THE General HISTORY OF SPAIN FROM The first Peopling of it by Tubal till the Death of King Ferdinand Who United the Crowns of CASTILE and ARAGON WITH A CONTINUATION TO THE Death of KING PHILIP III. Written in Spanish By the R. F. F. John de Mariana To which are added Two SUPPLEMENTS THE FIRST By F. Ferdinand Camargo y Salcedo the other by F. Basil Varen de Soto bringing it down to the present Reign The whole Translated from the Spanish By Cap t JOHN STEVENS LONDON Printed for Richard Sare at Grays-Inn-Gate in Holbourn Francis Saunders in the New-Exchange in the Strand and Thomas Bennet at the Half-Moon in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1699. TO THE Right Honourable CHARLES Earl of Dorset and Middlesex c. MY LORD MAriana's History of Spain has been an Offering worthy the Acceptance of two Kings Its first appearance in the World was in Latin in the Reign and under the Patronage of the Mighty Monarch Philip II. of Spain from whom it met with so favourable a Reception as encourag'd it when made Spanish by the same hand to aspire to no less Protection than the same great Prince's Son Philip III. then Sovereign not only of all Spain but of the East and West-Indies This same History now first brought to speak English I presume to present your Lordship as the worthiest Patron I could make choice of for a Work that has hitherto been thought deserving the Acceptance of Kings Nor do I think my choice inferiour to my Authors not that I mean to bring the Dignity of Crown'd Heads into a Parallel with other Honours but because Kings tho' they are above all other Men as to their Character yet they may be and are often inferior to many in the Beauties and Accomplishments both of Body and Mind Philip II. was more a Politician than an Historian and Philip III. had more of the Saint than of the Scholler the Father made it his only Study to over-reach other Princes and gain some Advantage upon them the Son rather aim'd at Heavenly than Worldly Learning Thus it appears neither of them had those parts your Lordship is possess'd of to render you if not so powerful yet a more worthy Patron Their Power might shade their Ignorance but your Lordships Judgment and Learning will exert it self even above their Power They might receive the fawning Flatteries of their Subjects but your Lordship is so far above being Flatter'd that it would be a very difficult Task to give a true Estimate of your real Abilities I will refrain enlarging upon this Subject lest Malice or Envy should interpret that a Reflection upon others which is only a faint Expression of what is your Lordships due I must desist from all that looks like Praise as well because I can't in a small compass express so much as is known to the World as because it is an undertaking much above my reach to give a Character of your Lordship or to express the worth of your Noble Ancestors Persons so truly Great are above all Flattery and mean Objects are rather expos'd to scorn than extoll'd by it Your Lordship stands highly visible among the first among those I mean who having attain'd to the utmost pitch of Honour can receive no Addition of Glory from the best of Pens This makes my Task in approaching so able a Judge the more easie which others perhaps may think the greatest difficulty Much Study and Accurate Language they say is requisite to express our selves duly to Persons of eminent Parts who are able to discover the least Imperfections and expect to be treated according to their Merit I confess the ablest Pen can never exceed where there 's true worth but at the same time it must be allow'd that those who deserve most are generally contented with least Thus we see the Greatest and Best of Men are nothing pleas'd to hear their own Commendations because tho' never so real Modesty makes them look like Flattery in their Eyes and they easily connive at Faults which are not willful because the sweetness of their Temper makes them rather commiserate then expose the Failings of others This is a Generosity without which no Man can be call'd truly Good and he that is not Good can never be truly Great Tyrants and others rais'd by infamous means to mighty Titles may according to the mistaken vulgar Sense of the World be call'd and look'd upon as Great in respect of their Power or Riches but only those are really so and will transmit that Name to Posterity who either rise by Noble and Vertuous Actions or being Nobly Born preserve that Nobility unblemish'd Your Lordship has Worth to be above Flattery Generosity not to be puff'd up with due Praises and Goodness to overlook Faults I am too sensible of my own weakness not to think so able a Judge may discover many in this Work for of this Epistle I do not speak it being only design'd to beg Pardon for the rest The Work I own deserv'd an abler Undertaker but there is something of Glory even in attempting great things tho' the Success don't answer and it is Honourable to favour and encourage such Attempts Scipio deserv'd no less Commendation for favouring Ennius than Augustus did for encouraging Virgil and Your Lordship in Patronizing this Translation tho' it prove inferior in value will do no less than the two great Monarchs I mention'd at first in giving their Protection to the Originals The less my Merit appears the greater will be the Demonstration of his Goodness who supports my Weakness The Mighty Artaxerxes accepted of Water a Country-man brought him in his Hands and stoop'd to drink of it History ought to be pure as Water without any Partiality to disturb or discolour it such has my Author been generally accounted if the course way of presenting of it in the hands of my unpolish'd Stile make it appear the less valuable Your Lordship will be pleas'd to consider it was the best Vessel I had to serve it up in and to look upon it as the best mark I was able to give of the profound Respect I owe as My Lord Your Lordships Most Faithful and most Devoted humble Servant JOHN STEVENS THE PREFACE THE Learned part of the World is so well acquainted with the value of this History that it will seem superfluous to give any Character of it so that whatsoever I can say in its behalf must fall short of what it deserves in the Opinion of those who are Judges of its worth and sach as have no knowledge of it may be apt to think me Partial as a Translator should I offer any thing in commendation of it Mariana needs no Apology having establish'd an unblemish'd Reputation and that particularly as to the best of Qualifications requir'd in an Historian which is being Impartial I will not go about to prove him so in the strictest Sense for that were to make him more than Man since we know there is none
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
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
the King of Navarre then a Prisoner in France was solicited by both Parties but he would declare for neither tho he rather inclin'd to the Aragonian Incursions were made three several ways into the Kingdom of Valencia Prince Ferdinand of Aragon hoping that Kingdom would rebel but he was deceiv'd for they were terrify'd with Punishment Thus the War was carry'd on at the end of August with great Desolation of the Country Near the same time was the memorable Battle of Poitiers in France in which the whole power of that Kingdom was discomfited by a small Number of English the King of France and his younger Son Philip taken and a great number of Nobility slain That famous Battel was fought on the 19th of September 1356. Upon occasion of this defeat the King of Navarre broke Prison and getting to Paris headed the People against the Dauphin There in a great Assembly he complain'd of the Wrongs done him and pleaded his right to the Crown as Grand-Son to King Luis Hutin whereas the King of England was Son to the Lady Elizabeth that King's Sister This had been a ground of new Confusions but that the King of Navarre wanted Power However he prevail'd so far as to have all that was his own restor'd to him with an addition of the Lordships of Mascon and Bigorre Yet he could not obtain the Earldoms of Champagne Brie and Burgundy to which he pretended to have right Heny Earl of Trastamara escaping from that Fight fled to the King of Aragon being invited by him This was the first step he rose towards obtaining the Crown of Castile It was agree'd betwixt the King of Aragon and him That Count Henry should renounce his Country and take an Oath of Fidelity to the Aragonian and that the King should give him pay for 600 Horse and as many Foot who were to serve under him At the beginning of the Year 1357 the War went on with various Success on the Frontiers of Castile and Aragon The Arigonians took Alicant the Castilians Embite and Bordalva Chief Commanders for the King of Aragon were Count Henry D. Peter de Exerica and Count Lope Ferdnandez de Luna For the King of Castile D. Frederick Master of Santiago the two Princes of Aragon and D. John de la Cerda Those of Aragon serv'd their Master with greater Fidelity than those Castile who at last were all drawn over by the Enemy D. John de la Cerda and Alvar Perez de Gusman were the first that deserted the King of Castile remembring the death of D. Alonso Coronel whose Daughters they had marry'd and who was kill'd by the King's Order as also fearing the King had a Mind to Da. Aldonça Wife to Alvar Perez They fled to Andaluzia hoping to raise a Rebellion there At this time the King of Castile laid Siege to a Castle on the Borders of Castile and Aragon call'd Tebat or as others write Silamo there he receiv'd the News that those Gentlemen were fled into Andaluzia He pursu'd them a while but finding it impossible to overtake them return'd to the War with more fury than before He took some Towns of small Note and with the same Violence enter'd Taraçona a noble City near Navarre on the 9th of March. The Citizens seeing the upper part of the Town lost surrender'd upon promise of Life and Goods and were suffer'd to depart to Tudela It was said this City was lost through the Cowardise of the Governour Michael de Guerrea who not knowing how to answer it withdrew with his Family to Navarre The King peopled the Town with Castillian Souldiers dividing the Houses and Lands among them This City being lost the King of Aragon thought not himself safe in Zaragoça especially for that at the same time D. John de la Cerda was defeated and kill'd by the Forces of the Council of Sevil commanded by D. John Ponce de Leon Lord of Marchena and Gilos Bocanegra the Admiral From France came the Earl of Faux with many Gentlemen of Note to serve the King of Aragon His Enemy the Lord La Brie came with a number of Lances to King Peter Pope Innocent's Legate the Cardinal of Bolonia sent to that purpose labour'd much to bring them to Peace and at last obtained a Truce for 15 Months Mean while Bernard de Cabrera and John Fernandez de Hinestrosa were appointed Commissioners the first for Aragon the other for Castile to treat All Places taken on both sides were deliver'd in Trust to the Cardinal Legate who excommunicated him that should offer to break the Truce This Agreement was made on the 18th of May. This Month dy'd Alonso the IIId King of Portugal Aged 77 Years and a Half He reign'd 31 Years 5 Months and 20 Days and was buried by his Queen Beatrix in the Cathedral of that City His Son Peter call'd the Cruel succeeded him About a Month before he had a Son born to him of Da. Teresa Gallego whom he kept after his Father caus'd the Lady Agnes de Castro to be put to death She was graceful but had no other good quality her Son was call'd John to whom Heaven had reserv'd the Crown of Portugal as shall appear in its Place The Truce concluded betwixt the Crowns of Castile and Aragon the Aragonian deliver'd up to the Legate the Places he had taken being but few but King Peter could never be induc'd to draw the Souldiers out of Taraçona to whom he had given Houses there He went away to Sevil to settle Andaluzia and set out a Fleet to infest the Coast of Aragon for he neither expected nor desir'd Peace At Sevil he was so taken with the Lady Aldonça Coronel that he made no account of Da. Maria de Padilla The Legate offended at his course of Life excommunicated him and laid an Interdict upon all Castile This was an extravagant Action of the Legate therefore the Pope call'd him out of Spain All was contriv'd by the King of Aragon to make King Peter odious Another Displeasure befel him The Lady Joanna Wife to Count Henry was convey'd into Aragon to her Husband by Peter Carillo a Servant of his which cut off all hope of Peace The other Brothers Frederick and Tello were willing to rebel but fear'd they could have nothing in Aragon equivalent to the Estates they must leave in Castile Prince Ferdinand of Aragon kept the Town of Jumilla taken from the Aragonians he dealing underhand with Bernard de Cabrera went over to the King of Aragon upon conditition to be made Vicar of the Kingdom and have all his Estate restor'd The Revolt of Count Henry and Prince Ferdinand as it was the Life of Aragon so it prov'd fatal to their Brothers as shall be seen here after Mathew Doria dying in Sardinia advanc'd the King of Aragons Interest for tho Marianus of Arborea was not quiet his Power alone was inconsiderable Luis of Naples was possess'd of the greatest part of Sicily Frederick
the Arch-bishop of Toledo who kept him long at Almonaçir three Leagues from that City This done the King and Queen went to Plasencia and thence set out for Portugal The Clergy of Guardia as had been promis'd by the Bishop came out to meet them with Crosses wishing them Joy of their Accession to that Crown The Governour of the Castle held out not knowing what party to take Before the King 's coming he was proclaim'd at Lisbon through the Persuasions of D. Henry Emanuel Earl of Sintra and Uncle to the late King Ferdinand Ellenor the Queen Dowager consented to it knowing her self too weak to oppose the Designs of the great Ones Yet the People began to be divided and many Lives were lost The first kill'd was the Count John Fernandez de Andeyro whom the Master of Avis stabb'd in the very Palace The popular Fury stopp'd not here for they Murder'd D. Martin Bishop of Lisbon in the Tower of the Cathedral whither he fled for Sanctuary only because he was a Castilian and seem'd to favour King John The Queen fearing some Outrage with the consent of the Master of Avis withdrew from Lisbon to Santarem Only Passion and Madness seem'd now to Reign The Master of Avis was Handsome Generous Familiar and had many other good Qualities which seem'd to make amends for the Fault in his Birth On the other side King John tho mild unless provok'd was reserv'd and of few Words so that tho some Places submitted to him upon his first coming he gain'd not the Affections of the Portugueses who expect to be familiarly Treated by their Kings At the beginning of the Year 1384 the King went from Guardia to Santarem to visit the Queen Dewager his Mother in Law and consult with her what Method was to be taken With him went 500 Horse a sufficient Number in time of Peace but too small to quell Rebels The Governours of the Kingdom of Toledo ceas'd not to make new Levies and send them towards Fortugal The greatest want was of Mony the Treasury and Country being exhausted with the last Wars They therefore took to the value of 4000 Marks of Silver out of the Treasury of the Church of our Blessed Lady of Guadalupe which the People look'd upon as an ill Omen 〈…〉 War began with Sacriledge Charles Prince of Navarre that he might not be thought ungrateful was gathering a good Body of Men to assist King John The King of Aragon thought it safest to look on In Portugal after much Consultation it was resolv'd the Queen Dowager should resign the Government of the Kingdom to the King her Son in Law This which was look'd upon as the means to appease the People provok'd them the more to Mutiny They hated the Government of Castile and upbraided the Queen with Parjury and breach of Trust yet many of the Nobles who had much to lose were concern'd at these Confusions and favour'd King John These were Henry Emanuel Earl of Sintra John Texeda who had been Lord Chancellor D. Peter Pereyra Grand Prior of Portugal who was afterwards Master of Calatrava in Castile and his two Brothers James and Ferdinand with many more Besides these many of the Commonalty especially in the Province between the Rivers Duero and Minho where one Lope de Leyra born in Galicia was Governour Alonso Pimentel deliver'd up Bragança he being Governour there John Portocarrero and Alonso de Silva did the same by other Places where they Commanded Thus far the pretensions of Castile went on successfully and it was thought the whole Kingdom united could not oppose them much less being divided But their Hopes soon vanish'd D. John Brother to the late King being detain'd Prisoner in Castile the People fixt their Eyes upon the Master of Avis Bastard Son to King Ferdinand He laying hold of the opportunity offer'd to expose himself for his Country Yet the People at that time did no more but name D. John that was Prisoner in Castile their Governour The more to incense the People he was painted upon their Colours in Irons The Command of the Army was given to the Master of Avis They said Queen Ellenor was not lawfully marry'd to the King and therefore Queen Beatvix was a Bastard This was done in Lisbon which had declar'd against Castile and was supported by many of the Nobility particularly by Nun̄o Alvarez Pereyra Son to the Grand Prior tho his Brothers sided with Castile This Gentleman was the Founder of the House of Bragança the most powerful in Portugal Nun̄o Pereyra was sent with a Body of Men to wast are Frontiers of Castile Some Forces sent by King John to oppose him were routed with great Slaughter and much greater Disgrace D. Gonçalo Brother to the Queen Dowager was in Coimbra with a good Garrison Thither King John went with the two Queens believing he would have receiv'd him but was disappointed This was the more grievous to King John for that Peter Earl of Trastamara Son to D. Frederick deserted from him and fled to that City It was suspected that Queen Ellenor weary of favouring Castile knew of his Flight Therefore the King sent her to Tordesillas in Castile with a great Retinue where she afterwards dy'd She lies bury'd at Valladolid in the Cloister of the Mercenarians This done a Council of War was held about besieging Lisbon the Metropolis of the Kingdom whither the principal People were withdrawn with the best of their Goods Opinions vary'd Some were for dividing the Army and securing the Country Others said all would be easy Lisbon once taken This Advice prevail'd and the Army march'd to the Siege By the way they wasted the Country burnt the Villages drove the Cattle and took several Towns They incamp'd and intrench'd themselves before that part of the City where now is the Monastery of All Saints To secure the Sea as well as the Land 13 Galleys and 12 Ships came from Sevil and anchor'd before the City to hinder any Resort of Provisions which soon grew scarce for the Multitude of the Besieg'd was great To remedy this want 16 Galleys and 8 Ships came from Porto which with the help of the Wind and Tide tho they lost 3 Ships supply'd the distress'd City This Relief chang'd the Face of Affairs for Autumn coming on the Army in the Field sicken'd and therefore King John made some Overtures of Peace Peter Fernandez de Velasco for the Castilians and the Master of Avis for the Portugueses were commission'd to Treat The Master of Avis positively affirm'd they would accept of no Conditions unless he were left to govern the Kingdom till such time as Queen Beatrix had a Son of Age to take the Administration upon him This he would not depart from having already conceiv'd some Hopes of obtaining the Crown for himself Sickness dally increas'd and many Men of Note dy'd of the Common sort 200 perish'd in one Day This made the great Men waver and grow weary of that unfortunate War
enterment of his Father being then Sick at Girona nor attend the Government then in Confusion the Queen Dowager her Brother and many Men of Note being imprison'd they endeavour'd to fly for fear of the new King The Queen was accus'd by a Jew of having given her Husband some bewitching Potion severals were tortur'd and put to death on this account and the Queen condemn'd to the Wrack but it was not put in Execution yet all her Estate was seiz'd and she only allow'd a Pension to live on The first thing the King did was the submitting his Kingdom to Pope Clement as Castile and Navarre had done before John Earl of Ampurias being at Barcelona in Hopes to be rewarded for his Services to the new King while Prince was cast into Prison upon Pretence that he had call'd in the French to recover his Estate D. Ximeno Peres de Arenos the King's Lord Chamberlain was sent to compose the Affairs of Sardinia He agreed with the Lady Ellenor Arborea in behalf of her Son Marianus whom she had by her Husband Brancaleon Doria That the Judicature of Arborea should remain to them and their Heirs That for other Towns they pretended Right to they should be left to Arbitration That all Places taken during the War should be restor'd Both Parties having Sign'd these Articles the War ceas'd CHAP. VII Peace Concluded with the English The Heir of Castile in imitation of the Prince of Wales in England is created Prince of Asturias A Truce with Portugal and the Moors King John of Castile kill'd by a fall from his Horse THE Treaty of Peace with the English was still afoot and yet the War was vigorously Prosecuted 600 English Horse and as many Archers for the rest were consum'd with Sickness sat down before Benavente whith them 2000 Portuguese Horse and 6000 Foot Alvaro Osoiro the Governour defended the Place bravely and did the Enemy some Harm The King of Castile was unwilling to hazard a Battel which gave the Enemy the Opportunity of taking some Towns in that Neighbourhood Yet their Loss was greater than the Advantage they could propose to themselves for the Flague rag'd among the Foreigners and Famine consum'd them all Therefore after two Months spent in the Siege they return'd into Portugal The Treaty of Peace drew near to a Conclusion therefore the King of Castile sent back the Succours that came to him from France He also sent Embassadors to the Duke of Lancaster with Power to conclude The Duke was at Trancoso a Town in Portugal there he receiv'd the Embassadors The Articles agreed upon were That the King's Son and Duke's Daughter should immediately be contracted That the Bride by way of Joynture should have Soria Atiença Almaçan and Molina That the Dutchess her Mother should have Gaudalajara Medina del Campo and Olmedo That the Duke should have 600000 Florines paid him at certain times appointed and 40000 yearly during his Life and the Life of his Wife Constance These are the Heads of that Agreement The King of Portugal storm'd not thinking himself secure as long as he of Castile reign'd On the other side the Duke complain'd that the King had consummated the Marriage with his Daughter before the dispensation came and therefore from Porto sail'd directly for Bayonne in France Upon his Departure the Towns in Galicia that held for the English submitted to their King as did the Gentry that sided with them having obtain'd Pardon The King of Castile commonly resided at Salamanca or Toro to be at Hand upon all Occasions He sent Embassadors to Bayonne to ratify what had been concluded The greatest Difficulty lay in raising the Mony to pay the Duke of Lancaster To this intent the Cortes met at Briviesca about the beginning of the Year 1388. To oblige his Subjects the King granted all their Requests It was design'd to lay the Tax upon Estates without exempting the Nobility or Clergy but the great Ones opposing it as a Breach of Privilege other Methods were found out After the Cortes broke up the Kings of Castile and Navarre met first at Calahorra then at Navarrets where they renew'd their antient Friendship Queen Ellenor bore her Husband company and with his Consent stay'd in Castile to try whether her Country Air could cure her as she pretended but in reality to be parted from him as afterwards appear'd After this interview the King of Castile appointed the City of Palencia for the Cortes to meet because the Plague was still at Burgos Here his Son was with great Pomp marry'd to the Duke of Lancaster's Daughter Their Ages were not answerable the Prince being but 10 Years of Age the Lady Catharine 19. The eldest Sons of the Kings of England are call'd Princes of Wales In imitation of them the King of Castile created his Son Prince of Asturias and gave him the Lordships of Bijar and Andujar which Custom has continu'd to our Days and so we shall hereafter call the Heir of the Crown The chief Thing done at the Cortes was setling how the Mony for the Duke of Lancaster should be rais'd That done and Peace concluded Constance the Dutchess King Peter's Daughter laying aside the Title of Queen came in August to Medina del Campo to see the King who entertain'd her nobly and gave her the City Huete Betwixt the King and the Duke rich Presents pass'd particularly the Duke sent the King a very curious Crown of Gold The Dutchess went to Guadalajara and took Possession of that Place about the beginning of the Year 1389 The King stay'd at Madrid thither came Embassadors to him from the Duke of Lancaster desiring they might meet on the Borders of Guienne and Biscay He set out in order to it but fell sick by the Way at Burgos yet went on as far as Victoria where he took leave of the Dutchess sending some Persons of Note to bear her Company and excuse him to her Husband on account of his Indisposition In reality he fear'd meeting the Duke left he should endeavour to take him off from siding with the French and he was unwilling to disoblige the Duke or break with France The Duke thus disappointed communicated his Design to the Embassadors who answer'd they had no Orders about that Affair and so return'd to Victoria On the 13th of March as they were digging a Foundation in some part of the Church of S. Engracia at Zaragoça they found two Tombs with Inscriptions the one of S. Engracia the other of S. Lupercius Among the Articles made with the English there was one that any of the Allyes of either part should be admitted into that Treaty The Cortes of Castile met at Segovia and sent Embassadors to Portugal to try whether that King would come into the League He puss'd up with Success had resolv'd to continue the War and invade Galicia yet by the Industry of F. Ferdinand de Illescas one of the Embassadors he agreed to a Truce for
that Name signifying The Lord Alexander He was given up a Hostage to Amurat the Turk but making his escape with a handful of Men held out for several Years in Epirus and overthrew great Armies of Turks But finding himself too weak alone to oppose that great Power he laboured to get forreign Aids and to this purpose made a League with the Venetians implored the Favour of the Popes and sent a solemn Embassy to the King of Aragon at the beginning of the Year 1451 offering if he relieved him with Men and Mony that after the War was ended that Province should pay the same Tribute to him it used to pay to the Turk The King sent some Supplies but too small to oppose the vast Power of the Enemy This Year was Fortunate to Spain for the Birth of the Princess Elizabeth for whom Heaven design'd the Crown of Castile her Brothers dying She was an incomparable Princess and the Glory of Spain She was born at Mndrigal on the 23d of April Henry Brother to the Admiral who had been taken up with the other Noblemen three Years before made his escape out of the Castle of Langa near Santistevan de Gormaz He had a Clew of Thred sent him and laying his Cloaths in the Bed with the Night-cap as if he had been there went up to a Tower where with the Thred he drew up a Rope that some of his Friends had ready below for him The Rope was knotted and so he let himself down Mean while the Governour looking into his Room and seeing something in the Bed thought he slept and went away satisfyed It Portugal Ellenor the King's Sister was contracted to the Emperor Frederick at Lisbon on the 9th of August Soon after the Bride was sent by Sea to Pisa and went thence to Siena in Italy The Nobility of Castile falling off from him and the Prince of Viana revolting the King of Navarre's Interest declined both at home and abroad All this was the Contrivance of D Alvaro de Luna to secure himself but it turned to his Ruin By his advice there was a sort of an Accommodation made betwixt the Kings of Castile and Navarre It was agreed that the Admiral and Earl of Castro and other Noblemen should be pardoned and restored to their Estates as also that D. Alonso Son to the King of Navarre should again have the Mastership of Calatrava But this succeeded not for Peter Giron who was in Possession made himself strong in the Town of Almagro resolving to stand upon his Guard So D. Alonso was forc'd to return to Aragon as he came which highly offended the King of Navarre To add to his Trouble Prince Henry was by the means of D. Alvaro entirely reconciled to his Father But the most grievous thing of all was that a tedious and bloody Civil War broke out in Navarre That Nation had been long divided betwixt two Factions the Biamonteses and the Agramonteses headed by the Earl of Lerin and Marques of Cortes and much Blood had been spilt The Agramonteses were for the King the Biamonteses inticed the Prince to take up Arms against his Father who they said wrongfully with-held the Crown from him In the first Place they made a League with Castile and France The King of Castile promised to assist the Prince provided he would declare and take up Arms. The King of France did the same being then in a Condition to do it having recovered all Guienne from the English As soon as the Civil War broke out in Navarre the Biamonteses seized several Towns and Cities and among them Pamplona the Metropolis of the Kingdom Olite and Aivar Yet the greatest part of the Kingdom and the Principality of Viana remained in the King's Power he having in time put Garrisons and given the Government of Towns to Men of approved Fidelity Prince Henry and soon after his Father the King of Castile came and layed Siege to Estela where the Queen of Navarre was The King her Husband speeded from Zaragoça to her Relief but bringing small Force with him and the Agramonteses not being yet able to oppose the Enemies he was forced to return to Zaragoça designing to raise Men in that Kingdom As soon as he was gone the King and Prince of Castile as it the War were ended tho they had done nothing at the Request of Prince Charles returned to Burgos His mild Nature was hurtful to Prince Charles for his Father having raised an Army tho small in Number yet composed of Old Soldiers lay'd Siege to Ayvar a well fortify'd Town His Son came to relieve the Besieged and on the 3d of October both Armies drew out Some Religious Persons laboured to reconcile the Father and Son Prince Charles was willing to lay down Arms upon Condition all that had followed him should be pardoned That the Principality of Viana and half the Revenues of the Crown should be given to him and that the King of Castile without whom he had sworn he would make no Peace should approve of these Articles The King of Navarre allowed part and rejected part of the Conditions whereupon the signal for Battle was given on both sides At first the Biamonteses made their Enemies give way but Roderick Rebolledo the King's Lord Chamberlain stood his Ground with such bravery that he gave time for those who had not engaged to come up and then they that fled before rallying endeavoured to blot out the shame of having turned their Backs Thus the Prince's Forces being an undisciplined Multitude not able to bear the Charge were put to Flight The first that ran were the Horse of Andaluzia But a few were killed many taken The Prince himself being beset delivered his Sword and Gauntlet to his Brother Alonso Authors do not write what Numbers fought or what were killed nor give any particular Account of the Battle The Prince was sent Prisoner to Tafalla and thence to Monroy It is reported he was always suspicious of being Poisoned and therefore when taken would not eat till his Brother had tasted The King of Navarre after this Victory returned to Zaragoça with his Wife who proved soon after with Child Yet the Biamonteses were no way dismayed at this Loss especially because Prince Henry came to their Assistance Besides the Nobility of Aragon favoured Prince Charles and plotted how to release him Navarre was in a miserable Condition the Country plundered by Soldiers and the Towns divided into Factions which often fell to blows In Andaluzia the Affairs of the Christians succeeded better On the 9th of February 1452 a much less party of Christians routed 600 Moorish Horse and 800 Foot who wasted the Country about Arcos D. John Ponce Earl of Arcos and Lord of Marchena commanded this Party In March 600 Horse and 1500 Foot of the Infidels were overthrown with great Slaughter by 300 Christian Horse and 2000 Foot near Lorca in the Kingdom of Murcia and a Booty of 40000 head of Cattle
he perswaded him to send for his Sister This done he sent Beatrix de Babadilla his Wife in a Disguise like a Country Woman to Aranda where she advised the Princess to go away with speed to Segovia assuring her of her Brothers Kindness and that at worst she could be safe in the Castle Having agreed upon it the Lady Beatrix returned to her Husband and the Princess soon followed and came into the Castle of Segovia on the 28th of December preceding the beginning of the year 1474. Her coming surprized the Town and Court and the Marquiss of Villena suspecting some Design against him withdrew to Ayllon a Town not far from thence King Henry received the News in the Forest of Balsain where he was Hunting He immediately returned to Segovia and visited his Sister Both testified much Joy at their Meeting and spent a long time in private At parting the Princess recommended her Affairs to the King who answered he would consider of it Next night they supped together in the Castle and the 3d day the Princess appeared a Horseback in the Streets the King himself holding her Bridle This was a Joyful day to Spain none doubting but it would put an end to so many Troubles To add to the Publick Satisfaction King Ferdinand by the Advice of his Wife came to Segovia On the day of the Epiphany the Two Kings and Queen appeared together in publick and afterwards Dined together in the Bishops House where Andrew de Cabrera Treated them Magnificently James Enriquez del Castillo writes that D. Roderick de Villandro Earl of Ribadeo Dined with them by virtue of a Priviledge granted to his Father as was said in its place of Dining with the King upon New-Years-Day After the Dinner there was a Ball and then a Collation But all this Joy was allayed by the King's Indisposition who being taken with a violent Pain in his Side was carried away to his Palace It was suspected by the People he was Poisoned and their Opinion gained Credit because he never after had his Health and died within a year But these were only Surmises publick Prayers were made for his Health and he was somewhat eased As soon as the King recovered Articles were proposed between him and his Sister The Princess demanded to be Sworn Heiress of the Crown and promised if that were done to be always Obedient to him as also to deliver up her Daughter as a Hostage to be kept by Andrew de Cabrera On the other side the Earl of Benavente required the Princess Joanna should be Married to D. Henry of Aragon and threatned if it were not Granted to break off any Agreement designed betwixt the King and his Sister All the other Nobles and Courtiers were divided as their Interest led them The Family of Mendoça both Numerous and Powerful began to incline to the Princess Elizabeth For that very Reason the Archbishop of Toledo was for siding with the Princess Joanna King Henry was irresolute D. John Pacheco the Master of Santiago advised him by Night to secure the City and apprehend his Sister and her Husband promising to Assist him in it This design was discovered and King Ferdinand immediately withdrew to Turuegano The Princess Elizabeth resolved to keep Possession of the Castle of Segovia where all the Royal Treasure lay After their parting the two Kings Henry and Ferdinand met again accidentally The Earl of Benavente had some time before the Town of Carrion given him by King Henry which he Fortified The Marquess de Santillana was offended at it and perswaded the Earl of Trevin̄o to Surprize it He did so and the Marquess Marched from Guadalajara with Forces to Support him The Earl of Benavente moved from Segovia to take Revenge of them both and many of the Nobility flocked with Forces to favour the Party they inclined to King Ferdinand Marched with some Troops to Assist the Marquess de Santillana and King Henry planted himself between the two Armies to perswade them to an Accommodation which he effected The Earl of Benavente wholly referred himself to the King and consented to Raze the Castle of Carrion and resign the Town to the Crown the Archbishop of Toledo giving him the Town of Magan in lieu of it After this the Marquess saw the Princess Elizabeth at Segovia whence he returned to Guadalajara with a resolution to change Parties King Henry having been at Valladolid and Segovia went to Madrid at the perswasion of D. John Pacheco He perswaded the King to go to the Borders of Portugal to make a Match for the Princess Joanna with the King of Portugal but his main design was to take Possession of Truxillo which was given him by the King Gracian de Sesse Governor of the Castle refused to deliver it up till what he had laid out upon it was Refunded and his Accounts passed King Henry finding his indisposition increase upon him returned to Madrid The Master of Santiago being also taken ill was carried on Mens Shoulders to Truxillo He designed to perswade the Governor to Surrender the Castle but died suddenly of a swelling in his Cheek whence so much Blood gushed that it Choaked him It is said the last Words he spoke were only to ask whether the Castle were Surrendred His death was kept private till the Castle was delivered up In lieu of it the Governor had the Town of S. Felix in Galicia given to him and his Heirs an unfortunate Gift to him for in a Mutiny the People of that Town stoned him to death The Aragonians and French were at variance about Rusillon and Cerdagne the former endeavouring to Recover those Counties and the latter pleading their Rights to them by way of Mortgage Thus both Parties prepared to renew the War after the expiration of the Truce Nevertheless John Folch Earl of Cardona and Hugo de Rocaberti Castellan of Amposta were sent Ambassadors to France with a splendid Retinue to endeavour the composing this Affair amicably They pretended the Money was not lent in time and that contrary to the Agreement John Duke of Lorrain had been supported out of France As the Ambassadors returned without concluding any thing they were detained at Lyons contrary to all Law and Equity Those Lords being detained in France the Aragonians durst not attempt any thing Yet the beginning of the Summer 500 French Horse Commanded by John Alonso Lord of Aluda entred Rusillon and joyning with the French Garrisons sat down before Elna the lower part thereof as being weak the Citizens abandoned The King of Aragon then held the Cortes of Catalonia at Barcelona and prepared for War tho' Aged and sick of a Quartan Ague He had no great Force and therefore sought to get Supplies from abroad King Ferdinand of Naples sent him 500 Horse by Sea Ferdinand his Son in June possessed himself of Tordesillas a good Town in Old Castile being invited thither by the Townsmen to oppose Peter Mendavia Governor of Castro Nun̄o who
Ampurias and pardoning all past Faults which highly obliged the Earl of Benavente his Cousin It was now the easier to content him because he had lost all hopes of Marrying the Princess Joanna she being gone from Escalona to Truxillo in order to be Married to the King of Portugal The Town of Perpignan being pressed with a long Siege surrendred on the 14th of March upon Condition the Aragonian Ambassadors detained in France should be released and the Townsmen have Liberty either to stay there or depart whither they pleased A Truce for 6 months was concluded between France and Aragon King Ferdinand sent an Embassy into France to propose a Peace and Treat about Restoring Russillon The King of France received the Ambassadors Honourably and sent one to Castile to propose a Match betwixt the Dauphin and the Princess of Castile which if concluded he promised Supplies of Men and Money to Reduce the Nobility of that Kingdom and to stand to the Judgment of Arbitrators as to the Affair of Russillon King Ferdinand was not averse from this Proposal but the King of Aragon Resented it and Complained that such Important Affairs should be Managed without his privity Above all he feared lest the Archbishop of Toledo should endeavour to set up another King in Castile The King of Portugal was ready on the Frontiers with an Army of 5000 Horse and 14000 Foot Thus all hopes of Accommodation being taken away the King and Queen prepared for War Andrew de Cabrera to make himself the more acceptable delivered up the Royal Treasures for which he was created Marquess of Moya Earl of Chinchon and Hereditary Governor of the Castle of Segovia Medina del Campo a great Town of Trade was secured to the Kings Interest the Castle being delivered up to him by the Duke of Alva The Rendezvous was at Valladolid whither the King and Queen went and soon gathered an indifferent Army King Ferdinand stayed in Old Castile where the People were well affected towards him and Queen Elizabeth passed the Mountains to endeavour to appease the Archbishop of Toledo but he to avoid seeing her went away from Alcalà to Brihuega a strong little Town pretending there was a design to kill him Peter Fernandez de Velasco the Constable sent by the Queen upon the same Errand could not prevail with him However the Queen's Labour was not lost for she secured Toledo putting a Garison into that City and expelling the Earl of Cifuentes and John de Ribera who favoured the Archbishop She went not to Madrid because the Marquess de Villena held the Castle This done she returned to Segovia to Coin all the Silver and Gold that was there King Ferdinand secured Salamanca but the Houses of such as were of the other Party were plundered Zamora opened the Gates to him but Alonso de Valencia the Governour would not deliver up the Castle of which he was Governour He thought not fit to attempt reducing it by force nor to go to Toro fearing John de Vlloa a Powerful Citizen who was inclinable to favour the Portugueses having deserved Death for several Crimes The King and Queen being come to Valladolid the City of Alcaraz submitted to them and the Citizens laid siege to the Castle The Earl of Paredes the Lord of Coca and the Bishop of Avila assisted the Townsmen and the Marquess de Villena came to raise the Siege but finding himself too weak desisted This loss moved him by Letter to hasten the King of Portugal That King was on the Frontiers near Badajoz in May upon the 18th day of which month he had a Grandson born at Lisbon which was looked upon as a good Omen he was called Alonso was Sworn Heir to the Crown but lived not long The Earl of Feria who stood firm to King Ferdinand was in Badajoz and had lately taken a Town called Xerez The Portugueses ought to have taken the Right Hand way and broke into Andaluzia where Carmona Ezija and Cordoua were for them so that having secured Sevil they had left no Enemy behind them Yet they turned to the Left and marched through Estremadura to Plasencia In this City the King of Portugal was Contracted to the Princess Joanna and tho they Consummated not the Marriage expecting a Dispensation because of the near Kindred that was betwixt them yet they were Crowned and Proclaimed King and Queen of Castile Here the King created Lope de Albuquerque Earl of Penamacor to Reward his Labour in gaining the Nobility of Castile A Manifesto was also published and sent to all parts declaring the Right of the Princess Joanna and reflecting on King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth The War broke out in several parts at the same time Villena with its Dependencies was infested with Forces out of the Kingdom of Valencia Hereupon the Inhabitants of that City at the perswasion of the Earl of Paredes took up Arms and declared for King Ferdinand having first Capitulated That they should for ever be incorporated in the Crown of Castile Cuidad Reall was recovered from the Master of Calatrava who had possessed himself thereof without any other Right than that of Arms. Great havock was made by both Parties in Andaluzia and Galicia Peter Alvarado saved the City Tuy for the King of Portugal The Citizens of Burgos besieged the Castle of that City which Inigo de Zun̄iga the Governor and D. Luis de Acun̄a the Bishop held for the Portugueses That King being called upon on every side knew not whither to go first The Nobility failed in their Supplies of Men Money and Provisions The People hated the Portugueses and they themselves began to grow weary of the War perceiving King Ferdinand who at the time they broke into Castile had scarce 500 Horse now headed an Army of 10000 Horse and 30000 Foot The King of Portugal marched first to Arevalo a Town that was for him and thence went to take possession of Toro and Samora King Ferdinand marched after him and encamped near Toro where the Enemy was designing to Relieve that Castle which still held out for him No Action hapned betwixt them King Ferdinand sent a Challenge by a Herald The Portugues answered his Forces were dispersed yet offered to accept of single Combat Therefore King Ferdinand not being able to relieve the Castle which was at last surrendered Provision and Money growing scarce returned to Medina del Campo The Cortes assembled in that City granted him towards carrying on the War half the Silver and Gold of the Churches provided he engaged to restore it as soon as the Kingdom was free from War Then he sent out to besiege the Castle of Burgos Many said King Ferdinand retired from Toro through Fear and that it denoted an ill posture of Affairs Certain it is it moved the Archbishop of Toledo without regarding the Prayers of all his Relations and Friends to go away and join the King of Portugal with 500 Horse He and the Duke of Arevalo advised that King to march in
Otranto and Trana which lay convenient for their Trade in the East King Ferdinand of Spain provided for the War in Russillon To this purpose the Cortes met the last Year at Taraçona and resolved to assist the King with 200 Men at Arms and 300 Horse for 3 Years After this the Cortes of Catalonia assembled at Tortosa and sate till the beginning of the Year 1496. They also granted Supplies The two Matches with the House of Austria were also forwarded because the Archduke's Inclination lay another way Still the War in Naples continued for tho' the French were few in Number yet they had some considerable Places of Strength In 〈◊〉 Gonçalo Fernandez was strong and straitned the French very much Near Eboli the French defeated 4000 Neapolitans which made them sole Masters of the Field in that Country To raise Money they resolved to march into Apulia and receive the Duties upon Cattel which is one of the best Branches of the Revenue The King was at Benevento his Forces dispersed and went thence to Foxia to prevent the Design of the French The Marquess of Mantua with the Forces of Venice join'd him Fabricio attempting the same with 600 Swissers had most of his Men cut off by the French whereupon they grew so bold as to offer the King Battel at Foxia He refused but some small Skirmishes hapned betwixt them The French marched on to receive the Duty some they had and some the King got the rest was lost Gonçalo Fernandez being possessed of almost all Calabria had cooped the Lord Aubeni up in the extream part of that Province yet the King called him away to strike at the Head In his Place he left Cardinal Luis d' Aragon the King 's Cousin-German The Country-people thought to secure the Passes but the Spaniards being well versed in that way of Mountain-fight made a great Slaughter of them near a Town of Calabria called Muran There they understood that some of the Barons of the French Faction lay not far off at a Town called Lacino and designed to relieve the Castle of Confenza Gonçalo de Cordova marched all night surprized the Town killed many of those Nobles and sent the rest Prisoners to the King The French besieged Xerula 10 Miles from Benevento and the King sate down before Frangito The French came to relieve this Place at such time as the King's Forces entred and burnt it to lose no time in Plundering Both Armies stood in sight of one another on two Hills neither daring to pass the Valley that lay betwixt them Tho' the French were weak the King resolved not to fight till Gonçalo de Cordova had joined him which he did notwithstanding the Duke of Monpensier laboured to hinder it On Midsummer day he came up with the King who then lay before Amalfi whither the French were then retired He viewed the Place and on the 1st of July attacked the Enemies Guard upon the Mills and drove them away destroying the Mills which gained him such mighty Reputation that the Italians began to call him the Great Captain and looked upon him as Superiour to all other Officers This Siege was carried on with such Vigour that the Duke of Monpensier was forced to surrender upon Articles which were That if within 30 days he were not relieved from France he would withdraw all the Forces out of the Kingdom with their Goods Arms and Horses and deliver up all Places except Gaeta Venosa and Taranto and those Towns which the Lord of Aubeni and the Duke de Monte were possessed of Upon this Condition the King was obliged to give the French free Passage by Sea and Land This was agreed in July and afterwards performed accordingly It is worth observing That in Original Capitulations signed on both Sides they gave Gonçalo Fernandez the Title of Great Captain Nevertheless few of the French ever reached home The Duke of Monpensier died at Puzol Virginius Ursinus contrary to the Capitulation was apprehended by the Pope's Order with his Son John Jordan and other Italian Lords It troubled the King that his Word was broke and that he could not relieve them yet he durst not disobey the Pope who commanded it and whose Nephew John Borgia the Cardinal and Bishop of Melfi followed the Army as his Legate during this War and the Duke of Gandia Commanded the Forces of the Pope During the absence of the Great Captain the Affairs of Calabria grew into a worse Posture which obliged him to return thither He coming into that Province the greatest part whereof the Enemy was again possessed of so distressed them that the Lord Aubeni was forced to subscribe to the Conditions made with the Duke of Monpensier and return to France having gained the Reputation of a Brave but Unfortunate Commander in that he had to do with so great a Man as Gonçalo Fernandez At the same time that the Affairs of Naples began to have a more favourable Aspect that is about the middle of August departed this Life Queen Elizabeth Mother to the then Queen of Spain Her Body was deposited at Arevalo where she lived the latter part of her Life somewhat distracted Thence she was afterwards translated to the Church of the Carthusians at Burgos where her Husband King John II. of Castile lay buried Her Grandchild the Princess Joanna on the 22d of the same Month sailed from Laredo with a Fleet there provided to carry her to her Husband Philip Archduke of Austria The Queen her Mother bore her Company to the Sea Frederick Enriquez the Admiral carried her to Flanders were she was Nobly entertained This Year also the Pope gave to King Ferdinand of Spain the Title of Catholick King as Pius II. had before Honoured Luis XI King of France with the Name of Most Christian That is whereas before they used to write on the Pope's Bulls To the Illustrious King of Castile now they first wrote To the Catholick King of Spain This highly offended the Portugueses who said King Ferdinand was not King of it all their Kings possessing a great part The Dispute lasted till that Crown was united to Castile As soon as King Emanuel was seated on the Throne of Portugal he assembled the Cortes of the Kingdom at Montemor not far from Evora in order to settle the Government Thither came George the late King's Bastard-Son then but 14 Years of Age and with him his Tutor D. James d' Almeyda Great Prior of S. John The King received him with much Demonstration of Affection promising to look upon him as his own Child and to use him as such He immediately sent Ambassadors to the King of Spain to acquaint him with his Accession to the Crown and to the Pope to pay him Reverence as usual D. James de Sylva the King's Tutor and D. John Manuel his Foster-Brother were in great Esteem with the King D. James was created Earl of Portalegre D. John made Lord Chamberlain and afterwards became the King's greatest
Forces against him and that he aspersed him giving out that he kept the Queen Prisoner and obstructed the proceedings of the Inquisition favouring those it had Apprehended and that all this was Invented to render him Odious to his Subjects The difficulty obstructing the Interview was that King Philip's Party would before they met know whether the Catholick King would Consent to altering some Articles of the late Agreement and which those were but the Catholick King was very reserved and would not lay himself open to any till he met with his Son-in-law The Archbishop of Toledo on the one side and Monsieur de Villar with D. John Manuel on the other by Commission from their Masters Treated of Reconciling all Differences Their Designs were nothing alike and therefore they could not agree The Archbishop acted sincerely as became his Dignity and the good Opinion conceived of his Life The others subtilly laboured to do all things for the Advantage of their Master or at least to protract time hoping at length the Catholick King being forsaken by all Men would be forced to depart that Kingdom and retire to his own The Archbishop despairing of coming to any Conclusion advised the Catholick King to withdraw towards the Kingdom of Toledo There he offered to deliver up to him all his Towns and Castles affirming that by reason of the great distance before King Philip's Party could come to him the Heat and want of Provisions would disperse them and the Enmity which daily increased betwixt the Flemmings and Castillians would turn to his Advantage King Ferdinand would not consent but rather was jealous that the Archbishop designed to leave him as the rest had done He resolved at any rate to see his Son in Law who was now come to Verin and thence sent D. James de Guevara to the Catholick King then at Rionegro to desire he would forbear going to meet him for so it behoved Still King Ferdinand persisted in his Resolution He said his Son-in-Law could not take it ill that he came to see him since it was in a Peaceable manner whereas he was prepared for War Since it could not be avoided Monsieur de Villar and D. John Manuel resolved to go meet him and fix a day for the Interview The Duke of Alva was sent to King Philip as a Hostage for D. John Manuel tho the colour was he went to Adjust some Affairs Mean while King Philip removed to Puebla de Sanabria and King Ferdinand to Asturianos which are but two Leagues distant Monsieur de Villar and D. John being come to Asturianos the King spoke lovingly to them without the least sign of Discontent As to the Agreement he answered in such manner as made it appear the fault should not lie at his Door if all things were not done to the satisfaction of his Son-in-Law It was agreed the Interview should be the next day in a Wood that is betwixt Puebla de Sanabria and Asturianos near a Farm called Ramessal The Kings set out as had been appointed but with very unlike Attendance King Ferdinand with about 200 of his Followers mounted upon Mules and without Arms in Peaceable manner King Philip in a Warlike posture Toward Puebla de Sanabria were drawn up about 2000 Pikemen besides the Country People and a good number of Horse that followed the Nobility About 1000 Germans advanced to see the Country was clear After these followed King Philip's Domesticks and he after them on Horseback Armed under his Cloaths On his Right Hand was the Archbishop of Toledo and on his Left D. John Manuel Before he came up King Ferdinand placed himself on a rising Ground to see the Company pass by The Grandees and other Nobles came to Kiss his Hand whom he received with a pleasant Countenance He Embraced the Earl of Benavente and feeling his Armour said smiling My Lord How comes it you are grown so fat He answered Sir the Times are the cause of it To Garzilasso he said Garzia What are you so too He replied By God Sir we are all so Then came King Philip who tho he shewed some Discontent in his Looks offered to alight and Kiss his Father in Law 's Hand but he prevented Embracing and Kissing him with great Signs of Affection and a pleasant Countenance To Confer together they went into a Chappel that was hard by and with them the Archbishop of Toledo and D. John Manuel The Archbishop with his usual Freedom said to D. John It is not convenient for Private Men to be present at the Conference of Princes let us both be gone D. John could not gainsay him Being both together at the Door the Archbishop bid him go out for he would be Porter Then he shut the Door and sat down by it After the usual Civilities the Kings fell to Business and the Catholick King told King Philip it was not for want of Business or Riches that he had pretended to govern Castile for he had enough of both and should advance himself little by taking from his Children but that he had done it as being better acquainted with the Humours of the People by his long Experience however he was willing to comply and resign all up to him He advised him to be careful in the Choice of his Ministers and Counsellors and recommended to him the Archbishop of Toledo as a Man fit to be trusted King Philip answered as he had been before instructed and Thanked his Father in Law for his Advice Thus they took Leave having been together two hours without so much as naming Queen Joanna In fine they parted more dissatisfied then they met This Interview was upon Saturday the 20th of June CHAP. X. The Two Kings of Spain agree and join in League Joanna King Philip 's Queen Distracted through Jealousie Troubles in Castile King Ferdinand and his Queen go to Zaragoza Jealousies started against the Great Captain King Philip dies BOth Kings continued their Journey at 3 or 4 Leagues distance from one another King Philip came to Benavente on Midsummer-Day King Ferdinand still pressed to conclude in Friendly manner At last their Commissioners agreed the Catholick King should quit the Government of Castile and retire to Aragon still retaining the 3 Masterships and what other Leagacies the Queen had left in her Will Upon these Terms they concluded a League Defensive and Offensive King Ferdinand Swore to this League on the 27th of June at Villafasila in the presence of the Archbishop of Toledo D. John Manuel and Monsieur de Villar Next day King Philip also Swore it In private they both Signed a Writing declaring the Queen's incapacity to Govern The Catholick King protested he consented against his Will being in the power of his Son in Law and then went away to Tordesillas There on the first of July he published Declarations declaring his Design had always been to resign up the Government which he now accordingly performed How this suits with the Protestation
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
come without an Army which he looking upon as an Insolence that they should prescribe Rules to their Sovereign entred with a powerful Army and vanquished his Enemies The Multitude was pardoned only the Heads punished D. Fruela's Sons as soon as taken had their Eyes put out the same was done to D. Alonso the King's Brother Not far from the City Leon is the Monastery of St. Julian there they were all kept as long as they liv'd and bury'd when dead as was Da. Vrraca the Wife of D. Alonso These troubles being thus over the King bent his Force against the Moors and entring the Kingdom of Toledo took the great Town of Madrid plundred and burnt and then threw down the Walls At the same time the Moors desirous of Revenge breke into the Country of the Christians and first entred into Castile The Earl being weakned by the late War of Navarre sent a submissive Embassy to D. Ramiro begging his Assistance and excusing himself for what was past It was easie to appease the King in that time of danger therefore he marched and joyned the Earl Near Osma they came to a Battle many of the Moors were kill'd the rest put to flight and the Christian Army returned home loaded with precious Spoils From this time some are of Opinion the Earls of Castile became again Feudataries to the Kings of Leon for it is thought D. Ramiro would not have pardoned past Injuries upon other terms D. Ramiro ardently desiring to extirpate the Moors marched towards Zaragoça Abenbaya held that City of Abderhaman King of Cordova With the King went the Earl Fernan Gonzalez The Moor finding himself unable to oppose so great a Power submitted himself to the King with a promise of Tribute No Faith is observed by Moors longer than they are forc'd so this Infidel as soon as our Army was departed joyning with Abderhaman broke into the Christian Borders and advanced as far as Simancas The King marched towards the Enemy and gave them Battle which was one of the bloodiest of those days for 30000 Moors were kill'd others say 60000. Fernan Gonzalez who had not been in the Fight falling upon those that fled made no less slaughter as appears by an ancient Grant in the Monastery of St. Millan de la Cogulla in the Mountains of Oca in which all the Neighbourhood are commanded to supply that Monastery with all Necessaries as the Earl had vowed when he went to this War All the Army was persuaded that two Angels on white Horses fought at the head of them and obtained this Victory The chief Alfaqui who is like a Bishop among the Moors was taken and thus the Province was deliver'd from the terror they had conceiv'd on account of those mighty Preparations In the Year 934. which was the same in which this Battle was fought on the 19th of July there hap'ned so great an Eclypse of the Sun that for the space of an hour the day was turned into perfect darkness Again on the 15th of October the light of the Sun became came yellow a great opening appear'd in the Sky wonderful Comets were seen towards the South and all the Fruits of the Earth were blasted besides other Tokens of God's Wrath. These Prodigies perplexed the People but after the Battle it was supposed they threatned the Infidels About this time dyed Miron Earl of Barcelona leaving 3 Sons under Age. Seniofredus who succeeded him Oliva Sirnamed Cabreta who was Lord of Basalu and Cerdania and Miron afterwards Bishop and Earl of Girona By reason of the Young Princes infancy the Government was long in the hands of his Unkle Seniofredus Earl of Vrgel which was a step for his Heirs to possess themselves of that Principality Whilst this Seniofredus governed a Synod of Bishops was held at a Town called Fuentecubierta in the Territory of Narbonne Seniofredus Earl of Barcelona dying without Issue tho' Marryed to Mary the Daughter of King Sancho Abarca Borello Earl of Vrgel Son to the other Seniofredus by Force possessed himself of the Principality of Barcelona for he could have no right to exclude Oliva Brother to the deceased King Ramiro growing Ancient began to give his Mind to Peace and apply himself to Religious Exercises therefore with the spoils of the Moors he Built a Monastery for Nuns at Leon of the invocation of S. Saviour where he caused his Daughter Da. Elvira to take the Habit. Besides this he Built Four other Convents and when he was busied about these Affairs Civil broils obliged him again to unsheath the Sword Fernan Gonçalez and James Nunez two Men of Note Rebelled and finding themselves too weak called the Moors and their General Accipha to their Aid First they destroyed the Territory of Salamanca upon the River Tormes then the Country of Aamya and part of Asturias were wasted D. Ramiro drove the Moors out of all the Country took the Promoters of this Sedition yet soon after set them at Liberty only upon taking the Oath of Allegiance over again a great Demonstration of the King's Mercy Fernan Gonzalez Earl of Castile by his Wife Da. Vrraca had a Daughter of the same Name whom he Marryed to D. Ordon̄o Son to the King of Leon. After this the King tho' Aged being an Enemy to Idleness made another incursion into the Enemies Country as far as Talavera in the Kingdom of Toledo and overthrew an Army of Moors that came to oppose him killing 12000. and taking 7000 Prisoners This Victory supported his Reputation which often decays as Kings grow Old Being returned home he dismissed his Army loaded with the spoils of the Enemy and went himself in Pilgrimage to Oviedo to visit the many Bodies of Saints that were there and give Thanks to Almighty God for so many Blessings At Oviedo which is an unhealthy place he fell Sick yet returned to Leon and there resigned up the Crown to his Son Then having received the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist at the hands of the Bishops and Abbots there present he dyed in the Year of our Lord 950. on the 5th Day of January and was Buried in the Monastery of S. Saviour which himself had Built This Year was very remarkable for the many Towns that in it were either Built or Repaired which were Osma Roa Riaça and Clunia among the Arebaci now called Corun̄a Fernan Gonzalez Earl of Castile much about this time also Built Sepulveda in a place naturally strong and by his Valour the Christian cause was not only kept from decaying but was daily advanced and increased in honour CHAP. IV. The Reigns of D. Ordonno the Third D. Sancho the Gross Kings of Leon and of Garci Sanchez King of Navarre and actions of Fernan Gonzalez Earl of Castile BY the Death of D. Ramiro his Son D. Ordon̄o inherited the Crown of Leon. He was a Man of great Courage expert in Warlike affairs and had Prudence to govern but the shortness
and banish'd and at last dy'd in Cordova At the same time Castile was divided with Civil Broils D. Vela Grandson to the other D. Vela who we said was Lord of Alava had great Power there and in the adjoining part of Castile and being a hot Youth took up Arms against the Earl Fernan Gonzalez The Earl lost no time but put him and his Allies to the rout pursuing them so close they were forc'd to take into the Country of the Moors which was the occasion of great troubles and Misfortunes Almanzor Alhagib either at the instigation of these Outlaws or to revenge the affront he had receiv'd rais'd a powerful Army and furiously invaded Castile The Earl marching to meet him by the way went to visit Pelagius the Hermit but finding he was dead and being troubled in mind the said Pelagius appear'd to him in his sleep assuring him of the Victory The two Armies ingag'd near Piedrabita and the dispute was hotter than ever it had been before tho' the multitude of Enemies was great and the Christian Army exceeded not 450 Horse and 15000 Foot It is said the Fight lasted three days only ceasing at Night upon the last day St. James the Apostle was seen at the head of the Christians and gained them the Victory A greater number of the Infidels was slain than in any other Battle our Forces pursuing them two days After this Victory Embassadors came from all the Cities of Castile and the neighbouring parts to Congratulate with the Earl Above all D. Sancho King of Leon sent a splendid Embassy enviting the Earl to be present at the Cortes or Parliament he designed to hold in Leon. This a little perplex'd him fearing some design was hid under that show of Friendship but having no lawful Excuse to absent himself he came on the day appointed accompanied with the Nobility The King went out to meet him and the Parliament was held in the Year 958. but what their Business was is not known Authors relate that the Earl sold the King a stately Horse and a Hawk for a great Sum upon condition if not paid at the time perfixed the price should be doubled every day after Besides by the policy of Da. Teresa the Queen Dowager who desired to revenge her Father's Death it was contriv'd that Da. Sancha her Sister should be Marry'd to the Earl she was then with her Brother D. Garcia King of Navarre and Da. Vrraca the Earl's first Wife was dead It was resolv'd to lay a snare against the Earl because down right force would not prevail and K. Sancho was unwilling to break his word openly therefore it was agreed to work underhand and make use of the perfidiousness of the Navarrois Garci Sanchez was ignorant of D. Sancho's designs and therefore to revenge past wrongs continually infested the Frontiers of Castile After the Earl had complained by his Embassdors they broke out into open War and came to a Battle in which the Earl obtained the Victory Our Historians write that Lope Diaz Lord of Biscay assisted the Earl upon this occasion and say he was Son to In̄igo Ezquerra great Grandson to Zuria formerly Lord of that Country After this Victory a Peace being concluded the Earl in pursuance to the Articles thereof went to Navarre with a good Retinue unarmed as to a Wedding however he was taken Prisoner by the King who was at the place appointed with armed Men. Hence he was delivered by the love of Da. Sancha for whose sake he fell into that misfortune and with her escaped to his own Country On the Frontiers of Castile about Rioja he was met by the Forces of Castile that had vow'd not to return till he were set at liberty Great was the Joy on both sides At Burgos the Nuptials were celebrated The King of Navarre deceived by his Sister prepared for War and the Earl not being backward they Engaged on the Frontiers of Castile and Navarre the King was overthrown and taken Prisoner in the Year 959. The same Year dy'd Abderhaman King of Cordova being of a great Age. Not long before his Death the King of Leon sent him a solemn Embassy desiring the Body of the Martyr Pelayus which was not granted by him but was soon after by his Son and Successor Alhaca who Reign'd 17 Years and 2 Months and being inclinable to Peace endeavoured to oblige all the neighbouring Kings D. Garcia King of Navarre was set at liberty after he had been 13 Months a Prisoner at Burgos the Tears of Da. Sancha and the Intreaties of other Princes having appeased the Earl Queen Teresa a Woman of a fierce and restless Spirit being so far disappointed in her design against the Earl laid other snares for him She persuaded her Son the King of Leon to call him to the Parliament He went tho' with a Jealousie the King came not out to meet him as before but when he came to kiss his Hand ordered him to be cast into Prison This was a great Affliction to the Earl's People Da. Sancha his Wife a Lady of a Masculine Temper and ready wit designing to rescue him feigned she would go in Pilgrimage to the Church of St. James the Apostle Her way was thro' the City Leon the King went out to meet and entertain her Friendly as became a Person of her Quality and his Aunt With much intreaty she obtained leave to visit her Husband and having stay'd all Night together he went out in the Morning in her Cloaths and got safe to his Country The King understanding the Fraud was somewhat concerned but thinking better of it sent her home Honourably to her Husband who over-joy'd at her coming would not make War upon the King but demanded what was due to him for the Horse and the Hawk he had sold him No Payment was made for the Sum by reason of the delay was greater than the King could pay and the Earl made waste upon the Lands of the Kingdom of Leon. Whereupon they agreed that in satisfaction for the Debt Castile for the future should owe no Subjection to the Crown of Leon. This Agreement they say was made in the Year of our Lord 965. The same Year a powerful Army of Moors breaking thro' the Kingdom laid Siege to the City Leon but by the Valour of the Garrlson and Townsmen were Repulsed with great loss Vast flames of Fire rising out of the Sea spread over the Country destroying many Towns even as far as Zamora which beside the present loss was look'd upon as an Omen of future Ills. D. Garci Sanchez King of Navarre dy'd the ensuing Year of 966 leaving by his Queen two Sons D. Sancho and D. Ramiro and three Daughters Da. Vrraca Da. Ermenesilda and Da. Teresa His Son D. Sancho inherited the Crown joyntly with his Brother D. Ramiro The latter Reign'd 10 Years and it is thought dy'd without Issue D. Sancho who as appears by his Grants Rul'd 27 Years Stiled
raged in his Army that few of them returned home to carry the News and be Witnesses of the Divine Vengeance This danger being over other new troubles hap'ned in Spain as great as any had been since it began to lift up its Head These were caused by the discord betwixt the King of Leon and the Earl D. Garcia who ought to have joyned their Power for the Publick good Mahomet governed the Kingdom of the Moors in the Name of Hissem the King his greatest Aim was to destroy the Christians D. Vela he that we said in the time of the Earl Fernan Gonzalez fled to the Moors now blew these Coals The Moors joyning their Forces with a Body of Christians that followed D. Vela entred the Territories of the Christians and passing the River Duero which for many Years had parted the two Nations incamped on the Banks of the River Astura or Estola that runs by Leon. King Bermudo tho' inferior to the Enemy gathering what Forces he could surprized them and entered their Camp where they Fought in disorder all in confusion Many of the Infidels were killed at the first on-set some gathering in small Bodies defended themselves other fled till the Moorish General getting together all he could drew them up without the Camp then charged the Christians who being but few in number and tired could not stand that shock In an instant the Fortune of the Day was changed the Victors were over-come and being closely pursued few of them got unhurt to Leon but many wounded The Town had been taken but that the Winter coming on obliged the Enemy to depart having gained much honour and plunder and resolving to return as soon as the Season would permit D. Bermudo because the City was weak caused the Bodies of the Saints and Kings to be translated to Oviedo and removed thither himself The care of fortifying and defending of Leon was committed to the Earl Guilien Gonzalez This disaster hap'ned in the Year 984. in which Miron Bishop of Girona Son to Miron Earl of Barcelona dyed In that Country a Body of Moors near the Castle of Moncada overthrew Borello Cousin to the Bishop Miron Above 500 Christians were slain the rest with the Earl Borello fled to Barcelona The following Year 985 was remarkable for destruction of the two Famous Cities Leon and Barcelona On the first of Day of July the Moors laid Siege to Bercelona and took it on the 6th day of the same Month many of the Citizens were carryed away into Slavery to Cordova but the City was soon recovered by the Christians Before it was taken Borcello got out to gather Forces to relieve it and having Mustered a good Body at Maresa and other Neighbouring Places regained the City The Earl Borello dyed eight Years after leaving by his two Wives Ledgardi and Aymcrudi two Sons Raymund and Armengauds the Eldest Earl of Barcelona the other of Vrgel and was head of the Noble Family of the Armengauds or Armengols in Catalonia of which in process of time there were many brave Commanders In the other part of Spain Mahomet proud with his last success gathering a powerful Army besieged Leon. The City held out almost a Year tho' continually battered with all sorts of Engines Earl Guillen Gonzalez made it appear of how great Consequence it is to have a brave Commander Being sick in Bed with the continual Fatigue of so many Months he was told the Town was in great danger by reason of a furious Assault that was then given he then caused himself to be carryed in a Chair to the place where the greatest danger was and so effectually encouraged his Soldiers that they made good their Ground for Three Days Then seeing the Town was entred he cast himself into the midst of the Infidels and dyed with his Sword in his hand The Barbarians inraged for the loss they had sustained put to the Sword all Sexes and Ages indifferently Men Women and Children and after plundering the City cast down the Walls and all other Works about it The same disaster befell Astorga Valencia del Campo the Monastery of Sahagun Gordon Alva Luna and other Towns and Villages which were taken plundered and burnt to the Ground Next breaking into Castile they took plundered and burnt Osma Berlanga and Atiença without meeting any Opposition Nevertheless such was the madness of the Christians that not regarding the publick Calamities they destroyed one another upon Private Feuds and Animosities For the Year following Seven most Noble Brothers called the Infantes de Lara were slain by the Treachery of their Unkle Ruy Velasquez without any regard of Consanguinity they being the Sons of his Sister Da. Sancha and by the Fathers side descended from D. James Porcellos Earl of Castile These 7 Brothers have been very famous no less for their Noble Actions than Unfortunate Death It fell out that Ruy Velasquez Lord of Barcelona Solemnizing his Marriage with Da. Lambra Cousin to the Earl Garci Fernandez at Burgos A great concourse of People was at the Wedding and among the rest the Earl Garci Fernandez and the seven Brothers with their Father A dispute arose betwixt Gonzalo the Youngest of the Brothers and Alvar Sanchez a Kinsman of Da Lambra yet so that no harm was then done yet Da. Lambra taking it upon herself to wreak her revenge in the Town of Barbadillo whither the Brothers out of respect went to accompany her she caused a Slave to throw a wet Cowcomber at Gonçalo which according to the Custom of Spain was a hainous affront The Slave fled for shelter to Da. Lambra but it availed him not for in her very Arms they killed him Ruy Velasquez who was then absent as soon as he came in a rage for the affront given his Wife studyed how to revenge himself upon the Seven Brothers He thought it best to ensnare those he design'd to destroy with the show of Friendship and therefore contrived that Gonzalo Gustio should be sent to Cordova upon pretence of receiving some Money of that King but in reality to have him destroyed to which effect he had writ a Letter in Arabick to the King who pitying the Noble Persons Grey-Hairs only caused him to be imprisoned His confinement was not so close but the King's Sister could come at him and on her 't is said he got Mudarra Gonzalez the Founder of the most Noble Family of Manriquez Ruy Velasquez his rage was not appeased with the harm done to Gonzalo Gustio Near to Almenara in the Territory of Arausana at the Foot of the Mountain Moncayo he laid the Seven Brothers in Ambush pretending to make an incursion into the Country of the Moors The Brothers suspected no harm but Nun̄o Salido their Tutor endeavoured to disswade them as fearing some Treachery yet his words were in vain With them were 200 Horse a small number for the Multitude of Moors that fell on him The Treason being discovered the Brothers fought
desperately not so much for any hopes of Victory as to revenge their own Deaths They were all killed and with them their Tutor Salido the Heads being sent to Cordova afforded a pleasant Spectacle to the King but a sad one to their Father to whom tho' wounded and disfigured they were shown This misfortune moving the King to Compassion he freely dismiss'd Gonzalo Gustio Mudarra begoten on the King's Sister being 14 Years of Age was by her sent to his Father and afterwards revenged the Death of his Brothers killing Ruy Velasquez Da. Lumbra his Wife the cause of all these mischiefs was stoned to Death and burnt Mudarra by revenging his Brothers gained the Love of his Mother-in-Law and all the Family to that degree that he inherited his Fathers Estate Besides Da. Sancha adopted him after this strange yet remarkable Manner The same day he was Baptized and Knighted by the Earl Garci Sanchez his Mother-in-Law resolving to adopt him put over him the Sleeve of a very large Smock and his Head coming out at the top of it she Kissed him and thus he was received into the Family and looked upon as her Son Ordon̄o was Son of Mudarra his Grandson was James Ordon̄ez de Lara he that fought the Sons of Arias Gonzala who defended their Country from the infamy of having killed King Sancho slain by Vellido Dolphos as shall be related in its place This James Ordon̄ez was Father to Earl Peter well known for the Love Queen Vrraca showed him and Grandfather to Amalaricus de Lara Lord of Molina from whom is descended the Family of Manriquez and even that of the Kings of Portugal by the Mother's side for Mafalda Daughter of Amalaricus was Marryed to D. Alonso the first of the name and first King of Portugal tho' some will have it that Mafalda was of the House of Savoy But more shall be said of this hereafter The Tomb of Mudarra is to be seen in the Cloister of the Monastery of S. Peter de Arlanza That Monastery and the other of S. Millan de la Cogulla are at Variance about which of them has the seven Brothers Spain was now at Peace after so many Combustions and there rather wanted the Power than the will to raise new ones This quiet lasted till the 7th Year after the Death of the seven Brothers which was the Year of our Lord 993. when the Moors wasted the Country of Portugal and breaking a new into Galicia again took and burnt the City Compostella Nor had they spared the Apostles Sepulcher but that a sudden Light which appeared over it terrifyed them The Bells as a Trophy of their Victory they caused to be carryed on the Backs of Christians to Cordova where for many Years they served instead of Lamps in the Mosque Divine Vengeance pursued them many dyed of the Flux many of the Plague and many at the hands of the Christians the King keeping close in their rear and doing them great harm Few returned home One of them was Mahomet the General This same Year dyed D. Garcia King of Navarre his Son Garci Sanchez called the Trembler as was said before succeeded him He Reigned 7 Years was very Famous for many Victories obtained Liberal or rather Prodigal which drained his Treasures and obliged him to lay new Taxes In the Monastery of S. Millan̄ there are Grants of this King let every one judge what credit is to be given to them In them 't is specified that he had a Brother called Gonzalo and that he with his Mother Vrraca had the Kingdom of Aragon which if true either that Dominion lasted not long or he dying without Issue it fell again to his Brother King Bermudo joyful with his success against the Moors began to consider that if the Forces of the Christians were united it were easie to gain upon the Infidels and keep them under Hereupon he sent Embassadors to the King of Navarre and Earl of Castile to invite them laying aside all Animosities to enter into a League with him for the common Good Those Princes readily agreed to such advantageous Proposals and a powerful Army was formed of the three Nations The King of Navarre came not in Person being as is supposed busie in setling his new acquired Kingdom King Bermudo tho' Sick of the Gout was carried in a Litter and with the Earl of Castile moved towards the Moors of whom they were informed that having raised new Forces and plunder'd great part of Galicia they now marched towards Castile Near a Town called Calacanaçor on the Frontiers of Castile and Leon the two Armies met and came to a Battle which was obstinately fought till Night parted them without discerning which side had the better only that the Moors marched away in silence by Night which show'd they had got the worst of it Besides it was more like a Flight than Retreat for they left much of their Baggage in the Camp and for haste droped no less along the way they marched It is said this misfortune went so much to the heart of the Moorish General Mahomet that he dy'd in the Valley of Begalcorax refusing to take any Sustenance in the Year of our Lord 998. This Man managed the Government of the Moors 25 Years for his King who minded nothing but his ease He was a Man of great Courage an Enemy to Idleness and entred the Territories of the Christians 52 several times coming off very often Victorious The same day the Battle was fought at Calacanaçor one in the Habit of a Fisherman was seen at Cordova on the Bank of the River Guadalquivir singing in Arabick and Spanish Metre At Calacanacor Almanzor lost the drum It was believ'd the Devil in Humane Shape proclaimed their Defeat because the People of Cordova endeavouring to lay hold of him he vanished like a Shadow The dead General 's Body was carried to Medinaçeli CHAP. VII The Death of King Bermudo the Gouty and beginning of the Reign of D. Alonso the Fifth King of Leon. Many Troubles among the Moors The Earl of Castile slain by the Infidels AFter the Death of Mahomet his Son Abdelmelic took upon him the Government of that Kingdom the same Year his Father dy'd and continued in that command 6 Years and 8 Months From this time forward the Kingdom of the Moors which had been supported by the Valour of Mahomet began visibly to decline Civil Discord the Bane of all Empires and bad Government were the cause of its decay Abdelmelic who was more inclinable to Peace than War took little notice of the first Eruptions of those Tumults which ought to have been suppressed in their first rise True it is immediately after his Father's Death he entred the Teritories of the Christians spreading a great Terror and threw down to the Ground all that had been built since the City Leon was last destroyed Yet the beginning of this War was more successful to the Moors than the end for
Instrument of gaining the Battle After the Fight Mahomet shut himself up in the City and as he had designed against the greatest danger took out Hissem from the place where he had kept him Prisoner Being brought out to the People he advised them to prefer their own natural Lord before a Stranger But the People for fear of the Victor giving no ear to his words he was forced to fly to Toledo carrying Hissem with him or else hiding him again Almario was Alhagib or Viceroy to Mahomet who to strengthen his Party against the Enemy and obtain aid of the Christians went into Catalonia where he made great offers and proposed mighty advantages to those Princes if they would assist him D. Ramon Earl of Barcelona and Armengol of Vrgel at the persuasion of this Infidel joyned their Forces to those Mahomet had gather'd in and about Toledo They all made up 9000 Christians and 34000 Moors Near Acanatalbacar the two Armies met and ingag'd with such fury that both left Wings were Victorious and both the right put to flight The Bishops Arnulphus of Vique Aecius of Barcelona and Otho of Girona were here kill'd a shame that such Men should be seen in Arms for the Moors Besides the Earl of Vrgel was slain Mahomet by his own Valour retriev'd the Victory Zulema seeing himself thus vanquish'd fled first to Açafra and not thinking that place secure went farther off All this was in the Year of our Lord 1010. CHAP. VIII Continues the mighty Revolutions among the Infidels with the dismembring of the mighty Kingdom of Cordova and Erecting of several other little Sovereignties in the Chief Cities of Spain ZVlema being overthrown as was said in the last Chapter Mahomet Almahudi the Conqueror remained sole Monarch but according to the Custom of those deprav'd times his Viceroy govern'd all insomuch that after the departure of D. Ramon he Murder'd his Master and thus Hissem the true King was restor'd to the Crown Mahomet's head was sent to Zulema who stayed at a Town call'd Citavan to see what would be the end of all those mighty Revolutions It was the design of the Moors to bring Zulema to submit himself to Hissem as his lawful Prince and for whom at first he seem'd to have taken up Arms but he gathering what Forces he could wasted the Neighbouring Country The Faction of the Abenhumeyas which was still in Cordova was inclin'd to Zulema and for his sake design'd to Murder Hissem but he having notice of it was upon his Guard Zulema being disappointed this way sollicited the Earl of Castile D. Sancho on account of their late Friendship to assist him again D. Sancbo considering better of it made a League with Hissem more to his own advantage for by it six Castles taken from the Christians by Mahomet Alhagib were restor'd to him Mean while Obeydalla the Son of Mahomet Almahudie with the assistance of his Friends made himself King of Toledo Other Authors call him Abdalla and affirm he took to Wife D a Teresa the Sister of D. Alonso King of Leon with the consent of her Brother This Alliance tended to secure both Kingdoms and there was a farther prospect of Converting the Moor. The Maid being thus deceiv'd was carry'd to Toledo where the Wedding was kept with great Solemnity and the Supper was protracted till a great part of the Night was spent After Supper the Lady was conducted to take her rest and the Moor coming hot with desire she bid him forbear her unless he were Baptiz'd but his Passion gave him not leisure to consider so by force he had his will Divine Vengeance soon overtook him for he fell dangerously ill and understanding the cause of his Sickness sent D a Teresa to her Brother with rich Presents She spent the rest of her Life in the Monastery of St. Pelagius in Leon. Obeydalla his Reign was but short being vanquish'd and taken Prisoner by the Forces of Hissem The troubles and confusion among the Moors in all parts of the Kingdom continu'd and offer'd the Christians a fair opportunity of making their advantage but that private grudges always are fatal to the publick Not only discord but Famine also raged among the Moors by reason they had neglected tilling Zulema finding the Earl of Castile would not assist him Confederated himself with the Moorish Kings of Zaragoça and Guadalajara With their aid he took Cordova and Hissem flying into Africk he was left sole Lord of that Kingdom Among those that follow'd Hissem there was a principal Man call'd Haytan This Man possess'd himself of Origuela a City on the Mediterranean Sea and invited Hali Abenhamir Governour of Ceuta for Hissem into Spain upon pretence of making him King Zulema being inferior in strength to them both was overthrown near Cordova deliver'd up to the Conquerour by the Citizens and kill'd with Hali's own hand after he had upbraided him with being the first that Rebelled against his natural Lord Hissem There is no Faith betwixt Companions in Sovereignty Hayton complain'd that the new King did not perform what he had Covenanted with him and therefore joyning with Mundar the Son of Hiaya King of Zaragoça they gathered Forces on both sides and came to a Battle near Zaragoça in which Haytan was vanquished Hali pursuing Haytan came to Guadix and was there killed by his own Eunuchs as he was Bathing By the Votes of the Soldiers Cazin Brother to Hali was brought from Sevil and made King of Cordova He Reigned Three Years Four Months and Twenty Six Days in much trouble for Abderhaman Almortada with the Assistance of Haytan possessed himself of Murcia and took the Title of King Almortada was a haughty Man and by his Pride so far disobliged the People that he was killed by them at Granada Cazin thought himself secure in his Kingdom by the Death of Almortada and the more for that the People of Granada sent him the spoils of his dead Enemy but he was soon undeceived For the People of Cordova Cazin being gone to Sevil enthroned Hiaya his Nephew Son to his Brother Hali a meek and bountiful Man which is very pleasing to the Multitude This Man going to Malaga whereof he was Lord before Cazin again by Force of Arms made himself Master of Cordova His re-establishment was not lasting for the insolency of the Soldiers having caused a mutiny in the City he was forced to fly to Sevil at the end of only Seven Months and three days Neither could he stay long there his adversary having gained the Affections of the People so was obliged to wander like a Vagabond till taken by Hiaya and put in Prison Most of these King were of the Race of the Alavecines a Faction then in great Power The other party of the Abenhumeyas taking Arms chose for their King Abderhaman Son of Mahomet I suppose that Mahomet Almahudie who first rebelled against Hissem but with the same inconstancy killed him within two
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
got the Government of Aragon into his hands prevailed and made a League with him as we have already declared In that Treaty no mention was made of D. Garcia King of Navarre notwithstanding he infested all the Country betwixt Tudela and Zaragoça But two Years after which was the Year of our Lord 1140. Raymund had another Conference with King Alonso at Garrion where a League was concluded betwixt the Castilians and Aragonians against Navatre upon these Conditions That such Towns as the Navarrois wrongfully held and belong'd to the Crown of Aragon should be restored That such as they had appertaining to Castile on this side Ebro should return to the King's Possession That one third of the Kingdom of Navarre should fall to the Emperor the other two thirds to the Earl to hold them of the Crown of Castile They fold the Skin before they had killed the Bear After this agreement both parties provided for War Earl Raymund had other things upon his hands Therefore D. Alonso the Emperor was the first who with a Powerfully Army broke into the Country of Navarre by the way of the Mountains Doca The Terror he spread was greater than the harm he did for at the Sollicitation of Prelates Peace was Concluded betwixt those two Kings to which purpose they had an interview on the bank of Ebro betwixt Calaborra and Haro Here they not only concluded a Peace but it was agreed that D. Sancha the Emperors eldest Son should Marry Blanch Daughter to the King of Navarre and tho' was Young she was delivered up then to her Father-in-Law Earl Raymund had no leasure to attend the War of Navarre being encumbred with many troubles at home In the first place he had much to do against the Moors from whom the Commanders on the Frontiers of Aragon took the Towns of Calamera and Alcolea on the River Cinga Besides this the Knights of Jerusalem still pretended right to the Kingdoms of Aragon by the Will of the last King D. Alonso and it was but reasonable to give them some satisfaction Raymund the Gyeds Master of the Order of S. John being come into Spain to that purpose At length by the Mediation of Pope Adrian 〈◊〉 they agreed in this manner that the Knights of Jerusalem shall in Zaragoca Calatayud Huesca Barbastro Daroca and such other Towns as shall be taken from the Moors have a Townsman of each Nation viz. a Christian a Jew and a Moor for their Subject to pay them Tribute and carry Arms under them whensoever they shall Command That they shall have Revenues assigned them throughout the Kingdom That in Jaca and other places they shall have ground given them to build Monasteries That the King dying without Issue the Crown shall devolve to the Knights Some Years were spent in concluding this agreement which was sign'd by William Patriarch of Jerusalem and all the Knights concerned in the Year 1141. Earl Raymund had a particular esteem for the Knights Templers who were included in this Treaty because his Father had been of their Order and therefore he honour'd them above the rest and gave them the Town of Monçon and other places also the Tenth of the Revenue of the Crown and a Fifth of all that was taken from the Moors In fine all the Knights were to be free from Taxes and the King Swore he would never make Peace with the Moors without their consent This was concluded at Girona in the presence of Cardinal Guido the Popes Legate in the Year 1143. After this there ensued a War in France for Raymund Bauce having Marry'd the Younger Daughter of Gilbert Earl of Provence pretended a right to part of that Earldom Raymund Earl of Barcelona seeing his Nephew Raymund Berengarius Earl of Provence was too Young to defend himself undertook his Protection He succeeded so well that Raymund Bauce was expell'd all his own Dominions and forc'd to come to Barcelona and there submit himself to the Earl They concluded a Peace Bauce was restor'd to all he had lost and had the Town of Trencataye given him to hold of the Earl of Provence These were the difficulties that intangled the Earl of Barcelona so that the King of Navarre had leasure to strengthen himself and the more to bind the Emperor Alonso to his interest his Wife Mergerina dying he Marry'd his Bastard Daughter called Vrraca The Nuptials were Celebrated at Leon with great Pomp in the Year 1144. D. Vrraca's Mother was called Gontroda a Woman of a Noble Family in Asturias her Toâ—â— is to be seen in a Monastery of Nuns called of Vegua at Oviedo which she built and where she ended her days King Garcia by D. Vrraca had D. Sancha who was twice Marry'd first to Gaston Viscount of Bearne and he dying without Issue to Peter Earl of Molina who had by her Aymerick afterward Lord of Narbonne Africk was now embroiled in Civil Wars In Spain the Moors were divided into three Factions Zedofala Lord of Rota a Town at the Mouth of Guadalquivir tho' of the Ancient Blood Royal of the Moors for his private interest favour'd the Christians who with his assistance made an inroad till they came in sight of Sevil. Azuel Governour of Cordova and Abengamia of Valencia were at variance but Abengamia being more powerful expel'd Azuel out of that City Among the Christians only the Kings of Navarre and Aragon were at odds At the instance of the Emperor Alonso all these three Princes met at Santistevan de Gormaz in the Year 1146. where tho' they could not settle a Peace yet a Truce was concluded on between those two Kings It was also agreed that the Emperor designing to carry on the War against the Moors the King of Navarre should assist him by Land and the Earl with a good Fleet of his own and the Genoeses by Sea In the Spring the three Kings began the War in Andulazia burning and plundering all the Country as far as Cordova a Noble City seated in a Plain on the Banks of Guadalquivir Abengamia Govern'd that place for the King of Morrocco he not daring to withstand so great a power delivered up the City offering Provisions and Money Raymund Archbishop of Toledo Consecrated the great Mosque which was the most Beautiful structure in all Spain but they were too forward in this Action for they departed without leaving any Garrison in the place It was large and required a great number of Men and the King durst not divide his Forces He contented himself with making Abengamia Swear he would hold that City for him and behave himself as a true Subject Scarce was the Army gone when the Moor broke his Oath The Christians marched to Baeça whether the Moors had assembled all their Forces By break of day the Armies ingaged the Moors were vanquished the City surrendred and a Garrison was put into it least like Cordova it should revolt Roderick de Açagra Lord of
Grace they order'd him to pay a Yearly Acknowledgment to the Popes Eugenius appointed four Pounds of Gold Alexander two Marks Whether the Kings of Portugal then paid it is not known of late Ages that Crown had deem'd it self free from any such Imposition THE History of SPAIN The Eleventh BOOK CHAP. I. The coming into Spain of the Moors called Almohades The Death of D. Garcia King of Navarre by a fall from his Horse his Son Sancho succeeds him King Alonso and his Daughter both Marry'd Many Places taken from the Moors LET us being this Book with another Invasion of Spain made by the cruel and barbarous Family of the Almohades who about this time erected to themselves a new Kingdom in Africk and Spain Great Revolutions ensu'd and great Calamities threatn'd the Christians till the Forces of the Moors were at last crush'd by one of the most famous Victories that has been heard of obtain'd over them Albohali of the Family of the Almoravides was Emperor of the Moors in Africk and Spain at has been said before in his time a learned Man and great Astrologer call'd Tumerto seeing a â—usty proper Youth whose Name was Abdelmon the Son of a Potter he Prognosticated to him that he should be King of his Nation At the same time one Almohades a Mahometan Preacher held by the Multitude for a Saint distracted the Multitude ready to run a mading after every extravagant Novelty with a new Interpretation of their Law To him Tumerto discloses what he had found by his Science and he either believing or seeming to believe it they both consulted how to over-turn the Government of the Kingdom There is nothing so pernicious as the pretence of Religion when us'd to cover Rebellion Almohades making use of the Reputation he had gain'd persuaded his Followers to take up Arms under Abdelmon and destroy the Race of the Almoravides as Usurpers that had wrongfuly possessed the Crown by Extirpating the Alavecines a Family descended from Fatima Mahomet's eldest Daughter Besides that they must cast off the Yoke of the Almoravides to make way for those new Opinions in Religion which they had embrac'd Hereupon the Multitude took up Arms but being unskill'd in the use of them were easily overcome by Albohali Yet assembling in greater numbers they never ceased till they had overthrown the Almoravides and kill'd Albohali the King Abdelmon succeeded in the Throne and then the Followers of Almohades who from him were also call'd Almohades being possess'd of the Government chang'd the ancient Laws and Customs Having setled Africk they began to look towards Spain Tumerto was left to keep Africk under whilst Abdelmon and Almohades with a great Force pass'd over into Spain At first they did no harm hoping to attract the People by kindness and they succeeded therein for all the Moors in Spain easily embrac'd their new Opinions and their former Superstition became no less odious to them than Christianity Being possess'd of all they fell to Persecuting of the small remains of the Christians that liv'd mix'd with the Moors putting 'em to all manner of Torments Many fled to the Christians Dominions others were overcome and yielded to the Infidels so that from thence forward few Christians were left among the Moors The Almohades contenting themselves with the Sovereignty of Africk and so much of Spain as was under the Moors thought not fit at that time to make War upon the Christians who were Powerful both by Sea and Land but return'd into Africk Soon after their Prophet Almohades dy'd and the King caused a Magnificent Sepulchre to be erected for him near Morocco the Metropolis of that Kingdom whither the ignorant Multitude began to go in Pilgrimage The Almohades entred Spain in the Year 1150. Roderick the Archbishop says 6 Years sooner The same Year that Alonso the Emperor took Cordova which I suppose to be after Abdelmon return'd into Africk D. Garcia King of Navarre was kill'd by a fall off his Horse on a Rock as he was Hunting near Lorca a Town in his Dominions His Death was on the 21st of November He was going from Estella to Pamplona to punish that City for their Disobedience but this misfortune prevented his designs He Reign'd 16 Years and left these Children D. Sancho who succeeded him and was Crown'd in the Cathedral of Pamplona where he bury'd his Father Blanch Marry'd to the Emperor Alonso's Son and Marguerite to William King of Sicily call'd the Wicked Besides these he had Alonso Ramirez Lord of Castro Viejo and Sancha Marry'd first to Gaston Viscount of Bearn and afterwards to Gonzalo Earl of Molina The Death of the King of Navarre produc'd new Troubles for Alonso the Emperor and Raymund Earl of Barcelona had an Interview upon this occasion at Tudelin a Town of Navarre near the Baths at which Sancho now declar'd King of Castile by the Emperor his Father was present Here they Articled that all that part of the Dominions of Navarre which had belong'd to Castile should be restor'd to the Emperor and what had appertain'd to Aragon to the Earl That the ancient Kingdom of Navarre should be equally divided betwixt them the Earl to hold his part of the Crown of Castile In regard of the Moors they agreed that when Valencia and all that lies between Tortosa and the River Xucar as also Murcia were taken they should be deliver'd to the Aragonians so as they should do Homage for them to the Crown of Castile Hereupon they shook hands a Ceremony then used to confirm Promises and resolv'd to commence the War against Navarre when the Month of September was over All this League fell to nothing for the new King strengthen'd him self with Supplies from abroad and gain'd the Love of his Subjects which his Father never had done Other Cares diverted the Emperor and Earl so that nothing was done only some Inroads on both sides which were not of moment The Earl went into France against Trencavelle Viscount of Carcassonne with whom he at last agreed that he should do him Homage for the Towns of Carcassonne and Rhodes Alonso the Emperor was taken up in concerting of Marriages for Leuis King of France being Divorc'd from Ellenor Countess of Poitiers after he had two Children by her Marry'd the Emperor's Daughter some call her Elizabeth others Canstance At the same time the Emperor himself Marry'd Rica the Daughter of Vladislaus Duke of Poland Amidst the Nuptial Joys the noise of Arms could not take place Besides Navarre was in League with France which might perhaps appease the Emperor Besides Sancho the King was generally belov'd and the Emperor himself was a Lover of Justice all which motives induced him to forbear from War Of his Justice he gave a most pregnant Testimony in the following Action A Man of Birth that had serv'd in the Wars such as Spain call'd Infanzones living in Gallicia took away by force all that a Farmer had Being
before Santarem King Alonso tho' very Aged and Lame since his hurt at Badajoz in so much that he could not ride having assembled all the Force of his Kingdom marched to Santarem He charged the Moors in the Front and his Son Sallying out of Town upon the rear they were easily put to flight Great Slaughter was made The Moorish King Mortally wounded endeavouring to pass the River Tagus which is there deep and rapid was drown'd This Victory was obtained in the Year 1184. Abenjozeph Brother to Abenjacob succeeded him in the Empire of Africk and Spain CHAP. VII The Death of the Kings of Leon and Portugal Alliances betwixt the Kings of Spain The defeat of the Christians at Alarcos Sancho the Wise King of Navarre dies Sancho the first King of Portugal Alonso the Ninth of Leon. THE Death of Armengaud Earl of Vrgel somewhat abated the joy all Spain conceived for the Victory of the Portugueses over the Moors He was Son of Armengaud of Castile Earl of Barcelona Marryed to a Sister of the King of Aragon and had not only great Dominions in Catalonia and Aragon but was also Lord of Valladolid in Castile as being great Grandson to Peranzules before spoken off This Prince to advance the Christian Cause with his own Forces broke into the Territory of Valencia and after some successful Exploits was killed in an Ambush laid by the Moors near the Town of Requena Others will have it that he was slain by the Castilians but that is not so probable He left a Son of his own Name who inherited his Dominions On the other side the King of Navarre entred Castile plundering all the Country as far as Atapuerca where the Abbot of S. Peter de Carden̄a met him with the Standard of Roderick Diaz Sirnam'd Cid begging he would restore the Booty The King not only condescended to his Request but accompanied that Standard back to the place whence it was brought These things hap'ned in the Year 1185. At the same time the King of Portugal and his Son went to Coimbra and thence to Porto where the Marriage betwixt Teresa the King's Daughter and Philip Earl of Flanders was Celebrated the Flemings call her Maud. After the Solemnity they return'd to Coimbra there the King worn out with Age and Diseases dy'd on the 6th of December being 91 years old His Body as he had ordered was bury'd in a mean Tomb in the Church of Santa Cruz built by him and thence remov'd by King Emanuel to a stately Sepulchre of Marble He was a Man accomplish'd in all manner of Virtue the Founder and Conqueror of the Kingdom of Portugal His Zeal for Religion appears by the many Churches and Monasteries he Founded in Lisbon Ebora and other places His Queen Malfada was not inferior to him in Piety and perform'd many like Acts of Christian Generosity Spain enjoy'd Peace after the late Agreement among the Christian Princes and Death of Abenjacob the Moorish King Peter Ruiz de Açagra Lord of Albarazin was willing to assist the Christian Kings in their Wars but would not be Subject to any of them and therefore stiled himself the Vassal of S. Mary The strength of his City and the Emulation of the Kings each striving to draw him to himself secur'd his Possession In the Year 1186. in January the Kings of Castile and Aragon meeting at Agreda by mutual consent Banish'd out of their Dominions all the Kindred of the said Peter de Açagra that were of his party No more was done at that time At the beginning of the Year following Gaston Viscount of Bearn did Homage to the King of Aragon at Huesca as his Predecessors had done This Year was unfortunate for the taking of Jerusalem Baldwin King of that City and the Great Master of the Templers by Saladin In Castile King Alonso regulated the Order of Calatrava In the Year 1188. dy'd Frederick King of Leon at Benavente having Reign'd 31 Years and was bury'd in the Royal Chappel at Santiago He was judg'd more fit for War than Peace immoderate in the desire of Ruling but brave and generous Martin a Priest of Leon at that time writ many Books and is said to have attain'd all his Learning in a Vision in which S. Isidorus appear'd to him and gave him a Book to eat whereas before he was very Ignorant Sancho succeeded King Alonso of Portugal and Alonso IX his Father Ferdinand in the Kingdom of Leon. Upon the Death of his Father Alonso turn'd back being then on his way to Portugal whither he was going only to shun his Mother-in-law who accounted him a Bastard and could not endure that he should take place of her Children Hence arose continual Disgusts and tho' the new King allowed her the Joynter setled by his Father yet at last she was oblig'd to retire to Najara where she spent the remainder of her Days In the Monastery of S. Mary Royal in that City are the Tombs of that Lady and her Brothers D. Lope Bishop of Segovia and D. Martin de Haro Alonso King of Leon was twice Marry'd first with Teresa Daughter of King Sancho of Portugal by whom he had three Children Sancha Ferdinand who dy'd young and Dulcis then being Divorc'd by reason of Consanguinity he Marry'd Berengaria Daughter to Alonso King of Castile his Cousin-german Sancho the first of the Name King of Portugal call'd the Peopler and the Fat was Marry'd to Aldonça Dulcis Sister to the King of Aragon By her he had many Children which were Alonso the eldest Ferdinand Peter and Henry who dy'd young and 5 Daughters Teresa Malfada Sancha Blanch and Berengaria After the Death of the Queen he had many Children by two Mistresses by the first call'd Johanna he had Vrraca and Martin by the other whose Name was Mary Teresa Egidius Constance and Roderick Teresa was Marry'd to Alonso Tello who Founded the Town of Albuquerque Alonso King of Castile by one Wife had eleven Children whereof Blanch was the happiest for that being Marry'd to Luis VIII King of France she was Mother to S. Luis After Blanch follow'd Berengaria Sancho Vrraca and Ferdinand born in the Year 1189. then Malfada and Constance then two or three Sisters whose Names are not known and lastly Ellenor and Henry the youngest who came to succeed his Father as shall be shown in its place The King of Castile was the greatest Potentate in Spain and consequently terrible to the others which mov'd them to joyn in a League Offensive and Defensive They endeavour'd to draw the King of Leon into this Confederacy but he was more inclinable to his Cousin the King of Castile and therefore as soon as setled in the possession of his Kingdom he went of his own accord to Carrion where the Cortes or Parliament of Castile was held in the Year 1188. There he was Knighted by the King and kissed his Hand a Submission misbecoming the Regal
The King flush'd with his former Success marched to Albarazin a small but very strong Place being encompassed with Rocks and almost surrounded by the River Turia commonly called Guadalaviar Two Months in the heat of Summer the King lay before it and was forced at last to raise the Siege Nevertheless Peter Fernandez de Açagra was soon after restored to the Kings favour All the Nobility interceded for him his own Services were a great recommendation and the King was willing to gain so considerable a Man These things were done in Aragon in the Year 1220. In Castile the same Year on S. Andrew's Day the Marriage of King Ferdinand with Beatrix Daughter to the late Emperor Philip was Celebrated Embassadors had been sent to Treat of this match to the Emperor Frederick II. after four Months delay it was concluded In France the Bride was entertained by King Philip with great Liberality Queen Berengaria went as far as the Borders of Biscay to receive her and at the end of a whole Year spent in this Negotiation they all arrived at Burgos the place appointed for this Solemnity Maurice Bishop of that City perform'd the Ceremony and the day before had said Mass in his Pontificalibus during which the King Knighted himself there being none worthy to perform that Act as was the Custom of those times This match prov'd fortunate in a numerous Issue for they had Seven Children viz. Alonso Ferderick Philip Sancho Emanuel Ellenor who dy'd Young and Berengaria who was a Nun in the Monastery of Huelgas near Burgos At the same time the Aragonians desiring to secure the Succession of the Crown sent Embassadors to Queen Berengaria to Treat of a match betwixt their King and her Sister Ellenor This Proposal being very advantagious to her was easily accepted and the Town of Agreda on the Bordors of Castile and Aragon appointed to Celebrate the Nuptials Queen Berengaria came first with her Sister and soon after King Jaime with a Noble retinue The Marriage was Celebrated in the Year 1221. yet the Bride the King being yet very young continued a Maid a year and half after as he himself relates in the History he writ of his own Life On the 20th of June Roderick Archbishop of Toledo consecrated the Church of S. Romanus in the highest part of that City Upon the 23d of November was born King Ferdinand's Eldest Son called Alonso About the beginning of December a great Earthquake shook many Buildings and mighty Floods and Winds following upon it part of the Walls and many Houses fell down These things were the more terrible because the City being high and built upon Rocks seem'd the safer against such disasters Navarre Portugal and Leon now enjoy'd Peace The Moors wasted themselves with Civil Wars In Castile and Aragon there were some Commotions but not considerable Roderick Lord of Cameros a Man in great Power confiding in his strength presum'd to pillage the Country about him Being summon'd by the King to Answer for himself he Answer'd he had taken the Cross in Order to go to the War in the Holy-Land This was a common excuse in those times the Pope's among other priviledges having granted that such as wore the Cross should not be Try'd before the Civil Magistrate but in the Spiritual Courts But that shift availed him nothing for he was constrained to appear at Valladolid whither the Court was remov'd from Burgos and being accused of many Crimes he fled He was attainted and his Estate Confiscated Yet being a resolute Man he fortified himself in the strong holds he had wherefore to prevent a War he was not only Pardon'd but 14000 Duccats given him to quit those Towns he held for the King After this follow'd another revolt D. Gonzalo Nunez de Lara who only remained of the Three Brothers perswaded D. Gonçalo Perez Lord of Molina to invade the Neighbouring Country about him hoping by these troubles to be restor'd to his Country for he was in Barbary ever since the Death of his Brother Ferdinand having gone thither with him Some action there was but not considerable for the Lord of Molina perceiving the danger he was in begg'd pardon and obtain'd it through the intercession of Queen Berengaria Thus D. Gonzalo de Lara despairing of succeess went into Andaluzia where among the Moors at Baeça he ended his Days neither Godly nor Honourably Such was the end of those Three Brothers from whom is descended the Family of Manriquez well known in Spain It was now the Year 1222. when the King of Leon gathering a great Army as well of Soldiers in pay as those who taking the Cross served upon their own expence entred Estremadura and laid Siege to Caceres The Moors to raise the Siege promised a great sum of Money they expected out of Africk but having obtained their ends performed not and we were not in a Condition then to force them About this time Maurice an Englishman and Bishop of Burgos laid the Foundation of the Cathedral of that City and finish'd it Many other Churches and Stately Buildings were erected in several parts of Spain Eleven Years before this we now write of Roderick Archbishop of Toledo built the great Church of Talavera D. John Chancellor to the King erected two Churches one at Valladolid and the other at Osma when he was Bishop of that See D. Nun̄o Bishop of Astorga raised the Bishop's Palace in that City D. Laurence Bishop of Orense built a Bridge over the River Min̄o the Cathedral and Episcopal Palace Stephen Bishop of Tuy and Martin of Zamora spent their Revenues in such like works The King and the Queen his Mother Liberally adorned those Churches and by their example stirred up the Prelates to lay out the profits of their Benefices in the Service of the Church Let us return to the Course of the History In July dy'd Roger Earl of Faux his Son Roger Bernard succeeded him In August following Raymund Earl of Toulouze departed this Life both favourers of the Heresie of the Albigenses and therefore excommunicated for which reason the Son and Heir to the Earl of Toulouze could never obtain leave to bury his Father's Body in hollow'd ground In Aragon the King on the 21th of December pardoned Gerard Viscount Cabrera who during the troubles had possessed himself by force of the Earldom of Vrgel spoiling Aurembiasse of the Patrimony left him by his Father Armengaud This was done upon Condition he should stand to the Judgment that should be given betwixt that Lady and him Sancho Earl of Russillon the King's Unkle was still Living His Son Nun̄o governed that Country with whom William of Moncada Lord of Bearn tho' they were before great Friends being offended he entred the Lands of Russillon doing great harm Nun̄o not able to oppose him had recourse to the King of Aragon offering to stand to Arbitration and make reparation of any damage should be laid to his
call'd the Simple who two Years before succeeded his Brother Luis was Young and Weak as well in Judgment as Forces and preserv'd the Title of King in the City Catanea The Power of the French daily increasing he was so dismay'd that he freely made over all his Dominions of Sicily Athens and Neopatria to his Sister Ellenor Wife to the King of Aragon to whom he sent a publick Instrument of this donation to oblige him to send Forces to his Aid but the Aragonian had his Hands so full at Home that he could not relieve his Brother-in-Law The Affairs of Sicily reduc'd to this miserable Condition were up-held by the Valour of D. 〈◊〉 de Aragon Earl of Mistreta and Lord Justice of Sicily who overthrew the Enemy in Battel punish'd some Rebels and redu'd others CHAP. II. The Kings of Castile and Aragon both call the Moors to their assistance The War is carry'd on vigorously on both sides The Castilians treacherous to their King He punishes many of them The computation of time in Aragon alter'd REvenge carry'd the King 's of Castile and Aragon headlong to their Ruin and so blinded them that they call'd the Moors to their assistance The King of Granada sent a Body of Horse to the Service of Castile as was agreed betwixt them The King of Aragon call'd over the King of Morocco Pope Innocent by Letter grievously complain'd of this Action but in vain The Nobles of Castile were wrought upon by the Aragonians and forsook their Prince The first was Prince Ferdinand of Aragon as was said above Yet Jumilla by him betray'd was retaken at the beginning of the Year 1358 by D. Frederick Master of Santiago This done he went away to the King then at Sevil who caus'd him to be put to death in his presence by his Guards understanding he dealt underhand with the Aragonians From Sevil the King went with great speed to Biscay designing the same Fate for the other Brother D. Tello who suspecting it fled by Sea into France and thence into Aragon D. Tello being gone Prince John of Aragon begg'd of the King he would put him into Possession of the Lordship of Biscay to which he had right by his Wife the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to D. John Nun̄ez de Lara The King knowing he was associated with the rebellious Peers caus'd him to be slain by his Guards in his presence and his Body to be thrown out at a Window and say'd to some Biscayners that look'd on Behold him that would have been your Lord. His Body was carry'd to Burgos there cast into the River and never after seen Queen Ellenor that Prince's Mother and the Lady Elizabeth his Wife were sent Prisoners from Roa to the Castle of Castroxeriz Six Heads of Men of Note were brought to him to Burgos from several Places He had resolv'd to execute others at Valladolid but was prevented by the Incursions Count Henry and Prince Ferdinand made into his Territories the former wasted all the Country of Campos Soria and Almaçan the other the Kingdom of Murcia From Osma the King went to Burgos to provide against these Irruptions Thence he sent to complain to the King of Aragon that he had broke the Truce That King answer'd the Truce had been broken in retaking Jumilla and calleng'd him to decide the Quarrel with 20 50 or 100 Men of a side King Peter made small account of his Challenge but sent D. Gutierre Gomez de Toledo lately made great Prior of St. John to secure the Kingdom of Murcia others had other Commands given them He himself went away to Sevil where he had fitted 12 Galleys which were joyn'd by 6 from Genoa with which he design'd to scour the Coast of Valencia and attempt the Maritime Towns These Galleys took the Town of Guardamar belonging to Prince Ferdinand but were prevented from taking the Castle by a suddain Storm in which they all perish'd except two that were out at Sea This loss no way discourag'd the King who burnt the Town and march'd away to Murcia Thence he sent his Favourite Martin Yanez to Sevil to equip another Fleet and he having gather'd an Army from all parts march'd away to Almaçan and thence into the Enemies Country where he took several Towns Winter drawing on he return'd to Sevil resolving to fit out a great Fleet to which purpose the King of Portugal his Uncle sent him Ten Galleys and he of Granada Three This Year was remarkable for the Birth of the Lady Ellenor Daughter to Peter King of Aragon and of D. John Son to Count Henry whom Heaven had decreed should be marry'd together and inherit the Crown of Castile This Year also it was ordain'd in the Cortes of Valencia that the computation of Years should no longer be taken from the Era of Cesar but from the Birth of Christ At the beginning of the Year 1359 the King of Aragon laid Siege to the strong Town of Medina Celi but it being well defended return'd to Zaragoça without any Success The King of Castile being on the way to relieve Medina Celi understood the Cardinal of Bolonia the Pope's Legate was arriv'd at Almaçan In that place the Legate had Audience and earnestly exhorted the King in the Pope's Name to incline to Peace with the Christians and employ his Arms against the Infidels The King answer'd he had been already impos'd upon by the King of Aragon under pretence of Peace and therefore was resolv'd to give no more Ear to it unless the Aragoman would banish the out-Laws of Castile restore the Towns wrongfully taken during his Grand-fathers Minority and pay 500000 Florins for the Charge of War With this Answer the Legate went to the King of Aragon who excus'd himself and laid the blame upon his Enemy as is usual The time was spent in Messages to and fro and yet not so much as a truce could be concluded All hopes of Peace being laid aside the King of Castile at Almaçan declar'd Prince Ferdinand and the two Brothers Count Henry and D. Tello Traytors Queen Ellenor was put to death in Prison and soon after the Lady Joanna de Lara Her Sister the Lady Elizabeth was sent with Qu. Blanch from the Castle of Siguença to Xerez de la Frontera This done the King imbarqu'd aboard a Fleet of 41 Galleys and 80 Ships so well stord and carrying so powerful an Army that they were provided for any great Enterprize By the way he took a mighty Venetian Garack only because it resisted it was carry'd to Cathagena and all its rich Lading secur'd The Fleet sail'd to Guardumar and took both the Town and Castle by Storm Alicant was abandoned by the Aragonians D. Gutierre de Toledo was left with a good Force to secure the Towns taken The King with the rest of the Fleet sail'd to Tortosa at the Mouth of the River Ebro There the Legate came aboard his Galley and again made some Overtures of Peace but in
stay to besiege it resolving to advance towards his Enemy who was incamp'd at Santaren The King of Portugal being too weak for his Enemy kept himself within the Walls and King Henry march'd away to Lisbon At his first coming he enter'd and burnt the Suburbs but the City being strong and well defended could not be taken However some Ships were burnt in the River and others taken by the Fleet of Castile a great Number of Prisoners and a rich Booty was carry'd away Mean while the Legate ceas'd not to labour for Peace and at last brought the two Kings together into a Boat upon the River Tagus on the 28th of March and they agreed to these Conditions That the King of Portugal by a certain Day should banish his Kingdom the Gentlemen that fled from Castile who were about 500 in Number That all Places taken during that War should be restor'd on both Sides That Beatrix Sister to the King of Portugal should be marry'd to D. Sancho Brother to King Henry and Earl of Albuquerque and Elizabeth Bastard Daughter to the King of Portugal to Alonso the Bastard of King Henry King Ferdinand gave Hostages for Security of Performance D. Sancho and the Lady Beatrix were presently marry'd at Santaren The Lady Elizabeth being but 8 Years of Age was delivered to King Henry and then the two Kings parted King Henry march'd directly against Navarre but the Pope's Legate reconcil'd those two Kings also The Navarrois restor'd the Towns of Victoria and Logron̄o Charles his Son was contracted to Ellenor Daughter to the King of Castile her Portion 120000 Crowns of Gold The Kings met at Briones a Town on the Frontiers where the Princes were marry'd and the King of Navarre gave his younger Son Peter to him of Castile as a Hostage When the King of Navarre return'd out of France he found that Bernard Bishop of Pamplona and Cruzate Dean of Tudela whom he had joyn'd in Commission with the Queen had not discharg'd their Trust faithfully They understanding the King's Displeasure fled the Bishop got to Avignon but the Dean was kill'd by the way as was suspected by the King's order The Bishop went on to Rome where he dy'd CHAP. X. Peace concluded betwixt Castile and Aragon Several Matches of Princes French and Spaniards besiege Bayonne in vain The Papal Chair restor'd to Rome Death of Frederick King of Sicily FRom Briones the King of Castile return'd to the Kingdom of Toledo he of Navarre to his Court whence he sent the Queen into France to appease that King who was highly offended suspecting the Navarrois had employ'd People to Poison him Then the King of Navarre went in Person to Madrid to perswade King Henry to forsake the French and side with the English Offering if he would pay the Arrears due to the Prince of Wales and his Army from King Peter that the English would quit their Claim to the Crown of Castile and lay down all other Animosities King Henry answer'd he would never depart from the Interest of France where he had found Relief in his Distress but that if the English would make Peace with France he would join in it and pay them as much as should be adjudg'd by impartial Judges Thus nothing was concluded and the Navarrois return'd to Pamplona the Castilian to Andaluzia The Lady Mary Daughter to D. Ferdinand de la Cerda marry'd in France to the Earl of Alençon sent to demand of King Henry the Lordships of Biscay and Lara as of right appertaining to her He reply'd if she would send two of her Sons to reside at his Court they should be put into Possession but having better Estates in France they never came In October Balthasar Spinola a Genoese came into Aragon as Embassador from the English to conclude a League against Castile They offer'd him if the Kingdom were conquer'd the Cities of Murcia Cuenca and Soria with all their Dependencies but the King of Aragon could not be prevail'd upon In February happen'd a great Earthquake in the Earldom of Ribagorça in which many Towns were wholly swallow'd up Luis Duke of Anjou came to Carcassonne to endeavour to settle a Peace betwixt Castile and Aragon fearing lest the English the mortal Enemies of France should become Masters of Castile After much debating it was resolv'd to referr the Dicision of their Differences to Guido Cardinal of Bolonia the Pope's Legate On the 15th of October Pope Gregory the XIth confirm'd the Order of the Fryers of S. Hierome first invented by certain Italian Hermits near the City Toledo Some Years after the Order of the Isidorians was taken from this same In December tho Peace could not be concluded a Truce was agreed upon till the Feast of Pentecost In the Year 1374 John Duke of Lancaster landed with an Army at Calis and being join'd by the Duke of Britany march'd across the Country to Bourdeaux with a Design to conquer Castile He sent Embassadors to the Kings of Aragon and Navarre to ask Supplies but they thought it safest to look on as Neuters King Henry fearing this Storm went to Burgos where he made all possible Preparations to withstand it D. Sancho his Brother endeavouring to appease a Sedition among the Souldiers was wounded in the Face with a Spear and dy'd The Lady Beatrix his Wife left with Child was deliver'd of a Daughter called Ellenor who was marry'd to Prince Ferdinand afterwards King of Aragon King Henry near Ban̄ares made a review of his Forces and found 1200 Horse and 5000 Foot a small Number but good Men. The English Forces consum'd by their long March when they came to Bourdeaux were not above 6000 strong and therefore had lay'd aside the Design of entring Spain Luis Duke of Anjou thinking this a good Opportunity to expel them France advis'd King Henry to joyn his Forces with him and besiege Bayonne King Henry took his Advice and besieg'd the Place but was forc'd by the Rains and want of Provisions to quit it Beltran de Guevara Lord of On̄ate did good Service in this Expedition for which the King at his return gave him the Valley of Leniz In August the Prince of Majorca enter'd the Country of Russillon with a powerful Army yet did nothing considerable On the other side the Lord of Bearne and Godfrey Recco a Breton made an Incursion into the Territory of Borgia and destroy'd all they came near The King of Aragon sent Francis de Perellas Viscount Roda to conclude a League with the Duke of Lancaster A violent Storm cast him upon the Coast of Granada where he was made Prisoner by that King in revenge for certain Vessels of his taken by the Aragonians and to please the King of Castile A new Embassy was sent by King Henry to Barcelona to establish Peace with the Aragonian On the 3d of November dy'd in Normandy Joanna Queen of Navarre at whose Request her Brother the King of France often pardon'd her Husband
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
management of the Revenue was distributed among them and it was order'd that five should govern one half of the Year and five the other This settlement it was hop'd would end all debates but it was soon broken by an Accident Two of the Duke of Benavente's Servants kill'd one belonging to the Earl of Gijon as was suspected by their Master's Order whereupon looking on him as Fierce and Ill Princip'd the Cortes alter'd the Form of Government and ordain'd that the King's Will should be fulfill'd yet so that till the Marques of Villena and Count Neibla being sent fo by the King came to Court the Arch-bishop of Toledo should act for them and have 3 Votes among the Governours Two Millions of Marauedies were allow'd the Duke of Benavente and Earl of Gijon yearly during their Lives in lieu of the Government Besides it was granted to the Arch-bishop that he alone should have the Management of half the Revenue The truce with Portugal was upon expiring and it was no time to renew the War The King being in his Minority and the Kingdom exhausted Embassadors were sent to renew and proloug the Truce John Allonso de Guzman Earl of Niebla left his House to attend the Government whereupon ensu'd a great Mutiny at Sevil James Hurtado de Mendoça being great with the King aspir'd to be made Admiral which could not be done without disobliging Alvar Perez de Guzman who had some time been in possession of that Command The Earl of Niebla favour'd the new Pretender whereupon the other joyning with Peter Ponce Lord of Marchena secur'd Sevil and turn'd out all the Earl's Adherents At Segovia the Embassadors return'd to the King from Portugal with News that that King would not hear of prolonging the Truce The Duke of Benavente being ill look'd upon at Court and depriv'd of the Government withdrew to his Estate and it was reported he held intelligence with Portugal and had agreed to marry that King's Bastard-daughter Beatrix He understood what was given out justify'd himself by pleading the Wrong done him in depriving him of the Lady Ellenor de Albuquerque and over'd if he might have her to break off the other Match The Governours considering the state of Affairs consented and appointed the place for celebrating the Mariage but the Duke immediately recanted and pursu'd the Match in Portugal The Arch-bishop of Toledo to prevent any mischief might ensue went to confer with the Duke and offer'd him in Mariage a Daughter of the Marques de Villena with as good a Portion as he expected from Portugal but the Duke would not harken to it Seeing nothing would content him the Arch-bishop return'd to Zamera to prevent the Governour of the Pallace who held the Tower of S. Saviour from delivering It up to the Duke as was suspected he would and the City was in Arms upon that score All things were compos'd and the Governour deliver'd up that Tower according to the Arch-bishop's Order It was now the Heat of Summer when News was brought that the Embassadors again sent to Portugal could not obtain a Prolongation of the Truce The Portugueses were resolv'd to make use of that Advantage and enlarge their Dominions The first that took the Field was the Duke of Benavente who with 500 Horse and a great number of Foot incamp'd near Pedrosa a Town not far from the City Toro Castile was reduc'd to great Streights At Granada the Moors mutiny'd About the beginning of this year King Mahomet always a Friend to the Christians dy'd His Son Joseph succeeded him and was of the same Temper for he freely releas'd many Christians during his Father's Life This his Goodness was prejudicial to him He had four Sons Joseph Mahomet Hali and Hamet Mahomet was ambitiâ—â—â— and having no hopes of obtaining the Crown by fair means us'd Craft giving out that his Father was a Moor only in Name but in his Actions a Christian Many upon this Account sided with him and the Business was brought to that height that the City was in danger of falling together by the Ears An Embassador of the King of Morocco who was there at that time interpos'd and in an Assembly of the Principal Men of the City represented to them the Mischiefs of Discord and the Advantage might then be made upon the Christians if they were united This he did so effectually that all the Rebels were pacify'd and Mahomet promis'd to submit himself to his Father After this they gather'd 700 Horse and 3000 Foot and making an Incursion into the Kingdom of Murcia took a great Booty of Cattle and carry'd away many Captives Alonso Fajardo the Lieutenant of that Country pursu'd them with only 150 Horse yet charg'd them so furious and fortunately that he routed them kill'd many and recover'd the Prey Thus Spain was deliver'd of a great Danger that threaten'd on that side which was such that the King of Aragon who was least concern'd that he might be the more at leasure to oppose the Moors lay'd up a great Fleet he had fitted out against Brancaleon Doria who again revolted in Sardinia This Defeat so terrify'd the Moors that they sent to beg a Truce of the King of Castile which was easily granted in regard to the War that was expected with Portugal The Portugues King was puff'd up with his Success seeing himself so setled in the Throne and having in the space of four Years as many Sons by his Wife the Lady Philippa The 1st was Alonso who dy'd young the 2d Edward who succeeded his Father the 3d Peter created Duke of Coimbra and the 4th Henry Duke of Viseo and Master of the Order of Christ and much given to the Study of Astrology by the help of which and the greatness of his Spirit he first attempted to Coast along the vast and unknown Shore of Africk by that means opening the way to those who after him discover'd the remotest Countries of the East to the great Honour and Profit of the Portugues Nation as shall be shown in its place This King's youngest Children were John and Ferdinand This same year Charles the VIth King of France ran distracted The Constable of France was murder'd by a Gentleman who immediately fled to the Duke of Britany This Action so inrag'd the King that because the Duke refus'd to deliver up the Murderer he march'd against him in Person and one day being upon his March at Noon when the Heat was most violent he suddenly drew his Sword kill'd two that were next him and wounded another raging in that distracted manner till he fell from his Horse He was carry'd back to the City where he recover'd his Senses yet so that he was ever after craz'd John Juvenal Bishop of Beauvais says that in his Fits nothing so much enrag'd him as hearing the English nam'd and that he abhorr'd a Red-Cross because born in the English Colours CHAP. X. The Divisions among the Nobility of Castile continue A Truce betwixt Castile and
King Alonso having subdu'd Sardinia and abandon'd Corsica to the Genoeses sail'd with speed to Palermo in Sicily hoping to secure the Succession to the new Kingdom and was the more bent upon it for that a certain Mathematician five years before told him That Heaven promised him great Things that he should be Master of Naples that he should have many Subjects and heap mighty Riches whereupon he encourag'd him boldly to pursue his Fortune The depriving the King of Castile of his Liberty caus'd great Commotions and the Imprisonment of several Persons of Note The Court was at Talavera as has been said and the King as if he minded not the wrong done him diverted himself in Hunting This gave him an opportunity on the 29th of November to make his escape to Montalvan a Castle seated upon an Eminence almost in the mid-way betwixt Talavera and Toledo on the Banks of Tagus Alvaro de Luna his great Favourite advis'd him to fly Prince Henry gathering his Forces besieg'd the Place but would not batter it in respect to the King Prince John the Archbishop of Toledo D. Alonso Enriquez the Admiral and other Nobles assembl'd to revenge this Affront Hunger began to pinch in the Castle and they eat their Horses and other filthy Beasts At length the Siege was rais'd by them that came to relieve the Place and Prince Henry went away to Ocana a Town of his own as he was Master of Santiago resolving to stand upon his Guard After his Departure the King return'd to Talavera and was met upon the way by the Princes John and Peter of Aragon Great demonstrations of Affection passed betwixt them and the King by the Advice of Alvaro de Luna who rose apace to give the greater fall commanded them to return This alter'd the Posture of Affairs The King kept his Christmas and the beginning of the Year 1421 at Talavera Thence he went to Old Castile where he had more Forces and the People were better affected towards him Prince Henry had the Marquisate of Villena given him with his Wife which those People resented because it had been purchas'd for a sum of Mony of the King of Aragon and ought not to be alienated from the Crown Prince Henry seiz'd and garrison'd all the Towns of that Dominion except Alarcon which being naturally strong held out against him The King commanded him to disband his Forces and he refusing to obey that Estate was taken from him by Force Besides the King recall'd his Patent which made the Mastership of Santiago hereditary to the Heirs of Prince Henry This so provoked him that he set out from Ocan̄a after the King with 1500 Horse He passed the Mountains and without making any stop came to Arevalo where the King was There was danger of a Battle and therefore Queen Ellenor in care for her Son Prince Henry endeavour'd to lay that Storm that threatn'd The Archbishop of Santiago did the same They perswaded the Prince to lay down his Arms and thus for that time War was prevented Blanch Daughter to the King of Navarre on the 29th of May was brought to Bed at Arevalo of a Son who was call'd Charles as his Grandfather by the Mother's side The Cortes were summon'd first to Toledo and then to Madrid and in order to meet them the King and Queen set out towards new Castile On the 23d of October they came to Toledo Prince Henry of Aragon Ruy Lopez Davalos the Constable and Peter Manrique the Lieutenant being summon'd excus'd themselves saying they had powerful Enemies at Court Mean while Alonso King of Aragon and Luis Duke of Anjou contended for the Kingdom of Naples King Alonso kept in that City Aversa a Town near it was held by the French and Excursions were made by both Parties Cerra a Town four miles from Naples was besieg'd by the Aragonians and taken after a vigorous Defence Prince Peter of Aragon being call'd by his Brother with the consent of the King of Castile went away to serve in that War at the beginning of the Year 1422. The Cortes sat at Madrid Prince John of Aragon and other great Men were present The Archbishop of Toledo was not being then sick Prince Henry and his adherents because the King would oblige them to come resolv'd the Prince and Garci Fernandez Manrique afterwards Earl of Castan̄eda should go but the Constable and Peter Manrique should stand upon their Guard in Places of Safety On the 13th of June the Prince and Garci Fernandez came to Madrid were kindly receiv'd but the next day apprehended Prince Henry was sent Prisoner to the Castle of Mora and the care of him committed to Garci Alvarez de Toledo the Earl of Vrgel who had been some years a Prisoner there being remov'd to Madrid An Impeachment of high Treason for corresponding with the Moors was brought into the Cortes against those Lords 14 Letters written by the Constable to King Joseph of Granada were produc'd and read Therefore the Estates of Prince Henry and Garci Manrique were confiscated and the same was decreed against Peter Manrique who having notice of what was in hand fled to Taraçona The like Sentence was given against the Constable who with the Lady Catherine Prince Henry's Wife fled first to Segura a strong Place towards Murcia and thence to Valencia He left a mighty Estate in Castile for Arcos Arjona Ossorno Ribadeo Candeleda Arenas and many other Towns were his so that the House Davalos began to decay Several other noble Families as the Fajardos Enriquez Sandovals Pimenteles and Zunigas rose out of the Ruins of the Davalos It was then whisper'd that those Letters of the Constable were forg'd and afterwards his Secretary John Garcia confess'd he had counterfeited them and was put to Death yet because the King and others were concern'd the Constable was not restor'd Now the King created Alvaro de Luna Earl of Santistevan de Gormaz and made him Constable Gonzalo Mexia Commendary of Segura was impower'd to act as Master of Santiago These things being concluded the King went away to Alcala and at the same time the Queen was deliver'd of a Daughter at Illescas on the 5th of October she was call'd Catherine This caus'd great Joy being an Argument the Queen was not barren as had been fear'd The Archbishop of Toledo after a tedious Sickness dy'd at Alcala de Henares and was put into a curious Marble Tomb built by himself in the Parish Church of St. Peter D. John Martinez de Contreras Dean of Toledo by the King's Interest was chosen Archbishop The Chapter rather favour'd the School-Master John Alvarez de Toledo but the King's Recommendation prevail'd The elect Archbishop went away to Rome to be confirm'd by Pope Martin the Vth as was then the Custom and spent two years in that Journey CHAP. VII The Death of the Moorish King of Granada A Truce betwixt Castile and Portugal The Interest of the Aragonians decays at Naples Joseph
he desirous of Revenge said that Treaty was concluded without his Consent and that it was but reasonable to chastize the Insolency of the two Kings He lay near Balmaçan a Town on the Banks of the River Duero Thither came Frederick Duke of Arjona and Earl of Trastamara who was immediately apprehended and sent Prisoner to the Castle of Pen̄afiel now in the King's Power where he dy'd the following Year Thence the King of Castile mov'd into the Dominions of Aragon striking a mighty Terror into that Country The Country People with what they could save fled to Places of Strength whilst the Soldiers burnt and plunder'd the desolate Villages Hariza is a strong Town seated on an Eminence thither the Army came and because the Townsmen retir'd into the Castle the Town was plunder'd and great part of it burnt At the same time Peter Velasco who commanded upon the Frontiers of Navarre enter'd that Country with a Body of Castilians They took and burnt the Town of St. Vincente because the Castle was not tenable The Bishop of Calahorra and James de Zun̄iga his Nephew took the Town and Castle of Guardia Besides D. Roderick Alonso Pimentel Earl of Benavente with other Forces possess'd himself of the Towns and Forts belonging to Prince Henry in Castile He forsaking Ocan̄a the Head of his Patrimony withdrew to Segura a Castle on the Borders of Portugal upon the Banks of the River Guadiana There he left the Princess his Wife and return'd to Truxillo to endeavour since he had lost the rest to do some harm on that side Thither came to him his Brother Prince Peter a youth of a great Spirit and who had learn'd experince in the Wars of Naples CHAP. II. Actions of the Aragonians against Castile Several Assemblies of the Cortes The Estates of the Princes of Aragon in Castile confiscated A Truce concluded with that Crown for five Years War with the Moors CAstile was now Successful had gain'd Reputation and chastiz'd the Insolency of its Enemies It was tedious to besiege the Castle of Hariza and the Advantage when taken small therefore the King of Castile return'd to Medina Celi where having dispos'd good Garrisons along the Frontiers he dismiss'd the rest of his Army About the end of Autumn the King went away for Medina del Campo where he had appointed the Cortes to meet him His Absence encourag'd the Enemy The King of Navarre was gone to defend his own The Aragonian gathering his Forces enter'd Castile by the way of Soria took the Town of Deça and the Castles of Ciria and Borovia Bozmediano was sold to him by the Governour Thus having taken a great Booty of Corn and Cattle and many Prisoners they return'd without any Loss to Calatayud whence they set out On the Borders of Portugal next the River Guadiana the Princes of Aragon did greater harm that Country of Estremadura being plentiful of Cattle Nor could the Earl of Benavente sent thither to that purpose make Head against them Therefore D. Alvaro de Luna and by his Order Peter Ponce Lord of Marchena repair'd thither They sent to demand the Booty of the King of Portugal because it was convey'd into that Country but obtain'd nothing For the King of Portugal was glad of the Troubles of Castile which gave him an Opportunity of fixing himself in that Kingdom he had Usurp'd The Princes of Aragon finding themselves too weak to withstand D. Alvaro burnt the Suburbs of Truxillo and fortify'd the Place putting a good Garrison into the Castle They themselves surpriz'd Albuquerque a strong Town on the Frontiers of Portugal This Loss was the more resented by the Castilians because they were Jealous that the Portugueses might secure that Town By the Advice of D. Alvaro the King went thither in Person that his Presence might influence and the Success might be attributed to him Truxillo and Montanges were taken but Albuquerque could not be reduc'd The King and D. Alvaro return'd to Medina del Campo leaving the Master of Alcantara and D. John Son to Peter Ponce to command upon the Frontiers At the taking of Truxillo there happen'd a remarkable Passage D. Alvaro the Constable was in the Town and the Castle held out for Prince Henry One Garci Sanchez de Quincozes who had great influence over the Garrison hinder'd the Governour from treating of a surrender D. Alvaro with much Difficulty obtain'd to speak with him at a Wicket which look'd towards the Camp to which there was a steep Ascent They met and Garci Sanchez giving no ear either to Threats or Promises the Constable clasp'd him in his Arms and both roul'd down the Hill so that before he could be reliev'd from the Fort he was taken by 100 Men lay'd in Ambush to that purpose upon which the Castle immediately surrender'd At the same time the Forces of Castile receiv'd a Defeat in the Plains of Arabiana that lie at the Foot of the Mountain Moncayo Ruy Diaz de Mendoça call'd the Bald tho born in Sevil commanded 400 Horse of Navarre He defeated Yn̄igo Lopez de Mendoza Lord of Hita who ventur'd to fight him with a lesser Number Few were killed for the Commander perceiving his Men to give way retir'd to a rising Ground which he made good with a few that stood by him The most fled and escap'd because the Enemy knew not the Country and Night came on At the beginning of the Year 1430 the Cortes of Castile assembled at Medina del Campo and those of Catalonia at Tortosa both Kings being present at their respective Assemblies Mony was the common want of both and both complain'd of the Perfidiousness of the Nobility The King of Aragon would fain have reduc'd Frederick Earl of Luna who favour'd Castile but could not prevail nor lay hold of him therefore he confiscated all his Estate which was very great He of Castile did the same by the Princes of Aragon and that they might have no hopes of being restor'd divided all their Possessions among other great Men. Several noble Families rais'd out of the Ruins of those Princes are still great in Castile To Frederick Earl of Luna who fled out of Aragon and came to Medina del Campo were given the Towns of Cuellar Villalon and Arjona with other Revenues to support his Grandeur Queen Ellenor of Aragon was put into the Monastery of S. Clare at Tordesillas and had three Castles taken from her that she might not be in a Condition to assist her Sons Yet soon after she was set at Liberty and her Castles restor'd to her upon promise that she would not be aiding to them in that War An Embassy came from Portugal about concluding a Truce betwixt Castile and Aragon till they could agree upon Articles of Peace but prov'd unsuccessful Some Authors write that this Year on Palm-Sunday a most fragrant Smell issu'd from the Tomb of Pope Benedict at Pen̄iscola I cannot give much credit to this particular but this Report was the cause
Legate of Savoy Castile seem'd to be restor'd to perfect Peace by the Banishment of D. Alvaro de Luna but Ambition the Bane of Kingdoms soon disturb'd it The King was not of Judgment sound enough to govern without the Help and Advice of another This was well known to the Nobility and every one strove to gain his Favour in order to become First Minister of State D. Frederick the Admiral a Bold Man and of a ready Wit stood fairest being particularly recommended to the King by D. Alvaro de Luna at the time of his departure The Princes of Aragon were enrag'd that all their Contrivances fall'd them At Toro the Servants of the several Factions quarrell'd and were like to come to Blows about taking up their Lodgings The King knew not how to pacify the Nobles and therefore by the Advice of D. Alvaro's â—â—ads under colour of Hunting fled to Salamanca at the beginning of the year 1440. After him went the Princes of Aragon the Earls of Benavente Ledesina Haro 〈◊〉 Valencia and InÌ„igo Lopez de Mendoça with 600 Horse resolving to use Violence if oppos'd The King being inform'd of their coming remov'd to Bonilla a Loyal and Strong Town Thence he sent to the Princes of Aragon who under a safe Conduct came first to Salamanca and thence to Avila whither the Mutinous Lords were come designing to secure that City The Archbishop of Seviil who then sighaliz'd his Loyalty was the Chief Man that passed between them but without success Yet the Nobles made use of him to write to the King giving him grave Advice and charging D. Alvaro de Luna He return'd no 〈…〉 They went the Earls of Haro and Benavente to him who prevail'd to have the 〈…〉 at Valladolid Yet those Lords were so far from restoring the Towns they had serz'd and their hands that they secur'd Leon Segovia Zamora Salamanca Valladolid Avila Burgos Placencia and Guadalasara Besides Prince Henry had Toledo deliver'd to him by Peter Lopez de Ayala who was Governour of the Town and Castle for the King At the Cortes which sate at Valladolid in April the first thing consider'd upon was to give satisfaction to D. Alvaro de Luna and bring him back to Court. To this effect Letters were sent to him from that Assembly yet he came not for the present Soon after all the Revolted Cities return'd to their 〈…〉 had particularly Toledo Prince Henry at this time Rebell'd against his Father being 〈…〉 that D. Alvaro should return to Court John Pacheco Son to Alonso Giron Lord of 〈…〉 had the same influence over the Prince that D. Alvaro had over the King and endeavour'd by supplanting D. Alvaro who had preferr'd him to rise to his Grandeur Prince Henry of Castile withdrew from Court giving out that he would not return till some of the King's Counsellors with whom he was displeas'd were remov'd yet he came back late at Night at the perswasion of his Father-in-Law the King of Navarre To pacify him his Wife was brought from Navarre to Valladolid where on the 25th of September the Nuptials were celebrated with great Pomp and there was a Feast of Tilting in which some Nobles were kill'd because they ran with sharp-pointed Spears The Bride remain'd a Maid which was at first conceal'd but afterwards became Publick to the great Grief of all People At the same time that the Publick Rejoycing was for the Marriage of Prince Henry the Lieutenant Peter Manrrique Dy'd He was a Man of a mean Stature a great Spirit Subtle and Bold His Son James Manrique who was also Earl of TrevinÌ„o succeeded him in his 〈◊〉 D. Alvaro de Lara tho absent from Court govern'd the Kingdom which inrag'd the 〈…〉 have all 〈…〉 Son who left his Father and went away to Segovâ— declaring for the Princes of Aragon John Pacheco his Favourite neightned his discontent Toledo was again'd deliver'd up by the same Peter Lopez de Ayala to Prince Henry of Aragon The Citizens provok'd the King by securing his Messengers sent to complain of their Disloyalty which mov'd him with a small Retinue the hast thither believing they would Respect his Person He stopp'd at the Hospital of Saint Lazorus which is in the Road to Madrigal Prince Henry of Aragon came out of the City with Two Handred Horse Those with the King being Feâ— in Number Fortify'd themselves where they were but Prince Henry fearing he should become yet more odious than he was if he offer'd Violence to the King return'd into the City Roderick de Villandrando signaliz'd his Zeal and Legality for the Defence of the King in this Place in recompense for which he had a Priviledge granted him that the Earls of Ribadeo his Successors should always upon New-years Day dine with the King and serve him in the Bed-chamber For it was on the first of January 1441 that the King was in Danger in the Hospital The King went away to Torrijos and leaving Pelayo de Ribera Lord of Malpica with 100 Horse to secure that place remov'd to Avila whither D. Alvaro came to consult about carrying on the War they had in Hand His coming more incens'd the Mutineers Most of them were at Arevalo and the Queen her self favour'd her Son and Brothers against the King her Husband The King sent the Bishops of Burgos and Avila to try if there were any way of composing Differences but they could not prevail James de Valera a Gentleman who follow'd the Prince wrote a Letter to the King advising him to incline to Mercy rather than Severity It being read in Council no Body said any thing to it but the Archbishop D. Gutierre de Toledo who answer'd Let Valera give us Assistance for Advice we want none This Valera was a Man of very good natural Parts was twice Embassador in Germany and writ a short History of Spain of him called Valeriana But there is another Valeriana writ by an Archdeacon of Murcia and quoted in this Work Prince Henry being sent for by his Father to treat of Peace came to Avila but nothing was concluded The Prince being return'd to Segovia desir'd the two Queens his Mother and Mother in Law then in Castile to go as far as Santa Maria de Nieva to endeavour to appease those Commotions In that Town Blanch Queen of Navarre dy'd on the first day of April and was bury'd in the famous Church of that Place This grave Authors affirm but there is no sign of it in the Church Charles Prince of Viana her Son inherited the Crown but took not the Title of King out of respect to his Father This Prince Charles was very studious and there are some Works of his Extant as Aristole's Ethicks translated into Spanish a short History of Navarre and many Compositions in Verse which he us'd to sing to the Guitarre A Youth deserving of a better Fortune and a more peaceable Father He was 21 years of Age when his Mother dy'd Her Death put an
Earl of Benavente nay the Prince of Castile and Queen had a hand in this Practice F. Lope Barrientos Bishop of Avila mov'd by the Wrong done the King and desiring to restore D. Alvaro discour'd John de Pacheco seriously upon the Point and they resolv'd to try whether some of the Nobles had Courage enough to oppose the Princes of Aragon To the end their Designs might be the better conceal'd they advis'd the Prince who was of Council with them to go from Tordesillas to Segovia upon pretence of Hunting Thence they sent Letters to D. Alvaro giving him an Account of what they had done At the same time the Earls of Haro and Ledesma meeting at Curiel had consulted about setting the King at Liberty which oblig'd the Prince to return to Tordesillas to see what could be done But the Princes of Aragon prevented their Designs and forc'd them to fly whence ensu'd new Troubles The King of Navarre was marry'd at Lobaton on the 1st of September 1444 and Prince Henry at Cordova where he was fixing the Interest of his Party James Valera was sent Embassador into France to obtain Liberty for the Earl of Armagnac secur'd by the Dauphin and for Martin Son to D. Alonso Earl of Gijon He was accus'd of holding Correspondence with the English and set at Liberty upon Condition that if ever he was found faulty he should forfeit the Towns of Ribadeo and Cangas in Asturias Besides the King of Castile oblig'd himself in such Case to make War with the Forces of Biscay that bordered on his Dominions At the same time some dealt with Henry Prince of Castile about destroying of D. Alvaro and others about restoring him Bishop Barrientos and John Pacheco thought fit to dispatch before they were discover'd and to that purpose held the King of Navarre in hand as if they design'd to joyn with him Mean while Prince Henry return'd to Segovia and thence sollicited the Earls of Haro Plasencia and Castaneda to unite their Forces with his Besides them the Earl of Alva the Archbishop of Toledo and Lord of Hita took party with them This done thinking themselves strong enough for the Princes of Aragon by the Prince's Order they all went to Avila They had 1500 Horse and D. Alvaro de Luna came to them Their greatest want was of Mony Thence they went to Burgos where the other Nobles their Associates were The Aragonians sent the King to the Town of Portillo with the Earl of Castro to guard him and the King of Navarre gather'd 2000 Horse With this Force he march'd towards the Confederate Nobles who daily grew stronger and near Pampliega in the Territory of Burgos the two Parties drew up Some Religious Persons endeavour'd to compose Differences but a light Skirmish that happen'd drew them to a Battle which was parted by the Night The King of Navarre finding himself too weak retir'd in the dark to Palencia a strong City Another Misfortune was added to this which was that the King of Castile under colour of Hunting made his escape to his Son His Liberty chang'd the Face of Affairs The King of Navarre went to his Kingdom to raise Forces and carry on what he had begun all the other great Men of his Faction went each to his own Lands Thus the Towns belonging to the Princes of Aragon fell into the Hands of the King particularly Medina del Campo Arevalo Olmedo Roa and Aranda Prince Henry of Aragon return'd to his Town of Ocana in Andaluzia Henry Prince of Castile and D. Alvaro march'd after him but he fled to the Kingdom of Murcia there Alonso Faxardo Lieutenant of that Kingdom receiv'd him into the strong City of Lorca he being a favourer of that Party This was about the end of the Year On the 5th of July the same Year dy'd Ferdinand Uncle to the King of Portugal at Fez where he was bury'd Two years after his Body was translated to Aljubarrota his Father's Burial place The Portugueses account him a Saint and say he never had to do with Women nor ever told a Lye Castile seemed to be in a better Condition since the Princes of Aragon were expelled but still a War was fear'd The Cortes met at Medina del Campo and order'd some Mony for the War but not enough Thither came the Prince of Castile and D. Alvaro de Luna after they had taken from Prince Henry several Towns belonging to him as Master of the Order of Santiago Warlike Preparations were made The King of Navarre made an Incursion into the Kingdom of Toledo with 400 Horse and 600 Foot by the way of Atiença in which he had a Garrison This Number tho small was formidable because some of the People were for him and others stood Neuters so he easily made himself Master of Torija Alcala de Henares and other places The King of Castile gathering what Force he had march'd to Espinar to wait there till other Troops joyn'd him Soon after this on the 18th of February 1445 dy'd Queen Ellenor of Portugal at Toledo and a few days after Mary Queen of Castile follow'd her ending her days at Villacastin near Segovia It was suspected they were poison'd because both dy'd so near the same time and suddenly also because Queen Mary's Body was full of Spots This Report was the easier credited because they lived a loose Life From Espinar the King went to Madrid and soon after to Alcala being invited thither by the Inhabitants The King of Navarre lay with his Forces thereabouts and being joyn'd by his Brother Henry was now 1500 Horse strong With this Body he kept himself in the Mountains of Old Alcala resolving not to fight without the Advantage of Ground he being too weak in Numbers Thence he sent Ferrer de Lanuza Justice of Aragon to his Brother the King of Aragon to desire him since the War of Naples was ended to come into Spain either to attend the War or compose the Differences The King of Castile also sent to complain to him of his Brothers There was no Action at Alcala and the Princes of Aragon by the way of Tablada hasted away to Arevalo The King of Castile follow'd close at their Heels so that both came the same day to Arevalo The King of Navarre took Olmedo by force and put to Death the loyal Party that had shut the Gates upon him About half a League from Olmedo near the Mills call'd de los Abades the King of Castile intrench'd with 2000 Horse and the like Number of Foot There his Son Henry D. Alvaro John Pacheco In̄igo Lopez de Mendoça the Earl of Alva and Bishop Barrientos joyn'd him On the other side the Admiral the Earl of Benavente the Brothers Peter Ferdinand and James Quin̄ones the Earl of Castro and John de Tovar brought a 1000 Horse to the Aragonians By the Contrivance of Bishop Barrientos a treaty was set on Foot to amuse the Rebels till the Master of Alcantara joyn'd the King He being
of Jaen there appeared such a multitude of Locusts that they hid the Sun Every one interpreted this and the like Prodigies as his Fear dictated rather than according to any Reason At this time Roderick Sanchez de â—revalo who commanded the Castle of S. Angel at Rome wrote in Latin a History of Spain more Devout than Elegant It is called Palentina from the Author who was afterwards Bishop of Palencia Pope Paul II. gave him that Bishoprick at the Request of King Henry to whom he Dedicated that History The said Roderick Sanchez tho a Spaniard was very familiar with that Pope CHAP. V. Peter the Constable of Portugal dies The Rebels in Catalonia choose the Duke of Anjou for their King The Battle of Olmedo The Death of the Queen of Aragon and Prince Alonso of Castile The King recovers Toledo The Rebels of Castile Affront the Popes Legate and are Excommunicated CAstile was full of Confusion and Tumults nothing but Rapine and Murders appeared in all Places the Government being too weak to punish these Insolencies For this Reason the Towns and Cities Associated themselves and by the Kings Consent Rules were prescribed the Heads of the Association to be governed by The People generally feared left the Moores should again Conquer Spain the Kingdom being no less Debauched than in the time of King Roderick and the Archbishop of Toledo was commonly in scorn called D. Oppas which was the Name of him that had helped to betray the Country to the Infidels when they over-ran it These Divisions encouraged the Earl of Faux to invade Navarre as his Wife's Dower not content to expect the Death of his Father-in-Law tho he had blamed that forwardness in his Brother-in-Law Prince Charles Not so satisfied he resolved to oblige King Henry of Castile to deliver up those Towns of Navarre in which he had Garisons At the first onset he took the City Calahorra and laid Siege to Alfaro King Henry sent James Enriquez del Castillo his Chaplain who also wrote a Chronicle of this King to Treat with the Earl but he finding nothing was to be done by fair means gathered what Forces he could and drove him out of the Country Calahorra was also restored to the King the Townsmen expelling the Garison of the Earl of Faux In Catalonia the Aragonians in several places worsted their Enemies and recovered many Towns But what was most considerable D Peter the pretended Earl of Barcelona died at Granobla on the 29th of June His Body was buried at Barcelona He was thought to be poisoned as was very usual in those days In his Will he left that Earldom wherein he had so small a share to John Prince of Portugal his Nephew The Aragonians using the advantage of his Death took Tortosa and other Places To put a stop to all these Losses the Catalonians in a great Assembly at Barcelona chose Renee Duke of Anjou the perpetual Enemy of Aragon their King On the other side the King of Aragon sollicited the Duke of Savoy and Galeazo who had succeeded his Father Francis Sforzia in the Dukedom of Milan to join in League with him He also Courted the English and at the beginning of the year 1467 sent Peter Peralta his Constable to Castile to join in League with the Confederate Lords For the better compassing his Ends he gave Commission to Treat of Matching his Daughter Joanna with Prince Alonso and his Son Ferdinand with Beatrix Daughter to the Marquis of Villena Neither of these Marriages had effect The Earl of Benavente at this time got Prince Alonso from the Archbishop of Toledo for pretending to Entertain him in his Castle of Portillo when he had him in he'kept him yet not long after at the perswasion of the Marquis de Villena restored him to the Rebellious Lords Thus all things tended to open War which King Henry earnestly desiring to prevent condescended again to have Two Conferences with the Marquis de Villena but all to no effect notwithstanding the Earl of Plasencia's Lady a Person of great Parts and well affected towards the King was present in hopes she would reduce her Husband and some others The Marquess de Villena was more subtle to gain an Advantage than King Henry to disappoint him Another Interview was appointed at Plasencia which the Loyal Nobility were concerned at saying it was Lessening of the King to have so many Conferences with a Subject At the beginning of Summer the King removed from Madrid to Segovia and the Rebels possessed themselves of Olmedo Peter de Silva Commandant of the Garison delivered it up Mota de Medina belonged to the Archbishop of Toledo and there was danger it would fall into the hands of the Lords King Henry moved by all these Affronts ordered great Levies to be made Then he summoned the Nobility There came to him the Earl of Medina Celi the Bishop of Calahorra the Duke of Albuquerque who till then had been absent from Court and Peter Hernandez de Velasco who being pardoned his former Fault was now sent by his Father with 700 Horse and a good Body of Foot For this Service he had the Tenths of the Admiralty granted him So great Fear had possessed the King and he was so desirous to gain the Nobility that to secure the Marquis of Santillana he delivered up his Daughter Joanna to be kept by him in his Town of Buytrago Every one sold his Service the dearest he could The King having gathered a good Army marched towards Medina but being come to Olmedo the Rebels drew out to hinder his Passage King Henry was desirous to avoid fighting but could not contain his Men. Upon the 20th of August the Two Armies met and after a sharp Engagement parted again upon equal Terms yet both sides pretended to the Victory Night separated them the Rebels returned to Olmedo and the King with his Forces which were 2000 Foot and 1700. Horse marched on to Medina del Campo King Henry was not in the Fight being advised by Peter Peralta not to hazard his Person Some were of Opinion he meant not honestly being a Friend to the Rebels Neither was the Marquess de Villena there being then at a Chapter of the Order of Santiago where he was chosen Master which made the Nobility very jealous seeing him Preferred and Rewarded when he deserved the severest Punishment Ellenor Countess of Faux Governed Navarre for her Father Nicholas Echavaria Bishop of Pamplona recovered Urania which till then was held by the Castilians A Son of this Ladies called Gaston as was his Father had at this time by his Wife Magdalen Sister to Louis King of France a Son called Francis who for his great Beauty had the Sirname of Phaebeus His Daughter Catherine her Brother dying by Marriage united the State of Albret and Crown of Navarre as shall appear in its place The King of Aragon resided at Tarragona to be near to give Orders for carrying on the War in Catalonia
and tho very aged and blind of both Eyes had still a great Spirit In that City on the 22th of January 1468 Ellenor his Bastard Daughter was Married to D. Luis de Biamonte Earl of Lerin Her Portion was 15000 Florins and the Design to secure that Family so Powerful in Navarre The Queen held the Cortes of Aragon at Zaragoça for the King her Husband There she died on the 13th of February to the great Grief of the King who lamented it the more because he was so aged himself and his Son to whom she might have been a great support so young Not long before she met her Daughter in Law the Countess of Faux at Exea on the Borders of Aragon and there they concluded a League Offensive and Defensive Her Body was Buried at Poblete Only one Crime was laid to her Charge which was the Death of her Son in Law Prince Charles and this they say troubled her Conscience at the hour of her Death The News of the Troubles in Castile was come to Rome King Henry sollicited the Pope to Depose the Bishops that were in Rebellion and to Excommunicate the Nobility if they would not submit Antony Venerio Bishop of Leon was therefore sent Nuncio into Spain First he waited upon the King at Medina del Campo Then endeavouring to Treat with the Rebels was by them twice put off with Reproachful Language and he threatning to Excommunicate them they answered The Pope had nothing to do with the Affairs of the Crown and that they would Appeal to the next General Councel Another Misfortune befell the King which was that D. John Arias Bishop of Segovia in revenge that his Brother Peter Arias had been wrongfully imprisoned tho now set at liberty resolved to deliver up that City to the Lords The Place is strong being seated on the Mountains that part Old and New Castile The Queen and Dutchess of Albuquerque who were there were so surprized at the coming of the Rebels that they could scarce have time to get into the Castle nor were they easily admitted Peter Munsares the Governor being of Intelligence with the Rebels The Princess Elizaheth who knew of the Design stayed in the Palace and then went to her Brother Alonso designing to take part with him This News was soon carried to Medina del Campo where King Henry was which troubled him more than any other Loss because he loved that City kept his Treasure there and it was the place where he Diverted himself From this time forward he seemed disturbed in his Brain trusted no Body was suspicious of all Men and unsettled sometimes for Peace and sometimes for War but Peace was more suitable to his Nature He appointed to meet the Marquess de Villena at Coca notwithstanding all his Friends opposed it which made many forsake him Nothing was done at Coca therefore they agreed to meet again in the Castle of Segovia There they agreed upon these Articles which were no better observed than others had been That the Castle of Segovia be delivered to Prince Alonso That the King have Liberty to take out his Treasures which shall be kept in the Castle of Madrid by Peter Muncares That the Queen be left with the Archhishop of Sevil as an Hostage for Performance hereof That these things performed the Nobles within 6 months Restore the King to the Government and submit to him These were hard Conditions for the King But the worst was that the Queen in the Castle of Alabejos whither the Bishop sent her took a Liking to a young Man and proved with Child by him which confirmed all the former Suspicions of her Dishonesty and made for the Rebels The King distracted with these Misfortunes went from place to place almost like a Private Man forsaken of most Men only 10 attending him He resolved at last to try the Earl of Plasencia and put himself into his Power He was there well received and lived about 4 months in the Castle of that City The Pope sent a new Nuncio to persuade the Lords to submit to the King but they persisting Obstinate he Excommunicated them This did not correct tho it troubled them so much that they sent Deputies to Rome who were not suffered to come within the Walls of that City till they had taken an Oath not to give the Title of King to Prince Alonso The Pope severely Reproved them in the Consistory assuring them God would punish their Disloyalty and that it was to be feared the young Prince would come to an untimely Death for the Sins of others This Saying of his proved Prophetick and his Severity did some kidness to King Henry At the same time the City Toledo was restored to the King Peter Lopez de Ayala was Governor of that City F. Peter de Silva of the Order of S. Dominick and Bishop of Badajoz his Brother in Law Treated with his Sister the Governors Wife about delivering up the City to the King They sent to him he came from Plasencia in two days and entring the City by night was lodged in the Dominican Monastery His coming being known a Bell was Rung and the People took the Alarm Peter Lopez advised the King should not shew himself because the People would not pay him any respect Therefore about midnight he left the City with him went Perafan de Ribera and the two Sons of Peter Lopez de Ayala Peter and Alonso At the Gate the King found his Horse was tired having travelled 18 Leagues that Day He asked one of the Company to give him his Horse which he refused but the two Sons of Peter Lopez immediately alighted and on their knees begg'd of the King to accept of theirs one for himself and the other for his Squire of the Body The King did so those Gentleman followed him a Foot Being come to Olias the King gave Peter Lopez de Ayala and his Sons for ever an Estate of 70000 Mervidies a Year The Bishop also was forc'd to leave the City yet within Four days the Governors Wives tears prevail'd with him to call the King again He came and found all things better dispos'd than he expected and at the suit of the People confirm'd their Charter granting them new Privileges But Peter Lopez de Ayala was created Earl of Fuensalida and continued Governor of the City then the King went away to Madrid there he secur'd the Governor of that Place Peter Muçares but soon after dismiss'd him The loss of Toledo so nearly touched the Rebels that they immediately Marched from Arevalo where their Forces were to Besiege that City In their March near Carden̄osa Prince Alonso fell sick and died on the 5th of July which put a stop to their proceedings His Body was Buried in the Church of St. Francis at Arevalo thence afterwards translated to the Carthusian Monastery of Miraflores at Burgos Some said he died of the Plague which then raged in those parts others that he was poisoned Alonso de Palencia who
away to Burgos and thence to Ordun̄a upon his coming all was presently quiet He made a Truce between the Two Parties till such time as they could be fully Reconciled and set all the Prisoners free After this great Levies were made throughout Castile and the Nobility was summoned to the end to force King Ferdinand and Elizabeth his Queen to depart the Kingdom yet by the Advice of the Master of Santiago this Design was laid aside Toledo and Sevil mutinied at the same time both Cities being divided into Factions Those of Toledo were the Ayalas and Silvas The Earl of Cifuentes was Head of the Silvas and he of Fuensalida of the Ayalas To put an end to these Contentions by the Advice of the Bishop F. Peter de Silva the Earl of Cifuentes Married Ellenor Daughter to him of Fuensalida What was designed to produce a Peace proved the cause of greater Discord not only the Earl of Cifuentes but John de Ribera his Uncle being admitted into the City against the Kings will one of them coming to be Married and the other to honour that Solemnity The Faction of the Silvas having got their Chief among them armed against their Adversaries with such fury that King Henry was forced to come thither in Person and having appeased the Tumult deprived the Earl of Fuensalida of the Government of the City which he had held many years and put Garci Lopez into that Command with the Title of Deputy At Sevil the Marquess of Cadiz was expelled that City by the Duke of Medina Sidonia Hence ensued a formal War which was ended by D. Yn̄igo Lopez de Mendoça Earl of Tendilla sent thither to that purpose he using more Art than Force or Severity Medina Sidonia was restored to its Owner It was a very great loss for Castile that Pope Paul II. died on the 25th of July During his Papacy he did much for the good and advantage of Spain On the 9th of August was chosen in his place the Cardinal Francis de Ruvere of the Order of Friers Minors he took the Name of Sixtus IV. a Man of no less Merit than his Predecessor and as well affected towards Spain At the same time a Body of Moores broke into the inward parts of Andaluzia and made great havock in the Territory of Alcantara The Booty they took was so great they could observe no Order in marching In Revenge for this Affront and to Divert the Enemy by the King's Order the Marquess of Cadiz with his Forces took the Town of Cardella in the Kingdom of Granada by force but he leaving a weak Garison in the place it was soon recovered by the Moores This Year was Fortunate to Portugal King Alonso about the middle of August set sail from Lisbon with a Fleet consisting of 300 Sail between great and small resolving to renew the War in Africk With him went Prince John his Son that he might learn his first Military Rudiments in that Holy War and all the Flower of the Nobility and Souldiery of the Kingdom The Army consisted of about 30000 Men. At his first landing he took from the Moores the Town of Arzila in which above 2000 Infidels were killed and 5000 sold as Slaves which raised a great Sum of Money This Success was not bought without Blood for several Persons of Note among the Portugueses were killed and among them D. Alvaro de Castro Earl of Montesanto and D. John Coutin̄o Earl of Marialva whose dead Body the King having seen turning to his Son he said God grant you prove so great a Souldier The Example of Arzila so terrified the Moores of Tangier that they abandoned it the Command of which Place the King gave to Roderick Merlo Henry de Meneses Earl of Valencia was left Governour of Arzila and Alcaçar Having in so short a time concluded such Noble Exploits the King returned with his Fleet in safety to Portugal D. Alonso Vasconcellos was in this Expedition created Earl of Penella as a Reward of his good Service CHAP. IX Catalonia reduced Charles Duke of Guienne dies Cardinal Borgia the Pope's Legate comes into Spain Interview of the Kings of Castile and Portugal The Master of Santiago strengthens himself against his Enemies Barcelona surrendred to the King of Aragon IN Catalonia the Aragonians were now successful for after the Death of the Duke of Lorrain Girona was surrendred to the King What remained of the Enemy whose Chief Commanders were Reiner Bastard Son to the Duke and James Galeoto were either besieged in a Town called S. Adrian on the Banks of the River Bese or overthrown by the General D. Alonso de Aragon as they marched to relieve that Place The King tho' so old ceased not to press the Enemy in Ampurias As he lay encamped near Torella he is said in a Dream to have seen a notable Soldier that died in that War who advised him not to decamp from thence because it would prove dangerous to him The King took no notice of this Dream but moved thence and having taken Roses and laid Siege to Peralada was in great danger of his Life by a Camisade given at Night by the Earl of Campobaso who commanded the Enemy He was so surprized that he fled half naked to Figueras Nevertheless next day he returned to the Siege and wasted the Country which obliged the Town to surrender All that Country being subdued he marched with his Army and sate down before Barcelona the Siege of which Place lasted long he being resolved to carry that Town by Policy rather than open Force In Old Castile King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth laboured to draw the People to their Party some Towns surrendred to him and among them Sepulveda This done they sent for the Archbishop of Toledo resolving to reconcile him at any rate and being come went with him to Tordelaguna a Town of his on purpose to oblige him Charles Duke of Guienne not regarding that he was contracted to the Princess Joanna as doubting whose Daughter she was was now making a Match with the Duke of Burgundy's Daughter As soon as King Henry had notice of it he went from Segovia to Badajoz to meet the King of Portugal at the beginning of the Year 1472. The Earl of Feria in whose Custody that City was in Hatred to the Master of Santiago would not admit the King Between that Place and Elvas the two Kings met and treated about the King of Portugal's marrying the Princess Joanna but nothing was concluded The Portugues placed no great Confidence in the King or the Master of Santiago beside that King Ferdinand and his Queen became daily more acceptable to the People For the present the Insolence of the Earl of Feria was winked at but not long after King Henry went into Andaluzia with a Resolution to punish all the Mutinous Lords He came to Cordova and would not go on to Sevil because the Duke of Medina-Sidonia was possessed of that City and had
the City Toledo and turn out the Mareschal Ferdinand de Ribadeneira who stood firm to King Henry The Citizens repulsed him and the King having notice of that Attempt came himself and quieted the City All things being reduced to good order such as had a hand in that Uproar were pardoned which made those Disaffected Persons the more bold After this D. John Pacheco Master of Santiago withdrew to Pen̄afiel where his Wife was being desirous at last to live at ease and fearing he must be odious to many Men having long continued great at Court which he thought his Absence would remedy In his Place he sent his Son James to whom as has been said he had before resigned the Marquisate of Villena The King received the Marquess with as great Demonstrations of Affection as if his Father had done him some signal Services He had a good Presence was in the Prime of his Youth and his Garb suitable to the Greatness of his Fortune From Toledo the King returned to Segovia where his Affection to him daily encreased to that degree that he went daily to visit the Marquess who was lodged in the Monastery of Friars of S. Hierom called El Parral A Proposal was made of reconciling Andrew de Cabrera and the Family of Pacheco and that he should deliver up to the King the Castle of Segovia and all the Treasures in it In lieu of it they offered him the Town of Moya near the Borders of Valencia and not far from Cuenca where the said Cabrera was born He was willing to harken to these Proposals but the Townsmen understanding it mutinied and brought in an Aragonian Garrison John Fernandez de Heredia brought those Forces from Valencia and took Possession of the Town in the Name of the Princess Elizabeth which much troubled King Henry The Lady Elizabeth went from Tordelaguna in the Kingdom of Toledo to Aranda de Duero being invited thither by the People in Hatred to Queen Joanna whose that Town was her Lewdness being very Offensive to the whole Kingdom and most particularly to the King as who was chiefly concerned But some Men tho' Wickedness displease them have not Resolution enough to punish it and such was this Prince as long as he lived The Queen and her Daughter Joanna were at this time kept in the Castle of Madrid by the Marquess de Villena Agreda followed the Example of Aranda near to which it is seated and submitted to the Princess Elizabeth which was not only grievous to the King but more to the Earl of Medina Celi to whom he had given that Town At this time D. Alonso Carrillo Archbishop of Toledo who accompanied the Princess to Aranda assembled in that Town a Synod of the Bishops of his Province Besides the Bishops many other Ecclesiastical and Secular Persons of Note repaired thither It was given out they were assembled for Reformation of Manners but it is rather to be suspected the Design was to strengthen the Aragonian Faction and gain the Affections of those that came thither On the 5th of December they published Four Decrees and no more which were these That Bishops in Publick always wear a Surplice That every Priest be obliged at least three or four times a Year to say Mass That Church-men shall not take Service or receive Wages from any Man whatsoever except the King That no manner of Benefice be given to any who does not at least well understand Grammar Scarce was the Synod broke up when King Ferdinand came to Almaçan and Berlanga where the Earl of Medina Celi and Peter de Mendoça Lord of Almaçan entertained him splendidly Thence he went on to Aranda to give Life to his Party by his Presence This Year died in Castile D. Frederick the Admiral and D. Gomez de Caçeres y Solis Master of Alcantara to whom succeeded D. John de Zun̄iga as has been said before In France Nicholas Son to John Duke of Lorrain departed this Life His Grandfather Renee was still alive whose Grandson by a Daughter called also Renee inherited the Dukedom of Lorrain This Duke was famous for a Victory he obtained over the Flemmings near to Nanci a City in his Dominions In this Fight Charles the Bold Duke of Burgundy was defeated and slain John Earl of Armagnac after his flight into Spain was never looked upon by his King Being therefore disgusted he made War in Guienne with Forces of the Duke of Burgundy and there took Peter de Bourbon Governor of that Province Prisoner he being betrayed by his own Men. This Presumption much more offended the King especially for that he would not release him till his Town of Lectour which had been taken from him was restored The Cardinal Albigensis with some Forces he gathered took Lectour and destroyed it and put the Earl to Death notwithstanding he surrendred upon Conditions Tho' the Action in it self were not justifiable being a Breach of Faith yet most Men said He had well deserved that Fate for his many horrid Crimes and particularly for Counterfeiting the Pope's Bull to dispense with him to marry his own Sister which he did and lay with her The End of the 23d Book The History of SPAIN BOOK XXIV CHAP. I. The Princess Elizabeth pretends to be Reconciled to her Brother and openly aspires to the Crown upon his Indisposition D. John Pacheco Master of Santiago dies Differences betwixt the French and Aragonians King Ferdinand goes to Barcelona Jews Massacred in Sicily Ferdinand and Elizabeth proclaimed King and Queen of Castile The King of Portugal undertakes the Protection of the Princess Joanna his Niece THere was no end of the Discontents of the Nobility of Castile The Aragonian Faction increased daily in strength The Master of Santiago ceased not to heap up Riches and only dreaded the Aragonians should prevail which would endanger his Estate great part whereof had belonged to the Princes of that House This made him endeavour to obstruct the Mariage of Prince Ferdinand with the Princess Elizabeth and that of D. Henry of Aragon with the Princess Joanna His great Aim was to possess himself of the Castle of Segovia as well as that of Madrid looking upon them as his greatest security Only Andrew de Cabrera who had great Interest with the King and was a Man of much forecast opposed him This caused Animosities betwixt them and each strove to undermine the other The Master was more Powerful but Cabrera more Fortunate and Politick He used all his Endeavours to Reconcile King Henry to his Sister the Princess Elizabeth which the absence of the Master of Santiago much forwarded and finding the King one day alone he pressed him hard upon that Point representing to him the danger of opposing the Inclinations of the People and how much to the King's advantage it was to have them well affected towards him The King being naturally irresolute and inconstant was easily moved At several other times Cabrera urged the same thing to the King till
with a Company of Robbers did great harm thereabouts From Segovia whither he returned he resolved to go Visit his Father who was sick By the way at Alcalà he Visited the Archbishop of Toledo thinking by that Civility to gain him to his Party At Guadalajara he also Visited the Marquess de Santillana and so went on to Barcelona where his Father lay In the Kingdom of Valencia the Towns of Segorve and Exerica Mutinied at the same time and took up Arms. The People of Exerica to free themselves from the Tyranny of Francis Sarsuela who they pretended oppressed them Those of Segorve to follow D. Henry de Aragon contrary to the King's Will and Pleasure These Confusions lasted long but nothing remarkable hapned in them only that at length Segorve was confiscate and Exerica restored to its Owner King Ferdinand was at Barcelona consulting with his Father about the War in Russillon when News was brought him from Castile that that D. John Pacheco Master of Santiago departed this Life on the 4th of October upon whose Death the Nobles were worse divided than before Many aimed at that Mastership The Duke of Medina Sidonia the Marquess of Santillana and the Earls of Albuquerque and Benavente confided in their Riches and hoped that way to carry it D. Alonso de Cardenas chief Commendary of Leon was chosen in that City and D. Roderick Manrique Earl of Paredes at Veles The Marquess de Villena pleaded the Pope during his Father's Life-time had given him that Dignity but because he produced no Bull it was supposed he only did it to delay time till he could make an Interest with his Holiness As he went towards Villarejo de Salvanes to meet the Earl of Ossorno he was apprehended and sent Prisoner to Fuentiduen̄a King Henry Resenting this Affront and believing the Earl of Ossorno would not obey his Orders sate down with some Forces before Fuentiduena tho he was then much indisposed Many Lords as well Spiritual as Temporal repaired thither to serve him Delays were dangerous the King's Sickness increasing and the Weather being bad therefore they resolved to oppose one Fraud against another Lope Vasquez de Acun̄a Brother to the Archbishop of Toledo pretending to Treat with the Earl of Osorno's Wife secured her and a Son of hers and carried them away to Huete This obliged her Husband to release the Marquess Thus the Designs of the Earl of Osorno were disappointed King Ferdinand being informed what had hapned left the Care of the War in Ampurias to his Father and returned to Zaragoça There he thought if the Affairs of Castile would permit to assemble the Cortes of Aragon in order to raise Money whereof he stood in great want The more because the French Forces daily increased and they had besieged Elna with 900 Horse and 10000 Foot That place being reduced to great extremity surrendred on the 5th of December upon Condition the Garrison should march away in safety It was much feared lest Perpignan should be lost the Castle being already in the Hands of the French as were all the Garrisons about it This year was particularly Remarkable for the Havock made among the Jews in all parts of Sicily The Rabble without respect to D. Lope de Urrea their Viceroy who punished some of them killed many of those Wretches and plundered their Houses The Peace with the Moores of Granada was duely observed on both sides In Navarre there were Tumults between the Biamonteses who took part with the Princess Ellenor and the Agramonteses who favoured the King of Aragon CHAP. II. The Death of Henry King of Castile Ferdinand and Elizabeth usurp the Crown of Castile from Joanna the Rightful Heiress and are proclaimed King and Queen The King of Portugal undertakes the Protection of the Rightful Heiress his Neece KIng Henry's Indisposition which had held him long daily encreased and being heightned with Troubles and the Toil of his late Expedition became mortal The Physicians ordered him to be carried to Madrid hoping the Air might contribute to his Recovery but neither that nor any Medicines proved effectual On the 11th of December having prepared himself as became a good Christian he gave up the Ghost at the end of the 45th Year of his Age and having Reigned 20 Years 4 Months and 22 Days His Will was not made in form but written in haste by John de Oviedo his Secretary in whom he reposed great Confidence He appointed the Cardinal of Spain and Marquess de Villena his Executors Being asked by F. Peter de Maçuelos Prior of S. Hierom in Madrid who Confessed him at that time Whom he appointed to Succeed him He said the Princess Joanna whom he recommended to his Two Executors as also to the Duke of Arevalo the Marquiss of Santillana the Earl of Benavente and the Constable in whom he most confided His Body was deposited without much Ceremony in the Monastery of S. Hierom at Madrid and thence as he had ordained translated to the Church of Guadalupe This Prince was for nothing so remarkable as for his loose Life He left no Issue Male and was himself the last of the Male Line of King Henry the Bastard King Henry's death caused a mighty alteration in Castile The greatest number took part with the Princess Elizabeth yet many adhered to the Princess Joanna particularly the Marquess de Villena and the Duke of Arevalo with all their Kindred and Followers supported that Lady They expected she should have the Title of Queen and they all the Power chusing a Husband for her where they thought fit All the Country from Toledo to Murcia sided with these Two Noblemen as did all the Men of Note in Galicia with such Resolution that they took Arms against D. Alonso de Azevedo y Fonseca Archbishop of Santiago because he declared for the other side At Segovia such as were there present publickly took the Oath of Allegiance to Queen Elizabeth upon a Scaffold raised for that purpose Then King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth were proclaimed by a Herauld amidst the loud Acclamations of the People All kissed her Hand and conducted her a Horseback to Church Few Lords were then in Segovia and none of them Grandees The first that came to express their Loyalty were the Cardinal of Spain and Earl of Benavente soon after the Archbishop of Toledo the Marquiss de Santillana the Dukes of Alva and Albuquerque the Constable and the Admiral Others did their Homage and took the Oath of Allegiance by Proxy No Oath was taken to King Ferdinand till he came and swore to preserve the Privileges of the Kingdom He was then holding the Cortes of Aragon and Zaragoça and endeavouring to raise Money but as soon as he heard of the death of King Henry he set out for Castile He left his Sister Joanna Contracted to Ferdinand King of Naples then a Widower to preside in the Cortes It was usual with the Nobility of Castile to sell their Loyalty as dear
take him into his Protection This the Catholick King would not agree to because of the Treaty he had in hand with France which being at last concluded tho' King Frederick was willing the Match should go on the Catholick King would not consent King Frederick to secure himself against the French and divert them from their Pretensions to his Kingdom made large Offers to them The King of France proposed That to secure the Performance of what they should agree upon he should deliver up to him the Castle of Gaeta and that Frederick's Son should reside in his Court and marry Germana Daughter to the Earl of Narbonne or the Sister of Monsieur d' Angoulesme Besides he demanded a Million in ready Money and 25000 Ducats of yearly Tribute All heavy Conditions which that King could not condeâ—cend to tho' he was willing to give the Million demanded In fine none of these Matches was concluded At length the Pope dispenced with the King of Portugal and he was contracted by Proxy at Granada in August D. Alvaro de Portugal performing that Ceremony for him There was no manner of Solemnity or Publick Rejoycing In that City on the 12th of September the King passed a Grant to the Marquesses of Moya by virtue whereof the Cup that the King drinks out of on S. Luis's Day every Year belongs to them This was done in memory that upon that Day D. Andrew de Cabrara first Marquess of Moya delivered up to King Ferdinand all the Treasure of King Henry that was in his custody in the Castle of Segovia which was a great means to establish him in the Kingdom With the Princess as far as the Borders of Portugal went D. James Hurtado de Mendoça Archbishop of Sevil Patriarch of Alexandria and now made Cardinal of Spain as his Unkle had been he was also Brother to the Earl of Tendilla Also the Marquess of Villena and many other Lords bore her Company On the Borders of Portugal she was received by the Duke of Bragança tho' at that time he was disgusted because the King so highly favoured D. George de Portugal whom he had created Duke of Coimbra and given him to Wife Beatrix de Melo Daughter to D. Alvaro de Portugal and the Lady Philippa de Melo his Wife With the Duke of Bragança were many other Nobles She entred into that Kingdom upon the 20th of October and on the 30th of the same Month was married with great Solemnity at Alcaçar do Sal where the King waited her coming This Marriage was very fruitful for they had many Children as shall be declared in its place Soon after the Princess Margaret was married to Philibert Duke of Savoy but she was unfortunate in Husbands for he also died soon after The Soldan of Babylâ—â— signified some Discontent against the Catholick King because he made War against the Moors of Granada It was feared he might molest the Christians that lived in his Dominions and hinder the Pilgrimages to the Holy City Hierusalem For this reason the King resolved to send a solemn Embassie to give him Satisfaction Peter Martyr of Angleria a Milanese the King's Chaplain was chose for this Employment He did his Message discreetly and obtained of the Soldan all he desired He was out a Year and at his return was made Dean of Granada where he afterwards died and ordered himself to be buried sitting on a Chair with a Casula or Vestment made of a rich Silk the Soldan gave him He wrote Decades of the War of Granada of his Embassie and the Discovery of the West-Indies in which is to be seen more of Truth than Elegancy All Europe was in suspence waiting the Event of the War of Naples undertaken by the joint Forces of France and Spain for the Ruin of King Frederick and deprive him of that Rich and Noble Kingdom The Catholick King sent advice of his Resolution from Granada to the Great Captain on the 1st of March 1501. ordering him at the same time to leave the War against the Turk and return immediately with his Fleet to the Port of Meçina Soon after he sent him the Title of his Lieutenant in the Dukedoms of Apulia and Calabria To oppose the Turk he prevailed with the King of Portugal to send a Fleet to those Parts which he did under the Command of D. John de Meneses Earl of Taroça who by the way attempted the Port of Maçalquivir near Oran and being repulsed sailed on to the Island of Corfu whence he returned to Portugal without doing any thing It was also proposed to the King of France to send his Fleet against the Turks That King made choice of Luis d' Armagnac Duke of Nemours Earl of Armagnac and Guise to Command his Forces that were to invade Naples He would not give this Command to Luis de Luxembourg Earl of Ligni who sued for it lest he should cause some disorder by the Right he pretended to the Principality of Altamura The Duke of Nemours made some stay in France therefore the Lord of Aubeni who was made Lord High Constable of Naples moved with the French Forces out of Lombardy towards Naples and with him the Earl of Gayace a Man of great Quality who had fled from Naples At this time Francis de Rojas a very able Man was sent to succeed Laurence Suarez as Ambassador at Rome At the Emperor's Court had resided for some Years with that Character D. John Emanuel a Man of great Note but Turbulent In the Court of France John Michael Gralla was still resident and John Claver at Naples The Great Captain in pursuance of the Orders he had received repaired to Meçina with his Fleet thence he went to Palermo to order the Viceroy John de Lanuça to gather what Money and Forces he could for the Enterprize in hand Some Misunderstanding there hapned betwixt them as is usual where each arrogates to himself a Superiority but at last they agreed in what concerned the King's Service and the Great Captain having gathered what Force he could returned to Meçina where was the General Rendezvous The Great Captain was possessed in Calabria of the Dukedom of Monte de Santangelo given him by King Frederick when the late War was concluded Before he entred upon that Conquest he sent Captain Gençalo de Foces to excuse him to that King to restore to him that Dukedom and renounce the Oath of Allegiance he had taken to him for the same The King absolved him of his Oath yet gave him the Dukedom again wishing it were better for his sake upon condition he should not infest his Subjects from the Castles belonging to it This and the Intelligence his Ambassadors sent from Spain fully convinced King Frederick how near and certain his Ruin was He turned himself about and found no Loyalty in his Subjects no Strength in his Kingdom nor no Support from abroad He sent his Son Ferdinend to Taranto a strong City in the farthest part of Apulia and of all
Prince of Zaragoça the Spaniards went down the wind apace in Calabria The Viceroy hasted to Messina and gathered all the Foreigners he could to Succour his Party From Rome D. Hugo and D. John de Cardona Brother to the Count de Golisano quitting the Posts they had under Duke Valentin at the perswasion of the Spanish Ambassador carried 240 chosen Men to that City As soon as they came to Messina gathering what other Forces they could they passed the Streight at such time as the Earl of Melito Brother to the Prince of Bisignano having taken the Town of Terranova had much distressed the Castle D. Hugo marched thither and having defeated the Earl raised the Siege and the Princes of Salerno and Bisignano who lay before Cosenza were forced to quit that Enterprize and came down to the Plain of Terranova to endeavour to make up that loss This Fight hapned 4 days before Emanuel de Benavides arrived at Messina with the Forces he brought in 15 Ships Among the other Commanders there came with him Antony de Leyva a Man hereafter famous for Valour and Conduct They passed over with the greatest speed they could to join D. Hugo and the rest The Princes being retired to Melito sent the Earl with 700 Swiss and some Horse and People of the Country to besiege Cosensa He marched to Mota de Culambra 3 Miles from Rosana where lay most of the Spaniards who were upon them by break of day and the Town being open entred it killing some of the Enemy others fled and others with the Earl retired to the Castle News being brought that the Lord of Aubigni with all his Forces was marching to the relief of the Earl the Spaniards drew back to Rosana At the same time Fabricius de Gesualdo Son to the Earl of Conça and Son in Law to the Prince of Melfi who Commanded on the Frontiers about Taranto went out to Ravage the Territory of that City Luis de Herrera and Peter Navarro Captains of the Garrison of Taranto lay in wait for the Enemy in a Pass where they killed or took them all only 3 escaping Fabricius himself was made Prisoner In the other parts of Apulia the War was hotly prosecuted both Parties striving to receive the Duties of Cattle which is one of the best Branches of the Revenue It would be too tedious to relate all particulars but the poor Country People suffered extreamly both French and Spaniards driving their Cattle To put a stop to this Mischief the Duke of Nemours resolved to march with all his Forces and break down a Bridge that was over the River Ofanto 4 Miles distant from Barleta thinking thus to prevent the Enemies Parties from passing over especially when that River swells with the Rains The Lord of Aubigni as soon as he had entred Calabria marched towards the Enemy that was in Terranova The Town was weak and ill provided therefore they agreed to quit it and pass over the Mountain to Retromarina The French having taken the Passes put to flight all the Spanish Infantry and took about 50 Horse of the Troops of Antony de Leyva who fought with much Bravery Yet the greatest number fled to Girache and other strong Holds This Defeat gained the Lord of Aubigni such Reputation that most of Calabria submitted to him Four days after the Duke of Nemours came with his Army to the Bridge of Ofanto and with his Cannon beat down the middle Arch and a Tower which he had half ruined when he was there before The Great Captain hearing of his Approach sent for the Forces that were at Andri and then followed the Enemy but they marched off the same way they came The Great Captain sent a Trumpet to stay the Duke who answered that when Gonzalo Fernandez would come as near Canoza as he had been to Barleta he engaged his Word to come out and Fight him At this time the Duke of Calabrta came to Madrid and tho' a Prisoner was entertained like the Son of a King On the first day of January 1503 Duke Valentin took Sonagalla He also made Prisoners Francis Ursino Duke of Gravena Paul Ursino Vitellocio and Oliveroto who came to him upon a safe Conduct The Pope also apprehended Cardinal Ursino their intent being totally to ruin the Family of the Ursini as they had already the Coloneses tho' but a little before they had made a strict Alliance with them Soon after that Duke took Perosa and Civita Castelli and aimed at the Republicks of Siena Luca and Pisa but durst not attempt them for fear of the King of France under whose Protection they were which gave him an Opportunity of sending Forces to Naples in the same manner as if they had marched through his own Territories For all this the War betwixt Florence and Pisa continued and the Pisans had thoughts of putting themselves under the Protection of the Catholick King The King would not then admit them and when he would it was too late Two Cousins Alonso and Francis de Albuquerque with each of them 3 Ships sailed from Portugal for India CHAP. VIII Great Booty taken by the Spaniards as also the Sieur de la Palisse A Combat betwixt 13 French and as many Italians Several losses of the French The Marquess del Gasto comes over to the Spaniards THE Great Captain who lay with his Forces at Barleta was much perplexed being resolved not to take the Field till the Germans and Forces he Expected from Spain had joined him but at the same time want of Provisions obliged him to march towards the Enemy who lay at Monorbino Canosa and Cirinola On the 15th of January he marched out of Barleta sending before the Commendary Mendoza with 300 light Horse to drive the Country as far as Labelo which was 25 Miles distant thence and was plentiful of Cattle He Halted Four Miles from Monorbino to Face the French if they should come out of the Town Our advanced Party drove above 40000 Sheep 200 Men at Arms and as many Archers came out of Cirinola thinking to join a like number that lay at Canosa and then recover the Booty from our Men who endeavouring to cut them off did it so disorderly that they got into Canoza tho' with some loss The Duke of Nemours stirred not so that our Men had leisure to carry off the Prey Four days after Intelligence being given that the Sieur de la Palisse was marching with 500 Horse to Ravage the Territory of Barleta the Great Captain and D. James de Mendoça possessed themselves of Two Passes through which the Enemy must of necessity make their way The Sieur de la Palisse fell with his Horse at first setting out which was the cause he went not himself but sent one la Motte his Lieutenant with 70 Men at Arms and Archers They fell into the Ambush and were all killed or taken only Two escaping Among the rest La Motte was taken by D. James de Mendoza This
the Foot who lay about the Fields overcome with Thirst and Weariness This nothing dismayed the Great Captain who caused the Horse to take up behind them such of the Foot as were most faint he himself doing the same and carrying Drink to those that wanted most In this manner they reached their Camp without any loss two Hours before Sunset At this time the Enemy's Horse appeared and the Spaniards soon drew up within their Trenches Fear often is more Powerful than Weariness The Great Captain went about encouraging his Men and then the Fight began It being so late the Duke of Nemours was willing to have deferred it till next day but the Lord d' Alegre pressed it should not be delayed believing the Victory was certain On each side were 13 Pieces of Cannon The French played theirs first which did no execution but ours being planted higher made a great Slaughter It was fired but once because an Italian thinking the Spaniards had fled set fire to two Waggons of Powder The Confusion that followed was great and the Flame spread so much that all gave themselves for lost Still the Great Captain had so much Presence of Mind that he said with a chearful Countenance to those about him A good Omen my Friends for these are Bonfires for the Victory we have already in our hands The Harm done by our Cannon moved the Duke of Nemours to join Battel immediately He charged our Body with 800 Men at Arms. Before our Men was a Trench which he had not observed and obliged the French to wheel off without breaking Lance to put themselves again into a posture Then the German Musqueteers firing upon that Squadron made a great Slaughter After the Men at Arms followed the Lord Chandiou with the Swiss and Gascons These the Spaniards charged with such Bravery that they instantly broke them The Princes of Salerno and Melfi who were in the Rear advancing were received by the Great Captain as became him To conclude the Enemy on all sides fled the Spaniards pursuing them to their Camp which was 6 Miles off and was taken at the same Heat our Men finding their Supper ready whereof they had need enough being so tired The Booty found there was great This famous Battel was fought upon the 28th of April At the first Onset was killed the Duke of Nemours whose Body the Great Captain caused to be Honourably buried in the Church of S. Francis at Barleta Besides him died the Lord Chandiou the Count Morcon and most of the Swiss Commanders The Princes of Salerno and Melfi and Marquess de Lochito were wounded All their Cannon and most of their Colours were taken The Slaughter had been much greater but that Night coming on prevented it The Victors having rested that Night next day Cirinola surrendered upon Discretion as did 700 that had fled to the Castle Canosa also declar'd for Spain None but the Spaniards signalized themselves in this Battel for the Germans bating the Volley they poured in upon the Enemy did nothing Among others they that gained most Honour were of the Italians the Duke of Termes and of the Spaniards D. James de Mendoça of whom the Great Captain said He had behaved himself as became the Grandson of such a Grandfather Of the French it appeared 3700 were killed of the Spaniards only 9 and never a Man of Note True it is many died by the way with Droughth and 1500 could not be dragged from the Water they found in certain Wells nor did any Service that Day which rendred the Success the more dubious and consequently the Victory the more glorious After this great Defeat of the French almost all the Kingdom submitted to the Spaniards The Great Captain was diligent in making his Advantage of the Victory which was the more compleat for that the Day following he received Letters giving him an account of the Overthrow of the French and taking the Lord of Aubigni near Semenara This Account was not brought sooner because D. Ferdinand de Andrada having succeeded Luis Portocarrero in the Command did not think himself subordinate to the Great Captain which he resented and asked Leave to return to Spain The Catholick King ordered Ferdinand to cease from that Pretension and the Great Captain to give him a Company of Men at Arms. The News of these Two Victories and sending of several Barons home to their Estates soon caused most of Capitanata and Basilicata to submit and in the Principality many Towns and Barons declared for Spain Those who fled from the Battel made their way to Campania designing to fortifie themselves in Gaeta a City naturally impregnable giving all the rest for lost Peter de Paz pursued them with some Horse whose approach gave opportunity to Capua to declare for Spain and some of the Citizens pursuing the French killed about 50 Men at Arms before they could get into Gaeta The Marquess of Sochito tho' hurt in the Fight went away with his Wife and what he could carry to Rome to his Unkle the Cardinal of Siena Monsieur d' Alegre and the Prince of Salerno making their way towards Naples with 500 Horse lost above 200 of them killed or taken by the Earl of Montela Luis d' Arsi fortified himself at Venosa relying on the Strentgh of the Castle The Great Captain encamped at Leonesa near to Melfi and Venosa There the Prince of Melfi submitted himself upon condition he might be allowed to live in another of his Towns till it were known whether the King of Spain would admit him into his Service upon the Terms before proposed but there was little Confidence to be reposed in his Fidelity Fabricius Colona and the Earls of Papulo and Montorio were sent to Abruzzo to reduce that Province entirely Villamarin the Admiral was ordered immediately with all the Force he could make to sail towards Naples whither the Great Captain was marching with his Army by the way of Benevento and Gandelo From this last Place he sent a Letter to the Citizens of Naples promising them all manner of good Usage and desiring them to prevent his Army doing any harm in their Territories The Earl of Matera and the Syndics came out to Treat and surrendered the City At this time Monsieur de Vannes Son to the Lord d' Albret hearing of the Defeat of the French obtained Leave of Duke Valentine whom he served to go join the remains of the French Army in Naples which he did with 200 Horse and some Foot These being strengthened by some Forces from Apulia Calà bria and Abruzzo formed some manner of Army and encamped near Garelliano For this Reason about 400 Spanish Horse were put into Capua and Sessa The Great Captain keeping with him 1000 Men which he thought enough to besiege the Castles of Naples sent all the rest of his Army towards the Enemy The Spanish Soldiers desirous to be at Naples the Night before demanded their Pay which they said the General had promised to give
not long for the Enemy soon fled Our Men pursued them close at the Heels up to the very Gates of Mola and Gaeta where part of the Enemy saved themselves Many were killed by the way They lost 32 Pieces of Cannon and 1500 Horses Such of the French as fled towards Fundi and others that were quartered thereabouts were killed or taken by the Country People who rose and secured all the Passes so that very few of them escaped Bartholomew de Alvinao and D. Hugo de Moncada gave Proof of their Valour in this Action and during the whole time it was in Hand CHAP. III. The City Gaeta surrendred A Truce betwixt France and Spain The Prefect of Rome submits to Spain The Nobility of Naples swear Allegiance to Spain and several Cities of Italy sue for its Protection Truce for Three years betwixt France and Spain THE Great Captain would gladly have made use of the Confusion the French were in to have possessed himself of Mount Orlando which Commands Gaeta but the Rain was so violent and the Souldiers so weary and spent with Hunger not having eaten that day or the night before that he was forced to return to his former Camp at Castellon It was agreed by the French to fortifie themselves in Mola with their Field pieces believing that would be the first Place attacked but the Great Captain having refreshed his Men to make his advantage of the Enemies Consternation marched directly to Gaeta Very little Defence was made at the Mount where our Cannon had before made a Breach and the Garison had scarce time to retire into the City Here they lost what had been saved in the Fight 1000 Horses were taken and two Pieces of Cannon that did us all the mischief the first Siege What is more the French were quite dismayed especially when they saw the Spaniards intrench themselves under the Works of the Town 50 Men at Arms commanded by the Earl of Mirandula came out of the Town and surrendred themselves That same night 3 Deputies came out from the Marquess de Saluzzes to Treat of a surrender Their first Demand was to have the Prisoners Ransomed which was denied them Then they offered to deliver up the City and Castle of Gaeta the Rock of Mondragon and all the Spanish and Italian Prisoners they had in Exchange for the French and Italian Prisoners on our side This Proposal was not disagreeable to the Great Captain yet he would not consent to felease the Italians particularly the Marquess of Bitonto Mathew de Aquaviva and Alonso de Sanseverino Cousin to the Earl of Bisiniano whom he intended wholly to put into the Hands of the Catholick King After some Debate the French abandoned the Italians and on the first of January 1504 it was agreed That the Lord of Aubigni and the other French should be discharged and that as to the Italians the Catholick King should not Execute any of them till such time as the King of France could send Ambassadors to intercede for them The Souldiers were to depart with their Arms and Baggage The Citizens of Gaeta to be no way molested nor the Inhabitants of any other Place for having sided with the French Upon this Agreement such as were to go by Sea began immediately to imbark Theodore Trivulcio marched out with the French and Italians that were to go by Land This done on the 3d of January the City and Castle were delivered up and the Prisoners on our side released The Government of the City and Castle was given to Luis de Herrera as he had well deserved His Command of Lieutenant of Taranto was conferred on Peter Hernandez de Nicuessa Two days after the Surrender came thither the Lord of Aubigni and about 1200 French Prisoners Aubigni went presently aboard the rest were conducted by Land but most of them died by the way as did the Marquess de Saluzzes at Genoa The Sieur de la Palisse had before been Exchanged for D. Antony de Cardona This D. Antony served very well as did his Brothers wherefore the Catholick King gave him Padula which had belonged to the Earl of Caparlo and created him Marquess thereof Someblamed the Great Captain for giving such Advantageous Terms but he had Reasons enough to justifie his Proceedings the chief were want of Money to pay his Men who he feared might again Mutiny Then that the Pope was wholly Devoted to the French And lastly the Treaty about Restoring King Frederick which did the Spaniards an incredible diskindness For such as were of the Spanish Faction were discouraged and their Adversaires took Heart besides none of the Revenue was payed in every one waiting to pay it to King Frederick if he returned Thus the Wants of the Army daily increased Therefore Gaeta being reduced before any Change should happen the Duke of Termes was sent to Govern Abruzzo and bring under the Estate of the Marquess de Bitonto in that Province Bartholomew de Albiano against Luis de Arsi who fortified Venosa Against the Earl of Conversano went the Earl of Matera and Peter de Paz. Giles Nieto and Peter Navarro besieged the Earl of Capacho in Laurino and gave him leave to depart with his Wife and Children and Equipage to Trana held by the Venetians but he was to leave the Cattle Cannon and Amunition In Galabria Gomez de Solis took all the Dominions of the Prince of Rosano except the City Rosano and Sanseverino the first of which was Besieged The Great Captain designed to Invade the Lands of the Prefect of Rome in the Kingdom of Naples which he prevented by submitting them to the Crown of Spain wherewith the Great Captain was satisfied tho' he knew him to be in his Heart a Frenchman and only to submit to necessity Rosano was at last delivered up by the Townsmen and in it the Prince and several Barons were made Prisoners Sanseverino soon after did the same Peter de Paz took Conversano by Storm Thus all Calabria was reduced and D. Hugo de Moncada was appointed Governor of it in the Place of the Earl of Ayelo grown unfit by reason of his great Age. Having settled the Affairs of Gaeta and ordered it to be Inhabited by Spaniards to save the great charge of a Garrison the Great Captain went away to Naples where he was received with such applause as if he had been their King who had returned Victorious Thither he summoned the Barons Councels because many tho' they had submitted to Spain had not yet taken the Oath of Fidelity Such as had served well he gratified and rewarded particularly Bartholomew de Alviano to whom in the Principality of Bisignano he assigned 8000 Ducats a Year and 2200 among his Kindred according to every Mans merits These favours done to the Ursini so nettled the Coloneses that Prosper Colona went to Spain to complain and have the Government altered and Fabricius sent from Rome to ask leave to serve the Florentines which was granted least
he should have taken it and so the Breach had been the greater His chief care was to reestablish the Administration of Justice much depraved by the late Confusions He endeavoured to raise some Supplies of Money to help defray the past Expences and pay the Forces he was to keep on Foot which he Quartered about as might be least offensive to the People Some Companies of Spaniards whom he knew to be Insolent and Injurious he sent away to Spain in Two Ships He forgot not to repair the harms done during the War and particularly the Walls of Naples and Gasto Capua he secured with such Works as made it stronger than if it had been Walled These things he did to be in a readiness in case the Enemy should attempt any thing again and all was easie to him by reason of the great reputation he had gained not only in that Kingdom but throughout all Italy so that many Cities offered to side with Spain Genoa both the Factions of the Adornos and Fregosos consenting offered to revolt from the French so they were supplied with 2000 Spaniards Julian de Medicis Brother to Peter that was drowned in the River Garellano promised 100000 Ducats a Year from himself and his Party if he were restored to Florence whence at present he was Banished The Council of Pisa to avoid falling again into the Hands of the Florentines proposed either to submit themselves wholly to the Catholick King or to put themselves under his Protection The City Areço rather than continue subject to the Florentines made the same offers The Lord of Plombin a City tho' small yet of great importance for the defence of the Kingdom put himself under the Protection of Spain To be short Pandolfo Petrucci and Paul Ballon made the same Overtures for themselves and their Cities of Siena and Perusa Even in the City of Milan 600 of the Citizens offered their Service if he would attempt to Conquer that Dukedom All these practices were at an end by the Truce concluded in France by the Ambassadors Gralla and Antony Augustin for Three Years the Kingdom of Naples included The Catholick King Swore to observe it at Mejorada about the end of January One of the Articles was that the said Truce should be Proclaimed at Naples on the 25th of February which was not performed because the Great Captain would first have it made known to such as were still in Rebellion The Prince of Rosano would not admit of it but because the Commendary Solis on that score did not press Rosano he with his Forces sate down before Cherinthia where he did much harm Luis de Arsi tho' he admitted the Truce drove the Cattle of Andria and Barletta and took what Prisoners he could Our Commanders said that notwithstanding the Truce they might punish such of the Barons as committed any Insult after it and therefore pressed both them we have spoken of Venosa with its Castle was easily taken because Luis de Arsi left it unprovided when he retired thence to Trana and thence to France which in a Bravado he did with Colours flying and Beat of Drum Thus only Six Towns in that Kingdom and those remote from the Sea were left to the French The King of France pretended that all that was taken after the day appointed for proclaiming the Truce ought to be restored as unlawfully gained and suspected the Delay of proclaiming had been advisedly contrived to that purpose On the other side it was guessed he never intended to observe the Truce and had only contrived it to have the better Opportunity of taking the Spaniards at an Advantage which might well be believed because at the same time he had appointed John James Trivulcio his General in Italy besides 5000 Swissers and 500 Horse were daily expected out of France under the Command of the Lords of Aubigni and Alegre and the Marquess of Mantua and Duke of Ferrara raised all the Forces they could in Italy At the same time the Great Captain was dangerously sick which with the Report spread abroad of Re-establishing king Frederick and the Pope's soliciting to have him General of the French Forces gave occasion to People to discourse variously of matters of State and particularly the Coloneses took the Liberty to utter some bold Speeches All was again appeased by the Recovery of the Great Captain who pesently appyled himself to make all the necessary Prepations for a mighty War which was expected would break out again in that Kingdom All Italy and Spain suffered very much this Year by Famine and on the 5th of April being Good Friday there were great Earth-quakes in Castile and Andaluzia which overthrew many Buildings The greatest harm was done in some Towns on the Banks of the River Guadalquivir Lope Soarez de Albergaria Sailed from Lisbon with a good Fleet for India This same Year the Catholick King gave the Office of Lord High Steward to D. Bernard de Sandoval y Rojas Marquess of Denia of whose Family because often mention is made it will not be from the purpose to set down the latter part of their Genealogy Ferdinand Gutierrez de Sandoval who is said to have been chief Commendary of Castile was Father to D. James Gomez de Sandoval first Earl of Castro and Lord Lieutenant of Castile his Eldest Son was Ferdinand the Father of D. James Gomez de Sandoval whom King Ferdinand Created Marquess of Denia His Son was D. Bernard who we said was made Lord High Steward to the same King Ferdinand in which place he continued even after the King's death to Queen Joanna D. Bernard had by his Wife the Lady Frances Enriquez Four Sons and Six Daughters He had also a Bastard Son who for his good Parts came to be Archbishop of Sevil. Luis Eldest Son to D. Bernard was Father to Francis Earl of Lerma who died before him but left a Son called D. Francis Gomez de Sandoval who came to be Duke of Lerma and a Cardinal of whom we shall speak in another Place D. Ferdinand Youngest Son to the said Marquess had many Children and among them D. Bernard de Rojas y Sandoval Cardinal and Archbishop of Toledo to whom that Church is obliged for restoring to it the Lieutenancy of CaÄ™orla after it had been many Years Alienated CHAP. IV. Perfidiousness of Duke Valentin who is as perfidiously sent into Spain by the Great Captain contrary to his promise and he ill represented to the King Projects of Peace betwixt France and Spain come to nothing THE Vâ—netians after the death of Pope Alexander had possessed themselves of several Cities in Romania and aimed at the rest Duke Valentin being no way able to oppose them agreed to deliver such Forts as remained in his power to Pope Julius who sent one Peter de Oviedo to take possession but the Duke changing his Mind gave private Orders to his Lieutenant at Cesana to Hang the said Peter He did so whereupon the Pope Arrested
the Kingdom of Asturias but the King said it had never allowed any Prince and therefore consented to allow him 30000 Ducats a year and to add to that Sum whensoever he was married The Emperour also demanded for himself 100000 Ducats of which 50000 were allowed him to be paid by the Florentines on account of the delivery of Pisa to them King Ferdinand also offered to assist the Emperour against the Venetians with 300 Men at Arms to whom he would give 4 or 5 Months Pay It was also agreed that whensoever Prince Charles would go into Spain a Fleet should be sent for him and Prince Ferdinand should go to Flanders as soon as the other was landed in Spain Upon these Conditions they joined in League and all Differences were reconciled Because the King of France and Cardinal d' Amboise had been chosen Arbitrators these Articles were sent to them to peruse and they approved of the same on the 12th of December This done all their Estates were restored to those who had been of the Emperour 's and Prince's Party and D. Peter de Guevara was set at liberty according to Capitulation Upon which some Gentlemen departed the Kingdom pretending to go serve the Prince Among these D. Alonso Manrique Bishop of Badajoz was most remarkable At this time the Earl of Pitillano the Venetian General died at Lonigo in the Territory of Vincenza King Ferdinand ordered the Earl of Lemos who still held Intelligence in Portugal and Flanders to deliver up the Forts of Sarria and Monforte to the Lord of Poça then Governour of Galicia D. Raymund de Cardona Viceroy of Sicily was appointed to succeed the Earl of Ribagorça at Naples and D. Hugo de Moncada to be Viceroy of Sicily Various Reports were spread abroad concerning this Change of Viceroy at Naples Most Men said the Earl of Ribagorça was not capable of that Command Others believed the Ursini were the cause of his removal But who can stop the Mouths of the Multitude or fathom the Designs of Princes King Ferdinand being desirous to employ his Forces against the Infidels was always for concluding a Peace with the Venetians and joining in League with them after each of the Confederates had recovered what he pretended a right to Thus he proposed with the joint Forces of them all to make War upon the Turks the common Enemy of Christendom It was hard to reconcile such different Interests He proposed to join his Forces with those of the other Princes and to go himself in Person to the Levant This his Design he made known to the Pope who approved of it and offered to forward it The Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily lay opportunely for this Enterprize Those who well weighed the Circumstances of Things thought it not fit for the King at his Age and in the present posture of Affairs in Castile to absent himself so far off It was thought more expedient to continue the Conquest of Africk so fortunately begun Count Peter Navarro had 13 Ships well equipped in the Port of Mazalquivir He sailed thence with some chosen Troops to the Island Yviça where Hierome Vianelo expected him with another part of the Fleet. There they staid some days it being the dead of Winter It was declared the Fleet was designed for Bugia They sailed from Yviça on the first of January 1510. The Forces consisted of about 5000 Men well provided with Cannon Bugia is seated on the Coast of Numidia not far from the Borders of Mauritania Caesariensis First it belonged to the Kings of Tunez then to those of Tremecen who possessed it till recovered by Abuferriz King of Tunez He left it to his Son Abdulhazis with the Title of a New Kingdom From him was descended Abdurrahamel the present Possessor who usurped it from Muley Abdalla his Brother's Son and the Rightful King It is seated on the side of a high Mountain with a good Castle at the upper part all of it encompassed with an old but strong Wall It used to contain 8000 Inhabitants and was the chief University for Philosophy in Africk The Country about it is fitter for Gardens and Orchards than to bear Corn Our Fleet came before it on the Eve of the Epiphany but the Men could not land because the Wind was contrary On the top of the Mountain appeared the Moorish King with 10000 Foot and some Squadrons of Horse They began to come down to the Shoar to hinder our Men landing but the Cannon of the Fleet made them draw back and clear the Landing-place The Earl drew up his Men in Four Bodies and began to ascend the Hill in order to fight the Moors but they retired into the City Our Men some through an Ascent in the Old City which was abandoned and others from the top of the Mountain soon scaled the Walls Within they found no resistance for as they entred on the one side the King and his Men fled out at the other This Success terrified all Africk and the more for that Muley Abdalla the Lawful King escaping out of Prison fled to the Earl He after taking the City attacked Abdarrahamel in his Camp 8 Leagues thence and put him to flight upon which many Towns along that Coast submitted themselves The first of these was Argier afterwards the Terror of Spain and grown Rich with our Spoils After Argier the King of Tunez and City Tedeliz did the same Even the King of Tremecen and Moors of Mostagan subjected themselves to the King Articles were concluded with them all by which they were obliged to set free all Christians and pay a yearly Tribute This took up the Earl some time yet he omitted nothing that might tend to advance the Conquest At this time Alonso d' Albuquerque in India made himself Master of the City Goa the Metropolis of the Portugues Empire in those Parts This City stands in an Island made by a River falling into the Sea It is about 5 Leagues in length was subject to Zabaim Hidalcan and at that time ill provided he having drawn away the Garrison to serve in his other Wars Timoja a Pirate who robbed along those Seas with 14 Vessels gave notice of it to the Governour and he found all his Intelligence to be true On the 16th of February he entred that Port and easily made himself Master of the City Francis d' Almeyda his Predecessor in his return to Portugal having put in to Water at the Cape of Good Hope was killed in a Skirmish with the Cafres so the Natives of that Country are called The Catholick King had made choice of D. Garcia de Toledo Eldest Son to the Duke of Alva to be General in Africk designing to make use of Count Peter Navarro in his Wars in Italy D. Garcia made some considerable stay before he departed Spain The Earl not to lose time as also because the Plague began to spread in Bugia on the 7th of June set out with 8000 Men towards Favignana a
was proposed that Prince Ferdinand should Marry the youngest Daughter of France and her Portion should be the States of Milan and Genoa and King Ferdinand should give his Grandson the Kingdom of Naples These were only Contrivances to gain time especially on the King of France his part who dreaded the English breaking into Picardy by the way of Calais King Henry laid Siege to Therouenne and having defeated the French that came to relieve it took and dismantled it Then he sat down before Tournay at such time as the Earl of Surry in England vanquished and killed the King of Scots who in favour of the French invaded England Hereupon Tournay surrendred There the Emperor Princess Margaret and Prince Charles came to see the King of England Thence they went to Lisle where it was agreed as soon as the Truce was expired the Emperor and Kings of England and Spain should each on their own Side Invade France King Ferdinand was to conquer Guienne for the English but it appeared he did not approve of this Treaty The Match before proposed betwixt Prince Charles and the King of England's Sister was confirmed and it was agreed it should be Consummated the following Year Summer being spent King Henry returned into England France was in distress the Swisse having broke through Burgundy Monsieur de la Trimoville overthrew and yet compounded with them The King of France ingag'd not to favour the Council of Pisa and to withdraw his Garrisons out of the Castles of Milan and Cremona No part of this Accord was performed except what related to submitting to the Church Whilst the other Christian Kings wasted their Forces against one another King Emanuel of Portugal enjoyed Peace at home and extended his Conquests in Africk and India On the Western Coast of Africk stands the City Azamor which is large and rich and belongs to the Kingdom of Fez. The Country about it is plentiful being watered by the River Omirabin which runs by the Town King Emanuel had some Years before this as has been said thought to possess himself of this Place by the means of one Zeiam a Moor who deceived him and made himself Master of it At this time the King fitted out a Fleet shipping aboard it 20000 Foot and 2700 Horse under the Command of the Duke of Bragança After a troublesome Voyage they landed at Azamor about Autumn Several Skirmishes passed betwixt them and the Defendants as also those that came to relieve the Place but many Men of Note among the Moors being killed the rest fled out at a Gate that could not be secured and thus the City was taken about the beginning of September Some neighbouring Places surrendred and among them the Citties of Gita and Almedina Having left a good Garrison at Azamor under the Command of Roderick Barreto and John de Meneses the Duke returned to Portugal tho' many advised to besiege the City Morocco but he said he had no such Orders This Success encouraged King Emanuel to prosecute his Conquests along the Coast of Africk on that side and therefore resigned any Pretensions he might have to Pen̄on and the City Velez upon Condition the Catholick King should not pretend to any thing along the Coast of the Kingdom of Fez even down to Cape Bojador In Italy the Viceroy entred the Territory of the Venetians by the way he took many Boats and Carts loaded with the Goods of People that fled Pieve de Saco a delightful Place where are all the Country Houses of the Venetians he plundered and burnt He passed the River Brenta and took Mistre which is as it were a Suburb of Venice At the end of the Channels are certain Houses which they call Palizas within Cannon-shot of the City Thence they Cannonaded it the Balls flying as far as the Monastery of S. Segundus but the Affront was more than the harm done Our Army was encompassed by Enemies On the one side was Treviso on the other Padua and Albiano who drew near with his Army being resolved to fight The Viceroy retired towards Vincenza and marched in one Day 14 miles tho' above 500 Carts followed the Army loaded with Baggage and Plunder Paul Baillon from Treviso and the Garrison of Padua joyned Albiano In all his Army consisted of 7000 Foot and 1200 Horse besides 10000 of the Country People that appeared upon the Mountains Albiano marched to cut off the Viceroy from Vincenza and encamped in a narrow Pass near a Town called Olmo Our Army was in great danger it being impossible to advance and dangerous to turn back yet they resolved to retire that they might draw the Enemy into the open Field They thinking our Men had fled pursued hastily and in Disorder whereupon the Viceroy by the advice of Prosper Colona and the Marquess of Pescara commanded his Germans to charge the Enemy which they did with such fury that they soon broke them The Marquess of Pescara pursued them up to the City where the Gates being shut many were drowned in the River and among them Sacromoro Visconte This done the Viceroy with the Germans and some Spaniards attacked a Body of the Enemies Horse and Foot who fortified themselves on a Hill with 5 Pieces of Cannon These also were easily put to flight This Battel was fought on the 7th of October 700 Venetian Men at Arms were killed all their Foot dispersed Paul Baillon and many others and 22 Pieces of Cannon were taken Albiano and Griti escaped The Viceroy marched to Vincenza where he stayed some Days At the same time the Castle of Bergamo was taken from the Venetians by Storm Paul Baillon was released upon his Parole that he would surrender himself again in case the Venetians would not give Alonso de Carvajal in Exchange for him Carvajal died in Prison and Baillon never returned On the 20th of November the Castle of Milan was surrendred as was that of Cremona Nothing was left the French in Lombardy but the Castle of Lanterna at Genoa The Duke layed Siege to it and the Adornos and Fliscos encamped before Genoa but were forced to retire leaving some of their Cannon behind The Pope continued the Lateran Council and admitted the French Ambassadors they in their King's Name renouncing the Council of Pisa and the Protection of the Schismaticks so the Gallican Church submitted to the Roman The Pope was concerned to see the Republick of Venice so near Destruction and underhand designed to relieve it He sent to require the Viceroy to proceed no farther against it that some Accommodation might be made Aragon was now in an Uproar on account of some Quarrel between the Earls of Ribagorça and Aranda At length the King interposing the Difference came to Tryal and the Earl of Ribagorça being found faulty was banished the Kingdom of Aragon during the King's Pleasure In the Kingdom of Naples some Towns had revolted being oppressed by their Lords And Peter de Castro tho' with much trouble reduced them all
the Nobility of Castile should have a Conference and chiefly that the Prince of Castile should joyn with the Malecontents This they durst attempt because Prince Hemy had then possessed himself of Toledo in opposition to his Father Those who had raised the Tumult were for submitting to the King they were apprehended in the Cathedral where they took Sanctuary The two mutinous Canons were sent to the close Prison at Santor caz their Lives being spared in regard they were Churchmen Mark Garcia and Ferdinand de Avila were dragged about the Streets and after much ill usage as they deserved put to Death Mean while the Moors there being no body to oppose them ravaged all the Frontiers of Andaluzia on that side next to them They took much Booty and came up to the very Walls of Jaen and Sevil. So great was the Confidence of the Moorish King that he assured him of Navarre that he would not doubt of taking Cordova provided he would make a Diversion on the side of Aragon The King of Navarre returned thanks for that offer but the putting it in Execution was delay'd for some time On the 26th of July many Nobles of Castile met at Corun̄a near Soria Some will have it that Henry Prince of Castile was in this Assembly They complained of D. Alvaro de Luna who was the cause that many Noblemen lived in Banishment and others in Prison and therefore encouraged one another to stand together It was resolved that every one should gather the greatest Force he could till the middle of August and joyn Prince Henry Yet tho they met at the time appointed near Pen̄afiel in Old Castile many Noblemen slunk away without regard to their Ingagements Every one suspected the other but above all they were jealous of Prince Henry because he was very uncertain in his Humour and no less of the King of Navarre who had much Business to mind of his own at home and in France This King had a Castle in Guienne called Maulisson delivered to him by the English and had given Charge of it to his Constable This Castle the Earl of Faux besieged with 12000 Foot and 3000 Horse entrenching his Army and battering the Walls The King of Navarre repaired thither with what Forces he could gather in haste and encamping near the Enemy they had an Interview in which nothing was concluded the Earl affirming he could not depart without taking the Castle having promised it to the King of France Hereupon the King of Navarre returning to Spain the besieged were obliged to surrender only upon Liberty for the Garrison to march whither they pleased The delay of the King of Navarre and slowness of the Nobility gave time to reconcile Prince Henry to his Father The Agreement being well advanced both dismissed their Forces the King stayed in Old Castile and the Prince returned to Toledo where he was received with all manner of Expressions of Joy There at length Peter Sarmiento designing to deliver up the City to the King and putting no end to his Robberies and Extortions was deprived of the Government of the City and Castle at the beginning of the Year 1450. He complained and put the Prince in mind of his Promise nevertheless he was forced to depart the City carrying with him 200 Horses and Mules loaden with Riches he had plundered The People was not permitted to take any thing from him he having the Prince's Pass Yet he was robbed of part by the way and the rest when he came to Gumiel was seized by the King's Order Sarmiento himself fled to Navarre and having obtained Pardon of his Crimes lived Miserably the rest of his Days at Bastida a Town in the Territory of Rioja that place alone being left him of all his Possessions His Confederates were more severely punished They were taken in several Places and put to Death with exquisite Torments The Punishment seemed cruel but it was designed to terrify others from committing the like Violence and Extravagances for the future and to warn those that were in Power not to make use of it to the Destruction of those committed to their Charge CHAP. V. The mutiny of Segovia The Affairs of the Crown of Aragon The Civil War in Navarre The Factions of the Agramonteses and Biamonteses there The Emperor Frederick marries Ellenor Sister to the King of Portugal The Moors twice defeated by the Christians SCarce was the Mutiny at Toledo quelled when another broke out at Segovia whither the Prince was gone Peter Portocarrero who began to be great with the Prince accused John Pacheco Marques of Villena of a Crime for which he ought to be apprehended The Bishop of Cuenca John de Silva the King's Standard-bearer and the Marshal Pelayo de Ribera attested the same thing They all advised the Prince to make him an Example and it was resolved to secure him It was not easy to do it by reason of his great Power and also that he having notice of the Prince's Displeasure made himself strong in a quarter of the City Lest much Blood should be shed in forcing him he was permitted to go away to Turuegano a Town of his own There to gain Peter Portocarrero he gave him to Wife Beatrix his Bastard Daughter and with her the Town of Medellin in Estremadura near Guadiana Thus his Enemies were weakened and the Prince began to be appeased The War with the Aragonians continu'd but not very hot Bordalva a Castle on the Frontiers of Aragon was taken and lost again The King of Aragon was worse looked upon as being the chief contriver of all the Troubles and an Opportunity was now offered of being revenged on him Many advised the Prince of Viana to take upon him the Crown and Government since his Father had no Right to it and this was the beginning of great Disorders The King of Navarre was at Zar agoca where the Coxtes of Aragon met in Summer They limited the Power of the Deputy Justices of Aragon and decreed that all Goods upon which there depended any Law-suit should be deposited in the Hands of an Officer appointed for that purpose that the Judges having such Goods in their Power might not delay deciding of Causes The King of Aragon sent Embassadors to exhort the Princes of Spain to Peace resolving if there were War to stand by his Brother and Subjects In all other respects he seemed to have forgot Spain taken up with the Pleasures of Italy having gained much Reputation and enjoying Peace the Fruit of his great Labours The Grecian Emperor oppressed by the Turks sent Embassadors to him to desire his assistance against them The same did Demetrius Paleologus Prince of Attica and Peloponnesus or Morea Brother to the Emperor Constantine offering him great Territories when the War was ended Aranitus Earl of Epirus or Albania did the like But above all we must not omit the Embassy sent by George Castriot commonly called Scanderbeg the Turks having given him
Favourite A Proclamation was published to restore to their Liberty all the Jews who as was said before were unjustly made Slaves by his Predecessor He sent Men and Ammunition into Africk where the Portugueses had Ceuta taken by King John I. and Tangier and Arzila taken by King Alonso Unkle to Emanuel D. John de Meneses Governour of Arzila because some of the neighbouring Villages did not bring in their wonted Contributions joined with the Commander of Tangier and marched against them They were unexpectedly set upon by Barata and Almanderino two Moorish Commanders yet tho' the Enemy were much more numerous they put them to the rout All this hapned before the Cortes of Montemor broke up which could not put an end to the Business in hand because the Plague raging there the King was forced at the beginning of this Year to remove to Setuval to meet his two Widow-Sisters Queen Ellenor and the Dutchess of Bragança There it was proposed that D. Alvaro Brother to the late Duke of Bragança and that Duke's Children who were in Castile since nothing could be proved against them should be restored to their Estates King Ferdinand of Spain sollicited for them and the King's Sisters begged it with Tears especially the Dutchess as most concerned as also his Mother the Dutchess of Viseo The King was unwilling so soon to alter his Predecessor's Decrees and to disoblige those that were in Possession of those banished Persons Estates but at last overcome with so many Intreaties he made up their Losses other ways so that none might have cause to complain It was proposed to marry the King who was 26 Years of Age when he Inherited the Crown No Match seemed so advantageous as with Castile King Ferdinand was willing but would not give him his Eldest Daughter the Second was gone to Flanders and the Lady Catherine Contracted in England so he offered the Lady Mary The Portugues took it ill that any Prince should be preferred before him besides he took a liking to the Lady Elizabeth when she was in Portugal Upon account of this Treaty the Catholick King demanded of him That he should enter into the League against France and the Princess That he should banish the Moors and Jews As to the King's Request he excused himself pleading the ancient Friendship betwixt France and Portugal yet he was willing to join in a League for the Defence of Spain but would not involve himself in Quarrels that concerned him not He condescended to the Desires of the Princess tho' many opposed it And accordingly about the end of the Year set out a Proclamation commanding all the Moors and Jews to depart by a time limitted or else they should be made Slaves All the Moors without hesitation went over to Africk In the Business of the Jews there was more difficulty for soon after the King ordered all their Children under 14 Years of Age to be taken from them and Baptized A Practice not at all justifiable because none ought to be forced to become Christians nor Children to be taken from their Parents The rest were so hardly used that great Numbers were Baptized but it was a constrained Conversion Leave was also obtained of the Pope for the Commendaries of the Three Military Orders in that Kingdom to Marry so that they were only obliged to Conjugal Chastity There were sufficient Causes to obtain this Liberty and yet many condemned it Certain it is this made way for the spending the Revenues of those Orders otherwise than had been intended for what used to be employed in the War was now consumed in Pleasure and Luxury CHAP. VII The death of Ferdinand King of Naples The Emperor passes into Italy The Popes Forces defeated by the Ursini The death of the Duke of Gandia The Marriage of Prince John of Spain Proposals concerning settling the Kingdom of Naples THE Wars in Italy were not likely to cease The King of England by reason of the Match agreed upon with Spain resolved to enter into the League against France The Emperor gave out he would go himself into Italy to settle the Affairs of Lombardy and Tuscany This moved the Duke of Milan to think of forsaking the French Interest and the more for that about this time died the Dauphin of France a young Child and the King being sickly it was to be feared that Crown would come to the Duke of Orleans his greatest Enemy These reasons inclined him to adhere to the Confederate Princes In the Kingdom of Naples the Venetians possessed some part of Apulia The great Captain held Rijoles Amantia and other Places of Calabria for the Catholick King Notwithstanding the late Capitulation the French were still possessed of some Towns To reduce all the Kingdom King Ferdinand sent D. Cesar de Aragon his Father's Bastard Brother to Taranto and commanded the Duke of Urbin who served him in this War to repair to Abruzzo when having in a short time subdued most of that Province he went away to Rome with Prosper Colona Gaeta was a business of more concern for tho' the Earl of Trivento and the Venetian Gallies pressed it by Sea they advanced not much It was proposed to Besiege the Place by Land when King Ferdinand fell Sick of a flux at Soma which so increased that being carried to Naples he died on the 7th of October Frederick his Uncle then at Castellon understanding his death immediately repaired to Naples and was proclaimed King the very day his Nephew died His first care was to aâ—â—ee with the Princes of Salerno and Bisignano as also the Earls of Lauria and Melito the great Enemies of the House of Aragon Many Princes began to have an Eye towards that Crown and particularly the Catholick King whose Title began to be urged both at Rome and Naples but to no effect at that time for the Pope and other Princes had rather have a weak King for their Neighbour than the Power of Spain The Great Captain who might have done something in the Affair was employed at the Siege of the Castle of Cosenza which he hoped suddenly to be Master of and thus to secure all that Province Soon after having subdued Calabria and taken that Fort he went to Nola and leaving his Forces there visited the Queens comforting them for the death of the King The new King sat down before Gaeta with all his Forces It hapned the Lord of Aubenie who was going by Land to Rome came thither at such time as the besieged were much streightned he entred the Town and caused it to be surrendred upon Articles The French departed in a Galleon and Two Ships Loaden with the Booty and Plate taken out of the Churches One of the Ships perished in a Storm the other ran aground near Terracina which was looked upon as a Judgment On the other side the Emperor as he had agreed passed the Alps and entred Lombardy with 1000 Horse and 5000 Foot The Duke of Milan with his Forces joined him