Forces but by the way at the Wood of Cazlona in Sierra Morena the Emperor fell sick and near the Town of Fresneda he dyed in a Tent on the 21th of August he lived 51 Years 5 Months and 21 Days was King 35 Years and had the Title of Emperor 22 Years and a half A Prince worthy of a longer Life Pious in his Youth Brave and Modest in his riper Years always a pattern of Virtue and Famous to Posterity for his zeal to the Christian Religion He had three Wives Berengaria Beatrix and Rica The second had no Children the last was Mother of Sancha Berengaria brought him Sancho and Ferdinand his Successors also Elizabeth and Beatrix Besides these Alonso and another Ferdinand who dy'd Young and was bury'd in a Monastery of Nuns of the invocation of S. Clement built by his Father with this Inscription on his Tomb Here lies the most Illustrious D. Ferdinand Son to the Emperor D. Alonso who built this Monastery he laid him here to Honour it Sancho and Ferdinand the Emperor's Sons divided his Dominions as he had Ordered Ferdinand had the Kingdom of Leon and Galicia Sancho the Elder Castile with all it Dependencies Both were good and virtuous Princes Sancho was best beloved as being the more affable and dying soon was called the Desired Ferdinand was jealous and gave ear to Court-Flatterers therefore before his Father's Funeral Rites were perform'd he repaired to Leon to take possession of his Kingdom On the contrary Sancho understanding his death made hast to Frensneda and thence conducted him with all the Nobility to Toledo where he was buryed with great Pomp in the Cathedral of that City Sancho King of Navarre for his Learning Age and Exploits called the Wise saying hold of this opportunity over ran all the Lands of Castile as far as Burgos and with the same celerity return'd into his own Country The Moors finding those places they had lost forsaken by the New King easily recovered them It was requisite to check both those Enemies but it was thought fit first to move against Navarre It hap'ned that Ponze Earl of Minerva one of the chief among the Nobility of Leon being wronged by King Ferdinand fled to Castile He being a Person of known Valour and Conduct was favourably received by King Sancho and appointed General of the Expedition against Navarre Having taken charge of the Army by the way of Briviesca he entred the Territory of Rioja and incamped in a plain called Valpiedra near the Town of Ban̄ares where both Parties Ordered their Battles D. Lope de Haro led the Van of the Navarrois D. Ladron de Guevara the Rear and the King the Main Body The Castillians being the more numerous and resolute were not backward At the first charge the Castillians gave way but recovering themselves put the Navarrois to flight but made no great slaughter most saving themselves in the Neighbouring Castles and Towns Supplies coming up now out of France the King adventured a second time to fight in the same place but with no better success Many of the Nobles being taken were generously Treated by D. Ponze and afterwards set at Liberty After this Victory he returned to Burgos where the King having commended and rewarded the Soldiers above all honoured D. Ponze and that to such a degree that he marched as far as the Monastery of Sahagun resolving to make War upon his Brother if he did not condescend to restore him to his Possessions King Ferdinand perceiving the danger he was in came to his Brother unarmed where all differences were agreed and he promised not only to restore D. Ponze but to bestow fresh honours upon him Besides he offered to do Homage to his Brother which King Sancho with great courtesy refused to accept of Calatrava a Town seated on the Banks of Guadiana not far from Almagro when taken from the Moors was given to the Knights Templers but they understanding the Infidels made great preparations to Besiege it and despairing of holding out restored it to the King No Body would undertake to defend it only two Cistercian Monks who came to Court upon business offered themselves These were Raymund Abbot of Fitero near the River Pisuerga and his Companion James Velazquez who having been a Soldier was become a Religious but still had a great Spirit and perswaded the Abbot to undertake the maintaining of that place This offer was very grateful to the King and to John Archbishop of Toledo who were before much concerned for the danger which threatned that place The Archbishop because Calatrava belonged to his Diocess advanced a sum of Money and in his Sermons stirred up the People to contribute towards the defence of that Town either by adventuring their Persons or laying out their Money since they were all concerned in the preservation of it as being the Bulwark of the Christian Borders which once lost ruin and desolation would soon come upon every particular Man's Estate This was at the beginning of the Year 1158. The King freely gave the Town of Calatrava to the Order of the Cistercians for ever Fame which commonly surpasses truth is of great moment in all Worldly affairs as it appeared now for the Moors hearing of the mighty preparations that were making to defend that City came not before it This was the Original of the Knights of Calatrava for many Soldiers followed the Abbot and took the habit he gave them Being returned to Toledo he brought a great number of Cattle from his Monastery and from the Neighbourhood about 20000 people to whom he gave the Lands about Calatrava which before lay wast for want of Inhabitants Thus the Town was secured against any danger Abbot Raymund dy'd some Years after at Ciruelas a Village where he was also buried and is honoured as a Saint Thence in the Year 1471. he was translated to our Lady of Mount Sion a Monastery of Bernardines near Toledo James Velazquez lived many years after and dy'd in the Monastery of S. Peter at Gumiel where he is buried From this beginning the Military Order of Calatrava rose to the greatness it is now arrived at Pope Alexander III. confirmed it by his Bull in the Year 1164 The Convent at first setled in Calatrava was thence removed to Ciruelos then to Buxeda to Corcoles Salvatierra and lastly to Covos There are other lesser Convents of the Order in other places but that is the Principal This Order in process of time grew rich and had the Lordship of many Towns for their good Services and thro' the Bounty of Kings Formerly the Revenues of such Towns were given to old Knights of that Order for their Maintenance during their own Lives only and not for their Heirs Now they serve only to support the Prodigality of Courtiers Thus for the most part good Institutions are perverted CHAP. III. The Death of Sancho King of Castile The great Commotions that ensued The Death of Raymund Prince of
succeeds him KIng Alonso the Tenth of the Name as was of right succeeded his Father Ferdinand His Reign for the strange variety of Revolutions that happen'd prov'd much more wonderful than glorious For what can be more admirable than to see a Prince bred in War and so Learned that few private Persons could compare with him reduc'd to that Unfortunate State he could neither obtain the Empire offer'd him by Strangers nor secure the Kingdom left him by his Father but to be reduc'd almost to the state of a private Man He sully'd the Title of the Wise purchas'd by his Learning by not knowing how to foresee and prevent the Calamities that fell upon him At Sevil where he was when his Father dy'd he was Proclaim'd King His first action was to renew the League with the King of Granada and he remitted him the sixth part of the Tribute he us'd to pay This was done in respect to his good Services and to encourage him to continue faithful That Prince was so great an admirer of King Ferdinand that tho' a Moor he sent Yearly 100 Wax Torches to Sevil for that Kings Anniversary There was great scarcity of Money to relieve which want it was thought fit that instead of Pepiones a Coin so call'd that was made of pure Metal there should Burgaleses be us'd which were base and full of allay This was no relief to the King's wants for all things grew dear and he was forc'd to raise the Salaries of all Officers But the People were much more inrag'd when another sort of Money was invented call'd Black because it had much Copper 15 pieces of this Money were worth a Crown one Burgales was worth two Pepiones This Method of raising Money has often been found very prejudicial and soon made King Alonso odious to his Subjects King Alonso was troubled for the Barrenness of his Queen Violante Flatterers advis'd there might be a Divorce obtain'd and the King was easy to be perswaded He sent to conclude a Match with Christina Daughter to the King of Denmark and she was brought into Spain King Jayme of Aragon indeavour'd by fair means to alter this resolution but those failing had recourse to Arms. Thus the War broke out incursions were made on both sides and the Frontiers plunder'd Theobald King of Navarre dy'd now on the 8th of July 1253. As he was worthy of praise for his zeal towards the Holy Land so he was Blameable for invading the rights of the Church on which account it is said that Kingdom was for the space of three Years under a general Interdict After that time was expir'd Peter Remigius or Gaçoliz Bishop of Pamplona who had been Banished was reconciled to the King and return'd to his Church Theobald was honourable for other good qualities and especially for his Learning He had Three Wives by the first who was Daughter to the Earl of Lorrain he had no Children Being Divorc'd from her by the Pope's Command he Marry'd Sibila Daughter to Philip Earl of Flanders by whom he had Blanch Marry'd to John Duke of Britanny called the Red. By his third Wife the Daughter of Archimbaud Earl of Faux he had Theobald Henry and Ellenor Theobald succeeded his Father being then not 15 Years of Age but of an Excellent temper and promising hopes Queen Marguerite his Mother fearing Alonso King of Castile being eas'd of the War with the Moors would again set up his pretensions to that Crown had recourse to the King of Aragon with him she had a Conference at Tudela in August and they concluded a League Offensive and Defensive It was also agreed that Theobald should Marry one of King Jayme's Daughters and that neither of them should be given to any of the King of Castile's Brothers without the consent of Queen Marguerite However the King of Aragon sav'd to himself his pretensions to that Crown on account of the adoption of King Sancho That this League might be the firmer they had it confirmed by the Pope It aim'd directly at Castile The apprehensions of a War caus'd the King of Aragon and his Son to be reconcil'd Thus I find that Alonso the eldest Son confirm'd under an Oath what his Father had given to Peter and Jayme the two Younger Brothers A new War ensued Alasarcho a designing Moor promis'd to deliver up the Castle of Reguara King Jayme being a forward Prince easily gave credit to him and was on the way with a small handful of Men. He had fallen into the snare and been taken but that he had intelligence of the design The Moor thus disappointed perswaded those of Valencia to revolt thither the King hasted and it was debated to expel all the Infidels Interest sway'd the Nobility to oppose this advice but the Prelate and Commonalty prevail'd so the Moors were Commanded to depart Valencia and all its Territory within a time prefixt They tho' 60000. strong and in Arms obey'd and dispersed themselves into the Country of Murzia and Granada A considerable number also setled in that part now called La Mancha de Aragon formerly Montaragon of a Town of that Name At that time it was not Tilled nor Improved at present yields Corn that supplies many Places Ferdinand Brother to King Alonso made a considerable profit of the Moors for being Governour of Villena through which they were to pass he obliged every one to pay a Crown of Gold These affairs hindred the King of Aragon from falling upon Castile and this delay proved fortunate At the same time that Christina after her long Voyage came to Toledo which was in the Year 1254. it appeared that the Queen was with Child The King moved at so unexpected an accident changed his hatred into Love and those who before perswaded a Divorce now pleaded for the Queen Such is the Custom of Flatterers Philip the King's Brother notwithstanding he was Abbot of Valladolid and Elect Archbishop of Sevil renounced the Priestly Function and with the King's consent Marry'd Christina who dy'd soon after Queen Violantes Barreness was chang'd into Fruitfulness and she bore many Children These were Berengaria Beatrix Ferdinand called de la Cerda that is of the Hair because of long Hair that grew on his back Sancho Peter John James Elizabeth and Ellenor By a Woman of mean Extraction the King had Alonso Fernandez by D. Mayor Daughter to Peter de Guzman he had Beatrix both Illegitimate In the following Year 1255. Edward the Eldest Son of Henry King of England came into Spain the cause of his coming is not known unless it were on account of Christina who was his Cousin-german He was honourably received by the King at Burgos and by him Knighted according to the Custom of those times Honours directed to appease the Fierce Youth King Alonso had not the same Character in all parts In Spain he was hated by his Subjects and not much beloved by the Neighbouring Princes Abroad the Fame of
is certain that the Alliance with the Franks was setled in the latter days of Recaredus About the same time such of the Romans as had remain'd in Spain were defeated upon several occasions and brought under by the Coths The Vascones likewise that is Navarre being revolted were pacify'd and subdu'd For these and the other glorious Actions perform'd during his Reign the King gain'd Immortal Renown He was endu'd with a singular greatness of Mind much Wit Prudence and a pleasing Person and Nature but what most gloriously shin'd in him was his great Zeal for the Catholick Religion His Death was in the Year of Grace 610 having Reign'd 15 Years one Month and 10 Days St. Isidorus says that being near his Death at Toledo he did publick Pennance for his Sins as was us'd in those days He left three Sons the Eldest called Liuva the others Suinthila and Geila The first is suppos'd to be by his first Wife he being of Age to govern at his Fathers Decease on whom the other two were got is not known Certain it is the present Kings of Spain are lineally descended from these Princes and particularly from Recaredus their Father For the better understanding whereof it will not be amiss here to insert their Genealogy Gosuinda the Wife of Athanagildus had by him two Daughters Galsuinda and Brunechilda Also Clodoveus or Clovis King of the Franks had Three Grandsons which were Guntrandus Chilperick and Sigebert all Sons of Clotarius the Son of Clovis Gassuinda was Married to Chilperick who perish'd by the Fraud of Fredegunda as was hinted before Sigebert Married Brunechilda and by her had Childebert Ingundis and Clodosinda Leuvigildus Successor of Athanagildus by his first Wife Theodosia had Ermenegildus and Recaredus before he was King and being come to the Crown Marry'd Gosuinda the Queen Dowager Ermenegildus Married Ingundis and Recaredus Clodosinda It is to be observ'd in the History of Recaredus and the ensuing Kings that whereas mention is made of Dukes and Counts or Earls those Names signify Offices and dignity of Command and not bare Titles as at present for Counts or Earls were Governors of Provinces the Dukes were Generals and had the Power of Coining Money for Payment of their Souldiers and hence the Crown Piece in Spain came to be called Ducado or a Ducate Not only the Governours of Provinces were call'd Counts but such as had any remarkable Office at Court or Command in the Army so in Military imployments we find Comites Cataphractariorum Clibanariorum and Sagittariorum At Court there was Comes Stabuli now the Constable and so others in imitation of the Roman Emperors From them also it is supposed Recaredus first took the sirname of Flavius as did the ensuing Kings after him Besides Toledo was stil'd a Royal City which was the very Title the Greeks gave to Constantinople the Seat of the Empire Thus we see that in those days Dukes and Counts or Earls were Persons of Command and those Names were not barely Titular as at present Kings having of later Years made them Hereditary assigning them certain Revenues CHAP. II. The Reigns of the Kings Liuva Witericus Gundemarus Sisebutus and Recaredus the Second several Synods the Jews Banish'd Spain LIuva being scarce Twenty Years of Age when his Father dy'd was immediately Proclaim'd King but by reason of his Youth lay the more expos'd to the insolencies of rebellious Spirits Wherefore it followed that tho' he was a Prince of Excellent Qualities and like his Father he was treacherously Murdered by Witericus before spoken of when he had Reigned only two Years during which time he did nothing remarkable save that by the Beauty of his Person and gentle behaviour he had gained the affections of all Men and left his Subjects in extream grief for that he was cut off in the flower of his Years There are Pieces of Gold found in Spain with his name on the one side and on the reverse these words HISP ALI PIVS that is Pious at Sevil which is a token of his goodness These Medals cannot be Attributed to the other Liuva because there is a Crown on them which in the times of the former was not in use among the Goths By this means the Traytor possessed himself of the Kingdom of the Goths and held it six Years and ten Months He was Fortunate in War for tho' in some rencounters with the Romans still remaining in Spain he had the worst yet at last his forces gave them an entire overthrow in a pitched Battle fought near Siguença Childebert King of Lorrain dying his two Sons divided his Dominions Theodobert was King of Lorrain and Theodorick of Burgundy Theodorick marryed the Daughter of Witericus but she was sent back into Spain a Maid some said that Theodorick was bound with Spels and Witchcraft by the Concubins he kept so that he could not have carnal knowledge of her Others are of Opinion it was done by the procurement of her Mother-in-law Brunechilda However it was Witericus stirred up Theodobert of Lorrain King Clotarius and Agilulphus of the Longobards to join in a League against Theodorick He finding himself in no Condition to oppose such a Power bought his Peace with his Brother Theodobert whereupon the other two Princes desisted from attempting any thing against him This disgrace made Witericus grow contemptible to his Subjects and their hatred began to break out which had long lain hid But what incensed the People most was that it was rumoured he designed to restore the Arian Heresie The People were so moved at this report that taking up Arms they broke in the Palace and killed the Tyrant as he sate at Dinner Nor did this satisfy their Rage so they dragged his Body about the Streets and then buried it in an infamous place This divine Vengeance tho' late overtook him for the Murder of King Liuva Gundemarus was immediatly Proclaimed King either for that he had been head of that mutiny or by the choice of the Nobility in regard of his great Wisdom and Abilities both in civil and martial Affairs He began his Reign in the Year of our Lord 610. and if it be Lawful to conjecture at History I suppose the Franks assisted him in obtaining the Crown for as appears by the Letters of Count Bulgaranus Governour of Gallia Gothica which are still preserved among the Antiquities of the University of Alcala de Henares and the Church of Oviedo Gundemarus payed a certain yearly acknowledgment to the Franks Those Letters also give us to understand that Gundemarus his Embassadors sent into France were contrary to the Law of Nations affronted by those Kings and tho' he sent other Embassadors to complain of that wrong they could not be admitted to Audience For this cause Bulgaranus would not suffer Theodorick his Embassadors to pass into Spain and at length broke out into open War and took two Forts called Jubinianum and Corneliacum Count
Foreign Enemies remov'd there hap'ned no War at least none of note The good Government of the King and Authority of the Bishops kept the Subjects from offering at any Revolt Chintila dy'd in the Year of our Lord 639. when he had Reign'd three Years eight Months and nine Days CHAP. IV. The Reigns of the Kings Tulga Chindasuinthus and Recesuinthus Several Synods of Toledo Increase of the Mahometan Power The Election and Coronation of King Wamba INstead of Chintila by the unanimous consent of the Nobility was chosen Tulga young in Years but old in Virtue particularly Justice Zeal for Religion Prudence Military Experience and Bounty towards the Needy a quality most requisite in Kings who ought to think they were intrusted with the Treasures of Kingdoms to relieve the wants of such as are in distress His Perfections seem'd still to be in their increase when Death cut him off at Toledo in the Year 641. when he had Reign'd only two Years and four Months Sigibertus Gemblacensis says Tulga was a debauch'd Youth and on that score Deposed by his own People but it is more reasonable to believe St. Ildefonsus who writes as an Eye Witness than a Stranger that either writ maliciously or was imposed upon After the Death of Tulga Flavius Chindasuinthus who being General of the Army was before in Rebellion against the King with the assistance of the Soldiery mounted the Throne none of the Nobility daring to oppose him that had all the standing Forces of the Kingdom on his side It must be granted that tho' he Usurp'd the Crown Tyrannically yet afterwards he Governed with great Moderation as if he design'd that way to make good his bad Title to it The first thing he did was to settle the Common-wealth by Establishing wholsome Laws and Ordinances for the better Administration of Justice and the publick Good In the 6th Year of his Reign he called together to Toledo all the Bishops in his Kingdom whereof 30 met on the 28th of October and this is counted the 7th Council of Toledo Before this time the King had Banish'd Theodiselus Archbishop of Sevil for that he sow'd scandalous Doctrines and to gain himself the greater Authority had corrupted the Works of his Predecessor St. Isidorus Theodiselus went over into Africk and there turn'd Mahometan so blind is Man when once he strays from the right way Those Authors that write in favour of the See of Toledo and particularly the Archbishop D. Rodrigo will have it that upon this occasion King Chindasuinthus made Toledo the Metropolitan See of all Spain whereas before Sevil had enjoy'd that preheminence but they have not the Testimony of any ancient Writers to confirm their Opinion and therefore we shall not lay much stress upon it About these times Theodorus and his Successor Martin I. Govern'd the Catholick Church Chindasuinthus being desirous to enrich Spain with good Books and Learning sent Tajus Bishop of Zaragoça to Rome to obtain of Theodorus then Pope St. Gregory's Books upon Job which are full of Allegories and excellent Morality and to bring them into Spain The King thought those Books would be useful to Propagate and Confirm the Catholick Religion and be a great Addition to the Ecclesiastical Library as believing now he had Peace on all sides nothing could add more to the Glory of his Kingdom than the increase of Religion and Learning Tajus having delivered his Embassy the Pope was very willing to oblige the King But those Books thro' the Ignorance and Negligence of the times were so hid among other Papers that it was hard to find them Much time was spent in searching and the Bishop seeing little hope of Success had recourse to God and spent the Night in Prayer begging of God not to suffer the good Intentions of the King to be frustrated He fail'd not of Success for that Night God revealed or as he says in a Letter St. Gregory appear'd to him and discover'd where those Books were Now it was that Fructuosus began to be famous in Spain he being of the Royal Blood of the Goths left the World to go live in a Desart and in time at his own Expence near Coplutica at the Foot of the Mountain Irago in the place now call'd Vierço built a Monastery of Monks of the Invocation of the Martyrs Justus and Pastor The King was assisting to him in building of this Monastery and afterwards the number of Monks being too great not far off in a rough and uncouth place Founded another Dedicated to St. Peter Fructuosus Founded a third Convent in the Island of Cadiz and a fourth on the Continent nine Leagues from the Coast besides many others as well of Men as Women This was the Posture of Affairs in Spain in the latter Years of Chindasuinthus at which time he to secure the Succession of the Crown he had obtained by force in his Family chose his Son Flavius Recesuinthus his Companion in the Throne in the Year of our Lord 648. after he had Reigned alone 6 Years 8 Months and 20 Days It is true he lived three Years after but that time is allotted to the Reign of his Son because by reason of his great Age he left the whole charge of the Government to him Chindasuinthus dyed at Toledo according to some of Sickness but as others will have it was poisoned His Body and that of his Wife Riciberga were buryed in the Monastery of S. Romanus now called de Hormisda betwixt Toro and Tordesillas on the Banks of the River Duero founded by himself for his place of Burial as was accordingly performed In the Reign of Recesuinthus Eugenius the Third was Archbishop of Toledo a Person of great Learning as appears by many of his works still extant and by some reckoned among the Number of Saints In his time and by his procurement 52 Bishops met at Toledo which is counted the eighth Council held in that City This was rather a Parliament than Synod all the Nobility of the Kingdom being present at it and signing to all the Decrees which rather respected the Temporal than Spiritual Power Two Years after by the King's Order there met 16 Bishops who Celebrated the 9th Council and published 17 Acts upon several Articles The following Year 656. 20 Bishops met again in the same City and this is reckoned the tenth Council of Toledo The Acts of all these Councils as also the Lives of St. Isidorus and St. Ildefonsus whereof F. Mariana here Treats at large I thought would not be so acceptable to most Readers nor so pertinent in this as the Ecclesiastical History which I do not pretend to write and have therefore purposely omitted them In the Year 660 Twelve Bishops of Portugal held a Synod at Merida and published 23 Decrees most relating to the Celebration of Divine Service At the same time the power of the Mahometans grew formidable in Africk for Abdalla Duke of Moabia
as he lived Not long after he overthrew and took Zenon also and put him into the same Prison This Zenon is said to have left two Daughters one called Toda was Wife to Yn̄igo Arista King of Navarre the other Married Zuria who was afterwards Lord of Biscay from whom some will have it the following Lords of that Country descended till it was Incorporate in the Crown of Castile The Punishment of these two was an Example to terrifie others from attempting the like After this Alava was given to a Nobleman called Count Vigila or Vela The Lordship of Castile was in the Possession of the Count D. James Porcellos all this was in the first Year of the Reign of D. Alonso The following Year began more hot for Imundarus and Alcama Moorish Generals sate down before Leon but the King obliged them to raise the Siege with great slaughter of their Men. To strengthen himself the more against the Infidels he made a League with the French and Navarrois and the more to bind this Alliance Married a Lady of the Blood Royal of France called then Amelina afterwards Da. Ximena By her he had D. Garçia D. Ordon̄o and D. Fruela all three successively Kings and D. Gonçalo Archdeacon of Oviedo The Broils among the Moors offered the Christians a fair opportunity of carrying on some Enterprize The People of Toledo provoked by the Cruelty of the Kings of Cordova and relying on the strength of their City Rebelled and chose Mahomet Avenlope for their King but were soon subdued and Avenlope with his Brothers fled to the Protection of King Alonso who received and entertained them favourably believing they might be useful to him in his Wars against the Moors Soon after taking these along and aided by French Navarrois and Biscainers he entred the Country of the Moors Plundering and destroying all he met and without doing any thing more considerable dismissed his Army rich with the Booty they had taken In the following Year which was 874 the People of Toledo as is supposed to oblige their King made an Inroad into the Lands of the Christians as far as the River Duero but the King unexpectedly coming upon them near a Town called Pulviraria upon the River Vrbicus now Orbigo killed 12000 of them and soon after destroyed an Army that followed the others from Cordova in such manner that only 10 of them were found alive among the Dead Almudar Son of the King of Cordova followed with the main Body of the Moorish Forces but understanding the great slaughter of his People durst not advance to Sublancia where the King was and therefore marched back again by Night A Treaty was now set on foot by means of Abubalit who had been taken in Galicia and was well affected towards the Christians the conclusion was a Truce for three Years This time being expired the King broke into the Country of the Moors and passing the River Tagus advanced as far as Merida and thence returned loaden with Spoils having met no opposition Bernard del Carpio is said to have had a great share in all these Actions and that as a Reward of his Services he begged his Father's liberty which the King refusing he rose in Rebellion and built the Castle of Carpio from which he took Name Besides the Moors at his Instigation infested the Lands of the Christians After this he delivered up his Castle upon Condition his Father should be released but the King not performing he fled to France and Navarre and there dy'd in Banishment All these Transactions have no good Authority to back them and have much of Romance in them therefore it is better be succinct in Relations of that nature D. Fruela the King's Brother on what account is not known conspired to kill him but being discovered was Condemned to lose both his Eyes and live in perpetual Imprisonment the same punishment was inflicted on D. Nun̄o D. Bermudo and D. Odoario all his Brothers for conspiring with D. Fruela This punishment being thought too Cruel caused some new Broils For D. Bermudo escaping out of Prison took Astorga and Fortified it then coming to a Battle with the King was overthrown and fled to the Moors This moved the King to make the greater havock on the Lands of the Infidels particularly he so harrassed the Country of Toledo that some Years after they were forced with great Sums of Money to purchase a Truce for three Years to the great Honour of the Christians and Disgrace of the Moors About this time dy'd Athaulfus Bishop of Compostella and Sisenandus a Person of great Piety and Learning succeeded him In his time the Church of St. James was made an Archiepiscopal See and the said Church then newly finish'd Consecrated by certain Bishops that held a Synod there It was not lawful without the consent of the Pope to call a Council of Bishops therefore Severus and Desiderius were sent Embassadors to Rome and obtain'd the consent of Pope John the Eighth and his Bull Constituting the Church of Oviedo a Metropolitan See Together with the Kings Embassadors the Pope sent one called Reginald There met at Compostella 14 Bishops who Consecrated the Church of St. James the Apostle with great Solemnity on the 7th of May in the Year 876. Eleven Months after this the same Bishops by the King's Command met at Oviedo and decreed in pursuance of the Pope's Order that that See for the future should be Archiepiscopal and Ermenegildus was chosen for that dignity For some Years the Moors were quiet and nothing hapned worthy of memory Only in the Year 881. there were Earthquakes throughout all Spain which destroy'd many Buildings King Mahomet being at his Devotions a flash of Lightning kill'd two that stood next to him in the Mosque to the great terror of the rest The Year following Abdalla the Son of Lope forgetting the favours he had receiv'd from the King of Leon and envying his Uncles in whom the said King repos'd so much Confidence that he entrusted them to breed his Son D. Ordon̄o was reconcil'd to the King of Cordova and gathering Forces broke into the Lands of the Christians doing great harm till King Alonso met and worsted him at Cillorico then drove him from Pancorvo whence passing by Leon and through Portugal he return'd to Cordova Next Winter Abdalla overthrew the two Zimaels his Brother and Uncle and sent them in Fetters to the Castle of Recaria This action brought upon him the Forces of both the Kings as well of the Christians as Moors though at the same he endeavour'd to excuse himself to both D. Vela and D. James the two Earls of Biscay and Castile also entred into a League against him as the common Enemy Almudar Son to the King of Cordova and Abuhalit were sent to Besiege Zaragoça but to no effect by reason it was strong and well provided with necessaries In their return they made an Inroad into the
Legate of Savoy Castile seem'd to be restor'd to perfect Peace by the Banishment of D. Alvaro de Luna but Ambition the Bane of Kingdoms soon disturb'd it The King was not of Judgment sound enough to govern without the Help and Advice of another This was well known to the Nobility and every one strove to gain his Favour in order to become First Minister of State D. Frederick the Admiral a Bold Man and of a ready Wit stood fairest being particularly recommended to the King by D. Alvaro de Luna at the time of his departure The Princes of Aragon were enrag'd that all their Contrivances fall'd them At Toro the Servants of the several Factions quarrell'd and were like to come to Blows about taking up their Lodgings The King knew not how to pacify the Nobles and therefore by the Advice of D. Alvaro's â—â—ads under colour of Hunting fled to Salamanca at the beginning of the year 1440. After him went the Princes of Aragon the Earls of Benavente Ledesina Haro 〈◊〉 Valencia and InÌ„igo Lopez de Mendoça with 600 Horse resolving to use Violence if oppos'd The King being inform'd of their coming remov'd to Bonilla a Loyal and Strong Town Thence he sent to the Princes of Aragon who under a safe Conduct came first to Salamanca and thence to Avila whither the Mutinous Lords were come designing to secure that City The Archbishop of Seviil who then sighaliz'd his Loyalty was the Chief Man that passed between them but without success Yet the Nobles made use of him to write to the King giving him grave Advice and charging D. Alvaro de Luna He return'd no 〈…〉 They went the Earls of Haro and Benavente to him who prevail'd to have the 〈…〉 at Valladolid Yet those Lords were so far from restoring the Towns they had serz'd and their hands that they secur'd Leon Segovia Zamora Salamanca Valladolid Avila Burgos Placencia and Guadalasara Besides Prince Henry had Toledo deliver'd to him by Peter Lopez de Ayala who was Governour of the Town and Castle for the King At the Cortes which sate at Valladolid in April the first thing consider'd upon was to give satisfaction to D. Alvaro de Luna and bring him back to Court. To this effect Letters were sent to him from that Assembly yet he came not for the present Soon after all the Revolted Cities return'd to their 〈…〉 had particularly Toledo Prince Henry at this time Rebell'd against his Father being 〈…〉 that D. Alvaro should return to Court John Pacheco Son to Alonso Giron Lord of 〈…〉 had the same influence over the Prince that D. Alvaro had over the King and endeavour'd by supplanting D. Alvaro who had preferr'd him to rise to his Grandeur Prince Henry of Castile withdrew from Court giving out that he would not return till some of the King's Counsellors with whom he was displeas'd were remov'd yet he came back late at Night at the perswasion of his Father-in-Law the King of Navarre To pacify him his Wife was brought from Navarre to Valladolid where on the 25th of September the Nuptials were celebrated with great Pomp and there was a Feast of Tilting in which some Nobles were kill'd because they ran with sharp-pointed Spears The Bride remain'd a Maid which was at first conceal'd but afterwards became Publick to the great Grief of all People At the same time that the Publick Rejoycing was for the Marriage of Prince Henry the Lieutenant Peter Manrrique Dy'd He was a Man of a mean Stature a great Spirit Subtle and Bold His Son James Manrique who was also Earl of TrevinÌ„o succeeded him in his 〈◊〉 D. Alvaro de Lara tho absent from Court govern'd the Kingdom which inrag'd the 〈…〉 have all 〈…〉 Son who left his Father and went away to Segovâ— declaring for the Princes of Aragon John Pacheco his Favourite neightned his discontent Toledo was again'd deliver'd up by the same Peter Lopez de Ayala to Prince Henry of Aragon The Citizens provok'd the King by securing his Messengers sent to complain of their Disloyalty which mov'd him with a small Retinue the hast thither believing they would Respect his Person He stopp'd at the Hospital of Saint Lazorus which is in the Road to Madrigal Prince Henry of Aragon came out of the City with Two Handred Horse Those with the King being Feâ— in Number Fortify'd themselves where they were but Prince Henry fearing he should become yet more odious than he was if he offer'd Violence to the King return'd into the City Roderick de Villandrando signaliz'd his Zeal and Legality for the Defence of the King in this Place in recompense for which he had a Priviledge granted him that the Earls of Ribadeo his Successors should always upon new-New-years Day dine with the King and serve him in the Bed-chamber For it was on the first of January 1441 that the King was in Danger in the Hospital The King went away to Torrijos and leaving Pelayo de Ribera Lord of Malpica with 100 Horse to secure that place remov'd to Avila whither D. Alvaro came to consult about carrying on the War they had in Hand His coming more incens'd the Mutineers Most of them were at Arevalo and the Queen her self favour'd her Son and Brothers against the King her Husband The King sent the Bishops of Burgos and Avila to try if there were any way of composing Differences but they could not prevail James de Valera a Gentleman who follow'd the Prince wrote a Letter to the King advising him to incline to Mercy rather than Severity It being read in Council no Body said any thing to it but the Archbishop D. Gutierre de Toledo who answer'd Let Valera give us Assistance for Advice we want none This Valera was a Man of very good natural Parts was twice Embassador in Germany and writ a short History of Spain of him called Valeriana But there is another Valeriana writ by an Archdeacon of Murcia and quoted in this Work Prince Henry being sent for by his Father to treat of Peace came to Avila but nothing was concluded The Prince being return'd to Segovia desir'd the two Queens his Mother and Mother in Law then in Castile to go as far as Santa Maria de Nieva to endeavour to appease those Commotions In that Town Blanch Queen of Navarre dy'd on the first day of April and was bury'd in the famous Church of that Place This grave Authors affirm but there is no sign of it in the Church Charles Prince of Viana her Son inherited the Crown but took not the Title of King out of respect to his Father This Prince Charles was very studious and there are some Works of his Extant as Aristole's Ethicks translated into Spanish a short History of Navarre and many Compositions in Verse which he us'd to sing to the Guitarre A Youth deserving of a better Fortune and a more peaceable Father He was 21 years of Age when his Mother dy'd Her Death put an
say he was informed by one Marcus Polus a Florentine and others that he found out by his Skill in Astrology that there were vast Countreys towards the West undiscovered These his thoughts he communicated first to the King of Portugal then to Henry VII of England and being slighted by them both came to the Court of King Ferdinand There he waited 7 years and at last after the subduing of the Kingdom of Granada obtained of the King 3 Ships to attempt this Discovery It is wonderful that so great an Undertaking was begun only with 17000 Duccats which the King was forced to borrow his Revenue was so far exhausted Columbus set sail on the 3d of August from Palos de Moguer and having touched at the Canaries after several days sail and many difficulties he discovered certain Islands which he called The Princes Islands He spent some days there and leaving some of his Company in a Fort he built under the Command of James de Arana returned to Spain with the News of what he had discovered and some Proofs of the Riches of the Country The following year he continued to discover many other Islands the chiefest whereof were Hispaniola and Cuba Besides he Coasted a great part of the Continent as well towards the Southern as Northern Pole Columbus died in the year of Grace 1500 a Man worthy of Immortal Praise He was made Admiral of the Indies and Duke of Veraguas Rewards due to his great Merit Several others continued these Discoveries as well during his Life as after his Death Among these Americus Vespusius a Florentine by order of Emanuel King of Portugal in the year 1500 discovered all Brasil which is a great part of that Continent After much of the Northern Coast had been discovered by several Persons Vasco Nun̄ez de Balboa born at Badajoz was the first that adventured to pass that narrow Neck of Land that lies between Nombre de Dios and Panama and so came to the South Sea in the year 1513. These Discoveries of Columbus and Americus Vespusius raised a Controversie betwixt the Crowns of Castile and Portugal the latter pretending all the Discovery of the New World appertained to him by Grants of several Popes and particularly of Eugenius IV. On the other side the King of Castile pleaded a Bull of Pope Alexander VI. in the year 1493 which assigned to him all the Lands to the Westward of an imaginary Line drawn 100 Leagues beyond the Islands of Cabo Verde This Grant was afterwards altered by another which ordained the said Line to be drawn 370 Leagues farther towards the West to the end that Brasil might fall within the Portugues Limits Hierome Ozorio Bishop of Silves in the Life of King Emanuel affirms the said Line was appointed to be drawn 36 Degrees West of the Meridian of Lisbon Upon this Determination was grounded another Dispute the Castillians pretending that the Molucco Islands whence the Spice is brought fell within their Limits as being within that half of the World assigned them All this the Portugueses deny and each Party bring Arguments to make good their Assertions Certain it is that Ferdinand Magallanes a Portugues being disgusted because his King did not Reward his Services done in India perswaded the Emperor Charles V. Grandson to King Ferdinand that a new way might be found to the Moluco Islands by the South West He had 5 Ships given him for this Enterprize and sailed from Sevil in the year 1519. Having touched at the Canaries he Coasted all along Brasil and found a Streight in 53 Degrees of South Latitude which of him is called the Streight of Magellan At the entrance of that Streight one of the Ships struck upon a Rock and was lost another weary of that long Voyage stole away by night and returned to Sevil. With the rest he passed the Streight and was himself with some of his Companions killed in an Island called Zubu Those that were left being too few to Man all the Ships burnt one and with the other two came to the Moluco Islands They loaded in the Island of Tidore but one of them being very leaky was lost The other coming round by the Cape of Good Hope at last arrived at Sevil 3 years after his departure The Ship was called the Victory the Master John Sebastian Cano a Biscainer whose Name ought never to be forgotten as being the first that sailed round the World Many afterwards attempted that same Voyage but the Profit not answering the Trouble it was laid aside as also because King John of Portugal lent the Emperor Charles V. 350000 Duccats upon Condition he and his Heirs should desist from that Undertaking till the Money were repayed On the Right Hand of that Neck of Land which we have said lies between the North and South Seas is the Kingdom of New Spain and the City Mexico its Metropolis seated in the midst of a Lake Over this and many other large Provinces and Kingdoms Reigned the mighty Emperor Montezuma whom Ferdinand Cortes in the year 1520 with wonderful Resolution apprehended and made Prisoner in his own Palace He being killed accidentally by a Stone cast at a Window where he was looking out to appease his People Cortes brought those vast Provinces under the subjection of Charles the Emperor gained himself Eternal Honour and left to his Successors the Marquesses del Valle a great Estate in the Kingdom of Mexico On the Left Hand of that Neck of Land Francis Pizarro in the year 1525 discovered the Kingdom of Peru and 6 years after Conquered it taking and putting to death Atabalipa Lord of that Country This is the richest Countrey for Mines of Gold and Silver hitherto discovered insomuch that all the Utensils of those People even to their Pots and Kettles were of these precious Mettals Pizarro shared not the vast Booty he got there fairly with James de Almagro his principal Companion in that Conquest and the rest of his Men and yet the meanest Soldier 's part came to 9000 Duccats which was the richest Plunder ever taken till that time His Force was about 300 Men who in Battle overthrew above 100000 Indians Riches and Plenty produced Pride and Insolence for Ferdinand Brother to Francis Pizarro understanding that Almagro openly complained of the Wrong done him and meditated Revenge he murdered him A Bastard Son of Almagro whom he had by an Indian and whose Name was James assaulted the House of Francis Pizarro in the City of Lima and killed him in revenge of his Father This was a bold Attempt and to punish it the Governour Christopher Vaca de Castro joined with Gonçalo Pizarro another Brother of the said Francis and with their Forces overthrew and killed the said James This Victory and his great Riches so puffed up Gonçalo Pizarro that he attempted to make himself absolute Lord of that Country Blasco Nun̄ez Vela was sent by the Emperor from Spain to be Viceroy of Peru him the Rebellious Spaniards took Prisoner and put
THE General HISTORY OF SPAIN FROM The first Peopling of it by Tubal till the Death of King Ferdinand Who United the Crowns of CASTILE and ARAGON WITH A CONTINUATION TO THE Death of KING PHILIP III. Written in Spanish By the R. F. F. John de Mariana To which are added Two SUPPLEMENTS THE FIRST By F. Ferdinand Camargo y Salcedo the other by F. Basil Varen de Soto bringing it down to the present Reign The whole Translated from the Spanish By Cap t JOHN STEVENS LONDON Printed for Richard Sare at Grays-Inn-Gate in Holbourn Francis Saunders in the New-Exchange in the Strand and Thomas Bennet at the Half-Moon in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1699. TO THE Right Honourable CHARLES Earl of Dorset and Middlesex c. MY LORD MAriana's History of Spain has been an Offering worthy the Acceptance of two Kings Its first appearance in the World was in Latin in the Reign and under the Patronage of the Mighty Monarch Philip II. of Spain from whom it met with so favourable a Reception as encourag'd it when made Spanish by the same hand to aspire to no less Protection than the same great Prince's Son Philip III. then Sovereign not only of all Spain but of the East and West-Indies This same History now first brought to speak English I presume to present your Lordship as the worthiest Patron I could make choice of for a Work that has hitherto been thought deserving the Acceptance of Kings Nor do I think my choice inferiour to my Authors not that I mean to bring the Dignity of Crown'd Heads into a Parallel with other Honours but because Kings tho' they are above all other Men as to their Character yet they may be and are often inferior to many in the Beauties and Accomplishments both of Body and Mind Philip II. was more a Politician than an Historian and Philip III. had more of the Saint than of the Scholler the Father made it his only Study to over-reach other Princes and gain some Advantage upon them the Son rather aim'd at Heavenly than Worldly Learning Thus it appears neither of them had those parts your Lordship is possess'd of to render you if not so powerful yet a more worthy Patron Their Power might shade their Ignorance but your Lordships Judgment and Learning will exert it self even above their Power They might receive the fawning Flatteries of their Subjects but your Lordship is so far above being Flatter'd that it would be a very difficult Task to give a true Estimate of your real Abilities I will refrain enlarging upon this Subject lest Malice or Envy should interpret that a Reflection upon others which is only a faint Expression of what is your Lordships due I must desist from all that looks like Praise as well because I can't in a small compass express so much as is known to the World as because it is an undertaking much above my reach to give a Character of your Lordship or to express the worth of your Noble Ancestors Persons so truly Great are above all Flattery and mean Objects are rather expos'd to scorn than extoll'd by it Your Lordship stands highly visible among the first among those I mean who having attain'd to the utmost pitch of Honour can receive no Addition of Glory from the best of Pens This makes my Task in approaching so able a Judge the more easie which others perhaps may think the greatest difficulty Much Study and Accurate Language they say is requisite to express our selves duly to Persons of eminent Parts who are able to discover the least Imperfections and expect to be treated according to their Merit I confess the ablest Pen can never exceed where there 's true worth but at the same time it must be allow'd that those who deserve most are generally contented with least Thus we see the Greatest and Best of Men are nothing pleas'd to hear their own Commendations because tho' never so real Modesty makes them look like Flattery in their Eyes and they easily connive at Faults which are not willful because the sweetness of their Temper makes them rather commiserate then expose the Failings of others This is a Generosity without which no Man can be call'd truly Good and he that is not Good can never be truly Great Tyrants and others rais'd by infamous means to mighty Titles may according to the mistaken vulgar Sense of the World be call'd and look'd upon as Great in respect of their Power or Riches but only those are really so and will transmit that Name to Posterity who either rise by Noble and Vertuous Actions or being Nobly Born preserve that Nobility unblemish'd Your Lordship has Worth to be above Flattery Generosity not to be puff'd up with due Praises and Goodness to overlook Faults I am too sensible of my own weakness not to think so able a Judge may discover many in this Work for of this Epistle I do not speak it being only design'd to beg Pardon for the rest The Work I own deserv'd an abler Undertaker but there is something of Glory even in attempting great things tho' the Success don't answer and it is Honourable to favour and encourage such Attempts Scipio deserv'd no less Commendation for favouring Ennius than Augustus did for encouraging Virgil and Your Lordship in Patronizing this Translation tho' it prove inferior in value will do no less than the two great Monarchs I mention'd at first in giving their Protection to the Originals The less my Merit appears the greater will be the Demonstration of his Goodness who supports my Weakness The Mighty Artaxerxes accepted of Water a Country-man brought him in his Hands and stoop'd to drink of it History ought to be pure as Water without any Partiality to disturb or discolour it such has my Author been generally accounted if the course way of presenting of it in the hands of my unpolish'd Stile make it appear the less valuable Your Lordship will be pleas'd to consider it was the best Vessel I had to serve it up in and to look upon it as the best mark I was able to give of the profound Respect I owe as My Lord Your Lordships Most Faithful and most Devoted humble Servant JOHN STEVENS THE PREFACE THE Learned part of the World is so well acquainted with the value of this History that it will seem superfluous to give any Character of it so that whatsoever I can say in its behalf must fall short of what it deserves in the Opinion of those who are Judges of its worth and sach as have no knowledge of it may be apt to think me Partial as a Translator should I offer any thing in commendation of it Mariana needs no Apology having establish'd an unblemish'd Reputation and that particularly as to the best of Qualifications requir'd in an Historian which is being Impartial I will not go about to prove him so in the strictest Sense for that were to make him more than Man since we know there is none
Three Synods at Toledo UPon the Death of the two Kings Father and Son the Nobility made choice to succeed him of Suinthila a Person who had given good proofs of his Courage and Conducts in the late Wars besides that the Memory of his Father King Recaredus gain'd him the Affections of all Men and made him be thought worthy that Dignity He was not only Couragious and Prudent but so bountiful towards the Needy that he was commonly called The Father of the Poor The People of Navarre again Rebelled upon this change of Government and over-ran the Province of Tarragona with Fire and Sword but the new King appearing quieted them only with his Presence and Pardoned them only upon condition they should Build and Fortifie the City Ologito which might serve as a Bridle to curb them since they made such ill use of their Liberty This City is supposed to be that now called Olite rather for the likeness of the Names than any other concluding Reason At length the Romans after this War of Navarre was ended were oblig'd to quit all Spain after having for above 70 Years maintained themselves in part of Portugal and Andaluzid There are Authors of Opinion the Goths Fortify'd Ebora to be a check upon the Romans some Testimony whereof are two Towers there said to be Built by Sisebutus The Romans had maintain'd themselves so long in those Parts by the nearness of Africk whence they received Supplies and being now cut off those Aids the false Prophet Mahomet making War there they were easily Expell'd The Government of that Roman Province was divided betwixt two Patricians one of them the King Corrupted the other he subdued by Force and thus they both were brought under All these remarkable things were concluded by King Suinthila in the 5th Year of his Reignâ— which was of Christ 626. which same Year he to secure the Succession in his Family declar'd his Son Rechimirus tho' very Young his Companion in the Throne Yet tho' the Youth gave good hopes that he would imitate the Virtues of his Father and Grandfather the Goths were much dissatisfied that the Crown should be made Hereditary which before was Elective From this time forwards they were so far incens'd that they never gave over till both Father and Son were cast down from the Regal Dignity What was most blameable in Suinthila is that after he had subdued his Enemies he suffer'd himself to become a Slave to his Vices Theodora his Wife and Geyla or Aguilanus his Brother who Govern'd him and the Kingdom in a great measure procur'd him the ill Will of his Subjects and raised those Enemies who at last wrought his downfall At this time Helladius Successor to Aurasius was Archbishop of Toledo and he dying Justus was preferred to that See The ruin of Suinthila was contrived and Executed by Sisenandus a bold and powerful Man who thinking the hatred the King had incurr'd offer'd him a fair opportunity of raising himself prevailed with Dagobert King of the Franks to assist him Having agreed upon Terms Abundantius and Venerandus the Burgundian Generals entred Spain and advanced with their Forces as far as Zaragoça The Nobility who before durst not declare themselves then taking Arms did not desist till they had expelled Suinthila his Wife and Son Rechimirus This is more certain than what others have written viz. That Suinthila and his Son dy'd at Toledo It appears by the French Histories that the Goths gave a Sum of Gold as supposed toward the charge of the War to King Dagobert which he apply'd to build the Church of St. Denis two Leagues from Paris which was of his Foundation Suinthila Reign'd 10 Years and was Deposed in that of our Lord 631. Sisenandus having as he wished ascended the Throne of the Goths and being a prudent Man perceived he was not well fixed especially in respect many still adhered to the contrary Party therefore to secure himself he thought nothing could be more Efficacious than Religion Hereupon under pretence of Reformation of Manners he gathered a Council of about 70 Bishops at Toledo But in reality his chief design was to obtain of those Prelates that they would declare Suinthila incapable of the Crown that so all those who were of his Party might desist Their first Session was held in the Church of St. Leocadia on the 5th of December in the Year 634. and third of the Reign of Sisenandus who appeared there in Tears and full of hypocritical Words They regulated the manner of holding the Provincial Yearly Synods and made several other Acts relating to the Ecclesiastical Government But the strangest is they Decreed That none should seize the Crown unless chosen by the Nobility that the Oath made to Sisenandus should be valid and Suinthila's Wife Children and Brothers Excommunicated A hard strained point for Bishops to dispose of Crowns King Sisenandus departed this Life in the Year of our Lord 635. having Reign'd three Years eleven Months and sixteen Days According to what had been Decreed in the Synod the Nobility and Prelates met and by them Chintila was elected King In the place of Justus Archbishop of Toledo who dy'd about the same time succeeded Eugenius second of the Name a Man famous for his Learning and Virtue Some Authors are of Opinion that Chintila was Brother to Sisenandus and both Sons to Suinthila but this seems to be contradicted by the fourth Council of Toledo where many Reproaches were cast upon Suinthila and it is to be supposed the Sons would never suffer that to have been done in their presence As soon as Chintila was chosen he called a Council of Bishops to confirm his Election It was tedious to stay for all the Bishops of the Kingdom therefore 22 most of the Province of Carthagena met in the first Year of his Reign and of Christ 636. The Prelates met in the Church of St. Leocadia and among other things confirmed the Election of the King forbiding any after his Death to offer any wrong to his Children They declar'd any Excommunicate that Usurped the Crown without being legally chosen and prohibit any making of Voices before the King's Death This was the 5th Council of Toledo and Eugenius Archbishop of Toledo Presided in it and confirm'd its Acts. To make â—â—e Decrees of this Synod the more binding another of 50 Bishops all within the 〈…〉 of the Goths met the Year following which was the 6th held at Toledo In it were Ratifyed all the Acts of the former particularly in relation to the King and his Children and they added That their Crown should not be conferred on any Man who did not before swear he would no way be favourable to the Jews nor suffer any that was not a Christian to live with Freedom within the Kingdom These Councils were all that is remarkable in the Reign of Chintila it is supposed the People being inclined to Peace and all
Vrraca then great with Child was also killed that D. Sancho de Guevara passing by where she lay saw the Child put out its Arm at one of the Wounds the Mother had received and therefore ripping her open took out the Infant and bred him privately till he came to Age. That after an Interregnum of 19 Years this Child was brought to the Parliament and being there made known was Proclaimed King It is needless to show how incongruous and ridiculous the story is the weakness of the fiction is too obvious The Records of the Monastery of S. Salvador de Leyte tell us that Fortun the elder Brother of D. Sancho Reigned for some time and then being weary of the World took the Religious Habit in that Convent This we are assured of that D. Sancho by his Wife Teuda had four Sons Garci Sanchez Ramiro Gonzalo and Ferdinand and Five Daughters Vrraca Teresa Mary Sancha and Blanche The last of these some Authors say was Marryed to D. Nun̄o Lord of Biscay but no Lord of that name can be found to have been about that time This Prince was Fortunate not only for the many Children he had but for his Success in War By his Valour all that had been lost in Sobrarve and Ribagorza was recovered from the Moors and not content with that he added Biscay to his Dominions and all the Country along the River Duero till the Fountains thereof and the Mountain Doca and as far as Tudela and Huesca Nay that he came as far as Zaragoça appears by a Castle seated near that City called of Sancho Abarca Besides he passed the Pyrenean Mountains and subdued that of part Navarre lying on the other side those Hills Whilst he was busie in this War the Moors thinking he could not pass the Mounts in Winter laid Siege to Pamplona D. Sancho having notice of it furnished all his Army with Buskins to endure the cold and this is the true reason he was called Abarca signifying a Buskin It was easie for him that had Conquered Nature to overcome his Enemies they were Forced to raise their Siege Much mention is made in these Wars of one Centullo an Officer of great Courage and Conduct D. Sancho by these actions had gained Immortal Glory but he cast a blemish upon it by making War against Castile which besides the disgrace turned to his loss as will appear hereafter CHAP. III. The Reigns of Alonso the Fourth and Ramiro the Second Kings of Leon. Sancho Abarca King of Navarre slain by Ferman Goncalez Earl of Castile Several defeats of the Moors A great Eclypse D. Alonso the Fourth called the Monk by the Death of D. Fruela recovered the Kingdom which had been wrongfully taken from him in the Year 924. John Archbishop of Toledo dying the Moors would not suffer any to be chosen in his place therefore the Clergy to prevent all disputes gave the Supreme Authority to the Curate of St. Justa and obeyed him as Bishop which Custom was observ'd till Toledo was regained by the Christians At this same time the Fame of Fernan Gonzalez Earl of Castile spread through all Spain Whether he had the Title of Earl from the King of Leon or took it by consent of the People is not known The Virtues that made him Famous were Justice Meekness Zeal of Religion and his great Experience in Warlike Affairs By which means he not only Defended his own Territories but reduced those of the Kingdom of Leon to the farther side of the River Pisuerga From the Moors he took several Towns and curbed the insolency of the Navarrois killing their King D. Sancho Abarca The People of Navarre did much harm on the Frontiers of Castile and not content with that affronted the Embassadors sent to demand satisfaction so the matter came to be decided by Arms. The Earl broke into the Country of Navarre driving all before him the Enemies Army met him near a Town called Gollanda Great was the Slaughter on both sides before it could be decided who had the better till in the heat of the Action the Generals Challenged one another They met so Violently with their Lances that both fell off their Horses the King mortally Wounded the Earl hurt but not dangerously This put such Life into the Soldiers of Castile that giving a fresh Charge they soon became Masters of the Field At this time the Count of Toulouse came in with fresh supplies to assist the Navarrois who thereupon renewed the Fight but with the same success for the two Earls meeting he of Toulouse was killed and the Navarrois totally defeated The Bodies of the King and Earl were carryed home and honourably buryed There is a dispute betwixt the Monasteries of S. Salvador de Leyte and S. John de la Pen̄a both pretending they have the Kings Body He dyed about the beginning of the Reign of Alonso the Great in the Year of our Lord 926 and the 26 of his Reign His Son Garci Sanchez succeeded him and took the Name of King of Pamplona and Najara He Reigned Forty Years his Wife's Name was Da. Teresa Thus much of Navarre D. Alonso King of Leon was more like his Predecessor D. Fruela than to his own Father We have no account of any Vertue he was endued with or any Action he perform'd or Victory he gain'd For this cause he became so odious to his People that in the Year 931 having Reigned six and a half he sent for his Brother D. Ramiro and resigned the Scepter to him resolving to retire and become a Monk He took the Habit in the Monastery of Sahagun upon the River Cea without any regard to his Reputation or Provision made for his Son D. Ordon̄o got upon his Wife Da. Vrraca Ximenez Daughter to D. Sancho Abarca King of Navarre whom he left in his Infancy exposed to all Misfortunes Da. Teresa Sister to Queen Vrraca was Married to the new King D. Ramiro by her he had D. Bermudo D. Ordon̄o D. Sancho and Da. Elvira D. Ramiro being seated on the Throne soon apply'd himself to renew the War upon the Moors but the Inconstancy of D. Alonso put a stop to his good Designs for the same Inconstancy that led him to take up that course of Life made him quit it and call himself King again D. Ramiro to prevent the ill Consequences that might follow immediately repaired to Leon where his Brother then was and obliged him pressed with Famine and want of all Necessaries to Surrender and kept him Prisoner in that City The Sons of D. Fruela were in Arms at that time in Asturias which obliged D. Ramiro to repair thither D. Fruela's Sons pretended to be offended because they had not been called to Parliament when D. Alonso resigned the Crown the People revolted because he had done so and chose those Sons of D. Fruela to head them Yet understanding their danger they sent to offer all submission provided he would
to lay hold of the opportunity his absence offered for enlarging his Dominions For the more security to his designs he entred into League with the Kings of Zaragoça Huesca and Tudela tho' Moors and joyn'd his Forces with theirs With them he broke into Navarre and laid Siege to Tafalla a Town of note It hap'ned D. Garcia at the same time returned from his Pilgrimage and gathering what Strength he could on a sudden fell upon his Brother with such fury that he forced him to fly out of Aragon without stopping till he came to Sobrarve His flight was with such precipitation that he was obliged to leap upon the next Horse that came to hand without Saddle or Bridle These were the beginnings of greater Troubles that ensued The Nobility of Leon were offended at Ferdinand King of Castile and stirred up their King D. Bermudo against him D. Bermudo himself was dissatisfied for that the other had Marry'd his Sister against his will and Conquered a considerable part of his Dominions as was said in the last Book There was a fair opportunity of taking revenge the Brothers being at variance and King Ferdinand's Force but very small Wherefore D. Bermudo gathers an Army and enters Castile D. Ferdinand called upon his Brother D. Garcia for Aid who came speedily to his relief Their Forces being joyn'd they advance towards their Enemy and Encamp'd in sight of him on the Banks of the River Carrion in the Valley of Tamaron near a Town called Lantada Both sides were eager to fight so there was no time lost but they presently came to a Battle which proved very bloody and great numbers were slain In the heat of the Action D. Bermudo resolutely broke into the midst of the Enemies designing to single out King Ferdinand but was wounded with a Spear whereof he fell down dead His Death put an end to the War for King Ferdinand after this Victory entred the Kingdom of Leon which then belonged to him of Right and easily possessed himself of it notwithstanding some opposition was made only in hatred to the Government of a Stranger But Courage without Strength is useless The City of Leon at first shut its Gates against the Conqueror but being wholly unprovided of all Necessaries to hold out a Siege soon surrendered The Citizens conducted the King with great Joy to the Church of S. Mary de Regla where he was Proclaimed and Crowned Servandus Bishop of Leon performed the Ceremony in the Year of Grace 1038. D. Ferdinand Reign'd in Leon 28 Years 6 Months and 12 Days and 12 Years more in Castile part before and part after the Death of his Father CHAP. II. Ferdinand of Castile and Leon the most powerful King of Spain Overthrows the Moors takes several Towns and ravages the Territories of the Infidels Ramiro King of Aragon Wars on his Brother of Navarre BY the addition of this new Kingdom D. Ferdinand became the most powerful King in Spain His Zeal for Religion and many Vertues which were no way inferior to his Power and Warlike Atchievements caused him to be called the Great and the Flattery of his People extended so far as to stile him Emperor Besides he was fortunate in a numerous Issue His first Child before he came to the Crown was D. Vrraca next D. Sancho who succeeded him then D. Elvira who was Married to the Count de Cabra after her D. Alonso who at last became sole Sovereign of all those Dominions and lastly D. Garcia the youngest all of them by one Wife These Children were educated with that care as became their Dignity D. Ferdinand having setled his Government enjoyed a perfect Peace but thought nothing could gain him more Reputation among his People or be more pleasing to God than to make War upon the Moors That part of the Country lying betwixt the Rivers Guadiana and Tagus and along the River Duero being then the Frontiers of the Moors was called Estremadura and still retains the name Having raised a considerable Army he marched towards those Borders as being the nearest and because the Moors then had made an Inroad into the Country of the Christians and taken a great Booty The King marched with such speed that he put them to flight and recovered all the Prey Then encouraged with success he marched into their Territories wasting all the Country about Merida and Badajoz without sparing any thing that came in his way but driving a vast number of Cattle and Prisoners Besides he took two Towns the one called Sena and the other Gani. In Portugal after a long Siege and vigorous Resistance made by the Moors the City Viseo surrendered The taking of this City was most grateful to the King not only in regard of its great importance but also because in it he found the Moor who as was said before killed his Father-in-law D. Alonso with a Dart he threw from the Wall His death the King now revenged on the Infidel putting out his Eyes cutting off both his Hands and one of his Feet At this time also were taken from the Moors the Castles of S. Martin and Taranço Hence the King went to the Church of S. James the Apostle to pay his Vows made and offer new ones to obtain that Saint's assistance for the future as he had till then This hap'ned the second Year after he was possessed of the Crown of Leon. The following Year which was of our Lord 1040. he commenced the War with greater heat than before by the Siege of Coimbra which at length was surrendred to him upon Discretion Want of all Necessaries obliged the Besieged to submit after enduring a Siege of seven Months which some Authors mistake and would make seven Years At that time it was one of the most famous Cities in Portugal now much more renown'd for Learning having been made an University by King John III. of Portugal who assigned great Revenues to it and it is one of the chiefest in Spain It is said the Monks of a Monastery called Lormanus or rather Lorvao were a great help towards carrying on the Siege by relieving the King's Army with great store of Provision they had laid up unknown to the Moors What return the King made is not known By the taking of this City the Territories of the Kingdom of Leon were extended to the River Mondego which runs thro' it and is called in Latin Monda The King gave the Government of this City and adjacent Country to one Sisnandus a Man well skilled in the manner of fighting with the Moors having served Benabet King of Sevil in his Wars against the Christians such was the corruption of that Age. After setling his Conquest the King again returned to visit the Church of St. James and offered part of the Spoil in acknowledgment for his Success past and to beg a continuance for the future This done he took a Progress to the principal Cities of Castile and Leon in manner
Listed themselves and wore the Cross then the Mark of being engaged in that War Among the rest Bernard Archbishop of Toledo having setled the Government of that Church and Constituted 30 Canons and as many Half-Canons taking up the Cross departed towards the Holy Land No sooner was he gone but the Canons he had appointed met and chose another Archbishop Expelling those that opposed this unlawful Proceeding D. Bernard understanding what had been done returned to Toledo and Expelling all that had a hand in that Disorder put Monks of the Monastery of Sahagun in their places This done he sets forward again and being come to Rome was obliged by the Pope to return home againe as believing his Presence was necessary at Toledo being a place but lately recovered and unsetled He absolved him of the Vow he had made to go to the Holy-Land upon condition he should lay out the Money he had designed for that Expedition in Rebuilding of Tarragona a City then newly taken from the Moors by the Earl of Barcelona In the time of the Romans it was a Noble City and the Seat of their Empire in Spain since reduced to a small number of poor Houses D. Bernard Repaired it and Translated Berengarius Bishop of Vique thither with the Dignity of Archbishop Yet the new Archbishop forgeting this Favour afterwards contended with Bernard about the Right of the Primacy Pope Vrban put an end to the strife assigning the Supremacy of all Spain to Bernard and his Successors Bernard the Archbishop in his way thro' France brought along with him many Learned and Pious Men into Spain who were afterwards promoted to great Dignities Among them also came Burdinus not worthy to be named among them for he afterwards made himself Anti-pope and caused a Schism in the Church as shall be hinted in its place Roderick Diaz Sirnamed Cid or the Lord was not idle all this while but having obtain'd leave of the King who was busie in Andaluzia with a choice Band of his own Forces fell upon the Moors that dwelt upon the Borders of Aragon and Castile All the Moorish Princes strove to gain his Friendship The first he agreed withal was the Lord of Albarrazin Then he went to visit the King of Zaragoça who received him with great signs of Affection hoping with his assistance to make himself Master of Valencia This City is seated where formerly were the Editani near the Sea in a very pleasant Country and has always been a place of great Trade and very Rich. Hiaya he that had been King of Toledo was then in possession of it having inherited it of his Father Almenon to whom it belonged The Lord of Denia Xativa and Tortosa laid close Siege to it The King of Zaragoça thought to raise himself upon the Ruins of others for the Besieged having sent to him for Relief he hoped under that colour to subdue both them and the Besiegers He agreed with Roderick Diaz and both marched thither The Lord of Denja knowing himself inferior to them made Peace with Valencia and raised the Siege Nevertheless the King of Zaragoça would have possessed himself of Valencia had not Roderick Diaz opposed him for that it was under the Protection of the King his Master Hereupon that King returned home Roderick Diaz under colour of assisting the King of Valencia made his own advantage obliging all the Moors thereabouts to pay him Tribute with which and the Booty he maintained the charge of the War King Hiaya before grown odious to his Subjects encreased their hatred by being a Friend to the Christians so that they called in the Almoravides then grown Powerful who killed Hiaya and gave the Sovereignty of the City to Abenaxa the Contriver of that Revolution Roderick Diaz desiring to punish their Treachery and rejoycing that an opportunity was offered him of taking that Noble City resolved to lay Siege to it Valencia was well stored with Provisions Warlike Ammunition a good Garison and a great number of resolute Citizens yet his Constancy overcame all those Difficulties He laid close Siege to it which lasted a long time till the Besieged wanting Provisions and seeing no hopes of relief Surrendred Not so satisfied tho' it seemed a rashness he resolved to maintain that City and in order to it made one Hierome a Companion of the Archbishop of Toledo Bishop of it Moreover he brought thither his Wife and Daughters whom as was said above he had left in the Custody of the Abbot of S. Peter of Carden̄a To the King for that he had favoured his designs he sent a Present of 200 choice Horses with as many Scymiters hanging at the Saddles Such was the posture of Roderick Diaz's Affairs when two young Lords called Earls of Carrion their Names James and Ferdinand Men of great Birth but mean degenerate Souls having obtained the King's Recommendation Marry'd his two Daughters at Valencia It hap'ned soon after that a Lion breaking lose they both hid themselves in an undecent place and at another time in a Skirmish with the Moors they fled These things made them grow contemptible to their Father-in-law who Reproached them and they study'd Revenge Suero their Uncle who ought to have given them better advice heightned their malice Having resolved upon the Villany they were to act they prepared to return home Their Father-in-law having accompanied them part of the way returned to Valencia and they prosecuted their Journey till they came to a Wood on the Frontiers of Castile after they had passed the River Duero There sending away most of their Retinue they took the two Ladies into the Wood and having strip'd them naked whipped them till they lay for dead wallowing in their blood In this manner they were found by Ordonius sent after them by their Father who suspected some ill design He carried them to the next Village where they were dressed and taken care of This Villainous Act brought upon the Husbands the hatred of all Men. Roderick Diaz seeking revenge had recourse to the King at such time as a general Assembly of the States or Parliament was held at Toledo Judges were appointed to determine what was to be done the chief whereof was Raymund of Burgundy the King's Son-in-law After a full hearing it was decreed that those two Lords should restore all that they had received with their Wives and that they and their Uncle Suero should Combat with three others appointed on his part by Roderick Diaz Three Men of note whose Names were Bermudo Antolin and Gustio undertook his Quarrel The young Lords endeavoured to evade the Combat by gaining time so Roderick Diaz went away to Valencia and they to their Estate But the King not satisfied obliged them to fight at Carrion where they were all three overcome Roderick Diaz's two Daughters were Marry'd again D. Elvira to D. Ramiro Son to D. Sancho Garcia King of Navarre who was killed by his Brother Raymund as was said above D.
before Santarem King Alonso tho' very Aged and Lame since his hurt at Badajoz in so much that he could not ride having assembled all the Force of his Kingdom marched to Santarem He charged the Moors in the Front and his Son Sallying out of Town upon the rear they were easily put to flight Great Slaughter was made The Moorish King Mortally wounded endeavouring to pass the River Tagus which is there deep and rapid was drown'd This Victory was obtained in the Year 1184. Abenjozeph Brother to Abenjacob succeeded him in the Empire of Africk and Spain CHAP. VII The Death of the Kings of Leon and Portugal Alliances betwixt the Kings of Spain The defeat of the Christians at Alarcos Sancho the Wise King of Navarre dies Sancho the first King of Portugal Alonso the Ninth of Leon. THE Death of Armengaud Earl of Vrgel somewhat abated the joy all Spain conceived for the Victory of the Portugueses over the Moors He was Son of Armengaud of Castile Earl of Barcelona Marryed to a Sister of the King of Aragon and had not only great Dominions in Catalonia and Aragon but was also Lord of Valladolid in Castile as being great Grandson to Peranzules before spoken off This Prince to advance the Christian Cause with his own Forces broke into the Territory of Valencia and after some successful Exploits was killed in an Ambush laid by the Moors near the Town of Requena Others will have it that he was slain by the Castilians but that is not so probable He left a Son of his own Name who inherited his Dominions On the other side the King of Navarre entred Castile plundering all the Country as far as Atapuerca where the Abbot of S. Peter de Carden̄a met him with the Standard of Roderick Diaz Sirnam'd Cid begging he would restore the Booty The King not only condescended to his Request but accompanied that Standard back to the place whence it was brought These things hap'ned in the Year 1185. At the same time the King of Portugal and his Son went to Coimbra and thence to Porto where the Marriage betwixt Teresa the King's Daughter and Philip Earl of Flanders was Celebrated the Flemings call her Maud. After the Solemnity they return'd to Coimbra there the King worn out with Age and Diseases dy'd on the 6th of December being 91 years old His Body as he had ordered was bury'd in a mean Tomb in the Church of Santa Cruz built by him and thence remov'd by King Emanuel to a stately Sepulchre of Marble He was a Man accomplish'd in all manner of Virtue the Founder and Conqueror of the Kingdom of Portugal His Zeal for Religion appears by the many Churches and Monasteries he Founded in Lisbon Ebora and other places His Queen Malfada was not inferior to him in Piety and perform'd many like Acts of Christian Generosity Spain enjoy'd Peace after the late Agreement among the Christian Princes and Death of Abenjacob the Moorish King Peter Ruiz de Açagra Lord of Albarazin was willing to assist the Christian Kings in their Wars but would not be Subject to any of them and therefore stiled himself the Vassal of S. Mary The strength of his City and the Emulation of the Kings each striving to draw him to himself secur'd his Possession In the Year 1186. in January the Kings of Castile and Aragon meeting at Agreda by mutual consent Banish'd out of their Dominions all the Kindred of the said Peter de Açagra that were of his party No more was done at that time At the beginning of the Year following Gaston Viscount of Bearn did Homage to the King of Aragon at Huesca as his Predecessors had done This Year was unfortunate for the taking of Jerusalem Baldwin King of that City and the Great Master of the Templers by Saladin In Castile King Alonso regulated the Order of Calatrava In the Year 1188. dy'd Frederick King of Leon at Benavente having Reign'd 31 Years and was bury'd in the Royal Chappel at Santiago He was judg'd more fit for War than Peace immoderate in the desire of Ruling but brave and generous Martin a Priest of Leon at that time writ many Books and is said to have attain'd all his Learning in a Vision in which S. Isidorus appear'd to him and gave him a Book to eat whereas before he was very Ignorant Sancho succeeded King Alonso of Portugal and Alonso IX his Father Ferdinand in the Kingdom of Leon. Upon the Death of his Father Alonso turn'd back being then on his way to Portugal whither he was going only to shun his Mother-in-law who accounted him a Bastard and could not endure that he should take place of her Children Hence arose continual Disgusts and tho' the new King allowed her the Joynter setled by his Father yet at last she was oblig'd to retire to Najara where she spent the remainder of her Days In the Monastery of S. Mary Royal in that City are the Tombs of that Lady and her Brothers D. Lope Bishop of Segovia and D. Martin de Haro Alonso King of Leon was twice Marry'd first with Teresa Daughter of King Sancho of Portugal by whom he had three Children Sancha Ferdinand who dy'd young and Dulcis then being Divorc'd by reason of Consanguinity he Marry'd Berengaria Daughter to Alonso King of Castile his Cousin-german Sancho the first of the Name King of Portugal call'd the Peopler and the Fat was Marry'd to Aldonça Dulcis Sister to the King of Aragon By her he had many Children which were Alonso the eldest Ferdinand Peter and Henry who dy'd young and 5 Daughters Teresa Malfada Sancha Blanch and Berengaria After the Death of the Queen he had many Children by two Mistresses by the first call'd Johanna he had Vrraca and Martin by the other whose Name was Mary Teresa Egidius Constance and Roderick Teresa was Marry'd to Alonso Tello who Founded the Town of Albuquerque Alonso King of Castile by one Wife had eleven Children whereof Blanch was the happiest for that being Marry'd to Luis VIII King of France she was Mother to S. Luis After Blanch follow'd Berengaria Sancho Vrraca and Ferdinand born in the Year 1189. then Malfada and Constance then two or three Sisters whose Names are not known and lastly Ellenor and Henry the youngest who came to succeed his Father as shall be shown in its place The King of Castile was the greatest Potentate in Spain and consequently terrible to the others which mov'd them to joyn in a League Offensive and Defensive They endeavour'd to draw the King of Leon into this Confederacy but he was more inclinable to his Cousin the King of Castile and therefore as soon as setled in the possession of his Kingdom he went of his own accord to Carrion where the Cortes or Parliament of Castile was held in the Year 1188. There he was Knighted by the King and kissed his Hand a Submission misbecoming the Regal
her Husband to succeed in the Government as being a Woman of a Manly Spirit and in great power for that when she returned to Castile her Father gave her the Towns of Valladolid Munon Curiel and Santistevan de Gormaz This Lady not only bore this great Burden but out of her own Revenue supply'd the wants of the Crown Her Vertues can never be too much extoll'd her Prudence Devotion Justice and Care of the Government were not to be parallell'd Yet multitude of Business and the love of Retirement made her uneasie Some who make their own ends by diving into the Affections of Princes soon discovered this failing Particularly the three Brothers of the Family of Lara Alvaro Ferdinand and Gonzalo Sons to D. Nun̄o Earl of Lara who being used to Rule would not let slip this opportunity of seizing upon the Government They valued not the King as being an Infant nor his Sister because she was a Woman Their resolution was to compass their ends tho' the means were never so foul Two things concurred towards forwarding their purposes One was that a private Man called Garci Lorenço a Native of Plasencia had great Interest with the Lady Berengaria He being a subtle Fellow they promis'd him the Town of Tablada which he much coveted as a Reward of his good Service in case he forwarded their Project The other was the absence of Roderick Archbishop of Toledo who only by his Prudence and Authority was able to disappoint all these Contrivances He was gone to Rome to be present at the Lateran Council assembled by Pope Innocent Thither resorted 412 Prelates 71 of which were Archbishops besides the Patriarchs of Jerusalem and Constantinople Those of Antioch and Alexandria came not themselves but sent their Deputies The number of other Priests is not to be reckon'd Many matters of great moment were handled in this Council but the chief were the renewing the War in the Holy-Land and quieting France then embroil'd by the Hereticks This Council was open'd in the Month of November and in the Church of S. John Lateran Among all the Prelates Roderick Archbishop of Toledo signaliz'd himself making a Latin Speech so set off with variety of other Languages that the Fathers in admiration said The like had not been heard since the time of the Apostles Here the Jurisdiction of the Church of Toledo was debated for that the Archbishops of Taragona Braga Santiago and Narbonne would not acknowledge its Supreme Authority On the behalf of Toledo were produced Bulls of former Popes their Determinations Decrees of Councils and many Arguments deduc'd from Antiquity Much also was said by the other Party but the case was left undetermin'd because some of the Parties concern'd were absent and it was fit they should be heard Yet the Pope granted to Roderick the Archbishop the Legantine Power for ten years and also that in case the City Sevil were taken from the Moors as was hop'd by reason of the small Power of the Almohades it should be subject to the Archbishop of Toledo as its Primate and no Appeal to lye from this Decree Besides he gave him power to Legitimate 300 Bastards and to place Bishops in all such Towns as should be taken from the Moors The Archbishop gain'd great Reputation in that Council not only for his knowledge in many Languages but for his extraordinary Learning not usual in that Age. He writ the History of Spain another of the Moors and a Treatise of the Jurisdiction of his Church of Toledo Touching the Holy-War it was decreed that all Church-men should contribute towards it part of their Revenues With this Subsidy Recruits were sent over and the Town of Damiata in Aegypt taken As to the Affairs of France the two Raymund's Father and Son Earl's of Toulouze appear'd in the Council against Simon of Montfort who had despoil'd them of their Dominions The Result was that they were Condemned as Hereticks and Toulouze with all other places he had taken adjudg'd to Simon of Montfort Whereupon Montfort did Homage to the King of France for those places and setled an Alliance with him Yet not relying on the Fidelity of those People he caused Toulouze Carcassonne and Narbonne to be dismantled which together with the heavy Taxes he laid on the Subjects rendred him so odious that many Towns along the River Rhosne revolted from him to Raymund the younger and not long after he lost the City of Toulouze Notwithstanding the Decree of the Council many Nobles of France assisted the abandon'd Princes yet Simon of Montfort had regain'd Toulouze but that he was unfortunately kill'd before it by a Stone shot from an Engine A Man worthy of a longer life for his Valour and Zeal for Religion He left two Sons Aymerick and Simon Aymerick upon the Death of his Father raised the Siege and dispairing of being able to withstand all those Princes that joyn'd against him resign'd his Right to all those Towns to the King of France who in return made him Lord High-Constable These things fell out three years later than this time Let us return to the place whence we digress'd CHAP. IV. The Family of Lara take the Government of Castile into their Hands they commit many insolencies and oppress the Nobility Young King Henry Marry'd and divorc'd The King of Aragon escapes from his Keepers THE Family of Lara ceased not to Solicite Garci Lorenço as was said before and he tempted with their promises undertook to bring about their desires He only waited a fit opportunity and at length having found one when the Queen Regent little thought of any such contrivance he told her The burden of the Government was too weighty for a Woman's Shoulders and withal exaggerated the difficulties of pleasing where Interests were so different and affections so various The Queen who coveted nothing more than her ease ask'd on whom she might repose that great trust of ruling the Kingdom and breeding up the King Then he reply'd none in the Kingdom so fit as the Family of Lara being the most powerful and therefore best able to awe such as should aim at any commotions This advice was approved by the Queen who thereupon assembling the Prelates and Nobles ask'd their advice and they either not understanding the drift or being before secur'd or else hating the Government of a Woman agreed that the Queen should resign the Government to the Three Brothers of the Family of Lara Roderick the Archbishop returning at this time from Rome lik'd not these proceedings but the thing was too far gone to be recalled All he could do was to oblige those Brothers to take an Oath that they would in all things study the interest of the People and Crown that they would give no Commands without the Queen's Approbation that they would not make War nor impose new Taxes and in fine that they would bear the respect due to the Queen as the Daughter Sister and Wife of King's This seemed
that of Leon Beautiful and that of Sevil Great The Revenue of the Church is 30000 Ducats the Archbishops 120000 the Canons and other Dignities proportionably The Country is plain pleasant and fruitful A great part is planted with Olive-trees which produce large and pleasant Fruit thence sent to other parts It has so great a Trade and the Farmers are so numerous and rich that in the time of the Moors in Olive-Orchards call'd Axarase there were 100000 Cottages and Oil-Mills which number tho' it seem incredulous we have the Authority of King Alonso the Wise's History to testifie it The concourse of Strangers is greater than could be imagin'd especially since the Trade with the West-Indies All these things stirr'd up King Ferdinand to undertake the Conquest of so important a place Axatafe King of Sevil was not unprovided but gather'd Forces not only of his own but out of Africk and laid in great stores of Arms and Provisions All things being plentifully provided for the carrying on a long Siege King Ferdinand mov'd from Alcala Guadayra where he had spent some time and sate down before Sevil on the 25th of August in the Year 1247. The King himself Encamp'd on the Bank of the River below the City by the Fields of Tablada D. Pelayo Perez Correa Master of Santiago took his post on the other side the River in a Village called Aznalfarache to oppose Abenjafon King of Niebla who was possessed of all the Towns in that Neighbourhood Many Sallies were made by the Moors to obstruct carrying on the Works but no consiedrable Action hap'ned It was the chief care to guard all the Avenues as well the River as the Land and the Soldiers ceased not to plunder all the Country Carmona streightned with these losses surrendred Nothing was omitted by the Besieged that might endamage the Christians especially they attempted several times with Artificial Fire-works to burn our Fleet but the great Vigilance of the Admiral Boniface disappointed all their designs D. Pelayo Correa Master of Santiago and D. Lorenco Suarez did great service during the Siege Above all things incredible are related of Garci Perez Vargas of Toledo and being such they are not worthy to have a place here Mean while Prince Alonso the King's Son being invited to it by the Townsmen design'd to possess himself of Xativa in the Kingdom of Valencia and did actually take Enguerra a dependance of Xativa The King of Aragon justly provok'd by these Proceedings took Villena and 6 other Towns in the Limits of Castile having Brib'd the Governours Besides at the beginning of the Year 1248. he took from the Moors a Town called Bugerra in the same Territory These Misunderstandings seem'd to threaten greater and worse Consequences therefore Prince Alonso who was inclin'd to Moderation resolv'd upon a Conference with the King of Aragon and accordingly they met at Almizra a Town belonging to that King There by the Mediation of the Queen of Aragon and D. James de Haro with other great Men all matters were adjusted the Towns wrongfully taken restor'd on both sides and the Limits and Conquests of each Party assign'd By this Contract Almansa Sarasulla and the River Cabriolo were allotted to Murcia to Valencia Biara Saxona Alarca and Finestrato All things being setled the Princes parted King Jayme laid Siege to Xativa and had it surrendred to him towards the end of the Summer This City stands in a pleasant Country near the Mouth of the River Xucar Prince Alonso and D. James de Haro made hast to the Siege of Sevil. Alhamar also King of Sevil joyn'd King Ferdinand with a good Body of Men and that so opportunely that the Christian Soldiers weary of so tedious a Siege were about abandoning the Camp Sickness that began to spread among them greatly discourag'd them Winter was spent and no great advance made King Ferdinand himself tired with so many difficulties was dubious whether to raise or continue the Siege The Besieged in a Sally having burnt our Engines and overturn'd the Works now scoffed at our Men from the Walls Nevertheless the Siege was continued with so much the more resolution because fresh Supplies came daily into the Camp Thither repaired the Bishops D. John Arias of Santiago but falling Sick made no stay D. Garcia of Cordova D. Sancho of Coria also the Masters of Calatrava and the Princes Frederick and Henry besides a great number of Nobles It was hard by reason of the greatness of the City to secure all the Avenues tho' they were strictly watched Boniface the Admiral desiring to destroy the Bridge provided two great Ships which with the Flood and a strong Westerly Wind with full Sails so violently bore upon it that the Chains which held the Boats could not withstand the force of the shock Thus the Bridge was cut off on the 3d of May to the great Joy of the Army Flush'd with this Success the Soldiers on a sudden gave an onset on all sides labouring to make a Breach with all sorts of Instruments so resolutely that the Besieged were in great danger Their resolution and the strength of the Walls overcame the labour of the Christians Provisions beginning to fail and no hopes of Relief appearing the Citizens at first in Whispers began to talk of a Surrender soon after it became the publick Discourse and at last they demanded a Parly The Commissioners sent out to treat were for submitting to any Conditions except delivering the City and the King would hearken to nothing less than a Surrender Whilst the Treaty lasted a Truce was concluded upon At first they offer'd to pay the same they had always done to the Miramamolines This offer being rejected they proposed to deliver the third part and then half the City to be separated from the rest by a Wall over and above those Revenues King Ferdinand admitting of no Proposal less than the surrender of the City at last they came to this Conclusion That the Moorish King with all the Inhabitants carrying all their Goods might freely depart whither they pleased That excepting Sanlucar Aznalfarache and Niebla all other Towns and Castles depending on Sevil should be delivered up A Month was allow'd for performance of Articles The Castle was presently deliver'd up and on the 27th of November 100000 Moors Men Women and Children marched out of the City Some went over into Africk the rest were dispersed into other Towns and Cities in Spain This Siege lasted 16 Months during which time the Camp was like a City all things being there plentifully sold in Shops regularly disposed and Smiths Carpenters and other necessary Trades continually working On the 22d of December the King in great State entred the City and heard Mass in the Cathedral which to that purpose had been Blessed by Gutierre late Elect Archbishop of Toledo in the place of John who dy'd on the 23d of July Raymund de Losana was chosen Archbishop of the new City Sevil
was very bloody Conradin and Frederick had their Heads cut off at Naples a hard Judgment upon such great Princes At this time another Debate arose in Aragon Gerard de Cabrera pretending to the Earldom of Vrgel pleading that his Brother Alonso's Children were not Legitimate Raymund Folch their Uncle by the Mother's side and other Men of Note supported them King Jayme seem'd to espouse Gerard's quarrel and that the more for that he had made over his Right to the King as not able to carry it off himself The King of Granada prepar'd to make War upon Guadix and Malaga and was offended that King Alonso contrary to what had been agreed did underhand support them D. Nun̄o de Lara and D. Lope de Haro being disoblig'd by the King blew the Coals They promis'd the Moor if he would take up Arms not only they but many other Men of Note would go over to him There was some rumour spread abroad of these Practices but there wanted Witnesses to prove the Fact This mov'd the King to go into Andaluzia This Year the King chang'd the Name of the Village call'd S. Peter de Ariznoa in Guipuscoa into that of Vergara and made it a Market-Town The Affairs of Andaluzia being setled and Winter coming on King Alonso return'd to Toledo to entertain his Father-in-law the King of Aragon who came to be present at the first Mass of his Son D. Sancho the Archbishop which was to be Celebrated on Christmass-day D. Sancho accordingly said Mass that day the two Kings of Castile and Aragon the Queen and Prince Ferdinand being present King Jayme of Aragon staid but 8 days at Toledo being resolv'd tho' very old to go over to the War in the Holy-Land inflam'd with the desire of restoring the ancient Glory of the Christians in those parts A great and valiant Prince worthy to have succeded better than he did in that Expedition CHAP. IX The King of Aragon 's Expedition for the Holy-Land The Kings of France and Navarre and the eldest Son of the King of England move upon the same Enterprize The Nobles of Castile Revolt Troublesin Aragon THE Affairs of the Christians in the Holy-Land were reduc'd to the last extremity Now unexpectedly a fair opportunity of restoring their losses offer'd it self and stirred up at one-time England France and Spain to take Arms. Whilst Pope Innocent IV. held the General Council at Lyons in France he sent four Preachers of the Holy Order of S. Dominick among the Tartars to try whether that Barbarous People could be reduc'd to embrace Christianity Those Preachers were so successful as to gain Reputation among the Barbarians who began to show some affection towards the Christian Religion These People had now Invaded that part of Syria which was under the Saracens and the great Cham their King sent Embassadors to invite most Princes of Europe to share in that Conquest Particularly he sent Embassadors to the King of Aragon with John Alaricus of Perpegnan whom the King on account of an Embassy receiv'd before had sent into Tartary The Tartar Embassadors staid ar Barcelona Alaricus went to Toledo where in an Assembly of the Nobles he gave an account of his Embassy King Jayme resolv'd to go in Person to that War without regard to his great Age or the Intreaties of King Alonso and Queen Violante King Alonso seeing he was not to be disswaded promis'd him 100000 Ducats towards the Charge of the War Some Nobles of Castile offer'd to bear him Company and among them the Master of the Knights of Santiago and D. Gonçalo Pereyra Grand Prior of S. John From Toledo he went to Valencia where he gave Audience to the Tartars and also to another Embassador from the Emperor Paleologus who promis'd to furnish Provisions and all other Necessaries After all things were in readiness at the request of Queen Violante his Daughter he went as far as Huerta and there took his leave of her his Sons and Grandchildren On the 4th of September in the Year 1269. he set sail with a Fleet of 30 great Ships and some Galleys The Season was not fit for such Expeditions In three days they had sight of Minorca where a violent Storm dispers'd the whole Fleet which was drove to several Ports The King was put in at Marseilles and thence remov'd to the Gulph of Agde Some Ships and among 'em that in which went Fernan Sanchez the King's Son weather'd the Storm and arriv'd at Acre in the Holy-Land After refreshing himself at Montpelier the King now repenting that he had undertaken that Expedition return'd to Catalonia In Castile King Alonso with Edward Son and Heir to the King of England went as far as Logrono to meet his Daughter-in-law who was coming out of France thro' Navarre to her Husband This Marriage was Solemniz'd with greater Splendour than was ever seen before for there were present at it Jayme King of Aragon Grandfather to the Bridegroom Peter his eldest Son Philip eldest Son to the King of France Edward Son and Heir to the King of England the King of Granada King Alonso his Brothers Sons and Uncle Alonso Lord of Molina A great number of French Italian and Spanish Nobility was there and among them William Marques of Montseratte who Jovius says was Son-in-law to King Ferdinand Sancho Archbishop of Toledo was also present some say he Marry'd them This Match was contriv'd that the King of France might quit the Pretensions he had to Castile as being the Son of Blanch eldest Sister to King Henry After the Solemnity King Alonso accompany'd the King af Aragon as far as Tarraçona The English and French went further than the Aragonians in the Expedition of the Holy-Land but without much Success Edward eldest Son to the King of England with a good Fleet arriv'd at Ptolemais and escap'd himself the danger of the Assassins S. Luis King of France set Sail from Marseilles on the first of March 1270. Theobald King of Navarre having committed the Government to his Brother Henry accompany'd S. Luis After a Storm they landed at Tunez Invested the Town overthrew the Infidels twice in the Field and continu'd the Siege the space of 6 Months The great heat caus'd the Plague whereof vast numbers dy'd and among them Prince John the King's Son and lastly the King himself on the 28th of August Charles King of Sicily landing at this Juncture the Besieg'd agreed to pay him 40000 Ducats a Year and then the Army went over into Sicily Theobald King of Navarre dy'd there in the City Trapana on the 5th of December The Body of S. Luis was carry'd to S. Denis near Paris that of the King of Navarre to Champagne Queen Elizabeth his Wife dy'd on the 25th of April the Year following at Hiere in Provence Let us return to Castile King Alonso at this time was perplex'd with many cares The ambition of taking upon him the Empire of Germany had
of that Place he made Incursions upon the Frontiers of Aragon The other was to appease the Nobility of Aragon and Catalonia who were then Mutinous and stirr'd up the People to Rebellion upon the usual Pretences of Liberty and Property To this effect the Cortes or Parliament met first at Taraçona then at Zaragoça and lastly at Barcelona where the King gave Orders for the Redressing all Grievances and so the People were pacified The War he had in hand with the French made him condescend lest whilst he was busie in Sicily or Italy the Aragonians should Revolt Besides he was perplex'd for that the Pope had not only Excommunicated but Deposed him of his Fathers Dominions and given the Conquest thereof to Charles de Valois the King of France his younger Son No less Troubles were at the same time in Castile caus'd by the Discord between King Alonso and his Son The greater number follow'd Prince Sancho King Alonso being forsaken by his own People had again recourse to Strangers and brought the King of Morocco the second time into Spain giving out it was against the King of Granada who was in League with the Prince This Expedition produc'd nothing remarkable because both Christians and Moors were better provided than had been expected and the King of Granada having put strong Garrisons into all his Towns would not hazard a Battel and so the King of Morocco return'd into Africk without doing any thing remarkable This Design failing King Alonso solicited the King of France to make War upon his Son and at the same time to have the Zeal of Religion make for him accus'd his Son before the Pope of Disobedience Impiety and Ingratitude in usurping his Crown before he was Dead The Pope gave Ear to this Complaint and Excommunicated all those that adher'd to Prince Sancho He also appointed Judges to hear both Parties and they laid an Interdict upon all Towns that were for the Prince so that at one time both in Castile and Aragon tho for different reasons the Churches were shut up yet the Rebellion continu'd the Prince threatning Death to the Popes Commissioners if they fell into his hands However the dread of Ecclesiastical Censures caus'd many to fall off from him Among the first his Brothers Peter and John began to take Compassion on their Father which Prince Sancho understanding he detain'd his Brother Peter with the promise of the Kingdom of Murcia but John withdrew privately and through Portugal got away to his Father at Sevil. Many Towns repenting their Disloyalty sought how to obtain the King's Pardon and clear themselves of the Excommunication they lay under and having obtain'd both presently submitted themselves Agreda and Trevin̄o were of this number Many Men of Note as D. John Nun̄ez de Lara D. John Alonso de Haro and Prince James joyn'd the Army of Philip King of France then marching to the Assistance of King Alonso and with him entred Castile plundering all the Country as far as Toledo without meeting any Opposition CHAP. V. The Death of Alonso King of Castile The beginning of the Reign of King Sancho the IVth The Defeat of the French Fleet on the Coast of Italy Albarazin taken by the King of Aragon KIng Philip of France had a Son of the same Name distinguish'd by the Title of the Fair who this same year others say the next Marry'd Joanna Queen of Navarre with whom he had that Kingdom This Prince now began to plead the Rights of his Predecessors and by that means sought to extend the Borders of his Kingdom which his Design was not a little forwarded by the Discord at that time in Castile Prince Sancho did as much as could be in such a Time of Confusion He quell'd the City Toro which was about Revolting and went out to meet D. John Nun̄ez de Lara who wasted the Territories of Calahorra Osma and Siguença and made him retire with more speed than he came After this it was agreed the Father and Son should have a Conference in order to which King Alonso came as far as Constantina and Prince Sancho to Guadalcanal Great hopes were conceiv'd of an amicable Accommodation yet by the perswasion of some of the Princes Familiars who hated his Father or rather because many hop'd to make their Advantage of the Publick Calamities They met not but the King return'd to Sevil and the Prince to Salamanca By Consent of both Parties Beatrix Queen Dowager of Portugal and the Prince his Wife Mary who was then deliver'd of a Daughter met at Toro and labour'd all that might be for an Accommodation but to no Effect for the Enmity daily increas'd and with it the Misery of the Kingdom This was the Posture of Affairs when King Alonso dy'd at Sevil some say on the 5th some the 21st Day of April without doubt it was in the Year 1284. In his Will sign'd the foregoing November he appoints D. Alonso first and then Ferdinand his grand-Children to succeed him and in Case they dye without Issue then Philip King of France to be next Heir as descended from the King 's of Castile being Grandson to Queen Blanch and Great Grandson to King Alonso who won the Battle of Navas He made no mention of his Sons and Brothers in hatred to Prince Sancho but hop'd to bring the Power of France upon him Yet at the Hour of Death at the suit of his Son Prince John he bequeath'd to him Sevil and Badajoz and to his Brother James the Kingdom of Murcia with the Title of Kings but so as to hold of the Crown of Castile He order'd his Heart should be bury'd on Mount Calvary and his Body in Sevil or Murcia but it was not perform'd for the Heart and Bowels are at Murcia and the Body at Sevil. He was a great and wise King had he made use of his Knowledge to his own Advantage and had he not blemish'd his good Qualities with Avarice and overmuch Severity It was he who first ordain'd that all Contracts and publick Instruments should be writ in Spanish and caus'd the Holy Bible to be Translated So that the Latin being no more us'd produc'd a profound Ignorance as well in the Clergy as Laiety King Alonso being Dead tho' his Son Sancho's Title was not good yet he succeeded him without any Opposition He was at that Time at Avila scarce recover'd of a Sickness in which he had been almost given over by the Physicians at Salamanca and strength of Youth help'd the Medicines to take Effect Here he took upon him the Title of King which he had forbore during his Father's Life The Title of the Brave he gain'd by his great Spirit and Actions till then more Successful than Honourable for glorious Titles are generally obtain'd by the favour of Fortune rather than by Merit He was doubtless Bold Subtle and Industrious in all his Undertakings His Reign lasted 11 Years and a few Days his Memory defac'd with
the King of Castile D. Gutierre de Toledo Master of Calatrava leading a Convoy to Monviedro was defeated and kill'd by the Aragonians Martin Lopez de Cordova succeeded him The King of Castile thought to make himself Master of Orihuela but the Aragonian offering him Battel and he refusing the place was relieved and the Aragonian return'd home At the beginning of the Year 1365 the King of Aragon besieg'd Monviedro and had it surrender'd to him On the other side the Castilians after a long Siege took Orihuela D. Gomez de Porras Prior of St. John either because he fear'd King Peter for loosing Monviedro or to curry favour with Count Henry deserted to the Aragonians with 600 Horse that were in that Town From this time the Forces of Castile began to decrease and there being Peace betwixt France and England many French came to serve the King of Aragon These were no better than common Robbers to whom the Pope and King of France gave great Summs of Mony to purchase their absence They were invited into Spain by Count Henry This Body was made up of English and Germans as well as French to the Number of 12000 Frossarte a French Historion says 30000. Bertran Claquin and Hugo Carbolaye were their chief Commanders On the First of January 1366 their advanc'd Parties came to Barcelona the rest of them soon after The King of Aragon receiv'd them joyfully distributed a Summ of Mony among them and promised much more Bertran Claquin he made Earl of Borgia The King of Castile held his Cortes or Parliament at Burgos and demanded supplies of Mony Monsieur de la Brie who came out of France to serve him advis'd to buy off the Strangers that follow'd Count Henry and undertook to manage that affair but King Peter being a Man without fear gave no attention to his Counsel Count Henry and the King of Aragon met at Zaragoça where the foreign Forces were There the League betwixt them was renew'd the limits of their Dominions in case they succeeded determin'd and it was agreed that D. John the Count's Son should marry Ellenor the King's Daughter This done the King stay'd at Zaragoça and Count Henry having assembled all his Army enter'd Castile by the way of Alfaro Ynigo Lopez de Horosco was Governour of that Town which was very strong therefore the Army stay'd not to besiege it but march'd towards Calahorra the chief City in those parts seated on the River Ebro Ferdinand Bishop of that place and Fernan Sanches de Tovar the Governour open'd the Gates to the Count on the 16th of March. Here a Councel was held to consider how to proceed Some were for marching directly to Burgos the chief City of Castile Others advis'd Count Henry to take the title of King that so there might remain no hope of reconciliation with King Peter of Castile Bertran Claquin spoke much to this purpose and all the chief Officers of the Army siding with him they easily perswaded him to accept of the Title and immediately proclaim'd him about the Streets The new-made King was bountiful of what was not his own giving Towns and Cities to all present To Bertran Claquin he gave Trastamara and to Hugo Carbolaye Carrion with the Title of Earls To his Brother D. Tello he restor'd Biscay to D. Sancho he gave Albuquerque the Master-Ship of Santiago to Gonçalo Mexia that of Calatrava to Peter Muniz to D. Alonso de Aragon that King's Uncle the Marquisate of Villena and all that belonged to D. John Manuel and as much more to many others Thus Castile was divided betwixt two Kings striving for the Crown Nothing kept the people in their Obedience to King Peter but fear tho his was the undoubted Right the other being a Bastard Henry advanc'd towards Burgos leaving LogronÌ„o as believing it in vain to attempt it Navarrete and Bribiesca surrendred King Peter was at Burgos doubtful that course to take as confiding but little in his People At length he resolv'd to go to Sevil for there were his Children and Treasure The People of Burgos offer'd to stand by him he thank'd them but would not then make use of their Zeal and absolv'd them from their Oath of Fidelity that if they were put to Streights they might receive Count Henry without being look'd upon as Rebels Before his departure he put to death John Fernandez de Tovar Brother to him that deliver'd up Calahorra On the 28th of March he set out from Burgos sending Orders by the way to the Commanders of the conquer'd places in Aragon to burn them and with all Speed march to meet him at Toledo Thus all he gain'd in some Years was lost in one Day He stay'd some time at Toledo to secure that City and left D. Garci Alvarez de Toledo Master of Santiago to command there No sooner was King Peter gone from Burgos but the Citizens sent to invite Count Henry thither They stil'd him Count but offer'd him the Crown if he would take it in that City according to ancient Custom He accepted their Offer march'd thither and was Crown'd in the Monastery of Huelgas After the Example of Burgos most Cities in that Kingdom within 25 Days submitted to him Thus his Power became equal to his Adversary the Nobility and Commonalty striving to gain the Favour of the new King The Affairs of Castile and Leon being setled he remov'd to Toledo where he was receiv'd with joy Garci Alvarez de Toledo resign'd the Mastership of Santiago in lieu thereof and for deserting his Master had Oropisa and Valdecorneja given him Count Henry being posses'd of Toledo all the rest was easy so that King Peter durst not stay longer in the Kingdom but imbarqâ—ing his Children and Treasure aboard a Galley fled to Portugal The King of Portugal would not receive him Ferdinand his Son favour'd Count Henry and kept correspondence with him Yet King Peter had no Wrong offer'd him but was suffer'd to pass quietly through that Kingdom into Galicia where he design'd to gather a Fleet in order to sail to Bayonne At Compostella he caus'd D. Suero Arch-Bishop of that See and the Dean to be put to death Having got together Twenty two Ships and some smaller Vessels he set Sail for France carrying with him his Son D. John and two Daughters for Beatrix the eldest was dead tho Polydore writes she dy'd at Bayonne There he arriv'd safe that place being then in the Hands of the English with a considerable part of his Treasure for the rest which his Treasurer Martin Yanez had in a Galley was taken by the People of Sevil to please Count Henry who after the surrender of Cordova was expected at Sevil. The new made King Henry being come to Sevil concluded Peace with the Kings of Portugal and Granada That done as if nothing more remain'd to do he disbanded his Army retaining only 15000 Lances of the Foreignes under the command of Bertran Claquin and Bernal
They wish'd for any manner of Composition and at length the Mortality was so great that the Siege was rais'd with much Loss and Dishonour and the Army march'd away James Sarmiento was made Marshal de Camp in the Place of his Brother deceas'd and had the Government of Santarem given him Other Officers were put into Garrisons about the Country the King designing to recruit his Army and return as soon as possible This done the Fleet and Army mov'd towards Sevil. Much harm might have been done them had the Besieg'd pursu'd but they were glad to be rid of them at any rate Processions were made at Lisbon and throughout the Kingdom for this Deliverance At this time the King of Aragon shew'd no Kindness to his two Sons by the first Wife the Princes John and Martin The Blame was laid upon the Mother in Law but Prince John had offended his Father by Marrying privately the Lady Violante Daughter to the Duke of Berri not regarding the Queen of Sicily which was much the better match The King vented his Passion upon John Earl of Ampurias in whose Dominions and under whose Protection they were Marry'd for as soon as his Son return'd home and was Pardon'd he seiz'd the greatest part of the Earl's Estate The Earl himself fled by Sea to Avignon resolving to make use of the Forces of his Friends for recovering of his Dominions CHAP. V. John the Bastard Master of Avis proclaim'd King of Portugal King John of Castile sends his Fleet then enters Portugal himself with an Army The famous Battle of Aljubarrota and rout of the Castilians AT the beginning of the Year 1385 the King of Castile was employ'd in raising Land-Forces and had fitted a Fleet of 12 Galleys and 20 Ships Yet all things went on slowly because he fell Sick and was in Danger of Death yet as soon as recover'd he forwarded all Preparations News was brought that the Garrison of Santarem had taken the Master of 〈◊〉 and Grand Prior of S. John but this prov'd False and the Joy conceiv'd was turn into Sorrow for it was certainly known that the Portugueses in Coimbra had proclaim'd the Master of Avis King which was engaging themselves so far that there was no way to go back again The chief of the Rebels in that City had consulted together and agreed it was absolutely Necessary to choose them a Head and that for the greater Authority he ought to be declar'd King Some thought this too bold an Attempt and were against excluding Queen Beatrix whose Right it was or so far Provoking the Anger of Castile Others favour'd Prince John tho then a Prisoner at Toledo but this was wholly rejected he being in no Condition to assist them Therefore they all voted for the Master of Avis who was present and proclaim'd him King on the 5th of April at the Monastery of St. Francis in Coimbra where that Consultation was held All that were present even those that had before oppos'd it kiss'd his Hand and did Homage to him to express their Zeal Prophesies were then invented to justify their Choice and they gave out that at the beginning of these Troubles a Child in the Cradle had three Times with a loud Voice cry'd out D. John King of Portugal Which they attributed to the Master of Avis for Men are apt to fancy every thing as they would have it From that Day the Portugueses despairing of Pardon became more resolute and bold The Province between the Rivers Duero and MinÌ„o soon declar'd for the new King This Joy was somewhat abated by the Arrival of the Fleet of Castile on the Coast of Portugal which meeting no body to oppose it ravag'd all the Sea Coasts The King of Castile was at Cordova and thence at the beginning of Summer sent his Queen to Avila since she could be no longer useful her Subjects having wholly cast her off About the beginning of July D. Peter Tenorio Archbishop of Toledo made an Incursion into the Country of Viseo destroying all the Country and sparing neither Sex nor Age but at their Return they were met with and overthrown by the Portugueses Many other Encounters happen'd with various Success but all prov'd ruinous to the Natives for both Parties liv'd at Discretion The Army of Castile randevouz'd at Guidad Rodrigo when the Summer was well advanc'd Only Prince Charles Son to the King of Navarre was expected with a good Body of Men. A Council of War being held the wiser sort were against Fighting and only for wasting the Country and wearying out the Rebels But their Opinion prevail'd who being young were hottest and magnify'd the Strength of Castile despising the Enemy as a raw and undisciplined Rabble and therefore were for putting an end speedily to the War This advice the King follow'd tho the other was the safest The Castilians were overseen in many things and they ought at least to have expected the Succours that the Prince of Navarre was to bring Having fix'd this Resolution they enter'd that part of Portugal call'd Beâ—ra and took Cillorico Thence they advanc'd and burnt the Suburbs of Coimbra and attempted to take Leyria which held for Queen Ellenor During the Siege of Cillorico the King being unhealthy and considering the Danger of the War made his Will upon the 21st of July In it he ordain'd that the Lordships of Biscay and Molina his Mother's Inheritance should for ever be annex'd to the Crown and belong to the eldest Sons of the Kings of Castile He appointed 6 Tutors for his Son and Heir Henry and 12 Governours of the Kingdom during his Minority The Queen his Mother in Law the Princes John and Denis of Portugal the Children of King Peter and Son of D. Ferdinand de Castre who were all Prisoners in Castile he order'd should have Justice done them The Shortness of his Life gave not Leasure to make it known whether he design'd to put to Death or release them Many other things he ordained in his Will which being made without Deliberation was the Cause of many Troubles and Confusions The Portugues Army was advanc'd to Tomar with a Resolution to try their Fortune The Castilians march'd to meet them They discover'd one another about the Mid-way and there Intrench'd themselves The Portugueses were in a narrow Place having a Plain on the Front and deep Morasses on each side which secur'd their Flanks they were 2200 Horse and 10000 Foot The Castilians being much more Numerous encamp'd in an open Plain about a League and half from them and being confident of their Strength advanc'd and offer'd Battol on the Eve of the Assumption The King of Castile led the main Battel and some of the Nobles the Wings which in the time of need were useless by season of the Streightness of the Ground D. Gonzalo NunÌ„ez de Guzman with a Body of 〈◊〉 was order'd through By ways to fall upon the Enemies Rear that none might escape being taken or
descent was from King Alonso IVth who was his great Grandfather his Son Jayms being Father to Peter and Grandfather to the present Earl Besides he had to Wife King Martin's Sisters the Daughter of King Peter by Queen Sibila D. Alonso de Aragon Marques de Villena the Earl of Deniâ— had also a Title to the Crown but it was farther remov'd yet at the perswasion of his Friends tho very Old he set up his Title among the rest as being lineally descended from Jayme the IId King of Aragon The King of Aragon gave Audience to the French Bishop harkened to his Demands and the Reasons on which he grounded his Claim After that was over retiring to his Apartment those that were about him continu'd the Discourse and at length came to argue the Case in Form before the King William de Moncada pleaded for the Duke of Anjou whose doubtless the Right was as may appear by his Descent set down before Bernard de Centellas argu'd for the Earl of Orâ—el and Bernard Villalice for the Marques de Villena who was the remotest When they had all done the King have his Opinion which agreed with none of theirs for he positively affirm'd Prince Ferdinand of Castile had the best Title as being his Nephew the Son of his own Sister Ellenor In reality he was himself but an Usurper the Duke of Anjon having a better Right than he but he resolv'd to cut him off and continue the Crown in his own Family This Discourse of the King 's being made publick first at Barcelona where it was spoken and afterwards through all Christendom much advanc'd Prince Ferdinand his Pretension and avail'd him to be preferr'd before his Competitors This was the common Discourse of the Town and even in the King's Presence â—â— which he seem'd to be pleas'd yet in his Heart he was more inclined to his Grandson 〈◊〉 Bastard Son to the late King of Sicily whom he had already created Earl of Luna and in order to make him capable of inheriting the Crown treated with Pope Benedict about his Legitimation If this succeeded not he preferr'd his Nephew Prince Ferdinand before all others his Valour and Virtue and his despising the Crown of Castile having render'd him worthy of another Kingdom Nevertheless upon the pressing Instances of the Earl of Vrgel the King constituted him Vicar and Governour of the Kingdom an Honour usually given to the Heir of the Crown and might have been very prejudicial to the other pretenders had he not underhand given orders to the Vrreas and Herias two powerful Families in Zaragoca not to admit him into that City or suffer him to exercise that Office notwithstanding his Letters Patents This doublâ— dealing highly offended the Earl of Vrgel and was the Cause of great Troubles CHAP. X. The Moors having done maâ—â—h harm in the Christian Territories Prince Ferdinand marches against them defeats them and takes Antequera and other Places Martin King of Aragon dies A Love-Adventure THE Truce with the Moors was now expir'd and their Boldness provok'd and oblig'd the Christians to renew the War for they 〈◊〉 the Town of Zahara ravag'd all the Country and drove the Cattle To put a stop to their Fury and revenge the Wrongs receiv'd Prince Ferdinand having made the necessary Provision of Men Mony Ammunition and Victuals in the Month of February of the Year 1410 march'd with his Army towards Cordova at such time as the Infidels being disappointed of taking the Castle of Zahara abandon'd the Town and our Forces speedily repair'd the Walls and put the Place into a Posture of Defence Prince Ferdinand's Army consisted of 10000 Foot and 3500 Horse the very Flower of the Castillian Forces all brave and resolute Souldiers With him were Sancho de Rojas Bishop of Palencia Alvaro de Guzman John de Mendoça John de Velasco D. Ruy Lopez Davalas and other Towns and Men of Quality With these Forces the Prince sat down before the City Antquera on the 〈…〉 till he had made himself Master of that 〈…〉 sent 5000 Horse and 80000 Foot 〈…〉 They march'd up to the City and 〈…〉 they rang'd their Battles and engag'd The 〈…〉 5000 of 'em kill'd in the fight and pursuit 〈…〉 and their Camp plunder'd This Victory was so 〈…〉 the more Remarkable 〈…〉 of the Christians only 120 were lost Prince Ferdinand 〈…〉 thanks to Almighty God 〈…〉 great Success and sent Expresses to convey the good News to 〈…〉 The more 〈…〉 the Besieged he caus'd a deep and large Trench to be 〈…〉 with a good Breast work and Forts at convenient Distances to hinder the 〈…〉 and all manner of Provision or Relief from coming to them This 〈…〉 necessary his Forces at that time being weak because several parties were abroad by 〈◊〉 order plundring and destroying all the Country which was done 〈…〉 to the Walls of Malaga Great harm was done but the Terror spread abroad was much greater The Moorish King commanded all that were of Age without exceptions 〈…〉 and appear in Arms by which means he gather'd a 〈◊〉 Multitude 〈…〉 not to hazard another Battle and only shew'd himself to terrify the Christians 〈…〉 kept on the Hills and in the Woods The besieged began to be strenghten'd 〈…〉 most perplext them was that they had no hopes of Relief It was as bad as Death to surrender and they had no means to hold out It happen'd 300 Horse of the Garrison or Jaen made an Incursion into the Territories of the Moors 〈…〉 orderly that they were surpriz'd and all cut off This small Success encourag'd the besieged to hope that some Misfortune might befall the Besiegers Whilst these things were acting at 〈…〉 the new Pope dy'd at Bolonia on the 3d of May. His Body was bury'd in the Church 〈…〉 of that City The Cardinals of his party met and on the 〈…〉 Month Cota Deacon-Cardinal born at Naples who was then Legate 〈…〉 himself in his Papacy John the XXIIId He was bold subtle 〈…〉 made of good or bad Practices as the occasion requir'd or was 〈…〉 Purpose 〈…〉 happier in the time of his Predecessor when he govern'd all things than in his own being cast down and depriv'd of the Tiara Soon after follow'd the Death of the King of Aragon who dy'd of a stoppage in his Head on the last of May at Valdoncellas a Monastery of Nuns adjoyning to the Walls of 〈…〉 His Body was 〈◊〉 at Poplete with very little Pomp the People being affirmed at their present Loss and apprehenstâ—â— or what was like to follow The Cortes of that Principality were 〈…〉 not without some 〈…〉 of Troubles likely to break out 〈…〉 that all the States should depute certain Persons of Note to 〈…〉 King in his 〈◊〉 and intreat him that to prevent Disorders he would appoint who was to succeed him This was accordingly put in Execution and by consent of all the Deputies Fâ—rrer head of the Council of that City was appointed
wrote his History positively asserts his being poisoned by the Marquess of Villena But I cannot find to what purpose that Nobleman should undertake such a hainous Crime CHAP. VI. John Duke of Lorrain Supports and Heads the Rebels in Catalonia for his Father Ferdinand Prince of Aragon declared King of Sicily The Crown of Castile offered to the Princess Elizabeth she refuses it Peace betwixt the King and Nobels REnce Duke of Anjou having accepted of the offer made him by the Catalonians because he was himself too Old to undertake that Expedition sent his Son John Duke of Lorrain who we said before was by the Aragonians drove out of Italy The King of France not regarding his League with Aragon sent him Supplies as soon as he had ended the Civil War with his Brother the Duke of Berri and Charles Duke of Burgundy John Earl of Armagnac between whom and the Duke of Lorrain there was a professed friendship brought him some Supplies with these Forces he began the War fortunately but the end was not suitable Barcelona received him with joy and it was resolved to carry the War to Ampurias The King of Aragon tho' Old and Blind repaired thither near Roses a Party of Aragonians was defeated The Body of the French Army marched towards Girona resolving if the Commandant Peter de Rocaberty came out to fight him if he kept close to Besiege the Place The Aragonians Marched out and in several Rencounters worsted the Enemy Prince Ferdinand came and put his Forces into the City whereupon the Siege was raised Soon after the Prince going out with a Party was defeated by the French and many of his Men killed Roderick Rebolledo who had behaved himself bravely in defence of the Prince was taken It was resolved to wear out the heat of the French therefore all the Frontiers were Garrisoned and Duke Alonso de Aragon left to Command there and observe the Enemy Prince Ferdinand returned to Zarogoza where the Cortes sate and was present when his Mother died as has been said above His Mother being dead and his Father 70 years of Age all the weight of the Government fell upon him therefore to give him the more Authority he was declared King of Sicily This was about the time that Prince Alonso of Castile departed this Life as we have declared The death of Prince Alonso being known at Zaragoça immediately Peter Peralta was sent to the Factious Lords of Castile to ask the Princess Elizabeth in Marriage for Prince Ferdinand His Father stayed at Zaragoça and he went away to carry on the War in Catalonia The Duke of Lorrain desiring to possess himself of Girona raised 15000 Men in Russillon and Cerdagne which with the Forces he had before was a Power too great for the Aragonians to cope with so that they could put no Relief into the Town which was closely besieged Nevertheless through the Valour of the Bishop of D. John Meliguerite and other Commanders it held out Mean while Prince Ferdinand had a Town called Verga delivered to him on the 17th of September From this time the Affairs of the Aragonians began to look with a better Aspect and the more for that the King recovered his Sight a thing then thought miraculous A Jew of Lerida undertook the Cure and couched a Cataract in the Right Eye on the 11th of September when he refused to proceed to the other saying There was no favourable Aspect of the Heavens but being pressed by the King on the 11th of October he perfected the Cure upon the Left Eye To add to this Publick Joy the Weather and want of Necessaries obliged the Enemy to raise the Siege of Girona In Portugal Prince John married his Cousin Eleanor not regarding the Promise he made to marry Joanna Princess of Castile Her Mother 's loose Life made her Birth suspected Ferdinand Duke of Viseo Father to the Lady Eleanor passed over into Africk obtained there some Victories over the Moors and returning home by his Wife Beatrix the Daughter of D. John Master of Santiago in Portugal had a Son called Emanuel who came in time to be King of Portugal The Portugueses talk of strange Prodigies seen at the Birth of that Child denoting his future Grandeur Upon the death of Prince Alonso many submitted to King Henry but the Peace was not lasting and the War that ensued wasted the Power of Spain Burgos returned to its Duty and at Madrid the Archbishop of Sevill the Earl of Benavente and other Noblemen did Homage to the King The Rebels having lost Prince Alonso resolved to offer the Crown to the Princess Elizabeth as they did at Avila the Archbishop of Toledo making an Harangue to persuade her and railing at the King She thanked them for their Offer and wishing long Life to the King her Brother intreated them to pay to him that Duty they offered to her Her Modesty surprized them all and she was thought the worthier to Reign They bent their Thoughts upon Peace and the more because the King had sent Commissioners to offer them all his Free Pardon At length Peace was concluded at Avila by the Archbishop of Sevill and Andrew de Cabrera Lord Steward of the Houshold upon these Articles That the Princess Elizabeth be sworn Heiress to the Crown That the Cities and Towns of Avila Ubeda Medina del Campo Olmedo and Escalona be given to her but upon Condition she shall not Marry without the King's Consent That the King be divorced from the Queen the Pope consenting to it That she and her Daughter be sent to Portugal That all the revolted Nobility be pardoned and restored to their Estates and Preferments taken from them during the Troubles Four Months were allowed for the Performance of these Articles These Conditions pleased not the Marquss de Santillana and his Brothers who thought it more for their Interest to have the keeping of the Princess Joanna The Queen with the Assistance of Luys de Mendoça was gone away by Night from the Castle where she was kept to her Daughter at Buytrago This much troubled the Archbishop of Sevil who had the Charge of keeping her During her Confinement she was delivered of Two Sons Ferdinand and Apostol who it is affirmed were bred in the Monastery of S. Dominick the Royal of Nuns in Toledo The Monastery of Guisando in the mid-way betwixt Madrid and Avila was appointed for the King and the Lords to meet There many Conditions were agreed to and much granted to the Nobles none of them doubting but the King and his Sister being weary of those Confusions would refuse them nothing they could ask It is said the King and Marquess de Villena had a private Conference the Substance whereof is not known but by what followed it was supposed it only tended to the securing the Marquess and advancing his Family On the 19th of September the Nobility did their Homage to King Henry and swore the Princess Elizabeth Heiress to the Crown
It has many great wandings and therefore tho Gaeta stands on the Bank next to Rome the shortest way to Relieve it was by passing the River twice The Lord of Alegre came from Gaeta to join the French Army with about 3000 Men. He pressed for passing the River and fighting not taking warning by the last Battle at Cirinola They passed the River at the Ford of Ceprano about the middle of October Rocaseca was the first Spanish Town they came at after passing the River Christopher Villalva Pizarro and Zamudio were there in Garison with 1200 Men. With these Troops they fell upon the Rear of the French and cut off 300 of them The French laid siege to the Town but the Defendants sallying killed above 200 and drove the rest to their Works Next day Prosper Colona and Peter Navarro reinforced the Town with 3000 Men the Great Captain marching with all his Army to their Relief but the Enemy fearing if any disaster befell them to lose their Cannon and the Weather being very Rainy repassed the River Two days after they passed again and incamped at Aquino 6 miles from S. German whither the Great Captain was returned The great Rain hindred them coming to a Battle and the French drew back to Pancorvo The Great Captain to prevent their repassing the River followed till beyond Aquino and bid them Battle They drew into an advantageous Post with their Cannon and the Spaniards were forced to return to S. German The French repassed the River Garellano At the same time the Ursini agreed with the Coloneses at Rome to come over to the Service of Spain by means of the Spanish and Venetian Ambassadors For the Venetians were not fond of having such a Powerful Neighbour as the King of France The Ursini obliged themselves to serve with 500 Men at Arms for which they were to have a Pension of 6000 Duccats Bartholomew de Albiano chief of the Ursini who was in all the Service at Garellano offered to serve with 3000 Horse and Foot Fabricius Colona took Roea de Vandra in sight of the French Army which marched down the River to a place 18 miles from S. German and but 12 from Gaeta where is a Bridge which they designed to pass Peter de Paz left to guard that Pass with 1200 Foot and a few Horse 200 other Horse having since joined him made it good against the French Army 3 days and 3 nights By this time the Great Captain came up with all his Army and firing a part of the Bridge which was of Wood incamped at the foot of it Here was great disorder among the Spaniards who because the Weather was bad and they not payed robbed the Country and many deserted insomuch that the great Officers advised to draw off It went so far that a Private Centinel put the Spear of his Pike to the Great Captain 's Breast He bore all with great Resolution and gathering what Money he could gave every Man Two Duccats and to the Captains who pressed him to retire he answered I know of what Moment the Business in Hand is to the King and am resolved rather to gain one fathom of Ground tho it were to make my Grave in than to give way tho to live 100 years This Dispute must be here ended as it shall please God and let no Man gainsay it The Colonels chiefly pressed to retire and were therefore suspected to hold Intelligence with the French Many fled from the Spanish Camp which was much weakned Hereupon the French laid a Bridge over the River and above 1500 of them passing by surprize drove the Spaniards from one of their Intrenchments The Camp which consisted of a small number of Horse and 5000 Foot taking the Alarm the great Captain mounted to range his Men. That done he alighted and taking a Halberd in his Hand was the first that charged the Enemy About 5000 of them were already over and the rest continued to pass their Cannon playing upon our Men from the other side of the River Nevertheless the Spanish Foot charged with such fury that they obliged the Enemy to turn their Backs and fly towards the Bridge About 1400 were killed and drowned in the flight The Great Captain not regarding the Enemies Cannon came to the foot of the Bridge and some of his Men passed over among the French but in their Retreat sustained some loss from the Enemies Cannon some Men of Note being killed and others wounded Captain Zamudio among the rest was dangerously hurt Nothing is more admirable than the Valour of the Ensign Ferdinand de Illescas who having his Right Hand shot off held the Colours with his Left and that being also carried away hugged them betwixt his Arms without stirring till the French were drove over the River A Man worthy of Immortal Fame and the great Rewards bestowed on him by the King at the Instance of the Great Captain This Defeat so discouraged the French that they guarded the Bridge narrowly lest our Men should come over to them not thinking themselves secure tho the River was between them Beside great Differences arising betwixt the Marquess of Mantua and the Lord of Alegre the former resolved to quit the Command of the Army saying he could not bear the Insolency of the French In his stead till their King's Pleasure were known the Officers made choice of the Marquess de Saluzes then Viceroy to Command as General The Great Captain tho inferior in number to the Enemy resolved to pass the River and fight them To this purpose he ordered a Bridge of Boats to be laid over the River 7 miles above that the French had made Bartholomew de Albiano had this given in Charge As soon as the Bridge was finished he set out from Sessa on the 28th of December and passed the River with 2000 Spanish and 1500 German Foot He had left Orders with D. James de Mendoça and Ferdinand de Andrada to gather all the Horse which was quartered thereabouts and be with him by break of day As soon as the Spaniards had passed the River the French quitted their Camp and retired to the top of a Hill Sui and Castelforte held by the French upon the River surrendred That night our Army lay incamped before Monforte and the next day marched down by the River to fight the Enemy The French sent Peter de Medicis to carry part of the Artillery in Boats to Gaeta Being come to the mouth of the River tho the Water was rough he would attempt to cross it but the Boats with the Cannon were sunk and he drowned The French Army an hour before day abandoning their Bridge Heavy Cannon Tents and part of the Baggage made haste to get into Mola which is near Gaeta The Great Captain understanding the way they took sent before Prosper Colona with the Light Horse to stay them till the Foot could come up Being come to the Bridge of Mola the Fight began but lasted