Castile at the same time vnder color of defending and vpholding the Constable D. Lewis of Beaumont Earle of Lerin and who had taken certaine townes he delt in such sort Castillans spoile the Realme of Nauarr. as he perswaded him to go with him to Valencia to king Fernand where being arriued the Lord of Albret beeing welcomed and kindly entreated did beseech the King to accept of the desire he had to do him seruice in stead of the effect for so much as he was a poore Knight vniustly expelled from his countrie by the French King who was mooued against him Amand of Albret 〈◊〉 the K of Castile to war vpon K. Charles the eight and Iohn of Albret his sonne whose person with his kingdome of Nauarre hee came to offer vnto him requesting him to receiue them into his protection and also that he had commission to make the like request for the Dukes Francis of Brittaine and Lewis of Orleance poursued and afflicted by the same King Charles each of whom promised him seruice and ayde for the recouerie of his Earledome of Rossillon and in all other occasions King Fernand sauoues Amand of Alâ—ret against King Charles The Lord of Albrets speech was fauourably and attentiuely heard by King Fernand who graunted all that which hee demaunded in the behalf of the king his son commanding Iohn de Ribera to restore to him or his Lieutenants Viana with all the rest of the places which he held in the Realme of Nauar. And did moreouer giue order for the rigging forth of an army by sea in Guipuscoa and Biscay against the French King for the aide of the aboue-named Princes who had likewise sollicited Henry the seuenth King of England to take their part who inclined thereunto so as a great number of Spanish shippes did lye vppon the coasts of Brittaine whose Admirall was Monsieur Gralla with whom Alain of Albret returned and an armie out of England was likewise sent conducted by the Lord Scales to the hurt of the French-men who by meanes of a victorie obtained by K. Charles or his Lieutenants K. Charles his victorie at S. Aubin at S. Aubin did deliuer themselues from all danger the D. of Orleance and Monsieur Gralla being taken prisoners the Lord of Albret escaped and the D. of Brittaine died for griefe of mind leauing two daughters Anne the eldest albeit that she was promised to Maximilian King of the Romains who was of the D. of Orleance faction was won by King Charles to be his wife who was desirous by such a marriage to vnite the Dutchie of Brittaine to his Crowne And because he was betrothed to Margueritâ— of Austria daughter to the king of the Romaines who beeing very young was brought vp in France in hope of the future marriage he sent her home againe and she was afterwards married to Prince Iohn of Castile The Bretons euer hating the French gouernment The Britons oppose themselues against the French King keeping their Princesse in the Castle of Nantes made new practises with the Kings of Castile and England and obtained great ayde from both of them Don Diego Peres Sarmjento Earle of Salinas beeing Generall of the Spanish Armie on the coast of Brittaine with Don Pero Carillo de Albornos and other renowned Captaines hauing two hundred men at armes and great numbers of footmen Crosbowes Pikes and Harquebuziers who were called in those dayes Espingardiers King Charles in the meane time came with a mighty Armie and besieged Nantes and by intelligence with some hee obtained the Citty Castle and the Dutchesse whom hee married in the yeare 1489. and made her French Queene making himselfe Maister of her inheritance in despight of the Britons This faire and gratious Princesse Anne was daughter to Dutchesse Marguerite and grand-child to Queene Leonar of Nauarre as hath beene already said and coosin germaine to Queene Catherine of Nauarre of whom we now treate Wee will now returne to the Kings of Castile Castile After the assembly of the states of the Realme of Valencia at Orihuela where diuerse ancient customes were reformed and many notable orders receiued and established they came to Murcia with an intent to warre vpon the Moores from that part There did Don Frederick de Toledo Captaine of the Kings guards Death of Don Garcy Aluares and of D Aluarode Estuniga aske leaue to visit Don Garcy Aluares de Toledo his father who lay deadly sick in wose dignities to wit the Dutchie of Alua the Marquisat of Coria and Earledome of Barco his sonne succeeded him This yeare likewise dyed Don Aluaro d' Estuniga Duke of Playsance leauing his sonne of the same name successor in his Dutchie The Bishop of Astorga likewise dyed in whose place Bernardin de Caruajall was substituted who was afterward Cardinall of the Sea of Rome of the title of the holy Crosse. The companies from all parts of the kingdome made their Rendez-vous at Lorca whether King Ferdinand marched hauing in his company the Duke of Albuquerque the Marquis of Cales the Earles of Lemos Saint Steeuens Castro Cabra Montagu Buendia and Don Henry Henriques the great Maister Don Pero Lopes de Padilla Captaine of the frontiers of Castile Don Iohn Chacon Captaine of the frontier of Murcia and others The Army beeing ready to march the Marquis of Cales and the Captaine of the frontier of Murcia leading the foreward marched against the Cittie of Vera the inhabitants whereof who were Moores beeing assured that they came towards them Vera yeelded by composition would not fall into the like mischiefe as those of Malaga wherefore they sent out before to the Marquis offering to yeeld their Citty to King Ferdinand if hee were there in person wherefore the King made hast and the Citty submitted vnto him on condition that their liues liberties and goods might bee saued with promise to liue in their religion in the next townes or else where they should thinke good Garcy Laso de la Vega Maister of the Kings Hall was made Gouernor of Vera. Diuers others strong townes and castles on those marches beeing mooued by the reports of the Kings clemency and fearing likewise their great power sent their Alfaquins or wise Councellors and deputies Places yeelded to the King and Queene of Castile to offer them obedience and tribute as they were accustomed to pay to the Moore Kings and namely the two Velez the white and the redde Muxicar Cueuas Telefique Huescar and Porchena Tabara Alborca Serena Torilla Monjacar Tabernas and Benamaruel the inhabitants of which places and diuers others made themselues Mudejares or vassals to king Ferdinand and Queene Isabell keeping their ceremonies and sect The Armie after this marched towards Almerie the which towne was then onely lookt vpon by certaine light skirmishes with the Moores of the garrison then part of the army marched on forward within the view of Baça where King Muley Boabdelin was then in person who came forth with certaine troopes of
returned him many good words to witnesse the alliance which hee desired to entertaine with the king of Spaine King of Englands answer to the Spanish embassador vpon the like tearmes hee had with him as king of Scotland But aduowing the Scottish troups which were sent to the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces to be leuied by his commaundement he said they had not deserued any punishment giuing leaue to king Philip to make vse of Scottishmen if he pleased and letting him know that he had not transgrest the lawes of neutralitie And as for their protection he desired he should vnderstand That the great interests which England hath with the vnited Prouinces as well in regard of their townes which they haue ingaged as for the succours which they haue receiued from thence did bind him to assist them and to haue a care of their preseruation and to second the intentions of the deceased queene and to build vpon the foundations which she had laied yet he desired to see them all well reconciled with the king of Spaine The embassador as my Author sayes answered That whosoeuer knew the power of the king of Spaine Spaniards think none so powerful as their own king were not ignorant that he can easily bring the rebelled Prouinces vnder the yoke of his obedience when hee shall please to make an enterprise equall to his power That no man should doubt that hee that had passed the Hellespont will easily passe the riuer of Granique and that a prince which triumphes ouer so many nations so many islands so many seas and so much firme land at the new-found world will not adde the islands of Holland and Zeland to his triumphant chariot the wise will alwaies giue the counsell which Phocion gaue vnto the Athenians either to make themselues the strongest or to be obedient vnto them that were so He then desired leaue to enter into conference with some of his Maiesties Councell and to consult of the meanes of some treatie which would be no lesse profitable and honourable to England than to Spaine the which was granted him After some meetings the lords finding that he had no power to treat they attended other deputies who came the next yeare with an ample Commission as you shall heare There fell out two accidents 1604 which had like to haue troubled the quiet of those two great Monarchs of France and Spaine Imposition exacted by the Spaniard The yeare before king Philip and the Archdukes had imposed thirtie in the hundred vpon all marchandise which came in or went out of the countries that were vnder their obedience the which did seeme directly to infringe the treatie of Veruins The French king commanded his embassadors to deale with those princes touching this imposition and to aduertise him of their resolutions But their aunswers and the force they vsed afterwards to the kings subiects to make them pay the imposition did witnesse sufficiently that they had no will to exempt them Whereupon the French king made a defence That no marchandise should bee carried out of France into Spaine or the Low Countries that were vnder the Archdukes obedience nor any bee brought from thence into France vpon corporall punishment and losse of goods But this did not alter the peace onely there were complaints made by the two kings one of another King Philip began He tooke it ill that the French going volâ—ntarily to serue the Estates did prolong their rebellion and did hinder the reduction of Ostend that the king did succour them with men and money and that hee had forbidden his subiects to traffique into Spaine and Flanders But the king disauowed them that went to serue the Estates If hee sent them money it was sayed he but to pay that which hee had borrowed And the defence of traffique tended to no other end but to force the king of Spaine and the Archduke to take away that intollerable imposition and to let him know that France can liue better without the commodities of Spaine than Spain without those of France The second accident Treason of Lost. or cause of jarre betwixt these two princes grew also from Spaine the French king complaining and justly That the secrets of his cabinet were discouered to his enemies Will the king of Spaine neuer cease said he to withdraw my subiects from their duetie and loyalties Will hee still entertaine some traytor within my realme My embassadour complaines vnto me by his letters that hee is so slowly aduertised of our affaires as the king of Spaines ministers know them before him The king being much troubled to find out the spring from whence this pestilent liquor of Infidelitie did flow behold God discouered the treacherie of Iudas by such meanes as the wisedome of man could not find out Villeroy the chiefe Secretarie of State who managed the greatest secrets of the kingdome had an vnder clerke called Nicholas Lost in whom hee reposed much trust and the rather for that his father had serued him long This young man hauing attended on Monsieur de la Rochepot being embassadour in Spaine there laied the plot of this treason whereof you may read the whole discourse at large in the historie of France There was some likelihood of a new enterprise this yeare vpon Africke Embassadours from the king of Cusco at Valencia The king of Cusco who had promised the last yeare to joyne with the Spaniards against Alger had receiued fortie thousand crownes vpon the bargaine and treacherously betrayed them that brought the money vnto their enemies this yeare hee sent an embassadour vnto the king who gaue him audience at Valencia Which made many thinke that hee would make another attempt vpon Alger for that he caused him to be conducted home by a Master of the campe and an Enginer giuing him great store of munition and fire-workes laden in three fregats The king of Spaine beeing aduertise out of England from his embassadour Taxis of the successe of his embassage Constable of Castille sent into England and of the expectation of a treatie hee appointed the Constable of Castille to vndertake this charge giuing him an ample Commission to treat and conclude a Peace betwixt England and Spaine hee past through France where he was verie honourably receiued and so came into Flanders to the Archdukes from whence he went into England for the conclusion of the peace There were Commissioners appointed on either side For the king of great Britaine were named Commissioners for the treatie of the peace for England the earle of Dorset high Treasurer of England the earle of Nottingham high Admirall of England the earle of Deuonshire Lieutenant of the kingdome of Ireland the earle of Northampton and the lord Vicont Cranborne principall Secretarie and now earle of Salisburie and high Treasurer of England being all of his Majesties priuie Councell For the king of Spaine there were deputed D. Iohn de Velasco Constable of Castille and Leon
THE GENERALL HISTORIE OF SPAINE Containing all the memorable things that haue past in the Realmes of Castille Leon Nauarre Arragon Portugall Granado c. and by what meanes they were vnited and so continue vnder Philip the third King of Spaine now raigning Written in French by LEVVIS DE MAYERNE TVRQVET vnto the yeare 1583 Translated into English and continued vnto these times by EDVVARD GRIMESTON Esquire LONDON Printed by A. Islip and G. Eld Anno Dom. 1612. TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND MOST WORTHY OF ALL HONORS AND ALL TITLES ROBERT Earle of Salisburie Lord High Treasurer of England c. THOMAS Earle of Suffolke Lord Chamberlaine to his Maiestie MY most Honoured Lords I might iustly feare that my continuall desire to acknowledge my dutie vnto your LL. by some acceptable kind of seruice would be held importunitie if your Noble dispositions and mine owne experience in particular of your Honours gratefull acceptance of the meanest seruice that is well meant had not freed me from that feare and enabled my weake faculties to adde this vnto the rest of my oblations which I consecrate vnto your LL. vpon the Altar of my deuotion I must confesse that your fauorable reception of my French and Netherland Histories hath added courage to my will to passe the Pyrenee Mountaines and to take a suruey of this Historie of Spaine the which I held in my weake judgement for many respects as worthie the knowledge of our Nation as any other It is a generall Historie of all the Continent of Spaine wherein the seuerall Histories of those seuerall Kingdomes as they were in former times distinctly diuided and gouerned by diuers Princes are vnited being collected out of all the best authors that haue written of that subiect These considerations I say were the inspiring meanes to moue me to vndertake the traduction of this Historie of Spaine and haue giuen me resolution and constancie to finish it and to send it forth to the view of the world The worke I hope will giue good content it being a faithful relation of so many variable and strange accidents as haue happened in those Countries during the manie alterations and changes of that State and the long and cruell wars betwixt the Moores Spaniards If I in my plaine maner of translation haue not giuen it that grace which a more eloquent penne might haue done I most humbly craue pardon and intreat that my desire to benefit others may giue satisfaction for my disabilitie and defects I haue presumed to shroud the fruites of my poore endeuors vnder your LL. countenance and protection desiring to leaue a testimonie to all posteritie how much I am Your LL. deuoted in all duetie and seruice EDVVARD GRIMESTON To the Reader GEntlemen in the last edition of the Historie of France I did willingly omit all matters acted by the Spaniards wherein the French were not principally interressed hauing then a resolution to make the Histories of those countries distinct and priuat And for that I would not leaue you long in suspence I promised within the yeare to publish this Historie of Spaine wherein notwithstanding my publique seruice and many other difficulties I haue forced my selfe to keepe my word and to giue you satisfaction though it be with some preiudice to my health I will not vse many complements in the behalfe of the Author his worke shall plead for himselfe This Historie was written by a Frenchman who is yet liuing a man of grauitie and iudgement It is no translation but a collection out of the best writers that haue treated of that subiect his chiefe Authors were Stephen Garebay Ierome Surites Mariana Ambrose Morales Iohn Vasee a Fleming with many other Spanish Italian Latin writers out of all which he hath compyled this worke and as it were vnited and tyed together the discourse of all these realmes with a continued style by reason of the warre accords marriages and other treaties and alliances which they haue had common among them yet hath he so distinguished them as seeing them all you may easily read any one seuerally by it selfe by the direction of notes and inscriptions set in the margent at euerie section or breach whereby you may choose what belongs to Nauarre Portugall Castille or to any other of those realmes and read the Historie apart from the beginning to the end The antiquitie of this Spanish Nation wherof he hath breefely made mention in the beginning of the first Booke he confesseth to be obscure and vncertaine and the writers thereof ignorant or negligent so as it may be his discourse agreeth not with some authors which treat of the same men of whom he maketh mention as of Hercules Cacus Gerion Denis and such like but he pleads thus much for himselfe that he could not contemne nor reiect the Spanish authors which haue so written of them the which are to be receiued as obserued and produced by them This Historie comes but to the winning of the Terceres which was in the yeare 1583 he hath finished the rest vnto these times I my selfe haue seene it in his studie at Paris but he hath not yet put it to the Presse so as I haue beene constrained in the continuance thereof to helpe my selfe out of the best that haue written of these later times wherein I haue been assisted by some worthie gentlemen in the relation of some great actions and haue continued the Historie vnto my Lord Admirals returne out of Spaine You must not hold it strange if you find a great part of Philip the seconds raigne barren of any great actions done in Spaine his chiefe designes were against foreine States imploying his brauest men abroad either against France England or the vnited Prouinces at the Indies or at Sea all which actions are either related here or in their distinct Histories I must aduertise the Reader that from the yeare 1530 I haue not directly followed my Author for I haue both inserted diuers things out of other Authors whereof he makes no mention and haue related some more at large then he hath done for your better satisfaction as I haue found them written in other approued Authors My last suit must be for my selfe and the Printer yet will I not vse any great circumstances to captiuate your fauors in mine owne behalfe my stile I confesse is plaine and harsh it were folly nay madnesse in me to seeke to conceale it being so well knowne vnto you yet let me intreat so much fauor at your hands that as I haue spent my spirits to giue you content so you will spare your spleenes and censure fauorably vntill you come to the like tryall then shall you find that either by your owne mistaking or by the errors of the Presse you shall haue iust cause to sue for the like grace which is to supply all escapes and errors with your iudicious reading And so I rest Yours E. G. A GENERALL HISTORIE OF SPAINE Collected out of diuers Authors as well
to aide you to keepe maintaine and defend the lawes and customes with all our power After this manner did the deputies for the cities and townes sweare euery one according to the rights lawes customes preuiledges freedomes and liberties which they did enioy This oth beeing taken of either side except by the Clergy who sweare not the King retired himselfe into Saint Stephens chappell of the same church where he put off his roabes and tooke one of white taffity Vnction fo the King of Nauarre which was vsuall in such ceremonies and then was brought backe by the Bishops of Tarrasone and of Dax to the great chappel where as all things necessary were prepared for this vnction The King being there enuironed by the Bishops he was annointed with oyle by the Bishop of Pampelone with the praiers and suffrages vsuall in such actions and the King hauing instantly put off that white roabe he was richly attired in other royall habits and so approched neere vnto the high altar where there was a sword the royal crowne glistring with pretious stones and the royall Scepter hee put on the sword and then drew it forth holding it vp on high in signe of Iustice and then sheathed it againe then hee tooke the crowne and set it on his head and last of all hee tooke the scepter in his hand and in the meane time the prelats continued their prayers These things beeing done the King mounted vpon a target on the which were painted the armes of Nauarre King of Nauar carried vpon a traget the which was borne by the Deputies of the Nobility and them of the city of Pampelone and the three quarters thereof Bourg Peuplement and Bauarre as well in the name of the said city as of other cities and townes of the realme as it had beene appointed by the King wherevpon publike protestation was made by the Deputies of Estella Tudela Sanguessa Olite and other townes which could not set to their hands to support this target on the which the King was that it was without preiudice at that time or hereafter to their commonalties Thus the King was raised vp by the deputies who cried out thrice Real Real Real The King beeing thus carried after the manner of the ancient French hee cast money vnto the people which done hee was taken from thence by the Cardinall Don Pedro of Luna the Popes Legat who assisted at this ceremonie and by the Bishops of Pampelone and Tarrasone and led to a royall throne in great state the prelats and other Clergy men continuing still in their praiers and ending with a Te Deum These things thus performed the Kings Attorney General called Garcia of Leach in the Kings name the Bishop of Pampelone for himselfe and all the Clergy of the realme with the Deputies of the Nobility townes and commonalties demaunded an act of Peter of Godeille Apostolike Notary of Peter of Iauariz Clarke and Apostolike Notary for the Diocese of Pampelone and of Iohn of Ceilludo Notary and Secretary to the King the which was formally done For the last act of this follemnity masse was sung by the Bishop of Pampelone whereas the King according to the custome of his predecessors offred scarlet gold and siluer This coronation was the fourth yeere of this Princes reigne in February in the yeere 1390. and to make more particular relation of men of quality which were at this assembly deputed for the Estates or otherwise First of all there was D. Pedro of Luna Cardinal Men of account at the King of Nauarres coronation of the title of Santa Maria in Cosmedin Legat a Latere in Spaine to Pope Clement residing in Auignon Don Martin Salua Bishop of Pampelone D. Iohn of Calaorra and Calçado D. Pedro of Tarrassone Don Fernand of Vic of Ossona D. Pedro of Ampurias D. Iohn of Dax D. Garcia of Eugni of Bayone Confessor to the King all Bishops Moreouer the Abbot of Irache the Deane of the Collegiall church of Tudelo the Abbots of the Monasteries of Saint Saluator of Leyra Oliuia Yrançu Hitero and Saint Saluator of Vrax the Prior of the Order of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem the dignities Chanoins and Clergy of the church of Pampelone for the Estate of the Clergy For the Nobilitie and millitary Order were Don Lionell of Nauarre the Kings base brother D. Arnaud Raymond Lord of Grammont D. Arnâ—nd Sanches Lord of Luse D. Pedro Lord of Laxaga D. Martin Henriques of Lacarra Marshal of the realme D. Ramir of Areillan D. Martin Lord of Mearçan and of Saint Iulian D. Iohn of Vcara D. Fernand of Ayanc D. Martin of Ayuar D. Bertrand of Lacarra D. Aluar Diaz of Medrano D. Ximen Garcia Vicont of Baigner D. Pedro Sanches of Corella D. Pedro Ynigues of Vxue D. Martin of Artieda D. Pedro Arnaud of Garro D. Iohn Gaston of Vrroz D. Garcia Ramires of Asiayn D. Iohn of Bern the young Don Pedro Sanches of Licaraçu D. Iohn Rodrigues of Ayuar D. Raymond of Esperça and Don Pedro of Ayanc these were accompanied with many other Noblemen and Gentlemen as it was fit for the Maiesty of such an act The were also the Deputies of the commonalties and good townes of the realme of Pampelone Bourg Peuplement and Nauarriere which were thre quarters or countries of the city euery one hauing a seuerall Iudge the which kept them long in diuision and bred lamentable mutinies and seditions but this King by wise councel reduced them all into one body and supprest the cause to the good and quiet of the Inhabitants Moreouer there were present the Deputies of Estella Tudela Sanguessa Olite Puent la Reyna Arcos which at this day belongs to Castile Viana Garde which is also of Castile of Saint Vincent of Saint Iohn of Pie de Port of Montreal Ronceuaux Lumber Willafranca of Aguilar of Bernedo at this day vnited to the crowne of Castile and of Lans Besides these deputies there were many Barons Knights and others of quality of Castile France and England which did honour this coronation with the Ambassadors of forraine Christian princes Namely Iohn Vicont of Fussensaguet Raymond of Beruat Lord of Castlenau D. Alphonso of Luna Archdeacon of Girone Doctor Iohn Fernandes of Arana D. Diego Lopes of Estunina high Treasorer Diego Lopes of Lagran Steward to the King of Castile Francis of Pau of Arragon Sicart of Montagu Bernard of Rostaing a Basque These with many others were witnesses of all that past at this ceremony as appeeres by the acts and writings which are in the chamber of accounts of that realme In Iuly following the quire of the church fell where these things were celebrated for the re-edefying whereof the King and others did contribute very much The death of D. Iohn King of Castile fell out then vnfortunatly for the King of Nauarre for besides that hee loued him and was beloued of him like a brother hee was a fit instrument to tame the wilfulnesse of the Queene Donna Leonara
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
that yeare 1524 the computation of the yeare beginning at our Lady day was that memorable battaile of Pauia where the French were defeated and king Francis taken prisoner by the imperials whereof the chiefe were Cont Charles of Launoy viceroy of Naples Ferdinand d'Aualos Marquesse of Pescaire and Charles duke of Bourbon who forsome discontentment had left France and followed the emperours party What were the causes of this great ouerthrow and what succeeded after ye may read at large in the History of France whereunto I referre the Reader to auoid needlesse repetitions The emperor was aduertised of this defeat and prision the tenth of March the news were pleasing vnto him as wee may coniecture yet he shewed himself verie modest shewing no tokens of pride for this great successe Worthy Councel of the bishop of Osma There were two opinions debated in his councel the bishop of Osma was author of the one to suffer this great prisoner to depart freely to bind him vnto him by a frank and brotherly deliuerance the other was to keep him still and to draw from him all the profit and aduantages that might be This last aduice proceeded from D. Frederic of Toledo duke of Alua was followed by the emperor wherefore there were certaine articles drawn and sent with al speed vnto the king by the lord of Reux who reiected them as vnreasonable Hereupon the Viceroy of Naples persuaded the king not to take it in ill part if he were led into Spain 1525 to treat himself with the emperour touching his libertie assuring him that he desired it shewing him letters from his friends in court But his intention was in the meane time to led him to the castle of Naples and there to attend the opportunitie of a passage for they were not strong enough at sea for the French who had Andrew Dorias Galleys at their deuotion Neither did hee much trust his armie at land which wanting pay hee feared would mutine Besides he was iealous of the Pope Venetians and other Potentates of Italie who were discontented at the prosperitie of the emperour his maister wherefore being thus resolued he conducted the king to Genoa and from thence to Porto Fino whereas the marshall of Montmorency comming vnto him with sixe French galleys Passage of king Francis being Prisoner into Spaine without any souldiers by the commandement of the Queene Regent the kings mother he changed his aduice hauing furnished those galleys with Spanish souldiers and ioyning them to those which he had thinking that he might easily passe whilest that the French expected his going to Naples he suddenly bent his course for Spain laÌ„ded the prisoner at Barcelona before that it was known or that he had aduertised the emperor and from thence hee conducted him to Valencia But passing by Tortosa the king was in great danger among the mutyned Spaniards who pursued the Viceroy tumultuosly for their pay forcing him with their shot to escape ouer the top of his lodging the bullets flying nere vnto the kings person The emperor hearing of his arriual coÌ„manded he shold be put into the castle of Xatiua a place ordained in old time to be a prison for great men but the viceroy obtained that he might liue in certain houses of pleasure about Valencia vntil that he had commandement to conduct him to Madrid The emperor was resolued not to see him before thee had concluded for his liberty for the treating whereof besides the archbishop of Ambrun who was afterwards Cardinal of Tournon and Selua the first President of Paris he gaue a safe coÌ„duct to Marguerite of France duches of Alanson who arriued at Barcelona in September passing from thence by Saragosse shee came to Madrid whether she found the emperor was come to visit the king who had bin brought almost to deaths doore with a violent feuer This had a shew of charity to comfort him giuing hope that he should be soone set at liberty but it was rather a curiosity that he might visibly see in what estate he was fearing to lose the fruits of his prize if he should die It is said that being in consultation whether hee should see him or not hee was dissuaded by his Chauncellour who told him that if he saw him 1526 and did not set him freely at libertie the world would thinke that hee had been brought thither by couetousnesse Gouernours counsell thrust on with a mercinarie charitie and a seruile feare to loose by the prisoners death the price of his ransome a noble aduice and worthie to be obserued But the duchesse of Alansons presence was the best remedie to recouer the king where she remained almost three moneths what she effected and vpon what tearmes the king was deliuered you may read in its proper historie 23 These things past in the yeare 1526 Mariage of the Emperor Charls in the which the Emperour Charles maried D. Isabella of Portugal daughter to the king D. Manuel D. Alphonso Fonseca Archbishop of Toledo and primat of Spaine with D. Ferdinand of Arragon duke of Calabria were sent to receiue this princesse who conducted her with great state to Seuile where the mariage was celebrated Of this mariage was borne the one and twentieth day of May 1527 in the yeare 1527 D. Philip who succeeded in all the realmes lands and seigniories of the Emperour as well hereditarie as conquered A memorable yeare for that by the Emperours armie consisting for the most part of Spaniards whereof Charles duke of Bourbon was generall Rome taken sackt the citie of Rome was taken and sackt and Pope Clement with many cardinals ransomed and hardly intreated the greedie and insolent souldiers not sparing the cardinals of their owne nation prophaning by all acts of crueltie and excesse in their disordered appetites the places and persons dedicated and vowed to religion notwithstanding that the prince for whom they made warre heire of the realms of Spaine carried the title of Catholike purchased by his predecessors for the good offices they had done to Popes and to the sea of Rome The same yeare king Francis being râ—turned into his realme Mariage of king Henry of Albreâ— he caused the mariage to be accomplished betwixt D. Henrie of Albret and Marguerite of France widow to the duke of Alanson father and mother to queene Ioane heire to the realme of Nauarre King Francis being come from his imprisonment discontented he entred willingly into league with the Pope League against the Emperor the king of England the Venetians and Florentines for the libertie of Italie 〈◊〉 when as he vnderstood the cruelties vsed by the Imperiall armie at Rome he allied himselfe more strictly with the king of England vnder colour to free the Pope and the territories of the Church whereupon the lord of Lautrec was appointed to lead an armie into Italie at their common charge The Emperour being aduertised that king Francis not onely refused to
armes captaines souldiers victuals ships and all other things necessary for the warre yet said hee all was of no moment wanting money which giues forme and essence to all enterprizes for that the crowne of England not onely by the small reuenues but also by the superfluity of their ordinary expences is growne into that want as they are not able to vndergoe any royall enterprise hauing scarce meanes to entertaine themselues for he that doth arrogate to much to his owne force and ouer-chargeth himselfe with warre is the instrument of his owne ruine Hauing hetherto shewed that it is easie for the Catholike King to inuade England in regard of it I will proue the facility thereof with greater reasons in regard of the Catholike Kings forces The first is the great power of the King of Spaine whose dominions doe imbrace the whole diameter of the globe and is Lord of more land then any Monarke or state in the world did euer hold A Prince rich in armes souldiars captaine shipping victuals and all other necessaty prouisions for warre A Prince who as Iudge and moderator seemes to gouerne the reines of the Empire of the sea and land The second is for the great nauy which hee hath ready which is not onely that which of late yeeres made the enterprise of Portugall but 150. more which hee hath gotten in that Kingdome which ioyned with the rest will breed admiration in all men and seeme to fill the sea with their multitudes The third that besides these ships and those which hee may haue in Biscay as faithfull to the crowne as expert in nauigation besides the ships of priuat men which his Maiesty hath in a readinesse he shall receiue no small seruice from his gallies who in the action of Portugall discouered our error in thinking that they were not of any vse in the Ocean sea at any time as if that sea were not calme in Sommer and that it were neuer to be failed in so as there is no doubt but our gallies may safely aduenture in those seas the three monthes in Sommer They that obiect Caesars wrack in the Brittish seas doe not remember that he himselfe doth not impute it to the sea but to the Moone which not only in the Ocean but in all other seas doth shew her power as the Meteoroligikes and experience doe teath The fourth that the Catholike King being Lord at sea by reason of his great fleet he will at the same instant bee Lord at land For hauing sufficient forces to vanquish the defences of the Island he shal with ease land his men and ouer-run the Island with his victorious armes for such is the condition of that Island that as soone as an enemy is entred and his army orderly lodged hee may cut off their victuals and famish the Islanders Fifthly for that by sea King Philip shall haue the fauor of them of Ireland who haue securely shewed themselues to adhere vnto him and by land there is no man doubts said he but that Scotland will assist him in his deseignes with all her meanes The sixth in order but the first to be considered is the Iustice and honesty of the cause the which carries so honorable a title as the defence of religion and the Catholike faith as nothing shal be able to hinder it yea his Maiesties pretensions said he are such to that realme and such is the duty which hee owes vnto the name which he carries of Catholike as there is no enterprise more due to him then this whereby he shal not only take possession of a realme which is his due but also hee shal purchase vnto himselfe immortall glory aboue all other Kings adding so rich and famous a Kingdom to that of Spaine The seuenth is the commodity of the passage knowing how short a cut it is from the Streight of Gibraltar to the Island and what great commodities grow by expedition and the ease of transportation of victuals soldiers artillery munition and al other prouision necessary for the enterprise The eight if King Philip makes warre against his enemy at his owne doores he shal fill England with feare and amazement and the approching danger will trouble all their counsels There is nothing more terrible then to see the sword that must be the murtherer of them and theirs The ninth for that said he his Catholike Maiesty had many partisans in that Island it importing much to haue some that fauor him among his enemies And to proue that he hath some at his deuotion in that Island I wil produce three reasons First the remembrance of his clemency which remaines yet in the hearts of those people and of his curtesie hauing sometimes gouerned them as their lawful Prince with so great satisfaction to them al in general as any other gouernment in respect of his should seeme tyranous The second reason is that of religion knowing that there are many in this Island which adhere to the Church of Rome The third is the riches of King Philip who in his large dominions hath so many commanderies pensions offices and rents to aduance men that shal deserue wel as it wil be easie for him to draw the hearts of the English vnto him Hauing thus shewed the reasons why the Catholike King should rather inuade England then the Low countries and with what facility it is to be performed I will said he to the end that nothing shal remaine vnsatisfied make answere to an ordinary obiection which is made by many vpon this subiect which is that the king of Spaine making an attempt against England he shal reuiue the emulation which hath beene betwixt him and the house of France which fire lying now smothered vnder the ashes of peace may kindle a great warre for if the French should remaine as spactators of this tragedy of England it might in the end turne to the preiudice of France whereby they conclude that the Christian King should be forced to ioyne with England least that hauing conquered that Island he should afterwards turne his forces vpon France which obiection notwithstanding he left vnsatisfied During this great preparation of three yeeres in Spaine which held all Europe in suspence the King of Spaine caused an ouerture of a peace to be made vnto the Queene of England onely as it seemed to abuse her with the imagination of a treaty and to make her neglect the defence of her realme who imbraced this proposition and sought to draw the vnited Prouinces into this treaty which they absolutly refused Notwithstanding the Queene desirous of a peace sent her Commissioners in February 1588. to Ostend and in March following there came others to Bruges from the Duke of Parma to treat with them in the King of Spaines name who these Commissionars were and what the successe of that treaty was I leaue to the Netherland History beeing but a fained shew of the Spaniard to winne time and to find England vnprouided the Queene of England seeing the
Spanish fleete almost at her doore called home her Commissioners and prepared for her defence But now to come to this admirable fleete the King of Spaine had deuised how hee might conquer England King Philip resolues to inuade England and the Netherlands hoping by that meanes to recouer his Inheritance in the Low Countries for beeing Lord in England hee might cut off their trafficke by sea the which many well acquainted with the scituation of both countries held easie to bee done Wherefore the King of Spaine hauing spent one and twenty yeares and wasted an infinite treasure in those Lowe Country warres resolued to make an other attempt vpon the Netherlands by sea but with greater forces for that England was now his enemy and might hinder all trade into those parts So as hee resolued first to inuade England wherevnto he was perswaded by diuerse subtill spirits both Spanish and Dutche and by some English rebels holding it more easie to bee conquered then Holland and Zeland and that it would bee more profitable to inuade both England and the Lowe Countries by sea at one instant then to maintaine a continuall armie to cut off their traffick from both the Indies For the effecting of this resolution hee had for some yeares together made preparation of a great Nauie at Lisbone the like whereof had not beene seene in many ages in the Ocean sea It was ready in the beginning of this yeare 1588. the fame of this action was such as there was not an honorable house in Spaine but had a sonne a brother or some of the bloud in it thinking all to winne euerlasting honor with this inuincible Armie as they called it and to make themselues rich with the spoiles of England and the Netherlands The King had resolued to make Don Aluaro de Bassan Marquis of Saint Cruz a Nobleman of great note who had done the King great seruice in the conquest of Portugall and the Tercera's Generall of this armie Hee sent vnto him and acquainted him with his desseigne hee put him in minde of his promise that hee would spend his life in his seruice and hee commanded him to prepare himselfe to conduct this fleete The Marquis in his answer humbly thanked his Maiestie yet hee seemed by circumstances to disswade the King from this enterprise telling him that the English were gallant men at sea of whome they had made good tryall that they had good shipping and that he should finde strong opposition The King was much discontented with the Marquis for this answer hauing euer relyed vpon him and sent him word that seeing hee failed his expectation and had no courage to vndertake this Action he would finde an other to command his Army wherevpon he made the Duke of Medina Sidonia his Generall The Marquis finding himselfe in disgrace with the King conceiued such greefe as he died before the fleet went to sea But let vs returne vnto the Armie whereof I will make a perticular relation Discription perticular preparation of the Spanish Fleete as the Spaniards themselues haue set it downe Portugall did furnish ten great Gallions with two smaler ships vnder the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia the Generall in the which were 1300. saylers 3300. soldiers and 350. peeces of Ordinance Biscay set forth ten Galleons and foure Pinasses An. 1588. with saylers soldiers and ordinance proportionably vnder D. Iohn Martines de Ricaldo the Admirall Gnipuscoa did arme ten Galeons and fourteene Pinasses vnder Michel Oquendo Andalouzia set forth ten Galions one Pinasse vnder comand of D. Pedrode Baldes Italie had furnished ten Gallions the which were commanded by Martin de Bretendona Castille prouided fourteene Gallions and two Pinasses ouer which squadron Diego Floris de Baldes had charge There were also three and twenty Hulks conducted by D. Iohn Lopes de Medina From Naples there were foure Galeasses sent comanded by D. Hugo de Moncado they had in them 1200. slaues to row 480. saylers 870. soldiers and 200. peeces of Ordinance Portugall sent foure gallies vnder the conduct of Diego de Medrana with all thinges proportionably There were 22. Pinasses and other smal ships vnder the gouernment of Antonio Buccado de Mendoça Besides all these there were 20. Carauells which carried owers and other necessaries for the ships so as there were 150. sayle of all sorts in the which they had aboue 8000. sailers and 20. thousand souldiers besides Commanders Officers and voluntaries with 2650. peeces of ordinance The galleons being 66. in number were very great and strong built high like castles easie to fight withall but not easie to board In this great fleet there were 1600. great brasse peeces and aboue a thousand iron to the which there were two hundred and twenty-thousand bullets 4600. kintals of poulder one thousand kintals of lead 1200. kintals of match 7000. muskets and caliuers 10000. pikes partisans and halberds with canons field peeces and all prouision for carriages or whatsoeuer might be needful for an army either at land or sea And for the seruice of the ordinance there were leauied 4200. men whereof 400. of them were Pioners There was bread and wine for six months euery one hauing halfe a hundred of bread euery month The countries subiect to the King of Spaine did furnish a great part of the prouisions of this fleet as some of them write viz. Andaluzia did contribute 12000. kintals of biscuit Malaga and that country 27000. and 500. Carthagena and Murcia 5000. kintals Sicile 50000. kintals Burgos and Campos 56000. Naples and the Islands 15000. kintals Seuille and Extremadura did contribute 4000. kintals of salt meats Gallicia 6000. Asturia and other parts a thousand kintals Seuille and Extremadura did contribut 5000. kintals of hogs flesh and bacon Ronda 2000. Gallicia 2000. and Biscay 2000. kintals Algarbe did contribute 8000. barils of fish Almendraua del Duca 11000. barils and Cadiz 4000. Maiorca did contribute 2000. kintals of cheese Seuille and Extremadura a 1000. Portugal 25000. Genoua and Valencia 14000. kintals of Rise Andalouzia and Naples did contribut 23000. pezes of oyle and vineger euery peze beeing 25. pounds and euery pound 16. ounces Malaga Marouella Xeres and their iurisdictions did furnish 13000. buts of wine Naples 6000. and Seuille with that iurisdiction 7000. buts Cathagena did furnish 15000. Aneghes Naples and Sicile 11000. Aneghes of beans and peaze Andaluzia Naples and Biscay did furnish other prouisions of corne iron wollen and linnen cloth with other necessaries They had in the fleet 12000. pipes of fresh water with whatsoeuer else might be thought needfull This army as D. Diego Pimentel did confesse cost the King 30000. ducats a day reporting the army to be 32000. strong There were fiue regiments of the old souldiers of Naples Collonels of the regiments Sicile and the Terceres The fiue Colonels were D. Diego Pimentel brother to the Marquis of Taueras cousin to the Earles of Beneuent and Calui a Knight of the Order of Saint
Iohn and very wel allied 2. D. Francisco de Toledo brother to the Earle of Orgas 3. D. Alonso de Luçon 4 D. Nicholas d' Isla or Patritio Anselmo the 5. and last D. Augustin Mexia who afterwards was Castellan of Antwerp there being 32. companies in euery regiment besides certaine Portugal and Italian bands D. Lewis Peres de Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia Marquis of Saint Lucars and Knight of the Order of the Golden fleece was General of this great army Officers of the army as you haue heard D. Iohn Martines de Ricaldo was Admiral of the fleet and D. Francisco de Bouadilla Marshall There were of the Councel of war Diego Pimentel Flores de Baldes Pedro de Baldes Michel Oquendo Alonso de Lieua Diego Maldonado D. George Manriques with many others There were many Noblemen and about 120. gentlemen of note voluntaries that went to win honor amongst which were the Prince of Ascoly the Marquis of Pegnafiel the Marquis of Berlango with many others of great account The Duke of Parma during this preparation Preparation of the Duke of Parma to ioyne with the army had commandement from the King of Spaine to make ready ships and boats to land men and to haue his forces in a readinesse to ioyne with his army that came from Spaine who spent much time with great care and industry to prouide all things ready for such an enterprise He had 32. ships of warre within Dunkerke and an infinite number of boats for transportation hee lodged all his forces neere vnto the sea being about 30000. foot and nine hundred horse There came many Princes and Noblemen from forraine countries running to this imaginary conquest Out of Spaine the Duke of Pastrana Prince of Vuly sonne to Ruy Gomes de Sylua but hee was held to bee the Kings base sonne the Marquis of Bourgawe one of the Archduke Fernands sonnes Noblemen come into Flanders D. Vespasian Gonzaga of the house of Mantoua a great souldier D. Iohn de Medicis base sonne to the Duke of Florence D. Amadeus a bastard of Sauoy with many others The Queene of England hearing of all this preparation in Spaine and the Low countries omitted nothing that might serue for her iust defence Preparation in England Shee sent forth her best ships of warre with some Merchants to lie at Plymouth in the West parts there to attend the enemy commanded by the Lord Charles Howard high Admirall of England and now Earle of Nottingham beeing accompanied by the Lord Thomas Howard second sonne to the Duke of Norfolke and now Earle of Suffolke the Lord Sheffeld and many other Noblemen and gentlemen of quality And in the narrow seas betwixt Douer and Calis the Lord Henry Seymor sonne to the Duke of Somerset lay with forty or fifty saile of smaler ships The vnited Prouinces had prouided twenty small ships to keepe all the coast of Flanders where there be great flats and when as the Spanish fleet was ready to come they sent in the end Iustine Nassau their Admirall with fiue and thirty tall ships well appointed to ioyne with the Lord Henry Seymer which ships vnited should keepe the Duke of Parma from comming forth whereon their preseruation did depend But let vs returne to this great fleet of Spaine Spanish fleete disperst at sea which beganne to way anchor at Lisbone on the nine and twentith day of May this yeere 1588. and sailed to the Groine in Gallicia where they tooke in more men and some munition From thence they put to sea but they were disperst by a storme so as the Duke was forced to returne againe vnto the Groine with his fleet eight of his ships hauing spent their masts of the foure gallies one recouered that port the other three were driuen into Bayonne in France whereas all the slaues escaped The army being refreshed and the ships repaired the King did daily importune them to put to sea which they did on the twentith of Iuly sayling till they came to the entry of the English Channel from thence they sent to aduertise the Duke of Parma of their comming to the end hee might bee ready to ioyne with them The fleet was discouered by one captaine Fleming who aduertised the Lord Admirall of England when hee little expected them which made him with all possible speed to drawe his ships out of the hauen of Plymouth imbarking his men with great confusion and difficulty himselfe putting to sea that night but with sixe ships and the rest following as they could The two fleetes hauing discouered one an other on the thirtith day of Iuly the Spaniards leauing the English kept on their course towards Flanders according to the stricknesse of their Commission which was to ioyne with the Duke of Parma and then ioyntly to inuade England In this manner the Spanish fleet went on with a small saile close together fearing to loose some of their company for that the English had got the winde and bare vp within musket shot Passing on in this close manner the Gallion wherein Pedro de Baldes was brake her mast against an other ship so as it was not able to follow the fleete neither would they stay to helpe her but falling off from the rest it yeelded the next day to Sir Francis Drake besides D. Pedro there were diuers gentlemen and 450. men in her and as it was said some of the King of Spaines treasor at the same time Michel d' Oquendos the viceadmiralls ship was by casualty set on fire and burnt to the water of the which there were some saued On the second day of August there was a hot fight betwixt the two fleets right against Portland but the Spaniards left it and went on their intended course On the fourth day was the like before the Isle of Wight where the English Admirall accompanied by the Lord Thomas Howard in the Lyon the Lord Sheffeld in the Beare Sir Robert Southwell in the Elizabeth Ionas with some few others did charge the Spanish Admiral being in the midest of his best ships but in the end the Spaniards went away before the winde and on the sixth of August they came to anchor before Calis meaning there to attend the Duke of Parma whether the next day the English fleet came and anchored close by them who that night sending downe ships before the winde being full of wood poulder wild-fire and other combustible things and beginning to burne they made the Spaniards in that amazement cut their cables and to put confusedly to sea In this confusion the great Galleasse of D. Hugo de Moncado lost her helme and was driuen vpon Callis sands where D. Hugo was slaine and the Galleasse spoiled by the English and lost where there were three hundred slaues set at liberty The morning after their disorder the Spaniards had put themselues againe into battaile and the English charged them before Graueling but they desired to passe along with the winde and to stand
Commissioners for Spaine Duke of Frias Earle of Haro c. D. Iohn Baptista Taxis Earle of Villa Mediana c. and Alexander Rouidius a Lawyer and Senator of Milan The Archdukes sent for their Commissioners Charles Earle of Aremberg Counsellor of State and Admirall to the said Archdukes Iohn Richardot Knight President of the priuy Councel and Counsellor of State and Lodowike Verreiken Knight their principal Secretarie All these Commissioners after many consultations and conferences in the end concluded a peace on the 18 of August betwixt the two kings their Estates and subiects vpon certaine articles whereof I haue set downe the contents 1 First it was concluded That from thenceforth there should be a sincere and firme league and peace inuiolably obserued for euer Articles of the peace betwixt England and Spaine and in all places betwixt the most renowmed king of England Scotland France and Ireland c. and the most renowmed king of Spaine c. and the most renowmed Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Bourgondie their heires and successors their countries dominions and subiects of what condition or degree soeuer they be or may be 2 That all acts of hostilitie should cease and all wrongs and injuries done during the troubles be forgotten so as there should be no action pretended for any depredations or spoiles committed but all should be freely abolished except such depredations as had beene committed since the 24 of Aprill 1603 and that from thenceforth they and their subiects should forbeare from all depredations and spoiles and cause restitution to be made of any that should be after that time committed 3 That neither of the aboue named princes their heirs or successors by himselfe or any other should do treat or attempt any thing against the other or against their kingdomes or dominions vpon any pretence nor assist or consent vnto any warre attempt or treatie to the prejudice one of another 4 That they should neither themselues giue nor consent to be giuen by any of their vassals subiects or inhabitants any aid fauour or supplie vnto the enemies or rebels of either part whether they shall inuade their countries or withdraw themselues from their obedience and subiection of souldiers victuals money ordnance and munition or any other aid to maintaine warre 5 That the said princes should and did renounce all leagues confederations and intelligence made to the prejudice one of another which did or might impugne this peace the contents thereof all which they shal disannull and declare to be of no force 6 That the said kings and Archdukes should restraine their subiects from doing any wrong and should reuoke all Commissions and letters of Reprisall and Mart of what nature soeuer being to the prejudice of the said princes or of their subiects to whomsoeuer they haue beene granted the which they shall declare to be void and of no force And that whosoeuer should do to the contrary should be punished criminally and compelled to make restitution to the parties damnified 7 That as concerning the townes of Flessingue Brill Ramekins and other forts thereunto belonging in the which the souldiers of the king of England did remaine in garrison forasmuch as the said king affirmed that by contracts formerly made betweene queene Elizabeth of famous memorie vnto whom his Maiestie did succeed and the Estates of the vnited Prouinces hee stood bound not to redeliuer the said townes and forts to any but to such as had deliuered the same for caution so as by the said contracts his Maiesties faith honor which he resolued to keep religiously towards all men being ingaged he might not then restore those places vnto the Archdukes yet hee promised to enter into treatie with the said Estates wherein his Maiestie would assigne them â— conuenient time to accept of conditions conformable to justice and equitie for a pacification with the renowmed princes his deere brethren which if the Estates should refuse to accept then his Maiestie as beeing freed from the former conuentions would determine of those townes as hee should thinke most just and honourable wherein hee would doe all good offices for the said Princes his louing brethren 8 That the renowmed king of England c. would commaund the garrison souldiers not to serue the Hollanders nor to succour them with victuals armes or any munition for warre or other the king of Spaines or the Archdukes enemies vpon any colour or pretext soeuer nor doe any act of hostilitie against the king of Spaine the Archdukes or their subiects And in like manner the king of Spaine and the Archdukes did promise that no act of hostilitie should be done against the said garrison souldiers nor against the king of England c. oâ— his subiects 9 That betweene the said kings their kingdomes vassals inhabitants and subiects there should bee free commerce in all places where it hath beene formerly vsed before the warres according to the auncient leagues and treaties so as the subiects of either partie might goe and enter freely into the others countries and dominions both by sea and land without any Safeconduct or other licence and depart from thence with their goods and marchandises paying the ordinarie customes and imposts 10 That it should be lawfull to haue acesse vnto the ports of the said princes there to make stay and with the like libertie to depart not onely with ships for marchandise but also for warre whether they come thither being forced by foule weather or for the repairing of their ships or for prouision of victuals so as they exceed not the number of six or eight ships when they come in voluntarily nor stay longer in the hauens than they shall haue cause for the repairing of their ships or to make prouision of necessaries least it should cause an interruption of free traffique with other nations in amitie And if any greater number of ships of warre than is aboue mentioned shall happen to haue accesse into those ports then it shall not bee lawfull for them to enter without the priuitie and consent of the prince Prouided that they should not commit any act of hostilitie within the said ports to the prejudice of the princes and that there should be an especiall care had that vnder the pretext of traffique there should be no victuals armes or munition for warre carried by the subiects of those kingdomes to the enemies of the one or other king And whosoeuer should attempt the contrarie should bee punished as seditious persons and breakers of the peace It was also prouided That the subiects of the one should not bee worse intreated in anothers dominions in his sales and contracts of marchandise than his owne naturall subiects 11 That the king of England c. after the conclusion of these articles should forbid by proclamation That none of his subiects or any inhabiting within his realme should carrie ouer in his owne name directly or indirectly or colour any ships marchandise or any other thing going out
should compell them to enter into churches vnlesse they would but if they did enter they should performe those dueties and reuerence which are vsed towards the holy Sacrament of the Altar being there and if they should see the Sacrament comming towards them in any street they shall doe reuerence by bowing their knees or else they shall passe aside by some other street or turne into some house 3 If any of the said persons being masters or masters mates or any other officers of ships which be not their owne doe exceed in any of these things the Inquisition proceeding against them by office is onely to sequester their own proper goods and are to leaue the ships and all other goods not belonging to the offenders free and the same was to be vnderstood for all traders and factors During this treatie betwixt England and Spaine Discomodities for the cessation of traffique the defence of traffique betwixt France and the dominions of the king of Spaine and the Archdukes was verie troublesome The French suffered great discommodities and the Spaniards found this restraint heauie and insupportable for that all things grew exceeding deere and the tradesmen murmured and grew almost desperat The Pope commaunded his Nuntio to deale in this businesse and to reconcile these princes but the French king would not yeeld to any thing vntill that the Spaniards who had first troubled the water had cleered it againe in reuoking the imposition of thirtie in the hundred which made the libertie of traffique a meere seruitude and the profit an assured losse This was verie seuere and rigorous It is in euerie kind bitter vnto the marchant couetousnesse hauing changed the first cause as well as the quantitie of customes and imposts At the first they were paied onely to haue free libertie and assurance of passage from one place vnto another and for that princes haue vnder their protection the highwayes for the which they are called Royall they did acknowledge this right of protection with some duetie Such impositions for so necessarie causes are just others are not and yet they must be borne being not lawfull for the subiect to murmure against the customes and imposts wherewith the prince doth charge him They said That the Spaniards which are long in their consultations and constant in their resolutions would neuer reuoke this imposition for that they would not loose the reputation of constancie in their lawes Coâ—merce set at liberty in France and bee noted of inconstancie and lightnesse by applying themselues to the time and affaires But there was no remedie the deputies of the two kings and Archdukes meeting tooke off the imposition and set the commerce free The peace being fully concluded betwixt England and Spaine and sworne by the king of England in the presence of the king of Spaines Commissioners Constable of Castille returns into Spaine the Constable of Castille hauing receiued great honour in England both in his entertainment and presents giuen him from the king returned into Flanders much satisfied in himselfe to carrie home with him such joyfull tidings From thence hee past into France where the French king vsed him so royally as hee afterwards said That hee had entertained him as a king and intreated him as a kinsman In the yeare a thousand six hundred and foure the king of Great Britaine sent the earle of Nottingham 1605 high Admirall of England Earle of Notingham sent into Spaine into Spaine to take the Catholike kings oath for the confirmation of the peace as hee did the earle of Hartford vnto the Archdukes to the same end The sayd earle of Nottingham being attended on by a gallant traine of noblemen knights and gentlemen arriued at the Groine where hee was no sooner discouered from the land but D. Lewis de Carilla de Toledo marquesse of Carascena Gouernour both of the towne and of the countrey of Gallicia gaue order for his entertainment the which was verie royally performed At his comming into the harbour a fort vpon the North side of the towne did first salute him with twentie peeces of ordnance then a fort lately built vpon a rocke with six and thirtie peeces and lastly from the towne and castle with aboue thirtie peeces of ordnance And the earles ship with the whole fleet beeing at an anchor requiâ—ed them with all their ordnance Presently after the Gouernour sent foure chiefe officers of the towne with D. Iohn de Pacheco his brother and D. Lewis de Carilla de Toledo his onely sonne to welcome the earle After some time spent in complements the Gouernour himselfe came aboord the earles ship in a barge the maâ—iners and rowers being in blew silke cassockes and cappes and the barge couered with blew veluet After hee had saluted the earle he told him That the king his master had giuen vnto him an especiall charge to haue a respect who he was that came embassadour from whom hee came and to whom hee was sent and that he should doe euerie thing for the honour of these three persons not sparing any thing that might be fit for his Lordships entertainment Wherefore hee did intreat the earle to goe to land the which he did forbeare vntill the next day so as that night hee sent vnto his Lordship a present of fish fruits bread and such commodities as the countrey yeelded On Tuesday He lands at the Groine the sixteenth of Aprill the earle of Nottingham prepared to goe to shore to his lodging which was appointed in the gouernours house The gouernour hauing taken care to receiue his Lordship in most honourable manner had vpon notice of his comming to the Groine caused a bridge of timber being aboue fortie yards long to be built and painted the which was garnished with many penciles of silke of diuers colours The way into the towne was set on either side with boughes of bayes and Orange trees and strewed with rushes and flowers The whole garrison of the towne and other companies that were drawne out of the countrey were there readie to make a gard for him His Lordship being readie to land the gouernour sent diuers of the Commaunders to let him vnderstand that he and the magistrats of the towne would attend him on the bridge Whereupon the earle tooke his barge and being followed by his whole traine went vnto the bridge where the Spaniards entertained the English as they landed the haultboyes and shagbots playing all the while Being all landed they entred into the towne an English man and a Spaniard marching together in verie good order At their entrance into the towne they were saluted with a great volley of shot both great and small and so they went on foot to the gouernours house where when the earle entred there were many chambers shot off During the earle of Nottinghams stay at the Groine hee solemnized Saint Georges feast the which was performed with the greater state for that the people came thither in troupes to see that
twenty crosses belonging to seuerall Churches with many pictures and holy relikes Monkes Morris dancers like Gipsies Beastes with fire workes wild men and such like vanities as it should seeme to draw the people more readily to admiration After these followed diuers other Church-relikes with certaine Augustine and Franciscane Friers with their relikes Many Church-men had Tapers in their hands the king Pages bare Torches Then followed the Sacrament carried by foure Church-men in rich Copes after whome came the Noble men and Grandoes of Spaine and then followed the king with a Taper light in his hand of white Virgin waxe after whome came the Cardinals the embassadors to the emperor French and Venetians the Prince of Sauoy the Prince of Maroc with others euerie one carrying a Taper light The same day D. Blasco de Arragon brought word vnto the Lord embassador that the king expected his comming presently vnto the Court for the taking of the othe wherefore there was order taken that the Noblemen and Gentlemen which should attend him thither should be furnished with Genets out of the kings stable Being all mounted the Constable D. Pedro de Suniga King of Spaine takes the othe with many other Lords and Knights were sent to accompany him And at the court gate the duke of Lerma and some other of the Grandoes staied to receiue him by whome hee was conueied through a long gallerie into a presence and so into an inner chamber where the king staied his comming and receiued him with a kind salutation and so took him along with him The king Sergeants at armes going first then followed the Noblemen and Grandoes of Spain then the foure kings at arms in their coasts of armes after whome came the duke of Lerma bearing the sword naked not vpright as the custome is in England but lying vpon his left shoulder and in this order the king marcht to a verie faire banqueting house newly built the embassadour leeger the Lords and diuers others following The king being set in his estate the Lord embassadour the Leeger were placed vpon his left hand the Grandoes and other Noblemen of Spaine beeing on the right but two degrees lower There was a little table set before the king wheron lay the Bible and a Crucifix vpon it The Archbishop of Toledo red the othe at one part of the othe the embassadour held the kings hands betweene his to which othe the king swore kneeling and laying his hand vpon the booke and afterwards subscribed the articles concluded by both kings On the last of May there was preparation made for certaine sports Iuego de Toâ—o and Iuego de Cana. as Iuego de Tora Iuego de Cana where there was a careful order taken that al the English shold be placed to see those sights About noone the king and Queene came on Horsebacke after the Spanish maner being attended on by many Lords and Ladies The Lord embassador was in one roome with the king and Queene and the other Lords not farre off These sports were performed in the market place being built round about with scaffolds the ground couered with sand There were fourteen buls slaine that day not without danger to many that were actors and the losse of some of their liues Which being ended began their sports of Iuego de Cana wherein the king himselfe was an actor First there came in twelue Atabales or kettle drums then followed thirty Trumpets al clad in Cassaks of red and white tafata then followed twelue great mules called Asemulaes with couerings of crimson veluet bearing bundles of canes chained together with great hooks of siluer then followed the kings Gentlemen and Pages richly suited being 32 in number For the two Princes of Sauoy there came two Pages riding bearing white targuets on their armes after whome were led three horses with caparisons of blacke veluet richly imbrodered with pearle then followed twelue other horses their caparisons of blacke veluet but imbrodered with siluer For the duke of Lerma were led six horses with caparisons of white and red his Groomes and Pages attending were suteable For the Constable were led foure and twenty horses of seruice in white and greene his Pages and groomes all suted alike There were eighty horsemen which were actors that day in those sports being diuided into eight bands or companies besides the king and the rest aboue named there were many of the Grandoes and they were all men of speciall note in the Court of Spaine whose names for breuities sake I omit At the first they came riding in swiftly by couples with their targuets on their shoulders and shaking their staues after the maner of the Moores and Arabians Being all come in they diuided themselues into two parts either side hauing foure squadrons and euerie squadron ten in number Being al ready the kings side first gaue the charge and the others answered them so they coÌ„tinued chasing one another squadron after squadron and casting their canes one after another for the space of an houre and so the sport ended On the first of Iune Shew of the kings Horsemen the Lord embassador was inuited to see the kings horsemen in arms in a spacious place called El Campo consisting of launces light horsemen and Carbines to the number of two thousand of the which the duke of Lerma was generall these troups after some sallies one vpon another and certaine skirmishes drew themselues into a ring and so marching vnder the window whereas the king Queene and embassadour stood went their way On the sixt of Iune he was requested to see a maske Mask at Court aboue six of the clock in the euening D. Blasco d' Arragon came to conduct his Lordship and the rest through a priuate gallery of the kings to the appointed place which was the new built banqueting house where his Lordship and his followers were conueniently appointed The roome was furnished with 320 wax lights all set in standerds of siluer of diuers fashions Where after some songs and musicke the maske appeared after this manner There came first of al 30 musitioâ—s in long roabs of crimson tafata wel set out to shew playing on seueral instruments After whome followed six Virgins dancing one bearing in her hand asun another a branch of an Oliue tree another an anchor another a sword with two points on either point abunch of flowers Then followed a Chariot of an antick fashion drawn by two liued horse being exceeding little In the vpper part whereof sat the Infanta with a Scepter of gold in her hand hauing the picture of a Doue at the vpper end of it at her feet sat two other Virgins who attended her and on either side went diuers pages bearing torches of white waxe At the vpper end of the hal there was a rich State built all of Masons work ascending vp by degrees richly guilt and garnished with sundrie statues guilt also in which state there were three chaires set two great
one lesser which was betwixt the other two In which middle chaire the Infanta being taken out of her Chariot was placed the two virgins neere her and the other sixe vpon the degrees at the foot of the estate At the nether end of the Hall stood the maskers in a gallerie made of purpose who vpon drawing of a curtaine appeared as it were in clouds They were eight and twentie Knights Ladies besides torch-bearers whereof the king and Queen made two the rest were 〈◊〉 Grandoes and men of great honour the Ladies were the Queens Maides The gallerie being built in maner of an arch and set full with looking glasses did with the light of torches shine as if it had beene ful of Starres The musick playing the maskers descended by foure and foure at a time vpon a stage made in fashion of a cloud vntill the whole number was come forth dancing together in good forme and measure Hauing danced a while they all vnmasked themselues the king and Queene sitting in the chaires aboue mentioned where after some other dances the sport ended On the seuenth of Iune the Lord embassadour was appointed to take his leaue of the king and returne for England Before his comming to Audience the king sent by D. Pedro de Suniga and some others to the number of foureteene chaines of gold or thereabouts for some of the kings Seruants and his lordships chiefe officers hauing likewise sent before by the said D. Pedro vnto the Lords and to many knights and other especial men of his Lordships companie seuerall Iewels and chaines which were verie rich In the afternoone the king sent vnto the embassadour a verie rich present of Iewels both for himself and his Lady the which were presented vnto him by D. Blasco and brought by the masters and officers of the jewel house whome he rewarded honorably Not long after the Constable came with some others to conduct him to his Audience where after some priuate conference with the king hee tooke his leaue hauing receiued many gracious words from his Maiestie as also a ring with a Diamond which some valued at three thousand pounds the which the king put vpon his finger in token as hee said of wedding him perpetually in true loue After which the king commanded the duke of Infantasgo to conduct him vnto the Queen where hauing performed all due complements he tooke his leaue also of her Highnesse And the same day being accompanied a mile out of the Towne by the Constable and some other Noblemen he began his iourny towards England and on the fifteenth day came to Saint Andreas where his ships attended him Where being arriued and all things ready for his imbarking hee shewed his bountie in rewarding D. Blasco the Aposentador or chiefe Harbinger and al the kings officers seruants that attended him with great chains of gold faire Iewels of good value and large sums of money to their generall content After which hauing feasted them on shipboard hee put to sea on the 25 day of Iune Thus haue I summarily set downe the substance of the Earle of Nottinghams honorable entertainment at the Court of Spaine when as he was sent thither embassador for the swearing of the othe with the which I will end this Historie and conclude my labour with his Lordships safe returne into England FINIS ⧠Obseruations touching the state and gouernment of Spaine FOr as much as my Authour in the beginning of this Historie hath made an exact description of Spaine setting downe the number of leagues the whole continent doth containe in circuit describing the principall riuers within the Countrie with their Springs and courses setting downe the mountaines and hils and distinguishing the Prouinces within the countrie as they lye at this day and by whome they were in ancient time inhabited with a declaration of the fertilitie riches and commodities of the Countrie I haue thought good to adde something touching the gouernment of that state with some other obseruations concerning that subiect the which I haue collected out of such as haue beene curious to see obserue and write thereof The king of Spaine as hee is a potent Prince and Lord of many countries so hath hee many Councels for the managing of their affaires distinctly apart without any confusion euerie Councell treating only of those matters which concerne their Iurisdiction charge and meddle not one with anothers businesse with which Councels and with the Presidents being men of chiefe note the king doth conferre touching matters belonging to the good gouernment preseruation increase of his Estates and hauing heard euerie mans opinion he commands that to be executed that shall be held most fit and conuenient The first is The Councel of state Councel of state wheron the rest depend They name Viceroyes for all the king of Spaines countries and prouide for many things for the preseruation of his realms The king himselfe is President of this Councell the Counsellours who are the chiefe men in the court haue no fees The Councell of warre Councell of war It prouides for Generals Colonels Captaines the Generall of the gallies and for whatsoeuer concernes the war with the aduice of his Majestie who is president of this Councell They punish all commanders and officers at warre that doe not their duties And in like maner they dispose of the companies of men at arms appointed for the gard of the kingdom and they giue order for the artillerie munition and fortifications or any thing that is necessary for the warre The counsellors haue no wages The royall Councel of justice Councell of iustice Here they treat of the good gouernment of all Spaine they determine controuersies betwixt Noblemen and ease the greeuances of other Courts This councell is of great preheminence the president names al Iustices of Spain the Prouosts of the kings house with many other Counsellors and Iustices They take information how euerie one hath behaued himselfe in his charge punishing and changing as they shall think good but with the kings priuity There is a President and sixteen counsellors who haue all wages The Councell of Italie Councel of Italy which treats of matters concerning the realms of Naples and Sicile and the Duchie of Milan The Constable of Castille is President there are sixe Counsellours three Italians and three Spaniards In this Councell they dispose of the gouernment of Italie and giue aduancement to the Souldiers that serue in those Countries they appoint Gouernours and Iudges in cities and giue titles to Noblemen but they first acquaint the king with their consultations The Councel of the Indies The President is of greatest esteeme next vnto the councel royall The Councell of the Indies there are eight Counsellors and haue all wages They appoint Viceroys for Peru Noua Hispagna and a general of the army that goes into these parts with all other Offices and Spirituall liuings In this Councell they also treat of all greeuances
marriage of D. Alphonso of Leon and of D. Theresa of Portugal was dissolued by the decree of Pope Innocent the third for that they were kinâ—â— folkes in a degree which was prohibited by the church of Rome 30 The house of Nauarre approching neere it's end for want of heires males Nauarre it is fit we should prepare the Readers to the accesse which the descendants from women which are issued from it haue had vnto that crowne speaking some thing of the house of Champagne into the which D. Blanche daughter to D. Sancho the wife and sister to this King D. Sancho the strong was married Descendants of the house of Champagne The Earles of Champagne haue beene of great possessions in France of an ancient and noble familie as well of the house as by their alliances and marriages with the greatest houses of Europe In the nine hundred and ninth yeere mention is made of Odon first Earle of Champagne Brie Blois Chartres and Tourame who was a turbulent man and had great quarrels with Richard Duke of Normandy whose daughter notwithstanding he tooke in the end to his second wife he made warre against Rodolphe or Ralphe the last King of Bourgogne and was the cause why hee resigned his Scepter and crowne to Conrade the Emperour whose daughter Odon had taken to his first wife and had Stephen and others by her This Stephen was Earle of Champagne in the yeere of our Lord 1032. after the decease of his father and Lord of his other Estates by the succession of his brethren Hee died in the holie warre in Syria hauing begotten of his wife Alis or Adela daughter to William the conqueror Duke of Normandie and King of England Thybaâ—d and other children Thybaud surnamed the great was Earle of Champagne in the yeere of our Lord 1101. hee did also enioy the Earledomes of Brie Blois and Chartres and was called the father of the poore hee had to wife Mihault a Princesse of Germany of a great house by whom he had Henry who was Earle of Champagne and Bry after him in the yeere of our Lord 1151. besides other children This Henry surnamed the Big the fourth Earle of Champagne was in Asia with King Lewis the yong and afterwards with Philip Augustus where hee did great seruice to the cause hee married Mary of France daughter to Lewis the seuenth called the young by his first wife Elenor Dutchesse of Guienne and Contesse of Poictiers of this marriage issued Henry and Thibaud who were successiuely Earles of Champagne one after an other Henry went to the warre of Asia and marrying with the daughter of Almerit King of Ierusalem widow to Conrad Marquis of Montferrat was made King of Ierusalem but returning into France hee died without issue male Wherefore his brother Thibaud the second of that name seized vpon the country of Champagne in the yeere of our Lord 1196. to the preiudice of the two daughters of the deceased Cont Henry and was the sixth Cont Palatin thereof It was this Thibaud which married D. Blanche daughter to D. Sancho the wise King of Nauarre who had one sonne after the death of her husband about the yeere of our Lord 1201. called Thibaud as the father who was Earle of Champagne and Brie notwithstanding the pretensions of a sister which was borne in their fathers life time who contended for this succession but in vaine Moreouer by the death of D. Sancho the strong of whom wee now intreate without children hee came to the crowne of Nauarre by his mothers succession A Prince greatly allied to the houses of France and England whereof wee will treate more at large But let vs returne to D. Sancho the strong raigning at this time in Nauarre This Prince married with a French Lady daughter to Raymond Earle of Tolouse the fourth of that name who was called D. Clemence they hold that hee had not any children by her wherefore according vnto some Authors hee left her and married the daughter of the Emperour Frederic Barbarousse notwithstanding this second marriage is doubtful but as for the first Garcia d' Eugui bishop of Bayone hath left in writing that hee had one sonne named D. Ferdinand Calabasa vvho died in his fathers life time VVith a fall of a horse running after a Beare and vvas buried in the Collegial church of Tudele Hee had no other lavvfull children but mention is made of one bastard sonne called William 31 The ancient league of Castille and Arragon beeing renevved betvvixt the Kings D. Alphonso the Noble and D. Pedro they did arme to annoy the King of Nauarre aboat the yeere of our Lord 1200. the which he foreseeing he sought to be supported by forraine Princes and proceeded so farre as hee did sollicit Aben Ioseph Mazemut to breake the truce which he had made for ten yeeres A Mahumetan Prince keepes his faith religiously with the King of Castille some Authors affrming that D. Sancho went himselfe in person into Affrike to treat of the businesse with this Mahumetan Prince who notwithstanding that he would not breake his faith yet hee presented him with a great summe of money and many rich Iewels During his absence the confederate Kings entred by diuers waies into Nauarre where hee had left for his Lieutenant General a knight called Alphonso Fernandes of Guendulain and tooke Ayuar and the valley of Roncal which fell to the King of Arragon and on the other side Miranda and Insura or Inzula which places the King of Castille kept for himselfe these two confederate Kings hauing agreed to diuide the conquest of Nauarre betwixt them this was all they did for that yeere As for the King D. Sancho hee fel sicke on the waie of a pestilent feuer the which in the end fell to be a canker in one of his feete which continued with him all his life This indisposition beeing knowne in Spaine it gaue courage to the King of Castille to pursue his good fortune and to trie all meanes possible to ioyne that Estate to his presuming that the King D. Sancho who had no children could not liue long and that he beeing dead there should be no great opposition against him for that D. Ramir one of his brethren was of the church the other was young and absent and the Earle of Champaigne his brother in law was either dead or gone to the holy Land but howsoeuer hee was so farre off as before hee should returne into France to debate his title to the Kingdome of Nauarre wherevnto hee had right hee did hope to bee in possession Vpon this deseigne hee leauied a new army The King of Castille inuades Nauarre entred into Alaua and ouerrunne all that Prouince where in the end hee besieged the Towne of Victoria the which was valiantly defended by D. Alphonso Fernandes of Guendulayn who had put himselfe into it with many good souldiers of Alaua and Nauarre and maintained the siege long without any succors or newes from the
much ballance their affaires by the succours he gaue by sea vnto the French hauing sent a good number of ships of warre vnder the command of Ambrose Becanegra a Genouois his Admirall who stopped the passage in such sort betwixt France and England as besides many small prizes which he had taken he defeated a fleet of English about that time and tooke sixe and thirty of their vessels neere vnto Rochel by which victorie Rochel came vnder the obedience of the French king Rochel yeelded to the French and the greatest part of the prey and prisoners were carried into Spaine among the which was the Earle of Pembrooke Generall of the army Besides which succours the king Don Henry being come from Burgos to Saint Ander he sent Don Ruy Diaz of Rojas into the Prouince of Guipuscoa to make ready a new army of 40. ships the which he sent soone after vnder the command of the same Ruy Diaz to the French K. who came to Rochel and hauing ioyned with a French Captaine called Iohn Calais who had about twenty Barkes all together came and set vpon another fleet of English whom they likewise put to rout and then Don Ruy Diaz returned a victor into Spaine so as the English had reason to seeke to diuide the king of Castile from him of France and to draw him vnto their partie Pope Gregorie the eleuenth presumed to interpose his authoritie in these Princes quarrels the which did not please them Hauing made an accord betwixt the Kings of Castile and Nauarre he would also reconcile the controuersies that were betwixt Castile and Arragon and to this end hee sent the Cardinall of Cominges into Spaine who prest the two Kings to send their Deputies to debate their cause before him Don Henry named for his part the bishop of Burgos and Don Aluar Garcia of Albornoz Lord Steward of his house the king of Arragon deputed the bishop of Lerida and Don Râ—â—mond Alamâ—n Ceruillon who agreed that thâ— Colledge of Cardinals should determine this controuersie But these Princes beeing better aduised that it was not fit their quarels should be decided by the Court of Rome they tooke a better course to agree betwixt themselues The towne of Tuy which had for many mâ—â—eths refused to obey D. Henry now submitted about this peace of Arragon But the warre was renewed betwixt Castile and Portugal by reason of many prizes taken in the port of Lisbone Portugal and at sea of ships and merchants of Biscay Guipuscoa and Asturia and also for that the King Don Fernand gaue a retreat vnto the banished men of Castile concerning matters of State and also that hee had contemned the marriage concluded betwixt him and Donna Leonora of Castile to marrie Donna Leonora Telles of Meneses Neece to the Earle of Barcelos a Lady of great beautie but much inferiour in qualitie to the Infanta Donna Leonora of Castile and Donna Leonora of Arragon whom he might haue had with great profit to his Realme and to himselfe honour Hee contemned these marriages Marriage vnlawful of the king of Poâ—tugal taking away his subiects wise which had beene very beneficiall to himselfe and to his Realme of Portugall to marrie this Ladie offending God and all good lawes for he tooke her violently from her husband Laurence Vasques of Acugna forcing him to flie into Castile where he past the remainder of his dayes in exile carrying commonly hornes of siluer on his hat to witnesse the lust and infamy of his Prince yet some to excuse this fact write that the king caused this marriage to be dissolued by the Popes authoritie as vnlawfull by reason of the neerenesse of consanguinitie of the which notwithstanding there was issued one sonne called Aluaro of Acugna The king was made sure vnto her in the presence of the Earle of Barcelos and a â—â—ster of hers called Don Mary who had mannaged this marriage and to whom the king had imparted his loues When this marriage was published in Lisbone the inhabitants incensed that the king had left so profitable and honorable a marriage Tumult at Lisbon for the kings mariage as that of Castile began to mutine and hauing taken Fernand Vasques of Acugna for their Captaine they sent 300. armed men about the kings pallace and gaue the king to vnderstand in the behalfe of the citty that hee should leaue this woman else they would take her and do vnto her as their Predecessors had done to the king D. Sancho Capello in the like case The king fearing the furie of this multitude answered them mildly that in what they did they were good subiects being iealous of his honour and thanked them for their good will but he let them vnderstand that D. Leonora Telles was not his married wife and intreated them to retire vntill the next day when he would talke to them more amply of that businesse in the Monasterie of S. Dominicke This blast being blowne ouer the king parted by night out of Lisbone and carried D. Leonora Telles with him into the countrie betwixt Duero and Minio and retiring towards Porto he lodged neere vnto it in the Monasterie of Leza where he married this Lady publikely not caring how his subiects tooke it He commanded that all men should acknowledge her and call her Queene and gaue her the townes of Almadra Sintra Torresuedras Atognia Ouiedos Alanguer Abrantes Villa viciosa and many other places All in the end yeelded to it without murmuring seing it was the kings pleasure and D. Leonora had the title of Queene giuen her by all men but by D. Denis the kings brother who would neuer kisse her hand saying That it was her duty to kisse his whereat the King D. Fernand was so incensed as if Don Denis had not retired presently by the meanes of those that were then present he had stab'd him with his dagger for this cause the Infant retired himselfe for euer after into Castile When as D. Leonora Telles saw her selfe installed Queene shee made a diligent search who had bin the chiefe motiues of the mutiny at Lisbon and vnderstanding that they were of the family of Vasques of Acugna she ceased not to pursue them with a deadly hatred vntill she had forced many of them to flie into Castile Of this marriage betwixt the king D. Fernand and D. Leonora Telles issued D. Beatrix Genealogie of Portugal who was married to D. Iohn the first King of Castile borne at Coimbra and afterwards a son and a daughter who died yong some Authors hold that they were borne in adulterie committed by the Queene with D. Iohn Fernandes of Andeiro a knight of Gallicia borne at Corunua Moreouer the king before this marriage had a daughter called D. Izabel The king D. Henry hauing these causes of discontent against the king of Portugall he gaue him to vnderstand by his ambassadors that he could not take it in good part that he had retired his rebellious subiects of which he demanded
and couetous gouernement This yeare there was another enterprise by an English Gentleman whose name was Thomas Cauendish who passed into the South seas as Sir Francis Drake had done where after many accidents in Nouember 1587. the Generall hauing two shippes mette with a great shippe of the King of Spaines called Saint Anna the which was Admirall of the South-sea Cauendish takes the S. Anna in the South seas beeing about 700. tunnes burthen the which after six or seuen houres fight and thre seuerall charges yeelded to haue their liues saued In which shippe by the confession of the Captaine and Pilot they had an hundred and two and twenty thousand Pezo's of gold and the rest of the lading was in silkes satten damaske muske with many other good commodities in the end they set fire of the Kings shippe and burnt her hauing to the quantitie of 500. tunnes of goods in her then sayling by the Philippina's the Moluccos and the Cape of Bona Speranza they arriued safely in England in September 1588. King Philip after much warre the losse of his wiues and children and the little hope he had of long life in the Prince his sonne beeing of a weake complexion and ill disposed beganne this yeare to haue more cause of content for now the young Prince began to bee vigorous and of a spirit befitting an heire of so great dominions and on the other side the second Infanta Donna Catherina hauing had a sonne the last yeare did this yere double his ioy with another giuing him the more content for that the first was christened with so great solemnitie the twelfth day of May foure daies after that the second was borne Yet touching his publike affaires the Low-countrie warres troubled him much the which hee referred to the valour and wisedome of the Duke of Parma and liued himselfe quietly in Spaine But finding that the Queene of England did fauour and protect his Rebels of the Low-countries as he tearmed them and that shee did feed the fire of that long warre to be reuenged of that iniurie and to employ his forces to aduance the Romish religion he made preparation to transport the miseries of warre into England giuing countenance and entertainment to all the fugitiue Papists of that country The Queene of England beeing aduertised of this great preparation in Spaine for the inuasion of England shee was aduised to preuent it whereuppon shee armed foorth a Fleet of some 30 sayle in the which there were 4. ships and a pinaces of her Maiesties the rest were Merchants of good seruice Sir Francis Drake was appointed Generall of this Fleete which went towards the coast of Spaine this yeare in Aprill And beeing aduertized that there was great store of warlike prouision at Cadiz the which was readie to go for Lisbon he made all possible speed thither to intercept these prouisions so as on the 19 of Aprill he entred with his Fleet into the harbour of Cadiz where at the first they were affronted by sixe gallies but they soone retired vnder their fort There lay in the roade sixtie ships with diuers smaller vessels vnder the fort and such as could passe the sholds fled vp to port Real there came foure gallies more downe against them from Saint Mary port and port Real but they were well beaten they burnt in this harbor a shippe of Ragouça of a thousand tunne hauing fortie peeces of brasse Ordinance in her Ships burnt at Cadiz by the English and richly laden and another great new ship of twelue hundred tunne belonging to the Marquis of Santa Cruz high Admirall of Spaine with many others laden with victuals wine iron workes biscuit oyle fruite and other commodities which were to be transported to the Indies or to serue for the prouision of the Fleet which was preparing for England so as they burnt sunke and carried away to the number of thirty shippes and barkes beeing as they esteemed them ten thousand tuns of shipping Whilest they lay in the roade the gallies and forts shot continually at them and such shippes as they could defend no longer they fired to driue among the English shippes who were somewhat troubled to auoid them This resolute attempt was performed in one day and two nights to the great amazement of the King of Spaine and the Marquis of Santa Cruz his Admirall After their comming out of the roade of Cadiz this English Fleete was followed by ten gallies who notwithstanding suffred them to ride quietly at an anchor by them Then they bent their course towards cape Sacre beeing well victualled at the enemies charge vpon the way they tooke at seuerall times almost an hundred shippes barkes and carauels laden with hoopes gally oares pipe-staues with other prouisions for the King of Spaines armie intended for England all which they burnt and landed the men They also spoyled the fisher-boates and nets for the fishing of Tunies And comming to Cape Sacre they landed and tooke three forts some by force the rest by composition From thence they came neere vnto Lisbone anchoring neere vnto Cascais where the Marquis of Santa Cruz was with his gallies and yet he came not foorth against them Hauing a message sent him by the Generall that he was readie there to exchange certaine bullets with him the Marquis returned him an answer that hee was not readie for him neither had he any such commission from the king his master The Generall seeing no more good to be done vpon the coast of Spaine hee bent his course towards the Ilands of the Açores where by good fortune beeing within thirty leagues of Saint Michels he met with a Caracke of Portugall called S. Philip the which they tooke Carack of Portugal taken by Sir Francis Drake hauing made little resistance sending the people home into their country in other vessels well furnished with victuals And this was the first Carake that euer was taken comming from the East Indies The riches of this prize was held exceeding great whereupon they resolued to returne into England the which they did with their whole Fleete and their admirable rich prize The religious desire which the Catholike King had long had to haue Friar Diego Seniliano of the castle of Saint Nicholas S. Diego canonized to be canonized a Saint being dead in Spaine some hundred and fiue and twenty yeares before with an opinion of holinesse throughout all Spaine did this yeare take effect for that since the yeare 1563. instance beeing made by him and the Spaniards to Pope Pius the fourth to Pius the fifth and then to Gregory the 13. all which dyed before this busines could be ended But continuing in this zealous disposition he commanded the Earle of Oliuares his Ambassadour resident at Rome to mooue it againe to Pope Sixtus the fifth so as on the third of Iuly this yeare hee was canonized a Saint at the charges of the King of Spaine and his feast day appoynted the twelfth day of Nouember to the great
and hee obtayned the Marquis of Saint Martin from the Duke of Ferrara to bee Lieutenant generall to the Duke of Sauoy to whome he was allyed furnishing him also with money so as it seemed rather the King of Spaines action then the Duke of Sauoys The King of Spaine aspiring as it seemed to the Crowne of France An. 1590. whereof he had taken vppon him the name of Protectour Pretext of the King of Spaine to make warre in France tooke now a new cloake to make warre which was in the name of his eldest daughter Donna Izabella Clara Eugenia whome he had by Elizabeth of Valois his third wife daughter to Henry the second of France pretending the Dutchie of Brittanie to bee fallen vnto her by lawfull right and succession by the death of King Henry the third her Vncle by the mothers side Vppon this pretext hee sent certaine troupes thither seeking to dismember it from the Crowne of France to the which it was incorporate by the death of the Ladie Anna of Brittanie accompting the descendants from the sayd Ladie Anne who was promised to Maximilian Arch-duke of Austria and afterwards Emperour but married to Charles the eight the French King who dyed without heires and then shee was married to Lewis the twelfth by whome shee had one daughter married to Francis the first father to Henry the second his successour who had by Catherine de Medicis foure sonnes all which dyed without children and three daughters Elizabeth third wife to the King of Spaine Claude married to Charles Duke of Lorraine and Marguerite wife to Henry the fourth King of France and Nauarre All the fore-sayd children beeing descended in the direct feminine line from the Lady Anne of Brittanie their Grand-mother so as the sonnes hauing no lawfull heires the succession of of the sayd Dutchie of Brittanie did belong vnto the Lady Elizabeth of Valois the eldest of King Henryes two daughters and mother to the sayd Infanta the which according to the Lawe the King her father would maintaine should represent her deceased mother for that the sayd Dutchie beeing but a fee of Fraunce may descend vnto the daughters as well as to the sonnes as appeareth in the sayd Dutchesse Anne daughter to Francis the last Duke of Brittanie who brought it to Charles the eight and Lewis the twelfth The French answered that Dutchies which were but fees and held by homage of the Crowne beeing once incorporated can bee no more dismembred with many more allegations as you may reade in the French The King of Spaine could not forget the affront hee had receiued the last yeare by the English in Portugall hee sought how to bee reuenged if not of the whole State in generall yet of priuate Merchants whose liuing consisted and wholly depended vpon Trafficke into diuers parts and hearing that the English Merchants had great trade within the Streights of Gibraltar to Venice Constantinople Alexandria and other places of commerce hee resolued to interrupt them and intercept them if he could by any possible meanes Whereuppon hee gaue charge vnto certaine Galleys to lye continually in the Streights to attend their passage It happened this yeare Fight betwixt the Spanish gallies English ships that there were tenne good English shippes and well fraught comming from diuers parts mette together at the Streights and were bending home-ward These shippes comming neere to the mouth of the Streights hard vppon the coast of Barbarie they descryed twelue tall Galleys wonderfully well manned and gallantly appoynted beeing commaunded by Andrew Doria for the King of Spaine who on the foure and twentith day of Aprill in the morning bare vp with the shippes and waued them amaine for the King of Spaine and the English did the like for the Queene of England after which the fight beganne one of the shippes at her first shot raked away all the men of one side of a Galley and so pierced it as it was readie to sinke but the fight continued very furious for the space of sixe howers In the meane time whilest they were in the hottest of this fight there came in two Flemings to the Fleete who seeing of what strength the Galleys were the one of them strucke her sayles and was presently taken by the Galleys the other Flemming was also readie to yeeld if the trumpetter of that shippe had not threatened to kill the Pilote at the Helme if he did not speedily put off to the English fleete and take part with them by which meanes they were preserued from the Spaniards whereas the other was taken basely and cowardly After this long and furious fight the English shippes escaped for the Gallies were so torne as they were forced to flie into harbour for that some of them were readie to sinke neither durst they come any more foorth notwithstanding that the shippes lay becalmed in the streight The Catholike King finding himselfe ouer-burthened and weakened with the warres which he had at one instant maintayned against his enemies his treasure beeing exhausted and hee wanting money to make his necessarie prouisions both for Flanders and France vppon all occurrents hee commaunded the Duke of Sessa who was newly come Ambassadour to Rome to succeede the Earle of Oliuares who was gone Viceroy into Sicily to intreate his Holinesse to grant him part of the reuenues of the spirituall liuings in Spaine leauing vnto the Priests a competent liuing according vnto euery mans qualitie but this demaund was not allowed of nor held conuenient in the Court of Rome This yeare there was a memorable fight at the Ilands of the Açores betwixt the king of Spaines Armado Fight betwixt the Reuenge the Armado of Spaine and one of the Queene of Englands shippes called the Reuenge The Lord Thomas Haward second sonne to the Duke of Norfolke and now Earle of Suffolke going foorth with sixe of the Queenes shippes sixe victuallers and some pinaces to attend the West Indian Fleete in their returne lying at one of the Ilands of the Açores they were aduertised of the approach of the Spanish armado beeing three and fiftie sayle of men of warre commaunded by Don Alphonso Baçan brother to the Marquis of Santa Cruz the which were presently in sight many of the English beeing then on shoare to furnish themselues with ballast fresh water and other necessaries so as their shippes were light for want of ballast and halfe their men sicke and vnseruiceable for fight The Spanish Fleete beeing couered by an Iland were come so neere as they had scarce any time to weigh their anchors yet some were faine to slippe their Cables and to set sayle Sir Richard Greenfield who was Vice-admirall in the Reuenge wayed last staying to recouer her men that were in the Iland which otherwise had beene lost and not able to recouer the wind as the Admirall and the rest had with some difficultie done he was perswaded by the Master and some others to cast about and to trust to the sayling of
diuers accidents The first was the strange swelling and ouerflowing of the Riuer of Guadalquibir to the great spoile of the neighbour Countrie for passing ouer her bankes there were many persons drowned with much cattel and very many buildings ouerthrowne but the greatest losse was at Seuille in which port there lying many Ships of the Fleet they were staied long from making of their preparations And in the meane time whilest they proceeded slowly in this action according to the custome of that nation who persuade themselues to doe great matters with fame onely and repose the chiefe of their most important enterprises in tyring the enemie and consuming him at leysure the English armie appeared vpon their coast as you shall â—eare The charge of the English fleet and armie was giuen to the Lord Charles Howard high Admirall of England who at his returne from that seruice Armie of English for Spaine was by the Queenes Maiestie made Earle of Nottingham and to the Earle of Essex being ioyned together in Commission Being vpon their going from the coast of England they did publish in print in seuerall languages the true iust and vrgent reasons which had mooued her Maiestie to vndertake the sending forth of so great an Nauie with a full declaration of her Majesties pleasure and so they set saile from Plymouth vpon the third of Iune this yeare the whole English fleet consisting of some hundred ships of all sorts the which was diuided into foure squadrons of the which the Lord Admirall commaunded the first the Earle of Essex the second the Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke the third and Sir Walter Rawleigh the fourth On the tenth of Iune this fleet got sight of Caliz or Cadiz in Andalusia but they kept not the order appointed for their comming in by reason of the mistaking of their masters and their falling in the night with the West sooner than they expected which made them stand vpon another boord and had somewhat disordered their fleet The Lord Admiral one of the Generals was with the greatest part of the fleet ahead to the Windward of the other Generall the Earle of Essex and his Squadron the wind being then at South Sir Walter Rawleigh was by reason of some chase in the night to Leeward and a sterne The Spaniards which were to the number of fiftie and seuen saile English fleet enters into Cadiz roade rod vnder the Towne of Caliz and the Gallies being seuenteene lay in the mouth of the Bay to couer the ships and to attend the landing of the English The Lord Admirall came to an anchor before the Southwest point of the Iland called Saint Sebastians the Earle of Essex seeing the Gallies rowe towards the landing place which hee had chosen bore with them vntill hee made them leaue their course and then looft vp and came with his squadron to an other anchor by the Lord Admiral which the rest of the fleet seeing came all vnto them only the Lord Thomas Howard in the Sea-honor anchored between them and the shoare The Generals called a Councell where it was ioyntly agreed vpon by them that their men should bee landed and the Town presently attempted on the West side which was next to the anchoring for which purpose the Earle of Essex Lord Generall Sir Francis Vere Lord Marshall and sir Coniers Clifford Sergeant Maior went to draw together as many souldiers and Gentlemen as their boats could wel carrie at once which being done and all their boates about the Lord Admirals ship sir Walter Rawleigh who was but then arriued in the Due Repulse came and protested against their landing holding the attempt to be dangerous and the performance as the wind blew and billowe went impossible for indeed it was growne to a storme whereupon it was resolued that the souldiers should bee returned to their ships and the Spanish fleet first assailed according to sir Walter Rawleighs aduice It was past noone before this later resolution was taken and more than two houres after before the Souldiers could bee carried backe vnto their Shippes some of their boates miscarrying before they could recouer their shippes which being done my Lord Thomas Howard weighed anchor first to giue the other ships scope to cast about then the rest of their principall ships as they could get leaue of the smaller Vessels which rodde close by them who also put themselues vnder saile but the winde was so strong and in such a place as most of their ships had beene driuen too farre to leeward if they had not come to anchour which the chiefe leaders perceiuing they came to a roade Besides the Sunne being not verie high they thought that the bringing in of so greaâ— a fleet towards night would so disorder them as the attempt should bee made to their great disaduantage So as the first day there was nothing executed by reason of these accidents Onely in the euening from the Bulwarke called Saint Philip from the Ships of warre which lay at Anchor and from the Gallies which did aduance a little towards them some few Canon shot were bestowed vpon the Due Repulse who answered them with the like especially against the Gallies when they approached to make them know the English could entertaine them if they came on That night the gallies coasting by the shore betwixt S. Mary Port Rotta came to obserue what order was kept by the rereward of the English fleet but they were soon turned backe On Munday earely in the morning there was a Councell held aboord the Lord Admirals Shippe where it was resolued to weigh anchor presently and to assaile the Spanish fleet the which was accordingly performed after this maner The Lord Thomas Howard and Sir Walter Rawleigh for so the Generall had appointed it bare right in the middest of the Chanell with the kings great ships which retyred before them scorning to bestowe a shot on the gallies which discharged their Canon as they passed by them The Lord Marshall being in the Raine-bow looft vp the Gallies which lay vp with their sternes close vnder the Towne and kept their prowes towards the Ships that should passe by them The Rainebow was a good while in fight before that any other ship came vnto her and was plyed with shot both from the gallies and from the Towne The Earle seeing her so ouer-matcht made haste vnto her and so making the enemie a fairer marke than the Rainebow which was a farre lesser ship eased her of many blowes Some other ships shot but farther off and to lesse purpose This incounter with the Gallies was a verie great aduantage vnto the enemy they hauing so many to so fewe for in effect these two ships aboue mentioned performed this whole seruice Besides there were two Bulwarkes of the Towne on their side all which notwithstanding the Gallies were forced to flie before them into the Baie two onely except which Sir Iohn Wingfield comming then vp in the Vangard did keep so in
he did owe the Genouois to 12. His liberalitie hath appeared in recompensing the merits of many of his seruants His liberalitie He made his Schoolemaster Primat of the Church of Spaine as his father had aduanced his vnto the Popedom There are few such princes now that vse such requitals There are no more Alexanders That is 480000 crownes who gaue eight hundred talents to his Schoolemaster Arislotle Kings haue long hands but few haue them so large after this proportion The king of Spaine did neuer leaue any goodlie action either of learning justice or warre without reward Hee did not onely doe good vnto the good to make them better but also to the bad least they should grow worse But he did neuer aduance them hee loued to fauours disproportionable to their condition He did much for Ruy Gomes for the loue of his wife the princesse of Eboly Yet this liberalitie did neuer make a passage for him to great affaires He was verie circumspect in the distinction of great charges especially of such as concerned the administration of justice whereon as Plato said depends the safetie and ruine of an Estate And although that the earle of Chinchon being bred vp with him in his youth should haue expected more than any other yet he obtained nothing but what he held fit for his qualitie Honours ruine them that deserue them not He was woont to say That all stomackes were not fit to disgest great fortunes and that ill meat did not corrupt sooner and turne to bad humors than honour in a soule without merit As for his constancie against afflictions 〈…〉 for tune could neuer shake him In two diuers accidents happening at two diuers times he shewed the constancie of his mind and the equalitie of his affections neither puffing him vp insolently in prosperitie nor deiecting himselfe basely in aduersitie When the post brought him newes of the victorie of Lepanto His great moderation in prosperitie he thought to see him much transported with joy but hee made no shew of any alteration and hauing vnderstood the order and successe of the battell hee spake these words coldly D. Iohn hath hazarded much Now when another post did bring him newes of the losse of that great nauie at sea thinking it would haue plunged him into a gulph of cares and perturbations at the report of so fatall an accident hee was not a whit mooued His constancie in aduersitie saying onely That hee had sent it against men and not against the windes and waues Vulgar spirits are transported with choler at euerie crosse accident this vnmatchable losse doth not trouble this prince who continued his deuotion in his Oratorie Some other would haue torne his haire and haue whipt the Ocean as Xerxes did The duke of Medina Sidonia Generall of this armie sending to know his pleasure if hee would haue him come and giue an account of his charge he answered That hee should first goe home to his house to refresh and rest himselfe before he came to Court It were fit we should see the backside of this Medaile Vices of the K. of Spaine and speake something of the errours and vices of this prince as well as of his vertues seeing it is fit to speake all for examples sake yet it is not good to trouble the rest of the dead Nicons image ouerthrew him that strooke it with a staffe A dead stone did reuenge the injurie that was done vnto a dead man It is sufficient to say That as this prince was commended for many great vertues so hee was blamed in his youth of great dissolution to voluptuousnesse and a violent propension to crueltie These two vices doe seldome abandon one another Euerie voluptuous prince is cruell if necessitie constraine him This plague doth infect and blemish the glorie of vertues how bright soeuer they be in the life of a prince Victorinus might haue beene compared to the best Emperours yea hee should surpasse Traian in bountie Antonine in clemencie Nerua in grauitie Vespasian in sparing of his treasure Pertinax and Seuerus in the integritie of his life and in the seueritie of militarie discipline but all these vertues were so quencht by voluptuousnesse as no man durst speake vnto him The king of Spaine hath put many to death in the excesse and first fits of his choler King of Spaine 〈◊〉 and distrustfull He was as suspitious distrustfull and cruell as euer any was He did not allow the prince his sonne to speake with the Infanta his daughter but by permission and in the presence of their gouernors The jealousie of Soueraigne power makes no distinction of person nor spareth not his owne bloud as appeared by his owne sonne and Sultan Solyman caused his sonne Mustafa to bee strangled for that the Ianizaries made great acclamations of joy at his returne from the warres of Persia. Some write of him That besides the aboue named vices he was fearefull doubtfull close and a dissembler ambitious and proud beyond the condition of man and nothing religious of his word in matters of Estate the duke of Vilhermosa and the marquesse of Fuentes are good witnesses he put them to death after that he had pardoned them the reuolt of Arragon And those words which he spake in his last instruction to his sonne speaking of the Low Countries doe verifie it It is true said hee I haue giuen them to your sister but it imports not you haue an hundred â—â—asions which you may vse in time His ambition appeared in that he affected the Empire by all possible meanes which not able to obtaine he sought the title of Emperour of Spaine yea some write That he was resolued to goe vnto the Indies to take vpon him the title of Emperour of America After all his ambitious proiects against Africke his attempts against England and Ireland and his intelligences with the Turkes Barbarians and Persians whom hee hath sought to diuide and to make vse of euen against Christian princes yet in the end he was forced to confesse That all the power and pompe of this world was meere vanitie He had foure wiues but he was vnfortunat in the first the which was Marie princesse of Portugall His wiues and children who bare him one sonne whose name was Charles but his life was short and vnfortunat and his end violent being charged by the Inquisition to haue thought ill of the Faith and to haue had intelligence with Chastillion Admirall of France and with the prince of Orange touching the Low Countries His second wife was Marie queene of England by whom hee had no issue His third was Elizabeth of France surnamed by the Spaniards the Queene of Peace who brought him two daughters the Infanta D. Isabella Clara Eugenia now Archduchesse of Austria and Ladie of the Low Countries and the Infanta D. Catherina Michelle who was duchesse of Sauoy His fourth wife was Anne of Austria daughter to the Emperour Maximilian and his owne neece
within these walles at this instant aboue two thousand fighting men which are strong and able besides which some hauing been sicke and hurt recouer daily the greatest part of these consisting of old Soldiers which fal not but by the sword and those that were new being now both trained to their arms and acquainted with the clymate are more able to endure than at the first our means as good as they haue beene any time these two moneths such as Spaniards can wel indure and able to suffice vs three moneths more wee lodge in good warme houses haue store of munition and which is best of all stand well assured that our succour will be here shortly To bee plaine wee preserue our men and reserue our strength the best we may hoping to front you in a breach which if our hearts faile vs not wee haue hands and brests enow to stop against treble your forces but I wil giue the Viceroy this right that his men are passing good yet spent and tyred with the miseries of a Winter seege which hee hath obstinately maintained beyond my expectation but with such caution and vpon so good gard as hauing nicely watched all aduantages I could neuer fasten a salley yet vpon him but with losse to my selfe wherein I must confesse my hopes were deceiued that grounding vpon some error in his approaches I promised vnto my selfe the defear of at least a thousand men at one blow But when wee meet vpon a breach I am confident vpon good reasons to lay fiue hundred of your best men on the ground and rest hopefull that the losse of those will make a great hole in an army which hath already suffered so much extremity But to conclude our businesse the king my master sent me to assist the Condees Oneale and Odonnel presuming on their promise that I should within few daies after the arriuall of our forces haue ioyned with them I expected them long in vaine sustained the Viceroys armie saw them drawne to the greatest head they could possibly make lodged within two miles of Kinsale fortified with certaine companies of Spaniards euerie houre promising to releeue vs and beeing ioyned together to force your campe At last wee saw them broken with a handful of men and dispersed into diuers parts of the world Odonnel into Spain Oneale into the farthest parts of the North so as now I finde no such Condees in rerum natura as I came to ioine with and therefore haue mooued this accord the rather to disingage the king my master from assisting a people so vnable in thēselues as the whole burthen of the warre must lie vpon him and so prefidious as perhaps they might be drawne in the end to betray him Vpon relation made by Sir William Godolphin to the Lord deputy Councel of these offers made by D. Iohn it was thoght good for many important reason to proceed roundly to an accord there being nothing propounded by him that admitted any exception but that he demanded to carrie away his ordnance 1601 munition treasure which did not so much import as it should breake off the treatie which concerned the common good and safety of the kingdom whereupon a composition was made vpon these articles following 1 That said D. Iohn d' Aguilar shall quit the places which he holds in this kingdome as well the towne of Kinsale Articles of the accord at Kinsale as those which are held by the Spaniards or other souldiers vnder his command in Castell-hauen Baltemore and in the Castell of Beerhauen or other places to the Lord deputie or to whome he shall appoint giuing him safe transportation sufficient shipping and victuals for his said Souldiers with the which the said D. Iohn may passe with them into Spaine if he may at one time if not at two shippings 2 That the Souldiers which are at this present vnder the command of the said D. Iohn in this kingdome shall not beare armes against the Queenes Maiesty of England whensoeuer supplies shall come from Spaine vntill the said Souldiers be vnshipped in some of the Ports of Spaine being sent away as soone as may be by the Lord Deputy as hee promiseth vpon his faith and honour 3 For the accomplishment whereof the Lord deputy offereth to giue free pasport to the said D. Iohn and his army as well Spaniards as other nations whatsoeuer that are vnder his command and that he may depart with his armes munition money ensignes displaied artillerie and any other prouisions for warre or other things both that which is in Castel-hauen Kinsale and other places 4 That they shall haue ships and victuals sufficient for their money after such rates as they vse here to pay That all the Souldiers and the said things may be shipt if it bee possible at one time if not at two and that to bee within the time aboue mentioned 5 That if by contrarie winds or any other accidents there shall come into any of the ports of Ireland or England any of those ships wherein the said Soldiers shall passe they shall bee intreated as friends and may ride safely in the harbour be victualled for their mony shal moreouer haue such things as shal be needful to furnish thē for their voiage 6 That during the time they shall stay for shipping victuals shall be giuen to D. Iohns people at reasonable rates 7 That there shall be cessation of armes of either side security giuen that no wrong be offered to any one 8 That the ships wherein the said Souldiers shall be transported for Spaine may passe safely by any of the queenes Maiesties ships of England and so shal the said Queenes and her subiects by those that shal go from hence and the said ships being ariued in Spaine shall return as soone as they haue vnshipt their men without any impediment giuen thē by his Maiestie or any other person in his name but rather they shall shew them fauour and help them if they need any thing and for securitie thereof they shall deliuer into the Lord deputies hands three Captaines such as he shall chose 9 For assurance of the performance of these articles D. Iohn promiseth that hee will confirme and sweare to accomplish this agreement whereunto some of the captaines vnder his charge shall in like maner sweare 10 That the said D. Iohn shall remain within the realme of Ireland where the Lord deputy shal appoint vntill the last shipping vpon his Lordships word if it happen that his soldiers be shipt all at once the said D. Iohn may go in the same fleet without any let but rather the Lord deputy shall giue him a good ship wherein he may passe and if his men go in two shippings then he shall go in the last 11 And in like maner the said Lord deputy shal confirm sweare the same giue his word in the Q. Maiesties behalf his own to keep accomplish this accord that the chiefe
Don Charles who was in France who beeing some-what peacefied by the French King made a peace with him which continued about fiue yeeres by reason whereof hee prepared himselfe to returne into Nauarre in the end of the yeere of our Lord 1372. An. 1372. Attending whose returne the Queene his wife beeing sollicited for the townes of Victoria Saluaterra of Alaua and others which had yeelded themselues to the King of Nauarre could finde no better expedient to content the King Don Henry then to consent that Pope Gregorie the eleuenth who had newly succeeded Vrbaine the fifth should bee Iudge of this difference and that vntill hee had sent a Cardinall with sufficient authority to determine the townes should remaine in the hands of D. Iohn Ramires of Areilan a Knight of great vertue and esteeme who should keepe them in deposito in the Popes name This the Queene yeelded vnto to the end the Realme might be in quiet at her husbands returne but notwithstanding this accord the King Don Henry sought to get these places by force so as Saluaterra of Alaua and Saint Croix were reduced vnder his obedience but Victoria and Logrogno remained in the custody of D. Iohn Ramires of Areillan King Charles complained to Pope Gregory the eleuenth at Auignon of this excesse done by the King D. Henry then he came with all speed into his Realme of Nauarre to defend it against the army of the King D. Henry who threatned to enter into his country if hee did not restore him the townes of Logrogno and Victoria King Charles gaue him to vnderstand that seeing it had beene agreed to put their controuersies to compromise to the Pope who had sent a Legat into Spaine which was Cardinal Guy of Bologno Bishop of Portuense that for his part hee was well content hee should determine thereof the which the King D. Henry did also yeeld vnto wherefore the Legat being come to Saint Dominike and hauing beene made acquainted with the rights and pretensions of both Kings hee made a peace betwixt them vpon these conditions 〈…〉 That the the townes of Logrogno and Victoria should be restored to the King of Castille That the Infant D. Charles eldest sonne to the King of Nauarre should take to wife Donna Leonora Infanta of Castille daughter to D. Henry with a dowry of a hundred thousand doublons at the celebration of the marriage and moreouer besides the said summe King Henry should pay at the same time twenty thousand doublons to the King of Nauarre for his charges during the time he had held the sayd places That for assurance of the accomplishment of this marriage the Infant D. Pedro the younger sonne of Nauarre should remaine in hostage in Castile in the hands of the Queene D. Ieanne vntill that the Infant D. Charles should bee of sufficient age These things thus determined the two Kings met at Briona where they did confirme what had beene formerly concluded being come into Nauarre hee presently sent his sonne D. Charles to bee made sure to the Infanta D. Leonora who came to Briona well accompanied by the chiefest Noblemen of Nauarre where this ceremony was done with great pompe the townes of Victoria and Logrogno were restored and after the returne of the Infant D. Charles D. Pedro his brother was sent vnto the Queene of Castile to remaine there in hostage according to the accord The King of Nauarre hauing giuen order for this businesse hee examined their actions which had gouerned his Realme during his absence and hauing found that some faults had beene committed by the Bishop of Pampelone and the Deane of Tudelo whoâ— he had left for councellors to the Queene his wife they fearing to bee punished absented themselues The Bishop tooke his way to Rome where hee arriued safely and there ended the remainder of his daies but as for the Deane who sought to saue himself in Castile he was pursued and taken nere vnto Logrogno and there slaine by the Kings commandment Soone after Queen Iean returned into France where she liued not long 4 About the end of this yeere 1373. the King D. Charles and his eldest sonne came to Madrid to see the King D. Henry whom the King of Nauarre let vnderstand that to auoide a great trouble in his affaires The King of Nauar seekes to draw the King of Caâ—tile from the frienâ—ship of France to ioyne with the English which might grow by the meanes of Edward King of England and Edward Prince of Wales his sonne he should imbrace their friendship the which he had charge to offer him vpon conditioÌ„ he should breake the league he had with the French king their enemy in regard whereof they promised to giue no aide vnto the daughters of the deceased King D. Pedro who were in England making great sute vnto King Edward and to the Prince of Wales to restore them to their father Inheritance and moreouer that Iohn Duke of Lancaster had married D. Constance the one of them by reason whereof he pretended the Realme of Castile to belong vnto him as holding the place of the eldest being declared lawful and receiued in that quality by the Estates of the realme her sister D. Beatrix being dead Al which pretensions should bee relinquished by the English if he left the alliance of France paied a certaine sum of money vnto the Prince of Wales the which the D. Pedro his brother did owe him The King of Nauarre propounded these things as hauing charge from the English Princes who were enemies to France whose party he had alwaies held for the wrongs which hee pretended had beene done him by the French King his brother in law giuing many reasons to induce the King D. Henry to incline to this party but hee who held not the crowne of Castile of any other after God but of the French would not shew himselfe vnthankfull but answered resolutely that he would neuer quit the friendship of France but if the question were to disburse money to content the English thaâ— he was well content to do it Don Henry K. of Castile persists in the amity of France the which the King of Nauarre fayd was not sufficient and that he must of necessitie breake the League he had with France but if he held it not fit to do hee intreated him not to take in ill part what he had sayd vnto him seeing he had it in charge from the King of England to whom he was bound to do all good offices The king Don Henry thanked him for the paines he had taken to come so farre into Castile saying that he could not take that ill which he had spoken but for his part he wold persist in his first resolution so as the King of Nauarre returned into his Realme and the king Don Henry into Andalusia The king of Nauarre aduertised the English Princes of the answer he had receiued the which did much discontent them for the king of Castile did