people for I am more beholding to my friends and neighbors then I am to Strangers If the Officers doe any thing against Law and Iustice which hitherto they have not done like Christians and Gentlemen wee are obliged to advise and reprove them in secret and not defame them publickly and if this which I say now unto you soundeth not well in your ears perchance that which will result hereof will please you wors for ill words inconsiderately spoken somtimes are dearly repented This speech was so ill taken by them all that with shouting and great violence they seized on him cast a rope about his neck and with huge nois and exclamations they dragged him out of the Citie but they bruised him with so many stripes that hee was dead before hee came to the gallowes yet they hung up his body upon it As they returned from hanging this unfortunate Melon they met by the way a companion of his called Roque Portalejo To whom one of them said as they came along Portalejo thy Companion Melon remember's him to thee there hee hang's upon the gallows and hee saies hee hopes thou wilt beare him Company there to morrow and t' were no great matter if wee made thee accept of his invitation for since thou wast his companion in the fault it is but reason thou shouldst beare a share of the punishment Portalejo replyed God preserve the King my Lord and his Iustice for one day you may repent you for what you haue done and Segovia for permitting it for the blood of the Innocent although men doe forget it is alwaies crying out for vengeance before God Hereupon and because they saw him with a pen and paper one of them began to say that hee tooke the names of those that had killed Melon upon which words they all cryed out kill him kill him So with the same fury in a disorderly rout as they had done to Melon they layd hands on him and dragged him to the gallows where they hang'd him by the feet so the poore man dyed They spent all that day in execution of those two The next day being wednesday The Citie sat in counsell the Regidor Tordesillas went thither to give account of what hee had don in Parlament although hee was advised to the contrary The place of meeting was at St Michael's Church The People beeing told that Tordesillas had granted the subsidie and that hee was at the Council a great number of Carders ran in a tumultuous manner thither and climing over the dores and breaking in at the windowes they violently layed hands upon him and dragged him out of the Church Antonio de Tordesillas intreating them to forbeare sayed Gentlemen heare me I come to give you an account See here the Articles which I bring bee pacified and let us goe to some place where you may bee informed of the truth But this satisfied not the multitude of Teazers was so outragious some cryed let us carry him to Santa Olalla and poor Tordesillas said whither you please Gentlemen Others cryed Kill â—im kill him Others sayed Tordesillas give us those articles Hee answered Since you will haue it so there take them then hee drew a paper out of his pocket wherein was conteined all that hee had done in the Parlament Which they tore in peeces without ever reading it And with one voice they cryed out to prison with him there wee shall see his treason then they set him upon a Mule beeing clad with a long cassock or gaberdine of crimson velvet Hee had not gone faâ—r but some of them crying Art thou catched layed hands again upon him and having knocked him off the Mule they hurried him into the Prison others cryed out A rope a rope let â—im not stay in prison let us have him strait to the gallowes And presently with lowd exclamations they cryed out all together Let him die let him die And a rope beeing brought they put it about his neck and plucked him down to the ground then dragged him along the streets punching him and giving him great blowes upon the head with the pummels of their swords and although hee cryed out to them with grievous sighs and pitiful groans saying Gentlemen heare me why doe you kill mee it availed nothing Hee desired to confess and they would not suffer him The Dean and Canonâ— with their Sacerdotal habits came forth to them carrying the holy Sacrament And which was most grievous of all Tordesilla's own brother a Franciscan Fryer a very grave man in his habit ready to say mass and the holy Sacrament in his hands with all the rest of the Fryers of St Francis order came out and kneeling all before this crew they begged of them with tears to spare his life for Christ Iesuâ—s sake But in regard all that Rabble was of the common and baser sort of People they made no reckoning of them nor bore any respect or reverence to the Church Then the Fryers desired if there was no remedy but that hee must die that they would give him leav to make his confession which they refused And when they had brought him to the gallows half choaked already with the rope they tyed his feet and hung him with his head downwards betwixt the two others they had hanged the day before Thus this poor Gentleman ended his life and doubtless his companion Iohn Vazquez had tasted of the same cup had hee not absented himself but hee escaped being advertised by this disaster SECT XXXV THis done the Common People of Segovia elected their Deputies of the Commonalty turned out all tâ—e King's officers of Iustice and authorised others to officiate for them then seized upon all the gates of the Citie About that time was come to Segovia Don Hernando de Bovadilla Earl of Chinchon who had great power in the Citie having the command of the Forts Gates and Mint-hous which place was given his ancestors and him by the King for former services The Common People possessing themselvs of the Gates and a hous Don Hernando had within the Citie Hee presently made all his servants and the officers of the Gates retire into the Forts that there might bee men enough to defend them in case they should be assaulted and leaving them to his brother Don Diego'â— charge and care hee went to a Fortress of his own in the Countrie and took out all the peeces of Artillerie hee had there which hee brought with more servants and other People to reliev his brother who was by that time besieged and streightned in those Forts by the Commons which siege lasted all the time of the troubles and the warre was cruell on both sides Don Diego defending himself with great dexterity and valor The generositie and loyaltie of these Gentlemen was so great that to defend the Forts committed to their charge by the King they disarmed their own choosing rather to leave their own Townes and Holds openly exposed to bee destroied by the fury of the
these sums for in effect no bodie could rightly understand what they would have had yet they saie the Emperor desired no more then the ordinarie Subsidie that his Predecessors the Catholick Kings had which was two hundred millions everie year and that the over-plus they stole from him and the Kingdom contrarie to his will or knowledg SECT XI THe affairs of Spain were so imbroiled and men so inconsiderately raving that it seemed as it were a scourge from Heaven which threatned no less destruction to that Countrie then that during the reign of Don Rodrigo They trusted in Southsaier's Prognostical judgments of the succeeding mischiefs Som Divels invented I know not what Prophecies which they father'd upon Saint Isidorus Arch-Bishop of Sevilia others upon Frier Iohn de Roccacelsa and one Merlin besides others which they said were of Saint Iohn Damascenus and other Doctors that of Saint Isidorus was his complaints or lamentations over Spain I have read all those ill presâ—ges of calamitie and destruction to Spain which so much affrighted and dismaied the people and I find them onely idle things which deserv not the setting down here unless it were to make us wonder at the facilitie and weakness of men in those times to give credit to anie such like fopperies The ignorant people were particularly besotted with one which pourported That there should reign over Spain a Prince called Charles who should destroie the Kingdom and make the Cities desolate but hee should bee overcom and driven out of the Kingdom by an Infante of Portingal and that the said Infante should reign over all Spain and mee think's wee see the contrarie Such follies doth blinde passion work in thoughts of ignorant and indiscreet people SECT XII TOledo wrote to the other Cities the last year 1519 inviting them to assemble and consult of what was most meet and expedient for them to supplicate the Emperor before his departure out of the Kingdom And in regard that Assemblie went not forwards and that now things were in such disorder that the breaking out was universal through the whole Kingdom yet they did not well understand nor trust one another so for the begetting a better intelligence amongst them and to the end they might the more firmly establish the Commonaltie which thâ—y called Holie Toledo sent other Letters to all the Cities of Castillia pressing them with manie powerful arguments to send without delaie their Commissioners to the Holie Assemblie at Avila and not to return them anie such excuse as formerly becaus such kinde of Congregations and Assemblies were condemned by strangers for in that Holie Assemblie nothing was to bee debated but what concerned the Service of GOD. And that they might studie or invent Remedies against the Seven sins of Spain treating first Of their fidelitie to the King their Lord. Secondly the Peace of the Kingdom Thirdly the Remedie or settling of the Roial Patrimonie Fourthly the grievances of the Natives Fifthly the Injustice done by Strangers Sixtly the Tyrannies w th som of their own Countrie-men had invented Seventhly the intolerable Impositions taxes which that Kingdom suffered Urging moreover that they should not value what censure passed upon them amongst their enemies for so doing in regard wicked persons are alwaies ready to blast with opprobrious tongues all good and religious actions which presupposed although things should fall out contrarie to their exspectations or desires and that they should bee in danger of their persons theiâ— houses should be plucktdown their goods taken away and at last should lose their lives In such case they were to esteem disgrace a favor danger securitie povertie riches banishment a glorie loss profit persecution a crown death life for nothing is so glorious for a man as to spend his life in the defence of the Republick After all these and divers other persuasive arguments they desired each Citie to give ful credence to their Messenger who had instructions to treat further with them SECT XIII THe fifth of Iulie 1520 the Lord Deputie of Murcia made a complaint to the Cardinal and Council how the Citie beeing risen had killed their Governor a Judg and one of the Sheriffs besides several other persons and that the people were all in Arms and so disorderly that becaus hee went about to pacifie and allaie their furie gently and in a peaceable manner representing to them the foulness and enormitie of what they had don they drove him out of the Citie and placed Guards and Rounds which committed very great disorders Hereupon it was ordered by the Council that Leguizama a Judg of Oyer and Terminer should go thither with large powers taking Officers along with him and that the neighboring towns should furnish him with men sufficient to bring them to reason Leguizama the Judg beeing arrived at Murcia entred peaceably into the Citie Hee intimated his orders to the Chief Justice Gentlemen Council and Assemblie of the Citie requiring their favor and assistance Which at first they did obey and the Judg began to make his privie search and examination whereby hee found som guiltie which hee gave order to apprehend This pleased not the People who began to think of turning him out of the Citie Hee sentenced a Shoomaker to bee whipp'd who beeing brought through the streets the Beadles still whipping him the people mutinied and manie beeing armed they rescued the prisoner with great nois and hubbub which done they went into a hous to consult what they were to do The Judg perceiving that presently betook him to his heels and fled into the Marquess of Velez his hous who then was in the Citie The Marquess hearing that the Judg was gone to his hous hee would not staie with him but presently took hors and rode out of the Town as fast as hee could to Mula a Citie ten leagues from Murcia The Judg made all haste possible after the Marquess and overtook him in the field a good waie from Murcia where hee shewed him his Orders charging him in the King's name under pain of Death and Confiscation of all his Estate to go back again with him into the Citie and to aid and assist him to do Justice The Marquess answered him very angerly for hee had desired him before to bee very careful how hee proceeded to consider the times and not to be too rigorous but he would not follow his counsel saying Iudg Go make these Requests to such men as your self is not to mee for in respect I am very much a servant to his Majestie I give you this answer and no other But to obey and shew the reverence I bear to the Roial Crown in whose name you require mee to return with you let your Notarie publick com after mee and I will give him an answer to what you demand of mee With that hee turned the reins of his Hors and rode on towards Mula The Judg went back to Murcia and set up his Hors in the same
High Constable out of the Citie But hee seeing fair words and gentleness prevailed nothing at all with them determined to carrie it with an high hand and make them to submit per force having taken the Command of the Fort from them To bring this resolution to effect one daie hee drew up his souldiers and servants all in Arms in a broad place before his own hous thither repaired to him forthvvith Don Iohn de la Cerda Duke of Medina Cely Don Luis de la Cerda Marquis of Cogolludo his son Don Alonso de Arellano Earl of Aguilar Don Antonio de Velasco Earl of Nieva with his two sons Don Hernando de Bobadilla Earl of Chinchon Don Bernardino de Cardenas Marquis of Elche eldest son to the Duke of Maqueda and son in Law to the Lord High Constable besides divers other persons of honor with their kindred and servants who were all resolved to venture their lives with him in this design which the people perceiving they all assembled likewise intending to fight with these Noblemen and they were so near engaging that som Arrows were interchanged from each partie and the bullets began to flie also but the chief of the Citie seeing the advantage the Nobles had over the People they speedily sent to require and command the Commoners to bee quiet and peaceably laying down their Arms to obey the Commands of the Lord High Constable as their vice-Vice-King and Governor which they did without much contestation and followed very submissively and quietly the Lord High Constable who went directly to the Fort requiring the Governor to deliver it him presently otherwise hee protested hee would enter it by force and execute Justice upon him and all the rest with him Som disputes and controversie there was thereupon but before night it was surrendered and the Lord High Constable put in another Governor for his Majestie placed a Corregidor in the Citie and re-established the government in the same manner it had been formerly Thus Burgos not beeing able to resist was pacified and reduced to the obedience of his Majestie wherein that Citie continued ever after SECT XVI THis done the Lord High Constable sent Don Iuan Manrique the Duke of Naxara's eldest son to suppress those of the Merindades and by reason hee was very young Martin Ruiz de AvendanÌ„â— and Gomez de Butron Gentlemen of great account in those parts and in Biscaya were appointed to go along with him beeing arrived there those Gentlemen carried the business so discreetly that there was a peace concluded betwixt the Lord High Constable and those of the Merindades But it lasted not long for Gonsalo de Barabona the Abbat of Rueda Garcia de Arce but chiefly Don Pedro de Ayala Earl of Salvatierra infringed it who was grown very powerful in those mountainous parts and so besotted with that inconsiderate passion that by his obstinacie hee brought himself to a miserable end to the utter ruine and destruction of one of the most honorable and most antient families of Castilla and the Mountains SECT XVII AT the time that most of the Cities of Castilla declared for the Commonaltie in the province of Alava and Citie of Vitoria that opinion was not generally received nor allowed although som did take the libertie to speak over lavishly especially against those of the Council In this season was brought to the said province and Citie of Vitoria a Letter from Burgos wherein that Citie as the chief of Castilla desired those of that province to send two persons whom they pleased to confer with them at Burgos At the same time were brought other Letters from the province of Guipuzcoa and the Countie of Biscaya desiring that they might all unite together The Citie of Naxara and Town of Haro desired that they would assist them against the Lord high Constable and the Duke of Naxara who they said did tyrannize too much over them Vitoria returned civil answers to all Burgos onely excepted to whom they would not write becaus they made themselvs their Superiors in styling that the Metropolitan Citie of Castilla for the Citie of Vitoria did presume that they and their province of Alava were absolute of themselvs without any dependencie or relation to Burgos as their Head But they sent Iohn de Alava who at that time was Merino Mayor that is Chief Judg of Vitoria to let their Embassadors understand by word of mouth the preheminence of that Countrie and that they could not condescend to the Union which they desired for they understood that Burgos had shaken hands with their obedience to his Majestie and they would not bee participant of their disloialtie This answer was no less unexpected then unwelcom to those of Burgos About the same time some Towns of the Province of Guipuâ—coa infected with the Common Contagion fell foul upon the Citie of San Sebastian becaus they would not approve of their extravagant opinions cutting down and spoiling their Orchards for they have no Vineyards and doing them divers other mischiefs But prevailing not there they wrote and held correspondence with divers other places by means of Pedro Ochoa de Santa Maria de Mondragon a subtil fellow who was their Mercurie At length Vitoria tainted with the same diseas had joyned in confederacie with them but that Diego Martinez de Alava Deputie-General of that province with others his allies and kinsmen endeavored to restrain them from a design so wicked and prejudicial to his Majestie SECT XVIII THe Earl of Salvatierra beeing at difference with Madama Margarita his Ladie insomuch that hee would not live with her shee addressed her complaints to his Majestie of her grievances and of the indignities which through his cross and unworthie disposition shee was enforced to suffer Whereupon it was ordered by his Majestie that the said Countess with her Children should remain in Vitoria and that the Earl should allow them maintenance according to their qualities and an exprâ—ss Command from his Majestie was sent to Diego Martinez de Alava Deputie general of that Province to see the said order punctually observed who desiring to execute this Command by the Autoritie and means of the Council the Earl thought to counterpois that power by making the Commonaltie of his side who did him little good in this particular although those of the Iunta sent to that Province and to the Citie of Vitoria a Judg called Antonio Gomez de Ayala who afterwards was executed for a notorious Commoner at Valladolid with orders and power to give sentence in favor or against any that should bee brought before him his addresses were particularly to the Earl of Salvatierra to the end that hee might assist and support him The Eaâ—l gave him fiftie men who attended on him at his coming into Vitoria which the Deputie Diego Martinez de Alava and Pedro Martinez his brother with others of their kindred seeing and knowing that hee brought particular orders against them from the Iunta at Tordesillas
the vanitie of anie earthly Crowns Having received this repuls hee agreed with Lewis King of France that hee should make the match betwixt him and Madam Germana daughter to Gaston de Foix and to the said French King's sister which was concluded upon this condition That King Lewis in stead of her Dowrie should grant and pass over to Don Fernando the right which hee pretended to the kingdom of Naples and that if the Queen should die before him without issue hee should succeed and inherit the same title but if shee should survive Don Fernando that Lewis should repossess the said claim These Articles beeing confirmed they made a Peace betwixt France and Spain for a hundred and one years but it scarce continued so manie weeks and Don Iuan de Silva Earl of Cifuentes with the Vice-Chancellor of Aragon went into France to attend and conduct her Majestie into Castillia SECT IV. THe Castillians in mean time beeing very desirous to have their Natural Sovereign amongst them importuned by frequent messages and invitations Donnia Iuana and her husband to return and bring their Children with them into Spain Whereupon Don Philip having provided a Fleet for the purpose they departed Flanders leaving the Prince Don Carles under the care and tuition of the Emperor Maximiliano and Donnia Margarita widdow to the Duke of Savoye and at last though tossed with much storm and tempests by the waie they landed safe at the Groyne in Galicia Don Fernando hearing of their arrival went to meet them betwixt La Puebla de Sanabria and Asturianos This interview occasioned no small discontent betwixt these Princes for Kings will admit of no competitors or Companions no not of their own châ—ldren in matters of Government and Command Whereupon Don Fernando forsaken by all but onely the Duke of Alva and the Earl of Altamira with som few others took his waie to Villafafila and Tordesillas and King Philip with his Queen to Venauente attended by all the Nobles and flower of Castillia besides strangers to the number of above two thousand hors One caus of their discord was about the title and inscription of Commissions Patents and other dispatches Roial which at last was determined and agreed that all things should pass in the names of Don Fernando Don Philip and Donnia Iuana But this style was soon altered by the unexspected dâ—ath of Don Philip which hapned at Burges hee had but seven daies of sickness which was thought to bee a surfeit and past from this life to the eternal on fridaie the fifth of September annoâ—â—0â— â—â—0â— beeing aged but twentie eight years and having enjoied the Kingdom of Castillia a year and ten moneths lacking one daie hee commanded that his heart should bee carried to Bruxels his bodie to Granada and his bowels to remain there His death was much lamented by the Emperor his Father for besides that hee was his onely son hee was one of the handsomest men of his time therefore hee was called Philip the Fair and the nobleness of his minde was answerable to the feature of his bodie Donnia Iuana his Queen was so sensible of his loss that with the extremitie of sorrow and her incessant weeping shee became in a manner distracted An old woman in Galicia seeing him at his landing and beeing told who hee was said That hee should bee a longer time and travel more leagues in Castillia beeing dead then living which proved so for the Queen carried his bodie with her from place to place and would not suffer it to bee buried for manie years after Hee left two sons Don Carles and Don Fernando both Emperors and three daughters all mightie Queens Donnia Leonor first reigned in Portugal and afterwards was married to the King of France Donnia Catalina was wife to Don Iohn the Third King of Portugal Aunt and Mother-in-law to Philip the Second of Spain And Donnia Maria had for her husband Lewis King of Bohemia and Hungaria SECT V. IN mean time Don Fernando beeing married to the Queen Germana and distasted in Castillia retired himself into Aragon from thence beeing upon his â—ournie to Naples the Castilliâ—ns gave him notice of Don Philip's death and of the necesâ—itie that there was of his Roial presence but hee refused to return beeing incensed against som of them for their ingratitude to him By the death of Don Philip and the absence of King Fernando divers tumults and seditions arose in the kingdom the people refusing to obeie the Magistrates and Officers of Justice and the Nobles wanted not factions and partialities amongst them to trouble and disquiet the Countrie and almost everie Citie throughout the Kingdom was infected with the same contagion Som crying up Charls or Don Carles others Fernando no small number stood for Maximiliano but verie few made anie mention of Donnia Iuana who whether out of a sens of her own disabilitie or overcom with melancholie for her husbands deceas had retired her self at Tordesillas refusing to govern or trouble her head with State-affairs Whereupon with the consent of most part of the Peers and Nobles of the Realm the Cardinal Ximenez Don Bernardino de Velasso Lord high Constable and Don Pedro Manrique Duke of Naxara took upon them the administration of Government for the present they made Don Alonso Suarez Bishop of Iaen President of their Council assisted by Doctor Tello el Licenciado Polanco and other learned Lawyers They called a Parlament wherein they ordered to send to Don Fernando desiring him in the name of the Queen and the whole Kingdom to return and undertake the Government for his Daughter and Grandchilde Which hee beeing more readie to accept then they to offer did not refuse but returned answer that having setled the business which had called him to Naples hee would satisfie their desires And after som time leaving Don Iuan de Aragon Earl of Ribagorsa his Vice-Roy hee embarqued himself for Spain with his Queen Germana Don Gonsalo Fernandez de Cordova commonly called the gran Capitan and a great train of Spanish Gentlemen that attended him in his voiage Beeing arrived at Valentia the Queen Donnia Iuana went to meet him whom hee received with signs of much affection and fatherlie tenderness which shee answered with all the honor and due obedience that could bee exspected from an observant Daughter for although the excess of sorrow had weakned her intellectual faculties yet shee never lost her respect to her Father but paied him with all humilitie and filial dutie neither was shee ever heard to utter anie mis becoming words which is common to people tainted with her infirmitie The eighth of October the King and Queens came to Arcos where Donnia Iuana desiring to staie Don Fernando went with his Court to Burges leaving her a good number of Noblemen and Ladies besides guards suitable to the dignitie of her person Som years after Don Fernando left the troubles of this transitorie life to enjoie the quietness and bliss of the
his Mother Donnia Iuana was living who was right heir to the Crown and that hee first should swear to maintein and observ the fundamental Laws and Customs of the Kingdom especially that no Offices or places of Benefit or Trust either Ecclesiastical or Temporal should bee conferred upon anie that were not Natives of that Countrie But at last all beeing agreed both the Grandees and Commissioners of the kingdom took the Oath the Cerimonie was in this manner On Sundaie the 7th of Februarie 1518 the Prince accompanied by all the Embassadors and Nobles of his Dominions having heard Mass in St Paul's Church at Valladolid was seated in a chair before the Altar and Adriano Cardinal of Tortosa holding the Evangelists in his hands Don Garzia de Padilla read with a loud voice the contents of the Oath which don the Infante Don Fernando swore first upon the book then went to kiss the King's hand but the King refusing to give his hand embraced him and laid his cheek to his brother's After that the Infante took his Sister Donnia Leoner by the hand and led her to swear and afterwards to kiss his Majestie 's hand but the King arose and kissed her cheek then they passed on the King's right hand and Don Fernando stood close to his chair bare headed Immediately came the Infante of Granada with the Arch-Bishop of Santiago the Bishop of Granado and other Prelates to take the Oath after them followed the Grandees and Nobles there present to whom the Infante Don Fernando held the Book Don Garzia read the Oath to the Nobles and likewise to the Commissioners of the several Cities who having sworn went all to kiss his Majestie 's hand After all which the King swore upon the same holy Evangelists to keep and fulfil all and everie thing and Article which hee had promissed and agreed of with the Commissioners Moreover was added if at anie time it should pleas God to restore the Queen Donnia Iuana his mother to her perfect health and abilitie to rule her Kingdom that hee should desist from the Government and that onely shee should reign That in all Writings Letters Commissions or publick Acts whatsoëver during the said Donnia Iuana's life her name should bee set in the first place and then his And that hee should bee styled onely Prince of Spain This don Te Deum laudamus was sung with great solemnitie and varietie of musical Instruments The Commissioners of the Kingdom beeing all assembled in Valladolid made a very discreet speech to the King in answer to that which the Bishop of Badajos and Don Garzia de Padilla had propounded in his Majestie 's name intimating that amongst themselvs they should seriously consider and weigh those things which were important to the good preservation and increasing of those kingdoms The Commissioners desired with very valid and good reasons That his Majestie would put in execution the holie and Catholick Propositions which hee had expressed in favor of his kingdom and the Subjects thereof And that they might enjoie the fruit of his so virtuous and holie desires they came to put him in minde how by a decree and express order from Heaven hee was chosen and called to bee King whose office was to govern well and to govern well was to administer Iustice giving to everie one that which is his and they desired that his chief ends and intention might tend thereunto for although Kings do possess divers other qualities and things recommendable as their linage dignities power honor riches delights estimation c. none of all these make a King according to right but onely the administring of Iustice And for this onely and in the name thereof the holie Ghost hath said That kings do reign That Iustice and the ruling therewith do require that when the Subjects sleep their kings should watch And that it was his part so to do for in effect hee was as an hireling to his Subjects for that caus did they give him part of their fruits and estates and serv him with their persons if need requiring it bee his pleasure to call them That by a certain tacit contract the King is obliged to do Iustice to his people which is a thing of such excellencie and Dignitie that God hath made it one of his own attributes calling himself the Iust Iudg that God beeing so great a friend and lover of Iustice would likewise bee a friend to him that should bee careful in preserving and administring thereof That the charge of him that is to judg beeing of such high importance hee whom God hath called to manage a Scepter hath need of som assistant therefore it is necessarie that the King should have som inferior Ministers that may bear a part of that weightie burthen and incessant cares which accompanie the Roial dignitie the supream Power still remaining in his own hands That a good King ought to choos and seek out such men for his Ministers as Moses did when hee received a command from God to elect seventie and two men out of his people who might assist him in the Government and eas him of a part of the care and troubles wherewith hee was surcharâ—â—d those men were to bee wise of mature years fearing God enemies to Covetousness and all other passions which may blinde and pervert the understanding That although they doubted not to finde all these perfections in his highness yet they humbly desired him to ratifie the ensuing Articles 1. That the Queen Donnia Iuana his mother might have a Court and attendants suitable to the Dignitie of her person as beeing the Queen and Ladie proprietarie of those Kingdoms whereunto hee answered That hee thanked them and assured them that hee had nothing in greater recommendation then what concerned that particular as they should finde by effects 2. That hee would bee pleased to marrie with what convenient speed might bee it beeing very requisite for the good of the kingdom that hee should leav a prosperous issue to rule manie years over them the King replyed That hee would consider thereupon and do that which shall bee most conducing to his honor the benefit of his Kingdoms and the succession thereof 3. That the Infante Don Fernando might not go out of the kingdom until hee were married and had children the king made answer That hee was not more careful of anie thing in the world then of the advancement of his brother the Infante and that hee would order nothing to bee don concerning his person but what should bee for his advantage and the good of those kingdoms 4. That hee would bee pleased to speak Spanish for by practising hee would the sooner learn and better understand his Subjects and bee understood by them Hee answered That hee was well contented and would strive so to do and the rather becaus they desired it in the name of the Kingdoms so afterwards hee did speak Spanish with them and others 5. That hee would not alienate anie
do him anie disservice It will appear more evidently in the Progress of this Historie and by the letters which passed between them whereof som I have set down in the same manner as they were written in the originals becaus the particularitie of the Historie doth require it in a matter of such weight and danger And since the Loialtie of Spain come's in question who have alwaies had their Princes in so high a reverence that they honored and respected their verie Statues and pictures as if they had been their Sovereign's whom they represented I will before I go anie further declare the ground and reasons upon which the Castillians founded their complaints and grievances as I have gathered them from those who were eie-witnesses and have penn'd all the several passages with much discretion respect fear of God and with a minde free from partialitie SECT II. THe familiaritie of Monsieur de Xeures with the King was so great that hee rather seemed to bee the King and the King his Son then to bee Xeures his Vassal and Creature as hee was There was no access nor speaking with the King but when Xeures pleased if anie thing succceded well Xeures assumed the glorie to himself giving out that hee had don it if ill hee alwaies laid the fault upon the King saying The King would have it so And indeed this was the first occasion that begat the innocent Prince the ill will of his People I have seen a memorial of these Passages which a Gentleman one of the King 's Domestick servants wrote and averreth to have been an eie-witness of them Hee report's that while the King was yet in his minoritie and unacquainted with State-affairs Xeures would suffer no bodie to speak with him unless hee were first informed of the business that so hee might put into the King's mouth what hee would have him to answer and if anie refused to impart their business to him they were so far from having audience that hee would not suffer them to enter into his Majestie 's presence Thus did hee deal with those that were sent from Toledo and divers other Cities Indeed at that time all the Castillians were very much discountenanced and not treated as their's and their Predecessor's services had deserved The Flemings perceived the mindes of the Spaniards disposed for all mischief much ambition and little friendship beeing amongst them for som devoted themselâ—s particularly to King Ferdinand the Catholick others to King Philip the Fair. These were kindes of Factions wherewith were possessed for som daies the mindes of manie People Mercurino Gatinara Lord high Chancellor was second in the Emperor's favor and as the Autoritie and familiaritie with Princes admit of no Competitor Xeures and this Chancellor could not endure each other they both presumed so much that each of them would command alone and ambitioned a Power above the other these made themselvs the Heads of those two Factions and added more poison to their malice and discontents Xeures favored those of Ferdinando and the Chancellor sided with those of Don Philip's Partie And all was ill as the Proverb saie's for the poor Pitcher for the distressed Countrie of Spain had all the sufferings Xeures was so corrupt and covetous that he sold all the King's Favors Offices Bishopricks Honors and whatsoëver hee conceived would yield him money The Chancellor did the like with all Iustice-ships and other Offices so that secluded Iustice was enforc'd to give up her Seat and Sword to the Tyrannie of over-ruling Avarice onely monie then bore the swaie no Right no Equitie was able to counterpoiz the weight of Gold all things and places as in the times of Catiline at Rome were then put to sale The Flemings were much encouraged with this fine gold and Ingots of pure Silver that came from the Indies and the simple Spaniards so blinde in giving it for their pretensions that it became as common as a Proverb for a Fleming to call a Spaniard My Indian And indeed it was not improper for the Indians never gave so much gold to the Spaniards as the Spaniards did to the Flemings this in time grew to such a pass that it was publickly sung along the streets Double Pistol it 's well for thee That from Xeures thou art free It is reported that a certain Pretendent or Petitioner who had presented Xeures with a very handsom Mule and hee beeing asked by another Gentleman where hee had gotten that curious beast answered That hee knew not who had given it him beeing within hearing and very much aggrieved to see himself so soon forgotten and the business hee had communicated to Xeures so neglected give 's forthwith order to have his Mule cried declaring all his marks and describing the furniture hee had bestowed on him which the same Gentleman hearing of went presently and told Xeures that according to the marks it must needs bee that this Mule had been stolen Thus the poor Petitioner recovered what hee had given him and lost not all as most men do in such occurrences for there is no memorie so weak as that of a covetous man in Power who digest's gold with more facililitie then Estriches do Iron SECT III. THere was no monie to bee got in the whole Kingdom but pieces of nine Marauediz which is three half-pence English for all better coins Xeures had transported What shall I saie Besides that which was ship't for Flanders from Barcelona beeing 750 Millions from the Groyne 950 Millions and from other parts 800 Millions so that it exceeded the number of twentie five hundred millions which was enough to make him equal to the most powerful and richest King But consider in what condition did poor Castillia remain after such a dreining Besides all this the Flemings held the â—paniards in so mean esteem that they insulted over them as if they had been their slaves or rather beasts they would break open their houses at their pleasures abuse their wives in their own presence carrie away their goods and no Justice to bee had against them It hapned that a Castillian having killed a Fleming at Valladolid took Sanctuare in St Marie Magdalen's Church Som Flemings violently breaking in upon him and stabbing him in divers places there made him a sad sacrifice to their revengeful furie which don they went cleer away unchastiled unquestioned That which bred the People's greatest dislike of their King was that they could not bee admitted into his Presence treat with him nor â—o much as know him For Xâ—uâ—es would suffer no bodie to speak with him if at anie time hee did give audience Xeures would still bee at his elbow and in regard hee did not throughly understand the Spanish Tongue hee seemed as if hee had not been spoken to This gave the rise of the People's general ill opinion of him They presently spake him a man of a weak apprehension and of an ill disposition they call'd him Dutchman and an Enemie to Spaniards They said
proceedings of Toledo said if his counsel might bee taken the Emperor should go thither it would bee but ten daies work and inflict som exemplary punishment upon them that were occasion of those troubles whereby the rest might bee deterred and quieted I wish to God hee would said Ortiz for then his Majestie would see the great damages they suffered and give order for som redress So they parted and Ortiz went that night to speak with the Lord Chancellor for hee saw there was no possibilitie of delivering his letters to the Emperor nor of speaking with him The Chancellor and Ortiz spent a great part of the night without concluding anie thing to the purpose The Emperor remained at Santjago untill the thursday in Easter week and then departed for the Groyn where hee made his entrance on Saturday following Thither repaired also the Parlament-men and Commissioners to conclude all their businesses There were produced the testimonies supplications and Acts which the Regidores and Council of Toledo had made concerning the commanding them to appear at the Court and the Power which the Citie sent to Alonso Ortiz charging him to do all the diligences therein expedient which hee did and presented himself to the Secretary Ramirez And moreover were delivered the second Orders for their appearance with greater penalties which had bin sent to Toledo and notified to the gentlemen there SECT XX. BY this time Toledo had notice of their Commissioner's banishment and of the ill success of their affairs in Court which added to the distaste those Orders had bred in them so exasperated their mindes that their passions grew beyond the bounds of moderation Som were seazed with fear others with vaporing speeches carried it very high and set themselvs to excite the People against the Iudges and those that shewed themselvs desirous to advance their Prince's service possessing them that this was for the publick good and that it was their interests and profit that then was in agitation especially Hernando de Avalos Iohn de Padilla and som others of their faction It is true at the beginning of these disorders Iohn de Padilla was the onely Bouttefeu Hernando de Avalos and other gentlemen were his Abettors and Promoters who added fewel to the fire beeing persons of mature age and experience and had acquired the repute of wise men amongst the Common people Iohn de Padilla's fault was that hee was young not above thirtie years of age and not verie readie witted either but good natured and easie to bee perswaded to any thing they would put him upon and hee wanted no instigation from these gentlemen and his wife Donia Maria Pacheco who was one of the Kingdome 's firebrands They possessed the vulgar with a thousand follies and lies intermingled with som trueths That the Emperor deserted the Kingdome that hee left Strangers to govern that his favorites and Officers had robb'd the Kingdom leaving the Countrie lean poor and dismantled of all it's fruits and wealth These things they caused to bee published in the Pulpits And to the end they might the better communicate their passion and give everie one a dose of this infectious drug they advised to assemble the people In that Citie there is a great Congregation or fraternitie called the fraternitie of Charitie which used every year to make a Solemn Procession upon this occasion there was one ordained to go from St Iusta's Church to the Cathedral Som especially Don Hernando de Silva Antonio Alvarez de Toledo and others of their opinion knowing to what end this Solemnitie was ordayned highlie opposed it saying that it was prejudicial to the King and that it was onely a plot and cunning trick of those that were disaffected and Don Hernando required the chief of the Congregation not to make anie such tumultuous meetings under color of devotion to disturb the People to the King's prejudice and dishonor of justice for if they did hee with his friends and servants would hinder it They valued not these words but rejoiced that Don Hernando de Silva did appear in the business for that would open them the way as they desired to augment the distemper of the People and enkindle their indignation And it fell out so for the People resenting and condemning highly Don Hernando's request looked on him as an enimie of the Countrie and as one that did not onely contradict and hinder the good of the common people But also the most sacred practices of devotion To bee short they did go in Procession and in the Letanie they praied that God would enlighten the understanding and direct the Heart of the Emperor well and piously to rule and govern those Kingdoms Don Hernando did not execute his Intention beeing advertised to the contrarie by the Governor to avoid further scandal In the Procession there were som things done more then needed in scorn and derision of those that did not follow that opinion and much murmuring against them Wherewith the People generally thence forwards were so infected and divers grew so audacious that justice had no force nor respect among them The disorder and confusion became excessive and there was nothing in the Citie done for the most part or concluded in Council or without but what was dictated or approved by Hernando de Avalos and Iohn de Padilla So Don Hernando de Sylva resolved to leav Toledo and go to the Emperor SECT XXI THe Emperor knew all this when Alonso Ortiz petitioned concerning the Orders for the Officers of Toledo to appear in Court and Commanded to bee delivered the Second Orders that I mentioned which were notified Iuan de Padilla delt with two gentle-men his kinsmen one called Pedro de Acunia who married one of his sisters the other Diego de Merlo who married a Cousin-german of his both powerful men in Toledo telling them they knew that the Emperor had sent for him and other gentlemen of the Citie to make their personal appearance at Court. And that upon the first and second Orders they had excused themselvs but the third Command beeing com they could not bauk it They had a thought becaus they would not have their not obeying seem to bee their faults but rather that they could not go That those gentlemen with their Allies Abbettors friends and servants assembling together should make a kinde of mutinie in the Citie and apprehending them should detain them and by no means consent to their departure whereof having certificate they might send it to the Court for their defence and by that invention bee freed from the Penalties mentioned in the Orders Those two gentlemen Pedro de Acunia and Diego de Merlo who had bin bred at Court prudently considering what Iohn de Padilla and the rest of his Consorts demanded told them that Proposition sounded not well in their ears and they desired to bee excused for not ingaging in so rash and unadvised an enterprise Iohn de Padilla and the rest perceiving there was no
bee no lodging allowed for those of the Council Judges nor anie such like Officers That the King should not give general or particular billets for the lodging of anie That the taxes and impositions should bee reduced to a certain number and the Pole-monie set at a just and moderate rate whereby the People might perceiv the grace and favor his Majestie did them That the subsidies granted by the Commissioners at the Groyn should not bee received nor demanded neither should there bee anie â—ew taxes or extraordinary tribute imposed upon the Kingdome without som evident necessitie and that it were thought requisite for the good of the Kingdom and his Majestie 's service That the King should not â—end any instructions to the Cities or form of granting Powers nor nominate any particular men for Officers but that the Cities and towns should have the freedom and libertie to bestow and confer their Powers upon such men as they should finde zealous for the good of their Republicks That the Commissioners in Parlament should have the libertie to meet when and where they pleased and to discours and confer freely with one another That such Commissioners during their emploiment should not receiv of the King anie Office favor or gift whatsoever for themselvs their Wives Children or kindred under pain of death and confiscation of goods and that those goods should bee employed for the publick reparations of the Citie or Town whereof they were Commissioners to the end that they should bee the more careful to do onely that which was most expedient for the glory of God the service of his Majestie and good of the Kingdom That everie Commissioner or Burgess should have a competent allowance from the place whose persons they represented That the Parlament beeing ended the several Commissioners should return within forty dayes to give account of what they had done under pain of losing their wages and emploiment That no gold or Silver coyned or to bee coyned should bee transported out of the Kingdom under pain of death In regard the contrary having been done the Kingdomes were impoverished and destroied That there should bee monie coyned differing as well in value as stamp from that of the neighboring Countries and that it should bee of a base alloy two Carats under the rate of the finest gold That in Weight and value it should bee answerable to the Crowns of Gold which are coyned in France Becaus that would bee a means that it should not bee transported Manie other artickles were given in touching gold and silver the particular favors and rewards of the King and other matters of justice But that which they insisted most upon was that the Councils should bee strictly looked to That the Chancery and other Courts in the Kingdom should bee visited or reviewed from six to six years and that all suits should bee dispatched in order and determined whithin a certain time without any delay That there should bee no appealing from Court to Court but that each case should bee decided at it's own Tribunal That no Counsellor or other whosoever should enjoie two offices but should apply himself to one onely These and manie other things the Nobles and Commissioners of the Kingdom desired but they fell into the hands of Strangers the King beeing young and full of thoughts of his Voiage and possession of his Empire So they remained And in regard these and other such like propositions were slighted and layd aside though presented with much zeal and affection the whole Kingdom burst out and slipping in one they fell into the Precipice of manie inconveniences as it is commonly seen They desired one thing verie Holie in the Chapter concerning Ecclesiastical dignities and pensions That they should not bee conferred upon strangers and that the acts of Naturalization which had been made should bee revoked That in the Ecclesiastical Courts there should bee no more duties payed then in the secular and that they should observ the same Statute Which I would it were well seen unto in these times There were likewise som complaints and Petitions given in against Pedrarias de Avila a gentleman of good note and quality brother to the Earl of Punio en Rostro and who had done great services yet hee was accused by som of his enemies and charged for having put manie to death unjustly at the discoverie of the Indies and committed divers Robberies and Tyrannies There were seaven consultations hereupon and Pedrarias was quitted by them all and the Emperor himself taking particular notice of the services which hee had done at Oran in Africa and the taking of Buxia besides other places in the Indies freed him notwithstanding these fals and passionate accusations and confirmed him in the government and charge which formerly had been conferred upon him and gave him som rewards besides But all this was not sufficient to stop the mouths of his enemies who gave occasion to strangers not onely of speaking ill but also of writing against this gentleman who was valiant in his own person and of antient extraction in this Kingdom And others not knowing to the contrary have followed them in the prejudicial censure of this nation and the Nobilitie thereof SECT XXXII TO the grief of those gentlemen who took ill Cardinal Adriano's beeing Governor by a general consent of the Council and Don Antonio de Rojas Arch-Bishop of Granada then President Hee was confirmed Governor of Castilla and Navarra jointly with those of his Council who were Don Alonso Tellez Lord of la-Puebla de Montalvan Hernando de Vega Chancellor of the order in Castilla Don Iohn de Fonseca Bishop of Burgos Don Antonio de Rojas Arch-Bishop of Granada and President of his Majestie 's Council of Justice and Francisco de Vargas Treasurer general these were to reside at Valladolid Antonio de Fonseca Lord of Coca was appointed Captain General of the kingdom and Don Iohn Brother to the Bishop of Burgos his Treasurer Don Iohn de la Nuza was Governor of Aragon Don Diego de Mendoza brother to the Marquis of Zenete Vice-Roy of Valencia All being thus ordered for the Government of the kingdom and the winde coming faire upon Saturday the 19.th of May at Sun-set The Emperor commanded to bee Proclaimed That all the mariners and his retinue should goe on board that night for the next day in the morning hee would set saile Sunday the 20.th of May before day hee did his devotion and received the Sacrament after which hee tooke ship Don Alonso de Fonseca Arch-Bishop of Santjago Don Iuan de Fonseca Bishop of Burgos Don Inigo de Velasco Constable of Castilla and Leon Don Diego Lopez Pacheco Marquis of Villena Don Alonso Pimentel Earl of Benavente Don Iohn Osorio Marquis of Astorga and divers other persons of quality waited on him to the Sea-side Those that imbarked with him were Don Fadrique de Toledo Duke of Alva the Marquis of Villa Franca and his son Don Hernando de
Common People then neglect or forsake that which conduced to the King's service SECT XXXVI THis message which the Post brought from Segovia to the Governors declaring the crueltie done in that Citie possessed them with much trouble and care These risings touched the Cardinal to the heart and hereupon hee entred into consultation with those Gentlemen whom his Majestie had appointed to assist him After this the Gentlemen and Regidores of Segovia sent another Messinger to make their excuse to the Governor alledging That they had nothing to doe in the Death of Tordesillas nor the other two men neither were they able to hinder it in regard of the Mutinie of a great multitude of teazers of Wooll who made that scandalous uproar and outrage men of strange places vagabonds and who were already dispersed and fled from the Citie That if it could bee proved that anie man of account or worth in the Citie was amongst them or but anie waie favoured assisted or so much as consented to their barbarous proceeding they would willingly submit themselvs to anie Punishment that could bee inflicted on them The President of the Council Don Antonio de Rojas Arch-Bishop of Granada grew so cholerick and furious that through excess of passion hee gave the Messengers whom the Gentlemen Regidores and Citizens had sent to make their excuses such reproachful language and high threatnings that it spoiled all For returning to their Citie much distasted with this answer They were all scandalizâ—d at it and those that before were very quiet and peaceable began to incline to the Mutiniers The Cardinal beeing arrived at Valladolid the 5th of Iune 1520 the day before Corpus Christi eve the Arch-Bishop beeing gon thither two daies before Hee assembled all the Council and asked their opinions which were very different concerning this matter And becaus they are of so much importance to the Historie I will set down som of the most remarkable which were then taken in writing The first that spake was Don Antonio de Rojas President of the Council who declared himself in these words The opinion of Don Antonio de Rojas concerning Segovia MY LORDS wee who are dedicated to the Divine Sacraments have not the libertie to speak over boldly iâ— matters which concern humane rigors and chastisements becaus our profession is to shed tears for those which transgress against the God of Heaven and not spill the blood of those who offend earthlie Kings You see My Lords if the dignitie of Arch-Bishop invite's me to Clemencie the office of President which is conferred upon mee constrain's me to Iustice. This I say My Lords that you mâ—y not bee scandalized if I declare my self in this my vote I denie not that our Lord God giveth a beginning to all things with his Providence but yet manie of them hee persu's and concludeth with his rigor and Iustice. And this hee doth that the Good may bee incouraged to serv him and the wicked refrain from displeasing him According to this saying of the Prophet Misericordiam Judicium cantabo tibi Domine To com to the Purpose which now is in agitation This action of Segovia for my particular I hold it so hainous and scandalous that I cannot think of any Punishment great enough for it For where the offence is without weight the Penaltie ought to bee beyond measure Those of the Citie of Segovia have offended God in so barbarously putting to Death a man who better deserved to live then They. Which wicked action is of no less consequence then that it should wreak God's Iudgments upon them for the blood of his Innocencie is no other then the Crier or Proclaimer of Vengeance Again in my sense they are guiltie of Crimen laesâ—e Majestatis and it is very palpable for they did not murther Tordesillas for any offence hee had done them but for the service hee did the King in the Parlament And since for the King hee lost his life the King is obliged to see him revenged and in respect his Majestie is gone out of Castilla to receiv the Imperial Crown in Germanie It will bee sufficient if hee return in prosperitie that hee reward his wife and Children with some gratuity And wee are to proceed according to Iustice considering that the offence is as hainous as if it had been done to his own person For if I have served his Majestie beeing here present in giving him good Counsel I shall serv him more now My Lords in punishing misdeeds in his absence Moreover Since the King our Sovereign took shipping at the Groyn This is the first act of disobedience in Spain Wherefore I judge their crime the greater For an offence committed in absence alwaies argueth the more malice and where the malice is so great the Punishment ought to bee correspondent Item it is alleadged by those of Segovia that the Citie in general is not guiltie of this fact but only som particular men Carders did hang Tordesillas upon the Gallows I would fain know of them what was the reason why they did not punish those fellows since they were but few for there is no such testimonie of Innocence as to execute Iustice upon offenders In my opinion the Citie of Segovia cannot plead Non-Guiltie in this case for Five Thousand Citizens if they had listed might easily have withstood the furious insolence of Fiftie Teazers and those Strangers too But some secretly with their counsels others publickly using violence committed this insolent outrage For if it bee a crime in Wicked men to murther the good It is no less crime in good men not to resist the Wicked You have seen My Lords the peremptoriness of those of Toledo The King our Lord beeing at his Parlament in Santjago and the Groyn which was so great and scandalous that for my part I know not which was more to bee condemned their malicâ— in so doing or Xeures his negligence in not remedying it Wherefore I say that if that which was done hee being here hath pas't unpunished and this which hath bin committed in his absence be not remedyed from henceforwards I give all Castilla for lost and ruined For this is a General maxime if Iustice once lose her force presently start's up insulting Tyrannie Item since his Majestie 's departure out of this Kingdom This is the first scandal wherein it is requisite that the Council make appeare their Counsel and wisdom And there is nothing that can give a greater evidence thereof then in governing the People in such sort that wee may gain the affections of the good and bee no less feared by the evil If the death of this Regidor bee thus smothered and the insolence of Toledo dissembled the Carders of Segovia will thinke and the Cap-makers of Toledo will Proclaime that wee doe not let these things pass with our good wills but that wee dare not punish them And by this means Iustice will bee defamed in that shee cover's Feare and which is worst of all will
lodging hee was at before By this time the Commonaltie was monstrousty distempered and a multitude not onely of the Towns-people but also of the neighboring Farms and Cottages ran thither with clamorous outcries and a full resolution to burn him and all that were in the hous and they had executed their purpose but for Diego de Vera who happily was then at Murcia with his souldiers and hearing they had such an intention hee rode presently to the Judge's lodging which hee found encompassed with a number of people crying out Let him die let him die Yet at the instance and earnest request of Captain Diego de Vera they forbore who desired them not to commit anie such violence but leave it to him and hee would take such order that the Judg should go out of the Citie and meddle no more in that business Hee obteined at length with much trouble and importunitie a promise from them to do whatsoëver hee commanded upon condition that the Processes made against anie of the Inhabitants of that Citie should be delivered to them and that the Judg should depart the Citie within one hour Diego de Vera having promised their desires should bee performed went into the Judge's lodging who presently delivered him the said Processes which hee gave to the people making them promise him that they would not in anie kinde molest the Judg nor anie of his servants but would let him go quietly and safely away so hee departed without making anie longer staie in those parts which was no small matter to obtein of such Mutiniers the autoritie and grey-hairs of Diego de Vera besides the repute hee had of beeing a gallant Souldier was very useful at that time Having pacified the people and persuaded them to return to their own homes he conducted the Judg with his servants out of the Citie and a league beyond where they parted and the Judg went in a great chafe fume to Mula There hee demanded men to return with him to Murcia which coming to the people's ear they rose also against him and having sounded an Alarm with much furie they presently gaue notice thereof to Lorca and so from Village to Village to Murcia and in very short time they were together in Arms about eight thousand men with those of Murcia who marched a Judgcatching directly to Mula But hee was too wise to wait for their coming and flying night and daie hee never staied until hee got to Valladolid Where hee remained but two daies and on Sundaie night he went to Aldea Mayor three leagues thence for hee durst not staie in Valladolid knowing they did not greatly love him for som things past and there was but a kinde of counterfeited â—eace in that Citie hee was affraid they would kill him SECT XIV THe Citie of Sevilla or Sevil that all this while stood as it were looking on the rest had likewise its disturber who indeavoured to plunge it as deep as the other Cities in these unhappie Commotions The beginning was thus Don Iohn de Figueroa brother to Don Rodrigo Ponze de Leon Duke of Arcos the Duke beeing at his Town of Marchena set himself to rais the people of the Citie in favor of the Commonaltie with intent to bee Captain and Governor himself To vvhich effect having already moulded and vvorked them to his mind and beeing agreed vvith those that vvere his complotters and confederates in this design on Sundaie 17 of September 1520 after dinner time hee and som Gentlemen kinsmen and followers of the Duke his brother went to the Duke's hous in Sevilla where they assembled and gathered together above seven hundred men with Arms which done hee and the rest of the Gentlemen beeing on hors-back and the people on foot they took four pieces of Ordnance out of the Duke's hous with them and so marched into the streets crying out God bless the King and Commonaltie Thus they went as far as St Francis place and no bodie els stirred nor offred to join with them but onely looked on as they passed By the waie Don Iohn caused the staves to bee taken away from the King's Officers of Justice and gave them to others in behalf half of the Commonaltie In this time the Duke of Medina Sidonia Don Alonzo Perez de Guzman beeing very young was yet under the Guardianship Tuterage of Donia Leonor de Suniga his mother Who being a Ladie of an high Spirit and courage and seeing so dangerous a fire kindled in Sevilla assembled all their domesticks with all the friends and welwishers to her Son's Partie that shee could so suddenly get together and sent them under the Conduct of Don Valencia de Venavides a valiant Gentleman who had married the Duke's sister against Don Iohn de Figueroa But beeing approached near each other and ready to fight som Gentlemen of note mediating betwixt them composed their quarrel insomuch that the Duke of Medina's men returned home again and Don Iohn advanced to the gate of the Fort Roial which finding shut hee battered it down with his Ordnance and beeing entred with all his men hee took the Commander of it Don Iorge de Portugal Earl of Gelves which done becaus it was grown late hee quarter'd there all night thinking that all the people of Sevilla would presently flock to him applauding this exploit and back him in his enterprise but they were so far from countenancing his design that the greatest part of those that followed him that daie forsook him in the night and returned to their own houses The next daie very early in the morning the Officers of Justice and the Veynte y Quatros by whom that Citie is governed beeing assembled they ordered that immediately the King's Standard should bee brought forth and that by command of the Citie the people should all go in Arms and assault the Fort which beeing re-taken should forthwith bee delivered unto the Charge of him who before commanded it for the King Don Fernando de Zuniga Earl of Venalcazar and divers other Gentlemen fitted themselvs to assist the people in this enterprise But before they were in a posture to put this design in execution Don Valencia de Venavides by order and command express from the Dutchesses Donia Leonor de Zuniga and Donia Anna de Aragon and the Duke of Medina who was sick in bed having rallied and re-assembled the men that followed him the daie before with great courage and resolution marched to the Fort of which after three hours hot dispute hee became Master took Don Iohn de Figueroa prisoner who was wounded in two places and re-delivered the Fort to Don Iorge de Portugal So in less then 24 hours this cloud was quite blown over which threatned so furious a tempest SECT XV. THe Citie of Segovia sent to Salamanca desiring Hors for their defens against Ronquillo The Common people and soâ— Gentlemen gave their Votes to send them succor but the greatest part of the
Gentrie opposed it saying it was a great dissâ—rvice to the King and contrarie to Justice Manie distastfull words passed amongst them but at last the Commons prevailed and turned all those Gentlemen out of Salamanca One stately hous that belonged to the Archbishop of Santjago's Steward they burned down to the ground Neither did those Gentlemen hold themselvs secure until they were got into Valladolid where they gave a full account of all these passages This was the beginning of the rising publickly in Salamanca After which they kept their Rounds and Guards in the Citie and sent Hors to the relief of Segovia but before they departed Salamanca with other Cities sent two men to the Cardinal and Council beseeching them to forbear from chastising Segovia for if they did not the Citie of Salamanca could not refrain from sending them succor Their chief Captain in this uproar was Don Pedro Maldonado Nephew to the Doctor Talavera who drove the rest of the Gentlemen that were not of his faction out of the Citie and made the Corregidor go away also leaving the administration of Justice more out of fear then otherwise which done the Citie ordered the Justice and did what you shall see hereafter SECT XVI THe Cardinal Governor seeing these troubles and disorders increas daily without anie hope of remedie notwithstanding all the endeavors and gentle means hee and those of the Council had used to procure it The President and the rest agreed to give his Majestie an exact account of all the Commotions and particular exigencies of the Kingdom of Castillia and in what danger they themselvs were by reason of the people's furie desiring his Majestie to take som speedie order for the rectifying of so great disorders SECT XVII THe Emperor had already received som intelligence of these troubles in Spain by means of Flemish Merchants and other particular letters But when those from the Cardinal and Council came to his hands at Lovain Hee was seized with unexpressible sadness The necessitie of his going to bee crowned in Germanie was very urgent and his returning into Spain seemed yet of more importance The Letter 's sad Contents brâ—d divers discontents and no less different opinions as the custom is amongst the Courtiers of the nearest relation about the Emperor The Flemings condemned the Spaniards for raising these tumults ond commotions in their King's absence The Spaniards retorted the blame upon the Flemings saying That their ill Government had been the occasion of the ruine and loss of Spain and that they had robbed it and indeed to saie the truth They were both in fault for the Flemings were as short of discretion and prudence to Govern as they abounded with a too insatiable Covetousness And the Spaniards although they had som reason to complain could not bee excused for rising up in Arms. Monsieur de Xeures grew much discontented and ashamed upon the report of this breaking out of Spain partly becaus hee knew what opinion went of him in the Court but chiefly becaus hee thought as justly hee might the Emperor would derive the fault upon him who whil'st hee was in Spain commanded with so absolute a power that it was commonly said The Emperor Don Carlos is King by right and Monsieur de Xeures in effect The Emperor beeing thus disquieted called a Council and desiring to have their advices hee propounded That they would consider what means was to bee vsed that Hee might go into Germanie and receiv that Crown which Hee so much desired and provide som remedie to settle the disturbances of Spain which was of no less importance to him for his Coronation could bee no longer suspended and the remedying of Spain ought not to bee differred Hee had of his Council in this occurrence Germanes Flemings Italians Aragoneses and Castillans and their opinions were as different as their Nations For the Germanes urged that it was repuisite his Majestie should continue his journie into Germanie The Italians said it was necessarie that hee should makeâ— a progress into Italie The Flemings were very importunate for him to staie in their Countrie The Aragoneses pleaded that Valencia was also risen up in Arms. And the Castillans used all means possible to persuade him to reâ—urn into Castillâ— The case beeing so general and nearly concerning so manie Kingdoms the Emperor did wisely to take the advice of manie But at last the resolution of the business was given by few as great Princes use to do in like occurrences The result of this Consultation was That the Emperor should continue his journie into Germanie and having received the Imperial Crown there to remain until hee had fully settled the affairs of that Countrie not being everie daie to return thither It was likewise resolved That his Majestie should send amiable and gracious Letters to all the Cities and Towns of Castilla requiring som of them to return unto themselvs and his service and expressing his thankfulness to others for their good intentions towards him That hee should desire and encharge the Nobles and Gentrie to favor and assist those of his Roial Council promising to all upon the faith of his Roial word that with all possible expedition hee would return into Castilla for the thought of the Emperor 's never returning into Spain bred in the Common people the boldness to commit such outrages and exorbitances Moreover it was determined That the Emperor should write unto the President and Council condoling their troubles and persecution commanding them withall that in one place or other six of them should alwaies bee about the Cardinal and hold Council To the end they might serv as a Refuge for the good people to appeal unto and bee a terror to the evil for if the Council omitted the doing of Justice the Roial Autoritie must needs fall And also That the Emperor should appoint two other Governors to bee joined in Commission with the Cardinal and those to bee men of noble extractions well experienced and advanced in years of generous dispositions powerful in estates but chiefly Natives of that Kingdom This advice seemed very sound and pertinent to the Emperor whereupon hee gave order it should bee put in execution accordingly and those whom they Voted to bee joined in Commission with the Cardinal were Don Fadrique Enriquez Lord High Admiral of Castilla and Don Inigo de Velasco Lord High Constable who were both antient Gentlemen of great generositie and gallantrie Which Election gave no small satisfaction to the Castillan partie for they had shewen themselvs in their commands not onely wise but valiant and were alwaies fortunate in their undertakings These Noblemen governed with such valour and prudence that the Emperor in his Letters to the Lord High Constable give 's him thanks for his services acknowledging that by his means hee was King of Castilla And indeed the Emperor said but what was true Besides all this his Majestie sent an especial Command That the subsidie which was granted him at the
submissions to him saying that God had sent him to give them libertie and that hee would procure them much monie and arms Those of Xativa adored him as their Redeemer and called him El Encubierto or the man disguised saying God had sent him for the redressing of the oppressed People Hee made them believ that hee was the Prince Don Iohn Son to the Catholick King and Queen deceased and that for certain â—ecret causes and Revelations of God's Judgments it was convenient for him not to bee publickly known in the world for long time past but now since the Kingdom 's were in so distressed a condition and in so great necessitie of their naturall King to own and defend them and settle them in the same peaceable Government as they injoyed during his Father's Reign hee desired to reveal himself unto them and that it was God's will also This those wretched Confederates beleiving followed and honored him as if hee had been their God Thus having gained the affection and esteem of these Rebels hee conferred with divers of the Citie of Valencia of la Huerta and other places thereabouts inticing them to put in execution what that Tyrant Vicente Periz had alreadie moved Hee dealt likewise with some places of Aragon and Catalunia which were alreadie tottering and half at least inclining to Commotion ingaging them that at the same instant if possible as hee should make his Attempts upon Valencia they should all rise in arms and secure those parts for him Within Valencia hee had his intelligencers and instruments whom hee imployed to murder the Marquis of Cenete then Governor of the Citie These were so faithful to him in this treacherous design that hee wanted not assistants to convey him over the walls into the Citie whereby hee might the better contrive his plot seeing the disposition of the place and having a more free communication with the inhabitants allure and draw to his byas more complices to strengthen his partie and execute his wicked intention This was so cunningly carried that if God had not otherwise disposed it the whole Kingdom at that time ran a notable hazard of beeing absolutely destroied The Citie of Valencia as I have told you beeing in so miserable a condition the Religious men with other good and loial people went to petition the Marquis of Cenete who then was in the Camp to take upon him the Government of that distressed Citie Which hee did like a noble man as hee was The people expressed so much contentment and comfort in his presence that in all the Monasteries and Churches they sung with great solemnitie the Te Deum laudamus and all the bâ—lls rung out in testimonie of an universal joie The Marquis was a man of such courage and resolution that when throughout the whole Citie of Valencia no bodie durst so much as name God King or Iustice hee took divers of the rebellious disturbers and hanged them So that they began to bee affraid and sculked in corners Soon after having notice of a band of these Confederates which were fled from Valencia hee marched out against them and meeting them about Monviedro hee brought away their Colors having routed and put them all to flight Amongst divers great hazards which the Marquis ran of losing his life by the insolence or treacherie of these Confederates one I shall give in particular A monstrous disorderly multitude of these wretches beeing gathered together in Valencia fell like a furious storm upon the Marquis his hous with huge clamorous out-cries and â—lashing of weapons not understanding each other's minde nor knowing what they would have The Marquis hearing the nois went down to quiet the tumult beeing well provided and attended but his Ladie seeing him engaged amongst a throng of such vile respectless people and fearing lest hee should bee murthered by them took such a fright that her weak Constitution beeing not able to resist the violence of that sudden apprehension shee presently expired Vicente Periz Captain of the Rebells with a numerous Armie intrenched himself and planted his Cannon within sight of Valencia where hee remained som time In his Camp hee had a bell at the sound whereof a numberless gang of thievs such as his Armie was composed of ran out of the Citie to him And had not the Marquis been very circumspect without question they had suprised the Citie but finding little probabilitie of effecting their design upon Valencia they marched towards Monviedro thinking to make the Vice-Roy rais his siege thence but within two daies after Monviedro was surrendered to him which was of no small importance for thereby hee had an open and free passage to receiv succour out of Castilla The Marquis hearing that the Confederates were marched towards Monviedro with their Cannon and having intelligence of their intentions followed them but with no considerable force and meeting some of his own foot companies which having been much galled by their Cannon and small shot were retreating towards Valencia quite disheartned hee strove to incourage them as well as hee could representing to them the service of God and their King but prevailing not with them howëver heâ— advanced and set upon the enemie crying aloud Let the King live and the Traytors die and without fear of their muskets or Cannon which played fiercely upon him hee charged into the middest of them God whose caus hee fought preserving him and striking their baser hearts with fear insomuch that hee had them all at his mercie Yet his nobleness and generositie was such though they deserved it not that hee commanded his men who were very busie in killing to forbear further execution crying out Let them not die let them not die having thus quite routed these Mutiniers hee returned to Valencia with the spoil and all their Artillerie where hee was received with joy and tears The Vice-Roy afterwards beeing before Xativa with intent to reduce it to the Emperor's subjection the Rebels dealt so cunningly with some of his Souldiers who sowed the same dissention in his Camp as was within the Town that by certain signs they understood each others intentions and they agreed at one and the same time to fall upon the Loyall Partie and murther them and having taken their Artillerie to storm Valencia sack it and kill all that were for the Emperor in it This conspiracie was discovered but there was no remedie to hinder it neither in the Vice-Roy's Camp nor in Valencia for the Confederates were very numerous and the Loyall Pâ—â—sons but a small Partie The Marquis at the intreatie of the honest people of Valencia went to the Vice-Roy's Camp before Xativa where hee found more disorder then was reported and the infection less curable then hee imagined The sign that these Conspirators had agreed upon was that in the night at a certain hour those of the Camp should cry out Paie Paie Mutinie Mutinie and those within the Citie should answer Paie Paie Mutinie Mutinie The Vice-Roy and
And that the Officers of Justice may take the said Woolls from the Shepherds or buiers and deliver them to such persons as is before-mentioned not suffering any fraud or contention to arise hereupon but the truth beeing known speedily to deliver them to the said Merchants and others to be wrought in these Kingdoms paying in ready mony or giving the said securitie And in case any Officer neglect his dutie herein that hee may lose one whole years Salarie and be obliged to make good the dammage and interest of the Partie Concerning the Council Courts and Iustices THat his Majestie would bee pleased to dismiss those of the Council whom hitherto hee hath kept in regard they have advised him to the great prejudice of his Majestie 's Roial Crown and the excessive dammage of the Kingdoms That they never bee admitted to bee of his Privie Council the Queen's Council or Council of Justice That their Majesties would select som of the Natives of those Kingdoms to bee of their Roial Councils who were known to bee loial and zealous for their service and which would set aside their particular interests for the people's good Item that the President Council Judges Alcaldes and Officers of the Courts and Chanceries may bee visited every four years according to the usual manner That those who are found faultie may bee punished as the Laws of the Kingdom have ordered according to the hainousness of their crime and those who are found otherwise may bee acknowledged to bee good men and rewarded by his Majestie Item that the said Offices aswel of the Council as of his Majestie 's familie Chanceries and other Courts bee not given by favor or procured by the Petitions or importunate sollicitations of any Grandees or other persons near about his Majestie but that they may bee bestowed upon able and deserving men and that the provision may bee to Offices not to the Persons that enjoie them And if any shall have or procure them contrarie to the tenour hereof the kingdom may not acknowledg such as Officers but that they may bee disabled to keep or execute any the aforesaid or other publick Offices Item that the said Offices of the Council Roial Alcaldes de Corte Chanceries or other Courts may not bee provided or possessed by such as com but newly from their Studies but by persons â—ndued with qualities and parts necessarie and fit for his Majesties service having been experienced and practised in the exercise of the Office of Counsellors at Law and Judges for the contrarie having been don hitherto hath been the occasion of great inconveâ—iences and dammages to these Kingdoms Item that the Judges of the Council Roial Chanceries and other Courts which Voted in the first sentences may not Vote nor sentence anie processes upon review but pass the View and Votes of such Suits by order to the Judges of another Court as is usual in Suits which by reason of discoâ—d are remitted from one Court to another for of the sentences pronounced by those of the Council and Judges of the said Courts beeing reviewed by them have proceeded and do proceed great inconveniencies For they shew themselvs very passionate and desirous to confirm their sentences defending them as if they were Advocates for the partie in whose favor they formerly had given sentence And that all Suits may bee determined by two Courts without any inconvenience that that those Writs may bee useless which they that are in Suit procure in like cases to make their Suits pass through all Courts Item That his Majestie provide and appoint a Superintendent to bee constant and resident in every one of the Courts and Chanceries as was accustomed in the time of the Catholick Queen Donia Isabel our Ladie and that they bee persons of Autoritie and good intention who may provide that the ordinances bee observed and see that the suites bee conformable thereunto That Clients applying themselvs to them may finde redress and help for their grievances and that his Majestie may bee informed by them of the State of his Courts and of the justice administred in them Item That the said offices of the Council Chancerie and Alcaldias bee not perpetual in regard it is so expedient for his Majestie 's service and the good of the Kingdoms That the Judges and Alcaldes may not hold themselvs Lords of those offices nor think it to bee an injurie to them to bee displaced and others appointed to officiate Concerning the Council and Courts THat the offices of the privie Council in what concerns the Kingdoms of Castilla and Leon and judges his Majestie 's Alcaldes de la casa e Corte Chanceries and all other offices of justice may not bee given to any strangers but to the inhabitants and natives of the said Kingdoms And that for this respect no act or letters pattents of naturalization may bee given and if any should bee given that they may bee respectively received but not fulfilled That the number of the judges of the Council of justice may bee twelve neither more nor less and those to bee of such qualities and parts as the Laws of the Kingdom do require Item That Suits bee determined in the Council and Chancerie in their order and as they stand registred and by the Courts where they are depending without joyning of any others to them That concerning this particular his Majestie may give no writs in derogation of ordinances Also that those which were to bee pleaded and determined in Chancerie bee not kept still nor removed by wrâ—ts to the Council And that those judges that can take recognisance of Suits and causes may not bee put by from hearing and determining the said Suits by writ or order from his Majestie And in case the judges bee suspected the Parties may have the remedie of appeal Or if his Majestie have given any such writs that hee revoke and annul them That henceforwards it may remain as a perpetual and inviolable Law that the Judges of the Council and Chancerie present or to com may not obey the said writs under pain of beeing deprived of their offices and paying one hundred thousand Maravediz each for his Majestie 's exchequer And that the same may bee observed in the writs which shall bee given by his Secretarie the Suites depending Item That those of the Council Judges of Courts and Chancerie and Alcaldes de Corte may not possess or hold more then one office And in case they should have two or more that they may bee taken from them and that they may receiv Salarie for no more then one office Item that matters of Justice which may bee prejudicial to the parties henceforwards may bee determined and dispatched by those of the Council and not by the privie Chamber for by this means things will bee carried according to Justice and without grievances Item that the Secretaries appointed for the Chamber may not have Vote in the Council of Justice concerning those matters which depend on private Writs
intention came to Toledo very well attended and was driven out by the Common people Such was the confusion of that Citie which DonÌ„a Maria Pacheco did uphold with as much courage as if shee had been a Captain long exercised in Martial affairs and therefore shee was generally callâ—d la Muger valerosa the valiant Woman The report goe's that shee made use of the Crosses in stead of Colors and to excite the people to compassion shee made her son to bee carried up and down the streets upon a Mule with a mourning Hood and Cloak on and in a Streamer the picture of her husband Iohn de Padilla beheaded Divers other things were said of her it may bee they were but feigned Amongst the rest That shee had a fancie that shee should bee a Queen which was put into her head by som Morisco witches at Granada At length her partie began to weaken and diminish Don Estevan Gabriel Merino prevailing against her who shewed himself a person of great conduct and prudence This Prelate who afterwards was Cardinal of San Vidal then governing the Bishoprick of Iaen and beeing Dean of Toledo assisted by the Marshal Payo de Ribera and other â—entlemen of that Citie having routed DonÌ„a Maria and her adherents turned them out of Toledo and shee having disguised herself in a Countrie-woman's habit and riding upon an Ass with som Gees in her hands escaped otherwise shee had lost her head aswel as her Husband So shee spun out the rest of her daies in exsile After this the Citie was reduced and enjoied the benefit of the general pardon with other good conditions which by reason of the War of Navarra were granted them and as they desired neither Don Iohn de Ribera nor any of his kindred were permitted to com into the Citie until the King returned into Spain they received Don Estevan Gabriel Merino and Doctor Zumel for their chief officers of Justice They pull'd down Padilla's hous to the ground which done they ploughed it and sowed it with Salt becaus the soil where the Captain of so great troubles and mischiefs had his birth and habitation should not produce so much as grass or weeds erecting there a pillar with an Inscription declaring the manner of his life and deplorable end SECT XXV ALthough the whole Kingdom almost was reduced the fear of punishment exceeding the hopes they had of carrying on their design Yet the Fort of Fermosel which was under the command and properly belonging to the Bishop of Zamora stood peremptorily upon their defence The Governors hereupon sent the Earl of Alva de Lista with a competent number of men to take it who requiring the Governor to deliver it to the Emperor hee answered that hee kept it in the Bishop of Zamora's name for his Majestie that if his Majestie did com thither and bring the Bishop with him whom the Duke of Naxara had taken prisoner hee would presently surrender it otherwise not The Earl laid siege to it hereupon but to small purpose for it was very strong The Duke of Naxara not long after sent to the Governors desiring them to command the siege to bee raised before â—ermosel becaus it belonged to his son the Bishop having â—xchanged it with him The Governors gave order forthwith that the Earl of Alva should give them Truce for twentie daies whilest they sent to the Emperor to know his Majesties pleasure The taking of the Bishop of Zamora was in this manner Hee seeing all his partie routed and that it was no boot for him to staie in Spain resolved to make France his refuge But beeing in the confines of Navarra at the same time the French King made his attempt upon that Countrie at a place called Villamediana a league from LogronÌ„o although hee had disguised himself hee was discovered and taken prisoner by an Alferez named Perote Who carried him thence to Navarrete a Town two leagues from Naxara where hee delivered him to the Duke Don Antonio who kept him there until the Emperor commanded him to bee carried to the Castle of Simancas where hee ended his daies as you shall hear SECT XXVI THe Citie of Valladolid wrote to the Lord Admiral desiring him to stand their friend as his Ancestors had done in former times Whereunto hee returned a very kind answer assuring them all the favor hee could do them or procure them from his Majestie so that they continned their contrition and acknowledgment of their errors and refrained from acting any thing misbecoming the obedience of Loyal and faithful subjects And to conclude this tedious relation I shall tell you onely that the Emperor beeing returâ—ed into Spain called a Counsel in Palencia where hee consulted of and concluded a general pardon for the whole Kingdom But some of the Commoners beeing brought to execution as shall bee hereafter mentioned the Castillians not knovving what had past in his Majesties Counsels began to bee possest with fears For the absolute distruction and banishing whereof the Emperor upon the 28th of October 1522 caused a great scaffold to bee erected in the chief market place of Valladolid and covered with rich cloth of gold and silk whereon his Majestie cloathed with long robes after the Antient manner all his Grandees and Council about him beeing seated his Attornie General with a rich Herald's Coat and one of the Clarks of the Exchequer named Gallo having made a long narration of the troubles and insurrections of Castilla read with a distinct loud voice the general pardon which his Majestie granted to the whole Kingdom wherein were excepted onely some threescore or fourscore persons whom in regard the greatest part of them were but ordinarie people some of them Friers and others already punished I shall not trouble my self to particularize onely the execution of Don Pedro Pimentel de Talavera who was taken at the battle of Villalar and his head was cut off in the publick place of Palencia The Commissioners of Guadalaxara and Segovia with some others beeing prisoners at la Mota de Medina del Campo the Alcalde Leguizama was sent thither to do Justice upon them Beeing there arrived hee commanded seven of them to bee brought out of the Common Gaol vvhere they were put with ropes about their necks and set upon Asses until they came into the chief market place of Medina where all their heads were cut off In the Citie of Vitoria a skinner of Salamanca and two or three more of his complices were executed on Fridaie the 14th of August 1522. That which was chiefly laid to the charge of the Commissioners and other Gentlemen vvas their daring to take possession of the Queen at Tordesillas turning avvaie the Marquis of Denia and his Ladie vvho had commands from his Majestie to attend her person And besides that some of them held correspondence vvith the King of France SECT XXVII THe Bishop of Zamora beeing taken as is related vvas brought aftervvards prisoner to the Fort of