for The Court remaining at Zamora the Archb. weary of too much rest retired himselfe into his Bishoprick being not greatly affected to the kings seruice but to take part and adhere wholy to the Duke of Benauent he now gaue them greater cause to suspect him for that he grew in choller with them of the Councell vppon his departure pressing them to giue the Duke of Benauent contentment and to pay him the Arrerages of his pensions and that they should also giue satisfaction to D. Diego Hurtado of Mendoça touching the Admiralty which he demanded and to Iohn of Velasco for the Office of Lord Chamberlaine to the King and to Don Iohn Alphonso de la Cerde touching the place of Lord Steward to the Infant D. Fernand which they had taken from him to giue it to Pero Suarez of Quignones Whereunto they answered mildly that it was fitte such men should be satisfied and that they would resolue according to iustice and equity and as their dignitie required Besides these importunities and other presumptions it was reported that he had receiued the twentith penny of all merchandize and goods which had beene sold within the Realme Archb. of Toledo and D. Iohn of Velasco detayned prisoners in Court with other vnlawfull impositions whereuppon the Gouernors gaue order to stay him and Don Iohn of Velasco Whereupon they were commanded to deliuer vnto the King or his Captaines the castles which they held so as the Arch-bishop was constrayned notwithstanding any excuses and allegations of his good seruice to dispossesse himselfe of the castles of Talauera Vzeda and Alcala the old and Iohn of Velasco of that of Arnedo For the Arch-bishops imprisonment there was a generall interdiction in the Diocesses of Zamora Palence Salamanca and in the court Such things past in Castile during the minoritie of the King D. Henry which did much greiue the confederate Princes their allyes to see a young Prince so ill intreated by his ambitious subiects among which the most remarkable were the great Prelates of the realme Among others Charles the sixth the French king did the office of a Christian Prince and friend sending this yeare 1393. a sollemne ambassage to the king of Castile the which came to Toro where as the Court then remayned to condole for the disobedience of his subiects especially of the Noblemen offering the king in their Masters name all ayde and support of the forces of France if he had need The French did also write to euery one of the Gouernors to the chiefe Noblemen of Castile and to the principall townes exhorting them by the duty which they did owe vnto God to the crown of Castile to obey their King and to seeke the peace and quiet of the realme This ambassage was receiued heard and sent backe with great honor as it was fit To draw the Duke of Benauent to the kings seruice the Arch-bishop of S. Iames went to him being at Tordehumes a place belonging to the duke hauing a safe-conduct from D. Alphonso Henriques of Castile son to the deceased D. Frederic Master of S. Iames. This Aarchb wrought in such sort as he reclaymed the duke promising him in the kings name a confirmation of his annuall pension and to giue him 70000. thousand frankes of gold to aduance him to some good marriage so as he would leaue the allyance of Portugal and moreouer the King would pardon him all that was past After which the Duke came to Burgos to the king without any distrust yea he refused a son of D. Iohn Hurtado of Mendoça and one of D. Diego Lopes of Estuniga with the Arch-bishoppes nephew which were offered vnto him for hostages at which his free disposition the king and the whole court did much reioyce Beeing at Burgos the truce concluded with Portugal was proclaymed as it had beene in like manner in Lisbone thither came Ambassadours from the Duke of Lancaster to demand two yeares arrerages of the pension which the deceased king D. Iohn had granted to the sayd Duke and to the Dutchesse D. Constance his wife beeing foure-score thousand Frankes of gold the which was willingly payed and therefore the Duke did quit the interest which hee pretended for want of due payment The King Don Henry growing to the age of fourteene yeares when as hee should take vppon him the gouernement of the Realme Maiority of D. Henry king of Castile being riper of iudgement then of yeares he did anticipate three moneths to free himselfe of his tutors and therefore hauing called the Noblemen and Prelats which did freely frequent the Court with the Deputies of the townes in the presence of D. Domingo Bishop of S. Ponce Legat to Pope Clement hee declared that from thence forth he tooke the gouernement of his realmes into his owne hands wherfore none of them should any more stile themselues Tutors nor meddle with the gouernment vnlesse they were called In this assembly the Legate was a meanes to haue the Arch-bishop of Toledo restored to those places and Castles which had beene before violently taken from him and the interdiction of the three aboue-named Bishopprickes was taken away the king making great submissions There they also treated to reforme many disorders within the Realm by reason that Bishopprickes and other spirituall liuings were giuen to strangers whereas they should be employed to entertaine youth at schoole Orders for the giuing of spiritual â—iuings or to reward men of merit and such as were borne in the Country which was the cause that Spaniards did not studie for want of meanes whereby the Realme was much damnified not onely in spiritual matters but also in temporall The redresse must come chiefly from the Pope who being importuned by such as had bin preferred to benefices and by letters of fauor from forraine Princes decreed that they should enioy them but after their deaths none should be preferred to any benefice in Castile and Leon if he were not borne in the countrie In this businesse the king carried himselfe afterwards as he pleased Beeing free from his Gouernors hee had many waightie affaires especially for the confirmation of the peace made with the Duke of Lancaster and for the truce newly concluded with the king of Portugal there beeing a reseruation in both treaties of a confirmation when he should come to the full age of fourteene yeares And moreouer it did behooue him to send an ambassage into France to renew the League with king Charles the sixth Besides the ordinarie expences in the Gouernours time amounted to fiue and thirtie millions of marauidis then currant mony so as it was needfull to cut off this excessiue charge for these considerations and others he called a generall assembly of the Estates at Madrid Whilest that they assembled he passed into Biscay where hee had not beene since his comming to the Crowne The Companies and commonalties of the countrie at his comming assembled in the field of Arechaalaga according to their vsuall manner
then before The King of Nauarre hearing that his wife had giuen cause to the King Don Henry to be discontented with her Nauarre by reason of her turbulent practises in Castile hee thought it a fit and conuenient meanes to draw her into Nauarre which shee did contradict all shee could whereupppon he sent his Ambassadours to the King Don Henry which were Martin Ayuar Gouernor of Tudele and a Doctor who found the court at Alcala of Henares They intreated the King of perswade the Queene his aunt to dispose her selfe to come into Nauarre to liue with her husband as duty required but if shee could not be drawne vnto it that hee would interpose his authority that the Infants his daughters might be deliuered vnto them to carry them to the King their father who would hold it for a great fauor The king D. Henry was very desirous she should retire her self being but a fire-brand to kindle combustions in Castile King of Naâ—â—â— sends for his wife but being of a milde and gentle disposition he could not resolue to force her wherefore he answered the Ambassadors that his will was to please the King their maister both in this and in all other things and that hee would doe what he might to perswade his aunt to returne so as he sent a messenger vnto her with perswasiue letters but shee made answere touching that which concerned her selfe as shee had done often before In regard of her children shee said that seeing she had sent two vnto the father they might well leaue her the other two for her consolation The King hearing this answere willed the Ambassadors to returne and to assure the King of Nauarre on his behalfe that hee would so deale as the Queene his wife should returne vnto him desyring him not to take it in ill part if hee first tried all milde courses and beâ—itting Princes so neerely allied or at the least if shee continued obstinate he would send him his daughters The ambassadors after they had renued the old league betwixt the two Princes in the which many great men of Castile entred they returend into Nauarre to giue an account vnto the King of their negotiation The Marshal Garci Gonçales of Herera who returned from the Queene of Nauarre Duke of Benauent and others Castille reported vnto the King that the Duke and Queene had met at Roa and that they complained of his fauorits which were D. Iohn Hurtado of Mendoça his Lord Steward D. Diego Lopes of Estuniga Iustice Major and Ruy Lopes of Aualos his Lord Chamberlaine and soone after the King was aduertised that the Archbishop of Saint Iames had ioyned with the Duke League treated to the preiudice of the king of Castile and that they treated a league betwixt them the Earle of Gijon the Infants of Portugal and others the which did much trouble him The Ambassadors of Nauarre staied not long before they returned into Castile which were the same Gouernor of Tudele and the Bishop of Huesea a Frenchman borne The King hauing past the mountaines was come to Vailledolit where he was againe in the King of Naurres behalfe prest with his promise wherevpon hee tooke two months respight to send the Queen and her daughters or at the least the Infantas without any futher delay and hauing propounded it in councell what assurance the Queene of Nauarre might with reason demand of her husband they gaue their opinions that the King D. Charles with some of the chiefe Knights Deputies of the cities and towns of Nauarre swearing that she should be wel and honourably intreated she had no cause to refuse to goe vnto her husband Hee sent a gentlemen with the Ambassadors of Nauarre Resolution for the Queene of Nauarres returne to her husband to let the King their maister vnderstand what had beene thought fit in councell and to receiue the oth To preuent the tumultuous troubles in Castile and to breake the league which the aboue named Noblemen with the Queene Donna Leonora had plotted the King D. Henry drew together two thousand Launces beeing newly incensed by the refusall which D. Alphonso Earle of Gijon had made to sweare the truce made with Portugal it being concluded that certaine prelats and noblemen of Castile should sweare it and signe it with the King the Earle excusing himselfe for that he had married a wife of the bloud of Portugal to whom there had beene certaine places and other things promised by the treaty of marriage which had not beene kept the like refusall was made by D. Alphonso of Arragon Marquis of Villena saying the truce had beene made without his priuity whereof the Ambassador of Portugal being sent to that end into Castile tooke an act For this cause and other signes tending to open rebellion the King armed and sent D. Diego Lopes of Estuniga to the Archbishop of Saint Iames to know his intent and what cause he had to complaine The Archbishop answered that these tumults grew for that they had cut off these Noblemens pensions and confirmed them to others and that there was no better meanes of peace then to giue contentment to the duke and the rest Don Diego Lopes aduised him to come to court to giue his opinion touching these things but hee answered that hee would not come whilest the Archbishop of Toledo was in court With these intestine troubles the King D. Henry was almost drawn into an vnseasonable warre Moores with the Moores of Granado by the vaine ouerweening of D. Martin Iuanes of Barbuda maister of the Alcantara a Portugal borne who being entred into quarrell with Ioseph King of Granado touching religion would make triall of the truth of Christian religion by armes of his person against the King of Granado or of a hundred Christian Knights against two hundred Moores or more to that proportion vnto a thousand The King being aduertised of this other tumult hee commanded the maister by his letters not to enter into this action for that hee would not by any meanes haue the truce broken with the Moores but the maister not regarding the Kings prohibition marched to Cordoua with three hundred Launces and one thousand foote hauing a crosse for his Ensigne They of Cordoua let him know that he should not vndertake this enterprise which was contrary to the Kings will and seruice and the peace of the country giuing him many examples of their ruine which haue caused vnnecessary war but he gaue more credit to an Hermit called Iohn del Says who had assured him that hee should haue the victory wishing him not to giue care to any that said the countrary Moreouer being much giuen to Astronomy he thought he had foreseene some thing by the starres The wisest men fo Cordoua namely D. Alphonso and D. Diego Lords of Aguilar seeing that no reasons could preuaile with the maister would haue slopped his passage at the city bridge but he was so fauoured by the superstitious multitude vnder
collour that it was dishonourable to hinder an enterprise of the crosse against Infidels so as he not only past but so augmented his troupes as being come to Alcala the Royal he had aboue fiue thousand foote At A cala D. Alphonso Fernandes of Cordoua Lord of Aguilar and his brother D. Diego Fernandes came vnto him who did admonish him againe adding withall that euery one would hold it indiscreetly done of him who was reputed a wise Knight and Maister of the Order of Alcantara to goe and defie the King of Granado who was so neere as with in lesse then two daies hee might incounter him with two hundred thousand foote Great power of the realme of Granado and fifty thousand horse and that without doubt besides the daunger and hurt hee might doe vnto the realme by the breach of the truce and defeat of his men he should blemish his honour and draw vpon himselfe perpetuall blame amongst all men that professed armes as a rash and ill aduised captaine but finding him obstinate and pretending that it would be held cowardise and basenesse in him if hauing past so farre Asores the bounds betwixt Granado and Castile hee should now returne wherevpon they wished him to lead his men to the riuer of Açores which makes the limit betwixt Granado and Castile and there attend the King of Granado a day or two if hee appeered hee should either fight with him body to body or else a hundred Christians against two hundred Moores as they agreed But if the Moores came not to the confines hee should bring backe his troupes and so hee should preserue his honour and reputation The Maister who was confirmed in his desire to fight with the Moores beeing moreouer incensed for that the Granadins had intreated two Gentlemen ignominiously whom hee had sent vnto their King to carry this challenge hee answered brauely to these Kinghts that hee thanked them for their good aduice but he was resolued not to stay vntill hee saw the port of Eluira at the city of Granado or fight with the Moores if hee met them vpon the way that he did hope to let the world see a miracle within few daies Thus he entred vnfortunatly into the country of Granado and did assault the tower of Excla where hee was hurt in the hand and neeere vnto him were three of his men slaine by the defendants whereas hee beganne to bee amazed for the Hermit which followed him had told him that he should not loose a man Hermit an Impostâ—r and therefore hee demaunded of him what it ment that they had already slaine three of his men to whom the Hermit answered that it was ment in battaile and not at the seege of places the which the Maister beleeued as assayling the tower more furiously then before The King of Granado seeing the rashnesse of this vnaduised Maister of the Order of Alcantara sent Ambassadors to the King of Castile to complaine of the breach of the truce made betwixt them and to demaund if it were by his commandement or not On the other side hee assembled a good number of horse and foote with the which hee marched towards the fronter he surprized the maister who was ill aduertised and charged him with his troupes so furiously as without giuing them time to arme hee slue the maister and all his horsemen with most of his footmen of the which about fifteene hundred saued themselues by flight The maister D. Martin Iuanes caused himselfe to bee surnamed Without feare and there is such an Inscription found vpon his tombe in Alcantara whether his body was carried by the permission of the King of Granado The King of Castile had newes of this defeat being in the Monastery of Santa Maria of Pelayos neere vnto the towne of Saint Martin de val d' Eglise where in a manner at the same time arriued the Ambassadors from the King of Granado who made their complaint and demaunded if the maister of Alcantara were entred in hostile manner into Granado Ambassage from the king of Granado to the King of Castile by his commandement and what his pleasure was for the entertayning of the truce The King answered that what the maister had done did much displease him and that he had forbidden him by his letters to vndertake such quarrels it auayling nothing to countenance religion by the breach of the truce which he desired to entertaine with the King of Granado his friend but he had not obayed him for the which he had beene punished if God by his iust iudgement had not abandoned him to bee slaine by the Moores and his men defeated as they had well deserued whereof he was newly aduertised to his great content The Messengers were sent backe with this answere the which did increase the ioy which the Moorish King conceiued for his victory by the assurance which they brought him of the continuance of the truce betwixt Granado and Castile This trouble vpon the Moores frontier was a pretext for the Duke of Benauent and other of the confederates to arme D. Henry reduceth the rebels to his obedience and to fortefie themselues euery one in his quarter saying it was to be ready at the Kings commandement if the Moores did enter into Andalâ—sia The King did cause D. Fernand Roderiques of Villadobos to bee chosen maister of the Knights of Alcantara in the place of the deceased Barbuda D. Laurence Suarez of Figueroa maister of Saint Iames vnderstood of this route in Ocagne where he was and came presently to the King being at Pelayos he aduised him to haue his forces in a redinesse for all euents assuring him that he should easily supprsse the Duke of Benauent and the Earles of Gijon and Transtamara with other Malcontents the which hee should not much regard but rather be carefull of the Moorish warres if they grew hot And to assure the frontier of Andalusia it was expedient that he were sent to Villa Real with the Archbishop of Toledo to ioyne with the Maister of the Calatraua and that the King should come to Toledo promising moreouer that he would perswade D. Alphonso of Arragon Marquis of Villena to come and doe him seruice The King beleeued this councell and came to Toledo whether D. Diego Lopes of Estuniga came vnto him and gaue an account of the â—oiage which hee had made vnto D. Iohn Garcia Manrique Archbishop of Saint Iames but the King being otherwise aduertised of the disobedience of the Duke of Benauent and of his confederats and how they continually leauied men he came to Illesca being followed by the Archbishop of Toledo the Maister of Saint Iames the Earle of Niebla D. Diego Hurtado of Mendoça Admirall Iohn Hurtado of Mendoça Lord Steward Diego Lopes of Estuniga chiefe Iustice Ruy Lopes of Aualos Chamberlaine and other Noblemen with about seuenteene hundred Launces Heere D. Alphonso of Arragon Mrquis of Villena who had not approched neere the court all the Kings
brother led some troupes towards Auila where by the meanes of Aluaro of Bracamont and Fernando of Aualos who had taken vpon them to defend it they became maisters from thence the King of Nauarre did write a letter vnto the King of Castile full of good councel accusing the constable of auarice Insolemies of the Constable of Castile made knowne vnto the King cruelty tyranie insolency and contempt of the Princes and Noblemen yea of the King himselfe hauing presumed to kil a squier in Areualo and a groome to flie his fury hauing cast himselfe at the Kings feet as in a most assured Sanctury he had beaten him almost in his bosome stretching his armes ouer the Kings shoulders without any respect to his dignity whom euery man to the great dishonor of his royal person said he had inchanted and to conclude if he did not chase him away and punish him he could not be honored nor serued by the Princes and Noblemen of Castile who could not endure such indignities from an vpstart whose beginning was scarce knowne The King knew well that many things contained in these letters were true yet being gouerned by such as fauored the constable he made no answere wherevpon the confederats sent the Earles of Haro and Benauent vnto him who after many Negotiations concluded with the Kings councel that they should make an assembly of the Estates at Vailledolit whereas the deputies of the townes and Prouinces of Castile and Leon should meet and determine of that which should be held expedient for the quiet of the realme so as the Archbishop of Seuile and his Nephew the Earle of Alba did remaine at their houses Before the execution of that which had beene concluded the Infant D. Henry entred Toledo with three hundred and fifty knights through the fauor of D. Pedro Lopes of Ayala the Gouernor and made himselfe maister thereof hauing good correspondency with the King of Nuarre his brother whose faction was very strong at that time in Castile his friends and confederats holding the chiefe townes of the realme for besides that he had vnder his command the towne of Auila and his brother that of Toledo the Earle of Ledesma held Burgos and the castle Pedro of Quignones was maister of Leon Ruy Diaz of Mendoça commanded Segobia with the sort D. Henry Henriques the Admirals brother had Zamora and the castle Salamanca was in the hands of Iohn Gomes of Anaya Guadalajara of D. Inigo Lopes of Mendoça Lord of Hita Plaisance of the Earle of Ledesma Vailledolit of the Earle Pedro Nugnes other places were held by other Knights of that party the which did much trouble the King and his constable To make the assembly of Vailledolit more easie the Earles of Haro and Benauent returned to Bonille where it was againe concluded that the Kings and the Noblemen should retire their troupes and there was a general pasport giuen to al them that should come to Vailledolit with assurance of their goods yea to the constable who remained in his house at Escalano where by an ill presage the greatest part of the castle had some few daies before beene burnt with lightning notwithstanding the King would haue the pasport serue also for the constables person In this assembly it was decreed that the cities and townes held by the confederats should bee left free at the King of Castiles dispose but there was not any thing effected and the more to trouble the realme D. Henry Prince of the Asturia's perswaded by his spouse and the confederat noblemen began to ioyne with the King of Nauarre his future father in law retyring himselfe vnto the Admiral D. Frederics lodging wherewith the court was much troubled and the King sent the Earle of Castro and Ruy Diaz of Mendoça to the King of Nauar to vnderstand the cause of this alteration who answered that he knew it not and withal went with them to the Admirals lodging to vnderstand the reason The Prince answered that he had retired himselfe thether by reason of Doctor Perjineâ— Alphonso Pâ—res of Biuero and Nicholas Fernandes of Villanicar of the Kings councel being vnworthy of that ranke and beseeching the King that he would chase them away else he would retire himselfe The King promised to dismisse them wherevpon the Prince was pacefied and came to the Kings palace D. Iohn de Pacheâ—o gouerns Prince Henry after midnight the King of Nauarre accompanying him The Prince D. Henry was gouerned by a yong gentleman called D. Iohn de Pacheco sonne to Alphonso Telies Giron Lord of Beaumont who was preferred to his seruice by the constable and was afterwards made Marquis of Villena and maister of the Order of Saint Iames. The King at the Estates of Vailledolit setled some order for Iustice which was but badly executed in Castile and some thing to pacefie the Princes and Noblemen that were mutined and to diuert their armes hee thought it now time to celebrate the marriage of D. Henry and the Infanta of Nauarre being three yeeres since they were made sure and either of them being fifteene yeeres old the bond of consanguinity which might hinder it was dissolued by Pope Eugenius the fourth The Infanta being sent for she entred into Castile An. 1440. in the yeere 1440. beeing accompanied by Queene Blanch her mother the Prince of Viana her brother and many noblemen prelats and knights of Nauarre Shee was receiued in the towne of Logrogno by D. Alphonso of Carthagena Bishop of Burgos D. Inigo Lopes of Mendoça Lord of Hita and by D. Pedro of Velasco Earle of Haro From thence the Prince D. Charles returned into Nauarre with his Gouernor D. Iohn of Beaumont who in the Princes name gouerned the realme the Queene mother being absent The Princesse with all her traine being come to Vilhorado a house belonging to the Earle of Haro she was entertained with sumptuous feasts great sports and rare inuentions and much more at Birbiesca by the Earle himselfe D. Pedro of Acugna did the like at Duegnas whether the Prince D. Henry came to meet his spouse whereas he presented her with many rich iewels and shee him who hauing beene some foure and twenty howers with the Ladies he returned to Vailledolit whether they went There went forth to meet them the Kings and al the principall Noblemen of the court who made a stately entry into the towne and the Queene and Princesse went to the King of Nauarres lodging whose brother D. Henry came from Toledo to assist at the marriage the which was celebrated with a royall pompe Cardinal of Saint Peter D. Pedro of Ceruantes Bishop of Auila performing the ceremony But the vnfortunate hap of this Princesse was such as the Prince D. Henry proued vnable to consummate the marriage Marriage of the Prince of Castile and the Infâ—nta of Nauarre the which she did vertuously conceale for many yeeres To honor the marriage the noblemen ran at tilt with sharpe pointed lances but
sworne to by the King and the Princes and that for the peace of the Kingdome all crimes and offences how heinous soeuer should be generally pardoned that had beene committed til the Kings present comming into the country re-establishing by full power and royall authority euery man in his honor goods and reputation reuoking and adnulling all sentences and proceedings made to the contrary That all places townes and castles which had beene taken from one an other all offices as wel Ecclesiasticall as secular vsurped since the taking of the castle of Morillo should bee restored to the first lawfull possessors thereof within the terme of seuen monthes excepting the moueables and frutes which were spent reiecting al guifts grants and ingagements made by the King Princes or any other Neuerthelesse herein was not to be comprehended the differences betwixt the Earle of Lerin and Lord Iohn of Beaumont and Charles de Artieda against D. Pedro of Peralta Constable of Nauarre and the Marshall of Nauarre who were enioyned to submit themselues to the Kings obedience within twelue daies after the publication hereof to the end to determine those strifes by way of Iustice vpon paine doing the contrary to be held as contumelious rebels and for such to be pursued and punished as disturbers of the publike quiet That all those who had beene wrongfully imprisoned since the surceance made by the Archbishop of Saragossa the Kings sonne in his name and the Princes should bee released and set at liberty paying their charges That the truce granted by them or their captaines should bee kept as well to strangers as the naturall subiects both in their persons and goods That whatsoeuer had beene taken and retaken to the preiudice of the same truce should be restored and deliuered without other ransome then paying their expences that the promises and obligations made in writing or by word of mouth betwixt the naturall subiects by reason of such prises made since the surcease should be of no effect and the Ecclesiasticall ordinaries should bee admonished to absolue them from their othes made in that behalfe enioyning euery one to set the prisoners at liberty within fifteene daies and not to ganesay this present treaty vpon forefeiture of two thousand royalls of gold to the Kings coffers As concerning the castle of Leguin belonging to the Prior of Rounceual which had beene taken before with great store of goods belonging as well to the prior as the Monastery they who had taken the same goods were enioyned to restore them or the value thereof seeing the Prior had alway beene a faithfull seruant to the King and the Princes That the King and the Princes should sollemnely sweare to cause all the heads and Articles aboue mentioned to bee effectually obserued and kept in euery point These things agreed vpon were published in the castle or pallace of Olita vpon Thursday the thirtith day of May in the yeere 1471. and were receiued by the secretary Iohn of Saint Iordi the Bishop of Oleron taking the oth with promise made by the Princesse Donna Leonora to cause the Earle her husband to confirme these Articles an authenticall coppy whereof sealed with the Earles seale she would send to the King her father At which were present the Bishop of Oleroni Pedro Lord of Ros the Earles Ambassador Frier Bernard Hugh de Rocabertin captaine of the Castle of Amposta Roderigo de Robolledo Gomes Suares of Figueroa and Iohn Payes the Kings Vicechancellor After that the Princesse hauing ample procuration from her husband dated at the Bathes of Caudes Aigues in the valley of Dosan sworne in his name to the Bishop of Oleron to obserue the aboue named couenants in the presence of the captaine of the castle of Amposta Iohn Payes the Vicechancellor and D. Fernand of Baquedan vickar generall of the Church of Pampelona All these capitulations were not of force to cease the troubles of Nauarre which continued along time after As concerning the affaires of Castile King Henry after resolution taken about the marriages of the Princesse his sister Castile and of Donna Ioane in Portugall beeing desirous to set downe some good some of gouernment in his Kingdome called a Parliament at the city of Ocagna where the deputies of the townes and communalties did meete except those of Andaluzia the great Lords of which Prouince were not well pleased with the dealings of the Maister of Saint Iames whereat the King was much mooued but most of al wheÌ„ he vnderstood of the marriag which was intended against his wiâ— betwixt the Princesse his sister and the new King of Sicil Fernand of Arragon which made him now more then before desirous to aduance Donna Ioane whom hee stâ—ll aduoâ—ved for his daughter notwithstanding he hated the Queene her mother by reason of her bad life which he himselfe had taught her wherefore with his owne hand hee wrote a letter to the Pope intreating him not confirme the succession of the Kingdome of Castile sworne to the Princesse Isabella but to grant it to Donna Ioane Hee wrote also to his agent at Rome Doctor Roderigo de Vergara borne in Logrogna and likewise to King Alphonso of Portugal to the end that he should make the like request to the Pope this was not done so secretly but that the Archbishop of Siuill had notice thereof who had it not beene for feare of the Maister of Saint Iames who delt in this businesse would willingly haue dashed that matter The King leauing Ocagna came to madrid where hee found Iohn Fernandes Galindo captaine and gouernor of the fort of Madrid and keeper of his treasures sicke to death at whose entreaty hee gaue the charge of the fort and of that which was in it to Andrew of Cabrera his Steward whom hee did dayly aduance and made partaker of his greatest secrets The city of Leon about that time had like to haue beene surprised by Diego Fernand de Quignones Earle of Luna but the practize being discouerd Aluar Garcia Citizen of the same towne with whom the Earle had intelligence was taken and beheaded as a traitor At the intreaty of the Maister of Saint Iames the King returned to Ocagna where hee gaue the title of Marquis of Villena to Diego Lopes Pacheco his eldest sonne Diego Lopes de Pacheco sonne to the Maister of Saint Iames made Marquis of Villena a braue knight who soone after Married the Countesse of Saint Stephen de Gormas daughter to Don Iohn de Luna Earle of Saint Stephen and grand-child to the Constable Aluar de Luna who was in the keeping of the Maister of Saint Iames who was at the same time confirmed in his Maistership by the Pope and possessed more riches then any Lord of Spaine The King of Portugall sollicited by King Henry about the marriage of the Princesse Donna Isabella sent his Ambassadors the Archbishop of Lisbone and two other Lords who were at the Court more then twenty daies without concluding any thing by reason that the
end that if they did not receyue him willingly his title beeing so well grounded he would vse force and therefore they should aduise not to draw themselues their families and the whole Realme into a warre and the miseries which follow it These letters were deliuered to many with good words and presents Lisbon refuseth the King of Spains letters but the cittie of Lisbone would not receiue them and as Christopher de Mora had left them with the Officers of the Cittie they sent them sealed vp vnto their King who was much trobled with this weightie busines and could not resolue any thing that was pleasing to king Philip who threatened him and began to let the Portugals know that he prepared to armes for not meaning to be taken vnprouided at Henries death which could not be long and that this delay should not any way preiudice him in that he pretended to be King of Portugal in despight of all those that would contradict he had drawne into Spaine of Germans Italians and Spaniards of his old regiments of Italy to the number of 18000. foot whom he entertayned many moneths with great charge and hinderance to his subiects in Andalusia and other places nere to Portugall which they could not coniecture to be to any other end but to inuade that realme where they sayd openly that armes and force were his best title for he had no right vnto it He among all the pretendants which did most trouble him and the King Don Henry also was Don Antonio Prior of Crato who was very well beloued of the people and of many of the Nobilitie The King was so incensed against him as he gaue commandement he should not be heard and taking vppon him to re-examine his cause of Legitimation he sought to dissolue the sentence which was giuen by Emanuell d' Almada Bishop of Angra appoynted Iudge by the Pope whereof Pope Gregorie the 13. beeing aduertised he retayned the knowledge of the cause to himselfe yet Don Henry either mooued by his owne passion or prest by the Castillans declared this sentence to be voyd by his owne authoritie without forme of law or solemnitie of iustice but Conestagio in the Historie of Portugall writes that King Henry had obtayned a Breefe secretly from the Pope Sentence of D. Antonio's legitimation disanulled by the which he gaue him authoritie to iudge the cause of legitimation absolutely without any forme of Processe and that of foure witnesses two confessed that they had beene suborned by Don Antonio and that the other two were suspected as his neere allies and disagreeing betwixt themselues and that Lewis his father tearmed him Bastard in his last will whereuppon hee declared Don Antonio illegitimate imposing him perpetual silence touching the pretended marriage and legitimation sending a Sergeant to Crato to seaze vpon the Prior but hee found him not This he writes But were it true or false the King leauing the qualitie of a Iudge commanded Don Antonio of his royall authoritie not to come within thirtie leagues of the Court. Then his indignation increasing he banished him the Realme depriued him of all pensions priuiledges and fauours which he had receyued of precedent kings seeking by all meanes to haue him apprehended and to put him into some streight prison yet Don Antonio went not out of the Realme but retired to some of his friends or to some Monasteries vppon the fronter neither did he forbeare to come and sollicite the Iudges with the which the king was dayly incensed Being prest by the importunities of king Philips Ambassadors terrified by his preparation to armes and perswaded by his Confessor father Lyon Henrique he did adhere wholy vnto him and there was then no difficultie but to find meanes to name him and to get the consent of the Estates and therefore he propounded a kind of accord betwixt the Realme and king Philip the which shold be treated by his means in an assembly of the Estates the which he called to that end But the king of Castile would not put his right to Compromise and detested this Assembly of the Estates K Henry falles sicke aduertising king Henry that he should not treate of this businesse with them vnited in one bodie but particularly with the chiefe of the Clergie the Nobilitie and the townes In the meane time the king D. Henry found himselfe ill so as being taken with great faintings which held him long the Councel which was about him and the Deputies assembled in the towne of Almerin whither they were retired by reason of the plague which was very violent in Lisbon and in a manner in all the other townes of the Realme thinking that he would neuer recouer it they presumed to open the boxe wherein was the lyst of such as he had chosen to be Gouernors of the Realme and to proceede to the nomination of a Successor in case he had not done it where they found Gouernors of Portugal that of the fifteene that were contayned in the rowle he had chosen George d' Almada Arch-bishop of Lisbon Francis de Sada Lord Chamberlain Iohn Tello Iohn Mascaregnas and Diego Lope de Sosa President in the Councell of Iustice at Lisbon The king was somewhat recouered but knowing that he drew neere his end employing the remainder of his daies in the care of his soule and leauing this businesse with others imperfect An. 1580. he dyed the last of Ianuary 1580. hauing held the royall seate as the Castillans sayd seuenteene moneths and some dayes Death of King Henry beeing 68. years old for he dyed in the same moneth and on the same day that he was borne This was the last king of Portugall in whom ended the direct masculine line And as the first Lord of Portugall though with the title of an Earle was called Henry euen so was the last Life of King Henry He was of a thinne bodie low of stature and leane of his visage hee had an indifferent good wit and was endowed besides the Latine toung with some knowledge He was alwaies held to be chast and did neuer blemish that angelicall vertue but with the desire of marriage in his latter dayes He was accompted sparing giuing rather then denying for he refused seldome but he gaue sparingly he was ambitious of all Iurisdiction as well ecclesiasticall as ciuill zealous in religion but more seuere then was fit in the reformation of Clergi-men He was Bishop Gouernor of the Realme Inquisitour Maior Cardinall Apostolicke Legate and King But the greater he grew in dignitie the more he discouered his incapacitie and weaknesse suffering himselfe in greatest affaires to be ouer-ruled by his ministers not able to determine the cause of the succession Hee was very obstinate in his opinions neuer forgetting any wrongs so as iustice was in him but an vniust execution of his passions and therefore a religious man whome hee had prest to take vppon him a most strict course of life sayd vnto him that hee
Zael or Zaen which were both strong This Zeit Aben Zeit seeing himselfe pursued hee made open declaration of that which he had long before desseigned Zeit King of Valence baptized and making himself vassal to the king Don Iames he became a Christian and was called D. Vincent de Belluis He afterwards married a Lady called Dominick Lopes of Sarragossa of which mariage was borne a daughter called Alda Fernandes who was married to Blaiçe Ximenes d' Arenos 21 The warre of Valentia beeing resolued the Generall of the army vnder the king was D. Blasco Alagon by whose valour and diligence Morelia was taken a place which was held impregnable VVarre in Valence against the Mooâ—es Buriane was also beseeged and with great difficulty taken Peniscola Chiuert Ceruera Polpes Alcalatena Albufera Almenata Vxo Noles Castro Alfandecho Paterna Bulla and other places some by force some by composition and partly by the meanes and intelligences which king Zeit had and by the fauour of such as held his partie came into the power of the king D. Iames so as by degrees hee enuironed the citty it selfe cutting off their victuals and all other commodities In these expugnations they did then vse rammes moouing towers with many stages and other sorts of engins The resistance of the Moores which held Zaens partie was very great neither were they abandoned of their friends nor of the kings raigning in Affricke for twelue gallies and sixe vessels called Zabres of Tunez shewed themselues often as if they would land or assayle the places held by the Arragonois along the coast but without any effect The Estates of Arragon and Cattelogne were assembled at Monçon in the yeare 1236. An. 1236. for the continuance of this warre Estates at Mon son for the war of Valâ—nce and the conquest of Valencia without the which it was not lawfull for the king to vndertake any matter of importance The President at these estates was Pedro Perez Iustice maior of Arragon where there assisted D. William of Montgrin co-adiutor to the Arch-bishop of Tarragone the Bishops of Barcelona Saragossa Vic and Tortosa the Master and Prior of the Templers and Hospitaliers Friar Raymond of Pegnafort a most famous Iacobin Roger Bernard Earle of Foix and Don Fernand the kings vncle D. Ponce Cabrera Earle tutelarie of Vrgel D. Pedro Vgo Earle of Ampurias D. Nugno Sanches Earle of Rossillon D. Gerard Vicount of Cabrera D. William of Cardona D. William and Pedro of Moncada Berenger Puçuert William and Berenger ' Anglesol Bernard Portella Hugues Mataplan sonne to Hugues Galserand Pinos William of Laquila Raymond of Peralta Peter Vicount of Villemuir Raymond VVilliam Odeua Berenger Erille and William Ceruera all Knights and Noblemen of Cattelogne And of the realme of Arragon D. Pedro Cornel Lord Steward Bernard William Garci Romeo Symon Vrrea Artorella Artal de Lune Blasco Alagon Roderigo Lizana Blasco Maza Bâ—renger Gombald Entenza Symon de Foces Assalit Gudalis Fortun Verga Simon Lueza and others The meanes to defray this warre besides the Croisados pardons and indulgences were ordayned to be leuied vpon the people by the Imposition of a custome called Morabetine and the exaction of the Impost for cattell In this assembly it was decreed that all peeces of gold and siluer coyned should be of one goodnes and weight in Arragon and Cattelogne to the obseruation of which Edict for coynes all were bound to sweare that were aboue 14. yeares old During the seege of Valenciâ— many Noblemen and common souldiers strangers French and Englsh came to D. Iames his campe The Authors of the Arragon Historie write that the Kings army at the hottest of the siege might bee 60000. foot and a thousand horse meaning Knights and Masters followed according vnto the Order and Discipline of warre in those dayes by their vassalls besides the forces at sea This warre was long and the seege troublesome yet it was attempted battered and assaulted and the Moores within it brought to so great extremity as Zaen the Vsurper of that Principalitie beeing not yet well setled nor assured of the peoples wils Valâ—ncia takâ—n by the Arragonois abandoned it and retired to Denia The cittie was yeelded the 28. of September 1238. The King Don Iames had in the yeare 1232. beene diuorced from D. Elenor of Castile his wife and yet had declared D. Alphonso their son the lawfull heire of the realmes of Arragon and Maiorca the lands of Cattelogne Vrgeil Montpellier and others appointing for Gouernors of his youth the Bishop of Tarragone the Masters or Priors of the Templers and Hospitaliers and William Ceruera ordayning that he should be bredde vp at Monçon and if he should chance to die then did he substitute vnto his Realmes and Seigneuries Don Fernand of Arragon his vncle and Don Raymond Berenger Earle of Prouence his cousin Notwithstanding the king Don Pedro during this warre of Valencia contracted a new marriage with the daughter of Andrew king of Hungary named Violant Genealogie of Arragon by whom he had a sonne called D. Pedro who was king after him of Arragon and Valencia and Prince of Cattelogne he had moreouer the Infant Don Iaime who was king of Maiorca and Minorca and Earle of Rossillon and Montpellier and a third called Don Sancho who was Arch-bishop of Toledo and Primate of Spaine Hee had also fiue daughters by her D. Isabell married to Philip the third King of France sonne to Saint Lewis D. Violant who was Queene of Castile and Leon wife to D. Alphonso the ninth D. Constance married to Don Manuell brother to the sayd D. Alphonso King of Castile D. Mary and D. Elenor who dyed young The dowrie of Queene Yolant or Violant as Surites writes was ten thousand Markes of siluer and two hundred of gold for her mothers rights Dowry of Q. Yolant for the which the Duke of Austria became answerable Moreouer a portion of the County of Namur in Flanders and the lands and rights which her Predecessors had enioyed in France with certaine places which she did then possesse in Hongarie and others that were fallen to her in Bourgogne by her mothers right and succession This Princesse was conducted to Barcelona in the yeare 1235. by the Bishop of the fiue Churches and a kinsman of his called Cont Denis who remained in Arragon and was the Author of the noble family of Denis which is vnited to that of Vrrez hee had two sonnes Amour and Gabriel Denis Don Pedro the eldest son of Queene Yolant was married young to Constance daughter to Manfroy bastard to the Emperour Frederick the second whom they called Prince of Tarentum which was a degree to attaine vnto the succession of the Realmes of Naples and Sicily Cattelogne freed from the Soueraignty of France and by the marriage of his daughter Isabel with Philip the Hardy sonne to Saint Lewis the French king the Kings of Arragon obtayned as the histories of Spain report a full freedome of the
his age hauing raigned foure and thirty yeeres leauing no children the realme of Portugal fel to D. Alphonso his brother without any dispute who was crowned King in the city of Lisbone in the yeere 1257. and being married to two wiues hauing no lawfull cause of diuorce from the first he was the cause of many troubles and miseries to the realme of Portugal for the preuenting whereof he had beene called He had children by the Countesse Mahault Fernand who accompanied his mother into Portugal and there remained and Robert who succeeded his mother in the county of Bologne Fernand whom some call Peter lies in the Monastery of Saint Dominike of Lisbone which this King built The Countesse his mother led him with her when as being aduertised of this second marriage she came into Portugal to know the cause why she was thus abandoned She landed at Cascais a sea towne at the mouth of the riuer of Tayo fiue leagues from Lisbone and from thence sent to intreat exhort and to summon the King her husband of his duty for want whereof she made the protestations ordayned by the Canons in that cause but she could haue no other reason nor answere from the King but if it were lawful to breake the lawes it was for a kingdome and that if he thought to augment his dominions by marrying againe he would euery day take a new wife These were the fruits of her voyage and D. Alphonso shewed himselfe so rigorous vnto her as hee would not vouchsafe to see her nor to heare any councel that was giuen hm by his seruants who had a regard to Iustice feared God more then him wherefore this poore Countesse returned and left this sonne in Portugal being in France she made her complaints of the disloyalty of her husband to the King Saint Lewis and sent some to doe the like to Pope Alexander the fourth that by his Ecclesiastical censures D. Alphonso might be forced to leaue D. Beatrix and take the Countesse his lawful wife againe The Pope did what he could exhorting commanding yea and excommunicating the King and interdicting his realme but D. Alphonso was so obstinate as he suffred the realme of Portugal to remaine interdict ten or twelue yeeres Contumacy of D. Alphonso King of Portugal as long as the Countesse liued During the which time the Portugals had leisure to forget that which they had learned in religion when as the King finding himselfe free he was absolued by Pope Clement the fourth retayning D. Beatrix without any let who in the meane time brought him foure children the Infant D. Denis so called for that hee was borne on Saint Denis day in the yeare 1261. who was king of Portugal and Algarbe the Infant D. Alphonso who was Lord of Portalegre Genealogie of Portugal Ronches Murban Castile de Vide and other lands and had to wife D. Violant daughter to D. Manuel of Castile sonne to D. Fernand the third and two daughters D. Blancho who was a Nunne in the Monasterie of Lorban and afterwards Abbesse of Saint Mary de las Huelgas of Burgos and D. Constance Besides these lawfull children this king D. Alphonso had one bastard sonne called Fernand Alphonso of Portugall and one daughter whose name was D. Leonora of Portugall married to an Earle called D. Gonçalo Whilest he stood excommunicated he made warre against the Moores which remained in Algarbe in the yeare 1260. 1260. and chased them out of Faro Laule Algezir and Albofera and augmented his dominions therewith Hee built the towne of Castro of Portalegre and Extremos Religious houses built by D. Alphonso during the Interdict he repayred Veja and other places which had beene ruined by the Moores He did not leaue to build Monasteries and religious houses during the Interdiction for he finished that of the preaching Friars of Saint Dominicke at Lisbone and did build that of Saint Clara of Saint Iren and others he gaue great almes and did many charitable deeds to expiate the sinne which he intended by the taking of a second wife not beeing separated from the first Moreouer to ease the people and to haue greater store of fruites in the country he caused certaine barren and waste ground to bee tilled neither did he forget to maintaine Iustice punishing theeues and malefactours whome his brothers carelesnesse had made insolent To conclude although he were defectiue and blemished in his marriages yet was hee a profitable Prince for his country Whilest these things passed in Portugall Castile and that the warre continued in Germany against the fauourers of Richard elect king of the Romanes D. Alphonso king of Castile sent an Ambassage of certaine Cleargi-men to Pope Alexander the fourth the which were D. Dominicke bishop of Auila D. Garcia bishop of Sylues and Iohn Alphonso Archdeacon of the church of Saint Iames learned men and of great authoritie who demanded assignation of the time of his Coronation and also to contradict the election of Richard who did not care to prosecute his right by iustice but by force and armes Attending the euent of these troubles and the returne of his Ambassadours D. Alphonso king of Castile ordered some things touching the policie of his Realm he decryed those sorts of money which he had coyned called Bourgalois and caused others to be made which they called blacke pence and in old Spanish Prietos fifteene of which were worth a Marauidis of gold and he made other lawes which were profitable to the Common-weale Whilest he was busie about these things and irresolute of his voyage into Germany hee had another crosse which stayed him more for his brother D. Henry a turbulent Prince and an enemy to all quiet committed many insolencies at Lebrixa where he did remain tending to open rebellion wherefore he sent D. Nugno de Lara from Seuile to suppresse him by whom he was vanquished and forced to fly to Valencia from whence the king Don Iaime caused him to dislodge for that he would not discontent his sonne in lawe wherupon he past into Affrick to the King of Tunes This Prince foure yeares after crost into Italy and was made Senator of Rome which is the chiefe dignity of that citty and grew to haue great authority and credit in the estate of Italy in the time of Pope Clement the fourth who was successor to Vrbain the fourth 8 The king of Nauarre Nauarre who was come into France finding his affaires in great disorder sought to settle them to maintain his rights in the Counties of Brie and Champagne beeing in controuersie the which he preserued by the fauour and authority of the King Saint Lewis and moreouer a marriage was made betwixt him and Isabel of France the kings daughter at Melun whom he led into Nauarre D. Iame king of Arragon was the mediator of this marriage who in a manner at the same time gaue his daughter Izabel in marriage to Philip the Hardy sonne to the king Saint Lewis
the same day that our Sauiour Iesus Christ had suffered This answer deliuered to the Queene shee sayd If it be so that the Prince takes his death so patiently by reason of that day for my part I am resolued to shew him mercie for his sake who the same day suffered death and passion for vs all Whereuppon shee commanded he should be preserued without any harme letting the people vnderstand who did presse her to put him to death that shee ought not in a matter of so great importance and which might be the cause of great inconueniences resolue nor excecute any thing without the priuity of the king her husband and therefore she commaunded that Prince Charles should be carried into Cattelogne to the king Don Pedro to dispose of him as he should thinke fit by good aduice This generous and Christian like act is worthie of eternall prayse as the excesse which king Charles through bad councell and an il-gouerned passion had committed against Conradin and other Noblemen his prisoners is to be blamed and detested This Charles Prince of Salerne was afterwards king of Naples the second of that name 28 After the king D. Pedros returne out of France expecting daily by reason of the Poues censures and his enterprises against Nauarre to be set vpon by Philip k. of France and Charles of Valois his son and the Noblemen and Knights of Arragon Cattelogne being tyred by him in the former wars ill intreated as they thought in their freedoms whereof the townes and commonalties of his Countries did also complaine they did also stirrre vp troubles and seditions and made an vnion together The heads of the Nobility were Symon of Vrrea the elder D. Pedro Fernandes Lord of Ixar and D. Pedro of Ayerbio Vnion in Arragon against the king for their liberties both base brothers vnto the King Pedro Cornel Artal Alagon Lope Ferneçe de Luna Athon des Posses Sancho of Antillas Gombald of Beneuent and Symon of Vrrea the younger all of Noble families and moreouer Lope William of Oteicia Pedro Iourdain Pegna Gombald Tramasset Giles of Bidaure Pero Garces Nuez who were Knights whose predecessors had beene aduanced by Kings These hauing made a league with the people did promise and sweare to let the king and his sonne D. Alphonso who was his Lieutenant generall vnderstand that if they did not containe themselues within the limittes of the lawes of the country they would withdraw themselues from their obedience and declare themselues enemies and poursue them by armes that should seeke to breake them The king had called the Estates to Tarassone and afterwards to Saragossa There he intreated promised and did all he could to breake this vnion but he was forced to yeeld and therefore he granted vnto the Arragonois the priuiledge which they call general wherby the liberty which had beene somewhat restrayned was againe restored the ancient maners of the Country and customs of their Ancestors fit for the country put again in practise And moreouer there were lawes made for their Kings which they should be bound to obey And for that they were in a mutine in some places by reason of certaine Impositions layed vpon salt the trafficke thereof was made free by the Estates Notwithstanding all these things the king refused the iudgement of the Iustice Maior of Arragon the which was then exercised by Pedro Martines Artassone whom he deposed from his office but soone after this dignity was fortified with stronger lawes The like assembly was made at Barcelona and to the same end where they obtained confirmation of their old statutes and customes which they call Vsatiques They of Valencia beeing called to the Estates of Arragon would not appeare pretending liberty to assemble apart In this Realme of Valencia there was a Magistrate established who was President of the Iustice who shold be an Arragonois and should do right vnto the townes and Noblemen of that Realme who enioy the priuiledges of Arragon the first in this dignitie was Alphonso Martines In Ribagorça there was also a peculiar Iudge created at Grados from whence the first appeales should go to Barbastro or to the Iustice of Arragon and the second to the king or to Iudges deputed by him but these last ordonances were made and executed in the yeare 1285. at the Estates held at Huesca where as the king did preside They being transferred to Zufaria the king being absent Iohn Giles Tarin Iustice Maior of Arragon was President where it was sayd that he was a lawfull Iudge yea in causes commenced against the King who beeing cited and not appearing there were decrees made against him in many instances In the end the king confirmed the decrees of the Iustice Maior and whatsoeuer should be concluded by the Estates the Deputies and Councellors hauing giuen their suffrages At that time the king Don Pedro spoyled his brother D. Iames king of Majorca King of Majorca dispoyled by his brother of the County of Rossillon for that he had retired himselfe into France and had made a League against him with king Philip who had promised him the Realme of Valencia after the conquest which he did hope to make thereof and of the rest of D. Pedros country In these combustions was the estate of Arragon about the returne of the king D. Pedro from the warre of Nauarre attempted with the Castillans 29 As for D. Sancho Infant of Castile Castile he with all his followers had bene also excommunicately by Pope Martin the 4. The Arch-bishop of Seuile the Deane of Tudele in Nauarre and the Arch-deacon of S. Iames in Gallicia were the denouncers thereof wherfore it was concluded in D. Sanchos Councel to kill all those that shold intimate or bring these censures yet the Commissioners deputed by the Pope went on in their Commission and did interdict all parts of Spaine holding the Infants party On the other side the fury of armes ruining the country Queene Beatrix the widow of Portugal D. Mary wife to the Infant laboured to procure a peace and to remedie those great miseries at which time there was some hope that the king and his sonne should haue an interview for the king was come to Constatine the Infant to Guadascanall but the Infants minions and bad Councellers did hinder it The Ladies pursuing this holy enterprise Don Sancho fell sicke at Salamanca and in such extremity as the Phisitions had abandoned him the king in like manner fell sicke vnto death whereby it seemes that God was highly offended against these miserable Princes whose reconciliation was thus preuented The king seing his end drawing nigh Alphonso king of Castile giues portions to his sonnes he gaue by his will Seuile and Badajos with the title of a Realm to his sonne Iohn with charge that he should hold them of the Crown of Castile and Leon. To D. Iames his other sonne he gaue the Realme of Murcia with the same condition Hee pardoned all such as
Christians and therefore shee gaue as well to them within the realme as without She built the monastery of S. Claire the royal of Combra she finished the house of the Innocents at S. Iren the which was begunne by D. Martin Bishop of la Garde and did the like to the Monasterie of Almonster of Nunnes the which was begun by a Lady called D. Berengnela Ayres and after the decease of the King her husband shee gaue herselfe wholy to a religious life and tooke vpon her the habit of S. Claire which she vsed euer after she should her Iewels and conuerted them into Ornaments and vessels to serue churches the which she gaue to many Monasteries Shee went vnkonwne on foot to visit the Sepulcher of S. Iames asking almes and past her dayes in like workes with great zeale she dyed in the towne of Estremos whether she went to mediate a peace betwixt her sonne and the king of Castile her grand-child borne of her daughter Besides these aboue-named workes she had built at Torresnouas a Monasterie of repentants and at Leyra an hospitall of poore bashfull men Her body was carried to Coimbra and layd in the Monasterie of Santa Cruz. The apparitions which the Spaniards write happened vnto her in her life time and at her death with such like things are the impostures of Monkes of those times 36 As for affaires of Castile wee find Castile that after the decease of the Queene D. Maria who by her wisedome preuented many mischiefes the troubles grew greater then euer all Iustice ceased and the most insolent were most in credit King Don Alphonso although he were young was much discontented at these disorders and sought to redresse them but he was not obeyed so as by reason of the violences tyrannies ruine of places murthers and other such wickednesse which then raigned he saw his subiects abandon their houses and retire into Arragon Nauarre Portugall and else-where there to seeke peace and rest the Gouernours were cause of all these miseries vising the people of their Iurisdictions tyrannously beeing in perpetuall discord among themselues Those that were of the priuie Councell aduised him to seaze vppon the places belonging to D. Blanche his Cousin daughter to the deceased Don Pedro the which were in the hands of Garsilaço de la Vega in the name of Donna Maria of Arragon her mother for that sayd they it was not fit the King of Arragon should meddle much in the affaires of Castile nor that he should know all the vlcers of that kingdome the which hee did more then was conuenient by the meanes of these places and vnder colour to procure the good of Donna Blanche his Grand-child watching in the meane time to make his profit with the preiudice of Castile He which was most vehement in thsi Councell was Don Garsilaço himselfe beeing Marin Maior of Castile Don Iohn of Arragon Arch-bishop of Toledo was by that reason suspected to them hauing for his chiefe aduersarie Don Iohn Manuel one of the Kings tutors who had his gouernement in the Country of Toledo and against whose disordinate desires the Arch bishop of Toledo a better seruant to the King then they esteemed him had alwaies opposed himselfe So as they treated secretly with the king to take the royall seales from him for they held it dangerous Sea is taken from the Arch bishop of Toledo that an Arragonois should be Chancelor of the Realme who by reason of that dignity was priuie to all that was treated and resolued in the kings Councell According to this resolution there was an occasion offered The Arch-bishop beeing in the Kings Pallace and beeing demanded of the Affaires of the Bishoppricke touching the Estate and the kings reuenues hee excused himselfe vppon the actions of Don Iohn Manuel his brother-in-law who was there present who answered very peremptorily for himselfe so as there were bitter words betwixt them in the Kings presence For this cause soone after the seales were taken away and giuen to Don Garcylaço de Vega whereat the Arch-bishop Don Iohn beeing much discontented hee neuer ceased vntill hee had exchanged his Arch-bishoppricke of Toledo with that of Tarragone causing Don Iohn de Luna to be aduanced to the Archiepiscopall dignitie of Toledo and Primacie of Spaine by Pope Iohn 37 In the meane time came the yeare 1326. 1326. when as the King tooke vppon him the gouernement of his Realme at a Parlament held at Vailledolit whereas D. Philip or Alphonso Don Iohn Manuel and Don Iohn the Blind were discharged of their administration which they had managed with geat scandall There did the king sweare to obserue the fundamentall Lawes of the Realme and to administer Iustice maintaining euery one in his estate goods and honour To whome also the Deputies of the Estates did sweare fidelitie o th reciprocal betwixt the K. and his subiects and offered the rights and ordinarie seruices due vnto the Crowne This done the King did choose two wise Knights to bee of his Councell of State Don Garcylaço de la Vega aboue-named and Aluar Nugnes Osorio and for his treasure a Iew called Ioseph of Ecchia to whome he gaue the Superintendencie of the Customes Imposts Rents and Reuenues of the Realme In the disposition whereof hee did not gouerne himselfe by the aduice of Don Iohn Manuel nor Don Iohn the Blind nor did much esteeme them whereat beeing iealous and discountented they parted from Vailledolit without taking any leaue of the King and made a league together at Cigales The king was soone aduertised hereof and did in few dayes breake this plot making himselfe sure to Donna Constance Manuel daughter to Don Iohn Manuel at Vailledolit but this marriage tooke to effect and he gaue vnto Don Iohn Manuel to draw him vnto him the gouernement of the fronter Thus was Don Iohn the Blind abandoned so as hee was more incensed then before Thus Prince entertayned such bad desseignes as his end was miserable Hee sought to marrie Donna Blanche daughter to Don Pedro of Castile to the end hee might enjoy the places which shee held vppon the frontier of Arragon and from thence make warre against the King Don Alphonso Hee made a league with the new King of Portugall against him and attempted all meanes to annoy his Prince notwithstanding that the king of Don Alphonso tryed al waies to pacifie him so as he was forced to vse more violent remedies 38 During these home-bred troubles of Castile Moores Ismael king of Granado was slaine by his subiects vppon this occasion Among the prisoners which the Moores had brought from Martos there was a Christian woman exceeding fayre who fell into the hands of the kings Cousin sonne to the Gouernour of Algezire who was called Mahumet This prisoner beeing seene by king Ismael he grew so in loue with her as he demanded her of Mahumet who yeelding more vnto his desires then to the respect hee ought vnto his Prince refused him plainely whereupon
Don Pedro all successiuely Marshals of Nauarre In this last Don Pedro fayled the Masculine line of D. Lyonel for hee left onely one daughter called Donna Hieronyma of Nature who was first wife to Don Iohn of Benauides a Castillian Knight who was also Marshall of Nauarre in regard of her and to her second husband shee had Don Martin of Corduba and Velasco Earle of Alcaudere who was in our time Marshall of Nauarre This is the posterity of the bloud royall of Nauar descended of this king Charles who poursuing with all violence his rights against the French King who held the Duchie of Bourgongne and other lands which had beene the patrimony of his Predecessors he had for aduersary as we haue sayd Charles of Spaine and such was the hatred betwixt them by reason of these pretensions as in the end all France was set on fire with ciuill wars and the English were drawne in by the king of Nauarre who was supported by them who to be reuenged of his enemy D. Charles of Spain Constable and Earle of Angoulesme Murther of the Constable of France by the king of Nauars men both being then in Normandy he caused him to be surprized in the night in the towne of Aigle and murthered in his bed by the hands of D. Rodrigo of Vriz D. Iohn Ramir of Arrellan D. Corbaran of Leet the Barrons of Garro and Antiede and other Knights and souldiers of Nauarre Hee was so farre from dissembling this fact as he confessed it and did iustifie it to be done by his commandement and that he had iustly slaine him whereat the king and the whole court were much troubled seing the great impudencie of the king of Nauarre the which was entertayned by many within the Realme which did adhere vnto him besides the league he had with the English to the which he also sought to draw D. Pedro king of Arragon who notwithstanding would not heare of it for that he was allyed to the French king whose friendship he resolued to entertaine To preuent the mischiefes which might grow by such furies King Iohn was forced to dissemble and by promise of impunity gifts and yeelding of townes and places according to the demands and pretensions of the King of Nauarre seeke to break the league which he had treated with the English yea giuing him the Duke of Aniou his son in hostage to draw him to Court where being come the king made a shew that he wold arraigne him but it prooued a ieast for hauing caused him to come before him on his knees and to craue pardon he paâ—doned him the Constables murther and all that he had committed against the Crowne of France and his authoritie Queene Blanche widow to K. Philip his sister and Queene Ieane his wife being intercessors for him but this reconciliation was soone troubled for the king of Nauarre thinking that the French king had rather dissembled his displeasure then forgotten it did not quit the allyances which he had made to the preiudice of France but did stil intertaine secret practises both within and without the Realme and as he was turbulent and euer full of iealousie and distrust King Iohn hauing called the Estates of his Realme and shewed the necessities of war demanding mony for the leuie of 30000. men the King of Nauar sought to hinder this subuention and did contradict it with all his power notwithstanding it was granted King Iohn being wonderfully incensed at the King of Nauars impudency and pride who in stead of assisting him like a good son-in-law who had beene newly absolued by him from so great a crime shewed himselfe a violent aduersarie to his desseins he sought a fit occasion to punish him the which fell out opportunely in the city of Rouan at the reception of the Daulphin Charles in Normandy who had beene newly aduanced to that Duchie whither came the Noblemen of the countrie namely the king of Nauarre as Earle of Eureux a member of the Dutchie where as he with many others were surprized the King was sent prisoner to the castle of Alleux in Pallueil and some Noblemen were executed as you may read at large in the French Historie King Iohn had aduertised Don Pedro King of Arragon of all those proceedings that he might see he had done nothing lightly beeing a reasonable thing that Kings how soueraigne soeuer should iustifie their actions and to made them apparent else they were to be reputed Tyrants and to be hated of all the world as violent and vniust Gaston Phebus then Earle of Foix who had married Agnes sister to the king of Nauarre was more discontented then any other at his imprisonment who passing into Spaine sought to incense Don Pedro King of Arragon his brother-in-law and to procure him to declare himselfe enemy to King Iohn if he did not release the King of Nauar but the King D. Pedro wold not yeeld vnto it for he held the friendship of France to be a firm support for his Estates besides he stil feared a war betwixt him and D. Pedro yet he promised to be an intercessor for him to k. Iohn and to intreat him to shew his clemency to intreat his prisoner without passion but by the course of Iustice moreouer not to exact all his right of him in respect he was a king and his son-in-law and of the bloud of France the which hee did with great affection sending ambassadors to that end to the French king so as king Iohn as well by the intercession of the King of Arragon as of the aboue-named Queenes and other Noblemen of his Realme gaue the king of Nauarre to vnderstand that hee should prepare himselfe to answer to the accusations of his Atturney generall and that he wold allow him to take learned councell vnto him of what nation he would desire for his iustification assuring him that he would not crosse him in his defences that if it were found he had done him any wrong that he would make him such satisfaction as he shold rest contented but if on the other side he were found guiltie of high treason it was in him to pardon him or not at his pleasure Hereupon they entred into processe according vnto iustice but within few dayes after King Iohn was taken in Guien by the English which stayed these iudiciall proceedings During his imprisonment Lewis his yonger brother came into Nauarre to gouerne the Realme who was sollicited by D. Pedro king of Arragon and receiued ayde from him against the king of Castile who had made sharpe wars against him as you shall heare But necessity forceth vs to treat of the affaires of Arragon during the first yeares of the raign of D. Pedro of Castile and D. Charles of Nauarre 6 D. Pedro king of Arragon Arragon being reasonably quiet within his realm by the last accord made in the fauor by the perswasion of D. Alphonso king of Castile at the camp of Gibraltar with his mother-in-law D.
Leonora dowager of Arragon and her children D. Fernand and Don Iohn gaue himselfe to some reformation of politicke things and in the yeare 1350. he abolished the vse of Caesars Aera according to the which they did accompt the yeares and did date their contracts all letters gouerning all their negotiations in Arragon after the ancient manner of Spaine commanding from thence-foorth to follow the computation of yeares taken from the Natiuity of our Lord Iesus Christ. AEra of Caesar abolished in Arragon This manner of computation by Aera had bin brought in by the ancient Spaniards to gratifie Augustus Caesar accompting their yeres from that time that they made a diuision of the world with Mark Anthony and Lepidus Spaine among other Prouinces of Europe was fallen to him alone which was the 4. yeare of his Empire and 38. yeares before the Natiuity of our Lord. The yeare 1351. 1351. following D. Iohn his son beeing borne at Perpignan of his third wife Girone a principality for the eldest son of Arragon D. Leonora of Sicile or Constance according to some hee instantly made him duke of Girone called him Prince of Girone which title the eldest son of Arragon hath since caried and gaue him to be bred vp to Bernard of Cabrera one of his most truly Councellers Moreouer he would haue the Estates sweare vnto this Infant in the towne of Perpignan as heire presumptiue of the Crowne but he was diuerted from this desseine by the perswasions of D. Pedro of Xerica D. Iohn Fernandes of Heredia Prior of S. Iohn and of D. Iohn Lopes of Sesebio Iustice of Arragon who aduertised him that the oath accustomed to be made to kings children and to kings themselues was alwaies first done in Arragon and in the city of Sarragossa and that to breake this order without vrgent occasion could not but breed confusions The ambassadors of Iohn the French king came to him to Perpignan who treated againe of a marriage betwixt Lewis of France duke of Aniou and Ieanne 2. daughter to the king D. Pedro the which took no better effect then the other which had bin treated for D. Constance the eldest There came also vnto this K. ambassadors from the Venetians and Geneuois who were at great wars among themselues either of them affecting his fauor but he inclined most to the common-weale of Genoa as the most profitable for his affaires especially in regard of the Iland of Sardinia but by the perswasion of D. Bernard of Cabrera laying before him the ancient hatred of the Geneuois against the Cattelans their many trecheries of their citizens against the crown of Arragon he made a league with the Venetians in their fauor armed against the Geneuois commanding Ponce of S. Paix League betwixt the king of Arragon the Venetians Generall of the Cattelan army to go into Sicily with 26. gallies well armed the which he did to whom there afterwards ioyned 20. Venetian gallies in the port of Messina commanded by Pancrace Iustinian The Geneuois for their parts had rigged out 65. gallies whereof Perin of Grimaldi was Generall who being past litle before sayling towards Constantinople against the walles of which citty the common-weale of Genoa held the town of Pera were followed by the Arragonois and Venetian armie beeing increased besides the gallies of Iustinian by 16. other Venetian gallies commanded by Nicholas Piçan and of 4. of Valence whereof Ripol a Cattelan had the charge and moreouer of 9. gallies of Iohn Paleologue Emperour of Constantinople then raigning The two armies coming to fight in the streight of the Bosphore of Thrace the Cauelans and Venetians had the victory but very bloudy for they lost 14. gallies yet most of the soldiers were saued Ponce of S. Paix chiefe of the Cattelans with the toyle he had endured that day and it may be by some wounds he had receiued dyed soone after at Constantinople Battel very cruel betwixt the Genouois and Venetians Ricol was slaine in the fight Pancrace Iustinian dyed also at Constantinople of the wounds he had receiued and there dyed many other Gentlemen and Venetian soldiers during the conflict As for the Geneuois there were 24. gallies taken or sunke with all their burthens the rest of the Cattelans hauing repaired 11. gallies which remayned of their fleet able to serue for the rest were so broken as they were altogether vnprofitable mette at Negrepont whereas 12. gallies of Cattelogne and Valencia sent for a supply by the King D. Pedro did also enter and there they also ioyned with the rest of the Venetian gallies These two States being perswaded by the Pope Christian Princes to make a peace the king of Arragon in the end remayned an enemy to Genoa for notwithstanding all the perswasions of the Popes Nuncio he stil answered that he would haue no friendship with the common-weale vnlesse they would quit vnto him the Iland of Corsica and that their souldiers should dislodge out of Sardinia To crosse this peace betwixt the Venetians and Genouois the king D. Pedro sent Raymondus Lullius in ambassage vnto Venice he was son or kinsman to him that was the greatest Philosopher of his age This was in the yeare 1352 in the which the Prince D. Iohn the kings son The Prince D. Iohn sworne heire presumptiut was sworne heire and successor to the realme in the city of Saragossa after the accustomed manner There were ciuill warres with strange and trecherous reuolts at that time in Sardynia where as the Geneuois held Alguer and the castle Genouois with whom many Sardinians ioyned and Marian Iudge of Arborea a great fauorer vntill that time of the Arragon name in that Iland with others whom they suspected not fel from the king D. Pedro so as D. Rambaud of Corbera the Gouernor could hardly resist so great a fury to whome there arriued D. Stephen of Arragon son to William Duke of Athens being sent by the K. D. Pedro with gallies and soldiers and in the yeare 1353. D. Bernard of Cabrera was sent with 45. vessels called Vxeres who hauing ioyned with 20. Venetian gallies An. 1353. whereof Nicholas Pisan was chief they came to fight with an army of Genouois led by Anthony Grimaldi in the view of Alguer where as the Genouois were defeated with the losse of 35. gallies and aboue 3000. prisoners wherupon Alguer was then abandoned by the Dorian faction of which family Fabian Rosso found among the prisoners was beheaded for that he did rebell vpon euery occasion This rigour vsed to Fabian did so incense him against the Arragonois as hauing perswaded them of Alguer to a new rebellion and in steade of Iudge of Arborea he caused himselfe to be called king of Sardinia which title he tooke at the instigation of Timber of Rocabertin his wife beeing desirous aboue all the women of her time to be called Queene D. Bernard of Cabrera did afterwards giue a defeat at land to the
of Nauarre to enioy the lands of the ancient patrimonie of Nauarre vsurped by the Kings of Castile with diuers others These treaties betwixt the king of Nauarre and Don Henry Earle of Transtamara were secret and vnknowne to the king of Arragon Arragon who gouerned himselfe for the most part by the aduice of Don Bernard of Cabrera a wise Knight and of great experience by whom he was often perswaded from that which the other would haue him yeeld vnto for the which he was hated by the king of Nauarre and Don Henry besides beeing a priuie Councellor and of greatest authoritie he was enuied by the other Noblemen of Arragon who were lesse fauoured wherefore these Princes beeing againe assembled at Almudear the king of Nauarre and the Earles of Transtamara and Ribagorça conspired to depriue the King of Arragon of this Councellor D. Bernard of Cabrera in disgrace with his King and wrought so as they brought him into disgrace with the king Don Bernard beeing aduertised that they meant to apprehend him sought to retire himselfe and flying came into Nauarre to Carcastillo the inhabitants whereof seeing that he was poursued by Garci Lopes of Sese shut their towne gates but beeing summoned by Garci Lopes in the name of the two kings to deliuer Don Bernard they stayed him attending the kings commandement who willed them to deliuer him vnto Garci Lopes who conuayed him to Murillo where he remayned some time in hope to be deliuered by which he was so hated by the king of Nauarre and Earle of Transtamara as they neuer ceased by importune accusations vntill they had put him to death This Bernard of Cabrera has before the yeare 1346. beeing forced to come to Court and to employ himselfe in great affaires of State wherein he was very iudicious when as wearie of the world he had resolued to become a Monke The king had cherished and aduanced him and receiued many good counsels and profitable seruices from him as well in the ciuill wars within his owne Realme as in that of Sardinia and Castile But as Courtiers the more they seeke the greatnesse and honour of their Prince and are by them the more honoured and beloued are the more subiect to enuie so fared it with him for hauing beene faithfull to the king his master he purchased the hatred of all the Princes and Noble-men of the Realme so as when he was taken by the practises of the king of Nauarre and Earle of Transtamara there was not any one that did fauour him but as it were by a common conspiracie his processe was made and the Infant Don Iohn Prince of Girone whome he had bred vp made his Iudge where sitting in Iustice and hauing for assistant Dominicke of Cerdagne chiefe Iustice of Arragon who by his charge and office should defend the oppressed pronounced sentence of death against this poore decrepite old man They write that his sentence being read by Don Berenger Apilia and Iames Monelia Vice-chanchelor he complayned greatly that he should be condemned without hearing or in a manner any forme of processe but Apilia answered him that he ought not to hold it strange seeing that by his owne Councell that custome had beene brought into Arragon and that he should remember the processe which was too summarily made against Iohn Ximenes of Vrrea and Raymond Marquet accused to haue slaine Raymond of S. Vincent who Bernard beheaded by the kings commandement and in a maner without any forme of processe had beene put to death He was led vnto the maâ—ket place of Sarragossa and there beheaded and his head was carried vnto the king beeing at Barcelona Such rewards many times haue the most faithfull Councellors of their ill aduised Princes Thus miserably dyed one of the greatest personages in nobility iudgement and vertue which had beene of long time in Arragon who without the king his master had executed great matters and the king without him did neuer any thing of worth All his goods were confiscate to the king whereby he pourchased great dishonor and rightly both for his death and for that of his brother Don Fernand. Bernardin of Cabrera son to Bernard had married Marguerite of Foix daughter to the Vicount of Castelbon by Constance of Luna sister to D. Lope a Lady of the bloud royall of Arragon for she was daughter to Artal of Luna and to D. Constance Perez who was daughter to Don Iames Perez base sonne to the king Don Pedro the third At that time the Prince Don Iohn did not much exceed fourteene yeares yet he was employed in great affaires within the Realme as well for warre as instice with a dispensation for his age beeing assisted by Don Pedro Earle of Ribagorça who hauing renounced the world in his old age had taken vppon him the habit of Saint Francis and moreouer by Don Pedro of Vrgel sone to the Infant D. Iames the Kings brother and by the Vicount of Cardona for the warre and for iustice and other affaires of the Realme he had for his Councellors Berenger Apilia Bernard Sous William Guymerand and Thomas Marzan of Cattelogne During this last warre betwixt Castile and Arragon D. Pedro king of Arragon prest by necessity took the reuenues of many benefices without demanding leaue from the Pope and the more inconsideratly Reuenues of Churches takâ—n in without the Popes leaue say they for that Vrban then raigning had neuer refused him any thing wherefore he was in great danger to be excommunicated and deiected from the rights of his Realmes especially from that of Sardinia which hee held in fee of the Church the soueraignty whereof many of the Cardinals were of aduice to giue to the Iudge of Arborea The king for this cause sent his vncle D. Pedro sometimes Earle of Ribagorça and then a Friar and Gaspar Tregure Doctor of the lawes vnto the Pope who declared in open Consistorie That in like necessities and miseries as the Realm of Arragon was then in it had bin lawfull for kings not only to vse the temporall reuenues but also to lay hands vpon the relicks and holy vessell of the Churches adding that the Ecclesiasticall Estate was no lesse bound to the preseruation of the common-weale then other Estates and that kings might freely vse their meanes in such extremities so as he promised to make them restitution in a conuenient time Whereupon the Pope considering of the cause did not pronounce any sentence The Iudge of Arborea hauing either practised the fauour of the Consistory or else moued with a desire to raigne attempted thereuppon to make sharpe warre against the Arragonois is Sardinia a turbulent Iland which continually bred new matter of charge and losse to the kings of Arragon who had a little before ended all quarels with the Genouois and by the meanes of Iohn Marquis of Montferrat his allye but to leaue a marke of punishment of the Rebels of Sardinia he had supprest the name of Galluri the which was
armie the which beeing within a league and a halfe of that of Portugal there were many things propounded to end their quarrels without a battell but they were all without effect for the king of Castile finding himselfe strong had a desire to fight promising vnto himselfe all aduantages and yet his captaines were of another opinion and among others Monsieur de Rie Chamberlaine to the French king and his ambassador with the King of Castile a Gentleman 70. yeares old and a captaine of great experience saying that his men were wearie and it was late and that the Portugall army in the which were 2200. men at armes and 10000. foote were camped in a place of strength from whence if he would haue patience hee should see them soone dislodg for want of victuals beeing aduertised that they had not any meate but for that night that vppon their dislodging he should haue better oportunitie to fight with them if they went to affront them in the place where they were it was likely they should reape more shame then honor But notwithstanding all these reasons hee would needes fight Battel of Aliubarot and the Castillans defeated wherefore the Castillans hauing put their armies in battell they were receiued couragiously by the Portugals along the mountaines of Maos in the fields nere vnto the village of Aljubarot where at the first charge notwithstanding all the indeauour of the Portugall fore-ward they gaue ground to the Castillans but the new king of Portugal flying thither with his squadron not onely fortified his men but also charging the enemie with great courage who thought they had won all and fought without order carelesly he brake them and put them to a shamefull flight with great slaughter the king of Castile himself being in danger who fled 11. leagues that night vnto S. Iren where he arriued at the breake of day in great perplexity and then recouering the sea-shoare hee caused himselfe to be carryed to Seuile Polydore Virgil in his Historie of England failes in the discourse of his battell saying that Edmond Earle of Cambridge was there with good troupes of English for the new king of Portugal against him of Castile and giues the honour of the battell to the English but it appeares by all the Spanish Writers more credible in matters of Spaine then strangers that the comming of the Earle of Cambridge into Portugall was not at that time but in the life of g Fernand. Neither were there any French troupes for the king of Castile as some Authors make mention Vpon the place of battell there was an Hermitage built to S. George who is held to be the patron and protector of Portugal as also of Arragon as S. Iames is of Castile and this victorie is more celebrated by the Portugals then any they euer had for that by reason thereof they were freed from the subiection of Castile Noblemen of Castile slaine in the battell it is called the battel of Aljubarote or of S. George In this battell there dyed many Noblemen of Castile and among others Don Pedro of Arragon sonne to the Constable of Castile D. Iohn of Castile Lord of Aguilar del campo son to D. Tello L. of Biscay D. Fernand of Castile a yong Prince son to D. Sancho Earle of Albuquerque Peter Dias Damas Prior of S. Iohn D. Diego Manrique Gouernor generall of the fronter of Castile D. Pedro of Mendoça a Lord Steward of the king of Castiles house Don Iohn Fernandes of Touar high Admiral D. Diego Gomes Sarmiento Gouernor of Galicia Pedro Carillo Marshall of Castile D. Aluar Gonçalis of Sandoual and his brother Fernand Gonçales D. Iohn Ramir of Areillan Iohn Ortiz of Cueua Gonçalo of Cerbantes Ruy Braue and Fernand Carillo and of the Portugals following the partie of Castile D. Iohn Alphonso Sello Portugals slain of the Castillans side Admirall of Portugall brother to the Queene D. Leonora D. Pero Aluarez Pereira Master of the Order of Calatraua and his brother D. Diego Aluarez Pereira brothers to D. Nugno Aluarez Constable of Portual Gonçal Vasques of Azeuedo with Aluar Gonçales his sonne and others There dyed also in this defeate Monsieur de Rie Ambassador for the French king and his Chamberlaine Great was the spoile of the Castillans campe many prisoners caryed away by the Portugals who hung vp their ensignes other spoils for trophees in the Monasterie of Alcouaça and in the chiefe church at Braga and at the carmes at Lisbon the which were afterwards founded by the Constable D. Nugno Aluarez Pereira and among others the royal Standard of Castile was taken As for those which escaped the battell some gathered themselues together in S. Iren and some of them recouered Castile as well as they could They of S. Iren hauing past the riuer of Tayo with D. Gonçal Nugnes of Guzman Master of Alcantara who was since made Master of the Calatraua they ioyned with the forces of Nauarre and France which the Infant Don Charles of Nauarre brought to the king of Castile his brother-in-law but too late wherfore they returned all together into Castile hauing made all the spoile they could in the Realme of Portugal the which by this battel of Aljubarote remained assured for the king Don Iohn the tenth in number and the first of that name hauing attained to that royall dignitie to the which in the beginning he did not aspire and that with the consent of the Nobilitie and States of the countrie The end of the sixteenth Booke SEMPER EADEM THE SEVENTEENTH BOOK of the Generall History of Spaine The Contens 1 DOn Iohn Master of the Knights of Auiz chosen king of Portugall the tenth in number and the first of that name 2 Continuation of the warre betwixt Castile and Portugal in the which the English assisted the one and the French the other 3 Whence the title of a Prince in Spaine growes 4 D. Charles the third of that name and 31. king of Nauarre 5 Marriage of Prince Henry of Castile and Katherine of Lancaster 6 Exploits of D. Iohn King of Portugal in Castile and a truce betwixt the two Realmes 7 Tyrannous priuiledges of the Nobility of Arragon Troubles in Sardynia Estates at Monçon policie of Sybile Queene of Arragon authoritie of the Iustice Maior 8 Contention betwixt the Arragonois and Angeuins for the rights of Majorca Adoption of Lewis of Anjou by Queene Ione the first of Naples who sold Auignon to the Pope and what followed 9 D. Iohn the first of that name and 14. King of Arragon his acknowledgement to the Pope in Auignon during the Schisme Estates in Arragon 10 Marriage of Don Martin of Arragon sonne to the Infant Don Martin with the heire of Sicily 11 Lisbon made an Arch-bishopricke 12 Estates of Castile at Guadalajara Orders concerning souldiers and iustice Erections of Dukedomes and other Decrees 13 The stay of D. Leonora Queene of Nauarre wife to D. Charles the third in Castile
time of the king D. Iohn vppon the paines ordayned and they shal be bound to ayde one an other so as where any wrong is done they shall employ both body and goods one for another and maintaine themselues in iustice 10 And for that in former times the townes aboue-named had a league with other townes of Guipuscoa not mentioned in this accord their meaning was that it should not hereafter take place but with the consent of the king and his Councell and that at the instance of all the townes of Guipuscoa the sayd brother-hood and ordâ—nances thereto belonging were confirmed by the king D. Henry their Lord. 11 If any Baylife or other Magistrate or Gouernour should giue assignation to all the aboue-named townes enioyning them to their Atturneys or chiefe men of the sayd townes they shall name their Atturneys and send them to the place appointed vppon condition that he shall neither do nor suffer any displeasure to be done vnto them by his Ministers for the which they shall giue caution And if the assignation bee giuen out of the aboue-named townes if it were in the towne of Saint Sebastian the Deputies of the confederate townes shall assemble at Tholousa if it were to appeare in the towne of Miranda of Yraurgui called Azcoitia or at Saluaterra called Azpeytia or a Blgoybar that they shall assemble at Guetaria or Motrico to consult what is fit to be done both for the kings seruice the preseruation and increase of the sayd townes and of their Immunities and Nobility 12 That in two assemblies which were made yearely in the name of the sayd brotherhood the sayd townes should be bound to appeare by their deputies as had beene accustomed in precedent times but at extraordinarie conuocations which should be made by the other townes of Guipuscoa they shall not be bound to go nor send vntill their generall association be confirmed by the king at the sute of them all in generall To these Articles the sayd townes bound their goods and persons for euer vpon paine of fifty marauidis of money then currant to be payed by him that should infringe them and applyable to the Councell of the rest which should maintaine the contents thereof to dispose according to their wils and the towne which hath fayled shall be forced by the rest of pay the fine by all ordinarie and extraordinarie meanes with all charges domages and interests It is credible that the other townes of Guipuscoa made the like associations in regard of their priuiledges and liberties Vppon this question they pleaded against the Kings Receyuer and there are letters found granted by the King Don Henry vppon the same by the which he did abolish these tributes and exactions in fauour of the townes and places of Saluaterra of Iraurgui Miranda of Iraurgui Vilamajor of Marquina called Elgoyuar Val of Mendaro Monreal of Deua S. Andrew of Ayuar Placenzia Elgueta S. Cruz of Cestona the Chastelenie of Sayas S. Nicholas of Orio Bellamount of Vsuruill with Aguinaga Astigarraga Aynduayn Vrreota S. Peter of Asteauçu the quarter of Larraul Ichaço Ciçurguil Gauiria Ataun the country of Lescano of Aduna the Chastelenie of Aiztondo that of Areria Curnatraga the parish of Beasain Arama Alcega Echasonda Saldibia Gainça Legorreta Goyas Vidania Beyçaina Rexil Aya and the territorie of Azgoytia whereof there are letters found giuen in Saint Marie of Pelajos in the yeare 1399. and confirmed at Vailledolit 1401. and by other kings Thus the Guipuscoans defended their freedomes and liberties against the Kings Officers who made their profite during the confusions and troubles betwixt the Noblemen and the Councell Afterwards all the Townes Boroughs and places of this Prouince of Guipuscoa were vnited and made one bodie and haue maintained themselues so vnto this day to the great good and generall commoditie of the Countrey and the seruice of the soueraigne King The Estates of Burgos continued with little concord by reason whereof in the beginning of the yeare 139â— the Deputies of the Estates Vnion of all the townes of Guipuscoa with the consent of the parties contending propounded euery one to write his voice in bulletins An. 1392. vppon that which was in question Whether they should follow the testament of King Iohn or not and the sayd bulletins beeing cast into a coffer and then opened the partie that had most voyces should carrie it but without comming to this triall â—he Queene Donna Leonora who alwaies laboured to reconcile these differences made another accord and brought so many reasons as Don Frederic duke of Benauent and D. Alphonso Earle of Gijon were receiued into the gouernement and councell so as the Councell should consist of tenne spirituall men besides the Deputies of the sixe townes whereof fiue should reside sixe moneths and these were thus deuided the Duke of Benauent the Arch-bishop of Toledo the Master of Saint Iames and Iohn Hurtado of Medoça for one sixe moneths the Arch-bishop of Saint Iames the Earles of Gijon and Transtamara and the Master of the Calatraua for the other the Marquis of Villena and the Earle of Niebla should make vp the ten but they would not come to Court It seemed by this expedient practised by the Queene of Nauarre that the affairs were in a course of peace but the death of Diego Sanches of Roja a knight of the Earle of Gijons faction who was slaine neere vnto Burgos by two horsemen of the Duke of Benauents house troubled the whole assembly againe and had like to haue caused great slaughter in the citie he that was slayne was interred and the murtherers escaped For which fact the Deputies of the Estates were so much discontented as they neglected all that had beene decreed and done touching the establishing of a Councel and took the way of writing their voyces in bulletins the which being put into a coffer that opened it was found that all did ioyntly require to haue the will of the K. D. Iohn in force Wherupon the Duke of Benauent who was not mentioned went from Court much discontented Accord betwixt the Noblemen of Castile The Arch-bishop of Toledo seeing him retired agreed with them of the aduerse party vpon these conditions That whensoeuer the Marquis of Villena and the Earle of Niebla should forbeare to come to Court hee should supply their places and that a moitie of the kings reuenues should be deliuered to him to be distributed as he should thinke fit that the should be satisfied for the charges hee had bin at in seeking the execution of K. Iohns testament These things thus concluded the next day the king with the knights and deputies of the Prouinces being present it was decreed that the testament of the deceased king D. Iohn should be obserued and that sixe tutors with the Deputies of Burgos Toledo Leon Seuile Cordoua and Murcia should gouerne There were then present of the tutors the Arch-bishops of Toledo and S. Iames the Master of Calatraua who was successor both
demanding from the king a confirmation of their auncient liberties rights and priuiledges the which he granted Moreouer Demands made by them of Biscay to the king of Castile they desired to bee freed from all royall Prerogatiues which had beene imposed in that Prouince since the death of King Iohn and that he should confirme the new societies erected among them for the punishment of malefactors and hee did also grant the combate as it was vsed among Gentlemen in Castile of all which things he granted then full power with the aduice of his Councell There the King was receiued for the Lord of Biscay where hauing kissed his hands he was led to the church in the towne of Larrabeçua where according to the custome of his Predecessors Lords of Biscay hee tooke an oath vpon the altar to maintaine the rights of the countrie Beeing afterwards come to Guernica some Biscayens presented a petition vnto him to haue all crimes which had beene committed in the country since the death of King Iohn pardoned from the which hee was disswaded by the Noblemen of his Councell that loued iustice to auoyd the pernicious consequence thereof Hee did also sweare at Berneo in Saint Eufemia's church to maintaine the freedomes and liberties of that Town but not so amply as they desired Beeing returned to Guernica after much disputation touching the combate which some demanded and others denyed he granted it by pluralitie of voyces and then was this manner of challenge brought into Biscay the King beeing set vnder a tree in the vsuall place and after the accustomed manner Then hee returned by Durango and Victoria to Burgos and from thence to Madrid where the Estates assembled This yeare some Biscayns and Guipuscoans armed certaine shippes at Seuile at their owne cost and charge Discouery of the Canaries to seeke their fortunes at sea and came to one of the Ilands of the Canaries called Lançarote where beeing landed they made prey of all hey found against whome the Ilanders with their King gathered together and came to encounter them but the Biscayns had the vpper hand they slue many of their enemeies and caried away an hundred and seuenty prisoners with the King and Queene of the Iland hauing well obserued these Ilands with the number greatnesse and sytuation they returned into Spaine with great store of hydes wax and other things whereof those Ilands abound The king D. Henry was very ioyfull of this exploit and from that time challenged a right of propriety in the Ilands of the Canaries which they hold to be the ancient fortunat Ilands whereof he afterwards gaue the conquest to a French Gentleman called Iohn of Betancourt reseruing the fealty and homage thereof vnto his Soueraigntie In the assembly of the Estates held at Madrid the Kings majoritie was confirmed who also did auow whatsoeuer his Gouernors had done The necessities propounded for the payment of great yearely summes King of Castils maiority approued by the Estates as well for the treaties of peace payment of souldiers ordinarie pensions giuen to the Princes and Noblemen of the Realme as also for the entertaynment of the Kings house the Estates made a free offer of a contribution yet they besought him to cut off his superfluous gifts and pensions and to cause the militarie orders to be obserued for of 4000. Lances which were in pay it was manifest there were not 2000. They let him vnderstand that the reuenues of the Crowne beeing well husbanded were great and sufficient for all expences They moreouer besought him to dispose of his affaires by the aduice of men of iudgement and experienced in the gouernment of the Realme The king thanked them for their good aduice promising to order all things according to right and equity And for proofe he cut off many pensions and reuoked the offices and gifts for life out of the reuenues and other things ordained and assigned by his Gouernors especially to D. Leonora his Aunt Queene of Nauar notwithstanding that some were confirmed by the meanes of his fauorites He gaue to the Duke of Benauent a pension of an 150000. marauidis onely he disanulled all leagues associations and homages done by reason of the precedent troubles and caused an absolution to be published by the Legate with Apostolicke authoritie of all oathes which had beene formerly taken in that regard During this assembly the marriage of the Infant D. Fernand the kings brother and of D. Leonora Countesse of Albuquerque which had beene kept secret vntill that time was published and a present promise made and then they began to call her Infanta she was cousin one degree aboue her husband for D. Sancho her father and the king D. Henry the second Grandfather to this D. Fernand were brethren shee raigned with her husband in Arragon The Estates beeing dissolued the king being come to Illesca the Archbishop of Toledo came thither vnto him and was graciously receiued but D. Frederic Duke of Benauent beeing discontented for that they had cut off part of his pensions had gifts retired himselfe about Leon where he violently seazed vpon the Kings mony and the reuenues of the Infant D. Fernand whereof the king being aduertised he sent a commandement vnto him to forbeare those courses and that he old giue order to his Treasurers to pay him that which was in equitie due vnto him whereof he made no great accompt but made shew to treate a new league and confederacies with the Queen of Nauarre his sister D. Alphonso Earle of Gijon his brother and D. Pedro Earle of Transtamara his cousin to whom the King sent Garci Gonçales of Herera his Marshal especially to the Queene of Nauarre his Aunt beeing in the castle of Roa with her daughters intreating her instantly to forbeare those tumults Garci Gonçales of Herera told the Duke of Benauent that he would proceed criminally against him and others if they continued to troble the Realme and would not be satisfied with that which had beene decreed by the Estates at Madrid for it was impossible to pay them that which the Gouernors had granted them before Yet hee offered to the Queene Donna Leonora besides the Decrees of the Estates an 100000. marauidis for the entertaynment of her daughters The Duke sought to excuse himselfe saying that the king had beene ill informed by his enemies but if it pleased him to giue him for assurance the sonne of Iohn Hurtado of Mendoça one of Diego Lopes of Estuniga and one of Ruy Lopes of Aualoz hee would willingly come to Court to giue an accompt of his actions and to purge himselfe of the blame which was layed vppon him The Marshall promised and returning to the Court hee met with the Arch-bishoppe of Saint Iames in Amusco who vppon a counterfeit excuse retired himselfe from the Court pretending to be sicke and therefore could not come but in effect it was for that hee saw the Arch-bishop of Toledo beganne to gouerne all and to be in greater fauour
reigne came and kist his hands being accompanied with a hundred Knights and Squiers of the country of Valencia which he had aduentured through the absence of the Earle of Transtamara his competitor who was in disgrace with the King D. Henry The Marquis hauing purged himselfe of such things as might bee obiected against him D. Alphonso of Arragon receiued gratiously by the king of Castile and made many excuses for his not comming to court he made sute to be restored to his Office of Constable of Castile which had beene taken from him by the gouernors to conferre it vpon D. Pedro Earle of Transtamara to the preiudice of his honour and dignity to whom the King gaue a gratious answere assuring him that he would order his affaires with all equity and Iustice then he intreated him to passe the mountaines and to come with him into Castile the Old but the Marquis excused him selfe saying that he was not come so well appointed as he desired to doe him seruice but if he gaue him meanes he would returne willingly to serue him So he returned into his country not well satisfied with the King D. Henry who made no account to restore him to his office of Constable but soone after by the aduice of the Archbishop of Toledo he tooke from him the title of Marquis of Villena for that it seemed not safe nor profitable for the Estate of Castile that a Marquisate frontering vpon a forraine Realme should remaine in the hands of a Knight who had so strict an alliance as the Marquis D. Alphonso had with the Kings and Realme of Arragon From Illesca the King past to Vailledolit where he was aduertised that the duke of Benauent was at Cisneros with six hundred Launces and two thousand foote and the Archbishop of Saint Iames in Amusco with other six hundred Launces and one thousand foote Many were of opinion that the Kings forces should be led against them to fight with them but the sounder iudgment disswasded al fighting if it were possible for the realm should loose of either side besides the hazard where into the King should thrust both his Estate and life by a battaile to the which a Prince must neuer come against his subiects vnlesse he be forced by ineuitable necessity This aduice preuailed and there were sent vnto the Archbishop of Saint Iames and at his request Iohn Hurtado and Diego Lopes of Mendoça to Calabaçanos with whom they wrought so as they drew him to court vpon assurance whereas the Arachbishop did also obtaine a safe-conduit for the Duke of Benauent to whom he went himselfe and brought him to court The duke being in the Kings presence Duke of Benauent comes to court and seekes to purge himselfe sought to free himselfe of the accusations which were laied against him First he maintayned that he had taken none of the Kings reuenues within his iurisdiction but what was due vnto him the which should not be held so great a crime seeing that many prelats and others of lesse quallity then himselfe had often vsed it and were not drawn into questioÌ„ As for the men of war which he had gathered together he had therein followed the general command for feare of war with the Moores after the defeat of the maister of Alcantara and if he had beene at Roa to see the Queene of Nauarre his sister it was not preiudicial to the realm nor contrary to the Kngs seruice These excuses were held neither good nor true by the king who notwithstanding told him that he would willingly forget al that was past Conditions propounded to the Duke of Benauent so as he would from threnceforth liue in peace and obedience propounding vnto him these conditions That if it were found he had leauied more money then had beene assigned him at the last Estates held at Madrid he should restore it vnto the king or to such as it did belong that he should cause D. Pedro to come to court whom the King pardoned for that which did concerne him restoring to others their interests that the duke should giue his two base sonnes in hostage and should leaue in deposito the castles of Medina del Riosecco and Tordehumos for foure yeeres with this clause that if he raised any tumults those places should come vnto the King That if he shold fal from the Kings seruice certain Knights of his houshold shold promise swear to turne vnto the kings party that the pension of an hundred 15. thousand Marauidis graunted vnto the Duke at the Estates at Madrid should be augmented to fiue hundred thousand that for the seuenty thousand frankes of gold which had beene promised him for his marriage the King gaue him the reuenues of Valencede Campo the which Iohn of Portugal had till then enioyed and now he tooke it from him for that hee had beene a practiser and confederat against his Estate These things being thus ordred the duke and the Archibishop went from court and being come to Cisneros the duke ratefied all and dismist his troupes retayning only a hundred launces for the Kings seruice Within few daies after D Alphonso Henriques came vnto the King being at Vailledolit D. Pedro Earle of â—ranstamara comes to court with a letter of credit from the Constable D. Pedro Earle of Transtamara his brother telling the King that if it pleased him to giue some assurance vnto the Earle hee would come to court wherevpon the King assured him and hee came presently freeing himselfe of many things whereof he had beene accused then he complained of D. Alhonso Earle of Gijon who had forcebly taken from him the towne of Paredes of Naua which the deceased King D. Iohn had giuen him in exchange for the towne of Alua de Tormes which he had taken from him to giue it to D. Iohn Infant to Portugal The King gaue the Constable a good reception promising to prouide for all things according vnto Iustice and presently he went in person to Paredes of Naua which place he deliuered into the hands of Ruy Lopes of Aualos his Lord Chamberlaine and did sommon his vncle D. Alphonso Earle of Gijon to appeere within threescore daies and to produce what right he had to this place wherevpon Iustice should be done him but if he did not appeere it should be adiudged to D. Pedro. The King did also presse him to sweare the Articles of the truce of Portugal as other Noblemen Prelats and Knights had done according to the capitulation the which the Earle would not doe but sought excuses and euasions wherewith the King was very much discontented This was a matter of great importance for the Marquis of Villena and the Earle of Gijon refusing to sweare the Articles the King of Portugal pretended that the truce was of no force and that the hostages were forfeited vnto him So as he refused the oth which the Marquis after his refusall would haue taken when as hee came to court saying
that the time prefixed for such ratifications was past wherefore they must capitulate a new During these troubles in Castile the King of Nauarre did still sollicit his wiues returne or at the least of his two daughters and the King D. Henry had a great desire to see her dislodge but he knew not how to send her honestly out of Castile But she her selfe prepared the way for when as shee vnderstood that the Duke of Benauent and others of the league were reduced vnder the Kings obedience fearing some surprise she procured D. Pedro the Constable to come to Roa with two hundred Launces and some footemen and then seeing her selfe as it were assured shee sent vnto the King to demaund assurance to come to court to iustifie her selfe but the King thinking that the Duke of Benauent the Constable his aunt and all they of the league in Generall did smother in their brests the same wils they had before hee resolued to punish them one after an other and therefore he caused them that the Queene of Nauarre had sent vnto him to be staied and then being come to Burgos he propounded in councell what was to bee done There were present the Archbishop of Toledo the maisters of Saint Iames and Calatraua D. Iohn Hurtado of Mendoça the Admiral D. Iohn Hurtado D. Ruy Lopes of Aualos and others whereof some came armed to councell by the Kings commandement D. Frederic Duke of Benauent came also notwithstanding that some of his friends had wished him to retire telling him that they ment to take him as he entred into the place where the councell was kept the King went forth making shew that he would goe sup and speaking aloude that they must consider what answere to giue to the Queene of Nauarre And soone after hauing sent them word that they should speedily dispatch that which they had to doe D. Frederic Duke of Benauent a prisoner the Duke was taken prisoner and put in the castle of Burgos in the custody of the Maister of Saint Iames from whence hee was afterwards transported to Monreal and in the end in the time of the King D. Iohn to the castle of Almodouar del Rio neere vnto Cordoua where he ended his daies This is that famous prison of D. Frederic duke of Benauent celebrated throughout all Spaine This done the King sent Diego Peres Sarmiento the Gouernor to seize von all the Lands and goods not onely of the Duke of Benauent but also of the Constable D. Pedro and by the same meanes he seized vpon the lands of his aunt Donna Leonora Queene of Nauarre and he himselfe being followed with some troupes went to Roa where she was to beseege her and take her wherevpon the Constable who was with her abandoned her and went into Galicia to prouide for his owne affaires The Queene seeing her selfe forsaken beganne to lament filling all the castle of Roa with pittifull cries Queene of Nauar daâ—â—ted and the more to mooue them to pitty she attired her selfe her daughters and women in mourning weeds and sent her Confessor vnto the King to know his pleasure seeing hee came in that manner with an army The King gaue him some reasons and marched on to Valera from whence he sent Iohn Hurtado of Mendoça and Ruy Lopes of Aualos to the Queene to whom being full of teares and with a mournfull habit and countenance she complained much of the King her Nephew saying that hee sought to take away her goods and demanded assurance to â—â—oe and speake with him The Inhabitants of Roa careful of their safeties sent to offer the place vnto the King if it pleased him to receiue them as his owne and not to alienate them any more wherewith the King was content wherevpon they receiued the Archbishop of Toledo Iohn Hurtado Diego Lopes and Ruy Lopes with their followers and soone after the King entred to whom the Queene being come they entred into a church and there had much conference In the end the King granted her the reuenues of Roa Sepulueda Mardrigal and Areualo retayning the Iustice vnto himselfe and he commanded her to follow him to Vailledolit This businesse being ended Earle of Gijon seizeth vpon Oueido the King marched towards Leon to make warre against his vncle D. Alphonso Earle of Gijon who was in the Asturia's and had seized vpon the city of Oueido which did belong vnto the King the which he did fortefie with the towne of Gijon and other places By the way hee had conference with the Archbishop of Saint Iames who was much mooued for the imprisonment of the Duke of Benauent for he had come to court vpon his word and assurance The King made him promise that he should not enter into any league yet the griefe hee had for the Dukes detention made him forget all the affection he had had to the seruice of the crowne of Castile which in the end he left and retired into Portugal making the Schisme in the church his pretext saying that of his knowing the Pope raigning in Auignon was not lawfull but he that held his seat at Rome and for that the Portugals did adhere vnto him he retired into Portugal where he obtained the Bishoprike of Coimbra Archbishop of S. Iames retires into Portugal and then the Archbishoprike of Braga where he ended his daies He was of the noble family of Manriques a man of a small stature but of an actiue spirit full of courrage high minded eloquent liberall apt to compound great mens quarrels ambitious and one that enuied the Archbishop to Toledo D. Pedro of Tenorio who was of a different humor seuere statly ambitious also His disposition but he couered his ambition with modesty maintayning his dignity in such sort as he was respected and feared He lost in Castile the Archbishoprike of Saint Iames the office of Chancellor to the King with many other lyuings The King in passing caused the castle of Mansilla to be razed and vnited the towne which had belonged vnto the Duke vnto his demaines He then sent his men against Gijon the which they did beseege both by sea and land Being come to Leon he made a declaration in a great assembly in the chiefe church of the rebellions and fellonies of the Earle D. Alphonso his vncle committed both against the King D. Iohn his father and himselfe VVar against the Earle of Gijon the fauors he had done him since his inlargement by the Gouernors and his Ingratitude for the which he did confiscate all his goods to the crowne except the Siegneury of Noruegna which he gaue to the church of Ouiedo as had beene formerly ordained by the deceased King his father The King hauing sent some troupes towards Ouiedo the Earles men were chased away and the King was maister of the city so as the Earle was forced to shut himselfe into Gijon where he was straightly beseeged One of his base sonnes called D. Hernando holding the castle of
marauidis for the exactions and concussions done vppon his people and the kings money keeping them two moneths in the castle of Burgos vntill the full payment and execution of these things If he were moderate in this act of iustice Executions 〈◊〉 Seuile hee vsed greater rigour at Seuile where all was full of partialities proceeding from the diuisions and quarrels which his tutor had bred which the Magistrates and kings officers could not suppresse Being declared of full age he went thither and caused the Earle of Niebla Peter Ponce of Leon and other heads and chief authors of these seditions to be put in prison and hauing examined euery mans actions he banished some others he condemned in great fynes and losse of their offices and caused many to be hanged or lose their heads so as there were aboue a thousand persons intangled in these punishments and executions of iustice one of the chiefe ministers whereof was Doctor Iohn Alphonso of Toro to whom the gouernement of Seuile was giuen for matters of iustice and the more to countenance him the king stayed there many daies This king gaue many other testimonies of his loue to iustice he gaue audience to all sutors indifferently three dayes in the weeke he heard all the complaints of his subiects and prouided for them he could discerne of men of iudgement which were fit for councell and the gouernment of the commonwealth The most esteemed and of greatest authoritie about him were Don Pedro Tenorio Arch-bishop of Toledo Friar Iohn Henriques and Friar Fernando of Illesca with the Cardinall D. Pedro of Frias Bishop of Osma and these for the Clergie Elâ—etion of 〈◊〉 men to 〈◊〉 great aff â—â—res of Knights he made great esteeme of Don Laurence Suarez of Figueroa Master of Saint Iames Gonçales Nugnes of Guzman Master of Calatraua Diego Hurtado of Mendoça high Admirall of Castile Ruy Lopes of Aualos his Lord Chamberlaine and afterwards Constable Diego Lopes of Estuniga chiefe Iutice Peter Lopes of Ayala a knight of great learning who came to be Lord Chancelour Iohn Velasco a Chamberlaine and other knights of his Councell which consisted of sixteene graue personages Among others that were very deare vnto him there was a Doctor a Iew by sect borne at Burgos who afterwards imbraced the Christian Religion called Don Pablo who for his learning and good life Doctor Pablo a Iew learned and of a good life was in time chosen Bishop of Carthagena and in the end obtained the Bishopricke of Burgos He had many times oppugned the Christian Religion as a Iew Rabin and Master in the Iewish Law but hauing receiued in gift of a Christian Doctor the booke of Saint Thomas Aquinas intituled de Legibus he read it diligently and was so mooued with the reasons thereof as he left his Iewish religion the which is not strange say the Diuines of Spaine for he that knowes not Saint Thomas knoweth not any thing and he that knoweth him knowes all things This Prelate who was a great Preacher a great Philosopher wise and iudicious in matters of State and of the kings Councell wrate many bookes whereof some are yet extant Beeing a Iew he was married Doctor Pablos children all learned and had three soones all learned men whereof the one was Deane of Segobia and succeeded his father in the Bishoppricke of Burgos he was called Don Alphonso of Carthagena from whome we haue the genealogie of the kings of Castile written in Latine Don Gonçalo another sonne of D. Pablos was Bishop of Palença a Prelat of great learning and the third was Aluar Garcia of S. Maria a learned man also D. Pablo their father beeing of the King Don Henries Councell notwithstanding that he had bin a Iew did aduise him and his successors Counsel of a Iew against Iewes not to receiue into their seruice either of his housholds Councell or to any Offices of the Realm any Iew although he were conuerted and that for some speciall causes The King Don Henry being endowed with these good qualities beyond the Ordinary of young Princes had also some blemishes like other mortall men for hee was noted to be sparing and desirous to heape vp treasure and yet they say that it was without the oppression of his subiects the which is hard in a Prince yet hee gaue many prouisions and pensions to them that were neere to him in bloud or allyed to him by affinitie as to the Queene D. Beatrix his mother-in-law whome he maintained in the estate of a Queene and to Don Fernand his brother who shewed himselfe alwaies obedient to his will His countries beeing in peace he gaue himselfe to repaire and fortifie the fronter places and did build a new the castle of Carthagena As for religious buildings the church and conuent of the Carthusians at Burgos called Mirefleurs are his worke he was a great fauorer of the Franciscans to whome Queene Katherine his wife had a particular deuotion who was a Ladie of great pietie according to the instruction of that time bountifull maiesticall wife and discreet in her words yet superfluous in her manner of liuing and louing wine whereby in her latter dayes she fell into a palsey The Kings infirmities which began at the age of seuenteene yeares did in time so vndermine him being incurable as he became drie and leane so as the proportion of his body was changed and he seemed another man then formerly he had beene moreouer he was so sad and melancholicke as most commonly he was alone and would not admit of any company Yet he was alwaies carefull of the gouernement of the Realme He alwaies entertayned Ambassadours in Princes Courts as well Christians as Mahumetists by whom he was aduertised what was done in forraine countries their manners and manner of gouernements a thing most profitable for him that sends them Ambassadors discourer the councels and actions of Princes but not for them that receiue them for by Ambassadors which are resident the Councels and actions of Princes are discouered to the great preiudice of their estates Two of his Ambassadors sent into the East the which wee Pelayo of Soto maior and Fernando Pelasuel fell into the hands of Tamberlaine Emperor of the Tartarians after the defeate of Baiazet who intreated then graciously and sent them backe into Spaine with an Ambassador of his to demand friendship of king Henry During his raigne in the yeare 1397 the order to the Knights of the Calatraua in steed of a blacke hood which they had worne vntill that time Red crosse the marke of the Order of Calatraua tooke for their marke a red square crosse which they carry at this day the which was done by the Bull of Pope Benedict of Auignon at the instance of Don Gonçal Nugnes of Guzman maister of the Calatraua The realme of Castille being at peace with all men it was ingaged in new troubles by Don Iohn King of Portugall for that the Articles of the truce concluded
betwixt their Ambassadors for fifteene yeares Portugal had not beene signed and sworne by certain Noblemen of Castille as had beene agreed with other light occasions which drew him to field being yet proud of his former victories and contemning the youth and infirmity of King Henry his aduersary wherefore he sodenly brought his army before Badajos which towne hee tooke and the Marshall Don Garci Guttiere of Herrera in it whereat the King Don Henry was much incensed and speedily prouided for all things necessary to suppresse the boldnesse of this Portugall King both by sea and land One of the most remarkable exployts of this warre which continued three yeares was the incounter of fiue Castillan gallies with seauen of Portugall comming from Genoa laden with armes and souldiers the fight hauing continued very sharpe some houres in the end foure of the gallies of Portugall were taken one broken and the rest put to flight Victory of the Castillansat sea In this incounter the Portugalls lost aboue fiue hundred men besides the armes and equipage of their gallies the which were drawne to St. Lucar Many noble men of Portugall at that time left King Iohn and retired into Castile where they were entertained and had lands and houses giuen them by the King D. Henry Among others Martin Vasques of Acugna and his brethren Giles Vasques and Lopes Vasques came also with an hundred lances Iohn Fernandes and Lopes Fernandes Pachecos bretheren Aluar Gonçales Camelo Prior of S. Iohn with many others The king of Portugal entring by Gallicia he tooke from king Henry the town of Tuy and towards extremadura he layd seege before Alcantara to whose succour was sent D. Ruy Lopes of Aualos then made Constable of Castile in the place of the Earle of Transtamara who raised the seege and entring into Portugal spoiled and burnt the countrie and tooke Pegna major a place of strength by force On the other side the towne of Miranda of Duego was beseeged by King Henries captaines who prest it in such sort as it yeelded After some courses and prizes made at sea by the Admirall of Castile the truce was renued betwixt the two kings and was so entertayned as it was the last war which the Portugals had with Castile vntill our daies so as these two Princes gouerned their Estates in peace and quietnesse the remainder of thier liues In Arragon whilest they contended for the right of the succession against Mathew of Castelbon Earle of Foix Arragon and his wife D. Ioane eldest daughter to the deceased king D. Iohn as we haue sayd D. Maria wife to the D. of Momblanc being absent in Sicily took vpon her the title of Queene by the aduice of the councell of Cattelogne in the city of Barcelona where there assisted D. Inigo Valterra Archb. of Tarragona Bernard of Pinos Hugh Anglesole Roger of Moncade Viceroy of Sardinia Michel Gurrea Francis of Aranda who was held the wisest of his time Bernard Michel William Pujade Gerard Paliol Francis of Aranda a wise man and Bernard Zatrille These were of opinion that the Regencie of the realme should bee put into the hands of D. Maria vntill her husbands coming to whom they had sent D. Hugh of Bage Bishop of Tortosa Iohn Foulq son to the Earle of Cardona Emanuel Ragiadel Raymond Zaual a Cittizen of Barcelonet and Peter Grimald of Perpignan Ambassadors to giue him notice of his election and to hasten his returne The widow Queene Violant was in the meane time accompanied by foure of the chiefe Ladies by order frm the Councell the which did neuer abandon her and should haue a care of her deliuery for that she said she was with child And for that many men of state and others hauing had charges offices in the time of the deceased King Officers called into question had abused them their actions were now called into question during this Inteâ—egne and some of them were committed at Barcelona The Will of the deceased King beeing opened in the Assembly of Cattelogne they found that the same Duke of Momblanc to whom the peoples fauour inclined was there named heyre and successor to the Crowne in case the King Don Iohn dyed without issue male the which was signified to the Countesse of Foix. At the Estates assembled at Sarragossa to giue order that the realme should receiue no losse in the absence of the king D. Martin these chiefe men were present D. Garci fernandes of Heredia Arch-bishop of Sarragossa D. Iohn Martines Murillo Abbot of Montarragon D. Pedro Fernandes of Ixar D. william and Raymond Allamans Cevuillon D. Pedro Ruis Morio for the great Prior of Amposta The Prior of Rota The Abbot of S. Fides D. Pedro of Ladron Vicount of Villanoua D. Lopes Ximenes of Vrrea D. Fernand Lopes of Luna D. Iohn Martines of Luna D. Alphonso Fernandes of Ixar D. Pedro Fernrndes Vergua D. Francis of Allagon D. Pedro Ximenes of Vrrea son to D. Lope The Atturneys of D. Lewis Cornel of D. Artal of Allagon of D. Iohn Ximenes of Vrrea Atrasillo of D. Pedro Galcerand of Castro and of D. Anthony of Luna Moreouer Iohn Ximenes de la Cerde Iustice Maior of Arragon with many other Noblemen knights and Deputies of towns and commonalties who without regard to the demands and protestations of Mathew Earle of Foix and D. Ieanne his wife confirmed the Duke of Monblanc testamentarie heire of the Realme disanulling the conuentions made by the deceased king D. Pedro grandfather to D. Ieanne Articles of marriage broken by the estates to the preiudice of the Eaâ—le of Foix. at the treatie of her marriage with the Earle of Foix by the which it was sayd that if Don Iohn her father dyed without issue male she should inherit the Realme whereupon Mathew Earle of Foix sought to obtaine his right by armes seeing that iustice was denyed him And hauing employed the ayde of the Earle of Armaignac of Iohn Duke of Berry the French kings vncle and of other Noblemen of France he passed with a thousand men at armes three thousand light horsemen from the Vicountie of Castelbon beyond the Pyrenees and by the valley of Ferriere at Villemur he tooke Camaraça and marched as farre as Lerida where hee spoyled the country against whome the Estates did chose Don Pedro of Vrgell for Generall And for that it was suspected that D. Iohn Earle of Ampurias had fauoured these French troupes at the passage of the mountaines he was committed to prison but soone after deliuered hauing made proofe of his innocencie Although the Earle of Foix did much annoy the Arragonois yet the greatest losse fell vppon himselfe for beeing too weake a partie to incounter the power of Arragon he did nothing but spend his estate ingage himselfe and striue for nothing his army beeing forced to rise from before Barbastro and to retire for want of victuals and other discommodities towards Huesca and then to passe by Caparosso belonging vnto
Brittanie caused all disorders to bee reformed and restitution to be made The Councell of King Iohn was then reduced to fifteene Prelates and Knights whereof fiue should assist and serue and they should change euery foure moneths Don Iohn King of Portugall laboured to quench and qualifie all occasions of new trobles betwixt his Realme and that of Castile Portugal by a firme peace Wherefore hauing sent backe his ambassadours in the yeare 1419. to Don Iohn King of Castile they were returned with good hope and promise to send ambassadours into Portugall expressely to that end This king D. Iohn the first of that name then raigning in Portugall hauing made a long truce with D. Henry King of Castile during that time he gaue himselfe to gouerne his Realme with iustice to repaire the ruines which had growne by the precedent warres and to adorne it with new buildings wherein employing himselfe with iudgement bountie and wisedome hee was beloued and respected both of his owne subiects and of strangers In remembrance of the victorie which he had gotten at Aljubarote he did build neere vnto it a sumptuous Monasterie which he dedicated to the Virgin Mary and did call it Saint Mary the royall of the battell or victorie which is a Conuent of Iacobin Friars And for that he had a better iudgement then many other Princes knowing that most of the relligious Monkes and other persons did not vnderstand the Latin tongue Booke of the â—oly Scripture translated into Portugall in the which the houres and suffrages were sung in churches he caused them to be translated into the Portugall tongue and in like manner many bookes of the holy Scripture and the interpretation thereof namely the foure Euangelists the which did afterwards much displease our Doctors in Diuinity Hee was so zealous of the honor of his house as a Groome of his chamber called Don Fernand Alphonso of Saint Iren hauing so much forgotten himselfe as to defloure one of the Queenes maides daughter to D. Aluar Peres of Castro Earle of Arroyoles he caused him to be burnt in the place of Rusio in Lisbon and as for her he chased her shamefully from Court sending her to her parents neither could the Queenes intercession preuaile any thing He did also punish with great seuerity the other insolencies of his Courtiers and aboue all things he shewed himselfe a louer of iustice onely he did forget to do reason to D. Beatrix Queene of Castile pretending to be right heire of the Realme which he enioyed whilest that she liued as it were in a priuate estate in Castile an example of rare patience and chastitie for shee would neuer heare speake of a second mariage although she were sought vnto by Princes of great state who happily might haue setled her in her fathers kingdome Besides the aboueâ—named buildings he built the towne of Almerin vpon the riuer of Tayo the pallace of Sintra the castle at Lisbon those of Sierra Balada neere to S. Iren and other Seeing himselfe in peace with all Christian Princes and well obeyed of his subiects he passed the sea with an armie and tooke Ceuta from the Moores of Affricke hauing in his company the Infant D. Edward holding then the place of the eldest for Don Alphonso was dead the Infant Don Pedro Duke of Coimbra and Lord of Montmajor the old and of Auero Don Pedro of Meneses Earle of Viana standard bearer of the realm who was the first Gouernor of Ceuta which victorie was intermixt with mourning for the death of the Queene D. Philippe his wife which happened in the yeares 1415. at what time the king D. Iohn did take a way the vse of accompting the yeares by the Aera of Caesar the which had beene till that time obserued in Portugall ordaining that from that time the yeare should begin from the Natiuity of Christ and that it should bee so dated in all publike and priuate writings to the end to conforme himselfe to that which was brought into Castile Arragon and Nauarre and to auoyd the confusion which fell our in contracts and bargains betwixt the subiects of the Realmes of Spaine In the yeare 1419. 1419. the Infant Don Henry his sonne who was Master of the Order of Christ mooued with an honest emulation by the conquest which his father had made vpon the Barbarians hauing conferred with some men of knowledge and experience in Cosmographie resolued to runne ouer the Ocean sea and to discouer the shoare and Ilands thereof Going from Lisbon with some ships hee came to the Iland of Madera in the yeare 1420. the which he found desert and full of wood An. 1420. whereof it carries the name M adera discouered for Madera is that which the Latins call Materia and we timber He set fire to this wood so as hauing cleansed it they found the soyle good and fruitfull for all things especially for sugar canes which grow in such aboundance as both Spaine and all Europe make great vse of it The Infant did afterwards continue this and other nauigations D. Henry Master of Christus the first discouerer at sea and was the first spurre to the Portugals which came after to discouer the coasts of Affricke and Asia and the Ilands of the South and Easterne seas with great honor to their nation and infinit profite to the whole world These things were attempted by the Portugals when as the peace betwixt them and the Castillans was doubtfull for the Councell of Castile delayed it by reason of the kings minority yet they liued quietly one with another About that time the ambassadors of Castile Castile which had beene sent to the Councell of Constance returned into Spaine bringing home the re-union of the church of Rome vnder Pope Martin the fift Among them was Don Diego of Anaya Maldonado Archb. of Seuile who built the Colledge of Saint Bartholomew at Salamanca this yeare 1420. beeing called the great Colledge the most auncient of all Castile where many learned men haue beene bred In that Vniuersitie of Salamanca are many other Colledges built and endowed with good liuings where there is good exercise of Diuinity arts and tongs as also in other townes of Spaine by the care of Bishops and good Prelates labouring chiefly to maintaine learning which are the grounds of pietie and vertue The same yeare a marriage was made betwixt D. Blanche of Nauarre the widdow-Queene of Sicile Nauarre and the Infant D. Iohn of Arragon second sonne to the King Don Fernand deceased By the treatie concluded the yeare before it was sayd That if the Infanta the presumptiue heire of Nauarre for the elder sister the Countesse of Foix was already dead without children should die before her husband hauing children or not that hee should raigne during his life in Nauarre after the decease of King Charles his father-in-law From this condition and promise being sworne there grew many troubles in Nauar. Besides the expectation of the Realme there
Gamboyn who seeing himselfe disappointed of that which hee pretended fell into such hatred of them of Montdragon as he caused the towne to be fired in diuers parts by some that he had set on so as he made in a manner all to be most inhumanly burnt Don Bertrand being apprehended by the kings commandement for this fact and accused to haue set fire of a towne belonging to the Crowne was in danger to haue lost his life yet as in a time of confusion money and fauour can do more then iustice he had his life saued making satisfaction to them that had beene burnt and damnified to value the which there were arbitrators appointed who by sentence adiudged most part of Don Bertrands lands to the towne of Montdragon and more they had giuen if the foure arbitrators chosen for the Inhabitants had not beene corrupted with money This towne of Montdragon endured this calamity for that it would not bee alienated from the Crowne for that they maintayned their liberties better so then in beeing subiect to any subalternall Lord and without doubt if Don Bertrand could haue seized theron he would haue kept it in this time full of reuolts and excesse when as the confirmation or the pardon had beene easie to haue beene obtayned by a peace or otherwise In cleargie matters this towne hath alwaies beene stout to maintaine her rights and priuiledges still refusing to accept any Lay patron as well in that which concernes the fruits as the right of presentation in the towne and iurisdiction In the yeare 1449. the truce betwixt Castile and Nauarre beeing ended the garrisons of Atiença and of Pegna of Alcaçar went to field Exploits of 〈◊〉 betwixt the Nauarrâ—it and Castillans and made the cruellest warre that might be The King of Nauarre being exceeding glad that the Earle of Beneuent had escaped into Portugall he fortified himselfe with the fauour of king Don Alphonso by his meanes and hauing drawne out of Nauarre and Arragon and from the Moores in the Realme of Valencia which were subiects to Arragon a good number of fighting men sent them vnder the conduct of Don Pedro of Vrrea Don Iohn Fernandes of Heredia Rodrigo of Rebolledo Don Fernand and Don Diego sonnes to the Earle of Castro and of the iustice of Arragon against the towne of Cuenca making his base sonne Don Alphonso of Arragon late Master of the Calatraua Generall of this armie the which ioyning with the troupes which Iohn Hurtado of Mendoça and Lope of Mendoça his brother sonnes to Don Diego had raysed for his seruice for that they were entred into quarell with the Bishop of Cuenca and were become his enemies might amount to sixe thousand men horse and foot with these forces the cittie of Cuenca was beseeged the which was defended by the Bishop Don Lope of Barriento a better souldier then a Diuine although he had some fame for that facultie in Spaine and by Alphonso Cherino son to Fernando Alphonso Cherino Syndic of the citty and by Lopes and Iohn of Salezar breethren Captaines of the garrison and the Inhabitants who made such resistance as notwithstanding that the Nauarrois had taken Saint Anthonies tower at the bridge and giuen great assaults in other places yet they defended the place and repulst the enemie who despayring to take it raised the seege the which they did the rather for that they were aduertised the Constable came with great forces to succour it Towards Requena and Vtiel the king of Nauarre sent Don Baltazar sonne to the Earle of Huelua with 200 horse and 500. foot who running along the riuer of Xorquera tooke a bootie of about 10000. head of small cattell and the Inhabitants of Requena and Vtiel going foorth to rescue the prey they were incountred and defeated thirty of their Knights beeing slaine vpon the place and seuenty caried away prisoners by the Nauarrois and the rest were all dispersed These were the King of Nauarres exploites attending the returne of the Admirall Don Frederick who was gone to Naples with the Bishop of Lerida where they were so well receiued by king Alphonso and heard in their requests that not beeing able to come into Spaine as he desired he sent letters and commandement to the Estates of Arragon to furnish the king of Nauarre his brother with men armes victuals money of his rents and reuenues and all other things in such quantitie as he should need to make warre against the King of Castile to recouer from him his lands and Estates and to deliuer the Noblemen which were detayned prisoners by the Constables practises and slanders with this prouision the Admirall and Bishop imbarked to returne into Spaine hauing receiued gifts and presents with all other good vsage from king Alphonso The bishop dyed vppon the way so as the Admirall returned alone to the king of Nauarre who was much pleased with this fauourable dispatch calling the chiefe men of Arragon to Saragossa where he acquainted them with their kings command whereupon the Arragonois hauing held a Councell they besought the king of Nauarre not to draw them into quarrell with Castile with which Realme they desired to maintaine peace as long as they might The king of Nauarre vsed many intreaties and protestations to perswade them but he could not induce them to go to the warre with him yet he drew from them what summes of money he would and seeing that he could not perswade them in generall he induced some knights in particular to serue him and to make his way more easie to that which he pretended being sufficiently aduertised of the insolencies and follies which the Constable committed daily to the great disdaine of the Noblemen of Castile he sought by all meanes to draw some into his league letting them vnderstand that if they did any longer indure this mad man to gouerne the Realme of Castile in that maner they would repent it too late and when as they should not bee able to preuent the ruine of their houses which he sought hauing no other end but to root out the great families of the Realme to settle his familiars and men of his sort The king of Nauar had a speciall desire to draw D. Pedro de Velasco Earle of Haro into this league beeing a good Knight louing iustice rich and mightyboth in meanes and friends to whom the Constables vnlimited ambition and the vniust detention of so many good men was displeasing League made against the Constable D. Aluaro de Luna To draw him to his faction he fed him with hope to marrie his sonne Prince Charls vnto his daughter so as the greatnesse of the royall Estate wherein D. Pedro should see his daughter if this marriage tooke effect blinded his eyes and made him open his eares This beeing in some sort concluded they sent wise and discreet men to the Prince Don Henry and to his great minion D. Iohn de Pacheco Marquis of Villena and his brother D. Pedro Giron Master of Calatraua to
honors and riches who were issued from base and obscure families Thus King Henry at the age of one and thirty yeeres was proclaimed King at Valiodolite in the presence of D. Iohn of Pacheco Marques of Villena his most priuate and familliar friend and his brother D. Pedro Giron Maister of â—alatraua D. Ruy Diaz of Mendoza great Maister of the household to the late King D. Iohn D. Pedrod ' Aguilar Lord of Priego and of Cagnette the Marshal D. Diego Fernandes of Cordoua Lord of Baena and other Noblemen which were then at the Court. The beginning of his reigne was very plausible by reason that he did enlarge of his owne accord without being therevnto solicited by any one D. Garcia Alâ—ares of Toledo Earle of Alua and D. Diego Manriques Earle of Treuigno restoring them to all their former riches honours and dignities and hauing made a certaine speech to the Lords that were then about him they gaue him great and humble thankes reputing that demonstration of his clemency as an high fauour and so with al reuerence kissed his hands He displaced none of all those which were in any office or place of dignity during the life of his father but receiued them into his seruice in the selfe same quality that they were in before In regard whereof all men thought the Kingdome happy being fallne into the hands of so good so curteous and liberall a Prince and they did yeeld infinite thankes vnto God the only giuer of so desired and necessary a fauour for the Realmes of Castile and Leon. Diuers great Lords so soone as they heard of the death of King Iohn came in all hast to mourne with him for the same to do him reuerence and to take the oth of alleageance due to the new King The Ecclesiasticall persons were D. Alphonso Carillo d' Acugna Archbishop of Toledo D. Roderigo de Luna Archbishop of Saint Iames D. Alphonso Fonseca Archbishop of Seuil D. Alphonso de Carthagena Bishop of Burgos Frier Lopes de Barriento Bishop of Cuenca D. Alphonso de Madrigalls called Tostado the most renowned Bishop of Auila D. Pedro Baca Bishop of Leon D. Pedro of Castile Bishop of Palença D. Gonçall of Illesca Bishop of Cordoua D. Lewis d' Acugna Bishop of Segobia D. Inigo Manrique Bishop of Ouiedo with diuers other prelats The secular Lords were D. Fernand de Velasco Earle of Haro D. Alphonso Pimentell Earle of Benauent D. Gaston de la Cerde Earle of Medina Celi D. Diego Manrique Earle of Treuigno D. Iohn Manrique Earle of Castagneda D. Roderigo Manrique Earle of Paredes D. Gabriell Manrique Earle of Osorno D. Aluaro of Estuniga Earle of Plaisance whose father was newly dead much about the time of the Constables decease D. Pedro Aluares Osorio Earle of Transtamara D. Pedro d' Acugna Earle of Valencia an other D. Pedro d' Acugna Lord of Duegnas and Tariego brother to the Archbishop D. Alphonso Carillo D. Iohn de Sylua Standard-bearer to the King and many others who with the deputies of townes and Prouinces there assembled sware to the Kings fealty and homage after the accustomed manner Now the King being desirous to suppresse al fore-passed quarrels and to settle a firme peace in his dominions The King of Nauarre and other Lords pacified recompenced repealed by the new king D. Henry did at his comming to the crowne send Ambassadors to the King of Nauarre who greatly complained because of the confiscation of all his goods in Castile wherevpon it was concluded that in recompence of all the wrongs that hee could pretend he should haue certaine yeerely pensions assigned him out of the ordinary reuenue of the Kingdome of Castile in regard of which assignation he should deliuer vp into the King of Castiles hands the townes of Atiença La Pegna de Alcaçar it was likewise agreed vpon that the Admirall D. Frederic D. Iohn of Touar Lord of Berlanga the children of the Earle of Castro lately dead and all the Knights and others which were fled out of the Kingdome by reason of the late warres should be repealed and restored to all their goods and lands These things were soone effected and the Admirall with the rest returned to Valiodolit to kisse the Kings hands who receiued them very graciously and yet for all that did put them in minde of the faith and obedience due to Kings to the end they might the better remember it afterward and so with his free pardon dismissed them And besides all this the better to confirme his peace on all sides with Christian Princes he sent Ambassadors into Italy to Alphonso King of Arragon to the end to renue the leagues and antient alliances betwixt the crownes of Castile and Arragon who were receiued and entertained with great honour a notable argument whereof was that as the Ambassadors of Castile and the Commissioners of Arragon stood vpon termes who should be first named in the instruments and writings the King D. Alphonso decreed that the precedency should be giuen to Castile Castile presâ—râ— before Arragon in regard that he himselfe reigning ouer the Arragonois was a Prince issued from the stocke of Castile an antient race of the Kings of Gothes so that in all the writings which did concerne the league and alliance the King of Castile was first named the which his Ambassadors at their returne certified to him and his councell to their exceeding ioy and contentment But notwithstanding these good beginnings if the reigne of the late King Iohn was turbulent and troublesome and if euer Spaine was Spaine was seene to be shaken with furious tempests The gentleness of a Prince not accompanied with iustice seuerity is both hurtful to him selfe and his Estaâ—e it was now most of all by the miserable gouernment of his sonne King Henry whose clemency and carelesse gentlenesse was the onely cause thereof making him to forget the other part of the duty of a Prince which is Iustice by meanes whereof he fell into the contempt of the great ones of his Court and namely of his most priuate minions so that both hee and his Kingdome fell into very dangerous streights At the beginning he and his affaires were gouerned by D. Iohn de Pacheco Marquis of Villena a wise rich and discreet person and one well seene in the mannaging of state-affaires likewise by the Archbishop of Seuil D. Alphonso de Fonseca a prelate of an excellent wit but lesse graue then beseemed the place and ranke he held by whom for certaine yeeres space the Kingdome was well gouerned to the contentment of all men The first martiall enterprise attempted in the reigne of King Henry was against the Moores of Granado ouer whom reigned Ismael Moores and Castile the same who had taken the crowne from Mahumet the Lame for the execution whereof King Henry assembled the Estates of his kingdome in the city of Cuellar vnto whom hauing propounded what he ment to doe D. Iatgo Lopes de
Paredes should take the King the Earles of Plaisance and Alua should seize vpon the Queene and his daughter Ioane the supposed Princesse the Marquis should leade away the Infants and his brother the Master of Calatraua should dispatch the Earle of Ledesma These matters thus concluded Treason discouered â—ut not punishâ—d they were discouered and reuealed to the King some three howers before they should haue beene executed who was as slacke in redressing this as other former matters for if he had so pleased hee might easily haue taken or slaine the Marquis beeing in the Court but he sayd that he would keepe the promise which hee made him and so he onely sent Gonçal of Sahauedra and the Secretarie Aluaro Gomes vnto him to reproch his trecherie which did much trouble the Marquis who neuerthelesse denyed the matter and sayd that God forbid that euer he should be partaker in so vile a treason whereof he would enquire and if he found any of his people to haue a hand therein that hee would deliuer them ouer into the hands of Iustice and with this shew hee departed from the Kings house and went directly to the Abbey of Parrall where hee gathered together great companies of his followers and partisans meaning to keepe the same and not intending any more to enter into the Cittie so that if the king meant to talke with him it behooued him then to come foorth willingly and meete him The Confederates perceiuing this enterprise of theirs to prooue vaine and of no effect did intreate the King to heare the Marquis speake and to come foorth of the cittie into some place not suspected but their intent was to seize vppon him abroade in the Countrey since they could not bring it to passe in the cittie The King consented and appointed to meete them betweene Villa Castin and the Monasterie of Saint Peter de las Duegnas to the which Monasterie the King came but he had there notice giuen him of two things the one that the Admirall Don Frederick had in Vailledolit erected banners in the name of the Infant Don Alphonso naming him king and that the towne had withstood it and in such sort resisted the Admirall and his people as they had driuen him thence The other was that hee should by no meanes go on to meete with the Marquis of Villena because the Master of Calatraua and diuers of the Manriques were in the fields with sixe hundred horse to take him The king beeing highly mooued at these practises did prouide a remedie in time for hee dispatched Conçal of Sahauedra with fiue hundred horse of his owne Guard for to succour those of Vailledolit and for the present danger he sent the Bishop of Calaorra to Villa Castin and the Licentiat Diego Henriques del Castel his Councellor and Chronicler to the Earles of Plaisance and Alua to discouer that which was done there These hauing met with others who came to warne the king of the selfe same danger they separated themselues and the Licenciate returned with speed to the Monasterie to cause the king to dislodge who at that instant departed from thence and returned to Segobia entring into the cittie with fiue thousand men gathered together from the places thereabouts The Bishoppe went on and met with the Earles who marched in Armes and militarie Order with whome he had some speech and conference to no purpose and so returned to Segobia The new Master of Saint Iames besides his owne people hauing with him the kings Guard came neere to the Master of Calatraua beeing in a place fitte for a fight and was resolued to charge him if the night had not hindred him notwithstanding that he had commandement from the king not to do so wherefore he brought backe his troupes to Segobia The knights of the League seeing their enterprises to bee discouered Burgos in the power of the confederates marched towards the Cittie of Burgos the Castle whereof was vnder the commaund of Don Aluaro of Estuniga Earle of Plaisance one of the Confederates The Cittie being mooued with these strange newes would not consent to ought that they propounded but Don Iohn de Pacheco Marquis of Villena could so well set foorth the iustice of his cause in eloquent tearmes as they did beleeue that hee and his complices were in the right but diuers of the inhabitants who were of good iudgement did very well perceiue that each of these confederate Lords was carried away with enuie hatred iealousie and other diseases of Court and with a desire of their owne priuate good rather then that of the Common-wealth Now at the request of the Marquis certaine chiefe men of the citty met together who signed the letters which they wrote to the King which contained foure principall accusations Accusations propounded by the colleagues which they required to haue redressed The one was that the king kept ordinarily in his Court Moores which were enemies of the faith whome hee did animate to commit infinite out-rages which were vnpunished as the rape of the daughter of Diego Sanches of Orihuela d'Seuill Againe that the places of Iudges with other Offices were bestowed vppon persons wholy vnworthy of them by meanes whereof diuers exactions and tyrannies were committed Thirdly that to the manifest contempt and hinderance of the Infant Don Alphonso vnto whome that dignitie did belong he had bestowed the Master-ship of Saint Iames vppon Bertrand de la Câ—eua Earle of Ledesma The fourth and most important The king reproched with the adulterat birth of 〈◊〉 which could not be excused was that he caused Donna Ioane to be sworne vnto as Princesse and heire of the kingdomes of Castile and Leon whome hee very well knew to be none of his daughter highly wronging the Infants Don Alphonso and Donna Izabella by depriuing them of their patrimonie and inheritance to remedie which it was requisite to cause the Estates of Spaine to make a new oath in the behalfe of the Infant Don Alphonso and to restore to him the Master-ship of Saint Iames. These reasons were indeed of great moment if they had beene prosecuted by lawfull and iust meanes and with a true zeale of the good and reputation of the Crowne of Castile but there is seldome any good order kept in such rash proceedings The letter was presented to the King at Vailledolit whither he was come with a great traine but notwithstanding that most of the articles contayned matter of truth wherein his honour was highly touched he neuerthelesse made such small account thereof as most of his Councell and seruants were greatly ashamed thereof and yet for all that he had then about him forces sufficient to dissolue and scatter that league without any danger at all but it was Gods will to punish both the king and the people The chiefe poynt that the Confederates stood vppon was that Donna Ioane the supposed Princesse wrongfully reputed Princesse of Castile should be declared to bee the daughter of Don
the excesse thereof which men call ambition is alwaies accompanied with the greatest vices They were also maintainers of iustice in Spaine the which they executed in such sort as their seuerity did not depriue them of the praise which they deserued by their mildnesse and elemency The plaies and pastimes which King Fernand vsed in his youth were Cardes and Chesse but afterward he became inclined to hunting and hawking to the exercize of armes and he did prooue excellent in all kindes of horsemanship he loued learned men but his euil hap was not to be instructed therein in his youth which was thorough his fathers negligence who was also himself in a maner wholy vnlearned King Fernand did greatly delight to heare learned men talke and to vnderstand of the laudable actions of great men but especially of his ancestors Queene Isabella for her part tooke great pleasure in learning the Latin tongue and proffiâ—ed so well therein as in lesse then a yeere she was able to vnderstand what her selfe did reade or what was spoken vnto her in the same language her continency and chastity was rare and it did appeere in all her actions speeches attire and countenance Shee kept ordinarily in her house young men and women of noble parentage whom shee brought vp and also Ladies of great place who were honoured for their vertue and honesty She would willingly haue had the King her husband like her selfe of whom she was extreamely iealous and if at any time shee perceiued him familliar with any of her Ladies or Gentlewomen she presenty sought meanes to quench those vnlawfull fires yet without scandall either by marrying them sending them away or admonishing them or by some other honest and discreet meanes desyring that the Ladies of her traine should be rather vertuous then faire It is noted of her that in her trauaile of child what paine soeuer she indured shee did neuer fetch one sigh or groane and at that time she would cause her face to be couered Charmes and inchantements she abhorred as became a Christian she did greatly loue learned men who were of good conuersation especially prelats of an holy and religious life doing more good vnto such and sooner preferring them to liuings and dignities then others of greater houses who made more shew of the fame and glory of their ancestors then of their owne vertues These Princes being thus qualified obtained the crowne of Castile and afterwards that of Arragon not without paine trauaile and great oppositions as hereafter shall appeare which being by them surmounted and passed ouer they established iustice gaue peace to the Spaniards quenching all forepassed ciuill warres and did zealously labour about the ordering of religion wherein they wanted good-helpe this at the leastwise redounded to their honour that they did roote the Moores out of Spaine and made conquests in Affrica they did quicken vp the Spaniards spirits and incited them to al excellent artes and sciences ordayning great stipends to learned men namely benefices and Ecclesiasticall reuenewes they made diuerse good and profitable lawes and by their authoritie and meanes the inhabitants of a new world came to the knowledge of those Regions the which hath for all that in diuerse sorts redounded to the hurt of man-kinde not by these Princes occasion but by the couetousnesse and cruelty of those which came after them The Princesse Isabell as hath beene already said was at Segobia at the time hir brother King Henry died whither the Princes and Lords which tooke his part did come after the Kings obsequies were finished which lasted nine dayes and there they saluted her as Queene of Castile and Leon taking the oath of fealty and dooing her homage after the accustomed manner There were present when this was done Don Alphonso Cariâ—â—o d' Acugna Archbishop of Toledo Lords holding the party of the Princes Ferdinand Isabel. D. Pero Gonçall of Mendoça Archbishop of Siuill called Cardinall of Spaine and the Bishop of Siguença Don Pedro de Velasco Constable of Castile Don Alphonso Henriques Admirall of Castile by the death of his father Don Frederick newly deceased and Vnckle by the mothers side to the new King Don Garcy Aluares of Toledo Duke of Alua Don Bertrand de la Cueua Duke of Albuquerque Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoçca Marquis of Santillana Don Roderigo Alphonso Pimentel Earle of Benauent Don Pedro Manrique Earle of Treuigno and others some of whom were already with the Princesse before the Kings death Prince Ferdinand was at the same time in Cattalonia with his father King Iohn who beeing aduertised of that which hapned came speedily to Segobia where hee in like manner was receiued and acknowledged as King to the great ioy and contentment not onely of the Citty but of the whole kingdome who sent their Deputies vnto him to doe him homage and seruice as to their lawfull Lord and King in the right of his wife it beeing a matter out of all question that Donna Ioane was a bastard borne in adultery and not capable of any right to the Crowne Other Lords which were absent did in like manner send their deputies to make their submissions and to take the oathes due to the new King But the Marquis of Villena who had Donna Ioane in keeping Lords contrary to the Princes taking Donna Ioanes part and Don Aluaro d' Estuniga Duke of Areualo Don Roderigo Tellas Gyron Maister of Calatraua and Don Iohn Gyron Earle of Vregna cousins to the Marquis of Villenâ— with others their confederates and adherents were of another opinion and did not onely fauour Donna Ioane who called her selfe Queene of Castile but craued many things for their owne particular profit The Marquis would haue the Maistership of Saint Iames and the places belonging therevnto which Don Iohn de Pacheco his father had enioyed The Duke of Areualo would haue his Dutchy confirmed to him and the Maistership of Alcantara for Don Iohn d' Estuniga his sonne other men demanded other matters Now the first thing that was thought vpon by the King and Queenes Councell Iustice and treasures the principall members of a state was about the ordering of their treasures and administration of iustice the managing and execution whereof was to be committed to fit persons and capable of such affaires wherefore Don Guttiere de Cardegna the Queenes Chamberlaine and Gonçalo Chacon were created chiefe Treasurers and with them Roderigo de Vllao was ioyned then they sent Ambassadors to Lewis the eleuenth the French King to aduertise him of King Henries death of their promotion and to request him to continue and confirme the ancient alliance with the house of Spaine The Ambassadors had likewise commission and instructions for the restitution of the Earldome of Rossillon to the King of Arragon King Lewis made a shew of sorrow for King Henries death and seemed to reioyce that they had succeeded him but touching the restoring of the County of Rossillon hee would by no meanes hearken therevnto
wherefore hee did inuite both of them to come to victoria and to refere their controuersies to his arbitrement with these holy speeches hee gaue content and admiration to the Knights of Nauarre at whose returne the Earle of Lerin and the Constable came to Victoria where if King Fernand could not wholy reconcile them yet he procured a truce betwixt them putting each of them in mind with great meekenesse mixed with grauity of their errors with the amendement thereof to the good of the Kingdome their own particular proffit and for the seruice of King Iohn their maister The King of Arragon afterwards perceiuing him-selfe at the graues brinke and desiring to leaue quietnesse in that miserable kingdome where the factions had bred such confusions as neither the feare of God nor the respect of iustice nor the loue of honesty was able to containe men from executing all kinds of mischeefes murthers sacrileges robberies burnings and horrible desolations ouer the whole country which were followed with the terrible and fearefull iudgements of God as plagues famines and other scourges of his wrath all which were not onely encreased but procured by the Kings second marriage King Iohns second marriage 〈◊〉 to the realme of Nauarre King Iohn I say beeing mooued with these things sent the Earle of Lerin such assurances as hee caused him to to come to Saragossa being well accompanied where the King did gently receaue him graunted him peace and gaue a generall pardon to all offences past proceeding from both factions and for a greater confirmation of the whole he gaue the Earle a bastard daughter of his in marriage called Donna Leonora of Arragon by these meanes the Princesse Leonora widdow to the Earle of Foix The Earle of Lerin marrieth a bastard daughter of Arragon and becomes obedient to King Iohn and future Queene of Nauarre recouered without force her townes and fortresses and was euery where obeyed except in the Citty of Caseda which was battered at the taking whereof dyed that Valiant Captaine Sancho of Eruiti surnamed the obstinate in the seruice of the Princesse Leonora about which time Alphonso Carillo Bishop of Pampelona called a Sinode at Estella wherein they treated of ceremonies and other matters After all these things King Iohn beeing at rest and quietâ— in the Citty of Barcelona notwithstanding hee was very aged and full of sicknesse fell in loue with a yong Gentlewoman called Francina Rosa with whose beauty and comlinesse hee did comfort by imbraces and frutelesse kisses the waywardnesse of his old age leauing her concerning other matters free and vntouched to him who after-ward married her King Fernand hauing as hath beene already saide made the pacification of Nauarre at Victoria Iohn King of Arragon falls in loue in his extreme old age and by the renowne of his power deliuered the country of Guipuscoa from the French army would in like manner order the affaires of Alua Biscaie and other places neere adioyning where were many factions and other disorders hee therefore entred Bicay beeing attended on by Don Alphonso Carisso Bishoppe of Pampelona Pedro Lopes de Padilla great gouernor of the Frontiers of Castile Don Henry Henriques the Kings Vncle brother to the Admirall Don Pedro de Estuniga eldest Sonne to the Earle of Miranda Doctor Iohn Dias de Alcocer one of the Kings Councell Roderigo Vlloa his great Tresorer and Councellour Don Diego de Acugna sonne to the Bishop of Burgos Don Fernand de Ayala sonne to the Marshall Don Garcia de Ayala and by other Knights and Ecclesiasticall persons The Biscains had an ancient custome which was not to suffer any Bishop to come within their country Bishops exclaued out of the Country of Bisay by reason perhaps of the attempts and wrongs which they had in time before susteined by the prelats and Churchmen the which was vnknowne to King Fernand who riding on with the Bishop hee was aduertized of their custome and was constrained to send him backe the peasants and poore country people thinking the ground to bee infected wherevpon this Prelat and his Mule did tread were busied many daies after in scraping together the dust of the high-waies Strange opinions of the Biscaines concerning Bishops which they laide vp in heapes and threw it afterwards with curses and imprecations into the sea the which certainely was not done without some mistery those people not beeing voide of religion but superstitiously deuout as the rest of the Spaniards are The King visited Bilboa and afterward hee came to Guernica where hee was receiued and reuerenced with all ceremonious duty Hee called the Nobility of the country thither and confirmed all their priuiledges by his letters patents written by Gaspar Arin his secretary dated the thirtith day of Iuly the yeere 1476. in the presence of diuers Noble personages of name The King beeing busied about these matters a famous French Pirate named Colora came with foure vessels to a place called the figge-tree of Fontarabie to whom after that fiue more ioyned these nine shippes did ride there at an ankor for the space of eleuen daies in the view of the towne of Fontarabie and sundry times they landed their souldiars who ranne vp and downe the country burning and spoyling all they met with against whom the Garrison went forth and flew more then a hundred of them wherevpon they set saile towards Galicia where they burned the suburbes of the City of Ribadeo then sayling along the coast of Portugall they met with certaine Carrakes of Genoa Combate at sea be wiâ—t the frenchmen Genoueses with whom they grapled and the fight betwixt them was so furious as seuen vessells were there burned to weet two Genoueses and fiue of the Pirates who with the other foure which remained were repared at Lisbone The report of this Pirate caused thirty ships of warre to bee set forth as well from Saint Sebastians as from other places on the coast of Biscay who met altogether at Laredo and this sea-army parted from Conserua and sailed towards Galicia where they tooke partly by force and partly by composition certaine places vpon the sea coast next to Portugall which were reuolted from the Kings of Castile Herevpon truce was granted and agreed vpon betwixt the French men and Guipuscoans by land onely for the space of three monthes leauing the sea free for euery man to doe the best hee could the army aboue mentioned hauing done that exploite on the marches of Galicia returned laden with spoiles Amongst other things those of Saint Sebastian brought away two yron peeces of ordonance whereof one did carry a stone-bullet of a hundred and threescore pound waight taken from Bayon de Minio The charges of this warre of Guipuscoa was heauy to the whole Prouince with great discommodity and losse of their bloud which warre after the retreat of the French did continue still at sea where the French lost more then they did winne King Fernand hauing discharged honored and praised
in their outrages do bandon themseâ—ues against the king who requested that he might be confirmed in that dignity notwithstanding any pretence that Don Iohn de Estuniga Sonne to Don Aluaro Duke of Areualo could make vpon whom the Pope had bestowed it Both of them were answered that vpon hearing of the parties they should haue speedy iustice The Countesse and the Treasurer not contented therewith became enemies to the King and Queene and did cleaue to the King of Portugall Don Alphonso hauing forgotten how that when he was taken prisoner by the Captaine of Magançala in Extremadura the King had deliuered him and paide his ransome bestowing diuers other benefits vpon him Ambassadors from the French King Lewis the eleuenth arriued at Guadalupa to see the peace agreed vpon by the Commissioners at Saint Iohn de Luz to bee sworne and ratified There the Popes Bull was seene which dispensed with the King of Portugall about the marriage of Donna Ioane his Neece not without excuses on the Popes part who said that he had bin circumuented and sinisterly informed concerning that matter And to the end the French King should on his part sweare and ratifie the articles of the peace the same comissioners who had first treated thereof were sent into France to weet Don Iohn de Gamboa and the licenciat Don Iohn de Medina both of them of the Kings Councell It was likewise agreede vppon with the French Ambassadors that the towne of Perpignan with other fortresses of the Earledome of Rossillion should bee deliuered as hostages into the Cardinall of Spaines hands and that with in fiue yeares following arbitrators should decide whatsoeuer king Lewis could pretend to be due vnto him Whilest the Spanish Court remayned at Guadalupa God being willing to make peace betwixt Christian Princes in Spaine to the end they might haue leasure to vndertake more worthy enterprises did inspire Donna Beatrice Dutchesse of Viseo widdow to the Infant Don Ferdinand of Portugall Duke of Viseo and Mother to Donna Leonora marryed to Prince Iohn the eldest Sonne and heire of the Crowne of Portugall with a desire to imploy her vttermost credit and meanes for the effecting thereof This Princesse hauing sounded King Alphonsos mynde and finding him to be inclined to an agreement sent word to her neece Queene Isabell for shee was sister to her Mother Queene Isabell widdow to King Iohn yet liuing that if it would please her to come to the frontiers of Portugall shee did hope that some good agreement would be made betwixt them wher-vnto the Queene disposed her selfe with the consent of King Fernand her husband King Iohn of Aragon dyed about this time at Barcelona beeing foure score and one yeares of age Arragon hauing reigned in Nauarre fifty three yeeres and foure moneths and one and twenty yeares and sixe moneths in Arragon The death of Iohn King of Arragon hee was buried in the monastery of Pobleta By his last will and testament hee left his Sonne Don Fernand heire to his Kingdomes of Arragon and Sicill and his daughter Princesse Leonora widdow to Earle of Foix heire to the realme of Nauarre and soone after deputies were sent from the states of Arragon Cattalogne and Valencia to the Court of Spaine to request King Fernand to come and take possession of his dominions they came vnto him in an vnseasonable time by reason the Portugall warre was hotly beganne by the practises of the countesse of Medelin and Don Alphonso de Montroy the pretended maister of Alcantara The King and Queene were aduertised that the army of Portugall was in a redinesse to inuade the country of Extremadura Castille by reason whereof they called the Constable and other Spanish Knights to Court and sent forces to the frontiers with great garrisons to Badajos and other fortes of the same marches where Don Alphonso de Cardegnaâ— Maister of Saint Iames was generall who lodged his army at Lobon betwixt Badajos and Merida wherein the Tresorer of Alcantara remayned attending for the Portugalls and the Bishoppe of Ebora their Generall who came with an intent to ioyne with him to preuent which The Portugall army defeated at Albuhera the Maister of Saint Iames did march against the Bishoppe and gaue him battaile in the fieldes of Albuhera the which was fierce and bloudy on either side but the Portugalls were ouerthrowne and the Bishop taken although afterward he escaped away hauing lost their ensignes bagage and all the equigage and munition Batell of Albuhera the maister of Saint Iames and all the King of Castiles Captaines were hurt but aboue the rest the valour and prowesse of Don Martin de Cordoua Sonne to the Earle of Cabra of Sancho del Aquila of Alphonso Henriques and of Rodrigo de Cardegna Cosin to the Maister of Saint Iames was admirable the which Maister by his Iudgement and valour hauing gotten the King and Queene this victory was so charitable as with his owne mony hee releeued the dearth and famine which at that time did oppresse the country of Extremadura in regard whereof the King and Queene did acquit him of three Millions of Marauedis which he was to pay as apension vnto them out of the reuenew of his place After this battaile the Treasorer of Alcantara went to Deleitosa which had beene taken by Roderigo de Monroy his brother Defeate of the Spanish army by sea and the Bishoppe of Ebora went to Medellin to encourage the Countesse who perhaps was valianter than him-selfe Gods will was that the King of Portugall in recompence of this losse should by his army at sea take the fiue and thirty Spanish shippes which came from Guiney wherein was great store of gold which serued well to pay his soldiors and the prisoners to exchang for those which were taken at the land Battaile of Albuhera After this manner are the euents of ioy and sorrow mixed in this miserable world King Fernand beeing importuned to goe into Arragon and considering the notable vnion of those two Kingdomes being at that time at Trugillo where after hee had celebrated the obsequies of King Iohn his father hee treated with the Queene his wife and those of her councell about the forme of precedency and the order which should bee kept in the letters and writings concerning the titles of the realmes and dominions which he commanded diuers of them were of opinion that they should intitle themselues Kings of Spaine in regard the greatest part thereof did obey them but they not beeing willing to exceed the bounds of modesty nor yet to preiudice in that behalfe the Kings of Nauarre and Portugall with whome they were conioyned in bloud did place their titles after this manner Titles of King Fernand and Queene Isabell Frenand and Izabell by the grace of God King and Queene of Castile of Leon of Arragon of Sicill of Toldedo of Valencia of Galicia of Majorque of Siuill of Sardiâ—ia of Cordoua of Corsica of Murcia of Iaen of Algarbes
the truth from him and what course the Indians meant to take to execute their enterprise he wrought in such sort on the one side and Colmenares on the other as they dispersed their forces put a confusion in their counsels and did in a maner subiect all the countrey of Vraba Being returned to the Antique of Darien they sent Iohn of Quincedo and Roderigo Henriques of Colmenares into Spaine to make relation vnto king Ferdinand of that which they had done and of the conquest of the South sea which they intended and to beseech him to send them 1000 Spaniards to that end That yeare there went out of Spaine with the kings leaue and at his owne charge Iohn Dias de Solis pilot major to the king who taking the course of Pinsons past beyond S. Augustines cape fortie degrees vnder the Equinoctiall vnto the great riuer of Parauaguasu which signifies in the Indian tongue great water the which was by Iohn Dias called the riuer of Plata Riuer of Plata found by Iohn Dias de Solis that is to say of siluer for that they found there some grains of that mettall and hauing planted many crosses there in signe of possession he returned into Spaine laden with Brasil where he gaue an account vnto the king of his nauigation ⧠THE 25 BOOKE OF THE Historie of Spaine The Contents of the 26 Booke 1 WArre continued by the duke of Aluain Nauarre and the frontires of France An armie of French in Nauarre and their poore exploits 2 Proceeding of Pope Iulio against the Councell of Pisa and the fauourers thereof 3 Practises of the duke of Ferrara against king Ferdinand Death of Pope Iulio the second and election of Leon. 4 Queene Germaine giues a drinke to king Ferdinand her husband to haue children by him which causeth his death 5 Warre of Milan and dissolution of the Councell of Pisa. 6 Discouerie of the South sea at the Indies by Vasco Nugnes of Balboa 7 Warre continued in Italie by the Emperor and Spaniards against the Venetians 8 Behauiour of Vasco Nugnes of Balboa at the Indies 9 Designes of Pope Leo an enemie both to Spanish and French 10 Seditions at the Indies The miserable end of Vasco Nugnes of Balboa 11 Comming of king Francis to the Crowne and treaties betwixt him the Emperor Maximilian and king Ferdinand 12 Enterprises of king Ferdinand against France Vnion of Nauarre and Castille 13 Exploits of king Francis in Italie Abolition of the Pragmaticke sanction 14 Comming of doctor Adrian Florantin to Spaine Testament of king Ferdinand and his death 15 Exploits of the king D. Manuel in Africke Exactions vpon the Clergie of Portugall His third mariage 16 D. Charles of Austria first of that name 22 king in Castille 43 in Leon and 20 in Arragon and in Nauarre the fourth of that name and 36 king Gouernment of Cardinall Ximenes and doctor Adrian in the kings absence 17 Estate of king Charles his house 18 Troubles in Spaine by D. Pedro Giron and others pacified by the wisedome of cardinall Ximenes 19 Ordinances for the ordinarie legions in Spaine and other orders made by cardinall Ximenes 20 Gouernement of Nauarre Counsell to ruine the townes and to make the countrey of Nauarre desolate Death of king Iohn of Albret and queene Katherine Order of the iustice of Nauarre 21 Troubles at Malaga by reason of the priuiledges and iurisdiction of the Admiraltie Punishment of the inhabitants 22 Contentions for the towne of Areualo and reprehension of Velasques of Cuellar 23 Pitifull estate of queene Ioane mother to Charles of Austria troubled in her sences 24 Arcenals and storâ—houses for munition appointed in Spaine 25 Search of auncient writings and instructions for the publike good appointed by cardinall Ximenes in Spaine by the which many frauds were discouered c. 26 Algier taken by Horusco Barberousse and the vaine attempts of the Spaniards 27 Rigorous Edict in Spaine against the Genouois The cause thereof and the reuocation 28 Vâ—iust proceedings against the accused by the Inquisitors Contention for the bishopricke of Siguensa In this six and twentieth Booke are vnited the Realmes of Castille Arragon and Nauarre in D. Charles of Austria 22 in Castille 1. 43 in Leon 1. 20 in Arragon 1. 36 in Nauarre 4. THe realme of Nauarre being conquered with so great happinesse and ease 1512 was afterwards defended and kept with more difficultie Nauarre About the moneth of May the English armie landed in Guipuscoa being eight thousand foot most archers and some other men of warre whereof the lord marquesse Dorset was Generall who stayed some dayes vpon those marches attending the duke of Alua who was busie in subduing the vallies of Amescoa Salazar and Roncal with the helpe and diligence of colonell Vilalua whose armie being fortified with new troups sent from king Ferdinand who was offended at the detention of his embassadour S. Iohn du pieâ— de Port taken by the duke of Alua. the bishop of Zamora in Bearn it was led to Saint Iohn du pied de Port which place yeelded vnto him From whence he sent word vnto the marquesse what he should doe to come and besiege Bayone But the English generall thinking that the duke of Alua had caused him to stay there for the conquest of Nauarre which concerned his master after that he had burnt Saint Iohn de Lus and done some other spoyles vpon the sea coast he imbarkt his men and went home saying That he would returne another time besides there was a brute of a great French armie which marcht through Guienne to make head against these Spanish and English forces by reason whereof the duke of Alua hauing fortified the castle of Pied de Port and rased that of Montgelo he returned into high Nauarre Armie of FreÌ„ch goes into Nauarre The French armie whereof the brute was was led by Francis of Valois duke Angoulesme who was afterwards French king in the which there was king Iohn of Albret Charles of Montpensier duke of Bourbon Odet of Foix vicont of Lautrec the earles of Palisse and Longueuille and others making about fortie thousand foot and foure thousand horse About the end of the yeare 1512 the king of Nauarre aduanced with six thousand foot King Iohn of Albret goes into his realme of Nauarre with an armie and a thousand horse accompanied with the lords of Palisse and Longueuille he entred into his countrey by the vallie of Roncal where hee tooke Burgui hauing cut the Spaniards in peeces which were in garrison with their commander Valdes captaine of king Ferdinands gard On the other side the duke of Angoulesme caused the duke of Bourbon and the lord of Lautrec to enter by Guipuscoa with ten thousand foot and foure hundred horse who ruined Yrum Vransu Ojarcum and the townes of Harnam and Renterie and besieged S. Sebastien but they left it soone the vicont of Lautrec going to joyne with king Iohns forces who marcht towards Pampelone
friend and enemie so as meeting on a time certaine marchants ships of Genoua hauing an aduantage ouer them in a calme he had put them to ransome for the which the Genouois hauing made their complaints being friends to Spaine they attended but an occasion to make Iohn Riue repaire this injurie and to punish him as he deserued It happened that three great ships of Genoua being in the port of Carthagena to carrie away wools at the same time the commonweale of Genoua had sent forth three gallies well furnished with men and ordnance as well for the safetie of those marchants ships as to seeke out the pyrat Iohn Riue who had spoyled their companions and as by chance all these vessels of Genoua were at Carthagena behold the Spanish armie arriues being commaunded by D. Berenguelo with whom Iohn Riue was who was presently knowne by the Genouois and therefore they addrest themselues to D. Berenguelo intreating him to deliuer him vnto them who had ransomed and spoyled them to the end they might represent him to the Iustice or punish him themselues according to the league betwixt the deceased kings of Arragon and the common-weale of Genoua Whereof D. Berenguelo through his arrogancie and also for that he was a Cattelan Refusall of iustice cause of a great tumult in Spaine and by consequence an enemie to the Genouois made no reckoning Wherewith the Genouois being incensed following after the foist of Iohn Riue they did so plie her with their canon as they had almost sunke her D. Berenguelo growing in a rage for this fact leauing the Genouois gallies which were armed and had committed the fault he went against the Genouois ships which lay in the port to assayle them who presently put their boaâ—s downe into the water with certaine peeces of ordnance and put themselues in defence D. Berenguelo when he saw them in fight left them and went to land There was a furious incounter betwixt the Genouois and the gallies of Spaine wanting their head two of them were so ill handled with their great shot as the one sunke and the other being all broken ran on ground and was also lost The towne being moued at this noyse and solicited by the cries of D. Berenguelo saying That they must not in any sort suffer so great an outrage which was against the Maiestie of the king that strangers should presume to assaile his gallies in the port of Carthagena was presently all in armes the fight grew so hot as the towne against the Genouois gallies and ships and they against the towne shot continually one at another making a pitifull ruine of buildings and killing of men vntill that night parted them The cardinall tooke this fact of the Genouois verie ill as contemners of him and of the king his master being also displeased with D. Berenguelo whereupon followed that edict He also sought by all meanes vnto the king to haue D. Berenguelo depriued of the charge of the gallies shewing his vnworthinesse of such a commaunder and the great fault which he had committed and also that the truce of an hundred yeares concluded betwixt the kings of Arragon and the commonwele of Genoua being expired it seemed they would reuiue with great hatred the old quarell for the island of Sardinia D. Berenguelo besides that hee had friends and fauourers in the Court of Flanders hee made the cardinals pursuit in vaine Victorie of D. Berenguelo against the Turks by a victorie which he got soone after against foure Turkish gallies the fight continuing almost a whole day which was the onely remarkable thing hee did in six yeares space that he had beene generall of the gallies The commonweale of Genoua sent embassadours into Flanders to king Charles excusing themselues of this fact and saying That it was the fault of priuat men and not of the citie against whom they had proceeded by way of justice condemning the commaunders and captaines to loose their liues and the souldiers and mariners to other punishments according to their merits as soone as they should be returned home But God preuented the execution of their decrees for these vessels being retired to the port of Villâ—â—â—anche neere to Nice they had by a sudden whirlewind beene swallowed vp in the sea with the losse of aboue three hundred men Wherefore they besought the king seeing that these wicked breakers of the publike league were diuinely punished that he would be pleased to grant a restitution of their goods which had beene seised on in Spaine and disannull that rigorous Edict King Charles pacified by this embassage pardoned the offence and reuoked the Edict against the cardinals will who was verie obstinate in that which he had once conceiued and did still solicite the king to breed jealousies in his head against that commonweale Cardinal Ximenes an enemie to the Genouois and to bring them into disgrace with him saying that they had intelligence with the French giuing infinit crosses to these poore Genouois Yet in the end by their diligence and perseuerance Edict against the Genouois reuoked they justified themselues and obtained restitution and an abolition of the Edict the cardinall their aduersarie being somewhat pacified consenting thereunto He opposed himselfe with great vehemencie against the pursuits of the new Christians as they call them in Court that the judgements of the Inquisition might bee executed against them touching that which concernes witnesses according to the forme of other criminall causes for the accused were not allowed to except against the witnesses which were not confronted against them Proceeding vniust against the accused by the Inquisition nor yet named which gaue occasion and boldnesse vnto judges which were greedie of the bloud and wealth of these poore men to commit many cruelties and abuses in their charges Finally this cardinall did so labour with the king and Pope whereas they of Arragon were also sutors as the lawes of the tribunall of the Inquisition practised in the time of king Ferdinand remained firme 29 About that time there fell out a great debate in the citie of Siguensa Contention for the bishoprick of Siguensa for the restitution of the cardinall D. Bernardin of Caruajal sometimes bishop of that sea whereof he had beene depriued by Pope Iulio by reason of the Councell of Pisa. Cardinall Ximenes fauouring his reintegration to his dignitie goods and honours made by Pope Leo he had for opposite D. Frederic of Portugall subrogated into that bishopricke after the deposition of D. Bernardin who would not leaue 〈◊〉 So as some holding with cardinall Carâ—aial and others with D. Frederic the diocesse was diuided their contentions came to armes The place where the greatest excesse was committed was Almazan a towne of the earle of Montagus jurisdiction whither they were resolued to send an Alcayde of the Court to suppresse this tumult This Alcaide called Ferdinand Calderon shewed himself so cruell in his proceedings against this poore people as the
escaped fell with all his troopes vppon the realme of Arragon to punish them of Saragoça There was a petition presented against him and his armie by the whole body of the realme of Arragon to the end that the Iustice Maior according to their ancient priuiledges should take armes to repulse the attempts of Don Alonso According to the which by a decree of seuenteene the Iustice with the whole realme fell to Armes distributed the Offices of warre leuied men and brought Saint Georges Standerd to field an vsuall thing in such cases and so marcht in good order out of Saragoça but with bad successe for that the Captaines traitors to their Country basely fearing the forces of Don Alonso retiring themselues abandoned their companies so as the armie of Arragon came to nothing euery one slipping away through the treachery of a Maister Inquisitor who aduertised the King how many men there were who were their Commanders and Captaines with their names and surnames and the meanes how to defeate them To vnderstand the reasons of the Arragonois to the end it may not be held a rebellion lightly vndertaken without cause or an alteration without ground It shall be good for the better knowledge of the matter to relate briefly the estate condition and beginning of the realme of Arragon Since the generall losse of Spaine which hapned vnder King Roderigo by the meanes of Cont Iulian for that he had defloured his daughter Caba The Moores or Sarazins held Spaine long without either King or Lord. In the end the realme of Arragon freed it selfe from the power of the Moores and the Arragonois made themselues their owne Maisters and Lords not acknowledging any particular Prince and without any Soueraignty but their owne So as beeing weary of their rest and liberty they required as the children of Israell did sometimes to Samuel to haue a King and therein they demanded the Popes aduice who answered them as Samuel had done the Israelits But seeing they desired to haue a King he did wish them to prescribe him lawes and conditions and ouer him a Soueraigne Iudge with assistants to bridle his ambition The Arragonois gaue credit to this Councell and before they would choose them a King they erected the dignity and preheminence of El Iusticia of Arragon which is a Soueraigne Iudge aboue the King with seuenteene Assistants And they made a law which was called the Lawe of manifestation for the preseruation of the Vassals right against the out-rages and oppressions of the mighty be hee King Prince or other Iudge Which law with other Statutes and Ordonances together with their Priuiledges are to be seene Printed vnder the Kings royall authority and haue continued many hundred yeares to the honor and reputation of their Kings and especially of Don Ferdinand of Arragon surnamed the Catholicke who would not giue eare being come to the crown of Castile by D. Isabella his wife to the bad councell which the Spaniards gaue him tending to the abolishing of the said priuiledges saying So long as the two ballances of the King and realme shall be in a iust Counterpese Saying of Don Ferdinand King of Arragon the king and realme shall continue and flourish together but if one of the Scales seeke to weigh downe the other the one or the other will fall to ruine or it may bee both together Moreouer the Arragonois made a law of vnion consisting in two points worthy the knowledge for the cleering of this present discourse The one is that whensoeuer the king shall breake their lawes they may choose an other For you must vnderstand that they do not sweare vnto their Kings but conditionally in these termes Nes que valemos tanto come vos ' y vos tanto come nos oz hazemo nuestro Rey y Sennor contal que nos gardeys nuestros fueros y libertades sy no no. And hee must humble himselfe vpon his knee bare-headed before the Soueraigne Iudge which is El Iusticia and sweare first and then the Arragonois after him Manner of the King of Arragons othe The second point of this vnion is that the Princes and Noblemen of the realme may make leagues and confederations against their King in case of oppression or of breach of their priuiledges And vpon these conditions they did choose their first King who was a Knight of Arragon called Garci Ximenes and after him three or foure But this election continued not long for the King D. Pedro called with the Poignard desiring to make the realme succesiue and hereditarie insisted in an assembly of the Estates to disanull this law of election the which in the end was granted by the foure members of the realme reseruing all their other rights and priuiledges but that the which he did willingly accept and after this Accord made holding the Charter of this Election in his hand he drew out his Poynard and cut it in peeces saying these words Que tal suero y fuero dy poder eligir Rey los vassallos sangre de Rey auia de costar and withall stab'd himselfe through the hand from which time the King was called Don Pedro with the Poynard as his effigie is to bee seene at this day in the royall hall of the deputation in the towne of Saragoça whereas all the Kings his successors are vnto Philip the second last deceased By vertue of the law of vnion and of their priuiledges the Arragonnois tooke Armes this yeare 1592. prooceeding thus iustly in their businesse the chiefe Iustice causing the sentence to be insinuated to Don Alonso de Vargas by two Notaries and two Vshers who hauing made their infinuation vnto him vpon the penalty of body and goods they returned freely to Saragoça Of which thier proceeding may appeare by the Commission giuen to Don Iohn de la Nuca chosen Generall of the armie signed by El Iusticia by the Abbot of Piedra Lewis Nauarre Ihon Lewis of Marcuello Don Iohn de Luna Ieronimo de Oro and others and the Realme Wherefore all things being thus ordred according vnto law and past by the Iustice and Soueraignty the Preachers in their Pulpits and the Priests in their Confessions exhorted the people to do it yea a Secretary of the Inquisition signed the resolution of the realme as well grounded The Army of Arragon beeing thus dispersed and come to nothing as wee haue sayd before that Don Alonso entred into Saragoça the King wrote goodly letters to diuerse of the chiefe Noblemen of the Realme as Don Alonso did in like manner to giue some coulour to his bloudy exploite saying that it was to goe into France and swearing that it was the least of his thoughts to doe them any harme yea that hee was a better Arragonois then any one of them Vpon these letters he was suffered to enter freely with his armie into Saragoça hauing lodged his men hee began to imprison all men whom hee pleased Noblemen Knights Gentlemen Lawyers Marchants and Bourgesses of all
qualities the Deputies of the Realme and the Cleargie were least spared there were also many Ladies Gentlewomen and other women prisoners and Lieutenants of Soueraigne Iustice as Michel Claueria and Micer Spinosa whom they forced to renownce their Offices substituting others whom the King before for their offences had declared incapable to the blemish of his authoritie their election beeing against all right and law They did also confiscate contrary to the lawes of Arragon not onely the goods of the husbands but also of the wiues of such as were absent And aboue all the Soueraigne Iudge of Arragon was taken and within twenty houres lost his head without any other sentence but of a little scrowle written with the Kings hand in these termes Hauing read this you shall presently apprehend Don Ihon de la Nuca chiefe Iustice of Arragon and let mee haue newes of his death as soone as of his Imprisonment The which was done notwithstanding his appellations and Protestations without the priuitie of any man vntill hee came vnto the Scaffold to bee executed whereas many had gone before him and many followed after Thus the Realme of Arragon thinking to preserue their priuiledges and liberties lost them with the chiefe of the Nobility and a great number of men of good quality This yeare 1592. the King of Spaine hauing put many to death at Saragoça for that they had taken armes for the defence of their liberties and burnt Antonio Perez Image The Estates of the Country hauing assembled at Tarracone and giuen satisfaction vnto the King hee was content to send a generall pardon into the Prouince Wherevpon all Vargas Souldiers were drawne out of Saragoça except some fewe that were left to garde the Inquisition The Turke beeing in Armes and threatning especially the house of Austria the Catholicke King grew iealious that by this diuersion hee might bee much troubled in his warres of Flanders where as the vnted Estates were very strong beeing assisted from other Princes hee therefore sent Charles Cigala to Constantinople vnder coulour to visit his brother but it was generally thought that his going was to saue his country from inuasion but Cigala could not obtaine what hee desired for that the Turkes landing diuerse times carryed away many thousands of Christians and committed great spoyles vpon the coasts of Calabria and Apulia comming neere vnto Naples as also in Sicile Newes beeing come into Spaine Cont Fuentes sent into the Low countries that the Duke of Parma was returned very sicke from the Spawe and that the Physitions despaired of his life the Cont of Fuentes was presently sent into the Lowe Countries with Commission to command the armie after his death the which some imputed to the Spaniards whither he went in post but the Duke of Parma dyed before his arriuall in Arras and was much lamented This yeare there beeing a Commission granted by the Queene of England to Sir Walter Raleigh for an expelition to the west Indies he armed fourteene or fifteene good ships of warre whereof two were the Queenes and beeing accompanied by a troope of resolute Gentlemen hee began to bee ready to goe from the West Countries but hee was so long stayed there by contrary windes as the fittest season for Sayling was past his peoples mindes began to alter and his victuals consumed Wherevpon the Queene called home Sir Walter Raleigh in Maye commanding him to giue ouer his intended voyage and to leaue his charge to Sir Iohn Bourrough and Sir Martin Frobisher but hee finding his honor ingaged would not leaue the fleete beeing now vnder saile but beeing taken with a strange tempest on the 11. of May and in danger to be swallowed vp in the sea he resolued to returne and to leaue the charge to the aboue-named giuing them directions to diuide their fleet in two one to lye vpon the South Cape of Spaine and the other to attend at the Ilands which made the Admirall of Spaine to stay vpon that coast and to neglect the wafting of the Caracks Sir Iohn Bourrough sayling towards the Açores Carrake called Santa Cruz set on fire hee discouered a Carack called Santa Cruz comming from the East Indies which getting neere the land the Portugalls carried what goods they could out of her and set fire of the ship There they vnderstood by certaine prisoners of three other Carracks that were comming from the Indies which Sir Iohn with his consorts resolued to attend After sixe weekes patience they discouered a huge Caracke called Madre de Dios Carack called Mombre de Dios taken by the English one of the greatest belonging to the Crowne of Portugall which after a long and furious fight was in the end borded by the English they found the hatches strewed with dead carcases and with wounded men languishing Don Fernando de Mendoça was commander of this Caracke whom Sir Iohn Bourrough of an honorable disposition and pittying his estate sent away freely with most of his followers to his Country This Caracke was esteemed to be of a thousand sixe hundred tuns and did carry nine hundred tuns in bulke of Marchandize there were in her sixe or seauen hundred persons her chiefe commodities besides Iewels were Spices Drugs silks China silkes Callicoes with Pearle Muske Cyuet and Amber gris with diuerse other commodities the which at resonable rates was valued at an hundreth and fifty thousand pounds starling The losse of these two Caracks brought D. Alphonso de Baçan General with the Spanish fleet in disgrace with the King who imputed it to his negligence In the yeare 1593. the King of Spaine sent the Duke of Feria into France 1593. to offer all his forces to fauour the League Duke of Feria sent to the league in France and the election of a new King beeing assembled together at Paris to that end where it beeing propounded who should bee ealled to the Crowne the Duke of Feria did insist for the eldest daughter of Spaine who he sayd had most right the realme falling to the Masculine line of Capet the which hee maintained for many defects might not pretend so as the Infanta comming of the sister who was elder then Henry the third shee should also bee preferred to the Crowne and the rather for that shee should bee marryed to some Prince in France so as it should not passe to a stranger but this Prince should be chosen by the King of Spaine This proposition was distastfull to most of the assembly who sayd that it was against their Salike law King Philip hauing conquered Portugall which hee pretended to bee due vnto him in the right of his mother and expelled Don Anthonio who was held base hee gaue the gouernment thereof to Cardinall Albertus of Austria yonger sonne to the Emperour Maximilian the second a Prince endowed with many great vertues and therefore very acceptable to the Protugalls In which gouernment hee did so carry himselfe as hee gaue great satisfaction both to the King and his