The Original of the Knights of Santiago The taking of Cuenca by the Christians Increase of the Knights of Santiago or St. James the Apostle Several places in Navarre taken by the Castilians THE Moors were so pressed by the Aragonians that they had no place of safety Along the River Alga the Towns of Favara Maella Fresneda and others were taken from them On the River Ebro the strong Town of Caspe A great number of them had retired to the Mountain Idubeda thinking the natural strength of the place would secure them but thence also they were driven by the Valour of the Christians So that from this time the Dominion of the Moors extended no farther than the Borders of the Kingdom of Valoncia At the same time Peter de Açagra Son to Roderick de Açagra before spoken of and Lord of Estela for some signal Service done to Lope King of Murcia had the strong Town of Albarazin seated on an uncoth Mountain near the Springs of Tagus given him This place was soon after made a Bishoprick and annexed to the Province of Toledo Both the Kings of Castile and Aragon were offended at Peter de Açagra the latter pretending that City was within the limits of his Conquest whereas Peter would do Homage for it to no Man The other complained he had taken some Castles belonging to him and therefore both agreed with their joint Forces to destroy Albarazin For the more strengthening of this League cautionary Towns were given on both sides the King of Aragon had Agreda Cervera and Aguilar he of Castile Aranda Borgia and Arguedo It was also concluded that Hariza and its Castle should be delivered to the King of Castile in pursuance of the former Capitulation But because Nun̄o Sanchez delivered it without a Special Order the two Kings fell at Variance which yet went no further than Words This discord gave Peter de Açagra time to strengthen himself for neither of the Kings attack'd him He of Aragon despising the Match that had been made by his Father with the Daughter of Castile sent Embassadors to Emanuel Commenus Emperor of Constantinople to desire his Daughter in Marriage Some troubles were at this time in Aragon on occasion that William Aguillon Lord of Tarragona had killed Hugo Bishop of that City for maintaining the Priviledges of his Church The death of Hugo fell on the 22th of April in the Year 1171. which Year was also remarkable for the Death of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury in England who was Murdered on the same score afterwards Canonized by Pope Alexander III. and soon honoured as a Saint in Spain Lope King of Murcia dy'd in the Year 1172. The King of Aragon thought this a fit opportunity to make his advantage of and entring the Kingdom of Valencia obliged that King to buy a Peace and promise for the future to pay double the Tribute he had payed before Thence the Aragonian pass'd into the Country of Murcia and lay'd Siege to the City Xativa which he was forced to quit when it was upon the point of surrendring being called away to defend his own Country against the Navarrois who made War upon him Hereupon a Truce was concluded with the King of Murcia upon Condition he should pay the same Tribute his Father had agreed to This done the King marched towards Navarre in a rage yet they came not to a Battle but he wasted that Country on the side of Tudela and took the Town of Argueda This hap'ned towards the end of the Year In the beginning of the next being 1173. the War was continued and the Aragonians utterly destroy'd the Town of Milagro betwixt Calahorra and Alfaro from whence much harm had been done in the Lands of Aragon Petronilla Mother to the King of Aragon dy'd on the Third of October the same Year at Barcelona On the 18th of January 1174. the Marriage was at last consumatted at Zaragoça betwixt the King of Aragon and Sancha Sister to him of Castile as had been agreed long before by their Parents the King of Aragon now upon second Thoughts perferring the Alliance of Castile before that of a Foreign and remote Emperor At the same time the Grecian Emperor's Daughter arrived at Montpellier in France where understanding how she was disappointed she Marry'd the Lord of that City About this time the Order of the Knights of Santiago or St. James the Apostle began first to be taken notice of and by degrees from a small beginning are now risen to a Regal Grandeur When the Sepulcher of St. James the Apostle was first discovered the devotion of the place drew many Pilgrims and many were deterred by the badness of the ways and danger of the Moors For taking away these Obstacles the Cannons of St. Eloy built many Hospitals on the road and one to be the Chief of the rest at Leon. This at first mov'd many good People to bestow great Riches upon them Afterwards some that had served in the Wars joined their stocks and lived under certain Rules like Religious Men. These by the industry of Cardinal Jacintus the Popes Legate joyned with the Canons of St. Eloy who had a Convent without the Town of Compostella and sent Commissioners to Rome to Pope Alexander for the obtaining his approbation of their new institution which was to be regulated according to the rule of St. Augustin observed by those Canons Pero Fernandez de Puente Encalada was the chief of these Commissioners who obtained the Pope's Bull approving their design and assigning them Rules to observe The Bull bears date July the 5th 1175 Pero Fernandez himself was Constituted the first great Master of the Order The Badge of the Knights is a White Cloak with a red Cross made in the manner of a Sword The Hospital of St. Mark at Leon was assigned them for their Monastery Their Possessions in Castile were very large among others they had the Towns of Vcles Mora Estriana Almodovar Larunda and Santa Cruz de la Zarça near Ocen̄a in the Year 1176. King Alonso of Castile being of Age and resolving to be revenged on the Kings of Leon and Navarre for the wrongs they had done him in his Minority before he took the Field made his Vows to God in Toledo and gave the Towns of Illescas and Hazan̄a to that Church This done he entred the Territory of Rioja as far as Ebro and having wasted the Borders of Navarre turn'd back and bent his Force against the Kingdom of Leon where he burnt and plundered all the Country the King his Unkle being too weak to withstand him The King of Leon vented his Anger upon the new Knights of St. James supposing they favoured their old Master the King of Castile and therefore drove them out of his Dominions and obliged them to fly to Castile for protection Soon after King Ferdinand repented but it was too late however by the Mediation of Prelates a Truce was
erected the Earldoms of Aragon and Barcelona That of Aragon thus Aznar Son of Eudo the Great coming to that part of the Country through which run the Rivers Aragon or Arga and Subordan and having gained some Towns from the Moors by consent of King Gracia called himself Earl of Aragon and was then Subject to the Kings of Navarre afterwards independent as shall appear in its Place This first Earls Son was also called Aznar his Grandson Galindo of whom there is nothing Memorable After Galindo succeeded Ximeno Aznar Ludovicus Pius during the Life of his Father Charlemaigne took Bercelond and left one Bernard a Frenchman to govern there in the Year 801. whence sprang the Earls of Barcelona In the following year dyed Garci Iniguez King of Navarre His Successor was his Son Fortun Garcia of whose exploits the Historians of Navarre relate things incredible It is not doubted he was in the Famous Battle of Roncesvalles before spoken of in which Ximeno Aznar Earl of Aragon was slain whose Sister Teuda was Married to King Fortun. Ximeno Aznar's Successor was his Unkle Ximeno Garcia or Garces King Fortun dyed in the Year 815. Sancho Garcia his Son succeeded him By this King the People of Valderroncal were exempted from all Taxes for their good Service against the Moors as appears by his Grant still extant Bernard Earl of Barcelona being accused of Treason for having to do with the Empress Wife to Ludovicus Pius for shame of this Slander returned to Spain where he had many Friends and dy'd in the Year 839. After his Death Ludovicus Pius bestowed that Earldom on Wifridus for it was not Hereditary but the free Gift of the Emperor during pleasure Garcia Aznar Son of Ximeno Aznar was now Earl of Arragon At the same time D. Sancho Garcia infested the People of Navarre beyond the Pyrenean Hills that were subject to the French and never desisted till they swore to maintain perpetual Amity with the Kings of Sobrarve This King is said to have been slain in the War against that Muza who as was said Rebelled against the King of Cordova that is about the Year 853. Next to this King a certain Author names Ximeno Garcia no other History makes mention of him but here the Royal Line expired whereupon there ensued an Interregnum for four Years During which time the Historians of Navarre say they Consulted the Pope the French and the Lombards by whose advice they took the best of the Laws of those Nations called The Charter of Sobrarve towards preserving their Liberty All their aim was to tye up the King's hands and to this effect they Instituted a Magistrate in the nature of the Roman Tribunes commonly called The Justice of Arragon Many of these Privileges and others granted by K. Alonso III. were Repealed by the States-General or Parliament in the Reign of D. Peter the last of Aragon All things being thus setled In̄igo Sanchez Earl of Bigorre in Aquitain for his swiftness Sirnamed Arista was chosen King by the Vote of 300 Nobles and having Sworn in the Church of S. Victorianus of Pamplona to maintain the Laws the Power of Government was put into his Hands All these and many other the like Relations are by many esteemed Fabulous and they believe that King Arista succeeded his Father in the Throne Certain it is that In̄igo Arista about this time Reign'd near the Pyrenean Mountains and was Married to D. In̄iga Daughter to the Earl Gonzalo of the Blood Royal of Oviedo He also Married Teuda the Daughter of Zenon Lord of Biscay and had only one Son not known by which of the two called Garci Iniguez who inherited the Kingdom The Monastery of S. Salvador de Leite seated among the Pyrenean Mountains and remarkable for the beauty of its Structure and greatness of Revenue is supposed to have been Founded by King Arista This Prince extended the Bounds of his Kingdom adding to what he had before the Plains of Navarre whereas the former Kings had contented themselves to live within the Mountains Pamplona and Alava fallen again into the hands of the Moors were by him recovered whereupon he stiled himself King of Pamplona as appears by Grants of those Kings At the same time Wifredus the Son of the other Wifredus obtained of the Emperor Charles the Gross the Earldom of Barcelona Hereditary only reserving the Right of Appeals to be made to the Emperor this was in the Year 884. Afterwards on account of Wifredus's tender Age by order of the Emperor Lewis II. Solomon Count of Cerdania Governed that Principality the space of 19 Years Wifredus among other Sons left Myrus Earl of Barcelona and Seniofredus Earl of Vrgel after their Father's decease Near the same time dy'd Garcia Aznar Earl of Aragon and his Son Ximeno Garcia succeeded him It is not to be found in what Year King Arista dy'd the most probable Opinion is it was about the Year 888. Garci Ximenes his Son succeeded him at the age of 17 but was not inferior either for warlike Exploits or civil Government to any of his Predecessors For being come to riper Years he gained much Reputation by many Victories he obtained too tedious to be here inserted His Wife's name was Da. Vrraça Sister to Fortun Ximenez Earl of Aragon or as some will have it his Kinswoman Grandchild of Galindo and Daughter of Endregotus from whom his Uncle Ximeno Garcia Usurped the Earldom of Aragon This King had two Sons Fortun and Sancho Abarca and a Daughter called Sanctiva Married to D. Ordon̄o King of Leon when he was Old and had had two Wives as has been said before He was killed by the Moors in a Battle he fought with them in the Valley of Ayuar the Archbishop D. Roderick calls it Larumbe for he often made Inroads into the Country of the Moors being desirous to enlarge his Kingdom and Extirpate all the Race of the Moors in Spain His Death was in the Year 905. as appears by the Chronicon Alveldense His two Sons succeeded him first Fortun and then Sancho in whose time as is before related the Christians lost the great Battle of Junquera The Monastery of S. Salvador de Leite pretends the Body of King Garci Iniguez lies there that of S. John de la Pen̄a contradicts it because there is to be seen there among the Tombs of the Kings one with the Name of King Garci Iniguez upon it These Disputes are not to be decided but I suppose the reason of them is that many Tombs were erected to the memory of Kings in several places by those that had received Favours from them tho' they had not their Bodies as is used even in our times Thus much at present of the Original of the Kingdom of Navarre and Earldoms of Arragon and Barcelona may suffice CHAP. II. Of the Earls of Castile The Reign of D. Fruela the Second King of Leon. Fictions concerning the Kings of Navarre The Reign of their King D. Sancho
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
the Earl of Castile falling upon them put them to flight and but a small number returned home This struck so great a terror into those People that they never attempted to make War again as long as Abdelmelic Ruled The Joy of this Victory was drowned in the scarcity of Provisions caused by a great Drought Gudésteus Bishop of Oviedo had been kept three Years in Prison by the King who was subject to give ear to the whispers of wicked Men. The People and among them some of Note said the Famine was a Judgment of God for the wrong done the Bishop and that unless Reparation were made him there was cause to fear a heavy Plague might follow There was danger of a Mutiny for the Multitude when they take Religion for their Pretence sooner obey the Priest than the King therefore Gudesteus was discharged out of Prison This same Year of our Lord 999 in which hap'ned the Famine was remarkable for the death of King Bermudo who dy'd of the Gout with which he had been long troubled in a Town called Berit His Body was Interred at Villabuena or Valbuena whence 23 Years after it was translated to the Church of S. John Baptist in Leon. He had two Wives one called Velasquita the other Da. Elvira From the first he was Divorced rather thro' the Corruption of those times than for that it was Lawful By her he had a Daughter called Christina By Da. Elvira he had D. Alonso and Da. Teresa Besides on two Sisters he had to do with in his Youth he got D. Ordon̄o Da. Elvira and Da. Sancha Christina the King 's eldest Daughter was Married to D. Ordon̄o called the Blind who was of the Blood Royal they had Issue D. Alonso D. Ordon̄o D. Pelayo and Da. Aldonza Marry'd to D. Pelayo called the Deacon Grandson to King Fruela by D. Fruela his Bastard Son D. Pelayo and Da. Aldonça had Issue Peter Ordon̄o Pelayo Nun̄o and Teresa from whom descended the Earls of Carrion Men of great Wisdom and Valour as will appear in its place Pelayus Ovetensis and D. Lucas de Tuy attribute to King Bermudo that passage of Ataulphus Bishop of Compostella and the wild Bull that was let lose against him which was spoken of before In this particular I give more Credit to the History of Compostella which relates it as I have done and it is a sufficient proof of their mistaking the time that about this there is no Bishop of Compostella called Ataulphus to be heard of King Bermudo appointed Melendo Gonzalez Earl of Galicia and his Wife D a. Mayor to be Tutors to his Son D. Alonso the young King during his Minority These because D. Alonso was but 5 Years of Age by the consent of the Cortes or Assembly of States and in pursuance to the Will of the Deceased Governed the Kingdom with great Prudence and Integrity The King being of Age as a Reward of their Fidelity and to make their Authority the greater Married their Daughter Da. Elvira by whom he had D. Bermudo and Da. Sancha He Reign'd 29 Years In the second Year of his Reign which was of our Lord just 1000. D. Garci Sanchez the Trembler King of Navarre dying his Son D. Sancho whom he had by his Wife Da. Ximena not Elvira or Constantia or Estephania as some will have it succeeded in the Throne This Prince in his Youth was under the Care and Tuition of Sancho Abbot of S. Salvador de Leyte who bred him Vertuously and taught him all that is fit for a Prince to know He Reigned 34 Years was so remarkable for his Vertue that he gained the name of the Greater and so fortunate that he got under his Dominion almost all that the Christians possessed in Spain But it was no good advice to divide it as he did among his Children thereby weakning the Forces of the Kingdom As the two Christian Kingdoms about this time enjoy'd Peace so Castile first and then the Moors fell to War among themselves both of them by their Civil Broils hast'ning their ruin D. Sancho Garcia Rebelled against his Father the Earl D. Garci Fernandez perhaps thinking he lived too long and being impatient to wait the few Years he had to live Both sides had recourse to Arms and the Subjects being divided the strength of that Principality was weakned The Moors were not ignorant of these Distractions and therefore resolved to make their advantage of them Accordingly they destroyed Avila that had been Rebuilt not long before Corun̄a and Santistevan de Gormaz in the Territory of Osma suffered the same fate The Affairs of the Christians were in great danger and yet the foreign Danger did not appease their domestick Tumults only kept them from coming to Blows Earl Garci Fernandez being much concerned at the harm the Moors did with what Force he could gather went out to meet them The Fight was bloody but the Earl having but a small number of Men was defeated and himself taken so desperately wounded that he dy'd in a few days He Governed Castile about 38 Years some say 49. was nothing inferior to his Father and tho' the Enemy had power to take away his Life the fame of his Actions will last for ever His Body being Ransom'd for a great Sum of Money was bury'd in the Monastery of S. Peter de Carden̄a This unhappy Battle was fought in the Year 1006. The Earl left a Daughter called Da. Vrraca who was a Nun in the Monastery of S. Cosmus and Damianus in the Town of Covarravias This Monastery was built by the Earl her Father and endowed with great Revenues besides many rich Gifts upon condition that if any Maid of his Family would not Marry she should be maintained with the Revenue of that Monastery D. Sancho succeeded his Father in the Earldom of Castile much blemished for Rebelling against him and having thereby been the cause of his death In all other respects he was good and vertuous and had very commendable parts About the same time dy'd at Cordova the Alhagib or Viceroy Abdelmelic Abderhaman a base and cowardly Fellow in scorn called Sanciolo succeeded him But he dying within 5 Months Mohomet Almahudi who I suppose was of the Race of the Abenhumeyas by force of Arms possessed himself of King Hissem who being given wholly to his pleasure was only supported by others Mahomet gave out he had killed the King Beheading one like him and keeping him privately to make use of him if needful A Kinsman of Hissem's called Zulema came over out of Africk who gathering what Forces he could and joyning with those of D. Sancho Earl of Castile overthrew the Tyrant in Battle near Cordova In this Battle were slain 35000 Moors which was the very Flower and Strength of that Kingdom so that for the future they decayed the more sensibly D. Sancho gave great Tokens of his Courage and Conduct and was the principal
Brother Hiaya Aldirbil much unlike to his Father and Brother He was a Coward and unfit for Government Lewd in his Life and spar'd not the Wives and Daughters of his Subjects whereby he became odious as well to the Moors as Christian Inhabitants of Toledo Upon the death of Hissem D. Alonso was discharged of the Oath he had taken at Toledo to be Friend to the Father and Son Both Moors and Christians weary of the Tyranny of that new Prince solicited King Alonso to free them from that Slavery and possess himself of that City These were the first inducements to undertake the Conquest of that most Noble City the Metropolis of all that Kingdom D. Ramon Earl of Barcelona dy'd in that City and was bury'd in the Cathedral thereof which he had built from the Ground with all suitable Pomp and Grandeur He divided his Dominions betwixt his two Sons D. Berenguel and D. Ramon called Cabeça de Estopa or Flaxen-Head This last according to Mariana the Younger but according to several Testimonies brought in Opposition to him by Peter Mantuanus in his Animadversions on his History the elder Brother Marry'd a Vertuous Lady Daughter to Robert Guiscard a Norman but then very Powerful in Italy as Zurita lib. 1. cap. 1. relates At this time the Normans were possessed of the extreme parts of Italy and Sicily This Lady built two Monasteries one of the Invocation of S. Daniel in the Valley of S. Mary in the Territory of Cabrera the other near Girona where after the death of her Husband she spent the remainder of her Life in much Sanctity Both Monasteries were given to the Nuns of S. Benedict D. Ramon Arnaldo or Berenguel who succeeded his Father in that Earldom was Son to this Lady About the same time Armengaud Earl of Vrgel made War upon the Moors in those Parts and William Jordan Earl of Cerdagne prosecuted the Arian Hereticks who now began again to appear in those parts after having been so long suppressed He Banished them Confiscated their Goods made them Infamous and put the Obstinate to death Thro' the Valour of Armengaud many Towns along the River Segre were taken from the Moors and particularly the City Balaguer the Metropolis of the Earldom of Vrgel Since we have above mentioned the Normans it will not be amiss to add a few Lines in relation to them their Conquests in Italy being parts we shall have much occasion to speak of in this History It has been already said how they being a Northern People possess'd themselves of that part of France before called Neustria and from them Normandy This they did under Rollo their Chief and General The 7th Duke from him was William called the Conqueror for that having defeated and slain Harold he made himself King of England Another Army of Normans went thro' France into Italy which was then divided into several small Principalities and much wasted with intestine Wars Here they first served in the Wars of Lombardy and Tuscany then passing into the Kingdom of Naples where they received Pay of the Prince of Capua and soon after for better Pay went over to him of Salerno who with their assistance obtained the Victory over his Enemy This War being ended thro' the persuasions of Maniacus Governor of Apulia and Calabria for the Grecian Emperor they undertook the Conquests of Sicily then possess'd by the Moors Their success was such that in a short time they drove the Infidels out of the Island then falling at variance with the Greeks expelled them also Thus they laid the Foundations of a mighty Monarchy in Italy and Sicily for at the fame of their success many more resorted to them out of Normandy All that was taken was divided among the Conquerors but the others soon dying all was devolved upon Robert Guiscard and Roger. Robert called himself Duke of Apulia and Calabria Roger was Earl of Sicily Robert by two Wives had these Children Boamundus Roger and one Daughter who if what the Catalonians say be true was Married to D. Ramon Earl of Barcelona as has been above related Roger had a Son also called Roger whâ—â— hanged the Title of Earl for that of King and at last became sole Lord of all that the Normans held both in Italy and Sicily Besides Italy and Greece were Tributary to him This is taken out of Gaufridus the Monk who writ the Actions of the Normans in Italy at the request of the said Earl Roger. But let us leave Italy and return to Spain The Citizens of Toledo ceased not to Sollicite the Christians to undertake the Conquest of that City Exaggerating the Calamities they endured begging relief and protesting if they were not speedily delivered from the Tyranny of their King they must have recourse to other Moors for Assistance King Alonso was perplexed and knew not what to do fearing on the one hand what might be said of him and considering on the other the great advantage of gaining that City Therefore he resolved to put it to the Votes of the Chief Nobility and Persons of most Understanding Opinions as is usual in such cases were various The most bold and daring were for undertaking that War shewing the great advantage that would Accrew to the King and to Christianity in General Others more wary said there could be no reason to attempt such a Conquest it being contrary to Conscience and Honour to break the Peace Established with those Kings where the King had received such Obligations The King having heard all their Opinions at length yielded to the desire he had of Conquering that Noble City and having positively declared his intention to be such the whole Council easily agreed to it and it was unanimously decreed to make War upon the Moors This being resolved the King applyed himself to gather store of Arms Provisions Horses and all other Necessaries He made new Levies and offered rewards to such of the Old Soldiers who were dispersed about the Kingdom as would serve All things were furnished with the more speed because News was brought that the Moors having called the King of Badajoz to their Assistance he was preparing to relieve them Such was their expedition that both Armies arrived together in sight of Toledo but the Moors perceiving King Alonso had a Gallant Army returned without attempting any thing Yet the City could not be taken at that time for that the King of it was well provided against a Siege and the natural strength of the place deterred all Men. The Christians wasted the Country burnt the Corn drove the Cattle and many Prisoners and then returned home This destruction was began in the Year 1079. and continued the next and several Years afters Canales and Olmos two Towns near that City were taken well Garrisoned and thence all the Country continually infested Thus by degrees the City began to be straitned and suffered much want Toledo is for the most part furnished with Provisions brought from
Sol to D. Peter Son to the King of Aragon of the same Name both which sent to demand them in Marriage D. Ramiro had by D. Elvira Garci Ramirez who was afterwards King of Navarre D. Peter dy'd before his Father and left no Issue Two several times King Bucar who came out of Africk was overthrown in sight of Valencia by Roderick Diaz and his Forces who kept that City as long as he lived which was five Years after the taking of it He was near his Death when the same Bucar came again before the City and perceiving it could not be maintained after his Death ordered in his Will that they should all in a Body quit the place and return to Castile The Moors believing it was a powerful Army that designed to give them Battle drew off Those Christians marched without ceasing till they came to Castile and Valencia being left without any Garison fell again into the hands of the Moors They that came from Valencia brought with them the Body of Roderick Diaz which was Bury'd with great Magnificence in the Monastery of S. Peter of Carden̄a near Burgos K. Alonso and Roderick Diaz's two Sons-in-law being present Many look upon most of this Relation as Fabulous and I write more than I believe because I would not wholly omit what others affirm In the Church of S. Peter of Carden̄a are to be seen five Tombs that of Roderick Diaz that of his Wife and those of his Son and Daughters Perhaps they are only empty Monuments such as are called Cenotaphia erected in Honour of such People The Death of Roderick Diaz de Bivar was a great loss to the Christians for his extraordinary Valour Conduct and Prosperity Authors do not agree about the Year in which it hap'ned the most likely Opinion is that it was in the Year of our Lord 1093. About this time Pope Vrban translated the Bishoprick of Iria to Compostella at the request of Dalmachius who was the first Bishop of that City and made it independant of the See of Braga King Alonso tho' very ancient never neglected the Affairs of War but made several Incursions into Andaluzia which was the more easie to be done for that Joseph the Moor was returned into Africk This gave the Christians some time of breathing which the King made use of to encrease the Religious Worship He built a Monastery of Benedictines at Toledo of the Invocation of S. Servandus and S. German others say he only repaired it Besides he erected two Monasteries of Nuns the one Dedicated to S. Peter the other to S. Dominick of Silos At Burgos without the Walls he Founded another Convent now called S. John of Burgos The Year following which was 1099. was remarkable for the Death of Pope Vrban and the taking of Jerusalem by the Christians Cardinal Raynerius who had been Legate in Spain a Person of great Worth and Experience succeeded Vrban by the Name of Pasqualis II. He in the time of his Papacy granted a Privilege to the Church of S James the Apostle that after the manner of the Church of Rome it might have seven Canons Cardinals and that the Bishops of that See might use the Pall an Ornament betokening greater Authority than that of common Bishops The next ensuing Year which was 1100. proved no less pleasing to the Christians by reason of the Death of Joseph who was Sovereign of all the Moors in Spain during the space of 12 Years and of those in Africk about 32 than it was at last unfortunate for the untimely end of D. Sancho Prince of Castile which will be seen in the next Chapter CHAP. IV. The Death of Sancho Prince of Castile and of the two Kings Peter the first of Aragon and Alonso VI. of Castile The Moorish King of Zaragoza Of two Holy Men. D. Garcia Earl of Cabra was Tutor to D. Sancho King Alonso's Son and the Heir Apparent of the Crown but Death snatched him away and with him the great hopes had been conceived of his Virtues Hali Successor to Joseph desiring to Commence his Reign with some memorable Action passed over into Spain with a powerful Army and having encreased it there entred the Kingdom of Toledo wasting all the Country till he came in sight of the City King Alonso by reason of his great Age and Sickness could not go out in Person to oppose him He gave the command of his Army to the Earl D. Garcia and for the greater Honour sent his Son D. Sancho tho' very young with him Near Veles the two Armies met and engaged In the heat of the Fight the Prince was struck down D. Garcia covered him with his Shield and with his Sword kept off the Moors that assailed him on all sides Long he kept them at a distance till being weakned by many wounds he fell down dead upon him he defended This disaster made the Infidels Victorious It is needless to relate how grievous this loss was to the King he asked what might be the reason of being so often overthrown by the Moors and a wise Man answered That the Soldiers were debauched with Ease and Luxury which made them unfit for Service Hereupon the King ordered all incentives of Luxury to be taken away and among the rest caused the Baths then much used in Spain after the manner of the Moors to be destroy'd Some hope remained in D. Alonso the King's Grandchild by D. Vrraca his Daughter but he was very Young and a Womans Government seem'd not seasonable The continual good Fortune of the King of Aragon diminished the Joy of the Moors for their success in Castile Of late the Infidels went down the wind in Aragon for the Christians had taken from them the Castle of Calasanz the Town of Pertusa on the River Canadre and the City Barbastro whither the Bishoprick of Rhoda was Translated Now the Aragonians bent all their Strength against the City Zaragoça which the Almoravides had possessed themselves of having expelled the ancient Kings These that follow were the Kings that had Reigned in that City The first was Mudir then Hiaya next Almudafar after him began another Race in Zulema to whom succeeded Hamas then Joseph then Almazazin then Abdelmelich and then Hamas Sirnamed Almuçacayto whom the Almoravides deprived of the Kingdom At this time in France Atho who after the Death of Raymund Earl of Barcelona Father of Arnaldus had Usurped the Sovereignty of the City Carcassonne where he had been Governour was expelled the place by the Inhabitants and it restored to its Lawful Prince in the Year 1102. This same Year Armengaud Earl of Vrgel was slain by the Moors in the Island of Majorca whither he went to show his Valour and was therefore called Balearicus Armengaud was Marry'd to a Daughter of Peranzules a great Man in Castile and Lord of Valladolid By her he left a young Son during whose Minority the Grandfather governed and
to the Feast of Easter The Marriage betwixt the Earl of Barcelona and the Princess Petronilla was agreed upon on the 11th of August that same Year 1137. This done D. Ramiro laying aside the care of the Government withdrew to the Church of St. Peter at Huesea still retaining the Title of King and Power of resuming that Authority when he should think fit All Officers were order'd to take the Oath of Fidelity to the Earl of Barcelona and because the Nobles on account of Service in that time of need had obtain'd Grants of many Towns and Castles from the King all such Grants were made void especially those that passed since the King chose the Earl for his Son-in-law As to Navarre it was ordain'd the Bounds of the Kingdoms should be the same that had been agreed upon at Pamplona and Valdoluengo As soon as Raymund entred upon the Government he had a Conference with the Emperor D. Alonso at Carrion where he obtain'd all the Lands that had been taken from the Crown of Aragon on this side Ebro should be restor'd but only to be held of the Crown of Castile This done he made his Entry into Zaragoça and was receiv'd with great applause having establish'd Peace William Raymund Seneschal or High-Steward of Catalonia had a great hand in all these Affairs and as a Reward had the Town of Moncada given him from him descends the Noble Family of Moncada in that Country CHAP. X. D. Alonso of Portugal takes the Title of King His Wars with the Moors War betwixt Christian Princes and Peace concluded Baeca and Almeria taken by the King of Castile and Lisbon by him of Portugal THese Confusions we have spoken of gave the Portugueses an opportunity of enlarging their Dominions and rendring their Name famous D. Alonso Prince or as some call him Duke of Portugal being a Man no less renowned in Peace than War ceased not enlarging and beutifying his Dominions At Coimbra he built the Monastery of Santacruz a stately Structure which he chose for his place of Burial and endow'd it with the Town of Leyra then taken from the Moors This was but an Introduction to greater Exploits for in the Year 1139. he broke into the Territories of the Infidels with a powerful Army and passing the River Tagus made War upon Ismar the Moorish King in those parts In this Expedition dy'd Egas NunÌ„ez D. Alonso's Tutor by whose wise Councels he had till then been govern'd In the City Porto there is a Monastery of Benedictive Monks founded by D. Egas in which are to be seen his and his Children Tombs That of his Wife D. Teresa is in the Monastery of Gereceda of Cistercians built by her two Leagues from Lamego Ismar understanding of D. Alonso's design gather'd all the Forces he could and four other Moorish Kings joyning him compos'd a Formidable Army The two Bodies had sight of one another in a Plain then call'd Vrichio now Cabeças de Ryes or King's-head a place fit to give Battle That Country is water'd by the River Palma which about Beja where it springs has little water but other Streams falling into it gathers such a Body that near Alcaçar do Sal where it falls into the Sea it is Navigable D. Alonso was surpriz'd to see so great a number of Enemies but Honour prevailing above Fear and the more for that two days before that is on the 25th of July being the Feast of S. James the Apostle his Soldiers had saluted him King he resolv'd to put all to the hazard of a Battle Having in few Words encourag'd his Men he order'd to sound a Charge the Enemy did the same and there ensu'd a most obstinate Battle both Parties fighting for Honour for their Lives and for the Dominion of all Portugal After a sharp dispute the Multitude of Moors gave way to the Valour of the Christians many of them were kill'd and many made Prisoners The Standards of the 5 Kings were taken and from them the Portugue Arms which are Azure five Escutcheons Others will have it that they signifie the five Wounds of our Saviour but I see no Authority for it In the time of Sancho II. King of Portugal there was added to the ancient Arms an Orle of Castles the number not fix'd then now they use seven This is the famous Battle so much and so justly extoll'd by the Portugues Writers after which the strength of Portugal increased in an extraordinary manner All the Glory of the King's Actions was sully'd by the Imprisonment of his Mother which Pope Innocent II. understanding sent the Bishop of Coimbra to treat with him about restoring her to her Liberty But the King was Deaf to all Advice therefore the Bishop leaving the City under an Interdict departed out of Portugal A Cardinal being also sent from Rome upon the same account had no better success but was oblig'd by the King's Threats to take off the Interdict he had laid upon the whole Kingdome King Alonso now Marry'd the Lady Malfada some say she was Daughter to Amalaricus Lord of Molina others to Amadeus Earl of Savoy By her he had D. Sancho D. Vrraca and D. Teresa The last Marry'd afterwards to Philip Earl of Flanders Besides these the King had a Bastard Son call'd Peter After the Nuptial Solemnities the Portugueses applyed themselves again to the War Santaren a Town of note seated on the Banks of Tagus was surprized and the Moors expell'd With the Booty taken in this Action the King founded the Monastery of Alcobaça of the Order of St. Bernard as he had vowed to do if he took that Town There was great strife betwixt Albohali head of the Family of the Almoravides and Abdelmon of the Almohades a New rising Family among the Moors about the Empire of Africk This gave the Christians an opportunity of subduing the Moors in Spain and indeed nothing supported them but the Wars we had among our selves Such was the Peace the Moors injoy'd in some places that they gave themselves to study and several Learned Men flourished among them especially at Cordova In this number some reckon Anicenne tho' others affirm he was never in Spain Averroes now â—â— fit Commentaries on Aristotle and Avenzor was Famous in Mathematicks especially Astrology Thus much of Cordova In Portugal the Christians took by force of Arms the Town of Sintra seated near the Promonrtorâ— by the Ancients called Artabrum and not far from the Mouth of Tagus This was a Convement place to receive Foreign Succours and Fleets arriv'd there from England France and Flanders bringing such considerable supplies that the King resolved to lay Siege to Lisbon the Metropolis of Portugal But before we Treat of that Famous Siege let us look back upon what we left behind Whilst these things hap'ned in Portugal the Aragonians and Navarrois were at War Both strove to bring D. Alonso of Castile to their part but Raymund Earl of Barcelona having
in great State to her Husband These things were done in the Year 1201. Much about the same time Berengaria the King of Castile's other Daughter was Marry'd to Alonso King of Leon at Valladolid where the two Kings met to that purpose Her Dower was only those Towns her Father had taken from her Husband Alonso Earl of Provence and William Earl of Focalquer being at variance the King of Aragon took a journey into France and composed their differences Thence he went by Sea to Rome designing to make use of the interest of Pope Innocent III. for obtaining the assistance of the Fleets of Genoa and Pisa towards the Conquest of Majorca The Pope received him with great Magnificence caused him to be anointed and himself put on his Crown ordaining that for the future the Kings of Aragon should be Crown'd by the Archbishop of Tarragona as the Popes Vicar In return the King made his Kingdom Tributary to the Pope which was highly resented by his Subjects CHAP. IX The Marriage of the King of Aragon and Death of some Persons of Note Peace concluded and Alliance between all the Christian Kings of Spain The beginning of the War with the Moors A vast Multitude of Foreigners comes to the assistance of the Christian Kings of Spain KING Peter of Aragon being returned home from Rome incensed the Minds of his Subjects by imposing a Tax called Monetal from which even the Nobility were not exempted Pope Innocent indeavoured to make a match betwixt the King and the Lady Mary Daughter to Elizabeth Queen of Jerusalem by that means to ingage him in the Holy War Conveniency prevailed and he Marryed the Lady Mary Daughter and Heiress to William Lord of Montpellier Vrraca the King of Castile's Youngest Daughter was Marry'd to Alonso the King of Portugal's eldest Son in the Year 1206. This Year there was so great an Eclipse of the Sun that the Darkness lasted Six hours as if it had been the Dead of Night The Floods were so great that the River Tagus swell'd the height of a Man above the Gate of Almofala at Toledo as the Annals of that City inform us It is likely this Gate of Almofala was the same is now call'd of St. Isidorus King Alonso made Martin Archbishop of Toledo High Chancellor of Castile No hopes being left the King of Navarre of recovering his losses he had a Conference with him of Castile at Guadalaxara where a Truce was concluded for five Years and Cautionary Towns given on both sides for security of performance In the Year 1208. dy'd Martin Archbishop of Toledo Roderick Ximenes a Navarrios succeeded him In November departed his Life Sancha Mother to the King of Aragon On the same day as the Archbishop dy'd also Stephen Illan Governour of Toledo who as was said recovered that City for the King Also the Earl of Vrgel leaving one only Daughter who being oppress'd by Gerard de Cabrera Son to Ponce before mentioned surrendred her Earldom to the King of Aragon and put herself under his protection Here ended the Dominion of the Heirs of the great Borello formerly Earls of Barcèlona and Vrgel over that City tho' her Father by Will left the half of his City of Valladolid to Pope Innocent that he might protect his Daughter in the remaining part but I do not find that ever the Pope had possession of this Legacy The Truce with the Moors was near expiring and great danger threatned unless the Christian Princes would unite their Forces for the publick good Alonzo King of Leon disturbed the Peace by seizing upon his Mother-in-law's Joynter-Lands James de Haro her Brother opposing the King drew upon himself the Forces of Leon and Castile and not able to defend his own was forc'd to fly to Navarre Thence he infested the Frontiers of Castile but being defeated by the two Kings retired to Estela a strong Town The four Kings of Castile Leon Aragon and Navarre met at Alfaro and concluded a Peace Hereupon James de Haro forsaken by all fled to Valencia to the Moors Soon after the King of Aragon entring the Kingdom of Valencia had his Horse kill'd under him in fight and must certainly have been taken but that James de Haro mounted him This made him so odious to the Infidels that he was oblig'd to go over to Africk to clear himself before the Miramamolin Afterwards having made his Peace with the Christian Kings he return'd to Castile In the Year 1209. the two Kings of Aragon and Navarre had another meeting in a Plain near a Town call'd Mallen Here all Differences were adjusted and the King of Navarre lent him of Aragon 20000 Daccats for which he was to deliver four Towns in pawn to D. Ximeno de Rada who if the Money was not repaid on the day appointed was to surrender them up to the King of Navarre King Alonso of Castile hop'd to draw Succours out of France but the Wars betwixt the French and English hindred Whereupon he entred Guienne resolving to fall upon either of the two that should refuse to hearken to Peace His labour was lost for the enmity was irreconcileable and the Preparations made by the Moors oblig'd him to return into Spain Whilst the Truce with the Moors lasted an University was Founded at Palencia at the King's charge and by the persuasion of Roderick Archbishop of Toledo and Professors of all Sciences brought out of France upon promise of great Salaries At Huelgas near Burgos the King also built a great Monastery for the burying of Kings and an Hospital adjoyning to it Constance Sister to the King of Aragon and Dowager of Hungary by whom she had a Son call'd Ladislaus by persuasion of Pope Innocent III. Marry'd Frederick King of Sicily The Alliances establish'd betwixt the Christian Princes fill'd all People with hopes and joy Yet at this time the King of Leon by command of Pope Innocent was Divorc'd from his Queen Berengaria upon account of Consanguinity and she sent to her Father Mahomet who had succeeded his Brother Abenjoseph in the Empire of the Moors made great Preparations to invade the Dominions of the Christians who on their part were not idle Peter King of Aragon took Adamuz and other Towns in the Kingdom of Valeneia To the Knights Templers he gave the Town of Tortosa for their good service perform'd in the late Wars Ferdinand Son to the King of Castile entred Andaluzia and plundred all the Country about Baeza Anduxar and Jaen About the same time Mahomet King of the Moors call'd the Green from the colour of his Turbant took Salvatierra part of the Inhabitants were put to the Sword the rest made Slaves It was Besieg'd in June 1210. and taken in September King Alonso was marching to relieve it but at Talavera his Son Ferdinand met and assur'd him there was need of a greater Army to engage the Enemy Prince Ferdinand dying in October the following Year put a stop
Bun̄ol There they met on the Fourteenth of Sept. 1272 and laying aside all former Animosities concluded a League After the conference the King of Aragon went away to Catalonia then in an Uproar caus'd by the Nobility Armengaud de Cabrera Son to Alvaro de Cabrera to whom the King not long before had given the Earldom of Vrgel was the great incendiary The King besieg'd Balaguer the chief City of that Earldom and in it took Armengaud himself and his Uncle Roger Bernard and some other Lords whom he long kept Prisoners especially the Earl of Faux who had Rebell'd several times Thus the Troubles of Catalonia ended Prince Sancho of Castile went to Badajoz whither his Father was gone from Sevil to endeavour to make Peace between his Grandson Denis King of Portugal and Alonso that Kings Brother whom he labour'd by Force to deprive of the Possessions his Father had left him King Alonso of Portugal Father to Denis dyed at Lisbon the beginning of this same year He Liv'd 70 years Reigned 32. and was buried in the Monastery of S. Dominick Built by himself in that City Prince Sancho having seen his Father was sent away to make New Levies throughout the whole Kingdom in order to March against the King of Granada who was then taken up in Building the Palace of that City call'd Alhambra an excellent Structure which cost much Mony that King being no less skill'd in Works of that Nature than in Military Affairs What pretence there was for this War I know not but suppose he was not included in the late Treaty made with the King of Morocco Denis the King of Portugal either that he confided not in his Grandfather or fearing he was more inclinable to his Brother tho he came as far as Yelves which is but Three Leagues from Badajoz on a sudden turn'd back and went away King Alonso in a great Rage to be so disappointed return'd to Sevil. At this time Conrade Lança Admiral of Aragon with a Fleet of Ten Galleys scour'd the Coasts of Africk particularly of Tunez and Tremezen because they refus'd to pay the Tribute agreed upon some years before A certain Author affirms this Expedition was undertaken to restore Mirabusar Expell'd his Kingdom of Tunez by his Brother All agree a great Booty was taken by the Aragonians and that at the Streights of Gibraltar they defeated Ten Galleys of the King of Morocco Taking some and Sinking others The King of Aragon at Valencia where he commonly resided gave a Grant of the Lordship of Segorve to his Bastard Son D. Jayme about the Month of November CHAP. III. The Practices of Prince Sancho He Rebels against his Father The King of Morocco comes to Aid King Alonso Returns home leaving a Thousand Horse to serve under him King Alonso Disinherits and Curses his Son Prince Sancho IN Castile the Affection the People bore Prince Sancho daily increas'd and many believ'd when he was once well rid of his Nephews he would ease his Father of the Burden of the Crown His Father suspected nothing less than such a Design Prince Sancho in the Spring of the Year 1280. March'd with the Army he had rais'd to the Frontiers about Jaen and being there Recruited with Forces sent by his Father from Sevil entred the Territories of Granada where he Burnt all the Country as far as that City and then return'd with a great number of Cattle and Captives to Cordova and thence bore his Father Company to Sevil. This Success endear'd him more to the People which was what he chiefly aim'd at to secure the Succession to the Crown Philip K. of France sent Embassadors to demand that his Nephews should be set at liberty and deliver'd up to him and in case fair means would not prevail to threaten War Nothing being concluded it was agreed the Three Kings upon sufficient Security given should meet and commune together All the Kings set forward but they met not for Prince Sancho cunningly broke off that Interview fearing his Father who was inclinable to his Grandchildren might conclude something that might be prejudicial to him However it was agreed that Charles Prince of Taranto Son to the King of Sicily should carry the messages between the Kings yet all came to nothing Prince Sanoho undermining their Designs The French only ask'd that Prince Alonso should have the City Jaen given him with the Title of King and to hold of the Crown of Castile After this Disappointment the Kings of Aragon and France met about the same Affair and with the same success only the King of France took an Oath he would resign the Lordship of Mompellier to which he had pretended a Right to Jayme King of Majorca Prince Sancho was extreamly pleas'd that he had disappointed all the Designs of those Kings yet fear'd his Fathers Love towards those Children and there wanted not some who incensed King Alonso against his Son Therefore the Prince resolv'd to strengthen himself with Foreign Aids and to that purpose procur'd an Interview between his Father the King of Aragon and himself at a Town call'd Campillo between Agreda and Taraçona on the 27th of March 1281. At this Conference a League offensive and defensive was established between the two Kings upon penalty of 20000 pound weight of Silver to him that first broke it Palaçuela Teresa Xera and Ayola were now given to the King of Aragon and in lieu of them to Prince Emanuel the King's Brother whose those Places were Escalona was given This is what was publickly acted In private they concluded with jont Forces to invade Navarre and agreed what part each was to have when Conquer'd Prince Sancho obtain'd that the young Princes his Nephews should be secur'd in the Castle of Xativa and the more to oblige the King of Aragon he promised after his Fathers Death to yield him up all the Kingdom of Navarre and to give him in Castile the Town of Requena with all its Dependencies which lies on the Borders of Valencia towards Murcia He valu'd not what promises he made to secure his Power D. John Nun̄ez de Lara a powerful Man was then Lord of Albaracin having Marry'd the Daughter and Heiress of D. Alvaro de Açagra the Son of Peter Rodriguez de Açagra both Lords of that City Thence he made inroads into both the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon carrying away much Booty and gave Protection to all those that fled to him on account of any Crimes whatsoever Particularly D. Lope Diaz de Haro a mighty Lord being offended at King Alonso and Prince Sancho for the Death of Prince Frederick and the Lord of Cameros was retir'd thither The King of Aragon and Prince Sancho consulted at Taraçona about taking that City and expelling D. John de Lara King Alonso went to Burgos to Celebrate the Neptials of his two Sons Peter and John Peter marry'd a Daughter of the Lord of Narbonne and John the Daughter of the Earl of
Monferrat Spain at present seem'd quiet but a great Storm hung over it The Jealousies between King Alonso and his Son Prince Sancho at length broke out into open War It troubled the King to see himself slighted by reason of his Age and his Subjects gaping after Innovation Therefore to gain Reputation he gather'd Forces and tho weak with Age and Troubles Ravag'd all the Country of the Moors Nothing perplex'd him so much as want of Mony To redress this he Coin'd a new sort not so Weighty nor Pure as what was in use This increas'd the hatred of the People who gave out that he had no regard to Justice and that many had their Estates Confiscated upon forg'd Crimes Fredulus Bishop of Oviedo a French Man by Birth was now sent by the King Embassador into France the pretence was to Visit King Philip and by his means obtain of the Pope the Croisade for all such as would serve against the Moors at their own Cost But the real design was to treat about setting the King's Grandsons at Liberty Prince Sancho was not ignorant of this practice and therefore to secure himself went away to Cordova and made a League with the Moorish King of Granada remitting him two Thirds of the Tribute he paid the more to gain his good will Besides the Nobility of Spain before disgusted with the King for his great severity declar'd for the Prince These things were in hand about the beginning of the year 1282. The same year in August the Marriage between King Denis of Portugal and Elizabeth eldest Daughter to the King of Aragon was solemnized at the Town of Trancoso This is that Queen Elizabeth who for her great Virtue is enrolled among the Saints and her Feast celebrated in that Kingdom King Denis without respect to his Uncle openly made a League with Prince Sancho King Alonso to the end he might quiet his Son and the Nobility without Bloodshed summon'd the Cortes or Parliament to Toledo and to prevent disorders provided sufficiently for his own Safety Prince Sancho on the other side summons them to Valladolid and thither the greatest number resorted Here he marry'd Mary the Daughter of Alonso Lord of Molina his Third Cousin and by her had Ferdinand the eldest and other Children Every thing was done in that Assembly that the Nobility desir'd for Prince Sancho to oblige them refus'd nothing but promis'd much more New Employments were constituted and new Laws enacted By these means not only the Nobles but the Commonalty were drawn into Rebellion and some in that Confusion saluted Prince Sancho King calling him Father of his Country and all other Names given to Sovereigns He positively refus'd that Title whilst his Father liv'd and nevertheless the Heat was such that Prince Emanuel D. Sancho's Uncle in the Name of all the Nobility publickly in open Assembly depos'd King Alonso from the Government This was a just Judgment of Providence for his presumption in daring to find fault with the Works of God as has been deliver'd to us by Tradition He is also said to have foreseen by his Skill in Astrology this Misfortune and that this foresight made him Cruel which hasten'd what he apprehended King Alonso thus forsaken by his Subjects apply'd himself to the King of Morocco for Supplies of Men and Mony sending him his Crown which was of great Value in Pawn Alonzo de Guzman Lord of Sanlucar was at that time in Morocco and much in Favour with that Prince to him King Alonso writ a very submissive Letter desiring he would intercede with the Moorish King to grant his Request That King hoping to make his Advantage of the discord among the Christians did more than was ask'd of him He came over to Algezira and had a Meeting with King Alonso at Zahara Great Compliments passed between them and King Alonso had the Upper Hand given him not only as a Stranger but because he was descended from Kings whereas the Moor had gain'd his Kingdom as he himself urg'd Here they consulted how to carry on the War since there were no hopes of Peace Sevil held for King Alonso Cordova for Prince Sancho his Son This City the Moors undertook to Besiege and King Alonso joyn'd them with what Forces he had but the Place being well provided with all Necessaries after 20 Days spent before it they rais'd the Siege Thence at the instance of King Alonso the Moors pass'd Sierra Morena advanc'd as far as Montiel and having plunder'd all the Country return'd with their Booty to Ezija Thither King Alonso came but went away privately being inform'd the Moor designed to secure him whether true or false is not known Certain it is that King highly resented his Honour should be brought in question and so went over into Africk Yet he left King Alonso 1000 Horse that had long serv'd him Hernan Ponce Commanded this Body and 't is said of them that meeting 10000 of the Enemies Horse near Cordova they charg'd so furiously that they broke and put them to Flight Such was their extraordinary Valour At Sevil King Alonso in a solemn Assembly disinherited his Son Sancho and pour'd out many Curses upon him That Prince regarded not his Fathers Curses but renew'd the League with the King of Granada and made all manner of Preparations about Cordova putting the Army into Winter Quarters in that Neighbourhood CHAP. IV. The Conspiracy of John Prochita in Sicily against the French and Slaughter of them call'd the Sicilian Vespers Kings of France and Aragon at War about Sicily Castile and Aragon under an Interdict at the same time THis Year was Memorable not only for the Wrongs done to King Alonso but also for the famous Conspiracy of John Prochita He had been Lord of the Island Prochita on the Coast of Sicily a Man of great Parts much a Friend to King Manfredus and since his Overthrow fearing the French fled to Aragon There he was honourably entertain'd by the Two Kings Jayme and his Son Peter and had large Revenues given him The Gibellines at that time oppress'd by the French had cast their Eyes on the King of Aragon for Protection Charles King of Sicily and Naples kept all Italy and even the City of Rome in Subjection and refus'd to release Beatrix the Daghter of Manfredus and Sister to Constance Queen of Aragon John Prochita laid hold of these Disgusts between those Princes and Great Men and hoped to improve them to the recovering of his Estate In order to it he went in disguise to Constantinople and inform'd the Emperor Paleologus how Charles King of Sicily with the Power of the French intended to deprive him of the Empire and restore Baldwin whose Daughter he had Marry'd The Emperor tho convinc'd that what Prachita told him was true would not openly declare himself but promis'd under-hand to assist the King of Aragon in his Pretensions with a great Sum of Mony This done Prochita returns into
a mistake in the Numbers CHAP. X. The Wars betwixt the Christians and Infidels Rebellions in Castile Aragon Castile and Portugal joyn in League The King and Queen of Navarre come into that Country and return again to France AT the same time in Castile great Preparations were made for the War with the Moors The Moorish King 's tender Years and the Distractions among the Infidels offer'd a good Opportunity of making some considerable Advantage Besides that a Son of Ozmin call'd Abraham the Drunkard because he drank much Wine had deserted to the Christians With him came a good Body of Men. King Alonso went to Sevil and from thence made Incursions wasting the Enemy's Country He took from them Olivera Pruna and Ayamonte Thus the Summer was spent and Winter coming on the Souldiers return'd Rich with Plunder to Quarter in Sevil. D. Alonso Jofre the Admiral brought thither the News to the King that he had defeated 24 Galleys of the Moors taken 3 and sunk 4. Some of these belong'd to Granada the rest were of Asrick Above 1200 Moors were kill'd and taken Embassadors were sent to Treat about the King's Marriage D. John Manuel seeing the King resolv'd to put away his Daughter publickly renouncing his Allegiance joyn'd in League with the Kings of Aragon and Granada Besides he made Inroads from Chinchill and Almansa two strong Places wasting all the Country At the same time the King at Sevil gave the Title of Earl of Trastamara Lemos and Sarria to Alvar Nun̄ez Osorio his great Favourite an Honour had not been given in Castile for many Years past The Ceremony was very odd Three Sops were put into a Cup of Wine and set before them the King and Earl complimented one another three Times about taking the first at last the King took one and the Earl another The Earl was allow'd in the Camp to keep a Kitchin apart for his Company and in the Army to have Colours with his own Devise and Coat of Arms. His Patent being sign'd and read all that were present cry'd Let the Earl Live This was the manner of creating an Earl in those Days At Cordova the King caus'd John Ponce to be Beheaded for that he had not obey'd his Orders in restoring the Castle of Cabra to the Knights of Santiago from whom he took it during the late Troubles besides he was accus'd as a Seditious Person Many Citizens of Cordova suffer'd the same Punishment for the same or other like Crimes Garcilasso de la Vega was murder'd at Soria in the Church at Mass by the contrivance of the Nobility The King was much concern'd and had sent him not long before from Sevil to thwart the Designs of D. John Manuel Escalona a small Town in the Kingdom of Toledo mutiny'd and was for joyning with the Rebels In Castile there were Uproars particularly Toro Zamora and Valladolid had reyolted The chief Contriver of this Rebellion was Hernan Rodriguez de Balboa Grand Prior of the Order of S. John His Pretence was the Greatness of the new Earl Alvar Osorio and Joseph the Jew The King lay'd Siege to Escalona but hearing the News of Castile was forc'd to quit it He came to Valladolid where they would not admit him unless he cast off the Earl Osorio which was accordingly done This Affront was so hainously resented by Osorio that he Rebell'd and joyn'd with D. John Manuel which prov'd his utter Ruin Ramiro Flores de Guzman counterfeiting he fled from the King gain'd his Friendship and finding an Opportunity stabb'd him The King presently seiz'd all his Lands and Treasure and declar'd him a Traytor no body appearing upon Summons to Vindicate him Joseph the Jew was protected by his Meanness and general Contempt of that Nation The King was married at Cuidad Rodrigo where with him of Portugal he contriv'd to draw away the King of Aragon from the Interest of D. John Manuel To this purpose they offer'd him Ellenor the King of Castile's Sister in Marriage which he accepted of and the Lady was sent into Aragon his first Wife Teresa being dead before D. John the Patriach and Arch-bishop of Tarragona went as far as Alfaro to meet her The Ceremony was perform'd at Taraçona the King of Castile being present with him of Aragon this was at the beginning of the Year 1329. To make this League the firmer Blanch the Daughter of Prince Peter who was kill'd by the Moors was contracted to Peter the King of Portugal's eldest Son The Three Kings agreed with Joynt Forces to make War upon the Moors till they had totally driven them out of Spain Also that none of them should shelter or protect the Rebels to any of the other D. John Manuel having thus lost the Protection of Aragon to make the best Interest he could marry'd the Daughter of Ferdinand de la Cerda D. John de Lara likewise marry'd Mary the Daughter of D. John Lord of Biscay hoping with their Joynt Forces to recover that Province which the King had taken from that Lady D. John de Lara and D. John Manuel were in open Rebellion others consented underhand as D. Peter de Castro and D. John Alonso de Albuquerque Son to Hernan Sanchez and Grandson to King Denis of Portugal The greatest of all was D. John de Haro Lord of Cameros Great part of the Kingdom follow'd these Rebellious Noblemen This Year the new King and Queen of Navarre came to Pamplona and were receiv'd upon these Conditions That no Mony should be coin'd during the Term of 12 Years because if was then usual to Stamp base Metal That Foreigners should not be put into places of Trust That it should not be in their Power to sell or change the Kingdom or alienate the Revenue That their first Son as soon as he came to Age should be King and take upon him the Government and his Father Philip should allow 100000 Crowns for his Expences The King and Queen swore to the Performance of these Articles and were thereupon Crown'd in the Cathedral on the 5th of March Great Joy was express'd by all sorts of People for that the Kingdom was restored to Princes of their own after it had been 55 Years subject to Foreigners These Princes had 3 Sons Charles Philip and Luis who had all great Possessions and as many Daughters Joanna Mary and Blanch who also were well Marry'd At this time the Flemmings were in Rebellion and had imprison'd Luis their Earl who getting loose was by them besieg'd in Gant whence he fled to the King of France for Protection That King sent Embassadors to Flanders but they proving unsuccessful he had recourse to Arms. Many Princes went to that War and among them Philip King of Navarre The two Armies met near Cassel After some Skirmishes one day in August in the heat of the Day the Flemmings surpriz'd the French Camp gain'd their Works and came to the King's Tent killing many before they could defend themselves The
â—own was well providâ—â— strongly fortify'd and had a good Garrison As soon as the Town was invested all 〈◊〉 Country about was laid Waste and presently the Walls began to be batter'd The Siege lasted long notwithstanding the Townsmen abated of their Heat seeing no hope of Sucâ—â—â—r yet the Garison held out resolutely During the Siege the Embassadors sent by the 〈◊〉 of Castile to establish Peace and desire Succours of the King of Aragon return'd to the Camp and with them Bernard de Cabrera a Man of great Parts and therefore brought to the Court by the King of Aragon from his retirement â—nd employ'd in the most important Affairs of the Government He came to the Camp on the â—0th of August and establish'd a League betwixt the two Kings upon these Conditions That Queen Ellenor and her Children shall peaceably enjoy all that was given them by her Husband and their Father That the King of Castile shall not give them any assistance if they raise Commotions in the Kingdom After this the King of Aragon sent 400 Cross-bow-Men and 10 Galleys under the command of Raymund Villano Joanna Queen of Navarre who after the Death of her Husband Philip resided in France at the Town of Conflans seated at the meeting of the Rivers Seyne and Oyse dy'd on the 5th of October and was buried in the Church of St. Denis near her Father King Luis Hutin She was a most virtuous Lady and had a numerous Issue Charles her Son succeeded her at the Age of 17. She had two lesser Sons Philip and Luis he who had the Seignory of Durazzâ— in Dower and these Daughters Joanna Mary Blâ—â—â—h and Agnes who were all marry'd to great Men the first to the Lord of Roanâ— the 2d to the King of Aragon the 3d to Philip de Valois King of France and the last to the Earl of Faux Mossen John de Conflans a Frenchman was now Vicerâ—y of Navarre Let us return to the Siege of Gibraltar The Moors of Granada always laid Ambushes about the Christian Camâ—â—â—nd pick'd up all Straglers The besieg'd made often Sallies and did some Execution But what was worst a violent Plague rag'd in the Army and great Numbers dy'd Most Men and particularly D. John de Lara and D. Ferdinand Manuel who had succeeded his Father in the Lordship of Villena were for raising the Siege These things somwhat mov'd the King â—et his Resolution prevail'd unfortunately to him for the Infection seiz'd him and he dy'd on the 26th of March 1350. This was the first year in which Pope Clement allow'd the Jubilee to be gain'd every 50th year which before was every Century It was also remarkable for the Death of Philip King of France His Son John succeeded him This was the end of King Alonso the XIth of Castile in the 38th year of his Age and 't is thought had he liv'd longer he would have drove the Moors out of Spain He might have been compar'd to the best of Princes had he not â—â—emish'd his Virtâ—es by much Inconstancy His Severity in executing Justice gain'd him the Name of The Vpright Immediately upon his Death the Siege was rais'd His Body was carry'd to Sevil and bury'd in the Royal Chappel In the Reign of his Son Henry he was Translated to Cordova as he had order'd it in his Will D. Giles de Albornoz Archbishop of Toledo was created a Cardinal by Pope Clement on the 18th of December Laurence de Padilla says this was the Cause why he quitted the Archbishoprick for in those Days two such Dignities were incompatible and that D. Gonçalo the IVth succeeded him and govern'd that Church but 3 Years Mighty Troubles and Confusions follow'd in Castile Most Men lay all the blame on the new King and therefore call him The Cruel 〈◊〉 Authors attribute it to the Pride and Ambition of the Nobility who 〈◊〉 the King to make 〈◊〉 â—ere Examples As soon as King Alonso dy'd his lawful Son Peter was proclaim'd King 〈◊〉 the Camp tho he was but 15 years of Age and then at Sevil with his Mother His Age was unfit for Government but his forward Wit promis'd well He was fair of Complexion had an agreeable Face with much Majesty a great Heart for difficult Attempts and would undergo any Labour He lov'd 〈◊〉 king above other Sporst and was rigid in Administring Justice Among these Virtues some Vices began to appear as Pride and Passion in his Youth afterwards he added Avarice and Incontinency These natural Imperfections were increas'd by the ill Government of his Tutor D. John de Albuquerque who gave him his Will in all things and by that means rose to the great Favour he had with him The new King had these Bastard Brothers Henry Earl of Trastamara Frederick Master of Santiago Ferdinand Lord of Ledesina and Tello Lord of Aguilar these the Sons of the Lady Ellenor de Guzman Besides these the Lady Joanna marry'd to Ferdinand and Philip de Castro Sancho John and Peter for another Peter and Sancho dy'd Young These Bastard Brothers had not much Confidence in the King who was wholly govern'd by his Mother Queen Mary The Lady Ellenor de Guzman fâ—â—ring the Queen Dowager set out from the Camp with the dead King's Body but by the way changing her Resolution left it and went to Medina Sidonia a strong Town of her own Here she was some time dubious what to do but at last resolv'd to put her self upon the King's Goodness Having fix'd this Resolution she went away to Sevil her Sons and other great Men of her Kindred went to Algezira and other strong Places The King yielding to his Mother's Passion the Lady Ellenor was cast into Prison Her Son Henry being expell'd Algezira upon a safe Conduct came to the King and hastily concluded a Match with the Lady Joanna Sister to D. Ferdinand Manuel to be 〈◊〉 Condition to oppose the King The King fell so desperately Sick that he was given over by all the Physicians Every one named a Successor according to his Fancy but the King soon recovering this only serv'd to discover the Inclinations of the People D. John de Lara envious of the great Power of D. Alonso de Albuquerque went away for Castile designing to raise a Rebellion which was easy because of his great Possessions in that Country His Designs were prevented by Death which took him away at Burgos on the 28th of November His Body was bury'd in the Monastery of St. Paul of the Dominiâ—ans in that City He left a 〈◊〉 NunÌ„o de Lara but two years Old Almost at the same time dy'd his Brother in Law D. Ferdinand Manuel leaving only a Daughter call'd Blanch. The Death of these two great Men was very pleasing to D. Alonso de Albuquerque who hop'd they being remov'd to be absolute without Controul The King upon the first News set out from Sevil hoping to seize upon their Estates and gave by the way some Signs of his
Severity D. Frederick his Bastard Brother met him at Ellerena and was receiv'd with exterior Tokens of Affection but it appear'd afterwards they were Counterfeit At the same time he order'd D. Alonso de Olmedo to put to Death the Lady Ellenor de Guzman then a Prisoner at Talavera in the Kingdom of Toledo This Town being part of the Queen's Dower was from that time call'd Talavera de la Râ—yna Garcilasso de la Vega was kill'd in the Palace at Burgos his chief Crime was the Affection he bore to D. John de Lara Garcilasso was Lieutenant of Castile Garci Manrique succeeded him in that Post It was consulted how the King might get the young Child D. Nuno de Lara Lord of Biscay into his Power But D. Mencia who had the Care of him fled with him into Biscay hoping that People would defend him The King pursu'd and they narrowly escap'd but the Child soon dying he easily subdu'd all that Lordship and annex'd Biscay Lerma and Lara with other Places to the Crown having before secur'd Joanna and Elizabeth Sisters to the Child deceas'd These things were acted in the year of Grace 1351. Great rejoycing was 〈◊〉 in Aragon for the Birth of Prince John which put an end to the strife there had been about the Succession Bernard de Cabrâ—ra was appointed his Tutor and the young Prince was created Duke of Girona From this time forward the eldest Son to the King of Aragon was always Duke of Girona Both the Kings of Castile and Aragon endeavour'd to make a 〈◊〉 with Charles King of Navarre who the year before was Crown'd at Pamplona This King thought it convenient to entertain both those Kings with fair promises Yet at the request of the Castilian he came to Burgos where they both labour'd to out-do one another in Civility and Gallantry Being almost of the same Age and Natural Inclinations they became great Friends This King Charles was by some call'd the Wicked by others the Cruel because 〈◊〉 punish'd with severity a Mutiny that was rais'd at his first Accession to the Crown After some days spent in Mirth at Burgos the King of Castile went away to hold the â—â—rtes or Parliament at Burgos and King Charles returned to â—amplona Thence desiring to be gone into France his Native Country he first went to Moblanco in Aragon to meet that King There two Marriages were propos'd one for King Charles with the Sister to the King of Sicily and the other with Blanch Widow of Philip King of France but nothing was concluded because he hop'd to Marry Joanna the King of France's Daughter CHAP. VIII Embassadors sent by King 〈◊〉 of Castile into France to obtain for his Wife Blanch Daughter to the Duke of Bourbon who is brought into Spain and Marry'd to the King but he being before in â—ove with the Lady Mary de Padilla slights and forsakes his Queen SOme Towns in Old Castile had an antient inmemorial Privilege of chusing their Lords and were therefore call'd Behâ—trias from the Greek word Hetera signifying a Company D. Alonso de Albuquerque in the Cortes labour'd that it should be establish'd for the future the King should appoint those Lords but it could not be obtain'd The next thing propos'd was to Marry the King and to that purpose John de Roelaâ— Bishop of Burgos and Alvor Garcia de Albâ—rnoz a Gentleman of Cuenca were sent Embassadors into France to ask one of the six Daughters of the Duke of Bourbon the most powerful Prince of the Blood Royal in France which they should most approve of for the King The Duke having shew'd them his Daughters they made choice of the Lady Blanch and she was Contracted to the King by Proxy This Lady was bless'd with all Perfections of Soul and Body but unfortunate in her Marriage which ought to have been the Complement of all her Felicity Henry Earl of Trastamara after the Death of his Mother and Gareilasso fled out of Asturias to Portugal fearing the King whom he was not able to oppose The King of Portugal taking compassion on the Earl and fearing leâ—t any misfortune might befall his Grandson the King of Castile his People being incens'd against him met him at Câ—idad Rodrigo There he perswaded him to pardon Count Henry In the beginning of the year 1352. Discontents began to break out in Andaluzia Asturias and Murcia D. Alonso Fernandez Coronel a powerful Man in Andaluzia was possess'd of Aguilar by the King's Gift and had long been at 〈◊〉 with Bernaâ—â—de Cabrera about that Town He was â—ealous of the King for that during his sickness at Seviâ— he had let fall some words signifying that D. John de Lara ought to succeed him which the King heinously resented This Gentleman confiding in the Strength of Aguilar stor'd his other Towns and made an Alliance with other mutinous Nobles He rais'd Men and ask'd Aid of Foreign Princes Particularly he sent D. John de la Cerda Son to Lewis and his Son in Law to the Moors Neither the King of Granada nor the Africanâ— would give him any Succour but it is said he serv'd Albohacen in a Battel in which he overthrew his Father Albohacen Thence he return'd to Portugal and there continu'd in Banishment His Wife the Lady Mary Coronel not able to endure the absence of her Husband or resist her unchast desires rather than yield to them is said to have put burning Coals into that Part which molested her The King of Castile having taken several Towns in Andaluzia prepar'd to Besiege Aguilar when News was brought him that Count Henry had Rebell'd at Gijon in Asturias and his Brother D. Tello committed many Outrages making Incursions from Montagudo on the Frontiers of Aragon This oblig'd him to March to Asturias where Gijon surrender'd upon promise of Pardon for themselves and Count Henry who lurk'd in the Mountains In this march it was that the King fell in Love with Da. Maria de Padilla a young Maid that was bred in the House of D. Alonso de Albuquerque Their familiarity began at Sahagun which prov'd Fatal to the King and Kingdom John de Hinestrola the Ladies Uncle was the manager of the unhappy Bargain The King march'd to Montagudo and took it with several other Towns for D. Tello had abandon'd it and was fled to Aragon The two Kings of Aragon being so near one another set onfoot a Treaty of Peace they met not themselves but their Embassadors D. Alonso de Albuquerque and Bernard de Gabrera concluded a Peace at Taraçona A League offensive and defensive was establish'd and they agreed the one should pardon D. Tello and the other D. Ferdinand de Aragon Then â—ing Peter return'd into Andaluzia and after a Siege of four Months took Aguilar in February 1853. D. Alonso Coronel being taken was Executed as a Traytor with Five of his Companions The Town was dismantled and the King pardon'd the multitude On the 25th of the same
at variance and in lieu thereof should have the Lordship of Montpelier These things were done later in the Year 1375 therefore let us return to Castile King Henry's Joy for his Success was somewhat abated by the many Enemies he had yet to deal with for still King Peter's Party was not extinct The Portugueses had a strong Garrison in Cuida Rodrigo and thence infested all the neighbouring Country This place King Henry laid Siege to at the beginning of the Year 1370 but the Portugueses defended it so bravely that he was forc'd to quit that Design for the present and march away to Medina del Campos Here he held the Cortes or Parliament The chief Thing done at this Meeting was the granting of an extraordinary Subsidy towards the War There was due to Bertran Claquin 120000 Doubles promis'd him for betraying of King Peter at Montiel this was a vast Summ in those Days Jayme King of Naples was deliver'd to him as payment of 60000 the Queen his Wife offering so much for him the rest was paid down in Gold Besides the King gave him the Towns of Soria Almaçan Aciença Montagudo Molina and Seron This done he return'd into France where he was made Constable and serv'd well against the English In July the Aragonians and Navarrois concluded a League only defensive as was given out but in reality design'd against Henry of Castile Then the Towns of Salvatierra and La Real formerly belonging to Aragon were restor'd to that Crown by the Queen of Navarre In Castile Peter Manrique Lieutenant of that Kingdom and Peter Ruiz Sarmiento Lieutenant of Galicia were order'd with some Forces to defend Galicia where the Portugueses had taken Compostella Tuy and the Port of Corun̄a D. Tello King Henry's Brother was also commanded thither This done King Henry went away to Sevil with the best of his Army for there was the greatest need of it because the Moors made War on that side Carmona still held out and the Portuguese Fleet kept the Mouth of the River Gaudalquivir Henry was much pleas'd that the Masters of Santiago and Calatrava concluded a Truce with the King of Granada for he could not have withstood so many Enemies at once The Portuguese fleet consisted of 16 Galleys and 24 Ships King Henry order'd 20 Galleys to be lanch'd but they could not all be fitted because King Peter had laid up the Tackling at Carmona therefore a Fleet was order'd to come from Biscay which the Portuguese understanding durst not stay to give them Battel but return'd to Portugal having lost three Galleys and two Ships The Portuguese Fleet was at that time weaken'd having sent some Galleys to Barcelona to carry the Embassadors who went to make a League with the King of Aragon They concluded the Confederacy upon these Terms That the Kingdom of Murcia and City of Cuenca with all its Dependencies should belong to the Crown of Aragon all the other Dominions of Castile should fall to the King of Portugal who already called himself King of Castile That the King of Portugal should marry the Lady Ellenor Daughter to the Aragonian her Dower to be 100000 Florins This Contract came to nothing for the King of Portugal fell in love with and marry'd the Lady Ellenor Tellez de Meneses Daughter to Alonso Tello Count of Barceols and the Aragonian taken up with the War of Sardinia had no leisure to attend that of Castile On the 15th of October dy'd D. Tello King Henry's Brother Lord of Biscay Some say he was poison'd others deny it The King gave the Lordship of Biscay and Lara belonging D. Tello to his own Son John and ever since they have been annex'd to the Crown of Castile The Body of D. Tello was bury'd with great Pomp in the Monastery of S. Francis at Palencia CHAP. IX The Siege of Carmona The King of Portugal marries the Lady Ellenor de Meneses Peace betwixt Castile Portugal and Nevarre KIng Heny eas'd of two great Troubles by the Truce made with the Moor and the removal of the Portuguese Fleet laid Siege to Carmona the only Refuge of King Peter's Friends in the Spring of the Year 1371. This Siege lasted long and many notable Exploits were perform'd by the Besieged who kept their Gates always open making continual Salleys One Day just at Noon the Heat being very great the besieged observ'd the Enemy to keep very close in their Tents and thereupon sallying furiously enter'd their Trenches and went directly to the King's Tent resolving by his death to put an end to the War He was in extream Danger but that some Gentlemen came to his rescue and stop'd the Fury of the besieged till the Army gathering they were repuls'd with considerable Loss After this King Henry attempted by Night to scale the Walls about 40 Men at Armes got up and secur'd a Tower but the Townsmen taking the Alarm fell on them with such Bravery that the Ladders not able to bear them going down broke and those that were in the Tower were left behind Martin Lopez de Cordeva the Governour who was out of the Town that Night returning caus'd them all to be put to Death Provision failing the Governour was at last forc'd to Surrender upon Articles which were basely broken and the brave Governour Martin Lopez de Cordova publickly put to Death or rather murder'd at Sevil by the King's Command The Treasure and Innocent Children of King Peter fell into the Hands of King Henry who kept those guiltless Persons in perpetual Imprisonment This done King Henry caus'd the Bones of his Father King Alonso to be translated to the Royal Chappel of the Cathedral of Cordova At the Siege of Carmona he receiv'd the News that Peter Fernandez de Velasco had taken the City Zamora from the Portugeses and his Liuetenant Peter Manrique and Peter Ruiz Sarmiento pacify'd Galicia having defeated D. Ferdinand de Castro the chief Man that favour'd the Portugeses who having lost the Battle fled to Portugal King Ferdinand of Portugal discourag'd at these Losses gave ear to Peace propos'd to him on the behalf of King Henry by Alonso Perez de Gusman chief Alguazil of Sevil. The Treaty was concluded on the 1st Day of March upon these Articles That the King of Castile restore the Towns taken during the War That the King of Portugal marry Ellenor Daughter to him of Castile whose Dower was to be Cuidad Rodrigo Valencia de Alcantara in Estremadura and Monreal in Galicia The Love the Portuguese bore the Lady Ellenor de Meneses as has been said before prevented this Match and he sent an Embassy to excuse himself and deliver'd up all the Places he had belonging to Castile His Excuses were easily allow'd and he publickly marry'd the Lady Elenor de Meneses which prov'd an unhappy Match and produc'd Wars betwixt Castile and Portugal Before the King was marry'd his Design being known at Lisbon the People mutiny'd to prevent it but the
other his Contrivances CHAP. VIII John King of Aragon upon Complaint of his Subjects complies with their Demands Irruptions of the French into Aragon Henry the IIId proclaim'd King of Castile The form of Government appointed there during his Minority JOHN the first the new King of Aragon acted nothing like his Father who was an active Man warlike and ambitious of enlarging his Dominions King John was meek and affable unless provok'd more inclin'd to his Ease than warlike Affairs He lov'd Hawking Hunting Musick and Poetry and all things that represent Grandeur so that the Revenue was too small for his Expence The Queen was in all things like her Husband so that the Court was full of Foosting Balls and Pleasure Great Rewards were given to Poets and so fond was the King of them that he sent an Embassy into France only to have some choice ones sent him The Nobility of Aragon offended at the King's Extravagancy met at Calasanz at the same time the Cortes sat at Monçon They sent their Complaints in Writing to the Cortes which where chiefly the extraordinary Expences the Lewdness of the Court and that the Kingdom was govern'd by a Woman This was meant of Da. Carroça de Villaragur Favourite to the Queen who entirely rul'd the King Messages pass'd to and fro and at length the King being of an easy Nature comply'd with their Demands retrench'd his Expences set out Proclamations for restraining the Disorders of the People banish'd that Lady and for bid the Queen intermedling in the Government Thus those Discontents were lay'd when at the same time a War seem'd to threaten from France Bernard de Armugnac broke into Catalonia with a Body of Bretons yet made more Noise than he did harm Soon after he was follow'd by his Brother the Earl of Armagnac with greater Forces Tomich a Catalonian Historian writes he had 18000 Horse a falshood which yet shews their Number was great There was no cause to make War but the desire of Robbing They burnt some Towns and Farms and carry'd away a great Number of Prisoners and Cattle This mischief fell heaviest upon the Territories of Ampurias and Girona The Forces of Aragon assembl'd and had several Rancounters with them In one Bernard de Cabrera overthrew 8 Companies of French near Navarre In another Raymund Bages near Cavan̄as defeated a good Body of them and took their Commander call'd Martin The King set out from Girona to oppose them but they return'd into France by the way of Russillon where they did much harm The King of Aragon had stir'd up Arigotte of Auvergne to make War upon the Lands of Armagnac which mov'd the Earl to return to defend his own Luis the Son of Luis Duke of Anjou who dy'd in the Conquest of Naples and stil'd himself King of Hierusalem and Sicily marry'd Violante the Daughter of the King of Aragon at Barcelona The end of this Match was that the Aragonian should assist his Son in Law in the Conquest of Naples D. Martin Lord of Exerica the King of Aragon's Nephew as being the Son of his Brother Martin with the King's Consent marry'd Mary Queen of Sicily the Pope also agreeing to it because that Kingdom is a Feofe of the Church Sardinia was again in an uproar for that Brancaleon Doria not regarding the late Settlement and the Pardon he had receiv'd took up Arms again at the beginning of the Year 1391 on pretence of asserting the Peoples Liberties With this specious pretence he drew to his side the Genoeses and many of the Islanders so that he took Sacer the Capital City of the Island and many other Towns and Forts To crush this Rebellion the King rais'd Men and set forth a Proclamation commanding all that had Lands in the Island to go over to defend it At this same time Pope Clement created Martin Bishop of Pamplona Cardinal who was the first of those Prelates that obtained that Honour When King John of Castile fell with his Horse as has been said the Arch-bishop of Toledo who was by caus'd a Tent to be set up in that Place and guarded with trusty Persons concealing the King's Death and sending out several Messages in his Name But this Fiction could not hold long The first that resorted to behold this miserable Spectacle was Queen Beatrix before despoil'd of her Father's Kingdom and now of her Husband being left without any Children to be a Comfort in her Widowhood Prince Henry surpriz'd at his Father's Death set out from Talavera and stopp'd at Madrid with his Brother Ferdinand There the Arch-bishop caus'd him to be proclaim'd King he was the third of the Name and commonly call'd the Sickly for his want of Health All the great Men of the Kingdom flock'd to kiss his Hand and offer their Persons and Estates D. Alonso de Aragon Marques de Villena dissatisfy'd with the late King was withdrawn into Aragon He offer'd to return to Castile provided he might be restor'd to the Office of Constable The King and Queen condescended to his Request and yet he came not being detain'd for certain Reasons in Aragon The Ceremony of proclaiming the King being perform'd he went to Toledo to bury his Father in the Royal Chappel as he had ordain'd Next the Cortes assembl'd at Madrid and took in hand to settle the Government the King being but 11 years of Age. Ellenor the only Daughter to the Earl of Albuquerque for her great Fortune commonly call'd the Rich Female was then at Court Many courted her and among them her Cousin the Duke of Benavente but Prince Ferdinand was preferred before him and they were Contracted yet so that the Match should not go forwards till the King was 14 Years of Age. This was that in case the King dy'd before that Age the Prince might marry Queen Catherine the Duke of Lancaster's Daughter as had been agreed The Bride swore to the Contract being 16 Years of Age but the Prince was too young to swear When the Cortes were about setling the Government they understood by Peter Lopez de Ayala that the late King had made a Will This Will being found and read rais'd variety of Opinions They were chiefly offended at one Clause which appointed for the young King's Tutors till he was 15 Years of Age D. Alonso de Aragon the Constable the Arch-bishops of Toledo and Santiago the Master of Calatrava the Earl of Niebla and Peter de Mendoça the Lord Steward and with them 6 Citizens one of each of the Cities of Burgos Toledo Leon Sevil Cordova and Murcia to be chosen by the Counsels of those Places Every one that was not of the Number was offended The Affair was long debated Some few were for fulfilling the Will but the greatest Number were for cancelling it The Arch-Bisop of Toledo would not suffer it to be burnt because there were certain Legacies nam'd in it for his Church which he would have valid tho the rest were not The Will
France and to marry him to the Lady Charlotte Daughter to the King of Naples Her Father would not consent because they demanded the Principality of Taranto with her as Dower and this was suspected to be in order to seize the whole Kingdom of Naples The Duke of Milan and Cardinal Ascanius his Brother pressed the King to consent lest the Pope should bring the French upon him again which would prove his utter Ruin as it did K. Ferdinand did not approve of this Contrivance tho' he was offered the disposal of the Churches of Pamplona and Valencia then in the hands of Caesar Borgia These Practices scandalized all Christendom to see that a Cardinal in Holy Orders should have leave given him to marry The Wickedness of the Court of Rome gave all the World enough to talk therefore Hierome Savonarola a Dominican who of late Years had a great hand in the Government of Florence Preaching with extraordinary Freedom against the Extravagancies of the Pope was by his Order publickly burnt with two of his Companions in the Market place of that City upon Palm-Sunday Many in Florence to this day account him a Martyr others condemned his Boldness But this hapned not only at Florence for Garcilasso the Catholick King 's Ambassador reproved the Pope to his face and required him in his King's Name to redress those Disorders The Pope was angry at this Liberty but mended not his Faults Soon after Caesar Borgia publickly protested he took Orders against his Will and desired a Dispensation to quit all his Benefices and resign the Cardinal's Cap. Many of the Cardinals were of Opinion he deserved for his wicked Life to be degraded and not suffered to resign but none durst speak for fear of the Pope In fine he resigned and the New King of France created him Duke of Valence Being disappointed of the Daughter of Frederick King of Naples he married the Daughter of the Lord d' Albret and Sister to the King of Navarre By her he had a Daughter who her Father dying was left to the Care of her Unkle the King of Navarre This same Year the Great Captain having gathered a Fleet at Naples sailed for Spain He was the Honour of our Nation for the many Victories he obtained and subduing that Kingdom after such great Disorders CHAP. II. The King of Portugal sworn Heir to the Crown of Castile Elizabeth his Queen delivered of a Son dies The Duke of Milan expelled his Dominions University of Alcala founded Rebellion of the Mountain-Moors AS soon as Prince John died the King and Queen began to be sollicitous about the Succession of the Crown but waited to see what the Princess Margaret would bring forth Their Grief was increased when at Alcala de Henares she miscarried of a Daughter Hereupon they advertised the King of Portugal of his Title to the Crown and advised him to come to Castile and be Sworn according to Custom The Archduke and his Dutchess who at that time took the Stile of Princes of Spain were warned to forbear it The King and Queen of Portugal entred Castile by the way of Badajoz where they were received by the Dukes of Medina Sidonia and Alva with many other Great Men. Thence they went to spend the Holy Week at Guadalupe and on the 26th of April came to Toledo where the Catholick King and Queen expected them and according to Custom on the Sunday following Homage was done to them and they were Sworn Heirs of Castile The Business of Aragon was not so easie because Henry Duke of Segorve was alive and pretended no Woman could Inherit that Crown and therefore it appertained to him and his Son Alonso as descended of the Male Line of King Ferdinand of Aragon To make all things the easier the Kings of Castile and Portugal went to Zaragoça and there on the 14th of July proposed to the Nobility to Swear to the King and Queen of Portugal as Heirs of the Crown There arose a great Debate some affirming no Woman could Inherit that Crown and others maintaining the contrary To end this Dispute it pleased God that the Queen of Portugal on the 23d of August was delivered of a Son whom they called Michael She died within an Hour after The King her Husband returned immediately to his Kingdom The Queen's Body was deposited in the Church of S. Francis and thence translated to the Monastery of Nuns of S. Elizabeth built by her Father at Toledo On the 22d of September all Difficulties being removed the young Prince was by general Consent Sworn Heir to the Crown of Aragon and soon after the same was done in Castile Before King Ferdinand went to Zaragoça he had sent D. Alonso de Sylva his Ambassador to France to Compliment the New King upon his Accession to the Crown and at the same time to press the Conclusion of the Peace He with the other Ambassadors there before soon brought it to a Period The same was done on his part by the Archduke without consulting his Father or Father-in-Law Luis d' Amboise Archbishop of Roan by his Interest with the King of France much forwarded this Agreement In September the Pope made him a Cardidal at the suit of the French King who was intent upon passing into Italy upon account of the Right he pretended to have to the Dutchy of Milan and Kingdom of Naples From Zaragoça King Ferdinand sent D. Yn̄igo de Cordova Brother to the Earl of Cabra and Dr. Philip Ponce to require the Pope to restore the City Benevento to the Church and to reform the Abuses of his Court and Leudness of his Family The King of Portugal by the Advice of his Father-in-Law sent D. Roderick de Castro and D. Henry Coutin̄o to Rome with the same Embassie They all admonished the Pope and made their Protestation Garcilasso de la Vega performing the Office of Notary Apostolick The Pope was highly offended and threatned to punish them for their Presumption yet at last be answered That Benevento was not nor should not be alienated As to the Reforming his House he answered harshly Within few days the Prince of Esquilache his Wife his Sister Lucrecia and her Husband whose Leudness as well as Caesar Borgia's incensed the People all departed Rome Such was the Hatred the Pope conceived on this account against Garcilasso de la Vega that he was forced to leave that City and the Portugues Ambassadors soon followed at the beginning of the Year 1499. Those of the Catholick King stayed some time longer till the coming of Lorenço Suarez de Figueroa who was appointed to succeed his Brother Garcilasso after he had been Ambassador at Venice where he gained great Reputation Many heavy Cares at the same time lay upon the Catholick King Italy was in danger by reason of the French King's Pretensions The Pope egged him on in hopes to be revenged on King Frederick and to raise Duke Valentine The Venetians also offended with the Duke
Christendom flocked to Rome to obtain the Indulgence and Remission of their Sins Nothing could be more depraved than the People of that City but especially the Clergy for which God seemed in some measure to threaten his Judgments by an Accident that befel the Pope On the day of S. Peter and Paul about Four in the afternoon hapned a violent storm of Rain and Hail with so furious a Hurricane that it beat down the Stack of Chimneys over the Room where the Pope was under that where Duke Valentin Lodged The fall of it beat down the Floors of the Dukes Room killing Two and wounding a Third Florentine who were waiting there to receive some Money Many Bricks and Planks fell before the Pope who was much saved by the Canopy under which he Sate However he was found Senseless with a Wound on his Head another on his Hand The Cardinal of Capua and Mosen Po who were with him saved themselves within the Arches of the Windows The Pope was 70 Years of Age and his wounds dangerous which made People look upon him as a dead Man and Duke Valentin was gathering Forces to have a Pope of his own chusing It pleased God he recovered and so all that Confusion Ceased At this time the Great Captain set Sail from Malaga with a Fleet of 27 Ships 25 Caravels some Gallies and other small Craft in which were 4000 Foot and 300 Men at Arms. With him went many Men of Note They touched at Majorca and Sardinia and at last arrived at Mecina in Sicily on the 18th of July Thither repaired to him the Spanish Soldiers that were in Italy all choice Men and he gathered some other Vessels The Turks laid Siege to Modon a City of the Venetians in the Morea and these pressed the Great Captain to join them yet he could not set forward till the 27th of September when Modon was lost The Xeque of Gelves desired the Great Captain to send him some Succours because the People of the Island were incensed against the Soldiers of Margarit for their Insolencies and all Barbary against the Xeque for having called the Christians No Relief was sent but Orders given him to apprehend Margarit and all his Men whom he afterwards released and possessed himself of the Castle and Island of Gelves On the 2d of October the Spanish Fleet arrived at Gorfu an Island of the Venetians Hereupon the Turks altered their Resolution of invading that Island and marched to Napoli de Romania Now the Peace betwixt France and Spain was concluded upon honourable Conditions As to the Kingdom of Naples it was agreed it should be taken from King Frederick that Apulia and Calabria should be given to the Catholick King Abruzzo and Campania to the French and that all the Revenue of the Kingdom should be equally divided This Agreement was not like to be lasting Besides their pretensions of Right to that Crown they had another colour which was to make War upon the Turks with whom King Frederick was in League At first this contract was kept very private afterwards discovered to the Pope who was well pleased and gave each of the Kings an Investiture of his Part to the King of France with the Title of King of Naples and Hierusalem and to the Catholick King that of Duke of Apulia From Corfu the Spanish Fleet sailed to Zant where it arrived the 5th of October There the Venetian Fleet joined it Two French Carracks came thither with 800 Men that King having promised to assist the Venetians when they delivered up Cardinal Ascanius to him The Turks who had distressed Napoli de Romania raised their Siege and their Fleet drew into the Channel of Negropont on the farther side of the Morea At Zant there were various Opinions about what was best to be done The Great Captain was for attacking Modon It was resolved to Conquer the Island Cefalonia which is large and has one of the best Ports in the World on the West side It lies between Corfu and Zant opposite to the Gulph of Lepanto The French being gone upon pretence they were not paid the rest laid Siege to the chief Town of the Island called S. George In it were 300 Turks chosen Men who defended themselves well and the Christians were repulsed in an assault they gave the first day By reason of the Bad Weather the Siege lasted some Weeks but upon Christmas-Eve the Town was carried by storm 170 Turks were killed and 50 that retired to a strong Tower surrendred upon discretion Captain Martin Gomez was the first that entred the Town That Island had belonged to Leonard Torus a Greek from whose Brother the Venetians took and gave it to the Turks Now it was again given to the Venetians This done the Great Captain returned to Sicily and arrived at Siracusa where all his Fleet met having been dispersed in a Storm For his good Service done to that State the Venetians sent the Great Captain the Title of Nobleman of Venice and with it a present of Plate and rich Silks All the present he sent to the King contenting himself with the honour gained At this time Duke Valentin after having murdered his Brother in Law D. Alonso de Aragon Duke of Viseli had renewed the War in Romania and taken Pesera and Arimino without any Resistance Faença held out long This Year also the Pope allowed of the Divorce betwixt Ladislaus King of Hungary and Beatrix of Aragon who had been Wife to Mathias his Predecessor Daughter to Ferdinand King of Naples and Niece to the Catholick King Ladislaus Married Ann Daughter to Gaston de Faux Lord of Candale Niece to the Catholick King and Grandchild to Queen Ellenor of Navarre CHAP. IV. King Ferdinand 's Double-dealing The Princess Mary of Castile married to the King of Portugal The French and Spaniards jointly subdue the Kingdom of Naples Actions of the Great Captain OF Four Daughters the Catholick King and Queen had the Princess Mary was still unmarried King Ferdinand of Naples was desirous to have her for his Son the Duke of Calabria hoping by that means to secure his Crown The King of Portugal also sollicited to have her tho' he had been married to her Sister This was thought the better Match but the Dispensation was hard to be obtained because the Affinity was in the First Degree The Pope tho' in other things free enough was very backward in this pretending that the King of France pressed him not to grant it He said he would not consent to it unless the Catholick King would secure him against any harm that might threaten him upon that account Much time was spent in debating this Point King Ferdinand would have the Duke of Calabria marry his Neice Queen Joanna Widow of Ferdinand II. King of Naples who was still in that Kingdom her Father having left her 400000 Ducats King Frederick approved of the Match to save the Payment of that vast Sum but would have the King of Spain
raise Mony for the War which threatned on all sides The Cortes of Burgos gave 150 Millions of Maravedies This they did in respect that King Ferdinand then united the Kindom of Navarre to that of Castile whereas formerly it was united to Aragon By this it appears the King had no Thoughts of restoring that Kingdom but esteemed it as much his own as any of the others without the least remorse of Conscience upon that account as he was often heard to say He gave three Reasons to justifie this his Proceeding The first the Pope's deposing that King The second the free gift of that Crown to the Kings of Castile made by the Princess Clare first Wife to Prince Henry afterwards the 4th King of Castile of that Name when her Father King John of Aragon delivered her up to Gaston de Foix and her Sister Ellenor her declared Enemies who sought her Death to secure themselves the Possession of that Crown and therefore he said it was but just to revenge that Murder by depriving the Grandchildren of those that committed so great a Crime of the Kingdom His third Reason was the Right that Queen Germana pretended to the Crown after the Death of her Brother Gaston de Foix. Three Years after this it appears she assigned over all her Claim to Prince Charles then King of Castile and Aragon It was proposed in the Cortes of Aragon to raise a considerable Sum of Mony towards the War but the Nobility would not consent unless their Vassals were cut off from having any Appeal to the King This hindred all Proceedings for some Months The Archbishop of Zaragoça laboured to remove these Obstacles but perceiving nothing was done he was of Opinion to try what every City in particular would contribute King Ferdinand tho' his Sickness increased so that he was given over for Dead one night resolved to get into Aragon believing his Presence would reduce that obstinate People He sent for the Vicechancellour Antony Augustin to meet him and assoon as he came to Aranda caused him to be apprehended and sent Prisoner to the Castle of Samoncas Every one guessed at the Cause of his Imprisonment but nothing was certainly known The King left the Cardinal and Council at Segovia and hasted to Calatayud carrying Prince Ferdinand with him He could not prevail with the Nobility to quit their unjust Pretensions His Sickness increased and it is reported the famous Bell of Vililla prognosticated his Death for in Aragon it is a received Opinion that Bell rings of it self before the Death of Kings or any other great Misfortunes Thus having done nothing he returned to Madrid in Autumn The Queen having broke up the Cortes of Aragon went to Lerida to those of Catalonia At the same time these Cortes sat the Emperor the Brothers King Sigismund of Poland and Ladislaus of Hungary and his Son Luis then King of Bohemid met at Vienna on the 17th of July Their meeting was to celebrate the Nuptials of Prince Ferdinand and the Princess Mary with Luis King of Bohemia and the Lady Anne his Sister the Children of the Hungarian King Prince Ferdinand being absent the Emperor stood Proxy for her Thomas Cardinal of Strigonium the Pope's Legate performed the Ceremony It is worth observing that as Ferdinand and Mary were Grandchildren to the Catholick King so Luis and Anne were great Grandchildren to E e or Queen of Navarre and Sister to King Ferdinand Gatherine Daughter to Queen Ellenor was married to Gaston de Foix Lord of Candale whose Daughter Anne was Wife to Ladislaus King of Hungary and Mother to Luis and Anne so far was the Progeny of King John of Aragon the Father of King Ferdinand spread abroad Great things had been done by Alonso de Albuquerque Governour of India and great is the Obligation his Country owes him for having Founded their Dominion in those remote Parts He was now old sickly and worn out and had many Enemies who sent Complaints against him to Portugal it being impossible to please all Men. King Emanuel sent Lope Suarez de Albergaria a Man well versed in the Affairs of India to succeed him With him went Mathew the Ethiopian Ambassador and Duarte Galvam sent in the same Quality by King Emanuel but he died by the way Some time after Roderick de Lima was sent who carried Mathew into Ethiopia but he died before he could reach the Court. Now also went Francis Alvarez the Priest whose Book is extant giving an account of his Voyage The new Governour arrived at Goa on the 2d of September having spent but 5 Months in the Voyage which was a very short time On the 7th of that Month the Queen of Portugal was delivered of a Son called Edward an affable and mild Prince addicted to Hunting and Musick He died young yet left a Son by his Wife of his own Name and two Daughters whereof Mary was married to Alexander Farnesius then Prince and afterwards Duke of Parma and Catherine married to the Duke of Bragança When Lope Suarez arrived at Goa Albuquerque was at Ormuz ill of his last Sickness Having settled that Island he embarked being desirous to see Goa which Place was his Delight By the way he received advice of the coming of his Successor he was extreamly surprized and cried out Good God! how many Misfortunes surround me If I please the King Men are offended if I satisfie them my King is displeased Retire to the Church unhappy Old Man for no other Sanctuary is left you Soon after being better come to himself he said Truly it is God that guides the Hearts of King and disposes all things What would become of India if there were not one to succeed me after my Death In how great Danger would it be This said he reposed and finding his Malady encrease ordered his Confessor to be brought to him from Goa which was not far off Having made his Peace with God he gave up the Ghost He was doubtless one of the Bravest Men that Spain ever bred His Valour Mildness Prudence and Justice reigned in an equal degree He was patient of Labour discreet in his Resolutions quick in Execution amiable to his own People and terrible to his Enemies It was a great Mercy of God to give to the Portugueses Two such Governours at first as was he and Francis d' Almeyda being both Wise and Resolute Men and Zealous of their Prince's Service and the Propagation of the Faith tho' they differed in Opinions as to the Means of carrying on that Great Work For Francis d' Almeyda who was the first thought it best only to make themselves Masters of the Sea and not undertake any Conquests whereas on the contrary Albuquerque was wholly for gaining Strong holds in order to secure the Trade and have a Retreat for their Fleets Experience has taught how much he was in the Right Albuquerque was never married but he left a Son by a Servant and a little before his Death recommended
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
all necessary Preparations gathering Arms Horses Provisions and Money Not only the Laity but the Clergy were obliged to take up Arms old and now Soldiers raised and Supplies sollicited from abroad Many Strangers moved by the great danger Spain was in and desiring to serve in that War came over especially out of France Among these Raymund Earl of Burgundy and his Kinsman Henry who was Born at Besançon was of the House of Lorrain and in process of time the Founder of the Kingdom of Portugal Besides these there came Raymund Earl of Toulouse With them came a good number of Brave and Experienced French Soldiers D. Sancho King of Aragon was not wanting he tho' very ancient yet had the Vivacity and Courage of Youth and was an excellent Commander having gain'd Experience in the continual Wars he had with the Moors All these Forces made up so great an Army that they resolved to invade the Enemies Country They entred Andaluzia plundring and wasting all where-ever they came It was no time for the Moors to be idle both Armies came in sight of one another near a Town called Alagueto but Joseph finding himself inferior to the Christians shunn'd sighting His retreat was more like to a disorderly Flight for he lost great part of the Baggage King Alonso thought it better to content himself with the Honour gained than to tempt Fortune besides that his Army being composed of so many different Nations could not long hold together Thus he returned home his Army loaded with Spoils and pleased with their Success After this for some time the Almoravides attempted nothing farther for Joseph was forced to repair to Africk to setle his new acquired Kingdom Mean while King Alonso slept not expecting the War would soon break out again Therefore he resolved to strengthen himself with fresh Allies abroad In the first place he gave three of his Daughters in Marriage to those three Lords that came to his assistance out of France Raymund Earl of Toulouse Marry'd D. Elvira Henry of Lorrain D. Teresa both Illigitimate Raymund of Burgundy had D. Vrraca got in Wedlock This Prince is said to have rebuilt Salamanca by the King's Order Moreover Sancha the King's Daughter was Marry'd to Earl Roderick From him some will have the Noble Family of Giron to be descended To Henry was given in Dower all that had been recovered from the Moors in Portugal with the Title of Earl yet as a Subject of Castile to be obliged to come to the Parliament and serve in the Wars This was the Original of the new Kingdom of Portugal which stile it afterwards assumed and continued in the Line of this Prince above 400 Years Raymund of Burgundy had the Government of Galicia with the Title of Earl then usually given to the Governors of Provinces yet the best of his Portion was the hopes of succeeding in the Throne if Sancha the King's Son dy'd The Earl of Toulouse received his Portion in Money and Jewels but no Lands in Spain because he resolved to return to France where he had large Possessions of his own There are Authors who write that the City of Lisbon was taken by King Alonso in the Year 1093. but this is doubtful for it was often taken from the Moors and lost again till some time after this it was gain'd by the Christians and has ever since remained in their hands Much about this time began the Holy-War in the East carried on by most of the Christian Princes for recovery of the Holy-Land Peter a Hermit who Travel'd into Palestine was the first Promoter of it for he making his Observations there discoursed Simon Bishop of Jerusalem about it and having received Letters from him moved the same thing to the Pope Vrban who then sate in S. Peter's-Chair ordered a Council of Bishops to meet at Clermont in France to promote the carrying on of this War and the mean while by his Legates stirred up all the Princes of Christendom to share in so Glorious an Undertaking His Endeavours prov'd so successful that all Countries sounded of nothing but Warlike Preparations most Princes aimed to signalize themselves by showing their Zeal in so Pious a War and Thousands of private Persons voluntarily Enrolled themselves to serve upon their own cost But we must not stray too far into Affairs so Foreign Let us return to what hap'ned in Spain CHAP. II. The great Actions of D. Sancho Ramirez King of Aragon He is killed at the Siege of Huesca his Sons continue the Siege Rout a great Army of Moors and Christians that come to raise it and take the Place IN the Year 1094. was Born D. Alonso Son to Henry of Lorrain and his Wife Teresa who by his Valour made the Name of Portugal famous extended his Dominions and was the first of those Princes that assumed the Title of King which he maintained in opposition to the Kings of Castile The same Year was unhappy for the unfortunate death of D. Sancho I. King of Aragon who merited the esteem of his Subjects not only for having governed and maintained his Kingdom as well as any of his Ancestors but for enlarging and extending its Limits He was the first that came down from the high Mountains where his Predecessors maintained themselves by the natural strength of those Places into the Plains where he took many Cities and Towns He had continual Wars with the Moorish Kings of Balaguer Lerida Monçon Barbastro and Fraga and obliged them to pay him Tribute Then after a long and tedious Siege took Barbastro a Noble City on the Banks of the River Vero in a delightful Country Tho' the strength of the Walls was great yet the King's constancy and indefatigable Labour of his Men overcame all Difficulties so that it was entred by Assault and Plundered From that time Barbastro was annexed to the Bishoprick of Rhoda At this Siege Armengaud Earl of Vrgel was slain and thence called Armengaud of Barbastro He being the King's Father-in-law and Father to his Queen Felicia his death was revenged with great slaughter of the Townsmen Bolea a Town on the Borders of Navarre upon the River Cinga after a long resistance was taken from the Moors So also Monçon a strong Town in that Territory with many other Towns and Castles too tedious to rehearse Estela then a small Town in Navarre now a famous City was built at this time King Sancho having a design upon Zaragoça raised a Castle called Castellar five Leagues beyond that City on the Banks of the River Ebro to bridle the Moors and waste the Country about in which that Garrison was so successful that the City was often reduced to such want as if it had been besieged In that part of the Country where were formerly the Vascetani was built the Town of Luna remarkable for nothing more than for being the Original of the Noble Family of that Name in Aragon The King who was much given
afterwards Marry'd him to a Lady called Arsenda The Year of our Lord 1104. was unfortunate for the Death of three great Persons Peter Son to the King of Aragon and his Sister Elizabeth dy'd upon the same day and the King himself whither for Grief or thro' some other Distemper is not known departed this Life the Month following He was Bury'd at S. John de la Pena Pope Vrban at the beginning of the War in the Holy-Land granted to this King the Tenths of all Churches that should be new built or taken from the Moors excepting only Cathedrals Alanso Brother to the late King succeeded him in the Throne His Reign was long and his Actions great by which he much extended the Dominions left him by his Ancestors In the second Year of his Reign he Married D. Vrraca Daughter to King Alonso of Castile This Match was made by the King contrary to the desires of all the Nobility who would have had her Marry'd to D. Gomez Earl of Candespina None of them durst open this to the King therefore they charged a Iew who was the King's Doctor upon the first opportunity to acquaint him with their Thoughts This Jew as the King was one day diverting himself broke the business to him It highly offended the King that the Nobles should presume to dispose of his Daughter therefore he for ever forbid the Physician coming into his presence and then hastned the Marriage of his Daughter which was performed with great State at Toledo in the Year 1106. King Alonso somewhat eased with the satisfaction of this Match and desiring to revenge the death of his Son tho' very ancient took the Field again and entring Andaluzia destroyed all the Province with Fire and Sword sparing neither Man nor Beast This done he spent the remainder of his Days in quiet not only forbearing from Martial Affairs but easing himself of the Government as much as could be Yet he took care that Salamanca and Segovia which had been ruined by the Wars should be repaired fortified and embelished Peranzules a Man at that time in great vogue who had been Tutor to the Princess Vrraca in her Minority and was now the King's Favourite had the whole management of publick Affairs and by his Prudence and Vertue seem'd to support the Government The King now quite spent with age for he lived 79 Years grew sickly and was languishing a Year and seven Months yet by the advice of the Physicians he rode out daily but the natural warmth being decay'd at length he dy'd at Toledo on Thursday the first of July 1109. as Pelagius of Oviedo who lived at that time testifies He Reign'd 43 Years was modest in Prosperity and undaunted in Adversity After the Death of King Alonso the Inhabitants of Toledo in a Consternation were about abandoning the City The King's Body was kept there 20 days till this Pannick Fear was over then it was carry'd to the Monastery of Sahagun and there Bury'd with great Pomp the greatest that of the Tears of his Subjects who lamented so great a loss as they had in him These Tears seemed to forbode those Calamities that ensued and the very Stones at Leon presaged this General Lamentation At the foot of the Altar where the Priest uses to stand at Mass in the Church of S. Isidorus in Leon the Stones shed water not where they joyn'd but in the very middle for the space of three days continually which were Thursday Friday and Saturday according to Pelagius who then lived This hap'ned 8 days before the King's death and betokened the Tears of all Spain The Bishops and Clergy hereupon made Processions to appease God's Wrath. In this King's Reign one Lesmes a French-man lived in great opinion of Sanctity at Burgos his chief business was entertaining of Pilgrims His Memory is still Celebrated in that City and his Feast Yearly kept in the Church of his Name Four Leagues from Najara lived another Holy Man a Spaniard or as others say an Italian who used the same Charity and Repaired the Ways thro' which the Pilgrims went to visit the Church of S. James the Apostle and therefore he is commonly called S. Dominick de la Calçada that is of the Cunsey I suppose King Alonso made use of him in building the Bridges that are between Logron̄o and Santiago About the end of the Reign of King Alonso one Moses a learned Jew and a great Linguist was Converted and writ against the Jews and Moors so effectually that many of both Nations were Converted CHAP. V. The Reign of Queen Urraca Her Lewdness She is Divorced from her Husband Deposed from the Government her Son Alonso Proclaimed King of Castile AT the time when King Alonso dy'd his Daughter D. Vrraca Heiress of the Kingdom was absent with her Husband He had no great confidence in the Nobility of Castile who had opposed his Marriage and therefore would not venture among them without a good Body of his own Subjects This kept him back from taking possession of that large Kingdom The Queens Lewdness which was great for a Person of her Rank was concealed and hid Garrisons of Argonians were put into many Cities and Castles to keep the Castilians in subjection Peranzules having great Alliances in both Kingdoms was entrusted with the Government and kept all things in good order His Power lasted not long for the Queen a turbulent Woman being sent before by her Husband instead of Honouring him as became his great Merit treated him ill not only removing him from the Government but seizing upon his Estate All the pretence she had for this rash action was because in his Letters he stiled her Husband King of Castile This is what was given out but in reality she was sorry she was Marry'd because her Husband curb'd her Lewdness and as I am apt to believe that discreet Man reproved her scandalous Life The King was concerned so great a Man should be so ill treated and restored all his Estate He fearing the Queen's displeasure withdrew to the Earldom of Vrgel whereof as was said above he had the charge A new War now broke out in Andaluzia Hali King of the Moors hearing King Alonso was dead broke into the Christian Territories and in sight of Toledo demolished the Castle of Azeca and destroy'd the Monastery of S. Servandus whilst all the Country about was in a flame Not content with this he laid Siege to the City and for the space of 8 days battered it with all sorts of Engines It s own natural strength and a Wall built at the bottom of the City by King Alonso saved it Alvar Fan̄ez a great Man in those days by his Valour contributed much to the safety of the City All hopes of prevailing being lost the Moors raised the Siege and in their way home plundered Madrid and Talavera threw down their Walls and departed with a mighty Booty In Aragon the King was successful
they had opposed their Surrender An Assault must be given and many advised to do it by Night but the King to avoid the confusion that is common in the dark drew out by break of day in order to storm causing all the Avenues to be guarded that none of the Enemy might escape Three times the Sign was given to fall on and the Soldiers stirred not till the King calling upon them as it were wak'd them out of a heavy sleep Then with a terrible shout they gave the Assault The Moors with great Courage ran to meet the Danger but being over-power'd and born down the City was entred and plundred and the People put to the Sword The Moorish King was drawn out from a private place where he lay hid and King Jayme took him by the Beard having sworn so to do yet comforted him with good words and promises After taking the City the Castle soon surrendred where was found a Son of the King 's 13 years of age who was afterwards Baptiz'd by the Name of D. Jayme and had an Estate given him which was the Town of Gotor in the Kingdom of Valencia whence his Successors Gentlemen of Note in that Country take their Name Majorca was taken on the last day of December preceeding the Year 1230. This City was made an Episcopal See notwithstanding the Canons of Barcelona pretended a Right to it but could make no good proof All the rest of the Island was easily brought under which done most of the Soldiers return'd home and the King to Catalonia This Year the Order of Mercela Instituted some time before was Confirm'd by Pope Gregory IX as appears by his Bull dated at Peroza in Tuscany the 17th of January CHAP. IX Alonso King of Leon Defeats the Moors takes Merida and Badajoz and dies Crowns of Castile and Leon united under Ferdinand Sancho King of Navarre dies Theobald succeeds him Interviews of several Kings WHilst the Forces of Aragon Conquer'd Majorca Alonso King of Leon again entred the Territories of the Moors and took the Town of Caçeres in Estremadura where he had before been repulsed This Success encouraged him to Besiege Merida a great City once the chiefest in those parts Abenhut the Moorish King thinking to establish a Reputation marched to relieve that place King Alonso was much inferiour to him in number and therefore being dubious what was best to be done he held a Council of War in which most were for drawing off Yet Honour prevailing the King resolved to give Battle and accordingly drew up his Army The Moors were not backward and the Signal being given both Parties charged with great resolution Long the Fight continued very bloody but at length the Valour of the Christians overcame the number of Infidels This Victory and Slaughter were so great that many of the neighbouring Towns were abandon'd by the Inhabitants It was reported that the Apostle S. James and other Saints were seen in this Fight encouraging the Christians as also that at Zamora S. Isidorus and others had appeared as preparing to go aid the Faithful But who can assert the truth of this Great Victories often cause any sort of Miracles to be believed After this Defeat no other hopes of relief remaining Merida was surrendred Badajoz a City on the Borders of Portugal Estremadura and Andaluzia also submitted King Alonso who was the ninth of that Name the Season being unfit for Action dismissed his Army resolving as soon as the Weather would permit to carry on the War with greater Forces Death prevented his Designs which cut him off at Sarria about the end of this Year as he was going to pay his Vows at Santiago His Body was bury'd in that Church By D. Teresa his first Wife he had two Daughters Sancha and Dulcis by Queen Berengaria he left Ferdinand already King of Castile and Alonso Lord of Molina and Berengaria Marry'd to John King of Jerusalem He had besides a Bastard Son call'd Roderick de Leon. He Reign'd 42 years was Valiant in War and a great Lover of Justice wherefore he assigned Salaries to the Judges that they might take no Bribes and punished them severely if faulty His hatred to his Son Ferdinand was such that in his Will he appointed his two Daughters to succeed him King Ferdinand had Besieged Jaen and not being able to carry it was remov'd to Daralherça where the News of his Fathers's Death was brought to him He was very intent upon the War of Andaluzia but the necessity of securing the Crown of Leon drew him away At Orgaz five League from Toledo his Mother met him and they resolv'd with all speed to move towards Leon. All things there prov'd easier than had been imagined Most places received him with great Joy and Tokens of Love He was Crown'd at Toro which had first by Letters sent to invite him Some great Men sided with the Princesses which might have proved of dangerous Consequence had not the Prelates interposed and reduc'd them to submit to him who had the most right Teresa Mother to the Princesses came out of Portugal to their aid but considering it was best to compound with her Son-in-law she met Queen Berengaria at Valencia in Galicia where it was agreed the Princesses should quit their claim to the Crown and in lieu thereof the King should allow them 30000 Ducats a year for Life This done the King set forwards towards Valencia by the way at Bonavente the Princesses met him To the Archbishop of Toledo for his indefatigable Services the King gave the Town of Cascata in that Country Thus the Kingdom of Leon was again united to Castile after it had been separated from it 63 Years and this Union has continu'd to our days D. Sancho King of Navarre who in his Youth was call'd the Strong liv'd now retir'd in the Castle of Tudela without attending to the Government This his retirement gave his Subjects opportunity to mutiny which Pamplona in particular did several times Besides Lope Diaz de Haro Lord of Biscay entred the Territories of Navarre and took some Towns and Castles King Ferdinand was suppos'd to have some hand in this Affair Yet the worst was that Theobald Earl of Champagne the King's Nephew and Heir impatient of delay contriv'd with the Nobility to Depose him King Sancho no way able to oppose so many Enemies sent to invite Jayme King of Aragon newly return'd from the Conquest of Majorca to the Castle of Tudela there to consult about Affairs of the highest nature King Jayme being then at Zaragoça set out immediately as was desired without asking any further security for his Person Both the Kings expressed much affection at their meeting and the Ceremonies being over he of Navarre complain'd of the evil Practices of his Nephew Theobald of the ambition of King Ferdinand At the same time he declar'd he had resolved to make use of the King of Aragon for regaining what he had lost about
the King entred in solemn Procession He caused the Walls to be Repaired the Church to be Consecrated and made the City a Bishoprick Authors do not agree about the time when this City was taken the most Learned affirm it was in the Year 1243. the Annals of Toledo say three Years later The Siege lasted eight Months and our Men kept the Field tho' the Winter prov'd very hard Here Roderick the Archbishop of Toledo concludes his History and says it was the 33d Year he had enjoy'd that Dignity The following Year there were Tumults betwixt the Catalonians and Aragonians each side pretending that Lerida was within their Limits The Aragonians said their Borders extended to the River Segre and the Catalonians affirm'd that the River Cinga parted those Dominions King Jayme was more inclinable to the Catalonians designing to divide his Dominions and leave Aragon to Alonso his eldest Son and the Principality of Catalonia to Peter whom he lov'd most tho' the youngest born of Violante his second Wife In fine the case being put to Arbitration the King gave Judgment for the Catalonians to whom he assign'd all the Country betwixt the Rivers Segre and Cinga This resolution of dividing his Kingdom offended not only Prince Alonso but most of the Nobility of Aragon and Catalonia Upon this the Prince withdrew to Calatayud with such as were of his party the chief whereof were Ferdinand the King's Uncle Abbot of Montaragon D. Peter Rodriguez de Aragon Peter Infante of Portugal and other Persons of both Nations who disliked the King's Designs Portugal was now in an Uproar and full of Tumults Sancho II. called Capelo of the form of his Cap then Reigning at the first Govern'd not altogether ill for we find he made War upon the Infidels and gave Mertola and other Towns taken from them to the Knights of Santiago In other respects he was of so easie a nature it almost came to be an Infatuation Mencia his Queen and Daughter to Lope de Haro Lord of Biscay had so intirely gain'd the ascendant over him that she seem'd to be King and he only the Instrument of her Will Her Favourites were of the worser sort and at their will Honours were bestow'd Crimes pardon'd and Punishments inflicted This prov'd the King's ruin for the Noblity offended to see the Government in the Hands of mean People first endeavoured to have the King Divorc'd upon account of Consanguinity and the Queen's Barrenness The business was mov'd to the Pope and to the King who was Consciencious enough yet it availed not it being hard to prevail with the Pope and the King being so in love with the Queen that the People said She had bewitch'd him But love is Witchcraft enough of its self King Sancho had a younger Brother called Alonso Marry'd to the Countess of Bologne in France The Nobility sent the Bishops of Braga and Coimbra to Pope Innocent who then held a General Council at Lyons in France to obtain his Consent for Deposing of their King and Enthroning his Brother but the Pope could not be brought to it only granted that Alonso should take charge of the Government D. Alonso having first been with the Pope at Paris took an Oath that he would have regard above all things to the Publick Good then went into Portugal It was no difficult matter to seize upon the Government the Nobility being all for him yet many Troubles ensued in which Ferdinand and Alonso his Son Kings of Castile bore a part At first King Sancho withdrew into Galicia whither the Queen had before fled Afterwards he went to Toledo to King Alonso then Reigning hoping to regain his Kingdom with the Forces of Castile But his Brother Alonso prevented him by offering to put away his Wife and Mary Beatrix Bastard Daughter to King Alonso and moreover to do him Homage and pay Tribute for the Kingdom of Portugal as had been done Originally Interest bore down Honour and the Pope declared the first Marriage void Thus the Nuptials were Celebrated Certain Towns near the Mouth of the River Guadiana taken by the Castilians which the Portugueses pretended to belong to their Conquest were given in Dower Hence some believe the Kings of Portugal took occasion to add an Orle of Castles to their former Arms. King Sancho having lost all hopes of regaining his Kingdom spent the rest of his days at Toledo living upon Revenues assigned him by the King of Castile After his Death he was Honourably Bury'd in the Cathedral near to Alonso the Emperor Authors do not agree about the time of his Death some say it was 13 years after this we now write of others but 3 and that he Reigned 34 years At the time that King Sancho dy'd his Brother Alonso besieg'd Coimbra which still continued Loyal to the King tho' the Inhabitants suffer'd great hardships Freitas the Governour being inform'd the King was dead yet not giving credit to the Report desir'd leave to go to Toledo to be satisfy'd Leave was granted and a Truce concluded betwixt the Besieged and the Besiegers for that time Freitas being come to Toledo and understanding the truth caused the King's Tomb to be open'd and put the Keys of the City into his Hands saying My Sovereign Lord and King whilst I thought you liv'd I endured all Miseries eat Hides drank Vrine and encourag'd the Townsmen to do the like I have done all that could be expected of a Loyal and dutiful Subject Now you are dead I deliver up the Keys to you which is my last Duty and with your leave will advise the Citizens since they have discharged their Duty that they submit to your Brother Alonso An example of Loyalty that well deserves eternal praise CHAP. III. The beginning of the War against Sevil. Aragon under a general Interdict The Siege and Surrender of Sevil Carmona and several other Places THE League made with the King of Granada put King Ferdinand in hopes of subduing Sevil. 500 Light-Horse were sent before under the Command of the King of Granada to waste the Lands of Carmona formerly a considerable Town Alcala Guadayra thro' that Kings persuasions surrendred Thence a good Body marched towards Sevil and fired the ripe Corn the Vines Olive-trees and all the Country-Houses D. Pelayo Correa Master of Santiago Commanded this Party Another under the King of Granada and Master of Calatrava did the like harm in the Territory of Xerez King Ferdinand himself was at Alcala Guadayra providing all Necessaries that the War might be carry'd on before the Enemy had time to gather strength Now dy'd Queen Berengaria the Kings Mother and soon after Roderick Archbishop of Toledo As to the Year Authors vary some say it was 1245. others 1247. and this agrees with the Inscription upon his Tomb. The Queen was very ancient the Archbishop besides his great Age was worn with continual Labour and had been lastly at the Council of Lyons among other things
should not assume the Title of King of Castile and â—â—ould hold that Crown of him and do him 〈◊〉 for it That if D. Alonso dy'd without 〈◊〉 his Brother Ferdinand should 〈…〉 That the King of Castile should send â—000 Horse to the Assistance of the King of France to make War upon Aragon but give 〈◊〉 Army free passage through his Dominions if there was Occasion That the Two Princes then Prisoners being by the Two Kings set at Liberty should be deliver'd to the King of France This Agreement was so displeasing to Blanch the Mother of â—â—â— Princes that leaving her Brother she went away to Portugal She labour'd with a 〈◊〉 Spirit to get assistance against 〈◊〉 but the Success answer'd not the Pains she took Denis King of Portugal having 〈◊〉 the Moors his Dominions â—njoy'd perfect Peace and would by no 〈◊〉 be perswaded to hazard his own Quiet for the good of others This King had good natural Parts and who happy in a numerous â—â—ue By his Queen Elizabeth he had Two Daughters Elizabeth and Constance and one Son called Alonso who 〈◊〉 him By other Women he had Alonso de Albuquerque from whom descends a Noble Family in Portugal Peter given to 〈◊〉 as appears by a Book he wrote of the Nobility of Spain 〈◊〉 and Ferdinand 〈◊〉 two Daughters one marry'd to D. John de la Cerda the other to 〈◊〉 CHAP. VIII Troubles in Castile The rightful Heirs to that Crown before Prisoners in Aragon set at liberty Wars on that account betwixt those two Crowns Badajoz Mâ—tinies and is reduc'd An Interview betwixt the Kings of France and Castile CAstile was at peace with the Moors Amity being establish'd with the King of Granada and a Truce with the King of Morocco A Civil War was fear'd by all Men. These Troubles were occasion'd by the Death of D. Lope de Haro kill'd in the Court and even in the King's presence in this manner D. Alvar NunÌ„ez de Lara dying soon after he was reconcil'd to the King his Competitor D. Lope de Haro return'd to Court hoping to recover his former Favour But no sooner was D. Alvar dead than D. John his Brother was rais'd to the same degree of Esteem to the great satisfaction of the People and no less Grief of D. Lope de Haro who so highly resented it as to complain to the King himself Prince John D. Lope's Son in Law 〈…〉 Incursions far as Guidad 〈◊〉 The King complain'd thereof to D. Lope who had the Boldness to say 〈…〉 by his Consent and added that if the King went to Valladolid his Son in-Law would come to â—igules a Town 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 which was threatning of him The King tho inrag'd at this Affront dissâ—â—â—'d it at present and going to Valladolid spoke with D. John his Brother â—o those Troubles â—â—as'd for some time From Valladolid the King 〈◊〉 to Roa thence to 〈◊〉 then to Soria and then set forward towards Taragona to meet the King of Aragon and treat about delivering the Two Princes his Nephews This Meeting of the Two Kings was prevented by the Policy of D. Lope de Haro who pass'd betwixt them and made Proposals to each of them which the other never thought of His Design was by 〈◊〉 of these two Princes to pull down King Sancho from whom he was wholly 〈◊〉 Therefore nothing being concluded King Sancho return'd to Alfaro a Town or 〈◊〉 on the Borders Beacon and Navarre Prince John and D. Lope de Haro came thither to attend him without a sufficient Retinue to guard them There were 〈◊〉 at that 〈…〉 Arch-Bishop at Toledo the Bishops of Plasencia Callahorra Osma and Tuy besides the 〈…〉 Lord 〈…〉 and the Abbot of Valladolid all summon'd to a Council Prince 〈◊〉 and D. Lope being come into the Kings Presence he commanded them immediately to deliver up all the 〈◊〉 they held of the King and they excusing themselves he order'd them to be apprehended D. Lope 〈◊〉 Hand on his Sword and wrapping his Cloak about his Arm call'd the King Tyrant gave him much more opprobrious Language and stepp'd forwards to kill him All that were by 〈◊〉 and falling upon him first out off his Right Hand and soon made an end of him Prince John after wounding some of the King's Servant seeing his Father in Law Dead fled to the Queen's Chamber who stood before him to stop the King that follow'd with his drawn Sword and by her intreaties sav'd his life However he was put in Prison to stand Tryal for his Offences It would be tedious to relate all the particulars of this Treason and the Confusion in the Royal Family These Heads being taken off all Tumults ceased for the present and the Example terrifyed others from attempting just then to Rebel But when the Terror was somewhat abated that Action of the King 's began to be openly censur'd The Friends and Kindred of those two great Men withdrew from Court and many got out of the Kingdom Thus a mighty Storm seem'd to threaten and therefore the King as was said made hast to conclude the League with France Joanna Wife to the late D. Lope de Haro Daughter to D. Alonso Lord of Molina all clad in Mourning went to see the Queen her Sister at Santo Domingo de la Calçada where the Court then was and prevail'd so far with her Tears and the Queens intercession that the King was appeased and granted her Son should not be depriv'd of his Lord-ship of Biscay as had been design'd the Town of Haro and Castle of TrevinÌ„o being already seiz'd Moreover the Queen promis'd her Sister that if her Son would be quiet and submit himself to the King he should be restor'd to his Father's Honours The Lady Joanna like an unconstant Woman thinking this proceeded from Fear incens'd her Son against the King and perswaded him to cast off his Allegiance and go over to Aragon Mary Wife to Prince John then a Prisoner fled to Navarre and with her many of her Friends but others better advis'd stay'd to see the Event of Things Gaston Viscount of Bearne came speedily to Aragon resolving to hazard his Person and Estate in defence of his Kindred At the Request of all these Nobles the King of Aragon releas'd the Two Brothers Princes of Castile and the more to incense King Sancho in the Month of September at Jaca saluted Alonso the eldest King of Castile and Leon. This was the Foundation of new Wars which presently broke out between Castile and Aragon The Commonalty of Castile were for a Change the Gentry for the most part stood by King Sancho He about that time went to Vitoria in the Province of Alava and there the Queen was deliver'd of a Son who was call'd Henry This Journey was undertaken in order to meet the King of France at Bayonne as had been agreed and to subdue Biscay This War prov'd more difficult than was expected by reason of the natural Strength of
believing he was displeas'd on some private Account but this Emâ—â—ssy avail'd nothing A great number of French enter'd Aragon by the way of Russâ—â—â—â— to rob and plunder the Country Queen Violante who by reason of her Husband's Carelesness govern'd the Kingdom sent an Embassador to complain to the King of France and her Uncles 〈◊〉 Dukes of Burgâ—ndy Beri and Orâ—â—ans whereupon the French return'd home at such time as King John of Aragon was taken away suddenly He went a Hunting on the Mountain of Foxa near the Castle of Mongriu and Vrriols in the fâ—â—thest part of 〈◊〉 He rous'd a she Wolf of a prodigious size or whether he only imagin'd it for with the Surprize he fell down and gave up the Ghost on the 19th of May. He was more remarkable for his lazy Life than for any Virtue His Body was bury'd at Pâ—bletâ— the common Place of Burial of those Kings He left no Issue-male but two Daughters by two Wiâ—es call'd Joâ—â—â—na and Violante The first was marry'd to Mathew Earl of Fâ—â—x the latter contracted to 〈◊〉 Duke of Anjoâ— In his Will he appointed his Brother Martin Duke of 〈◊〉 his Successor which was approv'd of â—â— all the Kingdom to avoid falling under a 〈◊〉 if the Daughters inherited Martin was busy subduing of Sicily Mary his Wife supply'd his Place taking the Title of Queen and â—â—acing Guards to look to Queen Violante who say'd she was with Child to prevent any Frand The Earl of 〈◊〉 pretended to the Crown in right of his Wife because the Females had always been allow'd to inherit Yet notwithstanding his just â—laim the Cortes which met in July at Zaragoça unaâ—â—mously adjudg'd the Crown to Martin then absent They also treated of the Preparations it was requisite to make to repulse the War which was expected from France CHAP. III. The Queen of 〈◊〉 â—â—turns to her â—â—â—band The Earl of Faux invades Aragon The War betâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 and Portugal renewed Joseph King of Granada dies Mahomet his 2d Son usurps The Turks come over into Europe THE Kingdom of Aragon labour'd under the Apprehensions of a War and all the Country was full of Martial Preparations Castile was at Peace the Nobility being reduc'd the Earl of Gijâ—n gone to France as had been agreed The Queen of Navarre tho against her Will was at 〈…〉 to return to her Husband To make her easy he made Oath he would treat her 〈◊〉 a Queen and the Daughter of Kings and the King of Castile bore her Company to 〈◊〉 a Town on the Boders of Navarre Her Husband receiv'd her at Tudelâ— with all possible Expressions of Affection and there was publick Thanksgiving in all Places for her Return John Huâ—tad◠〈◊〉 Mendoça the Lord 〈◊〉 was much in the King of Castile's Favour who for his good Service gave 〈…〉 of Agreda Ciria and Boravia This Bounty of the King's 〈◊〉 Envy in the 〈◊〉 and those of Agreda would not admit him as their Lord but 〈…〉 to stand upon their Defence The King went thither and being receiv'd into 〈◊〉 Town was prevail'd upon not to alienate that Place from the Crown and in lieu of it gave D. John the Towns of Almaçan and Santistevan de Gormaz King 〈◊〉 Embassadors into France 〈◊〉 the Earl of Gijon and they came to Paris at the time appointed but the Earl appear'd not yet as they were upâ—â— returning they understood he was arriv'd at Rochel in the Provinâ—◠〈◊〉 They impeach'd him before the King and after a full hearing he was declar'd 〈…〉 and commanded to submit himself to the King of whom he might hope for Pardon â—o obtain which the King of France offer'd his Intercession In case he refus'd to put himself upon his King's Mercy he was given to understand he must expect no shelter or assistance in France Orders were sent to Britany and all other â—rates dependant on the Crown of France not to give him any Sâ—ccour or Relief The 〈◊〉 of Castile knowing what Judgment had been given demanded the Town of Gijon should 〈◊〉 surrender'd to him but the Earl's Wife who was in it refus'd Whereupon he laid â—lege to it and having taken it cast down not only the Walls but the Houses Her Son Henry was delivered to the Countess upon Condition she should depart the Land This done the King return'd to Madrid intending to visit Andâ—luzia and in order to it went to Talaverâ— where in November he receiv'd the Embassadors who came from the King of Granada to renew the Truce They were order'd to follow the King to Sevil where he was receiv'd with the usual Joy He caus'd the Archdeacon of Ezija to be apprehended as a mutineer and promoter of all the harm done to the Jews The Truce was renew'd with the Moors and thus the whole Kingdom was restor'd to Peace Great hopes were conceiv'd of King Henry but all vanish'd away for he became sickly which continu'd all his Life time and his Judgment fail'd so that nothing hardly remarkable is recorded during the rest of his Reign Some attribute this to the defect of our Histories and others say the profound Peace he enjoy'd gave him no Opportunity of acting any thing worthy of Note The Duke of Benavenâ—e was kept Prisoner at Monterrey in custody of the Master of Santiago and thence remov'd to Almâ—dâ—var This offended the Arch-bishop of Santiago upon whose Word he came 〈◊〉 Court. Besides that Prelate would not own the Popes of Avignon on these Distates he withdrew into Portugâ—â— There he was first chosen Bishop of Coimbra and afterwards Archbishop of Braga 〈◊〉 this time John de Castro was Bishop of Palencia more famous for his Loyalty to King Peter than any other thing This Prelate fled into France and was restor'd when Queen Constance came to the Crown He is 〈◊〉 to have writ the beâ—â— and truest Chronicle of the Life of King Peter but it is not Extant doubtless suppress'd by the prevailing Enemies of that unfortunate King In Aragon the People were indifferent peaceable tho where a Prince's right is disputable it commonly causes Troubles D. John Earl of Ampuriaâ— was secur'd for favouring the Earl of Faux his claim A War threaten'd from France On the 2d of October the Cortes met at St. Francis in Zaragoça in a very full Assembly it was there resolv'd to raise an Army and give the Command of it to Peter Earl of Vrgel It was not without Cause they made these Preparations for the Earl of Faux having pass'd the Pyrâ—nean Hills with a mighty Army wasted all the Country along the River Sâ—gre and at last in November lay'd Siege to the City Barbastro with 4000 Horse and a great number of Foot In the Camp he caus'd himself and his Wife to be proclaim'd King and Queen of Aragon About the middle of December there was an Earthquake at Valâ—ncia which threw down many Buildings and shook others This the Commonalty look'd upon as an ill Omen foreboding
20 Days Of Disposition he was Robust and of Spirit Lively The latter part of his Life was stained with a leud Appetite tho he was past acting for he fixed his Affection upon a handsome young Woman called Frances Rose whom he design'd to have formerly Married to that D. Jayme de Aragon who was Executed at Barcelona In his Will made 10 Years before his Death he ordained several godly Works to be performed Particularly the Erecting Two Monasteries of the Order of St. Hierome which are famous at this time One of them is St. Engracia at Zaragoça the other St. Mary de Belpuch in Catalonia his Son exactly performing all that he had ordained He also ordered that the Grandsons of his Son Ferdinand tho' by a Daughter should Inherit the Crown of Aragon and take place of their Mothers CHAP. VIII Elenor Queen of Navarre The troubles of that Kingdom and her Death The Countess of Medellin raises Tumults in Castile Portugueses overthrown by the Castilians Heretical Opinions Started and Condemned in Spain King Ferdinand goes into Aragon BY the Death of the King of Aragon his Dominions were divided Aragon fell to King Ferdinand and Navarre to the Princess Elenor in the Right of her Mother She had been 7 Years a Widow and consequently exposed to great Misfortunes That Kingdom was still divided betwixt the old Factions The Biamonteses Enemies to the new Queen were most prevalent These troubles seemed to be a Judgment for the Murders committed upon Charles Prince of Viana the Princess Blanch his Sister and the Bishop of Pamplona Queen Ellenor Reigned not a whole Month. She was more Fortunate in her Issue than in her Life for she had 4 Sons Gaston John Peter and James and 5 Daughters Mary Joanna Marguerite Catherine and Ellenor we shall briefly speak of them all great Families being descended from them Gaston died as was said before and left two Children Francis Phebus and Catherine who both Reigned in Navarre successively John was Lord of Narbonne which he bought of his Father and had Issue Gaston and Germana Gaston was killed at the Battle of Ravenna where he was General for Luis the 12th of France Germana Married King Firdinand after the death of his first Wife Peter applied himself to learning and piety and Pope Sixtus made him a Cardinal James followed the War and was never Married Mary the Eldest Daughter was Married to William Marquess of Monferrat Joanna to John Earl of Armagnac Margaret to Francis Duke of Britany and had Issue Ann and Elizabeth Ann the Heiress being Married first to Charles the 8th and after his death to Luis the 12th of France joined that Dukedom and Kingdom Catherine 4th Daughter to Queen Ellenor Married Gaston de Faux Earl of Candale and brought forth 2 Sons and a Daughter called Anne Married to Ladislaus King of Hungary Ellenor the Youngest Daughter died a Maid Queen Ellenor died on the 12th of February at Tudela where she began her Reign In her Will she Ordained out of her own Money a Monastery of Franciscans should be Built at Tafalla and that her Body should be Buried there and the Bones of her Mother Queen Blanch be also Translated thither from the Monastery of Nuestra SenÌ„ora de Nieva in Old Castile where they were deposited The Revenue was so exhausted that she was forced to Sell her Jewels to Live Francis Phebus so called for his extraordinary Beauty being but 11 Years of Age succeeded her His Mother the Lady Magdalen and his Uncle Peter the Cardinal had the Administration of the Government till he came to Years and discharged their Trust Prudently in those difficult Times The late Queen during her Troubles had no help from her Brother the King of Castile therefore she made no mention of him in her Will but directed the Governors to Adhere to France as they did which was the Cause they soon lost that Kingdom Thus much of Navarre In Castile some new Oppinions in matters of Religion were broached One Peter Oxomensis a Professor of Divinity at Salamanca was the Author By Order of Pope Sixtus the Archbishop of Toledo assembled several Persons of great Learning at Alcala where he Refided who all Condemned those new Opinions and the Author was Excommunicated unless he recanted Sentence was given on the 24th of May and soon after Pope Sixtus confirmed it by his Bull. John Prexanus a famous Divine in that Age. afterwards Bishop of Cuidad Rodrigo wrote a Book against the said Peter The Marquisate of Villena was now the Seat of War for the Marquess because Covenants were not performed with him had recourse to Arms and relieved the Town of Chinchilla besieged by the King's Forces Peter Ruiz de Alarcon who Commanded a Party of the King 's was defeated near Alberca by Peter de Baeça and D. George Manrique who in another Skirmish with Peter de Baeça was Wounded of which hurt he afterwards died A great pitty that so ripe a Wit should be so soon cut off Hereupon the Marquess was liable as having been in Arms against the King's Forces He excused himself laying the blame upon the Insolency of those Officers who forced him to do so and pleaded he had no dealings either with the King of Portugal or Archbishop of Toledo These excuses whether True or Counterfeit prevented any farther proceedings against him In this War there happned an extraordinary accident worth Relating The King's Party had hanged 6 of the Prisoners they took In revenge John Berrio an Officer of the Marquess ordered as many of those he had taken to be put to death in the same manner The Prisoners cast Lots and among the rest it fell to the share of one of 2 Brothers that were Prisoners who had a Wife and Children to die The other Brother who was a Batchellor begged to be put to death in his place and so it was done after they had both long and with many Tears contended about it King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth received the News of King John's Death and their own Accession to the Crown of Aragon in Estremadura where they were quelling the Tumults raised by the Countess of Medellin and D. Alonso de Mâ—nrey The Countess had a Spirit above a Woman for she kept her own Son D. John Portocarrero some years a Prisoner and at last turned him out of Doors which was the cause she was in Arms fearing lest she should be obliged to restore the Earldom to her Son who laid Claim to it as his Father's Inheritance She also designed to keep the City Merida in which she had a Garison D. Alonso was digusted that the Mastership of Alcantara was taken from him and given to D. John de ZunÌ„iga upon which Pretence he seized several Towns belonging to that Military Order The King provided for the War with Portugal which it was feared would prove more bloody than before yet both Parties being exhausted a Treaty was proposed This was the more Welcome to
and the New King retired to Capua which he had fortified but was betrayed to the French by Trivulcio a Milanese the Governour Whilst the King of France was at Capua the Great Turk's Brother died Others say it was at Naples whether the King marched and was received into that most Noble City without any resistance upon Sunday the 22d of February The New King Ferdinand before the French came abandon'd all and retired to Castelnovo where were the Queen-Dowager her Daughter Frederick the King's Unkle and many other Lords Thence he went to the Castle del Ovo and lastly over to Sicily to wait some turn of Fortune But the French were so fortunate that in 15 Days after their entring upon the Borders of the Kingdom all submitted to them to the utmost point of Italy I believe never so great an Undertaking was concluded in so short a time Only some few Places in Calabria held out some time for King Ferdinand but at last submitted as did Rijoles which is in sight of Meçina where the Fleet of Spain lay but had no Orders to attempt any thing CHAP. V. The League against the French carried on with wonderful Secrescy The French King returns home The Venetians overthrown by the French King Ferdinand of Naples successful against them and recovers that Noble City NO sooner had the French possessed themselves of the Kingdom of Naples but all the Princes of Italy began to consider how heavy the Dominion of that Nation would lie upon them if suffered to settle and root it self in Italy King Ferdinand of Spain was in the greatest danger for the Island of Sicily whither he was informed the French designed to pass as soon as they concluded the Affair of Naples being chiefly animated to that Enterprize by the Prince of Salèrno one of the Outlaws and principal Enemy to the House of Aragon The better to oppose them he sought to draw the other Princes to a League against France To this purpose he had some Months since sent Laurence Suarez de Figuera to Venice and now sent a Gentleman called John Deza to the Duke of Milan with Orders to make an Overture to him not only of giving him one of the Princesses his Daughters but of making him King of Lombardy both which Proposals he willingly gave ear to He also practised to draw the Emperor and the English into the League and in order to it proposed cross Matches to strengthen the Alliance between Prince John and the Princess Joanna his Children and Maximilian and his Sister Margaret on the other side which Design was so well prosecuted that it was fully concluded by Francis de Rojas sent on purpose to Flanders Care was taken to raise Money in Castile and Aragon to defray the Charge of the War In Aragon the Cortes met which the King would have had the Princess Catherine hold but it would not be allowed and he was forced to come himself Such Industry was used that at last the League was concluded at Venice It was agreed this called the Most Holy League should last for the space of 25 Years and that between them all should be raised an Army of 34000 Horse and 28000 Foot proportionable to the Power and Ability of each of the Confederates It was given out the Design was to protect the Church and defend their own Dominions but in reality it was to drive the French out of Italy This Business was carried on with such wonderful Secrecy that the French Ambassador Philip de Comines Lord of Argenton a Man of great Wisdom and Experience then at Venice had not the least Intelligence of it and was so surprized when Augustin Barbadico Duke of Venice gave him an account of it that he asked whether the King his Master might return with safety into France The face of Affairs was soon changed for the Neapolitans repented of what they had done because the Insolencies committed by the French were intolerable The Duke of Milan was perplexed for that the Duke of Orlcans had secured the City Novara besides he understood that the French endeavoured to draw the Genoeses from his Subjection insomuch that he was forced with great Submission to have recourse to the Venetians for their Assistance The King of France understanding what had hapned resolved to return with all speed before the way was stopped Before his departure he appointed Gilbert Duke of Monpensier a Prince of the Blood Viceroy of Naples with him he left part of his Army and some able Commanders He also sent to the Pope to ask of him the Investiture of the Kingdom of Naples and to let him know he desired to pass through Rome to confer with his Holiness about important Affairs As to the Investiture the Pope answered he was ready to do Justice according as he should find and as for his going to Rome it could not be without some great Disorder because the People were enraged against the French This unpleasing Answer made the King hasten his Journey He set out from Naples on the 20th of May Being come to Rome he found the Pope was retired to Perosa From Rome he went into Tuscany spent some Days at Siena and without entring Florence went on to Pisa The Florentines demanded the restitution of that City as had been promised them but the People of Pisa prevailed upon him Thence he went into Lombardy where Francis Marquess of Mantua General of the Venetians came to cut off his Retreat The French being fewer in number would have avoided fighting and endeavoured to join the Duke of Orleans but it could not be The Enemies met on the Banks of the River Tarro which runs within a League of the City Parma The Venetians lay near Fornovo a Village at the Foot of the Mountains the French at the entrance into the Valley There the Battel was fought which was one of the most remarkable that had hapned long in Italy At first the Italians had the better but then falling to plunder and seize the Cannon the French had leisure to rally and returned upon the Enemy with such Fury that they broke them with a mighty Slaughter The King was in great danger all his Guards being slain and tho' the Victor could not obtain of the Enemy a Truce for three Days wherefore he was forced to steal away to Aste without beat of Drum It was no small help to him in his retreat that the River being swollen with the Rain the Italians could not so soon pass it to pursue him Yet he sustained much loss by the Light Horse that kept in his Rear and the Country-people who took Arms to secure the Passes Above 4000 Italians were killed in the Fight The Duke of Mantua immediately sate down before Novara where he much distressed the Duke of Orleans Scarce was the King gone from Naples when the Affairs of that Kingdom began to change The Fleet of Spain commanded by the Earl of Trivento lay at Meçina Thither came
grew jealous of the Kingdom of Naples fearing lest the Great Captain should encline to favour his Son-in Law Prosper Colona failed not to encrease this Jealousie tho' he had obtained all he came to Spain for and particularly that Bartholomew d' Albianos Company of 400 Men at Arms should be reduced to 200. Besides the Catholick King ordered only 1200 Men at Arms 600 Light Horse and 3000 Spanish Foot to be left in the Kingdom of Naples 2000 Spaniards to be sent to Spain and the Germans dismissed all to save Charges and weaken that Kingdom A particular Council was erected in Castile for the Government of it Ladron de Mauleon was sent Ambassadot from the King of Navarre to confirm the ancient Alliance with King Ferdinand by concluding the Match betwixt the Prince of Viana and the Archduke's Daughter He also pressed to have Duke Valentine then Prisoner released as did many Cardinals created by Pope Alexander The King was willing to renew the League and inclinable to the Match As to the Duke he said it could not be done at present tho' at the same time he thought to make use of him in Italy to balance against the Great Captain He desired Security that he would be true to his Interest and Alonso d' Este Duke of Ferrara offered to be bound for him Emanuel King of Portugal sent the Bishop of Porto and James Pacheco his Ambassadors to Rome to acknowledge Pope Julius After he had sent several Fleets to Trade in India he now sent Francis d' Almeyda with the Title of Governour to reside there that all who passed to those Parts might know who they were to obey Many Difficulties attended the Prosecution of this Enterprize besides the length of the Voyage One was the Opposition made by the Venetians as has been hinted before Another that the Soldan of Babylon either at the Instigation of that State or of his own accord undertook to ruin their Trade in those Parts He sent Maurus Guardian of the Monastery at Hierusalem with Letters to the Pope complaining of the Proceedings of the Catholick King in the Conquest of Granada and Conversion of the Moors and of the King of Portugal for ruining his Trade in India and taking his Ships He desired him to put a stop to any further progress in this Affair otherwise he threatned to destroy the Holy Sepulchre and put to death all the Christians within his Dominions This moved the Pope to send the same Religious Man with the Letters to Spain to both the Kings neither of whom made any account of them or the Threats they contained CHAP. VI. King Ferdinand becomes odious to the People The Posture of Affairs in Italy The Emperour and King Philip of Castile Ratifie the Peace with France King Ferdinand agrees with the French King THE Cortes at Toro passed the Laws called of Toro which had been framed before the death of Queen Elizabeth After the Cortes were dismissed King Ferdinand continued at Toro till the end of April to be thoroughly satisfied whether King Emanuel of Portugal approved of his continuing in the Government The Nobility in hatred to him gave out that he treated about marrying the Princess Joanna Daughter to King Henry and to assert her Title which before he had impugned and by that means to maintain himself not only as Governour but Rightful King of Castile in opposition to his Daughter and Son-in-Law It is scarce credible how much this Report incensed the People Certain it is his Vice-chancellor Alonso de la Cavalleria endeavoured to persuade him to change the Name of Governour for that of Administrator and Guardian as Fathers are to their Children before they are of Age and Queen Joanna might be account such either in regard of her want of Sense or of her being confined and that he ought to take the Title of King either on this account or as Husband to Queen Elizabeth He brought the Example of his Father King John who still called himself King of Navarre tho' he had Children and that Kingdom had been his Wife's The Nobility of Castile and those of the New King's Council were of another Opinion They said it were better for King Ferdinand to retire to the Kingdom of Aragon and from thence to aid his Children in what they should desire for that One Kingdom would not admit of Two Heads Neither could they agree as to his Kingdoms of Granada and Naples The Catholick King pretended a Right to Granada as conquered in his Wife's life-time and as for Naples he said there was no dispute of its appertaining to the House of Aragon and therefore highly resented that his Son-in Law should pretend to dispose of it without consulting him to whom only it belonged This made him suspicious of the Great Captain who was a Castilian for the Emperor had sent to know which side he would encline to in case of a War and the Pope had put the same Question to him To the Emperor he answered in general Terms to the Pope resolutely telling him It was plain he knew not what Men he had to deal with who were not used to commit any thing that was disloyal to their King or unworthy themselves From Toro the Catholick King went to Segovia and thence sent D. John de Fonseca Bishop of Palencia to Flanders to attend upon the Queen his Daughter From the Emperor and his Son came as Ambassadors to the Catholick King Andrew de Burgo of Cremona and Philibert Lord de Vere who was great with the Archduke and had much Knowledge of the Affairs of Castile To him the Catholick King made known his Grievances and again attempted to draw D. John Manuel from King Philip but he instead of it discharged himself King Ferdinand's Service King Philip also kept Lope de Conchillos Secretary to the Bishop of Palencia a long time close Prisoner for writing a Letter from the Queen to the King committing to him the Charge of the Government which Letter was intercepted and thereupon no Spaniard was suffered to speak to the Queen which so heightned her Distemper that she was shut up In Italy the Great Captain sent Nun̄o de Ocampo with 1000 Men of those that were ordered to be dismissed to defend Plombin and Pisa The Florentines laid Siege to Pisa but Nun̄o de Campo throwing himself with his Men into it they were forced to rise and depart without it The Coloness pressed to have Bartholomew d' Alviano's Command reformed which the Great Captain delayed knowing the Worth of that Gentleman but afterwards understanding he held Intelligence with the Pope and designed to Favour the House of Medicis against the Florentines his Command was reduced He knowing of it thought to have seized Plombin but being disappointed aimed at Pisa The Great Captain commanded him to desist upon pain of Forfeiting his Possessions and Command in Naples The Florentines laying wait for him overthrew and wounded him At Naples for his Disobedience his Estate was
to take share in the plunder of the Houses The King hearing of this Tumult sent James de Almeyda and James Lopez to take cognisance of the matter The Two Friars that were the Ringleaders were put to death and burnt and many others punished The Strangers hoisting Sails got away with a rich Booty In Castile on the one side was expected the coming of the new King and Queen and on the other was great rejoicing for the Marriage of King Ferdinand and the Lady Germana From Salamanca went the Archbishop of Zaragoça with other Men and Ladies of Quality to Fuenterabia to attend the Bride King Ferdinand the Two Queens of Naples Mother and Daughter the Duke of Calabria and many more Lords went to Valladolid and thence to Duen̄as There on the 18th of March they were Married The Queen was great Niece to the Catholick King and Grandaughter to his Sister Ellenor Queen of Navarre The Popes dispensation was obtained with much difficulty the Emperor and his Son opposing it With the Queen came Luis d' Amboise Bishop of Albi Hector Pignatelo and Peter de Santandrea the King of France his Ambassadors There came also the Princes of Salerno and Melfi and other Barons of the Faction of Anjou to settle their Affairs Next day after the Marriage the King and Queen with all their Train set out towards Valladolid In that City the King took a solemn Oath in the presence of many Prelates and Noblemen to oblige himself and his Successors to the performance of all the Articles of the League with France A few days after the Neapolitan Barons did Homage to the King and Queen as rightful Sovereigns of the Kingdom of Naples for themselves and those that were absent This Solemnity being over the King set out for Burgos to meet the new King and Queen who he expected would Land at Laredo or some other Port of that Coast with whom went the Archbishops of Toledo and Sevil the Duke of Alva the Admiral the Constable and the Earl of Cifuentes All these seemed inclined to see all that was ordained by the Will of Queen Elizabeth performed At Torquemada the Catholick King received advice that his Son and Daughter were Landed at Corun̄a on the 28th of April The cause of their coming so late was the stay they made with the King of England and their being detained at Plymouth by the Weather They Landed at Corun̄a King Philip being perswaded it was best for him to be the farthest he could from his Father-in-Law to have time to find how the Nobility and Commonality stood affected towards him to behave himself accordingly being resolved not to stand to the late Agreement unless he were forced to it This was the Advice of D. John Manuel who had great influence over him and would have carried him to land in Andalucia if the Weather had permitted About this time Gonçalo Marin̄o de Ribera Commander of Melilla for the Duke of Medina Sidonia had the Town of Caçaça delivered to him by Composition It is in the Kingdom of Fez 5 Leagues from Melilla and has a good Port and remained in Propriety to the Duke of Medina Sidonia The coming of King Philip which ought to have produced Peace and a general Satisfaction might have caused an absolute Breach had not the Catholick King prudently quenched the spreading flame of Discontent which began to appear in all Places The Humours and Designs of the Two Kings were opposite in all respects As soon as King Philip Landed he sent to require the Earls of Benavente and Lemos as also the other Nobility of Galicia and Castile to Declare for him which was the way to raise Tumults rather than settle Peace Finding this contrivance answered his expectation and that many freely declared for him he presently professed he would not stand to the late Treaty concluded at Salamanca He also began to discountenance his Father-in-Laws Servants and one day speaking to D. Peter de Ayala told him that tho' he had in Flanders and England winked at his Proceedings in opposition to his Service he would no longer bear with it and since he was his Subject he should take care how he behaved himself He turned away the Alcaides and Alguaziles de Corte sent by King Ferdinand to attend upon him thinking his Father-in-Law designed to choose his Family He was well instructed not to allow of any Tutor or Overseer as D. John Manuel called it His followers exclaimed against the Catholick King especially for his Marriage and the Articles of it which gave away the Kingdom of Naples from his Daughter and Grandson In this particular no doubt they had reason but the King did it to gain the King of France On the other Side the Catholick King as soon as he heard of his Son-in-law and Daughters Landing sent D. Raimund de Cardona and Ferdinand de Vega to visit them and went himself towards Leon in order to meet them but stopped at Astorga till he knew their Will He ordered the Marquess of Villena who was come to Burgos with a great Train and the Duke of Najara who was raising his kindred and followers to go to Corun̄a in Warlike manner to forbear proceeding after that manner and to go thither with their usual Retinue He pressed his Son-in-Law to dismiss 2000 Germans he brought with him fearing that might give some cause of Discontent to the People He also sent Almaçan his Secretary to join with his Ambassadors D. Raimund D. Ferdinand de Vega D. Peter de Ayala and Gutierre Gomez de Fuensalida that they might agree upon the Place where he should meet his Son and Daughter which he desired might be very speedily and King Philip's followers laboured to delay as much as might be First Sarria then Ponferrada were the Places proposed for the interview but none pleased his People and particularly D. John Manuel who managed all and feared that if the Two Kings met the one being very subtle and the other open besides the respect due to a Father they would easily agree which was what he chiefly laboured to prevent To this purpose he told D. Peter de Ayala that the Catholick King might be perswaded three things whereon he much relied should never come to pass First that at the Interview there should be no manner of Discourse of Business Secondly that the meeting should be in the Field and not with equal Retinues but that King Philip should have much the greater Thirdly that the Catholick King should not Confide in the Favour of the Queen his Daughter for it would not avail him Great Offers were again made to D. John Manuel for himself and his Children to bring him over to King Ferdinand but he had a Spirit above all that At this time died at Valladolid Christopher Columbus Admiral of the West-Indies the first Discoverer of the New World Now also the Marquess of Villena the Earl of Benavente and the Duke of Najara were come to Corun̄a and
daily more People resorted thither and more Men of Note as the Duke of Bejar the Marquesses of Astorga and Aguilar Gazilasso de la Vega and the Duke del Infantado This encouraged the followers of King Philip. The Catholick King stayed at Astorga till the 15th of May thence he went to Ravanal designing to go on to Santiago and to appoint the Interview there Some of his Council advised him not to be too hasty because Delay would breed Discord among the Noblemen and the Favourites of King Philip and by that means he would be reduced to submit to his Father-in-Law This was the Posture of Affairs in Castile The Princes of Italy and other Nations expected the Event of King Philip's going into Spain believing the Catholick King would be Affronted and much Weakened This they were the more apt to give Credit to because they saw the Great Captain contrary to his King's Orders continued at Naples which they could not believe to be without some Mystery But he understanding these Surmises sent before his Horses and Equipage and with it Peter Navarro to acquaint the Catholick King with the true Reasons of his stay which were to Order the Garrisons and appease the Soldiers who mutinied for want of Pay On the other Side John Baptista Espinelo went away at the same time for Spain to Complain of the Great Captain and blame all his Proceedings which was easie to do because he had much Credit with the Catholick King Calumny often prevails above Truth at least its first Efforts are more violent Thus the Catholick King resolved to use all means to draw the Great Captain from Naples and to this purpose appointed his Son the Archbishop of Zaragoça to go and take the Government of that Kingdom upon him At the same time he sent John Lopez de Vergara Secretary to the Great Captain with a Note under his Hand wherein he solemnly Swore he would give him the Mastership of the Order of Santiago as soon as he came into Spain This was believed to be only a Design to intrap him for at the same time he Ordered Peter Navarro created Earl of Olivito to go with the Archbishop and Apprehend him in Castelnovo The reason why the King changed his Mind was because he received a Letter from the Great Captain assuring him of his Fidelity and swearing to stand by him and keep that Kingdom at his Devotion besides he promised he would soon be in Spain Thus this Storm was laid which at that time might have been of dangerous Consequence CHAP. IX The Spaniards and Flemmings at variance upon their first meeting King Ferdinand raises Forces pretending to Rescue his Daughter Many forsake him and he is forced to quit Castile An Interview of the Two Kings NO sooner were the Noblemen come to Corun̄a but there arose Disputes and Contentions among them nor could they agree with the Flemmings The Marquess of Villena took Place of all others and as Lord High Steward when the King heard Mass stood next the Curtin on the one Side and Monsieur de Vere as Steward for Flanders on the other They could not agree about the Interview betwixt the Two Kings The Castilians were for hindering of it that they might not agree the Flemmings as the more sincere People thought it best they should meet to prevent Misunderstandings Monsieur de Vere was he that appeared most for the Interview yet some malicious Persons said he did it out of malice to D. John Manuel by reason of his great Interest in King Philip. But he at this time gave greater signs of Discontent than of being in Favour the coming of so many Noblemen having very much startled him fearing least some of them should step in before him and be the cause of his fall All of them agreed in their Complaints against the Catholick King Some thought it hard he should take to himself half the Revenune of the Crown and not divide the Income of the Masterships Some said how could Three Kings be endured in Castile and D. John Manuel produced a Grant passed in France wherein King Ferdinand Stiled himself King of Castile Many reflected that all Commands in Spain were held in the Name of the Catholick King who was still to appoint Governors to many Cities whereas it would not be in the power of King Philip in a long time to dispose of those Posts Above all they exclaimed that he raised Men under Colour of setting his Daughter at Liberty she being kept up and not allowed to be seen by reason of her Indisposition This Article was true For King Ferdinand had sent out Orders to levy Forces upon pretence of Rescuing his Daughter to strengthen himself if they should come to an open Breach The Duke of Alva had already raised a Force in the Kingdom of Leon to stand by the Catholick King he only of all the Nobility adhering to him tho' he was sensible of the Danger he exposed himself to since all forsook the King even the Constable who was his Son-in Law and the Admiral his Cousin having thought it more for their Advantage to accompany King Philip. King Ferdinand not satisfied with raising Men in Castile sent an Aragonian Gentleman called Jaime Albion to acquaint the King of France with the Posture of his Affairs and request him to stir up the Duke of Guelders and Bishop of Liege to make War upon Flanders by that means to bring down King Philip to his own Terms Still the Talk of an Interview continued but could not be agreed upon King Philip resolved to set out from Corun̄a towards Santiago Before him marched the Germans with their Cannon in as good Order as if they were in an Enemies Country The same day being the 28th of May the Catholick King and Queen set out towards Betanços D. John Alonso de Fonseca Archbishop of Santiago had declared for the Catholick King which was the reason King Philip would not meet him there nor made no long stay in the Place but turned off to Orense and the Catholick King staid at Villafranca Then King Philip sent Word to the Catholick King that if he would send the Archbishop of Toledo to him he hoped all things would be adjusted to Content This was accordingly done and the Archbishop laboured to reconcile all Differences but advanced little the Nobility opposing it as unwilling that the Two Kings should be reconciled From Villafranca King Ferdinand went to Baneza and thence to Matilla at which time many Prelates and other Gentlemen forsook him being drawn away by the Nobles that had Declared against him This made the Catholick King despair of being able to support himself if the matter came to be decided by the Sword which was the cause he endeavoured to Compound with his Son-in-Law at any Rate Hereupon he sent him a Letter desiring they might meet without farther delay or hearkning to ill affected Persons His answer was only Complaints that the Catholick King raised