realme did belong and that it was their desire Vpon these reports and perswasions Salharrais caused Muley Bubcar to bee proclaimed King of Fez retayning Muley Buaçon in the fort of new Fez well garded which made the people to mutine for whereas the Turkes had said that Buaçon was hated and reiected by the Inhabitants of Fez it was a meere slander and the contrary did soone appeare for they tooke armes for his sake against the Turkes so as Salharrais was forced to pacefie this tumult to send him vnto them with an Alcaide he promising to returne againe to accomplish their conuentions Buaçon being brought into the city cast himselfe into the Mesquite of Caruin and would not come forth saying that he had beene ill intreated by the Turkes and in danger to be slaine by them and therefore he would not fall againe into their hands But the Alcaide which did accompany him gaue him so many reasons as
held him vnworthy to conferre with her The which did wonderfully discontent Perez not daring to mooue her therewith for that he held himselfe bound vnto her seruice for the fauours he had receiued from her And seeing that by their reiterated complaints notwithstanding the Kings promise in the faith of a Knight they pursued him with all violence he besought the King at the least to do him this fauour that hee might retire himselfe The king finding himselfe wronged on both sides by the Princesse for that she would not reconcile her selfe with Vasques as hee had commanded and with Perez for that he would retire himselfe After that hee had consulted with his Confessor and with the Earle of Barayas he caused the Princesse and Perez to be committed to prison vpon a coulour that by this imprisonment hee should force them to bee reconciled the King himselfe beeing a spectator of this apprehension made by his commandement the which was in the yeare 1579. The next day the King sent to visit Perez wife and to comfort her wishing her not to be troubled for her husband Hee in like manner sent his Confessor to visit Perez seeming to haue a care that hee should be well intreated After that he had beene detained some moneth in prison hee sent him with a certaine guarde home to his house where he commanded Perez that he should sweare to Don Roderigo Manuel by the faith of a Gentleman that he would continue friend with Vasques Perez remitting his splene yet hauing the knife neere his throte yeelded therevnto and so continued in his house bearing the charge thereof vntill the yeare 1585. and receiuing no allowance nor fee. At the end of which time to the end the blind should not see any thing hee was with other Secretaries put to the Visita which is a lawe to examine the actions of such as they meane to intrap La visita in Spaine is the law of fisiing The charges of this Visita were more honourable to Perez then hurtfull They did consist of two points the one concerning the Kings secrets whereof hee aduertised the King for that he would not discouer them seeing that they meant to force him thervnto hauing alwayes faithfully acquit himselfe in keeping them in his bosome as the King had trusted him Hee in like manner informed the Confessor shewing vnto him for his discharge a writing of the Kings owne hand wherevpon the Confessor did forbid him to purge himselfe by his Kings writing wherevnto he obayed for that he would not diuulge his secrets suffering himselfe to bee condemned in a fine of thirty thousand Ducats suspension of his office two yeares imprisonment and then to be banished eight yeares The which Perez endured by the perswasions and goodly promises of this Father Confessor This condemnation was made by the strangest Act that hath beene seene whereof the Councell had no knowledge neither was it signed nor any iudiciall sentence pronounced The Act beeing insinuated to Perez being lead from his house to the Castle his goods before seazed on were freed Trick of a false Monke and it was told him that hee should not performe the said Act so as hee would deliuer the papers and Instructions which hee had written vnto the King and from the King to him that by this meanes hee might wholy discharge the King and lay all vppon Perez owne head wherein consisted the end of their proceeding For there were yet two secret points in the sentence the one was they would make Perez guilty of Escouedos death the other that hee had no meanes to complaine of force and violence in his Country of Arragon besides an accusation of ten thousand Ducats wherewith they charged him whereof by many liuely reasons and by a note of the Kings owne hands hee was discharged Which note hauing beene deliuered into the Confessors hand hee read and retained it and afterwards denyed the hauing it When they came to execute the said Acte Perez thinking to preuent it fled into a Church for liberty fearing that his enemies would murther him in prison from whence notwithstanding hee was drawne but hauing obtained a sentence to his aduantage this execution was stopt Notwithstanding hee was afterwards taken againe and carried to the Castle of Turnegano where hee was cruelly intrested by one Torres of Auila a Licentiat who kept him ninety dayes in Irons from the sight of his wife and children who were in like manner committed to prison to the end they should not demand Iustice as the wife had done once at Lisbone vppon the Kings promising by the faith of a Knight the which was done to the end they might the better come to the Kings papers and her husbands which this Friar Diego Chanes hunted so after knowing how much they did import to free the King To attaine vnto the which hee had already written two letters by the meanes of the Earle of Barayas President of Castile to Perez wife sending her word that there was no other meanes to see her husband in liberty then in yeelding vp the sayd papers and in so dooing that both shee and her husband should bee deliuered out of prison wherevnto shee resisted couragiously refusing statly to giue them So as in the end her husband did write a note vnto her with his owne bloud so straightly was he kept that she should deliuer them the which she did yet by a diuine instinct shee reserued some sending them in two cofers to the said Confessor beeing at Monzon with the Keyes the which were deliuered into the Kings owne hands by him that had charge of the cofers by the deliuerie of which papers the Lady onely was set at liberty At the Kings retnrne from Monzon the papers beeing read Perez was somewhat inlarged in the towne of Madrid but not without a further meaning for the space of foure moneths hauing leaue to bee visited and the weeke before Easter to go to Masse but this was a short ioy for Escouedos sonne came to renew his old complaint and Perez was againe sent to the Castle to prison and soone after hee was called into the Court where beeing examined vpon this complaint hee continued faithfull and constant vnto the King refusing to declare any thing according to his commandements and promises aduertising him notwithstanding what the euent might be of such kinde of proceedings but all was in vaine for it was ordred that hee should answer within ten dayes vnto the cheife points of a processe which had lasted ten yeares At this examination the Confessor aduised him to confesse Escouedos murther but not to declare the motiues and reasons which Perez did not approoue But rather to the end the King might bee discharged to compound with Escouedos children who were the parties interressed the which was effected at Perez charge for twenty thousand Ducats and it was presently paid All this did not serue the turne for the President Roderigo Vasques a Kinsman to Escouedo seeing that
saile to the East and West Indies let them put in caution take an oath to discharge their goods in Spaine at the returne of their ships vpon paine of punishment if they infringe this order the which I think they will willingly offer to obserue By this means the riches of the Indies and Spaine shall haue free commerce with the Low Countries whereby both France and England shall be disappointed My son I could prescribe you greater designes for the conquering of kingdoms but you shal find in my studie such aduertisements discourses as haue bin giuen me commaund Christopher de Mora to deliuer you the key presently lest those secrets shold fal into some strangers hands I did cause some briefs of those instructions to be burnt the 7 of September I doubt all are not supprest be carefull to seeke for them I haue this day added if you can win Antonio Perez that he may serue you in Italie or in some other of your Estates but suffer him not to returne into Spaine nor to go into the Low Countries Touching your mariage the instructions are in the custodie of the Secretarie la Loo Read this often that is written with mine owne hand Haue a watchful eye ouer your most secret counsellors acquaint your selfe with cyphers discontent not your Secretaries keep them alwaies imployed be it about matters of importance or otherwise make triall of them rather by your enemies than by your friends If you discouer your secrets to any familiar friend keepe alwaies the most important within your owne bosome The king of Spaine fearing that in his life time the mariage of his daughter with the Archduke Albert would not be consummated Archduke Albert goâ—s into Spaine and that after his death the Infanta Isabella would like better of the donation than the mariage hee tied her vnto it with strict conditions desiring aboue all things that she should liue vnder the protection of the Crowne of Spaine whereunto this new alliance did particularly bind her Whereupon the Archduke gaue order for the gouernement of the Low Countries and prepared himselfe to goe into Spaine to marie the Infanta But the king of Spaine before his death had concluded a mariage betwixt prince Philip his son and Marguerite daughter to the Archduke of Austria of Gratz being younger sister vnto Marie who had bin promised vnto the prince but dyed before the consummation of the mariage Wherefore the Archduke Albert had commaundement to goe and receiue the said ladie Marguerite at Gratz and to conduct her into Spaine Being readie to goe on his journey hee receiued newes of the death of the king of Spaine yet hee went on his journey and passing by the countrey of Treues the Palatinat and the duchie of Wirtemberg into the limits of Bauaria he came into the countie of Tyrol being receiued in all places with great pompe and presents He meetes with the future Queene of Spaine and his traine discharged In this countie hee met with the ladie Marguerite of Austria and Marie of Bauaria her mother neere vnto the place whereas the Emperour Charles the fift and his brother Ferdinand king of Romans met in remembrance of which happie enteruiew there was a table of brasse hung vp for a monument and is yet to be seene which table doth represent them as they imbraced one another This ladie was attended on by 500 gentlemen of high Hungarie whereas the Archduke her father makes his chiefe residence Hauing joyned their troupes being about two thousand horse and three thousand fiue hundred foot they past by Bolsene and came to Trent the nine and twentieth of October where they spent some dayes to visit the reliques of Saints Then entring into the territories of Venice which was neere they were honourably receiued by two Senators at a village called Delce Venetians defâ—ay the charge of the future Queene of Spaine vpon the riuer of Adde where there was a bridge made by commaundement of the State for them to passe ouer They went on by small journeyes through the Venetians countrey who defrayed the charges of them and their whole traine ten dayes together Hauing past Verona they entred the duke of Mantouas country who came in post with ten noblemen to Ostia a small village vpon the riuer of Po to salute the queene Duke of MaÌ„toua entertaines the Queene of Spaine where there were many boats made readie among other there was a nuptiall barge verie sumptuously made and couered with tapistrie of siluer the which was diuided into chambers halls and cabinets The future queene her mother the Archduke Albert with some noblemen and ladies entred this barge where they found the tables readie furnished with all exquisit meats The rest of the traine past the riuer in three great boats vnto the other side whereas Rouere stands a towne belonging to the duke of Mantoua from thence going downe the riuer they were carried to Ferrara whereas the Pope was with many Cardinals whither he came after the composition of Faence with D. Caesar of Este. The Pope being certified of the queenes comming neere the towne Pope sendes a present to the Queene of Spaine hee presently sent forth two Cardinals Legats which were Aldobrandin and Saint Clement with a great number of Prelats and gentlemen Hauing gone three miles they receiued the queene verie honourably at a place called the islands euen as she landed in the name of the Apostolike Sea and of the Pope presenting vnto her in his name a rich caroch wherof all the yron-worke was gilt being drawne by six white horses in the which the queen her mother and the Archduke entred into Ferrara Without the citie gates the duke of Sessa Present sent by the King of Spaine to his Queene embassador for the king of Spaine presented vnto her in his masters name a litter couered with cloth of gold and richly appointed both in the yron-worke which was of siluer and gilt as of all other royall furniture hauing two white mules and the muleters in the like liuerie and withall a corroch with six pied horses Arriuall of the Queene of Spaine into Ferrara and two coach-men clad in cloth of gold which made a glistering shew At the port called Angels gate shee was receiued by two other Cardinals Sforce and Montalto and conducted into a house artificially made where shee was seated in a royall throne where she staied vntill the rest of the Cardinals came to visit and receiue her After this reception the queene was mounted vpon a white horse and â—he princesse her mother vpon the like which the Pope had sent them in that maner she entred the city being late vnder a canopie of cloth of siluer and betwixt the two Cardinals which had receiued her at the port There were a great number of coaches and wagons which went before with much baggage then followed two companies of horse hauing mourning weeds vpon their armes by reason of the late
meane than to a lackey for pillaging of that dead bodie which his master had slaine Thus much I haue set downe out of his owne mouth touching the seruice that was done vpon those six gallies of Spaine This yeare there was a new fleet made readie in Spaine 1603 the which bred a jealousie in the French Armie of Spain at sea and made them to stand vpon their gard in Languedoc and Prouence This fleet was readie to set saile the which vnder colour of renewing the enterprise of Alger in Afrike might frame some designe vpon that coast Prince Doria and D. Iohn de Cordoua had beene both vnfortunat in their charges The honour of Christendome made all men wish that this execution might proue more succesfull than the rest But as bad designes do manie times prosper better than good the successe depending commonly on the blindnesse of fortune this enterprise of Alger was no more succesfull than the two former It was managed by a Franciscan Frier called Father Mathew who promised as great glorie vnto himselfe in chasing away those petiâ— kings of Afrike as Aratus had of freeing Sicyonia of tyrans He had negotiated with the king of Cycco who promised that for a certaine summe of money whereof he should receiue fortie thousand crowns in hand not onely to fauour any designe but to declare himselfe openly against the king of Alger and to reduce the towne to what condition they would but there is a great difference betwixt saying and doing And it is a great simplicitie to giue credit to an Infidell seeing that treacherie is inseparable from his soule The Viceroy of Majorca who was Generall in this action and with whom the king of Cycco had promised to joyne approached with foure gallies vpon this assurance and landed about an hundred men Moors treacherous to deliuer fortie thousand crownes vnto the Moores who receiued the money and deliuered the men into the hands of the Viceroy of Alger where the Frier was slain and the Viceroy retiring freed their neighbours from jealousie They of Barcelona who are subiect to the king of Spaine did no lesse apprehend this armie than the Moores they feared that the Catholike king would take their priuiledges from them as hee had done from them of Arragon Passage of the prince of Piedmont into Spain yet the passage of the three princes of Sauoy into Spaine renewed their jealousie in France The duke came with them to Nice where they attended the commoditie of their imbarking the princesse Marguerite his eldest daughter commaunding in Piedmont and from thence they past to Barcelona where they attended the kings pleasure and were entertained with all the honours that might be done vnto princes of that alliance The king of Spaine rejoyced at the dukes resolution and seemed to haue a great desire to see them He sent D. Henriques de Guzman to congratulate their arriuall and to commaund them to take small journeyes by reason of the heat of the season Being come to Court he made prince Victor the dukes second sonne Viceroy of Portugall the which did much content the Portugals to see the fruits of D. Beatrix his great grandmother who was daughter to D. Emanuel king of Portugall and maried to Charles duke of Sauoy The third sonne was afterwards made Archbishop of Toledo and then cardinall The queene of England being dead this yeare King of Spaine sends an embassador into England and the king of Scotland come to the succession of that Crowne the king of Spaine sent D. Iohn Baptista Taxis earle of Villa Mediana his embassadour into England to witnesse vnto the king the great contentment hee receiued by his happie comming to the Crowne who after his first audience of congratulations and ordinarie complements made a speech vnto the king to this effect The king of Spaine my master assuring himselfe to find the same effects and affections of friendship in you being king of England which you haue alwayes made shew of vnto him being king of Scotland Speech of the embassador of Spain to the king of England hath sent me vnto your Maiestie to confirme the sinceritie to desire the continuance and to preserue it by all the proofes of friendship and assistance which he offers you which is the same that many great princes haue desired and could not obtaine and for that it is offered is no lesse necessarie and to be wished for of your Maiestie If the king D. Philip the second of glorious memorie hath attempted any thing against England and queene Elizabeth against the Estates of Spaine it was more vpon some priuat spleene than for any reason of State But one tombe should interre both their bodies and their passions The successours doe inherit the greatnesse and power of their predecessors but they are not tied to their designes which haue no end but the ruine one of another The Catholike king hath such rich and goodlie Crownes in Europe Asia and Africke and at the East and West Indies as they are sufficient to settle the desire of his ambition within the bounds of his owne greatnesse If hee hath dealt in the affaires of any other princes it was to support them and keepe them from ruine time hauing discouered how many things were readie to fall if they had not beene vnderpropt by the hand of D. Philip. The enemies of the house of Spaine haue published That the ambition of this prince was to make himselfe Monarch of all Christendome and that hee had left these designes hereditarie to his posteritie But the wiser sort may easily judge that if hee had beene so affected he would haue carried himselfe otherwise and begun the execution of the enterprise by Italie in the which hee is the stronger the conquest whereof would be easie hauing such aduantages But as hee is contented to preserue his owne and desires no lesse to raigne justly than long and happily so is hee grieued to see his friends crosse him in a thing that is so just and reasonable Complaints are free for all men but they are more affectionate among neighbours My master who holds you in this qualitie of a friend and will dow what possibly hee may that you bee neuer other complaines to you of your selfe Hee cannot dissemble how much hee thinkes himselfe wronged for that your Majestie doth affect the defence and protection of the rebels of the Low Countries against their lawfull Lord and that you haue lately graunted them a great leuie of Scottish men Hee assures himselfe of all friendship and justice from you and hee intreats you that in calling home these Scottish men you will punish them as they haue deserued Hee desires to treat sincerely with you and beleeues that your Maiestie considering how much the friendship of so mightie a prince should bee deere vnto you and will be profitable will seeke and imbrace it and will neuer be so carelesse of his good as to wish him ill The king
carried ladders to all parts Lelius did also presse them on his side so as then the valour of the defendants was forced to giue place and they abandoned the rampiers It happened that during this tumult the fort which was held impregnable was surprised for certaine souldiors of Africke reuolted which were in the Romane armie seeing that they of the towne were busied to withstand an assault in the most dangerous places and the Romanes as busie to get an entrie into the towne they obserued the highest part of the towne couered with a steepe rocke which had neither rampier gard nor defence These men being actiue and nimble began to creepe vp this rocke with the helpe of certaine pykes of yron which they did strike into the stones and made steps of them the first helping vp their companions which followed Illiturgis taken and the executiâ—n cruell so as in the end they got vp to the top of the rocke from whence they began to run with horrible cries towards the towne which was alreadie woon by the Romanes Then shewed they the fruits of their choler and hatred none were spared but all put to the sword men and women of all ages and sexes yea and poore infants no man cared for spoyle the fire deuoured what might be consumed And quite ruined and the rest was ruined for that the Romanes would not leaue the markes of a towne nor the memorie of any habitation of such enemies From thence Scipio led his armie to Castulo This towne was not onely kept by Spaniards which were come thither from diuers places but also by the remainder of the Carthaginians which were brought thither to garrison after the retreat of their armie But before that Scipio arriued they had newes of the taking of Illiturgis which strucke a great rerror among them and made them almost to despaire and as euery mans guilt was not alike so euery one sought to prouide for his owne safetie Wherefore they began to distrust one another and in the end fell to an open diuision the Spaniards seperating themselues from the Carthaginians Cordubelus commaunded the Spaniards who spake openly That they must yeeld vnto the Romans Cordubelus yeeldeth vp Castulâ— and the Carthaginian garrison Himilco was chiefe of the Carthaginians whom Cordubelus deliuered vp with the towne vnto the Romans By this voluntarie reddition being also not so culpable as they of Illiturgis the victorie was vsed with lesse rigor 22 From thence Martius was sent against them of that nation which plaid the rebels to subject them to the Romane yoke and Scipio returned to new Carthage to performe the vowes which he had made vnto his gods and to represent the games of fencing which he had prepared in honour of his deceased father and vncle These fencers which were brought forth were none of his slaues nor such as had beene made free which the master fencers were wont to present vnto the people which sell their bloud and are hired for money but all those that did fight came willingly without any fee Combats vpon furious ambition for some were sent by the noblemen of the countrey to shew the valour and dexteritie of the nation others presented themselues vnto the combat for the loue they bare vnto their Generall others thrust forth with glorie defied or being challenged accepted the combat willingly Some there were which not able to end their suits by pleading resolued trie it by the sword who were of no base condition but gentlemen of noble houses Among others Corbis and Orsua A suit decided by armes two cousin germines who contended for the principalitie of the towne of Ibis would end their controuersie by armes Corbis was the elder The father of Orsua had lately ruled in that towne hauing succeeded to that seigniorie by the death of his brother Scipio would haue reconciled them by justice and knowledge of the cause but they both answered That it was not the custome among kinsfolkes and that they would not haue any gods nor men to be their judges but Mars Corbis was the stronger and Orsua the more couragious by reason of his youth both resolute to die rather than to submit himselfe vnto his aduerse partie With this resolution they shewed themselues to the whole armie The eldest also had more experience in his weapon and was more cunning so as he did easily vanquish the foolish presumption of the younger To these sights of fencers were added funerall plaies according to the manner of the Pagans with preparation fit for the countrey and as at the warre 23 During these shewes the Romanes lost no time Scipioes lieutenants being seriously imployed about their affaires Martius hauing past the riuer Betis called Circe by them of the countrey tooke two good and rich townes without striking stroke There was another towne called Astapa the which had alwayes held the Carthaginians partie Astapa and made profession to hate the Romanes deadly yea when there was not any necessitie of warre and yet their towne was neither strong by nature nor art whereby they should grow proud but the nature of these men who had no delight but in theeuing had caused them to spoile the countries of the Romane allies and to strip their victualers souldiors or merchants Astapians desperat theeues if they found them scattered yea they had layd an ambush for a great troupe of men passing through their countrey and hauing surprised them in a strait had slaine them When as the armie came before the towne the inhabitants prickt with the feeling of their faults expected no mercie of their enemies and seeing no meanes to hold against a siege they tooke a cruell and detestable resolution for they brought into the middest of their market place all that was good and precious within the towne and laied it on a heape vpon the which they set their wiues and children then they planted great store of fagots and other wood round about it this being done they appointed fiftie yong men well armed for the gard thereof enjoyning them that whilest the euent of the fight betwixt them and the Romanes was doubtfull they should remaine there and be faithfull gardians of their goods and of those persons whom they held deerest but if they saw it succeeded ill and that the towne was in daunger to bee lost they might then be assured that all they which had fallied out vpon the enemies were slaine in the fight wherefore they did conjure them by all the celestiall and infernall gods A barbarous detestable resolution of the Astapians to remember their liberties which that day should end by an honest death or by an infamous seruitude and therefore they should not leaue any thing that belonged vnto them wherewith the enemie in his furie might glut his crueltie to which end they had both fire and swords in their hands and that therefore such things as were to perish should be destroyed by the hands of their faithfull
friends rather than be exposed to the scorne and insolencie of the enemie This spoken they added an execrable curse vpon those that should suffer themselues to be mooued with any pitie or tendernesse of heart and forbeare to execute that which they had decreed then hauing opened the gate they marched directly to the Romane trenches with more than a brutish furie The Romanes had no conceit they should sally thus forth vpon them wherefore they found the passages vnto the campe but ill garded Some troupes of horse and foot lightly armed were suddenly sent out against them where they came to fight with more furie than good order Wherefore the horsemen which came first to charge the enemie being repulsed amazed the footmen so as the Astapians had come vnto the Romanes campe if the legions hauing some little leasure had not put themselues into battell There the enemies like madde men ran desperatly vpon their weapons but the old souldiours keeping their ground and ouerthrowing the formost stayed them that followed then seeking to beat them backe finding them obstinatly resolued to dye where they stood they opened their battailon compassing them in with the multitude and slew them all This was done like souldiours against incensed enemies that were armed but within the towne there was a barbarous slaughter The Astapians do barbarously murther their owne wiues and children where as the citizens themselues murthered the weake vnarmed multitude of their wiues and little children casting their bodies yet breathing into the fire whose bloud did in a manner quench the flames In the end being tyred with this pitifull slaughter of their owne they leapt armed as they were into the middest of the fire Thereupon the victorious Romanes entred who beholding this cruell spectacle stood amazed for a season then seeing the gold and siluer shine through the fire thrust on with greedinesse they went in to gather it vp but many of them were roasted in the fire being kept in by the prease that followed them Thus ended the siege of Astapa being consumed by fire with all her treasure whereas the Romans got no spoile After this exploit Martius tooke in many other places of the country which yeelded to his mercie and then returned with his victorious armie to new Carthage About this time there came certaine deputies secretly out of the island of Gades who promised to yeeld vp the towne with the Gouernour The Gaditanes offer to deliuer their town vnto the Romanâ— into the Romans hands and all the Carthaginians which were there in garrison Mago was retired thither after the dissolution of the campe when as he was forced to flie who hauing gathered together certaine ships assembled some troups out of Spaine and Africke neere vnto the strait These citizens being heard and hauing plighted their faith one vnto another to obserue what had beene promised they were sent backe Scipio sent Martius thither by land with his ablest troupes and Lelius by sea with seuen gallies and a galleasse to the end that with a mutual consent they should mannage this enterprise both by sea and land 24 Whilest they are busie to surprise Gades Scipio fell verie sick Scipio falls verie sicke but it was made greater according to the common custome of men the which did much trouble the whole countrie and euen those that were farthest off and it seemed by the discord which grew of this false brute that if it had beene true it would haue bred a great alteration of the affaires in Spaine for neither the allies nor the Romane armie could containe themselues in their duties Mandonius and Indibilis being sorie that the effect was not answerable to their conceptions Ambition makes Mandonius and Iudibilis disâ—oial which was to make themselues kings as soone as the Carthaginians were expelled mooued the Lacetanes of their countrey to armes with many Celtiberians forraging and spoyling the fields of the Suessetanes and Sedetanes who were allied to the Romanes Besides there grew a mutinie in the Romane campe neere vnto the riuer of Sucro or Xucar where as there lay eight thousand men in garrison to keepe the people in awe on this side the riuer of Ebro These troupes had begun to grow disordered before the vncertaine brute of Scipioes death which grew through idlenesse the which doth commonly fall out Idlenesse makes soldiors insolent and 〈◊〉 when as souldiours want imployment Then they grew licentious and discontented for that being accustomed to take spoiles and to riot at their enemies charges during the warres they now saw themselues restrained and gouerned according to the orders of the time when as the warre ceased And these were their reasons If they make warre said they in any part of Spaine why doe they keepe vs here where there is no imployment If the warre be ended why do they not lead vs backe into Italie Then they demaunded their pay after an insolent manner They that are accustomed to liue vpon spoile cannot subiect themselues to discipliâ—â— not like vnto souldiours well disciplined When the captaines and officers of companies went the round in the night those that were in the corps degard vsed many opprobrious speeches against them Some stealing forth in the night spoyled the countrey of their friends and neighbours yea they grew so insolent as euen in the day time they would goe out of the campe and abandon their ensignes without leaue Finally all was done after the appetite of souldiors which were without order or discipline and without any commaund of their heads and Tribunes onely they were content there should be some forme of a Roman campe maintained and did suffer the captaines to sit in their accustomed places to doe justice they tooke the word from them went to the gard in their turnes and set their sentinels And although they had in a manner supprest the authoritie of their commaunders yet they made a shew to obey them whom in truth they commaunded This they did thinking that in the end their captaines being infected with their frenzie would joyne with them But when they saw that they reprehended them sharpely and that they sought to suppresse their furies The Roman captaines chased out of their camp by the mutined souldiours and openly refused to be companions vnto them in their insolencies they chased them first from their seats and in the end forced them to forsake the campe Which done they began to chuse the most seditious among them for their leaders and captaines creating with a general consent C. Albius Calenus and C. Atrius Vmber simple souldiours to be their Tribunes who not contented to take the markes of Tribunes presumed to vsurpe the authoritie of the Soueraigne head causing rods and axes to be carried before them not remembring that those rods and axes wherewith they thought to terrifie other men should fall vpon their owne shoulders for the conceit they had of Scipioes death did blind their vnderstandings imagining they would presently take
Spaine begging therein the authoritie of the great master of Rhodes who was discontented that the Pope should take vpon him to conferre that priorie to D. Anthonie of Estuniga causing the grant of the order to be brought expresly from Rhodes to that end D. Anthonie complaining in vaine to the Pope both of the king and great master who for his last refuge retired into Flanders to king Charles beseeching him to confirme and maintaine that which his father Philip had done the which hee obtained when as he was aduertised of the death of king Ferdinand for king Charles did write in his fauour vnto the Pope And so D. Diego of Toledo and D. Anthonie of Estuniga began to fall to suit for this priorie at Rome where D. Anthonie did win his cause and got letters of execution from the Pope with the which and the Popes fauourable letters he came vnto king Charles who sent him into Spaine to cardinall Ximenes whom he commaunded to take into his hands all the places of the priorie admonishing the duke of Alba and his son to retire their men and to referre the controuersie to him to compromise and if the duke of Alba should refuse he should then cause the kings letters and sentence to be executed forcing them to obey that should oppose themselues notwithstanding any oppositions The duke of Bejar with his brother D. Anthonie of Estuniga presented these letters and commaundement from the king to the cardinall the which the duke of Alba vnderstanding being out of hope to procure any delay from the cardinall for hee was well acquainted with the nature of the man and knew well that he desired to see this processe in the which there had past many threats and injurious words ended hee resolued to oppose himselfe and to crosse his proceedings by force He had of his part the duke of Escalona and many other noblemen the which did trouble his aduerse partie At that time the cardinall was troubled with a tertian ague the which did animate the duke of Alba and his partie and gaue them hope to prolong the processe and to keepe the possession vntill that the king said they were better informed But being somewhat recouered of his sicknesse he called both parties and enioyned them to lay aside armes vntill he were better informed of the right The cardinall would haue the places sequestred according to the kings letters wherein seeing great difficultie by the practises and force vsed on the duke of Albaes part in the end he propounded to execute the kings letters brought by D. Anthonie of Estuniga wherein there was a diuision among the counsellors some holding that the duke of Albaes cause was more just and for that said they there was some obscuritie in the letters not being certaine whether the duke of Alba referring the matter to the kings arbitrement might still hold the possession as depositarie vntill the cause were ended or else vntil the king shold name another depositarie into whose hands the places the priorie should be deliuered they thought it therefore necessarie to haue another warrant of which aduice were doctor Adrian the seignior of Chaux The cardinall banding himself against all these difficulties he brought all the councel to that point as they concluded the kings letters should be executed The duke of Alba forgetting nothing that might helpe his cause imploied in his fauor queene Germaine the French king and the king of England by whose meanes king Charles was not so resolute to restore D. Anthonie of Estuniga to his Priory whereof the Cardinall being aduertised hee wrote letters of complaint vnto the king to the Lord of Cheuâ—es and to the whole councell of Flanders shewing them how necessarie constancie and perseuerance were in such like ordinances and decree then hee thought it good to call the duke of Alba vnto him Speech of Cardinall Ximenes to the duke of Alba. to whome in the presence of the councell and the earle of Osorâ—o hee said friendly that he should temper the heat which hee saw in him in the pursute of his rights and that there would be meanes if he himself did not hindeâ—it to reconcile all things without tumult or armes wherefore he did aduise him to put the priory into the kings hands to dispose according vnto right and justice assuring him that if hee did it willingly hee would mitigate much of the rigour of the commandement which hee had receiued from the king and that hee would deliuer the Priorie into the hands of D. Pedro Bazan who hee knew was much affected to his house and hee should keepe it vntill the kings comming promising moreouer that he would then cause the deliuerie of it to D. Anthonie to bee staied for three moneths that in the meane time hee might worke his best meanes These conditions were contemned by the Duke of Alba who departed saying that the Cardinall might doe better if hee list and not derogate any thing from the kings authority and going from Madrid with this discontent bee went to his kinsmen and friends to conferre with them of the enterprize which hee had in his braine all dissuading him from opposing himselfe against the Cardinall witnes the calamity of them of Villefratre and of the earle of Vregna for the which they gaue him such reasons as at that time hee yeelded to their counsels But falling afterwards into furie the Cardinal was forced to come to the last remedy calling together his Legionary companies both horse and foot as well to gard and fortifie the councell and justice Defeat of the duke of Albas men by the Cardinals companies as to suppresse the mutines and keepe them from ioyning together which forces did incounter and put to rout about a thousand foote and some horse of the duke of Albas and stript them in the diocesse of Toledo After which rout the duke comming to himselfe hee imployed the fauour of Queene Germaine and doctor Adrian and came to Madrid where hee was so tractable as hee yeelded the Priorie at the Cardinals discretion for hee shewed him with what vprightnesse he proceeded in this businesse Duke of Alba submits himself to Cardinall Ximenes and let him read the originall letters hee had receiued of the kings commandement to the end hee might know it was no cause that hee did affect and seeke adding that hee should consider with himselfe wherein hee might assist him preseruing his honour and the king his masters seruice assuring him that hee would not faile him to whome the duke made answere that hee would not intreat any other thing of him but after that his sonne should be depriued of the priory the king would remember that their house had alwaies been affectionat to the crowne and haue regard vnto it and for that hee had vnderstood that he would leaue the priory in deposito in the hands of D. Ferdinand Andrada who had married D. Francis of Estuniga kinswoman to his aduerse party he desired
it might be giuen to some other to the end that his enemies might haue no subiect to scorne at his calamity The Cardinall who was alwaies vanquished by them that yeelded vnto him said that it was reasonable ordaining that the Priory should be deliuered into the hands of D. Ferdinand Andrada he should instantly redeliuer it to D. Anthonie of Cordoâ—a brother to the earle of Cabra These things concluded at Madrid the duke sent letters to D. Diega his son to leaue the priory by the Cardinal to D. Ferdinand of Andrada to cease from all acts of hostilitie Thus the quarrel for the priorie of S. Iohn was ended the which notwithstaÌ„ding after the death of Cardinal Ximenes D. Diego recouered and enioyed partly with the consent and partly against the wil of k. Charles himselfe who decreed that D. Diego of Toledo and D. Anthonie of Estuniga should enioy it in common but D. Anthonie dying at Perpignan he left the whole possession to his competitor There remained another cause to determine which the Cardinal did affect it was the processe of the earle of Ribadeo in Gallicia Controuersie for the earledome of Ribadeo of a small circuit but good fertile and pleasant The earle of which place hath this priuiledge that on twelfe day he diâ—es at the king of Castilles table hath the roabe that he weares that day This earledome had been held by D. Rodrigo of Villandradra who hauing married two lawfull wiues and those put a-away for barrennesse had in the end taken to wife a slaue of his made free called Leonora by whom he had D. Roderigo his sonne and only presumtiue heire to whom the admiral had giuen a base daughter of his to wibe Against this D. Roderigo there contented for the succession D. Maria of Volloa maried to the earle of Salines who was neâ—ce to the old earle of Villindrada daughter to his sister saying that D. Roderigo was not lawfull which sute had beene commenced long before the death of king Ferdinand Cardinall Ximenes fauoured D. Roderigos cause but as many of the Councell inclined more to the reasons of D. Maria the cause was sent to the Chancerie of Vailledoliâ— yea D. Maria had such fauour in court Authority of Cardinall Ximenes vanquished by a womaÌ„ as the title and right was granted vnto her sonne by the kings letters the which did much trouble the Cardinall seeing himselfe vanquished by a woman he that had gouerned the greatest Lords of Spaine at his pleasure 5 This yeare one thousand fiue hundred and seuenteene Pope Leo created one and thirty Cardinals among which Doctor Adrian Florâ—nt was one for the which he was much blamed 〈◊〉 of the Cardinals order by Pope Leo. against the which Cardinall de Monre vncle to Pope Iulio the third and others opposed themselues saying that to make so many at one time was to profane that sacred order He had almost made Raphael of Vrbin an excellent painter Cardinal to free himselfe by a hat of a great sum of money which he ought him for pictures with which hope being fed he deferred to marrie with the Neece of the Cardinall of Bibiena which was offred him but his sodaine death depriued the painter both of the one and other Cardinall Ximenes being solicited by the king and the Flemish Lords to send a fleet into Flanders Nauie sent into Flanders for K. Charles to conduct him he rigged out a good number of ships where Gomes of Buytron was admirall causing the ports of Biscay Asturia and Galicia to be visited for that it was bruted the plague was in many places appointing victuals and other necessaries to be carried to refresh and ease the court wheresoeuer the fleet should arriue himselfe in the meane time leauing Madrid went towards Aranda of Duero where hee resolued to attend the kings comming that aboade seeming vnto him verie healthfull and pleasant and by reason of the conuent of Franciscane friers situated in the next village of Aguilera in passing hee made his last visit of Tordelaguna the place of his birth 6 There were in his company the Infant D. Ferdinand doctor Adrian now made Cardinall and Armastof from Tordelaguna he came to Bozeguillas a borough in the mountaine Cardinall Ximenes poisoned where dyning they did verily beleeue that hee was poisoned which made him fall into a lingring consumption till hee dyed of it for hauing dyned hee found himselfe verie ill after which there came bloud out at his eares and at the ioyning of his nayles the suspition of poison was augmented by a certaine horseman vnknowen who that morning hauing met neere vnto Bozeguillas the Prouinciall Marquine with other monkes that went vnto the Cardinall hee willed them to make hast to be there before he sat downe to dinner and to aduise him not to eate of a great trout which should bee set before him for without doubt it was poisoned If you arriue said hee too late care then for the health of his soule for his body will bee past helpe This speech was deliuered by Marquine but late vnto the Cardinall who gaue little credit saying that if his infirmitie came of poison hee thought it came from Flaunders and that hee had beene infected at Madrid by the eyes in reading of a letter which was brought out of that countrey since which time hee had not beene well whatsoeuer it were hee was ready to goe when God should call him who sends infirmities and takes them away at his pleasure They obserue that hee said often to the Phisitians that hee should die by the treachery and wickednes of traitors and it was commonly reported that Francis Carillo who was sewer to the Cardinall hauing eaten of this trout was verie sick and they did vndoubtedly beleeue that the Flemings sought his death for they had discouered by his letters that his intent was to procure the king to dismisse them all and send them home to their houses and to be serued by Spaniards in their places The blame of this vild act was laid vpon Baracaldo one of his secretaries who had done other treacheries to the Cardinall his master yet the Cardinall did still vse his seruice vnto his dying day which breeds some doubt whether it were he or some other that committed this crime whereof there were many contrarie arguments Cardinall Ximenes caused himselfe to bee carried to Aranda whereas whilst he striues against his infirmitie Tumult of Vailledolit the towne of Vailledolit fell into new tumults vpon a conceit the people had that the bruâ—e of the kings comming was but counterfeit and that this great preparation was to send the infant D. Ferdinand into Flanders So as Spaine remaining destitute of her princes being in the hands of an old Monke halfe rotten and neere his end must of necessity bee ruined by intestine seditions or be a prey to forein nations To pacifie this mutiny and to certifie them of the truth of the kings comming