wherefore hee did inuite both of them to come to victoria and to refere their controuersies to his arbitrement with these holy speeches hee gaue content and admiration to the Knights of Nauarre at whose returne the Earle of Lerin and the Constable came to Victoria where if King Fernand could not wholy reconcile them yet he procured a truce betwixt them putting each of them in mind with great meekenesse mixed with grauity of their errors with the amendement thereof to the good of the Kingdome their own particular proffit and for the seruice of King Iohn their maister The King of Arragon afterwards perceiuing him-selfe at the graues brinke and desiring to leaue quietnesse in that miserable kingdome where the factions had bred such confusions as neither the feare of God nor the respect of iustice nor the loue of honesty was able to containe men from executing all kinds of mischeefes murthers sacrileges robberies burnings and horrible desolations ouer the whole country which were followed with the terrible and fearefull iudgements of God as plagues famines and other scourges of his wrath all which were not onely encreased but procured by the Kings second marriage King Iohns second marriage 〈◊〉 to the realme of Nauarre King Iohn I say beeing mooued with these things sent the Earle of Lerin such assurances as hee caused him to to come to Saragossa being well accompanied where the King did gently receaue him graunted him peace and gaue a generall pardon to all offences past proceeding from both factions and for a greater confirmation of the whole he gaue the Earle a bastard daughter of his in marriage called Donna Leonora of Arragon by these meanes the Princesse Leonora widdow to the Earle of Foix The Earle of Lerin marrieth a bastard daughter of Arragon and becomes obedient to King Iohn and future Queene of Nauarre recouered without force her townes and fortresses and was euery where obeyed except in the Citty of Caseda which was battered at the taking whereof dyed that Valiant Captaine Sancho of Eruiti surnamed the obstinate in the seruice of the Princesse Leonora about which time Alphonso Carillo Bishop of Pampelona called a Sinode at Estella wherein they treated of ceremonies and other matters After all these things King Iohn beeing at rest and quietâ— in the Citty of Barcelona notwithstanding hee was very aged and full of sicknesse fell in loue with a yong Gentlewoman called Francina Rosa with whose beauty and comlinesse hee did comfort by imbraces and frutelesse kisses the waywardnesse of his old age leauing her concerning other matters free and vntouched to him who after-ward married her King Fernand hauing as hath beene already saide made the pacification of Nauarre at Victoria Iohn King of Arragon falls in loue in his extreme old age and by the renowne of his power deliuered the country of Guipuscoa from the French army would in like manner order the affaires of Alua Biscaie and other places neere adioyning where were many factions and other disorders hee therefore entred Bicay beeing attended on by Don Alphonso Carisso Bishoppe of Pampelona Pedro Lopes de Padilla great gouernor of the Frontiers of Castile Don Henry Henriques the Kings Vncle brother to the Admirall Don Pedro de Estuniga eldest Sonne to the Earle of Miranda Doctor Iohn Dias de Alcocer one of the Kings Councell Roderigo Vlloa his great Tresorer and Councellour Don Diego de Acugna sonne to the Bishop of Burgos Don Fernand de Ayala sonne to the Marshall Don Garcia de Ayala and by other Knights and Ecclesiasticall persons The Biscains had an ancient custome which was not to suffer any Bishop to come within their country Bishops exclaued out of the Country of Bisay by reason perhaps of the attempts and wrongs which they had in time before susteined by the prelats and Churchmen the which was vnknowne to King Fernand who riding on with the Bishop hee was aduertized of their custome and was constrained to send him backe the peasants and poore country people thinking the ground to bee infected wherevpon this Prelat and his Mule did tread were busied many daies after in scraping together the dust of the high-waies Strange opinions of the Biscaines concerning Bishops which they laide vp in heapes and threw it afterwards with curses and imprecations into the sea the which certainely was not done without some mistery those people not beeing voide of religion but superstitiously deuout as the rest of the Spaniards are The King visited Bilboa and afterward hee came to Guernica where hee was receiued and reuerenced with all ceremonious duty Hee called the Nobility of the country thither and confirmed all their priuiledges by his letters patents written by Gaspar Arin his secretary dated the thirtith day of Iuly the yeere 1476. in the presence of diuers Noble personages of name The King beeing busied about these matters a famous French Pirate named Colora came with foure vessels to a place called the figge-tree of Fontarabie to whom after that fiue more ioyned these nine shippes did ride there at an ankor for the space of eleuen daies in the view of the towne of Fontarabie and sundry times they landed their souldiars who ranne vp and downe the country burning and spoyling all they met with against whom the Garrison went forth and flew more then a hundred of them wherevpon they set saile towards Galicia where they burned the suburbes of the City of Ribadeo then sayling along the coast of Portugall they met with certaine Carrakes of Genoa Combate at sea be wiâ—t the frenchmen Genoueses with whom they grapled and the fight betwixt them was so furious as seuen vessells were there burned to weet two Genoueses and fiue of the Pirates who with the other foure which remained were repared at Lisbone The report of this Pirate caused thirty ships of warre to bee set forth as well from Saint Sebastians as from other places on the coast of Biscay who met altogether at Laredo and this sea-army parted from Conserua and sailed towards Galicia where they tooke partly by force and partly by composition certaine places vpon the sea coast next to Portugall which were reuolted from the Kings of Castile Herevpon truce was granted and agreed vpon betwixt the French men and Guipuscoans by land onely for the space of three monthes leauing the sea free for euery man to doe the best hee could the army aboue mentioned hauing done that exploite on the marches of Galicia returned laden with spoiles Amongst other things those of Saint Sebastian brought away two yron peeces of ordonance whereof one did carry a stone-stone-bullet of a hundred and threescore pound waight taken from Bayon de Minio The charges of this warre of Guipuscoa was heauy to the whole Prouince with great discommodity and losse of their bloud which warre after the retreat of the French did continue still at sea where the French lost more then they did winne King Fernand hauing discharged honored and praised
his losse so as he slew nine thousand of the Romane armie vpon the place Mumius defeats the Spaniards and is beaten by the vanquished through his own negligence and not onely recouered his owne baggage but tooke the enemies and carried away a great number of ensignes which the Lusitanians dragged vp and downe in scorne of the Romanes Mumius hauing gathered together fiue thousand souldiours which remained and reuiued them as well as he could he found an opportunitie to charge the enemie going to forrage Mumius reuengeth his losses and did so well as he slew a great number and recouered his ensignes The Lusitanians which dwelt beyond the riuer of Tayo hauing in like maner proclaimed warre against the Romanes and tooke the towne of Conistorgis by assault a great and strong towne confederat to the Romanes they being led by a captaine called Caucene and not content to make a tumult in Spaine some of them passed the strait at Hercules pillars and went to spoyle Africke the rest went to assaile Ocile But Mumius arriuing with a thousand foot and fiue hundred horse slew about fifteene thousand forragers and made them to leaue the siege of Ocile Then going against others who thought to escape with the prey hee left not one aliue to carrie newes of their defeat Hee distributed the bootie which was portable among his souldiours and the rest being consecrated to those gods who hee thought did preside ouer the warres he burnt After all this he returned to Rome and triumphed Attilius or Acilius Balbus succeeded Mumius who at his first arriuall cut seuen hundred Lusitanians in peeces and tooke Oxthraca being the greatest and richest towne they had striking terrour in all the neighbour people which submitted themselues to his deuotion as far as the Vectons But when as Acilius had lodged his armie for Winter they rebelled and began to annoy them that were friends and confederats to the Romanes Against whom Ser. Galba sent Pretor to succeed Acilius meaning to succour them made a march of 15 leagues and being come in sight of the enemie without giuing rest to the souldiours he led them to fight Galba being victor is defeated by his rash pursute and vanquished happily But as the Romanes pursued the flying enemie in disorder and made many stands being wearie the Lusitanians turning head slue seuen thousand and forced Galba to flie with his horsemen into Carmel whither many that had escaped were retired who hauing rallied them together and leuied twentie thousand men of their confederats he wintered at Cunes The Consull Lucullus who wintered in Turditania hearing that the Lusitanians were in armes he sent the best of his captaines against them and slue foure thousand of them and afterwards hauing made a new head neere vnto Gades hee cut fiue thousand and fiue hundred in peeces And as Galba on his side pressed these people they sent embassadors vnto him seeming desirous to enjoy the accord made before with Attilius Galba made shew to pitie them and to excuse their excesse for that pouertie had made them to breake the treaties and to steale saying That he knew well that the Barbarians of the countrey was the cause of these inconueniences but if they had a true intent to be friends he would diuide them into three troupes and send them into fertile places to liue in The Lusitanians being woon with these promises put themselues into three troupes and suffered themselues to be led to the places assigned by Galba who spake vnto the first as if they were in full peace The treacherous cruelfie of Serg. Galba injoyning them to leaue their arms which hauing done he caused them all to be massacred and with the like fraud and crueltie he defeated the other two troupes before they could haue any newes of the slaughter of their companions Many slipping through the armed troupes escaped among the which was Viriatus who reuenged the trecherie crueltie of the Romanes against his country-men Galba shewing himselfe as treacherous and it may be more couetous than Lucullus hauing filled his cofers with the spoyles of Lusitania wherof he did defraud both his friends and souldiours returned to Rome where he was called in question for his abuses but being the richest man in the citie he escaped by bribes 20 The Lusitanians which remained of Lucullus and Galbaes treacheries assembled together to the number of ten thousand and did ouerrun the countrey of Turditania against whom the Pretor C. Vetilius was sent who hauing joyned the armie which hee brought from Rome with the forces he found in Spaine he went against them which spoyled their friends countrey and slew many of them forcing the rest to retire to the side of a hill where he besieged them so as they must either end their dayes by hunger or by the sword wherefore they resolued to sue for mercie and to intreat him to appoint them a countrey to dwell in the which he willingly graunted But Viriatus being in this besieged companie who had escaped from Galbaes slaughter began to speake in this manner Viriatus incourageth his companions not to trust the Romans How wretched are we that hauing so often tried the treacherie of these Romanes we will againe offer our throats vnto them and bee murthered by them vnder the sweetnesse of their false promises Do we not know that they with whom we haue now to deale are the same who by their notable treacherie haue slaine our brethren and companions Were it not better to keepe our armes and selling our liues at a deere rate let them feele that wee are men than suffering our selues to be disarmed by a foolish credulitie to bee afterwards slaine like beasts at the slaughter No my companions let vs not commit so grosse an error as to despaire in that sort let vs rather trie to force vs a passage and you shall find the difficultie is not so great as you imagine if you do what I shall aduise you This souldiour speaking with a great courage reuiued their spirits Viriatus chosen captaine by the Lusitanians besieged deceiues the Pretor who with one voice cried out vnto him That in a good houre he should be their captaine and that he should lead them whither he should thinke good Then he put them all in battell except some thousand of the best appointed which he kept with himselfe and then he commaunded euerie one to flie appointing their Rendezuous at Tribola Vetilius was in doubt to pursue them that fled thinking it the safest course to assaile Viriatus his thousand souldiours which were in battell on the side of the hill But they hauing spent that day and a part of the next in making a shew that they would fight with the Romanes easily freed themselues being well mounted and knowing the countrey and then came to Tribola and so this Spanish armie was preserued by the judgement and resolution of Viriatus who of a shepheard became a huntsman then afterwards a
were any one which durst speake against them that followed Pompey he did confiscate their goods forcing euery one to take an oath to him and to Pompey and so he prepared himselfe to the warre making his account to lodge with his two legions in Gades vpon all euents and to bring all the corne thither and to gather together all the shipping of that prouince the which he knew to be too well affected vnto Caesar. Finally he persuaded himselfe That hee might prolong the warre in this island as much as he pleased Caesars affaires prest him to returne into Italie yet holding it necessarie to disarme all those that held Pompeyes part in Spain he sent two legions towards Betica vnder the commaund of Q. Cassius Tribune of the people after the which he went with some troupes of horse hauing in the meane time order for the calling of a generall assembly at Cordoua whither deputies came from all the townes and in a manner all the Romanes that were in those marches being much enclined to do what Caesar should commaund them M. Varro was excluded by the assembly of Cordoua who set gards in their ports and towers and they of Carmone chased away the garrison which Varro had placed there which made him hast the more to bring his two legions to Gades least he should be preuented but he was not farre aduanced before he receiued letters by the which he was aduertised That the Gaditanes hauing agreed with the captaines of the garrison which was within their town had forced Gallonius to depart protesting That they would keepe the town for Caesar whereupon one of Varroes legions resolued to leaue him taking the way towards Seuille Varro disarmed by Caesar. Wherewith Varro being amazed and seeing himselfe coopt vp in that countrey so as he had no meanes to passe into Italie he resolued to yeeld vnto Caesar deliuering vp his legion which remained with all the money and victuals that was in his power Caesar held an assembly at Cordoua and thanked the deputies of towns the citizens of Rome and all the captains and others which had shewed themselues fauourable to his cause hee restored euery man to his goods that had been spoyled and filled all men with hope by his promises From Cordoua he passed to Gades and restored to Hercules Temple the gold and jewels which had bin taken away and hauing left Q. Cassius with foure legions to gouerne the Prouince he passed by sea to Tarracone where the deputies of all that part of Spaine attended him with whom hauing conferred and disposed of the affaires he went by land towards Narbone and from thence to Marseilles which his lieutenants did besiege This was in the yeare 704. 18 At Marseilles Caesar had news Ann. Rome 704 Cassius crueltie and couetâ—â—snes thrusts Caesar into a new war That he was created Dictator at Rome by M. Lepidus the Pretor after which time Spain was gouerned in his name by M. Lepidus and Q. Cassius his lieutenants But they of Corduba oppressed with the crueltie couetousnesse of Cassius forsooke with two legions Caesars party whereby the war was reuiued in Spain by Pompeyes children after the defeat and death of their father in the yeare 708. This Cassius being couetous and a great exactor did incense the souldiours against him who hurt him and had like to haue stabd him with their daggers The authors of this excesse were L. Rucilio Annius Scapula and Minutius Silo yet he was cured and as he thought to passe into Africke by Caesars commandement almost all his souldiours abandoned him and did chuse one Thorus of the towne of Italica for their leader To this Thorus who made a shew to besiege Cordoua Marcellus did joyne but they did inuest Mia which is likely to be Monte-Major at this day thereupon M. Lepidus came from Rome where he had proclaimed Caesar Dictator who kept them from forcing and taking Cassius Marcellus referred their quarels to Lepidus but Cassius being loath to trust him was content to leaue the prouince and to giue place to Caius Trebonius Being imbarqued at Malaca with all that he had gotten in Spaine to passe into Italie his ship was cast by a tempest vpon the coast where it perished not farre from the mouth of Ebro These two legions were somewhat pacified by C. Trebonius who succeeded Cassius Longinus yet they feared to be punished for their rebellion wherefore they solicited Scipio who held Africke for the Pompeyan faction to send Cn. Pompeius sonne to the great Pompey into Spaine who went thitherward but he staied long at the islands of the Baleares as well to subdue them as by reason of sickenesse The legions hearing afterwards of Scipioes defeat in Italie and that Caesar sent Didius with an armie against them fearing to bee oppressed before Pompeyes comming they did chuse T. Quintius Scapula and Q. Apponius for their commaunders chasing C. Trebonius out of the Betique prouince Cn. Pompeius gets the further Spaine to be at his deuotion Hereupon Pompey arriued whom they acknowledged for their Generall so as in a short time he reduced the further Spaine vnder his deuotion with whom there came Actius Varus and Labienus Caesar aduertised of these things being in Italie he sent Q. Pedius and Q. Fabius Maximus into Spaine but they were not able to resist Pompeyes forces so as Caesar being solicited by the townes that were allied vnto him especially by them of Corduba he went in person into Spaine Then did Sextus Pompeius the younger of the brethren hold Cordoua the chiefe towne of the gouernment with a good garrison and Cn. the elder brother besieged Vlloa into the which Caesar found oportunitie to put some succours by the meanes of a great wind and raine and by the dexteritie of L. Iunius Paciecus a Spaniard to whom he had giuen the charge which put Cn. Pompeius out of hope to take it whereupon he dislodged and led his armie towards Cordoua whither Sextus his brother fearing to be forced by Caesar did solicite him to approach Hauing incountred Caesar vpon the bankes of Betis there were many bloudie skirmishes with variable successe Caesar dislodged in the night and went to besiege Ategua whither Pompey went and camped betwixt Ategua and Vcubis hauing thirteene legions in his armie yet he made no account but of three for all the rest were composed of fugitiues and men of no value Caesar was much stronger in horse and Pompey had no will to fight but was willing to prolong the warre all he could yet being desirous to force a certaine garrison which Caesar had set to keepe a peece of ground which was commodious for either of them there was a great skirmish Caesar comming himselfe to second his men with three legions so as the Pompeyans had the worst and were repulsed Wherewith Pompey being amazed there being new supplies of horse come to Caesars campe hee dislodged and retired towards Cordoua being followed by Caesars horse whereof he slew
Lord of Palma and of Don Iohn of Estuniga Master of Alcantara Malaga beeing thus beseeged the Kings tent was knowne by the Moores who bestowed many cannon shot vpon it from the citie so as they were constrayned to remooue it behind a little hil The batterie planted to the most conuenient places was great and furious from the Marquis of Cales quarter against the Castle of Gibralfar the which in many places was pierced and ouerthrowne in many places and as soone repayred by the Moores The Marquis hauing taken away the towers which did offend him aduanced his lodging a stones cast nearer to the fort but hee was constrained to returne to his former quarter by the continuall sallies which the Moores made vpon him and his people fighting with such furie as they came to the poynyard and slue the Captaine of Atiença and Inigo Lopes of Medran Lord of Cauagnillas Gabriel of Soâ—tomajor and other valiant men besides diuers hurt in the number of whome was the Marquis who was shot into the arme with an arrow for the Moores fought from a place of great aduantage At this seege two great shippes of warre arriued on the coast of Malaga commaunded by Don Ladron de Gueuara sent from Flanders by Maximilian of Austria king of the Romaines husband to the heire of Bourgondie and father to Philip which was sonne-in-law to the Kings of Castile The Emperor Maximillian sends Artillery and powder from Flanders to the king of Castile who for the seruice of this warre did send these two vessels laden with diuers peeces of brasse Ordonance and baâ—rels of powder bels for the use of the Churches of the places newly conquered great store of mettall with workmen to worke it with other instruments and things necessarie for the warre beeing desirous for his part to partake in some sort the honour of this great conquest which his posteritie enioyeth at this day A tower of the cittie beeing wonne with great toyle and effusion of bloud was quickly recouered againe by the Moores who grew more obstinate in their defence by meanes of a false rumor raised by certaine cowards of the campe which desired to returne home againe who sayd that Queene Izabella did sollicite the King her husband to rayse his seege because the plague was within and about diuers places of the Cittie and in this hope the Barbarians did valiantly resist all assaults The King to let them vnderstand that his intent was otherwise sent for the Queene to come to the campe who was accompanied thither by great numbers of voluntarie Knights and then hee sent word to the beseeged that if they would yeeld he would vse them gently as hee had done others if not he gaue them to vnderstand that he would not depart thence till the cittie were taken and that then they should expect nothing but rigor to the which they made no answer but did streightly commaund that not any one amongst them should dare vpon paine of life to talke of any agreement or composition with the kings of Castile and they did indeed kill diuers vppon the same occasion being resolued to hold out till their last breath the which did greatly prolong the seege where powder beginning to fayle the gallies were sent to Valencia Barcelona yea into Sicill which brought thither great quantitie The King of Portugall beeing entreated to send some thither likewise did it willingly with great speed There was no part of the day almost which was free from skirmisnes where many men of either side dyed daily wherefore certaine Moores of the Cittie beeing displeased with the losse of their friends and fore-seeing the danger whereinto they were likely to fall yet not daring to speake of composition did secretly send a messenger to the campe to tell king Fernand that if he would promise to saue their liues and goods they would giue him entrance whereunto the king consented and as this Moore returned he was taken by certaine Gomeres of Affricke who assayled him with their swords in such sort as he returning hurt to the campe dyed there and so the treaty ended As the land skirmishes were continuall so were those at sea where the armie of Castile did hinder as much as in them lay any entrance of comming foorth of the cittie and to redresse the sallies by land there were by the diligence of Garcy Lazo de la Vega Iohn d' Estuniga and Diego of Tayde diuers forts made and great trenches drawne where diuers great Corps de gard were placed so as the Moores in that manner shutte in could not do so much hurt nor vexe the armie as before it had done the Moores beeing neuerthelesse constant in their resolution to hold out to the last man nothwithstanding that victuals did greatly decrease in the cittie for they were aduertised by diuers traitors of the campe of whatsoeuer was done there good or bad and oftentimes they told them that which was false in such sort as they were not discouraged but did beleeue that the king and Queene would shortly bee constrained to depart thence and there were some that left the cittie vnder color of yeelding themselues to the King and to become Christians who falsely reported that there was great and incredible aboundance of victuals and all other necessaries in the cittie to the end thereby to cause the Christians to leaue the seege the which report did put the King and his Councell into a studie whether they should cease the batteries and assaults and keepe the seege by sea with certaine gallies or else by land with certaine forts to starue them by little and little The Arabians liue with a little but weighing the nature of that nation who liue with so little meate as it is to be wondered at this counsell was reiected as vnfruitfull wherefore the batteries were renewed and to that end diuers artificiall engines were made of excellent inuention and mynes were wrought in diuers places which beeing discouered by the industrious and vigilant Moores were cause of the death of a great number of braue souldiers King Boabdellin el Zagal beeing daily sollicited to succour Malaga went foorth of Guadix with certaine troupes of horse and foote but beeing met and encountred by the army of his nephew Mahomet which came foorth of Granado for the same purpose hee was vanquished and put to flight whereof King Fernand had speedie intelligence to his great contentment Within the beseeged cittie were certaine Moores that were esteemed holy men who with mad and idle prattle went about to encourage the souldiers saying that the dead did greatly desire to rise againe for to helpe them to driue the Christians thence with other such like words which were of great force to animate that superstitious race There arriued at the campe fresh supplies of horse and foote from Arragon Valencia and Cattalognia which did much encourage the assaylants who had this aduantage not to want victuals The K. of Tremessen being aduertised by
by his soldiers to keep the field with the Germanes hauing the Caualarie of Naples and the Popes with 4500 Spaniards hauing sent one thousand Spaniards to assist the duke of Milan The viceroy hauing with these forces sackt Bouoelta Cruell warre of the Spaniards against the Venetians past the Brent and marcht vnto the sea burning townes and villages and all the houses of the gentlemen of Venice which were in that countrie and the more to afflict braue them he caused ten peeces of his greatest ordnance to be mounted at a place called Marguera and shot against the city of Venice whereof the bullets fel at S. Seconds church with trouble and amazement to all the inhabitants and the more for that night comming it did represent vnto them more plainely the great fiers and ruines of their houses of pleasure in the countrey the which they held to be the greatest indignitie that euer the common wealth of Venice receiued which thinking to reuenge they encreased their disgrace for Aluiano hauing assured the Senat that the enemies armie laden with spoiles in those moorish places and trenches of riuers would find such difficulties in their retreat as it would bee easie to put them to rout and therefore had gotten leaue to draw their forces to field after that hee had coasted the enemies seeking to stoppe their passage at the riuer of Brenta being himselfe deceiued and surprised as hee thought to stop their passage going to Verona whether they marcht onely with an intent to retyre hee was fought with all and vanquished about Vincence Venetians defeated by the Spaniards hauing lost aboue fiue thousand Venetians and many Captaines slaine vpon the place with their Pouididor Andrew Lauredan who was slain by the contention of two souldiers whose prisoner hee should be besides many captaines and gentlemen of Venice that were prisoners which rout did much trouble the affaires of that state What succeeded afterwards in that warre I leaue to other Histories whome it concernes more particularly King Ferdinand being much impayred by his languishing infirmitie growen by reason of the potion which had beene giuen him attended as well as hee could the gouernment of his realmes but hee had a good Councell and faithfull ministers so as his affaires both of state and iustice were nothing impayred neither were they in any sort peruerted Forts built in Afrike This yeare there was a fort built at Oran and another at a place called Pegnon or the rocke of Alger in Afrike whereas the crowne of Castille held Melille Casaâ—a Oran Masalquiuer Tripoli and Bugie and the two rockes or Pegnons of Alger and of Velez besides the Princes and townes that were Tributarie vnto it And so ended that yeare 2513. 8 In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and foureteene 1514 Vasco Nugnes of Balboa hauing staied a good space in the countrie of the Cachico Tumanama discouering the mines and treasures of that region Behauiour of Vasco Nugnes of Balboa at the Indies he parted from thence leading one of that princes sons with him to be instructed in the Romish religion and came into the country of D. Charles Panquiaco who receiued Balboa being sicke verie courteously with all his companions giuing theÌ„ al the ease commodities he could and when they would depart he presented them with 20 pounds of gold Being thus satisfied of him they retyred to their fort of the Antique of Darien the which they found much better peopled than they had left it for vpon the brute of the great riches that were on the firme land many were come from Hispaniola the citie of S. Domingo to inhabit there It is thought that Balboa brought beside the contentment he had to haue discouered the south sea the value of aboue 100000 Castillans in gold Booty taken at the Indies besides perles and other precious jewels in great aboundance hauing made a long and dangerous voyage gone through many barbarous natioÌ„s enemies by desart and vnknown places Trauels endured with great patience and happines by the Spaniards hauing not only to incounter men but Tygres and Lyons hunger and thirst thick woods craggy mountaines and yet neuer was put to rout neuer lost a man nor himselfe wounded in any sort Of al their spoiles they laied to the value of 20000 ducats for the kings right and then they diuided the rest among them euerie one receiuing according to his place yea their mastiues had pay aswel as the men for it is reported that a dog belonging vnto Vasco Nugnes Mastiues receiued pay and a part of the spoile among the Spaniards called Leoncillo had for his part 500 Castillans receiuing a greater pay than a harquebusier After that Vasco Nugnes had ordered some things in the fort of Darien he sent a friend of his called Arbolancha born at Bilbao into Spain to carry news vnto king Ferdinand of his voyages and discoueries and the fift penny of what they had gotten At that time the French king did sollicit both k. Ferdinand and the emperor Maximilian to conclude the marriage betwixt D. Ferdinand brother to prince Charles of Austria and the lady Renee the French kings second daughter for whose dowrie hee would quit his pretensions to the duchie of Milan but hauing made a peace with the king of England by a marriage contracted betwixt him Marie that kings sister he changed his opinion Designes of Pope Leo to put strangers out of Italy and gaue ouer that treatie for Renee and Ferdinand The Pope hauing diuers designes to free Italie of strangers hauing no desire to see the French king lord of Milan yet he entertained him with this hope to make vse of him and his meanes to get the realme of Naples from k. Ferdinand to settle his brother Iulian of Medicis king there therof he had already had some practise with the VenetiaÌ„s Pope seekes to get the realme of Naples To fauor the Popes designes being profitable for the common-weale of Venice Andrew Gritti was appointed by the Senat to be generall of an army to inuade the banks of Apulia 1514 thinking by that meanes to diuert the Spanish army out of Lombardie that they should haue none but the Germanes to incounter Hereupon Bartholmew of Aluiano hauing surprised certain Spaniards he caused them to be hanged at Padoua saying that they had been suborned by their coÌ„manders to kill him in treason the which put the viceroy of Naples into such a rage as he made a miserable spoile of the country about Padoua hauing chased Bernardin Antinola nephew to Aluiano he shut him into Citadelle which place being battered was taken partly by a breach and partly by scalado Bernardin of Antinola his men were carried away prisoners and the place sackt To recompence this losse Aluiano defeated some troups of light horse nere to Este the army which besieged Creme being hardly retained for want of pay was forced to retire
drawne into the fort many Christian marchants which did traffique in the towne and did prouide for all things necessarie for a siege The seat of this rocke was in an island where the towne stood made by a riuer which fals into the sea Some haue written it is Indus making no difference betwixt Diul and Diu That part of the island which lies betwixt the sea and the riuer makes an angle and riseth with certaine steepe rockes there the fort is built so as on two parts towards the sea and the riuer it is safe Towards the citie besides the strong walls and bulwarks there was a large deepe ditch which did stretch from the sea vnto the riuer Within the riuer right against the fort there was a strong tower not easie to bee battered for that towards the chanell which was betwixt it and the fort whereas the marchants ships lay there could no enemies ship come in being subiect to the canon on either side but in the other chanell they had entrance but in small barkes the water was so low and yet the souldiers could not wade through The Portugals reserued two ships in the great chanell the which vnder the commaund of Iames Latta hauing also armed two smaller vessels like gallies Mascaregna commaunded they should scoure that coast to stop the victuals and other commodities which came to the enemies Wherein Latta shewed such diligence as in a short time hee had taken foureteene barkes laden with victuals and diuers other things for the vse of the armie But Zaffer who had long before deuised how this enterprise should bee gouerned and therefore had brought such a multitude of labourers in one night he caused a fort to bee made vpon a little hill betwixt the towne and the castle Fort raised by the Barbarians against Diu. and hauing made the outward part of stone many foot thicke within hee filled it with earth leauing some loope holes for ordnance The like hee made in the towne the which was so high as it did equall the highest part of the fort hauing safe parapets Hee armed the wall on the out side with sackes of cotton to defend it from the enemies ordnance This fort being seene in the morning did not amaze the defendants being prepared to resist the Barbarians assaults euen vnto the last gaspe for the honour of Christs name and the seruice of their king labouring with all industrie and valour to frustrate the designes of a treacherous enemie and then the ordnance of either side began that cruell warre which did much honour the Portugals name in all the East To the first fort Zaffer added a second and a third with the like speed both towards the sea shore and for that the ground was stonie and hard so as they could not well make their trenches but with losse of time they aduanced a wall of stone trauersed in such wise one before another as whilest they aduanced they were safe from the ordnance of the castle and with this art they might easily come within a stones cast There hee began to rayse a strong rampar of stone thirteene foot thicke and behind fortified it with earth the which they brought from the sea vnto the riuer and so they enuironed the fort on that side towards the citie where it might be assaulted And for that there was a great distance betwixt the first great forts they made some lesser along the wall in the which they placed small Corps de gard to defend the workes against the enemies sallies this renegado planting ordnance and small shot with great judgement to batter the fort continually Hee had a designe also to take the tower vpon the riuer and thereby not onely make the way more easie to take the fort but also hinder such succours as should come by sea vnto the Portugals for being master of that port the armie which came from Goa should with great difficultie land any men To attempt this tower they had prepared a great marchants ship which they had kept in the hauen making a fort of wood vpon it and fortifying it with cotton against the defendants shot and it was made so high as being brought vnder the tower at a full sea it did reach to the top of it With these and with certaine floates of plankes which they thought to make fast at a low water they resolued to assault the tower whereof Mascaregna was aduertised who feared the successe would be daungerous Wherefore he commaunded Latta That he should come in the night with his two ships and fire that engine within the port for being depriued of that ship they should hardly at that season prouide another the riuers being carefully kept by the Portugals On the fiue and twentieth of Aprill Latta went with all the silence that might be to burne this ship yet he was discouered by the noyse of them that rowed giuing an alarme vnto the enemie notwithstanding hauing but twentie souldiers with him hee went on to execute his designe whereas they found another let for that it was not possible for them to fasten the wild fire which they had brought vnto the ship yet hee left not to effect his designe after another manner for some of them leaping with great resolution into the ship and cutting the cables speedily they towed her in despight of the enemie into the chanell vnder the fort where they burnt it at their ease making great joy for this happie successe on Easter day On the eighteenth of May Fernando of Castro the Viceroyes sonne arriued with eight barks like gallies who by reason of the contrarie season could not haue come sooner without verie great danger he brought them some small succours of men and munition promising him in his fathers name that they should haue greater succours as time would permit His arriuall renewed their joy and taking a view what souldiers they had they found 450 valiant men which were better than two thousand hirelings and gaue hope of a victorie although their enemies were hardie and resolute and furnished with all things to annoy them They did trouble them of the fort with their continuall shooting and slue many yet they had made no royall batterie with any intent to giue an assault neither were their defences taken away as the art of warre required the which was reserued for that king Mamudio would haue the honour to be present at so important an action Wherefore on the fiue and twentieth of Iune he being come into the towne at the breake of day there were suddenly three great peeces of ordnance planted vpon the Barbarians trenches which they called Basilisks with other small peeces of batterie Batterie against the fort of Diu. against two bulwarkes one called Saint Iames and the other Saint Thomas and the curtaine betwixt them Mascaregna had prouided for all this who had not onely caused a platforme to be made for the defence thereof but also fearing they would vndermine that of Saint Thomas he
Zael or Zaen which were both strong This Zeit Aben Zeit seeing himselfe pursued hee made open declaration of that which he had long before desseigned Zeit King of Valence baptized and making himself vassal to the king Don Iames he became a Christian and was called D. Vincent de Belluis He afterwards married a Lady called Dominick Lopes of Sarragossa of which mariage was borne a daughter called Alda Fernandes who was married to Blaiçe Ximenes d' Arenos 21 The warre of Valentia beeing resolued the Generall of the army vnder the king was D. Blasco Alagon by whose valour and diligence Morelia was taken a place which was held impregnable VVarre in Valence against the Mooâ—es Buriane was also beseeged and with great difficulty taken Peniscola Chiuert Ceruera Polpes Alcalatena Albufera Almenata Vxo Noles Castro Alfandecho Paterna Bulla and other places some by force some by composition and partly by the meanes and intelligences which king Zeit had and by the fauour of such as held his partie came into the power of the king D. Iames so as by degrees hee enuironed the citty it selfe cutting off their victuals and all other commodities In these expugnations they did then vse rammes moouing towers with many stages and other sorts of engins The resistance of the Moores which held Zaens partie was very great neither were they abandoned of their friends nor of the kings raigning in Affricke for twelue gallies and sixe vessels called Zabres of Tunez shewed themselues often as if they would land or assayle the places held by the Arragonois along the coast but without any effect The Estates of Arragon and Cattelogne were assembled at Monçon in the yeare 1236. An. 1236. for the continuance of this warre Estates at Mon son for the war of Valâ—nce and the conquest of Valencia without the which it was not lawfull for the king to vndertake any matter of importance The President at these estates was Pedro Perez Iustice maior of Arragon where there assisted D. William of Montgrin co-adiutor to the Arch-bishop of Tarragone the Bishops of Barcelona Saragossa Vic and Tortosa the Master and Prior of the Templers and Hospitaliers Friar Raymond of Pegnafort a most famous Iacobin Roger Bernard Earle of Foix and Don Fernand the kings vncle D. Ponce Cabrera Earle tutelarie of Vrgel D. Pedro Vgo Earle of Ampurias D. Nugno Sanches Earle of Rossillon D. Gerard Vicount of Cabrera D. William of Cardona D. William and Pedro of Moncada Berenger Puçuert William and Berenger ' Anglesol Bernard Portella Hugues Mataplan sonne to Hugues Galserand Pinos William of Laquila Raymond of Peralta Peter Vicount of Villemuir Raymond VVilliam Odeua Berenger Erille and William Ceruera all Knights and Noblemen of Cattelogne And of the realme of Arragon D. Pedro Cornel Lord Steward Bernard William Garci Romeo Symon Vrrea Artorella Artal de Lune Blasco Alagon Roderigo Lizana Blasco Maza Bâ—renger Gombald Entenza Symon de Foces Assalit Gudalis Fortun Verga Simon Lueza and others The meanes to defray this warre besides the Croisados pardons and indulgences were ordayned to be leuied vpon the people by the Imposition of a custome called Morabetine and the exaction of the Impost for cattell In this assembly it was decreed that all peeces of gold and siluer coyned should be of one goodnes and weight in Arragon and Cattelogne to the obseruation of which Edict for coynes all were bound to sweare that were aboue 14. yeares old During the seege of Valenciâ— many Noblemen and common souldiers strangers French and Englsh came to D. Iames his campe The Authors of the Arragon Historie write that the Kings army at the hottest of the siege might bee 60000. foot and a thousand horse meaning Knights and Masters followed according vnto the Order and Discipline of warre in those dayes by their vassalls besides the forces at sea This warre was long and the seege troublesome yet it was attempted battered and assaulted and the Moores within it brought to so great extremity as Zaen the Vsurper of that Principalitie beeing not yet well setled nor assured of the peoples wils Valâ—ncia takâ—n by the Arragonois abandoned it and retired to Denia The cittie was yeelded the 28. of September 1238. The King Don Iames had in the yeare 1232. beene diuorced from D. Elenor of Castile his wife and yet had declared D. Alphonso their son the lawfull heire of the realmes of Arragon and Maiorca the lands of Cattelogne Vrgeil Montpellier and others appointing for Gouernors of his youth the Bishop of Tarragone the Masters or Priors of the Templers and Hospitaliers and William Ceruera ordayning that he should be bredde vp at Monçon and if he should chance to die then did he substitute vnto his Realmes and Seigneuries Don Fernand of Arragon his vncle and Don Raymond Berenger Earle of Prouence his cousin Notwithstanding the king Don Pedro during this warre of Valencia contracted a new marriage with the daughter of Andrew king of Hungary named Violant Genealogie of Arragon by whom he had a sonne called D. Pedro who was king after him of Arragon and Valencia and Prince of Cattelogne he had moreouer the Infant Don Iaime who was king of Maiorca and Minorca and Earle of Rossillon and Montpellier and a third called Don Sancho who was Arch-bishop of Toledo and Primate of Spaine Hee had also fiue daughters by her D. Isabell married to Philip the third King of France sonne to Saint Lewis D. Violant who was Queene of Castile and Leon wife to D. Alphonso the ninth D. Constance married to Don Manuell brother to the sayd D. Alphonso King of Castile D. Mary and D. Elenor who dyed young The dowrie of Queene Yolant or Violant as Surites writes was ten thousand Markes of siluer and two hundred of gold for her mothers rights Dowry of Q. Yolant for the which the Duke of Austria became answerable Moreouer a portion of the County of Namur in Flanders and the lands and rights which her Predecessors had enioyed in France with certaine places which she did then possesse in Hongarie and others that were fallen to her in Bourgogne by her mothers right and succession This Princesse was conducted to Barcelona in the yeare 1235. by the Bishop of the fiue Churches and a kinsman of his called Cont Denis who remained in Arragon and was the Author of the noble family of Denis which is vnited to that of Vrrez hee had two sonnes Amour and Gabriel Denis Don Pedro the eldest son of Queene Yolant was married young to Constance daughter to Manfroy bastard to the Emperour Frederick the second whom they called Prince of Tarentum which was a degree to attaine vnto the succession of the Realmes of Naples and Sicily Cattelogne freed from the Soueraignty of France and by the marriage of his daughter Isabel with Philip the Hardy sonne to Saint Lewis the French king the Kings of Arragon obtayned as the histories of Spain report a full freedome of the
Haro slaine at Alfaro During this warre D. Alphonso Perez de Guzman died also in an incounter against the Moores beeing shot through with an arrow hee lest one sonne and heire Don Iohn Alphonso de Guzman Lord of Saint Lucar These losses were increased by the retreat of Don Iohn of Castille who carried many knights away with him the which did much weaken the army wherefore the King resolued to agree and receiued the sum of gold aboue mentioned with the places of Quesada Bedmar Quadros and Chungin Thus Algezire was deliuered and a truce made betwixt the Realmes of Castille and Granado but when as the King D. Fernand found himselfe seized of these townes and of a good summe of money hee did not much care to maintaine that which hee had promised but sent Don Pedro his brother with the rest of the army to the casile of Tempul neere to Algezire the which he tooke and then returned to Seuille where D. Iohn Nugnes de Lara was newly arriued out of France from Pope Clement of whom he had obtained permission for the King to take the tithes for the warres against the Moores King Mahumet the Blinde was soone after deposed by his own brother Mahumet Azar Aben Lemin The King of Granado deposed being fauored by many great men Moores who were discontented to be gouerned by a blinde King who could not lead them to the warres in person He was taken and dispossessed in the yeere 1309. hauing raigned seuen yeeres the six hundred ninty and two of the Arabians As for the siege of Almery Arragon it was nothing fortunat for the Arragonois who were beaten both by the succors that were sent from Granado and by the besieged which sallied out vpon them so as they lost many good knights and valiant souldiar Such was the religious duty of vassals to their Lords and of subiects to their Prince so holy and inviolable the military discipline in those daies that Martin Ximenes of Ayuar holding a fee of Symon Perez of Arenos slaine in that warre was accused of felony for that he had not succored his Lord in fight but he prooued his alibi and that he was not in that incounter and D. Pedro Martines de Luna being accused of the like crime purged himselfe by oth before the King and Noblemen that he was not at the charge whereas Symon Perez had beene slaine D. Fernand Infant of Majorca was at this siege where he gaue great proofes of his valour Some Authors make mention of memorable exploits done about that time in Grece by some troupes of Arragonois and Cattelans the which we may not omit It happened about the yeere 1302. that in Italy betwixt Charles the Limping King of Naples and D. Frederic of Arragon holding the Island of Sicile contrary to the treaty of peace made at Tarascon after many routs giuen and receiued of either part there was an accord made by the meanes of Charles of Valois and others the conditions were That D. Frederic should enioy the realme of Sicile during his life the which after his death should returne to King Charles of Naples or to his successors That the Princes treating this peace and hauing interest therein should bee a meanes that the Island of Corsica and Sardinia should be giuen to D. Frederic and his descendants The townes taken by the Arragonois and Cattelans on this side the straight should bee yeelded vp The Mediators should bee sutors that the interdict of Sicile should be discharged and the prisoners should be deliuered amongst the which was Philip Prince of Tarentum sonne to Charles and Gautier Earle of Brenne which accord was ratefied by Pope Boniface Tribut imposed by the Pope vpon the realm of Sicile who imposed a tribut of fifteene thousand florins of gold vpon the realme of Sicile paiable yeerely vnto the church of Rome Vpon the conclusion of this peace the captaines and souldiers of either part retired into other countries Roger de Loria who had beene in great reputation to bee â—n excellent sea captaine yea the best of his age retired himselfe into Spaine where he died in the city of Valencia in the yeere 1305. and left an honorable posterity About foure thousand Cattelans and Arragonois and amongst them some Sicilians sayled towards Greece vnder the command of Roger Florio Cattelans and Arragonois in Greece and Thrace Berenger Entenza an Arragonois and others to serue the Emperor Andronicus Paleologus then raigning whose sonne Michel Paleologus slue Roger Florio in treason at Adrianople a man of valour of a Germain race but borne at Brindisi much lamented wherevpon the troupes of Cattelans and Arragonois did choose for their General Berenger Entenza being commanded vnder him by Fernand of Ahones Corbaran of Leet Bernard of Rochfort Raymond of Montanero William Sichar Symon Albert and others Being mutined by reason of these Grecian Princes they fortified themselues vpon the straight of Calipoli and there made warre with all violence against the Emperor Andronicus Grecians defeated by the Cattelans and cut in peeces Caio Iean one of his children with foure hundred horse which were sent against them at a place called Pont Roial six miles from Constantinople But soone after Berenger Entenza beeing incountred at sea and taken by Edward de Oria was carried prisoner to Pera and from thence to Trebysonde yet the rest of his army held the fort of Calipoli stil. The strength of this army consisted in two thousand fiue hundred horse at the most who being led by Bernard of Rochfort who was chosen their head after the taking of Entenza gaue a notable defeat to Michel Paleologus sonne to Andronicus who had with him all the Cauallarie of Constantinople neere to the towne of Apros in Thrace so as Michel being wounded was forced to saue himselfe by flight and shut himselfe into Adrianopoli whereas the Cattelans beseeged him long Their fort of Calipoli being afterwards assailed by Andriol Moro who led Theodore Paleologus Marquis of Montferrat into Italy with an army was so well defended as there were aboue sixe hundred with their commander Andriol slaine there Yet necessity in the meane time did consume these Cattelan troupes being in an enemies countrie few in number and farre from all succors so as finding themselues in extreame despaire D. Fernand Infant of Majorca arriued happely being sent by D. Frederic King of Sicile to giue them some releefe Then was Berenger Entenza returned from prison who seeking to resume his authority of captaine generall against Bernard of Rochfort there grew such a quarrel betwixt them and their partisans as Entenza was slaine wherefore the Infant of Majorcca detesting so rash and mutinous an army left them and thinking to returne into Sicile fell vpon the Isle of Negrepont where hee was staied and carried prisoner to Saint Omer a fort of Athens being put into the hands of Gaultier of Brenne ruling in that country Soone after Bernard of Rochfort and Albert his
forces chased from Maroc Bolahu for his aboade and entertainment and Alboali raigned in the 7. Alboali 7. king of the race of Merins place but he enioyed it not long for it was the wil of God that this wicked sonne fell grieuously sicke in the towne of Fez neere vnto Tremessen not that Fez which is the chiefe of a kingdome his father Aben Ioseph came thither to beseege him and prest him in such sort as he was forced to leaue the realm of Maroc and Fez and to content himselfe with that of Sojumenca By this meanes Aben Ioseph recouered his Crowne and royall authority in Maroc who holding Alboali vnworthy to succeed him he appointed Alboacen his younger sonne to be heire of the Crowne Alboali the elder aduertised of this institution watched a time when both the father and the sonne were absent out of Maroc and comming thither on the sudden well accompanied he seazed thereon thinking by that meanes to haue recouered his realme but hee was beseeged by king Aben Ioseph and Albohacen vpon whom making a sally he was defeated and sore wounded so as he was forced to yeeld to his fathers will and to retire himselfe to Sojumenca the which was granted him againe for his portion after which Aben Ioseph liued 18. yeares quietly king of Maroc by whose decease succeeded his son Alboacen Alboacen 8. King of the Merins the eighth king of the family of Merins yet with great contention against his elder brother Alboali who sought by all practises to cast him from his throne and beeing not of strength sufficient himselfe he begged ayde of other Barbarian Kings so as with the forces he obtained from king Botexefin sonne to Boham then raigning at Tremessen he came againe to beseege the capital town of Maroc where Abderrahamen a braue knight commanded who defended it so valiantly as he forced Alboali to retire with shame who in his retreat was incountred and defeated by the kings army and sonne after beseeged in his towne of Sojumenca who seeing himselfe reduced to extremitie hee took a new composition promising neuer to pretend any interest to the realm of Maroc but to content himselfe with that of Sojumenca for assurance whereof he gaue his sonne called Bozien for hostage Wee must needes confesse that the humanity both of the father and the sonne to Alboali was exceeding great hauing so often rebelled and aspired to the crowne a crime which doth often cause all respect of bloud and allyance to bee forgotten euen in Christian Princes Alboacen rising from Sojumenca ouer-runne Pilla and burnt all the countrie of Tremessen in reuenge that King Botexefin had giuen ayde to his brother at the seege of Maroc It is this Alboacen which had beene sollicited by Mahumet king of Granado to passe into Spaine against Don Alphonso the eleuenth king of Castile and who afterwards hauing subdued the Realmes of Sojumenca and Tremissen was the greatest Prince in all Affricke Returning then into Spaine wee say that Ozmin Generall of the forces of Granado dyed about the yeare 1332. 1332. soone after the truce made betwixt Castile and Granado leauing two sonnes Abraham and Abucebet after whose death King Mahumet put himselfe into fauour with King Alboacen for Ozmin notwithstanding that he was of the same family of Merins had alwaies beene an enemy vnto him wherefore Mahumet going to Fez he was courteously entertayned by the Miralmumin to whome hauing made his complaints of the King of Castile who did alwaies trecherously breake the truce he perswaded and intreated him to ioyne with him against Spaine King Mahumets words to Alboacen For sayd hee God hauing made you the mightiest Prince of the Religion published by the Prophet Mahumet and whome so many Kings and Princes of Affricke obey thou canst not more religiously and with greater honour employ thy forces then against the Christians of Spaine our persecutors and the implacable enemies of our law nor more profitably addresse thy noble enterprises nor with hope of better successe then against them hauing the ports and townes of Spayne at thy command from the Streight along the coast of the Mediterranean sea whereunto the troubled Estate of Castile both alwaies inuite thee wheras Don Alphonso who tearmes himselfe King through an insatiable desire of rule hauing spoyled him subiects of their lawfull inheritances and pursued them in their honours and liues by tyrannous cruelty extending his outragious disdaine euen to women of his owne bloud and others of noble Families hee hath so estranged most of the Princes and Noblemen of Spaine as they now seeke our friendship and offer to ioyne with vs to make warre against him It will be therefore an act worthy of thy wisedome not to let slippe so great occasions and befitting the generositie of thy Noble and renowned Family by this oportunitie to repayre the ruined honour of the Arabians troden vnder foote in Spayne for the sinnes of our Nation by the will and pleasure of the great God who shewes plainely that hee hath now turned his wrath against the Spaniards both Princes and people beeing plunged in all impietie disloyalty dissimulation and couetousnesse To this effect spake Mahumet to the King of Maroc who heard him with great attention and answered by the aduice of his Councell that hee desired nothing more then to do what he had propounded but at that time hee could not wholy attend it as it was fit beeing let by the warre which he had against the king of Tremessen the which being ended hee would employ himselfe in person with all his forces In the mean time he offered him good troupes of horse and gaue him great summes of mony Thus the king of Granado returned well satisfied into his country where beeing arriued hee sent presently to Don Iohn Manuel to conclude a firme League with him and the other Noblemen his Confederates and to resolue of the meanes how to beginne the warre against the King of Castile In this league ioyned Don Iohn Nugnes de Lara Don Iohn Martines de Leyua and many others and there was sent from them vnto Granado with the messengers Moores Don Pero Martines Clauijo to haue the king confirme their accord Wherefore the same yeare 1332. Rodeuan Captaine of the Lymits of Granado towards Murcia Abuceber sonne to Ozmin deceased and Machilif Gouernour of Antequera entred the Realme of Murcia in armes vnto the territorie of Valencia spoyling killing and burning all about Orihuela and Guardamer from whence they returned laden with spoyles to Granado whereby king Don Alphonso knew that hee must of force go to armes for before hee had a conceit that Mahumets practises would prooue vaine and hoped to reclaime his Rebels by promises and other practises but he was deceiued Wherefore to beginne a warre of so great waight and difficultie hee went in pilgrimage to Saint Iames and there was made Knight beeing in compleat armour ordayning that from thence-foorth whosoeuer should desire to be made a knight
their benefices and reuenues yet afterwards they had other things in recompence 6 At the same time the South sea at the Indies was discouered Indies For Vasco Nugnes of Balboa jealous that any other should obtain commission from the king to that effect and depriue him of the honour of this discouerie which he had now attempted without attending any answer from Spaine nor the 1000 Spaniards which he had demaunded from the king parting from the Antique of Darien in September this yeare 1513 with 190 Spaniards in a galleon and ten barkes he came to Carecta where he landed his troupe and marcht into the countrey of the Cachico Ponsa whom he forced to giue him gold and guides to conduct him to the mountaines whereof notice had beene giuen him by the Cachico D. Charles Panquiaco With these guides they came into a countrey called Quareca and the Cachico Torecha where they were forced to fight They slue the lord and dispersed his people not accustomed to see such great wounds as swords of yron make nor to heare then noyse of harquebuses nor the biting of furious dogs which the Spaniards led to the warre with them whom they caused to teare in peeces certaine Indian Sodomites whom they found in that countrey Passing on Vasco Nugnes went vp certaine high mountains with 67 of his souldiers leauing the rest to gard them that were hurt and sicke in a burrough at the foot of the mountaine Being neere vnto the top he caused his troupe to stay and would himselfe goe vp alone where he discouered the waters of the South Ocean South sea discouered by Vasco Nugnes of Balbâ—a for the which he was exceeding glad and gaue God thanks and then he called all the souldiers to haue them see it There they made mounts of stones in signe of possession taken Being come from the mountaine they went to assaile a Cachico called Chiape who being obstinat they put to flight yet being friendly inuited he returned and made himselfe vassall to the king of Castille accompanying him vnto the South sea shore whereof they tooke possession and drew a writing on the 29 of September being S. Michaels day 1515. By this seruice which Vasco Nugnes of Balboa did then vnto the king he well deserued his pardon if he had offended in any thing The company which he had left at Quareca being joyned with him he past a great riuer with 80 Spaniards leauing the rest vpon the banke and went and forced another Cachico called Coquera who put himselfe in defence as Chiape had done and brought him vnder his obedience Then thrust on with a great courage he would enter into that sea notwithstanding that Chiape did dissuade him saying That the current was strong troublesome so as he was in daunger of drowning seeking to recouer a neere island where he arriued with much paine and peril There raigned there a Cachico called Tumaco who made offer to fight but being aduertised by the Indians guides to Chiâ—pe that the Spainiards were good men this Tumaco sent them a sonne of his to know what they demanded Vasco Nugnes spake courteously vnto him apparelled him and him looking glasses with such other toies the which he carrying to his company it moued them so as Tumaco came himselfe in person to the Spanish troope with shews of loue and friendship of whome the Spaniards demanded perles for they saw the Indians of his company weare some whereof they did furnish them with a good quantity and aduertised them that there was a plash neere hand Perles where they did fish some as big as a mans eye the which did please the couetous Spaniards and their Captaines but for that they were few and there were great difficulties and dangers they deferred this prey vnto another voyage wherfore they returned to their companions past into the country of the Cachico Chiape where they refresht themselues and rested some daies Chiape the Cachico did also fish vpon his shoare and gaue them aboue foure charges of perles Vasco Nugnes of Balboa tooke his leaue of him leauing some Spaniards with him for he wept being much grieued at their departure for the opinion he had of their wisdom then they past a riuer to come into the countrie of a Cachico called Teoca wher the Spaniards were receiued with great ioy and Teoca gaue them presents of gold and perles From thence they went through desart and barren places full of Tygres and Lyons with hunger thirst and extreame danger into the lands of Pacra a cruell tyrant and a Sodomite who pursued by the conscience of his owne wickednes thought to escape by flight but â—e was brought backe and after information made of his tyrannies dishonesty Vasco Nugnes caused him to be torne in peeces by his Mastiues with foure other lords his confederates and ministers of such filthines and then the peeces to bee burnt Hee called the couÌ„trie of Pacra All Saints Vasco Nugnes going from thence he came to Buquebuca the lord of which region thinking that the Spaniards were diuine people he was ashamed to appeare before them holding himselfe vnworthy but he sent them some vessels of gold well wrought craued pardon of them Going on with more desire to find victuals than gold they saw certain Indians which crost their way who being brought back vnto them and demanded of what region they were and where there was any victuals they said that they were subiect vnto a king called Corizo who desired to know them and to bee their friend of whome afterwards they receiued thirty plates of golde offering them all that was in his power and intreating them to aide him against another Cachico his enemy in whose countrie hee assured them they should find great wealth Balboa promised him friendship aide and fauour presenting him with their hatchets and other iron works and then he past into the land of Pecorosa where he found victuals receiued gold slaues hauing left his sick men there he went on with sixtie souldiers onely vntill he came vnto the Cachico Tumanama of whome D. Charles Panquiaco had spoken vnto him whom he surprised in his lodging at night And for that he was giuen to the brutish sin against nature Balboa was ready to haue him burnt but thinking to draw from him some secret of his hidden treasure Hope of gaine make vice remaine vnpunished of the qualitie of the countrie he was content to reprehend him sharply and to keep him prisoner giuing some satisfaction to his accusers and there Balboa remained the rest of that yeare 1513. 7 The Spaniards affaires prospering after this manner at the Indies the Armie which was in Italie against the Venetians Italy was no lesse succesfull After the retreat of Aluiano the Venetian generall the emperours lieutenant beseeged Padoua in vaine The viceroy of Naples being resolued to put part of his armie into Bresse and part into Bargamo there to winter he was importuned
a handie stroke enriched with plates and threds of gold and siluer and for offensiue armes some had clubs about foure foot long and the heads as big as two fists hauing fiue or six sharpe pikes of mettall others carried hatchets like vnto our halbeards which they could handle well As for their rereward or subsidiarie squadrons to releue the rest they were all pikes whose heads were better armed than ours bee Frauncis Picarro found the Indians of Peru in this equipage to resist him it may bee say they that haue written of his enterprises to make his conquests more admirable vnto vs For not confessing that either he or any one of his captaines made any account of the Indians of the countrey whom they had drawne vnto their partie and joyned with them in the aboue mentioned combat of Caxamalcan and others they vaunt that this great king Atabalipa was vanquished with all that great multitude of men of war which did accompanie him by lesse than fiue hundred foot and an hundred and twentie horse of the Spanish nation whereof most of the footmen were crossebowes hauing few harquebuses yet they confesse that they had some peeces of ordnance whereunto they attribute some part of their victories saying That the Indians were almost dead for feare seeing these engines spit fire and hearing the noyse thereof wherewith they had neuer been acquainted the which hath some likelyhood Atabalipa was sonne to a warlike and valiant prince Beginning of Atabalipa called Cusco who comming out of the prouince of Quito which is directly vnder the Equinoctiall line towards the South sea had conquered by armes from many other kings and lords those ample regions wherof his sonne was in an instant dispossest at the comming of these Spaniards and hauing there built the citie of Cusco had called it by his owne name and made it the seat of his empire which was aboue three hundred leagues long and broad stretching from the South to the West At his death he left an hundred children males and females most of which liued when Atabalipa was defeated and taken To Guescar whom some also cal Cusco he had left the greatest part of his conquered countries and had giuen to Atabalipa the realme of Quito where he was borne But Guescar not satisfied vnlesse he might haue all did first moue war to dispossesse his brother wherein he was vnfortunat for after many vnhappie incounters he was quite defeated and taken by Chilicuchima lieutenant to Atabalipa by whose commandement although he were a prisoner in the Spaniards hands he was strangled the which did so displease the gouernor Francis Picarro as he conceiued a mortall hatred against the king and his lieutenant not ceasing vntill he had put them to death yet after that he had discouered by their meanes the treasures of the realme had seised of a good part of them and was assured the rest could not escape him In the distribution of which treasure he did afterwards shew himselfe verie vniust and false as well towards his souldiers as to the Emperor his master whom he did frustrate of a good part of his right of the fifts It seemed that God by this sudden easie conquest had prepared a fit subiect for the Emperor Charles to settle a perfect estate at Peru but his ministers did corrupt it All things were there according to a mans desire to execute a great and memorable designe the which had bin admirable to posteritie were it in regard of the glorie of God or temporall commodities in regard of the riches and all sorts of blessings the which heauen and all the elements doe powre downe aboundantly vpon that region but especially for the aptnesse of the people Maners of the people of Peru. who were found ciuile and capable of reason much more than they that had bin first discouered at the islands or vpon the continent of those Westerne Indies towards the North sea They did not find them naked and without shame but apparelled both men and women handsome in their garments industrious in their buildings and in all other arts and workes tillers of the ground feeders of pastures marchants sociable and courteous as wel among themselues as to strangers and religious also although it were after the Pagan maner whose imperfections should not be censured with rigor but excused with an intention to reforme them in time by good examples of pietie and charitie and by justice well and duely ministred considering that in their religion and maners they were not more sauage and barbarous than the first auncient Spaniards before they were ciuilized and instructed of whom we haue made mention in the beginning of this historie They did beleeue the immortalitie of the soule the resurrection of the body and therefore they buried their dead with honour and did graue markes vpon their tombs which did shew the forepassed life of the deceased into whose tombs they did cast precious jewels and brought meat and drinke thither and many times their wiues and seruants did shut them in there did willingly statue themselues They did punish adulterie with death and did put out the eyes of theeues Their childrens children or some other of their bloud did inherit their goods and not their owne children except those of kings Men might take as many wiues as they would and did often marie thier owne sisters Thus among the seedes of pietie humanitie and policie they had errours and blemishes like sensuall people which knew not the true God nor his justice The which they did not measure by the perfect rule of nature but according to their corrupt imaginations and their breeding destitute of light and good gouernement Through this defect they did worship the starres as gods and especially an Idoll which had its temple in the citie of Pancacami who spake Oracles vnto them and from whom they attended all their prosperities It is the vsuall course of the Gentiles to whom the mysteries of saluation are not reuealed which are speciall graces And had not these poore Perusians vices in that regard which were common with the auncient Aegyptians Grecians Romans and other such famous nations who haue beene happily drawne from Paganisme to Christianitie among whom the world hath seene so many goodly Churches to flourish by the bountie of kings and Emperours and by the doctrine diligence and exemplarie life of good bishops But the Spaniards nor their commaunders had no such intent as their actions written doe witnesse It was sufficient for them to commaund these ignorant people proudly to make profession of Christians in assisting at the ceremonies vpon paine of death or seruitude And it fell out often I know not through what charitie that many which for feare had caused themselues to be baptised were by them instantly slaine that they might haue no leasure to denie it And thus they sayed they procured their soules health These courses which could not bee pleasing vnto God drew his warth vpon the
of this opinion who list my selfe can warrāt it It is not good to enter into a quarrel without forecast how to make it good but after it is once begun there is neither dalliance nor delay without danger To him that hath best skill vnderstanding how to manage war it will maintein it selfe so as good order may be taken from the first beginning and the proofe of euerie peece of councel that experience maketh good may serue for sound direction in other things that happen afterwards Let prouision of all things be made in the best kind euer with an ouerplus for in that which is left can be little losse althogh there were yet there is no proportion betwixt it and the dangers that may grow in weakening braue attempts with scarcitie Let al your proceedings inuentiōs tend to victory for that is the final end of the art of war to which men attaine with seasonable prouisiōs discreet orders wise gouernment In the beginning wisedome diligence warines is required courage in the pursuit a constant resolution vnto the end you must euer giue the first assault rather then attend vntil you be set vpon And althogh your fortune shold be so bad as to be preuented in this course yet must you seek by al meanes to diuert that force by the great aduantage that is gotten by making warre vpon some other princes countrie or doing some good peece of seruice to stay the frowns of fortune Repose not the only staie hope of your martiall proceedings eyther vpon your companies of horse by land or your fleet by sea for they are things without sence or reason we see that at sea the greater number preuaileth cōmonly besides the deceits vncertainty of the sea But touching these instructions thus scattered and other considerations to bee obserued in the whole course of war I wil refer you to my noates which wil giue no smal light how to demean your self vpon all occasion the which considering your present estate are likely to happen I will now speake first of the warre against the Turke 1550 as that which I hold to bee of greatest importance most certaine and most daungerous as well in respect of your profession and faith which ought to bee preferred by a Prince of your religion and conscience before all other ends as also the Turke is the mightiest enemy that either at this day you haue or are like to haue You may assure your selfe that he is a certaine enemy not only through the malice which he beareth to your self and faith but by the grounds of his owne politike or rather tyrannous estate which presse him to bee alwayes readie and in armes to withstand all attempts It is hard for him to worke any great effects in Hungary as well in respect of the long course of the riuer of Danow and of the champaine country as of the situation of Vienna and the neighbourhood of Germanie In other places likewise his next neighbours are either mightie or troublesome and such as in processe of time may bee more easily brought vnder than at this instant standing alwayes with their swords drawne to defend their liberties They are not like vnto the Sophie whose deepe wisedome and great valour makes his forces to bee feared more than the greatnesse of his owne estate But God knoweth whether his next successours will be able to supply the want that is found in his fortune In other places the borders are not all inhabited for they lie waste most commonly vpon the greatest parts of the dominions and realmes that are possessed by this tyrannie for these respects And for his soueraigntie vpon the sea side besides the discord and diuision which is among the Christian princes of our age there is no doubt but hee shall be drawne to turne his whole forces vpon the Ilands and your estates in Italie It is not probable to thinke that hee will breake with the Venetians before hee breake with you for doubtlesse hee will imagine that in warring against Venice your forces will come in to aide but beginning first with you it may be hee will hope that the Venetians will remaine neuters One reason may be giuen in this respect which is their discontinuance from all exercise of armes for so many yeres Another for that commonweales consisting either of popularitie or peeres in respect of the long life which they presume to be most certaine in their estates and their hope of preferrement from degrees of good to better which is euer greene do euer trust more in the aduantage of time and such accidents as may fall out in the changes and alteratious of the world than in anie warre that is attempted by great Potentates and will either not at all take armes or so late as they had done better not to haue medled Moreouer hauing alreadie fastned their tallons in his sides and put a sharpe bitte into his mouth by the possession of the Ilands of Cipresse and Candie it is likely they will stand long vpon their gard before they will hazard themselues to offend or defend any man Adde hereunto that the estate of Venice standing wholy vpon merchandize they can not forbeare the trafficke they haue in the Turkes Dominions Now wee see that the Turke is by little and little growne proud hauing multiplied your daungers by the greatnesse of his power which is now so aduaunced to the toppe of Fortunes wheele as wee may rather hope that it will breake with its owne burthen or that it may be weakened by policie or warre than looke for an ouerthrow by some miracle from heauen or by the power of Christendome for as men are sinfull so God is iust No doubt but the Turkish Empire hath a period but in Gods fore-knowledge not in mans fore-cast and therefore vntill wee chaunge the course of our euill liues wee striue in vaine to moderate the plagues of his deserued indignation I know many haue beene of the mind and are yet at this day that it is impossible for anie Potentate in Christendome to set downe any course by his owne force to keepe vnder this aspiring miscreant And therefore by a generall league and combination of all princes this worke must be effected Notwithstanding when I consider by the light of long experience what poore effects haue issued from this deuice and what fraude doth often lurke amongst such consorts I am of opinion that you should wholy relie vpon your owne strength and before the attempting of anie famous enterprise examine what your owne estates are able to performe and then those which your neighbours and allies haue promised I haue found and you haue reason to remember how the French king carried himselfe concerning these occasions vpon a causlesse iealousie 1555 and a priuate spleene men will haue humours whilest they mannage the affaires of this world your wisest course is to prouide that they may not preiudice you The way will be more
Romanes which Sicambrians of the Rhin did afterwards take the name of Frances or French and haue imparted it to others So as wee may be good proofes conclude that when as in the time of the emperour Valentinian the Sicambrians French erected a realme in Gaule that they were no new people but of the same nation whereof a number became more eminent than the rest not for any desire to rule ouer them but in hatred of the Romanes tyranny and to repulse the Bourgongnians Gothes and other barbarous Nations which spoiled the Countrie and held their brethren in seruitude Hauing freed them and ioyning all in one bodie they erected this French monarchy which hath exceeded all others in dignitie and valour adding to the name of Gaule that of France in honour and remembrance of their deliuerers who held the Scepter and Soueraigntie as due vnto them but the Belges Celtes French Acquitanes and finally all the Gaules made the bodie of the estate vnder one common bond of ciuill libertie one honouring another by mutuall courtesies for as the Gaules had reuerâ—nced the French armes which had freed them from seruitude and oppression so the French for their part had receiued with honour the ciuilitie lawes and religion of the Gaules made an equalitie of free right betwixt them The Spaniards haue no memorie to brag on Spaine a prey to the Barbarians for as Pharamond made warre in the lower part of Gaule Belgike Spaine was then a prey and torne in peeces by diuers cruell and barbarous nations hauing neither feare nor courage to resist them The Gothes beganne to shew themselues on this side the Alpes and to frame a royall estate in Gaule making their seat at Tolousa but they held it not long for the French sent them soone beyond the Pyrenees to contend with the Vandales Alanes Sueues who had already wholy subdued Spaine and hauing diuided it among them fell to iarre about their portions at the comming of this Gotike nation who had no coÌ„formitie nor acquaintance with the Spaniards as the Sicambrians had with the Gaules but was a meer stranger an enemie seeking nothing but spoile The Spaniards hauing beene conquered by the Gothes from the Romanes and the aboue named nations they fell out of one seruitude into another which continued aboue one hundred and twentie yeares and their condition was very miserable from Wallia the Arrian king vnto Richareds the Christian for all that time was a meere conquest full of desolations and ruines without any forme of good gouernment whilest that the raigne of the French Gaules was setled in pietie and justice and did prosper in armes subduing the Burgongnians forcing the remainder of the Gothes which were on this side the Pyrenee mountains to goe to their companions in Spaine and rooting out the rest of the Romanes in Gaule Ricaredo and some other kings following him held some better order in their gouernments and made lawes grounded vpon naturall equitie justice the which are at this day in price There past some raigns in this natioÌ„ in the which the princes being made Christians did willingly take counsell in Spirituall things of the Clergie in national councels which were often held and namely at Toledo In like maner the Clergie did reuerence the royall authority and did freely receiue fit orders for their estate in temporal things we must confesse that whilest this harmony lasted Abuse of Councels in Spaine the Spaniards their affairs did prosper but when their Councels were conuerted into assemblies of the states where also the Clergie would euer haue most authoritie when as instead of treating of the doctrine of Iesus Christ and the due dispensation of his heauenly blessings among Christians studying to refute errors with knowledge and charitie and to reclaime the manners and affections of men to the rule of true Iustice By holie Constitutions they did handle with contention the preheminences of Prelats in their diocesses and iurisdictions disposed of the estate of Kings houses of the honours and offices thereof and of the gard of their persons reconciled quarrelles among great men and dealt in other such worldly affaires all vnder the authoritie of Councells whereby all was corrupted euery man for getting his ranke in the end they found proud and obstinate Kings in that State who in disdaine of the impertinencie and excesse of such pastors and for their cause of religion it selfe abandoned themselues to all vice and impietie so as God to punish them gaue way to the Moores and Arabians who entred into Spaine Moores the scourge of Gods iustice and made such a spoile as both Clergie and Laie men King and Subiects Noblemen and Clownes finally all degrees smarted many yeeres That from these lamentable calamities the defenders of the Spaniards preheminence and of their kings seeke I know not by what Art to draw glorie saying with ostentation that their nation hath always preserued among the Gothes and Sarazins which haue ruled ouer them their Language Religion and Libertie wherein they shew themselues verie vaine Vanities of the Spaniards for as for their libertie the Histories shew the contrarie neither had they kept their religion pure And as for their language they of the French partie said that the Spaniards had vrged it to no purpose yea if they would consider it well they should find that it gaue them no grace but did rather blemish them If they will say that in Spaine they neither speake the Gothike Arabic nor Africane tongues they must also adde that they speake not Spanish there The French doe freely confesse that the true Languages of the Gaules and French are not much vsed now in Fraunce Doe wee not know that either of them spake the Roman tongue in those daies for hauing beene long subiect to the Empire of Rome they were forced to learne the tongue and to vse it by an expresse Lawe as all other people did which were subdued by this proud Nation This Roman tongue was retained both by the Spaniards and French to this day yet mingled and corrupted by other tongues but there is one notable difference which giues the aduantages to the French which is that although they haue some words and tearmes remaining of the Roman tongue yet haue they very few that are meerly strange but are of the old Sicambrian German and Teuton tongues which is the common language of the French and of all the auncient Gaules whereas that which the Spaniards vse at this day consists of the Roman Gothike Arabic Moorish and African tongues a perpetuall note vnlesse they change it that they haue serued the Gothes Moores Arabians and Africans the which is yet fresh And therfore it appeeres that the Gaules being deliuered from the Roman yoake by the French their Country men hauing made one body and one people haue since preserued their language better and more generously than the Spaniards and which doth more import increasing still in power
which followed the king of Portugals partie to drawe them vnto themselues wherein finding some difficulties they sought to set a diuision among them and they faining to be partakers in their quarrels did so bandie them one against another as the Moores and Alarabes of the countrie of Duquele and they of Xarquie of the one part and they of Garbia of the other by mutuall incounters and bloodie battels made themselues so weake as the Xeriffes did easily subiect them one after another and inrich themselues with their spoyles which was so great as afterwards they had not any need of armes horses not followers Hamet and Mahomet diuide their estates and then the two brethren diuided their estates so as Hamet was king of Marroc and Mahomet king of Sus or of Tarudant which towne he did beautifie with buildings and fortifie very much but as the prosperities of this world are neuer absolute going to besiege the towne of Cap d' Aguer in Sus hee was roughly repulst with the losse of a great number of men the which did but quicken his spirits and courage to find meanes to recouer this losse and to maintaine his reputation wherein both hee and his brother Hamet were much assisted by the approbation they had of the king of Fez who was content when they had any losse that they should repaire their forces by new leuies made in his countries and by his subiects which did voluntarily follow them and therefore for some yeares they entertained friendship with this king who was the cause of their aduancement by all duties and good offices paying him the like tribute that Nacer king of Marroc was accustomed to paie and moreouer the fift penie of their spoiles taken in warre But finding themselues once strong they began to neglect it wherewith the king was discontented commanding one of his captaines of let them vnderstand that if they sent him not this tribute he would make warre against them as enemies The death of king Mahomet Oataz ensuing pacified this quarrell for that the children of the deceased who had beene scholers to one of the Xeriffes would not molest them but confirmed them easily in their conquests making a new promise of a light tribute of the which they neuer paied any thing beeing glad to haue such an occasion to breake with them of Fez whom they knew to be men of little valour liuing in delights and pleasures Ambition which hath no bounds prouoking them to passe all the bonds respects and considerations of the fauours which they had receiued from the house of these Oataz Merines whom in the end they did ruine and the better to attaine to that which they pretended they made an alliance with Aben Hadu and Muley Ferez brethren and Muley Drys with other Lords of the mountaines enemies to the familie of the Oataz so as when Muley Hamet who had succeeded Mahomet his father in the realme of Fez thought after that the tribute had beene discontinued some yeares to force the Xeriffes they gaue him plainly to vnderstand that they owed him not any thing and that they had more right to raigne and to demand tribute of the kings and people of Afrike than any other for that they were descended from the Prophet Mahomet and his lawfull successours wherefore if he thought it good to bee their friend they would bee his and if hee attempted to crosse them in the warres which they made against Christians that both God and Mahomet would punish him neither should they want power to defend themselues And soone after the Xeriffe of Marroc who confined vpon the country of Fez made triall if this king had the courage to enter into warre for he began to force the inhabitants of some places of his iurisdiction which lay neerest vnto him to paie him the tenthes of their fruits Tenths of fruits the reuenewes of Kings which was the chiefe article at that time of the receipt of their treasure yea they did not eact any other thing but certaine customes or tolles Whereupon the king of Fez resolued to proclaime war against them came in person to besiege Marroc being vnprouided of Ordnance for hee had but two peeces with the which hee made a batterie neere vnto the port of Ciet Belabez Cebti The other hearing of this siege at Sus came speedily and put himselfe into Marroc with three thousand horse the which the king of Fez with his armie could not preuent then instantly with his and his brothers forces they made a furious fallie and put the assaylants to rout pursuing them vnto the Prouince of Escura doing infinit harme euen in the taile of their army King Hamet Oataz making hast with the first to come to Fez where he had news the same night that Muley Musand her brother had raysed a tumult in the cittie that he wold make himself King which rebellion he supprest by his comming By this bad triall which the King of Fez had made he was so incensed as he would returne againe to the seege of Marroc whereas the two brethren did not attend him but came foorth to meete him and charging him at the passage of the riuer of los Negros King of Fez defeated by the Xeriffes at a place called Buacuba they defeated his foreward in which conflict Muley Mahomet his son was slaine and with him King Aben Abdalla he who had lost Granado in Spaine and the King of Fez was forced to returne in disorder with great losse of his men baggage and women and to leaue the field to the Xeriffes who by fauour of this victorie made all them of the iurisdiction of Fez which confined vpon Marroc to contribute the tenths without any resistance and when as afterwards the King of Fez sought to be reuenged they made head against him and his Captaines and put them to many routes so as that wrong remayned vnreuenged The Xeriffes hauing handled the King of Fez thus roughly he of Sus led an armie beyond the mountaine Atlas he tooke Tafilet a towne of Numidia and carried away the Lord thereof called Amar. He also took some other places some by force some by composition so as these two brethren extended their dominions towards Numidia and Lybia and subdued the Arabians and Affricans which liued in those drie countries But that which gaue more fame to Mahomet was the taking of Cape d' Aguer which he had alreadie attempted and was then ill defended by D. Guttiere of Montroy a Portugois who was forced and taken there with a good spoile especially of armes and ordinance whereof the Xeriffes could make great vse This conquest setled them in their Estates and made all the people of the mountaines and valleys friends yea obedient vnto them and some thought that they had made Emanuel King of Portugal giue ouer the warres of Affrick and demantle the townes of Azamor Safi Arzille and Alcaçar Ceguer the which hapned soone after But as all equalitie is odious in
hauing taken armes againe the two brethren came to battel at a place called Quehera 7. leagues from Marroc the 29. of August 1544. whereas Hamet was vanquished and his army so disperst as Mahomet being at the cittie gates chasing them that fled he was receiued partly by loue and partly by feare the Gouernor and citizens thinking that all had beene lost where hauing deliuered him the castle he was saluted and held for King of Marroc Hee did not touch his brothers wiues nor children nor their Iewels not treasure but preserued them assuring them that they should haue good vsage A day or two after Hamet came to the gates of Marroc but he found the place taken wherefore beeing opprest with sorrow hee retired to the Hermitage of Cidi Abdalla ben Cesi a man greatly honoured among that nation not farre from the cittie and from thence he sent his sonnes Muley Cidan and Muley Nacer vnto the King of Fez to recommend them and their affaires vnto him It was Muley Hamet Oataz aboue-mentioned a generous Prince who notwithstanding the wrongs hee had receyued from their father and vncle entertained these two Xeriffes very courteously and promised them all assistance The Xeriffe Mahomet new King of Marroc knowing that his Nephewes were retired to Fez sent them word that they should not estrange themselues and that he had no will but to do them good whereupon they obeyed him and he also drew vnto him by rewards and good entertaynments all the Captaines and souldiers which had serued his brother The Alfaguis grieuing at Hamets disgrace did mediat an enterview of the two breethren neere vnto the riuer of Luyden two leagues from Marroc in the yeare 1545 but it was to Mahomets aduantage for this victorious King caused a great and rich pauilion to be set vp all open in the middest of his troupes where he was set low vppon a royall seate hauing barres round about so as no man could come neere him but before he being armed About him were his gards set and other troupes of souldiers who left an entrie to go vnto the King There first presented themselues vnto him Hamets smaller children then they that were bigger and so according to their ages who came and kissed his knee one after another and then retired to one side of the pauilion whereas the Kings children and his chiefe Officers were last of all came Hamet the Xeriffe before whom the King arose and receyued him at the entrie of his pauillion where as they embraced one another with teares in their eyes and then sitting downe vppon one seate after they had viewed one another a long space sighing but not speaking Mahomets speech to his brother Hamet Mahomet began to tell him mildly of the breach of his faith and of the peace of Tarudant that God had punished him by the victory which he had giuen him miraculously being very apparent that his forces were not sufficient to seize vpon the Realme of Marroc and that he must confesse that for his disloyaltie he was fallen into the hatred of his subiects and vassals That he should remember how much he had loued him serued and obeyed him as being his elder and that he might assure himselfe he would beare him the like loue hereafter notwithstanding all that was past so as he would acknowledge him to be his king and be content to be his Vizir and Captaine generall but he must forbeare to enter into Marroc for he had promised the Inhabitants who feared to be ill intreated by him not to suffer him to enter Wherefore hee should retire himselfe with his wife and children to the towne of Tafilet where he should receiue all brotherly loue from him and that he hoped the conquests they had hitherto made were of small esteeme in regard of those that were to come by the which hee should haue meanes to giue vnto his children Realmes and Seigneuries to his and their content Hamet made some excuses for that which he had done and thanked him humbly in words for the promises and offers he made him although the sentence seemed hard yet he must vndergo it wherefore he retired to Tafila in Numidia with his wiues children such friends as wold follow him If the Xeriffe Mahomet had dispossest his brother whereof the chiefe motiue had beene ambition and then distrust the King of Fez might well attend as much for they had beene already in armes and the Xeriffe knew wel that he had wronged him of Fez which in reason required reparation but the Xeriffes greatnes would not permit it one distrusting another they fell easily to quarrell The Xeriffe complained that after the battell of Quehera the king of Fez had giuen refuge to Muley Cidan and Muley Nacer his nephewes and then he pretended that the Prouince of Tedle did belong to the Realme of Marroc and at the same time that he demanded it he sent Muley Abdel Cader one of his sons to field with an army Kings of Fez and Marroc at warre to exact the contributions giuing him for an assistant Mumen Belelche aboue-named by race a Geneuois to whom he gaue charge to beseege the strong castle of Fixtelle and to take it which they could not do for the place was well defended by Ben-Ouzar captaine to the king of Fez who also went to field to succor him The Xeriffe desiring to incounter him went also to field In the armie of Fez were 30000. horse as well of Fez Velez Dubuda as Arabians Hololes and of Beni Melic Sofian and eight hundred harquebuziers Turkes or Christian renegado's led by Marian a Persian born The warres of Barbarie and Mauritania are for the most part on horse-backe and they do little esteeme foot-men besides all this he had a thousand harguebuziers on horse-back and foure and twenty peeces of Ordinance The Xeriffe had eighteene peeces of Ordinance eighteene thousand horse three hundred Turkes harguebuiers and a thousand Christians renegado's carrying Cros-bowes These armies being neere together spent many dayes to spie out some aduantage when as the Xeriffe perceyued that the hors-men of Fez and the Alarabes which were with them beganne to disband according to their custome which is to grow wearie to be in field and to returne to see their families hee offered battell so fitly King of Fez de seated taken for hee was a great souldier as they were forced to fight where the Xeriffe got the victorie and the King of Fez was taken beeing hurt in two places and his sonne Muley Bucar with many other Commaunders and Captaines and a great spoyle Muley Buaçon Lord of Velez de la Gomera of the race of Merins alone shewed himselfe a valiant Captaine and saued his Squadron all the rest beeing scattered and put to route Fixtelle was then yeelded and all other places of the Prouince of Tedle The Xeriffe causing the King of Fez to come before him vsed no rough speech but did rather comfort him in his
the possibility the honour and safety or any other important consideration whatsoeuer But discoursing now of the easinesse of this conquest in regard of that of the Netherlands I will proue said he that the difficulties be the same to inuade England and the Netherlands First of all I presuppose that a sufficient army beeing leauied a royal enterprise is sooner brought to perfection when as they are attempted both by sea and land the which King Philip may do with greater aduantage in the enterprise of England then in that of the Nertherlands for as the voiage by sea is shorter and more easie so he may more commodiously inuade England by land hauing meanes to land part of his army safely in Scotland as we will hereafter shew whereas if he should send an army by land into the Low countries the way would be long to passe from Spaine through Italy and Germany and it would be exceeding chargeable and dangerous The second reason is that it is more commodious neerer and more safe to passe into England for that from the straight of Gibraltar thether is all open sea without any let but to go into the Low countries hee must of necessity passe by England the which by all reason of state should let the King of Spaine vnderstand in his passage that neither friends nor foes are welcome when they come with a great power wherefore there is no doubt that whosoeuer wil muade the Netherlands hee must breake this barre or make plaine this mountaine of England which crosseth him in his passage My third reason said he is grounded vpon a firme maximy of the Art of warre that thou must neuer seeke to inuade any place and leaue any thing behind to disturbe thee wherefore it were a rash enterprise to attempt the Low countries and leaue England behind who beeing full of iealousie may sodainely set vpon the Catholike Kings army in the hottest of their warre against the Netherlanders The forth that going to conquer the Low countries they must fight with braue old souldiers bred vp in the warre See here his error and ignorance but on the other side the English are without Art or practise of warre they cannot vse the harguebuse nor any other offenciue armes but onely bowes and arrowes the which are of no force against corselets and head-head-peeces as wee vse so as said he there is the like comparison to bee made betwixt the English and the Dutch souldiers as is betwixt idlenesse and exercise or an armed and disarmed man And what an aduantage it is to fight with vnskilful souldiers it it apparent by the example of Miltiades in the fields of Marathon who with lesse then 10000. braue men put to flight that mighty but vnwarlike army of Xerxes being aboue 600000. men The fifth that there is more difficulty in that of the Netherlands for that they will keepe themselues more close so as they must bee wonne by inches and a whole army must be imployed in the seege of a towne and so of the rest the which happely wil be of no great importance but that they wil stay in course of his victory that seekes the winne them But contrarywise England hath not any towne to stay the violence a victorious enemy hauing once set footing into the Island the which wil be no difficult thing for the King of Spaine to effect So as England being without any forts but vpon the frontiers and the Low countries ful of forts both within and without there is no doubt but the enterprise of that is more easie then this as it is more easie to vanquish them that make no resistance Whereof the Low countries are a familiar example where notwithstanding that the King had great garrisons yet they many times found so great crosses as they were often vanquished by the opposition of those forts whereas there being no place in Portugal able to resist the enemies forces the Spaniards entred into the heart of the realme they being not able to make resistance The sixth reason is that forts and townes of strength are to an inuading army but incombers after they be wonne for that the greatest part of the army is drawne away into garrisons whereby it is much weakened The seuenth reason said hee seemeth sufficient in this case to proue the truth of my opinion If the King of Spaine sends an army to purge the rebellious humors of the Netherlanders it is to bee feared that this Phisicke will rather stirre vp the good humors then euacuat the bad breeding a disease full of corrupt matter whereas now the good matter hauing the predominant power wee may hope that in time it will vanquish the violence of the disease whereas by this course the humors of Malcontents may bee corrupted and they drawne to desire innouations we know that by the composition made betwixt the King and his subiects the Malcontents they haue taken vpon them the burthen of this warre so as the Spaniards and other strange souldiers might bee drawne out of the Low countries If then an army should bee sent out of Spaine to subdue the Netherlanders or they should but heare it were so resolued they would easily vnderstand that the victors would prescribe a Law to the vanquished and the Malcontents would not only loose that great desire they had to beare that great burthen of the warre and the reward which they expected from his Maiesty but they would feare to loose their preuiledges and liberties in regard whereof they haue made cruell warre against themselues By this then and many other reasons it apeeres how dangerous it is to exasperates the mindes of friend with so sharpe a medicine If the Malcontents should ioyne themselues with the aduerse partie and oppose against the Spaniards that warre would proue more difficult then euer for the Catholike King not only for that the Kings forces should be diminished but also for that the enemy should be fortified So as we haue hetherto proued that it is more easie and more commodious to inuade England then the Netherlands Now we will shew said hee not by way of comparison but in respect of it selfe how much it doth import the Catholike King and how easie it is for him to inuade England It is not to bee doubted but the Phisicke is best which not onely cures the member that is greeued but also takes away the cause of the disease If then the Catholike King seeke to conquer the Low countries hee may well close vp the wound of their rebellion but he shall neuer euacuat the corrupt humors which haue fed the disease seeing that England hath alwaies norrished the rebellions of the Low countries And admit it were cured of this present indisposition what health can it bee called when as the body is still subiect to these peccant humors wherefore England is first to be attempted that afterwards wee may with safety digest or euacuat all concurrent humors But to intreat more plainely of the facility of
should present himselfe armed at all peeces Returning to Burgos he caused himselfe to be crowned king to giue more authoritie to his royall Maiestie he also caused Queene Mary his wife to be crowned with great pompe and charge to the Inhabitants The next day the king did arme and make aboue an hundred Noblemen and Gentlemen Knights in he Monasterie of Huelgas being al couered with white The ceremonie being ended he gaue to the Citie of Burgos the place of Nugno with the iurisdiction for euer to recompence the expences they had beene at in his Coronation During these Ceremonies the king of Maroc sent his sonne Abomelic called the Infant Picao into Granado with seuen thousand horse armed a la Genette who landed at Algezire whereof the Gouernors of Tariffe and Gibraltar did presently aduertise the king of Castile which newes he receiued to checke his ioy for the birth of two children the one by the Queene his wife in Vailledolit whose name was Don Fernand the other by Donna Leonora of Guzman called Don Sancho to whom the king assigned Ledesma and other places Assoone as the Moore Abomelte had landed he tooke vppon him the title of King of Algezire and Ronde and came and beseeged the towne of Gibraltar in the beginning of the yeare 1333. An. 1333. for the releefe whereof the king D. Alphonso sent the masters of the militarie Orders of S. Iames Calatraua Alcantare and the Knights of the band seeking by all meanes possible to giue contentment to Don Iohn Manuel and other Noblemen which had rebelled against him but it was labour lost wherefore hearing that the king of Granado had on the other side beseeged castell del Rio in the territorie of Cordoua he marched to the fronter in person Those which defended castel del Rio beeing commanded by Martin Alphonso behaued themselues so valiantly with some small succours which came vnto them from Cordoua as the king of Granado raysed the seege and went to Cabra a towne belonging to the knights of Calatraua the which hee tooke by the treason of the Gouernour Pero Diaz of Agrayo and hauing sent the prisoners hee found in it to Granado he razed the place The towne of Gibaltar beeing battered and furiously assaulted by the Affricane Moores for the space of fiue moneths hauing receiued no succours from the King of Castile was yeelded vp by Vasco Perez de de Meyra who in stead of imploying the kings mony ahout the fortification of the place and to furnish it with victuals and other necessaries had made goodly purchases for his owne particular about Xeres After the taking of Cabra D. Iohn Nugnes de Prado master of Calatraua presented himselfe in view of the Moores army with the troupes of Cordoua Eccia Carmona Marchena and other places meaning to giue them battell but king Mahumet retired himselfe King Don Alphonso finding all things in disorder at his comming to Seuile hee presently led his army before Gibraltar to recouer it from the enemy before they should haue leysure to fortifie it but it was manned with a great garrison which made many sallies the which was losse of many good men of either part in the end the Christian army beeing greatly opprest with hunger the gallies beeing not able to furnish the campe with victuals they were forced to rayse the seege to returne another time as they did At the retreat of Abomelic King of Algezire they surprized in the passage so greata number of Christians of all sorts as beeing led to Algezire the best of these poore slaues was sold for a doublon Some months after the King of Granado tooke the castell of Benamexir a place belonging to the knights of S. Iames the which was defended by Gomes Arias and afterwards spoyled the territorie of Cordoua euen to the citty gates finding not any resistance for the army returned to the seege of Gibraltar the which they found more difficult then before yet the Christians vsed all diligence to batter mayne sappe and assault it continually king Abomelic sent to haue the king of Granado to approch with his forces beeing resolued to giue battel and to rayse the seege from Gibraltar King Mahumet was readie and came and camped neere vnto the riuer of Guadiara aduertising Abomelic of his beeing there who came to field whereas the two Morish armyes ioyned within a league of the king of Castiles campe to whom they presented themselues in battel three dayes together but D. Alphonso was abuised to forbeare and wisely For the hazard of a battell drawes after it either the happines or the ruine of an estate and should neuer be put in question by any wise captaine within his owne countrie but vpon very great aduantage wherefore he fortified his campe with a trench which reached to either shoore The armies hauing continued thus neere together some dayes without fighting there was a truce propounded whereunto king D. Alphonso was the more willing to yeeld hauing newes of many insolencies which the rebels of Castile had committed Townes taken by the Moores Wherefore it was concluded of either side for foure yeares the king of Granado remaining vassall to him of Castile paying a tribute of 12000. doublons and Gibraltar should remaine in the possession of Abomelic who ioyned to his titles During this warre D. Iohn Manuel and Don Iohn Nugnes de Lara had conference with Don Alphonso of Arragon at the castell of Habib seeking to draw him to their league against D. Alphonso king of Castile his brother-in-law but they could not preuaile These with other of their faction Death of D. Fernand heire of Castile began to ouer-runne the countrie to take townes and prisoners and to do all acts of hostility in the Realme of Castile The king hearing of this spoyle at the very instant when as he was aduertised of the death of his onely sonne and heire Don Fernand in the citty of Toro was wonderfully afflicted and therefore inclined to a truce as we haue sayd after which he was visited by king Mahumet in his campe whome he receiued kindly giuing great presents one vnto another King Mahumet returning to his army many that were desirous of innouation murmured at this interview and reproched vnto the king that he had eaten with a Christian king Among others Abraham and Abuceber sons to Ozmin smothering in their brests an hereditarie hatred against this king and all his house made a conspiracie with such as they knew to be ill affected hauing intelligence with Mahomad Alhamar already mentioned in the conspiracie against his father and watching an oportunity to put their wicked desseigne in execution seeing him one day attired in a rich roabe which king D. Alphonso had giuen him they began to detest him and to rayle of him to all men saying that he shewed himselfe to be base and a coward and that as he did outwardly carry the badge of a Christian so there was no doubt but he was insected within Mahumet king
meanes to liue in peace and vnitie one with another attending the determination of such a Councell and that in the meane time all proceedings against the Protestants should cease yet they saw the Archbishop of Cologne pursued and condemned for that he sought to reforme his Clergie the conference made frustrat by the policie and importunitie of some Monkes the Pope to vse his absolute authoritie and all Germanie to be full of armes their aduersaries picking quarels with the priuâ—tie of the Emperour and Pope so as they were forced to defend themselues the which was falsly tearmed sedition Vpon which discontents there were many embassadours sent vnto the Emperour from the Protestant princes whereof the chiefe were Frederic duke of Saxonie Elector and Philip Landgraue of Hesse who drew after them many princes and barons of great place their friends allies or vassals with the chiefe Imperiall townes Demands of the Protestants all which demaunded peace and assurance that it should not be broken by any decree of the Councell of Trent and a present reformation of the Imperiall Chamber where there were some of their profest enemies To which demaunds the Emperour made dilatorie and ambiguous aunswers to win time to the end hee might draw his forces which came from all parts into one bodie so as they seeing no other remedie began also to arme Ausbourg Vlme and other townes of high Germanie being assisted by the duke of Wirtemberg came first to field and fell vpon the subiects of Ferdinand king of Romans taking Ereberg at the foot of the Alpes comming out of Italie with other places The duke of Saxonie the Landgraue and their confederats raised a mightie armie vpon the marches of Franconia and marcht towards the riuer of Danow passing quietly through the lands of the bishop of Virtzbourg and of other Clergie men The Emperour who prepared his campe with all speed about Landshuot vpon the riuer of Iser proclaimed them as troublers of the publicke peace Protestants preclaimed and guiltie of high treason Being fortified hee came and lodged vpon the riuer of Danow betwixt Ingolstade and Ratisbone hauing receiued tenne thousand foot and fiue hundred light horse from the Pope led by cardinall Farnese Captaines of the Popes armie Legat and Octauio his brother prince of Parma and Plaisance assisted by many worthie captaines whereof the chiefe were Alexander and Paul Vitelli Iohn Baptista and Frederic Sauelli Iulio Vrsino Sforce Paliuicin Alphonso of Este and Ralph Bailloni And they had brought him out of the garrisons of Italie six thousand Spaniards of the old Regiments vnder the commaund of Ferdinand of Toledo Captaines of the Emperors forces duke of Alua Marshall generall of the armie Iohn Baptista Castaldo Philip of Launoy Aluaro Sandis Alphonso Viues and other auncient and approued Captaines In this Imperiall armie the cardinall of Ausbourg had the charge of the victuals There was with the Emperour Maximilian sonne to the king of Romans Emanuel Philibert prince of Piedmont with many princes and noblemen Germanes The Protestants armie aduanced being much stronger than the Emperours they had two generals the Elector Frederic Two generals the ruine of an armie and the Landgraue with equall authoritie which it may be was the ruine of their armie They had with them Iohn Ernest brother to the duke of Saxonie and Iohn Frederic his eldest sonne Philip duke of Brunswic and foure of his sonnes Francis duke of Lunebourg Wolfgang prince of Anhalt Christopher of Heneberg George of Wirtemberg Albert of Mansfield earles William of Furstemberg Recrod and Reffeberg colonels with six companies of Suisses The two armies lay neere together for some dayes and the Protestants offered battell to the Imperials but the Emperour would none assuring himselfe that the enemie could not keepe those great forces long together and that in the end hee which gets the profit of the warre hath the honour besides hee expected Maximilian earle of Bure with foure thousand horse and ten thousand foot of the choice bands of the Netherlands The Landgraue Heads of the Protestants armie disagree who was a resolute souldier and therefore feared more by the Emperour than all the rest that were in the Protestants campe made offer to force the Emperour to fight if they would giue him credit but the Elector would not yeeld to it so as these two commaunders not concurring well together lost many occasions The earle of Bure came to the campe and many of the Emperours faction in Germanie spoyled the Protestants lands whilest they were in the armie yea some Protestants being woon by the Emperour with goodly promises of aduancement and persuading them that the warre was grounded vpon other causes than religion Maurice of Saxonie serues the Emperour Among them was Maurice of Saxonie who desirous to get the Electorship was entred into duke Frederics countrey with forces wherewith king Ferdinand had furnished him out of Bohemia and Hungarie and had by loue or force seised vpon all the townes and places of Turinga Misnia and other prouinces adioyning vnder a colour of charitie saying That it was to preserue the duke Electors countrey and lands the which would haue beene ruined if any other had beene imployed by the Emperour in that conquest yet the Bohemians and Hungarians vsed as great crueltie and violence as if they had made warre against the Turkes The Protestants armie being verie great and not able to draw the Emperour to battell being in some want of victuals but much more of money the which they were forced to beg from the townes and comminalties the confederat princes haning no support from the kings of France and England as they had expected hauing sent embassadours vnto them with full instructions touching that which the Emperour practised by this warre to the preiudice of Germanie and the neighbour Estates The heads being also jealous of their owne houses and lands which they saw inuaded whilest they laboured for the common cause they thought to draw the warre neerer to their owne commodities whereupon they dislodged and marched towards Norling the Emperour still coasting them The townes of Vlme Ausbourg and others holding the Protestants partie seeing the armie retire farre from them hauing done nothing of import they began to think of their estates and the rather for that the Imperiall armie increased daily there being a fresh supplie of six hundred men at armes come from Naples vnder the conduct of Iohn Baptista Spinelli and the confederats being retired they made shew as if they would besiege Vlme one of the richest townes of all Germanie Being troubled with these considerations Protestants league dissolued and terrified when as they vnderstood that the Landgraue had left the duke of Saxonie and was retired home to his house leauing the whole conduct of the warre to him and that the duke marcht towards his owne countrey without any longer delay they sent vnto the Emperour to make their peace Vlme was one of the
first that obtained pardon 1547 paying an hundred thousand crownes and twelue peeces of ordnance with their furniture and receiuing a garrison of ten companies of foot Ausbourg did the like and paid an hundred and fiftie thousand crownes and twelue peeces of ordnance and receiued the like garrison Diuers other townes yeelded also 1546 and in the end the duke of Wittenberg would make triall of the Emperours clemencie so as being assured of high Germanie he began to follow the Protestants armie and came to Nuremberg The Prince Elector tooke some small townes in his way bending towards Francfort to draw money as well from his friends as from the Clergie and then he turned towards his countrey his armie decreasing much for that many seeing the Emperour to prosper abandoned him He being come into Turinga and Misnia Maurice dislodged hauing put good garrisons into Leipfie and Dresda which places he onely preserued for all the rest the Electors recouered and then he retyred to Ferdinand and they both together came and ioyned with the Emperours campe at Egre vpon the confines of Bohemia The earle of Bure was come towards Francfort with commaundement to enter into the Landgraues countrey for whom many princes and among them Maurice his sonne in law did sue vnto the Emperour for his pardon but to small effect for he had a great desire to haue him thinking him alone sufficient to raise the Protestant affaires Landgraue feared by the Emperour if they were ruined Bure tooke Darmast by composition and then Francfort where they were in great feare to loose their Faires which many of their neighbours did affect Strasbourg a great and rich citie did also compound The Emperour comming with great speed to the riuer of Elbe hauing found a foord where the Spaniards did him great seruice for the passage was defended by the Protestants armie he past his troupes and pursued the Elector who sought to recouer Wittenberg the chiefe towne of his Electorat being strong and well fortified but he stayed him neere vnto the forest of Lochane the Elector hauing scarce halfe his forces Defeat of the Elector of Saxony and his â—â—king for he had not leasure to gather them together being dispersed Being thus forced to fight with disaduantage he was vanquished and taken being wounded in the face Ernest of Brunswic sonne to Philip was taken with the Elector his eldest sonne recouered Wittenberg being hurt whither many others escaped from this conflict The Emperour hauing this prince his prisoner vsed him roughly in speech and king Ferdinand more He was giuen in gard to the duke of Alua who committed him to Alphonso Viues to keepe safely Within few dayes the Emperour gaue sentence of death against him the which notwithstanding was reuoked at the suit of the marquesse of Brandebourg but to redeem his life he was forced to vndergo hard conditions Among others he did quit the dignitie of Elector Conditions imposed vpon the Elector of Saxonie which was giuen to Maurice with all his lands by the Emperor who did confiscat them as being guiltie of high treason he and his children promising to obey the Imperiall chamber such as the Emperour should erect and for his entertainment Maurice was charged to pay him a yearely pention of fiftie thousand crownes The towne of Wittenberg and the castle of Goth were deliuered to Maurice leauing it to his discretion to suffer Frederics children to dwell in Goth and as for himselfe hee should remaine the Emperours prisoner There were many other sharpe conditions imposed vpon him all which he signed and refused but one article which was a promise to obey the decrees of the Councell of Trent the which hee constantly reiected saying That he had rather die than yeeld to it Constancie of the Elector Frederic wherefore the Emperour caused it to be rased out Duke Maurice being now Elector and hauing ioyned to his owne patrimonie the inheritance of prince Frederic of Saxonie he began to be a suitor for the Landgraue of Heâ—â—e his father in law imploying all his friends as the marquesse of Brandebourg did in like maner who in the end obtained a promise from the Emperour to pardon his life Conditions propounded by the Emperor to the Landgraue to remit all other punishments due to rebels to leaue him his country with one fort furnished with artillerie so as he did renounce all leagues to the preiudice of him or his brother Ferdinand obey the Imperial Chamber which the Emperor should establish giue him all the rest of his ordnance pay him within foure moneths 150000 crownes for the charges of the warre to deliuer the prisoners which he held and come and craue pardon of the Emperour The Landgraue hauing accepted these conditions by the aduice of his counsellors considering the present danger he came to Hale in Saxonie to the Emperor on the eight and twentieth of Iune where before he presented himselfe vnto him they brought him the former articles to signe but for that they had added many things which were not contained in those which the marquesse of Brandebourg and duke Maurice had sent him he would not doe any thing 1547 for the which there was great question betwixt betwixt him and the bishop of Arras who would needs haue him signe it Among other things they had added That the Emperour did reserue vnto himselfe the interpretation of euerie article and that the Landgraue did submit himselfe to the decrees of the Councell of Trent for the which he should giue caution The Landgraue being prest and threatened remembring that Brandebourg and the new Elector had promised to maintaine the confession of Ausbourg he signed That he would obey the decrees of a holy free and generall Councell where both head and members should be reformed as Maurice and Braâ—debourg would doe This done they led him into a hall Submission of the Landgraue whereas the Emperour was set vpon a throne where kneeling downe before him and confessing That he had offended his Maiestie and deserued punishment he craued pardon and implored his clemencie The Emperour made answer by George Selde That although he had deserued grieuous punishment yet vsing his clemencie and yeelding to the intreaties of many princes and noblemen whom he desired to gratifie he remitted the punishment which he had deserued either by losse of life and goods or by perpetuall imprisonment Which done the Landgraue was carried backe to the duke of Aluaes lodging where he supt where hauing plaied late at dice he was amazed when as offering to goe away he was staied and had a gard giuen him whereat the marquesse of Brandebourg and Maurice were much discontented but there was no remedie the duke of Alba and the bishop of Arâ—â—s saying That it was the Emperours pleasure This proceeding which the Emperour sought to justifie by glosses depriued him of the fruit which he pretended of his enterprises so easily are mans designes and imaginations ouerthrowne 3 We