descent was from King Alonso IVth who was his great Grandfather his Son Jayms being Father to Peter and Grandfather to the present Earl Besides he had to Wife King Martin's Sisters the Daughter of King Peter by Queen Sibila D. Alonso de Aragon Marques de Villena the Earl of Deniâ— had also a Title to the Crown but it was farther remov'd yet at the perswasion of his Friends tho very Old he set up his Title among the rest as being lineally descended from Jayme the IId King of Aragon The King of Aragon gave Audience to the French Bishop harkened to his Demands and the Reasons on which he grounded his Claim After that was over retiring to his Apartment those that were about him continu'd the Discourse and at length came to argue the Case in Form before the King William de Moncada pleaded for the Duke of Anjou whose doubtless the Right was as may appear by his Descent set down before Bernard de Centellas argu'd for the Earl of Orâ—el and Bernard Villalice for the Marques de Villena who was the remotest When they had all done the King have his Opinion which agreed with none of theirs for he positively affirm'd Prince Ferdinand of Castile had the best Title as being his Nephew the Son of his own Sister Ellenor In reality he was himself but an Usurper the Duke of Anjon having a better Right than he but he resolv'd to cut him off and continue the Crown in his own Family This Discourse of the King 's being made publick first at Barcelona where it was spoken and afterwards through all Christendom much advanc'd Prince Ferdinand his Pretension and avail'd him to be preferr'd before his Competitors This was the common Discourse of the Town and even in the King's Presence â—â— which he seem'd to be pleas'd yet in his Heart he was more inclined to his Grandson 〈◊〉 Bastard Son to the late King of Sicily whom he had already created Earl of Luna and in order to make him capable of inheriting the Crown treated with Pope Benedict about his Legitimation If this succeeded not he preferr'd his Nephew Prince Ferdinand before all others his Valour and Virtue and his despising the Crown of Castile having render'd him worthy of another Kingdom Nevertheless upon the pressing Instances of the Earl of Vrgel the King constituted him Vicar and Governour of the Kingdom an Honour usually given to the Heir of the Crown and might have been very prejudicial to the other pretenders had he not underhand given orders to the Vrreas and Herias two powerful Families in Zaragoca not to admit him into that City or suffer him to exercise that Office notwithstanding his Letters Patents This doublâ— dealing highly offended the Earl of Vrgel and was the Cause of great Troubles CHAP. X. The Moors having done maâ—â—h harm in the Christian Territories Prince Ferdinand marches against them defeats them and takes Antequera and other Places Martin King of Aragon dies A Love-Adventure THE Truce with the Moors was now expir'd and their Boldness provok'd and oblig'd the Christians to renew the War for they 〈◊〉 the Town of Zahara ravag'd all the Country and drove the Cattle To put a stop to their Fury and revenge the Wrongs receiv'd Prince Ferdinand having made the necessary Provision of Men Mony Ammunition and Victuals in the Month of February of the Year 1410 march'd with his Army towards Cordova at such time as the Infidels being disappointed of taking the Castle of Zahara abandon'd the Town and our Forces speedily repair'd the Walls and put the Place into a Posture of Defence Prince Ferdinand's Army consisted of 10000 Foot and 3500 Horse the very Flower of the Castillian Forces all brave and resolute Souldiers With him were Sancho de Rojas Bishop of Palencia Alvaro de Guzman John de Mendoça John de Velasco D. Ruy Lopez Davalas and other Towns and Men of Quality With these Forces the Prince sat down before the City Antquera on the 〈…〉 till he had made himself Master of that 〈…〉 sent 5000 Horse and 80000 Foot 〈…〉 They march'd up to the City and 〈…〉 they rang'd their Battles and engag'd The 〈…〉 5000 of 'em kill'd in the fight and pursuit 〈…〉 and their Camp plunder'd This Victory was so 〈…〉 the more Remarkable 〈…〉 of the Christians only 120 were lost Prince Ferdinand 〈…〉 thanks to Almighty God 〈…〉 great Success and sent Expresses to convey the good News to 〈…〉 The more 〈…〉 the Besieged he caus'd a deep and large Trench to be 〈…〉 with a good Breast work and Forts at convenient Distances to hinder the 〈…〉 and all manner of Provision or Relief from coming to them This 〈…〉 necessary his Forces at that time being weak because several parties were abroad by 〈◊〉 order plundring and destroying all the Country which was done 〈…〉 to the Walls of Malaga Great harm was done but the Terror spread abroad was much greater The Moorish King commanded all that were of Age without exceptions 〈…〉 and appear in Arms by which means he gather'd a 〈◊〉 Multitude 〈…〉 not to hazard another Battle and only shew'd himself to terrify the Christians 〈…〉 kept on the Hills and in the Woods The besieged began to be strenghten'd 〈…〉 most perplext them was that they had no hopes of Relief It was as bad as Death to surrender and they had no means to hold out It happen'd 300 Horse of the Garrison or Jaen made an Incursion into the Territories of the Moors 〈…〉 orderly that they were surpriz'd and all cut off This small Success encourag'd the besieged to hope that some Misfortune might befall the Besiegers Whilst these things were acting at 〈…〉 the new Pope dy'd at Bolonia on the 3d of May. His Body was bury'd in the Church 〈…〉 of that City The Cardinals of his party met and on the 〈…〉 Month Cota Deacon-Cardinal born at Naples who was then Legate 〈…〉 himself in his Papacy John the XXIIId He was bold subtle 〈…〉 made of good or bad Practices as the occasion requir'd or was 〈…〉 Purpose 〈…〉 happier in the time of his Predecessor when he govern'd all things than in his own being cast down and depriv'd of the Tiara Soon after follow'd the Death of the King of Aragon who dy'd of a stoppage in his Head on the last of May at Valdoncellas a Monastery of Nuns adjoyning to the Walls of 〈…〉 His Body was 〈◊〉 at Poplete with very little Pomp the People being affirmed at their present Loss and apprehenstâ—â— or what was like to follow The Cortes of that Principality were 〈…〉 not without some 〈…〉 of Troubles likely to break out 〈…〉 that all the States should depute certain Persons of Note to 〈…〉 King in his 〈◊〉 and intreat him that to prevent Disorders he would appoint who was to succeed him This was accordingly put in Execution and by consent of all the Deputies Fâ—rrer head of the Council of that City was appointed
Alonso of Portugal takes the Title of King His Wars with the Moors War betwixt the Christian Princes and Peace concluded Baeça and Almeria taken by the King of Castile and Lisbon by him of Portugal p. 169 The Eleventh BOOK Chap. I. THE coming into Spain of the Moors call'd Almohades The Death of D. Garcia King of Navarre by a fall from his Horse his Son Sancho succeeds him King Alonso and his Daughter both Marry'd Many Places taken from the Moors p. 171 Chap. II. King Luis the Younger of France comes into Spain Alonso of Castile and Leon call'd the Emperor dies His Sons Sancho and Ferdinand inherit the Crowns of Castile and Leon. Original of the Knights of Calatrava p. 174 Chap. III. The Death of Sancho King of Castile The great Commotions that ensu'd The Death of Raymund Prince of Aragon his Issue Alonso his eldest Son succeeds in his Dominions p. 176 Chap. IV. Alonso the young King of Castile takes upon him the Government recovers most of his Dominions joyns in League with the Aragonian and Marries Ellenor the Daughter to Henry II. King of England Some Actions of Ferdinand King of Leon. p. 178 Chap. V. The League made against Peter Ruiz de Açagra The Original of the Knights of Santiago The taking of Cuenca by the Christians Increase of the Knights of Santiago or S. James the Apostle Several Places in Navarre taken by the Castilians p. 180 Chap. VI. Rebellion in the Kingdom of Leon suppress'd Alonso King of Portugal taken by Ferdinard of Leon and set at liberty Being Besieg'd in Santarem by the Moors is reliev'd by him He Vanquishes the Infidels Actions of his Son Sancho p. 182 Chap. VII The Death of the Kings of Leon and Portugal Alliances betwixt the Kings of Spain The Defeat of the Christians at Alarcos Sancho the Wise King of Navarre dies Sancho I. King of Portugal Alonso IX of Leon. p. 183 Chap. VIII King Alonso of Aragon dies and his Son Peter succeeds him The King of Leon Divorc'd Castilians and Aragonians over-run Navarre Alonso King of Castile 's two Daughters Marry'd to the Kings of England and Leon. Plague and Famine in Spain p. 186 Chap. IX The Marriage of the King of Aragon and Death of some Persons of Note Peace concluded and Alliance betwixt all the Christian Kings of Spain The beginning of the War with the Moors A vast Multitude of Foreigners comes to the Assistance of the Christian Kings of Spain p. 187 Chap. X. The further Progress of the Christian Army which obtains a most signal Victory over the Infidels of whom 200000 are slain and this call'd the Battle of Navas de Tolosa Many Towns taken after this Success p. 189 The Twelfth BOOK Chap. I. THE Original and Growth of the Heresie of the Albigenses which spread all over France and some part of Spain Preaching against them unsuccessful War is resolv'd upon p. 191 Chap. II. The Death of Peter King of Aragon and of Alonso King of Castile Simon Earl of Montfort General of the Catholicks Overthrows the Hereticks and takes the Towns they had possessed themselves of p. 193 Chap. III. Disorders in Castile and Aragon under the two Infant Kings Sancho King of Navarre altogether decripid The Lateran General Council Honours done there to the Archbishop of Toledo p. 195 Chap. IV. The Family of Lara take the Government of Castile into their Hands They commit many Insolencies and oppress the Nobility Young King Henry Marry'd and Divorc'd The King of Aragon escapes from his Keepers p. 197 Chap. V. Great Disorders in Castile rais'd by the Family of Lara Young King Henry kill'd by the fall of a Tile Ferdinand Prince of Leon succeeds his Mother Berengaria renouncing her Right Orders of S. Dominick S. Francis and La Merced Instituted p. 198 Chap. VI. The Marriages of two Kings Ferdinand of Castile and Jayme of Aragon King Ferdinand quells many Commotions Death of the Kings of France and Portugal p. 200 Chap. VII King Ferdinand of Castile 's great Success against the Moors King Jayme of Aragon seiz'd by some Rebellious Nobles makes his escapes and commences War against the Rebels p. 202 Chap. VIII The War with the Moors renew'd The Island of Majorca Conquer'd by the Aragonians The Popes Legate disanuls the Marriage of King Jayme on account of Consanguinity Raymund Earl of Toulouze a Heretick reduc'd p. 204 Chap. IX Alonso King of Leon defeats the Moors takes Merida and Badajoz and dies Crowns of Castile and Leon united under Ferdinand Sancho King of Navarre dies Theobald succeeds him Interviews of several Kings p. 205 Chap. X. The beginning progress and end of the War against Cordova with the Conquest of that Noble City p. 206 Chap. XI A Moorish King Baptiz'd Description of Valencia its Siege and Surrender to the King of Aragon who is wounded before it Theobald King of Navarre goes with others to the Holy-War p. 207 The Thirteenth BOOK Chap. I. THE taking of many Towns by the Christians The Kingdom of Murcia surrendred to King Ferdinand His Marriage Salamanca made an Vniversity 20000 Moors defeated by the Christians p. 208 Chap. II. A defeat of the Christians who recover and are successful take Jaen and many other Places The King of Granada made Tributary King Sancho II. of Portugal expell'd by his Rebellious Subjects p. 209 Chap. III. The beginning of the War against Sevil. Aragon under a General Interdict The Siege and Surrender of Sevil. Carmona and several other Places p. 210 Chap. IV. S. Luis King of France sends Presents to the Church of Toledo and makes an unfortunate Expedition to the Holy-Land Aragon embroyl'd King Ferdinand of Castile after gaining much from the Moors dies p. 211 Chap. V. The beginning of the Reign of King Alonso he is chosen Emperor by part of the Electors and Richard Duke of Cornwal by the rest Theobald I. King of Navarre dies his Son Theobald II. succeeds him p. 212 Chap. VI. Aragon and Castile at variance and reconcil'd Sancho King of Portugal dies in Exile Death of the Queen and Prince of Aragon Portugal under an Interdict Marriages of the King of of Navarre and Prince of Aragon p. 213 Chap. VII The Family of the Merines obtains the Empire of Africk The War against the Moors renew'd in Spain Cuidad Rodrigo built Troubles in Aragon The City Murcia taken and the King of Granada made Tributary p. 214 Chap. VIII The Kingdom of the Normans in Sicily extinguish'd by the French The Empress of Constantinople comes into Spain and Jayme King of Aragon to Toledo p. 215 Chap. IX The King of Aragon 's Expedition for the Holy-Land The Kings of France and Navarre and the eldest Son of the King of England move upon the same Enterprize The Nobles of Castile revolt Troubles in Aragon p. 216 Chap. X. Rodulphus of Ausburg chosen Emperor Henry King of Navarre dies His Daughter Joanna Inherits Alonso King of Castile agrees with his Nobles then goes into France
Abarca MOst part of that Province which we call Old Castile the Romans named the Vacei it is divided from Leon by the Rivers Carrion Pisuerga Heva and Regamon on the other side it borders on Asturias Biscay and Rioja on the South its Bounds are the Mountains of Segovia and Avila which about the same time we are speaking of were the limits of the Dominions of the Moors and Christians The Country is plentiful of Corn and Wine but scarce of Oil and better Watered than other parts of Spain In this Province tho' at first they did not possess it all some powerful Men began to defend themselves against the Moors and enlarge their Territories They took the Stile of Counts or Earls by consent of the Kings of Oviedo whom they were obliged to assist in their Wars and to come when called to their General-Assemblies or Parliaments In former times as we have before more particularly related Counts or Earls were only Governours of Provinces for a time afterwards they were made so for Life and at last the Title became Hereditary Yet even to this Day many Dukes Marquesses and Earls in Spain after the Death of their Fathers do not take upon them the Title till they have obtained the King's leave It is not known for what term the first Earls of Castile enjoyed that Honour but it may be imagined they had the same beginning as all others in Christendom The first of these Counts is D. Roderick who lived in the time of King Alonso the Chast Next to him the best Authors place D. James Porcellos his Son as the Chronicon Alveldense has it This Earl lived in the time of Alonso the Great King of Oviedo He Married his Daughter Sulla Bella to Nun̄o Belchides a German that came in Pilgrimage to S. James This Gentleman being thus Allied to D. James together with him built the City Burgos that the People who before lived dispersed in Villages might form one Body of a City and it took the Name from Burg the German word for a Town Besides D. James there were at the same time other Earls of Castile for the Province was divided as were Ferdinand Anzules Almondar and his Son D. James But the greatest of them all was Nun̄ez Fernandez who had for his Son-in-law D. Garcia Brother to D. Ordon̄o II. King of Leon afterwards King himself Upon this account and because he had forced King Alonso the Great to resign the Kingdom he was grown more insolent than D. Ordon̄o cared to bear besides many underhand blew the Coals they saw begin to take Fire The King thus incensed sent for the Earls to Court upon pretence of Consulting with them about most important Affairs The place appointed for the meeting was a Town called Regular upon the mid-way on the Borders of Castile and Leon. The Earls came without any Guard and were Apprehended by the King's Order and sent Prisoners to Leon. Soon after they were also put to Death to the great Grief of the People of Castile who had been concerned at their Imprisonment King Ordon̄o was making all necessary Preparations for War as fearing the Revolt of that Province when Death took him off He dy'd at Zamora in the Year 923. and was buryed at Leon in the Church of our blessed Lady which he had caused to be Consecrated His Funeral was performed with great Solemnity Nun̄o Belchides by his Wife Sulla Bella had two Sons Nun̄o Rasura and Gustio Gonzalez Nun̄o Rasura was Grandfather to the Earl Fernan Gonzalez whom our Historians extol and raise to the Skies for his great Exploits The Infants or Princes of Lara were Grandsons to Gustio Thus the Blood of D. James Porcellos mixed with the Royal Family is derived to many Noble Houses in Spain and Abroad and its Succession has not fail'd even to our Days D. Fruela II. Succeeded his Brother D. Ordon̄o in the Throne of Leon not by Right but Force Such as the beginning was the end and his Power lasted not long for he Reign'd only 14 Months He was remarkable only for Baseness and Cruelty and therefore was called The Cruel The Sons of a Nobleman called Osmundus were by him put to Death and his Brother Fruminius Bishop of Leon Banished for that he durst not lay violent hands upon him being an Ecclesiastical Person By his Wife Munia he had D. Alonso D. Ordon̄o and D. Ramiro and out of Wedlock D. Fruela Father of D. Pelayus called the Deacon To whom was afterwards Marry'd Da. Aldonca or Alfonsa Grandchild to King Bermudo Sirnamed the Gouty D. Fruela was buryed in Leon his Fame and Memory are stained not so much for his dying of the Leprosie as for his Cowardize and the Rebellion that in his time cut off Castile from the Crown of Leon. The People there were offended at the Death of the Earls killed by D. Ordon̄o's Command this disgust was heightned by forcing them to come to Leon to all Law Suits and the Parliament They had no fair opportunity of Revolting before and therefore did it in the time of D. Fruela For their Governors they chose two Nobles with only the Title of Judges The first named was Nun̄o Rasura and Lain Calvo Men in great Power at that time Lain was the youngest and Married to Nun̄a Bella his Colleague's Daughter To him for his Valour was given the charge of Martial Affairs Nun̄o Rasura being a Person of known Prudence and Experience was to take care of the Civil Government and Admistration of Justice which he commonly performed at Burgos and sometimes in other parts of the Province Two Leagues from Medina de Pomar is a Town called Bijudico and in it an ancient Judgment Seat on which the People there have a Tradition these two Judges used to sit and hear Causes They were Governed by the ancient Laws of Castile which continued till King Alonso the Wise abrogated them and Instituted those called Las Partidas It is not known how long these two Judges lived or what Acts they performed From them descended very notable and brave Men for Lain Calvo was 5th Grandfather to the famous Cid Ruy Diaz Gonzalo Nun̄o was Son to Nun̄o Rasura and held the same Employ with no less Honour His Wife was Da. Ximena Daughter to the Earl Nun̄o Fernandez who was put to Death among the other Earls of Castile by Kind Ordon̄o Of her was born the Earl Fernan Gonzalez a Person inferior to none of the ancient Heroes for Virtue Valour and Constancy we shall speak of him in its proper place Let us return to the Kings It is most certain that the Histories of Navarre are full of Fables and Lies insomuch that they look more like Romances invented to divert idle Persons than true Relations and Records of Antiquity This appears plainly throughout all Ages but particularly in this we now write of They say that King Garci In̄iguez being slain in a Battle by the Moors his Wife Da.
himself King of Pamplona Najara and Alava He increased his Dominions by the addition of the Lordship of Biscay and City of Najara the chief of that Principality His Piety and Liberality appears by the Lands he gave to the Monastery of S. Salvadot de Leyte S. Millan de Najara S. John de la Pen̄a His Wife was Da. Vrraca by whom he had D. Garci Sanchez called the Trembler because he used to quake at the beginning of a Battle for which defect he made amends by his great Courage and Conduct when heated in fight Thro' the neglect of the Historians of that Age nothing else of note appears in the Life of D. Sancho In Galicia there broke out new Commotions that Country being full of Factions at a very unseasonable time when they had enough to do against the Moors The cause of these Tumults is not known but it appears they were soon appeased by the King 's good Management Some of the Mutiniers were Executed others Banished to that part of Portugal which was under the King upon the Frontiers of the Moors That Province was govern'd by an Earl called Gonzalo a Man of wicked Principles who in defence of those Banished Persons they being of his Faction Rebelled and broke in as far as the River Duero There not confiding in his strength he had recourse to Fraud and with much entreaty obtain'd pardon He had formerly been in great Esteem and Favour with the King and was now restored to the same Honour whereby he found means to give the King a poisoned Apple As soon as he had eaten it the violence of the Poison spred it self thro' all his Veins and seized the Vitals he ordered himself to be carried to Leon tho' given over by the Physicians but dy'd before he could reach the City the third day after he was Poisoned in the 967. having Reign'd 12 Years His Body was bury'd in the Church of St. Saviour at Leon. CHAP. V. The Reign of Ramiro the Third King of Leon. Death of Earl Fernan Gonzalez Normans infest the Coasts of Spain Divisions among the Moors Rebellion against the King of Leon and his Death IT is a thing beyond all dispute that King Sancho was Marry'd to Da. Teresa and that D. Ramiro was but 5 Years old when his Father dy'd He Reign'd 15 Years but by reason of his tender Age the Government was in the hands of his Mother and of Da. Elvira his Aunt whom others call Geloyra both Ladies of singular Prudence and extraordinary Qualities yet because the King was little and they Women there hap'ned many Broils Sisnandus the Successor of Ermenegildus Bishop of Compostella and Son to the Earl Menendus was Deposed and Imprisoned by King Sancho for that he lived a dissolute Life and spent the Revenue of the Church profusely and in his stead was chosen Rodesindus who was first Bishop and after a Monk of the Order of S. Benedict in the Monastery of Celanova he was besides of the Blood Royal as Son to the Earl Gutierre Arias and his Wife Aldara Sisnandus upon the Death of the King being set at liberty took possession of the Bishoprick of Compostella forcing Rodesindus for fear of Death to resign and return to his Monastery where he spent the rest of his Life well pleased to be rid of that charge There was Peace betwixt the Kingdoms of Leon and Cordova for Alhaca King of Cordova to gain the good will of the new King sent him the Body of the Martyr Pelayus which was laid in the Monastery built at Leon by King Sancho who desired to Enrich it with those Reliques This Monastery was formerly called of S. John Baptist afterwards of St. Pelagius or Pelayus now of St. Isidorus The cause of changing the Names was the Translation of the Bodies of those Saints at several times The Peace was now disturbed at the persuasion of that D. Vela who we said above fled to Cordova and at his instigation the Moors inclined to make War upon Castile to revenge the great losses they had sustained by means of that Earl King Alhaca tho' of himself more addicted to Peace than War yet overcome by the importunity of his People he gathered a Powerful Army and breaking into Castile possessed himself of Sepulveda Gormaz Simancas and Duen̄as Encouraged with this Success he broke the Peace that was between him and the King of Leon and invading his Dominions took Zamora and levelled it with the Ground The great Grief the Earl Fernan Gonzalez conceived for these Losses was the cause of his Death which hap'ned the ensuing Year 968. He dy'd at Burgos and was bury'd near the River Arlança in the Monastery of S. Peter near the High Altar where are to be seen his and his Wife's Tombs with inscriptions declaring whose they are His Funeral was no less remarkable for the Tears of the People lamenting the loss of so good a Prince by whose Valour the Christian cause had been so long supported than for the Grandeur and Magnificence of the Ceremony By two Wives he had these Sons D. Gonzalo D. Sancho D. Garci Fernandez others add Peter and Baldwin He had also one Daughter called Da. Vrraca of whom we have spoken before Garci Fernandez succeeded his Father either because the others were dead or if alive he was preferred before them for his good Inclinations and the early hopes he gave of his future Vertues which soon increased and grew to a mighty head At the same time the Normans Inhabiting that part of France formerly called Neustria now Normandy who some Years before were Converted to the Christian Faith by Herveus Bishop of Rheims being accustomed to Rob upon the Coast of Spain gathered a numerous Fleet and wasted all the Coast of Galicia burnt Villages Castles and Towns took the Men and carried away all that was in their way This Plague lasted 2 Years The King by reason of his tender Years could not defend his People Sisnandus Bishop of Compostella a Man fitter to be a Souldier than a Prelate gathering a number of the Natives and charging the Enemy near a Town call'd Fornellas was kill'd with a Dart on the 20th of March 979. What was commendable in him is that he indeavour'd to Wall the Town of Compostella that so holy a place might not be expos'd to the insolency of the Enemy The Earl Garci Sanchez being chosen to Command on that side behaved himself better for surprizing the Normans near the Sea as they marched loaded with plunder and out of order he made a great slaughter of them This Captain Gunderedus was killed the Booty and Prisoners recovered and of their Ships not one escaped being taken or burnt Thus Spain after long suffering by those Cruel and Barbarous People was at length delivered from that Calamity by so total an overthrow of them as they had scarce received the like in any other Country Let us now see what was doing among the Infidels
Months His severity and the mutability of those People caused his ruin One Mahomet was put into his place and Reigned one Year four Months and twenty two Days and then was killed by the Citizens The same befell Hiaya the Son of Hali who was of the other Faction and had been before Proclaimed King he was in the same manner slain at Malaga whither as was said he had retired when he had Reigned in Cordova only three Months and twenty Days After this Idric Brother to Hali and Unkle to Hiaya was sent for out of Africk where he was Lord of Ceuta to take the Crown This Man being come into Spain what on account of his Kindred with the other two and what by force of Arms possessed himself of the Kingdom of Granada Sevil Almeria and other Neighbouring Cities The inland continued under Hissem for after the Death of Hiaya the People of Cordova had Reinthroned him unless it was another of the same name those Citizens made Choice of for these affairs are very dark The extravagancies of Ministers commonly turn to the ruin of their Masters as hap'ned to Hissem for his Alhagib or Viceroy being Cruel and Covetous was killed and the King expelled his City In that confusion a Youth of the Family of the Humeyas being assisted by a Company of wild Young Fellows entred the Palace and desired of the Soldiers to Proclaim him King They excused themselves with the disloyalty of the Citizens and advised him to take warning by so many as had perished before him to this he Answered Call me King to Day and kill me to Morrow Such is the inordinate desire of Reigning Nevertheless this Man and Hissem with all the Abenhumeyas as the causers of all these Confusions were turned out of the Town by the Citizens Hissem tired with so many changes of Fortune at last came to Zaragoça where he was well received by Zulema Abenbut King of that City who gave him a Castle called Alçuela where he spent the rest of his Life as a private Man D. Roderick the Archbishop who gives this account of the last Kings of Cordova somewhat more obscure than it is set down here does not mention what became of Idric How is it possible in such Confusion to be plain We can only add that from this time forwards the Kingdom of the Moors which for so many Years had mantained it self in great Power and Splendor in Spain so visibly decayed that it was divided into many Sovereignties for every one that could possess himself of a City called himself King of it Jahuar seized Cordova Albudazin Sevil. Haytan he that at first assisted Hissem and then became his Enemy secured Toledo Some will have the Kingdom of Toledo to be more Ancient because that City often rebelled against the Kings of Cordova Other Kingdoms were erected in other Cities too long and confused to insert here It will suffice to know that these Sovereignties continued till the powerful Family of the Almoravides came into Spain with their King Thesephin which was in the Year of our Lord 1091. Let us turn back now to the affairs of the Christians under the Earl D. Sancho and King Alonso CHAP. IX The last Actions of D. Alonso King of Leon and his Death The Reign of D. Bermudo the Third His Son Sancho Earl of Castile Poisons his Mother His Son Garcia Murdered D. Sancho Earl of Castile desiring to revenge the Death of his Father with the Assistance of the Kingdoms of Navarre and Leon that were his Allies entred the Kingdom of Toledo putting all that stood in his way to Fire and Sword The same havock was made in the Territory of Cordova whither our Forces advanced incouraged with their success In both places a great Booty of Captives and Cattle was taken Tho' the harm was great much more was the Terror this struck into the Infidels who being embroiled in Civil Wars could not oppose the Enemy so that they who not long before kept the Christians in continual fear were now forced to buy a Peace at a dear Sepulveda a Town on the Frontiers also Osma Santistevan de Gormaz and other Towns taken by the Moors in the last War were now recovered From this time some Anthors write the Nobility of Castile were exempted from following the Wars at their own cost only upon the hopes of Booty and it was ordained they should receive pay as was used in all other Countries D. Sancho in a great measure Blemished the Honour gained in this Expedition by the Death he put his Mother to She fell in Love with a Lewd Brawny Moor and durst not Marry him not so much for any Scruple of Conscience as for fear of her Son and therefore resolved to Murder him by that means to make way to her infamous Wedding The Dose was prepared to Poison him but the Earl having intelligence of it forced his Mother by way of respect to Drink first of the Cup she offered him Hence some think sprang the Custom used in some parts of Spain to make the Women Drink before the Men. Other Authors write that a Lady belonging to the Countess having seen her prepare the Dose gave Notice to her Husband whom some call Sancho del Valle de Espinosa and he to the Earl and thereby obtained that Privilege enjoyed to this day by the Family of Monteros de Espinosa of Guarding the King's Person by Night True it is I find no good grounds to believe this Relation but it is so recorded and the People of that Town affirm it as a certain Truth They add that the Earl to atone for this fault and allay the hatred the People had conceived against him built a Monastery for Nuns and in honour of his Mother gave it the Name of On̄a which Monastery Sancho the Greater King of Navarre gave to the Monks of Cluni and in our Days is the chief in that Country D. Sancho by his Wife Da. Vrraca had D. Garcia Da. Nun̄a Da. Teresa and Da. Trigida The two eldest Daughters were marryed to great Men Trigida was Abbess in the Monastery of On̄a About the same time D. Sancho made a New way for Strangers to travel to the Church of St. James the Apostle through Navarre Rioja Briviesca and the Country of Burgos Before this time the Christian Dominions being of a smaller extent the Pilgrims that came out of France used to Travel with much difficulty through Biscay and the Mountains of Asturias where the ways were uncouth and there was a general want of all necessaries King Alonso enjoying a perfect Peace by reason of the Civil Wars among the Moors and the League that was between the Christian Princes gave his Mind wholly to the Civil Government and held an Assembly of the States or Parliament at Oviedo in the Year of our Lord 1020. In this Parliament the Ancient Laws of the Goths were Corrected The King at his own cost and charges rebuilt the City
Sol to D. Peter Son to the King of Aragon of the same Name both which sent to demand them in Marriage D. Ramiro had by D. Elvira Garci Ramirez who was afterwards King of Navarre D. Peter dy'd before his Father and left no Issue Two several times King Bucar who came out of Africk was overthrown in sight of Valencia by Roderick Diaz and his Forces who kept that City as long as he lived which was five Years after the taking of it He was near his Death when the same Bucar came again before the City and perceiving it could not be maintained after his Death ordered in his Will that they should all in a Body quit the place and return to Castile The Moors believing it was a powerful Army that designed to give them Battle drew off Those Christians marched without ceasing till they came to Castile and Valencia being left without any Garison fell again into the hands of the Moors They that came from Valencia brought with them the Body of Roderick Diaz which was Bury'd with great Magnificence in the Monastery of S. Peter of Carden̄a near Burgos K. Alonso and Roderick Diaz's two Sons-in-law being present Many look upon most of this Relation as Fabulous and I write more than I believe because I would not wholly omit what others affirm In the Church of S. Peter of Carden̄a are to be seen five Tombs that of Roderick Diaz that of his Wife and those of his Son and Daughters Perhaps they are only empty Monuments such as are called Cenotaphia erected in Honour of such People The Death of Roderick Diaz de Bivar was a great loss to the Christians for his extraordinary Valour Conduct and Prosperity Authors do not agree about the Year in which it hap'ned the most likely Opinion is that it was in the Year of our Lord 1093. About this time Pope Vrban translated the Bishoprick of Iria to Compostella at the request of Dalmachius who was the first Bishop of that City and made it independant of the See of Braga King Alonso tho' very ancient never neglected the Affairs of War but made several Incursions into Andaluzia which was the more easie to be done for that Joseph the Moor was returned into Africk This gave the Christians some time of breathing which the King made use of to encrease the Religious Worship He built a Monastery of Benedictines at Toledo of the Invocation of S. Servandus and S. German others say he only repaired it Besides he erected two Monasteries of Nuns the one Dedicated to S. Peter the other to S. Dominick of Silos At Burgos without the Walls he Founded another Convent now called S. John of Burgos The Year following which was 1099. was remarkable for the Death of Pope Vrban and the taking of Jerusalem by the Christians Cardinal Raynerius who had been Legate in Spain a Person of great Worth and Experience succeeded Vrban by the Name of Pasqualis II. He in the time of his Papacy granted a Privilege to the Church of S James the Apostle that after the manner of the Church of Rome it might have seven Canons Cardinals and that the Bishops of that See might use the Pall an Ornament betokening greater Authority than that of common Bishops The next ensuing Year which was 1100. proved no less pleasing to the Christians by reason of the Death of Joseph who was Sovereign of all the Moors in Spain during the space of 12 Years and of those in Africk about 32 than it was at last unfortunate for the untimely end of D. Sancho Prince of Castile which will be seen in the next Chapter CHAP. IV. The Death of Sancho Prince of Castile and of the two Kings Peter the first of Aragon and Alonso VI. of Castile The Moorish King of Zaragoza Of two Holy Men. D. Garcia Earl of Cabra was Tutor to D. Sancho King Alonso's Son and the Heir Apparent of the Crown but Death snatched him away and with him the great hopes had been conceived of his Virtues Hali Successor to Joseph desiring to Commence his Reign with some memorable Action passed over into Spain with a powerful Army and having encreased it there entred the Kingdom of Toledo wasting all the Country till he came in sight of the City King Alonso by reason of his great Age and Sickness could not go out in Person to oppose him He gave the command of his Army to the Earl D. Garcia and for the greater Honour sent his Son D. Sancho tho' very young with him Near Veles the two Armies met and engaged In the heat of the Fight the Prince was struck down D. Garcia covered him with his Shield and with his Sword kept off the Moors that assailed him on all sides Long he kept them at a distance till being weakned by many wounds he fell down dead upon him he defended This disaster made the Infidels Victorious It is needless to relate how grievous this loss was to the King he asked what might be the reason of being so often overthrown by the Moors and a wise Man answered That the Soldiers were debauched with Ease and Luxury which made them unfit for Service Hereupon the King ordered all incentives of Luxury to be taken away and among the rest caused the Baths then much used in Spain after the manner of the Moors to be destroy'd Some hope remained in D. Alonso the King's Grandchild by D. Vrraca his Daughter but he was very Young and a Womans Government seem'd not seasonable The continual good Fortune of the King of Aragon diminished the Joy of the Moors for their success in Castile Of late the Infidels went down the wind in Aragon for the Christians had taken from them the Castle of Calasanz the Town of Pertusa on the River Canadre and the City Barbastro whither the Bishoprick of Rhoda was Translated Now the Aragonians bent all their Strength against the City Zaragoça which the Almoravides had possessed themselves of having expelled the ancient Kings These that follow were the Kings that had Reigned in that City The first was Mudir then Hiaya next Almudafar after him began another Race in Zulema to whom succeeded Hamas then Joseph then Almazazin then Abdelmelich and then Hamas Sirnamed Almuçacayto whom the Almoravides deprived of the Kingdom At this time in France Atho who after the Death of Raymund Earl of Barcelona Father of Arnaldus had Usurped the Sovereignty of the City Carcassonne where he had been Governour was expelled the place by the Inhabitants and it restored to its Lawful Prince in the Year 1102. This same Year Armengaud Earl of Vrgel was slain by the Moors in the Island of Majorca whither he went to show his Valour and was therefore called Balearicus Armengaud was Marry'd to a Daughter of Peranzules a great Man in Castile and Lord of Valladolid By her he left a young Son during whose Minority the Grandfather governed and
and other Persons of note were at the Siege A Body of Frenchmen came under the Command of Aymilius Bishop of Narbonne also succours out of England drawn by the Fame of the enterprize In several Skirmishes the Enemies were worsted which made them more cautious how they Sally'd The Christians lodging themselves under the Walls in Three several places lay'd open as much of them as for one Man to pass Mean while the Besieged were not idle Peter Rodriguez de Açagra and Ximeno de Vrrea at the same time took the Town of Cilla on the other side of Valentia Yet the Moors gain'd Courage at the Arrival of the King of Tunez his Fleet consisting of 18 Ships and Gallies This availed them nothing for the Africans understanding a Fleet was furnishing against them at Tortosa sailed away without relieving the City or taking Pen̄iscola on that Coast as they had designed Now the Besieged began to dismay not only for this disappointment but also because Provisions began to grow scarce and they feared greater want On the contary the Christian Camp was full of hopes and had plenty of all things notwithstanding they were so increased that now they amounted to 60000 Foot and 1000 Horse The King gave great demonstrations as well of his Valour as Conduct and acted the part not only of a General but of a Soldier upon occasion insomuch that approaching too near the Wall he was wounded with a dart in the forehead For five days he could not go abroad On the 13th of June this Year 1238. he received Embassadors in the Camp from the Pope and Cities of Lombardy offering to put themselves into his hands if he would assist them against the Emperor Frederick II. By the advice of his Queen Violante who had great power over him and by whom he had a Daughter of the same Name he accepted of their offers but could not perform as to succouring them he being so engag'd in the Wars of Spain besides that the Emperor was reconciled to the Pope tho' but superficially The Besieged having lost all hopes of Relief resolved to surrender Haliabata the King's Favourite and after him Abulhamaler his Nephew were sent out to treat After many Debates both Parties being eager to come to a conclusion the Capitulation was sign'd and the principal Articles were That the Moorish King deliver up the City Valencia and all other Towns and Castles on this side the River Xucar That the Moors be safely conducted to Cullera and Denia That they have liberty to carry along with them as much Gold Silver Jewels or any other Goods as they can without being searched That a Trūce be inviolably observed betwixt the two Kings for the Term of 8 Years Five days were allowed for the performance of Articles but the Moors before the time was expir'd quitted the City to the number of 50000 Men Women and Children They march'd thro' a Lane made of the Christian Army On Michaelmass-Eve the Victors took possession of that City and Kingdom Consecrated the Churches and chose Ferrer de S. Martin some say he was a Dominican the first Bishop People resorted to inhabit there chiefly out of Catalonia from Tarragona Girona and Tortosa The Country about the City was equally divided among the Prelates Gentlemen and Councils of such Cities as were assisting in carrying on the Siege Also the Knights of S. John and the Templers had their Quota To 380 Horse was assign'd a particular share on account that they should defend the Frontiers 100 of 'em doing Duty every four Months Because the City was not naturally strong and the Walls were batter'd the King raised a new Wall larger than the former and square with 12 Gates 3 towards each quarter of the World New Laws were also given to the Inhabitants Thus Zaen the Moorish King lost the Kingdom he had wrongfully Usurped for no Power unjustly acquir'd can be lasting Great was the Joy for this Success throughout all Spain and it was the greater for that scarce any Gentleman of Note was lost in the Expedition Only D. Artal de Alagon who seeing the Moors go down the Wind had return'd to his Allegiance and together with Raymund Folch Viscount of Cardona took Villena in a Skirmish with the Moors near Saix was killed with a Stone This was the conclusion of the Conquest of Valencia Whilst the Aragonians were busie in this War the Navarrois committed not the least Hostility Theobald Earl of Champagne was their King as has been said above This King being ambitious of Honour and zealous of God's Glory and his Kingdom enjoying Peace agreed with the Earls Henry of Bari Peter of Berteigno and Aymerick of Montfort to go over with their Forces to the Holy-Land All things being in a readiness on their part the Genoeses failed sending a Fleet to transport them They took their Journey by Land thro' Germany Hungary and Thracia and passed over the Streight of Constantinople In Cilicia about the Passes of Mount Taurus they were in great danger being attack'd by vast numbers of Turks so that scarce the third part of the Army that set out reach'd the City Antioch and those that did sick and worn out with their long march Their Success in Palestine was answerable to the beginning very few return'd home The French Historians place this Expedition of King Theobald 10 Years later when S. Luis their King went to the Holy-Land But that cannot be because Roderick the Archbishop mentions this Action of Theobald and his History reaches but five Years after the Conquest of Valencia besides that he was dead before S. Luis set out for the Holy-War THE History of SPAIN The Thirteenth BOOK CHAP. I. The taking of many Towns by the Christians The Kingdom of Murcia surrendred to King Ferdinand His Marriage Salamanca made an Vniversity 20000 Moors defeated by the Christians THE two Kings of Spain Jayme and Ferdinand tho' they were before famous for their Valour and other Vertues became now much more Renown'd for the taking of Cordova and Valencia Several Embassies were sent them by Foreign Princes Congratulating their Success and exhorting them to root out the Moors now reduced almost to extremity Nevertheless the War ceased for some time for the King of Aragon had made a Truce and soon after went to Montpelier King Ferdinand was Celebrating his Nuptials at Burgos Queen Berengaria his Mother had concluded a Match for him with the Lady Joanna Daughter of Simon Earl of Poitiers and Adeloyde his Wife Grandchild of Luis King of France and Elizabeth the Daughter of Alonso the Emperor By her the King had Issue Ferdinand Sirnamed Poitiers Luis and Ellenor After the Solemnities were perform'd both King and Queen took a Progress thro' the Kingdoms of Leon and Castile He used to give access to all Men and hear their Business not only in publick Audiences but even in his Closet which gain'd him the affections of all his People Being come
a mistake in the Numbers CHAP. X. The Wars betwixt the Christians and Infidels Rebellions in Castile Aragon Castile and Portugal joyn in League The King and Queen of Navarre come into that Country and return again to France AT the same time in Castile great Preparations were made for the War with the Moors The Moorish King 's tender Years and the Distractions among the Infidels offer'd a good Opportunity of making some considerable Advantage Besides that a Son of Ozmin call'd Abraham the Drunkard because he drank much Wine had deserted to the Christians With him came a good Body of Men. King Alonso went to Sevil and from thence made Incursions wasting the Enemy's Country He took from them Olivera Pruna and Ayamonte Thus the Summer was spent and Winter coming on the Souldiers return'd Rich with Plunder to Quarter in Sevil. D. Alonso Jofre the Admiral brought thither the News to the King that he had defeated 24 Galleys of the Moors taken 3 and sunk 4. Some of these belong'd to Granada the rest were of Asrick Above 1200 Moors were kill'd and taken Embassadors were sent to Treat about the King's Marriage D. John Manuel seeing the King resolv'd to put away his Daughter publickly renouncing his Allegiance joyn'd in League with the Kings of Aragon and Granada Besides he made Inroads from Chinchill and Almansa two strong Places wasting all the Country At the same time the King at Sevil gave the Title of Earl of Trastamara Lemos and Sarria to Alvar Nun̄ez Osorio his great Favourite an Honour had not been given in Castile for many Years past The Ceremony was very odd Three Sops were put into a Cup of Wine and set before them the King and Earl complimented one another three Times about taking the first at last the King took one and the Earl another The Earl was allow'd in the Camp to keep a Kitchin apart for his Company and in the Army to have Colours with his own Devise and Coat of Arms. His Patent being sign'd and read all that were present cry'd Let the Earl Live This was the manner of creating an Earl in those Days At Cordova the King caus'd John Ponce to be Beheaded for that he had not obey'd his Orders in restoring the Castle of Cabra to the Knights of Santiago from whom he took it during the late Troubles besides he was accus'd as a Seditious Person Many Citizens of Cordova suffer'd the same Punishment for the same or other like Crimes Garcilasso de la Vega was murder'd at Soria in the Church at Mass by the contrivance of the Nobility The King was much concern'd and had sent him not long before from Sevil to thwart the Designs of D. John Manuel Escalona a small Town in the Kingdom of Toledo mutiny'd and was for joyning with the Rebels In Castile there were Uproars particularly Toro Zamora and Valladolid had reyolted The chief Contriver of this Rebellion was Hernan Rodriguez de Balboa Grand Prior of the Order of S. John His Pretence was the Greatness of the new Earl Alvar Osorio and Joseph the Jew The King lay'd Siege to Escalona but hearing the News of Castile was forc'd to quit it He came to Valladolid where they would not admit him unless he cast off the Earl Osorio which was accordingly done This Affront was so hainously resented by Osorio that he Rebell'd and joyn'd with D. John Manuel which prov'd his utter Ruin Ramiro Flores de Guzman counterfeiting he fled from the King gain'd his Friendship and finding an Opportunity stabb'd him The King presently seiz'd all his Lands and Treasure and declar'd him a Traytor no body appearing upon Summons to Vindicate him Joseph the Jew was protected by his Meanness and general Contempt of that Nation The King was married at Cuidad Rodrigo where with him of Portugal he contriv'd to draw away the King of Aragon from the Interest of D. John Manuel To this purpose they offer'd him Ellenor the King of Castile's Sister in Marriage which he accepted of and the Lady was sent into Aragon his first Wife Teresa being dead before D. John the Patriach and Arch-bishop of Tarragona went as far as Alfaro to meet her The Ceremony was perform'd at Taraçona the King of Castile being present with him of Aragon this was at the beginning of the Year 1329. To make this League the firmer Blanch the Daughter of Prince Peter who was kill'd by the Moors was contracted to Peter the King of Portugal's eldest Son The Three Kings agreed with Joynt Forces to make War upon the Moors till they had totally driven them out of Spain Also that none of them should shelter or protect the Rebels to any of the other D. John Manuel having thus lost the Protection of Aragon to make the best Interest he could marry'd the Daughter of Ferdinand de la Cerda D. John de Lara likewise marry'd Mary the Daughter of D. John Lord of Biscay hoping with their Joynt Forces to recover that Province which the King had taken from that Lady D. John de Lara and D. John Manuel were in open Rebellion others consented underhand as D. Peter de Castro and D. John Alonso de Albuquerque Son to Hernan Sanchez and Grandson to King Denis of Portugal The greatest of all was D. John de Haro Lord of Cameros Great part of the Kingdom follow'd these Rebellious Noblemen This Year the new King and Queen of Navarre came to Pamplona and were receiv'd upon these Conditions That no Mony should be coin'd during the Term of 12 Years because if was then usual to Stamp base Metal That Foreigners should not be put into places of Trust That it should not be in their Power to sell or change the Kingdom or alienate the Revenue That their first Son as soon as he came to Age should be King and take upon him the Government and his Father Philip should allow 100000 Crowns for his Expences The King and Queen swore to the Performance of these Articles and were thereupon Crown'd in the Cathedral on the 5th of March Great Joy was express'd by all sorts of People for that the Kingdom was restored to Princes of their own after it had been 55 Years subject to Foreigners These Princes had 3 Sons Charles Philip and Luis who had all great Possessions and as many Daughters Joanna Mary and Blanch who also were well Marry'd At this time the Flemmings were in Rebellion and had imprison'd Luis their Earl who getting loose was by them besieg'd in Gant whence he fled to the King of France for Protection That King sent Embassadors to Flanders but they proving unsuccessful he had recourse to Arms. Many Princes went to that War and among them Philip King of Navarre The two Armies met near Cassel After some Skirmishes one day in August in the heat of the Day the Flemmings surpriz'd the French Camp gain'd their Works and came to the King's Tent killing many before they could defend themselves The
equipp'd to the Assistance of the King of Tremecen his Ally They met 5 Galleys of Castile which took and carry'd them to Sevil there many of them with their Commander Mathew Merzero were put to Death by the King's Order Samuel Levi a Jew was the King's Treasurer and had the diposal of all the Revenue whereby he gather'd great Riches which now prov'd his Ruin He was accus'd of many Frauds and being put to the Wrack dy'd upon it The King seiz'd upon his Estate valu'd at 400000 Ducats others say more besides Moveables and Jewels At the end of this Year Mahomet Lagus was expell'd his Kingdom by his own Subjects Mahomet Aben Alhamar was set up in his Place and from the Colour of his Hair and Beard call'd the Red. They said the Crowa appertain'd to him as being descended of the Antient Kings of Granada Hence ensu'd new Wars for the King of Castile was a Friend to him that was depos'd who fled to Ronda a Town belonging to the King of Morocco The King of Castile resolv'd to stand by his old Friend On the other side the new King to strengthen himself sought the Friendship of the Aragonian which and calling King Abohanen out of Africk cost him his Life At the end of this Year the Lady Constance Daughter to the King of Aragon was sent into Sicily to be marry'd to King Frederick Olfo Prochita Governour of the Island Sardinia commanded the Fleet that carry'd her The Marriage was celebrated on the 11th of April 1361 at Catanea From that time the Affairs of the Island began to be more Successful the Neopolitans being vanquish'd and expell'd the Kingdom Of this Queen was born the Lady Mary who was afterwards Queen of Aragon and had in Dower the Kingdom of Sicily At length by the Industry of the Cardinal Legate Peace was concluded in Castile yet so that none thought it would be lasting The Articles were That all Places taken on both Sides should be restor'd and that the Out-laws of Castile should be expell'd Aragon provided the King pardon'd them On the 18th of May the Peace was Proclaim'd at Deza where the King of Castile was then encamp'd This Peace was forwarded by the fear of the War the King of Granada then made upon Castile For the greater security it was agreed that cautionary Towns on both sides should be put into the Hands of King Charles of Navarre who was then coming out of France into Spain very Joyful for that his Queen had brought him a Son call'd Charles Mean while his Brother Prince Luis Govern'd the Kingdom Peace concluded the King of Aragon went away to Zaragoça and he of Castile to Sevil Count Henry and his Brothers into France hoping to renew the War Many Nobles of Castile were ready to take up Arms upon pretence of protecting Queen Blanch which heightned the King's hatred towards her It was said he caus'd her to be Poison'd in the Prison where he kept her She was doubtless the most unfortunate Queen of Spain There is a report that the King being a Hunting near Medina Sidonia there met him a Shepherd of a terrible Aspect threatning him if he had not Compassion of Queen Blanch and that the King sending presently to see whether it was not some body employ'd by her she was found at Prayers and closely Guarded The Shepherd being releas'd out of Prison was never after seen Doubtless were this a Vision he had never been put into Prison The Lady Elizabeth de Lara Daughter to D. John de Lara was also Poison'd in Prison at Xerez An Historian who stiles himself head Caterer to Queen Ellenor of Castile in certain Commentaries he writ upon what happen'd in his Time says Queen Blanch dy'd at Vren̄a near the City Toro in old Castile This uncertainty as to the Place of her Death makes it appear the manner of it is not so certain tho the Malice of Authors who all humour'd the Success of Henry the Bastard caus'd all Crimes to be laid to his Predecessor Peter because he was Unfortunate The publick Grief for so many Calamities was somewhat asswag'd by the Death of Da. Maria de Padilla who ended her Days at Sevil in July A Woman laying aside her Incontinency in all other Respects worthy to be a Queen Her Funeral-Rites were perform'd throughout the Kingdom with the same Magnificence as if she had been Queen She was bury'd in the Monastery of S. Mary de Estudilla which she built in old Castile The Body of Queen Blanch was deposited in the Cathedral of Tudela by some French Gentlemen who came to the Assistance of Count Henry in order to carry it into France In the Monastery of Dominican Nuns at Toledo there are 3 Tombs one of the Lady Teresa by whom King Peter had a Daughter called Mary who was many Years Prioress in that Monastery and lies in the 2d Tomb. In the 3d are D. Sancho and D. James Sons of King Peter by the Lady Elizabeth At this time the King of Portugal solemnly declar'd in Lisbon that the Children he had by the Lady Agnez de Castro were born in lawful Wedlock and as such capable of inheriting the Crown and as Witnesses of his Marriage he produc'd Giles Bishop of Guardia and Stephen Lovata his Master of the Robes The King and Witnesses made Oath of the Truth of their Assertion in the Presence of all the Nobility and of John Alonso Tello the year before created Earl of Barcelos and was the first that obtain'd that Honour in Portugal Mean while the War of Granada was carry'd on with great Heat The Forces of Castile ravag'd the Territories of the Moors and laid Siege to Antequera formerly call'd Syngilia a strong and well Garrison'd Town whence they were Repuls'd Having wasted the Plain of Granada they return'd Home without performing any memorable Action Soon after 600 Moorish Horse and 2000 Foot broke into the Lieutenancy of Caçorla and took a great Booty of Cattle The Gentry of Jaen and the Neighbouring Places assembling recovered the Prey killing many of the Enemy and putting the rest to Flight A more dangerous War was expected from France which the Cardinal Legate endeavour'd to prevent and to that effect spent the Summer at Pamplona He labour'd to perswade King Peter to pardon the Out-laws of Castile and reverse their Attainder of Treason The King would not hear of it therefore the Cardinal at the Solicitation of the King of Aragon took upon him to declare their Attainder Void This provok'd the King of Castile who resolv'd to take Revenge as soon as he had put an end to the War with the Moors On the 18th of February 1362 the Moors obtain'd a notable Victory over the Christians near Guadix D. James Garcia de Padillu Master of Calatrava and Henry Enriquez Lieutenant of the Frontiers of Jaen with other Gentlemen entred the Moorish Territories with 1000 Horse and 2000 Foot designing to
make Peace and unite their Forces against the Enemies of the Gospel in Asia Death cut him off without doing any thing of what he intended In the Church of the Celestines at Paris there is to this Day an Arch in the Wall of the great Chappel with a curious Marble Tomb and an Inscription signifying LEO King of Armenia lies there The Christian Princes were weary of hearing the Legates of the Two Popes The King of Castile resolv'd to hold the Cortes at Medina del Campo to decide this debate in Castile The Legates of both Popes labour'd hard to be receiv'd believeing all Spain would follow whatever was decreed there Opinions differ'd some were for the one some for the other but the wiser sort were for standing Neuter as if there were no Pope till a general Councel had determin'd that Controversy Mean while the Queen on the 28th of November was deliver'd of a Son who was call'd Ferdinand exceeded all the Princes his contemporaries in greatness of Spirit and good fortune and at length came to be King of Aragon A great Number of Benedictine Monks came to the Cortes complaining that the Noble Men who were their Patrons did them signal Wrongs whereupon it was order'd that the King alone should be their Protector which lasted during his Reign D. Peter de Luna was one of the Cardinals that favour'd Clement who at the beginning of the Year 1381 sent him as his Legate into Spain to draw those Kings to his Party In Aragon he effected nothing but in Castile the Cortes which had been adjourn'd to Salamanca on the 20th of May acknowledg'd Pope Clement who resided at Aivignon The Interest of France sway'd more with them than Equity and Justice Many look'd upon it as a Judgment for this wrongful Decree that Queen Joanna the King's Mother a most Pious Woman and of so great Charity that she was call'd the Mother of the Poor dy'd soon after During her Widowhood she wore the Habit of a Nun and was bury'd with it at Toledo near her Husband Henry CHAP. III. Charles Duke of Durazzo Crown'd King of Naples The War with Portugal Peace concluded The King of Portugal dies Actions of the Aragonians and Catalonians in Greece And of the former in Sardinia CHarles Duke of Durazzo call'd by Pope Vrban came out of Hungary into Italy The Florentines gave him a great Summ of Mony that he might not enter Tuscany in warlike manner At Rome the Pope gave him the Title of Senator of that City and crown'd him King of Naples All things succeeded better than he had expected for all places even the City of Naples receiv'd him joyfully The Queen fortify'd herself in Castel Nuovo Otho her Husband was defeated and taken whereupon she deliver'd her self up to the Victor Soon after she was hang'd in the same place where she had strangl'd her Husband Andreasso Otho was set at Liberty Thus Pope Vrban was successful The Duke of Anjou had enter'd Italy with a powerful Army but he dy'd in Apulia Prince Luis of Navarre and the new King Charles had married two Sisters but that Prince was not with him in this Expedition being ingag'd in a War for recovering of Athens and Neopatria on the account of the antient Title the Kings of Naple had to those Dominions The chief of that Country being descended from Catalonia ceas'd not to invite the King of Aragon to take possession of those Dutchies as at last he did A new Storm broke out betwixt Castile and Portugal which reduc'd the Country to great Streights and put King John in danger of losing his Kingdom The English and Portugueses entred into a League and joyn'd their Forces against Castile The English pretended a right to the Crown of Castile because the Duke of Lancaster had marry'd the eldest Daughter of King Peter and the King of Portugal was not pleas'd to see his Title laid aside Besides he look'd upon John as an Excommunicated Person for adhering to Clement whereas Portugal was for Pope Vrban Alonso Earl of Gijon laid hold of this Opportunity to mutiny King John hasten'd to Oviodo the capital City of Asturias to reduce him and at the same time order'd Levies to be made and a Fleet equip'd against Portugal The Earl easily submitted but whether sincerely will appear hereafter The Rendezyouz of the Army was appointed at Simancas Assoon as all things were in readiness the King repair'd thither march'd directly into Portugal and laid Siege to Almeyda a Town not far from Badajoz The Place being strong and bravely defended the Siege went on slowly At Sea 16 Galleys of Castile met with 23 of Portugal They fought and the Castilians obtain'd a memorable Victory taking 20 of the Enemies Galleys and in them their Admiral D. Alonso Telez Earl of Barcelos This Victory had been more advantagious if well prosecuted but the Admiral of Castile Fernan Sanchez de Tovar satisfy'd with what he had done return'd to Castile which gave the Portugueses time to recover themselves and the English Fleet to come to Lisbon which was the greatest damage Nevertheless King John encourag'd by that Success sent a formal Challenge to the Enemy by a Herauld offering as soon as Almeyda were taken to advance two Days March to meet him The English being hot and resolute were for Fighting but they wanted Horse having brought none in the Fleet and it being difficult to raise them in Portugal Therefore the Herauld contrary to Justice was secur'd Winter drawing on the King of Castile withdrew without doing any thing of Moment but resolving to return with a greater Power at the beginning of the Spring of the following Year 1382. The Earl of Gijon again rebell'd and fled to Bragança but his Friends forsaking him and the Marques de Villena interposing he again submitted and was the second time pardon'd by the King The Marques for his good Service was created Constable an Honour new in Castile tho long us'd in other Countries Fernan Alvarez de Toledo and Peter Ruiz Sarmiento were made Mareschals equal to our Major-Generals Winter being spent the Randezvous was again appointed at Simancas that Country being plentiful to supply the Army As soon as all was in a readyness the King set out for Badajoz being inform'd that the Enemy design'd to invade Castile that way and were already advanc'd as far as Elvas which is but three Leagues from Badajoz The Portugues Forces were 3000 Horse and a great Number of Foot the English 3000 Horse and as many Archers In the Army of Castile were 5000 Horse and a much greater Number of Foot all old Soldiers and eager to fight Yet the King of Castile rather than put all to the hazard of a Battel thought good to make overtures of Peace D. Alonso de Castro was sent to make the Proposals The English were inclinable to harken to Peace being sorry they had undertaken a trouble some War so far from Home notwithstanding
kill'd The Portugueses kept their Ground because it was advantagious and drew their Army into two Bodies NunÌ„o Alvarez Pereyra created Constable by the new King led the Van the main Body the King himself headed Both Parties advanc'd somewhat but the Portugueses not above a Stones throw to avoid coming out to the Plain Then the new Constable demanded a Conference at it were to make some Overtures of Peace but tho some Men of Note were sent to him they only spent time in fruitless Debates Mean while the Castilian Commanders consulted whether it were better to give Battel or delay it till the next Day The more prudent were against attacking the Enemy in that advantagious Post but the younger sort thought they had got them in a Pound whence none could escape John de Rio the French Embassador being ask'd his Opinion earnestly disswaded giving Battel and the King was inclinable to take his Advice when some young Noblemen without expecting the Signal furiously charg'd the Enemy then the others rather than leave them in the Danger advanc'd First the Darts and Arrows flew then they came to their Swords and the Horse and Foot fought desperately mixt without any Order Every Man stood his Ground resolving to kill or be kill'd The King of Castile by reason of his Indisposition was carry'd about upon Mens Shoulders and thence encourag'd his Men. The first Body of the Enemy began to give way and was ready to fly when their new King advanc'd with his Party loudly calling upon the Souldiers and encouraging them Thus animated they rally'd and the Fortune of the Day was soon chang'd The Castilian Commanders were slain in their King's sight without turning their Backs and great Numbers of Souldiers were Slaughter'd being depriv'd of their Officers The King fearing to fall into the Enemy's Hands mounted on Horseback and fled the rest follow'd his Example 10000 Men were slain and among them many of great Quality as two Cousin Germans of the King the Lieutenant of Castile the Admiral a Marshal de Camp and the French Embassador Night which came on soon after the Fight sav'd â—any Some of these joyned the Body commanded by the Master of Alcantara which notwithstanding the Rout held together Others went to meet Charles Son to the King of Navarre who had enter'd Portugal another way but came too late for the Fight The greatest Numour having lost their Arms fled into Castile It was no cheap Victory to the Portuguesess there are those who write they lost 2000 Men. The King of Castile Fear being more prodominant than his Weakness travell'd all Night without stopping till he came to Santarem which was 11 Leagues distant Thence he went down the River Tagus in a Boat and getting aboard his Fleet which lay before Lisbon sail'd away for Sevil. Thither he came cover'd with Mourning which he wore some Years That City receiv'd him with Joy and Tears mixt lamenting that great Loss but glad their King had escap'd the Danger This is the memorable Fight in which the Portugueses Triumph'd over the Power of Castile and was call'd of Aljubarrota because fought near the Village of that Name a Place only Famous for this Overthrow This Day was kept every Year by the Portugueses as a Holy Day and the Preachers from the Pulpits extoll'd the Valour of their Nation reproaching the Cowardize of the Castilians with Language misbecoming that Place the People resorting to hear them as it had been to a Play After the Victory all Portugal submitted to the Conqueror Sant arem Braganca and all other Places surrender'd and thus the New King secur'd to his Posterity the Crown he had wrongfully obtain'd At this time the King of Aragon was very ill at Figueras he was worn with Age and Troubles As soon as recover'd he shew'd himself Dissatisfy'd with his Son Prince John The People laid the Blame upon the Queen saying she had bewitch'd the King Prince John in Discontent withdrew from Court and call'd the Earl of Ampurias who had been outed his Estate with Forces from France to his Assistance For this reason the King depriv'd him of the Vicarship of the Kingdom an Honour peculiar to the eldest Son of those Kings In Aragon as has been said heretofore they have a Magistrate call'd the Justice of Aragon who is a sort of Moderator betwixt the King and the People in the Nature of the Roman Tribunes of the People To him the Prince had recourse to support him against the Wrongs offer'd him by his Father openly and by the Queen under hand That Justice supported him in the Possession of his Employment as having been Arbitrarily depos'd till the Case were brought to Judgment The Debate began this Year and was ended the next ensuing Let us see what happen'd in Castile and Portugal after that memorable Battel CHAP. VI. The Portugueses make an Inroad into Castile and defeat a Body of Castilians The Duke of Lancaster lands at Corunna and takes several Towns The Death of the Kings of Naples Aragon and Navarre THE Portugueses resolving to prosecute their Victory and make the most of their Success sent a solemn Embassy into England to joyn in League with the Duke of Lancaster the old pretender to the Crown of Castile in right of his Wife Whilst that Business was in agitation to avoid lying idle and hinder the Enemy from recovering themselves the new King of Portugal travers'd all the Country recovering entirely all that was possess'd by the Castilians His Constable NunÌ„o Pereyra made an Incursion into Andaluzia pillaging and wasting all that Province Peter NunÌ„ez Master of Santiago Gonzalo NunÌ„ez de Guzman now Master of Calatrava and the Earl of Niebla with what Forces had escap'd the late Rout went out to meet the Portugueses who were less in Number and inclos'd them as it were in a Net near a Town call'd Valverde They seeng their Danger offer'd to capitulate but Fortune still favour'd them for at the first Onset the Master of Santiago's Horse and then he himself was kill'd His Men taking this for an ill Omen drew off and the Portugueses return'd Home with a rich Booty NunÌ„o Pereyra the Constable for his good Service was by the new King created Earl of Barcelos Garci Fernandez de Villagarcia was by the King of Castile made Master of Santiago in stead of Peter NunÌ„ez That King was concern'd how to defend himself against the English He went away from Sevil to Valladolid to hold the Cortes or Parliament Charles Son to the King of Navarre a brave Prince and grateful towards his Brother-in-Law met him at that City It was resolv'd to levy greater Forces than had been in Arms till that time That all Subiects should arm themselves according to their Power That publick Prayers should be made to appease God That Foreign Succours should be procur'd as well of Mony as Men for there was great scarcity of it France was judg'd the most likely place to find
laid aside the Government of the Kingdom was committed to the Duke of Benavente the Marques de Villena the Earl of Trastamara the Archbishops of Toledo and Santiago and the Masters of Santiago and Calatrava Of the 16 Representatives of Cities eight were appointed by turns for three Months at a time to joyn with the others The Majority of Votes among them to be of Force in any Affair The Arch-bishop lik'd not this Method thinking his Share in the Government too little tho he pleaded the greatness of the Number would cause Confusion yet he was forc'd to yield to the Importunities and Threats of the Nobility A certain sort of base Mony call'd Agnus Dei's was here regulated how it should pass The Archbishop of Toledo kept the Earl of Gijon Prisoner but fearing some Change of times labour'd to be discharg'd of him He was therefore remov'd to Monterrey and committed to the care of the Master of Santiago till his Case was adjudg'd At Sevil and Cordova the Rabble in a riotous manner fell upon the Jews plunder'd their Houses and offer'd them many Injuries the Magistrates not being able to prevent it Ferdinand Martinez Arch-deacon of Ecija with seditious Speeches made in the Streets stirr'd up the People This Example was follow'd in sundry parts of Spain On the 5th of August the following Year the like was done at Toledo LogronÌ„o Valencia and Barcelona Many Jews to save themselves pretended to turn Christians but this happen'd later CHAP. IX The Contentions betwixt the Nobility of Castile about the Government They agree on a Settlement then alter it The Affairs of the Moors at Granada Warrenew'd with Portugal King Charles the VIth of France rus distracted IT was the Custom of the States of the Kingdom to meet in a certain Church of Madrid The Duke of Benavente and Earl of Trastamara came arm'd into that Assembly leaving Guards about the Church as if it were besieg'd The Arch-bishop of Toledo was so affronted at this Action that he left the Court and went away to Talavera from which place by his Letters he stirr'd up the People to rise in Arms and deliver the Kingdom from those who under the Title of Governours were become Tyrants These same Complaints he sent to Pope Clement and to the Kings of France and Aragon Soon after the Duke of Benavente being disgusted withdrew to his Town of Benavente without taking his leave of the King He presently joyn'd with the Arch-bishop of Toledo and the Marques de Villena tho then absent being out of Castile sided with them Those that remain'd of the Governours sent abroad their Letters requiring all such as were Members to be present at the Cortes They excus'd themselves upon several accounts Pope Clement sent F. Dominick of the Order of Preachers and Bishop of Ponce his Nuncio with two Letters the one directed to the King the other to the Governours Both of them tended to express his Sorrow for the Death of King John and exhorted them to Unity in then Proceedings The Nuncio labour'd to reconcile the Nobles but all in Vain Embassadors came from France and Aragon to the same Effect all they could do was to renew the former Alliances From Navarre also came Embassadors to condole upon the King's Death with Orders to endeavour Queen Ellener should return to her Husband promising her all manner of kind Entertainment The Queen excus'd herself and the young King could not have more Power over his Aunt than her Brother had Mean while the Arch-bishop of Toledo gather'd Forces upon pretence of freeing the Kingdom from slavery but it was generally look'd upon as only the effect of his Ambition Endeavours for an Accommodation betwixt the Nobles were us'd but to as little Purpose as before The Citizens that had a share in the Government not thinking themselves safe at Madrid remov'd with the King to Segovin The Earl of Trastamara one of the Governours aspir'd to be Constable of Gustile pretending the late King had signify'd he design'd him that Honour It was not thought convenient to incense the Marques de Villena who was then in possession of it therefore 60000 Maravedies of the Marques his Sallery were assign'd him yearly for the present with a promise of the Place in case the Marques would not comply Besides those mention'd there joyn'd with the Arch-bishop of Toledo the Master of Alcantara and James Mendoça from whom the Dukes del Infantado are descended They gather'd 1500 Horse and 3500 Foot With this Force they march'd to Valladolid where the King was and encamp'd on the Banks of the River Pisuerga which runs by that City and soon after falls into the River Duerâ—â— Ellenor Queen of Navarre after much Labour spent therein prevail'd with the two parties to have a Conference Deputies met accordingly at the Town of Perales Thither came the Queen and Pope's Nuncio as Mediators The chief Dispute was whether King John's Will ought to be valid or not The Arch-bishop of Saniago cunningly demanded of him of Toledo whether he should have that Will allow'd in all its Articles He of Toledo made some hesitation fearing to be entrapp'd and particularly to disoblige the Duke of Benavente who was not nam'd in it At last he answer'd craftily he would provided the Duke of Benavente the Earl of Trastamara and the Master of Santiago might be added to the number of Governours it being so requisit for the publick Peace The other Party tho against their Wills as fearing to provoke those great Men consented It was agreed the Cortes should meet at Burgos to ratify what they had resolv'd upon mean while considerable Hostages were given on both sides Thus those Commotions ceas'd for that time By this new settlement the Arch-bishop of Toledo became so powerful it was fear'd he alone would sway more than all the rest in the Government Therefore the Arch-bishop of Santiago and his Associates thought it convenient to procure the Releasment of the Earl of Gijon that he might be a Foil to the Other Accordingly they took him out of Prison and brought him to Kiss the King's Hand who order'd him to be restor'd to his Estate The Cortes met at Burgos of had been agreed The settlement made being brought upon the Stage the Arch-bishop of Santiago said he would not stand to it unless the Earl of Gijon were admited as well as the other three Noblemen since he was inferiour to none of them for Birth or Estate It troubl'd the Arch-bishop of Toledo to be taken in his own Snare and the Case came to be hotly debated so that to prevent further Mischief it was consented to by both Parties that it should be left to Arbitration D. Gonzalo Bishop of Segovia and Alvar Martinez both well vers'd in the Civil and Canon Law were appointed Judges They could not agree but continu'd divided till the beginning of the Year 1392 when at last it was decree'd the Earl should be admitted The
wrought were such That Pope Sixtus V. Canoniz'd him on the 2d of July 1588. Garibay Lib. 14. Cap. 7. says he died in the Year 1461. CHAP. III. The Catalonians send for Peter Constable of Portugal and Proclaim him Earl of Barcelona The Kings of Castile and Portugal meet The Rebellion in Castile D. Beltran de la Cueva great Favourite to King Henry of Castile created a Duke TWO Ambassadors from the Catalonians were at the Conference between the Kings of France and Castile to sollicit they might not be forsaken but their Negociation proved successless At Tolosa a Town in Guipuscoa the Rabble killed a Jew called Gaon on the 6th of May for attempting whilst the King was at Fuenterabia to collect a certain Tax about which there had been great Mutinies before This Murder was not punished Soon after at Segovia whither the King went great Broils were raised by Two Friars One of them in his Sermons affirmed That many Christians turned Jews which was meant to reproach the Liberty allowed that People The other as hotly opposed him Sevill was in an Uproar for that D. Alonso de Fonseca the Elder sollicited to be restored to that Church which he said he had only given in trust to his Kinsman The Nobility and Commons were divided between him and his Competitor but the King coming thither in Person put D. Alonso the Elder into possession and caused 6 of the principal Mutiniers to be executed The King of Portugal at this time returned into Africk with a powerful Fleet. Prince Ferdinand his Brother and D. Peter his Cousin bore him Company The Catalonians being forsaken by the Castilians and perceiving France and Italy were secured by the King of Aragon sent to invite Peter the Constable of Portugal to come from Ceuta and take possession of that Principality which they said appertained to him in Right of his Mother who was Daughter to the Earl of Urgel He embraced the Offer and arrived at Barcelona on the 21th of January 1464. There he was immediately proclaimed Earl of Barcelona and King of Aragon This Attempt proved unsuccessful for want of Strength and cost him his Life besides other Mischiess The first was that by the Departure of the Constable the Forces of the Portugueses in Africk were weakned which was the occasion they were repulsed with loss from Tangier and the Inroads they made into the Country were inconsiderable Near Mount Benasa being engaged with the Enemy the King was in great danger and Duarte de Meneses exposing himself to save his King was killed with some others The Earl of Villareal that day made good the Rear which gained him great Honour in so much that after the Fight the King said to him By you alone the Faith has this day prevailed The King of Castile from Sevill went to Gibraltar and having invited the King of Portugal thither Entertained him for the space of 5 days after which he returned to his Kingdom This done King Henry by the way of Ecija broke into the Kingdom of Granada and obliged the Moores to pay the Tribute before agreed upon and make him rich Presents Thence he hasted back to Madrid designing again to Entertain the King of Portugal who came to pay a Vow he had made to our Lady at Guadalupe The two Kings met upon the Bridge called Del Arçobispo that is the Bounds of the Kingdom of Toledo The Queen of Castile went with her Husband to see her Brother the King of Portugal Here it was agreed the King of Portugal should Marry Elizabeth King Henry's Sister and the Prince of Portugal Joanna Heiress of Castile but the Wedding being put off at that time never after took effect Heaven had decreed the Aragonians should possess the Crown of Castile tho after many Troubles which some Prodigies seem'd to foretell At Sevil there happened such a terrible Hurracan that it carried away a Yoke of Oxen with the Plow and threw a great Bell a vast distance from the Steeple of S. Augustin's Church It also tore up many large Trees and ruined Buildings In the Air Armies fighting were seen but this may be doubted of because none but Children saw it Lastly Three Eagles fought in the Air till all three fell down dead Hereupon Processions and other Acts of Devotions were performed to appease Gods Wrath. King Henry began to dislike the Archbishop of Toledo and the Marquiss de Villena suspecting they had not dealt fairly betwixt him and Aragon for this reason they were not with him in the Field nor at the Interview with the Portuguese but went away from Madrid to Alcala Thither came to them the Admiral the Master of Calatrava the Family of Manrique D. Peter Giron and the Earls of Alva and Plasencia The King of Aragon upon account of great Promises made him joined with them which was the beginning of mighty Troubles Their Pretence was That the Princess Joanna was not lawfully begotten and consequently could not inherit the Crown Therefore they resolved to seize Prince Alonso and the Lady Elizabeth the Kings Brother and Sister who resided with their Mother at Maqueda Upon Hostages given by the King for security of his Person the Marquis de Villena came to Madrid but with an ill Design which was to withdraw the rest of the Nobility from their Allegiance To this purpose he Advised the King to secure the Archbishop of Sevil and at the same time gave him notice of what was designed so that he fled and joined with the other Rebels This Success made D. John Pacheco so impudent that he attempted with a Body of Armed Men to seize the King and broke into the Palace but the King retiring to a part thereof that was strong he resolved to force it at night yet the King having Intelligence he was disappointed Many Advised the King to secure the Marquis but he refused because he had given him a Safe-conduct Thus the Posture of the Kings Affairs was daily worse especially because at that time the Popes Bull came which constituted D. Beltran de la Cueva Master of Santiago a thing very offensive to the People who looked upon that Dignity as Prince Alonso's due D. Beltran was raised in opposition to D. John Pacheco who again attempted to seize the King perswading him to go to Villacastin but was discovered and prevented From Burgos the Conspirators now in open Rebellion sent a very Insolent Letter to the King the Heads whereof were That the Moores had too much Liberty at Court That Preferments were sold That the Mastership of Santiago was undeservedly given to D. Beltran That the Princess Joanna as unlawfully begotten could not inherit the Crown Lastly That if these Grievances were Redressed they were ready to lay down Arms and submit This Letter the King received at Valladolid and made no account of it D. Lope de Barientas Bishop of Cuenca pressed the King to subdue the Rebels by force of Arms but could not prevail therefore a
about 4000 Foot were either slain or taken All the Booty was recovered Having received the news of this Victory Queen Elizabeth went away to the Borders of Navarre to hasten the Marriage betwixt her Son and that Queen And King Ferdinand hasted to Andaluzia to prosecute the War Being come to Cordova it was resolved to raise greater Forces because after the taking of Boabdil the Moores were again united under Albohacen and he had recovered Granada notwithstanding many of the Citizens hated him for his Cruelty and Avarice King Ferdinand at the head of 6000 Horse and 40000 Foot destroyed the Suburbs of Yiora and having taken Tajara by Assault utterly destroyed it Thence he Marched and Encamping on the plain of Granada sent out Parties who burnt and destroyed all about them King Albohacen having no confidence in the Citizens durst not venture out of the City and onely some small Parties came out to endeavour to pick up Staglers That King sent to offer the Earl of Cifuentes and Nine more of the principal Prisoners he had taken for his Son Boabdil He also proposed Conditions of Peace but such as were haughty and violent King Ferdinand answered he was not come to receive but to give Laws and would not hear of any Peace till they laid down their Arms. The Marquess of Cadiz and others ceased not to perswade the King to release Boabdil because it was a mean to keep the Enemy divided which would redound to our advantage King Ferdinand having wasted the Country and lest a good Garrison in Albama under the Command of Ynigo Lopez de Mendoca Earl of Tendilla returned to Cordova Thither the Moorish King was brought Prisoner from the Castle of Porcuna Being come before the King he offered to kiss his Hand but King Ferdinand Embraced and Entertained him courteously After some time they concluded a League upon these Conditions That Boabdil should give his Eldest Son and 12 other Sons of the principal Moores as Hostages that he would always continue faithful to King Ferdinand That he should pay the yearly Tribute of 12000 Ducats and come to the Cortes when Summoned That in Five years time he should Release 400 Christian Slaves Upon these terms he was dismissed King Ferdinand having Garrisoned all Towns thereabouts and given the Government of Ezija and general Command of those Frontiers to D. Luis Fernandez Portocarrero set out towards the Queen At the same time 1500 Moorish Horse and 4000 Foot under the Command of Bexir Governor of Malaga broke into the Territory of Utrera but were overthrown by Portocarrero and the Marquess of Cadiz near Guadalete In memory of this good Service it was granted to the Marquesses of Cadiz for ever that they should have the Suit of Cloaths the King of Spain wore upon every Feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Lady which is in September Within the same Month the Marquess recovered Zahara by surprize King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth went to Vitoria tho' with small hopes that the Marriage designed would take effect The Lady Magdalen pleaded the Queen her Daughter was Marriageable and the Prince but a Child At Vitoria the Earl of Cabra and James Fernandez de Cordova were received with extraordinary Honour the Cardinal of Toledo with all the Nobility by the King's Order going out of Town to meet them A Pension of 100000 Maravedies was given to the Earl of Cabra for his Life and to his paternal Coat of Arms was added a Kings Head Crowned within an Orle of 7 Colours betokening that number taken from the Enemy in their Retreat from Lucena The Winter Floods carryed away a great part of the Wall of Alhama and the Garrison was for abandoning the Place but the Earl of Tendilla caused a Cloth painted in such manner that the defect could not be perceived to be spread along that part By this project they gained time to repair the Damage before the Enemy understood the Cheat. For want of Money to pay the Garrison he gave them Pastboard Tickets with his name on the one Side and the value they were to go for on the other promising to make them good as soon as the danger was over On the 15th of November the Pope gave a Cardinal's Cap to D. John de Melguerite Bishop of Girona He wrote a brief History of the Kings of Spain called Paralipomena but enjoyed that Dignity only a few Months His Body lies at Rome in the Church of our Lady de Populo The troubles in Navarre did not cease and the old Factions grew strong through the general Contempt of the Government To add to all former Misfortunes a new War broke out John Viscount Narbonne Unckle to Queen Catherine pretended to have Right to that Kingdom before his Nephews and alledged that a Woman could not Inherit the Crown The truth is he had no Right and therefore by force of Arms brought all the Earldom of Faux into Subjection To put an end to these troubles it was thought convenient to hasten the Queen's Marriage The Lady Magdalen her Mother was for Marrying of her in France The People pleaded she ought not to Marry without advice of the Cortes and thereupon the Inhabitants of Tudela protested if she were disposed of otherwise they would deliver up the Town to King Ferdinand He at the beginning of the Year 1484 held the Cortes of Aragon at Taraçona where nothing remarkable was done only at first the Catalonians pleaded they ought not to be summoned out of their own Province yet at last they submitted Mean while Catherine Queen of Navarre was married to John d' Albret Lord of Perigeux Limoges Dreux and many other Places This Match produced new troubles in Navarre King Ferdinand designing to make his advantage of those Confusions stayed there himself and sent his Queen to provide for the War in Andaluzia Albohaâ—en kept up his Authority and his Son Boahdil had much ado to maintain the Title of King in the City Almeria that People hating him as a Friend to the Christians their Preachers employed by his Father never oeasing to rail at him About 10000 Men from Sevil and Cordova in April wasted all the Lands of Malaga No relief came to the Moores out of Africk either because that People was ingaged in other Wars or because our Fleet Commanding the Sea gave them no opportunity to stir All our Force being on that side the Genoeses under the Command of Jordieto Doria ravaged all the coasts of Catalonia and Valencia A Fleet was therefore rigged upon that Coast to Curb the Insolency of those Pyrates Some troubles in Ecclesiastical Affairs required the presence of King Ferdinand to settle them Luis Despuch Master of Montesa dying the Knights chose D. Philip Boyl in his Place but King Ferdinand pleading that by virtue of a Bull granted him by the Pope no Master of a Military Order could be Elected without his Consent the new Elect was Deposed and Charles late Duke of Viana
Geryon was Buried near the Mouth of the Streights and after worshipped as a God as appears by the Temple of Osiris Built in Sicily by Hercules and his famous Oracle at Padua which Princes often visited as Suetonius affirms Osiris having thus rescued Spain from the Tyranny of Geryon thought not fit to punish the Crimes of the Father in the Children which were three beautiful Sons to these therefore he gave the Kingdom appointing who should Govern during their Minority and then returned into Egypt These Geryons being come to Age did not only Tyranize over their Subjects but meditating Revenge for the Death of their Father induced Typhon to Murder his Brother Osiris which he performed and seated himself in the Throne of Egypt Orus the Son of Osiris who then Governed Scythia understanding what had passed hasts into Egypt and in revenge of his Fathers Murder slew Typhon then gathering a great Army he passed into Spain and drove the Geryons into the Island of Cadiz where they Fortified themselves Fearing lest so great an Army should suffer want if the War were protracted and desiring to avoid the great Bloodshed that must ensue if they came to a Battle he offered to decide the Quarrel by his own Person and sight the three Brothers They accepted of the Challenge and were all Slain by him Their Bodies were buried in the Island and from thence forward it was called Erithrea of some People that came with Orus or Hercules from the Red Sea who with the Approbation of their General planted there This done Hercules caused vast Stones and other Materials to be cast into the Sea at the mouth of the Streights and raised the two Mounts so famous by the name of Hercules's Pillers that on the West of Spain is called Calpe the other in Africk Abyla All things being settled to his Mind he chose Hispalus one of his Companions of whose good Conduct he was fully satisfied to Govern and Reign in Spain and then went over by Sea to Italy It is agreed on all Hands that Hispalus Reigned in Spain From him Justin affirms it took the Name of Hispania only one Letter being changed Others say he built Sevil in Latin Hispalis St. Isidorus says it was built by Julius Caesar and called Julia Romana perhaps it was then enlarged and beautified Plutarch affirms Spain took its Name from Pan a Follower of the second Hercules and was first called Pania then Spania others say it was from Hispanus the Son of Hispalus These are all bare surmises our Historians write many things of this Hispalus of their own Invention to beautifie their Works but their being no certain Account of such Antiquity it is better to pass it by in Silence than Impose upon the Readers Authors do not agree about the time of the Death of Hispalus but after his Days Hercules returned into Spain where having Governed with Moderation and Built as some will have it the Towns of Julia Lybica Vrgel Barcelona and Tarragona he departed this Life being of a very great Age. The Spaniards Consecrated him a God and payed him Divine Honours raising a Temple where his Body was Buried and placing Priests therein Hispalus and Hercules dying without Issue the latter before his Death appointed Hesperus Brother to Atlas and one of his Compauions to succeed him The Fame of this Hesperus's Valour and Vertue gained him such Credit among the People that of him some Greek and Latin Authors say Spain was afterwards called Hesperia tho' others are of Opinion it was from Hesperus the Evening Star The good Fortune of this King was not lasting for his Brother Atlas offended that he should be preferred before him came over into Spain and having gained the good Will of the Soldiers soon possessed himself of the Kingdom Hesperus thus forsaken fled into Italy where he was Friendly entertained and soon after constituted Tutor to the young King Coritus called by others Janus or Jupiter wherein he behaved himself so well that having gained the Affections of that People he gave his Name to Italy as he had done to Spain and it was called Hesperia Atlas jealous of his Brother's greatness and fearing he might in time recover his Kingdom resolved to prevent him In order hereunto he raised a mighty Army and under colour of Honouring them took the Chief Men of Spain along with him into Italy but his design was to keep them as Hostages lest the People in his Absence should endeavour to cast off a foreign Yoke At Sea a violent Storm scattered his Fleet and instead of Landing in Italy he was forced into Sicily that Island being exceeding Rich and Fruitful he left a considerable Number of Spaniards to Plant there This done he put to Sea again and arrived in Italy where he found his Brother Hesperus was Dead so that there was no difficulty in seizng Coritus King of Tuscany and making himself Master of the Country Atlas had two Daughters one of them called Electra was Married to Coritus and had Issue Jasius and Dardanus of whom more hereafter That his other Daughter called Rome Built the City Rome looks more like a Fiction of our Historians than a true History therefore I will make no further mention of it no more than of Sicorus Sicanus Sicceleus and Lusus whom our modern Writers reckon among the Kings of Spain whereas among the Ancients there is not the least Account of them nor of Morgetes the Son of Atlas giving his Name to the People of Italy called Morgetes for which there is no other Authority but framed likeness of Words Philistius Siracusanus's Authority is sufficient to believe that Siculus the Son of Atlas Governed Spain in his Father's absence and succeeded him in the Kingdom after his Death In his time the two Brothers Jasius and Dardanus being at Variance about the Kingdom of Tuscany by reason of the Death of their Father Coritus Siculus their Uncle went over with an Army to pacifie them and by the way Landing in Sicily is said to have given his Name to that Island till then called Trinacria of the three great Promontories that run out into the Sea Thence passing over into Tuscany he endeavoured to reconcile the Brothers but Dardanus dealing Treacherously Murdered Jasius and Siculus in Revenge drove him out of Italy Dardanus with a great Number of the Aborigines who followed his Fortunes fled into Asia where he Built the famous City of Troy Siculus having settled the Affairs of Italy and Seated the Son of Jasius on the Throne of Tuscany returned into Spain and from this time we find no Account of any other Actions of his unless we should write the Dreams and Ravings of modern Authors who also Forge other Kings of Spain upen as vain grounds as the former One of these is Testa who they say built a Town of his own Name and from him the People of that part of Spain were called Contestani Another is Romus to whom
Portugal gave Viriatus a great Overthrow but he gathering his Forces returned upon him with such Vigour that the Victors having receiv'd much damage tho' it was the middle of Autumn were glad to retire to Cordova as if it had been Winter where they Fortified themselves without taking any care of the Spaniards their Confederates or the other Romans who were in weak Garrisons and left exposed to eminent Danger Metellus subdu'd the Celtiberi Pliny says he overcame the Arevaci nevertheless he was continued in his Command the Year 612. and the Consul Q. Fabius Servilius was sent against Viriatus with 18000 Foot and 1500 Horse Besides those Forces Micipsa the Son of Massinissa sent him 10 Elephants and 300 Horse out of Africk Notwithstanding all this mighty Army joyn'd to what was before under the Roman Pay Viriatus who lay hid in the Mountains of Andaluzia with frequent Excursions did great Damage and obtain'd many Advantages till the Romans remov'd their Camp to Vtica formerly a City of Andaluzia Then Viriatus for want of Provisions retir'd with his Army into Lusitania The Consul being rid of that danger marched to the Cunei where he overcame two Captains of Robbers call'd Curio and Apuleyus and carried some Towns by Force that were held for Viriatus with strong Garrisons A great Booty was taken and a multitude of Prisoners 500 whereof that were found most Guilty he put to Death 10000 more were sold as Slaves Metellus at the same time gain'd much Honour by entirely reducing the Celtiberi and taking the famous Cities Contrebia Versobriga and Centobriga Then hearing that the Consul Quintus Pompeius was appointed to succeed him he was so offended at it that to weaken his Forces he dismissed the Soldiers neglected the Magazines and starved the Elephants for which reason the Triumph he had otherwise well deserv'd was refus'd him at Rome Q. Pompeius came to Spain in the Year 613. Servilianus was continu'd by order of the Senate in his Command where he receiv'd into favour Canoba a Captain of Robbers who submitted himself and forced Viriatus who lay before the City Vacia to raise his Siege and fly away whereupon many neighbouring Towns submitted themselves to him As he was Active and Vigilant so was he no less Severe or rather Cruel for he cut off the Hands of all Canoba's Men and 500 other Prisoners because they had deserted from his Camp This Action in stead of terrifying the Natives put them upon desperate Counsels The Romans laid Siege to the City Erisana Viriatus without being discovered got in by Night and the next Morning made such a furious Sally that he put the Enemy to flight killing many of them those that escaped drew up in a place of no Strength where they were in great danger of perishing but Viriatus laid hold of this Opportunity to obtain an advantageous Peace which was concluded and by virtue thereof the Romans sav'd their Lives Viriatus was called a Friend of the People of Rome and all that his Men had plunder'd was allow'd them A great shame and dishonour to the Majesty of the Roman Empire Quintus Pompeius held the Government of Hispania citerior two Years but because the Province was in Peace and Metellus had left all things in disorder had not the opportunity of doing any Action of note On the contrary Servilius who by order of the Senate had vacated the Peace he made before near the City Arsa put Viriatus to the rout and pursu'd him into Carpetania where by a Stratagem he got away He drew out his Men as if intending to give Battle placing his Horse in the Front and whilst the Romans were forming their Body caused his Foot to slip away thro' the Woods that were near that done the Horse with the same swiftness got off The Consul despairing of taking so subtle an Enemy marched to the Vectones in Estremadura and thence without stopping into Galicia where all was in Disorder and full of Murders and Robberies Viriatus tired with so lasting a War and fearing his Men should make their Peace with the price of his Head sent three Embassadors to Treat with the Consul The means he chose to secure himself prov'd his ruin for Servilius corrupted the Embassadors who at their return murder'd Viriatus as he lay sleeping His Funeral was honour'd with the Tears of his Soldiers afterwards with Sports and the Sacrifice of much Cattle The Murderers petitioning the Senate at Rome for a Reward of their Service receiv'd answer That the Senate and People of Rome did not approve of Soldiers killing their General To Viriatus succeeded in the Command one Tantalus but he not being of equal Authority Valour and Conduct soon submitted himself to the Consul and was receiv'd to Grace These and the other Lusitani were disarm'd and Lands allotted them to the end that being employ'd in Tilling and the care of their Cattle they might be more inclinable to live in subjection and want the Power of Revolting CHAP. III. The second War betwixt Rome and Numantia The Consul Mancinus concludes a dishonourable Peace with that People and is therefore deliver'd up to them Scipio Africanus sent against them The City destroy'd THE very Year that Viriatus was murder'd by his own Men which was of Rome 614. the Numantians again Revolted The occasion of it was thus Metellus having subdu'd the Celtiberi there remain'd only the Numantians and Termestini who by former Treaties were declar'd Friends and Allies of the People of Rome and consequently preserv'd their Liberty The Termestini are suppos'd to be about nine Leagues from Numantia where now stands a Chappel call'd of our Lady of Tiermes Pompey intending to bring them under Subjection took for a Pretence to fall out with them that they had receiv'd into their City the Segedani who had sided with Viriatus Segeda is reckoned to be among the Beli and at this Day there is a Town betwixt Soria and Osma believ'd to be the Remnant of that City This Crime was not great yet the Numantians sent Embassadors to excuse it whom Pompey turned back with disgrace Still the Numantians sent others renouncing their Friendship with the Segedani and desiring to renew the Peace and Alliance they had made with Gracchus Pompey reply'd It was in vain to Treat of Peace unless they laid down their Arms. All hopes of an Accommodation being thus out off the Numantians provided for War and to this effect raised 8000 Foot and 2000 Horse a small number but of great Courage and Resolution Megara a Man of great Experience was appointed to command these Men. Pompey was not idle but incamp'd near Numantia with 30000 Foot and 2000 Horse The Numantians kept them in continual alarm yet so that they always avoided coming to a Battle which Pompey perceiving sate down before Termancia whence he was also forced to retire in great disorder by a Sally the Besieged made Next day they came to a Battle the
as he lived Not long after he overthrew and took Zenon also and put him into the same Prison This Zenon is said to have left two Daughters one called Toda was Wife to Yn̄igo Arista King of Navarre the other Married Zuria who was afterwards Lord of Biscay from whom some will have it the following Lords of that Country descended till it was Incorporate in the Crown of Castile The Punishment of these two was an Example to terrifie others from attempting the like After this Alava was given to a Nobleman called Count Vigila or Vela The Lordship of Castile was in the Possession of the Count D. James Porcellos all this was in the first Year of the Reign of D. Alonso The following Year began more hot for Imundarus and Alcama Moorish Generals sate down before Leon but the King obliged them to raise the Siege with great slaughter of their Men. To strengthen himself the more against the Infidels he made a League with the French and Navarrois and the more to bind this Alliance Married a Lady of the Blood Royal of France called then Amelina afterwards Da. Ximena By her he had D. Garçia D. Ordon̄o and D. Fruela all three successively Kings and D. Gonçalo Archdeacon of Oviedo The Broils among the Moors offered the Christians a fair opportunity of carrying on some Enterprize The People of Toledo provoked by the Cruelty of the Kings of Cordova and relying on the strength of their City Rebelled and chose Mahomet Avenlope for their King but were soon subdued and Avenlope with his Brothers fled to the Protection of King Alonso who received and entertained them favourably believing they might be useful to him in his Wars against the Moors Soon after taking these along and aided by French Navarrois and Biscainers he entred the Country of the Moors Plundering and destroying all he met and without doing any thing more considerable dismissed his Army rich with the Booty they had taken In the following Year which was 874 the People of Toledo as is supposed to oblige their King made an Inroad into the Lands of the Christians as far as the River Duero but the King unexpectedly coming upon them near a Town called Pulviraria upon the River Vrbicus now Orbigo killed 12000 of them and soon after destroyed an Army that followed the others from Cordova in such manner that only 10 of them were found alive among the Dead Almudar Son of the King of Cordova followed with the main Body of the Moorish Forces but understanding the great slaughter of his People durst not advance to Sublancia where the King was and therefore marched back again by Night A Treaty was now set on foot by means of Abubalit who had been taken in Galicia and was well affected towards the Christians the conclusion was a Truce for three Years This time being expired the King broke into the Country of the Moors and passing the River Tagus advanced as far as Merida and thence returned loaden with Spoils having met no opposition Bernard del Carpio is said to have had a great share in all these Actions and that as a Reward of his Services he begged his Father's liberty which the King refusing he rose in Rebellion and built the Castle of Carpio from which he took Name Besides the Moors at his Instigation infested the Lands of the Christians After this he delivered up his Castle upon Condition his Father should be released but the King not performing he fled to France and Navarre and there dy'd in Banishment All these Transactions have no good Authority to back them and have much of Romance in them therefore it is better be succinct in Relations of that nature D. Fruela the King's Brother on what account is not known conspired to kill him but being discovered was Condemned to lose both his Eyes and live in perpetual Imprisonment the same punishment was inflicted on D. Nun̄o D. Bermudo and D. Odoario all his Brothers for conspiring with D. Fruela This punishment being thought too Cruel caused some new Broils For D. Bermudo escaping out of Prison took Astorga and Fortified it then coming to a Battle with the King was overthrown and fled to the Moors This moved the King to make the greater havock on the Lands of the Infidels particularly he so harrassed the Country of Toledo that some Years after they were forced with great Sums of Money to purchase a Truce for three Years to the great Honour of the Christians and Disgrace of the Moors About this time dy'd Athaulfus Bishop of Compostella and Sisenandus a Person of great Piety and Learning succeeded him In his time the Church of St. James was made an Archiepiscopal See and the said Church then newly finish'd Consecrated by certain Bishops that held a Synod there It was not lawful without the consent of the Pope to call a Council of Bishops therefore Severus and Desiderius were sent Embassadors to Rome and obtain'd the consent of Pope John the Eighth and his Bull Constituting the Church of Oviedo a Metropolitan See Together with the Kings Embassadors the Pope sent one called Reginald There met at Compostella 14 Bishops who Consecrated the Church of St. James the Apostle with great Solemnity on the 7th of May in the Year 876. Eleven Months after this the same Bishops by the King's Command met at Oviedo and decreed in pursuance of the Pope's Order that that See for the future should be Archiepiscopal and Ermenegildus was chosen for that dignity For some Years the Moors were quiet and nothing hapned worthy of memory Only in the Year 881. there were Earthquakes throughout all Spain which destroy'd many Buildings King Mahomet being at his Devotions a flash of Lightning kill'd two that stood next to him in the Mosque to the great terror of the rest The Year following Abdalla the Son of Lope forgetting the favours he had receiv'd from the King of Leon and envying his Uncles in whom the said King repos'd so much Confidence that he entrusted them to breed his Son D. Ordon̄o was reconcil'd to the King of Cordova and gathering Forces broke into the Lands of the Christians doing great harm till King Alonso met and worsted him at Cillorico then drove him from Pancorvo whence passing by Leon and through Portugal he return'd to Cordova Next Winter Abdalla overthrew the two Zimaels his Brother and Uncle and sent them in Fetters to the Castle of Recaria This action brought upon him the Forces of both the Kings as well of the Christians as Moors though at the same he endeavour'd to excuse himself to both D. Vela and D. James the two Earls of Biscay and Castile also entred into a League against him as the common Enemy Almudar Son to the King of Cordova and Abuhalit were sent to Besiege Zaragoça but to no effect by reason it was strong and well provided with necessaries In their return they made an Inroad into the
come without an Army which he looking upon as an Insolence that they should prescribe Rules to their Sovereign entred with a powerful Army and vanquished his Enemies The Multitude was pardoned only the Heads punished D. Fruela's Sons as soon as taken had their Eyes put out the same was done to D. Alonso the King's Brother Not far from the City Leon is the Monastery of St. Julian there they were all kept as long as they liv'd and bury'd when dead as was Da. Vrraca the Wife of D. Alonso These troubles being thus over the King bent his Force against the Moors and entring the Kingdom of Toledo took the great Town of Madrid plundred and burnt and then threw down the Walls At the same time the Moors desirous of Revenge breke into the Country of the Christians and first entred into Castile The Earl being weakned by the late War of Navarre sent a submissive Embassy to D. Ramiro begging his Assistance and excusing himself for what was past It was easie to appease the King in that time of danger therefore he marched and joyned the Earl Near Osma they came to a Battle many of the Moors were kill'd the rest put to flight and the Christian Army returned home loaded with precious Spoils From this time some are of Opinion the Earls of Castile became again Feudataries to the Kings of Leon for it is thought D. Ramiro would not have pardoned past Injuries upon other terms D. Ramiro ardently desiring to extirpate the Moors marched towards Zaragoça Abenbaya held that City of Abderhaman King of Cordova With the King went the Earl Fernan Gonzalez The Moor finding himself unable to oppose so great a Power submitted himself to the King with a promise of Tribute No Faith is observed by Moors longer than they are forc'd so this Infidel as soon as our Army was departed joyning with Abderhaman broke into the Christian Borders and advanced as far as Simancas The King marched towards the Enemy and gave them Battle which was one of the bloodiest of those days for 30000 Moors were kill'd others say 60000. Fernan Gonzalez who had not been in the Fight falling upon those that fled made no less slaughter as appears by an ancient Grant in the Monastery of St. Millan de la Cogulla in the Mountains of Oca in which all the Neighbourhood are commanded to supply that Monastery with all Necessaries as the Earl had vowed when he went to this War All the Army was persuaded that two Angels on white Horses fought at the head of them and obtained this Victory The chief Alfaqui who is like a Bishop among the Moors was taken and thus the Province was deliver'd from the terror they had conceiv'd on account of those mighty Preparations In the Year 934. which was the same in which this Battle was fought on the 19th of July there hap'ned so great an Eclypse of the Sun that for the space of an hour the day was turned into perfect darkness Again on the 15th of October the light of the Sun became came yellow a great opening appear'd in the Sky wonderful Comets were seen towards the South and all the Fruits of the Earth were blasted besides other Tokens of God's Wrath. These Prodigies perplexed the People but after the Battle it was supposed they threatned the Infidels About this time dyed Miron Earl of Barcelona leaving 3 Sons under Age. Seniofredus who succeeded him Oliva Sirnamed Cabreta who was Lord of Basalu and Cerdania and Miron afterwards Bishop and Earl of Girona By reason of the Young Princes infancy the Government was long in the hands of his Unkle Seniofredus Earl of Vrgel which was a step for his Heirs to possess themselves of that Principality Whilst this Seniofredus governed a Synod of Bishops was held at a Town called Fuentecubierta in the Territory of Narbonne Seniofredus Earl of Barcelona dying without Issue tho' Marryed to Mary the Daughter of King Sancho Abarca Borello Earl of Vrgel Son to the other Seniofredus by Force possessed himself of the Principality of Barcelona for he could have no right to exclude Oliva Brother to the deceased King Ramiro growing Ancient began to give his Mind to Peace and apply himself to Religious Exercises therefore with the spoils of the Moors he Built a Monastery for Nuns at Leon of the invocation of S. Saviour where he caused his Daughter Da. Elvira to take the Habit. Besides this he Built Four other Convents and when he was busied about these Affairs Civil broils obliged him again to unsheath the Sword Fernan Gonçalez and James Nunez two Men of Note Rebelled and finding themselves too weak called the Moors and their General Accipha to their Aid First they destroyed the Territory of Salamanca upon the River Tormes then the Country of Aamya and part of Asturias were wasted D. Ramiro drove the Moors out of all the Country took the Promoters of this Sedition yet soon after set them at Liberty only upon taking the Oath of Allegiance over again a great Demonstration of the King's Mercy Fernan Gonzalez Earl of Castile by his Wife Da. Vrraca had a Daughter of the same Name whom he Marryed to D. Ordon̄o Son to the King of Leon. After this the King tho' Aged being an Enemy to Idleness made another incursion into the Enemies Country as far as Talavera in the Kingdom of Toledo and overthrew an Army of Moors that came to oppose him killing 12000. and taking 7000 Prisoners This Victory supported his Reputation which often decays as Kings grow Old Being returned home he dismissed his Army loaded with the spoils of the Enemy and went himself in Pilgrimage to Oviedo to visit the many Bodies of Saints that were there and give Thanks to Almighty God for so many Blessings At Oviedo which is an unhealthy place he fell Sick yet returned to Leon and there resigned up the Crown to his Son Then having received the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist at the hands of the Bishops and Abbots there present he dyed in the Year of our Lord 950. on the 5th Day of January and was Buried in the Monastery of S. Saviour which himself had Built This Year was very remarkable for the many Towns that in it were either Built or Repaired which were Osma Roa Riaça and Clunia among the Arebaci now called Corun̄a Fernan Gonzalez Earl of Castile much about this time also Built Sepulveda in a place naturally strong and by his Valour the Christian cause was not only kept from decaying but was daily advanced and increased in honour CHAP. IV. The Reigns of D. Ordonno the Third D. Sancho the Gross Kings of Leon and of Garci Sanchez King of Navarre and actions of Fernan Gonzalez Earl of Castile BY the Death of D. Ramiro his Son D. Ordon̄o inherited the Crown of Leon. He was a Man of great Courage expert in Warlike affairs and had Prudence to govern but the shortness
Leon that had been ruined by the Moors and in it erected a Church Dedicated to S. John the Baptist Thither the Bodies of his Father D. Bermudo and the other Kings of Leon were translated which before had been carryed about for fear of the Moors The Monastery of S. Pelagius was also rebuilt in which Da. Constança the King's Sister who had Consecrated her Virginity to God lived long It has been above related how D. Vela studyed and contrived his revenge upon the Earls of Castile for wrongs and injuries he pretended to have received from them D. Sancho the Earl not only pardoned but restored to their Father's Honours three Sons of D. Vela which were Roderick James and Inigo Yet they soon fell to their wonted Treachery and leaving the Earl went over to D. Alonso the King of Leon because there was little hope to be placed in the Moors by reason of their distractions and the change of so many Princes among them D. Alonso received them Friendly and gave them a considerable Estate at the Foot of the Mountains Thus they seemed to be setled and quiet but they only waited an opportunity to make their disloyalty the more Notorious as appeared soon after and we shall shortly show King Alonso desiring to extend his Dominions broke into Lusitania and laid Siege to Viseo It happ'ned he went out without his Armour and approaching too near the Town they threw a Dart at him from the Wall and killed him Upon this misfortune his Army quitted the Siege and the Bishops that went with him to the War Accompanyed the Dead Body to Leon where it was buryed in the Church of St. John which he had built for to fix the Tombs of his Forefathers His Death hap'ned in the Year of Grace 1028. He left one Son called D. Bermudo who succeeded in the Throne and a Daughter Named Da. Sancha In his time flourished in Sanctity of Life the Bishops Froylanus of Leon and Atilanus of Zamora Froylanus was born at Lugo Atilanus at Tarragona both Monks of St. Benedict and taken out of their Monasteries to be prefered to those Bishopricks A Son of D. Ramon called D. Berenguel and Sirnamed Borello from his Grandfather was now Earl of Barcelona and better known for his Idle Life than any Virtuous action Bernard Tallaferre Earl of Besalu made some amends for the neglect of that Prince by Valiantly opposing the Moors He being drowned in the River Rhosne in France his place was supplyed by Wifredus Earl of Cerdagne who so curbed the insolency of the Moors that they ceased making any further incursions into those parts D. Berenguel at his Death left three Sons D. Ramon Earl of Barcelona D. Guillen Earl of Manresa by his Father's Will and D. Sancho a Monk of the Order of St. Benedict D. Bermudo the Third tho' very young when his Father dyed was Crown'd King in the presence of all the Nobility and Clergy in the Year 1028. The same Year dy'd D. Sancho Earl of Castile having govern'd that Province 22 Years In the Monastery of On̄a which as was said he built from the ground are still to be seen Three Tombs on the left hand of the High Altar with Inscriptions one of D. Sancho another of his Wife and the third of D. Garcia his Son who succeeded him in that Earldom His Virtues made all Men conceive early hopes of him but all vanish'd and was blasted in the Bud for he was treacherously kill'd in the very first Year of his Government by those who had least reason so to do and in the midst of his Marriage Solemnity D. Garcia had two Sisters D. Nun̄a and Da Teresa Da Nun̄a was Marry'd to D. Sancho King of Navarre who had by her at this time D. Garcia D. Ferdinand and D. Gonçalo Da Teresa was Wife to D. Bermudo King of Leon and of her was born D. Alonso who dy'd a Child D. Garcia Earl of Castile tho' but 13 Years of Age was Contracted to Da Sancha Sister to King Bermudo by this means to bind their interests the faster together and unite them against the common Enemy The City Leon was the place appointed for Celebrating the Nuptials D. Garcia went with a mighty train of People of note as well his own Subjects as those of the King of Navarre King Sancho himself with his Sons D. Ferdinand and D. Garcia for the greater honour bore him Company with such a Retinue as appear'd like a good Army By the way they took Monçon and some other Towns from the Earl Fernan Gutierrez who despising the new Princes Youth was in Rebellion yet because he submitted without making any considerable opposition he obtain'd Pardon They made but small Journeys by reason of the great number of People D. Garcia desiring to see his Bride left the King of Navarre at Sahagun and he with a small Retinue not suspecting any thing put forward This seemed a good opportunity to the Sons of D. Vela to revenge the wrongs they pretended had been done them by the Earl D. Sancho They were Men of Experience in mischief and subtle and therefore communicated their design to other wicked Persons like themselves Having laid their Plot they went out to meet their Prince who little suspected them kneeling they Kissed his Hand as was usual and showing Tokens of Repentance begged pardon of their Crimes Who could have thought that after obtaining Forgiveness they would not have strove by fresh Services to appear worthy of it On the contrary they hastned to Murder that Innocent Prince He went to hear Mass at the Church of St. Saviour and at the very Church door the Traytors assaulted him with their drawn Swords Roderick the Eldest of the Brothers notwithstanding he was his Godfather gave him the first wound then the others seconded it till he fell down Dead Da. Sancha now a Widow before she was marryed fainted away at this dismal News and as soon as she came to herself ran to the place where imbracing the dead Body she wasted herself in Sighs and Tears The Body was deposited in the Church of S. John and thence afterwards translated to the Monastery of On̄a In both places his Sepulcher is to be seen to this Day This accident changed the whole Face of affairs in Spain D. Sancho the King of Navarre who lay in the Suburbs of Leon in Tents after the manner of a Camp inherited the Earldom of Castile to which he gave the Title of a Kingdom whereby his power began to be terrible to the King of Leon. The Traitors fled and got into Monçon hoping perhaps that Fernan Gutierrez offended at the late Earl and the King of Navarre for the Towns they had taken from him would joyn them But by the industry of King Sancho they were taken and burnt King Bermudo warned by his Father's Death was inclinable to Peace and being made sensible of the inconstancy of human Affairs by the misfortune of the
Abbot of Valladalid for that it was he who started that Discourse and consulted with the Queen how to be reveng'd They thought fit to call him to Aâ—â—ount for the administration of the Royal Revenue which he had Charge of and the Business was committed to the Arch-Bishop of Toledo King Sancho went away to Santiago in 〈◊〉 and by the way in the Monasterâ— of Sahagun finding that the Bonca of King Alonso the VIth and his two Queens Elizabeth and Mary were meanly laterred he â—â—us'd them to be put into decent Tombs with 〈…〉 Being return'd to Valladâ—lid he honour'd D. Lope Diaz de Haro â—â—rd of Biscay to whom chiefly he 〈…〉 Crown with the place of Lord Steward of his Household and his Standard heaâ—ery Besides he made him Governour of many Forth and on the 1st of January gave him the Title of an Earl all these Honours in remainder to his son James Lopez de Haro 〈…〉 de Haro Brother to D. Lope was made General of 〈…〉 Thus that Family increas'd Riches and Power and D. Lope became the King 's Favouriâ—â— all Things were govern'd according to his Will in so much that the other Nobles complain'd he tyranniz'd in the Name of King Sancho Paticularly the People of Leon and Gâ—â—cia found fault that he bestow'd all 〈…〉 upon his own Creatures D. Lope great yâ—t more Hanghty having marry'd his Daughter Mary to Prince John and endeavour'd to have the King put away his Queen that he might Marry his Consin Gulielma Daughter to â—astâ—n Earl 〈…〉 This was not at all pleasing to the King who had now by the Queen another Son call'd Alonso and therefore sought an Opportunity to â—ake off D. Lope yet fearing some Rebellion kept him close about his Person in the same Hâ—â—â—ur whilst he visited the Kingdom of Toledo and went to 〈◊〉 The Design of this burney was to 〈◊〉 the People of Galicia who had revolted and put a stop to the incursions of the 〈…〉 Prince Alonso the King of Portugal's Brother and D. Alvar NunÌ„oz de Lara Son to D. John de Lara a restless Man and us'd to live upon Rapine Prince Alonso was possess'd of the 〈◊〉 of Pertalegâ—â— and Roncaâ— on the Frontiers of Castile and Portugal 〈◊〉 Lope de Haro was lest to reduce the Rebels of Galicia The affair of Portugal was 〈◊〉 of between that King and him of Castile and they agreeing with joynt Forces laid Siege to Ronca destroy'd all the Country and oblig'd it to surrender The two Kings being together at this Siege the Portuguese advis'd the Castilian to take D. Alvar NunÌ„ez de Lara into Favour that his Greatness might serve as a check to D. Lope de Haro which was done accordingly D. Lope diving into that Design upon pretence of visiting his Cousin the Viscount of Bearne withdrew into Navarre The Navarrois were of themselves inclinable to make War against Castile and therefore upon his coming took up Arms. Clement Luna a Frenchman was then Viceroy of Navarre Many Incursions were made by the Navarrois as well into Castile as Aragon but nothing of Note was done except taking the Town of Salvatierra from the later The Aragonians made War into Italy with better success Roger Lauria a brave Commander and famous for his late Victories surpriz'd a mighty Fleet of the Enemy near Naples and after a sharp Dispute obtain'd a compleat Victory taking 42 Sale and 5000 Prisoners among which were many of Note Most of them were ransom'd only Guido de Montfort was not releas'd the Kings of England and Aragon being his 〈…〉 Enemies because this Man was Great Grand-son to Simon Earl of Montfort who as has been said overthrew and kill'd Peter King of Aragon in the War of Toulouze And Simon Grand-son to the other Simon took Richard Brother to King Henry of England Prisoner Guido also cruelly Murder'd Henry the Son of that Richard the Emperour in the Cathedral of Viterbo at Man in Revenge for his Father kill'd in Battle by Edward King of England The French and English Historians affirm 〈◊〉 Guido was deliver'd up to the King of England A Sicilian Writer of that Age positively says he 〈…〉 Sicily of a Disease which could not be cur'd without having to do with a Woman which he absolutely refus'd because he would not wrong his Wife Margueriâ—e who after his Death behav'd not her self so well as she ought to have done The Aragonians were now at Peace and famous for their Riches Strength and the memorable Action they had perform'd Only the King of Majorca â—â—â—ested the Coast of â—â—â—alonia but â—â— nothing Remarkable Alonso King of Aragon was renowned and had the Ballance of Peace and War in his Hands keeping the two rightful Princes of Castile Prisoners in Aragon and him of Salerâ—o in Sicily These Princes growing weary of their Confinement inclin'd to admit of any 〈…〉 so they might be enlarg'd and great Kings interceded for them Many 〈…〉 sent from France and Castile upon that Affair but the Authority of Edward King of England was of most Weight because the Aragonian sought to Marry his Daughter Ellâ—â—or â—â—ose Kings resolv'd to meet at the City Oloron in the Province of Bearne and there 〈…〉 of the King of England it was agreed that the Prince of Salerno should be set at Liberty within a Year upon these Conditions That the Kingdom of Sicily should remain to D. Jayme That he should prevail with the Pope to give his consent and take 〈…〉 censures under which the Kingdom of Aragon lay That he should Pay 30000 Marks of Silver That Charles of Valcis should quit his Pretensions to the Crown of Aragon given him by Pope Martin And that if all this were not perfor 〈◊〉 within the Term of three Years that Prince should return in Prison and in the mean while should give his Three Sons Robert Charles and Luis and Sixty Men of Note of 〈…〉 as Hostages Charles Prince of 〈◊〉 being set at liberty went over into France and thence into Tuscany and after having appeas'd the Tumults rais'd by the 〈◊〉 in Rodâ— was at last by Pope 〈◊〉 the IV th declared King of Apulia and Sicily and accordingly 〈…〉 Pope pretended the late Agreement was invalid being made without his Consent that Kingdom being an antient Fleâ— of the Church This highly perplexed the King of Aragon and the Wordâ— for that he understand that Sancho King of Castile was 〈…〉 to break 〈◊〉 him and joyn with the King of France the Queen and Arch-Bishop of Toledo favouring the French and many others oppos'd He â—â— many Troubles ensu'd and D. Lope de Haro dying â—â— shall be related but Friends and 〈…〉 fled to Aragon and were the 〈◊〉 of new Wars This 〈…〉 speedily with the French The Embassadors of both Kings and the Popes 〈…〉 at the â—â—ity Lyons in French and â—here they agreed Thâ—â— King Sancho should give to D. Alonso de la Cerda the Kingdom of Mâ—â—câ—â— upon Condition he
of great Beauty which made him prefer her before Joanna Queen of Naples who was offer'd to him By this Lady he had two Sons who dy'd young and a Daughter call'd Elizabeth afterwards marry'd to the Earl of Vrgel CHAP. II. King John succeeds his Father in the Throne of Castile Charles King of France dies Charles the VIth succeeds him Pope Clement own'd in Spain through the French Interest KING John having bury'd his Father was Crown'd together with his Wife Queen Ellener in the Monastery of Huelgas at Burgos He Knighted 100 young Gentlemen according to the manner of those Times and gave the Town of Pancorvo to that City in Payment of the Expence it had been at and to reward its Loyalty The Cortes or Parliament was held in that City where several Laws were enacted One was that a Man who had receiv'd the lesser Orders if he marry'd should pay Taxes but if he liv'd Single was shorn and were the Habit of a Clergy Man he should be priviledg'd as a Church Man Great rejoycing was throughout the whole Kingdom for the King's Coronation The Joy was the greater for that it was hop'd he would prove an excellent Prince being Generous sharp Witted Mild Religious and not Conceited but always inclinable to be advis'd Of Stature he was low yet with Majesty The first thing he did after his Accession to the Crown was to express his Affection to the French and therefore immediately fitted out a Fleet and sent it against John de Montfort Duke of Britany whom because he sided with the English the King and Counsel of France had declar'd an Enemy to the Crown and confiscated his Estate The Fleet scower'd the Coast of Britany and took there the Fort they call'd Gaye The King spent the Summer at Burgos Two things concurred the one to increase the other to lessen the publick Joy The first was that one Joseph Pico a rich and famous Jew was kill'd by his own People He was Receiver General of the Revenue which rais'd him to a great height Some Jews of Note bore him ill will the reason of it is not known and they contriv'd to make him away To this purpose they deceitfully obtain'd an Order of the King for putting of him immediatly to Death and finding out the Executioner prevail'd with him to kill the Jew without delay The Fraud being discover'd the Contrivers of it were punish'd and that People were debarr'd the Power they had before of Judging their own Members a Liberty till then allow'd by the Kings forc'd by their wants because the Jews have extraordinary Methods of raising Mony The Subject of Joy was that on the 4th of October the Queen was deliver'd at Burgos of a Son call'd Henry in Honour of his Grandfather this Child came afterwards to inherit the Crown About the end of this Year and beginning of the next which was 1380 the Rains were so great and continu'd so long that all the Rivers overflow'd and all the low Lands were under Water Particularly the River Ebro near Zaragoća broke down it's Banks and ran a new way so that it cost much Mony and Labour to bring it back into it's own Channel From Burgos King John went to Toledo where he again repeated his Father's Exequies and plac'd his Body in the Tomb built for him Then he set out for Andaluzia resolving to aid the French against the English At Sevil he fitted out 20 Galleys with which Fernan Sanchez de Tovar having coasted along Spain and France came to the English Shore and ran up the River Thames destroying all the Country and burning the Villages The Difference about the two Popes was now hotter than ever and each of them had powerful Supporters Pope Vrban meditated Revenge against the Queen of Naples the chief causer of the Schism whom her wicked Life had rendred Infamous He invited Charles Duke of Durazzo descended of the Kings of Naples into Italy intimating he would conferr that Crown upon him On the other sid'e the Queen having no Children adopted Luys Duke of Anjou giving him the Title of Duke of Calabria appertaining to the Heirs of that Crown not doubting by that means to be supported by the Arms of France This is all the Title the Dukes of Anjou have to that Crown which was the occasion of tedious and bloody Wars betwixt them and Spain tho at this time the Design was only to support the Queen and Pope Clement On the 13th of July dy'd the Famous Bertran Claquin at the Siege of Chasteauneuf in Britany and on the 16th of September following Charles King of France departed this Life at Bois de Vincennes His Son Charles the VIth succeeded him The King of Portugal was concern'd about the Succession be being old and having never a Son Beatrix his Daughter by the Queen whose Birth was afterwards call'd in Question was contracted to Frederick Duke of Benavente and Bastard Son to King Henry After the Death of Henry the Portuguese would not stand to that Match but sent Embassadors to the new King to offer her to his Son Prince Henry then a Child but a few Months old King John hoping to joyn the Kingdom of Portugal to Castile admitted of the Proposal The Articles of Marriage were agreed upon at Soria where the Cortes met but at last they came to nothing Peter Manrique Leiutenant of Castile was apprehended being accus'd of holding a treasonable Correspondence with D. Alonso de Aragon Earl of Denia He dy'd in Prison without leaving any Children James Manrique his Brother inherited his Estate and Honours as he well deserv'd for his good Service in Navarre Luis Duke of Anjou govern'd France for King Charles who was under Age. The King of Aragon fear'd lest he should lay hold of that Opportunity to conquer the Kingdom of Majorca to which he pretended a right as has been said but he had bent his Thought upon securing the Crown of Naples to himself and his Heirs However King John of Castile sent Embassadors into France to accommodate that Affair and it was agree'd he should sell the Title he had bought King John advanc'd a good Summ out of kindness to his Father-in Law and to secure the Peace of Spain He also sent Embassadors to the Soldan of Egypt to sollicite for the Liberty of Leo King of Armenia whose Wife and Daughter had dy'd in Prison The barbarous King granted his Request and releas'd the Prisoner sending him into Spain with Letters full of Pride and Arogancy in relation to himself but honourably writ in regard to King John whose Power and Valour he extoll'd desiring his Friendship Three Years after that unfortunate King came into France and thence into Spain where the King entertain'd him honourably and gave him the Towns of Madrid and Andujan with a competent Revenue for his Maintenance He stay'd not long in Spain but return'd into France designing thence to go into England to perswade those Kings to
driven till our Men came to a plain where the Enemy left their Goods Wives and Children This Place the Infidels soon quitted and the Christians fell to plunder which an old valiant Moor perceiving he encouraged the rest who soon rallied and gave a fresh Charge upon the Christians Here D. Alonso de Aguilar and above 200 of his Men were killed His Son D. Peter de Cordova with much difficulty was brought off to the Earl of Uren̄a who made good his Ground The Earl of Cifuentes made a halt somewhat lower and there staying those that fled stood the Enemy till towards Morning they drew back to the top of the Mountain The King who was then at Ronda sent the Duke of Najara against Daydin and ordered the Earls of Uren̄a and Cifuentes to make show as if they would mount the same way they attempted before The Moors perceiving they were lost Men offered to submit It was agreed that such as would might have liberty to be transported to Africk paying Ten doubles a Head all that would stay should turn Christians Many went over to Barbary many more stayed and were Baptized yet were no better than those that went away Thus that War which had much alarmed all Spain was concluded The death of D. Alonso de Aguilar hapned the ensuing Year Let us return to what we left behind in point of time CHAP. III. The Birth of the Emperor Charles the V. The French possess themselves of the State of Milan and take the Duke and his Brother the Cardinal The Great Year of Jubilee 1500 The League betwixt France and Spain Cefalonia taken from the Turks AT the same time that the Moors of the Mountains Alpujarras were in Rebellion King Ferdinand had ordered a Fleet to be Rigged with all speed to be Commanded by the Great Captain in favour of the Venetians and against the Turks who threatned Italy It was given out that the Duke of Milan and King of Naples had brought them to their assistance against their Enemies Duke Valentin with Forces brought out of France made War in Romania as General of the Church against several who had possessed themselves of Towns in that Territory He took Imola and Fori the Countess whereof he made Prisoner His chief design was against the Lord of Pesaro who had Married his Sister who understanding his own danger having Garrisoned the City absented himself Luis Sforcia solicited the Emperor and Princes of Germany to assist him in recovering his Dominions He raised Men among the Swissers and Grisons and sending his Brother the Cardinal Ascanius before with them all Places he came to submitted to him The People of Milan drove their Governor into the Castle whence he was forced the 3d day to fly towards Pavia That same day the Cardinal entred Milan and after him the Duke with great Joy of the People tho' still the Castle was held by the French Pavia Lodi Pertona and Plasencia did the same The main of the French Army Rendezvouzed at Novaro in order to oppose the Duke Thither repaired the French Forces that had been with Duke Valentin he thereupon returning to Rome where nothing was done by the Pope without his advice At Ghent in Flanders the Princess Joenna Wife to the Archduke was brought to Bed of her Son Charles on the day of St. Mathias This is he to whom Heaven had Decreed so mighty an Empire as afterwards was subject to his Command Eight days after his Birth the Princess Margaret came to Ghent and was his Godmother with the Dutchess Margaret 2d Wife to Duke Charles The young Prince was Created Duke of Luxemburg whereas before the Eldest Sons of the Dukes of Burgundy were called Earls of Charalois The News of his Birth wasreceived with great Joy in Spain and the Catholick Queen said The Lot has fallen upon Mathias alluding to the day he was Born upon and considering the weakness of Prince Michael who died soon after at Granada after whose death the Archduke and his Wife were Princes of Castile and Aragon After the Return of Vasco de Gama from India Peter Alverez Cabral was sent on the 8th of March with a Fleet of 13 Sail to continue that Enterprize By the way he Discovered Brasil was at first well received at Calicut but afterwards came to Blows with that People The War continued in Lombardy and the Duke by degrees recovered all he had lost He made himself Master of Alexandria and Novaro and being desirous to put an end to the War drew out of the City with all his Forces which were about 16000 Swissers and Germans Both Armies being ready to Engage his Swissers refused to Fight against the French and their Countrymen who served on their side whereupon he retired to the City in hopes to perswade them to Fight But they had before sold and now delivered him up to the French who sent him to France where he died in Prison This sad News being brought to Cardinal Ascanius his Brother who lay before the Castle of Milan he went away with 500 Horse towards Placencia Charles Ursinus who Commanded some Troops of the Venetians met defeated and took him Prisoner After the Venetians had kept him some time they delivered him to the King of France who secured him in Prison at Bourges and some Years after set him at liberty Maximilian and Francis the Dukes Sons were at the Emperor's Court which saved them from being involved in the Ruin of their Family The French without any Opposition possessed themselves of all the Dukedom The Cardinal of Roan resided at Milan to gain whom the Pope made him Legate of France excepting Britany for the space of a Year and a half The King of Castile was jealous of the King of Navarre because he shewed much affection towards the French wherefore not content with the Ingagements the Governors of Towns were obliged to make to him the Towns of Sanguessa and Viana had been put into a third Hand by way of pledge for five Years That Time being expired the King of Navarre demanded the Restitution of them and the Catholick King delayed it To end all Controversies the King of Navarre came himself in April to Sevil where the Catholick King and Queen were All things were there adjusted and the Towns restored The Count de Lerin then a Banished Man in Castile was restored to most of his Eastate and to the Office of Constable which he had before to the great Offence of D. Alonso Peralta Earl of Santistevan from whom that Honour was then taken without any Demerit of his or any Recompence made him This 't was feared might occasion new Troubles For Security of the Agreement betwixt the Two Kings the King of Navarre left his Daughter the Princess Magdalen to be bred up in the Court of the Catholick King as a Pledge of his real Friendship This was now the great Year of Jubilee in which multitudes of People from all Parts of
and Queen of Navarre These were all Chimera's framed according to every Man's Interest They said the Archbishop aimed at a Cardinal's Cap and desired a Bishoprick for his Companion F. Francis Ruyz The Duke del Infantado coveted the Bishoprick of Palençia for one of his Sons The Duke of Albuquerque would have the Castle of Segovia restored to the Marquess of Moya The Duke of Najara was displeased to see the Constable so great with the Catholick King and the Marquess de Villena was envious of the Duke of Alva's Favour The Earl of Benavente would have the Fair granted to his own Town of Villalon by King Philip confirmed tho' it was to the Prejudice of Medina del Campo Others had other private Pretensions without any regard to the Publick Good To prevent Disorders the Archbishop of Toledo and the Deputies for deciding of Controversies agreed that the Nobility should Swear That before the Meeting of the Cortes they would not call in any Prince nor make any sort of Contract with any and the Catholick King from Naples writ to many of the Nobility promising to content them in their Pretensions The Dissention among the Nobility gave occasion to many Disorders One was the escape of Duke Valentine from Mota de Medina He fled to the Lands of the Earl of Benavente and thence with the assistance of the said Earl to Navarre D. John de Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia sent his Son Henry with Forces to besiege Gibraltar a Place given him by King Henry and taken away by King Ferdinand The Governour in it defended himself and Relief being sent by the Earl of Tendilla and the Councils of some Cities the Siege was raised The Archbishop of Sevill promised he would prevail with the Queen and the King her Father to stand Trial at Law with the Duke Afterwards the Duke and Archbishop met at Toçina with the Earl of Urena and Cabra and the Marquess of Priego and there engaged together to stand by the Queen and Kingdom to obey all Orders from the Queen and Council but as for the Cortes they protested if their Resolutions were not for the Honour of God and the Advantage of the Queen and her Kingdom they thought not themselves obliged to obey them D. Roderick de Mendoça Marquess of Cenete was upon marrying the Lady Fonseca but some Dispute arising about it that Lady was by the Queen's Order secured yet the Marquess took her by force out of the Monastery of Huelgas at Valladolid At Toledo the Earl of Fuensalida would not allow Peter de Castilla as Governour but the Family of the Sylva's and some Soldiers sent by Ferdinand de Vega standing by him the Earl was forced to desist At Madrid the Family of the Zapata's and D. Peter Lasso de Castilla took up Arms for the Catholick King and John Arias to oppose them At Segovia the Marquess of Moya secured the Great Church and Gates of the City hoping to recover the Castle Thus all the Kingdom was in a Flame and no body to quench it CHAP. II. Queen Joanna departs from Burgos Is wholly incapable of having any Part in the Government The Affairs of Naples Queen Joanna brought to bed of a Daughter at Torquemada Great Disorders in Castile THE Queen by reason of her Indisposition was rather a Hindrance than a Help to Business On All-Saints-day having heard Mass in the Monastery of Miraflores after Dinner she caused the Coffin of the late King her Husband to be opened as was believed fearing it had been carried away to Flanders by the Flemings who pressed to be paid their Arrears in order to return home This being proposed to the Queen she gave no answer but that she would take care to pray to God for her Husband It was several times proposed to remove her from Burgos but she could be persuaded to nothing that did not hit with her own Humour Her Company she most delighted in was the Lady Joanna d' Aragon the Marchioness of Denia the Countess of Salinas and the Lady Mary de Ulloa Being very big with Child she resolved to remove to Torquemada and carry the Body of her Husband in order to send it to Granada The day before she set out she commanded John Lopez de Lazarra her Secretary to write an Order by which all Grants made by her Husband were vacated This being a thing of dangerous Consequence the Secretary delayed it and thereupon she called Four of the Council to issue that Order She appointed such as had been of the Council in the time of her Mother to continue and the rest to be removed Some of the Commons asking whether she would be pleased to send Two of them to intreat King Ferdinand to come and assist her in the Government She answered she would be glad of the King 's coming but said nothing as to the Government Yet she bid them be gone and not meddle in any thing that related to the Cortes without her Order which was as good as dissolving that Assembly The Queen set out by night with the Body of her late King and came about midnight to Cavia and thence went to Torquemada where she stayed At Burgos remained the Council of State the Archbishop of Toledo the Admiral and Duke of Najara Differences arose about protracting the Term prefix'd to the Agreement made betwixt the Nobility The Constable opposed and the Admiral was for prolonging of it and having the Council Obey till the Catholick King came To obstruct whose coming some proposed the Queen should marry but the Queen would hear nothing of it Many Ambassadors from the Princes of Italy resorted to King Ferdinand at Naples It was contrived with the Assistance of the King of France to obstruct the Emperour's taking the Government of Flanders into his hands that so neither he nor his Grandson Prince Charles might come into Spain The King of France endeavoured to join in League with King Ferdinand and the Pope against the Venetians to recover such Places of his as they possessed The Catholick King was willing that so he might regain what they had in the Kingdom of Naples Yet he thought better to be at Peace with that Republick that he might be at leisure to attend the more important Affairs of Castile Some time before died his Ambassador to that State Laurence Suarez and his Son Gonzalo Ruyz de Figueroa succeeded him The Pope tho' assisted by the King of France against John de Bentivoglia who had seized the City Bolognia yet thought good to make use of the Catholick King who sent to acquaint Bentivoglia That he could not but assist the Pope in recovering the Patrimony of the Church Hereupon Bentivoglia offered to admit the Pope upon certain Conditions which was accordingly done King Ferdinand sent Antony d' Acun̄a to Congratulate with the Pope and endeavour to join in a strict League with him to the end to obtain the Investiture of Naples for himself and his Heirs notwithstanding
Habit of a Peasant which he refused saying he would do it like a Gentleman with his Sword in his Hand It was agreed he should set out with 150 chosen Horse By the way he defeated 200 Miquelets killing 60 of them but the French hearing the Marquess was gone out pursued him with 800 Horse which made him hasten to the Protection of the Cannon of Palamos upon which the French passed on further In this Town were 500 Foot of the Marine with whom the Marquess set out again towards the Enemy whom they totally routed most of the Commanders being killed or taken and so the Marquess came Victorious to Barcelona 200 Irish having seized the Castle of Ostalric had agreed for a Sum of Money to sell it to the French but an Ensign of theirs prevailed with them to receive the same Sum from the Town and depart which was accordingly done The other Irish who served in Catalonia offended at this Perfidiousness of their Country men posted them as Traitors challenging them to fight either Man to Man or in such Numbers with such Weapons and in such Place as they should make choice of This done they all took an Oath of Fidelity to the King of Spain His Majesty rewarded the Ensign that induced the Irish not to betray the Castle with a Company of Spanish Foot effective and 6 Crowns extraordinary above his Pay and 200 Crowns ready Money Those Four that assisted him had their Pay advanced The Miquelets siding with the French ranging the Mountains in Parties made great havock of all the Country-Towns that continued Loyal to his Majesty Among these Ripol held out a Month's Siege till Monsieur de Tilli coming with 400 French Foot and 18 Horse they were so streightned that they surrendered upon honourable Conditions which were Signed as is usual on both sides As the French and Miquelets entred the Town one Sagarra a Catalonian Lawyer said There were no Articles to be allowed betwixt the King and his Subjects as if Ripol had belonged to France Upon which the Soldiers fell to plundering without sparing the Churches or refraining from the Ravishment of Women Our Frontiers upon Portugal being of so great a length it was impossible to prevent the Enemy making some Incursions which tho' they were not of any great moment the Duke of S. German who Commanded on that side resolved to Revenge To this purpose he ordered the Commissary-General D. Christopher de Bustamante to march with 500 Horse to a place appointed near Aronches where the Lieutenant-General of Horse D. Gregory Ortiz de Ibarra and the Earl of Amarantes were to join him with 900 Horse more and then to send out some Parties towards the Town to endeavour to draw out the Enemy's Horse which was about 400 strong The Commissary General being come as far as S. Vinoent heard the Trumpets sound and found that the 400 Horse of Aronches having taken a Prey in sight of Valencia were upon their return home drawn up in 7 Squadrons He fell upon and put them to the rout taking 200 Prisoners and killing all their Captains except 2 taken with most of the other Officers This done he stayed all night at Valencia without going on to Aronches as was ordered Next morning the Lieutenant-Generals came before Aronches where a Party sent by the Commissary acquainted them how the Enemy's Horse had been defeated Upon which he directed their March towards Albuquerque and towards noon discovered about 800 Horse and 200 Foot of the Enemy who endeavoured to cut off their Retreat placing their Foot among certain old Walls and drawing up their Horse in 11 Squadrons as ours did in 14. Our Troops charged and broke the Enemy's Vanguard then the two Bodies advanced and after a fierce Dispute the Portugueses were totally defeated Only two Squadrons stood under the shelter of their Foot which did us much harm when we charged them Under that covert the Enemy rallied again but offered not to stir from their Musqueteers and so our Horse marched away towards Campo Major Of the Enemy D. Andrew de Albuquerque General of Horse and a French Commissary-General 3 Captains of Horse with many other Officers and Soldiers were killed and above 170 wounded On our side was lost the Count de Amarantes Lieutenant-General of Horse 2 Captains 8 Soldiers and 100 Horses besides the Wounded This Year the Earl of On̄ate came to Court from his Government of Naples where he gained much Honour in settling of that Kingdom He took great care to send timely Supplies to Milan Flanders and Catalonia He also sent 300 Statues of Marble Brass and other Metal for the King's Gardens was himself graciously received by his Majesty and sworn Councellor of State The French to open themselves a Way to Aragon and Catalonia laid siege to the Citadel of Casticon in the Valley of Aran. This Valley lies between Aragon Catalonia and the Province of Gascoigne in France and on the other side the Pyrenean Hills It is about 7 Leagues in length and 6 in breadth has 5 Passes into Spain about 30 Valleys and 6 Towns 5 Castles and 23 Towers The chief Strength of the Valley is in the Castle of Castiçon where lay 500 Men whose Commander is Governour of all the Valley The reason why there are so many Towers is the continual Wars with France To this Place the French laid siege The Garrison defended the Place with much Bravery till Colonel Poul de Parada coming to their Relief the Enemy drew off with such precipitation that they left many of their Arms about the Mountains Parada having relieved and supplied the Castle returned to the Army The Marquess of Caraçena having forced the French out of the Dutchy of Milan lay at Querriola in Piedmont to observe the motion of the French General Grance who had taken the Command of that Army having recruited it with above 3000 Men. Grance marched towards Aste and the Marquess into Montferrat designing to pass the River Tanar and so to cover the Dukedom Being come to Roqueta de Tanar on the 23d of September he staid there two hours for Boats to make a Bridge Mean while he sent a Company of Musqueteers over the Ford to discover the Enemy because he had no certain advice of their March Soon after came a Man who brought Intelligence the French were at Aste and intended to Muster at Bersa Mean while the Boats coming the Marquess laid a Bridge which the Foot began to pass the Horse at the same time fording As they began to pass a Country-man brought word that the Enemy marched towards Anon and immediately appeared a Company sent to discover retiring before a Body of the French after which followed their whole Army with a Resolution to attack the Marquess He considering that so many were passed that he could not avoid fighting hastned those that were behind and posted himself in a place where the River fetches a compass in form of the Letter C. In the narrow